Xi Story: Celebrating Spring Festival with the people

Xinhua) 09:25, February 18, 2026

BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- On the first day of the Chinese New Year, the festive atmosphere in central Beijing rises to a new pitch.

This is when a familiar scene unfolds in the Longfusi Commercial Area, where red lanterns sway above a bustling New Year fair and vendors call out to passersby as the scent of festive treats lingers in the air.

Dating back nearly 600 years, Longfusi is a Beijing cultural landmark once known for hosting one of the city's most important temple fairs. After urban renewal, it has re-emerged as a Spring Festival draw, with families stocking up on New Year goods and revisiting traditions linked to old Beijing.

It was this spot that President Xi Jinping visited on Feb. 10, as residents began the final week of traditional preparations for the Spring Festival.

Craft stalls showcased traditional paper cuttings, clay figurines and other handmade items, adding to the festival vibes. Strolling through the holiday market, Xi paused to look over local specialties, chatted with stall owners about business, and exchanged greetings with them.

As someone who grew up in Beijing, Xi recalled visiting Longfusi when he was young. On his latest visit, the president bought festive food popular among local residents and also purchased traditional cultural products.

With children gathered around him, Xi asked about their school life and urged them to spend more time exercising outdoors and stay physically fit. "Test scores are only part of the picture and becoming a well-rounded person matters most for adapting to society later in life," Xi told them.

After watching a spirited drum performance in the square alongside local residents, Xi took the occasion as an opportunity to extend his Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese at home and abroad.

This visit was not only about holiday cheer. Noting that the Spring Festival is a cherished moment of family reunion, Xi called on local officials to ensure stable supplies and public safety so that people could enjoy a joyful Spring Festival holiday.

Spending time with the people during the Spring Festival has become a staple of Xi's schedule as China's top leader for more than a decade. He has, since 2013, visited urban neighborhoods and remote villages alike, speaking with residents about everyday concerns such as heating in winter, access to healthcare, income growth and children's education -- issues that bear directly on people's daily lives.

"No issue of the people is too small," Xi said in his 2026 New Year message. "When the happy hum of daily life fills every home, the big family of our nation will go from strength to strength."

This year, Xi placed particular emphasis on the well-being of seniors. China is now in a stage of deep population aging, with roughly one in five people aged 60 or above.

Before visiting Longfusi, Xi stopped by a nursing home housing more than 110 seniors, whose average age is about 88.

Xi toured the facility and learned about their daily lives -- from medical services and rehabilitation programs to recreational activities.

"Caring for the elderly is a responsibility shared by the whole society," Xi said, calling for continued efforts to improve services, so that older people can live comfortably and with dignity.

The neighborhood where the nursing home is located reflects China's broader push to upgrade urban areas, with recent barrier-free and age-friendly renovations supporting a more diverse range of elderly care services.

At the neighborhood seniors' canteen, which offers discounted meals to both seniors and people in flexible employment, Xi met three delivery workers eating noodles. These workers had opted to have their meals before the peak period to avoid the lunchtime delivery rush. Xi asked where they were from, how long they had worked in Beijing, how they felt about their jobs, and whether they planned to return home for the holiday.

"The job is physically demanding, but it pays better than back home," Wu Jing, a female delivery rider, told the president, adding that living nearby and receiving discounted meals helped reduce daily costs and that she and her husband, both couriers, had managed to put their son through college.

Her experience reflects the growing ranks of workers in new forms of employment fueled by the platform economy. Across China, roughly 84 million people are engaged in such work, most of them under the age of 35, with delivery riders and couriers among the most representative groups.

Last year, China's courier sector reached a new milestone, as the annual parcel volume hit nearly 200 billion items, underscoring the vital role of online shopping in China's consumer spending.

"Delivery services have become essential to urban life. The smooth functioning of cities depends on people like you," Xi said to Wu and her colleagues, while urging authorities to better address the needs of delivery workers via improved services and support.

Xi's habit of engaging directly with the public and listening to their everyday concerns reflects the people-first philosophy of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in governance.

After assuming the Party's top post as the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in late 2012, Xi oversaw an eight-year campaign that lifted nearly 100 million rural residents out of poverty, enabling the country to eliminate absolute poverty by 2021.

He has since set his sights on advancing common prosperity for all, seen as an essential requirement of socialism.

Over the past five years, the living standards of the Chinese people have continued to improve. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), urban employment increased by more than 12 million a year on average, per capita household disposable income grew to 43,377 yuan (around 6,250 U.S. dollars), and life expectancy reached 79 years.

In less than a month, China's national legislature is set to convene its annual session to review and adopt the blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). This plan covers a pivotal stage in China's development as it works toward basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035.

The Party set "putting the people first" as one of the core guiding principles in mapping out the 15th Five-Year Plan and stressed the need to ensure that the gains of modernization benefit all people more fully and more fairly.

Speaking at a grand reception to ring in the Year of the Horse, Xi rallied efforts to strive for a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan, while he also reminded officials and Party members that "our Party was born for the people and has prospered because of the people. Everything we do is for the happiness of the people."

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
New Year on the Frontlines: A group of 'inspectors'safeguarding Huangshan Mountain cableway

16:13, February 18, 2026 By Zhu Xiaoxi from People's Daily ( Global Times

Cableway workers carry out the annual inspection on a maintenance vehicle in Huangshan Mountain, East China's Anhui Province. (Photo: Hou Ruidong/People's Daily)

Editor's Note:

This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). A new year begins with new resolve and new momentum. The call to "fight for our dreams and our happiness, and turn our great vision into beautiful realities" continues to inspire actions across China.

In the column "New Year on the Frontlines," reporters from the People's Daily traveled to the grassroots to witness the vitality of a vast nation, see its mountains and rivers in motion, and its fields in abundance, and listen to the stories of people finding fulfillment in both life and work.

Through these stories, the column seeks to present a vivid portrait of Chinese modernization.

At 5 pm, at the lower station of the Yungu Cableway in Huangshan Mountain, East China's Anhui Province, the last group of tourists stepped out of the cabins. But the cableway kept running.

In the storage room, an inspection vehicle was slowly pushed out and connected to the main line. The vehicle was pushed by maintenance workers Wang Xiaoli and Tan Xin, who were about to begin the final task of the day  the evening inspection.

At 5:10 pm, the inspection vehicle set off. At an altitude of more than 1,000 meters, the vehicle swayed from side to side each time when passing a support tower. In the center of the carriage stood a steel ladder connected to the roof. There was no glass on any side, only a steel frame.

Why was there no glass?

"So that it's easier to get on and off for maintenance," Tan answered quickly.

"And also to make it easier to see, hear and smell," Wang added, keeping his eyes fixed on the cable. Only after the inspection vehicle passed the towerdid he continue explaining. They look to see whether the wheel assemblies show abnormal twisting, listen for unusual noises as the cabins pass, and smell for any signs of burning from the cables. "Without glass, we can see and hear more clearly, and smell any unusual odor," Wang noted, without taking his eyes off the cableway.

The inspection vehicle climbed at a speed of three meters per second, as clouds and mist swept past them. "Today's temperature is minus 8 C, but it feels even colder," Wang said.

Yungu Cableway was the first of the three cableways in the Huangshan Mountain Scenic Area to be built and put into operation. Taking the Yungu Cableway up the mountain, passing Beginning-to-Believe Peak and Bright Summit, visiting Flying-over Rock and the Greeting Pine, and descending via the Yuping Cableway forms a classic Huangshan route.

"In terms of capacity, transporting 20,000 passengers safely and smoothly up the mountain each day is not a problem," said Zhang Yi, manager of the Technical Safety Department of the Yungu Cableway.

"During last year's Spring Festival holiday, we received 200,000 visitors," said Zhao Meijun, a staff member of the Huangshan Mountain scenic area management committee. "Generally, after the first day of the Chinese New Year, the number of tourists keeps increasing."

After graduating from college in 2015, Wang began working at the Yungu Cableway. From a novice to an experienced expert, Wang has safeguarded this "road" in the clouds day after day with his colleagues. This year, Wang once again spent the Spring Festival on duty, busy and fulfilled.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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BENNINGTON  Two of the properties scheduled by the town for a March 20 tax sale have been dropped from the list after the owners paid the back taxes owed.

Town Manager Dan Monks said Wednesday that the overdue tax bill was paid on the brick building owned by the Masonic Society of Bennington at 204 Main Street and on their adjacent woodframe commercial building at 206 Main Street.

Still on the tax sale list, in addition to several residential properties, is a building at 252 Benmont Avenue that is next to a former photo processing building that was damaged in a 2021 fire. The former business site is not included in the pending tax sale.

The structure at 252 Benmont Avenue is separate from the film processing site and was not damaged in the fire. It has been used in recent years as rental property.

The photo business was operated by the late Bruce Laumeister, who died in 2023. He closed his CTC Vermont Color Photo Lab business in 2014.

Liability concerns

According to town officials, the photo processing site is considered abandoned, and the town has sought to have it demolished. But officials are reluctant to proceed unless the town is protected against liability and added costs should as-yet unidentified hazardous materials be uncovered during a demolition.

In 2022, Monks, then the assistant town manager and planning director, told the Select Board that staff members were concerned the cost of taking and demolishing the structure might be three to four times higher if any material in the building required removal to a certified hazardous waste landfill.

He said at the time that the town had worked with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Conservation in assessing the structure, and the agencies didnt believe any action on their part was warranted, leaving the situation up to the town.

Monks said this week, The state did not agree to shield the town from liability. I will be reaching out again to reiterate the towns concerns regarding the property. Unfortunately, without liability protection from the state, the town risks unlimited liability for environmental contamination if it enters the property to demolish the building.

Most of the other properties going to a tax sale next month are residential, including single-family homes and rental properties.

There is a garage and land listed at 5 Leonard Street; a house at 140 Gulley Lane; a house at 32 Goodall Street; rental property at 218 School Street; a house at 217 Maple Street; a house and garage at 223 Grove Street; a two-unit building and garage at 314 Stafford Street; a three-unit property at 406 Gage Street.

In such a sale, the minimum bid sought by the town would be the amount of taxes owed on the property.

If a bidder acquires a property, they would be required to wait for one year during which the original owner could pay the taxes and reclaim the property.
BENNINGTON  Launching Hoffman Real Estate at the start of the pandemic in 2020  when the business world was shutting down  Jenifer Hoffman said she decided on a virtual brokerage model that allowed for careful growth.

But now, with the acquisition this month of a building that will house her real estate office, Hoffman is taking the next big step.

Over the past six years, that virtual brokerage model allowed us to grow thoughtfully, support our agents flexibly, and serve buyers and sellers across Southwestern Vermont with exceptional care, Hoffman said after purchasing the building at 311 North Street in Bennington earlier this month. Now, were ready for our next chapter.

The building was purchased from GSA LLC and Lilli West, whose Maple Leaf Realty was based at the site before West acquired and moved the business this year into a former Heritage Family Credit Union building on Pleasant Street.

According to a sales listing on the town clerks website, West and GSA LLC sold the property at 311 North to Hoffman and Hoffman Rentals LLC for $310,000.

Significant milestone

In a blog post after the sale closing, Hoffman said having a physical office is a significant milestone for our brokerage. It reflects our continued growth, our confidence in the Southwestern Vermont market, and our long-term commitment to investing right here in Bennington.

She said this week that some work in the new office space by Trevor Allan Painting is now underway in preparation for the move.

The hardwood floors will get refinished next week, Hoffman said. So my goal is to be in there by mid-March, definitely by April 1, which is our six-year anniversary.

Pandemic impacts

Recalling the business opening in 2020, just as COVID-19 resulted in state-ordered shutdown measures, Hoffman said that raised barriers to normal property sales interactions.

In Vermont, real estate professionals were never deemed essential workers, she said, and so we were extremely regulated. Nobody was going into an office  we couldnt even show a house for quite a while. And once we could show houses, it was extremely restricted.

But on the positive side, she said, We were selling so many properties virtually  for the first two years, a large portion of my business was done truly remotely, where the buyers werent even coming in person to see the home. They were relying on video tours to make their home purchasing decisions.

She added, The way the company was set up initially was born out of the era in which it was created.

Over the last couple of years, some sales agents have joined her business, Hoffman said, and this has grown the company to now have a team of people who are eager to get back into an office, to have a collaborative space to grow and hear each others ideas on a more day-to-day basis.

Familiar space

Hoffman said she knew 311 North Street well from having worked for several years for Maple Leaf Realty under its prior owner, Kathy Sollien, who retired in 2022.

In addition, her husband, Jonathan Hoffman, of Jonathan G. Hoffman Builder, was Solliens contractor during renovation work at the time.

My husband was very familiar with the building, Hoffman said. We had a lot of comfort knowing how well cared for this building had been.

West said on Monday, Jen used to work for Maple Leaf, and when we moved to that location on North Street her husband did the renovation, so I think its a full circle thing for her to be in that space.

Maple Leaf Realty, she said, has completed its move to the larger former Heritage site at 206-08 Pleasant Street, with the realty office at the 206 Pleasant location and plans to offer office space and a housing unit in the 208 Pleasant side of the duplex structure.

Hoffman said her business wont immediately use the entire building at 311 North, so her intention is to use the first floor for her office and rent the upstairs space, which has a separate entranceway, to a commercial tenant.
The Western Mass Zine Fest will hold its second festival 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 7 at MCLA's MOSAIC in downtown North Adams. The fest will be followed by a DIY show featuring The Freeps and the Hartford band Strega DADA.
The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, which offers Hoosac Valley seasonal scenic rides from Adams to North Adams, recently approached a crucial crossing.

After a strategic study was completed, BSRM President Tom Delasco of Lenox described a pivotal moment  to remain viable, the all-volunteer nonprofit founded in 1984 had to evolve.

We faced a choice: reinvent ourselves for the future or develop an exit strategy to close. Delasco said. "It was unsustainable, so we had to do something."

That something was appointing Melanie Seiden as executive director  the railway museums first paid staff position  so it could emerge as a significant cultural attraction and a contributor to the hospitality economy. The nonprofit's annual revenue currently is $350,000.

The Hoosac Valley Train Ride, established in 2015, already brings more than 10,000 visitors to the northern Berkshires each year. This year's season opens with Easter Bunny trains late next month.

Seiden, a native of Galena, Ill., and a resident of Rensselaer, N.Y., just east of Albany, most recently served as associate director for membership at the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

She described her new role at the museum as a part-time opportunity, allowing me to remain engaged in work I love while continuing to prioritize my family  a balance thats incredibly important to me at this stage.

In an e-mail interview, Seiden said that what truly attracted me to the role was the opportunity to be part of something new and to make a meaningful difference within a nonprofit organization. Having grown up in a historic town in the Midwest, I witnessed firsthand how impactful museums and community-centered institutions can be.

She emphasized that museums serve as vital, evolving spaces that honor history by preserving heritage while simultaneously embracing the future. The opportunity to be part of that kind of evolution with BSRM was simply too compelling to pass up.

The museum at the Lenox station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, aims to reopen on Saturdays starting Memorial Day weekend. Scenic train rides from Lenox to Stockbridge ended in 2012 when its permit to use Housatonic Railroad tracks was not renewed by the company.

Reestablishing scenic rides from the Lenox museum remains uncertain since the area remains a focal point for the pending EPA-GE cleanup of probable cancer-causing PCBs from the Housatonic River.

We are currently in negotiations with GE to try to have as little impact on that location as possible, but we are also exploring alternatives to ensure that we can still run the Berkshire line even if we cant necessarily stop at the Lenox Station, Seiden told The Eagle. We simply dont have enough information at this time to give a definitive answer, but we are still moving forward with positivity and plans to grow and expand as much as possible.

Additional excerpts from the interview follow:

THE EAGLE: Are you a railroad buff and if so, was that a factor leading to your appointment?

MELANIE SEIDEN: I must admit  I am not, in any way, shape, or form, a railroad buff. In fact, that was one of the first things I shared during my interview. While I may not have extensive knowledge of railroad systems and heritage, I do know nonprofits, and I know how to connect with people. I have worked in nonprofit management for more than 15 years, and the chance to apply those skills in a new setting  while making a tangible difference  was incredibly exciting.

Early in the interview process, I remember thinking how charming the themed train rides were and imagining how magical they must be during the fall. But as the Board shared the deeper history of the railroad and its impact on the Berkshire region, something truly resonated with me. How many families live in the Berkshires today because of the railroad? How many towns flourished because commerce and opportunity traveled along those tracks? The impact is almost immeasurable.

Working closely with communities throughout the Berkshires, I want them to see that BSRM is more than a train ride. It represents the wonder of a technology that propelled our nation forward at an unprecedented pace. The railroad was transformative  not only for those who experienced it directly, but for the communities it shaped and helped create.

THE EAGLE: What are your priorities?

SEIDEN: My top priorities this year include volunteer recruitment and retention, as well as building and strengthening BSRMs relationships within the communities we serve. A key part of that effort will involve expanding educational opportunities so visitors can learn not only about the trains themselves, but also about the rich history behind the railroad.

We are planning to host events and thoughtfully curated experiences that will leave a lasting impression on both residents and visitors. My goal is for BSRM to be seen not only as an attraction, but as an engaged and valued community partner.

THE EAGLE: Are there any possibilities to revive the museum in Lenox and restore scenic rides in South Berkshire?

SEIDEN: The possibility is very real  and quite frankly, it is one of my personal priorities. The first time I stepped into the Lenox building, I was truly in awe of its beauty and potential. I have since connected with several museum professionals, and conversations are underway about revitalizing exhibits, curating additional artifacts and transforming the space into a must-visit cultural destination in the Berkshires.

Restoring scenic rides in South Berkshire is also high on our priority list. While I want to be thoughtful and not make promises prematurely, I can share that meaningful conversations are taking place with key stakeholders who are just as eager as we are to see operations return to that line.

THE EAGLE: What specific opportunities do you foresee to expand the BSRMs potential as a significant cultural attraction?

SEIDEN: Collaboration will be central to expanding BSRMs reach and demonstrating just how versatile the museum can be. We envision hosting lectures with local historians and speakers, creating family-centered appreciation events for our neighbors, and offering programming that highlights the broader cultural and historical significance of the railroad. We want our neighbors to feel a strong sense of ownership and pride in what we are building together.
PITTSFIELD  Allegrone Cos.' plan to convert an iconic downtown Pittsfield building into housing is getting more than $1 million in assistance from a new state tax credit program.

Standing in the former Berkshire County Savings Bank building at 24 North St. on Tuesday, Gov. Maura Healey announced Allegrone is receiving $1.39 million in tax credits. That award is part of $8.4 million in tax credits through the Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative, a program funded by the 2024 Affordable Homes Act.

"I'm looking out and I see people who live in this city who work hard to protect and save lives every day in the city to educate our kids in this city," Healey said during a news conference. "They need to be able to afford to live here."

Berkshire County has a shortage of units at every price point, making awards like the one Allegrone received vital to combatting the housing shortage.

The initiative is intended to help developers turn underutilized properties into market-rate apartments, as part of a housing overhaul Healey spearheaded to tackle Massachusetts housing crisis. The initiative selects projects planning to turn underutilized commercial buildings into market rate apartments, with each project getting an award around 10 percent of the construction cost.

Healey also announced $135.9 million in funding across 15 projects through the Affordable Housing Development program, two of which are in Berkshire County. The program leverages several types of affordable housing tax credits to support housing developments that are bringing income-restricted units to market.

The Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative is one of the few geared toward market-rate apartments, with the initiative requiring at least 80 percent of the units to be market rate. Mixed-use spaces are allowed, but the program wants the conversion to be primarily residential.

The initiative was designed for larger projects, with the state's website saying preference would be given to developments bringing more than 50 units. But the first round of funding only saw two projects eclipse that number.

Projects are funded up 10 percent of the eligible development costs, which do not include the acquisition cost.

"Today is just an example of the results that we're getting from that investment," said Ed Augustus, the secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

"You're going to take a building that has been been empty for a number of years, you're going to turn it into units of housing and some commercial space," he said. "People who live here are going to go across the street to the Beacon Cinema and see a movie and then they're going to have some to eat or grab a coffee."

Allegrone's conversion of the former bank building will have 23 apartments  19 market rate and four affordable  and convert the first floor into street level retail and contain a commercial kitchen.

A subsidiary company of Allegrone's bought the bank in 2023 for $880,000. The company is also leveraging other tax credits and the Underutilized Property Program to fund the project.

The market rate units will rent for between $1,500 and $2,500 depending on the specifics of the apartment, and the affordable units will likely cost 30 percent of the renters gross income.

"[The Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative] fills a critical void in project sources," said Louis Allegrone, president of Allegrone Cos. "It is not remotely feasible without accommodation of state and local initiatives like these to balance the immense costs required to create just a unit of housing."

The company is going to continue to do pre-construction work for four months and then start construction that should take a year, Allegrone said.

Two projects in Berkshire County also will be getting tax credits to support the development of 115 new units to market.

Pennrose is receiving funding for their development at 238 Pittsfield Road in Lenox. The new project is across from The Forge, another affordable housing complex that Pennrose recently completed.

The new development will bring 10 affordable units income restricted at 30 percent of the area median income (AMI), 40 more income restricted at 50 percent of the AMI and another 18 workforce and market-rate units.

The Linden Street Apartment project, being developed by Hearthway in partnership with Causeway Development, also is receiving state help. The development, at 55 Linden St., was formerly the Polish Community Club, being acquired by Hearthway after years of blight.

The project will renovate the existing Polish Community Club to hold a few apartments and build three additional buildings. There will be eight units income restricted to 30 percent of the AMI, with the other 39 units being restricted to 60 percent of the AMI.

All the units with an income restriction on them will rent for 30 percent of the tenant's gross income. Pennrose has yet to disclose how much its market-rate and workforce units will rent for.

"We've got projects going on around the state," Healey said. "These places are going to change lives and which is really exciting and make our state a more affordable state to live in."
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This spring, the survey will be used to help direct efforts to put together an open space plan required by the state in order qualify for grants for open space acquisition and parks.
The filter was first supposed to be done by August 1, 2025, but was delayed to March 1, 2026, becasuse its bank wouldn't lend the company more money until pending litigation with two of its service towns was settled.
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.

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Jeff Robbins, a part-time resident of Stockbridge, is a former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council and a former assistant U.S. attorney and chief counsel for the Democrats on the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Reach him at Jeffrey.Robbins@saul.com.
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Hollywood actress Zendaya said she is learning how to balance keeping parts of her life private despite being a public figure, adding: I try to be honest to who I am when I am in public, but I also try to keep things for myself.

In conversation with actor Robert Pattinson for Interview Magazine, the 29-year-old discussed living her life in the public eye and spoke about whether it makes it difficult for her to disappear into characters.

Zendaya first rose to fame when she was aged 14 (Yui Mok/PA)

She said: Something I admire about you (Pattinson) is you keep so much of your life to yourself, which is a beautiful thing, especially having a family.

Im learning how to balance those things. At the end of the day, youre a public figure, theres nothing you can do, but some things are meant for yourself and for your loved ones, and then also allowing for that space between the anonymity of you, so that you can play someone else and they wont necessarily always put you in.

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I do try to have privacy, not just for characters, but for me in real life. I try to be honest to who I am when I am in public, but I also try to keep things for myself.

The actress rose to fame aged 14 after starring in a series of Disney Channel sitcoms, and went on to star in HBOs hit teen drama Euphoria- which shot her to global recognition and won her two Emmy Awards.

Zendaya is notoriously private, particularly regarding her relationship with her fiance, and Spider-Man co-star, actor Tom Holland.

Zendaya and Tom Holland first met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017 and confirmed their relationship in November 2021 (Yui Mok/PA)

Meanwhile, Pattinson, 39, rocketed to fame in his early 20s after starring as vampire heartthrob Edward Cullen in fantasy film series The Twilight Saga.

The actor told Zendaya that he initially found being in the public eye quite strange, and said: When I was doing Twilight, there was such a cultural pushback against it, almost simultaneous to its success, so I kind of had to ride both things.

I really enjoyed making the movies, but then there was such a huge marketing push behind it as well. I didnt want to get my personal identity caught up in that, so I tried to push forward my individuality a little, and that kind of stuck with me. It was also interesting getting famous off of playing a part  people thought I was that character in the beginning.

It was quite strange, but it also allowed me to push against it. Also, I wasnt precious about that identity because it wasnt my identity to begin with.

Robert Pattinson rocketed to fame after appearing in the Twilight film franchise (Doug Peters/PA)

He continued: Its interesting to use the public perception of you as part of your character development, because youre like, I assume at least a few people in the audience are going to be expecting this so you can make it more dramatic. But at the same time, you never really know what people are thinking.

A lot of people are very protective of, This is who I am, this is my identity, and Ive never really felt that.

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During the interview, the pair also discussed the most stereotypical Hollywood thing they do, and Zendaya said: Ive super-duper stayed to myself, and most of my core friends are my family and people who Ive known since I was literally born.

The actress added that in recent years she has made friends with other actors, and likes being able to talk to them about how life feels so strange.
A Cork woman who suffered various injuries when her car was rear-ended on a roundabout six years ago has been awarded at least 218,000 by the High Court.

Colette Sheehan (54), of Drimoleague, suffered the injuries when her car was struck by another driver at Shannon Park roundabout  between Monkstown and Carrigaline, Co Cork  on November 27th, 2020. Sheehan, a civil servant, subsequently sued the driver for damages.

When the case came before Judge Conor Dignam, it was for an assessment of damages only. The judge heard evidence from Sheehan and various medical witnesses.

In a judgment published this week, Dignam awarded Sheehan 130,000 in general damages and a further 88,164 for lost earnings and other special damages. The judge asked the parties to agree on a figure to compensate Sheehan for future loss of earnings and pension payments.

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The judge accepted that Sheehan suffered post-concussion syndrome as a result of the accident. This condition contributed most to the adverse impact on Sheehans life and career, the judge found.

Arising from this are symptoms of fatigue, photophobia, phonophobia, tingling and tightness in the scalp, head pain, poor concentration, stress, and irritability, the judge noted.

The judge noted that Sheehan was off work for a year post-collision, and since then, has been unable to return to work full-time due to these symptoms.

Ireland Romanian man jailed for killing Canadian tourist with running kick to the head Read more

He said the symptoms have also interfered with her life outside of work, impacting her socialising and sporting activities.

The trauma of the collision also caused the abrupt onset of menopause in Sheehan, the judge said.

The judge said he accepted that Sheehan suffered whiplash injuries to her spine, and injury to her knee.

The judge found that she also suffered anxiety and depression after the accident, but noted that she had suffered with elements of this before the accident.
A physiotherapist has been censured for updating a patients records to support her original inadequate assessment that the womans pains from running were improving when it was actually diagnosed a short time later that cancer had spread to her bones.

The sanction was imposed by CORU  the regulatory body of health and social care professionals  after findings of professional misconduct and poor professional performance were made against physiotherapist Niamh Fehily.

An inquiry committee of CORU ruled Fehily, while working as a physiotherapist with Spectrum Health, Amiens Street, Dublin 1, had failed to maintain accurate and adequate records of the patient who was a keen runner but who had a history of cancer.

The committee claimed patient records updated by Fehily over three and a half months after her final treatment of the woman and after she was aware a complaint had been made against her were unreliable and self-serving.

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An expert witness said the physiotherapists assessments of the patients were inadequate and unchanging even though a real red flag had been raised when the womans condition had not improved.

The committee described updated records which contained meticulous detail and suggested the womans pain had settled as disquieting in the extreme.

If it was the case that the pain had settled, that should have been recorded at the time as it was critically important information, the committee noted.

It found Fehilys claim was simply not credible that she had removed a record which noted that the woman was feeling twinges because she thought she had misspelled the word twinges.

The committee also found separate allegations of poor professional performance proven that Fehily had failed to afford proper treatment to the woman as well as failing to refer her for further diagnostic investigation.

The inquiry chairperson, Geraldine Feeney, said Fehilys actions constituted a failure to meet the standards of competence that might reasonably be expected of a registered physiotherapist.

Feeney said her failure to keep accurate records also represented breaches of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for physiotherapists.

The inquiry arose following a complaint by the woman who had attended Fehily on seven occasions between August 2nd, 2022 and October 26th, 2022 with various complaints of decreasing running tolerance and increasing pain.

Fehily gave evidence that while the complaints were connected to running, the woman had not reported having any significant pain.

However, contemporaneous notes from the womans Garmin device show she claimed on September 19th, 2022 that she was falling apart more, while she was steadily getting worse on October 20th, 2022.

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An expert witness said the profile of the womans symptoms had changed and Fehily should have reassessed her working diagnosis to find out why her earlier treatment was not working.

The complainant had returned to running in June 2022 after undergoing breast reconstruction surgery the previous month following chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer a few years previously.

The inquiry heard that a different physiotherapist who examined her on November 7th, 2022 requested an urgent MRI scan to rule out stress fracture of her femur due to the level of pain, her medical history and use of Tamoxifen  a medication used to treat breast cancer.

After an MRI scan in December 2022, it was diagnosed that the cancer had spread to the womans bones.

The inquiry noted that there was no allegation that any treatment provided to the woman had caused or contributed to such a diagnosis.

The committee said the physios original records of four different consultations were sparse while there was no record from her first visit that the woman had a previous history of breast cancer or that she had been prescribed Tamoxifen.

Such a significant medical history and treatment should be included as a matter of course, said Feeney.

The committee said they found the updated records unreliable due to the sheer unlikelihood of anyone being able to remember the minutiae and detail inserted by Fehily some 3 months later given the passage of time as well as the number and variety of clients she had seen in the intervening period.

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It also noted that the physiotherapist had prior knowledge of the complaint against her when making the updated records.

The committee said the patients contemporaneous Garmin records did not corroborate Fehilys updated records.

Feeney said the physiotherapist had given oral evidence to support a narrative of an improvement in the womans condition.

However, she said the committee found it would be unsafe to rely on what was contained in the updated notes and it preferred the evidence of the complainant whom it found to be an honest, truthful and credible witness who admitted she had gaps in her memory.

Ireland Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin says decision on Rotunda care unit is 'putting lives at risk' Read more

The inquiry heard Fehily had moved to Portugal over two years ago but had been unable to register for work as a physiotherapist there due to the CORU case which had caused her financial issues.

In addition to censure, the committee required Fehily to be placed under the supervision of a senior physiotherapist for a period of two months under an individualised learning plan with a focus on note-taking and clinical decision-making.

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As part of a pilot project BreakingNews.ie has used AI to suggest headline options for this article. The final headline was chosen and edited by BreakingNews.ie journalists. Find out more
A British lawyer has called for 1.7 billion in Libyan funds, which are frozen in Ireland's Central Bank, to be given to those killed or seriously injured by Libyan Semtex, which includes IRA victims.

This morning on RTE Radio 1 Today with David McCullagh, Jason McCue, a British human rights lawyer who represents victims and victims' families of IRA bombings, said he believes the money, or the interest accrued, should go to those who were killed or seriously injured by Libyan Semtex.

The killing of Colonel Gaddafi's eldest son, Saif, in Libya last month has shone the spotlight once more on Libyas sanctioned sovereign wealth fund.

The total seized fund is worth over 60 billion, and part of it, 1.7 billion, has been frozen in Ireland since 2011. This is controlled by the Central Bank.

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While the Gaddafi's were in power, Saif reportedly had control of this fund, giving him and the family access to the money.

Speaking to McCullagh, McCue said: "Well, in the time leading up to 2011, I think it was February 17th the revolution, Gaddafi was the sort of bad boy of international world.

"And he had, from he 1980s, made great speeches about how he was going to arm the IRA and give them the means by Semtex to bring his words, rivers of blood, throughout Britain.

"So when the revolutions started, not surprisingly, the international powers that be decided this was an opportunity..."

"So the international powers, through the UN, slapped sanctions on him and his family and all his cronies, all his intelligence operators, who had stored away billions and billions of dollars all over the world. 1.5 billion of that, I think, was in the Republic."

McCue said the 1.5 billion figure now has about 200 million of interest or managed revenues on it, which is a "considerable amount of money".

McCue said he wants access to this money for his clients.

"I want them (victims) to be paid compensation and reparations, which they're due under international law and agreements that they got off the Libyans.

"I also got the Libyans to agree that they would consider a payment to the broader victims right across all communities from the Northern Ireland Troubles. It could kick start a reparations fund for cross-community.

"This frozen money which has been sitting there since 2011 should be used for good purposes."
A young girl who was removed from a scoliosis waiting list after four years has been forced to travel to the US for urgent surgery.

Seven-year-old Roxanne Kelly from Carlow is one of a group of kids who were under the care of a consultant here, who is now under investigation.

New figures show 525 scoliosis surgeries on children were cancelled between 2022 and 2025.

Roxanne had previously travelled to Florida, where she had multiple surgeries on a rare condition called arthrogryposis, because there was nothing doctors could do for her here.

Roxanne's mother, Mairin, says they have been forced to set up a fundraiser to get her back to Florida for more urgent surgery.

"We went into a brand new surgeon, and it is really the same story again. He doesn't want to put her on the waiting list here in Ireland.

"She is ready for surgery in the United States, but because she is not on the surgical waiting list, she cannot get any funding from the HSE to go abroad.

She said they are taking it into their own hands again by fundraising for the money to go to Florida.
Gardai are investigating after two men were observed casually examining what appeared to be a gun with a telescopic sight mounted to it, in broad daylight on the Main Street, in the town of Kilmallock, Co Limerick.

Video footage of the men and the long sniper-type firearm at Sarsfield Street in Kilmallock, last Saturday February 14th, was shared across social media.

As men and women around the country were doing some last-minute shopping for cards, chocolates and dinner reservations for Valentines Day, the two men in the footage appeared to be fawning over the gun or imitation gun.

Gardai said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, which was captured on mobile phone video footage.

Sources said gardai were investigating whether or not the men were involved in nefarious activities or if they were involved in hunting in the rural community.

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Another theory being examined was that the firearm was an imitation firearm.

At one stage in the video footage, it appeared that one of the two men in the footage was taking a picture or video of the gun with a mobile phone.

A member of the public walking along a footpath near the two men glances over in the direction of the men as they appear to be examining the gun.

A Garda spokesman said: Gardai received a report of an incident where a male was alleged to be in possession of a firearm in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick on Saturday 14th February 2026.

Enquiries are ongoing, they added.

There were no reported incidents involving a firearm in the Limerick area following the incident.

The video footage shows the two men standing on the footpath at Sarsfield Street examining what appears to be a long rifle with a telescopic lens mounted to it, as traffic and pedestrians go past them.

Anyone with information can contact Kilmallock Garda Station at 063-98018.
The board of management of Wilson's Hospital School wants to be joined as a notice party in jailed teacher Enoch Burke's latest High Court action over the membership of a panel which will hear his appeal against dismissal from the school.

Burke has been jailed for contempt of court for a number of periods totalling almost 600 days because he has repeatedly trespassed on school property in breach of court orders.

The anti-transgender teacher remains on the payroll of the Department of Education until his appeal against dismissal is final.

The school board says it will be impacted by the outcome of his latest proceedings seeking to challenge the composition of the appeals panel.

He previously won one challenge to the composition of the panel when the Court of Appeal ruled in his favour that he had made out a case of a reasonable apprehension of objective bias on the part of one of its members, ASTI general secretary Kieran Christie. Burke claimed Christie was an "activist for transgenderism".

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A new appeals panel was appointed but Burke then brought a challenge claiming one of its members, ASTI president Geraldine O'Brien, was also objectively biased and had prejudged the matter.

Two other members of the panel then resigned in light of issues arising in Burke's new legal challenge. O'Brien did not resign and the legal challenge remains to be heard.

Rosemary Mallon BL, for the board, was granted permission on Wednesday by Justice Brian Cregan for short service of an application to join the proceedings over the membership of the appeals panel. Her application was made with only the school side present.

The judge made the matter returnable to Friday when Burke is due before the court again.

In an affidavit seeking to bring the notice party application, solicitor Fiona Sheil of Mason Hayes and Curran, which represents the school, said the application was in both parties' interests to have an expeditious appeal hearing. She also said the board will be impacted by the outcome of the proceedings.

She also said the board may be able to suggest the makeup of the new appeals panel which could resolve the litigation "in a manner that would satisfy Mr Burke and protect his rights".

It is understood the board wants to suggest that members of the Teachers Union of Ireland could be considered as a relevant teacher union representative for the panel, particularly in circumstances where the board understands Burke is not a member of any teaching union. The ASTI members had been chosen because it had more members on the teaching staff than the TUI.
The export of parts made in Ireland for Russian suicide drones, and a play about the life of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch are some of the stories on Ireland's front pages on Wednesday morning.

An Irish Times investigation has found that around 10 tonnes of components for so-called 'kamikaze drones' are being made by Irish companies that are supplying parts to Russia. This is despite EU export bans introduced following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Meta has also urged Ireland to block the proposed EU social media law, the Digital Fairness Act, which proposes banning addictive features such as 'infinite scroll'. And the review of Special Needs Allocations for schools has been paused by the Minister for Education following substantial backlash from teachers, parents, and unions.

Plans for the social media ban for under 16 is the splash of the Irish Examiner. Cabinet is set to meet this after to consider a new digital and AI strategy, which is understood to contain a focus on online safety. The Irish Examiner reports that it understands the plan will confirm Irelands intention to introduce legislation to restrict social media for under-16s.

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A council tenant who was hit by a piece of masonry that fell two storeys has said that he is "lucky to be alive", according to The Echo.

The Irish Independent reports that the Government is reviewing whether it can move ahead with a new critical care wing at the Rotunda hospital, despite the planning body's decision to overturn it.

The Irish Daily Mirror reports that gardai, in their search for Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob, are digging in an area close to where Larry Murphy was caught trying to murder a victim.

A new play about Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, who will be running in the Dublin Central by-election, has been branded a "party political broadcast", according to the Irish Daily Star.

The Irish Daily Mail reports judges' warnings over solicitors using AI to compose legal submissions, after three had to be thrown out as they were strewn with errors.

Heather, detained Irishman Seamus Culleton's daughter, has said that she doesn't have much sympathy for his plight as it is a "mess of his own making", The Herald reports.

The Belfast Telegraph covers the remarkable story of around 40 pupils, who climbed through a roof hatch to safety after the bus they were on veered off a road in Newry.
A man whose attack on his partner was so violent that she ended up having to eat and drink through straws for months afterwards has been jailed for three years.

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that Jonathan Kingsbury (41) returned from a night out with his partner almost three years ago and hit her head off a counter top and a wall in her home.

Garda Aisling Brosnan indicated that the attack occurred on March 11th, 2023. Kingsbury had been drinking for the night at a pub in Cork. After hitting her head, he went on to punch the woman in the face.

Brosnan said that Kingsbury then put his hands around her neck and threw heavy kitchen items at her. He had also broken her phone at this point.

The victim in the case had metal plates inserted into both sides of her fractured jaw following the incident. She also suffered a fractured eye socket, a broken nose and lost two teeth.

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Brosnan said that the woman ran from the house and called to neighbours who contacted gardai about the attack. She was hospitalised for three days and required surgery involving a metal plate on both sides of her face.

Kingsbury, formerly of Connolly Road in Ballyphehane in Cork city and more recently of Schull in west Cork, pleaded guilty to a count of assault causing harm and to a count of criminal damage.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said that she suffers from anxiety and doesnt sleep properly. She stated that she is often reluctant to leave her house.

Before I go anywhere, I'll get an anxiety attack. It's horrible. I want to cry. I want to get sick, I start shaking. I start overthinking things.

When I do go out, it's just rushing to get things done and get back home. I'm always afraid I'll bump into him. When I sleep, I sometimes have a dream, and he could be in the dream, so I wake up, and that's it then  I'm awake and lying in bed or walking up and down the kitchen with anxiety.

"Sometimes if I hear noises at night, I'm afraid that it's him at my door. I even got my locks changed, as I didn't know if he had keys. I was always bubbly, but I don't go out anymore.

The woman said that her jaw still gets stiff when she eats whilst the metal plates have made her think twice about travelling.

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I'm going abroad in June and I'm terrified about the machines and metal detectors in the airport, that my jaw will set them off. This is my first time going abroad since the assault.

"For months after it, I was eating and drinking through straws. I lost two teeth as well because of the punches he gave me.

Defence barrister Nikki OSullivan said that her client wanted to repeat his apology to the victim and to assure her he would never go near her again. She said that Kingsbury had been sober for the past 18 months. He is disgusted with himself for his actions on the night.

Judge Helen Boyle said that the attack had had a very serious psychological and physical impact on the victim.

She spent months afterwards eating and drinking through straws. Her jaw still gets stiff very easily. She (the victim) was afraid of meeting you, and her daughter was also very afraid of bumping into you."
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde plans to leave her job early, ahead of next year's French presidential election, to give outgoing French leader Emmanuel Macron an input into picking her successor, the Financial Times said on Wednesday.

Lagarde's term is due to end in October 2027, but some fear that the far right may win the French presidential race in the spring of 2027, complicating the selection for the new leader of Europe's most important financial institution.

Citing a person familiar with the matter, the FT said Lagarde has not yet decided on the exact timing of her departure but was keen on Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to be the key deciders in who succeeds her. Macron cannot run again for a third term.

"President Lagarde is totally focused on her mission and has not taken any decision regarding the end of her term," an ECB spokesperson said.

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The ECB's response is a departure from an earlier guidance on Lagarde. Last year when the FT suggested Lagarde may leave early, the ECB said Lagarde was "determined to complete her term."

Initial market reaction to Lagarde's possible departure was muted. Bond yields and the euro were barely changed in early trading, indicating investors do not expect a personnel change to herald any major policy shift.

French Governor also quits early

The FT report comes only a week after Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau said he would step down in June this year, more than a year before the end of his term, allowing Macron to name his replacement before the presidential election.

While it will be up to all leaders from the 21-nation euro zone to pick Lagarde's successor, past practice suggests that any successful candidate must have both German and French support to clinch the role.

There are no formal candidates for the job yet, but several names have been floating among ECB circles as potential ECB presidents.
The latest US-brokered talks between envoys from Moscow and Kyiv over Russias all-out invasion of Ukraine have ended with no sign of a breakthrough and with both sides saying the talks were difficult, as the wars fourth anniversary approaches next week.

The negotiations in Switzerland were the third round of direct talks organised by the US, after meetings earlier this year in Abu Dhabi that officials described as constructive but which also made no major headway.

Expectations for significant progress in Geneva were low.





Before the start of today's work of the delegations in Geneva, I held a meeting with the Ukrainian team.



Yesterday there were meetings in different formats  both bilateral between Ukraine and the United States and multilateral formats. In particular, there were talks between pic.twitter.com/h7lUq0Lypg  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) February 18, 2026

The negotiations were not easy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after the talks broke up and he spoke briefly by phone from Kyiv with his negotiating team.

He earlier accused Russia of trying to drag out negotiations while it presses on with its invasion  an accusation he and European leaders have repeatedly made in the past.

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Despite that, some progress was made on military issues although political differences remain deep, including over the future of land in eastern Ukraine that is occupied by the Russian army and that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to keep, Mr Zelensky said.

The head of the Russian delegation, Putin adviser Vladimir Medinsky, told reporters that the two days of talks in Geneva were difficult but businesslike.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it is too early to speak about the outcome of the talks.

Mr Putin has been receiving reports about progress in Geneva, he said.

Both sides said a new round of talks is set to take place.

Mr Zelensky described the military discussions as constructive, adding that the armed forces of both countries considered how any future ceasefire might be monitored.



A soldier watches for Russian FPV drones on the front line near Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine (Iryna Rybakova/Ukraines 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP)

Monitoring will definitely be carried out with participation of the American side, he said in a voice message shared in a media group chat on WhatsApp.

US President Donald Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff said on social media that Washingtons push for peace in Ukraine over the past year has brought about meaningful progress, without elaborating.

The two armies remain locked in battle on the roughly 1,250-kilometre (750-mile) front line, while Russia bombards civilian areas of Ukraine daily.

Hours after the first day of talks ended on Tuesday, Russian drones killed a woman and injured a six-year-old girl and 18-month-old toddler in the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzhia, officials said.

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Overnight, Russia launched one ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones at Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian air force.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it is too early to speak about the outcome of the talks.

Mr Putin has been receiving reports about the talks progress, he said.





In Geneva, the second day of trilateral negotiations has begun.



Consultations are taking place in working groups by areas within the political and military tracks. We are working on clarifying the parameters and mechanisms of the decisions discussed yesterday.



We are focused on  Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) February 18, 2026

The head of the Ukrainian delegation in Switzerland, Rustem Umerov, said that officials are trying to bridge their political and military differences.

Consultations are taking place in working groups by areas within the political and military tracks, Mr Umerov wrote on X.

We are working on clarifying the parameters and mechanisms of the decisions discussed yesterday.

Mr Zelensky said the delegations were also to discuss further exchanges of prisoners of war and the release of civilian prisoners.

He revealed that the Ukrainian and American envoys in Geneva met with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Europes participation in the process is indispensable, Mr Zelensky said.

European leaders, mindful of Mr Putins wider ambitions, say their own security is at stake in Ukraine and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.



Ukrainian soldiers ahead of assignments on the front line near Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region (Iryna Rybakova/Ukraines 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP)

Russia and Ukraine appear to still be far apart on their demands for a settlement.

Mr Zelensky has offered a ceasefire and a face-to-face meeting with Mr Putin.

But Moscow wants a comprehensive agreement before committing to a truce.

Mr Putins key goals remain what he declared when Russia invaded its neighbour on February 24 2022: Ukraine must renounce joining Nato, sharply reduce the size of its army and protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscows orbit.

Additionally, Mr Putin wants Kyiv to withdraw its forces from the four regions Moscow has occupied but does not fully control.

Mr Zelensky says Ukraine will not surrender land to Russia.
Keir Starmer has reiterated his backing for the US-led peace plan for Gaza in a phone call with Donald Trump.

It comes as UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper is set to bring together Palestinian and Israeli officials in a push for progress on the US leaders 20-point Gaza peace plan.

Downing Street said Starmer and Trump spoke on Tuesday night.

A spokesperson said: Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Prime Minister reflected on the current situation in the region and the importance of securing further access for humanitarian aid.

He set out his support for the ongoing work to deliver the US-led peace plan.

The two leaders confirmed their joint commitment to promoting stability and peace in the Middle East.

They also agreed that Iran must never be able to develop nuclear weapons as well as discussing ongoing negotiations over Ukraine in the phone call.

The foreign secretary meanwhile is set to arrive in New York on Wednesday, where she will chair a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

According to the Foreign Office, this will bring together Palestinian and Israel briefers for the first time since October 7 2023, when Hamas launched its deadly attack on southern Israel.

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She will call for progress implementing the US presidents peace plan, which would see Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza.

A temporary transitional committee would be expected to look after the day-to-day running of public services in Gaza, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, known as the Board of Peace.

Cooper is also expected to call for international co-operation, vital for addressing the situation in the West Bank.

Measures, approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet, have expanded Israels enforcement authority over land use and planning in areas run by the Palestinian Authority.

Israels finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and defence minister Israel Katz have said they would lift long-standing restrictions on land sales to Israeli Jews in the West Bank, shift some control over sensitive holy sites  including Hebrons Ibrahimi Mosque, also known as the Tomb of the Patriarchs  and declassify land registry records to ease property acquisitions.
A celebrated mountain rescuer has spoken about the massive impact of social media on the number of people who need rescuing.

Richard Warren was made an OBE for his services to mountain rescue in Cumbria and the Lake District in an investiture ceremony with the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle on Tuesday afternoon.

Warren, who has over 40 years experience as a volunteer with the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, has said that in recent years he has seen the number of preventable rescues increase rapidly.

Richard Warren attended with his wife Carole (Andrew Matthwes/PA)

Asked about the influence of social media, he said: Its had a massive impact on mountain rescue, not just in my own team in Wasdale, but on all teams in north Wales, Scotland, but very much so in England.

People actually, they go up there to enjoy the fells and the mountains, usually in good weather, and theyll take a few selfies and such and then post it on social media and all their friends see it and say: We must do that.

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So what happens of course, is they will go up there and theyre not going to spend 3,000 on rucksacks, boots, waterproofs, the correct equipment.

They wont buy maps and compasses, everything will be on their smart technology, and a lot of them will get into trouble.

The mountaineer said that half the rescues his team conduct are at Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, and of those, over half are now lost or missing which he referred to as avoidable rescues.

Warren added that he used to just tell people to buy a map and a compass, but now that people rely on phones, he wants people to take power banks with them, and use a software called Adventure Smart.

We want them to enjoy the mountains, be safe, be responsible, make a good day even better and be adventure smart, he said.
Donald Trump has urged Sir Keir Starmer not to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a day after the US said it approved of the deal.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president said Sir Keir would be making a big mistake if he proceeded with plans to hand over the islands  which are home to a joint US-UK military base.

The plans would see the UK lease the base on Diego Garcia from Mauritius at a cost of 35 billion over the next century.



Donald Trump warned the Prime Minister over the islands (Suzanne Plunkett/PA)

On Tuesday, the US State Department said it supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago.

But in his post on Wednesday, Mr Trump said leases were no good, adding the base could be necessary for a strike on Iran.

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He said: Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease.

This land should not be taken away from the UK and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.

We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. Do not give away Diego Garcia.
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When Yerin Ha walked onto the set of Bridgerton for the first time, she felt like she had climbed through a TV. Its a world I had watched for years, says Ha, who plays maid Sophie Baek in season four of the wildly popular Regency-era drama. It felt so bizarre and surreal, but it just shows you how much work goes into preparing this detail, from the ceilings to the colours and everything. It just made it more realistic and easier for me to be able to focus on the scenes. Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek, with co-star Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict Bridgerton. The 28-year-old Australian-Korean actor, who grew up on Sydneys north shore, is in the middle of eating breakfast during a hectic trip back to Australia for the AACTA awards. Its a brief respite from a whirlwind few weeks, where she was unveiled  quite literally, her character first appears wearing a mask at a ball  as the new love interest of Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson). Editor's pick Literature Wuthering Heights is many things, but its not the novel Emily Bronte wrote Importantly, she is also the series first lead with an East Asian background. In the books, written by Julia Quinn, her character is called Sophie Beckett, but upon casting Ha, the characters name was changed to the Korean Baek. In the world of Bridgerton, this is not a big deal, as the show prides itself on its blind casting, where actors of colour have been chosen for roles that, historically, would have gone to white actors. The same goes for sexuality, as some characters  such as the upcoming Michaela Stirling  have been swapped from male in the book to female on screen.

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It is just an acknowledgement and a recognition of who I am, says Ha, of the name change. Im not having to fit a mould that potentially was different. Yes, in the book, shes blonde-haired, green- or blue-eyed, and Im not, so how are they going to make the character fit me? And it was a very simple conversation. It didnt need to be any more complicated than it needed to be. Yerin Has Sophie Baek is a maid in Bridgertons retelling of Cinderella. I think thats what they do so well, they celebrate every individual for their own uniqueness. Thats what I love. Season four is adapted from An Offer from a Gentleman, the third book in Quinns sprawling series. It is loosely based on Cinderella  Sophie is a maid, the illegitimate daughter of Lord Penwood, and unloved stepdaughter of Lady Penwood and her two daughters  but Ha sees it as a step away from the classic fairytale. Related Article Streaming What to stream this week: Derry Girls creators new comic thriller, plus five more picks Yes, its a retelling of Cinderella, says Ha. But I do think ours takes that story and takes it on a bit of a spin. Sophie is so fascinating. Shes someone whos grappling with her sense of identity. Shes been kept hidden her whole life. Shes not quite a noblewoman, but shes not quite a maid. So, I tried to bring a lot of aspects of me [to the character], of understanding what its potentially like to be an outsider. Shes someone who obviously has a lot of walls up and struggles with trust because the one person that she truly loved, her father, she felt betrayed her.

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She goes on a journey of what it means to let love in. And there is so much strength in softness, and vulnerability is not considered weak. So I think she goes on a journey of understanding that, basically. That focus on class  the upstairs haves and the downstairs have-nots  is the thread that runs through season four. It stops short of going full Downton Abbey, but the servants are at least given more agency. Yerin Ha and Shabana Azeez, who stars in The Pitt, present the AACTA Awards earlier this month. Getty Images for AACTA Thats probably why season four feels, energetically, perhaps a bit different, says Ha. I like to think that, anyway. By opening up the universe of the downstairs world, which I always say is like the heartbeat of the house, you get to see how its all run, and you do see the class disparity. Related Article Streaming She spent her teen years with Hollywoods biggest stars. Now a new era begins Its not a privileged romance between two noble people. Its about [whats forbidden]. When society tells you that you cant be with someone purely because of class, what are you going to do? Are you going to fight for it? Or are you going to surrender to what society says? So I think it immediately raises the stakes in a completely different way for our season. Ha and Thompson  long Bridgertons underappreciated MVP  have wonderfully zippy chemistry, giving the Netflix series the jolt it needed after a flatlining third season. Ha was a late pick for the role, and was catapulted into the drama with little preparation. That meant she and Thompson had to pretty much get to know each other while the cameras were rolling.

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NationalVictoriaBuilding Bad CFMEU fight threatens to engulf hate speech bill as ministers launch broadside on corruption buster Daniella White Updated February 18, 2026  6:29pm ,first published 3:13pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Victorian Labor ministers have launched a blistering and personal attack on barrister Geoffrey Watson, SC, accusing the corruption expert of chasing headlines and describing his evidence that the government turned a blind eye to CFMEU corruption as florid ramblings. The extraordinary comments prompted a fierce rebuke from Watson, who accused Police Minister Anthony Carbines of partaking in Trumpist politics and attacking him rather than the problems plaguing Victorian worksites. Police Minister Anthony Carbines has attacked integrity expert and barrister Geoffrey Watson. Paul Jeffers The stoush has caused chaos for the governments anti-hate legislation, with the Coalition informed a justice bill will be pulled from parliament to prevent the Greens from moving amendments to give the states anti-corruption watchdog more teeth. However, late on Wednesday a government spokesperson said it intends to push ahead with the bill on Thursday. Watsons Rotting from the Top inquiry was made public last week following revelations by this masthead that conclusions reached by Watson that were highly critical of Labor were secretly stripped from the reports pages shortly before its release.

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His redacted report accused Victorias Labor government of turning a blind eye to CFMEU corruption and organised crime on infrastructure projects at a cost to taxpayers of $15 billion. Watson then gave similar evidence at a Queensland inquiry. Speaking outside Parliament on Wednesday morning, Carbines dismissed Watsons evidence as florid ramblings that were lacking in facts, accusing the barrister of liking to get a good headline. Related Article Building Bad Allan promoted her IBAC action on CFMEU, knowing it wasnt going to do anything It might be good for a quote, but hes not much good when it comes to coming up with some facts, he told reporters on Wednesday. When his florid ramblings become facts that can be tested in court, all well and good. But if youve got evidence, give it to Victoria Police and theyll take action.

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I would have thought those with legal qualifications would have some respect for law and the courts. In an escalation of the tensions between the government and the corruption expert, Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny then doubled down on Carbines comments, saying it was reckless for anyone to make unfounded claims of a $15 billion cost to taxpayers from the Big Build. As lawyers, our professional credibility rests on evidence. It goes to who we are, she said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon. Geoffrey Watson, SC, giving evidence during the public hearing for the Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU in Brisbane. AAPIMAGE We are bound to make a clear distinction between allegation and proof, and the rule of laws depends on this.

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The government found an unlikely ally in underworld figure Mick Gatto, who was named more than 160 times in the report. If [Watson] said to me it was raining outside, I would want to go out and get wet. I promise you I wouldnt believe a word he says, Gatto told 3AWs Jacqui Felgate. If you go online today youll see the attorney-general and the police minister are both bagging him and saying hes a headline chaser. And you know, hes making all this stuff up. Watson has hit back at Carbines, questioning why the minister was attacking him rather than addressing the problem. Ive been very careful not to comment, but these remarks are out of hand and Trumpian, he told The Age.

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Premier Jacinta Allan said she had not seen Carbines comments, but said Watson had told a Queensland inquiry the $15 billion figure was a rough estimate. Related Article Editorial

Building Bad Disgraceful, egregious, insulting: The premiers spin on CFMEU is out of control The Age's View Editorial That information was put to the federal administrator  and on consideration the administrator has dismissed those claims as being unfounded, she said. Asked about Carbines comments, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backed the CFMEUs federal administrator Mark Irving. Im not going to comment on comments by others that I havent heard and am unaware of the context, he said on 3AW.

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Watsons comments that CFMEU corruption could have blown out construction costs by 15 per cent, or an estimated $15 billion, have been supported by Fair Work Commission general manager Murray Furlong. The damning report by Watson into CFMEU misconduct, released last Wednesday, detailed a culture of drug trafficking, systemic corruption, and the sexual exploitation of women on state and federally funded sites. In sections redacted from the final version, Watson further took aim at government inaction, estimating that corruption might have inflated project costs by as much as $15 billion. The attack on Watson came as Allan faced another day of questioning over corruption on Big Build projects. The premier refused to commit to a joint push by the Greens to grant the states anti-corruption watchdog, IBAC, follow-the-money powers. However, she stopped short of ruling out future reform.

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The Greens intend to on Thursday move an amendment to an unrelated and wide-ranging justice bill  which includes a key anti-vilification reform that removes the need for the Director of Public Prosecutions to approve hate-speech charges  currently before the upper house to establish these powers, a move the Coalition would support. If passed, the bill would need to return to the lower house, where Labor holds the majority required to block the changes. On Wednesday night, shadow attorney-general James Newbury said the government whip had told him the bill would be pulled from Parliament on Thursday. I can assure you we were all informed the bill was being pulled, he said. The fact they advised us they were pulling the bill tells you the world of pain they are in at moment.

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Newbury also speculated that if the government did not outright pull the bill it could delay a vote on it until parliament rose for the day on Thursday. Parliament does not return until March 3. An Allan government spokesperson insisted the bill was not being pulled. Related Article Exclusive

Building Bad $15b poured into criminals hands: Bombshell findings CFMEU tried to hide Greens Leader Ellen Sandell said there was no reason the bill should not go ahead on Thursday. Labor and Jacinta Allan are going to extraordinary lengths to avoid it coming to a vote.

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The proposed changes  recommended by a parliamentary committee and requested by IBAC  would allow the watchdog to investigate how taxpayer funds flow through subcontractors and the labour hire firms frequently used on major projects. On Wednesday morning, Allan accused the opposition and the crossbench of weaponising the issue and risking the delay of unrelated anti-hate laws introduced following the Bondi attacks. We are considering the [IBAC reforms]  they are important matters that deserve proper consideration, she said. What they dont deserve is being embroiled in a parliamentary stunt where the Liberal Party and the Greens are teaming up to delay and block the strengthening of our anti-hate laws. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson repeated previous calls to hold a royal commission into the corruption claims, backing Watsons findings.

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Geoffrey Watson is an eminent legal mind ... he handed down a report that identified the largest corruption scandal in Victorias history, she said. If the police minister in this state isnt taking seriously the corruption, the peddling of drugs, the use of strippers on these sites, the criminal nature of these allegations, then I think Victorians should be very concerned that this government is not taking these corruption findings seriously. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

CLARIFICATION This story has been updated to clarify the bill set to come before Parliament on Thursday is a wide-ranging justice bill which includes anti-vilification reforms.
Violent threat sent to Sydney's largest mosque

Sydney's Muslim community is on high alert today after the city's largest mosque was sent a threatening message on the eve of Ramadan.
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NationalMedicine Opinion We have an antibiotics problem. They kill more Australians than road accidents Mark Blaskovich Antibiotics expert February 18, 2026  10:30am

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Heard of any of these terms? Antibiotic resistance. Superbugs. Drug-resistant infections. Antimicrobial resistance. AMR. They all describe the same thing  the ever-increasing presence of bacteria that can no longer be effectively killed by our current arsenal of antibiotics. There are only about 50 or 60 antibiotics in human trials compared with thousands of cancer drugs at the same stage. Getty Images And no, your body doesnt become resistant; the bacteria do. One of the most powerful classes of drugs ever discovered  and one of the few that generally cure the disease they are used to treat  antibiotics underpin the modern medical system. Without them, surgery, cancer therapy, dialysis, and even simple cuts and scrapes become deadly gambles. Resistant infections in Australia directly cause an estimated 1600 deaths a year, more than the road toll of 1300 fatalities, yet were barely talking about it, let alone acting. The problem is two-pronged: bacteria are becoming more resistant, and were not developing new antibiotics fast enough to keep pace. The emergence of superbugs  bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics  is driven by their ability to rapidly evolve and share genetic information. This allows them to adapt after exposure to sublethal antibiotic doses and pass survival strategies to other bacteria. Combatting antibiotic resistance starts with reducing unnecessary and excessive antibiotic use, slowing the creation and spread of resistance.

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Globally, about two-thirds of antibiotics are used in animals, not humans, and sometimes even on fruit crops. This use is often to promote faster growth rather than treat animal illness, and needs tighter control. Australia is pretty good at this, with low agricultural antibiotic use compared with the rest of the world. However, were among the worst for excessive use in humans, with one of the highest prescription rates in the world. Globally, about two-thirds of the antibiotics prescribed to people are not needed. Related Article Exclusive

Medicine Superbugs deaths are rising: This Netflix-style subscription could turn the tide Part of the problem is the lack of rapid diagnostics to identify bacterial from viral infections, so antibiotics are prescribed just in case. This is unusual for a drug class. Doctors dont prescribe  and patients dont ask for!  cancer drugs without a diagnosis because there are well-known toxic side effects. So, why do we do this with antibiotics? Antibiotics are widely seen as being safe, but that reputation is misleading. They can potentially damage hearing, muscles and kidneys, and disrupt beneficial bacteria in the body. Research into faster, more accurate diagnostics is under way and could dramatically reduce unnecessary antibiotic use if implemented. The other side of the problem is the dwindling supply of effective antibiotics. Were no longer discovering new ones at the rate we used to, largely for economic reasons. Almost all major pharmaceutical companies have abandoned early-stage antibiotic discovery because they cant make enough money if they get a new antibiotic approved. Any powerful new antibiotic must be reserved for special cases, not widely used  the opposite of a profitable blockbuster drug. The market fundamentally undervalues antibiotics. A life-saving antibiotic might earn $15,000 per course, while cancer therapies can charge $500,000 for a therapy that may or may not work.

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Pfizer Strengthening Australias preparedness against emerging superbugs As a result, venture capital has fled the sector, particularly after antibiotic-focused biotech companies such as Achaogen, Tetraphase and Melinta Therapeutics went bankrupt despite securing drug approvals. This has led to a sparse development pipeline, with only 50 to 60 antibiotics in human trials compared with thousands of cancer drugs at the same stage. Access is also a problem. Lower-income countries with high resistance rates often cannot afford new antibiotics. Smaller high-income countries such as Australia face a different barrier: the cost of registering a new antibiotic often exceeds potential sales. Of the 23 antibiotics approved globally since 2013, only two are approved for use in Australia. Were missing out on life-saving medications. Doctors must instead apply for special access with more than 30,000 applications lodged between 2018 and 2023. So what do we do? Australia needs to invest in research and infrastructure. Responsibility for antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance is spread across multiple federal and state government departments, with no co-ordination. The Australian Antimicrobial Resistance Network (AAMRNet) has been established to bring together interested industry, academic and not-for-profit agencies to advocate for change, but its funding remains fragile. Australia should participate in global endeavours to kick-start antibiotic discovery, such as CARB-X (Combatting Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) and GARDP (Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership). Research groups in Australia are the recipients of funding from these organisations, yet Australia does not contribute. One solution is for antibiotic reimbursement to adopt the Netflix subscription model, with Australia paying a fixed fee for access to a new antibiotic regardless of use. We dont fund firefighters only when they show up to a fire. Public advocacy also matters. Australia produces world-class research, but grant success rates are now below 8 per cent. National Health and Medical Research Council funding has stagnated, with awarded grants falling from 1090 in 2014 to 740 in 2024, while the Medical Research Future Fund sits on nearly $400 million per year of unspent funds that could be supporting life-saving research.

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Look to the person on your left, then to the person on your right. One of you has taken an antibiotic in the past year. If it didnt work, would that person still be alive? Do you really want to take that gamble? Support the researchers working to ensure you never have to. Related Video Video icon 1:28 New rapid test to help doctors determine when patients need antibiotics Mark Blaskovich is a professor at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
US aluminium giant Alcoa has been given the green light to clear more Australian forest after being fined for stripping land for bauxite mining without approvals.

The miner has agreed to pay $55 million to restore the environment as part of an enforceable undertaking reached with the federal government on Wednesday.

Alcoas mining operations in the Northern Jarrah Forest. Nine News Perth

It relates to habitat destruction in the Northern Jarrah Forest, south of Perth, between 2019 and 2025.

Its the largest conservationfocused commitment of its kind, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said as he spruiked the deal.

The company did not seek the appropriate legal approvals to clear the land under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The agreement, which is enforceable in the Federal Court, will deliver permanent ecological offsets to preserve important habitat.

It will also expand conservation programs for species, including Western Australias three black cockatoo species, and strengthen invasivespecies management within the Northern Jarrah Forest.

Senator Watt also granted Alcoa a nationalinterest exemption to allow the company to continue land clearing for its mining operations for 18 months, while a strategic assessment is completed.

This will ensure the continued supply of bauxite for industry in Australia and with trade partners, he said.

It also ensures Alcoa can sustain its operations, which employ about 6000 workers.

The miner has committed to pay $4.2 million in additional offsets for activities covered by the exemption for management of the environmental impacts.

The federal environment department and Alcoa have agreed to develop a strategic assessment agreement to enable future environmental approvals.

This will guide sustainable mining at Alcoas Huntly and Willowdale mining operations, around 100km south of Perth, until 2045.

This agreement will enable government to assess the cumulative environmental impacts of Alcoas local mining operations and provide strong protections for threatened species and ecological communities, while offering Alcoa long-term operational certainty, Senator Watt said.

Alcoa said modernising the approvals framework will provide a better understanding of the potential impacts of land clearing and mining on significant flora and fauna into the future.

The company will continue to limit clearing to 800 hectares per year and increase new rehabilitation rates annually to 1,000 hectares per year by 2027.

We are committed to responsible operations and welcome this important step in transitioning our approvals to a contemporary assessment process that provides increased certainty for our operations and our people into the future, Alcoa president and chief executive William F Oplinger said.

The strategic assessment will not impact an ongoing accredited environmental assessment of the future Myara North and Holyoake mine regions of the Huntly mine under WA and federal environment law.

The Minerals Council of Australia said the agreement was a pragmatic decision by Alcoa and the federal government.

Chief executive Tania Constable called on state and federal governments to rapidly finalise workable national environmental standards and assessment agreements to reduce mine approval delays.

AAP
An original beachfront shack in Byron Bay has sold for about $18 million, and the buyer is tipped to be hospitality rich lister Justin Hemmes.

The chief executive of multibillion-dollar hospitality empire Merivale has been busy adding to his $41 million-plus residential property portfolio in the beachside hotspot in recent years.

Rich lister Justin Hemmes is tipped to have bought this Byron Bay beach shack for about $18 million. Credit:

Multiple real estate sources from the Byron Bay region that are not authorised to comment publicly have revealed the bar tzar bought a four-bedroom, original beach shack for about $18 million on Friday.

Two years after Merivale bought the Cheeky Monkeys bar in Byron Bay in 2021, Hemmes bought a couple of beachfront houses on nearby Belongil Beach for $22 million and $16 million. He also added another property on the same stretch of land for $3.75 million last November.
Venices Gritti Palace ... one of the most opulent hotels in existence.

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This article is part of Travellers Holiday Guide to Luxury Bucket List. See all stories .

From big luxury names to small boutique properties you might never have heard of, our expert chooses his ultimate hotel experiences Ive been writing about hotels for nearly 30 years now and the rest of my work generally involves a stay somewhere other than home too. This got me thinking, just how many hotels have I stayed in? A quick look at my tax returns and Google Calendar, plus the collection of hotel ephemera Ive kept (when Im staying somewhere with my husband, he draws a unique artwork on the branded notepad beside the bed), suggests an average of 30 a year. In a former life as a DJ and music photographer in the 1990s, the average was higher. Id say Ive stayed at approximately 1000 to date. Some of those are airport hotels, others lavish resorts. Recently, I spent a day working out the 10 that gave me the most memorable experience. This was a fiendishly difficult task, but brought back a lot of great memories. My final list ranges from major luxury chains that are really worth the splurge, and smaller boutique hotels you might never have heard of. Consider it Bucket List inspiration  so yes, some of them are very pricey. EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Can Ferrereta, Mallorca, Spain

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Everything here is immaculate  Can Ferrereta. I made a point of staying here as soon as it opened because the couple behind it runs the Sant Francesc Hotel Singular in Palma, which would make my top 20. Its located in the super-cute town of Santanyi and my favourite European beaches are close by. Everything here is immaculate and feels impressively sophisticated, like walking through an interior design story. Its mostly monochrome, with warm honey hues, wood and textured plaster all arranged by an expert modernist eye. This chic villa-style property is set around a pool and rows of olive and cypress trees. Natural daylight floods every room and hallway. The courtyard restaurant is romantic, and the food delectable. Crucially, for me, its adults only, so the vibes are immaculate. Doubles from $510 a night, B&B. See hotelcanferrereta.com/en Gritti Palace, Venice, Italy Breakfast on the Gritti Palaces terrace is a wow moment.

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I have to admit Im not that keen on the food in the restaurant here (nor indeed in many places in Venice), but walking out onto the terrace on the Grand Canal for breakfast at the Gritti is a knockout moment  the architecture and the gondolas look like an AI fantasy of the city. Everything else is flawless. I cant imagine how much was spent transforming the former palace of Doge Andrea Gritti into one of the most opulent, velvet and chandelier-filled hotels in existence. It all feels absurdly grand, but also intimate and romantic. If you stayed here solo, youd still feel delighted, like you were having an affair with yourself. Doubles from $1750 a night, room only. See marriott.com Vigilius Mountain Resort, South Tyrol, Italy A modern alpine paradise  Vigilius Mountain Resort. Far flashier resorts have opened in the Tyrol since architect Matteo Thun designed Vigilius more than 20 years ago, but I dont think its been bettered. The svelte wooden lines that stretch along the whole building cut through a lush green mountain scape in crystal-fresh air.

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The rooms are all off a long hallway, with dramatic shadows that change throughout the day. Spa treatments are superb and I cant think of a happier place to be than sitting by the indoor pool feeling cosy, looking through the giant wall of glass at the trees and greenery outside. This is a modern Alpine paradise. Doubles from $695 a night, B&B. See vigilius.it El Fenn, Marrakech, Morocco El Fenn has the feel of an elite members club. Cecile Treal While I think the Royal Mansour has more wow-factor architecturally, El Fenn will always be the scene in the Red City. I love getting lost around the courtyards and torchlit corridors of what was once a collection of riads. The colourful polished plaster, foliage, chequered tile floors and stained glass make it one of the most atmospheric places to stay. The Sunday evening DJ sets on the rooftop bar and restaurant make you feel like youre in the right place at the right time. Also  the boutique on the ground floor is the best shop in the city. Doubles from $1050 a night, B&B. See el-fenn.com

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THE AMERICAS Post Ranch Inn, California, United States You can spot whales passing in the sea below from the comfort of your bedroom. You can spot whales passing in the sea below from the comfort of your bedroom. The Big Sur drive is one of the worlds greatest road trips, and this is my favourite place to stay while doing it. The curves of the rooms and their balconies hug the cliff-side, you can see whales passing in the sea below and all manner of other local wildlife  I was kept under siege in my room by a wild turkey one afternoon. Everything feels six-star, from the spa tubs to the Sierra Mar restaurant, where every table comes with a wonderful view. America, overall, is near the bottom of my list for food, but when a kitchen gets it right, and has access to the kind of produce this place does (the farms of Napa County are to the north), its another story. Doubles from $2735 a night, B&B. See postranchinn.com

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Millions of Democrats cast primary votes for him, envisioning him as Americas first black president. Along the way, there would be convention keynote speeches and, at times, self-inflicted controversy for the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who died on Tuesday at age 84. Jesse Jackson (centre) leads a protest in 1970 in New York for Operation Breadbasket, an economic development campaign. NYT His life ran in parallel to the successes of the civil rights era, but it was at the movements lowest moment that he came to wider national attention: the 1968 assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, which he witnessed at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Here are seven key moments in his life. Martin Luther Kings assassination On April 4, 1968, Jackson was in the motel parking lot, speaking with King, who was on the second-floor balcony above him, when King was shot by James Earl Ray.

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We hoped it was his arm, but the bullet hit him in the neck, Jackson told reporters while visiting the motel, now a civil rights landmark, before Tennessees Democratic presidential primary in 1984. Jackson (second left) appears with Martin Luther King (second right) on the balcony at the Memphis hotel where King was assassinated one day later. AP At the time of the assassination, Jackson was 26 years old and a protege of King. Related Article Vale Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader and US presidential hopeful, dies at 84 This is the scene of the crucifixion, he said, taking reporters on a tour of Room 306, where the civil rights leader had been staying. 1984 presidential campaign With his entry into the 1984 Democratic primary race, Jackson became the first black candidate to seek a major partys nomination for president since Shirley Chisholm, the trailblazing Brooklyn Congress member who ran unsuccessfully in 1972.

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At a campaign kickoff rally, Chisholm introduced Jackson, who was then 42 and had criticised Democrats for what he described as their lacklustre opposition to president Ronald Reagan. Jackson viewed his candidacy as inspirational to a rainbow coalition  black, white and Hispanic citizens, women, American Indians and the voiceless and downtrodden. He finished third to the eventual nominee, Walter Mondale, the former vice president, who lost the general election in a landslide. The Hymietown controversy Just as Democrats were preparing to cast their primary votes for president in 1984, Jackson was swept up in a political maelstrom involving his use of an antisemitic slur. On several occasions when speaking to reporters, he had referred to Jews as Hymies and to New York as Hymietown, according to The Washington Post. Hymie is a shortened version of the name Hyman, which is relatively common among Jews, and many consider the term offensive.

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After initially seeking to discredit the report, Jackson apologised. Jackson embraces PLO leader Yasser Arafat in Beirut in 1979. AP But the controversy sowed further misgivings about Jacksons candidacy among Jewish voters, as he had supported the creation of an independent Palestinian state and called for recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Jackson had also drawn criticism when he embraced PLO leader Yasser Arafat during a visit to the Middle East in 1979 and for his previous political ties with Louis Farrakhan, the Black Muslim leader who had called Adolf Hitler a great man and Judaism a gutter religion. 1984 DNC keynote Democrats entered their national convention in San Francisco as a fractured party, with some divisions exacerbated by Jacksons candidacy. But on the second night of the gathering, Jackson called for unity and sought to put questions about his loyalty to the party behind him in a speech that was evangelical in its tone and filled with biblical references.

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Jackson addresses the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. NYT If I have caused anyone discomfort, created pain or revived someones fears, that was not my truest self, he said. Charge it to my head, not to my heart. Jackson likened America to a quilt, a patchwork of disparate constituencies that deserved a voice. 1988 presidential campaign Building on his name recognition and base of support in the South, Jackson returned to the campaign trail emboldened in 1988. The clergyman from Chicago and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition made inroads with white voters, winning three times as many votes from them as he did four years earlier. A campaign badge from Jacksons 1988 primary campaign. Nearly 7 million people voted for Jackson in the primaries and caucuses that year, delivering him victories in 13 contests.

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WorldNorth AmericaMiddle East tensions Trump moves US to brink of war with Iran, possible strikes closer than many people realise Michael Koziol Updated February 19, 2026  12:57pm ,first published February 19, 2026  5:20am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Washington: The United States is continuing to surge military assets to Eastern Europe and the Middle East, including fighter jets and refuelling tankers, increasing speculation that President Donald Trump is headed for war with Iran despite some progress in recent talks. Following a national security meeting at the White House on Wednesday (Washington time), several US media outlets, including CNN, reported Trump had been briefed that the military would be ready to strike as soon as this weekend - although the president had not made a final decision. Meanwhile, Trump again warned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to cede control of the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia to Mauritius, saying the US may need to use the island and its air base to defend against Iranian attacks in the event the Islamic Republic does not make a deal. A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker. AP The developments came as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were many reasons for a strike against Iran, but the presidents first preference was always diplomacy.

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Flight tracking data indicated dozens of military aircraft, including refuelling tankers, left the continental US heading east, or moved across Europe, overnight into Wednesday, adding to the growing military build-up in the region. Popular tracking site FlightRadar24 said at one point overnight, all of its nine most-tracked flights were US Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, an aircraft used to refuel other planes in midair. View post on X Records show one such flight left Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday night bound for Sofia, Bulgaria. There was also a high level of activity around Mildenhall air force base in England, a key US military hub.

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US news website Axios reported another 50 fighter jets headed to the region within 24 hours. Its prominent foreign policy correspondent, Barak Ravid, who is in direct contact with Trump, reported that the Trump administration is closer to a major war in the Middle East than most Americans realise. At a think tank event in Washington on Wednesday, the director of the Middle East program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Mona Yacoubian, said the US military build-up seems unprecedented, at least in recent memory, with all kinds of military assets being flooded into the region. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. Getty Images The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is already in the area, with the BBC tracking it to the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman earlier this week using satellite imagery. Another strike group, led by the USS Gerald Ford, is on its way to the Gulf and could arrive within a week. Every aircraft carrier can hold at least 75 aircraft. Thats a big, big power, said Susan Ziadeh, a former US ambassador to Qatar, at the CSIS event on Wednesday.

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Steve Witkoff (centre) shakes hands with Omans Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi during a meeting in Muscat earlier in February. AP The ongoing build-up comes despite another round of indirect talks between the US and Iran this week in Geneva, mediated by Oman, which were led on the US side by Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Both sides flagged a level of progress, with Iran saying there was agreement on guiding principles, and a US official saying the Iranians would present detailed proposals to address differences in the next two weeks. However, analysts noted that when Trump bombed Irans nuclear facilities in June, he had just two days earlier indicated he would decide within two weeks.

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At a press briefing on Wednesday, Leavitt said there was some progress made in Geneva, but the two sides were still very far apart on some issues. The president would continue to watch how this plays out. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were many reasons to strike Iran but diplomacy remained Trumps first preference. AP Theres many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran, Leavitt told reporters. The president has always been very clear [that] diplomacy is always his first option, and Iran would be very wise to make a deal. Hes talking to many people  of course, his national security team first and foremost. This is something that obviously the president takes seriously. Trump has repeatedly stressed his preference for a diplomatic solution that would prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons following the destructive US air strikes in June. But the US also wants wider restrictions on Tehrans uranium enrichment, ballistic missiles and funding of terrorist proxies in the region.

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Satellite images showed apparent work to reinforce the entrances of Irans uranium enrichment site at Natanz. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Trump that Iran cannot be trusted to honour a deal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now due to fly to Israel at the end of February to discuss Iran with Netanyahu, Reuters reported on Wednesday, following the White House national security meeting. Related Article Iran sanctions Iran hints at compromise as US warns a nuclear deal will be very hard to do Iran, meanwhile, briefly closed parts of the crucial Strait of Hormuz for live naval exercises on Tuesday. The strait, through which more than a fifth of the worlds oil supply passes, has never been fully closed, and it is expected that Tehran would seek to use it strategically in the event of war. Middle East expert Aaron David Miller, who has advised several presidents, said Trump appeared to have put himself in a box through his rhetoric and the staggering build-up of military assets in the region.

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He has now assembled an extraordinary degree of military power. You have the Gerald Ford carrier strike group, probably due within a matter of days. You have F-22s, F-35s, F-15s. Youve got defensive missile systems, Miller told this masthead. Against all of this, you have a negotiating process which at the moment seems to me to be unable to produce an outcome which would give the president a sense that the Iranians have really offered something. With US forces poised to strike, the final decision to strike Iran now sits with US president Donald Trump. AP This is not a normal administration, this is not a normal American president, and what hes contemplating with the amount of hardware that is out there is staggering. Climbing down from that position would be difficult, Miller said. How do you justify and rationalise doing nothing, or doing something that appears to be inconsequential? Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Analysis WorldNorth AmericaChina relations Why Trumps faux pas on Taiwan is ringing alarm bells in Washington Michael Koziol February 18, 2026  10:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The Munich Security Conference proved a tough training ground for Democratic firebrand and potential US presidential contender Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who made headlines for her word salad response to a simple question about the US defending Taiwan. AOCs foreign policy foray also involved mistakenly asserting that Venezuela is located south of the equator. Donald Trump couldnt resist a dig: she and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who also spoke in Munich, made fools of themselves and were an embarrassment to our nation, he said. President Donald Trump took questions on board Air Force One while returning to Washington, including about Taiwan. AP Yet minutes later, it was Trump who shocked many in Washingtons foreign policy establishment when he suggested he was consulting Chinese President Xi Jinping about future American arms sales to Taiwan. It followed a reporters question about Trumps recent call with Xi, who warned the US must handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence, according to an official Chinese summary of the call.

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I have a response, Im talking to him [Xi] about it, Trump said. We had a good conversation, and well make a determination pretty soon. We have a very good relationship with President Xi  in fact, Ill be going in April. Several analysts accused Trump of violating the Six Assurances  key, long-standing principles of US foreign policy on Taiwan communicated to the Taiwanese government in 1982 under then-president Ronald Reagan. Among those undertakings was that the US has not agreed to prior consultation [with China] on arms sales. An AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter flies during a military exercise at a military facility in the Xinshe district in Taichung, Taiwan. Bloomberg David Sacks, a Taiwan expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, and a former staffer at the quasi-diplomatic American Institute in Taiwan, points out the wording  often misunderstood  did not say the US would never consult China about arms sales to Taiwan. It simply said the US had not agreed to it as a matter of course.

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Even so, Sacks calls Trumps statement deeply misguided and says it will deeply worry Taipei. To me, it is a major faux pas, and a concession he gave without extracting anything in return. It is not something we should talk to the Peoples Republic of China about. We should not give the PRC a veto on arms sales to Taiwan. The president may have only uttered a few words, but Sacks says his timing is atrocious. Taiwanese lawmakers are debating a special budget that would majorly lift defence spending  something Washington is demanding. The budget is backed by President Lai Ching-te and the governing Democratic Progressive Party, but opposed by the major opposition party, the Kuomintang, which along with the Taiwan Peoples Party can block legislation. A group of 37 US lawmakers wrote to Taiwanese MPs last week urging them to pass the bill. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is trying to pass a special defence budget to boost spending. Bloomberg Sacks says Trumps remark hands the opposition a lifeline just as support for the special budget is accelerating. It undercuts the short-term objective. At the more strategic level, it heightens a sense in Taiwan that the US is not reliable, that the US cant be counted on. This is a sentiment that is already growing in Taiwan.

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Derek Grossman, professor of international relations at the University of Southern California, and Indo-Pacific expert at the Centre for a New American Security, said even if Trump was not violating the letter of the Six Assurances, he was violating the spirit. While Trump as president can make this type of call  its well within his authority and prerogative to do so  I do think it is a departure from long-standing US policy in the strait, Grossman says. It stands in contrast to Trumps actions thus far on Taiwan, he says, which have essentially maintained the status quo. Related Article Opinion

World elections Japans election result is a geopolitical earthquake and a very big deal for Australia Peter Hartcher Political and international editor Washingtons large contingent of China hawks have feared Trump could make major concessions in his pursuit of a grand bargain with Beijing, such as formally changing US policy to oppose Taiwanese independence. However, the new National Security Strategy released late last year affirmed the US would maintain its stance that it does not support any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. And in December, the Trump administration approved a record $US11.1 billion ($16.2 billion) weapons sale to Taiwan  likely spurring Xis recent warning about prudence.

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With Trump, it pays to heed his actions more than his many, many words. Still, Sacks argues the president made a strategic error  one that some analysts fear will be repeated as his much-hyped Beijing visit nears. Once you show the Chinese that we are willing to negotiate on Taiwan, that is something they are very happy to run with, Sacks says. Its very important to say were not going to open any part of that to negotiation with China. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
High Court Reporter

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has been granted High Court permission to sell three high-end cars seized from former Real IRA member Nathan Kinsella.

The cars, which have not been declared criminal proceeds ahead of a substantive hearing at the High Court on the matter, were on Wednesday described as being of very high worth by barrister Daragh Breen, for CAB.

The three cars, a BMW M2, a BMW M3 and an Audi Q7, which were in Kinsellas possession, were described as assets in depreciation and that they were to be sold with the money to be held in advance of any court hearing, said Mr Breen.

Kinsella was not at the High Court on Wednesday before Justice Liam Kennedy, nor were the notice parties in the case, Richard Buruiani, a director of CRS E-Com, the company being a second notice party.

Breen successfully applied for the vehicles to be sold by a CAB receiver, noting: Nobody came forward saying I want those vehicles back.

Justice Kennedy granted the application to Breen to appoint the power of sale of the vehicles, which if bought new could amount to over 300K.

Justice Kennedy granted the CAB application to Breen and adjourned the matter to next month.

In 2024, Kinsella was due to go to trial over alleged money laundering offences but pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to furnish tax returns.

Kinsella, of Richmond, Newtownpark, Blackrock, Co Dublin, had entered guilty pleas before the Special Criminal Court.

The charges were that whilst having an address at Tasaggart House, Saggart in Co Dublin, he failed without reasonable excuse to deliver to the Revenue Commissioners a full and true return for the purposes of capital acquisitions tax as required by section 46(2) of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003 on or before October 31st, 2018.

He further pleaded guilty to two additional counts of the same offence on or before October 31st, 2019, whilst having an address in Dublin, and on or before October 31, 2020, whilst having an address at Richmond, Newtownpark, Blackrock, Co Dublin.

Kinsella was jailed for one year for failing to pay taxes on 230K that he claimed he was "gifted" by a millionaire friend while he was on unemployment benefits.

At the time, Kinsella had 17 previous convictions, that included 14 for road traffic offences and two for impeding a prosecution.

He was also jailed by the Special Criminal Court in 2014, after a Garda investigation into paramilitary activity at the funeral of Dissident Republican Alan Ryan.

He had pleaded guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on September 13th, 2012 and was sentenced to two years.

Ryan was shot dead outside his home in Clongriffin in North Dublin in September 2012. Kinsella was himself shot two months later.
Ottoline Spearman

Cabinet will consider a new artificial intelligence strategy on Wednesday, that will likely confirm the Government's intention to introduce legislation to ban social media access for those under 16.

The move follows Australia, which was the first country to introduce such a ban last year, and other European countries including France and Spain, which have announced similar bans.

Last year, the Government announced a trial of a digital wallet age verification mechanism for accessing social media platforms. The Irish Times understands that the plan discussed on Wednesday will outline how online safety will be a priority during Irelands European Union presidency.

According to the Irish Times, ministers will be told that while the preference is to move to restrict access at the European level, Ireland will nonetheless take action.

Also to be discussed are Government plans to engage with the European Commission to ensure that the list of prohibited practices under the EU AI Act remains suitable as AI capabilities grow.

Several ministers including Tanaiste Simon Harris, have said that they would like to see restrictions on social media, but the meeting today will be the strongest commitment yet to implement an outright ban.

The move follows the opening of an EU investigation in early January into X's AI chatbot Grok over the nudification of images of young people, with Ireland's data protection commission announcing on Tuesday that it has also opened an inquiry into X.

An EU investigation into Shein was also announced on Tuesday, which is looking into claims of illegal and addictive content.

In papers sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs ahead of Ireland's upcoming EU presidency, tech giant Meta said that the Government should focus on helping to scrap the upcoming EU law called the Digital Fairness Act.

An interim report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence released in December also said that recommender systems should be switched off by default and social media companies should be banned from turning on recommender algorithms for accounts used by children.

Around three-quarters of Irelands corporation tax comes from large US multinationals, with just two sectors  tech and manufacturing  accounting for about 87 per cent of that, according to Irelands Fiscal Advisory Council.

Noeline Blackwell, Online Safety Coordinator with the Childrens Rights Alliance, does not believe that a social media ban is the answer.

"Undoubtedly, its attractive to adult decision makers. It is something that can be done and one is seen to be doing something", she said.

She said that a "bigger conversation" needs to be done before an outright ban is enforced.

"If we follow the Australian experiment, children are not banned from the internet, merely banned from having their own social media accounts if they are under 16.

This does not stop them accessing social media content on their browsers, nor going onto other platforms not subject to the ban which, as less regulated, may have even less protections than those on the banned platforms."

"It punishes children for the fixable faults created by the tech giants by denying them the social engagement that is some of the best parts of social media. And even worse, it may drive them to socialise in secretive ways which predators use to groom children for sexual and financial abuse.

Children who find themselves in these situations may be even less likely to report that they are scared or being extorted because they are doing something illegal or banned."

"A ban does not provide the clubs, the youth workers, the safe playgrounds, the links to their families and friends in the offline world that might nourish and support children. Above all, it doesnt address the problem. The problem is not children, or the fact that theyre socialising online. The problem is that the products arent safe enough."

Previously, Cybersafe Kids CEO was also of the opinion that a blanket ban on social media wouldn't work.

Alex Cooney told BreakingNews.ie that if a ban is for under 16s is enacted, children will inevitably find workarounds, and there is also no pressure on social media companies to reform.
Tom Tuite

A 20-year-old man has been convicted for his role in a terrifying hijacking where a Dublin motorist was threatened with being shot and taunted about being stabbed nearly four years ago.

The accused cannot be named because he was 16 and a juvenile at the time of the incident in Artane.

He had denied being one of two men involved in seizing the car through intimidation on the night of May 4th, 2022.

However, he was found guilty by Judge Paul Kelly at the Dublin Children's Court on Tuesday afternoon.

The owner of a 2017-reg Hyundai testified that he was the sole occupant in the car and was parking when his door opened. Then, he heard a voice saying, "Give me the car, or I will blow your head off".

The young man recalled that there was a masked man who repeated the same sentence, which the complainant took to be a fatal threat, and he got out.

There was a second male in an orange jacket, who also got into the passenger side after saying to the masked man, "You should stab this fellah".

The car was driven off, leaving him nervous and scared, "standing on my own in the dark".

It was the State's case that in the unlawful seizure of the car, the accused was the second male who made the stabbing comment and that he acted in league with the man who made the shooting threat.

Garda National Economic Crime Bureau Detective Sean Ryan said he recognised the accused from CCTV obtained from a local Circle K garage. It showed a person in an orange top getting out and filling up the car about four hours later.

Detective Ryan told the court he recognised the accused and had already known him from his garda work.

He agreed when cross-examined by defence solicitor Michael Byrne that he did not seek corroboration from other officers.

State solicitor Ruth Walsh submitted that the prosecution had established that the accused was also involved in the carjacking.

A probation report was ordered for the sentence hearing in March, when the judge will also continue hearing a second unrelated charge against the accused for making a false instrument by signing X on a bail bond after giving a false name at the time of arrest for shoplifting.

He is in custody on other matters and did not testify during the hearing.

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As part of a pilot project BreakingNews.ie has used AI to suggest headline options for this article. The final headline was chosen and edited by BreakingNews.ie journalists. Find out more
Kenneth Fox

A young girl who was removed from a scoliosis waiting list after four years has been forced to travel to the US for urgent surgery.

Seven-year-old Roxanne Kelly from Carlow is one of a group of kids who were under the care of a consultant here, who is now under investigation.

New figures show 525 scoliosis surgeries on children were cancelled between 2022 and 2025.

Roxanne had previously travelled to Florida, where she had multiple surgeries on a rare condition called arthrogryposis, because there was nothing doctors could do for her here.

Roxanne's mother, Mairin, says they have been forced to set up a fundraiser to get her back to Florida for more urgent surgery.

"We went into a brand new surgeon, and it is really the same story again. He doesn't want to put her on the waiting list here in Ireland.

"She is ready for surgery in the United States, but because she is not on the surgical waiting list, she cannot get any funding from the HSE to go abroad.

She said they are taking it into their own hands again by fundraising for the money to go to Florida.
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Germany-based Loesche GmbH has been awarded a contract by The Ramco Cements Ltd for the supply of a clinker slag grinding plant at the Kalvatala cement plant in Andhra Pradesh, India.

The core of the project will be a Loesche vertical roller mill with a capacity of 260tph (OPC). The scope of supply also includes a dynamic classifier type LDC, Pronamic grinding parts, a rotary feeder and associated equipment.

According to Loesche, Ramco has relied on its mill technology for many years, with component interchangeability between existing Loesche grinding plants cited as a key factor in the award of the contract.

The additional grinding plant is expected to increase overall production capacity at Kalvatala, one of Ramcos key facilities. Delivery of the new plant is scheduled for the second half of 2026, with commissioning planned to begin in December 2026.

Loesche, headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany, supplies grinding and processing technologies to the cement industry worldwide and is known for its vertical roller mill systems.

Ramco Cements has a strong presence in South and East India and continues to expand its grinding capacity in line with regional demand growth.
Physicians, community leaders, and friends will come together Friday, April 10, for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society and Foundations Denim & Diamonds. The event will be held at Collegedale Commons. Individual tickets are on sale at ChattMD.org.

This annual fundraiser helps support the Southeast Tennessee Project Access community health partnership, the LifeBridge Physician Wellbeing Initiative, youth educational programs, and a wide range of community health initiatives.

Denim & Diamonds is highlighted by live bluegrass from The New Dismembered Tennesseans and The Appalachian String Band. In addition, mouthwatering BBQ will be served by BBQ Rowe.

Denim & Diamonds is one of Chattanoogas fun events, and this year will be no exception, said Rae Bond, Medical Society and Foundation chief executive officer. Think of this year as an elevated backyard BBQ complete with music, fun, and great food. We want the community to know how much we appreciate their support of our programs to improve community health.

Project Access connects uninsured residents of Southeast Tennessee with specialty care, hospital care, and other services. It has coordinated $245 million in donated health care services to almost 28,000 uninsured individuals since its inception in April 2004.

Project Access saves lives, Ms. Bond said. The funds we raise at Denim & Diamonds support this work, allowing us to reach more patients across Southeast Tennessee. We chose Collegedale for this event to better engage both the Hamilton and Bradley County medical communities.

Denim & Diamonds also supports our LifeBridge physician well-being program, and provides a safety net of resources for doctors who are at risk of burnout, Ms. Bond said. The program tries to care for our caregivers.

Event proceeds also support future doctors through the Foundations Future Docs program. It offers opportunities for high school and undergraduate college students to job shadow local physicians and participate in medical vocation education. Some of our graduates now are actively practicing medicine in their respective communities.

Denim & Diamonds is open to the public. Table sponsorships are available and individual tickets are $150. To purchase your table or tickets, call the Medical Society at 423 622-2872 or visit chattmd.org. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact Kevin Lusk at kevin@chattmd.org.

Denim & Diamonds is sponsored by Erlanger, Galen Medical Group, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust, CommonSpirit, Windham Brannon, First Horizon Foundation, RockPointBank, Journey Health Foundation, WDEF-News 12, and Classic Country WUUQ-FM.
If youve called customer service recently, you already know this story.



Somewhere along the line, the business world convinced itself that customer service could be automated, camouflaged and buried under a maze of digital prompts.



Today, the burden has shifted entirely to the consumer, who is expected to do all the work - only to be met with a cold message telling them to wait for an email, try again tomorrow, submit a ticket, reset something or search a knowledge base. The underlying assumption seems to be that customers have unlimited time and unlimited patience to perform their own customer service.



Businesses have adopted technology not to serve customers, but to shield themselves from the cost of doing so. And once that shield goes up, the part that builds loyalty evaporates. If companies want to understand why frustration is boiling over, they dont need a consulting firm. They just need to pick up their own phone and try to get help like the rest of us. They would understand immediately, and cheerful marketing language cant hide it.



The fix isnt complicated. No chatbot pretending to be a person. A real human being with the authority to solve problems. When that happens, genuine customer service becomes a competitive advantage again.



Its time for businesses to stop pretending. If they believe customer service is optional, they should say so plainly. But if customers still matter - and they should - then its time to rebuild what has been allowed to erode.



Customers are fragile. Treat them with care, or they will go elsewhere. And remembering that it costs a business about five times as much to acquire a new customer as to keep an existing one might be enough to prompt a return to real, personal service.



Johnny Jones

* * *

Mr. Joness recent letter brought a smile to my face.



Mr. Jones, you make excellent points in your letter, though I suspect you haven't spent much time on the other end of the line. Having worked in call centers, I can tell you: it is one of the most soul-crushing professional experiences a person can have.



There is a classic Saturday Night Live sketch where Roseanne Barr "helps" a customer by saying exactly what every representative is actually thinking. Ive even seen that sketch used as a training video - an "example of what not to do" - but the irony is that the system almost forces you into that mindset.



The environment is governed by rigid metrics, not human needs. You must log in exactly on time - not a minute early or late. Breaks are timed to the second, and leaving your desk without catching a supervisors eye can result in a formal write-up. There are strict time limits for calls; the metric is often the length of the conversation, not whether the problem was actually solved. Reps are even discouraged from "polite conversation" that might make a customer feel valued, simply because it adds seconds to the clock. If you keep failing this metric, brush up your resume as youll be put on a measured assignment, then a write up, then out the door.



Most reps have no real authority. They lack access to voicemail or email to follow up on complex issues, forcing customers to call back five times and repeat their story to five different people. Management, meanwhile, is often insulated by a wall of "meetings and seminars," avoiding the very customers they are meant to serve.



Even Medicare Advantage Plans, which claim to champion seniors, often outsource calls to agents in other countries who are strictly bound by scripts. If your question isn't on their page, they can't help you. Not all seniors have hearing issues or have trouble understanding a foreign accent. To me it is just another hurdle to jump through. I finally requested my account be coded for "on-shore" agents only, which has worked so far - but a customer shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to find someone allowed to speak off-script.



Until companies prioritize "problem solved" over "time elapsed," the customer service experience will remain broken. But I think pigs will fly before that happens.



Please press 9 to end this letter.



Michael Szuromi
Authorities are investigating an apparent suicide after an attempted traffic stop Tuesday morning.

HCSO deputies observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed south on Birchwood Pike.



Deputies attempted to overtake the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop, and the driver pulled off the roadway onto a field near the 12400 block of Birchwood Pike. Once stopped, deputies approached the vehicle and observed the driver with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.



Medical aid was immediately administered, but the driver was pronounced deceased by Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services. Medical aid was immediately administered, but the driver was pronounced deceased by Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services.



HCSO detectives and the Hamilton County Medical Examiners Office are currently conducting the investigation, and the decedent was transported to the forensic center to further determine the cause and manner of death. Their identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Mario Merriweather, a repeat offender with a 30-year criminal history, has been sentenced to federal prison for robbing a fast-food restaurant in Fort Oglethorpe, and forcing restaurant staff into a walk-in freezer.

Undeterred by multiple stints in state prison, Merriweather repeatedly terrorized victims who were simply trying to go about their jobs, said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. His most recent attack on a Burger King restaurant has resulted in a significant sentence that demonstrates that criminals who try to have it their way by robbing citizens in this district will be held accountable and removed from the community.

No one should ever be terrorized physically or emotionally, like the victims in these violent armed robberies were, said Mitchell Jackson, special supervisory resident agent of FBI Georgias Cartersville office. The FBI is proud to work with our local law enforcement partners in helping to convict these repeat offenders at the federal level, where they face stiffer penalties and no opportunity for parole.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On Oct. 26, 2023, Merriweather entered a Burger King restaurant just two miles south of the Tennessee-Georgia state line and brandished what appeared to be a pistol. He ordered one employee to empty the register and ordered all the employees into a walk-in freezer. One employee used his foot to stop the freezer from locking, and another employee immediately called 911.

One of the employees who escaped from the freezer was lawfully armed and chased Merriweather outside. When Merriweather turned and pointed what appeared to be a firearm at the employee, the employee fired two shots at Merriweather but did not hit him. Merriweather fled but passed out next to his vehicle. Responding officers found Merriweather flat on his back in the road near an air pistol and also recovered a Burger King bag stuffed with cash.

Merriweather has a long history of prior robberies, including convictions for robbing a Wendys and a Burger King in 2001, robbing two people in 2005, and robbing two banks in 2013.

Merriweather was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Ray II to 11 years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Merriweather was convicted on charges of interference with interstate commerce by robbery on Aug. 14, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin A. Leipold, III prosecuted the case.
Mr. Pinkerton secured ballot access by collecting signatures from registered voters across District 6, a process required under Tennessee law. His qualification ensures that voters in District 6 will have a choice on the ballot in August.

Ballot access isnt about winning an election.Its about making sure the community has a voice and a choice, Mr. Pinkerton said. Im grateful to the neighbors who signed my petition and helped ensure this election isnt decided before voters ever step into a voting booth.

Mr. Pinkerton is running as a community-first independent, emphasizing accessibility, transparency, and accountability in county government. Rather than running on a predetermined party platform, he will launch a community input process that will include neighborhood listening sessions as well as public surveys to help shape a people-driven agenda rooted in local priorities.

Too often, decisions at the county level feel distant or predetermined, Mr. Pinkerton said. My goal is to bring people into the process early, explain how county government actually works, and make sure District 6 residents are heard before decisions are made, not after.

Mr. Pinkerton plans to continue meeting with residents across District 6 in the coming weeks through small neighborhood conversations and listening sessions.

Justin Pinkerton, a lifelong District 6 resident and Red Bank native, has officially qualified for the general election ballot as an independent candidate for Hamilton County Commission, District 6.
Carlie Fortner Wojnovich, 80, of Hixson, Tennessee, passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2026, in a local healthcare facility.

She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, where she formerly sang in the church choir and had served as a Childrens Sunday school teacher. Carlie retired from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as a computer systems analyst after more than 35 years of dedicated service and was also an active member of the TVA Retirees Association. In her leisure time, she found great joy in working crossword puzzles and cross-stitching.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Belle Hamblin Fortner.

Those left to cherish her memory include her beloved husband of 46 years, Mark Wojnovich; daughter, Lisa Wojnovich; brother, Gary Fortner; along with several extended family members and a host of dear friends.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, with burial to follow at Hamilton County Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, Feb. 22, from 4-6 p.m., and on Monday, Feb. 23, from 1-p.m. until the hour of service at 2 p.m.

Arrangements are by Legacy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 8911 Dallas Hollow Road, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 423 843-2525. To share memories, photos or condolences, please visit www.legacyfuneralhome.com.
Day Shift February 17: A Squad



26-001492  1500 BLK Keeble Street  Disorder

Police Officers responded to an Unknown 911 call at this location and quickly determined there was a verbal disorder between a husband and wife. Upon further investigation, Police found that the argument stemmed from the mother wanting to leave with their juvenile daughter. Patrol spoke with the adults through a translator and explained their options. The couple agreed to separate for the night to de-escalate the situation.

26-001460  1200 BLK John Ross Road- Assist Citizen -

The caller requested an officer contact her regarding Animal Services taking her cats. She was informed shed need to attend her court hearing to discuss getting her animals back.



26-001462-6400 BLK Ringgold Road- Traffic Stop/Arrest

Officers stopped a vehicle for a broken taillight. The passenger had an active warrant through Hamilton County Sessions Court. She was taken into custody without incident and transported to Hamilton County Jail without incident

26-001461  6700 BLK Ringgold Road  Mental Health

A man was taken into protective custody after calling police stating a man was threatening him with a gun. Once officers arrived on scene, he stated he lied about the firearm to get a faster police response and stated he was suicidal. He was taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.



Night Shift February 17 : C Squad

The Patrol Shift conducted a traffic saturation on S Moore Road due to complaints of speeding. A total of 12 traffic stops were made with several citations issued.



26-001481  3400 BLK Frawley Street  Suicide Threats

A concerned mother reported her adult son was expressing suicidal thoughts. Police responded to the location and waited for the mother to coerce her son outside the house. Police then spoke with the adult male and determined he was having thoughts of self-harm. The male was taken into

protective custody and transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.



26-001484  3600 BLK Ringgold Road  Traffic Stop / Arrest for Other Agency

During a traffic stop, the driver of the vehicle was found to have a warrant through the Hamilton County Sessions Court. The original charge on the warrant was Driving on a Suspended License. He was taken into custody and transported to Hamilton County Jail without incident.

26-001494  1600 BLK South Seminole Drive  Noise Complaint

A neighbor reported a dog at this address had been barking for several hours. Police Officers canvased the area but did not hear or observe any dogs barking in the area.



26-001503  1500 BLK Maxwell Road  Business Alarm

Patrol responded to two separate burglar alarms at the US Post Office. On the second alarm, Police met with a Post Office employee who stated they were having issues with the alarm system. A repair timeframe for the alarm was yet to be determined.
Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU) announces the retirement of John Pogue from the institutions board of directors. Mr. Pogue served as a dedicated member for 49 years.

Mr. Pogue began volunteering with the credit union in 1977 as a member of the Credit Committee, moved to the Supervisory Committee in 1978, and became a board member in 1980. At the time, the institutionthen known as the Chattanooga TVA Employees Credit Unionoperated from a small headquarters on Chestnut Street with 13 employees and $130 million in assets. Member meetings were held at the Tivoli Theatre, where Mr. Pogue became the last board member elected in the historic venue.

During his tenure, TVFCU grew into the largest credit union in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia, now serving more than 174,000 members with over 550 employees and more than $3 billion in assets.

Outside of TVFCU, Mr. Pogue worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority for more than 30 years as Supervisor of Budget and Accounting for the Division of Medical Services and has long been committed to volunteer service.

Its been a pleasure and honor being a volunteer over the past 49 years at the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, said Mr. Pogue. As the credit union celebrates its 90th anniversary, its hard to believe I was there for 49 of those years and able to be a part of its growth and success.

Mr. Pogue will continue to share his extensive knowledge and experience in the role of Board Emeritus. Rebecca Hunter has been appointed to fulfill the remainder of his term.
Sushan Sonny Anand, 82, passed away unexpectedly on February 16, 2026, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Born in Amritsar, India, to Sukh Lal Anand and Swarn Lata Chopra, Sushan was the eldest of five children. Raised with strong Hindu values of dharma (duty), seva (service), and deep devotion to family, these guiding principles shaped the course of his life.

Sushan attended university in Germany, then later came to New York in 1967 with a job, twenty dollars, and dreams. Through faith, perseverance, and unwavering belief in opportunity, he built a remarkable life. From his early career at the Scottsboro, Al. plant of Ballet Fabrics to co-founding Polymer Industries with his good friend, Kapal Saigal, and later expanding into hotels, real estate, lending institutions, and the global trade of plastics and cotton, amongst other goods. Sushan embodied the spirit of hard work, determination, and was always committed to uplifting others in his community. He was a founding member of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association and a past president of the Indian Association of Chattanooga, founder of the Anand Martin Foundation.

In 1971, he married the love of his life, Cathy Martin of Scottsboro, Al. Their 54-year marriage was a testament to devotion, partnership, and shared purpose. Together they built businesses, along with a strong and loving family.

Sushan believed deeply in karma - that ones actions, generosity, and integrity shape both life and legacy. He was known for extending opportunity to others, especially to those newly arriving in America, remembering his own humble beginnings. He often reminded his children and grandchildren that family is sacred and advised to hold family relationships dear to your heart.

Sushan cherished his family gatherings every Sunday for lunch, sharing stories of perseverance, faith, and the value of hard work. He spent the final week of his life vacationing with his kids and grandchildren, enjoying every moment of life.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Anil Anand and Sushama Kataria.

Sushan is survived by his beloved wife, Cathy Anand; his siblings, Satish (Neeru) Anand and Sumita Arora; several cousins including Ashok Khanna, his sister-in-law, Patsy Barber (George), his three sons, Yashu Josh Anand, Anil (Angie) Anand, and Devon (Melody) Anand; and his nine grandchildren, Aaron (Molly Kate), Taylor (Mirelly), Rami, Riley (George), Devon, Milani, Priti, Aadan, and Ari. He especially loved getting to meet his two great granddaughters, Gabriella and Elena, before his passing.

According to Hindu tradition, while the body returns to the elements, the atman (soul) is eternal. Sushans light, wisdom, and blessings live on through the generations he nurtured. His life stands as an example of faith in action, perseverance through adversity, and devotion to family.

Visitation will be from 25 p.m on Sunday, Feb. 22, at Chattanooga Funeral Home in Hixson

Additional visitation will be from 121:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, at Chattanooga Funeral Home in Hixson.

The funeral service will be on Monday, Feb. 23, at 1:30 p.m. at Chattanooga Funeral Home in Hixson, with cremation to follow.

God bless all.

Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.
Home News Blast destroys NY church leaving 5, including pastor, critically injured

Quick Summary AI Summary A Tuesday blast destroyed the Abundant Life Fellowship church in Boonville, New York.

Five individuals, including pastor Brandon Pitts, sustained critical injuries.

New York State Police are investigating the explosion triggered by a furnace activation. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

A pastor and four firefighters were injured Tuesday after a massive explosion destroyed the Abundant Life Fellowship church in Boonville, New York, and left survivors grateful to be alive.

Our building is a total loss," church elder Lydia Huntress wrote in a statement on the churchs Facebook page. "If you are tempted to get an up-close look, please DO NOT. It is an active investigation scene, and only the professionals may be there for now."

The New York State Police said first responders arrived at the church after receiving a call at around 10:23 a.m. about a gas odor inside the building. There were four people in the churchs basement when the furnace activated, triggering the explosion. A firefighter who was on the first floor trying to ventilate the building was thrown against a wall.

According to police, a propane fuel line was damaged by the roof slumping caused by heavy snow accumulation.

The churchs pastor, 43-year-old Brandon Pitts, was transported to Upstate Hospital along with Boonville Fire Chief David Pritchard Jr., 60. Three other members of the Boonville Fire Department were also transported to local hospitals. Nicholas Amicucci, 43, and Richard Czajka, 71, were taken to Upstate Hospital, while Allan Austin, 67, was taken to Wynn Hospital.

All of the injured were listed as critical but stable.

Huntress said the Booneville fire chief, is in the most vulnerable condition.

Pastor Brandon is being treated for some second-degree burns, but is alert, and we were told was able to do some joking with hospital staff, which is very much like him and excellent news, she said, thanking The Boonville Elks Lodge and Boonville Methodist Church for providing the congregation with space to pray and fellowship in the wake of the blast.

[They] so very graciously opened their doors wide as gathering spaces for our congregation members and community today; lots of worship and prayer have already been lifted, and we thank you for providing space, food, and many hugs today! she added.

Derrick Mosher told WWNY he was inside the building at the time of the blast.

It was just... BOOM. And then I said to myself, What was that? he recalled. Thats when I realized I was underneath the rubble. Im just grateful to be alive."

Moshers wife, Holly Siegel-Mosher, agrees that divine intervention prevented her husband from getting hurt.

My husband was leaving to go to the church. I was feeling something in the air, not knowing what it was, or I couldnt put my finger on it, I immediately went to God in prayer, she said.

Our hearts are burdened and very heavy, but we know something positive will come out of this, and we stand on His promises. The church is just a building, and the church can be rebuilt.

Constableville Volunteer Fire Company, which assisted the Booneville Fire Department in responding to the blast, offered prayers for the injured on Tuesday and encouraged others to pray for their recovery.

Tonight we pray for all of those injured firefighters and for the church pastor that were inside but made it out with injuries. We pray for healing and recovery. We also share our deepest sympathies with the whole church congregation for the loss of their place of worship, the group said in a statement.

If so moved, we ask that you help us in lifting up our brothers and the pastor in prayer for healing and for the doctors, nurses, and staff to have the best plan to care for them all.
Home News 'Scandalous': Carrie Prejean Boller to receive 'Catholic Champion' award at gala with Candace Owens

Quick Summary AI Summary Carrie Prejean Boller to receive 'Catholic Champion' award at a gala featuring Candace Owens.

Critics label the award recognition as 'scandalous' following Bollers removal from Trump's Religious Liberty Commission.

Event organizers urge attendees to reconsider participation due to concerns over antisemitism. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

A Catholic leader directing a movement against antisemitism called it scandalous for Carrie Prejean Boller to receive a Catholic Champion award following her removal from President Donald Trumps Religious Liberty Commission, which Boller claimed was due to her faith and rejection of Zionism.

Simone Rizkallah, the director of the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism, urged fellow believers not to attend a prayer gala on March 19 organized by the advocacy group Catholics for Catholics.

Boller, former Miss California and a Catholic convert, is scheduled to receive an award for her courageous defense of the Catholic faith during a commission hearing, according to an announcement last week by Catholics for Catholics President John Yep. The event will be held in Washington, D.C., and feature several speakers, including Candace Owens and Daily Wire commentator Matt Walsh.

In a statement to The Christian Post, Rizkallah said Bollers behavior during a commission hearing on combating antisemitism was not an act of Catholic courage, and disputed the claim that Bollers faith had anything to do with her removal.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who chairs the Religious Liberty Commission, announced Bollers removal last week, stating that "no member of the Commission has the right to hijack a hearing for their own personal and political agenda on any issue."

During the hearing, the former Miss California defended media personality Candace Owens, who has garnered attention in recent years for her controversial comments about Israel and the Jewish people. Boller asserted that Owens just doesnt support Zionism, denying that the media personality had ever said anything antisemitic.

Critics of Owens have expressed concerns that the influencer is encouraging Jew hatred by urging her listeners to read Der Talmudjude by the German-Catholic theologian August Rohling. The work, which misrepresented Talmudic texts, acted as a foundational text for later antisemitic propaganda.

Other remarks by Owens that have sparked concern from critics include her amplifying the claim that Jews ran the transatlantic slave trade, which historians have noted is false. The influencer has also attracted controversy for questioning established facts about the Holocaust, accusing Israel of being involved in President John F. Kennedys assassination, and suggesting that people who criticize Israel are in danger of being killed.

Boller also claimed during the hearing that Catholics dont support Zionism, and she also pushed back against the idea that anti-Zionism  the denial of the Jewish peoples right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland  is a form of antisemitism.

This was inappropriate behavior that warranted her removal, as Lt. Gov. Patrick rightly determined, Rizkallah told CP. She should not be rewarded for such conduct, nor should it be held up as a model of Catholic witness.

The uptick in Catholic antisemitism  call it what you want, 'anti-Jewish sentiment  was present before the war in Israel/Gaza. The violence against our Jewish friends that American Catholics have witnessed on American soil in the last few years should be enough to disturb us, she added. At the very least, it should alert us to the tone-deafness  if not outright malice  of Miss Prejean's behavior and the scandal of celebrating it.

The CCAA director also called it scandalous that Catholics for Catholics has included Owens in its speaker lineup for the prayer gala.

According to Rizkallah, Catholic events should feature speakers who exemplify Catholic teaching and virtue, not those who promote division, conspiracy theories, or use inflammatory rhetoric that contradicts the [Catholic] Church's call to charity and truth.

In response to an inquiry from CP, a Catholics for Catholics spokesperson explained that the organization customarily awards individuals who have stood out for their patriotism and defense of the Catholic faith. The spokesperson also cited the groups breakdown of the Catholic view of Zionism, which it included in its announcement that Boller is to receive one of its Catholic Champion awards.

In summary, the statement explains that the Catholic Church acknowledges Israels right to exist under NATURAL LAW but rejects the theological claims that tie modern political sovereignty directly to divine covenant promises, the spokesperson told CP. Therefore, to be a Catholic Christian  does not in any way cause Catholics to embrace Zionism (biblically loaded) as the fulfillment of a prophecy.

The Catholics for Catholics representative added that the organization rejects all antisemitism, which is simply hatred of Jews. We desire no harm to come to our Jewish friends but only their true and highest good, which is found in their Christ and ours.

Regarding Bollers defense of Owens, the spokesperson said the organization doesn't know whether the converts support for the media personality is related to her political views or to another reason.

However, we assume the controversy with Owens is because she is constantly labeled as [antisemitic] for the same reason of not supporting the modern state of Israel and its government  which again, its confusing because the term anti-Zionism is not [antisemitism], the spokesperson insisted, directing CP to a Catholics for Catholics blog on the subject.

In a Saturday X post, the former Miss California expressed gratitude toward the Catholic advocacy group for choosing to recognize her with an award, which she said filled her with a renewed commitment to defend religious liberty for all Americans, so that no one is ever compelled to compromise their faith or conscience.

I humbly accept this Catholic Champion Award on behalf of all Americans who will not be forced to forsake their religious beliefs or theological convictions to conform to any political ideology, Boller stated.

As Catholics, we believe that the promises made to Israel find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ and are extended to all through His Church, she continued. The People of God are not defined by modern political borders, but by belonging to Christ.

The Catholic convert added: Our faith does not bind us to treat any contemporary nation-state as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Salvation history is fulfilled in Christ, and the Church is the People of God drawn from every tribe and nation.

On the topic of Zionism, Rizkallah noted that Catholic theology doesn't teach that the modern State of Israel represents the direct fulfillment of biblical prophecy or a predetermined eschatological event, a theological framework found in some strands of Protestant Christian denominations.

The CCAA director contended, however, that the Catholic Churchs position is both clear and nuanced: politically, she recognizes Israel's legitimacy; theologically, she does not ground that recognition in prophetic claims about the modern state.

Yet the conversation should not stop there  another point often ignored in simplistic commentary. While the Catholic Church does not embrace prophetic or eschatological forms of Christian Zionism, Catholic theology does leave room for distinctly Catholic theological reflection that affirms the enduring covenantal significance of the Jewish people and the moral legitimacy of Jewish self-determination in their historic homeland, Rizkallah continued.

This allows Catholics to recognize the profound historical and theological meaning of the Jewish return to their ancestral land without collapsing that reflection into prophetic literalism or partisan politics.

Rizkallah encouraged people to listen to a bonus episode of the "Beyond Rome" podcast to better understand Minimalist Catholic Zionism. She also urged Catholics not to receive their catechesis from events like the Catholics for Catholics gala or from figures who exploit Catholic identity for political purposes.

Instead, turn to actual theologians  Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Gavin D'Costa, Father Thomas Joseph White, and others who have devoted themselves to rigorous theological reflection on these complex questions, the CCAA leader stated.

Precision matters. When public figures speak carelessly about the [Catholic] Church's teaching, they do not merely express a personal opinion  they create confusion, distort Catholic doctrine, and undermine serious efforts at CatholicJewish understanding, she added. Catholics deserve better than slogans masquerading as theology.
Home News Powerful move of God: Southeastern University experiencing continuous worship on campus

Students at a Christian university in Florida have continued to gather for worship and prayer several days after an annual three-day conference concluded.

The conference, which started last Monday, featured speaker Jennie Allen. As the event concluded, many students stayed to pray and worship, and the band continued to play.

Southeastern University President Kent Ingle said in video remarks that the students' hunger for worship was both beautiful and humbling to witness.

In an interview with CBN, Jonathan Rivera, a campus pastor, said when Allen called students to repentance, everything changed.

"What she did was she asked students to confess sin publicly and as loud as possible," Rivera said. "At first, we were kind of like, we don't know how this is going to look or where it's going to go, and students literally leaned in completely and started shouting as loud as they could, confessing sin, burdens, issues, all kinds of stuff. And after that happened, something shifted in the room, something undeniable happened that we all felt."

The annual conference traditionally centers on teaching sessions and musical worship within a defined schedule, Rivera told Premier Christian News, noting that perceived limits on spiritual expectation are changing.

Rivera told CBN that, after seeing the students' response, they "just leaned into it" and rescheduled breakout sessions and even canceled classes.

Administrators also responded by making Bush Chapel available for uninterrupted use so participants could remain in prayer and worship. Activity in the chapel has continued throughout the day and night.

Rivera said recent days brought accounts of physical healing among those present. Such reports circulated within the campus community during the extended gathering. Academic routines paused for a short period as leaders evaluated the situation.

A revised schedule later permitted both enrolled students and visitors from outside the university to enter the chapel during designated times.

The university added that the moment followed months of collective prayer and spiritual preparation connected to the conference, according to the SEU website.

Organizers connected the conference theme to a desire for renewed spiritual experience. What began as a spark during Southeastern Universitys annual SEU Conference has extended into a powerful, sustained Move of God in Bush Chapel. This was not born of our own efforts; rather, it is the result of months of prayer and surrendering to the will of God, says the website.

There was a fire that was lit during the five sessions of SEU Conference, but it did not leave when the speakers stepped off the stage. We witnessed students with hearts of desperation and hunger returning to their first love. The theme of the conference was Do it Again, just asking that the Lord would come and show us His love and power again. He has surpassed our expectations, unleashing a move of God onto our campus, it added.

For over 24 hours, our students have remained in a posture of continuous worship, prayer, and seeking the presence of Jesus. This is not about noise or an emotional high. Instead, it is about a deep hunger and desire to be formed in the image of Christ.

Rivera also spoke about the involvement of younger participants and called their engagement self-motivated rather than directed by authority figures. He said the willingness to remain in worship reflected personal spiritual interest among attendees.

Allen expressed public support through a social media message and encouraged prayer for those guiding the gathering and for the students taking part.

Rivera relayed statements from students who voiced a preference to remain in the worship setting rather than return immediately to normal academic routines.
Home News Evangelist arrested for criticizing Islam, gender ideology after a couple complained

Quick Summary AI Summary British pastor Dia Moodley arrested for criticizing Islam and gender ideology.

Arrest followed complaints from a couple during his preaching in Bristol on Nov. 22.

Charges were later dropped, but Moodley remains uncertain about potential criminal charges. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

A British pastor has been arrested for criticizing Islam and gender ideology, his latest encounter with law enforcement amid concerns about the state of free speech in the United Kingdom.

The conservative nonprofit legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom International announced in a statement Monday that Pastor Dia Moodley was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police for criticizing Islam and transgender ideology while preaching in Bristol city centre on Nov. 22.

Moodley was arrested on suspicion of violating a provision of the Public Order Act 1986, which bans inciting religious hatred.

ADF International clarified that the arrest stemmed from Moodleys remarks, insisting that there is a gender binary and his discussion of Christianity and other religions, including Islam.

While Moodley engaged in respectful dialogue with several people gathered in Bristol city centre, one couple objected to his comments about trans-identified people and called the police. After taking statements from those who objected to Moodleys speech, police arrested the pastor for inciting religious hatred and committing a religiously aggravated offense.

Video footage of the arrest shows Moodley urging police officers to place the handcuffs on the front of his body since he has a heart condition. A supporter of Moodley, who was not visible on camera, told the officers, Youre making a big mistake, and Youre not checking eyewitnesses, and accused them of bias by taking one eyewitness over another. The officers defended their actions, asking, Were duty bound, arent we?

Moodley spent eight hours in custody and was released with bail conditions prohibiting him from entering Bristol city centre throughout the Christmas season. Although the charges were later dropped, law enforcement officials visited Moodleys home in January to question him about the November incident and invite him to participate in a voluntary interview. Moodley is still unsure whether he will face criminal charges for his speech.

This latest arrest has had a profoundly negative effect on me and has been extremely challenging personally, Moodley said. I am a law-abiding citizen and it feels surreal that the police have criminalized me so harshly and repeatedly merely for peacefully expressing my Christian views in the public square.

"The police view me, a Christian pastor, as an easy target and are afraid of others being offended by my lawful speech, Moodley added. This is two-tier policing in action.

Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF International, cited Moodleys arrest as evidence that police are using public order legislation to impose de facto blasphemy laws in the UK. Igunnubole said Moodley's case "is far from an isolated incident" and "part of a clear pattern" by local police of targeting the pastor for his "peaceful expression in the public square."

"[Police] have failed in their duty to investigate serious crimes committed against him, by those who objected to his speech," the lawyer stressed.

The police must stop their two-tier approach of criminalizing lawful speech. There has long been a pressing need for Parliament to pass legislation to ensure the right to freedom of expression is robustly protected in this country, Igunnubole added. Pastor Dias case is all the more pressing as the government finalizes its broad and ambiguous definition of anti-Muslim hatred, which risks censoring legitimate speech related to Islam.

The attorney explained that the pastor's case is an example of how authorities "can misconstrue peaceful comments on Islam as hateful and criminal."

This misconstruction will be repeated unless clarity is provided to preserve the ability of citizens to peacefully comment, discuss and criticize in accordance with their core beliefs," Ingunnubole stated.

Moodley was previously arrested in March 2024 for making similar comments about Islam and the binary nature of sex. In addition to spending 13 hours in custody, Moodley had signs stolen from him by students at the nearby Bristol University.

When he preached in Bristol on another occasion, Moodley encountered hostile protesters, including a Muslim bystander who threatened to stab him and a group of Muslim bystanders who pinned him to the ground and attempted to steal his Quran. Moodley held the Quran as he preached in Bristol in an attempt to highlight the differences between Christianity and Islam.

When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they did little to subdue the hostile protesters, one of whom continued to threaten him. While a senior inspector later arrived at the scene and assured Moodley he would not be arrested, the pastor filed a complaint against the police.
Home News Judge bars ICE raids at some churches, calls policy profoundly troubling

Quick Summary AI Summary U.S. District Judge Dennis Saylor IV, a George W. Bush appointee, bars ICE raids at some churches in a preliminary injunction.

Last year, DHS rescinded policy enacted during the Obama administration prohibiting immigration operations at "sensitive" locations.

Under injunction, immigration enforcement actions at churches will only be allowed under exigent circumstances. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from conducting immigration enforcement raids on a group of churches, calling the policy profoundly troubling.

U.S. District Judge Dennis Saylor IV of the District of Massachusetts, a George W. Bush appointee, issued a preliminary injunction Friday against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The prospect that a street-level law-enforcement agent  acting without a judicial warrant and with little or no supervisory control  could conduct a raid during a church service, or lie in wait to interrogate or seize congregants as they seek to enter a church, is profoundly troubling, wrote Saylor.

If government interference with those freedoms is ever justifiable, it is only in relatively extreme circumstances, such as an immediate threat to public safety. The routine enforcement of the immigration laws does not involve such a threat, and cannot justify the harm to religious freedom posed by the new policy.

Last year, a coalition of Christian groups, led by the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, sued to stop a new DHS policy allowing federal agents to conduct immigration enforcement operations on church properties and in other "sensitive" areas, including churches and schools.

Enacted last January, the DHS announced the rescission of a policy enacted during the Obama administration prohibiting immigration law enforcement operations from "sensitive" locations. The move prompted concern from religious leaders, and many Latino churches have faced declining attendance in the last year amid heightened fears.

"Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest," stated DHS at the time. "The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense."

"The Biden-Harris Administration abused the humanitarian parole program to indiscriminately allow 1.5 million migrants to enter our country. This was all stopped on day one of the Trump Administration. This action will return the humanitarian parole program to its original purpose of looking at migrants on a case-by-case basis."

In his order, Saylor stated that while the government certainly has a compelling interest in the enforcement of the immigration laws, the current policy is not, in fact, the least restrictive means of furthering that interest.

The preliminary injunction applies only to the plaintiff coalition of churches and not nationwide. The injunction will exempt immigration-enforcement actions taken pursuant to an administrative warrant or judicial warrant.

The preliminary injunction issued by the Court will permit such operations only in exigent circumstances, regardless of supervisory approval, the injunction added.

The Court can conceive of no circumstance, outside of a true emergency, in which a law-enforcement operation to enforce the immigration laws inside a church would be justifiable under the First Amendment and [the Religious Freedom Restoration Act].

The policy reversal sparked criticism from some religious leaders and multiple lawsuits accusing the administration of violating churches' First Amendment rights.

The coalition of Christian groups sued DHS and Kristi Noem in her capacity as the agency's secretary last July, alleging in part that the new policy violated their religious freedom.

Plaintiffs included regional bodies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, regional bodies of the Religious Society of Friends, American Baptist Churches USA, the Alliance of Baptists and Metropolitan Community Churches.

The Christian groups were represented by the progressive legal group Democracy Forward, the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs and Gilbert LLP.

Democracy Forward President Skye Perryman said in a statement that her organization will not give up until this unlawful and dangerous policy is struck down."

"Raids in churches and sacred spaces violate decades of norms in both Democratic and Republican administrations, core constitutional protections, and basic human decency," Perryman stated. "Faith communities should not have to choose between their spiritual commitments and the safety of their congregants."
Home News Worship pastor arrested, faces charges of rape, sodomy with a minor

Quick Summary AI Summary A 40-year-old worship pastor from Kentucky was arrested on charges of rape and sodomy involving a minor.

He faces multiple charges, including third-degree rape and second-degree sodomy.

The worship pastor was released on a $75,000 bond. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

A Kentucky pastor has been arrested on charges of rape and sodomy related to allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a minor.

The Kentucky State Police announced Monday that they had arrested David A. Rodgers, a 40-year-old resident of Utica, after an investigation revealed he engaged in a sexual relationship with a juvenile through a position of special trust.

Rodgers was lodged in the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro, KY. The investigation is ongoing by Kentucky State Police detectives, noted authorities.

Rodgers is facing charges of third-degree rape, second-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse, Procuring or Promoting Use of a Minor by Electronic Means and Possession of Matter Portraying Sexual Performance by a Minor Under 12.

Rodgers had been serving as worship pastor at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of Owensboro.

In a statement released shortly after the arrest, the church said it has fired Rodgers and prohibited him from attending any church events.

We are deeply saddened and troubled by these allegations. The church takes all allegations of sexual assault extremely serious[ly] and we ask that you join us in prayerfully waiting [for] information regarding this ongoing legal matter, stated Pleasant Grove Baptist.

We understand that for sexual assault survivors, this may initiate feelings of pain and past trauma. Please know we are praying for you and your continued healing.

Church leadership went on to ask that you join with us in prayer as we strive for Gods guidance as we seek truth, accountability, and discernment.

Pleasant Grove has always taken the physical, spiritual, and emotional safety of those on our campus, especially our children, with the utmost concern and that continues to remain of primary importance, they stated.

Church family, any updates on this situation or to this official statement will be communicated here or in-person.

According to authorities, the alleged relationship with a minor, who was a member of the church, began around a decade ago when the victim was between 12 and 13 years old, and lasted for about four to five years, according to The Lexington Herald-Leader.

Rodgers was released on Tuesday when he posted a $75,000 bond. The conditions of his release include not being allowed to contact children and that he must be at least 500 feet away from the victim.
Home News Pope Leo XIV declines invite to join Trump's Board of Peace

Quick Summary AI Summary Pope Leo XIV declines Trump's invitation to join the Board of Peace.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin cites commitment to the United Nations as the reason for the decline.

Other nations, including Denmark and France, have also rejected invitations to the Board of Peace. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

Pope Leo XIV has declined President Donald Trumps invitation to join the newly established Board of Peace, citing a commitment to the United Nations as the international peacekeeping body.

While speaking to reporters Tuesday, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin announced that the Vatican will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States. Parolin elaborated on the Vaticans concerns about the Board of Peace.

There are points that leave us somewhat perplexed," Parolin said. "There are some critical points that would need to find explanations.

At the international level, it should above all be the UN that manages these crisis situations, he said. This is one of the points on which we have insisted.

The Vatican is one of several sovereign states worldwide that have declined Trumps invitation to join the Board of Peace. Others include Denmark, France, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden. As explained on the Board of Peaces official website, a total of 62 nations have been invited to join the international body.

The Board of Peace was officially unveiled last month at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Part of Trumps peace deal to end the Israel-Hamas conflict, the U.N. Security Council approved the creation of the Board of Peace in Resolution 2803, envisioning the body as a transitional administration with international legal personality that will set the framework, and coordinate funding for, the redevelopment of Gaza pursuant to the peace plan.

The war in the Gaza Strip began after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on civilians and military targets in southern Israel, which prompted an Israeli military offensive to eradicate Hamas and secure the release of hostages.

The charter of the Board of Peace says it seeks to "promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.

Trump serves as chair of the Board of Peace and appointed its Executive Board, which consists of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel Jr.

The Executive Board is tasked with overseeing a defined portfolio critical to Gazas stabilization and long-term success, including, but not limited to, governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization.

Member states that have accepted Trumps invitation to join the body and signed the charter at last months signing ceremony, include Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. Additional countries that are part of the Board of Peace but did not participate in the signing ceremony include Albania, Bahrain, Belarus, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, Morocco and Vietnam.

The U.N.s authorization of the Board of Peace lasts through Dec. 31, 2027. At that time, the U.N. Security Council will decide whether or not to extend it. The charter for the Board of Peace states that the international body shall dissolve at such time as the Chairman considers necessary or appropriate, or at the end of every odd-numbered calendar year, unless renewed by the Chairman no later than November 21 of such odd-numbered calendar year.
Home News South African megachurch Pastor At Boshoff divorces wife after more than 30 years of marriage

Despite historically preaching that marriage is a lifelong, permanent union based on God's original design, influential South African megachurch pastor, At Boshoff, has quietly divorced his wife, Nyretta, after more than 30 years of marriage.

Boshoff is the founder and senior pastor of Christian Revival Church headquartered in South Africa. The megachurch boasts more than 90 churches and 120,000 members spread across Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. He also sits on the Global Council of Empowered21  the world's largest relational network for Spirit-empowered Christians  chaired by Billy Wilson, president of Oral Roberts University.

Court documents cited by the Press Council Fair said Boshoffs unopposed divorce was finalized in the Gauteng Local Division of the High Court in Johannesburg on Oct. 18, 2024. At least two months after his divorce was final, however, some international CRC congregations were reportedly celebrating what would have been the couples 37th wedding anniversary on Dec. 5 that year. The church has yet to acknowledge Boshoffs split from his wife.

Boshoffs divorce also comes years after Zimbabwean-born self-styled prophet and religious leader King Jay Israel claimed in May 2022 that Boshoff committed adultery and he and Nyretta had split three years prior.

Christian Revival Church did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Christian Post on Wednesday about Boshoffs divorce or Israels allegations.

When it comes to divorce, conservative Christians generally point to Malachi 2:16, where God states, "I hate divorce," as well as Jesus teaching in Matthew 19:6, which states: "What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."

Divorce is allowed in cases of abuse (physical or emotional), adultery and abandonment.

During a relationship conference in 2012, Boshoff, 61, warned a large group of young Christians about marriage, citing U.S. statistics showing that 50% of couples divorced in the first two years.

More recent data shows that the U.S. divorce rate has declined to its lowest level in decades, with some 40%-45% of marriages projected to end in divorce. Divorce among adults 50 and older, known as Gray divorce, rose from 1990 to 2008 and only recently leveled off, according to Pew Research.

Some possible reasons for gray divorce are because of our increased longevity. People are less willing to endure unhappy marriages for so long and are more optimistic that they will find another partner. And so older adults are more willing to divorce than they were in the past, Rosie Shrout, assistant professor in the Purdue University Department of Human Development and Family Science, explained in a recent discussion on the subject.

Because people are living longer, there are more opportunities to develop new romantic relationships across adulthood, including after a divorce or widowhood, Shrout said.

While it remains unclear what triggered the Boshoffs divorce, Shrout stated that modern women are more comfortable with getting divorced today than women decades ago because many are also financially independent.

"Compared to decades ago, women couldnt own their own bank accounts; they couldnt have their own credit cards. They were admitted to college at much lower rates, and they were having kids and getting married at a younger age, Shrout explained.

Today, we have a generation of older women who have been able to attend college, have careers, and make their own money. If they are unhappy, they now have the economic independence and autonomy to divorce in older age rather than previous generations of women who might not have had the same opportunities.
Home News Senate candidate James Talarico claims abortion, gay marriage 'aren't mentioned' in the Bible Salvation found by following Matthew 25, Talarico says

Quick Summary AI Summary Senate candidate James Talarico claims the Bible doesn't mention abortion or gay marriage.

Talarico asserts that Jesus taught salvation through treating others well and welcoming strangers.

His pastor claims Jesus is a 'radical feminist' and gay marriage is biblical. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

U.S. Senate candidate and Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, claimed during a Monday interview that the Bible has nothing to say about abortion or gay marriage, and that Jesus Christ taught salvation is obtained by treating people well and "welcoming the stranger."

"Jesus in Matthew 25 tells us exactly how you and I and every one of our fellow believers, how we're going to be judged and how we're going to be saved: by feeding the hungry, by healing the sick, by welcoming the stranger," Talarico said to applause in a segment of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

"Nothing about going to church, nothing about voting Republican. It was all about how you treat other people," he added.

Its important that you understand what happened last night.



Last night, Stephen Colbert interviewed Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, a candidate who, by all accounts, is on track in the polls to flip Texas blue.



In response, Trumps FCC reportedly threatened pic.twitter.com/IEyWg7KnuW  Joshua Reed Eakle ???? (@JoshEakle) February 17, 2026

Talarico's theological assertion came in response to a question from Colbert that characterized "the religious right" as "largely a political movement that references spirituality" while attempting "to use religion as a tool of political power."

Echoing Colbert's description, Talarico suggested "the religious right" has made an idol of political power and spent the last half-century convincing "a lot of our fellow Christians that the most important issues were abortion and gay marriage; two issues that aren't mentioned in the Bible, two issues that Jesus never talked about."

Talarico, who attends classes at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, which is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), went on to claim that "Jesus gave us two commandments: love God and love neighbor."

"And there was no exception to that second commandment," Talarico continued, before adding to what Jesus said in Matthew 22:36-40. "Love thy neighbor, regardless of race or gender or sexual orientation or immigration status or religious affiliation."

Talarico also removed the context of what Jesus said in the passage he cited, which recounts Him answering a question regarding which of the commandments was most important, not which were the only ones. Neither was Jesus issuing new commandments, but rather quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets," Jesus said, according to the text.

Talarico, who faces a state primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, on March 3, also denounced "Christian nationalism," which he defined as "the worship of power in the name of Christ" and "a betrayal of Jesus of Nazareth."

Talarico, whose pastor at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, faced denominational trial in the PCUSA for ordaining LGBT clergy since the 1990s, has previously made controversial theological claims, including that God is non-binary, that Jesus was a "radical feminist" and that there are six biological sexes.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., recently addressed what he characterized as the common misapplication of Matthew 25:35 to immigration law and the civil authorities generally.

Q: Pope Leo cited Matthew 25:35 to critique Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda. How would you respond to Pope Leo in scripture?



MIKE JOHNSON: Sovereign borders are biblical and right and just. It's not because we hate the people on the outside. It's because we love the pic.twitter.com/eS4A5dtXRt  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 3, 2026

Responding to a question on Feb. 3 about Pope Leo XIV's citation of the verse to opine on U.S. immigration last fall, Johnson claimed "borders and walls are biblical" and that the Bible's moral imperatives for personal conduct do not necessarily apply to the civil magistrate in the same way.

"You're supposed to take care of the sojourner and the neighbor, treat them as yourself, welcome them in, yes," said Johnson, a Southern Baptist. "But that is an admonition to individuals, not to the civil authorities."

Citing Romans 13, Johnson said civil authorities "are given authority under Scripture to maintain order," and that they are "God's agents of wrath to bring punishment upon the wrongdoer."

"It's a calling to maintain order in society, and we have not had that," he added, offering the chaos that has resulted from the millions of unvetted immigrants pouring across the U.S. border under the Biden administration as an example of what happens when the civil authority fails to fulfill its God-given role.
Home Opinion 4 reasons the SAVE Act is necessary for America's future

The U.S. House recently passed the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require documented proof of American citizenship, either by birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers, before anyone can register to vote in federal elections.

The bill would also direct states to establish processes to identify and remove non-citizen voters from the rolls and authorize penalties for election officials who fail to comply.

Currently, 36 states in our nation require some form of identification at the polls. But 14 states, plus Washington, D.C., require no identification whatsoever, and those states include California, New York and Illinois. In these jurisdictions, voters need only to provide their name or sign an affidavit with no cross-verification. That means no proof of citizenship, no meaningful safeguard against fraud, and no prosecution for cheating in an election.

This represents a fundamental breach of constitutional governance. Make no mistake: When non-citizens cast ballots, they are robbing natural citizens of their right by cancelling their vote. Only citizens have the right to vote. These rights should never be determined based on how Democrats or Republicans think they will vote, but on the principle that only American citizens should be voting in American elections.

Every illegal vote dilutes the vote of American citizens. And every representative elected with non-citizen votes serves an agenda never authorized by the American people. It is a violation of our Constitution, which circumvents the 14th and 19th Amendments, which prior Americans fought hard to establish and preserve.

The SAVE America Act now sits before the U.S. Senate with 48 Republican co-sponsors. Yet Democrats have begun their opposition. Hakeem Jeffries called it clear and blatant voter suppression, while Adam Schiff dismissed it as another way to suppress the vote. This rhetoric is familiar by now. It argues that any attempt to verify citizenship is framed as suppression, oppression, or even racism.

But the American people at large arent buying it.

Gallup found that 84% of Americans support voter ID requirements. Another survey showed that 70% overall support, including 69% of Hispanics and 56% of black voters. Even 46% of Democrats across the country favor such measures. And this includes many states where voter identification is currently not required. This is common-sense reform supported across demographic lines. The only group vehemently opposed appears to be politicians who benefit from the participation of non-citizens in federal elections, where policy outcomes most certainly favor Democrats.

So how should Christians think about the SAVE Act and the broader fight for election integrity? Here are four points.

First, requiring proof of citizenship is not voter suppression; its constitutional

Our government is a constitutional republic. Allowing non-citizens to vote destroys the entire foundation and integrity of our legal system, and that includes who is in our representative form of government and who ultimately represents us, the American citizens.

The Constitution begins with We the People of the United States, meaning citizens, not residents or inhabitants. Allowing non-citizens to participate in federal elections violates the constitutional compact itself. Every state refusing to verify citizenship is enabling electoral fraud that strikes at the heart of our constitutional order. Defending citizenship requirements isnt about exclusion  its about preserving the rule of law and legitimacy of our political system.

Second, the 14 states without voter ID requirements are creating a constitutional crisis that cannot stand

California has an estimated 2.2 million illegal immigrants and requires no identification when voting. New York, Illinois, and New Jersey were all carried by Kamala Harris in 2024, and they impose no meaningful verification standards. There exists no systematic barrier preventing non-citizens from registering to vote and casting their ballot.

Texas and Ohio have already identified thousands of non-citizens on their voter rolls. If its happening in red states that are actively checking, whats happening in blue states that arent? Representatives are being elected to Congress by electorates that may include substantial numbers of non-citizens, and it is corrupting the interests of policymakers who have split loyalties with both Americans and non-Americans.

Those same representatives then vote on legislation, confirm judges, and make decisions affecting every American citizen, while owing their positions in office to illegal votes. This is representation without proper and legitimate authorization.

Third, we cannot allow future administrations to import or replace voters

Have you heard of the great replacement? The border crisis under the Biden administration resulted in a surge of millions of illegal immigrants across the southern border, most of whom are now living in the United States in search of a better life, but did not arrive here legally.

If there is no mechanism to prevent these individuals from voting once they arrive, much less sending them home, then immigration policy becomes electioneering. Any administration opening the borders while opposing citizenship verification is essentially importing a new electorate to replace the existing one.

As Christians, we must speak with clarity and with truth. This is not about compassion or about immigration reform  this is about the fundamental question of who gets to decide American governance and Americas future.

Should American citizens choose their representatives, or should those representatives be chosen by MS13 gang members or even drug and human traffickers? This is no exaggeration. Many states without voter ID laws allowed these same people to vote in their elections.

The SAVE Act would prevent this by ensuring that only documented citizens can register for federal elections. Without it, future elections will be decided not by Americans but by foreign nationals.

Finally, this is a test of whether we still believe our votes and our elections matter

Remember that Romans 13 is very clear about what the righteous proper use of government authority is  to be a deacon of Gods justice, to punish evil, and to promote the good.

If we fail this fundamental principle of protecting our Constitution, and we allow elections to be hijacked or elections to be manipulated by the voting pattern of non-citizens, then we are essentially saying that election integrity, the Constitution, and the rule of law do not matter. And we would deserve whatever government comes as a result of that.

The right to vote is as sacred as the right of citizenship. And we must reject the fearmongering and the false narratives that seek to weaponize  once again  empathy and compassion against the conscience, character, and conviction of ordinary Americans who cannot forfeit their rights of citizenship at any cost.

Yes, elections and election integrity matters. Yes, the Constitution matters. Yes, it matters who votes in our elections  and only citizens have that right. Yes, it matters that there be a uniform and universal standard for representatives in Texas and California, in Florida and New York, in Tennessee, and in Illinois.

Regardless of what this bill is or who sponsored the bill, voter identification, which requires proof of citizenship, is about saving the vote, saving freedom, and saving Americas future. We must get this right.

Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center.
Home Opinion Secondhand theism: What Islam gets right and wrong about Jesus Christ

The monotheism of Islam's founder, Muhammad, came secondhand and was shaped by Jewish and Christian notions that he picked up in his environment.



Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, recently exceeding two billion members worldwide.



Muhammad (ca. AD 570632) delivered numerous recitations he said were messages from God in his native Arabic, transmitted word for word after being commanded by the angel Gabriel in 610 to proclaim these messages. Those messages were compiled after his death in a book known as the Quran (which means recitations).



Arabia during Muhammads early years was predominantly polytheistic, worshiping numerous gods represented by manmade idols. However, other religions had a presence. There were settlements of Jews along the western coast of Arabia. The Christian representation consisted mainly of a mix of sects that had become isolated from the mainstream Christian movement, including Nestorians, Monophysites, and Ebionites.



Muhammads first wife, Khadija, had a cousin named Waraqah who may have been affiliated with one of these Christian-based sects, though which one is unknown. Waraqah is sometimes described as a hanif, an advocate of an Arabic monotheism that traced its origins to Abraham through his first son Ishmael. The hanifs reportedly rejected idols and regarded Allah, an Arab deity not represented by an idol, as the true God. Traditionally, Muhammad himself has been considered a hanif.



There is some uncertainty about Muhammads religious roots, but what we can tell from the Quran is that he fit the profile of the hanifs and that he was familiar with Judaism and Christianity, but not with the Bible as such. Even granting the sincerity of his claim to have encountered Gabriel, it is evident that Muhammads revelatory messages were based on ideas and stories already circulating in his culture.



Undoubtedly, the idea of one true God who had created the world, who prohibited all idolatry, and who commanded righteous behavior originated from the Abrahamic religious traditions.

The Quran emphasizes the greatness, mercy, power, and authority of Allah, especially through the use of names such as the Most Merciful. The foundational belief about Allah is his oneness (in Arabic, tawhid). In Islamic reflection on the teaching of the Quran, everything else that can be known about God follows logically from his oneness. Allah is the sole creator and ruler of the world, self-existent, omnipotent, omniscient, and totally unlike anything else.

Muslims consider both the Trinity and the incarnation as incompatible with Gods oneness and therefore as blasphemous  indeed, as committing the one unforgivable sin, that of associating Allah with anything else (called shirk). Yet the debates over the implications of tawhid suggest that Muslim theological objections to the Christian doctrines are not sound, as Nabeel Qureshi, a devout Muslim who eventually converted to Christianity, came to realize.[1]

Islam does get a number of things right about Jesus. The Quran affirms that Jesus was born of a virgin (3:47) and that he performed miracles (5:110). The Quran acknowledges that Jesus was unqualifiedly righteous, apparently meaning sinless (19:19, 3031). Christians certainly agree that he was a prophet (19:30, cf. Matt. 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24; John 4:44; Acts 3:2226), although we would say he was much more than a prophet.



Unfortunately, the Quran denies that Jesus was more than a messenger of God and even that he was the most important (4:171; 5:75). According to the Quran, Jesus claimed only to be a servant of Allah (19:30). It vehemently denounces the idea that Jesus was Gods Son (4:171; 6:101; 19:35). Finally, it denies that Jesus died on the cross (4:15758). On that basis, of course, Muslims deny that Jesus atoned for our sins or that he rose from the dead. The problem here is that Jesus death by crucifixion is a well-established historical fact.[2]

Muslim rejection of basic Christian doctrine appears to stem largely from misunderstandings. For example, since the objections in the Quran to Jesus being Gods son come in the context of his human birth from Mary, those objections assume that the idea involves God physically procreating someone. At one point, it even asks rhetorically, How can He have a son when He hath no consort? (6:101). According to Muslim apologist Shabir Ally, since God is not a physical being, he does not have sons or daughters.[3]



Of course, Christianity teaches that Christ has been the Son of God from eternity past and that this title expresses his likeness and relationship to God, not a physical origin. Related to this mistake is the fact that the Quran appears to understand the three members of the Trinity to be Allah, Jesus, and Mary. Christians need only assure Muslims that Christianity does not teach these false ideas.

Muslims sometimes misunderstand the doctrine of the incarnation  that Jesus is God incarnate  to teach that Jesus is the Father. Ally, for example, argues from Matthew 23:9 that Jesus is not the Father.[4] Quite so  but orthodox Christians agree.

One insurmountable problem for the Muslim doctrine is that all four Gospels give repeated testimony in various ways that Jesus considered himself Gods Son and taught his disciples to think of God as their Father. According to Ally, all of the biblical passages in which Jesus is called the Son of God, or where he calls God Father, were the result of changes in the biblical text.[5] Frankly, this claim has no credibility whatsoever. Even if we omit the few places in the New Testament where some manuscripts omit the title Son of God (e.g., Mark 1:1), there are still hundreds of places where the text uniformly calls Jesus the Son or refers to God as the Father. In fact, every book of the New Testament except the very short epistle of 3 John refers to the Father, and 19 of the 27 New Testament writings explicitly refer to Jesus as Gods Son (all of the exceptions are short epistles).

This evidence cannot be explained away by appealing to the possibility of mistakes in the copies (or by blaming Paul for introducing the idea of Jesus as Gods Son into Christianity, as some Muslims do).

The New Testament teaches that Jesus Christ is worthy of all divine honors including worship (e.g., Matt. 28:1719; Luke 24:5051; John 5:23; Phil. 2:1011; 2 Tim. 4:18; Heb. 1:6; 1 Peter 3:1416; 2 Peter 3:18; Rev. 5:14). Muslims are right in saying that no creature should be associated with God in religious honors. However, the New Testament explains that Jesus is not merely a creature, but is the eternal, divine Son who humbled himself to share in our humanity to redeem us by his death (Phil. 2:58). This teaching, far from detracting from the glory due to God, magnifies Gods glory (Phil. 2:911).



As Christians, we should help Muslims see that we honor Jesus in this way because doing so honors God.

Notes



[1] Nabeel Qureshi, No God but One: Allah or Jesus? A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016), Part 2.

[2] In addition to Qureshis book, see James A. Beverley and Craig A. Evans, Getting Jesus Right: How Muslims Get Jesus and Islam Wrong (Lagoon City, ON: Castle Quay Books, 2015); James K. Walker, What the Quran Really Teaches About Jesus: Prophet of Allah or Savior of the World? (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2018).

[3] Shabir Ally, Is Jesus God? The Bible Says No (Toronto: Al-Attique Publishers, 1997), 33.

[4] Ally, Is Jesus God? The Bible Says No, 32.

[5] Ally, Is Jesus God? The Bible Says No, 38.

Originally published at The Worldview Bulletin Newsletter.
By Chalabala, Adobe

Northamptonshire Police is investigating several incidents that allegedly took place at a mental health care charity, including assault, wilful neglect and ill treatment, and has made several arrests.

A spokesperson told Civil Society that Northamptonshire Police launched a corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter investigation into St Andrews Healthcare following the death of a teenage girl at the charitys Northampton hospital in October 2024.

Since then, Northamptonshire Police has been involved in three other investigations into the charity in relation to the death of a man in February 2025 and alleged assaults in June and July 2025.

Last year, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated St Andrews Healthcare Northampton as inadequate and ordered it to restrict new admissions to the hospital due to the level of concern found during the inspection.

St Andrews Healthcare, which employed 4,081 employees and recorded a total income of 236m as of March 2025, provides specialist mental healthcare for around 600 patients across the UK.

Police investigations

Northamptonshire Police said it arrested an individual in connection with its investigation into the death of a teenage girl in October 2024, but released them and took no further action.

Separately, it arrested eight people on suspicion of wilful neglect and ill treatment by a care worker in relation to allegations of assault made in July 2025.

This complex investigation is ongoing, with all eight people arrested remaining on bail, the spokesperson told Civil Society.

They said a further investigation into the death of a man in February 2025 continues, with five people arrested on suspicion of corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter.

Four people have been released with no further action being taken against them, while one person remains on bail for the offence of wilful neglect by a care worker, they said.

Northamptonshire Polices detectives are also investigating a report of an assault that allegedly occurred in June 2025.

They arrested a woman from Northampton on suspicion of assault and ill treatment/wilful neglect in connection with this incident, who was released on bail pending further enquiries.

Hospital rated inadequate

In July and August 2025, the CQC inspected the charitys Northampton hospital in response to an incident reported by St Andrews Healthcare involving an alleged assault by an employee on a person.

The health and social care regulator said it was aware of several allegations from patients of staff abuse on different wards across the hospital.

In a report published in December, the CQC identified 14 breaches of regulation related to person-centred care, safe care and treatment, safeguarding, dignity and respect, good management and staffing.

Craig Howarth, CQCs deputy director of mental health, said: During our visit to St Andrews Northampton, it was concerning that improvements hadnt been made since our previous inspections and people were still at risk of receiving unsafe care.

This is despite us providing detailed information in our previous reports of the areas that leaders needed to improve.

This inspection took place due to a serious incident on a ward involving an alleged assault by a member of staff.

In addition to this incident, we saw evidence of closed cultures on wards and several other incidents which were improper, abusive, inappropriate and unsafe.

Charity: Were sorry to those affected

A spokesperson for St Andrews Healthcare told Civil Society that the charity is committed to full transparency and takes a zero-tolerance approach to any allegation of harm or poor practice.

We immediately reported these cases to the police for investigation, they said.

Following their own independent investigation, the police concluded that no further action was required in one case and closed it. The remaining cases are ongoing.

Patient safety is our highest priority, and we have an urgent action plan to strengthen the quality of care we provide.

We acknowledge that care at our Northampton hospital hasnt always met the standards every patient deserves, and were sorry to those affected.

The spokesperson said the plan includes new training for all frontline staff, reducing agency staffing to near zero and increasing nursing levels per patient.

It also includes installing CCTV on most wards, strengthening leadership in nursing and clinical services, building an open culture where staff feel safe to speak up and removing management layers to bring leaders closer to ward teams.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
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Donald Trumps second term has been defined by a symbiotic relationship with right-wing influencers, podcasters, and self-labeled journalists. Joe Rogan helped his reelection campaign reach young male voters. A week after Trump returned to office, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, designated seats for new media in the press briefing room. Less than a year later, the corridors of Pete Hegseths Pentagon belong to right-wing reporters and podcasters, following the exodus of legacy media. A MAGA influencers video triggered an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

Trump and his creator crew have risen together. And as the presidents policies have grown more outlandish, so have those who purport to cover them. In January, clips of several right-wing influencers dancing to Yes Heil Hitler in a Miami nightclub suddenly went viral. The cast of characters that night included Andrew and Tristan Tate, right-wing internet stars and self-described misogynists; Nick Fuentes, a white-nationalist online streamer; and Braden Peters, a twenty-year-old online streamer who goes by the name Clavicular. In the weeks since, Clavicular has become ubiquitous. He walked the runway at Fashion Week, appeared as a guest on The Adam Friedland Show, and was profiled by the New York Times.

I reached out to Ali Breland, a staff writer for The Atlantic who has been covering the far-right corners of the internet for almost a decade, to discuss this increasingly influential digital bubble. He told me that he sees this level of interconnectedness between the fringes and the mainstream as a recent but concerning trend. The administration is not just emboldening the far right, he said; the far right is inspiring Trumps politics. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

ILN: A few weeks ago, I couldnt escape a video of the Tate brothers, Nick Fuentes, and other influencers I was unfamiliar with dancing to Yes Heil Hitler song, which made me really confused about the current state of the far right. What were your thoughts seeing that video?

AB: I was a little bit surprised, because these characters dont often link up. But it made sensethese kinds of worlds have been melding for a while. Theyre influential for people who are young and disposed to like various levels of being right-wing. Everyone, on some level, is political.

You have someone like Andrew Tate, who is more in the manospherehes been engaging with the Trump administration, but his primary function is not to change electoral politics. Whereas Nick Fuentess explicit goal is to influence the political right, and hes stated that several times.

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What about Clavicular, who has since become an internet star in his own right?

Like many of these guys, hes a symptom of something that already exists. In incel communities, looksmaxxing [the ambition to maximize masculine beauty] has been around for almost a decade. The Cut had a whole story about it in 2022. Clavicular is the end point of these things, and while hes worth examining, I think hes more like a flash in the pan. Nick Fuentes is also a symptom, but I think he has much more agency than Clavicular.

So how does he fit into this picture of the far right?

The logical reason is that incels are typically part of the right-wing ecosystem. It could also be that Clavicular, who personally said that he wasnt all that political, is being operationalized by these right wing figures for their own political agenda.

You say that Clavicular is not a crucial character, yet hes received a lot of mainstream media attention. What did you think about his coverage?

My armchair media critic perspective is that if any weird phenomenon goes viral enough, it can become a story. Clavicular seems to be an example of that. I do think that the profiles of him were useful, but I would definitely cover him as part of a shift that is going on amongst younger men. Ive seen looksmaxxing creep into other corners of life: I personally know younger people who are chewing tough gums to strengthen their cheekbones. He is symptomatic of the nihilistic stream of slop that is going viral now.

How do you weed out which of these characters are actually worth looking into?

I try to figure out who has a hard resonance beyond simply having a lot of online engagement. I think the most important thing is to figure out who is making inroads with people in power. Fuentes is someone Ive been following for a long time because Ive heard rumblings that young staffers in the administration are paying attention to him.

Much of the language that was once reserved for the far right has now been internalized by the government. Weve seen official accounts posting weird penguin memes and responding to individual tweets with personal insults. How do you see the interplay between the far-right internet bubble and the Trump administration?

If it were just a couple memes that seem to be pulled from this world, you could call it coincidental, but the things that keep recurring are a lot like far-right imagery. When I see that over and over again, it makes me think that there are people within the administration who spend a lot of time in these spaces and try to speak to the same audience.

Youve covered the far-right corners of the internet all throughout the Trump era. What has changed the most in terms of the work you do, the figures and communities you write about?

When I started doing this, around 2017, there used to be a dichotomy. There was a radical fringe that was influencing the mainstream, but it was distinct; and then there was the mainstream establishment that excited various fringe, online groups because they saw the potential for their ideas to be carried out. These things are no longer distinct. The white-supremacist groups are no longer excited about the potential; theyre excited about their ideas actually being carried out.

Another example of this is Charlie Kirk. As long as Ive been covering this beat, Charlie Kirk was prominent to varying degrees. He was mostly a libertarian, he was okay with gay people, and he only talked about white identity politics in a negative manner. Fast-forward to 2022, and Charlie Kirk was engaging with fringe figures and having race scientists on his podcast. He was giving them cover.

The far right used to rely heavily on demonstrations of physical power like the Unite the Right march in Charlottesville, Virginia. How did it turn into an online phenomenon?

There are two ways to answer this. One is that the online sphere just matters tremendously: Nick Fuentes has directly cited the adjustment of Xs policies to allow people like him back on and to speak in a manner that previously would have been considered hate speech. That enabled both his personal stock and the stock of his ideas to grow.

But these groups dont need to show up in the street anymore, because the administration is showing up for them. I was talking to a former leader of the Proud Boys recently, and he said, to paraphrase, The administration is sending ICE out to do the kinds of things that are beyond anything we are able to. In the first administration, there was a line that law enforcement couldnt cross, so the Proud Boys did itthey went out and antagonized anti-fascist protesters, for example. That doesnt need to be done anymore, because there are no such lines for ICE.

Are these the same people who have always been on the far right?

Its hard to say with absolute precision, but you can see that these ideas are becoming more salient with younger people. Polling shows that there is a large number of young people who are very open to anti-Semitic ideas. Nick Fuentes is able to consistently generate six-digit viewership on his streams, which indicates that the audience is shifting younger. Previously, you had people mostly in their late twenties and thirties on the far right. Now we see a group of people who are closer to eighteen.

You started writing about Fuentes before he was broadly popular. How do you see his rise, and why did he become so successful? Why him?

The reason I always kept an eye on him is that hes talented. He is very good at speaking into a camera in an entertaining way. He has good comedic timing. He has charisma. He also understood the weak or, as he puts it, compromised spots of right-wing ideology. He was able to point out what he saw as contradictory. Hes not beholden to major corporate donors, so he doesnt have to hold his tongue or navigate multiple interests. He just accepts his position and takes it all the way.

He was also one of the first people to speak of the immiserated conditions of young people in this modern version of the American economy. Thats a really key part of his message that I think a lot of people miss. You absolutely cannot ignore the racism and the anti-Semitism, but the savvy thing he did was to speak to people who were not doing well in a way that large swaths of the political class didnt. He was talking about how people cannot afford houses before Trump or even Charlie Kirk did.

Figures like Fuentes love attention, and theyve recently received a lot of it from the mainstream press. It can be argued that, by reporting on them, you are actually enabling them. How do you navigate that?

I spend a lot of time thinking about who specifically matters and why. Like, what is already occurring that we dont know about? The reason I ended up covering Nick Fuentes is that he was already getting a lot of views. His streams get more views than any single article I write about him. Maybe theres some sort of extra impact of the article coming out, but its about something thats already pretty influential and shaping peoples lives.

But occasionally, youll see mistakes. A pretty big one was Dark MAGA a few years ago. If you looked at it, all of the tweets about Dark MAGA had, like, twelve likes on them. It was not a real thing. The single most important moment in the development of the idea were the articles that came out on it.

What do you think is the most valuable thing to come out of this coverage?

I think that it gives people an understanding of the movements and ideologies that they might not have a clear framework for. Nick and others have made it part of their project to be pro-America without referencing white supremacy or Nazism. So what people like myself do is go back and note these connections and parallels. Another thing thats useful is giving a sense of the memes and seeing how these ideas make their way into the mainstream.

How influential do you think the far-right media bubble could get?

I think its already here. Like, the disdain and hatred for Somali immigrants existed way before Trump went into Minneapolis. I dont know if the administration made a decision based on that, but the online and the physical worlds are fundamentally connected. Its probably going to become even more of a thing as younger people who have been more deeply steeped in the internet get older. So it is here, and it will be here for a long time.
Hybrid work is driving a new class of workers compensation riskone thats harder to verify, slower to resolve and increasingly costly. Understanding why and what to do about it requires a new approach to data, validation, and proactive risk management.

What was once a clearly defined workplace with fixed hours, controlled environments, and observable behavior has been replaced by a distributed model where work happens at kitchen tables, coffee shops, spare bedrooms, and everywhere in between.

For insurers and claims professionals, low-severity remote injury claims are quietly becoming long-tail cost drivers. Nearly 36 million Americans now work from home, blurring the line between workplace and personal space. Since 2020, remote injury claims have more than doubled, fueled less by acute accidents and more by cumulative issues like strain, stress, and ergonomic fatigue and extended exposure to unhealthy work habits.

The Normal Workday Collapse

In a traditional office environment, the workday had clear edges. Employees arrived at a known location, worked within defined hours, and performed tasks in standardized settings designed, at least in theory, to meet ergonomic and safety guidelines. If an injury occurred, claims teams could rely on timestamps, witnesses, and environmental controls to help validate what happened.

This all seems so simple. But it isnt any longer. Hybrid and remote work have erased many of those assumptions.

Today, employees may start their day at 6 a.m., step away mid-morning to take a child to school, return in the afternoon and log back on again in the evening to finish work. Lunch breaks are fluid. Workdays stretch well beyond set hours. Personal and professional responsibilities are deeply intertwined.

From a claims perspective, this variability makes it difficult to establish what constitutes a normal workday. Without that baseline, officially determining whether an injury occurred in the course of work becomes far more complex. Verification goes beyond confirming a moment in time at a specific location to be about understanding patterns of behavior over weeks or months.

Lower-Severity Injuries Becoming Long-Tail Costs

Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, back and neck strain, chronic headaches, and stress-related complaints often begin as minor issues, with up to 61% of remote workers reporting new or worsened musculoskeletal pain. In an office setting, these symptoms were more likely to be addressed early. An employee could mention discomfort to a manager, request a new chair, or take a walk to reset. In remote environments, those early intervention points are often missing.

Employees working from home frequently push through discomfort to meet deadlines. Without the in-person visibility of a shared workplace, pain goes unreported. Over time, minor strain becomes chronic injury. Claims that might once have been resolved quickly now require extended treatment, driving up both direct medical costs and indirect expenses tied to lost productivity.

Extended work hours compound the problem. Many remote employees report working 50 to 60 hours per week, not because they are required to, but because the new work reality is always fluid and accessible. The absence of natural stopping points like commutes, office closures and social cues leads to prolonged exposure to repetitive motions and static postures.

The result is a steady accumulation of claims that are individually low-severity but collectively expensive. For insurers and employers alike, these long-tail costs represent a growing financial and operational burden without a clear solution.

Validation in a Boundaryless Environment

For claims professionals, validation has become one of the most challenging aspects of remote injury assessment. In the absence of witnesses or controlled environments, claims teams must rely heavily on the claimants account before turning to corroborating data.

Many employees also delay reporting injuries or discomfort beyond the first weekwaiting more than seven days before seeking treatment or filing a claimwhich can increase costs and complicate validation.

This is where digital tools and data aggregation play an increasingly critical role.

Social canvassing, for example, can provide contextual insights into an individuals activities around the time of an alleged injury. Medical canvassing helps establish treatment timelines and patterns of care. When combined with employment records, workload data, and digital activity logs, these sources help paint a more complete picture of how a remote injury may have developed.

The goal is not to surveil employees or act as Big Brother, but to identify alignment (or misalignment) between reported injuries and documented work behaviors. Because work and personal life overlap, validation depends less on pinpointing a single incident and more on understanding whether an injury is consistent with an employees overall work pattern.

Post-Injury Investigation to Proactive Prevention

Historically, most organizations have focused their efforts on post-injury investigation. While this remains essential, it is no longer sufficient in a remote-first world. Prevention must become a central part of the strategy

Mental health is ranked as a top or moderate priority for 85% of employees, elevating the importance of evolving claims approaches. Beyond individual claims, aggregated data offers insurers and employers a powerful lens into broader behavioral trends.

When analyzed at scale, claims data can reveal patterns that are otherwise invisible:

Employees consistently working extended hours without breaks

Clusters of ergonomic-related injuries tied to specific roles or departments

Increased stress-related claims during certain business cycles

Delayed reporting timelines that correlate with higher claim severity

These insights allow organizations to move from reactive claims management to proactive risk identification. Instead of asking whether an injury was work-related after it occurs, insurers and employers can begin asking why certain risks are emerging in the first place.

Predictive analytics play a growing role here. By modeling historical claims data alongside behavioral indicators, organizations can identify early warning signs long before an injury escalates into a costly remote-work-era claim.

Beyond data, one of the clearest low-tech opportunities lies in ergonomics. Many employers no longer ensure that home workspaces meet basic ergonomic standards, often due to cost concerns or assumptions that employees will self-manage. In a remote-first environment, this allows everyday work habits to quietly accumulate into long-term strain and injury.

Regular check-ins, distinct from routine status meetings, can help surface issues before they escalate. Asking employees whether they have the tools they need to work comfortably, whether they are taking breaks, and whether their workload feels sustainable can provide valuable early signals.

Some organizations are experimenting with non-invasive monitoring tools that encourage healthy behavior, such as reminders to stand, stretch or step away after prolonged periods of inactivity. When implemented transparently and ethically, these basic techniques can support employee well-being without undermining trust.

The Mental Health Dimension

Physical strain is only part of the equation. Mental health has emerged as a critical and often underappreciated factor in remote work claims. Isolation, reduced social interaction, and the blurring of work-life boundaries contribute to stress and burnout, which in turn increase the likelihood of both physical and psychological claims.

Fully remote employees may be highly engaged with work, but their wellbeing tells a different story. Only 36% of remote employees report thriving overall, while 45% experienced significant stress the previous dayhigher than their on-site counterparts. This combination of high work engagement and elevated stress levels creates a perfect storm for cumulative injuries, delayed reporting and claims escalation.

In-office environments once provided informal opportunities for connection and support. Remote work has largely replaced those interactions with scheduled video calls, which are not necessarily equivalent substitutes. Over time, the loss of casual engagement can exacerbate stress and reduce an employees willingness to speak up when something feels wrong.

For claims professionals, this means recognizing that mental strain often precedes physical injury. Proactive engagement, combined with data-driven insights, can help organizations address these risks earlier and more effectively.

New Risk-Assessment Framework

The future of risk assessment in hybrid work environments will not hinge on a single tool or policy. Instead, it will require a layered approach that combines:

Digital validation tools to support fair and accurate claims investigation

Claims data aggregation to identify recurring patterns and emerging risks

Predictive analytics to flag long-tail cost drivers early

Proactive employer engagement focused on ergonomics, workload, and well-being

As the boundaries between home and workplace continue to blur, insurers and claims teams must adapt their frameworks accordingly. Hybrid work is now the operating reality. And with it comes a new definition of workplace risk, one that demands smarter insights, earlier intervention, and a deeper understanding of how people actually work today.

Jackson is vice president of Sales at Ontellus and American Medical Forensic Specialists, where he leads national sales strategy across insurance, legal, employer, and healthcare markets. He has more than 35 years of experience in insurance and risk services.
Tesla Inc.s robotaxis have been involved in over a dozen crashes in Austin since service began, according to reports the carmaker has made to regulators.

The electric vehicle maker has said its nascent robotaxi business has been involved in 14 crash incidents in about eight months, according to data sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A federal order requires carmakers to report when automated driving systems are involved in certain crashes.

Related: Auto Safety Bill Targeting Electric Doors Advances in US House

Tesla launched its limited robotaxi service in Austin in June with about a dozen cars accompanied by human safety monitors, and has slowly increased the fleet. Its first crash happened in July, according to the standing order, with the company reporting at the time that the incident only involved property damage.

But Tesla submitted another incident report for that crash in December adding information that the accident had led to minor injuries and hospitalization. Another incident, also from July, also caused minor injuries.

In January, Teslas latest report shows five new incidents that occurred that month and in December. One of the January incidents included a crash between a stopped robotaxi and an Austin city bus. There were two incidents in which a robotaxi backed into objects in parking lots.

Related: Tesla Sued Over Crash That Trapped, Killed Massachusetts Driver

After tests in December, Tesla began offering driverless rides without any safety monitor in the car in a few vehicles in its Austin fleet in January. It was not immediately clear if any of the incidents reported involved vehicles without safety monitors.

Information is limited for all of Teslas incidents and, unlike competitors, Tesla redacts narrative descriptions. The vast majority of its incident reports just cited property damage.

Austin remains the only city where Tesla is offering robotaxi rides. The company launched a service on the same app, in the San Francisco Bay Area last year, but those trips use human drivers and is more akin to Uber.

Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has increasingly bet the carmakers future on autonomy and robotics as core EV business has struggled.

Tesla has not disclosed how large its current Austin robotaxi fleet is. In January, Musk said that between Austin and the Bay Area, there were 500 rideshare vehicles.

Related: Elon Musk Alone Cant Explain Teslas Owner Exodus

Competitor, Alphabet Inc.s Waymo, which operates about 2,500 vehicles in Phoenix, San Francisco, Austin, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Miami, and also tests autonomously in other locations, has reported hundreds of incidents since June. This includes about 50 incidents in Austin, where it operates about 200 vehicles on the Uber app.

Tesla has said it aims to expand to about seven more cities by the middle of the year, but did not achieve similar expansion predictions for the end of last year. Its operations lags behind Waymo, which began offering driverless rides to the public in the Phoenix area in 2020.

Top photo: A Tesla Inc. robotaxi in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
A category of insurance risk that hardly existed a little over a decade ago has morphed into a meaningful source of losses for the industry.

Claims tied to SRCCstrikes, riots and civil commotionare emerging as a growing headache for insurers as episodes of unrest increasingly lead to the destruction of property in Western democracies. Howden Re estimates that insured losses related to SRCC soared from negligible levels in 2013 to more than $8 billion between 2020 and 2024.

SRCC losses are prone to huge swings between years, with single events often changing the landscape significantly. After relatively few claims globally in 2025, Howden Re told Bloomberg its now expecting the U.S. to see a clear increase in SRCC losses this year.

We live in a time of heightened risk, said David Flandro, head of industry analysis and strategic advisory at Howden Re. And the flare-ups making news headlines in the U.S. are clearly indicative of a broader trend, he said.

Rising Global Insured Losses from Civil Unrest

Civil unrest is on the rise globally, a development that has coincided with a measurable increase in levels of inequality and polarization in some of the worlds richest countries. In most Western nations, for example, the majority of citizens no longer expect to see any growth in generational wealth, according to the Pew Research Center.

Rising political division is adding to SRCC risks in both Europe and the U.S., according to Verisk Maplecroft. However, the sharpest increase in protest sizes is taking place in the U.S., Verisk said in December.

When it comes to ranking countries with the greatest SRCC risk, the U.S. is the No. 1 Western democracy and sits at No. 5 overall, putting it ahead of Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, according to first-quarter data provided by Verisk Maplecroft. France ranks seventh. SRCC models take into account not just the risk of unrest, but also the cost of replacing property thats damaged.

Its fair to say that the SRCC risk landscape has fundamentally changed, said Torbjorn Soltvedt, associate director of political violence at Verisk.

For a long time, insurers have offered protection against SRCC at no extra cost. However, elevated risk environments mean this is becoming less common and property insurers have begun excluding or restricting cover for SRCC from their policies, according to Cara Brown, deputy head of terrorism and political violence at insurer Chubb.

SRCC coverage is generally bolted on to other insurance policies, though theres evidence that the rise in such risks is prompting companies to start seeking specific cover. At the same time, Howden Re said already back in 2023 that insurers were starting to charge significant additional premiums for SRCC coverage, with retail assets among the most affected.

Over two-thirds of multinational corporations already use political risk modeling tools, a trend Howden Re says is rising. And in 2024, Lloyds of London -the 338-year-old insurance market-assigned SRCC risk its own code. In 2025, Verisk released its first SRCC catastrophe model, focused on the US market.

Reinsurer Swiss Re says it received only a couple dozen SRCC claims in the early 2000s and that number gradually increased into the hundreds. We have continued to see a couple hundred per year in recent years, which is indicative of the market trend.

A Changing U.S.

In the US, several data-tracking services show that the number of political protests is on the rise. Meanwhile, perceptions of the U.S. are changing, says Stephen M. Davis, senior fellow at Harvard Law Schools program on corporate governance and co-founder of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment.

Viewing the US as a safe haven is a thing of the past, he said. Thats because theres a policy volatility that now exists, which can be seen internally as well as externally.

Its a sentiment thats been playing out in markets, as some institutional investors in Europe look for ways to reduce their exposure to the U.S.

For insurers, calculating reliable loss risks is proving hard to model and Soltvedt notes that protests dont always lead to property damage. For example in Minnesota, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers killed two US citizens, protesters have conducted themselves in a way thats resulted in limited direct impacts on commercial property or private property so far, he said.

Minnesota Sues Noem Over ICE Tactics After Fatal Shooting

Federal law enforcement agents detain a demonstrator during a raid in south Minneapolis.

The Trump administration is now retreating from its immigration-enforcement blitz in Minnesota, pulling back after more than two months of operations.

But given the overall pace of growth in SRCC, the probability that a single event might result in more than $5 billion of losses can no longer be ignored, according to Verisk Maplecroft. In some areas, SRCC loss risks may even exceed those brought on by natural catastrophes, it said.

SRCC as a standalone insurance product used to be a very niche, small class of business, said Srdjan Todorovic, head of political violence and hostile environment solutions at Allianz Commercial. But a number of big events in recent years hit the industry pretty badly and sobered up the market.

Top photo: Federal law enforcement agents detain a demonstrator during a raid in south Minneapolis.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
Classical era composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Joseph Haydn established the foundations of symphonies, string quartets, and operas with their distinct yet complementary styles. A music comparison between Mozart vs Haydn uncovers how their innovations in melody, harmony, form, and orchestration influenced generations of musicians.

Historical Context of Classical Era Composers

The Classical era, spanning roughly 1730 to 1820, emphasized balance, clarity, and proportion in music, moving away from the ornate complexity of the Baroque period. Franz Joseph Haydn, born in 1732 in Austria, became a pivotal figure as the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet." Serving the powerful Esterhazy family for nearly three decades, Haydn composed over 100 symphonies and 68 string quartets, standardizing the four-movement structure that remains central to these genres today. His isolation at the Esterhazy estate allowed him to experiment freely, developing musical forms with humor, surprise, and structural rigor.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born in 1756 in Salzburg, entered the scene two decades later as a child prodigy. By age five, he was performing for European royalty, and his travels exposed him to Italian opera, German counterpoint, and French elegance. Unlike Haydn's stable patronage, Mozart's career involved constant touring and freelancing in Vienna, where he produced 41 symphonies, 23 piano concertos, and masterpieces like The Marriage of Figaro. This music comparison highlights Haydn's role as a pioneer who built the framework, while Mozart refined and elevated it with emotional depth. Both thrived amid Enlightenment ideals, prioritizing reason and accessibility over excess.

Melodic and Harmonic Approaches in Mozart vs Haydn

A core aspect of any music comparison between Mozart vs Haydn lies in their melodic styles, which reflect their personalities and influences. Haydn crafted short, punchy themes often inspired by folk musicrhythmic, earthy motifs that propel listeners forward with vitality. These melodies serve as springboards for his famous developments, where he introduces unexpected twists like sudden silences, dynamic contrasts, or rustic drones. In his "Surprise" Symphony No. 94, a simple theme erupts into playful interruptions, showcasing Haydn's love for wit and structural adventure.

Mozart, by contrast, favored longer, lyrical melodies that sing with operatic grace. His lines flow seamlessly, incorporating chromaticism for subtle emotional tension, as heard in the slow movement of Symphony No. 40. Where Haydn's themes feel extroverted and conversational, Mozart's evoke intimate drama, drawing from vocal writing to infuse instrumental music with human expression. Harmonically, Haydn pushed boundaries with bold modulations into distant keys and frequent use of minor modes, creating a sense of daring exploration. His quartets often venture into uncharted harmonic territory, resolving with triumphant clarity.

Mozart employed harmony more elegantly, building tension through restrained chromaticism and sudden shifts for dramatic effect. He rarely lingered in minor keys unless heightening pathos, preferring the luminous major modes that define Classical sunshine. This contrast in a Mozart vs Haydn music comparison underscores classical era composers' evolution: Haydn's rugged innovation versus Mozart's polished lyricism.

Formal Structures and Orchestration Techniques

Haydn and Mozart both mastered sonata formthe exposition, development, and recapitulation that structure symphonies and sonatasbut applied it differently. Haydn treated form experimentally, often monothematic (using one main idea) with lengthy developments packed with events. His symphonies, like No. 88 ("Letter V"), unfold like narratives full of surprises, where themes fragment, recombine, and modulate wildly before snapping back into balance. As a string quartet innovator, Haydn gave each instrument a distinct voice, turning ensemble playing into true conversation.

Mozart perfected symmetrical forms with shorter, more focused developments that prioritize drama over digression. His "Jupiter" Symphony No. 41 combines five themes in a monumental finale, achieving fugal complexity within Classical restraint. Orchestration reveals further divergence: Haydn's is bright and extraverted, with punchy winds, timpani shocks, and folk-like effects that fill concert halls. He expanded the orchestra thoughtfully, adding instruments for color without overwhelming the core strings.

Mozart orchestrated with transparency and subtlety, layering textures like a theatrical stageviolins soaring above hushed woodwinds or poignant oboe solos. His piano concertos, such as No. 20 in D minor, balance soloist and ensemble in dialogue, influenced by his operatic sensibilities. In this music comparison, Haydn's orchestral boldness complements Mozart's delicate interplay, together defining the Classical orchestra's golden age among classical era composers.

Mutual Influence and Lasting Impact

Haydn and Mozart's relationship amplified their contributions, blending mentorship with mutual admiration. When they met in Vienna around 1781, Haydn, 24 years older, hailed Mozart as the finest composer alive, prompting Mozart to dedicate his six "Haydn" Quartets (K. 387 et al.) to him. These works absorb Haydn's textural equality while infusing Mozart's melodic warmth. Haydn later credited Mozart with revitalizing his own style during London visits, where symphonies like No. 104 echo Mozartian elegance.

Debates on influence persist: Haydn provided the toolssymphonic scope, quartet intimacythat Beethoven and others built upon. Mozart, however, integrated opera's emotional range into pure instrumental music, paving the way for Romantic expressiveness in Schubert and Brahms. Haydn's 1790s London symphonies bridged eras, while Mozart's late works, like the Requiem, transcend their time.

Why Mozart vs Haydn Defines Classical Music Excellence

Haydn and Mozart, as quintessential classical era composers, crafted a legacy of clarity, wit, and profundity that resonates in concert halls worldwide. Their music comparison reveals not rivalry but synergyHaydn's structural daring paired with Mozart's melodic geniusshaping symphonies from Beethoven's Ninth to modern film scores. Listeners today still marvel at Haydn's surprises and Mozart's pathos, proving their styles' timeless power in the world of classical music.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the main differences in Mozart vs Haydn styles?

Haydn's style emphasizes short, folk-inspired themes with adventurous developments, bold modulations, and humorous surprises in orchestration. Mozart focuses on longer, lyrical melodies influenced by opera, subtle textures, and dramatic tension through chromatic harmony.

2. Who was first, Mozart or Haydn?

Haydn was born in 1732 and became established earlier, earning titles like "Father of the Symphony." Mozart arrived in 1756 as a child prodigy and met Haydn in the 1780s, when Haydn was already a mentor figure among classical era composers.

3. Who influenced whom between Mozart and Haydn?

Haydn mentored Mozart, inspiring his "Haydn" string quartets with structural innovations. Mozart's melodic depth and operatic flair, in turn, refreshed Haydn's later London symphonies, creating a mutual exchange that advanced Classical music.

4. Was Mozart or Haydn more influential in classical music?

Haydn standardized symphony and quartet forms, laying groundwork for Beethoven. Mozart elevated emotional expressiveness and opera, influencing Romanticism. Their combined impact defines the Classical era, with Haydn as innovator and Mozart as refiners.

5. How do you tell Mozart and Haydn music apart?

Listen for monothematic structures and rustic wit in Haydn, versus Mozart's flowing, singable lines and theatrical orchestration. Haydn developments are eventful; Mozart's prioritize balance and pathos in this music comparison.

6. Did Mozart and Haydn know each other?

Yes, they formed a close friendship in Vienna around 1781. Haydn praised Mozart publicly and received a dedication of quartets; their collaboration strengthened both careers during the Classical period.
WBC 
This is CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox. Happy Wednesday. I've been craving birria since reading about the Mike's Red Tacos new franchising plan. Stock futures are higher this morning. The three major indexes all ended yesterday's session little changed. Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

1. Delivery troubles

The logo and lettering of online retailer Amazon can be seen on the facade of Amazon Germany's headquarters. Sven Hoppe | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

Amazon broke a major losing streak yesterday, but the damage was done. The e-commerce giant lost hundreds of billions of dollars in market cap over the last two weeks. Here's what happened: Shares of Amazon rose more than 1% yesterday, ending their nine-day losing streak that saw the stock drop around 18% between Feb. 2 and Feb. 13.

That slide represents its worst negative stretch in roughly two decades and more than $450 billion dollars erased from Amazon's market valuation.

Amazon's Feb. 5 announcement that it plans to spend $200 billion on capital expenditures this year drew skepticism from Wall Street and contributed to some of the selling frenzy.

But the stock's gain yesterday helped buoy the broader market, despite pressure on other tech names.

Stock futures are rising this morning as traders look ahead to the release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve's last meeting this afternoon.

Follow live markets updates here.

2. Billionaire investors go shopping

A general view of the Apple retail store on Nanjing East Road in Shanghai, China, on Jan. 29, 2026. Ying Tang | Nurphoto | Getty Images

3. Warner's time

Netflix Inc. has lined up $59 billion of financing from Wall Street banks to help support its planned $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., which would make it one of the largest ever loans of its kind. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Grab your popcorn: The latest update in the race to buy Warner Bros. Discovery dropped yesterday. WBD said it would restart deal talks with Paramount Skydance thanks to a seven-day waiver from Netflix . The conversation would focus on "deficiencies" in Paramount's offer and allow the media firm to make its best and last bid, WBD said. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told CNBC's Julia Boorstin yesterday that the streamer approved the waiver to ensure WBD shareholders could be confident in its $27.75 per share, all-cash offer. "Paramount had been making a ton of noise, flooding the zone with confusion for shareholders," Sarandos said. "We've given the opportunity to get those shareholders exactly what they deserve, which is complete clarity and certainty."

Get Morning Squawk directly in your inbox CNBC's Morning Squawk recaps the biggest stories investors should know before the stock market opens, every weekday morning. Subscribe here to get access today.

4. Megacap tech's mega deal

(L to R) Jensen Huang, President and CEO of Nvidia Corporation, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, arrive for a U.S. Senate bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Insight Forum at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13, 2023. Andrew Caballero-reynolds | Afp | Getty Images

Meta announced yesterday that it is expanding its deal with Nvidia to use millions of its artificial intelligence chips for a data center build-out. The social media company also said it will use Nvidia's products to support networking technology and AI features on WhatsApp. As CNBC's Katie Tarasov reports, the new agreement is only the latest step in the Big Tech giants' long-term partnership: Meta has used Nvidia's graphics processing units, or GPUs, for at least a decade. Financial terms of Tuesday's deal were not disclosed. Meanwhile, in another sign of AI-built apps' boom, cloud infrastructure startup Render said yesterday that it raised $100 million in funding at a $1.5 billion valuation. CEO Anurag Goel told CNBC that more than 4.5 million developers use Render's tools, and that its revenue growth exceeds 100%.

5. The 'boomcession'

People shop at a discount store in Manhattan on Nov. 7, 2025, in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images

Consumer spending is strong, yet debt is at all-time highs. Economic output is surging, but many people feel terrible financially. A post-pandemic recession never materialized, but most Americans believe the country is in one. Welcome to the "boomcession," a portmanteau of the words "boom" and "recession." The term encapsulates the feeling among many Americans that the economic engine they help feed is not pushing them forward. It can also help explain the continued disconnect between solid GDP data and sour consumer sentiment readings.

The Daily Dividend

"Late Show" host Stephen Colbert ripped CBS and its parent company Paramount Skydance in his show last night, after the network denied blocking the comedian from airing his interview with U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico.

I dont even know what to do with this crap. Stephen Colbert "Late Show" host
Erratic policy decisions, bubbling geopolitical tensions and concerns about the Federal Reserve's independence have left some investors pivoting away from U.S. assets over the past year  and JPMorgan is among them. In a wide-ranging Monday note, equity strategists at the investment bank said they remained long emerging markets versus developed markets, and that within the latter cohort they "prefer international over the U.S." Emerging markets Last year, emerging markets equities largely outperformed Wall Street's major averages, led by gains in Latin America and parts of Africa. JPMorgan's team noted that this had continued into the new year, with emerging-market equities outperforming DM by 10% in dollar terms based on their respective MSCI indexes. "Strong inflows into EM equities have underpinned the region's robust performance," they said. "EM equity net inflows reached $29.2 billion in 2025  the highest annual inflows since 2021. Year-to-date, inflows have already totaled $55.5 billion, nearly double the full-year 2025 figure." Read more From 'Trump dump' to 'Hedge America': Global investors still hesitant to go all-in on the U.S. As the TACO trade goes viral, another is gaining traction: 'Anywhere But The USA' As 'Sell America' trade volatility rages on, some of the biggest changes may be in your bonds Despite those inflows, the analysts said emerging markets are "still significantly underowned in the average portfolio." At 13 times 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratios, emerging-market equities are still trading at a 33% discount relative to domestic market stocks, they added. "EM assets continue to benefit from widespread monetary easing across most EM central banks. Dollar weakness provides additional support," JPMorgan's team said. Japan and Europe JPMorgan's strategists said they expected the outperformance of Japanese and European equities to continue versus U.S. equities. They said Japanese equities "should benefit from the expansionary fiscal policies" under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and added that Eurozone stocks "offer compelling relative valuations, light positioning and stand to gain from increased fiscal spending." Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 has been on a record-smashing spree this year, up almost 13% year-to-date. The rally  driven by the so-called "Takaichi trade," which took hold following her historic landslide election victory earlier this month  has put the index on course for its fourth consecutive year of double-digit gains. Last year, the pan-European Stoxx 600 jumped 16.7%. Germany's DAX index added 23% over the course of the year, fueled by optimism over its plans for a massive fiscal stimulus package that paved the way for a defense splurge. London's FTSE 100 , which gained 21.5% last year, was another regional outperformer, while Spain's IBEX 35 and Italy's FTSE MIB also trailed ahead of their U.S. counterparts on respective annual gains of 49.3% and 31.5%. JPMorgan's note said that European equities remained attractive because Eurozone stocks were still trading cheap versus the U.S., even after the region's strong performance in 2025. "The region's earnings are also expected to accelerate in 2026, after a period of underperformance," they said. "This is underpinned by stronger operating leverage, diminished FX headwinds, reduced trade uncertainty, and a likely improvement in China activity." Banking beats defense One of the major drivers of optimism in Europe last year was the defense bull run sparked by commitments from leaders , along with the NATO military alliance , to ramp up spending on security. Last year, the Stoxx Europe Aerospace and Defense index soared 56.5%, with some of the continent's defense stocks more than doubling in value. JPMorgan's analysts said Monday, however, that they were setting their sights elsewhere this year, following two years of bullishness on European defense. "Following its exceptional outperformance, we decided to take profits," its strategists wrote. "The group has been struggling to make new relative gains for some time now  and it might not deliver outsized gains anymore, in our view. Out of last year's standout outperformers, we would be more inclined to side with Banks than with Defense for 2026, as Banks valuations still appear attractive." Europe's banking sector boomed in 2025, with the Stoxx Banks index surging 80.3% thanks to improved profitability and a flurry of M & A interest.
Arthur Mensch, founder of Mistral AI, during the 'Nvidia GTC' meeting at the 2025 VivaTech conference in Paris, France, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Nathan Laine | Bloomberg | Getty Images

NEW DELHI  More than 50% of enterprises' current software could be replaced by AI, the CEO of Mistral AI told CNBC on Wednesday, potentially adding to investor concerns over software stocks. The comments by Arthur Mensch, CEO of Mistral AI, come after a sell-off in major software names that was sparked in part by Anthropic's Cowork product as investors grow increasingly worried that AI can do more of what current enterprise software does. Investors fear AI could eat into so-called software as a service, or SaaS, business models. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF , which counts names such as Microsoft and Salesforce among its top holdings, is down more than 20% this year. In India, major software stocks like Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys have also fallen. "I would say more than half of what's currently being bought by IT in terms of SaaS is going to shift to AI," Mensch told CNBC at the India Accelerates event on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, India. "AI is making us able to develop software at the speed of light," Mensch added.

watch now

The Mistral CEO said as long as enterprises have the "right infrastructure in place" they're able to connect their data to AI systems to create applications to run certain parts of work. "Then we do see with our customers ... in a couple of days, we can create fully custom applications to run a workflow, to run a procurement workflow, or to run supply chain workflows, for instance, in a way where I would say five years ago, you would actually need a vertical SaaS." Mensch said there is a "replatforming" taking place where businesses are looking to use more AI instead of current SaaS. "The replatforming is a big opportunity for us, because we now have more than 100 enterprise customers coming to us also with that will of maybe changing and replatforming their IT system, so maybe getting rid of certain things that they bought 20 years ago, and that is starting to be a bit expensive," Mensch said. "They see AI as a way to replatform the thing so that it becomes more efficient and less costly." Mensch said software focused on systems of records "are not going to change," however. This type of software is responsible for data within an organization and often works in tandem with AI. Bipul Sinha, CEO of Rubrik, has similar views to Mensch. In an interview on Wednesday with CNBC, Sinha said "workflow software" could be "significantly disrupted by AI." However, system of record or data infrastructure software that is enabling AI, "will be a positive."

Mistral expansion in India

Mensch also told CNBC that the company plans to open its first office in India this year as it expands into a market that global tech giants are all trying to get a slice of. Mistral is currently working with international companies that have a footprint in India but is now "prospecting" potential customers based in the country in both the public and private sectors. While Mistral is building data centers in Europe, the approach will be different in India, with the company planning to partner with companies that already have a physical infrastructure footprint in the country, Mensch said. The Indian government is pushing AI firms to create models that can run locally with data stored domestically. India also has various languages such as Hindi and Punjabi which Mistral said its large language models are able to accommodate. "That's something that down the line will be super important for the Indian consumer market," Mensch said.
FILE PHOTO: The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, U.S., March 3, 2022.

Anthropic is at odds with the Department of Defense over how its artificial intelligence models should be used, and its work with the agency is "under review," a Pentagon spokesperson told CNBC.

The 5-year-old startup was awarded a $200 million contract with the DOD last year. As of February, Anthropic is the only AI company that has deployed its models on the agency's classified networks and provided customized models to national security customers.

But negotiations about "going forward" terms of use have hit a snag, Emil Michael, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, said at a summit in Florida on Tuesday.

Anthropic wants assurance that its models will not be used for autonomous weapons or to "spy on Americans en masse," according to a report from Axios.

The DOD, by contrast, wants to use Anthropic's models "for all lawful use cases" without limitation.

"If any one company doesn't want to accommodate that, that's a problem for us," Michael said. "It could create a dynamic where we start using them and get used to how those models work, and when it comes that we need to use it in an urgent situation, we're prevented from using it."

It's the latest wrinkle in Anthropic's increasingly fraught relationship with the Trump administration, which has publicly criticized the company in recent months.

David Sacks, the venture capitalist serving as the administration's AI and crypto czar, has accused Anthropic of supporting "woke AI" because of its stance on regulation.
The replica of the ARM is an electronic chip board during a collaborative ceremony launching a partnership between Malaysia and ARM Holdings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 5, 2025.

New York-listed shares of British semiconductor firm Arm ticked more than 1% higher on Wednesday, after documents showed Nvidia sold its stake in the company it once wanted to buy.

At the end of the third quarter, Nvidia held 1.1 million shares of Arm with a value of $155.8 million. The chip giant's filing to the SEC on Tuesday showed it had offloaded the stock.

Nvidia had held shares in Arm since 2023, but wound down the size of its stake toward the end of 2024, according to past documents filed with the SEC.

When Arm debuted on the Nasdaq in 2023, CFO Jason Child told CNBC that Nvidia had been among a group of strategic investors that collectively purchased $735 million of Arm shares. Apple , Google , Samsung and TSMC were also part of that cohort.

Nvidia's investment in the IPO came after its failed bid to buy the company outright for $40 billion, a deal that was initially agreed between Nvidia and Arm's then-owner SoftBank back in 2020. The acquisition ultimately fell through in 2022 following regulatory hurdles on both sides of the Atlantic.
Michele and Marvin Velazquez are the founders of The Heart Bandits, a custom proposal planning company.

Michele and Marvin Velazquez had an unusual source of inspiration for starting their business: their less-than-perfect engagement story. The Orange County, California-based couple, both 46, are the founders of The Heart Bandits, a custom proposal planning company. Their love story is the foundation of their business, which brings in seven figures a year in total income. Michele, an Air Force veteran who worked in event planning, first met Marvin, an MIT-educated engineer, through work. After two years of dating, Marvin proposed to Michele in April 2010 following a sunset cruise in Marina Del Rey. "He dropped to his knee and proposed, and it was over very quickly," Michele tells CNBC Make It. "I was happy, obviously," she says, but she told her now-husband afterwards that it wasn't exactly her dream proposal: She would have preferred something a little bolder, like a flash mob. Marvin admitted that he had struggled to come up with a good proposal plan. "He said, 'Oh well, you know, there's not really resources out there for guys,'" Michele recalls. That sparked an idea for her: What if they started a service to help other couples achieve their dream proposals? Michele and Marvin officially launched The Heart Bandits a few months after their engagement. Today, they say they plan approximately 500 proposals each year, and estimate that they've worked with 9,000 couples so far.

Doing 'whatever I could do' to make it happen

Michele has aspired to be an entrepreneur since she was a child, she says, so she was "always looking for gaps in the market and different ways that I could start a business." For the first few years, the couple built The Heart Bandits on the side while they both worked their full-time jobs, Michele says. To attract clients, they posted flyers in local parking lots and even turned their car into an advertisement with custom decals. Michele also promoted The Heart Bandits on online message boards like Yahoo Answers. "Any time a guy would post, like, 'How should I propose?' I would answer, 'Oh, we have a proposal planning business. You should check it out,'" she says. That's how she landed The Heart Bandits' first client, a soldier who wanted to plan a virtual proposal in Houston while he was deployed overseas in Afghanistan. Michele and Marvin set up a video projector in a hotel room full of flowers so that he could propose to his then-girlfriend. It was a "heartwarming" story, Michele says, so she pitched it to the Houston Chronicle, which covered the story in an article. Media became a key element of their business strategy: Every time The Heart Bandits planned a unique or particularly compelling proposal, Michele reached out to local publications. At the time, "I didn't know what I was doing," she says, "but I just wanted it really bad, so I was doing whatever I could do to make it happen."

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards The Heart Bandits planned this flower-filled proposal in Malibu. Julia Lukash

Approximately three years after starting The Heart Bandits, Michele decided she was ready to quit her full-time job and focus on growing the business. Marvin followed suit and left his job in 2015. Before their two children were born, Michele and Marvin traveled frequently to visit popular proposal destinations. Today, they largely plan proposals remotely, leaning on their wide network of international vendors. According to Michele, New York City is their most popular location for proposals, followed closely by Paris. They've also planned proposals in Puerto Rico, Singapore, Australia, Mexico, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, she says.

The price of a custom proposal

The Velazquezes say they initially charged just $300 to plan a custom proposal, but after working with a business consultant, they decided to raise their rates, which Michele says was a "game-changer" for their revenue. The company's current prices aren't listed publicly, but Michele says they charge a flat fee ranging from $1,649 to $2,149 for a custom proposal, depending on how much effort is involved, on top of costs like materials and vendor fees. If those exceed $8,000, she says, they charge 20% of that budget instead of a flat fee.

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards A beach proposal the Heart Bandits planned in Santa Monica. Courtesy of Michele Velazquez

The lower end of the price range is for clients who "already have the vision in mind, and they just need execution," Michele says, while the higher end covers brainstorming the idea, creating the plan and being on-site to make sure everything runs smoothly. The Heart Bandits also offers pre-designed proposal packages, custom date planning and proposal planning masterclasses, but these services account for much smaller shares of the business, according to Michele. The Velazquezes run The Heart Bandits from their shared home. "That's the beauty of our business," Marvin says: It's not a "brick-and-mortar" operation, which keeps overhead costs low. The Heart Bandits brought in seven figures in total income in 2024 and 2025, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It, and the business made mid-six-figures in gross profit both years, after paying vendor costs. They typically reinvest part of that profit in the business to ensure that they're keeping up with the times: for example, hiring social media content creators to optimize the business's online presence.

Leaning into 'picture-worthy' proposals

Looking back, Michele says the proposals they planned in The Heart Bandits' early days are "funny compared to now." For one such proposal, she and Marvin hiked up to the top of Hollywood Hills and "made a cute little picnic ourselves." "We made handmade signs, and brought In-N-Out because the client really wanted it. We chased ants away," she recalls. The bar for proposals has gotten higher since then, according to Michele. Today, she says, "we're bringing in fireworks" and arranging helicopter rides. "It's changed so much," she says.

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards A Manhattan rooftop proposal planned by The Heart Bandits. Petronella Lugemwa
Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Wednesday's key moments. 1. Stocks moved higher on Wednesday, driven by Big Tech. Shares of Nvidia climbed 2% after the company announced a multiyear partnership with Meta under which the Facebook parent will use millions of Nvidia chips in its data center buildout. Meanwhile, WTI crude is up 3.4% amid concerns about potential hostilities between the United States and Iran. Higher oil prices increase the cost of gasoline, transportation, and goods, affecting many Club stocks. There has been a nice move up in financial stocks after the sector's fall last week on AI-disruption fears. The thinking has shifted from banks using AI to replace headcount to banks benefiting from AI tools to increase productivity. 2. Shares of cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks fell 7.3% Wednesday despite delivering a better-than-expected quarter on Tuesday after the bell. The stock can't shake off worries that AI will eat into its market share. However, CEO Nikesh Arora argued that AI will have a positive impact on Palo Alto, noting that as companies increase their use of AI, they will need more security to manage their infrastructure. While that's a compelling case that should play out, the tailwind hasn't shown up in earnings yet. We reiterated our buy-equivalent 1 rating but lowered our price target to $200. 3. Bristol Myers has a new FDA-approved drug called Camzyos, a "blockbuster" heart medication, that is one of the reasons why the stock is up 27% over the past three months. Key to our investment thesis, however, has been the expansion of the company's schizophrenia drug, Cobenfy, to treat Alzheimer's. There have been setbacks in the trials, and there have been no new updates, making it difficult to stick with the stock. Jim Cramer said recent gains mean "when we exit it, it won't be so bad." Jim has been looking to replace Bristol Myers with Johnson & Johnson , a former Club holding now in the Bullpen , or with another higher-quality name. 4. Stocks covered in Wednesday's rapid fire at the end of the video were: Western Digital , Palantir , Cadence Design Systems , and Analog Devices . (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NVDA, META, PANW, and BMY. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Digital sovereignty is a "matter of national survival," a European minister has told CNBC, as the continent scrambles to undo the dominance of U.S. digital services in its infrastructure amid geopolitical tensions. The region's dependence on U.S. tech and military protection has come into sharp focus, as its relationship with President Donald Trump's administration has deteriorated amid challenges from China and Russia. Trump alarmed Europe by imposing tariffs last year after returning to the White House. This year, he caused further alarm with his provocative refusal to rule out military action to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, before eventually ruling it out. U.S. cloud providers dominate the European market with an 85% share, according to data from Synergy Research Group. Critics warn that this dependency on non-sovereign providers is a risk amid reports of increasing cyberattacks by Russia and growing geopolitical tensions with the U.S. administration. Under the 2018 Cloud Act, the country's law enforcement can request user data from American companies, regardless of where the data is stored.

'A matter of national survival'

Estonia told CNBC it was accelerating its "open-source first" principle because of "heightened security threats on Europe's eastern flank." Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine raised fears it could target the Baltic states, including Estonia. "This has made digital sovereignty a matter of national survival, not just IT policy," Liisa Pakosta, the country's minister of justice and digital affairs, said. Other European governments told CNBC how they were exploring homegrown and open-source alternatives to U.S. tech platforms and upping budgets for digital sovereignty. "Strengthening digital sovereignty is one of the central goals" of the current German government, a spokesperson for its federal ministry for digital transformation and government modernization told CNBC, pointing to "geopolitical developments" of recent years. "The current situation is characterized by high volatility and ongoing conflicts," they said, adding that multilateral structures are being called into question by "strained" relations between the U.S. and Europe. But Amazon, Microsoft and Google control more than 70% of the cloud market in the region, with U.S. companies holding at least 59% of the enterprise software market. In January, France announced it would roll out Visio  a video conferencing tool developed by the government  which it said would be available to all state services by 2027, in place of U.S. tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. The same month, the EU said it faced a "significant problem of dependence on non-EU countries in the digital sphere...potentially creating vulnerabilities, including in critical sectors."

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The Belgian federal administration is "reassessing its dependencies in the digital domain, starting with the most critical areas," a spokesperson for the minister for digitalization told CNBC. "In this context, a Belgian cloud computing strategy for the federal administration is being examined, alongside an analysis of the federal data center landscape," they added. "This approach aims to address issues related to data sovereignty, resilience, and security, including the storage of the most sensitive data." Numerous European nations have said they have been subjected to Russian state-sponsored cyber attacks in recent years. The EU said it had observed a "deliberate and systematic pattern of malicious behaviour attributed to Russia," in a statement in July. Estonia's Pakosta said: "While we value our technological partnerships, relying solely on closed, proprietary 'black box' solutions creates a strategic vulnerability." "Open source ensures that even if global connections are severed or external vendor policies change, we retain full control over the code and can keep the Estonian digital state running locally," she added. The country is increasing investments in strengthening sovereign digital capabilities in its 2026 state budget, Pakosta added. Open-source alternatives to U.S. tech systems are increasingly being explored by European governments. Denmark said it would launch a pilot of an open-source alternative to Microsoft Office for some government employees in June. "Too much public digital infrastructure is currently tied up with very few foreign suppliers," Minister for Digital Affairs Caroline Stage Olsen said in a translated LinkedIn post at the time. "This makes us vulnerable."

GLADSAXE, DENMARK - 2025/08/13: Minister for Digital Affairs Caroline Stage Olsen seen after 2 stage of PostNord Danmark Rundt 2025. (Photo by Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

But a spokesperson for the department played down the move when approached by CNBC. Describing the pilot as "minor", they added it was intended to "increase our understanding of alternative technologies" and that no decision to move away from Microsoft and Windows had been made.

Europe's reliance on U.S. tech solutions

In November, all 27 European Union member states signed a declaration stating their "shared ambition to strengthen Europe's digital sovereignty" and reduce "strategic dependencies." Spending on sovereign cloud infrastructure-as-a-service platforms in European countries will more than triple to $23 billion in Europe in 2027, compared to 2025 levels, a recent report by research firm Gartner predicted  a much bigger increase than in North America and China.

"As geopolitical tensions rise, organisations outside the US and China are investing more in sovereign cloud IaaS to gain digital and technological independence," said Rene Buest, senior director analyst at Gartner. "Governments will remain the main buyers to meet digital sovereignty needs, followed by regulated industries and critical infrastructure organisations, such as energy and utilities and telecommunications," he added. U.S. tech platforms aren't going to disappear from Europe any time soon. In their comments to CNBC, many European countries emphasized they were still keen to continue working with American tech companies for certain aspects of their digital infrastructure. "We recognise and value the longstanding role that U.S. technology companies have played in Europe's digital transformation," said Estonia's Pakosta. "American hyperscalers are important and trusted partners in the European cloud ecosystem." Even if they wanted to fully remove U.S. digital systems from Europe's tech infrastructure, it would be unlikely to happen anytime soon. "In order to be a leading player, you have to be continually investing large amounts in research, service development, technical infrastructure, customer support and channel partners," John Dinsdale, Synergy Research Group's chief analyst, told CNBC. "It will be incredibly difficult for European cloud providers to meaningfully reverse the market share trend," he added.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary told CNBC that he believes "everything should be over the counter" unless a drug is unsafe, addictive or requires monitoring  doubling down on a push that some in the pharmaceutical industry have questioned.

In an interview Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Makary said the FDA aims to make changes this year that allow more companies to offer their prescription medicines over the counter, or OTC. He noted that the agency is going through "the proper regulatory processes" to update OTC monographs  the rulebooks that determine which drugs can be sold without a prescription.

Makary said the FDA is looking at "basic, safe" prescription drugs like nausea medications and vaginal estrogen, which is used to treat menopausal symptoms like dryness and pain.

"In my opinion, everything should be over the counter and not requiring a prescription, unless it's unsafe, unless you need laboratory tests to monitor how it's being received by your body, or if it could be used for some nefarious purpose or it's addictive," Makary told CNBC after the PhRMA Forum, a one-day event organized by the pharmaceutical industry's largest lobbying group.

"If it doesn't meet those criteria, why shouldn't a drug be over the counter? So we should be asking, why not? Instead of, 'Oh, you want to move over the counter, you got to go through a long, tedious process,'" he added.
The Gateway Tunnel site near W. 30th St. and 11th Ave. in Hudson Yards, Manhattan on Oct. 23, 2025.

The Trump administration on Wednesday released the rest of the funds it had been withholding for the construction of a major rail tunnel between Manhattan and New Jersey, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday.

The federal government freed up the remaining $98 million due for the Gateway project that is increasing passenger rail capacity into Manhattan, as well as an additional $30 million in reimbursements for work that had been completed in January, Hochul said in a statement.

The frozen funds were released in tranches over nearly two weeks after a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from withholding the money for the project that began construction in 2023. In compliance with that Feb. 6 order, the administration released $30 million on Feb. 13, followed by an additional $77 million earlier this week.

The funding suspension, initiated on the eve of the Oct. 1 government shutdown, this month triggered a total work stoppage that threatened nearly 1,000 employees' jobs.

Contractors are now being told to prepare to resume construction next week, the Democratic governor said in Wednesday's statement.

"Today's progress is significant, but we need certainty that Gateway funding will remain in place for the duration of the project," Hochul said. "The federal government has a legal obligation to fully fund Gateway, and New York will accept nothing less."
Germany's huge fiscal expansion is now starting to show up in macro data, and investors are betting it will turbo-charge European growth in the coming months. But defense spending  a cornerstone of the package  could fall short of the ambitious ramp-up this year, a Goldman Sachs note says. The historic fiscal stimulus plan includes a 500 billion euro ($591 billion) off-budget infrastructure investment fund for transport, digital and energy spending, and a defense spending increase of more than 1% of GDP. It's starting to flow through to macroeconomic numbers, Bank of America said this week. BofA analysts highlighted a recent 40% surge in German factory orders on a three-month annualized basis, including bulk orders on heavy machinery, which includes arms and weapons, and electric and electronic equipment. That suggests more orders related to defense, the analysts said.

The engine of Europe

A BofA survey of European fund managers showed a record 74% of survey participants expected growth to accelerate in Europe in the coming months. Almost two-thirds (63%) of those polled named Germany's far-reaching fiscal stimulus package as the main catalyst, cementing the country's status as the "engine of Europe." "Germany continues to be the most preferred equity market in Europe," said BofA analysts, led by Andreas Bruckner, in the Feb. 17 note.

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon DAX.

But a Goldman Sachs analyst has warned that spending on defense and investment will fall short of the government's budget targets this year. German fiscal policy will "take center stage" this year, contributing to close to half of the 1.1% growth it expects for Germany in 2026, they predicted. Goldman analysis showed Germany's defense budget has surged by 25 billion euros this year to 119 billion euros  a rise of more than 25%. But given the scale of the ramp-up, execution on the ambitious defense budget will fall short of last year's spend, Niklas Garnadt, senior European economist at Goldman, warned in a Feb. 16 note. That said, Garnadt said he still expected the overall defense spend to increase to reach 109 billion euros  some 2.4% of GDP  this year, a hike of 21 billion euros, or almost 0.5% of GDP. "Procurement and maintenance account for most of this increase," he said. "Pre-commitments for future procurement and maintenance spending have already increased substantially over the last years and orders for defense-related industries picked up notably in Q4 2025."

Strategic ambitions

Germany's locking-in of higher military spending forms part of what investors see as a defense "mega-trend," with sustained, longer-term rearmament driving a broader push towards strategic sovereignty for the continent. Speaking at last week's Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that the post-World War Two rules-based order "no longer exists." Germany's Rheinmetall  the continent's largest defense company  is one of several stocks seen as well-placed to capitalize on its growing push for military autonomy.

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Rheinmetall.
This Sept. 19, 2014 file photo shows retail mogul Leslie Wexner, at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio. Wexner is severing his last ties with the retail empire that he founded in 1963.

Billionaire Leslie Wexner said during a congressional deposition Wednesday that he had virtually no social relationship with Jeffrey Epstein  but the House Oversight Committee's top-ranking Democrat called that claim "bogus."

"I do not believe when Mr. Wexner says that he did not have a personal relationship or a friendly relationship" with the notorious sex offender, said Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., during a break in the closed-door proceedings at Wexner's home in New Albany, Ohio.

Garcia also sharply criticized the Department of Justice after hearing from Wexner that he has not been contacted by the FBI on Epstein-related matters.

"What the hell is going on? That is shameful," Garcia said.

The deposition of the 88-year-old retail billionaire, which resumed after the break, is occurring weeks after the DOJ released millions of additional files revealing new links between Epstein and major figures in business and politics.

Wexner, the retired founder of Victoria's Secret former parent company L Brands, has faced intense scrutiny for years over his personal and financial relationships with Epstein. The latest document dump raises new questions about the extent of that relationship and how long it lasted, despite Wexner's claim that it was "completely severed" nearly two decades ago.

He insists he neither knew about nor participated in any criminal activity related to Epstein.

"I was naive, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein," Wexner said in a statement submitted to the Oversight Committee ahead of the deposition.

"He was a con man. And while I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide," Wexner said.

He went on to call Epstein a "master manipulator" who "lived a double life," insisting that any criminal activities were "most carefully and fully hid from me."

"Again, to be clear, I never saw or heard about Epstein being in the company of a minor girl," Wexner said.
Meta Platforms ' pledge to spend billions of dollars on Nvidia chips is a much-needed shot in the arm for the AI semiconductor giant and its recently middling stock. Nvidia's scorching multiyear rally had cooled off in recent months, as investor dollars moved into other buzzy corners of the chip market like memory and storage, and Google's impressive AI models built on its in-house chips fanned competition concerns. But now, Meta's commitment to Nvidia should remind the market of Nvidia's technology advantages and its central role in the broader AI buildout. "Nvidia has been such a drag on this market that you begin to start a new narrative, which is that we just don't go after Sandisk and Western Digital and Micron over and over and over again," Jim Cramer said Wednesday on CNBC. Instead, he said, traders and investors may start to say, "Let's go back to the ones with great intellectual property." On that list of IP powerhouses, Nvidia is at the top of the heap. "It's just a change of scenery" that could be in order, Jim said. Shares of Nvidia rose more than 2% on Wednesday, outperforming the S & P 500 . So far in 2026, however, the stock has gained just over 1%, slightly ahead of the broader market. The two charts below help illustrate just how much the scenery within the semiconductor landscape had changed compared with the early years of the AI boom, when Nvidia's cutting-edge processors, known as graphic processing units (GPUs), were the hottest commodity in technology, sending its profits and stock price soaring. That "hottest commodity" designation in recent months has shifted to memory chips and data storage devices  technology that's crucial for AI models being training and used in the real world. But up until recently, it was relatively unsung compared to chips like Nvidia's, which do the workhorse calculations that underpin AI models. With demand for memory and storage accelerating, a supply shortage has ensued, causing prices for things like DRAM, hard drives and solid state drives (SSDs) to skyrocket. Some investors may also worry that higher memory prices could be passed onto Nvidia's customers, limiting demand for GPUs if more of the budget goes elsewhere. That is why the charts of Micron, Western Digital, Sandisk, and Seagate look like this since the start of August compared to Nvidia. Nvidia ( blue line at the bottom ) is up merely 4% on a total return basis, trailing by so much it's hard to see. Sandisk ( pink line ), up more than 1,200%, while Western Digital ( green line ) and Micron ( orange line ) have more than tripled. Seagate ( turquoise line ) is up about 166%. In our minds, some of the money that's flown into these stocks could've been coming from Nvidia. For investors who wanted to ride the memory-and-storage momentum without increasing their exposure to the semiconductor industry, Nvidia would be a convenient a source of funds  especially if you're sitting on profits on paper. Additionally, Intel 's stock (purple line ) saw renewed interest from investors over time time, as the Trump administration took an equity stake, signaling its status as a "national champion." Even Advanced Micro Devices ( yellow line ), seen as an alternative for customers trying to reduce their reliance on Nvidia, performed ahead of Nvidia during this stretch, as the chart above shows. Another big question market that lingered over Nvidia in recent months was Google's emergence as an AI darling, fueled in large part by its Gemini 3 model unveiled in mid-November that was trained exclusively on its custom chips, known as Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). Google has co-designed these chips with fellow Club name Broadcom for years, largely for internal use while also offering them via Google Cloud to customers. But the success of Gemini 3 and media reports that Google was in talks to sell TPU servers externally  most prominently to Meta for the social media giant to use in its own data centers  increased the level of concern about Google's competitive threat to Nvidia. The chart below shows how Nvidia's performance (blue line) has lagged behind Google parent Alphabet ( orange line ) since Nov. 17 and a broad fund of chip stocks, the iShares Semiconductor ETF , which often referred as its trader symbol SOXX ( pink line ). Curiously, Broadcom ( green line ) has trailed Nvidia during this stretch  but we see that as the market making a mistake, rather than indicative of fundamental weakness in its business. After all, Broadcom helps enable the success of the TPU. Nevertheless, the chart below illustrates the lack of momentum in Nvidia's shares during this period of hype around Google's AI prowess, which, it should be noted, is the reason we added it back to our portfolio in late December . Does Meta's multiyear commitment to buying Nvidia chips mean it will never use TPUs in the future? No, we can't say that for sure, given Meta and so many other companies developing AI products are hungry for all the computing capacity they can get. There's also no indication that Meta is abandoning its own custom-chip initiatives, believed to be in partnership with Broadcom, whose CEO, Hock Tan, sits on Meta's board of directors . But with the market fretting about Nvidia's competitive standing and the idea that its chips are too expensive so customers must look elsewhere for compute, Meta's decision to spend billions more on its silicon should not be ignored. That's especially true considering Meta said it will also deploy Nvidia's central processing units (CPUs) on a standalone basis  not just in conjunction with its bread-and-butter GPUs, a notable new avenue for Nvidia. Combine that with Meta's usage of Nvidia's networking technology, it's a reminder of just how complete its product portfolio is. Bottom line Meta is lending a real vote of confidence in the "total cost of ownership" of Nvidia's technology, Jim said Wednesday. He said looking only at the upfront purchase price and not considering the value provided over the lifetime of usage is too narrow. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg understands it, Jim said, but "traders don't think about this at all." (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NVDA, GOOGL, AVGO, and META. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Microsoft President Brad Smith speaks at a press conference at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia about future visions for the development and application of artificial intelligence in education in NRW in Berlin on June 4, 2025.

American tech companies should "worry a little bit" about the subsidies their Chinese competitors receive from their government in the AI race, Microsoft President Brad Smith told CNBC.

As competition between U.S. and Chinese companies intensifies to develop the most advanced models, Smith said that the U.S. has "an advantage in terms of access to the most powerful chips in the world" and "other technology innovation."

But, speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, India, he also said: "I do think we always have to think about, maybe even worry a little bit about Chinese subsidies."

Chinese AI companies have been supported by their government with measures such as a multi-billion-dollar national investment fund and vouchers for cheaper energy for their computing needs. Smith's warning comes after Chinese firms released a slew of models over the past two weeks, and their lower-cost AI models could be attractive in developing nations.

Smith said subsidies from Beijing to Chinese companies were "the fundamental approach that China successfully took to disrupt the telecommunications market," when state money and support helped companies like Huawei and ZTE expand.

"Some American companies disappeared. European companies like Ericsson and Nokia were thrown on the defensive," Smith added.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, during a tour of the Broad Institute on December 5, 2025.

U.S. National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya will take over as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a Trump administration official said on Wednesday.

The New York Times first reported the news on Wednesday.

Health and Human Services Deputy Security Jim O'Neill is currently acting CDC director, having taken over in August after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ousted the former director less than a month into her tenure.

President Donald Trump fired CDC Director Susan Monarez in August after she resisted changes to vaccine policy advanced by Kennedy that she believed contradicted scientific evidence, further destabilizing the already embattled agency.

Monarez's firing triggered the resignations of four senior CDC officials who cited anti-vaccine policies and misinformation pushed by Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, and his team.

The CDC has faced mounting challenges under Kennedy's leadership, including a shooting at its Atlanta headquarters in August.

O'Neill signed off in January on the United States ending its longstanding guidance that all children receive vaccines against flu and three other diseases, a sweeping change that advances one of Kennedy's long-term goals.

He also signed off in October on a vaccine advisory panel's recommendation against the use of a combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine before the age of 4 years.

Kennedy had fired all of the panel's members in June and replaced them with handpicked members, including several who have advocated against vaccines.

O'Neill will leave both his roles are part of a larger shakeup of health department leadership, and will be offered a different role in the administration not within HHS, the administration official told Reuters on Wednesday. His departure was first reported by Politico on Friday.

Kennedy announced wider changes to his team on Thursday, including the elevation of Chris Klomp as chief counselor at HHS tasked to oversee all operations of the department. Klomp currently serves as Deputy Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as Director of Medicare. Kennedy said he would retain his roles at CMS.

Kennedy also announced that Kyle Diamantas and Grace Graham will serve as senior counselors for the Food and Drug Administration and John Brooks as senior counselor for CMS.
American AI chip darling Nvidia is expanding its partnerships in India, including with venture capital firms, as it bets on the country's AI ecosystem that has drawn massive Big Tech investments.

The company in statement on Wednesday said it was working with several venture capital firms, including Peak XV, Z47, Elevation Capital, Nexus Venture Partners and Accel India to identify and fund AI startups.

This comes as venture capital investors have been increasingly showing interest in India's technology startups, with the country's strong initial public offerings market providing lucrative returns.

India is currently holding an AI summit that has seen major tech CEOs as well as heads of states participate in the event. Nvidia top boss Jensen Huang was also expected to attend it but withdrew due to "unforeseen circumstances."

More than 4,000 AI startups in India's have already joined Nvidia's global startup program, which helps tech startups build, scale, and go to market, according to the chip designer.

The world's largest company by market cap also said it was collaborating with government agencies and research institutions, as well as continuing efforts to build the country's domestic data centers.

Nvidia's efforts are framed around New Delhi's "IndiaAI mission," aimed at strengthening the country's AI capabilities and free up funding for its AI entrepreneurs.

More broadly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has set goals for India to grow into a global tech superpower. As of September last year, New Delhi had approved $18 billion worth of semiconductor projects as it looks to build a domestic supply chain.

Nvidia has also partnered with Indian cloud providers such as Yotta, Larsen & Toubro, and E2E Networks to provide its AI chip clusters and help build data centers in the country.

A New Delhi official reportedly said Tuesday that the country expects as much as $200 billion in investments for data centers over the next few years.

India's Adani has announced plans to invest $100 billion toward renewable energy-powered AI-ready data centers. American tech firms including hyperscalers Amazon, Microsoft and Google have committed more than $50 billion toward AI infrastructure and chips in the country.

Meanwhile, Nvidia said it was also supporting India's AI companies through its "NVIDIA Nemotron models"  a family of Nvidia AI models that organizations can use to build new chatbots, agents, and speech systems.

These Nvidia models can be used by Indian companies to train new AI systems on India-specific data and language, aligning with the the country's goal of build sovereign AI.

Sovereign AI refers to a country's ability to build artificial intelligence based on its own infrastructure, data and industry, so that increasingly critical AI systems don't depend on foreign providers.
Oil prices rose more than 4% on Wednesday, after Vice President JD Vance said Iran did not address U.S. red lines in nuclear talks this week and President Donald Trump reserves the right to use military force.

U.S. crude oil rose $2.86, or 4.59%, to close at $65.19 per barrel. Global benchmark Brent was up $2.93, or 4.35%, to settle at $70.35 per barrel.

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva on Tuesday. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, described the discussions as "constructive," according to Iranian media. Araghchi said the talks yielded a general agreement on guiding principles.

Oil prices closed lower Tuesday as traders interpreted the foreign minister's comments as a sign that the U.S. and Iran could still reach a settlement.

But Vance said Tehran had failed to address core U.S. demands.

"In some ways it went well, they agreed to meet afterwards," the vice president told Fox News on Tuesday evening. "But in other ways it is very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through."

Trump reserves the right to use force if diplomacy does not succeed in stopping Iran's nuclear program, Vance said. "We do have a very powerful military  the president has shown a willingness to use it," the vice president told Fox News.

Sources told Axios, meanwhile, that a U.S. military campaign against Iran would likely be massive, last weeks and look more like a full-fledged war than the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard conducted war games this week in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital trade choke point for global oil flows. About one-third of all waterborne crude exports pass through the narrow waterway, according to data from energy consulting firm Kpler.

The market is worried those oil flows would be disrupted if the U.S. and Iran go to war. Iranian state media said traffic in part of the strait was closed Tuesday due to the military exercises.

Kpler did not observe any halt in traffic in the strait on Tuesday, said Matt Smith, an oil analyst at the firm.

Trump has stationed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Middle East. The USS Gerald Ford is en route to the region.

Trump said Friday he deployed the second aircraft carrier in case negotiations fail. "If we don't have a deal, we'll need it," the president told reporters outside the White House.

The Iranian government did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
"Late Show" host Stephen Colbert on Tuesday night called CBS' denial of his claim that it blocked the broadcast of his interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico "crap"  and urged the network and its parent, Paramount Skydance , to stand up to the "bullies" in the Trump administration.

Colbert's broadside came hours after CBS issued a statement on the controversy.

The host, whose show will end in May as it was canceled by CBS, held up a printed copy of the network's statement about Talarico's interview during his show Tuesday night and said, "I don't even know what to do with this crap."

He then pulled a plastic doggy bag from behind his desk, picked up the statement, tied a knot and mimed throwing it away before cutting to commercial.

The controversy is the latest flap to spark speculation that CBS is currying favor with the Trump administration as Paramount makes a hostile tender bid for Warner Bros Discovery . If WBD's shareholders accept Paramount's bid, federal government regulators would need to sign off on the deal.

Colbert had invited Talarico, who is running in the Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat from Texas, to appear on Monday night's broadcast of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

But early in that night's show, Colbert said to his studio audience that CBS' lawyers had told him "in no uncertain terms ... that we could not have him on the broadcast."

Colbert said the lawyers wanted to avoid running afoul of new guidance by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr that suggests broadcast talk shows could be required to abide by the so-called equal time provision requiring broadcasters to give political candidates equal coverage if their opponents appear on air.

Colbert noted that he had put Talarico's interview on the "Late Show" YouTube channel  the video has been seen more than 4.4 million times.

CBS, in its statement on Tuesday afternoon, denied Colbert's main allegation that it had barred the interview from being aired.

"The Late Show was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico," the network said.

"The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett [D-Texas], and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled," CBS said.

Colbert scoffed at the statement during Tuesday's show.

"They know damn well that every word of my script last night was approved by CBS lawyers who, for the record, approved every script that goes on the air," Colbert said.

"In fact, between the monologue I did last night, and before I did the second act talking about this issue, I had to go backstage," he said.

"I got called backstage to get more notes from these lawyers. Something that had never, ever happened before, and they told us the language they wanted me to use to describe that equal time exception, and I used that language," Colbert said. "So I don't know what this is about."

Colbert went on to say he wasn't "mad" at the network and does not want an "adversarial relationship."

"I'm just so surprised that this giant global corporation would not stand up to these bullies," he said.

"Come on. You're Paramount. No, no, no, you're more than that. You're Paramount+," Colbert cracked. "And for the lawyers to release this [statement] without even talking to me is really surprising."

The host also noted that there has long been "a very famous exception to" the equal time rule, "and that exception included talk shows, interviews with politicians."

"We looked, and we can't find one example of this rule being enforced for any talk show interview, not only for my entire late-night career, but for anyone's late-night career, going back to the 1960s," he said.

Colbert said that Carr has "not gotten rid of" that exception for talk show hosts "yet."

"But CBS generously did it for him and told me, unilaterally, that I had to abide by the equal time rules, something I have never been asked to do for an interview in the 20 years of this job," he added.

"Now, that decision, I want to be clear, is their right, just like I have the right to talk about their decision on air last night," Colbert said.

Paramount did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Early voting in the Texas Democratic primary began Tuesday. Talarico is in a close contest against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. The winner will face the victor of the Republican primary between Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Democrats have not won a statewide race in Texas since 1994.

CNBC has reached out to the FCC for comment.
For the most part, analysts across Wall Street maintained their long-term bullishness on shares of Cadence Design Systems , following its fourth-quarter earnings release, calling threats of artificial intelligence disruption overblown. On Tuesday afternoon, the electronic systems designer reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.99 per share, surpassing the $1.91 analysts polled by FactSet had expected. Cadence's $1.44 billion revenue also exceeded the consensus forecast of $1.42 billion. Cadence estimated full-year earnings will also come in higher than anticipated. Revenue for its current quarter should land between $1.42 billion and $1.46 billion, above analysts' expectations of $1.38 billion. Cadence has been swept up in the broader software sell-off this year, with the stock down 9% in 2026. But shares were already rebounding 7% higher as analysts applauded Cadence's protection from AI threats. "While there are general concerns about AI disrupting the software business model, both we and the team believe that chip design software is highly complex and not easily replicated, benefiting from strong technology, a strong customer/ ecosystem network, and a significant data moat. Instead, AI should enable Cadence to unlock better automation capabilities for customers and drive improved monetization," JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur wrote. "Cadence noted agentic AI workflows at customers are increasing the use of its software and is not engaged in customer discussions to reduce [electronic design automation]. Cadence is adding extra tools to automate the [register transfer level] coding process (manual), while noting the chip design process still requires existing tools such as verification, simulation, etc," wrote Wells Fargo analyst Joe Quatrochi. "We would view this positively, and we'll be interested in better understanding Cadence's 'usage / outcome-based' pricing of its AI tools." Bottom line, most analysts maintained their long-term bullish stance, although some cut their price targets. Here's how Wall Street's biggest shops reacted. Piper Sandler: Neutral rating, $319 price target The investment firm's price target, down from $355, implies about 13% upside from Cadence's Tuesday close of $283.46. "While all encouraging, including the implicit return of double-digit growth in recurring revenue, we believe shares largely represent, in our view, the fulsome picture of CDNS's medium-term prospects: low-teens CAGR for revenue and ~50% incremental margins. As seen in recent weeks, carrying a premium multiple in software is challenging proposition. While fundamentals remain robust and think CDNS is the strongest asset in [electronic design automation], we remain Neutral." Morgan Stanley: Overweight, $370 Morgan Stanley's forecast, down from $385, corresponds to upside of 31%. "Another beat this quarter, with evidence of momentum into 1H26, likely supports price action. New agentic plays and a sense that systems threats from LLMs are minimal may be more supportive of longer-term value. We keep our Overweight rating but trim our estimates in line with guidance; PT to $370." Bank of America: Buy, $375 The bank's target, cut from $400, calls for upside of 32%. "CDNS has seen no customer discussion regarding reducing their usage of EDA software and remain protected by 1) increasing customer reliance on AI expected to increase semi R & D budgets and the % of R & D $s going to [electronic design automation] (currently ~15%) given EDA tool complexity needed to design more complex chips, 2) deep integration with customer design teams/roadmaps increasing customer reliance on CDNS, and 3) chip design data collected over prior years allowing for faster acceleration of CDNS' AI-enabled tools vs. 'merchant' AI models." Wells Fargo: Overweight, $375 Wells Fargo cut its target from $410. "Positive initial 2026 Guide; focus on upside drivers as recurring software re-accelerates. Cadence delivered a positive beat / raise as it continues to see strong broad-based demand. Strong 1Q26 guide leaves us focused on conservatism for 2026 as CDNS reported re-accelerating recurring software demand in part via AI." Baird: Outperform, $395 Baird's forecast is 39% above Cadence's Tuesday closing price. "Unease ahead of 4Q25 results drove Cadence shares -5% Tuesday (S & P=flat%), there is opportunity to regain lost ground given strength in quarter, AI-related demand improvement, and positive guidance. FY26 outlook begins revenue +11-13% YoY (consensus=12%), recurring revenues accelerating +LDD% YoY, guidance de-risked for contributions from hardware/China (hardware with potential 2H upside as pipeline fills). We expect FY26 growth finishes closer to mid-teens YoY (FY25: +14% YoY), and within tough software tape, we recommend exposure to Cadence given AI positioning and industry-leading growth within each key product segment." Mizuho: Outperform, $400 Mizuho's target equates to 41% upside. "Management continues to see healthy design activity, especially stable growth in China against a potentially volatile geopolitical backdrop. Hardware and IP continue to see solid trends and core [electronic design automation] is performing well. CDNS continues to benefit from the GenAI build-outs and internal AI-driven productivity gains while SD & A expansion and emerging Physical AI opportunities add long-term optionality." JPMorgan: Overweight, $405 JPMorgan's forecast implies about 43% upside from here. "Solid full-year CY26 guidance reflects prudent China/ hardware outlook; expect more upside as year unfolds on strong AI chip design activity and AI solution adoption  Leading-edge chip design activity is strong, driven by the AI infrastructure build-out and broad-based portfolio strength. Additionally, Cadence's AI products  Cerebrus, Verisium, and Allegro X AI  are gaining traction, alongside the recently launched agentic AI solution, Chipstack AI Super Agent. Hardware revenues were strong and at record levels, fueled by demand from AI and hyperscale customers, and the team anticipates another record year in CY26."
President Donald Trump stops and talks to the media before he boards Marine One on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, June 15, 2025.

"[Democrats] don't want voter ID because they want to cheat at elections," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Monday . "If you had voter ID, if you had proof of citizenship, they could never win an election. And they know that. And they're fighting them to the hilt."

The topic has apparently been front of mind for the president. In a series of reposts on Truth Social that followed his initial post Wednesday, Trump shared unfounded claims about irregularities in the 2020 election.

Trump's recent fixation on elections and congressional Republicans' willingness to largely fall in line are raising alarms for Democrats and voting rights groups, who see the recent moves as a potential existential threat to American elections and an extension of Trump's past election denialism.

Leavitt's comments followed a Tuesday night Trump Truth Social post of an article about a local elected official urging the Georgia state government to take over voting in Fulton County, the target of a recent FBI raid and a precinct that Trump lost to Joe Biden in 2020. Trump is planning to travel to a different part of Georgia on Thursday to talk about the economy.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a briefing Wednesday said Trump is "discussing and exploring legal options for a potential executive order with respect to voter ID," days after Trump said he would find a way to require voters to present identification across the U.S., "whether approved by Congress or not!"

President Donald Trump is escalating his crusade for voter identification requirements after last week's promise of an executive order to implement such a mandate before November's midterm elections.

"When [Republicans] win an election, they win fair and square," Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said in an interview this week. "But then when they lose elections, Donald Trump likes to say it was based on fraud."

Stanton is the chair of the New Democrat Coalition Action Fund, a political action committee that works to get moderate Democrats elected to the U.S. House. He called Trump's threat to unilaterally impose voter ID requirements "purely bluster."

Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, similarly said "the Constitution is pretty clear."

"Time, place and manner of elections shall be up to the states  Congress may at its discretion get involved as well. But there's no role for the president," Morelle said in an interview Wednesday.

SAVE America Act moves to the Senate

Meanwhile, support is growing among the Senate GOP for a bill that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and the presenting of identification to cast a ballot.

The SAVE America Act targets noncitizen voting, which is already illegal and exceedingly rare, and requires voter ID. It advanced out of the House last week on a 218-213 vote, with just one Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, voting in favor.

Both of the bill's main components are broadly popular, according to public polling. But opponents say the legislation could disenfranchise millions and create barriers to voting for minorities, college students and married women who changed their last names.

While some congressional Republicans have shown a willingness to buck Trump in recent months on things like tariffs and Affordable Care Act subsidies, most have followed his lead on elections.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is the lone Senate Republican to publicly oppose the bill, while nearly all of her GOP colleagues have signed on.

Still, the measure faces an uphill climb in the Senate, where rules require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, meaning more than a handful of Democrats would have to vote with their Republican colleagues to advance the legislation.

GOP proponents of the bill, including its lead sponsor Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, have called for changing the filibuster rule to allow a simple majority to prevail. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has promised a vote on the SAVE America Act, which he supports, but has been cool to the idea of changing the filibuster.

Meanwhile, a second, even broader election reform proposal has cropped up in the House.

In addition to requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship, the Make Elections Great Again Act, introduced by Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., in January, would disqualify mail-in ballots received after the close of polls on Election Day, require states to use auditable paper ballots, and ban ballot harvesting, ranked choice voting and universal vote-by-mail.

A spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., declined to comment when asked if the speaker planned to bring the MEGA Act to the floor, instead referring to the speaker's past comments on the passage of the SAVE America Act. The House Administration Committee, which Steil chairs, held a hearing on the MEGA Act last week.

During a recent appearance on Fox Business after House passage of the SAVE America Act, Steil said Republicans "need to build on that work."

"I think we need to clean up our voter rolls. I think we should make sure that ballots are in by the end of Election Day. We need proper, auditable ballots. The list goes on," Steil said.
Earthen barriers near Lock 10 on the C&O Canal help redirect sewage back into the Potomac Interceptor after a section of the six-foot-wide sewage pipe collapsed last month between the Clara Barton Parkway and the canal on Feb. 16, 2026 in Cabin John, Maryland.

President Donald Trump is worried the stench of the Potomac River will put America 250 celebrations in a funk after a sewage pipe collapse near Washington, D.C. dumped hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into the river, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday.

"He is worried about that, which is why the federal government wants to fix it, and we hope that the local authorities will cooperate with us in doing so," Leavitt said during a press briefing at the White House when asked if the president was worried about Washington, D.C. smelling like waste during celebrations for the nation's 250th anniversary.

The administration has a slew of events planned for the 250th anniversary of the United States, culminating in Independence Day celebrations on July 4. Many of the events will take place in Washington, D.C., which sits on the Potomac, and are likely to draw crowds of travelers.

Leavitt said the White House is still waiting on local governments in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. to ask for federal help in cleaning up the mess. Trump has repeatedly blamed Democratic leadership in the two states and D.C. for the spill and has demanded they ask "politely" for federal assistance.

Trump has singled out Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland over the spill. The president also recently snubbed Moore from a National Governors' Association event at the White House. Leavitt doubled down on the president's badgering of Moore on Wednesday.

"There has been no improvement under the leadership of Gov. Moore," Leavitt said. "He's clearly shown he's incapable of fixing this problem, which is why President Trump and the federal government are standing by to step in."

Leavitt's comments also add to a messy political fight that erupted this week over the spill, pitting Moore against Trump. Moore, who is the nation's only Black governor, a frequent Trump foil, and often floated as a potential presidential contender in 2028, has asserted the failed pipe is within the jurisdiction of federal authorities.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to journalists aboard Air Force One en route to South Korea on October 29, 2025 in Japan.

U.S. President Donald Trump has welcomed Japan's pledge to invest nearly $36 billion in oil, gas and critical mineral projects in Texas, Ohio and Georgia.

The commitment represents the first tranche of investments by Japan following a landmark trade deal between the two countries, one in which Tokyo pledged to invest $550 billion in American-based projects and Trump cut tariffs on most Japanese imports to 15%.

"Our MASSIVE Trade Deal with Japan has just launched!" Trump said Tuesday in a social media post.

"The scale of these projects are so large, and could not be done without one very special word, TARIFFS," he added.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the projects strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and were expected to bring increased sales and business expansion for Japanese companies.

"We believe these initiatives truly embody the purpose of this Strategic Investment Initiative, namely the promotion of mutual benefit between Japan and the United States, the enhancement of economic security, and the promotion of economic growth," Takaichi said in a post on X, according to a Google translation.

By far the largest investment is a natural gas facility in Ohio that's expected to generate 9.2 gigawatts of power.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Portsmouth Powered Land Project, valued at $33 billion and operated by SB Energy, a subsidiary of Japan's SoftBank , would be "the largest natural gas generation facility in history."
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Donald Trump Jr. on Wednesday called traditional banking a "Ponzi scheme" that effectively forced the Trump family to start its crypto venture World Liberty Financial after banks closed the family company's accounts in early 2021. "You know, we didn't get into crypto because we were on the leading edge," Trump Jr. told CNBC's Sara Eisen on "Squawk on the Street" during an interview Wednesday at the World Liberty Forum. "We got into it out of necessity," Trump Jr. said at the event that is being held at the Mar-a-Lago club owned by his father, President Donald Trump, in Palm Beach, Florida. "They basically forced us into it."

Donald Trump Jr., left, and Eric Trump speaking on "Squawk on the Street" on Feb. 18t, 2026. CNBC

He and his younger brother Eric Trump blamed traditional banks for booting the Trump Organization's hundreds of bank accounts on the heels of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, during which supporters of his father stormed the U.S. Capitol while claiming the 2020 election results were invalid. The brothers said banks also had "debanked" other, smaller clients because of their conservative politics. "We're trying to modernize finance," Eric Trump said. "We're the most canceled people in the world in 2020, 2021," Eric Trump said.
Resident Olena Pozhydaieva works while charging her devices inside a support point, situated in a bomb shelter, during a long power blackout after critical civil infrastructure was hit by Saturday's Russian missile and drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Vyshhorod in Kyiv region, Ukraine, Dec. 29, 2025.

Digital transformation and reskilling are challenges during the best of times, but Ukraine's wartime achievements with technology deployment for its citizenry are a unique success story.

Despite the full-scale Russian invasion, which happened nearly four years ago and continues to this day, the Ukrainian government has continued working towards President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's goal of building a "state in a smartphone," an aim that has now evolved to becoming an "agentic state" as artificial intelligence advances.

The government is doing this via Diia, an integrated digital platform and super app, with access to streamlined public services, business resources, and digital literacy education.

"Our main goal is to make sure that every Ukrainian is competitive, has a high-paying job and is successful in life," said Valeriya Ionan, advisor to the ministry of digital transformation of Ukraine. Ionan spearheads the free edutainment platform Diia.Education.

According to a government report, 60% of Ukrainians ages 18 to 70 use Diia to conduct online public services, up 24% since 2021. Ukraine has more than 160 public services available on the app, including e-marriage (one of Time's Best Inventions of 2024)

As for Diia.Education, it's used by nearly three million Ukrainians, 75% of whom complete their courses (this is exponentially higher than industry standards, which can be as low as 5%). This education has led to an increase in digital literacy of 12.5% in 2023 and 10.5% in 2025, the two most recent years when Ukraine published studies (after a decrease that traces back to high-skilled Ukrainians leaving the country during the war and rapid technological advancement).

Users of all ages can use the platform to improve digital skills, acquire certificates, learn how to use online services and discover new careers. All of this helps to keep people economically active during displacement, relocation, job loss, or career changes triggered by the war.

While emerging technology poses worries of job loss, digital literacy "can serve as a bridge to opportunities in emerging fields" and "further enhances access to remote work and the gig economy, creating employment opportunities for historically marginalized populations," according to global think tank UNU.

Plus, even basic digital literacy helps protect Ukrainians during what is widely considered the most technological war in history.

"Ukraine has been the testing ground for Russian cyber weapons for the last 10 years," said Jeremiah Fowler, co-founder and cybersecurity researcher at Security Discovery, who has discovered thousands of data breaches and scams.

"The weakest link in every cybersecurity scenario is the human aspect," Fowler said. "That basic knowledge can help people say, 'Maybe I don't want to download this software or click this mysterious link.' That's a very good first step of defense." He adds that Diia uses top instructors who would otherwise charge a premium to share that knowledge.

Diia.Education and the broader Diia ecosystem, which have won awards and are ranked on various global indices, have evolved despite missile attacks, power outages and military conscription that have changed life for Ukrainians.

Fowler, originally from the U.S., spent 14 years living in Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion began, Germany has been his homebase, though he regularly travels back and forth. He recognizes that "many Ukrainian people just do not have the luxury that people outside of a war zone have," like taking gap years or coasting on outdated education. "People are really working hard on every skill they have because of uncertainty."

In the U.S., public-private partnerships for tech education exist, like the Virginia Has Jobs program, a state initiative with Google that works to close gaps in AI education for students and the workforce. However, many educational initiatives of this kind are siloed within the private sector, with reskilling an internal effort at companies.

Ukraine's Diia.Education first launched in 2023 with help from a Google.org grant of $2 million. The free lifelong learning platform joined the broader Diia ecosystem, which first began in 2019 under the newly launched Ministry of Digital Transformation. Diia.Education is integrated with national job platforms and supported by more than 5,000 offline education hubs across the country, providing access for people without stable connectivity. In Ukraine, 19% of adults have no access to the internet via a fixed broadband connection (compared to 9% in the U.S.).

For people with limited internet access as well as the elder population, Ukraine developed a program for librarians on how to facilitate someone's first contact with a computer. Using these governmental resources, libraries across the nation have launched workshops to promote digital literacy regardless of someone's starting point.

"The training opened up new opportunities for communicating with my grandchildren and helped me keep up with the times with confidence," Lyudmila Perkun, a Ukrainian senior citizen who now knows how to pay for utilities online, said in a case study.

Ukraine broadcasts basic education videos on network television, which directs people to Diia.Education to learn more. As a further incentive, certain individuals are eligible to receive 1,000 hryvnia (roughly $25) as a sign-up bonus for the main Diia app.

While Diia.Education is an edutainment platform, it's not a competitor in the marketplace. "Our main goal is to promote the market, not to take part in it," said Ionan. "We are working with almost all the edtech providers. We are using their content and doing lots of partnership projects."

Fowler believes that Ukraine's efforts to educate its population are a prime example of investing in your people. "Like any investment, you want that to grow, blossom and then return on that investment," he said. "In this case, the return on investment is an educated population that has higher incomes. Higher incomes allow for better tax contributions and more opportunities, because these educated people start businesses, hire other people. It's a chain reaction of just doing the basics at the bottom, without trying to make it into a profit model for the shareholders."
Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on Wednesday: Morgan Stanley reiterates Amazon as overweight Morgan Stanley says the stock remains a top idea and AI winner. " AMZN is Top Pick as AWS/Retail both under-appreciated GenAI winners. AWS seems set to further accelerate as capex yield framework shows how it could grow 30%+ in '26/'27. We also discuss why AMZN is an agentic winner with leverage and why partnerships would be positive/ manageable" Williams Trading downgrades Crocs to sell from hold Williams says demand remains weak. "Downgrading CROX to Sell, raising estimates, and raising PT from $75 to $84. The underlying demand for Crocs and HEYDUDE continues to erode in the U.S., and it appears as if CROX is beginning, once again, to step on store expansion to drive its global DTC business, and offset weak wholesale demand." Citizens upgrades Rush Street Interactive to market outperform from market perform Citizens calls the gaming company a "beat and raise story." "Rush Street management continues to prove that it has built one of the most durable business models in the online gaming space, driven by a favorable mix (iGaming) and geographic footprint." Wells Fargo reiterates Nvidia as overweight Wells says investors should buy the weakness ahead of earnings next week. "We recommend buying NVDA ahead of F4Q26 print (2/25). Increase estimates; expect very strong demand/ramp commentary and increased confidence in GPU spend dominance. With shares trading at ~19x CY27 P/E, we think NT sentiment is likely bottoming." Deutsche Bank reiterates Nvidia as hold Deutsche is sticking with its hold rating on Nvidia ahead of earnings next week. "Additionally, we see the current valuation as the most appealing in quite some time but are less clear as to whether near term strength would come as a surprise to investors and/or overcome the sector wide concern weighing on AI-related semi stocks. Consequently, we maintain our Hold rating, albeit with the risk/reward into earnings incrementally more positive than in recent quarters." Baird upgrades Itron to outperform from neutral Baird says investors should buy the dip in the tech company. "We are buyers of ITRI following its Q4 report which outlined a compelling multi-year opportunity regarding the company's positioning in utilities' modernization of the grid." Mizuho upgrades Palantir to outperform from neutral Mizuho sees "spectacular growth." " PLTR is in a category of one, delivering total revenue growth, acceleration, and margin expansion at scale that is unlike anything else in software." Read more. Roth initiates Modine Manufacturing at buy Roth says the industrial company is firing on all cylinders. " Modine has built through both organic means and M & A a unique one-stop shop for thermal solutions used for data center cooling technologies, specialty HVAC and refrigeration." Compass Point initiates Nebius Group at buy Compass Point says the AI infrastructure company has a differentiated offering. "Headquartered in Amsterdam, Nebius is a full-stack AI infrastructure company that sells GPU compute and its associated software stack through an AI cloud platform built for both training and inference." Read more. TD Cowen upgrades Icon to buy from hold TD Cowen says concerns over the clinical research company's accounting practices are overdone. "We upgrade shares of ICLR to Buy from Hold, as we believe share reaction to ICLR's investigation (down 33%) into accounting practices overstates the anticipated impact to earnings." Piper Sandler upgrades Goosehead Insurance to overweight from neutral Piper upgraded the insurance stock following earnings. "We are upgrading GSHD to Overweight from Neutral following its 4Q25 results." Baird initiates CSW Industries at outperform Baird says it sees "growth opportunities" for the diversified industrials company. "We're initiating on CSW with an Outperform rating. CSW has an established track record of value creation." Citigroup upgrades StubHub to neutral from sell Citi says the headwinds are now priced in for the ticket company. "We initiated on StubHub with a Sell/High Risk rating with a bearish view on 2026 EBITDA estimates. Over the past month, the stock has fallen ~45%. We attribute the weakness primarily to AI fears and heightened regulatory concerns. We believe regulatory headwinds are now largely incorporated in the prevailing equity value." Morgan Stanley reiterates Palo Alto Networks as overweight Morgan Stanley says shareholders should buy any weakness in Palo Alto shares following earnings. The firm lowered its price target to $223 per share from $245. "Company presented a compelling argument for AI as a tailwind for cyber, which given competitive positioning and growing platform from M & A, leave us firmly OW and buyers of weakness." Rosenblatt upgrades Cadence Design Systems to buy from neutral Rosenblatt upgraded the computer software company following earnings and says Cadence shares have plenty more room to run. "Given the stock's pullback since September, our view that AI is a tailwind and not a threat for EDA, and now a 27% return to our target price, we are upgrading our rating back to Buy." Baird reiterates First Solar as outperform Baird says Tesla remains a threat to First Solar but that it's sticking with the stock ahead of earnings next week. "The threat of competition in the US from TSLA - these plans are real but will take time."
Australia's Liberal Party has proposed banning immigration from terror-controlled regions across 13 countries, including Egypt, Palestine and the Philippines, under a policy developed while the party was in opposition, a media report said.The proposed framework could see up to 37 regions  allegedly under the control of 15 listed terrorist organisations  designated under the ban. Countries referenced include Afghanistan, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, the Philippines, Somalia and Yemen. Gaza was also cited as a potential designated region, Sky News reported.The policy was prepared under former opposition leader Sussan Ley, alongside shadow immigration minister Paul Scarr and shadow home affairs minister Jonno Duniam, the report said.However, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said he had not seen the details of the proposal when questioned on Sky News Sunday Agenda, despite being part of Leys shadow cabinet at the time. Taylor said the policy had not been approved by the shadow cabinet, the shadow Expenditure Review Committee (ERC), or the partys leadership group, the report mentioned.Addressing concerns around the proposal, Taylor said immigration policy "is not about any particular race or religion"."Our focus is on bringing people to this country who believe in our values, who come here because they know this is the greatest nation on earth," he told Sky News Agenda."If they reject our focus on democracy our basic freedoms, freedom of speech, freedom of religion  if they reject those things, the door must be shut."Immigration has become a key political flashpoint following the Bondi Beach terror attack, with support rising for the hard-line immigration stance of One Nation.Taylor also called for intelligence agencies to play a greater role in vetting prospective migrants to ensure they do not bring "hate and violence" into the country.Nationals leader David Littleproud backed the proposal, describing it as "common sense" and a return to Australian values, the report said.Taylor said it was important to "show respect" to voters supporting One Nation and that the Liberal Party aimed to present itself as a stronger governing alternative. "They are making their decisions for a reason and we have to convince them that we are a better alternative, a party coalition of government that can serve them better," he told Sky News.
Results from Colorado Colleges 16th annual State of the Rockies Conservation in the West Poll released today show widespread concern among Western voters about rollbacks of protections for land, water, and wildlife and cuts to funding for public land management.

The poll, which surveyed voters in eight Mountain West statesColorado, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyomingfound that Western voters across party lines are prioritizing conservation, recreation, and renewables over fossil fuel development heading into this years midterm elections.

Highlights from the Poll

84% of voters say the rollback of laws that protect our land, water, and wildlife is a serious problem, a sharp increase from previous years.

85% of respondents say issues involving public land, water, and wildlife are important in deciding whether to support a public official.

86% of Western voters deem funding cuts to public lands a serious problem, including 76% of Republicans.

70% of respondents oppose fast-tracking oil, gas, and mining projects on national public lands by reducing environmental reviews and local public input.

72% of Westerners prefer expanding renewable energy over drilling and mining for more fossil fuels.

76% of Westen votersmore than ever beforesay they would prefer their member of Congress place more emphasis on conservation and recreation on public lands over maximizing energy production.

74% of Western voters oppose selling some national public lands for oil and gas development.

91% of Western voters say existing national monument designations should be kept in place.

As policymakers look ahead to the upcoming midterm elections, 85% of voters in Mountain West states say issues involving public land, water, and wildlife are important in deciding whether to support a candidate.

At a time of growing pressure on land and water in the West, the call to action from voters is clear and bipartisan: Westerners want funding and stewardship for public lands and natural resources, said Ian Johnson, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Sustainability.

Voters want to prioritize renewable energy sources. When asked to prioritize energy sources, voters across party lines selected solar as their top choice, while coal was the least desired, with only 7% of respondents listing coal as a first or second priority.

Funding cuts to public land management have proven unpopular with Western voters. Recent funding cuts have reduced the number of firefighters, park rangers, scientists, and other employees working to protect public lands, water, and wildlife over the last year. These cuts to public land management have 86% of voters across party lines concerned, including 75% MAGA supporters.

Western voters also oppose the sale of public lands and the elimination of public land protections. Even with rising housing costs, 76% of Western voters oppose selling public lands for housing. Additionally, 74% of Western voters oppose selling public lands to private companies for oil, gas, and mining development.

Scarce water resources continue to be a concern for Westerners, particularly in states that have experienced droughts. Westerners consider scarce water resources a serious problem, with 87% of Western voters concerned about inadequate water supplies. Accordingly, 83% of voters in states along the Colorado River or its tributaries would support an agreement requiring all states to reduce their use of the Colorado River to preserve its health. This emphasis on water protection is particularly salient, as 80% of Westerners say data centers are a threat to water quality and supply in the West.

This is the sixteenth consecutive year CC has gauged the publics sentiment on public lands and conservation issues. The 2026 Colorado College Conservation in the West Poll is a bipartisan survey conducted by Republican pollster Lori Weigel of New Bridge Strategy and Democratic pollster Miranda Everitt of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates. The survey is funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

The poll surveyed at least 400 registered voters in each of eight Western states (CO, AZ, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, & WY) for a total of 3,419-voter sample, which included an over-sample of Black and Native American voters. The survey was conducted between January 2-18, 2026, and the effective margin of error is +/- 2.4% at the 95% confidence interval for the total sample; and at most +/- 4.9% for each state. The full survey and individual state surveys are available on the State of the Rockies Project website.
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Hello and welcome to your 2-Minute Tech briefing from ComputerWorld. I'm your host, Arnold Davick, reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Here are the top IT stories you need to know for Wednesday, February 18th.

Up first from ComputerWorld, research from Harvard Business Review warns that workplace AI can backfire, finding that employees may be working faster but also for longer while juggling more tasks. Researchers write, quote, these changes can be unsustainable, leading to workload creep, cognitive fatigue, burnout and weakened decision making.

The productivity surge enjoyed at the beginning can give way to lower quality work turnover and other problems, they say. AI intensifies work through task expansion, blurred boundaries and more Multitasking. From CSO, the EU has unconditionally cleared Google's $32 billion purchase of Cloud security firm Wiz.

The decision removes a key uncertainty for enterprise customers and positions Google Cloud to aggressively expand its security portfolio as competition intensifies.

With AWS and Microsoft in multi cloud environments, the commission said customers would still have credible alternatives even if Google bundled Wiz or Wiz stopped working with non Google Cloud. It also saw no issue with rival cloud data.

And from ComputerWorld, Microsoft is rolling out a consent first model after warning that some Windows apps are going rogue. This new default baseline will grant access only to explicitly approved apps, although users will retain full control to permit deny or reverse permission decisions.

Windows Baseline Security Mode turns on runtime safeguards by default and prioritizes properly signed software. Users will get prompts for sensitive access like files, cameras and microphones, and can revoke approvals later. Microsoft says the rollout will be phased but did not share a timeline.

For more enterprise tech news, visit Computer World, CIO, NetworkWorld, and CSO Online. And don't forget to like and subscribe on the TechTalk YouTube channel.
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When Seamus Culletons blameless wife Tiffany Smyth pleaded that he be allowed home so that they could start a family, she had no idea that it was about to come out that her darling husband was already a father of twin girls and, with his daughter Melissa pregnant, also a grandad-to-be.

As the Irish Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday, Seamus abandoned his now almost 19-year-old daughters Heather and Melissa when they were 18 months old, around the time he absconded to the States while facing drugs charges in this country. Over the years, it doesnt seem that he gave them a second thought, and if it wasnt for the twins efforts to track him down on Facebook, hed probably have no idea what they were up to.

Seamus abandoned his now almost 19-year-old daughters Heather and Melissa when they were 18 months old

Seamus Culleton is not the only deadbeat dad to assume he could wash his hands of his own flesh and blood with impunity, shirk his moral responsibilities by never paying a penny towards their upkeep and generally behave as if they dont exist.

Society often turns a blind eye to waster dads, while mothers are the default parent, expected to selflessly devote their lives to their child, regardless of their circumstances. The double standard means that men like Culleton are indulged and practically given a free pass to do a runner.

It also emboldened him to take to Liveline to beg the Government to get him out of his ICE facility in Texas (which he likened to a concentration camp) with zero fears about his shameful personal life coming back to haunt him.

His daughters seem well-adjusted young women who have refreshingly few illusions about their fathers character and believe that he should come home now and face the music.

Sometimes children, particularly girls, mythologise their absent parent while the adults in their lives who know the real story say nothing because they are loath to burst their bubble. A psychologist might say that for children, romanticising the parent that left is a coping mechanism, a way of dealing with the searing pain of rejection.

When Seamus, from Glenmore in Co. Kilkenny, hit the road, he not only ignored the material welfare of his baby daughters, he also potentially saddled them with a lifetime of grief over the void created by his absence. And thats before we get to the anguish he foisted on their mother, Maggie.

Seamus Culleton pictured with his wife Tiffany Smyth in the US

Not only that, but when Melissa and Heather reached out to him as teenagers, offering him essentially a chance to make amends, he cruelly spurned any changes to the life he had built for himself in the US.

Like all deadbeat dads, Seamus doesnt think that fatherhood is a privilege or a sacred obligation. Its just something he can take or leave as it suits him, and his ex-partners powerlessness to confront him while he was abroad meant he totally got away with it.

Even if he was in Ireland, Maggie would probably have had to go to court for maintenance, but given the limited scope of enforcement options, she, like many single mothers, would have no guarantee of ever seeing a red cent. The prevalence of absent dads or fathers with only a desultory involvement in their childrens lives is probably a reason why the carers referendum failed so spectacularly.

Voters took a good look around them, clocked that women are still doing the bulk of child-rearing and housework, and thought that the Constitutional clause recognising the contribution of womens life within the home to the common good was a neat reflection of reality.

Yet there are signs that things are slowly changing and that the ideal encapsulated by the failed amendment to change caring from womens work to a family endeavour is nearer than ever, despite the Seamus Culletons of this world.

A new study by the Central Bank finds that fathers with young children are working much less now than in 2019, possibly reflecting, according to economist and study author Enda Keenan, greater involvement in care-giving roles.

The introduction of paid parental leave in the last decade, increasing to nine weeks per child, is also pivotal in driving younger fathers from the office. We have seen over that time definitely a move towards supporting fathers to take more time out of the workplace to care for their children, says Dr Laura Bambrick, ICTU social policy officer.

A significant increase in parents sharing caring responsibilities, or swapping roles as their children get older, could be a watershed. It will help enhance equal opportunities for women in the workplace, narrow the gender pay gap and perhaps reverse the declining birth rate which now stands at 1.5 births per woman, substantially below the replacement level of 2.1.

If women felt that child-rearing was more a joint project and less an exhausting solo juggling act between house and workplace, they might be more inclined to have another child.

But the rise of stay-at-home dads or fathers on parental leave will shift attitudes towards fatherhood. It will make the task of raising the next generation seem infinitely more worthwhile and the cast-iron duty of every man who brings a child into the world. Meanwhile, those who shirk their responsibilities will finally stop being cast as loveable rogues and be frowned upon as the anti-social losers and pariahs they really are.

Valentines Day posts  olive branch or Brand Beckham back in overdrive?

As is their wont, the Beckhams took to social media on Valentines Day to proclaim their undying love for one another, including in their cloying salutations the son who has told them in no uncertain terms that he wants nothing more to do with them.

Fourteen-year-old Harper, the only member of the family Brooklyn wants a relationship with, was even leveraged to pile the pressure on him when she posted a picture of herself with her older brother and a heartfelt I love you all so much, words cant describe it caption.

Harper Beckham, right, and her older brother Brooklyn are still said to be quite close

Some celebrity watchers suggest that the volley of slushy posts amounts to nothing more than the Beckhams extending an olive branch to their estranged son and brother.

But surely they could be interpreted in another way  as the family ignoring Brooklyns expressed wishes and taunting him for the benefit of the Holy Grail of online engagement.
Sir Keir Starmer presides over perhaps the most authoritarian British government since the early 19th century.

He jails people for saying the wrong thing, demands digital ID, cancels jury trials. Yet he does it all in such a cack-handed way that the effect  as so often with Leftists  is more gauche than sinister.

Consider the collapse, this week, of his attempt to annul elections in 30 local council areas where Labour expects to do badly.

The whole thing was, in equal measure, outrageous and ungainly. When Labour postponed a handful of local polls last year, it at least had the excuse that the authorities involved were disappearing through re-organisation.

Encouraged by the muted objections to that deferral, it then announced the cancellation of 30 more, covering 4.5 million voters, overwhelmingly in councils where Labour is likely to be walloped.

It was only a legal challenge  fair play to Nigel Farage for bringing it  that made ministers back down, by some counts Starmers 14th U-turn since the election.

It used to be said that Italian fascism was tempered by the incompetence of Italian officials, but Mussolini had nothing on our British klutzes. We are what a police state would look like if it were run by Inspector Clouseau.

Consider some of the things that Starmer has done, or tried to do, in the 19 months (can it be only 19 months?) since the election.

Sir Keir Starmer presides over perhaps the most authoritarian British government since the early 19th century

First, there was the free speech clampdown  accompanied by the early release of actual criminals.

People were sentenced to months behind bars (Lucy Connolly served more than a year for a post on X) while violent offenders were let loose ahead of schedule.

Labour might argue that these decisions were out of its hands, that the courts were interpreting old statutes  notably the 1986 Public Order Act  in draconian ways.

But the decision to pick a fight with online platforms was Starmers alone. Almost the first thing he did on taking office was to threaten Elon Musk with legal action over the Southport riots, which had been exacerbated by the belief that the authorities were covering up details of the attack so as to deflect anti-immigrant feeling.

Musk was always bound to win any such fight  not only because X is more popular than Labour but because, on the issue of free speech, British public opinion is closer to Musk than to Starmer.

Yet, in his dim, plodding way, Starmer keeps picking quarrels. No social media platform should get a free pass when it comes to protecting our kids, he declared three days ago when discussing a proposed ban on under-16s using social media. Thats why Im taking action.

Does anyone believe that this is really about protecting our kids?

Starmer doesnt like Musk or his platform  and wants to do everything he can to hobble them.

I predict that Starmer will eventually back down in his battle against Musk, having achieved nothing in the meantime except to give this country an even worse reputation than it already has for censorship.

We are what a police state would look like if it were run by Inspector Clouseau, argues Lord Hannan

Dislike of independent media platforms is, of course, the hallmark of every illiberal regime. Starmer might not be able to lock up dissident journalists, Putin-style. Still, it is distasteful and un-British to see our own politicos respond to revelations of financial irregularities by seeking to smear the reporters concerned.

It emerged this month that Labour Together, the organisation that helped make Starmer leader of his party, had done the political equivalent of hiring a private investigator to tail the journalists who had exposed its failure to declare 730,000 in donations.

A PR company was paid 36,000 to dig dirt on the two journalists involved, apparently with a view to smearing them as Kremlin dupes.

Chillingly, its report dwelt on the fact that one of them was Jewish.

Predictably, that investigation backfired, and the people who commissioned it  one of whom is now a Labour minister  are themselves being investigated by the Cabinet Office.

We see the same pattern over and over again. Starmer tries to be iron-fisted and ends up being ham-fisted.

Consider his abolition of jury trials for all but the most serious crimes. Jury trials have been one of our strongest guarantees against tyranny, a way to ensure that the law is the property of the people rather than an instrument of state control.

As David Lammy put it when he was Opposition justice spokesman in 2020: A jury trial gives people the final say on the guilt or innocence of their fellow citizens.

It entrusts the public to make life-changing decisions, rather than merely leaving it in the hands of lawyers.

Almost the first thing Starmer did on taking office was to threaten Elon Musk with legal action over the Southport riots, writes Lord Hannan. Musk was always bound to win any such fight

That, though, was before Lammy got mixed up in this most inept of governments.

The irony is that Starmer sees himself as a defender of individual freedoms.

It is sometimes said that he has no convictions, but one belief has motivated him at every stage in his life, whether as the editor of a Trotskyite newspaper, as a Corbyn yes-man or now as a hapless prime minister: namely his belief in human rights.

As he told his biographer Tom Baldwin: There is no version of my life that does not largely revolve around me being a human rights lawyer.

Yet, here he is, gaily scrapping a thousand-year-old protection of our liberties. If, that is, he actually goes ahead.

It is just as likely that he will again back down, as he did over his plan to impose Chinese-style digital ID cards, thereby empowering government officials to ruin our lives without any judicial process. How are we to explain his inconstancy?

Weakness of character. Starmer says whatever he thinks is helpful at that moment: Jeremy Corbyn is a friend of mine, no he must be kicked out of the party; we will nationalise the utilities, no we wont; Israel has the right to cut off electricity to Gaza, no its a war crime; we want to rejoin the EU, no we dont, well actually we might.

Starmer is what he looks like. A turgid man who fancied becoming PM as a late career change and arrived in Downing Street thinking that there would be someone there to tell him what to do.

His realisation that there is no such person explains the fish-on-the-slab expression he has worn ever since.

Last weeks profile by Tim Shipman, based largely on interviews with Starmers own assistants, revealed his stunning lack of purpose or curiosity.

Here is a typical excerpt: There was a meeting at Chequers one Friday recently to discuss plans for the next phase of his premiership.

Junior aides had been asked to draw up a statement of Starmers values. When one of them asked what the Prime Minister thought they should be, a senior aide replied: Dont worry, hell go along with whatever I put on his desk.

What are we to make of the latest tinpot move, namely his attempt to rig the franchise in Labours favour?

As well as removing the remaining hereditary peers from Parliament, he has introduced a Bill that would automatically enrol voters, opening the door to fraud, as well as giving the vote to 16-year-olds who Labour treats as minors in every other context.

As with everything Starmer does, it is both illiberal and incompetent, as if Brezhnev were being interpreted by David Brent.

Perhaps the only comfort is the lesson from history that dictators who overreach can find themselves dragged from power with surprising swiftness.
Yesterday marked a decisive step forward, not just for Reform UK but for the future of Great Britain.

For far too long, politics in this country has been defined by short-termism, timidity and a refusal to confront the big questions.

Politics used to be about the tough decisions. Nowadays, our complacent political class is more concerned with being liked  obsessed by focus groups and social media likes rather than ordinary voters concerns.

The British people deserve something better. They deserve conviction. Above all, they deserve leadership that is unafraid to speak the truth.

Which is why Ive taken the next step by announcing our first Shadow Cabinet.

With Labours growing instability and Keir Starmers clueless leadership on the verge of collapse, it is vital we prepare seriously for Government. So I have brought together a strong, disciplined and experienced team ready to rebuild Britain.

Its time to boot Starmer and his rag-tag collection of sixth-form common room socialists from power. Here is my team to do it.

Nigel Farage with his Shadow Cabinet in Westminster yesterday including, from left, Zia Yusuf, Robert Jenrick, Richard Tice and Suella Braverman

My Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick will produce the most comprehensive plan of any party to revive the economy. He will work on this with people with actual business experience to make that happen.

I am happy to report that Robert promises to be that rare thing in politics: a Chancellor who has the courtesy to treat your money as though it were his own. Because, frankly, the British people are fed up of giving more and more of their hard-earned pay cheques away in taxes only to see it sprayed around like confetti.

My deputy Richard Tice will head up our new super department of Business, Trade and Energy. It helps, of course, that unlike recent business ministers, Richard actually enjoyed a highly successful career in the private sector.

Britain badly needs to re-industrialise. To do that, Richard will introduce a sovereign wealth fund which will back British companies, promote British products and invest in housing and industry.

The most pressing matter in his inbox will be to strengthen Britains energy security. That means issuing new licences for North Sea drilling and scrapping those ridiculous Net Zero targets set by successive Conservative and Labour governments which have so far succeeded only in destroying jobs and raising energy costs.

I hardly need tell Daily Mail readers that rising immigration has been one of the greatest electoral betrayals in our recent history. Tackling this crisis will be one of our top priorities, and will be placed in the highly capable hands of Zia Yusuf.

I hardly need tell Daily Mail readers that rising immigration has been one of the greatest electoral betrayals in our recent history, writes Mr Farage

Zia has been in politics barely 18 months, but his impact on the political debate in this country has been nothing short of astonishing. As Home Affairs spokesman hell be in charge of executing Operation Restoring Justice  our radical plans which will stop the boats, secure our borders and ensure anyone who is here illegally is deported.

Meanwhile, Suella Braverman is just itching to get stuck into the education establishment. Millions of parents all over the country are in a state of despair about what their children are being taught at school.

As Education Secretary, Suella will restore freedom to our schools, hand back authority to teachers and ban all transgender ideology in our classrooms. On top of that, shell encourage more people to go into trades and end Mickey Mouse university degrees which saddle undergraduates with unnecessary debt.

Most of all, shell put an end to the mad DEI  diversity, equity and inclusion  nonsense which is creating so much division in this country.

Finally, James Orr, the highly respected academic and philosophy professor, will be our new head of policy.

So there we have it. Those are the first appointments in Reform UKs proposed machine for government. And believe you me, youre going to be hearing an awful lot more from them in the coming days, weeks and years.

So from now on, I will hear no more about my party being a one-man band. Because this Shadow Cabinet is more than a list of names. It is a statement of intent.

The British people are fed up with broken promises. They want a country that works  for those who contribute, who care about their communities and who believe in fairness and freedom.

That is the mission of Reform UK. That is the purpose of this Shadow Cabinet. And that is the future we intend to build.

The time for timid politics is over. The time for Reform has begun.
The decline of children's dental health has been exposed in 'horrific statistics' that show a surge in hospital tooth extractions.

NHS hospitals performed 56,143 extractions on children and teenagers in the financial year ending 2025  up 14 per cent on the previous year's total of 49,112.

This equates to a tooth extraction every nine minutes. Some 33,976 of these were due to a primary diagnosis of tooth decay, marking an increase of 11 per cent.

NHS data experts suggested the rising figures since 2021 may reflect NHS work recovering after the pandemic, but the British Dental Association (BDA) said more needs to be done to improve access to care.

The number of extractions because of tooth decay made up 60.5 per cent of all tooth extractions for those aged up to 19. This rose to 80 per cent for children up to four years old and 86.5 per cent for those aged five to nine.

Tooth decay remains the most common reason for hospital admissions in children aged five to nine.

Children and young people living in the most deprived communities were more than three times more likely to have a tooth extracted due to decay than those in more affluent areas, data also showed.

The decline of children's dental health has been exposed in 'horrific statistics' that show a surge in hospital tooth extractions (stock image)

NHS hospitals performed 56,143 extractions on children and teenagers in the financial year ending 2025  up 14 per cent on the previous year's total of 49,112 (stock image)

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BDA chairman Eddie Crouch said the 'horrific statistics are a badge of dishonour for governments past and present', and that tooth decay being the main reason for child hospital admissions 'can't go unchallenged'.

While there are 'targeted preventive programmes', Mr Crouch said 'there's still little sign the Government is willing to rebuild access to care'.

The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) said NHS data likely shows continued recovery of general anaesthetic services after the pandemic and does not include community dental care.

Dr Oosh Devalia, BSPD president, said the society 'urges policymakers to keep a steady focus on the priorities' in children's oral health including 'supervised toothbrushing, water fluoridation and early access to dental teams'.

She added that there was a need to cut 'sugar consumption' for under-16s and 'push for every child to have a 'dental home' [a consistent surgery or dentist to visit], with access to a dental check by their first birthday'.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England said the figures equate to one young person needing extraction because of tooth decay every 15 minutes.

Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, from the college, said: 'Tooth decay is causing unnecessary pain, missed school days and avoidable hospital admissions at a higher rate in 2025 than the year before.'

She added: 'If the Government is to meet its goal of transforming the NHS dental system by 2035, it must ensure every child can see a dentist when they need to. A postcode must never dictate a child's health.'
A mother-of-six was devastated to be diagnosed with cancer in her eye after suffering from a string of vision issues.

Tammy Jackson, 51, didn't think twice about her eye health until she experienced a series of strange flashes and her sight began to blur - she shrugged them off, until they worsened and she was told she has incurable cancer in her right eye.

She said: 'I never in a million years thought that you could get cancer in your eyes. And if that's what I think, maybe other people think that way as well.'

On 22 September 2025, the funeral adviser from Swindon was making a cup of tea at work when she first noticed a 'flash'.

She feared a fly - which are never a welcome presence in a funeral home - might have zipped past her face, but experienced a similar blip in her vision a few days later.

Prior to her sudden symptoms, Ms Jackson said her eyesight was normal, except for a lazy eye, a birthmark, and general strain from 'getting older' and 'working with computers'.

She had also had a routine eye test towards the start of 2025 where 'nothing out of the ordinary had been detected'.

When she woke up on the morning of September 27, her vision was blocked by a black dot the size of a 'five pence piece' in the centre of her eye, which looked like she was seeing through smeared 'wet paint'.

Tammy Jackson had cancer in her right eye

She experienced vision loss, swelling and weeping from her diseased eye

She made an appointment at her local Boots Opticians where she was told her she had swelling in her right eye, which could be a detached retina  where the thin layer of the back of an eye becomes loose  or 'something else' that looked 'suspicious', so she was promptly referred to Great Western Hospital.

But after she got there, Ms Jackson was told that the hospital had not received the scans she had taken at Boots Opticians, but rather than making her do them all over again, they encouraged her to come back on Monday.

Ms Jackson said: 'I was seen quite quickly, but my gut was immediately telling me that there's something not quite right.

'When Monday came, I woke up and I just thought "it's cancer". That's what I said to Martin, my husband.'

At Great Western Hospital on September 29, Ms Jackson had more tests and noticed medical staff were particularly focusing on her right eye.

After a few hours, a consultant told her they had found something 'sinister', but that they wanted to transfer her care to a specialist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.

By the time the follow-up appointment came around on October 9, Ms Jackson said her eye had worsened 'quite quickly', with the five pence piece-sized blind spot widening to the size of a 10 pence piece, as well as experiencing fluid leakage, more swelling, and headaches.

On the mental toll, she said: 'Working in a funeral home, death stares you in the face every day, so I was planning for the future. I just thought that if I'm going to die, I need to make sure that people know what songs I want at my funeral.

Ms Jackson has been told that her eye will always be cancerous

The scans taken at Moorfields Eye Hospital, where she was diagnosed with cancer

'It was heavy because there's a lot of cancer within my family, so I just thought my life was over.'

At her Moorfields appointment, Ms Jackson underwent around seven hours of tests, before a consultant revealed the diagnosis  a small choroidal melanoma.

Choroidal melanomas are a rare form of cancer called uveal melanomas, and there are roughly 600700 new cases diagnosed annually in the UK.

Unlike melanomas in the skin, most uveal melanomas are not linked to sun exposure.

Symptoms typically include blurred vision, floaters, flashing lights (photopsia), or a dark spot on the iris.

The Moorfields medics used the Moles Scoring Chart, which is an acronym for a diagnostic scoring system used to determine risk level, to assess Ms Jackson's cancer.

Out of five factors  mushroom shape, orange pigment, large size, enlargement, and subretinal fluid  Ms Jackson had four, which predicted a 'high suspicion' of cancer.

She said: 'Just hearing those words, you automatically think that's it. Your life's over.

Ms Jackson and her husband Martin

Telling her four children, Andrew, 34, Joanna, 33, Stewart, 28, Angel, 26, and two step-children, Jordan, 27, and Abi, 22, also proved to be a gut-wrenching moment.

Ms Jackson's treatment started on November 13 and consisted of ophthalmic plaque brachytherapy, which delivers targeted radiation by placing a small radioactive disc called a plaque over the eye during a surgery that sews it in place to the eye.

According to Cancer Research UK, the thicker the cancer, the longer the plaque is left on for, with some lasting up to seven days.

Because Ms Jackson's cancer was caught so early, she only had to have the plaque attached for a day-and-a-half.

Recovery was nonetheless brutal, with Ms Jackson describing her eye as swollen and blistered, and she needed to administer numerous eye drops four times a day.

Today, Ms Jackson's current prognosis is good, with her follow-up appointment due in May to check the effectiveness of the treatment. Afterwards, she will likely need regular checks every year or six months.

Ms Jackson's general eye health has improved after the treatment, but her vision is not completely back to normal.

She recalled a conversation with a consultant, who said she will always have her cancer and the only way to get rid of it is to have her 'eye removed', but because she caught it early, that option is 'extreme' and unlikely.

Ms Jackson has urged others to take their eye health seriously.

She said: 'The number one thing: If you're due an eye test, have it done. It's really not worth putting it off. It's all too easy. I've done it myself. But have the eye test done.

'With Boots getting me seen so quickly and by doing the referrals  it sounds dramatic  but it's saved my eye, but potentially also saved my life.

'If it wasn't for them being so fast-acting on what they were seeing, it could potentially have been missed.

'If my story only helps one person, then that's one more person that's getting the help that they need.'
A handful of states are seeking to lift vaccine mandates for schoolchildren, with varying degrees of success, potentially teeing up the federal government to lift such requirements nationwide.

Vaccine skepticism has spread virulently throughout the US for years, with vaccination rates for measles, polio, chickenpox, diphtheria and whooping cough falling in the last decade.

Among the leaders of the vaccine skepticism movement continues to be Robert F Kennedy Jr, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, whose jurisdiction covers immunization scheduling.

The CDC, now under leadership chosen by Kennedy, has updated its childhood vaccine schedule, decreasing the number of routinely recommended shots from 17 to 11.

Under the revised guidelines, several vaccines, including those for rotavirus, COVID, influenza, hepatitis A and B and meningitis, are no longer universally recommended for all children. Instead, they have been moved to categories such as shared clinical decision-making or recommended only for high-risk children.

Secretary Kennedy's recent changes to the CDC's childhood immunization schedule are part of a broader, two-pronged strategy to reshape vaccine policy in the US. His allies are simultaneously leading a well-funded, state-level campaign to dismantle the school-entry vaccine mandates that have been in place for decades.

At least nine states have introduced bills to eliminate or weaken school vaccine mandates, with Idaho and Iowa moving toward removing them entirely. While Kennedy has not said outright that the federal government is modeling plans after those states efforts, its backers suggest his involvement.

The effort to overturn state vaccine mandates is being led by the Medical Freedom Act Coalition, an umbrella group of at least 15 nonprofit organizations. This coalition includes Children's Health Defense, the anti-vaccine nonprofit Kennedy co-founded but says he is no longer involved in, and groups created to support his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

In at least nine states, lawmakers have proposed rolling back or eliminating school vaccine requirements, with Idaho and Iowa advancing measures to remove them altogether (stock)

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An HHS spokesperson acknowledged but declined to answer the Daily Mail's questions about potential efforts to change vaccine requirements nationwide.

While many of the anti-vaccine activists allied with RFK Jr have been fighting vaccine mandates for years, the current legislative blitz gained significant momentum in 2025 and early 2026.

Iowa's HF 2171, which would eliminate all school vaccine requirements, has advanced through committee and awaits a House vote. New Hampshire is advancing two measures: HB 1811, amended to retain only the polio mandate, and HB 1719, targeting hepatitis B specifically, both headed for full House votes.

Florida, whose Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced the state would rescind all vaccine mandates, though without necessary legislative approval, has advanced Senate Bill 1756 to expand exemptions for personal reasons while simultaneously pursuing regulatory changes to drop requirements for hepatitis B and chickenpox.

Arizona's broad anti-mandate bill awaits action but faces a likely veto by the Democratic governor, while West Virginia has introduced multiple bills to create religious exemptions and prohibit mandates.

These 2026 efforts build upon Idaho's 2025 Medical Freedom Act, which broadly prohibits discrimination based on vaccination status but created legal contradictions with existing school mandates.

Activists are using the Trump Administrations vaccine leniency as evidence to argue that these shots are not essential for all children, thereby justifying the elimination of school requirements.

This strategy creates a cascade effect: the federal government signals that a vaccine is less critical, which empowers state legislators to propose ending school mandates, which in turn could lead to lower immunization rates and higher risk of preventable disease outbreaks.

Vaccination coverage for kindergartners dropped in the 2024-2025 school year, with rates for all reported vaccines, including DTaP (92.1 percent), MMR (92.5 percent) [shown], and polio (92.5 percent), falling from the previous year

A coalition of at least 15 nonprofit groups, including Kennedy-founded Children's Health Defense and organizations tied to his MAHA initiative, is spearheading the push to end state vaccine mandates

The impact of anti-vaccine attitudes is already on display in South Carolina, where an ongoing measles outbreak has infected nearly 1,000 people, most of them children, with at least 19 requiring hospitalization for severe complications including pneumonia and brain inflammation.

The vast majority of patients, 893, have not received both doses of their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which experts say is 97 percent effective at preventing illness and overwhelmingly safe.

In schools at the epicenter of the outbreak across the state, vaccination rates among students fell below 80 percent, well below the CDC's 95 percent threshold needed to maintain herd immunity and reduce spread of the highly infectious disease.

Despite legislative attacks on vaccine requirements, they remain widely popular. Nine in 10 parents say it is important for children to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella as well as polio, according to polling from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

And that attitude spans party lines. While 96 percent and 95 percent of Democrat parents believe children should get the MMR and polio vaccines, respectively, a substantial 88 percent of Republicans support the MMR vaccine and 86 percent support the polio vaccine.

Even MAGA parents are in favor. Eighty-five percent of them reported supporting children getting the MMR shots, while 82 percent endorsed the polio vaccine.
A Kentucky mom is issuing an urgent warning after her son's lung collapsed twice from vaping.

Cameron Vann, known as Dodge, picked up vaping from his friends at school to 'look cool' two years ago but kept it secret from his mother, Crystal Vann.

But when 17-year-old Dodge came out of the school bus looking pale and with back pain in September 2025, Vann rushed him to the emergency room, where he underwent a chest x-ray.

Doctors found that 50 percent of his left lung had collapsed, also called a pneumothorax, which occurs when air gets inside the chest cavity and creates pressure.

Dodge's pneumothorax was so advanced that doctors had to surgically insert an 18-inch tube into his chest to get rid of the extra air and allow his lung to re-expand. However, the teen kept vaping without his mother's knowledge.

That was until January 2026, when Dodge called his mother out of breath and in severe pain.

'He called me from school the second time and he said, "I'm hurting, but I don't know if it's my lung or not." We went straight to the ER.

'[The doctors] said he could have died in the lobby.'

Cameron 'Dodge' Vann, a 17-year-old from Kentucky, vaped for two years to 'look cool' in front of his friends. However, he ended up suffering two collapsed lungs

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Dodge's lung had collapsed again, and he was forced to undergo a more intense surgery called a pleurodesis, where doctors scraped the lining of his lung and stapled fluid or air-filled blisters called blebs to the top of his lung.

From there, they were able to attach the lung back to the chest wall.

Vann said: 'He went through a lot. It was horrible. I thought, "Why him?" I feared he was going to die.

'His friends tried [vaping] and then he tried it. I don't like it at all.'

Dodge's case comes as roughly 6 percent of US adults, about 17 million, reported vaping regularly.

The highest rates are among young adults aged 18 to 24, with more than 15 percent of that group reporting they were regular users, according to CDC data for 2024. Among children, about 1.6 million middle and high school students vape, though usage has declined since its peak in 2019.

Vaping has also long been touted as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, which is proven to cause nine in ten cases of lung cancer, America's deadliest form of the disease.

However, a growing body of research has found vaping could be linked to other long-term harms such as high blood pressure and stroke.

Pictured above is the x-ray scan showing Dodge's collapsed left lung. Doctors said that after the second time, he could have died in the hospital lobby

Pictured above is the tube placed in Dodge's lung to help remove excess air

Earlier this year, doctors writing in a medical journal detailed the case of a New Jersey man who died of aggressive lung cancer, the first case of its kind thought to be directly caused by e-cigarettes.

Vapes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings and a mixture of toxic chemicals.

When inhaled, this vapor can deliver harmful substances deep into the lungs, including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and other volatile organic compounds known to cause cancer.

These substances can damage lung tissue, and over time, this damage can lead to DNA mutations and inflammation, which increase the risk of cancer.

Dodge said he quit vaping 'cold turkey' after the second lung collapse but still has lingering pain in his left side that gets worse when he puts on clothes or when he talks.

Dodge is pictured above in the hospital. He still has intense pain and tells his mother he is afraid of another lung collapse

Dodge is pictured with his mother, Crystal Vann, and sister, Angel Vann. He has now quit vaping 'cold turkey' while his mother encourages young people to steer clear

'After the surgery the nerves are dead,' he said. 'Even putting on a shirt feels awful when touching it. Talking vibrates it sometimes, and it hurts so much. I get stabbing pains in my side and can't go to school.'

'I quit cold turkey. I'm not hitting one ever again. I'm trying to stay away from secondhand smoke and everything. I've had nightmares about it.'

A GoFundMe page had been set up to help with Dodge's treatment costs.

Vann said: 'He's so little. It hurts in his back, and he does not want to go to sleep because it hurts when he wakes up.

'Hes such a kind and passionate kid with a big heart for others, so seeing him in pain is incredibly hard for me as his mom. Hes been so brave, but hes also scared, asking me if his lung might collapse again while he sleeps.'

Vann now encourages other young people to steer clear of vaping and is calling for nationwide sales restrictions.

'I say ban on all vapes,' she said. 'I don't want another kid going through it. Don't do it just to be cool.'
At 47, Joanna Ferguson felt locked in a constant battle with the scales.

Staying slim in her twenties and thirties was effortless, but now, no matter how hard she tried, the weight simply wouldn't budge.

She was working out so much the gym was starting to feel like a second home - and yet, after months and months of effort, she saw absolutely no results.

In fact, the number on the scales steadily crept up until Jo reached her heaviest weight of 80.5kg.

'I was eating well, exercising like a demon and burning 500 calories daily but still gaining weight - then the 4am night sweats hit,' the mother-of-two from Perth told Daily Mail.

'I was at the gym six to seven days a week, doing endless cardio and lifting weights and watching what I was eating. But there was no payoff.

'I would say "I need to lose weight", and my friends would tell me "no you don't, you look great." But I didn't feel great.'

Jo also noticed a change in her mood as she felt grumpy, fatigued and bloated.

Before: At her heaviest, Joanna Ferguson (pictured) was 80.5kg and felt uncomfortable in her body. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't lose weight

'My GP said it was due to perimenopause. It's the missing piece in the weight gain conversation yet no one talks about it, even though every woman goes through it,' she said.

In June last year, Jo went to her GP for blood tests, which showed she had worryingly low iron levels.

'The doctor said "your iron levels are so low it's like you're the walking dead. I don't know how you're functioning." She urged me to go and get an iron infusion which I did.'

Around the same time, a couple of Joanna's friends began using Ozempic, dropping kilos at a rapid pace.

But what Jo saw up close completely turned her off trying the medication herself.

'I noticed they lost a lot of muscle mass which worried me because I know it's important to build muscle, especially as we get older, for bone density. So I decided to stay away from it,' she said.

'I know that for me, I just want to make sure that I'm taking preventative measures to stay healthy as I get older.'

Last August, Jo met up with a close friend and vented about her health issues. The conversation soon turned to menopause - what they called 'the big M'.

After: Rather than turning to Ozempic, Jo chose meal replacement shakes - and to her surprise, it worked

'She said to me, "you could embrace it or you could try these MyPause Health shakes I've been on",' Jo said.

'I wasn't expecting anything, to be honest. I usually get bored of the taste of protein shakes. I thought I'd give it a month and see how I go,' she said.

To her surprise, she noticed a difference 'straight away' after having the shakes twice a day for breakfast and lunch.

She focused on protein-rich dinners - steak, chicken, and tuna - paired with vegetables.

'The weight was coming off steadily and my energy was back. I was losing 1kg1.5kg every week and was only on it for a month.'

Jo says she's never enjoyed counting calories and the shakes allow her to stay on track without obsessively logging everything she eats.

Jo also discovered less is more in the gym. She now completes four 45-minute weight training sessions per week and includes gentle cardio such as incline walking.

In the first month of her new regime, Jo lost 6kg, then shed another 4kg the following month - a loss of 10kg in as many weeks.

Staying slim in her twenties and thirties was effortless, but after 40 things changed (Jo pictured in her twenties)

The night sweats that woke her before 4am disappeared, her sleep improved, and that constant 'Christmas dinner' bloating finally eased.

'All the symptoms I had vanished. It didn't happen overnight but the shakes really helped. I was working out harder before and not having any success,' she said.

She wasn't just lighter - her head was clearer, her mood lifted, and she felt an 'overwhelming energy to just power through my day'.

Blood tests confirmed her chronically low iron had reached healthy levels, and she suddenly had energy to perform better at work and throw herself into being a busy mum.

To maintain her results, Jo now has one shake a day in the morning, instead of two, and her weight remains steady at 70kg.

She isn't chasing a number on the scale or trying to rewind the clock to her 20s. She is comfortable with her weight and happy her worst perimenopause symptoms have subsided.

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Fans of a reality show about the Middle East's most elite socialites were baffled when they spotted a millionaire entrepreneur who stars in the programme at a shopping centre in Birmingham, during his visit to the UK.

Ebraheem Alsamadi, 38, who owns luxury floral brand Forever Rose, is reportedly worth more than 36million - making him one of the richest cast members in Netflix's hit series Dubai Bling.

But while promoting a new fragrance collaboration in England this month, instead of attending events filled to the brim with models and VIP clientele, the man dubbed 'Mr Bling' by viewers had the time of his life partying at the Resorts World shopping centre.

And rather than roaming around the Midlands' Michelin-star venues, Ebraheem dined at a humbly priced Lebanese-Moroccan restaurant in Moseley Village - where dishes don't tend to cost more than 15.

The eatery, Tabule, excitedly shared a video of the star pouring mint tea for himself at the table - leaving fellow diners in the comments baffled.

He was also seen dancing to Bollywood music at a lowkey party held at private cottages just outside the city - which appeared so sparsely attended, some called it 'dead'.

The influencer, who has more than 1.2 million Instagram followers, was promoting an initiative called In The Club, created by Middle East fragrance brand Armaf.

Its aim is to bring content creators together. To launch the networking group, Ebraheem hosted 'an exclusive group of 30 carefully selected influencers'.

He started the promotional UK tour in Birmingham on February 1, where the group enjoyed 'immersive interactions, conversation, and genuine community-building'.

Ebraheem Alsamadi, 38, who owns luxury floral brand Forever Rose, is reportedly worth over $36million - making him one of the richest cast members in Netflix's hit series Dubai Bling

The influencer, who has more than 1.2 million Instagram followers, was promoting an initiative called In The Club, created by Middle East fragrance brand Armaf. Pictured on Dubai Bling

Events, as recorded by TikTokers including lifestyle blogger @am11_rah, featured gatherings hosted everywhere from the private Lake Lounge room at Resorts World shopping complex to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.

An Instagram reel appeared to show the group going to restaurant Meat Club, a pricey steakhouse where diners can splash out 150 for a Full Blood Wagyu cut - located at the Broadway Plaza.

The grand finale culminated in London, 'with an elegant evening soiree that brought together creators from across the city', on February 3.

'This was about more than just fragrance,' Ebraheem said. 'It was about celebrating people, creating memories, and connecting through shared experiences.'

Those used to Mr Bling's antics on TV may be more used to seeing him in jaw-droppingly expensive settings, decked head to toe in designer clothes.

He has been married and divorced thrice - and his last nuptials, in 2023, cost around half a million US dollars, and were held at the luxury Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island.

Fans of a reality show about the Middle East's most elite socialites were baffled when they saw a millionaire entrepreneur who stars in the programme doing a tour of Birmingham in the UK

But when promoting a new fragrance collaboration, instead of attending events filled with models and VIP clientele, 'Mr Bling' had the time of his life in Birmingham instead

Ebraheem made his celebrity debut as a Dubai Bling star, but was successful long before the show

So it was surprising to see his relatively lowkey experience in the British Midlands.

'WHAT, WHEN,' one questioned, while another queried: 'But why?'

Elsewhere, regulars at Tabule restaurant expressed their frustrations at missing the celeb spot.

'The one time I'm not at Tabule,' a commenter wrote, while another agonised over 'missing him'.

Ebraheem made his celebrity debut as a Dubai Bling star, but was successful long before the show.

Born in Kuwait, he spent most of his childhood in the US, where his family moved when he was a toddler.

When he was 13, his parents split. Speaking to Grazia, he revealed it marked a tough time in his childhood, as he and his sister then had to move into a one-bedroom flat with their mother.

'I wanted to bring back to my mum the life she had at my dad's place,' he told the outlet - so he began selling clothes online to make money.

'I worked so hard and anytime I made money from eBay, I would put money in my mom's purse,' he continued. 'It began as my mother telling me you have too many clothes, you don't need all that. So I said "okay". I heard about this website called E-bay and I listed jeans that I had and I never wore. I sold it for more than I purchased it for.'

He is now known for his work in the luxury flower business market.
A popular bar has announced its shock closure after 18 years - leaving customers devastated over the news.

The owners of The Beast, known for its smash burgers and live music, in Melbourne's Brunswick East, confirmed the family had made a 'heartbreaking decision' to close its doors after almost two decades of business.

'To everyone who built it, broke it, played in it, or played with it, thank you. You made this place what it was, and we'll carry that with us always,' the owner said.

'We fought hard, but the long aftershock of the lockdown years was something we couldn't outrun. It's been exhausting and deeply meaningful.

'The Year of the Fire Horse is about renewal. We're excited to see what the Brunswick East community will create in this space.'

Patrons who visited the venue in recent days were greeted by a locked door featuring a handwritten sign that read: 'RIP to The Beast. Closed.'

'I'm actually devastated. Lived across the road for nine years and $1 wings were a tradition. Please say you're still open so we can come and say goodbye,' one said.

'This is devastating! Is there a final day? The King Khan, your fries and your onion rings were my favourite,' another shared.

Patrons who visited the Melbourne bar in recent days were greeted by a locked door featuring a handwritten sign that read: 'RIP to The Beast. Closed'

'Thank you for so much awesome and fun over the years! Legends,' one added.

It's unclear what the bar would do next but the owners joked: 'We're currently exploring the potential demand for a new career in OnlyFans.

'Stay tuned. With love and gratitude, Beast.'

Many employees chimed in to share their fond memories of working behind the bar.

'Made some of the best friends of my life working behind that bar,' one said.

'Had some amazing times at The Beast, did a killer shift there once with great staff,' another shared.

'Sad news! We've always had a blast playing at Beast,' one band revealed.

The owners of The Beast in Melbourne's Brunswick East, confirmed the family had made a 'heartbreaking decision' to close its doors after almost two decades of business

The trendy bar was known for its smash burgers, loaded fries, cocktails and live music

Over on Reddit, many suggested the venue 'wasn't the same' after strict COVID restrictions were lifted following Melbourne's 234-day lockdown.

The city recorded the world's longest cumulative time in lockdown.

'Seems they've been struggling to keep up since after lockdown. About a year ago I had a great chat with them... and they said they were having to downsize big time, all the way down to even their free soda refills to $1 wing Wednesday being canned. Really sucks,' one revealed.

'I lived in the area when they opened up. Great burgers... Went back after COVID when they had live bands. Seemed full. But everyone was drinking water. Bar staff were standing around doing the ol' glass wipe. No money going over the counter. I don't blame COVID. It's cost of living that's out of control. The atmosphere was still good. But not profitable. Because nobody can afford $16 basic pints,' another shared.

'The scene has never recovered to the level it was pre-COVID. Things have improved, but people just don't go out the same way they did... seems like fewer people have the money to spend too,' one pointed out.

'Genuinely never been this sad about a hospo business closing. My local for a decade and the site of so many great times and memories,' another added.
An American tourist has left Aussies both impressed and mildly outraged after hilariously 'misinterpreting' a string of classic local put-downs.

Brandon Borror-Chappell, who regularly shares his witty observations with more than 40,000 followers online, poked fun at the uniquely Australian ways of telling someone off in a video that has divided his comments section.

One line in particular appears to have struck a nerve with locals - and is a phrase most Aussies have uttered at least once when someone dares to block a busy public footpath.

In the clip posted to his @brandonborrorchappell Instagram account, he began: 'One of the most fun parts about being an American visiting Australia is hearing all of the fun ways Aussies phrase things.'

What followed was a pitch-perfect satire of Aussie sarcasm - though not everyone realised he was joking.

'Oh, middle of the footpath, that's a great place to stop, mate,' he said, recalling one of the comments directed at him.

Rather than taking it as a gentle nudge to move along, Brandon feigned wide-eyed appreciation for the backhanded comment.

'I think that's Aussie slang for a 'stop and smell the roses' thing, you know, like, don't hurry too much,' he said.

American Brandon Borror-Chappell, has poked fun at the uniquely Australian ways of telling someone off in a video that has divided his comments section

'Take a minute. Take in your surroundings.'

Seasoned Australians will know the phrase actually translates to someone blocking the way, preventing others from moving past.

But while many viewers applauded his understanding of the national pastime that is sarcasm, others appeared to miss the joke entirely.

'Nah definitely not stop and smell the roses - get out of the way muppet,' one commenter replied bluntly.

'Middle of the footpath is a great place to stop means you're blocking the footpath for other users, another clarified.

One follower seemed baffled by the backlash, writing: 'Went to congratulate the use of sarcasm on a post about how Aussies talk but then read the comments and am severely disappointed with the Aussies who have seen this and completely missed the joke.'

'Surely all Aussies do actually get the sarcastic piss-take this post is. If not, I'm ashamed,' one person wrote.

However, he didn't stop there, taking aim at another so-called unspoken Aussie rule that locals insist should be followed at all times in public.

Rather than taking it as a gentle nudge to move along, Brandon (pictured) feigned wide-eyed appreciation for the backhanded comment. 'I think that's Aussie slang for a 'stop and smell the roses' thing, you know, like, don't hurry too much,' he said

But while many viewers applauded his understanding of the national pastime that is sarcasm, others appeared to miss the joke entirely. 'Nah definitely not stop and smell the roses - get out of the way muppet,' one commenter replied bluntly

'Hey, we keep to the left here,' he mimicked.

'I think this is because they can tell that I'm American, and they're just emphasising to me that in Australia, their politics are to the left of mainstream American.'

Again, locals were quick to point out the obvious: that it simply means move over.

Then there was: 'The whole bloody restaurant doesn't need to hear your conversation.'

'I was opining on social issues, and I think I was just being reminded that a decent chunk of the general populace is already enlightened,' he joked.

'I see you've mastered both our accent and our sarcastic humour. Well played,' one person applauded.

'That accent and the use of sarcasm definitely make you an honorary Aussie!' another congratulated.

The playful clip highlights a cultural quirk many Australians wear as a badge of honour which is the ability to harmlessly insult someone or tell them off, provided it's done with a smile and 'mate' it said at the end of the sentence.

For visitors unfamiliar with the tone, it can be confusing territory, but for Brandon and his fellow Americans, the same rules don't always apply.
Whoopi Goldberg is under fire for appearing to defend Roman Polanski in a resurfaced clip from The View in 2009.

In an unearthed viral video from the ABC talk show, the Sister Act actress, 70, discussed the director's 1977 arrest for allegedly drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl.

Polanski, 92, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sex with a minor but fled the US the night before he was due to be sentenced to France where he continued his career in film.

In the clip that has recently been recirculated on X, formerly known as Twitter, Goldberg expressed that she was unsure of the facts of the case during a heated clash with Sherri Shepherd.

'I know it wasn't rape, rape,' Goldberg said on the show 17 years ago, as she waited for the right information to be passed to her via her earpiece.

'I think it was something else, but I don't believe that it was rape, rape,' she continued. 'And, when we get all of the information'

Goldberg then added: 'All I'm trying to get you to understand is we're talking about what someone did and what they were charged with, we have to say what it actually was, not what we thought it was.'

Shepherd fought back and said: 'He gave her quaaludes, he gave her champagne, she was drugged, she was 13 years old.'

Whoopi Goldberg appeared to defend Roman Polanski on The View in 2009

Polanski admitted to having unlawful sex with 13-year-old Samantha Geimer

Goldberg hit back and said: 'They were having sex beforehand, Sherri.'

'That's what I'm saying, you're 13 years old! She was still a child,' Shepherd doubled down.

Polanski admitted to unlawful sex with a minor of 13-year-old Samantha Geimer in a plea bargain in 1977 to avoid a trial on more serious charges.

But he fled to France the following year, after serving 42 days in jail, when it appeared a judge was reconsidering his release. France does not extradite its citizens.

Geimer subsequently defended Polanski and was photographed with him in 2023.

In May 2024, Polanski was acquitted of defaming British actor Charlotte Lewis after she accused him of raping her when she was a teenager.

In 2019, he told Paris Match magazine that Lewis had lied about being sexually assaulted by him four decades ago.

The director has always denied wrongdoing.

Goldberg's resurfaced Polanski remarks come as she made an awkward on-air confession about why her name appears in the Epstein files.

During the February 17 episode of The View, she announced that her name came up in an email exchange between Jeffrey Epstein and a redacted individual.

The message centered on an attempt to find a private plane for Goldberg to jet to Monaco to attend an event hosted by Julian Lennon's charity, the White Feather Foundation.

As the email appeared on the screen, Goldberg pointedly said: 'Now, in the name of transparency my name is in the files.'

Reading the message aloud, she continued: 'It says, "Whoopi needs a plane to get to Monaco Julian Lennon's charity is paying for it. They don't want to charter so they're looking for private owners. Here's the info."

'And they give all the information and they're saying, "Do you want to offer your G2?"'

At this, co-host Sunny Hostin stressed that Epstein declined the offer in a separate message.

'And it looks like they said no thanks,' she pointed out.
Savannah Chrisley has attracted support from MAGA allies after fans of the ABC show threatened to boycott over her guest co-host spot.

The controversial 28-year-old reality television star sparked outrage at the top of the week after it was announced she would be joining Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines and Sunny Hostin for four episodes.

As Chrisley made her debut on February 17, many viewers threatened to stop watching the program until her stint comes to an end on February 20.

But despite the huge uproar, which remains ongoing, Chrisley has gained public support from outspoken Republican personalities  including President Donald Trump's White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Following Chrisley's first appearance, Leavitt, 28, showed her backing by commenting on a photograph from the episode that was shared to Instagram.

The snap featured Chrisley dressed in a sharp brown pinstripe pantsuit and yellow pussy bow blouse.

Alongside a cheering and red love heart emoji, Leavitt commented: 'Love this look!'

Trump's former press secretary Sean Spicer also appeared to be a fan and added an applause emoji under a separate post that showcased Chrisley's time on The View.

Savannah Chrisley has yielded support from the MAGA community as fans of The View threaten to boycott over her appearance

The reality TV star, 28, will be a fixture on the ABC panel show through until February 20

Chrisley's parents Todd and Julie Chrisley were famously pardoned by President Trump last year, which has fueled her divisiveness.

Todd and Julie were found guilty in July 2022 of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans.

They were also found guilty of tax evasion by hiding their earnings while showcasing an extravagant lifestyle.

At the time of their pardon, the ladies on The View did not seem too thrilled by the decision and criticized the President's choice on air, calling it dishonest and unethical.

Chrisley has been very vocal about her support for President Trump and even campaigned for him during the 2024 presidential race.

During her first View appearance on February 17, she defended the Trump administration over the Epstein files and RFK Jr's health policies.

She claimed that the Department of Justice had been 'transparent' in its release of documents related to the pedophile and said the Clintons should agree to a private deposition.

'The Clintons are, in fact, trying to twist things and get sound bites from a public hearing,' she said.

MAGA personalities Karoline Leavitt and Sean Spicer expressed support for Chrisley's time on The View

The 28-year-old White House press secretary expressed her enthusiasm for Chrisley's outfit

Chrisley made her first appearance as guest co-host on The View on February 17

'So having a deposition allows each individual to have different members of their teams, and they're asking the right questions, the hard questions to then gather it for.'

During Wednesday's episode, Chrisley faced an embarrassing on-air correction after she claimed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the Democratic party's chosen candidate for the next presidential election.

The panel hit back upon hearing the incorrect claim and clarified that AOC has said repeatedly she will not run in 2028.

Pushing back, Behar, 83, joked: 'You better tell that to Gavin Newsom!'
An award-winning Italian restaurant in Brisbane that had been under the direction of a celebrity chef is set to close in a matter of days.

Guy Grossi's establishment Settimo, located inside The Westin Brisbane, will have its final day of service on Saturday February 21.

A message shared to the restaurant's Instagram account confirmed the forthcoming closure.

'Our partnership with Guy Grossi comes to a natural close,' read a notice posted on social media this week.

'We're incredibly grateful for everything we've created and celebrated together.'

However, the Mary Street hotel venue isn't being shut entirely.

The 150-seat space will soon be reimagined and reopened with a brand-new restaurant concept, with the latest post on Settimo's Instagram hinting at the change ahead.

'This marks an exciting new chapter for us. Very soon, we'll unveil a fresh restaurant concept led by our award-winning Executive Chef Massimo and our talented culinary team,' the post confirmed.

Guy Grossi's establishment Settimo at The Westin Brisbane will close on Saturday February 21, according to a notice shared to the restaurant's Instagram account

The award-winning establishment was recognised as one of Brisbane's best Italian restaurants

'Stay tuned, something special is coming.'

A statement supplied by The Westin Brisbane to Good Food confirmed that the restaurant's closure coincided with the end of its current contract with Guy Grossi, with the agreement lapsing on February 21.

'Over the past three years, The Westin Brisbane has been proud to partner with chef Guy Grossi,' the statement read. 'Settimo was created as a collaborative vision between Guy and The Westin Brisbane, bringing a vibrant taste of Italy to the heart of the city.'

'We are incredibly grateful for what we have built together and for Settimo's contribution to Brisbane's dining scene over the past three years.'

The hotel's statement also confirmed that the venue's next chapter would see a new restaurant concept opened under the direction of their current award-winning executive chef, Massimo Speroni.

Daily Mail reached out to The Westin Brisbane's parent company, Marriott Asia Pacific, as well as Settimo restaurant, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

Settimo was billed as 'Guy Grossi's award-winning love letter to the Amalfi,' according to the restaurant's still-live website.

'Settimo invites you to experience the simple flavours, friendly hospitality and vibrant energy of the Amalfi Coast,' read the introductory explanation on the website.

Settimo's Amalfi-inspired menu featured pastas and seafood

Tiramisu was the signature tiramisu dessert on Guy's menu - with diners begging the venue to keep the popular sweet treat on the new restaurant menu

The menu took inspiration from Mediterranean flavours and featured pastas, seafood and its signature dessert, tiramisu.

Devastated diners replied to Settimo's latest post to share their disappointment over the closure.

'This is soooo sad. I'm gonna cry,' read one reply.

'I loved Settimo. Guy's restaurant was amazing. Shame it's closing. We had some great nights there,' lamented another.

Another hopeful diner added that they hoped 'Guy Grossi opens another restaurant in Brisbane'.

Meanwhile, the news that the venue would soon re-open prompted diners to request that some of their favourite dishes be retained.

'I hope the new restaurant is still Italian and that you keep some menu items,' read one reply.

'I HOPE YOU KEEP YOUR TIRAMISU IT'S ABSOLUTELY TO DIE FOR,' demanded another sweet-toothed patron.

Although Settimo is closing, a new restaurant concept will be opened in the light-filled space within The Westin Brisbane hotel

The closure of Settimo following the end of Guy's contract with The Westin Brisbane comes after he recently sold several of his Melbourne venues to Edition Hospitality Group

The closure of Settimo follows a recent flurry of activity around the Grossi family restaurant empire.

Last October, several of their Melbourne establishments, including Florentino, Cellar Bar and Grossi Grill, were sold to Edition Hospitality Group.

This leaves only one remaining venue solely under Guy Grossi's direction  Garum at The Westin Perth.

In addition to being a prominent restaurateur, Guy Grossi is a well-known TV chef personality.

He has previously appeared on popular cooking shows, including as a judge on My Kitchen Rules and Iron Chef Australia, as well as a guest on MasterChef Australia and host of Italian Food Safari.
Melania Trump appeared to be in a shady mood when she stepped off Air Force One alongside husband President Donald Trump on Monday.

As she and Trump arrived back to the White House after spending the long weekend away in Palm Beach, Florida, the First Lady was spotted wearing a pair of hugely oversized black sunglasses.

And while donning the accessory may seem like business-as-usual for Melania, 55, she was wearing them at around 11pm in the dead of winter, when it was completely dark outside.

Melania paired her oversized shades with a large gray wrap coat, black leather gloves, and black lace-up boots.

President Trump, 79, seemed to match her as he also wore a pair of black leather gloves, along with a black coat and navy blue dress pants.

The First Lady's strange fashion choice drew criticism on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) as many people seemed to be confused about why she would wear sunglasses in the dead of night.

'REALLY, SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT?' one user wrote on X.

Another agreed, 'She looks ridiculous with freakin' sunglasses on at night. These two are something else.'

Melania Trump appeared to be in a shady mood when she stepped off Air Force One alongside husband President Donald Trump on Monday

As she and Trump arrived back to the White House after spending the long weekend away in Palm Beach, Florida, the First Lady was spotted wearing a pair of hugely oversized black sunglasses

'Why is she wearing sunglasses at night??' someone else questioned.

Another X user commented, 'Maybe she should take her sunglasses off, like wtf????'

'And the dark glasses at night are for what?' shared one.

'Why the sunglasses at night time????' a commenter asked.

Melania's White House arrival comes just weeks after her self-titled documentary premiered in theaters across the country.

The movie follows the First Lady in the 20 days leading up to Trump's inauguration in January 2025.

Amazon secured the film for $40 million - the largest documentary deal in history - after beating rivals Disney, Netflix and Paramount in a ferocious bidding war.

The movie showed the behind-the-scenes of these high-stakes days, taking viewers through her fittings with designers Adam Lippes and Herve Pierre, who created her outfits for the inauguration events, as well as meetings with her interior designer, Tham Kannalikham, who was tasked with furnishing the space for the family's return to The White House.

Join the debate Do YOU think wearing sunglasses at night is 'ridiculous'?

The First Lady's strange fashion choice drew criticism on social media platforms like X, as many people seemed to be confused about why she would wear sunglasses in the dark

Melania's White House arrival comes just weeks after her self-titled documentary premiered in theaters across the country

The film also shared that Melania's love for 19-year-old son Barron Trump is unrivaled - as she also hinted at his most positive personality trait.

The New York University student was not shown heavily in the film, only a few moments during inauguration day, but the First Lady spoke extremely highly of him throughout.

In one scene, as she and Donald Trump are sitting in the car together, they spoke about Barron, who the President says that he has 'cute conversations' with.

'I love him,' Melania says, as she adds that her son is an 'incredible mind.'

Of course, after Trump was elected, it was revealed that the teen had a big part in his father's campaign, especially when it came to recommending podcasts and YouTube shows for him to appear on.

During the film, she also briefly shares that Barron is 'very confident' and that she wants him to live his own life and carve his own path.

However, Barron is the only child that's spoken about during the movie.

Melania does not say a word about her four stepchildren - Don. Jr, 48, Ivanka, 44, Eric, 42, or Tiffany, 32, during the 90-minute spectacle.

Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, were also missing from the documentary's premiere at the Kennedy Center. Tiffany Trump did not appear to attend, either.
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At last Septembers fashion month we saw the return of Topshop to the runway. Five months on, were into a new cycle of shows and front rows, and now were witnessing Topshops first large-scale return to physical retail since the collapse of the Arcadia group in 2021.

As of yesterday you can now shop the brand across the UK in 32 John Lewis department stores, from Glasgow, to Solihull, Nottingham and Oxford Street, with 130 Topshop styles available across womenswear, menswear and footwear.

The move represents the first full rollout since it was acquired by ASOS following Arcadias administration, although a limited return to stores began at the end of last year when Topshop launched a temporary concession at the luxury Liberty department store in London.

Whilst the nostalgic pull of Mom jeans, oversized clutch bags and quirky takes on classic silhouettes is enticing, the BRCs (British Retail Consortium) latest data indicates a challenging environment across the high street, with footfall declining for eight consecutive months as of December 2025 and a 2.9 per cent year-on-year drop just before Christmas, making it a notably "muted" golden quarter.

So can this merging of two household names encourage shoppers to pocket their phones and go in store?

Michelle Wilson, managing director of Topshop, says its about making it easier for customers to access the pieces they love. From our cult denim to new season footwear, you can see it, feel it and take it home the same day.

But the John Lewis stores we all know and love dont mirror Topshops most iconic venue ever: its three-storey shop at 214 Oxford Street, which had an atmosphere akin to an over-the-top birthday party, with a DJ blasting tunes at the front door, its own nail bar, a hair salon and food stalls. You could even walk out with a new ear piercing or a tattoo if you really fancied it. Shopping in the early noughties there was nothing but pure escapism - and plain old simple fun.

If the hope is to bring back young spenders who seek the same kind of immersive shopping experience that was available (in bucket loads) at Topshops Oxford Circus utopia, John Lewis gargantuan stores, loved by the middle classes for the very fact that they never change, may not cut it.

Although Topshop has cottoned on to the fact that John Lewis Gen Z crowd typically peruses its racks in tow of a parent. Today you will find a new, grown-up, slightly pricier, more conservative offering tucked in amongst skinny jeans and baby Ts which typically sit in the under 50 price mark.

See its sophisticated chocolate suede knee-high boots (95). Or the anti-ageing neck shielding funnel collar jacket (85). Ditto the high rise horseshoe jeans (55). And dont skip the accessories department - this ivory beaded clutch bag wouldnt look out of place on a teak shelf at The White Company (48).

This partnership reflects our focus on bringing iconic names, strong style and compelling experiences into our stores, says Peter Ruis, John Lewis Managing Director.

But the John Lewis die hards reading this needn't fret! It's safe to assume there won't be a DJ on the door of your beloved local store anytime soon. And there's no risk of being inked next to the electricals department.

Shop the fashion editors shortlist below.
Stephen Colbert continued his feud with his employers at CBS after the network denied having banned him from having a Democrat guest on his show Monday.

The late night host, 61, called out his network Monday for refusing to let him air an interview with James Talarico, a candidate for US Senate in Texas, over the FCC's 'equal time' rules.

CBS has disputed Colbert's account, saying its attorneys only 'provided legal guidance' that broadcasting an interview with Talarico could trigger the rule.

On Tuesday - after the banned interview had gone viral on the show's YouTube account - Colbert literally trashed CBS' statement.

'Without ever talking to me, the corporation put out this press release, this statement. This is a surprisingly small piece of paper given how many butts it was trying to cover,' he quipped

He called the statement 'written by and for lawyers' and planned to go through it line by line.

'I'm not a lawyer and I don't want to tell them how to do their jobs but since they seem intent on telling them how to do mine, here we go,' he said to raucous applause.

He pointed out that he had welcomed Talarico's primary opponent, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, twice.

Stephen Colbert continued his feud with his employers at CBS, claiming they were lying when they denied having banned him from having a Democrat guest on his show Monday

The lame duck late night host, 61, called out his network Monday for refusing to let him air an interview with James Talarico, a candidate for US Senate in Texas, over the FCC's 'equal time' rules

'Fellas, I am well aware that we can book other guests. I didn't need to be presented with that option.'

Colbert added that he could prove that Crockett had been on the show but that CBS wouldn't let him show a photo of it without threatening the equal time rules.

'So I'll just show this photo of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein instead,' he said, before displaying the now infamous photo of the president and the disgraced financier.

He quipped that he wished he could have aired the interview with Talarico, though he pointed out the irony that 'no one would have watched it' on CBS.

The nearly 15-minute chat with Talarico has amassed four million views on YouTube.

Colbert then explained that it was impossible for the network's statement to be true because they give a thumbs up to everything he says on his show every night.

'They know damn well that every word of my script last night was approved by CBS' lawyers, who for the record, approve of every script that goes on the air,' he said.

He said that he was answering to notes from the network's lawyers in between segments of last night's show, an unprecedented occurrence.

CBS has disputed Colbert's account, saying its attorneys only 'provided legal guidance' that broadcasting an interview with Talarico could trigger the rule

'I had to go backstage to get more notes from these lawyers and they told us the language they wanted me to use to describe this equal time exception and I used that language, so I don't know what this is about,' Colbert said, holding up the statement.

Colbert also noted that his staff had looked back as far as the 1960s and could not find an example of the FCC enforcing this rule on a talk show host.

The host said that he's 'not even mad' and despite his impending cancelation, has been 'grateful' to work for CBS.

'I'm just so surprised that this giant, global corporation wouldn't stand up to these bullies. For the lawyers to release this without even talking to me is really surprising. I don't even know what to do with this crap,' he said.

Colbert then crumbled up the statement, put it in a doggie bag and tossed it in the trash.

The Daily Mail has reached out to CBS for comment.

Colbert began Monday's show with the revelation, before identifying the voided visitor as Texas Rep. James Talarico.

Talarico, a 36-year-old Democrat, is currently running to flip a Republican's seat in the Senate.

The network claims that under equal time rules, Colbert would have to offer interviews to Talarico's opponents in the Senate race, fellow Democrat Jasmine Crockett (pictured left) and Republican incumbent John Cornyn (pictured right). Colbert noted that he's interviewed Crockett twice

Colbert accused his network of cowardice in front of the Trump administration. Pictured: Paramount (which owns CBS) CEO David Ellison

Colbert explained: '[Talarico] was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our networks lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast.'

He went on to reveal showrunners asked him to 'not mention' any of the saga.

'And because my network clearly does not want us to talk about this lets talk about this,' the host declared.

He proceeded to lay out the drama, explaining to the Ed Sullivan Theater audience the 'equal time rule' and how the 92-year-old guidance was stripped of exemptions that had been in place since the 1990s just last month.

The exemptions allowed hosts like Jay Leno to welcome any guest to their shows regardless of political affiliation.

The original rule, put in place by Congress and enforced by The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), was meant to ensure broadcast stations provided equal air time to opposing political candidates in the 1930s.

Shows like The View, The Tonight Show, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert were nonetheless affected. The move was masterminded by The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr.

Colbert repeatedly took shots at Carr on Monday, referencing how the official said shows like Colbert's operate out of 'purely partisan political purposes' in the climate of today when announcing the change last month.

Stephen Colbert embarked on a politicized rant Monday after the Federal Communications Commission's equal time rule upended a planned guest appearance

In another act of defiance, Colbert welcomed the guest, 36-year-old Texas Democrat James Talarico to the show anyway after his rant, which took aim at CBS and the administration

'I think you are motivated by partisan purposes yourself,' Colbert said in retort.

'Lets just call this what it is. Donald Trump's administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV because all Trump does is watch TV. Okay?

'Hes like a toddler with too much screen time. He gets cranky and then drops a load in his diapers. So, its no surprise,' Colbert continued, concluding with a curt 'FCC you!' - before taking more shots at his soon-to-be former bosses by welcoming Talarico on.

The interview, however, only aired on web. Colbert further explained that the network hadn't allowed him to advertise links or a QR code the audience, given the sitdown was essentially taboo.

'But I promise you if you go to our YouTube page, youll find it,' the host bragged.

Sure enough, the interview was posted there as promised, with Colbert also welcoming outspoken liberal Jennifer Garner to the TV portion of the show.

During Talarico's appearance, the rising star in the Texas House of Representatives also accused the administration of censorship.

'I think that Donald Trump is worried that were about to flip Texas, and, Stephen, this is the party that ran against cancel culture,' he said of the pulled TV appearance.

'Theyre trying to control what we watch, what we say, what we read.'

Colbert's show was cancelled for financial reasons, CBS said in July.

The show was losing $40million a year, according to a report from Puck.

Colbert was named as David Letterman's replacement in 2015.

Days before CBS announced his show was to be canceled, Colbert openly criticized Paramount, CBSs parent company, for its $16million settlement with the president earlier that year - a move tantamount to 'a big fat bribe,' according to the comic.

The show will air its last episode in May, the network confirmed. Colbert, a vocal critic of Trump, has yet to announce any future plans.
Whoopi Goldberg is facing a flood of criticism on social media after her awkward attempt to clear up any confusion about her and Jeffrey Epstein on The View.

Goldberg, 70, owned up to her name emerging in an email exchange between Epstein and a redacted individual in 2013 on Tuesday. She denied any wrongdoing.

Onlookers on X, however, were not as convinced.

Talk radio host Andrew Wilkow wrote, for instance: 'Sunny Hostin's family got rich on the slave trade, now we learn that Whoopi Goldberg was flying around with Epstein.'

Conservative commentator Tara Bull told her more than 1.4million followers: 'If Whoopi was really being transparent, she would've come clean BEFORE Trump released the Epstein files.'

Comedian Tim Young warned his 1.1million followers: 'Whoopi Goldberg asked to use Jeffrey Epstein's plane Its in the files. So maybe she should sit this one out.'

The email in question mentions Goldberg by name, and it appears to be written by an unknown person in Epstein's orbit. The writer had been asking Epstein about finding Goldberg a private jet to Monaco for a charity event she did attend.

Goldberg addressed the revelation a full two weeks after it was first reported, by Media Research Center associate editor Nicholas Fondacaro.

Whoopi Goldberg is facing a flood of criticism after her name was found in the Epstein Files

A NewsBusters investigation discovered e-mails showing a person in Jeffrey Epstein's orbit reaching out to financier on Whoopi Goldberg's behalf requesting use of his Gulfstream G2 jet to fly her to a White Feather Foundation charity event in Monaco in 2013

Young was one of several people to point out the delay in Goldberg addressing the controversy on Tuesday.

'They handle it the way youd imagine they would,' the comic wrote of Goldberg and her cohosts while resharing a clip of the host's on-air missive

'They don't really address it.'

In comments to the Daily Mail Wednesday, Fondacaro expressed similar sentiments.

'ABC has largely ignored the story. They've repeatedly refused to answer my requests for comment and sat on having Whoopi respond publicly for two weeks.

'When they did finally talk about it, Whoopi never offered an explanation as to why Epstein's jet was requested,' he said.

'Once Whoopi's name came out, The View went from suggesting references in the files equaled complicity to arguing that it was no big deal because of Epstein's junk mail.'

Fondacaro added how the hosts only felt it necessary to clarify this mention of Goldberg in the files, and not other mentions thought to be more incidental.

Join the debate What's YOUR take on the outrage towards Whoopi?

The torrent of backlash came two weeks after Goldberg's name was uncovered, and directly after her Tuesday explanation

Four of Goldberg's six co-hosts were mentioned in the documents, again incidentally from sources like articles and press releases.

Joy Behar, for one, appeared thrice, two of which where headlines about her grabbing comedian Robin Williams, and the third being from a list of people invited to a party attended by convicted Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Behar, 83, interrupted her co-host's clarification on Tuesday to tell her audience: 'Anybody can be on this list.'

Goldberg, seconds before, had abruptly told the audience: 'Now, in the name of transparency my name is in the files.'

After reading the message aloud, co-host Sunny Hostin, who did not appear in the Department of Justice release, came to Goldberg's defense.

She emphasized how Epstein - then already a convicted sex offender - appeared to decline the offer in the exchange.

'No thnaks [sic],' he wrote.

Goldberg went on to insist that she was not a friend nor a girlfriend of Epstein, whom he said would have thought of her as 'too old.'

Four of Goldberg's six co-hosts were found in the files as well, Newsbusters editor Nicholas Fondacaro found. He told the Daily Mail Wednesday: 'ABC has largely ignored the story'

Being named in the documents released by the Department of Justice does not assume any guilt or wrongdoing connected to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes

'I was not only too old, but it was at a time where this is just not. You used to have to have facts before you said stuff,' Goldberg said.

Behar was quick to point out how Donald Trump's name also appeared in the files 38,000 times.

A mention, meanwhile, does not indicate any wrongdoing.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a letter Saturday that 'all' Epstein files have been released consistent with Section 3 of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The list of names includes 'all persons where (1) they are or were a government official or politically exposed person and (2) their name appears in the files released under the Act at least once,' the letter said. The names appear in a 'wide variety of contexts,' according to feds.

The Daily Mail has approached ABC News for comment. The show has been on the air for nearly 30 years.
Frustrated John Lewis credit card customers have missed payments because their monthly paper statements have been arriving after the due date.

Some have been forced to pay without seeing their statements and, in some cases, have incurred late payment fees.

A dozen Money Mail readers wrote to us, some after being stung by penalties of up to 13 per cent.

The delays have made customers believe it is a ploy to force them into using online banking.

Customers can check their balances online at any time and so do not need a paper statement. They can also set up a direct debit so that the balance is paid automatically.

However, those who are unable to bank online or who are uncomfortable with digital services have suffered as they need paper statements to know how much to pay when their bill is due and go through their spending for signs of errors or fraud.

John Lewis credit card customers have missed payments because their monthly paper statements have been arriving after the due date

It is the latest fiasco for John Lewis Partnership credit card customers to contend with after provider NewDay took over its running in 2022.

NewDay sparked anger at the time when it required loyal customers to reapply for the card  and rejected some despite customers having high credit scores.

In many cases, it slashed credit limits too. These limits were reinstated after intervention from Money Mail. The credit period  the interest-free period given to pay a bill  was also reduced, from 25 days to 15.

Penelope Baker, 79, from Sussex, says the delays have driven her to stop using her card, which she has had for 15 years.

She says she no longer trusts the statements to arrive in time for her to pay ahead of the deadline: Sometimes statements would arrive on the due date or even past it so I wouldnt have time to pay it. Other times, I never even got a statement.

This means the retired bookkeeper has been charged late payment fees. This has sometimes been a nominal fee, such as 20p.

But on one occasion she was charged 40 for late payment and interest on a 300 invoice. I didnt even get the statement, she says. How can I pay if I dont get a statement?

The Reverend Christine Parker, from Hampshire, has been getting her statements closer and closer to the payment date for the past 12 months. She has a direct debit so hasnt incurred fees but finds it infuriating to be left in the dark.

She says: The statement often comes one or two days before the due date and it has once come after my direct debit has been taken.

Its unacceptable. It seems that John Lewis is no longer prioritising paper statements and it wants us to download it instead.

Customers can check their balances online at any time and so do not need a paper statement. They can also set up a direct debit so that the balance is paid automatically

Christine, 77, who uses her card to shop at Ocado and John Lewis, says she complained to the retailer about the late statements in July. This was not upheld and John Lewis told her: We cannot print them any earlier.

Unhappy with this, she turned to the Financial Ombudsman Service but received no help.

It said that while there was a short time frame between the statement arriving and the direct debit being taken, Christine had access to an online account where she could check her statements, or she could call NewDay to check her balance.

The chaplain adds: It is very inconvenient. We pay by direct debit and its not difficult to manage. But they dont leave much time if you have to move money around before the payment is taken.

Other customers who have complained say they were also told to use the smartphone app. One customer who sometimes gets their statement after the payment date, says: I can see my John Lewis statements on the app and pay in time if I remember to look. But why should I have to do this?

NewDay says cardholders should receive statements just several days before the due date. But one reader says his August statement arrived 14 days after the due date.

A NewDay spokesman said: We are very sorry that some customers have experienced delays in receiving their paper statements.

These were caused by disruptions to mail deliveries following changes to the postal services network, which were outside of our control.

We have invested in a faster mail service to get statements to customers more quickly. We want to reassure customers that we fully support their choice to receive paper statements.

If a customer missed a payment date due to these delays and contacts us, we will work with them to ensure they are supported and review any fees incurred, refunding those fees where appropriate.

> Compare credit cards with Moneysupermarket*
My husband worked for the Department for Work and Pensions for over 30 years but died nearly three years ago.

I applied for his civil service pension, which I should have received within three months.

Several telephone calls later, and after sending everything twice, the administrators closed my case in error.

I make regular contact and am always told my case will be escalated. Please help.

L.N., Lancashire.

Frozen out: A reader is still waiting to receive her late husband's civil service pension three years after he died

Sally Hamilton replies: You described how you and your husband both set off for work one day in April 2023, with him saying he loved you and giving you a cheerio kiss.

That was the last you saw him alive. On your way home that day, you received a call that turned your life upside down.

Your husband and soulmate suffered a heart attack at work and died instantly.

He was 58 and just six weeks from retirement from his role on the Department for Work and Pensions disability helpline.

You both had been planning to slow down and enjoy life. Instead, you had to cope with bereavement, carry on working full time as an NHS occupational therapist, and bring up your teenagers alone.

You received a death-in-service lump sum (life insurance paid to employees who die while working) and assumed the monthly spouses pension would follow.

You were due a widows pension for life and a monthly payment to each of your children while they remained in full-time education.

Your sons were 13 and 17 at the time. The youngest is still at school and the other now at university. Like you, they have not seen a penny from the scheme.

Almost three years to the day since you lost your husband, you are still waiting.

This baffling delay is bad enough but by the time you contacted me, you had become caught up in a debacle that has engulfed the Civil Service Pension Scheme in recent weeks.

Since a new administrator, Capita, was appointed in December, an already huge backlog of cases inherited from predecessor MyCSP has ballooned, leaving vast numbers of retirees waiting for their pensions to be paid.

Money Mail has been at the forefront of highlighting the plight of many who have been waiting for their pensions.

No delay is acceptable, but your three-year wait triggered by Capitas predecessor is among the most shameful.

I approached MyCSP for comment on what had gone wrong in your case but did not hear back.

Your pension should have been sorted long ago, and I was determined to ensure your case be top of the pile at the new administrators.

I first asked the Cabinet Office, in overall charge of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, to help. It directed me to Capita, which I pressed on your case over many days. This began in mid-January.

It promised me that your case was being escalated. It stuck to its word and asked you to re-send information about your elder sons education and provide updated evidence about his university course, which you did.

Meanwhile, in late January, Capita and civil service bosses issued a joint statement about the continuing crisis, saying they were deeply sorry.

Let Me Know Have you taken the leap and changed careers? Switching fields can be a daunting but thoroughly rewarding experience. Tell me how it worked out for you. Email sally@dailymail.co.uk

Capita says it has recruited extra staff to help clear the backlog of 120,000 cases.

Urgent cases such as the bereaved, those taking early retirement due to ill health and those in hardship were to be first in line. I reminded Capita that you clearly fell into this first bracket.

After more toing and froing, Capita paid a backdated sum of 17,000 to you, and 5,775 to each of your sons  thats a total of 28,550.

You will receive about 380 a month from now on as a pension and the children the same sum until they finish their formal education.

All these payments are net of tax, so I urge you to contact HMRC to check if you and your sons are due a tax rebate.

Capita has promised a written explanation of its workings, including what you need to give to HMRC. It will also consider compensation for your poor experience.

A Capita spokesman says: We are very sorry to hear about the delay this member has faced and for the inconvenience this has caused.

This case dates back three years, well before the service transferred from the previous provider to Capita in December 2025.

You were mightily relieved and thanked me for my intervention. Had you known what lay ahead, you would not have used all the death-in-service sum you received to pay down your mortgage.

But without the pension income, cash flow was tight.

You would have liked to pay for extra tuition for your younger son whose previously strong academic performance declined suddenly after losing his dad. You could not afford it. Hopefully, the money will help you address these issues.

I wish you and your boys well.

Jet2 took all three monthly payments in one go

Late last year, I booked a 2,526 holiday with Jet2 to Madeira for Christmas.

I paid using PayPal and was given the option of making three monthly payments, to spread the cost.

When I checked my bank statement, I found the firm had taken the full amount, putting me overdrawn and incurring charges. PayPal refuses to admit it is at fault.

Can you help?

C.H., Middlesbrough.

Sally Hamilton replies: When you came to pay for your holiday, you were attracted by PayPals Pay in 3 credit option.

With this arrangement, the first payment is made at the time of purchase, followed by two monthly payments of the same sum.

Theres no interest to pay and no late payment charges  although if a payment isnt made, it can leave a black mark on a credit record.

I can imagine how furious you were when you saw the whole sum was taken and then by facing robot responses to your complaint.

I asked PayPal to investigate. It responded that the transaction hadnt gone through via the buy-now-pay-later option because you would have needed to apply to PayPal for this first.

This is so it can check a customers credit worthiness. Although the firm says it was not at fault, it was sympathetic and sent you 200 as a goodwill gesture.

Unimpressed, you told me you definitely ticked the option to Pay in 3 and there was no explanation that you couldnt go ahead.

I asked PayPal to look again. After a thorough analysis, it said that the Pay in 3 process hadnt, in fact, been initiated during the process, so it wasnt a case of you being turned down for credit after all.

But it says the full balance to pay would have appeared on the checkout page.

You were not convinced, but had to cash in some Premium Bonds to cover the invoice. You have vowed to close your PayPal account in protest.

Straight to the point My wife and I are set to go on a eight-day tour to the Amalfi Coast in May with Tui. We booked knowing that dinner would be included every night with the other holidaymakers. However, after booking, Tui has switched this to a lunch every day. Not only is this a big inconvenience  we dont want to sit down for a formal meal in between sightseeing  but paying for our own dinner every night will cost far more than a bite to eat for lunch would have. Tui has only offered 20 compensation  only 2.50 per dinner. B.R., via email. Tui is firm and says that the number of meals included in the tour price remains the same as previously advertised. It says that dinner is included on the first and last night of the tour. *** My transport for London Oyster card recently stopped working. I have bought a new card but I have 90 credit on the old one. I dont know how to get this on to the new card. Please help  I dont have a big income so cant afford to lose this money. S.B., Milton Keynes. Transport for London says it has now helped you register your new card and will refund the 90. *** In July 2024, I ordered a pair of Apple AirPods Max earphones via Currys for 500. I bought them to make phone calls on but quickly realised there was a fault with the microphone. I was told Currys wouldnt consider a return or repair until Apple had looked at them first, which it did but the microphone issue remains. Currys has also repaired them twice but they still dont work properly. Currys now says since the AirPods are out of warranty I cant have a full refund, just 280 of credit instead. M.B., London. Currys says you will be refunded the full amount.
Glencore profits took a hit last year as the copper rally failed to offset a slump in coal prices.

In its first update to investors since it abandoned talks with rival Rio Tinto to create a 200billion mega-merger, Glencore said adjusted earnings fell 6 per cent to just under 10billion.

The group said the tumble in profits was primarily reflecting lower energy and steelmaking coal prices.

Coal prices have been depressed amid an oversupply and a move from countries including China towards using their own resources.

But Glencore said this had been partially offset by stronger metals pricing amid a boom in copper, which is crucial for electrification.

FTSE 100 mining giants Glencore and Rio Tinto called off talks for a mega-merger this month

Copper prices have soared to fresh highs this year, rising by more than a third as concerns over military action in the Middle East came into focus. It hit a high of around $14,000 a ton but is trading at around $12,700, having given up some of its recent gains.

Investor demand for 'safe haven' assets and a weaker dollar have also helped to push copper prices higher.

Glencore also announced a deal with Gecamines, the state-owned mining company of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for long-term mining leases for copper and cobalt production.

Chief executive Gary Nagle reiterated his ambition to turn it into the biggest copper producer in the world within the next decade, and is targeting over 1 million tonnes by the end of 2028.

Defending its decision to ditch talks with Rio Tinto, Nagle, said: Glencore's standalone investment case is strong.

He added: We have a well-diversified business across a range of commodities.

The two major miners this month said they had ended discussions to forge an industry powerhouse as global players fight for dominance in the lucrative copper market.

A deal would have seen Rio buy Glencore.

But Rio said it was no longer considering a possible merger or other business combination as it could not reach an agreement that would deliver value to its shareholders.

Glencore said negotiations faltered because Rio wanted its chairman Dominic Barton and chief executive Simon Trott to run the combined firm.

It said that this would have significantly undervalued Glencores relative value contribution to the combined group even before a suitable price could be agreed.

Shares rose 2.80pc to 499.6pence in early trading as Glencore handed $2billion back to its shareholders.

It means shareholders will get 17 cents per share this year, based on a $10 base payout and a $7 top-up supported by the rising value of its remaining stake in agricultural trader Bunge.
A British chocolate maker has entered administration, having become a cornerstone of London's artisan chocolate industry over nearly four decades.

Marasu's Petit Fours, one of Britain's most celebrated chocolate manufacturers, appointed administrators on 6 February, confirming the news on Tuesday.

Administrators were called in soon after the recent closure of Marasu's Petit Fours' parent company's flagship Piccadilly shop after 124 years.

The chocolate industry has been rocked by ballooning cocoa prices, which surged to a record high in 2024, just as crops were hammered by dire weather and disease.

Alessandro Sidoli and Jessica Barker of Xeinadin Corporate Recovery Limited have been named as joint administrators for Marasu's Petit Fours.

It remains unclear how many jobs could be at risk as a result of Marasu's Petit Fours calling in administrators.

High-end supplies: Marasu's Petit Fours supplied the likes of Selfridges and Harrods with chocolate

A pre-pack administration deal will see parent company Prestat sold to LArtisan du Chocolat, which is owned by Polus Capital Management.

Marasu's parent firm Prestat was the upmarket chocolatier said to have inspired Roald Dahl, who mentioned Prestat's truffles in his novel My Uncle Oswald.

This agreement was reached before administrators were formally appointed and is expected to see Prestat continue as an online-only business. Prestat had two royal warrants and was once named as one of the top three chocolate shops in the world.

Marasu's Petit Fours traces its origins to 1987, when patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler established the company. It was acquired by Prestat in 2006.

Marasu's Petit Fours established itself as London's largest manufacturer of luxury chocolates, supplying the likes of Selfridges, Harrods, Prestat, Pret a Manger and Fortnum & Mason.

The firm operates from production facilities in Park Royal, where it turns out more than 300 tonnes of chocolate each year.

This is Money contacted Xeinadin Corporate Recovery for comment.

Swathes of businesses across Britain are buckling under the pressure of higher costs, taxes and wages under the Labour government. Many households are struggling to keep up with their own high costs, leading to cautious spending.

In January, The Original Factory Shop collapsed into administration amid 'challenging trading conditions' and higher labour costs, putting 1,200 jobs at risk of being axed.

Busy: Prestat's chocolate factory at Park Royal, West London, in 2015

Earlier this month, fashion chain Quiz entered administration for the third time in six years, with 109 members of staff in Scotland losing their jobs.

Administrators said the company, which was founded in 1993, had been struggling over the past year, culminating in poorer-than-expected sales over the Christmas period.

The retailer's 40 stores and seven concessions remain open, but will be holding clearance sales and not accepting refunds. Its online store has been closed.
The boss of Britains biggest defence company has called for clarity over the governments military spending plans amid a blazing row over budgets.

BAE Systems chief Charles Woodburn said the industry stood ready to step up production to help the UK rearm  but needs a clear signal of what is required.

He called for the publication of the Defence Investment Plan, which will outline where and how the military budget will be spent but has been delayed amid warnings of a 28billion black hole.

What we're keen to see is the release and publication of the defence investment plan, said Mr Woodburn.

Much of our large UK programmes, like submarines, the work on the nuclear deterrent, the frigate programmes, are all carrying on. They're not waiting for decisions on the investment plan.

But there are a lot of other programmes that are, and we're all looking for clarity around that as soon as possible.

The comments came as BAE posted record annual revenues and profits as it cashed in on what Mr Woodburn described as a new era of defence spending as countries in the West rearm.

BAE boss Charles Woodburn (right) with defence secretary John Healey and Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has set a target of raising defence spending from the current level of 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product to 2.5 per cent by April 2027 and 3 per cent after the next election.

But that would mean the target may not be met until as late as 2034  leaving the UK struggling to reach new NATO targets.

Under pressure from Donald Trump, NATO leaders last year agreed to ramp up defence spending to 5 per cent of their countries GDP by 2035.

The Prime Minister this week raised hopes spending would reach 3 per cent of GDP by 2029 following crisis talks with defence chiefs.

It was even thought the accelerated timetable could be announced as part of the Government's economic Spring Statement on March 3.

But it is understood those plans are being resisted by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as the money would need to come from spending cuts elsewhere, tax hikes or more borrowing.

The row comes almost two years after the Daily Mail launched its Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign which calls for Britain to commit to spending 3 per cent by the end of this Parliament.

Asked by the Mail if he was confident the defence spending targets would be hit, Mr Woodburn said: They've been clear about growing defence budgets, but the pace at which, we're waiting to hear how the how the debate plays out.

BAE built the Agamemnon, an Astute Class attack submarine, at its historic Barrow shipyard

BAE posts record profits

BAE, which builds and maintains submarines and warships for the Royal Navy and Typhoon fighter jets for the Royal Air Force, said revenues jumped 10 per cent to 30.7billion last year while profits were up 12 per cent to 3.3billion.

In a new era of defence spending, driven by escalating security challenges, were well positioned to provide both the advanced conventional systems and disruptive technologies needed to protect the nations we serve now and into the future, said Mr Woodburn.

BAE shares rose 3 per cent today on the results, continuing climb this month after falling back from a high at the turn of the year.

As well as supplying the UK military, BAE makes weapons from missiles and artillery systems to tanks, planes and ships for governments around the world including the United States.

The company won a major Typhoon order from Turkey last year as well as an order for Type 26 frigates from Norway.

Mr Woodburn noted that countries closest to Russia were rearming faster than others  highlighting increased spending in Poland and Germany in particular.

Certainly, within the European theatre, the pace of increased defence spending is roughly related to how close you are to the fight, he said.

You see countries like Poland, that share a border with Ukraine, that have significantly increased defence spending and very quickly. We see Germany moving rapidly. We've seen the Nordics scaling up. I think those that are closer to the Russian threat are definitely investing faster.
Raising Cane's is suing a Boston landlord after they allegedly tried to evict one of their stores due to complaints about the 'offensive odor' of chicken fingers.

The fast food giant claimed that the landlord's company, 755 Boylston LLC, was 'engaged in an extortionate scheme' to force the restaurant out of the building.

According to a lawsuit filed in Suffolk Superior Court on January 23, the landlord threatened to evict Raising Cane's because its restaurant 'smells like chicken fingers'.

Raising Cane's argued the eviction attempt was not actually due to the smell, but instead motivated by the landlord's interest in leasing the space to another fast food franchise.

The Louisianabased chicken chain said the property owner was negotiating with Panda Express for the space next to Raising Cane's.

It claims this violated their lease agreement, which forbids other chicken restaurants from opening in the building.

Raising Cane's also alleged that the landlord has 'has come to the realization that its own buildout of the secondfloor office space was poorly executed'.

The lawsuit added that the goal to throw them out was 'nothing more than an effort to cover up those failures'.

755 Boylston LLC in Boston attempted to evict Raising Cane's over its 'offensive odor' of chicken fingers, a lawsuit alleged

The Louisianabased fast food chain claimed the attempt to boot them was due to the landlord botching a renovation and being 'seemingly desperate to secure new tenants at the building'

The lawsuit said 755 Boylston leased its premises to Raising Cane's 'with the express understanding that its intended use was for the preparation and sale of chicken finger meals.'

No other restaurant 'selling deboned chicken' was allowed in the building without Raising Cane's prior approval, the suit claimed.

Legal filings noted that the chicken chain occupied the first floor, and that the landlord recently reconverted the second floor into office space.

Raising Cane's 'expressly approved detailed plans' for the property owner's ventilation system, per the suit.

The restaurant added that it had 'spent over $200,000 to date' in order to minimize the supposed chicken finger smells.

It accused the landlord of having 'come to the realization' that his rebuild was botched.

The chicken finger smell, the suit claimed, was used as an excuse because the owner was 'seemingly desperate to secure new tenants.'

The chain called their reasoning 'nonsensical [sic] and in contravention of any rational reading' of the lease.

Raising Cane's said the Boston location in question had been open since 2022, with a lease was set to run through 2037 and a potential ten bonus years

According to the lawsuit, Raising Cane's said the property owner told them last August that Panda Express would be taking over an adjacent space in the building

Raising Cane's accused the landlord of being 'intentionally engaged in an effort to extort' them despite an allegedly 'unambiguous' lease.

The fast food chain said it had operated the Boston location since 2022 and currently employed about 75 people.

Its lease was set to continue through 2037, with an option for an additional ten years.

'Extensive investment in the buildout of the leased premises reflects Raising Cane's intention to operate its business at the Back Bay Location for many, many years,' the suit said.

The company added that it tried to maintain a 'positive relationship' with the property owner, which included 'extraordinary measures that exceed its obligations under the lease.'

Raising Cane's claimed the landlord informed them last August that Panda Express would take over a neighboring space.

The chain said this would violate their lease's exclusivity provision, as their competitor also served chicken 'as a primary use.'

Raising Cane's was served with a notice to quit on January 15, per the suit. The landlord's alleged reasoning was the 'repeated release and emitting of offensive and/or nuisance odors'

Things escalated in January when Raising Cane's told the landlord it would no longer comply with 'continued unreasonable demands' to spend additional money addressing the supposed chicken finger smell.

A week later, the landlord allegedly served the restaurant with a notice to quit, claiming the chain had defaulted on the lease.

The explanation given was the 'repeated release and emitting of offensive and/or nuisance odors,' the suit claimed.

Raising Cane's claimed that their landlord's actions resulted in 'monetary harm' to their business and is seeking a trial by jury.

The chain is asking for a declaration that it has not violated the lease and that it remains fully in effect.

It is also seeking double or triple damages, reimbursement for attorneys' fees and costs and any other relief the court considers fair.

A Raising Cane's spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Were Chicken Finger fanatics - litigation is not what we do. We hate that were in this position and havent been able to come to terms with our landlord.'

The company added that they 'believe this situation can be resolved amicably and will continue working toward resolving the conflict with our landlord so we can focus on what we do best.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Heath Properties, the company associated with 755 Boylston LLC, and Raising Cane's listed attorneys Wayne Dennison and Rachel Feiden for further comment.
Damaging new details about a married Texas congressman's alleged affair with an aide have emerged, after the purported mistress deliberately burned herself to death.

US Representative Tony Gonzalez, 45, allegedly traveled to a remote cabin in Concan, Texas, twice in May 2024 and had sex with his married staffer Regina Aviles, 35, a friend of Aviles told the Daily Mail.

Aviles, who had been part of the congressman's staff in Uvalde, Texas, died after she set herself in fire in her backyard after dousing herself with gasoline in September 2025.

Daily Mail first reported the alleged affair in October, and Gonzales did not deny the affair when given the opportunity, however, he later publicly denied the affair in November.

Now, new details about his alleged romance with Aviles - including two trysts at a Hill Country cabin - have been confirmed by two sources.

'Tony was doing a couple of swings in Concan to whip the votes, and Regina was staffing him. Tony needed a place to recharge,' the friend, who asked not to be named, alleged to the Daily Mail.

There is also an explosive text message in which Aviles told a colleague and friend: 'I had affair with our boss.' Daily Mail has confirmed the phone number belongs to the late Aviles.

US Representative Tony Gonzales, pictured in a campaign photo with his wife and six children presenting himself as a family man had two trysts in a cabin with a married aide before her suicide, a friend alleged

Gonzales's alleged mistress Regina Aviles (pictured with her husband Adrian) killed herself after the affair was discovered by her spouse, who moved out of the couple's home with their eight-year-old son

Gonzalez, a married father of six, lives in San Antonio around 90 minutes away from where he was campaigning to retain a seat he was first elected to in 2021.

He's currently running for re-election and is campaigning as a family man, complete with photos of his wife and children, despite the alleged affair.

The Republican decided to stay in a cabin owned by one of his staffers' parents. Aviles, who lived 26 miles away in Uvalde with her husband, Adrian, and eight-year-old son joined him, it is alleged.

'They used the parent's rental cabin to mess around twice,' the insider said.

A few weeks after the cabin fever, Aviles reportedly came clean to her friend, admitting she was having an affair with their boss in a tearful conversation.

'It appears that I f**ked up,' the co-worker claims Aviles told him.

'She was hysterically crying, and that's when she told me, "I've been screwing Tony,"' he recounted of their May 2024 conversation.

The married, mother-of-one had been Gonzales's regional district director in Uvalde since 2021.

Their relationship became romantic in 2022, the former staffer said.

After Aviles told her friend about the affair, she shared text messages between herself and her boss, her friend claimed.

'It was more like, "You're so gorgeous,' he described of the 'lovey dovey' messages his friend read him off her phone.

'They were very sexual, too. "I can't wait to get back so I can blank your brains out."'

Aviles confidate claims his friend and the Congressman also shared sexually explicit photos, including dick pics, that Aviles talked about but never showed him.

After the alleged cabin encounters, Aviles is said to have been paranoid about whether it had cameras.

She relaxed after being told it did not, her friend said, but grew increasingly worried about her spouse learning about the relationship.

'She was like, "Adrian's going to find out. It's not good,"' the source said.

Aviles's husband discovered the alleged affair in July 2025 and sent a group text to multiple Gonzales staffers to tell them he knew, Aviles's friend claimed.

Adrian Aviles did not respond to Daily Mail's request for comment.

Regina referenced her alleged relationship with her boss while texting with a co-worker about issues inside their workplace.

Aviles referenced her alleged affair with her then-boss Congressman Tony Gonzales in a text message to a friend who shared this text conversation with the Daily Mail. In a gray text bubble, Aviles was allegedly comforting a friend over problems at work. She allegedly typed, 'I had [an] affair with our boss and I'm fine. You will be fine.'

Insiders shared a photo of the Concan, Texas cabin where two trysts between Congressman Tony Gonzales and Regina Aviles allegedly happened in May 2024

Gonzales and Aviles are pictured with Elon Musk in Texas in September 2023. Their alleged affair began the year before, it is claimed

Her friend was telling her about problems he had been having, prompting Aviles to reply: 'I swear to God you will be fine. I had [an] affair with our boss and I'm fine. You will be fine.'

Gonzales dodged a Daily Mail reporter when approached with the new allegations at an event in Texas on Friday. A spokeswoman for the Congressman did not respond to a request for comment.

After Aviles's husband found out about her infidelity and moved out of the family home with their son, she fell into a deep depression, her friend said.

Gonzales also spurned her affections after the romance became known, it is alleged.

'I remember she would try to text (Gonzales) all the time. He'd never respond. I'd tell her, "Don't text him, you don't need to do that," but she was still obsessed with him. He did a number on her,' he said.

Aviles tried to take her own life a month before her death, her friend said.

'I don't know how far she attempted to go, but I know Adrian called (911) for a reason. He thought she was really going to hurt herself, and I saw how bad she had gotten. I knew she had attempted suicide and was going to do something stupid,' he disclosed.

Tragically, she succeeded in taking her own life in September 2025 after dousing herself in gasoline in the backyard of her home and setting herself alight.

Aviles was found engulfed in flames at her Uvalde home (above) on September 13. Investigators determined she was home alone at the time

Aviles is pictured in a professional headshot. Gonzales was first elected to Congress in 2021 and hopes to be re-elected in 2026

Aviles's death was ruled a suicide, with an autopsy revealing she was drunk at the time of her death.

Aviles's friend claims he's speaking out now because he wants voters to have all the information about the lawmaker ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

'Tony after what he did, does not deserve to be a public servant. He doesn't,' the former staffer said.

'The right thing is always the truth, no matter, how ugly it is, and I think that his office has hurt a lot of people. It took her life.'

Gonzales faces a tough primary challenge against YouTuber and gun enthusiast Brandon Herrera for the March 3 election.

Early voting for the Republican primary in Texas begins February 17.

For help and support contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988
A battle between Kim Jong Un's sister and daughter to rule North Korea could see a member of the family being executed, experts believe.

Last week, South Korea's spy agency told the country's parliament that it believes Kim Ju Ae, Kim Jong Un's young teenage daughter, is close to being designated as the country's future leader as he moves to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation.

But those plans could be thwarted by his ambitious sister Kim Yo Jong, who is believed to be planning to seize control for herself should the dictator die or become incapacitated.

The 38-year-old, who helps lead the propaganda department of the country's ruling party, is well-respected within political and military ranks and is widely seen as the most powerful person in North Korea after her brother.

She was also rumoured to have taken on decision-making for Kim Jong Un while he was ill in 2020.

Her years of experience and stockpile of political capital within North Korea meant that, for a long time, she was considered the de facto successor to Kim Jong Un.

But with Ju Ae making more and more appearances in public, as her father did in the run-up to being named Kim Jong Il's successor, it has been speculated that she may soon be named heir.

However, as a young girl, Kim Ju Ae has none of the experience to be a proper leader, experts say. And with her aunt's aggressive tendencies, having once lashed out with personal attacks against former US president Joe Biden in 2013, a power struggle between the two Kims may be brutal.

Fyodor Tertitskiy, a Russian and South Korean historian who lectures at Korea University, told the Daily Mail that in the event of an uncertain line of succession - for instance, if Kim Jong Un were to die before he formally named an heir - the consequences would be bloody.

He said: 'The losing side could be purged with extreme prejudice, which will be mean labour camps, which will mean executions, potentially even public executions or punishments for relatives.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his sister Kim Yo Jong seen attending a meeting on April 27, 2018

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae, seen attending a ceremony on April 26, 2025,

'North Korea is a very, very cruel and very, very brutal place.'

Other experts made similar suggestions.

Dr. Edward Howell, a North Korea expert who lectures at the University of Oxford, told the Daily Mail: 'We cannot rule out the prospect of a power struggle between aunt and niece, not least because there is precedent for this.

'One of the things we've learned from North Korean history is that no one, even if you are tied to the precious Kim dynasty, is safe.'

He pointed to several instances of ruling members of the Kim family executing close relatives upon taking power.

Just two years after Kim took power in 2011, he had his uncle and mentor, Jang Song Thaek, arrested over allegations of having committed 'anti-party, counter-revolutionary factional acts'.

The charges included illicit affairs with women, harbouring 'politically-motivated ambition', weakening 'the party's guidance over judicial, prosecution and people's security bodies' and obstructing 'the nation's economic affairs'.

He was later executed by firing squad in 2013.

Intelligence services say it looks increasingly likely Kim Jong Un intends to pass the baton of power to his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, believed to be 13

Kim Jong Un's ambitious sister Kim Yo Jong is said to be planning to seize control for herself should the dictator die or become incapacitated

Meanwhile, Jong Un's older half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, fell out of favour with the dictator and was subsequently assassinated by having VX nerve agent smeared onto his face in Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017.

It is widely believed he died on the orders of the North Korean government.

Since the founding of North Korea in 1948, its leaders have come from the Kim dynasty in what is understood to be either an absolute monarch or a hereditary dictatorship.

Kim Jong Un himself was only named successor two years before he was made Supreme Leader, giving him little time to prepare for the role.

This perhaps explains why he has begun floating the idea of Kim Ju Ae as his successor at such a tender age.

If she were to reach an age where she is embedded within the country's government, learning the tricks of the dictatorial trade, then she may gain enough experience and political capital within the state to mount a serious push for leader without being anointed.

In that case, a power struggle may be all-consuming within North Korea, experts said.

Sanghun Seok, a former South Korean diplomat and now a Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI, told the Daily Mail, told the Daily Mail: 'A consistent pattern has been that internal power struggles, when they occur, tend to end with one side decisively purging the other.

Kim Jong Un and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, were seen greeting bereaved family members on February 15 2026

'If a contest were to unfold, it would likely revolve around control of the military, the security services and the party's organisational and propaganda organs, while outward signs of instability would be minimised.

'In a system where political authority is closely tied to regime survival, both figures could be perceived as potential threats to one another. In such contexts, succession is not simply about prestige but about security and survival.

'This creates structural incentives for key actors to secure control rather than rely on mutual accommodation.'

Howell said: 'We cannot rule out a power struggle between Kim Ju Ae and Kim Yo Jong not least if the latter becomes more embedded within the North Korean political establishment (or rises to positions of greater prominence).

'The fact that Kim Jong Un has, in the past, assassinated relatives deemed to be threatening to his grip on power does not rule out the possibility of it happening in the future, with other North Korean leaders.'

South Korea's spy agency said last week that its analysts will be keeping a close eye on whether Ju Ae appears with her father before thousands of delegates at the upcoming Workers' Party Congress, as that will indicate his intentions for succession.

She first appeared in public at a long-range missile test in November 2022 and has since accompanied her father to an increasing number of events, including weapons tests, military parades and factory openings.

She travelled with him to Beijing last September for Jong Un's first summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in six years on the sidelines of a Second World War event.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (centre L) and his daughter Ju Ae (centre R) inspecting a training of the Korean People's Army in 2024

Speculation about her political future intensified last month when she joined her parents on a New Year's Day visit to Pyongyang's Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a sacred family mausoleum displaying the embalmed bodies of her late grandfather and great-grandfather, the country's first- and second-generation leaders.

South Korean officials initially expressed doubt that she could be chosen as a North Korean leader, citing the country's deeply conservative culture and tradition of male-dominated leadership.

In 2023, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers that Kim Jong Un and his wife also likely have an older son and a younger third child whose gender is unknown.

But her increasingly prominent appearances in state media have prompted a reassessment.

In its previous assessment of Ju Ae's status in September, the NIS told lawmakers that Jong Un's decision to bring her along on his trip to China was likely part of an effort to build a 'narrative' to pave the way for her succession.

'In the past, (NIS) described Kim Ju Ae as being in the midst of 'successor training.' What was notable today is that they used the term 'successor-designate stage,' a shift that's quite significant,' said lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun, who attended the briefing.

According to Lee, the agency cited her growing presence at high-profile military events, her inclusion in the family visit to Kumsusan, and signs that Jong Un was beginning to seek her input on certain policy matters.

Yo Jong, 38, is well-respected within political and military ranks and is widely seen as the most powerful person in North Korea after Jong Un

Kim Jong Un still hasn't formally chosen a successor, and as a result all eyes will be on the upcoming Workers' Party congress in late February, last held in 2016 and 2021, which could provide a stage for Jong Un to formalise his succession plans.

Dr. Howell told the Mail: 'This is why the next few weeks are particularly important. We have the the Ninth Party Congress, and this is particularly important not only because it's a prime occasion for the North Korean leader to outline Pyongyang's strategy, Pyongyang's foreign policy, Pyongyang's war strategy, Pyongyang's policy towards South Korea.

'If we see any displays of Kim Ju ae with her father on the fringes of this Congress, or if there's any announcement pertaining to Kim Ju Ae, then this will be an important thing to watch.'
A chase with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) turned fatal when a suspect crashed his vehicle into a beloved Georgia teacher.

Dr Linda Davis, 52, was driving near the Truman Parkway in Savannah around 7.45am on Monday when a suspected undocumented immigrant smashed into her car.

Federal officials were after Oscar Vasquez Lopez, who police said refused to pull over during a traffic stop, WRDW reported.

According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the 38-year-old from Guatemala 'fled the scene, making a reckless U-turn and running a red light, colliding into a civilian vehicle.'

Chatham County Police told the Daily Mail that Davis was taken to the hospital with fatal injuries and pronounced dead.

She was a special education teacher at Herman W. Hesse K-8 School, which was located just a few feet from the crash site.

'Dr Linda Davis was a beloved member of our school family and her loss has affected us deeply,' read a statement from the school.

Vasquez Lopez was arrested and charged with first-degree vehicular manslaughter and booked into Chatham County Detention Center.

Dr Linda Davis died on Monday after the subject of an ICE chase crashed into her vehicle

Oscar Vasquez Lopez, 38, is originally from Guatemala. Officials said he refused to stop for ICE agents

Local police said they were unaware of ICE's presence in the area and were not involved in the chase

He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Additional charges included reckless driving, driving without a valid license and failure to obey a traffic control device.

Vasquez Lopez allegedly immigrated to the United States on an unknown date and was issued a final order of removal in 2024.

Hesse School Principal Alonna McMullen told WJCL that Davis was 'an exceptional educator' who was dedicated to her students.

'She believed wholeheartedly in her students' abilities and worked tirelessly to support their success,' McMullen said.

'She dedicated her career to ensuring that every child felt supported, valued, and capable of success. Her kindness, patience, and enthusiasm created a nurturing environment for her students and inspired those around her.

'She was a source of encouragement and positivity among her peers. Her contributions to the students and staff will not be forgotten.'

Administrators provided parents and students with resources, counseling and guidance to deal with the sudden loss.

Davis was a beloved special education teacher at Hess K-8 School in Savannah

Vasquez Lopez was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Davis was taken to the hospital, where she was declared dead

Chairman of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, Chester Ellis, told WTOC-TV that Davis's death was 'more than likely preventable.'

'We have a no-chase policy, and the no-chase policy is to protect our citizens more than it is anything else,' he said.

While county officials must comply with the policy, ICE does not.

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin blamed the media and left-wing politicians for Davis's death.

'This vehicular homicide is an absolute tragedy and deadly consequence of politicians and the media constantly demonizing ICE officers and encouraging those here illegally to resist arrest - a felony,' she said.

'These dangerous tactics are putting people's lives at risk. Fleeing from and resisting federal law enforcement is not only a crime but extraordinarily dangerous and puts oneself, our officers and innocent civilians at risk. Now, an innocent bystander has lost their life.'

Police told the Daily Mail that a second bystander vehicle was involved in the crash but the driver was not injured. The investigation is ongoing.

The Daily Mail contacted the Department of Homeland Security and Hesse School for comment.
A Virginia congressman who voted to extend a major Trump tax break could personally save up to an eyewatering $60,000 a year - thanks to his eight-bedroom beach rental, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Rob Wittman, who has led Virginia's first district since 2007 and amassed an estimated net worth of $5.5million, supported Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' last year.

He owns a $1.5 million, 3,656 sq ft beach house on the North Carolina Outer Banks, 150 miles from his Virginia district, which he rents out generating between $100,000 and a million dollars in income annually, according to his 2024 financial disclosures.

Trump's 2025 bill permanently extended a tax deduction for business owners - including landlords - allowing them to deduct up to 20% of their income before taxes are calculated, according to an analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP).

ITEP found Wittman's pass-through business income was between $53,000 and $508,000 based on his 2024 financial disclosures, with a total income of between $305,000 and $883,000.

The specific amounts are unknown, because lawmakers only have to give ranges for their income and assets.

But by voting through the Big Beautiful Bill, Wittman will save himself between $19,900 and $59,300 in taxes over a year, ITEP estimated.

Middle income earners will average tax breaks of between $40 and $50 from the bill.

Rob Wittman, of Virginia, voted for Trump's 'Big Beautiful' tax measure last year, that could help the congressman save up to $59,000 in taxes

His eight-bedroom beach house in Nags Head, North Carolina, is valued at roughly $1.3 million and generates rental income, according to financial disclosures

Eli Cousin, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, lashed out at Wittman over the report's findings, claiming the congressman had 'become just another creature of the D.C. swamp.'

'After nearly two decades in Washington, Wittman is now a multi-millionaire who bought a triple-decker Outer Banks beach house with a pool and hot tub,' Cousin told the Daily Mail.

'While Wittman gets richer, Virginians pay more on everything from groceries to housing to health care.'

Wittman had originally opposed the version of Trump's bill that passed the US Senate in July, signing a letter against it alongside Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans - but later changed his mind.

His estimated tax savings were the highest of all lawmakers who voted for the bill, according to ITEP's analysis.

'Many lawmakers who were vocal supporters of this bill will see direct personal benefits while most of their constituents benefit little or will be worse off,' the October 9 ITEP report said.

Michigan congressman Bill Huizenga is set to save between $15,000 and $50,000 according to the ITEP report; Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke $16,000 to $51,000; Mike Carey from Ohio $15,200 to $50,500; and Ken Calvert from California between $31,000 and $35,000.

'Trump overhauled the tax code twice and Rep. Wittman, who supported him both times, has disclosed that he has the kind of business income that could be eligible for one of the biggest tax breaks in those laws,' Steve Wamhoff, ITEP's federal policy director, told the Daily Mail.

Meanwhile, the median US household saw a break of about $40 to $50

Trump's Big Beautiful Bill permanently extended a 20% deduction for pass-through business income - which largely benefits the rich

'The information lawmakers are required to disclose do not tell us all we need to know to calculate exactly how they are affected by tax laws, but no one should be surprised if Rep. Wittman is personally benefiting from the tax laws he is voting for.'

The Yale Budget Lab projected that extending the pass-through loophole will give the top 0.1% of earners a $107,000 tax cut.

Wittman bought his Nags Head, North Carolina beach house for $967,500 in 2018. It is now worth an estimated $1.3million according to Zillow.

The 8-bed, 8.5-bath property has a fenced-off outdoor pool, rooftop jacuzzi, and a volleyball court behind the home.

Similar homes on the street are listed on vacation rental sites for around $1,500 per night in May.

Thanks to the luxury property, the Virginia congressman now pays more property tax in North Carolina than he does in his own state.

Wittman has amassed an estimated net worth of $5.58 million during his time in Congress, which more than tripled from an estimated $1.6 million in 2013, according to financial research firm Quiver Quantitative.

Quiver analyzed Wittman's Wall Street disclosures and found he traded $2.56 million in stocks between 2015 and 2023.

Wittman's beach house is located on the affluent North Carolina Outer Banks, 150 miles from his Virginia district

His most active year in the analysis was 2023, in which he bought $178,000 and sold $338,000 worth of stock, for a total volume of $515,000.

'He's used his perch to slash his own taxes and trade millions of dollars worth of stocks,' said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Cousin.

'At least he'll have more time to spend at his beachfront mansion when voters retire him in November.'

Wittman's seat will be hotly contested in the upcoming 2026 election, with the Cook Partisan Voter Index placing it as 3 percentage points more Republican than the national average.

The Democratic primary currently has nine contenders, according to Virginia Public Media.

Following publication yesterday, a spokesperson for Wittman called the Democrats statement an attack and a fabrication that is 'meant to distract from the real issue: Virginia Democrats want to raise taxes on Thursday.

'From his time as a short-order cook to working in a tomato cannery, Rob Wittman understands the value of hard work, the spokesperson said.

'He voted to stop a massive tax hike and deliver meaningful relief and affordability to Virginia families, seniors, and small businesses. Meanwhile, Democrats in Richmond are advancing partisan redistricting efforts and proposing more than 50 new tax hikes and fee increases.

Wittmans office cited a study by the Tax Foundation that estimated the average Virginian will save a total of $3,554 across all federal taxes, thanks to Trumps bill, while the average American will save a total $2,900 according to the Tax Policy Center.
A nurse who lost $560,000 in the First Guardian Master Fund superannuation scandal now struggles to get out of bed after her dreams of retirement were cruelly dashed.

First Guardian and Shield Master went under in May 2024 owing about $1.2billion, with more than 12,000 investors believed to have been affected.

Investigators allege investors' nest eggs were funnelled into dubious ventures, including $242 million which was sent overseas.

The collapse has devastated everyday Aussies such as Sydney mental health nurse Caroline Grey, 64, and her husband Michael Johnson, 61.

'This was not an everyday scam - it was theft on a massive scale,' the mother-of-three told the Daily Mail this week.

'This is a financial disaster affecting not just one or two people, but up to 12,000 people, Australian citizens, who've paid their taxes, who are just like me and Mick.

'My future's been stolen.

'I'm a normal everyday person. I pay my tax. I have always followed the rules. I care about the community. I work hard to provide for my family and for my own future.'

The collapse of First Guardian Master Fund has devastated everyday Aussies like Sydney mental health nurse Caroline Grey, 64, and her husband Michael Johnson

Six years ago in 2020, Mr Johnson spotted a Facebook ad suggesting he check the value of his superannuation funds.

The couple had a Zoom meeting with the now-collapsed financial advice firm United Global Capital (UGC) which gave them tips to improve their super.

The couple decided to combine their savings into a self-managed super fund totalling $560,000, which they later invested in First Guardian.

'I didn't do anything stupid or wrong and [the ordeal] could happen to anybody,' Ms Grey said, adding she had researched UGC and done her due diligence.

'They had no red flags. I could see nothing on ASIC about them, no complaints. There were plenty of positive reviews about them... and they had been around a long time.'

Mr Johnson added First Guardian did not promise them 'outrageous returns, just a little bit more than the ones we were in'.

However, cracks began to show when UGC went into administration in July 2024. The couple said no flags were raised about First Guardian at the time.

One year after they registered with a new financial adviser, the couple discovered their $560,000 in savings had been frozen by the fund.

Join the debate Should the government compensate victims of massive superannuation fraud like Caroline's?

First Guardian director David Anderson is pictured strolling in a coastal town on Phillip Island in September 2025 while the financial scandal rolled on

The fund was placed into liquidation in March 2025 after the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) obtained a Federal Court order to freeze its assets.

The couple said they first discovered their funds had been frozen in September, finding out about the news themselves and not from their financial adviser.

'It was a terrible shock. I wake up every day thinking, "Am I going to be able to get out of bed today? I've got to go to work." It's hard,' Ms Grey said.

While she had hoped to work part time from 2027 and retire by the age of 70, those plans have been put on hold.

'Our mortgage isn't going to be able to be paid by one wage. So the reality for me is I can't work part-time,' she said.

'We could sell our home and downsize. At the moment, our son is living with us while he's saving, and it leaves us with a lot of things up in the air.

'We are having to rethink what our retirement is going to look like - certainly not like what we worked for over 45 years.'

FTI Consulting, the liquidator of First Guardian and its parent company Falcon Capital, has previously estimated retirement savers are still owed $446 million.

Canberra couple Simon and Annette Luck lost $340,000 to the First Guardian Master Fund

FTI Consulting, the liquidator of First Guardian and its parent company Falcon Capital, has estimated retirement savers are still owed $446million (David Anderson is pictured)

It told creditors last year that the fund had paid $40 million to a Venture Egg entity called Cornerstone Strategic Management, along with Atlas Marketing and Indigo Group, now all in liquidation, between August 2021 and February 2024.

The creditors' report also revealed Falcon Capital director Simon Selimaj had spent $548,000 from other people's retirement savings on a Lamborghini Urus SUV.

The fund also sent $242 million offshore, almost half of the $505 million fund.

Victims were enraged when it was revealed director David Anderson had bought a $9 million mansion on Melbourne's Yarra River in December 2020.

'What I want is justice. I want to be made whole,' Mr Johnson said.

'I want other people affected to be made whole and for the government to make enforcing the financial regulations work.

'I want the government to pay it because I relied on their financial regulation, both the superannuation regulations and the financial regulations.'

Victims were enraged when it was revealed Mr Anderson had bought a $9million mansion on Melbourne's Yarra River in December 2020

Ms Grey said that the couple have resolved never to use the word 'scam' due to the scale of the damage.

'It was a financial fraud that was conducted by professionals who were licensed under ASIC regulations. And it went for years, not just overnight,' she said.

'I want the government to use 'Pay now, recover later'. This is a financial disaster.

'How is this different to someone building a house in a flood zone, and then being impacted by a natural disaster, and the government will step in and help.

'What about us victims? What about the people who have already retired who now have no money?'

Ms Grey urged Australians to check their superannuation fund as soon as possible.

'It is believed that many don't know,' she said.

'The time to lodge complaints is limited especially with [financial advisers who] have had their licences suspended or revoked.

'For example, anyone like us, who were funnelled into First Guardian by UGC only have until the end of March 2026 to lodge a complaint to [the Australian Financial Complaints Authority].
This is the moment a gang tried to smash their way into a jewellers in broad daylight before threatening passers-by as they fled the scene.

The gang struck Alex John Jewellers in Southend, Essex, shortly after 10.15am on Monday.

Footage shows the three men, all dressed in dark clothing, shortly after trying to smash their way into the local family-run jewellers.

The gang were heard shouting 'f***ing move' and 'back off' as they were confronted by two Southend street rangers who had tried to intervene.

After the gang ran to their red Mitsubishi, the vehicle swerved around and started to escape before one of the back seat passengers even shut the car door.

One Mercedes driver appeared to block them from leaving the road, but the gang veered around and escape down Weston Road.

The jewellery store staff were left 'traumatised' by the incident but, fortunately, nothing was stolen and the suspects left empty handed.

Essex Police arrested two men nearly 90 miles away in Bedfordshire.

Footage shows the three men, all dressed in dark clothing, shortly after smashing their way into Alex John Jewellers in Southend, Essex Monday morning

After the gang ran to their red Mitsubishi, the vehicle swerved around and started to escape

Alex Davison, manager of Alex John Jewellers, spoke to the Daily Mail the day after the attack.

He said: 'Yesterday's attack was quite traumatic for the staff.

'They followed their training and did what they were trained to do and everyone was safe - that's the main thing.

'The security systems we got in place held up well against what was a sustained attack. For over a minute, they were attacking the windows.'

Essex Police said two suspects were quickly apprehended following an aggravated burglary.

Officers were alerted to a report of suspects smashing their way into the jewellery shop, which caused substantial damage.

A short time later, a vehicle was stopped in Bedfordshire and two arrests were made.

Two men, one aged in his 30s and the other in his 40s, both from Birmingham, remain in custody.

Detective Inspector Marcus Dodd said: 'I'm aware this is a concerning incident for the public to witness in Southend and it needed a strong policing response.

'Within minutes of the extremely helpful calls and information given by members of the public, we were responding and on the scene.

'Thanks to this work, two suspects are in custody, important evidence has been seized and our investigation is progressing well.'

The force's enquiries are still ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Essex Police.

It is the latest in a number of raid on jewellery stores across the UK as the price of silver in particular has increased in recent months.

Last month, hammer-wielding thugs broke into a family-run jewellers in Richmond, west London and ransacked the window display.

In a separate incident, Sultan Jewellers on Uxbridge Road in Shepherd's Bush, west London was attacked by several men with sledgehammers.
Two migrants were indicted on Monday after they were accused of running over and killing a teenage boy in Georgia more than a month ago.

Marcus Anderson, 14, was riding his e-bike around 7pm in Savannah on December 28 when he was allegedly struck by a white van being driven by 32-year-old Miguel Reyes-Castro. Olvin Ramos-Ramos, 29, was the passenger.

The warrant for the men's arrest stated that a surveillance camera captured the van jolting up and down before Reyes-Castro got out to check on the boy, then got back into the vehicle and fled.

According to the Chatham County Police Department, officers located the van within a few hours while it was at a job site at a home on Tybee Island.

Police said the van was damaged and had been hastily repaired with zip ties and a fresh coat of paint on the bumper. Broken pieces from the van also matched debris found at the scene of the crash, police added.

The vehicle was taken as evidence, and Reyes-Castro and Ramos-Ramos were arrested a day after the hit-and-run. They were originally charged with felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanor obstruction.

The two men were booked into the Chatham County Detention Center and remained there until they were served more serious charges on January 22. They are still being held at the detention center without bond.

They also have ICE detainers, which means the Department of Homeland Security has determined they are potentially dangerous aliens and has requested to take them into custody to likely deport them.

Marcus Anderson, 14, was riding his e-bike when he was allegedly run over and killed by migrants in Savannah, Georgia, in late December

Police believe that Miguel Reyes-Castro, 32, was behind the wheel when Anderson was run over. He has been charged with felony first-degree vehicular homicide, felony hit-and-run and driving without a license

Olvin Ramos-Ramos, 29, was charged with felony party to a crime. He was the registered owner of the van. Both he and Reyes-Castro have had ICE detainers placed on them

The Chatham County Police Department believes that Reyes-Castro was behind the wheel when Anderson was killed, so he was charged with felony first-degree vehicular homicide, felony hit-and-run and driving without a license.

Ramos-Ramos was charged with felony party to a crime. He was the registered owner of the van.

ICE states that its detainers are typically placed on migrants who have been convicted of a serious crime, but they can also be issued before conviction if the agency believes a suspect is a public safety or national security threat.

On a GoFundMe created by Anderson's family to help cover the cost of funeral expenses, the deceased teen was described as a 'sweet, energetic, kind-hearted boy.'

'He was a hard worker, one of the smartest kids youd ever meet, and truly one of the best,' the family added.

'He loved fishing, his 4x4 trucks, and spending time with his friends. His smile, his laughter, and his bright future will never be forgotten.'

Anderson's family described him as a 'sweet, energetic, kind-hearted boy'

Reyes-Castro and Ramos-Ramos have been held at the Catham County Detention Center (pictured) without bond since they were arrested on December 29

In early January, a candlelight vigil was held in Savannah at the spot where Anderson was killed.

At the vigil, one of the teen's cousins told WTOC: 'I just hate that hes gone, but I just know hes in a better place now.'

'He had a really vibrant personality. He was a really smart kid, and we loved him so much, and thats gonna be a big hole, but were grateful we got to spend the time we did with him,' another family member told the outlet.
A Georgia father was in court on Monday for allegedly gifting his 14-year-old son a rifle that was later used in a school shooting.

On the first day of the trial, prosecutors argued that Colin Gray shared responsibility for a mass shooting that his son, Colt Gray, committed at Apalachee High School.

The father allegedly bought his son an AR-15 style rifle for Christmas even after being warned by authorities that the teen may have threatened a mass shooting.

Colt Gray allegedly opened fire in the school in 2024, killing two students: Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Christian Angulo, 14.

Also killed were two teachers: Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. The teenager was also accused of wounding nine others.

The father is facing a total of 29 charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of involuntary manslaughter, 20 counts of cruelty to children and five counts of reckless conduct.

If convicted of all his charges, Colin could be sentenced to a maximum of 180 years in prison.

Colt will be tried as an adult and is facing 55 charges, including four counts of felony murder. His trial date has not yet been scheduled.

The trial of Colin Gray, a Georgia father accused of gifting his son a rifle before a school shooting in 2024, began on Monday. Colin is pictured entering a courtroom at an earlier date

Colin is facing a total of 29 charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of involuntary manslaughter, 20 counts of cruelty to children and five counts of reckless conduct. His mugshot is pictured

Colin's son, Colt Gray, is accused of murdering two teachers and two students, as well as wounding 9 others. He is pictured at a courthouse in December

Colt's alleged victims, Mason Schermerhorn, 14, Christian Angulo, 14, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, are pictured clockwise from top left

In court, prosecutor Brad Smith said: 'This is not a case about holding parents accountable for what their children do, thats not what this case is about.

'This case is about this defendant and his actions. His actions in allowing a child that he has custody over access to a firearm and ammunition after being warned that that child was going to harm others.'

More than a year before the shooting, police had interviewed Colt and Colin about a threat to carry out a school shooting that had been made on a Discord account created with an email associated with the teenager.

The father told investigators that his son had access to firearms in the home, as he was teaching Colt about gun safety and how to hunt, but his access to them was not 'unfettered.'

He said that if his son did make the threat, he would be 'mad as hell' and that 'all the guns will go away.'

Ultimately, investigators closed the case after being unable to substantiate that Colt was connected to the Discord account, and they did not find grounds to seek the needed court order to confiscate the family's guns, according to police reports.

During Christmas after the Grays' encounter with law enforcement, Colin gifted his son an AR-15 style rifle and allowed him to keep it in his room.

Smith, the prosecutor, said that despite Colt's disturbing behavior, which made his parents believe he needed to be institutionalized, they never got the teenager the help he needed and allowed him to keep the rifle.

If convicted of all his charges, Colin could be sentenced to a maximum of 180 years in prison. He is pictured in court on Monday

Colt will be tried as an adult and is facing 55 charges, including four counts of felony murder. His mugshot, when he had different colored hair, is pictured

Prosecutor Brad Smith argued that Colin must be held accountable for giving his son access to a firearm despite warning signs. The prosecutor is pictured in court on Monday

Colin's defense attorney, Brian Hobbs, argued that his client did seek mental health intervention through his son's school and was serious about taking away his son's gun privileges if the online threats truly came from him.

'The evidence will show a teenager who is struggling mentally. A teenager who is deceptive,' Hobbs said in court.

'A teenager who hid his true intentions from everyone - from his family, from his counselor, from his siblings, from DFCS [Georgia Division of Family & Children Services], from law enforcement and most especially from his father.'

During the father's trial on Monday, prosecutors laid out the events on the day of the school shooting, as well as disturbing warning signs displayed by Colt in the months leading up to it.

Prosecutors said that about two and a half years ago, Colt went to school with his AR-15 style rifle concealed by a poster board in his backpack.

His family frequently moved, and by seventh grade, the teen had been enrolled in seven different schools in just four years. He had been attending Apalachee High School for just five days by the time of the shooting.

Suzanne Harris, a computer science teacher at the high school, testified that she had noticed the concealed weapon sticking out of Colt's backpack.

She said that she assumed it was a school project but thought it was odd as he had only been attending for a few days, so she asked him about it.

Prosecutors said that Colin concealed an AR-15 style rifle in his backpack when he went to school on the day of the shooting. Prosecutor Smith is pictured pointing to a photo of the rifle in court on Monday

More than a year before the shooting, Colin told police investigating a school shooting threat that his son had access to firearms because he was teaching him about gun safety and how to hunt. A young Colt is pictured holding a rifle during a deer hunt on his mother's Instagram

Colin's defense attorney, Brian Hobbs, argued that his client tried to help Colt, but he was out of his depth. Hobbs is pictured in court on Monday

'I asked him what his project was about, and he didnt really have much to say about the project, but he did tell me that he would show it to me later if I wanted to see it,' the teacher said in court.

Harris also said that she noticed Colt was struggling to carry the backpack and that he seemed nervous when she asked if he needed help.

Earlier during the class, the teenager had asked Harris if the school had active shooter drills, which she found suspicious and flagged to the school counselor, she added.

The teacher recounted feeling chills run down her spine when she realized that Colt may have had a weapon, and she warned higher-ups of her concerns and told her students not to leave the classroom unless it was an emergency.

'I just felt in every fiber of my being that something was wrong,' Harris said.

During Colt's second period, he asked to go to the counselor's office, but instead went to a bathroom and locked himself in a stall for 26 minutes, prosecutors said.

Around the same time, the teen's mother received texts from her son that alarmed her, so she called the school.

Over the course of an eight and a half minute conversation with the school counselor, the mother only mentioned that Colt had access to firearms at the very end of the call.

Colt's official trial date has not yet been scheduled. He is pictured in court for a hearing on December 9

Colin's defense attorney said that Colt was deceptive and effectively hid his intentions from his father. Colin and Colt are pictured when the alleged school shooter was younger

A vice principal and school resource officers went to Colt's second period class to retrieve him, but they confused him for another student with an extremely similar name. They searched his bag before determining they had the wrong student.

In the meantime, Colt emerged from the bathroom dressed in yellow work clothes and armed with the rifle, according to prosecutors.

He approached his classroom, but the door was locked. A student went to open it but saw the rifle through a window.

Katherine Greer, the teacher in the classroom, testified that she had also seen the gun and immediately pressed a button on her lanyard that sent the school into lockdown and summoned law enforcement.

She recounted telling her students to get into a corner of the room and turning the lights off. She then heard shots ring out from the hallway.

Colt had approached another classroom where the door had been left open and opened fire, prosecutors said.

He was soon confronted by police officers and surrendered.

Prosecutors said that after Colt was arrested, investigators found a 'shrine' on his bedroom wall dedicated to the shooter who killed 17 people in a 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Prosecutors said that after Colt was arrested, investigators found a 'shrine' on his bedroom wall dedicated to the shooter Parkland, Florida, school shooter who killed 17 people. The Grays' home is pictured

Prosecutors said that on the day of the shooting, Colin told police 'I knew it' before they could tell him why they were there when they arrived at his home. The father is pictured in court in December

Colin's defense attorney argued that his client was not willfully ignorant of his son's troubles and tried to help him, but he was out of his depth.

Prosecutors said that on the day of the shooting, Colin knew something was wrong.

They said that he had texted his daughter asking if she had heard from Colt, but she responded that she had not, and wrote back: 'I think were thinking the same thing.'

Colin hurried home to look for the rifle in his son's room, but it was not there.

When police officers arrived at the home, before they could explain why they were there, the father told them: 'I knew it.'
A North Dakota woman who mysteriously disappeared last month is now feared to have been 'heinously murdered' and dismembered by her boyfriend, cops said.

Isadora Wengel, 25, was last seen at a Walmart in Fargo on January 3, with her family members reporting her missing to Fargo police four days later.

Her disappearance set off massive search efforts across the metropolitan region, with officers at one point working 12-hour shifts for 10 days straight as they searched a landfill, Valley News reports.

But last week, authorities announced they had arrested Wengel's boyfriend, 21-year-old Joshua Alexander Hite, in connection with her murder.

'We do not believe that Isadora is alive,' Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said at a news conference. 'We believe that Isadora was heinously murdered.

'And we, meaning the police department collectively, have probable cause to believe that Josh Hite, her boyfriend, is the person who murdered and tampered with evidence related to the disposal of her body,' he continued.

'We believe this to be a heinous and diabolical crime, and we believe there may be some dismemberment involved,' Zibolski said as he urged residents between Fargo and Otter Tail County, Minnesota to remain on the lookout for Wengel's remains.

'Based on the fact that we know the disposal of her body occurred in extremely cold weather with significant snow on the ground, we now found ourselves in the midst of a mid-winter thaw, which may reveal her whereabouts,' the police chief said.

Isadora Wengel, 25, is believed to have been 'heinously murdered' by her boyfriend

Joshua Alexander Hite, 21, is facing charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and providing false information, and is being held on a $5 million bail

'We're committed to justice for the family and accountability for the perpetrator,' he added.

Hite and Wengel had been dating since August, and he told authorities she had been staying with him since New Year's Day, according to court documents obtained by CBS News.

He claimed he and Wengel had an argument on January 4 because he wanted to end their relationship, and said he brought her back to her home the next day.

Hite also allegedly told investigators Wengel left her cellphone in his car, and he went back to her home later that day to return it. He said nobody answered the door and he left the phone on Wengel's deck.

Investigators described Hite in the court documents as 'emotionless' and 'not forthcoming.'

They also detailed how phone data recovered from Wengel's phone showed some unusual Snapchat activity on January 4, with photos of ceilings and walls inside Hite's apartment sent to her mother and another contact, according to Valley News.

Family members later told investigators the photos were 'odd and not common photographs they would receive from Wengel.'

Authorities then searched Hite's apartment, and investigators seized plastic sheeting, a bathroom mat, bloody gauze and saw blade all containing Wengel's DNA.

They also recovered a blue latex glove that investigators said contained 'a mixed DNA profile with majority matching Wengel and a partial sample matching Hite.'

Wengel was last seen at a Walmart in Fargo, North Dakota on January 3 (pictured), with her family members reporting her missing four days later

Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski told the public last week he believes Wengel's remains may have been dismembered

He urged residents between the Fargo metropolitan area and Otter Tail County, Minnesota to remain on the lookout for HDX 27-gallon tough storage tote, where he believes Hite may have disposed of Wengel's body

As the investigation continued, officers also allegedly discovered Hite made some suspicious Google searches on January 4 including: 'home depot Sawzall,' 'junk removal near me,' 'Dumpster' and 'how to register for a legal alias.'

That same day, police said, Hite also ordered a reciprocating saw, plastic sheeting, trash bags and duct tape through DoorDash.

By the time of his arrest, investigators also noticed and photographed recent injuries on Hite's body - including cuts to his hands, wrists, knees, thighs and bruising on his lower back.

The 21 year old is now facing charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and providing false information, and is being held on a $5 million bail.

But Zibolski said his quest for justice is not complete, as the search for Wengel's remains continues.

He told the public last week to be on the lookout for an HDX 27-gallon tough storage tote, where he believes Hite may have disposed of Wengel's body.

'We know that Mr. Hite had received a specific type of black tote,' the police chief said. 'There were actually two of those delivered to his apartment.'

An online fundraiser to help Wengel's mother, Heather, (pictured with Wengel) and her older sister, Callista, has raised over $14,200

One of the totes was recovered in January, but the other is still missing.

In the meantime an online fundraiser to help Wengel's mother, Heather, and sister, Callista, has earned over $14,200.

It explains that the two are not working as they try to do 'everything possible to support the search efforts,' as they also 'start the legal process and start thinking about how best to honor [Wengel's] life and legacy.'

She was described in an online obituary as 'witty, silly, sarcastic, insightful and incredibly empathetic,' as well as 'truly a bright light.'

'She's loved and she will continue to be loved,' her friend MaLeah Jiminez said.
Survivors of the deadly Eaton wildfires have been plagued with tragedy since flames engulfed their community last year, and are now being asked to potentially fork over thousands to reconnect their power lines.

The Eaton wildfires ravaged Southern California at the start of 2025, killing 19 people and destroying thousands of homes across Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre.

Over a year later, many residents are still displaced, and some have been struck with an impossible burden of paying tens of thousands of dollars to reconnect their homes to power lines.

Southern California Edison announced last April that it would rebuild the power grid in affected areas as an underground system rather than traditional above-ground power lines.

However, due to a state policy in place before the wildfires, residents are responsible for paying to connect their electric service to the underground infrastructure.

Some Altadena residents said they were quoted $20,000 to $40,000 to connect to power.

Altadena Town Councilmember Connor Cipolla told the Los Angeles Times that residents were 'angry' about the expensive price tag, adding that the community was 'completely blindsided.'

Cipolla said that the electrical panel on the back of his house is yards away from where he needs to connect to the power line.

The Eaton Wildfire ravaged neighborhoods in Southern California at the start of 2025. The wildfires killed 19 in Altadena and destroyed thousands of homes. Pictured above is a home burning in Altadena on January 8, 2025

Residents of Altadena are now claiming that Southern California Edison is charging up to $40,000 to reconnect their homes to new underground power lines. Pictured here are workers repairing lines on January 14, 2025

SoCal Edison hasn't admitted fault for the fire, but several lawsuits have alleged blame. The company announced underground infrastructure as a prevention measure. Pictured here are electric workers in Altadena in January, 2025

He explained that Edison initially told him to dig up his newly paved driveway. The company eventually agreed to a different location.

Carolyn Hove, another Altadena resident, told the LA Times: 'How much more are we supposed to go through?'

'Its bad enough our community was decimated by a fire Edison started. Were still very traumatized, and then to have this happen.'

The cause of the devastating fire is still under investigation, but two lawsuits filed by the US Department of Justice claim that high-voltage transmission lines operated by SoCal Edison sparked the flames.

Several residents have also filed lawsuits against the electric company and Los Angeles County.

Edison has filed lawsuits against Los Angeles County, six water agencies and the Southern California Gas Agency, alleging that their actions contributed to the scale of the devastation.

The electric company hasn't admitted fault, but launched a payment program last fall for residents who agreed not to sue.

The deadline to apply passed in November. SoCal Edison announced on Friday that they sent more than 500 compensation offers totally $165 million to those impacted by the fire.

President and Chief Executive Officer Pedro Pizarro said last spring that the new infrastructure would cost residents an estimated $8,000 to $10,000. He's pictured above on March 7, 2025

Edison executive Brandon Tolentino said the company was working with residents to rebuild. Altadena Town Councilmember Connor Cipolla said residents were 'angry' about the price tag

Residents who agreed not to sue were awarded compensation to rebuild their homes by SoCal Edison last fall. Pictured above are Altadena residents protesting on February 12, after claims that county officials and power companies could've prevented the fire

Residents who agreed not to sue and received the compensation can use it to rebuild their homes.

The Eaton Fire Survivors Network called SoCal Edison's help a 'failure' and a 'drop in the bucket.'

The advocacy group added that Edison should be required to pay displaced households $200,000 without forcing them to agree not to litigate, Pasadena Now reported.

Edison told local news outlet KTLA in January that safety was the company's top priority, which was the main motivator for rebuilding the power grid underground.

'As a part of Edisons public utility commission-approved tariffs, homeowners do bear that cost to connect electric service from their property line to the undergrounding service,' a spokesperson for the electric company said in a statement.

'At the same time, we are exploring other opportunities, either through state or federal grants or other funding opportunities, and or philanthropic opportunities to offset some of those costs.'

The company's rebuilding plans were announced in a letter from CEO Pedro Pizarro to Governor Gavin Newsom last year.

 Slide me  Residents are still rebuilding their homes a year after the wildfires destroyed their community. Pictured above is the devastation after the wildfire in Altadena

SoCal Edison has said they are working to help residents rebuild, but some have accused the electric company of overcharging them. Pictured above is a home in Altadena burning on January 8, 2025

Pizarro said at the time that the underground infrastructure would cost $8,000 to $10,000 per home. Residents are now claiming the actual cost is significantly higher.

Brandon Tolentino, SoCal's Vice President of Wildfire and Business Resiliency, told the LA Times that the company understands it's a high cost and they're 'looking at different sources' to help residents.

However, Mark Ellis, the former chief economist at Southern California Gas and San Diego Gas & Electric, told the LA Times that, according to his calculations, charging residents for the underground power grid will turn a profit for Edison.

Tolentino said that the primary reason for the underground infrastructure was 'wildfire mitigation,' adding, 'Our focus is supporting the community as they rebuild.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to SoCal Edison for additional comment.
An illegal migrant has been arrested after allegedly attempting to drown a woman on a Florida beach, before saying he felt nothing during the distressing act.

Said Alexander Hernandez-Gonzalez, 26, of Venezuela, grew enraged at an unidentified woman while he was walking along Tiger Shore Beach in Stuart, Florida, late on Thursday evening.

After the attack, he told police he was emotionless about it, stating: 'No, I dont feel nothing.'

The woman was talking to a relative on the phone around 11pm when Hernandez-Gonzalez allegedly approached her from behind, 'struck her, pushed her into the water, and attempted to drown her,' the Martin County Sheriff's Office said.

Sheriff John Budensiek said at a press conference that the migrant, who overstayed his work visa, grabbed the woman by the throat roughly five minutes after initially passing her on the beach.

'She was trying to time her breaths, pick her head up, get a breath, but he continued to fight with her until she went unconscious,' he said of the attempted drowning.

'The next thing she recalled was waking up half in and half out of the water.'

After knocking her unconscious, Hernandez-Gonzalez allegedly threw the woman's phone into the ocean and fled the scene.

Said Alexander Hernandez-Gonzalez, 26, of Venezuela, has been arrested on attempted murder charges after attacking an unidentified woman on Thursday on a Florida beach

The woman had been walking along Tiger Shore Beach, talking to her sister on the phone, when he allegedly attacked her from behind and attempted to drown her

When she gained consciousness, the woman then walked a mile to Stuart Beach, where she found a deputy. Her face and neck were already bruising.

She had gone to the beach to 'clear her head,' police said.

The victim's sister later told deputies that she heard screaming and sounds of a struggle before their phone call was disconnected shortly before 11pm.

Deputies searched the area for two days, but saw no signs of a suspicious man.

They eventually caught Hernandez-Gonzalez after someone called into the Port St. Lucie Police reporting a suicidal man, who claimed he had murdered a woman on the beach.

'He made statements indicating she made him angry, so he attacked her and drowned her,' police said.

'He stopped when he believed she was dead. He then went to his vehicle, smoked marijuana, drank vodka, and left the scene.'

Hernandez-Gonzalez has been charged with attempted murder and he has an immigration detainer on him.

Sheriff John Budensiek said at a press conference that the migrant, who overstayed his work visa, told deputies he felt nothing after the attack

After leaving the woman unconscious in the water, he went to his car, 'smoked marijuana [and] drank vodka' before fleeing the scene, police said

The woman and the migrant had no prior interaction before the attack.

'She did many of the right things - she was on the phone, her husband knew where she was - but you never know who youre dealing with,' Budensiek said.

'This is an extremely alarming case.'
Nigel Farage unveiled Reform's first 'shadow cabinet' as he pitched his party as the opposition to Labour.

Declaring Reform no longer a one-man band, the leader announced that Robert Jenrick would become his chancellor-in-waiting.

He made Richard Tice his deputy as well as the spokesman for business, trade and energy and Zia Yusuf his home affairs representative.

Mr Jenrick's fellow Tory defector Suella Braverman was named education and skills spokesman and handed responsibility for the equalities brief.

Writing for the Daily Mail, he said it was time to boot out Sir Keir Starmer and his 'rag-tag collection of sixth-form common room socialists'.

'For far too long, politics in this country has been defined by short-termism, timidity and a refusal to confront the big questions,' he said.

'Politics used to be about the tough decisions. Nowadays, our complacent political class is more concerned with being liked, obsessed by focus groups and social media 'likes' rather than ordinary voters' concerns.

'The British people deserve something better. They deserve conviction. Above all, they deserve leadership that is unafraid to speak the truth.'

Nigel Farage unveiled the core of a Reform 'shadow cabinet' for the first time, with ex-Tory minister Robert Jenrick handed a key role. Pictured: Zia Yusuf, Jenrick, Richard Tice, Farage and Suella Braverman

The party also named philosopher professor James Orr as its head of policy.

Barely a month after leaving the Conservatives, Mr Jenrick was handed responsibility for the party's approach to the economy.

The former shadow justice secretary thanked Mr Farage for allowing him to 'oppose the wrecking ball that is Rachel Reeves'.

He vowed to 'fix Britain's broken economy', cut the welfare bill and become the 'only party that will be as careful with your money as you are'.

Mr Tice said his new 'super department' would aim to increase growth to four per cent of GDP and reindustrialise Britain.

The MP once tipped as Mr Farage's pick for chancellor said he would use oil and gas production to fix the economy and abandon net zero goals.

He also said the party would create a British wealth fund to support industry, buy British products and build affordable homes.

Mr Yusuf promised to cut migration, stop the boats and return those who are illegally in the country.

Mrs Braverman, former Tory home secretary, said she would scrap the Equality Act and the equalities department if Reform won power.

She also said the party would set a target of 50per cent of young people going into 'trades' rather than to university.

Mr Farage announced the appointments as 'shadow' roles although the terminology is reserved for the official opposition  the Conservatives.

Asked whether his team were happy with his appointments, the leader said he would not 'tolerate dissent'.

'If people mess about, behave badly and are disloyal, they won't be here very long,' he told a Westminster press conference.

It comes after questions about whether the former leader Mr Tice was happy with his new role having previously suggested he would be appointed Reform's chancellor in waiting.

In his piece for the Daily Mail, Mr Farage concluded: 'From now on, I will hear no more about my party being a one man band.

'Because this Shadow Cabinet is more than a list of names. It is a statement of intent.

'The British people are fed up of broken promises. They want a country that works - for those who contribute, who care about their communities and who believe in fairness and freedom.'
Businesses are braced for more pain as the first wave of Angela Rayners workers rights revolution hits them.

Trade unions have far more power as the Employment Rights Act designed by the former Deputy Prime Minister repeals the great majority of Tory-era anti-strike legislation.

Under measures of Labours flagship law that come into force on Wednesday, walkouts will become more common in the public sector as trade unions no longer need 40 per cent of members to support an industrial action in order for a ballot to be valid.

Disputes across the economy will also become more protracted as new strike mandates will now last for a full year rather than just six months.

Shop stewards only have to give 10 days notice of impending industrial action rather than a fortnight, and no longer have to say how many workers will down tools, making it harder for bosses to manage.

Employers have also been warned that if they sack anyone at any point during industrial action it will be deemed automatically unfair, as a 12-week limit has been removed.

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith told the Daily Mail: When employers are already not hiring and young people cant find work, it beggars belief that Labour are so tone deaf as to introduce a new barrage of powers for trade unions which will make unemployment worse. The only thing growing in the economy at the moment is red tape.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner addressed the Night Time Economy Summit in Liverpool last week

Walkouts will become more common now that the Tories' anti-strike law has been repealed

The Institute of Directors Principal Policy Advisor for Employment, Alex Hall-Chen, said: The implementation of the Employment Rights Act represents a significant concern for businesses. In an IoD survey of over 500 business leaders in December 2025, 57 per cent said that significantly scaling back planned employment reforms would boost business confidence.

Employers have had little time to prepare for the policies coming into effect today, given that the transitional guidance was published only last month. Businesses are also accustomed to April and October as commencement dates for employment reforms; implementing reforms in February therefore unhelpfully complicates the landscape for employers.

Federation of Small Businesses Policy Chair Tina McKenzie said: Small firms want to do right by their workers, but the sheer volume of changes coming down the track is overwhelming.

The Employment Rights Act is bringing wave after wave of new obligations landing at different points over the coming months.

With Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) due to rise in April, the government urgently needs to bring in a rebate to help the smallest employers keep on hiring.

The act finally became law before Christmas after ministers were forced to make compromises in order to get it past opposition in the House of Lords.

However its measures are coming into force gradually over the next two years, making it difficult for businesses to keep track.

After the first wave, more measures take effect in April including improved sick pay and the day one right to paternity leave.

Unions will gain more access to workplaces in October while bosses will be forced to take all reasonable steps to prevent their employees from sexual harassment.

A Government spokesman said: 'Our Employment Rights Act will deliver for over 18 million people, putting more money into the pockets of working people rather than being lost through insecure work.

'We are ushering in a new era of partnership that sees employers, unions and Government working together in co-operation.'
A 16-year-old boy fell 50 feet down a shaft on a bridge while apparently filming an urban exploration video for TikTok.

The teenager fell into a three-foot by three-foot buttress while climbing the Queensboro bridge in New York City with friends on Monday, authorities said.

Around ten fire engines and 75 first responders were involved in the ensuing rescue effort, which took around four hours.

New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Deputy Chief Nicholas Corrado said: 'This was a confined-space operation, which is a very difficult, time-consuming, manpower-intensive operation.

'It involves high-angle equipment, ropes, we have to monitor the air, and create high points.'

Firefighters managed to put the injured teenager in a harness and lower him to safety around 9pm before taking him to hospital, where he is in critical but stable condition, according to authorities.

Sources told the New York Post that the boy had been filming a stunt for TikTok, and videos shared on Reddit suggested that he and his friends were filming urban exploration content.

Although he had been climbing with friends, they were not the ones to call police about the fall, according to an unnamed young woman who spoke with ABC7.

A 16-year-old boy was rescued by firefighters after falling 50 feet down a shaft in the Queensboro Bridge in New York City on Monday

The boy, who is now in a critical but stable condition, is thought to have been filming 'urban explorer' content from the bridge, which is one of the most famous routes into Manhattan

The rescue effort involved around fire engines and 75 first responders

The woman told the outlet that she had learned of the accident around 5pm after videos began circulating in WhatsApp group chats. She is the one who alerted authorities, she said.

'I texted them anonymously. I didn't know really what to do either because I wasn't there. But these kids are panicking, and I was like, if there's someone in critical danger, I need to help,' the young woman told ABC7.

She also told the outlet that the teenager's friends had abandoned him and fled after the fall.

After the young woman reported what happened, firefighters spent hours searching the bridge.

A firefighter told ABC7 that he eventually found a shoe and blood at the base of a buttress.

'I just relayed that information to the rest of the members on the scene so we could all get the ball rolling on what we were going to use to retrieve this victim once we laid eyes on him,' Khalid Lee told the outlet.

'He was just mumbling from the severe trauma that he experienced,' the firefighter added.

Between the time that police were informed of the fall and the teenager being rescued, at least four hours had passed, but he was likely in the shaft for even longer because the others he was climbing with did not immediately report what happened.

Join the debate Should teenagers be held accountable for dangerous stunts filmed for social media fame?

The fall was reported around 5pm, and the rescue occurred around 9pm because authorities had to search the bridge one buttress at a time

The group with whom teen was climbing did not immediately report the fall, so he was likely in the shaft for more than four hours

A user in the New York City Reddit community posted a screen recording of the group chats where videos of the accident were shared and discussed, as well as a link to a Google Drive folder with some additional videos and screenshots.

The user identified the teenager's name as Frankie and claimed that he may have been pushed into the shaft by one of the people he was climbing with.

The individual also said that one of the people he was climbing with had taken his phone and thrown it into a sewer. The user added that Frankie was verbally abused by the others after the fall as well.

In one of the videos in the Google Drive folder, the person recording can be heard saying: 'I have his phone. His bag is still in the f***ing bridge.'

Another video shared in the folder shows the group of teenagers climbing through one of the bridge's buttresses, clambering through small openings and going up and down ladders.

At the tail-end of the video, the person recording can be seen making it back down to the bridge's road level.

He then takes out his phone and opens some messages before saying in a panicked voice: 'Bro, Frankie's dead! Frankie is f***ing dead! Oh my God, bro, no, no!'
Days before her 17th birthday, high school senior Isa Brooks lay paralyzed on a bed in the Hamptons, slipping in and out of consciousness, as two of the Alexander brothers and two of their friends allegedly took turns pinning her down and raping her, according to court testimony.

Brooks, appearing in Manhattan federal court under a pseudonym, told jurors in the sex trafficking trial of siblings Tal Alexander, 39, and twins Oren and Alon, 38, that she felt as though she was being 'mauled' by wild animals who were 'trying to take something' from her.

She said she struggled to move, lift her head or even speak as Tal, Alon and two other men allegedly assaulted her on a bed over Memorial Day Weekend 2009.

'I was terrified,' Brooks, now 33, told the court through tears. '[There was] an increasing violence, both in what they were saying and how they were raping me I was just wondering why it felt like they hated me.'

Her testimony capped the third week of the brothers' trial, during which jurors were shown images from Tal's hard drive of graffiti scrawled in eyeliner on a door reading 'Rapists!', which a partygoer said she wrote after witnessing a separate alleged assault.

Prosecutors allege the siblings used their wealth and status to orchestrate a sprawling conspiracy involving dozens of victims who were lured, drugged and violently raped over more than ten years.

The brothers have pleaded not guilty to all charges and deny any wrongdoing.

Before their arrests in December 2024, Miami-born brothers Tal and Oren Alexander were luxury real estate agents who made millions selling some of America's most expensive properties, while Alon worked at a private security firm owned by their wealthy family.

Tal Alexander (front, blue shorts) and identical twins Oren and Alon (back row) are facing federal sex trafficking charges in Manhattan court; they pled not guilty. Pictured is one of the photographs recovered from Tal's hard drive

The court heard from one woman who said she graffitied the doors of a rented Hamptons home after allegedly witnessing two of the brothers rape an intoxicated woman in a hot tub. Images of the graffiti were recovered from a hard drive belonging to Tal

A picture of one of the parties attended by the Alexander brothers at a $13 million rental in the Hamptons' Sag Harbor (above)

In the opening days of their trial, the brothers were accompanied by a visible show of support in the courtroom. Their parents, Shlomi and Orly Alexander, and Alon's fashion model wife, Shani Zigron, sat prominently in the gallery, appearing relaxed and composed as proceedings began, often smiling and muttering amongst themselves.

As the trial has progressed and jurors have heard a succession of graphic and emotionally charged accounts from nine alleged victims, the family's courtroom demeanor has noticeably shifted.

Last week, the Alexanders appeared more serious and tense, frequently passing notes among themselves and shaking their heads as Judge Valerie Caproni sided with prosecutors on a series of evidentiary disputes. At several points, they leaned forward in their seats, closely tracking testimony.

The change in tone was punctuated by one jarring moment when their father appeared to smile during testimony describing sex noises allegedly made by two of the brothers during a violent assault in a hot tub.

The brothers' elder sibling, Niv Alexander, a board member of the Jerusalem Foundation, appeared in court on Wednesday.

Oren's wife, Kamila Hansen, who made two brief appearances during the first and second weeks of the trial, has otherwise been absent.

Adding to the courtroom tension, Caproni dismissed a male juror this week after he said he had already decided on a verdict before the case was over.

It remains unclear which way the unnamed juror was leaning; the jury is now composed of seven women and five men.

Isa Brooks took to the stand on Thursday and painted a harrowing picture that mirrored allegations made by eight other accusers so far, each describing being sexually assaulted behind closed doors by one or more of the brothers, including on a cruise ship and at an Aspen ski resort.

Brooks told jurors she and a school friend skipped their senior prom to go to the Hamptons after being invited by a club promoter they knew, Matt Lipman, who counted the Alexander brothers among his clients.

They were picked up on a party bus with more than a dozen other people in Times Square and taken to a nightclub in East Hampton, where Brooks said she met the brothers for the first time before being driven to a rented mansion.

The following morning, she awoke to find the house noticeably emptier, with several of the other girls she had seen the night before gone.

Niv Alexander, a board member of the Jerusalem Foundation, appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday. Pictured with his wife Cassie Arison in 2023

Alon's former Victoria's Secret model wife Shani Zigron smiles as she arrives at court last week

The brothers' parents Shlomi and Orly Alexander (seen arriving Thursday) smiled and chatted to family and friends in the courtroom Wednesday

Those women hadn't 'made the cut,' Brooks said in court that Lipman told her - which she understood to mean they had been sent away and disinvited from the remainder of the weekend.

The teenage Brooks said she almost felt special to have seemingly been selected above so many others.

Within hours, she said she began to feel 'woozy' and 'limp' after accepting a drink from a friend of the Alexanders while socializing in a hot tub.

According to her testimony, feeling faint, Brooks headed inside toward a bathroom but was followed by Tal, who allegedly took her to a bedroom and began kissing her. Her body felt heavy, her heart fluttered, and she was unable to stand.

'My brother is going to join us now,' Tal allegedly told her.

What followed she can only recall in flashes, Brooks said, as Alon and two other men - including the one who had handed her the drink - entered the room.

She recalled the men allegedly taking turns holding her down and raping her while saying degrading things. She told them to stop but was too weak to fight back or get away.

Eventually, she said she mustered enough strength to kick one of the men, who backed away and left with Alon and another man.

Tal stayed behind and allegedly told her: 'Don't be mad at me.'

The twins are seen in an image shared in court last week. Much of the week's testimony focused on Memorial Day Weekend in the Hamptons in 2009

Identical twins Alon and Oren Alexander are pictured at Sir Ivan's Medieval Madness birthday bash for model Mina Otsuka in 2011

Brooks told the courtroom that, later the same evening, she was walking past a bedroom near the kitchen when she saw a girl, lying down in a green bikini, with a 'bunch of guys on top of her.'

She testified that another woman confronted the group, crying out: 'I work for the UN and I know what you're doing!'

Oren Alexander, who was inside the room, then slammed the door in the woman's face, Brooks said.

On cross-examination, the defense questioned Brooks about photographs showing her celebrating her 17th birthday with friends days later, about why she later stayed overnight at another Hamptons home where Tal was present, and why she didn't contact police or tell her parents at the time.

A crowd of partygoers is seen at the rented Hamptons mansion in one of the recovered photos

'I was scared to rock the boat,' Brooks said, repeatedly noting that she was 16 and still in school. 'I was scared that I would get in trouble.'

In 2020, Brooks said she contacted East Hampton police but hung up after an officer expressed frustration over gaps in her memory. She also left a voicemail with the Manhattan District Attorney's office but did not return a callback.

She reported the alleged assault to the FBI in 2024 after reading about other women coming forward following the brothers' arrests.

'I've been haunted by this for 17 years,' Brooks said. 'I am horrified that there have been others.'

She said she came forward in the hope the brothers would finally face accountability. 'I fear if that doesn't happen, it will continue,' she added.

Oren, Tal and Alon Alexander (left to right) are facing federal sex trafficking charges in Manhattan court

High profile real estate agent brothers Tal Alexander, Alon Alexander and Oren Alexander gesture to their parents in a court sketch

Prosecutors allege the siblings used their wealth and status to orchestrate a sprawling sex trafficking conspiracy. The brothers are seen above with friends aboard a boat

Brooks' testimony followed that of Avishan Bodjnoud, who identified herself as the UN worker who confronted the group that night.

Details between the accounts of Brooks and Bodjnoud differed. Bodjnoud said the alleged rape she said she had witnessed in a bedroom had happened in a hot tub and placed it at a different time that evening than Brooks did.

Bodjnoud told jurors she heard a woman screaming for help as Tal and one of his brothers allegedly raped her.

'She was over and over and over asking them to stop,' said Bodjnoud, an information management executive at the United Nations. 'It seemed like nobody was taking action.'

She testified that the men loudly moaned over the woman's cries. Shlomi Alexander appeared to be smirking as Bodjnoud described the sex noises she heard.

Bodjnoud said she begged others at the party to intervene but was too afraid to call police. Instead, she fled in a taxi, first scrawling messages on the home's door and walls, including 'Rapists!' and 'You need to apologize.'

Photographs of the graffiti, recovered from Tal Alexander's hard drive, were shown to the jury.

'I hoped that someday this could be used as evidence,' Bodjnoud said tearfully.

The images appeared to wipe the smile from Shlomi Alexander's face. Zigron, Orly and other supporters also appeared stone-faced, and Shlomi was later seen angrily speaking with one of his son's defence attorneys during a break.

One of the Hamptons rentals at the center of the case against the brothers is seen in the above photo

Bodjnoud reported her claims to the FBI in 2024, saying she had been 'intimidated' from coming forward earlier because she believed the brothers were 'powerful people.'

Earlier in the week, Maylen Gehret accused Alon of drugging and raping her during a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado, in January 2017.

Gehret testified that Alon and Oren then allegedly took the women back to an empty hotel, where Alon assaulted her in the bathroom.

Judge Caproni later remarked that the jury appeared to be 'hanging on' to Gehret's every word.

Gehret's friend, appearing under the pseudonym Katie Brown, testified she was also sexually assaulted by Alon during the same trip, describing how he exited the bathroom and got into bed with her before putting his hand down her pants. She said she removed his hand and left with Gehret.

Another woman, Lindsey Acree, choked up while testifying about being allegedly raped by Tal Alexander and another man in a Hamptons home in 2011, telling jurors her memory of the attack became like a flipbook with missing pages.

The trial is currently on a 10-day break and will resume on February 24.

Each of the brothers faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
Perhaps the most important five words on Oxfams website are: We make every penny count.

The promise to the public is accompanied by photographs and information explaining how this pledge is being honoured in conflict zones and disaster spots in every corner of the globe: Gaza, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Ukraine... the list of countries receiving humanitarian aid with your money currently stands at more than 70.

Volunteers wearing instantly recognisable green Oxfam T-shirts and vests have become a familiar sight on TV news coverage.

But is Oxfam really making every penny count?

Not according to two explosive documents which call for the removal of the charitys entire board and the opening of a statutory inquiry into the organisation.

One is the 45-page claim for constructive dismissal from former chief executive Dr Halima Begum; the other is the five-page resignation letter of trustee Dr Balwant Singh, both of which have been leaked to the Daily Mail.

The Oxfam board are entirely unfit to govern what should be a national treasure, Dr Begum declared in her claim, which has just been lodged at Reading employment tribunal.

It would be hard to think of a more damaging charge to make against one of the worlds best known charities  from the woman who, until recently, used to run it  and a man who helped oversee it.

An Oxfam camp in Haiti, where a scandal involving earthquake victims, who were sexually exploited by Oxfam aid workers, was covered up and only came to light in 2018

Oxfam is accused of wasting hard-earned public charitable donations on PR advisers and lawyers and of suspected fraud at Oxfams Nairobi-based international secretariat where many such donations end up.

Donations, in other words, from well-meaning people all over Britain may have been squandered.

Both Dr Begum and Dr Singh highlight systemic safeguarding failures as late as 2024 despite a fortune being spent on governance in the wake of the Haiti scandal  when 2010 earthquake victims on the Caribbean island were sexually exploited by Oxfam aid workers  which was covered up and only came to light in 2018.

An Oxfam volunteer was being investigated for raping a seven-year-old in Myanmar last year, Dr Begum reveals, something which has not been made public until now. We have not been able to find out further details about the incident.

The fresh allegations follow weeks of damaging headlines about in-fighting at the charity and persistent criticisms that the noblest of mission statements to alleviate global poverty has been corrupted by woke activism.

The complaints  that Oxfam is effectively betraying the people on whose generosity it depends  comes at a time when an estimated four million fewer people in the country are donating to charity compared to the pre-Covid period.

Squeezed household budgets are one of the main reasons for the drop-off, but damaging revelations in the sector like that of the Captain Tom debacle  his family benefited personally from the foundation set up in his name during Covid  have undoubtedly dented public trust in philanthropic causes.

Oxfams accounts for 2024/25 show a second consecutive annual operating deficit of more than 20million after income dropped by 28.6million.

So the crisis at the organisation, which has a network of more than 500 shops in the UK and employs around 4,000 staff, could not be more unwelcome at the moment.

The departures of Dr Begum and Dr Singh come in the wake of a breakdown in relations between Begum, the now former chief executive, and the outfits chairman Charles Gurassa.

Oxfam former chief executive Dr Halima Begum highlighted systemic safeguarding failures as late as 2024, despite a fortune being spent on governance in the wake of the Haiti scandal

Dr Begum, a former official at the Department for International Development (now the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), stood down in December after nearly two years in the post, amid allegations of bullying staff during a bruising restructuring programme to reduce costs.

The accusations were described as absurd by her allies within the charity. Gurassa, chair of the Guardian Media Group, had resigned the previous month after Dr Begum filed a grievance complaint against him, which a spokesman for him described as completely spurious.

What happened during this bloodletting is symptomatic of the wider culture at Oxfam and illustrates that, contrary to its unofficial motto, it is claimed every penny doesnt count.

One example was the decision to hire Howlett Bowden, a people intelligence company specialising in employees, to examine concerns around Dr Begums leadership.

Some background on Howlett Bowden: in 2021, it was commissioned to conduct a temperature check of Amnesty International at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement and found that the organisations secretariat was a bastion of white privilege.

Many will ask why Oxfam needed to employ such a firm  based in the City of London and charging tens of thousands of pounds  to investigate its CEO.

It was not the only example of what Dr Singh in particular, called the squandering of invaluable resources.

At the same time, strategic communications company The Blakeney Group was engaged to advise on Oxfams media strategy including managing Dr Begums departure after the review identified serious issues in her leadership behaviour.

Oxfam GB contributes millions of pounds to Oxfam international each year  money that is generously donated by the British public, says Dr Begum

Blakeney boasts a track record advising prime ministers, politicians, global media brands and leading businesses with a number of high-profile Labour Party figures on its team.

Again, many will ask why Oxfam needed London PR specialists when the charity has its own internal communications team.

The reason, says Dr Singh, 63  who, for the past 30 years, has led philanthropic, development and humanitarian organisations all over the world, which included holding a senior position at Save The Children  is the charity feared that, if Begum spoke out, a significant proportion of the British public would be likely to support her because he believes she was made a scapegoat for previous board failings.

So there was an attempt to shape the narrative by confirming her departure in a Press statement before she had been officially notified of the detailed findings of the Howlett Bowden review.

It was thought this would be better handled externally, regardless of the cost.

Not for the first time, it leaves Oxfam open to accusations that it is more concerned with reputational risk than doing the right thing and is prepared to spend your money to protect itself.

There is one other thing to mention here. Oxfam has an HR department, yet, in an all too familiar modus operandi, it felt it necessary to recruit independent HR consultant Janet Campbell to examine Dr Begums complaint against Gurassa.

The result of the inquiry (Dr Begum claimed her voice was being continually sidelined by the chairman) is not known, but Gurassa, 70, who was due to remain for another year after his term was extended, decided to stand down during the investigation.

What a costly shambles.

The named companies are only the ones we know about. How many others might there be?

Trustee Dr Balwant Singh says he is 'angry that Oxfam has spent so much time and money on lawyers, PR advisers and external reviews, instead of on Sudan and East Africa which are experiencing the worst hunger crisis in living memory'

I am angry that Oxfam has spent so much time and money on lawyers, PR advisers and external reviews, instead of on Sudan and East Africa which are experiencing the worst hunger crisis in living memory, wrote Dr Singh, a view surely shared by everyone.

There could also be another big bill to come. Dr Begum is now seeking 500,000 for lost earnings, injury to feelings and aggravated and exemplary damages for what she describes as a witch hunt against her.

Oxfam has form, in the eyes of its critics, for wasting money which pre-dates Dr Begums appointment.

In 2023, the charity published a 92-page Inclusive Language Guide describing English as the language of a colonising nation (on the banned list was headquarters, for example, because it implies a power dynamic that prioritises one office over another) and words such as mother and father should also be avoided because they ascribed gendered roles.

The previous year, Oxfam faced a backlash for a video which appeared to depict JK Rowling, who holds strong gender-critical views, as an evil transphobe with demonic red eyes. As one commentator pointed out at the time: What on earth, you might think, has this got to do with those starving in Somalia?

The shortcomings in Oxfam are commonplace in many of the biggest charities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), corporations in all but name, which have become less transparent and consequently less accountable.

Few people outside the voluntary sector will probably be aware that the international secretariat of Oxfam was quietly moved from Oxford, where it was founded in 1942, to Nairobi in Kenya in 2017. It was a controversial move considering Kenya is known for its corruption.

In the year to March 2025, Oxfam GB made nine grants totalling 8.5million  your donations and taxpayer-funded government grants, remember  to the Nairobi office which comes under the jurisdiction of the Kenyan foreign ministry, not the Charity Commission

In the summer of that same year an utterly scathing (Dr Begums words) independent auditors report raised serious red flags (again Dr Begums words) about the Nairobi operation.

A reported 45 per cent of around 600 new employees and volunteers in Britain did not have references and Disclosure and Barring Service checks properly completed

At least seven international managers, she says, were paid salaries which exceeded the highest-paid executives in Oxfam GB. In 2023/24, three of them, for example, earned between 150,000 and 159,000; and they presumably take home even more today. To put this in context, as chief executive Dr Begum was earning 135,799 when she left just before Christmas, a salary which in itself the auditors regarded as an issue.

Oxfam GB contributes millions of pounds to Oxfam international each year  money that is generously donated by the British public, Dr Begum said.

Despite the far lower cost of living in Kenya, those inflated Oxfam International salaries exceeded the renumeration of any single Oxfam GB member.

Finally, Dr Begum and Dr Singh expose possibly the most alarming revelation of all.

The charity has spent millions on governance since senior Oxfam aid workers were discovered in 2018 to have indulged in full-on Caligula orgies  described as young meat barbecues  with earthquake victims in Haiti.

When she joined Oxfam in April 2024, Dr Begum says she inherited a poorly managed organisation and a safeguarding crisis including serious failings around vetting and referencing of staff and volunteers.

Reportedly, around 45 per cent of some 600 new employees and volunteers in Britain alone between 2022 and 2024 did not have references and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks properly completed. A similar story, it is believed, emerged in recruitment processes in many of the countries where Oxfam works.

The Charity Commission could not confirm the above details but said vetting failures had been identified [by Dr Begum].

We issued the trustees with formal regulatory guidance, and made clear our criticism of the charity for these lapses, a commission spokesperson said. We will not hesitate to take further action should wider concerns arise.

Dr Begum makes a further astonishing allegation against Oxfam regarding the previously mentioned allegation that one of the charitys volunteers had raped a seven-year-old girl in Myanmar.

But she was criticised, she says, for working all hours including weekends [rather than delegating] after the deeply traumatising and entirely unforgivable alleged rape.

This is the only reference to this incident. We were unable to find out more information about what happened and Oxfam said it did not comment on individual cases.

An Oxfam spokesman said Dr Begums claims are strongly disputed and that it is disappointing Dr Singh is now publicly questioning a resolution [to remove Dr Begum] made by the board he was a member of.

The charity stressed that most legal work it required in the matter was provided pro bono and has not led to a reduction in the amount of money going on our humanitarian and other international work, which remains at the centre of our mission.

It said in the last financial year, Oxfam GBs contribution to the international secretariat was less than 1 per cent of Oxfam GB income [339.4million in 2024/25] and the vast majority of funds raised by Oxfam affiliates is spent directly on Oxfams programmes.

Oxfam also pointed out that our own internal processes [in an audit instigated by Dr Begum] identified inconsistencies in referencing practices and background checks and is confident no one was recruited that should not have been.

In light of the most recent crisis, however  which has left Oxfam without a chief executive and a chair, and facing a long list of uncomfortable questions  Dr Singh has urged the public not to support the charity.

Instead, he urges, give directly to community organisations which... know how to bring about real and sustainable impact with far fewer resources than are squandered every year by the big NGOs.

Organisations, in other words, that really do make every penny count.
The brother of a surfing legend stabbed to death in Costa Rica believes he was murdered by criminals streaming into his idyllic vacation town.

Kurt Van Dyke, 66, was found dead under his bed with a sheet over his head in his home in the small coastal town of Hone Creek at about 10.50am on Saturday.

His girlfriend Arroyo, 31, was showering when two armed men broke into their beachside apartment and held them at gunpoint, police said.

The burglars killed Van Dyke, before binding Arroyo's hands and feet with zip-ties, viciously beating her, and fleeing in the couple's 2013 Hyundai Elantra.

Van Dyke's body showed signs of asphyxiation and multiple stab wounds, a preliminary examination found. A knife was found beside him.

His heartbroken brother, Peter Van Dyke, played down reports the surfer had 'enemies' who could have murdered him over a personal grudge.

Instead, Peter blamed an influx of crime into the nearby resort town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - and Costa Rica in general - for a robbery-gone-wrong.

'With the cartels and all the drug trafficking and El Salvador cracking down and now Venezuela's leader got ousted, a lot of these countries are cracking down on crime and cartels,' he told the Daily Mail from the family farm in Gilroy, California.

Kurt Van Dyke, 66, was found dead under his bed with a sheet over his head in his home in Costa Rica on Saturday

Van Dyke's family blamed an influx of crime into the nearby resort town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - and Costa Rica in general

'So they're leaving those countries and going to the neighboring countries where they can operate freely.

'The Caribbean side is the corridor for drug running, they've been drug running along there for a long time, but it was never as violent as it is now.'

Peter said he spoke to his brother on the phone at least once a week and his niece and nephews - who all live in Costa Rica - stayed with him when they visited the US and told him of the situation.

'I think it was a robbery because crime is pretty much rampant in a lot of areas of that country right now, especially on the Caribbean side,' he said.

'I have friends that have traveled down and seen my brother in the past couple of years and they say they're never going back.'

Peter said police didn't yet have any suspects and were tight-lipped about the progress of the investigation, but appeared to be keeping an open mind.

'The cops are investigating this, they don't know if it was nefarious or if it was a robbery,' he said.

'I don't really think he had any enemies. I can't imagine that, he never said anything about that.

'We can't see any reason why this happened other than a random act of violence but we don't know yet, we're waiting.'

He said local police seem to be 'interested in this case' and motivated to solve it. 'They appear to be doing a thorough job,' he said.

Van Dyke owned the Hotel Puerto Viejo (pictured) since the 1980s, and was working on a real estate deal in Costa Rica when he died

Puerto Viejo - about 3.5 miles from Van Dyke's home - is a beach town in Costa Rica's Limon province, nestled on the Caribbean coast near the border with Panama

Peter said Van Dyke's children Salvador, 23, Lulu, 21, and Jacob, 7, were in Puerto Viejo dealing with authorities and still 'processing' their father's death.

He said he hadn't spoken with Arroyo as he didn't really know her, but thought they had been together about five years.

Peter said Van Dyke did a lot for the town, where he owned the Hotel Puerto Viejo since the 1980s, and was working on a real estate deal in Costa Rica when he died.

'He was a very benevolent man. He was giving, he helped a lot of people in the town and the whole town where he lived is very upset,' he said.

'Kurt would never hurt anybody, and he was always there when you needed him. Everyone that he met knew this about him.'

The US State Department has a level 2 travel advisory for Costa Rica, urging travelers to exercise increased caution.

'Petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica. Violent crime also affects tourists. This includes armed robbery, homicide, and sexual assault,' the warning read.

'People have reported robberies, including armed robberies, at short-term rental properties. US citizens and other foreigners have reported robberies, break-ins, and extortion at their businesses or homes.'

Tourists echoed many of Peter's concerns about the area as they gave each other safety tips online.

Puerto Viejo - about 3.5 miles from Van Dyke's home - is a beach town in Costa Rica's Limon province, nestled on the Caribbean coast near the border with Panama.

The famous surf spot is popular with backpackers and holidaymakers from the US and beyond, but in recent years developed a seedier reputation.

The Limon province is where 25 percent of homicides occur in Costa Rica.

Tourists echoed many of Van Dyke's family's concerns about the area as they gave each other safety tips online

The famous surf spot is popular with backpackers and holidaymakers from the US and beyond, but in recent years developed a seedier reputation

Travelers warned of recent rapes, robberies, and murders and told unsettling stories of young women being harassed and stalked in the streets.

'Three separate men were following me from different directions and me and my mother literally had to run to our vehicle as they surrounded the car,' one wrote.

'It was extremely scary and luckily I was leaving the next day or I would not have felt comfortable going out on the streets there again.

'I cant help but think maybe how much worse it might've been if I was with my friends and not my mom.'

Another tourist said they traveled all over Costa Rica for months at a time and 'only felt unsafe in Puerto Viejo'.

'My first night in Puerto Viejo my wife and I felt as thought people were following us and watching us. That same night our car was broken into so we were clearly not imagining it. It's sad because it's such a beautiful place,' he wrote.

Similarly, another declared that Puerto Viejo was 'the only place I have ever traveled where I feared for my safety'.

'Also the only place I have ever heard a woman scream bloody murder and screaming for help. So yes be careful,' they wrote.

Some frequent travelers blamed out-of-town workers for the petty crime and harassment, saying locals needed tourists for their livelihoods.

Van Dyke's family said police didn't yet have any suspects and were tight-lipped about the progress of the investigation, but appeared to be keeping an open mind

Van Dyke has owned the Hotel Puerto Viejo for the past four decades since he bought it off the retiring previous proprietor.

The budget hotel, one of the original venues for surfers when it was still relatively unknown has a polarizing reputation among visitors.

'Worst hostel I've ever seen. Room, shower and toilet are dirty,' one review began.

'Very very loud music during the night until 2AM... The shared kitchen is full of insects and flies, probably they rarely clean and change the bin.'

Another complained the kitchen, showers and toilets are were dirty and full of ants..

'Also the rooms are not entirely closed, so when people are drinking outside, you cannot sleep,' they wrote.

A third added: 'The rooms were filthy, big roaches went inside of my bag. Beds were undone, as in someone had slept in them already... insect repellent will not help you here. You wake up with multiple bites.'

One traveler called it 'cheap and pretty sketchy' and complained about prostitutes frequenting the hotel.

Van Dyke was born to a family of influential surfers, and established his own legacy riding the waves in Santa Cruz

'The kitchen is filthy and there are no dishes. None. We shared a spoon and a glass,' they complained.

'There are prostitutes in the rooms, we saw and heard enough of them. There is a constant smell of marijuana in the common areas and lots of strange people floating around.'

The Daily Mail contacted the hotel about the bad reviews.

Van Dyke was born to a family of influential surfers, and established his own legacy riding the waves in Santa Cruz.

His father, Gene, was a pioneer in the surfing community, and his mother, Betty, helped women join the sport in the 1950s and 1960s.

Van Dyke moved to Costa Rica in 1983, choosing to settle down on the Caribbean coast for its famous Salsa Brava waves.

Surfing the powerful hollow swells, Van Dyke became known as 'King' to those in the watersports community.

Friends and admirers of Van Dyke shared their heartbreak at the devastating news of his unexpected death.

'Rest in peace, Kurt Van Dyke,' one friend posted online. 'Today we remember your spirit, your energy, and the light you brought into the lives around you.

Friends and admirers of Van Dyke shared their heartbreak at the devastating news of his unexpected death

'Some people leave footprints - you left waves. May you surf the clouds forever, free and fearless.'

Van Dyke's cousin added: 'Here's a memorial post for Kurt Van Dyke. Most of you know he was my cousin and early years Peter, Kurt and myself were inseparable surfing, school and most of life.

'We were very close. This is in honor of him and condolences, words, talk story I will send to his immediate family and his brothers. From the generations past to present day.'

A third wrote: 'We will miss you, bro. Rest in peace, Kurt. We'll see you on the next ride. My sincere condolences to the Van Dyke family and friends.'

Recently, Van Dyke told a Limon publication that he was gifted his first surfboard when he was seven and described the sport as both euphoric and addictive.

In addition to surfing, his family has operated the Van Dyke Ranch in Gilroy, California, for six decades.
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has declared it's time for the Opposition to step up and deliver Australians a credible alternative government as she returns to the frontbench after being axed over controversial comments about Indian migrants.

Now serving as Shadow Minister for Small Business and Shadow Minister for Skills and Training, Price said her promotion under new leader Angus Taylor marks an end to what she described as a 'weak' and divided period for the Coalition.

The Northern Territory Senator delivered a scathing assessment of the Albanese Government's economic record following her elevation to Shadow Cabinet, describing it as one of 'the worst government in our nation's history'.

'Some 40,000 businesses have collapsed on Anthony Albanese's watch. Last year was the worst on record for business insolvencies,' Price said.

'Labor has put in place some 5,000 new regulations that are like sand in the gears of the economy We need businesses to be freer - liberated from Labor's onerous taxes and the reams of government paperwork that turn ambition into anxiety.'

Speaking to 2GB radio on Tuesday, Price said she was thrilled to return to a 'fighting position' after months on the backbench.

'I'm working with a stellar frontbench team that has the energy, the skills and what it takes to hold this government to account,' she told listeners.

'We are ready to demonstrate that we are the alternative government for this country.'

Jacinta Price (centre) will serve as Shadow Small Business Minister under Angus Taylor (right)

Price's return comes after Ley requested her resignation over remarks she made about Indian migrants and her reluctance to publicly affirm Ley's leadership.

In an ABC interview in September last year, Price claimed the Albanese government was admitting 'large numbers' of Indian migrants to strengthen Labor's electoral position, a statement she later acknowledged was a 'mistake'.

Ley described the comments as 'deeply hurtful' to Indian Australians and that Price had 'failed the test' expected of shadow ministers.

Price later said her remarks were 'clumsy', but stopped short of issuing an apology.

On her return to the frontbench, Price argued her new portfolios directly address the economic challenges faced by small businesses in Australia.

'As a party of small government, our role should be to get out of the lives of Australians, make it easier for them to run a business, reduce regulation and allow people to support themselves, their employees and the wider economy,' she said.

Price referred to her previous Indigenous affairs portfolio, saying economic independence remains crucial, particularly in remote communities.

'There needs to be less dependency. We need to encourage entrepreneurship for individuals of all backgrounds, including Indigenous Australians, who haven't always had that opportunity,' she said.

Price (pictured) rejected rumours she was considering a move from the Liberals to One Nation

Price acknowledged the Coalition was in a 'terrible position' after months of poor polling, with a recent survey putting Angus Taylor's team level with One Nation on 23 per cent.

We haven't been strong enough in holding the government to account,' she said.

'We weren't attacking them at the right moments, even when they were particularly vulnerable.'

She argued voters had not seen the hard-hitting opposition they expect, especially around national security.

'We've experienced the worst terror attack on Australian soil, and yet we still struggled to land a blow. That must change. A strong frontbench that goes hard, stays relentless and stands by its values is how we regain trust,' she said.

Price dismissed rumours she had considered defecting to One Nation after former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's shock move from the Nationals.

'Rumours always swirl around, but I hadn't given that any consideration,' she said, adding One Nation would 'never' be a party of government.

Price slammed the Albanese government, calling it the 'worst government' in our history

Price also addressed a leaked immigration proposal that suggested banning immigrants from 13 'terrorist hotspot' countries, due to be released by former Liberal leader Sussan Ley before she was toppled as leader.

The senator said she was not consulted and only saw details in the newspaper, calling it another example of flawed decision-making under previous leadership.

'But the Coalition now has an opportunity to reset. We can develop strong policy that restores confidence in social cohesion and protects our way of life,' Price said.

'We need immigration settings that reflect the national interest and numbers that our housing, infrastructure and services can actually sustain.'
President Donald Trump has installed his 26-year-old executive assistant as the latest member of the panel meant to oversee his controversial White House ballroom project.

Chamberlain Harris, deputy director of Oval Office operations, will be sworn in at Thursday's meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts  one of two bodies that must approve the scheme.

Harris, the deputy director of Oval Office operations, didn't study art or architecture in college, majoring in political science at the University of Albany, SUNY, with minors in communications and economics, according to a Washington Post report on the pick.

What she lacks in experience, she makes up for in loyalty.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described her to the Daily Mail as 'loyal, trusted and highly respected.' He added: 'She understands the President's vision and appreciation of the arts like very few others, and brings a unique perspective that will serve the Commission well. She will be a tremendous asset.'

Harris's appointment comes after Trump hurriedly named seven members to the commission in January, having fired everyone remaining on the panel the previous October.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is suing Trump, arguing he should have allowed the ballroom project to go through the CFA and the National Capital Planning Commission before demolishing the East Wing in October.

A ruling is expected soon, with the Washington Post reporting that the federal judge keyed in on private donations being used to fund the estimated $400 million project, as a way to bypass Congressional authorization.

Chamberlain Harris (left), a 26-year-old White House executive assistant, has been named by President Donald Trump (right) as a member of the Commission of Fine Arts, one of two oversight groups that will need to approve his grand ballroom

26-year-old Chamberlain Harris will be sworn in at Thursday's Zoom-only CFA meeting. She graduated from college and went directly into the first Trump administration, worked for the President when he was out of office and then returned to the White House last January

Trump had already begun stacking the NCPC with allies ahead of the demolition, naming White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf as chairman.

Scharf has argued the NCPC oversees construction, not demolitions - providing the East Wing's destruction with legal cover.

Alongside Harris, Trump also named the ballroom's original architect, James C. McCrery, to the commission.

McCrery later handed the project to Shalom Baranes Associates, a firm known for large federal builds, though the current designs remain based on his work and he stays close to the president.

Georgia-based architect Rodney Mims Cook Jr. chairs the group and has expressed support for the ballroom.

Other members include Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts and a close ally of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles; conservative writer Roger Kimball; former HUD deputy secretary Pamela Hughes Patenaude; and MAGA-aligned filmmaker and sculptor Matthew Taylor.

Thursday's meeting  Harris's first  will be held over Zoom rather than in person, a decision one source familiar with the CFA's workings suggested was deliberate.

'The meeting is Zoom-only even though chairman Rodney Cook said at the last meeting he wanted the commission to meet in person,' the source told the Daily Mail. 'Of course, this helps avoid trouble from the public and press.'

A picture of Chamberlain Harris (right) alongside President Donald Trump (left) from her Instagram account. Harris was described by White House Communications Director as 'loyal, trusted and highly respected' when asked about her qualifications for the job

The architectural firm Shalom Baranes Associates submitted presentations to both the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission ahead of the groups next meetings that show the massive size of the White House ballroom addition (left)

The White House ballroom juts out onto the South Lawn much further than the demolished East Wing and appears to be about three times the size of the current West Wing. A presentation on the ballroom is expected as part of the CFA's Zoom-only meeting on Thursday

At the first NCPC meeting to discuss the ballroom, protesters from Common Cause gathered outside the group's Washington headquarters. The sole voice of dissent inside came from Phil Mendelson, an NCPC member and chairman of the D.C. City Council.

'I'm concerned about the significant overwhelming of the original historic building,' he said.

Shalom Baranes Associates will present similar ballroom plans at Thursday's CFA meeting and at the NCPC's March 5 gathering. Both show a structure as tall as the White House residence, with a footprint three times larger than the current West Wing.

The source familiar with the CFA doubts the project will face serious resistance from either oversight body.

'They're all loyalists,' the source said. 'They're not going to pick a fight with Trump.'
Dramatic footage has emerged of a second gun attack on the family of shot NRL star Matt Utai, with the homes of his mother and his son's in-laws shot up and firebombed on Wednesday morning.

Just 24 hours after former Canterbury Bulldogs star was gunned down outside his Greenacre home in Western Sydney, the latest video shows gunmen - said to be associated with the Alameddine crime network - taunting the Utai clan again.

They unleashed 14 rounds from an automatic weapon into the walls and windows of a home in St Clair, western Sydney, at about 12.45am on Wednesday.

The gunmen claimed it was the home of the in-laws of Utai's son Iziah, 24, who has been linked to the Coconut Cartel gang which has launched a war on the Alameddines for control of the Sydney drug scene.

In the latest video - apparently shot by the gunmen themselves, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas - one screamed at the home: 'F*** you and the cartel.'

In the second video, the thugs launched an arson attack on the suspected Guildford West home of Iziah Utai's mother and filmed the burning property

A man on video of the attack added: 'Zat ziggy Utai ... f*** him and the Coconut Cartel - this is the start of the destruction brother.'

The suspected getaway car was found burnt out in nearby Freeman Street in Colyton a short time later.

Matt Utai (left) was shot twice outside his Greenacre home on Tuesday morning

A house at St Clair related to Utai's son Iziah, believed to be the intended target of Tuesday's shooting, was sprayed with 14 rounds from an automatic weapon in the early hours of Wednesday morning

In the second attack on the Guildford West house believed to belong to Iziah Utai's mother, the assailants firebomb the property and then film it

In messages sent from 'The One and Only Crime [Alameddines] Family, Forever Strong' about the two attacks, the gang called the new crime group a 'brainless banana cartel'.

A second message branded it a 'joke of a cartel'.

It warned: 'This is just the start of a losing battle for u and anyone that dares to come against us.'

The attacks come one day after Matt Utai, 44, was shot twice on Macquarie Street in Greenacre, in Sydney's south-west.

NSW Police allege an SUV drove past his home shortly before 6am on Tuesday before up to five shots were fired from the vehicle.

Paramedics treated Utai at the scene for injuries to his shoulder and leg before he was rushed under emergency conditions to St George Hospital.

He remains in a serious condition and is currently undergoing surgery.

Texts from the Coconut Cartel had earlier taunted the Alameddines over Tuesday's bungled attack

Police are investigating the connection between the former NRL star's son, Iziah Tafeamalii Utai, 24, and the Coconut Cartel and the Alameddines

The Coconut Cartel on Wednesday taunted the Alamedinnes over the bungled hit in Greenacre

'You are getting desperate, you feel the pressure caving in,' said a message sent by the Cartel to the Alameddines and seen by underworld social media account, SCN WorldStar.

'Took you guys a month to aim at someone innocent who has nothing to do with Coconut Cartel #Feeltheheat.'

The Coconut Cartel were once hired by the Alameddines, but the two camps had a falling out, with the cartel now plotting to take over the Alameddines' kingpin role in Sydney's drug trade.

The now-breakaway gang is believed to be made up of members of Sydney's Islander and Fijian communities.

The Alameddines were previously believed to have used bikie gangs including the Comanchero for protection and muscle to enforce their authority.

But underworld sources say the bikies have all now abandoned the Alameddines, opening the door for the deadly coup by the Coconut Cartel.

The latest drive-by shootings unfolded eight months after Iziah's Merrylands barber shop was firebombed twice by a teenager known to be an associate of the Alameddines.

Iziah, who has served time in prison and been found guilty of firearms, drugs and robbery charges, came to the attention of authorities in 2019.

Police at the scene in Greenacre on Tuesday where ex-NRL star Matt Utai was shot at with at least five rounds, two of them striking the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs winger

Ex-Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs winger Matt Utai is in hospital after being shot at on Tuesday morning, but the intended target is believed to have been his 24-year-old son, Iziah

He was convicted the following year of armed robbery and sentenced to an 18-month Community Corrections Order (CCO) which expired in February 2022.

In 2021, he pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a prohibited drug and received a 12-month CCO expiring in December 2022.

He was found guilty in 2021 on a charge of driving with an illicit drug in his blood, and received a two-year Conditional Release Order (CRO) to expire in May 2023, but recorded no conviction.

He breached his CRO in 2023 when he was charged with six offences, later pleading guilty to charges related to firearms and drug possession.

In 2023, Iziah was sentenced to 18 months' jail with a non-parole period of nine months, meaning he was eligible for parole in October 2023.

An investigation into the circumstances of the latest incidents is underway.

Anyone with information, CCTV, dashcam and/or mobile phone footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Australians have been warned that a rise in antibiotic resistant infections is one of the most urgent health threats facing the country, with 100 people dying every week.

The Australian Centre for Disease Control (ACDC) made the claim on Wednesday, saying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was a serious issue for the country and world.

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines.

This resistance makes infections difficult to treat, and sometimes impossible, leading some experts to label it a 'silent pandemic'.

Data published by the ACDC revealed that critical antibiotic resistance in Australia increased by 25 per cent in 2024.

More than 5,000 deaths were associated with AMR in 2019, which equates to around 100 Australians dying each week.

The estimate comes from combined analysis of the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance Report, MTPConnect and CSIRO.

One Australian suffering from a superbug infection is retired midwife Lyn Barker, who has been fighting Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria for two years.

Australians have been warned that a rise in antibiotic resistant infections is one of the most urgent health threats facing the country, with 100 people dying every week (stock image)

The 68-year-old told The Sydney Morning Herald she had a 'little pin prick of a callus' on her foot but it grew to the size of a child's fist and the pain was intolerable.

'I'm still trying to heal up the wound,' she said.

'It was really difficult, but I saved my foot. They had talked about amputation.'

Ms Barker needed intravenous antibiotics from The Alfred Hospital but struggled with the 'toxic' side effects, including vomiting.

A landmark 2018 reported from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicts global deaths will reach 10million by 2050.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously said it is one of the top ten global public health threats facing humanity.

According to WHO, the ability of bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi to resist medicines threatens to send us back to a time when we were unable to easily treat infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and salmonellosis.

The inability to prevent infections could also seriously compromise surgery and procedures such as chemotherapy.

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines (stock image)

In Australia, there has been a rise in medical staff requesting new antibiotics for patients battling resistant superbugs.

A report published in the National Library of Medicine in February 2025 found unapproved antimicrobials are 'frequently accessed' by clinicians for patients unable to be treated with registered antimicrobials in Australia.

In response to this issue of accessing antibiotics, experts have suggested the federal government could introduce an antimicrobial subscription model.

The idea would see the Commonwealth pay pharmaceutical firms a fixed annual fee to access new antibiotics.

'[A] Netflix-style approach  addresses a market failure,' Dame Professor Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on AMR, told the Herald.

'[Pharmaceutical companies] don't make much of a profit on something that people only take once for a week, once a year, rather than something like a diabetic drug.

'We need big companies manufacturing new antibiotics. If we get this right and other countries join in, then it will reactivate the whole industry in this field.'
Penny-pinching defence chiefs are devising plans to slash the jumping capability of the legendary Parachute Regiment, it was feared last night.

Just days after Downing Street sources suggested an additional 17billion could be spent on national security, the Army's most elite unit could be targeted for cuts.

It comes as the Daily Mail's Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign has called for more support for the Armed Forces.

All three battalions of the Parachute Regiment are trained and equipped to jump into warzones behind enemy lines.

But there were fears that one or two of those battalions may lose their routine parachute jumping capability.

A single Para battalion, either 2 or 3 Para, would continue to train for a mass infantry insertion behind enemy lines, if any plans are approved.

Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty demanded clarity over what the move could mean.

Mr Obese-Jecty, who submitted a parliamentary written question on the issue, told the Daily Mail: 'The Government needs to clarify the future of the Parachute Regiment, rather than bury it in the overdue Defence Investment Plan.'

On Tuesday night, the Ministry of Defence said: 'These claims are incorrect. There are no plans to cut any Parachute Regiment battalion, nor Para pay.'

Penny-pinching defence chiefs are devising plans to slash the jumping capability of the legendary Parachute Regiment, it was feared last night Pictured: Paratroopers from the British, Belgian, Canadian and US military reenact the D-Day landings during the 80th anniversary in 2024

It comes after Keir Starmer was poised to bring forward a huge rise in military spending after crisis meetings with defence chiefs on Monday night

The Daily Mail's Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign has called for more support for the Armed Forces

It comes after Keir Starmer was poised to bring forward a huge rise in military spending after crisis meetings with defence chiefs.

The PM is expected to announce a timetable 'within weeks' for Britain to reach a key milestone years ahead of schedule.

The move to hit 3 per cent of gross domestic product on defence spending would generate an estimated 17billion in additional funding.

But, because that money would need to be found from public spending cuts, taxation or from higher borrowing, the Treasury is understood to be withholding approval.

The move comes almost two years after the Daily Mail launched its Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign which demanded exactly the same increase on exactly the same timetable.

Backed by senior officers, this newspaper called for Britain to commit to spending 3 per cent by the end of this parliament, or by 2029. Currently the percentage is described as 'an ambition' by the end of the next parliament, which could be as far off as 2034.

The timetable to reach 3 per cent by 2029 could be confirmed as part of the Government's economic Spring Statement on March 3.

It also comes a year after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said her party would back Labour in any attempt to reach 3 per cent by 2029.

On Monday night, speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge said: 'This would be very welcome if it is true. But we called for this a year ago.

'Why has the Government waited a year? This exemplifies how the Prime Minister is making everything up as he is going along.'

The present level of expenditure is 2.4 per cent of GDP. Spending for the last financial year was 60.2billion. This is expected to rise to 62.2billion in 2025/26.

Sir Keir's mind was apparently made up after he took a personal interest in the Defence Investment Plan  a blueprint for costed military priorities.

The DIP was supposed to be published in the autumn but was delayed because the figures do not add up after reports of a 28billion shortfall over four years.

It widely agreed that the Services have been 'hollowed out' by decades of underfunding  and this has come as America's defence priorities tilt away from Europe and the threat from Russia grows.

Downing Street sources did not deny the move towards 3 per cent.
The News in Brief Wedesday, February 18, 2026

The State Security Service of Georgia said former Vice Prime Minister Levan Davitashvili was questioned by the Anti-Corruption Agency in connection with a specific criminal case.The agency stated that the questioning focused on gas supplies to Georgia and on the deterioration of conditions for Georgia under an agreement that is currently under investigation. The questioning did not concern gas supplies to the European Union.The State Security Service said Davitashvili made incorrect statements after leaving the agency."There were two essential inaccuracies in the interview given by Levan Davitashvili after leaving the State Security Service," the agency said."Davitashvili was at the Anti-Corruption Agency for questioning relating to a specific criminal case. He was not at a meeting here to discuss issues," it said.The agency added, "The question related to risks during the questioning concerned the gas supply to Georgia and the deterioration of conditions for Georgia under the signed agreement, which is under investigation, and not the gas supply to the European Union."The SSS said it is ready to release the questioning record if further false interpretations appear."If there is any more similar interpretation, false information or speculation regarding this, we are ready to make the interview minutes public, with the consent of the person questioned," it said.Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania did not contact the Tbilisi Municipality to request that the Tbilisi TV Tower be lit for Lithuania's Independence Day.Speaking to journalists, Kaladze said the tower is lit in national colors only after an official request is submitted to Tbilisi City Hall."The lighting of the Tbilisi TV tower happens like this: the embassy of a particular country applies with an official letter and the municipality lights it up in the colors of the flag of their country. We do nothing independently. They have not applied to us, therefore, we did not light it," Kaladze said.Asked whether the absence of senior officials from the Georgian Dream party at an official reception for Lithuania's Independence Day was linked to critical statements, Kaladze rejected that suggestion."We are not making critical statements about them. We defend our country, our constitution and respond to those who treat Georgia unfairly. It is our obligation to defend our country," he said.Kaladze also said he had not been invited to the event. "As for the official reception, I do not know when their Independence Day was. I personally did not receive any invitation and if I had received, I would have gone. What's the problem? There was no political decision," he said.
A retired cop has been labelled a 'thug and a bully' after he assaulted a woman 'the size of a 12-year-old child' during an ugly clash at a petrol station.

Former Victoria Police detective Warren Francis-Pester, 63, pleaded guilty to assault after he attacked a 'barely 50kg' woman at a servo in Frankston South, south-east of Melbourne.

Francis-Pester confronted the woman just before 11.40am on April 27, 2025.

The ugly road rage incident kicked off when she attempted to leave the petrol station but was blocked by Francis-Pester's partner, who had driven their red Holden Commodore in from the opposite direction.

Francis-Pester, a former Mornington Peninsula-based police officer, got out of the car and approached the victim's maroon Mercedes, the Herald Sun reported.

CCTV of the incident, which was played in the Frankston Magistrates' Court, showed Francis-Pester shutting the Mercedes door on the woman as she tried to get out of her car.

He was then seen slamming his body into the much smaller woman several times in an attempt to force her aside so the Commodore could get through.

The rest of the alleged assault takes place off-screen as Francis-Pester, the woman, and her husband squabble on a nearby nature strip.

Former Victoria Police detective Warren Francis-Pester, 63, pleaded guilty to assault

Francis-Pester's partner drove a red Holden Commodore into the petrol station in Melbourne's south-east from the wrong direction, triggering the nasty clash

Francis-Pester, a former Mornington Peninsula-based police officer, exited the Commodore and approached the victim's maroon Mercedes

Police alleged the retired cop twice approached the woman before pushing her driver's side door into her chest as she stood behind it.

The court heard he also repeatedly pushed her with his shoulder and elbow and shoved her husband after he stepped in to protect his wife.

Police alleged in court that the trio had been 'wrestling' and all three fell to the ground as they 'grappled'.

The victim later told police Francis-Pester allegedly punched her in the stomach and grabbed her by the hair.

She told the court the attack had left her feeling 'overwhelmed, on edge and constantly alert to potential danger'.

'I cannot understand why someone would attack me for no reason, a five-foot woman, weighing barely 50kg over something as trivial as a car space,' she said.

The victim also told the court Francis-Pester's attack had flared an existing back problem that had required surgery nine years prior.

The victim also she feared the assault would leave her requiring more spinal surgery.

The court heard Francis-Pester shut the Mercedes door on the victim as she tried to get out

The victim said the incident left her constantly alert to potential dangers

The court heard police took statements from six people including those involved and two bystanders who were also filling up their cars at the time.

But none of the statements were 'accurately depicted on the video footage'.

Francis-Pester was initially charged with recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault, but the prosecution withdrew the first, more serious charge, as it could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

The former cop, who retired in October 2024, pleaded guilty after it was indicated in court he would avoid a conviction, a decision criticised by his victim.

'The government invests millions in [tackling] violence against women, what example are we setting and sending?' she told the court.

'Look at me, I am the size of a 12-year-old child, do I look scary? Violence against women needs to stop.'

Lawyer James Dowsley, for Francis-Pester, said his client, who had served Victoria Police for 39 years, had led a 'blameless life'.

Dowsley accepted his client 'shouldn't have closed the door' on the victim but he acted 'lawfully in self-defence from after that point'.

Francis-Pester was captured repeatedly shoving the woman and her husband in CCTV footage

'It was a two-on-one situation,' Dowsley told the court.

But Magistrate Tony Burns described Francis-Pester's behaviour as 'entitled' and labelled the retired officer a 'thug and a bully' who 'created a problem'.

'It didn't need to happen,' Magistrate Burns said.

'Why didn't she [Francis-Pester's partner} back up in the first place?'

Magistrate Burns acknowledged the impact the incident had on the victim and her family but did not record a conviction on account of Francis-Pester's guilty plea, lack of prior offending and previous good service to the community.

Francis-Pester was convicted and fined $2,500.
A journalist who led a 25-year campaign for justice for Stephen Lawrence defended himself yesterday against 'despicable allegations' that he had spied on the murdered teenager's mother.

Stephen Wright said accusations that he listened to private conversations inside the Lawrence family home via a secret wire feed were 'nonsense' and told the High Court he was 'completely devastated' to learn of the allegations made against him.

Baroness (Doreen) Lawrence, the mother of murdered Stephen, and Prince Harry are among seven public figures who are suing the Daily Mail and The Mail On Sunday over claims the newspapers gathered information about them unlawfully.

Associated Newspapers, which publishes both titles, denies claims its journalists commissioned private detectives to hack voicemails, intercept landlines, use electronic surveillance or 'blag' their private information.

Baroness Lawrence watched from across the courtroom as Mr Wright  the Mail's former crime editor and her long-term ally in her family's campaign for justice  defended himself against her accusations.

He told the court he was proud of the work he had done on the newspaper's decades-long campaign for justice for Stephen, who was murdered by racist thugs in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993.

He said he had worked ethically, using legitimate sources, and denied he had obtained information on the murder investigation by paying corrupt police officers or through using private detectives to intercept phone calls, use electronic surveillance or blag information from the family.

He told the court: 'The most despicable allegations have been made against me for four years.'

Baroness (Doreen) Lawrence outside court earlier this month with her long-time lawyer Imran Khan KC who also gave evidence in the case

Answering questions from David Sherborne, the barrister leading the case for Baroness Lawrence and the other claimants, Mr Wright continued: 'I've worked tirelessly for 25 years to help the Lawrence family get justice for their son.'

Mr Wright, a married father of two who has won multiple awards for his work on crime and policing, accused the legal team working for the claimants of 'lobbing dirt' and said he was effectively being treated as 'guilty until proven innocent'.

He said he feared for his family's safety because the allegations had cast him 'on the side of the racist and corrupt'.

Lawyers for Baroness Lawrence allege Associated's journalists targeted her with hidden electronic surveillance, intercepted her landline, monitored her bank account and paid police officers for confidential information.

During her evidence last month, she said she had built up trust with the Mail and Mr Wright, but now felt she had been lied to and 'used'.

In his written witness statement, given to the court, Mr Wright said he had been 'completely devastated' when he learned of Baroness Lawrence's allegations against him.

He said: 'To this day, I struggle to understand how she could be persuaded to take such a course of action. She was someone for whom I had the utmost respect.'

The Mail led a lengthy campaign to bring Stephen's killers to justice, including a 1997 front page naming the five main suspects as 'murderers' and challenging them to sue the newspaper for libel.

The trial continues.
A suburban doctor who is believed to be coordinating the return of Australian 'ISIS brides' from a Syrian refugee camp is such a close ally of Tony Burke he wears a T-shirt featuring the Home Affairs Minister's name.

Western Sydney GP Dr Jamal Rifi is understood to be on the ground in Syria attempting to assist 34 women and children in exiting the Roj refugee camp in the Middle Eastern country's north-east.

The Australian group - who have been marooned in the camp for almost seven years following the war against ISIS - attempted to leave on Monday, but were turned back amid concerns they didn't have the correct paperwork.

It is understood 11 families have now been issued Australian passports and documents in preparation for travel. The passports are said to be 'single-use-only' documents.

The Albanese government has tried to distance itself from the ISIS brides' impending return, insisting it is not assisting their return to Australian soil, and even temporarily banned one from the country on Wednesday night.

But Dr Rifi's ties to Minister Burke are clear. The Daily Mail can reveal Dr Rifi is such a close supporter of Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke he has been photographed wearing a T-shirt with the slogan 'FRIENDS OF BURKE' printed on the front.

Dr Rifi has known Burke for over 20 years and has in the past praised him for doing a 'great deal' for his electorate of Watson, spearheading the Friends of Burke campaign at the 2025 election.

'I've known the man (Mr Burke) for 20 years, and the community knew of him for 20 years when he was in government and even when he was in opposition,' Dr Rifi told media in 2024.

Dr Jamal Rifi (left) is believed to be coordinating the repatriation of 34 women and children from on the ground in Syria

Dr Rifi is known to have ties to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, and calls himself a friend

'He has always worked for the local constituents, and anyone who says otherwise does not know the man.

'He ... does not work to divide and conquer, unlike some other people in the politics.'

Dr Rifi's work to promote community cohesion has previously been lauded across the political spectrum.

He was named, 'a great Australian' by former prime minister Scott Morrison.

On Wednesday, Burke said that he was unaware of Dr Rifi's movements.

He insisted he had 'no information other than what I've seen in the media about whether Dr Jamal Rifi is in Australia or overseas.

'He has not discussed any plans with me, nor would he have any reason to.'

The government moved on Wednesday evening to ban one ISIS bride from returning to Australia from Syria, after a 'temporary exclusion order' was enforced.

Eleven families, linked to IS members, have reportedly received an Australian passport to fly home

Above, Dr Rifi with former NSW premier Bob Carr and other supporters of Mr Burke

Such an order stops Australian citizens from returning to the country from overseas for up to two years if they are deemed a security risk.

The Opposition has for days been calling for the government to take the step.

'I can confirm that one individual in this cohort has been issued a temporary exclusion order, which was made on advice from security agencies,' Burke said.

'At this stage security agencies have not provided advice that other members of the cohort meet the required legal thresholds for temporary exclusion orders.'

The Albanese Government had confirmed only last week that it would continue to allow the families to return to Australia, but only through their own means.

However the government insisted it would not provide ISIS brides with assistance or conduct repatriation efforts.

Mr Albanese said earlier on Wednesday the government was taking national security advice about the cohort in Syria.

'We will implement the law to its fullest capacity that we can. We want to make sure that Australians are kept safe,' he told reporters in Tasmania.

'These are people who chose to go overseas to align themselves with an ideology which is the caliphate, which is a brutal, reactionary ideology and that seeks to undermine and destroy our way of life.

'We are providing no assistance to these people, and won't provide any assistance to these people, but we won't breach Australian law.'
Footage has emerged showing the terrifying moments before a man was killed and a truck driver was left fighting for life in a horror highway smash.

Police were called to Burpengary in Queensland's Moreton Bay region on Tuesday following reports three vehicles were travelling on the wrong side of the highway.

A white Isuzu truck travelling south in a northbound lane on the Bruce Highway crashed head-on into a Honda Accord, which burst into flames.

The Honda driver, a 26-year-old Redcliffe man, died at the scene.

The truck driver was rushed to hospital with significant head, neck and pelvic injuries, and remains in a life-threatening condition.

Police are investigating reports that the truck was being chased by two 4WDs also travelling on the wrong side of the highway before the collision.

Occupants of a passing southbound car filmed the truck as it travelled at a similar speed to their vehicle.

A woman was heard saying 'that's insane' moments before a loud smash, followed by a burst of flames.

Police are investigating reports that the truck was being chased by two 4WDs also travelling on the wrong side of the highway before the collision

A man is dead and another is fighting for life after a horror collision on the Bruce Highway

Other passing motorists recalled seeing the truck being chased before 'driving straight into oncoming traffic'.

'Nearly had a head-on with the truck driving the wrong way on the highway being chased by two white 4WDs that had worksite strobes on the top of the 4WDs,' one woman wrote online.

Another added: 'The truck had no lights on either. We were driving 110km/h, and we weren't catching up to the truck, so we thought he was going 120km/h.'

A third witness said the confronting crash scene made him 'feel sick to the stomach'.

All northbound lanes of the highway were closed for seven hours as crash investigators examined the crime scene.

Police inquiries are continuing.

Anyone with information or footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers or Policelink.
A mother of three found dead in her home had made a desperate plea to a stalker to leave her alone just months earlier.

Homicide detectives arrested a man after the body of Belinda Nicholls was found at a house on Mountain Highway near Dorset Road in Bayswater, in Melbournes outer east, about 11am on Monday.

The 39-year-old Bayswater man was arrested at a nearby bus stop less than an hour later and is believed to have been known to Ms Nicholls.

He had not been charged on Wednesday as detectives continued their enquiries and a frightening picture of Ms Nicholls' life emerged.

In August 2024, the proud Indigenous mother hit social media to beg a stalker to back off.

'F*** off Stalker, stop being a bulls*** TALKER YA PARROT,' she wrote.

'I'm not a pirate go find another shoulder to land s*** on.'

The message was accompanied by a video of Snow White running in fear underneath the caption: 'When I see my crazy obsessed stalker satan hamster.'

Belinda Nicholls is feared to have been murdered by someone she knew

Belinda Nicholls expressed fear over a stalker

Traces of Ms Nicholls' ordeal were evident across her social media, with a description under her name describing her as 'damaged' and having attended 'University of Real Life Experience'.

Her long-time family friend Margaret Hamilton told The Age those close to her were devastated by her tragic death.

'Belinda was a beautiful soul who adored her three boys,' she said.

'She was a loyal friend and stayed close to all of my family.

'There were many ups and downs for Belinda, but she always hoped for a better life for her and her beautiful boys.'

Ms Nicholls had been passionate about her Indigenous heritage and had a large Aboriginal flag painted on the garage of her home, which was owned by Aboriginal Housing Victoria.

On Monday, police tape was erected around the property as forensic teams searched for evidence.

Ms Hamilton said her friend frequently wore clothing featuring the Aboriginal flag.

An Aboriginal flag had been painted on the garage door of Belinda Nicholls' home

Belinda Nicholls and one of her three children

Neighbours described Ms Nicholls as a kind and caring person who was always there when needed, but would often keep to herself.

One neighbour told reporters police knocked on his door about 1pm on Monday asking if he had heard anything unusual.

He said he recalled hearing a loud noise the night before, followed by silence.

There had previously been heated arguments at the property over the years, including raised voices and doors banging, he said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, with footage or further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Police are investigating after three men were myseriously found shot dead in a forest in Sicily's Nebrodi Mountains.

The bodies were discovered in the island's east, an area long linked to mafia activity, prompting early speculation the killings could be tied to a Cosa Nostra feud.

But when it emerged that all three victims were wild boar hunters with no criminal records, detectives were left searching for answers.

Investigators now believe the men died in a tragic case of mistaken identity.

The group had been searching mist-shrouded woods near the village of Montagnareale for wild boar when Antonio Gatani, 82, reportedly heard a noise or spotted movement in the undergrowth and opened fire, thinking it was an animal.

Instead, he had shot fellow hunter Giuseppe Pino, 44, killing him, and wounding his brother, Devis Pino, 25.

In the chaos that followed, Devis is believed to have turned his gun on Gatani and shot him dead.

Police are investigating after three men were found shot dead in a forest in Sicily's Nebrodi Mountains. Antonio Gatani (pictured) was searching the woods for wild boar near the village of Montagnareale before the tragedy

The bullets hit Giuseppe Pino, 44, (right) killing him outright, and wounded his brother, Devis Pino, 25,(left)

The bodies were discovered in the island's east, an area long linked to mafia activity, prompting early speculation the killings could be tied to a Cosa Nostra feud

A fourth hunter, a 48-year-old identified only as AS and described as a close friend of Gatani, allegedly then shot the wounded Devis before fleeing in panic.

He was arrested several days later.

He is the only survivor of an incident that the Italian press is likening to a Hollywood film.

He has been interviewed by police but has refused to answer their questions, according to local reports.

'We hope that during the next questioning, he will decide to respond to our questions and will provide us with a reconstruction of what happened,' said Angelo Cavallo, the prosecutor investigating the case.

Detectives are also studying the hunters' weapons and the trajectories of the bullets that were fired.

The truth of exactly what happened may lie with a webcam that was attached to the rifle owned by Devis Pino.

It is not clear yet what the device may have recorded.

At dawn on the morning of January 28, when the shootings happened, there was dense mist and faint light.
A small group of Chagossians have travelled by boat to the islands in a final attempt to reclaim their ancestral land before Labour officially surrenders the territory to Mauritius.

The gang of four came ashore on Monday, issuing a clarion call to 322 exiled Chagossians to join them in establishing a permanent settlement on the archipelago.

Misley Mandarin, first minister of the Chagos government in exile and leader of the returning group, said that 'time is critical' for his people, who were evicted from the British colony more than 50 years ago.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last year transferred UK sovereignty over Chagos to China ally Mauritius in what critics dubbed a 'betrayal' of the British people.

Under the terms of his deal, Britain would pay billions of pounds to lease back the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said Chagossians are now 'taking matters into their own hands' as they have 'no desire to see the islands handed over to an ally of China'.

Nigel Farage yesterday said the voyage was 'truly remarkable' and called for Labour to make its 15th U-turn by dropping its Chagos deal altogether. He also praised former Tory MP Adam Holloway, who has since joined Reform UK, for accompanying the Chagossians on their journey.

Last month President Donald Trump tore into the deal warning it was an 'act of great stupidity', an 'act of total weakness' and claimed the site of the Diego Garcia base was being given away 'for no reason whatsoever'.

He later backed the deal saying it was 'the best he [Sir Keir Starmer] could make'.

First Minister Misley Mandarin and his father on the Chagos Islands on Tuesday

A group of Chagos islanders has landed on the archipelago to establish a permanent settlement, more than 50 years after the population was evicted from the British colony

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The UK purchased the Chagos Islands for 3m in 1968 but Mauritius argued it was forced to give it away to gain independence from Britain.

A deal, which could cost the taxpayer up to 30bn, was signed on May 22 last year, despite a last-minute legal challenge by two Chagossians.

Mandarin was raised in Mauritius and left to join the British Army as a cook. He was elected First Minister in an independent poll of Chagossians held in December.

It comes as a close friend of Sir Keir Starmer shared an 8million pot for his work in negotiating the 'surrender' deal.

Michel Mandarin, speaking in creole, told Conservative Post: 'We are British Chagossians. We are from this island. And we are here to stay.

'Mauritius was not easy. There were no jobs.

'We had to sleep on a neighbour's floor because we did not have a house of our own.

'So I say to every Chagossian, return back to your homeland and live the way we used to live before the exile, and work together and make a better future.'

Philippe Sands KC, who describes himself as a 'great friend' of the Prime Minister, pocketed his share of the sum while acting as chief legal counsel to Mauritius between 2010 and 2024.

In that time he secured the controversial deal which will see Britain hand back sovereignty of the strategically important archipelago, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, and lease the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years - at an average cost of 101m a year.

Professor Sands, a leading international human rights lawyer who is also close with Attorney General Lord Hermer, led a series of legal teams who were almost exclusively tasked with fighting for the cession of the island to Mauritius.

Together they were allocated at least 8,300,000 from the Mauritian state budget, official documents show.

While the exact figure Professor Sands took home is unknown, his role as chief counsel will have seen him earn the largest cut, according to one international lawyer, who said a large bonus could also be paid on the deal's completion.

Join the debate Should the UK fight harder to protect the rights and homeland of the exiled Chagossians?

Pressure mounted on Sir Keir Starmer to ditch his 'terrible' plan of surrendering the Chagos Islands amid mounting opposition from his own Labour MPs. Pictured: Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands

Members of the Chagossian community gather in Parliament Square in June 2025 in protest against the UK handover of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Mr Mandarin said that 'time is critical' for his people, who were evicted from the British colony more than 50 years ago

Sir Keir Starmer last year transferred UK sovereignty over Chagos to China ally Mauritius in what critics dubbed a 'betrayal' of the British people

Asked how much he was paid, Sands told a House of Lords Committee he 'did not know' but admitted he was 'remunerated, as I am for almost all my cases. It was not done pro bono'.

It was also revealed that the Prime Minister 'wobbled' over the Chagos deal amid panic over the 35billion price tag and doubts over the legal position.

Private concerns were revealed by former ambassador to Washington Lord Mandelson, who was forced to resign in September over links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In an interview with The Times, Lord Mandelson he 'became aware of a serious wobble in London over the agreement and its sellability to the British public'.

'That was to do with the price tag and whether we had the total legal obligation to enter the deal and whether the original legal case made for the agreement in Whitehall was as watertight as was claimed,' the peer said.

'So on the one hand I faced a sceptical US administration and then at another point a wobbly government of my own behind me.'
Pauline Hanson has ignited fresh controversy after claiming parts of Australia have become places 'people can't go to' without feeling unsafe, singling out a Sydney suburb with one of the largest Muslim populations in the country.

The One Nation leader pointed to Lakemba, in the city's south-west, during an ABC TV interview when discussing areas she believes some Australians feel uncomfortable visiting.

'It concerns me greatly that people can't go into certain suburbs in this country  And I've been there myself and you feel unwanted, you do not want to be there,' she told ABC TV.

Pressed to clarify what she meant, she said, 'Lakemba. Lakemba. Have you been there?'

The remarks come after Senator Hanson said in a separate interview on Monday that there were 'no good Muslims', while also suggesting future generations would suffer if more followers of Islam were allowed into Australia.

When pressed about that comment on Wednesday, the Queensland senator backtracked on her remarks.

'No, I don't genuinely believe that (there are no good Muslims),' she told ABC TV, adding that a non-practising Muslim woman had run for election for One Nation.

'If I've offended anyone out there that doesn't believe in Sharia law or multiple marriages or wants to bring ISIS brides in or people from Gaza who believes in the caliphate... then I apologise to you for my comment.

Pauline Hanson has ignited fresh controversy after claiming parts of Australia have become places 'people can't go to' without feeling unsafe

The One Nation leader pointed to Lakemba in the city's south-west, during an ABC TV interview when discussing areas she believes some Australians feel uncomfortable visiting

'But in general, that's what they want: a world caliphate and I'm not going to apologise.'

Australian National Imams Council president Shadi Alsuleiman strongly rejected the firebrand senator's prior comments, saying they reflected a serious misunderstanding of Islam and the Muslim community.

'For many years, she has made inaccurate and harmful statements based on misinformation rather than genuine engagement,' he said.

'Muslims have contributed positively to the growth and advancement of this nation and continue to do so with pride and commitment.'

Senator Hanson dismissed the criticism from Islamic groups.

'Of course they're going to say that, but I've heard more hateful things coming out of the mouths of imams giving their sermons on the streets of Sydney, and other places in Australia, but nothing's been said about that,' she said.

The Nationals' Matt Canavan said Senator Hanson was not fit to lead her party following her comments on Islamic Australians.

Lakemba is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the country

'This statement from Pauline was divisive, inflammatory,' Canavan told Nine's Today program.

'It's un-Australian, totally un-Australian for someone to say that of those 800,000 Australians who are Muslim, there's no good people among them.'

Senator Hanson used her maiden speech to the Senate in 2016 to claim Australia was being 'swamped by Muslims', a sentiment similar to her 1996 speech to parliament's lower house about Australia 'being swamped by Asians'.

More recently, she drew widespread condemnation when she wore a burqa in the senate.

One Nation has been out-performing the coalition in recent surveys, with the latest Newspoll showing the party gaining a 27 per cent primary vote compared to the opposition's 18 per cent.
A bomb squad was called to a hotel after items were hurled into the building.

ACT Policing raced to the Hyatt Hotel Canberra on Commonwealth Avenue at about 9am on Wednesday after reports of a disturbance.

Officers believe two people threw rocks and a suspicious item at the building, causing minor property damage. No one was injured.

The item was seized by the AFP Bomb Response Team who determined it was not an explosive device.

Witnesses were heard yelling amid confusion inside the hotel, where a defence conference was due to take place, The Canberra Times reported.

ADM Congress, an annual summit, was due to kick off around the same time at the venue.

Significant figures in the sector are due to speak, including Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, and the Australian Army's Head Land Systems Major General Jason Blain.

The opening day of the conference has not been interrupted by the incident.

A rock was thrown through a window of the Hyatt Hotel Canberra on Wednesday morning

A federal bomb response team is investigating the incident (pictured, police at the scene)

A defence conference was due to take place when the object broke the window (above)

Police then searched the hotel about midday and found unattended backpacks in a conference room.

People were removed from the room to another part of the hotel while it was searched and the backpack was assessed.

Half an hour later, the bags were deemed not to be suspicious and the owners were located.

The ACT Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes officers from AFP Counter Terrorism, ACT Policing and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, said it is monitoring the response.
She has emerged as a central figure in the baffling disappearance of Gus Lamont, yet until now almost nothing has been known about his fiercely private grandmother's past.

Josie Murray, 75, has remained largely out of view as the desperate search and subsequent investigation gripped the nation.

There have been no public appeals, no interviews, no social media statements and only a handful of rare sightings beyond the gates of the sprawling farm in South Australia.

But as detectives continue working to unravel what really happened to little Gus, Daily Mail can reveal Josie comes from a lineage once held in the highest regard.

Her mother, Janine, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to the community, while her father, Alexander, was celebrated as a war hero.

Gus vanished while playing on a mound of dirt at his home at Oak Park Station, about 40 kilometres south of Yunta, at around 5pm on September 27.

His family reported him missing later that night.

Despite months of extensive searches involving specialist police, cadaver dogs and drones scouring vast stretches of surrounding scrubland, no trace of the little boy has ever been found.

Four-year-old Gus Lamont has been missing since September

Josie Murray's father, Alexander, was celebrated as a decorated war hero

Records show Josie's father Alexander married Janine Heath in 1948 at St John's Church in Toorak, Victoria, with their South Australian guest list printed in the local paper

Gus' parents Jessica and Joshua are not suspects in his disappearance

Earlier this month, police confirmed a major crime investigation is now underway, stressing that Gus's parents, Joshua and Jessica, are not suspects in their son's disappearance.

However, detectives revealed there is a person of interest who lives at the property and that timelines and details from the original evidence have shown inconsistencies.

Police also confirmed they searched the homestead and seized a number of items for further investigation, including a vehicle, a motorbike and electronic devices.

This week, Josie was arrested and charged with an unrelated weapons offence and is due to appear in Peterborough Magistrates Court on May 6.

The seemingly stoic occupant of Oak Park Station inherited the sprawling farmstead through her marriage to Shannon, the next in line of the Pfeiffer family.

Josie was living as Robert Murray - she is biological male who later transitioned to female - when she first met Shannon.

Josie grew up in Mt Crawford, a small town in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, and attended Birdwood Primary School alongside her sister.

Her late father, Alexander, was an army sergeant listed on the WWII honours roll. Originally from England, Alexander moved to Mount Bryan as a child, enlisted in 1941 aged 23 and served in the 2/27 Infantry Battalion.

This week, Josie Murray (pictured) was arrested and charged with an unrelated weapons offence and is due to appear in Peterborough Magistrates Court on May 6

Shannon Murray (pictured) is still living with Josie Murray, but it's unclear if their marriage is intact

Records show he married Janine Heath in 1948 at St John's Church in Toorak, Victoria, with their South Australian guest list printed in the local paper.

Alexander and Janine were married for 52 years before he died in 2000 aged 78.

Three years later, Janine was awarded the Order of Australia for her service to the community, particularly through the Gumeracha District Soldiers Memorial Hospital Day Centre.

Shortly after, she moved interstate to Orbost in Victoria to be closer to her daughter.

While Josie's hometown and Oak Park Station where Shannon grew up sit around 340 kilometres apart, the pair shared mutual connections through farming circles and eventually crossed paths.

They later married and had one daughter, Jessica.

Josie and her young family moved between various sheep stations, working her way up to management before she and Shannon relocated to Oak Park to help run the family sheep farming business.

It is believed Josie transitioned shortly after Shannon's father passed away, and by 2015 the name on the property deeds had been changed to hers.

It is unclear whether Josie and Shannon's marriage remained intact following the transition, though they continue to live together.

Since police publicly declared Gus's disappearance a major crime investigation, both Josie and Shannon have engaged separate legal representation.
An outback Aussie town is now subject to strict drinking rules in a desperate bid to crackdown on alcohol-fuelled violence and crime.

The Northern Territory Liquor Commission has imposed new limits on mid-week drinking at more than 20 pubs and bars in Alice Springs, which came into effect on Wednesday.

Impacted venues can now only serve full-strength alcohol between 11.30am and 3.00pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays - and only when accompanied by a 'full meal'.

The controversial move is part of ongoing efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm in central Australia.

It comes in addition to existing limits on takeaway alcohol sales, which can only be purchased five days a week between Wednesday and Sunday.

It comes less than two years after local youths were subjected to a 20-day night-time curfew in the wake of a spate of violent incidents in the town.

The liquor commission also recommended that a number of popular venues, including Todd Tavern, The Rock Bar, Bojangles, and Uncles Tavern introduce on-site ID systems to prevent those with banning orders from being served.

The new rules have divided the outback town, which is home to a population of almost 35,000 and attracted at least 792,000 visitors in 2024.

More than 20 licenced venues in Alice Springs can now only serve full-strength alcohol between 11.30am and 3.00pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays - and only when accompanied by a 'full meal'

Bojangles Saloon & Restaurant was one of many businesses that opposed the new rule

Hospitality NT slammed the 'unprecedented restrictions', which will involve a major retraining of staff.

'It is one thing to vary the conditions for one licence,' chief executive Cathy Simmonds told the ABC.

'It is really unprecedented for the commission to add conditions to 20 venues in one go. The inconsistency of the rules day-to-day means more staff training.'

NT Police cautiously welcomed the restrictions.

'Our submission explored different risk controls to reduce alcohol-related harm in Alice Springs,' Southern Commander James Gray-Spence said.

'Other businesses had observed an increase in incidents between Wednesday and Friday, and our observations confirm that trend.'

Submissions during the recent consultation period were 'sharply divided', according to the commissioner Russell Goldflam.

'The commission is acutely aware that the underlying causes of the problems it has identified are beyond its power to address. All the commission can do is vary licence conditions,' his decision states.

The NT Liquor Commissioner recommended additional rules on venues such as Todd Tavern

Community submissions during the recent consultation period were 'sharply divided'

Licensed venues expressed concerns about the impact on trading.

'In Central Australia we already have the strictest liquor licence laws in the whole of Australia,' NT Rock Bar director Jo George wrote.

'We are still faced with the same problems that we had when I first arrived here in 1992.'

'I am frustrated that we must continually go through this kind of debate.

All I want to do is run my business. If I didnt have to continually think of ways to combat attacks from Government departments, my life would be so much better, and I could go about trying to help Alice Springs get back on its feet again by doing something positive.'

But many locals and community organisations backed the move.

'These proposals are simple and targeted to minimise the problem using existing technology and research, while also minimising the inconvenience to the general public,' a long-time resident wrote in her submission.

'I think the variations proposed are an effective way of supporting that population by providing guardrails around alcohol consumption.'
Jacinta Allan has snapped after a reporter attempted to link her government's Big Build infrastructure program with the corruption scandal engulfing the CFMEU.

The Victorian Premier cut the journalist off before they could finish the question asked during a tense press conference on Wednesday.

'Given the Big Build's role in corrupting the CFMEU, do you regret' Australian Financial Review political reporter Sumeyya Ilanby said, before Allan abruptly cut in with a rapid-fire response.

'No, no, no, no, no, no, no, it is not,' she interrupted, overruling the question before it could be completed.

Allan demanded the reporter rephrase their question, warning she would not 'stand here and take questions on integrity' unless they were based on evidence.

'I would ask that you provide your questions in accordance with evidence and fact, not speculation that does nothing to support the work of the independent administrator,' she reprimanded.

The clash comes as pressure mounts over explosive revelations of criminal infiltration inside the CFMEU and its alleged impact on major public works.

Anti-corruption barrister Geoffrey Watson SC released findings estimating that CFMEU misconduct had inflated the cost of Victoria's Big Build projects by roughly 15 per cent, about $15billion of taxpayer money.

Jacinta Allan (pictured) snapped back at a reporter while being asked about the CFMEU

The Watson Review estimates that $15billion of public money was misused by the CFMEU

Watson's 18-month investigation detailed alleged unlawful conduct on publicly funded worksites, including extortion, violence, drug dealing, bribery, and strippers being brought onto sites controlled by the union.

Parts of Watson's report claimed the Victorian government 'knew but did nothing' as behaviour escalated, allegedly fearing industrial unrest if it intervened.

The CFMEU was placed into administration after the federal government intervened in mid2024, citing widespread criminal infiltration, unlawful conduct and systemic governance failures within the union's construction division.

The union is currently being run by Administrator Mark Irving, installed by the Albanese government to clean up the union's operations.

Allan has strongly denied accusations that her government allowed misconduct to flourish, arguing the claims were not properly tested and insisting she acted immediately once credible evidence emerged in mid-2024.

She reiterated her government holds 'zero tolerance' for behaviour described in the report and said she had referred all allegations to the appropriate authorities.

Her referral to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) in 2024 went nowhere, however, because the watchdog does not have jurisdiction to investigate contractors or third parties such as union officials or bikies.

Allan rejected accusations that she framed the referral so it would fail, though former IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich said she should have known about the limitations.

Jess Wilson (pictured) called the saga 'the largest corruption scandal in [Victorian] history'

Respected Australian Financial Review political journalist Sumeyya Ilanby asked the premier about CFMEU corruption said to have cost taxpayers billions

The Opposition has seized on the scandal, with Liberal Leader Jess Wilson accusing Allan of orchestrating a 'cover-up'.

'The Liberals and Nationals will continue to pursue every opportunity to ensure that we get to the bottom of the largest corruption scandal in this state's history,' she said.

Adding to the pressure, Victoria's three key integrity agencies - the Ombudsman, IBAC, and the Auditor-General - publicly released a joint paper calling for a complete overhaul of how their budgets are set.

Under current arrangements, the government determines their funding without consultation with parliamentary oversight committees.

Ombudsman Marlo Baragwanath described the process as 'opaque and shrouded in secrecy', while IBAC Commissioner Victoria Elliott noted, 'even the perception of corruption can undermine public trust'.

Auditor-General Andrew Greaves said the proposed reforms would move Victoria towards genuine budget independence.
A pensioner was forced to sell his houseboat in Queensland for $2 after mooring rules on the Noosa River were tightened by the state government.

David Blundell, 76, bought the vessel 'Sunsets and Dreams' in late 2024 and funnelled $160,000 into making it an idyll for his retirement.

But he is now one of 25 houseboat owners who have had to give up his dream of retiring on the water due to rule changes.

From January 1, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) said anchoring vessels over 5m in length would be limited to 28 days per financial year on the Noosa River.

The regulation also applies to adjoining waters: Noosa Sound, Lake Cooroibah, Lake Cootharabah, Lake Doonella, Lake Weyba, the Everglades, and connected creeks.

'I just think it's terrible,' Mr Blundell told nine.com.au.

'I had to be off the river by 4pm on February 1. So at that stage, there was no point in [keeping it].

'You don't just totally pull the rug out from the people who live quite peacefully and rightly on the river.

Pensioner David Blundell said he sold his houseboat on the Noosa River due to a rule change

He sold the vessel 'Sunsets and Dreams' for $2 to a local couple

'Losing my houseboat has been pretty traumatic and I was hoping I could enjoy life on the river like the other very decent people there.'

Mr Blundell said the fee to remove his boat and float it on a river without MSQ limits was too costly - and defying the rules would have seen a fine of up to $33,380.

Instead, he put his beloved 'Sunsets and Dreams' up for sale online with an asking price of $1.

A local couple paid double that, at $2.

'[The MSQ change] is going to totally change the character of the river,' he said.

Another houseboat owner, Sally Hayes, said the MSQ rule change leaves boats 'worthless'.

'It makes them a liability more than an asset,' she told Nine News.

'So many people are losing their entire retirement savings.'

From January 1, Maritime Safety Queensland said anchoring vessels over 5m in length would be limited to 28 days per financial year on the Noosa River

A spokesperson for Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads said its management plan for Noosa River had undergone 'extensive consultation'.

'Maritime Safety Queensland has been rolling out the plan in stages from September 2023, with each stage announced well ahead of time,' they said.

'The final Stage of the Noosa River Plan, which introduced new 28day anchoring limits for vessels over 5m in length across the Noosa River and adjoining waters, became effective 1 January 2026.

'TMR encourages anyone experiencing genuine hardship to contact Maritime Safety Queensland to discuss options for meeting the new requirements.'

It is understood that, of the 120 vessels still anchored in the River, MSQ has estimated the number of full-time live-aboard vessels still in the river to be around 20.

There are another nine believed to be used for weekend or part-time accommodation.

According to the regulations, boats that are attached to private jetties do not count as anchored or unmoored, which means they are not impacted by the rules.
Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, has earned a nickname from his Russian and Iranian counterparts across the negotiating table.

In Moscow it's 'Zyat'; in Tehran, 'Damad'. Both mean the same thing: son-in-law.

In political cultures where bloodlines and patronage still command deep respect, the label hints at how Kushner's proximity to Trump is seen as his true credential.

He and Steve Witkoff, renowned for Trump's Gaza peace deal, are now locked in intense negotiations, seeking to end Iran's nuclear ambitions and halt Russia's rapacious landgrabs in Ukraine.

Unlike their predecessors in past American administrations, the New York real-estate tycoons don't lecture their counterparts about human rights.

They are regarded as pragmatists willing to get down to brass tacks - fast.

The pair hurtled through indirect talks with the Iranians at Oman's embassy in Geneva on Tuesday morning before meeting the Russians that afternoon at the Intercontinental Hotel in the Swiss city.

Kushner in particular, the softly-spoken husband of Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka, has drawn admiration from the regime-controlled Iranian press, which has dubbed him 'The Prince of the White House.'

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are seen leaving Carbone Beach on May 2, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) welcomes US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff (center) and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner to the Kremlin in Moscow on January 22

Influential Iranian political analyst Ahmad Zeidabadi managed to lavish praise on Kushner while still finding room for bigotry.

'Kushner is an Orthodox Jew whose brain works well,' he wrote in a February 6 op-ed.

'He is not representing Netanyahu in these negotiations, but rather the pragmatic and softer side of Trump himself.'

Kushner earned his stripes brokering the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states during Trump's first term, cementing his reputation as an honest broker across the Islamic world.

But the 45-year-old has come under scrutiny over his business interests in the region.

Unlike Witkoff, who was sworn in as a Special Envoy to the Middle East, Kushner has no official government role, referred to simply as a senior adviser to the president.

He continues to oversee Affinity Partners, a private equity firm backed by $2 billion from the Saudi Public Investment Fund and hundreds of millions more from the UAE and Qatar.

Speculation has also mounted over Kushner's 'Gaza Riviera' vision - a proposal to redevelop the devastated coastal strip into high-end real estate.

A Ukrainian tank crew of the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a round from a Leopard 2A4 tank during a field training exercise at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on April 30, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Donald Trump greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago club on December 28, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida

Witkoff's son runs World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture that recently secured a $500 million investment from a group linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the UAE's National Security Advisor.

The 68-year-old is highly rated inside the Kremlin for his charm and enthusiasm, a source told the New York Times.

The Russians, who at first dealt with Witkoff alone, have also warmed to Kushner, whose more methodical approach they appreciate.

Kushner last year explained their style in an interview after the 20-point Gaza deal between Israel and Hamas was completed.

'A lot of the people who do this are history professors, because they have a lot of experience, or diplomats. It's just different being deal guys - just a different sport,' he said.

The pair even sat down with Vladimir Putin himself, who state media reported 'warmly welcomed' them for talks at the Kremlin in January.

But the breakneck speed of their recent negotiations has concerned experts.

'Trump seems more focused on quantity over quality instead of the difficult detailed work of diplomacy,' said Brett Bruen, who was a foreign policy adviser in the Obama administration and now heads the Global Situation Room strategic consultancy.

Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi meets with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner ahead of the indirect U.S.-Iran talks, in Geneva, Switzerland, February 17

US delegation leaves the Oman ambassador residency where the indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran are taking place in Geneva on February 17

'Tackling both issues at the same time in the same place doesn't make a lot of sense,' Bruen told Reuters.

Absent from the talks is Secretary of State Marco Rubio, widely regarded for his grasp of international affairs and fresh from a well-received speech at last week's Munich Security Conference.

The push is a grueling double-pronged effort.

Moscow is demanding that Kyiv cede the Donbas and commit to a permanent ban on NATO membership, while the Americans are pushing for an 800-mile frontline freeze and US-backed security guarantees.

On the Iranian front, a dela remains elusive.

The US has sought to expand talks to non-nuclear issues, including Iran's missile stockpile. Iran says it will discuss only curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, and flatly refuses to address its missiles.
A pivotal member of a tracking team that combed through remote scrubland for missing boy Gus Lamont has revealed for the first time that police are now acting on his intelligence as the search intensifies.

Jason O'Connell, from Mid North Wildlife Rescue South Australia, volunteered his services within hours of Gus vanishing from his family's farm, drawing on decades of his SES training and specialist tracking skills to assist Major Crimes detectives.

The veteran searcher said there are 'two locations off property' that had raised concerns with his team based on what they saw, heard or were told by family.

He did not go into specifics about what was of interest at the two sites or whether any items had been found, but said one, a conservation park, was now a focus for police based on his tip, and that his team could not go there until cops had 'done their work'.

Mr O'Connell and his partner Jen Balchin previously spent about 100 hours scouring the isolated property, travelling more than 1,200km across rough terrain and often searching alone through the night.

Gus was last seen playing on a mound of dirt at his home at Oak Park Station, about 40 kilometres south of Yunta in SA's mid-north, about 5pm on September 27, and his family reported him missing that night.

Despite months of extensive searches involving special forces, cadaver dogs and drones sweeping vast stretches of surrounding scrubland, no trace of the boy has been found.

This month police declared his disappearance a major crime investigation. This week a fresh search was carried out on an adjacent farm also owned by the family and the boy's grandmother Josie Murray, a transgender woman, was arrested for an unconnected weapons charge.

Mr O'Connell has detailed the gruelling effort he and partner Jen Balchin undertook, spending around 100 hours scouring the isolated property

Gus has been missing since September

Grandmother Josie Murray was arrested this week on an unconnected weapons charge

The experienced tracker claims that area was one of two identified with the help of his small but dedicated team and they had been preparing to search it themselves last week.

'We were due to go and search the conservation park last Thursday, with a group of private volunteers,' Mr O'Connell said.

'But after our initial talk with Major Crimes, they have decided to look at one place, so we will hold off till they do what they need too.

'We are only wanting to find Gus. This is not about trying to find him first, or getting in police's way, and we will help whenever or however we can.'

Mr O'Connell said he had initially offered to assist investigators because of his extensive background in emergency services.

'After Gus went missing, I offered my services to the police due to my training. I have been in the SES in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, since before I was 16,' he said.

'I received a call back from police, asking when I could be out to the station and within 20 minutes, we were in the car heading out there.

'Apart from a few hours on two nights, we were the only people searching at night, and unlike other searchers, police gave us run of the property, in that we could search wherever we felt necessary.

Police have revealed parents Jessica and Joshua are helping with their investigation and that neither is a suspect in the boys disappearance

A freshly cemented outhouse (left) was included in a search on the farm this week that also employed cadaver dogs (right)

Experienced tracker Mr O'Connell initially offered to assist investigators because of his extensive background in emergency services

The Outback sheep station (pictured) is about 40km south of the town of Yunta

'We searched out to past the property perimeter, and around and through every paddock on the property.'

He claims they uncovered 'several items of interest' and identified dams and water tanks police had not initially been told about, prompting divers to return to the property multiple times.

A second volunteer, Mark Aldridge, has echoed Mr O'Connell's determination to see Gus found, while also voicing frustration over their search of the conservation park being cancelled at the last minute.

'A private team was supposed to be in the area to investigate information provided by people in the know, my part of the team were packed and ready to leave at 6am,' he said.

'Information available since the first days of the search gets written off as nonsense, but when an independent team get together, all of a sudden access roads are blocked off by property owners, and police say they are going to helicopter in with dogs.'

Mr Aldrich hinted at a grim outcome for the pre-schooler and frayed relationships with authorities, but maintains anyone involved in the disappearance should be held accountable.

'I simply can't say much at the moment, because nothing I have to say is polite and we have never had an intention to get in the way,' he said.

'My concerns and those working with me are all about the child.

Volunteer Mr Aldrich hinted at a grim outcome for the pre-schooler

Volunteers claim roads were blocked leaving police no choice but to chopper in

'Sadly when private investigators get together over the past decades to assist in cases where children are victims, far too often we are seen as a problem to those who ought to work with us.

'In the case of Gus, if police are now acting on our intel, I call that a win.

'The whole story is horrible, if what we believe is all true. I pray he is found, and anyone linked to his disappearance are held to account.'

On Wednesday police revealed a second family member of missing boy Gus Lamont was no longer cooperating with authorities.

While Gus's parents continue to assist police, two relatives previously involved in the inquiry are no longer cooperating, South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens confirmed.

'I think the head of Major Crime made that pretty clear at his recent press conference that two family members have withdrawn their cooperation, but we are still getting significant assistance from Gus's mum and dad,' he said.

Previously, police had said only one relative had withdrawn their support.

It was not clear whether Commissioner Stevens misspoke.

Detectives confirmed they will continue working on the case for the foreseeable future

Authorities conducted a two-day search this week at the remote station where Gus vanished in September (pictured in October)

Commissioner Stevens also said that detectives will continue working on the case 'for the foreseeable future' following a renewed search of neighbouring properties this week.

Asked whether arrests were likely soon, Commissioner Stevens said: 'As with any major crime investigation, we don't rest until we have a resolution.

'Given the complexities, it is fair to assume we'll be working on Gus's disappearance for some time yet.'

He added that a wider search area would be cast for the missing boy.
An ISIS bride has been stopped from returning to Australia from Syria after being slapped with a temporary ban.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revealed on Wednesday a 'temporary exclusion order' had been enforced.

'I can confirm that one individual in this cohort has been issued a temporary exclusion order, which was made on advice from security agencies,' he said.

'At this stage security agencies have not provided advice that other members of the cohort meet the required legal thresholds for temporary exclusion orders.'

It's believed the women and children formerly linked to ISIS are being supported by prominent Sydney doctor Jamal Rifi, a personal friend of Burke.

Burke claimed he had not spoken with Dr Rifi about the issue.

'I have no information other than what I've seen in the media about whether Dr Jamal Rifi is in Australia or overseas,' the minister said.

'He has not discussed any plans with me, nor would he have any reason to.'

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke (above) revealed on Wednesday a 'temporary exclusion order' had been enforced

The women and children (some above), formerly associated with ISIS, were issued temproary Australian passports

The refusal follows news a convoy of ISIS brides is set to fly home to Australia within days after Syrian authorities received 'valid documents and passports', despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledging they received no support.

The group of 34 women and children were expected to travel from the Al Roj internment camp in Syria's northeast, where they have lived for almost seven years, to the country's capital, Damascus.

Once there they could plan their onward travel to Australia.

They attempted to leave the camp on Monday but were turned around on the highway by authorities and forced to return, amid concerns the group didn't have the correct permissions between the factions governing the region.

The detention camp's director, Hakamia Ibrahim, has now confirmed all 11 families were issued Australian passports.

'We photographed the families' passports and made copies. I personally saw the passports and obtained copies of them  this is a security measure,' Ms Ibrahim told the Sydney Morning Herald.

It's believed the passports were 'singleuse only'.

Many condemned their return as a danger to national security, forcing Albanese to come out and declare the brides could face 'the full force' of the law when they landed in Australia.

The convoy of ISIS brides (above) attempted to fly home to Australia just days after Syrian authorities received 'valid documents and passports'

'We have no sympathy, frankly, for people who travelled overseas in order to participate in what was an attempt to establish a caliphate to undermine, destroy our way of life,' Albanese told the ABC.

'And so, as my mother would say, 'you make your bed, you lie in it'. It's unfortunate that children are impacted by this as well, but we are not providing any support.'

Possible charges include travelling to an area controlled by terrorists and being a member of a terrorist group, offences punishable with 10year jail terms.

The government is said to be considering issuing temporary orders to prevent some of the women from entering the country.
A Sydney man who tried to post native lizards, dragons and other reptiles out of Australia in bags of popcorn and biscuit tins has been sentenced to eight years in jail.

The eight-year term handed down on Friday was a record for wildlife smuggling, federal environment officials said on Tuesday.

A district court in Sydney gave the man, 61-year-old Neil Simpson, a non-parole period of five years and four months.

Investigators recovered 101 Australian reptiles from seized parcels destined for Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Romania, the officials said in a statement.

Australian wildlife is extremely sought after overseas with reptiles fetching high prices.

The animals were posted in 15 packages between 2018 and 2023.

Those animals included shingleback lizards, western blue-tongue lizards, centralian blue-tongue lizards, bearded dragons, southern Pygmy spiny-tailed skinks, eastern Pilbara spiny-tailed skinks, desert skinks, narrow-banded sand swimmers, and major skinks.

'Lizards, skinks and dragons were secured in calico bags. These bags were concealed in bags of popcorn, biscuit tins and a women's handbag and placed inside cardboard boxes,' the statement said.

Neil Simpson, 61, was sentenced to eight years behind bars after attempting to smuggle Australian reptiles in popcorn bags (above) and biscuit tins

Among the lizards were several native skinks (one above)

Lizards were found hidden amongst bags of Woolworths-branded popcorn and Christmas-themed tins of biscuits (above)

Photos of recovered boxes showed tiny lizards hidden amongst bags of Woolworths-branded popcorn and Christmas-themed tins of biscuits.

Several reptiles were stuffed into small bags.

The smuggler had attempted to get others to post the animals on his behalf but was identified by government investigators and the New South Wales police, it added.

Three other people were convicted for taking part in the crime.

The New South Wales government's environment department states that 'the illegal wildlife trade is not a victimless crime'.

It described it as harming conservation and stripping the state 'and Australia of its unique biodiversity'.

'Our native reptiles are not commodities to be trafficked for profit. They belong in the wild, not in overseas black markets,' it said.

A spokesperson for the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said the harsh sentence should serve as a warning to smugglers, 'if you do the crime, you will do the time'.

Authorities hoped the harsh sentenced would deter other smugglers (pictured is a few of the tins used to smuggle the lizards)

Authorities recovered 101 reptiles (two above) from the parcels

'The illegal international trade in Australia's precious wildlife is cruel and has a devastating impact on our biodiversity,' they said.

'The heartless criminals who attempt to exploit the popularity of our native wildlife in overseas markets for quick profits should take note.

'We're working closely with our partners to stop parcels at the border using advanced scanning technologies that detect animals through any concealment method.

'If you attempt to illegally export our native wildlife, your parcel will be intercepted, and our investigators will track you down.'

Those convicted of exporting protected wildlife without a permit can face a maximum of 10 years behind bars.

Individuals can also face fines of up to $330,000, which jumps to $1.65million for corporations.
A prolific Greggs thief nicknamed the 'Hamster' by staff has been spared jail after stealing close to 2,000 worth of items from the bakery.

Adam Gosling, 39, targeted a store in Greenford, west London, 38 times over a six-week period between December 30, 2025, and February 10.

The value of the thefts ranged from 12.30 to 100 per visit and, on some days, the homeless man would target the Greggs multiple times.

Prosecutors told Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Tuesday that Gosling's theft spree amounted to 1,817.50.

Footage released by the store shows the hooded man ransacking Lucozades from their fridge into a bag.

In another clip, he returns with a mask on and proceeds to shamelessly stash multiple orange juice bottles into a Co-op bag in front of onlooking employees.

The thief is later spotted by a staff member who appears to walk over to him with a tablet - but Gosling simply walks past and exits the shop, leaving the fridge door open.

He was eventually arrested on February 10 year after the CCTV footage was shown to police.

CCTV footage shows Adam Gosling, 39, stealing drinks from a Greggs store in Greenford, west London

The homeless man targeted the store 38 times over a six-week period at the beginning of last year (He is seen here dressed in black stashing orange juice bottles into a bag)

So prolific was Gosling's thievery that Greggs staff dubbed him the 'Hamster'. He was spared jail this week after pleading guilty to 38 counts of theft

Scotland Yard's Greenford Broadway safer neighbourhood team said on its Met Engage platform that staff saw a high number of thefts of food and drink at the branch and began to log each one.

Police community support officer James Tupman said Gosling became the 'most prolific' thief.

He pleaded guilty to 38 counts of theft from a shop and was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for one year, by chairman of the magistrates' bench Judy Gregg.

Superintendent Sean Lynch, who leads neighbourhood policing in Ealing, said: 'We are committed to tackling issues that have a real impact on businesses and communities - including shoplifting.

'In the last year, theft offences have fallen by 8.3% in Ealing and 9.5% across the Met as a whole.

'While we recognise there is more to do to continue to drive down crime, our officers will continue to work with their communities and businesses to tackle repeat offenders and bring them to justice.'

The 39-year-old was arrested after staff shared the CCTV footage with Metropolitan Police (He is pictured here in the back of a police car)

Mr Tupman wrote after he was charged: 'This result is the direct outcome of strong partnership work with Greggs staff, who have been exceptionally proactive in recording offences and supporting our investigation.

'The volume of thefts had a significant impact on the business and our officers worked tirelessly to gather evidence, identify the offender and put long-term measures in place to prevent reoffending.'
Britain will endure yet more flooding this week as heavy downpours and bouts of snow brought by Storm Pedro are set to batter the country.

The latest weather system, named by Meteo France, is expected to bring torrential rain on Wednesday and Thursday, with some parts of the south coast including Dartmoor and Devon seeing as much as 50mm.

Other areas in the region could see up to 30mm, while some 10-20mm of rain is forecast to fall more widely across the country, according to the Met Office.

Flurries of snow are also set to wreak havoc on roads across the west of England, while patches of ice are likely to develop on untreated surfaces as temperatures fall below freezing.

The forecaster warned there is a small chance that disruption caused by the snow, accompanied by strong winds, could see flights and train services cancelled and leave vehicles stranded on roads.

In Northern Ireland, outbreaks of rain, hill snow and strong gusts of up to 50-55mph winds are expected to bring disruption - with a yellow warning in force until 8pm on Wednesday.

A yellow weather warning for heavy rain is in force for an area stretching from Cornwall to Kent until 8am on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a yellow warning for snow in the West Midlands and Wales will run from 4pm today until 6am tomorrow, while a separate warning for ice covering the same area will be in place from 9pm on Wednesday until 10am on Thursday.

A dogwalker strolls along a promenade near Dublin, which is covered by a weather warning for risk of flooding

Waves crash into the coast in Clontard, Dublin, as heavy rain continues to batter the Irish city

Commuters struggle with wind and rain on London Bridge this morning as the country is set to be hit by Storm Pedro

A yellow weather warning for heavy rain is in force for an area stretching from Cornwall to Kent until 8am on Thursday. A separate yellow warning for snow in the West Midlands and Wales will run from 4pm on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday

But in a cruel twist of fate there's sunshine on the horizon, with temperatures hitting the low-to-mid teens by the end of the week - when half end terms and children return back to school.

Senior Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said many will see 'a very wet and windy morning' on Wednesday, but added those in northern England will be 'wondering what's going on' with a dry day expected for many.

He said: 'By the time we get into the late part of the day on Thursday, by that stage, the winds should be clearing away and Thursday will just be a slow improvement day.

'It's all change after that, by the weekend it will be feeling much, much milder with temperatures reaching the low-to-mid teens, if we see some sunshine.

'There will be further spells of wind and rain but most of us will certainly see an uplift of temperatures as we go into the weekend.'

Officials issued a 72-hour cold health alert on Tuesday as temperatures plummeted across the UK overnight.

The UK Health Security Agency yellow cold health alert came into force last night and covers parts of England until 6pm on Friday.

The agency said the weather is likely to lead to an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people, as well as a greater risk to life of vulnerable people.

The alert covers the East and West Midlands, North East, North West, South West, East of England and Yorkshire and The Humber.

10-20mm of rain is forecast to fall more widely across the country, according to the Met Office (Pictured: A walker hiding under her umbrella in Dublin)

The Thames at Henley spreading far beyond its banks following weeks of rain in southern England

Floodwater from the rivers Avon and Severn surrounding riverside properties on Monday following a long period of rain in Tewkesbury, Britain

A woman walks her dog in the village of Carrbridge on Tuesday as the north of Scotland was hit by more snow

The UK Health Security Agency yellow issued a cold health alert last night and covers parts of England until 6pm on Friday

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Many Brits are still reeling from weeks of wet weather which has seen some unlucky parts of the country blighted by over 40 consecutive days of rain.

It has prompted the Environment Agency to urge the public to be 'vigilant' over the threat of more flooding to come.

Around 340 properties have suffered flooding in recent weeks, it said, with some areas seeing their wettest January since records began.

Northern Ireland and the southwest of England had their wettest January on record, with 170 per cent of their normal rainfall, leaving some rivers at record levels as well as risking groundwater flooding from the drenched soil.
Millions of revellers have taken to the streets of Rio de Janeiro to celebrate the biggest cultural event in Brazil.

The Rio Carnival has returned in a blaze of glory, with partygoers hitting the streets of one of the nation's largest cities for a five-day celebration.

The citywide party has seen nearly a week of parades, street parties and open-air performances from samba schools.

Officially meant to mark a last gasp of excess for the Catholic country before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, the festival has evolved since its origins in 1723.

It is world famous for its raucous street parties and colourful displays, with musicians, percussionists and stilt artists drawing thousands out into the south American sun.

The highlight of the event for many is the huge organised dance parades, which see samba schools dance the nights away on enormous floats and in elaborate costumes.

According to local media, an estimated 65 million people have hit the streets of Rio this year - a 22% increase from last year - with many partygoers flying in from all over the world.

Celebrities were seen taking part this year, with legendary ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti throwing himself into the raucous proceedings.

He was seen in good spirits as he took in the event alongside Brazil legend Ronaldo.

As well as some famous locals, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager was later seen taking in Rio Carnival with his wife Mariann Barrena McClay.

Drum queen Virginia Fonseca from Grande Rio samba school performs during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 18, 2026

Members of the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba group dance in the sambadrome during the third day of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 17 2026.

Drum Queen Fabiola Andrade from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school performs during the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro on February 16 2026

The Rio Carnival has returned in a blaze of glory

Revellers of the Paraiso do Tuiuti samba school perform during the closing night of the Rio Carnival at the Marques de Sapucai Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 17, 2026

Queen of Drums Evelyn Bastosperforms during 2026 Carnival parades at the Sapucai Sambodrome on February 16, 2026 in Rio

A performer from the Beija Flor samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio on February 16, 2026

Revellers from the Unidos do Viradouro samba school perform during the Carnival in Rio on February 17, 2026

A performer from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro February 17 2026

Drum Queen Mayara Lima from Paraiso do Tuiuti school perform during the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 17, 2026.

A drone show displayed the shape of a cocalho on the second night of the Rio Carnival on February 16, 2026

A member of Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel performs during 2026 Carnival parades at Sapucai Sambodrome on February 16, 2026

A member of Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel leads the performance during 2026 Carnival parades at Sapucai Sambodrome on February 16, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A performer from the Mocidade samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, February 16, 2026

The carnival is officially meant to mark a last gasp of excess for the Catholic country before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday

A member of the Unidos do Viradouro samba group participates in the sambadrome on the second day of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro February 16 2026
Anti-tourism activists in Spain are gearing up for another summer of disruptive protests, warning that they are already planning demonstrations across Mallorca's holiday hotspots.

The Menys Turisme Mes Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) organisation is set to hold a meeting on Friday to discuss its next steps in tackling what they call 'overtourism'.

In a press release, the group warned: 'The constant increase in overtourism in Mallorca can only be confronted through grassroots organisations.'

Meanwhile, a Mallorca-based environmental group called GOB has said that a call for protests is justified given the forecast of a new record for tourist arrivals this summer, and a concern that the Spanish government 'has not done anything and will not do anything' to tackle mass tourism.

The warning for more disruption this summer follows a series of widely-reported anti-tourism protests across Spain last year that made many Brits feel unwelcome.

Holidaymakers were forced to cower in hotels as anti-tourist protesters stormed the streets across the Canary Islands last May, disrupting bliss for the thousands of Brits enjoying their time abroad.

Demonstrators marched with the slogan 'Canarias tiene un limite' (The Canaries have a limit).

One placard read: 'Stop excessive tourism this is our home,' while another said: 'My misery is your paradise'.

Anti-tourism activists in Spain have begun gearing up for another summer of disruptive protests. File photo: Protesters harassing tourists in Palma de Mallorca last summer

A child and an anti-tourism activist use water pistols during a protest against mass tourism in front of the Park Guell on World Tourism Day in Barcelona, Spain, September 27, 2025

A man walks down the street, passing by a graffiti on a closed shop shutter that reads 'Tourists go home in Barcelona, June 2024

Another sign was inscribed with the words: 'tourists swim in s**t', referencing the large amount of sewage water that is dumped into the sea - the majority of it, activists say, coming from hotels and tourist accommodations.

Similar protests were staged throughout the spring and summer elsewhere in Spain.

In April last year, locals fired water pistols at a tour bus outside Barcelona's Sagrada Familia.

Meanwhile, in 2024, anti-tourism protesters armed with banners and placards stormed a party beach in Mallorca.

Photos from the demonstration showed activists holding banners and placards adorned with slogans such as 'tourists go home' and 'let's occupy our beaches'.

The group of around 100 activists addressed the protest towards beachgoers sunbathing on the sandy stretch during the march.

Campaign group Majorca Platja Tour dominated the beach Balneario 6, which is located in Playa de Palma.

The warning for more disruption this summer follows a series of widely-reported anti-terrorism protests across Spain last year that made many Brits feel unwelcome. Pictured: Protesters march on Las Americas beach during a demonstration against tourism in Tenereife, October 2024

The activist group said they chose the area because it is infamous for drunkenness and disorder.

Marches by anti-tourist activists have been taking place across Spain throughout the summer over the last few years as locals accuse 'low quality' visitors of flocking to the country.

Campaigners have blamed visitor numbers for problems such as the rising cost of living and a lack of housing for locals.

The latest warning by anti-tourism activists comes despite the fact that Spain's tourism industry has seen a sharp slump following a wave of protests last summer.

The downturn - driven by weaker spending from European and U.S. visitors - is partly being blamed on the demonstrations, which many say have 'scared off' potential travellers.

Industry group Exceltur said at the end of last year that growth in Spain's tourism industry had declined, warning that the country's contribution to this 2025's economic growth will be weaker than expected.

The latest warning by anti-tourism activists comes despite the fact that Spain's tourism industry has seen a sharp slump following a wave of protests last summer

Protestors in Barcelona squirted water guns at tourists eating in popular spots in the city last year

Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain on April 20, 2024

The group estimated that the tourism industry will contribute 13.1% to Spain's gross domestic product in 2025, below its initial estimate of 13.5%.

In 2024, Spain registered a record 94 million tourists. By August 2025, 66.8 million tourists had arrived, up 3.9% from the same period a year ago.

'I don't know if we will reach' the 100 million tourists, Spanish Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu said, adding, though, that he did not consider that as a cause for concern since tourist spending was still rising.

The slowing growth is linked to weaker spending by tourists from Germany, France, Turkey and the United States, Exceltur said.

An increase in tourists from Britain, which accounts for 26.5% of total visitors, as well as from China and Poland, helped offset the trend during the peak season, while the number of domestic tourists remained unchanged.

It was also revealed last year that holidaymakers were avoiding parts of Spain because they fear being 'shot with a water pistol' by anti-tourism fanatics, according to a travel agent boss.

A woman carries a sign that reads 'neighbours in danger of extinction' through Barcelona

Mark Meader, vice-president of the US ASTA travel association, told representatives at a summit in Jaen, Andalusia, that scenes of activists firing water pistols at tourists had even discouraged some Americans from visiting Barcelona.

Combatting so-called 'tourism phobia' dominated discussions at the conference after Spain's travel industry recorded a sharp slump this year, following a wave of anti-tourism demonstrations that swept across the country during the summer.

The downturn - fuelled by weaker spending from European and US visitors - has partly been blamed on the protests, which industry leaders say have 'scared off' potential travellers.

The backlash has grown so significant that the UK-based travel body ABTA has issued guidance for its members on how to reassure worried clients about travelling to Spain.
The grandparent of missing South Australian four-year-old Gus Lamont has been charged with having a prohibited gun silencer.

Police on Monday arrested Josie Murray, 75, at the family's remote Oak Park sheep station, about 40km south of Yunta.

Murray briefly attended the local police station and was charged with a firearm offence, before being released to front Peterborough Magistrates Court on May 6.

Officers had been on the station as part of a two-day search - one of several that have been conducted on the property since Gus vanished on September 27 last year.

He was last seen playing on a mound of dirt near the family's homestead about 5pm.

Murray was charged with one count of possession of a sound moderator, which is an 'aggravated offence as the moderator fits a firearm in their possession'.

Acting Officer in Charge of Major Crime Investigation Branch, Detective Inspector Andrew Macrae, said that the charge is not connected to the disappearance of the four-year-old or an incident with a journalist on the property in October.

Detectives recently revealed that a person known to Gus was now considered a suspect in his disappearance and suspected death. However, they stressed that Gus's mother and father, Jessica Murray and Joshua Lamont, were not suspects.

Four-year-old Gus went missing on September 27 last year from his family's farm

The Outback sheep station (pictured) is about 40km south of the town of Yunta

Josie Murray was arrested and briefly attended the local police station on Monday (pictured)

No arrests have been made or charges laid over Gus' disappearance.

Gus' grandparents Shannon and Josie Murray have both enlisted the services of high-profile Adelaide defence lawyers.

They said they were 'devastated' by the police announcement and insisted they were still cooperating with the investigation.

Police have not said either is a suspect and it is not uncommon for witnesses in criminal cases to seek legal advice.

The search for Gus has been among the biggest in SA Police history but no trace of the boy has been found.
Britain's air force would struggle to function in sub-zero temperature in the Arctic, the head of the RAF has admitted.

The RAF is shifting its focus to the High North as the UK looks to appease Donald Trump following the diplomatic spat over the ownership of Greenland.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth said decades of fighting in the Middle East with conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq meant the service is 'incredibly good' at high temperatures of above 35 degrees.

But he is 'not 100 per cent sure' it would able to cope at minus 30 degrees.

'It's a much more hostile environment,' the defence chief said at a speech at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London on Tuesday.

'We have become an air force that's incredibly good at operating in the Middle East.

'I know I can send any squadron out the door and they can work in plus 35 degrees and make airplanes work and fly really good missions.

'I'm not 100 per cent sure we could do that in minus 30 degrees.

Britain's air force would struggle to function in sub-zero temperature in the Arctic, the head of the RAF has admitted

Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth (pictured) said he is 'not 100 per cent sure' the RAF would able to cope at minus 30 degrees

A shortage in specialist kit could see the RAF struggle to deploy a force in the Arctic for a sustained period of time.

Military bosses are concerned about the lack of warm clothing for staff and lubricants to keep jets flying and generators running.

The Armed Force developed great proficiency in fighting in Arctic conditions during the Cold War but they have mostly focused on warmer climates in recent decades, amid conflicts in the Middle East.

AM Smyth said he wanted to 'pivot back' to when engineers were able to work in freezing conditions.

On Saturday, Sir Keir Starmer announced he was sending a Navy carrier force north towards Greenland as he warned Putin's strength is growing in a speech at the Munich Security Conference.

It came after the US President triggered widespread panic among Britain and its allies over his plans to take over Greenland.

Mr Trump eventually rowed back on his threats to invade the territory but placed significant pressure on Europe to bolster their defence spending and operations.

Speaking at Saturday's event in Munich, the Prime Minister said Russia is rebuilding its army and hit out at the 'easy answers of the extremes of left and right'.

Claiming that both the Greens and Reform are ideological extremists who are 'soft on Russia and weak on NATO', the PM said they would undermine Britain's national security and bring war to Europe if they were in power.

The RAF is shifting its focus to the High North as the UK looks to appease Donald Trump following the diplomatic spat over the ownership of Greenland

Sir Keir hit out at past leaders for 'looking the other way' and warned that Russia could be ready to invade the rest of Europe by 'the end of the decade'.

He added: 'We must be ready to fight' and do whatever 'it takes to protect our people, our values and our way of life.

'As Europe, we must stand on our own two feet.

'That means being bolder, it means putting away petty politics and short-term concerns. It means acting together to build a stronger Europe and a more European Nato.'
Prince William has opened up about 'understanding his emotions' in a candid conversation about men's mental health alongside Professor Green on BBC Radio 1.

The future monarch, 43, featured alongside the rapper, musician Guvna B, Allan Browning, the Director of Clinical Services at James' Place, and Nathan, who shared his own experience in a bid to promote conversation about men's mental health.

The Prince of Wales even shared his own mental health struggles during his time as a first responder, while also revealing how it takes him a 'long time' to understand his own emotions.

During the special episode of Radio 1's Life Hack's, the father-of-three said 'more male role models' discussing their mental health issues openly was needed to help all men to be able to do the same.

Prince William also revealed to host Greg James that he hoped having discussions about suicide prevention and mental health would eventually 'become a second nature to us all'.

Looking inward on his own emotions, the senior royal candidly shared that it often takes him a while to work out exactly why he feels the way he does in certain situations.

'I feel like that's a really important process to do every now and again, to check in with yourself and work out why you're feeling like you do,' he told the BBC show.

'Sometimes there's an obvious explanation, sometimes there isn't. I think that idea that mental health crisis is temporary - you can have a strong mental health crisis moment but it will pass.'

Prince William has made a surprise appearance on BBC Radio 1's Life Hacks to promote men's mental health and suicide prevention.

The future monarch candidly opened up about his own emotions revealing is takes him 'a long time' to understand his own emotions

Mental health has long been an issue of great importance to both the Prince and Princess of Wales, with the couple's Royal Foundation contributing 1million to the launch of the National Suicide Prevention Network across the UK last autumn.

William also recalled a time where he noticed his mental health was 'deteriorating' after working as a pilot for the air ambulance service between March 2015 and July 2017, and the importance of taking 'stock' of how you are feeling.

'If you listen to the body and have time to process your thoughts and your feelings, it will present itself to you,' he said. 'It's really important you have those moments where you take stock.

'The biggest example for me was when I was doing work with the air ambulance and I was a pilot flying with them.

'We had busy jobs and you had people in sadly very difficult situations that you were having to help them with.

'Over time I noticed my mental health really deteriorating and I hadn't really clocked onto it because, in that community, you try and make light of some of the moments just to keep sane and keep going.

'It wasn't until I stepped away from it on a sort of longer break that I looked at myself and went, 'My god, I'm carrying everyone's emotional baggage'. It was really weighing me down.'

The Prince of Wales continued to explain how the nature of emergency service jobs can take its toll on people due to how emotionally and physically demanding the work can be.

He featured on a special episode of BBC Radio 1 Life Hacks alongside the rapper, musician Guvna B, Allan Browning, the Director of Clinical Services at James' Place, and Nathan

He said: 'It's not until you step away from it, either that you retire or you have a break, which many of them don't get long enough breaks, are you able to process what kind of attritional, mental, emotional experiences you're having each time.

'You can't have time to deal with that. It's coming at you so fast and if you're carrying a bit of emotional baggage from each scene, from someone else's experience, it just weighs you down.

'So for me coming away from the situation is really important for us to be able to take stock of just what we've been through and what our brain is processing.'

He later added: 'I'm quite emotionally available, I like that about who I am, and I find some of the places I go to, people I meet, are having a really tricky time.

'That helps me put my own life into perspective but also I carry with me their burden sometimes and that's the bit I find very difficult is I feel other people's pain and that overwhelms me sometimes and I have to deal with that because I just care when I meet people who are in trouble or having a bad day and you want to help.

'You want to fix it but you can't necessarily fix some of the stuff and emotionally I find that very challenging.'

Speaking later about the panel discussion, James said he hopes the conversation will enlighten and comfort people and help get the conversation going.

Meanwhile, during the radio show the prince said mental health organisations could prove to be 'a little stepping stone' in helping those struggling to get through the more challenging moments.

'And if we talk about that more, and educate people more, then hopefully the idea of suicide keeps being pushed further and further away,' he added.

'Because you know that tomorrow, you might wake up and you might feel very different.'

When asked if his children shared their feelings with him, William joked: Sometimes too much. I get all the details. Which I love, its amazing.

Being able to understand it, have time for it, decipher it, sometimes you feel the sense that you need to fix it for everyone and that I find quite difficult.

I have to remind myself that you dont have to fix everything but you do have to listen. And it's important to be ok with those feelings and those comments.

Professor Green, also known as Stephen Manderson, also featured on the show, having long campaigned on issues relating to mental health himself.

The rapper, 42, previously featured in a documentary, Suicide and Me in 2015, about the loss of his own father to suicide and has worked with Prince William on his Heads Together campaign.

He revealed that he is stopped in the street by the 'blokiest of blokes' who tell him his advocacy has saved their lives.

'Being a bloke it's really difficult to sit with your feelings,' he said, 'You ask a man how he feels and he tells you what he thinks.'

However, he encouraged men to share their emotions with each other, prompting others to open up.

Professor Green was keen to get involved with the panel with the Prince as he wanted to encourage that it was 'important' and 'okay' to have these conversations.

The advocate for suicide prevention charity Calm, also believed it was 'incredibly important' to have the Prince of Wales' support, not only because of his openness but because of the suffering he has experienced and seen firsthand.

Describing mental health as a 'leveller' conversation, he said of Prince William: 'He was born a prince, but he lost his mum in front of the world.

'That's really significant - from someone who's also lost a parent in an equally horrible way - that's suffering, that's human, no title helps you escape from that.

'That's something that he's gone through and for him to show up in the way that he does and be as open and honest. He's just so articulate  He strikes me as a real empath.'

Prince William previously spoke with campaigner Rhian Mannings, whose son George, one, died after suffering a seizure in 2012 and whose husband Paul died by suicide five days later

Speaking later about the panel discussion, Greg James said he hoped the conversation will enlighten and comfort people.

'It's a conversation that I hope will enlighten lots of people, comfort lots of people as well. It's a conversation about men's mental health and suicide prevention that we didn't want to make too heavy. We wanted it to really help people and get the conversation going.'

The panel discussion took place with the charity James Place, which offers free life-saving treatment for men experiencing a suicidal crisis. Over 4,300 men have been supported by their three centres so far.

The episode is available on BBC Sounds, iPlayer and will be broadcast on Radio 1 at 8pm on Wednesday.

It comes as Prince William was brought to tears in a conversation with Rhian Manning when discussing her husband's suicide.

In a film to mark World Mental Health Day, Rhian Mannings spoke to the Prince of Wales about the death of her husband Paul, just five days after their son George passed away in hospital.

The future king's voice broke as Mrs Mannings, sat in her home in Cardiff, told him how she desperately wished Paul had spoken to her about how he was feeling.

'I think that's what the hardest thing is we would have been ok,' she said.

After the release of the emotional film, Mrs Mannings described the stigma that still surrounds suicide and revealed some of her closest friends chose to walk away from her grief, so concerned were they about saying the 'wrong' thing.

She told the Daily Mail: 'It was a really important moment because I think when it gets to the stage of a conversation, when it gets emotional, a lot of people will shut down and stop. People are afraid of upsetting people and are afraid to have conversations that cause distress to other people.'

'But actually it is just so important so I was talking about it, he got emotional, which made me emotional, but we continued to talk about it. And I think by him being emotional, people will see it's OK to talk about it, it's OK to find it difficult - but that's not a reason to shy away from it.

'By saying nothing to somebody is worse than saying something and getting emotional. Most people just want to know what is going on, they're just afraid to open that can of worms, but once it's open, for the person talking it's easier and actually it is OK to care.

'And sometimes if anything, that can really resonate with the person who is talking and opening up.'
Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan today reiterated her support for Sir Keir Starmer's Government at Westminster, saying: 'You've got to stick with it'.

Baroness Morgan, the Welsh Labour leader, appeared alongside the Prime Minister for the first time since she backed him in the wake of calls for his resignation.

On a trip to South Wales, Sir Keir stressed the importance of the UK and Welsh governments working together.

He visited Taff's Well Depot with Baroness Morgan to announce his endorsement of rail improvements set out by Transport for Wales.

It comes ahead of crunch Senedd elections later this year, in which Labour could be kicked out of office by either Plaid Cymru or Reform UK.

Both Welsh Labour and Scottish Labour fear they will suffer at May's elections for the Senedd and Scottish Parliament, respectively, due to the unpopularity of Sir Keir's UK Government.

And, last week, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on the PM to resign, saying Sir Keir was a 'decent man' but there had been 'too many mistakes'.

Baroness Morgan refrained from commenting until the following day, amid speculation she could follow Mr Sarwar in calling for the PM to go.

Then, she said Sir Keir had her 'full confidence', and described him as an 'honourable man'.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens on Wednesday suggested Baroness Morgan was slow to offer her support to Sir Keir because 'she's a busy woman'.

Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan today reiterated her support for Sir Keir Starmer's Government at Westminster, saying: 'You've got to stick with it'

Baroness Morgan, the Welsh Labour leader, appeared alongside the Prime Minister for the first time since she backed him in the wake of calls for his resignation

Sir Keir visited Taff's Well Depot with Baroness Morgan to announce his endorsement of rail improvements set out by Transport for Wales

Ms Stevens told Times Radio today : 'I don't think she could have been any clearer.

'She's a busy woman, she's the First Minister of Wales, she's not going to be able to do stuff, you know, seconds after Anas Sarwar does his press conference.

'But she was very clear backing the Prime Minister.'

Speaking on his trip to Wales later, Sir Keir said he 'can't overestimate how important it is to have two governments working together'.

'I think many people will feel that for 14 long years, between 2010 and 2024, there was a government in Westminster which wasn't necessarily wanting to work with the Welsh government here.

'So you had a tension, looking for points of difference, whereas now we're constantly talking about how we deliver together, and that is really important for everybody in Wales, and it's the right way to do politics.'

The Government has already confirmed funding towards seven new train stations in Wales, with a focus on making it easier for people to commute into Cardiff and Newport.

Transport for Wales has identified a total of 43 rail projects as part of its development pipeline, which will be prioritised for delivery.

Sir Keir added: 'You've got the First Minister and the Prime Minister standing side by side to make this announcement, making absolutely clear that the commitment is there.

'We wouldn't be here announcing this if we weren't absolutely clear in the commitment to follow it through.'

Also speaking at Taff's Well Depot, Baroness Morgan said the Labour Government in Westminster was setting up a vision 'for the long term'.

'You've got to stick with it, which is why stable government is crucial,' she said.

The First Minister added: 'This is for the whole of Wales. This is not about the Valleys, this is not about South Wales, there is massive development planned for the whole of Wales, including rural areas.'

The announcement on Wednesday has been described as a 'reheated' promise by opposition parties in Wales.

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Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens on Wednesday suggested Baroness Morgan was slow to offer her support to Sir Keir because 'she's a busy woman'

Last month, Baroness Morgan begged voters not to treat May's Senedd election as a protest against Sir Keir's government, as Labour faces losing power for the first time since devolution.

The FM said Sir Keir is 'not on the ballot paper' in Wales and refused to say he was a 'good prime minister' as she appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Polls have suggested that the Senedd is likely to be run by a coalition government made up of nationalists Plaid Cymru and the Greens, with Reform leading the opposition.

Baroness Morgan could see her party reduced from its current 29 seats to just eight, becoming just the third largest party.

YouGov polling of Senedd voting intentions last month suggested 37 per cent of the Welsh public planned to back Plaid Cymru at the election, with 23 per cent planning on voting for Reform.

Labour was on 10 per cent, behind the Greens on 13 per cent.
Prince William ended his long friendship with ITV's Tom Bradby after feeling 'betrayed' by the presenter taking part in a documentary with Harry and Meghan, a new book claims.

The Prince of Wales had appeared close to the former royal correspondent and political editor for the channel - granting him the first interview alongside Kate Middleton following the couple's engagement in 2010.

Tensions flared after Bradby carried out interviews with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for ITV coverage of their tour of southern Africa in 2019.

William is now said to have felt that was a 'betrayal' and cut off ties with Bradby, amid the 'Megxit' dispute that has since seen Harry and Meghan quit the UK for the USA.

The claims are made in a new book by royal reporter Russell Myers, called William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story.

An ITV documentary followed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they visited southern Africa in October 2019, including Bradby interviewing them both.

Three months later, the pair announced in January 2020 they would be giving up royal duties and moving to the US, where they now live in Montecito, California.

The interviews included Meghan thanking Bradby for asking if she was OK - while Harry admitted he and his brother were 'on different paths at the moment'.

ITV presenter Tom Bradby (left) interviewed the Duke of Sussex (right) during their 2019 trip to southern Africa, for the documentary Harry And Meghan: An African Journey

Prince William, pictured on February 11 during a visit to Saudi Arabia, has cut off friendship with Tom Bradby following the 2019 documentary involving his brother, as told in a new book

It was seen as the first time Harry publicly confirmed a rift between him and his elder brother - talking about how they had what he called 'good days' and 'bad days'.

As the Daily Mail revealed back then, William and royal advisors felt Bradby had taken advantage of Harry's 'clear vulnerability'.

A source told the Daily Mail at the time: 'The friendship between William and Tom is over. The Prince feels let down by Bradby and the way he has acted over the past few months.

'William is a sensitive soul and believes it's in times of crisis when you find out who your true friends are. It would be fair to say Bradby hasn't been one of them.'

In the fallout, Bradby confessed to feeling 'caught in the middle' of the brothers - calling it 'a deeply uncomfortable place to be'.

The new book suggests William believed Bradby had 'crossed a line' by taking part in the Sussexes' October 2019 programme, the Mirror has now reported.

William, then the Duke of Cambridge, felt 'betrayed and severely let down', with a source quoted as saying: 'He considered Tom a friend, they had always got on and Harry was close to him too, but [William] never thought [Bradby] would take a side like he did.

'As far as [William] was concerned, the friendship was over there and then.'

In 2019 Tom Bradby carried out interviews with Harry and Meghan in South Africa, in which they described their struggles within the Royal Family

Tensions grew after Bradby conducted interviews with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for coverage of their tour of southern Africa in 2019, it has been claimed

The previously amicable terms on which the three interacted began after Bradby, making his name as an acclaimed reporter in the early 1990s, was invited to lunch by Mark Dyer, then Harry's private secretary.

The ITV man swiftly became a favoured journalist amongst the Press pack by both brothers William and Harry.

They came to trust Bradby who in 2004 was invited to film Harry in southern Africa during his gap year and also had William's private mobile number.

It was a voicemail he left for William offering to lend him editing equipment in 2005  the details of which turned up in a tabloid story  that would set off the phone-hacking scandal, ultimately revealing the behaviour of News Of The World reporters.

William trusted Bradby, now 59, so much that when they discussed a project over the phone and the contents of their conversation later appeared in a newspaper, he knew Bradby would not have leaked them.

Instead Bradby suggested the royal phone might have been hacked and encouraged Buckingham Palace to go to police.

While Bradby was later promoted to be ITV News's political editor, the friendship and trust continued.

When announcing his engagement to Catherine in 2010, William chose Bradby to interview them - and Bradby and his wife Claudia attended the wedding the following year.

Tom Bradby climbed the ranks at ITV after joining their trainee scheme in 1990

Tom Bradby and his wife Claudia attend Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding in May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor

The couple were also there when Harry and Meghan wed at Windsor Castle in May 2018.

In an article written soon after that marriage, Bradby praised the couple as 'the Royal Family's natural rock stars'.

He then he presented the documentary covering the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's trip to southern Africa the following year - ahead of the so-called 'Megxit' in January 2020, with Harry and Meghan quitting frontline royal duties and moving to the US.

And Harry took part in a 90-minute interview with Bradby in January 2023 promoting his memoir Spare.

During that conversation, the Duke of Sussex accused his family of being 'complicit' in the 'pain and suffering' inflicted on his wife and compared them to 'abusers'.

He suggested they helped to 'trash' the reputations of him and Meghan, forcing them to move to California - saying relatives had 'shown no willingness to reconcile'.

While he accused his family of 'getting in bed with the devil', he added they were not racist but believed them guilty of 'unconscious bias'.

And both Harry and Meghan reflected on the aftermath of the 2019 ITV programme in July 2022, in episode four of their own Netflix series Harry & Meghan.

Bradby scooped his rivals to the first interview with Prince William and Kate Middleton after the newly engaged couple asked 'specifically' for him in 2011

Bradby later interviewed Prince Harry when the Duke of Sussex was promoting his tell-all memoir Spare in January 2023

The Duke of Sussex described the response at the time as 'bonkers', adding: 'When you expect support from the people closest, we got the opposite.'

The Duchess of Sussex said: 'There is only so much you can take on your own, so you end up saying, "Something has to change".

'It was a huge turning point. It was when we started having harder conversations about what needs to happen for us to be able to continue to make this work.'

Meghan also revealed she 'didn't know' what Bradby was going to ask her before the cameras started rolling.

She said: 'You could see I hadn't touched up my make-up, I was just fried. I guess, because I was so exhausted, I was just really grateful that someone seemed to ask me something like I was a human being.'

Meghan described her astonishment at how quickly her comments spread, adding: 'We got in the car, got on the flight with everybody and then, I had no idea that that was going to be the thing that was going to travel around the world.

'That's what spawned the #WeLoveYouMeghan. It hit a chord for everyone for something specific to them.'

ITV has been contacted for comment.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves today dodged questions on whether the Government will stick to its plans to equalise the minimum wage between younger and older workers.

There are reports that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could be lining up the 15th major U-turn of his premiership by backtracking on plans to boost the minimum wage for younger workers.

In Labour's manifesto prior to the 2024 general election, the party vowed to ensure all adults are entitled to the same minimum wage by removing 'discriminatory age bands' within five years.

But, according to The Times, the promise is under review amid fears the higher cost of employing young people is putting off firms from hiring them.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released yesterday showed how the unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds surged to 16.1 per cent in the three months to December  the highest level since early 2015.

Speaking at a supermarket in south London, reporters asked the Chancellor twice whether she would delay plans to increase wages for 18 to 20-year-olds.

Ms Reeves did not deny a delay, saying: 'We already have incentives to hire young people with the apprenticeship rate of the minimum wage, but also for no national insurance contributions for the youngest workers.

'But we do recognise there are challenges and that is why we're extending the number of further education college places, extending the number of apprenticeship places to help young people get the skills and the experience that they need to move into work.'

Speaking during a visit to South Wales, Sir Keir himself promised Labour will stick to its manifesto commitment to equalise the minimum wage between younger and older workers.

The PM confirmed the pledge to remove age bands in the minimum wage system would go ahead, but he did not say when it would happen.

He told reporters: 'We've made commitments to young people in our manifesto and we will keep to those commitments, including the commitment that we would make sure that the living wage would go up this April, which I can absolutely confirm to you will happen.'

Rachel Reeves, visiting a Sainsbury's in south London, dodged questions on whether Labour will stick to plans to equalise the minimum wage between younger and older workers

There are reports that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could be lining up the 15th major U-turn of his premiership by backtracking on plans to boost the minimum wage for younger workers

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Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens on Wednesday morning insisted there had been no U-turn on Labour's manifesto pledge

It added to confusion over the Government's position after a Cabinet minister earlier insisted Labour's plan 'has not changed'.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens on Wednesday morning said there had been no U-turn on Labour's manifesto pledge.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme she does 'not accept' that the minimum wage causes problems for employers.

'The Low Pay Commission says that the evidence does not show that there is a direct correlation between problems and the raising of the national minimum wage,' Ms Stevens said.

'We came into work on a manifesto to make work pay, and that's exactly what we're doing.'

Sources have told the Daily Mail that that the equalisation process would not be cancelled and that if any change was made it would only involve slowing the process down.

Employers must pay workers aged between 18 and 20 at least 10 an hour  a figure which will rise to 10.85 in April.

Older workers aged 21 and over must receive at least 12.21  rising to 12.71.

The Resolution Foundation think tank last night said the UK's youth unemployment is now higher than the EU average for the first time since records began in 2000, with the rate across Europe at 14.9 per cent in the final three months of last year.

It is further evidence of the stagnation of the economy, following on from weak GDP figures last week that showed the economy slowing to a crawl  leaving Britain facing its 'most dismal decade' in a century.

Ms Stevens added that there have been 'many naysayers' over the minimum wage since it was introduced.

'People said in 1998 that it caused mass unemployment, and it didn't,' she said. 'And every time there is a rise in the national minimum wage, people complain about it.

'The fact is, people shouldn't be on poverty wages.'

Sir Keir has made some 14 policy U-turns since entering Downing Street in July 2024.

Earlier this week he shelved plans to postpone some council elections for a year, deciding they should go ahead in May after all.
Goldman Sachs is scrapping diversity factors for its board and will no longer take into account candidates' race, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The banking giant had already quietly dropped commitments to diversity amid a broader retreat in diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) metrics in corporate America which has taken hold since the return of President Trump to the White House.

Its board's governance committee previously looked for candidates based on four factors, of which one relates to diversity.

While it formerly looked at viewpoints, background, work and military service in addition to 'other demographics', the wide description of 'other' features - including race, sexuality and gender identity - will now be dropped, the WSJ reports.

The move is said to be a result of a behind-the-scenes request from conservative activist group the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), which owns a small stake in the bank.

NLPC had asked for executives to remove DEI from hiring protocols in September.

The investment bank, which is the second-largest in the US, told the NLPC that it will remove the criteria in an agreement signed between the two parties.

Goldman Sachs has already retreated from certain DEI initiatives over the past year.

Goldman Sachs, led by CEO David Solomon (pictured), is scrapping DEI criteria such as race and sexuality from its board hiring procedures

It follows a series of executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump aimed at dismantling DEI schemes

It has dropped a rule that it would refuse to take companies public if they do not have at least two diverse board members, including at least one woman.

The firm has also made changes to its 7.4 billion 'One Million Black Women' diversity campaign and got rid of references to DEI in its latest annual filings.

Goldman scrubbed all references to race on its webpage promoting the One Million Black Women program.

Versions of the webpage that were visible before Trump took office described an initiative by the bank to invest billions of dollars in assisting at least one million black female entrepreneurs by 2030.

Now the page makes references to helping families and low-income neighborhoods in New York City.

Five of Goldman Sachs' board of 14 are women, and 12 are white.

The departure from DEI initiatives sits in stark contrast to previous comments from CEO David Solomon, who has spoken about elevating women and minority groups within the company. He even called DEI a 'top priority'.

Goldman Sachs declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail.

Goldman is one of many large financial institutions to abandon DEI efforts since President Donald Trump took back the White House a little over a year ago.

Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Bank of America have all either dialled back or completely abandoned public messaging on DEI.

So too have other major companies like Ford, McDonald's, Walmart, Meta and Google.

The trend has also spread to some UK firms and bodies, with British financial watchdogs the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority scrapping plans to set new diversity rules in the City of London last March.

Writing to MPs, they said they will not bring forward plans to require banks, insurers and other financial firms to set diversity targets.

And British pharma firm GSK paused its diversity policies for UK employees, claiming it was necessary due to executive orders signed by President Trump.

GSK has also scrubbed references to 'diversity' from its website.

Internal communications claimed the company had to make the move due to America being its largest market.

Since Trump's return to office, he has signed multiple executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI programmes in federal government and the private sector more widely.
The UK has fallen to a record low on a global index of corruption as the nation suffers the international fallout from the Mandelson-Epstein scandal.

Transparency International gave the UK 70 points out of 100 on its corruption perception index this year, the lowest score since it began taking stock in 2012.

The UK has seen a consistent slide since 2021, when it scored 78 points. It maintained its rank in 20th place.

Meanwhile, Denmark, Finland and Singapore have maintained their position as leaders in anti-corruption - though Denmark lost one point since last year's rankings.

The US also received its lowest ever marks this year, with just 64 points.

Transparency International looks at global data that compares public sector corruption in nations across the work, which includes bribery, financial disclosure laws and whistleblower protection policies, among other issues.

The organisation said: 'We're seeing a concerning picture of long-term decline in leadership to tackle corruption. Even established democracies, like the US, UK and New Zealand, are experiencing a drop in performance.

'The absence of bold leadership is leading to weaker standards and enforcement, lowering ambition on anti-corruption efforts around the world.'

After the release of the Epstein files, the UK has come under huge scrutiny following revelations that former Labour grandee Peter Mandelson may have passed on sensitive high-level information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while he was business secretary under Gordon Brown.

After the release of the Epstein files, the UK has come under huge scrutiny following revelations that former Labour grandee Peter Mandelson (pictured, right) may have passed on sensitive high-level information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein (pictured, left)

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In 2009, he is alleged to have leaked a Downing Street proposal to sell 20bn of state assets.

An email found in the Epstein files appeared to suggest that Mandelson encouraged JPMorgan Chase boss Jamie Dimon to 'mildly threaten' then-Chancellor Alistair Darling over a bankers' bonus tax.

This pressure was reportedly exerted through the reference of American banks as purchasers of UK gilt bonds, as well as potential investment plans in London.

The following year, he is also alleged to have forwarded confidential minute s of a meeting between Darling and the then-director of the US' National Economic Council, Larry Summers, to Epstein just five minutes after he got them.

And just a few months later in one of his last acts as business secretary, Mandelson allegedly gave Epstein advance notice of a 435billion EU bailout in an attempt to save the value of the Euro.

The Metropolitan police are currently investigating Mandelson over these communications, looking into alleged misconduct in public office.

Commander Ella Marriott said earlier this month: 'Following the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice, the Met received a number of reports into alleged misconduct in public office including a referral from the UK Government.

'I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former Government Minister, for misconduct in public office offences.

Former UK ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson leaves through his front door carrying a large dog on February 14

This was among the images of Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein released in the most recent tranche of documents from the US Department of Justice

'The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won't be commenting any further at this time.'

Daniel Bruce, the chief executive of Transparency International UK, said of the UK's continued drop in its corruption index: 'This persistent decline is not a temporary blip  it risks becoming a defining feature of our political culture.

'The UK government must demonstrate that it is serious about restoring integrity. That means taking bold action to remove big money from politics, delivering genuinely open government, and ending the cronyism that undermines public trust in our institutions.'
Iran has shut down the Strait of Hormuz for a military drill amid a US military build-up in the Arabian Sea, in a move that serves as a warning to the world if Donald Trump orders an attack.

The temporary closure of parts of the strait came as Iranian news agencies reported live fire exercises in the vital waterway, through which 20 per cent of the world's oil passes.

The move is a rare, perhaps unprecedented shutdown of the strait, and a signal from Tehran of the potential fallout to the world economy if the US goes through with threats to attack it as tensions mount between the two countries.

In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping through the narrows, and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points.

But Iran has not carried out repeated threats to close the waterway altogether since the 1980s, even during last year's 12-day war when Israel and the US bombarded Iran's key nuclear and military sites.

The extent and impact of Tuesday's closure were not immediately known. Iranian media said it would be for several hours for 'safety and maritime concerns'.

The US military's Central Command did not immediately comment on the closure or Iran's live fire drills.

But during Iranian military exercises in the strait and nearby waters several weeks ago, it warned Tehran that any 'unsafe and unprofessional behavior near US forces, regional partners or commercial vessels increases risks of collision, escalation and destabilisation'.

A boat firing a missile during a military drill in the Persian Gulf, southern Iran

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted a large-scale exercise in the Strait of Hormuz

The drills come in response to an increased US military presence in the Middle East amid escalating regional tensions

The Strait of Hormuz is a bending waterway, about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point.

It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. From there, ships can then travel to the rest of the world.

While Iran and Oman have their territorial waters in the strait, it's viewed as an international waterway all ships can ply.

The United Arab Emirates, home to the skyscraper-studded city of Dubai, also sits near the waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz through history has been important for trade, with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles moving from China through the region.

In the modern era, it is the route for supertankers carrying oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran.

The vast majority of it goes to markets in Asia, including Iran's only remaining oil customer, China.

While there are pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can avoid the passage, the US Energy Information Administration says 'most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region'.

The move is a rare, perhaps unprecedented shutdown of the strait, and a signal from Iran of the potential fallout to the world economy if the US goes through with threats to attack it as tensions mount between the two countries

On Monday, Iran announced its new exercise, dubbed, 'Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz' military drill

A target being hit during a military drill in the Persian Gulf, southern Iran

Threats to the route have spiked global energy prices in the past, including during the Israel-Iran war in June.

With the US threatening to strike amid the massive nationwide anti-government protests that erupted in late December and January, Iran held a live-fire military drill in the Strait of Hormuz in early February.

It warned ships of the drill at the time but did close the passage.

On February 4, tensions between the Iranian and American navies rose further after a US Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.

Iran also harassed a US-flagged and US-crewed merchant vessel that was sailing in the Strait of Hormuz.

On Monday, Iran announced its new exercise, dubbed, 'Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz' military drill. Mariners in the region were warned by radio that it planned 'live surface firing'.

The semiofficial Tasnim news agency, which is close to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reported a live missile test Tuesday morning, saying missiles launched from inside Iran and along its coast had struck their targets in the Strait of Hormuz.

US CENTCOM has previously said Iran has a 'right to operate professionally in international airspace and waters', but it warned against interfering or threatening American warships or passing commercial vessels.

The command, which oversees the US Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said it would not tolerate actions such as Iranian aircraft or vessels getting too close to American warships or pointing weapons toward them.

The actions around the strait come amid increasing tension between the US and Iran.

US President Trump initially threatened to launch a military strike against Iran after its bloody crackdown on last month's protests.

Since then, he has shifted to threatening attack to pressure Tehran to make a deal over its nuclear programme. The two sides held a new round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday.

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and supporting guided missile destroyers have been in the Arabian Sea for several weeks, where they could launch an attack if Trump calls for it.

Trump said Friday the USS Gerald R Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, was being sent from the Caribbean to the Mideast to join other military assets the US has built up in the region.

Iran has warned it could launch its own preemptive strike or target American interests across the Middle East and Israel.

While the 12-day war saw Iran fire off ballistic missiles and Israel target its stockpile, Tehran maintains an arsenal of short- and medium-range missiles that could hit surrounding Gulf Arab states.

On Tuesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the US that, 'The strongest army in the world might sometimes receive such a slap that it cannot get back on its feet.'

'Of course a warship is a dangerous apparatus, but more dangerous than the warship is the weapon that can sink the warship into the depths of the sea,' Khamenei added.

Following the conclusion of talks on Tuesday, Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said both sides agreed on 'guiding principles' but they fell short of a full deal.

When asked about the negotiations in an interview with Fox News, US Vice-President JD Vance said: 'In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards. But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.'

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said: 'I don't think they want the consequences of not making a deal.'

Asked about the prospects for an agreement, Trump said Tehran has long sought a tough posture in negotiations but learned the consequences of that approach last summer when the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites.

Prior to the strikes in June, nuclear talks had stalled over Washington's demand that Tehran forgo enrichment on its soil, which the US views as a pathway to an Iranian nuclear weapon.

'We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential. And we had to send the B-2s,' Trump said, referring to the bat-winged US stealth bombers that carried out the bombings.
A catastrophic two-car crash on a country road has left one woman dead and a man fighting for life.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at Tumby Bay, on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, about 10.20am on Wednesday following reports of a collision.

A 64-year-old woman, who was a passenger in a Hyundai sedan involved in the accident, died at the scene.

The driver, a 71-year-old man, was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Both occupants were from Cleve, about 95km north of Tumby Bay.

The driver of the other car, a 73-year-old from Tumby Bay driving a Mazda ute, was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Major Crash officers attended the scene, at the intersection of South Coast Rd and the Lincoln Highway.

The road was closed for several hours and motorists were urged to avoid the area.

A Hyundai sedan and a ute were involved in the crash on Wednesday morning

Paramedics rushed to the site on the Lincoln Highway at Tumby Bay

The road was closed for several hours while emergency crews attended the area

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage to their fronts.

The woman's death marks the 13th on SA roads since January 1.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
A Nazi massacre of 200 Greek prisoners was so gruesome that Hitler's henchmen fainted while carrying out the atrocity.

The horrific executions took place in the Athens suburb of Kaisariani on May 1, 1944, in retaliation for the killing of Nazi general Franz Krech and three of his staff by Communist guerilla fighters four days earlier.

Although it has been well documented, the first ever photographs of the slaughter have just emerged showing the prisoners' final moments before they were murdered

Images show groups of men lining up against wall as they are shepherded to a shooting range by their Nazi occupiers, who brutally killed them seconds later.

A death row list had been drawn up at SS headquarters and prisoners were taken from Haidari concentration camp early in the morning and shuttled to a ravine on the side of Mount Hymettus by Wehrmacht lorries.

Many of the victims managed to write letters to their loved ones and threw notes out into the streets of Athens.

The executions, regarded as one of the worst atrocities carried out by the German's during their three-year occupation of Greece, took four hours as Nazi guards shot men 20 at a time, leaving the 'soil with no time to suck up all the blood' according to one witness.

They forced prisoners to load their dead comrades' bodies into cars, before being lined up and shot themselves.

Haunting images show groups of men lining up against a wall as they are shepherded by their Nazi occupiers to a shooting range in the Kaisariani suburb of Athens

The 12 pictures appear to show the last seconds before 200 Greek Communists were executed on May 1, 1944

One man (left) appears to defiantly raise his hand moments before his execution, while others are seen lined up against the wall

That was repeated ten times until just after 10am, when not a single prisoner was left.

Horrified onlookers, many of whom were family and friends of the victims, gathered and watched helplessly from the hillsides.

One witness, Rita Boumi-Pappa, who lived metres from the shooting range, described Nazi guards fainting as they murdered men in batches.

She wrote: 'The slaughter lasted four hours. The Austrians of the first firing squad could not stand it anymore and sometimes fainted.

'This enraged the head German officer who twice replaced them with more composed soliders.'

Others told of how prisoners defiantly sang the Greek national anthem and the Internationale, a communist international anthem, as they were led to their death.

Among the dead was trade unionist Napoleon Soukatzdis, who spoke German and acted as a translator.

Hailed as a hero, the Nazis offered to spare him but he refused and joined his comrades.

Previously unseen pictures showing the massacre were listed for auction on eBay on Saturday by a collector of Third Reich memorabilia.

One image shows men being marched to their death. The pictures are thought to have been taken by Guenther Heysing, a journalist attached to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels's unit

Another image shows men being marched into the shooting range, after discarding their overcoats outside

They are said to have originally come from the personal album of German lieutenant Hermann Heuer, Greek media has reported.

Guenther Heysing, a journalist attached to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels's unit, is 'highly likely' to have taken the pictures.

One image shows men being marched into the shooting range, after discarding their overcoats outside.

The Greek Ministry of Culture said it is 'highly likely that these are authentic photographs'.

The ministry said it was sending experts to Ghent, Belgium, to examine the photos and to talk to a collector of Third Reich memorabilia who had put them on sale on eBay on Saturday.

Greece was occupied by Nazi Germany between 1941 and 1944, a period marked by several atrocities against villagers and its Jewish community, who were decimated.

More than 40,000 people are believed to have starved to death in Athens alone.

The Communist-led Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) was among the most active resistance organisations in occupied Europe.

Many Communists had also been persecuted during anti-Communist raids by the police of Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas.

Some of the pictures show groups of the men marching through a field, and standing against a wall at the shooting range.

Although the executions were well known, there has been no known photographic documentation of the event until now

The Kaisariani executions Around 200 Greek Communists were massacred by the Nazis in the Athens suburb of Kaisariani, Greece, on May 1, 1944. The men, mostly political prisoners, were killed by the Nazis as a reprisal for the ambush and murder of German General Franz Krech by Greek resistance fighters. It is one of the most well-known atrocities of the three-year German occupation of Greece. But until now there have been no documented photographs from the killings. Advertisement

'This is the first time we have an image from inside the shooting range at the moment of the execution...a major moment of the Greek resistance movement,' historian Menelaos Haralambidis told state TV ERT.

'And it confirms the testimony we have, that these men headed (to their deaths) with their heads held high, they had incredible courage,' Haralambidis said.

Until now, the only testimony of the 200 victims' final moments were from handwritten notes they had thrown out of the trucks taking them to their execution.

Most of the men had been arrested years earlier by Ioannis Metaxas.

The Greek Communist KKE party, which called the trove 'priceless' on Monday said it had tentatively identified at least two of the men in the photographs.

'These documents belong to the Greek people,' the party said.

'I feel grateful that we were given the opportunity for my grandfather's story to become known to everyone, a man who remained faithful to his beliefs until the very end,' Thrasyvoulos Marakis, the grandson of one of the men identified in the photographs, said in a letter.

The Greek culture ministry said it was 'highly likely' that the photographs were taken by Guenther Heysing, a journalist attached to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels's unit.

'If the authenticity and lawful provenance of the collection are documented, the Ministry of Culture will immediately finalise measures for its acquisition,' it said.
A police worker who claimed her colleagues were members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) has lost her race discrimination case.

Neelam Puri, 59, who is from an Indian-Asian background, sued the Scottish Police Authority at an employment tribunal after making the 'ludicrous' suggestion that members of the police force were part of the white supremacist group.

Mrs Puri raised concerns after she heard co-workers having a discussion about how 'the KKK had Scottish roots', which made her feel 'unsafe'.

The civilian staff member said she could not 'rule out' that co-workers were involved in the group and were 'targeting' her while working at Marischal College police station in Aberdeen.

While her manager agreed the conversation was not suited to the workplace, the tribunal heard that 'no harm was intended by his topic of conversation'.

In September 2023, Mrs Puri moved to a different police station based in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, where she later complained there were difficulties with the shift pattern in her new role.

She told a manager that having flexible shifts was 'white privilege' - without going into how this was the case.

Her racism case was dismissed by Aberdeen Employment Tribunal after it found 'there was not any evidence to support' the allegation relating to the KKK.

A police worker who claimed her colleagues were members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) has lost her race discrimination case (Stock image)

The tribunal heard that Mrs Puri worked as a Public Enquiry Support Assistant (PESA) at Marischal College police station in Aberdeen from October 2022.

She was a civilian member of staff whose role was primarily to deal with people attending the public office at the station.

Mrs Puri didn't have a good relationship with fellow PESAs at the station as she thought they were deliberately not training her to do her role properly, and that she was being excluded from a social media group they had set up.

The other PESAs did indeed exchange WhatsApp messages 'highly critical' of Mrs Puri in a group she was excluded from.

There is an ongoing disciplinary investigation into that group, but the tribunal was told that no mention was made of her 'race, ethnic origin or nationality'.

In late 2022, she asked fellow PESA Clare Fyfe if there was such a group, and was told that there was not.

In August the next year, Ms Fyfe had a meeting with line managers in which she was 'visibly upset and concerned at working with [Mrs Puri]'.

A couple of days later, Ms Fyfe spoke to a colleague, Arthur Martin, about 'the Ku Klux Klan having Scottish roots'.

Mrs Puri heard the conversation, and told a line manager that the reference to the KKK had made her feel unsafe.

The incident was investigated, and another manager told her the conversation was not suited to the workplace, and that he had 'given some suitable advice regarding this'.

Mr Martin said that 'no harm was intended by his topic of conversation'.

She went off sick in April 2024, and did not return to work before she resigned in July 2025.

Speaking about the KKK incident, Employment Judge Kemp said: 'That is in the context where [Ms Puri] was asked in cross examination whether she suggested that Mr Martin and Ms Fyfe were members of the KKK, and she replied that several members of Police Scotland were members of KKK and were targeting her.

'[Mrs Puri] maintained that position when it was suggested to be ludicrous.'

She did not say which members of Police Scotland she believed were members of the KKK.

The tribunal found that 'there was not any evidence to support such an allegation'.

The judge continued: 'When asked to explain the threat to safety she said that she was right to assume that certain members of Police Scotland were racist.

'An email she had sent had also indicated that she could not rule out that Ms Fyfe and Mr Martin were members of the KKK.

'Strictly speaking in theory that is correct, but as a matter of what is reasonable to infer from circumstances was not.'

She is due to receive 2,293 in compensation for an unrelated claim she made for reasonable adjustments related to her disability.

All her other claims, including race discrimination and harassment, were dismissed.
An ex-soldier who killed a young mother with a meat cleaver before cutting up her body is set to be freed from prison, despite his victim's remains never being found.

Stephen Wynne, 47, killed 27-year-old mother-of-three Chantel Taylor in Birkenhead, Merseyside in March 2004 by striking her in the neck, almost completely severing it, and then dismembering her with a saw.

Wynne hid her body parts in the loft of his home before later moving them to nearby woods and a local tip. Her remains have never been found.

The killer, who was 26 at the time of the murder, later claimed he kept the cleaver at his home 'for protection against burglary'.

He had approached Chantel on the way home from a night out and invited her to his house, where the attack took place.

Wynne was only caught after setting fire to a mosque in Birkenhead the following year, in a 'revenge' attack following the 7/7 London bombings.

While in custody officers found handwritten notes in his home referring to the death of a woman, and he later confessed to the murder.

The killer took police officers to locations he said he had left Chantel's remains, but nothing was found.

Chantel Taylor, 27, a mother-of-three, was murdered at a property in Birkenhead, Merseyside in March 2004

Stephen Wynne, 47, is now set to be freed despite his victim's body never being found, following a meeting of the parole board

At court, he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 21 years, although this was reduced to 18 years on appeal.

Wynne has now been approved for release following a parole hearing where his behaviour was reported as 'overwhelmingly positive' and the murderer was said to have shown 'genuine' remorse.

This is in spite of tireless campaigning from Chantel's mother, Jean Taylor, to keep her daughter's killer behind bars.

She has previously accused Wynne of taking police to the wrong locations to find her daughter's remains.

Speaking to the Daily Mail last year, she said Wynne 'does not deserve parole full stop'.

She told the Echo in July that Wynne 'broke my family', adding: 'He broke my family and left three children who were not brought up with their mother.

'That's another pain I have to carry. I won't stop. I think of other families and try to be a voice for families of victims of homicide.'

A summary of the parole hearing said: 'In hearing Mr Wynne's evidence at the hearing, the panel considered his remorse for his offending and the pain he had caused to the victim's family to be genuine.

'The panel noted that he had taken responsibility for his offending and now does not seek to minimise or justify his actions.'

Chantel's mother Jean Taylor has campaigned tirelessly to ensure that Wynne is not released but was unable to attend his parole hearing as the killer would be 'overwhelmed' knowing victim's family would be present

It added Wynne had completed periods of testing via temporary release on licence in the community, including more than 30 periods of day release and ten periods of overnight release.

He was moved to an open prison in June 2023.

In its decision, the panel found Wynne had 'demonstrated an understanding of the enormity of his offending, evidencing what the panel considered to be genuine remorse'.

It continued: 'After considering the full detail of his case, the panel was satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public.'

As part of his licence conditions, Wynne must reside at a designated address, be of good behaviour, disclose developing relationships and report to supervision.

He is also subject to drug testing, disclosure of vehicle use and electronic tagging.

Last July it was ruled that Wynne would be permitted to have his parole hearing in private because he would become 'overwhelmed' knowing Chantel's family would be present at any public hearing.

The ruling stated: 'If Mr Wynne was required to give evidence when he knew that members of the victim's family and many members of the public were watching or listening to him there is a strong probability that he would be overwhelmed by their hostility towards him and would be unable to 'give best evidence'.'

It added: 'I am satisfied that Mr Wynne's fears for the safety of his family and himself are genuine. This case has attracted a great deal of public attention, all of it extremely hostile to Mr Wynne.

'That attention has inevitably been increased by the actions of the victim's mother who has, entirely understandably and properly, campaigned tirelessly for a substantial increase in the sentences for offences of this kind.

'She has strongly criticised the courts and the Parole Board for their handling of this case. She has expressed the view that the sentence imposed on Mr Wynne was wholly inadequate, that he should never have been transferred to an open prison and that he should certainly not be released on licence.'

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Stephen Wynne following an oral hearing. Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims. Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

'Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing. It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.

'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.'
Reform would restore the two-child benefit cap and force people claiming disability cash on mental health grounds to prove they are sick before getting cash, Robert Jenrick vowed today.

The party's pick for Chancellor if they win the next election said the party would orchestrate a major clampdown on handouts designed to fix a 'broken' system.

In his first speech in charge of Reform's economic policy, former Tory minister Mr Jenrick said he wanted to 'defuse the benefits bomb set to bankrupt Britain'.

The two-child cap on receiving child benefits, eased by Sir Keir Starmer last year would be restored, in a reversal of Nigel Farage's previous support for ending it.

At the same time those who want the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) on mental health grounds would be forced to provide a clinical diagnosis instead of diagnosing themselves.

Those with 'mild anxiety, depression and similar conditions' would be barred from receiving cash and steered towards work, he said.

The cost of Britain's main sickness benefit is forecast to jump by almost 20billion a year after Labour shelved reforms.

Only British nationals would be able to claim benefits, Mr Jenrick said, while also pledging to end 'abuse' of the Motability scheme, which allows PIP claimants to use their money to lease new cars.

Speaking in the City this morning Mr Jenrick said he was determined to reintroduce 'fiscal discipline' to the government system.

'Our benefits system is broken. That is not fair and it is not right, it's an economic and a moral disaster,' he said.

'That's why I commit to you today, if we win the next election, Reform will defuse the benefits bomb set to bankrupt Britain.'

The party's pick for Chancellor if they win the next election said the party would orchestrate a major clampdown on handouts designed to fix a 'broken' system

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But Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: 'How can anyone trust a word Reform say when they change their policies every five minutes?

'They said they would scrap the two child benefit cap - now they say they won't. Farage said he wanted to scrap the OBR - now they say it would stay.

Robert Jenrick speech: key points Mr Jenrick, Reform's Treasury spokesman, outlined that if elected the party would: Reinstate the two-child benefit cap

Make it harder for people with mental illness to claim benefits

End 'abuse' of Motability car scheme

Only allow British people to claim benefits

Keep the OBR and maintain Bank of England independence, but require them to reform

'Make life easier' for businesses by scrapping red tape and diversity targets

Back Heathrow Airport expansion, with emergency legislation to get third runway project going if necessary

Launch the first review of tax codes in nearly 40 years - but only cut taxes there is the fiscal headroom to do so

Strategic industries including steel and car-making will be protected

Make 'full use' of North Sea oil Advertisement

'They made 140billion of unfunded commitments at the election - now they can't say which ones they still stand by.

'Their policies are never thought through and their numbers never add up. They are just like Labour - they will make big promises with no plan to actually deliver them.'

The Government announced in the autumn budget that the two-child cap is being scrapped from April.

Seven Labour MPs were previously suspended for voting against the Government in backing motions to lift it.

The cap has prevented parents from claiming universal credit or tax credits for more than their first two children.

It was introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, and has been widely criticised by Labour MPs and anti-poverty advocate groups.

It is estimated the move will cost 3billion by 2029-30, according to the OBR.

Mr Farage has previously suggested he could support ending the cap to encourage people to have more children. The same argument has been made by Reform's education spokeswoman Suella Braverman.

Mr Jenrick himself only last week said that the policy was 'sensible'. But today he said: 'Reform is changing our policy on the two-child cap for universal credit. The policy was well-meaning.

'We want to help British working families to have more children. But, right now, we just cannot afford to do so with welfare. So, it has to go.'

Sir Keir called Reform UK's pledge to reinstate the two-child benefit cap 'shameful'.

Additionally, official forecasts slipped out last month revealed that the annual bill for PIP is predicted to jump from 25.9billion when Labour came to office to a staggering 44.9billion by the end of the decade.

Paying for the increase alone would cost the equivalent of putting 2p on all income tax rates.

Last year, Sir Keir abandoned plans to try to curb the growth of PIP payments following a revolt by Labour backbenchers.

And government sources confirmed that, despite ministers paying lip service to the need for welfare reform, there will be no legislation on the issue in the next King's Speech in May.

Join the debate Is the two-child benefit cap fair?

Nigel Farage's pick for Chancellor if Reform wins the next election said the party would orchestrate a major clampdown on handouts designed to fix a 'broken' system

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The total number of UC claimants in Britain stood at 8.34million in December 2025, up by almost a million from 7.36 million 12 months earlier.

Data published on Tuesday shows that more than three-quarters of this increase (775,790) was due not to new claims, but instead were people who moved onto UC from other benefits.

The Government has said the roll-out of UC across Britain should be completed this year, with any claimants still on legacy benefits due to be moved to UC by March.

The process of transferring people from older types of benefits to universal credit  known as the 'managed migration' of claimants  began on a small scale in May 2022, before being stepped up in April 2023.

Mr Jenrick said he would keep the OBR and maintain the independence of the Bank of England, but said both need reform if his party wins.

He criticised the budget watchdog and vowed to bring in more outside, proven forecasting expertise to bring in superforecasters, via competitions.

Reform UK would 'make life easier' for businesses by scrapping red tape and diversity targets if the party was in power.

A Reform UK government would back Heathrow Airport expansion, with emergency legislation to get the project going if necessary, with Mr Jenrick adding: 'We will make sure that businesses have the grid connections they need to invest in AI, robotics and manufacturing.

'And we'll pass legislation to deliver the crucial infrastructure projects that have been bogged down for too long.'
The frontrunner to become the UK's top civil servant was branded a 'shameless' self-promoter by her staff, it has emerged.

Dame Antonia Romeo, who is the most senior official at the Home Office, is widely expected to become the new Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service.

She is currently one of three Whitehall mandarins carrying out interim Cabinet Secretary duties following the sacking of Sir Chris Wormald last week.

But her bid to replace Sir Chris on a permanent basis has been hit by a row over past allegations of bullying related to her time as HM Consul General to New York in 2017.

The Cabinet Office said one formal complaint was 'thoroughly investigated' at the time and the allegations were dismissed 'on the basis there was no case to answer'.

Fresh details of the complaints previously levelled at Dame Antonia Romeo reveal that colleagues accused her of caring more about her personal profile than her work.

In documents setting out the complaints, seen by the BBC, some contemporaneous testimony states: 'She's a diplomat, not a D-list celebrity.

'My 15-year-old, social-media-obsessed, brother is less shameless in his self-promotion.'

The fresh details emerged as it was revealed the payoff to Sir Chris - who was axed as head of the civil service by Sir Keir Starmer after just 14 months - is likely to have been higher than 260,000.

Dame Antonia Romeo, who is the most senior official at the Home Office , is widely expected to become the new Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service

Dame Antonia is currently one of three Whitehall mandarins carrying out interim Cabinet Secretary duties following the sacking of Sir Chris Wormald last week

The Prime Minister initially chose Sir Chris to lead Whitehall in December 2024, but has now decided to ditch him as he attempts another 'reset' of his faltering premiership.

Sir Chris was widely reported to have received a taxpayer-funded severance payment of 260,000 - one of the largest ever.

But Government disclosures state that his payout was 'greater than what [he] would be contractually entitled to'.

Sources told Politico this indicates the total payout was higher than previously thought.

The disclosure was made by Cat Little, the top official at the Cabinet Office.

She requested a 'ministerial direction' from the PM to approve Sir Chris's payoff, because she could not assure him it would present value for money to the taxpayer.

Ms Little wrote in a letter to Sir Keir this week: 'I am informed that a settlement of this level is necessary given that this is a departure from a high profile, unique role that has been agreed at very short notice.

'Given the complexity of the legal position and the information to be considered at this time, it is not possible for me to conclude to the level required whether the proposed settlement amount represents value for money or not.

'However, you as Prime Minister can take into account wider considerations, in particular the public interest in bringing this matter to a conclusion and the prevention of distraction from the effective operation of Government.'

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: 'We don't comment on individual HR matters.

'Any severance payments for senior officials or ministers are included in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts which will be published later this year.'

Sir Keir Starmer is reported to want Dame Antonia to replace Sir Chris as he attempts another overhaul of his Government.

She was on the shortlist to become Cabinet Secretary in December 2024 before Sir Keir opted for Sir Chris.

But Dame Antonia's former boss, Lord Simon McDonald, has urged the PM to start the latest recruitment process 'from scratch' to ensure there was proper 'due diligence'.

Among the claims from staff about Dame Antonia is that she demanded they cover the bathroom of her official residence in New York with framed articles about her from Vogue magazine and the New Yorker.

The intention was that 'regardless of how you use the bathroom, you have to stare at a photo of her in a magazine spread staring back at you', according to emails reported by the BBC on Tuesday.

One message claimed: 'Antonia's obsession with promoting her personal brand over the work and priorities of HMG [HM Government] has created an untenably tense and bullying atmosphere for all staff.'

Another former colleague wrote: 'I'm extremely alarmed that Antonia, who holds one of the highest diplomatic positions here in the United States, seems to be focusing an undue amount on building her personal Twitter brand.'

As The Mail on Sunday first revealed, Dame Antonia was accused of bullying staff who criticised her lavish spending. It was claimed that she demanded a $100,000 repainting of her official residence as well as costly flights back to the UK.

The Telegraph reported on Wednesday that Dame Antonia repaid travel expenses after officials raised concerns.

She is said to have initially claimed money from the taxpayer in 2017 to cover a string of flights between New York and London, but later decided to repay the expenses from her own pocket to avoid it becoming an issue as she progressed her career.

There is no suggestion that Dame Antonia was ordered to pay back any money.

A Government spokesman said: 'For a short transition period in 2017 while she was acting as both consul-general in New York and permanent secretary for the Department for International Trade in London, Antonia incurred travel, accommodation and other costs, under an agreed arrangement.

'She suggested paying some of these back and did so. This was entirely within standard process and agreed at the time.'

Dame Antonia Romeo threw glitzy parties for the likes of Anna Wintour in New York

It was reported on Tuesday that the initial investigation in early 2017 found Dame Antonia had a 'serious case to answer' after former ambassador Sir Tim Hitchens was flown to the US to carry out a week-long probe during which he spoke to many of her colleagues.

His report was then submitted to Lord McDonald of Salford, the then Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office who last week dramatically spoke out against the prospect of Dame Antonia becoming Cabinet Secretary.

But despite the findings of the initial investigation, the Cabinet Office then told her 'there is no case to answer' and Dame Antonia was just given advice about her management and leadership style.

A source told The Times: 'The Foreign Office did a full investigation and found a serious case to answer which the Cabinet Office then ignored. So how did they reach that conclusion when they did not do their own investigation?'

But as the negative briefing against Dame Antonia increased, one Labour grandee said she was being unfairly traduced because Sir Keir Starmer's Government had made mistakes in other recent appointments.

Baroness Harman linked the attacks to Sir Keir's disastrous decision to appoint Lord Mandelson US Ambassador despite knowing about his friendship with notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and his recent handing of a peerage to his former spin chief Lord Doyle despite reports he had campaigned for a sex offender.

She wrote on social media: 'Seems like the major errors in the appointment of two men (Mandelson/Doyle) are the pretext to unleash the trashing of a woman (Antonia Romeo).

'Failing to conduct due diligence on men doesn't justify hounding a woman. Mysogeny [sic] having a field day right here! It needs to stop!'

The Government has also consistently defended Dame Antonia.

The Cabinet Office said: 'One formal complaint was raised nine years ago  which was thoroughly investigated and the allegations were dismissed on the basis there was no case to answer.

'While serving as consul-general in New York, Antonia Romeo was on secondment from the Cabinet Office, therefore decisions about the relevant complaint were made by the Cabinet Office. This is standard practice.'

On Monday Sir Keir's spokesman told reporters she was an 'outstanding leader with a 25-year record of excellent public service, including having been appointed to three permanent secretary roles'.
Prosecutors have ordered a retrial against Palestine Action supporters over a break-in at defence firm Elbit which left a police officer with a fractured spine.

Six defendants were cleared of aggravated burglary following a lengthy trial over the raid in Bristol in the early hours of August 6, 2024.

Jurors dismissed allegations Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin used or threatened unlawful violence and used sledgehammers as weapons after a prison van was driven into the factory.

Jurors also found Rajwani, Rogers and Devlin not guilty of violent disorder.

The jury deliberated for 36 hours and 34 minutes, but could not reach a verdict for charges of criminal damage against all six defendants.

Mr Corner faced a further charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Police Sergeant Kate Evans, which he denied. However, no verdict was reached on the allegation.

No verdict was reached on a charge of violent disorder, which Head, Corner and Kamio faced.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC this morning said a retrial would be pursued on all the charges which had not ended in verdicts.

Samuel Corner, 22, Leona Kamio, 28, Hannah Davidson, 51, Charlotte Head, 28, Zoe Rogers, 20, Jordan Devlin, 30, and Fatama Rajwani, 20, are all facing a retrial

Leona Kamio seen being overpowered and arrested during the raid

She told Mr Justice Johnson: 'As we indicated at the end of the trial, we now confirm the prosecution intention to seek a retrial in respect of all those allegations which no verdict was returned by the jury.

'That is criminal damage against all defendants, the three defendants on the allegation of violent disorder, and with Mr Corner on the allegation of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.'

Ms Heer also told the court that aggravated burglary charges against 18 further defendants who are accused of involvement in the Elbit raid are also now being dropped.

'The prosecution has reconsidered the sufficiency of the evidence,' she said, 'and for all the defendants the prosecution offers no evidence on the count of aggravated burglary.'

The 18 further defendants - Kamran Ahmed, Sean Middlebrough, Qesser Zuhrah, Julia Brigadirova, Zahra Farooque, Aleksandra Herbich, Teuta Hoxha, Heba Muraisi, Madeline Norman, William Plastow, Ian Sanders, Hannah Davidson, Liam Mullany, Harland Archer, Finn Collins, Salaam Mahmood, Louis Adams, and Moiz Ibrahim - continue to face other allegations over the raid.

The court heard the retrial of the first set of defendants is currently planned for February 16 next year.

Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions, later hit out at perceived attempts by the group's supporters to 'influence' jurors, after demonstrations were held outside the south-east London court.

Posters were also put up on bus stops and lampposts near the building which said: 'The jury decide not the judge', 'Jury equity is when a jury acquits someone on moral grounds', and 'Jurors can give a not guilty verdict even when they believe a defendant has broken the law'.

Today's court hearing took place amid tight security, with at least two dozen police officers positioned around the court building and a heavy presence of court security guards.

Members of the public seeking to watch the court proceedings were initially held outside the court gates by security.
Major questions have been raised about the security of Australia's largest mental health facility after two patients escaped and allegedly killed three people.

A man accused of killing two women in an allegedly stolen vehicle in Camden, southwest Sydney, on Saturday had reportedly escaped Cumberland Hospital just six days prior.

Police allege the 31-year-old driver had stolen a red Toyota sedan and crashed into the pair on the Old Hume Highway following a police chase.

He had reportedly been detained involuntarily at the hospital under the NSW Mental Health Act but threatened a nurse and stole their access card on February 8.

The news is just one day after it was revealed Setefano Mooniai Leaaetoa absconded from the same facility while being transferred to another hospital.

He is accused of stabbing three people, killing one, in a rampage on Smythe St in Merrylands, west Sydney, on Tuesday - just 10 days after he allegedly fled from treatment.

Cumberland Hospital, located near Westmead Hospital in west Sydney's Parramatta, is the country's largest psychiatric hospital. It can hold up to 260 in-patients and is used by the NSW corrective services to house prisoners undergoing mental health treatment.

There is no suggestion either of the aforementioned patients were detained by corrective services.

A driver accused of killing two women in a crash in Camden (above) had escaped Cumberland Hospital, a public mental health facility, just days earlier

The driver allegedly crashed a stolen red Toyota into an Alfa Romeo sedan

Cumberland Hospital is Australia's largest mental health facility (pictured is the hospital's mental sciences centre)

Reports emerged in June 2025 of Cumberland Hospital having critical staffing shortages.

An investigation by Four Corners found several cases of patients suffering from schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia and paranoid ideation waiting more than 80 hours to speak with doctors.

A security guard at the hospital, recalled patients becoming violent while waiting for treatment - especially those being involuntarily held and unable to leave.

'I've been bit, I've been punched, I've been kicked, I've been spat on,' he said.

'In June (2024), I was called to attend the emergency department for a code black. There was a patient who was very irritated. He had been there for over 12 hours.

'A nurse came over and explained to the patient that they were going to sedate him. He obviously wasn't too happy with that...

'As soon as he saw the needle, he pretty much stood up from the bed, jumped on my back, pulled a knife out of his jacket and stabbed me in the neck.

'I thought I was going to die.'

A man (right) accused of stabbing three people, killing one, in Merrylands also escaped Cumberland Hospital days before the alleged attack

Disturbing cases have similarly been reported online with the hospital boasting a shocking 2.4 rating out of 5 stars on Google.

'Please do not make the same mistakes as I did and don't send anyone you love here,' one wrote.

'My stay in Cumberland Hospital was mostly chaotic, I was one of many patients at the hospital that was attacked by a bully,' another said.

'Excellent nursing staff but very poorly staffed with qualified doctors at critical times,' another wrote.

A spokesperson for Western Sydney Local Health District, which operates the hospital, on Wednesday told the ABC it takes safety seriously.

'The safety of our patients and staff is a priority for Western Sydney Local Health District,' the spokesperson said.

Daily Mail has contacted Western Sydney Local Health District for further comment.
Jeffrey Epstein used London Stansted Airport as a 'cheaper' way of moving suspected sex trafficking victims around the world, new emails suggest.

Emails in the latest batch of the so-called Epstein files appear to show how the convicted paedophile would move women between his private jets at Stansted - without them ever leaving the airport - before flying with them to the US.

The emails include conversations about whether women travelling to Britain and onto the US via Stansted's private terminals would require a UK visa.

In one email, Epstein was told that a Russian woman travelling with him from Paris to Stansted would be allowed to enter the UK as long as she simply transferred from his Falcon jet to the Boeing for an onward journey to the US.

It comes after former prime minister Gordon Brown claimed Epstein's Boeing 727-100 jet - the so-called Lolita Express - had landed or taken off from UK airports up to 90 times between the 1990s and 2018.

Mr Brown claims the files show in 'graphic detail' how Epstein was able to use Stansted to 'fly in girls from Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.' He is also demanding police 'urgently' investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for alleged sex trafficking.

Essex Police last night became the fourth police force in the UK to launch a review into information about Epstein.

The force, which joins the Metropolitan Police, Thames Valley Police and Surrey Police's in launching probes, has confirmed it is 'assessing' information about the use of private jets by Epstein at Stansted.

On Wednesday, Surrey Police urged the public to come forward with any information relating to the alleged human trafficking and sexual assaults of a child in Virginia Water between 1994 and 1996.

Ghislaine Maxwell (left) and Jeffrey Epstein (right) on board a private jet. Some 90 flights came in and out of UK airports with suspected sex trafficking victims on board

Jeffrey Epstein's plane, the so-called Lolita Express, which jetted into and out of the UK and was used by the paedophile financier to traffic women and girls around the world

In one email, Epstein was told that a Russian woman travelling with him from Paris to Stansted would be allowed to enter the UK as long as she simply transferred from his Falcon jet to the Boeing for an onward journey to the US.

Epstein's tactics to move women around countries including the UK on private jets are laid bare in the three million files released by the US Department of Justice last month.

An email from November 30 2012 appears to show Epstein receiving an email about whether a Russian woman would require a visa to enter the UK.

'Jeffrey, Universal in Houston, our handlers confirmed the follow with UK immigrations: UK has an agreement with USA immigration that allows a Russian passport to enter UK territory as long as the person does not leave airport property and the person has a valid US Visa and will continue to USA.

'In other words, if you arrive in a Private Jet into Stansted from Paris with [REDACTED] and she possess a US Visa, she is allowed to enter UK and transfer from the Falcon to the Boeing, as long as we are departing to US soil. I would have to fwd copies of her passport and US visa to UK immigrations.

'The procedure of clearing her into UK should only take 5 min on arrival from Paris, and transfer her to the Boeing for departure to US.'

In a separate email, dated December 5 2012, Epstein asks: '...and if we come by plane ? what does she need to do?'

A reply to Epstein says: 'Jeffrey, This is message from London ref train/taxi to Stansted, she'll need UK visa to enter if she arrives via train.'

He is forwarded a message from Universal Aviation which says: 'I can confirm that if he was to travel via train then taxi he would need a UK visa to enter the country as well as his visa for the US if he was still intending to travel there.'

A day later, arrangements for Epstein to stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Stansted are made. An email from Lesley Groff says: 'I'm sure Jeffrey will just love the Raddison Blue [sic] Hotel!'

Elsewhere, another email from November 30 2012 shows Epstein's conversations about travelling to Stansted with a woman who does not have a UK visa.

The email, from a sender named Larry to Epstein's long-term executive assistant Lesley Groff, says: 'ps, Je mentioned he may use the Boeing on Dec7th London to NY, He told me he would Paris to London, Stansted UK to meet the boeing there with [REDACTED] , I did some work since [REDACTED] has no UK visa, where she can enter UK and make tranfer [sic] to Boeing,.'

On November 30 2012, emails were exchanged about getting a woman travelling with Epstein to come through Stansted without a UK visa

Epstein is also seen asking questions about travelling to the UK with a woman without a UK visa by plane or train

Emails show that Epstein also appeared to be interested in investing in Stansted Airport with the help of a Chinese businessman.

An email from Epstein fixer David Stern to Epstein with the subject field Stansted Investment Opportunity says: 'Do you want to send the idea (if you like it) of investing in Stansted =irport [sic] to the Chinese guy that came to see you (Beijing Capital =irport [sic].

'Good way to test him. Could be an interesting deal. Attachment in Chinese and English.'

It comes after Mr Brown said files showed Epstein's jet made 90 flights to or from UK airports, including 15 after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child.

He said Epstein 'boasted' about how cheap the airport charges were in Stansted compared to Paris.

In one email seen by the Mail, Epstein is told by a sender called Larry: 'Jeffrey, I will need 8000 gallons of fuel for trip to NY. We get a great fuel price in Stansted, UK. These prices include all taxes.'

Epstein is told that the fuel contract price would be $47, 280 from Paris Charles de Galle or $48,080 from Paris Le Bourget compared to $27,360 at Stansted.

In an article for the New Statesman, Mr Brown wrote that Stansted Airport was where 'women were transferred from one Epstein plane to another', adding that 'women arriving on private planes into Britain would not need British visas'.

He said it seemed as though authorities 'never knew what was happening', referring to evidence uncovered by the BBC which showed 'incomplete flight logs, with unnamed passengers simply labelled as 'female''.

He wrote: 'In short, British authorities had little or no idea who was being trafficked through our country, and for whom other than Epstein.'

On Wednesday, the Chancellor backed calls for Andrew to come forward with what he knows about the Epstein scandal, saying he 'owes it to the victims'.

Speaking to reporters at a supermarket in south London on Wednesday, Rachel Reeves said: 'The former prince has got a lot of questions to answer on a whole range of issues.

'I think he owes it to the victims of Epstein and his associates to come forward and give much more information about what he knew around the treatment of young women and girls.'

On Tuesday, an Essex Police spokesman said: 'We are assessing the information that has emerged in relation to private flights into and out of Stansted airport following the publication of the US Department of Justice Epstein files.'

A Stansted Airport spokesperson said: 'All private aircraft at London Stansted operate through independent Fixed Base Operators, which handle all aspects of private and corporate aviation in line with regulatory requirements.

'All immigration and customs checks for passengers arriving on private aircraft are carried out directly by Border Force.

'They use entirely independent terminals not operated by London Stansted and no private jet passengers enter the main airport terminal.

'The airport does not manage or have any visibility of passenger arrangements on privately operated aircraft.'

it comes after the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said that a national group had been set up to support UK police forces that are 'assessing allegations' following the publication of the Epstein files.

A spokesperson for the NPCC said: 'A national coordination group has been set up to support a small number of forces assessing allegations that have emerged following the publication of the US DoJ Epstein files.

Gordon Brown has urged police to interview Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as part of their probe into Epstein. The former prime minister is pictured with former prince in May 2009

Andrew features a number of times in the Epstein files, including images apparently showing him crouching over an unidentified woman in what appears to be Epstein's New York mansion

Pictured: The rear interior of Epstein's Boeing 727-100, complete with a double bed, recliner chair and red velvet sofas

Another room inside Epstein's private jet. The Boeing plane was used primarily to fly young victims between Epstein's lavish homes

'We continue to work collaboratively to assess the details being made public to allow us to understand any potential impact arising from the millions of documents that have been published.

'We continue to support our partners and contribute in any way we can to help secure justice for victims and survivors, and urge anyone who needs support to visit whenyouareready.co.uk.'

The national coordination group will bring together affected forces to ensure consistency of approach, it is understood.

Earlier this month, Thames Valley Police confirmed it was assessing claims Andrew shared confidential reports from his role as the UK's trade envoy with Epstein.

Surrey Police is also understood to be seeking unredacted files in relation to a separate historical abuse allegation found in the files against Andrew.

On Wednesday, the force urged people with information to come forward about claims of human trafficking and sexual assault linked to the Epstein files.

The force said the allegations, set out in a redacted report released by the US Department of Justice in December, allegedly took place in Virginia Water between 1994 and 1996.

An FBI report from July 2020, which appeared in the files, alleged sexual abuse against Andrew and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in Surrey in the mid-1990s.

The claims, made as part of an anonymous tip, alleged a woman was restrained on a table and 'tortured with electrical shocks' by Maxwell, while the former prince and other men watched on.

Surrey Police said they have found no evidence of the allegations being reported to them after reviewing their systems.

It has urged anyone with information in relation to the claims to come forward and contact police either online or over the phone.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has already launched a criminal probe into Peter Mandelson over claims he leaked confidential information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in 2009.

Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.
A drugs queen who blew 100,000 on cosmetic work, designer clothes and gambling has been jailed for four years.

Jodie Gilmour used the encrypted communication network EncroChat to launder huge sums of criminal gang money and flood Scotland's streets with cannabis and Valium.

The 32-year-old was caught smuggling cannabis disguised as candles from Las Vegas to Scotland and was found to have handled more than 500,000 in dirty money.

The High Court in Dundee heard how the cleaning firm boss became part of the drugs underworld to fund a serious gambling problem.

But Gilmour's empire crashed when customs officials intercepted the drugs package before it was supposed to be delivered to the home she shared with her dealer mother.

Gilmour was in regular contact with numerous drug figures using encrypted mobile phones which detectives managed to crack.

She discussed setting up her own pill factory to make more than a million street Valium tablets, as well as trading high-end luxury watches for drugs and bragging about being able to sell a kilo of cannabis per week.

Gilmour was found sleeping beside a 25,000 Rolex watch when police raided her home in Possilpark, Glasgow, in June 2023, and was found to have passed more than 500,000 through her bank account in just three years.

Jodie Gilmour flaunted her designer clothes and cosmetic work on her social media accounts

Gilmour's plot was rumbled when a parcel labelled as containing candles was found to hold 2,200 of cannabis

The 32-year-old, jailed for four years, even shared her workout routines to her TikTok which had more than 200 followers

At the High Court in Dundee, Lord Renucci jailed Gilmour on February 18, saying: 'Your involvement was significant and enduring, spanning three and a half years.

'During that period you were engaged in the purchase and onward supply of controlled drugs, and the management of substantial sums of money obtained from that activity.

'The quantities involved were considerable - that is clear from the messages and the amount of money deposited in your account. The total sum was in excess of 500,000.

'You appear to have been candid with the author of the report as to the reasons for your involvement, which you admit was for financial gain.

'This was to fund a gambling problem.'

Lord Renucci granted the Crown's application for a serious crime prevention order.

Counsel Donald Findlay KC, defending, said: 'What becomes clear in talking to her was that the centrepiece of her problems was gambling and a gambling addiction.

'She got drawn into that world primarily to fund her gambling habits.

'She is not particularly good at linguistics or numbers generally, but as with many serious gamblers, she could look at a dog race at Milton Keynes and tell you naturally what was the best dog.'

Gilmour spent more than 100,000 on cosmetic work, designer gear, and gambling. When police raided her home they found her sleeping next to a 25,000 Rolex watch

She also flashed new veneers for her teeth which cost an estimated 8,000 along with several pairs of new shoes

Gilmour admitted being involved in serious organised crime at her home in Keppochhill Road, Denmark Street, both Glasgow, and elsewhere, between 1 April 2020 and 20 September 2023

Detectives discovered that Gilmour had trafficked tens of thousands of street Valium pills and splashed almost 100,000 on cosmetic work, designer clothes and gambling.

She had earlier admitted her involvement in serious organised crime at Glasgow's High Court.

Prosecutor Michael Macintosh told how her plot was rumbled when the parcel labelled as containing candles was found to hold 2,200 of cannabis.

Officers moved in on her and her mother Shirley's home where they seized eight mobile phones as well as 11,183 in cash.

It emerged that Gilmour - who flaunted pictures of wads of banknotes and her new teeth in 2016 - liaised with her drug associates under her username 'scarabflicker' on the Encrochat encrypted phone network, which has since been cracked by crime-fighters.

The court heard of texts about the sale of 'scoobs', or Benzodiazepines. Gilmour offered to supply 150,000 of the pills to an associate, remarking she had 'a good few'.

The hood replied: 'You should have - you're the queen of scoobs.'

Mr Macintosh said Gilmour, who banked and transferred dirty cash, offered to swap a stolen 35,000 watch for 220,000 tablets.

Other chats mentioned the drugs being 'belters' and talked about cannabis deals at 5,300 per kilogram.

Mr Macintosh said Gilmour claimed benefits while a cleaning firm in her name had an annual turnover of up to 43,540.

Some 181,675 went into her account in 2020-21, 155,660 in 2021-22 and 188,890 in 2022-23.

Her spending included 20,000 each on cosmetic procedures and clothes, plus 37,000 gambled away with only 9,000 winnings.

Despite over 500,000 passing through her account in three years, Gilmour declared just 85,134 profit from GMG Cleaning Limited to HMRC during the same period.

Gilmour admitted being involved in serious organised crime at her home in Keppochhill Road, Denmark Street, both Glasgow, and elsewhere, between 1 April 2020 and 20 September 2023.

She admitted using encrypted phones to chat with others about the production, purchase, sale and supply of controlled drugs.

She also admitted to being concerned in the alteration and supply of controlled drugs, and handling organised crime funds through various bank accounts.
Keir Starmer's threat to arrest a settlement party who have arrived in their Chagos Island homeland to reclaim their territory has been met with fury.

The small group of Chagossians arrived on the island by boat on Tuesday in a final attempt to reclaim their ancestral land before Labour officially surrenders the territory to Mauritius.

Misley Mandarin, first minister of the Chagos government in exile, is leading the group and said that 'time is critical' for his people, who were evicted from the British colony more than 50 years ago.

But Mr Mandarin, who was forcibly removed from the island by Britain when he was 14, along with his father Michael, 74, face three years in jail and a fine of 3,000 if they stay on the archipelago.

In a letter served by British patrols, titled a British Indian Ocean Territory Removal Order, they were told: 'This order shall be carried into effect by the master of the vessel on which you were carried into the Territory.

'If you breach this Order and return to the Territory you will commit a criminal offence and be liable on conviction for imprisonment for 3 years or a fine of 3,000'.

Former Tory MP Adam Holloway, who has accompanied the Chagossians to the territory, told the Daily Mail: 'We are not f***ing about here. We can't be and won't be evicted'.

Speaking from the Chagos Islands, he said: 'I dont know if I need to laugh or despair.

Misley Mandarin, first minister of the Chagos government in exile, arrived on the Chagos Islands on Tuesday

He has led a group of four people who have landed on the island as they look to reclaim the land before Britain surrends it to Mauritius

Former Tory MP Adam Holloway (left), who has accompanied the Chagossians to the territory, told the Daily Mail: 'We are not f***ing about here. We can't be and won't be evicted'

'Its absolutely absurd. Brits evicted from British territory by a Portuguese guy who works for the British Indian Ocean Territory.

British people are being evicted from their own territory and being kicked out of the base at Diego Garcia when the Government lets in thousands of immigrants.

'So we dont remove them but we evict British subjects. Its absolutely outrageous.

We are going to stay here despite the order.'

Mr Mandarin said he was furious with the 'appaling' notice.

He told GB News: 'This is really appalling considering we were exiled from the homeland more than half a century ago.

'Now I have been served a removal order saying I have to leave the atoll, my homeland.

'If I dont I might be in prison for three years or pay a hefty fine of 3,000 which is very appalling to me and Im very angry about.

He claimed he will defy Labour and stay on the island no matter their threats and intends to welcome hundreds of fellow Chagossians in the coming months.

Mr Mandarin said he was 'appalled after being' handed a removal notice and threatened with three years in prison

Mr Mandarin was forcibly removed from the island by Britain when he was 14, along with his father Michael, 74 (pictured)

The group, which included former Tory MP Adam Holloway, hope to resettle in the island and welcome hundreds more Chagossians

He added: 'They can make a threat however they want, Im staying here.

Labour last year transferred UK sovereignty over Chagos to Mauritius in what critics dubbed a 'betrayal' of the British people.

It has forced Chagossians to 'take matters into their own hands' as they have 'no desire to see the islands handed over to an ally of China ,' Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said.

Under the terms of his deal, Britain would pay billions of pounds to lease back the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.

Nigel Farage yesterday said the voyage was 'truly remarkable' and called for Labour to make its 15th U-turn by dropping its Chagos deal altogether. He also praised former Tory MP Adam Holloway, who has since joined Reform UK, for accompanying the Chagossians on their journey.

Last month President Donald Trump tore into the deal warning it was an 'act of great stupidity', an 'act of total weakness' and claimed the site of the Diego Garcia base was being given away 'for no reason whatsoever'.

He later backed the deal saying it was 'the best he [Sir Keir Starmer] could make'.

The UK purchased the Chagos Islands for 3m in 1968 but Mauritius argued it was forced to give it away to gain independence from Britain.

A deal, which could cost the taxpayer up to 30bn, was signed on May 22 last year, despite a last-minute legal challenge by two Chagossians.

Mandarin was raised in Mauritius and left to join the British Army as a cook. He was elected First Minister in an independent poll of Chagossians held in December.

Michael Mandarin, speaking in creole, told Conservative Post: 'We are British Chagossians. We are from this island. And we are here to stay.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Join the debate Should the UK fight harder to protect the rights and homeland of the exiled Chagossians?

'Mauritius was not easy. There were no jobs.

'We had to sleep on a neighbour's floor because we did not have a house of our own.

'So I say to every Chagossian, return back to your homeland and live the way we used to live before the exile, and work together and make a better future

It comes as the Mail revealed a close friend of Sir Keir Starmer shared an 8million pot for his work in negotiating the 'surrender' deal.

Philippe Sands KC, who describes himself as a 'great friend' of the Prime Minister, pocketed his share of the sum while acting as chief legal counsel to Mauritius between 2010 and 2024.

In that time he secured the controversial deal which will see Britain hand back sovereignty of the strategically important archipelago, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, and lease the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years - at an average cost of 101m a year.

Professor Sands, a leading international human rights lawyer who is also close with Attorney General Lord Hermer, led a series of legal teams who were almost exclusively tasked with fighting for the cession of the island to Mauritius.

Together they were allocated at least 8,300,000 from the Mauritian state budget, official documents show.

While the exact figure Professor Sands took home is unknown, his role as chief counsel will have seen him earn the largest cut, according to one international lawyer, who said a large bonus could also be paid on the deal's completion.

Asked how much he was paid, Sands told a House of Lords Committee he 'did not know' but admitted he was 'remunerated, as I am for almost all my cases. It was not done pro bono'.

Pressure has mounted on Sir Keir Starmer to ditch his 'terrible' plan of surrendering the Chagos Islands amid mounting opposition from his own Labour MPs. Pictured: Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands

It was also revealed that the Prime Minister 'wobbled' over the Chagos deal amid panic over the 35billion price tag and doubts over the legal position.

Private concerns were revealed by former ambassador to Washington Lord Mandelson, who was forced to resign in September over links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In an interview with The Times, Lord Mandelson he 'became aware of a serious wobble in London over the agreement and its sellability to the British public'.

'That was to do with the price tag and whether we had the total legal obligation to enter the deal and whether the original legal case made for the agreement in Whitehall was as watertight as was claimed,' the peer said.

'So on the one hand I faced a sceptical US administration and then at another point a wobbly government of my own behind me.'
A drug dealer and his mum who went on the run to South Africa for seven years were jailed after cops sent him Valentine's cards asking for a date.

Sussex Police sent Callum Gower messages asking to 'see him again' after he disappeared to Cape Town with his mum.

Father-of-two Gower, 29, and mum Caroline Sevier, 53, were extradited after police sent their tongue-in-cheek messages.

The romantic message offered a 500 reward if they could be reunited with their lost Valentine.

The 2018 post read: 'All we wanted was to spend some quality time with the people who've been trying to avoid us lately.

'Can you play Cupid and help us secure a date with some of the county's most wanted people?

'There's every chance it could be back to our place for coffee!

'We will be appealing for those who have broken our hearts to meet us for the date they owe us.'

Sussex Police posted this tongue-in-cheek message in 2018

The pair were jailed after a judge told them she was fed up sentencing drug dealers who cause death and misery.

Gower complained of harsh treatment and poor conditions in Pollsmoor Prison, asking for his sentence to be reduced.

Mum Caroline also said she had been traumatised by her experience in South African jail.

Despite agreeing conditions in South Africa were clearly less than desirable, Her Honour Judge Christine Laing KC told the pair: 'I'm frankly fed up with having to sentence dealers of Class A drugs who do nothing but cause death and misery to tens of thousands of people.

'The two of you were involved in a good going business involving three properties.

'Neither of you told much truth about what was going on.

'I have to apply a healthy dose of common sense.

'I'm told you set the business up then involved your own mother in dealing Class A drugs.

Fugitive drug dealer Callum Gower was handed a hefty jail term after being flown back to the UK from South Africa

Gower's mother Caroline Sevier was also jailed

'The quantities and values are quite astonishing for people in your circumstances.

'I have heard you are both remorseful.

'It didn't ring particularly true to me.'

The pair fled to South Africa after properties he controlled were raided.

Sevier and Gower fled after being release on bail.

They were both wanted on drugs and firearms charges in South Africa.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued for the pair in 2023.

Gower and his mum were arrested in Cape Town in 2024.

He was reported to be renting a luxury, 6350-a-month, 6-bed home in an exclusive estate.

South African police said he claimed he was a cryptocurrency dealer.

Gower and his mum of ran a chain of drug houses in Hastings and St Leonards.

Sevier, 53, from Broadoak, and Gower, 29, from Rye, pleaded guilty to offences linked to the storage, preparation, and distribution of significant quantities of controlled drugs from multiple addresses.

Sevier was pulled over by police on March 21, 2017 and police found cocaine with an estimated street value of up to 2,580, 3.5kg of cannabis in the boot and documents linking Sevier to addresses in Hastings and St Leonards where substantial quantities of cocaine, MDMA and cannabis were seized.

The street value of the drugs seized during the operation was estimated at approximately 298,000.

Gower was flown back to the UK in September last year.

His mother was sent back the following month.

They were sentenced at Lewes Crown Court this week after admitting all the offences.

The judge jailed Sevier for six years.

Gower was locked up for a total of seven years and eight months.

Mother and son both said: 'Thank you, your honour,' as they were taken down.

Sussex Police Detective Superintendent Jay Mendis-Gunasekera said: 'This was a substantial and organised drugs operation supplying significant quantities of Class A and Class B drugs into our communities.

'Seiver and Gower played leading roles in the storage and distribution of these drugs across multiple addresses.

'The scale of what was uncovered  including more than 30 kilograms of cannabis and large amounts of cocaine and MDMA  demonstrates the seriousness of the offending.

'Drug supply causes immeasurable harm, fuelling violence, exploitation and addiction.

'We will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in this type of criminality, no matter how long it takes, and ensure they are brought before the courts.'
Tony Martin has left his entire 2.5million fortune to a pub landlady he met after his release from prison when his conviction for murdering a burglar at his home was overturned.

Martin, who died in February 2025 aged 80, was initially jailed for the murder of 16-year-old Fred Barras and for seriously injuring accomplice Brendon Fearon after they broke into his isolated farmhouse, near Wisbech, in 1999.

But the murder conviction was later quashed on appeal and Martin instead spent three years in prison for manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, after he was diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder. He was released in July 2003.

In recent years Martin had been campaigning for his manslaughter conviction to also be overturned, and proclaimed: 'I don't regret anything'.

It has today been revealed that Martin left all of his considerable fortune to his pub landlady friend Jacqueline Wadsley, 52, following his death from a stroke.

The pair met at the Hare and Hounds pub, a short drive from Bleak House, where Martin killed the teenager with a pump-action shotgun.

They are said to have become 'like father and daughter', with Ms Wadsley and her husband David, 45, with whom she shares three children, now in line to receive all of Martin's assets.

These include Bleak House, 350 acres of surrounding land, and property in Australia.

Tony Martin is pictured outside his farmhouse called Bleak House in near Wisbech, Norfolk, shortly after his release from prison in August 2003

It has today been revealed that Martin left all of his considerable fortune to pub landlady Jacqueline Wadsley (pictured), 52, following his death from a stroke

Martin never returned to Bleak House after he finished his prison sentence for the manslaughter of 16-year-old Fred Barras in 2003

David Wadsley told the Mirror Martin first met Ms Wadsley over 20 years ago.

'It was a slow burner but Jacqui, by her nature, she's a very, very caring person so the friendship just grew.

'It became something much stronger and ended up being more like a father and a daughter relationship to be honest at the end,' he said.

Mr Wadsley added his wife had been 'very surprised' at Martin's decision to leave them his estate.

'It was just her caring nature that was just to look after him and then it just grew from there. It was a shock to find out we had been named in his will. We're still trying to take it all in really.'

Earlier this month the crumbling remains of Bleak House were seen being cleared out.

Martin never returned to the property after his release from prison, and it was left relatively untouched.

The house was already in a dilapidated state before the killing and today it is crumbling into the ground.

Martin shot dead burglar Fred Barras (pictured), 16, at his farm Bleak House in Emneth Hungate near Emneth, Norfolk, in 1999

Brendon Fearon (pictured in December 1999) broke into Tony Martin's Norfolk home with fellow burglar Fred Barras, 16 - he since said he had 'no anger' towards the farmer

New photos show a huge pile of rubbish outside the crumbling remains of Bleak House, near Wisbech on the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire border

The house has no front door or windows and there are holes in the roof.

The glass, which the burglars broke to gain entry into the house ahead of the shooting, still lies on the floor and there are shotgun pellets embedded in the wall at the foot of the stairs.

Speaking in 2024, Martin insisted he 'doesn't regret anything' relating to the events of August 20, 1999, adding: 'You may think I've got a chip on my shoulder but I'm bound to.

'I haven't met anybody who says I was wrong. I don't think people appreciate what happened. I've been naive, I'm too honest for my own good and I don't like dishonesty.

'I would like to appeal but you can't because you need fresh evidence. My idea of fresh evidence and their idea are different.

'I'd love to clear my name before I die but it may never happen. The law won't allow it.'

After his death, Mr Fearon, who was also injured on the night of the killing, said he had 'no anger' towards Martin.

In 2013, UK law was changed with the Crime and Courts Act providing a 'householder's defence' if someone used 'reasonable' force against an intruder that was not 'grossly disproportionate'.
Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has arrived at court in California in an ill-fitting suit as he prepares to take the stand in a landmark social media addiction trial.

Zuckerberg, 41, arrived at Los Angeles Superior Court in an oversized navy suit that appears to be straight off the rack.

It has not been tailored to fit the billionaire, with some critics comparing it to an oversized suit a second grader would be forced to wear to church.

The social media tycoon was flanked by his attorney Paul Schmidt, who sported a deadpan expression as he walked in with a disposable Starbucks coffee.

Zuckerberg appeared calm and collected, and even offered the cameras the smallest hint of a smile as he walked into the courthouse.

The Meta CEO is expected to answer tough questions on Wednesday from attorneys representing a now 20-year-old woman identified by the initials KGM, who claims her early use of social media addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts.

Meta Platforms and Google's YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which TikTok and Snap have settled.

Zuckerberg has testified in other trials and answered questions from Congress about youth safety on Meta's platforms, and he apologized to families at that hearing whose lives had been upended by tragedies they believed were because of social media.

Mark Zuckerberg, 41, arrived at Los Angeles Superior Court in an oversized navy suit jacket and dress pants that appeared to be too big

The billionaire's suit has not been tailored and appears to be purchased straight off the rack, with some critics comparing it to an oversized suit a second grader would be forced to wear to church

Mark Zuckerberg and his team arrive outside Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday

This trial, though, marks the first time Zuckerberg will answer similar questions in front of a jury, with bereaved parents expected to be in the limited courtroom seats available to the public.

The case, along with two others, has been selected as a bellwether trial, meaning its outcome could impact how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies would play out.

A Meta spokespman said the company strongly disagrees with the allegations in the lawsuit and said they are 'confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.'

Schmidt said in his opening statement that the company is not disputing that KGM experienced mental health struggles, but rather that Instagram played a substantial factor in those struggles.

He pointed to medical records that showed a turbulent home life, and both he and an attorney representing YouTube argue she turned to their platforms as a coping mechanism or a means of escaping her mental health struggles.

Zuckerberg's testimony comes a week after that of Adam Mosseri, the head of Meta's Instagram, who said in the courtroom that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms.

Mosseri maintained that Instagram works hard to protect young people using the service, and said it's 'not good for the company, over the long run, to make decisions that profit for us but are poor for peoples well-being.'

Zuckerberg's attorney Paul Schmidt sported a deadpan expression as he walked in with a disposable Starbucks coffee

Zuckerberg appeared calm and collected, and even offered the cameras the smallest hint of a smile as he walked into the courthouse

Mark Zuckerberg's bodyguards hold back bystanders and the press as he arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday morning

A man walks past court case files with Zuckerberg's name on them as they are taken into the courthouse on Wednesday morning

Parents and family members, including some plaintiffs in the case, embrace before entering the Los Angeles Superior Court for the social media trial tasked to determine whether social media giants deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive to children

Much of Mosseri's questioning from the plaintiff's lawyer, Mark Lanier, centered on cosmetic filters on Instagram that changed people's appearance - a topic that Lanier is sure to revisit with Zuckerberg.

He is also expected to face questions about Instagram's algorithm, the infinite nature of Meta's feeds and other features the plaintiffs argue are designed to get users hooked.

Meta is also facing a separate trial in New Mexico that began last week.
The widow of Zivan Radmanovic, who was shot dead in a Bali villa, has written to the Indonesian court where those accused of the killing are preparing to learn their sentence.

The alleged assassination of Radmanovic and injury of Sanar Ghanim was carried out on June 14, 2025, with the accused trio - Mevlut Coskun, Paea I Middlemore Tupou and Darcy Francesco Jenson - arrested days later.

In their trial, prosecutors requested an 18-year prison term each for the two alleged gunmen, Coskun and Tupou, and a 17-year prison term for Jenson for allegedly aiding and abetting.

Defence lawyers had argued this was too excessive - especially for Jenson who the two alleged gunmen said handled logistics and was unaware of the violence - but on Wednesday prosecutors stood firm in their sentencing demands.

'My children will grow up without their father,' widow Jazmyn Gourdeous wrote in her letter.

'They will carry lifelong emotional trauma, financial hardship, and the daily absence of his love, guidance and protection.

'Indonesia has in the past demonstrated a firm stance against serious crimes... If the deliberate killing of a husband and father does not warrant the maximum penalty under law, then what does?

'Justice must do more than punish, it must deter. It must protect and affirm, without ambiguity, that human life is sacred.'

Radmanovic (pictured with Jazmyn) was beaten with a sledgehammer before being fatally shot

Darcy Jenson is accused of handling logistics for the trio

In their trial, prosecutors requested an 18-year prison term for the two alleged gunmen Tupou (left) and Coskun (right)

The men are accused of organising and executing a shooting at a Balinese villa (pictured) June 14, 2025

Prosecutors claimed Ghanim was had six gunshot wounds while Radmanovic was beaten with a sledgehammer before being fatally shot. Both men have links to Melbourne's underworld.

They had been staying at a villa in the area of Munggu with their partners, where Radmanovic's wife, Jazmyn, was celebrating her 30th birthday.

Coskun and Tupou, who claimed they were hired by an Australian man to collect a 'debt', are accused of using a sledgehammer to break into the villa under the cover of darkness and attack Ghanim and Radmanovic.

Jenson is accused of organising the logistics of the trip in the months before the alleged attack - including accommodation, car hires and scooter rentals.

All three men were arrested in the days after the alleged shooting as they tried to flee the country.

Coskun, 22, and Tupou, 27, have been tried together while Jenson, 27, was given a separate trial.
US-mediated peace talks on Ukraine collapsed in less than two hours after Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky claimed it was unfair that Donald Trump was placing more pressure on his country than on Russia.

The second day of talks concluded on Wednesday, though neither side signalled they were any closer to ending Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

The talks wrapped up after just two hours, much shorter than the six hours of meetings on Tuesday, according to the head of Russia's delegation.

Neither side elaborated on what they discussed or whether they had agreed on anything, but both signalled the discussions had been tricky.

Trump put pressure on Ukraine on Monday to make a deal, saying they 'better come to the table, fast'.

But Zelensky told Axios on Tuesday it was 'not fair' that Ukraine - and not Russia - was facing more pressure, adding that lasting peace would not be achieved if 'victory' was just handed to Moscow.

'I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision,' Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader said late Tuesday he was ready to move 'quickly' towards a deal but questioned whether Russia was serious about peace.

Volodymyr Zelensky claimed it was unfair that Donald Trump was placing more pressure on his country than on Russia

US-mediated peace talks on Ukraine take place in Geneva

Russia is pushing for full control of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region as part of any deal, and has threatened to take it by force

The US has been pushing for an end to the nearly four-year war, but has so far failed to broker a compromise between Moscow and Kyiv on the key issue of territory.

The latest talks on Wednesday were 'difficult, but business-like,' the head of Russia's delegation Vladimir Medinsky told Russian state media after the talks.

While the talks were still ongoing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Wednesday of seeking to 'drag out' negotiations and said the first day had been 'difficult'.

Russia is pushing for full control of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region as part of any deal, and has threatened to take it by force if Kyiv does not cave at the negotiating table.

But Ukraine has rejected this demand, which is politically and militarily fraught, and signalled it will not sign a deal without security guarantees that deter Russia from invading again.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The ensuing conflict has resulted in a tidal wave of destruction that has left entire cities in ruins, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians dead and forced millions of people to flee their homes.

The United States has been pushing for an end to the nearly four-year war, but has so far failed to broker a compromise between Moscow and Kyiv

Servicemen from the strike drone platoon at an undisclosed location in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine

A damaged building after a Russian drone hits residential areas in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, on February 17, 2026

Hours before talks began, Russia fired 126 attack drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian air force.

Russian drone and artillery attacks overnight and late Tuesday wounded at least one person and caused damage to buildings, according to Ukrainian regional authorities.

Russia occupies around one-fifth of Ukraine - including the Crimean peninsula it seized in 2014 - and areas that Moscow-backed separatists had taken prior to the 2022 invasion.

Ukraine says handing Russia more territory will effectively 'reward' Russia for invading and embolden it to attack again.

Russia has been slowly seizing territory across the sprawling front line for months, claiming control of villages in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and northern Sumy region on Wednesday.

But its wartime economic worries are mounting, with growth stagnating and a ballooning budget deficit as sanction-hit oil revenues drop to a five-year low.
A serving Metropolitan Police officer who appeared in a BBC documentary has been charged with rape and sexual assault.

PC Mahad Abdalla, 28, is due to appear in court on Friday after also being accused of strangling a woman and of engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour.

The officer, from Chiswick, west London was filmed by a BBC camera crew going about his duties as a response officer in the borough of Ealing as part of the 2019 documentary The Met: Policing London.

He and a colleague were seen having to deal with a drunk driver at 7am in the morning, as well as with two reported incidents of assault on police officers.

PC Abdullah, attached to the Met's Taskforce, was arrested on May 14 2024 and bailed pending further enquiries before being charged last month.

The officer has been suspended from duty since his arrest.

He will appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court in North London, charged with rape, engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, two counts of intentional strangulation, assault by penetration and sexual assault.

The charges relate to off-duty incidents involving a woman known to him.

PC Mahad Abdalla, 28, has been charged with a series of offences

The officer, pictured left, was 20 when he was filmed by a BBC camera crew going about his duties as a response officer in Ealing as part of the documentary The Met: Policing London

The investigation has been led by the North West Public Protection unit and the victim continues to be supported by specialist officers.

The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards is aware.
The US military has deployed airstrikes on three boats suspected of drug trafficking in Latin American waters, killing 11 people.

US Southern Command said the operation, which was one of the deadliest strikes since Donald Trump's campaign against narco-terrorism began, was carried out late Monday.

'Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations,' the military wrote on X.

Their statement said the boats were 'operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations'.

Video released by the military showed people aboard the vessels in the moments before they were destroyed.

Authorities did not provide a specific location for the strikes other than saying they happened in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean.

The latest operation brings the reported death toll to at least 145 since the Trump administration launched its war against suspected drug trafficking boats in early September.

It also marked the highest number of deaths in a single strike since December 30.

US Southern Command announced that airstrikes on three suspected drug trafficking boats were conducted Monday, killing 11 people in Latin American waters

The Trump administration had already carried out three other strikes in the region in February

The military said the 11 people killed were all men and that no US forces were injured in any of the three strikes.

Three more aerial attacks have already been carried out by the Trump administration in the region this month.

The first strike on February 5 killed two alleged narco-terrorists. A second on February 9 also killed two but left one survivor.

US forces moved 'immediately' to initiate rescue efforts for the lone survivor, according to the military on X.

A subsequent strike on February 13 also killed three people.

In each case, officials said the targeted boats were 'transiting along known narco-trafficking routes' and were 'engaged in narco-trafficking operations.'

The frequency of the strikes had waned since the US seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on January 3 in an overnight raid.

The strike caused the largest death toll a single operation since December 30. The US military said no American forces were harmed

Video published of the strikes appeared to show individuals chatting on one of the vessels before it was struck

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth touted the Trump administration's latest strike on X.

'Turns out President's Day  under President Trump  is not a good day to run drugs,' he wrote on Tuesday.

Critics have questioned whether there is enough evidence to conclusively link the targeted boats to drug trafficking operations.

The legality of the fatal strikes has also been challenged by military lawyers and legal experts.

However, the Trump administration has defended the legality of the killings.

The White House has said Trump 'determined' that the US is in an armed conflict with cartels and that the suspected drug-running boats were 'combatants,' according to The New York Times.

President Trump 'determined' that the US is in an armed conflict with cartels and that the boats were 'combatants'

The campaign in the Caribbean has been named Operation Southern Spear by the Trump administration.

Hegseth previously said the mission 'defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.'

He added: 'The Western Hemisphere is America's neighborhood - and we will protect it.'
Six survivors who were buried by a treacherous avalanche at Castle Peaks mountain in California on Tuesday helped officials locate them using the iPhone SOS function.

At least eight have been confirmed dead in the back country tragedy, with one person still unaccounted for, authorities confirmed in a press conference on Wednesday.

Six of the skiers survived by creating a makeshift shelter with a tarp close to where the deceased were located. The Nevada County Sheriff's office confirmed that a group member yelled 'avalanche!' before the dangerous conditions overtook them 'fairly quickly.'

A group of 15 backcountry skiers, led by Blackbird Mountain Guides, was on Castle Peak, about 40 miles from Mt. Rose, late Tuesday morning, when they were hit by a slide and a huge storm dumping heavy snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for much of the northern and central Sierra Nevada, forecasting heavy snow and wind gusts up to 55mph.

Early in January this year, a separate avalanche killed a snowmobiler near the Sierra Nevada area. At least three hikers perished in extreme weather conditions in nearby Mount Baldy in December 2025.
Donald Trump stands on the brink of a major Middle East war as negotiations with Tehran collapse over his nuclear red line.

The president is on the verge of greenlighting a 'massive, weeks-long' military campaign against Iran that would be seen as all out war.

Sources tell Axios the campaign would have a broader regime-change objective against the Ayatollah. The US and Israel would also launch the operation in a military joint effort.

The potential war would be the most dramatic and consequential military invasion since the Iraq war in 2003 with major implications for Trump's remaining presidency.

Trump's armada off the coast of Iran has swelled in recent days to include two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, and hundreds of fighter jets equipped with advanced air defense systems.

More firepower is also on the way as 150 military cargo flights have begun rapidly transferring weapon systems and ammunition to US Middle East bases in the last 24 hours.

Trump has ordered another 50 fighter jets, including F-35s, F-22s and F-16s to be ready as he prepares to strike Iran.

Diplomatic negotiations led by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly made little progress on Tuesday after Tehran refused to meet Trump's demand to halt all nuclear development, according to JD Vance.

The president is on the verge of greenlighting a 'massive, weeks-long' military campaign against Iran that would be seen as all out war

Trump has ordered a massive naval and aerial build-up off the coast of Iran

The potential war would be the most dramatic and consequential military invasion since the Iraq war in 2003 with major implications for Trump's remaining presidency

A war with Iran would come as Republicans brace for a tough midterm election cycle, fighting to preserve their congressional majority and avoid Trump becoming a lame-duck president.

The Daily Mail has contacted the White House for comment.

Trump's war preparations come as Iran has shut down the Strait of Hormuz for a military drill in a move that serves as a warning to the world if Trump orders an attack.

The temporary closure of parts of the strait came as Iranian news agencies reported live fire exercises in the vital waterway, through which 20 per cent of the world's oil passes.

The rare move is a signal from Tehran of the potential fallout to the world economy if the US goes through with threats to attack it as tensions mount between the two countries.

In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping through the narrows, and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points.

But Iran has not carried out repeated threats to close the waterway altogether since the 1980s, even during last year's 12-day war when Israel and the US bombarded Iran's key nuclear and military sites.

The extent and impact of Tuesday's closure were not immediately known. Iranian media said it would be for several hours for 'safety and maritime concerns'.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted a large-scale exercise in the Strait of Hormuz

Trump's armada off the coast of Iran has inflated to include two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of fighter jets equipped with advanced air defense systems

Diplomatic negotiations led by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly made little progress on Tuesday after Tehran refused to meet Trump's nuclear demands

Trump previously was preparing for a military strike against Iran at the start of the year over the mass killings of thousands of Iranian protesters by the regime.

Regional allies, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, urged the White House to back off a strike over fears it could lead to a wider regional war with the Ayatollah.

After Trump backed off from launching a quick strike, the administration began a massive military naval build-up off as Iran's coast while demanding nuclear talks.

Meanwhile, top regime leaders, including the Ayatollah, have released threatening messages vowing to killing US service members after refusing to bend to Trump's demands.
The Metropolitan Police is examining claims that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's royal protection officers 'turned a blind eye' during visits to paedophile Jeffrey Epsteins private island.

It comes after a former officer claimed that certain members of the Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) command may have witnessed abuse at Little St James.

Andrews protection team travelled with him on at least two occasions to the island, including a trip on Epsteins private jet which had been dubbed the Lolita Express.

The unnamed former Met officer said: The big question for me is what Andrews protection team witnessed on Epstein island.

Im not suggesting they definitely witnessed any criminality from Andrew, but there was concern that certain members of the royal protection team wilfully turned a blind eye to what was happening on the island.

The disgraced royals chief accuser Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, including on Little St James in the early 2000s.

Multiple survivors have also alleged they were trafficked to and abused on the island which Epstein purchased in the US Virgin Islands in 1998.

The disgraced royals chief accuser Virginia Giuffre claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, including on Little St James in the early 2000s

The bodyguards were said to have travelled with the then-Prince Andrew to the island (pictured) on at least two occasions

The former Duke of York was stripped of his titles over his links to convicted sex offender who died by suicide while in prison awaiting trial

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: At this time, we have not identified any wrongdoing by any protection officers.

However, initial enquiries into these specific allegations have begun so we can establish the facts.

As with any investigation, should any new allegations come to light these will be assessed in the usual way. This includes any misconduct or criminal matters.

Speaking on LBC, the former Met protection officer said there were real concerns that the bodyguards became too close to the Royal Family and may have withheld information from the force about what happened on the island.

He said members of the Royal Protection Unit were terrified to report behaviour as officers who had filed reports in the past were removed and put back in uniform.

I certainly thought that a line was crossed to the point that we were concerned that information was being withheld from the police.

They seemed more loyal to the Royal Family than to the Met - and thats wrong, he explained.

'We used to say they were "more royal than the Royals". Some of them started to wear signet rings and talking and behaving more like members of the Royal Family than a police officer.

The former Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his titles over his links to Esptein last year, has vehemently denied wrongdoing.

Multiple police forces across the UK have said they are assessing whether to launch investigations into allegations laid bare in the release of more than three million Epstein files.

This includes a probe by Thames Valley Police which is reviewing allegations Epstein provided Andrew with a woman to have sex with at the Royal Lodge in 2010.

The force is also assessing allegations published in the Epstein Files that Andrew shared confidential material with Epstein while he was the UKs trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.

Both Essex and Bedfordshire Police are examining flight logs in relation to Epsteins private jet using terminals at Stansted and Luton Airports.
A surprising front-runner has emerged in the hotly contested race to become California's next Governor.

A Republican candidate is storming ahead in the typically Democratic state.

British former political aide Steve Hilton is leading among the candidates with 17 percent of voter support ahead of the November election, according to Emerson College Polling.

Not far behind is Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is tied with Democrat Representative Eric Swalwell at 14 percent.

However, the majority of voters were undecided at 21 percent, a 10 percent decrease from a survey conducted in December.

The last Republican elected governor of California was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was re-elected in 2006.

'The Republican electorate in California is split between Steve Hilton (38 percent) and Chad Bianco (37 percent), while Hilton also picks up a plurality of independent voter support at 22 percent,' Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said.

Following the top three candidates are Democrats Katie Porter at 10 percent and Tom Steyer at 9 percent.

'Democratic voters have not yet clearly coalesced around one candidate,' said Kimball.

A recent survey by Emerson College Polling discovered that British Republican Steve Hilton is leading with 17 percent of voter support in the November election for Governor of California

Not far behind is another Republican, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (pictured), who is tied with Democrat Representative Eric Swalwell at 14 percent

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The survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted on February 13 to 14 and has a margin of error of three percent.

Hilton, a Fox News contributor and fierce critic of Newsom, was tied with Swalwell at 12 percent in the December survey, trailing Bianco by a point.

Incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom is out of the running having served the maximum number of terms.

He was hit with a different troubling statistic which saw his approval rating drop to 44 percent, a three-point decrease from December.

Additionally, the governor's disapproval rating surged to 45 percent, up 6 points from the previous poll.

Newsom confirmed during an October interview that he has ambitions to run for president in 2028.

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Democrat Representative Eric Swalwell leads Democrats but is currently three-points behind the Brit

Governor Gavin Newsom's term limit forces him out of office but he is gearing up for a presidential bid in 2028. Newsom's approval rating drop to 44 percent, a three-point decrease from a December poll

Hilton, who said moving to California was one of his proudest moments, announced his run for governor in April.

'Lets make California the land of opportunity again  great jobs, great homes, great kids,' said Hilton in his announcement.

'Lets make California an inspiration again, the very best of America.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Hilton for comment.
Sir Keir Starmer defended his U-turn on council elections today - blaming local authorities for wanting to postpone votes.

The Prime Minister broke cover today for the first time since his government reversed a plan for 30 English council elections to be delayed until next year to help town halls through a major reorganisation of local government.

In the 14th major policy U-turn of his 19-month premiership the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on Monday reinstated the votes, after receiving advice from lawyers following a legal challenge by Reform.

More than 4.5million people are set to get a vote again in May's council elections after the change.

On a visit today to Wales, where Labour appears set to lose its grip on power, the Prime Minister appeared to suggest responsibility for the original decisions to postpone the votes lay with the local authorities.

Asked councils now being left scrambling to organise polls on May 7 at short notice due to his Government's change of mind, he said: 'Well, I think it's important to remind ourselves that the decision to cancel was a locally led decision, in the sense that each authority could decide.

'And, yes, Labour authorities came forward to say, ''please delay'', but so did Tory authorities, so did Lib Dem authorities.

'In relation to the position, we took further legal advice and, as you would expect as a Government, having got further legal advice, we followed that legal advice.'

During a visit to South Wales the Prime Minister said: 'Well, I think it's important to remind ourselves that the decision to cancel was a locally-led decision in the sense that each authority could decide'

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He spoke alongside First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan during a visit to a railway depot in South Wales

Insiders suggested a misinterpretation of the law was to blame for the blunder, which came just hours after the floundering Prime Minister dismissed the idea of more volte faces in a live radio interview.

But furious councils questioned whether the abolitions and merging of authorities can still go ahead, complaining that ministers have failed to get a grip.

The Government has agreed to pay Reform UK's legal costs after the party challenged the initial decision to postpone the votes.

The decision to reinstate elections was made 'following legal advice', an MHCLG spokesperson said.

They added: 'Providing certainty to councils about their local elections is now the most crucial thing and all local elections will now go ahead in May 2026.'

Local Government Secretary Steve Reed wrote to council leaders, telling them he recognised 'that many of the local councils undergoing reorganisation voiced genuine concerns about the pressure they are under'.

He announced up to 63 million in capacity funding to the 21 areas undergoing reorganisation across the whole programme, in addition to 7.6 million provided for developing proposals last year.

Yesterday it emerged that Mr Reed may have been personally responsible for weaking the government's legal case due to comments be made in a newspaper article.

The Times reported that an op-ed in the paper in which he claimed voters would support cancelling 'pointless' and 'time consuming' elections to bodies that were soon to disappear, before confirming which areas would be affected.

It prompted calls for him to quit from reform leader Nigel Farage, among others.
Seattle's woke new mayor has come under fire for failing to address the community's rampant fentanyl epidemic during her first State of the City address.

Democratic socialist Katie Wilson spoke Tuesday about her plans to tackle Seattle's homeless crisis and admitted the Washington city is falling 'far short' of where it should be.

However she was less candid about Seattle's drug problem, which saw almost 1,000 overdose deaths last year.

The crisis has turned parts of the progressive city into open air drug markets, leaving many residents feeling unsafe.

Despite their concerns, Wilson marked her first weeks in office by signing an order allowing most drug users to avoid prosecution by turning them over to social services rather than police.

The directive was curiously absent from Wilson's speech, which instead focused on her recent visit to one of the city's many homeless encampments and plans to build more housing.

Locals were quick to tear into the new mayor for appearing to gloss over the important issue and accused her of failing to 'offer solutions to combat the fentanyl epidemic destroying lives', per Discovery Institute reporter Jonathan Choe.

'Her solution is to let these druggies live on the streets and eventually overdose and die,' another person wrote on X.

Mayor of Seattle, Katie Wilson, gave her first State of the City address on February 17 acknowledging that they are 'falling short' when dealing with the homeless crisis

The mayor campaigned on ending encampment sweeps and treating drug use as a public health crisis instead of a criminal matter but failed to mention the fentanyl crisis in the address

'Did anyone in Lake City really think Katie Wilson was qualified to be mayor or would come up with any solutions for the city's drug problems?' a third wrote.

During her speech, Wilson spoke at length about her visit to the Ballard encampment, explaining she had extended its deadline in order to secure 'better outcomes' for its homeless members.

She previously campaigned on a platform of, 'prioritizing encampment removals based on safety issues and neighborhood impacts'. As a result her latest comments were met with more fury.

'"Housing First" is a total scam that only fuels the crisis. We need LAW AND ORDER, not more handouts and needle-infested parks for our kids. Trump warned us about these failing cities. Time to stop the "woke" experiments and start enforcing the law. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,' one person wrote on X.

'The only thing you seem to support is sweeps which clearly only move the problem around. You grift on the suffering of others,' another added.

Still, Wilson, a college dropout from Oxford University and co-founder of the Transit Riders Union, insisted 'we're doing some things right'.

'Every year, thousands and thousands of people receive the support they need to stabilize their lives. Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated city employees and our housing, shelter, and service providers,' she said.

However, she agreed that the city has failed to tackle the homelessness crisis.

'I'm committed to minimizing harm to people living in encampments at the same time as I take seriously the city's mandate to keep public spaces open and accessible for their intended use,' said Wilson

Seattle recorded almost 1,000 overdose deaths in 2025 with many areas now open air drug markets

From 2019 to 2024, the homeless population in King County spiked by 46 percent to 16,385 people, according to Seattle-based public policy think-tank Discovery Institute.

'We can't get so used to the way things are that we start to feel it's natural for so many people to be left to sleep outside every night,' she said.

'We have to make sure that everyone can access and enjoy our parks, trails, sidewalks, and other public spaces. And we cannot just keep moving people from place to place and calling that progress.'

She went on to explain how her office will address the problem by keeping public spaces open and prioritizing encampment removals.

However her remarks were mocked by Seattle residents, particularly those living in the embattled Lake City district who flooded X with testimonials about the nightmarish scenes they were living through.

'Second and Lenora is heartbreaking. I saw two people, in wheelchairs with their legs bandaged up helping each other shoot up on the sidewalk at 2pm. I WAS ARRIVING TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY at the escape room. It's bad,' one person wrote.

'She can check out 12th and Jackson, while shes at it. Time to get out in the field and get a big dose of reality,' another added.

Wilson said she visited one of the city's many homeless encampments which she had vowed to dismantle and decided to allow it to remain to allow for an easier transition for members

Discovery Institute journalist Choe meanwhile said he spoke to residents on 33rd Ave NE who described the area as 'an absolute disaster zone' which 'looks like a scene out of a zombie movie'.

He said locals in the neighborhood were challenging Wilson to come and see the impact of the fentanyl crisis on their street.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Wilson's office for comment.
Surrey Police have urged people with information to come forward about claims of human trafficking and sexual assault linked to the Epstein files.

The force said the allegations, set out in a redacted report released by the US Department of Justice in December, allegedly took place in Virginia Water between 1994 and 1996.

An FBI report from July 2020, which appeared in the files, in which somebody alleged they were drugged at night and driven to 'paedophile ring parties' in the mid 1990s.

The same person also claims to have been hit by a dark blue car 'driven by Prince Andrew' in which they allegedly suffered injuries to their ribs, hip and leg.

The force said they have found no evidence of allegations being reported to them after reviewing their systems.

In the same document, the woman also alleged sexual abuse against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

The woman claimed she was restrained on a table and 'tortured with electrical shocks' by Maxwell, while the former prince and other men watched on.

Surrey Police said they have found no evidence of the allegations being reported to them after reviewing their systems.

It has urged anyone with information in relation to the claims to come forward and contact police either online or over the phone.

Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.

Surrey Police have urged people with information to come forward about claims of human trafficking and sexual assault linked to the Epstein files. Pictured: Jeffrey Epstein

A bombshell email from Ghislaine Maxwell confirmed that this infamous 2001 photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with his arm around his chief accuser Virginia Giuffre was genuine

Surrey Police added in a statement: 'We take all reports of child and sexual abuse seriously and therefore, as with any other matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention, including any information resulting from the release of materials in the US, we will assess it.

'Where relevant, and via the national coordination group, we will engage with law enforcement agencies to obtain access to further information which may support our enquiries.

'It is important that any information is reviewed objectively and without speculation. Updates therefore will be provided only when available  and will be shared on this page.'

Surrey Police has now become the latest UK police force seeking further information about allegations relating to the Epstein files.

On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said it had begun 'initial enquiries' into allegations that close protection officers turned a 'blind eye' to Andrew's visits to Epstein's island, Little St James.

Last night Essex Police said it is assessing information from the bombshell trove which suggests the paedophile financier trafficked sex victims to the UK on private flights via Stansted airport.

Flight logs show the convicted paedophile's so-called Lolita Express had landed or taken off from UK airports up to 90 times between the 1990s and 2018.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has claimed that the newly published files showed in 'graphic detail' how Epstein was able to use the Essex-based airport to 'fly in girls from Latvia, Lithuania and Russia'.

In an article for the New Statesman, Mr Brown said Epstein 'boasted' about how cheap the airport charges were in Stansted compared to Paris.

Mr Brown said that Stansted Airport was where 'women were transferred from one Epstein plane to another', adding that 'women arriving on private planes into Britain would not need British visas'.

Ghislaine Maxwell (left) and Jeffrey Epstein (right) on board a private jet. Some 90 flights came in and out of UK airports with suspected sex trafficking victims on board

This image released as part of the latest tranche of documents in the Epstein files appears to show Andrew Mountbatten Windsor crouching on all fours over a female lying on the floor

He said it seemed as though authorities 'never knew what was happening', referring to evidence uncovered by the BBC which showed 'incomplete flight logs, with unnamed passengers simply labelled as 'female''.

He wrote: 'In short, British authorities had little or no idea who was being trafficked through our country, and for whom other than Epstein.'

On Tuesday, an Essex Police spokesperson said: 'We are assessing the information that has emerged in relation to private flights into and out of Stansted Airport following the publication of the US DoJ (Department of Justice) Epstein files.'

A Stansted Airport spokesperson said: 'All private aircraft at London Stansted operate through independent Fixed Base Operators, which handle all aspects of private and corporate aviation in line with regulatory requirements.

'All immigration and customs checks for passengers arriving on private aircraft are carried out directly by Border Force.

'They use entirely independent terminals not operated by London Stansted and no private jet passengers enter the main airport terminal.

'The airport does not manage or have any visibility of passenger arrangements on privately operated aircraft.'

Chiefs at Thames Valley Police are already assessing claims that Epstein sent a young woman to the UK for a sexual encounter with Andrew at his Royal Lodge home in Windsor in 2010.

Detectives at the force are further said to be examining whether or not Andrew should be investigated for the offence of misconduct in public office over allegations he forwarded confidential reports while a trade envoy for the UK.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal probe into Lord Peter Mandelson over claims he leaked confidential information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in 2009.

Norfolk Police confirmed the force is also reviewing documents brought to their attention, but said they had not yet received any allegations and were not currently conducting any investigations.

Bedfordshire Police are reportedly looking into Luton flights.
Villagers have been effectively cut off after a massive storm destroyed the coastal road that connects them to the outside world and nobody knows where they'll get the 18million to fix it.

The A379 into Torcross was swept into the sea after being pummelled by 12ft waves and 60mph winds when Storm Imogen hit south Devon earlier this month.

It was not the only casualty in the storm. Landlady Gail Stubbs' pub, the Start Bay Inn, was smashed up by the deluge along with several neighbouring houses.

The road runs a precarious two-mile stretch along a narrow shingle bar between Torcross and nearby Slapton and is nicknamed 'The Slapton Line'. Now it is destroyed, there is just one road into the village which takes drivers heading to Slapton or Dartmouth on a huge 45-minute detour.

Windows and roofs were smashed in by rogue waves crashing over the sea wall onto a row of houses along the promenade. Alleyways were left sitting full with waist-deep water.

At the same time, important sea defences were also stripped away, with experts saying the beach dropped 6.6ft during the storm, leaving the village massively exposed to further chaos from the wind and tides.

Damage is 'still happening' in the village, Mrs Stubbs told the Daily Mail today, explaining the lack of defences against the waves left them wide open to further destruction.

'We're having to close at five o'clock today, so just I can make sure no one gets hurt. If the water comes in and gets into the electrics, you might get a fire as well,' she added.

The shingle bar had been used for rehearsals of the D-Day landings because it resembled Utah Beach in Normandy, but it looks more like a warzone now than ever.

The A379 between Torcross and Slapton in South Devon has collapsed into the sea after Storm Imogen devastated the area earlier this month

Torcross is now cut off from the rest of the world after the 200 metre section fell into the sea

Gail Stubbs' (pictured) ancient thatched pub dates back to the 1400s but she is worried that it won't be able to take many more storms like this after being heavily damaged in Storm Imogen

Even if someone is found to pay the 18million bill to fix the 200m gouges in the tarmac, repairs may not be finished until 2027.

The destruction at the pub itself and the ruined road connecting the village to the outside world have spelt misery for business at Mrs Stubbs' pub.

The 47-year-old said: 'Last time the road was closed for eight months right through the season and our turnover was down by 50 per cent.

'So obviously, that's a worry. We don't know whether to plan for a season being fully open, half open, or not open at all.'

She said there have been rumours that the village will be subject to compulsory purchase orders - where properties are acquired by public authorities without the owners' consent. This has not been confirmed.

Mrs Stubbs added: 'I don't know how serious that is, but it's really frightening.'

Some 300,000 holidaymakers come to Torcross each summer. Now access to the village is much more limited, with only one road remaining, which forces a massive detour on narrow country lanes for drivers heading to Slapton or nearby Dartmouth.

Mrs Stubbs has made the drive with her partner and said she had to stop and reverse 22 times on the trip to let other cars pass.

Join the debate Should taxpayers foot the 18 million bill to save this village?

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The village and Gail's pub are still getting hit now the defences are down and she is worried of an electrical fire with high waves soaking the place

As well as the damage to the road, several buildings including Gail Stubbs' pub the Start Bay Inn have been heavily damaged with smashed windows and roofs

She spoke about how serious the massive depletion of sea defences and the beach at the village was for its residents. She said: 'Since the beach has gone and the material in front of the village isn't there anymore, we're just getting hit a lot worse.

'So we really need a bit of urgent help.

'People keep asking about the road, but my personal priority is the village. It's been there a long time, and the sea wall was there to protect it. It's not doing its job anymore.'

Her inn dates back to the 1400s, but Mrs Stubbs fears storms like this could wipe out that 600-year history. She added: 'The future of the village is debatable.'

The community is rallying together and has started a petition with their Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden to help raise the 18million to fix the road and repair the sea wall.

Mrs Stubbs said: 'We really, really need as many signatures as we can to show central government that it's not just a little community. There are an awful lot of people who care about the area.'

The Start Bay Inn defiantly remains open despite its boarded-up windows but the thatched pub has had to close early in fear of high winds. It was still busy over the half-term weekend too, as well as neighbouring cafes - admittedly due to an influx of rubbernecking 'disaster tourists'.

But this will not last, and there are already reports of holidaymakers cancelling bookings in the wake of the news.

Gerd Masselink, professor of coastal geomorphology at the University of Plymouth, said the damage to the road, village and beach was 'the biggest change that's happened here in the last 10 years.'

The beach was lowered by 6.6ft in the storm, essentially amounting to over six years of damage. In the past 20 years, the beach has fallen 20ft, Masselink said.

Gerd Masselink, professor of coastal geomorphology at the University of Plymouth, said the storm damage had taken away 6.6ft of the beach - over six years worth of erosion

Without the beach, Torcross is getting battered by the sea, Mrs Stubbs said. She has had to close the pub early today and there is not even a storm on, but the waves are still lapping up to the building

Metal clanking in the waves means that Ali Willcock, owner of Torcrosss Billy Can cafe can't sleep. He said: 'Everything rattles all the time, its impossible to sleep'

Damage left behind at the Start Bay Inn following the storm

'It is very significant but it's part of an ongoing trend at beaches along the south coast, of gravel and sand being moved from the western end, to the eastern end,' warned Mr Masselink.

He added: 'We're going to see increased flooding, we're going to see erosion on beaches that used to be stable. We're going to see increased erosion at beaches that are already eroding.

'We can't keep defending coastlines for the next 20, 30, 40 years.

'Unless we start casting the whole coast in concrete, we have to start retreating'.

For now, however, a school bus service has been set up for children who need a lift around the collapsed road. What was once a 10-minute journey to Dartmouth now takes 45 minutes and locals are worried about access to doctors, chemists and emergency services.

Torcross is no stranger to terrible flood and storm damage. The Slapton Line has collapsed three times already in 2001, 2016 and 2018 and the government has not said it is willing to repair it yet again.

Mrs Stubbs' inn has also seen bad storm damage, with the pool table nearly being washed out of the doors in one storm in 1979. It was this that prompted a proper sea wall being built at the village.

The 18million repair cost estimate is well over Liberal Democrat-run Devon County Council's budget with hopes central government funding from the new 1billion Structures Fund might save the road, but nobody is confident.

Local Liberal Democrat councillor Dan Thomas highlighted the difficulties of maintaining a piece of road right by the sea and pointed out there is a nationwide shortage of funding for highways, meaning roads like these are often a struggle to keep maintained.

In a village hall meeting, things got heated with locals angry as county council leader Julian Brazil explained that government funding was limited.

They aired resourceful ideas like the Army building a pontoon bridge, the 18million be taken from the billions in the foreign aid budget, making it a toll road, even a kelp bank to protect the coastline.

A Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs spokesman said: 'We're committed to supporting coastal communities through our record investment of 10.5bn in protecting against flooding and coastal erosion by 2036, benefitting nearly 900,000 properties.

'In addition, having inherited flood defences in the worst condition on record, we have reprioritised more than 100m into urgent maintenance works to make sure defences are properly maintained.'
A wealthy Miami influencer had his $500,000 Ferrari stolen and said he caught the thieves on camera.

Carlos Nunez, 27, has more than twelve million followers on TikTok and has gone viral for frequently showcasing his luxury cars, homes and vacations.

On Saturday night, two suspects broke into his multi-story home and backed his 2021 Ferrari Spider SA out of the driveway, reported NBC Miami.

Nunez's wife, Sondra Blust, told the Daily Mail the thieves made two visits to their home that night.

'They broke into our house at 1:56am, February 14th, stole the keys to our cars and came back at 4:13am, knocked down our gate and stole the Ferrari out of our garage,' she said.

The couple captured security footage of the masked crooks in all black, shoving open the gate and hopping into the car.

'We saw that they were taking the Ferrari and they had the G-Wagon already on,' Nunez told NBC.

When he heard the ruckus, Nunez ran out of his sprawling home and onto his balcony, yelling at the burglars to stop.

Blust and Nunez has yet to install any kind of tracking device on the car

Nunez purchased the black Ferrari just a few weeks prior and frequently posted it across his social media

'I saw the exact moment they took my car,' he said in a TikTok video describing the moment. 'I went out... and screamed.'

When the thieves heard his voice, one of the suspects darted out of the $200,000 Mercedes G-Wagon, and the duo sped off with the Ferrari.

The thieves wore socks instead of shoes to prevent footprints. They arrived in a small, white Mercedes.

'It is a little bit hard with these kinds of people,' Nunez said. 'They do this often and they know what they're doing.'

Miami Police received his panicked 911 call around 4am.

Blust said they'd only had the luxurious car for a short while.

'We had just purchased the car two weeks prior, so we hadnt installed our own tracker yet,' she said.

Blust contacted Ferrari and the car's previous owners for help.

The couple contacted Ferrari and the car's previous owners for assistance

Carlos Nunez and his wife Sondra Blust were at their home in Miami when their Ferrari was stolen

The black 2021 Ferrari Spider SA is priced at just under $500,000

As the thieves took the car, Nunez heard a noise and ran out on his balcony to yell at them

Nunez showed off the Ferrari car several times between buying it and having it stolen.

'I can't believe the car we're going to pick up today,' he said in a TikTok when he bought it.

Nunez asked his followers to keep an eye out for the vehicle and report any significant sightings to the Miami police.

The affluent influencer also criticized people for using his hardship for views.

'I think a lot of people are taking advantage of the situation for views and to create content. Don't believe everything you see,' he said.

Just hours after his luxury car was stolen, Nunez posted a video presenting his wife with a $4,000 pink Chanel purse for Valentine's Day.

He described the day as 'the worst February 14 of [his] entire life.'

The Daily Mail contacted Miami Police for comment.
A Brewdog fan fears he may have lost it all after investing 12,000 into the ailing beer brand's 'equity for punks' scheme.

Richard Fisher, 58, from Suffolk believed investing into the upstart beer firm about six years ago was an opportunity too good to pass up.

Founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, Brewdog shunned traditional routes of raising cash.

It was among the first businesses to 'crowdfund' in a scheme dubbed 'Equity for Punks', offering its customers the chance to invest and gain equity in the company.

Its first campaign saw over 1,000 people invest in Brewdog with an average investment of around 500, with shares priced at around 20 to 30 each.

Since then, around 220,000 beer enthusiasts piled 75million into the firm across seven 'Equity for Punks' rounds.

And upon seeing the Scottish beer company's fast-paced expansion, the small business advisor decided to invest 12,000 in the hopes of a good profit.

Describing Brewdog as 'Maverick' and 'to a certain extent rebellious', Richard believed the business was 'all good stuff'

Richard Fisher, 58, from Suffolk (pictured) fears he may have lost it all after investing 12,000 into Brewdog's 'Equity for Punks' scheme around six years ago

Founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie (pictured right to left), Brewdog shunned traditional routes of raising cash

It was among the first businesses to 'crowdfund' in a scheme called 'Equity Punks', offering its customers the chance to invest and gain equity in the company

'I genuinely thought Brewdog would go public, be listed on the stock market with the freedom to buy and sell shares and there was potential to make a bit of profit,' he told the BBC.

However he is now concerned he may lose it all as Brewdog gears itself up for sale, and the 'equity punks' likely to be pushed to the bottom of the pile.

The firm was initially painted to be something out of the ordinary with its founders, then in their 20s, declaring how they were 'fed up with the stuffy UK beer market'.

And its Equity for Punks fundraising scheme was no different to Brewdog's original messaging - something radically different.

It offered beer enthusiasts who donated cash a 'slice of the brewery' as well as a 'share in its success and growth'.

It proved to be a success with Brewdog giving perks to shareholders, such as discountedand free birthday beer as well as an invite to its 'Annual General Mayhem' event.

Meanwhile, the crowdfunding scheme spearheaded the company's swift expansion into an international brand before it closed in 2021.

However a deal struck between US equity firm TSG Consumer partners and Brewdog for a 22 percent stake in the company may see investors walk away with nothing.

The firm has been based in Ellon since 2012 - but now has several secondary breweries across the globe

When TSG bought a stake in the firm in 2017, some equity punks could cash out their investment. But this deal changed the way Brewdog shares were structured.

Previously, there were two types of shares  Class A held by founders and employees, and Class B mostly for crowdfunding investors.

The TSG deal saw the introduction of 'preference shares', which would mean that TSG would have preferential treatment if Brewdog was sold, listed or closed.

As Brewdog's performance has floundered  it recently reported losses of 37million  the valuation of the firm has plummeted.

In its last funding round in 2021, Brewdog commanded a 2billion valuation, but just a year later this had plummeted to less than 520million, meaning that if there is a sale then there will be very limited money left for investors after TSG is paid.

However many investors, like Richard, fear the firm's fall from grace and valuation will mean there will be nothing left for them to cash out.

'Some people invested a lot of money, thinking it was going to be their Google or Tesla,' Richard said.

'My shares have effectively been worthless for the last two or three years.'

Richard was initially unaware of the earlier deal between Brewdog and TSG when he purchased his shares - until they began to appear on an online forum.

The firm used to offer 'trading days' where investors could sell or buy stakes, however after the last one in 2022, no more have seemingly been organised.

However a deal struck between US equity firm TSG Consumer partners and Brewdog for a 22 percent stake in the company may see investors walk away with nothing

Meanwhile, Chris Huish from South Wales, who bought 500 worth of shares has 'no idea' what they are currently worth.

'There's not much transparency on that. I don't think I'm going to get it back,' he said.

It is not suggested that Brewdog has committed an illegal act.

Its application forms for the scheme also required potential investors to read its prospectus where risk factors, and detailed terms and conditions were included.

Previously, James Taylor, Brewdog's chief executive, confirmed via a statement that its consultants AlixPartners were evaluating the company's 'investement opportunities' and 'strategic options'.

"It remains business as usual across our bars, venues and breweries,' he said.

"We remain fully committed to our customers, our crew, our partners - and to you, our Equity Punk community.

"Your continued support is a fundamental part of Brewdog's journey, and we will keep you updated as the process progresses.'

The Daily Mail has approached Brewdog for further comment.
A Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office deputy found himself on the wrong side of the law after he was allegedly caught trying to meet up with a girl who he though was 15 at a movie theater, police said.

Christopher Diaz, 50, was taken into custody on Friday night after the Delray Beach Police Department received a report he met up with a young girl at Ipic Theaters, according to an affidavit reviewed by the Daily Mail.

Diaz appeared to have been caught in a sting set up by 561 Predator Catchers, a self-described predator hunting group, who arranged for him to meet an adult woman posing as a minor, per the criminal complaint.

The woman, who was referred to as Olsen in the affidavit, told officers that she and Diaz had matched on multiple dating apps just two days before they met in person, the report stated.

The disgraced deputy then told Olsen to move their conversation to iMessages, where she allegedly told him she was 15, a fact he 'disregarded' as he proceeded to communicate with her, the document read.

Diaz allegedly often made the conversations sexually charged and even masturbated during Facetime calls with Olsen 'on multiple occasions,' according to the affidavit.

When they met in person, Diaz's alleged sexual advances only grew more intense as he 'immediately' touched her face and told her 'I want to kiss you', the report states.

The alleged victim also told police that Diaz touched 'her all over her upper chest' on top of her clothing, even though she repeatedly told him 'no,' the affidavit detailed.

Christopher Diaz, a 50-year-old Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office deputy, was arrested on Friday after he allegedly met up with a woman he believed was 15

Diaz met with the girl, named Olsen, at Ipic Theaters (pictured) in Delray Beach, Florida. Before he was arrested, he allegedly made several sexual advance toward her, including touching her inappropriately, according to an affidavit

After 'feeling uneasy due to Diaz's persistence in touching her,' the affidavit says they stepped outside where Diaz was accosted by 561 Predator Catchers creator Dustin Lampros and Russian YouTuber Vitaly Zdorovetskiy.

Lampros, who is also an MMA fighter, livestreamed the raid on Diaz on Kick as he asked Diaz about his interactions with Olsen.

He admitted he knew the teen girl, worked as a police officer with Miami-Dade, and that he sent her picture of his penis, telling Lampros and Zdorovetskiy: 'I'm not going to lie.'

When asked why he decided to meet with a teenager, Diaz said: 'I was hoping that she was actually 18.'

Lampros asked: 'So you were taking the chance on becoming a pedophile?'

'I wasn't gonna do anything today,' Diaz responded.

After finding out Diaz worked as a police officer, Lampros exploded, stating: 'You're here to serve and protect and you're caressing a 15-year-old's face?'

After police arrived, Diaz was placed in handcuffs and booked into Palm Beach County Jail on a misdemeanor charge of battery touching or striking.

After he and the girl left the theater, they were met outside by 561 Predator Catchers creator Dustin Lampros and other members of his crew. During a brief talk, Diaz appeared to admit to his alleged wrongdoings

During his first court appearance late Saturday he was ordered not to contact the victim and posted his $1,000 bond. He is set to appear in court again on February 20.

After his arrest, Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz with the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office condemned Diaz for his alleged crime and said he was terminated as a result.

'After reviewing the law-enforcement information related to this case, I have directed that termination proceeds begin immediately. The deputy has been relieved of duty without pay, effective immediate,' Cordero-Stutz wrote on X.

She added: 'I am outraged by the arrest of one of my deputies on criminal charges involving alleged contact with an individual who posed as a minor.

'The behavior is unacceptable and represents a serious betrayal of the oath we swear and the trust our community placed in us to protect our children.'

When contacted by the Daily Mail by phone, Diaz did not pick up. The Daily Mail also reached out to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office for comment.
Barack Obama was spotted shedding a tear as he addressed senior White House staff in the wake of Donald Trump's shock election victory, according to a new interview archive that has laid bare the inner workings of his administration.

Those close to Obama reveal he was surprisingly emotionally stable when Trump was declared president. But he did shed some tears when the moment came to a head.

'He came to speak to the senior staff,' recalled Christy Goldfuss, the managing director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. 'He got up to give a speech and he started crying and he thanked everybody and he thanks all of us for believing in him.'

Jen Psaki, who served as Obama's communications director, recalled that even heavyweights like Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew and National Security Adviser Susan Rice were overcome with emotion.

'All these people who are so tough and smart and complete badasses... were tearing up,' Psaki recalled.

But the tear-stained faces in the West Wing were a world away from the mocking laughter and derision that had filled a Washington ballroom just five years earlier.

It was the high-society event of the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner, a night remembered for its glitz and sharp-tongued barbs.

David Axelrod, the veteran strategist behind Barack Obama's historic ascent, was weaving through the sea of tuxedos and evening gowns when he caught the unmistakable voice of Donald Trump, bragging to other attendees.

In a massive undertaking that reveals eight years in the West Wing, a colossal new archive has laid bare the inner workings of the Obama administration. One thing was made abundantly clear: Obama and his team never anticipated a Trump presidency

Obama and his first lady greet Trump and his wife Melania for tea before the inauguration at the White House in 2017

'I know it's crazy,' Trump was heard crowing, 'but I'm in front of the polls.'

The real estate tycoon, years away from his own White House run, was already holding court and relishing his status as a disruptor.

As Axelrod passed by, he overheard the future president boasting to a circle of guests about his burgeoning popularity with the electorate.

'I kind of chuckled at it and went to my seat,' Axelrod said. 'I don't think any of us really anticipated that Donald Trump would be a serious candidate for president, much less president.'

During the comedy portion of the evening, Obama even mocked Trump at the party.

Now, the curtain has been raised - revealing the build up to President Trump taking office.

In a massive undertaking that reveals eight years in the West Wing, a new trove of interviews pulls back the curtain on details from the Obama administration.

This oral history, the most significant collection of its kind ever released, was spearheaded by Columbia University's Incite Institute in a high-profile partnership with the Obama Foundation.

Join the debate How do you think Obama's emotional response reflects the impact of Trump's unexpected victory on America?

While the project is being hailed as a definitive record, there are three gaping holes in the lineup: Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama and then-Vice President Joe Biden are all absent from the interviews

Researchers spent years capturing a staggering 1,100 hours of raw audio and video footage, creating a mountain of evidence that chronicles the highs and lows of the 44th President's tenure.

One thing was made abundantly clear: Obama and his team never anticipated a Trump presidency.

While the project is being hailed as a definitive record, there are three gaping holes in the lineup: Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama and then-Vice President Joe Biden are all absent from the interviews.

However, the archive more than makes up for their silence with a star-studded and politically charged roster of participants.

From heavyweight diplomats to Hollywood royalty and even fierce Republican rivals, the collection offers a 'who's who' of the era's most influential figures.

'The outcome of the election was a direct rebuke of everything that we had been trying to do for the last 10 years,' Josh Earnest explained, who was Mr. Obama's last White House press secretary.

'Trump's candidacy,' he added, 'the essence of his being and everything that he stood for and everything about the way that he carried himself and everything that he championed and his rhetoric, his campaign tactics  all were anathema to everything that the Obama campaign and the Obama era, the Obama administration, had been about.'

In a series of surreal exchanges revealed by former chief strategist David Axelrod, the future president first reached out in 2010 during the catastrophic BP oil spill.

This oral history, the most significant collection of its kind ever released, was spearheaded by Columbia University's Incite Institute in a high-profile partnership with the Obama Foundation

Using Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski as a high-society middleman, the real estate mogul reached out to Axelrod to offer his personal services to plug the leaking Gulf of Mexico well.

Axelrod, baffled by the offer, says he declined.

Once the oil spill was contained, Trump returned with a new obsession: the 'embarrassing' state of White House entertaining. In a phone call, Trump reportedly pitched Axelrod on preparing a custom-built Trump ballroom.

He fired off his campaign four years later, in June 2015.

'Nobody took it seriously at the time,' said Cody Keenan, another speechwriter for Mr. Obama.

But then, he won.
A picture-perfect suburban family have been torn apart after their 21-year-old son allegedly shot his eldest sister in the ear with a crossbow at their $700,000 home in a months-long plot to kill her, police said.

Samy Sedhom was arrested after he allegedly attempted to kill his eldest sister, Stephanie Sedhom, 28, at their home in Lawrence on Long Island, New York, around 9.30pm on Friday.

Stephanie arrived home from the gym when she noticed her younger brother sitting inside his Lexus across the street from their $691,000 West Avenue residence.

She pulled her car into the detached garage, and while putting in the code to close the door, she felt a 'sharp pain' in her right ear, the criminal complaint, viewed by the Daily Mail, said.

Stephanie immediately called police, while her brother fled the scene in his vehicle. Authorities arrived to find a G5 hunting arrow lodged in the rear wall of the garage.

Police determined that Sedhom was waiting outside for his sister with a Barnett Whitetail Hunter Crossbow with the intention to 'kill her,' the complaint said.

Sedhom admitted to police in several statements that he intended to murder his sister and had been planning to do so since Christmas.

When contacted by the Daily Mail, his middle sister Susan Sedhom, 25, said: 'We are trying to mourn.'

Samy Sedhom, 21, was arrested after he allegedly attempted to kill his eldest sister, Stephanie Sedhom, 28, at their home in Lawrence on Long Island around 9.30pm on Friday

He had purchased a hunting crossbow, arrows, and a tracking device as apart of his plot, he told police, according to the complaint

'The victim also suffered physical disfigurement from the actions of defendant Samy Sedhom,' the complaint said.

Police obtained the crossbow's box, a black Katana sword, and an Apple MacBook from Sedhom's room.

After fleeing the scene, Sedhom drove down the block, where he discarded his weapon in his neighbor's backyard to hide the weapon from police, the complaint said. Police later recovered the weapon.

In an interview with police, the Long Island man admitted to purchasing a three-pack of G5 hunting arrows, the crossbow, a Spark Nano 7 GPS device, which is a covert vehicle tracker, to 'assist him with killing the victim,' the complaint said.

Sedhom admitted to placing the tracking device on his sister's car to track her movements.

Stephanie was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery and received life-saving treatment.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said the siblings had a 'brother-sister rivalry,' according to News 12 Long Island.

The pair had allegedly been fighting over the temperature their shared residence was kept at.

'She liked to keep it cooler, he wanted it warmer,' Donnelly said, according to the outlet.

His uninjured sister, Susan Sedhom, 25, told the Daily Mail: 'We are trying to mourn'

Stephanie had been arriving to the family's $690,000 West Avenue home when the incident happened. She was taken to the hospital, where she underwent an emergency surgery

Sedhom (pictured in 2021) faces up to 25 years in prison. He remains in jail and has been ordered to stay away from his sister

Sedhom has been charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, tampering with physical evidence, and stalking.

He remains in jail and has been judicially ordered to stay away from his sister.

Sedhom faces up to 25 years in prison.
Tyler Boebert, 20, son of Colorado Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, has been charged with child abuse for a second time.

Tyler, one of Boebert's four children, was slapped with a 'misdemeanor charge of child abuse without injury' on Tuesday, according to 9News.

He is accused of leaving his two-year-old son unattended at the congresswoman's home in Windsor, Colorado, over the weekend.

The tot then reportedly wandered away from the house, which is located close to a lake.

Representative Boebert told 9News that there's 'no excuse' for her son's actions and that she's 'very frustrated this happened.'

'A kind woman quickly and safely secured him, and authorities were called as a precaution,' Boebert added.

Just last week, Representative Boebert brought her grandson to DC with her. She shared several adorable snaps of him in the US Capitol.

Tuesday night's charge was Tyler's second of the same nature.

He was cited on July 11, 2025, for leaving his son unattended as well. He currently has an April court date for that charge, one for criminal negligence where no death or injury occurred, according to documents from the Windsor Police Department.

Lauren Boebert with her son, Tyler, 20

Tyler Boebert is pictured in a mugshot in February 2024. He is facing a new misdemeanor charge of child abuse after an incident with the congresswoman's grandson

Boebert's grandson, seen sitting on the floor of the US House of Representatives last week alongside Tennessee Republican Congressman Tim Burchett, in a snap shared on X by Boebert

Congresswoman Boebert called the summer incident 'a miscommunication on monitoring my young grandson that recently led to him getting out of our house.'

The MAGA firebrand said her son's run-in with the law was a 'one-time incident,' and that the Boebert family has met with Child Protective Services.

Tyler welcomed a son in June 2023 when he was still a teenager, making Boebert a grandmother at the age of 36.

The Republican said in a statement to the Daily Mail last summer, 'Tyler has been doing a great job getting his life on track as a father and citizen over the past year.

Boebert's grandson, seen in the hallways of the US House of Representatives in a snap shared on X by Boebert last week

Lauren Boebert with her children and grandson

'Unfortunately, this event stems from a miscommunication on monitoring my young grandson that recently led to him getting out of our house.

'As the citation states, there was absolutely no injury or physical abuse involved.

Boebert's office did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
A suspected cyberhacker has been accused of paying just one penny for five-star hotel rooms that cost hundreds of pounds a night after manipulating the booking system.

Spanish police said they had arrested a 20-year-old man over the alleged cybercrime, which is said to be the first example of its kind.

The suspect is believed to have manipulated an online payment system, altering the validation process of an electronic payment platform so that bookings appeared fully paid.

But only a minimal amount - one cent (1p) - was actually charged for rooms costing up to 1,000 euros (890) a night.

'This cyberattack was specifically designed to alter the payment validation system, and this is the first time we have detected a crime using this method,' Spain's National Police said.

Officers revealed the man also consumed minibar items during his stays and occasionally left bills unpaid.

A suspected 20-year-old cyberhacker has been accused of paying just one penny for five-star hotel rooms that cost hundreds of pounds a night after manipulating the booking system

At the time of his arrest, he was staying at a luxury Madrid hotel with a four-night reservation totalling 4,000 euros (3,489).

Authorities said the hotel lost more than 20,000 euros (17,444)

The investigation began after an online booking website noticed suspicious activity earlier this month.

Transactions initially appeared to be complete and correct, but the irregularity was only discovered days later when the payment platform transferred the highly-discounted amount paid to the affected company.
A Florida teenager was walking along a beautiful beach with his parents when a man suddenly attacked him and slashed his throat, nearly killing him.

Sullivan Clarke, 13, was strolling on the Daytona Beach Boardwalk around 10.05pm Saturday with his father Jerod and mother Lori when the unknown man rushed him.

The teen was looking at his phone when the attacker cut his neck, leaving a gash so deep that his father said he could peer inside the wound.

Doctors later told the family Sullivan would have died had the blade gone just one millimeter deeper.

'The crazy thing is I turned at the perfect time because I was on the phone and I looked up at the slingshot,' Sullivan told FOX35.

'That's how he got the side of my neck and not right here,' he added.

Police later identified the random assailant as Jermaine Lynn Long, 44, and arrested him that same night.

Long is being held at the Volusia County Jail on two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. His bond is set at $50,000, according to jail records.

Sullivan Clarke, 13, was attacked around 10.05pm Saturday in Daytona Beach, Florida, while walking alongside his father Jerod and mother Lori

The gash caused by the attack was so profound that Sullivan's father said he could 'see the meat' in his son's neck

Sullivan's father, Jerod, said the wound was so deep that he could 'see the meat in his neck.'

'We are so lucky our son's alive,' Jerod told WESH. 'The doctor said if it would have been one millimeter deeper, we'd probably be having a different conversation.'

He told police he had seen Long around the boardwalk and was keeping an eye on him before the attack.

Jerod claimed that Long slashed his son across the neck with an edged weapon before fleeing the scene.

Sullivan's mother, Lori, recalled the vicious attack and said she initially thought the man was trying to rob her son.

'He had sort of a strange look in his eyes,' she said. 'And then he went up to my son, and I saw this motion  and I thought, oh, he's stealing his phone,' she said.

Sullivan was rushed to Halifax Health Medical Center for treatment after the attack, according to police.

The teen apparently did not realize that Long had cut him until people in a nearby car told him about the wound.

Jermaine Lynn Long, 44, is a registered sex offender who already had an extensive criminal history prior to the alleged attack on Saturday, per county records

The family had spent the day at the Daytona International Speedway before the attack.

Despite his injuries, Sullivan still returned to watch the race the next day.

'His neck was hurting, but he really wanted to go, so we tried to keep things as normal as possible, and I said let's go,' Jerod told WKMG.

The parents claimed that Long had attacked their son unprovoked, which was corroborated by witnesses.

'Be safe [and] always watch your kids,' Andrew Walker, an observer who was on the boardwalk, said. 'Gotta be careful over here.'

Walker claimed he had interacted with Long in the moments before the potentially fatal attack.

'I see the man come down in cuffs, and I was like blown away because that was the same dude I saw walking past me,' he said.

Police also have a surveillance video showing Long's attack on the teenage boy, according to court records.

Long ran away afterwards but was tracked down by police near the pier next to Joe's Crab Shack and taken into custody.

The Clarkes had spent the day at the Daytona International Speedway before the potentially fatal attack

A black box cutter and a silver knife were found on Long, according to his arrest report. He refused to speak with law enforcement and asked for a lawyer.

Long has an extensive criminal history, according to county records. He is also a registered sex offender.

The charges brought against him following his attack on Sullivan were his fifth felony case in Volusia County.

His prior charges included failure to properly register as a sex offender and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Long's latest arrest was in January - on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery after allegedly attacking two men with an eight-foot pole and a kitchen knife.

He was released from jail on February 10 - four days before his attack on Sullivan - after prosecutors declined to pursue the case.

The teen's parents said that Long belonged back in jail.

'I want him locked up,' Jerod said. 'There's no doubt in my mind he'll do it again if he gets out.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Daytona Beach Police Department for further comment.
This is the moment the relatives of a 102-year-old millionaire whisked him away after discovering he had secretly married his carer and planned to give her his fortune.

The incident happened outside a hospital in Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, on February 3.

The centenarian tycoon, whose surname is Wang, was leaving a medical appointment in a wheelchair pushed by his new wife.

Waiting at the entrance were three of his sons, three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren.

As the couple emerged, the relatives surged forward, pushed Ms Lai, the elderly man's new wife, aside and seized control of the wheelchair, attempting to take Mr Wang away.

Video shows a chaotic struggle as Ms Lai shouts for police assistance. She was reportedly injured during the altercation.

Officers arrived at the scene after receiving a report. The family told police the elderly man was their father and father-in-law, and he was ultimately taken away with them.

The explosive hospital clash came weeks after Mr Wang, 102, quietly registered his marriage to Ms Lai, 68, on January 5.

The incident happened outside a hospital in Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, on February 3

The centenarian tycoon, whose surname is Wang, was leaving a medical appointment in a wheelchair pushed by his new wife before being accosted by his children

His children say they only discovered the wedding when they tried to visit him on January 8 and were allegedly refused access.

Join the debate What's your take on the incident?

Relatives claim the caregiver isolated him from the outside world and prevented family contact. They further allege that she took advantage of his deteriorating mental condition to secure her financial future.

According to reports, Mr Wang transferred seven plots of land and a 1.9million insurance policy to Ms Lai and her children, amounting to around 4.7million.

His total assets are estimated at between 16million and 18.7million.

Mr Wang is reported to own multiple properties and parcels of land in Taipei.

Ms Lai denies wrongdoing. She has filed complaints for coercion and public insult and has applied for a protection order against the family.

Household registration authorities said that when the marriage was processed, Mr Wang was able to answer questions and met the formal legal requirements. Under Taiwanese law, individuals with legal capacity may marry regardless of age.

The validity of the marriage and the asset transfers will now be decided in court, as the dispute between the caregiver and the tycoon's family moves into legal proceedings.
The grandson of the King's great uncle Lord Mountbatten has been given planning permission to build more than 900 homes on his family's country estate.

Timothy Knatchbull, second cousin to King Charles, has faced a huge backlash from neighbours who live nearby to his sprawling 4,500-acre Broadlands Estate in Romsey, Hampshire.

The estate also has more than one royal connection - it is also where the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip honeymooned in 1947 as well as the King and his then-wife Princess Diana in 1981.

Mr Knatchbull, who is also Queen Victoria's great-great-great-grandson, is leading a consortium that is behind proposals to build 920 homes on farmland on the south side of Romsey.

The 61-year-old has now been given the green light to build 920 homes and businesses on the plot of land after Mark Staincliffe, the Test Valley Borough Council planning officer, recommended them for approval at a council meeting due to be held next week.

Mr Buss has said that Mr Staincliffe has essentially asked councillors to 'approve the application now and let the officers fix all the problems later'.

Richard Buss, who has lived in the area for 35 years, is leading local backlash against the plan.

He claims that the developers are ignoring Test Valley Borough Council's requirement to build a footbridge over the railway line which runs next to it.

Timothy Knatchbull (pictured), second cousin to King Charles, has been given planning permission to build over 900 homes on his family's country estate in Hampshire

Pictured: The sprawling 4,500-acre Broadlands Estate in Romsey where the council has approved over 900 homes

However the planning report states that the bridge cannot be built until the 800th house is occupied.

He has criticised Mr Knatchbull for previously stating that he had a 'civic duty' to offer up the land but could now only be offering 10 per cent as affordable homes.

There have been objection letters from the Environment Agency, Network Rail, the Woodland Trust, Romsey Town Council and 596 letters from local residents.

The Broadlands estate is owned by the Mountbatten family.

Mr Knatchbull is the grandson of Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was the last Viceroy of India and uncle of Prince Philip.

In 1979, Mr Knatchbull survived an IRA bombing that killed his grandfather and twin brother Nicholas.

The consortium behind the Romsey plans - The Ashfield Partnership - originally applied to build 1,100 homes in 2022 but it has been scaled back to 920 homes.

If built, the new development would add around 2,500 bedrooms to the town potentially increasing its population by up to 15 per cent.

The consortium behind the Romsey development plans - The Ashfield Partnership - originally applied to build 1,100 homes in 2022 but it has been scaled back to 920 homes

Mr Knatchbull with King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2015. In 1979, Mr Knatchbull survived an IRA bombing that killed his grandfather and twin brother Nicholas

Mr Knatchbull is the grandson of Lord Louis Mountbatten (pictured), who was the last Viceroy of India and uncle of Prince Philip

The area sits on land set out by Test Valley Borough Council for development and includes a new primary school, businesses and a community hall.

Mr Buss, a 68-year-old freelance film editor, who forms part of the Romsave group, said: 'It is unacceptable to leave major decisions to unaccountable planning officers rather than the elected representatives of Southern Test Valley.

'This leaves officers to negotiate a deal which undoubtedly will not be policy compliant particularly around the provision of affordable housing and the early delivery of the pedestrian and cycle bridge.

'Why is the Planning Officer recommending approval when the EA are objecting on what appears to be very sensible grounds to avoid flood risk?'.

Mr Buss claimed that local councillors were expected to 'unlawfully approve this application and just trust the planning department to sort out the issues at a later date'

'There are so many issues to be resolved yet Councillors are expected to grant permission for fear of appeal from the developer if they don't.

'We hope Councillors will have the metal to stand up to this premature planning application and refuse permission until it is policy compliant and offers benefits to the residents of Romsey.

'We want to encourage all local residents to come along to the Planning Meeting on Tuesday 24th Feb at the Crosfield Hall 5:30pm to show Councillors just how important this decision is to the town, the largest of its kind in decades, which will fundamentally impact all our lives for generations to come.'

Royal newlyweds the then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip pictured in the grounds of Broadlands at the start of their honeymoon in November 1947

The then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana arrive at Romsey Station at the start of their honeymoon in 1981. The newlyweds spent a portion of their honeymoon on the grounds of the Broadlands estate

Local resident Linda Pennells said: 'If this application cannot viably deliver the full level of affordable housing, infrastructure, environmental mitigation, and community facilities required to make it acceptable in planning terms, then this proposed outline application must be refused.

'Viability should not be used as a lever to force through an otherwise unacceptable scheme'

Another local, Jeffrey Clark, said: 'I am still very concerned regarding Romsey's already serious traffic and parking issues. 920 homes will mean around 1800 extra cars in an area where the roads are insufficient for this amount of increase in traffic.

'Romsey is an old town with narrow roads and in my opinion too small for this amount of extra housing.'

Mr Staincliffe's report concluded: 'The benefits of the scheme are significant and will assist the government's policy requirement to significantly boost housing numbers and the Council's land supply and thus help to ease the national housing crisis.

'For the reasons given above, and despite the failure to deliver 40 per cent affordable housing the planning application should be granted planning permission.'

The final decision will be made at next week's planning meeting.
Hugh Laurie has claimed the producer of Israeli spy hit Tehran 'seemingly' took her own life after she was found dead in her hotel room.

Dana Eden died suddenly on Sunday and her body was found by her brother in her Gatsby Athens hotel room after she failed to respond to his messages.

The 52-year-old, who co-created the popular series based on a Mossad spy infiltrating the Iranian capital, was found with bruises on her limbs and neck and large amounts of pills at the scene.

Police are treating it as a possible suicide and investigating whether, before taking the pills, she attempted to harm herself in another way.

There has been speculation online that Mrs Eden was killed by Iranian agents but the production company dispelled the rumours in a statement.

Mr Laurie, 66, who plays a South African nuclear inspector in the drama, paid tribute to the Israeli, who he described as 'brilliant and funny'.

Posting on X, he wrote: 'Dana Eden, who co-created and produced Tehran, died on Sunday, seemingly by her own hand.

'Its a terrible thing. She was brilliant, and funny, and an exceptional leader. Love and condolences to all who knew her.'

Dana Eden, 52, was found dead in an Athens hotel by her brother after failing to respond to his messages

Hugh Laurie starred in the third season of Tehran which aired on Apple TV Plus last month

A police spokesperson said: 'An autopsy has been ordered, the surveillance cameras have been reviewed, and everything seems to indicate it was a suicide.'

A tribute was shared by Tehran's production company Dana & Shula Productions, which Mrs Eden co-owned, saying they were 'shocked' by the loss.

'We are shocked and saddened by the untimely passing of our beloved friend and partner. Dana was a gifted creator with an international reputation.'

It added: 'The production company wants to make it clear that the rumours of the death being criminal or nationalistic are not true and baseless.

'We call on the media and the public not to publish unfounded theories and to act with responsibility and sensitivity. This is a moment of immense pain for the family, friends, and colleagues.

'We want to preserve Dana's dignity and her privacy.'

Tehran won an Emmy Award in 2021 for best drama series, starring Glen Close and Mr Laurie in seasons two and three respectively.

The cast were in Greece filming its fourth season after the third series aired on Apple TV Plus last month.

Athens was to stand in for the setting in Tehran as the cities are visually similar in areas and Israelis are banned from visiting Iran.

Mrs Eden's body was found at the Gatsby Hotel in Athens, according to Reuters, close to the Acropolis

Filming had been delayed due to the war in Gaza after initially being planned to go ahead soon after the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

It follows a young Mossad agent who infiltrates Iran's nuclear programme under a fake identity but is trapped in her false life.

Police are now collecting security camera footage and testimony from hotel staff.

The Israel Broadcasting Corporation also posted a tribute saying it was 'saddened' to hear of Mrs Eden's death.

'Dana was among the senior figures in the Israeli television industry and was a central figure in the creation and leadership of some of the corporation's most prominent and influential productions,' the company said.

The production appears as though it will continue filming in the wake of Mrs Eden's death.

The corporation continued: 'The fourth season of the series is currently being filmed in Greece  a complex and significant production, which Dana came to closely monitor.

'Her professional work, uncompromising commitment and love of creation have left a deep mark on the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation. Here we share in the heavy mourning of her family, friends and colleagues, and embrace her dear partner, our friend Shula Spiegel.'

Mrs Eden and her production partner Shula Spiegel have collectively produced more than 40 TV series, including Five Men and a Wedding, Dan & Muzly, The Magpie, The Stylist and CBS pilot Mother's Day, as well as the children's series Shakshouka and documentary series Saving the Wild Animals.
Labour's Chagos farce deepened on Wednesday as the UK government threatened to throw islanders returning to Chagos in jail if they didn't leave their homeland.

A small group of Chagossians landed on a remote Chagos atoll on Monday to establish a permanent settlement there before Mauritius takes ownership of the archipelago.

But Labour has now served the Chagossians with an eviction notice demanding they leave their ancestral home, echoing orders given by the then-Labour government for them to clear out more than 50 years ago.

This comes as the US on Tuesday formally gave its backing for Keir Starmer's deal - branded a 'betrayal' to the British people.

First Minister Misley Mandarin, leading the four-strong party of Chagossians, received a letter from the British Indian Ocean Territory delivered by a British patrol boat, which demanded the exiles depart the island or face a prison sentence of up to three years or a maximum fine of 3,000.

Mr Mandarin said: 'This is really appalling, we have been exiled from our homeland for more than half a century.

First Minister Misley Mandarin received a letter from the British Indian Ocean Territory delivered by a British patrol boat demanding the group leave the atoll

The letter demanded the exiles depart the island or face a prison sentence of up to three years or a maximum fine of 3,000

The Daily Mail revealed on Tuesday that Keir Starmer's close friend Philippe Sands shared the proceeds of an 8m pot for his work cementing the deal handing the Chagos islands to Mauritius

'Now, having this vessel serve me this order that if I do not leave the island I might have to be in prison for three years or pay a hefty fine.

'I am very angry about it.'

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said that Labour is 'doing Mauritius's bidding' by 'threatening Chagossians with prisons sentences or crippling fines for landing on the Islands'.

Questions have now been raised over whether Labour is breaking the law in trying to evict the Chagossians.

This comes as the Daily Mail revealed that Keir Starmer's close friend Philippe Sands shared the proceeds of an 8m pot for his work cementing the deal.

Conservative peer Lord Kempsell suggested that in trying to remove the Chagossians there are 'arguable grounds' Labour is breaking Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Article 8 guarantees a right to a private life, family life and home.

Crossbench peer and Human Rights committee chair Lord Alton told the Daily Mail a UN committee has already called for the deal to be suspended because it 'fails to guarantee a right of return by the Chagossians'.

'On human rights grounds alone we should be listening to the Chagossians  ensuring their right to return to their ancestral lands, insisting on the principle of self-determination.

'They have been treated despicably.'

Nigel Farage added Reform is now exploring 'every possible legal avenue' to support the Chagossians.

The Reform leader was among many on Wednesday criticising Labour for evicting British passport holders from British territory while giving small-boat asylum seekers leave to remain in the UK.

Nigel Farage said Reform is exploring 'every possible legal avenue' to support the Chagossians

'Arrive in Dover illegally by small boat and you're allowed to stay indefinitely, but if you're a British passport holder who travels by boat to a British territory, you could be threatened with three years in prison. What a sick country!' he said.

Former Conservative MP Adam Holloway, who has now joined Reform, accompanied the group to the atoll.

He told GB News: 'I haven't been served papers as I was in the jungle looking for wells but this is an extraordinary situation.'

Speaking before receiving the notice, Mr Misley warned that 'time is critical' for his people to reclaim their homeland.

But the US on Monday officially gave its support to Labour's deal to surrender the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, despite President Trump previously calling it an 'act of great stupidity'.

In a seeming attempt to hurry Labour into completing the deal, the US said it would hold bilateral talks with Mauritius next week to discuss security arrangements on the islands.

Under the terms of Labour's deal, Britain would pay billions of pounds to lease back a joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.

Up to 2,000 Chagossians were forcibly removed from the archipelago in the 1960s and 1970s, and resettled mainly in Mauritius and Britain.

There are currently no other Chagossians living anywhere on the Chagos archipelago, with Diego Garcia populated by military personnel and officials only.
A majority of leftwing and centrist voters are willing to lend their vote to rival parties at the next election if it keeps Reform from winning seats, a new poll revealed today.

In every scenario pitched by YouGov where a constituency vote is a straight fight between Reform and one of the other four main parties, tactical voting blocked Farage's outfit from winning.

Similarly, the Tories only victory was against Reform, with voters suggesting they would even narrowly choose Labour over them.

Almost six-in-10 Lib Dem and Green voters (57 per cent and 58 per cent) are prepared to vote for Labour to prevent Nigel Farage's party from taking their local seat, YouGov found.

Nearly three quarters of Lib Dems (73 per cent) would switch to the Greens, and 67 per cent of Greens would go the other way.

And even more Labour voters are prepared to return the favour to the smaller parties, with 77 per cent ready to back Ed Davey's outfit and 76 per cent ready to back Zack Polanski's Greens if they are best placed to beat Reform.

Almost a third (30 per cent) of Labour voters are also prepared to hold their noses and vote Conservative if it means preventing a Reform candidate from becoming their MP.

The poll shows the level of polarisation between right and left in UK politics and adds fuel to the Mail's Unite the Right campaign urging Reform and the Tories to join forces at the next election to get Labour out of power.

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In every scenario pitched to voters where the seat is a straight fight between Reform and one of the other four main parties, tactical voting blocked Farage's party from winning.

In contrast to the left-wing enthusiasm for tactical voting, fewer than half of Reform voters would back the Tories if they were up against Labour (44 per cent), the Lib Dems (45 per cent) or the Greens (43 per cent).

Even fewer Tory voters were prepared to vote tactically for Reform, with 41 per cent backing them against Labour, 37 per cent against the Lib Dems and 32 per cent against the Greens.

However it came as Reform Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick - a former Conservative minister, again criticised his former party.

Launching Reform's economic plans he said that recent PM's including Conservative ones, had been 'defeatist' in their outlook.

In his first speech in charge of Reform's economic policy, Mr Jenrick said he wanted to 'defuse the benefits bomb set to bankrupt Britain'.

The two-child cap on receiving child benefits, eased by Sir Keir Starmer last year would be restored, in a reversal of Nigel Farage's previous support for ending it.

At the same time those who want the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) on mental health grounds would be forced to provide a clinical diagnosis instead of diagnosing themselves.

Those with 'mild anxiety, depression and similar conditions' would be barred from receiving cash and steered towards work, he said.

But in reply Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: 'One week Nigel Farage says Robert Jenrick is a fraud, next week he's Reform's economic guru. You cannot trust a word he says.

'Reform's economic policy changes by the week. Just two weeks ago, Rob Jenrick voted to lift the two-child benefit cap. Today he claims he would reinstate it. They make even Keir Starmer look consistent.'
A police force failed to stop a serial rapist even after one of its own officers reported she had been raped by him and accused her of lying, it was revealed today.

Bruno Sala, 39, originally from Portugal, raped and sexually assaulted women between 2019 and 2021 and was jailed for life in November.

Sala, who had been living in Havant, Hampshire, targeted his victims via online dating apps before raping them and encouraging other men to do so too.

But Hampshire Constabulary could have put a stop to his offending as early as January 2020 after police constable Victoria Tomkins - who has waived her right to anonymity - reported she had been raped by him that month.

She reported him to police after an attack by Sala left her hospitalised but says the force failed to investigate properly.

Shockingly, when justifying their decision not to send evidence to the CPS for a charging decision, a letter stated there was a 'discrepancy' in her account which suggested 'you are lying'.

The force added there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case.

At least three other women were then raped by Sala after Ms Tomkins filed her complaint of rape and coercive control, Channel 4 News reports.

Bruno Sala, 39, originally from Portugal, raped and sexually assaulted women between 2019 and 2021 and was jailed for life in November

Victoria Tomkins had been an officer with Hampshire Constabulary for 16 years when she reported being raped by Sala. The force suggested she had been 'lying' and it ended her career

The mother-of-two, who was a police officer of 16 years, told the broadcaster she knew Sala - a care worker and private ambulance driver - was 'dangerous' and reported the attack in a bid to get him off the streets.

After meeting him on Tinder in early 2019, she described how he quickly revealed his true colours.

If she refused to have sex with other men, she said Sala would rape and beat her.

'He always wanted other men involved in the relationship, despite me not wanting that but you comply, because if you don't, you're going to get raped and beaten,' she said.

After Ms Tomkins, Sala struck up a relationship with Joanna, who has also waived her right to anonymity, three months after Ms Tomkins' report.

She told how she would beg Sala and other men to stop their violent attacks, only for Sala to tell her: 'Shut up b****, I am the boss'.

A third victim said she once woke up to find another man raping her, but Sala told her: 'He didn't rape you  I gave him permission to f*** you.'

Sala was eventually charged with the rape of a fourth woman in April 2022, who he subjected to four hours of sexual torture.

His other three victims only found out about the case after seeing it in news reports.

Following a review of their cases, Sala was convicted of raping Ms Tomkins, Joanna and the third victim.

Sala struck up a relationship with Joanna, who he also raped, three months after Ms Tomkins' report

Ms Tomkins said she will 'never forgive' the police for the way it handled her complaint - Sala went on to rape at least three other women after she reported him

Sala was sentenced in November to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years for six counts of rape, one count of assault and two counts of encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence.

It is understood an appeal is underway by the CPS of the sentence for being unduly lenient. Sala is also appealing his convictions.

He had already been serving a 28-year prison term for his previous rape conviction.

One of his associates, Edson Domingos, 41, from Southsea, was also jailed for 15 years for two counts of rape plus three years on licence due to dangerousness.

But their victims have told how they still live in fear due to other men they say attacked them in conjunction with Sala still roaming the streets.

Since the case, the officer in charge of the review of Ms Tomkins' case which suggested she was lying has been barred from policing for sexual misconduct.

Detective Chief Inspector Roger Wood was in charge of the force's rape unit at the time, but has since been found guilty of gross misconduct in relation to sexual relationships he had with junior employees.

The misconduct hearing heard that Wood 'exploited' two junior police staff for sex after he boasted to them about his 'rank, importance and power'.

And the former Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary himself, Scott Chilton, also retired 'with immediate effect' last year after allegations emerged that he, too, had been having a sexual relationship with a junior colleague.

Meanwhile Ms Tomkins says her own career has been ended by her decision to report the rape.

DCI Roger Wood (pictured) has been barred from policing after 'exploiting' two junior police staff for sex after he boasted to them about his 'rank, importance and power' - he was in charge of the review which suggested Ms Tomkins had 'lied' about being raped

The former Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary himself, Scott Chilton, retired 'with immediate effect' last year after allegations emerged that he, too, had been having a sexual relationship with a junior colleague

She had been due to transfer to a non-frontline role, but was later informed she had failed vetting procedures.

Ms Tomkins said she was informed this was due to making the admission during her report that she had taken drugs while under Sala's control.

Bosses at Hampshire Constabulary allegedly even threatened to serve her with misconduct papers.

Ms Tomkins said: 'I will never forgive the police. To know these ladies have been damaged sits heavily on my shoulders'.

She added is she could 'turn back time' she cannot be sure she would still report Sala, because the experience 'destroyed me and destroyed my family'.

At the time of Sala's sentencing, Hampshire Constabulary issued a statement praising the 'strength and resilience' of the women.

DC Nick Sandford-Smith from the Operation Amberstone East team described Sala's offending as 'abhorrent abuse' that was 'truly sickening and some of the most abhorrent behaviour I have ever come across'.

He added: 'Sala, who is currently already serving a 28-year jail sentence for a previous rape conviction, created situations in which he would meet a woman through a dating app and gain their trust, before revealing his true personality and subjecting them to truly horrific physical and sexual abuse.

'He viewed these women as his possessions and felt that he could do with them whatever he so pleased, including offering them to other men for sex without their consent.'

In a statement for Hampshire Constabulary, Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo said: 'We recognise that our handling of aspects of this investigation caused additional distress and accept that it fell below the standards expected.

'We are deeply sorry for the harm experienced by those who suffered through the actions of Bruno Sala. It is a testament to the bravery of these women that Sala is now facing a lengthy prison sentence for the abhorrent abuse that was committed.

'Significant leadership changes have taken place, and we have made it unequivocally clear to our officers and staff that victim blaming language is not acceptable. Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for the force and we are committed to identifying and relentlessly pursuing perpetrators.

'Following Sala's conviction, we commissioned a review of the initial investigation and our internal response to identify any learning which will include the experiences of the women involved to ensure their voices are heard.

'We are also examining whether there are any further lines of enquiry which can be pursued and investigated. This includes whether any additional victims can be identified and supported so that we can secure justice for them.

'It takes great courage for victims to come forward and our approach to investigating these crimes follows national best practice to ensure our rape investigators are victim centred, suspect focused and context led.

'We encourage anyone who has been affected by sexual assault or rape to contact police on 101, where you can speak to an officer in confidence. We recognise that not everyone feels able or ready to talk to police about what they have experienced so other specialist services are available to help you.'

The force has not referred the case to the IOPC, but is understood to be keeping this decision 'under review'.

An IOPC spokesperson said: 'We understand the force is carrying out a review of its handling of this investigation. Should this review identify any conduct matters for individual officers, we would expect the force to consider whether a referral to us is required.'
Trump's newest adversary proudly signed a bill into law that will prevent state and local police from cooperating with ICE.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, 47, looked gleeful on Tuesday as he signed two emergency orders ending 287(g) agreements.

'In Maryland, we will not allow untrained, unqualified and unaccountable agents to deputize our brave local law enforcement officers because Maryland is a community of immigrants,' he said, per CBS. 'It is not our weakness.'

The governor is considered a promising 2028 presidential candidate, though he has been characterized as arrogant by some of his constituents.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Maryland is 'following a dangerous path,' in a statement obtained by the Daily Mail.

'Maryland sanctuary politicians are playing Russian roulette with American lives by outlawing cooperation with ICE and forcing law enforcement to RELEASE criminals from their jails into our communities and perpetrate more crimes and create more victims,' she said.

The 287(g) agreements are set to end by July 2026, but are currently in effect across nine Maryland counties.

The agreements allow corrections officers to flag and detain non-citizens for 24 hours and lets them serve and execute warrants for ICE detainees.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore was all smiles as he signs two emergency bills that will stop law enforcement from working with ICE

President Trump has taken on Moore as an adversary amidst disagreement over a burst pipe in the Potomac River

Maryland is one of several states to end 287(g) agreements, which in some cases allow local law enforcement to perform ICE's duties

Other states, including New York, Massachusetts, Oregon and Illinois, have passed similar laws.

Moore's Senior Communications Strategist, Rhyan Lake, told the Daily Mail: 'No amount of lies Trump tells will distract the American people from the fact that ICE is terrorizing communities and killing American citizens under his watch, while arresting fewer and fewer violent offenders.

'Governor Moore has been clear: Maryland will continue to work with federal partners to hold violent offenders accountable, but we refuse to allow untrained, unqualified, and unaccountable ICE agents to deputize local law enforcement officers.'

Moore's controversial bill comes amid his ongoing feud with the Trump administration over sewage in the Potomac River.

The president criticized Moore after a DC jurisdiction pipe ruptured in January, reported AP.

'There is a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River as a result of the Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly Governor Wes Moore of Maryland,' the president wrote on Truth Social.

'It is clear Local Authorities cannot adequately handle this calamity.'

The 1960s-era pipe, known as the Potomac Interceptor, is managed by DC Water and is under regulation by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Moore has gotten flack from the president over a burst pipe in the Potomac which is under D jurisdiction

Trump and Moore have had disagreements over the Francis Scott Key Bridge which toppled in 2024

Trump has also called Moore 'the foul-mouthed Governor of Maryland' and criticized him for 'doing a terrible job of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge' in Baltimore.

The bridge toppled in 2024 after being hit by a container ship.

Moore is a former investment banker and US Army Captain elected to political office when he won the gubernatorial race in 2023.

Trump has previously claimed that Moore lied about receiving military medals.

Last weekend, he declined to offer Moore a personal invitation to the upcoming White House dinner on February 20.

Moore, who is the only black governor in the country and the first in his state's history, was one of just two governors who were not invited to the meeting.

Moore was one of two US governor's not invited to Trump's White House dinner on January 20

Trump said Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis were 'not worthy of being there.'

Moore hit back at the snub, saying he answers to the people of Maryland, not the president.

'Well, I can't speak to the president's heart, I can speak to his actions,' Moore told CBS News.

'And I do want to be clear to the president, respectfully, you do not determine my worthiness. God determines my worthiness. The people of Maryland determine my worthiness. They are who I answer to, not him.

'And I have been very clear with the people of my state that I will work with anyone, but I will bow down to no one. And I think the president has a problem with that,' Moore said, adding that if the meeting is set to be full of 'name-calling,' he's more than happy to skip it.

The Daily Mail contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
A nursery teacher who sexually abused and drowned her lover's four-year-old daughter in a jealous rage has begged the court for leniency, claiming she had a troubled childhood.

Amber-Lee Hughes, 26, was convicted in August of rape and the premeditated murder of her lover's daughter Nada-Jane Challita in January 2023.

Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, South Africa, heard that Hughes, who was working as a teacher-assistant at a preschool attended by the child, began a romantic relationship with the child's father.

The father, Elie Challita, had left the child alone in Hughes's care while he went to a job interview.

After he left home, Hughes seemed angry that he did not give her a goodbye kiss and suspected him of cheating.

She sent him a chilling text message saying: 'You broke my heart; I'm going to burn yours. How could you do that to me?'

In earlier admissions before the court, Hughes said she ran a bath for the child, got into the tub with her, and sat on her until she drowned.

According to the evidence handed over to the court, the nursery school teacher also raped the girl by inserting foreign objects into the child, Eyewitness News reported.

Amber-Lee Hughes, pictured, was found guilty of the crimes against little Nada-Jane Challita in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg in August

Hughes was convicted of the premeditated murder of Nada-Jane, pictured, whose body was found in a bathtub in Johannesburg in 2023

Hughes is now due to be sentenced after being found guilty of the sick crimes. She had initially denied all charges.

Giving evidence in hopes of a lenient sentence, Hughes detailed her mental health history, telling the court she began receiving psychological treatment at nine after struggling to adjust to a new school following her family's move to a different city.

Hughes said she was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 2, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder, and was prescribed antidepressants and mood stabilisers from the age of 13.

She told the court that financial constraints later affected her ability to consistently access psychiatric care and medication, and that she had stopped taking her prescribed medication about two months before the incident because she could not afford it.

Hughes also described suffering a breakdown while in detention in 2024 after being charged with two counts of rape for the attack on the child.

She told the court she used to self-harm, and was placed in the hospital unit at the correctional facility.

Hughes told the court that while the matter was still before the Regional Court, she had indicated she wished to plead guilty to murder.

She said: 'One of the most common questions I was asked by several doctors was how I would like to plead. And I stated to them that I would like to plead guilty to murder.'

Giving evidence in hope of a lenient sentence, Hughes detailed her mental health history

Hughes described suffering a breakdown while in detention in 2024 after being charged with two counts of rape for the attack on the child (pictured)

Nada-Jane's father Elie Challita (pictured) said the family had endured a long wait for justice and that he did not believe any apology would change what had happened

She told the court she informed her previous legal representative of her intention before the case proceeded in the High Court, but was advised she would have to plead to all three charges  rape, sexual assault and murder  and could not plead guilty to murder alone.

She said she was also advised she could receive a suspended sentence.

When asked whether she knew she had killed the child at the time she testified in her defence, Hughes replied: 'I did, yes.'

Earlier this week, sentencing was postponed after the defence requested more time to consult with Hughes regarding electronic evidence.

Outside court, Nada-Jane's father said the family had endured a long wait for justice and that he did not believe any apology would change what had happened.

The sentencing proceedings continue.
A celebrated chef is pushing back against plans for hundreds of affordable homes to be built in a wealthy California town, arguing the move could spark economic fallout for the community.

Thomas Keller, a famed bi-coastal chef, is behind two of the towns most elite eateries: Michelin Guide-listed Bouchon and three-Michelin-starred The French Laundry, where dinner with wine pairings can soar past $1,000 per person.

Yountville Commons, a mixed-use development featuring affordable and market-rate housing, has been in the works since its approval last year, with projected costs ranging from $40 million to $60 million.

Brad Raulston, the town manager, said the development is essential given that most of Yountvilles employees travel into the upscale community for work each day, according to The Press Democrat.

The small town, home to fewer than 4,000 residents, boasts several upscale restaurants - and a cost of living nearly 40 percent higher than the national average.

But the move has been slammed by locals, including Keller, who blasted the city for moving too quickly and taking on the role of developer without consulting with business owners.

His esteemed restaurant The French Laundry would only be a two minute drive from the proposed new housing.

'We support workforce housing and we support the Commons,' Keller said in the release. 'But housing only works if it actually works for the people who live and work here.'

Celebrated chef Thomas Keller (pictured) is pushing back against plans for hundreds of affordable homes in Yountville, California, over fears that the move may spark economic fallout for the wealthy community

Yountville Commons (plan pictured), a mixed-use development featuring affordable and market-rate housing, has been in the works since its approval last year, with projected costs ranging from $40 million to $60 million

Yountville (pictured), home to fewer than 4,000 residents, boasts several upscale restaurants - and a cost of living nearly 40 percent higher than the national average

Keller's esteemed restaurant The French Laundry (pictured) would only be a two minute drive from the proposed new housing

'Before Yountville commits to a project of this size and cost, it's reasonable - and responsible - to slow down and make sure the fundamentals are right,' he added.

The debate over Yountville Commons came to a head at Tuesdays city council meeting, with the project set to replace the former Yountville Elementary School, which shuttered in 2020.

The town bought the property for $11 million in 2024, using funds from a 2018 ballot measure that raised lodging taxes to fund affordable and workforce housing, as reported by The Press Democrat.

Yountvilles Ranch Market owner Arik Housley was among other local business owners questioning the scale of the project and the potential financial risks it could create for the well-heeled community.

'That means we owe it to the community to fully understand the financial exposure before moving ahead,' he said, according to the outlet.

The housing project could eventually total 150 units, though the town manager said the current plan envisions roughly 120 rental homes, for which Yountville has already invested in detailed drawings.

Town Council member Hillery Trippe, the lone vote against the project last month, said the drawings revealed a studio-heavy layout and had already been shared with potential bidders.

She also revealed that the plans show about 70 percent of the studio apartments under 300 square feet with limited parking for residents.

The town manager noted that because most of Yountvilles workforce are commuters, the new homes wont fully solve the towns housing challenges (pictured: food at The French Laundry)

Keller, a famed bi-coastal chef, is behind two of the towns most elite eateries, one being three-Michelin-starred The French Laundry, where dinner with wine pairings can soar past $1,000 per person

Brad Raulston, the town manager, said the development is essential given that most of Yountvilles employees travel into the upscale community for work each day (pictured)

Keller is also behind Yountville's Michelin Guide-listed Bouchon (pictured)

'We will be asking people to live in Yountville without a car, which is very tough, we have one very small market,' Trippe said, according to the outlet.

Keller, speaking on behalf of his employees, said the 'studio-heavy, dormitory-style approach' doesnt meet the needs of the towns workers.

Keller and Housley argued that the town should take a step back to 'engage employers and workers more directly and resolve outstanding financial and design questions before proceeding with major funding and construction decisions.'

Similar concerns flared last month when Robin Chambers, owner of The Pilates Reserve, called on the town council to completely halt the project.

She pressed Yountville leaders to gather more local feedback and have staff create and share a detailed plan before moving the project forward.

Meanwhile, Raulston said the town has devoted its full attention to the workforce housing project since purchasing the school two years ago, holding more than 20 public meetings in the process.

'After 23 public meetings and with key decisions like unit mix still being actively studied, we believe the responsible path is to continue the transparent process that has brought us here, not to pause it,' he said, according to the outlet.

Trippe, however, believes the outreach meetings may have collected community opinions, but notes that Yountvilles employers - who the project is meant to benefit - have yet to be 'meaningfully' consulted.

Yountvilles Ranch Market owner Arik Housley (pictured) said: 'We owe it to the community to fully understand the financial exposure before moving ahead,' citing the scale of the project and potential financial risks

Keller (pictured), argued: 'Before Yountville commits to a project of this size and cost, it's reasonable - and responsible - to slow down and make sure the fundamentals are right'

The project is set to replace the former Yountville Elementary School (pictured), which shuttered in 2020. Yountville purchased it for $11 million in 2024

'To me, 23 meetings; thats good but its not the end of the story,' she said.

Raulston explained that the town intends to approach the development in three phases of roughly 40 units each, with checkpoints after each phase to consider changes.

He said that by proceeding in phases, Yountville can take lessons from each stage and tweak the unit mix, design and size accordingly.

Still, the town manager noted that because most of Yountvilles workforce are commuters, the new homes wont fully solve the towns housing challenges.

'The town will continue to listen to the community as funding and phasing decisions are made by elected officials in line with established priorities, adopted plans and voter mandates,' Raulston said, according to The Press Democrat.

He announced that Tuesdays town council study session will cover unit types and a workforce demographics report by Bay Area Economics, with the following meeting slated for March 3.
Military and spy chiefs have demanded Sir Keir Starmer commit to doubling defence spending as Britain faces a '1936 moment'.

Former ministers, security advisors and retired top brass wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to increase military investment to five per cent of GDP.

They insisted Britain is unprepared for conflict with Russia and must urgently reequip its hollowed out armed forces.

Currently Britain spends 2.4 per cent of GDP, or just over 60billion. The structured path to 5 per cent would require cuts to other budgets, additional taxation or further government borrowing.

Signees included former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, ex-National Security Advisor Lord Kim Darroch and Professor Anthony King, a War Studies academic.

Former head of the Army Lord Dannatt, former chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood and Sir Richard Dearlove, previously head of MI6, also supported the letter to Downing Street.

They accused Sir Keir's administration of falling 'dangerously short' of meeting investment targets.

The move reflects growing unease about Britain's defences in the context of rising Russian aggression, US destabilisation of the Nato defence alliance, and the return of Islamic State.

Military and spy chiefs have demanded Sir Keir Starmer commit to doubling defence spending as Britain faces a '1936 moment'. Pictured: Special Operations Forces practising their rapid deployment techniques last month

Former ministers, security advisors and retired top brass wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to increase military investment to five per cent of GDP. Starmer pictured today in Cardiff

Meanwhile, the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine will enter its fifth year next week and there is no indication Russia wants a peace deal.

US President Donald Trump has damaged relations within Nato over Greenland while jihadists are on the rise in Africa and the Middle East.

Signatories insisted the UK is 'not war ready' and should spend more on defence and reach spending targets faster.

The reality is that the British Army is at its smallest since Napoleonic times, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy fleets are shrinking and the UK's nuclear submarine capabilities have been pared to the bone. Simulations have indicated that this country only has enough ammunition to sustain eight days of fighting against a peer adversary.

The Daily Mail has called for similar rises in military spending after highlighting these issues as part of its Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign.

The letter, drafted by the Defence on the Brink podcast team, including former Army intelligence officer Phil Ingram, read: 'Britain lacks the mass, readiness and resilience needed to produce a credible deterrent in an era of intensifying threats.

'Britain's actions fall dangerously short of matching our rhetoric and our meeting of Nato treaty obligations. We are deluding ourselves if we believe Russia and our other adversaries are unaware of this.

'With defence spending at 2.4 per cent and a longer-term Nato goal of 3.5 per cent is simply not enough to rebuild mass, close funding gaps and get our Armed Forces into a state of readiness.'

They suggested Britain was facing a '1936 moment', a reference to the threat posed by Nazi Germany before World War Two, including its breach of the Versailles Treaty that year by marching into the demilitarised Rhineland.

The saga of Britain's Ajax armoured vehicle has exposed the UK's weaknesses around equipping its Army for contemporary warfare





They have called for Sir Keir to announce a 'bold, credible and measurable path' to spending five per cent of GDP on core defence.

The move follows the Government's failure to publish its Defence Investment Plan and reports of a 28billion blackhole in military budgets over this parliament.

The DIP has been postponed repeatedly. Reports have indicated no government money has been set aside for major projects.

While in this financial year around 2billion has been shaved off the budget covering the running costs of the UK's armed forces.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is thought to oppose any major uplift in defence spending, despite the glaring threat to national and European security.

The letter to the Prime Minister continued: 'You must recognise that we are facing our 1936 moment: global conflict is highly likely if we don't invest in deterrence now.

'Public concern about defence has doubled and, according to polling, is an equal priority with the NHS and the cost of living. It is time for a serious conversation about the real threats we face.

'Even the lead author of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, has argued for greater investment, stating that 'if the government wants to accelerate then they will have to spend more money.

'Since arriving in office your government has heaped unfunded new costs on the Department, above-average pay rises, the Chagos Islands deal and extra National Insurance on the defence industry. These liabilities have resulted in real-time reductions in available funds across the services, undermining frontline readiness.'

The threat to the UK includes Russia actively threatening UK security through cyber attacks, surveillance of undersea cables and drone activity around RAF and USAF bases in this country.

While the government has pledged to meet the updated Nato spending standard of 5 per cent by 2035, 1.5 per cent includes security infrastructure projects such as mending roads. Only 3.5 per cent is core defence spending.

Britain has not spent 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence since 1994. While 5 per cent on defence was last spent in 1986.

Other signees included former Defence Secretaries Sir Grant Shapps and Sir Michael Fallon, Falklands hero Simon Weston, Tim Collins, Andy McNab, ex-Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe and former British defence attache in Afghanistan Colonel Simon Diggins.

A government spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister has made a historic commitment to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence and security from 2035. This is a generational increase and we are well on track to meet that target.

'As demands for defence increase, we are delivering the largest sustained increase in defence since the Cold War, with an additional 5billion this financial year and 270 billion across this parliament.

'We make no apologies for delivering the largest pay rise in decades to our hard-working personnel and a 9 billion housing strategy to renew tens of thousands of military homes after years of neglect.'
Investigators in Nancy Guthrie's case have turned their attention toward a pinky ring they believe her alleged abductor was wearing in chilling doorbell camera footage taken before she vanished.

The unknown male suspect appeared to be wearing a ring under his black gloves, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said on Tuesday.

'I look at the same photo you look at and I get it, I see it,' he told NBC News, referring to the mysterious figure who was seen in the clip.

'Im going to give that to my team. Theyll look at that. Theyll analyze it and well see. Maybe, maybe it is.'

Meanwhile, TMZ announced on Wednesday that it has received a new 'sophisticated' ransom note in connection to missing Nancy, who is the mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie.

It comes as the search for the 84-year-old, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona, enters its 17th day.

'We have received yet another ransom demandthis one is sophisticated and puts the media right in the middle of it,' TMZ wrote in an Instagram post.

The latest letter demands another large amount of money in a different form of cryptocurrency than the previously requested $6 million in bitcoin, per the outlet.

Police are now looking at a suspected pinky ring that they believe Nancy Guthrie's alleged kidnapper was wearing in the doorbell footage

Nancy was reported missing on February 1 from her home in Tucson, Arizona

The email also 'graphically describes the consequences if the ransom isn't paid,' the report stated.

Host Harvey Levin said the email referenced media coverage and 'that the media essentially becomes a go between, a trigger if you will, for getting this ransom money.'

The message included a cryptocurrency account number, which differs from one that was originally sent in previous ransom demands. It has been forwarded to the FBI for review, Levin said.

The outlet also revealed that the FBI has contacted law enforcement in Mexico, though the expansion of the investigation has not yielded any new leads.

The latest update in the mysterious investigation comes after a similar glove found two miles from Nancy's home did not match the DNA found inside her property, officials said.

Nanos said the glove yielded no new leads after it failed to match the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a national database of DNA profiles from arrestees.

The singular glove was discovered on Sunday and became a briefly regarded piece of evidence in the ongoing case.

Several leads and pieces of evidence have come up along the way, but none have stuck.

Persons of interest were previously taken in for questioning, but later released. Several ransom notes, including those sent to TMZ, have also been revealed.

Nancy was last seen on the night of January 31 after going to her eldest daughter's house for dinner and a game night.

Nancy was last seen on the night of January 31 after going to her eldest daughter's house for dinner and a game night

Her daughter Annie's husband, Tommaso Cioni, then drove her back home, just a few miles away.

Cioni told police he watched his mother-in-law enter her garage door that night.

Hours later, around 2.12am, Nancy's Nest doorbell camera detected a person.

Around 2.30am Nancy's Apple Watch and iPhone stopped syncing with her pacemaker.

She was reported missing at around 11am after local church friends grew worried after Nancy failed to show up for services.

They then notified her family, leading her relatives to check on her home.

After not locating her, the family dialed 911 and reported her missing. She has not been seen or heard from since.

Guthrie shared a somber video online, begging her mother's captors to 'do the right thing'

Her heartbroken children have taken to social media multiple times, pleading for their mother's safe return home.

On Sunday night, Guthrie shared a somber video to Instagram, begging her mother's captors to 'do the right thing'.

'And I wanted to say to whoever has her or knows where she is that it's never too late, and you're not lost or alone, and it is never too late to do the right thing,' the Today Show host said.

'We are here and we believe, and we believe in the essential goodness of every human being, and it's never too late,' she concluded the video, which she captioned 'bring her home'.
Victoria's Secret founder Les Wexner has been torched by lawmakers after he claimed he was a victim of Jeffrey Epstein.

The billionaire sat for a private deposition with lawmakers from the House Oversight Committee at his estate in Ohio on Wednesday.

Wexner, 88, categorically denied any knowledge of Epstein's sex trafficking crimes in a written statement claiming that he too was a victim of the pedophile financier.

'I was naive, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein. He was a con man. And while I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide,' Wexner said.

He added that Epstein was 'diabolical, and a master manipulator.'

'The other life he led, that we now know was full of unthinkable crimes, he most carefully and fully hid from me,' Wexner wrote.

'He knew that I never would have tolerated his horrible behavior. Not any of it. At no time did I ever witness the side of Epstein's life for which he is now infamous.'

But his claims were trashed by Democratic lawmakers during an intermission during the deposition this afternoon.

Chairman and CEO of Victoria's Secret parent L Brands Les Wexner tours the exhibit at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, September 19, 2014

A man who appears to be Les Wexner, center, puts his arms around Jeffrey Epstein, left, and a person whose face has been redacted at a social gathering in this undated image. The image appeared in the page after Wexner's handwritten note in a 2003 book celebrating Epstein's 50th birthday.

Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari told reporters: 'We have heard over and over again from these victims, the name of Les Wexner and the importance of following the money ...

'The real reason Jeffrey Epstein was able to get away with raping and abusing children, young women, boys, young men, for so many years was because of the vast amounts of money that he was able to acquire and that largely came from Les Wexner here in Ohio.'

Wexner has spent years answering questions over his relationship with Epstein after they went into business together.

In an extraordinary move, Wexner gave Epstein power of attorney in 1991, allowing the financier to make investments and purchase property on his behalf.

He also famously gave Epstein his Manhattan townhouse - then the largest single-family property in the city - for a nominal $1 fee in the 1990s.

Wexner was also a signatory to Epstein's now-infamous 50th birthday book.

'Dear Jeffrey - I wanted to get you what you wanted. So here it is,' reads the page signed by Wexner. An image of a woman's breasts followed under the letter's intro. 'Happy Birthday. Your friend, Leslie,' Wexner said.

Representative Jasmine Crockett, a fellow Democrat, also noted Wednesday that Wexner 'was asked about Donald Trump and Epstein and whether or not they had been in the same room and what that looked like.'

Les Wexner's entry in the 38-page scrapbook given to Jeffrey Epstein as a present on his 50th birthday. Other included contributions were attributed to high-profile figures including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and former UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson

President Trump and Wexner knew each other because Trump frequently attended Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows.

She said that Wexner claimed that 'he didn't quite remember but he imagined that yes that possibly happened because he did remember that Donald Trump also would like to show up to the Victoria Secret runway shows.'

'That was a little odd to him because Donald Trump was not engaged in fashion whatsoever,' Crockett noted.

A source familiar with Wednesday's depositions told the Daily Mail that Wexner would not describe Trump and Epstein as friends, and that he never had a conversation with Trump about Epstein or with Epstein about Trump.

Wexner's name appears in the Epstein files over 1,000 times, and the two shared a lengthy business relationship.

Epstein first met Wexner through a business associate around 1986.

It was an opportune time for Wexner's finances. The Ohio business owner had grown a single Limited store in Columbus into a suite of 1980s mall staples: The Limited, Limited Express, Lane Bryant and Victoria's Secret. Bath & Body Works, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lerner, White Barn Candle Co. and Henri Bendel would follow.

Within a couple years, Wexner had turned over management of his vast fortune to Epstein. He gave Epstein authority over his investments, business deals, properties and he would help develop what would become the vast Wexner estate in then-rural New Albany, documents show.

Representative Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat, speaks during a press conference following the congressional deposition of Les Wexner in the Jefferey Epstein case, Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in New Albany, Ohio

Leslie Wexner, right, and his wife Abigail tour the 'Transfigurations' exhibit at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio in September 2014

Representative, Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat of Texas, speaks during a press conference following the congressional deposition of Les Wexner in the Jeffery Epstein case

Epstein had 'excellent judgment and unusually high standards,' Wexner told Vanity Fair in a 2003 interview, and he was 'always a most loyal friend.'

On Wednesday, the billionaire said he didn't circulate in Epstein's social circle, but often heard accounts of his encounters with other wealthy people.

Epstein 'carefully used his acquaintance with important individuals to curate an aura of legitimacy,' Wexner said.

He said he visited Epstein's infamous island only once, stopping for a few hours one morning with his wife and young children while they were cruising on their boat.

Robert Garcia, a California Democrat who sat in on Wednesday's interview, expressed skepticism in comments to reporters gathered near the proceeding.

'It is interesting that Mr Wexner has already begun to clarify in his mind that somehow he and Mr. Epstein weren't even friends,' Garcia told reporters. 'We should be very clear that the two were very close, per reporting. They spent a lot of time together.'

In one of the newly released documents, Epstein sent rough notes to himself about Wexner saying: 'never ever, did anything without informing les' and 'I would never give him up.' Another document, an apparent draft letter to Wexner, said the two 'had "gang stuff" for over 15 years' and were mutually indebted to each other - as Wexner helped make Epstein rich and Epstein helped make Wexner richer.

Wexner spokesperson Tom Davies said Wexner never received the letter, characterizing it as fitting 'a pattern of untrue, outlandish, and delusional statements made by Epstein in desperate attempts to perpetuate his lies and justify his misconduct.'

Wexner did not publicly reveal until after Epstein's arrest on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019 that he had severed their relationship. In a Wexner Foundation letter that August, he said that happened in 2007. But the Justice Department's newly released records show the two were in touch after that.

Wexner e-mailed Epstein on June 26, 2008, after a plea deal was announced that would require him to serve 18 months in a Florida jail on a state charge of soliciting prostitution from a minor in order to avoid federal prosecution. He wound up serving 13 months.

'Abigail told me the result ... all I can say is I feel sorry. You violated your own number 1 rule ... always be careful,' Wexner wrote. Epstein replied: 'no excuse.'

Davies said the 2007 date Wexner cited in 2019 applied to firing Epstein as financial adviser, revoking his power of attorney and removing his name from Wexners bank accounts.

Wexner also said in the 2019 letter that Epstein had misappropriated 'vast sums' of his and his family's fortune while overseeing his finances.

An investigative memo from the latest document release says that Wexner's attorneys told investigators in 2008 that Epstein had repaid him $100 million.

Wexner said in Wednesday's statement that Epstein returned 'a substantial amount' of the undisclosed total.

Garcia said that congressional investigators have identified more than $1 billion that was 'either transferred, provided in stocks or given directly' by Wexner to Epstein - though Wexner 'appears to be unaware' of much of it.

Wexner has never been charged with any crimes in connection with Epstein.
Nine British police forces are assessing whether to launch investigations into Epstein-related allegations following claims of human trafficking and sexual assault.

The Metropolitan Police has begun carrying out 'initial inquiries' into allegations relating to close protection officers assigned to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

It comes after a former officer claimed that 'certain members' of the Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) command may have witnessed abuse at Little St James.

Surrey Police has also urged people with any information about claims of human trafficking and sexual assault relating to the Epstein files to come forward.

The force said the allegations, set out in a redacted report released by the US Department of Justice in December, allegedly took place in Virginia Water between 1994 and 1996.

Essex Police, Thames Valley Police, Bedfordshire Police, Norfolk Constabulary, Wiltshire Police, West Midlands Police and Police Scotland are also considering launching investigations.

Most of the forces are looking into Epstein's use of various UK airports, which were referenced in flight logs in the files.

Surrey Police have urged people with information to come forward about claims of human trafficking and sexual assault linked to the Epstein files. Pictured: Jeffrey Epstein

A bombshell email from Ghislaine Maxwell confirmed that this infamous 2001 photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with his arm around his chief accuser Virginia Giuffre was genuine

The Met Police is examining claims that royal protection officers 'turned a blind eye' during visits to Epstein's private island in the Caribbean.

The unnamed former Met officer said: 'The big question for me is what Andrew's protection team witnessed on Epstein's island.

'I'm not suggesting they definitely witnessed any criminality from Andrew, but there was concern that certain members of the royal protection team wilfully turned a blind eye to what was happening on the island.'

The disgraced royal's chief accuser Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, including on Little St James in the early 2000s, claims Andrew has always denied.

Police forces assessing whether to launch investigation Metropolitan Police - examining claims that royal protection officers 'turned a blind eye' during visits to Epstein's private island and has launched an investigation into Peter Mandelsonover claims he passed sensitive information to Epstein Surrey Police - Seeking information regarding an allegation made in Virginia Water in the 1990s Thames Valley Police - assessing claims that Epstein sent a young woman to the UK for a sexual encounter with Andrew at Royal Lodge in 2010 Essex Police - assessing information which suggests Epstein trafficked sex victims to the UK via Stansted airport Bedfordshire Police - assessing Epstein's use of London Luton Airport Police Scotland - asking for information about Epstein's use of Edinburgh Airport West Midlands Police - assessing Epstein's use of Birmingham Airport Wiltshire Police - reviewing its records and supporting the Met Police in its investigation. Norfolk Constabulary - reviewing Epstein files but have not received specific allegations Advertisement

Multiple survivors have also alleged they were trafficked to and abused on the island which Epstein purchased in the US Virgin Islands in 1998.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'At this time, we have not identified any wrongdoing by any protection officers.

'However, initial enquiries into these specific allegations have begun so we can establish the facts.

'As with any investigation, should any new allegations come to light these will be assessed in the usual way. This includes any misconduct or criminal matters.'

The Met Police has also launched a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson following claims he passed market-sensitive information to Epstein.

Speaking on LBC, the former Met protection officer said there were 'real concerns' that the bodyguards became 'too close' to the Royal Family and 'may have withheld information' from the force about what happened on the island.

He said members of the Royal Protection Unit were 'terrified' to report behaviour as officers who had filed reports in the past were removed and 'put back in uniform'.

'I certainly thought that a line was crossed to the point that we were concerned that information was being withheld from the police.

'They seemed more loyal to the Royal Family than to the Met - and that's wrong,' he explained.

'We used to say they were 'more royal than the Royals'. Some of them started to wear signet rings and talking and behaving more like members of the Royal Family than a police officer.'

The former Prince Andrew, who was stripped off his titles over his links to Esptein last year, has vehemently denied wrongdoing.

Surrey Police are seeking information from the public over an incident in Virginia Water which appeared in the Epstein files.

The report from July 2020 said someone alleged that they were drugged at night and 'driven to paedophile ring parties' in the mid 1990s.

Ghislaine Maxwell (left) and Jeffrey Epstein (right) on board a private jet. Some 90 flights came in and out of UK airports with suspected sex trafficking victims on board

The force reviewed its systems for any reports made at the time but found no evidence of allegations.

Surrey Police added in a statement: 'We take all reports of child and sexual abuse seriously and therefore, as with any other matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention, including any information resulting from the release of materials in the US, we will assess it.

'Where relevant, and via the national coordination group, we will engage with law enforcement agencies to obtain access to further information which may support our enquiries.

'It is important that any information is reviewed objectively and without speculation. Updates therefore will be provided only when available  and will be shared on this page.'

Essex Police said it is assessing information from the bombshell trove which suggests the paedophile financier trafficked sex victims to the UK on private flights via Stansted airport.

Flight logs show the convicted paedophile's so-called Lolita Express had landed or taken off from UK airports up to 90 times between the 1990s and 2018.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has claimed that the newly published files showed in 'graphic detail' how Epstein was able to use the Essex-based airport to 'fly in girls from Latvia, Lithuania and Russia'.

This image released as part of the latest tranche of documents in the Epstein files appears to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor crouching on all fours over a female lying on the floor

In an article for the New Statesman, Mr Brown said Epstein 'boasted' about how cheap the airport charges were in Stansted compared to Paris.

Mr Brown said that Stansted Airport was where 'women were transferred from one Epstein plane to another', adding that 'women arriving on private planes into Britain would not need British visas'.

He said it seemed as though authorities 'never knew what was happening', referring to evidence uncovered by the BBC which showed 'incomplete flight logs, with unnamed passengers simply labelled as 'female''.

He wrote: 'In short, British authorities had little or no idea who was being trafficked through our country, and for whom other than Epstein.'

On Tuesday, an Essex Police spokesperson said: 'We are assessing the information that has emerged in relation to private flights into and out of Stansted Airport following the publication of the US DoJ (Department of Justice) Epstein files.'

A Stansted Airport spokesperson said: 'All private aircraft at London Stansted operate through independent Fixed Base Operators, which handle all aspects of private and corporate aviation in line with regulatory requirements.

'All immigration and customs checks for passengers arriving on private aircraft are carried out directly by Border Force.

'They use entirely independent terminals not operated by London Stansted and no private jet passengers enter the main airport terminal.

The bodyguards were said to have travelled with the then Prince Andrew to the island (pictured) on at least two occasions

'The airport does not manage or have any visibility of passenger arrangements on privately operated aircraft.'

Thames Valley Police is already assessing claims that Epstein sent a young woman to the UK for a sexual encounter with Andrew at his Royal Lodge home in Windsor in 2010.

Detectives at the force are further said to be examining whether or not Andrew should be investigated for the offence of misconduct in public office over allegations he forwarded confidential reports while a trade envoy for the UK.

Wiltshire Police is reviewing its records and said it had supported the Met Police in its investigation.

A property linked to Lord Mandelson in Wiltshire was also searched by police earlier this month. He has denied any criminality.

Bedfordshire Police is assessing Epstein's use of London Luton Airport.

West Midlands Police has also confirmed it is assessing information about the paedophile's private flights to Birmingham Airport.

Police Scotland is appealing for information over Epstein's use of Edinburgh Airport.

Norfolk Constabulary confirmed it is reviewing Epstein files but has not received any specific allegations.

Police chiefs have joined forces to deal with the series of allegations unearthed in the files, including their inquiries into Mandelson and Andrew, by setting up a 'national co-ordination' group.

Set up by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), the unit could be granted access to unredacted Epstein files and will allow detectives to work with experts in the areas being assessed.

It is understood to be chaired by Louisa Rolfe, who has served as a Met Police assistant commissioner.

A NPCC spokesperson told BBC News the group will help forces 'understand any potential impact arising from the millions of documents that have been made', adding 'it may take some time due to the volume of material and the complexity of international jurisdictions'.

'The sharing of documents related to overseas criminal investigations between law enforcement agencies in different countries is an extremely complex process, and not straight forward.'
Conservative podcasting titan Tucker Carlson said he and his staff were detained in Israel on Wednesday following an interview with Donald Trump's ambassador to the country.

The former Fox News host flew into Tel Aviv for a sit-down with Mike Huckabee, who challenged Carlson to speak to him directly following an online spat about the country's treatment of Christians.

Carlson, who also frequently criticizes Israel for its military actions in Gaza, took Huckabee up on his offer.

But as critics and pro-Israel activists began piling on Carlson for purportedly not leaving the airport during his brief visit, he revealed that he was met with hostility in the Middle Eastern country.

Carlson exclusively told the Daily Mail that shortly after the interview, Israeli officials confiscated his passport and hauled one of his colleagues off to an interrogation room.

'Men who identified themselves as airport security took our passports, hauled our executive producer into a side room and then demanded to know what we spoke to Ambassador Huckabee about,' Carlson told the Daily Mail.

'It was bizarre. Were now out of the country.'

Prior to the interview, Carlson posted a photo on X of himself and his business partner, Neil Patel, in front of Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday with the caption: 'Greetings from Israel.'

Tucker Carlson says he and his staff were detained at Ben Gurion airport and interrogated by Israeli officials on Wednesday following an interview with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee

Carlson frequently criticizes Israel for its military actions in Gaza and treatment of Christians

Huckabee, who has known Carlson for over three decades and previously worked with him at Fox News, invited Carlson to Israel for a discussion over their differences

'Too bad Tucker stayed in the airport in the face of so many invitations to see so many wonderful places. A huge and obviously intentional missed opportunity,' taunted David Friedman, the former US ambassador to Israel during Trump's first term.

Two sources familiar with the matter, however, told the Daily Mail that the Israeli government initially did not want to allow Carlson into the country, prompting a delicate negotiation involving the State Department.

In the end, the Israeli government decided not to bar Carlson from entering the country in order to avoid a 'diplomatic incident,' according to a Channel 13 report.

A spokesman for the US embassy in Israel denied that Carlson was detained and claimed he 'received the same passport control questions that countless visitors to Israel, including Ambassador Huckabee and other diplomats, receive as part of normal entrance and exit from Israel.'

'It is not accurate that Israel only was going to let Tucker into the country for the interview,' the representative added.

'The only engagement the Embassy had with Israel about his visit was to coordinate his private plane landing as part of facilitating a seamless visit. It was Tucker who chose to only come into the country for a few hours and depart. And Tucker received the same positive treatment of any visitors to Israel.'

The Daily Mail has contacted the White House and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office for comment.

Carlson accused Huckabee last week on his YouTube show of not ensuring proper protections for Christians in Israel.

Huckabee, who has known Carlson for more than three decades and previously worked with him at Fox News, responded by inviting him to Israel for a discussion.

'Instead of talking about me, why dont you come talk to me?' Huckabee wrote on X. Carlson replied by welcoming the invitation, before noting that they were working on setting up the interview.

Israel's popularity remains at an all-time low in the GOP among young Republican voters and Trump supporters.

The Carlson-Huckabee event was reportedly an attempt by the Trump administration to prevent debates surrounding Israel from breaking the GOP's conservative coalition ahead of the midterms.

Join the debate What's YOUR take on Tucker's claims about Netanyahu?

Carlson is a longtime supporter of Trump and ally of Vice President JD Vance

Carlson and his business partner Neil Patel at Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday

Trump urged Carlson and others within the GOP to ease off internal fights with Republicans over Israel, according to former Fox News anchor Melissa Francis.

'Everybodys looking for a way to turn down the temperature,' Francis told the Jerusalem Post. 'President Trump is telling everyone, including Tucker, "Lets take this down."'

Carlson is a longtime ally of Vice President JD Vance and speaks with Trump on a range of issues, including foreign policy.

Last month, Carlson visited the White House twice and met with Trump in the Oval Office on at least one known occasion.
A British man who is fighting for Vladimir Putin in the conflict against Ukraine is thought to have been killed after 'vanishing' off the front line.

Aiden Minnis, 39, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, has reportedly not been heard from in nearly a fortnight after he was sent to active combat zones in eastern Ukraine.

He previously filmed himself setting his British passport alight in front of a large Russian flag after claiming the UK government had threatened to revoke his citizenship.

The traitor ended the clip, posted in October last year, with the words 'F*** Great Britain, Slava Rossii [glory to Russia]' before firing an assault rifle.

Minnis is said to have last been active on social media on January 25 when he shared a chilling image of himself holding a Kalashnikov in a wooded area.

He also discussed the dangers posed by Ukrainian drones, writing: 'A Kalashnikov isn't much good against a drone unless it's hovering and isn't a kamikazi.

'Need a shotgun ideally and needs to be close enough.'

Ben Stimson, the only other Brit known to be fighting for Russia, has raised the alarm about Minnis's disappearance.

Aiden Minnis, 39, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, has reportedly not been heard from in nearly a fortnight after he was sent to active combat zones in eastern Ukraine

Minnis filmed himself setting his British passport alight in front of a large Russian flag after claiming the UK government had threatened to revoke his citizenship

Minnis fled the UK to take up arms for the Russian tyrant when the war broke out in 2022

He posted on social media, according to The Sun: 'Worried about my comrade Aiden Minnis. He's not been seen for a week. I pray all is OK.'

Stimson added in a second message on Sunday: 'Please pray for Aiden. He's currently missing.'

Minnis's family has given no official update on whether or not he is missing or confirmed dead.

So far no British nationals are reported to have died fighting for Moscow in the conflict, while 40 have been killed defending Ukraine.

Minnis is a former drug addict who was also previously a member of the far-Right National Front party during his time in the UK.

He was jailed for four years and three months in 2008 for an unprovoked racial assault on a man in the street, according to The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald.

In 2024, Minnis called Britain a 'fascist state' just weeks after Putin won a sham election in Russia where his opponents were either dead or imprisoned.

Ben Stimson - who fled with Minnis to Russia - raised the alarm about his friend's disappearance on social media

Last year, Minnis pledged his allegiance to Russia and its dictator, proudly showing off a video of his Russian passport

Back home, he has been disowned by his family who claim they 'want nothing to do with him'.

Last year, Minnis pledged his allegiance to Russia and its dictator, proudly showing off a video of his Russian passport.

'I have a Russian passport. I am now Russian,' he said.

'I am relieved because now I know I am safe, safe from prosecution in the UK, safe from false and bogus charges just because I want to come and fight for Russia and fight for a just cause and the people of Donbas.'

In another video, Minnis repeated his loathing for the UK, and delight at his new passport making him 'officially Russian'.

'Of course, I am happy,' he said.

'I am starting a new life in Russia. I am now Russian. I am happy to be Russian. I reiterate that I condemn my country of origin.'

The video was created by Kremlin-linked propaganda media outlet Readovka.

Minnis joined the Russian army in January 2024 and has boasted about allegedly killing Ukrainians in his social media posts

In a video posted on X and Facebook, Minnis, dressed in combat fatigues and carrying an assault rifle, can be seen brandishing his British passport before he burns it

Minnis has also frequently bragged about 'killing khokhols' - a derogatory slang term Russians use for Ukrainians.

Speaking last year, a UK government spokesman said: 'Reports of British nationals taking part in illegal invasion are shocking and their alleged actions are reprehensible.

'Those who travel from the UK to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return.'
The FBI has contacted law enforcement in Mexico as it broadens the search for missing Nancy Guthrie.

The move has seen authorities reach out to a number of police agencies and department south of the border, according to police sources speaking to TMZ.

The outlet reported that the expansion of the investigation has not yet resulted in any new leads, with the search for the 84-year-old producing no suspects 18 days in.

Sources said the FBI has opened the door to the possibility Nancy was taken across the border, and investigators have checked Border Patrol cameras in hopes of tracking down a suspect.

As TMZ revealed the collaboration with Mexico on Wednesday, it reported that it received another ransom note apparently sent by those claiming to have abducted Nancy.

It said the note, the fourth it has received, included a 'highly sophisticated demand' similar to the $6 million demanded in previous letters, but involving a cryptocurrency 'other than Bitcoin.'

The outlet said the new letter also 'graphically described the consequences if the ransom isn't paid' - and said it forwarded the email to the FBI after receiving the letter.

Authorities have not verified the legitimacy of any reported 'ransom notes' sent to TMZ or other news outlets, and the police source added that if an individual tries to scam the Guthrie family, 'They will go to federal prison for a long, long time.'

The FBI has contacted law enforcement in Mexico as it broadens the search for missing Nancy Guthrie (seen with her Today Show star daughter Savannah Guthrie)

Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in Tucson, Arizona in the early hours of February 1. The home is pictured with law enforcement vehicles outside on February 6

It comes as Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that investigators have turned their attention to a pinky ring they believe her alleged abductor was wearing in doorbell camera footage.

The suspect was seen in the doorbell camera footage wearing gloves with a protrusion on his right pinky finger - something investigators believe could help narrow down a suspect.

'I look at the same photo you look at and I get it, I see it,' Nanos told NBC News, referring to the mysterious figure who was seen in the clip.

'Im going to give that to my team. Theyll look at that. Theyll analyze it and well see. Maybe, maybe it is,' he added.

This week, the investigation also hit a major disappointment as a glove found two miles from Nancy's home in Tucson, Arizona, failed to match suspect DNA from the crime scene or to the CODIS criminal database, shattering hopes of a breakthrough.

The glove was found on Sunday and had been briefly regarded as the best piece of evidence in the ongoing search for the 84-year-old, as it appeared to match one worn by a masked suspect seen on Nancy's doorbell camera just before her disappearance in the early hours of February 1.

Frustrations surrounding the investigation have heaped pressure on Nanos, who has come under scrutiny for his handling of the case amid allegations he made crucial errors in the first hours of the search.

Authorities have made no arrests in the 18 days since Nanthy Guthrie vanished

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos insists that the search for missing Nancy Guthrie is 'far from cold' despite no arrests being made 18 days into her disappearance

In an interview on Tuesday following the sheriff's department's admission that it failed to match the glove to DNA, Nanos attempted to offer a positive spin on the ongoing search.

The sheriff stressed that he believes Nancy is still alive because he had not seen any 'proof of death', and said he and his investigators have not lost hope that Nancy could be returned to her family.

'They ask me, do I have proof of life? I ask them, is there proof of death?' Nanos said.
Donald Trump has lashed out at Sir Keir Starmer for signing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, throwing the surrender deal once again into chaos.

In an explosive post on Truth Social, the US president revealed he has told the Prime Minister that the deal the UK has struck over its Indian Ocean territory is a 'big mistake'.

He warned him not to 'give away' or 'lose control' of the crucial joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, under the controversial century-long lease Labour has agreed with Mauritius, a Chinese ally.

And President Trump said that the US military may need to launch attacks on Iran from the site if Tehran refuses to do a deal with him.

He said: 'Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime - an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries.'

Trump's dramatic intervention comes less than a day after his State Department declared that 'the United States supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago'.

US officials are due to hold talks in Mauritius's capital, Port Louis next week on 'effective implementation of security arrangements for the base'.

However, President Trump's outburst on his Truth Social platform may suggest he wants to change the terms agreed by Labour after it came to power.

It will likely force the Government to further postpone debate in Parliament on the bill to ratify the treaty, under which the UK will also hand Mauritius as much as 30billion, and could even lead to another major U-turn.

The legislation was delayed last month when President Trump first stunned ministers by describing the agreement as a 'great act of stupidity'.

In his new message, he wrote: 'I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is 'claiming' Right, Title, and Interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean.

'Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature.'

He went on: 'Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease.'

And he added: 'We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!'

A group of Chagos islanders land on the archipelago to establish a permanent settlement, more than 50 years after the population was evicted from the British colony

Donald Trump has lashed out at Sir Keir Starmer for making a 'big mistake' over the Chagos Islands deal

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The Chagos Islands have been the subject of a decades-long sovereignty dispute after they were not granted independence along with the rest of Mauritius in 1965.

The population was subsequently expelled from the archipelago to make way for the airbase, and have staged a long-running campaign for the right to return.

On Tuesday, a small group of Chagossians arrived on the island by boat in a final attempt to reclaim their ancestral land before it is surrendered.

Tonight, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel came out in support of Trump's comments.

She said: 'President Trump has once again publicly rebuked Keir Starmer and his Government over their ill-judged, unnecessary and expensive Chagos Surrender. This is an utter humiliation for Starmer.

'It's time Starmer finally saw sense, U-turned and scrapped this appalling deal altogether.

'Giving up British sovereign territory to an ally of China and paying for the privilege is irresponsible and reckless and is clearly undermining our relationship with our most important ally.'

Tory peer Lord Kempsell, who has lobbied the White House to intervene, added: 'Starmer's deal is finished. He must now withdraw his Diego Garcia Bill from Parliament.'

Reform MP Andrew Rosindell said: 'It speaks volumes when POTUS appears more concerned with defending the United Kingdom's national interest than Keir Starmer.

'The Government must do the patriotic, honourable, and common-sense thing and scrap this disgraceful sell-out of a deal. Keep Chagos British.'

And former minister Lord Redwood said: 'Good advice from President Trump on Chagos. Please listen Prime Minister.'

An aerial view of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean

The Government says the future of the base in the Chagos Islands has been threatened by recent international court decisions.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'The deal to secure the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia is crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.

'The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base.'

Yesterday, the Mail exclusively revealed that a close friend of Starmer shared an 8million pot for his work in negotiating the 'surrender' deal.

Philippe Sands KC, who describes himself as a 'great friend' of the Prime Minister, pocketed his share of the sum while acting as chief legal counsel to Mauritius between 2010 and 2024.

In that time he secured the controversial deal which will see Britain hand back sovereignty of the strategically important archipelago, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, and lease the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years - at an average cost of 101m a year.

Professor Sands, a leading international human rights lawyer who is also close with Attorney General Lord Hermer, led a series of legal teams who were almost exclusively tasked with fighting for the cession of the island to Mauritius.

Together they were allocated at least 8,300,000 from the Mauritian state budget, official documents show.

While the exact figure Professor Sands took home is unknown, his role as chief counsel will have seen him earn the largest cut, according to one international lawyer, who said a large bonus could also be paid on the deal's completion.

Asked how much he was paid, Sands told a House of Lords Committee he 'did not know' but admitted he was 'remunerated, as I am for almost all my cases. It was not done pro bono'.
Horrified parents have slammed the sentence of a school principal, who boasted about spying on children in pool changing rooms, after learning he will spend just three months behind bars on child abuse charges.

Richard John Barren, 50, was sentenced to 16 months' jail on Wednesday after pleading guilty to two charges of possessing and transmitting child abuse material.

However, Judge Susan Wakeling ordered the former Langwarrin Park Primary School principal be released on a recognisance release order after serving a minimum non-parole of three months.

Speaking outside of Melbourne's County Court, parents shared their anger at the meagre sentence and said many of the students had thought of Barren as one of their 'safe people'.

'It's a total abuse of power by a principal in a primary school over a prolonged period as well,' one parent told the Herald Sun.

'I just think he was so smug when he knew he was getting out in three months. This goes to show he was not remorseful'.

Another said: 'Appalling really. I don't feel the sentencing he received was good enough.'

Barren was arrested by border force officers during a baggage search at Melbourne airport on January 26, 2025 after flying home from a holiday in the United States.

Richard Barren, 50, was handed a three month sentence for possessing and transmitting child abuse material

He was the principal of Langwarrin Park Primary School in Melbourne's southeast

He was busted with child abuse material on his personal mobile phone.

A second phone, also containing child abuse material, was found by police during a search of his Mornington Peninsula home.

During the investigation, officers discovered messages between Barren and four unknown Grindr users, where he detailed his preferences for children as young as eight.

When asked by one user how young he liked children, Barren responded 'no limit'.

'The younger the better,' he messaged one user.

He also boasted about spying on young children getting changed and kids he saw at the Rye Carnival.

'Love perving on pool change rooms,' he messaged one user on Grindr.

Police also found images and videos of young girls, believed to be aged 12 and under, with an adult male on his phone.

Police found child abuse material on two phones belonging to Barren after he was arrested at Melbourne Airport in January 2025

There is no suggestion any of the students from the school appeared in the child abuse material.

Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Ray Imbriano said the force was 'fiercely committed' to protecting children from harm.

'For those producing, possessing or sharing this kind of abhorrent material  the AFP is working tirelessly to identify you and place you before the courts to face justice for these vile crimes,' Supt Imbriano said.
Six members of a Florida family, including four young children and a baby, were killed in an devastating house fire.

Charles Jelly Roll Pinner Jr., his wife Lori and their four children - Colton, Valkryie, Neveah and baby Steven - died in the blaze Tuesday in Dixie County, relatives confirmed. The children ranged in age from under 1 to 11.

The fire broke out before sunrise, with deputies, firefighters and EMS crews responding to the residential structure just before 7am, according to the Dixie County Sheriff's Office.

Officials said the cause remains under investigation.

'Deputies, firefighters, EMS personnel, and mutual aid partners responded and worked tirelessly at the scene. Tragically this incident resulted in multiple fatalities,' the sheriff's office said.

'Out of respect for the family and to allow proper notification of extended loved ones, no identifying information will be released at this time.

'This is a heartbreaking event for our community. We ask that you keep everyone affected in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.'

Family members said fire unfolded with terrifying speed.

Charles Jelly Roll Pinner Jr. and his wife Lori died in the early-morning house fire in Dixie County on Tuesday

Colton, Valkryie, Neveah and baby Steven were killed in the blaze that destroyed their North Florida home

The cause of the fire remains unknown

'My cousin megan which lives right there ran over and was like beating on the back door and we come out and see nothing but flames,' Charles Pinner's sister, Bri Pinner, told WCJB.

Investigators have not confirmed where the fire began.

Relatives said they heard it may have started in the kitchen, though officials have not verified that detail.

The six deaths have left a tight-knit community stunned.

Nikie Waits, Charles Pinner's aunt, described arriving to find neighbors flooding the street.

'Couldn't even get around the street on both sides for the people that were running to come and support the family,' Waits told WCJB.

'There's a hole there that will never be filled, you know, was just was such an amazing person.'

Loved ones described Charles Pinner as a father whose life revolved around his children and the outdoors.

'He was all about his family and kids, and he loved hunting and anything he could do outdoors. Those kids were is world, Colton, Valkryie, Bri, Neveah and Steven which was the baby,' Bri Pinner said.

Charles's sister Bri said everything seemed normal early that morning until a relative ran over to see the house in flames

Businesses, churches and residents in Old Town have organized fundraisers to help cover funeral expenses

She said her brother became a pillar for the family after they lost their father during the COVID pandemic.

'You can't just pick one, he was my rock,' she said.

She also recalled how one of the children saw him.

'He was like a big teddy bear and that's what exactly what Neveah called him, her teddy bear,' she said.

In the days since the fire, businesses and churches across Old Town and surrounding areas have begun raising money for funeral expenses.

Papa Luigi's Pizza in Old Town announced it will donate 50 percent of proceeds from February 18 through February 25 to the Pinner family.

Horns & Scales Outfitters is partnering with a volunteer baking collective known as Dixie Bakers to host a Facebook cake and item auction.

Organizers said items will include baked goods and outdoor gear, with proceeds going directly to the family.

Community members are also organizing memorial T-shirt sales.

First Baptist Church of Old Town announced plans for a special love offering and a future benefit concert.

The sheriff's office said the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
A Florida pizza shop has sparked outrage after pranking customers by claiming it had added iguana meat to its menu after so many of the reptiles died during the state's recent cold snap.

Bucks Coal Fired Pizza in North Palm Beach introduced its 'Everglades' pie in an Instagram video earlier this month.

Shop owner Frankie Cecere explained that the pizza consists of chunk bacon, venison, and 'the star of the show iguana'.

He claimed he was challenged to create the unusual dish by local wildlife trapper Ryan Izquierdo after so many iguanas were killed off during the cold.

Temperatures plunged to the mid-30s at the start of the month, sending the cold-blooded reptiles into a state of 'torpor,' in which they temporarily lose muscle control and appear to be frozen.

The reptiles, which are considered an invasive species in Florida, then died or were culled by Izquierdo and others who took advantage of the easy prey.

The menu addition immediately prompted disgust when Cecere announced it.

However, the owner has since confirmed to the Daily Mail that the whole idea was a hoax - though he has not ruled out securing the necessary permits to legally sell the unusual meat.

Pizza shop owner Frankie Cecere pranked customers he had added iguana meat to its Everglades pie

Local trapper, Ryan Izquierdo, brought iguanas to Bucks Coal Fired Pizza in North Palm Beach in the beginning of February and challenged the owners to incorporate it on the menu

The prank prompted a violent reaction online, with many customers vowing to steer clear.

'What's the name of this place so I know never to come and eat here?' One person asked on Instagram.

'Nope, and the fact that he put the lizard in the oven and then used the blade to cut the pie, I'll never eat there,' said another.

'This has to be against every health code violation in the book! This place should be shut down!' A third wrote.'

The backlash grew so great that it prompted a visit from the health department, according to Local 10.

'People called in saying we had live iguanas in house, like an animal cruelty issue,' Cecere told the outlet. 'We don't have live iguanas here.

'I thought it would fall under catch and cook,' he joked.

Despite the backlash over the video, the shop owner told the outlet that the Everglades pie was highly sought after and that over 1,500 people had called to get a slice.

Izquierdo described the taste of iguana similar to frog legs. Here is pictured with a massive frozen iguana haul about two weeks ago during the cold snap which dropped temperatures to the mid-30s

Many online shared how disgusted they were and promised to never eat at the pizza parlor

Izquierdo described the taste of iguana as 'like a frog leg but a little bit sweet'.

Many online also questioned why so many were disgusted at the thought of eating the invasive species and were interested in getting a slice for themselves.

'People eat Gator meat and Rattlesnakes, why not iguana? ' posted one person on Instagram. 'I know a lot of cultures eat iguanas thats a no thank you for me lmao but that pizza still looks delicious!!'

'I gotta get one of these, Ill trade you iguana tacos,' another added.

'Iguana's meat is the chicken of the tree... that's a fire idea, pie chef. That venison alone sounds dope,' a third said.

Floridians are typically forbidden from handling iguanas themselves.

But amid the cold snap, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission decided to allow residents to bring the frozen iguanas to temporary collection sites set up across the state, where they will either be humanely euthanized or transferred to licensed permit holders for sale outside of the state.
A Minneapolis memorial for Renee Good was doused in gasoline and set ablaze in what authorities have deemed a 'suspicious' attack.

The fire broke out on Tuesday at the display of flowers and memorial posters for the woman who was killed by an ICE agent last month, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune.

Renee, 37, a mother of three, was shot by agent Johnathan Ross after she ignored demands to get out of her car, before reversing and trying to drive off.

Authorities said someone deliberately drenched a pile of wood with gasoline to start the fire.

'This is despicable,' City Council Member Jason Chavez, whose district covers the neighborhood where Good was shot, wrote on social media.

He shared a photo that showed the aftermath: a partially burned fence where colorful posters have stood since January 7, with a large pile of wood stacked against it.

The Minneapolis Police Department has opened an investigation. No suspects had been arrested on Wednesday.

Around 9pm, 43-year-old photojournalist Ryan Vizzions said he smelled gasoline inside his van parked near the site now dedicated to remembering Good, according to the Star Tribune.

'I looked out my windshield and I see orange,' he told the outlet. 'My eyes lit up.'

A Minneapolis memorial for Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE agent, was doused in gasoline and set ablaze Tuesday night

Renee (pictured), 37, was a mother of three who was shot by ICE agent Johnathan Ross after she ignored demands to get out of her car, reversed it and tried to drive off during a protest

Other residents, also alerted by the glow of the flames, raced outside armed with two fire extinguishers to battle the fire.

While several items were damaged in the blaze, police said no one was hurt.

The memorial - thankfully covered with a tarp by community members the night before to protect it from rain - suffered less damage than it might have otherwise.

'Weve been hypervigilant in our neighborhood and obviously everyones keeping an eye out all of the time,' neighbor Wren Clinefelter, 23, told the Star Tribune.

'So its definitely very disheartening to hear that someone would try and burn down a memorial for a woman who was killed in our neighborhood,' she added.

A video shared on Vizzions Instagram showed Goods vigil largely intact, with crime tape cordoning it off as community members and a firetruck stayed on site.

At one point during the clip, an open bottle of Valvoline High Mileage gasoline could be seen lying on the sidewalk.

'I want to thank the neighbors and observers who helped extinguish the fire,' Councilman Chavez wrote on Bluesky.

Authorities said someone deliberately drenched a pile of wood with gasoline to start the fire. No arrests have yet been made

Authorities have said there is federal criminal investigation into Good's killing. Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was denied access to evidence in the case (pictured: memorial)

Good, 37, a mother of three, was shot by ICE agent Johnathan Ross (pictured) after she ignored commands to exit her car, reversed, and attempted to drive away during a protest

'I have reached out to the Minneapolis Fire Department and the Office of Community staff to work with the community to rectify any concerns,' he added. 'We're still asking for justice for Renee Good and Alex Pretti.'

Good, 37, a mother of three, was shot by ICE agent Johnathan Ross after she ignored commands to exit her car, reversed, and attempted to drive away during a protest.

First responders reported finding a total of four gunshot wounds: two in her chest, one on her left forearm, and one on the left side of her head.

Her death triggered a wave of protests and national outrage, with Minneapolis at the epicenter.

Authorities have said there is federal criminal investigation into Good's killing. Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was denied access to evidence in the case.

Becca Good, Good's wife, appeared on stage at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis earlier this month where a large crowd gathered to commemorate her partner, according to The New York Times.

At the event, Becca decided not to speak to the crowd but rather gave a statement to Rabbi Arielle Lekach-Rosenberg to read aloud, according to People.

'Becca Good, Renee's wife, has had to grieve alone for weeks,' Lekach-Rosenberg said. 'This is a really important moment - Rebecca gets to share words back to you. So, it is my honor to get to offer Becca's words.'

First responders reported finding a total of four gunshot wounds: two in her chest, one on her left forearm, and one on the left side of her head

Good's death triggered a wave of protests and national outrage, with Minneapolis at the epicenter

The widow's statement started by thanking people of her city: 'Minneapolis has shown me that even in the middle of grief and fear, people still show up for each other.'

'Thank you to this incredible community for showing up again and again - organizing food and rides, making sure our kids get to school, checking in on neighbors, and standing together in the cold. I am so proud to call Minneapolis my home,' she said.

'Renee was not the first person killed, and she was not the last,' she added.

'You know my wife's name, and you know Alex's name, but there are many others in this city being harmed that you don't know - their families are hurting just like mine, even if they don't look like mine.'
A South Carolina mother who disappeared after she left her husband and four-year-old son to attend a church conference has been mysteriously found at a hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

Leigh McAlister, 37, was reported missing by her husband, Rob, on Valentine's Day, when she was due to return to her and her husband's home in Lexington, just outside of Columbia, from the church conference in Midtown Atlanta.

She has since been located at a hospital in the city, which is about 200 miles from their home, Rob shared on social media.

Leigh traveled to the city for the conference on February 13, and Rob has previously said he last heard from her that evening, 11 Alive reports.

She had originally planned to return home the next day, but a missing person's poster that was shared online by her friends notes she was considering returning a day later than she had originally planned for unknown reasons.

The last anyone saw of Leigh was at a Publix supermarket in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, the night of February 14.

The mystery then deepened on Monday, when her SUV was found abandoned near the Atlanta Braves stadium, less than 10 miles from the supermarket.

Leigh McAlister, 37, was reported missing by her husband, Rob, on Valentine's Day, when she was due to return to their South Carolina home from a church conference in Atlanta

Rob said it was unlike her to disappear, and noted that she left their four-year-old son wondering where his mother was

Inside the vehicle were her personal belongings, including her phone and wallet - which her husband said she would not normally leave behind.

'It's not like her,' Rob told WLTX as he searched Atlanta for his wife on Monday evening.

He said his wife had never disappeared before, and reiterated that they have a four-year-old son, who was left wondering where his mom is.

The Cobb County Police Department in South Carolina has since confirmed that its Major Crimes Unit is investigating McAlister's disappearance, as questions remain about why her car may have been abandoned or how she traveled without her car, phone and wallet.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Cobb County Police Department for more information.
On December 7, 1990, the late Queen conferred the Order of Merit on Margaret Thatcher, lately reduced to the mere MP for Finchley.

It was an extraordinary honour. The Order of Merit was created by King Edward VII in June 1902 for exceptional service in the Armed Forces, art, literature and science.

There can only be 24 members at any given time. They have included such accomplished dignitaries as Florence Nightingale, Edward Elgar, Churchill and Attlee, and there are noted perks.

You have your portrait painted for the Royal Collection; every five years, the King entertains you all at a stately luncheon  and the OM is one of the very few honours left that is in his personal gift.

Not by the writ of officials, as they draw up everything from life peerages and GCMGs to a lowly British Empire Medal for Mrs Miggins the tea lady.

And that Elizabeth II chose to appoint the Order of Merit to Mrs Thatcher had many whispering behind their fans.

Their relations had always been less cordial than correct, they had little in common and the late Prime Minister had never been averse, when it suited her, to upstaging Her Majesty.

The honour was rightly read as the daintiest revolt  an arching of an eyebrow  against the highly disturbing circumstances in which Thatcher had been toppled from office.

All smiles - but Mrs Thatcher and the Queen did not always see eye to eye

Sir Keir Starmer has no guarantee of job security

The Iron Lady had won three general elections in a row. Commanded, to the last, a majority in the House of Commons. Had even won, outright, a majority against Michael Heseltine in the recent leadership election.

Enjoyed, to the last, the confidence of her Sovereign. And had nevertheless been deposed  humiliated  in a fashion her colleagues and backbenchers would, one suspects, not have inflicted on another man.

From that constitutional outrage we now reap the whirlwind. In the past ten years we have had six Prime Ministers.

And, by midsummer, will probably have our seventh. We have somehow turned into Italy, and the whirl of palace-daggerings is not even cheap.

Every retired Prime Minister enjoys lifelong round-the-clock personal protection, a generous pension and other perks  all at taxpayers expense.

Historically, we burned through but one-and-a-half Premiers a decade and their dismissal was a task generally entrusted, as they saw fit, to the electorate.

A Prime Minister these days seems to enjoy less job security than a pub pianist. It is corrosive, destabilising and  whatever you think of the current incumbent, which is probably not much  it is extraordinarily bad for the country.

What has gone wrong?

Well, if you run the rule over Sir Keir Starmer and his recent predecessors, one immediate stand-out is their very limited House of Commons experience.

A distinguished gathering at St James's Palace to mark 100 years of the Order of Merit

Winston Churchill had sat in the House of Commons for four decades when he kissed hands with King George VI in 1940. Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan and James Callaghan had all been MPs for over 30 years.

Thatcher herself, when  a vision in blue  she mangled, in May 1979, the words of St Francis of Assisi at the threshold of No 10, had already served two decades in the Commons and held office under three Tory predecessors.

David Cameron, in 2010, had been an MP for less than a decade. Boris Johnson, in 2019, for an aggregate 11 years. Liz Truss for 12, Rishi Sunak for seven and Starmer for nine.

Command of the House of Commons is central to the authority and credibility of the Prime Minister  which is why the dogs on the street already know Starmer is all but chopped and bagged for the freezer  and you really need to be long-baked into the bricks.

Then there is the matter of how one attains the leadership of ones party. As late as 1963, mid-term and when in office, a new Conservative Prime Minister emerged, after due soundings, by the Royal Prerogative.

But there was controversy when Rab Butler was, in 1957 and again in 1963, twice passed over for the top job  and the Queen thereafter acceded to the consensus that, on subsequent occasions, the new leader of a party in government be elected by its MPs.

It would have appalled her grandfather  King George V was our first great constitutional monarch, never afraid to get stuck into a crisis and twist the odd arm  and was in the quietly calamitous anything-for-a-quiet-life spirit that led, at the last gasp of her reign, to dreadful decisions about her second son.

In fact, it was half a century ago this spring when MPs first had opportunity to elect a new Prime Minister.

You look back on the calibre of those who vied to succeed Harold Wilson in March 1976 and want quietly to weep.

Titans all, even if you did not agree with them  Tony Benn and James Callaghan, Tony Crossland and Michael Foot and Denis Healey and Roy Jenkins.

War veterans, thinkers, originals and orators who loved cut-and-thrust debate and thought nothing of chewing the fat in a live, long-form television interview with the likes of Robin Day.

Starmer would not have lasted five minutes in that spotlight: Day would have downed a Swinney, a Sarwar or Sir Ed Davey like a Pringle.

Then something odd happened. Trailed by the Liberals in 1976, by Labour in 1981 and by the Tories two decades later, the major parties decided the leader should actually be elected (admittedly, in Labours case, in particularly Byzantine process) by party mass membership in the country.

Even as, in every instance and without many noticing, they all but dismantled the right of ordinary members to select their preferred candidate in a local Parliamentary constituency.

With the result that the calibre of the average Westminster MP these days  careerists, lickspittles, a general gaggle of geese, folk who think they know everything about governance because they once binge-watched The West Wing  is generally appalling.

The kind who have never had a real job  outwith the bubble of politics, as Parliamentary researchers and so on  and clamour like gulls for a coup detat after the first, adverse opinion poll.

And, thus, we are where we are  in a land that now feels ungovernable and, probably, the toast of Zimbabwe.

Months back, on the centenary of her birth, Charles Moore  her biographer  hosted a stately salon on the life and legacy of Margaret Thatcher. She had not, in fact, been brought down by her own MPs because they were sure she would lose the next general election.

Actually, Moore wickedly suggested, they were terrified she might win it.
Do you know more? Email maisy.rae@dailymail.com.au

A Queensland man has been arrested after allegedly offering $730 to an overseas third party to procure him a child for him to adopt and have sex with.

The 49-year-old man, who has not yet been identified, was intercepted by Border Force officers at Sydney Airport on February 17 after flying in from China.

After examining his luggage, officers allege child abuse material was found on the man's electronic devices, along with conversations with third parties in the Philippines discussing procuring children for sexual activity.

Police will allege the man asked a third party to find minors for him to adopt and engage in sexual activity with, in exchange for 30,000 Philippine pesos, or about $730 AUD.

The man has been charged with one count of possessing child pornography material outside Australia, and two counts of using a carriage service to prepare or plan to engage in sexual activity with a person under 16 years of age.

He has also been charged with one count of procuring child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia - a serious offence that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.

The man was refused bail.

He is scheduled to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on April 22.

The 49-year-old Queensland man was arrested at Sydney airport this week

Police allege child abuse material was found on the man's electronic devices, including conversations with third parties in the Philippines

AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said the investigation remains ongoing to determine the full scale of the alleged offending.

'If you seek to harm and exploit children, wherever they are in the world, you will be on the AFP's radar,' Det-Supt Needham said.

'You cannot escape the long arm of the AFP, and your abhorrent behaviour can always be tracked and traced.

'The AFP will continue to forensically examine the man's devices, associated cloud accounts, and financial transactions to determine the full scale of the alleged offending.

'We will also liaise with international partners and members deployed in the Philippines to identify any potential victims.'
Scotland's top prosecutor was last night forced to deny being corrupt after she tipped off John Swinney about criminal charges against Nicola Sturgeons estranged husband.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain, KC, was summoned to Holyrood to explain why she alerted the First Minister to a significant development in the case against Peter Murrell.

Her January 19 memo revealed the former SNP chief executive had been accused of embezzling 459,000 from party funds almost a month before the figure became public.

Ms Bain, appointed by Ms Sturgeon in 2021, also said Mr Murrell was next due in court on 20 February and suggested any trial would be March 2027 or later.

In extraordinary scenes at parliament, she told MSPs she had been acting in the interests of justice and was not considering resigning despite calls for her to quit.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said she was supposed to be politically neutral but any remnants of that neutrality are in ruins.

Mr Swinney yesterday refused to say why he was given the heads-up, saying repeatedly: This is a live criminal case and Im not going to make any comment.

As Lord Advocate, Ms Bain is both head of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Copfs) and a Scottish Government minister and top law officer who attends Cabinet meetings.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC was quizzed in Holyrood yesterday

Peter Murrell with his wife Nicola Sturgeon

The release of her memo to the Scottish Sun under freedom of information caused a storm at Holyrood, where opposition parties claimed it could help the SNP politically.

Mr Findlay told MSPs: The Lord Advocate was appointed to the SNP government by Nicola Sturgeon.

The Lord Advocate then gave John Swinney information about a serious criminal case involving Nicola Sturgeons husband.

She also gave Mr Swinney key details of court dates to the SNPs clear electoral advantage.

This smacks of corruption. It undermines public trust in the office of the Lord Advocate who is supposed be politically neutral. Any remnants of that neutrality are in ruins.

So can the Lord Advocate tell me if she is considering her position?

Ms Bain replied: I am not considering my position. The minute was sent after a decision had been made in this case by an independent prosecutor. It was a minute that was for information and the protection of the process. It is about informing of a significant development which is entering the public domain to ensure that the government is reminded of its legal responsibilities to restrict its comments on a live case.

I have had no involvement in this case, and any suggestion that I am corrupt or my position is compromised, I roundly reject.

Replying to Labour MSP Michael Marra, whose urgent question brought her to the chamber, Ms Bain said her minute was merely confirmation of the fact that Mr Murrell had been indicted and the nature of the charge, including the value of the alleged embezzlement.

She said: This process protects the administration of justice and does not, I believe, confer any political advantage, she said, adding the information was volunteered, not requested.

But Mr Marra said she had provided information to the FM that was available to nobody else and which was then passed on to SNP advisers.

He said: The Lord Advocate set out the scale of the charge and the fact that no trial would be held until March 2027. That information conferred clear political advantage to the First Minister. That absolutely stinks. On what planet is it not political interference?

Ms Bain insisted it was done for the protection of the process.

She said: It is done as a matter of course, on a case-by-case basis, by the prosecution service and on the judgement of the independent prosecutor.

In relation to the indictment, it was a figure that was able to be shared that sharing of the information does not confer any political advantage or lead to a compromise to the case.

Mr Marra quoted ex-Labour FM Lord McConnell saying he cannot recall ever being briefed ahead of such a case on charges or timetable.

Ms Bain said the sharing of information about significant cases was normal practice but was unable to say how many times it had happened before or when it started, although she promised to details in writing.

She repeatedly failed to explain why Mr Swinney was told the headline figure in the indictment while the Crown Office was simultaneously withholding it from the media.

SNP, Green and Liberal Democrat MSPs later voted down a Tory request for her to return to parliament today for a full statement and further questions.

Mr Marra said afterwards: We received no clear answers from the Lord Advocate.

We remain none the wiser about crucial questions surrounding why the Lord Advocate felt the need to inform John Swinney about the details of the case against Peter Murrell.

This smacks of political interference, and it should deeply trouble anyone who believes in an open and fair democracy.

The details of Mr Murrells indictment were first reported last week by the Scottish Sun.

The memo row came just 24 hours after angry scenes at Holyrood about a delay in Mr Murrells preliminary hearing until 25 May, after the May 7 election.

Mr Murrell, 61, has been expected to enter pleas to the charges against him tomorrow.

After Tory MSP Douglas Ross said it smacked of corrupt government as it would benefit the SNP, the Government vehemently denied influencing the change.

Mr Findlay added last night: There are questions that should be answered around the timing of this case. It was first reported to Police Scotland before the 2021 election. Does it really take more than five years, until after the 2026 election, for this to be concluded?

You cannot help but be suspicious that in SNP-run Scotland potentially influence has been brought to bear, delays have been sought, because they can see that there is an electoral advantage in burying this until after May 7.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also wrote to Ms Bain suggesting she had given the SNP a political advantage ahead of the Holyrood election.

He said: Scotlands top prosecutor cannot be involved in conduct that allows any party to gauge political exposure from a live indictment, or appears to do so, and still expect public confidence to hold.

First Minister John Swinney refused to comment on the case yesterday

Ms Bain last night denied any wrongdoing.

In minuting the First Minister I was acting in my capacity as the head of the system of prosecution in Scotland, she replied.

I exercise these functions independently of any other person. Nothing in the notification gives any basis for suggestions that I, or any prosecutor in this case, have acted inappropriately or undermined the independence of prosecutorial decisions.

The Copfs said: The Lord Advocate provided the First Minister with an update to ensure it was understood she was not involved in the case, that it was active for contempt of court, and therefore it should not be commented upon.

This message was sent formally after the indictment had been served in order to form part of the record and ensure transparency in due course.

Once an indictment has been served on an accused it stands to become public at any point.

Asked when SNP HQ was told about the details of the charges against Mr Murrell, the party said: It would be inappropriate to comment on live proceedings.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on live criminal proceedings.
More than 19,000 tips flooded into law enforcement after four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death inside an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022.

But it was a fragment of DNA found on a brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath that would finally lead investigators 2,500 miles across the country to Bryan Kohberger's door.

Now, in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, DNA found on a glove and inside her home could be the key to tracking down her abductors and bringing the 84-year-old home safe before it's too late.

To David Mittelman, CEO of Othram - the forensic genetic genealogy lab that identified Kohberger as the source of the DNA on the sheath, ultimately proving him to be the killer - timing is critical, especially given Guthrie could still be out there alive.

'Unlike cold cases, when there's an active case like this, time is of the essence,' he told the Daily Mail.

'The faster it's done, the more chance you can recover someone who has been abducted.'

He added: 'It could be the difference between a case going cold and a case getting solved right away.'

In Tucson, Arizona, investigators found a glove in a field beside a road around two miles from the home of the mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie. The glove appears to match those worn by a masked suspect captured on Guthrie's Nest doorbell camera on the night she disappeared.

Today show host Savannah Guthrie and her mother Nancy Guthrie in 2021. Nancy was last seen on the night of January 31

Investigators found a glove that appeared to match those worn by a masked suspect captured on Guthrie's Nest doorbell camera on the night she disappeared

DNA not belonging to Guthrie or any close contacts was also found inside her home.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department sent the samples to DNA Labs International, a private lab in Florida, for testing.

On Tuesday, Sheriff Chris Nanos said the DNA on the glove does not match the DNA inside her home and also did not trigger a match in CODIS - the law enforcement database of known offenders - meaning that the individuals are not known to have committed any past crimes.

The DNA found at Guthrie's home is undergoing further testing, the sheriff's office said.

The results from the testing on the glove, undoubtedly, mark a blow to the investigation.

'When there is a match to a known identity, investigators can seek out this person to figure out why their DNA was there,' Mittelman said.

'If the person is not in the CODIS database, which is not uncommon, then it will need a different kind of DNA testing.'

This is where a lab like Othram might come in.

Othram uses a technique called forensic grade genome sequencing to take DNA from a crime scene and build a DNA profile that has hundreds of thousands of markers.

This unique, detailed profile can then be uploaded to genetic genealogical databases to search for matches to very distant relatives.

Whereas CODIS will only find a complete match to an individual, a parent or sibling, genetic genealogy can find matches stretching far back along distant branches of family trees, to narrow down the identity of the individual.

It was this technique that ultimately identified Kohberger, a then-criminology student at Washington State University, in the Idaho Four case.

Join the debate Should law enforcement rely on private DNA labs or stick with the FBI for urgent investigations?

Bryan Kohberger at his sentencing in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23

DNA on the sheath led to Bryan Kohberger being unmasked as the murderer of four University of Idaho students

Just 48 hours after Othram received the DNA, the lab determined it belonged to a man whose ancestry went back multiple generations in the US, whose family derived from Pennsylvania, and who had a very specific Italian background.

Only two families in the whole of America fit that specific criteria. And among those families, only one man - Kohberger - could have been in Moscow on November 13, 2022, driving a white Hyundai Elantra captured on surveillance footage fleeing the scene.

Similarly, if IGG is used in Guthrie's case, Mittelman explained it will be able to narrow down a potential suspect's characteristics such as their ancestry, location and heritage, before landing on an individual.

All of this takes time, though.

'It's paramount to get answers as soon as possible. The DNA work has to be done as quickly as possible because it could take some time to investigate,' Mittelman said.

'In Kohberger's case, the DNA profile was built in just a few days, but it took a few weeks to track it down, find the person, get the warrant, carry out a trash pull to get DNA for comparison and everything else. You don't want any delays.'

In Guthrie's case, the sheriff's office has already faced criticism for sending the DNA to the private lab rather than the FBI's lab in Quantico, which is considered one of the fastest and most effective DNA labs.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos defended his decision, telling local outlet KOLD the same lab has worked on the investigation from the start and already had other DNA including that of Guthrie's family. He argued it would not make sense to send the DNA evidence to multiple locations.

Othram's lab uses a technique called forensic grade genome sequencing to take DNA from a crime scene and build a DNA profile that has hundreds of thousands of markers. This unique, detailed profile can then be uploaded to genetic genealogical databases to search for matches to very distant relatives

Mittelman said every case is unique. But, he confirmed it is possible to process DNA 'very quickly' and 'the FBI is certainly exceptional at it.'

Where the pieces of DNA were located in Guthrie's case is significant, Mittelman explained.

'In a homicide or a sex assault, there is a lot of DNA that can be recovered from the crime scene. But you want to find the DNA that's most likely to be probative, like DNA from a foreign male on a woman's body or DNA on a weapon,' he said.

In Kohberger's case, there were several DNA profiles found inside the victims' home and under their nails.

But, DNA on the knife sheath is what scientists regard as 'probative': it was found on part of the murder weapon found at the crime scene and so the person who touched it was likely involved in the crime.

If the glove was worn by one of Guthrie's potential abductors, this could also be probative - and could potentially crack the case wide open.

'In an abduction or disappearance, it can be hard to know which items might be probative. If investigators are confident the glove they've recovered matches the glove in the video, that is a good place to start,' he said.

A chilling masked figure was seen outside Nancy Guthrie's home the night she went missing

'But other things like the plants next to the house, the doorway, the interior of the home, anything in the scene that the victim may have come into contact with could be valuable for figuring out who was there and who might have been involved.'

The DNA could also help identify a suspect quicker than the video footage, Mittelman explained.

In the chilling doorbell camera footage, the suspect's appearance was disguised with a mask. Investigators have been trying to narrow them down through his clothing and backpack, which is sold at a local Walmart.

'When you have an active case like this, you have two investigative options,' Mittelman said.

'One is the visual stream from security and doorbell cameras. The other is the identity stream from DNA. So if there's not anything uniquely identifying in the camera footage, then DNA becomes even more important. It's your identity feed of all the people who were at that scene at some point in time, and that could include people who were involved in what happened to her and folk who might know something.'

Mittelman said this is a prime example of why DNA testing should be carried out at the start of an investigation - not after a suspect has been identified.

In Kohberger's case, the DNA was sent for testing right away, despite multiple other leads - including the footage of the suspect vehicle - being explored.

'And in the end, that ended up being an important part of that case, because they weren't generating enough unique leads,' he said.

The same was true in the investigation into Rachel Morin's murder, after the mom-of-five was killed while running in Maryland. The suspect was captured on camera breaking into a home months earlier - but his identity was unknown. Through IGG technology, Othram identified the killer and he was captured.

'Traditionally, investigators use camera footage at the very beginning to figure out who was there. For some reason, DNA testing is usually done on the back end when a suspect has been identified and investigators want to confirm they are right,' he said.

'The DNA should be tested on day one because it could cause a delay. Maybe the camera feed is enough to trigger a lead or maybe someone comes forward with a tip but if they don't, then all roads will lead back to the DNA.'

'No matter what the case is, the faster you can get the truth, the better for everyone.'
Sarah Ferguson branded Virginia Giuffre's claim that she was forced to have sex with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor a 'salacious lie' while defending her ex-husband in an American TV interview.

A clip of Sarah, now 66, reacting to Giuffre's allegations against the former Duke of York during an 'embarrassing' episode of The Meredith Vieira Show is being discussed by fans in the wake the latest Epstein Files revelations.

One of Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent accusers, Ms Giuffre claimed in court filings that she was 17 when she was sex trafficked by the paedophile financier to Andrew in the early 2000s.

Days later, in January 2015, Fergie told American broadcaster Meredith Vieira: 'I don't understand how people can make salacious lies up,' and described her reaction to Ms Giuffre's accusations as 'total fury'.

She went on to praise the disgraced ex-duke, who has since been stripped of his titles, as 'one of the greatest men I've ever met in my life'.

Andrew has vehemently denied any wrongdoing but paid Ms Giuffre $12million to settle her sexual assault lawsuit in 2022, despite claiming he couldn't recall ever meeting her - let alone having sex with her.

This week, however, the Daily Mail revealed how an unredacted email in the Epstein Files stated that Andrew had 'consensual' sex with Ms Giuffre.

The paedophile financier did not correct a journalist who stated it as a fact that the former prince slept with the trafficking victim, who took her own life last year.

One of Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent accusers, Ms Giuffre (centre) claimed in court filings that she was 17 when she was trafficked by him for sex with Andrew in the early 2000s. They are pictured here with Epstein's former partner and convicted child sex trafficker, Ghislaine Maxwell

Sarah Ferguson branded Virginia Giuffre's claim that she was forced to have sex with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor a 'salacious lie' while defending her ex-husband in a US TV interview

Fergie, whose own friendship and links with the paedophile financier face ongoing scrutiny, referred Ms Vieira to Buckingham Palace's unprecedented statement that 'emphatically denied' Andrew had 'any sexual contact or relationship' with Ms Giuffre.

'They stand by that denial,' Fergie added. 'There's nothing more to be said. It is shockingly accusatory lies which I won't stand by and let anybody believe. I have to shut it down right now.'

Sarah appeared on an episode of The Meredith Vieira Show that was broadcast in the United States on January 13, 2015.

She was promoting the Weight Watchers weight loss programme after it helped her lose 50 pounds, but the press run was overshadowed by Ms Giuffre's allegations in court documents filed in Florida weeks earlier.

Ms Giuffre alleged that she was 17 when she was trafficked by the paedophile financier and forced to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions.

When asked about Ms Giuffre's testimony, Fergie told Ms Vieira: 'Knowing him as I know him - and he's one of the greatest men I've ever met in my life and my best friend and great father to my children - I thought, "I don't understand in this day and age how people can make salacious lies up and how the media then write about it and follow on with it."

'This is defamation of character of a person that is the opposite of how he has been portrayed,' she continued.

When asked if she was 'hurt' by the claims, Fergie said she felt 'total fury' instead.

The controversial former royal added: 'I know what it's like to [have people spread lies] and not be able to say, "I never did it, I didn't do that, I didn't do this." Because then everyone goes, "Oh yeah, really?" I want to say it on [Andrew's] behalf.'

In an attempt to stir up sympathy for the former couple's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Fergie said: 'Can you imagine what they've been through?'

'So, what are you saying in the confines of your home, the four of you?' Ms Vieira asked Fergie.

'That we will not be defeated, that we are impenetrable and that we will show by success,' she replied.

When asked if she was 'hurt' by the claims, Fergie told American broadcaster Meredith Vieira she felt 'total fury'

Over a decade later, the embattled ex-royals have more questions to answer than ever before.

The release of the Epstein Files has triggered fresh scrutiny into the Yorks' dealings with the convicted sex offender, as royal fans said Fergie's interview with Ms Vieira was 'embarrassing' and 'repulsive'.

Writing on Reddit, one person noted: 'This didnt age well.'

Another said: 'Women who dont believe women are red flags'

Referring to the tranche of documents connected to Epstein, a third person added: 'What is infuriating, though, is calling Virginia a liar while all along she had been cosying up with a convicted sex offender. Shes a hypocrite and a desperate sycophant.'

One comment read: 'It's incredible that she is so arrogant about it all knowing full well her own dependence on Epstein for money. Both she and Andrew have used people over the years and avarice is a deadly sin. There's always a paper trail in such events so neither of them have a leg to stand on - they're ruined.'

Emails in the files suggest Fergie told Epstein she felt desperate about debts reportedly totalling 6million and sought his advice while he was serving a jail sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

The Mail on Sunday revealed days ago that Fergie repeatedly asked Epstein to employ her as his house assistant because she 'desperately' needed the money.

Emails show the then-Duchess pleaded for a job despite Epstein being under house arrest in Florida following his conviction for procuring a child for prostitution.

In one message sent in May 2010, she wrote: 'But why I don't understand, don't you just get me to be your House Assistant.

'I am the most capable and desperately need the money. Please Jeffrey think about it.'

The Epstein Files also revealed that Sarah told the billionaire paedophile financier to 'just marry me' in an email exchange from January 2010 after he was convicted of soliciting sex from girls as young as 14.

In the email, the former duchess wrote: 'You are a legend. I really don't have the words to describe my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness. Xx I am at your service. Just marry me.'

Andrew features a number of times in the Epstein Files, including images apparently showing him crouching over an unidentified woman in what appears to be Epstein's New York mansion

It wasn't the first time she proposed marriage to Epstein; in another email dated September 2009, Fergie suggested the convicted sex trafficker wed an unnamed woman with a 'great body' before adding: 'Ok, well marry me and then we will employ her.'

Meanwhile, a damning photo of Andrew crouching over the body of a young woman was released among the files, along with an unredacted email to Epstein from a journalist claiming he had 'consensual sex' with Ms Giuffre.

On Tuesday, the Daily Mail revealed he did not correct the journalist who stated it as a fact that the former prince slept with the trafficking victim, who died by suicide last year.

It came as a leading lawyer warned that Andrew could face prosecution for a 'great many' sexual offences because of the Epstein Files, including sex trafficking, sexual exploitation and even prostitution.

Marcus Johnstone, a leading criminal defence lawyer specialising in sex crime, claims Andrew may now be investigated over allegations he allowed sex trafficking victims into Buckingham Palace.

There are now claims a woman who could have been a trafficking victim was flown in on Epstein's 'Lolita Express' and smuggled into the Palace to see Andrew using the codename 'Mrs Windsor'.

Police will be looking for evidence proving Andrew 'knowingly facilitated their exploitation', he said.

Andrew has denied wrongdoing in relation to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Detectives could also investigate Andrew for the offence of misconduct in public office when he was a UK trade envoy.

King Charles said last week he is 'ready to support' police as they consider allegations against his brother, while the Prince and Princess of Wales said they are 'deeply concerned' by the revelations in their first statement since the scandal erupted.
A US congressman has made shocking claims that a hidden object, so massive it cannot be moved, has had an entire building constructed around it at a secret overseas location.

Rep Eric Burlison said on Monday that the facility is 'guarded like it's some kind of commodity,' adding, 'You have committees that protest their turf.'

The lawmaker acknowledged he has no firsthand proof, saying the information comes from accounts he has heard from government and non-government sources.

'I'm not going to mention the country because I heard of it inside of a closed setting, and I want to protect my classification level,' Burlison said.

He added that the object is 'not in the facility that's been widely reported in the news,' pushing back on speculation about its location.

Burlison also said he has struggled to access UAP-related sites even near his office in Washington, DC, calling attempts to visit foreign facilities 'somewhat insurmountable.' 'But it doesn't mean that I'm not going to continue to try,' he said.

He blamed congressional bureaucracy for blocking oversight, saying committees 'love turning each other down' when jurisdiction overlaps.

Burlison made the comments during an interview on Newsmax's 'Finnerty,' where he discussed his efforts to gain access to classified UAP programs and sites.

Rep Eric Burlison said the massive object is hidden at an undisclosed location, but Social media users suggested the site could be in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, which is home to a circular structure

He said navigating the congressional system is difficult, describing 'the very nature of the difficulty of the red tape system within, within the bureaucracy of Congress' as a major obstacle.

Despite the barriers, Burlison said he is committed to transparency if definitive evidence of extraterrestrial life is found.

'If I come under any hard evidence, whether it's physical or video evidence that is absolutely definitive, while I'm going to do what I can to protect our national security and our nation's interest, I will not hold back on telling the American people that we are alone or not alone in this universe,' he said.

He added that such information should not be withheld from the public, arguing, 'That is something that no government has the right to withhold from its people.'

Burlison is a member of the congressional oversight committee involved in the ongoing investigation into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), commonly known as UFOs.

While speaking on NewsMax, he was asked if the object's location was in South Korea, but he did not confirm.

Social media users suggested the site could be in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, which is home to a circular structure.

This location has gained notoriety in UFO/UAP communities as the alleged 'Coulthart UFO/UAP Site,' based on claims popularized by investigative journalist Ross Coulthart, podcaster Joe Rogan and others.

Join the debate Should governments ever keep secrets about possible alien discoveries from the public?

This location has gained notoriety in UFO/UAP communities as the alleged 'Coulthart UFO/UAP Site,' based on claims popularized by investigative journalist Ross Coulthart, podcaster Joe Rogan, and others

It is rumored to house a massive crashed or landed extraterrestrial craft that was reportedly too large to transport, leading to a building or structure being constructed around it for concealment.

However, a South Korean UFO researcher who visited similar sites has disputed these claims, stating that the facility dates back to the 1970s and has no connection to UFOs, with multiple comparable aviation installations existing across the country.

Burlison, who has become a household name in the UAP world, revealed earlier this month that he had requested and was granted access to secure locations, such as Area 51, which have decades-old ties to UFOs and secret government projects.

Speaking on the ALN Podcast, Burlison said that the request to President Donald Trump and his staff included visiting US military bases and facilities where evidence suggests unidentified craft, materials, bodies, or archives allegedly exist.

Although the US government and the Pentagon have officially denied that there has been any physical evidence of UFOs or alien life ever recovered, Congress has heard from multiple whistleblowers claiming that secret programs have covered up the truth.

In fact, Burlison has previously claimed President Trump has been 'fully briefed' on the existence of aliens, UFOs recovered by the military since the 1940s, and alien-human hybrids allegedly living on Earth today.

Eric Burlison is a member of the congressional oversight committee involved in the ongoing investigation into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), commonly known as UFO

'The White House has told the DoD to make it happen. The extent to which they've been involved is literally just saying to the Department of Defense, 'we're backing his request. Do what you can to make it happen,'' he said.

Over the years, multiple US military sites have been linked to non-human craft, including facilities, anonymous sources have said, that were housing crashed spaceships and experimental aircraft constructed using reverse-engineered alien technology.

These include Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, the Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in the Bahamas, and the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), home to Area 51.

'There is reportedly an object that is not in this country that is so large it cannot be moved, that they've built an entire building around it,' Burlison said during the January 30 podcast.

The congressman noted that this facility outside the US was classified so he was unable to reveal its exact location, but it was on his list of places he had requested to visit as part of the committee's investigation.

'It's going to involve a lot to make that happen, but that may be the final destination.'
The world's shark attack hotspots have been revealed, as a map shows the locations with the most encounters in 2025.

The International Shark Attack Files' yearly report shows that unprovoked bites were back up to near average levels, following a sharp reduction in 2024.

Overall, there were 65 shark attacks recorded last year  slightly below the 10year average of 72.

However, 2025 proved to be an unusually deadly year for attacks, with nine fatalities compared to an average of just six.

The US has proven to be the worst country for shark attacks, with 25 bites, accounting for 38 per cent of the global total.

But the true shark attack capital of the world is once again Florida.

Florida had 11 shark attacks in 2025  more than the next three states' totals combined  representing 17 per cent of all unprovoked bites worldwide.

Over half of those bites occurred in Volusia County in eastcentral Florida.

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The world's shark bite capital was Florida, USA, which accounted for 17 per cent of all unprovoked attacks worldwide. Leah Lendel (pictured), nine, was snorkelling off the shore of Boca Grande, Florida, when a shark attacked and bit her hand

The International Shark Files records attacks from around the world, including records dating back as far as the 1500s.

However, the database only publishes data on 'unprovoked attacks', meaning a person did not initiate contact with a shark intentionally or unintentionally.

That rules out any activities that change the shark's behaviour, such as spear fishing or releasing a shark from a hook or net.

Although the US had the most unprovoked attacks last year, it did not have the most sharkrelated fatalities.

That dubious honour falls to Australia, which accounted for 32 per cent of the world's bites but 56 per cent of all deaths.

Last year, Australia also had one of its worst years for shark bites in recent history, recording 21 bites compared to the fiveyear average of just 13.

This news comes after a flurry of shark attack incidents made headlines during the first months of 2026, during which there were four separate bites in just 48 hours.

Shark attacks in Australia tend to be more dangerous because the country is home to the socalled big three: Bull sharks, tiger sharks, and white sharks.

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Surfer Matt Bender nearly lost the use of his arm after being attacked by a shark off Smyrna Beach, Florida. Surfers made up a third of all unprovoked attacks last year

The world's shark attack hotspots in 2025 USA: 25 bites Australia: 21 bites Bahamas: 5 bites New Zealand: 3 bites Vanuatu: 1 bite Advertisement

White sharks, colloquially known as the great white, can grow up to 20 feet (six metres) long and have powerful jaws packed with serrated teeth.

Their sheer power and size mean that even a small 'exploratory' bite from a white shark can prove deadly.

However, experts warn that the situation could easily have been far worse.

Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History, says: 'If these bites occurred anywhere other than Australia, they would probably have resulted in even more fatalities.

'Their beach safety is second to none. Within minutes of a bite, theyve got helicopters airborne ready to respond.'

But the remote locations of some Australian beaches mean that such a timely response is not always possible.

In an early morning incident in November, a Swiss couple in their 20s was attacked by a bull shark while swimming and filming dolphins.

A quickacting bystander applied a makeshift tourniquet and the man survived after being flown to a local hospital, but the woman died before paramedics could reach the scene.

Australia accounted for 32 per cent of the world's bites but 56 per cent of all deaths. Pictured: police respond to a fatal shark attack at Dee Why Beach in Sydney, on September 6, 2025

Australia had more fatal shark attacks last year than any other country. On February 5, 2025, Charlize Zmuda (left) was killed after she was attacked by a shark at Bribie Island in Queensland

Elsewhere in the world, shark attack levels have remained around average, with the exception of a few notable incidents.

An unprovoked attack in Canada marked the country's first since 2021, during which a paddleboarder escaped uninjured after a white shark took a bite out of his board.

Last year also saw the first unprovoked fatality from a dusky shark bite.

The incident occurred in South Africa during the annual sardine run, in which a massive population of bait fish migrate along the eastern coast.

The migration is a feast for predators, including dusky sharks, and a free diver in the area was fatally bitten by a shark that had been lured close to shore.

While snorkelling and free diving accounted for 15 per cent of injuries, 46 per cent occurred while the person was swimming or wading.

Surfers also made up a large number of victims, accounting for 32 per cent of all unprovoked attacks.

In one incident off the coast of the Canary Islands, a shark attacked a British surfers hydrofoil surfboard before biting his leg.

The International Shark Attack File's yearly report has found that there were 65 shark attacks in 2025, just below the 20year average of 71

Despite a deep wound in his thigh, the man was able to swim back to shore to receive medical attention.

However, the relatively consistent number of bits per year over the last few decades is actually something of a mystery.

The 10, 20 and 30year averages for unprovoked bites only differ by four incidents per year, and the number of fatalities has remained unchanged at six.

At the same time, global shark populations have plummeted well below historical levels due to overfishing and climate change.

Mr Naylor says: 'Out of the 1,200 species, 30 per cent of them are categorised as endangered.

'Thats a lot, especially because these animals have managed to persist for about 330 million years. They've been through the Permian Extinction and Cretaceous Extinction. Clearly, theyre resilient, yet here we are.

The International Shark Attack File also stresses that the risk of being bitten by a shark remains exceptionally low.

While nine people were killed by sharks, lightning strikes are estimated to cause around 24,000 deaths every year and 10 times as many injuries.
The social classes of the modern age include Dinks, Alices and Henry.

That's according to Renaud Foucart, a senior lecturer in Economics at Lancaster University, who claims today's social classes look very different to how they used to.

'When your parents were in their 20s and 30s, they probably had a job, a house and financial security,' he explained in an article for The Conversation.

'A generation later, you get a variety of food they could not have imagined, lowcost air travel and a smartphone more powerful than the fastest supercomputers of the 1990s.

'This new reality is leading to the resurgence of a different kind of class identification for young people.'

'Dinks' are couples with dual incomes and no kids, who choose things like technology, travel and restaurants over raising a family.

'Henrys' are high earners who are not rich yet, while 'Alices' are assetlimited, incomeconstrained and employed.

'What unites today's Henrys, Alices and Dinks is they can enjoy consumption levels their parents in the same social class would never have imagined, but can't buy the same house as them,' Dr Foucart added.

'Dinks' are couples with dual incomes and no kids, who choose things like technology, travel and restaurants over raising a family

Social class is used to measure a person's status or position within society  with the traditional categories being working class, middle class, and upper class.

In terms of how Britons see themselves, a recent survey by YouGov found that 56 per cent of the public consider themselves to be working class, while 36 per cent describe themselves as middle class.

'Less than one per cent of the public identify as "upper class",' YouGov said.

However, Dr Foucart now claims that social mobility is so different for today's young people that these traditional categories should be replaced with new alternatives.

The first category suggested by the researcher is 'Dinks', which stands for 'dual income and no kids.'

'The Dink lifestyle is attractive to some: more money and time for yourselves,' Dr Foucart explained.

'But on the salary of an average UK household, you still won't be able to buy an average house.

'Since 2000, UK house prices have increased twice as fast as everything else.

If you climb up the income ladder, you'll probably hit the third category  a 'Henry' (high earner, not rich yet) (stock image)

The social classes of the modern age Dinks : dual income and no kids

: dual income and no kids Henrys : high earners who are not rich yet

: high earners who are not rich yet Alices : assetlimited, incomeconstrained and employed Advertisement

'The share of young Brits who own their homes is 25% lower than in 1990.

'This might partly explain Dink logic  if you don't have hope of affording a home, why not spend more on your lifestyle?'

The next category is an 'Alice', which stands for 'assetlimited, incomeconstrained, employed.'

Part of the 'working poor', Alices 'can't even dream of saving for a deposit', according to Dr Foucart.

Finally, if you climb up the income ladder, you'll probably hit the third category  a 'Henry' (high earner, not rich yet).

'The moment you become part of the roughly 2 million taxpayers who earn 100,000 a year, your marginal tax rate becomes 60%  which means for each additional 1 you get, you only keep 40p,' Dr Foucart explained.

'If you are young and went to university, you also pay an extra 9% on student loan repayment, meaning you only keep 31p for each additional 1.'

While this paints a pretty dismal picture, Dr Foucart says there's an obvious solution  building more houses.

'That means building in less desirable locations, turning individual houses into flats, or overcoming opposition from older homeowners who often resist new housing developments in their neighbourhoods,' he added.

'So, when your judgmental uncle remarks that "if you ate fewer avocados and lattes, you'd be able to buy a house just like I did", you may want to explain how the relative prices of an avocado and a house have changed over time.

'If you're not saving for a deposit, buying avocados may simply be the most rational thing to do.'
Scientists have issued an urgent warning to headphonewearers as toxic chemicals have been discovered in several popular devices.

Investigators found that every pair of 81 headphones they tested contained substances that can cause cancer, liver damage and brain development issues.

Chemicals harmful to humans were even found in headphones from top brands like Bose, Panasonic, Samsung and Sennheiser.

Experts warn that these toxic compounds could leach out of the plastic and enter our bodies through the skin.

Scientists from the European ToxFree LIFE for All project tested commercially available headphones for 'endocrinedisrupting' chemicals.

These compounds include the socalled 'forever chemicals' bisphenol A (BPA) and the similar bisphenol S (BPS), which mimic the effects of the sex hormone oestrogen inside our bodies, leading to the early onset of puberty in girls, feminisation of males, and cancer.

Worryingly, despite wellreported biological effects, the researchers found that 'hazardous substances were detected in every product tested'.

So, are your favourite pair affected? Scroll down for the full list.

Scientists have issued an urgent warning after discovering that popular headphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro (pictured), contain toxic chemicals

Scientists purchased 81 pairs of inear and overear headphones, which were either available on the market in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Austria, or on the online marketplaces Shein and Temu.

BPA appeared in a staggering 98 per cent of headphones, while BPS was found in more than three quarters of samples tested.

In some headphones, concentrations were up to 315 mg/kg, which is well over the limit of 10 mg/kg suggested by the European Chemicals Agency.

Levels of bisphenols exceeding this limit were also found in the Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless, Bose QuietComfort Headphones and many others.

Alarmingly, previous studies have shown that BPA and BPS can leach out from synthetic plastic into sweat and be absorbed by the skin.

The researchers write: 'Given the prolonged skin contact associated with headphone use, dermal exposure represents a relevant pathway, and it is reasonable to assume that similar migration of BPA and its substitutes may occur from headphone components directly to the users skin.'

That is particularly bad news for inear sport headphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, which had more than 10 mg/kg of bisphenols in some parts.

Karolina Brabcova, chemical expert at Arnika, which is part of the part of the ToxFree LIFE for All project, says: 'These chemicals are not just additives; they may be migrating from the headphones into our body.

Headphones like the Sony WF1000XM5 and many others contain the socalled 'forever chemicals' bisphenol A (BPA)and the similar bisphenol S (BPS)

What are forever chemicals? Known as 'forever chemicals', PFAS are manmade and used in a wide variety of nonstick and waterproof products and firefighting foams. Due to their abundance, PFAS chemicals can contaminate drinking water and cause health problems when consumed by humans. According to the US's Endocrine Society, PFAS chemicals affect our biology by mimicking fatty acids  the building blocks of fat in our bodies. They also act as endocrinedisrupting chemicals (EDCs) due to their ability to interfere with hormone systems. Advertisement

'Daily useespecially during exercise when heat and sweat are presentaccelerates this migration directly to the skin.

'Although there is no immediate health risk, the longterm exposures especially for vulnerable groups like teenagers is of great concern.'

The study found that high levels of BPA and BPS were often present in headphones directly marketed to children or teens.

The researchers suggest that small doses of these chemicals from individual sources may have a minimal effect.

However, when multiple chemicals from different sources combine to create a 'cocktail' effect, they could pose severe longterm health risks.

Besides these forever chemicals, some headphones also contained chemicals called phthalates, which are a class of reproductive toxins that can impair fertility.

The headphones were also found to contain chlorinated paraffins, which have been shown to cause liver and kidney damage.

However, these other chemicals were largely found in trace quantities.

Some headphones, such as the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4, contain more than 10 mg/kg of BPA and BPS in their plastic parts. This is above the safe limit recommended by the European Chemicals Agency

The researchers are now calling on EU lawmakers to urgently ban endocrinedisrupting chemicals and ensure they are not replaced with equally harmful additives.

Emese Gulyas, head of the ToxFree Life for All partnership, says: 'We need immediate, harmonised EU regulations that ban entire classes of toxic chemicals.

'This is the only way to protect consumers while fostering a safe circular economy where recycled materials arent poisoned by "legacy toxins".'

The Daily Mail has contacted Bose, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Sennheiser for comment.
If you're sick of Britain's relentless rain, forecasters have bad news  as they predict the wet weather is set to continue for another month.

Conditions have been exceptionally soggy since the beginning of the year, with a strong and southern jet stream bringing frequent rain and strong winds.

The south west of England has been particularly battered, experiencing 216 millimetres of rainfall so far  nearly triple the longterm average for this time of year.

It is expected that the wettest weather conditions will move further north from next week, according to the Met Office.

However, the heavy rainfall and ground conditions mean a higherthannormal risk of impact from the relentless downpours.

Sarah Davies, Head of Energy and Environment at the Met Office said: 'Wet weather has persisted for many areas over the past few weeks, with repeated Atlantic low pressure systems leaving ground conditions particularly saturated across southern parts of the UK.

'While it is likely to remain changeable over the next few weeks, with further wet weather at times, the focus for the wettest conditions is expected to shift to western hills, where we would normally expect it at this time of year.

'However, given some areas elsewhere remain sensitive following recent rain, any further spells of rain as we head into early spring has a higher chance of causing some impacts than normal for this type of setup.'

The Met Office have announced wet weather is expected to continue for another month, until midMarch

Conditions have been exceptionally wet since the beginning of the year, with a strong and southern jet stream bringing frequent rain and strong winds. Pictured: Intense rainfall during the Hull City v Chelsea match last week

The weather forecast for this Saturday shows a band of rain spreading across the country. The Met Office say soggy conditions are expected to persist until March

Groundwater levels across the south and southeast of England are currently rising, leading to minor flooding.

In Somerset, approximately 29 square miles of the Levels and Moors have been flooded, while around 355 have flooded across England  primarily in the south west.

There are currently 65 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, and 179 flood alerts, where it is possible, in place across the country.

Julie Foley, director of flood risk strategy and national adaptation at the Environment Agency, said: 'With the weather conditions continuing to remain unsettled, I urge the public to remain vigilant to the risk of flooding.

'Environment Agency officers will continue to work around the clock across the country, supporting communities with pumps, temporary barriers and by clearing waterways to ensure flood water can drain away.

'Our thoughts are with the households, businesses and farmers who have been flooded. Whilst many thousands of properties have been protected, there is always more to be done to tackle flood risk in a changing climate.'

The Environment Agency said further pumps are being proactively deployed across the Somerset Levels, meaning there are now 28 ultrahigh volume pumps.

Temporary barriers are being installed along the Rivers Severn and Thames, including those at Bewdley in Worcestershire and at Oxford. The Thames Barrier is also due to be closed tomorrow as high tides are expected.

Vehicles left abandoned in a flooded ford in Watery Gate Lane, Thurlaston, Leicestershire, as a result of prolonged rainfall

Flood water from the River Severn covers the Worcestershire countryside and farm land on February 10

Why is it so wet? The jet stream is to blame for the particularly wet weather. This fastmoving river of air flows several miles above Earth's surface, and is positioned further south than we typically expect for this time of year. 'When the jet stream shifts south across the Atlantic, it tends to funnel lowpressure systems directly towards the UK, increasing the frequency and intensity of rainbearing weather fronts,' the Met Office explained. Cold plunges in North America have helped to strengthen the jet stream, which is then propelling areas of low pressure towards northwest Europe. However, high pressure has also established over parts of northern Europe at the same time, resulting in what the Met Office describes as a 'blocked pattern'. This has stopped the jet stream from shifting  and has limited the UK's chance of drier weather. Advertisement

Last week, the Met Office revealed the towns across the UK that have experienced the most rain so far this year.

Topping the list are North Wyke in Devon, Cardinham in Cornwall and Astwood Bank in Worcester.

At the time of the data being published, these towns had been drenched with rain for a whopping six weeks nonstop  the equivalent of 42 consecutive days.

Other soggy towns included Camborne in Cornwall and Liscombe in Somerset, which had both experienced nonstop rain for 39 days.

Meanwhile, a recent study suggested that UK winters are set to get even wetter thanks to climate change.

Research from the University of Newcastle indicates that for every 1C of global warming, winter rainfall will increase by seven per cent.

'The findings from our research show that climate change has already made our winters significantly wetter, with a 7% increase in rainfall per degree of global warming,' said lead author, Dr James Carruthers.

'This is really concerning, as seasonal rainfall is increasing at a much faster rate than global climate models have predicted. We're already experiencing changes in UK winter rainfall that global climate models predict for the 2040s  we're 20 years ahead.'

While most Brits have had their umbrellas at the ready, people living in certain areas have been worst hit. Topping the list are North Wyke in Devon, Cardinham in Cornwall, and Astwood Bank in Worcester, which have all had 42 consecutive days of rain

The Environment Agency estimates that 24,500 properties have been protected from flooding.

There are around 255,700 flood and coastal defences in England, including flood walls and embankments, pumping stations and sluices and barriers.

A national assessment of flood risk found climate change is increasing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion across the country.

Currently, 6.3 million properties in England are in areas at risk of flooding but this is expected to rise to 8 million by 2050.

The Government has said it will invest 10.5 billion in its flooding programme until 2036, to help protect almost 900,000 homes and businesses.
As speculation that a major US strike against Iran could be nearing, America's most trusted spy drones have begun gathering intelligence high over the Persian Gulf.

A remote-controlled Triton drone took off from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, spending several minutes over the Persian Gulf before heading towards Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Both countries are close neighbors of Iran, sitting on the opposite side of the Gulf, where two US Navy carrier strike groups will soon be stationed after negotiations with Tehran collapsed over President Trump's nuclear red line.

The MQ-4 Triton is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed primarily for the Navy as a high-altitude, long-range aircraft for surveillance missions typically over water.

It can operate at altitudes higher than 50,000 feet for over 24 hours, covering a range of roughly 8,500 miles.

The Navy uses these drones, which have advanced 360-degree radar, to detect, track and classify targets over large areas in advance of potential military operations.

Wednesday's flight was the latest instance of an MQ-4 taking off to do reconnaissance over the Middle East, as another Triton was spotted by the flight-tracking website Flight Aware 24 on February 14.

Unlike the latest drone, which was headed west of Iran, Saturday's patrol took the Triton to the southeast of Irans coastline.

The MQ-4 Triton unmanned drone (Pictured) is primarily operated by the US Navy for long-range surveillance

Flight-tracking website Flight Aware 24 spotted an MQ-4 Triton flying near Iran on Wednesday

Media outlets in Iran's northern neighbor Azerbaijan reported that the drone flights followed similar US military activity on February 13, when two Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft were reportedly operating near Iran's airspace.

President Trump is believed to be on the verge of greenlighting a 'massive, weeks-long' military campaign against Iran that would be seen as all-out war.

Trump's armada off Iran's coast has grown to include two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, and hundreds of fighter jets equipped with advanced combat systems.

More firepower is also on the way as 150 military cargo flights have begun rapidly transferring arms and ammunition to US Middle East bases this week.

Trump has ordered another 50 fighter jets, including F-35s, F-22s and F-16s, to prepare for launch as he considers further military action against Iran.

The Al Dhafra Air Base is also home to both the MQ-4 Triton and the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned drones.

The Triton does not carry any offensive weapons and is entirely focused on surveillance and reconnaissance missions, relaying target information back to its base for future attacks.

Meanwhile, its cousin the Reaper is used for both surveillance and tactical missions, carrying thousands of pounds of laser-guided bombs to carry our precision strikes.

The US military has deployed two carrier strike groups to the Middle East as negotiations with Iran break down

The US Navy has deployed both the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike groups to the Middle East in advance of a potential strike on Iran

Trump's war preparations come as Iran has shut down the Strait of Hormuz for a military drill believed to serve as a warning to the world if the US attacks.

On Friday, the Pentagon deployed the USS Gerald R Ford, a $13billion floating fortress, to join the USS Abraham Lincoln battle group in the Middle East, effectively doubling the US Navy's carrier strike power in the area.

The move added significant military weight to Trump's efforts to pressure Iran into a new deal regarding their nuclear program.

Although Trump's threat looms over diplomatic talks, the President claimed Iran 'wants to make a deal very badly' and that the latest talks are much more serious than previous negotiations.

'Last time they didn't believe I would do it,' Trump said about his decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities over the summer.

'They overplayed their hand,' the President added before noting that this time the talks are 'very different.'
Locals in Indonesia were left terrified when a giant crocodile emerged from the water with the lifeless body of a woman in its jaws.

35-year-old housewife Jusmitawati from Bulu Hadek village was killed after the attack in the nearby Luan Boya river in the district of Teluk Dalam in Aceh province, Indonesia, last Sunday.

Jusmitawati had gone into the river with her female friend to look for clams, Teluk Dalam Police Chief Ipda Zainur Fauzi said.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Shocking scene: 35-year-old housewife Jusmitawati from Bulu Hadek village, Indonesia was killed by a crocodile who emerged from the water with her bdoy in its jaws

Jusmitawati waded further out into the river alone before disappearing under the water while her friend stayed on the bank.

Her husband rushed to the scene to find her and joined the search in the surrounding area, but she was nowhere to be seen.

This is the moment the videos are taken at, as a crowd of hundreds of concerned locals gather on the banks and search through the waters. The police and members of the local military unit also joined.

At one point, the crocodile's massive body breaks the surface with its head obscured by overhanging trees. It moves its tail side to side as frightened locals shout at it.

Growing crowd: Villagers gathered to search for Jusmitawati and pulled their phones out to film the scene

One person climbed onto the foliage nearby with a stick and appeared to try to hit the beast to force it to release the body while members of the crowd filmed the scene on their phones. Others also tried to use ropes to get the croc to give up the body.

The crocodile appears to move to another section of the river, but the locals follow it. This is when it re-emerges with Jusmitawati dead between its jaws.

A man is heard reciting the First Kalima, a Muslim declaration of belief, as her lifeless body floats up to the surface.

Incredible bravery: Some locals climbed out onto folliage to try to rescue Jusmitawati

Stay back: Police warned locals to stay away from dangerous rivers in the wake of the attack

One local then shoots the crocodile in the face, with water erupting from the impact near its left cheek. The croc gets spooked and rolls away, folding in pain and disappearing into the murky brown water.

Jusmitawati was eventually freed from the grip of the animal's jaws but was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was handed over to her family for burial.

Ipda Zainur said police are coordinating with the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) about the crocodile, which was still believed to be in the area.

He urged residents to avoid approaching dangerous rivers and to remain vigilant when carrying out activities such as fishing, bathing, or collecting shellfish.

Teluk Dalam sub-district head Andrik Dasandra also urged village leaders to warn residents about the risk of crocodile attacks in rivers, river mouths, and surrounding waters in the area.
A North Dakota woman who mysteriously disappeared last month is now feared to have been murdered and dismembered by her boyfriend, cops said.

Isadora Wengel, 25, was last seen at a Walmart in Fargo on January 3, with her family reporting her missing to police four days later.

Her disappearance set off massive search efforts across the metropolitan region, with officers at one point working 12-hour shifts for 10 days straight as they searched a landfill, Valley News reports.

Killed: Isadora Wengel, 25, is believed to have been murdered by her boyfriend

But last week, authorities announced they had arrested Wengel's boyfriend, 21-year-old Joshua Alexander Hite, in connection with her murder.

'We do not believe that Isadora is alive,' Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said at a news conference. 'We believe that Isadora was heinously murdered.

'And we, meaning the police department collectively, have probable cause to believe that Josh Hite, her boyfriend, is the person who murdered and tampered with evidence related to the disposal of her body.

'We believe this to be a heinous and diabolical crime, and we believe there may be some dismemberment involved,' Zibolski said as he urged residents between Fargo and Otter Tail County, Minnesota, to remain on the lookout for Wengel's remains.

'Based on the fact that we know the disposal of her body occurred in extremely cold weather with significant snow on the ground, we now found ourselves in the midst of a mid-winter thaw, which may reveal her whereabouts,' the police chief said.

'We're committed to justice for the family and accountability for the perpetrator.'

Arrested: Joshua Alexander Hite, 21, is facing charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence, and providing false information

Hite and Wengel had been dating since August, and he told authorities she had been staying with him since New Year's Day, according to court documents obtained by CBS News.

He claimed he and Wengel had an argument on January 4 because he wanted to end their relationship, and said he brought her back to her home the next day.

Hite also allegedly told investigators Wengel left her cellphone in his car, and he went back to her home later that day to return it. He said nobody answered the door and he left the phone on Wengel's deck.

Last sighting: Wengel was last seen at a Walmart in Fargo, North Dakota, on January 3

Investigators described Hite in the court documents as 'emotionless' and 'not forthcoming.'

They also detailed how phone data recovered from Wengel's phone showed some unusual Snapchat activity on January 4, with photos of ceilings and walls inside Hite's apartment sent to her mother and another contact, according to Valley News.

Family members later told investigators the photos were 'odd and not common photographs they would receive from Wengel.'

Authorities then searched Hite's apartment, and investigators seized plastic sheeting, a bathroom mat, bloody gauze and saw blade all containing Wengel's DNA.

They also recovered a blue latex glove that investigators said contained 'a mixed DNA profile with majority matching Wengel and a partial sample matching Hite.'

Grisly twist: Fargo police chief David Zibolski believes Wengel may have been dismembered

As the investigation continued, officers also allegedly discovered Hite made some suspicious Google searches on January 4 including: 'home depot Sawzall,' 'junk removal near me,' 'Dumpster' and 'how to register for a legal alias.'

That same day, police said, Hite also ordered a reciprocating saw, plastic sheeting, trash bags and duct tape through DoorDash.

By the time of his arrest, investigators also noticed and photographed recent injuries on Hite's body - including cuts to his hands, wrists, knees, thighs and bruising on his lower back.

The 21 year old is now facing charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and providing false information, and is being held on a $5 million bail.

Mystery box: Cops are searching for an HDX 27-gallon storage tote where Hite may have disposed of Wengel's body

But Zibolski said his quest for justice is not complete, as the search for Wengel's remains continues.

He told the public last week to be on the lookout for an HDX 27-gallon tough storage tote, where he believes Hite may have disposed of Wengel's body.

'We know that Mr. Hite had received a specific type of black tote,' the police chief said. 'There were actually two of those delivered to his apartment.'

One of the totes was recovered in January, but the other is still missing.
he annual cultural offering spread beyond Beijing, with secondary locations hosting stages in four other Chinese cities. Their selection signifies China's economy advancing across multiple sectors and transitioning towards high-quality development.

*Harbin embodies the rejuvenation of the old industrial base in the northeast, while Hefei represents the rise of China's central regions. Yiwu is an example of opening-up in the east, and Yibin is a transportation hub in the southwest.

*Together, they showcase China's diverse development.

BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- For many Chinese people, the Year of the Horse began officially with the opening notes of China Central Television's (CCTV's) "Spring Festival Gala." On Monday, the annual cultural offering spread beyond Beijing, with secondary locations hosting stages in four other Chinese cities.

These cities are Yibin in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Harbin in the northeastern Heilongjiang Province, Hefei in the eastern Anhui Province, and Yiwu -- probably the most familiar location for international viewers, famed as the "world's supermarket" -- in east China's Zhejiang Province.

"Their selection signifies China's economy advancing across multiple sectors and transitioning towards high-quality development," said Wang Ying, a researcher with the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics.



People select goods at Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Lu Peng)

TRANSFORMATION OF CHINA'S SMALL COMMODITIES HUB

Yiwu's selection was a nod to how far the city has progressed from its beginnings as a roadside market -- a journey which can be traced through families like Qian Rourou's.

As work for the holiday intensified, Qian, general manager of the Zhejiang Xiaohuoban Cultural Creativity Company, was busy planning the opening of a third store in the Global Digital Trade Center, which was the location of one of the "Spring Festival Gala" stages.

In 1995, her in-laws started the company with a 1-square-meter stall that sold stationery. A factory later followed, and today, the family operates six stores in the Yiwu International Trade Market, which is the world's largest small-commodities wholesale hub.

"We've been in stationery and creative products for more than 30 years, across two generations," Qian said. The company now employs its own designers and illustrators, develops original characters and builds virtual social communities around its brands. Roughly half of its products are sold overseas, reaching 132 countries and regions across Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

"What the gala shows global audiences is that Chinese creativity, aesthetics and brands are becoming part of everyday life," Qian said.



Foreign merchants experience an AI translation interactive device at the Global Digital Trade Center in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Ziyi)

Having opened officially in October 2025, the Global Digital Trade Center marks Yiwu's latest move in its transformation from a traditional wholesale model to a digitally integrated trade ecosystem.

More than 3,700 new merchants have since moved in, spanning eight emerging sectors like creative toys, smart equipment and fashion jewelry. More than half are young entrepreneurs, many of whom are running their own brands or sell IP-based products.

"There used to be a saying that Yiwu was just 'a porter of goods,'" said Zhu Xingping, the center's deputy general manager. "Now we are moving upstream into design and R&D, and downstream into services like payments and digital logistics to create new value and improve efficiency."

To tackle long-standing challenges ranging from design to overseas expansion, Yiwu has rolled out a suite of AI tools tailored to the small-commodities trade. Merchants can now generate designs, create visuals and translate promotional videos into multiple languages in just a few clicks.

"China's market is amazing," said Alik Mufalisev, a trader from Georgia who has been sourcing hair accessories in Yiwu for 15 years. "Otherwise I wouldn't keep coming back."

Infrastructure and policy have helped sustain that momentum behind the scenes. In 2025, Yiwu's total foreign trade surpassed 800 billion yuan (about 115 billion U.S. dollars) for the first time, according to local customs data. Exports rose more than 24 percent, and imports over 32 percent.



This undated photo shows an automated production line of the Maextro Super Factory in Feixi County, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua)

ELECTRIC VEHICLE, ICE SCULPTURE AND THE YANGTZE RIVER

More than 500 kilometers away in the rising innovation hub of Hefei, the night sky was lit up by a dazzling drone display featuring the city's iconic landmarks and dynamic imagery of galloping horses. A "Spring Festival Gala" stage had been erected inside the Luogang Park, which was once the site of a civil airport.

The sprawling park is one of many application zones that Hefei authorities have opened for the testing of new technologies, products and business models, and technology innovation enterprises have clustered around the park.

Jia Yajun has worked at Aistartek (Hefei) IC Design Co., Ltd. since he graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China. The firm was founded in 2022 and specializes in vehicle-mounted vision technology.

Jia, who has turned down job opportunities in major cities, and his team have been busy developing core algorithms for intelligent cameras for the automotive sector. "The gala has brought Hefei's technological innovation capabilities into the global spotlight," Jia said, highlighting the city's robust sci-tech atmosphere, solid industrial foundations and support for entrepreneurs to translate technological achievements into industrial benefits.



Gong Xianzu, head of division of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) Physics and Experimental Operations, observes data during an experiment in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

And a broader innovation blueprint is taking shape, with Hefei achieving breakthroughs in cutting-edge fields such as controllable nuclear fusion and quantum technology. Emerging industries like new energy vehicles (NEVs) and photovoltaic energy storage have also flourished there, contributing to regional development.

Notably, Hefei is home to China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), which has been dubbed an "artificial sun" due to its unique fusion process that simulates that of the sun. Last year, EAST broke a world record by maintaining a steady-state, high-confinement plasma operation for 1,066 seconds.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), emerging industries such as NEVs, photovoltaics, and low-altitude, shipbuilding and marine engineering equipment expanded rapidly, enhancing the reputation of the "Made in China" label. The country has committed to implementing a series of initiatives and actions aimed at developing and strengthening emerging and future industries further during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

In Hefei, the output value of strategic emerging industries accounts for more than 60 percent of the total for designated-scale industries, according to its municipal government's 2026 work report. Over the past five years, its number of new R&D institutions has doubled to 63, and it now has more than 10,000 national high-tech enterprises.

While Yiwu and Hefei made their debut appearances on the televised gala, China's "Ice City" of Harbin had been selected for the third time, underscoring the momentum of China's ice and snow economy.



People visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

From 2016 to 2024, the scale of China's ice and snow industry surged from 364.7 billion yuan to 980 billion yuan, and is expected to have surpassed 1 trillion yuan in 2025, according to the 2025 China Ice and Snow Economy Development Report.

The stage was set in the iconic Harbin Ice-Snow World. The world's largest ice and snow theme park opened for this year's winter season on Dec. 17, unveiling its most spectacular offering yet, featuring magnificent ice sculptures across a record 1.2 million square meters.

"Harbin will present an extravaganza blending tradition and fashion, folk culture and international style, as well as ice, snow and technology," Lan Feng, head of Harbin's publicity department, said ahead of the show. "It is our hope that the charms of the Ice City will reach the world through the window of the 'Spring Festival Gala.'"



A drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2025 shows a view of the Yibin Port in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo by Zhuang Geer/Xinhua)

This wish has been echoed by Liu Yuwei, deputy director of the Bureau of Ecology and Environment of Yibin City.

Yibin is known as the first city on the Yangtze River, and for its unique geographical location, as well as its rich historical and cultural heritage. Boasting a history of 2,200 years, it is today famed for its liquor, bamboo, tea and green industries, and is world's largest single-site power battery production base.

"The 'Spring Festival Gala,' an iconic cultural event in China, has given Yibin exposure to promote ecological civilization development," Liu said.

On the four secondary venues, Liu Daqiao, a writer in Sichuan who used to work for the publicity department of Yibin City, said: "Harbin embodies the rejuvenation of the old industrial base in the northeast, while Hefei represents the rise of China's central regions. Yiwu is an example of opening-up in the east, and Yibin is a transportation hub in the southwest."

"Together, they showcase China's diverse development," he said.

(Video reporters: Ji Hang, Huang Xiao, Liu Che and He Shan; video editors: Lin Lin and Wei Yin)


Ten backcountry skiers are unaccounted for after an avalanche struck near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday while heavy snow fell in the area.

The group of skiers, which included four guides and 12 clients, were in the Sierra Nevada's Castle Peak area near Truckee, California, when the avalanche erupted at around 11.30am, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office announced.

It occurred at an elevation of roughly 8,200ft and was rated D2.5, indicating a 'large' to 'very large' slide capable of burying or seriously injuring a person, the Sierra Avalanche Center reported.

At least six skiers survived, but were awaiting rescue on Tuesday afternoon as authorities told them to shelter in place. The remaining ten were unaccounted for.

Nearly 50 first responders are now scouring the area to reach the survivors and find the missing skiers. A Sno-Cat team was also launched as part of the search and rescue mission.

They had arrived at Sierra Nevada on Sunday and had been set to check out on Tuesday from the Frog Lake Huts, a backcountry lodge run by the Truckee Donner Land Trust, Steve Reynaud, an avalanche forecaster with the Sierra Avalanche Center told the Press-Democrat.

Desperate search: Nearly 50 first responders are scouring the area

The land trust notes on its website that usual routes to and from the lodge have 'some degree of avalanche hazard', and Reynaud said it appeared the group was heading toward the Castle Peak trailhead near the Boreal ski area, next to Interstate-80.

That trek, he said, passes through 'numerous avalanche hazards'.

Reynaud said: 'An avalanche burying seven to ten people would be a very large avalanche, or a group being in a bad location, or potentially both.'

Tough terrain: The remote location and treacherous weather conditions have hindered the search efforts

It is likely that the group carried snow probes and shovels to be prepared in case of an avalanche, Reynaud suggested.

Still, he said: 'As soon as you have more than one person or multiple people buried, it becomes a much more difficult rescue.'

If a buried person is not dug out within 10 to 15 minutes, 'survival drops off pretty quickly'.

Warning: Traveling in, near, or below the avalanche terrain in the backcountry was strongly discouraged

Making matters worse, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office warned that conditions remain 'highly dangerous', with an avalanche warning remaining in effect through Wednesday as the rapidly accumulating snowfall piled onto already fragile snowpack layers amid gale-force winds.

The remoteness of the site where the group is stranded has also hampered the official rescue response, Reynaud added.

He said: 'There's not an easy way for search and rescue or outside help to get there. Even getting rescue personnel to the location to start with has been a major challenge.

'With the weather right now, conditions are not just dangerous, but hard to get around in the backcountry with all this new snow and wind.'

Unpredictable conditions: The sheriff's office said an avalanche warning remained in effect through Wednesday

He added that the dangerous conditions have made a helicopter rescue impossible.

Interstate-80 even had to be closed in both directions through the Sierra on Tuesday morning, before it reopened for vehicles with tire-chain controls at 2.30pm.

The treacherous conditions have already led several ski resorts around Lake Tahoe to fully or partially close.

Blizzard: Parts of Lake Tahoe could see up to 8ft of snow by the time the storm ends on Thursday

The resorts have avalanche mitigation programs and were not expected to be at as high of a risk as the backcountry where travel near the avalanche terrain was strongly discouraged, the Sierra Avalanche Center of the Tahoe National Forest said.

'It's particularly dangerous in the backcountry right now just because we're at the height of the storm,' said Brandon Schwartz, Tahoe National Forest lead avalanche forecaster at the center.

The National Weather Service has implemented a winter storm warning, which remains in effect through 10pm on Thursday for the entire Sierra Nevada range.

The service warned that elevations above 3,500ft could see up to 8ft of snow by the end of the storm.

The Nevada County Sheriffs Office is leading the response and is being assisted by Nevada County Search and Rescue, the Placer County Sheriffs Office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, the Washoe County Sheriffs Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, and Truckee Fire.
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more

I never used to be the best packer - just the thought of deciding what to include in my luggage would send me up in a rash.

But, as deputy travel editor of the Daily Mail, I'm constantly jet-setting around the globe.

I holidayed in -35 degree temperatures in Finnish Lapland last month.

I'll be honeymooning in the Caribbean next week, before heading to the Maldives in April, and Dublin the following month.

This globetrotting lifestyle has meant I've had no choice but to streamline my suitcase and get the packing list down to a tee.

But, from hair to skincare, there are specific beauty products I NEVER travel without.

This includes many that only come in giant bottles, so I always pack mini bottles to decant them into.

Here are the toiletries I pack in my wash bag for every trip abroad...

The Daily Mail's deputy travel editor, Hayley Minn (pictured in Amalfi) reveals what she packs in her travel wash bag for every holiday

INSFIT Silicone Travel Bottles Set This travel bottle set has been an absolute gamechanger for me when it comes to travelling with hand luggage only. The TSA-approved clear case comes with 17 containers, ranging in size, that you can decant all your lotions and potions in to using the included funnel. It even comes with a brush for cleaning, as well as waterproof sticker labels so you don't mix up your shampoo with your moisturiser! Shop

LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturiser 50ml Ever since I started using this moisturiser last year, my skin has felt so much more hydrated, so now I can't go abroad without it. It's formulated with blue hyaluronic acid, a unique form of micro-sized hyaluronic acid, offering intense hydration for the skin. Was 33.50. Shop

Clarins Hydra-Essential Night Cream I've been using this night cream from Clarins for as long as I can remember - so can't go away without it. This cream, enriched with hyaluronic acid and organic leaf of life extract intensely hydrates and plumps the skin. Was 44. Shop

Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion I've been using this toner for years. It's one of the only toners I've ever found that works for combination skin, limiting the over-production of sebum whilst also removing excess cleanser residue. This floral fruity toner is created with a combination of Meadowsweet and Witch Hazel which work together to reduce shine, visible pores and brighten the skins complexion. Was 28. Shop

Dove Advanced Antiperspirant Cream Roll On A roll-on deodorant is always a must on holiday, especially if you're limited on your liquids in hand luggage. This one from Dove smells great and is also kind on the skin. Was 3. Shop

Colgate Max White One Optic Whitening Travel Size Toothpaste I always pack a travel-sized toothpaste in my toiletry bag. I love this one from Colgate as it keeps my teeth white and minty fresh. Shop

SURI 2.0 Electric Toothbrush and UV Case I switched to a SURI toothbrush last year - and haven't looked back. It lasts more than a month at a time, when it comes to battery - and has two modes of advanced sonic cleaning, as well as a two-minute timer. It also comes with a UV travel case, which kills 99.9% of bacteria. You can read our full Suri toothbrush review for more details. Shop

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Starter Kit 30ml I have been using Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish night and day for at least 10 years, so I always make sure to take the small size bottle away with me wherever I go - so I can take my makeup off. The starter kit also comes with an exfoliating pure cotton cloth, which helps lift away dead skin for a smoother, brighter-looking glow. Shop

Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo If you have blonde hair, Olaplex No.4 is the best shampoo to use by a mile. Ever since I switched to it, my hair has felt so much healthier. It's definitely worth the money. I decant enough of this shampoo into my little travel bottles every time I go on holiday. Was 28. Shop

OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco Mini Conditioner Thanks to the inclusion of Moroccan argan oil, this conditioner makes my hair feel so soft, and I just love the small bottles - perfect for hand luggage. Shop

Lee Stafford Heat Protection Shine Mist 50ml As someone who uses a lot of heat to style my hair, I always use a heat protection spray. This mini one from Lee Stafford is great. The antioxidant-rich Green Tea helps protect from the sun, while Pro-Vitamin B5 helps improve softness and shine. Shop

Ultra Violette Supreme Screen Hydrating Facial Skinscreen SPF 50+ I'm extremely pale, and burn very easily, so a 50+ specifically for my face is necessary on sunny holidays. While this is quite expensive, it's my favourite SPF, as it makes my skin feel really nourished and hydrated, while also protecting it. It never feels too oily on my face. Was 34. Shop

Soltan Protect & Tan Suncare Lotion SPF30 Sun cream is a must - and I often go straight to Boots for Soltan as it's the most reasonable. I rarely tan, but this sun cream actually does help me get even a slight colour, while still protecting me from the sun. Shop

Boots Repel Maximum 50% DEET & PMD Roll-on I'm someone who often gets bitten (even in the UK), so bug repellent is a must for me. I always get the maximum strength, which are usually pretty vile when it comes to sprays - so this roll-on, containing 50 per cent DEET is excellent. Shop
We're all feeling the pinch from the cost-of-living crisis in the UK and many Brits are trying different methods to save money and cut costs.

From coupon collecting to purchasing reduced food items, there are plenty of ways to budget on the food shop.

But one Brit found a totally different technique proved to be successful too - flying abroad to do a grocery shop.

Jordon Cox, known as The Coupon King, went to Turkey to stock up his cupboards.

In a YouTube video, he revealed he paid just 33.01 for a return flight - booked on the same day.

Armed with just a backpack for his carry-on luggage, Jordon jetted off to Antalya to spend a few hours shopping before he headed back home.

When he arrived in Turkey, he paid 72p for an airport tram to the town centre and went straight to a supermarket called A 101.

Inside, he found a share bag of Doritos for 59,50 (1) which he says is typically priced at around 1.75 in the UK.

Jordon Cox (pictured), known as The Coupon King, headed all the way to Turkey to stock up his cupboards

In the end, Jordon decided to do his shop at Bim and found Haribo marshmallows 28.50 (49p), a bag of Coco Pops for 130 (2.24) and a multipack of Twix for 79 (1.36).

Oral B toothpaste came to just 99 (1.71) and a multipack of pocket tissues cost 23,50 (40p).

'I've got two big bags full of food, toiletries, loads of different stuff,' Jordon exclaimed.

He even managed to spend some time on the beach before catching his return flight home.

Jordon managed to squeeze most of his shopping in his carry-on backpack except for a few items.

In the end, the Brit managed to make some huge savings. Oral B for example, cost 1.71 in Turkey but is usually found for around 5.13 in the UK.

His multipack of Coco Pops totalled to 1.4kg in total and cost 2.24, which is much cheaper than just 365g for 3.30 in Tesco without a Clubcard.

Bags of Haribos cost Jordon just 49p in Turkey but are typically priced at 1.25 at Tesco.

Jordon decided to do his shop at Bim and found Haribo marshmallows 28.50 (49p), a bag of Coco Pops for 130 (2.24) and a multipack of Twix for 79 (1.36)

Jordon calculated the same shop would cost 89.38 in Tesco in the UK, or 86.18 with a Clubcard.

'That seems an awfully high number, and it is, it wasn't even that much,' he exclaimed.

But in Turkey, the savvy shopper paid just 19.23 in total, as well as 15.11 for a bottle of Vodka in the airport.

Totalling the flights, train transfer and shopping, Jordon paid 68.79 and saved 20.59 overall, or 17.39 with Clubcard prices.
A badly-behaved passenger has been ordered to pay 15,000 (13k) to Ryanair after he caused disruption on a flight last year.

The man, from Dublin, was flying with the budget airline to Lanzarote back in 2024 when he caused the plane to divert to Porto, in Portugal.

It has not been revealed in detail what the passenger did on the flight or if it was drink-related but Ryanair took the case to court because of the disruption caused.

The airline did share that passengers and crew members were assaulted but did not share further information.

The figure reportedly comes from the cost of overnight accommodation, passenger expenses, and landing costs.

Now, Dublin Circuit Court has ordered the man to pay 15,000 in compensation.

The figure reportedly comes from the cost of overnight accommodation, passenger expenses, and landing costs.

There were 160 passengers and six crew members on board at the time.

The man, from Dublin, was flying with the budget airline to Lanzarote back in 2024 when he caused the plane to divert to Porto, in Portugal

Passengers had to be put up in hotels before continuing their journey the next day and Ryanair argued it was unfair that the travellers who were looking forward to their holiday in the Canaries lost 24 hours of their trip.

The airline previously emphasised it would be seeking to recover the costs of the delay and disruption from the passenger and had a strict zero-tolerance policy on misconduct.

They slammed the passenger's behaviour as 'inexcusable' and 'completely unacceptable'.

An airline spokesman said: 'Ryanair is committed to ensuring that all passengers and crew members travel in a comfortable environment, free from unnecessary disruption caused by a small minority of unruly passengers.

'Ryanair has a strict zero-tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to tackle harassing behaviour on aircraft for the benefit of the vast majority of passengers, which does not create any problems.'

The spokesman continued: 'We welcome the Dublin District Court's ruling, which sentenced a Dublin man to pay 15,000 in compensation following the diversion of a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote, which was diverted to Porto due to his harassing behaviour.'

Ryanair hopes the court's ruling will deter other passengers from disrupting flights.

'This ruling confirms the serious consequences for passengers who behave inappropriately, including travel bans and fines, according to Ryanair's zero-tolerance policy,' the spokesman continued.

Now, Dublin Circuit Court has ordered the man to pay 15,000 in compensation

'We hope that this decision will help to further discourage irreverent behaviour during flights, allowing passengers and crew to travel without having to deal with such reprehensible behaviour.'

Ryanair outlines its behaviour policy on its website where it explains how if a passenger's behaviour 'causes a danger to the plane or any person or property on it' or prevents crew from doing their work, amongst other criteria, cabin crew 'may take any measures we consider reasonably necessary to deal with the situation'.

This can include 'restraining', removing from the plane, and being 'refused a seat on any other flight' as well as possibly being 'prosecuted for offences you committed on the plane'.

The website continues, 'If, as a result of your behaviour or disruption, we divert the aircraft to offload you, you must indemnify us in relation to all reasonable and proper costs of the diversion (including our legal costs in bringing such action(s) against you).'
With rain being recorded in at least one place in the UK every day for 2026 so far, Brits are understandably craving some dry days and joy-boosting escapes.

The constant grey hue is taking its toll.

Weeks of grey skies and rain can do more than ruin our social plans - it can also dampen our moods.

When daylight levels drop for extended periods, people can feel more tired, unmotivated and irritable.

Even a short break in brighter, drier conditions can help restore routine and provide a noticeable mood lift.

Thankfully, the European destinations with the highest likelihood of dry weather have now been ranked.

The top destination? Research found that Athens offers the best chance of dry, sunny conditions in February and March.

Mediterranean cities dominate the top of the index, with Barcelona and Madrid in second and third place.

Rainy weather is certainly taking its toll on Brits, as downpours hit the UK

If you're looking to escape the rain, Athens is your best bet

That's thanks to a combination of mild temperatures, longer daylight hours and fewer wet days across February and March.

Nice, France and Valletta, Malta round out the top five on the list.

In contrast, popular city breaks such as Dublin and Amsterdam rank significantly lower due to more frequent wet days.

Some cities with comfortable average temperatures fall down the rankings because of inconsistent rainfall patterns.

Northern European cities rank lower due to the frequency of rainfall, even when they have mild temperatures.

The list, from Viva Holidays, has ranked destinations higher where travellers are more likely to enjoy several consecutive dry days, rather than just occasional sunshine between rainy showers.

Lisbon, for example, performs strongly overall thanks to its mild climate, but sees more variability between February and March compared to the highest-ranked cities.

Shubhang Gupta, director of Viva Holidays, said: Late winter and early spring in southern Europe are often influenced by more stable high-pressure systems, which bring clearer skies and lower rainfall totals compared to northern parts of the continent.

In second place is Barcelona, with little rain expected, sunshine and plenty to do

Top cities for guaranteed dry days in February/March

1. Athens 2. Barcelona 3. Madrid 4. Nice 5. Valletta 6. Lisbon 7. Rome 8. Milan 9. Amsterdam 10. Budapest 11. Prague 12. Paris 13. Vienna 14. Copenhagen 15. Berlin 16. Istanbul 17. Dublin Advertisement

'While the UK can remain unsettled during this period, many Mediterranean destinations benefit from more predictable dry spells.'

For travellers feeling fed up of the weeks of rain, the good news is that many of the top-ranked destinations are just a short flight away from the UK.

With journey times often under three hours, Brits can swap grey skies for brighter, drier conditions on a simple weekend-long escape.

As flexible working and short breaks become more common, a long weekend in one of Europes more reliable dry-weather cities could offer a quick reset before spring fully arrives at home.
Millions of tourists head to the monument each year and it's one of the most visited landmarks in Italy.

And now, the ancient Colosseum in Rome has been given a modern makeover.

It has recently undergone some renovations and the once characterful cobblestones along the southern wall have been replaced by marble pavestones.

Sleek, square benches have also been placed where pillars used to support more seating.

Both new additions have been crafted with the same type of marble used to build the impressive structure.

The new look has been curated to reflect how much bigger the Colosseum once was.

But it has not been received well by some who argue the changes look 'too white' and 'modern' for the ancient site, according to The Times.

Site director, Simone Quilici, has brushed off any backlash and defends the decision.

The ancient Colosseum in Rome, Italy has been given a modern makeover to its surrounding benches and pavements

It has recently undergone some renovations and the once characterful cobblestones along the southern wall have been replaced by marble pavestones

Sleek, square benches have also been placed where pillars used to support more seating

He told the publication, 'This is by definition a modern restoration  we will leave the movies to do fake ancient Rome.'

As the stone ages it may look more in keeping with its surrounding, Simone argues.

He adds, 'If the new marble gets a bit worn with time it will look a bit better.'

In fact, the paving stones were designed to be removable without a trace, meaning the ancient site won't be impacted.

Barbara Nazzaro, the chief architect, reveals, 'The paving is laid in such a way it can be removed without damaging the ancient foundations beneath.

'If in 50 years we decide we don't like it anymore, we can take it out. That was really important to us.'

In October, a 180-feet-long VIP underground passage through the Colosseum was opened to the public for the first time.

It was dug through the foundations and concealed from the attending masses but allowed Roman emperors to sneak out of the arena unseen.

Join the debate Should historic landmarks be modernised to attract visitors?

The new look has been curated to reflect how much bigger the Colosseum once was, but it has not been received well by some who argue the changes look 'too white' and 'modern' for the ancient site

Site director, Simone Quilici, has brushed off any backlash and defends the decision

Experts say it was created between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD  decades after the amphitheatre was originally built in the AD 70s.

Now, partially lit and ventilated by air vents, the passage is open to the public, letting visitors trace the same steps as Roman emperors.

Experts at the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum said the opening of the passage was of 'extraordinary significance'.

'It makes accessible and accessible for the first time ever a place so fascinating for its history, its architecture, and, not least, its decorative apparatus, which was for exclusive use and hidden from the public during the time of the emperors,' they said.
When you picture a gap year, what comes to mind?

Perhaps a teenager straight out of school taking budget trains across Europe? Or maybe a twenty-something backpacking across southeast Asia, trying out yoga classes and attempting to 'find themselves'?

But that's all set to change.

It has been revealed half of over-50s are now planning a 'Golden Gap Year', a period devoted to personal growth, adventure and long-awaited experiences.

Far removed from the backpacks and budget hostels of their youth, today's over-50s have the time, confidence and spending power to make travel a core part of their lifestyle.

The spirit of exploration is very much alive among over-50s, according to new research, which shows one in five are now travelling with greater purpose, seeking culture, connection, and self-discovery.

The destinations of choice? Winter sun hotspots.

Travellers are heading to destinations such as Dubai, Australia, Thailand, Mauritius and the Maldives.

Travellers over the age of 50 are now heading on gap years, exploring the world (stock)

The research highlights the top destinations and motivations for older travellers

And when it comes to bucket-list travel, over-50s are increasingly drawn to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, the research, by Emirates, shows.

Top ambitions include seeing the natural wonders of the world, winter sun escapes and safari or wildlife adventures.

Among those keen to explore iconic natural landmarks, visiting the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia is high on the list.

Meanwhile, adventure-led travel and seeing the Big Five in South Africa is the most sought-after safari experience, followed by whale or dolphin watching in Australia and exploring rainforests in Thailand.

Plus, 29 per cent want to experience things they never had the opportunity to experience before.

Nostalgia also plays a role, with 60 per cent considering revisiting destinations they travelled to when younger.

And 29 per cent of over-50s see this stage of life as a new chapter of learning and discovery, while 24 per cent say it's a chance to live out postponed dreams.

However, their motivations have evolved: almost six in 10 want to revisit fond memories, while more than half are keen to see how destinations have changed  this time with more comfort and flexibility than earlier in life.

Many over-50s want to experience things they never had the chance to before (stock)

Most would travel with a partner, but others are keen to go on a voyage with friends (stock)

When it comes to who they travel with, nearly two thirds prefer to holiday with their partner, while 19 per cent would travel with friends, and 17 per cent solo.

Jabr Al Azeeby, Emirates divisional vice president UK, said: 'We're seeing a real behavioural shift amongst our UK-based over 50s passengers who are no longer just ticking off destinations, but planning trips that fulfil lifelong dreams - seeking comfort without compromising on adventure.

'From the world's great natural wonders to chasing winter sun in tropical climes, the spirit of curiosity is as strong as ever, and many are embracing what we now call the 'Golden Gap Year' with confidence and style.'

To mark this growing trend, Emirates is launching The Golden Gap Year, a campaign celebrating travellers who see age not as a limit, but as an opportunity to explore the world anew.
London's Chinatown attracts hordes of visitors who are keen to try out the various restaurants and snap photographs of the red and gold decorations, lanterns and impressive arches.

There are others around the country that are almost as popular - including Liverpool and Manchester.

But, none of them are as large in size and population, as the Chinatown in Paris.

Despite it being the biggest in Europe, Paris' Chinatown, tucked away in the French capital's 13th arrondissement, is often overlooked by visitors.

It's home to 50,000 permanent residents and stretches across 1.7 square kilometres, covering Avenue de Choisy, Avenue d'Ivry and Boulevard Massena.

The lesser-known location isn't like other Chinatowns and lacks the iconic red gates and lantern-adorned streets.

It's much more of a working neighbourhood and is tailored to the needs of its residents rather than tourists.

In comparison, London and Liverpool's Chinatowns have around 1,000 residents each and are fractions of a square kilometre.

Tucked away in the French capital's 13th arrondissement, Paris' Chinatown is often overlooked by visitors

It's home to 50,000 permanent residents and stretches across 1.7 square kilometres, covering Avenue de Choisy, Avenue d'Ivry and Boulevard Massena

Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian communities moved to the area in the mid-29th century and it has since been crafted into a hub of local restaurants, supermarkets and temples.

Paris' Chinatown is home to Temple de l'Amicale des Teochew en Francea - a functioning Chinese Buddhist temple run by the Teochew community.

There are also cultural centres that cater to the residents too.

Everything in Paris' Chinatown is made with the residents in mind instead of visitors and as a result, the prices are much cheaper than the likes of London and Liverpool's hubs.

Huge Asian supermarket Tang Freres is brimming with fresh herbs, vegetables, noodles, sauces and snacks that aren't typically on the shelves of French stores.

As for dining out, Ngoc Xuyen Saigon is a popular spot for pho.

It comes as online travel agency First Choice reports a growing demand for trips that feel more authentic and less tourist-centred.

Kevin Nelson, managing director at First Choice said 'We're seeing more and more customers opt for authenticity over cookie cutter trips.

Huge Asian supermarket Tang Freres is brimming with fresh herbs, vegetables, noodles, sauces and snacks that aren't typically on the shelves of French stores

'It's a trend we've seen for a few years in the likes of destination dupes.

'But there's still a big market for tourists who want to see traditional hotspots but through the eyes of a local.'

For this reason, Kevin recommends skipping some of the more obvious spots in Paris on your next holiday there.

Head to the city's surprising neighbourhood in Chinatown instead.
A newlywed couple from USA managed to utilise their home purchase and turn it into a free luxury honeymoon.

Alex and Lu bought a new home when they moved to Minneapolis in 2024 after relocating from New York City.

Lu works in marketing, while Alex specialises in the HR technology sector. Both have a passion for travelling and are self-described points-and-miles obsessives.

The pair collected so many points through RBN Rewards during the process of buying their new home that they were able to use them to cover the cost of their honeymoon.

RNB Rewards is a program available to customers around the globe, including the UK, that allows homebuyers and sellers to earn substantial rewards by working with an RBN Participating Agent.

The points can be redeemed on a range of things including travel, luxury experiences, home-related benefits or mortgage savings.

Alex and Lu managed to book a trip to luxury, five-star, all-inclusive honeymoon at Xcaret Arte, a top-tier resort in Mexico's Riviera Maya without spending anything on flights or accommodation.

'I'm constantly looking for ways to turn big life expenses into meaningful travel,' said Alex.

Newlywed couple Alex and Lu (pictured) bought a new home when they moved to Minneapolis in 2024 after relocating from N ew York City

The pair collected so many points through RBN Rewards during the process of buying their new home that they were able to use them to cover the cost of their honeymoon

Alex and Lu managed to book a trip to luxury, five-star, all-inclusive honeymoon at Xcaret Arte, a top-tier resort in Mexico's Riviera Maya without spending anything on flights or accommodation

With their points, they were able to enjoy an action-packed, luxurious honeymoon of their dreams.

The pair went zip-lining through the jungle and gazed at the sunrise while they paddle boarded through cenotes.

'It was an adventure without stress,' said Lu.

'After buying a house and planning a wedding, having a fully booked five-star honeymoon waiting for us was incredible.'

They also went swimming in underground caves and tucked into amazing food.

'Turning a home purchase into a luxury honeymoon through RBN Rewards is something we never imagined,' said Alex.

'It made the whole experience feel like a win from start to finish.'

Another crafty traveller, Dominica, who goes by @dreanvacations4all on TikTok, also managed to get free nights at a hotel using rewards points.

With their points, they were able to enjoy an action-packed, luxurious honeymoon of their dreams and tucked into amazing food

The pair went zip-lining through the jungle and gazed at the sunrise while they paddle boarded through cenotes

She shared the hack in a video and revealed how she stayed in Marriott hotels for three nights without paying.

It involves linking a Starbucks Rewards account to Marriott account and collecting points as you spend on coffee and drinks.

Dominica explained: 'If you love Starbucks like I do and you are a Marriott member like I am, have y'all linked those accounts?

'I have gotten so many extra Marriott points by having those two accounts linked. I've gotten like three free night stays already just from getting those point bonuses.'

However, the deal is only available in the States, according to the Marriott Bonvoy website
Avid travellers hoping to check out the best food scene around don't have to go too far from home.

Tucked away in North Yorkshire, Malton is quietly claiming the spot as the 'food capital' of the country.

The quaint market town has plenty of independent bakeries, butchers, craft breweries and restaurants to explore alongside its cobbled streets bustling square.

While foodie hotspots abroad like Bologna or Lyon might come to mind when planning a gourmet weekend, this North Yorkshire town offers many of the same pleasures without a passport, currency exchange or long airport queues.

It takes around two hours and 30 minutes to get to Malton from London on the train, meanwhile those heading from Manchester can arrive in less than two hours.

'A train from London to York takes just under two hours, with a short connection to Malton, meaning a foodie escape of under three hours is entirely feasible,' says Pete Walls, co-founder of Split My Fare.

'It's a practical alternative for those looking to indulge in quality food and drink without the hassle of travelling overseas.'

According to the train ticketing company, it costs 29.70 for a single fare from London, and 15.40 from Manchester.

Tucked away in North Yorkshire, Malton is quietly claiming the spot as the 'food capital' of the country

The quaint market town has plenty of independent bakeries, butchers, craft breweries and restaurants to explore alongside its cobbled streets bustling square

Hotels can be found for as little as 44 a night and it won't cost a fortune to dine out during a visit either.

A Sunday roast at the Derwent Arms in Malton costs from 13.99 for meat options, and 12.99 for vegetarian.

Those hoping to try some local craft brewery could even push the boat out to a Yorkshire Pudding Beer - made with real Yorkshire puddings.

Brewed by The Yorkshire Pudding Beer Brewery in Malton, it's located along the banks of the River Derwent and a bottle can be bagged for 3.65 online.

Malton has impressed with its food scene for a long time. Back in 2020, it was described as a 'secret foodie hotspot' by The Mail On Sunday.

Richard Mellor wrote how the Malton Relish stands out for its range of deli goods.

He also recommended checking out other shops along The Shambles and around Market Place.

Elsewhere around the world, Florence was recently named as the world's best foodie city for 2026.

Those hoping to try some local craft brewery could even push the boat out to a Yorkshire Pudding Beer - made with real Yorkshire puddings

Malton has impressed with its food scene for a long time. Back in 2020, it was described as a 'secret foodie hotspot' by The Mail On Sunday

Not only is it a hotspot for foodies, but it's also cheap to get to - with flights starting from 38 in January with budget airline Vueling.

Florence offers an impressive 231 cooking classes, 74.5 per cent of which are rated four stars or higher.

The city is known for its meat dishes, such as Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a thick-cut T-bone steak.

Another regional speciality is lampredotto, a unique sandwich made from the fourth stomach of a cow.
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Karren Brady is no stranger to a stylish, business-ready look on The Apprentice - showcasing a number of outfits fit for the boardroom.

As the series returned last month, the businesswoman has already debuted more meeting-ready looks as she joins Lord Sugar and Tim Campbell to wow viewers.

And with weeks more of competition on the BBC to go, there's no doubt Karren, 56, will be bringing more glamour to the boardroom in the coming weeks.

From Victoria Beckham's fashion brand to Roland Mouret, Loewe to Destree - there's no shortage of designer labels in Karren's wardrobe.

But luckily for viewers, there's plenty of high street alternatives for savvy shoppers who want to copy Karren's look for themselves.

From tailored suits to slim-fitting dresses, here we run through some of Karren's looks, and where to buy them at a high-street price.

Karren opted for a ME+EM suit for one episode of The Apprentice, where the candidates were tasked with creating their own children's book.

She paired the chic striped two-piece with a black top to dress it down, letting her long hair down in blow-dried curls for the instalment of the BBC show.

The ME+EM suit, which comes in two pieces - The Very Useful Multi Stripe Blazer and the Pleated Wide-Leg Trouser - is still available to buy on their website.

Made from organic Italian cotton, the blazer is currently on sale, down to 140 from 350, in stock in sizes 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, and 18 - with the size 10 sold out.

Meanwhile, the trousers, in the pleated wide-leg design, are 90 - on sale from 225 - and are available in size 12 to 18.

A similar style, a straight-leg alternative to the wide-leg trouser, is also available for 78 in sizes 14, 16 and 18.

For those looking for a high street alternative, Mango are currently stocking their own version of the striped suit, available to buy as a co-ord in one.

Priced at 69.99, on sale from 99.99, the white striped set is selling out quickly, and is only available in size 6 and 8 on the ASOS website.

In another episode, Karren was seen wearing a chic Roland Mouret dress in white, and while it's sadly nowhere to be found in that colour, it is still available in maroon.

Stocked on MyTheresa, the long tight-fitting number features a golden brooch detail, and is currently on sale at 534 down from a whopping 890.

The dress is heading out of stock quickly, and is currently available in a size 4, 6, and 8 - with free shipping for orders of that price.

For those looking to copy the look at a lower price point, New Look are currently stocking their own midi dress in the same colour, with a similar gold detailing.

The Dark Burgundy V-Neckline Hem Slit Midi Dress is also on sale, for an impressive 11 down from 34.99, on their website.

Available in sizes 8 through 16, the figure-hugging look has a cut-out detail at the chest which is accentuated by the golden hardware.

The popular design has already sold out online in its khaki colour, thanks to the near 70 per cent sale on the item.

Elsewhere, Karren was seen wearing a Victoria Beckham green blouse, which she paired with white trousers and a pair of pure white trainers.

The Twist-Detail Blouse, made from 100 per cent silk, currently only has ONE item left to buy online on Farfetch - in a size 10 - priced at 396.

The high street has its own version of the blouse available, with River Island stocking a green satin slim-fit shirt in the same colour palette.

The button-up number is currently available to buy in sizes 8 through 22, having sold out in a size 6, and is priced at 29.

In the promotional shoot for the new series of the show, Karren was seen wearing a stylish blue and white nautical themed dress from Roland Mouret.

While the dress is sold out and nowhere to be found, there are alternatives to the design, with Karen Millen and MyTheresa stocking lookalikes.

Self Portrait have a belted blue and white midi dress currently on sale online, down to 280 from 400, and featuring a figure-hugging sparkling belt.

The dress is selling quickly, and there is low stock left in sizes 4, 6, 12, and 14, with sizes 8 and 10 still with plenty of dresses left to buy.

While Karen Millen have a belted, collared version of Karren's blue and white nautical themed dress, which is also on sale, down 20 per cent.

Priced at 183.20, reduced from 229, the navy dress is made from a mix of polyester and viscose, and features a defined black waistline to accentuate the figure.

With a central panel piece to create a visual slimming effect, it would work well with either flats or pointed heels if like Karren, wearers want to flaunt it in the boardroom.

Karren has also been seen in a tailored black two piece, posing in the look, which featured a puff-sleeved jacket, ahead of the series launch.

The two-piece, from a brand called Destree, is available to purchase on NETAPORTER, costing an eye-watering 840 for the jacket and matching trousers.

The Amoako cropped faille jacket, which is available in sizes extra small to large, is priced at 450, and also comes in white and cream.

Meanwhile, the trousers, which have a wide-leg design, are priced at 390 and are available in the equivalent of a UK size 6 to UK size 16.

For those who want to recreate the look, ASOS are currently stocking their own version of the puff-sleeved jacket, in the form of their Herringbone Cropped Blazer.

One sale on the website, the blazer is down to 37.50 from 50, and is still available in sizes 12 and 14, having sold out in the bigger sizes.

The jacket would work perfectly paired with ASOS Design's tailored wide-leg herringbone trousers, which are on sale for a steal price of 19.20.

Available in all sizes from 4 to 18, the herringbone design matches that of the jacket.

Another recent episode of The Apprentice saw Karren wearing a Loewe satin blouse, which featured a gold chain embellishment on the sleeves.

The design is currently available on NETAPORTER, with just one size left, the equivalent of a UK size 16, on sale at 50 per cent off.

The shirt is currently priced at 750, down from 1,500 - with a further 20 per cent off available at checkout using code FLASH20 at checkout.

The high street have their own version of the 100 per cent silk blouse, with Boden stocking a design made from the same material.

Available for 103.20 using code GR7V, down from 129, the shirt is currently in shock from sizes 4 to 22.

The Apprentice continues Thursday at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Richard E. Grant and Hugh Bonneville are reportedly being lined up to star in the next series of The Celebrity Traitors.

The British actors, who are both known for portraying characters in stately homes, are being eyed up by BBC producers for the murder-mystery game show, which will start filming in May.

Saltburn star Richard, 68, and Downton Abbey actor Hugh, 62, would no doubt feel right at home at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.

A source told The Sun: 'Richard and Hugh are national treasures and would fit in perfectly in the plush surroundings of the castle.

'Richard is clever, witty and endearing, Hugh is charming and funny.

'Both would be hugely entertaining at the roundtable and in the turret, if made Traitors.'

Richard E. Grant (pictured) and Hugh Bonneville are reportedly being lined up to star in the next series of The Celebrity Traitors

The British actors, who are both known for portraying characters in stately homes, are being eyed up by BBC producers for the murder-mystery game show, which will start filming in May; pictured Hugh in 2025

The first series of Celebrity Traitors aired last year and saw comedian and TV personality Alan Carr win the impressive jackpot for charity.

The final episode of the series, which is hosted by Claudia Winkleman, was the most watched show last year with 15million viewers tuning in.

Richard previously said he was a huge fan of The Traitors but admitted his daughter Olivia believes he would be banished or murdered early on.

He said: 'I'm obsessed with The [Celebrity] Traitors. I was fascinated to see the mega-sized brain of Sir Stephen Fry so frustrated because he just could not work out who it was.

'You see how easy it is for people to follow the herd. I'd love to go on it.

'My daughter said I'd be thrown out after half an hour because you're incapable of hiding what you feel about somebody in any way shape or form.'

A BBC spokesman previously told Daily Mail: 'We're not commenting on speculation but details about series two of The Celebrity Traitors will be announced in due course.'

Earlier this month, Alan revealed how he accidentally let slip that he'd won Celebrity Traitors within hours of filming the grand final.

A source said: 'Richard and Hugh are national treasures and would fit in perfectly in the plush surroundings of the castle. Richard is clever, witty and endearing, Hugh is charming and funny'

The first series of Celebrity Traitors aired last year and saw comedian and TV personality Alan Carr win the impressive jackpot for charity

The final episode of the series, which is hosted by Claudia Winkleman, was the most watched show last year with 15million viewers tuning in

The funnyman, 49, beat faithfuls Joe Marler, 35, Nick Mohammed, 45, and David Olusoga, 55, to claim the 87,500 prize pot for charity.

But while everyone is sworn to secrecy after filming wraps ahead of transmission, Alan has confessed he only managed to keep the secret for 12 hours.

Speaking on Scott Mill's BBC Radio 2 show, he explained how he accidentally let the cat out of the bag after heading to film new Channel 4 show Secret Genius, straight after his return from the Scottish highlands.

Alan laughed: 'The cameraman goes: "Congratulations" and I go: "How did you know I won?" He said "I didn't"'.

'So I told them within 12 hours that I had won The Traitors.'

Alan said after realising what he had done, tried his best to backtrack and told the camera operator he was 'joking and teasing'

'I went: "haha, got you!" I had to backtrack, because you can't tell anything But I did well, and I didn't want to spoil it'.
Controversial Married At First Sight bride Brook Crompton certainly lived up to the 'villain' tag on Wednesday night, unleashing vicious attacks on fellow brides Stella Mickunaite and Alissa Fay.

After making the shock decision on Tuesday night to pack her bags and head home to the Gold Coast, Brook surprised all brides and grooms when she returned for a drama-packed dinner party on Wednesday.

However, reconciling with Chris appeared to be the last thing on Brook's mind, with the part-time model barely speaking to the crestfallen groom for the duration of the dinner party.

A clearly heartbroken Chris almost didn't make it to the dinner party, telling producers through tears that Brook's treatment had left him feeling 'defeated'.

'I just can't go in there and act like everything's fine,' Chris told producers.

'I've never broken down like this before. I just feel so defeated.'

Controversial Married At First Sight bride Brook Crompton (pictured) certainly lived up to the 'villain' tag on Wednesday night, unleashing vicious attacks on fellow brides Stella Mickunaite and Alissa Fay

If she was concerned for Chris' wellbeing, Brook certainly didn't show it, swanning into the dinner party with a haughty: 'Surprise, b***hes,' which elicited many screams and dropped jaws around the table.

It appeared that Brook might have had one too many cheeky chardonnays, as she sounded intoxicated and slurred her words while launching into her wild rant.

Admitting that she was at the dinner party for 'unfinished business', Brook wasted no time in creating drama, first turning her attention to rival Stella Mickunaite, 32, as she was chatting to Steve Powell about their relationships.

'I think Stella is trying to give relationship advice after her two-week relationship,' Brook said, unsolicited, to the entire table.

She then proceeded to berate Stella over perceived slights at previous cast get-togethers.

Speaking about the commitment ceremony, Brook said: 'You came for me when I'd done nothing to you. You called me out in front of everyone and the experts, making me out to look like a bad person.'

The dressing down didn't stop there, as Brook launched further vicious attacks, while Stella sat and endured the barrage of vitriol.

'You need to have a clue and realise. I'm standing up for myself because I see someone like you: "I'm so deep, I'm so deep." I don't think you're deep, I just think you're f***ing dumb,' Brook spat.

Brook wasted no time in creating drama, first turning her attention to rival Stella (pictured) as she was chatting to Steve Powell about their relationships

Stella finally replied, telling Brook that she was 'abrasive', but this only served to ignite tensions further

Stella finally replied, telling Brook that she was 'abrasive', but this only served to ignite tensions further.

'You're very abrasive. And what you've been all night is barking at other women,' Stella said.

Brook's number one fan Gia Fleur, 35, then chimed in with: 'Barking, babe. That's lovely. Why don't you go back in your kennel, babe.'

After being told she was a 'very rude b***h by Brook, Stella attempted to smooth things over before leaving the table.

Brook, however, chose the moment to continue her ad hominem attacks.

'Hey babe, while you're at it, get the stripper boots off. If you're going to buy stripper boots, buy 100 per cent lamb, don't buy fake leather,' Brook said.

Speaking to producers, Stella slammed Brook's behaviour as immature.

'You don't speak to people like that. You just don't,' she said.

Alissa (pictured) broke down after accusing Brook of 'bullying' her

'You're in a fake relationship,' Brook screamed

Brook was clearly not interested in displaying maturity, telling fellow bride Alissa Fay, 33, to 'shut up' and branding her an 'idiot' after Alissa told her to tone down the attack.

Alissa tried to calm the situation by telling Brook to curb her 'nasty' behaviour but Brook was having none of it.

'Babe, you are the one that rolled your eyes at every single person.'

This emboldened Gia and Bec Zacharia, 35, to seize the opportunity to gang up on Alissa.

'You wonder why everyone hates you, babe, that's why,' Gia said, to which Bec excitedly agreed.

Affecting a mocking tone to impersonate Alissa's voice, Gia continued: 'Ultimately I wanted to be fake as usual.'

Alissa replied: 'Are you okay?' which only caused another juvenile attack.

'Take your hair extensions out and chill,' Gia said.

Alissa, meanwhile, seemed keen to put the drama to bed, saying: 'This is not worth my breath or my energy,' before telling Gia to focus on her own relationship.

'You're in a fake relationship,' Brook screamed.

'Clap, clap, clap. And I hope your parents are really proud watching this.'

While she managed to remain stoic during the fracas, Alissa broke down when talking about the incident with producers.

'This is just disgusting behaviour,' she said with tears streaming down her face. 'I don't want to be sitting at a table with that going on.'

'That is just bulls***.'

Married At First Sight continues at 7:30pm Sunday on Nine.
Dr Hilary Jones has made his return to TV after he was brutally axed from his regular appearances of ITV daytime shows Good Morning Britain and Lorraine.

The TV doctor announced he was leaving his former roles back in October, facing the brunt of the broadcaster's cuts announced last May.

Dr Hilary, 72, who had been part of the team on Lorraine since it first aired in 2010, started his television career in 1989 as the TV-am doctor before featuring as the health and medical advisor on GMTV from 1993.

GMTV was later replaced by Daybreak and Lorraine where he remained as health editor until budget cuts saw the team scaled back.

The TV doctor made final appearance as a regular on New Year's Eve, when he became a 'free agent' and assured fans he might return for guest appearances.

Dr Hilary has since been spotted on rival daytime show, GB News programme Breakfast with Eamonn and Ellie, as he joined the panel on Tuesday (February 17).

Dr Hilary Jones has made his return to TV after he was brutally axed from his regular appearances of ITV daytime shows Good Morning Britain and Lorraine

Dr Hilary has since been spotted on rival daytime show, GB News programme Breakfast with Eamonn and Ellie, as he joined the panel on Tuesday (February 17)

The GP was brought on to discuss the measles outbreak across north London, offering up his medical expertise to viewers at home.

Sitting beside Eamonn, 66, and Ellie, 32, he encouraged those watching who had not yet vaccinated their children against the disease to get the vaccine.

He stressed the importance of ensuring children under five have been vaccinated to avoid contracting measles, a highly contagious viral infection that can cause severe complications like pneumonia or brain inflammation.

The NHS offers the measles vaccine, that is almost 100 per cent effective in preventing contraction of the disease, and is offered from the age of one.

Dr Hilary told the show: 'Its really important that children under five are vaccinated. Anyone who hasnt been vaccinated  its never too late.

'Youre less likely to come in contact with it if youre 55, but its still there and you can come down with nasty measles at any age if you havent been vaccinated and youre exposed to it.'

During his return to TV, one GB News host was quick to hit out that they weren't pleased to see Dr Hilary on their screens, and working in their studio.

Bev Turner, who hosts the Late Show, hit out at the doctor via a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, accusing him of 'lying' to the public during the Covid pandemic.

Bev Turner, who hosts the Late Show, hit out at the doctor via a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, accusing him of 'lying' to the public during the Covid pandemic

Sitting beside Eamonn, 66, and Ellie, 32, Dr Hilary encouraged those watching who had not yet vaccinated their children against measles to get the vaccine

It was all sparked by a series of posts from other TV stars, including media personality Katie Hopkins and internet personality Dr Zoe Harcombe - who both suggested Dr Hilary should 'not be on TV'.

Hitting out that he had 'unnecessarily scared millions of people', she fumed against his former appearances during the pandemic as part of the Good Morning Britain team.

Bev penned in a now-deleted post: 'News channels build trust over time by listening to viewers and striving for the truth, even if that means saying the opposite of all other outlets.

'Some people are now totems of being wrong, bought-off by drug companies or too cowardly to report the truth in case it harmed their career.

'Dr Hilary Jones was wrong on TV every day for 2 years. He unnecessarily scared millions of people, breaking up families via fear and causing untold death and injury by amplifying covid risk and peddling the MRNA onto all age groups.

'Everything he said during that time was evidence based on propaganda rather than scientific evidence.

'I'd be thrilled to see him behind the GB News desk talking about his own recent diagnosis of pericarditis, whilst explaining the statistical link between that condition and the jabs.

'I'd be thrilled to see him apologise to the nation for the significant role he played during that time. I'd be thrilled to interview him about why he ignored true infection fatality data and the evidence within Pfizer's own 2020 trials.

Hitting out that he had 'unnecessarily scared millions of people', Bev Turner fumed against his former appearances during the pandemic as part of the Good Morning Britain team

Dr Hilary has previously come under fire before publicly advocating the Covid-19 jab on ITV

'But otherwise, in my view, he should not be welcome in a building which prides itself on freedom and truth.'

Dr Hilary has previously come under fire before publicly advocating the Covid-19 jab on Good Morning Britain.

In 2021, the TV GP's country home was reported to have been targeted by a 'vicious group of anti-vaccine protestors'.

Residents in the peaceful Kent village woke to an army of enraged protestors, who describe themselves as 'soldiers of truth', wielding placards and megaphones as they gathered outside his sprawling property on Saturday.

A source told MailOnline: 'A vicious bunch of protestors turned up on the driveway outside Hilary Jones' Kent home. They blasted unpleasant messages through loudspeakers.'

Local police later attended the scene, with protestors claiming Hilary had refused to open the door as they attempted to 'serve' him with legal documents.

Dr Hilary used his platform to promote the vaccine, while being critical of those who oppose it  but his comments during an appearance on Lorraine in August 2020 that divided viewers.

'We are going to rely on the common sense of the British people,' he said. 'While most people do have common sense, some don't though and have to be protected from themselves.'

During his return to TV, one GB News host was quick to hit out that they weren't pleased to see Dr Hilary on their screens, and working in their studio

In 2021, the TV GP's country home was reported to have been targeted by a 'vicious group of anti-vaccine protestors'

Of the vaccine, he added: 'It doesn't affect the DNA of your cells, it can't affect your fertility, it can only protect you, it's a win, win, win, win, win. There's no downside.'

Jones also took aim at BBC show Strictly Come Dancing after three unnamed professional dancers refused to have the jab.

Speaking on Loose Women about the 'duty of care' that is required when your job involves close contact with others, he openly criticised the Strictly stars for not getting vaccinated and increasing the risk of infection among the shows cast and crew.

Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway has previously praised the doctor's quick thinking after he urged her to take COVID stricken husband Derek to a hospital at the height of the pandemic.

Writing for the Mail On Sunday, she recalled: 'Eventually I did what every single person who has ever worked in breakfast TV does at some point, I called Dr. Hilary Jones, GMB's resident health expert.

In 2022, Ofcom issued ITV with guidance after it broadcast 'inaccurate information' from Dr Hilary about the 'proportion of unvaccinated Covid-19 patients in hospital'.

The information, that was broadcast on Lorraine in December 2021, saw nearly 4,000 viewers lodge complaints - but after a review, Ofcom decided to not launch a formal investigation.

They instead sent ITV 'guidance', with the broadcast regulator saying: 'In reaching our decision, we took into account that the programme was live and that a clarification was broadcast on 8 December.

'This provided viewers with the source of the statistic and clarified that it related to patients receiving the most specialist care in intensive care units, rather than the proportion of unvaccinated Covid-19 patients in hospital.'

An Ofcom spokesperson added: 'This programme incorrectly referenced the proportion of unvaccinated Covid-19 patients in hospital.

'We have told ITV that greater care should be taken by trusted medical experts when presenting facts and figures on public health issues.

'However, given official statistics and research have consistently shown that vaccination against Covid-19 offers greater protection against serious health consequences, we do not consider that the error was sufficient to materially mislead viewers on this main point of discussion.'

According to Stat of the Nation, Dr Hilary told viewers on Lorraine in December 2021: 'Ninety per cent of people in hospital have not been vaccinated.'

However, NHS England data at the time is reported to have shown that 36 per cent of patients being treated for Covid-19 were unvaccinated.

It comes after Dr Hilary revealed he was leaving Lorraine after 36 years amid the brutal ITV cuts that saw the show's episodes slashed.

After it was revealed Lorraine will air for just 30 minutes a day, 30 weeks of the year, Dr Hilary has revealed he is stepping away.

The TV doctor said his final appearance as a regular will be New Year's Eve, when he will become a 'free agent' - but assured fans he might return for guest appearances.
Springwatch star Chris Packham has opened up on how he REALLY feels about former Top Gear host turned farmer Jeremy Clarkson, calling out his 'changing views'.

The TV presenter, who is most frequently seen on screen beside Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams on the popular BBC programme, including its winter spin-off Winterwatch, admitted that despite their differences, he harbours no hate for Jeremy.

Chris, 64, and Jeremy, 65, have often found themselves on opposite sides of the debate about the British countryside - from conservation to farming.

But, Chris has now admitted that the public perception of the relationship between the pair could not be more different to the reality.

Rather than 'hating Jeremy', the Winterwatch star said the duo had actually 'worked together' and found the Clarkson's Farm star 'hospitable' and 'like himself'.

He told the Telegraph: 'Everybody expects me to hate Jeremy. But we worked together and he was extraordinarily hospitable. And he's like myself.

Springwatch star Chris Packham has opened up on how he REALLY feels about former Top Gear host turned farmer Jeremy Clarkson, calling out his 'changing views'

Chris, 64, and Jeremy, 65, have often found themselves on opposite sides of the debate about the British countryside - from conservation to farming

'He sometimes sees the need to antagonise a situation to promote a conversation. In recent times, we've see him swinging more in my direction.'

Since Jeremy took over his farm, Diddly Squat, in 2019 - the TV presenter has become increasingly outspoken about issues that affect farmers across the UK.

He opened up on how bovine TB affected his own farm, as well as the importance of buying local produce and supportive British farming, and the issues caused by extreme weather patterns.

Chris, who has presented Springwatch since its launch in 2009, has often used his platform to speak about the importance of protecting the environment.

The presenter hit out that he felt the BBC, who broadcasts Springwatch and its spin-off series, have not been 'as forthright' as he hoped them to be in supporting the environment.

He continued to the Telegraph: 'It's a dereliction of duty not to be informing people of the gravity of the situation...'

In 2024, Chris encouraged today's youth to 'fight back' against 'buffoons' like Jeremy amid claims that The Grand Tour host purchased a 'gas-guzzling' Range Rover 'just to spite' him.

Clarkson opted to buy the environmentally unfriendly SUV after 'Chris Packham said something annoying on television', he told The Daily Star in February 2024.

Since Jeremy took over his farm, Diddly Squat, in 2019 - the TV presenter has become increasingly outspoken about issues that affect farmers across the UK

Chris, who has presented Springwatch since its launch in 2009, has often used his platform to speak about the importance of protecting the environment

The presenter had initially decided to buy a Land Rover with a 'smallish diesel engine' but 'cancelled' the purchase in a 'hot internal walnut of spite'.

He hoped to 'annoy' and 'punish' the Springwatch star by buying a 'Range Rover with a V8 that produces more carbon dioxides than India'.

He added that he found it 'comforting to know that by talking about the environment Packham has actually made it a little worse.'

Packham hit back, branding Clarkson a 'buffoon' and telling Saga Magazine that his 'spiteful' decision 'betrays such a tragic ignorance it has an almost comedic value'.

The Range Rover rage was the latest incident in the apparent ongoing feud between the pair, which saw Packham launch a furious tirade at Clarkson in after the outspoken presenter admitted he wasn't impressed by Sir David Attenborough's latest Planet Earth series.

'I got a Google alert last night saying Jeremy Clarkson had been thinking about buying a Land Rover with a relatively small engine,' Packham told the magazine.

'But then he'd seen me on TV saying something which offended him - probably something positive about the environment - so he'd bought a five-litre, gas-guzzling, twin turbo-charged Range Rover just to spite Chris Packham.'

The Winterwatch presenter hit out at Clarkson in his latest attempt to highlight the gravity of the climate crisis, saying it is an 'existential problem' and 'so big that it's beyond us as individuals to do anything'.

Chris Packham (pictured in July 2022) encouraged people to 'fight back' against 'buffoons' like Jeremy amid claims he purchased a 'gas-guzzling' Range Rover 'just to spite' him

Sir David Attenborough (pictured) is a British broadcaster, biologist, natural historian and author who has fronted many nature programmes that explore environmental issues such as global warming

However, he pointed out that 'every single one of us has the capacity to do something positive' and encouraged the younger generation to consider their individual 'impact' on the environment.

Packham, who is often referred to as Sir David's successor, argued that today's generation are 'influenced by TikTok' and need a 'young person' to get them fired up about the environment.

'We don't need another David, we need another person on social media doing the same job and that isn't going to be me - it's going to be a young person,' he said.

Packham, who says he was 'very angry young man, encouraged the youth to get upset about climate change, but also 'turn that anger into something positive'.

The pair's spat comes after Packham in November 2023 used his social media presence to attack Clarkson for sharing a mixed response to Planet Earth in his column with national tabloid The Sun.

Taking to X, the celebrated naturalist referred to Clarkson's notorious former comments about the Duchess of Sussex - published in the same column.

He wrote: 'Not content with fantasies of throwing s**t over members of the royal family he now slams the world's greatest broadcaster and the man who has done more than anyone has or ever will to protect life on earth . . . What a massive c**kchafer'.

Jeremy Clarkson has become increasingly outspoken on agricultural issues since running his own farm, Diddly Squat

The explosive rant was in response to Clarkson having voiced his lack of enjoyment for 97-year old Attenborough's latest series, going so far as saying he 'hates' the show and urged for a change in its direction.

The former Grand Tour host admitted that while he's been captivated by the new BBC series, he found the script 'insane'.

Clarkson wrote in his column with The Sun: 'Oh the photography is brilliant. Spellbinding even. But the words are driving me insane'.

The outspoken broadcaster then pointed out that despite once admiring Attenborough's in-depth knowledge of animals, he now feels his mission to educate viewers on the impact of global warming has become a bit repetitive.

He wrote: 'Now all we ever get is, 'Here's a see-through fish with an orange stomach, and it's future is threatened by climate change and then it's: 'Here's something with pointy teeth and soon it will be wiped out by global warming.'

'We know already. So please, in future, tell us about the animals, not the b****y weather.'
A This Morning star was left joking that bosses would have to 'edit out' a VERY rude blunder he made accidentally after he left the crew on set in stitches.

Tom Swarbrick appeared with Nicola Thorp on the ITV daytime show, sitting down with hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond to discuss the latest headlines.

The radio show host, who features on LBC, left the crew working on the popular series laughing when he made an unfortunate slip of the tongue as talk turned to noise complaints in local neighbourhoods.

The hosts discussed how a woman whose cockerel is so noisy it was handed an ASBO that could risk her pet being seized by police - despite hundreds of people rallying in support of him.

But as the discussion developed into different neighbourhood noises, Sonia, 44, and Tom, 38, soon began discussing church bells in villages being hit with the same complaints from newly-moved in residents.

Tom explained: 'It's happening in Leicestershire at the moment, the people living in a village with the nice church at the top of the hill that are complaining about the ringing of a church bell on a Sunday morning!'

This Morning star Tom was left joking that bosses would have to 'edit out' a VERY rude blunder he made accidentally after he left crew on set in stitches

Tom Swarbrick appeared with Sonia Sodha on the ITV daytime show, and left Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond stifling their laughter

'Oh, I love the church bells,' Alison could be heard chiming in, as Dermot added: 'It's been there a thousand years!'

But as Sonia admitted she would be among the villagers complaining, Tom hit back: 'Sorry, but it's been ringing since 1900-and-watever on the hour on a Sunday morning, it is the sound of Britain, British countryside, British tradition!'

Making an unfortunate slip-of-the-tongue, Tom continued to hit back: 'This sort of like... bell end, the bell-ending brigade who are there to try to...'

The crew behind-the-scenes of the camera could be heard struggling to stifle their laughter, as Dermot and Alison pulled a face towards Tom.

'We'll square that out, we will edit that!' Tom added, looking down the camera as he tried to move on from his mistake, with Dermot taking a deep breath to avoid a giggle.

'They want to end the noise that's been the centre of communities for hundreds and hundreds of years... shut up and get on with it!' Tom concluded.

'Let's get back to the cockerel...' Dermot added, moving the segment on.

It's not the only blunder that took place during the segment, as show fans pointed out that during the news discussion - one headline was grammatically wrong on screen.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, a viewer pointed out that the following segment about age was introduced: 'Signs your getting old.'

Noticing the grammatical mistake, they penned: 'This should be a sackable offence.'

Making an unfortunate slip-of-the-tongue, Tom continued to hit back: 'This sort of like... bell end, the bell-ending brigade who are there to try to...'

Tom Swarbrick appeared with Nicola Thorp on the ITV daytime show

The crew behind-the-scenes of the camera could be heard struggling to stifle their laughter, as Dermot and Alison pulled a face towards Tom

It comes after Tom revealed his wife was 'spat in the face' by a middle-aged man in a horrifying ordeal, taking to social media to share the details.

The regular This Morning contributor wrote on his Instagram story: 'To the middle-aged white man who spat in my wife's face, in front of our daughter, in Turnbridge Wells this afternoon...'

Tom added 'We are going to find out who you are.'

The broadcaster, who also presents radio station LBC's Drivetime show, thanked a member of the public for helping his family.

Tom appears on This Morning's current affairs segment called 'This Morning's View' where he and another guest digest the day's biggest stories.

He's appeared alongside broadcasters such as Kay Burley, Vanessa Feltz, Ashley James and Sonia Sodha.

The dad-of-two recently shared an insight into his parenting as he revealed his son won't be allowed have a smartphone until he his a teenager.

He told HELLO! magazine: 'I have a ten-year-old and an eight-year-old, so we are on the cusp with my ten-year-old of this decision about phones.

'Some of his mates have got phones already. I have told him that it's not happening until he is at least 14. He has not taken kindly to that.'

It's not the only blunder that took place during the segment, as show fans pointed out that during the news discussion - one headline was grammatically wrong on screen

He continued by sharing what his children think of his broadcasting career.

Tom said: 'Well, they can recite the [LBC] phone number, which is probably indicative of how often I say it, so maybe I should stop repeating it so often.

'To be honest with you, they don't find it that strange, which I find strange.

'We'll be listening in the car and the trailer for the show will pop up and I'll go, "Oh, it's me."

'They're like, "Yeah, so what?" They're not bothered. You think, dad worked bloody hard to get here! They're like, "Nah, not interested, shut up".'

During the rare interview, Tom also revealed he stunned his family when he revealed he got a tattoo - though stopped short of saying where exactly it is.

He said: 'It's the final paragraph of a poem called Walking Away by Cecil Day Lewis, which is about a dad watching their child go off to their first day at school.'

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
The heartbroken partner of the first British woman to die from a botched BBL bravely appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday in a bid to warn others of the preventable heartbreak.

Alice Webb, 33, was a mum of five who died after having a non-surgical BBL in September - falling unwell shortly after the procedure.

Non-surgical procedures like BBLs and breast augmentations are currently unregulated because no incisions or general anaesthetic are required.

Because of this, there have been reports of them being carried out in unsanitary conditions, including in sheds and public toilets, by people without any relevant medical experience.

Describing the surgery as a game of 'Russian roulette,' Alice's partner Dane Knight said he did not even know that she was having the procedure until he received a call from a concerned loved one telling him to come to the hospital.

He told Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway: 'I feel it could have been prevented. The powers that be were made of these issues and the dangers around them well before this death.'

The heartbroken partner of the first British woman to die from a botched BBL, Dane Knight, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday in a bid to warn others of the preventable heartbreak

Dane, who appeared on This Morning last year, revealed how he didn't know Alice (pictured) was even having the procedure and thought she was enjoying a day out

Dane said that Alice's death had a profound impact on her family and said: 'We're still navigating through those unknown waters now.'

The heartbroken partner described Alice as 'one of a kind' and praised her for being a 'great mother'.

Interestingly, she worked as an aesthetics practitioner herself and was praised for always going above and beyond for her clients.

Dane said that he was completely unaware of the life-threatening repercussions of procedures like the one Alice had until it was too late.

Dane admitted: 'There's a fire, as you mentioned, to want change.

'I wouldn't wish this on anybody. There never seems to be an end to it, everything that happens after, everything changes.'

Addressing any viewers who might be considering similar aesthetic surgery, bereaved Dane said: 'Please don't do it.'

He was unable to share more specific details about what happened to his late partner because her death is still being subject to a legal investigation.

Dane told Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway : 'I feel it could have been prevented. The powers that be were made of these issues and the dangers around them well before this death'

Addressing any viewers who might be considering similar aesthetic surgery, bereaved Dane said: 'Please don't do it'

Dane previously spoke to ITV News about the desperate need for regulations and said 'something gets put in place before it happens again and another family's just ripped apart and destroyed because it will if something's not done sooner rather than later.

'It's taken someone's life for people to start listening and for others in power to start listening, to enforce this law to stop other families and other people's lives being destroyed.'

Save Face, a government-approved register of doctors in nurses, published a report in 2024 that highlighted 'alarming increase in the number of patient-reported complaints relating to non-surgical breast augmentation and BBLs'.

It revealed that over fifty percent of these procedures have resulted in major complications such as sepsis and infections.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
A Channel 4 comedy has been axed after one series - following three years of delays and brutal reviews.

Although commissioned by Channel 4 in 2022, No Strings Attached finally landed on E4 just last year.

Hosted by The Great British Bake Off alum Mel Giedroyc, it was initially titled The Really Rude Puppet Show.

According to TVZone, however, the show has been axed with no plans for a future series.

Daily Mail has contacted Channel 4 for comment.

Each episode saw Mel, 57, introduce a celebrity guest to a book club, wherein they read an erotic fantasy story out loud.

Channel 4 comedy No Strings Attached has been axed after one series - and a three year delay to arrive on screens

The show featured celebrities reading out steamy fan fiction - represented on screen by lookalike puppets

Comedian Mel Giedroyc served as the host for No Strings Attached, where she welcomed famous faces to a book club

These sexually charged encounters were written by the show's script editors, as well as real fans.

Furthermore, the celebs never saw what they'd be reading ahead of time - with their first reactions captured on-screen.

Speaking previously about the show, Mel said: 'This is going to be a celebration of erotic fan fiction. With puppets.

'Imagine a world where Jackie Collins meets Thunderbirds. Im so looking forward to a trip to Love Island via Tracy Island.'

No Strings Attached featured appearances from Sam Thompson, Coleen Nolan, Kerry Katona, Martin Kemp and Melvin Odoom.

The show also received scathing reviews, with The Guardian branding it as 'a profoundly silly piece of flim-flam that is objectively awful'.

A review by The Irish Independent described the programme as 'shockingly bad' and opined the show's 'novelty' wore off fast.

Although commissioned by Channel 4 in 2022, No Strings Attached finally landed on E4 just last year

Elsewhere, a beloved Channel 4 drama could be set to return to screens - 21 years after its TV axing.

The Secret Life Of Us ran from 2001 to 2005 over four seasons and was set in the beachside neighbourhood of St Kilda, Australia.

Starring the likes of Claudia Karvan, Samuel Johnson and Deborah Mailman, the series followed the lives of a group of young adults living in the same block of flats.

It drew focus on their pursuits of love, careers, and their personal identities as they navigated the complexities of growing up.

The show launched the career of actor and filmmaker Joel Edgerton, who went on to become a huge star in Hollywood after starring in the series as William McGill.

The star was recently nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Actor category for film Train Dreams, which hit the silver screen in 2025.

Speaking at RMITs 100 Years of Television symposium, co-creator and producer Amanda Higgs revealed the show has been in talks for a reboot.

She revealed: 'Theres a lot of talk, well, not a lot theres a tiny bit of talk about whether well do Secret Life again.'

Ruling herself out of returning to the series, Amanda continued: 'No! I am too old to make that show. I think if youre creating for younger audiences, you have to have that younger sensibility.'
Call The Midwife fans were left furious after a schedule shake-up saw the upcoming episode of the show CANCELLED this weekend.

Viewers of the long-running BBC period drama, which follows a group of nurse-midwives and nuns working in London, hit out they wouldn't be able to 'cope' without the episode hitting screens.

The popular BBC One show returned for its 15th series last month, with eight new episodes lined up for its fans following the Women's Liberation Movement.

The storyline has been following Judy Parfitt's Sister Monica Joan - with an emotionally charged episode leaving viewers eager for more last weekend.

Beloved character Sister Monica was diagnosed with kidney failure, with Dr Patrick Turner, played by Stephen McGann, sending her for further testing to find out how seriously the condition had taken hold.

But now, it's been revealed that the next chapter will be delayed, with Call The Midwife moved from its regular slot to make way for the BAFTA Film Awards 2026.

Call The Midwife fans were left furious after a schedule shake-up saw the upcoming episode of the show CANCELLED this weekend

The storyline has been following Judy Parfitt's Sister Monica Joan - with an emotionally charged episode leaving viewers eager for more last weekend

Posting on the Call The Midwife Instagram account, it was confirmed that the show would instead air in another week's time, leaving viewers waiting TWO weeks in between episodes.

The post revealed: 'ANNOUNCEMENT! As in previous years, we'll be taking a short break next Sunday whilst the BAFTA Film Awards are shown live on BBC1.

'But we will be back with you in TWO WEEKS TIME for episode 7!! Call the Midwife Series 15 continues Sunday 1st March at 8pm on BBC1.'

Taking to the comments section, fans raged against the decision, with one writing: 'I don't think I can cope with the wait.'

Another chimed in: 'Ahh that's not fair,' as someone else penned: 'Nooooooo don't want the BAFTAS I want CTM on instead!'

'I thought we'd escape the BAFTAs interruption this year!' a fourth penned, as another fan suggested: 'Should put the Baftas on BBC2!'

It comes after Call The Midwife viewers were left appalled by a 'distressing' new storyline that showed scenes of child abuse, as a father wreaked havoc on his family.

Fans tuning in to the opening episode of the new series on BBC One were left shocked by the plot which highlighted the issue of child neglect.

Posting on the Call The Midwife Instagram account, it was confirmed that the show would instead air in another week's time

Fans took to Instagram to voice their disappointment

The new storyline followed Nurse Joyce Highland, played by Renee Bailey, as she called on the Kingsley family - and it soon became clear their four young children were going unfed, and left filthy.

While Nurse Joyce gave the family an opportunity to step up and improve their children's living conditions, the situation soon escalated and she was forced to take the children to Nonnatus House.

It wasn't long until their aggressive father turned up, alongside their pregnant mother, demanding for the four children to be returned home, and it was up to Judy Parfitt's Sister Monica Joan to stand up to him.

The action took an even darker turn when it came to light one of the children fell out of a window while back in the care of their parents, with it soon transpiring that other children had died in the family home.

Social services were then forced to intervene and take the children away for good.

Viewers at home were left in shock by the scenes, and took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to complain about the 'distressing' scenes shown on screen.

One penned: 'A distressing episode of Call The Midwife! That father is a horrible bully and a thug, he's not fit to be a parent. Sister Monica Joan meanwhile is so nice and calm. It's a pity she couldn't fight him away with her walking stick.'

Another added: 'Child poverty. Child neglect. Nothing has changed,' as a third wrote: 'It's troubling that this family doesn't appear to be making an effort.'

It comes after Call The Midwife viewers were left appalled by a 'distressing' new storyline that showed scenes of child abuse, as a father wreaked havoc on his family

'What an absolutely vile and disgusting bloke,' a fourth penned, while someone else opened up: 'Having worked in childcare for many years, including the 70's, tonight's episode hit a nerve.'

The episode also featured a second storyline, that followed a women's liberation movement, which arrived in Poplar for a planned demonstration.

Doing the rounds at the event, Sister Catherine soon found a mum-to-be suffering from hyperemesis - a severe form of pregnancy sickness.

Both Sister Catherine and the mother were left traumatised when the baby came early, when the expectant mother was on the toilet.

Elsewhere, Helen George's Trixie Aylward was forced to tell Sister Julienne, played by Jenny Agutter, that the nuns might soon have to become fully-fledged NHS workers.

Call the Midwife returns on Sunday 1 March at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Not sure what to watch tonight? Discover our brand new TV GUIDE now!

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An Antiques Roadshow expert got an unwelcome surprise after swigging from a guest's 180-year-old bottle.

Members of the public bring historical artefacts on the BBC show to discover their value and background.

On one occasion, when a visitor brought a century old bottle for glass expert Andy McConnell to examine - there were unfortunate repercussions.

Upon assessing the piece, Andy determined a brown substance inside was either port or red wine.

He told the guest: 'I think it's port... port or red wine... or it's full of rusty old nails and that's rust.'

Following this, Andy then proceeded to dip his finger inside and lick the mysterious substance.

Antiques Roadshow expert Andy McConnell got an unfortunate surprise while examining a guest's historic bottle

Later on, Fiona Bruce enlightened Andy about the substance he had tried - specifically what it contained

Fiona took over as Antiques Roadshow presenter in 2008, succeeding Michael Aspel in the position

The show's host Fiona Bruce, however, informed him later on in the 2016 episode about what he had actually tasted.

She subsequently revealed the liquid was comprised of urine, a tiny bit alcohol and a human hair.

Fiona explained that it had been a witches' bottle, having been created as a talisman to ward off witchcraft, curses and misfortune.

The presenter elaborated: 'Now, you thought it might have been port or wine... That would've been nice...

'Inside were these brass pins, all of these dating from the late 1840s, and the liquid - urine, a tiny bit of alcohol and one human hair.

'And a mysterious little creature called an ostracod, which is like a little cockle.'

Fortunately, Andy took the misstep in his stride as he joked: 'Yummy.'

It comes as a guest on the programme was left wowed by the six-figure valuation of a rare object found in her home.

Fiona Bruce and the BBC show's team went to Firsite contemporary art gallery in Colchester for the episode which was shown over the weekend.

During the episode, expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan was seen assessing the value of an unusual ironwood pole club.

The visitor explained her in-laws discovered the item initially, after buying a new home and discovering it had been left behind by the previous owners.

She elaborated: 'In the 1960s, my husband's parents bought a house in West Wales with all its contents and this was in its contents.'

Through internet research, her family guessed that the pole club may originate from Fiji.

Ronnie revealed it was actually from the Cook Islands, adding: 'This is a magnificent ironwood pole club and the Cook Islands people call it an akatara.

Elsewhere, an Antiques Roadshow guest at Firstsite in Colchester was left surprised by the value of her unusual item

'They were made either on the island of Rarotonga or Atiu.'

He recounted the story of Captain Cook, who travelled to Polynesia and how, on his third visit, his surgeon spotted one of these pole clubs.

Ronnie continued: 'Originally, this would have been a fighting weapon, but by the time there was contact from the West, this had become a ceremonial weapon imbued with manna.

'And manna is like the spiritual power of the warrior chief who would have owned this. I feel as though I've got the power holding this. It's such an impressive object.'

Furthermore, he could deduce the item's age - 18th century - by identifying that it is stone cut.

He added: 'The 1770s when Cook arrived. If this could be attributed to anything to do with James Cook, wow. Things like this have a value.

'It's a shame about the damage. There's a little bit of the tip missing, but it doesn't detract from its energy and power.

'If I wanted to put it into a sale - and this would go into a top sale in Paris - they would put a very comfortable pre sale estimate between 100,000 and 150,000.'

The guest was surprised to hear this, as she said: 'Crikey. That's amazing, really amazing.'

Speaking to the camera later on, the guest shared: 'I just can't believe how did something like that end up in an old house in the middle of Wales?

'How did it get there? I'd love to be able to step back in time and follows its journey because it's just incredible.'

Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays on BBC One and iPlayer.
'We're having a few drinks. Won't be big.'

Have there been more famous last words than that?

When the cast of Married At First Sight decided to let their hair down during week two of filming, no one could have expected how things would end.

Fractured friendships. Weekly drug testing. The cast plunged into lockdown.

It started with a text message inviting me along. By this time, I was already well acquainted with most of the cast, but it was still early days.

Gia Fleur slid into my messages asking if I wanted to join her and husband Scott McCristal. I'd be their photographer. It was meant to be a quick catch-up.

When the MAFS cast decided to let their hair down during week two, no one could have expected how things would end. (Pictured L-R: Rebecca Zukowski, Gia Fleur, Brook Crompton, Scott McCristal, Luke Fourniotis, Chris Nield, Danny Hewitt, Bec Zacharia, Melissa Akbay)

It started with a text message inviting me along. By this time, I was already well acquainted with most of the cast, but it was still early days. (Ali is pictured alongside Bec, Brook and Mel)

I picked them up from One Global Resorts and drove them to Bondi Icebergs. We took a few snaps overlooking the iconic beach before my phone rang again.

It was Luke Fourniotis, one of the MAFS grooms.

He asked what I was doing. I told him I was taking photos of Gia and Scott. He said he was spending some much-needed time with his wife Melissa Akbay.

I encouraged him to spend the evening with her, in the hope this might put their rocky relationship back on track.

I told him I'd pop by their place shortly. Instead, he and Mel turned up at Icebergs.

Then Rebecca Zukowski arrived without her husband Steve Powell. I'm fairly sure he had gone to Melbourne for the weekend because he was still grumpy about Intimacy Week.

Then Danny Hewitt and Bec Zacharia came along. It was the first time I'd had an opportunity to speak to them.

Not long after that, Chris Nield and Brook Crompton walked in. (At this point, she hadn't yet left him for her ex Harry.)

Luke and Mel were the first to join my catch-up with Gia and Scott. Others soon followed

What started as 'a few quiet drinks' quickly escalated into the core cast members getting together. And at first, it was harmless - then another reporter showed up

What started as 'a few quiet drinks' quickly escalated into the core cast members getting together. And at first, it was harmless.

We broke the ice. A few shots later, everyone was relaxed. I was having real conversations with Danny, Bec, Gia, Scott, Rebecca, Mel and Luke.

As a reporter, it's always good to get to know the people you're writing about face to face. There's only so much you can get from DMs or voice notes.

This wasn't my first rodeo joining the cast for a Week #2 session. At this point in the process, the novelty of MAFS hasn't worn off yet, and the real pressure hasn't set in.

That all changed when one bride decided to call another reporter. Several cast members were visibly nervous when they realised he had been invited along.

It wasn't my choice, but I assumed we could all coexist.

This isn't my first rodeo. I've seen week two before. The novelty hasn't worn off yet. The pressure hasn't fully set in. (Pictured from MAFS 2025 cast left: Ali Daher with Jeff Gobbels, Rhi Disljenkovic, Awhina Rutene, Jamie Marinos, Dave Thomas, Adrian Araouzou, Carina Mirabile and Paul Antoine, Sierah Swepstone and Billy Belcher)

And for a while, everything was fine. Until it was time to leave - and the other reporter called in a photographer.

Chris and Danny didn't like that.

I hadn't gone there to ambush anyone. I just wanted to get to know them.

So yes, I tried to quietly usher the group toward a fire exit. But that only made things worse. The paparazzo was annoyed.

Chris became agitated and at one point threatened he would have put the snapper in a headlock had this happened at his wedding.

Danny, half-joking but not entirely, warned the pap he would 'break his camera' if he kept shooting.

The camera survived, but the mood of the evening had changed. What had been light and social now felt tense.

From there, I jumped into an Uber with Scott, Gia, Chris, Brook, Luke and Mel. We headed to a nearby house to continue the gathering away from prying lenses.

By then, it was close to 10pm - the cast curfew. They were all supposed to be back at their apartments at One Global.

Scott was starting to stress. Gia and Brook were having the time of their lives. I attempted to get them to go back to the hotel, but they didn't want a bar of it.

Brook told me she had booked a one-way ticket home and was prepared to quit the show. I wasn't ready for her to leave - she was fun, so I tried to talk her out of it.

Danny and Bec were getting along well.

Mel and Luke, after a rocky start on screen, were finally relaxed together.

But this wasn't what the producers wanted. The last thing they needed was for the cast to bond, laugh and get along. It wouldn't make for good TV.

For weeks, production had been trying to push a narrative of tension between Bec Zacharia and Gia Fleur.

Yes, there was some friction to begin with. But off camera, that tension didn't exist that night. They seemed fine.

By the way, it was during this gathering that Brook allegedly overheard a passing comment by Danny admitting to Gia that she was more his type.

Whether that was actually said, I didn't know. I was at the bar with Luke.

By 11pm, I told Scott to head back to One Global before things escalated further.

Some of them listened, others didn't. The party carried on until midnight. The curfew had been broken by week two.

By Monday morning, word got back to the producers. Furious that they had lost control of the cast, senior management figures intervened.

Gia, Scott, Brook, Chris, Bec, Danny, Luke and Mel were separated from the group as the rest watched. They were given a shocking dressing-down in which they were reminded of their contractual obligations and warned of the consequences.

One insider later told me: 'Production has every reason to be p**sed off. The night completely blew up. The cast can't just disappear without notice.'

The crackdown was immediate. Curfews were tightened. And for the first time in the show's history, weekly drug testing was introduced. Any participant who returned a positive result would immediately be booted off the experiment.

To be clear: I'm not suggesting the cast were doing anything illegal or inappropriate that night. But the producers needed to be seen to be clamping down.

The optics were terrible: a rogue weekend, broken curfew, cast members socialising freely with members of the media.

Whatever 'control' production believed they had in week one was gone by week two.

By the following week, lockdown measures were in place. Production wanted to make sure nothing significant was happening without cameras rolling.

But did the cast listen? That's a story for another day.

New to DailyMail+? Here are our most-read stories from the past week

MAFS INSIDER: Shattering truth about Danny's post-honeymoon clarity with Bec that WASN'T shown on TV... Plus, cruel unseen producer act on Luke and Mel's wedding day

How I was abused by my paedophile sister: At 13, Harriet was plied with drugs and made to perform grotesque incestuous acts. Now as her abuser is found guilty, she bravely tells her story and says: 'I've got my life back'

Every woman's worst sexual fear is playing out on MAFS. Oh, Bec. I know exactly what you did to make Danny go cold: JANA HOCKING

Can't be tamed: Horrific moment deranged female inmate Jessica Camilleri - who hacked off her mother's head - tries to SCALP fellow prisoner in notorious jail

The ultimate Old vs New Money tier list: As a 'gauche' young mum rattles society snobs, we reveal who really belongs on each side of Australia's wealth divide

I've just learned what pushed Simone Holtznagel over the edge. Jono, you fool. Every woman forced to deal with a 'baby daddy' will now understand WHY she exposed him: AMANDA GOFF

'None of them are innocent': Tess Crosley's family claim there IS more to the story of Lachie Neale affair - as we reveal Jules' furious response

Inside the MAFS dinner party from hell: Bride accused of scandalous sex act, unforgivable insults - and the producers' 'crisis' response... as one star tells ALI DAHER: 'It's armageddon'

MAFS insiders reveal what REALLY happened between Danny and Gia as the show teases first cheating scandal... and the shattering fallout for his 'insecure' wife Bec

Grace Tame was untouchable. Now the forces that protected her are gone. What was once whispered about her can now be said out loud: PETER VAN ONSELEN
Jeremy Irons has been married to Dubliner Sinead Cusack for nearly 50 years  owning a County Cork castle for nearly 30 of them.

But the Oscar-winning star of Reversal Of Fortune, 77, has now decided against becoming a full-blown Irish national after discovering the financial implications, with some taxes for high earners heavier on the Emerald Isle than in the UK.

'He tried to get an Irish passport but [it would mean] a very extreme rethink of all his tax situations, so he gave up,' Sinead confirmed at the Oldie of the Year Awards at London's National Liberal Club, which she attended with her husband.

The actress, also 77, added: 'We talked to a friend who's been through it. He's moved all his tax affairs [to Ireland]. It's a great shame.'

In 1998, the couple were dubbed 'Luvvies for Labour' after donating 5,000 to the party for its events and activities.

Irons previously complained about his struggle to secure an Irish passport, telling me: 'You used to just need an Irish wife to get a passport, but no longer.'

British nationals born in Ireland before January 1, 2005, or who have at least one parent or grandparent born on the island of Ireland, are currently eligible for Irish citizenship.

Jeremy Irons, who is married to Dubliner Sinead Cusack, has decided against becoming a full-blown Irish national after discovering the financial implications

Since the Brexit referendum in 2016 and the UK's subsequent departure from the EU in 2020, there has been an uptick in Britons seeking to become officially Irish to regain their citizenship of the bloc.

Among them is Jeremy and Sinead's younger son, The Riot Club actor Max Irons, 40, who plays Mycroft Holmes in Guy Ritchie's forthcoming Prime Video series, Young Sherlock.

'My boys and grandchildren are all getting Irish passports,' explained Sinead. 'Max hasn't sent his application in yet, but he will get the passport because I'm fully Irish.'

Countdown to Carol's very special talk

During her glory days on Countdown, she earned the very healthy round number of 900,000 a year.

And that means maths whizz Carol Vorderman, 65, would be 'all right financially' if she never worked again  leaving her free to do whatever she wishes, such as speaking at the Cambridge Festival in April.

Her talk, entitled What Is Truth?, will tackle 'misinformation, political spin and the erosion of shared facts'.

It could be argued that it's something of a specialist subject for Carol.

Join the debate Is Jeremy Irons abandoned bid for Irish citizenship about smart finances, or does it reveal where his loyalties really lie?

Carol Vorderman will be talking on 'misinformation, political spin and the erosion of shared facts' at the Cambridge Festival in April

In 2023, she accused Tory minister Greg Hands of what he summarised as 'corruption and even worse'.

The six-month campaign ended with Carol deleting '22 false and defamatory tweets, videos and more', and acknowledging there had been 'no impropriety on [Hands's] behalf'.

Frears fears for death of cinema

He's hailed as one of Britain's greatest filmmakers, but Sir Stephen Frears is struggling to get funding for his ventures.

'I have projects I'm interested in, including a terrific script about Billy Wilder, the great director, but who knows if I'll get any money for any for that?' Sir Stephen, 84, tells me at the Oldie of the Year Awards in London, where he won the Silver-Screen Evergreen Oldie.

'It's so difficult to get a film made. People don't go to the cinema [any more],' explains the director of biopics The Queen, Philomena and Victoria & Abdul.

'If you go to the cinema now, there are two or three other people sitting there  it's depressing.'

Sheridan and her animal farm

Sheridan Smith is starring in the West End revival of Alan Acykbourn's Woman In Mind

Currently single Sheridan Smith, now starring in the West End revival of Alan Ayckbourn's Woman In Mind, admits she yearns for company.

Lots of it, in fact  such as the 16 dogs, plus donkeys, horses and pigs, that brought her solace when she decided to run a farm in 2018 amid personal troubles.

'I did love it,' recalls the Olivier winner, 44, who presented BBC series Pooch Perfect. 'I was obsessed with dogs when I was little and my Mum would never let me have one.'

Reflecting on her time of countryside bliss, the actress also told the Romesh Ranganathan podcast she wants to repeat it 'eventually'.

A close call for shocker rockers

As a regular supporting act on Iron Maiden's tour Run For Your Lives, heavy-metal band Avatar are used to a raucous atmosphere.

But things went a bit too far over the weekend, when the Swedish rockers were forced off stage as the venue suddenly went haywire.

'The whole stage became electrified it burned up some of our equipment and severely shocked two guys in our crew,' explained Avatar's lead vocalist, Johannes Eckerstrom.

The band had performed for just over an hour at Exhibition White City, a grade II-listed Victorian warehouse in west London, when the music stopped abruptly.

Johannes, 39, added: 'We were simply lucky, our guys are also lucky, but this is not a safe place to be.'

Angry revellers who attended the gig have demanded refunds. One fan said online: 'It's a miracle nobody died.'

How a London nightclub got some Netflix sparkle

Former star of E4's Made in Chelsea, Freddie Browne, is an ambassador at Infernos nightclub in Clapham, south London

Before starring in blockbuster film Wuthering Heights, Margot Robbie was a regular face at Clapham's Infernos nightclub.

And the actress isn't the only one to have frequented the south-London venue before going on to dabble in a period drama.

'I made an appearance in Bridgerton,' declares Freddie Browne, Infernos' ambassador and former star of E4's Made In Chelsea.

Often seen interviewing patrons about their dating hopes, the 29-year-old appeared in the second episode of the Netflix show's fourth season (below).

He brought aristocratic credentials to the series, having worked with Queen Camilla's late brother Mark Shand at the Elephant Family charity.

'Bridgerton and Made In Chelsea are unlikely bedfellows  one is about London during the social season and the aristocracy's marriage market. The other is Bridgerton,' Freddie tells me.
Hugh Hefner's widow Crystal Harris has filed a legal complaint to track down the whereabouts of her late husband's scrapbooks, which she believes may contain images of underage girls.

In a bombshell press conference on Tuesday, Harris and her attorney Gloria Allred said that there were approximately 3,000 scrapbooks belonging to the Playboy founder that contain 'naked and sexually explicit images' of women.

Harris also fears that some of the women in the images may have been intoxicated at the time and therefore could not properly consent to having their photo taken, and that some females may have been underage.

'It is critical for the public to understand that I am not referring to images that appeared in magazines. My focus is on how Hugh Hefners personal scrapbooks chronicle private moments that took place behind closed doors,' Harris said in a statement.

'There are serious and unresolved concerns about the scope of what these books contain. The materials span decades, beginning in the 1960s, and may include images of girls who were underage at the time and could not consent to how their images would be retained or controlled,' she continued.

'They may also contain images of women who did not consent to their images being taken in the first place. The scrapbooks include nude images, images taken before and after sexual activity, and other deeply intimate moments.'

There are fears that late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's scrapbooks containing images of naked women could be leaked online

The scrapbooks reportedly contain thousands of images of naked women and may even feature photos of 'underage girls'

She added, 'This is not historical documentation. This is the cataloging and objectification of womens most private details.'

The scrapbooks are said to be held in a storage facility in California, but Harris claims that she was told that some of the scrapbooks 'could be inside a private residence to be scanned and digitized'.

'I am deeply worried about these images getting out. Artificial intelligence, deepfakes, digital scanning, online marketplaces, and data breaches mean that once images leave secure custody, the harm is irreversible. A single security failure could devastate thousands of lives,' she said.

Harris also claims that she was 'asked to resign' from the board of the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation after she raised concerns about the images.

'Though I declined to resign my position, yesterday, in direct response to my escalating concerns regarding the handling of private photos contained in the scrapbooks, I was unilaterally removed from my position as the Chief Executive Officer/President of the Foundation,' she said.

Harris has now filed complaints with the Attorney Generals of California and Illinois, requesting that they initiate an investigation into how the images are being handled and stored.

Harris added, 'This is not about money. I am seeking dignity, safety, and the destruction of non-consensual intimate materials so that exploitation does not continue under the banner of philanthropy. Thousands of women may be affected.'

In addition to the thousands of scrapbooks, the foundation is also in possession of Hefner's personal diary, which Allred claims contains, 'highly personal information regarding his sexual exploits, including names of women he slept with, notes describing the sex acts they performed, and in some instances, even information tracking womens menstrual cycles.'

Hefner's widow Crystal Harris has filed two legal complaints to track down the whereabouts of the scrapbooks

Harris announced the legal move in a press conference with her attorney Gloria Allred on Tuesday

Daily Mail has contacted the Hugh Hefner Foundation for comment.

Harris famously wed the Playboy founder in 2012 when she was 26 and he was 86.

They were married until his death at age 91 in 2017, which was the result of heart failure and septicemia after contracting a deadly strain of e-coli. He left a reported $43million fortune behind.

In 2024, Harris published her explosive memoir, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy And Finding Myself, in which she made a number of bombshell claims, including that she never loved the late magazine kingpin and she felt imprisoned in their four-year marriage.

She has since had a public falling out with his sons Cooper and Marston Hefner, with Marston even calling Harris 'controlling' and a 'master manipulator'.

Suggesting that she buys Instagram followers, Marston said, 'If you're not interested in fame, why are you buying Instagram followers?

'If you're not after money, then why was she hustling as Crystal DJ Hefner?'

Harris famously wed the Playboy founder in 2012 when she was 26 and he was 86. (Pictured 2015)

Harris later fired back at Marston's claims in a statement to Us Weekly.

'I feel that obviously he has a lot of pain and hurt still from the relationship or lack thereof with his father.'

She added, 'And there are some things I think hes trying to heal or get answers to that hes realizing may never be answered. So maybe hes filling in the blanks.'

Harris has also publicly clashed with Hefner's ex-fiancee, Holly Madison.

The former model now works as a real estate agent and is engaged to entrepreneur James Ward.
The Mercury Prize has announced its return to Newcastle as the host city for its 2026 awards after having huge success in The Toon last year.

The awards show will feature a number of live performances from the shortlisted artists before the overall winner is revealed on the night.

The Mercury Prize is an annual prize given to the best album released by a musical act from the UK or Ireland.

It was first held in 1992 as an alternative to the BRIT Awards and the winner receives a cash prize of 25,000.

The night will be held at Utilita Area in partnership with the Newcastle City Council on October 22.

Last year, Newcastle's very own Sam Fender won the prize and was left in shock, he said: 'I just I really didn't  we did not expect this at all. I want to say thank you  I cannot think.'

The Mercury Prize has announced its return to Newcastle as the host city for its 2026 awards after having huge success in The Toon last year; pictured Raye in attendance in 2023

The Mercury Prize is an annual prize given to the best album released by a musical act from the UK or Ireland and last year Sam Fender (pictured) took home the gong

Other past winners include English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Little Simz, Dave, Wolf Alice, Young Fathers, and more.

The Mercury Prize '12 Albums of the Year' shortlist is curated by an independent judging panel of music industry professionals

Each year, the shortlist recognises the best new British & Irish music, celebrating artistic achievement across an eclectic range of contemporary music genres.

The Prize has been an important milestone in past winners' journeys, acting as a stepping stone to wider success in the UK and Ireland as well as internationally.

2025 was the Prize's biggest year to date, as it marked the first time the prestigious awards show was held outside of London.

Alongside the main show at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle and the North East hosted a week-long fringe programme of events and talks, bringing an extra 8,000 visitors to the region.

Dr Jo Twist and YolanDa Brown, artist and BPI Chair, jointly said: 'Last year's Mercury Prize and its brilliant performances and Fringe gave the region a 1.4m economic and cultural boost and the whole of Newcastle came together to give the event a warm, big Geordie hug.

'We are delighted to see the Prize return to the Toon and to the North-East for what we know will be another memorable occasion for artists and fans.

'We thank Newcastle City Council and all our valued partners for their continued collaboration and commitment, and we can't wait for what is already shaping up to be another fantastic year of British and Irish music.'

The awards show will feature a number of live performances from the shortlisted artists before the overall winner is revealed on the night; pictured Olivia Dean in 2023

Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council, said: 'The return of the Mercury Prize to Newcastle for a second consecutive year is a tremendous vote of confidence in our city and our thriving music scene.

'Newcastle is at the heart of a bold cultural resurgence, and hosting this prestigious national event once again underlines both the strength of our music industry and the growing national recognition of our cultural ambitions. It's a powerful endorsement of the talent, creativity and momentum that define our city.

'Last year, we showcased exactly what Newcastle can deliver on a major stage, and we've continued to build on that momentum.

'This follows Warner Music's recent announcement of a three-year partnership with Generator, which will create even more long-term opportunities. It also supports our plans to establish Newcastle and Gateshead as a recognised Music City.

'And with more significant events in the pipeline including a firm commitment to build our own programme, Newcastle will soon be seen as one of the UK's key cultural hubs.

'While many cities are celebrated for their musical past, Newcastle is shaping its musical future.

'The return of the Mercury Prize reinforces our reputation as a driving force for emerging talent, industry investment and world-class events  and we are incredibly proud to welcome it back.'
The Foo Fighters have announced they are set to return Down Under this year after wowing fans with a one-off gig in Tasmania last month.

The US rockers will be back in November to play seven stadium shows across Australia as part of their global Take Cover Tour.

This is the first time frontman Dave Grohl and the Best of You hitmakers have toured nationally for their Aussie fans since 2023.

Kicking off their jaunt Down Under in Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on November 5, the rockers will then head to Townsville for a show at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium on November 7.

They will then play Sydney's Accor Stadium on November 10, before heading to Newcastle on November 12 for a gig at the McDonald Jones Stadium.

Melbourne fans will get their chance to catch the band's famously high-powered live act on November 14 at Marvel Stadium, before they move on to Adelaide for a show at Coopers Stadium on November 17.

The Foo Fighters have announced they are set to return Down Under this year after wowing fans with a one-off gig in Tasmania last month. Pictured: Frontman and Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl in stage in 2025

The US rockers will be back in November to play seven stadium shows across Australia as part of their global Take Cover Tour

They wrap up their Aussie Tour with a gig at Perth's HBF Park on January 25, 2027.

The Foo Fighters will also be playing two shows across the Tasman, with the first gig at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium on January 19.

Their last and final NZ show will be on January 22 at the Western Springs Stadium in Auckland.

The Foo Fighters hit the road for their global tour in May, with two shows in the US, then performances in Norway, Sweden, Poland, France and the Netherlands.

Fans in the UK, Italy, Spain, and Canada will also get a chance to see the chart-toppers before they head back to the US for a national tour in August.

Known as huge supporters of Australian music, the band have enlisted Brisbane band Full Flower Moon Band as a support act for shows Down Under.

Victorian rockers Belair Lip Bombs are also on the bill as a support act, alongside Sydney all-female band The Bouys.

The Foo Fighters are also reportedly aiming to recruit local bands in each city as support acts.

Pre-sale tickets for the Foo Fighters Take Cover Australian Tour go live for Telstra Plus members on February 20

It comes after the rockers teased their return Down Under back in December.

An image was shared that showed a large Foo Fighters billboard perched atop The Winston pub in Hobart, Tasmania.

The image was accompanied by the caption, 'Give me a reason, show me a sign,' a line from the band's latest single Asking For A Friend.

The caption also featured a link to a dedicated Foo Fighters page on the Frontier Touring website.

The link takes visitors to a black screen displaying the Foo Fighters logo with a countdown to 'big news incoming' at some stage on Wednesday.

The post was met with a flurry of excitement from Aussie fans.

Pre-sale tickets for the Foo Fighters Take Cover Australian Tour go live for Telstra Plus members on February 20.

The pre-sale for Frontier Members is available from February 23.

General tickets are going on sale at staggered times from February 25.
Celeste Barber's husband Api Robin shocked fans last week when he announced the couple's split after 20 years together.

And while most were blindsided by the breakdown of their seemingly strong marriage, a glance at their online footprint and previous interviews reveals there have been signs of trouble in paradise for years.

Most recently, their social media posts have been entirely absent of one another, with both Api and Celeste sharing their last photo together in early November.

The Aussie star had just wrapped the US leg of her Backup Dancer tour with Api tagging along for the ride, sharing loved-up posts about their trip together.

Celeste kicked off the tour in late October, with footage showing Api joining her backstage and expressing his pride over her blossoming career.

But their final post together came in the first days of November when the US tour came to an end and the couple jetted back home to Australia.

Celeste Barber's husband Api Robin shocked fans last week when he announced the couple's split after 20 years together

Celeste shared a reel of photos and videos from the trip on November 1, showing the pair looking happier than ever as they attended events and cuddled on a train.

The following day, Api shared a similar post that appeared to be even more loved-up as he said he was 'so proud' of his wife.

For an extra touch of whimsy, he added the song Walking On A Dream by Empire of The Sun to the post.

Since then, neither have mentioned each other on their social media accounts, with Api even changing his bio from 'hot husband' to 'formerly hot husband'.

Christmas and New Years came and went without the pair sharing their usual heart-warming celebrations and tributes to one another - an unusual move given how frequently they share their married lives online.

It seemed Valentine's Day would be the telling moment, with eagle-eyed followers holding their breath to see if Celeste and Api would reaffirm their love for each other.

However, Api swooped in at the last minute, beating Saint Valentine to the punch as he revealed on February 13 he and Celeste had split.

Join the debate Are YOU shocked by Celeste and Api's split?

And while most were blindsided by the breakdown of their seemingly strong marriage, a glance at their online footprint and previous interviews reveal there have been signs of trouble in paradise for years

Cracks also started to appear in their relationship in 2020 during the Covid lockdowns when Celeste admitted she feared their marriage was done for.

Appearing on British actress and activist Jameela Jamil's iWeigh podcast, the online personality said the coronavirus pandemic put a strain on their relationship.

Celeste claimed the lockdown periods changed the couple's dynamic as they had become good at 'missing each other' and rarely spent their time together.

'It was and still is hard... With lockdown, he's here at all times. There's two f***ing bulls in the house,' the actress laughed.

Celeste told her famous friend she was very careful and selective about what she posts and shares about her marriage and family online.

'Most of the time it can be not f***ing pretty - marriage is hard,' she honestly expressed.

Celeste said there was one 'massive and intense fight' they had in lockdown where she thought the pair 'were done', but luckily Api put things in perspective.

'We are very lucky, we just absolutely love each other,' she said.

Celeste previously revealed the Covid lockdowns put such a huge strain on their relationship that she feared they were done for

'Api said it [their tensions] was because of the pandemic, it's not normal for us to be spending this much time together. It was so good that he said that.'

Celeste then told listeners when she is having a fight with Api she thinks how sad she would be if he was dead and she snaps out of it.

She also turned to treadmill workouts and screaming into pillows after fights.

Celeste has since disappeared offline following her split from Api, and has yet to release a statement addressing their separation.

Her last post was on February 8 as she boasted about her gig hosting at the AACTA Awards and shared photos of herself having fun with her celebrity friends backstage.

Api was notably absent from the images.

The expert arborist and business owner announced their split last week, sharing the sad news to Instagram the night before Valentine's Day.

'The past few months have been incredibly challenging and deeply heartbreaking for us both,' his post captioned 'Heavy hearts' began.

Api confirmed their split last week after he changed his Instagram profile description to 'Formerly Hot Husband'

'After much reflection, the decision has been made to separate.

'There is still love and respect between us, but sadly we are at capacity and have come to recognise we may want for different things.

'Our priority remains our children and their wellbeing. We kindly ask for privacy and understanding as we navigate this.'

Celeste was 21 and working as a bartender at a Sydney pub when she met Api in 2006, with the pair tying the knot in Bali seven years later.

When they met, Api had two daughters, Sahra and Kyah, then aged two and four, from a previous marriage.

Celeste and Api now also share two sons named Lou, 14, and Buddy, 11, and have lived in Tweed Heads for the last six years.

Last April, they sold their previous home on the NSW Central Coast for $1.045 million, which they had bought for $565,000 11 years earlier.
Monty Lopez, who is the father of pop star Addison Rae, was arrested for allegedly exposing himself in Louisiana just three months before marrying a woman he romanced for two weeks.

The 50-year-old nepo dad was arrested in Lafayette, Louisiana back on July 27, 2025 for allegedly exposing his genitals.

According to a court document obtained by Daily Mail, Lopez was taken into custody by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff for allegedly 'exposing his genitals, pubic hair, in a public place or place open to public view, or in any prison or jail, with the intent of arousing sexual desire or which appealed to the prurient interest or was patently offensive.'

Daily Mail reached out to Lopez who declined to comment and also reached out to Rae's representatives for comment and have yet to hear back.

The alleged incident occurred on August 31, 2024.

The charges are listed as felony obscenity and a sex crime and his bond was listed as $2,500.

Monty Lopez, who is the father of pop star Addison Rae, was arrested for allegedly exposing himself in Louisiana just three months before marrying a woman he romanced for two weeks

Lopez is the father of TikTok sensation Rae (pictured) as the 50-year-old nepo dad was arrested in Lafayette, Louisiana. back on July 27, 2025 for allegedly exposing his genitals

Lopez pled not guilty, and has a hearing scheduled for next month on March 19.

In October, Lopez remarried in Las Vegas after dating a woman for just two weeks.

Monty, who split from Addison's mother Sheri Easterling in 2022, wed medical professional Kaitlyn Nicole Robins on October 25 per TMZ at the time.

The TikTok sensation, 25, wasn't present for the nuptials as her dad told the outlet, 'I didn't tell anyone. I just followed my heart and I've never been happier. I love this woman!'

The pop music act was on tour at the time and had recently performed in Los Angeles, bringing Charli xcx onstage.

Monty told the outlet he has always believed in love at first sight and has been inseparable from his now-wife after they met at a Louisiana bar.

He proposed without a ring, and twelve hours later the couple exchanged vows at the Little Chapel of Hearts.

Addison's parents married in 2004, divorced a few years later and then walked down the aisle again in 2014.

According to court documents obtained by Daily Mail, Lopez (Pictured August 2022) was taken into custody by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff for allegedly 'exposing his genitals, pubic hair, in a public place or place open to public view, or in any prison or jail, with the intent of arousing sexual desire or which appealed to the prurient interest or was patently offensive'

In addition to their famous daughter, they also share Enzo, 17, and Lucas, 12.

In 2022 the father-of-four claimed his ex-wife forced him to 'abandon' his firstborn child, Macye Neumeyer, from a previous relationship.

After Sheri, 46, walked the 2022 VMAs red carpet with Yung Gravy, 29, Monty took to social media to declare he was 'unbothered.'

At the time he posted a shirtless selfie and said he was 'tired' of living a lie while accusing his ex of keeping him from his children.

'Unbothered!' wrote the real estate manager via Instagram Stories. 'Thank you @youngravy for taking the leftovers!'

Monty included the hashtag '#tiredoflivinglie' and claimed, 'I would rather spend time with my daughter and 2 grandkids that SheriNicole made me abandon as a child inorder [sic] to be with her! Never let a woman make you choose between her and or your blood child!'

Addison's family was torn apart after a then-25-year-old woman named Renee Ash accused Monty of lying to her about his marriage being over during their alleged five month affair.

In her 2025 song Headphones On Addison sings, 'Wish my mom and dad could've been in love / Guess some things weren't meant to last forever.'

In October, Lopez remarried in Las Vegas after dating a woman for just two weeks

Monty posted a photo of his and Kaitlyn's hands making a heart shape during their plane ride and added their wedding date

Sheri, 46, walked the 2022 VMAs red carpet with music artist Yung Gravy, 29, prompting her ex to declare online that he was 'unbothered'

In response to Sheri's red carpet show of PDA, Monty posted a shirtless selfie and said he was 'tired' of living a lie while accusing his ex of keeping him from his children

Amid her split from her husband three years ago, Sheri used social media to issue a statement to her followers.

She wrote in an Instagram Story, 'Personal matters being brought public are always challenging and overwhelming for anyone involved. I will be okay.

'My biggest concern is  and always will be  my children and their fragile hearts and minds. I will always do my best to try to protect them.'

She added, 'My goal is to make sure that they feel secure and safe and know that everything will be okay.'

The mother-of-three ended the note by writing, 'Thank you all for the love and support and kind messages. It means the world to me.'
Married At First Sight expert Alessandra Rampolla has delivered a blunt reality check as Intimacy Week plays out on screen.

Speaking from her home in Puerto Rico, where she watches episodes sent to her in advance, Alessandra, 51, said this year's Intimacy Week has been one of the most complex in recent memory.

'I think it's one of the most interesting intimacy weeks we've had in a little while,' she said.

'Intimacy Week hits different couples in different ways, and we have a number of couples in different stages in their relationships and how intimacy can be impacted in them. I'm excited about this week.'

But she admitted unresolved tension among the brides heading into the week could have serious consequences.

'If your focus is not in your relationship, then of course your relationship is going to suffer the consequence of that,' she explained.

Married At First Sight expert Alessandra Rampolla (pictured) has delivered a blunt reality check as Intimacy Week plays out on screen

Speaking from her home in Puerto Rico, where she watches episodes sent to her in advance, Alessandra, 51, said this year's Intimacy Week has been one of the most complex in recent memory

'It's always interesting when the social dynamics really start interfering with the relationships, which is the reason the participants are there to begin with.'

Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.

Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.

'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.

'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'

She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.

Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor's tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia's needs.

'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.

Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk (pictured) pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment

Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point. 'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said

'After a few weeks, Grayson really started to feel that he wasn't comfortable in that space and it took him a little bit to speak up.'

She stressed that while respecting boundaries is crucial, shrinking yourself to accommodate a partner is equally damaging.

'You do want to be mindful of your partner's comfort level and you have to respect boundaries,' she said.

'But you also don't want to shrink yourself and your needs and your expectations and your happiness simply to accommodate the other. It has to be a negotiation.'

One of the biggest themes emerging this season has been couples leaning heavily on physical chemistry - and Alessandra did not hold back.

'Yes, absolutely, the sex fog is real,' she said.

'When you do have that strong sexual chemistry at first, it can be very blinding. You can overlook huge red flags just because you're so enthralled and in the moment and in the endorphin and the kind of sex fog that you can get into.'

While viewers have seen brides like Gia Fleur and Stella Mickunaite speak confidently about their electric chemistry, Alessandra revealed deeper conversations took place off-camera.

Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Vogl and Grayson McIvor's tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia's needs

'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled

'What we saw on television didn't show it, but we did go into re-exploring whether or not it was only a physical thing,' she said.

'Some couples go at it right away and then they fizzle out. Others wait and then become really strong. It really depends on the particular couples and how they manage their relationship.'

She also addressed why some participants, like Rebecca Zukowski, appear to minimise their own needs despite visible hurt.

'People want to be chosen, they want to be liked, they want to get the fairy tale,' Alessandra said.

'I think sometimes in order to achieve the goal that they have in mind, they start short-changing themselves.'

According to the expert, it is a 'delicate dance' of give and take.

'You have to allow space and freedom and comfort for the other person, and you also must have that for yourself,' she added. 'You can't be egotistical about it.'

When it comes to being friend-zoned, Alessandra believes confidence plays a major role.

One of the biggest themes emerging this season has been couples leaning heavily on physical chemistry - and Alessandra did not hold back

'When you do have that strong sexual chemistry at first, it can be very blinding. You can look over huge red flags in your face just because you're so enthralled and in the moment and in the endorphin and the kind of sex fog that you can get into,' she said.

'A confidence issue can absolutely friend-zone someone,' she said.

'But we see it much more often coming out of lack of real interest. Too often we see people who simply do not give it a go, and that's when viewers and certainly we as experts take note of that.'

As for whether what audiences are seeing accurately reflects what really happened during filming, Alessandra insists the edits have been fair.

'I think what we're seeing is absolutely accurate,' she said.

'Of course there's always so much that is missed, but I think everything has been absolutely fair and oftentimes very kind to everybody involved. I would not say it's been worse than what we actually all lived.'

Off-screen, Alessandra continues to juggle her long-standing international career alongside her role on Married At First Sight.

'I had a career for 20 some years before arriving in Australia,' she said.

'I've just added Married At First Sight to my roster.'

She also addressed why some participants, like Rebecca Zukowski, appear to minimise their own needs despite visible hurt

'People want to be chosen, they want to be liked, they want to get the fairy tale,' Alessandra said

Off-screen, Alessandra continues to juggle her long-standing international career alongside her role on Married At First Sight. (Pictured alongside John Aiken and Mel Schilling)

Now splitting her time between Australia and Puerto Rico, she says beach life keeps her grounded.

'I live by the beach here in Puerto Rico and when I'm in Australia also, so the beach life is a big part of regulating me,' she said.

And while she admits she would prefer cast members not to spoil the series while it airs, she understands the modern media landscape.

'I would love for the sake of the show and the fans to be able to have the experience of the journey,' she said. 'I don't love it when there's spoilers, but I understand it's part of culture nowadays.'

As for her future on the show, she remains open.

'Australia has become my second home,' she said.
Cynthia Erivo struggled to hold back her emotions at the curtain call on the opening night of her one-woman play Dracula in London on Tuesday.

The Wicked actress, 39, is sinking her teeth into the role of Dracula and 22 other characters in the unique adaptation of Bram Stoker's iconic novel at the Noel Coward Theatre.

And after the press showing she appeared to be holding back tears as she reacted to the audience's claps.

Cynthia showed off her incredibly muscular arms in a black vest top and had costume blood on her forehead.

The Wicked star was seen proudly bowing with the rest of the support crew at the end of the show.

She was supported by her A-list pals including Florence Pugh at the opening night.

Cynthia Erivo struggled to hold back her emotions at the curtain call on the opening night of her one-woman play of Dracula in London on Tuesday

The Wicked actress, 39, is sinking her teeth into the role of Dracula and 22 other characters in the unique adaptation of Bram Stoker's iconic novel at her one-woman show at the Noel Coward Theatre

Florence, 30, led the arrivals and looked stylish in a high-neck black velvet dress.

She was joined by the likes of Lizzie Cundy, Myleene Klass and Lady Victoria Hervey for the show.

Just last week Cynthia was accused of 'using teleprompters' to remember her lines in the adaptation.

First impressions left many viewers 'disappointed' after spotting the star was being 'fed her lines', according to The Telegraph.

Disgruntled theatre-goers raced to social media, Reddit and various West End blogs to share their opinions.

They wrote: 'I saw it last night and was SO disappointed. Interesting point about the last 30 minutes - I spent that time just wondering when the show was finally going to be over. I'm normally such a fan of theatre, but I left frustrated at spending 70 on a ticket, honestly'.

Another fan replied to the comment echoing: 'Same I tried so hard to get into it and I just couldn't.'

Another pointed out: 'I wish I hadn't bought an early on ticket for this.

And after the press showing she appeared to be holding back tears as she reacted to the audience's claps

Cynthia showed off her incredibly muscular arms in a black vest top and appeared to have costume blood on her forehead

The Wicked star was seen proudly bowing with the rest of the support crew at the end of the show

Just last week Cynthia was accused of 'using teleprompters' to remember her lines in the adaptation

The support crew then joined her on the stage

She later left the theatre in an all-red look

She added long boots and a matching bag

She looked in great spirits as she headed home after the performance

Fans had been waiting for her outside

Cynthia looked worlds away from Wicked on stage at the Noel Coward Theatre

No stranger to the West End Cynthia made her debut in The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg back in 2011

Her mother Edith was there to support her at the show

'On my night there were technical issues and staging problems but worst of all Cynthia was struggling with remembering her lines and place in the script (despite visible auto cues on either side of her).

'In my opinion, it was just a retread of the Dorian Gray experience with a weaker story line.

'I'm sure the issues will be ironed out in a couple of weeks and it will be fabulous and I totally accept that if you go for a ticket at the start of a run you have to be prepared for mishaps but honestly it was disappointing.'

The Daily Mail contacted The Noel Coward and Cynthia's representatives for a comment.

Cynthia looked worlds away from Wicked in the first official photo for the show which was released earlier this month.

In the gothic snap the actress could be seen with a red wig styled into finger waves while also sporting a pair of fangs and her trademark acrylic fingernails.

No stranger to the West End Cynthia made her debut in The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg back in 2011, before winning the 2013 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in The Colour Purple.

She recreated that award-winning role for the Broadway production and scooped the Best Actress In A Musical Tony in 2016.

Cynthia could finally start to receive the glory she deserves in her new one-woman show following a disastrous Wicked press tour.

Since the release of Wicked in 2024 and its sequel last year, she and Ariana Grande have been lambasted with criticism over their behaviour during the promo blitz.

Cynthia, who starred as Elphaba, and Ariana, as Glinda, were snubbed of an Oscar nomination this season despite the rave reviews the movie received.
Kimberly Scott, the ex-wife of Eminem, is reportedly facing charges in Michigan after allegedly crashing her car while her son and others were passengers.

Scott, 51, has been hit with two misdemeanor charges, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and failure to stop or identify after causing property damage, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

But Scott's attorney, Michael Smith, told the publication that she hadn't been arrested as of Tuesday, and he claimed not to be aware of an active warrant for her arrest.

However, Smith  who reportedly defended his client as 'a good person, a beautiful human being' and said the controversy was unfortunate  added that she would turn herself in if a warrant for her arrest is issued.

The publication said that sources with direct knowledge indicated that Scott's alleged crash occurred around 8 p.m. ET on Monday, February 16.

Scott  who had reportedly gotten sober after battling addiction for years  was said to have departed her home with her teenage son, Parker, who was accompanied by three of his friends in the car.

Kimberly Scott, the ex-wife of Eminem, has been charged with two misdemeanors, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and failure to stop or identify after causing property damage, according to court documents obtained by TMZ

Scott was married to Eminem from 1999 to 2001, and they were married a second time for a few months in 2006; pictured together in 2000

The group was reportedly going out shopping, but their trip was suddenly interrupted when Scott allegedly crashed into a car that was parked on the street.

According to the publication, sources said Scott didn't stop the vehicle and instead continued driving, but instead of continuing on the shopping trip, she drove back to her home.

Then Scott allegedly crashed her car a second time as she pulled into her driveway, but failed to stop and slammed into her garage door.

A photo dated from Monday that was obtained by TMZ showed what was allegedly Scott's white Range Rover after it had crashed into the garage door, which was partially caved in.

The vehicle appeared to have a smashed passenger-side headlight, and the bumper was damaged and partially ripped off the vehicle, though it wasn't clear which of the alleged crashes may have caused the majority of the damage.

According to the publication, one of Scott's neighbors, who claimed to have seen the crash, put in a call to police.

After they arrived, Scott was reportedly taken to a hospital for unspecified injuries, then discharged early on Tuesday morning.

Scott's life was once a magnet for controversy, particularly during her romances with Eminem (real name: Marshall Mathers III), to whom she got married twice.

Scott was reportedly taking her teen son Parker and three of his friends out in her Range Rover to go shopping when she allegedly hit a parked car on the street. Instead of stopping, sources said she drove back home, only to crash into her closed garage door; pictured in 2007

Scott was reportedly taken to a hospital for her injuries and discharged on Tuesday morning. Her attorney said he wasn't aware of any arrest warrant for her, but added that she would turn herself in if one was issued; pictured in 2003

Scott shares her daughter Hailie Jade Scott, 30, with Eminem. He adopted her child Stevie Laine Scott, who was born between their relationships, in 2002. The rapper also adopted his niece Alaina Marie Scott, 32, the daughter of Kim's sister Dawn, who died in 2016; pictured in 2007

The two were introduced in 1987 and began dating years later, before tying the knot in 1999.

The marriage was short lived, and the two divorced in 2001, but they later reunited and remarried in 2006, only to split again later that year.

In 1995, Scott and Eminem welcomed a daughter, 30-year-old Hailie Jade Scott.

Scott later had her son Parker with another partner, and she and her then-boyfriend, Eric Hartter, welcomed their child Stevie Laine Scott in 2002, between her relationships with Eminem.

However, the rapper later adopted Stevie in 2005 after he and Scott reunited. Hartter died in 2019.

Eminem also adopted Alaina Marie Scott, 32, who was the daughter of his ex-wife's sister Dawn Scott.

He adopted her in the early 2000s, and Kim's sister  who had battled drug addiction for years  died in 2016.
Selling Sunset producer-star Jason Oppenheim and his girlfriend Jessica Vargas might have amicably ended their year-long relationship at the beginning of February, but their break-up was not about having children.

Two months before confirming their split to the Daily Mail, the 48-year-old Oppenheim Group president/founder told the Pretty Dirty podcast 'Correct, neither of us' when asked about potential parenthood.

'Yeah, that's another reason why we super connected,' the 39-year-old real estate agent added.

'Because we would just see eye to eye on like all the things, you know? Like, "I don't want kids. Oh, I want to do what I want." We were back and forth.'

At the time, Oppenheim also stated marriage was 'the plan' despite telling Vargas before they even dated that he was 'not going to get married' until he reaches his 60s.

'You don't need 60 years with someone,' the fifth-generation real estate broker explained.

Selling Sunset producer-star Jason Oppenheim and his girlfriend Jessica Vargas might have amicably ended their year-long relationship at the beginning of February, but their break-up was not about having children (pictured January 9)

'And by the way, our life expectancy when you got married in your 20s, people got married at like 19.

'Well, but that was common 80, 100 years ago [when] life expectancy was probably like 55. The whole till death do us part. Now it's 60 years.'

Last weekend, Oppenheim attended a wedding in Honolulu with the flame-haired bombshell and noted via Instastory that they 'still love each other and [are] still best friends' while she added: 'Love you J & may this type of friendship find us all.'

The former attorney also told People on Sunday that 'having her in my life is what matters most' while Vargas gushed: '[We] have a lot of love for each other, and that's not going anywhere. The best outcome for us is staying close.'

'He's truly a gem of a human with the biggest heart, and I'm grateful for him,' the Floral LA Fairy owner concluded.

Oppenheim and Vargas - who maintained separate homes - made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Hollywood premiere of The Accountant 2 on April 16, and they went Instagram official five days later.

As recent as January 9, the NoCal native publicly celebrated '365 days since our first kiss' and planned to 'keep going.'

Fans of Selling Sunset might recall how Oppenheim and his staffer Chrishell Stause split in 2021 over their divided stance on starting a family.

Five years later, the 44-year-old actress-realtor is still not pregnant despite several rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) with her spouse G Flip.

Two months before confirming their split to the Daily Mail, the 48-year-old Oppenheim Group president/founder (R) told the Pretty Dirty podcast 'Correct, neither of us' when asked about potential parenthood

'Yeah, that's another reason why we super connected,' the 39-year-old real estate agent (L) added. 'Because we would just see eye to eye on like all the things, you know? Like, "I don't want kids. Oh, I want to do what I want"'

At the time, Oppenheim also stated marriage was 'the plan' despite telling Vargas before they even dated that he was 'not going to get married' until he reaches his 60s

Last weekend, Oppenheim attended a wedding in Honolulu with the flame-haired bombshell and noted via Instastory that they 'still love each other and [are] still best friends' while she added: 'Love you J & may this type of friendship find us all'

The former attorney also told People on Sunday that 'having her in my life is what matters most' while Vargas gushed: '[We] have a lot of love for each other, and that's not going anywhere. The best outcome for us is staying close'

Oppenheim and Vargas - who maintained separate homes - made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Hollywood premiere of The Accountant 2 on April 16, and they went Instagram official five days later

Fans of Selling Sunset might recall how the NoCal native and his staffer Chrishell Stause (L) split in 2021 over their divided stance on starting a family

Five years later, the 44-year-old actress-realtor (R, pictured last Friday) is still not pregnant despite several rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) with her spouse G Flip (L)

The 32-year-old Australian rocker (R) told People last September: 'We're experiencing the real kind of sad and dark periods of this moment, where it's like, a little bit of good news, a lot of bad news, a little bit of hope, no hope. In the end, you've got to lean on each other and be there for each other'

'We're experiencing the real kind of sad and dark periods of this moment, where it's like, a little bit of good news, a lot of bad news, a little bit of hope, no hope,' the 32-year-old Australian rocker told People last September.

'In the end, you've got to lean on each other and be there for each other, and come out of it still a unit and try not to let it break the relationship or break people individually.'

G Flip continued: 'I really feel for anyone who's going through it, and I have friends going through it, and God, it's really sad. It's very grim.'

The UC Berkeley grad also previously dated his staffers Nicole Young in the early 2010s and Mary Fitzgerald Bonnet from 2014-2015, as well as model Marie-Lou Nurk from 2022-2023.

Oppenheim's rep clarified that Vargas is an 'independent contractor' for his company, and she's never appeared on Selling Sunset.

Creator Adam DiVello's hit Netflix show began with Selling Sunset and eventually spawned spin-offs Selling the OC, Selling the City and Selling Tampa.

The Phi Beta Kappa fraternity brother boasts $3 billion in closed sales and he maintains offices in West Hollywood, Newport Beach, San Diego and Cabo San Lucas.
Brook Crompton has revealed how far along she is into her pregnancy.

The Married At First Sight bride shocked fans when she revealed she is back with her ex and visibly very pregnant after filming the show last year.

Speaking with the Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki podcast this week, the 27-year-old said she is expecting her baby in July, meaning she is around five months along.

The show finished filming in October, meaning that Brook fell pregnant with her now fiance, Harry, around that time.

However, Brook tells the podcast that she finished up her portion of filming back in July, and reconciled with Harry at that time.

'My ex and I, we actually ended pretty amicably, it wasn't like we had a super toxic breakup. He didn't cheat or anything like that,' she said.

Brook Crompton (pictured) has revealed how far along she is into her pregnancy. The Married At First Sight bride shocked fans when she revealed she is back with her ex and visibly very pregnant after filming the show last year

'It was just kind of wrong timing, he had so much work on. And then I was coming off the show [in July], and probably two weeks later, he was like, "I'm going to the Maldives with some family friends on a surf trip, do you want to come?"

'And I was like, "F***ing oath I want to go to the Maldives"

'One thing led to another, and it rekindled, and we got back together, and yeah, Bob's your uncle.'

Brook says that the pregnancy was a surprise, but the pair have embraced it.

'[We were] not planning to be pregnant this early on, but I think things kind of just fell into place. And I mean, one plus one equals two, right?' she said.

Brook added, 'I am due in July'.

The Queensland model was paired with groom Chris Nield on the show, but their romance collapsed just weeks into the experiment.

There had been speculation that Brook was pregnant during filming; however, the timing does not align to make that possible.

Join the debate What do YOU think about Brooks baby timeline and the speculation around filming?

The show finished filming in October, meaning that Brook fell pregnant with her now fiance, Harry (right), around that time

There had been speculation that Brook was pregnant during filming; however, the timing does not align to make that possible

Married At First Sight groom Luke Fourniotis earlier claimed there were signs that Brook was already expecting while filming the show.

While Luke said he had 'no idea' that Brook was pregnant, looking back, he now sees some clues she could have been pregnant on set.

'I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt and say no, but I don't know,' Luke told 2Day Breakfast with Nathan Roye & Emma Chow.

'It wasn't that long between the end of filming and now. We wrapped MAFS in October, maybe,' he added, while noting the large size of Brook's baby bump.

Luke added that Brook frequently slipped away from the set, complaining of feeling unwell.

'She did need some air, yeah maybe it might have been morning sickness,' he theorised, but added that he was 'having a joke'.

Daily Mail broke the bombshell story with footage showing Brook and Harry kissing and cuddling while decorating a Christmas tree in October, just weeks after her on-screen marriage to Chris imploded off-camera.

She was also spotted in Brisbane looking visibly pregnant.
They star as passionate lovers in series four of Bridgerton which is now on Netflix.

And leading couple Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson wore matching red as they attended a masquerade ball press event in Madrid on Tuesday night.

Actress Yerin, 28, who plays maid Sophie Baek put on a glamorous display in a strappy sequin gown.

While Benedict Bridgerton star Luke, 37, wore a smart red and black blazer as he put his arm around his on-screen love interest.

Also at the event was Hannah Dodd, 30, who plays Francesca. She looked stunning in a black lace dress.

Just last week Netflix dropped a first look trailer for the second part of its steamy fourth series - and it's packed with three hot-under-the-collar romps.

Bridgerton's season four leading couple Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson wore matching red as they attended a masquerade ball press event in Madrid on Tuesday night

Actress Yerin, 28, who plays maid Sophie Baek put on a glamorous display in a strappy sequin gown

The regency-era drama series returned to the streaming service last month, with the first four episode of its highly anticipated fourth series, and four more to follow on February 26.

With the date fast approaching for its return, a first look has shown the forbidden love between Benedict and Sophie boiling over.

The trailer sees Sophie and Benedict growing closer once again - after the ladies maid was last seen fleeing following a staircase romp with Benedict, as the Bridgerton son asked her to 'be his mistress'.

And it seems that despite upsetting her, Benedict hasn't backed down in chasing after Sophie, instead sending her letters and following her around the Bridgerton house to keep her attentions in his direction.

'There are moments in our lives where we arrive at a crossroads,' the voice of Lady Whistledown can be heard saying at the opening of the first look.

'For beings from opposite worlds, the desire is not the problem, but the world itself.'

'You did not answer my letter,' Benedict can then be seen telling Sophie, standing outside the modiste, to which she replies: 'Because I do not wish to see you.'

Join the debate Have YOU binged the latest series of Bridgerton yet?

Yerin looked stunning in the shimmering gown

Just last week Netflix dropped a first look trailer for the second part of its steamy fourth series - and it's packed with three hot-under-the-collar romps

Also at the event was Hannah Dodd, 30, who plays Francesca. She looked stunning in a black lace dress

While Benedict Bridgerton star Luke, 37, wore a smart red and black blazer as he put his arm around his on-screen love interest

Hannah and Luke also posed together

Luke plays lothario Benedict Bridgerton who ends up falling for Sophie

'Being a mistress is the last thing I would ever want,' Sophie is then seen explaining to one of her friends as she's quizzed on what she plans to do.

Benedict and Sophie are then seen arguing over his proposition, with Benedict shouting: 'How else am I meant to be with a woman society has made it impossible for me to be with?'

'You must be brave, you cannot let fear stop you from letting your heart speak,' Benedict's brother Colin (Luke Newton) tells him in another shot.

The second eldest Bridgerton son is then seen approaching Sophie as she watches on during a lavish dinner at the household in an attempt to share his feelings.

'You hurt me, when do you stop to think about me?' Sophie is heard hitting back at her love interest, who then replies: 'Every moment of every day... you have taken possession of me.'

The duo are then seen sharing a passionate kiss, before Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) pulls his younger brother aside to warn him: 'You've convinced yourself that she is reason enough to risk everything!'

Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) is then seen confronting Benedict about his decision to chase Sophie, explaining: 'There is one choice you will have to make: your family.

With the date fast approaching for its return, a first look has shown the forbidden love between Benedict and Sophie boiling over

Hannah looked stunning in her black dress

The trio all posed together

The leading ladies looked to be getting on swimmingly

Luke cut a smart figure in his red and black suit

He gave a friendly wave

The cast clearly had great chemistry

They were the only three stars of the current series at the press event

Hannah put on a typically radiant display

'Whatever you choose, you must live with it forever.'

In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it flash, it also appears Violet is back in the bedroom with her love interest, Lady Danbury's brother Marcus.

A split-second clip then sees Sophie and Benedict sharing another passionate kiss, before a third shows another teaser at the iconic bath scene that saw fans thrilled with another teaser trailer released this month.

Fans have already gone wild over the first look, taking to the comments section on YouTube to share their excitement for the conclusion of the series.
Selling Sunset star Emma Hernan has reportedly ended things with her on/off boyfriend Blake Davis for the 'final' time following 'a blowout fight at his Florida home in early February.'

The 34-year-old reality star and her 28-year-old former client's argument about unresolved issues was so explosive she left without saying goodbye and hopped on a private jet - according to TMZ.

Hernan was said to have told friends she genuinely tried to make it work but the relationship had grown increasingly toxic, and they've both unfollowed each other on Instagram.

On Tuesday, The Oppenheim Group realtor appeared to confirm the split in a TikTok declaring: 'Don't be the bigger person. Be the person that helps them understand that sometimes when you f*** around you find out.'

'Big announcement coming this Thursday... any guesses?' Hernan - who boasts 2.8 million social media followers - teased in the caption with the hashtag '#morefishinthesea' and '#outwiththeoldinwiththenew.'

When TikTok user @nicole_renee1005 commented with an engagement ring emoji, the Boston-born blonde bombshell replied with two laughing emojis: 'Definitely not.'

Selling Sunset star Emma Hernan has reportedly ended things with her on/off boyfriend Blake Davis for the 'final' time following 'a blowout fight at his Florida home in early February' (pictured in 2025)

Playing in the background was Taylor Swift's 2020 song The 1 featuring lyrics like 'And if you wanted me, you really should've showed' and 'But it would've been fun / If you would've been the one.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Hernan for comment.

The Coast 2 Coast Kitchen founder's break-up rumor came shortly after she posted a disturbing TikTok of herself repeatedly pretending to be dead with Davis on January 30.

In the 30-second video, the Stake online casino spokesman uses Hernan's limp arm to play a slot machine and later drags her body, face down, through the ocean.

'Would you date again if I died?' the Emma-Leigh & Co CEO captioned the sardonic post.

'But for real we have all asked our man this right?'

Since 2015, the real estate heir - who reportedly owns a 130ft yacht called 'Trust Fun' - has worked for his family's company Davis Development.

Hernan and Davis originally began dating as far back as April 2024 a year and a half after he had first seen her on his Instagram 'Explore' page.

The self-made multi-millionaire didn't publicly reveal the romance until season nine during which she confessed: 'The more involved we got, the more jealous and possessive he got. So, ultimately, I had to make the tough decision to end things with him.'

Hernan's loyalty to her relationship led to the end of her close friendship with castmate Chrishell Stause, who called the Georgia-born trust funder 'MAGA' and claimed he 'likes to use the N word' and told her 'pronouns are dumb.'

Join the debate Is it ever wise to stick with a partner despite warnings from friends about their toxic behavior?

The 34-year-old reality star and her 28-year-old former client's argument about unresolved issues was so explosive she left without saying goodbye and hopped on a private jet (pictured in 2025)

Hernan was said to have told friends she genuinely tried to make it work but the relationship had grown increasingly toxic, and they've both unfollowed each other on Instagram (pictured in 2025)

On Tuesday, The Oppenheim Group realtor appeared to confirm the split in a TikTok declaring: 'Don't be the bigger person. Be the person that helps them understand that sometimes when you f*** around you find out'

'Big announcement coming this Thursday... any guesses?' Hernan - who boasts 2.8 million social media followers - teased in the caption with the hashtag '#morefishinthesea' and '#outwiththeoldinwiththenew'

When TikTok user @nicole_renee1005 commented with an engagement ring emoji, the Boston-born blonde bombshell replied with two laughing emojis: 'Definitely not'

Playing in the background was Taylor Swift's 2020 song The 1 featuring lyrics like 'And if you wanted me, you really should've showed' and 'But it would've been fun / If you would've been the one'

The Coast 2 Coast Kitchen founder's break-up rumor came shortly after she posted a disturbing TikTok of herself repeatedly pretending to be dead with Davis on January 30

In the 30-second video, the Stake online casino spokesman uses Hernan's limp arm to play a slot machine and later drags her body, face down, through the ocean

Hernan and the real estate heir originally began dating as far back as April 2024, but she didn't publicly reveal the romance until season nine

The self-made millionaire's loyalty to her relationship led to the end of her close friendship with castmate Chrishell Stause (2-R), who called Davis 'MAGA' and claimed he 'likes to use the N word' and told her 'pronouns are dumb'

Last October, the 44-year-old reality star (L, pictured in 2024) told Variety: Over time, I had to understand that they are aligned, and that is her choice. But its not something that I want in my life...At this point, they deserve each other'

Last May, Davis told the Daily Mail that they never discussed politics and he 'does not use derogatory language about anyone.'

However, he admitted to having mistakenly called Stause's non-binary spouse G Flip 'Ms. Stause's wife,' rather than using 'they/them' pronouns.

But the 44-year-old reality star doubled down last October, telling Variety: 'I found real things to be dangerous with his personality. He recently posted about how he was going to sue my d*** off.'

'[Hernan] would tell me the worst things that he would do. Like any friend, I'm there for her and helped her through it. Then she goes right back to him,' Stause lamented.

'She's posting from his yacht and not answering my call. The whole situation makes me sad. I wish that I had a more positive outlook on it. At first, I put all of it on him. She was kind of innocent in it. Over time, I had to understand that they are aligned, and that is her choice. But its not something that I want in my life.'

The Neighbours actress concluded: 'At this point, they deserve each other. I wish them the best.'
Sharon Stone showed off her incredibly youthful complexion while attending The Bluff premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The actress, 67, wowed as she arrived on the red carpet at the event in a chic black pantsuit, days after she was spotted breaking down in tears at the Vienna Opera Ball.

But it was her fresh-faced appearance that stole the show, with the beauty flaunting her radiant look for the cameras.

The Basic Instinct star accentuated her features with a touch of pink blush and bright red lipstick.

The Academy Award nominee teamed her stylish look with a copper silk shirt which she left partially unbuttoned.

Adding extra sparkle to her look was a large rhinestone brooch and the matching earrings she wore.

Sharon Stone, 67, showed off her incredibly youthful complexion while attending The Bluff premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on Tuesday

The actress wowed as she arrived on the red carpet at the event in a chic black pantsuit

Stone rounded out her look with dark green heels and a bedazzled black clutch.

The star previously admitted to using Botox, but she pivoted away from the procedures after suffering a stroke.

'There were periods in the super fame when I got Botox and filler and stuff, and then I had this massive stroke and a nine-day brain hemorrhage and I had to have over 300 shots of Botox and filler to make the one side of my face come up again,' she told Vogue Arabia in 2022.

The experience changed her view of cosmetic surgeries from 'cute luxury to some kind of massive, painful neurological need.'

Stone recalled that after she chose to age naturally, a younger partner had brought up Botox to her.

She told him, 'It would probably be really good for your ego and mine if I did.'

The star revealed that she saw him 'one more time after that' but he then lost interest.

'If you don't see me for more than that, you'll please find your way to the exit,' Stone said.

The star's face looked noticeably fuller than before; (R) Stone pictured in 2025

Her fresh-faced appearance stole the show, with the star flaunting her radiant look for the cameras

The Basic Instinct star accentuated her features with a touch of pink blush and bright red lipstick

The Academy Award nominee teamed her stylish look with a copper silk skirt which she left partially unbuttoned

Adding extra sparkle to her look was a large rhinestone brooch and the matching earrings she wore

Elsewhere at Tuesday's premiere, Priyanka Chopra, 43, was joined on the red carpet by her husband, Nick Jonas, 33

Chopra looked stunning in a dark brown ensemble featuring a structured leather bodice

The duo put on a loved-up display

Chopra stars in the Prime Video action movie and also serves as a producer

She was also seen posing with her co-star Karl Urban, who looked dapper in a grey suit

Vin Diesel, 58, also supported the film, rocking an all-black look paired with sunglasses

He appeared to have a blast at the event

Elsewhere at Tuesday's premiere, Priyanka Chopra, 43, was joined on the red carpet by her husband, Nick Jonas, 33.

Chopra looked stunning in a dark brown ensemble featuring a structured leather bodice.

Meanwhile Jonas showed off his style in brown suede pants and a plaid blazer.

Chopra stars in the Prime Video action movie and also serves as a producer.

Chopra plays a 19th century pirate named Bloody Mary in the gritty action thriller.

She was also seen posing with her co-star Karl Urban, 53, who looked dapper in a grey suit.

Vin Diesel, 58, also supported the film, rocking an all-black look paired with sunglasses.

The Bluff is set to debut on Prime Video on February 25.
Former Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano tearfully revealed she tested positive for 'stageable cancer' following a routine scan.

The Daytime Emmy nominee - turning 42 next month - was inspired to get checked by fellow Austin resident James Van Der Beek who tragically died, age 48, from stage III colon cancer last Wednesday.

'I was able to meet James Van Der Beek a bunch. His family is amazing, he was a pillar of our community in Texas,' Romano said on Instagram Tuesday.

'Both my parents had cancer. My mom beat it, my dad eventually didn't, my grandmother on my mom's side had lung cancer and died from that. I got the results back a little bit before filming down in Florida [last December].'

The Special Forces: World's Toughest Test contestant is 'nervous and a bit scared' ahead of a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging scan she scheduled for 'later this week' and she hopes the cancer is 'something easy to treat.'

It's a 'very vulnerable time' for Romano, who was accidentally shot in the face with shotgun shrapnel '367 days' ago while shooting clay pigeons at a local range.

Former Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano tearfully revealed she tested positive for 'stageable cancer' following a routine scan

The Daytime Emmy nominee - turning 42 next month - was inspired to get checked by fellow Austin resident James Van Der Beek (pictured May 14) who tragically died, age 48, from stage III colon cancer last Wednesday

The Connecticut-born brunette still has one bullet fragment lodged behind her eye and another fragment still in her forehead because they were too risky for doctors to remove surgically.

'Time to have a strong sense of faith and know that it's in God's hands, most of it,' Romano - who boasts 3.1 million social media followers - said Tuesday.

'I'm sure people think I'm overreacting but I'm not because cancer's pretty f***ing serious and I have two little girls. This is a very emotional post.'

The We're Alive: Descendants actress and her husband Brendan Rooney will celebrate the seventh birthday of their daughter Sophia this Wednesday, and they're also proud parents of nine-year-old daughter Isabella.

'You got this my beautiful wife,' the 43-year-old retired US Marine commented.

'We will figure this out and destroy any problem that comes your way. I love you beyond words.'

The PodCo co-founders - who met in 2011 as she attended Barnard College - celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary on December 31.

Romano also has the support from her sizable mom group, who dressed up in matching silver outfits to see The Backstreet Boys perform at The Sphere in Las Vegas last weekend.

The Celebrity Weakest Link contestant debated whether or not to announce her results because she was afraid she'd 'come off cringe' but ultimately decided it was her 'duty' to spread awareness for the public to get cancer screenings.

Romano will next portray Nicole in Ryan Landels' Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True - premiering later this year on the Hallmark Channel - alongside Lacey Chabert, Richard Kind and Travis Van Winkle.

Romano said on Instagram Tuesday: 'I was able to meet James Van Der Beek a bunch. His family is amazing, he was a pillar of our community in Texas'

The Special Forces: World's Toughest Test contestant said: 'Both my parents had cancer. My mom beat it, my dad eventually didn't, my grandmother on my mom's side had lung cancer and died from that. I got the results back a little bit before filming down in Florida [last December]'

Romano is 'nervous and a bit scared' ahead of a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging scan she scheduled for 'later this week' and she hopes the cancer is 'something easy to treat'

It's a 'very vulnerable time' for the Connecticut-born brunette, who was accidentally shot in the face with shotgun shrapnel '367 days' ago while shooting clay pigeons at a local range

Romano still has one bullet fragment lodged behind her eye and another fragment still in her forehead because they were too risky for doctors to remove surgically

The We're Alive: Descendants actress said Tuesday: 'I'm sure people think I'm overreacting but I'm not because cancer's pretty f***ing serious and I have two little girls. This is a very emotional post'

Romano and her husband Brendan Rooney will celebrate the seventh birthday of their daughter Sophia this Wednesday, and they're also proud parents of nine-year-old daughter Isabella (pictured in January)

'You got this my beautiful wife,' the 43-year-old retired US Marine commented. 'We will figure this out and destroy any problem that comes your way. I love you beyond words'

The PodCo co-founder also has the support from her sizable mom group, who dressed up in matching silver outfits to see The Backstreet Boys perform at The Sphere in Las Vegas last weekend

Romano will next portray Nicole in Ryan Landels' Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True - premiering later this year on the Hallmark Channel - alongside Lacey Chabert, Richard Kind and Travis Van Winkle

The Kim Possible alum is best known for portraying troubled Shia LaBeouf's (R, pictured in 2002) onscreen perfectionist sister Ren Stevens in Matt Dearborn's comedy series Even Stevens, which aired for three seasons on Disney spanning 2000-2003

Holiday Ever After - which wrapped production on January 29 - marked the first time a movie was shot inside Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.

The Chibiverse guest star  who is penning a memoir  is also every bit the influencer with paid partnerships for brands like Method IQ, Shipt and Sam's Club.

Romano is best known for portraying troubled Shia LaBeouf's onscreen perfectionist sister Ren Stevens in Matt Dearborn's comedy series Even Stevens, which aired for three seasons on Disney spanning 2000-2003.

The former Broadway thespian also voiced the titular crime fighter from Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle's animated action comedy Kim Possible, which aired on Disney for four seasons spanning 2002-2007.
Reese Witherspoon paid tribute to her 'extraordinary' co-star Robert Duvall two days after his death at the age of 95.

The actress, 49, took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday sharing a photo of them from the set of their 2008 romantic comedy, Four Christmases.

'I feel very lucky that I got to work with Robert Duvall in this lifetime. What an extraordinary actor... and a wonderful gentleman,' she wrote.

'His legacy will live on through his wonderful performances. God rest his soul,' Witherspoon added.

The Hollywood icon passed away 'peacefully' at his home on Sunday in Middleburg, Virginia, his publicist announced on Monday.

Duvall was best known for playing Tom Hagen, the consigliere and lawyer for the Corleone family, opposite Al Pacino and Marlon Brando in The Godfather films.

Reese Witherspoon, 49, paid tribute to her 'extraordinary' Four Christmases co-star Robert Duvall, two days after his death at the age of 95

In Four Christmases, Duvall played the role of Howard, the eccentric father of Vince Vaughn's character, Brad, who struggles to survive the holiday alongside his girlfriend, Kate, played by Witherspoon.

His other acclaimed movies include Apocalypse Now, The Great Santini and Tender Mercies.

Throughout his long career, Duvall worked with several A-List actors, including Steve McQueen, Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Jeff Bridges, Julia Roberts and Angelina Jolie.

The actor's wife, Luciana Pedraza, shared a tribute on Monday via Facebook.

'Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort,' the 54-year-old wrote.

'To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented.'

She ended with: 'In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.'

The San Diego native worked in the industry for over seven decades.

'I feel very lucky that I got to work with Robert Duvall in this lifetime. What an extraordinary actor... and a wonderful gentleman,' she wrote; Witherspoon pictured in 2025

In Four Christmases, Duvall played the father of Vince Vaughn's character, Brad, who struggles to survive the holiday alongside his girlfriend, Kate, played by Witherspoon; Seen in a still

Duvall was best known for playing Tom Hagen, the consigliere and lawyer for the Corleone family, opposite Al Pacino and Marlon Brando in The Godfather films; Pictured in a still

Hours after Duvall's death celebrity tributes poured in paying tribute to the late, great Oscar winner.

Pacino and Robert De Niro co-starred with Duvall in Francis Ford Coppola's 1974 mafia sequel The Godfather Part II, and they both issued rare public statements.

'It was an honor to have worked with Robert Duvall,' Pacino told Variety on Monday.

'He was a born actor as they say, his connection with it, his understanding and his phenomenal gift will always be remembered. I will miss him.'

De Niro, who also co-starred with the two-time Emmy winner in the 1981 crime drama True Confessions, wrote: 'God bless Bobby. I hope I can live till I'm 95. May he rest in peace.'
Priyanka Chopra and her husband, Nick Jonas, looked smitten as they packed on the PDA while attending The Bluff premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The actress, 43, who stars as a 19th-century pirate named Bloody Mary in the gritty action thriller, looked more loved-up than ever as she cosied up to her husband, 33, on the red carpet.

Priyanka looked sensational in a dark brown dress featuring a structured leather bodice and a ruched skirt with a thigh-high slit and long train.

To complete her look, she added inches to her frame with brown peep-toe heels and accessorised with a stunning choker.

Meanwhile, Nick cut a stylish figure in a plaid blazer paired with a brown suede shirt and trouser co-ord, wrapping one arm around his wife.

The action movie, produced by Priyanka, follows a Caribbean woman who gets her secret past revealed when her island is invaded by vicious buccaneers.

Priyanka Chopra and her husband, Nick Jonas, looked smitten as they packed on the PDA while attending The Bluff premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on Tuesday

The actress, 43, who stars as a 19th-century pirate named Bloody Mary in the gritty action thriller, looked more loved-up than ever as she cosied up to her husband, 33, on the red carpet

The upcoming action thriller film, directed by Frank E. Flowers, is set to debut on Prime Video on February 25.

It comes after Priyanka revealed what she loves most about her husband Nick as she posed for Variety in a stunning new shoot.

The couple, who have been married since 2018 after meeting at an Oscars party in 2017, share daughter Malti, age four.

However, there was a big fuss when the couple, who have a 10-year age gap in their relationship, got together.

Speaking with the publication, Priyanka said: 'I don't know what was it about us that rubbed people the wrong way,

'I think there was the intercultural nature of it  different countries, different religions, age gap. It was very hurtful.

'And we both, instead of looking out, just sort of looked at each other, and we were like, "It doesn't matter." So it's like water off a duck's back now.'

'We got married really quick, within six months of meeting,' she relayed.

Priyanka looked sensational in a dark brown dress featuring a structured leather bodice and a ruched skirt with a thigh-high slit and long train

To complete her look, she added inches to her frame with brown peep-toe heels and accessorised with a stunning choker

Meanwhile, Nick cut a stylish figure in a plaid blazer paired with a brown suede shirt and trouser co-ord, wrapping one arm around his wife

The upcoming action movie, produced by Priyanka, follows a Caribbean woman who gets her secret past revealed when her island is invaded by vicious buccaneers

'When I first married him, I didn't know if it was even real. This part of him. Because I was like, "This is crazy. This is put on."

'But Nick has this absolute sincerity. It inspires me every day in a profession which requires you to pivot and become whatever you need to put on.

'He's constantly sincere. His whole day, whatever the conversation is, he is sincere. He started working when he was really young. His parents are the most wonderful, levelheaded, absolute saints, so I can see where it comes from. But it's such a disarming quality about him.

'He doesnt feel the need to deviate from that sincerity for anything or anyone. He is himself and comfortable in it, and I really learned how to be a lot more comfortable in my awkwardness and my insecurities since I got married to him.

'It really continues to be inspiring to me, this sincerity. We dont see it often enough anymore, that deep truth when you just start talking to someone. Youre like, "Oh, this person is completely transparent."'
Billie Faiers showed off her incredible figure in a red bikini as she enjoyed a half-term getaway with her family to Abu Dhabi.

The former TOWIE star, 36, shared a gallery of Instagram snaps from her trip after jetting to the UAE with her husband Greg and their children Nelly, 11, Arthur, eight, and Margot, three.

Billie documented the first few days of her family holiday after travelling to a luxury resort, sharing snaps of herself in a red bikini as she and her children ran along the beach and swam in the pool.

As well as documenting the delicious food that was on offer, the mother-of-three showed off her glamorous holiday looks during the break.

She also shared adorable videos of her children playing at the resort, as well as fire-breathers as they enjoyed dinner on the beach.

She captioned her post: 'Memories made so far in Abu Dhabi  such a wonderful place to holiday as a family. So much to do but also a very chilled vibe.'

Billie Faiers showed off her incredible figure in a red bikini as she enjoyed a half-term getaway with her family to Abu Dhabi

The former TOWIE star shared a gallery of Instagram snaps from her trip after jetting to the UAE with her husband Greg and their children Nelly, 11, Arthur, eight, and Margot, three

Back in September, Billie revealed she was 'utterly heartbroken' as she shared a sweet tribute to her father-in-law Dave on Instagram after he passed away aged 77.

The TV personality said 'life will never feel the same' after 'suddenly' losing Dave.

Billie shared a series of sweet family photos of her father-in-law spending time with her and Greg as well as their three children, Nelly, 11, Arthur, eight, and Margot, three.

She wrote: 'To my wonderful father in law Dave.

'Losing you so soon has left us all utterly heartbroken, it still doesnt feel quite real, all of the wonderful times and memories we made together, I have been so lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life, a man we all looked up to...

'I always said you was The Best ! And I meant it ,you truly was the best father in law, dad and granddad we could ever wish for...

'I will miss laughing with you, dancing with you, our chats, making you endless amounts of tea and coffee, playing all of your games, I adored you, you was kind, happy, thoughtful and fun.

'Life will never feel the same again, I miss you unconditionally. I love you with all my heart'. Billie's sister Sam quickly commented: 'We will miss you Dave such a wonderful man x'

Billie documented the first few days of her family holiday after travelling to a luxury resort

The mother-of-three slipped into a red bikini as she enjoyed a dip in the swimming pool with her family

Billie posted a sweet selfie with her daughter Margot during their holiday together

As well as documenting the delicious food that was on offer, the mother-of-three showed off her glamorous holiday looks during the break

She captioned her post: 'Memories made so far in Abu Dhabi  such a wonderful place to holiday as a family. So much to do but also a very chilled vibe'

In her post, the star also shared an adorable video of her son Arthur and daughter Margot sweetly holding hands as he tickled her

Billie slipped into a stunning black dress as she and Greg headed out for dinner at one of the swanky restaurants

Greg also shared a sweet tribute to his dad at the time following the sad news, admitting he 'still had so much more to give.'

In his heartfelt statement, Greg wrote: 'I'm gutted and heartbroken to be writing this, but this time last week, my dad Dave passed away suddenly. He was 77, but still had so much more to give, and that's what makes this so hard.

'From the age of 4, you raised me as your own. You taught me how to be a father, and you made it look simple, you were always present, no matter what...

'You never missed a birthday, a celebration, or any important moment. You always had time for me and my sisters and grandkids.

'I hope I can be the kind of man you were, Dad, always smiling, always dancing, the most grateful man you could ever meet, and always there for us.
Katie Price appears to have hit back at warnings the exes of her new husband Lee Andrews gave her, in which they told her to 'run for the hills'.

The mother-of-five, 47, stunned fans last month when she announced she had married the entrepreneur following a whirlwind one-week romance.

After news of their nuptials emerged, Lee's exes spoke out about him - and sternly advised Katie to rethink her decision to wed him.

Now, it appears the former glamour model has decided not to heed their advice, doubling down on her commitment to Lee, 43, with a pointed quote.

Taking to her Instagram account on Tuesday evening, Katie reshared a quote which read: 'Be careful what you hear about a female.

'Rumours either came from a male that can't have her or a female that can't compete with her.'

Katie Price appears to have hit back at warnings the exes of her new husband Lee Andrews gave her, in which they told her to 'run for the hills'

One of Lee's ex-girlfriends, Alana Percival (pictured), previously claimed he had proposed to her in the exactly same way he did to Katie at the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab in Dubai

It appears the former glamour model has decided not to heed their advice, doubling down on her commitment to Lee, 43, with a pointed quote

One of Lee's ex-girlfriends, Alana Percival, previously claimed he had proposed to her in exactly the same way he did to Katie at the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

She also alleged he was advertising on an escort website, which he has denied.

In an interview, she branded the businessman as a 'narcissist' and accused him of 'grooming' her, lying about owning property in Dubai's iconic and luxurious island Palm Jumeirah and working with royalty.

Alana also shared a warning to Katie on her Instagram account, writing: 'Women look after women.

'I thought it was all a lie too until I had to find out the hard way... you want proof of everything, it's waiting for you...' and tagged Katie in the post.

She also shared a photo of herself in a bikini on the beach and wrote: 'Catching flights not fiances  Somebody with your ex right now thinking they found the one @katieprice  more to come todays news is just a warm up.

'You guys wanted to know what he is all about? Well let me start to tell you #runforthehills'.

Meanwhile, another of Lee's exes, Crystal Janke, claimed he hoodwinked her into handing over 123,000 to invest in his company, on the promise he could get a 'return of 1million'.

Katie Price's new husband Lee Andrews' ex girlfriend Alana Percival claimed she has 'proof' he is a 'lying swindler' after warning her to 'run for the hills'

Insiders previously told the Daily Mail that he allegedly applied for a 200,000 mortgage on behalf of personal trainer partner Dina Taji without her knowledge last year

In a further update on Wednesday, Lee shared a snap of his hand and Katie's as they showed off their tattoos which each other's names

The family nurse practitioner from Texas, who started a romance with Lee last May, claimed she had been scammed and fears her money was spent by Lee on lavish gifts for Alana, who he was dating at the same time.

Lee denies these claims.

Crystal commented on Alana's post at the time, writing: 'Keep smiling and soaking up every moment - you truly deserve it!' to which Alana replied, telling her that 'There is so much more to this story, karma.'

Katie is currently in Dubai with Lee, having initially returned to the UK after their nuptials, where he was due to follow her.

However, Daily Mail previously revealed Lee spent three weeks locked up in a UAE jail for allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend's signature to take out a 200,000 loan in his ex's name.

Insiders told the Daily Mail that he allegedly applied for a 200,000 mortgage on behalf of personal trainer partner Dina Taji without her knowledge last year.

It was claimed that as a result, he was banned from leaving the country, though Lee denies this. He has yet to leave the UAE.

According to Dubai law, individuals pending criminal investigations, including unpaid debts or civil lawsuits, are not legally allowed to leave the country. The woman reported Lee to the authorities in Dubai who investigated her claim.

The seemingly loved-up couple have insisted they will both return to the UK in the coming days after the end of their honeymoon

Meanwhile, Katie and Lee have insisted they will be jetting to the UK in the coming days following their honeymoon.

Taking to Lee's Instagram Stories on Monday the newlyweds told fans that they would be flying back 'within days' and joked that England should 'watch out'.

In the clip, Katie said: 'So we are still in Dubai and we will be coming to England very soon.'

In a further update on Wednesday, Lee shared a snap of his hand and Katie's as they showed off their tattoos which each other's names.
Scotty T has broken his silence on becoming a father, crediting the arrival of his son six months ago with helping him to change his life around following his driving ban and cocaine scandal.

The Geordie Shore star, 37 - real name Scott Timlin - was revealed in October to have welcomed a baby boy with a university student from Newcastle two months earlier.

Confirming the news, he declared that his son was 'the most important thing in my life' and said fatherhood will ensure he would stay on the straight and narrow from now on.

Speaking a year after he was handed a year-long driving ban for two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled drug, Scott declared he has not touched drugs since he was caught behind the wheel in October 2024.

In a new interview with The Sun, the reality star insisted he did not have a drug problem and that 'a lot's changed since' his conviction - which he called 'unlucky' - most notably the arrival of his son.

He told the publication: 'Becoming a dad is definitely a blessing. Hes just changed everything. Hes put a smile on my face. Thats the most important thing in my life.'

Scotty T has broken his silence on becoming a father, crediting the arrival of his son six months ago with helping him to change his life around following his driving ban and cocaine scandal

Confirming the news, he declared that his son was 'the most important thing in my life' and said fatherhood will ensure he would stay on the straight and narrow from now on

Speaking a year after he was handed a year-long driving ban for two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled drug, Scott declared he has not touched drugs since he was caught behind the wheel in October 2024 (seen in June 2024)

Scott declared that being a dad was now his main focus, saying: 'Ill just live every day as it comes. Ive already won, because Ive had the baby, Ive already got my legacy. And hes going to be mint.'

Sharing the details of his son for the first time, he admitted he 'cried my eyes out' during the birth, describing the milestone moment as 'the maddest, most exciting, worrying time of my life'.

While he denied reports that he met the mother of his child on a night out while he was 'sofa surfing last year', saying that she is someone he has known for nine years.

He clarified that they had never been together - calling their relationship 'casual' - but insisted that despite the womanizing reputation he built for himself on Geordie Shore, he was 'gentleman'.

Scott tearfully revealed that the pair had actually been expecting their first child together the year before their son was born, but had sadly lost the baby, leaving them 'devastated and gutted'.

He explained that they slept together again and fell pregnant a second time, describing it as 'the best thing I've ever done'.

However, as a result of jaundice and low oxygen levels, he revealed how their newborn son had to have a number of hospital visits at the beginning, which he was still struggling to move past.

He said: 'My heart sinks every time. I just want to do anything I can to make sure that nothing else goes wrong.'

Sharing the details of his son for the first time, he admitted he 'cried my eyes out' during the birth, describing the milestone moment as 'the maddest, most exciting, worrying time of my life'

While Scott confessed that his desire to keep the news private was out of fear that other women would come forward to claim he had fathered their child (seen on Celeb Big Brother in 2016)

While Scott confessed that his desire to keep the news private was out of fear that other women would come forward to claim he had fathered their child.

Having slept with well over 1000 people, it is a worthy concern for the star, who said that he's had previous occasions of people contacting his management to claim they were pregnant with his baby.

He said he was also concerned that his son's mother would be accused of 'baby-trapping' him on purpose, which he said was far from the case, insisting that the pair were 'fully invested in being the best parents ever.'

While Scott joked that he hoped the little boy would follow in his footsteps and be a 'right t*** when hes older' so that he could experience what he put his own parents through.

And despite admitting he still loves partying and drank a whole bottle of Jack Daniels at a public appearance just this week, he insisted he no longer goes near drugs.

He soared to fame on 2012's fourth series of Geordie Shore, on which he has appeared on-off for five years, before he was said to be suspended in May 2017 due to his hard-partying ways

He booked himself into a rehab centre in Scotland for two weeks and made a fleeting return to the show, but was axed in January the following year after he was pictured 'snorting a suspicious substance' and exposing himself to a female.

Following the incident, he spent three months at a treatment facility in Thailand, and was back for series 18, 19, and a brief stint in the 2022 reunion season.

And despite admitting he still loves partying and drank a whole bottle of Jack Daniels at a public appearance just this week, he insisted he no longer goes near drugs

He soared to fame on 2012's fourth series of Geordie Shore (seen on show), on which he has appeared on-off for five years, before he was said to be suspended in May 2017 due to his hard-partying ways

While Scott returned to the Paramount+ series in 2024 after a two-year absence, in October that year he was caught on cocaine behind the wheel of his Land Rover.

Prosecutors said that he had 32 microgrammes of cocaine per litre of blood in his system, when the legal limit is 10 microgrammes, and 800 microgrammes of BZE per litre of blood - well above the legal limit of 50 micrograms.

In February 2025, he pleaded guilty to two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled drug, which was above the specified limit, and was fined 330 and banned from the roads for 12 months.

The Celebrity Big Brother star was subsequently dropped from Geordie Shore once again.

Speaking as his driving ban is coming to its end, Scott said that he understood why he'd been axed from series 26, but said he hoped to be invited back to the show soon, insisting that the driving incident was 'just a silly thing and I paid the price'.

Reflecting on how he descended into frequent boozing and drug-taking, he blamed it on his frequent public appearances, where he was paid to go partying at clubs, turning to cocaine to keep his energy levels up because caffeine affected his anxiety.

But he said the money, crowds of adoring fans and ease of the job kept him coming back, recalling how he and a Geordie Shore co-star once made around 200,000 in a single month by doing PAs every night.

While he also cites his ADHD as contributing factor to his drug abuse, Scott insists that it was 'lifestyle' of endless partying that was really to blame.

Scott said that he understood why he'd been axed, but said he hoped to be invited back to the show soon, insisting that the driving incident was 'just a silly thing and I paid the price' (seen with co-stars Marty McKenna, Nathan Henry, Gary Beadle, Aaron Chalmers in 2016)

Reflecting on how he descended into frequent boozing and drug-taking, he blamed it on his frequent public appearances, where he was paid to go partying at clubs, turning to cocaine to keep his energy levels up because caffeine affected his anxiety (seen in club in 2013)

'I felt like I was doing it because I was trying to escape from something, or I was just trying to be loved, and I was trying to get attention', he said. 'Everyone would be like, "hes just off the rails". But it was more like, I just didnt know where to put myself.'

He first opened up about his battle with drugs in 2019, saying that when he first found fame on the show in 2012 he was plied with booze and drugs during nights out.

Scott said that despite getting help at a rehab in Scotland, he spiraled again after the death of his stepfather and three close friends.

'While the show was on air, I'd be doing club personal appearances every night and I started taking cocaine to cope,' he said.

'I used to be completely anti-drugs, anti-smoking and despise all of that. But I fell into that lifestyle.'

While he said that he was also hit hard in the spring of 2019, by the tragic suicides of Love Island star Sophie Gradon and her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, three weeks later.

He said: 'I was very close to both of them and that was really hard. I was breaking up with my girlfriend, I was alone in my house and I was like "why is everyone around us dying". I got to such a low depressed point but I managed to pull myself out of it.'
Marisa Abela and her husband, Jamie Bogyo, enjoyed a rare red-carpet date night as they attended the Dunhill pre-BAFTA Filmmakers dinner in London on Tuesday evening.

The actress, 29, put on a cosy display with her husband, 31, as they posed for cameras at the event, held at Dunhill Bourdon House.

During the couple's outing, Marisa oozed class as she graced the red carpet in an oversized black cropped jacket and capri trousers.

To complete her look, she added inches to her frame with pointed black slingback heels and toted her essentials in a mini black bag.

The beauty beamed as she cosied up to her husband for several sweet snaps ahead of the star-studded dinner.

Meanwhile, her husband Jamie looked incredibly dapper in a black single-breasted blazer and tailored trousers.

Marisa Abela and her husband, Jamie Bogyo, enjoyed a rare red-carpet date night as they attended the Dunhill pre-BAFTA Filmmakers dinner in London on Tuesday evening

The actress, 29, put on a cosy display with her husband, 31, as they posed for cameras at the event, held at Dunhill Bourdon House

He paired a crisp white shirt and matching bow tie with his smart ensemble, completing his red carpet look with black leather shoes.

It comes after Marisa, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2020, aged just 23 and had to undergo an eight-hour operation to remove the tumour, revealed the moment she knew her husband was 'the one'.

In a candid interview on the How To Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast last Wednesday, the Back To Black star opened up about her battle with the disease, explaining that what got her through it all was her husband's support.

The couple met when they were both students at prestigious acting school, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 2016 and tied the knot in a romantic manor house wedding in Sussex in September 2025.

Marisa said: 'He [Jamie] was an immense help, and it was one of the moments where I knew that this was the person I wanted to be with forever.

'I think it's equally as important to have someone that supports you when you're up and when you're down.

'Jamie is great at both. He's there on a red carpet with me when I'm really proud of my work and is the number one person that's always like "look how great she is", but also when things aren't good he is right there and he looks after me.

'He is the most supportive person in every way, and I'm so lucky.'

During the couple's outing, Marisa oozed class as she graced the red carpet in an oversized black cropped jacket and capri trousers

To complete her look, she added inches to her frame with pointed black slingback heels and toted her essentials in a mini black bag

The beauty cosied up to her husband for several sweet snaps ahead of the star-studded dinner

Meanwhile, her husband Jamie looked incredibly dapper in a black single-breasted blazer and tailored trousers

It comes after the star said she knew her husband Jamie was 'the one' when he supported her through her cancer battle just a year into their relationship

The Back To Black star was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2020, aged just 23 and had to undergo an eight-hour operation to remove the tumour (pictured in April 2025)

Marisa went on to say that he was there for her despite having only been together for a year at the time.

'When I came out of the surgery, I had a really gnarly scar, and it was all the way from my neck to the top of my ear, and it was stapled, bloody and intense, and he was just like, "You look so beautiful".'

Marisa and Jamie became engaged in July 2024 during a stroll on London's Primrose Hill, which is where they first met during a student meet-up.

In an interview with The Sunday Times' Style magazine, Marisa admitted the proposal came as a surprise, revealing she had expected it to happen weeks earlier while they were in Paris.

But what was supposed to be a romantic mini-break turned into disaster when Jamie contracted a sickness bug.

She said: 'We were at dinner with friends and he went back to the hotel, saying he was ill but that I should stay.'

Pretending to play along with what she thought was going to be a proposal, the actress continued: 'I got back later, expecting roses and champagne to be everywhere, and instead found Jamie in a ball on the floor being sick!'
Katherine Ryan expressed her thoughts on 'deadbeat dads' in a tongue-in-cheek podcast after she opened up about the father of her 16-year-old daughter.

The Canadian comedian, 42, who has never disclosed the identity of Violet's father, broke her years-long silence this week on the type of role he plays in their daughter's life.

Tearing into him, Katherine claimed he 'never pays for anything, hardly makes contact and never makes any sacrifices' for her.

Katherine fell pregnant with her first child Violet when she was aged 25 and had just moved to the UK from Canada with her then boyfriend.

She purposely tried to get pregnant after being diagnosed with lupus and thinking she would 'never split up' with Violet's father.

After relocating in the hope to both build their careers in comedy, her relationship with Violet's father ended just two years after she gave birth.

Katherine Ryan, 42, has expressed her appreciation for 'deadbeat dads' after she opened up about the father of her 16-year-old daughter

The Canadian comedian, who has never disclosed the identity of Violet's father, broke her years-long silence this week on the type of role he plays in their daughter's life (pictured)

When they split, Katherine endured something of a white knuckle ride to become successful as a single mother.

Katherine said she realised pretty quickly that her partner wasn't going to be 'beneficial to [her and Violet], financially or logistically.'

She decided to make her life in London work because she'd 'had a youth already' and wanted to 'get serious'.

Moreover, she didn't want to return to Canada as a single parent, telling the Guardian, 'there was a time when I felt shame about it'.

While on maternity leave from her job in sales, Katherine would look after Violet in the day and try to break into standup in the evening, taking her daughter with her.

Katherine recently opened up on why she loves everything about 'deadbeat dads' and urged women to 'embrace the lesson that comes with interacting with one'.

The term 'deadbeat dad' is a pejorative term referring to fathers who do not fulfill their financial, legal, or emotional parental responsibilities.

Speaking openly on her Telling Everybody Everything podcast in August 2025, Katherine claimed deadbeat dads 'breadcrumb your child and not pay anything'.

Tearing into him, Katherine claimed he 'never pays for anything', hardly makes contact and 'never makes any sacrifices' for her

Katherine fell pregnant with her first child Violet when she was aged 25 (pictured when Violet was a baby) and had just moved to the UK from Canada with her then boyfriend

Katherine said she realised pretty quickly that her partner wasn't going to be 'beneficial to [her and Violet], financially or logistically'

She said: 'God I love a deadbeat dad, a deadbeat dad will breadcrumb your child, will not pay you anything and at first you might get lost in principal. You might think well that's wrong but people waste their lives fighting for principal.

'You could do yourself a favour and embrace the lesson that comes with interacting with a deadbeat dad and let it teach you that you can't manipulate people's behaviour even if it's the good of your child.'

She added: 'A deadbeat dad might run their mouth about you, lie about you, steal photos that you have published and republish them as his own or send them to his friends and family and act like he was with your child.

'A deadbeat dad might have a reputation of being like he is an amazing father but actually hasn't seen your child in over a year. That's fine, that's all fine, I am the original 'let them'.

Katherine continued: 'Let a deadbeat dad be a gift for you.

'Whenever women want to air their dirty laundry about their deadbeat dad I'm like "oh my gosh babe what you don't realise is he doesn't know he is a deadbeat dad.

'"So now if you tell everybody that he is presumably his ego is important to him then he will start stepping up in the wrong way and for the wrong reasons and now he is just going to bother you all the time, you had it good".

'Maybe he is gonna give you a bit of money, maybe he won't. But what he will certainly do is participate in your day to day, and you were free and clear before.

'I love, love, love, love everything about a deadbeat dad, my favourite dads!'

Katherine recently opened up on why she loves everything about 'deadbeat dads' and urged women to 'embrace the lesson that comes with interacting with one'

Katherine said she and Violet's father were already struggling in their relationship before Violet was born (pictured with Violet earlier this month)

While Katherine has made sure to share little information about her father in recent years, the mother-of-four said she feels no longer obliged to bite her tongue since Violet is old enough to 'see for herself'.

'I've been careful never to s**g him off just because I don't think it's the right thing to do,' Katherine said on the Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald podcast on Tuesday.

'And I really protected him while my daughter was young. I would never say anything bad about him.

'But now she's 16, she can see for herself that unfortunately, he's not a bad person, but he's never made any sacrifices, never paid anything for her, just kind of texts her, which I think is breadcrumbing.

'Like, "Hey, love you. How are you?" Which is better than no contact. But he hasn't been the type of dad that you would want for your daughter.'

When asked directly if he is involved in Violet's life, she replied, 'Not really.'

Katherine has previously only discussed co-parenting Violet in carefully measured terms. In her 2019 Netflix special Glitter Room, she said: 'He's my child's dad, and for that reason I shall never say a bad word about him.'

But speaking on the podcast, the mum of four did not hold back her true feelings about Violet's father - and even joked she would excel at his level of low-effort parenting.

The Duchess star, who also has three younger children with her husband and fellow Canadian, Bobby Kootstra, 43, Fred, four, and daughter Fenna, three (pictured)

The Canadian comedian gave birth to her fourth child, a baby girl named Holland, in October 2025

'I think I would be a great dad. Like, a non-contact parent. Because it's so easy,' she said.

She added: 'All you have to do with a teenage girl is drive to the mother's house, send her a text, and go, "Do you want to come get a Starbucks with me?"

'It's all they have to do. "If not, I'll go get you a Starbucks. I'll drop it off. You come to the car, I'll give it to you, say, "hey, how are you? I love you. Here's your Starbucks, bye." No pressure.'

She continued: 'I've heard so many dads go, "Well, she's using me for rides. I don't get anything back." The flow goes one way - parent to child. There's nothing they [children] can do wrong. Just make yourself available, make some type of sacrifice.'

'Unfortunately, my daughter doesn't have the dad that I would want her to have.'

Katherine said she and Violet's father - another fellow Canadian comedian whom she had met on the comedy circuit - were already struggling in their relationship before Violet was born.

'We weren't really good even before that,' she explained. 'So as soon as I had her, I was like, oh gosh, I'm going to have to make a go of this myself.

'I thought that being a stand-up comedian was conducive to single motherhood because you can be home in the day. And then when they're sleeping...'

She added: '[Violet] came everywhere with me. The UK is so amazing for stand-up because it is small, but there are gigs in all these towns and cities every night of the week. So I started touring properly, like a small tour, when she was three or four.'

The Duchess star also shares three younger children Fred, four, Fenna, three and Holland, four months, with with her husband Bobby Kootstra, 43.
Chloe Ferry braved the chill as she posed in the snow in a barely-there thong bikini on a romantic trip to Finland with boyfriend Alex Swinney.

The former Geordie Shore star, 30, went barefoot as she posed in her black string two-piece, showing off her inkings while posing in the chilly air.

As she turned to the side, she showed off her bottom in the thong bottoms, after having her BBL implants removed.

She was soon joined by her boyfriend Alex who went shirtless for the photo opportunity.

However, he did appear to be struggling with the cold clime as he cosied up to his girlfriend.

Chloe had enlisted him as her photographer for the evening, as she leaned back on a wooden chair and put her feet up into a pile of snow.

Chloe Ferry braved the chill as she posed in the snow in a barely-there thong bikini on romantic trip to Finland with boyfriend Alex Swinney on Instagram on Tuesday

Chloe enlisted her boyfriend as her photographer for the evening, as she leaned back on a wooden chair and put her feet up into a pile of snow

She wrote that she is going to Finland for one night only and said: 'I am going to freeze my ass off in there' before enjoying a dip in an outdoor pool.

Adding: 'What an amazing experience doing this in the snow.'

The next day, she shared a video of herself returning home to the UK where she was greeted by her very exciteable pug dog.

Chloe and Alex have recently returned from a trip to Thailand together just months into their new romance.

The loved up TV star already had a tattoo inked in honour of her new partner, saying she 'believes in love at first sight.'

She had the numbers 20.08 tattooed, and while she didnt reveal what the numbers meant, they are likely to represent an important date.

In 2025, Chloe underwent surgery to have her Brazilian Bum Lift removed after revealing that she no longer felt herself.

Chloe is very loved up and has already had a tattoo inked in honour of her new partner, saying she 'believes in love at first sight'

She was soon joined for a photo by her boyfriend Alex who went shirtless for the photo opportunity

She wrote that she is going to Finland for one night only and said: 'I am going to freeze my ass off in there' before enjoying a dip in an outdoor pool

She added: 'What an amazing experience doing this in the snow'

The next day, she shared a video of herself returning home to the UK where she was greeted by her very exciteable pug dog

Chloe recently showed off the before and after of her Brazilian Butt Lift removal in a video as she gushed she's got her 'spark back'; R before - L after

At the time she told her 3.2million followers: 'And this is me after I've had my BBL removed and my hips. I look so much better.

'When I watch the old video back it makes me feel so upset that I put my body through so much to feel perfect, even though I didn't even look normal. I wasn't myself.

'I feel so much more comfortable now in my own skin and I'm not 100% there yet, I know I'm not but I'm on the right path and I can feel my spark coming back.

'This is the exact same outfit I had on when I had my BBL and everything is very different, especially the a**. I've still got a little cheeky one but it's the same outfit I wore around Christmas time.

'But yeah I feel so much better and I'm getting my spark back'.
Adam Peaty's estranged mother has a shared a new post about 'children being loved without expectation' as Gordon Ramsay's new Netflix documentary finally lands, despite her demands to be removed from it.

It was previously revealed how Caroline, 60, would still feature in the new series of Being Gordon Ramsay despite formally requesting to be edited out from the final cut.

The six-part show follows TV chef Gordon, 59, as he juggles his family life with his new business empire - opening five culinary experiences in one of London's tallest buildings, 22 Bishopsgate.

Holly and Adam are seen in the show as they're joined by both the Ramsay's and the Peaty family at their engagement party, with his mum Caroline briefly shown at the bash.

The party was filmed months before Adam was first reported to have fallen out with his family, which later saw Caroline snubbed from the wedding invite list.

Following the show's release, Caroline has taken to social media to share a post which said: 'Parents often focus on growth, correction and outcomes. Grandparents focus on being.

Following the show's release, Caroline has taken to social media to share a post about 'children being loved without expectation'

It was previously revealed how Caroline, 60, would still feature in the new series of Being Gordon Ramsay despite formally requesting to be edited out from the final cut

A source close to Caroline revealed she had written to Netflix producers to say she was not asked for her consent to be filmed for Gordon's show

'No grades, no pressure, no fixing. A study showed children with active grandparents show higher emotional security scores by age 10.

'When a child is loved without expectation, self-worth becomes internal, not negotiated.'

In a further post on Instagram, Caroline reshared the following: 'When I die, bury me with a picture of my children.

'Because the greatest thing I've ever done isn't my career, my house, material things or the money I've made.

'It's the sleepless nights nights I survived, the tiny hands I held, the laughter, the tears, and every hug that healed me.

'The greatest thing I've ever done is become a mother.'

A further post read: 'How can I make a difference asked the fox.

'Be kind to others, replied the moon, for even the smallest acts of kindness make the world a better place.'

Olympian Adam seen with new father-in-law Gordon in the Netflix documentary as Gordon beams while pulling him in for a chat - as estranged mum Caroline appears in shot

As Gordon makes a speech, Caroline is visible once more standing alongside Holly and her son for the heartwarming moment

Caroline has shared more inspirational quotes on her Instagram account as the footage of her stood beside estranged son Adam and daughter-in-law Holly airs

The six-part show follows TV chef Gordon, 59, as he juggles his family life with his new business empire - opening five culinary experiences in one of London's tallest buildings

A source close to Caroline previously revealed she had written to Netflix producers to say she was not asked for her consent to be filmed for Gordon's show, and did not want to feature

Just days previously Caroline wrote about 'dark times'.

She shared a tranquil image of sunset with the words: 'You're living proof that you can go through the darkest times and still come out kind, radiant, real and full of love.'

A source close to Caroline previously revealed she had written to Netflix producers to say she was not asked for her consent to be filmed for Gordon's show, and given what had happened, did not want to feature.

However, a source said filming notices were displayed throughout the venue where the bash took place.

They told The Sun: 'They [posters] stated that by attending you were giving your consent to appear in the show...

'The Peaty family members were not interviewed so no additional consent would have been needed.'

The request followed Adam banning his family from attending his wedding with Holly, which took place at Bath Abbey on December 27.

It was all said to be down to a row between the family, which saw Caroline not invited to bride Holly's hen-do earlier last year.

Adam's sister Beth was there at the wedding representing Adam, and was among the maids of honour alongside Holly on the big day.

While promoting his new series, Gordon finally broke his silence on the feud and said it was all 'self-inflicted' from the Peaty side.

Holly and Adam are seen sharing an intimate kiss in the Netflix show, which landed on the platform today

While promoting his new series, Gordon finally broke his silence on the feud and said it was all 'self-inflicted' from the Peaty side

In his new Netflix show, Gordon candidly opens up about his 'awful' relationship with his alcoholic father and his guilt about missing part of his kids' childhoods

He told Daily Mail: 'I was told we were accused of saying inappropriate things

Nothing at all was said that was inappropriate, I promise you. I was very warm, very witty. I talked about when they first met.

'I was nervous, hearing the words no father would ever want to hear, Your daughters gone on a date with the worlds best breast- stroker... We knew something big was going on when she came home and all we could smell was chlorine.

Gordon added: 'Its all self-inflicted from their side, because weve done nothing  none of what youve read: no rudeness, no ignorance  we welcomed them.

'We sent a chauffeur-driven car for them to come to the engagement party and treated them like royalty. So to get that barrage of press was very hurtful. Tana took it very seriously.

'It was Adam and Hollys wishes for them not to attend and so we had to respect that.

'Theres stuff they need to sort out as parents. Thats nothing to do with Tana and me. But we are very mindful we want to move on and allow Holly and Adam to continue starting their lives together.'

Gordon's wife Tana recently revealed the things she said to Caroline before Adam and Holly's nuptials.

The 51-year-old told Grazia how she praised Adam to his mother ahead of the big day.

She said: 'I remember saying to Adam's mum when I met her. "My God, you've got the most amazing son. I couldn't think of anyone that is more perfect for Holly, who's incredibly emotional, incredibly vulnerable in areas."

'She's funny, brilliant and witty but she also needs keeping in line. Adam manages to do all those things. He's been through a lot. She's been through a lot.

With Gordon's hectic workload, which is evident in the new series, he said it meant he wasn't around as much as he would have liked for his kids

Earlier this week Gordon was supported by his family for the launch of the show - left to right: Adam, Holly, Oscar, Tana and Tilly

'I remember saying to his mum that, in my mind, he's perfect for our daughter. I was incredibly happy to meet her and tell her that.'

Last month it was reported the Peaty family had told friends they had 'given up hope' of reconciling with Adam.

It followed Gordon referring to himself as 'dad' in a comment on Adam's wedding video where the Olympian said he would 'always choose' his new wife Holly.

An insider said: 'It's been a really emotional time for them as a family. They're coming to terms with what has happened and that Adam has picked his side.

'It's dashed any hope of reconciliation in the near future. They're keeping their heads down and trying to move on quietly. It's clear Adam's made his choice.'

In his new Netflix show, Gordon candidly opens up about his 'awful' relationship with his alcoholic father and his guilt about missing part of Holly's childhood.

He says he felt at times he prioritised work over being there for his four eldest children; daughter Megan, 27, twins Holly and Jack 26, and Tilly, 24.

Gordon said: 'I absolutely adore the kids. There's part of that love and affection that has built up through guilt.

'The older ones have made it clear and say, "Can we see you more?" and, "Dad, we miss you." I feel I could have been there a bit more.'

Addressing his relationship with his own father, he explained: 'I sadly, had a torrid relationship with my father. My father called me a snob once. And I said, "No, definitely not a snob. I just want to get out of the s**t mess I was born in".'

Adam's sister Beth was there at the wedding representing Adam, and was among the maids of honour alongside Holly on the big day

Adam Peaty's estranged mother has a shared a new post about 'children being loved without expectation' as Gordon Ramsay's new Netflix documentary finally lands

Gordon, who is worth an estimated 162million, lived in 15 different council estates, with his mother juggling three jobs to keep the family afloat.

'You're worried about, you know, hitting the end of the bottle and seeing that bottle of Bacardi disappear, because you know what happens at the end of that.'

While Gordon turned to cooking after his football career was cut short due to a knee injury and went on to work at Marco Pierre White at Harveys, his brother Ronnie, 58, became addicted to heroin.

Reflecting on their fractious relationship, he said: 'I have a brother who's a heroin addict. We shared a bunk bed, he's 15 months younger than me, and he's been an addict for the last four decades.

'I've gone to hell and back with him and so I have a guilt complex. That could have been me, it could have been switched.

He added: 'I've been dealt the dysfunctional card.'
America's Next Top Model winner Sophie Sumner has hit out at the show for providing her with 'zero aftercare' and purposefully pushing contestants' buttons to create better ratings.

Sophie first appeared on Britain's Next Top Model when she was 18-years-old, coming as a runner-up, before being invited to compete on cycle 18 of the American version in 2012 - which she won.

And in the wake of the release of Netflix docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, addressing the show's numerous and famous controversies, the presenter shared a TikTok detailing her own experience on the series.

The reality competition series has been at the heart of a number of controversies over the years, from its dangerous runway challenges and problematic photoshoots to disastrous makeovers and sexual harassment allegations.

While she emphasised that she was grateful for the show and found it enjoyable, Sophie reflected on the 'intense psychological pressure' that contestants were put under, saying she believed the show did little to support their wellbeing.

She criticised producers for not providing her with any aftercare after her win, saying she struggled to adjust after going through such an intense experience.

America's Next Top Model winner Sophie Sumner has hit out at the show for providing her with 'zero aftercare' and purposefully pushing contestants' buttons to create better ratings (seen last month)

While she emphasised that she was grateful for the show and found it enjoyable, Sophie reflected on the 'intense psychological pressure' that contestants were put under, saying she believed the show did little to support their wellbeing (seen on show)

While she accused host Tyra Banks and the show bosses of intentionally taking things to 'the extreme', after becoming obsessed with getting ratings, at the expense of the models.

Sophie said that while she believed that Tyra started the show with the intention of championing diversity in the industry, she became 'lost' in the constant battle for money and views instead.

She said: 'I just think it got completely lost in kind of power and ratings and money and advertising. I think by my season 18 they were just doing absolutely insane things just to get the ratings because they realized it was dwindling.

'And I think what makes me sad is at the time there were a few things that were going on that you as a human just know are kind of wrong or shouldn't be said.'

'I understand how some things really did reflect the modeling industry as it was,' she added. 'You know, they'd always dye our hair, they'd change our teeth, and I do believe that did happen in the real modeling world.

'But again it just seems like Top Model took it to the extreme and Tyra and the producers didn't do anything to stop it.'

She opined that the #MeToo movement was 'the biggest thing' to impact the industry, and candidly declared: 'I think Tyra and the crew could have been part of a change, but they weren't.

'I think they just accelerated a lot of negativity and toxicity of the industry to get views.'

She criticised producers for not providing her with any aftercare after her win, saying she struggled to adjust after going through such an intense experience

In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, Sophie said she felt the show purposefully worked to push their buttons to the detriment of its duty of care, saying: 'We didn't have any help on the show. It was to get the drama. It was to get the ratings.'

She reiterated that she felt Tyra 'got swept up in a machine' and 'getting ratings and making money probably became the overall goal'.

While she underlined her disappointment that the supermodel didn't wield her influence to create positive change, the way that the #MeToo movement did.

'Could she have been the person to make the change? Of course, but other people then did that instead.'

While she said Nigel Barker and Mr. Jay are 'just really, really lovely people' that she still sees around New York, Sophie said she has not spoken to Tyra since the series was broadcast.

Detailing her personal experience on America's Next Top Model, Sophie explained that the psychological pressure began from the moment she agreed to join the show.

She recalled how they were flown to Los Angeles and then placed 'on ice' at a hotel in the lead up to the show, during which they were not allowed to speak to each other or the outside world, which she said caused them to 'start to slowly go mental'.

'We were locked in a hotel for a week, they didn't tell us how long, we didn't know what we were doing, we didn't know if we were even on the show', she said.

While she accused host Tyra Banks and the show bosses of intentionally taking things to 'the extreme', after becoming obsessed with getting ratings, at the expense of the models

'You start to kind of slowly go a bit mental there, because you don't talk to anyone, you don't have your phone, we just had the TV and the windows didn't open in the hotel room. And then suddenly you're on America's Next Top Model.'

Sophie said that she benefitted from having previously been on the British version, having already seen firsthand that being on a reality show often didn't translate into instant fame and fortune, but that others did not.

She candidly explained: 'I had come second in Britain's Next Top Model and I thought it was going to change my life.

'I thought that I was going to get an agency straight away and I didn't. I went up to London and no agency would sign me, and I ended up working as a cocktail waitress in London.

'And people would recognize me and they were like, "Oh my God, are you that girl from Top Model? And I was like oh my God, I felt like I'd kind of failed.'

She went on: 'I feel like a lot of girls were sold the dream that America's Next Top Model would make you whatever the definition of success was, famous, rich, a big model, but I kind of knew that it didn't.'

While she said the competitive environment pitting them against each other, coupled with being in a house with no contact with the outside world meant that 'we all went insane'.

While Sophie clarified that she enjoyed her experience, she said that looking back she 'probably got an easy ride' compared to others.

Detailing her personal experience on America's Next Top Model, Sophie explained that the psychological pressure began from the moment she agreed to join the show

While she said the competitive environment pitting them against each other, coupled with being in a house with no contact with the outside world meant that 'we all went insane' (seen 2022)

She said: 'I was also very aware that a lot of the other girls were really, A) psychologically going through it and B) there was a lot of talk on our season about race, there was a lot of girls feeling discriminated against.'

And despite enjoying her time on the show, she admitted struggling a lot afterwards because there was 'zero aftercare', recalling how she struggled to cope after weeks of being filmed constantly and having her appearance picked apart.

She described the moment after she won: 'I was such a mess because I was like "What just happened for the past two months of my life? I haven't even been able to go to the toilet alone and now I'm just like it's finished and I'm just alone and no one's talking."

'And then within about eight hours I was on a plane home and then I was home and there was like zero aftercare.

'I was a 21 year old girl who just went through something so intense and there was no help. In a competition that's all about how you look and your body shape and your size and all that jazz.

'And so I was really down afterwards for quite a long time. I just did not know what to do, what to do with myself, how to get myself out of that like mode of being constantly filmed. I remember that being super tricky.'

Sophie also shared another video talking through the differences between the American and British versions of the show, having been a rare contestant that appeared in both.

She stated that Britain's Next Top Model 'definitely cared about the girls more', calling it 'a lot lighter' while America's Next Top Model was much bigger and more psychologically intense, describing it as 'on steroids'.

And despite enjoying her time on the show, she admitted struggling a lot afterwards because there was 'zero aftercare', recalling how she struggled to cope after weeks of being filmed constantly and having her appearance picked apart (seen in 2013 the year after her win)

She also pointed to the stark difference the two shows had in prioritizing the girls' welfare when it came to production staff, with America allocating one person to take care of the contestants, while Britain had six.

She said: 'Overall, Britain's Next Top Model was a lot fluffier, a lot lighter. It felt kind of lower stakes and then America's Next Top Model felt intense, bigger, like we had to get things done and on schedule. It was just so much more intense.

'The maddest thing that I still can't get my head around is that it's the same amount of people roughly right in Britain's Next Top Model, and we always had two people looking after us.

'They looked after us and they would rotate every three days, so there was three different sets of two people that would be there for our well-being, kind of like big brothers and big sisters that were there for you.

'On America's Next Top Model we had one. Which is wild, because she was stressed, she was with us the whole time, she had way too many girls to look after.

'So the production on America's Next Top Model had hundreds of people, like so many cameramen and people behind the scenes, but just one person wrangling the girls? Whereas on Britain's Next Top Model, it was way smaller production and budget, but six people rotating looking after the girls.'

Sophie also explained how the girls on the British show would chat and hang with the crew and judges, whereas on ANTM the focus was about getting everything on film.

'On Britain's Next Top Model you could talk to the crew, we would hang out with them, have Thai food with them,' Sophie recalled.

She stated that Britain's Next Top Model 'definitely cared about the girls more', calling it 'a lot lighter' while America's Next Top Model was much bigger and more psychologically intense, describing it as 'on steroids' (seen on British version)

She also pointed to the stark difference the two shows had in prioritizing the girls' welfare when it came to production staff, with America allocating one person to take care of the contestants, while Britain had six (seen on America's Next Top Model second left)

'But America's Next Top Model - no talking to the crew whatsoever. I would speak to them so much, they actually called a meeting where they were like, "You can't talk to Sophie".

'We also spoke a lot to the judges on Britain's. But on America's they were very much like "Don't talk to anyone when the cameras aren't rolling".

'And on Britain's Next Top Model, they put the cameras down. America's Next Top Model, the cameras were always rolling. So it was psychologically more intense.'

She described how they would often be sat waiting on the bus outside the location for a photoshoot for four or five hours, which she said weighed heavily on their psyche, before being told they had just a few hours to do the entire shoot.

She concluded: 'So I think America's Next Top Model felt a lot more high stakes, a lot more stressful' and added: 'I think I would say that Britain's Next Top Mode definitely cared about the girls more than America's.'
Pregnant Molly-Mae Hague showed off her bump in a tank top as she praised her body for carrying her unborn baby.

The former Love Island star announced her pregnancy in February, shortly after settling back into Fury's Manchester home with their three-year old daughter, Bambi.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Molly-Mae paid tribute to her body for navigating pregnancy as she modelled new garments for her brand Maebe.

Seen in a knitted vest, pregnant Molly-Mae showed off her growing bump after expressing her plans to have a boob job.

Wearing the Prime Knitted Tank in black, Molly-Mae shared a selfie video in the mirror where her baby bump was on display.

She captioned the video: 'OOTD. Off to a very exciting meeting. Feeling so grateful to my body for carrying this baby so well for me.

Pregnant Molly-Mae Hague showed off her bump in a tank top on Instagram on Wednesday as she praised her body for carrying her unborn baby

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Molly-Mae paid tribute to her body for navigating pregnancy as she modelled new garments for her brand Maebe

'It's really doing its thing [crying face].'

She went on to share a picture in the top as she added: 'Our Prima Knitted Tank. Launching Sunday in black and white.

'The fabric is honestly insane, it's so sculpting and flattering. My new everyday go to vest...I haven't stopped wearing it.'

Molly-Mae this week revealed this is considering getting a boob job after convincing herself that pregnancy has had a negative impact on her breasts.

'I'll be honest they aint pretty,' she told viewers in her latest YouTube vlog. 'Like, they truly wholeheartedly, and Im not even being harsh on myself, they aint pretty.'

The influencer, 26, was addressing fans while renovations continue at Fury's home - among them a new walk-in wardrobe for her mountain of clothes and accessories.

'When Im not wearing a bra, hope all the guys can't hear me [the workmen], but theyre really saggy,' she admitted.

'Im only 26 and I feel like there's time not to be saggy Maggie in this life.'

Seen in a knitted vest, pregnant Molly-Mae showed off her growing bump after expressing her plans to have a boob job

Wearing the Prime Knitted Tank in black, Molly-Mae shared a selfie video in the mirror where her baby bump was on display

Hague also confirmed that she and Fury were sleeping in separate bedrooms due to another unfortunate pregnancy side-effect - loud snoring.

'I've permanently, as of last night, banished myself to the spare room,' she said.

'I've made peace with myself that for the rest of my pregnancy I probably am going to sleep in the spare room because my congestion has been beyond. I've never been this bunged up in my life. I dont feel ill, I dont feel fluey.'

Taking to Instagram on Friday morning, Molly-Mae - who has moved back into partner Tommy's Manchester home after rekindling their relationship - gave Instagram followers a glimpse at her sizeable wardrobe space, which is still in the early stages of renovation.

Sweeping her camera phone around the empty room, she explained: 'There's been a lot of progress at the house - we've basically got somewhere that looks somewhat like a dressing room.'

Admitting a team of builders had been carrying out the laborious work without her, she added: 'I've had zero involvement, but things are starting to come together and apparently it's going to be finished by today, however I will believe it when I see it.'

The completed space will include a large dressing table, a full length mirror, numerous shelves, partially closed rails and tasteful lighting, giving it the appearance of a boutique.

The wardrobe even got the seal of approval from Hague's daughter, despite the three year old claiming it urgently needed a carpet.

The former Love Island star announced her pregnancy in February, shortly after settling back into Fury's Manchester home with their three-year old daughter, Bambi

The influencer was addressing fans while renovations continue at Fury's home - among them a new walk-in wardrobe for her mountain of clothes and accessories

Hague recently discussed her second pregnancy and shared the 'irritating' symptoms she's experiencing in her first vlog since announcing the happy news.

She told viewers: 'I dont really know how we got here, but I'm pregnant, legitimately the worst kept secret.

'But that's honestly my own fault because towards the end, I got really lazy trying to hide it. We werent even trying to hide it. We were at a spa over the weekend and I was openly saying to people that "Im pregnant", to the staff.'

She added: 'Having a toddler is savage, if you want to keep a secret don't tell them. Bambi is telling everyone, she told all the air hostesses on the way home from the Maldives, she's told all her teachers at nursery.

'The people who have known through Bambi have been really great to me and just pretended that they didn't hear.'
Brook Crompton and Gia Fleur have inspired the wrath of Married At First Sight fans after their wild display at Wednesday's dinner party.

While Brook clashed with co-stars Stella Mickunaite and Alissa Fay, Gia had a go at Bec Zacharia.

The war of words went some dark places, and those tuning in at home branded Gia and Brook 'bullies' and called for them to be cut from the reality show.

'Brook is what happens when you get by your whole life on "pretty privilege". No need to develop moral character,' wrote one person on X.

Another said: 'Brook's behaviour has been soooo appalling. I think she's doing it because she's already back with her ex and she's just genuinely not a good person.'

One more wrote: 'I hope anyone following Brook on socials prior to this evening - unfollows immediately. Please don't support this person or behaviour.'

'Love MAFS, but I'm not interested in watching relentless bullying such disgusting and embarrassing behaviour from Gia, Bec, and Brook.'

Someone else posted: 'There has to be some females kicked out of the experiment after this debacle!! This is appalling!! Brook, Gia and Bec need to be removed. along with their partners!'

Brook Crompton (pictured) and Gia Fleur have inspired the wrath of Married At First Sight fans after their wild display at Wednesday's dinner party

Brook clashed with co-stars Stella Mickunaite and Alissa Fay (pictured)

'What a disgusting example of young women. Brook and Gia nothing but bullies. Shame on them. We all know that they will then try and make out that something was going on that caused this behaviour. No, you are awful, cruel, people,' another said.

'Is Brook a plant? Seriously can't believe someone can behave like this,' asked one more viewer.

Another chimed in: 'Wow, Brook. Way to uphold the patriarchy. Setting feminism back several decades with your venomous vitriol.'

One more person posted: 'It should have been stopped. Shame on the producers for not getting security to remove Brook from the dinner party.'

Brook certainly lived up to the 'villain' tag on Wednesday night, unleashing vicious attacks on fellow brides Stella and Alissa.

After making the shock decision on Tuesday night to pack her bags and head home to the Gold Coast, Brook surprised all the brides and grooms when she returned for a drama-packed dinner party on Wednesday.

It appeared that Brook might have had one too many cheeky chardonnays, as she sounded intoxicated and slurred her words while launching into her wild rant.

Admitting that she was at the dinner party for 'unfinished business', Brook wasted no time in creating drama, first turning her attention to rival Stella, 32, as she was chatting to Steve Powell about their relationships.

Brook certainly lived up to the 'villain' tag on Wednesday night. Pictured: Stella Mickunaite

Gia (pictured) had a go at Bec Zacharia

The war of words went some dark places, and those tuning in at home branded Gia and Brook 'bullies' and called for them to be cut from the reality show. Pictured: Bec Zacharia

'I think Stella is trying to give relationship advice after her two-week relationship,' Brook said, unsolicited, to the entire table.

She then proceeded to berate Stella over perceived slights at previous cast get-togethers.

Speaking about the commitment ceremony, Brook said: 'You came for me when I'd done nothing to you. You called me out in front of everyone and the experts, making me out to look like a bad person.'

The dressing down didn't stop there, as Brook launched further vicious attacks, while Stella sat and endured the barrage of vitriol.

'You need to have a clue and realise. I'm standing up for myself because I see someone like you: 'I'm so deep, I'm so deep.' I don't think you're deep, I just think you're f***ing dumb,' Brook spat.

Stella finally replied, telling Brook that she was 'abrasive', but this only served to ignite tensions further.

'You're very abrasive. And what you've been all night is barking at other women,' Stella said.

Brook's number one fan Gia, 35, then chimed in with: 'Barking, babe. That's lovely. Why don't you go back in your kennel, babe.'

'Brook is what happens when you get by your whole life on "pretty privilege". No need to develop moral character,' wrote one person on X

After being told she was a 'very rude b***h by Brook, Stella attempted to smooth things over before leaving the table.

Brook, however, chose the moment to continue her ad hominem attacks.

'Hey babe, while you're at it, get the stripper boots off. If you're going to buy stripper boots, buy 100 per cent lamb, don't buy fake leather,' Brook said.

Speaking to producers, Stella slammed Brook's behaviour as immature.

'You don't speak to people like that. You just don't,' she said.

Brook was clearly not interested in displaying maturity, telling fellow bride Alissa, 33, to 'shut up' and branding her an 'idiot' after Alissa told her to tone down the attack.

Alissa tried to calm the situation by telling Brook to curb her 'nasty' behaviour but Brook was having none of it.

'Babe, you are the one that rolled your eyes at every single person.'

This emboldened Gia and Bec, 35, to seize the opportunity to gang up on Alissa.

Another chimed in: 'Wow, Brook. Way to uphold the patriarchy. Setting feminism back several decades with your venomous vitriol'

'You wonder why everyone hates you, babe, that's why,' Gia said, to which Bec excitedly agreed.

Affecting a mocking tone to impersonate Alissa's voice, Gia continued, 'Ultimately I wanted to be fake as usual.'

Alissa replied: 'Are you okay?' which only caused another juvenile attack.

'Take your hair extensions out and chill,' Gia said.

Alissa, meanwhile, seemed keen to put the drama to bed, saying: 'This is not worth my breath or my energy,' before telling Gia to focus on her own relationship.

'You're in a fake relationship,' Brook screamed.

'Clap, clap, clap. And I hope your parents are really proud watching this.'

While she managed to remain stoic during the fracas, Alissa broke down when talking about the incident with producers.

'This is just disgusting behaviour,' she said with tears streaming down her face. 'I don't want to be sitting at a table with that going on. That is just bulls***.'
Katie Price has claimed she is 'having a baby' with her husband Lee Andrews.

The glamour model, 47, married the entrepreneur at the end of January in a whirlwind ceremony in Dubai, just a week after they first met.

And on Wednesday, Katie claimed she is having Lee's child in a fiery Instagram post, directed at his ex Alana Percival, with Lee also writing: 'Soon to be three' alongside a pregnancy emoji.

On Wednesday, Lee's ex has shared a scathing post where she accused him of 'conning his own father' and 'taking everything you have until you have nothing left and have to rely on him.'

Mother-of-five Katie wrote in response: '@larnaapercival I know rejection doesn't feel nice and I'm married to @wesleeeandrews the man you want and will never have again.

'Your constant lies and put-downs is clearly showing how bitter you are, go live your life little girl. I know the truth and your now embarrassing yourself, go and have the little respect for yourself that's left.

Katie Price has claimed she is 'having a baby' with her husband Lee Andrews in an extraordinary social media rant aimed at his ex Alana Percival (pictured with her new husband)

The former glamour model took to Instagram to share a lengthy post where she claimed she's going to 'have Lee's baby'

Lee also shared the same picture with the words: 'soon to be triple' alongside a baby bump emoji

'I know all about you and who you are at least I'm the real woman he has found and deserves, but please just enjoy watching us build our empire as I'm having his child.

'I'll enjoy the ride and big d**k energy now, I'm in the saddle, he's the most beautiful human I know who never took anything from you. I'm the real feminine woman he deserves, not the male version you are.

'Now disappear under that bridge you irrelevant little troll.'

While Lee has presented himself as a high-flying business mogul, the Daily Mail shattered the illusion by revealing that he has been banned from leaving Dubai after spending three weeks locked up in a UAE jail for allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend's signature.

Since then, several of Lee's exes have spoken out, with Alana declaring in an interview that Katie should 'run for the hills.'

On Wednesday, she shared a scathing post where she accused him of 'taking everything you have until you have nothing left and have to rely on him.'

In a lengthy message, Alana also claimed Lee 'f****d over his own father many times,' and hit back at accusations she is 'jealous' of his marriage to Katie.

She wrote: 'Also jealous and bitter? Hahahaha I can tell you this is not me at all, Lee is dead to me.

On Wednesday, Lee's ex Alana shared a scathing post where she accused him of 'taking everything you have until you have nothing left and have to rely on him'

Katie and Lee brushed off Alana's accusations as they enjoyed a PDA-filled pool day during their honeymoon in Dubai

Lee has repeatedly insisted he'll be joining Katie in the UK, despite the Daily Mail revealing earlier this month he's banned from leaving Dubai

In a lengthy message, Alana also claimed Lee 'f****d over his own father many times,' and hit back at accusations she is 'jealous' of his marriage to Katie

'I am concerned because of his patterns and behaviour with women. I was just like Katie, ignored everyone. I WISH I LISTENED.

'Get your facts right, please tell me what there is to be jealous and bitter about, vile vermin of a human. He is a scum bag that robs poor women for their money.

'Escorts himself out. Lies about everything that comes out of his mouth.

'Cars, house, who he lends money to, pretends to work with royals and every other ambassador in the world... promises with no delivery, always an excuse.

'F*****d up fantasies (if not what he has already done) (I cannot get into this on here). Mentally and physically hurts people he loves, arrogant, f****d his own father over many of times got him a travel ban too!!

'He has no remorse at all for anyone... the list could go on!!! Also not even your f****g hair line wants to be with you, EVERY PICTURE HE PUTS UP IS EDITED too. Nothing to be jealous about this ugly scummy disgusting piece of s**t.

'Again saying he is coming to the UK today - we'll watch this space.

'The most insecure person I've ever met, so bad that he will take everything from you so you rely on him.'

Lee connected to Alana on Facebook last March and showered her with a Louis Vuitton handbag, Cartier jewellery and transferred thousands of pounds.

He proposed in September and the set-up was identical to Katie's engagement at the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab.

Alana said as soon as she posted a picture of their engagement, she was contacted by his estranged Russian wife Cezara and two other exes, who claimed he was a 'liar'.

Despite their warnings, Alana, who has since branded him a 'lying swindler', said she thought their relationships had just ended badly as she 'never had someone basically tell me that they love me the way he does'.

Alana, who sold a house to Katie 15 years ago and called off their engagement in November, told The Sun: 'Katie should run for the hills, Lee is a liar, a narcissist and I think hes a manipulator. Once I tried to leave him, he told me had a heart condition and was living on borrowed time. Lee doesnt know whats fact and whats fiction.'

Meanwhile, another of Lee's exes, Crystal Janke, has claimed Lee hoodwinked her into handing over 123,000 to invest in his company, on the promise he could get a 'return of 1million'.

The family nurse practitioner from Texas, who started a romance with Lee last May, claimed she had been scammed and fears her money was spent by Lee on lavish gifts for Alana, who he was dating at the same time.

Lee denies these claims.

Katie appeared to hit back at Lee's exes in a post on Instagram Stories, where she reshared a quote which read: 'Be careful what you hear about a female.

'Rumours either came from a male that can't have her or a female that can't compete with her.'

Lee teased plans for a baby following Katie previously exploring surrogacy amid her relationship with Carl Woods and claiming that she had already found someone who could carry her sixth child.

Speaking about plans to grow her family in 2023, Katie told the Turning Adversity Into An Asset podcast: 'I have got a surrogate, I haven't got any eggs anymore, I'm 44, I want another baby so what am I supposed to do? I can't pop it out,'

'I have got a surrogate, I haven't got any eggs anymore, I'm 44, I want another baby so what am I supposed to do? I can't pop it out.'

When host Lewis Raymond Taylor asked who would be having the baby, Katie said: 'I have got this lady, it will be my egg - she's been a fan of mine for years and she does do surrogacy.'

Asked who the father would be, Katie replied: 'If I was with someone it would be with them, if not it would be a sperm donor.'

However the surrogate then pulled out after being 'disrespected' by Katie, who she claims treated her and her four children like 's***'.

Katie is currently in Dubai with Lee, having initially returned to the UK after their nuptials, where he was due to follow her.

Join the debate Should Katie have a baby with Lee?

Katie is currently in Dubai with Lee, having initially returned to the UK after their nuptials, where he was due to follow her

However, the Daily Mail previously revealed Lee spent three weeks locked up in a UAE jail for allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend's signature to take out a 200,000 loan in his ex's name.

Insiders told the Daily Mail that he allegedly applied for a 200,000 mortgage on behalf of personal trainer partner Dina Taji without her knowledge last year.

It was claimed that as a result, he was banned from leaving the country, though Lee denies this. He has yet to leave the UAE.

According to Dubai law, individuals pending criminal investigations, including unpaid debts or civil lawsuits, are not legally allowed to leave the country. The woman reported Lee to the authorities in Dubai who investigated her claim.

Meanwhile, Katie and Lee have insisted they will be jetting to the UK in the coming days following their honeymoon.

Taking to Lee's Instagram Stories on Monday the newlyweds told fans that they would be flying back 'within days' and joked that England should 'watch out'.

In the clip, Katie said: 'So we are still in Dubai and we will be coming to England very soon.'
Al Pacino looked frail as he was seen for the first time since the death of acting legend Robert Duvall who he starred alongside in the iconic film The Godfather.

The 85-year-old Scarface star - who was later seen out to dinner with his 32-year-old baby mama Noor Alfallah - was seen arriving at a studio in Los Angeles Monday.

He looked effortlessly stylish in his signature all-black look including a long coat over T-shirt, trousers, and sneakers.

He also wore a tiny beanie and brown-tinted designer shades while gripping onto an iced latte from La Colombe and walking alongside a friend.

On that same day he paid tribute to his former co-star Duvall who passed away on Sunday at 95.

'It was an honor to have worked with Robert Duvall,' Pacino told Variety on Monday.

Al Pacino looked frail as he was seen arriving at a studio in Los Angeles Monday

He was seen for the first time since the death of acting legend Robert Duvall who he starred alongside in the iconic film The Godfather

'He was a born actor as they say, his connection with it, his understanding and his phenomenal gift will always be remembered. I will miss him.'

Duvall was known for starring in a number of critically-acclaimed projects over the span of his Hollywood career including Apocalypse Now and aforementioned The Godfather.

The Hollywood star passed away on Sunday, with his wife, Luciana, confirming that he was 'at home, surrounded by love and comfort'.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Luciana said: 'Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort.

'To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court.

'For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.'

Duvall was born in San Diego, California, in January 1931, and was the son of a rear admiral in the US Navy. Duvall was expected to follow in his father's footsteps during his younger years, and although he joined the US Army and served in Korea, he ultimately opted to pursue a career in the movie business.

He once told People: 'I was terrible at everything but acting  I could barely get through school.'

He looked effortlessly stylish in his signature all-black look including a long coat over T-shirt, trousers, and sneakers

Pacino and Duvall are seen in iconic 1972 mob movie The Godfather which is considered by many to be the greatest film of all-time

He studied drama at Principia College in Illinois and subsequently moved to New York City to develop his talents at the Neighborhood Playhouse, where his classmates included Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman and James Caan.

Duvall initially attracted attention for his theatre acting, appearing in productions of A View from the Bridge, and Wait Until Dark.

Following that, he starred in movies such as Bullitt and True Grit, while he also earned plaudits for his performance in M*A*S*H.

In 1972, he played Tom Hagen in The Godfather, which earned him an Oscar nomination, and he reprised the role for the sequel in 1974.

On Monday, Pacino paid tribute to his former co-star Duvall who passed away on Sunday at 95 (Duvall is seen in 1993)

The two-time Emmy winner was married four times, and is survived by his wife Luciana. Seen in 2015 in Beverly Hills

In 1979, he played the part of Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, the epic war film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Duvall won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1983 for his portrayal of an alcoholic former country music star in the film Tender Mercies.

The acclaimed actor - who never officially announced his retirement - later starred in Deep Impact, Thank You for Smoking, Jack Reacher, The Apostle, and The Judge.

The two-time Emmy winner was married four times, and is survived by his wife Luciana.
Brandi Glanville has revealed that her facial disfigurement was actually the result of damaged breast implants that led to an infection.

She previously insisted her features were deformed by 'parasites' she caught in Morocco in 2023 filming The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club 2.

Glanville spent over $130,000 to try to fix the issue, at one point even trying to cure herself with hair removal cream and burning her face in the process.

However last summer she revealed she had consulted infectious disease immunology physician Michael R. Scoma in New York City and possibly found a solution.

Although she did not disclose the diagnosis he gave her, she proudly posted photos of herself in his office with her face in dramatically better condition.

Now, however, she has discovered the real source of the problem was a breast augmentation she underwent 18 years ago, and so she has gone under the knife again to have the implants taken out in what Inside Edition called 'life-saving surgery.'

Brandi Glanville has revealed that her facial disfigurement was actually the result of ruptured breast implants that led to an infection

Now she has gone under the knife again to have the implants taken out by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Ariel Ourian, as seen on Inside Edition

She explained that she 'definitely had a parasite,' but her implants were also 'completely ruptured' such that she 'had silicone all over my lymph nodes,' via TMZ.

The silicone was 'what caused the infection in my face, and it couldn't get out because my lymph nodes were all clogged,' according to Glanville.

'I had a complete rupture on the right. A complete leak on the left,' she said on Inside Edition in the run-up to her implant removal. 'I'm feeling petrified.'

By that stage she had taken to wearing a hat because her illness had caused her to start losing hair, 'especially on the left side,' she observed.

Once she arrived at the offices of Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Ariel Ourian on what he called 'Surgery Day,' she said: 'Thank God it's here.'

'Brandi's case is really complicated. She has a ruptured implant. I don't really know what I'm gonna find when I get in there,' Dr. Ourian confessed.

Over the course of the operation - which was so involved that Dr. Ourian had to change gloves part of the way through - he extracted the mangled remains of the burst implant and then suctioned out the escaped silicone.

'It is torn, it is ripped and this is actually much worse than I expected,' Dr. Ourian said, before noting that the other implant was 'intact.'

Over the course of the operation he extracted the mangled remains of the burst implant and then suctioned out the escaped silicone

Once she arrived at the offices of Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Ariel Ourian on what he called 'Surgery Day,' she said: 'Thank God it's here'

'I had a complete rupture on the right. A complete leak on the left,' she said on Inside Edition in the run-up to her implant removal: 'I'm feeling petrified'

He gave her a set of 'fresh, new implants' and predicted she would be 'really happy' with the results, which included a 'lower risk of rupture.'

A week after the surgery, Glanville observed that 'my joints are different. I can sit down, I can get up right away. I don't have to massage my neck all day long. I've been isolating for three years. It's been hell and now I want to live my life again. I'm ready.'

After the procedure, Glanville shared that she was 'shocked, because honestly, my implants I've had for 20 years almost. They looked fine. They felt fine. The mammogram said they were fine. It wasn't until I had a sonogram - I was just feeling like: "Maybe just check that too. Why not? I've checked everything else." I went to 21 doctors and I spent so much money.'

The Bravo star noted that 'there is such a thing as breast implant illness and you really should change your breast implants out at 10 years, and I just didn't do it. I'm like, if it's not broke, don't fix it. So I learned a really, really hard lesson.'

As she tries to fix the damage, Glanville is now availing herself of the services of two Beverly Hills plastic surgeons, Dr. Robert G. Dorfman and Dr. Ourian.

'Well, honestly I'm not getting plastic surgery,' she said. 'Dr. Dorfman is doing like lasers and different things because it sucks to age 20 years overnight. And then Dr. Ariel Ourian took my breast implants out just recently.'

Although she feels in fine fettle, Dr. Ourian has been urging her: 'Rest,' to which she retorted: 'I can't rest! I've been home for three years!'

Glanville also disclosed that she 'had a bunch of teeth pulled. I have to get that fixed. I feel like a hillbilly walking around with no teeth, but what are you gonna do?'

Her current upbeat disposition comes at the end of a crisis that took such a toll on her health and finances she at one stage 'didn't want to be here' any longer; pictured April 2024

She spent over $130,000 to try to fix the issue, at one point even trying to cure herself with hair removal cream and burning her face in the process

Her advice vis-a-vis breast implants is: 'I'm not saying don't do it. Just do it and make sure you stay on top of it, and mammograms can actually rupture your breast implant. So you really have to be vigilant about - get sonograms, ask your doctor.'

Glanville's current upbeat disposition comes at the end of a crisis that took such a toll on her health and finances she at one stage 'didn't want to be here' any longer.

She was able to achieve her stunning turnaround last summer after visiting Dr. Scoma, who contacted her when he read her distraught tweets about her situation.

In the middle of August, she triumphantly posted an Instagram photo of herself showing off her restored features in Dr. Scoma's office as he stood nearby.

'They say Twitter is the devil but all it took was me screaming in my tweets asking for help for this lovely man to reach out,' she wrote in the caption.

She had revealed in late July that she was being treated by Dr. Scoma, explaining that she was 'finally getting answers,' expressing her gratitude for her physician's help and saying she was excited to 'make out with a hot boy or girl.'

Before she met the doctor who finally led her to whatever her solution was, her health downturn resulted in a mad scramble to see how she could fix her face.

Glanville at one point consulted Botched host Dr. Terry Dubrow - the husband of Real Housewives of Orange County star Heather Dubrow - who disagreed with her theory that her deformity was the result of 'parasites.'

However this summer she revealed she had gone to infectious disease immunology physician Michael R. Scoma in New York City, and in August she debuted her new face online (pictured)

However he shared he was 'concerned' she could be the victim of either an 'infectious process' or a 'foreign-body reaction to something she's had injected.'

In the course of trying to restore her face to normality, she hemorrhaged $130,000, visited more than 20 doctors and plunged into medical debt.

'My insurance was like, "Nothings wrong with you. Its just inflammation and old filler,"' she said in August, adding that the doctors also did not 'believe' her about the 'crazy lumps' that had been afflicting her face.

'Im paying the minimum on my credit cards. Ive exhausted my savings,' said Glanville, who shares her sons Mason, 22, and Jake, 18, with her ex-husband Eddie Cibrian, who infamously left her for his current wife LeAnn Rimes.

'At my age, I feel like such a loser in a way, because I was taking care of everything. I was together. I had great credit. Now Im scared about every little thing.'

In order to try and contest some of the charges her insurance refused to pick up, she enlisted the services of healthcare strategist Rachel Strauss, who calls herself the PBM Princess, with the acronym standing for Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf has sent out a worrying cry for help after a wild week in New Orleans that included heavy drinking, multiple fights and an arrest.

In the early morning of Wednesday, the Disturbia actor wrote on X, 'Free me.' He added an old selfie from his party-thon in the Southern town.

That note comes hours after the Fury star was seen eating a hamburger with strangers and drinking beer on the street at the annual Mardi Gras festival in images taken by Daily Mail.

Fans did not know what to make of his post as some asked him to 'be careful' and 'take care' as he roams the Louisiana party town alone with no security after a rough few days.

New Orleans has frequently been ranked among the most dangerous US cities, often cited with the highest homicide rate per capita in recent years, placing it in a high-crime state, according to Fox News.

Daily Mail caught up with LaBeouf on Tuesday just after he left jail following his arrest to ask how he was doing. He looked bleary eyed and downcast as he refused to comment before he purchased a bottle of water at a gas station convenience store.

Shia LaBeouf has sent out a cry for help after a wild week in New Orleans that included heavy drinking, multiple fights and an arrest. In the early morning of Wednesday, the Disturbia actor wrote on X, 'Free me.' He added an old selfie from his party-thon in the Southern town

That note comes hours after the Fury star was seen eating a hamburger with strangers and drinking beer on the street at the annual Mardi Gras festival in images taken by Daily Mail

Daily Mail also saw him buying a T-shirt, sunglasses and a beer while talking to tourists on the street.

Many revelers did not seem to recognize the star and when they did, he denied he was LaBeouf in an off twist, according to TMZ.

LaBeouf has been accused of assaulting two men in a bar fight, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

The 39-year-old actor is facing two counts of simple battery, after being arrested in New Orleans following an alleged altercation during Mardi Gras celebrations.

Police provided an update on the incident.

In a statement provided to Daily Mail, the police said: 'At approximately 12:45am on February 17, 2026, NOPD officers were called to the 1400 block of Royal Street in response to a simple battery where two victims (two adult males), reported being assaulted.

'Investigators say a man identified as 39-year-old Shia LaBeouf was reportedly causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive at a Royal Street business.

'A staff member attempted to eject Mr. LaBeouf from the establishment. Once removed from the building, the victim reported being struck by LaBeouf who used his closed fists on the victim several times.

Fans did not know what to make of his post as some asked him to 'be careful' and 'take care' as he roams the Louisiana party town with no security after a rough few days

Daily Mail caught up with LaBeouf on Tuesday just after he left jail following his arrest to ask how he was doing. He looked bleary eyed and downcast as he refused to comment before he purchased a bottle of water at a gas station convenience store

'The victims reported that LaBeouf left, but then came back, acting even more aggressive.'

LaBeouf has been accused of assaulting two men in New Orleans.

The police said: 'Multiple people attempted to hold him down - he was eventually let up in hopes that he would leave - but he reportedly again struck the same victim with closed fists to the victim's upper body. LaBeouf then reportedly assaulted another person - punching him in the nose.

'LaBeouf was again held down until police arrived. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. Upon release, he was arrested and charged with two counts of simple battery.'

LaBeouf was involved in a confrontation outside a bar in the city's French Quarter. In a video obtained by TMZ, LaBeouf can be seen receiving medical treatment from paramedics following the alleged clash. However, it remains unclear what led to the confrontation.

LaBeouf - who has a history of legal troubles and addiction - arrived in New Orleans last week for the Mardi Gras festivities.

The Hollywood Reporter claimed he arrived on Thursday. He was also seen in a video headbutting a man on the street in New Orleans before being thrown to the ground.
Olivia Colman has been publicly criticised for positing herself as a 'gay man' in her marriage to husband Ed Sinclair and claiming she feels 'non-binary' by a Scottish lesbian group who say 'her words are deeply painful' and 'diminish our struggle.'

The celebrated actress plays the mother of a non-binary child in recently released drama Jimpa, writer-director Sophie Hyde's semi-autobiographical exploration of queerness and parenthood within the LGBTQ+ community.

But Colman's comments about traditional gender roles in mainstream cinema - among them the claim that she has 'never felt properly feminine' - has prompted the release of an open letter from a Scottish lesbian support group.

Sharing a two page response to Colman, 52, on social media, The Fantastic Lesbians described her words as 'deeply painful for those whose lives have been shaped by the realities of actually being gay or lesbian.'

The added: 'For many people in the lesbian and gay community, sexuality has not simply been a label but a journey marked by confusion, fear, self-interrogation, and often profound alienation from family, faith communities or societies at large.

'Heterosexuality, in contrast, exists within an inclusive heteronormative framework. It is affirmed in media, celebrated in family structures, and reinforced by social expectations.

A Scottish lesbian group has criticised Olivia Colman positing herself as a 'gay man' in her marriage to husband Ed Sinclair and claiming she feels 'non-binary', saying 'her words are deeply painful and diminish our struggle'

Sharing a two page response to Colman, The Fantastic Lesbians described her words as 'deeply painful for those whose lives have been shaped by the realities of being gay or lesbian'

'Many heterosexual people never have to question their orientation, never have to "come out," never have to weigh the risk of disappointing loved one simply for being who they are.

'They are not typically asked to justify their relationships or prove the legitimacy of their families.'

Concluding the letter, the group insist they 'share this not to accuse or attack, but to express the hurt that can arise when lived experiences that have involved marginalisation are treated as interchangeable with those that have not.

'For many, being gay has required courage, resilience, and sacrifice in ways that heterosexual life simply has not demanded.'

In her latest theatrical release Colman plays Hannah, a wife and mother who travels with her family to visit her gay father Jim, played by John Lithgow, at his home in Amsterdam.

Jim - affectionately referred to as Jimpa - set off to pursue 'a free, gay life' in the Dutch capital after coming out when his children were young, and actively encourages his nonbinary granddaughter Frances to explore the city's vibrant queer culture.

When Frances opts to live in the liberal minded Dutch capital with her grandfather for a year, Hannah is forced to reevaluate her own qualities as a parent.

Colman recently admitted she too feels nonbinary, and has never been comfortable with traditional gender roles.

Colman and Sinclair (pictured) married in 2001. They met four years earlier, while she was performing in a production of Sir Alan Ayckbourn's Table Manners

The actress plays the mother of a non-binary child in Jimpa, writer-director Sophie Hyde's semi-autobiographical exploration of queerness and parenthood in the LGBTQ+ community

She told Them: 'Throughout my whole life, I've had arguments with people where I've always sort of felt non-binary.

'I've never felt massively feminine in my being female. I've always described myself to my husband as a gay man.

'And he goes, "Yeah, I get that". And I do feel so at home and at ease.'

Speaking to Variety about the issues addressed in her new film, she said: 'Theres an awful lot of mistrust and hatred about things that there is no need to be hateful about.

'I love the fact that this film is about learning how to listen to each other without throwing the toys out the crib.

'I dont understand how you can get so upset about it when someone is different It would be great if films about queer stories were mainstream.'

Nonbinary is a term used to describe a person's gender identity that falls outside the traditional male and female binary.
Sharon Stone has unleashed a fiery takedown of society's ongoing discomfort with nudity.

The movie icon was blasting the idea that women should hide their bodies, or be ashamed of the most basic parts of being human.

In a new video posted to Instagram that's already causing a stir, the Hollywood icon questioned why, in 2026, people are still more scandalized by skin than by violence.

The Golden Globe Award winner began the candid clip: 'Are we supposed to be terrified when we look in the mirror?

'Is it supposed to be a secret when we pee and poo and brush our teeth? Why are we supposed to be afraid of our own human self? It's like the weirdest idea in the world to me.'

Sharon Stone has unleashed a fiery takedown of society's ongoing discomfort with nudity. The movie icon was blasting the idea that women should hide their bodies, or be ashamed of the most basic parts of being human; seen in Basic Instinct with Michael Douglas

In a new video that's already causing a stir, the Hollywood icon questioned why, in 2026, people are still more scandalized by skin than by violence

The 67-year-old actress didn't hold back, doubling down: 'Excuse me, I wear it every day. I get up in it. I go to sleep in it. I pee in it. I poo in it. It's my apartment. I live here.'

Her caption called out the pressure placed on women to fear ageing or hide their bodies.

'Why in 2026 are we still afraid of aging and living in our own selves?' she wrote. 'We are more than appearance we are artists, mothers, sisters, wives, nurses, teachers and the list goes on!'

On the cover of Playboy in 1990

Stone revealed that her frustration boiled over after a recent incident in her studio.

A filming crew asked her to move a painting  The Goddess, a portrait of a nude woman  out of the shot.

That request, she said, summed up everything wrong with modern attitudes.

She added: 'I got really fired up about this. We are afraid of nudity on our screens, our bodies, our home but not violence or every other thing we are constantly bombarded with day in and day out? Get real!'

The Basic Instinct star previously shared how much she struggled with ageing in her 40s.

The Playboy cover girl admitted there was a time a couple of decades ago when she really didn't 'accept' her body, but now she's older, she feels much more content with her figure.

The Golden Globe Award winner began the candid clip: 'Are we supposed to be terrified when we look in the mirror? 'Is it supposed to be a secret when we pee and poo and brush our teeth? Why are we supposed to be afraid of our own human self?'

Sone seen in Vienna in her suite at Hotel Sacher before the Vienna Opera Ball on February 15

Speaking to Germany's Vogue magazine, she said: 'There was a point in my forties when I went into the bathroom with a bottle of wine, locked the door, and said, "I won't get out until I can fully accept my body."'

Meanwhile, Sharon previously admitted she loves her body 'so much more' now she is older.

The former fashion model said: 'I like my body so much more. I'm so grateful to my body.'

The Casino actress added, 'When I was younger, everybody was telling me what was wrong with my body - too this, too that.'
James Van Der Beek made the heart-wrenching admission that he couldn't 'be the father I would want' to his six children as he battled cancer before his death at 48.

The star of Dawson's Creek - who renewed his wedding vows with wife Kimberly days before his death - passed away last week on Wednesday, February 11 following a journey with stage 3 colorectal cancer.

Van Der Beek left behind wife Kimberly and their six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4.

Months before passing, he was honest about fatherhood as he took to Instagram to celebrate the 4th birthday of his youngest Jeremiah.

He wrote: 'Im sorry there have been spells where I couldnt be the father I would want to be for you where I was too weak to pick you up, throw you around, or even put you to bed.

'But know that watching you reveal yourself to us has been one of the greatest joys of my life.'

James Van Der Beek made the heart-wrenching admission that he couldn't 'be the father I would want' to his six children as he battled cancer before his death at 48 (he is seen with wife Kimberly and their six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4)

The talented actor finished the sweet social media post with a very personal sign-off for his sixth child.

He wrote: 'And even though youre stingy with the hugs when you do decide to wrap those thick little arms around my neck, its like time has stood still and all is right with the world.

'I love you, bubba. And I always will. And all you ever have to do is be you. Happy birthday, my "big little boy." [heart emoji]'

This comes after the revelation that Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly renewed their wedding vows just days before the actor's death on February 11.

On Tuesday, Kimberly told People the intimate ceremony came together in a matter of days with the help of friends and family.

'We decided two days beforehand, and our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles, and we renewed our vows from bed, she explained.

She described the moment as simple and beautiful and moving, with loved ones by their side and more friends joining via Zoom.

Musician Porangui, a close friend of the couple, provided live music for the ceremony, closing the touching tribute with a rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Months before passing, he was honest about fatherhood as he took to Instagram to celebrate the 4th birthday of his youngest Jeremiah

He wrote: 'Im sorry there have been spells where I couldnt be the father I would want to be for you where I was too weak to pick you up, throw you around, or even put you to bed. But know that watching you reveal yourself to us has been one of the greatest joys of my life'

The couples love story began in Israel in 2009, and just a year later they returned to the same country for a private wedding ceremony.

At the time, Kimberly was expecting their first child, Olivia, making the day even more special for the young family.

Tragically, 16 years later, Kimberly shared the heartbreaking news of James's death on Instagram, posting a heartfelt tribute to the beloved actor.

'Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,' she wrote.

'He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come.

'For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.'

The news of the vow renewal comes on the heels of Alfonso Ribeiro sharing a touching glimpse into his final moments with his close friend Van Der Beek.

Ribeiro is the godfather to Van Der Beek's daughter Gwendolyn.

It was recently revealed that Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly renewed their wedding vows just days before the actors death on February 11; (pictured 2019)

On Tuesday, Kimberly told People the intimate ceremony came together in a matter of days with the help of friends and family

We decided two days beforehand, and our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles, and we renewed our vows from bed, Kimberly explained

Taking to Instagram, the actor revealed that he was by the Dawsons Creek stars side shortly before his death.

Alongside a tender photo, Ribeiro wrote, This was taken by @vanderkimberly just a few minutes before I said my last goodbye.

He added that their final moments together were filled with laughter, sharing, My last moment was making him laugh one last time.

The loss resonated throughout Hollywood, with a host of Dawsons Creek castmates posting emotional tributes, Katie Holmes among them.

In a hand-written statement posted on Instagram, Holmes, who played Joey Potter, remembered Van Der Beek for his 'bravery, compassion, selflessness and strength,' as well as his 'appreciation for life.'

'I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it,' she added.

The actress captioned the post: 'I formed some words with a heavy heart. This is a lot to process. I am so grateful to have shared in a piece of James journey. He is beloved.'

Busy Philipps, who joined Dawsons Creek in its later seasons as Audrey Liddell, also paid tribute on Instagram.

The news of the vow renewal comes on the heels of Alfonso Ribeiro sharing a touching glimpse into his final moments with his close friend Van Der Beek

She wrote that her 'heart is deeply hurting for all of us today,' acknowledging everyone who knew and loved him, including his friends, family, and fans.

Philipps went on to say she was 'profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly and their six magical children,' describing Van Der Beek as 'one in a billion' who will be 'forever missed.'

She added, 'Im so grateful for our friendship all these years,' reflecting on their bond both on and off screen.

Other stars also reacted to Van Der Beek's death.

Reese Witherspoon, an executive producer on the Legally Blonde prequel Elle, in which Van Der Beek will posthumously appear, wrote that she was 'devastated' by the news.

'What an extraordinary, talented man who also showed great kindness and grace in every action,' she added. 'Praying all the angels watch over his family during this difficult time.'

Following the familys announcement on Wednesday, more stars joined in sharing condolences.

The statement read: 'Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time.

'Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.'

Van Der Beeks death rocked Hollywood, with countless Dawsons Creek co-stars sharing heartfelt tributes online, including Katie Holmes

In a hand-written statement posted on Instagram, Katie Holmes, who played Joey Potter, remembered Van Der Beek for his 'bravery, compassion, selflessness and strength,' as well as his 'appreciation for life'

Jennifer Garner, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lucy Hale, Christie Brinkley, and Rumer Willis all responded to the announcement with likes.

A GoFundMe page was also launched on Wednesday to help support Van Der Beek's family, with a starting goal of $500,000.

Kimberly shared on her Instagram Stories: 'My friends created this link to support me and our children during this time. With gratitude and a broken heart.'

The page added: 'Your generosity will help cover essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the children's education.'
Zach Bryan's ex Brianna 'Chickenfry' LaPaglia issued a withering verdict on his marrying a woman who looks exactly like her.

LaPaglia and Bryan split after 15 months in October 2024, and she then alleged he had been 'cheating on me the whole time' they were together.

Then last summer Bryan, 29, took up with yoga teacher Samantha Leonard, whom fans have noted for her eerie physical resemblance to LaPaglia.

Five months into their relationship, Bryan and Leonard surprised their fans by exchanging vows on New Year's Eve in San Sebastian, Spain.

Now LaPaglia, 26, has characterized the marriage as 'a dig at me,' while talking to Logan Paul and his co-host Mike Maljak on their podcast Impaulsive.

When Maljak argued that 'men do sometimes be having a type,' LaPaglia shot back that 'no one before me ever looked like me, let's be real.'

Zach Bryan's ex Brianna 'Chickenfry' LaPaglia said the $12.9 million nondisclosure agreement he tried to have her sign would have barred her from social media

Observers have picked up on the eerie resemblance between LaPaglia (left) and Leonard (right), with Dave Portnoy describing the latter as a 'clone' of the former

In the same interview, LaPaglia sensationally claimed she 'couldn't be on social media' if she had signed the $12.9 million nondisclosure agreement that Bryan had offered her to refrain from discussing their relationship in public.

She asserted that if she consented to his terms, she 'wouldn't have been able to do my job. I wouldn't have been able to post anything. I wouldn't have been able to say anything. I could only say positive remarks.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Bryan's representative for comment.

LaPaglia also alleged that the restrictions in the NDA would have applied to 'all of Barstool' as well as her own podcast co-hosts Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards.

She claimed that 'they would've been under control. I'm like: "That's literally impossible. What are you talking about? Insane."'

LaPaglia maintained she harbors no regrets about refusing the money, adding that 'I know that no one believes me but if I wanted to I would've f***ing taken it.'

When asked why she demurred, she said: 'You guys have no idea the half of what I went through with this person. To have that hanging over my head for one more second and to be in a contract with him for five more years....'

Had she agreed to Bryan's demands, she alleged, she 'would've been under surveillance with his team and him for the next five years of my life until the payout was complete,' an eventuality that was 'out of the question' for her.

Bryan took up with Samantha Leonard last summer and they surprised fans by exchanging vows on New Year's Eve during a trip to Spain

The pair split in October 2024 and LaPaglia then alleged that the country star had been 'cheating on me the whole time' they were together; Bryan pictured in February 2024

'It was so controlling, and I would've had to do check-ins with them, stay in contact with his manager,' she told Paul and Maljak.

Maljak compared the alleged restrictions in the NDA to those applied to someone on probation, telling LaPaglia she was 'noble' for declining to sign.

'It wasn't supposed to be a noble thing,' LaPaglia insisted. 'It was more so just for me and I wanted that chapter of my life to be done.'

Paul then asked her why Bryan still wanted so much 'control' over her after the breakup, prompting LaPaglia to denounce her ex as 'a psychopath, a narcissist and a very scary person.'

Bryan took up with Samantha Leonard last summer and they surprised fans by exchanging vows on New Year's Eve during a trip to Spain.

Her comments come a month after Bryan apparently took jabs at her on three tracks from his new album With Heaven on Top - released nine days following his wedding to Leonard, whom Dave Portnoy has called LaPaglia's 'clone.'

On the song Skin, Bryan sang that he was 'taking a blade to my old tattoos,' sneering that he was 'taking a blade to my own skin' and 'never touching yours again.'

Bryan previously said he got a tattoo dedicated to LaPaglia 'three days' into their romance, on top of which the two of them at one point acquired matching body art of one of his song lyrics: 'How lucky are we?'

She added that the document stipulated she 'couldn't be on social media,' in an interview on Logan Paul's hit podcast Impaulsive

His new album also featured a song called Slicked Back, in which he sang: 'Used to know some folks who put it all online but you paint landscapes in the evening time,' apparently comparing Leonard's passion for art to LaPaglia's social media presence.

Meanwhile Bryan's song Plastic Cigarette appeared to contain a reflection on the night he first met LaPaglia after a concert he played in Queens.

'My brother had told me to leave but I didn't believe the evil beneath some people you meet out in Queens,' said the country bad boy.

LaPaglia first discussed the reputed NDA a month after Bryan announced their split, telling her side of the story on the podcast she hosts with Portnoy and Richards.

She said she took the line: 'F*** you, I don't want a settlement, that's not me,' but that she entered into a 'back-and-forth' with Bryan's team.

'They gave me all these options, they started low and then they went up to $10 million, then $12 million. Then they wanted to give me a house, then they wanted to give me a New York apartment,' she said.

She marveled that he was purportedly offering such a hefty payout 'to not talk about this relationship that you posted on Instagram was so beautiful and you had so much love for me. What the f*** are you hiding, dude? What are you scared of?'

LaPaglia accused Bryan of subjecting her to 'literal, narcissistic emotional abuse,' adding that he 'isolated me from my whole entire life, wouldn't let me be who I wanted to be. He kept repeatedly beating me down.'

However, according to her version of events, she at one point decided to take the settlement money - only to then change her mind after Bryan's team supposedly neglected to wire the sum at once and kept providing her with excuses as to why.
Kendall Jenner usually looks hyper-sexy in her ads and magazine covers.

But while posing for the new Khaite summer 2026 campaign, the 30-year-old supermodel took another path.

Instead of a slick Victoria Secret vibe with little clothes, the reality TV icon was seen in a more arty light.

The biggest difference is that her eyebrows appeared to be bleached blonde which gave her an otherworldly look.

She also had her long, chocolate brown hair worn black and pulled away from her face as she had on pale foundation and, at one point, black lipstick.

And the star was covered with clothing as she did not flash the flesh this time, though one top was sheer enough to show off her chest.

Kendall Jenner usually looks hyper sexy in her ads and magazine covers as she pushes a glamazon look but not this week

While posing for the new Khaite summer 2026 campaign, the 30-year-old supermodel took another path, left. Seen right with her usual glam in 2025

Khaite (pronounced Kate) is a New York-based luxury brand founded in 2016 by creative director Catherine Holstein.

The supermodel dons pieces from the brand's Spring/Summer 2026 in a series of images.

This is not the first time the star has changed the color of her eyebrows. In 2022, she performed the trick when at the 2022 Met Gala.

Her sisters have also bleached their brows in the past.

Kylie Jenner had blonde brows for a Khy campaign, while older sister Kim Kardashian lightened her brows with a Skims Valentine's Day shoot.

This comes after Jenner revealed she has a secret list of 'beautiful normal' baby names for when she eventually becomes a mother.

The 30-year-old model/reality TV star has revealed she hopes to become a mom in the future and she has already picked out a number of options for her children's names - and she's insisted they won't start with a 'K' like her siblings.

During an appearance on the In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele podcast, Kendall was asked if the options she's picked are 'insane' or 'nepo baby names' and she replied: '[I'm] so over that ... I think that it's kind of ridiculous. The whole name situation ...

Instead of a slick Victoria Secret's vibe with little clothes, the reality TV icon was seen in a more arty light

The biggest difference is that her eyebrows appeared to be bleached blonde which gave her an otherworldly look

Joe Pantoliano, Laurence Fishburne, Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix in 1999

'I definitely have my list. It's not crazy. I actually love my baby list. My baby name list...

'[I love] like a good normal name. Like a beautiful normal name.'

When asked if the names start with the letter 'K' like her sisters, Kim, Khloe, Kourtney and Kylie, she replied: 'No, babe. Absolutely not.'

She also had her long, chocolate brown hair pulled back away from her face as she had on pale foundation and dark chestnut makeup

And the star was covered with clothing as she did not flash the flesh this time, though one top was sheer enough to show off her chest

Khaite (pronounced Kate) is a New York-based luxury brand founded in 2016 by creative director Catherine Holstein. The brand claims to specialize in 'quiet luxury' with high-quality

The star normally has a very sexy image in skintight clothes with her hair down; seen in October in Los Angeles

She also insisted some unusual names can be good, adding: 'Joaquin Phoenix is an incredible name. It's a unique name, but it's not, like, 'Doorbell' ...

'There's so many good names. Brad Pitt is an incredible name.'

Jenner has previously admitted she longs to become a mother one day and she had previously hoped to start a family by the time she was in her late 20s, but she enjoyed her 'freedom' too much to settle down.

She told Vogue magazine: 'When I was young I used to say that by 27 I'd love to have kids. Now I'm past that and I feel like I'm still so young. I'm enjoying my kidless freedom.'

The Vogue star also revealed she wants a big family. In a previous episode of her family's reality show The Kardashians, she was asked if she will ever become a mother and she insisted she wants at least two babies because she wants her children to have a sibling.

She said: 'Of course. Three max. I'm cool with two, though. I just want my kid to for sure have a sibling, I know that ...

'I just think about my life and the freedom that I have right now, the ease I have in picking up and going somewhere.'
Married At First Sight fans were left stunned on Wednesday night when Brook Crompton and Gia Fleur unleashed vile insults at fellow brides Stella Mickunaite and Alissa Fay.

But the scenes aired on TV appear tame in comparison to vicious comments that didn't make the cut.

Stan series MAFS: After The Dinner Party aired unseen footage of Brook, 27, and Gia, 35, continuing their attack against Stella and Alissa behind the scenes.

Following their 'mean girl' act at the dinner party, which has left Aussies labelling them 'bullies', Brook and Gia kept the insults rolling in their vox pops.

Producers pulled the pair aside for a conversation which never made it to air, and the women continued their barrage of insults.

'I know for a fact everyone will watch this show and see that Alissa is a fake f***ing b***h with those ratchet hair extensions,' Brook said.

Leaked behind the scenes Married At First sight footage shows Brook Crompton and Gia Fleur's bullying was so much worse than what was aired on TV

'If Alissa and Stella want to get off their high horse for one f***ing second, they are not the ones in charge of this whole thing,' Gia continued.

She then went on to mock Alissa's voice and claim she was 'sitting up and posing and talking so perfectly all the time' because she thinks she's in a beauty pageant.

'Guys, I was actually a beauty queen,' Gia continued to the producers.

'Her [Brook] and I are the realest people here. I'm so sorry that they [Stella and Alissa] don't know what it's like to have real friends in the world.

'They're trying to rally people together to be like, 'They're mean girls'. F*** off, we're not in high school. We're real bitches. We're standing on business.

'We're saying what the f*** we think and we're calling out bullshit.'

Brook then put two middle fingers up as she said: 'I don't think we're mean girls. I think we're real b***hes.'

The unaired footage was shown to Alissa, 33, and Stella on the Stan show, which is hosted by Jules Lund, Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne.

Join the debate Do YOU think the unaired footage changes everything?

Stan series MAFS: After The Dinner Party aired unseen footage of Brook, 27, and Gia, 35, continuing their attack against Stella and Alissa behind the scenes

Stella and Alissa were left stunned by the clip, saying, 'Oh, my God,' and, 'That's so hectic,' as they hugged on the viewing couch.

However, it didn't end there as the Stan hosts continued to show the friends even more footage of Brook and Gia orchestrating their attack against the MAFS stars.

'Should I start it now? Should I kick off the Stella thing now?' Brook could be heard whispering to Gia in an unseen clip as she sat at the dinner table.

'F*** yes because I'm ready,' Gia exclaimed.

'Should I start now? Are you going to back me?' Brook asked as she nervously looked around, to which Gia responded: 'Babe, are you joking? Do you know who we are?'

Brook then turned to Stella and launched the vile attack which was seen by millions of viewers across Australia.

Following the shocking scenes, Brook and Gia could be seen again colluding to attack Alissa next, saying she was their next 'target'.

They later revelled in their bloodbath, approaching a producer and asking to 'get a photo of the cool girls'.

Following their 'mean girl' act at the dinner party, which has left Aussies labelling them 'bullies', Brook and Gia kept the insults rolling in their vox pops

'Do you like the cool girls better? Or do you like the NBLs?' Brook then asked the producer.

Confused, they jokingly replied: 'I am a cool girl.'

'Do you like us better than the NBLs?' Brook pressed, prompting the producer to ask what NBL meant.

Brook then delivered the punch line to her joke, 'Natural Born Losers,' and continued to laugh with Gia.

When the producer asked who the 'Natural Born Losers' are, Gia could be heard saying: 'Who do you think? The whole table... except for Rachel [Gilmore].'

The scenes that unfolded on Wednesday night left viewers across the country stunned, with many fuming over the 'triggering' behaviour displayed.

Fans flocked online to share their disgruntled opinions of Brook and Gia.

'This was absolutely appalling. Imagine anyone watching this episode that has been bullied, they would have been so triggered,' one person wrote.

'This is just not good enough Channel Nine, please make sure this disgusting behaviour never happens again.'

'It's fortunate for Brook she is pregnant and engaged. Her modelling career is over - given the publicity who'd want her to represent their brand?' said another.

'She'll need every penny from the baby daddy.'

Brook lived up to her 'villain' tag during the latest dinner party, unleashing vicious attacks on fellow brides when she made a surprise return after leaving the show

'Wow. What a way to sabotage your career as a model. I wouldn't hire her. Is she still a teenager?' someone else agreed.

'Stella and Alissa handled themselves beautifully. Why did Bec align herself with her nemesis Gia? Talk about walking right into it.'

'I truly hope they watch this back and are mortified. How disgusting. They need to call themselves out. Chris dodged a bullet,' someone else commented.

'These two are so jealous, hence the projecting. You have to be so insecure to need to tear down another woman like they did,' added one user.

'Brook sounded unhinged. Put herself on show in the worst way.'

Brook certainly lived up to her 'villain' tag during the latest dinner party, unleashing vicious attacks on fellow brides Stella and Alissa.

After making the shock decision on Tuesday night to pack her bags and head home to the Gold Coast, Brook surprised her co-stars when she made a sudden return.

However, reconciling with Chris Nield appeared to be the last thing on her mind, as the model barely spoke to the crestfallen groom for the duration of the dinner party.

Alissa was left in tears on the night

A clearly heartbroken Chris, 31, almost didn't make it to the gathering, telling producers through tears that Brook's treatment had left him feeling 'defeated'.

If she was concerned for Chris' wellbeing, Brook certainly didn't show it, swanning into the dinner party with a haughty: 'Surprise, b***hes.'

It appeared Brook might have had one too many champagnes, as she sounded intoxicated and slurred her words while launching into her wild rant.

Admitting she was at the dinner party for 'unfinished business', Brook wasted no time in creating drama, first turning her attention to rival Stella.

She berated the beauty technician over perceived slights at previous cast get-togethers before attacking her appearance and saying she dressed like a 'stripper'.

Gia backed her pal up, telling Stella to 'go back in her kennel'.

Brook was clearly not interested in displaying maturity, telling fellow bride Alissa to 'shut up' and branding her an 'idiot' after Alissa told her to tone down the attack.
The cause of death of Peter Greene has been revealed to be an 'accident' from a gunshot wound two months after he was found dead in his New York City apartment.

Greene was found dead at age 60 inside his Lower East Side apartment in New York City in the late afternoon of December 12 with injuries visible on his body.

New York's Chief Medical Examiner office told Daily Mail on Wednesday that Greene died of a 'gunshot wound of left axilla with injury of brachial artery.'

What may be even more perplexing is that the manner of death was deemed an 'accident.'

The brachial artery is where the gunshot wound as it is a major vessel that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the upper arm starting below the shoulder and extends down the the elbow as a continuation of the axillary artery

A rupture of the axillary artery is a life-threatening medical emergency that can cause death within minutes to a few hours if not treated immediately.

The cause of death of Peter Greene (pictured in May 2006) has been revealed to be an 'accident' two months after he was found dead in his New York City apartment

Meanwhile, back in December, law enforcement sources told TMZ that Greene had 'some injuries but its undetermined what caused the injuries.'

Authorities said at the time that the medical examiner was still working to determine the cause and manner of death, and it remains unclear whether Greene died as a result of homicide, suicide, drugs, or another cause.

Sources also told the outlet that police were contacted after neighbors reported loud music coming from inside Greenes apartment for several days.

Officers then conducted a welfare check, used a locksmith to enter the unit, and one neighbor claimed Greene was found face down on the floor, with a handwritten note also discovered inside the apartment.

The neighbor told the New York Daily News: 'Peter was lying on the floor, facedown, facial injury, blood everywhere'

The note reportedly said 'I'm still a Westie,' which appears to be a reference to the Irish-American gang who had operated out of Hell's Kitchen from 1970.

Gregg Edwards, who was Greene's manager for over 10 years, told the publication that Greene  who was known for playing iconic villains  'was a terrific guy'.

'Truly one of the great actors of our generation. His heart was as big as there was. I'm going to miss him. He was a great friend.'

New York's Chief Medical Examiner office said on Wednesday that Green died of a 'gunshot wound of left axilla with injury of brachial artery'

Meanwhile, back in December, law enforcement sources told TMZ that Greene had 'some injuries but its undetermined what caused the injuries'

Sources also told the outlet that police were contacted after neighbors reported loud music coming from inside Greenes apartment for several days; Seen in a still from The Mask

He added that he had spoken with Greene earlier that week.

Edwards acknowledged that while Greene was sometimes seen as difficult to work with, he was a perfectionist who wanted each performance to feel 'right'.

A rupture of the axillary artery is a life-threatening medical emergency that can cause death within minutes to a few hours if not treated immediately

Edwards added that Greene's performance as mobster Dorian Tyrell alongside Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in 'The Mask' was 'arguably his best role'.

'He fought his demons but overcame them' he added.

Greene also portrayed Zed, a sadistic security guard and serial killer, in Tarantino's iconic 1994 film Pulp Fiction.

'Nobody played a bad guy better than Peter. But he also had, you know, a gentle side that most people never saw, and a heart as big as gold,' Edwards told New York Daily News.

Peter, who also appeared in The Usual Suspects, was set to begin production in January alongside Mickey Rourke on an independent thriller titled Mascots.

Gregg said that when he informed the film's writer-director, Kerry Mondragon, of the actor's death he broke down in tears.

'They were very upset,' he shared.

Greene was also set to star in State of Confusion, a crime-drama written and directed by E.B. Hughes.

His agent Gregg Edwards said that his performance as mobster Dorian Tyrell alongside Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in The Mask (1994) was 'arguably his best role'; Greene seen in a still

Filming was scheduled for late fall 2026 in Cape May, New Jersey, and parts of New York.

Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Peter ran away at 15 and lived on the streets of New York City.

He later turned to drug use and eventually dealing, he told Premiere magazine in 1996.

He didn't begin acting until his mid 20s, and landed several film and television roles in the early 1990s.

After a suicide attempt in March 1996, he sought treatment for his addictions, according to the profile.

In 2007, Peter was arrested for possessing crack cocaine according to the New York Daily News.

With close to 95 acting credits, Greene's roles also included Laws of Gravity (1992), Clean, Shaven (1993), Blue Streak (1999), and Training Day (2001).

He is survived by a sister and a brother.
Pressure mounted on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Tuesday night as another police probe was launched into claims linked to Jeffrey Epstein's activities in the UK.

Essex Police became the fourth force in recent days to confirm that it was examining allegations laid bare in the release of the Epstein files.

Detectives are 'assessing information' that has emerged from the bombshell trove which suggests the financier trafficked victims to the UK on private flights via Stansted airport.

The latest line of inquiry will heap further pressure on the former Duke of York, who features heavily in the tranche of documents.

An Essex Police spokesman said: 'We are assessing the information that has emerged in relation to private flights into and out of Stansted airport following the publication of the US Department of Justice Epstein files.'

Flight logs and allegations of misconduct

Flight logs show the convicted financier so-called Lolita Express had landed or taken off from UK airports up to 90 times between the 1990s and 2018.

There are growing calls for a criminal investigation into the former prince after a series of embarrassing revelations were unearthed in the files.

Chiefs at Thames Valley Police are already assessing claims that Epstein sent a young woman to the UK for a sexual encounter with Andrew at his Royal Lodge home in Windsor in 2010.

Detectives at Thames Valley Police are further said to be examining whether or not Andrew should be investigated for the offence of misconduct in public office over allegations he forwarded confidential reports while a trade envoy for the UK.

Andrew, who was stripped of his remaining royal titles over his links to Epstein last year, served as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from 2001 to 2011.

Misuse of office and the Stansted trafficking claims

The role allowed him to travel around the world at the taxpayers' expense and gave him privileged access to senior political and business figures.

However, emails appear to show that he  like Peter Mandelson  used the position to forward official documents, including sensitive information, to Epstein.

The disgraced financier took his own life while awaiting his sexual-trafficking trial in prison in 2019.

Surrey Police is also understood to be seeking unredacted files in relation to a separate historic abuse allegation found in the files against Andrew.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has already launched a criminal probe into Mandelson over claims he leaked confidential information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in 2009.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said last week that the police 'urgently' needed to examine if victims were trafficked on Epstein's flights to the UK.

He said Andrew should be interviewed as part of the inquiry and added that Stansted was an airport 'where women were transferred from one Epstein plane to another'.

A national coordination and the threat of parliamentary scrutiny

Previous reports claim that three British women who were allegedly trafficked appear in Epstein's records of flights in and out of the UK.

Mr Brown said the scale of trafficking would 'become apparent' if an investigation had been conducted into the flights.

Police chiefs have joined forces to deal with the series of allegations unearthed in the files, including their inquiries into Mandelson and Andrew, by setting up a 'national co-ordination' group.

Set up by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), the unit could be granted access to unredacted Epstein files and will allow detectives to work with experts in the areas being assessed.

It is understood to be chaired by Louisa Rolfe, who has served as a Met Police assistant commissioner.

On Tuesday, Liam Byrne, the Labour chairman of the cross-party business and trade committee, said it was possible MPs could investigate Andrew over his time as trade envoy.

Demands for testimony and the offer of safe passage

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I can guarantee you that MPs are not in the market for letting anything slip through the cracks.'

And on Tuesday night a US lawyer who represented Virginia Giuffre called for Andrew to be given 'safe passage' to give evidence over Jeffrey Epstein.

David Boies said on Piers Morgan Uncensored: 'He's got an obligation to tell what he knows.

'If he's afraid of being arrested in the US, we ought to give him safe passage to come to testify, because we don't want there to be any excuse for him not coming.

'We know he knows a lot and he has an obligation to share that.'

The former duke has always denied any wrongdoing.

Share your thoughts with us in the comments

Hillary Clinton accuses Trump of orchestrating Epstein files 'cover-up'

Hillary Clinton has accused Donald Trump of orchestrating a 'cover-up' over the release of the Epstein files. 'Get the files out.'

'They are slow-walking it,' she told the BBC in an interview in Berlin on Monday.

Hillary, who is due to testify before a Congressional committee on the issue, claimed that she and her husband, Bill Clinton, were not associated with the billionaire financier in any way.

But seconds later, the 78-year-old added: 'We have a very clear record we're willing to talk about. My husband has said he took some rides on [Epstein's] airplane for his charitable work.'





The Justice Department last month released more than three million documents, photos and videos related to its investigation into Epstein, who died by [self-murder] while awaiting trial on [sexual] trafficking charges in 2019.

But the botched release has been criticized by lawmakers from across the aisle, as the names of powerful elites were redacted, while victims were identified.

The DOJ said it has no more files to release but critics say just a fraction are now public.

Former president Clinton, 79, features frequently in the files, but no evidence has come to light implicating either him or his wife in criminal activity.

The couple has been ordered to give closed-door depositions before the House Oversight Committee, which is probing the deceased financier's connections to powerful figures and how information about his crimes was handled.

Continue reading about Hillary's opinion here:
More than 19,000 tips flooded into law enforcement after four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death inside an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022.

But it was a fragment of DNA found on a brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath that would finally lead investigators 2,500 miles across the country to Bryan Kohberger's door.

Now, in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, DNA found on a glove and inside her home could be the key to tracking down her abductors and bringing the 84-year-old home safe before it's too late.

To David Mittelman, CEO of Othram - the forensic genetic genealogy lab that identified Kohberger as the source of the DNA on the sheath, ultimately proving him to be the killer - timing is critical, especially given Guthrie could still be out there alive.

'Unlike cold cases, when there's an active case like this, time is of the essence,' he told the Daily Mail.

Critical Time Window in Abduction Investigations

'The faster it's done, the more chance you can recover someone who has been abducted.'

He added: 'It could be the difference between a case going cold and a case getting solved right away.'

In Tucson, Arizona, investigators found a glove in a field beside a road around two miles from the home of the mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie. The glove appears to match those worn by a masked suspect captured on Guthrie's Nest doorbell camera on the night she disappeared.

DNA not belonging to Guthrie or any close contacts was also found inside her home.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department sent the samples to DNA Labs International, a private lab in Florida, for testing.

On Tuesday, Sheriff Chris Nanos said the DNA on the glove does not match the DNA inside her home. Neither were found to be a match to CODIS - the law enforcement database of known offenders - meaning that the individuals are not known to have committed any past crimes.

It's a development that, undoubtedly, marks a blow to the investigation.

'When there is a match to a known identity, investigators can seek out this person to figure out why their DNA was there,' Mittelman said.

'If the person is not in the CODIS database, which is not uncommon, then it will need a different kind of DNA testing.'

Forensic Genetic Genealogy as a Breakthrough Tool

This is where a lab like Othram might come in.

Othram uses a technique called forensic grade genome sequencing to take DNA from a crime scene and build a DNA profile that has hundreds of thousands of markers.

This unique, detailed profile can then be uploaded to genetic genealogical databases to search for matches to very distant relatives.

Whereas CODIS will only find a complete match to an individual, a parent or sibling, genetic genealogy can find matches stretching far back along distant branches of family trees, to narrow down the identity of the individual.

It was this technique that ultimately identified Kohberger, a then-criminology student at Washington State University, in the Idaho Four case.

Just 48 hours after Othram received the DNA, the lab determined it belonged to a man whose ancestry went back multiple generations in the US, whose family derived from Pennsylvania, and who had a very specific Italian background.

Only two families in the whole of America fit that specific criteria. And among those families, only one man - Kohberger - could have been in Moscow on November 13, 2022, driving a white Hyundai Elantra captured on surveillance footage fleeing the scene.

Scrutiny Over the Handling of Forensic Evidence

Similarly, if IGG is used in Guthrie's case, Mittelman explained it will be able to narrow down a potential suspect's characteristics such as their ancestry, location and heritage, before landing on an individual.

All of this takes time, though.

'It's paramount to get answers as soon as possible. The DNA work has to be done as quickly as possible because it could take some time to investigate,' Mittelman said.

'In Kohberger's case, the DNA profile was built in just a few days, but it took a few weeks to track it down, find the person, get the warrant, carry out a trash pull to get DNA for comparison and everything else. You don't want any delays.'

In Guthrie's case, the sheriff's office has already faced criticism for sending the DNA to the private lab rather than the FBI's lab in Quantico, which is considered one of the fastest and most effective DNA labs.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos defended his decision, telling local outlet KOLD the same lab has worked on the investigation from the start and already had other DNA including that of Guthrie's family. He argued it would not make sense to send the DNA evidence to multiple locations.

Evaluating Key Forensic Evidence in the Guthrie Case

Mittelman said every case is unique. But, he confirmed it is possible to process DNA 'very quickly' and 'the FBI is certainly exceptional at it.'

Where the pieces of DNA were located in Guthrie's case is significant, Mittelman explained.

'In a homicide or assault, there is a lot of DNA that can be recovered from the crime scene. But you want to find the DNA that's most likely to be probative, like DNA from a foreign male on a woman's body or DNA on a weapon,' he said.

In Kohberger's case, there were several DNA profiles found inside the victims' home and under their nails.

But, DNA on the knife sheath is what scientists regard as 'probative': it was found on part of the murder weapon found at the crime scene and so the person who touched it was likely involved in the crime.

If the glove was worn by one of Guthrie's potential abductors, this could also be probative - and could potentially crack the case wide open.

'In an abduction or disappearance, it can be hard to know which items might be probative. If investigators are confident the glove they've recovered matches the glove in the video, that is a good place to start,' he said.

'But other things like the plants next to the house, the doorway, the interior of the home, anything in the scene that the victim may have come into contact with could be valuable for figuring out who was there and who might have been involved.'

Limitations of Video Evidence in Disguised Suspect Cases

The DNA could also help identify a suspect quicker than the video footage, Mittelman explained.

In the chilling doorbell camera footage, the suspect's appearance was disguised with a mask. Investigators have been trying to narrow them down through his clothing and backpack, which is sold at a local Walmart.

'When you have an active case like this, you have two investigative options,' Mittelman said.

'One is the visual stream from security and doorbell cameras. The other is the identity stream from DNA. So if there's not anything uniquely identifying in the camera footage, then DNA becomes even more important. It's your identity feed of all the people who were at that scene at some point in time, and that could include people who were involved in what happened to her and folk who might know something.'

Mittelman said this is a prime example of why DNA testing should be carried out at the start of an investigation - not after a suspect has been identified.

Lessons from High-Profile Cases on Forensic Timing

In Kohberger's case, the DNA was sent for testing right away, despite multiple other leads - including the footage of the suspect vehicle - being explored.

'And in the end, that ended up being an important part of that case, because they weren't generating enough unique leads,' he said.

The same was true in the investigation into Rachel Morin's murder, after the mom-of-five was killed while running in Maryland. The suspect was captured on camera breaking into a home months earlier - but his identity was unknown. Through IGG technology, Othram identified the killer and he was captured.

'Traditionally, investigators use camera footage at the very beginning to figure out who was there. For some reason, DNA testing is usually done on the back end when a suspect has been identified and investigators want to confirm they are right,' he said.

'The DNA should be tested on day one because it could cause a delay. Maybe the camera feed is enough to trigger a lead or maybe someone comes forward with a tip but if they don't, then all roads will lead back to the DNA.'

'No matter what the case is, the faster you can get the truth, the better for everyone.'
Aroundtown SA (OTCMKTS:AANNF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 2,831,023 shares, an increase of 27.9% from the January 15th total of 2,213,483 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 120 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 23,591.9 days. Based on an average daily volume of 120 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 23,591.9 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Aroundtown in a report on Monday, December 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold.

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Aroundtown Price Performance

About Aroundtown

OTCMKTS:AANNF opened at $3.50 on Wednesday. Aroundtown has a twelve month low of $2.53 and a twelve month high of $3.92. The companys 50-day moving average price is $3.26 and its 200-day moving average price is $3.53.

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Aroundtown SA is a Luxembourg-based real estate investment and asset management company specializing in a diversified portfolio of office, residential, hotel and retail properties across Europe. The company focuses primarily on the German market, with assets in major economic centres such as Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf. By targeting high-quality properties in established business districts, Aroundtown aims to generate stable, long-term rental income and capital appreciation.

Founded in 2004, Aroundtown has grown through a combination of strategic acquisitions and development projects.

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Banco Do Brasil (OTCMKTS:BDORY  Get Free Report) is anticipated to post its results before the market opens on Thursday, February 19th. Analysts expect Banco Do Brasil to post earnings of $0.16 per share for the quarter.

Banco Do Brasil (OTCMKTS:BDORY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The financial services provider reported $0.19 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $8.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.41 billion. Banco Do Brasil had a return on equity of 11.21% and a net margin of 3.76%.

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Banco Do Brasil Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:BDORY opened at $4.66 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $4.32 and its 200-day moving average is $4.12. The stock has a market cap of $26.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.84 and a beta of 0.39. Banco Do Brasil has a 1-year low of $3.35 and a 1-year high of $5.51. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.97.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have issued reports on BDORY. Citigroup cut shares of Banco Do Brasil from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Zacks Research raised Banco Do Brasil from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat, Banco Do Brasil has a consensus rating of Hold.

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About Banco Do Brasil

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Banco do Brasil SA is one of Brazils largest and oldest financial institutions, founded in 1808. As a state-controlled commercial bank with a long history in the countrys financial system, it provides a broad range of universal banking services to individual, corporate and public-sector clients. The banks activities include retail banking, corporate and commercial lending, asset management, investment banking, treasury and capital markets operations, trade finance and international banking services.

Banco do Brasil offers a full suite of products such as deposit accounts, payment and cash management services, mortgages and consumer credit, credit cards, leasing and structured finance, as well as insurance and pension products through affiliated businesses.

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BMO Europe High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD ETF (TSE:ZWE  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as C$21.85 and last traded at C$21.76, with a volume of 31947 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$21.68.

BMO Europe High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD ETF Price Performance

The stocks 50 day moving average price is C$21.40 and its 200 day moving average price is C$20.89.

About BMO Europe High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD ETF

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The ETF seeks to provide exposure to the performance of a portfolio of dividend paying European companies to generate income and to provide long-term capital appreciation, while mitigating downside risk through the use of covered call options. The ETF will invest in or use derivative instruments to seek to hedge foreign currency exposure. Currently, the ETF primarily invests in BMO Europe High Dividend Covered Call ETF and uses derivative instruments to hedge back to the Canadian dollar. Securities will be selected using a rules based methodology that considers dividend growth, yield, and payout ratio.

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Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twenty-six analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $60.3043.

Several equities research analysts have commented on the company. Barclays boosted their target price on Bank of America from $59.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. HSBC boosted their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on shares of Bank of America from $64.00 to $63.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Argus lifted their price target on shares of Bank of America from $58.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Evercore set a $59.00 price objective on shares of Bank of America in a research note on Thursday, January 15th.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bank of America

Bank of America Stock Up 0.2%

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in Bank of America by 30.0% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 108,872 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,785,000 after purchasing an additional 25,143 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in Bank of America by 40.5% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 21,401 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,013,000 after buying an additional 6,174 shares during the period. Nicholson Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new stake in Bank of America in the second quarter valued at approximately $229,000. Kanawha Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Bank of America by 5.7% in the second quarter. Kanawha Capital Management LLC now owns 21,293 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,008,000 after buying an additional 1,143 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Curbstone Financial Management Corp boosted its stake in shares of Bank of America by 15.4% during the 2nd quarter. Curbstone Financial Management Corp now owns 28,512 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,349,000 after acquiring an additional 3,808 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.71% of the companys stock.

Shares of BAC stock opened at $52.67 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $384.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.29. Bank of America has a 12-month low of $33.06 and a 12-month high of $57.55. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $54.38 and a 200-day moving average of $52.16. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.96 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $4.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $27.73 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.07% and a net margin of 16.23%.The companys revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.82 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Bank of America will post 3.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be paid a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.24%.

Key Stories Impacting Bank of America

Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of America this week:

About Bank of America

(Get Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation is a multinational financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It provides a broad array of banking, investment, asset management and related financial and risk management products and services to individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, governments and institutional investors. The firm operates through consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking and markets businesses, offering capabilities across lending, deposits, payments, advisory and capital markets.

Its consumer-facing offerings include checking and savings accounts, mortgages, home equity lending, auto loans, credit cards and small business banking, supported by a nationwide branch network and digital channels.

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Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report) CTO Thomas Ryder Booth sold 1,122 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.37, for a total transaction of $204,619.14. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Thomas Ryder Booth also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, February 12th, Thomas Ryder Booth sold 11,076 shares of Chevron stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.40, for a total value of $2,042,414.40.

On Wednesday, February 11th, Thomas Ryder Booth sold 5 shares of Chevron stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $184.77, for a total transaction of $923.85.

On Tuesday, February 3rd, Thomas Ryder Booth sold 6,000 shares of Chevron stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.43, for a total value of $1,070,580.00.

Chevron Stock Performance

Chevron stock traded down $3.35 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $180.39. 9,840,679 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 12,658,585. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $163.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $157.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Chevron Corporation has a one year low of $132.04 and a one year high of $186.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $363.22 billion, a PE ratio of 27.09, a P/E/G ratio of 12.16 and a beta of 0.70.

Chevron Increases Dividend

Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $45.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48.18 billion. Chevron had a return on equity of 8.23% and a net margin of 6.51%.The businesss revenue was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.06 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be paid a dividend of $1.78 per share. This represents a $7.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.9%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. This is an increase from Chevrons previous quarterly dividend of $1.71. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 102.70%.

Trending Headlines about Chevron

Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week:

Positive Sentiment: Chevron-led consortium awarded four offshore lease blocks in Greece, giving Chevron a 70% operating interest and expanding its Mediterranean exploration footprint  a tangible longterm growth/reserves catalyst. Article Title

Chevron-led consortium awarded four offshore lease blocks in Greece, giving Chevron a 70% operating interest and expanding its Mediterranean exploration footprint  a tangible longterm growth/reserves catalyst. Positive Sentiment: Chevron announced a larger dividend payout to shareholders, reinforcing its income appeal for yieldseeking investors as Treasury yields have softened. This supports investor demand for bluechip energy dividend names. Article Title

Chevron announced a larger dividend payout to shareholders, reinforcing its income appeal for yieldseeking investors as Treasury yields have softened. This supports investor demand for bluechip energy dividend names. Neutral Sentiment: CVX is a trending ticker on Zacks and other outlets; several writeups are reexamining Chevrons outlook and positioning relative to peers, which can increase shortterm volume and volatility without changing fundamentals. Article Title

CVX is a trending ticker on Zacks and other outlets; several writeups are reexamining Chevrons outlook and positioning relative to peers, which can increase shortterm volume and volatility without changing fundamentals. Neutral Sentiment: Sector commentary notes that integrated energy names like Chevron are generating strong cash flow but still trade at discounts to the broader market  a mixed signal that may keep valuation debates active among investors. Article Title

Sector commentary notes that integrated energy names like Chevron are generating strong cash flow but still trade at discounts to the broader market  a mixed signal that may keep valuation debates active among investors. Negative Sentiment: Despite Melius Research upgrading CVX to a buy and raising its price target to $205 (from $155), the market largely ignored the move and shares declined  suggesting the upgrade alone isnt changing investor conviction and that shortterm selling/rotation is outweighing fresh positive analyst views. Article Title

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chevron

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Chevron by 17.9% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 183,790,028 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $28,540,753,000 after acquiring an additional 27,961,463 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Chevron by 9.1% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 152,605,988 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $23,698,184,000 after purchasing an additional 12,789,399 shares during the last quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc increased its holdings in shares of Chevron by 2.9% in the second quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc now owns 122,064,792 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $17,478,458,000 after buying an additional 3,454,258 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Chevron by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 43,613,011 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $6,620,187,000 after acquiring an additional 134,890 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Chevron by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 36,036,844 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $5,492,377,000 after acquiring an additional 961,341 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.42% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CVX has been the subject of several research reports. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Chevron from $178.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Freedom Capital lowered Chevron from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Chevron from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. HSBC downgraded shares of Chevron from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $180.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Chevron from $185.00 to $179.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $176.36.

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Chevron Company Profile

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Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is an American multinational energy company engaged in virtually all aspects of the oil and gas industry. As an integrated energy firm, Chevrons core activities include upstream oil and natural gas exploration and production, midstream transportation and storage, downstream refining and marketing of fuels and lubricants, and petrochemical manufacturing through joint ventures and subsidiaries. The company markets fuels under brands such as Chevron, Texaco and Caltex and supplies a range of products and services to retail customers, industrial users and commercial fleets worldwide.

Chevron traces its corporate lineage to the early petroleum companies that eventually became Standard Oil of California and has evolved through significant mergers and restructurings, including the acquisitions of Gulf Oil and Texaco.

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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:CMWAY  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $128.26 and last traded at $128.26, with a volume of 26166 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $125.54.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Zacks Research raised shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $130.18.

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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Trading Up 1.5%

Commonwealth Bank of Australia Company Profile

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.19, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $107.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $108.53.

(Get Free Report)

Commonwealth Bank of Australia is one of Australias largest banking and financial services organizations, offering a broad range of products for individual, business and institutional customers. Established by the federal government in 1911, the group has grown into a diversified financial services company that provides everyday banking, lending, payments, wealth management and insurance solutions. The companys securities are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and it also has American Depositary Receipts trading OTC under the symbol CMWAY.

Core activities include retail and business bankingdeposit accounts, transaction services, mortgages, credit cards and personal and commercial lendingalongside institutional banking services such as corporate finance, markets and transaction banking.

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Community Healthcare Trust (NYSE:CHCT  Get Free Report) issued its earnings results on Tuesday. The real estate investment trust reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.05), FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $30.95 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $31.33 million. Community Healthcare Trust had a negative return on equity of 1.66% and a negative net margin of 6.27%.

Community Healthcare Trust Trading Up 1.9%

Shares of NYSE:CHCT opened at $17.98 on Wednesday. Community Healthcare Trust has a twelve month low of $13.23 and a twelve month high of $19.99. The firm has a market cap of $511.95 million, a P/E ratio of -44.95 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a 50 day moving average of $16.77 and a 200-day moving average of $15.56.

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Community Healthcare Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.4775 per share. This is a positive change from Community Healthcare Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 23rd. This represents a $1.91 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.6%. Community Healthcare Trusts payout ratio is presently -475.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on CHCT shares. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Community Healthcare Trust from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d+) rating on shares of Community Healthcare Trust in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Community Healthcare Trust from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $18.50.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Community Healthcare Trust

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Community Healthcare Trust

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its position in Community Healthcare Trust by 667.6% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 379,665 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $5,809,000 after buying an additional 330,203 shares in the last quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 66.0% during the 3rd quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC now owns 806,461 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $12,339,000 after purchasing an additional 320,546 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in Community Healthcare Trust by 38.9% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,060,213 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $16,221,000 after buying an additional 297,179 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 400.9% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 218,822 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,639,000 after acquiring an additional 175,133 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 49.8% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 438,417 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $6,708,000 after purchasing an additional 145,834 shares during the period. 87.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Community Healthcare Trust Company Profile

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Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT) is a real estate investment trust that specializes in owning and leasing healthcare-related properties. The companys portfolio is focused primarily on senior housing and care facilities, including skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, memory care units, independent living apartments and continuing care retirement communities. Through longterm, triplenet leases, Community Healthcare Trust seeks stable, predictable cash flows by partnering with experienced operators that manage day-to-day resident care and property operations.

As of the latest reporting, Community Healthcare Trusts holdings span multiple regions across the United States, with properties located in both urban and suburban markets.

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Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A  Get Free Report) and PURE Bioscience (OTCMKTS:PURE  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership and valuation.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Agilent Technologies and PURE Bioscience, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Agilent Technologies 0 3 11 2 2.94 PURE Bioscience 0 0 0 0 0.00

Agilent Technologies currently has a consensus target price of $164.50, suggesting a potential upside of 32.93%. Given Agilent Technologies stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Agilent Technologies is more favorable than PURE Bioscience.

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Agilent Technologies $6.95 billion 5.04 $1.30 billion $4.57 27.08 PURE Bioscience $2.20 million 2.64 -$2.40 million ($0.03) -1.73

This table compares Agilent Technologies and PURE Biosciences gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Agilent Technologies has higher revenue and earnings than PURE Bioscience. PURE Bioscience is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Agilent Technologies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Agilent Technologies and PURE Biosciences net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Agilent Technologies 18.75% 25.20% 12.99% PURE Bioscience -110.91% N/A -377.91%

Risk & Volatility

Agilent Technologies has a beta of 1.3, meaning that its share price is 30% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, PURE Bioscience has a beta of 0.59, meaning that its share price is 41% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Agilent Technologies beats PURE Bioscience on 13 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Agilent Technologies

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Agilent Technologies, Inc. provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets, Diagnostics and Genomics, and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers liquid chromatography systems and components; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems; gas chromatography systems and components; gas chromatography mass spectrometry systems; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instruments; atomic absorption instruments; microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry instruments; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instruments; raman spectroscopy; cell analysis plate based assays; flow cytometer; real-time cell analyzer; cell imaging systems; microplate reader; laboratory software; information management and analytics; laboratory automation and robotic systems; dissolution testing; and vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies. The Diagnostics and Genomics segment focuses on genomics, nucleic acid contract manufacturing and research and development, pathology, companion diagnostics, reagent partnership, and biomolecular analysis businesses. The Agilent CrossLab segment provides GC and LC columns, sample preparation products, custom chemistries, and laboratory instrument supplies; and offers services portfolio, including repairs, parts, maintenance, installations, training, compliance support, software as a service, asset management, and consulting services. The company markets its products through direct sales, distributors, resellers, manufacturers representatives, and electronic commerce. Agilent Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

About PURE Bioscience

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PURE Bioscience, Inc. develops and commercializes antimicrobial products that provide solutions to the health and environmental challenges of pathogen and hygienic control in the United States and internationally. The company manufactures and distributes silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC), a non-toxic antimicrobial agent, which offers residual protection, as well as formulates with other compounds. It offers SDC-based disinfecting and sanitizing products, including PURE Hard Surface, a food contact surface sanitizer and disinfectant; PURE Control, a food contact processing aid for fresh produce and raw poultry; PURE Multi-Purpose and Floor Cleaner Concentrate to clean various resilient surfaces, including floors, glass, and food contact surfaces; and PURE Multi-Purpose Hi-Foam Cleaner Concentrate to clean stainless steel equipment, resilient floors, walls, and painted surfaces. The company also provides Axen30, a hard surface disinfectant; Axenohl, an antimicrobial formulation for use as a raw material ingredient in the manufacturing of consumer and commercial disinfecting and sanitizing products; and SILVERION, an antimicrobial formulation that is used against bacteria, viruses, yeasts, and molds. PURE Bioscience, Inc. was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

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DEXUS (ASX:DXS) reported its half year FY26 results, outlining a period marked by improving property valuations, stronger leasing activity in office and industrial, continued balance sheet divestments, and ongoing work to address fund-specific redemption matters. Management also reaffirmed FY26 earnings guidance and announced an on-market securities buyback of up to 10%.

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Half year result and guidance reaffirmed

Group CEO and Managing Director Ross Du Vernet said the company delivered AFFO of AUD 253 million for the half, with distributions per security of AUD 0.193. CFO Kieran reported the distribution reflected a payout ratio of 82%.

Du Vernet said the period represented the second consecutive six-month period of positive property portfolio valuations, which supported a statutory net profit and an increase in net tangible assets (NTA) to AUD 8.95 per security.

Looking ahead, Du Vernet said Dexus reaffirmed its expectations for the twelve months ending 30 June 2026 of AFFO of 44.545.5 cents per security and distributions of 37 cents per security, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Valuations stabilize as rental growth drives uplift

Kieran said it was positive to see a second six-month period of valuation growth across the office and industrial portfolios, with the overall portfolio up 1% for the six months to 31 December. He said capitalization rates had stabilized and the valuation movement was predominantly driven by rental growth.

By segment, he said the office portfolio (77% weighted to core CBD markets) increased 0.7%, while the industrial portfolio (90% weighted to core industrial estates and distribution centers) increased 1.6%.

Office recovery narrative supported by leasing momentum and development progress

Office portfolio manager Andy said Dexus office portfolio occupancy was 92.2%, which he said remained well above the market average. He reported average incentives of 29%, describing them as below market, while effective like-for-like income declined 2.3% due primarily to downtime on select vacancies, including Eighty Collins Street and Thirty Hickson Road.

Leasing volumes were over 95,000 square meters, nearly double the prior corresponding period, and the office portfolio delivered a one-year total return of 5.7% at December. Andy said FY27 expiries improved to 12.3% following the divestment of 100 Mount Street, with key expiries remaining in Australia Square and 385 Bourke Street.

On leasing spreads, Andy said face spreads were positive across all markets and that for the portfolio, face spreads were up 9%. He added that effective spreads had improved materially and were -5% for the first half; in Brisbane, he said Dexus achieved positive 10% effective spreads.

On the outlook, Andy said evidence suggested the office market had passed the bottom of the cycle and was in the early stages of recovery, citing employment growth, return-to-work mandates, and centralization trends. He also pointed to positive net absorption across the four major CBDs and low upcoming supply relative to long-term averages. Within Dexus own portfolio, he cited examples of 15% net effective rent growth on comparable lease deals struck 12 months apart.

Development updates included:

Atlassian Central (Sydney): Andy said construction was progressing, with completion on schedule for late 2026. The project is 100% pre-leased on a 15-year lease with 4% per annum fixed increases. In Q&A, Du Vernet said Dexus plans to introduce third-party capital into the asset, likely closer to practical completion.

Andy said construction was progressing, with completion on schedule for late 2026. The project is 100% pre-leased on a 15-year lease with 4% per annum fixed increases. In Q&A, Du Vernet said Dexus plans to introduce third-party capital into the asset, likely closer to practical completion. Waterfront Brisbane: Andy said Riverwalk opened earlier in the month and the vertical structure was rising. He said the project was 71% pre-leased, with a recent deal reflecting a 40% improvement in net effective rent compared with the previous Waterfront deal struck two years earlier.

Andy said 83% of the committed development book was pre-leased with contracted 3.7% average fixed increases per annum, and that fixed price contracts were in place with tier one contractors. He also said Central Place Sydney moved out of the uncommitted pipeline as the scheme is being reconsidered.

Industrial portfolio posts strong growth and re-leasing spreads

Industrial portfolio manager Chris said the industrial portfolio delivered a strong result, including a one-year total return of 8.8%. He reported occupancy by income increased to 97% and like-for-like income strengthened to 8.7%, which he said was in line with expectations.

Chris said Dexus achieved re-leasing spreads of 33% across the stabilized portfolio. Average incentives increased to around 21%21.5%, which he attributed primarily to lease-up of key expiries in Melbournes West and Sydneys Outer West. He also noted the portfolio was 8.9% under-rented, with 20% set to access rental reversion upon expiry by FY27.

On development, Chris said Dexus completed 102,000 square meters during the period and continued construction across a further 110,000 square meters. He said the company leased 63,000 square meters across 10 development deals and that 68% of the committed development book was pre-leased with contracted annual increases of around 3%.

Capital management: divestments, funding flexibility, buyback, and funds platform actions

Du Vernet said Dexus completed AUD 800 million of divestments for the balance sheet during the half, including the recently agreed divestment of One Hundred Mount Street in North Sydney. He added Dexus has secured AUD 1.4 billion of divestments since 30 June 2024, progressing toward a AUD 2 billion target.

Kieran said the balance sheet remained solid, with look-through gearing toward the lower end of the 30%40% target range. During the half, Dexus issued AUD 500 million of subordinated notes; in Q&A management described the issuance as prudent and opportunistic, with 50% equity credit from rating agencies. Management also said refinancing activity left a weighted average debt maturity of 4.6 years, AUD 2.5 billion of headroom, and 95% of debt hedged at an average rate of 2.9% during the half.

Du Vernet announced an on-market securities buyback of up to 10% of Dexus securities, citing a sustained disconnect between the companys equity market valuation and underlying assets and businesses. He said the buyback would be executed at a pace consistent with maintaining balance sheet discipline as asset sales and other capital release initiatives progress.

On the funds management business, Michael said Dexus manages AUD 36 billion in third-party capital across more than 150 institutional clients, with average gearing across pooled funds around 32%. He said Dexus reduced the real estate redemption queue by about AUD 1 billion over the six months to December and continues to rationalize subscale funds. Management said total redemptions were around AUD 2 billion at period end, now evenly spread between real estate and the infrastructure exposures, and that progress on infrastructure redemptions is expected following an APAC court case scheduled for April 2026, with mediation in March 2026.

Dexus raised over AUD 950 million of equity, including AUD 640 million of new equity commitments and more than AUD 280 million in secondary unit transactions. Michael said DWPF outperformed its benchmark across all time periods and by about 200 basis points for the 12 months to 31 December, while the Shops Fund has outperformed its benchmark since joining the Dexus platform.

About DEXUS (ASX:DXS)

Dexus (ASX: DXS) is a leading Australasian fully integrated real asset group, managing a high-quality Australasian real estate and infrastructure portfolio valued at $61.0 billion (pro forma post final completion of the AMP Capital acquisition). We believe that the strength and quality of our relationships will always be central to our success and are deeply connected to our purpose: Unlock potential, create tomorrow. We directly and indirectly own $17.4 billion of office, industrial, healthcare, retail and infrastructure assets and investments.

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EssilorLuxottica Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:ESLOY  Get Free Report) shares were down 7.8% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $140.93 and last traded at $141.3950. Approximately 225,897 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 136% from the average daily volume of 95,598 shares. The stock had previously closed at $153.35.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on ESLOY shares. HSBC upgraded shares of EssilorLuxottica from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. UBS Group upgraded EssilorLuxottica from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 27th. Zacks Research cut EssilorLuxottica from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of EssilorLuxottica in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating on shares of EssilorLuxottica in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy.

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EssilorLuxottica Stock Down 6.5%

About EssilorLuxottica

The stocks fifty day moving average price is $158.34 and its 200-day moving average price is $163.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18.

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EssilorLuxottica SE is a global ophthalmic optics company formed through the 2018 merger of France-based Essilor and Italy-based Luxottica. Headquartered near Paris, the company combines lens manufacturing, frame design and production, brand management and retail operations to provide a vertically integrated offering across the vision care value chain. Its activities span product research and development, manufacturing, wholesale distribution and retailing of spectacles, sunglasses and ophthalmic lenses.

The companys product portfolio includes prescription and non-prescription lenses, lens coatings and treatments, and an array of eyewear brands and frames.

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Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:FET  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $50.92 and last traded at $50.7390, with a volume of 121081 shares. The stock had previously closed at $50.20.

Analyst Ratings Changes

FET has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Forum Energy Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Forum Energy Technologies in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Forum Energy Technologies from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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Forum Energy Technologies Trading Up 0.7%

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Forum Energy Technologies

The firm has a market capitalization of $574.93 million, a P/E ratio of -5.35, a PEG ratio of 3.81 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 2.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $40.93 and a 200-day moving average of $32.08.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Forum Energy Technologies by 69.4% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 234,735 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $4,570,000 after acquiring an additional 96,175 shares in the last quarter. JB Capital Partners LP bought a new stake in Forum Energy Technologies during the second quarter worth $1,398,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Forum Energy Technologies in the 2nd quarter valued at $208,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in shares of Forum Energy Technologies by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 288,079 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $5,548,000 after purchasing an additional 9,748 shares during the last quarter. Finally, De Lisle Partners LLP raised its holdings in shares of Forum Energy Technologies by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. De Lisle Partners LLP now owns 217,242 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $4,235,000 after buying an additional 15,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.60% of the companys stock.

Forum Energy Technologies Company Profile

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Forum Energy Technologies Inc is a global provider of advanced products and services to the oil and gas industry. The companys offerings span the full lifecycle of exploration and production, including drilling, well construction, completion and production, and subsea operations. Key product lines include premium drill bits, downhole drilling motors, directional drilling tools, subsea umbilicals, and pressure control equipment, complemented by field service support and engineered solutions for complex projects.

Established through the merger of Forum Oilfield Technologies, Triton Group, Global Energy Group, and Allen International in 2010, Forum Energy Technologies has built a diversified technology portfolio designed to meet evolving industry requirements.

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Johnson Matthey PLC (OTCMKTS:JMPLY  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the six analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company.

JMPLY has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Zacks Research lowered Johnson Matthey from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Berenberg Bank raised shares of Johnson Matthey from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Johnson Matthey in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of Johnson Matthey in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st.

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Johnson Matthey Price Performance

Johnson Matthey Dividend Announcement

Shares of OTCMKTS JMPLY opened at $61.68 on Friday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $61.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $56.00. Johnson Matthey has a 12-month low of $29.01 and a 12-month high of $65.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63.

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 2nd were paid a $0.5561 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This represents a yield of 394.0%.

Johnson Matthey Company Profile

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Johnson Matthey plc is a UK-based specialty chemicals and sustainable technologies company with a history dating back to 1817. As a public limited company headquartered in London, it has built a global reputation for expertise in platinum group metals (PGMs) and advanced catalytic materials. The company has evolved from its origins in precious metals refining into diversified segments focused on environmental and energy solutions.

The companys principal business activities encompass the development and manufacture of emission control catalysts for the automotive and industrial sectors, alongside process technologies for chemical production and refining.

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The Monarch Cement Co. (OTCMKTS:MCEM  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $260.00 and last traded at $260.00, with a volume of 1451 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $248.00.

Monarch Cement Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $945.05 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.87 and a beta of 0.46. The firms fifty day moving average price is $236.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $230.50.

About Monarch Cement

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The Monarch Cement Company engages in the manufacture and sale of portland cement in the United States. The company also provides masonry cement, ready-mixed concrete, concrete products, and sundry building materials. It primarily serves contractors, ready-mixed concrete plants, concrete products plants, building materials dealers, and governmental agencies. The company sells its products principally in the State of Kansas, the State of Iowa, southeast Nebraska, western Missouri, northwest Arkansas, and northern Oklahoma.

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Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NAZ  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 41,161 shares, an increase of 30.2% from the January 15th total of 31,621 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 26,593 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.5 days. Currently, 0.3% of the shares of the company are sold short. Currently, 0.3% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 26,593 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.5 days.

Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSE NAZ traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $12.07. The company had a trading volume of 28,094 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,398. Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 12 month low of $11.40 and a 12 month high of $13.55. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $11.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $11.92.

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Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a $0.0655 dividend. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 6.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund

Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its stake in Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund by 8.1% during the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 51,009 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $596,000 after buying an additional 3,813 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 99,758 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,185,000 after acquiring an additional 1,509 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC grew its position in Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund by 129.0% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 120,906 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,436,000 after acquiring an additional 68,109 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its holdings in Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund by 27.0% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 169,885 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $2,018,000 after purchasing an additional 36,090 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund by 12.3% during the 4th quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 18,712 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $222,000 after purchasing an additional 2,056 shares in the last quarter. 15.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: NAZ) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income that is exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax. Managed by Nuveen Asset Management, the fund focuses on investment-grade municipal obligations issued by or on behalf of entities located in the state of Arizona. Its portfolio typically includes general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and essential-purpose municipal securities backed by state and local governments and quasi-governmental agencies.

The fund employs fundamental credit analysis to select bonds that meet rigorous quality standards, aiming to preserve principal while generating tax-advantaged income.

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Piedmont Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PDM  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 3,252,183 shares, a decline of 20.1% from the January 15th total of 4,070,326 shares. Currently, 2.6% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 774,817 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.2 days. Based on an average trading volume of 774,817 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.2 days. Currently, 2.6% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Piedmont Realty Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSE PDM traded down $0.05 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $8.20. The company had a trading volume of 1,045,794 shares, compared to its average volume of 872,594. The company has a current ratio of 1.67, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43. Piedmont Realty Trust has a twelve month low of $5.46 and a twelve month high of $9.19. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $8.42 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $8.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.02 billion, a PE ratio of -12.06 and a beta of 1.26.

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Piedmont Realty Trust (NYSE:PDM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.35 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.35. The firm had revenue of $142.85 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $139.39 million. Piedmont Realty Trust had a negative return on equity of 5.40% and a negative net margin of 14.80%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Piedmont Realty Trust will post 1.41 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Piedmont Realty Trust

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Squarepoint Ops LLC acquired a new position in shares of Piedmont Realty Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at about $683,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Piedmont Realty Trust by 50.7% in the third quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 652,512 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $5,873,000 after acquiring an additional 219,418 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Piedmont Realty Trust by 1.4% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,418,028 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $24,920,000 after purchasing an additional 46,198 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in Piedmont Realty Trust by 3.3% in the second quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 73,194 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $534,000 after purchasing an additional 2,318 shares during the period. Finally, Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH increased its position in Piedmont Realty Trust by 13.9% during the third quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 1,368,573 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $12,317,000 after purchasing an additional 167,018 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.48% of the companys stock.

A number of analysts have commented on PDM shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Piedmont Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Piedmont Realty Trust from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $9.00.

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About Piedmont Realty Trust

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Piedmont Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that focuses on the ownership, acquisition and management of office properties. The companys portfolio comprises a mix of multi-tenant and single-tenant buildings, with a particular emphasis on small- to mid-size office campuses and urban infill properties. Piedmont Realty Trust structures its leases and property services to support a diversified base of tenants, including professional services firms, government agencies and technology companies.

The companys operating model combines property management, leasing and strategic capital allocation to enhance asset value and drive income stability.

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BXP (NYSE:BXP  Get Free Report) and SEGRO (OTCMKTS:SEGXF  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares BXP and SEGROs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BXP 7.95% 3.59% 1.07% SEGRO N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for BXP and SEGRO, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BXP 1 9 11 0 2.48 SEGRO 2 1 2 1 2.33

Institutional and Insider Ownership

BXP currently has a consensus price target of $77.05, indicating a potential upside of 26.83%. Given BXPs stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe BXP is more favorable than SEGRO.

98.7% of BXP shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.4% of BXP shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares BXP and SEGROs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio BXP $3.48 billion 2.76 $276.80 million $1.74 34.91 SEGRO $862.60 million 16.55 $759.07 million N/A N/A

SEGRO has lower revenue, but higher earnings than BXP.

Volatility and Risk

BXP has a beta of 1.01, suggesting that its stock price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, SEGRO has a beta of 1.14, suggesting that its stock price is 14% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

BXP beats SEGRO on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About BXP

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Boston Properties, Inc. (NYSE: BXP) (BXP or the Company) is the largest publicly traded developer, owner, and manager of premier workplaces in the United States, concentrated in six dynamic gateway markets  Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. BXP has delivered places that power progress for our clients and communities for more than 50 years. BXP is a fully integrated real estate company, organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT). Including properties owned by joint ventures, BXP's portfolio totals 53.3 million square feet and 188 properties, including 10 properties under construction/redevelopment. BXP's properties include 167 office properties, 14 retail properties (including two retail properties under construction/redevelopment), six residential properties (including one residential property under construction) and one hotel. BXP is well-known for its inhouse building management expertise and responsiveness to clients' needs. BXP holds a superior track record of developing premium Central Business District (CBD) office buildings, successful mixed-use complexes, suburban office centers and build-to-suit projects for a diverse array of creditworthy clients. BXP actively works to promote its growth and operations in a sustainable and responsible manner. BXP has earned a twelfth consecutive GRESB Green Star recognition and the highest GRESB 5-star Rating. BXP, an S&P 500 company, was founded in 1970 by Mortimer B. Zuckerman and Edward H. Linde and became a public company in 1997.

About SEGRO

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SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, and is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and industrial property. It owns or manages 10.8 million square metres of space (116 million square feet) valued at 20.6 billion serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries. For over 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing (including data centres) located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive. A commitment to be a force for societal and environmental good is integral to SEGROs purpose and strategy. Its Responsible SEGRO framework focuses on three long-term priorities where the company believes it can make the greatest impact: Championing Low-Carbon Growth, Investing in Local Communities and Environments and Nurturing Talent. Striving for the highest standards of innovation, sustainable business practices and enabling economic and societal prosperity underpins SEGROs ambition to be the best property company.

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Societe Generale Group (OTCMKTS:SCGLY  Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 2,247,420 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 257% from the previous sessions volume of 628,673 shares.The stock last traded at $16.6950 and had previously closed at $15.89.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating on shares of Societe Generale Group in a research report on Tuesday. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Societe Generale Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Kepler Capital Markets downgraded shares of Societe Generale Group from a buy rating to a reduce rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Societe Generale Group in a report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Societe Generale Group in a research report on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy.

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Societe Generale Group Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.40. The stock has a market cap of $64.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.89, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 0.78. The stocks 50 day moving average is $16.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $14.31.

Societe Generale Group (OTCMKTS:SCGLY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 6th. The financial services provider reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.05. Societe Generale Group had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 6.74%. The business had revenue of $7.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.77 billion. Analysts anticipate that Societe Generale Group will post 1.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Societe Generale Group Company Profile

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Societe Generale Group, founded in 1864 and headquartered in Paris, is one of Frances largest banking groups. It offers a broad range of financial services to individuals, businesses, institutions and governments. The firm operates through multiple businesses that collectively provide banking, financing, investment and advisory solutions across retail, corporate and institutional client segments.

The groups core activities encompass retail banking services such as deposit accounts, consumer and mortgage lending, payment services and wealth management.

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Solvar (ASX:SVR) used its first-half results call to highlight a return to loan book growth, progress ramping its new commercial-lending brand Bennji, and continued capital returns to shareholders as the company winds down its New Zealand operations and repatriates cash to Australia.

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Bennji launch and commercial lending expansion

Management said it launched a new division, Bennji, focused on commercial lending and designed to complement the groups existing commercial business that originates through AFS. The company said Bennjis loan book has exceeded AUD 67 million and is on track to represent about 10% of the business by June 30, focusing on small business lending to support growth.

Executives said Bennji is also broadening the groups asset mix. Management contrasted Bennjis early portfoliociting vans and light construction equipmentagainst the existing commercial book, which it said had been dominated by vehicles such as the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, and Isuzu.

Looking ahead, management said it expects the Bennji loan book to double by the end of March as it moves from an initial testing phase to a ramp-up in broker distribution. During Q&A, the company said brokers will be the key distribution channel for the first 12 to 18 months, and noted that software and execution speed are central to the strategy. Management also said Bennji has written around 300 loans so far and is still identifying niches, citing transport and light construction equipment as areas of traction.

New Zealand rundown, dividends, and franking credits

Management reiterated that it has strategically decided to wind up its New Zealand business, repatriate funds to Australia, and use the proceeds to fund commercial expansion and special dividends. The company said New Zealand is now less than 10% of revenue and less than 10% of the portfolio, and it expects the contribution to become immaterial by FY 2027.

The company declared a total interim dividend of AUD 0.11, described as fully franked and made up of three components:

AUD 0.025 special dividend paid in January (linked to the sale of a written-off loan book in New Zealand)

special dividend paid in January (linked to the sale of a written-off loan book in New Zealand) AUD 0.06 normal interim dividend declared on the call

normal interim dividend declared on the call AUD 0.025 additional special dividend, scheduled to be paid on April 7

Management said shareholder feedbackparticularly at the AGMhas included interest in addressing the companys growing franking credit balance. The board indicated it intends to prioritize special dividends as a way to limit the growth of franking credits as the New Zealand portfolio runs down.

Operating performance, loan book trends, and credit

Management reported that after a slow start to the first four months of the halfwhen the loan book did go backwardsthe business saw a strong November and December, with positive momentum continuing into January. The company said it delivered 1.7% portfolio growth for the period, and emphasized that loan book growth is a key driver of revenue growth.

Management described the AFS business unit as having delivered its strongest first-half start since the group acquired the business. Executives attributed progress to leadership, personnel, and software changes, and said investors should start to see the benefits in FY 2027, with momentum building in the back half of the current year.

On credit, the company cited bad debts of 2.9%, which it said is below its target range of 3.5% to 4.5%. Management attributed the lower ratio mainly to the pull-forward sale of New Zealand assets and said investors should expect the bad debt level to rise somewhat in the second half while remaining within the target range. In Q&A, management said the reported bad debts included around AUD 8 million of one-off benefit from the New Zealand sale, noting that part of the transaction accelerated collections that would otherwise have come in over time.

The company also pointed to strong cash collectionsciting a near 5% uplift in cash flowand said cost-of-living pressures appear to be driving some customer deleveraging. Management said strong collections have been among the groups best relative to loan book size, though it acknowledged that earlier pay-outs can reduce the duration of loans.

Earnings, funding, and capital management

Management said earnings were up 13.5% and reported normalized earnings per share of AUD 0.104. It also reported normalized net profit after tax of AUD 20 million, describing the result as supported by cost management and the New Zealand asset sale.

On funding, the company said it now operates with two warehouse funding facilities supporting the AFS/Bennji and Money3 businesses, after repaying all New Zealand debt using spare cash. Management said it renegotiated the Money3 warehouse in September/October, creating additional headroom and a material saving in senior funding costs, which it expects will flow through next year. The company said it is evaluating whether to pass through a recent 25 basis point rate increase or manage the balance between volume and margin.

Management said interest expense declined, primarily because New Zealand debt was repaid, and said it expects interest expense metrics to continue improving into next year, while acknowledging forecasts for further rate rises.

On capital returns, the company said it acquired 5.3 million shares in the half and now has roughly 189 million shares outstanding. However, management said the buyback is on hold while the share price remains where it is, and there is no intention to renew the program when it rolls off. The company said net tangible assets are now AUD 1.70, citing the impact of the buyback.

Regulatory update, guidance, and outlook themes

Management said it is nearing the end of its ASIC-related regulatory matter, noting that most alleged contraventions were set aside by the Federal Court in a judgment handed down in September. A penalty hearing remains, with management saying the court is expected to hear the matter on February 26, but the company did not provide an estimate of the penalty magnitude and said it would update the market once there is an indicative range.

For the year, management reiterated normalized net profit after tax guidance of AUD 36 million, saying it is very confident in achieving the number. It also said it expects to maintain a similar dividend payout ratio, assuming conditions remain stable. During Q&A, management said it expects Bennjis loss for FY 2026 to be less than AUD 1 million, and described Bennji as a potential offset to the earnings gap left by New Zealand as the rundown completes.

On market conditions, management said it sees a resilient employment market supporting cash flows. In its Money3 segment, the company said it has not passed on the latest 25 basis point rate rise and that competitors have not widely repriced, adding that some peers are constrained by statutory pricing caps. It also noted that the group primarily funds used vehicles and therefore has limited exposure to EVs, while saying used vehicle prices have been declining, improving affordability and reducing average loan sizes, which it said can support volume.

Finally, management discussed its stake in Earlypay, describing it as roughly 20% and consistent with its strategy to broaden commercial market exposure. The company said it does not currently intend to increase its ownership, and that any dividends declared by Earlypay would flow through to Solvars accounts.

About Solvar (ASX:SVR)

Solvar Limited provides automotive and personal finance in Australia and New Zealand. The company offers vehicle loans that include loans for new and used cars, motorbikes, utility vehicles, trailers, tractors, trucks, caravan, boats, horse floats, ride on mowers, equipment, and jet skis, as well as secured and unsecured personal loans. It provides loans through brokers and dealers under the Money3, AFS, and Go Car Finance brand names. The company was formerly known as Money3 Corporation Limited and changed its name to Solvar Limited in November 2022.

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Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS  Get Free Report) is anticipated to issue its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Friday, February 20th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.22 per share and revenue of $319.2840 million for the quarter. Individuals can check the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning summary page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Friday, February 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET.

Telephone and Data Systems Stock Down 2.4%

Shares of TDS opened at $46.45 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 1.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -43.01 and a beta of 0.32. Telephone and Data Systems has a 1 year low of $31.07 and a 1 year high of $47.80. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $42.69 and its 200-day simple moving average is $40.16.

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Telephone and Data Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th were paid a dividend of $0.04 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $0.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. Telephone and Data Systemss dividend payout ratio is presently -14.81%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Telephone and Data Systems

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of TDS. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 25.8% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 42,165 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $1,633,000 after acquiring an additional 8,640 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Telephone and Data Systems by 21.3% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 67,125 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $2,574,000 after purchasing an additional 11,769 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 4.6% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 58,721 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $2,275,000 after purchasing an additional 2,572 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association purchased a new stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems during the first quarter valued at $248,000. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 358.3% in the second quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 27,043 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $962,000 after purchasing an additional 21,142 shares during the last quarter. 80.00% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

A number of equities analysts have commented on TDS shares. Zacks Research cut shares of Telephone and Data Systems from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 1st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Telephone and Data Systems in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Telephone and Data Systems from $45.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Telephone and Data Systems from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, November 15th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Telephone and Data Systems has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $51.67.

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Telephone and Data Systems Company Profile

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Telephone and Data Systems, Inc (NYSE: TDS) is a diversified telecommunications company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides a broad array of communications services, including wireless voice and data, wireline broadband and voice, cable television, and managed IT and cloud solutions. Its two primary operating unitsTDS Telecom and U.S. Cellularserve residential, business and wholesale customers across the United States.

TDS Telecom focuses on delivering broadband internet, digital voice, video and data communications services in primarily rural and suburban markets.

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Ageas (OTCMKTS:AGESY  Get Free Report) and Waterdrop (NYSE:WDH  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership and valuation.

Dividends

Ageas pays an annual dividend of $2.81 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.8%. Waterdrop pays an annual dividend of $0.05 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.8%. Waterdrop pays out 26.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

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Profitability

This table compares Ageas and Waterdrops net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ageas N/A N/A N/A Waterdrop 15.58% 9.99% 7.57%

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Ageas $14.68 billion 0.97 $1.21 billion N/A N/A Waterdrop $379.74 million 1.69 $50.35 million $0.19 9.34

This table compares Ageas and Waterdrops top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Ageas has higher revenue and earnings than Waterdrop.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

2.0% of Waterdrop shares are owned by institutional investors. 24.6% of Waterdrop shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings for Ageas and Waterdrop, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ageas 0 1 1 0 2.50 Waterdrop 0 2 0 0 2.00

Waterdrop has a consensus target price of $2.00, suggesting a potential upside of 12.68%. Given Waterdrops higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Waterdrop is more favorable than Ageas.

Volatility & Risk

Ageas has a beta of 0.42, suggesting that its stock price is 58% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Waterdrop has a beta of -0.26, suggesting that its stock price is 126% less volatile than the S&P 500.

About Ageas

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ageas SA/NV, together with its subsidiaries, engages in insurance business. It operates in five segments: Belgium, Europe, Asia, Reinsurance, and General Account. The company offers property, casualty, and life insurance products, as well as pension products; and reinsurance products. It provides life insurance products include risks related to the life and death of individuals; and non-life insurance products comprise accident and health, motor, fire, and other property insurance products, as well as insurance services for other damages to property. The company serves private individuals, as well as small, medium-sized, and large companies through independent brokers and the bank channels. ageas SA/NV was founded in 1824 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

About Waterdrop

(Get Free Report)

Waterdrop Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides online insurance brokerage services to match and connect users with related insurance products underwritten by insurance companies in the People's Republic of China. The company offers short-term health and long-term health and life insurance products and services. It also operates a medical crowdfunding platform. Waterdrop Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.

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Zalando SE (ETR:ZAL  Get Free Report)s share price was up 3.1% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as 21.36 and last traded at 21.14. Approximately 1,422,534 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at 20.51.

Zalando Stock Up 3.1%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.31, a current ratio of 1.33 and a quick ratio of 0.65. The stock has a market cap of $5.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 1.64. The firms 50-day moving average is 24.05 and its 200 day moving average is 24.48.

About Zalando

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Zalando SE operates an online platform for fashion and lifestyle products. The company operates through Fashion Store and Offprice segments. It provides shoes, apparel, accessories, and beauty products with free delivery and returns, as well as various payment options. The company also sells its products through Lounge by Zalando; and brick-and-mortar outlet stores. It operates in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

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Ingalls & Snyder LLC lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 4.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 262,240 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after purchasing an additional 11,861 shares during the quarter. Abbott Laboratories comprises 1.1% of Ingalls & Snyder LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest position. Ingalls & Snyder LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $35,124,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.8% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 172,800,851 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $23,502,644,000 after acquiring an additional 2,977,715 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 78,354,270 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $10,656,964,000 after purchasing an additional 689,517 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Abbott Laboratories by 3.8% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 38,293,067 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $5,184,589,000 after purchasing an additional 1,390,554 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the second quarter valued at approximately $3,026,180,000. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 5.8% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 15,096,907 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,022,080,000 after buying an additional 821,325 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.18% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Abbott Laboratories

In related news, Director Daniel J. Starks acquired 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was bought at an average price of $108.73 per share, for a total transaction of $1,087,300.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 6,738,817 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $732,711,572.41. The trade was a 0.15% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.46% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $150.00 to $135.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Daiwa Securities Group decreased their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $136.00 to $113.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Evercore lowered their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $144.00 to $138.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Leerink Partners reduced their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $136.00 to $119.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, BTIG Research decreased their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $137.05.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on ABT

Abbott Laboratories Trading Down 0.4%

Shares of Abbott Laboratories stock opened at $112.27 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $119.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $126.18. Abbott Laboratories has a fifty-two week low of $105.27 and a fifty-two week high of $141.23. The firm has a market cap of $195.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The healthcare product maker reported $1.50 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.50. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 14.72% and a return on equity of 17.94%. The firm had revenue of $11.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.80 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.34 earnings per share. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Abbott Laboratories has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.120-1.180 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.550-5.800 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 15th were issued a dividend of $0.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 15th. This is a positive change from Abbott Laboratoriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.59. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 67.74%.

About Abbott Laboratories

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of medical products and services. Founded in 1888, Abbott operates through multiple business areas that focus on diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and established pharmaceuticals. The company supplies hospitals, clinics, laboratories, retailers and direct-to-consumer channels with products intended to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of health conditions.

In diagnostics, Abbott provides laboratory and point-of-care testing platforms and assays used to detect infectious diseases, chronic conditions and biomarkers; its Alinity family of instruments and rapid-test solutions are examples of this capability.

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Northeast Investment Management decreased its position in shares of Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 46.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 50,204 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 42,897 shares during the quarter. Northeast Investment Managements holdings in Accenture were worth $12,380,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Accenture by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 65,129,782 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $19,466,641,000 after acquiring an additional 1,315,548 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Accenture by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 28,016,605 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $8,373,925,000 after purchasing an additional 326,979 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Accenture by 1.1% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,042,843 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $4,182,331,000 after purchasing an additional 147,931 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in Accenture by 12.8% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 10,147,796 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $2,502,446,000 after purchasing an additional 1,148,970 shares during the period. Finally, Sanders Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Accenture in the second quarter valued at approximately $2,637,640,000. 75.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on ACN shares. Citigroup upgraded Accenture to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Evercore restated an outperform rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of Accenture in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Accenture from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Susquehanna boosted their target price on shares of Accenture from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Finally, Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Accenture in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $313.00 price target on the stock. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Accenture currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $298.38.

Accenture Stock Performance

NYSE:ACN opened at $219.72 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $135.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.24. Accenture PLC has a twelve month low of $215.16 and a twelve month high of $392.02. The companys 50-day moving average price is $264.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $254.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 18th. The information technology services provider reported $3.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.73 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $18.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.51 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 10.76% and a return on equity of 26.65%. Accentures revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.59 EPS. Accenture has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.520-13.900 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Accenture PLC will post 12.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Accenture Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 13th were given a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 13th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 53.88%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Accenture news, CEO John F. Walsh sold 3,986 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $276.38, for a total value of $1,101,650.68. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 27,221 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,523,339.98. This trade represents a 12.77% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 1,026 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $281.70, for a total transaction of $289,024.20. Following the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 27,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,656,887.70. The trade was a 3.64% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 22,088 shares of company stock worth $5,970,434 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock.

About Accenture

(Free Report)

Accenture is a global professional services company that provides a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. The firm works with organizations across industries to design and implement business transformation programs, deploy and manage enterprise technology, optimize operations, and develop customer and digital experiences. Its offerings encompass management and technology consulting, systems integration, application and infrastructure services, cloud migration and managed services, as well as security and analytics capabilities.

The company delivers industry- and function-specific solutions, combining consulting expertise with proprietary tools, platforms and partnerships with major technology vendors.

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Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Reddit Inc. (NYSE:RDDT  Free Report) by 1,144.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,544 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,179 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Reddit were worth $1,045,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. raised its position in shares of Reddit by 16.5% in the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 11,372 shares of the companys stock worth $2,615,000 after purchasing an additional 1,614 shares during the last quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC increased its stake in Reddit by 98.7% during the 3rd quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 4,067 shares of the companys stock valued at $935,000 after purchasing an additional 2,020 shares in the last quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. purchased a new position in Reddit in the third quarter worth about $342,000. Candriam S.C.A. lifted its stake in shares of Reddit by 33.7% in the third quarter. Candriam S.C.A. now owns 9,477 shares of the companys stock worth $2,180,000 after buying an additional 2,391 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RFG Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Reddit in the third quarter worth approximately $798,000.

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Reddit Stock Performance

Reddit stock opened at $139.01 on Wednesday. Reddit Inc. has a one year low of $79.75 and a one year high of $282.95. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $208.89 and a 200 day moving average of $214.83. The stock has a market cap of $26.34 billion, a PE ratio of 53.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 2.17.

Insider Activity at Reddit

Reddit ( NYSE:RDDT Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.96 by $0.28. Reddit had a return on equity of 20.89% and a net margin of 24.05%.The business had revenue of $725.61 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $665.80 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.36 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 69.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Reddit Inc. will post 1.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other Reddit news, CEO Steve Ladd Huffman sold 18,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.18, for a total transaction of $3,297,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 448,576 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $82,170,151.68. This represents a 3.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Andrew Vollero sold 3,674 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $261.21, for a total transaction of $959,685.54. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 251,644 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $65,731,929.24. The trade was a 1.44% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 502,975 shares of company stock valued at $109,585,305 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 34.25% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on RDDT shares. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of Reddit from $300.00 to $250.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 6th. Wall Street Zen raised Reddit from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday. Argus set a $300.00 price target on Reddit in a report on Friday, January 9th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of Reddit in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their target price on Reddit from $245.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Reddit presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $238.78.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Reddit

Reddit Profile

(Free Report)

Reddit is an online social news aggregation, discussion and content-sharing platform organized around user-created communities called subreddits, each focused on a particular topic or interest. Registered users submit links, text posts, images and video, and community members vote and comment to surface popular content. The site is accessed via its web platform and mobile apps for iOS and Android, and it supports live events such as Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions and community-driven discussions.

Founded in 2005 by Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian, Reddit is headquartered in San Francisco and serves a global audience with particularly large user bases in the United States and other English-speaking markets.

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Advisors Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM  Free Report) (TSE:AEM) by 2.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 122,475 shares of the mining companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,922 shares during the period. Advisors Capital Management LLCs holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines were worth $20,644,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of AEM. True Wealth Design LLC increased its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines by 381.3% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 154 shares of the mining companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares during the period. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 59.7% in the third quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 198 shares of the mining companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. MCF Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in the third quarter worth approximately $34,000. Addison Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 94.1% in the third quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 229 shares of the mining companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the period. Finally, Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Agnico Eagle Mines during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. 68.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and raised their price target for the stock from $185.00 to $205.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating and set a $280.00 target price on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings downgraded Agnico Eagle Mines from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b) rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $189.00 price target on Agnico Eagle Mines in a research report on Sunday, December 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Agnico Eagle Mines from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 31st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Agnico Eagle Mines currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $236.09.

Agnico Eagle Mines Stock Performance

Agnico Eagle Mines stock opened at $212.91 on Wednesday. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a fifty-two week low of $92.11 and a fifty-two week high of $225.00. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $191.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $169.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 2.12. The stock has a market cap of $106.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.98, a PEG ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 0.63.

Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM  Get Free Report) (TSE:AEM) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The mining company reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.13. Agnico Eagle Mines had a return on equity of 18.53% and a net margin of 37.47%.The firm had revenue of $3.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.40 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.26 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 60.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 4.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Agnico Eagle Mines Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. This is an increase from Agnico Eagle Miness previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. Agnico Eagle Miness payout ratio is 20.27%.

Agnico Eagle Mines Profile

(Free Report)

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) is a Canadian-based senior gold producer headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The company is principally engaged in the exploration, development, production and reclamation of gold-bearing properties. Agnico Eagle pursues both greenfield and brownfield exploration to expand its resource base and operates a portfolio of producing mines and development projects to generate long-life gold production.

Its core business activities span the full mining lifecycle: grassroots and advanced-stage exploration, prefeasibility and feasibility studies, mine construction, underground and open-pit mining, ore processing and metal recovery, and post-mining reclamation and closure.

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Advisors Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR  Free Report) by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 300,276 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 7,851 shares during the period. Advisors Capital Management LLCs holdings in Whirlpool were worth $23,602,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its position in Whirlpool by 2,119.5% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 52,004 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,088,000 after acquiring an additional 49,661 shares during the last quarter. Quinn Opportunity Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 30.4% in the 2nd quarter. Quinn Opportunity Partners LLC now owns 77,273 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,837,000 after purchasing an additional 18,000 shares during the period. Newport Trust Company LLC boosted its position in shares of Whirlpool by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. Newport Trust Company LLC now owns 2,169,688 shares of the companys stock valued at $170,537,000 after purchasing an additional 112,579 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Whirlpool by 4.7% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,221,838 shares of the companys stock worth $124,189,000 after purchasing an additional 54,584 shares during the period. Finally, Curi Capital LLC bought a new stake in Whirlpool in the second quarter worth approximately $57,699,000. 90.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

WHR has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Whirlpool from $82.00 to $75.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 30th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Whirlpool from a sell (d) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $78.00 to $76.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Whirlpool from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 1st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an underperform rating on shares of Whirlpool in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $85.43.

Whirlpool Stock Down 1.7%

Whirlpool stock opened at $87.20 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.25. The firms fifty day moving average price is $81.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $80.48. Whirlpool Corporation has a 1-year low of $65.35 and a 1-year high of $111.96. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The company reported $1.10 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.54 by ($0.44). Whirlpool had a return on equity of 12.98% and a net margin of 2.04%.The business had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.27 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $4.57 EPS. The companys revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. Whirlpool has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.000-7.000 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Whirlpool Corporation will post 9.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Whirlpool Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Whirlpools payout ratio is currently 63.72%.

Whirlpool Company Profile

(Free Report)

Whirlpool Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of home appliances, with a product portfolio that spans major categories such as laundry, refrigeration, cooking, dishwashing and small electrics. Headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the company designs, produces and distributes its appliances through a network of wholly owned manufacturing facilities, joint ventures and third-party partners. Whirlpool serves both retail and professional markets, offering products under its flagship Whirlpool brand as well as several well-known names including Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, Amana, Brastemp and Consul.

In its laundry segment, Whirlpool provides top- and front-load washing machines, dryers and combination units designed to balance energy efficiency, capacity and convenience.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lowered its stake in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 5.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 112,508 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 6,520 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in American Express were worth $37,372,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of American Express by 1.3% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,425,262 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $14,808,730,000 after acquiring an additional 581,369 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in American Express by 11.1% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,487,316 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $4,282,984,000 after buying an additional 1,349,746 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of American Express during the second quarter valued at approximately $1,897,335,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership grew its stake in shares of American Express by 3.0% in the second quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 4,620,873 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,473,966,000 after purchasing an additional 133,439 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main boosted its holdings in shares of American Express by 13.9% in the second quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 4,342,556 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $1,385,188,000 after acquiring an additional 530,967 shares in the last quarter. 84.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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American Express Stock Up 2.0%

American Express stock opened at $344.38 on Wednesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $366.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $347.81. The stock has a market cap of $236.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.14. American Express Company has a twelve month low of $220.43 and a twelve month high of $387.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68.

American Express Dividend Announcement

American Express ( NYSE:AXP Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported $3.53 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.54 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of ($17,139.00) million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.91 billion. American Express had a net margin of 15.00% and a return on equity of 33.49%. The businesss revenue was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.04 earnings per share. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 10th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd were paid a $0.82 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is presently 21.31%.

Insider Activity at American Express

In other news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 8,134 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $346.73, for a total transaction of $2,820,301.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 9,433 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,270,704.09. This trade represents a 46.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Denise Pickett sold 23,385 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $356.91, for a total transaction of $8,346,340.35. Following the transaction, the insider owned 7,754 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,767,480.14. The trade was a 75.10% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 73,944 shares of company stock worth $26,114,366. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AXP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. TD Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of American Express in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Truist Financial lowered their price target on American Express from $420.00 to $400.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of American Express from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of American Express from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, November 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $395.00 price target on American Express in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $352.73.

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About American Express

(Free Report)

American Express is a global financial services company primarily known for its payment card products, travel services and merchant network. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, the company evolved through the 20th century into a payments and travel-focused organization. Its core activities include issuing consumer and commercial charge and credit cards, operating a global card acceptance and processing network, and providing travel-related services and customer loyalty programs.

American Express issues a range of products for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, including personal cards, business and corporate cards, and cobrand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers.

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Axxcess Wealth Management LLC lessened its position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:PPA  Free Report) by 7.0% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 333,553 shares of the companys stock after selling 25,122 shares during the quarter. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF comprises approximately 1.1% of Axxcess Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 19th largest position. Axxcess Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF were worth $51,851,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 8.2% in the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 536,086 shares of the companys stock valued at $83,338,000 after purchasing an additional 40,640 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its position in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 66.6% during the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 246,697 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,349,000 after buying an additional 98,597 shares in the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its position in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 12.1% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 206,410 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,257,000 after buying an additional 22,282 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 11.4% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 191,031 shares of the companys stock worth $29,696,000 after buying an additional 19,472 shares during the period. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 19.7% in the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 185,002 shares of the companys stock worth $28,758,000 after acquiring an additional 30,441 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of PPA stock opened at $177.37 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $7.94 billion, a PE ratio of 30.91 and a beta of 0.87. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $168.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is $157.23. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF has a 52 week low of $100.39 and a 52 week high of $181.31.

Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Company Profile

PowerShares Aerospace & Defense Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of the SPADE Defense Index (the Index). The Index is designed to identify a group of companies involved in the development, manufacturing, operations and support of the United States defense, homeland security and aerospace operations. The modified market-cap portfolio is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Index.

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Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection ETF (NYSEARCA:NRSH  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 269 shares, a decline of 16.2% from the January 15th total of 321 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 603 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Based on an average daily volume of 603 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection ETF Stock Performance

Shares of Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection ETF stock traded up $0.46 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $25.73. The companys stock had a trading volume of 26 shares, compared to its average volume of 346. Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection ETF has a one year low of $18.00 and a one year high of $27.09. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $24.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is $23.46. The stock has a market cap of $21.87 million, a P/E ratio of 17.11 and a beta of 1.22.

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Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection ETF Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 24th were issued a $0.0959 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 24th. This represents a yield of 40.0%.

Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection ETF Company Profile

The Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection ETF (NRSH) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a liquidity-weighted index of North American companies that practice transferring business operations to nearby countries. The fund uses a multi-factor model in selecting industrial real estate and logistics companies. NRSH was launched on Nov 29, 2023 and is issued by Aztlan.

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Bank of Hawaii Corporation (NYSE:BOH  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $80.61 and last traded at $79.61, with a volume of 30482 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $79.03.

Bank of Hawaii News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of Hawaii this week:

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Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised FY2026 EPS to $5.45 from $5.08, signaling a stronger fullyear outlook that could justify higher valuation multiple for BOH. MarketBeat BOH

Zacks raised FY2026 EPS to $5.45 from $5.08, signaling a stronger fullyear outlook that could justify higher valuation multiple for BOH. Positive Sentiment: Multiple quarterly upgrades: Q1 2026 to $1.27 (from $1.21), Q2 2026 to $1.37 (from $1.29), Q3 2026 to $1.39 (from $1.30), and Q4 2026 to $1.42 (from $1.28). These upward revisions point to improving nearterm earnings momentum. MarketBeat BOH

Multiple quarterly upgrades: Q1 2026 to $1.27 (from $1.21), Q2 2026 to $1.37 (from $1.29), Q3 2026 to $1.39 (from $1.30), and Q4 2026 to $1.42 (from $1.28). These upward revisions point to improving nearterm earnings momentum. Positive Sentiment: Zacks increased several FY2027 quarter forecasts: Q1 2027 to $1.39 (from $1.32), Q2 2027 to $1.46 (from $1.43), and Q4 2027 to $1.55 (from $1.51)  indicating the firm expects continued earnings growth into next fiscal year. MarketBeat BOH

Zacks increased several FY2027 quarter forecasts: Q1 2027 to $1.39 (from $1.32), Q2 2027 to $1.46 (from $1.43), and Q4 2027 to $1.55 (from $1.51)  indicating the firm expects continued earnings growth into next fiscal year. Positive Sentiment: Zacks published a FY2028 EPS projection of $6.27, which (if sustained) suggests multiyear earnings growth and gives investors a longerterm earnings target to price toward. MarketBeat BOH

Zacks published a FY2028 EPS projection of $6.27, which (if sustained) suggests multiyear earnings growth and gives investors a longerterm earnings target to price toward. Neutral Sentiment: Zacks continues to carry a StrongBuy rating on BOH; analysts optimism is clear but the firms posted consensus for the current reported full year shown in the notes remains a different figure ($3.97), so reconcilement with Zacks upgraded FY figures may take time. MarketBeat BOH

Zacks continues to carry a StrongBuy rating on BOH; analysts optimism is clear but the firms posted consensus for the current reported full year shown in the notes remains a different figure ($3.97), so reconcilement with Zacks upgraded FY figures may take time. Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed its Q3 2027 estimate to $1.43 from $1.56, a notable onequarter cut that could reflect specific nearterm headwinds or modeling adjustments; this is a cautionary datapoint amid otherwise bullish revisions. MarketBeat BOH

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on BOH shares. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Bank of Hawaii from $75.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Wall Street Zen raised Bank of Hawaii from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, January 31st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Bank of Hawaii in a research report on Monday, December 29th. DA Davidson upped their target price on shares of Bank of Hawaii from $73.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Bank of Hawaii from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Bank of Hawaii presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $81.80.

Bank of Hawaii Stock Up 0.7%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The stock has a market cap of $3.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 0.75. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $72.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $67.94.

Bank of Hawaii (NYSE:BOH  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, January 26th. The bank reported $1.39 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $189.65 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $184.83 million. Bank of Hawaii had a return on equity of 14.42% and a net margin of 19.30%.During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.85 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Bank of Hawaii Corporation will post 3.97 EPS for the current year.

Bank of Hawaii Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. Bank of Hawaiis dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 60.61%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Peter S. Ho sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.87, for a total value of $1,018,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 156,774 shares in the company, valued at $10,640,251.38. This represents a 8.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 2.07% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Federated Hermes Inc. raised its position in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 1,736.0% during the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 35,380 shares of the banks stock worth $2,322,000 after purchasing an additional 33,453 shares during the period. Peterson Wealth Services lifted its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 4,266.5% in the third quarter. Peterson Wealth Services now owns 17,466 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,146,000 after buying an additional 17,066 shares in the last quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bank of Hawaii in the second quarter valued at approximately $3,222,000. Capital Fund Management S.A. bought a new stake in shares of Bank of Hawaii during the second quarter worth $2,238,000. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of Hawaii during the second quarter worth $30,569,000. 82.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Bank of Hawaii Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH) is a regional commercial bank headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, with roots tracing back to its founding in 1897 by Charles Montague Cooke and Peter Cushman Jones. As one of the oldest financial institutions in the U.S. West Coast region, the bank has built a reputation for stability and community focus. It operates as the principal subsidiary of Bank of Hawaii Corporation, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.

The bank offers a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products and services.

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Bar Harbor Bankshares, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:BHB  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, January 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th will be paid a dividend of 0.32 per share by the financial services provider on Friday, March 20th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 20th.

Bar Harbor Bankshares has a dividend payout ratio of 39.4% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Bar Harbor Bankshares to earn $2.96 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.28 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 43.2%.

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Bar Harbor Bankshares Trading Up 1.1%

NYSEAMERICAN BHB opened at $35.44 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $33.08 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $31.45. Bar Harbor Bankshares has a twelve month low of $26.43 and a twelve month high of $36.05. The company has a market capitalization of $591.49 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.41 and a beta of 0.65.

Bar Harbor Bankshares Company Profile

Bar Harbor Bankshares ( NYSEAMERICAN:BHB Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $49.37 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $42.80 million. Bar Harbor Bankshares had a return on equity of 10.73% and a net margin of 15.13%. Research analysts forecast that Bar Harbor Bankshares will post 2.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

(Get Free Report)

Bar Harbor Bankshares, Inc is a bank holding company headquartered in Ellsworth, Maine, and the parent of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. The company provides a full suite of commercial and consumer banking products and services, including deposit accounts, residential and commercial lending, wealth management, treasury and cash management, and online and mobile banking solutions. Its subsidiary, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, operates branches across Maine and eastern New Hampshire, serving both individual and business clients with a focus on community banking relationships.

With roots tracing back to the late 19th century, Bar Harbor Bankshares has built its presence along the coast of Maine, extending from Casco Bay to Downeast communities, and into neighboring New Hampshire markets.

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Readystate Asset Management LP grew its position in BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (NYSE:BMEZ  Free Report) by 664.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 247,074 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 214,761 shares during the quarter. Readystate Asset Management LPs holdings in BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust were worth $3,563,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust in the 1st quarter valued at $40,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust in the second quarter valued at approximately $69,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust in the third quarter valued at approximately $91,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust in the 2nd quarter worth about $183,000. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust during the 1st quarter worth $189,000.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust news, Director Robert W. Fairbairn sold 10,294 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.98, for a total value of $154,204.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link.

BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Stock Performance

BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Dividend Announcement

NYSE BMEZ opened at $14.93 on Wednesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $15.21 and its 200-day moving average price is $14.84. BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust has a 12 month low of $12.58 and a 12 month high of $16.19.

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be issued a $0.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.8%.

About BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust

(Free Report)

BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (NYSE: BMEZ) is a closed-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust. Launched in March 2020, BMEZ seeks to provide total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity and equity-related securities of companies in the health sciences sector. The trust is structured with a fixed termination date in October 2030, at which time shareholders will vote on its liquidation, extension or conversion.

The funds investment portfolio is diversified across subsectors within health sciences, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics and healthcare services.

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Carlton Investments Ltd. (ASX:CIN  Get Free Report) declared a interim dividend on Wednesday, February 18th, MarketIndexAU Dividends reports. Stockholders of record on Sunday, March 22nd will be paid a dividend of 0.47 per share on Sunday, March 22nd. This represents a dividend yield of 131.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 26th.

Carlton Investments Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $839.30 million, a P/E ratio of 21.68 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a quick ratio of 86.29, a current ratio of 37.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02.

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About Carlton Investments

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Carlton Investments Limited is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the firm manages separate client-focused equity portfolios. It invests in the public equity markets of Australia through its subsidiaries. Carlton Investments Limited was founded in 1928 and is based in Sydney, Australia.

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Cercano Management LLC bought a new position in Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA:FLKR  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 263,694 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,117,000.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of FLKR. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF by 121.0% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,231 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 674 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new stake in shares of Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $177,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF by 8.1% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 10,983 shares of the companys stock worth $308,000 after purchasing an additional 826 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its position in Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF by 2,424.3% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 12,470 shares of the companys stock valued at $305,000 after purchasing an additional 11,976 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF in the 1st quarter worth $366,000.

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Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA:FLKR opened at $42.65 on Wednesday. Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF has a 1-year low of $16.54 and a 1-year high of $43.73. The company has a 50-day moving average of $36.06 and a 200 day moving average of $30.93. The firm has a market cap of $379.59 million, a PE ratio of 10.49 and a beta of 1.23.

Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF Company Profile

The Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF (FLKR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE South Korea RIC Capped index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of large- and mid-cap South Korean companies. FLKR was launched on Nov 2, 2017 and is managed by Franklin Templeton.

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Cercano Management LLC lowered its stake in shares of Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER  Free Report) by 71.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 133,997 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock after selling 329,428 shares during the period. Cercano Management LLCs holdings in Uber Technologies were worth $13,128,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UBER. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Uber Technologies during the second quarter valued at about $2,348,319,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Uber Technologies by 1,905.3% during the third quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 4,350,479 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $426,216,000 after buying an additional 4,133,532 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Uber Technologies by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 189,551,519 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $17,685,157,000 after buying an additional 3,025,483 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in shares of Uber Technologies by 4,471.9% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,966,828 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $290,660,000 after buying an additional 2,901,936 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. raised its stake in shares of Uber Technologies by 97.1% during the 3rd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 5,422,035 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $531,197,000 after acquiring an additional 2,671,539 shares in the last quarter. 80.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on UBER. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an outperform rating on shares of Uber Technologies in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Piper Sandler set a $107.00 price objective on Uber Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Uber Technologies in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating and issued a $108.00 price target on shares of Uber Technologies in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Uber Technologies from $120.00 to $110.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-three have issued a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $104.89.

Uber Technologies Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of UBER stock opened at $70.49 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.14. Uber Technologies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $60.63 and a fifty-two week high of $101.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $146.47 billion, a PE ratio of 14.97, a P/E/G ratio of 6.40 and a beta of 1.21. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $80.49 and its 200-day simple moving average is $88.84.

Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.79 by ($0.08). Uber Technologies had a return on equity of 43.63% and a net margin of 19.33%.The business had revenue of $14.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.32 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.21 EPS. Uber Technologiess quarterly revenue was up 20.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Uber Technologies has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.650-0.720 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 2.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Tony West sold 3,125 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.50, for a total transaction of $260,937.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 176,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,744,764. This trade represents a 1.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Uber Technologies

(Free Report)

Uber Technologies, Inc is a technology company that operates a global platform connecting riders, drivers, couriers, restaurants and shippers. Founded in 2009 by Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick and headquartered in San Francisco, Uber developed one of the first large-scale ride-hailing marketplaces and has since expanded into a broader set of mobility and logistics services. The company completed its initial public offering in 2019 and continues to position its app-based network as a multi-modal transportation and delivery platform.

Ubers principal businesses include mobility services (ride-hailing and shared rides), delivery through Uber Eats, and freight logistics via Uber Freight.

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Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:ADM  Get Free Report) and Corteva (NYSE:CTVA  Get Free Report) are both large-cap consumer staples companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, profitability, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Archer Daniels Midland and Corteva, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Archer Daniels Midland 3 5 1 0 1.78 Corteva 0 7 13 2 2.77

Archer Daniels Midland currently has a consensus price target of $57.00, indicating a potential downside of 15.73%. Corteva has a consensus price target of $82.30, indicating a potential upside of 7.96%. Given Cortevas stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Corteva is more favorable than Archer Daniels Midland.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Archer Daniels Midland 1.34% 7.39% 3.46% Corteva 6.29% 9.06% 5.39%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

This table compares Archer Daniels Midland and Cortevas net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

78.3% of Archer Daniels Midland shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 81.5% of Corteva shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.2% of Archer Daniels Midland shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.1% of Corteva shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Archer Daniels Midland pays an annual dividend of $2.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. Corteva pays an annual dividend of $0.72 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Archer Daniels Midland pays out 93.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Corteva pays out 45.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Archer Daniels Midland has increased its dividend for 53 consecutive years and Corteva has increased its dividend for 5 consecutive years. Archer Daniels Midland is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Archer Daniels Midland and Cortevas top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Archer Daniels Midland $80.27 billion 0.40 $1.08 billion $2.22 30.47 Corteva $17.40 billion 2.95 $1.09 billion $1.58 48.25

Corteva has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Archer Daniels Midland. Archer Daniels Midland is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Corteva, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

Archer Daniels Midland has a beta of 0.71, suggesting that its stock price is 29% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Corteva has a beta of 0.75, suggesting that its stock price is 25% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Corteva beats Archer Daniels Midland on 13 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Archer Daniels Midland

(Get Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company engages in the procurement, transportation, storage, processing, and merchandising of agricultural commodities, ingredients, flavors, and solutions in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. The company originates, merchandises, stores, and transports agricultural raw materials, such as oilseeds and soft seeds. It also engages in the agricultural commodity and feed product import, export, and distribution; and various structured trade finance activities. In addition, the company offers soybean meal and oil; vegetable and salad oils and protein meals; ingredients for the food, feed, energy, and industrial customers; margarine, shortening, and other food products; and partially refined oils to produce biodiesel and glycols for use in chemicals, paints, and other industrial products. Further, it provides peanuts, peanut-derived ingredients, and cotton cellulose pulp; sweeteners, corn and wheat starches, syrup, glucose, wheat flour, and dextrose; alcohol, and other food and animal feed ingredients; ethyl alcohol and ethanol; corn gluten feed and meal; distillers' grains; corn germ; and citric acids. Additionally, the company provides proteins, natural flavors, flavor systems, natural colors, emulsifiers, soluble fiber, polyols, hydrocolloids, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, enzymes, and botanical extracts; and other specialty food and feed ingredients; edible beans; formula feeds, and animal health and nutrition products; and contract and private label pet treats and food products. It also offers futures commission merchant; commodity brokerage services; cash margins and securities pledged to commodity exchange clearinghouse; and cash pledged as security under certain insurance arrangements. The company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

About Corteva

(Get Free Report)

Corteva, Inc. operates in the agriculture business. It operates through two segments, Seed and Crop Protection. The Seed segment develops and supplies advanced germplasm and traits that produce optimum yield for farms. It offers trait technologies that enhance resistance to weather, disease, insects, and herbicides used to control weeds, as well as food and nutritional characteristics. This segment also provides digital solutions that assist farmer decision-making with a view to optimize product selection, and maximize yield and profitability. The Crop Protection segment offers products that protect against weeds, insects and other pests, and diseases, as well as enhances crop health above and below ground through nitrogen management and seed-applied technologies. This segment provides herbicides, insecticides, nitrogen stabilizers, and pasture and range management herbicides. It serves agricultural input industry. The company operates in the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Corteva, Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:DVDCY  Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $9.85 and traded as high as $9.85. Davide Campari-Milano shares last traded at $9.85, with a volume of 3,900 shares traded.

Davide Campari-Milano Stock Up 5.5%

The firm has a market cap of $11.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.88 and a beta of 0.95. The stocks 50 day moving average is $9.85 and its 200 day moving average is $9.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15.

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About Davide Campari-Milano

(Get Free Report)

Davide Campari-Milano N.V. is a leading global beverage company specializing in the production, marketing and distribution of premium spirits, wines and ready-to-drink products. Headquartered in Milan, Italy, the companys portfolio features iconic brands such as Campari aperitivo, Aperol, SKYY Vodka, Wild Turkey bourbon and Grand Marnier, alongside a range of regional and craft labels. Through an integrated network of manufacturing sites and distribution offices, Campari serves consumers in over 190 markets worldwide, with a particularly strong presence in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

The companys core activities encompass brand development, production and global sales of alcoholic beverages across multiple price points.

Further Reading

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Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) had its price objective cut by stock analysts at Morgan Stanley from $111.00 to $101.00 in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage currently has an underweight rating on the technology companys stock. Morgan Stanleys target price would indicate a potential downside of 11.85% from the companys previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Raymond James Financial boosted their price target on Dell Technologies from $161.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $165.00 to $160.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Dbs Bank upgraded Dell Technologies to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Dell Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $160.37.

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Dell Technologies Price Performance

Shares of DELL traded down $1.51 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $114.58. 607,072 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,458,835. The stocks 50-day moving average is $122.38 and its two-hundred day moving average is $132.50. Dell Technologies has a 12 month low of $66.25 and a 12 month high of $168.08. The stock has a market cap of $75.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.38, a P/E/G ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.03.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 25th. The technology company reported $2.59 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.47 by $0.12. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 5.01% and a negative return on equity of 234.84%. The business had revenue of $27.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $27.26 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.15 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Dell Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.920-9.920 EPS and its Q4 2026 guidance at 3.500-3.500 EPS. Research analysts predict that Dell Technologies will post 6.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Dell Technologies

In other Dell Technologies news, Director Egon Durban sold 71,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.12, for a total value of $9,806,520.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 1,172,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $161,935,755.36. This trade represents a 5.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 42.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dell Technologies

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 1,829 shares of the technology companys stock worth $259,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 1.3% during the third quarter. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC now owns 5,563 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $789,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 35.8% in the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 296 shares of the technology companys stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. raised its stake in Dell Technologies by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 21,631 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $3,067,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC lifted its holdings in Dell Technologies by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC now owns 3,559 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $504,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.37% of the companys stock.

Dell Technologies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc is a multinational technology company that designs, manufactures and sells a broad range of information technology products, solutions and services. Its offerings span client computing devices (consumer and commercial laptops and desktops), enterprise infrastructure (servers, storage systems and networking equipment), software and cloud infrastructure, and a variety of professional services such as IT consulting, deployment, managed services and financing solutions. The company serves organizations of all sizes as well as individual consumers, with products and services aimed at enabling digital transformation and modern IT environments.

Founded by Michael Dell in 1984, the company grew from a direct-to-consumer PC business into a diversified IT provider through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.

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Akbar Novruz



Armenian civil society groups believe that a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan could be signed at any moment. Some even consider it unnecessary to wait until the elections in Yerevan for such a step to be taken.

Undoubtedly, the Armenian side is well aware that certain obstacles continue to delay the peace agenda, chief among them being the issue of Armenias constitution.

At the recent annual security conference held in Munich, a similar question was put to President Ilham Aliyev by an Armenian journalist during a panel discussion. Although the question sounded more like an assertion than an inquiry, it received a sufficiently clear response. The Azerbaijani president, while modestly acknowledging that he is not a lawyer, offered a substantive legal explanation that addressed the matter directly: No decision of a constitutional court can be higher than the constitution itself.

This suggests that, prior to the signing of any peace document, a number of steps must still be taken and obligations fulfilled; certainly responsibilities that rest primarily with official Yerevan.

Nevertheless, despite these outstanding issues, the possibility of peace between the two countries cannot be entirely ruled out under the present circumstances.

While answering journalists' questions at the 62nd Munich Security Conference President Ilham Aliyev also touched upon this issue: "There is de facto peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia." However, the President of Azerbaijan once again underscored that the ball is now in Armenias court. In other words, the practical steps required to secure peace now depend on Yerevan.

You know that this does not depend on us. Our position has already been conveyed to the Armenian side for many years. The necessary changes must be made to Armenias Constitution. As soon as these changes are made, we can sign the peace treaty the very next day. Nevertheless, I believe that peace has already been achieved between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

For years, this conflict, around which peace forecasts have long been made, is, for the first time, moving with a step toward culmination within a peace framework. With the initialing of the peace treaty in Washington on August 8, this peace train has started moving and is gaining speed. The restoration of economic ties, trade operations, and similar steps are among the latest examples, as are the several Peace Bridge roundtable meetings held between representatives of Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society. Following the first meetings held in Yerevan in October 2025 and then in Baku a month later, experts and public activists from both sides gathered again on February 1314 in Tsaghkadzor (a.k.a. D?r?c?cic?k) to discuss issues such as regional security, prospects for economic cooperation, and the implementation of the peace agenda agreed at the leadership level.

This initiative is undoubtedly commendable, because the participants went not as state representatives but as members of civil society. Considering that civil society occupies an intermediary layer between the state and the public, its importance increases accordingly.

The question of how possible peace really is, however, remains an open topic of discussion. With his statement in Munich, the President raised this question openly and unconditionally for the first time. The problem lies not in Bakus position but in Yerevans Constitution. The day Armenia removes its territorial claims against Azerbaijan, the peace treaty can be signed the next day.

This approach turns peace from a legal procedure into an issue of internal political transformation, which has been stated repeatedly.

The peace process is no longer measured by diplomatic formulas but by internal political resilience. The failure to sign the agreed peace text between Azerbaijan and Armenia is not due to technical details but to a fundamental question that Yerevans political system has been unable to resolve: on what reality is the states constitutional identity based?

Ilham Aliyevs phrase peace has been achieved is not something that would come out spontaneously. The Washington agreements, the initialing of the text, the reduction of tensions at the border, all of these confirm the reality on the ground. The conflict has exited its active phase. The main knot here remains in the preamble of Armenias Constitution and in the documents referenced there. It is precisely at this point that it becomes clearer why the peace process has historically reached a dead end. The main problem in ArmeniaAzerbaijan relations has not been merely the lack of will of specific governments, but the preservation over many years of political and legal frameworks that were powerless yet declared untouchable.

Although the provisions remaining in the preamble of Armenias Constitution and in the documents referenced there have in practice lost their legal force, they have been retained as political symbols. This has turned every new agreement into a potential source of risk.

In the past as well, whenever real normalization came onto the agenda, rhetoric of threat, capitulation, and strategic loss was activated in the domestic political arena. Today, one of the clearest expressions of this line comes from Robert Kocharyan and his political circle. In their rhetoric, regional integration projects such as TRIPP and steps toward peace are presented as threats to Armenia. In reality, however, these statements serve less to address future risks than to preserve political positions built on the past.

Nikol Pashinyan is the figure in the most difficult position in this process. Constitutional change could trigger broad public dissatisfaction within the country, and this dissatisfaction is not limited solely to the radical opposition. The issue is tied to national identity, the trauma of defeat, and the collapse of return illusions.

For this reason, the likelihood of postponing the referendum to the period after the parliamentary elections in June is quite high. Here, two perspectives emerge. Raising such an issue before the elections could amount to political suicide for Pashinyan.

The risk, however, is that if Pashinyan is not re-elected, the peace process itself could move into a more uncertain phase. The possibility that a new government would choose a harsher or more populist line is not small. Conversely, if Pashinyan remains in power, demonstrating the real results of the TRIPP program - that is, regional transport, trade, and integration mechanisms - will become his main political tool. The logic is quite simple: a painful compromise can only be justified by material and social benefits.

One of the main risks for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is the oppositions gradual transformation into a more structured and multipolar force.

In this regard, the official announcement of the Strong Armenia Party under the leadership of Samvel Karapetyan, well known in RussianArmenian business circles, is seen as a possible turning point in the political configuration. The first news about this was shared on his profile using the hashtag "AI." He declared his candidacy for prime minister, despite being ineligible. This initiative appears to be aimed at forming an alternative political center, which is primarily supported by economic resources and business circles, particularly from Russia.

At the same time, the bloc formed around former ombudsman Arman Tatoyan seeks to appeal to an electorate disappointed with Pashinyans velvet revolution but unwilling to associate itself with the classical opposition. According to analysts, this line has the potential to attract a certain portion of Pashinyans existing voter base.

On the other hand, the formation of a third political bloc around businessman and former politician Gagik Tsarukyan is also being observed. The main target of this camp is the average voter group whose level of social welfare has weakened and whose economic dissatisfaction has increased. The Tsarukyan line seeks to foreground socio-economic problems.

Finally, the political camp formed around Armenias second president, Robert Kocharyan, does not hide its intention to consolidate the classic revanchist electorate. This bloc is particularly distinguished by its hardline rhetoric on security and regional processes and represents the most ideologically opposed position to Pashinyan.

Thus, this multipolar political landscape emerging on the eve of the elections can be considered a serious signal for Pashinyan. Until now, the fragmentation of the opposition was regarded as one of the prime ministers main advantages. But now, the emergence of parallel blocs representing business elites, carrying a human-rights image, and targeting the social electorate further complicates the political scene and could narrow the ruling powers vote base.

Political dynamics indicate that the main struggle will no longer be only along the governmentopposition line, but also within the opposition itself, over leadership and coordination. If these blocs fail to form a unified tactical cooperation model before the elections, fragmentation may once again work in Pashinyans favor. However, if coordination is achieved, the upcoming elections could turn into one of the most intense political contests of recent years.

For Armenia, this change is not merely the deletion of a single clause. It means redefining the states post-conflict identity. Here, three main problems may arise:

First, a legitimacy crisis. If the results of the referendum are not accepted or society becomes divided in two, political stability could be seriously shaken.

Second, the strengthening of revanchist rhetoric. The opposition could present this process as a historical renunciation and activate street politics.

Third, the factor of time. As the process drags on, regional dynamics change and Armenias room for maneuver shrinks.

In short, the main burden in this process, in the literal sense, lies on Armenia. The thesis, long used against official Baku, that of a military pressure tool, is now being replaced. It has now shifted to a legal condition.

For Armenia, constitutional change is not the final stage of peace, but its most difficult stage. It is a test of whether society can come to terms with post-war reality.
Cibc World Market Inc. raised its holdings in Denison Mine Corp (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN  Free Report) (TSE:DML) by 66.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 412,011 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 164,336 shares during the quarter. Cibc World Market Inc.s holdings in Denison Mine were worth $1,134,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Old West Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Denison Mine by 1.7% in the third quarter. Old West Investment Management LLC now owns 706,698 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,943,000 after purchasing an additional 12,084 shares during the period. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Denison Mine by 77.5% in the 3rd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 15,655 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 6,837 shares during the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Denison Mine by 36.0% in the 3rd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 79,730 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $219,000 after purchasing an additional 21,110 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Denison Mine by 43.3% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 80,166 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $220,000 after buying an additional 24,204 shares during the period. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its holdings in shares of Denison Mine by 65.6% during the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 11,515 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 4,563 shares during the last quarter. 36.74% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Denison Mine in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy.

Denison Mine Price Performance

Denison Mine stock opened at $3.81 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $3.34 and a 200-day moving average of $2.83. Denison Mine Corp has a 52-week low of $1.08 and a 52-week high of $4.43. The company has a quick ratio of 11.78, a current ratio of 11.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.44 billion, a P/E ratio of -25.40 and a beta of 1.26.

Denison Mine Company Profile

(Free Report)

Denison Mines Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN) is a Canada-based uranium exploration and development company focused on the Athabasca Basin region of Saskatchewan. The companys core business is the discovery, evaluation and advancement of high-grade uranium projects that can supply fuel for the global nuclear power industry.

Denisons flagship asset is the 66.9%-owned Wheeler River Project, one of the largest undeveloped high-grade uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin. In addition to Wheeler River, Denison holds interests in several other exploration properties across northern Saskatchewan and maintains a strategic partnership in the McClean Lake uranium mill, providing it with downstream processing capabilities for future production.

Founded in 1974, Denison Mines has accumulated decades of geological expertise in one of the worlds most prolific uranium districts.

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Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCMKTS:DTEGY  Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the four research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company.

Separately, Erste Group Bank raised Deutsche Telekom from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday.

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Deutsche Telekom Trading Down 1.9%

Deutsche Telekom Company Profile

Shares of DTEGY stock traded down $0.75 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $38.81. 101,069 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 425,355. Deutsche Telekom has a 52-week low of $30.31 and a 52-week high of $39.64. The firms fifty day moving average price is $33.28 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.72. The firm has a market capitalization of $190.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.93.

(Get Free Report)

Deutsche Telekom AG is a leading European telecommunications company headquartered in Bonn, Germany. The firm provides a broad range of telecommunications and information technology services for consumer, business and wholesale customers. Its core activities include fixed-line and mobile voice services, broadband internet access, television services and a suite of enterprise IT and network solutions.

Deutsche Telekom offers consumer products under well-known retail brands in its home market and across Europe, and operates extensive mobile networks including 4G and 5G infrastructure.

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Deutsche Telekom (OTCMKTS:DTEGY  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Erste Group Bank from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday.

Deutsche Telekom Price Performance

OTCMKTS DTEGY traded down $0.57 on Wednesday, hitting $38.99. 32,900 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 424,827. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $33.28 and a 200-day moving average of $33.72. The stock has a market cap of $191.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.43. Deutsche Telekom has a 52 week low of $30.31 and a 52 week high of $39.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04.

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About Deutsche Telekom

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Deutsche Telekom AG is a leading European telecommunications company headquartered in Bonn, Germany. The firm provides a broad range of telecommunications and information technology services for consumer, business and wholesale customers. Its core activities include fixed-line and mobile voice services, broadband internet access, television services and a suite of enterprise IT and network solutions.

Deutsche Telekom offers consumer products under well-known retail brands in its home market and across Europe, and operates extensive mobile networks including 4G and 5G infrastructure.

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Essex Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF (NYSEARCA:BILZ  Free Report) by 12.8% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 85,053 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 9,635 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc.s holdings in PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF were worth $8,607,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. boosted its holdings in PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF by 128.0% in the third quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 269 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Transce3nd LLC lifted its position in shares of PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF by 238.6% in the second quarter. Transce3nd LLC now owns 430 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 303 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its stake in shares of PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF by 2,145.5% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 494 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 472 shares in the last quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont acquired a new position in shares of PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $58,000. Finally, Evolution Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $158,000.

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PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF Stock Performance

BILZ opened at $100.87 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $100.89 and a 200 day moving average price of $100.95. PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF has a twelve month low of $100.72 and a twelve month high of $101.27.

PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF Announces Dividend

About PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active ETF

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 4th. Investors of record on Monday, February 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 2nd.

(Free Report)

The PIMCO Ultra Short Government Active Exchange-Traded Fund (BILZ) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is an actively managed fund that invests in treasury bills and notes, repurchase agreements, and cash collateralized by the US government. Securities selected have a maximum maturity of six months. BILZ was launched on Jun 21, 2023 and is managed by PIMCO.

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Fortis Group Advisors LLC purchased a new position in abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF (NYSEARCA:PALL  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 26,689 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $3,047,000. Fortis Group Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.43% of abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in shares of abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF by 389.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 125,787 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $12,655,000 after purchasing an additional 100,097 shares during the last quarter. Manatuck Hill Partners LLC acquired a new position in abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF in the second quarter worth about $6,540,000. Gradient Investments LLC grew its stake in abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF by 92.4% in the third quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 79,132 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $9,034,000 after purchasing an additional 38,003 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC increased its holdings in abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF by 1,424.0% in the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 37,002 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,723,000 after buying an additional 34,574 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IMC Chicago LLC acquired a new stake in abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $3,579,000. 23.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of PALL opened at $153.53 on Wednesday. abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF has a 52 week low of $82.39 and a 52 week high of $197.41. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $159.13 and a 200-day moving average of $132.93.

abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF Company Profile

ETFS Physical Palladium Shares (the Fund) is designed to offer investors a simple, cost-efficient and secure way to access the precious metals market. The Fund focuses on providing investors with a return equivalent to movements in the palladium spot price less fees. The Fund is issued by ETFS Palladium Trust (the Trust). The Funds sponsor is ETF Securities USA LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of ETF Securities Ltd.

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Fortis Group Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK  Free Report) by 15.4% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 55,145 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 10,056 shares during the period. Fortis Group Advisors LLCs holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF were worth $4,428,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 8.9% during the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 38,672,725 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,997,136,000 after acquiring an additional 3,167,220 shares during the last quarter. Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 37.3% during the 2nd quarter. Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan now owns 8,835,451 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $684,747,000 after purchasing an additional 2,400,165 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 43.3% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,109,288 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $240,970,000 after purchasing an additional 939,927 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 66.8% in the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,851,240 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $143,471,000 after purchasing an additional 741,459 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. raised its position in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 155.2% in the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 867,675 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $67,245,000 after purchasing an additional 527,738 shares during the period.

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Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Stock Up 0.6%

NYSEARCA:VGK opened at $89.23 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $85.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $81.89. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF has a 52 week low of $62.02 and a 52 week high of $89.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.04 and a beta of 0.93.

About Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by Companies located in the markets of Europe. The Fund on focuses indexing investment approach by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the common stocks included in the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index. The Funds investment advisor is The Vanguard Group, Inc

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Gabelli Equity Trust Inc. (NYSE:GAB  Get Free Report) shares saw strong trading volume on Wednesday . 1,555,654 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 179% from the previous sessions volume of 558,488 shares.The stock last traded at $6.2350 and had previously closed at $6.36.

Gabelli Equity Trust Trading Down 1.8%

The companys 50 day moving average price is $6.16 and its 200 day moving average price is $6.09.

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Gabelli Equity Trust Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be issued a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.6%.

Insider Activity at Gabelli Equity Trust

Institutional Trading of Gabelli Equity Trust

In other Gabelli Equity Trust news, insider Mario J. Gabelli purchased 500,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 26th. The shares were bought at an average price of $10.00 per share, for a total transaction of $5,000,000.00. Following the acquisition, the insider owned 500,000 shares in the company, valued at $5,000,000. This represents a  increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . 0.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in GAB. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Gabelli Equity Trust by 74.7% in the 2nd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 1,258,278 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,323,000 after purchasing an additional 537,971 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Gabelli Equity Trust by 761.9% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 457,149 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,661,000 after buying an additional 404,110 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Gabelli Equity Trust by 75.8% during the 4th quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 456,226 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,815,000 after buying an additional 196,659 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC grew its stake in Gabelli Equity Trust by 541.0% in the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 187,620 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,158,000 after acquiring an additional 158,348 shares during the period. Finally, Truist Financial Corp increased its holdings in Gabelli Equity Trust by 722.6% in the 4th quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 172,371 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,064,000 after acquiring an additional 151,416 shares in the last quarter. 7.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Gabelli Equity Trust

(Get Free Report)

Gabelli Equity Trust, Inc (NYSE: GAB) is a closed-end management investment company focused on generating long-term capital appreciation through an actively managed portfolio of primarily U.S.-listed equity securities. Incorporated in Delaware, the Trust pursues a value-oriented approach, leveraging intensive fundamental research to identify small- and mid-cap companies with growth potential and favorable valuation metrics.

Since its initial public offering in 1977, the Trust has invested across a range of sectors, including consumer staples, financial services, industrials and technology, aiming to construct a high-conviction portfolio of companies expected to outperform over time.

Further Reading

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Galp Energia SGPS SA (OTCMKTS:GLPEY  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $10.80 and last traded at $10.7865, with a volume of 1878 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $10.47.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on GLPEY shares. Santander cut shares of Galp Energia SGPS from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Galp Energia SGPS from an underweight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Galp Energia SGPS from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Barclays raised Galp Energia SGPS from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Citigroup downgraded Galp Energia SGPS from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Galp Energia SGPS presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy.

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View Our Latest Analysis on Galp Energia SGPS

Galp Energia SGPS Stock Performance

About Galp Energia SGPS

The firm has a market cap of $16.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.95 and a beta of 0.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.68. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $9.17 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.51.

(Get Free Report)

Galp Energia SGPS is an integrated energy company headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, with core operations spanning upstream exploration and production, midstream refining, and downstream distribution and marketing. In its upstream segment, the company explores and produces oil and natural gas in regions such as Brazils pre-salt basins, African offshore blocks in Angola and Mozambique, and domestic wells in Portugal. Its midstream activities include refining crude oil at the Sines facility and operating a network of pipelines, while downstream operations involve the distribution and retail sale of petroleum products through the Galp-branded service station network across the Iberian Peninsula.

In addition to its traditional oil and gas business, Galp has expanded into power generation and renewable energy.

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Brookfield Renewable (NYSE:BEPC  Get Free Report) and Texas Pacific Land (NYSE:TPL  Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability and risk.

Risk and Volatility

Brookfield Renewable has a beta of 1.22, meaning that its stock price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Texas Pacific Land has a beta of 0.95, meaning that its stock price is 5% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Brookfield Renewable and Texas Pacific Lands gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Brookfield Renewable $3.73 billion 1.68 -$2.34 billion ($0.89) -48.66 Texas Pacific Land $705.82 million 42.97 $453.96 million $6.90 63.75

Texas Pacific Land has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Brookfield Renewable. Brookfield Renewable is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Texas Pacific Land, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

75.1% of Brookfield Renewable shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 59.9% of Texas Pacific Land shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.9% of Texas Pacific Land shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Brookfield Renewable and Texas Pacific Lands net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Brookfield Renewable -62.07% -21.54% -5.01% Texas Pacific Land 61.68% 38.15% 34.45%

Dividends

Brookfield Renewable pays an annual dividend of $1.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.6%. Texas Pacific Land pays an annual dividend of $2.13 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Brookfield Renewable pays out -175.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Texas Pacific Land pays out 30.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Brookfield Renewable has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and Texas Pacific Land has increased its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Brookfield Renewable is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Brookfield Renewable and Texas Pacific Land, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Brookfield Renewable 1 1 3 0 2.40 Texas Pacific Land 1 2 1 0 2.00

Brookfield Renewable presently has a consensus target price of $40.00, suggesting a potential downside of 7.63%. Texas Pacific Land has a consensus target price of $350.00, suggesting a potential downside of 20.43%. Given Brookfield Renewables stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Brookfield Renewable is more favorable than Texas Pacific Land.

Summary

Texas Pacific Land beats Brookfield Renewable on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Brookfield Renewable

(Get Free Report)

Brookfield Renewable Corporation owns and operates a portfolio of renewable power and sustainable solution assets primarily in the United States, Europe, Colombia, and Brazil. It operates hydroelectric, wind, solar, and distributed energy and sustainable solutions with an installed capacity of approximately 19,161 megawatts. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Brookfield Renewable Corporation operates as a subsidiary of Brookfield BRP Holdings (Canada) Inc.

About Texas Pacific Land

(Get Free Report)

Texas Pacific Land Corporation engages in the land and resource management, and water services and operations businesses. The company owns a 1/128th nonparticipating perpetual oil and gas royalty interest (NPRI) under approximately 85,000 acres of land; a 1/16th NPRI under approximately 371,000 acres of land; and approximately 4,000 additional net royalty acres, total of approximately 195,000 NRA located in the western part of Texas. The Land and Resource Management segment manages surface acres of land, and oil and gas royalty interest in West Texas. This segment also engages in easements, such as transporting oil, gas and related hydrocarbons, power line and utility, and subsurface wellbore easements. In addition, this segment leases its land for processing, storage, and compression facilities and roads; and is involved in sale of materials, such as caliche, sand, and other material, as well as sells land. The Water Services and Operations segment provides full-service water offerings, including water sourcing, produced-water treatment, infrastructure development, and disposal solutions to operators in the Permian Basin. This segment also holds produced water royalties. Texas Pacific Land Corporation was founded in 1888 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

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Heartland Advisors Inc. trimmed its stake in Robert Half Inc. (NYSE:RHI  Free Report) by 54.7% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 125,640 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 151,791 shares during the quarter. Heartland Advisors Inc.s holdings in Robert Half were worth $4,269,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Robert Half by 190.5% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 6,201,209 shares of the business services providers stock worth $254,560,000 after buying an additional 4,066,328 shares in the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd increased its holdings in Robert Half by 1,478.6% in the second quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 1,145,456 shares of the business services providers stock worth $47,021,000 after buying an additional 1,072,895 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Robert Half in the second quarter valued at approximately $43,804,000. Man Group plc raised its holdings in shares of Robert Half by 775.7% during the 2nd quarter. Man Group plc now owns 654,458 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $26,866,000 after purchasing an additional 579,719 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in shares of Robert Half by 174.7% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 879,314 shares of the business services providers stock worth $36,096,000 after acquiring an additional 559,175 shares in the last quarter. 92.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Robert Half from $30.00 to $27.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d) rating on shares of Robert Half in a research report on Monday, December 29th. BNP Paribas Exane downgraded Robert Half from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $22.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Friday, December 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Robert Half from $29.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $50.00 target price on Robert Half in a research note on Friday, January 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $33.13.

Robert Half Stock Up 0.4%

RHI stock opened at $24.86 on Wednesday. Robert Half Inc. has a twelve month low of $24.35 and a twelve month high of $61.16. The company has a market cap of $2.52 billion, a PE ratio of 18.69 and a beta of 0.88. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $28.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $30.62.

Robert Half (NYSE:RHI  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.30 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.29 billion. Robert Half had a return on equity of 10.20% and a net margin of 2.47%.The companys quarterly revenue was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.53 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Robert Half Inc. will post 2.48 EPS for the current year.

Robert Half Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be paid a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 25th. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.5%. Robert Halfs dividend payout ratio is currently 177.44%.

Robert Half Profile

(Free Report)

Robert Half International Inc, founded in 1948 by Robert Half, is a global professional staffing and consulting firm headquartered in Menlo Park, California. As a pioneer in specialized staffing, the company has built a reputation for matching skilled professionals with leading organizations across a range of industries. Robert Halfs shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker RHI, reflecting its position as one of the longeststanding and bestknown firms in the staffing sector.

The company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including temporary staffing, permanent placement, and consulting solutions.

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Hodges Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Free Report) by 79.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 16,211 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 7,153 shares during the period. Hodges Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $3,006,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Johnson & Johnson by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 237,047,859 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,209,060,000 after buying an additional 3,085,180 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 2.1% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 60,609,476 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,227,988,000 after purchasing an additional 1,225,676 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Johnson & Johnson during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $4,877,174,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 24,637,649 shares of the companys stock worth $4,568,313,000 after purchasing an additional 835,146 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 18,951,337 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,894,979,000 after purchasing an additional 52,074 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.55% of the companys stock.

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Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance

Shares of JNJ stock opened at $242.93 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The business has a 50 day moving average of $218.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $197.88. The company has a market cap of $585.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.98, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.35. Johnson & Johnson has a 52 week low of $141.50 and a 52 week high of $246.35.

Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement

Johnson & Johnson ( NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 33.04% and a net margin of 28.46%.The business had revenue of $24.28 billion for the quarter. As a group, analysts anticipate that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 24th will be issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 24th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Johnson & Johnsons payout ratio is 47.06%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 30th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $232.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $222.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $250.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Loop Capital set a $220.00 target price on Johnson & Johnson in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $233.73.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week:

Johnson & Johnson Company Profile

(Free Report)

Johnson & Johnson is a multinational healthcare company headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of products across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and previously consumer health. Founded in 1886 by the Johnson family, the company has grown into a global healthcare organization with operations and sales in many countries around the world.

The companys pharmaceuticals business, organized largely under its Janssen research and development organization, focuses on prescription medicines across therapeutic areas such as immunology, infectious disease, oncology and neuroscience.

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Hodges Capital Management Inc. reduced its position in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 10.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 57,877 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 6,645 shares during the quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $6,526,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Exxon Mobil during the second quarter worth approximately $6,163,719,000. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 150.2% during the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 7,602,601 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $819,560,000 after acquiring an additional 4,563,707 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 200.7% in the second quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 2,014,446 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $217,162,000 after purchasing an additional 4,015,099 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Exxon Mobil by 10,809.8% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,095,106 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $333,652,000 after purchasing an additional 3,066,736 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in Exxon Mobil by 119.4% during the third quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 2,672,359 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $301,310,000 after purchasing an additional 1,454,308 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.80% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $144.00 to $142.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $137.00 to $134.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Citigroup lifted their target price on Exxon Mobil from $115.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on Exxon Mobil from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane downgraded Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $125.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Exxon Mobil currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $140.59.

Exxon Mobil Price Performance

Exxon Mobil stock opened at $146.01 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $615.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 15.40 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $130.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $119.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a 12-month low of $97.80 and a 12-month high of $156.93.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.08. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.21% and a net margin of 8.68%.The company had revenue of $82.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $77.98 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.67 EPS. Exxon Mobils revenue for the quarter was down 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be given a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. Exxon Mobils payout ratio is currently 61.58%.

Insider Activity at Exxon Mobil

In related news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.75, for a total value of $698,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 23,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,295,864. The trade was a 17.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 14,230 shares of company stock valued at $1,888,421. Company insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock.

Key Stories Impacting Exxon Mobil

Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week:

About Exxon Mobil

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) is an integrated oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, production, refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products and the manufacture and sale of petrochemicals. Its operations span the full energy value chain, including upstream exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas; midstream transportation and storage; and downstream refining, product distribution and retail. The company also produces a broad range of chemical products for industrial and consumer applications.

ExxonMobil markets fuels and lubricants under well-known brands such as Exxon, Mobil and Esso, and its Mobil 1 motor oil is a prominent consumer product.

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Shares of Holcim Ltd Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:HCMLY  Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the thirteen ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $16.80.

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. BNP Paribas Exane downgraded shares of Holcim from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $16.80 price objective for the company. in a report on Thursday, December 4th. DZ Bank lowered Holcim from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Holcim from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Holcim from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated a sector perform rating on shares of Holcim in a research report on Monday, January 12th.

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Holcim Trading Up 1.4%

About Holcim

HCMLY stock opened at $18.40 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.21. The companys fifty day moving average price is $19.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.04. Holcim has a one year low of $15.14 and a one year high of $30.00.

(Get Free Report)

Holcim is a global building materials and solutions company headquartered in Switzerland that produces and supplies cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, asphalt and a range of prefabricated and construction-related products and services. Its offerings are aimed at construction and infrastructure markets, serving contractors, developers, municipalities and industrial customers with materials for residential, commercial and civil engineering projects.

The company traces its modern form to the 2015 combination of Swiss cement maker Holcim and Frances Lafarge, which created one of the worlds largest building-materials groups; the combined enterprise later simplified its name to Holcim.

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Hong Kong & China Gas Co. (OTCMKTS:HOKCY  Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 26,270 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 164% from the previous sessions volume of 9,949 shares.The stock last traded at $0.9361 and had previously closed at $0.9148.

Hong Kong & China Gas Price Performance

The businesss fifty day moving average is $0.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hong Kong & China Gas

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Hong Kong & China Gas stock. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in Hong Kong & China Gas Co. (OTCMKTS:HOKCY  Free Report) by 26.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 131,441 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 27,860 shares during the quarter. Rhumbline Advisers holdings in Hong Kong & China Gas were worth $107,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Hong Kong & China Gas Company Profile

The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, commonly known as Towngas, is a long-established utility and energy services company founded in 1862. It is principally engaged in the production, distribution and sale of town gas and related energy products, serving residential, commercial and industrial customers. Towngas operates through an integrated model that covers gas production facilities, transmission and distribution networks, customer metering and billing, and after-sales services.

Core products and services include piped town gas for household and commercial use, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution, gas appliances and fittings, and engineering, installation and maintenance services.

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King Wealth Management Group increased its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR  Free Report) by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 197,507 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 8,065 shares during the period. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF accounts for about 2.9% of King Wealth Management Groups holdings, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. King Wealth Management Groups holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $23,470,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of IJR. Alaska Permanent Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 11.4% during the third quarter. Alaska Permanent Capital Management LLC now owns 545,285 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $64,780,000 after buying an additional 55,761 shares during the period. Latko Wealth Management Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 8.5% in the 3rd quarter. Latko Wealth Management Ltd. now owns 58,733 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $6,979,000 after buying an additional 4,608 shares during the period. First Horizon Corp acquired a new position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $10,009,000. Cambridge Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Capital Management LLC now owns 172,892 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $20,545,000 after acquiring an additional 6,754 shares during the period. Finally, Human Investing LLC boosted its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. Human Investing LLC now owns 160,591 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $19,083,000 after acquiring an additional 7,659 shares during the period. 66.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:IJR opened at $130.81 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $96.19 billion, a PE ratio of 16.52 and a beta of 1.08. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a 1 year low of $89.22 and a 1 year high of $133.52. The firms 50-day moving average is $126.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $120.75.

About iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The Index serves as the underlying index for the S&P 600/Citigroup Growth and Value Index series. The component stocks are weighted according to the total float-adjusted market value of their outstanding shares.

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iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF (NYSEARCA:EWN  Get Free Report) passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $60.06 and traded as high as $61.88. iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF shares last traded at $61.65, with a volume of 116,881 shares traded.

iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $357.82 million, a P/E ratio of 19.71 and a beta of 1.16. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $60.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $57.72.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EWN. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $149,000. Mount Lucas Management LP boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF by 522.6% in the 2nd quarter. Mount Lucas Management LP now owns 14,756 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $804,000 after acquiring an additional 12,386 shares in the last quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF during the second quarter worth $4,540,000. Lido Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,062,000. Finally, Lyell Wealth Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $231,000.

iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Netherlands Investable Market Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Components primarily include consumer staples, financial and industrials companies. The Fund invests in a particular segment of the securities markets and seeks to track the performance of a securities index that generally is not representative of the market as a whole.

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Allegion (NYSE:ALLE  Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by research analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $190.00 to $180.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the scientific and technical instruments companys stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s price target points to a potential upside of 10.01% from the stocks previous close.

Several other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on ALLE. Wells Fargo & Company restated a positive rating on shares of Allegion in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Allegion in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Allegion from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on Allegion from $187.00 to $180.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $175.50.

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View Our Latest Research Report on ALLE

Allegion Trading Up 0.6%

NYSE:ALLE traded up $0.96 on Wednesday, reaching $163.63. The stock had a trading volume of 318,296 shares, compared to its average volume of 894,640. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.77 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The company has a market cap of $14.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 1.03. The firms fifty day moving average is $165.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $168.21. Allegion has a 12-month low of $116.57 and a 12-month high of $183.11.

Allegion (NYSE:ALLE  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by ($0.07). The firm had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.04 billion. Allegion had a net margin of 16.09% and a return on equity of 40.83%. Allegions revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.86 EPS. Allegion has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.700-8.900 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Allegion will post 7.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Allegion

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Allegion by 7.0% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 9,592 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $1,251,000 after purchasing an additional 626 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in Allegion by 35.3% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 3,272 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $427,000 after buying an additional 854 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its holdings in shares of Allegion by 44.2% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,629 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $213,000 after buying an additional 499 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC grew its position in shares of Allegion by 13.0% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 5,673 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $740,000 after acquiring an additional 651 shares during the period. Finally, Focus Partners Wealth grew its position in shares of Allegion by 204.5% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 7,186 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $937,000 after acquiring an additional 4,826 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 92.21% of the companys stock.

Allegion News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Allegion this week:

Allegion Company Profile

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Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) is a global provider of security products and solutions focused on ensuring the safety and security of people and property. The company was formed in December 2013 through a corporate spin-off from Ingersoll Rand and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Allegions core mission is to deliver innovative mechanical and electronic access control systems for a wide range of end markets, including commercial buildings, residential properties, institutional facilities, and industrial sites.

The companys product portfolio spans mechanical locksets, door closers, exit devices, key systems and cylinders, as well as a growing suite of electronic and smart access control offerings.

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Kering SA (OTCMKTS:PPRUY  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 25,974 shares, a growth of 21.1% from the January 15th total of 21,452 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 305,496 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days. Based on an average daily volume of 305,496 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Kering Price Performance

Kering stock opened at $32.42 on Wednesday. Kering has a 12 month low of $17.02 and a 12 month high of $40.70. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $34.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $32.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.32.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

PPRUY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. HSBC cut Kering from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. DZ Bank raised Kering from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Kering from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Kering in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of Kering in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold.

Kering Company Profile

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Kering is a global luxury goods group headquartered in Paris that designs, produces and distributes high-end fashion, leather goods, jewelry and watches. The company owns and manages a portfolio of well-known maisons  including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and several specialist jewelry and watchmakers  and supports those brands with centralized services for sourcing, manufacturing oversight, distribution and retail operations.

Originally part of a broader retail conglomerate, the group repositioned itself over the past two decades as a focused luxury house and adopted the Kering name in the 2010s.

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La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE:LZB  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, February 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of 0.242 per share on Friday, March 13th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd.

La-Z-Boy has increased its dividend by an average of 0.1%annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 4 consecutive years. La-Z-Boy has a dividend payout ratio of 26.7% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect La-Z-Boy to earn $3.35 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.96 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 28.7%.

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La-Z-Boy Trading Down 5.9%

NYSE LZB traded down $2.25 on Wednesday, hitting $35.68. 169,161 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 384,679. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.47 billion, a PE ratio of 16.37 and a beta of 1.27. La-Z-Boy has a 1-year low of $29.03 and a 1-year high of $48.13. The firms 50-day moving average price is $38.29 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $36.06.

About La-Z-Boy

La-Z-Boy ( NYSE:LZB Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The company reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $541.59 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $535.47 million. La-Z-Boy had a net margin of 4.29% and a return on equity of 11.19%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that La-Z-Boy will post 2.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

(Get Free Report)

La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE: LZB) is a leading U.S. manufacturer and marketer of residential furniture, best known for its upholstered recliners, sofas, stationary chairs and sleeper sofas. The company offers a broad range of products in both fabric and leather, complemented by occasional tables, desks, lamps and other home furnishings through its branded retail network.

Founded in 1927 by cousins Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker in Monroe, Michigan, La-Z-Boy pioneered the modern reclining chair.

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M&G PLC purchased a new position in shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina S.A. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:LOMA  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 852,620 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,968,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fourth Sail Capital LP boosted its stake in shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina by 8.6% during the 2nd quarter. Fourth Sail Capital LP now owns 1,456,770 shares of the companys stock worth $15,981,000 after acquiring an additional 115,964 shares in the last quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP raised its holdings in Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina by 21.8% in the 3rd quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP now owns 1,436,459 shares of the companys stock worth $10,587,000 after purchasing an additional 257,318 shares during the period. Aberdeen Group plc boosted its position in Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina by 16.6% during the third quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 1,201,100 shares of the companys stock worth $9,044,000 after purchasing an additional 171,210 shares in the last quarter. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda grew its holdings in Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina by 1.9% in the third quarter. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda now owns 385,734 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,843,000 after purchasing an additional 7,134 shares during the period. Finally, Systrade AG increased its position in shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina by 75.9% in the third quarter. Systrade AG now owns 382,944 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,822,000 after buying an additional 165,245 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 19.32% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, October 25th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $14.80.

Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Stock Performance

Shares of LOMA stock opened at $11.29 on Wednesday. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina S.A. Sponsored ADR has a fifty-two week low of $7.04 and a fifty-two week high of $14.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.24. The stocks fifty day moving average is $12.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $10.58.

About Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina

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Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina SA is the leading cement producer in Argentina, with a history dating back to its founding in Buenos Aires in 1926. The company operates an integrated network of cement and lime plants, as well as quarries and ready-mix concrete facilities. Its operations encompass the extraction of limestone, the production of clinker, hydraulic cement and quicklime, and the distribution of aggregates and concrete for a wide range of construction projects.

The companys product portfolio serves residential, commercial, industrial and public infrastructure markets across Argentina.

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Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP.A  Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The company reported $1.21 EPS for the quarter, Zacks reports.

Molson Coors Beverage Stock Down 8.9%

Shares of TAP.A traded down $4.97 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $50.96. 609 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 626. Molson Coors Beverage has a 1 year low of $41.10 and a 1 year high of $65.82. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $49.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.47.

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About Molson Coors Beverage

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Molson Coors Beverage Company is a leading global brewer and beverage company with a diverse portfolio of beer, malt beverages and nonalcoholic offerings. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with regional offices in Golden, Colorado and Toronto, Ontario, the company develops, manufactures and sells a wide range of brands to consumers in North America, Europe and select international markets.

The company traces its roots to the 2005 merger of Molson, Canadas oldest brewery founded in 1786, and Coors, founded in 1873 in Golden, Colorado.

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NEOS Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) by 48.3% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 131,542 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after acquiring an additional 42,828 shares during the period. NEOS Investment Management LLCs holdings in TJX Companies were worth $19,013,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in TJX. Bank of Nova Scotia grew its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 129.9% in the second quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 269,813 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $33,319,000 after acquiring an additional 152,453 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in shares of TJX Companies by 66.6% in the second quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 76,998 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $9,508,000 after buying an additional 30,779 shares in the last quarter. Rheos Capital Works Inc. lifted its position in shares of TJX Companies by 26.0% during the 3rd quarter. Rheos Capital Works Inc. now owns 370,000 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $53,480,000 after acquiring an additional 76,400 shares during the last quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC raised its position in shares of TJX Companies by 4.9% during the third quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 171,820 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $24,835,000 after purchasing an additional 8,006 shares during the period. Finally, Savoir Faire Capital Management L.P. boosted its position in shares of TJX Companies by 45.7% in the 3rd quarter. Savoir Faire Capital Management L.P. now owns 81,361 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $11,760,000 after purchasing an additional 25,534 shares during the period. 91.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on TJX shares. BTIG Research reissued a buy rating and set a $165.00 target price on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $184.00 price objective on TJX Companies in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Wall Street Zen raised TJX Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, January 11th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued a positive rating and issued a $150.00 price target (up from $145.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $168.00 price objective (up from $160.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, TJX Companies presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $163.86.

TJX Companies Stock Up 1.5%

NYSE:TJX opened at $156.76 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $154.53 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $146.32. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $112.10 and a 52-week high of $159.48. The company has a market cap of $174.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.60, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 1.09.

TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $15.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.80 billion. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 58.30% and a net margin of 8.68%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.14 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 EPS for the current year.

TJX Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.425 per share. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio is presently 37.53%.

Insider Buying and Selling at TJX Companies

In other TJX Companies news, Director Amy B. Lane sold 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.40, for a total value of $75,700.00. Following the sale, the director owned 22,212 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,362,896.80. The trade was a 2.20% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 24,363 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.31, for a total transaction of $3,686,365.53. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 510,780 shares in the company, valued at $77,286,121.80. This trade represents a 4.55% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 54,863 shares of company stock valued at $8,226,366. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

TJX Companies Profile

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TJX Companies, Inc is a leading off-price retailer of apparel, footwear, home fashions and other consumer goods. The company operates multiple retail concepts that offer discounted brand-name and designer merchandise, including well-known banners such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in the United States, HomeGoods for home furnishings, TK Maxx in parts of Europe, and Winners and Homesense in Canada. Merchandise categories span womens, mens and childrens apparel, accessories, beauty, home decor, kitchenware and small furniture, with frequent changes in assortment that create a treasure-hunt shopping experience for consumers.

The companys business model centers on opportunistic buying, purchasing excess, irregular or out-of-season inventory from manufacturers, department stores and other suppliers, and passing savings to customers through lower prices.

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NEOS Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD  Free Report) by 48.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 192,468 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 62,397 shares during the quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLCs holdings in Prologis were worth $22,041,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of PLD. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. grew its position in shares of Prologis by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 16,583 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,941,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Clear Investment Research LLC raised its position in shares of Prologis by 34.5% in the third quarter. Clear Investment Research LLC now owns 343 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Prologis by 1.0% in the third quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 9,069 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,039,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. Ignite Planners LLC grew its position in Prologis by 3.2% during the third quarter. Ignite Planners LLC now owns 2,937 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $336,000 after buying an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC increased its stake in Prologis by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 2,867 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $328,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the period. 93.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Prologis Stock Up 2.0%

PLD stock opened at $141.79 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $131.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.44 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $131.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $122.48. Prologis, Inc. has a 12 month low of $85.35 and a 12 month high of $141.95.

Prologis Increases Dividend

Prologis ( NYSE:PLD Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 21st. The real estate investment trust reported $1.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.44. Prologis had a net margin of 37.86% and a return on equity of 5.78%. The business had revenue of $2.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.42 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Prologis has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.000-6.200 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Prologis, Inc. will post 5.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be issued a dividend of $1.07 per share. This is a positive change from Prologiss previous quarterly dividend of $1.01. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. Prologiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 113.80%.

Insider Transactions at Prologis

In other news, Director Cristina Gabriela Bita sold 621 shares of Prologis stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.60, for a total transaction of $79,239.60. Following the sale, the director directly owned 8,208 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,047,340.80. This trade represents a 7.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Prologis from $137.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of Prologis from $142.00 to $139.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Freedom Capital downgraded shares of Prologis from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Prologis from $138.00 to $143.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Finally, BTIG Research upped their price target on shares of Prologis from $134.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 31st. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $135.89.

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Prologis Profile

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Prologis, Inc is a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in logistics and distribution facilities. The company focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing high-quality industrial real estate assets that support supply chain infrastructure for third-party logistics providers, e-commerce businesses, retailers and manufacturers. Its portfolio primarily consists of warehouse and distribution centers designed to optimize goods movement and storage near key transportation hubs.

With a global presence, Prologis serves customers across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.

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NEOS Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT  Free Report) by 47.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 25,203 shares of the aerospace companys stock after buying an additional 8,075 shares during the quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $12,582,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of LMT. Carnegie Investment Counsel increased its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 29,639 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $14,796,000 after purchasing an additional 3,031 shares during the last quarter. VCI Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin during the third quarter valued at about $3,075,000. DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 22.4% in the 3rd quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 25,423 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $12,688,000 after acquiring an additional 4,652 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 29.2% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 10,036 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $5,010,000 after acquiring an additional 2,270 shares during the period. Finally, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 9.3% in the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 39,410 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $19,674,000 after acquiring an additional 3,352 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.19% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have issued reports on LMT. Citigroup boosted their target price on Lockheed Martin from $592.00 to $673.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $615.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Susquehanna reiterated a positive rating and issued a $660.00 price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin in a report on Thursday, January 15th. UBS Group raised their target price on Lockheed Martin from $580.00 to $663.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Lockheed Martin from $515.00 to $680.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lockheed Martin has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $612.50.

Lockheed Martin Price Performance

Shares of NYSE LMT opened at $649.18 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.05, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The company has a market cap of $149.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.23. The stocks 50-day moving average is $552.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $497.97. Lockheed Martin Corporation has a 1-year low of $410.11 and a 1-year high of $656.34.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $5.80 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by ($0.53). Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 108.53% and a net margin of 6.69%.The company had revenue of $20.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.84 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $7.67 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 27.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a $3.45 dividend. This represents a $13.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 64.22%.

About Lockheed Martin

(Free Report)

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is a global aerospace and defense company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology systems for government and commercial customers. Formed through the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and focuses on providing integrated solutions across air, space, land and sea domains. Its primary customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and allied governments around the world.

Lockheed Martins product and service portfolio spans military aircraft, missile and fire-control systems, missile defense, space systems and satellite technologies, sensors and precision weapons.

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Norsk Hydro ASA (OTCMKTS:NHYDY  Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at Kepler Capital Markets from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report issued on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other analysts also recently weighed in on NHYDY. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Norsk Hydro ASA in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Danske raised Norsk Hydro ASA to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Norsk Hydro ASA from a buy rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday. Zacks Research cut Norsk Hydro ASA from a strong-buy rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada downgraded Norsk Hydro ASA from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Norsk Hydro ASA currently has an average rating of Reduce.

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Norsk Hydro ASA Stock Performance

OTCMKTS NHYDY opened at $8.58 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.97 billion, a PE ratio of 27.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 1.15. Norsk Hydro ASA has a 1-year low of $4.50 and a 1-year high of $9.75. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $8.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $7.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.91 and a quick ratio of 1.25.

Norsk Hydro ASA (OTCMKTS:NHYDY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The industrial products company reported $0.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.03 by $0.04. Norsk Hydro ASA had a net margin of 3.06% and a return on equity of 9.44%. The firm had revenue of $4.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.82 billion. On average, research analysts predict that Norsk Hydro ASA will post 0.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norsk Hydro ASA Company Profile

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Norsk Hydro ASA is a Norwegian industrial company with a primary focus on aluminum production and renewable energy. Established in 1905, the company has grown from its roots in fertilizer manufacturing to become one of the worlds largest integrated aluminum producers. Its operations span the full value chain, including bauxite mining, alumina refining, primary aluminum production, and downstream processing of rolled and extruded products.

In addition to its aluminum business, Hydro maintains a significant portfolio of hydropower assets to support its energy-intensive processes.

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OGE Energy (NYSE:OGE) reported consolidated earnings of $2.32 per share for 2025, supported by higher earnings at the electric utility and continued customer and load growth across its service territory. Management also introduced its 2026 earnings outlook of $2.38 to $2.48 per share (midpoint $2.43) and reiterated a 5% to 7% long-term EPS growth target off that higher starting point.

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2025 results and key drivers

Chairman, President and CEO Sean Trauschke said 2025 was another strong year that continued the companys momentum and positioned it for what he described as a long runway of future growth with generation and transmission opportunities. The company reported consolidated earnings of $2.32 per share for the year, comprised of $2.47 per share at the electric company and a holding company loss of $0.15.

CFO Chuck Walworth said consolidated net income for 2025 was approximately, or, compared with, or, in 2024. At the electric company, net income rose to approximately, or, from, or, driven by. The holding company posted a, or, which Walworth attributed topartially offset by a

On operations and demand, Walworth said customer growth was just under 1% and weather-normalized load grew approximately 7% in 2025, reflecting strong local economies and what management described as a sustainable model built on low rates and reliable service.

2026 guidance and growth expectations

For 2026, Walworth guided to consolidated EPS of $2.38 to $2.48, with a midpoint of $2.43. He said the midpoint represents a 7% increase from the 2025 midpoint and noted that since becoming a pure-play electric company, OGE has consistently delivered at the high end of its guidance ranges.

The company expects customer count to increase about 1% in 2026 and weather-normalized load to grow 4% to 6%. In response to an analyst question about the apparent moderation versus 2025, management said load growth can ebb and flow year to year and pointed to a broader trend averaging around 5% since 2021. Walworth added that there is much more certainty around customer X as the company prepares to finalize that agreement.

Walworth also highlighted the longer-term load picture, saying total retail weather-normalized load is up more than 24% since 2021.

Capital plan, financing, and rate base discussion

Management emphasized its focus on affordability, pointing to low rates in its states and region and saying O&M per customer growth over the past decade has been less than 1%. Trauschke said that affordability remains foundational to the companys growth prospects.

On financing, Walworth said the company expects to issue approximately $300 million of debt at the electric utility in 2026, with no long-term debt issuance planned at the holding company. He also referenced an equity issuance completed last November that was intended to support roughly $1 billion of incremental capital expenditures added through 2030, adding that the transaction satisfies our equity needs through 2030 under the current plan.

Walworth said the company expects FFO to Debt of approximately 17% through 2030. The company is targeting a 60% to 70% dividend payout ratio with a stable and growing dividend, with EPS expected to grow faster than dividends to support that goal.

In Q&A, management addressed how to think about the linkage between the companys investment plan and rate base growth. Walworth pointed to a slide in the companys materials indicating about 9% rate base growth under the current plan, while noting that the company also discussed potential incremental opportunities beyond that plan.

Generation and large-load initiatives

Trauschke said the company filed for generation pre-approval of the 300 MW Frontier Energy Storage Project and expects to secure approval in both states. Looking ahead, he said the company issued two RFPs and a draft 2026 integrated resource plan (IRP), and it expects to pursue additional generation pre-approval filings after RFP results.

Walworth said growth in the customer base and Southwest Power Pool (SPP) policy changes are driving increased capacity needs. In January, the company issued:

A draft RFP for bridge capacity between 2027 and 2032

between 2027 and 2032 An all-source RFP for accredited capacity available for 2032

He said the company expects bid selection in the third quarter, followed by pre-approval filings before year-end. The draft IRP identifies approximately 1.9 GW of capacity needs by 2031, including about 800 MW driven by SPP policy changes. Walworth said that 1.9 GW need is incremental to the 300 MW Frontier project.

Management also discussed Customer X, described as a data center customer in the IRP. Trauschke said the company is finalizing a 1 GW contract with that customer and plans to file both the agreement and a large load tier by mid-year. In response to questions about customer protections, management said the framework includes measures such as ensuring the large customer pays its fair share, minimum terms, and collateral requirements, and it reiterated a stated priority of protecting residential customers.

On the large-load pipeline beyond Customer X, management said it remains in negotiations with six to seven large load customers in various stages, but it has not included additional customers in the IRP at this time.

Transmission opportunities and regulatory filings

On transmission, management said SPP finalized its 2025 Integrated Transmission Plan (ITP) portfolio. Trauschke said SPP determined several large projects will be considered short-term reliability projects, and OG&E was assigned a significant portion of the Seminole-to-Shreveport 765-kV line. Walworth said the company was also allocated several additional transmission and substation projects and expects to refine estimates and schedules for the portfolio, with anticipated acceptance of notices to construct in the second half of the year and additions to the investment plan at that time.

In response to an analyst question, management said it is still early in the process, with routing yet to be determined, but Trauschke characterized the transmission assignmentalong with associated workas potentially on the order of 20% of our current capital plan, while emphasizing that estimate was preliminary.

On regulatory timing, Walworth said OGE plans to file a rate review in Oklahoma this summer, with new rates in 2027, and is evaluating a potential filing in Arkansas by year-end. Trauschke separately said the company plans to file a rate review mid-year in Oklahoma and will evaluate the timing of an Arkansas rate review later in the year.

About OGE Energy (NYSE:OGE)

OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE:OGE) is an energy and infrastructure holding company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Through its principal subsidiary, Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company, the company provides regulated electric service to residential, commercial and industrial customers across Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Its diversified generation mix includes coal, natural gas and wind-powered facilities, complemented by ongoing investments in grid modernization and smart technology to enhance reliability and customer satisfaction.

In addition to its core electric utility operations, OGE Energy Corp.

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Shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. (NYSE:ECO  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $44.19 and last traded at $44.0960, with a volume of 15632 shares. The stock had previously closed at $42.71.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on ECO. B. Riley Financial raised their target price on shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers from $35.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research downgraded Okeanis Eco Tankers from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. UBS Group lowered Okeanis Eco Tankers from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Clarkson Capital upgraded Okeanis Eco Tankers from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $46.05 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Okeanis Eco Tankers presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $40.02.

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Okeanis Eco Tankers Stock Up 4.4%

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Okeanis Eco Tankers

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33, a current ratio of 2.00 and a quick ratio of 1.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.65 and a beta of 0.04. The stocks fifty day moving average is $37.53 and its two-hundred day moving average is $33.27.

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers by 56.8% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 150,568 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,328,000 after purchasing an additional 54,528 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its stake in Okeanis Eco Tankers by 108.2% during the second quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 420,789 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,144,000 after buying an additional 218,717 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers in the second quarter worth about $613,000. Lighthouse Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers by 13.5% in the second quarter. Lighthouse Investment Partners LLC now owns 46,816 shares of the companys stock worth $1,017,000 after buying an additional 5,558 shares during the period. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets purchased a new position in shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers in the second quarter worth approximately $25,000.

Okeanis Eco Tankers Company Profile

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Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. is a Marshall Islandsincorporated, publicly traded shipping company specializing in the ownership and operation of eco-design product tankers. The company made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker ECO in May 2019 following an initial public offering. It focuses on the acquisition of newbuilding medium-range (MR) and long-range (LR) product tankers designed to deliver enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

As of its public listing, Okeanis Eco Tankers fleet comprises twelve eco-efficient vessels built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in South Korea.

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oOh!media Limited (ASX:OML  Get Free Report) announced a final dividend on Tuesday, February 17th, MarketIndexAU Dividends reports. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 18th will be given a dividend of 0.04 per share on Wednesday, March 18th. This represents a dividend yield of 376.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 24th.

oOh!media Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 128.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $662.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 1.90.

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oOh!media Company Profile

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oOh!media Limited operates as an out of home media company primarily in Australia and New Zealand. The company's portfolio includes large format classic and digital roadside screens; large and small format digital and classic signs located in retail precincts, such as shopping centers, as well as airport terminals, lounges, and in-flight; digital and classic street furniture signs; and digital and classic format advertising in public transport corridors, including rail, as well as high dwell time environments, such as universities and office buildings.

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ProPetro Holding Corp. (NYSE:PUMP  Get Free Report) shares were down 4.5% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $11.31 and last traded at $11.4750. Approximately 2,418,583 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 21% from the average daily volume of 3,054,761 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.01.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on PUMP. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of ProPetro in a research note on Monday, December 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of ProPetro from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $7.00 to $13.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Wolfe Research raised shares of ProPetro to a buy rating and set a $13.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of ProPetro from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of ProPetro from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $12.67.

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ProPetro Stock Down 6.1%

The firm has a market cap of $1.17 billion, a PE ratio of -66.34 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $10.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.07.

ProPetro (NYSE:PUMP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 18th. The company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.13) by $0.14. ProPetro had a negative net margin of 1.31% and a negative return on equity of 0.06%. The company had revenue of $289.68 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $279.90 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned ($0.17) earnings per share. ProPetros revenue for the quarter was down 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that ProPetro Holding Corp. will post 0.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of ProPetro

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Squarepoint Ops LLC raised its stake in ProPetro by 127.3% in the second quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 102,166 shares of the companys stock valued at $610,000 after purchasing an additional 57,226 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of ProPetro by 83.7% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 20,405 shares of the companys stock valued at $122,000 after buying an additional 9,297 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of ProPetro by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 3,556,150 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,230,000 after purchasing an additional 107,090 shares during the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in shares of ProPetro in the third quarter worth about $1,569,000. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its position in ProPetro by 256.5% in the second quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 377,904 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,256,000 after purchasing an additional 271,906 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.70% of the companys stock.

ProPetro Company Profile

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ProPetro Holding Corp is a publicly traded oilfield services company that specializes in hydraulic fracturing and well completion solutions for exploration and production operators. Headquartered in Midland, Texas, the company delivers a comprehensive suite of pressure pumping services designed to optimize reservoir stimulation and enhance hydrocarbon recovery. Its integrated approach encompasses well design, proppant selection, fluid systems and pressure management to support clients development targets across unconventional plays.

The companys core offerings include high-pressure fracturing, coiled tubing, cementing, acidizing and flowback services, all supported by in-house logistics and digital monitoring tools.

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Aberdeen Group plc reduced its position in shares of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:RJF  Free Report) by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 116,992 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 3,454 shares during the period. Aberdeen Group plcs holdings in Raymond James Financial were worth $20,641,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in RJF. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Raymond James Financial by 1.5% during the second quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 4,076 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $625,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the period. Waterloo Capital L.P. raised its stake in Raymond James Financial by 2.0% during the second quarter. Waterloo Capital L.P. now owns 3,302 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $506,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the period. Wedmont Private Capital lifted its holdings in Raymond James Financial by 0.6% in the third quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 10,425 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,727,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Raymond James Financial by 2.0% in the third quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 3,264 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $563,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Finally, Level Four Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Raymond James Financial by 2.4% during the second quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,880 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $442,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.83% of the companys stock.

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Raymond James Financial Price Performance

NYSE RJF opened at $157.98 on Wednesday. Raymond James Financial, Inc. has a 12 month low of $117.57 and a 12 month high of $177.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.14 billion, a PE ratio of 15.46, a P/E/G ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.00. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $165.86 and its 200 day simple moving average is $164.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.04.

Raymond James Financial Increases Dividend

Raymond James Financial ( NYSE:RJF Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.83 by $0.03. Raymond James Financial had a return on equity of 17.65% and a net margin of 13.07%.The firm had revenue of $3.74 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.93 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Raymond James Financial, Inc. will post 11.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 16th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.54 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 2nd. This is an increase from Raymond James Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. Raymond James Financials dividend payout ratio is presently 21.14%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

RJF has been the topic of several recent research reports. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Raymond James Financial from $180.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Citizens Jmp raised their target price on Raymond James Financial from $185.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of Raymond James Financial from $174.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Raymond James Financial in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Raymond James Financial from $194.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $182.17.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on RJF

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Paul C. Reilly sold 130,687 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.15, for a total transaction of $21,321,584.05. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 260,546 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,508,079.90. This trade represents a 33.40% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.58% of the companys stock.

Raymond James Financial Profile

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Raymond James Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. Founded in 1962, the company provides a range of services to individual investors, businesses and institutions through a combination of wealth management, capital markets, investment banking, asset management, banking and trust services. Its business model centers on a network of financial advisors and broker-dealer operations that deliver personalized financial planning, investment advisory services and brokerage solutions.

The firms core offerings include private client wealth management delivered by independent and employee advisors, equity and fixed-income research, institutional sales and trading, and investment banking services such as mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RJF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:RJF  Free Report).

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Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF  Free Report) by 85.8% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 38,714 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 17,883 shares during the quarter. Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLCs holdings in Regions Financial were worth $1,021,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Centaurus Financial Inc. lifted its position in Regions Financial by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 10,230 shares of the banks stock worth $241,000 after acquiring an additional 382 shares during the period. Fairvoy Private Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Regions Financial by 1.9% during the third quarter. Fairvoy Private Wealth LLC now owns 23,670 shares of the banks stock worth $624,000 after purchasing an additional 449 shares during the period. Southeast Asset Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Regions Financial by 0.5% during the third quarter. Southeast Asset Advisors LLC now owns 103,704 shares of the banks stock worth $2,735,000 after purchasing an additional 474 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB grew its position in Regions Financial by 11.0% in the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 4,896 shares of the banks stock valued at $129,000 after buying an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Regions Financial by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 75,163 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,982,000 after buying an additional 486 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.39% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently commented on RF. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Regions Financial from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Regions Financial from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated a market perform rating and issued a $31.00 price target on shares of Regions Financial in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on Regions Financial from $29.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Regions Financial from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, December 13th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Regions Financial presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $29.84.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP William D. Ritter sold 36,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.78, for a total transaction of $1,036,080.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 17,569 shares of the companys stock, valued at $505,635.82. This trade represents a 67.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock.

Regions Financial Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of RF stock opened at $29.78 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $26.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.00, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Regions Financial Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $17.74 and a fifty-two week high of $31.53. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $28.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of $26.60.

Regions Financial (NYSE:RF  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 16th. The bank reported $0.57 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by ($0.04). Regions Financial had a net margin of 22.44% and a return on equity of 12.55%. The business had revenue of $1.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.94 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.56 earnings per share. Regions Financials revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Regions Financial Corporation will post 2.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Regions Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.265 per share. This represents a $1.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. Regions Financials dividend payout ratio is 46.29%.

Regions Financial announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Wednesday, December 10th that permits the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the bank to purchase up to 12.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Regions Financial Company Profile

(Free Report)

Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF) is a U.S. bank holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, that provides a broad range of banking and financial services. Its primary banking subsidiary, Regions Bank, serves retail and commercial customers through a combination of branch and ATM networks, digital channels and relationship-based delivery. The company offers deposit accounts, consumer and commercial loans, mortgage origination and servicing, and payment and treasury services.

In addition to core banking, Regions offers wealth management, trust and brokerage services, insurance solutions, and capital markets capabilities to corporate and institutional clients.

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Renascor Resources (ASX:RNU) outlined plans to position itself as an integrated supplier of battery anode materials, emphasizing a strategy to move beyond mined graphite into downstream processing for the lithium-ion battery supply chain. Speaking at a company presentation, Managing Director David Christensen said the South Australia-based company aims to produce purified spherical graphite (PSG), a refined form of graphite used in lithium-ion battery anodes.

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Strategy: from graphite mining to purified spherical graphite

Christensen said Renascors plan is to produce graphite from its Siviour deposit in South Australia and refine it into PSG for delivery to the lithium-ion battery market. He characterized the companys opportunity as twofold: competitive costs at the mine level, and potentially greater competitiveness by moving one step further downstream.

Market backdrop: growing battery demand and geopolitical risk

As a graphite miner, Christensen said Renascor has the chance to become among the lowest cost producers globally. By producing PSG, he said the company believes it can become the lowest cost producer of purified spherical graphite outside of China.

Christensen described graphite as a battery mineral, noting that the largest use case for graphite is lithium-ion battery anodes. He said the company is tracking what he called a paradigm-shifting trend driven in part by increasing efficiency in lithium-ion battery production, which he suggested could support growth beyond typical political and commodity cycles.

He also pointed to energy storage as an increasingly important application for lithium-ion batteries, alongside electric vehicles. Christensen said this shifts the discussion from economic security for automakers to energy security tied to grid reliability.

On supply dynamics, Christensen emphasized Chinas dominance in graphite processing, saying China has a near monopoly on purified spherical graphite and anode material. He argued that if China were to stop exporting these products, Western markets would be unable to build lithium-ion batteries, adding that China has threatened to do that for the last three years. He said that instead of acting on that threat, China has dumped cheap synthetic material on the market, which he said depressed prices and increased reliance on Chinese supply.

Policy signals: U.S. tariffs and allied supply-chain support

Christensen highlighted recent U.S. policy actions, describing a carrot and stick approach to reducing dependence on Chinese supply. He cited tariffs as a key stick, stating that the U.S. announced a final anti-dumping and countervailing duty of 160% on Chinese anode material, meaning Chinese anode material delivered into the U.S. now faces a 160% tariff.

He also said the U.S. is promoting domestic downstream production, drawing a comparison to rare earths as an example of how quickly policy can shift market outcomes. In Australia, Christensen said the country does not have the same end-market demand, but does have very good projects and government support aimed at meeting allied supplied needs.

Renascor, he said, has benefited from Australian government support, including:

AUD 185 million conditional loan facility

AUD 5 million grant to build a demonstration facility

Project status: Siviour deposit, approvals, cash, and demonstration facility

Christensen described Renascors development as a vertically integrated project combining mining with processing to produce PSG. He said the Siviour deposit is one of the largest graphite ore bodies globally and called it the second-largest proven reserve of graphite in the world, and the largest reserve of graphite outside of Africa.

Beyond size, he emphasized project efficiency, saying it has among the lowest operating costs and lowest capital intensity of any graphite development globally. He also said the project is development-ready, with major technical work completed and key upstream and downstream approvals in place, including land purchase and a native title agreement. Christensen added that Renascor had a cash position of AUD 97 million at the end of the last quarter.

On downstream development, Christensen said the company is building a PSG demonstration facility in Adelaide intended to validate the process and efficiency ahead of scaling. He said construction began around the midpoint of the prior year, with mechanical completion expected as early as the end of this month, followed by commissioning and operation moving into the second quarter. He said the demonstration facility is supported by POSCO in South Korea and Hanwa in Japan.

Offtake discussions and next steps toward financing

Christensen said Renascors target customers are anode makers, and that a small number of companies account for most anode material delivered into Western markets. He said these groups have faced price pressure from low-cost Chinese material, but are still expanding capacity to service Western battery markets. He cited expansion activity by POSCO in South Korea and Mitsubishi Chemical in Japan, and said Chinese anode producer BTR is expanding into Indonesia and is currently the largest seller of anode material into the U.S. market.

He said a common denominator for these expansions is the need for non-Chinese graphite supply, which Renascor believes it can provide. He also said Renascor has non-binding agreements in place with POSCO, Mitsubishi Chemical, and Hanwa as part of its offtake strategy.

Looking ahead, Christensen said the company expects to be very busy as it progresses through 2026, with priorities including validating the process at the PSG demonstration facility in Adelaide, finalizing offtake arrangements, progressing financing, and moving toward a final investment decision. He added that Renascor continues to maintain an active exploration portfolio, while focusing on unlocking value from its graphite project amid what he sees as the potential for policy-driven shifts in the graphite market.

About Renascor Resources (ASX:RNU)

Renascor Resources Limited engages in the exploration, development, and evaluation of mineral properties in Australia. The company explores for graphite, gold, copper, uranium, and other minerals. Its flagship project is the Siviour graphite project located in Eyre Peninsula, South Australia; the Cutana project that covering an area of 282 square kilometers located in the Olary region; and the Outalpa project, which covers an area of 287 square kilometers located in the Olary region. The company also holds the Marree, Eastern Eyre, and Carnding projects located in South Australia.

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Rhumbline Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO  Free Report) by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 174,111 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,249 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers owned approximately 0.23% of AGCO worth $18,642,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of AGCO by 46.2% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 4,958 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $459,000 after buying an additional 1,567 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its position in AGCO by 29.7% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 650 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of AGCO by 39.6% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 215,242 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $19,925,000 after purchasing an additional 61,009 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in shares of AGCO by 3.1% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 5,876 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $544,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the period. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of AGCO by 109.2% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 364 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. 78.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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AGCO Price Performance

AGCO stock opened at $138.54 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $114.54 and a 200-day moving average of $110.53. AGCO Corporation has a 12-month low of $73.79 and a 12-month high of $143.78. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The company has a market cap of $10.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.21, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.19.

AGCO Announces Dividend

AGCO ( NYSE:AGCO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $2.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.85 by $0.32. AGCO had a return on equity of 9.39% and a net margin of 7.21%.The business had revenue of $2.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.67 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.97 EPS. The companys revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. AGCO has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.500-6.000 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that AGCO Corporation will post 4.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. AGCOs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 11.90%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on AGCO. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of AGCO from $120.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $132.00 target price on shares of AGCO in a report on Monday, February 9th. Robert W. Baird set a $128.00 price target on shares of AGCO in a research note on Friday, February 6th. UBS Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $127.00 price objective on shares of AGCO in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on AGCO from $93.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $122.73.

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About AGCO

(Free Report)

AGCO Corporation is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision farming solutions. Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, the company markets a diverse portfolio of well-known brands, including Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Challenger, Valtra and GSI, serving farmers and producers in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Through an extensive dealer network, AGCO provides equipment tailored to a broad range of crop and livestock operations.

The companys product offerings span tractors, combine harvesters, hay and forage tools, application equipment, seeding and tillage implements, as well as grain storage and protein solutions.

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SCP Investment LP bought a new stake in shares of Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm bought 68,088 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $966,000. Venture Global makes up 0.8% of SCP Investment LPs portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Venture Global during the second quarter valued at about $3,148,000. Quotient Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Venture Global during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $3,641,000. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. purchased a new stake in Venture Global during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $815,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its position in shares of Venture Global by 61.1% in the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 616,643 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,607,000 after purchasing an additional 233,978 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ausbil Investment Management Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Venture Global during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $4,706,000.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Thomas Earl sold 1,000,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.89, for a total transaction of $6,890,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Fory Musser sold 42,901 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.80, for a total transaction of $334,627.80. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 86.73% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Venture Global Stock Performance

Venture Global Dividend Announcement

Shares of NYSE VG opened at $8.80 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.46. The firms 50-day moving average price is $8.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.92. Venture Global, Inc. has a 52-week low of $5.72 and a 52-week high of $19.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.54 billion and a P/E ratio of 11.28.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th were given a dividend of $0.017 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $0.07 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. Venture Globals payout ratio is currently 8.97%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VG has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Scotiabank set a $9.00 price target on shares of Venture Global in a report on Friday, January 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $17.50 price target on shares of Venture Global in a research note on Monday, November 10th. UBS Group cut their price objective on Venture Global from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Bank of America reduced their target price on Venture Global from $15.00 to $11.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on Venture Global in a report on Monday, February 2nd. They issued an outperform rating and a $11.00 price target for the company. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $13.11.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Venture Global

About Venture Global

(Free Report)

Venture Global (NYSE: VG) is a Houston-based energy company that develops, constructs and operates large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in the United States. The company focuses on converting domestically produced natural gas into LNG for shipment to international markets, positioning itself as a supplier of pipeline-quality gas in vessel-ready form for global customers.

Venture Globals core activities include site development, engineering and construction of liquefaction and export terminals, commissioning and ongoing operations of those facilities, and commercial marketing of LNG under both long-term and short-term contracts.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ cut its position in shares of Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD  Free Report) by 4.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 173,552 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 8,766 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Prologis were worth $19,875,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Clayton Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Prologis in the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated bought a new stake in Prologis in the third quarter valued at about $36,000. AlphaQuest LLC bought a new stake in Prologis in the third quarter valued at about $39,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Prologis in the second quarter worth about $44,000. Finally, SJS Investment Consulting Inc. bought a new position in Prologis during the third quarter worth about $44,000. 93.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Prologis Stock Up 2.0%

Shares of NYSE:PLD opened at $141.79 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The firm has a market cap of $131.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.94, a P/E/G ratio of 3.44 and a beta of 1.42. Prologis, Inc. has a 12 month low of $85.35 and a 12 month high of $141.95. The companys 50-day moving average price is $131.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $122.48.

Prologis Increases Dividend

Prologis ( NYSE:PLD Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 21st. The real estate investment trust reported $1.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.44. Prologis had a net margin of 37.86% and a return on equity of 5.78%. The company had revenue of $2.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.42 earnings per share. Prologiss quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. Prologis has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.000-6.200 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Prologis, Inc. will post 5.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be issued a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. This is a positive change from Prologiss previous quarterly dividend of $1.01. Prologiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 113.80%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Cristina Gabriela Bita sold 621 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.60, for a total transaction of $79,239.60. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 8,208 shares in the company, valued at $1,047,340.80. The trade was a 7.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.57% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Prologis from $142.00 to $139.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating and set a $139.00 price objective on shares of Prologis in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on Prologis from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Evercore boosted their target price on shares of Prologis from $118.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded shares of Prologis from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and increased their target price for the stock from $133.00 to $146.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $135.89.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Prologis

Prologis Company Profile

(Free Report)

Prologis, Inc is a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in logistics and distribution facilities. The company focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing high-quality industrial real estate assets that support supply chain infrastructure for third-party logistics providers, e-commerce businesses, retailers and manufacturers. Its portfolio primarily consists of warehouse and distribution centers designed to optimize goods movement and storage near key transportation hubs.

With a global presence, Prologis serves customers across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.

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Syon Capital LLC raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSEARCA:EWJ  Free Report) by 24.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 56,683 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 11,175 shares during the quarter. Syon Capital LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Japan ETF were worth $4,547,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of EWJ. Hantz Financial Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. MMA Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Front Row Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF during the second quarter worth about $44,000. Assetmark Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 90.7% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 797 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 379 shares during the period. Finally, Allianz SE lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 262.0% during the 2nd quarter. Allianz SE now owns 1,010 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $76,000 after buying an additional 731 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 64.60% of the companys stock.

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iShares MSCI Japan ETF Trading Down 2.1%

Shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF stock opened at $91.87 on Wednesday. iShares MSCI Japan ETF has a twelve month low of $59.84 and a twelve month high of $94.28. The stock has a market cap of $17.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.63 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $84.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $82.40.

About iShares MSCI Japan ETF

iShares MSCI Japan ETF (the fund), formerly Ishares Msci Japan Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Japanese market, as measured by the MSCI Japan Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index.

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TC Energy (NYSE:TRP  Get Free Report) (TSE:TRP) was downgraded by stock analysts at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other research firms have also commented on TRP. Wall Street Zen raised TC Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of TC Energy in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Scotiabank reissued an outperform rating on shares of TC Energy in a research report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of TC Energy in a report on Monday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of TC Energy in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $92.00.

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View Our Latest Research Report on TRP

TC Energy Stock Down 2.1%

Shares of TC Energy stock opened at $62.23 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $56.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $53.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.80 billion, a PE ratio of 26.78 and a beta of 0.73. TC Energy has a 52-week low of $43.59 and a 52-week high of $63.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 0.63.

TC Energy (NYSE:TRP  Get Free Report) (TSE:TRP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The pipeline company reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.05. TC Energy had a net margin of 23.04% and a return on equity of 10.47%. The company had revenue of $2.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.94 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.05 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that TC Energy will post 2.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC purchased a new position in TC Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,391,000. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of TC Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $493,434,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of TC Energy by 38.8% during the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 88,140 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $4,796,000 after acquiring an additional 24,617 shares during the last quarter. CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT grew its holdings in shares of TC Energy by 9.2% in the third quarter. CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT LP dba NXG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT now owns 1,365,500 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $74,297,000 after purchasing an additional 115,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ausbil Investment Management Ltd increased its position in TC Energy by 33.2% in the third quarter. Ausbil Investment Management Ltd now owns 100,519 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $5,415,000 after purchasing an additional 25,026 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.13% of the companys stock.

TC Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

TC Energy (NYSE: TRP) is a North American energy infrastructure company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Formerly known as TransCanada, the company rebranded as TC Energy to reflect its broad presence across Canada, the United States and Mexico. TC Energy develops, owns and operates a diversified portfolio of energy infrastructure assets that play a central role in the transportation and delivery of energy across the continent.

The companys principal businesses include longdistance natural gas transmission, liquids (crude oil) pipelines, natural gas storage and power generation.

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Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT  Get Free Report) EVP Julie Duffy sold 19,857 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.70, for a total transaction of $1,959,885.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 37,039 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,655,749.30. This represents a 34.90% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Textron Price Performance

Textron stock traded up $0.59 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $100.29. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,997,232 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,046,651. Textron Inc. has a twelve month low of $57.70 and a twelve month high of $101.57. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $91.50 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $85.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49.

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Textron (NYSE:TXT  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The aerospace company reported $1.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.74 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $4.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.11 billion. Textron had a return on equity of 14.63% and a net margin of 6.22%.The firms revenue was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.34 earnings per share. Textron has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.400-6.600 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Textron Inc. will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Textron

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TXT. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its stake in Textron by 13.3% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 14,522 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,049,000 after purchasing an additional 1,709 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in shares of Textron by 6.3% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 21,397 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,546,000 after purchasing an additional 1,265 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth grew its position in Textron by 18.0% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 4,814 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $348,000 after buying an additional 735 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in Textron during the second quarter valued at about $453,000. Finally, MGO One Seven LLC acquired a new position in Textron in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $215,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.03% of the companys stock.

TXT has been the topic of a number of research reports. Susquehanna reaffirmed a positive rating and issued a $110.00 price target on shares of Textron in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Wall Street Zen lowered Textron from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Textron from $107.00 to $97.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Freedom Capital raised shares of Textron to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Textron from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Textron currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $97.20.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Textron

Textron Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Textron Inc is a global, multi-industry manufacturing company headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. The company designs, manufactures and services a diverse range of products for the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. Textron operates through four primary business segmentsTextron Aviation, Bell, Textron Systems and Industrialeach of which serves customers around the world.

Textron Aviation is known for its Cessna and Beechcraft branded business jets and turboprop aircraft, offering models that range from light jets and turboprops to larger cabin aircraft designed for corporate and charter use.

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Thrivent Financial for Lutherans decreased its holdings in Molina Healthcare, Inc (NYSE:MOH  Free Report) by 72.9% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 2,088 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,630 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans holdings in Molina Healthcare were worth $400,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Centric Wealth Management grew its position in Molina Healthcare by 21.4% during the third quarter. Centric Wealth Management now owns 12,084 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,312,000 after purchasing an additional 2,128 shares in the last quarter. National Pension Service lifted its position in Molina Healthcare by 24.1% in the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 23,372 shares of the companys stock worth $4,472,000 after buying an additional 4,534 shares in the last quarter. Scion Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 3rd quarter valued at $23,920,000. SYM FINANCIAL Corp grew its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 74.5% during the 3rd quarter. SYM FINANCIAL Corp now owns 1,904 shares of the companys stock valued at $364,000 after acquiring an additional 813 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund increased its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 35.9% in the third quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 139,557 shares of the companys stock worth $26,706,000 after acquiring an additional 36,831 shares during the last quarter. 98.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Molina Healthcare

In other Molina Healthcare news, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 357 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.02, for a total value of $51,058.14. Following the sale, the director owned 11,352 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,623,563.04. This trade represents a 3.05% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.26% of the companys stock.

Molina Healthcare Price Performance

NYSE MOH opened at $135.42 on Wednesday. Molina Healthcare, Inc has a 1 year low of $121.06 and a 1 year high of $359.97. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $170.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $169.18. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The company has a market cap of $6.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.82 and a beta of 0.49.

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported ($2.75) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.43 by ($3.18). Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 13.60% and a net margin of 1.04%.The firm had revenue of $11.38 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $5.05 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Molina Healthcare has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.000- EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Molina Healthcare, Inc will post 24.4 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently issued reports on MOH shares. TD Cowen reduced their price objective on Molina Healthcare from $175.00 to $144.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 9th. UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $145.00 price target on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Barclays lowered their price target on Molina Healthcare from $164.00 to $133.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Molina Healthcare in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a $160.00 target price on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $162.64.

Read Our Latest Analysis on MOH

About Molina Healthcare

(Free Report)

Molina Healthcare, Inc is a managed care company specializing in government-sponsored health insurance programs. The company offers Medicaid managed care plans, Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans, and individual Marketplace plans under the Affordable Care Act. Through an integrated care model, Molina emphasizes preventive and primary care services, care coordination, and disease management to improve health outcomes for its members.

The company traces its roots to the early 1980s, when Dr.

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Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA (OTCMKTS:USNZY  Get Free Report) shares gapped down prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $1.35, but opened at $1.30. Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais shares last traded at $1.29, with a volume of 5,363 shares trading hands.

Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 2.64, a current ratio of 4.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The firm has a market cap of $698.47 million, a P/E ratio of -2.77 and a beta of 1.32. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.02.

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Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais (OTCMKTS:USNZY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The basic materials company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.03. Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais had a negative net margin of 12.13% and a positive return on equity of 1.94%. The company had revenue of $1.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.14 billion. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA will post 0.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais

Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA (OTCMKTS: USNZY), widely known as Usiminas, is one of Brazils leading integrated steel producers. The company operates across the full steel value chain, from iron ore mining to the manufacture and distribution of flat steel products. Its portfolio includes hot- and cold-rolled coils, coated sheets, tin plates, plates and tubular products, which serve a broad array of end markets such as construction, automotive, packaging, machinery and energy.

Founded in the mid-1950s through a partnership between Brazilian and international investors, Usiminas is headquartered in Belo Horizonte and maintains its principal steelmaking facilities in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, as well as secondary operations in Cubatao (Sao Paulo) and Santa Cruz.

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Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY  Free Report) by 0.8% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 89,201,540 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after purchasing an additional 697,521 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 0.09% of Occidental Petroleum worth $4,214,773,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. bought a new stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. City Holding Co. raised its holdings in Occidental Petroleum by 250.0% during the 3rd quarter. City Holding Co. now owns 700 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its position in Occidental Petroleum by 1,193.9% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 854 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 788 shares during the last quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC purchased a new position in Occidental Petroleum during the third quarter worth $38,000. Finally, MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in Occidental Petroleum by 371.7% during the second quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 788 shares during the last quarter. 88.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. They set an equal weight rating for the company. Scotiabank cut their target price on Occidental Petroleum from $47.00 to $46.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Bank of America increased their price target on Occidental Petroleum from $44.00 to $45.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. TD Cowen upgraded Occidental Petroleum to a hold rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price objective on Occidental Petroleum from $49.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and five have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.48.

Occidental Petroleum Trading Down 0.3%

OXY opened at $45.92 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The stocks fifty day moving average is $42.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $43.49. The company has a market capitalization of $45.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.76 and a beta of 0.41. Occidental Petroleum Corporation has a 52 week low of $34.78 and a 52 week high of $52.58.

Insider Buying and Selling at Occidental Petroleum

In other Occidental Petroleum news, Director William R. Klesse bought 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $38.98 per share, for a total transaction of $194,900.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 218,913 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,533,228.74. The trade was a 2.34% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.49% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Occidental Petroleum Profile

(Free Report)

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) is an international energy company engaged primarily in the exploration, production and marketing of oil and natural gas. The company conducts upstream activities to discover and produce hydrocarbons and operates complementary midstream and marketing functions to transport and sell its production. Occidental also owns a chemicals business that manufactures and sells industrial chemicals and related products for a range of end markets.

Occidentals operations are concentrated in the United States, with a significant presence in the Permian Basin, and it maintains exploration and production activities in several international regions, including parts of the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.

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Vanguard Group Inc. lowered its position in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR  Free Report) by 0.5% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 76,300,896 shares of the companys stock after selling 347,379 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 0.12% of Kroger worth $5,143,443,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tobam lifted its stake in Kroger by 34.9% in the third quarter. Tobam now owns 111,482 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,515,000 after buying an additional 28,859 shares during the period. Todd Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Kroger by 7.7% during the 3rd quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 1,010,556 shares of the companys stock valued at $68,122,000 after acquiring an additional 72,143 shares during the period. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D lifted its position in shares of Kroger by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 217,311 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,649,000 after acquiring an additional 6,040 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in Kroger by 4.1% during the third quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 215,386 shares of the companys stock worth $14,519,000 after acquiring an additional 8,496 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ABN Amro Investment Solutions acquired a new stake in Kroger in the third quarter worth $606,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.93% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

KR has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Telsey Advisory Group reissued an outperform rating and set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of Kroger in a report on Monday, February 9th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $68.00 target price (down from $74.00) on shares of Kroger in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Kroger in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Guggenheim reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $78.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $74.07.

Kroger Stock Down 2.3%

Kroger stock opened at $69.61 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $63.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $66.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.28. The Kroger Co. has a twelve month low of $58.60 and a twelve month high of $74.90. The company has a market capitalization of $44.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 64.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.62.

Kroger (NYSE:KR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported $1.05 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.02. Kroger had a return on equity of 38.06% and a net margin of 0.54%.The business had revenue of $33.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.27 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.98 earnings per share. Krogers revenue for the quarter was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. Kroger has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.750-4.800 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that The Kroger Co. will post 4.44 EPS for the current year.

Kroger Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be paid a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. Krogers payout ratio is currently 129.63%.

Kroger Profile

(Free Report)

The Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) is one of the largest supermarket operators in the United States, offering a wide range of retail grocery and related services. Founded in Cincinnati in 1883 by Bernard Kroger, the company operates a portfolio of supermarket and multi-department store banners and provides customers with fresh foods, packaged groceries, deli and bakery items, meat and seafood, produce, and prepared foods. Krogers stores commonly include pharmacy services and fuel centers, positioning the company as a broad-based neighborhood retail destination for everyday needs.

In addition to traditional in-store retailing, Kroger manufactures and distributes a variety of private-label brands and operates its own food production and supply-chain facilities.

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Waycross Partners LLC lessened its stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 90.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 45,000 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 424,385 shares during the quarter. Waycross Partners LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $3,772,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of WFC. Main Street Group LTD grew its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 36.9% during the 3rd quarter. Main Street Group LTD now owns 438 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Hidden Cove Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hidden Cove Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,948 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $499,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares during the period. Zullo Investment Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 2.0% in the third quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 6,340 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $532,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Embree Financial Group increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 3.9% during the 3rd quarter. Embree Financial Group now owns 3,330 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $279,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trust Co. of Vermont grew its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 12,098 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,014,000 after buying an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. 75.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Key Wells Fargo & Company News

Here are the key news stories impacting Wells Fargo & Company this week:

Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo acted as lead agent on a $1.25 billion senior secured global assetbased revolving credit facility for City Electric Group  a win for the banks syndicated lending and capitalmarkets fees and a sign of continued corporate financing activity. Read More.

Wells Fargo acted as lead agent on a $1.25 billion senior secured global assetbased revolving credit facility for City Electric Group  a win for the banks syndicated lending and capitalmarkets fees and a sign of continued corporate financing activity. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Baird upgraded Wells Fargo to Neutral (from Underperform), citing that recent selloff has improved risk/reward even though its $85 target was unchanged  analyst upgrades can lift sentiment and attract buyers after a pullback. Read More.

Baird upgraded Wells Fargo to Neutral (from Underperform), citing that recent selloff has improved risk/reward even though its $85 target was unchanged  analyst upgrades can lift sentiment and attract buyers after a pullback. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: FTs feature examines Wells Fargos ambitions in investment banking  the strategy could expand fee revenue over time but faces long odds against entrenched competitors and will take years to move the needle. Investors should view this as a strategic positive with long execution risk. Read More.

FTs feature examines Wells Fargos ambitions in investment banking  the strategy could expand fee revenue over time but faces long odds against entrenched competitors and will take years to move the needle. Investors should view this as a strategic positive with long execution risk. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Medalist Diversified REIT announced changes including ending REIT status; filings note Wells Fargo in a lender role  this highlights WFCs lending exposure to specialty realestate borrowers, but the item does not currently signal material credit loss. Read More.

Medalist Diversified REIT announced changes including ending REIT status; filings note Wells Fargo in a lender role  this highlights WFCs lending exposure to specialty realestate borrowers, but the item does not currently signal material credit loss. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Wells Fargo research continues to publish coverage updates (e.g., holds/ratings on other companies such as Enterprise Products and Molson Coors)  this is standard broker activity that supports recurring research revenue but has limited direct impact on WFCs fundamentals. Read More.

Wells Fargo research continues to publish coverage updates (e.g., holds/ratings on other companies such as Enterprise Products and Molson Coors)  this is standard broker activity that supports recurring research revenue but has limited direct impact on WFCs fundamentals. Read More. Negative Sentiment: NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index unexpectedly dipped to a fivemonth low in February, suggesting softer homebuilding sentiment  weaker housing activity can pressure mortgage originations, F&I income and related loan demand at Wells Fargo. Read More.

Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

Shares of WFC stock opened at $87.35 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $91.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $86.04. Wells Fargo & Company has a one year low of $58.42 and a one year high of $97.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $274.20 billion, a PE ratio of 13.93, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.84.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $11.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.63 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 17.27% and a return on equity of 12.90%. The companys revenue was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.43 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WFC has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $99.00 to $99.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. TD Cowen lowered their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $102.00 to $100.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $104.00 to $100.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, UBS Group reissued a buy rating and set a $113.00 target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $97.03.

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About Wells Fargo & Company

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Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, U.S.-based financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, the firm has evolved from its origins in express delivery and pioneer-era banking into one of the largest full-service banks in the United States. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial, and institutional clients. Charles W. Scharf serves as chief executive officer.

Wells Fargo operates across several core business segments, including consumer banking and lending, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management.

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Wedbush Securities Inc. cut its stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IWR  Free Report) by 72.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,309 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,151 shares during the period. Wedbush Securities Inc.s holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF were worth $223,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. First Horizon Corp bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF in the third quarter valued at about $10,431,000. D.A. Davidson & CO. grew its stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 318,885 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,788,000 after buying an additional 6,307 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $810,000. Assetmark Inc. raised its holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF by 65.4% in the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 5,190 shares of the companys stock valued at $477,000 after acquiring an additional 2,053 shares during the period. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF by 156.2% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 15,134 shares of the companys stock worth $1,461,000 after acquiring an additional 9,228 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.16% of the companys stock.

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iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSEARCA:IWR opened at $101.66 on Wednesday. iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF has a 12-month low of $73.17 and a 12-month high of $103.29. The business has a 50 day moving average of $99.34 and a 200-day moving average of $96.92. The stock has a market cap of $48.62 billion, a PE ratio of 21.00 and a beta of 1.06.

About iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF

iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell Midcap Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell Midcap Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The Index is a float-adjusted, capitalization-weighted index of the 800 smallest issuers in the Russell 1000 Index. The Index includes equity securities issued by issuers, which range in size between approximately $1.7 billion and $12 billion, though these amounts may change from time to time.

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Shares of Xinyi Glass (OTCMKTS:XYIGF  Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $1.35, but opened at $1.2625. Xinyi Glass shares last traded at $1.2625, with a volume of 110 shares.

Xinyi Glass Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The stocks 50-day moving average is $1.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1.12.

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About Xinyi Glass

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Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:XYIGF) is a leading manufacturer of glass products serving the architectural, automotive and industrial markets. The company produces a wide range of float glass, energy-efficient coated glass, laminated glass and insulated glass units that are used in commercial and residential buildings, as well as tempered and laminated safety glass for the automotive sector. By leveraging advanced production techniques and stringent quality controls, Xinyi Glass seeks to meet the performance and safety requirements of global building and auto manufacturers.

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Hong Kong, Xinyi Glass has grown from a regional glass processor into one of the largest float glass producers in Mainland China.

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Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, February 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be paid a dividend of 0.75 per share by the restaurant operator on Friday, March 6th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 20th. This is a 5.6% increase from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.71.

Yum! Brands has raised its dividend payment by an average of 0.1%per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 8 consecutive years. Yum! Brands has a payout ratio of 44.6% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Yum! Brands to earn $6.64 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $3.00 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 45.2%.

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Yum! Brands Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:YUM opened at $161.20 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $44.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.04, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.66. Yum! Brands has a 12 month low of $137.33 and a 12 month high of $165.32. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $155.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $149.86.

Yum! Brands Company Profile

Yum! Brands ( NYSE:YUM Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The restaurant operator reported $1.73 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.76 by ($0.03). Yum! Brands had a net margin of 18.98% and a negative return on equity of 22.42%. The firm had revenue of $2.51 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.45 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.61 EPS. The companys revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Yum! Brands will post 5.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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Yum! Brands, Inc (NYSE: YUM) is a global quick-service restaurant company that develops, operates and franchises a portfolio of well-known restaurant brands. The companys principal brands are KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, each focused on distinct product categoriesKFC on fried chicken and related menu items, Pizza Hut on pizza and complementary offerings, and Taco Bell on Mexican-inspired quick-service food. Yum! is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky and was formed as Tricon Global Restaurants in 1997 when PepsiCo spun off its restaurant businesses, later adopting the Yum! Brands name.

The companys operating model centers on brand development, system growth and franchising; a large portion of its restaurants are operated by independent franchisees, and Yum! generates revenue through franchise royalties and fees in addition to sales from company-operated locations.

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Zions Bancorporation National Association UT grew its position in Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR  Free Report) by 652.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,829 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 8,522 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation National Association UTs holdings in Ingersoll Rand were worth $812,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D increased its holdings in Ingersoll Rand by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 137,629 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $11,371,000 after purchasing an additional 4,764 shares in the last quarter. Aberdeen Group plc grew its holdings in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 0.6% during the third quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 469,848 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $38,563,000 after purchasing an additional 2,713 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. increased its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 7.8% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 177,879 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $14,696,000 after buying an additional 12,891 shares in the last quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 6.7% in the third quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 7,397 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $611,000 after buying an additional 465 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co lifted its position in Ingersoll Rand by 8.8% during the 3rd quarter. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co now owns 154,664 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $12,778,000 after buying an additional 12,500 shares in the last quarter. 95.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 191,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.12, for a total transaction of $16,830,920.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 193,186 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,023,550.32. This trade represents a 49.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Michael J. Scheske sold 1,477 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.63, for a total value of $119,090.51. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 12,153 shares in the company, valued at approximately $979,896.39. This trade represents a 10.84% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 292,917 shares of company stock worth $26,747,912. Insiders own 0.68% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on IR shares. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Robert W. Baird set a $115.00 target price on Ingersoll Rand in a research report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $92.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Ingersoll Rand from $87.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Ingersoll Rand in a report on Monday, December 29th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $100.50.

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Ingersoll Rand Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of IR stock opened at $98.79 on Wednesday. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a 52-week low of $65.61 and a 52-week high of $100.96. The stock has a market cap of $39.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 68.13, a PEG ratio of 6.12 and a beta of 1.32. The firms 50-day moving average is $86.59 and its 200-day moving average is $81.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 2.06.

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $0.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.06. Ingersoll Rand had a return on equity of 12.62% and a net margin of 7.60%.The business had revenue of $2.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.04 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.84 EPS. The firms revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Ingersoll Rand has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.450-3.570 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Ingersoll Rand Inc. will post 3.32 EPS for the current year.

Ingersoll Rand Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 4th. Ingersoll Rands payout ratio is currently 5.52%.

Ingersoll Rand Company Profile

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Ingersoll Rand is a diversified industrial company that designs, manufactures and services a wide range of equipment and technologies for commercial, industrial and OEM customers. Its product portfolio includes air compressors and compressed air systems, pneumatic and cordless power tools, material handling and lifting equipment, fluid transfer and pumping solutions, and associated aftermarket parts and service offerings. The companys products support applications across manufacturing, construction, transportation, oil and gas, mining and general industrial markets.

Ingersoll Rand sells through a combination of direct sales, distributor networks and service channels, delivering both capital equipment and recurring aftermarket revenue from parts, maintenance and service contracts.

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1 View apartments in person or via a real-time tour.

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4 Be sure you are aware of expectations and whats included before you sign your lease.
The Centre provides support for students of African descent to help identify goals and pathways while in university. We assist you in developing skills that will make you successful learners and outstanding individuals. We can help you navigate academic expectations, financial management, and the complexity of campus life through one-on-one advising and academic encouragement. We can also act as an advocate if you find yourself involved in the academic or non-academic discipline processes.
Imperial Brands PLC (LON:IMB  Get Free Report) insider Lukas Paravicini sold 30,561 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 3,219, for a total transaction of 983,758.59.

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Lukas Paravicini also recently made the following trade(s):

On Tuesday, December 16th, Lukas Paravicini sold 17,121 shares of Imperial Brands stock. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 3,191, for a total value of 546,331.11.

Imperial Brands Price Performance

Shares of Imperial Brands stock opened at GBX 3,220.86 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 166.91. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 3,128.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 3,120.41. The stock has a market capitalization of 25.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.92, a PEG ratio of 16.51 and a beta of 0.42. Imperial Brands PLC has a 1-year low of GBX 2,638 and a 1-year high of GBX 3,341.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Imperial Brands ( LON:IMB Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 18th. The company reported GBX 315 EPS for the quarter. Imperial Brands had a return on equity of 41.84% and a net margin of 11.44%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Imperial Brands PLC will post 246.5723613 earnings per share for the current year.

Several brokerages have issued reports on IMB. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on Imperial Brands from GBX 2,400 to GBX 2,700 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Imperial Brands from GBX 3,425 to GBX 3,650 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Imperial Brands from GBX 3,600 to GBX 3,700 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Panmure Gordon reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 4,200 price target on shares of Imperial Brands in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of GBX 3,562.50.

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About Imperial Brands

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As the global demand for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) continues to accelerate, the limitations of current technology are becoming increasingly apparent. While modern multirotor drones have revolutionized industries ranging from photography to basic surveillance due to their affordability and ease of use, they face a significant physical hurdle: payload capacity.

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Currently, standard drones can typically carry a weight equal to their own mass, resulting in a 1:1 payload-to-weight ratio. To overcome this technological plateau, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched a new initiative to radically enhance the capabilities of vertical-lift aircraft.

Known as the Lift Challenge, this competition aims to identify and develop novel drone designs capable of carrying payloads more than four times their own weight. Achieving a 4:1 ratio would represent a monumental leap in aerodynamic efficiency and utility, effectively shattering the heavy lift bottleneck that currently restricts the practical application of drones in logistics and combat support.

Incentivizing Innovation

To drive this technological breakthrough, DARPA has committed $6.5 million in prize money. The agency is casting a wide net for potential solutions, specifically reaching out to university research teams, private industry leaders, and independent innovators. By tapping into the garage inventor spirit that has historically driven American aviation progress, organizers hope to democratize the development process. The goal is to move beyond incremental improvements and foster a new standard for performance that can be utilized across both military and civilian sectors.

Agency experts believe that the ambitious 4:1 ratio is no longer the stuff of science fiction. They theorize that recent advancements in three key areas, aerodynamic design, materials science, and propulsion systems, have created a unique window of opportunity to make these high-performance machines a reality.

Operational Requirements and Rules

The competition outlines strict parameters to ensure a level playing field that encourages creativity while maintaining safety. Participating designs must be lightweight and compact, with a maximum weight limit of 55 pounds. This weight calculation includes the entire airframe and the fuel or power source required to operate it. Despite this small footprint, the aircraft must be capable of lifting a minimum payload of 110 pounds.

Furthermore, these drones must prove they are not just strong but also durable and capable of traveling long distances. The contest requires the aircraft to carry the specified load over a five-nautical-mile circuit course. By setting these specific thresholds, the challenge promotes scalability, ensuring that the winning innovations can be adapted for widespread use rather than remaining niche experimental prototypes.

Future Applications and Timeline

If successful, the technology developed through the Lift Challenge could transform how unmanned systems are used in critical environments. For the military, warfighters operating in complex scenarios would benefit from drones capable of delivering substantial supplies without a heavy logistical footprint. In the civilian world, the implications are equally profound, offering potential breakthroughs in infrastructure inspection, commercial package delivery, and rapid disaster response where heavy equipment transport is vital.

Participants in the challenge will face a rigorous schedule. Following the registration phase, teams will prepare for live performance trials scheduled for the summer of that same year. Safety remains a paramount concern for the organizers, who have mandated that all teams and individuals must strictly comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations to participate. Through this rigorous combination of engineering constraints and regulatory adherence, the Lift Challenge seeks to redefine what is possible in the skies.
Trifast plc (LON:TRI  Get Free Report) insider Iain Percival purchased 123,757 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 16th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 80 per share, for a total transaction of 99,005.60.

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Trifast Stock Performance

Shares of LON TRI opened at GBX 81 on Wednesday. Trifast plc has a 12-month low of GBX 56 and a 12-month high of GBX 88.80. The company has a market cap of 109.33 million, a PE ratio of 93.10 and a beta of 1.16. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 74.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 76.93. The company has a current ratio of 3.46, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.54.

Trifast (LON:TRI  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 18th. The company reported GBX 1.09 EPS for the quarter. Trifast had a negative return on equity of 3.47% and a negative net margin of 1.90%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Trifast plc will post 5.8002937 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on TRI shares. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and set a GBX 130 price target on shares of Trifast in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Peel Hunt reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 140 target price on shares of Trifast in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of GBX 135.

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About Trifast

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About Trifast

In 2023, TR celebrated 50 years of business with a proud heritage of serving customers with engineered fastening supply chain solutions; Our skills lie in the design, engineering, manufacture, and distribution of high-quality engineered fastenings and Category C components principally for major global assembly industries.

As an international business we can provide customer support from across key regions in the UK & Ireland, Asia, Europe, and North America. In addition to our service locations, we operate manufacturing facilities focused on high volume cold forged fasteners and special parts.

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Irish country music star Michael English has opened up on the heart attack he suffered earlier this month while on his way to perform a gig in Cappoquin in Waterford.

English is one of the busiest country music performers on the Irish scene and performs all over the country and the UK. The 46-year-old lives in Naas, Co Kildare, and was on his way to a gig in Waterford when the frightening incident unfolded. He was later forced to miss gigs in Waterford, Carlow and Donegal before returning to the stage in Mullingar last weekend.

Michael was a guest on the Joe Finnegan show on Shannonside radio earlier this week and in an honest interview he opened up about the ill-fated trip.

He explained that he set off driving with his manager and friend Bryan Buckley from home in Kildare with the aim of being in Waterford early, around 4.30pm. Michael explained he hadn't felt the best that morning and about 20 minutes from Waterford while driving on the motorway, he asked Bryan to get behind the wheel for the rest of the journey.

The decision is one that could have saved his and the lives of other drivers. He explained: "I said to Bryan on the way that I just didn't feel 100%. In our business, sometimes you have a cold, you might have flu, you might have this, you might have a pain in your head, but the show must go on, and that's the way I always operate.

READ NEXT: 12 counties hit with weather warnings as heavy rain and strong winds on the way

"About 20 minutes from Waterford, we were on the motorway, and I asked Bryan would be mind taking over the wheel. I just didn't feel 100% at all. When Bryan took over the wheel, that's when events unfolded and something happened to me that I never thought would happen, I blacked out," he explained.

Michael said he had actually suffered "a slight heart attack" and that he was lucky to have Bryan with him at the time.

"It has haunted me since, you know if I was driving myself, thinking of other people travelling in other cars, you don't know what would have happened. The moral of the story is I had a slight heart attack and just blacked out. The next thing I remember waking up being admitted into Waterford General."

He thanked staff there and later in Dublin for the care and treatment he received.

Fans of the country star were unaware of the extent of Michael's health scare as a social media post went up later that day announcing that the Cappoquin performance was being postponed until April due to "illness." He later had to reschedule or miss a series of gigs, including in Donegal's Abbey Hotel and The Woodford Dolmen in Carlow.

Michael said his heart attack was initially described by doctors in Waterford as a "cardiac event" but he later found out that while he didn't have any blockages, the left side of his heart wasn't pumping as much as the right side, eventually leading to the "weakness" he says he felt on that morning and his subsequent heart attack in the car en route to Cappoquin.

He continued: "There's an enzyme in my heart which was very much elevated. It should have been between 5 and 15, but mine was 41, so that attacked the left side of my heart."

He went on to say that this caused some slight damage to the outer wall of his heart but that it's "very much repairable."

Michael was "given the green light" by doctors to perform again and was back on stage in Mullingar for a three-night show just last weekend, a week and a few days on from his motorway ordeal.

ABOVE: Michael back on stage nine days on from his heart attack on February 5

He said the medical advice was to carry on as before but that when he gets a day off to actually take that day off and look after himself.

"I was the type of person that if I played six nights of the week, on the seventh day I'd be in the studio, or writing at the piano. While that's not strenuous, it's still music, it's still the mind working," Michael said. He said that no matter what type of work people are in, "mentally it's good to take a break."

He also stressed the importance for men in particular to get regular check-ups and mind their health.

"It's good to go and get yourself checked. I go and get my bloods done every year, though some people say you should get them done twice a year. I certainly will going forward. I would always have been the type to say to myself, 'sure I feel great, I'm grand, I'll put it off for another month'

"Go and have that check," he advised, "it's for peace of mind as well because you never know." He concluded his interview by thanking all the people, fans and fellow performers, who sent him well-wishes over the last couple of weeks.
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The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 placed a legal obligation on the British and Irish governments to hold a referendum to decide whether Northern Ireland should remain in the UK or become part of a united Ireland. This procedure would involve two simultaneous referendums, one in the North and one in the Republic. The date of the border poll is to be decided by the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if it appears likely that a majority would vote for unity. This is a vague and unsatisfactory arrangement, deliberately so, one might think, because the prospect of a re-united Ireland is a very contentious and fraught issue  a can to be kicked down the road for as long as possible, perhaps.

For many unionists in the north of Ireland, reunification is the great Unthinkable: for unionist politicians the link with Britain is their raison detre, and Irish unity a highly emotive topic which elicits cries of No Surrender, however eloquently or bluntly expressed; it is a perceived threat to their identity, security and status. For many nationalists, on the other hand, the referendum on Irish unity quite literally cannot come quickly enough and the delay on the part of both governments is a source of frustration.

A significant and valuable contribution to this debate is provided by The Irish Unity Dividend, a recently published book on the subject by political commentator Ben Collins, which advocates cogently and unapologetically for Irish reunification. By dividend Collins refers to the many tangible benefits which would accrue to the entire population of Ireland, north and south, by reunification of the country.

One interesting fact about the publication, which is addressed in the introduction, is a relatively unconventional biographical detail. Ben Collins tells how he was born and brought up in a staunchly unionist family in East Belfast and began his political career as a firm supporter of the union until his experience of living and working in Britain caused his thinking to evolve. Brexit has clearly played a significant part in his reassessment of the constitutional question. Collinss ideological journey is unlikely to persuade unionists to change their views and adopt his position, of course. Words such as Lundy and traitor might be prominent in their initial response. Collins hopes instead that the strength and practicality or common sense of his arguments, based on data and incontrovertible fact rather than emotion or outdated myths about relative prosperity, will be more effective.

Collins argues that reunification is not just a romantic ideal. He presents his case for constitutional change in terms of potential benefits that impact on peoples everyday lives, North and South. His well-argued exposition examines a range of areas including healthcare, housing, education and the economy, and is meticulously supported by relevant data and research at every stage. Reunification is advocated as a means of securing peace and prosperity. He argues that a United Ireland within the European Union will provide the highest possible quality of life for all who live across the island of Ireland.

Collins asserts persuasively that citizens of the island of Ireland are at present paying a segregation tax by having two health services, education services, legal services, police services, energy systems and so forth, and that the money saved could be invested in public services, education, housing and other essential areas.

He demonstrates by means of relevant and reliable data, detailed in his very impressive endnotes, that the Republic of Ireland is now ahead of the UK on a range of metrics in terms of living standards, child poverty, human rights, and third level education. In international surveys Ireland has been rated higher in terms of quality of life, which includes factors like household income. Many of the discrepancies between Northern Ireland and the Republic have been accelerated by Brexit.

The Author summarises his position by stating that, whatever a persons constitutional preference may be, we all want access to good schools, health care that works for everyone, a strong economy, desirable homes and a future that works for the next generation. We need to be able to talk about Irish unity in this context, he says, where we explain the options, listen to concerns and work out together the best way forward.

He insists throughout his text that creating a new nation which has an effective and efficient health service, provides good jobs, educates people to a high standard and has equality and diversity as demonstrable core values will make a crucial difference.

The book insists that the Irish government has a key role in planning for and implementing reunification. Planning should happen before a referendum, to avoid the chaos of Brexit

Collins supports Leo Varadkars call for the Irish government to publicly state that Irish unity is its objective; otherwise, he says, the British government will not feel under pressure to grant a referendum. This is a sensible and persuasive observation also.

Collins asks what the UKs criteria for deciding when to hold a referendum on unity are, and insists that these should be made clear and specific. He recommends that the Irish government should request this, and should also devise and publish its own list of criteria, after consultation with EU and USA.

The Irish Unity Dividend is an excellent, straightforward and accessible contribution to the Irish unity debate. It has been very well received by a wide range of respected figures, including former president Mary McAleese. It is highly recommended.

The Irish Unity Dividend by Ben Collins is published by Luath Press and costs 14.99
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is to hold its second congregation-wide meeting in Belfast to hear an update on failings in safeguarding processes.

The Special General Assembly on Wednesday will address a range of issues, with ministers and a representative elder from each of the all-Ireland denominations 500-plus congregations entitled to attend the meeting.

Members will receive an update on safeguarding and progress regarding the General Council task groups that were set up as a result of decisions taken at Decembers Special Assembly.

At that assembly, David Bruce, a retired minister and Convener of the General Council, said questions around safeguarding at the church became much more acute in 2025 when a person was convicted of child sexual abuse offences and was imprisoned.

Speaking ahead of the meeting on Wednesday, Dr Bruce said, As we move forward from Novembers announcement of our central safeguarding failures, and decisions taken at our December Special General Assembly, it is important that we update the Church on what has been done in the intervening weeks, and this will be part of my report.

He added: Alongside the update on progress, there are two principal items of business before todays meeting.

When the Moderator, Dr Murray, called this Special Assembly he said that it would consider the ceremonial and reporting aspects of our General Assembly in June and the urgent matter of approving the appointment process of a new Clerk of the General Assembly, and these will be discussed.

While there wont be, at this stage, items of business regarding safeguarding, or other reports from the various task groups established by Decembers Special Assembly, the business before us today is more than simple housekeeping.

The role of Clerk of the General Assembly, for example, is an historic position within our denomination, to which we are proposing, significant changes, Dr Bruce said.

The former Moderator concluded by saying: In all that we do, we remain deeply mindful of those who have been hurt or harmed as a result of our failings.

As I said at Decembers Special Assembly, our starting point was and remains a profound concern for those who have been harmed, or impacted by our institutional failings, which I described as shameful.

It is also important that we also recognise during our discussions the ongoing criminal investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
A mother who said her son was restrained and also placed in a cupboard has urged MLAs to act to stop the practice.

Deirdre Shakespeare said her son Harry, who is autistic and non-verbal, still suffers panic attacks following those experiences when he was five years old.

He is now a teenager.

In 2024, the Public Services Ombudsman found Harry had been restrained unnecessarily in a chair in school, and without his mothers knowledge.

The watchdog also found that failures in this case caused the childs parents a huge amount of distress.

Ms Shakespeare appeared before the Stormont Education Committee, and urged the repealing of the power that allows the use of reasonable force for good order, and to put childrens rights into law.

The proposed Harrys Law aims to make it mandatory for schools to record and report physical restraint or seclusion of a child to parents and the Education Authority (EA)

Supported by Childrens Commissioner Chris Quinn and Rachel Hogan from the Childrens Law Centre, Ms Shakespeare told MLAs that her campaign started when she discovered her son was being restrained and segregated.

This wasnt to prevent immediate harm. It wasnt an emergency and it wasnt a last resort, she said.

This was normalised practice forcing him to sit, to play, to complete tasks and schoolwork.

Non-speaking children rely on adults to protect them, but when Harry tried to show staff that he didnt want to sit, they tied his feet down to the chair and they forced him to sit.

She said seclusion was also used as another form of restriction.

This meant being placed in a small cupboard in the classroom called the dark room, she said.

Harry is a non-speaking child with an intellectual disability. He couldnt verbally tell anyone what happened to him. He couldnt report the daily harm, but sharing Harrys experience became a catalyst that exposed something that many other families knew, and it was happening quietly, routinely and without any oversight.

She said promises were made by the Department of Education in March 2022 which raised the expectations that policies would be brought into line with human rights standards.

But I remain extremely concerned that the department risks repeating the very failures that led to Harrys experience, because a core problem remains in place  the legal power to use force for the purpose of maintaining good order and discipline has not been repealed, and this wording is outdated and is dangerous.

Im here today to ask you to finish what families have started, repeal the power that allows force for good order and discipline and put childrens rights into law, not just policy, and make sure that no parent ever has to discover the harm like I did when Harry showed me whenever he pointed to a photograph to show that he was restrained.

Harry still lives with the impact of what happened, he has panic attacks, night terrors, he has crippling anxiety and he still has fear of his feet being touched, a constant reminder of what happened to him.

Unless the law is changed, this will continue to happen over and over again.

Ms Shakespeare said she met Education Minister Paul Givan last year, which she said had been a good experience, but said she feels there hasnt been any progress.

UUP MLA Jon Burrows said he had full empathy and compassion with Harrys experience.

He raised the challenges teachers face, and asked if they had met with teachers unions, adding that 300 teachers had been injured in the last year.

I understand the complexity of the issues that some of the children have, but also for safety of the teacher, we have teachers being injured, and we need to make sure teachers are able to protect themselves and other pupils from someone who is being violent or dysregulated whatever the cause of that may be, he said.

Do you accept that teachers are facing a very difficult situation with some pupil behaviour.

Mr Quinn said he meets with teacher unions regularly, and there is a consensus there must be robust guidance.

Ms Hogan said they are also seeing evidence of children being injured, predominantly young nonverbal males with bruising from being held in prone positions on the floor.

Its an issue of balancing of rights, and having a very robust clear framework there for decision making that is based on human rights, and that includes the human rights of teachers as well as children and classroom assistants, she said.

The committee agreed to write to Mr Givan to express their preference to see re-engagement and progress on the issue.

A Department of Education spokesperson said: The department remains committed to producing fit for purpose guidance which is childrens rights-based, protects and safeguards both educational staff and our most vulnerable learners, and is deliverable in education settings.

The department has collaborated extensively with stakeholders to revise and refine the draft guidance on restrictive practices in education settings.

Officials are currently awaiting legal advice from the departmental solicitors office on the revised draft guidance which was developed through a department-led task and finish group.

Once that advice is received, the minister will consider the revised guidance and confirm next steps, including the position in relation to legislative change.
A victims campaigner received an apology from a Stormont committee chairwoman for being personally attacked during an evidence session on Wednesday.

A meeting of the Committee for the Executive Office on a strategy for victims and survivors of the Troubles led to allegations of misogyny and misandry being exchanged between MLAs over the questioning of Andree Murphy.

Ms Murphy is deputy director at Relatives for Justice, a victim support NGO (non-governmental organisation) that provides support services to people bereaved and injured in the Troubles.

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston asked Ms Murphy what her definition of a civilian is in reference to civilian bereaved families.

Ms Murphy said: You need to look at the definition of victims as all those grieved and all those injured, and we absolutely think thats very useful.

She added that everyone will have different opinions about a contested conflict.

We need to ensure that we can include all families, and we can include all of those griefs so that we can move forward, she said.

Mr Gaston replied: From a moral point of view, there should be no moral equivalence between a victim maker and an innocent victim.

Ms Murphy said that victim makers can reside in lots of places.

So we could think about the policy makers who devised collusion, and we could say who were the policymakers there, were they the victim makers? she said.

And theyre often given gongs, or they become sir this, or dame that or whatever and we see that its a very contested area.

But when were talking about supporting victims and survivors to ensure that we can move on as society, sure we can hold our opinions about the past, and well all have different opinions about that, but in order for all of us to move forward, the definition of victims is really useful and allows us to be able to do the most we can for the greatest number of people.

Mr Gaston claimed Ms Murphys response was an attempt to hide behind and sanitise the terror campaign that took place between the IRA and other paramilitary groups.

DUP MLA Phillip Brett later read a quote from a piece written by Ms Murphy describing the disruptors, the protesters, those who refused to be bought and asked if she believed the current victims commissioner has been bought.

Ms Murphy said she felt the question was inappropriate, later adding I think that we all have to ensure that we scrutinise all of the officers in all of the commissions to ensure that they are operating in line with where the victims and survivors that theyre meant to represent are placed in their advocacy and I think thats a fair comment.

Mr Brett then raised another article written by Ms Murphy which he described as grossly inappropriate, written just after the inauguration of Irish President Catherine Connolly.

In the 2025 article Ms Murphy said the actions of the DUP and the Orange Order this week tell of a unique local psychosis of being at once deeply insecure and at the same time incredible (sic) arrogant. How lovely to have a homegrown disorder.

Mr Brett put to Ms Murphy: Im a member of the Democratic Unionist Party and of the Orange Order. I just want to make clear I dont have any disorder.

SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin ended her questions by apologising to the victims campaigner as did committee chairwoman Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw.

Ms Bradshaw said: Thank you all. I do appreciate its very difficult, especially whenever youre being personally attacked Andree, but I think that your contributions today are all very valuable.

Sinn Fein MLA Caral Ni Chuilin said people giving evidence to the committee cant be abused.

It needs to be sorted. Its just getting ridiculous, she said.

Mr Gaston then said: Youre looking at me Caral, to which Ms Ni Chuilin replied: Because youre the worst, Phillips not too far behind you.

The TUV MLA expressed that he felt his comments were quite balanced with the Sinn Fein MLA responding: I think the comments that you made, particularly about Andree hiding behind things, were very akin to those made about Pat Finucane at Westminster by DUP members and others and I just think it needs to stop.

Mr Brett then added: (Ms Murphy) represents victims, last time I checked, I fall under the definition of a victim, and she made clear that apparently I have a disorder.

So I was just trying to work that out. She could have chose to answer or not answer, but I wasnt rude or aggressive.

Ms Ni Chuilin replied: It was the same with Michelle ONeill, and you are misogynists frankly.

Mr Brett said the claim of misogyny was downright lies and Mr Gaston said he had been been victim to the First Minister on a number of occasions.

He added: I honestly think that they have a problem with men, misandry, so I throw that right back at you, Caral.

Ms Bradshaw then moved the meeting on saying: Listen, today Troubles is about victims and survivors of the Troubles.

And I think we have to be very cognisant that there will be people watching online, and this is not the way that we should be presenting ourselves.
Indian conglomerate the Adani Group unveiled plans to invest US$100 billion in renewable energy-backed, AI-ready data centres by 2035, more than doubling its current capacity as it seeks to position India as a global AI infrastructure hub.

The company said the investment could generate US$150 billion in economic value across server manufacturing, advanced electrical equipment, sovereign cloud platforms and related industries. Over the next decade, Adani estimates that AI-led infrastructure ecosystems could contribute as much as US$250 billion to Indias economy.

Chairman Gautam Adani underscored the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence, stating that nations capable of aligning power generation with compute capacity will shape the next decade. His remarks highlight the core premise of the plan: that AI competitiveness depends as much on energy infrastructure as on software innovation.

The new facilities will build on the 2GW national data centre platform operated by AdaniConnex, Adanis joint venture with US-based EdgeConneX. The group aims to expand total capacity to 5GW - a scale that would place it among the largest data centre platforms globally and mark a significant leap for Indias domestic AI compute capabilities.

The expansion is anchored by a partnership with Microsoft to establish what is described as Indias largest gigawatt-scale AI data centre campus in Visakhapatnam, alongside additional campuses in Noida. Microsoft-related deployments are also planned across Hyderabad and Pune. Adani said it is in discussions with other global technology firms to develop further large-scale campuses nationwide.

Crucially, the group said the new facilities will be developed as part of an integrated system in which renewable power generation, grid resilience and data processing capacity are scaled in parallel. This approach is intended to mitigate one of the biggest constraints on AI infrastructure globally - securing reliable, high-volume energy supply.

The announcement comes amid intensifying global competition to build sovereign AI capabilities - domestically controlled compute infrastructure designed to ensure data security, regulatory compliance and strategic autonomy.
If India needed a validation moment for its AI ambitions, it arrived in stereo. On one side sat Sundar Pichai, the CEO who helped scale Google into a global nervous system. On the other, Demis Hassabis, the scientist building the mind of tomorrow.

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Between them at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 was a simple consensus, that India isnt just riding the AI wave  it could help shape the tide.

For Sundar Pichai, the mood was unmistakably deja-vu. Its a transformational moment. Im a bit nostalgic reflecting on maybe a decade ago, coming to India and seeing the digital India transition, and the similar excitement there. A decade ago, India digitised payments and governance at population scale. Today, Pichai suggested, the country stands at the beginning of a decade-long shift with AI.

Hassabis had just arrived from Bengaluru, where he faced a lecture hall packed with 700 students at IISc. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit, what struck Hassabis wasnt just the turnout, but the energy in the room.

The amount of enthusiasm and energy for AI, and excitement about the opportunities that will bring was really interesting to see, Hassabis said, indicating how Indias AI future isnt theoretical but already sitting in classrooms across the country.

Also read: Google announces fresh AI investments in India, launches America-India Connect initiative: All details

The big question, of course, is what success looks like five years from now. User base? Builder? Rule-maker? Pichais answer was characteristically expansive. India is uniquely positioned at this moment, it has a chance to play a big role in all three.

He even framed India as a full-stack player in AI, mirroring Googles own strategy that spans across AI infrastructure, models, and applications.

But ambition needs plumbing, highlighted Pichai. You have to make sure youre investing in all the foundational things you need  in the research, in knowledge, in the institutions, and making sure its reaching people.

For Pichai, AI success wont be measured in model benchmarks but in diffusion. Whether Indias farmers, students and doctors feel its impact on a day-to-day basis. The infrastructure announcements this week, he hinted, are just the opening move.

Hassabis, meanwhile, urged India to make sharper strategic bets. His advice? Double down on existing strengths. Perhaps its agriculture and then be the leaders in applying AI to that space that youre already world-leading in. Climate-resilient crops, for instance, could benefit from tools like AlphaFold. And then theres culture.

Maybe Bollywood and the creative industries making use of the latest AI tools, was another example highlighted by Hassabis. In other words, Indias AI leadership may emerge as much from farms and film sets as from server farms.

Also read: DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis on the Golden Era of scientific discovery by AI

On AGI  that ever-looming acronym  Hassabis struck a measured tone. True AGI, he said, would be a system that exhibits all the cognitive capabilities that humans have. Were not there yet. Todays systems theyre impressive, but theyre not there yet, in my opinion. Still, within a decade or two, he sees AI as the ultimate enhancement tool for scientists, creators and young entrepreneurs  especially in countries like India where access to cutting-edge tools is rapidly democratising.

And what does an AI leapfrog moment look like? For Pichai, its not a single breakthrough but systemic rewiring. I literally expect every sector every workflow to be transformed by it. From AI-assisted diagnostics at AIIMS to new models of learning and governance, the goal is to radically improve how things get done.

Perhaps the most telling moment came at the end, when Pichai was asked a personal question. What would it take for the next Sundar Pichai to build the worlds most magical AI company from India  and stay? His answer was almost casual: Its already changed, the entrepreneurship ecosystem here is thriving, I just dont see any impediments to that.

For a country long seen as AIs back office, that might be the biggest signal of all. India isnt just participating in the AI era anymore, but preparing to architect it at scale.

Also read: India AI Impact Summit 2026: BharatGen Param 2, SarvamAI, and the rise of Indian LLM models so far
Mirzapur is one of the most talked-about crime drama web series in India since its premiere. With its raw storytelling, bold characters, and intense action, the show quickly built a loyal fan base. Set against the backdrop of Mirzapur, the story explores the dark world of crime, power battles, revenge, and politics that shape the lives of its characters. After three successful seasons, viewers are eagerly waiting to see what lies ahead in season 4. From the release timeline to the star cast, heres everything we know so far about the fourth season of Mirzapur.

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Mirzapur season 4 release timeline and platform

The creators have not yet confirmed an official release date of the fourth season of Mirzapur. However, reports suggest that the new chapter could arrive sometime in early 2026. Like the earlier seasons, the upcoming chapter will be streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Also read: Panchayat season 5 release timeline, cast and other details we know

What to expect in Mirzapur season 4

Season 3 of Mirzapur ended on a dramatic note, with Guddu Pandit, played by Ali Fazal, finally seizing control of Mirzapur after a long and painful journey filled with violence, personal loss, and revenge. Now that he sits on the throne, the next season is likely to explore a new phase of his life, which is ruling rather than fighting to rise.

But in the world of Mirzapur, holding power is never easy. Guddu may face fresh threats from rival gangs, emerging criminals, and even political figures who want to challenge his authority. The upcoming season could focus on whether he can maintain control or if new players will attempt to overrule him.

Also read: The Family Man season 4 to premiere soon? Heres what we know so far

Another major question mark surrounds Kaleen Bhaiya, portrayed by Pankaj Tripathi. His fate was left uncertain at the end of season 3. If he makes a comeback, it could completely shift the balance of power and set the stage for another intense showdown.

Fans can also look forward to seeing familiar faces return to the screen. Rasika Dugal is expected to reprise her role as Beena Tripathi, while Shweta Tripathi may return as Golu Gupta. Vijay Varma could continue as Shatrughan Tyagi, alongside Isha Talwar as Madhuri Yadav.
One Piece is preparing to broaden its adventure with the launch of the highly anticipated Elbaf Arc. Fans have been eagerly waiting for this chapter for years. After wrapping up their time on the futuristic Egghead Island, the Straw Hat Pirates now set their course toward Elbaf, the legendary homeland of giants. Elbaf is known for its brave warriors, strong sense of honour, and deep history. For a long time, it has been an important part of the story in One Piece. Now, fans who only watch the anime will finally get to see this famous island on screen. The Elbaf arc is expected to bring powerful emotions, exciting fights, and big secrets that fans have been waiting to learn. With new allies and powerful enemies entering the story, the series moves further into its final saga.

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Fans can look forward to April 5, 2026, as the official first day of the Elbaf arc for One Piece. New episodes will come out every Sunday, and people around the world can watch them on Crunchyroll. The anime is now being released in seasons, so the story moves at a clearer, more focused pace, and the animation looks better than before.

Also read: Google announces fresh AI investments in India, launches America-India Connect initiative: All details

One Piece anime: Elbaf Arc plot

Elbaf has always been a dream place for Monkey D. Luffy and Usopp. After escaping the chaos at Egghead Island, the Straw Hat Pirates travel to the calm land of the giants, hoping to begin a new and peaceful chapter of their journey in One Piece.

Also read: Apple iPhone Air price drops by over Rs 28,000 on Amazon: How to grab this deal

However, their arrival will not remain peaceful for long. The hidden plans of the God Knights threaten to turn Elbaf into a battlefield. Their actions will uncover buried secrets from the past, including the early stages of the God Valley Incident through an important flashback.

One Piece anime: Elbaf Arc cast and crew

One Piece was created by Eiichiro Oda, and the anime is made by Toei Animation. Mayumi Tanaka still provides the voice for Monkey D. Luffy, along with the other main voice actors returning for the Elbaf arc. Oda closely watches over the series to make sure the anime stays true to the story and emotions of the manga as it moves toward the ending.
Google has announced a new round of investments and partnerships to expand its AI footprint in the country, adding to its previously announced $15 billion plan to establish an AI hub in Visakhapatnam.

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Starting off, Google announced that DeepMind is collaborating with Indian government agencies and academic institutions to speed up scientific research. This includes working with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which will provide researchers with access to cutting-edge AI-for-science models, as well as community projects, hackathons, and mentorship programs aimed at enhancing the skills of students and early-career scientists.

Google has also partnered with Atal Tinkering Labs under the NITI Aayogs Atal Innovation Mission to integrate generative AI tools into classrooms. The initiative will support robotics and coding curricula in over 10,000 schools. There are also plans to introduce a curriculum-aligned AI assistant for students and to convert textbooks into interactive digital formats through a publishing partnership.

On the infrastructure front, Google announced the America-India Connect initiative, which will build new subsea fibre-optic routes connecting India to the United States and the Southern Hemisphere, thereby improving international data connectivity.

Google is also expanding its workforce training. The iGOT Karmayogi platform, developed in collaboration with Karmayogi Bharat, will scale digital learning for millions of public servants in multiple Indian languages. In addition, a Google AI Professional Certificate programme, developed in collaboration with Wadhwani AI, will be aimed at students and young professionals.

The company also committed $60 million to two global AI impact challenges and established a Centre for Climate Technology in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to advance AI-driven climate solutions.
Nazrin Abdul



The global economy is no longer merely about generating wealth, it is mainly about diversifying revenue sources, particularly for nations historically reliant on natural resources. States that successfully implement such diversification strategies tend to achieve more stable and resilient growth. Azerbaijan exemplifies this approach. Long celebrated as an oil and gas hub, the country experienced significant economic revival during the oil boom. Today, it is actively pursuing diversification, with agriculture and food security emerging as critical pillars of its economic transformation.

Interestingly, while Azerbaijan derives 85-90% of its national income from oil, the workforce composition tells a different story. Only 31.6 thousand people are employed in the oil and gas sector, whereas approximately 1.73 million work in non-oil sectors. Agriculture alone accounts for 36% of the employed population, yet contributes a mere 6% to GDP - a striking indicator of underutilized potential. This imbalance underscores the necessity of structural reforms and technological modernization in the sector.

Recent developments signal a promising shift. Azerbaijan has actively engaged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in discussions to strengthen agricultural cooperation. Bilateral non-oil trade between the two nations surged by 43% last year, reaching $2.4 billion, reflecting deepening economic ties beyond hydrocarbons.

Amna bin Abdullah Al Dahak Alshamsi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, emphasized the strategic nature of these collaborations in a recent interview. Highlighting the UAEs National Food Security Strategy 2051, she explained that the UAE leverages advanced technologies, high-tech solutions, and artificial intelligence to overcome the challenges of its arid environment. Although the UAE is located in a difficult, arid geography, we are transforming our agricultural reality through the most modern technologies, she noted, emphasizing the potential for joint innovation with Azerbaijan.

UAEs food security model offers blueprint for economic diversification

The UAEs success in developing agriculture despite harsh climatic conditions offers a blueprint for Azerbaijan. While agriculture represents only 0.7% of the UAEs GDP, the sector thrives through cutting-edge technological interventions. Azerbaijan, endowed with fertile lands and favorable climate, could significantly amplify agricultural productivity by integrating the UAEs advanced agricultural technologies, precision farming, and smart supply chain management.

Minister Alshamsi outlined a vision for structured cooperation: a roadmap with clear milestones to translate dialogue into practical outcomes. This structured approach ensures that both governments and private sectors can track progress, foster intergovernmental and business-to-business partnerships, and convert strategic discussions into tangible projects.

The potential impact of combining Azerbaijans natural advantages with the UAEs technological expertise cannot be overstated. Over the past two years, more than 20 bilateral agreements have been signed, demonstrating a sustained commitment to cooperation across sectors. Agriculture is now poised to become a central focus, promising mutual benefits in food security, sustainable production, and export capacity.

Beyond economic gains, this partnership represents a broader strategic alignment. By sharing knowledge, technology, and investment, Azerbaijan and the UAE aim to enhance regional food security, create long-term economic resilience, and foster sustainable growth for both nations.

The convergence of Azerbaijans agricultural potential and the UAEs technological innovation signals a transformative chapter in bilateral relations. With strong governmental support, private sector engagement, and a clear strategic roadmap, the agricultural partnership could become a benchmark for international cooperation, replicating the success both countries have already achieved in the energy sector.
There are gaps in accountability for addressing racism across Government departments, according to a new report.

A report by Irelands special rapporteur on racial equality and racism has recommended mandatory anti-racism training across the civil and public service and mandatory annual reporting in Government departments.

Dr Ebun Josephs annual report on the National Action Plan Against Racism, published on Wednesday, also calls for explicit recognition of anti-black racism in line with EU standards and a reaffirmation of whole-of-Government responsibility for racism.

Seven of 18 Government departments did not submit monitoring reports to the rapporteur and cited limited direct responsibility.

The report says this weakens the whole-of-Government intention of the plan.

The Departments of Agriculture, Climate, Defence, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Taoiseach, and Transport reported that they had no direct role in implementing the NAPAR.

However, the special rapporteur said this overlooks the whole-of-Government design of the action plan, which places obligations on all public authorities, all Government structures, and all public sector employers around interpreting services, reviews of legislation, and anti-racism training.

Dr Josephs report also finds that structural and intersectional racism persists, with significant disparities in employment and education outcomes.

She says that hate speech legislation remains outdated and that data collection on racism and ethnicity remains insufficient.

One of the other key findings is that rising anti-migrant sentiment and far-right activity pose increasing risks to social cohesion.

Dr Joseph said: Ireland has established an important framework to address racism.

However, the first year of monitoring shows that implementation remains procedural rather than transformative.

The weaknesses identified  including uneven departmental engagement and gaps in accountability  require stronger leadership, sustained resourcing, and full buy-in across Government to ensure that commitments translate into real change in peoples everyday lives.

The report states that rising anti-migrant sentiment posed a threat and arose out of attacks on international protection applicants and arson against accommodation centres, increasing deportations, and mixed signals on the benefits of migration.

It said there was a growing far-right presence and rhetoric, both online and in public spaces.

It added that, under the Department of Justice, critical gaps remain in community trust, racial-profiling oversight, migration policies, renewed deportations, living conditions of asylum seekers, internal diversity and delays in updated hate speech legislation.
Abuse received by politicians is predominantly aimed at women, Louth councillors have been told.

Councillors were told during a presentation by the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) that all political parties are facing issues getting people to run in the next local and general elections.

A spokesperson for AILG said parties are particularly struggling to recruit female candidates as online abuse is "predominantly leaning towards females".

Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Michelle Hall said she had been subjected to "a lot of online abuse" which she said was "very difficult to deal with".

Mayor Hall said receiving online abuse was a "normal occurrence" and criticised social media companies saying they had "refused to work" with her in an effort to take abusive posts off their platforms.

She said the issue only got resolved after she went on national radio to share the abuse she had been receiving. Mayor Hall said in Ireland "were very lucky to have a voice on national forums", however acknowledged that "it should never get like that".

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The spokesperson for AILG said it is "beggars belief" that is is acceptable to talk to public representatives in such a manner before saying it shouldn't be part of the job.

However, Mayor Hall said that being a politician has always been a difficult job.

Although, she said it can be particularly hard for new councillors who may know someone who is giving them abuse online.

"You may know these people, you may meet these people in the shop, you may know their family."

"The longer youre a councillor the easier it gets, but it is very difficult for a new councillor," she said.

A 2021 survey by AILG found that 72% of councillors had experienced threats, intimidation and/or harassment in the previous three years. Of which, six out of ten (60%) were experienced over social media and were 33% face-to face. Around one in four (25%) threats were reported to An Garda Siochana. However, less than 3% of reported cases resulted in prosecutions

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
An objection to a proposed development of a data centre in Drogheda has been labelled "unacceptable" by councillors.

The issue was raised at the February meeting of Drogheda Borough District, in which Labour councillor Pio Smith called on Mayor Cllr Michelle Hall to request a meeting with An Taisce who submitted the objection to the development.

An Taisce says it aims to protect and preserve Ireland's natural and built heritage, however, Cllr Smith said developers have made significant efforts to mitigate any climate impacts and therefore "shouldn't be targeted by An Taisce's campaign".

Cllr Smith said the planned development of a data centre at the Premier Periclase site in Drogheda could be the "catalyst" in the redevelopment of the "underused industrial land bank".

He said it has the potential to deliver "significant local employment" while also removing the existing facilities which "negatively impacts the natural environment".

Conditional planning permission had been granted by Louth County Council, however was appealed by An Taisce to An Comisiun Pleanala during the summer of 2025.

Cllr Smith said the objection was lodged "15 minutes before closing" and said a judgement is expected in the coming weeks.

Read Next: The roads and regions in Louth funded in the 24.4 million announced this week

Independent councillor Kevin Callan said "his blood is up" when speaking about the project, before describing An Taisce's objection as reckless, irresponsible and counterproductive.

He said a change of use for the site would be a "God send" and if left, would remain an "environmental dump".

Fine Gael councillor Anne-Marie Ford said she was "disgusted" to learn an objection was put in and said it was "absolutely unacceptable.

She said the development would bring "wonderful opportunities" to the town.

Finally, Sinn Fein councillor Debbie McCole said she was keen to see the development progress as soon as possible.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
The median house price for houses sold with the Dundalk Eircode A91 in December 2026 was 332,000, up 2000 according to figures released by the CSO (Central Statistics Office) in their Residential Property Price Index report. The figure is unchanged from the previous two months.

The county wide median house price for Louth now stands at 365,000, up 10,000 again the same as the previous month.

Of the 79 houses sold in Dundalk in December, 37 were to first time buyer owner-occupiers; 34 to former owner-occupiers and 8 were to non occupiers.

Forty- five of these houses were existing builds while thirty-four were new homes.

The median price of the new houses sold was 395,000 and the median price of existing houses sold in December was 280,000.

In Drogheda, the median price of residential properties sold in A92 in December 2026, was 380,000, an increase of 5000 on the previous month.

Of the 209 houses sold in Drogheda in December, 127 were to first time buyer owner-occupiers; 74 to former owner-occupiers and 8 were to non occupiers.

128 of the houses sold were new houses and the other 81 were existing. The median price for the new houses sold was 392,500 while for existing houses it was 341,000.

The national Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) increased by 7.0% in the 12 months to December 2025, up from the 6.8% recorded in the year to November 2025. Property prices in Dublin rose by 5.6% and prices outside Dublin were up by 8.1% in December 2025 compared with December 2024. The median price of a dwelling purchased in the 12 months to December 2025 was 387,000.

Commenting on the release, Niall Corkery, Statistician in the Prices Division, said: Residential property prices rose by 7.0% in the 12 months to December 2025, up from the 6.8% in the year to November 2025. In Dublin, residential property prices saw an increase of 5.6%, while residential property prices outside Dublin were 8.1% higher in December 2025 when compared with December 2024.

In the 12 months to December 2025, house prices in Dublin rose by 5.2% while apartment prices increased by 6.8%. The highest house price growth in Dublin was in Dublin City at 7.0% while Fingal saw a rise of 3.7%.

Outside of Dublin, house prices were up by 7.7% and apartment prices rose by 12.5%. The region outside of Dublin that saw the largest growth in house prices was the Midlands (Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath) at 14.4%, while at the other end of the scale, the West (Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon) saw a rise of 6.4%.

Read Next: Louth mother thanks community as toys returned to son's grave

Households paid a median or mid-point price of 387,000 for a residential property in the 12 months to December 2025. The highest median price paid for a dwelling was 679,999 in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, while the lowest was 195,000 in Donegal.

The most expensive Eircode area over the 12 months to December 2025 was A94 (Blackrock, Dublin) with a median price of 830,000, while F45 (Castlerea, Roscommon) had the least expensive price of 155,000.
After a 12 year absence, Relay For Life is now returning home to Dundalk, which was the first town in Ireland to ever host the special event.

Relay for Life is a 24-hour, community-led walk which fundraises for the Irish Cancer Society, with Saturday, January 31, marking its comeback to the Louth town.

The launch night, which was held in Dundalk Stadium, saw upwards of 50 people attend and listen to inspirational speakers. These included Nikki Murphy, a cancer survivor and now a committee member and Eileen English, a local voluntary Irish Cancer Society Driver who explained what her role is and how the funds raised contribute to the success of such drivers in the organisation.

Other speakers included Ciara Hughes from the Irish Cancer Society, well-known runner Collette O'Hagan who is a local ambassador and Ms Ireland Caoimhe Kenny, who is also an ambassador and spoke of how proud she was to be associated with Relay For Life Dundalk.

READ MORE: An Taisce's 'last minute' objection to proposed Drogheda data centre could leave site as a 'dump'

The night ended with the ribbon being cut to launch the Relay to the tune of Cancel Cancer written by Collette OHagan with music added by Larry OHagan.

Speaking on the initiative, Event Chair Ollie Morgan said: "How I became involved with Relay For Life was, of course, through social media. I was tagged in a post on the Irish Cancer Society asking if there was still a Relay Committee in Dundalk. I did a bit of research on this and discovered that the last time there was an event here in Dundalk was in October 2014. I contacted people that I knew were involved in previous Relays and asked them to come on board and thankfully they didn't hesitate and agreed to join us on this new journey."

Relay for Life Dundalk is sponsored by Dundalk Stadium, PrimeDesigns NI, Petals Flower Shop, Embellish and Bobbie at 17 Vending and Events.

The event begins on Saturday, September 12 at 2pm and finishes on Sunday September, 13 at 2pm in Dundalk Stadium.

If you would like to register as an individual or as a team please go to https://www.relayforlife.ie/event/dundalk or email relayforlifedundalk@gmail.com and they will be happy to assist you.
Cork schools and special needs assistants (SNAs) say they are in limbo following the Governments decision to pause its review of SNA allocations.

Schools had received notice of the review outcomes in recent weeks, and some SNAs were advised that they may be at risk of a loss of hours or their post. Education minister Hildegarde Naughton has now paused the reviews, and said she is engaging with schools, SNAs, and parents, and that no further letters will issue until these engagements have concluded in the coming weeks.

Glasheen BNS principal Tim ONeill said they were told last week that their mainstream allocation of SNAs would be reduced from 10.16 to 6.16, which he said was a lot to lose in one fell swoop.

Mr ONeill told

The Echo

: These reductions will significantly affect support for pupils, particularly the most vulnerable. We saw the news of the pause on the news, but we havent been contacted, and were wondering what the nature of this pause means.

SNAs play a vital role in supporting childrens learning, wellbeing, and participation in school life, and losing these supports risks undermining the inclusive environment the school has worked hard to establish and maintain.

Staff have expressed deep concern at the scale of the proposed cuts and their potential impact across the school, he said, adding that they are appealing the decision through official channel and calling on families to support its campaign.

There was budgetary provision for an additional 1,600 SNA posts allocated in Octobers budget, meaning there should be enough new jobs to offset losses, but without the full information on what posts will be available, SNAs have been left unsure where they will be working.

An SNA in another Cork school, who asked not to be named, said: We know its paused, but were wondering how long its going to be paused for, were not sure if the letters sent out already are paused too. We read about the pause on social media before anyone even told us.

If they come back and say that a school was going to lose three but is now losing one and a half, thats still one person losing a full time job and someone else losing half. The kids arent gone, theyre still in school, and theyre going to suffer the most.

She added: Theyre saying you can be redeployed anywhere within 45km from where you live, but thats not going to suit everyone, like people who have a child in school. We want to work, we love what we do, and we have livelihoods and bills to pay.

We have some parents saying the pause is great, but you have to be a bit sceptical when your livelihood is on the table, so were telling parents to take it with a pinch of salt  a pause doesnt mean its being reversed.

In an email from trade union Forsa to SNAs, seen by The Echo, they said that the move to pause is very welcome and will help ease anxieties around the possibility of SNA supports being removed from children.

They added:

An assessment of whether special education is adequately funded must now take place because if 25,000 SNAs is not sufficient to meet the need that has been identified, then the Government needs to look at its investment strategy.

Sinn Fein TDs for Cork city, Thomas Gould and Donnchadh O Laoghaire, called for full clarity for schools, principals, SNAs, teachers, parents and most importantly children.

Mr Gould said: What we need is a commitment that these SNA cuts will not happen. These are peoples jobs and childrens futures. It should not always be a fight to access the most basic of supports for children who need them.

Mr O Laoghaire added: I am glad the Minister has agreed to pause these cuts but a pause alone isnt good enough. We dont want to be back in this place in a few months.
Overcrowding at Cork Prison has risen to yet another record high, despite additional cells being created there through a capital project.

There were 421 people in custody in Cork Prison yesterday, and 417 on Monday, both considerably above the previous record of 410 set at the start of this year.

The prison has capacity for 304 people, which marks a small increase from the 296 beds at the start of this year, after a small capital project to provide accommodation by reconfiguring areas into living accommodation.

Despite the extra eight beds, 117 people currently incarcerated there  28%  do not have a regular bed.

Overcrowding

The Irish Prison Service has a total of 5,810 people in custody in Ireland, and 4,726 beds across the system, making transfers between prisons to reduce overcrowding.

Cork Prison is at 138% capacity, considerably above the 124% national average, and was the most overcrowded mens prison in Ireland yesterday.

Last week, The Echo revealed that six inmates in Cork Prison are awaiting transfer to the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin, which is also struggling with overcrowding.

Cork Prison has also been used to hold people awaiting deportation from the State.

A total of 18 people, none of whom had a criminal conviction, were held in Cork Prison for up to 52 days while awaiting deportation in the second half of 2025.
BusConnects Cork has come up against another barrier, as the long-anticipated programme now needs new legislation before planning permission can be applied for, almost three years after the projected rollout of the project.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed to Green Party councillor Oliver Moran that it requires a piece of legislation to be passed in order to fully empower the NTA to make the BusConnects strategic transport corridor applications to An Coimisiun Pleanala.

These powers are to be provided through the enactment of the Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill, which is included in the Governments spring 2026 legislation programme.

A phased implementation of the new bus network was expected to begin in 2023 and continue through 2024. It is the latest in a long series of delays for the BusConnects Cork programme, which was included in the Governments Project Ireland 2040 strategy.

Published in 2018, it set out that the Cork project would be completed by 2027.

Once the bill is enacted, which the NTA hopes will be over the coming months, it can submit the first of three packages of the strategic transport corridor (the north city corridors) at the end of Q2.

The remaining two packages covering the south city corridors are then expected to be submitted in Q4 of this year.

Priority

Mr Morans party colleague, TD Roderic OGorman, was told by transport minister Darragh OBrien that the bill was on the priority drafting list in the Governments autumn legislation programme, and has been included as a priority bill for publication in the spring session.

Drafting with the Office of the Parliament Counsel is well advanced, Mr Moran said. It is anticipated that the bill will go to Government shortly for publication.

Mr Moran also told The Echo that he did not think this bill was necessary.

We already have a roads authority in the city capable of bringing BusConnects forward to planning  its Cork City Council, he said.

Its one more example of this Government talking big on streamlining infrastructure projects.

In fact, they themselves are the delay. In this case, completely artificially.

Everyone in the city is crying out for BusConnects to start. So lets just do it if theyre willing to get out of the way.

The Echo recently revealed that, so far, the project has cost the taxpayer 75m. More than half of that, 44.6m, has been spent on infrastructure, with a further 10m spent on network design and bus stops, and 2m on programme support costs.

A further 18.6m has been shelled out on the development of bus depots, the bulk of this on the new temporary bus depot in Tivoli. The depot is needed to enable the necessary electrification of the bus fleet.

The depot is set to be substantially complete in February and operational in April this year, almost a year later than the initial forecast that it would be up and running in the first half of 2025.
A senior Cork County Council official has said the authority is preparing a five-year plan to seek government funding to enhance the tourist-attracting facilities at an historic Cork coastal fort.

While Camden Fort Meagher in Crosshaven has previously been something of a poor relation to Spike Island when it comes to investment, it appears that could be about to change.

Marie OLeary, acting senior executive officer for the Carrigaline Municipal District area, which includes the Crosshaven area, said council officials are working on a plan to significantly enhance Camden Fort Meagher, and increase visitor numbers in the coming years.

The fort is owned by a private company set up under the control of the local authority.

A group of international military experts who previously visited Cork said Cork Harbour has some of the greatest coastal defence forts in Europe, second only to Valletta Harbour in Malta.

Ms OLeary was speaking at this week's monthly municipal district meeting, in response to a motion by Crosshaven-based Fianna Fail councillor Audrey Buckley on planned enhancements to Camden Fort Meagher.

UPDATES

Ms Buckley further requested that management at the fort attend the municipal district councils meeting at least twice a year to give updates on any plans.

She said locals need to know what is being planned, and that increased traffic to the fort needs to be addressed for pedestrian safety.

Ms OLeary said council officials are working hard on developing the five-year plan ahead of submitting it for government funding.

It is understood that apart from major renovations, the proposal could also involve attracting private ferry operators to set up a service connecting it to Spike Island, making the coastal harbour fortification experience even more attractive for foreign visitors.

Fine Gael councillor Jack White said it would be great to see the Crosshaven fort open all year-round as its the main tourist attraction in the municipal district.

He said the plans should include more corporate functions to increase revenue, and take advantage of the forts impressive views across the harbour.

Ms OLeary said the fort, which opens just before summer and closes in October, is expected to open for visitors provisionally on the May Bank Holiday weekend.

She said it would be premature for the forts management company to address the municipal district council at this stage on ongoing plans for this years season as they are currently in the process of recruiting seasonal staff and finalising opening timelines.

Ms OLeary said when this information has been finalised a report will be provided to local councillors.
The price of a recently-restored art deco cinema in East Cork has dropped by more than 300,000 in two years.

The Regal Cinema in Youghal, which was first listed for sale at an asking price of 600,000 in 2024, was re-listed this week at 295,000,.

This marks a significant drop from its original asking price.

Explaining the drop in price, selling agent Adrianna Hegarty of Hegarty Properties said that it comes following the cinemas closure on Christmas Eve, with no trading figures available to prospective buyers.

The cinema was open and trading at that point [when originally listed] so were selling it as is  its because there are no trading figures now  you buy it as you see it, said Ms Hegarty.

Dating back to 1936, the landmark venue replaced what was the Hurst familys second cinema in the town, The Hurst Picture Palace, which was destroyed in a fire in 1935.

It quickly became known as a staple in Youghals town centre, having achieved national recognition for hosting the Irish premiere of Moby Dick in 1956.

The cinema was extensively renovated in 2017, restored to a dual-function venue with capacity for 280 people.

The 439sq m property, which recently operated as both a cinema and wine bar, includes a concession area with original, terrazzo flooring and three screen rooms on the ground floor: One with 133 seats, another with 63 seats, and a third, which serves as a function room, that has capacity for a further 30 people.

On its first floor, the venue also has a fully equipped bar, which can accommodate up to 35 people, and an upper-hall mezzanine with an additional 23 premium seats.

Speaking to The Echo, president of Youghal Chamber of Tourism and Development, Kay Curtin, said that while it was disappointing to see the closure of the venue, business continues to thrive in the coastal town.

I wouldnt say this is a bad omen for Youghal, said Ms Curtin. Obviously, it was disappointing to see it close. We had heard it was only for a month, but with everything going on, its very hard [to run a business] at the moment.

There is a great opportunity there with the cinema.

Its absolutely beautiful in there, but with how easy it is to get a film at home, a lot of people dont want to come out, especially with the bad weather.

However, development-wise and building-wise, there is a lot of work going on in the town, so we are on the up here in Youghal.

Ger Flanagan, chairman of the Youghal Business Alliance, said the closure of the venue is a huge loss to the town.

Being honest, I think the asking price of 295,000 is a more realistic price, said Mr Flanagan.

Its been a great venue, and Youghal was the birthplace of moving pictures in Ireland. I know there is interest in the property, so Im confident that the Regal cinema will reopen in the long term.

Obviously, this is a huge loss to the town, and, for us at the Youghal Business Alliance, it was an events centre as much as a cinema, said Mr Flanagan.
A kind and good-natured 69-year-old man from West Cork got into conversation with a 28-year-old man in a Cork City pub and four hours later  without any signs of animosity building up between them  the elderly man was bleeding heavily on the ground being kicked in the head by the younger man.

On Wednesday at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, Aaron Wolfe pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Florence (Florrie) OSullivan on March 11, 2023, at 15 Glentrasna Court, The Glen, Cork. He was originally charged with murder but Jane Hyland, prosecuting, said the DPP accepted the guilty plea to manslaughter.

The late Florrie OSullivans brother, Paddy OSullivan, said that the time between hearing of that assault on his brother and his death in hospital as a result of his injuries on April 6, 2023, was one of the hardest months of his life.

Read More

He was a kind and good-natured person, never failing to help people in trouble. Not a day goes by that I dont think of Florrie, Paddy OSullivan said.

He said he had many happy memories of the familys life in Adrigole but he offered one more recent memory of his late brother: I crashed my car and I could not afford to replace it. Florrie said, come up to the city and Ill give you one.

Not alone does this affect families but it affects the whole community.

I am here to get justice for my brother Florrie, I want closure. We are three years waiting for it.

"It is a one-sided story  my brother is not here to defend himself. I swore on his soul I would get justice for him.

One of the reasons it has taken so long to advance was the delay in getting a psychiatric report on Wolfe. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford said the 97-page report was very incisive and helpful.

The judge adjourned sentencing until February 27 and directed the preparation of further reports on Wolfe from the prison governor and the probation service.

Case background

Sergeant Catriona Molloy outlined the background to the unlawful killing. Wolfe was drinking pints of lager alone in the Linenweavers pub on Paul Street, Cork, from after 3pm on Saturday afternoon, March 11, 2023.

Florrie OSullivan went to the same pub after 4pm for a cup of coffee and started talking to Wolfe, who was 28 at the time.

About an hour later they both left and got a taxi together to Glentrasna in the Glen where Wolfe was living at the home of his grandmother, Eileen Karluk. They later went by taxi to Nutley Road in Mahon where Wolfe called to a relative.

It appeared that Mr OSullivan had left a bag at the house in Glentrasna and returned by taxi with Wolfe to retrieve it. They arrived back at 7.38pm. The taxi driver who dropped them said there was no sign of any animosity between them.

There was evidence of Wolfe drinking Jagermeister in the taxis, as well as some six pints of lager in the pub. By 8.15pm gardai were receiving calls about a violent assault taking place outside the house at Glentrasna.

One caller said: There is a man thrown down on the ground covered in blood. There is a fella still kicking him on the ground. His name is Aaron.

Florence OSullivan died at Cork University Hospital on April 6, 2023, after being hospitalised following the March 11 incident. Margaret Bolster assistant state pathologist concluded that he died from traumatic brain injury due to blunt force trauma.

Defendant's remorse

Questioned after the March incident, Wolfe said the deceased was not leaving the house or was not leaving fast enough when asked to go. The accused said there was an altercation in the house but that he (Wolfe) had a blackout and could not remember what happened outside the house.

Brendan Grehan, defending, said there was no suggestion of any weapon being used, the parties did not know each other before this evening in March 2023 and nobody who saw them together described any animosity or raised voices or anything of that sort.

Mr Grehan said the accused instructed him to apologise and express his remorse to the OSullivan family, adding that he did not mean to kill him.

Mr Grehan said the accused had almost doubled in weight over the last three years in prison and now weighs 25 stone. He said there was no evidence of any psychiatric basis for a defence that could be put forward.

Wolfe has 78 previous convictions including one for engaging in violent disorder in 2020 and an assault causing harm in 2016.
Eva Osborne

A British lawyer has called for 1.7 billion in Libyan funds, which are frozen in Ireland's Central Bank, to be given to those killed or seriously injured by Libyan Semtex, which includes IRA victims.

This morning on RTE Radio 1 Today with David McCullagh, Jason McCue, a British human rights lawyer who represents victims and victims' families of IRA bombings, said he believes the money, or the interest accrued, should go to those who were killed or seriously injured by Libyan Semtex.

The killing of Colonel Gaddafi's eldest son, Saif, in Libya last month has shone the spotlight once more on Libyas sanctioned sovereign wealth fund.

The total seized fund is worth over 60 billion, and part of it, 1.7 billion, has been frozen in Ireland since 2011. This is controlled by the Central Bank.

While the Gaddafi's were in power, Saif reportedly had control of this fund, giving him and the family access to the money.

Speaking to McCullagh, McCue said: "Well, in the time leading up to 2011, I think it was February 17th the revolution, Gaddafi was the sort of bad boy of international world.

"And he had, from he 1980s, made great speeches about how he was going to arm the IRA and give them the means by Semtex to bring his words, rivers of blood, throughout Britain.

"So when the revolutions started, not surprisingly, the international powers that be decided this was an opportunity..."

"So the international powers, through the UN, slapped sanctions on him and his family and all his cronies, all his intelligence operators, who had stored away billions and billions of dollars all over the world. 1.5 billion of that, I think, was in the Republic."

McCue said the 1.5 billion figure now has about 200 million of interest or managed revenues on it, which is a "considerable amount of money".

McCue said he wants access to this money for his clients.

"I want them (victims) to be paid compensation and reparations, which they're due under international law and agreements that they got off the Libyans.

"I also got the Libyans to agree that they would consider a payment to the broader victims right across all communities from the Northern Ireland Troubles. It could kick start a reparations fund for cross-community.

"This frozen money which has been sitting there since 2011 should be used for good purposes."
Meta just announced a deal to buy "millions" of NVIDIA Blackwell and Rubin GPUs in a new long-term partnership. As part of that, the social media giant will deploy NVIDIA's Confidential Computing for WhatsApp, "enabling AI-powered capabilities across the messaging platform while ensuring user data confidentiality and integrity."

As part of the deal, Meta committed to using NVIDIA's Confidential Computing for WhatsApp messaging to allow AI inside the app while guaranteeing user data confidentiality. That technology will let Meta secure data during computation, not just when it's being shuttled to a server. It also allows software creators like Meta or third-party AI agent providers "to preserve their intellectual property," NVIDIA wrote on a blog about the technology.

Meta will also be the first to deploy NVIDIA's Grace CPUs in a standalone way, instead of incorporating them with GPUs. They're designed to run inference and agentic workloads when running in this fashion. Meta will also be using NVIDIA's Spectrum-X Ethernet switches.

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Meta announced earlier this year that it would spend up to $135 billion on AI in 2026, so it's not a surprise that a big chunk of that is going toward NVIDIA. However the numbers involved, likely in the "tens of billions" according to analysts, represent a significant expansion of the partnership between the two companies. Meta plans to build up to 30 data centers, including 26 in the US, by 2028 as part of a $600 billion commitment.
Shia LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans during Mardi Gras after allegedly punching and headbutting two men outside a business in the French Quarter, police said.

New Orleans police said officers were called to a Royal Street business around 12:45 a.m. after reports that the actor was causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive inside the establishment.

Staff members and patrons tried to escort him out, but once outside, he allegedly struck one man multiple times with closed fists. Witnesses told police that LaBeouf initially left the area, only to return a short time later, appearing even more agitated, according to TMZ.

According to an incident report, LaBeouf then allegedly attacked the same man again, hitting his upper body, before turning on a second victim and punching him in the nose. Bystanders restrained the 39-year-old actor until officers arrived at the scene.

Police said LaBeouf was taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries and, after being released, was arrested on two counts of simple battery. He was later booked into a local jail; details about bail and a court date have not yet been made public, People reported.

The Mardi Gras arrest adds to a long history of legal and personal troubles for the "Transformers" and "Honey Boy" star, who has faced previous arrests and ongoing civil claims related to alleged abusive behavior. The latest incident also comes as new reports emerge about his private life with actress Mia Goth.

Multiple outlets, citing sources close to the couple, report that LaBeouf and Goth quietly separated nearly a year ago after a turbulent, onandoff relationship that began in 2012. It is not yet clear whether the pair, who share a daughter born in 2022, have formally filed for divorce.

Reports say LaBeouf has been spending more time in the New Orleans area following the split to be closer to family. Representatives for LaBeouf and Goth have not publicly commented on the separation or his latest arrest, as per US Magazine.
Miley Cyrus will officially return to her Disney Channel roots as she takes part in the "Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special," which will premiere on Disney+ on Mar. 24, 2026.

Disney+ confirmed that the special will celebrate two decades since Hannah Montana first aired, marking 20 years since the series debuted in 2006. Cyrus, who played Miley Stewart and her pop-star alter ego Hannah Montana, is currently the only cast member officially announced for the special. The program is being described as both a reunion and a look back at how the show shaped Cyrus' career and a generation of fans.

The anniversary event will be filmed in front of a live studio audience and center on an in-depth interview with Cyrus, hosted by "Call Her Daddy" podcast host Alex Cooper, according to Variety.

The conversation is expected to cover Cyrus' memories from the set, the pressures of fame at a young age, and how playing Hannah Montana influenced her later work as a recording artist. Disney+ said the special aims to give viewers a closer, more personal look at the star behind the character they grew up watching.

In addition to the interview, the special will feature never-before-seen archival footage from the original series, including behind-the-scenes clips and moments that never made it to air.

Producers are also rebuilding some of the show's most recognizable sets, such as the Stewart family living room and Hannah's famous rotating closet, to recreate the feel of the original show for both Cyrus and the audience, the Rolling Stone reported.

While Disney+ has not confirmed surprise appearances, the streamer has hinted that familiar elements and "notes" from the series will return, prompting speculation about possible cameos or musical moments.

Hannah Montana aired on Disney Channel from 2006 to 2011, running for four seasons and spawning concerts, albums, and a feature film.

The series followed Miley Stewart, a teenager living a double life as an ordinary student by day and international pop star by night, a concept that became one of Disney's most successful live-action brands. The new special is intended as a tribute to fans who grew up with the show and to the enduring legacy of Cyrus' breakout role, as per Cosmopolitan.
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The world urgently needs to regulate artificial intelligence, OpenAI head Sam Altman said Thursday at a summit in New Delhi to address the risks and opportunities posed by the fast-evolving technology.

Altman, CEO of the company behind ChatGPT, has called for global oversight in the past but last year warned that taking too tight an approach could hold the United States back in the AI race.

Frenzied demand for generative AI has turbocharged profits for companies while fuelling anxiety about the impact on society and the planet.

"Centralisation of this technology in one company or country could lead to ruin," Altman said on Thursday.

"This is not to suggest that we won't need any regulation or safeguards. We obviously do, urgently, like we have for other powerful technologies."

The AI Impact Summit is the fourth annual gathering to discuss how to handle advanced computing power.

It is the largest yet and the first in a developing country, with India taking the opportunity to push its ambitions to catch up with the United States and China.

"We must democratise AI. It must become a medium for inclusion and empowerment," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the gathering.

"We are entering an era where humans and intelligence systems co-create, co-work and co-evolve," he said. "We must resolve that AI is used for the global common good."

- Gates cancels -

Modi's comments were echoed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said "AI must belong to everyone."

He called on tech tycoons to support a $3 billion global fund to boost AI skills and makes computing power more affordable.

"The future of AI cannot be decided by a handful of countries -- or left to the whims of a few billionaires," he said.

Researchers and campaigners say stronger action is needed to combat emerging issues, from job disruption to online abuse and the electricity demands of data centres.

But the broad focus of the New Delhi event, and vague promises made at previous summits, could make concrete commitments unlikely.

Google's Sundar Pichai and Anthropic's Dario Amodei also spoke Thursday.

A photo opportunity on stage featuring Modi and the group of tech bosses sparked ridicule online after Amodei and OpenAI's Altman awkwardly refused to hold hands.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, facing questions over his ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, cancelled just hours before his appearance.

The billionaire said this month he regrets "every minute" he spent with Epstein. The mention of someone's name in the Epstein files does not in itself imply any wrongdoing by that person.

- Big deals -

Dozens of world leaders and ministers have joined tens of thousands of people from across the sector at the summit.

French President Emmanuel Macron, last year's host, said he was determined to ensure safe oversight of AI.

"Europe is not blindly focused on regulation -- Europe is a space for innovation and investment, but it is a safe space," he said.

India expects more than $200 billion in investments over the next two years, and US tech titans have unveiled new deals and infrastructure projects this week.

OpenAI and Indian IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced they would build hyperscale AI data centre capacity in India.

Google said it planned to lay subsea cables from India as part of an existing $15 billion AI infrastructure investment.

Power-hungry AI data centres are under construction worldwide on a massive scale as companies race to develop super-intelligent systems.

Their heavy use of electricity, and water to cool hot servers, have sparked alarm at a time when nations have pledged to decarbonise grids to tackle climate change.

India leapt to third place last year in an annual global ranking of AI competitiveness calculated by Stanford researchers, although experts say it has a long way to go before it can rival the United States and China.

Leaders are expected to deliver a statement on Friday about how they plan to handle AI technology.

One fear is disruption to the job market -- especially in India, where millions of people are employed in call centres and tech support services.

"We will prove that AI does not take away jobs. Rather, it will create new high-skilled work opportunities," Mukesh Ambani, head of India's Reliance Group, said on Thursday.

bur-kaf/ami
Editors note: This is the first part of a two-part story. The second part will run in the next issue, Feb. 26.

LOVELAND, Ohio  At first glance, it would be hard to spot anything amiss in scenic Loveland, a leafy, suburban community of about 13,000 residents north of Cincinnati that stretches along both sides of the Little Miami River.

But behind its picture-postcard trappings, Lovelands leaders are grappling with an invisible threat: there is contamination in the drinking water.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a class of so-called forever chemicals linked to several types of cancer and other serious health issues, have been detected in the aquifer along the river corridor that supplies Lovelands wells. Theyre called forever chemicals because their chemistry makes them almost Herculean, nearly invulnerable to any force natural or otherwise that could break them down. So they linger in water, soil and even the human body, building up over time.

Forever chemicals have no taste or smell. Their stubbornness and phantom quality, combined with the prospect of thousands of variants all going undetected for years, further complicates the challenge scientists and regulators face as they work to fully grapple with the impacts that low levels of long-term exposure may have had on the health of everyday Americans. Meanwhile, the debate rages on over who should do something about this, and what, if anything, can be done.

This is scary [stuff]. Nobody wants to think about it, nobody wants to deal with it, because the potential ramifications are so scary and so overwhelming, and you have to ask yourself questions like, if all farmland is contaminated, what do we do? We still need to eat, said Emily Liss, policy manager at the American Farmland Trust.

As communities like Loveland wrestle with how to respond, the debate over PFAS has reached far beyond city limits and into the halls of Congress, where lawmakers were recently weighing how to step in on behalf of communities and farmers facing an existential dilemma from contamination they did not cause. While its broadly agreed PFAS pose health risks, key questions remain about exposure levels, long-term effects and the best ways to eliminate the chemicals once and for all rather than just move them around.

Meanwhile, with federal standards still years from taking effect and funding in limbo, just about every place the chemicals have touched, from cities to rural farms, is caught between evolving science, mounting public pressure and the high cost of cleanup.

Coming into focus

PFAS chemicals are commonly associated with firefighting foam, industrial processes and consumer product manufacturing. In 2019, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine directed the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Health to study how widespread PFAS chemicals were in the states drinking water. When the Ohio EPA got to Loveland, it found contamination in the citys water at about 15 parts per trillion (ppt)  well below Ohios response threshold at the time of 70 ppt. But in the ensuing years, growing scientific evidence showed that the health risks associated with PFAS were far greater than previously realized.

By 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized the first national, legally-enforceable drinking water standards for PFAS, setting a much stricter federal limit of 4 ppt. However, the new limit wont take effect until 2029. Lovelands levels are now about four times higher than the new federal benchmark.

The suspects behind Lovelands contaminated water were narrowed down to manufacturing and chemical corporations including 3M, Dupont, BASF and Tyco, all of which operated in the Ohio River Basin; the result of their activities ended up downstream. Dupont, for one, would settle with the state of Ohio in 2023 for $110 million over chemical contamination spanning seven decades stemming from the companys Washington Works facility in Parkersburg, West Virginia, about 200 miles upstream from Cincinnati and the confluence of the Ohio and Little Miami Rivers. That same year, Loveland joined class action lawsuits against Dupont and the others for discharging PFAS into groundwater. Loveland expects to receive around $2.5 million in settlement money, spread out across a decade. Its nowhere near what theyll need to fix the problem.

These days, Lovelands tightknit and vocal residents are especially outspoken on the issue of water quality, where public meetings and online discussions can be emotionally charged. According to Assistant City Manager Chris Wojnicz, people are scared. But to him, agencies like the EPA, the official referees for making the call on whats considered safe and what isnt, are leaving them, well, up a creek.

I dont feel bad saying this, but I wish Ohio EPA would do a better job of helping us communicate to the residents about the status of our water. You know, when people say its not safe, sometimes my response to them is, If the water is not safe, why has Ohio EPA not said, City of Loveland, shut your plant off? So thats where I wish the regulators would help us more.

The city is far from alone, but addressing the contamination presents an outsized financial and technical challenge for most any modest community. For this one, its no different.

Loveland, though, is gearing up for a fight. Now in the early stages of addressing the issue, the city is about 30% through the design phase of a new water treatment system intended to remove PFAS from its drinking water. Leaders secured a $1.3 million Ohio EPA grant last summer to begin engineering work and expect to complete the design by late this year or early next year. The system, which would rely on granular activated carbon filtration, is expected to treat up to 4 million gallons of water per day. But until the city locks in funding to build it, they wont be ready to break ground.

I understand we have the problem, you know, but we didnt create this problem, Wojnicz said. Were being tasked to fix it, which is fine, but at some point, the federal government or the state government has to find ways to fund this for the public water systems.

Where to start

As cities race to comply with the looming federal standard, the science behind PFAS is still catching up to the scale of the problem, researchers say. Most testing methods approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency focus on a limited list of compounds, a small slice of the thousands of PFAS chemicals in use, posing more questions about what may be going undetected in water, soil and food.

I think were trying to figure out, like, we know some things, but what dont we know yet? And what are the implications of not knowing those things? said Heather Preisendanz, a Penn State faculty member who leads PFAS research and outreach through the universitys Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science, or SAFES, Institute.

Scientists are increasingly concerned about ultra-short-chain PFAS  that means they are more mobile in the environment, potentially afoot with greater ease through groundwater and crops, though possibly less toxic. Whether those compounds pose the same health risks as better-studied, longer-chain PFAS remains unclear, complicating decisions about where limited testing dollars should be spent.

Studies show some crops can absorb PFAS from soil and water, and that animals may accumulate certain compounds after eating contaminated feed while excreting others. What that mix of exposure means for long-term human and animal health is still being studied.

We have a better idea of where things are winding up in the environment and in crops and water, but we dont necessarily have the information thats needed to interpret the implications, and then without that, we cant make good recommendations, Preisendanz said.

The PFAS problem may have been made worse by earlier guidance around the use of biosolids, the treated sewage sludge produced by wastewater treatment plants. For years, biosolids were promoted to farmers as a safe, sustainable fertilizer. But as Preisendanz explains, when PFAS chemicals are present in wastewater  especially when there are industrial sources feeding into a treatment plant  they become concentrated in the biosolids. When that material is spread on farmland, the PFAS go with them, entering the very soils they were meant to enrich. And many farmers who adopted that practice in good faith are left worrying about their land and the safety of the food they produce.

For communities and farmers seeking answers now, that can be frustrating. Treatment systems can remove some PFAS, particularly longer-chain compounds, from drinking water, but doing so creates a new problem: highly concentrated waste that must be incinerated (which potentially risks turning a soil and water contamination problem into an air and ash contamination problem) or otherwise disposed of, at a pretty penny.

In the meantime, people like Faith Kibuye, a Penn State Extension professional who works directly with farmers and homeowners confronting contamination, often find themselves attempting to translate complex, evolving science for people on edge who are searching for practical steps. That may sound like a tall order, and thats because it is. The conversations, she said, start with empathy. Many of those impacted followed all the rules in place at the time, only to learn years later that their water or land may be carrying a deadly secret.

We try to share what we know openly in a way that is easy to understand We recognize its not an all-inclusive response that perhaps they were hoping for, but that perspective has seemed to work, she said. In an ideal world, the consequence should not be falling on them.

But back in Loveland, Wojnicz cant help but feel that it is.

For him, the situation is personal. He drinks the same water as everyone else in town, he said, and so does his family. Yet each day the situation feels more and more fraught, with firm guidance lacking from regulators like the Ohio EPA and residents who dont feel safe turning on the tap.

Theres not one clear message thats going out from those above us, our regulators. And so thats where the biggest struggle is, he said.

The city isnt burying its head in the sand, he said; not like others, not with so much at stake. But the price tag on a new water treatment system is one of the biggest hurdles Loveland will face looking ahead. Early estimates pegged the system at about $17.5 million, but newer projections may put the price closer to $19 million. Settlement money from PFAS manufacturers and limited state grants would cover only a fraction of that total, leaving the city with a multimillion-dollar funding gap and no clear path forward.

That may mean difficult conversations ahead about water rates, long timelines and tradeoffs, and a willingness to adapt. Wojnicz said waiting isnt an option when the issue touches every household and every family.

Theres one thing that every single resident uses in a city, and thats water, so we need to keep the focus on that and make sure were doing everything we can, he said.
Rural Britain is still battling dead zones and dropped calls, MPs have warned, despite official claims that mobile coverage is steadily improving.

During a Commons debate on connectivity, MPs accused Ofcom and mobile operators of failing to reflect the everyday reality of rural life, where card machines often lose signal, calls cut out and reliable 4G can be hard to find.

They said the gap between what statistics suggest and what residents experience is leaving countryside communities feeling ignored.

Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said one constituent had told her that finding 4G is like striking gold.

She said rural residents have to put up with being gaslighted by the companies saying the signal is fine, even though their daily experience suggests otherwise.

Morgan argued that only robustly enforced financial penalties would force operators to properly improve rural coverage.

Conservative MP John Lamont, who represents Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, warned unreliable connectivity was deepening the divide between rural and urban Britain.

He stressed that rural communities do not seek special treatment, only fair treatment.

Ofcoms latest Connected Nations report highlights the scale of the disparity. Urban 5G site coverage has reached 48 per cent, while suburban areas stand at 38 per cent.

Rural coverage, however, has edged up only marginally, from 16 to 20 per cent, with just around 5 per cent of rural sites providing full standalone 5G.

MPs warned that poor signal is not just an inconvenience but a serious drag on local economies, affecting small businesses, tourism and even basic day-to-day transactions.

In some villages, they said, pubs and shops are still unable to rely on card payments because connections drop without warning.

Landowners and rural groups argue the problem is rooted not only in geography but also in policy.

Reforms to the Electronic Communications Code in 2017 changed how operators pay to host mobile infrastructure, shifting to a no-scheme valuation model.

In many cases, this reduced rents by up to 90 per cent and allowed long-standing agreements to be reopened.

The changes were intended to speed up rollout by lowering operators costs, but they have coincided with a sharp rise in disputes and litigation, cooling relations between operators and site providers.

A recent UK-wide survey of 500 landowners found around one in three are now considering walking away from hosting infrastructure if the regime is extended further.

Despite this, the government has confirmed it intends to expand the framework to another 15,000 sites in April under Part 2 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act.

Bill Clarke, a former farmer from Cornwall, said: Im incredibly disappointed that the government has decided to expand a destructive policy that has already caused real harm for landowners like me.

He explained that in 1997, while running a dairy farm and milk processing business, he agreed to host a telecoms mast because connectivity was essential for trading with supermarkets.

The rent was 4,800 a year, with clear protections and an agreement it would rise as demand grew, he said.

But under the new system, he said the offer was cut to 1,500, leaving him with little choice but to accept a much lower rent or face a legal fight he could not afford.

What makes it worse is the lack of any proper framework for landowners to challenge how we are treated, he added, warning that many are losing faith in the system altogether.

Industry and rural groups say ministers are pressing ahead despite mounting evidence of strained relationships and continued weak rural coverage.

They argue the government is relying too heavily on operator-reported data while leaving residents and landowners with no formal route to challenge poor practice.

Campaigners are urging ministers to bring Section 70 into force before any further expansion. The measure would create a statutory complaints mechanism, allowing concerns to be raised directly with Ofcom.

Without it, they warn Britain risks entrenching a two-tier mobile network  where progress is recorded on paper, but rural communities remain stuck searching for a signal that works in practice.
Premium meat supplier Donald Russell has warned it may be forced to cease trading, placing around 120 jobs in Inverurie at risk and raising fresh concerns for livestock producers in the North East.

The Aberdeenshire-based business has entered a statutory 45-day collective consultation process after carrying out what it described as a comprehensive financial review.

Interim chief executive Matthew Flood said the decision followed mounting commercial pressures.

Needless to say, this is not the outcome anyone wanted, and I recognise how unsettling this news is for our colleagues and their families, he said.

Donald Russell has been a respected Aberdeenshire business for more than 50 years, but the company has faced mounting challenges in recent years.

He said unprecedented volatility in meat prices, unpredictable energy costs and the rising costs of doing business have created a perfect storm which has left the company unable to continue trading in its current form.

Founded in 1974, Donald Russell has built a reputation for supplying high-end beef and lamb to restaurants and hospitality customers, as well as selling direct to consumers through its online platform.

If the proposed closure goes ahead, it would bring to an end more than five decades of meat processing in Inverurie and deal another blow to the regions red meat sector.

The announcement follows the closure of Scotbeef in the town last year, adding to concerns about the long-term resilience of local processing capacity.

For farmers, the potential loss of Donald Russell could mean fewer premium outlets for finished cattle and sheep, tightening marketing options in an already pressured marketplace.

Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross described the development as deeply concerning for the meat industry in the North East and across Scotland.

The closure of Donald Russell would be devastating for the business, their staff, the supply chains and farmers who have all relied on the business for more than 50 years, she said.

She warned that rising costs, regulatory burdens and market instability were putting sustained strain on processors and butchers, with knock-on effects for domestic food production.

If both governments at Holyrood and Westminster are serious about rural jobs, our food security, and the importance of UK farming, then more support needs to be given to butchers so they can survive these unprecedented challenges, she said.

No final decision has been confirmed, and staff will be consulted over the coming weeks before the company determines the future of its Inverurie operations.

If confirmed, the closure would remove a long-established buyer from the Scottish livestock market and mark the end of a 50-year chapter in the towns food manufacturing history.
With trade pressures mounting and food security rising up the political agenda, Britains sugar beet sector has taken its case directly to Westminster.

Industry leaders and growers gathered in parliament to showcase the value of homegrown sugar and press ministers for a policy environment that protects domestic production.

Participants from the NFU and British Sugar-backed Sugar Industry Programme (SIP) met 17 MPs at a parliamentary reception to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

Talks focused on food security, the need for trade policy that supports British agricultural interests, and the potential of agri-tech innovations such as precision breeding.

The event comes at a time of mounting uncertainty for arable farmers, with growers facing rising input costs, climate pressures and concerns that future trade deals could undercut domestic production.

Sugar beet remains a cornerstone of many arable rotations and underpins a significant part of the UKs homegrown sugar supply.

Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle addressed the reception, outlining the governments priorities for farming in the months ahead and recognising the industrys contribution.

She described the beet sector as a vital part of our agri-food economy in the East and said she had welcomed the opportunity to hear about its opportunities and how the government can support its continued success.

Baroness Minette Batters, referencing her recent Farm Profitability Review, stressed that the beet sector is critical to UK agriculture and long-term resilience.

She praised the Sugar Industry Programme for helping to prepare future leaders and said: Events such as today provide a vital touchstone between government and industry, and an important opportunity to consider ways in which we can collaborate together towards a sustainable future.

NFU Sugar Board chair Kit Papworth described the SIP as a true feather in the cap of our homegrown sugar beet industry.

Now in its thirteenth year, the programme offers participants insight into the full supply chain  from research and seed development to factory operations and policy.

We remain extremely proud of it and the more than 100 farmers that have been through it, he said.

Papworth warned that growers are navigating pest and disease pressures, climate volatility and trade policy risks that could undermine domestic production.

In the context of the multitude of challenges we currently face as a sector its vital that we continue to invest in upskilling the next generation of industry leaders, he added.

The reception was hosted by Charlie Dewhirst, MP for Bridlington and the Wolds and a member of the Efra Committee.

He said: Sugar beet is a very important part of the arable rotation, and I am proud to represent a constituency which is home to several beet growers.

Programmes such as the SIP are highly valuable in developing and upskilling the farming industrys future leaders, he added.

British Sugar managing director Keith Packer said it had been fantastic to meet growers and professionals at what he described as a pivotal moment for the sector.

The SIP reception gives us the opportunity to take this message straight to the heart of Westminster, and bang the drum for the British beet sugar industry, he said.

At this pivotal time for British farming, we urge the government to foster a policy environment which ensures the very best for our whole sector  from field to factory.

Industry figures said clear, stable policy and trade frameworks will be essential if homegrown sugar is to remain competitive in an increasingly uncertain global market.
Four of the UKs brightest young sheep farmers will take on Europes best in Paris this weekend after being selected to represent their nations at the European Shepherd of the Year competition.

The prestigious contest, held on 21 February, brings together top young shepherds from across Europe in a demanding mix of written tests and practical challenges.

Competitors will be assessed on everything from breed recognition and prime lamb selection to animal health expertise, showcasing the full range of modern shepherding skills under pressure.

Each of the four UK representatives earned their place by winning their regional heats.

Representing England is Tom Garlick, the reigning NSA Next Generation Shepherd of the Year Champion, who farms alongside his parents in Hereford and is part of the NSA Next Generation Ambassadors programme.

Wales contender, Evan Turner, celebrates his 18th birthday this month and secured his place after winning at NSA Welsh Sheep last May.

Scotland will be represented by Kiera Smith from Aberdeenshire, who triumphed at NSA Highland Sheep, while Northern Irelands Jack Maxwell completes the UK line-up following his success at NSA Sheep NI.

NSA Technical Communications Officer Anna Wilson will accompany the group to Paris and described the event as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

She said the competitors had already demonstrated excellent shepherding skills and now had the chance to compete with the best young shepherds in Europe.

The association also thanked Pickstock Foods for sponsoring the UK team, enabling what Ms Wilson called a memorable and hugely beneficial experience.

The competition highlights the depth of young talent emerging within the UK sheep sector, as a new generation of farmers prepares to take on both national and international stages.

Later this year, the NSA will once again stage its Next Generation Shepherd of the Year competition at the NSA Sheep Event on 28 July at the Three Counties Showground in Worcestershire.
Amazon MX Player has dropped the official trailer of its upcoming romance thriller Psycho Saiyaan, and this one is far from a dreamy love story. What starts off as an intense, almost poetic romance slowly spirals into something much darker. With Ravi Kishan, Tejasswi Prakash, and Anud Singh Dhaka leading the cast, and strong support from Srishti Shrivastava, Surbhi Chandna, Vaarun Bhagat, Ashwini Kalsekar, and Yashpal Sharma, the series promises drama, danger, and emotional chaos in equal measure.







The trailer introduces Kartik, a shayari loving young man from Ujjain who believes Charu is the one meant to complete his life. For him, love is not simple or casual, it is grand, consuming, and worth fighting for at any cost. But as his feelings grow stronger, so does his need to control. He follows her across cities, defies authority, and refuses to back down, blurring the line between devotion and obsession. What he calls love slowly begins to feel suffocating

.

Set across Ujjain, Katni and even Georgia, the story hints at rising criminal influence, emotional manipulation, and relationships pushed to the edge. Ravi Kishan brings a commanding presence that adds a sharp intensity to the narrative, shifting the power dynamics whenever he appears. Tejasswi Prakash, making her OTT acting debut, shared that her character Charu evolves as her world begins to crumble, forcing her to confront fear, doubt and uncomfortable truths she never saw coming.

As the trailer reaches its climax, tensions explode and loyalties begin to crack. The atmosphere turns volatile, with obsession tightening its grip and danger lurking at every turn. Psycho Saiyaan will stream for free on Amazon MX Player from 25th February and will be available on the MX Player app, Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV and Airtel Xstream.



Also Read: Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor groove to Psycho Saiyaan from Saaho


Actor Sidharth Malhotra is mourning the loss of his father Sunil Malhotra, who passed away in Delhi four days ago. The actor along with his wife Kiara Advani, immediately travelled to the capital to be with the family and attend the last rites. Sunil Malhotra, a former Merchant Navy captain had been unwell for some time before his peaceful passing.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sidharth Malhotra (@sidmalhotra)



Sharing his grief, Sidharth penned a deeply emotional note remembering his fathers strength and character. He wrote, "He was a man of rare honesty, integrity and culture. He lived by values that never bent. Discipline without harshness. Strength without ego. Positivity, even when life tested him beyond measure." Reflecting on his resilience, he added, "From commanding the seas as a Merchant Navy Captain to facing illness with quiet courage, he never compromised, never lost his grace. Even when the stroke confined him to a wheelchair, his spirit stood tall. Papa, your integrity is my inheritance. Your strength guides me every day. Your positivity still holds this family together. You left us peacefully in your sleep, but the space you leave behind is immeasurable. I am who I am because of you. And I will carry your name, your values and your light forward always. Love you Dad."

Kiara Advani also remembered her father in law with a heartfelt note, sharing moments from her wedding with Sidharth. She wrote, From the very beginning  you welcomed me with open arms, steady wisdom, and a kind of unconditional love that grounded us all. Your warmth was constant. Your generosity effortless. Your love for your family was at the center of everything you did. You showed up every single time. You listened with intention. You remembered the little things. You gave so freely, never expecting anything in return. Your stories, your laughter, your quiet strength, and your gentle heart will stay with me forever. You leave behind a legacy of gentleness, integrity, and deep, unwavering love. It lives on in your children, grandchildren and in all of us who were blessed to know you. Rest peacefully. You will forever be missed, forever loved, and forever remembered.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIARA (@kiaraaliaadvani)



Earlier in 2025, Sidharth had opened up about his fathers prolonged illness and the emotional toll it had taken on him. Speaking to Lilly Singh, he admitted how fear and anxiety sometimes made him impatient, especially with his mother, Rimma Malhotra, who had been managing most of the caregiving. He had shared, "My father's not been healthy for a while, and me being scared or angry at times, tend to be a little more harsh on my mother because she's the one who's taking care of the meds. My father's not keeping well to do that and within that I realized... she suddenly... we got up one morning and just having coffee and tea in Delhi and she started speaking about 20 years back...what she had to deal with when we were much younger or when I wasn't there or when I was trying to make my own life." Sunil Malhotra was known to have played a strong role in shaping Sidharths disciplined upbringing and values.

Also Read: Tamannaah Bhatia and Sidharth Malhotra to Shoot a Special Dance Sequence for VVAN
BTS members are celebrating J-Hope's birthday today. Also known as the band's sunshine, the rapper turned 32. His fellow band members shared playful photos of him to wish him on his special day. Besides that, J-Hope also shared a playful video on TikTok to celebrate his birthday. In the clip, he is seen recording himself with a cake placed in front of him. A phone sits just behind the cake, playing a video of J-Hope saying, It is my birthday. In a clever twist, he leans forward and blows toward the phone screen and, as if by magic, the candle on the real cake goes out. The entire moment appears to be self-shot.



Watch it here:

HOBI POSTING A TIKTOK CELEBRATING HIS 32ND BDAY, LOOK AT HIM HES TRULY THE CUTEST pic.twitter.com/p8j1qRPxiz  Carolyne (@mhereonlyforbts) February 17, 2026

Meanwhile, RM shared a hilarious picture of J-Hope.

It was a collage of photos where J-Hope appears to be wearing a dramatic wig. But the wig is revealed to be a bird perched on his head that suddenly flies away, turning the whole thing into a perfectly timed visual joke.

Reposting the photo on his social handles, J-Hope wrote, "WoW".





On the other hand, Kim Taehyung, aka V, shared a blurry but candid photo. In the picture, he is seen holding a plate in his hand, while the birthday boy sits beside him, flashing a peace sign at the camera.





Meanwhile, BTS, consisting of RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook, are gearing up for their much-awaited comeback after their mandatory military service. Their 5th album, titled Arirang, will be released on March 20. The album will have 14 tracks and will feature collaboration from other artistes as well. Following the release of their album, the South Korean boy band will embark on a world tour.





Also Read: BTS J-Hope Donates Over Rs 1 Crore to Childrens Causes on His Birthday
TAIPEI, Taiwan, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In line with the competent authority's "Corporate Governance Roadmap 2013.", the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation (TDCC) began building a cross-border Straight Through Processing (STP) voting mechanism in 2014 to provide enhanced cross-border STP voting services for Taiwan's capital market, by establishing system connectivity with international proxy voting service providers.

In 2026, TDCC has successfully established a new partnership with Proxymity, the world's largest digital-native proxy voting platform, to enable foreign institutional shareholders to participate more efficiently in shareholder meetings of Taiwanese companies. This initiative has successfully enhanced voting efficiency for foreign shareholders of listed companies, while strengthening Taiwan's international profile in corporate governance.

Through this partnership, foreign institutional investors using Proxymity's platform will gain direct access to TDCC's cross-border voting infrastructure, creating a fast, transparent, and fully digital voting experience. The collaboration enables real-time vote transmission, eliminating traditional delays and manual processes that have historically complicated cross-border proxy voting.

Dean Little, Proxymity's Co-Founder and CEO said, "This collaboration enables seamless digital participation for Proxymity-connected international institutional investors in Taiwanese shareholder meetings. Digital-native platforms are purpose-built to solve the complexity and inefficiency of cross-border voting. Our partnership will provide institutional investors with the transparency, speed, and reliability they need to effectively exercise their ownership rights in Taiwanese companies."

The demand for efficient cross-border voting in Taiwan continues to accelerate. In 2025 alone, foreign shareholders completed approximately 130,000 electronic voting instructions-representing approximately 142 billion shares-through TDCC's cross-border STP voting infrastructure, with electronic voting accounting for 97.38 percent of all foreign shareholder votes. This demonstrates both the critical importance of digital voting channels and the strong engagement of international investors in Taiwan's corporate governance.

TDCC Chairman Bing-Huei Lin emphasized the strategic value of the partnership, "This collaboration with Proxymity further deepens our service offerings for both issuers and institutional investor shareholders. By providing foreign shareholders with modern, efficient voting channels, we encourage greater participation in the corporate governance of Taiwan's capital market. We look forward to working with Proxymity to strengthen the protection of foreign shareholder rights and continue enhancing the transparency and international alignment of Taiwan's corporate governance framework."

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/taiwan-depository--clearing-corporation-tdcc-partners-with-proxymity-to-provide-cross-border-straight-through-processing-stp-voting-services-302689389.html
Westlake Corporation (NYSE: WLK) today announced that Westlake Epoxy will expand its long-standing distribution relationship with Brenntag to South and West India. The agreement builds on a successful collaboration across Europe, North and South America, and Southeast Asia, extending Westlake Epoxy's reach into one of the world's fastest-growing coatings, adhesives and construction markets.

Under the expanded collaboration, Brenntag will distribute Westlake Epoxy's established portfolio of epoxy solutions for coatings, adhesives and construction applications, including the EPON, EPIKOTE, EPIKURE and EPI-REZ product lines. Customers are expected to benefit from reliable local supply, technical service and application-focused formulation support tailored to regional requirements.

India's coatings, adhesives and construction sectors continue to grow, driven by infrastructure investment, urbanization and increasing performance expectations. By combining Westlake Epoxy's proven epoxy technologies with Brenntag's regional presence and technical capabilities, the collaboration strengthens support for customers addressing evolving performance, processing and regulatory needs.

"Expanding our collaboration with Brenntag into India allows us to support customers more closely in a high-growth market," said Brian Powers, Vice President, Westlake Epoxy. "Brenntag's deep market understanding, technical expertise and strong customer reach makes them a strong partner for the Indian market. This collaboration enables us to serve customers more closely and respond effectively to local application and performance requirements."

"With our presence in South and West India and strong technical capabilities, we are well positioned to support customers with tailored epoxy solutions for coatings, adhesives and construction, while Westlake Epoxy's reliable, portfolio supports further business growth," said Sanjay Karkhanis, Regional President, Material Science Brenntag APAC. "The expansion of our collaboration with Westlake Epoxy into India strengthens our Material Science offering in a fast-growing market."

About Westlake Epoxy

Westlake Epoxy, a Westlake company, is a global leader in epoxy resins, curing agents and specialty systems for higher-performance materials, coatings and composites, delivering strength, durability, chemical and corrosion resistance, and stronger adhesion performance in demanding applications. The EpoVIVE portfolio of epoxy phenolic resins and curing agents reflects Westlake Epoxy's dedication to reducing the environmental impact of its products. Serving industries such as coatings, construction, adhesives, automotive, civil engineering, composites, electronics and renewable energy, Westlake Epoxy supports customers worldwide with advanced materials and application expertise. For more information, visit Frontpage Westlakeepoxy or contact epoxyservice@westlake.com

About Westlake

Westlake Corporation (NYSE: WLK) is a global manufacturer and supplier of materials and innovative products that enhance life every day. Headquartered in Houston, with operations in Asia, Europe, and North America, we provide building blocks for vital solutions from housing and construction, to packaging and healthcare, to automotive and consumer. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.westlake.com.

About Brenntag

Brenntag is the global market leader in chemicals and ingredients distribution, connecting customers and suppliers worldwide. Headquartered in Essen, Germany, it has over 18,100 employees at around 600 sites in more than 70 countries. Through its two divisions, Brenntag Essentials and Brenntag Specialties, the company offers a broad portfolio of chemicals and ingredients plus tailored technical, regulatory, supply chain, and digital solutions, and it is committed to an ambitious sustainability agenda. For more information, visit www.brenntag.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260217333584/en/

Contacts:

Media contact:

Dr. Oliver Mieden,

Westlake Germany GmbH Co. KG,

Phone: +49 (0)89 96103-282, E-mail: media@westlake.com

Mila Hierner,

Westlake Epoxy Belgium BV,

Phone: +32 10 48 22 50, E-mail: media@westlake.com
Die Stimmung an den Markten hat sich grundlegend gedreht. Wahrend Tech- und KI-Werte zunehmend mit Volatilitat und Bewertungsrisiken kampfen, erleben klassische Versorger ein unerwartetes Comeback. Laut IEA und EIA steigt der globale Strombedarf strukturell weiter, nicht nur wegen E-Mobilitat und Warmepumpen, sondern vor allem durch energiehungrige KI-Rechenzentren. Energie wird damit zur zentralen Infrastruktur des digitalen Zeitalters.



Gleichzeitig rucken in unsicheren Marktphasen stabile Cashflows, solide Bilanzen und regulierte Renditen wieder starker in den Fokus. Genau hier spielen Versorger ihre Starken aus: berechenbare Ertrage, robuste Nachfrage und hohe Dividenden  Qualitaten, die vielen Wachstumswerten aktuell fehlen.



Nach Jahren im Schatten der Tech-Rallye steigt nun das Interesse an Unternehmen, die Stabilitat mit langfristigen Wachstumsthemen wie Netzausbau, Dekarbonisierung und erneuerbaren Energien verbinden.



Im aktuellen Spezialreport stellen wir drei Versorger vor, die defensive Starke mit attraktivem Potenzial kombinieren.



Jetzt den kostenlosen Report sichern  bevor die nachste Versorgerwelle Fahrt aufnimmt!
New national platform to accelerate India's grid modernization and power distribution reform, supported by All India DISCOM Association (AIDA), International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Champion Utilities

Will deploy up to $25 million by 2028 with an ambition to unlock $100 million by 2030

Designed to advance India's twin priorities of economic growth and energy transition under the Government of India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision

MUMBAI, India, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At Mumbai Climate Week 2026, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet today launched the India Grids of the Future Accelerator, a national platform through which the Alliance will deploy up to $25 million to modernize power distribution, integrate renewable energy and storage, and prepare India's grids for rapid demand growth. The Alliance signed Memoranda of Understanding with distribution companies (DISCOMs) in Delhi and Rajasthan, designating them as the first cohort of "Champion Utilities" under the Grids of the Future initiative and with the All India DISCOM Association (AIDA).

Reflecting on the launch, Woochong Um, CEO of the Global Energy Alliance, said:

"India's clean energy transition is entering a decisive new phase, one defined not by access alone, but by the ability of power systems to deliver reliability, flexibility, and scale. Through the India Grids of the Future Accelerator, we are working hand-in-hand with utilities to build the digital, financial, and institutional capacity required to integrate renewables and storage at scale. Together with ENTICE 3.0, this marks a decisive shift from pilots to platforms, and from ambition to execution at scale."

Speaking at the launch, Jayant Sinha, the President of Eversource Capital and Former Union Minister and Chair, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance said:

"As India advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, reliable, modern and future-ready power systems will be central to sustaining growth and energy security. The recent Union Budget reinforces the importance of strengthening infrastructure to enable the clean energy transition at scale. Initiatives like the India Grids of the Future Accelerator demonstrate how coordinated, delivery-focused partnerships can translate national priorities into on-ground outcomes."

The launch brought together senior leaders from government, utilities, and the clean energy ecosystem, including Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation; Seema Paul, Program Director for India at Sequoia Climate Foundation, Jayant Sinha, President Eversource Capital, and SujithNair, CEO, FIDE.

Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, who formally announced the India Grids of the Future Accelerator at Mumbai Climate Week, said:

"Today, energy access is the biggest obstacle to human well-being-but it's also our biggest collective opportunity. India has become a global leader in delivering clean, affordable, abundant energy to the people of the world's most populous country. Now, the Grids of the Future Accelerator will build on that extraordinary progress, helping to modernize India's grid through a first-of-its-kind public, private, and philanthropic collaboration. Thanks to the ambitions of the Global Energy Alliance and so many other partners, the Accelerator will transform India's grid into a digitized, flexible system that can meet the energy demands of the 21st century and serve as a model for countries around the world."

Having helped drive near-universal electricity access, India now faces a new challenge: moving from connections to energy abundance. The Global Energy Alliance's Grids of the Future initiative is designed to meet this moment as a globally coordinated, locally delivered platform that brings together governments, utilities, financiers, innovators, and technical partners to modernize power systems across the Global South.

By 2030, the India Grids of the Future Accelerator will advance grid transformation through its D4 framework; driving digitalization (D1) of utilities through digital twins and advanced analytics, enabling smarter integration of distributed energy resources (D2), accelerating the democratization (D3) of electricity by empowering consumers to participate in the energy system, and advancing the development (D4) of a strong innovation ecosystem to scale future-ready solutions. Through this integrated approach, the initiative aims to support 15 or more utilities, positively impacting nearly 300 million people across India. The Accelerator will onboard an initial cohort of utilities for early implementation, convene government partners, technology providers, investors, and philanthropic funders into a delivery-focused coalition, and build toward a three-year, $100 million fundraising effort from 2026 to 2028 to unlock large-scale public and private investment.

The event also marked the launch of ENTICE 3.0, the latest edition of the Alliance's flagship Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge. This edition places a particular focus on energy storage and grid digitalization, including the demonstration of non-lithium storage solutions and innovations capable of rapidly digitizing large volumes of grid assets to support faster planning, operations, and renewable energy integration. By directly connecting innovators with utilities, policymakers, and capital providers, ENTICE 3.0 aims to move promising technologies from pilots to large-scale deployment.

The announcements at Mumbai Climate Week 2026 reinforce the Global Energy Alliance's long-term commitment to India, supporting national climate goals while advancing the country's vision for growth, jobs, and energy security through 2047.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-energy-alliance-for-people-and-planet-launches-india-grids-of-the-future-accelerator-at-mumbai-climate-week-anchored-by-up-to-25-million-deployment-302689682.html
The 2026 Silk Road Spring Festival Gala:

A Global Presentation for a Shared New Journey

XI'AN, China, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A News Report form Shaanxi International Communication Center: The Silk Road Spring Festival Gala is an ongoing cultural exchange brand developed by Shaanxi Media Convergence (Shaanxi Broadcast and Television Station). Since its launch in 2017, the gala has used Silk Road culture as a bridge to promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and countries along the Silk Road. It has showcased the charm of Chinese culture and the dynamic practice of mutual learning among diverse civilizations, gradually evolving into an internationally influential communication platform.

The 2026 Silk Road Spring Festival Gala is co-produced by Shaanxi Media Convergence (Shaanxi Broadcasting Corporation) and media organizations from Central Asian countries, and will be broadcast globally during the 2026 Chinese Lunar New Year. With the theme of "Spring Along the Silk Road, Ever Advancing Toward Prosperity," the gala will present a grand cultural exchange event that transcends geographical boundaries and connects China with the world.

The 2026 Gala adopts an innovative communication model integrating technology, real scenes and digital production, breaking the limits of traditional stage performances. It travels to key cities along the ancient Silk Road for in-depth co-creation with media partners in Central Asian countries. Using cultural landmarks such as local museums, cultural and tourist sites, and iconic buildings as stages, it conducts on-location filming to explore vibrant stories of people along the Silk Road. By incorporating virtual reality technologies, the gala creates an immersive audio-visual experience, showcasing the beauty of diverse cultural integration.

As an important bridge for cultural exchanges between China and the world, the 2026 Silk Road Spring Festival Gala will celebrate the Spring Festival with Chinese communities worldwide. It will also present to the international community the Silk Road spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, and join hands with friends across the globe toward a promising new year.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16qzxVxG3j/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1C8raF3EuA/

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Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2915839/2026.mp4

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/waiting-for-you-in-spring-302691150.html
Deutsche Messe AG expands its industrial transformation platform to Africa with the launch of Industrial Transformation Africa 2026 and the establishment of the Smart Factory Academy Casablanca

DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Deutsche Messe AG announced that it will host Industrial Transformation Africa for the first time from 29 September to 1 October 2026 in Casablanca, Morocco. In parallel, the Smart Factory Academy Casablanca will be established to support companies year-round in the fields of automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0. The event will be organized by Hannover Fairs MENA, Deutsche Messe AG's regional subsidiary responsible for markets in the Middle East, Africa and CIS countries 365-Day Platform for Africa's Industrial Transformation.

Powered by Deutsche Messe's 365 Approach, Industrial Transformation Africa integrates exhibition, skills development, executive dialogue, and technology transfer into one continuous platform. At its core, the initiative combines three strategic pillars:

Industrial Transformation Africa Exhibition - a high-level marketplace for solution showcasing, lead generation, and partnership building

Smart Factory Academy Casablanca - a permanent center for technical training, skills development, and hands-on technology demonstrations

NextGen Manufacturing Summit Africa - a strategic dialogue platform for executives, policymakers, and industry leaders, co-organized with UM6P

Together, these initiatives enable continuous engagement, ensuring that companies remain visible, connected, and active within Africa's industrial ecosystem all year round.

Industrial Transformation Africa brings together companies presenting the most innovative solutions shaping the future of industry. The exhibitor portfolio reflects the technologies driving Africa's next industrial decade, including Robotics & Automation, Smart Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Electric, Electronics & Energy Automation, Machine Automation & Technologies, Digital Manufacturing & Artificial Intelligence, Compressed Air & Vacuum Systems.

Industrial Transformation Africa will become the central platform for industrial innovation, international cooperation, and technology transfer on the African continent to connect Africa's industries, creating tomorrow. Through the Smart Factory Academy Casablanca, companies are provided with the opportunity to showcase their technologies in a practical and experiential environment throughout the year, forming-together with the trade fair-a 365-day strategy aimed at continuously strengthening Deutsche Messe AG's presence in the African market.

Building on the strong foundation of its previous edition, the NextGen Manufacturing Summit Africa will take place in parallel with Industrial Transformation Africa 2026 in Casablanca. The Summit was previously hosted in Ben Guerir, Morocco, organized by UM6P TECHNIX in partnership with Deutsche Messe AG, INNOVX, UNIDO, and AISMA, and welcomed more than 500 participants from 15 countries, alongside 50 high-level speakers representing industry, government, and academia. By aligning the Summit with Industrial Transformation Africa in 2026, the platform further strengthens executive dialogue, policy exchange, and strategic collaboration at the heart of Africa's industrial transformation agenda.

Hannover Fairs MENA (HF MENA)

Hannover Fairs MENA (HF MENA) is a subsidiary of Deutsche Messe AG, one of the leading trade fair companies worldwide, in the Middle East and North Africa markets which aims to develop regional partnerships, add value to the industrial ecosystem, and strengthen industry transformation-focused organizations.

Your contact for further information:

Nalan Kahraman

E-mail: nalan.kahraman@hf-turkey.com

hannoverfairsmena.com /en

Tel. +90 212 334 69 00

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2904656/Industrial_Transformation_Africa_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/deutsche-messe-ag-expands-industrial-platform-to-africa-302691215.html
Das Borsenjahr 2026 ist fur viele Anleger ernuchternd gestartet. Tech-Werte straucheln, der Nasdaq 100 tritt auf der Stelle und ausgerechnet alte Favoriten wie Microsoft und SAP rutschen zweistellig ab. KI ist plotzlich kein Ruckenwind mehr, sondern ein Belastungsfaktor, weil Investoren beginnen, die finanzielle Nachhaltigkeit zu hinterfragen.



Gleichzeitig vollzieht sich an der Wall Street ein lautloser Favoritenwechsel. Wahrend viele auf Wachstum setzen, feiern Value-Titel mit verlasslichen Cashflows ihr Comeback: Telekommunikation, Industrie, Energie, Pharma  die Cashmaschinen der Realwirtschaft verdrangen hoch bewertete Hoffnungstrager.



In unserem aktuellen Spezialreport stellen wir funf Aktien vor, die genau in dieses neue Marktbild passen: solide, gunstig bewertet und mit attraktiver Dividende. Werte, die nicht nur laufende Ertrage liefern, sondern auch bei Marktkorrekturen Sicherheit bieten.



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Dieses exklusive PDF ist nur fur kurze Zeit gratis verfugbar.
CBRE IM to increase investment in IPUT by 175m

Capital will kick-start a 500m IPUT Real Estate's office investment programme

IPUT Real Estate is a market leader with a 2.7bn portfolio

IPUT Real Estate ('IPUT'), Dublin's leading property investment company, announces it has raised 175 million in new equity from CBRE Investment Management Indirect Strategies ("CBRE IM") to continue to grow its prime Dublin office portfolio.

IPUT's office portfolio comprises 30 assets of over 2 million sq. ft., all of which is located in Dublin's City Centre. IPUT has a ready-to-go development pipeline with the capacity to accommodate over 500 million of investment, all of which is part of its ambition to expand its Grade A+ office portfolio. With a portfolio of 2.7 billion, IPUT is the Dublin market leader with a long-term track record of delivering out-performance and is forecasting double-digit returns for its shareholders over the coming years.

CBRE IM is already an investor in IPUT and was a launch investor in the IPUT Nexus Logistics Fund ("Nexus Fund") in 2025. CBRE IM and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) invested a combined 115 million in the Nexus Fund.

Prime CBD Office Investment

IPUT's operational capabilities allow it to own, manage and develop highly amenitised offices, which set the benchmark for occupiers in the Irish market and align with market-leading office standards globally. In continuously investing in its portfolio, IPUT has set the standard for office development in Dublin City, such as the recently completed award-winning 600,000 sq. ft. office development at Wilton Park, home to global names such as LinkedIn, Stripe and EY. Wilton Park represents IPUT's emphasis on people-centred-design office spaces, while also considering the social impact its developments have on the local neighbourhood.

The capital raised from CBRE IM represents the first step in a planned 500 million expansion of IPUT's prime office portfolio in Dublin's City Centre. IPUT has a near-term plan to double its lifestyle-led flexible leasing platform, Studio. By the end of 2026, its Studio flexible leasing brand will have expanded to close to 200,000 sq. ft. across 18 locations, generating record office rents in the undersupplied Dublin office market. In addition, IPUT intends to commence development of its 350,000 sq. ft. city centre office development pipeline. The pipeline comprises of two city centre landmark office sites at Earlsfort Terrace and Harcourt Street, both of which have attractive and operable planning permits in place. IPUT intends to redevelop both sites over the coming years to the standard it has set at Wilton Park.

Niall Gaffney, IPUT CEO, said: "CBRE IM is one of the world's leading real estate investment managers. Increasing its investment in IPUT by a further 175 million is a testament to our workplace investment strategy, which generates market-leading returns through the cycle. We offer exposure to the prime end of the real estate market in a eurozone gateway city that continues to outperform its peers across the continent.

As we enter the growth phase of the next real estate cycle, we are proud to have strengthened our relationship with CBRE IM. We have the capacity to deploy over 500 million across our development pipeline, and this new investment provides the capital to kick-start that programme. This will enable us to continue to deliver market-leading, amenitised workplaces to occupiers in the under-supplied prime Dublin office market.

Nathalie Bruijn, Director Investment Management, CBRE IM said We are committed to the prime end of the Irish real estate market and are long-standing investors in IPUT with strong conviction in their investment strategy and team. Following our investment in the launch of their dedicated logistics fund in 2025, we are delighted to invest a further 175 million in their platform. The quality of IPUT's assets, occupiers and returns aligns with CBRE IM's investment strategy globally."

About IPUT Real Estate

We are Dublin's leading property investment company with a portfolio value of 2.7 billion. For close to six decades, we have been investing in Irish real estate and delivering dividends for both our global and domestic institutional investors. We own, develop, and manage the best workplaces in Dublin City, occupied by leading domestic and international companies who choose Ireland as a strategic gateway to Europe and the world.

To learn more about IPUT Real Estate visit: www.iput.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260217749751/en/

Contacts:

Investor Enquiries

IPUT Real Estate

Pat McGinley

pmcginley@iput.com

+353 16613499

Media Enquiries

FTI Consulting

Jonathan Neilan

IPUT@fticonsulting.com

+353 862314135
HAMBURG, Germany, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mammotome, a Danaher company, announces the Mammotome Prima MR Dual Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy System, the industry's first system designed to be positioned in the MRI scanner room, at the patient's side during a breast biopsy procedure. This breakthrough innovation enhances clinician coordination, improves communication, and keeps the focus on patient care by bringing the vacuum-assisted breast biopsy device directly into the room.

The Mammotome Prima MR system streamlines workflow with an intuitive in-room design1. Clinicians benefit from larger tissue samples2 enabled by stronger vacuum3 and an 8-gauge needle. This is made possible by 75% less tubing compared to other systems4. Less tubing also results in faster setup and cleanup and less biohazard waste. Additional highlights include convenient aperture size and vacuum strength adjustments on a touchscreen interface.

Ultimately, these combined benefits ensure clinicians can focus on delivering safe, accurate, and compassionate care, translating into a better experience for patients. "Our commitment to advancing breast care drives every innovation we bring to market," said Scott Treml, Mammotome Vice President and General Manager. "As the first of its kind in-room solution, the Mammotome Prima MR system empowers clinicians with greater efficiency and confidence, ultimately improving the patient experience."

The Mammotome Prima MR system has secured CE mark, and first cases are underway in select European countries. The system will be making its debut at the European Society of Radiology (ECR) Congress in March. Mammotome will be expanding access in select global markets throughout 2026. To learn more, please visit the Mammotome website.

1. Compared to the Hologic ATEC system based on a survey of 16/16 (100%) MRI technologists currently using the Hologic ATEC system, after using the Mammotome Prima system. 2. Mammotome Prima MR 8G probe compared to the Hologic ATEC 9G yielded 78.6% higher average sample weight based on porcine lab data from 120 tissue samples for each group of devices. 3. Measured at the aperture, compared to the Hologic ATEC breast biopsy system based on benchtop testing. 4. Compared to the Hologic ATEC standard MR probe tubing and the BD Encor Enspire MR probe with tubing extension.

About Mammotome

At Mammotome, our expertise and compassion for breast care makes us the indispensable partner to physicians, clinicians and patients. Our drive for innovation is rivaled only by our compassion for the people we serve, from the clinicians and surgeons who demand consistently precise solutions, to the patients and families seeking peace of mind. We boast a comprehensive range of products that create better outcomes in breast care and provide physicians and patients with educational resources that guide their journey. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, Mammotome has been part of the Danaher Corporation since 2014. The Mammotome brand of products is sold in over 45 different countries throughout the world.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2905253/Mammotome_Logo.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2905254/Mammotome_Prima_MR.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2905255/Mammotome_Prima_MR_System_with_no_tray__accessories_docked_angled_left.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mammotome-launches-first-in-room-mr-vacuum-assisted-breast-biopsy-system-302689881.html
Japan's only national ICT research institute to present live demonstrations of terahertz-band wireless transmission, AI-driven communications, and advanced security technologies at Hall 6, Stand F54

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan's leading public research organization in information and communications technology, today announced that it will exhibit at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026, taking place from March 2-5, 2026, at Hall 6, Stand F54.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260216620427/en/

NICT BOOTH

NICT's presence highlights Japan's leadership in Beyond 5G and 6G research and development activities, addressing the growing limitations of current mobile networks as data traffic and connected devices continue to increase across Europe and globally. While 5G deployment is expanding, emerging applications such as AI-driven services, real-time analytics, and immersive communications demand higher capacity, stability, and resilience.

At MWC Barcelona 2026, NICT will present a series of live demonstrations showcasing cutting-edge technologies, including terahertz-band wireless transmission capable of ultra-high-speed data transfer, AI-empowered ultra-spot communications, and reliable cybernetic avatar teleoperation. Visitors will also experience real-time multilingual communication technologies and next-generation security solutions, including real-time cyberattack monitoring and quantum-based secure communication.

NICT's research and innovation are structured around three strategic pillars: CONNECT, advancing digital inclusion through Beyond 5G/6G infrastructure; EXPAND, enhancing human capabilities via AI and advanced communication technologies; and SECURE, ensuring trust and resilience through cybersecurity monitoring and quantum technologies.

Through its participation at MWC Barcelona 2026, NICT aims to foster collaboration with European industry, research institutions, and policymakers, contributing to the development of a more connected, secure, and intelligent digital society.

About NICT

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) is Japan's public institution responsible for the research, development, and comprehensive promotion of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Specializing in advancing from fundamental research to cutting-edge technological applications, the organization contributes to economic growth and the creation of a more prosperous, secure, and connected society.

Guided by the philosophy, "Beyond human intelligence, co-create new standards for future society," NICT works to expand the potential of ICT by tackling new challenges and collaborating with scientific, industrial, and social communities worldwide.

With a diverse team of researchers and experts, NICT leads pioneering projects ranging from quantum communications and advanced networks to cybersecurity and post-5G technologies, creating solutions that drive social well-being and technological development.

Booth Location

Hall 6, Stand F54

MWC Barcelona 2026 NICT Website

https://www2.nict.go.jp/global2/mwcb26/

About MWC Barcelona 2026

https://www.mwcbarcelona.com/

Event Dates

March 2 (Monday) March 5 (Thursday), 2026

8:30-20:00 (16:00 on the last day)

Venue

Fira Gran Via

Av. Joan Carles I, 64

08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat

Barcelona, Spain

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260216620427/en/

Contacts:

For further information, please contact:

NICT Global Alliance Department

Email: nict_mwc_info@ml.nict.go.jp
TOKYO, Feb 18, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems, Ltd. (MHI-MS), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has concluded a joint research agreement with Tokyo's Metropolitan Expressway Co., Ltd. for a demonstration experiment of ramp merging support technology for autonomous vehicles.(1)The joint research, initiated in anticipation of expanded the adoption of autonomous vehicles, centers on conducting a demonstration experiment for ramp merging support for autonomous vehicles in the severe traffic conditions typical of Tokyo's Metropolitan Expressway, primarily high traffic volume and short merging sections. The project aims to accelerate the development of infrastructure support technologies for the practical implementation of autonomous driving.Metropolitan Expressway Co., Ltd. issued a call for participants in a joint research project. Following a review of the proposals, a contract was concluded with MHI-MS in recognition of its successful delivery of a Merging Support Information System for a section of the Shin-Tomei Expressway.(2) The demonstration experiment is scheduled to be conducted around September to November 2026, near the on-ramp of the Yoyogi entrance (Inbound) of Metropolitan Expressway Route 4 (Shinjuku Line). MHI-MS will coordinate and make preparations in cooperation with automobile manufacturers and other joint research participants.The site for the demonstration experiment is considered challenging from a sensing standpoint, owing to the short merging section, continuous curve, and height difference between the on-ramp and the main expressway. MHI-MS will fully leverage the technology developed for the Shin-Tomei Expressway and the knowledge gained to ensure safe and smooth merging of autonomous vehicles even in such demanding conditions. MHI-MS also believes that it can apply the sensing and communication technologies cultivated through the toll collection and ETC systems that it has delivered in Japan and overseas to autonomous driving support infrastructure.With various services that make extensive use of CASE technologies(3) being expanded to traffic engineering, MHI-MS will contribute to the establishment of safe and convenient next-generation mobility by supporting the infrastructure aspects that convey information from the roadway to the vehicle, beyond the sensors and other functions of the vehicle itself. Further, building on the projects for the Shin-Tomei Expressway and Metropolitan Expressway, MHI-MS will participate in demonstration experiments for merging support technologies, and accelerate implementation of its systems among a broad range of roadway operators.(1) For more information on the joint research agreement, see the following press release from Metropolitan Expressway Co., Ltd. (in Japanese)https://www.shutoko.co.jp/company/press/2025/data/02/18-joint-research(2) For more information on the successful delivery of a system on the Shin-Tomei Expressway, see the following press releasehttps://www.mhi.com/news/250303.html(3) "CASE" is an acronym derived from the words "connected," "autonomous," "shared" and "electric." It refers to the current technological trend in the automotive industry to create next-generation mobility services offering outstanding safety and convenience.https://youtu.be/HCWSm9dr3coAbout MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
LONDON, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trawick International today announces the UK launch of Trawick Motor, a straightforward and highly flexible motor insurance offering designed to meet the needs of everyday motorists, expatriates living within the UK, specialist vehicle owners, and anyone seeking clear, customer-first coverage on UK roads.

Built around simplicity, transparency and real-world protection, Trawick Motor brings a fresh approach to motor insurance with competitive pricing, plain-English policy terms, cover features and specialist options that reflect how drivers actually live and drive today.

"With Trawick Motor, we're bringing decades of experience serving internationally mobile customers into the UK motor space," said Daryl Trawick, CEO & President of Trawick Holdings. "Drivers today live global lives. Many are relocating, travelling, or maintaining connections across countries. We understand those journeys and we've built motor insurance that reflects that reality while remaining clear, fair, and easy to manage."

Launched today, this allows new and existing customers to:

Get the right cover for their lifestyle - from everyday standard motor insurance, to specialist vehicle policies for both cars and vans, addressing the unique needs of different drivers.

Access specialist support and guidance from the team - here to help every step of the way.

Choose short-term and temporary options - ideal for borrowed, seasonal, or shared vehicles.



Trawick Motor is part of the broader Trawick International group, brought to market under the Trawick International brand, which is a trading name of Greenlight Insurance Services Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA authorisation number is 548036, and the firm's permitted business includes arranging and maintaining general insurance contracts.

Greenlight Insurance Services Ltd has been providing motor insurance to UK Motorists since 1996, also operating as a Lloyd's-registered broker, giving the Trawick group enhanced access to global capacity and specialist underwriting markets, including direct access into the Lloyd's of London marketplace. This strengthens product capability and enables a wider range of tailored solutions for UK customers.

About Trawick Motor

Trawick Motor is a UK-focused motor insurance solution offering straightforward, dependable cover for a wide range of vehicles and driver needs, including expatriate international drivers, standard cars, specialist vehicles. The offering combines competitive pricing with customer-centric clarity from quote to claim. Learn more at https://trawickmotor.co.uk/.

About Trawick International

Established in 1998, Trawick International has a long history of delivering innovative insurance solutions to globally mobile customers. With the launch of Trawick Motor in the UK, the company extends its commitment to simplicity, transparency, and trusted customer care into everyday driving protection for international (expatriate) drivers newly resident and UK motorists. Learn more at trawickinternational.com.

Media Contact

Emily Tarkany

Vice President, Marketing

Trawick International

Emily.Tarkany@TrawickInternational.com
LONDON, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Skingevity today announces its launch as a newly formed medical aesthetics group, with the acquisition of three leading clinics in the UK.

Founded by Andrea Agnolio, former Principal at The Boston Consulting Group, and Enrico Ghio, former Executive Director at Goldman Sachs, Skingevity partners with leading doctors and clinics that share a commitment to clinical excellence and customer service. Each clinic continues to operate under its existing name, leadership and clinical approach, with continuity of care remaining unchanged for patients. Skingevity provides the infrastructure, governance, and operational backbone that supports practitioners on their day to day - freeing them from administrative burdens so they can concentrate on what matters most: their clients.

Skingevity's central operating team works directly with clinics to drive operational excellence and growth. Additionally, Skingevity is backed by prominent private investors and executives that bring best-in-class capabilities that the group draws on to execute its strategy.

Headquartered in London, Skingevity has a UK-first strategy with clear international ambitions and launches with three founding clinics. Dr Joney De Souza Skin and Laser Clinic (Marylebone, London), led by its namesake doctor, is renowned for its "less is more" approach to aesthetics, delivering refined, natural results shaped over 20 years of practice. MediZen (Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham), founded in 1999 and led by Dr. David Eccleston, is one of the UK's longest-established aesthetic clinics, defined by nearly three decades of expertise and a strong focus on safety, education, and clinical excellence. Cannelle Skin Clinic (Summertown, Oxford) brings over 20 years of trusted client relationships and is now led by rising talent Dr. Mattia Parducci, bringing together heritage care and modern aesthetics.

At the patient level, Skingevity ensures the highest standards of care and patient experience across clinics, while preserving the personal doctor-patient relationships that sit at the heart of high-quality medical aesthetics. This allows patients to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving sector, combining the personalised experience of boutique clinics with the reassurance, consistency and long-term care of a professionally governed medical aesthetics group.

As part of Skingevity's launch, Dr. David Eccleston joins the group as Chief Medical Officer. In his role, he will shape a shared approach to governance, education and professional development, supporting best practices across all clinics while empowering local clinical leadership.

Andrea Agnolio, Co-CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Skingevity, said:

"Skingevity was created to support outstanding clinics without compromising what makes them exceptional. In a sector that is becoming increasingly complex and regulated, we believe doctors need institutional support without losing clinical independence."

Enrico Ghio, Co-CEO and Chief Financial Officer of Skingevity, added:

"Our focus is long-term value based on patient trust. We are building a group where decisions are driven by medical excellence, clinical outcomes, and responsible governance - ensuring sustainable, high-quality growth."

Skingevity welcomes outreach by established clinics and individual doctors who share the same outlook on clinical standards and long-term outcomes, and who are seeking an operating model that strengthens their practice development while preserving clinical leadership.

https://www.skingevity.co.uk

https://www.medizen.co.uk

https://www.drjoneydesouza.com

https://cannelleskinclinic.co.uk

Notes to editors

Skingevity is a London-based, medical aesthetics group that brings together leading UK clinics under a shared commitment to clinical excellence, governance and patient trust. The group supports its clinics with robust operational infrastructure while maintaining clinical independence and continuity of care.

About the Founders

Skingevity was founded by Andrea Agnolio and Enrico Ghio, who bring expertise across strategy, operations and corporate finance. Andrea Agnolio, Co-CEO and Chief Operating Officer, has over a decade of experience in consumer healthcare consulting, having previously been a Principal at The Boston Consulting Group where he advised global medical aesthetics brands on strategy, operational excellence and value creation. Enrico Ghio, Co-CEO and Chief Financial Officer, has a decade of experience in corporate finance and strategic transactions across the healthcare, consumer and retail sectors. He previously served as Executive Director in the M&A Investment Banking team at Goldman Sachs, where he advised on and executed complex strategic mandates, including mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and debt financings.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2904617/Skingevity_Enrico_Ghio_and_Andrea_Agnolio.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2904618/Skingevity_Logo.jpg

Media enquiries:

Julia Kendrick

julia@kendrickpr.uk

Operational and Commercial enquiries:

Andrea Agnolio

andrea@skingevity.co.uk

Acquisition and Corporate Finance enquiries:

Enrico Ghio

enrico@skingevity.co.uk

Customer enquiries:

info@skingevity.co.uk

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Round led by Heran Partners and joined by Clave Capital, Inveready and Bio&Tech Smart Capital

Financing will enable Pharmacelera to build ongoing relationships with major pharm and biotech customers in the US

Pharmacelera's platform scours vast chemical 'exaSpace' accurately for novel molecules

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmacelera, a deep tech company applying Quantum Mechanics and Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize drug discovery, has closed a 6 million investment round to accelerate its expansion in the United States and grow the capabilities of its proprietary platform.

Utilizing its proprietary Quantum Mechanics and Artificial Intelligence ("QaiM") algorithms, Pharmacelera is revolutionizing drug discovery by finding novel and diverse molecular candidates across the vast chemical "exaSpace" with unprecedented speed, efficiency and accuracy. It can generate molecules that are up to 10 times better, 75,000 times faster, than traditional AI-led drug discovery approaches. Its technology can be applied to small molecules and small peptides in all stages of drug discovery - from hit identification, through hit-to-lead, to lead optimization.

This investment round will help Pharmacelera grow further and faster - firstly, by establishing a permanent team in the U.S., and secondly, by enabling the Company to expand the technical capabilities of its unique QaiM drug discovery engine in key growth areas.

The round was led by Heran Partners, a leading life sciences investor, and joined by Clave Capital, a long-standing tech transfer investor; Inveready, a Spanish alternative asset manager with a dedicated life sciences strategy; and Bio&Tech Smart Capital, a specialist investor in healthtech and science-based innovation.

Pharmacelera has already participated in more than 100 projects to date, including several notable successes in GPCRs. It has won repeat business from customers in both Europe and the U.S., including three big pharma companies and numerous highly-regarded biotechs.

Enric Gibert, Chief Executive Officer of Pharmacelera, said: "The first wave of AI-powered drug discovery promised a lot but delivered comparatively little. Pharmacelera is changing the picture, by coupling AI with quantum-based simulations to leverage the exaSpace - the vast, undiscovered universe of trillions of molecules - to find highly novel drug candidates that are up to 10 times better, using a process that's up to 75,000 times faster than traditional AI-led approaches."

He continued: "The backing of these leading investors, who have a deep understanding of drug discovery, is a strong validation of our revolutionary technology. The funding will enable us to establish a team in the U.S. - a natural next step to continue strengthening our relationships with large pharmaceutical and biotech companies on both the East and West coasts. It will also help us to greatly widen the capabilities of our QaiM engine."

Raf Roelands, Partner at Heran Partners and new member of Pharmacelera's Board of Directors, said: "By combining physics-based algorithms with machine learning, Pharmacelera enables the design of molecular candidates for novel targets and modes of action with a higher probability of success. We have a high conviction in this company, which was reinforced through direct discussions with its customers, including leading pharmaceutical companies, who have already experienced the significant impact of its technology."

The funding round follows the signing of a strategic alliance between Pharmacelera and Silicon Valley company igniter General Inception (GI) in 2023, in which Pharmacelera became GI's AI drug discovery strategic partner. Venkat Reddy, GI's Chief Scientific Officer, sits on Pharmacelera's Board of Directors. Since then, Pharmacelera's technology has strengthened the intellectual property of several of GI's portfolio companies.

About Pharmacelera

Pharmacelera is a deep tech computational drug discovery company applying its advanced 3D Quantum Mechanics and Artificial Intelligence ("QaiM") engine to explore the vast chemical "exaspace" - which potentially comprises trillions of molecules - with unprecedented speed, efficiency and accuracy. This engine can significantly outperform traditional methods in its ability to identify structurally diverse, novel, and synthesizable compounds. Using this technology, the Company's world class, cross-disciplinary team has already participated in more than 100 projects. Pharmacelera's diversified and scalable business model has attracted recurrent customers including several big pharma firms and many prominent biotechs. Founded by AI engineers, drug hunters from industry and top academic profiles, its founders have co-authored more than 500 publications and hold more than 50 patents on technology and drug discovery. It is backed by Heran Partners, Clave Capital, Inveready and Bio&Tech Smart Capital and based at the Parc Cientific de Barcelona, one of Europe's premiere life science hubs. For more information, please visit https://pharmacelera.com/

About Heran Partners

Heran Partners is a specialist venture capital investor committed to creating transformative impact within the life sciences and healthcare industry. It is a Belgium-based investment fund driven by a dedicated team with strong scientific and entrepreneurial backgrounds. It provides venture and growth capital accompanied by a strong network, expertise and mentorship to start-ups and scale-ups with a solid technology platform and strong market potential.

Heran's investment philosophy centers on addressing emerging health challenges such as an ageing population, the surge in chronic diseases, and associated increases in healthcare costs. Heran believes in harnessing the revolutionary potential of technology, science, and data to meet these challenges head-on. It focusses on solutions for unmet needs in the market. For more information, please visit https://www.heranpartners.com/

About Clave Capital

Clave Capital is an independent alternative asset management firm specialized in innovative projects and industrial SMEs. The firm has extensive experience in creating business value from scientific research results, with more than 20 years of expertise in investing, building, and supporting technology projects from their early stages, with a clear focus on technology transfer. Currently, the firm manages 173 million, with a highlight being Clave Innohealth F.C.R., a 50 million fund specialized in medical technologies and promoted with the support of CDTI Innvierte and several private investors linked to the healthcare sector. For more information, please visit https://clave.capital/

About Inveready

Inveready is a leading financial services firm specialized in Alternative Assets, Wealth Management, and Investment Funds. Founded in 2008 as a venture capital fund, Inveready has evolved into one of the most active investment firms for small and medium-sized enterprises in Spain, currently managing over 2.4 billion.

The financial group organizes its services into three main business lines: Alternative Assets, which includes various direct investment strategies (Venture Capital, Life Sciences Venture Debt, Strategic Public Equity, Private Equity, and Infrastructure); Wealth Management, which advises clients across a range of high-value products and services; and Investment Funds, investing in small-cap equities with a value investing approach through its management company True Value.

With a team of 60 employees, Inveready is headquartered in San Sebastian, with offices in Barcelona and Madrid. The firm has been recognized as "Best Venture Capital Firm" by SpainCap in 2017 and "Best European Venture Debt Fund" by Preqin in 2023, among other awards. For more information, please visit https://inveready.com/

About Bio&Tech Smart Capital

Bio&Tech Smart Capital, FCRE is an early-stage venture capital fund based in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, focused on investing in life sciences, healthtech and science-driven technology companies. The fund is managed by Noso Capital and is deeply connected to Galicia's growing innovation ecosystem, combining strong regional roots with an active investment focus across Spain.

The fund was created with the mission of translating scientific knowledge into scalable, high-potential businesses, supporting founders at Seed and Series A stages. Bio&Tech Smart Capital is led by a team combining venture capital experience, scientific research and entrepreneurship, backing differentiated technologies with clear and meaningful applications in healthcare. For more information, please visit https://biotechsmartcapital.com/, https://nosocapital.com/es-es/index

About General Inception

General Inception (GI) is pioneering company creation as an Igniter company. General Inception partners with extraordinary scientific founders at the inception of their journey to efficiently translate their groundbreaking innovations into transformational companies that address humanity's grand challenges. As a business co-founder, GI brings together domain and functional expertise, executive talent, infrastructure and development resources, and capital to ignite, nurture and scale the company journey. GI is backed by leading venture capital firms Genoa Ventures, Hughes Ventures, Northpond Ventures, OMX Ventures, Paladin Capital Group, and Vertical Venture Partners. For more information, please visit https://www.generalinception.com/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pharmacelera-raises-6m-to-expand-in-us-and-build-out-its-high-speed-high-accuracy-deep-tech-drug-discovery-platform-302689680.html
Battery-continuing to invest across the venture capital and buyout markets-has a single close on an oversubscribed fund

Battery Ventures, the global, technology-focused investment firm, has closed a new, $3.25 billion fund to continue backing technology companies globally with a focus on the U.S., Europe and Israel.

The new fund, Battery Ventures XV, comes on the heels of 15 announced exit events for the firm in 2025. Over the last five years Battery funds have realized more than $10 billion in liquidity, a testament to the firm's stage-diversified approach.

"We're excited to build on our past success and partner with new, innovative companies in this dynamic market-driven, in large part, by the rise of artificial intelligence," said Michael Brown, a Battery general partner. "To us, AI is ushering in one of the most consequential eras in the history of technology. We understand the gravity of this moment and feel well-suited to capitalize on the opportunity, given our global reach and decades-long focus on software and enterprise tech."

Battery will use the new capital to continue investing in companies at all stages, from early to growth and buyout, in areas such as application software; infrastructure software, including data/AI, developer tools and cybersecurity; and industrial technology and life-science tools. The firm pursues a collaborative, research-driven style of investing and operates as one global team from offices in Boston, San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, London and Tel Aviv.

"We are highly selective investors whose goal is driving meaningful value in exceptional businesses," said Jesse Feldman, a Battery general partner leading its industrial tech and life-science tools practice. "We see enormous, continued opportunity in the software and industrial-tech markets across the U.S. and Europe-businesses we can help grow with focused investment in R&D, sales and add-on acquisitions."

Battery has invested in more than 530 companies globally since its inception, excluding seed-stage deals, resulting in 73 total IPOs and more than 225 M&A events*.

In September, Battery announced the promotion of Marcus Ryu, the co-founder and former CEO of Guidewire Software, to general partner. Additionally, Zak Ewen, Satoshi Harris-Koizumi and Justin Rosner each were promoted to partner over the course of deploying Battery's most recent fund. Battery also hired Barak Schoster, now a partner, in its Tel Aviv office.

Late last year, Battery moved into a new London office to serve as the base for its European investment operation; since 2005, the firm has completed more than 150 transactions across the U.K. and 12 European countries.

About Battery Ventures

Battery partners with exceptional founders and management teams developing category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, enterprise infrastructure/AI, and industrial technology and life-science tools. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at all stages, ranging from seed and early to growth and buyout, and invests globally from offices in Boston, San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, London and Tel Aviv. Follow the firm on X @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here.

*Data through Sept. 30, 2025. Battery Ventures provides investment advisory services solely to privately offered funds. Battery Ventures neither solicits nor makes its services available to the public or other advisory clients. For more information about Battery Ventures' potential financing capabilities for prospective portfolio companies, please refer to our website. For a complete list of portfolio companies, please click here

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218854989/en/

Contacts:

Rebecca Buckman

Marketing Partner

becky@battery.com

650-292-2077
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Canada One Mining Corp. (TSXV: CONE) (OTC Pink: COMCF) (FSE: AU31) ("Canada One" or the "Company") is pleased to report high-grade gold results, accompanied by copper and silver values, from the Reco target at the Copper Dome Project, ("Copper Dome", "Project" or "Property") located adjacent to the Hudbay Minerals Inc. producing Copper Mountain Mine, Princeton, B.C.

ROCK SAMPLING HIGHLIGHTS

SAMPLE ID GOLD (G/T) SILVER (G/T) COPPER (%) C0066671 8.17 6.83 1.75 C0066670 9.96 9.62 0.78

Table 1: Notable Rock Grab Sample Results from the 2025 Exploration Program at the Reco target.

Reco Target Sampling

In the fall of 2025, the geological team visited the Reco target, a previously known showing, and established seven new geological stations and collected four fresh rock samples (C0066668-C0066671). The two highest-grade samples collected from Reco were C0066670 (9.96 g/t Au, 9.62 g/t Ag, 0.78% Cu) and C0066671 (8.17 g/t Au, 6.83 g/t Ag, 1.75% Cu). Both samples returned elevated iron values, with sample C0066670 recording the highest iron content of the 2025 program at 12.75% Fe, reflecting intense iron oxide alteration and the potential weathering of significant sulphide mineralization at the target.

Reco is located approximately 1.8 km SSE of the Friday Creek potassic zone. Assay results from Friday Creek, also collected during the fall 2025 program, are pending release.

Peter Berdusco, President and CEO of Canada One, commented: "The presence of high-grade gold at Reco, part of the Copper Dome Project, significantly strengthens Canada One's exploration thesis. The gold target sits strategically between our primary porphyry targets at Copper Dome, and the presence of near-surface gold is particularly promising given how porphyry systems often generate economically meaningful flanking gold zones-enhancing both the district-scale potential and the strategic value of our project portfolio."

Significance of Results

Results from the Reco target meaningfully expands the Copper Dome opportunity from a "copper-porphyry only" story into a broader multi-commodity mineral system that also includes a compelling high-grade, potentially near-surface, gold-silver-copper target. The standout grab samples are particularly encouraging, as such grades can signal a robust hydrothermal event capable of generating economically meaningful high-grade shoots on the margins of, or structurally linked to, porphyry centers.

Strategically, Reco's location between key porphyry targets raises the possibility that this gold-bearing structure could represent a flanking zone or structurally focused expression of the same district-scale system, improving drill targeting and increasing the project's potential value by adding higher-grade upside and development optionality beyond bulk-tonnage porphyry copper alone.

While rock samples are inherently selective and not necessarily representative of average grade, results of this tenor strongly justify systematic follow-up to define continuity, true width, and controls on mineralization.

Reco Planned Follow-up

Building on these promising results, the company plans to advance exploration at the target in 2026 through a larger-scale prospecting and mapping program. Additional rock sampling will help better define the extent of known mineralization, while detailed structural mapping will support interpretation of potential gold sources as they relate to the surrounding porphyry targets.

Geological Discussion

Reco was investigated in 2025 to locate and accurately geo reference historical workings and mineral showings. According to the MINFILE record, the target was explored as early as 1907, when a 167-metre-long adit was driven beneath vein outcrops between 1907 and 1909.

Reco is hosted within fine-grained volcanic and volcano sedimentary rocks of the Nicola Group, including andesite and cherty tuffs. Intense silicification was documented, along with strong iron oxidation and sericitization of the host rocks. Pyrite and copper oxide minerals are common, with localized development of chalcopyrite stringers. The observed alteration assemblage and sulphide mineralogy are consistent with a phyllic alteration domain.

Reco consists of a caved historical adit, with extensive exposure of a volcanic wall rock resulting from historical manual scree removal. Mineralization occurs as intensely oxidized, sulphidic calcite vein material hosted within a shear zone approximately 2-3 m wide. The vein and shear zone are steeply dipping and strike NE-SW. Structural measurements collected in 2025 indicate an orientation of 210/71, while historical measurements report orientations of 005/78 and 038/80. The vein has been traced on surface for approximately 120 m and ranges from 0.1 to 1.8 m in width.

The vein is interpreted to have infilled a brittle fault zone, as evidenced by shattered host rock and the presence of gouge material adjacent to the vein. Intense supergene alteration of the wall rock is expressed as pervasive goethite and jarosite development at the target.

Figure 1: (A) Rock sample C0066671 from the RECO target, showing mineralized sedimentary wall rock adjacent to a mineralized shear zone. The sample returned assays of 8.17 g/t Au, 6.83 g/t Ag, and 1.75% Cu.

(B) Mineralized vein fill and gouge hosted within the shear zone at the target.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10074/284307_canadaoneimg1.jpg

Figure 2: 2025 rock sample locations with historical sampling at the RECO target area.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10074/284307_cac78b5044a75aac_006full.jpg

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC)

All rock samples were collected from the fall 2025 fieldwork program and were submitted to ALS Geochemistry - Kamloops to be analyzed for gold and platinum group elements (PGM-ICP24 50 g fire assay), and multi-element geochemistry, including elements Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, and Ag (method ME-MS61).

Figure 3: Overview map of the Copper Dome project sowing sample and data stations from the 2025 exploration program as well as project infrastructure.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10074/284307_cac78b5044a75aac_007full.jpg

About The Copper Dome Project

Copper Dome is located in the lower Quesnel Trough porphyry belt, one of British Columbia's most prolific mining districts. The Project directly adjoins Hudbay Minerals Inc.'s producing Copper Mountain Mine to the north, which the company reports as having Proven and Probable Reserves of ~367 Mt at 0.25 % Cu, 0.12 g/t Au, and 0.69 g/t Ag (Hudbay Minerals Inc., 2023)*. Multiple mineralized zones have been identified across the Property, with historical drilling confirming high-grade copper associated with northeast-trending structures similar to those hosting mineralization at Copper Mountain.

The technical and scientific information regarding the adjacent Copper Mountain Mine is sourced from Hudbay Minerals Inc.'s published reports. Mineralization at Copper Mountain should not be considered indicative of the mineralization on the Copper Dome Project.

Copper Dome benefits from excellent infrastructure, enabling year-round access, cost-efficient exploration, and a stable, low-risk jurisdiction.

Historical Work Completed

Geophysics: 51 km of induced polarization (IP); airborne magnetic and electromagnetic (EM) coverage over ~50% of the Property

Sampling: 2,253 soils and 378 rocks collected

Drilling: 8,900+ m of diamond drilling

Trenching: Over 1 km excavated

With a five-year drill permit in place, the Company is focused on advancing the Copper Dome toward drill-ready target definition.

* Reference: Hudbay Minerals Inc. (2023). NI 43-101 Technical Report - Updated Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Estimate, Copper Mountain Mine, Princeton, British Columbia. Effective date: December 1, 2023. Qualified Person: Olivier Tavchandjian, Ph.D., P.Geo.

About Canada One

Canada One Mining Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on copper-the critical metal powering the global energy transition. The Company advances projects from discovery through resource definition with disciplined, data-driven exploration and responsible practices. Its flagship Copper Dome Project, near Princeton, British Columbia, targets a porphyry copper-gold system in a Tier-1 jurisdiction. Canada One aims to deliver sustainable growth and long-term value for shareholders and local communities.

Acknowledgement

Canada One acknowledges that the Copper Dome Project is located within the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Smelqmix People. We recognize and respect their cultural heritage and relationship to the land, honoring their past, present and future.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ali Wasiliew, P.Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

CANADA ONE MINING CORP.

Peter Berdusco

President

Chief Executive Officer

Interim Chief Financial Officer

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: statements relating to the anticipated timing thereof and the intended use of proceeds. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, technical, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the timing, completion and delivery of the referenced assessments and analysis. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

TSX Venture Exchange Disclaimer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284307

Source: Canada One Mining Corp.
Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Arizona Copper and Gold Ltd. ("ACG") and Core Nickel Corp. (TSXV: CNCO) ("Core Nickel", and together with ACG, the "parties") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") pursuant to which Core Nickel will acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of ACG (the "Transaction") by way of a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the "OBCA"). Upon completion of the Arrangement, Core Nickel will be renamed Arizona Eagle Mining Corp. ("Arizona Eagle"), will have completed a consolidation of its common shares on the basis of one post-consolidation share for every 8.5 pre-consolidation shares, and, following closing, intends to continue its jurisdiction of incorporation from British Columbia into Ontario. The "Resulting Issuer" will be Core Nickel as constituted immediately after giving effect to the Arrangement, the consolidation and the name change to Arizona Eagle.

The parties are also pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") has granted its conditional approval for the Transaction, including the listing of (i) the Resulting Issuer's shares ("Resulting Issuer Shares") to be issued in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding common shares of ACG ("ACG Shares") pursuant to the Arrangement, and (i) the securities issuable by the Resulting in connection with the concurrent financings (the "Concurrent Financings") of subscription receipts of both Core Nickel and ACG, as previously announced by the parties in a press release dated November 26, 2025, all subject to customary conditions described below.

The business of the Resulting Issuer will be the exploration and development of ACG's Eagle Project in Yavapai County, Arizona. While the Resulting Issuer's focus will be on exploration and development of the Eagle Project, it will continue to own Core Nickel's land portfolio in the Thompson Nickel Belt of northern Manitoba.

Chris Tate, CEO of Core Nickel Corp., commented:

"We are delighted to announce the execution of the Arrangement Agreement and the receipt of conditional approval for listing from the TSX Venture Exchange. This transformative transaction delivers compelling value to Core Nickel shareholders by providing ownership in one of North America's highest-grade, past-producing gold deposits - the McCabe Mine - amid a robust gold market environment. At the same time, it preserves meaningful optionality and exposure to our high-quality nickel assets in Manitoba. The Core Nickel management team and Board of Directors unanimously support and strongly recommend that shareholders vote in favor of this value-accretive transaction."

Kevin Reid, CEO of Arizona Copper and Gold Ltd., stated:

"Our Arizona-based team has advanced the Eagle Project significantly over the past two years, consolidating a large land package centered on the past-producing McCabe Mine - a high-grade gold-silver deposit with substantial expansion potential in all directions. We have deployed modern exploration techniques for the first time in over four decades, including comprehensive property-wide mapping, sampling, helicopter VTEM, and ground IP surveys. Last month, we initiated our Phase 1 drilling program, designed to confirm and expand the historic estimate at the McCabe Mine of approximately 878,000 ounces of gold at 11.7 g/t and 5 million ounces of silver at 69 g/t. Our work has also identified multiple parallel structures hosting past-producing mines that remain largely untested by drilling. We firmly believe this transaction positions the combined company to unlock the full potential of the Eagle Project and revitalize what was historically Arizona's premier gold and silver producing district. We urge Arizona Copper and Gold shareholders to support this transaction to accelerate our path forward."1

Summary of the Proposed Transaction

Under the Arrangement, each ACG Share will be exchanged for one Resulting Issuer Share (on a post-consolidation basis). Immediately prior to closing, Core Nickel will complete the 8.5:1 share consolidation (the "Consolidation") and change its name to "Arizona Eagle Mining Corp." (the "Name Change"). Following closing of the Transaction, the Resulting Issuer expects to file articles of continuance to continue (the "Continuance") from British Columbia into Ontario under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario).

Upon completion of the Transaction, ACG will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Resulting Issuer, which is expected to be classified as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer on the TSXV, and former ACG shareholders are expected to hold a majority of the outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares. As a result, the Transaction will constitute a reverse takeover of Core Nickel by the shareholders of ACG under TSXV Policy 5.2 - Changes of Business and Reverse Takeovers ("Policy 5.2"). It is expected that the Resulting Issuer will trade under the symbol "AZEM" on the TSXV.

TSXV Conditional Approval, Post-Closing Capitalization and Escrow

Core Nickel has received conditional approval from the TSXV for the Transaction and the listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares to be issued in connection with the Transaction. The TSXV's conditional approval contemplates the issuance of 39,868,950 Resulting Issuer Shares as consideration for the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding ACG Shares on a one (1) for one (1) exchange ratio, together with securities issuable in connection with the parties' previously announced Concurrent Financings, and provides for the continuation of a 10% rolling stock option plan of the Resulting Issuer. It is expected that immediately following completion of the Arrangement there will be approximately 49,006,929 Resulting Issuer Shares, 4,698,079 share purchase warrants ("Resulting Issuer Warrants") and 2,637,647 stock options ("Resulting Issuer Options") of the Resulting Issuer outstanding.

Certain Resulting Issuer securities will be subject to escrow in accordance with TSXV Policy 5.4 - Capital Structure, Escrow and Resale Restrictions, including an aggregate of 1,924,176 Resulting Issuer Shares, 111,765 Resulting Issuer Options and 941,176 Resulting Issuer Warrants under Tier 1 escrow, and 24,030,200 Resulting Issuer shares and 2,500,000 Resulting Issuer options under Tier 2 escrow, as will be more particularly described in the management information of Core Nickel (the "Core Nickel Circular") to be filed in connection with the annual general and special meeting (the "Core Shareholder Meeting") of Core Nickel shareholders called to approve annual matters and the Transaction and related matters on March 13, 2026.

The TSXV's conditional approval remains subject to customary conditions, including, without limitation requisite shareholder approvals of the parties and interim and final court orders to be obtained by ACG in respect of the Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). There can be no assurance that final TSXV acceptance will be obtained. Trading in Core Nickel's shares remains halted and will continue to be halted until completion of the Arrangement and satisfaction of TSXV requirements. The Resulting Issuer will request reinstatement of trading when permitted under TSXV policies.

Governance, Special Committee Process and Fairness Opinions

Core Nickel's board of directors established a special committee of independent directors to oversee the process, evaluate the transaction and consider alternatives. The special committee engaged an independent financial advisor and obtained a fairness opinion. The Core Nickel board, following the unanimous recommendation of its special committee and receipt of a fairness opinion concluding that the transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to Core Nickel shareholders, has unanimously determined that the Transaction is in the best interests of Core Nickel and fair to its shareholders, and recommends that Core Nickel shareholders vote in favour of the transaction resolution. ACG's board of directors also received an independent fairness opinion concluding that the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to ACG shareholders.

Shareholder Meetings

Core Nickel has filed the Core Nickel Circular for the Core Shareholder Meeting to be held on March 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PST in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Core Nickel Circular includes the transaction resolution approving the Transaction in accordance with TSXV Policy 5.2, and related matters to be considered by Core Nickel shareholders at the Core Shareholder Meeting, including the Continuance and the election of directors, appointment of auditors and the approval of Core Nickel's 10% rolling stock option plan, which will be the stock option plan of the Resulting Issuer. The Core Nickel Circular is available on SEDAR+ under Core Nickel's issuer profile.

ACG will also be holding its annual and special meeting of shareholders on March 13, 2026 to consider and approve the Arrangement and will announce further details when it mails its meeting materials to ACG Shareholders.

Concurrent Financings

As previously announced, the parties closed an aggregate of 2,659,542 subscription receipts of Core Nickel and ACG (collectively, the "Subscription Receipts") for total gross proceeds of approximately $3,191,450. The securities issuable on conversion of the Subscription Receipts will be issued immediately prior to completion of the Arrangement in accordance with their terms. Net proceeds from the Concurrent Financings are expected to fund exploration at the Eagle Project and for working capital and general corporate purposes, as described in the Core Nickel Circular.

Conflict of Interest, Minority Protections and MI 61-101

The Transaction constitutes a "related party transaction" (as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101")) because, as at the time the Transaction was agreed to, Paul Reid held more than 20% (on a partially-diluted basis) of the issued and outstanding each of Core Nickel and ACG. As a result, the Transaction is subject to the minority-protection requirements of MI 61-101. Core Nickel is relying on the exemption from the formal valuation requirement in Section 5.5(e) of MI 61-101. Minority approval for the Transaction is required pursuant to Section 5.6 of MI 61-101. In addition, because the Transaction is a "Non-Arm's Length Transaction" under TSXV Policy 5.2, the TSXV requires that Core Nickel seek disinterested shareholder approval for the Transaction. Core Nickel expects that the TSXV's disinterested shareholder approval will be sought at the Core Nickel shareholders' meeting and that obtaining such approval will also satisfy the MI 61-101 minority-approval requirement.

For the purpose of MI 61-101; the votes attaching to Core Nickel Shares beneficially owned, or over which control or direction is exercised, by ACG's related parties and any joint actors will be excluded from the vote on the resolution approving the Transaction at the Core Shareholder Meeting. An independent special committee of the board of directors of Core Nickel supervised the negotiation and review process and recommended the Transaction to the Core Nickel board of directors. The special committee met regularly and retained an independent financial advisor. The special committee received an independent fairness opinion from RwE Growth Partners Inc. dated February 2, 2026, which concluded that, as of the date of the opinion and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications described therein, the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of Core Nickel Shares. A copy of the Core Nickel fairness opinion is included in the Core Nickel Circular.

Certain directors, officers and significant shareholders of ACG beneficially own or control, directly or indirectly, Core Nickel Shares. The table below sets out, for each of these individuals, the current number of Core Nickel Shares held, the current percentage of Core Nickel Shares held on both an undiluted and partially diluted basis, and the anticipated effect of the Transaction on that person's percentage ownership of Core Nickel's equity securities, on both an undiluted and a partially-diluted basis.



Current Core Nickel Shares ACG

Shares After giving effect to the Transaction

# of

shares

held %

(undiluted)(1) %

(partially-

diluted)(1) # of

shares

held # of

shares

held %

(undiluted)(2) % (partially-diluted)(2) Paul Reid 8,175,000 14.85% 19.90% 8,000,100 9,211,865 18.80% 20.68% Marc Pais 5,180,500 9.41% 13.30% 8,000,100 8,859,571 18.08% 19.79% Kevin Reid 2,000,000 3.63% 7.01% 6,750,000 7,262,567 14.82% 17.37% Rickard Vernon 1,000,000 1.82% 3.57% 1,280,000 1,477,647 3.02% 4.38%

(1) Current percentages are based on 55,066,718 Core Nickel Shares issued and outstanding as at the date hereof.

(2) Percentages after giving effect to the Transaction reflect completion of the Transaction and conversion of the Subscription Receipts, is based on an aggregate 49,006,929 Resulting Issuer Shares expected to be issued and outstanding immediately following completion of the Transaction.

(3) See the Core Nickel Circular for further details regarding convertible securities held by the principals of ACG.

In connection with the Transaction, ACG and Core Nickel completed concurrent subscription receipt financings. Participation by certain insiders of ACG and Core Nickel included: Marc Pais (250,000 ACG subscription receipts), Paul Reid (250,000 ACG subscription receipts), Kevin Reid (277,373 Core Nickel subscription receipts) and Rickard Vernon (80,000 Core Nickel subscription receipts). These subscriptions were completed on the same terms and conditions as for arm's length investors and are "connected transactions" for MI 61-101 purposes; they will be aggregated with the Transaction, as applicable, for MI 61-101 disclosure and approval purposes.

Core Nickel has not obtained any "prior valuation" (within the meaning of MI 61-101) in respect of Core Nickel or the Core Nickel Shares in the 24 months before the date of this news release. The fairness opinion described above is not a "valuation" for purposes of MI 61-101.

Core Nickel will file a material change report (the "MCR") in connection with the Transaction that includes the disclosure required by MI 61-101. Closing of the Transaction is not expected to occur earlier than 21 days after the filing of the MCR.

About Arizona Copper and Gold Ltd.

ACG is a private mineral exploration company based in Toronto, Ontario, focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties in the United States. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, ACG holds the Eagle Project in Yavapai County, Arizona.

About Core Nickel Corp.

Core Nickel is a reporting issuer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol CNCO. Core Nickel holds a portfolio of exploration-stage nickel properties in the Thompson Nickel Belt in northern Manitoba, including the Mel deposit.

Further Information

ACG and Core Nickel will provide further details in respect of the Transaction in due course by way of a subsequent news release, however, Core Nickel will make available to the TSXV, all information, including financial information, as may be requested or required by the TSXV.

All information contained in this news release with respect to Core Nickel and ACG was supplied by the respective party, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other party, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party.

For further information on Arizona, please contact:

Arizona Copper and Gold Ltd.

Kevin Reid

Chief Executive Officer

Email: kreid@arizonaeaglemining.com

Also find Arizona Copper and Gold online:

https://www.arizonaeaglemining.com/

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward- looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements concerning the Transaction (including the Name Change, Consolidation and Continuance), the conversion of the Subscription Receipts and the release from escrow of the net proceeds therefrom to the Resulting Issuer; the requisite approval of Core Nickel shareholders and ACG shareholders, court approval of the Arrangement, and the satisfaction of all other conditions to completion of the Transaction under the Arrangement Agreement; anticipated capitalization of the Resulting Issuer on completion; escrow requirements; the intended business and listing classification of the Resulting Issuer; and the expected use of proceeds of the Concurrent Financings. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the parties, including expectations and assumptions concerning (i) ACG, Core Nickel, the Resulting Issuer, and the Transaction, (ii) the timely receipt of all required shareholder, court and regulatory approvals (as applicable), including the approval of the TSXV, (iii) the satisfaction of other closing conditions in accordance with the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, (iv) changes to anticipated capitalization; (v) if the Transaction is completed, the ability of the Resulting Issuer to execute on the proposed exploration program at the Eagle Project, and (vi) other assumptions and risks described in the Core Nickel Circular.

Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the parties. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the respective management of the parties at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, neither Party undertakes any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV and disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Core Nickel or ACG should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States or in any other jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold in the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

1 The historical estimate for the McCabe Deposit is unclassified and predates, and is non-compliant with, current NI 43-101 standards. It is based on a 1984 "Total Reserve Estimate" by Stan West Mining using a gold price of US$350/oz and a cut-off grade of 6.75-6.8 g/t gold. The Company's qualified person has not performed sufficient work to classify this historical estimate as a current mineral resource, and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as current. It is included for historical context only and should not be relied upon. Production from 1987-1988 extracted only a portion of the estimate, leaving significant potential remaining, and the deposit remains open at depth and along strike.

Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284291

Source: Core Nickel Corp.
Energy Corps today announced its role as a founding contributor to the Clean Cooking Accelerator Initiative, a new collaboration with the Clean Cooking Alliance, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet designed to rapidly scale access to modern cooking solutions across Africa. The Initiative is structured to move clean cooking from ambition to implementation by translating national priorities into investment-ready project pipelines and implementation pathways. Energy Corps will mobilize private sector funding to strengthen supply chains, accelerate bankable projects, and build the necessary infrastructure.

The Initiative was announced during the High-Level Dialogue on Advancing Energy Access and Cooking Solutions as part of the International Energy Agency's (IEA) 2026 Ministerial alongside governments, international agencies, and philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, combining country delivery expertise, catalytic capital, and private-sector mobilization.

The U.S. Department of Energy has prioritized energy abundance, including identifying that the most urgent energy challenge on the planet today is access to clean cooking fuels. As part of this initiative, Energy Corps is focused on mobilizing private sector resources toward clean cooking supply chains.

"Energy access creates opportunity when it can scale," said Toby Rice, Founder of Energy Corps. "Clean cooking is a fast way to deliver dignity, health, and economic opportunity. This Initiative is built to turn commitment into real projects, real infrastructure, and real access by mobilizing more capital. That's how you get to scale."

Energy Corps is funding this Initiative because it presents an ideal opportunity to mobilize private sector resources toward modern energy at scale. As a private sector mobilization partner within the Initiative, Energy Corps is committed to raising additional funds to expand the initial deployment.

Nearly one billion people across Africa still rely on polluting fuels for cooking, with severe consequences for health, productivity, and economic opportunity. Progress has often been constrained by fragmented delivery models, limited investment pipelines, and weak project design. The clean cooking solutions offered through this Initiative will replace polluting fuels like biomass, improve public health, and create economically durable pathways to affordable clean cooking access.

From Commitment to Delivery

Initial funding for the Initiative was provided by Energy Corps. The Initiative integrates three reinforcing elements infrastructure-backed, investment-ready, and nationally owned pathways to universal clean cooking access:

Government-anchored delivery capacity , providing clean cooking expertise and support within national institutions to ensure ownership and execution.

Coordinated investment and supply-chain mobilization , aligning public, philanthropic, and private capital with end-to-end market development.

, providing clean cooking expertise and support within national institutions to ensure ownership and execution. , aligning public, philanthropic, and private capital with end-to-end market development. High-level accountability, sustaining momentum and focus at the highest levels of government and partners.

Energy Corps is providing an initial US$500,000 to the Initiative, which is structured to translate national ambition into delivery, beginning with strengthened country capacity and progressing toward investable project pipelines and scaled market deployment through two phases:

Phase 1 Focusing on strengthening national capacity and country delivery capacity:

Supporting dedicated Clean Cooking Fellows, deployed through the Mission 300 Fellowship program, to support governments in advancing policy reforms, strengthening institutional capacity, and shaping early-stage project pipelines. Fellows will receive structured training, analytical support, and curated tools from the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA), alongside technical engagement through the U.S. Department of Energy's "Ask an Expert" program and National Laboratories.

Aligning policy, regulatory, and institutional actions to directly support project development and investment readiness, including coordination with the Global Energy Alliance's support to enable African governments to embed multi-year expertise and planning capacity that facilitates long-term sustainability.

Supporting governments in refining clean cooking milestones and implementation pathways aligned with national energy compacts.

Phase 2 Requiring additional funders and investors, will focus on mobilizing investment and scaling delivery:

Aligning philanthropic, public, and private capital around national clean cooking project pipelines.

Supporting the establishment and strengthening of Clean Cooking Delivery Units to coordinate and fast-track priority projects toward bankability.

Accelerating existing projects while identifying new opportunities to expand household, institutional, and commercial access.

Expanding fuel, appliance, and distribution supply chains.

Advancing enabling infrastructure to support demand growth.

"Governments are asking for partners who can help them move faster," said Tisha Schuller, Head of Energy Corps. "Energy Corps exists to meet this moment. This Initiative is a demonstration of how we operate. We partner to mobilize private-sector resources to deliver on-the-ground experts with an emphasis on pragmatic execution and durable success."

"We started Energy Corps because access to energy is fundamental to health, opportunity, and economic growth. Too many communities are still left behind," said Aileen Rice of Energy Corps

"Energy Corps brings a powerful model for mobilizing energy-sector philanthropy and investment in ways that are practical and delivery-focused," said Dymphna van der Lans, Clean Cooking Alliance CEO. "By partnering together, we can help ensure that private-sector capital, expertise, and partnerships are aligned with country priorities and translate into real progress on clean cooking."

"Clean cooking is central to advancing universal energy access," said Andrew Herscowitz, CEO of the Mission 300 Accelerator. "Achieving universal access to modern cooking solutions will require building the right enabling conditions for sustained private investment. Through the Clean Cooking Accelerator Initiative and Mission 300, we are working alongside governments to strengthen delivery systems, refine investment pathways, and deploy catalytic resources that unlock long-term capital at scale."

"The Global Energy Alliance has seen firsthand how modern cooking solutions can transform lives and unlock economic opportunity," said Woochong Um, CEO of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. "Through our work supporting government-led Energy Compacts, embedding delivery capacity through Mission 300 and supporting enterprises that deploy clean cooking solutions, we've seen that sustained progress requires coordinated effort across public, private, and philanthropic partners. Energy Corps is contributing private-sector expertise to this broader collaboration, helping support the translation of national priorities into practical, on-the-ground solutions."

Energy Corps is grateful to its funders. Founding funds are provided by Aileen and Toby Rice, Boardwalk Pipeline, RF Catalytic Capital, a charitable spinoff of The Rockefeller Foundation, Spotlight Energy, and the Meredith and Mike Howard Family Foundation.

About Energy Corps

Energy Corps is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization accelerating access to affordable, reliable energy worldwide. Energy Corps advances modern energy at scale by unlocking policy bottlenecks, mobilizing large-scale finance, and creating durable demand helping move communities from energy poverty to energy prosperity. Learn more at energycorps.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218987299/en/

Contacts:

For more information, please contact: media@energycorps.com
NEW YORK and LONDON, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultumus, a leading provider of ETF and index data, calculations, and workflow solutions, has partnered with 28Stone Consulting (28Stone), provider of technology and software consulting services to the financial services industry, to launch Atlas, a next-generation platform for comprehensive index data coverage. Built as an evolving platform, it enables rapid responsiveness to market requirements and the delivery of new capabilities on a continuous basis.

Atlas delivers measurably faster ETF data views and quick index rebalance calculations alongside workflow improvements including clearer dividend data, more consistent FX handling, and enhanced search functionality. These capabilities reflect direct client input gathered throughout the development process - from initial feature prioritization through interface design and workflow optimization - ensuring the platform addresses real operational needs across the ETF ecosystem.

Enhanced APIs and integration capabilities enable Atlas to fit seamlessly into existing client environments, supporting connectivity across the full ETF value chain from issuers and authorized participants to asset managers requiring index data and analytics.

The partnership brought together Ultumus' deep ETF domain expertise with 28Stone's modern capital markets technology capabilities. 28Stone worked alongside Ultumus teams to modernize platform architecture, development workflows, and deployment practices, establishing a lean, modern delivery model.

"Working with 28Stone allowed us to fundamentally rethink how we design and deliver solutions," said Bernie Thurston, CEO, Ultumus. "Atlas isn't just a new platform - it's a new approach that puts continuous client feedback at the center of everything we build."

"Atlas was built as a living system rather than a one-time implementation," said Christopher Wilson, Global Head of Experience Modernization, 28Stone. "Our role was to translate Ultumus' vision into a modern, future-ready platform and with that in mind, we delivered a platform that can respond and support the pace of change across the industry."

This collaborative approach ensures the platform reflects the specialized requirements of diverse market participants and can continue evolving to meet emerging industry needs.

ABOUT 28STONE

28Stone Consulting delivers bespoke technology solutions and consulting services for the global capital markets ecosystem through a streamlined delivery methodology and focus on providing great customer service. Through its unique "listen and build" model, 28Stone partners with its clients to engineer tailored solutions that minimize risk and elevate efficiency while catering to the specialized needs of asset classes. The Company was founded in 2011 and has offices in New York, Riga and London.

For more information, please visit https://28stone.com/

ABOUT ULTUMUS

Ultumus is a leading provider of ETF and index data, calculation, and workflow solutions. Owned by SIX Group, which operates the SIX Swiss Exchange and BME Exchange in Spain, Ultumus delivers essential infrastructure to the global ETF ecosystem. Since launching in 2016, Ultumus has built technology-enabled solutions that capture, normalize, enrich, and distribute data daily for over 14,000 ETFs and 3 million indices. Trusted by asset managers, issuers, and authorized participants worldwide, Ultumus is headquartered in London with offices in Singapore and Hawaii. For more information, visit www.ultumus.com and follow Ultumus on LinkedIn .

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ultumus-and-28stone-partner-to-launch-atlas-a-next-generation-etf-and-index-data-platform-to-evolve-with-client-needs-302689993.html
The recognition highlights Bioiberica's science-led innovation, clinical differentiation, and manufacturing excellence in the European innovative collagen market.

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that Bioiberica has received the 2025 European New Product Innovation Recognition in the innovative collagen solutions industry for its outstanding achievements in clinical validation, ingredient differentiation, and evidence-based product development. This achievement reflects Bioiberica's consistent leadership in advancing scientifically validated collagen ingredients, strengthening its competitive position, and enabling customer-centric innovation in a complex and rapidly evolving European joint health and nutrition landscape.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and execution. Bioiberica excelled in both by aligning long-term scientific strategy with market demand while executing with precision, consistency, and regulatory discipline. "Bioiberica distinguishes Collavant n2 by providing mechanistic clarity and efficacy both in terms of joint comfort and potential cartilage preservation, setting it apart in a market that often lacks transparent clinical substantiation," said Sreedevi Kakkad, Senior Research Analyst, TechVision at Frost & Sullivan.

Guided by a long-term growth strategy centered on science-first innovation, clinical research, and vertically integrated manufacturing, Bioiberica has demonstrated strong agility in the European collagen solutions market. Its sustained investment in native type II collagen research and pharmaceutical-grade production capabilities has enabled the company to address both clinical and lifestyle nutrition segments while maintaining full traceability and regulatory alignment.

Innovation remains central to Bioiberica's approach. Collavant n2, a native type II collagen ingredient derived from chicken sternum cartilage, preserves the collagen's molecular structure and delivers efficacy at a low daily dose of 40 milligrams through an immune-mediated mechanism of action. Unlike denatured collagen peptides that rely on gram-level dosing, Collavant n2 offers a differentiated formulation strategy supported by randomized, controlled clinical trials demonstrating support in joint comfort, mobility, and functional performance

"We're honored to receive this prestigious award, and we'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to this milestone - from our exceptional scientists and technical experts to our production specialists, regional distributors and more," comments Antonio Vendrell, Marketing & Communications Director at Bioiberica. "To us, collagen is much more than just a molecule. It is a tool that, through in-depth research and refinement, unlocks virtually limitless opportunities for health and wellbeing innovation. Through our continuous efforts to clinically characterize the benefits of Collavant n2, as well as our initiatives to dispel common myths and misconceptions in the collagen market, we hope to empower our industry partners to unlock the next generation of collagen innovation."

Bioiberica's commitment to customer success further strengthens its market position. The company supports finished-product manufacturers through clinical substantiation, formulation guidance, regulatory documentation, and validated delivery formats, including capsules, gummies, functional foods, and lifestyle-oriented nutrition products. Its collaborative approach reduces formulation risk and enables partners to accelerate commercialization while maintaining scientific credibility and compliance with European regulations.

Manufacturing integrity and reliability are a foundation of Bioiberica's value proposition. Through a vertically integrated supply chain within the SARIA Group, the company maintains full control over sourcing, processing, and production of Collavant n2 in Europe. independent NutraStrong Collagen Verification reinforce ingredient consistency, traceability, and customer trust. Bioiberica's circular economy model aligns operational excellence with sustainability and global regulatory readiness.

Frost & Sullivan commends Bioiberica for setting a high benchmark in scientifically backed collagen innovation, manufacturing transparency, and customer collaboration. The company's ability to integrate robust science, operational discipline, and market education continues to shape the future of the European innovative collagen solutions industry and support evidence-based product development at scale.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the New Product Innovation Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and execution, resulting in measurable differentiation, customer value creation, and strengthened competitive positioning. The recognition honors organizations that advance their industries through credible innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.

Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Tarini Singh

E: Tarini.Singh@frost.com

About Bioiberica

Bioiberica is a global life science company with over 50 years' experience in the research, production and commercialisation of molecules of high biological and therapeutic value for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and food industries.

This specialisation positions Bioiberica as a leader in the manufacture of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) heparin, as well as a world reference in the production of other biologically-derived APIs and scientifically-backed branded ingredients, suitable for mobility, digestive health and skin & beauty.

Bioiberica's long-standing reputation is the result of its passion for life and science. Through its vertically-integrated supply chain, the company has complete control of its end-to-end production processes - ensuring the highest quality, safety and full traceability of its products. With production sites in Europe and the US, Bioiberica currently exports to more than 80 countries worldwide.

Committed to our partners' success, Bioiberica is the perfect partner with which to explore new opportunities and developments in human, animal and plant health.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Antonio Vendrell

Marketing & Communications Director

Bioiberica

communications@bioiberica.com

(+34) 93 490 49 08

Madeline Callaghan

Senior Account Executive

BDB (Barrett Dixon Bell)

bioiberica@bdb.co.uk

(+44) 161 925 470

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bioiberica-receives-frost--sullivans-2025-european-new-product-innovation-award-for-clinically-validated-native-type-ii-collagen-302691169.html
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Northstake today announced that Pier Two has joined its Staking Vault Manager (SVM) as a node operator, further broadening the institutional validator network supporting Ethereum staking via stVaults built on Lido V3.

The Staking Vault Manager is Northstake's multi-operator orchestration layer, purpose-built to meet institutional requirements for validator diversification, operational resilience, and governance transparency. With Pier Two onboarded, Northstake continues to expand the range of professional-grade operators available within its modular staking infrastructure.

Pier Two is the fastest growing staking service provider in the world. Staking ETH since the launch of the Beacon Chain, Pier Two has continued to innovate within the staking domain, and contributes to the Ethereum ecosystem through initiatives like the Pectra Staking Manager, and building the Lean Consensus Client, Lantern (C). Through the integration with Northstake's SVM, Pier Two-operated validators will be accessible within the stVault framework, enabling institutional allocators to incorporate Pier Two into their Ethereum staking configurations.

"Institutional staking mandates are increasingly centered around validator diversification, operational discipline, and transparency," said Jesper Johansen, CEO of Northstake. "Pier Two strengthens the Staking Vault Manager with a highly regarded infrastructure team that combines deep protocol expertise with a strong operational track record. Their addition enhances the geographic and operational diversity of our validator set at a critical stage in Ethereum's institutional adoption."

The integration comes as Lido V3 introduces a more flexible staking architecture through stVaults, allowing tailored validator selection and configurable staking strategies. While these primitives enable customization, institutions require an operational framework capable of coordinating multiple operators within a compliant and production-ready structure. Northstake's SVM addresses this need by combining modular vault design with curated, professional node operators.

"Pier Two is excited to be joining Northstake's Staking Vault Manager, expanding on the work we are doing to support institutional staking," said Jack Deeb, Co-Founder & COO at Pier Two. "The growth in demand for a variety of features and flexibility in staking continues to develop with changing market conditions, which presents a great opportunity for Pier Two to deliver our world-class security and performance."

With Pier Two joining the network, Northstake further advances its globally distributed, multi-operator staking platform engineered to provide asset managers, custodians, and other regulated market participants with secure, configurable, and diversified access to Ethereum staking.

Jesper Johansen, CEO and Founder of Northstake, is available for interviews.

Press Contact:

thomas.daugaard@northstake.dk

Telephone: +4540385451

About Northstake

Northstake A/S is a Copenhagen-based financial technology company providing regulatory-compliant staking solutions for institutional investors. Supervised by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (DFSA) under the Danish AML Act, Northstake serves regulated financial institutions, digital asset managers, and custodians with innovative staking infrastructure. The company enables institutions to participate in Ethereum staking through a secure, multi-operator framework built on Lido V3 primitives. For more information, visit northstake.dk.

About Pier Two

Pier Two is an Institutional staking services provider, established in Australia, in 2018. With multi-zonal 24/7 operations, high-performance hybrid cloud and bare metal infrastructure, ISO27001:2022, SOC 2 Type I, SOC 2 Type II and NORS certifications. Pier Two serves as a strategic partner in achieving sustainable rewards and growth, while helping protocol security.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/northstake-expands-staking-vault-manager-with-addition-of-pier-two-as-node-operator-302691397.html
Vancouver, British Columbia and Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF) (FSE: MV3) ("SXGC", "SX2" or the "Company") announces results from four drillholes from the 100%-owned Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project in Victoria (Figures 1 to 6). Best results included 1.8 m @ 80.5 g/t AuEq (79.9 g/t Au, 0.2% Sb) in drillhole SDDSC208.

The true thickness of the mineralized intervals is interpreted to be approximately 55% to 70% of the sampled thickness for other reported holes.

Three High Level Takeaways:

Discovery Still Growing - Golden Dyke Doubles in Size. SDDSC208 extends Golden Dyke 200 m west towards Christina, intersecting 16 vein sets including 10 previously unrecognized vein sets outside the current exploration target. This immediately doubles the Golden Dyke prospective area and confirms a more connected mineralized system than previously interpreted. With only 650 m of the 1,550 m known strike intensively drill tested, Sunday Creek remains in the early stages of defining its full scale. High-Grade Profile Reinforced. SDDSC208 returned 1.8 m @ 80.5 g/t AuEq (79.9 g/t Au, 0.2% Sb) from 649.4 m, with four individual assays exceeding 100 g/t Au, including 309 g/t Au over 0.47 m. Sunday Creek now hosts 79 composite intersections exceeding 100 g/t Au - a grade profile that positions the project among the highest-grade gold drill discoveries globally. Structural Architecture Further Defined. SDDSC180, SDDSC191 and SDDSC191W1 intersected corridors of dyke and altered sediment in the hanging wall, providing critical data on structural controls and alteration footprints. These holes improve the geological framework and targeting vectors for follow-up drilling across the Golden Dyke-Christina corridor.

Figure 1: Visible gold in SDDSC208 showing quartz + carbonate + sulphosalts + stibnite, in 0.47 m downhole shear vein from 650.77 m (309 g/t Au & 0.03 % Sb) within a larger interval of 1.8 m @ 80.5 g/t AuEq (79.9 g/t Au, 0.2% Sb) from 649.4 m.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/284290_ed9e24afc491993a_002full.jpg

Michael Hudson, President & CEO states: "SDDSC208 is a significant result for the trajectory of this project. Sixteen vein sets across a 420 m mineralized interval, four individual assays exceeding 100 g/t Au, and a 200 m westward extension of Golden Dyke - this hole demonstrates that the system continues to grow with every release. The Golden Dyke prospective area has now doubled, and critically, the ten new vein sets between Golden Dyke and Christina confirm we're dealing with a larger, more connected system than we had previously defined.

"Sunday Creek now has 79 composite intersections exceeding 100 g/t Au from 113 km of drilling, and we've tested less than half of the known 1,550 m strike. The exploration upside here is substantial and systematic - this isn't a single-hole story, it's a district-scale system that keeps expanding as we drill it.

"With high grade gold dominating and antimony providing strategic value that the Western world urgently needs, Sunday Creek offers a rare combination. We have the grade, the scale potential, the jurisdiction, and the infrastructure pathway. With ten rigs turning and 41 holes in the pipeline, we are advancing this project methodically toward resource definition and development milestones."

For Those Who Like the Details - Highlights:

SDDSC208 achieved a 200 m horizontal step-out extension between Golden Dyke and Christina with a standout intersection of 1.8 m @ 80.5 g/t AuEq (79.9 g/t Au, 0.2% Sb) from 649.4 m, including: 0.5 m @ 309.1 g/t AuEq (309.0 g/t Au, 0.03% Sb) from 650.8 m

Four individual assays exceeded 100 g/t Au: 109 g/t Au & 0.27% Sb over 0.44 m from 565.68 m 113 g/t Au & 0.01% Sb over 0.31 m from 644.64 m 107 g/t Au & 0.02% Sb over 0.1 m from 644.95 m 309 g/t Au & 0.03% Sb over 0.47 m from 650.77 m (visible gold shown in Figure 1)

The hole intersected multiple vein sets beyond the current exploration target, expanding the known extent of the mineralized system and continuing to link mineralization from Golden Dyke across to Christina



Selected Highlights Include: 5.1 m @ 3.8 g/t AuEq (0.8 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 428.4 m 8.3 m @ 1.9 g/t AuEq (1.1 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 460.4 m 3.7 m @ 7.7 g/t AuEq (4.8 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 478.5 m, including; 1.7 m @ 14.3 g/t AuEq (8.2 g/t Au, 2.5% Sb) from 479.0 m 1.9 m @ 37.2 g/t AuEq (35.9 g/t Au, 0.5% Sb) from 565.7 m 0.4 m @ 111.6 g/t AuEq (111.5 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 644.6 m 1.8 m @ 80.5 g/t AuEq (79.9 g/t Au, 0.2% Sb) from 649.4 m, including; 0.5 m @ 309.1 g/t AuEq (309.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 650.8 m 1.3 m @ 14.0 g/t AuEq (14.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 831.2 m

 Hanging wall holes - SDDSC180, 191 and 191W1 were drilled east to west to test the full width of the dyke and altered sediment package in the Golden Dyke-Christina corridor. Due to faulting within the target zone, all three holes remained predominantly within the hanging wall of the prospective structure rather than traversing through the mineralized sequence into the footwall. While these holes returned only low-grade results, they provided important constraints on the structural architecture and fault geometry that will improve targeting in subsequent programs.

Drill Hole Discussion

Four drill holes are reported here that targeted the Golden Dyke and Christina prospects from an east to west drilling orientation.

SDDSC208

SDDSC208, drilled east to west, intersected sixteen vein sets in total, with four infilling known Golden Dyke vein sets, ten vein sets outside the exploration target area and two vein sets on the boundary between Golden Dyke and Christina. This hole tested a 420 m downhole prospective corridor, extending mineralization 200 m west of Golden Dyke (320 m downhole).

The hole delivered exceedingly high-grade individual assays, with 4 individual results >100 g/t Au including

109 g/t Au & 0.27 % Sb over 0.44 m from 565.68 m

113 g/t Au & 0.01 % Sb over 0.31 m from 644.64 m

107 g/t Au & 0.02 % Sb over 0.1 m from 644.95 m

309 g/t Au & 0.03 % Sb over 0.47 m from 650.77 m (Figure 1)

The drillhole successfully identified mineralization on the boundary between Golden Dyke and Christina, and was a 220 m step-down extension with a standout intersection of 1.8 m @ 80.5 g/t AuEq (79.9 g/t Au, 0.2% Sb) from 649.4 m and an structurally interpreted 400 m step-down of 1.3 m @ 14.0 g/t AuEq (14.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 831.2 m. The hole also intersected multiple vein sets beyond the current exploration target, expanding the known extent of the mineralized system and continues to link mineralization from Golden Dyke across to Christina (Figure 2).

Selected highlights include:

4.6 m @ 2.2 g/t AuEq (0.8 g/t Au, 0.6% Sb) from 420.1 m

5.1 m @ 3.8 g/t AuEq (0.8 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 428.4 m

8.3 m @ 1.9 g/t AuEq (1.1 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 460.4 m

3.7 m @ 7.7 g/t AuEq (4.8 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 478.5 m, including; 1.7 m @ 14.3 g/t AuEq (8.2 g/t Au, 2.5% Sb) from 479.0 m

3.0 m @ 4.5 g/t AuEq (1.4 g/t Au, 1.3% Sb) from 503.4 m

1.9 m @ 37.2 g/t AuEq (35.9 g/t Au, 0.5% Sb) from 565.7 m

2.3 m @ 4.8 g/t AuEq (4.4 g/t Au, 0.2% Sb) from 608.4 m

0.4 m @ 111.6 g/t AuEq (111.5 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 644.6 m

1.8 m @ 80.5 g/t AuEq (79.9 g/t Au, 0.2% Sb) from 649.4 m, including; 0.5 m @ 309.1 g/t AuEq (309.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 650.8 m

4.3 m @ 2.5 g/t AuEq (2.4 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 665.6 m

1.3 m @ 14.0 g/t AuEq (14.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 831.2 m.

SDDSC180

SDDSC180, drilled east to west, intersected a 240 m corridor of dyke and altered sediment in the hanging wall of the prospective area. This hole provided important geological information regarding the structural controls and alteration footprint associated with the mineralized system, contributing to the overall understanding of the geological framework for future drill targeting.

SDDSC191 and SDDSC191W1

SDDSC191, drilled east to west, intersected a 160 m corridor of dyke and altered sediment in the hanging wall of the prospective area. A wedge hole, SDDSC191W1, was completed to intersect this corridor and define its geometry for future drill targeting. These holes contributed to delineating the structural architecture of the Golden Dyke and Christina prospects, providing critical vector information for subsequent exploration programs.

Pending Results and Update

Nine drill rigs are currently operational on the Sunday Creek project with one additional drill rig dedicated to regional exploration. Results are pending from 41 holes currently being processed and analyzed including ten holes that are actively being drilled and one abandoned hole (Figure 3). The Company continues its ongoing 200,000 m drill program through to Q1 2027.

About Sunday Creek

The Sunday Creek epizonal-style gold project is located 60 km north of Melbourne within 16,900 hectares ("Ha") of granted exploration tenements. SXGC is also the freehold landholder of 1,392 Ha that forms the key portion in and around the main drilled area at the Sunday Creek Project.

Gold and antimony form in a relay of vein sets that cut across a steeply dipping zone of intensely altered rocks (the "host"). These vein sets are like a "Golden Ladder" structure where the main host extends between the side rails deep into the earth, with multiple cross-cutting vein sets that host the gold forming the rungs. At Apollo and Rising Sun these individual 'rungs' have been defined over 600 m depth extent from surface to over 1,100 m below surface, are 2.5 m to 3.5 m wide (median widths) (and up to 10 m), and 20 m to 100 m in strike.

Cumulatively, 243 drill holes for 113,556.61 m have been reported from Sunday Creek since late 2020. This amount includes five holes for 929 m that have been drilled for geotechnical purposes and 22 holes for 2,973.77 m that were abandoned due to deviation or hole conditions. Fourteen drillholes for 2,383 m have been reported regionally outside of the main Sunday Creek drill area with three additional regional holes currently being processed. A total of 64 historic drill holes for 5,599 m were completed from the late 1960s to 2008. The project now contains a total of seventy-nine (79) composite intersections exceeding 100 g/t Au and sixty-six (66) composite intersections between 50-100 g/t Au, and ninety-seven (97) composite intersections exceeding 10% Sb by applying a 1 m (down hole length) @ 5 g/t AuEq lower cut.

Southern Cross Gold's systematic drill program is strategically targeting these significant vein formations, which are currently defined over 1,550 m strike of the host dyke/sediment ("rails of the ladder") from Christina to Apollo prospects, of which approximately 650 m has been more intensively drill tested (Golden Dyke to Apollo). At least 115 'rungs' have been defined to date, defined by high-grade intercepts (20 g/t Au to >7,330 g/t Au) along with lower grade edges. Ongoing step-out drilling is aiming to uncover the potential extent of this mineralized system (Figure 6).

Geologically, the project is located within the Melbourne Structural Zone in the Lachlan Fold Belt. The regional host to the Sunday Creek mineralization is an interbedded turbidite sequence of siltstones and minor sandstones metamorphosed to sub-greenschist facies and folded into a set of open north-west trending folds.

Further Information

Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project is available through the interactive Vrify 3D animations, presentations and videos all available on the SXGC website. These data, along with an interview on these results with President & CEO/Managing Director Michael Hudson can be viewed at www.southerncrossgold.com.

No upper gold grade cut is applied in the averaging and intervals are reported as drill thickness. However, during future Mineral Resource studies, the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed. The Company notes that due to rounding of assay results to one significant figure, minor variations in calculated composite grades may occur.

Figures 1 to 6 show project location, plan and longitudinal views of drill results reported here and Tables 1 to 3 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported individually as estimated true widths ("ETW"), otherwise they are interpreted to be approximately 55% to 70% of the sampled thickness for other reported holes. Lower grades were cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum width of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 1 m width.

Critical Metal Epizonal Gold-Antimony Deposits

Sunday Creek (Figure 6) is an epizonal gold-antimony deposit formed in the late Devonian (like Fosterville, Costerfield and Redcastle), 60 million years later than mesozonal gold systems formed in Victoria (for example Ballarat and Bendigo). Epizonal deposits are a form of orogenic gold deposit classified according to their depth of formation: epizonal (<6 km), mesozonal (6 km to 12 km) and hypozonal (>12 km).

Epizonal deposits in Victoria often have associated high levels of the critical metal, antimony, and Sunday Creek is no exception. China claims a 56 per cent share of global mined supplies of antimony, according to a 2023 European Union study. Antimony features highly on the critical minerals lists of many countries including Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Japan and the European Union. Australia ranks seventh for antimony production despite all production coming from a single mine at Costerfield in Victoria, located nearby to all SXGC projects. Antimony alloys with lead and tin which results in improved properties for solders, munitions, bearings and batteries. Antimony is a prominent additive for halogen-containing flame retardants. Adequate supplies of antimony are critical to the world's energy transition, and to the high-tech industry, especially the semi-conductor and defence sectors where it is a critical additive to primers in munitions.

Antimony represents approximately 21% to 24% in situ recoverable value of Sunday Creek at an AuEq of 2.39 ratio.

About Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Limited (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF) (FSE: MV3)

Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF), is defining a leading gold-antimony project at the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project, located 60 km north of Melbourne. Sunday Creek has is a significant gold and antimony drill discovery in a Tier 1 location, with high-grade drill results including 79 composite intersections exceeding 100 g/t Au from 113.6 km of drilling. The mineralization follows a "Golden Ladder" structure over 12 km of strike length, with structures tested from surface to 1,100 m depth.

Sunday Creek's strategic value is enhanced by its dual-metal profile. The Company has a critical mineral the Western world needs. With antimony contributing approximately 20% of in-situ value alongside gold. This has gained increased significance following China's export restrictions on antimony, a critical metal for defence and semiconductor applications. Southern Cross' inclusion in the US Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and Australia's AUKUS-related legislative changes position it as a potential key Western antimony supplier.

Technical fundamentals further strengthen the investment case, with preliminary metallurgical work showing non-refractory mineralization suitable for conventional processing and gold recoveries of 93% to 98% through gravity and flotation.

With a strong cash position, 1,392 Ha of strategic freehold land ownership, and a large 200 km drill program planned through Q1 2027, SXGC is well-positioned to advance this globally significant gold-antimony discovery in a tier-one jurisdiction, delivering milestone by milestone.

- Ends -

For ASX Compliance: This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.

Michael Hudson, President, CEO and Managing Director of SXGC, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, is the Qualified Person as defined by the NI 43-101. They have prepared, reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release.

Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services ("On Site") which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 gram charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis. The QA/QC program of Southern Cross Gold consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold content, blanks within interpreted mineralized rock and quarter core duplicates. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process.

SXGC considers that both gold and antimony that are included in the gold equivalent calculation ("AuEq") have reasonable potential to be recovered and sold at Sunday Creek, given current geochemical understanding, historic production statistics and geologically analogous mining operations. Historically, ore from Sunday Creek was treated onsite or shipped to the Costerfield mine, located 54 km to the northwest of the project, for processing during WW1. The Costerfield mine corridor, now owned by Alkane Resources (previously Mandalay Resources) contains two million ounces of equivalent gold (Mandalay Resources Q3 2021 Results), and in 2020 was the sixth highest-grade global underground mine and a top 5 global producer of antimony.

SXGC considers that it is appropriate to adopt the same gold equivalent variables as Mandalay Resources Ltd in its 2024 End of Year Mineral Reserves and Resources Press Release, dated February 20, 2025. The gold equivalence formula used by Mandalay Resources was calculated using Costerfield's 2024 production costs, using a gold price of US$2,500 per ounce, an antimony price of US$19,000 per tonne and 2024 total year metal recoveries of 91% for gold and 92% for antimony, and is as follows:

AuEq = Au (g/t) + 2.39 x Sb (%)

Based on the latest Costerfield calculation and given the similar geological styles and historic toll treatment of Sunday Creek mineralization at Costerfield, SXGC considers that a AuEq = Au (g/t) + 2.39 x Sb (%) is appropriate to use for the initial exploration targeting of gold-antimony mineralization at Sunday Creek.

JORC Competent Person Statement

Information in this announcement that relates to new exploration results contained in this report is based on information compiled by Mr Kenneth Bush and Mr Michael Hudson. Mr Bush is a Member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists and a Registered Professional Geologist in the field of Mining (#10315) and Mr Hudson is a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Bush and Mr Hudson each have sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activities undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Bush is Head of Exploration and Mr Hudson is President, CEO and Managing Director of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Limited and both consent to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

Certain information in this announcement that relates to prior exploration results is extracted from the Independent Geologist's Report dated 11 December 2024 which was issued with the consent of the Competent Person, Mr Steven Tambanis. The report is included the Company's prospectus dated 11 December 2024 and is available at www.asx.com.au under code "SX2". The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information related to exploration results included in the original market announcement. The Company confirms that the form and context of the Competent Persons' findings in relation to the report have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.

Certain information in this announcement also relates to prior drill hole exploration results, are extracted from the following announcements, which are available to view on www.southerncrossgold.com:

4 October, 2022 SDDSC046, 20 October, 2022 SDDSC049, 5 September, 2023 SDDSC077B, 12 October, 2023 SDDLV003 & 4, 23 October, 2023 SDDSC082, 9 November, 2023 SDDSC091, 14 December, 2023 SDDSC092, 5 March, 2024 SDDSC107, 30 May, 2024 SDDSC117, 13 June, 2024 SDDSC118, 5 September, 2024 SDDSC130, 28 October, 2024 SDDSC137W2, 28 November, 2024 SDDSC141, 9 December, 2024 SDDSC145, 18 December, 2024 SDDSC129 & 144, 28 May, 2025 SDDSC161, 16 June, 2025 SDDSC162, 26 August, 2025 SDDSC171, 8 September, 2025 SDDSC170A,

The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original document/announcement and the Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not materially modified from the original market announcement.

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "proposed", "will", "subject to", "near future", "in the event", "would", "expect", "prepared to" and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political, social uncertainties; the state of capital markets, unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and other risks described in the Company's documents filed with Canadian or Australian (under code SX2) securities regulatory authorities. You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada or Australia (under code SX2), as applicable, and available for the Company in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca or in Australia at www.asx.com.au (under code SX2). Documents are also available at www.southerncrossgold.com. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

Figure 2: Sunday Creek plan view showing selected results from holes SDDSC180, SDDSC191, SDDSC191W1 and SDDSC208 reported here (dark blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected prior reported drill holes.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/284290_ed9e24afc491993a_004full.jpg





Figure 3: Sunday Creek plan view showing selected drillhole traces from holes SDDSC180, SDDSC191, SDDSC191W1 and SDDSC208 reported here (black trace), with prior reported drill holes (grey trace) and currently drilling and assays pending hole traces (dark blue).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/284290_ed9e24afc491993a_005full.jpg

Figure 4: Sunday Creek longitudinal section across A-B in the plane of the dyke breccia/altered sediment host looking towards the NW (striking 56 degrees) indicating mineralized vein sets. Showing holes SDDSC180, SDDSC191, SDDSC191W1 and SDDSC208 reported here (dark blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected intersections and prior reported drill holes. The vertical extents of the vein sets are limited by proximity to drill hole pierce points.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/284290_ed9e24afc491993a_006full.jpg

Figure 5: Sunday Creek regional plan view showing soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and broad regional areas tested by 12 holes for 2,383 m drill program. The regional drill areas are at Tonstal, Consols and Leviathan located 4,000-7,500 m along strike from the main drill area at Golden Dyke- Apollo. Map in GDA94/ MGA Zone 55.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/284290_ed9e24afc491993a_007full.jpg

Figure 6: Location of the Sunday Creek project, along with the 100% owned Redcastle Gold-Antimony Project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/284290_ed9e24afc491993a_008full.jpg

Table 1: Drill collar summary table for recent drill holes in progress.

This Release Hole ID Depth (m) Prospect East

GDA94 Z55 North

GDA94 Z55 Elevation

(m) Dip Azimuth

GDA94 Z55 SDDSC180 1159.77 Christina 330753.2 5867732.9 306.8 -45 273.1 SDDSC191 864.4 Christina 330753.5 5867733 306.8 -46.1 275.2 SDDSC191W1 1132.9 Christina 330753.5 5867733 306.8 -46.3 275.2 SDDSC208 929.3 Christina 330753.5 5867733 306.7 -47.1 281

Currently being processed and analyzed Hole ID Depth (m) Prospect East

GDA94 Z55 North

GDA94 Z55 Elevation

(m) Dip Azimuth

GDA94 Z55 SDDSC193 668.1 Golden Dyke 330775.4 5867891 295.5 -58.6 262.2 SDDSC194 929 Golden Dyke 330811.4 5867596.4 295.1 -64.4 310 SDDSC194W1 1438.86 Golden Dyke 330811.4 5867596.4 295.1 -64.4 311.2 SDDSC195 152.15 Apollo 330989.7 5867715.6 318 -53.3 60.5 SDDSC197 791.5 Golden Dyke 330217.8 5867664.2 268.9 -58.7 50.8 SDDSC198 273.6 Apollo 331180.4 5867849.1 306.1 -31.5 248.6 SDDSC199 503.43 Apollo 330887.5 5867704.5 312.7 -42.8 52.2 SDDSC200 320.54 Apollo 330887.2 5867704.3 312.7 -47.8 53 SDDSC201 321.4 Rising Sun 330948.3 5868003.4 313.3 -28.9 231.3 SDDSC202 1100 Apollo 331596.2 5867936.6 345.6 -43.4 266.9 SDDSC203 547 Golden Dyke 330775.3 5867888.9 295.5 -47.5 253.4 SDDSC204 1208.3 Apollo 331615.6 5867952.4 346.5 -58.2 270.4 SDDSC205 In Progress plan 1320 m Rising Sun 330339.8 5867858.5 276.8 -64.6 75.8 SDDSC206 286.2 Golden Dyke 330752.7 5867734.4 306.9 -33 301 SDDSC207 584.25 Christina 330094.8 5867459.3 278.3 -48.8 20.7 SDDSC209 271.58 Apollo East 331463.3 5867746.4 341.2 -30.5 34 SDDSC210 512 Golden Dyke 330813.6 5867847.5 301.1 -43.6 264.3 SDDSC211 380.02 Golden Dyke 330700.3 5867880.2 299.4 -40.1 250.4 SDDSC212 438.7 Apollo East 331464.9 5867866.4 333.2 -33.2 261.3 SDDSC213 941.4 Golden Dyke 330094.2 5867458.6 278.3 -62.6 14.6 SDDSC214 431.6 Apollo 331615.5 5867952.7 346.8 -55.2 269 SDDSC214W1 In Progress plan 1150 m Apollo 331615.5 5867951.7 346.8 0 0 SDDSC215 476.39 Regional 331603.6 5867183.7 304.9 -38.2 15.4 SDDSC216A 572.36 Golden Dyke 330701.2 5867880.5 299.6 -46.1 250.6 SDDSC217 490.7 Apollo East 331481.2 5867839.5 335.4 -25 261.9 SDDSC218 In Progress plan 700 m Golden Dyke 330813.6 5867847.5 301.1 -47.6 265.5 SDDSC219 392.2 Golden Dyke 330701.5 5867880.3 299.6 -49.2 247.8 SDDSC220 716.7 Christina 329780.9 5867551.9 286.5 -26 70.8 SDDSC221 926.6 Golden Dyke 330754.1 5867733 307 -50.6 284.1 SDDSC222 In Progress plan 770 m Apollo 331595.7 5867936.2 345.5 -50.4 267.6 SDDSC223 460 Apollo East 331481 5867842 336.2 -34 262 SDDSC224 496.9 Golden Dyke 330700.3 5867880.2 299.4 -37 245.8 SDDSC225 In Progress plan 1270 m Golden Dyke 330753.5 5867733 306.8 -52.8 283.8 SDDSC226 In Progress plan 1900 m Rising Sun 331273 5867124 290 56 336.5 SDDSC227 In Progress plan 380 m Apollo East 331481.2 5867839.5 335.4 -36.3 266.2 SDDSC228 In Progress plan 440 m Golden Dyke 330701.5 5867880.3 299.6 -47 245 SDDSC232 In Progress plan 1000 m Christina 329780.9 5867551.9 286.5 -34 65.2

Regional holes currently being processed and analyzed Hole ID Depth (m) Prospect East

GDA94 Z55 North

GDA94 Z55 Elevation

(m) Dip Azimuth

GDA94 Z55 SDDRE016 410.5 Redcastle 302735 5927298 217 -50.3 67.7 SDDRE017 359.8 Beautiful Venus 305388.6 5926618 206.62 -50.9 68.9 SDDTS009 In Progress plan 425 m Tonstall 336992 5870553 524.6 -28.3 285

Abandoned Drillholes currently being processed and analyzed Hole ID Depth (m) Prospect East

GDA94 Z55 North

GDA94 Z55 Elevation

(m) Dip Azimuth

GDA94 Z55 SDDSC216 131.2 Golden Dyke 330700.3 5867880.2 299.4 -46.5 252.3

Table 2: Table of mineralized drill hole intersections reported from SDDSC180, SDDSC191, SDDSC191W1 and SDDSC208 with two cutoff criteria. Lower grades cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq cutoff over a maximum of 1 m. Significant intersections and interval depths are rounded to one decimal place.

Hole number From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au g/t Sb % AuEq g/t SDDSC208 420.10 424.74 4.64 0.8 0.6 2.2 Including 424.30 424.74 0.44 1.9 4.7 13.2 SDDSC208 428.44 433.56 5.12 0.8 1.2 3.8 Including 428.44 429.98 1.54 1.0 2.2 6.3 Including 433.06 433.56 0.50 1.7 4.0 11.2 SDDSC208 447.98 449.31 1.33 1.7 0.1 2.0 SDDSC208 460.39 468.65 8.26 1.1 0.4 1.9 Including 460.64 461.05 0.41 10.3 2.7 16.8 SDDSC208 478.47 482.20 3.73 4.8 1.2 7.7 Including 478.97 480.70 1.73 8.2 2.5 14.3 SDDSC208 484.23 484.56 0.33 10.1 2.3 15.6 SDDSC208 486.64 487.17 0.53 0.8 4.8 12.3 SDDSC208 503.35 506.36 3.01 1.4 1.3 4.5 Including 503.35 503.50 0.15 13.3 21.5 64.7 SDDSC208 516.95 519.06 2.11 0.6 0.4 1.5 SDDSC208 527.69 530.23 2.54 0.9 0.4 1.8 SDDSC208 534.11 534.38 0.27 5.6 1.2 8.6 SDDSC208 565.68 567.61 1.93 35.9 0.5 37.2 SDDSC208 570.10 570.30 0.20 2.6 3.7 11.5 SDDSC208 579.92 581.22 1.30 1.4 0.1 1.8 SDDSC208 600.10 601.45 1.35 0.8 0.5 2.1 SDDSC208 608.43 610.75 2.32 4.4 0.2 4.8 Including 608.70 609.40 0.70 8.7 0.1 8.9 SDDSC208 619.24 620.06 0.82 2.0 0.4 2.9 SDDSC208 644.64 645.05 0.41 111.5 0.0 111.6 SDDSC208 649.42 651.24 1.82 79.9 0.2 80.5 Including 650.77 651.24 0.47 309.0 0.0 309.1 SDDSC208 662.00 663.48 1.48 4.2 0.0 4.3 SDDSC208 665.62 669.89 4.27 2.4 0.1 2.5 Including 669.65 669.89 0.24 34.4 0.0 34.5 SDDSC208 679.24 679.78 0.54 10.5 0.0 10.5 SDDSC208 684.62 687.00 2.38 1.3 0.1 1.4 SDDSC208 777.12 777.77 0.65 6.0 0.2 6.4 SDDSC208 831.20 832.50 1.30 14.0 0.0 14.0 SDDSC208 420.10 424.74 4.64 0.8 0.6 2.2 Including 424.30 424.74 0.44 1.9 4.7 13.2 SDDSC208 428.44 433.56 5.12 0.8 1.2 3.8 Including 428.44 429.98 1.54 1.0 2.2 6.3 Including 433.06 433.56 0.50 1.7 4.0 11.2 SDDSC208 447.98 449.31 1.33 1.7 0.1 2.0 SDDSC208 460.39 468.65 8.26 1.1 0.4 1.9 Including 460.64 461.05 0.41 10.3 2.7 16.8 SDDSC208 478.47 482.20 3.73 4.8 1.2 7.7 Including 478.97 480.70 1.73 8.2 2.5 14.3 SDDSC208 484.23 484.56 0.33 10.1 2.3 15.6 SDDSC208 486.64 487.17 0.53 0.8 4.8 12.3 SDDSC208 503.35 506.36 3.01 1.4 1.3 4.5 Including 503.35 503.50 0.15 13.3 21.5 64.7 SDDSC208 516.95 519.06 2.11 0.6 0.4 1.5 SDDSC208 527.69 530.23 2.54 0.9 0.4 1.8 SDDSC208 534.11 534.38 0.27 5.6 1.2 8.6 SDDSC208 565.68 567.61 1.93 35.9 0.5 37.2 SDDSC208 570.10 570.30 0.20 2.6 3.7 11.5 SDDSC208 579.92 581.22 1.30 1.4 0.1 1.8 SDDSC208 600.10 601.45 1.35 0.8 0.5 2.1 SDDSC208 608.43 610.75 2.32 4.4 0.2 4.8 Including 608.70 609.40 0.70 8.7 0.1 8.9 SDDSC208 619.24 620.06 0.82 2.0 0.4 2.9 SDDSC208 644.64 645.05 0.41 111.5 0.0 111.6 SDDSC208 649.42 651.24 1.82 79.9 0.2 80.5 Including 650.77 651.24 0.47 309.0 0.0 309.1 SDDSC208 662.00 663.48 1.48 4.2 0.0 4.3 SDDSC208 665.62 669.89 4.27 2.4 0.1 2.5 Including 669.65 669.89 0.24 34.4 0.0 34.5 SDDSC208 679.24 679.78 0.54 10.5 0.0 10.5 SDDSC208 684.62 687.00 2.38 1.3 0.1 1.4 SDDSC208 777.12 777.77 0.65 6.0 0.2 6.4 SDDSC208 831.20 832.50 1.30 14.0 0.0 14.0 SDDSC208 420.10 424.74 4.64 0.8 0.6 2.2 Including 424.30 424.74 0.44 1.9 4.7 13.2 SDDSC208 428.44 433.56 5.12 0.8 1.2 3.8 Including 428.44 429.98 1.54 1.0 2.2 6.3 Including 433.06 433.56 0.50 1.7 4.0 11.2 SDDSC208 447.98 449.31 1.33 1.7 0.1 2.0 SDDSC208 460.39 468.65 8.26 1.1 0.4 1.9 Including 460.64 461.05 0.41 10.3 2.7 16.8 SDDSC208 478.47 482.20 3.73 4.8 1.2 7.7 Including 478.97 480.70 1.73 8.2 2.5 14.3 SDDSC208 484.23 484.56 0.33 10.1 2.3 15.6 SDDSC208 486.64 487.17 0.53 0.8 4.8 12.3 SDDSC208 503.35 506.36 3.01 1.4 1.3 4.5 Including 503.35 503.50 0.15 13.3 21.5 64.7 SDDSC208 516.95 519.06 2.11 0.6 0.4 1.5 SDDSC208 527.69 530.23 2.54 0.9 0.4 1.8 SDDSC208 534.11 534.38 0.27 5.6 1.2 8.6 SDDSC208 565.68 567.61 1.93 35.9 0.5 37.2 SDDSC208 570.10 570.30 0.20 2.6 3.7 11.5 SDDSC208 579.92 581.22 1.30 1.4 0.1 1.8 SDDSC208 600.10 601.45 1.35 0.8 0.5 2.1 SDDSC208 608.43 610.75 2.32 4.4 0.2 4.8 Including 608.70 609.40 0.70 8.7 0.1 8.9 SDDSC208 619.24 620.06 0.82 2.0 0.4 2.9 SDDSC208 644.64 645.05 0.41 111.5 0.0 111.6 SDDSC208 649.42 651.24 1.82 79.9 0.2 80.5 Including 650.77 651.24 0.47 309.0 0.0 309.1 SDDSC208 662.00 663.48 1.48 4.2 0.0 4.3 SDDSC208 665.62 669.89 4.27 2.4 0.1 2.5 Including 669.65 669.89 0.24 34.4 0.0 34.5 SDDSC208 679.24 679.78 0.54 10.5 0.0 10.5 SDDSC208 684.62 687.00 2.38 1.3 0.1 1.4 SDDSC208 777.12 777.77 0.65 6.0 0.2 6.4 SDDSC208 831.20 832.50 1.30 14.0 0.0 14.0

Table 3: All individual assays reported from SDDSC180, SDDSC191, SDDSC191W1 and SDDSC208 reported here >0.1g/t AuEq. Individual assay and sample intervals are reported to two decimal places.

Hole number From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au g/t Sb % AuEq g/t SDDSC180 817.49 818.26 0.77 0.14 0.00 0.15 SDDSC180 818.26 819.2 0.94 0.16 0.01 0.18 SDDSC180 819.59 820.54 0.95 0.13 0.01 0.15 SDDSC180 820.54 821.52 0.98 0.26 0.02 0.30 SDDSC180 821.52 821.98 0.46 1.66 0.00 1.67 SDDSC180 821.98 823.1 1.12 0.95 0.01 0.97 SDDSC180 823.1 824.22 1.12 0.10 0.01 0.12 SDDSC180 829.98 830.68 0.70 0.23 0.01 0.24 SDDSC180 833.01 833.72 0.71 0.16 0.00 0.17 SDDSC180 833.72 833.85 0.13 3.76 0.01 3.78 SDDSC180 834.45 835.44 0.99 0.26 0.01 0.28 SDDSC180 835.99 836.2 0.21 0.21 0.14 0.54 SDDSC180 836.2 836.33 0.13 0.67 0.07 0.85 SDDSC180 836.67 836.9 0.23 3.52 0.01 3.54 SDDSC180 838.27 839.55 1.28 0.12 0.00 0.13 SDDSC180 839.55 840.25 0.70 0.14 0.00 0.15 SDDSC180 846.44 846.66 0.22 0.52 0.00 0.53 SDDSC180 847.9 848.76 0.86 0.09 0.01 0.12 SDDSC180 855.3 856.4 1.10 0.39 0.00 0.40 SDDSC180 856.4 857.7 1.30 1.46 0.00 1.47 SDDSC180 861.6 862.9 1.30 0.08 0.00 0.09 SDDSC180 879.8 881.1 1.30 0.10 0.00 0.11 SDDSC180 882.4 883.38 0.98 0.25 0.00 0.26 SDDSC180 892.27 892.73 0.46 0.25 0.00 0.25 SDDSC180 897.46 898.23 0.77 0.22 0.00 0.23 SDDSC180 912.4 913.25 0.85 1.78 0.00 1.78 SDDSC180 915.14 915.88 0.74 0.33 0.00 0.34 SDDSC180 922.83 923.77 0.94 0.22 0.00 0.23 SDDSC180 936.42 936.65 0.23 1.69 0.00 1.70 SDDSC180 937.24 938.15 0.91 0.21 0.00 0.22 SDDSC180 938.15 938.3 0.15 8.00 0.00 8.01 SDDSC180 938.3 939.24 0.94 0.13 0.00 0.14 SDDSC180 952.05 952.35 0.30 3.18 0.00 3.18 SDDSC180 960.6 961.4 0.80 0.56 0.00 0.57 SDDSC180 970.3 970.9 0.60 0.28 0.00 0.29 SDDSC180 972.3 972.8 0.50 0.45 0.00 0.46 SDDSC180 989 990.2 1.20 0.25 0.00 0.26 SDDSC180 990.2 990.4 0.20 4.45 0.00 4.45 SDDSC180 1000 1001 1.00 0.11 0.00 0.12 SDDSC180 1006.3 1007.5 1.20 0.65 0.00 0.66 SDDSC180 1007.5 1008.4 0.90 0.89 0.00 0.90 SDDSC180 1008.4 1008.9 0.50 0.24 0.00 0.24 SDDSC180 1010.2 1010.8 0.60 0.17 0.00 0.17 SDDSC180 1010.8 1011.1 0.30 0.90 0.00 0.90 SDDSC180 1012.9 1013.3 0.44 0.46 0.00 0.46 SDDSC180 1023.56 1024.3 0.77 0.40 0.00 0.41 SDDSC180 1024.33 1025.5 1.12 0.38 0.00 0.38 SDDSC180 1025.45 1026.3 0.80 0.19 0.00 0.19 SDDSC180 1026.25 1027 0.71 0.23 0.00 0.23 SDDSC180 1027.92 1028.6 0.72 0.25 0.00 0.25 SDDSC180 1029.8 1030.2 0.43 0.29 0.00 0.30 SDDSC191 841.34 842.48 1.14 0.09 0.00 0.09 SDDSC191 843.07 843.96 0.89 0.33 0.00 0.33 SDDSC191 844.41 845 0.59 0.72 0.01 0.74 SDDSC191 851.3 852.6 1.30 0.08 0.00 0.09 SDDSC191 860.96 861.83 0.87 0.24 0.01 0.26 SDDSC191 861.83 863.1 1.27 0.08 0.00 0.08 SDDSC191 863.1 863.8 0.70 0.74 0.00 0.75 SDDSC191W1 861.01 862.14 1.13 0.25 0.01 0.27 SDDSC191W1 862.35 862.9 0.55 0.32 0.00 0.32 SDDSC191W1 863.07 863.87 0.80 0.33 0.00 0.33 SDDSC191W1 865.5 866.13 0.63 0.16 0.00 0.16 SDDSC191W1 867.14 867.85 0.71 0.50 0.00 0.51 SDDSC191W1 867.85 869.02 1.17 0.10 0.01 0.11 SDDSC191W1 872.65 873.14 0.49 0.24 0.00 0.25 SDDSC191W1 890.7 891.02 0.32 0.21 0.10 0.45 SDDSC191W1 905.82 906.61 0.79 0.27 0.00 0.27 SDDSC191W1 914.38 915.46 1.08 0.10 0.01 0.12 SDDSC191W1 918.47 918.64 0.17 0.61 0.00 0.62 SDDSC191W1 941.78 942.32 0.54 0.39 0.00 0.40 SDDSC191W1 961.13 961.34 0.21 0.41 0.15 0.77 SDDSC191W1 975.44 975.94 0.50 0.26 0.00 0.27 SDDSC191W1 975.94 976.79 0.85 0.31 0.00 0.32 SDDSC191W1 978.72 979.71 0.99 0.39 0.00 0.40 SDDSC191W1 979.71 980.56 0.85 0.14 0.00 0.15 SDDSC191W1 980.56 981.67 1.11 0.11 0.00 0.12 SDDSC191W1 981.67 982.42 0.75 0.13 0.00 0.14 SDDSC191W1 982.42 982.95 0.53 0.20 0.00 0.21 SDDSC191W1 983.37 984.39 1.02 0.25 0.00 0.26 SDDSC208 414.67 414.96 0.29 0.39 0.05 0.50 SDDSC208 414.96 415.96 1.00 0.07 0.01 0.10 SDDSC208 418.08 418.68 0.60 0.17 0.02 0.21 SDDSC208 419.51 420.1 0.59 0.67 0.03 0.74 SDDSC208 420.1 420.34 0.24 1.34 0.01 1.36 SDDSC208 420.34 421.18 0.84 1.43 0.19 1.88 SDDSC208 421.18 421.3 0.12 3.08 0.44 4.13 SDDSC208 421.3 421.66 0.36 0.65 0.03 0.72 SDDSC208 421.66 421.88 0.22 1.20 0.33 1.99 SDDSC208 421.88 422.76 0.88 0.20 0.01 0.23 SDDSC208 422.76 422.92 0.16 1.71 0.39 2.64 SDDSC208 422.92 423.43 0.51 0.37 0.14 0.70 SDDSC208 423.43 423.7 0.27 0.07 0.22 0.60 SDDSC208 423.7 424.3 0.60 0.07 0.05 0.18 SDDSC208 424.3 424.74 0.44 1.93 4.71 13.19 SDDSC208 424.74 425.3 0.56 0.15 0.03 0.23 SDDSC208 425.3 426.26 0.96 0.16 0.04 0.25 SDDSC208 427.68 428.44 0.76 0.48 0.18 0.91 SDDSC208 428.44 428.54 0.10 6.09 2.16 11.25 SDDSC208 428.54 428.8 0.26 2.56 1.66 6.53 SDDSC208 429.48 429.82 0.34 0.12 2.00 4.90 SDDSC208 429.82 429.98 0.16 1.01 12.70 31.36 SDDSC208 429.98 431.07 1.09 0.12 0.10 0.35 SDDSC208 431.07 431.38 0.31 0.80 0.05 0.92 SDDSC208 431.38 431.75 0.37 1.01 0.50 2.21 SDDSC208 431.75 432.11 0.36 0.52 0.36 1.38 SDDSC208 432.11 432.35 0.24 1.03 0.65 2.58 SDDSC208 432.35 432.63 0.28 0.97 0.22 1.50 SDDSC208 432.63 432.84 0.21 0.43 0.25 1.03 SDDSC208 432.84 433.06 0.22 1.12 1.01 3.53 SDDSC208 433.06 433.43 0.37 1.49 4.86 13.11 SDDSC208 433.43 433.56 0.13 2.29 1.53 5.95 SDDSC208 433.56 434.14 0.58 0.41 0.24 0.98 SDDSC208 434.14 435.3 1.16 0.04 0.02 0.09 SDDSC208 435.3 435.75 0.45 0.17 0.08 0.35 SDDSC208 435.75 435.89 0.14 0.51 1.34 3.71 SDDSC208 435.89 436.57 0.68 0.12 0.02 0.18 SDDSC208 438.54 439.2 0.66 0.19 0.01 0.22 SDDSC208 439.2 439.92 0.72 0.25 0.00 0.26 SDDSC208 439.92 440.44 0.52 1.72 0.01 1.74 SDDSC208 440.44 440.92 0.48 1.69 0.01 1.72 SDDSC208 441.89 442.86 0.97 0.24 0.01 0.27 SDDSC208 442.86 443.7 0.84 0.35 0.01 0.37 SDDSC208 447.98 448.67 0.69 2.04 0.16 2.42 SDDSC208 448.67 449.31 0.64 1.41 0.05 1.54 SDDSC208 451.86 452.63 0.77 0.04 0.07 0.20 SDDSC208 452.63 453.1 0.47 0.11 0.08 0.30 SDDSC208 453.1 454.08 0.98 0.11 0.06 0.25 SDDSC208 455.13 455.86 0.73 0.16 0.08 0.35 SDDSC208 457 458.3 1.30 0.11 0.01 0.13 SDDSC208 460.39 460.64 0.25 2.02 1.20 4.89 SDDSC208 460.64 461.05 0.41 10.30 2.71 16.78 SDDSC208 461.05 461.17 0.12 0.82 0.05 0.94 SDDSC208 461.17 461.31 0.14 0.60 0.71 2.30 SDDSC208 462 462.8 0.80 0.53 0.04 0.63 SDDSC208 463.09 463.51 0.42 0.87 0.22 1.40 SDDSC208 463.51 463.92 0.41 0.79 0.62 2.27 SDDSC208 463.92 464.05 0.13 1.29 2.56 7.41 SDDSC208 464.05 464.9 0.85 0.22 0.35 1.06 SDDSC208 464.9 466.18 1.28 0.20 0.08 0.39 SDDSC208 466.58 466.78 0.20 3.32 1.12 6.00 SDDSC208 466.78 467.99 1.21 0.35 0.02 0.40 SDDSC208 467.99 468.65 0.66 1.70 0.02 1.75 SDDSC208 468.65 469.85 1.20 0.35 0.03 0.42 SDDSC208 471 471.91 0.91 0.18 0.03 0.24 SDDSC208 478.47 478.97 0.50 3.52 0.05 3.65 SDDSC208 478.97 479.36 0.39 2.68 1.48 6.22 SDDSC208 479.36 479.82 0.46 20.30 6.76 36.46 SDDSC208 479.82 480.17 0.35 2.92 1.71 7.01 SDDSC208 480.17 480.7 0.53 5.23 0.20 5.71 SDDSC208 480.7 480.98 0.28 4.24 0.25 4.84 SDDSC208 480.98 481.72 0.74 0.17 0.07 0.34 SDDSC208 481.96 482.2 0.24 2.80 0.02 2.86 SDDSC208 482.84 483.23 0.39 0.50 0.03 0.57 SDDSC208 483.23 483.81 0.58 0.67 0.03 0.74 SDDSC208 483.81 484.23 0.42 0.39 0.03 0.46 SDDSC208 484.23 484.45 0.22 1.22 0.30 1.94 SDDSC208 484.45 484.56 0.11 27.80 6.35 42.98 SDDSC208 484.56 485.44 0.88 0.21 0.09 0.43 SDDSC208 485.44 486.64 1.20 0.17 0.24 0.74 SDDSC208 486.64 486.74 0.10 2.06 5.24 14.58 SDDSC208 486.97 487.17 0.20 1.03 10.10 25.17 SDDSC208 489.46 489.65 0.19 0.09 0.75 1.88 SDDSC208 503 503.35 0.35 0.58 0.10 0.82 SDDSC208 503.35 503.5 0.15 13.30 21.50 64.69 SDDSC208 503.5 504.7 1.20 0.93 0.06 1.06 SDDSC208 505.88 506.23 0.35 1.79 0.95 4.06 SDDSC208 506.23 506.36 0.13 3.48 1.68 7.50 SDDSC208 508.85 509.56 0.71 0.19 0.02 0.23 SDDSC208 509.56 510.07 0.51 0.54 0.05 0.66 SDDSC208 510.07 510.53 0.46 0.13 0.07 0.31 SDDSC208 510.53 511.18 0.65 0.21 0.04 0.30 SDDSC208 514.05 514.34 0.29 0.73 0.57 2.09 SDDSC208 515.49 516.54 1.05 0.07 0.01 0.10 SDDSC208 516.95 517.05 0.10 2.06 0.32 2.82 SDDSC208 517.05 517.64 0.59 1.37 0.04 1.46 SDDSC208 518.95 519.06 0.11 2.09 6.21 16.93 SDDSC208 521.18 521.33 0.15 0.28 2.09 5.28 SDDSC208 525.02 526.27 1.25 0.04 0.02 0.09 SDDSC208 527.69 527.97 0.28 0.63 0.49 1.80 SDDSC208 528.81 529.58 0.77 0.90 0.21 1.40 SDDSC208 529.58 530.23 0.65 2.20 1.06 4.73 SDDSC208 530.23 530.83 0.60 0.18 0.26 0.80 SDDSC208 533.08 533.47 0.39 0.34 0.03 0.41 SDDSC208 534.11 534.38 0.27 5.62 1.24 8.58 SDDSC208 536.9 537.41 0.51 0.11 0.04 0.21 SDDSC208 537.41 537.6 0.19 0.49 0.58 1.88 SDDSC208 537.6 537.98 0.38 0.84 0.24 1.41 SDDSC208 543.38 543.64 0.26 0.09 0.42 1.09 SDDSC208 544.12 544.96 0.84 0.10 0.03 0.18 SDDSC208 562.82 563.4 0.58 0.09 0.08 0.27 SDDSC208 563.4 563.63 0.23 3.79 0.02 3.84 SDDSC208 565.68 566.12 0.44 109.00 0.27 109.65 SDDSC208 567.08 567.61 0.53 40.30 1.70 44.36 SDDSC208 569.88 570.1 0.22 0.02 0.24 0.59 SDDSC208 570.1 570.3 0.20 2.63 3.71 11.50 SDDSC208 579.92 581.22 1.30 1.43 0.14 1.76 SDDSC208 581.61 582.76 1.15 0.68 0.03 0.75 SDDSC208 586.71 586.91 0.20 0.75 1.52 4.38 SDDSC208 589.84 590.03 0.19 5.82 0.04 5.91 SDDSC208 592.23 592.5 0.27 0.54 0.02 0.58 SDDSC208 592.5 592.76 0.26 1.65 0.01 1.68 SDDSC208 599.42 599.71 0.29 0.37 0.07 0.55 SDDSC208 600.1 600.8 0.70 0.90 0.32 1.66 SDDSC208 600.8 601.02 0.22 0.28 0.29 0.97 SDDSC208 601.02 601.27 0.25 0.26 0.17 0.67 SDDSC208 601.27 601.45 0.18 2.02 2.05 6.92 SDDSC208 608.43 608.7 0.27 3.71 0.06 3.85 SDDSC208 608.7 609.4 0.70 8.69 0.08 8.87 SDDSC208 609.4 609.75 0.35 1.99 0.25 2.59 SDDSC208 609.75 610.75 1.00 2.45 0.20 2.93 SDDSC208 618 618.92 0.92 0.16 0.03 0.22 SDDSC208 619.24 619.84 0.60 0.51 0.30 1.23 SDDSC208 619.84 620.06 0.22 6.10 0.50 7.30 SDDSC208 620.06 620.69 0.63 0.05 0.21 0.55 SDDSC208 620.69 621.12 0.43 0.23 0.15 0.59 SDDSC208 621.12 622.18 1.06 0.15 0.07 0.31 SDDSC208 622.18 623.13 0.95 0.22 0.01 0.23 SDDSC208 632.04 633.05 1.01 0.27 0.08 0.46 SDDSC208 637.35 638.02 0.67 0.22 0.49 1.39 SDDSC208 639.06 639.7 0.64 0.08 0.04 0.18 SDDSC208 639.7 640.7 1.00 0.11 0.02 0.15 SDDSC208 640.7 641.7 1.00 0.10 0.01 0.13 SDDSC208 644.64 644.95 0.31 113.00 0.01 113.02 SDDSC208 644.95 645.05 0.10 107.00 0.02 107.05 SDDSC208 649.42 649.6 0.18 1.42 2.08 6.39 SDDSC208 650.77 651.24 0.47 309.00 0.03 309.06 SDDSC208 658.2 659.02 0.82 0.25 0.06 0.40 SDDSC208 660.05 660.79 0.74 0.07 0.05 0.18 SDDSC208 662 662.1 0.10 1.40 0.00 1.41 SDDSC208 662.1 662.55 0.45 1.72 0.01 1.75 SDDSC208 662.55 662.84 0.29 1.52 0.01 1.55 SDDSC208 662.84 663.03 0.19 2.80 0.01 2.83 SDDSC208 663.03 663.48 0.45 9.75 0.01 9.78 SDDSC208 665.62 665.88 0.26 0.87 0.73 2.61 SDDSC208 667.73 668.74 1.01 1.01 0.07 1.17 SDDSC208 668.74 669.1 0.36 1.19 0.03 1.27 SDDSC208 669.1 669.65 0.55 0.35 0.02 0.41 SDDSC208 669.65 669.89 0.24 34.40 0.02 34.45 SDDSC208 679.07 679.24 0.17 0.65 0.02 0.70 SDDSC208 679.24 679.78 0.54 10.50 0.02 10.54 SDDSC208 684.62 684.96 0.34 7.27 0.03 7.34 SDDSC208 686.71 687 0.29 1.90 0.51 3.12 SDDSC208 687.81 688.19 0.38 0.20 0.05 0.31 SDDSC208 689.57 690.34 0.77 0.26 0.05 0.37 SDDSC208 690.34 690.69 0.35 0.41 0.05 0.52 SDDSC208 691.13 691.32 0.19 0.38 0.18 0.81 SDDSC208 691.32 691.61 0.29 0.50 0.18 0.93 SDDSC208 691.61 692.08 0.47 0.17 0.10 0.40 SDDSC208 692.08 692.4 0.32 1.82 0.01 1.84 SDDSC208 692.4 692.82 0.42 0.37 0.02 0.41 SDDSC208 693.22 693.4 0.18 0.43 0.07 0.60 SDDSC208 694.56 694.66 0.10 6.69 0.69 8.34 SDDSC208 703.7 703.85 0.15 1.51 0.28 2.18 SDDSC208 703.85 704.15 0.30 0.29 0.09 0.51 SDDSC208 709.85 710.47 0.62 0.92 0.00 0.93 SDDSC208 710.47 710.85 0.38 1.52 0.00 1.53 SDDSC208 712.83 713.82 0.99 0.11 0.00 0.12 SDDSC208 714.4 714.75 0.35 3.80 0.04 3.89 SDDSC208 759.68 760.8 1.12 0.06 0.02 0.10 SDDSC208 760.8 761.24 0.44 0.84 0.02 0.88 SDDSC208 776.76 777.02 0.26 4.48 0.01 4.50 SDDSC208 777.12 777.37 0.25 4.78 0.06 4.91 SDDSC208 777.37 777.77 0.40 6.77 0.22 7.30 SDDSC208 777.77 778.08 0.31 0.27 0.07 0.44 SDDSC208 778.24 778.71 0.47 0.29 0.02 0.34 SDDSC208 784.04 784.6 0.56 0.20 0.04 0.28 SDDSC208 784.6 784.92 0.32 1.40 0.02 1.44 SDDSC208 790.3 791.08 0.78 0.26 0.00 0.26 SDDSC208 791.08 792 0.92 0.06 0.02 0.12 SDDSC208 792 792.45 0.45 0.39 0.01 0.41 SDDSC208 793.6 794.41 0.81 0.40 0.01 0.42 SDDSC208 794.8 796.1 1.30 0.05 0.01 0.08 SDDSC208 796.1 797 0.90 0.22 0.01 0.24 SDDSC208 827.52 828.08 0.56 1.68 0.00 1.69 SDDSC208 831.2 832.5 1.30 14.00 0.01 14.03 SDDSC208 833.8 835.03 1.23 0.09 0.00 0.10 SDDSC208 835.44 836 0.56 1.35 0.00 1.36

JORC Table 1

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.

Aspects of the determination of mineralization that are Material to the Public Report.

In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralization types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Sampling has been conducted on drill core (half core for >90% and quarter core for check samples), grab samples (field samples of in-situ bedrock and boulders; including duplicate samples), trench samples (rock chips, including duplicates) and soil samples (including duplicate samples).

Locations of field samples were obtained by using a GPS, generally to an accuracy of within 5 metres. Drill hole and trench locations have been confirmed to <1 metre using a differential GPS.

Samples locations have also been verified by plotting locations on the high-resolution Lidar maps

Locations of field samples were obtained by using a GPS, generally to an accuracy of within 5 metres. Drill hole and trench locations have been confirmed to <1 metre using a differential GPS. Samples locations have also been verified by plotting locations on the high-resolution Lidar maps Drill core is marked for cutting and cut using an automated diamond saw used by Company staff in Kilmore.

Samples are bagged at the core saw and transported to the Bendigo On Site Laboratory for assay.

At On Site samples are crushed using a jaw crusher combined with a rotary splitter and a 1 kg split is separated for pulverizing (LM5) and assay.

Samples are bagged at the core saw and transported to the Bendigo On Site Laboratory for assay. At On Site samples are crushed using a jaw crusher combined with a rotary splitter and a 1 kg split is separated for pulverizing (LM5) and assay. Standard fire assay techniques are used for gold assay on a 30 g charge by experienced staff (used to dealing with high sulfide and stibnite-rich charges). On Site gold method by fire assay code PE01S.

Screen fire assay is used to understand gold grain-size distribution where coarse gold is evident.

ICP-OES is used to analyse the aqua regia digested pulp for an additional 12 elements (method BM011) and over-range antimony is measured using flame AAS (method known as B050).

Soil samples were sieved in the field and an 80-mesh sample bagged and transported to ALS Global laboratories in Brisbane for super-low level gold analysis on a 50 g samples by method ST44 (using aqua regia and ICP-MS).

Grab and rock chip samples are generally submitted to On Site Laboratories for standard fire assay and 12 element ICP-OES as described above. Drilling techniques Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc.). HQ or NQ diameter diamond drill core, oriented using Axis Champ orientation tool with the orientation line marked on the base of the drill core by the driller/offsider.

A standard 3 metre core barrel has been found to be most effective in both the hard and soft rocks in the project. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.

Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.

Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. Core recoveries were maximised using HQ or NQ diamond drill core with careful control over water pressure to maintain soft-rock integrity and prevent loss of fines from soft drill core. Recoveries are determined on a metre-by-metre basis in the core shed using a tape measure against marked up drill core checking against driller's core blocks.

Plots of grade versus recovery and RQD (described below) show no trends relating to loss of drill core, or fines. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography.

The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. Geotechnical logging of the drill core takes place on racks in the company core shed.

Core orientations marked at the drill rig are checked for consistency, and base of core orientation lines are marked on core where two or more orientations match within 10 degrees.

Core recoveries are measured for each metre

RQD measurements (cumulative quantity of core sticks > 10 cm in a metre) are made on a metre-by-metre basis.

Core orientations marked at the drill rig are checked for consistency, and base of core orientation lines are marked on core where two or more orientations match within 10 degrees. Core recoveries are measured for each metre RQD measurements (cumulative quantity of core sticks > 10 cm in a metre) are made on a metre-by-metre basis. Each tray of drill core is photographed (wet and dry) after it is fully marked up for sampling and cutting.

The  core cutting line is placed approximately 10 degrees above the orientation line so the orientation line is retained in the core tray for future work.

Geological logging of drill core includes the following parameters:

Rock types, lithology

Alteration

Structural information (orientations of veins, bedding, fractures using standard alpha-beta measurements from orientation line; or, in the case of un-oriented parts of the core, the alpha angles are measured)

Veining (quartz, carbonate, stibnite)

Key minerals (visible under hand lens, e.g. gold, stibnite)

Rock types, lithology Alteration Structural information (orientations of veins, bedding, fractures using standard alpha-beta measurements from orientation line; or, in the case of un-oriented parts of the core, the alpha angles are measured) Veining (quartz, carbonate, stibnite) Key minerals (visible under hand lens, e.g. gold, stibnite) 100% of drill core is logged for all components described above into the company MX logging database.

Logging is fully quantitative, although the description of lithology and alteration relies on visible observations by trained geologists.

Each tray of drill core is photographed (wet and dry) after it is fully marked up for sampling and cutting.

Logging is considered to be at an appropriate quantitative standard to use in future studies. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.

If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or dry.

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.

Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.

Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.

Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Drill core is typically half-core sampled using an Almonte core saw. The drill core orientation line is retained.

Quarter core is used when taking sampling duplicates (termed FDUP in the database).

Sampling representivity is maximised by always taking the same side of the drill core (whenever oriented), and consistently drawing a cut line on the core where orientation is not possible. The field technician draws these lines.

Sample sizes are maximised for coarse gold by using half core, and using quarter core and half core splits (laboratory duplicates) allows an estimation of nugget effect.

In mineralized rock the company uses approximately 10% of  core duplicates, certified reference materials (suitable OREAS materials), laboratory sample duplicates and instrument repeats.

In the soil sampling program duplicates were obtained every 20th sample and the laboratory inserted low-level gold standards regularly into the sample flow. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.

For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc.

Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. The fire assay technique for gold used by On Site is a globally recognised method, and over-range follow-ups including gravimetric finish and screen fire assay are standard. Of significance at the On Site laboratory is the presence of fire assay personnel who are experienced in dealing with high sulfide charges (especially those with high stibnite contents) - this substantially reduces the risk of in accurate reporting in complex sulfide-gold charges.

Where screen fire assay is used, this assay will be reported instead of the original fire assay.

The ICP-OES technique is a standard analytical technique for assessing elemental concentrations. The digest used (aqua regia) is excellent for the dissolution of sulfides (in this case generally stibnite, pyrite and trace arsenopyrite), but other silicate-hosted elements, in particular vanadium (V), may only be partially dissolved. These silicate-hosted elements are not important in the determination of the quantity of gold, antimony, arsenic or sulphur.

A portable XRF has been used in a qualitative manner on drill core to ensure appropriate core samples have been taken (no pXRF data are reported or included in the MX database).

Acceptable levels of accuracy and precision have been established using the following methods

 duplicates - half core is split into quarters and given separate sample numbers (commonly in mineralized core) - low to medium gold grades indicate strong correlation, dropping as the gold grade increases over 40 g/t Au.

Blanks - blanks are inserted after visible gold and in strongly mineralized rocks to confirm that the crushing and pulping are not affected by gold smearing onto the crusher and LM5 swing mill surfaces. Results are excellent, generally below detection limit and a single sample at 0.03 g/t Au.

Certified Reference Materials - OREAS CRMs have been used throughout the project including blanks, low (<1 g/t Au), medium (up to 5 g/t Au) and high-grade gold samples (> 5 g/t Au). Results are automatically checked on data import into the MX database to fall within 2 standard deviations of the expected value.

Laboratory splits - On Site conducts splits of both coarse crush and pulp duplicates as quality control and reports all data. In particular, high Au samples have the most repeats.

Laboratory CRMs - On Site regularly inserts their own CRM materials into the process flow and reports all data

Laboratory precision - duplicate measurements of solutions (both Au from fire assay and other elements from the aqua regia digests) are made regularly by the laboratory and reported.

- half core is split into quarters and given separate sample numbers (commonly in mineralized core) - low to medium gold grades indicate strong correlation, dropping as the gold grade increases over 40 g/t Au. - blanks are inserted after visible gold and in strongly mineralized rocks to confirm that the crushing and pulping are not affected by gold smearing onto the crusher and LM5 swing mill surfaces. Results are excellent, generally below detection limit and a single sample at 0.03 g/t Au. - OREAS CRMs have been used throughout the project including blanks, low (<1 g/t Au), medium (up to 5 g/t Au) and high-grade gold samples (> 5 g/t Au). Results are automatically checked on data import into the MX database to fall within 2 standard deviations of the expected value. - On Site conducts splits of both coarse crush and pulp duplicates as quality control and reports all data. In particular, high Au samples have the most repeats. - On Site regularly inserts their own CRM materials into the process flow and reports all data - duplicate measurements of solutions (both Au from fire assay and other elements from the aqua regia digests) are made regularly by the laboratory and reported. Accuracy and precision have been determined carefully by using the sampling and measurement techniques described above during the sampling (accuracy) and laboratory (accuracy and precision) stages of the analysis.

have been determined carefully by using the sampling and measurement techniques described above during the sampling (accuracy) and laboratory (accuracy and precision) stages of the analysis. Soil sample company duplicates and laboratory certified reference materials all fall within expected ranges. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.

The use of twinned holes.

Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.

Discuss any adjustment to assay data. The Independent Geologist has visited Sunday Creek drill sites and inspected drill core held at the Kilmore core shed.

Visual inspection of drill intersections matches both the geological descriptions in the database and the expected assay data (for example, gold and stibnite visible in drill core is matched by high Au and Sb results in assays).

In addition, on receipt of results Company geologists assess the gold, antimony and arsenic results to verify that the intersections returned expected data.

The electronic data storage in the MX database is of a high standard. Primary logging data are entered directly by the geologists and field technicians and the assay data are electronically matched against sample number on return from the laboratory.

Certified reference materials,  core field duplicates (FDUP), laboratory splits and duplicates and instrument repeats are all recorded in the database.

Exports of data include all primary data, from hole SDDSC077B onwards after discussion with SRK Consulting. Prior to this gold was averaged across primary, field and lab duplicates.

Adjustments to assay data are recorded by MX, and none are present (or required).

Twinned drill holes are not available at this stage of the project. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.

Specification of the grid system used.

Quality and adequacy of topographic control. Differential GPS used to locate drill collars, trenches and some workings

Standard GPS for some field locations (grab and soils samples), verified against Lidar data.

The grid system used throughout is Geocentric datum of Australia 1994; Map Grid Zone 55 (GDA94_Z55), also referred to as ELSG 28355. Reported azimuths also relate to MGA55 (GDA94_Z55).

Topographic control is excellent owing to sub 10 cm accuracy from Lidar data. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.

Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.

Whether sample compositing has been applied. The data spacing is suitable for reporting of exploration results - evidence for this is based on the improving predictability of high-grade gold-antimony intersections.

At this time, the data spacing and distribution are not sufficient for the reporting of Mineral Resource Estimates. This however may change as knowledge of grade controls increase with future drill programs.

Samples have been composited to a 1 g/t AuEq over 2.0 m width for lower grades and 5 g/t AuEq over 1.0 m width for higher grades in table 3. All individual assays above 0.1 g/t AuEq have been reported to two decimal places with no compositing in table 4. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.

If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralized structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported are interpreted to be approximately 55-70% of the sampled thickness.

Drilling is oriented in an optimum direction when considering the combination of host rock orientation and apparent vein control on gold and antimony grade.

The steep nature of some of the veins may give increases in apparent thickness of some intersections, but more drilling is required to quantify.

The steep nature of some of the veins may give increases in apparent thickness of some intersections, but more drilling is required to quantify. A sampling bias is not evident from the data collected to date (drill holes cut across mineralized structures at a moderate angle). Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Drill core is delivered to the Kilmore core logging shed by either the drill contractor or company field staff. Samples are marked up and cut by company staff at the Kilmore core shed, in an automated diamond saw and bagged before loaded onto strapped secured pallets and trucked by company staff to Bendigo for submission to the laboratory. There is no evidence in any stage of the process, or in the data for any sample security issues. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. Continuous monitoring of CRM results, blanks and duplicates is undertaken by geologists and the company data geologist. Mr Michael Hudson for SXG has the orientation, logging and assay data.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement

and land tenure

status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.

The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. The Sunday Creek Project, previously known as the Clonbinane Project, is covered by the Retention Licence RL 6040 and is surrounded by Exploration Licence EL6163 and Exploration Licence EL7232. All the licences are 100% held by Clonbinane Goldfield Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary company of Southern Cross Gold Ltd. Exploration done by

other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. The Sunday Creek project is a high level orogenic (or epizonal) Fosterville-style deposit. Small scale mining has been undertaken in the project area since the 1880s continuing through to the early 1900s. Historical production occurred with multiple small shafts and alluvial workings across the Clonbinane Goldfield permits. Production of note occurred at the Clonbinane area with total production being reported as 41,000 oz gold at a grade of 33 g/t gold (Leggo and Holdsworth, 2013)

Work in and nearby to the Sunday Creek Project area by previous explorers typically focused on finding bulk, shallow deposits. Beadell Resources were the first to drill deeper targets and Southern Cross have continued their work in the Sunday Creek Project area.

EL54 - Eastern Prospectors Pty Ltd

Rock chip sampling around Christina, Apollo and Golden Dyke mines.

Rock chip sampling down the Christina mine shaft. Resistivity survey over the Golden Dyke. Five diamond drill holes around Christina, two of which have assays. ELs 872 & 975 - CRA Exploration Pty Ltd

Exploration focused on finding low grade, high tonnage deposits. The tenements were relinquished after the area was found to be prospective but not economic.

Stream sediment samples around the Golden Dyke and Reedy Creek areas. Results were better around the Golden Dyke. 45 dump samples around Golden Dyke old workings showed good correlation between gold, arsenic and antimony.

Soil samples over the Golden Dyke to define boundaries of dyke and mineralization. Two costeans parallel to the Golden Dyke targeting soil anomalies. Costeans since rehabilitated by SXG. ELs 827 & 1520 - BHP Minerals Ltd

Exploration targeting open cut gold mineralization peripheral to SXG tenements. ELs 1534, 1603 & 3129 - Ausminde Holdings Pty Ltd

Targeting shallow, low grade gold. Trenching around the Golden Dyke prospect and results interpreted along with CRAs costeans. 29 RC/Aircore holes totalling 959 m sunk into the Apollo, Rising Sun and Golden Dyke target areas. ELs 4460 & 4987 - Beadell Resources Ltd

ELs 4460 and 4497 were granted to Beadell Resources in November 2007. Beadell successfully drilled 30 RC holes, including second diamond tail holes in the Golden Dyke/Apollo target areas. Both tenements were 100% acquired by Auminco Goldfields Pty Ltd in late 2012 and combined into one tenement EL4987.

Nagambie Resources Ltd purchased Auminco Goldfields in July 2014. EL4987 expired late 2015, during which time Nagambie Resources applied for a retention licence (RL6040) covering three square kilometres over the Sunday Creek Project. RL6040 was granted July 2017.

Clonbinane Goldfield Pty Ltd was purchased by Mawson Gold Ltd in February 2020.



Mawson drilled 30 holes for 6,928 m and made the first discoveries to depth. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of

mineralization. Refer to the description in the main body of the release. Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following

information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole down hole length and interception depth hole length.

If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. Refer to appendices Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. cutting of high-grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.

Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high-grade results and longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.

The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. See "Further Information" and "Metal Equivalent Calculation" in main text of press release. Relationship

between

mineralization

widths and

intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.

If the geometry of the mineralization with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.

If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g 'down hole

length, true width not known'). See reporting of true widths in the body of the press release. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported. These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. The results of the diamond drilling are displayed in the figures in the announcement. Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high-grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. All results above 0.1 g/t Au have been tabulated in this announcement. The results are considered representative with no intended bias.

Core loss, where material, is disclosed in tabulated drill intersections. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. Preliminary testing was reported in January 11, 2024. This established the general metallurgical test procedure for samples from the Sunday Creek deposits and demonstrated the basis for confidence in establishing prospects for economic recovery of contained gold and antimony to three separate products: Metallic gold product by gravity recovery Antimony-gold flotation concentrate Pyrite-arsenopyrite-gold flotation concentrate

Testing has now been expanded to include samples from additional zones of the mineral deposits and to refine metallurgical processes. The aim was to improve aspects of antimony concentrate production, maximise gold recovery to a high-grade metallic product, and to further investigate the nature of gold occurrence.

The work, conducted by ALS Burnie Laboratories, focused on: Improving selectivity between sulphide minerals in the antimony flotation stage whilst maintaining high overall gold recovery. Further processing of the flotation concentrates, to assess the metallurgical response of contained gold. Mineralogical examination of selected product samples.

It was demonstrated that, with appropriate process conditions, high antimony and gold recovery could be maintained whilst rejecting arsenic and iron sulphides in the first flotation stage. The antimony concentrate produced (~50% Sb, <0.2% As) is deemed to be attractive to the smelter market.

Recovery of antimony to concentrate varied with feed type, and ranged from 83% to 93% for the samples tested from the antimony rich zones.

Additional metallic gold was recovered from the flotation concentrate by gravity separation.

The gold grade of the concentrate is a function of the proportion of feed gold associated with arsenic-iron sulphides, the ratio of gold to antimony in the feed, the gold recovered to the metallic gold product, and the flotation rate of gold in the first flotation stage.

High overall gold recovery was achieved with all samples tested.

Further Work Additional characterization testing across deposit zones Locked cycle testing to confirm overall recoveries Multi-stage cleaning optimization to maximize concentrate quality Pilot plant evaluation of larger samples Process plant design studies targeting Q1 2027 completion

Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).

Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. The Company has stated it will drill 200,000 m through 2025 to Q1 2027.

See diagrams in presentation which highlight current and future drill plans.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284290

Source: Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.
Key Highlights

Approximately C$30.1 million committed through an upsized institutional financing , strengthening AuMEGA's balance sheet and funding runway.

Anchored by a significant lead order from Condire Investors, LLC , a U.S.-based resource investment firm, which will hold approximately 19.9% of the Company on a non-diluted basis upon completion of this offering.

Continued support from B2Gold Corp ., which will maintain its 9.9% ownership position, reinforcing its role as a long-term strategic shareholder.

Participation from new and existing institutional investors across North America, Australia and Europe further enhancing the Company's institutional register.

Premium Flow-Through component of approximately C$12.7 million priced at a 36% premium to the hard dollar unit price (of C$0.04 per hard dollar unit), reflecting demand for the Company's qualifying Canadian exploration expenditures.

Two-tranche structure aligned with ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A , with Tranche Two subject to shareholder approval.

Proceeds of this offering are expected to fund an expanded exploration program in Newfoundland, Canada, including the Company's largest planned drill campaign across Cape Ray, Cape Ray West (including Isle aux Morts Granite) and Bunker Hill.

Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - AuMEGA Metals Ltd (ASX: AAM) (TSXV: AUM) (OTCQB: AUMMF) ("AuMEGA" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that as a result of strong investor demand, the Company has amended its agreement with a syndicate of agents led by Clarus Securities Inc. as co-lead agent and sole-bookrunner, Canaccord Genuity Corp., as co-lead agent and including BMO Capital Markets (collectively, the "Agents") to increase the size of its previously announced capital raise to aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$30.1 million (the "Offering").

B2Gold Corp. has committed to subscribe for units under the Offering to maintain its 9.9% ownership position on a non-diluted basis. The Offering was anchored by a significant lead order from Condire Investors, LLC ("Condire"), a U.S.-based resource investment firm. Condire's participation represents a significant addition to the Company's institutional register. Upon closing, Condire will hold approximately 19.9% of the Company on a non-diluted basis. The Warrants (as defined herein) issued to Condire are subject to a blocker provision that prevents exercise if such exercise would result in Condire holding 20% or more of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares.

The Offering is also expected to introduce additional institutional investors from the United States and Canada.

AuMEGA Metal's Managing Director and CEO, Sam Pazuki, commented:

"This financing meaningfully strengthens AuMEGA's balance sheet and reflects strong support from both existing and new institutional investors. We are particularly pleased to see continued participation from B2Gold, our strategic shareholder over the past three years, alongside the addition of several leading resource and generalist funds to our register.

"We welcome Condire Investors, LLC, as a significant new shareholder. Condire has an established track record of investing in resource companies at critical stages of growth, and their investment represents an important endorsement of the scale of our Newfoundland land position, the quality of our technical work, and the disciplined exploration strategy we have executed to date. With this capital in place, we are well positioned to advance our programs in Newfoundland and specifically across the Cape Ray District inclusive of Cape Ray West and Isle aux Morts Granite and at Bunker Hill."

Overview of the Offering

The Offering consists of the following securities (with the terms of the securities described below):

Hard Dollar Units ("HD Units")

Up to 407,356,205 HD Units at C$0.04 per HD Unit

Gross proceeds: Up to C$16,354,248

Premium Flow-Through Units ("PFT Units")

Up to 233,643,795 PFT Units at C$0.0544 per PFT Unit

Gross proceeds: Up to C$12,710,222

Flow-Through Shares ("FT Shares")

Up to 21,276,596 FT Shares at C$0.047 per FT Share

Gross proceeds: Up to C$1,000,000

Each HD Unit and PFT Unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share at a price of C$0.055 for a period of 30 months from the closing date of Tranche One (as defined below).

Use of Proceeds

Net proceeds of the Offering are expected to be used primarily for:

The advancement of the Company's exploration programs in Newfoundland, Canada;

To fund expanded drill programs across Cape Ray, Cape Ray West (including Isle aux Morts Granite), and Bunker Hill;

To support ongoing target generation and early-stage exploration; and

To provide working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Company notes that exploration programs are subject to final budgeting, permitting, weather conditions and operational planning.

Two tranche Placement Structure

The Offering has been structured in two tranches as follows:

Tranche One

The first tranche will be comprised of shares and Warrants totalling 98,643,795 PFT Units within the Company's available placement capacity.

Tranche One Placement: Representing 98,643,795 shares and 98,643,795 Warrants. This comprises 19,728,759 shares and 98,643,795 Warrants to be issued under the Company's available placement capacity under ASX listing rule 7.1 and 78,915,036 shares to be issued under the Company's available placement capacity under ASX listing rule 7.1A ("Tranche One").

Closing of Tranche One is expected on or about 5 March 2026, subject to receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV").

Tranche Two

The second tranche will be comprised of shares and Warrants issued in excess of the Company's available placement capacity and will therefore be subject to shareholder approval at a Special Shareholder Meeting ("EGM") expected to be held during in the first week of April 2026.

Tranche Two Placement: Representing 563,632,801 shares (including 21,276,596 FT Shares) and 542,356,205 Warrants that have been subscribed above the placement capacity and requiring shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 7.1, which will be sought at a Special Shareholder Meeting expected to be held during the first week of April ("Tranche Two").

The Company expects to dispatch the EGM Notice of Meeting to shareholders in the near term. The expected closing date of Tranche Two is expected within five days of receipt of shareholder approval.

Financing Details

Premium Flow Through (or Charity Flow Through) : Up to approximately C$12.7 million of PFT Units priced at C$0.0544 (which is equivalent to approximately A$0.0562 based on the exchange rate for converting Canadian dollars into Australian dollars of C$1=A$1.0330549 as posted by xe.com on February 12, 2026 (the " Exchange Rate ")) per PFT Unit, representing a 36% premium to the HD Unit price of C$0.04. A total of approximately 233.6 million shares and 233.6 million Warrants comprising the Premium FT Units fall into this category. Of this amount, the issue of approximately 135 million shares and 135 million Warrants comprising the PFT Units are subject to shareholder approval.

Traditional Flow Through : Up to approximately C$1 million of FT Shares priced at C$0.047 (which is equivalent to approximately A$0.049 based on the Exchange Rate) per FT Share representing a premium of 17.5% of the HD Unit price. The issue of all of the FT Shares (approximately 21.3 million shares) will be subject to shareholder approval.

Hard Dollars : Up to approximately C$16.3 million priced at C$0.04 (which is equivalent to approximately A$0.0413 based on the Exchange Rate) per HD Unit, priced at market to the TSXV close price on February 11, 2026 and an 8.7% premium to the ASX close price for a total of approximately 407.3 million HD Units issued. The issue of all HD Units (comprising approximately 407.3 million shares and approximately 407.3 million Warrants) will be subject to shareholder approval.

Insiders: Company insiders have subscribed for 1,300,000 HD Units and 666,667 FT Shares. Director participation is subject to shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 10.11.

Flow-Through Shares

The common shares comprising the PFT Units and the FT Shares will be issued as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). The Warrants comprising the PFT Units will not be flow-through warrants for the purposes of the Tax Act. The tax benefits associated with such shares are available only to the initial Canadian subscribers. The Company is expected to use an amount equal to the gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Shares and the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares underlying the PFT Units to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Tax Act): (i) that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" (as defined in the Tax Act) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's exploration activities in Canada on or before 31 December 2027. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the Canadian applicable subscribers effective 31 December 2026.

The term "flow-through share" is defined under Canadian tax legislation and does not represent a special class of shares under corporate law. Shares issued under the Offering will rank pari passu with existing common shares.

All securities issued will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. All shares and Warrants issued will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and resale rules will apply in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. All securities will be issued on a private placement basis to institutional, professional and accredited investors. The Company will not issue any securities using section 5A.2 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions and Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions From Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (collectively, the "LIFE Exemption") and, accordingly, the offering document dated February 12, 2026 (the "LIFE Document") of the Company prepared in respect of the LIFE Exemption will not be used for any part of the Offering and the Company will not issue any shares or Warrants under the LIFE Document.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Additional Information

In connection with the Offering, the Agents will be paid a cash commission equal to 6% on the gross proceeds of the Offering, excluding funds raised from Company insiders, B2Gold, and others in the President's List. There is no fee to be paid by the Company in connection with B2Gold's subscription. The cash commission of the agents will be reduced to 3% or less of the gross proceeds received from subscribers on the President's List.

The Company will pay a finder's fee to a third-party equivalent to 6% of Condire's subscription amount.

Indicative Timelines

An indicative timetable for the financing is set out below. The timetable remains subject to change at the Company's discretion, subject to compliance with applicable laws and both the TSXV and ASX listing rules.

Key Events Date

Canada Australia Trading halt lifted / ASX trading resumes Tuesday 17 February Wednesday 18 February Trading halt lifted / TSXV trading resumes Wednesday 18 February Thursday 19 February Closure of Tranche One Thursday 5 March 2026 Friday 6 March 2026 Notice of Meeting (Tranche Two) Regulatory Approval

Dispatch Notice of Meeting Late February 2026 Late February 2026 Shareholder Meeting to Approve Tranche Two First week of April 2026 First week of April 2026 Closure of Tranche Two Early April 2026 Early April 2026

- ENDS -

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Company's Board of Directors.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

To learn more about the Company, please visit www.aumegametals.com, or contact:

About the Company

AuMEGA Metals Ltd. (ASX: AAM) (TSXV: AUM) (OTCQB: AUMMF) is utilising best-in-class exploration to explore on its district scale land package that spans 110 kilometers along the Cape Ray-Valentine Shear Zone, a significant under-explored geological structure in Newfoundland, Canada. This zone currently hosts Equinox Gold's Valentine Gold Project, a multi-million-ounce deposit which is the region's largest gold project, along with AuMEGA's expanding Mineral Resource.

The Company is supported by a diverse shareholder registry of prominent global institutional investors, and strategic investment from B2Gold Corp, a significant, intermediate gold producer.

Additionally, AuMEGA holds a 27-kilometre stretch of the highly prospective Hermitage Flexure and has also secured an Option Agreement for the Blue Cove Copper Project in southeastern Newfoundland, which exhibits strong potential for copper and other base metals.

AuMEGA's Cape Ray Shear Zone hosts several dozen high potential targets along with its existing defined gold Mineral Resource of 6.2 million tonnes grading an average of 2.25 g/t gold, totaling 450,000 ounces of Indicated Resources, and 3.4 million tonnes grading an average of 1.44 g/t gold, totaling 160,000 ounces in Inferred Resources1.

AuMEGA acknowledges the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Reference to Previous Announcements

In relation to this news release, all data used to assess targets have been previously disclosed by the Company and referenced in previous JORC Table 1 releases. Please see announcements dated: 15 January 2026, 16 October 2025, 30 May 2023 ,6 May 2020 and 4 February 2020.

In relation to the Mineral Resource estimate announced on 30 May 2023, the Company confirms that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in that announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.

Qualified Person (NI 43-101)

The scientific and technical information in this press release was reviewed and approved by Shamus Duff, P. Geo., Project Geologist. Mr. Duff is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and a Professional Geologist registered with Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL). Mr. Duff consents to the publication of this press release and certifies that the information provided fairly and accurately represents the scientific and technical information disclosed in it.

Technical Report

Additional scientific and technical information regarding the Company's mineral project is contained in the technical report titled "Technical Report on the Cape Ray Gold Project, Newfoundland, Canada" dated May 28, 2024 (with an effective date of May 26, 2024), prepared by Trevor Rabb (P. Geo.) and Ronald Voordouw, (P. Geo) of Equity Exploration Consultants Ltd., and Andrew Kelly (P. Eng.) of Blue Coast Research.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information is not representative of historical facts or information or current condition but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects" or "does not expect," "is expected," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates" or "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "will continue," "will occur" or "will be achieved". Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to: the expected closing of Tranche One and Tranche Two of the Offering and the timing thereof; the expected terms of the Offering and of the securities to be issued under the Offering; the timing of the shareholder meeting to approve Tranche 2 and whether shareholder approval will be obtained; the timetable for completing the financing; the receipt of regulatory approvals; the intended use of proceeds from the Offering; and the Company's planned drilling program.

By identifying such information in this manner, AuMEGA is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information Among others, the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: delays in obtaining required approvals from regulators, changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; delays in obtaining required licenses or approvals; and delays or unforeseen costs incurred in connection with drilling. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

1 News release dated 30 May 2023

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284278

Source: AuMEGA Metals Ltd.
Highlights:

Quebec - Opemiska (PFS pathway + near-term drilling) Fully funded through 2026: >$20M cash and $24M working capital to advance Opemiska toward a Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS). Cooke drilling: 10,000 m underway, results from 29 holes expected in the coming weeks. Saddle Zone: planning in-fill drilling to improve pit geometry and economics (deeper pit potential, higher resources, lower strip ratio) 3D model refinement to improve confidence to support upgrading Inferred to M&I Updated MRE (Q4 2026): to incorporate Cooke and Saddle drilling and refined modelling, and to serve as the basis for the PFS.

Ontario - Thierry K1 Zone maiden large-scale program (20,000 m planned): first systematic, large-scale drilling on Thierry in ~50+ years to test grade, scale, and continuity under the new bulk-tonnage interpretation. K2 validation expected to be completed soon, leveraging extensive historical drilling and datasets. Resource growth potential is intended to underpin a high-quality updated MRE and evaluate continuity along the K1-K2 corridor.



Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - XXIX Metal Corp . (TSXV: XXIX) (OTCQB: QCCUF) (FSE: 5LW0) ("XXIX" or the "Company") is pleased to update on its 2026 exploration plans, in light of its recently completed $17.2M financing. XXIX is well funded through 2026, with over $20M in cash and $24M in working capital. This positions the Company to accelerate exploration at Opemiska as it advances toward a preliminary feasibility study, and to launch its first large-scale drill program at Thierry in 2026.

"Having closed our financing, we are looking forward to pursuing an aggressive exploration plan in 2026 with multiple exploration catalysts at both our Opemiska copper project in Quebec and Thierry in Ontario. We are well funded through 2026 as we progress Opemiska towards a preliminary feasilbity study, while commencing a large-scale drill program at Thierry, the first in over fifty years," said Guy Le Bel, CEO of XXIX.

Opemiska 2026 Development and Drilling Plans

On-going 10,000-metre Drill Program on Cooke Gold Zone ("Cooke")

Cooke is located 2.5km east of the envisioned Opemiska pit and historically produced 1.97Mt at 5.04 g/t gold and 0.66% copper1. XXIX is continuing its expanded drill program at Cooke (see December 8, 2025 news release), based on earlier results that confirmed a more extensive mineralized horizon than initially modeled. The expanded drill program is targeting both the near-surface crown pillar of the historical Cooke Gold Mine as well as step-outs along a newly identified mineralized horizon. This drill program isdesigned to further supplement XXIX's recently announced PEA and will strengthen project scale as the Company will seek to add to Opemiska's MRE, that will flow into the preliminary feasibility study ("PFS").

The Company expects to receive results from the initial 29 holes drilled in Fall 2025 in the coming weeks.

Drill Program at Saddle Zone

XXIX has planned a follow-up in-fill drill program at the Saddle Zone in Q3 2026 with the goal of enhancing existing resources, while further optimizing potential geometry and engineering. The Saddle Zone, located between the envisioned Springer and Perry pits, will allow for a deeper pit, increased resources, and a reduced strip ratio. Furthermore, the Company will drill test the perimeter of the current proposed open pit to identify lower-grade, fringe mineralization for future optionality based on an increasing copper price environment.

Location of Cooke and Saddle Zones - Figure 1

Opemiska 3D Model Refinement

As part of its preparation towards a preliminary feasibility study the Company is refining the digitized historical stopes from the Springer and Perry mines within the Opemiska 3D resource model in Q2 2026, further increasing grade and tonnage certainty. Refining the 3D model, will assist in upgrading the existing inferred mineral resource classification into the measured and indicated category without additional drilling necessary.

Updated Mineral Resource Estimate

In Q4 2026, the Company will aim to initiate an updated mineral resource estimate that will be the basis for the upcoming preliminary feasibility study. The updated mineral resource estimate will incorporate drilling from the Cooke and Saddle zones, along with a further derisked 3D resource model.

Thierry 2026 Exploration Plan

Maiden Drill Program at K1 Zone

With XXIX's new bulk-tonnage, copper-PGE near surface interpretation of the K1 deposit based on comprehensive data validation and re-modelling, the Company is planning a large-scale, 20,000-metre drill program to test and validate grade, scale and continuity.

This drill program will serve as the first, systematic and large scale drill program on the Thierry property in over fifty years. Furthermore, this drill program is the first step towards producing an updated MRE at the K1 Zone under its new bulk-tonnage interpretation, with additional resource expansion potential from improved metal prices.

Completion of Data Validation and Re-Interpretation of K2 Zone

Further to the Company's January 16, 2026 news release, data validation and reinterpretation at the K2 zone is expected to be completed in soon. The K1 and K2 zones, together, represent over 210,000 metres of historical drilling, with K2 having an extensive geological and geophysical database.

On analyzing and validating the extensive datasets at Thierry, the Company determined that significant mineralization exists between the previously interpreted mineralized veins at K1. At its present scale, K1's dimensions are 1.4km length x 250m width x 400m depth. Furthermore, data indicates that grade increases with depth at K1, outlining additional mineralization potential at below the existing resource. Furthermore, K1 remains open in all directions, as evidenced by the Company's recently completed IP Survey which highlighted compelling targets at K1 and K2, and potential sulphide mineralization along the corridor connecting them. Accordingly the Company will evaluate potential mineralization eastwards and westwards, evaluating mineralization continuity towards K2.

The Company's new interpretation, paired with results from the planned 20,000-metre drill program at K1 will form the basis of a high-quality, updated mineral resource estimate that the Company envisions will be significantly more robust than the existing resource model.

K1 Reinterpretation: Bulk Tonnage Open Pit Model - Figure 2

IP Chargeability Survey: Compelling Targets at Thierry - Figure 3

Options

The Company is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has approved the grant of stock options to certain directors, officers, and consultants of the Company, allowing for the acquisition of up to, in the aggregate, 4,400,000 shares of the Company. 3,750,000 stock options were granted to certain directors and officers of the Company. The options are exercisable at a price of CAD $0.13 per share for five (5) years from the date of grant, vest one (1) year from the date of grant and are subject to regulatory policies and approvals.

The grant of options to certain directors and officers is a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of related party matters, as the Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") and neither the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the transaction, insofar as it involves the related parties, exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101).

QP Statement

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Denis McNichols, P.Geo and geo., Vice President Exploration for XXIX Metal, a Qualified Person, as defined in "National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."

About XXIX Metal Corp .

XXIX is advancing its Opemiska and Thierry Copper projects, two significant Canadian copper assets. The Opemiska Project, one of Canada's highest-grade open pitable copper deposits, spans 21,333 hectares in Quebec's Chapais-Chibougamau region, with strong infrastructure and nearby access to the Horne Smelter. An October 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment outlined a 12,500 tpd open pit operation over a 17-year mine life, generating an after-tax NPV8% of $505M, IRR of 27.2%, and a 2.3-year payback period ($4.35/lb copper price, $3,000/oz gold price, $30/oz silver price). The Thierry Project hosts the K1 (near-surface) and the past-producing K2 (underground & surface) zones (see XXIX news release dated October 1, 2024 for details regarding resources). Thierry has significant infrastructure in place including an all-season road, an airport within 5km, a provincial power grid within 8km, and nearby rail. With these two high-potential projects, the Company has solidified its position as a key player in the Canadian copper sector and has established itself as one of Eastern Canada's largest copper developer.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company's belief that Opemiska has potential for continued growth, various cost, price and production assumptions used to inform the PEA, and outstanding risk factors, including Opemiska's proximity to the Town of Chapais, Historical Assay validation, Geotechnical considerations of open stopes in the eastern pit wall, the Venture sill, the Gwillim fault, host rock competency and Historical Stope Modeling. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: risks related to uncertainties inherent in drill results and the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's plans and intentions. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

The reader is advised that the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) summarized in this news release is intended to provide only an initial, high-level review of Opemiska's economic potential. The PEA mine plan and economic model include numerous assumptions and the use of inferred mineral resources. Inferred mineral resources are considered to be too speculative to be used in an economic analysis except as allowed for by NI 43-101 in PEA studies. There is no guarantee that inferred mineral resources can be converted to indicated or measured mineral resources, and as such, there is no guarantee Opemiska's economics described herein will be achieved. XXIX may be eligible for Clean Technology Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (CTM-ITC). This legislation has been enacted on June 20, 2024. There is no guarantee the Company will be able to access the CTM-ITC.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

XXIX has included certain non-IFRS financial measures in this news release, such as C1 Cash Cost which are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. As a result, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other corporations. Each of these measures used are intended to provide additional information to the user and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

1 Morin, R. DV90-01, Energie et Ressources Naturelle Quebec, Edition L. Blais-Leroux, p. 75

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284193

Source: XXIX Metal Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Planet Ventures Inc. (CSE: PXI) (OTC Pink: PNXPF) (FSE: P6U1) ("Planet" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a USD$200,000 strategic equity investment in Mantis Space, marking Planet's first investment in the rapidly expanding global space sector.

Mantis Space is a space and advanced energy company developing what it describes as the world's first power grid in space - orbital infrastructure designed to deliver power directly to satellites, space habitats, and future lunar operations. The company is expected to officially emerge from stealth in early 2026.

According to Expansion Solutions Magazine, in an article written by Nicole Shakir and published on December 8th, 2025, Mantis Space announced that it selected Albuquerque, New Mexico as the location for its new headquarters and advanced research and manufacturing operations following a competitive national search. The planned expansion is projected to generate more than $480 million in economic impact for the City of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico over the next decade and create more than 200 high-wage technology jobs, with average salaries exceeding $180,000 annually.

Founded in Kennesaw, Georgia by space industry veterans and backed by venture studio Montauk Capital, Mantis Space is positioning itself at the forefront of orbital energy infrastructure - an emerging segment expected to play a foundational role in the global space economy, which analysts project will exceed $1 trillion by the early 2030s.

Source: World Economic Forum publication titled Space: The $1.8 Trillion Opportunity for Global Economic Growth - developed jointly with McKinsey & Company., https://www.weforum.org/publications/space-the-1-8-trillion-opportunity-for-global-economic-growth/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Orbital power infrastructure is viewed as a key enabler of next-generation capabilities including:

Persistent satellite operations

On-orbit servicing and manufacturing

Space-based data centers

Lunar infrastructure development

Advanced defense and energy applications

Link to web article: https://www.expansionsolutionsmagazine.com/mantis-space-selects-albuquerque-for-headquarters/

"This investment represents Planet's entry into one of the most transformational industries of our time," said Etienne Moshevich, CEO of Planet Ventures. "The commercialization of space is accelerating rapidly, and infrastructure solutions such as orbital energy distribution are foundational to the next phase of growth. We believe Mantis Space is building in a strategically critical segment of the space economy and we are excited to support their development."

According to an official press release from the City of Albuquerque - Economic Development Department, Mantis Space's headquarters expansion is supported by $2.5 million through New Mexico's Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) program and $500,000 from the City of Albuquerque, underscoring strong public-sector confidence in the company's long-term impact.

Source: https://www.cabq.gov/economicdevelopment/news/space-infrastructure-startup-mantis-space-selects-albuquerque-for-headquarters-and-manufacturing-hub

The USD$200,000 investment was completed in exchange for 49,313 shares at $4.0557/share. This equity investment in Mantis Space was part of a broader financing.

Planet views this transaction as aligned with its mandate to deploy capital into emerging, high-growth sectors with asymmetric return potential.

Planet continues to evaluate additional opportunities in the space industry as well as across other innovative industries where technological disruption and structural growth trends can create long-term shareholder value.

About Mantis Space

Mantis Space is a private space technology company focused on developing advanced infrastructure solutions designed to support the next phase of commercial space activity. The company aims to enable more efficient deployment, operation, and scalability of space-based systems as the industry transitions from government-led initiatives to commercially driven expansion. Mantis Space website can be found here: https://mantis.space/

About Planet Ventures Inc.

Planet Ventures Inc. is an investment issuer that actively invests in disruptive companies across high-growth industries. Planet aims to build long-term shareholder value through strategic investments in innovative businesses.

Neither the CSE nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284152

Source: Planet Ventures Inc.
Andrew Feinberg, Chairman and CEO, Will Deliver a Compelling Main Stage Keynote Presentation on the Importance of Governing AI at Scale

Netcracker Technology announced today that at MWC 2026 in Barcelona it will showcase its global success working with operators to leverage the power of AI to unlock new paths to revenue, create innovative business models, enable autonomous operations and reimagine telecom with agentic AI.

On Tuesday, March 3, during the 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. CET main stage keynote session, Andrew Feinberg, Chairman and CEO of Netcracker and President and CEO of BostonGene, will deliver an important and timely keynote on turning AI into lasting value through strong governance. Drawing on insights from Netcracker and BostonGene, he will discuss how responsibly scaling AI drives positive impact across telecom and life sciences, creating benefits for society at large.

Keynote The Intelligence Dividend: Governing AI at Scale Tuesday, March 3 12:00 p.m. CET MWC Main Stage, Hall 4

Speaker:

Andrew Feinberg, Chairman and CEO of Netcracker and President and CEO of BostonGene

MWC 2026 attendees can view the keynote in person or on screens located throughout the Fira Gran Via.

Netcracker will exhibit in Hall 2, Stand 2G20, where its Innovation Hub will showcase a number of groundbreaking, real-world use cases including how Netcracker's Agentic AI Solution is revolutionizing the communications industry with intelligent agents built for scale, trust and control that result in real business benefits to operators: accelerated time to revenue, resolution of customer issues, isolation and repair of network faults and creation of service designs. The Innovation Hub will also highlight how Netcracker Digital BSS plays a critical role in unlocking exceptional customer experiences and demonstrate the expedited growth and optimization that operators experience with Netcracker Intelligent Operations Automation.

For more information about Netcracker's activities during MWC 2026, visit https://www.netcracker.com/mwc26.

About Netcracker Technology

Netcracker Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, has the expertise, culture and resources to help service providers around the world transform their businesses to thrive in the digital economy. Our innovative solutions, value-driven services and unbroken delivery track record have enabled our customers to grow and succeed for more than three decades. With the latest technological advancements in key areas including 5G monetization, AI, automation and vertical industries, we help service providers to reach their transformation goals, advance their telco to techco evolution and realize business growth and profitability. To learn more, visit www.netcracker.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218780738/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Anita Karve

Netcracker Technology

MediaGroup@Netcracker.com
Adds new investors Energy Impact Partners and Partech and finishes 2025 with 82% year-over-year growth as U.S. expansion accelerates

HOUSTON, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FYLD , the AI-powered frontline intelligence platform for the global infrastructure sector, announced a Series B funding round of $41 million to continue to scale its platform delivering operational certainty for distributed, high-risk fieldwork in energy, construction, water and more. The round was led by New-York based Energy Impact Partners LP ("EIP") with participation from European growth equity specialist Partech through its Growth Impact Fund. The raise comes as FYLD closed out another year of global momentum with 82% year-over-year growth.

"The momentum we're seeing reflects a clear shift: infrastructure leaders know reactive management of their frontline workforce has never worked at scale," said Shelley Copsey, CEO and co-founder of FYLD. "Our customers now include some of the most complex infrastructure organizations, managing 30,000 to 40,000 field workers, where operational certainty is a business necessity. By applying AI to real-time field data, they're replacing hindsight decisions with predictable, first-time-right delivery. And they're keeping fieldworkers safe."

FYLD turns frontline work into a real-time source of operational intelligence. Field teams capture short videos instead of completing static forms, and FYLD's AI analyzes conditions to identify safety, quality, and delivery risks before they escalate. Managers get live visibility across jobs without adding site visits or headcount, and every action is automatically documented for compliance and audit purposes.

Since launch, FYLD has helped customers decrease serious worksite injuries and incidents by up to 48%. Customers have also made substantial productivity gains with time to value - as short as just four weeks from deployment - bucking the industry trend from legacy software providers which take many years to deploy.

"At EIP, we collaborate with more than 80 strategic partners to identify the key challenges in building a better energy future and work with innovative companies developing solutions to address them," said Matthias Dill, EIP's Managing Partner for Europe. "The data-center boom and other demand-drivers result in massive build out of energy infrastructure. This requires new levels of productivity and safety for fieldworkers. FYLD is making this possible through their video-based AI tools that uplift fieldworker capacity and safety and provide direct ROI."

In 2025, FYLD expanded its US footprint, adding customers including Kiewit Corporation, Quanta Services, Emery Sapp & Sons, and Sulzer, alongside longstanding partners such as Ferrovial - all adopting FYLD to run safer, more productive, and more predictable field operations. More than 40% of FYLD's total revenue is expected to be generated in the US by the end of 2026.

"At Partech Impact, we invest in impact-native category champions with the ambition and maturity to scale," explains Remi Said, General Partner at Partech. "FYLD is tackling large-scale infrastructure projects, a category that has been underserved by technology for decades. Its strong ROI for customers, AI-powered product, and robust go-to-market engine give us confidence that FYLD can emerge as a global leader, driving sustainable impact across its value chain."

Other FYLD 2025 milestones include:

Becoming the UK industry standard way of working, with the platform deployed onto 12 of the 18 networks.

The expansion of ShowMe , which speeds up utility response to customer issues - improving CSAT, reducing resolution time, and increasing first-time-right fixes.

, which speeds up utility response to customer issues - improving CSAT, reducing resolution time, and increasing first-time-right fixes. Strengthening its executive leadership team, adding Mohan Sadashiva as Chief Product and Technology Officer to accelerate product innovation and AI-driven impact, and Lee Griffin as Chief Revenue Officer to drive commercial growth.

Being recognized as a Sample Vendor in the Gartner Hype Cycle for Frontline Worker Technologies 2025 report.

Several company and leadership accolades, including being recognized on Deloitte's UK Technology Fast 50 and Clean Tech lists, BuiltWorlds' 2025 Infrastructure Tech Top 50, and Sifted's Top 250 Fastest-Growing Startups in Europe. FYLD was also a finalist for Strategic Partner of the Year at Utility Week Awards 2025 and Shelley Copsey for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK.



EIP and Partech join Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan as investors in FYLD. Learn more about how FYLD is transforming frontline operations for the infrastructure sector here .

About FYLD

FYLD is the category-defining, AI-powered frontline intelligence platform for the global infrastructure sector helping organizations deliver every job right the first time. FYLD embeds AI-powered, real-time operational risk detection and live visibility into the flow of work - reducing rework, delays, compliance exposure, and cost while enabling scale. FYLD's investors include Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Energy Impact Fund, and Partech and is recognized globally as a breakthrough platform for productivity, safety, and operational certainty in fieldwork. Visit here for more.

About Energy Impact Partners

Energy Impact Partners LP (EIP) is a global energy investor with a proprietary model designed to drive innovation. EIP brings together entrepreneurs and some of the world's most forward-thinking energy and industrial companies to advance innovation for a better energy future. Investing in venture, growth, private equity and credit, EIP seeks attractive risk-adjusted returns for its investors by leveraging its differentiated strategy and industrial ecosystem. With over 80 corporate partners and over $4.5 billion in assets under management, EIP invests globally with over 100 professionals based in its offices in New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Palm Beach, London, Cologne and Oslo. For more information on EIP, please visit here .

About Partech

Partech is a global technology investment firm headquartered in Paris, with offices in Berlin, Dakar, Dubai, Nairobi, and San Francisco. Founded 40 years ago in San Francisco, Partech today manages over $3 billion in assets for a current portfolio of 220 companies in 40 countries across four continents. Partech Impact is Partech's growth impact fund, investing in European impact technology B2B champions that have already demonstrated a proven business model and are looking to accelerate their growth. The fund backs companies seeking to fundamentally transform value chains across industry, infrastructure and construction, agriculture, mobility and healthcare. For more on Partech, please visit here .

Media Contact

Marely Arias

Carve Communications

marely@carvecomms.com
Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive, said: "Our results highlight another year of strong operational and financial performance, thanks to the outstanding dedication of our employees. In a new era of defence spending, driven by escalating security challenges, we're well positioned to provide both the advanced conventional systems and disruptive technologies needed to protect the nations we serve now and into the future. With a record order backlog and continuing investment in our business to enhance agility, efficiency and capacity, we're confident in our ability to keep delivering growth over the coming years."

Financial highlights

Financial performance measures as defined by Group1 Year ended 31 December 2025 Year ended 31 December 2024 Variance2 Sales 30,662m 28,335m +10% Underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) 3,322m 3,015m +12% Underlying earnings per share (EPS) 75.2p 68.5p +12% Free cash flow 2,158m 2,505m (347)m Order intake 36.8bn 33.7bn 3.1bn Order backlog 83.6bn 77.8bn 5.8bn Financial performance measures as derived from IFRS Year ended 31 December 2025 Year ended 31 December 2024 Variance2 Revenue 28,336m 26,312m +8% Operating profit 2,925m 2,685m +9% EPS basic 68.8p 64.9p +6% Net cash flow from operating activities 3,432m 3,925m (493)m Order book 63.1bn 60.4bn 2.7bn Dividend per share 36.3p 33.0p +10%

As defined by Group

Sales increased 10%2 to a record 30.7bn, with growth in all of our sectors. Organic growth was 9%2

Underlying EBIT increased by 12%2 with a 20bps increase in return on sales from 10.6% to 10.8%.

Underlying EPS increased by 12%2

Free cash flow was strong at 2,158m. Significant customer advances were received late in the year, capital expenditure remained close to record levels at c.1bn and research and development (R&D) spend increased.

Our order backlog grew by 5.8bn to a record 83.6bn. Order intake was strong at 36.8bn, with all sectors performing well, reflecting the continued relevance of our diverse geographic footprint and multi-domain capabilities.

As derived from IFRS

The growth in revenue of 8% reflects the same strong operational performance in sales across the portfolio, but excludes the impact of our equity accounted investments.

Operating profit was up 9% as the growth in underlying EBIT was offset by additional costs from the amortisation of acquired intangibles, reflecting the significant acquisitions in the prior year which included Ball Aerospace.

Basic EPS was up 6%.

Net cash flow from operating activities reflected movements on customer advances and working capital commitments.

We monitor the underlying financial performance of the Group using alternative performance measures (APMs). These measures are not defined in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and therefore are considered to be non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures. The relevant IFRS measures are presented where appropriate. The purposes and definitions of non-GAAP measures are provided in the Alternative performance measures section on page 40. Growth rates for sales, underlying EBIT and underlying EPS are on a constant currency basis (i.e. calculated by translating the results from entities in functional currencies other than pounds sterling for the year ended 31 December 2024 to pounds sterling at the average exchange rate of such currencies for the year ended 31 December 2025). The comparatives have not been restated. All other growth rates and year-on-year movements are on a reported currency basis.

Delivering for our customers

Our continued focus on operational performance and contracting discipline enables our consistent delivery of critical capabilities and technologies for our customers worldwide. During the year, we secured 36.8bn of orders and made good progress executing on our long-term major programmes. Highlights included:

The UK Government announced an agreement with Turkiye to acquire 20 Typhoon aircraft, along with an associated weapons package. The deal is anticipated to be worth 4.6bn to BAE Systems and will sustain Typhoon production in the years to come, helping to sustain 20,000 jobs across the UK.

We delivered the final two Typhoon aircraft to Qatar during the year, bringing the Qatari Emiri Air Force fleet total to 24.

Launching Edgewing, a joint venture with our international industry partners in Italy and Japan on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Edgewing will be accountable for the design and development of the next-generation combat aircraft under the programme.

Norway selected our Type 26 frigate for its future warship procurement programme. The 10bn Government-to-Government agreement paves the way for the UK's largest ever warship export deal by value.

We played a critical role in preparing Royal Navy ships for the UK Carrier Strike Group 2025 and the Royal Navy selected our all-electric Malloy T-150 uncrewed air systems (UAS) to transport vital supplies between the ships for the first time during its deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

We secured a $1.2bn (0.9bn) contract to provide the US Space Force with space-based missile tracking capabilities as the prime contractor to design and build a constellation of satellites.

Our Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) programme celebrated its 500th delivery milestone during the year and is executing under full-rate production toward meeting the US Army's plan to field nearly 3,000 AMPVs in its Armored Brigade Combat Teams.

We marked key combat vehicle milestones with the first CV9030 MkIV infantry fighting vehicle unveiled for the Czech Republic and the first three BvS10 vehicles presented to Sweden, Germany and the UK.

Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales officially named HMS Glasgow, the first of eight Type 26 frigates we are building for the Royal Navy. Final outfitting continues on HMS Glasgow and HMS Cardiff at our Scotstoun yard, whilst HMS Belfast, HMS Birmingham and HMS Sheffield are progressing at our Govan site.

We laid the keel of HMS Dreadnought, the first of four Dreadnought Class submarines we are constructing for the Royal Navy, at our Barrow-in-Furness shipyard in the UK.

Investing in tomorrow

Alongside strong operational delivery, we continue to invest in our people, R&D and capital expenditure. Highlights included:

We officially opened the Janet Harvey Hall at our Govan site in Glasgow, UK. The hall has capacity for two Type 26 frigates to be constructed side-by-side, with HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham currently under construction in the hall.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially opened our Applied Shipbuilding Academy in Glasgow, UK. The 12m facility comprises a multi-purpose flexible learning hub and provides a high quality, hands-on training environment.

In the UK, Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, opened our Sheffield facility where we will initially deliver M777 howitzers, with plans to evolve to develop and produce a range of combat systems to support the Government's ambitions to revitalise UK artillery capacity.

We opened a new shiplift and land-level repair complex at our Jacksonville, Florida, shipyard. The $250m (190m) investment significantly enhances the capabilities of the complex and increases its capacity to maintain and repair US Navy vessels and commercial ships.

We continued to invest in our manufacturing site in Louisville, Kentucky, and shipyard in Jacksonville, Florida to ensure we have the capability and capacity to build and support the US Navy, and its maritime partners, in the future build of submarines and surface ship maintenance.

During the year, we recruited over 2,500 early careers employees across our key markets and we have a record 6,800 apprentices, graduates and undergraduates in training across our UK businesses.

Capital deployment

The Board has recommended a final dividend of 22.8p, taking the total dividend for 2025 to 36.3p an increase of 10% on last year. Subject to shareholder approval, the final dividend will be paid on 4 June 2026 to shareholders on the share register on 24 April 2026.

During the year, the Company repurchased 30m shares under our share buyback programme, at a cost of 502m. Combined with dividends, the Group returned 1,529m to shareholders in the year ended 31 December 2025.

Group guidance1 for 2026

Guidance is provided on the basis of an exchange rate of $1.32:1, which is in line with the actual 2025 exchange rate.

Year ended 31 December 2026 Guidance Year ended 31 December 2025 Results Sales Increase by 7% to 9% 30,662m Underlying EBIT Increase by 9% to 11% 3,322m Underlying EPS Increase by 9% to 11% 75.2p Free cash flow >1.3bn 2.2bn

Three-year cumulative free cash flow guidance Guidance Cumulative free cash flow 2024-2026 In excess of 6.0bn (previously in excess of 5.5bn) Cumulative free cash flow 2025-2027 In excess of 5.5bn Cumulative free cash flow 2026-2028 In excess of 6.0bn

Underlying net finance costs c.370m

Effective tax rate c.22%

Non-controlling interests c.80m

Sensitivity to foreign exchange rates: the Group operates in a number of currencies, the most significant of which is the US dollar. As a guide, a 5 cent movement in the /$ exchange rate will impact sales by c.500m, underlying EBIT by c.70m and underlying EPS by c.1.4p.

While the Group is subject to geopolitical and other uncertainties, the following guidance is provided on current expected operational performance. The guidance is based on the measures used to monitor the underlying financial performance of the Group.

For associated materials, please visit: https://baesys.resourcespace.com?c=56803&k=753c08babf

About BAE Systems

We provide some of the world's most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions, helping customers stay ahead of evolving threats across land, sea, air, cyber and space. We are a skilled workforce of around 110,000 people, working with customers and local partners in more than 40 countries to deliver military capability, protect national security and keep critical information and infrastructure secure.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218327744/en/

Contacts:

Issued by:

BAE Systems plc

Media hotline: +44 (0) 7801 717 739

www.baesystems.com

@BAESystemsplc

Ref: 022/2026

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations

Telephone: +44 (0) 1252 383455

Email: investors@baesystems.com

Media Relations

Telephone: +44 (0) 7540 628673

Email: kristina.anderson@baesystems.com
Options Technology (Options), the leading provider of IT infrastructure to global financial institutions, today announced that it has achieved SOC compliance for the 15th consecutive year, adhering to Type 2 SOC 1 ISAE 3402, Type 2 SOC 2, and Type 2 SOC 3 standards.

Danny Moore, President and CEO at Options said, "From the beginning, we have had an unwavering commitment to put security at the heart of everything we do. 15 years of SOC compliance is a testament to the work of our team to deliver continuous improvement and our next-generation solutions that are designed to safeguard our partners in an increasingly volatile threat landscape."

The scope of this audit included all of Options' offerings; Trading Infrastructure, AtlasWorkplace, AtlasApps, Managed Security, AtlasInsight, Horizon, and our latest offering; PrivateMind. Purpose-built for financial institutions, PrivateMind enables institutions to harness the power of artificial intelligence within a secure and compliant ecosystem.

"15 years of SOC compliance underlines our dedication to meeting the ever-evolving security demands of financial institutions," added Marlena Efstratopoulou, Chief Information Security Officer at Options. "The roadmap for 2026 includes additional certifications in the areas of AI, and Operational Resiliency."

This news comes after a series of other achievements for the company, including its recent partnership with Couchdrop to revolutionize secure data management, achievement of a Microsoft Solutions Partner Specialization for Threat Detection and launch of PrivateMind the future of secure AI for capital markets firms.

Options Technology:

Options Technology (Options) is a financial technology company at the forefront of banking and trading infrastructure. We serve clients globally with offices in New York, London, Paris, Belfast, Cambridge, Chicago, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Dubai, Sydney and Auckland. At Options, our services are woven into the hottest trends in global technology, including high-performance Networking, Cloud, Security, and AI (Artificial Intelligence).

www.options-it.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218903478/en/

Contacts:

For media inquiries, please contact Jenny Collins. Jenny.collins@options-it.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - GoldQuest Mining Corp. (TSXV: GQC) (OTCQX: GDQMF) ("GoldQuest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as a 2026 Top 50 Company by the TSX Venture Exchange.

The TSX Venture 50 is an annual ranking of the top-performing companies on TSX Venture Exchange over the last year. Companies are ranked based on three equally-weighted criteria of one-year share price appreciation, market capitalization growth, and Canadian consolidated trading value.

During 2025, GoldQuest's share price increased by 538% and its market capitalization grew by 669%. The 2026 TSX Venture 50 highlights the top 50 performers among more than 1,500 TSX Venture Exchange issuers.

Luis Santana, CEO of GoldQuest Mining Corp., commented: "We are honoured to be recognized as a 2026 TSX Venture 50 company. This milestone reflects the strength of the GoldQuest team, our continued progress in advancing the Romero Project, and the strong support of our stakeholders, including our Dominican shareholders. We remain focused on responsibly unlocking Romero's value for the benefit of all stakeholders."

Andrew Creech, President, TSX Venture Exchange commented: "The 2026 TSX Venture 50 reflects a clear inflection point for early-stage finance, with a return of liquidity and capital that reinforces Canada's position as a world-leading centre for resource discovery, strategic innovation, and scale. This year's ranking underscores the vital role TSXV plays in channeling capital to the mining sector and serving as the primary growth pipeline for the next generation of global mineral supply." More details can be found at: http://tsx.com/venture50.

About GoldQuest

GoldQuest Mining Corp. is a Canadian exploration and development company with strong participation from Dominican investors, focused on advancing its gold and copper assets in the Dominican Republic. The Company has a Board of Directors and management team with prior experience developing and operating a mine in the country.

Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.goldquestcorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of GoldQuest Mining Corp.,

"Luis Santana"

Director & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-looking statements:

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking information that involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the merits of the Company's mineral properties, the Company's plans for its mineral properties, and the Company's focus on unlocking Romero's value for the benefit of all stakeholders. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "potential", "likelihood", "appears", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "aims", "forecasts", "at least", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to uncertainties inherent in drill results and the estimation of mineral resources; commodity prices; changes in general economic conditions; market sentiment; currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's ability to raise funds through equity financings; risks inherent in mineral exploration; risks related to operations in foreign countries; future prices of metals; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of litigation. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable, including expectations regarding mineral exploration and development costs; expected trends in mineral prices and currency exchange rates; the accuracy of the Company's current mineral resource estimates; that the Company's activities will be in accordance with the Company's public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained and that there will be no significant disruptions affecting the Company or its properties.

For further information, please contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/283916

Source: Toronto Stock Exchange
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. (TSXV: SM) (OTCQX: SMDRF) ("Sierra Madre" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as a 2026 Top 50 Company by the TSX Venture Exchange.

The TSX Venture 50 is an annual ranking of the top-performing companies on TSX Venture Exchange over the last year. Companies are ranked based on three equally-weighted criteria of one-year share price appreciation, market capitalization growth, and Canadian consolidated trading value.

In 2025, Sierra Madre Gold & Silver share price appreciated 264% and its market cap growth was 342%. The 2026 TSX Venture 50 showcases the top 50 of over 1,500 TSXV issuers.

"We are proud to be included on the 2026 TSX Venture 50 list. This as a testament to the strength of our operating team at La Guitarra, disciplined execution across our portfolio, and the continued confidence from our investors," commented Alex Langer, Chief Executive Officer. "In 2026, we look forward to continuing with this positive momentum."

Andrew Creech, President, TSX Venture Exchange commented, "The 2026 TSX Venture 50 reflects a clear inflection point for early-stage finance, with a return of liquidity and capital that reinforces Canada's position as a world-leading centre for resource discovery, strategic innovation, and scale. This year's ranking underscores the vital role TSXV plays in channeling capital to the mining sector and serving as the primary growth pipeline for the next generation of global mineral supply."

More details can be found at: http://tsx.com/venture50.

About Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. (TSXV: SM) (OTCQX: SMDRF) is a precious metals precious metals producer and exploration company focused on the Guitarra mine in the Temascaltepec mining district, Mexico, and the exploration and development of its Tepic property in Nayarit, Mexico. The Guitarra mine is a permitted underground mine, which includes a 500 t/d processing facility that operated until mid-2018 and restarted commercial production in January 2025.

The +2,600 ha Tepic Project hosts low-sulphidation epithermal gold and silver mineralization with an existing historic resource.

Sierra Madre's management team has played key roles in managing the exploration and development of silver and gold mineral reserves and mineral resources. Sierra Madre's team of professionals has collectively raised over $1 billion for mining companies.

On behalf of the board of directors of Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd.,

Cautionary Note Regarding Production Decisions

The Company's decision to place the mine into commercial production, expand a mine, make other production related decisions, or otherwise carry out mining and processing operations, is largely based on internal non-public Company data and reports from previous operations and the results of test mining and processing. The Company is not basing any production decisions on NI 43-101 compliant reserve estimates, preliminary economic assessments or feasibility studies and, as a result, there is greater risk and uncertainty as to future economic results from the Guitarra Mine Complex, including increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit, and a higher technical risk of failure than would be the case if a feasibility study were completed and relied upon to make a production decision.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans.

The forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that predicted production levels will be achieved and that existing production levels will be maintained.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will be able to execute its future plans as intended, that predicted production levels will be achieved and that existing production levels will be maintained.

Although management of the Company has attempted identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/283904

Source: Toronto Stock Exchange
Based on +598% share price appreciation and +931% market capitalization growth

in 2025

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Capitan Silver Corp. (TSXV: CAPT) ("Capitan" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has been included in the TSX Venture 50 list based on the Company's +598% share price appreciation (ranked 10th) and +931% market capitalization growth (ranked 15th) in 2025.

The TSX Venture 50 is a ranking of the 50 top-performing companies on the TSX Venture Exchange over the last year. Companies are ranked based on three equally-weighted criteria of: (i) one-year share price appreciation, (ii) market capitalization increase, and (iii) Canadian consolidated trading value.

Click here for a special video message from Alberto Orozco, CEO of Capitan Silver Corp., highlighting the Company's inclusion in the TSX Venture 50.

Alberto Orozco, CEO of Capitan, commented:

"Being named to the TSX Venture 50 is a testament to Capitan's ability to execute in 2025. The Company achieved a series of significant milestones which led to the Company's near-600% share price growth. We executed on several fronts - bringing in a new strategic investor in Jupiter Gold & Silver Fund that gave us the appropriate cost of capital to re-start drilling, consolidating a strategic land package at Cruz de Plata, and delivering impressive, high-grade silver results from our 2025 drilling campaign - all of which has set a solid foundation for the year ahead.

We believe 2025 was just the beginning for Capitan and are excited for what 2026 holds. Building off of the strong success and results of 2025, we enter 2026 fully-funded and have commenced the largest drilling program in the Company's history. We look forward to a year of continued execution, value creation, and discovery at Cruz de Plata."

More details on the TSX Venture 50 can be found here: tsx.com/venture50

About Capitan Silver Corp.

Capitan Silver is defining a new high-grade silver system at its Cruz de Plata project, located in the heart of Mexico's primary silver belt. The Company is led by a proven and accomplished management team that has previously advanced three projects into production, on time and on budget. The Company has been diligent in maintaining a tight share structure and has one of the tightest share structures among its peer group, with the top three shareholders owning approximately 37% of the Company's share capital. Capitan Silver is fully funded and actively drilling at its Cruz de Plata silver project.

ON BEHALF OF CAPITAN SILVER CORP.

"Alberto Orozco"

Alberto Orozco, CEO

For Additional Information Contact:

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require Capitan to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.

Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words or phrases such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "should", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "continue", "objective", "potential", "target", "strategy", "project", "forecast", "outlook", "scheduled", "seek", "explore" and other similar terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, and the negatives thereof, or comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to: expectations regarding the Company's 2026 drilling program at the Cruz de Plata project, including the planned 60,000-metre multi-rig program; anticipated timing and results of future assay results; the potential scale, continuity, and grade of mineralization at the Cruz de Plata project; the potential to expand known zones of mineralization; the prospectivity of the Cruz de Plata project and its exploration potential; management's beliefs regarding the mineralized system at Cruz de Plata; and the Company's strategy and exploration objectives.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including assumptions and expectations regarding: the continued validity of exploration results and geological interpretations; the ability to complete planned exploration programs on time and within budget; the availability of financing for future exploration and development activities; commodity prices remaining at levels that support continued exploration; the ability to obtain and maintain all necessary permits and approvals; the accuracy of current mineral resource estimates; the continuity of mineralization between drill holes; and general economic and business conditions. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: exploration and development risks, including risks related to the interpretation of geological data and exploration results; the uncertainty of mineral resource estimates; risks inherent in the mining industry including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance; fluctuations in commodity prices; currency exchange rate fluctuations; risks related to obtaining and maintaining necessary permits and licenses; risks related to the Company's title to its mineral properties; risks related to the political and economic climate in Mexico; regulatory changes; reliance on key personnel; competition in the mining industry; risks related to the Company's ability to raise additional capital; dilution to existing shareholders; risks related to global economic conditions and market volatility; environmental risks and hazards; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's public filings.

The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. For a more complete discussion of the risk factors affecting the Company, readers are encouraged to review the Company's filings available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Capitan's issuer profile.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284295

Source: Capitan Silver Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Great Pacific Gold Corp. (TSXV: GPAC) (OTCQX: GPGCF) (FSE: V3H) ("Great Pacific Gold," "GPAC," or the "Company") announces results and updates from its flagship Wild Dog Project ("Wild Dog" or the "Project"), located on the island of New Britain, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea ("PNG").

Diamond drilling at the Sinivit epithermal gold-copper target has been ongoing since May 2025, with recent drilling focused on testing the down-plunge extension of the Northern Sulphide high-grade shoot.

Key Highlights:

Sinivit Target - Northern Sulphide Shoot highlighted by intercepts (Table 1 and 2): WDG 15: 13.5m @ 8.08 g/t AuEq from 210.22 m (7.41 g/t Au, 0.31% Cu, 16.37 g/t Ag); WDG 08: 8.4 m @ 50.12 g/t AuEq from 154.0 m (46.46 g/t Au, 1.90% Cu, 59.63 g/t Ag); WDG 14: 9.5 m @ 13.72 g/t AuEq from 200.77 m (12.61 g/t Au, 0.59% Cu, 16.36 g/t Ag), and WDG 09: 5.0 m @ 4.93 g/t AuEq from 169.0 m (4.49 g/t Au, 0.22% Cu, 7.98 g/t Ag).



WDG-16 and WDG-17 intercepted the main Wild Dog structure below the high-grade shoot (Figure 1 cross-sections). Both holes encountered a strong degree of faulting and argillic alteration with minor zones of silicification. These faults have likely broken up the main zone of silicification hosting the mineralization.

WDG-18 intercepted the Wild Dog Structure at Sinivit target, northern depth extension with assay results pending. While awaiting results, rig temporarily moved to Kavasuki Target.

First hole KVH001 has reached ~100m depth (Figure 2), intersecting a breccia-dominant, silica-flooded vein system characterized by multi-phase quartz veining, strong brittle fracturing and zones of well-developed sulphide mineralization including pyrite and chalcopyrite. Geological features are consistent with a robust, structurally controlled hydrothermal system.

Second diamond drill rig has arrived in the Port of Rabaul, approximately 50km from the Wild Dog Project site and is being mobilized to site for drilling starting at the Kasie Ridge target.

"The Northern Sulphide Shoot is developing to be approximately 150 metres in vertical extent and approximately 500m in strike length to date, with the system remaining open at depth to the north. Hole 18 will be critical to refining our understanding of the plunge of the system. As a result, we have elected to await assay results and a fully updated model of the Northern Sulphide Shoot prior to drilling the next hole. In the meantime, we are encouraged by the first drill core from the Kavasuki target. Based on prior shallow drilling, we are targeting two high-grade ore shoots at Kavasuki, and the first hole has intersected a strongly mineralized, breccia-dominant quartz vein system with well-developed sulphide mineralization.

Rig 2 is currently mobilizing to Kasie Ridge, which is located at the northern end of the Wild Dog Structural Corridor and has the potential for a large-scale high-sulphidation epithermal target beneath an advanced argillic lithocap extending approximately 1.5 to 2.0 kilometres in strike length and several hundred metres in width," stated Greg McCunn, CEO. "Kasie Ridge represents a potentially significant discovery opportunity approximately 4.5 km north of Sinivit."

Figure 1: Northern Sulphide Shoot cross-sections looking north, illustrating the position of WDG-16 and WDG-17, which intercepted the main structure, but below the high-grade shoot. WDG-18 has intersected the main Wild Dog structure approximately 75 metres below WDG-09. Assay results are pending. Intervals shown represent downhole lengths.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/284294_grtpcfcfig1.jpg

Figure 2: Kavasuki target long-section looking west with location of KVH-01 highlighted and g/t-m contour intervals from historical shallow drilling.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Drilling at Kavasuki (KVH-01) has intersected a broad, vertically extensive zone of strongly silica-altered volcanic host rocks from approximately 40m downhole to the current depth of 100m. The planned end of hole depth is 150m. The core displays pervasive silicification, multi-phase quartz veining with grey quartz overprinting earlier milky quartz, and well-developed brittle fracturing consistent with a structurally controlled hydrothermal system.

Several intervals comprise hydrothermal breccia with angular clasts supported in a quartz matrix and localized zones of strong sulphide development, including pyrite and chalcopyrite along quartz domains and fracture margins. The geological features observed to date are highly encouraging and consistent with an active mineralized system at Kavasuki.

Figure 3: Kavasuki KVH-01 drill core (50.67-61.00m downhole) showing pervasive silica alteration and well-developed hydrothermal brecciation.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/284294_c9e1db182428cbd9_005full.jpg

Complete Wild Dog Drilling Results

Since commencing in May 2025, GPAC has completed 18 drill holes at Sinivit with Kavasuki drilling (KVH-01) now in progress. Details of the drilling are shown in Table 1, with key assay results received to date shown in Table 2.

Table 1: Wild Dog Drill Hole Details (PNG94 UTM Zone 56 coordinates).

Hole ID Easting Northing RL Dip Azi Max Depth

(m) Status WDG-01 394358.3 9488853.5 945 -50 115 40.1 Abandoned WDG-02 394426.0 9489024.2 900 -53 050 124.6 Completed WDG-03 394384.9 9488926.5 924 -50 053 127.6 Completed WDG-04 394384.8 9488926.5 924 -50 75 120.6 Completed WDG-05 394384.8 9488926.5 924 -50 116 105.9 Completed WDG-06 394428.6 9488923.1 911 -50 352 69.0 Completed WDG-07 394457.5 9489375.0 993 -61 114 201.3 Completed WDG-08 394455.5 9489373.0 993 -57 127 224 Completed WDG-09 394459.5 9489374.0 993 -58 85 203 Completed WDG-10 394475.1 9489484.0 965 -58 111 220.1 Completed WDG-10A 394476.1 9489484.0 965 -57 114 200.4 Completed WDG-11 394474.1 9489484.0 965 -68 114 253.4 Completed WDG-12 394413.7 9489301.5 982 -52 113 235.2 Completed WDG-13 394408.5 9489301.2 983 -63 102 261.3 Completed WDG-14 394389.2 9489356.0 1002 -55 103 258.3 Completed WDG-15 394385.7 9489385.6 1003 -60 115 253.3 Completed WDG-16 394395.1 9489407.2 984 -70 116 339.2 Completed WDG-17 394383.8 9489357.5 1002 -67 114 331.95 Completed WDG-18 394431.7 9489435.3 960 -65 112 263.8 Completed KVH-01 395247.0 9490693.0 842 -55 304 tbd Drilling

Table 2: Wild Dog Drill Hole Key Assay Results

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Interval1 (m) Gold

(g/t) Silver

(g/t) Copper (%) Gold Eq.2

(g/t) WDG-02 65.00 72.00 7.00 5.49 68.84 2.96 10.93 including 65.00 67.00 2.00 10.73 114.64 2.23 15.55 WDG-03 102.00 104.30 2.30 1.68 6.48 0.12 1.94 including 103.55 104.30 0.75 4.05 10.90 0.17 4.45 WDG-04 62.00 68.00 6.00 8.31 27.56 1.15 10.43 including 64.00 68.00 4.00 12.25 36.76 1.63 15.22 including 64.00 66.40 2.40 19.76 57.75 2.59 24.48 WDG-05 72.00 77.00 5.00 1.32 11.71 0.25 1.85 including 72.00 75.00 3.00 1.97 15.36 0.31 2.64 WDG-06 12.00 15.50 3.50 4.61 48.36 4.86 12.79 including 13.70 14.30 0.60 7.44 73.40 10.42 24.61 WDG-07 153.00 163.00 10.00 2.99 10.92 0.32 3.61 including 153.00 158.10 5.10 4.77 14.54 0.54 5.79 WDG-07 172.00 173.20 1.20 7.30 93.50 1.14 10.17 including 172.50 173.20 0.70 12.00 157.00 1.94 16.86 WDG-08 154.00 162.40 8.40 46.46 59.63 1.90 50.12 including 154.00 157.80 3.80 93.31 128.72 4.08 101.19 including 157.00 157.80 0.80 322.00 84.50 12.89 343.17 WDG-08 180.00 188.00 8.00 1.95 4.19 0.13 2.20 including 180.00 184.00 4.00 3.32 3.71 0.16 3.62 WDG-09 169.00 174.00 5.00 4.49 7.98 0.22 4.93 including 169.00 171.00 2.00 10.31 15.35 0.42 11.14 WDG-09 182.40 185.00 2.60 2.74 43.86 2.04 6.45 including 182.80 184.30 1.50 4.17 54.13 2.51 8.72 WDG-10 173.60 175.60 2.00 1.73 28.12 0.63 3.04 WDG-10 184.50 185.20 0.30 4.20 100.00 0.99 6.90 WDG-12 123.20 129.10 5.90 13.96 12.15 0.19 14.40 including 126.60 129.10 2.50 31.29 24.68 0.29 32.04 WDG-12 177.00 182.80 5.80 5.12 15.29 0.59 6.23 including 179.00 182.00 3.00 9.06 28.41 1.06 11.05 WDG-13 134.50 139.60 5.10 3.38 6.08 0.25 3.85 WDG-14 200.77 210.22 9.45 12.61 16.36 0.59 13.72 including 204.30 208.20 3.90 31.25 34.76 1.30 33.69 WDG-15 210.22 223.70 13.48 7.41 16.37 0.31 8.08 including 210.22 214.00 3.78 10.04 20.64 0.39 10.89

219.20 223.70 4.50 13.45 26.50 0.55 14.62 WDG-16 316.90 318.20 1.30 2.74 0 0.18 3.02 WDG-17 242.40 244.35 1.95 1.16 8.77 0.16 1.52

Notes:

Drill highlights presented above are core lengths (true widths are not known at this time). Gold equivalent (AuEq) exploration results are calculated using longer-term commodity prices with a copper price of US$4.50/lb, a silver price of US$27.50/oz and a gold price of US$2,000/oz. No metallurgical testing has been carried out on Wild Dog mineralized samples. For AuEq calculations, recovery assumptions of Au 92.6%, Ag 78.0%, and Cu 94.0% were used based on K92 Mining's stated recovery results in an Updated Definitive Feasibility Study for the Kainantu mine.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Callum Spink, the Company's Vice President, Exploration, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, MAIG, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Spink is responsible for the technical content of this news release. Mr. Spink is not independent of the Company.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC)

The Company follows industry-standard Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures. Diamond drill core (HQ and PQ diameter) was sawn in half, with one-half submitted to Intertek Minerals Ltd. in Lae, Papua New Guinea, an ISO 9001-certified independent analytical laboratory with internationally recognized quality standards.

Gold analyses were completed by fire assay, with copper and silver initially determined by aqua regia digestion and atomic absorption and subsequently updated using four-acid digestion (MS48) multi-element analysis.

Certified reference materials (standards) and blanks were inserted into the sample stream at industry-standard frequencies, including routine insertion of blanks following mineralised intervals. All assay batches received to date have passed QA/QC review and fall within acceptable tolerance limits.

Core recoveries were within acceptable ranges, and sampling procedures were carefully managed in areas of variable ground conditions.

About Great Pacific Gold

Great Pacific Gold's vision is to become the leading gold-copper development company in Papua New Guinea ("PNG"). The Company has a portfolio of exploration-stage projects in PNG, as follows:

Wild Dog Project: the Company's flagship project is located in the East New Britain province of PNG. The project consists of a large-scale epithermal target, the Wild Dog structural corridor, stretching 15 km in strike length and potentially over 1,000 metres deep based on a recent MobileMT geophysics survey. The survey also highlighted the Magiabe porphyry target, adjacent to the epithermal target and potentially 1,000 metres in diameter and over 2,000 metres deep. Drilling of the epithermal structure on the Sinivit target has yielded high-grade results, including WDG-08 which intercepted 8.4 metres at 50 g/t AuEq from 154 metres. The current drilling program will extend into 2026 with second drill rig expecting to be operational in February 2026.

Kesar Project: located in the Eastern Highlands province of PNG and contiguous with the mine tenements of K92 Mining Inc. ("K92"), the Kesar Project is a greenfield exploration project with several high-priority targets in close proximity to the property boundary with K92. Multiple epithermal veins at Kesar are on strike and have the same orientation as key K92 deposits, such as Kora. Exploration work to date by the Company at the Kesar Project has shown that these veins have high grades of gold present in outcrop and very elevated gold in soil grades, coincident with aeromagnetic highs. The Company conducted a diamond drill program on key target areas at the Kesar Project from November 2024 to May 2025 and have developed a follow-up Phase 2 program for 2026.

Arau Project: also located in the Eastern Highlands province of PNG, the Arau Project is south of and contiguous to the mine tenements of K92. Arau contains the highly prospective Mt. Victor exploration target with potential for a high sulphidation epithermal gold-base metal deposit. A Phase 1 Reverse Circulation drilling program was completed at Mt. Victor in August 2024, with encouraging results. The Arau Project includes the Elandora licence, which also contains various epithermal and copper-gold porphyry targets.

The Company also holds the Tinga Valley Project in PNG.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Great Pacific Gold cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, most of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Great Pacific Gold's limited operating history, its exploration and development activities on its mineral properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Great Pacific Gold does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Mineralization at the properties held by K92 Mining Inc. and at the Wafi-Golpu deposit is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at the Wild Dog Project.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284294

Source: Great Pacific Gold Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - American Tungsten Corp. (CSE: TUNG) (OTCQB: TUNGF) (FSE: RK90) ("American Tungsten" or the "Company") is pleased to report that a second drill rig is now operating at the IMA Mine, Lemhi County. Drilling on both the upper D-level and mid-Zero Level is now underway.

"Completion of initial mine rehabilitation on the Zero level and the start of drilling marks an important step forward, enabling increased productivity and accelerating the Phase 1 drill program," said Ali Haji, CEO of American Tungsten Corp. "Identifying new mineralization in underexplored areas is essential to realizing the full potential of the project."

Approximately 325 feet of the Zero level has been rehabilitated and a new drill station (DSZ-1) established in a cross cut 120 feet to the northeast. Drilling is being conducted by Rockhead Consulting LLC, with a Sandvik DE130 with NQ rods. Drilling from this location is designed to assess mineralization in the main IMA vein above the Zero level of the mine, south of historical production stopes and to test for mineralization in an additional parallel vein system to the northeast, depicted on historical maps and sections. Additional exploratory holes are planned targeting the main IMA vein at depth and intrusive hosted tungsten-molybdenum mineralization. 9 holes totaling 3800 feet are currently designed from this location but may be varied based on results.

Additional drilling is planned from a second drill station on the Zero level located approximately 720 feet beyond DSZ-1. This section of the Zero level was partially rehabilitated by prior operators and ground conditions are favorable for efficient re-establishment of access into the mine. This drilling is designed to test for continuity of significant tungsten intercepts in historical holes to the northeast and southwest of the main Ima vein drift, and also targets broad zones of tungsten-molybdenum mineralization identified in historical AMAX drift sampling in the cupola of the intrusion. Drilling from the second Zero level station may entail up to 10000 ft in 15 holes.

Additional information for these exploration targets was reported in the press release dated June 10, 2025.

American Tungsten initiated drilling on the D level of the mine in December 2025 and has completed over 4200 feet of drilling in 11 holes from new drill stations in the foot wall of the No.5 and No.7 vein systems. An additional 6 holes totaling approximately 2200 feet are currently planned from the second and third drill stations. To date, approximately 335 linear feet of new underground development has been completed and drifts are advanced to within 70 feet of the third drill station.





Figure 1: Drill Rig at the Zero Level

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Exploration data discussed above includes historical information which has not been verified and results from widely spaced drill holes and sampling. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. Exploration and drilling results discussed above are based on historical information, which has not been verified by sampling or assaying and should only be used to assess the potential grade of mineralisation, which may be targeted in future exploration programs.

About the IMA Mine

The IMA Mine is a past producing underground tungsten mine situated on 22 patented claims located in East Central Idaho. Between 1945 and 1957, the property produced approximately 199,449 MTUs of WO3 and was subsequently explored for molybdenum and tungsten by various operators between 1960-2010. American Tungsten Corp is currently conducting an exploration drill program and assessing potential for re-start of underground tungsten mining operations at the IMA Mine.

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI-43-101"). Austin Zinsser, P.G., SME-RM, Vice President, Exploration for the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About American Tungsten Corp.

American Tungsten Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on high-potential tungsten and magnetite assets in North America. The Company is advancing the IMA Mine Project in Idaho to commercial production, addressing critical metal scarcity in North America. The Company's IMA Mine Project is a historic and high-quality underground tungsten past-producing property on private-patented land well above the water table with significant infrastructure. The Company holds an exclusive option to acquire full ownership (subject to a 2% royalty) and has expanded its land position with 113 additional federal claims covering nearly 2,000 acres.

(CSE: TUNG)

(OTCQB: TUNGF)

(FSE: RK90)

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

This news release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to, statements relating to anticipated results of future drilling, plans for future drilling including stated footages and number of drillholes, recommencement of mining or production, pending analyses, future work plans and all the risks and uncertainties normally incident to such events. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future events and that actual events or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Company undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Statements concerning historical mineral resources, production, and exploration results on the property have been obtained through both public and private sources, and are believed to be substantially factual and relevant in that they demonstrate the tenor of exploration targets on the property. Historical resource estimates pre-date the implementation of NI 43-101 and do not use categories stipulated by CIM. Prior operators assigned confidence categories which differ from those stipulated by CIM, as they may not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimates should not be relied upon until they have been verified. Neither American Tungsten Corp., or its Qualified Person, has done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or to verify historical information regarding past production, sampling or drilling. American Tungsten Corp. is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Exploration Targets discussed are conceptual in nature; it is uncertain whether a mineral resource will be delineated based on potential exploration.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284283

Source: American Tungsten Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (OTCQX: BKRRF) (FSE: AHZ0) ("Blackrock" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has been named to the 2026 TSX Venture 50 list of top performing companies.

2026 TSX Venture 50



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Andrew Pollard, Blackrock's President and CEO, commented: "2025 was a transformative year for Blackrock, and we are grateful to the TSX Venture Exchange for recognizing the shareholder value we have created. We enter 2026 with strong momentum, supported by a robust treasury, an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment on track for delivery this quarter, and key permitting initiatives advancing at our flagship Nevada project. With silver now designated as a strategic and critical mineral in the United States, Tonopah West stands out as one of the few high-grade, domestic mineral projects progressing towards development."

TSX Venture 50TM is an annual ranking of the top performing companies over the last year on the TSX Venture Exchange. The companies are ranked based on three equally weighted criteria of one-year share price appreciation, market capitalization increase, and Canadian consolidated trading value.

In 2025, the Company's share price appreciated 273% and its market cap growth was 353%, positioning the Company as twenty-fifth overall on the 2026 TSX Venture 50 list.[1]

More details on the TSX Venture 50 can be found at: www.tsx.com/Venture50.

About Blackrock Silver Corp.

Blackrock Silver Corp. is an American-focused emerging primary silver developer systematically advancing the high-grade Tonopah West Project, situated in the historic "Queen of the Silver Camps" in a jurisdiction consistently ranked as one of the top mining regions globally. The Company is backstopped by a veteran board and technical team with a proven track record of discovering, financing, and building major precious metal mines in Nevada and globally. Blackrock is committed to establishing a secure, high-margin, domestic supply of silver and gold.

Additional information on Blackrock Silver Corp. can be found on its website at www.blackrocksilver.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things: the advancement of the Tonopah West project towards development, including the acceleration of permitting and de-risking initiatives at the Tonopah West project through key permitting and pre-development initiatives; and the intention to complete an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Tonopah West project in the first quarter of 2026.

These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones; the availability of skilled labour and no labour related disruptions at any of the Company's operations; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled activities; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals for operations are received in a timely manner; the ability to secure and maintain title and ownership to properties and the surface rights necessary for operations; and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data; general market, political, economic and industry conditions; and those factors identified under the caption "Risks Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form.

Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

[1] As at December 31, 2025.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284200

Source: Blackrock Silver Corp.
Genesys Cloud availability on AWS European Sovereign Cloud will offer organizations greater choice to innovate with AI while meeting strict sovereignty and regulatory requirements

Genesys, a global cloud leader in AI-Powered Experience Orchestration, today announced plans to make the Genesys Cloud platform available on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, a new independent cloud for Europe. This is intended to give organizations greater choice in how they pursue AI-driven innovation while addressing growing requirements for data sovereignty, residency and governance, particularly for regulated industries across the European Union (EU). As a launch partner for the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, Genesys is expected to be among the first experience orchestration companies to offer services through the Genesys Cloud European Sovereign region, reinforcing its commitment to enabling responsible agentic operations in highly regulated environments worldwide.

"Data sovereignty is no longer optional for organizations across Europe, particularly as they deploy AI at greater scale," said Olivier Jouve, chief product officer at Genesys. "By continuing to broaden Genesys Cloud deployment models with the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, we enable customers to maintain data sovereignty, retain control over their data, keep it within required jurisdictions and confidently use AI in highly regulated environments."

This expansion will build on the global scale of Genesys Cloud, which today operates across 21 AWS Regions, giving organizations a consistent platform to support customers and employees across geographies while adhering to regional compliance and oversight standards. With the AWS European Sovereign Cloud deployment option, organizations will be able to leverage a comprehensive set of Genesys Cloud capabilities with infrastructure entirely located within the EU.

Meeting the Needs of Europe's Most Regulated Organizations

Across Europe, highly regulated sectors, including government, financial services, healthcare and critical infrastructure, face mounting pressure to modernize citizen, customer and employee experiences while maintaining strict controls over data, access and operational autonomy. According to 88% of European business leaders surveyed for the Digital Sovereignty Report from Genesys with AWS and PAC, "Driving innovation and developing new data-based business models without compromising digital sovereignty" are important aspects of organizations' sovereignty considerations. At the same time, concerns about exposure to extraterritorial legislation and operational dependency can slow adoption and innovation.

The Genesys Cloud European Sovereign region is designed to help organizations address these challenges to speed up progress. It will support local governance, data residency and operational oversight requirements without forcing trade-offs between innovation, security and performance. Customer data will remain in the EU under strict access controls and governance, supported by EU-based Genesys security, services and support teams.

By becoming available on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, Genesys enables organizations to reduce regulatory friction and move forward with digital and AI initiatives more confidently. For public sector agencies and regulated enterprises, this approach provides a clearer path to advancing customer experience delivery and operational efficiency while maintaining trust, transparency and control in line with regional expectations.

"Digital sovereignty is becoming a foundational requirement for cloud and AI adoption in Europe," said Oru Mohiuddin, Research Director at IDC. "By making Genesys Cloud available on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, Genesys is addressing a critical barrier for regulated organizations, enabling them to modernize while meeting increasing regulatory and governance requirements."

To ensure innovation is delivered responsibly, Genesys Cloud is built on a comprehensive compliance and security framework aligned with global and regional regulatory requirements. Currently, Genesys Cloud aligns with global compliance standards such as SOC 2 Type 1; ISO/IEC 27001, 27017, 27018, 27701, as well as with European regulation and compliance frameworks including the General Data Protection Regulation, Digital Operational Resilience Act and German Federal Office for Information Security's Cloud Computing Compliance Controls Catalogue (C5).

The Genesys Cloud European Sovereign region is expected to be available on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud in the second quarter of the company's fiscal year (May 1, 2026-July 31, 2026). For more information, visit genesys.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical or current facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Unless required by law, Genesys undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this press release.

About Genesys

Genesys empowers more than 8,000 organizations worldwide to create the best customer and employee experiences. With agentic AI at its core, Genesys Cloud is the AI-Powered Experience Orchestration platform that connects people, systems, data and AI across the enterprise. As a result, organizations can drive customer loyalty, growth and retention while increasing operational efficiency and teamwork across human and AI workforces. To learn more, visit www.genesys.com.

2026 Genesys. All rights reserved. Genesys and the Genesys logo are trademarks, service marks and/or registered trademarks of Genesys. All other company names and logos may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218841640/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Marielle Sedin

Marielle.sedin@genesys.com

Zeno Group

Genesys@zenogroup.com
Global organizations face AI-enhanced cybercrime, record ransomware incidents, and an uptick in phishing attacks, highlighting the need for strong cyber defenses

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acronis, a global leader in cybersecurity and data protection, released its biannual report, "Acronis Cyberthreats Report H2 2025: From exploits to malicious AI", analyzing global threat activity based on telemetry collected by the Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) and Acronis sensors. The report highlights key trends observed throughout 2025, with a focus on the second half of the year.

The findings reveal a continued surge in cyberattacks. Email-based attacks increased 16% per organization and 20% per user year-over-year, while phishing remained the leading entry point, responsible for 52% of attacks targeting managed service providers (MSPs). Advanced attacks on collaboration platforms jumped from 12% in 2024 to 31% in 2025, signaling a shift toward high-impact secondary attack channels.





Key cybersecurity trends in 2025 include:

PowerShell abuse dominates: The most abused legitimate tool globally, particularly in Germany, the U.S., and Brazil.

The most abused legitimate tool globally, particularly in Germany, the U.S., and Brazil. Phishing remains rampant: In H2 2025, phishing accounted for 83% of all email threats.

In H2 2025, phishing accounted for 83% of all email threats. High-risk MSP vulnerabilities: All MSP-platform CVEs disclosed in 2025 were rated High or Critical, despite overall low numbers.

All MSP-platform CVEs disclosed in 2025 were rated High or Critical, despite overall low numbers. AI goes operational: Cybercriminals increasingly integrated AI into day-to-day attack workflows, including reconnaissance, ransomware negotiation, and social engineering.

Cybercriminals increasingly integrated AI into day-to-day attack workflows, including reconnaissance, ransomware negotiation, and social engineering. Geographic hotspots: India, the U.S., and the Netherlands saw the highest mass infection and lateral movement rates, while South Korea was the most malware-affected country, with 12% of users impacted.

India, the U.S., and the Netherlands saw the highest mass infection and lateral movement rates, while South Korea was the most malware-affected country, with 12% of users impacted. Sector pressure points: Manufacturing, technology, and healthcare were the top ransomware targets due to uptime pressure and complex, distributed environments.

2025 also saw a dramatic rise in AI-assisted cybercrime. Threat actors leveraged AI to scale attacks, automate reconnaissance, and optimize extortion strategies. For example, GLOBAL GROUP used AI-driven systems to manage ransomware negotiations efficiently across multiple victims, while GTG-2002 employed AI-assisted reconnaissance and data exfiltration to maximize impact. Even social-engineering attacks evolved: virtual kidnapping scams used AI to generate convincing "proof of life" images, deceiving victims and amplifying psychological pressure. These innovations highlight a new era of cybercrime, where speed, sophistication, and scale challenge traditional defenses.

"As cyber threats evolve at an accelerated pace, 2025 has shown that attackers are not only scaling traditional methods like phishing and ransomware, but are leveraging AI to act faster, more efficiently, and at greater scale," said Gerald Beuchelt, CISO at Acronis. "Attackers are increasingly integrating AI into their operations, so the cybersecurity landscape is entering a new era. This shift requires organizations to anticipate threats, automate defenses, and build resilient systems capable of withstanding both traditional and AI-driven attacks."

Ransomware continued to dominate the threat landscape. Nearly 150 MSP and telecom organizations were directly targeted, while over 7,600 victims were publicly disclosed globally. The most active ransomware groups included Qilin (962 victims), Akira (726), and Cl0p (517). Manufacturing, technology, and healthcare sectors were disproportionately affected, with the United States recording the highest number of victims at 3,243. New ransomware groups also emerged in H2 2025, including Sinobi, TheGentlemen, and CoinbaseCartel.

Supply chain and MSP-targeted attacks remain a significant concern. Attackers exploited RMM tools such as AnyDesk and TeamViewer, impacting over 1,200 third-party and supply chain victims, with the U.S. seeing the greatest exposure at 574 victims. Akira and Cl0p were the dominant actors in these attacks, underscoring the persistent risk to MSPs and their clients.

To learn more about the report and its findings, visit the Acronis blog here: https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/acronis-cyberthreats-report-h2-2025-cybercriminals-are-now-scaling-attacks-with-ai

For more information, download a copy of the full Acronis H2 2025 Cyberthreats Report here: https://www.acronis.com/en/resource-center/resource/acronis-cyberthreats-report-h2-2025



About Acronis:

Acronis is a global cyber protection company that provides natively integrated cybersecurity , data protection, and endpoint management for managed service providers (MSPs), small and medium businesses (SMBs), and enterprise IT departments. Acronis solutions are highly efficient and designed to identify, prevent, detect, respond, remediate, and recover from modern cyberthreats with minimal downtime, ensuring data integrity and business continuity. Acronis offers the most comprehensive security solution on the market for MSPs with its unique ability to meet the needs of diverse and distributed IT environments.



A Swiss company founded in Singapore in 2003, Acronis has 15 offices worldwide and employees in 50+ countries. Acronis Cyber Protect is available in 26 languages in 150 countries and is used by over 21,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses. Learn more at www.acronis.com .

Acronis Press Contact:

Julia Carfagno

Senior Global Communications Manager

Julia.Carfagno@acronis.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d810206d-1a25-4f15-a968-cfd51b812f09
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") as a 2026 Top 50 Company, ranking in sixth place.

The TSX Venture 50 is an annual ranking of the top performing companies from the past year on the TSXV based on three equally weighted criteria: market capitalization growth, share price appreciation and trading value. The TSX Venture 50 showcases the top 50 of the over 1,600 TSXV issuers.

In 2025, Omai Gold's share price appreciated 483% over 2024 positioning the Company as sixth overall on the 2026 TSX Venture 50TM list. At the end of 2024, Omai Gold's market capitalization was ~C$125 million and by the end of 2025, Omai Gold's market capitalization had risen to ~C$938 million.

"We are honoured to be included on the 2026 TSX Venture 50 list," said Elaine Ellingham, President and Chief Executive Officer of Omai Gold. "2025 was a significant year for the Company as we continued to significantly increase our gold Mineral Resource Estimate through drilling at our project in Guyana. This moved Omai forward and to be recognized in this way is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the full Omai team."

Andrew Creech, President, TSX Venture Exchange stated, "The 2026 TSX Venture 50 reflects a clear inflection point for early-stage finance, with a return of liquidity and capital that reinforces Canada's position as a world-leading centre for resource discovery, strategic innovation, and scale. This year's ranking underscores the vital role TSXV plays in channeling capital to the mining sector and serving as the primary growth pipeline for the next generation of global mineral supply."

ABOUT OMAI GOLD

Omai Gold Mines Corp. is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on rapidly expanding the two orogenic gold deposits at its 100%-owned Omai Gold Project in mining-friendly Guyana, South America. The Company has established the Omai Gold Project as one of the fastest growing and well-endowed gold camps in the prolific Guiana Shield.

In August 2025, the Company announced a 96% increase to the Wenot Gold Deposit NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate1 (MRE) to 970,000 ounces of gold (Indicated) averaging 1.46 g/t Au, contained in 20.7 Mt and 3,717,000 ounces of gold (Inferred MRE) averaging 1.82 g/t Au, contained in 63.4 Mt. This brings the global MRE at Omai, including the Wenot and adjacent Gilt deposit, to 2,121,000 ounces of gold (Indicated MRE) averaging 2.07 g/t Au in 31.9 Mt and 4,382,000 ounces of gold (Inferred MRE) averaging 1.95 g/t Au in 69.9 Mt.

The Company completed 39,000m of diamond drilling in 2025. An updated MRE is planned for Q1 2026 to be followed by an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in Q2, that will include the Wenot open pit deposit and the adjacent Gilt underground deposit. Three drills have commenced the 2026 drill program: at Wenot the focus is to further test the limits of the deposit, including both east and west, and to commence upgrading the large Inferred MRE to Indicated. Additional drilling will continue to explore certain known gold occurrences for possible near-surface higher-grade satellite deposits. The Omai Gold Mine produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold from 1993 to 20052, ceasing operations when gold was below US$400 per ounce. The Omai brownfields project benefits from known metallurgical recoveries, existing tailings facilities, and infrastructure, including an on-site airstrip, and road access, connecting to the two largest cities in Guyana, Georgetown and Linden.

1 NI 43-101 Technical Report dated October 9, 2025 titled "UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE OMAI GOLD PROPERTY, POTARO MINING DISTRICT NO.2, GUYANA" was prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. and is available on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website.

2 Past production at the Omai Mine (1993-2005) is summarized in several Cambior Inc. documents available on www.sedarplus.ca, including March 31, 2006 AIF and news release August 3, 2006.

Qualified Person

Elaine Ellingham, P.Geo., is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Ms. Ellingham is a director and officer of the Company and is not considered to be independent for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of completion of the drill program, and the potential for the Omai Gold Project to allow Omai to build significant gold Mineral Resources at attractive grades, and forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; the price of gold and copper; and the results of current exploration. Further, the Mineral Resource data set out in this news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of process recovery will be realized. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Cautionary Statements to U.S. Readers

This news release uses the terms "Mineral Resource", "Indicated Mineral Resource" and "Inferred Mineral Resource" as defined in the CIM Standards in accordance with NI 43-101. While these terms are recognized and required by the Canadian Securities Administrators in accordance with Canadian securities laws, they may not be recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The "Mineral Resource" Estimates and related information in this news release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284319

Source: Omai Gold Mines Corp.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Volatus Aerospace Inc. (TSXV: FLT) (OTCQX: TAKOF) (FSE: ABB) ("Volatus" or the "Company"), a Canadian-controlled aerospace and defence platform delivering dual-use uncrewed systems, aerial intelligence, and mission-critical operational services, is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as one of the 2025 top 50 performers on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), based on an outstanding 279% share price appreciation and 441% market capitalization growth in 2025. The Company was ranked in the top 3 technology companies in the category and 16th overall.

The TSX Venture 50 is an annual ranking of the top performing companies from the past year on TSXV based on three equally weighted criteria: market capitalization growth, share price appreciation and trading value. The TSX Venture 50 showcases the top 50 of the over 1,600 TSXV issuers.

Glen Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Volatus Aerospace, commented:

"This recognition reflects the discipline and focus our team has brought to execution. Over the past year, we strengthened our balance sheet, integrated operations, and sharpened our commercial strategy across defence, public safety, and critical infrastructure markets.

The momentum we are seeing is not cyclical, it is structural. Demand for sovereign, secure uncrewed capabilities continue to accelerate, and we are investing accordingly in manufacturing readiness, operational scale, and long-term partnerships. Our priority remains converting this momentum into durable revenue, margin expansion, and sustained shareholder value."

Andrew Creech, President, TSX Venture Exchange commented, "The 2026 TSX Venture 50 reflects a clear inflection point for early-stage finance, with a return of liquidity and capital that reinforces Canada's position as a world-leading centre for resource discovery, strategic innovation, and scale. This year's ranking underscores the vital role TSXV plays in channeling capital to the mining sector and serving as the primary growth pipeline for the next generation of global mineral supply.

More details on the TSX Venture 50 and a video highlighting Volatus Aerospace Inc. can be found at: www.tsx.com/Venture50.

About Volatus Aerospace

Volatus Aerospace is a global provider of integrated dual-use aerial solutions for commercial and defence applications, leveraging both piloted and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). The Company serves industries including oil and gas, utilities, healthcare, and public safety. Volatus' mission is to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and resilience through real-world, scalable aerial technologies.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities, events, developments and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "seeks", "strategy" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the business plans, business outlook and expectations of the Company; and (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management's current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include but are not limited to: the commercialization of drone flights beyond visual line of sight and potential benefits to the Company; and meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

COMPANY WEBSITE

https://volatusaerospace.com

SOURCE: Volatus Aerospace Inc.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284322

Source: Toronto Stock Exchange
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Torr Metals Inc. (TSXV: TMET) ("Torr" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from 14 reconnaissance rock grab samples collected in late 2025 from an extensive historical trench network identified through LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), returning assays of up to 13.1 g/t gold (Au) within the Oscar Zone at its 100%-owned 202 km Filion Gold Project in northern Ontario (Figure 1).

Of the samples collected from outcrop and trench float, six returned >1 g/t Au, including three grading >7 g/t Au over a 140-metre strike length, representing just 16% of the approximately 900-metre total strike extent of trenches originally excavated in the 1930s (Figure 1), the rest of which remain unsampled. Historical records indicate minimal activity in the area since 1948, and although limited drilling is referenced in the broader corridor, no verifiable drill locations or assay results have been identified, leaving the trenched area effectively untested by modern drilling. The historical trenches are road-accessible via legacy exploration trails located 2.3 kilometres north of the Trans-Canada Highway 11 and approximately 37 kilometres northwest of Kapuskasing, the Project's operational base.

The confirmation of high-grade gold mineralization validates historical reports and supports Torr's interpretation of the Filion structural corridor as a significant, underexplored gold-bearing system. These results further demonstrate the strength of the structural architecture controlling gold mineralization and confirm Oscar as a potential bedrock source of one of two significant anomalous soil clusters identified in 2025 (see March 3, 2025 news release). Soil assays from this cluster returned values of up to 1.04 g/t Au, accompanied by elevated arsenic (As), tellurium (Te), tungsten (W), bismuth (Bi), and sulfur (S); a geochemical signature characteristic of regional orogenic gold systems.

To secure the full extent of this interpreted district-scale deformation system, Torr has consolidated and extended the Filion Gold Project to cover the entire ~60 kilometre (km) strike length of the Filion structural corridor. Notably, only an approximate 8% of this corridor has been systematically explored using modern exploration methods, all of which has been carried out by Torr since first staking the project in October 2023.

Highlights:

High-Grade Gold Confirms Corridor Potential and Supports Second Gold Target: Results validate the gold-bearing capacity of the Filion structural corridor, support the interpreted source of the 2025 Oscar gold soil anomaly, and materially enhance the prospectivity of the Miller Zone soil anomaly (up to 1.32 g/t Au in soil) located 1.4 km west along the same first-order east-west structural system, which remains untested by documented drilling (Figure 1).

Structural Intersections Define High-Priority Targets: The primary targets are defined by east-west oriented linear magnetic anomalies, interpreted to delineate prospective lithological and structural boundaries within multi-kilometre deformation breaks (see Filion West, Central, and East zones; Figure 1). These corridors are locally intersected and disrupted by northeast-southwest structures, creating zones of structural complexity that may have focused strain and hydrothermal fluid flow; representing priority target areas for potential enhanced gold deposition (Figure 1).

Integrated Geophysics Strengthens Future Drill Targeting: High magnetic trends define magnetite-bearing stratigraphy and structural corridors, including localized deformation breaks interpreted as potential alteration or structural disruption zones of the high magnetic signature (Filion West, Central, and East targets areas; Figure 1, Figure 2). VLF/EM (Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic) geophysical surveys completed in 2025 delineated conductive features interpreted to represent shear zones, flanking resistive domains that may reflect silica flooding and/or intrusive bodies coincident with or marginal to high-grade surface mineralization, providing additional context for prioritizing drill targets.

"These results continue to highlight Filion's capacity to potentially deliver a meaningful new gold discovery within a highly prospective orogenic gold district held by Torr," stated Malcolm Dorsey, President and CEO of Torr Metals. "High-grade rock grab samples of up to 13.1 g/t gold, coincident with undrilled geophysical and soil anomalies, reinforce the strength and continuity of mineralization at Oscar and along the broader 60-kilometre Filion structural corridor. Importantly, this target is located just 2.3 kilometres from the Trans-Canada Highway, with adjacent rail and power infrastructure, meaning any potential future discovery would benefit from immediate, real-world access."

"Filion provides the Company with significant strategic optionality while our primary focus remains at the Kolos Copper-Gold Project, where our fully funded Phase 2 drill program of up to 6,000 metres is scheduled to test newly defined, highly prospective copper-gold porphyry targets along Highway 5 in Q2 2026. With only a limited portion of the Filion structural corridor systematically evaluated using modern exploration methods, we see clear potential to unlock additional value through disciplined advancement alongside our core copper-gold strategy."

Figure 1. Regional residual magnetic intensity (RMI) geophysical survey outlining the Filion Gold Project with annotated target areas and location of the Oscar gold occurrence with select 2025 rock grab sample.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6794/284251_69820048f4ff8836_001full.jpg

Figure 2. A. Vertical derivative of the 2025 residual magnetic intensity (RMI) ground magnetic survey with annotated interpretations, LiDAR trench outlines, and 2025 rock grab sampling with select results. B.VLF-EM inversion model displaying conductivity depth slice at 50 m.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6794/284251_69820048f4ff8836_002full.jpg

Structural and Regional Interpretation

The Filion structural corridor is interpreted as a first-order east-west (E-W) belt-parallel deformation system, consistent with dominant structural grain observed throughout northern Ontario greenstone belts (Figure 1). Such E-W corridors commonly define major deformation zones, stratigraphic contacts, and iron-formation-bearing packages capable of hosting long-lived gold systems. Within this belt-scale architecture, northeast-southwest (NE-SW) trending structures are interpreted as transverse shear corridors that may localize deformation, create dilational jogs, and enhance hydrothermal fluid flow where they intersect the dominant E-W trend. Torr has identified areas where the magnetic and structural grain transitions from E-W into NE-SW orientations, a geometry commonly associated with structural complexity and enhanced prospectivity.

The highest-grade sampling in the Oscar Zone to date is spatially associated with:

Pyrite lenses with trace chalcopyrite associated with quartz veining, silica-sericite, carbonate chlorite, and fuchsite alteration. Native gold is noted in historical records but remains to be verified.

Coincident with the margins of a high magnetic anomaly (ground geophysical survey), outlining magnetite-bearing metasediments, metavolcanics, and intermediate intrusions within a large-scale fold structure.

Overprinting resistive zones interpreted as silica flooding (alteration), bounded by conductive shear features identified by VLF/EM.

This structural setting, being belt-parallel deformation upgraded by cross-structures, fold complexity, and intrusive interactions is consistent with architectural controls observed throughout regional orogenic gold systems.

2025 VLF/EM Geophysical Survey Highlights

Torr's 2025 VLF/EM survey outlines:

Moderate to steeply dipping conductive shear structures, and

Adjacent low-conductivity (resistive) domains interpreted as either felsic intrusions (including quartz-feldspar porphyries and diorite bodies) and/or strongly silicified alteration corridors.

In Archean greenstone environments, a resistive silica-flooded core flanked by conductive shear margins may represent:

A structurally prepared fluid pathway,

Sulphide-bearing alteration zones, and/or

Graphitic metasedimentary horizons acting as fluid conduits.

The Company notes that VLF/EM is sensitive to near-surface conductors and additional ground truthing is planned to confirm the bedrock source of conductive responses.

Quality Assurance and Control

Results from samples were analyzed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Thunder Bay, Canada (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. At ALS the samples were digested using Aqua Regia and analyzed via ICP-MS and ICP-AES using a 25g sample aliquot under the ALS code AuME-TL43. The Company follows industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the Filion Project. Due to the reconnaissance nature of the rock sampling the Company relied on the internal quality assurance quality control ("QA/QC") measures of ALS. Torr Metals detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., a consultant to the Company who is a non independent qualified person defined under National Instrument 43-101.

About Torr Metals

Torr Metals, headquartered in Edmonton, AB, is focused on unlocking new copper and gold discovery potential within proven, highly accessible mining districts across Canada, areas with both established infrastructure and a growing need for near-term feed. Torr's 100%-owned, district-scale assets are strategically located for cost-effective, year-round exploration and development. The 275 km Kolos Copper-Gold Project and strategically option 57 km2 Bertha Property, situated in southern British Columbia's prolific Quesnel Terrane, lies just 30 km southeast of the Highland Valley Copper Mine, Canada's largest open-pit copper operation, and 40 km south of the city of Kamloops directly along Highway 5. In northern Ontario, the 261 km Filion Gold Project covers a virtually unexplored greenstone belt with high-grade orogenic gold potential. It sits just off the Trans-Canada Highway 11, approximately 42 km from Kapuskasing and 202 km by road from the Timmins mining camp, home to world-class operations like Hollinger, McIntyre, and Dome. To learn more, visit Torr Metals online or view company documents via SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Torr Metals Inc.

"Malcolm Dorsey"

Malcolm Dorsey

President, CEO and Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings, and the future plans or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284251

Source: Torr Metals Inc.
Fully-funded 60,000 m diamond drill program has commenced at RC Gold; drilling planned for this year will effectively double the total meters drilled to date

30,000 m of drilling allocated to the newly discovered Rhosgobel gold deposit , which is open in all directions, where initial drilling has intersected consistent gold mineralization in all 43 holes drilled to date over a strike length of 1.1 km.

Gold mineralization begins at surface at the Rhosgobel target which is defined by a large 1.5 x 2 km gold-in-soil anomaly , much of which remains largely undrilled Highlights from Rhosgobel include hole DDRCRG-25-010 returning up to 235.9 m of 1.11 g/t Au , including 40.0 m of 2.01 g/t Au , from surface Significant tungsten mineralization has been observed in drilling at Rhosgobel which could be an economic by-product of potential future production Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for Rhosgobel anticipated in Q1 for 2026 based on approximately 13,000 m completed across 43 diamond drill holes completed to date

15,000 m of drilling planned for the Blackjack-Saddle-Eiger corridor to further expand existing gold deposits, following up on higher-grade gold zones discovered at depth at Blackjack and Eiger and the higher-grade near surface gold zone discovered at Saddle Highlights from Blackjack include hole DDRCRG-24-068 returning up to 678.1 m of 1.04 g/t Au , including 93.0 m of 2.37 g/t Au and 5.5 m of 17.59 g/t Au , from surface The Saddle zone, located within the conceptual pit limits of Blackjack, has returned up to 47.6 m of 2.09 g/t Au, including 8.0 m of 5.7 g/t Au ,in DDRCCC-25-087 Eiger drilling highlights include hole DDRCCC-25-109 which returned up to 121.0 m of 0.75 g/t Au including 26.0 m of 0.58 g/t Au

10,000 m of drilling planned for the Pukelman-Contact zone , located partway between the Blackjack / Eiger gold deposits and the Rhosgobel gold deposit. Drilling to date has intersected gold mineralization over a 900 m x 650 m area from surface to a depth of 430 m. Highlights from this zone include up to 119.0 m of 1.01 g/t Au from surface including 10.7 m of 4.10 g/t Au and 3.9 m of 5.51 g/t Au in DDRCCC-25-113

5,000 m of drilling planned to follow up on several other high-priority targets, including the Bear Paw breccia target where Sitka's first drill hole last year returned up to 21.0 m of 1.05 g/t Au , including 10.0 m of 1.64 g/t Au and including 3.5 m of 2.29 g/t Au, in DDRCCC-25-117

Additional exploration of several other drill targets within or proximal to known Tombstone Suite intrusions that have received either limited or no diamond drilling that will comprise the remainder of the 2026 drill campaign.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Sitka Gold Corp. (TSXV: SIG) (FSE: 1RF) (OTCQB: SITKF) ("Sitka" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced its 2026 diamond drilling program, with up to 60,000 metres of drilling planned, at its road accessible, 100% owned RC Gold Project ("RC Gold" or the "Project") located in the prolific Tombstone Gold Belt in Yukon. The primary focus of the 60,000 metre drilling program at RC Gold this year will be to continue expanding known gold deposits, all of which begin at surface and remain open in all directions, and to further test high-priority drill targets within the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex (CCIC) and elsewhere across the district-scale, 431 square kilometre property (see Figure 2). Of the 60,000 metres of drilling planned for this year, 30,000 metres has been allocated to further expand the newly discovered Rhosgobel gold deposit which lies within a large 1.5 x 2.0 kilometre gold-in-soil anomaly, much of which remains untested with diamond drilling. Up to 15,000 metres of drilling is planned across the Blackjack-Saddle-Eiger corridor to further expand the Blackjack and Eiger gold deposits and follow up on newly discovered higher-grade gold zones, including the near surface higher-grade gold zone discovered at Saddle. Up to 10,000 metres of drilling is also anticipated for the Pukelman-Contact zone where drilling to date has intersected gold mineralization over a 650 m x 900 m area from surface to a depth of 430 metres. Up to 5,000 metres of drilling has been allocated to follow up on several other high-priority targets that have received limited to no diamond drilling to date. These include the Bear Paw, Josephine, Big Creek, Barney Ridge, May-Qu and Alp targets, which have all been shown to host reduced intrusion-related gold mineralization.

Figure 1: Long Section showing target areas from the Blackjack deposit to the Bear Paw target and the proposed drilling allocated as part of the 60,000 metre diamond drilling program planned for 2026.

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"We are excited to be getting another early start to the year as we embark on what will be one of the largest diamond drilling campaigns ever completed in the Yukon," said Cor Coe, Director and CEO of Sitka Gold. "Since our initial discovery hole was completed at Blackjack in 2021, the drilling at RC Gold has rapidly advanced the Project from a grassroots target to a well-endowed gold camp with several gold deposits that have now been discovered. The Company believes there is significant potential for the discovery of additional gold deposits within RC Gold where 11 known intrusions have been discovered at surface to date, all of which have been shown to host intrusion-related gold mineralization. With up to 60,000 metres of drilling planned for 2026, which will effectively double the total amount of diamond drilling completed to date at the Project, we anticipate another transformational year of rapid resource growth and advancement as we continue to unlock the value at RC Gold."

2026 Exploration Plans at Rhosgobel

Of the 60,000 metres of diamond drilling planned at RC Gold this year, approximately 30,000 metres will be dedicated to the newly discovered Rhosgobel gold deposit. Discovered at the end of 2024 with an initial two-hole program, the Rhosgobel intrusion target saw significant drilling advancement in 2025 with approximately 13,000 metres of diamond drilling now completed. Drilling has shown strong continuity of robust gold mineralization that begins at surface persists across a 1.1 km strike, with impressive intercepts such as 235.9 metres of 1.11 g/t gold including 40.0 metres of 2.01 g/t gold drilled from surface in hole DDRCRG-25-010 (see news release dated September 18, 2025). Drilling has also discovered the presence of significant tungsten mineralization at Rhosgobel with up to 85.4 metres of 0.138% WO3 from 94.0 metres, 60.0 metres of 0.134% WO3 from 202.0 metres, and 35.0 metres of 0.121% WO3 from 285.0 metres intersected in DDRCRG-25-004, demonstrating the potential for tungsten to be a significant by-product of potential future production at Rhosgobel (see news release dated January 22, 2026).

The deposit, which remains open in all directions, lies within a large 1.5 x 2.0 km gold-in-soil anomaly surface signature, much of which remains untested with diamond drilling, highlighting the potential for this target to host a gold deposit of significant size. The publication of an initial MRE for Rhosgobel is anticipated for Q1 of 2026.

Figure 2: Plan map showing the drilling completed to date at the Rhosgobel discovery where much of the 1.5 x 2 km target area defined by a strong gold-in-soil anomaly remains untested. Up to 30,000 metres of drilling is planned at Rhosgobel in 2026.

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Additional Exploration Plans for 2026

Up to 15,000 metres of diamond drilling this year will be dedicated to the Blackjack-Saddle-Eiger zone to further expand the Blackjack and Eiger gold deposits, both of which still remain open in all directions.

Drilling at Blackjack is anticipated to further expand gold mineralization while following up on the higher-grade gold zone at depth. Past intercepts at Blackjack include up to 678.1 m of 1.04 g/t Au, including 93.0 m of 2.37 g/t Au and 5.5 m of 17.59 g/t Au, from surface in DDRCCC-25-068 (see news release dated October 21, 2024).

Drilling will also focus on the high-grade, near-surface gold mineralization discovered at the Saddle zone, which is located within Blackjack's conceptual pitshell, partway between Blackjack and Eiger, and has the potential to add significant gold ounces to Blackjack's mineral resources (see Figure 1). Recent intercepts at Saddle include up to 47.6 m of 2.09 g/t Au, including 8.0 m of 5.7 g/t Au, in DDRCCC-25-087 (see news release dated June 17, 2025).

Meanwhile, drilling at Eiger will continue to delineate that gold deposit where much of the host intrusion remains untested and results from 2025 drilling appear to show a higher-grade gold zone materializing at depth (see Figure 3). Recent drilling at Eiger returned up to 121.0 m of 0.75 g/t Au including 26.0 m of 0.58 g/t Au in DDRCCC-25-109 (see news release dated December 2, 2025).

For additional information on the Blackjack and Eiger gold deposits, please see the About the RC Gold Project section in this release.

Figure 3: Cross section showing the existing resources at the Blackjack and Eiger deposits, both of which remain open in all directions. Initial winter drilling at Blackjack will follow up on the higher-grade zone of gold that has been discovered at depth.

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* Simpson, R. January 21, 2025. Clear Creek Property, RC Gold Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory

** Simpson, R. January 19, 2023.. Clear Creek Property, RC Gold Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory

Up to 10,000 m of drilling will also follow up on the recent Pukelman-Contact discovery, where drilling in 2025 returned strong gold values such as those seen in DDRCCC-25-113 which returned 119.0 metres of 1.01 g/t gold from near-surface, including 10.7 metres of 4.10 g/t gold, 3.9 metres of 5.51 g/t gold, and 1.2 of 24.80 g/t gold (see news release dated November 12, 2025). Drilling to date has now intersected strong gold mineralization across a 650 m x 900 m area beginning at surface to a depth of 430 metres with mineralization remaining open in all directions (see Figure 4).

Figure 4: Plan map showing drilling and soil sampling completed at the Pukelman-Contact target. Drilling to date has intersected gold mineralization across a 650 m x 900 m area beginning at surface and extending to 430 m in depth.

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Drilling will also follow up at the Bear Paw breccia target, a 500 m x 200 m mineralized breccia zone previously defined by soil sampling and shallow drilling. Sitka completed one drill hole at Bear Paw last year which confirmed the presence of significant gold mineralization with up to 21.0 m of 1.05 g/t Au, including 10.0 m of 1.64 g/t Au and including 3.5 m of 2.29 g/t Au, returned in DDRCCC-25-117 (see news release dated January 20, 2026). Additional drilling is planned this year to further expand the mineralized zone at Bear Paw.

Additional work is also planned for several other RIRGS targets, including Josephine, Big Creek, Barney Ridge, May-Qu, ALP and Mahtin, all of which have been shown to host gold mineralization with characteristics similar to those seen at the Project's existing deposits, along with follow up work at other regional exploration targets located across the fertile RC Gold property (see Figure 5).

Figure 5: A plan map showing the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex (CCIC) location within the district-scale RC Gold Project along with the updated resource areas at Blackjack and Eiger, the newly discovered Rhosgobel deposit and several other high-priority drill targets and multiple exploration targets. The map highlights the numerous drill targets that Sitka has outlined within the CCIC which all are connected by the existing road network on the Project and occur in an area measuring approximately five (5) km north-south and twelve (12) km east-west. Several regional exploration and drill targets are also highlighted across the project area (yellow and orange stars).

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About the RC Gold Project

Sitka's 100% owned, flagship RC Gold Project consists of a 431 square kilometre contiguous district-scale land package located in the heart of Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. The project is located approximately 100 kilometres east of Dawson City, which has a 5,000 foot paved runway, and is accessed via a secondary gravel road from the Klondike Highway which is usable year-round and is an approximate 2 hour drive from Dawson City. It is one of the largest consolidated land packages strategically positioned mid-way between the Eagle Gold Mine and the past producing Brewery Creek Gold Mine.

The RC Gold Project now has pit-constrained mineral resources that are contained in two zones: the Blackjack and Eiger gold deposits with 1,291,000 ounces of gold in 39,962,000 tonnes grading 1.01 g/t gold in an indicated category and 1,044,000 ounces of gold in 34,603,000 tonnes grading 0.94 g/t in an inferred category at Blackjack and 440,000 ounces of gold in 27,362,000 tonnes grading 0.50 g/t gold in an inferred category at Eiger. These resource estimate numbers are supported by the recently updated technical report for RC Gold, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 standards, entitled "Clear Creek Property, RC Gold Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory", prepared by Ronald G. Simpson, P. Geo., of GeoSim Services Inc. with an effective date of January 21, 2025. This report is available on SEDAR+ (http://www.sedarplus.ca) and on the Company's website (www.sitkagoldcorp.com).

Both of these deposits begin at surface, are potentially open pit minable and initial bottle roll metallurgical testing confirmed the non-refractory characteristics of the gold mineralization and returned gold extraction rates averaging around 85%. Further metallurgical testwork in 2024 returned recoveries ranging from 77.6 to 93% for gravity followed by cyanidation.

For the purposes of the current resource model, it is assumed that a likely mill flowsheet would consist of a gravimetric, flotation, and cyanidation circuit.

The company has now completed 165 diamond drill holes for a total of 59,770 metres across the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex (CCIC), and an additional 3 holes for 858 metres in the May-Qu Intrusion. Drilling continues to outline higher grade mineralization at all zones including hole DDRCCC-24-068 at Blackjack which intersected 678.1 metres of 1.04 g/t gold starting from surface (see news release dated October 21, 2024), and hole DDRCCC-25-075 which intersected 352.8 metres of 1.55 g/t gold including 108.9 metres of 3.27 g/t gold and 45.0 metres of 4.52 g/t gold (see news release dated April 22, 2025). Drilling in 2024/2025 has resulted in the discovery of a new higher grade zone at Rhosgobel including hole DDRCRG-25-010 at Rhosgobel which intersected 235.9 metres of 1.11 g/t gold, including 40.0 m of 2.01 g/t gold and 10.0 m of 5.29 g/t gold, from surface (see news release dated September 18, 2025).

RC Gold Deposit Model

Exploration on the Property has mainly focused on identifying an intrusion-related gold system ("IRGS"). The property is within the Tombstone Gold Belt which is the prominent host to IRGS deposits within the Tintina Gold Province in Yukon and Alaska. Notable deposits from the belt include: Fort Knox Mine in Alaska with current Proven and Probable Reserves of 230 million tonnes at 0.3 g/t Au (2.471 million ounces; Sims 2018)(1); Eagle Gold Mine with current Measured and Indicated Resources of 233 million tonnes at a grade of 0.57 g/t Au at the Eagle Main Zone (4.303 million ounces; Harvey et al, 2022)(2); the Brewery Creek deposit with current Indicated Mineral Resource of 22.2 million tonnes at a gold grade of 1.11 g/t (0.789 million ounces; Hulse et al. 2020)(3); the AurMac Project with an Indicated Mineral Resource of 112.5 million tonnes grading 0.63 gram per tonne gold (2.274 million ounces)(4) plus an Inferred resource of 280.6 million tonnes grading 0.60 g/t gold (5.454 million ounces)(4), the Valley Deposit, with a current Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 7.94 million oz gold at 1.21 g/t and an additional Inferred Mineral Resource of 0.89 million oz at 0.62 g/t gold(5), and the Raven deposit with an inferred mineral resource of 1.1 million oz (19.96 million tonnes at 1.67 g/t gold)(6). The QP has been unable to verify the information regarding the above resource estimations and the information is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the property that is the subject of the disclosure.

(1) Sims J. Fort Knox Mine Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, USA National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report. June 11, 2018. https://s2.q4cdn.com/496390694/files/doc_downloads/2018/Fort-Knox-June-2018-Technical-Report.pdf

(2) Harvey N., Gray P., Winterton J., Jutras M., Levy M.,Technical Report for the Eagle Gold Mine, Yukon Territory, Canada. Victoria Gold Corp. December 31, 2022. https://vgcx.com/site/assets/files/6534/vgcx_-_2023_eagle_mine_technical_report_final.pdf

(3) Hulse D, Emanuel C, Cook C. NI 43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resources. Gustavson Associates. May 31, 2020. https://minedocs.com/22/Brewery-Creek-PEA-01182022.pdf

(4) July 8, 2025,Banyan Gold Corp., News Release. https://banyangold.com/news-releases/2025/banyan-announces-first-indicated-mineral-resources-and-identifies-high-grade-continuous-zones-at-its-aurmac-project-yukon-canada/

(5) https://snowlinegold.com/2025/05/15/snowline-gold-expands-measured-and-indicated-gold-ounces-by-96-in-updated-mineral-resource-estimate-at-its-valley-gold-deposit-yukon/

(6) Jutras, M. 2022. Technical Report on the Raven Mineral Deposit, Mayo Mining District Yukon Territory, Canada, prepared for Victoria Gold Corp and filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) with an effective date of September 15, 2022

Corporate Update

The Company also announces that Mr. Stephen Pearce has resigned as Corporate Secretary of the Company. Mr. Pearce will remain as Chief Financial Officer and a director. The Company has appointed Sheryl Dhillon as Corporate Secretary. Ms. Dhillon has worked with the Company for nearly 10 years in a consulting role and is a highly experienced corporate secretary with over twenty years of experience. She has extensive knowledge of corporate governance, as well as strong management skills and excellent corporate communications. Ms. Dhillon acts as Corporate Secretary for several TSXV and CSE listed companies.

About Sitka Gold Corp.

Sitka Gold Corp. is a well-funded mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada with approximately $45 million in its treasury and no debt. The Company is managed by a team of experienced industry professionals and is focused on exploring for economically viable mineral deposits with its primary emphasis on gold, silver and copper mineral properties of merit. Sitka is currently advancing its 100% owned, 431 square kilometre flagship RC Gold Project located within the Tombstone Gold Belt in the Yukon Territory. The Company is also advancing the Alpha Gold Project in Nevada and currently has drill permits for its Burro Creek Gold and Silver Project in Arizona and the Coppermine River Project in Nunavut, all of which are 100% owned by Sitka.

*For more detailed information on the Company's properties please visit our website at www.sitkagoldcorp.com

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gilles Dessureau, P.Geo., V.P. Exploration of the Company, and a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

SITKA GOLD CORP.

"Donald Penner"

President and Director

For more information contact:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions and the Company's anticipated work programs.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market uncertainty and the results of the Company's anticipated work programs.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284285

Source: Sitka Gold Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) ("LaFleur Minerals" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the advancement of its Beacon Gold Mill restart plans, further to the Company's press release dated January 26, 2026, which outlined its near-term production strategy and the ongoing advancement of its comprehensive Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"). The Company's assets, the Swanson Gold Deposit and Beacon Gold Mill, lie in the heart of the Val-d'Or, Quebec mining camp, on the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Canada's largest gold producing region.

Valley of Gold, Val-d'Or, Quebec

The Val-d'Or/Rouyn-Noranda mining camp is a premier gold mining hub within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Quebec with over 73 million ounces of gold produced from 1926 to 2019 (source: DigiGeoData). The Val-d'Or mining district, known as the "Valley of Gold," is characterized by Archean greenstone-hosted orogenic gold deposits typically found in quartz-tourmaline-carbonate veins. The Lamaque Complex is located in Val-d'Or and operated by Eldorado Gold Inc. Commercial production was declared at the Triangle mine on March 31, 2019, and has since produced over 1 Moz of gold (source: Eldorado Gold website). The Lamaque Complex deposits are located within the prolific Val-d'Or district that hosts the historical Lamaque and Sigma Mines. Collectively, these mines produced nearly 9.5 million ounces of gold between 1937 and 2012 (source: Cowen, E.J, 2020. Miner Deposita 55, p217-240). The region is host to numerous other gold deposits or exploration stage projects that surround LaFleur Minerals' 100%-owned Beacon Gold Mill (Figure 1). Please note that mineralization on these adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's properties.

Figure 1: Regional View of LaFleur's Beacon Gold Mill and Swanson Gold Project

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LaFleur Minerals: Restarting Gold Production at 100%-Owned Mill in the Valley of Gold

LaFleur's Minerals Beacon Gold Mill, Swanson Gold Deposit, and Beacon Tailings Pond are situated centrally within the prolific southern Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The Beacon Gold Mill, located in the heart of this mining camp, underwent more than $20 million in recent upgrades and modernization prior to its most recent gold production in 2022, when gold prices were approximately $2,000 per ounce. Today, with gold prices significantly higher, breaking above $4,900 per ounce, the Company believes that the strategic value of owning the fully permitted Beacon Gold Mill, Tailings Pond, and related infrastructure within such a prolific gold district provides a compelling foundation for near-term gold production and long-term district-scale growth.

Beacon Mill Restart Progress

Refurbishment and site upgrade activities are progressing well. As of today, work continues to advance steadily across critical plant systems, with several major components now refurbished or nearing operational readiness.

Electrical upgrades and winterization improvements have largely been completed, helping ensure reliable year-round operations. On the mechanical side, numerous pumps, material handling systems, and key processing components have been inspected, repaired, and prepared for restart. Structural integrity inspections have confirmed the plant remains in good condition. Modern safety upgrades, including hydroelectric, fire protection, and enhanced security surveillance, are now in place.

To date, approximately 30% of the total budget has been spent on the project, which remains firmly under cost control, with substantial physical progress achieved while maintaining strong financial flexibility.

These initiatives represent important milestones as the Company prepares for re-commissioning and the mill's restart, anchored by a vertically-integrated mine-to-mill portfolio that includes the Company's Swanson Gold Deposit, just 60 kilometres from the Beacon Gold Mill, the Beacon Gold Mill and Tailings Pond. LaFleur Minerals' strategy focuses on combining resource development at the Swanson Gold Deposit with the permitted Beacon Gold Mill to accelerate the pathway to production.

Figure 2: LaFleur's Beacon Gold Mill

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Figure 3: Inside LaFleur's Beacon Gold Mill

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Figure 4: Inside LaFleur's Beacon Gold Mill

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Figure 5: Inside LaFleur's Beacon Gold Mill, Agitator

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Swanson Gold Continues to Deliver Results

Swanson Gold Deposit's recent drill campaign has validated strong gold continuity, long mineralized intercepts including a standout intercept of 2.05 g/t Au over 158.25 metres (Hole SW-25-066), narrow high-grade results including 121.0 g/t Au over 1.1 metres and new shallow discoveries beyond the current Swanson Deposit footprint, reinforcing Swanson's potential as a scalable, district-scale gold asset and long-term source of mill feed for the Company's nearby Beacon Gold Mill (refer to press release dated February 4, 2026).

Paul Teniere, Chief Executive Officer of LaFleur Minerals Inc., commented, "LaFleur Minerals has assembled what we believe is a technically differentiated and strategically rare asset base for a company at our stage of development. After only ~18 months of listing on the CSE, we control a district-scale exploration project at the Swanson Gold Deposit as potential primary feed source, the Beacon Tailings Pond, and fully permitted processing infrastructure, the Beacon Gold Mill. It is highly uncommon for emerging resource companies to simultaneously hold a large-scale exploration land package and access to owned milling infrastructure, particularly this early in their corporate lifecycle. LaFleur Minerals is advancing its PEA in parallel with the refurbishment of an existing processing facility, materially compressing the timeline between resource delineation and potential production. As our PEA approaches completion, targeted for March 2026, and as we prepare for pre-operational tests and system checks at the Beacon Gold Mill in the coming months, we are transitioning from pure exploration and development to gold production execution, positioning LaFleur Minerals as a near-term production story supported by tangible infrastructure and a district-scale growth platform."

The Company's impending PEA will provide updated economic metrics and a development roadmap aligned with its near-term production objectives. Concurrently, mill refurbishment activities remain on schedule, positioning LaFleur for operational readiness as market conditions remain favourable. With gold prices now exceeding $4,900 per ounce, the strategic value of controlling both feed and processing capacity becomes even more significant. LaFleur Minerals' integrated asset portfolio provides optionality, capital efficiency, and operational leverage to gold price appreciation.

Further updates will be provided as key milestones are achieved.

Figure 6: LaFleur's Swanson Gold Project, Drilling

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QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT AND DATA VERIFICATION

All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared and approved by Louis Martin, P.Geo. (OGQ), Exploration Manager and Technical Advisor of the Company and considered a Qualified Person (QP) for the purposes of NI 43-101.

About LaFleur Minerals Inc.

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) is focused on the development of district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d'Or, Quebec. The Company's mission is to advance mining projects with a laser focus on our resource-stage Swanson Gold Project and the Beacon Gold Mill, which have significant potential to deliver long-term value. The Swanson Gold Project is approximately 18,304 hectares (183 km2) in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. LaFleur has recently consolidated a large land package along a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold deposits and several other showings which make up the Swanson Gold Project. The Swanson Gold Project is easily accessible by road allowing direct access to several nearby gold mills, further enhancing its development potential. Lafleur Minerals' fully-permitted and refurbished Beacon Gold Mill is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for processing mineralized material from Swanson and for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects.

Website: www.lafleurminerals.com | LinkedIn | Twitter/X | Instagram

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements related to the use of proceeds from the Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284272

Source: LaFleur Minerals Inc.
Frost & Sullivan recognizes Fraikin for its market leadership in AI-driven telematics, fleet management, and a full-service model that maximizes vehicle uptime and customer value.

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that Fraikin has been honored with the 2025 European Market Leadership Recognition in the commercial vehicle rental and leasing sector for its outstanding achievements in growth strategy execution, digitalization, sustainability, and customer experience excellence. This recognition highlights Fraikin's consistent leadership in driving measurable outcomes, strengthening its market position, and delivering customer-centric innovation in an evolving competitive landscape.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. Fraikin excelled in both, demonstrating its ability to align strategic initiatives with market demand while executing them with efficiency, consistency, and scale.

Guided by a long-term growth strategy focused on improving fleet availability, cost control and operational continuity for customers, Fraikin has shown its ability to adapt and lead in a rapidly evolving mobility landscape. The company's strategic agility and sustained investment in digitalization, decarbonization, and strategic expansion have enabled it to scale effectively across Europe while reinforcing its leadership in full-service commercial vehicle fleet management.

Innovation remains central to Fraikin's approach. With more than 80 years of expertise, the company provides multibrand vehicles and tailored mobility solutions across diverse industries, including logistics, retail, construction, healthcare, and waste management. "The partnership with Samsara will equip vehicles with AI dashcams and environmental monitors, providing a massive influx of real-time operational data that is crucial for optimizing performance and supporting its upcoming eMobility Service Provider services," said Nithish Murali, Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

At the core of its digital transformation is the NeXa mobility platform, an AI-powered fleet management tool that centralizes data across vehicle types and brands, delivering real-time visibility, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced vehicle uptime. Fraikin is also leveraging advanced, AI-driven telematics and data-driven insights toreinforcing its ability to support customers with reliable and scalable fleet operations.

Fraikin operates mission-critical fleets that keep essential supply chains running every day across Europe. Through its highly consultative full-service leasing model, the company integrates vehicle selection, body construction, financing, compliance, and fleet management into a single, predictable contract. Supported by a best-in-class service network and its "You Drive, We Care" philosophy, Fraikin absorbs operational complexity so customers can focus on their core business, ensuring reliability, flexibility, and continuity throughout the vehicle lifecycle.

Frost & Sullivan commends Fraikin for setting a high standard in competitive strategy, execution, and market responsiveness. The company's vision, innovation pipeline, and customer-first culture are shaping the future of the European commercial vehicle rental and leasing market and delivering tangible results at scale. "This recognition confirms the strength of Fraikin's full-service model and our ability to deliver concrete operational value to our customers. By combining operational expertise, data and digital platforms like neXa, we help our customers improve vehicle availability, control costs and secure business continuity across Europe." said Yves Petin, President & CEO at Fraikin.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Market Leadership Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market share, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning. It recognizes forward-thinking organizations that are reshaping their industries through innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.

Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact

Camila Tinajero

E: camila.tinajero@frost.com

About Fraikin

Fraikin Group is the European leader in full-service operating lease and fleet management, and a major player in short- and medium-term rental. Operating in 10 countries with a fleet of more than 60,000 vehicles, Fraikin supports customers with tailored mobility solutions designed to secure operations, optimize total cost of ownership and support fleet decarbonization.

www.fraikin.com

Contact Fraikin

Caroline Kroplewski, Chief of Staff, Fraikin Group

Caroline.kroplewski@fraikin.com

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PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Clario, a leading provider of endpoint data solutions to the clinical trials industry, today announced that its artificial intelligence (AI) management system has been certified to the ISO 42001:2023 standard, following a rigorous audit conducted by Schellman, a globally recognized certification body. This achievement emphasizes Clario's continued leadership in defining responsible, high-quality, and secure AI practices for clinical research.

ISO 42001:2023 certification, the first international standard for AI management systems, recognizes organizations that demonstrate robust governance, transparency, and ethical use of artificial intelligence. Achieving this certification required Clario to undergo a comprehensive evaluation process, including detailed assessments of its AI governance framework, risk management protocols, and operational controls to ensure compliance with the highest international standards.

Clario is the forerunner in achieving ISO 42001 among clinical trial vendors. This certification amplifies the company's existing certifications for ISO 27701 (data privacy) and ISO 27001 (information security), further strengthening its leadership in data integrity and patient privacy. Schellman reports that as of January 2026, across all industries worldwide, they have certified fewer than 15 companies with a unified governance framework that includes all three certifications.

"Achieving ISO 42001:2023 certification by a third-party auditor is a concrete acknowledgement of our dedication to the responsible and innovative use of AI in clinical trials," said Clario's Chief Executive Officer, Chris Fikry, M.D. "This is a pivotal milestone in Clario's journey to set industry standards for responsible AI in clinical research. Along with our ISO 27701 and ISO 27001 certifications, it demonstrates Clario's leadership in building trusted, secure, and scientifically rigorous solutions for our clients and partners."

Clinical trial sites and sponsors rely on Clario to process more than 6 million data points from ECGs, apps, imaging modalities, spirometers, and many other clinical technologies every month. Since 2018, the company has developed and deployed AI models to optimize efficiency, data precision, data privacy, and scientific interpretation of the data it gathers.

"By ensuring our technologies adhere to international ISO standards," said Jay Ferro, Chief Information, Technology and Product Officer, "we instill confidence that the data we collect is not only accurate and reliable, but also handled with the utmost care and security throughout the drug development lifecycle. The combination of ISO 42001, 27701, and 27001 is a unicorn in our industry. It sets us apart as a trusted partner in clinical research today, and future-proofs our platform so we can adapt to emerging AI regulations, data protection laws, and cybersecurity frameworks."

Clario has for several years implemented a responsible-use framework for the development and deployment of artificial intelligence, ensuring that all AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities are designed to meet regulatory-grade standards and support clinically relevant applications.

"Our AI team's mission is to drive confidence through the responsible design of advanced AI and machine learning solutions that deliver regulatory-grade, longitudinal insights in clinical trials," said Clario's Chief AI Officer, Marko Topalovic. "We have developed over 120 AI models and deployed those tools in clinical trials more than 1,600 times, while building new agentic AI tools that will define new standards in our industry. Everything we do is about enhancing data quality, safety, precision, and platform efficiency - in an accurate and ethical way. With each new model we create, we focus on accelerating trust, decision-making, and most of all, improving outcomes for patients around the world."

For more information about AI at Clario, visit clario.com/solutions/ai

About Clario

Clario is a leading provider of endpoint data solutions to the clinical trials industry, generating high-quality clinical evidence for life sciences companies. We offer comprehensive evidence generation solutions that combine medical imaging, eCOA, precision motion, cardiac solutions and respiratory endpoints.

For more than 50 years, Clario has delivered deep scientific expertise and broad endpoint technologies to help transform lives around the world. Our endpoint data solutions have supported over 30,000 clinical trials in more than 100 countries. Our global team of science, technology, and operational experts have supported over 70% of all FDA drug approvals since 2015. For more information, visit Clario.com or follow on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

David Malley

Media@clario.com

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Over 90% gross dollar retention and 37% year-over-year new business growth reflect demand for visibility across complex hybrid environments

AlgoSec, a global cybersecurity leader, today reported its best year ever with strong year-over-year annual recurring revenue growth, a gross dollar retention rate exceeding 90% and 37% year-over-year new business growth in 2025. The results reflect continued demand for greater visibility and control over application connectivity across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Founded in 2004, AlgoSec has maintained positive cash flow and remained debt-free throughout its history.

Enterprises faced increasing complexity throughout 2025 as application environments spanned data centers, cloud and hybrid infrastructure. That complexity was reflected in AlgoSec's 2025 State of Network Security Report, based on insights from over 500 cloud and network security professionals globally, which found that multi-cloud environments are now the norm, with Azure emerging as the most widely used cloud platform among respondents. The report also found that automating application connectivity has become the top priority for minimising risk and downtime as environments continue to expand.

In response to these challenges, large, distributed enterprises adopted AlgoSec in 2025. New customers included Volkswagen Group UK, Vodacom Business, NTT DATA Spain, Gainwell Technologies LLC Texas, Lamborghini and more. AlgoSec consistently earns high satisfaction scores from real users, scoring 4.5 out of 5 on both G2 and Gartner Peer Insights, outperforming matching peers and being recognised as customer choice in Gartner's Voice of the Customer report and #1 in PeerSpot. Additionally, AlgoSec's 4.5 out of 5 Glassdoor rating places the company among top-tier employers.

The AlgoSec Horizon platform, released in 2025, is recognised as the industry's first application-centric security management and automation platform designed specifically for hybrid networks. The platform provides a single source of visibility across multi-clouds and data center environments, enabling security teams to prioritise risk based on business needs while managing security at scale. Through AI-driven visibility and risk mitigation that automatically discovers applications and maps connectivity dependencies, AlgoSec Horizon reduces operational friction, minimises misconfigurations and supports faster, safer application delivery.

"Today's security teams are managing unprecedented levels of application and infrastructure complexity," said Yuval Baron, AlgoSec CEO and co-founder. "2025 has been our best year ever. In just a few months, over 100 customers have implemented the AlgoSec Horizon platform. This rapid adoption highlights enterprises' strategic need for a single platform to secure their hybrid estate, often spanning multiple cloud platforms and data centers. At the same time, organisations must accelerate application connectivity to speed delivery. Together, these capabilities are essential for driving growth and innovation in the AI era."

AlgoSec's application-centric approach was also recognised by the industry in 2025, earning the 2025 SC Award for Best Security Company from SC Media at RSAC, a Global InfoSec Award from Cyber Defense Magazine for Best Service as a Cybersecurity Company, and Trailblazer recognition in Network Security and Management from Cyber Defense Magazine's Top InfoSec Innovator Awards.

For more on AlgoSec's 2025 achievements and innovations, visit www.algosec.com.

About AlgoSec

AlgoSec, a global cybersecurity leader, empowers organizations to securely accelerate application delivery up to 100 times faster by automating application connectivity and security policy across the hybrid network environment.

With two decades of expertise securing hybrid networks, over 2300 of the world's most complex organizations trust AlgoSec to help secure their most critical workloads.

AlgoSec Horizon platform utilizes advanced AI capabilities, enabling users to automatically discover and identify their business applications across multi-clouds, and remediate risks more effectively. It serves as a single source for visibility into security and compliance issues across the hybrid network environment, to ensure ongoing adherence to internet security standards, industry, and internal regulations.

Additionally, organizations can leverage intelligent change automation to streamline security change processes, thus improving security and agility.

Learn how AlgoSec enables application owners, information security experts, SecOps and cloud security teams to deploy business applications faster while maintaining security at www.algosec.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218401112/en/

Contacts:

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jenni Livesley

Context, on behalf of AlgoSec

algosec@contextpr.co.uk
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - 1844 Resources Inc. (TSXV: EFF) ("1844" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the addition of Miss Jade Guillemette to the Board of Director.

Ms. Guillemette brings a generational depth of experience in mining investment and exploration. Coming from a family with a long-standing history in the sector, she has developed a strong foundation in resource capital allocation and project evaluation. She holds a management role at Multi-Ressources Boreal, a private mineral exploration company, where she has been directly involved in operational management and strategic oversight.

In addition to her operational responsibilities, Ms. Guillemette actively participates in managing a private mining-focused investment portfolio exceeding $20 million. Her involvement in capital deployment, risk assessment, and sector positioning provides 1844 with valuable insight into disciplined exploration investment and long-term value creation.

Mr. Sylvain Laberge, President and Chief Executive Officer of 1844 Resources, stated:

"On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Ms. Guillemette to the Company. Her impressive passion for the mining sector will bring a fresh perspective and valuable energy to 1844 Resources, strengthening our vision and supporting the Company's long-term growth and strategic objectives."

Ms. Guillemette's appointment reflects 1844's commitment to combining experienced leadership with emerging sector talent, reinforcing a governance structure aligned with strategic growth, capital discipline, and responsible exploration advancement.

About 1844 Resources Inc.

1844 is a Canadian exploration company focused on unlocking the value of strategic and energy-transition metals in the underexplored region of Gaspe, Quebec. With a dedicated leadership team and a forward-looking approach, 1844 aims to deliver long-term shareholder value through discovery and disciplined growth.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284324

Source: 1844 Resources Inc.
Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Chilco River Holdings, Inc. (OTCID: CRVH) ("Chilco River" or "the Company") a beverage company focused on premium bourbon, luxury tequila, and ready-to-drink ("RTD") spirits, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Excuse Wines & Spirits, Inc., is launching Excuse Tequila Diamond Edition, a luxury, hand-crafted tequila produced in Jalisco, Mexico.

The inaugural Excuse Tequila Diamond Edition is a high-quality, small batch made Reposado Cristalino, distilled and aged in the renowned highlands region of Jalisco which is globally recognized for producing some of the most complex and premium tequilas in the world. The expression is presented in a proprietary, ultra-premium bottle featuring a striking diamond-shaped top and an elegant, custom-designed silhouette intended to stand apart from any other tequila currently on the market.

The Company has placed its initial production order with its bottling partner and is in the process of finalizing a long-term manufacturing agreement with one of the top tequila-producing distilleries in Jalisco, Mexico. Concurrently, the Company is completing required regulatory approvals with both Mexican and U.S. governmental authorities to support lawful importation, distribution, and sale within the United States this Spring.





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Positioned in a Rapidly Expanding Global Tequila Market

The global tequila market has experienced significant growth over the past decade, driven by consumer premiumization trends and expanding international demand. Industry reports estimate that the global tequila market exceeds $15 billion annually, with forecasts projecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7-10% over the next several years. In the United States currently the largest tequila-consuming market is premium and super-premium tequila segments have consistently outpaced broader spirits category growth.

Demographically, tequila continues to gain traction beyond its traditional consumer base. Millennials and Gen Z consumers, who now represent a substantial portion of premium spirits buyers, are driving demand for high-quality, authentic, and visually distinctive brands. The rise of Cristalino expressions and luxury packaging formats has further fueled growth in the ultra-premium segment, aligning with evolving consumer preferences for both craftsmanship and presentation.

Management believes Excuse Tequila Diamond Edition is strategically positioned at the intersection of these trends combining premium liquid, highland origin authenticity, and luxury-forward packaging designed for both retail shelf presence and high-end on-premise accounts.

M&A Activity Underscores Valuation Potential

Recent merger and acquisition activity within the tequila sector further highlights the strong investor appetite and valuation multiples associated with high-growth brands. Notably, premium tequila brands have attracted significant strategic investments and acquisitions by major spirits companies and private investors.

In one recent example, premium brand LALO Tequila was acquired by Tito's Handmade Vodka in late 2025, reflecting the continued consolidation and premium valuation environment in the category. Across the industry, tequila brands achieving meaningful distribution and brand recognition have commanded substantial enterprise values relative to revenue, particularly within the premium and luxury tiers.

Management believes that building Excuse Tequila with disciplined production scaling, strategic distribution partnerships, and strong brand identity may position the Company to pursue a similar long-term growth trajectory within the premium tequila landscape.

Distribution Strategy & Launch Timeline

Excuse Wine & Spirits is currently in advanced discussions with both regional and national distributors to support launch in initial test markets including:

Texas

California

Illinois

These states represent some of the largest tequila consumption markets in the United States and align with the Company's broader state-by-state expansion strategy.

With production underway and initial bottling orders placed, the Company anticipates that Excuse Tequila Diamond Edition will be available for sale in late March or early April, subject to final regulatory approvals and distribution logistics.

A Monumental Brand Launch

Management views the launch of Excuse Tequila Diamond Edition as a transformational milestone for the Company's premium spirits portfolio. By combining authentic highland production, luxury presentation, and a disciplined distribution model, the Company aims to establish Excuse Tequila Diamond Edition as a differentiated entrant in the competitive but high-growth tequila sector.

The Company intends to provide shareholders with ongoing updates regarding:

Production progress

Regulatory approvals in Mexico and the United States

Finalization of long-term distillery agreements

Distributor signings and retail placements

Chilco River believes the tequila category's strong consumer demand, premiumization trends, and active M&A landscape create a compelling backdrop for brand development and long-term shareholder value creation.

Will Lovett, Chief Executive Officer of Chilco River Holdings, Inc., commented, "Excuse Tequila Diamond Edition represents the culmination of more than two years of focused development, refinement, and strategic planning by our team. From liquid selection and distillery alignment in Jalisco, Mexico, to bottle design and brand positioning, this has been a carefully built project from the ground up. We are extremely proud of what we have created and are excited to bring Excuse Tequila to market. We believe the brand's craftsmanship, distinctive luxury presentation, and disciplined launch strategy position it for meaningful long-term success. This is a major milestone for our Company, and we look forward to updating shareholders as we move through production, regulatory approvals, and distribution rollout."

About Chilco River Holdings, Inc.

Chilco River Holdings, Inc. (OTCID: CRVH) is a beverage holding company focused on the acquisition, development, marketing, and distribution of premium alcohol brands, including tequila, bourbon, and ready-to-drink offerings. The Company seeks to build long-term shareholder value through disciplined market expansion, strategic partnerships, and brand-driven growth initiatives.

For additional information, shareholders are encouraged to review the Company's filings and public disclosures available through the OTC Markets website.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Actual results may differ materially due to regulatory approvals, production timelines, distribution agreements, market conditions, and other risk factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284316

Source: Chilco River Holdings, Inc.
Akbar Novruz



bp, a British energy company, has invested more than $89 billion in the projects it operates in Azerbaijan together with its partners, AzerNEWS reports.

According to bp, since the start of its operations in Azerbaijan, the company has allocated over $115 million to social investment initiatives across the country, both directly and on behalf of its partners in joint projects.

bp has now announced the successful completion of a new social investment project at Baku State University, aimed at establishing a modern, digitally managed library. The project introduces advanced digital archiving and inventory management systems designed to enhance the protection and preservation of the universitys extensive library collection.

The existing library at Baku State University contains around 2.5 million rare books, manuscripts, and historical documents. The newly implemented digital system is expected to significantly improve access control, cataloguing, and long-term preservation of these valuable materials.

In addition, bp and Baku State University signed a cooperation agreement on the same day. The agreement sets out a framework for potential joint initiatives, with the goal of strengthening the university ecosystem, supporting knowledge development, and fostering long-term academic growth and innovation.

bp emphasized that the project reflects its continued commitment to supporting education, knowledge infrastructure, and sustainable social development in Azerbaijan through targeted investments.
Middleton, Wisconsin--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - As important as the 2026 congressional elections are for national politics, 80% of the races voters will decide when they head to the polls in November will be for state and local offices. Among those races are 36 gubernatorial elections.

"Governors wield enormous power in shaping their states, from appointing judges to state supreme courts and filling vacant U.S. Senate seats, to naming cabinet members and agency heads who oversee everything from education to environmental policy," says Joel Williams, a Managing Editor at Ballotpedia. "The decisions a governor makes in these appointments can influence state policy for decades, long after they've left office."

Of the 36 gubernatorial races in 2026, 15 incumbents are term-limited, six Democrats and nine Republicans, which means nearly half of this year's contests are open seats with no incumbent on the ballot.

Ballotpedia's list of gubernatorial races to watch this year includes:

California : Incumbent Gavin Newsom (D) is term-limited, and a long list of notable California politicians are running to replace him. California's top-two primary system means that the general election could feature two candidates from the same party.

Incumbent Gavin Newsom (D) is term-limited, and a long list of notable California politicians are running to replace him. California's top-two primary system means that the general election could feature two candidates from the same party. Colorado : Incumbent Gov. Jared Polis (D) is term-limited. Colorado is one of the few Mountain West states that currently has a Democratic trifecta.

Incumbent Gov. Jared Polis (D) is term-limited. Colorado is one of the few Mountain West states that currently has a Democratic trifecta. Georgia : Incumbent Brian Kemp (R) is term-limited, leaving a wide-open race in a state that has recently been a battleground at both the presidential and U.S. Senate levels.

: Incumbent Brian Kemp (R) is term-limited, leaving a wide-open race in a state that has recently been a battleground at both the presidential and U.S. Senate levels. Michigan : Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer (D) is term-limited. The state has long been a battleground for both major parties at virtually every level of government.

Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer (D) is term-limited. The state has long been a battleground for both major parties at virtually every level of government. Oklahoma : Incumbent Kevin Stitt (R) is term-limited. Oklahoma is solidly Republican, which means the GOP primary will likely decide Stitt's successor.

Incumbent Kevin Stitt (R) is term-limited. Oklahoma is solidly Republican, which means the GOP primary will likely decide Stitt's successor. Minnesota : Incumbent Tim Walz (D) is not seeking re-election in this closely contested state that has been in the national spotlight over immigration enforcement.

: Incumbent Tim Walz (D) is not seeking re-election in this closely contested state that has been in the national spotlight over immigration enforcement. Rhode Island : Incumbent Daniel McKee (D) has a rematch with Helena Foulkes (D). In the 2022 Democratic primary, McKee defeated Foulkes 32.8% to 29.9% in a five-way race for the nomination.

Incumbent Daniel McKee (D) has a rematch with Helena Foulkes (D). In the 2022 Democratic primary, McKee defeated Foulkes 32.8% to 29.9% in a five-way race for the nomination. South Dakota : Incumbent Larry Rhoden (R) is running against the state's at-large U.S. Representative, Dusty Johnson, in the GOP primary. Rhoden, the former lieutenant governor of South Dakota, assumed the governor's office in January 2025 after former Gov. Kristi Noem (R) was confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

: Incumbent Larry Rhoden (R) is running against the state's at-large U.S. Representative, Dusty Johnson, in the GOP primary. Rhoden, the former lieutenant governor of South Dakota, assumed the governor's office in January 2025 after former Gov. Kristi Noem (R) was confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Wisconsin: Incumbent Tony Evers (D) is not running for re-election, setting up an open race for a successor.

Be sure to use Ballotpedia's gubernatorial election coverage to stay abreast of the latest developments in all 36 gubernatorial elections this year.

About Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia, the encyclopedia of American politics, is the nation's most trusted source of unbiased information on politics, elections, and policy. Founded in 2007, Ballotpedia has grown from a small group of dedicated volunteers working on a handful of ballot measures to an essential resource for voters, media, and researchers. Ballotpedia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the public interest in creating an educated, engaged electorate, and building a strong, healthy democracy. For free access to 650,000+ encyclopedic, professionally authored, and curated articles, visit Ballotpedia.org.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284275

Source: Ballotpedia
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Canuc Resources Corporation (TSXV: CDA) (OTCQB: CNUCF) (WKN: A14ZX4) ("Canuc" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, pursuant to its news release dated February 12, 2026, the Company's common shares have been consolidated at a ratio of ten pre-consolidation shares to one post-consolidation share (the "Consolidation"). The common shares will begin trading on a post-consolidation basis on the TSX Venture Exchange at market open today, February 18, 2026. The Company's new CUSIP number is 138909502 and new ISIN is CA1389095029.

The Company now has 28,453,148 common shares issued and outstanding, and all outstanding warrants and incentive stock options have been adjusted to increase their exercise price by a factor of ten and to reduce the number of common shares issued upon exercise by dividing by ten.

About Canuc Resources Corporation

Canuc Resources Corporation is a junior resource company developing its 100% interest in the East Sudbury Project ("ESP") which spans 19,710 hectares and is centered approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the Prolific Sudbury Mining Camp and near to the extensive infrastructure of the adjacent Sudbury Mining District. ESP encompasses several centers of critical and precious metal mineralization interpreted to be related to a mineral system that can form IOCG and affiliated critical and precious mineral deposits. Included within the Project is the historical Scadding Gold Mine and associated Scadding Gold Tailings Project.

Canuc also holds a 100% interest in the San Javier Silver-Gold Project located in Sonora State, Mexico. The San Javier Silver-Gold Project spans 28 claims covering 1,052 hectares and evidences extensive silver, gold and copper mineralization interpreted to be related to a mineral system that can form silver-dominant IOCG and affiliated deposits.

Canuc generates cash flow from natural gas production at its MidTex Energy Project located in Central West Texas, USA where Canuc has an interest in eight (8) producing natural gas wells and has rights for further in field developments. The Company also receives a 4% Net Smelter Royalty from gold production at the Scadding Gold Tailings Project located on Mining Claim LEA 107735 within the ESP property group.

For further information please refer to the Company website: www.canucresources.ca

For further information please contact:

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance.

When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on current expectations and applies only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to fund the exploration expenditures required under the Agreement. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Corporation's annual financial statements, MD&A and other publicly filed documents.

The Corporation cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284263

Source: Canuc Resources Corporation
Proven digital wireless platform enabling seamless public and private network connectivity

Airspan Networks Holdings LLC ("Airspan"), a leading global provider of wireless network solutions, today announced the launch of its MobileAccess Digital DAS platform across Europe and the United Kingdom, advancing the company's international growth strategy.

Widely deployed in the US, the MobileAccess portfolio is approved by major mobile network operators (MNOs) and used by leading third-party operators (3POs) and Fortune 1000 enterprises across healthcare, transportation, sports, automotive, and industrial environments where uptime and performance are mission critical.

The launch of MobileAccess in Europe and the United Kingdom offer customers in these markets greater choice for in-building wireless deployments. Designed to support a wide range of carrier, enterprise, and venue use cases, some of the distinct benefits include:

Extremely compact form-factor - ideal for space-constrained environments with 2400MHz bandwidth

- ideal for space-constrained environments with 2400MHz bandwidth Wi-Fi AP like multi-band low power remotes enabling future-ready, all-optical deployments

enabling future-ready, all-optical deployments Industry-leading mid-power remotes supporting cost-optimized hybrid fiber-coax deployments

supporting cost-optimized hybrid fiber-coax deployments Private Network Enabled - unified infrastructure supporting both multi-operator public coverage and private 5G networks

- unified infrastructure supporting both multi-operator public coverage and private 5G networks O-RAN interface enabling high-performance private 5G with Airspan's Open RAN baseband running on Airspan MobileEdge

Several European countries, including the United Kingdom, allow enterprises to license spectrum in the 3.7 4.2 GHz range for private 5G networks. Airspan's MobileAccess portfolio operates in private 5G spectrum and is pre-integrated with Airspan's AOS 5G baseband software via open O-RAN interfaces creating the industry's first DAS with a fully integrated private network solution for seamless private 5G activation inside enterprise facilities.

"Advanced and mission-critical connectivity in high-traffic and marquee venues across Europe can now be delivered using our MobileAccess Digital DAS platform," said Amit Jain, SVP GM of In-Building Networks at Airspan. "MobileAccess is built to scale efficiently and reliably, while improving overall network economics for carriers, venues, and enterprises. Having demonstrated these benefits across thousands of US deployments, we're excited to support our customers and partners in Europe with a future-ready digital platform that unifies public and private wireless connectivity."

"We've deployed MobileAccess Digital DAS across the US in environments where low latency, high capacity, and device interconnectivity are essential," said Nick Vettraino, Vice President of Operations at KLA Laboratories. "Digital DAS has delivered measurable improvements in performance and reliability while lowering total cost of ownership across our deployments. As Airspan introduces Digital DAS into the UK and European markets, we're excited to extend this proven approach to our customers across the region."

Deployments are supported by Airspan's Wireless Center of Excellence in Slough, UK, backed by the company's global RF design, systems engineering, and technical support organizations.

For more information about Airspan's wireless solutions, visit us at https://airspan.com/. Airspan will also be at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, March 2-5, showcasing its latest Digital DAS, 5G, ATG, and ORAN products and solutions.

About Airspan

Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Airspan Networks Holdings LLC is an innovative US-based provider of wireless network solutions with a global presence, focused on delivering carrier-grade 5G and advanced wireless connectivity. Airspan's portfolio spans three core solution areas in-building, outdoor, and air-to-ground and includes market-leading products for DAS, Open RAN, and small cells across both public and private network settings. Airspan supports mobile network operators, neutral-host providers, enterprises, public-sector organizations, and other technology providers in building reliable, scalable wireless networks that enhance coverage and capacity while enabling fast, efficient deployment.

Visit our website at https://airspan.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218527681/en/

Contacts:

Media Analyst Contact:

Kyle Allen

kallen@airspan.com
LONDON, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Inocea today announced the signing of an agreement to acquire the United Kingdom's Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels Wave Knight and Wave Ruler, two of the most capable fast fleet tankers ever operated by a NATO navy.

For two decades, the Wave class platforms sustained British and allied naval forces in all major theatres of operation worldwide. Designed for high-tempo fleet operations, they combine speed, endurance, aviation facilities and full Replenishment-at-Sea (RAS) capability in a modern double-hulled platform. Built to full naval standards, the vessels are sovereign enablers of sustained and expeditionary maritime power.

The vessels have been maintained in extended readiness, preserved in class and are in excellent technical condition.

In an increasingly volatile threat environment with sustained pressure on allied naval forces, the rapid availability of these sovereign logistics platforms supports credible deterrence and extends operational reach. These fast fleet tankers are strategic enablers, extending the endurance, independence and expeditionary capability of naval task forces. Returning them to service meets the urgent need for rapidly deployable, world-class support for allied fleets.

Inocea will leverage its long experience in building, refitting, owning, operating and maintaining similar vessels - notably Combat Support Ship Asterix which has served 21 NATO and allied forces in 536 operations with distinction since 2018.

Wave Knight and Wave Ruler will be reactivated to full operational readiness under class and flag-state requirements and operated by Inocea companies to support allied navies.

Quotes

Alex Vicefield, co-owner, Inocea Group, said: "Wave Knight and Wave Ruler are exceptional ships. They have a long life ahead of them supporting critical naval missions worldwide. Their availability is fortuitous and Inocea will leverage its proven capability to address the growing global strain on naval manpower and force structures.

Our goal is simple: ensure these exceptional ships can, for decades to come, support allied fleets, extend operational reach, and strengthen allied maritime readiness."

James Davies, co-owner, Inocea Group, said: "We have worked with the British government, industry partners and allied end-users to ensure these ships are quickly reactivated and entered into service.

With this acquisition, Inocea continues its focus on providing strategically important naval capability through unique service models, ensuring these much-needed assets remain active contributors to allied security."

About the Wave-Class Fast Fleet Tankers

The Wave class remains a long-term asset. Following reactivation, both ships will provide frontline service for at least 20 years. Their structure, machinery margins, and original design standards were intended for sustained global deployment, not short-term utility.

Operational highlights:

Supported continuous UK and allied operations in the Arabian Gulf under Operation KIPION.

Sustained NATO task groups during Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR off Libya.

Played a central role in counter-piracy and maritime security missions in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Delivered humanitarian aid and disaster relief following major hurricanes in the Caribbean.

Supported counter-narcotics operations in the Atlantic.

Acted repeatedly as fleet ready tankers, extending the operational reach of multinational naval forces.

About Inocea

Inocea is a British international marine, industrial and defence technology group specialising in the design, construction, ownership and operation of complex, high-value maritime assets. Operating five major shipyard facilities across the United States, Finland and Canada, the group has one of the most significant independent shipbuilding footprints in the Western world.

Inocea delivers advanced naval, icebreaking, offshore and specialised vessels for governments and commercial operators, combining deep engineering capability with real-world operational experience as both a builder and long-term owner-operator of strategic platforms. Its Federal Fleet division is internationally recognised for the conversion, ownership and operation of Combat Support Ship Asterix.

Media Contact: Paul Barrett, Chief Communications Officer, Inocea Group, e: paul.barrett@inocea.com, t: +1 (581) 888 7809

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to MarketsandMarkets, the Elemental Analysis Market is projected to grow from about USD 4.54 billion in 2025 to USD 6.49 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 7.4%.

Browse 350 market data tables and 50 figures spread through 400 pages and an in-depth TOC on "Element Analysis Market - Global Forecast to 2030"

Elemental Analysis Market Size & Forecast:

Market Size Available for Years: 2024-2030

2024-2030 2025 Market Size: USD 4.54 billion

USD 4.54 billion 2030 Projected Market Size: USD 6.49 billion

USD 6.49 billion CAGR (2025-2030): 7.4%

Elemental Analysis Market Trends & Insights:

In 2024, the ICP-OES segment accounted for the largest market share of 33%.

By type, the elemental analyzers segment is expected to dominate the market, accounting for a share of 67.5% in 2024.

By end user, the pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical laboratories segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 7.0% CAGR between 2025 and 2039.

North America accounted for a 40.8% share of the global elemental analysis/heavy metal testing market in 2024.

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The surge is driven by stricter environmental regulations, rising industrial and food safety compliance requirements, and growing awareness of the health risks associated with trace element contamination. Governments, industries, and research institutions are increasingly integrating trace element testing into routine environmental monitoring and quality control systems, supported by growing investments in advanced analytical instruments and automated sampling technologies. Advancements in ICP-MS, ICP-OES, AAS, XRF, portable analyzers, and software-enabled data analytics are enabling faster, more accurate, and scalable testing capabilities across geographies.

By product type, The ICP-OES segment is expected to experience significant growth during the forecast period.

the ICP-OES segment dominates the market due to its unmatched capability to perform multi-elemental analysis with high precision and sensitivity. ICP-OES provides rapid detection of trace and major elements across complex matrices, which is essential for applications in pharmaceuticals, environmental testing, and food safety. Its wide dynamic range allows for the simultaneous analysis of elements at both low and high concentrations, thereby reducing the need for multiple testing procedures. Additionally, ICP-OES instruments have become increasingly user-friendly with automated sample handling, enhanced software interfaces, and reduced maintenance requirements, which improves laboratory efficiency. Regulatory compliance also drives ICP-OES adoption, as it aligns with methods recommended by pharmacopeias and environmental authorities. Furthermore, the scalability of ICP-OES-from benchtop units for routine analysis to advanced systems for research-intensive applications-makes it a preferred choice for laboratories seeking reliability, speed, and comprehensive elemental coverage. These advantages collectively contribute to ICP-OES commanding the largest share of the Elemental Analysis Market.

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By type, the elemental analyzers segment is expected to dominate the market.

elemental analyzers, particularly those designed for carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen (CHNS/O) analysis, account for a significant share of the market due to their essential role in quality control and compliance testing. These analyzers provide high accuracy and reproducibility for determining the elemental composition of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and materials used in research. Their versatility allows testing across diverse sample types, including solids, liquids, and powders, without extensive sample preparation. Automated and continuous-feed designs further enhance throughput, making them suitable for high-volume laboratories. The growing demand for precise quantification of elemental content, driven by regulatory requirements such as ICH Q3D for elemental impurities in drugs, also propels the adoption of elemental analyzers. Additionally, their compact footprint, minimal operational costs, and low maintenance requirements make them attractive for laboratories with limited resources. Collectively, these factors position elemental analyzers as a cornerstone technology, driving their dominance in the Elemental Analysis Market.

By end user, the pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical segment holds the largest share in the market.

the pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical segment holds the largest share in the market due to the critical need for elemental impurity testing to ensure patient safety and regulatory compliance. Elemental analysis is a fundamental step in drug development, quality control, and batch release processes, particularly for detecting toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Regulatory guidelines, such as ICH Q3D and USP <232>, have mandated strict limits for elemental impurities in pharmaceutical products, thereby increasing the demand for robust analytical solutions. Additionally, biopharmaceuticals, including monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins, require precise elemental profiling to maintain product integrity and efficacy. The growth of contract research organizations (CROs) providing analytical testing services also fuels demand, as these laboratories require advanced technologies like ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and elemental analyzers. Furthermore, increasing global pharmaceutical production, coupled with a focus on complex drug formulations and personalized medicine, ensures sustained market growth for elemental analysis in this sector.

North America accounted for the largest share of the Elemental Analysis market.

The Elemental Analysis Market is segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America remains the largest regional market for elemental analysis, driven by the presence of advanced regulatory frameworks, a well-established pharmaceutical and biotech industry, and a high adoption of cutting-edge analytical technologies. The US, in particular, drives demand through stringent compliance requirements from agencies such as the FDA and EPA, which encourage the widespread use of ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and elemental analyzers for heavy metal testing. Strong investments in research & development, particularly in life sciences, environmental monitoring, and materials science, further bolster the market. Moreover, the region benefits from a robust infrastructure for analytical laboratories, the availability of skilled professionals, and a high level of awareness regarding product quality and safety. Additionally, North American laboratories often serve as global testing hubs, catering to international clients and driving demand for advanced and high-throughput analytical instruments. These factors collectively consolidate North America's leadership in the Elemental Analysis Market.

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Top Companies in Elemental Analysis Market:

The Top Companies in Elemental Analysis Market include Agilent Technologies Inc. (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Bruker Corporation (US), PerkinElmer Inc. (US), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), SPECTRO Analytical Instruments GmbH (Germany), HORIBA Ltd. (Japan), Analytik Jena AG (Germany), Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH (Germany), Skyray Instruments USA, Inc. (US), GBC Scientific (Australia), Malvern Panalytical Ltd. (UK), Rigaku Holdings Corporation (Japan), LECO Corporation (US), Advion Inc. (US), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (US), Hitachi High-Tech Corporation (Japan), Alpha Measurement Solutions (US), Buck Scientific, Inc. (US), Jeol Ltd. (Japan), PG Instruments Ltd. (UK), and Aurora Biomed Inc. (Canada), among others.

Browse Adjacent Markets: Analytical and Scientific Instrumentation Market Research Reports & Consulting

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Mass Spectrometry Market - Global Forecast to 2030

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Environmental Testing Products Market - Global Forecast to 2030

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Increase in the need for operational efficiency and transparency in business processes, rise in demand for ERP software from small & medium enterprises, and surge in adoption of cloud and mobile applications boost the growth of the global market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "ERP Market by Component (Software and Services), Deployment Model On-premise, Cloud and Hybrid), Enterprise Size (Large Enterprises, Medium Enterprises, and Small Enterprises), Business Function (Finance, Human Resource (HR), Supply Chain, Customer Management, Inventory Management, Manufacturing Module, and Others) and Industry Vertical (Manufacturing, BFSI, Healthcare, Retail & Distribution, Government & Utilities, IT & Telecom, Construction, Aerospace & Defense and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". The global ERP market was valued at USD 16.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 40.6 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2024 to 2033.

The growing need for operational efficiency and transparency in business processes, coupled with increasing demand for ERP software from small and medium enterprises, is driving global market growth. Additionally, the surge in adoption of cloud and mobile applications is positively impacting market expansion. However, the availability of open-source ERP applications and high implementation costs of ERP software technology are hampering market growth. Conversely, the rising application of ERP solutions in small and medium enterprises and the rapid transformation of modern business models are expected to offer significant opportunities for enterprise resource planning market expansion during the forecast period.

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The on-premise segment held the highest market share.

By deployment model, the on-premise segment accounted for the largest share, as many organizations-particularly those in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing-prefer on-premise solutions due to their ability to provide greater control over data security and compliance. However, the cloud segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR due to rising demand for flexibility and scalability in business operations. Cloud-based ERP solutions allow for easy updates and expansion without the need for significant hardware investments, driving their adoption among organizations.

Regional Outlook

The North America region held the highest market share.

By region, the enterprise resource planning (ERP) market was dominated by North America in 2020. North America, particularly the U.S., owing to a highly developed technological infrastructure, advanced IT infrastructure, high adoption of cloud-based solutions, significant presence of key market players, and increasing demand for automation. However, LAMEA is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period, attributed to increasing digital transformation initiatives, rising investments in IT infrastructure, growing adoption of cloud-based ERP solutions, and government efforts to modernize industries across the region.

Why is Demand Increasing in Enterprise Resource Planning Market?

Demand in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) market is rising rapidly due to digital transformation, operational complexity, and the need for real-time data visibility across organizations.

One major driver is the shift toward integrated business systems. Companies want unified platforms that connect finance, supply chain, HR, procurement, and customer operations. Solutions like SAP S/4HANA, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 enable centralized data management, improving decision-making and reducing manual processes.

Cloud adoption is another key factor. Cloud-based ERP systems offer scalability, lower upfront costs, remote accessibility, and automatic updates. As hybrid and remote work models expand, businesses increasingly prefer SaaS-based ERP platforms over legacy on-premise systems.

Growing regulatory compliance requirements also contribute to ERP demand. Companies must manage financial reporting standards, tax regulations, and data security policies efficiently. Modern ERP systems provide automated compliance tools and audit trails.

Additionally, the rise of AI, automation, and analytics integration within ERP platforms enhances forecasting, inventory optimization, and predictive maintenance. Organizations seek data-driven insights to stay competitive in dynamic markets.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also adopting ERP solutions due to affordable subscription models and modular deployment options.

Overall, the need for operational efficiency, digital integration, and strategic agility continues to accelerate global ERP market growth.

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How Intense is Market Competition and What Defines Competitive Advantage?

Market competition in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) sector is highly intense and continues to evolve as global digitization accelerates. The market is dominated by established players such as SAP, Oracle Corporation, and Microsoft, while emerging cloud-native vendors like Workday and Infor intensify competition. These companies compete across industries, organization sizes, deployment models, and geographic regions.

Competition is defined by several critical factors. First, technological innovation plays a central role. Vendors that integrate artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, and advanced analytics into their ERP platforms gain differentiation. Cloud-first architecture and scalability are also essential, as organizations increasingly demand flexible, subscription-based solutions rather than legacy on-premise systems.

Second, industry specialization creates competitive advantage. ERP providers offering tailored solutions for sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, retail, or finance often outperform generic platforms. Customization capabilities and vertical-specific modules enhance value propositions.

Third, ecosystem strength and partner networks significantly influence market position. Strong implementation partners, system integrators, and developer communities expand market reach and improve customer retention.

Customer experience is another decisive factor. Ease of implementation, user-friendly interfaces, integration with third-party applications, cybersecurity features, and ongoing support services directly impact long-term loyalty.

Finally, pricing strategy and total cost of ownership shape buying decisions, especially for small and mid-sized enterprises.

Overall, competitive advantage in the ERP market is defined by innovation, scalability, vertical expertise, ecosystem strength, and customer-centric delivery models, making competition both intense and strategically complex.

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Key Industry Developments

In July 2024, Eton Solutions launched AtlasFive, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform designed for managing family offices in India.

In July 2024, SAP and its partner SGN Software Pvt Ltd launched a flagship Cloud ERP offering designed for small and mid-sized organizations.

In May 2024, Forterro launched Fortee, its entry-level cloud-based ERP solution designed specifically for SME discrete manufacturers and industrial startups. The platform is based on 15 years of cloud ERP learning.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global ERP market. These players have adopted different strategies such as expansion, product launch, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Treasury Offering of C$136.5 Million (~ A$141 Million)

Secondary Offering of C$272.5 Million (~ A$282 Million)

Marimaca and the Selling Shareholders have received strong commitments via the Canadian Offering and Australian Offering (defined below)

Pro forma cash before transactions costs is C$227 million (~ A$235 million[1])[2]

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Marimaca Copper Corp. (TSX: MARI) (ASX: MC2) ("Marimaca" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a highly successful equity bookbuild with strong support from new and existing shareholders. The proceeds of the Canadian Treasury Offering (the "Canadian Treasury Offering") will be used to advance the Marimaca Project and expand the exploration programs at Pampa Medina.

Global Offering Details

The global offering will be completed in two parts (together the "Global Offering"), comprising:

Canadian Offering : Canadian Treasury Offering : C$136.5 million treasury offering of 13,650,000 common shares of the Company (the " Common Shares ") priced at C$10.00 per Common Share (the " Canadian Issue Price "); and Canadian Secondary Offering : C$120.5 million secondary offering of 12,049,087 existing Common Shares at the Canadian Issue Price owned and controlled by Greenstone Resources II L.P. and Greenstone Co-Investment No. 1 (Coro) L.P. (the " Greenstone Group ").

: Australian Offering : Australian Secondary Offering : A$157 million secondary offering of CHESS Depositary Interests of the Company (the " CDIs ") at a price of A$10.35 per CDI (the " Australian Offer Price ") owned and controlled by Greenstone Resources II L.P. and other shareholders (together with the Greenstone Group, the " Selling Shareholders ").

:

The Canadian Treasury Offering represents aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately C$136.5 million, or A$141 million1. The Canadian Secondary Offering and Australian Secondary Offering (together, the "Secondary Offering") combined represent aggregate gross proceeds to the Selling Shareholders of approximately C$272.5 million, or A$282 million1.

Completion of the Canadian Treasury Offering is subject to TSX approval. The CDIs under the Australian Offering will be issued pursuant to the ASX Listing Rule 7.1 waiver granted to the Company.

Canadian Offering

Marimaca has entered into an agreement with the Canadian Co-Lead Agents (defined below), to conduct, on a commercially reasonable efforts agency basis, a public offering of Common Shares. The Canadian Offering consists of a Canadian Treasury Offering of Common Shares of the Company for C$136.5 million and a Canadian Secondary Offering of existing Common Shares, owned and controlled by the Greenstone Group, for C$120.5 million. Collectively, the Canadian Offering will consist of 25,699,087 Common Shares at the Canadian Issue Price for aggregate gross proceeds of C$257 million.

The Canadian Offering will be made by way of a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated January 9, 2026 (the "Shelf Prospectus") to purchasers in all of the provinces and territories of Canada (other than Quebec and Nunavut) and may be offered in the United States to "qualified institutional buyers" under the United States Securities Act of 1933 ("QIBs"), as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and in those jurisdictions outside Canada and the United States pursuant to exemptions from prospectus and registration requirements.

Access to the Prospectus Supplement, the Shelf Prospectus and any amendment to such documents is provided in accordance with securities legislation relating to the procedures for providing access to a shelf prospectus supplement, a base shelf prospectus and any amendment. The Shelf Prospectus is, and the Prospectus Supplement will be filed and accessible on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca on or before February 19, 2026. An electronic or paper copy of the Prospectus Supplement, Shelf Prospectus, and any amendment to such documents may be obtained, without charge, from Beacon Securities Limited at syndication@beaconsecurities.ca, BMO Capital Markets at Brampton Distribution Centre C/O The Data Group of Companies, 9195 Torbram Road, Brampton, Ontario, L6S 6H2 by telephone at 905-791-3151 Ext 4312 or by email at torbramwarehouse@datagroup.ca., by providing the contact with an email address or address, as applicable.

Australian Offering

Marimaca has entered into an agreement with the Joint Lead Managers (defined below) to complete a brokered placement of CDIs. The Australian Offering consists of an Australian Secondary Offering of existing CDIs, owned and controlled by certain Selling Shareholders, for A$157 million.

The CDIs will be offered in Australia to professional investors or sophisticated investors who are also "wholesale clients" (within the meaning of sections 708(11), 708(10), 708(8) and 761G of the Australian Corporations Act respectively); in the United States to QIBs and Eligible US Fund Managers; and outside Australia and the United States to certain institutional, sophisticated or professional investors in Bermuda, Brazil, Cayman Islands, European Union (excluding Austria), Hong Kong, New Zealand, Malaysia, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Israel, United Arab Emirates (excluding financial centres), and United Kingdom.

Retained Interest

Prior to the closing of the Global Offering, the Greenstone Group owns and controls 14,304,285 Common Shares and 8,000,000 CDIs, representing approximately 18.58% of the Company's issued and outstanding Common Shares and CDIs (in aggregate). Following the closing of the Global Offering, assuming it is fully subscribed, the Greenstone Group will beneficially own and control 2,255,198 Common Shares and 6,351,806 CDIs, representing 6.44% of the outstanding Common Shares and CDIs (in aggregate) and a decrease in ownership and control by the Greenstone Group of 13,697,281 Common Shares and CDIs (in aggregate).

As part of the Global Offering, the Selling Shareholders have agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, not to sell any Common Shares or CDIs for a 90 day period.

Use of Funds

The net proceeds from the Canadian Treasury Offering will be used to advance the Marimaca Project, including funding the pre-construction decision engineering workstreams and early site works, to conduct a drilling campaign at Pampa Medina and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The net proceeds of the Secondary Offering will be payable to the Selling Shareholders. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Secondary Offering.

Indicative Timetable

An indicative timetable for the Global Offering is included below:

Indicative Timetable

Event Time / Date

(AEST) Time/Date

(EST) Trading Halt lifted and return to trading on ASX(*) Thursday, 19 February 2026 Wednesday, 18 February 2026 Canadian Offering settlement and issuance of Common Shares Thursday, 26 February 2026 Thursday, 26 February 2026 Allotment of CDIs under Australian Offering Friday, 27 February 2026 Thursday, 26 February 2026

(*) Due to time zone difference between Sydney (AEST) and Toronto (EST), the trading halt on the ASX will be lifted prior to 10am AEST on Thursday, February 19 or 7pm EST on Wednesday, February 18.

The dates and times noted above are indicative only and subject to change. Any material changes will be notified by the Company to the TSX and ASX, as required. The Company reserves the right to amend any or all of the above dates and times.

Agents

Beacon Securities Limited and BMO Capital Markets are acting as co-lead agents and joint bookrunners (the "Canadian Co-Lead Agents") and co-managed with National Bank Financial Inc., on behalf of a syndicate of agents (the "Agents") for the Canadian Offering.

Euroz Hartleys Limited and Canaccord Genuity (Australia) Limited (the "Australian Co-Lead Agents" and, together with the Canadian Co-Lead Agents, the "Joint Lead Managers") are acting as lead managers and joint bookrunners for the Australian Offering.

U.S. Securities Act Disclaimer

The securities under the Canadian Offering and the Australian Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act), except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted.

About Marimaca

Marimaca is a copper exploration and development company focused on its 100%-owned flagship Marimaca Copper Project and surrounding exploration properties located in Antofagasta Region, Chile.

The Marimaca Copper Project hosts the Marimaca Oxide Deposit (the "MOD"), an IOCG-type copper deposit. The Company is currently progressing the Marimaca Copper Project through detailed engineering and submission for sectorial permits following the release of the 2025 MOD DFS and receipt of the RCA. In parallel, the Company is exploring its extensive land package in the Antofagasta region, including the >15,000ha wholly-owned Sierra de Medina property block, located 25km from the MOD. The Company is currently completing a Phase II drilling program (30,000m) at Pampa Medina, located in the Sierra de Medina property, after a successful discovery drilling program in 2025 identified a high-grade sedimentary horizon at depth.

This news release is authorized for release by the Board of Directors of Marimaca.

Contact Information

For further information please visit www.marimaca.com or contact:

Tavistock

+44 (0) 207 920 3150

Emily Moss

marimaca@tavistock.co.uk

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements related to the anticipated participation in and size of the Canadian Offering or Australian Offering, anticipated timing and closing date of the Canadian Offering or Australian Offering, advisory fees payable, the use of proceeds and receipt of regulatory approvals and other approvals, including approval of the TSX. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Marimaca, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: risks related to the receipt of required regulatory approvals, including timing of approval by the TSX, risks related to share price and market conditions, the inherent risks involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of project delays or cost overruns or unanticipated excessive operating costs and expenses, uncertainties related to the necessity of financing, uncertainties relating to regulatory procedure and timing for permitting reviews, the availability of and costs of financing needed in the future. The intended use of the proceeds of the Global Offering by the Company might change if the board of directors of the Company determines that it would be in the best interests of the Company and amounts actually allocated and spent will depend on a number of factors, including the Company's ability to execute on its business plan. Many of these risks and uncertainties and additional risk factors generally applicable to the Company are described in the Company's annual information form of the Company dated March 27, 2025 and other filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.ca). Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

None of the TSX, ASX or the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

[1] Based on an AUD.CAD exchange rate of 0.9661.

[2] Cash at February 17, 2026 plus gross proceeds anticipated from the Global Offering.

Not for release to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284335

Source: Marimaca Copper Corp.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A report released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday showed a sharp increase in new residential construction in the U.S. in the month of December.



The Commerce Department said housing starts spiked by 6.2 percent to an annual rate of 1.404 million in December after jumping by 3.9 percent to an annual rate of 1.322 million in November. Economists had expected housing starts to come in at an annual rate of 1.33 million.



The continued surge by housing starts partly reflected a significant increase in multi-family starts, which soared by 11.3 percent to an annual rate of 423,000 in December after rising by 0.5 percent to an annual rate of 380,000 in November.



Single-family starts also shot up by 4.1 percent to an annual rate of 981,000 in December after surging by 5.4 percent to an annual rate of 942,000 in November.



The Commerce Department also said building permits jumped by 4.3 percent to an annual rate of 1.448 million in December after slumping by 1.6 percent to an annual rate of 1.388 million in November.



Building permits, an indicator of future housing demand, were expected to come in at an annual rate of 1.400 million.



The report showed multi-family permits led the way higher, spiking by 15.2 percent to an annual rate of 567,000 in December after plunging by 7.7 percent to an annual rate of 492,000 in November.



Meanwhile, single-family permits slumped by 1.7 percent to an annual rate of 881,000 in December after jumping by 2.1 percent to an annual rate of 896,000 in November.



'We expect a gradual improvement in housing starts over the course of 2026 but that won't be apparent immediately,' said Nancy Vanden Houten, U.S. Lead Economist at Oxford Economics.



She added, 'January starts are likely to be weaker than the December reading due to the severe winter weather that affected much of the country.'



The National Association of Home Builders released a separate report on Tuesday showing homebuilder confidence has unexpectedly seen a modest deterioration in the month of February.



The report said the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index edged down to 36 in February after slipping to 37 in January. Economists had expected the index to inch up to 38.



With the unexpected dip, the housing market index dropped to its lowest level since hitting 32 last September.



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 2026 AFX News
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The advance directives market growth is fueled by rise in investments in advance care planning, increase in global geriatric population, and surge in awareness about the importance of advance directives. These legally binding documents allow individuals to outline their medical preferences for future healthcare decisions, especially in scenarios where they are unable to communicate their wishes.

Allied Market Research's report, 'Advance Directives Market by Component, Demographics, and End User: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033', delves into the market dynamics, uncovering opportunities, challenges, and key players driving this transformative sector. The global advance directives market size was valued at $121.7 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach $510.2 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 15.4% from 2024 to 2033.

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How Is the Market Performing Compared to Previous Years?

The advance directives market has shown steady and consistent growth compared to previous years. Earlier, advance care planning was primarily limited to legal and geriatric care settings. In recent years, however, systematic efforts by healthcare organizations to prioritize patient-centered care have elevated advance directives as a key part of clinical practice. The COVID-19 pandemic further surged the interest in advance care planning.

Compared to previous years, the market exhibits stronger institutional support, broader geographic relevance, and higher awareness among both patients and providers. Thus, the advance directives market is poised to experience growth in the upcoming years.

Drivers of Growth in the Advance Directives Market

Healthcare systems are prioritizing advance care planning to ensure medical preferences of the patients are respected. There is a rise in demand for advance directives in the geriatric population.

Advance Directives Market Segmentation Highlights

By Component: Dominance of the Services Segment

The services segment led the advance directives market in 2023, driven by the increase in availability of support services that guide individuals through the complex process of drafting and filing advance directives. Healthcare providers, legal advisors, and digital platforms are offering tailored services, ensuring that these documents align with legal requirements and accurately reflect patient preferences.

By Demographics: The Role of the Elderly Population

The elderly population segment dominates the market. Chronic conditions and age-related health risks drive the adoption of advance directives among older adults, who are more inclined to plan for future medical scenarios.

By End User: Healthcare Providers at the Forefront

The healthcare providers segment holds the largest share in the market, as they play a vital role in educating patients and integrating advance directives into care plans. Hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities increasingly encourage patients to document their medical preferences during routine check-ups or hospital admissions.

Regional Outlook: North America Leads the Advance Directives Market

North America is projected to maintain its dominance in the advance directives market through 2033. This is attributed to increase in awareness about advance care planning, strong healthcare infrastructure equipped to integrate advance directives with EHR systems and supportive regulations and government initiatives that promote the adoption of these documents. Furthermore, partnerships between healthcare organizations and tech companies are enhancing the availability and efficiency of digital advance directive solutions. Asia-Pacific and Europe are also witnessing significant growth. In Asia-Pacific, rise in healthcare investments, surge in aging population, and increase in awareness campaigns fuel market expansion. Meanwhile, Europe exhibits growth owing to progressive end-of-life care policies and a strong emphasis on patient rights.

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What Role Do Digital Technologies Play in Improving Products and Services?

Digital technologies play an important role in modernizing the advance directives market. Digital platforms are making the process efficient, accessible, and secure. According to Allied Market Research insights on healthcare IT expansion, digital documentation systems and electronic health record integration are key drivers of innovation in patient-centered services. In advance care planning, online platforms allow individuals to create legally valid documents from home. These platforms often include guided forms, educational videos, and simplified language explanations to help users understand their options.

One major advantage of digital technologies is accessibility. Cloud-based storage ensures that advance directives can be securely stored and retrieved when needed. Healthcare providers can access these documents directly through integrated EHR systems, reducing delays and ensuring that patient preferences are available during emergencies. Digital signature technology has also streamlined the legal validation process. In many regions, electronic witnessing and secure authentication tools reduce administrative barriers. This improves completion rates and lowers the logistical challenges associated with traditional paper-based documentation.

Key Players and Strategic Developments

The advance directives market is characterized by a dynamic competitive landscape.

Major players include:

West Health

MyDirectives, Inc.

Aledade

VyncaCare

WiserCare

Sharp HealthCare

Vital Decisions LLC

These companies are focusing on innovative product launches, strategic acquisitions, and partnerships to expand their market share.

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Recent Developments in the Advance Directives Industry

November 2023: MyDirectives partnered with Beyond Lucid Technologies to provide real-time access to patient advance healthcare decision documents for mobile medical service providers.

April 2023: ADVault launched the "Make MyDirectives Your Directives" initiative to simplify documenting healthcare preferences via an online platform, aligning with National Healthcare Decisions Day.

January 2022: Aledade acquired Iris Healthcare, enhancing its ability to offer comprehensive advance care planning solutions to its network of over 1,000 independent practices.

Future Outlook: Opportunities for Market Expansion

Technological Integration

The future of the advance directives market lies in technology. AI-powered tools for predictive care planning, blockchain for secure storage, and telemedicine platforms for remote consultations are set to redefine how individuals create and manage their directives.

Demographic Shifts

As younger demographics, including middle-aged individuals (40-60 years) and young adults (18-39 years), become increasingly aware of advance care planning, the market is poised to diversify. Public awareness campaigns targeting these groups can expand the market's reach and impact.

Policy and Regulation

Government policies mandating advance directives as part of standard healthcare practices could further accelerate market growth. Subsidized programs to create advance directives for underserved populations represent another avenue for expansion.

The advance directives market is on a transformative journey, addressing one of healthcare's most critical yet often overlooked needs-proactive medical decision-making. By empowering individuals to articulate their preferences, advance directives enhance patient autonomy, streamline healthcare delivery, and improve end-of-life care outcomes.

As investments in technology and awareness grow, coupled with a supportive policy environment, the market is poised for exponential growth. With projected revenues exceeding $500 billion by 2033, this sector represents a pivotal shift in healthcare planning, ensuring dignity, clarity, and preparedness for millions worldwide.

Explore AMR's Extensive Ongoing Coverage on Life Science Industry:

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Curated program taking place March 30-April 1 brings together infrastructure providers, fintech leaders, financial institutions, and investors to drive real outcomes across the digital assets ecosystem

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / February 18, 2026 / Fintech Meetup , the most anticipated financial sector event, attended by more than 5,000 professionals, including over 1,000 CEOs and founders, and representatives from more than 700 financial institutions, today announced the launch of the Digital Assets Series at Fintech Meetup 2026, a dedicated program designed to connect the rapidly evolving digital assets ecosystem with the broader financial services industry.

Taking place March 30-April 1, 2026 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, the Digital Assets Series reflects the growing shift from conversation to execution in digital assets. As tokenization, stablecoins, blockchain infrastructure, and institutional adoption move into real-world deployment, the Digital Asset Series provides a focused environment for decision-makers building and integrating these digital asset solutions.

"There are thousands of senior leaders already registered for Fintech Meetup expressing a clear appetite for deeper engagement with digital assets," said Louisa Hunter , President at Fintech Meetup. "We are launching an integrated programme of content and curated networking embedded directly within the show and it is fast shaping up to be one of the defining and most in-demand features of the event. By intentionally connecting the fintech and crypto communities, we are accelerating the shift of digital assets from the margins of 'emerging tech' to their role as an operating reality for global finance."

Designed as a fully integrated component of Fintech Meetup 2026, the Digital Assets Series will run across all three days of the event, alongside the broader agenda, expo floor, Meetings Program, and TableTalks .

The Digital Assets Series combines focused content, peer-driven discussion, and high-intent meetings designed to drive real outcomes.

Key elements of the Digital Assets Series include:

Dedicated Content Space: A purpose-built conference space hosting digital asset-focused sessions throughout the event, featuring conversations ranging from intimate roundtables to larger-scale discussions on tokenization, stablecoins, custody, compliance, infrastructure, and institutional adoption.

Crypto-focused TableTalks: Dedicated digital asset TableTalk topics on Day Two and Day Three, bringing together five to eight senior leaders for candid, off-the-record discussions. These moderated sessions are designed for practical insight-sharing and meaningful peer connection.

Enhanced Meetings Program Access: Participants will benefit from digital asset-specific tagging and filters within Fintech Meetup's proprietary Meetings Program, making it easier to connect with relevant infrastructure providers, financial institutions, fintechs, and investors. Sponsors will also have access to enhanced listings and the Hosted Meetings Program for guaranteed, high-intent meetings.

Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities

The inaugural Digital Assets Series offers partners the opportunity to help shape a high-growth program from the ground up. Ideal sponsors include digital asset infrastructure, custody, security, compliance, payments, and settlement providers, as well as financial institutions and investment firms with active digital asset initiatives

Participation provides:

Early alignment with Fintech Meetup's established brand and Meetings Program

Curated access to high-intent buyers and partners

Long-term association with a leading digital assets platform within financial services

For more information on tickets, sponsorships and the Digital Assets Series, please visit https://fintechmeetup.com/page/digital-asset-series .

About Fintech Meetup

Fintech Meetup is the most anticipated financial sector event of the first half of the year. It is attended by the CEOs and senior leaders from thousands of Banks, Credit Unions, Fintechs and Investors that serve the US market. The event hosts the sector's most valuable and productive meetings program, using ground-breaking technology to power over 50,000 one-to-one meetings. It's nothing short of a phenomenon - www.fintechmeetup.com .

About Hyve Group

Fintech Meetup is part of Hyve Group ( Hyve | unmissable events - Hyve Group ). Hyve delivers game-changing impact for people, business and beyond. How? By helping people to make the connections that could change everything, through its portfolio of unmissable events and hyper-productive meetings programmes. Hyve is on a mission to redefine everyone's expectations of events and provide attendees with unbeatable return on investment and time. Hyve's portfolio includes world-renowned events such as Shoptalk, HLTH, Bett and Fintech Meetup.

For media inquiries, please contact:

fintechmeetup@calibercorporate.com

SOURCE: Fintech Meetup

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/blockchain-and-cryptocurrency/fintech-meetup-introduces-digital-assets-series-as-crypto-moves-from-1138462
The Automotive Refrigerator Market is driven by growing consumer demand for enhanced in-vehicle comfort and convenience, particularly in passenger cars, recreational vehicles, and commercial fleets. Rising adoption of electric and premium vehicles, increased long-distance travel, and the expansion of logistics and cold-chain transportation are boosting demand. Technological advancements in compact, energy-efficient cooling systems and increasing focus on driver comfort and food safety further support sustained market growth.

LEWES, Del., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The size of the Automotive Refrigerator Market was valued at USD 2.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 7.5% during the 2026-2033 forecast period. Growth is supported by expanding vehicle production, rising penetration of advanced comfort features, and continuous innovation in automotive refrigeration technologies across global markets.

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Scope Of The Report

REPORT ATTRIBUTES DETAILS STUDY PERIOD 2020-2031 BASE YEAR 2024 FORECAST PERIOD 2026-2033 HISTORICAL PERIOD 2020-2024 UNIT Value (USD Billion) KEY COMPANIES PROFILED Dometic Group, Indel B, Webasto, Panasonic Automotive Systems, LG Electronics, Haier Group, and Mahle. SEGMENTS COVERED By Type, By Application And By Geography CUSTOMIZATION SCOPE Free report customization (equivalent to up to 4 analyst working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope

Automotive Refrigerator Market Overview

1. Rising Demand for Enhanced In-Vehicle Comfort and Convenience

The Automotive Refrigerator Market is witnessing steady growth as consumers increasingly prioritize comfort, convenience, and premium features within vehicles. Modern drivers and passengers expect amenities that enhance long-distance travel experiences, including the ability to store beverages, food, and temperature-sensitive items. Automotive refrigerators are no longer limited to luxury cars; they are gradually penetrating mid-range passenger vehicles, recreational vehicles, and commercial fleets. The rise in road trips, tourism activities, and lifestyle-oriented vehicle usage has further amplified demand. Additionally, ride-sharing, chauffeur-driven services, and luxury mobility solutions are driving OEMs to integrate compact refrigeration units as standard or optional features. These systems contribute to improved passenger satisfaction and perceived vehicle value. As consumer expectations evolve, automotive refrigerators are transitioning from niche accessories to integral components of next-generation vehicle interiors, supporting consistent market expansion.

2. Impact of Electrification and Vehicle Technology Advancements

Vehicle electrification plays a crucial role in shaping the Automotive Refrigerator Market. Electric and hybrid vehicles provide a favorable platform for energy-efficient refrigeration systems that operate independently of traditional engine-driven mechanisms. Advances in battery technology, power management systems, and low-energy cooling solutions have improved refrigerator efficiency without significantly impacting vehicle range. Manufacturers are designing compact, lightweight, and thermoelectric refrigeration units tailored for modern vehicle architectures. Integration with smart dashboards and vehicle infotainment systems allows users to monitor and control temperature settings digitally. As vehicles become more connected and software-driven, automotive refrigerators are evolving into intelligent, user-friendly components. These technological improvements enhance reliability, reduce noise levels, and support broader adoption across multiple vehicle categories, strengthening long-term market growth prospects.

3. Growing Adoption in Commercial Vehicles and Logistics

Commercial vehicles represent a significant growth avenue for the Automotive Refrigerator Market. Long-haul trucks, delivery vans, and fleet vehicles increasingly incorporate refrigeration units to support driver comfort and operational efficiency. Drivers benefit from access to fresh food and beverages during extended journeys, improving well-being and productivity. In specialized logistics applications, automotive refrigerators support temperature-sensitive goods such as pharmaceuticals, medical samples, and perishable items in small-scale transport. Fleet operators recognize these systems as value-added features that enhance driver retention and compliance with food safety standards. As e-commerce and last-mile delivery expand globally, demand for compact and reliable refrigeration solutions in commercial vehicles continues to rise. This trend strengthens the market's role beyond passenger comfort, extending into operational and business-critical applications.

4. Expansion of Recreational Vehicles and Outdoor Mobility

The growing popularity of recreational vehicles (RVs), camper vans, and outdoor adventure travel significantly boosts the Automotive Refrigerator Market. Consumers increasingly invest in self-sufficient mobility solutions that support extended outdoor stays. Automotive refrigerators are essential components in RVs, enabling travelers to store food safely and reduce dependency on external facilities. Compact, portable, and multi-power-source refrigerators are particularly attractive in this segment. Manufacturers focus on durability, vibration resistance, and energy efficiency to meet outdoor usage requirements. Rising disposable incomes, lifestyle shifts toward experiential travel, and post-pandemic preferences for road-based tourism further support demand. This segment contributes to stable, long-term market growth, especially in North America and Europe.

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5. OEM Integration Versus Aftermarket Demand

The Automotive Refrigerator Market is balanced between OEM-installed systems and aftermarket solutions. OEM integration is gaining traction as automakers differentiate models through premium interior features and bundled comfort packages. Factory-installed refrigerators ensure better design integration, safety compliance, and power optimization. Meanwhile, the aftermarket remains strong, driven by customization trends and retrofitting demand across older vehicles and commercial fleets. Aftermarket products offer flexibility in size, capacity, and pricing, appealing to a broad consumer base. Both channels coexist, supporting market expansion across diverse customer segments. This dual-channel structure enhances accessibility and allows manufacturers to target multiple revenue streams effectively.

6. Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Considerations

Energy efficiency is a critical focus area in the Automotive Refrigerator Market, particularly as sustainability becomes a priority for automakers and regulators. Manufacturers are developing refrigeration systems with reduced power consumption, eco-friendly refrigerants, and improved insulation materials. Lightweight designs help minimize overall vehicle energy load, aligning with emission reduction goals. In electric vehicles, efficient refrigerators help preserve battery life and driving range. Sustainability-driven innovation not only meets regulatory requirements but also appeals to environmentally conscious consumers. As green mobility initiatives expand globally, energy-efficient automotive refrigeration solutions gain competitive advantage and contribute to long-term market sustainability.

7. Consumer Preferences and Design Innovation

Consumer preferences strongly influence product design and feature development within the Automotive Refrigerator Market. Demand is rising for sleek, compact, and modular designs that integrate seamlessly with vehicle interiors. Noise reduction, fast cooling, and temperature stability are key performance expectations. Manufacturers are also offering customizable capacities and dual-zone cooling options to meet varied usage needs. Aesthetic alignment with premium interiors enhances adoption in luxury and executive vehicles. These design innovations improve usability and broaden appeal across passenger, commercial, and recreational vehicle segments, reinforcing market growth.

8. Competitive Landscape and Strategic Developments

The Automotive Refrigerator Market is moderately competitive, with manufacturers focusing on innovation, partnerships, and geographic expansion. Companies invest in R&D to improve efficiency, durability, and smart functionality. Strategic collaborations with automakers and fleet operators help secure long-term supply contracts. Mergers, acquisitions, and product launches are common strategies to expand portfolios and enter emerging markets. Continuous innovation ensures differentiation in a market driven by both performance and comfort considerations, supporting sustained competitive momentum.

Geographic Dominance:

North America holds a dominant position in the Automotive Refrigerator Market, supported by high adoption of recreational vehicles, long-distance travel culture, and strong demand for premium automotive features. The United States leads due to widespread use of trucks, RVs, and luxury vehicles equipped with comfort-enhancing technologies. Europe follows closely, driven by advanced automotive manufacturing, rising adoption of electric vehicles, and strong demand for compact, energy-efficient refrigeration systems. Countries such as Germany, France, and Italy contribute significantly due to innovation and premium vehicle penetration. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, fueled by increasing vehicle production, rising disposable incomes, and expanding logistics and delivery fleets in China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa show steady growth as commercial transportation and tourism activities expand. Regional dominance reflects mobility patterns, vehicle mix, and technological adoption levels.

Automotive Refrigerator Market Key Players Shaping the Future

Key players shaping the Automotive Refrigerator Market include Dometic Group, Indel B, Webasto, Panasonic Automotive Systems, LG Electronics, Haier Group, and Mahle. These companies focus on energy efficiency, compact design, and OEM collaborations to strengthen their market positions.

Automotive Refrigerator Market Segment Analysis

The Automotive Refrigerator Market is segmented based on By Type, By Application, and Geography, providing a comprehensive framework for industry analysis:

By Type

Financial Education & Literacy Programs

Retirement Planning & Investment Advisory

Debt Management & Credit Counseling

Savings, Budgeting & Emergency Fund Solutions

By Application

Large Enterprises

Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Public Sector & Government Organizations

By Geography

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Automobile and Transportation

The Automobile and Transportation sector is a key application area for the Automotive Refrigerator Market, driven by the growing emphasis on driver comfort, passenger convenience, and operational efficiency. Long-distance travel, expanding logistics networks, and rising adoption of premium and electric vehicles have increased the demand for in-vehicle refrigeration solutions. In passenger cars and recreational vehicles, automotive refrigerators enhance travel comfort by enabling safe storage of food, beverages, and temperature-sensitive items. In commercial transportation, particularly trucks and delivery vans, these systems support driver well-being and productivity during extended routes. The sector also benefits from advancements in vehicle electrification, which allow energy-efficient refrigeration systems to operate with minimal impact on vehicle performance. Additionally, the growth of ride-hailing, tourism, and fleet-based transportation services is encouraging OEMs and fleet operators to integrate automotive refrigerators as value-added features. Overall, the Automobile and Transportation sector continues to drive sustained demand through innovation, mobility expansion, and evolving consumer expectations.

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The global biocompatible coating market is witnessing growth as rising demand for medical implants, technological innovations, stringent regulatory standards, and increasing collaborative research initiatives drive the development and adoption of advanced biocompatible coatings across healthcare and biomedical applications.

WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Biocompatible Coating Market by Type (Antimicrobial, Hydrophilic and Others), Material (Polymer, Ceramic, Metal and Others), and End User (Healthcare, Medical Device and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the biocompatible coating market was valued at $13.4 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $41.4 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 12% from 2024 to 2033.

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Prime Determinants of Growth

Biocompatible coating market leverages advanced materials and surface modification techniques to improve the compatibility of medical devices and implants with human tissues. These coatings enhance device performance, reduce immune response, and prevent infections, thereby improving patient outcomes. The rising adoption of implantable medical devices, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and growing demand for minimally invasive surgeries are driving the growth of the biocompatible coating market.

Biocompatible coatings are widely applied in orthopedics, cardiovascular devices, dental implants, and drug delivery systems. The market growth is further fueled by technological advancements in nanocoatings, polymeric coatings, and bioactive coatings that improve the longevity and functionality of medical devices. Increasing healthcare expenditure, rising awareness about patient safety, and demand for high-performance biomaterials are key factors supporting market expansion.

However, challenges such as high manufacturing costs, stringent regulatory requirements, and compatibility issues with diverse medical devices may restrict adoption in certain regions. Ongoing investments by governments and private organizations in research & development, as well as advancements in coating technologies, are expected to create significant opportunities in the global market.

Drivers

Rising demand for implantable medical devices and minimally invasive surgeries

Advancements in polymeric, nanocoating, and bioactive coating technologies

Increasing focus on patient safety and improved device longevity

Opportunities

Growth potential in emerging economies with expanding healthcare infrastructure

Innovation in personalized and precision medical devices requiring tailored coatings

Increasing R&D investments in advanced biocompatible materials

Restraints

Report Coverage & Details

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size In 2023 $13.4 Billion Market Size In 2035 $41.4 Billion CAGR 12 % No. Of Pages in Report 260 Segments Covered Type, Application, Material, End User, and Region



Drivers  Rising demand for implantable medical devices and minimally invasive surgeries  Advancements in polymeric, nanocoating, and bioactive coating technologies  Increasing focus on patient safety and improved device longevity Opportunities  Growth potential in emerging economies with expanding healthcare infrastructure  Innovation in personalized and precision medical devices requiring tailored coatings  Increasing R&D investments in advanced biocompatible materials Restraint  High manufacturing and material costs  Stringent regulatory approvals and compliance requirements  Compatibility challenges with diverse medical devices

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Segment Highlights

Rising Adoption of Advanced Biocompatible Coatings

The biocompatible coating market is witnessing increasing adoption due to its ability to enhance medical device performance, improve patient safety, and reduce post-implantation complications. Antimicrobial coatings, for instance, are increasingly applied to prevent infections on implantable devices, while hydrophilic coatings improve device integration with human tissue. These coatings enable medical device manufacturers to improve device longevity and functionality, driving adoption across healthcare and medical device segments. Moreover, advanced coatings help in minimizing immune responses and improving healing, supporting better clinical outcomes.

Growth Across Material Segments

Material innovation is a key growth driver in the biocompatible coating market. Polymeric coatings are widely used due to their flexibility, durability, and compatibility with various medical devices. Ceramic coatings offer excellent wear resistance and biocompatibility, making them suitable for orthopedic and dental implants. Metal-based coatings, such as titanium and its alloys, are preferred for their mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. Ongoing R&D in nanocoatings and bioactive materials is further expanding the material portfolio, providing tailored solutions for complex medical applications.

End-User Adoption Driving Market Expansion

Healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing biocompatible coatings to enhance patient safety and device efficacy. In hospitals and surgical centers, coated implants reduce complications such as infections and implant rejection. For medical device companies, integrating biocompatible coatings into their products supports regulatory compliance, product differentiation, and extended device lifespan. The growing demand for minimally invasive procedures and implantable devices further fuels market adoption across the healthcare and medical device segments.

Role of Digital Technologies and Manufacturing Innovations

Digital technologies and advanced manufacturing processes play a pivotal role in improving biocompatible coatings. Techniques such as plasma deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and 3D printing enable precise coating applications, uniform thickness, and tailored surface properties. Additionally, digital process monitoring and simulation tools optimize coating performance and ensure consistent quality. These technologies allow manufacturers to scale production efficiently, reduce material waste, and meet the stringent quality standards required in the medical industry.

Regional Outlook

North America held the largest market share in 2023 and is expected to maintain dominance through 2033. The region benefits from well-established healthcare infrastructure, high adoption of advanced medical devices, strong R&D investments, and favorable regulatory frameworks. Europe follows closely, supported by technological innovations and increasing healthcare expenditure. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to register significant growth due to rising healthcare investments, increasing medical device manufacturing, and growing awareness of advanced coating solutions. LAMEA is also witnessing gradual adoption driven by expanding healthcare infrastructure and government initiatives to enhance medical device safety.

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Key Players

DSM Biomedical

Surmodics, Inc.

BASF SE

Covalon Technologies Ltd.

Harland Medical Systems

Biocoat, Inc.

BioInteractions Ltd.

AST Products, Inc.

PPG Industries

Precision Coating Company, Inc.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global biocompatible coating market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Recent Developments in the Biocompatible Coating Industry

In February 2023, BioInteractions, a leading UK biomaterial technology company, launched its expanded Product Pathway Partnership service incorporating bespoke coatings, optimized application and tooling, testing, regulatory support and commercial production, at the world's largest medical design and manufacturing event, MD&M West. The company, which is responsible for creating and developing the ground-breaking coating technology for medical devices TridAnt, as well as the widely proven Astute and Assist solutions, is announcing this new service aimed at advancing organizations ability to navigate the complicated medical device market quicker and more efficiently.

In March 2022, DSM Biomedical and Svelte Medical Systems collaboration fueled development of DISCREET Bioresorbable Coating Technology used with IDSand DIRECT RX Bioresorbable Coated Drug-Eluting Stent (DES) Systems.

In March 2024, SurModics, Inc. launched a next-generation antimicrobial and thromboresistant coating designed to improve tissue integration and reduce infection risks in cardiovascular and orthopedic implants, reflecting ongoing product enhancement efforts.

As of 2025, Biocoat, Inc. expanded manufacturing capabilities and introduced robust hydrophilic coatings under its Hydak platform, targeting cardiovascular and ophthalmic applications with enhanced performance.

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Regulatory News:

AFYREN (Paris:ALAFY), a greentech company offering manufacturers biobased, low-carbon ingredients through a unique fermentation technology based on a completely circular model, declares the number of voting rights and shares as of January 31, 2026.

Date Number of shares comprising the capital Number of theoretical voting rights (1) Number of exercisable voting rights (2) 01/31/2026 36,107,422 53,112,213 52,955,186

(1) The number of gross voting rights (or "theoretical" voting rights) serves as the basis for calculating threshold crossings. In accordance with Article 223-11 of the AMF General Regulations, this number is calculated on the basis of all shares to which voting rights are attached, including shares without voting rights.

(2) The number of net voting rights (or voting rights "exercisable at General Meetings") is calculated without taking into account shares without voting rights. It is disclosed for the information of the public, in accordance with the AMF recommendation of July 17, 2007.

About AFYREN

AFYREN is a French greentech company, founded in 2012, focused on providing innovative, sustainable solutions to reduce reliance on fossil-based resources. AFYREN's proprietary, nature-inspired fermentation technology valorizes local biomass from non-food agricultural co-products to produce 100% biobased, low-carbon carboxylic acids. The company's sustainable solutions address decarbonization challenges in a wide variety of strategic sectors, including human and animal nutrition, flavors and fragrances, life sciences, materials science, plus lubricants and technical fluids. AFYREN's competitive, plug-and-play, circular technology enables manufacturers to adopt sustainable solutions without modifying production processes.

The company's first industrial plant, AFYREN NEOXY, a joint venture with Bpifrance's SPI fund, is based in the Grand-Est region of France, serving primarily the European market. AFYREN is also pursuing a project in Thailand with a global leader in the sugar industry and is building its presence in the Americas, based on existing distribution agreements.

At the end of 2025, AFYREN employed 130 people across sites in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand and Carling Saint-Avold. Committed to continuous innovation, the company invests 20% of its annual budget in R&D to further develop the range of sustainable solutions.

AFYREN is listed on Euronext Growth Paris since 2021 (ISIN code: FR0014005AC9, ticker: ALAFY).

For more information, visit www.afyren.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

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AFYREN



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NewCap



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BANGALORE, India, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

What is the Market Size of E-Axle?

The global market for E-Axle was valued at USD 3859 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 13290 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period.

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What are the key factors driving the growth of the E-Axle Market?

The E-Axle Market is advancing through the consolidation of electric motor, inverter, and transmission systems into compact axle-integrated architectures that replace fragmented drivetrain assemblies. Automotive suppliers are intensifying competition around scalable e-drive platforms that can be deployed across front, rear, and dual configurations with minimal redesign.

OEMs are prioritizing higher efficiency, torque density, and packaging flexibility to extend vehicle range and differentiate performance in electric platforms. Integrated software control, thermal optimization, and noise refinement are being embedded directly into e-axle modules to improve system reliability and driving dynamics which in turn is driving the E-Axle Market growth.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE E-AXLE MARKET:

All-wheel-drive e-axle configurations are being positioned as performance differentiators in electric SUVs and premium passenger vehicles. Dual motor systems enable independent torque modulation between axles, enhancing traction control, acceleration response, and stability across varying terrain. Integrated software platforms synchronize motor output with braking and vehicle dynamics systems to deliver precise torque vectoring without mechanical complexity. This configuration eliminates traditional prop shafts and transfer cases, reducing weight while increasing drivetrain responsiveness. Suppliers are refining compact dual e-axle assemblies that deliver higher power density within constrained packaging envelopes. The ability to combine performance optimization with mechanical simplification strengthens OEM adoption across high-value electric platforms, which in turn is driving the E-Axle Market growth.

Front-wheel-drive e-axle systems are being deployed across high-volume electric vehicle platforms where cost control and manufacturing efficiency are central priorities. Integrated front modules consolidate motor, inverter, and gearbox into standardized assemblies that streamline vehicle production. This architecture reduces component count, simplifies installation, and optimizes cabin space utilization. Improved inverter integration and thermal management enhance system durability under daily driving conditions. Suppliers are aligning front e-axle designs with modular vehicle platforms to support rapid model proliferation. The emphasis on scalable, cost-efficient front-drive solutions supports electrification of compact and mid-sized vehicles, which in turn is driving the E-Axle Market growth.

Commercial vehicle electrification is accelerating demand for robust rear and dual e-axle systems capable of delivering sustained torque under load-intensive conditions. Integrated rear e-drive modules enhance durability while reducing maintenance complexity compared to conventional drivetrains. Fleet operators are prioritizing reliability, energy efficiency, and simplified serviceability in delivery vans, light-duty trucks, and urban mobility fleets. Passenger vehicle platforms are simultaneously adopting rear-drive configurations to balance weight distribution and improve driving dynamics. The convergence of fleet electrification strategies and passenger performance requirements is expanding deployment of high-capacity rear e-axle systems, which in turn is driving the E-Axle Market growth.

Competitive dynamics in the E-Axle Market are centered on deeper integration of inverters and electric motors within unified housings. Suppliers are reducing external wiring and energy loss by embedding power electronics directly into axle structures. This consolidation enhances efficiency while minimizing space requirements within vehicle chassis. Co-development efforts with semiconductor and control system specialists are improving power conversion precision and system responsiveness. Integrated designs also enable faster assembly and reduced bill-of-material complexity for OEMs. The shift toward compact, electronics-integrated e-drive modules strengthens platform differentiation and operational efficiency, which in turn is driving the E-Axle Market growth.

Manufacturers are intensifying efforts to increase torque output within compact axle assemblies through advanced electromagnetic design and optimized rotor-stator configurations. Enhanced gear reduction systems and refined winding techniques improve load capacity without enlarging system footprint. High torque density is essential for heavier passenger vehicles and commercial applications requiring rapid acceleration and sustained pulling power. Materials engineering and structural optimization are being applied to improve mechanical robustness under continuous operation. Delivering greater performance from compact integrated systems enhances versatility across vehicle segments, which in turn is driving the E-Axle Market growth.

Automotive suppliers are prioritizing modular e-axle platforms that can be configured for front, rear, or dual installations using shared core architecture. Standardized mounting points and adaptable software calibration enable rapid integration across vehicle classes. This approach reduces engineering lead times and supports scalable electrification strategies across global OEM portfolios. Modularization allows manufacturers to deploy common components while tailoring torque output and performance characteristics for specific applications. Platform standardization enhances supply chain predictability and production flexibility. The ability to scale integrated e-drive systems efficiently across diverse vehicle segments strengthens long-term electrification planning, which in turn is driving the E-Axle Market growth.

E-axle systems are increasingly defined by advanced software control layers that manage torque delivery, regenerative braking coordination, and stability functions. Real-time control algorithms enable precise torque vectoring and adaptive driving modes without additional mechanical hardware. Over-the-air update capability allows performance calibration improvements throughout the vehicle lifecycle. Digital integration enhances energy efficiency and driving comfort by synchronizing power output with vehicle dynamics. Software-centric drivetrain management is becoming a key differentiator among suppliers competing for OEM integration contracts. The transition toward software-defined e-drive systems elevates adaptability and long-term performance optimization, which in turn is driving the E-Axle Market growth.

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What are the major types in the E-Axle Market?

Forward Wheel Drive (FWD)

Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)

All-wheel Drive (AWD)

Other

What are the main applications of the E-Axle Market?

Passenger Vehicle

Commercial vehicle

Key Players in the E-Axle Market

Axletech International develops integrated e-axle systems and electrified driveline components for commercial and specialty electric vehicles.

develops integrated e-axle systems and electrified driveline components for commercial and specialty electric vehicles. BorgWarner Inc supplies electric drive modules and e-axle systems that combine motors, inverters, and gearboxes for electrified powertrains.

supplies electric drive modules and e-axle systems that combine motors, inverters, and gearboxes for electrified powertrains. Continental AG produces e-axle and electric drive solutions as part of its advanced electric vehicle propulsion portfolio.

produces e-axle and electric drive solutions as part of its advanced electric vehicle propulsion portfolio. Dana Incorporated offers e-axle systems and electric drive technologies designed for passenger and commercial electric vehicles.

offers e-axle systems and electric drive technologies designed for passenger and commercial electric vehicles. GKN Plc (now part of Melrose and automotive spin-offs) provides e-axle and electrified driveline solutions for hybrid and electric vehicles.

(now part of Melrose and automotive spin-offs) provides e-axle and electrified driveline solutions for hybrid and electric vehicles. Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG develops e-axle systems and integrated electric drives for electrified mobility applications.

develops e-axle systems and integrated electric drives for electrified mobility applications. Robert Bosch GmbH supplies electric drive units and e-axle systems essential for electric and hybrid vehicle propulsion.

supplies electric drive units and e-axle systems essential for electric and hybrid vehicle propulsion. Nidec Corporation produces high-efficiency electric motors and integrated e-axle solutions for electric vehicles.

produces high-efficiency electric motors and integrated e-axle solutions for electric vehicles. ZF Friedrichshafen AG offers e-axle systems and modular electric drive units for battery electric and hybrid vehicles.

offers e-axle systems and modular electric drive units for battery electric and hybrid vehicles. AVL List GmbH provides development, simulation, and integration solutions for e-axle systems and electric powertrain components.

Which region dominates the E-Axle Market?

North America emphasizes high-torque rear and dual e-axle deployment aligned with electric truck and SUV demand, supported by integrated supplier-OEM development models.

Asia-Pacific leverages large-scale electric vehicle manufacturing capacity and modular platform strategies to accelerate e-axle integration across passenger and commercial fleets.

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What are some related markets to the metal credit cards market?

- E-Motor and Reduction Gearbox Fluid Market

- Thermal Management System for EV Market

- The global market for E-Motorcycle Vehicle Control Units was valued at USD 2445 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 5958 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 13.5% during the forecast period.

- The global market for Electric Vehicle Drive System Speed Reducer was valued at USD 2618 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 6021 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 10.3% during the forecast period.

- Two-Wheel Electric Vehicle Motor Market

- The global market for Smart e-Drive was valued at USD 1303 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 6308 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 25.6% during the forecast period.

- The global market for Power Electronics for xEV was valued at USD 5186 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 13547 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 14.6% during the forecast period.

- The global market for Electric Axles for Light Trucks was valued at USD 1000 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 3583 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 20.0% during the forecast period.

- Axle Load Scale Market

- Heavy-Duty Drive Axle Market

- Electronic Locking Differential Market

- The global market for Axle Counter Systems was valued at USD 701 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 1028 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Nuclea Energy Inc. ("Nuclea") is pleased to announce that it will be sponsoring and contributing to the 2026 SMR Canada Summit.

Nuclea Energy is proud to support this year's SMR Canada Summit as a gold sponsor. As an advanced nuclear technology developer, Nuclea Energy is a natural partner to the Summit and looks forward to participating in the rich conversations that have been curated for this year's Summit.

The annual SMR Summit brings together over 500 delegates from industry, government and regulatory authorities to not only discuss the potential of SMRs but how to effectively deploy them at scale in Canada and abroad.

Josef Freundorfer, CEO of Nuclea, will share his technical expertise and deep industry experience through participation in a panel discussion titled "Full Scale Nuclear, SMR and Advanced Reactors Snapshot: Technologies and Their Real-World Applications."

Vinny Gunda, Co-Founder of Nuclea, will bring his extensive experience in capital markets and corporate development to a panel discussion on "Financing SMRs and Nuclear Projects: What It Actually Takes to Close Investment Gaps."





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12058/284250_e7c1a2f15490c97b_001full.jpg

The participation of Nuclea's senior leadership team in this year's Summit exemplifies Nuclea's depth of talent and commitment to supporting innovation and excellence in Canada's nuclear sector.

"The nuclear renaissance is upon us, and Canada is leading the way with the adoption and deployment of advanced reactors. The SMR Summit is an invaluable forum for our industry and Nuclea is pleased to be a key sponsor of this year's summit" said Josef Freundorfer, CEO of Nuclea Energy.

"The conversation has definitively shifted from the potential of SMRs to their deployment and role within meeting Canada's energy demands. At Nuclea, we are building and scaling to meet this moment," said Sagar Sanghera, Chairman & Co-Founder of Nuclea Energy Inc.

Nuclea looks forward to making additional announcements regarding its corporate growth and partnerships in the coming weeks.

About Nuclea Energy Inc.

Nuclea Energy Inc. is a Canadian advanced nuclear technology developer focused on the design and advancement of its flagship Morpheus Micro Reactor. With operations in Vancouver and Toronto, Nuclea is developing a compact lead cooled reactor optimized for remote, off-grid, mission-critical, and defense applications, including northern and Arctic environments.

For more information on Nuclea Energy Inc. and the Morpheus micro reactor, please visit: https://www.nuclea.energy

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284250

Source: Nuclea Energy Inc
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Conquest Resources Limited (TSXV: CQR) ("Conquest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release of December 3, 2025, it has entered into an arm's length share purchase agreement (the "Agreement") dated February 17, 2026, with Carrigel Ltd. ("Carrigel") and 1478078 B.C. Ltd. (the "Vendor") to complete the acquisition

(the "Acquisition") of 100% of the outstanding shares of Carrigel, a private company incorporated in Ireland, which owns a 100% interest in the Valimaki Gold project located in Finland (the "Project").

As consideration for the Acquisition, the Company has agreed to:

(a) issue an aggregate of 5,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company

(the "Consideration Shares") to the Vendor on the closing of the Acquisition (the "Closing Date");

(b) pay to the Vendor an aggregate of $35,000 on the Closing Date; and

(c) enter into a royalty agreement (the "Royalty Agreement") dated February 17, 2026, with Carrigel and the Vendor to grant a 2% net smelter royalty on the Project to the Vendor (the "Royalty"). Pursuant to the terms of the Royalty Agreement, Carrigel has the option to purchase 1% of the Royalty (reducing the Royalty to 1%) for $3,000,000.

In addition, upon receipt by the Company of the first approval, right or entitlement to commence drilling at the Project, the Company will issue to the Vendor a further 5,000,000 Consideration Shares.

All securities issued pursuant to the Acquisition will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation. The closing of the Acquisition is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Project is located to the east of Pori, a regional industrial city, in southwestern Finland. The Project area has excellent infrastructure and can be accessed year-round.

The Project is located within the Svencofennian geologic domain within supracrustal rocks that are located between two major structural features; to the southwest, the Kynsikangas Shear Zone, and to the northeast, the Kankaanpaa Shear Zone. Both major structures trend NW-SE while stratigraphy and fold axes between the structures trend northeast. Gold mineralization is hosted in amphibolitegrade sedimentary, volcanic, and intrusive rocks, with a strong association with arsenopyrite and quartz veining. Au is also associated with Sb-Te-Bi-W-Ag, which is typical of orogenic gold deposits.

Gold was originally found in the 1950s by Outukumpu Oy who explored the area intermittently during the 1950s and 1980s. Geologian Tutkimuskeskus (GTK) conducted multiple exploration programs during the 1980s to 2010s which included till geochemistry, heavy mineral concentrates, magnetics, and a total of ~2,800 meters of diamond drilling. Best intersects include 4.3 meters at 7.2 g/t (GTK Report 75/2016 - Ore potential of the Kullaa zone, Saarijarvi and Kultakallio Au mineralizations) and 7 meters at 3.9 g/t Au (R309, GTK report M06/1143/2006/10/1 - Research Report on ore exploration in the Municipality of Kullaa, In the Authority of Valimaki, Mining Register No. 7101/1).

Many of the auriferous boulders were discovered by local prospectors and analyzed through GTK's Citizen's Sampling Program (GTK Mineral Deposit Report Valimaki https://tupa.gtk.fi/karttasovellus/mdae/raportti/450_V%C3%A4lim%C3%A4ki.pdf where local prospectors can send samples to GTK for analysis and receive a reward if they lead to a new exploration target.

Exploration Plan

Conquest plans to undertake exploration activities in the spring to define drill targets within the Valimaki Project area. Activities will include geologic mapping, prospecting, drone magnetics, and an induced polarization survey.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Joerg Kleinboeck P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Joerg Kleinboeck has verified the technical data disclosed in this release, and consents to its publication.

ABOUT CONQUEST

Conquest Resources Limited, incorporated in 1945, is a mineral exploration company that is exploring for base metals and gold on mineral properties in Ontario.

Conquest holds a 100% interest in the Belfast-TeckMag Project, located in the Temagami Mining Camp at Emerald Lake, Ontario, which is believed to have exceptional exploration upside for magmatic sulphide deposits (Cu-Ni-PGE), VMS, IOCG, Iron formation hosted Au and Paleo-placer Au.

The Belfast-TeckMag Project is the Company's flagship property, evolved from the Golden Rose Project, which was initially acquired in December 2017, and signicantly augmented through the acquisition of Canadian Continental Exploration Corp. ("CCEC") in 2020 and subsequent additional claim staking and purchases in its adjacent Belfast Copper Property and TeckMag Property.

Conquest now controls over 300 square kilometers of underexplored territory in the Temagami Mining Camp, including the past producing Golden Rose Mine at Emerald Lake.

Conquest also holds a 100% interest in the Alexander Gold Property located immediately east of the Red Lake and Campbell mines in the heart of the Red Lake Gold Camp along the important "Mine Trend" regional structure. Conquest's property is almost entirely surrounded by Evolution Mining landholdings.

In addition, the Company holds interests in the Smith Lake Gold Property.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the company with respect to the matter described in this new release.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest annual information form filed on March 21, 2025, which is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284337

Source: Conquest Resources Limited
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Visionary Copper and Gold Mines Inc. (TSXV: VCG) (OTCQB: VCGMF) ("Visionary" or "the Company") announced today that a feature article produced by Market One highlighting the Company's operations and growth strategy has been published on Kitco.

The article examines sustained precious-metal demand and tightening global copper supply, outlining the Company's strategy to reawaken and advance a portfolio of scalable Canadian VMS assets through modern drilling, resource growth, and near-term development catalysts.

To read the full article, please visit Kitco at: https://www.kitco.com/opinion/investment-trends/2026-02-18/visionary-copper-and-gold-emerges-reawakened-canadian-mining

About Visionary Copper and Gold Mines Inc.

Visionary Copper and Gold Mines Inc. (TSXV: VCG) (OTCQB: VCGMF) is advancing its portfolio of base and precious metals rich deposits located in established Canadian mining jurisdictions. The focus of the portfolio is highlighted by the 100% owned Point Leamington Deposit in Newfoundland, located in one of the richest VMS and Gold Districts in Canada. The Company prepared a pit constrained Indicated Mineral Resource of 5.0 Mt grading 2.5 g/t AuEq for 402 koz AuEq (145.7 koz gold, 60.0 Mlb copper, 153.5 Mlb zinc, 2.0 Moz silver, 1.5 Mlb lead), a pit constrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 13.7 Mt grading 2.24 g/t AuEq for 986.5 koz AuEq (354.8 koz gold, 110.2 Mlb copper, 527.3 Mlb zinc, 6.2 Moz silver, 7.0 Mlb lead) and an out-of-pit Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.7 Mt grading 3.06 g/t AuEq for 168.5 koz AuEq (65.4 koz gold, 13.3 Mlb copper, 102.9 Mlb zinc, 1.4 Moz Ag, 2.6 Mlb lead) (see news release dated October 25, 2021). Additionally, the Company is permitting the Rainbow deposit at its rich VMS Pine Bay Project located near existing infrastructure in the Flin Flon Mining District. The Company prepared an indicated mineral resource on the Rainbow deposit of 3.44 Mt grading 3.59% CuEq for 272.4 Mlb CuEq (238.3 Mlb Cu, 56.9 Mlb Zn, 37.6 koz Au, 692.8 koz Ag, 2.3 Mlb Pb), an inferred mineral resource on the Rainbow deposit of 1.28 Mt grading 2.95% CuEq containing 83.4 Mlb CuEq (72.1 Mlb Cu, 19.5 Mlb Zn, 11.1 koz Au, 222.2 Koz Ag, 0.8 Mlb Pb) and an inferred mineral resource at the Pine Bay deposit of 1.0 Mt grading 2.62% Cu containing 58.1 Mlb Cu (see news release dated July 10, 2023). Additionally, the portfolio includes the Nash Creek Project located in the VMS rich Bathurst Mining District of New Brunswick. A 2018 PEA generates a strong economic return with a pre-tax IRR of 34.1% (25.2% post-tax) and NPV8% of $230 million ($128 million post-tax) at $1.25 Zinc (see news release dated May 14, 2018).

For additional information, please contact:

Visionary Copper and Gold Mines Inc.

Max Porterfield, President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (604) 605-0885

E-mail: info@visionarycoppergold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future expenditures. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others, completing the private placement financing, the ability to complete the proposed drill program and the timing and amount of expenditures. Except as required under applicable securities laws, Visionary does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284346

Source: Market One Media Group Inc.
Total gross proceeds of approximately 35.5 million, of which a 30.0 million capital increase (including full exercise of the Extension clause of approximately 3.9 million) and 5.5 million from the sale of existing shares, which may be increased to approximately 40.8 million in the event of full exercise of the Over-allotment Option (through the sale of existing shares).

Total demand of 67.9 million, representing an oversubscription of 2.1 times the initial offering: 52.9 million in the Global Placement from 64 institutional investors (including 4 existing shareholders) 15.0 million in the Open Price Offer from more than 6,000 retail investors



Share price set at 58.30, corresponding to a market capitalization of approximately 150.0 million

Start of trading: 23 February 2026 on the Euronext Growth market in Paris (ISIN code: FR00140164Q1 - Ticker: ALRIS)

Rising Stone, a luxury real estate creator & developer in Alpine resorts and premium holiday destinations, announces the successful completion of its initial public offering (the "Offering") in connection with the admission of its shares to trading on the Euronext Growth market in Paris (ISIN code: FR00140164Q1 - Ticker: ALRIS).

The Offering received strong support from both French and international institutional investors, reflecting their confidence in Rising Stone's business model and growth prospects (the "Group"). The Offering also attracted significant interest from retail investors in Rising Stone's project as a key player in the luxury high-end real estate sector.

The IPO is intended to support Rising Stone's growth strategy in Alpine luxury real estate by providing the Company with additional financial resources to (i) acquire new premium land and real estate assets, and (ii) strengthen teams and digital tools to support increased business volume while preserving the high standards of excellence and quality that characterize the Group.

Jean-Thomas Olano, Founder & CEO of Rising Stone, stated:

"We are extremely grateful for the success of our IPO and sincerely thank all the institutional and retail investors who have chosen to join us.

This transaction marks a new milestone in our growth following ten demanding years of on-the-ground development. Rising Stone was built on a strong conviction: the rigorous selection of premium mountain locations, combined with uncompromising architectural and operational execution, provides a foundation for sustainable value creation.

The funds raised will enable us to accelerate our development and land-renovation strategy in the most sought-after Alpine resorts, and to strengthen our ability to act on exceptional assets.

Our ambition is clear: to establish Rising Stone as a reference player in high-end Alpine real estate, combining financial discipline, long-term vision, and controlled growth."

Offering Results

Total demand reached 1,164,179 shares, comprising 906,834 shares under the Global Placement primarily for institutional investors (the "Global Placement" or "GP"), representing 78% of total demand, and 257,345 shares under the Open Price Offer in France, primarily for retail investors (the "Open Price Offer" or "OPO"), representing 22% of total demand, for a total requested amount of 67.9 million, and an overall oversubscription of 2.1 times the initial offering.

Given this strong demand, the Board of Directors of Rising Stone, meeting today, set the final share price at 58.30, corresponding to the upper end of the indicative price range (53.45-58.30), and decided to fully exercise the Extension clause, resulting in a total gross capital increase of approximately 30.0 million through the issuance of 514,496 new shares (the "New Shares"), including 447,388 shares under the Initial Offer (the "Initial New Shares") and 67,108 shares under the Extension clause (the "Additional New Shares"). The Initial Offer also included the sale of 94,540 shares by minority selling shareholders (the "Initial Sold Shares"), subject to 100% completion of the Initial Offer.

The net proceeds from the capital increase, approximately 26.7 million, will be allocated as follows: 90% to the acquisition of new premium land assets to enrich the project portfolio (beyond the 18 existing projects), and 10% to strengthen teams and digital tools to increase the number of projects managed simultaneously.

As part of the Offering, 700,391 shares were allocated as follows: 632,290 shares under the Global Placement, including 91,355 under the Over-allotment Option, representing around 90% of total shares allocated, and 68,101 shares under the Open Price Offer, representing around 10% of total shares allocated. A1 orders (from 1 to 50 shares included) were filled at 44.4%, while A2 orders (over 50 shares) were not filled.

Following the transaction, Rising Stone's share capital consists of 2,572,596 shares, corresponding to a market capitalization of 150.0 million, based on the IPO price of 58.30 per share. The free float represents approximately 23.7% of the share capital after the transaction and may rise to approximately 27.2% in the event of full exercise of the Over-allotment Option.

Settlement and delivery of the OPO and GP will take place on 20 February 2026. The shares will be admitted to trading on the Euronext Growth market in Paris as of 23 February 2026, under ISIN code FR00140164Q1 and ticker ALRIS.

A well-established growth trajectory: targeting at least 155 m in revenue and  30 m in net income by 2028, combined with an attractive and sustainable dividend policy

Rising Stone aims to establish itself as the leading integrated and structured player in prestige real estate across premium resort destinations, particularly in the French Alps.

To date, Rising Stone's development portfolio consists of 15 new luxury real estate programs along with 3 third-party contracts[1] on behalf of private investors or family offices. These projects will underpin the Company's development.

The financial objectives associated with this development plan are as follows:

2025 estimates : estimated consolidated revenues of 48?m and estimated consolidated net profit of 9 m[2];

: estimated consolidated revenues of 48?m and estimated consolidated net profit of 9 m[2]; 2026 : achieve consolidated revenue of 75 m and consolidated net income above 15 m;

: achieve consolidated revenue of 75 m and consolidated net income above 15 m; 2027 : reach consolidated revenue of 100 m and consolidated net income above 22 m;

: reach consolidated revenue of 100 m and consolidated net income above 22 m; 2028: exceed 155 m in consolidated revenue and achieve consolidated net income above 30 m.

This development trajectory aims to triple both revenue and net income between 2026 and 2028 compared with the estimated 2025 figures.

Rising Stone has also established an attractive dividend policy, targeting a minimum payout ratio of 40% of consolidated net income starting with the fiscal year ending 31 December 2025, subject to legal and financial constraints.

Final Terms of the Offering

SHARE CHARACTERISTICS

Name: RISING STONE

Market: Euronext Growth Paris

ISIN Code: FR00140164Q1

Ticker: ALRIS

Eligibility: PEA and PEA PME-ETI

OFFER PRICE

The Offer Price for both the Open Price Offer and the Global Placement has been set at 58.30 per share, corresponding to the upper end of the indicative price range for the Offering (between 53.45 and 58.30 per share).

SIZE OF THE OFFERING

A total of 514,496 new shares were issued under the Offer following full exercise of the Extension clause, comprising 447,388 Initial New Shares under the Initial Offer and 67,108 Additional New Shares under the Extension clause. In addition, 94,540 shares were sold by the Minority Selling Shareholders as part of the Initial Offer.

The total gross proceeds of the Offer amount to 35,506,798.80, of which 29,995,116.80 corresponds to the issuance of 514,496 new shares, and 5,511,682.00 corresponds to the sale of 94,540 existing shares by the Minority Selling Shareholders.

OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION

To support stabilization operations and cover potential over-allotments, JTO Holding, Rising Stone's reference shareholder, has granted Portzamparc (BNP Paribas Group), acting as stabilizing agent on behalf of the Lead Managers/Bookrunners, an option to acquire up to 91,355 shares (the "Additional Sold Shares"), representing a maximum of 15% of the total of the Initial New Shares, Initial Sold Shares, and Additional New Shares, for a maximum gross amount of 5.3 million. These shares will be supplied exclusively through the sale of shares held by JTO Holding.

The Over-allotment Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, at the Offer Price, in a single transaction, at any time by the stabilizing agent on behalf of the Lead Managers/Bookrunners, during a 30-calendar-day period from the Offer Price determination date, i.e., until 25 March 2026 (inclusive).

SUMMARY OF SUBSCRIPTION COMMITMENTS

As of the date of the Prospectus approval, the Company had received subscription commitments from 16 investors (including 4 existing shareholders), representing a total committed amount of 18.9 million, all of which were fully allocated as part of the Offering.

ALLOCATION OF THE OFFERING

Global Placement: a total of 632,290 shares were allocated to institutional investors (representing approximately 36.9 million and around 90% of the total number of shares allocated), including 91,355 shares under the Over-allotment Option.

Open Price Offering: a total of 68,101 shares were allocated to retail investors (representing approximately 4.0 million and around 10% of the total number of shares allocated). A1 orders (up to 50 shares included) will be filled at 44.4%, while A2 orders (above 50 shares) will not be filled.

SHARE CAPITAL AFTER THE OFFERING

The share capital amounts to 257,259.60 divided into 2,572,596 shares with a par value of 0.10 each, fully subscribed and paid up.

MARKET CAPITALIZATION AFTER THE OFFERING

Approximately 150.0 million, based on the IPO price of 58.30 per share.

The potential exercise of the Over-allotment Option will not impact market capitalization, as it does not involve the issuance of additional shares.

LOCK-UP AND SHAREHOLDING UNDERTAKINGS

Lock-up commitment from the Company: 180 calendar days following the settlement and delivery date of the Offering.

Lock-up commitment from Jean-Thomas Olano and JTO Holding (Jean-Thomas Olano's family holding, 100% owned): 360 calendar days following the settlement and delivery date of the Offering.

Lock-up commitments from 24 other existing shareholders: 270 calendar days following the settlement and delivery date of the Offering.

SHAREHOLDING STRUCTURE

In terms of share capital, following the Offering:

After the Initial Offering

(with Extension clause (issuance) After the Initial Offering + Extension clause (issuance) + Over-allotment Option (transfers) Shareholders Number

of shares % of

share capital Number

of shares % of

share capital Jean-Thomas OLANO (5) 495,200 19.25% 495,200 19.25% JTO Holding (1) (5) 485,700 18.88% 394,345 15.33% JTO Holding titres nantis (1) (2) 434,100 16.87% 434,100 16.87% Subtotal Jean-Thomas OLANO (5) 1,415,000 55.00% 1,323,645 51.45% Bardum SAS (4) 128,600 5.00% 128,600 5.00% LFI SAS (4) 56,250 2.19% 56,250 2.19% 22 other shareholders (3) 363,710 14.14% 363,710 14.14% Free float 609,036 23.67% 700,391 27.23% TOTAL 2,572,596 100% 2,572,596 100%

(1) Family holding 100% controlled by Jean-Thomas OLANO - (2) Pledged to secure a bond issuance subscribed by the Group - (3) None of which holds more than 5% of the share capital or voting rights - (4) Family holdings owned by individual investors - (5) Mr. Jean-Thomas OLANO and JTO Holding act in concert with respect to the Company

In terms of voting rights, following the Offering:

After the Initial Offering

(with extension Clause (issuance) After the Initial Offering + Extension Clause (issuance) + Over-allotment Option (transfers) Shareholders Number of

voting rights % of

voting rights Number of

voting rights % of

voting rights Jean-Thomas OLANO (5) 990,400 21.95% 990,400 22.40% JTO Holding (1) (5) 971,400 21.52% 788,690 17.84% JTO Holding titres nantis (1) (2) 868,200 19.24% 868,200 19.64% Subtotal Jean-Thomas OLANO (5) 2 830,000 62.71% 2,647,290 59.87% Bardum SAS (4) 257,200 5.70% 257,200 5.82% LFI SAS (4) 112,500 2.49% 112,500 2.54% 22 other shareholders (3) 704,270 15.61% 704,270 15.93% Free float 609,036 13.50% 700,391 15.84% TOTAL 4,513,006 100% 4,421,651 100%

(1) Family holding 100% controlled by Jean-Thomas OLANO - (2) Pledged to secure a bond issuance subscribed by the Group - (3) None of which holds more than 5% of the share capital or voting rights - (4) Family holdings owned by individual investors - (5) Mr. Jean-Thomas OLANO and JTO Holding act in concert with respect to the Company

NEXT STEPS IN THE OFFERING

20 February 2026 Settlement and delivery of the shares under the OPO and the Global Placement 23 February 2026 Listing and admission to trading of Rising Stone shares on the Euronext Growth Paris market

Start of the potential stabilization period 25 March 2026 Last day for the Over-allotment Option exercise

End of the potential stabilization period

Availability of the Prospectus

The French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers, the  AMF ) approved the Company's prospectus on 4 February 2026, under approval number 26-015 (the "Prospectus"), comprising the Universal Registration Document approved on 23 January 2026 under number

I.26-001 (the "Registration Document"), the Securities Note dated 4 February 2026 (the "Securities Note"), and the summary of the Prospectus (included in the Securities Note).

The Rising Stone Prospectus is available on the Group's website (www.rising-stone.com) and the AMF website (www.amf-france.org), as well as free of charge upon request at the Company's registered office: 89 Boulevard de Courcelles, 75008 Paris. The approval of the Prospectus should not be construed as an endorsement of the securities being offered.

Investors are urged to carefully consider the risk factors described in Chapter 3, "Risk Factors," of the Registration Document, as well as in Chapter 3, "Risk Factors," of the Securities Note.

All information regarding Rising Stone's IPO project is available at

www.rising-stone-finance.com

Intermediaries & Advisors

CIC

Corporate & Institutional Banking



Joint Global Coordinator

& Joint Bookrunner PORTZAMPARC

BNP PARIBAS GROUP



Joint Global Coordinator

& Joint Bookrunner TP ICAP



Joint Global Coordinator

& Joint Bookrunner ALLEGRA

FINANCE



Listing Sponsor Fieldfisher



Legal Advisor ACTUS

finance & communication



Financial Communication

About Rising Stone

Founded in 2016 by Jean-Thomas Olano, Rising Stone is a developer and builder of luxury and ultra-luxury real estate in the heart of the French Alps.

Rising Stone imagines, designs, and delivers chalets and apartments to the highest luxury standards in prestigious Alpine resorts (Meribel, Courchevel, Val d'Isere, Megeve, etc.) as well as in premium holiday destinations. Since its inception, Rising Stone has designed, built, and marketed more than 22,000 sqm of luxury real estate projects.

Backed by a multidisciplinary team of 52 experienced professionals, Rising Stone offers end-to-end support: sourcing and acquisition of ultra-premium land assets, high-end design and construction, interior architecture and renovation services, tailored wealth advisory, and excellence-driven services (high-end serviced residences, concierge services).

Rising Stone holds a land portfolio under development comprising 15 real estate projects (335 chalets and apartments with a total surface area of more than 46,000 sqm) and 3 third-party development contracts, amounting to a total projected business volume of 1 bn through 2030.

As of 23 February 2026, Rising Stone will be listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris. ISIN code: FR00140164Q1 - Ticker symbol: ALRIS.

More information at Rising-stone.com

Contacts

Rising Stone

Jean-Thomas Olano

Chairman & CEO

contact@rising-stone.com Investor Relations

ACTUS

Mathieu Omnes

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 92

rising-stone@actus.fr Press Relations

ACTUS

Serena Boni

+33 (0)6 19 37 55 31

sboni@actus.fr

Disclaimer

This press release and the information it contains are not an offer to sell or subscribe to, or a solicitation of an order to buy or subscribe the shares of RISING STONE in any country.

This press release constitutes promotional material and is not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017 (the "Prospectus Regulation") which is part of domestic law of the United Kingdom in accordance with the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "UK Prospectus Regulation").

This press release does not constitute and shall not be deemed to constitute a public offer, an offer to purchase or subscribe or to solicit the public interest in a transaction by way of a public offer.

This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale nor the solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in the United States. The shares or any other securities of RISING STONE may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to a registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirement. RISING STONE shares will only be offered or sold outside the United States and in offshore transactions in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. RISING STONE does not intend to register the offering in whole or in part in the United States or to make a public offer in the United States.

With respect to the member states of the European Economic Area other than France (the "Member States"), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of shares of the Company requiring the publication of a prospectus in any Member States. As a result, any shares of the Company may only be offered in Member States (i) to qualified investors, as defined by the Prospectus Regulation; (ii) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons, other than qualified investors (as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) by Member States; or (iii) in any other circumstances, not requiring the Company to publish a prospectus as provided under Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation; and provided that none of the offers mentioned in paragraphs (i) to (iii) above requires the publication of a prospectus by the Company pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation, or a supplement to the Prospectus Regulation pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of the provisions above, the expression "offer to the public" in relation to any securities in any Member State, means any communication to persons in any form and by any means, presenting sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered, so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for those securities in that Member State.

These selling restrictions with respect to Member States apply in addition to any other selling restrictions which may be applicable in the Member States.

This document does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom and is only directed at "qualified investors" (as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) and who (i) are investment professionals within the meaning of section 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as currently in force, the "Financial Promotion Order"), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2) (a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Financial Promotion Order or (iii) are outside the United Kingdom or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activities (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the offer or sale of any securities may be lawfully communicated, directly or indirectly (all such persons being together referred to as the "Authorized Persons"). This press release is addressed only to Authorized Persons and may not be used by any person other than an Authorized Person.

Certain information contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, not historical data and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts and data stated will occur. These forward-looking statements are based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by RISING STONE. RISING STONE operates in a competitive and rapidly evolving environment. It is therefore not in a position to anticipate all risks, uncertainties or other factors that may affect its business, their potential impact on its business or the extent to which the materialization of a risk or combination of risks could lead to results that differ significantly from those mentioned in any forward-looking statement. RISING STONE draws your attention to the fact that forward-looking statements are in no way a guarantee of its future performance and that its actual financial position, results and cash flows and the development of the sector in which RISING STONE operates may differ significantly from those proposed or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this document. In addition, even if RISING STONE' financial position, results, cash flows and developments in the industry in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking information contained in this document, such results or developments may not be a reliable indication of RISING STONE' future results or developments. This information is given only as of the date of this press release. RISING STONE makes no commitment to publish updates to this information or on the assumptions on which it is based, except in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation applicable to it.

The distribution of this press release may, in certain countries, be subject to specific regulations. Consequently, persons physically present in these countries and in which the press release is disseminated, published or distributed must inform themselves and comply with these laws and regulations.

This press release shall not be published, distributed or disseminated, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Australia, Canada or Japan.

[1] real estate development contracts (CPI) or service agreements contracts

[2] After the impact of accounting error corrections recorded in H1 2025 but relating to prior fiscal years 2023 and 2024 (exceptional expense of 1.0 m)

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Renegade Gold Inc. (TSXV: RAGE) (OTCQB: RENGF) (FSE: 0700) ("Renegade" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a new Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") consisting of 370,000 ounces in the Indicated category and 439,000 ounces in the Inferred category (See Table 1. Rebel Mineral Resource Estimate below), at its 100%-owned Red Lake gold project, now renamed the Rebel Gold Deposit (the "Project"). The MRE supports both open pit and underground development scenarios and demonstrates strong grade continuity across a structurally controlled gold system, establishing Rebel as a significant gold asset for the Company within the Red Lake Mining District of Ontario (Figure 1). The Project was previously referred to as the Newman Todd Deposit.

Highlights

Total Mineral Resource includes 370,000 ounces Indicated and 439,000 ounces Inferred at the 100%-owned Rebel Gold Deposit.

includes 370,000 ounces Indicated and 439,000 ounces Inferred at the 100%-owned Rebel Gold Deposit. Open Pit Resource: 5.57 Mt @ 2.07 g/t Au (370,000 ounces Indicated). 2.50 Mt @ 2.42 g/t Au (194,000 ounces Inferred).

Underground Resource:

1.55 Mt @ 4.91 g/t Au (245,000 ounces Inferred).

Deposit Extended at Depth: Recent drilling by Renegade has confirmed gold mineralization beyond 700 m depth, more than doubling the historical drill depth, which was largely focused within the upper 300 m. Substantial expansion potential remains between 300 m and 700 m and at depth ( Figure 2 ).

Recent drilling by Renegade has confirmed gold mineralization beyond 700 m depth, more than doubling the historical drill depth, which was largely focused within the upper 300 m. Substantial expansion potential remains between 300 m and 700 m and at depth ( ). 2026 drilling program planning in progress to target resource expansion toward the one-million-ounce benchmark.

Table 1. Rebel Mineral Resource Estimate1

Category Open Pit Underground Tonnes Au g/t Contained Au (oz) Tonnes Au g/t Contained Au (oz) Indicated 5,568,000 2.07 370,000





Inferred 2,495,000 2.42 194,000 1,553,000 4.91 245,000

Devin Pickell, President and CEO for Renegade, commented, "This Mineral Resource Estimate marks a significant milestone for Renegade. With over 800,000 ounces defined, including a solid Indicated base and a high-grade underground component, Rebel is emerging as a robust gold deposit in the Red Lake district. The resource demonstrates grade continuity in both open pit and underground scenarios, reinforcing the strength of the mineralized system. Improved structural modelling has enhanced our understanding of plunge and strike controls, which provides a clear path for targeted expansion drilling in 2026. In the context of the Red Lake camp, Rebel has the potential to contribute meaningful ounces toward existing milling capacity."

Rebel 2026 Mineral Resource Estimate

The Rebel deposit contains in-pit and underground resources. The mineral resource totals 370,000 oz of gold (5.57 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.07 g/t Au) in the Indicated category, and 439,000 ounces of gold (4.05 million tonnes at an average grade 3.37 g/t Au) in the Inferred category.

The open pit mineral resource includes, at a base case cut-off grade of 0.6 g/t Au, 370,000 oz of gold (5.57 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.07 g/t Au) in the Indicated category, and 194,000 ounces of gold (2.50 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.42 g/t Au) in the Inferred category. The underground mineral resource includes, at a base case cut-off grade of 2.2 g/t Au, 245,000 ounces of gold (1.55 million tonnes at an average grade of 4.91 g/t Au) in the Inferred category.



Table 2. Rebel In-Pit and Underground Mineral Resource Estimate, at Various Au Cut-off Grades2

In-Pit

Cut-off Grade (Au g/t) Tonnes Grade (g/t Au) Contained Au (oz) Indicated 0.3 6,577,000 1.82 385,000 0.4 6,266,000 1.89 381,000 0.5 5,927,000 1.98 377,000 0.6 5,568,000 2.07 370,000 0.7 5,195,000 2.17 362,000 1.0 4,049,000 2.54 331,000 1.5 2,555,000 3.31 272,000 2.0 1,740,000 4.06 227,000 2.2 1,480,000 4.39 209,000 Inferred 0.3 2,824,000 2.19 199,000 0.4 2,732,000 2.25 198,000 0.5 2,629,000 2.32 196,000 0.6 2,495,000 2.42 194,000 0.7 2,349,000 2.53 191,000 1.0 1,922,000 2.90 179,000 1.5 1,310,000 3.68 155,000 2.0 946,000 4.44 135,000 2.2 840,000 4.74 128,000

Underground

Cut-off Grade (Au g/t) Tonnes Grade (g/t Au) Contained Au (oz) Inferred 0.6 4,916,000 2.37 375,000 0.7 4,583,000 2.50 368,000 1.0 3,637,000 2.93 343,000 1.5 2,370,000 3.84 293,000 2.0 1,721,000 4.63 256,000 2.2 1,553,000 4.91 245,000 2.5 1,353,000 5.29 230,000 3.0 1,101,000 5.85 207,000 5.0 471,000 8.65 131,000

Figure 1. Plan view of the Rebel Gold Deposit highlighting interpreted mineralized zones and adjacent project areas. Rowan is considered an adjacent property and information disclosed for adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at the Rebel Gold Deposit.

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Figure 2. Long section of the Rebel Gold Deposit mineral resource block model (looking northwest).

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A technical report supporting the MRE disclosed in this news release will be filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ within 45 days of the date of this news release.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dale Ginn, P.Geo., the Executive Chair and director of the Company and a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101.

About the Rebel Gold Deposit

The 100%-owned Rebel Gold deposit is located approximately 26 km west of Evolution Mining's Red Lake operations and 1 km south of West Red Lake's Rowan deposit, within one of Canada's most prolific high-grade gold districts. The Project is accessible via all-season maintained logging roads and includes an on-site exploration camp.

Rebel is hosted within a broadly mineralized chemical sedimentary package known as the Newman Todd Structure ("NTS"), 60 to 160 m wide corridor that extends over 2 km across the Property. The NTS hosts multiple styles of gold mineralization, including breccia vein systems and later-stage high-grade quartz veining commonly associated with visible gold.

Recent drilling and updated geological modeling have strengthened the Company's understanding of structural controls on mineralization, including later east-west faulting events at the camp scale. Drilling completed in 2023 and 2024 confirmed gold mineralization beyond 700 m depth, more than doubling the previous drill horizon, and supports the interpretation that the system remains open and continues at depth.

2026 Focus

In 2026, Renegade plans to advance the Rebel Gold Deposit through a focused drilling program targeting resource expansion and develop new drill targets proximal to the existing Resource footprint. Metallurgical and environmental programs will continue in parallel to support future technical studies.

About Renegade Gold Inc.

Renegade Gold Inc. is a growth-oriented exploration company advancing a district-scale portfolio in the Red Lake region of Northern Ontario. The Company's strategy combines advancing defined gold resources and development-stage assets with systematic greenfields exploration across one of Canada's most prolific gold districts.

Renegade has assembled one of the largest and most prospective land packages in Red Lake, totaling approximately 1,380 km, strategically positioned near producing mines and advanced-stage deposits along the Confederation Lake and Birch-Uchi greenstone belts. The Company's diversified portfolio includes both advanced exploration assets with established Mineral Resources and earlier-stage targets along key structural corridors that host many of Red Lake's significant gold discoveries.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate," "significant," "expect," "may," "will" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Information. Forward-Looking Information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking information. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and all requisite information will be available in a timely manner. Factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, risks related to unforeseen delays; general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes; timeliness of regulatory approvals, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this Forward-Looking Information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this Forward-Looking Information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Appendix A

Rebel Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate Notes:

(1)The effective date of the Rebel project Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") is February 5, 2026.

(2)The mineral resource was estimated by Allan Armitage, Ph.D., P.Geo. of SGS Geological Services and is an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr Armitage conducted a recent site visit to the Red Lake Project on February 5, 2026.

(3)The classification of the current Mineral Resource Estimate into Indicated and Inferred mineral resources is consistent with current 2014 CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves.

(4)All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and numbers may not add due to rounding.

(5)The mineral resources are presented undiluted and in situ, constrained by continuous 3D wireframe models, and are considered to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction.

(6)Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that most Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.

(7)The Project mineral resource estimates are based on a validated database which includes data from 274 surface diamond drill holes totalling 102,429 m. The resource database totals 97,545 drill hole assay intervals representing 92,170 m of data.

(8)The MRE for the Rebel deposit is based on 37 three-dimensional ("3D") mineral resource models.

(9)Grades for Au were estimated for each mineralization domain using 1.0 metre capped composites assigned to that domain. To generate grade within the blocks, the inverse distance squared (ID2) interpolation method was used for all domains. An average density value was assigned to each domain.

(10)Based on the location, surface exposure, size, shape, general true thickness, and orientation, it is envisioned that parts of the Rebel deposit may be mined using open-pit mining methods. In-pit mineral resources are reported at a base case cut-off grade of 0.6 g/t Au. The in-pit resource grade blocks are quantified above the base case cut-off grade, above the constraining pit shell, below topography/overburden and within the constraining mineralized domains (considered mineable shapes).

(11)The pit optimization and base-case cut-off grade consider a gold price of $3,000/oz and considers a gold recovery of 90%. The pit optimization and base case cut-off grade also considers a mining cost of US$2.50/t mined ($2.00/t mined for overburden), pit slope of 55 degrees, and processing, treatment, refining, G&A and transportation cost of USD$31.50/t of mineralized material.

(12)The results from the pit optimization, using the pseudoflow optimization method in Whittle 2022, are used solely for the purpose of testing the "reasonable prospects for economic extraction" by an open pit and do not represent an attempt to estimate mineral reserves. There are no mineral reserves on the Property. The results are used as a guide to assist in the preparation of a Mineral Resource statement and to select an appropriate resource reporting cut-off grade. A Whittle pit shell at a revenue factor of 0.52 was selected as the ultimate pit shell for the purposes of this mineral resource estimate.

(13)Based on the size, shape, general true thickness, and orientation, it is envisioned that parts of the Rebel deposit may be mined using underground mining methods. Underground mineral resources are reported at a base case cut-off grade of 2.2 g/t Au. The mineral resource grade blocks were quantified above the base case cut-off grade, below surface/pit surface and within the constraining mineralized wireframes (considered mineable shapes). Based on the size, shape, general thickness, and orientation of the mineralized structures, it is envisioned that the deposits may be mined using a combination of underground mining methods including sub-level stoping (SLS) and/or cut and fill (CAF) mining.

(14)The underground base case cut-off grade of 2.2 g/t Au considers a mining cost of US$90.00/t mined, and processing, treatment, refining, G&A and transportation cost of USD$31.50/t of mineralized material.

(15)The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

1 A full list of underlying assumptions can be found at Appendix A

2 Values in these tables reported above and below the base-case cut-off grades for in-pit MREs and for underground MREs should not be misconstrued with a Mineral Resource statement. The values are only presented to show the sensitivity of the block model estimates to the selection of the base case cut-off grade (highlighted). All values are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and numbers may not add due to rounding.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284376

Source: Renegade Gold Inc.
Bonita Springs, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Discovery Senior Living ("Discovery" or the "Company") and its affiliated subsidiaries, one of the most trusted and the largest privately held senior housing operators in the U.S., will bring together team members from across the country this week in Dallas for its annual Pillars of Excellence Awards, a premier celebration honoring the individuals and communities who exemplify the Company's mission and values every day.





Discovery Senior Living 2026 Pillars of Excellence Awards

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With more than 22,000 team members nationwide, Discovery's strength and growth are powered by the people who serve residents and families in communities across the United States. The Pillars of Excellence Awards represent the Company's highest form of recognition spotlighting those who consistently raise the bar in care, leadership, teamwork, and performance.

At the center of the celebration is Discovery's mission:

Discovery Senior Living is committed to our Residents, Team Members and our Partners to be leaders of our industry; constantly evolving and redefining senior living, while reaching new levels of achievement in our management and development of lifestyle-oriented communities.

"Recognition is embedded in Discovery's culture, and we are incredibly proud to continuously find ways to highlight, celebrate, and share our team members' achievements," said Richard Hutchinson, Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Senior Living. "Creating meaningful recognition and growth opportunities for our people is a top priority."

A Culture Driven by Shared Values

The Pillars of Excellence Awards reflect the shared values that define Discovery's culture and guide its teams across every community:

Integrity - Acting with honesty, respect, and character in service to those proudly served.

- Acting with honesty, respect, and character in service to those proudly served. Teamwork - Coordinating efforts toward a shared mission and valuing one another's strengths.

- Coordinating efforts toward a shared mission and valuing one another's strengths. Performance - Striving to exceed expectations and recognizing the impact work has on residents' well-being.

- Striving to exceed expectations and recognizing the impact work has on residents' well-being. Accountability - Acting like owners, collaborating across departments, and delivering results with transparency.

- Acting like owners, collaborating across departments, and delivering results with transparency. Hard Work - Applying determination and resilience to achieve goals and move the organization forward.

- Applying determination and resilience to achieve goals and move the organization forward. Compassion - Giving of oneself to support and uplift seniors who have contributed so much to the world.

- Giving of oneself to support and uplift seniors who have contributed so much to the world. Creativity - Innovating boldly and improving the experiences delivered to residents and families.

"These pillars are the foundation to our culture and drive our achievements," Hutchinson added. "The team members we will honor represent the very best of what it means to serve our residents with compassion, lead with integrity, and perform at their very best."

Recognizing Excellence Across Communities Nationwide

The Dallas ceremony will feature both Community Awards and Individual Pillars of Excellence Awards, recognizing exceptional performance across Discovery's family of Management Companies.

Community Awards

Communities will be recognized in three major categories:

Quality Award - Celebrating exceptional resident and team member satisfaction.

Most Improved Award - Honoring measurable progress and operational growth.

Top Performance Award - Recognizing outstanding results and execution.

Individual Pillars of Excellence Awards

Individual finalists represent a wide range of roles including caregivers, dining leaders, housekeepers, business office managers, clinical leaders, facilities teams, celebrations directors, and more. Each nominee was recognized by peers who witnessed extraordinary dedication, leadership, and compassion in action.

From frontline caregivers to behind-the-scenes support teams, these honorees embody Discovery's belief that excellence is built together.

Recognition is a Discovery Commitment

As Discovery and its Management Companies continue to grow and redefine lifestyle-oriented senior living communities nationwide, the Company remains steadfast in its commitment to invest in its people.

The Pillars of Excellence Awards serve as an essential reminder that hard work, integrity, compassion, creativity, and accountability are truly celebrated achievements.

"The Pillars of Excellence we will celebrate more than awards," Hutchinson said. "We will celebrate the individuals who make our communities exceptional and who inspire those around them to reach higher every single day."

About Discovery Senior Living

Discovery Senior Living is the largest privately held operator in U.S. with a growing portfolio approaching 47,000 units across ~420 communities in 40 states. The Company, and its 22,000-plus team members, is a recognized industry leader for performance, innovation and customized lifestyle experiences. Discovery proudly ranks #1 in Customer Satisfaction Among Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Senior Living Satisfaction Study achieving #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Assisted Living & Memory Care Communities while also ranking #1 in Community Staff, Resident Activities, Resident Apartment/Living Unit, and Community Buildings & Grounds and #2 in Customer Satisfaction among Independent Living Communities. Discovery's family of companies includes Discovery Management Group, Integral Senior Living, Provincial Senior Living, Morada Senior Living, Summerhouse Senior Living, Seaton Senior Living, TerraBella Senior Living, LakeHouse Senior Living, Arvum Senior Living, Discovery Design Concepts, STAT Marketing, and Discovery at Home. Led by its award-winning management team, Discovery has been developing, building, marketing, and managing diverse senior-living communities across the United States for three decades. For the fourth consecutive year, Discovery Senior Living was again certified a Great Place to Work May 2025 - May 2026.





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Source: Discovery Senior Living
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. (TSX: SOIL) (OTCQX: OILSF) ("Saturn" or the "Company"), a light oil-weighted producer focused on unlocking value through the development of our assets in Saskatchewan and Alberta, confirms that the Company intends to report our Q4 and full year 2025 financial results, along with our year end 2025 independent reserves evaluation in accordance with National Instrument 51-101, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 after market close.

A conference call and webcast will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 8:00 am MT (10:00 am ET) for interested investors, analysts, brokers and media representatives. Details and instructions for accessing the call are provided below.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST DETAILS

The call will include a discussion with Saturn's leadership team, who will provide an overview of our Q4 2025 results, followed by a question-and-answer session with attendees.

Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026

Thursday, March 12, 2026 Time: 8:00 am MT (10:00 am ET)

8:00 am MT (10:00 am ET) Live Webcast Link: https://www.gowebcasting.com/14545

https://www.gowebcasting.com/14545 North America (Toll Free) Dial In: 1-833-752-3741

1-833-752-3741 International Dial In: 1-647-846-8678

An audio replay of the webcast will be available one hour after the end of the call at the link above and will remain accessible for 12 months. The replay link will also be posted on Saturn's website.

ABOUT SATURN OIL & GAS INC.

Saturn is a returns-driven Canadian energy company focused on the efficient, responsible and innovative development of high-quality, light oil weighted assets, supported by an acquisition strategy targeting accretive and complementary opportunities. The Company's portfolio of free-cash flowing, low-decline operated assets in Saskatchewan and Alberta provide a deep inventory of long-term economic drilling opportunities across multiple zones. With an unwavering commitment to building an entrepreneurial focused culture, Saturn's goal is to increase per share reserves, production and cash flow at an attractive return on invested capital. The Company's shares are listed for trading on the TSX under ticker 'SOIL', and on the OTCQX under the ticker 'OILSF'. Further information and our corporate presentation are available on Saturn's website at www.saturnoil.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284359

Source: Saturn Oil & Gas Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Paul Adair, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Lysander Funds Limited ("Lysander" or the "Company") and his team, joined Graham MacKenzie, Managing Director, Exchange Traded Products, Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), to close the market and celebrate the listing of the Company's new ETF Series of units of Lysander-Canso U.S. Corporate Value Bond Fund (TSX Ticker: LYUV.U).





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Lysander-Canso U.S. Corporate Value Bond Fund seeks to achieve long term capital growth of returns consisting of income and some capital gains primarily through investments in U.S. debt and money market securities either denominated in U.S. dollars or hedged to U.S. dollars using forward currency contracts. The portfolio manager of the Fund is Canso Investment Counsel Ltd.

Lysander is an investment fund manager and portfolio manager with offices in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Lysander is partnered with experienced portfolio managers who are Canadian, independently owned, and specialists in their respective asset classes. Lysander and its partners are aligned with its clients and firmly focused on delivering long-term investment results.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284405

Source: Toronto Stock Exchange
Luxembourg, Luxembourg--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Nexa Resources S.A. (NYSE: NEXA) ("Nexa Resources", "Nexa" or the "Company") announces that operations at the Atacocha San Gerardo open pit mine began gradually resuming on Monday, February 16, 2026, and are progressing toward normal capacity utilization levels. The resumption follows the cessation of protests by the Joraonivoc community, which has subsequently released the access road to the mine.

As a result of the temporary disruption, the Company estimates a production loss of approximately 0.9kt of zinc. This minimal impact is expected to be fully recovered in the upcoming months, and Nexa's 2026 production guidance remains unchanged.

Nexa remains committed to the social development of its host communities and will continue to pursue active dialogue and constructive engagement with local stakeholders. The safety and well-being of our employees and contractors remain our highest priority, and all operational activities are being conducted in accordance with established safety protocols.

About Nexa

Nexa is a large-scale, low-cost, integrated polymetallic producer, with zinc as our main product. We have over 65 years of experience developing and operating mining and smelting assets in Latin America. Nexa currently owns and operates five polymetallic mines - four long-life underground (two in the Central Andes region of Peru and two in Brazil, in the state of Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso), and one open-pit in Peru. Nexa also owns and operates three smelters: two in Minas Gerais, Brazil (Tres Marias and Juiz de Fora), and one in Lima, Peru (Cajamarquilla), which is the largest smelter in the Americas.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to in this news release as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements contained in this news release may include, but are not limited to, zinc and other metal prices and exchange rate assumptions, projected operating and capital costs, metal or mineral recoveries, head grades, mine life, production rates, and returns; the Company's potential plans; the estimation of the tonnage, grade and content of deposits and the extent of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; timing of commencement of production; exploration potential and results; the timing and receipt of necessary permits for future operations; and the impacts of COVID-19 on our operations.

These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results and future performance and achievements will meet or not differ from the expectations of management or qualified persons. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "will," "may," "may have," "would," "estimate," "continues," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "expects," "budget," "scheduled," "forecasts" and similar words are intended to identify estimates and forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments may be substantially different from the expectations described in the forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, many of which are not under our control, among them, the activities of our competition, the future global economic situation, weather conditions, market prices and conditions, exchange rates, and operational and financial risks. The unexpected occurrence of one or more of the abovementioned events may significantly change the results of our operations on which we have based our estimates and forward-looking statements. Our estimates and forward-looking statements may also be influenced by, among others, legal, political, environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the Project, including risks related to outbreaks of contagious diseases or health crises impacting overall economic activity regionally or globally, as well as risks relating to ongoing or future investigations by local authorities with respect to our business and operations and the conduct of our customers, including the impact to our financial statements regarding the resolution of any such matters.

These forward-looking statements related to future events or future performance and include current estimates, predictions, forecasts, beliefs and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, but not limited to, the business and operations of the Company and mining production, our growth strategy, the impact of applicable laws and regulations, future zinc and other metal prices, smelting sales, capex, expenses related to exploration and project evaluation, estimation of Mineral Reserves and/or Mineral Resources, mine life and our financial liquidity.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable and appropriate by management and qualified persons considering their experience are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies and may prove to be incorrect. Statements concerning future production costs or volumes are based on numerous assumptions of management regarding operating matters and on assumptions that demand for products develops as anticipated, that customers and other counterparties perform their contractual obligations, full integration of mining and smelting operations, that operating and capital plans will not be disrupted by issues such as mechanical failure, unavailability of parts and supplies, labor disturbances, interruption in transportation or utilities, adverse weather conditions, and that there are no material unanticipated variations in metal prices, exchange rates, or the cost of energy, supplies or transportation, among other assumptions.

Estimates and forward-looking statements refer only to the date when they were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any estimate or forward-looking statement due to new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Estimates and forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and do not guarantee future performance, as actual results or developments may be substantially different from the expectations described in the forward-looking statements. Further information concerning risks and uncertainties associated with these forward-looking statements and our business can be found in our public disclosures filed under our profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov).

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284394

Source: Nexa Resources
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - NexGold Mining Corp. (TSXV: NEXG) (OTCQX: NXGCF) ("NexGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") as a 2026 Top 50 Company. NexGold was included in the TSX Venture 50 list based on their strong performance from December 31, 2024, to December 31, 2025, in which the Company's share price increased 155% - from $0.69 to $1.76. NexGold's market capitalization also increased 330% over the same period.

Kevin Bullock, President and CEO of NexGold, stated: "We are honoured to be recognized as one of the top 50 companies on the TSXV. 2025 was a significant year of execution for NexGold, as we advanced our strategy of becoming one of Canada's next mid-tier gold producers. We received all key Federal and Provincial permits for our Goldboro Gold Project in Nova Scotia, making it one of a select few gold projects in Canada with all major permits and a signed Mutual Benefits Agreement with our First Nations partners. 2026 will be a pivotal year for the Company as we move towards a final investment decision at Goldboro."

The 2026 TSX Venture 50 showcases the top 50 of over 1,600 TSXV issuers. Eligible listed issuers are ranked based on three equally-weighted criteria of: (i) one-year share price appreciation, (ii) market capitalization increase, and (iii) Canadian consolidated trading value as of December 31, 2025.

More details can be found at the following link: www.tsx.com/venture50.

About NexGold Mining Corp.

NexGold is a gold-focused company with assets in Canada and Alaska. NexGold's Goldboro Gold Project is located in Nova Scotia. The Goliath Gold Complex (which includes the Goliath, Goldlund and Miller deposits) is located in Northwestern Ontario. NexGold also owns several other projects throughout Canada, including the Weebigee-Sandy Lake Gold Project JV, and grassroots gold exploration property Gold Rock. In addition, NexGold holds a 100% interest in the high-grade Niblack copper-gold-zinc-silver VMS project, located adjacent to tidewater in southeast Alaska. NexGold is committed to inclusive, informed and meaningful dialogue with regional communities and Indigenous Nations throughout the life of all our projects and on all aspects, including creating sustainable economic opportunities, providing safe workplaces, enhancing of social value, and promoting community wellbeing.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284397

Source: Toronto Stock Exchange
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - SASQUATCH RESOURCES CORP. (CSE: SASQ) ("Sasquatch" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has executed an asset purchase agreement (the "Agreement") dated as of February 18, 2026 with Justin Deveault (the "Vendor") to acquire 9 mineral claims (the "Claims") covering approximately 2,520 hectares located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Agreement also provides that an additional 10 mineral claims, covering approximately 201 additional hectares in the area, which are currently under application by the Vendor, are also covered by the Agreement and will be conveyed by the Vendor to Sasquatch if and when each applied-for claim is granted.

The Claims represent five documented mineral occurrences known as Lucky Strike, Star of the West, B & K, Golden Eagle and Golden Dome, and their locations are depicted in Map 1 below.

Map 1 - Recently acquired Claims near Port Alberni

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8796/284422_8043cbbf84eb08bf_002full.jpg

Of particular interest to the Company are areas of waste rock from historical mining which has occurred throughout the area, and sections of new logging road which have been built through and with mineralized rock, producing significant volumes of what appears to be sulphide rich material (two such areas are pictured below). In the coming months it is planned that these areas, both historical mining waste rock piles and new logging road sections built through mineralization, will be systematically assessed for mineral content and overall volumes.

Photograph 1 - Area of mineralization extending on both sides of a new logging road through the Golden Dome occurrence.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8796/284422_8043cbbf84eb08bf_003full.jpg

Photograph 2 - Close up of logging road building material used over significant stretch at Golden Dome.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8796/284422_8043cbbf84eb08bf_004full.jpg

Photograph 3 - Logging road running through an area of copper mineralization at Golden Eagle.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8796/284422_8043cbbf84eb08bf_005full.jpg

Photograph 4 - Close up of logging road building material used over significant stretch at Golden Eagle.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8796/284422_8043cbbf84eb08bf_006full.jpg

Historical exploration results, as well as results from more recent sampling programs, will be reported once properly reviewed by a Qualified Person, and as noted, the Company plans to start systematically assessing both mineral composition and volumes where waste rock is found in significant volumes.

Sasquatch CEO, Peter Smith, commented, "These are precisely the types of opportunities we are looking for - areas where both mining waste and recent logging road construction may present an opportunity to find easily accessible and potentially mineral-rich waste rock. In many cases, these waste piles appear to be high in sulphide minerals which have the potential for production of ongoing environmental problems. Moreover, the grades within these waste piles could prove economic, and thus present a revenue opportunity while remediating said hazards, using a fairly simple process of ore-sorting the waste to remove any gold, silver and/or copper, but also more hazardous elements such as lead, sulphur and/or arsenic. This is essentially what we've been working on at Mount Sicker, and these new areas just add to what is becoming a robust pipeline of projects to follow. Assuming we can successfully navigate permitting and our proposed project execution plan at Mount Sicker, these new areas continue to present win-win scenarios for Sasquatch, local communities and the Province. Legacy mine-sites and hazardous waste areas can be addressed and critical minerals and other elements can be added to the supply chain, all without the need to establish new mining infrastructure."

Under the Agreement, to acquire the Claims the Company is obligated to issue an aggregate of 1,500,000 common shares of the Company (each, a "Share") to the Vendor. The Shares will be issued a price of $0.0825 per Share, representing a purchase price of $123,750. When issued, the Shares will be subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company will also issue a 2.0% net smelter returns royalty on the Claims to the Vendor. Sasquatch will have the right to repurchase one-half of the royalty by paying $500,000 to the Vendor at any time.

As Mr. Deveault is an insider of the Company, the transaction is a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The transaction is exempt from the formal valuation requirement under MI 61-101 because the fair market value of the transaction is not more than 25% of Sasquatch's market capitalization. All of Sasquatch's directors (except for Mr. Deveault, who abstained from voting) unanimously approved the transaction. The Company did not file a material change report at least 21 days before signing the Agreement. Filing of the material change report in this manner is reasonable given the small size of the transaction and the MI 61-101 exemptions noted above.

About the Company

Sasquatch Resources Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on its Mount Sicker Property in southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, the Blue Grouse Property, located about 30km from the Mount Sicker Property on the south side of Lake Cowichan, the Santana Property (the area known as the former Santana mine) on Quadra Island, British Columbia, and the Slesse Property near Chilliwack, British Columbia. Each of the properties contain significant opportunities to explore, define and potentially process/remove waste rock, which is the Company's primary focus, but also offer opportunities for the discovery of new deposits.

For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) or contact the Company by email at psmith@sasquatchresources.com or by telephone at 778.999.7030.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect, including with respect to the Company's business plans respecting the exploration and development of its mineral properties. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284422

Source: Sasquatch Resources Corp.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Fathom Nickel Inc. (CSE: FNI) (FSE: 6Q5) (OTCQB: FNICF) (the "Company" or "Fathom") is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche of its upsized non-brokered private placement (the "Upsized Offering"), previously announced on January 28, 2026. Pursuant to the Upsized Offering the Company issued 52,083,334 charity flow-through units (the "Charity FT Units") at a price per Charity FT Unit of C$0.048 for gross proceeds of C$2,500,000, and 23,416,129 non-flow through Units (the "NFT Units") at a price per NFT Unit of C$0.031 for gross proceeds of C$725,900. Combined gross proceeds of the closing of the first tranche of the Upsized Offering was C$3,225,900. The second tranche of the Upsized Offering, comprised of an additional C$774,000 NFT Units, is expected to close on or about February 24.

Each NFT Unit consists of one Common Share (a "Hard Dollar Share") and one transferable Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") that shall be exercisable into one Common Share ("Warrant Share") for a period of 36 months from issuance at an exercise price of C$0.05.

Each Charity FT Unit consists of one "flow-through" Common Share (a "FT Share") and one transferable Common Share purchase warrant (a "FT Unit Warrant"), exercisable into a Warrant Share for 36 months from issuance at an exercise price of C$0.05. The FT Shares and FT Unit Warrants comprising the Charity FT Units will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act") and as "eligible flow-through shares" as defined in The Mineral Exploration Tax Credit Regulations, 2014 (Saskatchewan) (the "SK Regulations").

The combined 75,499,463 Hard Dollar and Charity FT Units issued were issued in accordance with the accredited investor exemption under National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions and are subject to a resale restriction of four months and one day from the date of distribution.

The gross proceeds from the issue and sale of the Charity FT Units will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Tax Act, and to incur "eligible flow-through mining expenditures" pursuant to the SK Regulations (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's Gochager Lake Project located in Saskatchewan, Canada on or before December 31, 2027. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the Charity FT Units effective December 31, 2026.

The net proceeds of the Upsized Offering from the NFT Units will be used for exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

As consideration for services in connection with the Upsized Offering, the Company has paid to certain qualified ("Finders") a cash commission of C$43,310 and 2,945,440 broker/finder warrants ("Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of C$0.05 per share for a period of 24 months from the Closing Date.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Fathom Nickel Inc.

Fathom is an exploration company that is targeting magmatic nickel sulphide discoveries to secure the supply of North American Critical Minerals and to support the global green energy transition. The Company now has a portfolio of three high-quality exploration projects located in the prolific Trans Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan:

1) The Albert Lake Project, a 90,000+ hectare project that hosts the historic Rottenstone Mine1. Fathom exploration to date at the Albert Lake project confirms:

The high-grade Ni-Cu-Co+3E 1 Rottenstone deposit mineralization extends to the south a minimum 40m and remains open.

Rottenstone deposit mineralization extends to the south a minimum 40m and remains open. The Rottenstone deposit is potentially offset and continues within the footwall of a prominent fault defined by drilling.

A new Rottenstone-like discovery (similar host rock, and similar mineralization) by drilling 500-550m W-NW of the historic mine; the 300+m Bay Island Trend, remains open along strike.

Similar Rottenstone-like host rock and mineralization intersected by drilling approximately 1.5km S-SW of the historic mine (the Nic5-Tremblay-Olson area).

2) The 33,000+ hectare Gochager Lake Project that hosts the historic Gochager Lake deposit2. Fathom exploration to date at the Gochager Lake project confirms:

Vertical extension of Ni-Cu-Co mineralization a minimum of 150m below the historic Gochager Lake deposit interpreted boundary, and very good potential for expansion of mineralization in all directions.

Multiple high-grade vertically oriented Ni-Cu-Co sulphide breccia mineralization zones and chutes occur within the historic deposit, and the zones, chutes remain open for further expansion and delineation in all directions.

Surface mapping and rock geochemistry has confirmed the Gochager Lake deposit host/container rock extends 3.5+ km along strike east-northeast of the deposit.

Soil geochemistry has defined a favourable geochemical footprint, inclusive of the historic deposit, that now extends 8.6+ km.

3) The 10,000+ hectare Friesen Lake Project located 40km southwest of the historic Rottenstone Mine and 30km northwest of the historic Gochager Lake deposit.

The Friesen Lake property hosts the Olsen Cu-Ni-Pt Showing also referred to as the Friesen Lake Cu-Ni-Pt showing and is described as an ultramafic dyke that historic trenching and drilling demonstrates Cu-Ni-Pt-Pd and Au mineralization within the ultramafic dyke (Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMID) #0928a). To date Fathom has not performed any exploration at the Friesen Lake Project.

1 - The Rottenstone Mine; a small open-pit mining / milling operation was in production 1965-1969. Mining in 1965 produced 5,500 short tons with a reported average production grade of 3.23% Ni, 1.83% Cu, 0.14 oz/ton Pt, 0.10 oz/ton Pd, 0.03 oz/ton Au (9.26 g/t*3E, 3E = Pd-Pt+Au) and 0.20 oz/ton Ag. Initial milling of mine concentrate; September 5 - November 7, 1965, produced 1,070 dry short tons of concentrate that averaged 10.83% Ni, 5.74% Cu, 0.33 oz/ton Pt, 0.53 oz/ton Pd, 0.10 oz/ ton Au (32.91 g/t* 3E) and 1.25 oz/ton Ag. Richards, B.R. and Robinson, B.G.W. (1966), Mining and milling a small ore deposit . Rottenstone Mining Limited: The Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Bulleting for December 1966. The Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDI) #0958 reports final mine production in 1969 of 28,724 tons with an average grade of 3.28% Ni, 1.83% Cu and 9.63 g/t 3E and that approximately 9,000 tons of concentrate were sold to the International Nickel Company of Canada Limited. * A factor of 34.286 g/tonne was used to convert 1 oz/ton to g/tonne (g/t).

2 - The Gochager Lake property is host to the historic Gochager Lake Ni-Cu deposit. There is no source or available Technical Reports to verify the historic resource estimate for the Gochager Lake deposit; hence, Fathom will treat the historic estimate as an Exploration Target. Available records in the Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDI) and Saskatchewan Mineral Assessment Database (SMAD) suggest an Exploration Target of 4-5 million tons grading 0.3% Ni - 0.4% Ni and 0.08% Cu - 0.09% Cu. The potential quantity and grade are conceptual in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. At present, Fathom has drilled 16 drillholes (5,549m) into the historic Gochager Lake deposit and has confirmed Ni-Cu grades comparable to and higher than the historical grades reported, thus confirming that a deposit of Ni-Cu+Co metal accumulation does exist at the historic Gochager Lake deposit / property. The disclosed potential quantity and grade has been determined by historic records notably; the Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index and Saskatchewan Mineral Assessment Database. (SMDI #0880) reports delineation drilling outlined a deposit at the historic Gochager Lake Deposit; Steel, J.S. (1990), (SMAD 73P15-0091): Report on a Diamond Drilling Program on the Gallagher (Gochager) Lake Property of McNickel Inc., reported that Scurry-Rainbow Oil Ltd. constructed vertical sections and a longitudinal section from drill data collected 1966-1968, and an orebody with reasonably well-defined limits was interpreted. As stated above, the historic estimate is not well documented and there are no available Technical Reports to support the historic resource estimate(s).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Doug Porter"

President and CFO, Director

For further information, please contact:

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company incurring and renunciation of Qualifying Expenditures. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284424

Source: Fathom Nickel Inc.
At the India AI Impact Summit, Beyond Keys Ananya Sharma and Vishal Gupte told Firstpost that Indias AI future hinges on stronger data infrastructure, localised large language models, affordable compute and responsible governance, even as adoption accelerates across manufacturing, agriculture and public services

Data and infrastructure AIs next challenge: Tech leaders call for check on AI | Firstpost at AI Summit. Representational image/Pixabay

At the India AI Impact Summit, Ananya Sharma, Growth Manager, and Vishal Gupte, AI Solution Architect at Beyond Key, spoke to Firstposts Dheeraj Kumar about Indias AI trajectory, infrastructure bottlenecks, job disruption and the urgent need for responsible AI governance.

Edited excerpts:

How do you see Indias startup ecosystem evolving in AI compared with markets like the US or China?

Vishal Gupte: The governments push toward AI in the public domain is actually a positive development. By embedding AI into digital public platforms, the ecosystem is becoming more inclusive. AI is no longer confined to technology companiesit is entering education, governance and grassroots innovation.

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At recent regional AI summits, we saw school and college students actively engaging with AI. That cultural shift matters. When awareness broadens, the innovation pipeline strengthens. In the long run, that helps India build a sustainable AI ecosystem.

Ananya Sharma: India is already a major technology player. We are among the largest users of generative AI platforms globally. The upcoming workforce is becoming AI-ready, and enterprises are actively integrating AI agents into their workflows.

The people-centric focuswhether in agriculture, governance or educationdoes not restrict innovation. Rather, it ensures adoption at scale. With Industry 4.0, trade, manufacturing and services are increasingly AI-powered. India, as a global IT services hub, has significant scope to build and deploy AI solutions at scale.

This is a phase of preparation. The ecosystem is getting ready for large-scale AI-led transformation.

Is India becoming merely a deployment hub rather than a driver of AI innovation?

Ananya Sharma: India has historically led in multiple technology transitions. AI will be no differentprovided we embed it across systems, industries and workflows.

We are in competition with markets like China and the United States, where AI adoption is already widespread. But small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India will play a decisive role. To remain competitive in global markets, they must integrate AI into their offerings.

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We are also seeing AI become a core part of academic curricula. Educational institutions are no longer treating AI as optionalit is foundational.

Vishal Gupte: What we observed at the summit is that AI in India is moving from experimentation to implementation. Startups are building real-world use casesin agriculture, education and citizen services.

These may seem incremental today, but they are steps toward innovation maturity. As infrastructure improvesparticularly in data centres and compute capacityIndia can transition from being primarily a deployment base to a true innovation hub.

What opportunities excite you most about the Indian AI market? What challenges do you foresee?

Ananya Sharma: The opportunity lies in scale. Indias population, digital adoption and enterprise base create a massive market for AI-powered services.

However, awareness and deep technical understanding are still uneven. Many people know of AI but do not fully grasp its capabilities. Adoption will take time.

The larger challenges are governance and ethical usage. AI must be implemented responsibly. Data management practicesboth at the organisational and governmental levelswill determine whether AI solves problems or creates new ones.

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Vishal Gupte: There is a skill gap that needs to be bridged. While initiatives are underway, AI literacy must expand rapidly.

Infrastructure is another critical issue. Data exists, especially within government systems, but it must be structured, managed and made usable for AI applications.

Cost is also a barrier. In some cases, manual processes may still appear cheaper than AI-based automation. Until AI infrastructure becomes more affordable and locally accessible, adoption may be gradual in certain sectors.

How far has India progressed in data localisation and AI infrastructure?

Vishal Gupte: India has digitised large portions of public services, so data availability is not the primary concern. The challenge lies in management and optimisation.

There is increasing effort to localise large language models so that they reflect Indian linguistic and socio-cultural contexts rather than relying solely on foreign-trained models. Local LLMs trained on Indian datasets can better address domestic challenges.

Ananya Sharma: The governments push is also aimed at attracting global technology players to establish data centres in India. If companies like Nvidia or Zoho expand local infrastructure, costs could reduce significantly.

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Currently, many services depend on overseas data centres in markets such as Singapore or the US. Local infrastructure would lower costs, strengthen data sovereignty and accelerate AI adoption at the grassroots level.

Data centres consume significant energy and water. How should India balance AI growth with environmental concerns?

Ananya Sharma: India is pursuing carbon-neutral ambitions and balancing infrastructure expansion with environmental initiatives. With adequate policy planning, data centre growth can be offset through sustainability measures.

Vishal Gupte: Renewable energy must be central to this expansion. Data centres require substantial electricity, but integrating solar, wind and other renewable sources can reduce the carbon footprint. Sustainable infrastructure planning will be key.

How will AI affect the daily lives of ordinary Indians in the coming years?

Vishal Gupte: AI will simplify access to government services. Imagine unified AI-powered search systems where citizens can access multiple departments through a single interface.

In agriculture, AI-driven advisory tools can help farmers make informed decisions. As governance platforms become more integrated, service delivery will become faster and more efficient.

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Ananya Sharma: Most citizens may not understand the technical layers of AIand they dont need to. What matters is improved productivity, better financial access and smoother daily interactions with public and private institutions.

If AI is adopted effectively, it will reduce friction in manufacturing, logistics, climate monitoring and financial services. Ultimately, citizens benefit from faster, more reliable systems.

Will AI significantly alter Indias job market? Which sectors may see the biggest shift?

Ananya Sharma: AI will certainly reshape employment patterns. Industries such as manufacturing will transition toward smart factories powered by computer vision and predictive automation. Logistics and financial services will increasingly rely on AI-driven forecasting and analytics.

The impact can be positive if managed correctly. The focus must be on adoption and upskilling rather than resistance. In a competitive economy, those who fail to leverage AI risk being left behind.

What must be done to ensure AI remains fair, transparent and free from bias?

Ananya Sharma: Bias and hallucinations are fundamentally data issues. The quality of datasets and training pipelines determines system behaviour.

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Continuous integration and continuous development practices, along with well-managed data lakes and structured governance frameworks, are essential.

AI systems must be trained on diverse, representative datasets and regularly fine-tuned. Responsible AI governance is not a one-time exerciseit is an ongoing process.
Exports from the Port of Los Angeles fell 8 per cent in January to a near three-year low, with shipments to China remaining dismal amid persistent tariff tensions and weak demand

Exports to China look dismal, says Port of Los Angeles chief as January shipments slump. File/Reuters

Exports from the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest US gateway for ocean trade, fell 8 per cent in January to their lowest monthly level in nearly three years, underscoring the deepening strain in trade flows with China amid ongoing tariff tensions.

Executive Director Gene Seroka said the port handled 104,297 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of loaded export containers in January, marking a sharp downturn in outbound shipments.

Exports to China look dismal, Seroka said during a media briefing.

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Soybean shipments collapse

The downturn has been particularly severe in agricultural exports. Soybean shipments from the Port of Los Angeles to China plunged 80 per cent last year, Seroka said, adding that trade flows showed no meaningful improvement in November or December despite discussions between officials from Washington and Beijing on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

The slump highlights the lingering aftershocks of aggressive tariff policies introduced under President Donald Trump, whose trade measures and the subsequent retaliatory duties from China have weighed heavily on US farmers and commodity exporters.

Theres not much that the United States is exporting to China these days, Chad Bown, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told Reuters. He noted that outbound US shipments ranging from beef and corn to crude oil and coal also declined in 2025, reflecting a broader cooling of bilateral trade.

Imports soften after pre-tariff surge

On the import side, the port processed 421,594 TEUs in January, down 13 per cent from a year earlier. The comparison, however, is against an unusually strong base when US importers accelerated shipments ahead of threatened tariff hikes.

So far in February, import volumes appear relatively flat year-on-year, Seroka said. A slowdown is expected in March as Chinese factories close for the Lunar New Year holiday, temporarily dampening shipments.

Despite the weak start to the year, Seroka projected that total first-quarter volume at the Port of Los Angeles would decline by less than 10 per cent compared with the year-earlier quarter.

I dont see the economy or cargo volume dropping off a cliff, he said. Even though holiday sales were softer than we would have liked, I dont see a dire situation.

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Broader economic signals

Softer December retail sales in the United States have already signalled potential weakness in consumer spending, which accounts for roughly 70 per cent of overall economic activity.

While the latest figures point to continued headwinds for exportersparticularly those reliant on Chinaport officials remain cautiously optimistic that cargo flows will stabilise rather than deteriorate sharply in the months ahead.

With inputs from agencies.
At the India AI Impact Summit, Raoul Nanavati, Founder & CEO of Navana.ai, tells Firstpost why India is at an AI inflection point. From multilingual voice infrastructure and sovereign data to job disruption and bias in Western-trained models, Nanavati argues this is a defining decade for Indian AI startupsprovided the country invests in reskilling and indigenous datasets

It's a phenomenal time to be a founder in India: Navana.ai CEO to Firstpost | AI Impact Summit. Representational image/Pixabay

At the India AI Impact Summit, Raoul Nanavati, Founder & CEO of Navana.ai, spoke to Firstposts Dheeraj Kumar about voice AI infrastructure, multilingual inclusion, job disruption, data localisation and why India presents a once-in-a-decade opportunity for AI startups.

Edited excerpts:

How do you see Indias startup ecosystem evolving in AI compared with markets like the US or China?

We are at a very interesting inflection point in Indias startup journey. With AI and the growing inclusion of Indian languages in technology, there is a massive opportunity for startups to build for the domestic market at scale.

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We are moving from traditional software services to AI-driven outcomes. That shift changes the value equation entirely. The Indian market itself is large enough to sustain and scale AI-first companies without immediately looking outward.

In terms of talent depth, funding availability and ecosystem vibrancy, India is in a strong position. The government has also taken several steps to ease innovation and support digital infrastructure.

So yes, I genuinely believe this is a phenomenal time to be a founder in Indiabuilding for India.

Do you believe AI will significantly alter Indias job market? Which sectors could see the biggest shift?

This is not just an India-specific questionit is a global one. AI is set to transform the job market in a profound way across geographies, including India.

I dont believe many sectors will remain untouched. From customer service and call centre operations to white-collar roles such as designers, developers and analysts, job profiles are going to evolve dramatically. The nature of work itself will changehow tasks are performed, what skills are required, and how value is delivered.

We are heading towards a structural shift rather than incremental change. That means governments, companies and institutions must proactively prepare for it.

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The key challenge is not whether change will happenit will. The real question is whether we can manage that transition responsibly by upskilling workers and equipping them for the next generation of roles that AI will create.

Many companies are reducing headcount after deploying AI. Employment generation in AI does not always match the pace of automation. How do you view this?

This requires an external off-rampmeaning policy-level thinking.

From a national perspective, we need structured reskilling programmes and regulatory foresight. While innovation is accelerating rapidly, the conversation around workforce transition is not progressing at the same speed.

The change is inevitable. The preparedness must catch up.

What should companies and governments do to ensure AI remains fair, transparent and free from bias?

It fundamentally comes down to the datasets we build and train our systems on.

A large portion of the AI tools currently in use have been developed in the West, using Western datasets. If India wants AI systems that are fair, representative and contextually accurate, we must invest heavily in building indigenous datasets that reflect our linguistic, cultural and socio-economic diversity.

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There are strong initiatives underwaysuch as Bhashini, AI4Bharat, academic institutions like IISc Bengaluru, and research teams including Microsoft Researchall contributing to Indian-language and region-specific AI capabilities.

However, when you compare current efforts to the scale and diversity of India, it is still a drop in the ocean. Ensuring fairness and transparency in AI will require sustained, large-scale investment in high-quality, representative data. Without that foundation, bias is inevitable.
Oil prices fell about 2% to a twoweek low on Tuesday on hopes tensions between the United States and Iran were easing after Irans foreign minister said the countries had reached an understanding on the main guiding principles of their nuclear talks.

Oil prices fell about 2% to a two-week low on Tuesday on hopes tensions between the United States and Iran were easing after Irans foreign minister said the countries had reached an understanding on the main guiding principles of their nuclear talks.

Brent futures fell $1.23, or 1.8%, to settle at $67.42 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 56 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at $62.33.

Those were the lowest closes for Brent since February 3 and for WTI since February 2.

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Iran and the United States reached an understanding on the main guiding principles in a second round of indirect talks in Geneva over their nuclear dispute on Tuesday, but that does not mean a deal is imminent, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said.

The talks took place amid a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. Irans supreme leader said on Tuesday that any U.S. attempt to depose his government would fail.

Separately, Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz for a few hours on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported, without making clear whether the waterway, one of the worlds most vital oil export routes, had fully reopened.

Oil prices are likely to stay volatile, with sharp two-way swings driven by diplomatic signals rather than pure demand-supply fundamentals, said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS WealthStreet, a New Delhi-based research firm.

Investors are closely watching U.S.-Iran relations as any escalation or conflict could lead to Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz. About a fifth of the oil consumed globally passes through the Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran, making any disruptions in the area a major risk to global oil supplies.

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Iran and fellow Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the Strait, mainly to Asia.

In 2025, Iran was the third-biggest crude producer in OPEC behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.

Another factor weighing on prices was the gradual increase in oil production at Kazakhstans giant Tengiz oil field after an outage in January, Russian news agency Interfax reported.

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE

Also in Geneva on Tuesday, negotiators from Ukraine and Russia concluded the first of two days of U.S.-mediated peace talks in Geneva on Tuesday, with U.S. President Donald Trump pressing Kyiv to act fast to reach a deal to end the four-year conflict.

Any peace resolution could see a lifting of sanctions on Russia, bringing Russian oil back to the mainstream market. In 2025, Russia was the third-biggest crude producer in the world behind the United States and Saudi Arabia, according to data from the U.S. EIA.

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Ukraine, meanwhile, continued its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian military said on Tuesday it struck the Ilsky refinery, while a drone attack was also reported at the port of Taman.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
The businessman has revealed he cried like a child and requested the actor to repay the amount back, but he was informed by Yadav that the amount would be paid after the film releases

Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav is finally out of Tihar Jail after he surrendered himself in the Rs 9 crore cheque bouncing case related to his directorial Ata Pata Laapataa. He even spoke to the press and thanked the industry for their support. In a recent interview with News Pinch, businessman Madhav Gopal Agrawal of M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd, the man who lent him the money to make his film, has revealed a lot of details.

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The businessman has revealed he cried like a child and requested the actor to repay the amount back, but he was informed by Yadav that the amount would be paid after the film releases. Rajpal Yadav was lent Rs 5 crore by Agrawal. All the cheques that were given to the businessman bounced which led him to file the complaint.

Yadav, known for movies such as Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Waqt, Phir Hera Pheri, Partner, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Hungama and Chup Chup Ke, was sent to Tihar jail after the Delhi High Court rejected his plea seeking more time to repay outstanding amount in a cheque-bounce cases. The actor has to pay nearly Rs 9 crore.

Actor issues first statement post bail

I will complete 30 years in Bollywood in Mumbai in 2027. People from all over the country, children, old and young, are with me The way the entire country and the world, my Bollywood, has loved me, if there are any allegations against me, I am available to answer. Thank you, High Court

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Following Rajpal Yadavs brief imprisonment in Delhis Tihar Jail over a long-running Rs. 9 crore debt dispute, several viral videos and online posts suggested that leading Bollywood stars, particularly Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, had intervened financially to secure his release.

Many from the film industry, including actors Sonu Sood, Gurmeet Chaudhary and music composer Rao Inderjit Yadav, offered financial assistance to the family and urged others to do the same.

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Who was Robert Maxwell? All you need to know about Ghislaine Maxwells powerful and controversial father, his media empire, spy allegations, mysterious death, and links to the Epstein scandal.

The renewed focus on Jeffrey Epsteins network has once again brought attention to Robert Maxwell, the late British media tycoon and father of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins girlfriend longtime associate and convicted accomplice. Long before Epsteins name became synonymous with global scandal, Robert Maxwell himself lived a life marked by power, secrecy, influence, and unanswered questions.

Here is everything you need to know about the man whose shadow continues to loom large over one of the darkest chapters in modern history.

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Who was Robert Maxwell?

Robert Maxwell was a Czechoslovakia-born British media baron, politician, and publishing tycoon who rose from extreme poverty to become one of the most powerful figures in the British media industry.

Born in 1923 in what is now Ukraine, Maxwell fled Nazi persecution during World War II, served in the British Army, and later built a vast business empire. By the 1970s and 1980s, he controlled major publishing houses, newspapers, and printing operations across Europe and the United States.

At the height of his power, Maxwell owned the Daily Mirror, Pergamon Press, and several other influential media platforms, earning him a reputation as one of Britains most formidable press magnates.

Maxwells business empire and political influence

Maxwells business portfolio stretched across newspapers, book publishing, academic journals, and printing firms. He was also deeply embedded in political circles, serving as a Labour MP in the UK Parliament during the 1960s.

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Known for his aggressive business tactics, flamboyant lifestyle, and forceful personality, Maxwell maintained close relationships with world leaders, intelligence agencies, and powerful financiers. His public image combined entrepreneurial brilliance with deep controversy.

Behind the scenes, however, his empire was built on massive financial mismanagement.

The mysterious death at sea

In November 1991, Robert Maxwell was found dead after falling from his luxury yacht, Lady Ghislaine, near the Canary Islands.

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His death was officially ruled an accident, but speculation about suicide and foul play has never fully disappeared. Within days, investigators uncovered that Maxwell had stolen hundreds of millions of pounds from his companies pension funds, leaving thousands of employees financially devastated.

The scandal destroyed his business empire overnight and cemented his reputation as one of the most notorious corporate fraudsters in British history.

One of the most enduring and controversial aspects of Maxwells legacy is the allegation that he acted as a spy for multiple intelligence agencies, including Israels Mossad, Britains MI6, and the Soviet KGB.

Several journalists, intelligence insiders, and investigative reports over the years have claimed Maxwell maintained close ties with Israeli intelligence and may have used his media empire as cover for covert operations. Israeli officials attended his funeral in Jerusalem, where he received near-state honours, further fuelling speculation about his intelligence connections.

While no definitive proof has ever been made public, these allegations continue to form a key part of his mystique.

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Relationship with daughter Ghislaine Maxwell

Robert Maxwells youngest daughter, Ghislaine Maxwell, was reportedly extremely close to her father. Following his death, she relocated permanently to the United States, where she soon became deeply entangled with Jeffrey Epstein.

One of the most disturbing accounts comes from Eleanor Berry, who spent time with the Maxwell family as a child and was a close friend of Ghislaine. In her book, My Unique Relationship with Robert Maxwell: The Truth at Last, Berry recalls a conversation with a nine-year-old Ghislaine, who allegedly said, Daddy is really nice because he lets me choose the [instruments] he beats me with. If accurate, this account suggests a young child normalising punishment.

Maxwells defence team also cited other incidents to illustrate the reportedly hostile environment at home. In one account submitted to court, they claimed that when thirteen-year-old Ghislaine tacked a pony poster onto a freshly painted bedroom wall, her father reacted violently, striking her hand with a hammer and leaving bruises for weeks.

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Other reports describe a pattern of harsh treatment, including long absences, severe interrogations at the dinner table, and public rebukes for minor mistakes, behaviours that demanded perfection at all times.

British journalist John Sweeney has described Robert Maxwell as a monster, cruel and mad. He has said that Ghislaine was psychologically shaped and damaged by this upbringing, which he believes prevented her from developing a stable sense of self or moral grounding. While Sweeney maintains that she is guilty and deserving of her sentence, he has expressed a degree of pity for her.

Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in the United States for her role in Epsteins sex trafficking operation.

Why Robert Maxwell is back in the spotlight

The release of fresh Epstein-related documents and renewed scrutiny of Epsteins global network have once again placed Robert Maxwell under the microscope. Allegations linking him to intelligence agencies, financial corruption, and elite power networks continue to raise questions about how deeply entrenched influence, money, and secrecy enabled Epsteins operation.

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Robert Maxwells story is one of extraordinary rise and catastrophic fall. From war refugee to media titan, and from political insider to disgraced tycoon, his life remains a cautionary tale about unchecked power, financial corruption, and the dangers of elite impunity.
Nikita Grover is the casting director of critically acclaimed Netflix series Kohrra 2. In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Firstposts Lachmi Deb Roy, she talks about the process of casting | Not Just Bollywood

We all remember Nikita Grover who played the female constable in Pataal Lok 2, she also acted in Kohrra 1 and films like The Sky is Pink and Ok Jaanu. In Kohrra 2, each of the characters had an important role to play and that was the beauty of the show. A lot of credit for that goes to the casting director. Though still a male dominated industry, Nikita has given her best for this Netflix series.

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Edited excerpts from the interview:

What is it that went behind the process of casting each of the actors whether it was Mona Singh to all the leads and even the other actors?

For Dhanwants (Mona Singh) character we were discussing and researching on it for long. We had readings with a couple of actors and the reading was done with Sudeep sir and we also did some look tests and then Mona was always in everyones mind and we also did our reading with her. With Ranvijay, hes a Punjabi and hes moved to Dubai. So that idea kind of came into my mind and we thought well audition him. And he agreed to audition. So thats how Ranvijay happened. The audition went really well and I was really surprised to hear him speak the language so well.

I would like to mention this actor called Pradyuman Singh, who plays Monas husband in the show was brilliant. Such restrained emotions. He was there in Tere Bin Laden. And since the time Ive been casting, Ive been wanting to work with him. The second season is my first project as an independent casting director. And we have a lot of good Punjabi actors. There was a lot of time when I had to be in Punjab around three and a half months sourcing for local actors. And I actually covered the whole of Punjab, every small place. From very little, little places, we went there and we auditioned actors and picked up actors who had never done screen work. And they have all given brilliant performances in Kohrra.

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Casting is quite a male dominated place. How do you navigate through this scene?

I crib about it every day, honestly. But you literally have to wake up every day and you have to just tell yourself that, listen, if you dont do this, someone else will come and take this away from you. So, you kind of have to do it every day.

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There arent a lot of female casting directors. There are only very few. Because it is really, really tough, I would say.

How is the scene changing for women in this field of casting?

Honestly, I still dont see a lot of women getting into the casting business because its very demanding and its very tough place. We only see very few female casting directors anyway. You can literally count it on your fingers.

And youre an actor as well, and Ive seen you in _Paatal Lok_. So how do you balance both casting and acting? Does it become a taxing?

When youre casting, youre giving cues to the co-actor and Sudeep sir was like that, you know, you give lovely cues and I think you should play this character. And I was like, let me give it a try. Thats how it happened. And talking about the balance, it does not get taxing at all, actually, because I enjoy both the things equally. I like that rush happening.

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And how are womens role in cinema changing?

I have been casting for a while, but this particular show, I had so much fun looking for all these female characters, and you know they were all so complex characters and I have only seen it here till now and a bit again in Netflixs Delhi Crime. Again, I dont see more complex female characters. They are not just supporting characters. I wont say that the change is not happening, but we are not there yet there. We need more female complex characters. Because its, again, its a very male-dominating industry, and men really dont write female characters so well, so more female writers have to let that go in.

Monas character was written very well. The restrained emotions and everything, it was written pretty well scripted What do you have to say about that?

I can relate to each of the female characters in some way or the others in Netflixs Kohrra, Like everyone, be it Silky, Dhanwan, some of it of Bani Gulati, some of it even in Rajji, the mother. You know, shes also never acted for screen before, the mother. Its her first time and shes 72 and doing it for the first time on screen. But her performance was brilliant.

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What goes behind finding these actors? How is the tracking done?

For the casting of _Kohrra_, I spent a lot of time in Punjab. I think I would call myself like the slowest casting person ever. Because a lot of research went behind it, like I spent almost three and a half months in Punjab. I was roaming around, watching plays, going to places where actors sit, discuss, meeting theatre groups. You know, there are gatherings where actors discuss their scripts, there are parks where actors rehearse. I was everywhere.

WATCH the trailer of Netflix Kohrra Season 2 here:
Eva Andersson Dubin (Epsteins former girlfriend) invited Epstein to her Colorado home while Celina hosted her five friends. Come and visit next week. Celina will have 5 friends over, Eva wrote to Jeffrey on Aug. 14, 2010

Sexual offender and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein is making more noise and news post his demise than he did when he was alive. The Epstein Files fiasco seems to have taken over with new names cropping up, with most of them being immensely influential personalities.

The curious case of Celina Dubin

Celina was Epsteins ex-girlfriends teenage daughter, who he became obsessed with and wished to marry her despite being called Uncle Jeffrey. No evidence of their romantic relationship exists. There is no justification for dragging Celina into a public controversy she had nothing to do with, a spokesperson said.

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However, the files reveal that Eva Andersson Dubin (Epsteins former girlfriend) invited Epstein to her Colorado home while Celina hosted her five friends. Come and visit next week. Celina will have 5 friends over, Eva wrote to Jeffrey on Aug. 14, 2010.

Who is Celina Dubin?

Celina Dubin is a New York-based doctor and the daughter of Eva Dubin, former Miss Sweden and a longtime former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to newly released US Department of Justice (DOJ) documents, Epstein maintained an unusually close relationship with Celina from her teenage years, allegedly referring to her as his goddaughter and later expressing a desire to marry her.

Now 30, Celina is a Harvard graduate and a trained physician in New York City. She completed her medical degree at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and is currently a resident doctor. Despite being named as a contingent beneficiary in Epsteins trust, her family maintains she was unaware of this and immediately signed a Renunciation and Disclaimer Form upon learning about it.

The newly released DOJ documents reportedly detail Epsteins long-standing fixation on Celina, dating back to when she was just 15. The files include hundreds of messages exchanged between the two, in which Celina allegedly referred to Epstein as Uncle F.

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Mehdi Mahmoudian, Oscar-nominated Iranian writer and activist, was released from Nowshahr prison after 17 days. His arrest followed criticism of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Irans crackdown on dissent.

Oscar-nominated Iranian writer and political activist Mehdi Mahmoudian has been released from prison 17 days after his arrest in Tehran, local media confirmed on Tuesday. Mahmoudian, the co-writer of the acclaimed film It Was Just an Accident, was freed from Nowshahr prison on bail, along with fellow activists Vida Rabbani and Abdollah Momeni.

His release comes amid mounting international scrutiny over Irans crackdown on dissent, particularly targeting writers, journalists, filmmakers, and political activists.

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Why was Mehdi Mahmoudian arrested?

Mahmoudian was detained shortly after signing a public statement condemning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and criticising the regimes violent response to recent nationwide protests.

According to reports, the statement accused the Islamic Republic of using excessive force against demonstrators and demanded accountability for alleged human rights violations. Soon after the letter circulated, authorities arrested Mahmoudian along with other signatories.

Iranian officials reportedly accused them of insulting the Supreme Leader and engaging in propaganda against the Islamic Republic, charges frequently used to suppress dissent.

What did filmmaker Jafar Panahi say?

Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who co-wrote It Was Just an Accident with Mahmoudian and others, strongly condemned the arrests.

Mehdi Mahmoudian, Vida Rabbani, and Abdollah Momeni peacefully exercised their right to express their views, but the regime responded by accusing them of insulting the Supreme Leader and propaganda against the Islamic Republic, Panahi said in a statement.

For years, such charges have been used as tools to criminalize thought, silence criticism, and instill fear in society. Turning a civil and peaceful act into a national security case is a clear sign of intolerance toward independent voices.

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About It Was Just an Accident and its Oscar nominations

Mahmoudian is nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards along with Nader Saeivar, Shadmehr Rastin and director Jafar Panahi. The film is also nominated for Best International Feature, representing France.

The revenge drama is inspired by Panahis own experience of incarceration and explores themes of injustice, trauma, and resistance under authoritarian systems, making Mahmoudians arrest particularly symbolic.

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Mahmoudians history with political imprisonment

This is not Mahmoudians first brush with Iranian authorities. The writer and political activist has been imprisoned multiple times, including a five-year sentence that ended in 2014 on charges of mutiny against the regime.

Panahi and Mahmoudian first met in prison, forging a creative partnership rooted in shared experiences of repression and resistance.

The wider context: Protests and international pressure

Mahmoudians detention came amid widespread protests across Iran last month, during which thousands were reportedly killed in clashes with security forces. The crackdown has sparked international outrage, with mass protests staged globally, including a major demonstration in Munich.

Political pressure on Iran has intensified, with US President Donald Trump stating last week that regime change in Iran would be the best thing that could happen.
The 2020 docuseries presents a detailed account of Epsteins abuse and those who enabled him. The 2020 four-part docuseries Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, directed by Lisa Bryant, provides a comprehensive overview of the disgraced financiers life and crimes. It is the top ten most watched shows on Netflix.

In the first episode, the Netflixs series shows how three sisters who were victims of Jeffrey Epstein opened up to the Vanity Fair reporter about their abuse and how they were lured with money. There was more evidence of the fact that Jeffrey Epstein was hugely powerful and knew the people in power too to shut down the case.

Jeffrey Epsteins is the ultimate story of the abuse of power and money

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It was a big report that Ms. Ward filed for Vanity Fair after interviewing three of the girls who were victims of Epstein and his wild fantasies. But when the story was published, it looked like any other business story. Though the actual draft and the original story was far more complicated with quotes from the victims.

But former Vanity Fair Editor-in- Chief, Graden Carter released the following statement: Ms. Wards reporting on this aspect of the story came in as we were going to the press and it simply did not meet our legal threshold.

The initial interview done by the Vanity Fair writer was just tip of the iceberg which could have acted as an indicator. But the real story wasnt published.

Netflixs Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich

Jeffrey Epsteins neighbours in Palm Beach

Jeffrey Epstein had tons of new money and if you have money, you can buy your way into any society and that was the exact case for this sexual predator. He was stunningly rich. He was living a life of what most people dream of, said one of his neighbours.

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He had 15 to 20-million-dollar house in Palm Beach, a house in Paris, private island in Caribbean, sprawling ranch in New Mexico, helicopter, two airplanes and more. Palm Beach is a small peaceful town and living there and not hearing about rumours is a little strange.

One of the girls mentioned in the Netflixs show, It used to all start with a massage and 200 dollars for Christmas, but She further added, Before Epstein, I was something else, but after the episode, I stopped recognising myself."

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As per a report by Indian Express, Dr Jalil Parkar from the hospital said, He has undergone surgery and is now kept on a ventilator. His condition is stable now.

Veteran writer Salim Khan was rushed to the hospital yesterday and family members like Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan with his wife paid a visit. Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt also paid a visit later that evening. A doctor has issued a statement about his health.

As per a report by Indian Express, Dr Jalil Parkar from the hospital said, He has undergone surgery and is now kept on a ventilator. His condition is stable now. At 11 am on Wednesday, we will issue a press bulletin with the consent of the family and relatives. He is stable but under close observation with regard to his clinical status.

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Last year, Salim Khan opened up on his marriage with Salma Khan and if his family has ever consumed beef. The man behind classics like Sholay and Deewar, and Salman Khans father told Free Press Journal, From Indore until today, we have never had beef. Beef is eaten by most Muslims as it is the cheapest meat!

Khan added, Some even buy it to feed pet dogs. But in the teachings of prophet Mohammed, he has clearly stated that a cows milk is a substitute for mothers milk and it is a mufid (beneficial) cheez. He has stated that cows should not be killed and beef is forbidden.

He further added, Prophet Mohammed has adopted good things from every religion. Like eating only halaal meat which was adopted from the Jews, who call it kosher. He has postulated that every religion is good and believes in a Supreme Power like we do.

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On his marriage with Salma Khan

You see, I have lived all my life amidst Hindus. Even in the police stations and colonies, we celebrated Hindu festivals as everyone from a sipahi to the head constable was a Hindu. So it was not as if we began keeping Ganpati at home only after my marriage. My family had no objection to my marriage either.

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The Kerala Story 2  Goes Beyond trailer is out. Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the film stars Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha and releases on 27 February 2026.

The trailer for The Kerala Story 2  Goes Beyond has been released, marking the return of the sequel to the 2022 film The Kerala Story. Backed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Sunshine Pictures, the film promises a broader and more intense narrative, following the lives of three young women as they navigate being coerced into religious conversion across different states of India.

Expanding the Story

The narrative then cuts sharply to Rajasthan, where a distraught family walks into a police station to lodge a POCSO complaint, alleging that their 16-year-old daughter has been coerced into religious conversion. From there, the story shifts to Madhya Pradesh where a young woman is allegedly manipulated into marriage under false pretenses, only to find herself forced into a religious conversion. Her silent suffering and isolation are portrayed as a stark commentary on betrayal and broken trust.

The third thread takes viewers back to Kerala where a man proposes a live-in relationship to his girlfriend. When she firmly states that she will not convert, the situation escalates. The trailer depicts intense confrontations, including a scene where she is pressured to abandon her beliefs, symbolising the clash between identity, faith, and personal autonomy.

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Watch the trailer here:

Characters and Cast

Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha play the central roles, portraying women whose lives are disrupted.

Production and Release

Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah with co-production by Aashin A Shah under Sunshine Pictures, The Kerala Story 2  Goes Beyond is slated to release in cinemas on 27 February 2026. The film aims to continue the narrative of its predecessor while presenting a larger, multi-state storyline.
Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has landed in Delhi for a state visit, accompanied by the largest delegation, comprising 260 companies. He is set to attend the India AI Impact Summit and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trade remains the top agenda during Lulas visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva raise their joined hands, at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, July 8, 2025. File Photo/Reuters

Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has arrived in India for a state visit from February 18-22. His itinerary includes a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attending the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi.

The Brazilian president is being accompanied by a business delegation of 260 companies. This is Lulas sixth visit to India. He last came to Delhi for the G20 Summit in September 2023.

Heres why the trip matters.

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Brazils Lula in India

Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is in India for a state visit, bringing with him the largest-ever Brazilian delegation to the South Asian country. He is accompanied by about 14 ministers and a large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. The CEOs will attend a Business Forum during the visit, reflecting the increasing trade and commercial engagements between the two countries.

The Brazilian president will hold a bilateral meeting with PM Modi on February 21 to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, as per a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement.

Modi and Lula will also discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in multilateral fora, reformed multilateralism, global governance and issues concerning the Global South, the MEA said.

Modi and Lula last went into a huddle in Brasilia in July 2025, when they discussed expanding bilateral trade between the two countries. This was the first state visit by an Indian prime minister to Brazil in the last 57 years.

During his trip, Lula will participate in the AI Impact Summit on February 19 and 20.

President Droupadi Murmu is expected to host a banquet in Lulas honour. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will also call upon the Brazilian president.

Whats the agenda?

Trade is the foremost agenda as Lula visits India. The two countries reported a bilateral trade of $15.21 billion in 2025, a 25 per cent jump from $12.20 billion in 2024.

Brazil has been making efforts to enhance trade with India since the 2025 bilateral meeting between Modi and Lula. Speaking to The Hindu, Jorge Viana, head of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex Brazil), said that Lula asked him last year to come up with a delegation in line with his aim to expand commercial ties with India.

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In Delhi, the President will participate in the Artificial Intelligence summit, but we are also organising a huge business meeting in collaboration with our Foreign Ministry. Apex is also opening an office in Delhi as we see India, the most populous nation, as one of the economies with the greatest potential for growth, Viana said. Till last year, India was our 10th biggest trading partner, but now in recent months it has been competing to be the fifth. It could become the third biggest.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, @LulaOficial has arrived in New Delhi on a State Visit.



He was warmly received by Minister of State @PmargheritaBJP.



During his visit, President Lula will be participating in the IndiaAI Impact Summit. PM @narendramodi will also pic.twitter.com/VF3WZ7UQuJ  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 18, 2026

The Mercosur-India free trade agreement (FTA) is also likely to feature in talks during Lulas visit. Mercosur is the South American trade bloc, of which Brazil is a part.

The trade deal could widen the scope of tariff concessions and product coverage, benefitting exporters on both sides.

The Brazilian presidents trip is expected to result in various agreements between the two countries, with a boost to Indias pharmaceutical exports and the civil aviation sector.

New Delhi and Brasilia may sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the critical minerals sector, reported Economic Times (ET). India is seeking to tap into the Latin American countrys huge deposits.

Brazils envoy to India, Kenneth H da Nobrega, told The Hindu that Embraer SAs entry into the Indian market could be announced during Lulas visit. Last month, Adani Group signed an MoU with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturing firm to set up a regional transport aircraft venture in India.

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An MoU related to health can also be signed between the two sides. Brazils public health care system requires large quantities of medicines, which Nobrega told ET that Indian exporters are well-poised to supply due to competitive pricing.

Brazils envoy to India also said that the two countries want to deepen people-to-people ties. With this aim, the South American country is expected to announce a 10-year multiple-entry visa system for Indian tourists.

Agriculture will also be a top agenda item during the talks. Brazil is reportedly expected to offer technical cooperation in family farming. A representative from Embrapa, Brazils agricultural research agency, is among the delegation accompanying Lula.

Why Lulas India trip matters

Brazil President Lulas India visit will help in bolstering the strategic partnership and deepen cooperation across bilateral, regional and global platforms between the two countries, according to MEA.

The trip comes when the Latin American country is seeking to lessen its economic reliance on the United States and China while strengthening engagement with emerging economies like India, reported Brasil 247.

Officials at Brazils presidential palace described the visit as one of the largest overseas missions of Lulas government.

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Celso Amorim, Lulas principal foreign policy adviser, said the Brazilian presidents visit offers an opportunity to collaborate in strategic sectors. Cooperation between Brazil and India can be very broad, but I would highlight above all two domains: technology and defence, he told The Hindu.

Brazil and India have developed, each in its own way, very important aspects of biotechnology too. In space science, India has given us a great example of how it is possible to achieve great accomplishments without necessarily resorting to the technology of the rich countries, Amorim added.

Brazil is also eyeing Indias presidency of Brics in 2026 to further move forward the conversation on global governance and multilateralism. The adviser said that the grouping must debate on reforming the global order to reflect the interests of the Global South.

It is important that the Indian presidency of Brics leads this discussion about the current world order and how to change it. We all know the struggle there is for the expansion of the UN Security Council. A world without rules is a very difficult world. India and Brazil have always worked with rules  the rules that they helped to build and that benefited us. And this is only possible within a balanced multilateral system, which Brics has to help strengthen and rebuild, the adviser to Lula said.

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With inputs from agencies
A Norwegian scientist suffered brain damage after he tested a secret weapon on himself to disprove the Havana syndrome. He was left with neurological effects similar to those reported in Anomalous Health Incidents (AHI) cases, including cognitive disturbance and dizziness

The debate around Havana syndrome, which is an unexplained medical condition with severe symptoms, including headaches and dizziness, first experienced by American diplomats posted in the Cuban capital, has intensified again. This was after a scientist in Norway tested a secret microwave device on himself in 2024 to disprove the existence of this ailment. However, it did not go well, and he began developing symptoms similar to those of American personnel in Havana.

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Heres what we know about this secret experiment and Havana syndrome.

How did a Norwegian scientist suffer brain damage?

An unidentified government scientist in Norway reportedly built a machine capable of emitting powerful pulses of microwave energy, in an effort to prove that such devices are harmless to humans. He also tested it on himself, reports The Washington Post.

However, he began experiencing neurological symptoms similar to those reported in Anomalous Health Incidents (AHI) cases. The term AHI is used by the US to refer to the unexplained condition that was first reported among diplomats posted in Cuba. Similar incidents have been reported in China, Europe and Washington.

Havana syndrome is an unexplained medical condition with severe symptoms, including headaches and dizziness. Image courtesy: Pixabay

The Norwegian government informed the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) about the results, leading to at least two visits in 2024 by Pentagon and White House officials. This secret test in Norway has not been previously reported.

Sources familiar with the test said the symptoms experienced by the Norwegian researcher did not fully match those seen in a typical AHI case. However, this strengthened claims by those who argue that pulsed-energy devices can impact human health and are likely being developed by US adversaries.

What is Havana Syndrome?

Havana Syndrome refers to a set of unexplained, often sudden, neurological symptoms reported by US diplomats, intelligence officials, and their families stationed abroad. Those affected experienced severe headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, nausea, memory problems and difficulty concentrating.

The phenomenon first surfaced in 2016 among US embassy staff posted in Havana. Hence, it got the name Havana Syndrome. Since the initial cases in Cuba, cases have also been reported across more than 15 countries, including Russia, China, India, and the UK, according to an NDTV report.

Research led by the National Institutes of Health has revealed that symptoms experienced by patients have been genuine and sometimes severe. However, brain scans did not show clear evidence of consistent physical injury. The CIA has looked into the health incidents. However,

Intelligence reviews have concluded that it is unlikely that a foreign adversary was involved.

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The medical community has not officially recognised the disease, though the US government has launched initiatives such as the HAVANA Act to provide compensation to affected employees.

According to some researchers, the symptoms may stem from stress-related conditions or environmental factors. Others have examined the possibility of pulsed microwave or directed-energy devices being involved, although no conclusive proof has been found.

Did the US acquire a mysterious device linked to AHI?

The Washington Post reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that the US government covertly purchased a different foreign-made device that produces pulsed radio waves. It was acquired at the end of the Biden administration. Experts believe that this could be linked to AHI incidents.

The US government had reportedly spent more than a year testing a device purchased in an undercover operation. File image/Reuters

The device is currently undergoing testing by the Defence Department. While it contains components of Russian origin, the US authorities have yet to determine who manufactured it, the report noted.

Last month, a CNN report claimed that the US government had spent more than a year examining the device purchased in an undercover operation, which could be the cause of mysterious illnesses.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), purchased it for millions of dollars using funds provided by the Department of Defence near the end of the Biden administration, according to a media report.

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The device built by the Norwegian scientist was different from the one secretly acquired by the US government.

According to people familiar with the matter, the Norwegian machine was developed using classified information, indicating it may have been based on designs or materials stolen from a foreign government, the report noted.

Could a foreign enemy be involved?

Some former officials and AHI victims have pointed to Russia as the leading suspect in the AHI incidents, citing its long-standing research into directed-energy technologies. However, no conclusive proof has been made public so far, and Moscow has denied involvement, a report noted.

Most US intelligence agencies, including the CIA and several others, maintain that it is very unlikely the incidents were caused by a foreign adversary or that a foreign actor had developed a novel weapon.

In January 2022, the CIA released an interim assessment that concluded that a foreign state was unlikely to be responsible for Havana syndrome.

A year later, in March 2023, the full intelligence community issued an assessment that unanimously concluded that foreign adversaries were unlikely to be behind the incidents.

There is no credible evidence that a foreign adversary has a weapon or (intelligence) collection device that is causing AHIs, said the unclassified version of their report, according to the Washington Post.

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Who are the victims of Havana syndrome?

A top aide to then-CIA Director William J Burns reported symptoms while travelling in India in 2021, according to the news outlet.

Speaking at a Foreign Policy Research Institute conference in Philadelphia earlier this month, retired Air Force Lt Col Chris Schlagheck said he experienced five incidents at his Northern Virginia home in 2020. It was only last year that a doctor linked his symptoms to those first reported from Havana.

With inputs from agencies
India is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday lives by bringing tools in healthcare, education and even road safety. As New Delhi hosts the AI Impact Summit 2026, we explore how the technology is being introduced across sectors

India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Delhis Bharat Mandapam. As the artificial intelligence (AI) race intensifies, the summit offers the Central government a global stage to showcase its capabilities and position the country as a leading player in the emerging technology.

India has been making strides in AI by developing tools for various sectors  from healthcare to education. Amid the ongoing AI Impact Summit, we explore how the South Asian country is infusing the technology into everyday life.

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AI in healthcare

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is showcasing its AI-based applications at the AI Impact Summit 2026. At its stall, one can find the National Anti-Fraud Unit (NAFU), built for the insurance arm of Ayushman Bharat.

Officials told Indian Express that this AI-powered tool will help in plugging leakages, be it abuse, misuse, wastage or deliberate fraud, in the healthcare system. This tool is aimed at reducing errors and delays. Only correct claims will move ahead and bring transparency. It can track missing documents, unclear reports or wrong patient information. As of 2026, Rs 650 crore worth of public money has been prevented from misuse, the official said.

The claims received by the National Health Authority (NHA) are stored in cloud infrastructure. The system examines whether hospitalisation was medically justified as per the standard treatment guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). It also automatically flags fraud, such as extending hospital stays to increase claims or diverging from established treatment protocols.

The technology has also been deployed to automate claims processing through a mechanism called auto-adjudication, which will help reduce the time for settlement of claims.

The ministry is also showcasing its Health Information Management Systems (HIMS) system, an AI-based voice-to-text solution for doctors, at the summit. This helps them generate digital prescriptions in place of handwritten ones by transcribing the doctors speech into written text in real time, reported Indian Express.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda has unveiled two major initiatives at the AI Impact Summit: the Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India (Sahi) and the Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI (Bodh).

We are proud to host the India AI Impact Summit. This summit is both timely and necessary because artificial intelligence today is no longer a futuristic idea, he said, adding that healthcare lies at the very heart of this transformation.

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Launched two important digital health initiatives  SAHI (Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India) and BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI) at the India AI Impact Summit today. This is a major step towards safe, ethical and evidence-based use of AI in healthcare. pic.twitter.com/9rPK2Do7gk  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) February 17, 2026

Nadda described Sahi as a governance framework, policy compass, and national roadmap for the responsible use of AI in healthcare. It will facilitate the use of technology in an ethical, transparent, accountable, and people-centric manner.

Bodh offers a structured mechanism for testing and verifying AI solutions before deployment at scale. It has been developed through collaboration between the government and academia.

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A stall at the AI Impact Summit that caught PM Modis attention was of eka.care, a digital health platform. Patients can store their health records through the platform, while doctors can manage the histories of patients with the help of AI tools such as Eka Doc and Eka Scribe, as per Indian Express.

Why AI matters in healthcare

Underlining the importance of AI in healthcare, Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, said that the technology can transform Indias healthcare landscape and speed up progress towards universal health coverage.

Addressing a session during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Paul said that integrating AI with Indias growing digital public health infrastructure will ensure interoperability, real-time analytics and better resource allocation across the health system, reported PTI.

He pointed out that AI can significantly boost primary healthcare, help in early diagnosis, enhance disease surveillance and support data-driven policy formulation.

Roy Jakobs, CEO of Royal Philips, said at the summit that AI will have the greatest impact on healthcare. But he added that AI alone cannot transform healthcare and must be backed by robust data governance, seamless data handling and strong clinical integration.

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Technology must align with clinical needs and workflows, he said, emphasising that meaningful AI use needs quality data, interoperability and clearly defined use cases, reported PTI.

Speaking at a session titled Innovation to Impact: AI as a Public Health Game-Changer, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said AI in India must be seen as All-Inclusive Intelligence.

She gave examples of several existing AI tools in healthcare, including the AI-powered Media Disease Surveillance System that detects disease trends in 13 languages and produces real-time alerts to prop up preparedness for outbreaks, as per NDTV.

She said that under the One Health Mission, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched AI-based genomic surveillance tools that can predict potential zoonotic outbreaks before transmission from animals to humans.

Patel said that for tuberculosis, AI-enabled X-ray machines and computer-aided detection tools have reached diagnostics, making up for 16 per cent additional case detection.

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With the help of AI tools, negative treatment results have dropped by 27 per cent, she added.

ALSO READ: AI in farming: What is Bharat-Vistaar, multiligual tool for farmers?

AI in education

Like healthcare, India is also seeking to modernise the education sector through AI. Bodhan AI, a not-for-profit company, was launched at the Centre of Excellence in AI for Education last week. It will develop the Bharat EduAI Stack as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for education.

The company will focus on research to build AI capabilities for Indian languages and develop assets like automatic speech recognition and speech synthesis. Applications will be built to later introduce them in schools and other institutions through collaborations with state governments.

Following its launch, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that the Centre plans to integrate AI tools in teaching from the next academic session at all levels.

Gnani.ai, a Bengaluru-based deep-tech firm, has developed Inya VoiceOS, a five-billion-parameter voice-to-voice foundational model. The system, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Summit, facilitates natural spoken interaction across various Indian languages, as per Indian Express.

Union Education Minister has urged Indias youth to harness the full potential of AI, which he said will play a pivotal role in realising the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

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We have a collective target that by 2047, India has to collectively realise vision for Viksit Bharat or developed economy and AI is the path to do that, Pradhan said at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Tuesday (February 17).

He added that incorporating AI into education will propel the country towards a production and manufacturing-based economy.

Pradhan said AI can help understand and navigate the complexities of Indias multicultural and multilingual facets, as well as its rich history and legacy.

AI in education and education in AI are deeply intertwined. Students and young professionals need to harness AI to educate, embrace, empower and create pathbreaking initiatives, the education minister said.

Let universities, startups and big companies come together to create a big vision for AI. Driven by youth, India will emerge as an AI-led global knowledge centre in the coming days, he added.

AI in road safety

Stellarview, a Pune-based startup building computer-vision systems for roads and public infrastructure, has developed an AI tool for road safety. Its innovation also caught the eye of the PM at the summit.

Stellarviews plug-and-play cameras can detect number plates, speeding, along with seatbelt and helmet violations. This is done without sending data to external servers. The system can also track vehicles at speeds of up to 230 kmph, Indian Express reported, citing the company.

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Most of Stellarviews clients are highway developers and operators, including Adani, IRB, and Ashoka Buildcon, and those working on projects under the National Highways Authority of India.

With inputs from agencies
Iran temporarily shut parts of the Strait of Hormuz during live-fire drills as tensions with the US escalated alongside nuclear talks in Geneva. The rare move revived fears of disruption to global oil flows, energy markets, and maritime security in one of the worlds most critical shipping routes

An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. File Image/Reuters

Irans temporary closure of parts of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, thrust the worlds most critical maritime chokepoint back into focus.

The move coincided with Iranian live-fire drills and renewed indirect nuclear talks in Geneva. Though Tehran said the shutdown lasted only hours for safety, it exposed how fragile global energy routes are during regional tensions.

As the main exit for Gulf oil and gas, any restriction in the narrow strait jolts global markets, especially in Asia. Iran has harassed vessels before but has not imposed such a closure since the 1980s.

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The move came amid stepped-up US military deployments, threats of force from Washington, and unrest in Iran after a violent crackdown on protests.

Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter?

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow channel that forms the maritime connection between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, providing onward access to the Indian Ocean and global shipping lanes.

At its tightest point, the waterway measures around 33 kilometres across. Iran and Oman control territorial waters along the strait, while international maritime law recognises shipping corridors that allow vessels from all countries to transit.

The United Arab Emirates lies close to the passage, placing major commercial hubs such as Dubai near one of the worlds most sensitive choke points.

A map showing the location of the Strait of Hormuz. File Image/AP

For centuries, the route has served as a commercial artery linking the rest of Asia with region. Historical trade flows through the region included ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles transported from China across maritime routes that passed through the strait.

In the contemporary era, the passage has become indispensable to the global energy system. Tankers transporting crude oil and natural gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran rely on the strait to reach international markets.

The overwhelming share of these shipments is directed toward Asian economies, reflecting the regions growing energy demand and strategic dependence on Gulf producers.

According to data from market intelligence firm Kpler, approximately 13 million barrels of crude oil per day moved through the Strait of Hormuz in 2025. This volume accounted for around 31 per cent of global seaborne crude shipments.

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Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE operate pipeline networks that allow some exports to bypass the waterway, alternative routes remain limited.

The US Energy Information Administration has stated that most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region, pointing out how few practical options exist for rerouting shipments if the passage is disrupted.

Because of this concentration of energy flows, even the perception of instability in the Strait of Hormuz can influence oil prices and shipping insurance costs.

Past episodes of tension, including during the Israel-Iran conflict in June, have been accompanied by spikes in energy prices. Market sensitivity reflects the lack of redundancy in export routes from the Gulf and the high costs associated with any sustained disruption to maritime traffic.

What happened during Irans drills?

Iranian media reported that the closure was implemented for a limited number of hours to manage safety concerns during the drills.

The semiofficial Tasnim news agency, which maintains close links to Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said missiles launched from within Iranian territory and from coastal positions struck designated targets in the strait as part of the exercise.

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In this image provided by Sepahnews of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, shows the Iranian Revolutionary Guards drill in the Persian Gulf on February 16, 2026. File Image/Sepahnews via AP

The military activity followed earlier warnings issued to mariners in the region. Radio advisories indicated that Iran intended to conduct live surface firing, alerting commercial vessels to heightened risks while transiting the area.

Iranian authorities described the exercises as part of a drill named Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz, signalling Tehrans focus on demonstrating its ability to operate in and around the strategically vital corridor.

The temporary shutdown also came after a series of maritime encounters that had already elevated tensions between Iran and the United States. Earlier in February, a US Navy fighter jet intercepted and destroyed an Iranian drone that approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.

In a separate incident, Iranian forces harassed a US-flagged and US-crewed merchant vessel navigating the Strait of Hormuz, according to US military officials. These encounters followed Iranian naval exercises in the strait and nearby waters several weeks earlier.

The US militarys Central Command, which oversees operations in the region and commands the Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet, has previously warned Iran that unsafe conduct near American forces, allied vessels or commercial shipping increases the risk of collision and unintended escalation.

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While acknowledging that Iran has a right to operate professionally in international airspace and waters, US officials have cautioned against actions such as aircraft or vessels approaching US warships too closely or directing weapons at them.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying guided-missile destroyers have remained in the Arabian Sea for several weeks, positioned to support potential operations. US President Donald Trump has also announced plans to deploy the USS Gerald R Ford from the Caribbean to West Asia, reinforcing American military capabilities in the area.

The expanded presence has been interpreted by Iran as part of Washingtons effort to apply pressure in the context of nuclear negotiations and broader regional disputes.

How are Iran-US nuclear talks faring?

Talks held in Geneva on Tuesday were mediated by Oman and involved Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi alongside US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Following the meeting, Araqchi indicated that the two sides had reached a broad understanding on foundational principles, while cautioning that substantial work remained before any comprehensive agreement could be finalised.

Different ideas have been presented, these ideas have been seriously discussed, ultimately weve been able to reach a general agreement on some guiding principles, Araqchi said after the talks concluded.

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A US official described the discussions as yielding progress while emphasising that significant details remained unresolved. Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss, the official said.

Omans Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi noted that much work is yet to be done but said both sides were departing with clear next steps.

The diplomatic engagement took place amid heightened US military deployments intended to press Iran for concessions.

Oil futures prices eased following Araqchis remarks about progress in the talks, reflecting market hopes that dialogue could reduce the likelihood of conflict.

Irans leadership has reiterated that any agreement must centre on limits to its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Tehran has rejected efforts by Washington to broaden the talks to include restrictions on its missile arsenal.

Iranian officials have maintained that uranium enrichment will not be abandoned entirely and that missile capabilities remain non-negotiable. Khamenei has restated that missile type and range are not matters for discussion with the United States.

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The current diplomatic push follows a period of intense confrontation in mid-2025, when the United States joined Israel in launching strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. American B-2 stealth bombers were used in the campaign, which Tehran says led it to halt uranium enrichment activity.

The United States and Israel argue that Iran seeks to develop a nuclear weapon, which they view as an existential threat to Israel.

Iran continues to assert that its nuclear programme is intended for civilian purposes, even as it has enriched uranium to levels close to weapons-grade purity.

Iran is a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which grants countries the right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy in exchange for commitments not to develop nuclear weapons and to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Israel has not signed the treaty and follows a long-standing policy of neither confirming nor denying the possession of nuclear weapons, a stance widely interpreted by analysts as an effort to deter adversaries.

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Domestically, Irans leadership has faced growing pressure following widespread protests over economic conditions. The unrest, which erupted in late December and January, was met with a severe crackdown that resulted in thousands of deaths.

Economic hardship has been exacerbated by international sanctions that have constrained Irans oil revenues and limited access to foreign markets.

What are the risks for global markets & regional security?

Iran has previously warned that it could obstruct commercial traffic in response to external attacks, a move that would restrict a significant share of global oil flows.

While the latest closure was described by Iranian media as limited in duration, the decision highlighted Tehrans capacity to interfere with maritime transit during periods of heightened tension.

Energy markets have historically responded sharply to threats against the strait. Even brief interruptions or military exercises have been sufficient to unsettle traders, given the limited availability of alternative export routes for Gulf producers.

A prolonged disruption would likely affect not only oil prices but also shipping insurance premiums, freight rates and broader economic confidence, particularly in energy-importing regions of Asia.

The United States has threatened to use military force in response to Irans actions, including its handling of domestic protests and its nuclear programme. Trump initially warned of potential strikes following Irans crackdown on demonstrators before shifting to linking the threat of force to pressure Tehran into a nuclear agreement.

He has stated that he believes Iran seeks to avoid the consequences of failing to reach a deal and has indicated that he is involved indirectly in the Geneva negotiations.

Iran has responded with its own warnings, including threats to target US interests across the West Asia and Israel if attacked. Tehran maintains an arsenal of short- and medium-range missiles capable of striking neighbouring Gulf states.

During last years 12-day conflict, Iran launched ballistic missiles while Israel targeted Iranian military stockpiles. Despite the intensity of that confrontation, Iran did not fully close the Strait of Hormuz at the time, making the recent temporary shutdown particularly notable.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued pointed remarks directed at Washington amid the latest tensions. The strongest army in the world might sometimes receive such a slap that it cannot get back on its feet.

Of course a warship is a dangerous apparatus, but more dangerous than the warship is the weapon that can sink the warship into the depths of the sea, he said, according to Iranian state television.

With inputs from agencies
India will soon be manufacturing the only helicopter that has landed on the summit of Mount Everest. PM Narendra Modi and Frances Emmanuel Macron inaugurated Indias first private sector helicopter final assembly line for the H-125 copter in Karnataka on Tuesday (February 17). The first deliveries are expected by 2027

Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus are jointly establishing India's first private-sector helicopter factory in Vemagal, Karnataka. This facility will be the final assembly line for the versatile Airbus H125 and its military variant, the H125M. Image Courtesy: Airbus

Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday (February 17) was of great significance.

Among the key outcomes of the meet were measures to bolster security ties, including the renewal of a defence cooperation agreement, inauguration of an assembly line for H125 helicopters in Karnataka, creation of a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Frances Safran to produce Hammer missiles, and reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments.

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The two world leaders virtually inaugurated the final assembly line of H-125 helicopters built jointly by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus at Vemagal in Karnataka. This marks the first time that a private Indian company will fully assemble and test helicopters on Indian soil.

We take a closer look at what exactly the H-125 project is and why it matters to India.

The H-125 facility in Karnataka

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated the Airbus H125 light utility helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) at TataAirbus facility at Vemagal Industrial Area in Karnataka. The project was first announced on Republic Day in 2024 in conjunction with Macrons visit to India at the time.

According to reports, the delivery of the first made-in-India H-125 helicopter is expected in early 2027. Vemagal will also produce the H-125M, the military variant of the helicopter.

Frances President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi press a button to virtually inaugurate the assembly line of Airbus H-125 helicopters, at a press event in Mumbai. AFP

During the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi said, In India, the initiation of his helicopter assembly is another bright example of the India-France relationship. We are proud that India and France will build a helicopter, which will be able to take flight to Mount Everest. We will also export this. The India-France partnership knows no boundaries. It can reach from deep oceans to the tallest mountains, PM Modi said in Mumbai.

While Modi and Macron virtually inaugurated the plant, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Frances Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin, were present at the FAL site for the inauguration. Speaking to reporters after the event, Singh noted, This project is a shining example of mutually beneficial partnership with friendly countries in high-end manufacturing sector.

The H-125 programme investment is anticipated to exceed Rs 1000 crore and is likely to create direct and indirect employment opportunities for our skilled and hard-working younger generation.

The defence minister further termed the initiative as one of the major highlights of the PM Modi-led governments commitment to achieving self-reliance in critical technologies and manufacturing high-end products and equipment through mutually beneficial partnerships with friendly countries.

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PM Shri @narendramodi and President of France Mr. @EmmanuelMacron virtually inaugurated the final assembly line of H-125 helicopters at Vemagal (Karnataka) today.



Congratulations to the teams from Tata Advanced System and Airbus Helicopters on the inauguration of this project. pic.twitter.com/XOso2f4sn2  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) February 17, 2026

The H-125 helicopter

But what is this H-125 helicopter, and why is it noteworthy? The H-125 is primarily a civil helicopter with a single engine that carries one pilot and six passengers. It can fly at 250 km/h and cover about 662 km on a single trip, roughly the distance from Bengaluru to Hyderabad.

The Airbus H-125 first flew in 1974, entering service in 1975 as a versatile light utility helicopter. Notably, the Airbus H-125 is the only helicopter in history to have landed on the summit of Mount Everest.

In 1990, the military variant, the H-125M, was introduced, which will also be produced at the Vemagal plant. The military variant is stronger, tougher, and far more dangerous in the right hands. It can be fitted with rockets, missiles, and gunpods depending on the mission. It can fly extremely low to the ground, called nap-of-the-earth flying to avoid enemy radar detection.

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Over 400 military H-125/H125M variants serve around 44 armed forces in 35 plus countries. Major users include France, Brazil (Air Force and Navy), Mexico, Qatar, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

According to defence and space expert Girish Linganna, the H125M also uses special paint and materials that reduce its visibility to enemy sensors. It has a modern digital cockpit and can carry advanced cameras for surveillance and target tracking. For our soldiers guarding Indias northern borders in freezing high-altitude terrain, this helicopter is perfectly suited, said Linganna to The Week.

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A boost to Indias defence system

The H-125, according to Airbus, is designed to excel in tactical reconnaissance and surveillance. The H-125Ms performance, along with local manufacturing, could make it a critical asset for the Indian Armed Forces.

After all, its the only helicopter capable of flying to the heights of Mount Everest. For the Indian military, which operates in some of the most challenging high-and-hot environments in the world, this performance can be a critical differentiator.

Airbus single-engine H125M is ideal for military tactical missions  from armed reconnaissance and light attack to air mission command and control. Image Courtesy: Airbus

Even Girish Linganna noted that the H-125 would be a boon to Indias military hardware. What makes the H-125 truly special is its ability to fly well in hot and high conditions, meaning extreme heat and very high altitudes, like our Himalayan borders or Rajasthan deserts. Many helicopters struggle in such conditions, but the H-125 thrives. It is used for search and rescue, medical emergencies, law enforcement, firefighting, and even tourism. It is extremely versatile, extremely reliable.

Airbus has stated that it sees the H-125M as an ideal successor to Indias Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, especially for operations in high-altitude Himalayan regions.

The Made in India H-125 will also boost Indias defence manufacturing. According to Airbus, an indigenously made H-125 will make it more viable to South Asian customers and also address the growing demand of such aircraft in Asian nations, such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

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All in all, the H-125 helicopter not only aligns with Indias objective of modernising its defence capabilities but also supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat (selfreliant India) drive.

With inputs from agencies
CBS declined to air Stephen Colberts interview with Texas Democrat James Talarico, citing legal guidance linked to FCC equal-time rules. The decision has put a spotlight on regulatory pressure under the Trump administration, and whether late-night talk shows are losing long-standing protections

People protest after CBS/Paramount announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, in New York City, US, July 21, 2025. File Image/Reuters

A public confrontation between Stephen Colbert and his network, CBS, has put the spotlight on shifting federal regulatory guidance during the second term of United States President Donald Trump.

The dispute revolves around CBS decision not to air Colberts interview with Texas Democrat James Talarico, who is seeking his partys nomination for the US Senate.

While CBS insists its lawyers merely flagged potential legal exposure, Colbert has framed the move as part of a broader effort to restrict critical political speech on television.

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What happened?

Colbert disclosed on air that CBS attorneys advised against broadcasting the Talarico interview, warning that featuring a declared political candidate could obligate the network to provide equivalent airtime to rival contenders under federal equal-time requirements.

He said the networks legal team conveyed the instruction forcefully, leaving no room for negotiation about whether the segment could air on television.

Stephen Colbert accepts the award for Outstanding Variety Talk Series award for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. File Image/Reuters

Despite the broadcast ban, Colbert proceeded with a lengthy recorded conversation with Talarico and released the full exchange on YouTube, which is not subject to the same equal-time obligations that govern licensed broadcasters.

The move allowed the content to reach viewers while avoiding regulatory exposure for the network. Within days, the online Talarico interview amassed millions of views on YouTube, exceeding the nightly audience typically drawn by Colberts television broadcast.

By Wednesday morning following its release, the interview had crossed the five-million-view mark. Talarico reported that his campaign raised $2.5 million in the 24 hours after the interview went live online.

Colbert also told his audience that he had initially been informed he should not even acknowledge on air that the interview had been blocked.

Then I was told, in some uncertain terms, that not only could I not have him on. I could not mention me not having him on, Colbert said. And because my network clearly doesnt want us to talk about this, lets talk about this.

CBS countered that Colberts description overstated the networks actions. The company said its lawyers offered legal advice indicating that televising the interview could trigger equal-time obligations for other candidates, including Jasmine Crockett, and outlined options for how such requirements could be met.

The network stated that the programme chose to publish the interview online with promotional mentions on air rather than navigate the regulatory complications of equal-time provisions.

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Colbert later criticised the network publicly after CBS issued a statement disputing his characterisation of events. On his next broadcast, he theatrically discarded a copy of the statement, expressing frustration that the company appeared unwilling to challenge what he described as intimidation.

We looked and we cant find one example of this rule being enforced for any talk show interview, not only for my entire late-night career, but for anyones late-night career going back to the 1960s, Colbert said.

He added that while FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had discussed eliminating exemptions for late-night programmes, no formal revocation had occurred. But CBS generously did it for him, Colbert said.

Colbert also sought to distance himself from any suggestion of personal animus toward his employer, saying, I dont know what this is about. For the record, Im not even mad. I really dont want an adversarial relationship with the network. Ive never had one.

He added that he was troubled by what he perceived as a failure by a major media corporation to resist pressure. I was just so surprised that this giant global corporation would not stand up to these bullies, he said.

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What do FCC guidelines say?

For decades, broadcasters have relied on a regulatory carve-out that treated certain interviews as legitimate news content, exempting them from equal-time requirements that otherwise mandate comparable airtime for opposing candidates.

That understanding traces back to rulings dating to the mid-2000s, when the FCCs Media Bureau allowed late-night interview segments to qualify for the exemption.

Under the Trump administration, however, the FCC has signalled a narrower interpretation. In January, the agency issued guidance warning that late-night and daytime talk programmes may no longer automatically qualify as bona fide news interviews.

Carr has questioned whether such shows are driven by partisan motives, arguing that the exemption may be misapplied.

The FCC also announced that it was opening an inquiry into whether ABCs daytime programme The View violated equal-time obligations following appearances by political candidates, including Talarico.

Colbert argued that CBS pre-emptively adopted the most restrictive interpretation of the guidance.

He accused the network of acting primarily out of financial caution, given the business interests of its parent company, Paramount Global, which is pursuing regulatory approvals linked to corporate transactions, including a proposed deal involving Skydance Media and a separate effort to acquire Warner Bros Discovery.

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Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez publicly criticised CBS decision, asserting that the FCC lacks lawful authority to coerce broadcasters into suppressing political speech. She described the networks move as censorship and warned against conflating corporate regulatory interests with editorial judgement.

This is yet another troubling example of corporate capitulation in the face of this administrations broader campaign to censor and control speech, Gomez said.

It is no secret that Paramount, CBSs parent company, has regulatory matters before the government, but corporate interests cannot justify retreating from airing newsworthy content.

What is happening in the Texas primaries?

The timing of the interview dispute coincided with the opening of early voting in Texas, where both parties are locked in competitive Senate primaries.

On the Democratic side, Talarico and Crockett are vying to avoid a runoff by securing more than 50 percent of the vote in the March 3 primary. Both candidates have built national followings through viral online clips and frequent appearances on major talk shows.

Talarico used social media to amplify the blocked interview, posting a short clip and framing the incident as politically motivated.

During a news conference in Austin after casting his early vote, he said, The administration was playing politics and was trying to control what a late-night show puts on air, something thats never been done before. He added: The executives at CBS were willing to go along with it.

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Crockett expressed scepticism about the episode, questioning the intensity of the reaction on the first day of early voting and suggesting the situation felt unusually timed. She also noted that Colbert could have mitigated regulatory concerns by offering her airtime, as he had done previously.

Speaking to reporters after voting early in Dallas, she said, Ive done Colbert a number of times. Ive done The View a number of times. Ive done (Jimmy) Kimmel a number (of times). Ive done all of these shows a number of times.

On the Republican side, the primary contest features Senator John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Representative Wesley Hunt. Paxton intensified his previously restrained campaign with a rally in Tyler, while Cornyn held a competing event in Austin.

Hunt released a new television advertisement seeking to position himself as an alternative to Cornyn without alienating voters wary of Paxtons legal controversies.

The Republican contest has drawn attention in Washington, where party leaders fear Paxton would be a costly nominee to defend in a general election despite Texas recent voting patterns.

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Cornyn highlighted those concerns during his Austin rally, warning that nominating Paxton would burden down-ballot candidates. Well pay the price of having an albatross like our corrupt attorney general around their neck, he said.

Campaign spending has surged, with Cornyn and allied groups reportedly pouring tens of millions of dollars into television advertising.

Paxton has countered with ads featuring appearances alongside Trump, while Hunts campaign has attempted to carve out space between the two rivals. As of the reporting period, Trump had not endorsed any candidate in the Texas race.

What next for Colbert and US regulators?

The dispute over the Talarico interview comes as Colbert approaches the final months of his tenure at CBS.

The network announced last year that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would end in May, citing financial considerations as the rationale for shuttering a long-running late-night institution.

The timing of that decision, however, drew scrutiny after Colbert criticised a settlement involving Trump and Paramount Global related to a 60 Minutes story just days before the cancellation was revealed. Two US senators publicly questioned whether the move was influenced by political considerations.

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Colbert has been one of Trumps most persistent late-night critics, and the president has repeatedly urged Carr to pursue enforcement actions against broadcasters he views as biased.

Carrs earlier pressure campaign against networks over Jimmy Kimmel in September prompted warnings about potential fines and licence revocations, leading some broadcasters to temporarily pull Kimmel off the air.

Disney briefly suspended Kimmel before restoring his programme amid public backlash.

In December, Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin criticised Carrs actions, telling him, you used your position within the federal government to take Jimmy Kimmel off the air in a clear attempt to chill free speech.

That episode has since been cited by media executives as evidence of heightened regulatory risk for politically charged content.

Colberts confrontation with CBS also echoes last autumns controversy when ABC removed Kimmel following remarks about the killing of conservative activist founder Charlie Kirk, only to reinstate him after viewers and free speech advocates objected.

With inputs from agencies
The Supreme Court, while hearing a bail plea on Tuesday (February 17), said there is no country like Vanuatu and likened it to the fictional nation of Kailasa. But does Vanuatu not exist? Heres what we know

The Supreme Court has said there is 'no country' like Vanuatu. File Photo/Reuters

The Supreme Court has questioned the existence of Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, likening it to the fictional country of Kailasa. The apex court was hearing a bail plea of an accused who said he was a citizen of Vanuatu.

The island country and Kailasa have made headlines in recent years in India. We take a look at the case before the Supreme Court and what we know about Vanuatu and Kailasa.

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Lets take a closer look.

The fraud case before SC

The Supreme Court said on Tuesday (February 17) that there is no such country as Vanuatu.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria was hearing a plea filed by a man who had challenged a Calcutta High Court order refusing him bail in a cheating case, reported PTI.

The mans counsel told the bench that he was in custody for about a year and three months. He has been charged under Section 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery committed for the purpose of cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust), among other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Justice Mehta asked Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, representing the accused, about where his client was from. Dave replied that he was from Vanuatu.

To this, the judge, as per Bar and Bench, replied: Have you been there? There is no country like thatThis country is like Kailasa.

The counsel responded that the country was somewhere in the Caribbean.

Dave said the petitioner was already granted bail in four other cases.

The bench then asked the lawyer appearing for the state of West Bengal, How much time will you take to conclude the trial?

The states counsel said it was likely to conclude within six to eight months.

The apex court was told that the accused had used multiple identities. Then, Justice Mehta said in a lighter vein: We must consider research on this fellow.

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The bail plea was eventually dismissed as withdrawn.

What do we know about Vanuatu?

Vanuatu is a Y-shaped chain comprising four main and 80 smaller islands that lies between Australia and Fiji.

It is part of Melanesia, a grouping of islands situated between New Caledonia and Fiji in the South Pacific.

Vanuatu reportedly has a population of 330,000, while some islands feature active volcanoes. Most people reside in rural areas and practice subsistence agriculture. Vanuatus capital is Port Vila, where one-fifth of the population dwells.

Once known as the New Hebrides, Vanuatu was jointly ruled by France and the United Kingdom until its independence in 1980.

Residents wait on the shore as they watch others standing aboard a barge with their possessions at Lolowai Port on Vanuatus northern island of Ambae in the South Pacific, October 2, 2017. File Photo/Reuters

Most of the island nation is covered with tropical rainforests. Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Vanuatu is prone to earthquakes.

Its lush forests and pristine seas make it a popular tourist destination for those from Australia and New Zealand. In fact, tourism contributes to 40 per cent of Vanuatus economy.

Local traditions remain dominant even today, with women having lower social standing than men and fewer educational opportunities, as per BBC.

Vanuatu has 113 distinct languages and various dialects. Its official languages are Bislama, English and French.

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The island nation has witnessed political instability since the 1990s, with frequent changes of prime ministers.

In 2025, Vanuatu came to the spotlight in India after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that Lalit Modi, former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman, had acquired the island nations citizenship. Later, the prime minister of Vanuatu ordered the cancellation of the passport issued to Modi, who is wanted in India in a corruption case.

Kailasa: A fictional nation

Kailasa is a Hindu micronation founded in 2019 by fugitive Indian guru Nithyananda. The self-styled godman is wanted in India on several charges, including abducting children, rape and sexual assault.

In February 2023, the representatives of the United States of Kailasa had attended two UN committee meetings in Geneva. This had made headlines in India, with the UN later saying it will ignore statements made by the fictional countrys representatives.

Last year, reports surfaced that Nithyananda offered hundreds of dollars to buy land in Ecuador, Paraguay and Bolivia. After failing to buy land in Ecuador and Paraguay, the fictional nation signed an agreement with the US city of Newark, which was scrapped after officials learned that Kailasa did not exist.

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The fugitive Indian guru then set his sights on Bolivia. Representatives of Kailasa described themselves as emissaries of the worlds first sovereign nation for Hindus, with its own passports and a cosmic constitution.

They claimed to have created a currency made of sacred gold, overseen by a so-called reserve bank.

Between September and November 2024, Kailasa representatives signed contracts with at least four Indigenous groups in Bolivia for a 1,000-year lease with automatic and perpetual renewal of their lands, reported The Guardian.

However, Kailasas claims fell apart after the Bolivian newspaper El Debers expose on the contracts, which would have provided Kailasa control over vast swathes of land, with full sovereignty and autonomy within each Indigenous territory.

After the case emerged, Bolivias Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, Bolivia does not maintain diplomatic relations with the alleged nation United States of Kailasa.

Bolivia also expelled 20 foreigners linked to Kailasa, belonging to different nationalities, including Indian, British, American and Chinese.

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With inputs from agencies
Googles Sundar Pichai has announced a major India-America subsea connectivity project to expand AI-ready digital infrastructure linking India with the US, Africa, Australia and Asia-Pacific. The initiative includes new undersea cables, fibre routes and a Vizag gateway, anchored in Googles $15 billion AI investment plan

Optical fibre cables are seen in a telephone exchange in Rome, Italy, December 20, 2013. Representational Image/Reuters

Google has rolled out a major global digital infrastructure programme that aims to reshape how high-volume data traffic moves between India, the United States, and large parts of the Southern Hemisphere as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in major economies.

The announcement was made by Sundar Pichai in New Delhi on Wednesday (February 18, 2026), as India hosts the prominent artificial intelligence India AI Impact 2026 summit in the national capital.

The project, officially named the India-America Connect Initiative, is anchored in Googles five-year, $15 billion investment plan focused on building AI infrastructure in India.

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What did Pichai announce in New Delhi?

At the event, Pichai formally introduced the India-America Connect Initiative and positioned it as a foundational layer for scaling AI connectivity between India, the US, and multiple international destinations across the Southern Hemisphere.

Today, we are announcing the India-America Connect Initiative, which will deliver new sub-sea cable routes to increase AI connectivity between India and the US and multiple locations across the southern hemisphere. For the opportunities this initiative creates, we should also invest in skilling, which is why we are announcing our most ambitious skilling programs here. This includes a new Google AI Professional Certificate program to master AI in their work," he said.

#WATCH | Delhi | At a Google event, CEO Sundar Pichai says, "Today, we are announcing the India-America Connect Initiative, which will deliver new sub-sea cable routes to increase AI connectivity between India and the US and multiple locations across the southern hemisphere. For pic.twitter.com/JhAdnsh58r  ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

He described Indias position in the AI ecosystem as one that is set for rapid growth, stating that the country is on an extraordinary trajectory" in artificial intelligence.

Placing the technology in a broader global context, Pichai said, AI is the biggest platform shift of our lifetime," and linked its capabilities to large-scale applications ranging from medical diagnostics to agricultural advisories delivered in real time.

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Pichai also pointed to structural factors within India that make it well suited for large-scale digital innovation, citing the countrys linguistic diversity, its expansive digital public infrastructure, and the scale of its user base as elements that together form a strong base for building and deploying AI tools.

He added that the approach to adoption must be shaped by accountability and inclusion, stating, AI must work across languages and local contexts. It must deliver real-world benefits people can rely on. Trust grows when technology is transparent, responsible, and grounded in outcomes."

What exactly is the India-America Connect Initiative?

The India-America Connect Initiative is structured as a global digital infrastructure programme aimed at expanding high-capacity data networks between India, the United States, and multiple regions across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the broader Southern Hemisphere.

The project is anchored in Googles planned $15 billion AI infrastructure investment in India over five years and is designed to improve network reach, stability, and redundancy through a combination of subsea cables, terrestrial fibre routes, and international cable landing stations.

As part of the initiative, Google has committed to developing three new undersea cable corridors that will directly link India with Singapore, South Africa, and Australia.

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In parallel, four strategic fibre-optic routes are being planned to enhance capacity and resilience between the United States and India, while also strengthening links with multiple Southern Hemisphere locations.

These routes are intended to support large-scale data flows associated with cloud computing and AI workloads, which require high-bandwidth, low-latency connections.

The infrastructure plan also reflects an effort to geographically diversify Indias international connectivity.

By expanding landing points and creating alternative routes, Google aims to strengthen the resilience of Indias digital backbone and reduce risks associated with heavy dependence on a limited number of coastal hubs.

Why is Visakhapatnam being positioned as a new gateway?

A central feature of the initiative is the creation of a new international subsea gateway in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) on Indias eastern seaboard.

This move is intended to expand Indias international cable landing capacity beyond the existing concentration of infrastructure in Mumbai and Chennai.

Google is developing a direct fibre-optic route linking Visakhapatnam and Chennai, which will extend toward South Africa.

File Image/Firstpost via Google

When combined with the Equiano and Nuvem subsea cable systems, this pathway will form a high-capacity route connecting the American east coast to India via Africa.

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In addition, a separate direct link is being built between Visakhapatnam and Singapore. When integrated with the Bosun and Tabua subsea cable systems, this route will create a South Pacific digital corridor connecting the American west coast through Australia to Indias east coast.

These routes are designed to establish Visakhapatnam as a major international landing hub, adding geographic diversity to Indias subsea infrastructure and strengthening the resilience of the countrys international data links.

According to Google, the addition of a new gateway on the east coast is intended to enhance network redundancy for a population exceeding one billion people and contribute to improved digital reliability and economic security.

How is Indias west coast connectivity being strengthened?

Alongside the east coast buildout, Google is constructing a direct fibre-optic path between Mumbai and Western Australia.

This route will integrate with the TalayLink and Honomoana subsea cable systems, creating a South Pacific corridor that links the American west coast to India via Australia.

This west coast pathway will complement existing subsea infrastructure, including the Blue, Raman, and Sol cable systems, which together form a data corridor running from the American east coast through the Red Sea to Mumbai.

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By adding new terrestrial and subsea connections, Google is expanding the number of available routes for international data traffic, thereby improving redundancy and increasing overall capacity between India and global digital networks.

How does this infrastructure tie into closing the AI divide?

Google has linked the infrastructure expansion to broader concerns about unequal access to digital resources as AI adoption accelerates. The company has stated that dependable connectivity plays a key role in preventing disparities in access to advanced technologies.

It has pointed to evidence that expanded subsea connectivity improves service reliability and affordability, while also supporting productivity gains and long-term economic growth.

The company has framed the new routes as part of a broader effort to transform traditional maritime trade corridors between the New World and India into digital trade pathways that bring economies closer through high-speed data exchange.

The initiative also builds on Googles ongoing work with regional partners across Africa, Australia, and the Pacific to expand access to AI-enabled services.

Where do govt platforms come in?

Alongside the physical network buildout, Google is coupling infrastructure investments with digital skills programmes to support the practical use of AI tools.

Pichai announced expanded skilling efforts in India, including the launch of a new Google AI Professional Certificate aimed at enabling individuals to apply AI in their professional work.

The company is also collaborating with Karmayogi Bharat and Google Cloud to support Mission Karmayogi, which focuses on building digital capacity across Indias civil services.

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As the primary cloud partner, Google Cloud provides secure and resilient infrastructure for the iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training) Karmayogi platform, which serves more than 20 million public servants across over 800 districts.

The platform is being supported with scalable infrastructure to ensure reliable access to training services at scale.

In addition, AI tools are being used to improve how learning content is accessed and utilised on the iGOT platform.

This includes digitising and structuring legacy training repositories into searchable knowledge assets and progressively enabling content in more than 18 Indian languages, allowing officials to access professional development resources in their preferred language.

Also Watch:
A viral robodog video from Galgotias University caused backlash after claims it was built in India, forcing clarification that the robot was Chinese-made and used only for student learning

A viral video from the India AI Impact Summit 2026 has put Galgotias University under ruthless scrutiny after a robotic dog displayed at its pavilion, which they claimed was their indigenous innovation, turned out to be a China-made robo bought off the internet.

The video showed a university professor presenting the robodog, named Orion, and suggesting it was developed by the universitys Centre of Excellence.

The professor also spoke about the institutions investment in artificial intelligence, saying: We are the first private university investing more than Rs 350 crore in artificial intelligence (AI), and we have a dedicated data science and AI block on campus.

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She added that the robodog was capable of surveillance and monitoring tasks while moving autonomously around campus, reinforcing the impression that the technology had been developed in-house.

Galgotias University is under fire for displaying a commercial Chinese robodog as part of its own development at the AI Summit. But this is nothing compared to the procession that students of this University took out against the Opposition Party. Inspired by the BJP they pic.twitter.com/0bexoMTImc  The DeshBhakt  (@TheDeshBhakt) February 18, 2026

But it didnt take long for online sleuths to question those claims.

University issues clarification

Amid mounting criticism, Galgotias University issued a clarification, stating that the robot was not developed by them.

Let us be clear  Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat, the university said in a statement.

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The institution explained that the robodog was acquired from Unitree Robotics and is being used as a teaching tool rather than presented as an original invention.

The recently acquired Robodog from Unitree is one such step in that journey. It is not merely a machine on display  it is a classroom in motion. Our students are experimenting with it, testing its limits, and in the process, expanding their own knowledge, the university said.

Also read | From stolen devices to long queues, Day 1 of Indias AI Summit was pure chaos  How Day 2 fared

Social media isnt letting it slide

Despite the clarification, the controversy refused to die down, with social media users accusing the university of misleading viewers.

Have some shame, in this video ur Professor is clearly saying that its developed by Galgotias University (sic), one user wrote on X.

Another said: Either you are illiterate yourself or you are trying pulloff a fraud. Your representative very clearly said that ORION has been developed at the centre of excellence at Galgotias university. Who are you trying to hoodwink with this statement? (sic).

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As someone who started off working as a Software Engineer with @Infosys more than 2 decades back, I know first hand how much ahead we were (even are) compared to China at least in IT/Tech sector.



Now for Galgotia to so such a thing and bring China into focus when such an https://t.co/ZzAK1wDUV0  Deepender Singh Hooda (@DeependerSHooda) February 17, 2026

Others also criticised the optics of showcasing a Chinese-made robot at a summit meant to highlight Indias AI ambitions.
Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has landed in Delhi for a state visit, accompanied by the largest delegation, comprising 260 companies. The bilateral meeting will focus on strategic partnership, focusing on defence, trade, energy, agriculture, and health.

The President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon on a five-day period during which he will participate in the ongoing AI Impact Summit, 2026. The Brazilian President will also engage with PM Narendra Modi and hold a bilateral meeting.

The bilateral meeting will focus on strategic partnership, focusing on defence, trade, energy, agriculture, and health.

Taking to X, the official spokesperson of MEA, Randhir Jaiswal said, India and Brazil share a close and multifaceted relationship, elevated to Strategic Partnership and rooted in a common global vision, shared democratic values and commitment to inclusive growth.

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President Lulas visit will impart strong momentum to India-Brazil partnership, he further added.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, @LulaOficial has arrived in New Delhi on a State Visit.



He was warmly received by Minister of State @PmargheritaBJP.



During his visit, President Lula will be participating in the IndiaAI Impact Summit. PM @narendramodi will also pic.twitter.com/VF3WZ7UQuJ  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 18, 2026

The Brazilian President was received by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita at the airport, spokesperson of MEA said on his X.

Several Memoranda of Understanding in sectors including energy, civil aviation, critical minerals and pharmaceuticals are likely to be signed. Brazil is also considering introducing 10-year multiple-entry visas for Indian tourists and easing business visa norms.

Describing India as the pharmaceutical powerhouse, the Minister said, Our mission in India, this pharmaceutical powerhouse, will have three main focuses: bringing more and more products and technologies to Brazil, signing several partnerships [in the area], learning about traditional Indian medicine, and visiting smart hospitals."

The visit from February 18-22 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked an important meeting amid the rising tariffs announced by the United States against India and Brazil.

Lula is leading the largest-ever Brazilian delegation to India, comprising 14 cabinet ministers and over 200 business leaders. The delegation will attend the BrazilIndia Business Forum to boost investment and commercial integration.

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The Brazilian president will hold a bilateral meeting with PM Modi on February 21 to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, as per a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement.
Galgotias University presented a Chinese robodog as its own at the AI summit, but netizens quickly tore down the claim

Galgotias University's booth at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi (ANI)

Galgotias University was allegedly asked to vacate the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, a day after it showcased a Chinese-made robotic dog and presented it as its own innovation.

The move came after the universitys display triggered outrage online, with netizens accusing the institution of misrepresenting imported technology as indigenous AI development.

During the presentation, a university official highlighted the institutions investment in AI infrastructure, claiming significant spending of Rs 350-crore to build an ecosystem for students.

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However, the university in the latest has said it did not receive any such order from the government.

We have not been informed yet that we have to vacate, a Galgotias professor at the AI Summit told ANI.

The robodog display was part of this broader effort to demonstrate the universitys AI ambitions and technological capabilities. However, scrutiny quickly followed, with online users identifying the robot as a commercially available Chinese-made machine rather than an original product of the university.

Galgotias University is under fire for displaying a commercial Chinese robodog as part of its own development at the AI Summit. But this is nothing compared to the procession that students of this University took out against the Opposition Party. Inspired by the BJP they pic.twitter.com/0bexoMTImc  The DeshBhakt  (@TheDeshBhakt) February 18, 2026

Galgotias University also issued a clarification later, stating that the robot was not developed by them.

Let us be clear  Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat, the university said in a statement.

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But it doesnt end with the robodog.

Galgotias University, in the same AI summit, also claimed to have created a drone from scratch through end-to-end engineering. But netizens say it is a commercially available Striker V3 ARF that can be bought for Rs 20,000Rs 30,000.

Fraud Once again:



- Galgotias University claims they have built this Drone from scratch through end to end engineering.



- In reality, it is a commercially available Striker V3 ARF which can be purchased at 20-30k



These Galgotias are bringing International shame to AI summit pic.twitter.com/e1923P9zWp  Nehr_who? (@Nher_who) February 18, 2026

Social media did a fact check

Despite the clarification, the controversy refused to die down, with social media users accusing the university of misleading viewers.

Have some shame, in this video ur Professor is clearly saying that its developed by Galgotias University (sic), one user wrote on X.

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Another said: Either you are illiterate yourself or you are trying pulloff a fraud. Your representative very clearly said that ORION has been developed at the centre of excellence at Galgotias university. Who are you trying to hoodwink with this statement? (sic).

Some also raised concerns over showcasing a Chinese robot at an event focused on Indias AI progress.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised Indias rising global influence in technology, highlighting Indian-origin CEOs leading companies from Chanel and Alphabet to Microsoft during his address at the India-France Innovation Forum in Mumbai.

PM Modi expressed that India and France share a special bond and France is one of Indias oldest strategic partners. AFP

As French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in India, he underscored the countrys rising global clout in innovation, pointing to the growing number of Indian-origin CEOs steering major multinational corporations, from Chanel to Alphabet, during his address at the India-France Innovation Forum in Mumbai.

What particularly caught Macrons attention was his reference to the CEO of French luxury house Chanel tracing roots to Kolhapur in Maharashtra. He praised Indias expanding footprint in technology and acknowledged the countrys growing contribution to global corporate leadership.

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The CEO of Alphabet is Indian. The CEO of Microsoft is Indian. The CEO of IBM is Indian. The CEO of Adobe is Indian. The CEO of Palo Alto Networks is Indian. The CEO of Chanel is from Kolhapur, right here in this stateIndia does not just participate in global innovation; India leads it, he said.

French President Macron:



The CEO of Alphabet is Indian, the CEO of Microsoft is Indian, the CEO of IBM is Indian, the CEO of Adobe is Indian, the CEO of Palo Alto Networks is Indian, the CEO of Novartis is Indian.



And the CEO of Chanel, one of the most iconic houses in France, pic.twitter.com/MKtCbr0WHt  Open Source Intel (@Osint613) February 18, 2026

Later, the French President also stressed about the key role India has played in shaping the global industries and making a huge impact at the global stage. As the strength lies within the vast pool of talent of Indians is of utmost capacity to serve the global population.

As Macron spoke about Indias technological strides and the global rise of Indian-origin leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, present at the event, appeared visibly pleased.

On Tuesday, Macrons visit proved to be a spree of strategic partnership and deep collaborative relations between the two nations.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced the launch of the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, the Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics, calling them key pillars of future-ready India-France collaboration.

Cooperation, defence, and clean energy

Taking to his X, PM Modi wrote, Todays meeting assumes significance because we have elevated the India-France relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. Ours is a partnership for global stability and progress.

We discussed cooperation in industry, defence, clean energy, space and emerging technologies. Our nations will also build strong networks between StartUps and MSMEs, facilitate student and researcher exchanges and establish new joint innovation centres, he added.

Held wide-ranging talks with President Macron in Mumbai. Todays meeting assumes significance because we have elevated the India-France relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. Ours is a partnership for global stability and progress. We discussed cooperation in pic.twitter.com/Ux7P4bG8Be  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 17, 2026

PM Modi during his address to the media emphasised about Indias role and how the nation is going through global uncertainty and during this phase he appreciated the India-France ties which proved to be a force for global stability.

The world is going through a period of uncertainty. In such an environment, the India-France partnership is a force for global stability. We are combining Frances expertise and Indias scale, Modi said in his media statement.

India-France share special relationship

PM Modi expressed that India and France share a special bond and France is one of Indias oldest strategic partners.

We are glad to mark 2026 as the IndiaFrance Year of Innovation. We are transforming our partnership into a partnership of the people!@EmmanuelMacron pic.twitter.com/9BgqAE4PH5  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 17, 2026

And together with President Macron, we have given this strategic partnership unprecedented depth and energy. Based on this trust and shared vision, today we are establishing our relationship as a special global strategic partnership, Modi said.

This partnership is not just strategic. In todays turbulent era, it is a partnership of global stability and global progress, he added.
India moves quickly to engage Bangladeshs new leadership, as PM Modi invites Tarique Rahman for talks following his oath

India has extended an early diplomatic olive branch to Bangladeshs new leadership, with PM Modi inviting newly sworn-in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India.

The invitation was personally handed over by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who attended Rahmans swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka as Indias official representative. The outreach signals a potential reset in ties after a turbulent political transition in Bangladesh.

Birla described the meeting as productive, saying: Just concluded a constructive meeting with Prime Minister of Bangladesh @trahmanbnp. I handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister @narendramodi conveying his wishes to PM Rahman and inviting him to visit India at the earliest convenience.

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I extended warm congratulations on behalf of the people of India and reaffirmed our commitment to deepening the enduring partnership between our two neighbouring countries, he added.

Honoured to be in Dhaka representing India at the swearingin ceremony of the new government led by H.E. Tarique Rahman as Prime Minister. Its an important moment that will strengthen peopletopeople ties and shared democratic values between our two nations.@trahmanbnp pic.twitter.com/Y7aXM1e6GX  Om Birla (@ombirlakota) February 17, 2026

A new government after years of upheaval

Rahmans swearing-in marks a major political shift in Bangladesh.

His party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), secured a two-thirds majority in the February 12 election, returning to power after years in opposition. Rahman himself had returned from 17 years in exile in London ahead of the vote.

He assumed office nearly two years after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down following mass protests and went into self-exile in India.

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Modi was among the first global leaders to congratulate Rahman after his electoral victory. In his message, Modi said: Delighted to speak with Mr. Tarique Rahman. I congratulated him on the remarkable victory in the Bangladesh elections. I conveyed my best wishes and support in his endeavour to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh.

As two close neighbours with deep-rooted historical and cultural ties, I reaffirmed Indias continued commitment to the peace, progress, and prosperity of both our peoples, he added.

Dhaka signals independent foreign policy approach

Despite the warm outreach, Rahman has said that Bangladesh will prioritise its own interests when shaping foreign policy.

Responding to questions on ties with India, Rahman said: The interests of Bangladesh and its people will determine our foreign policy.

Indias invitation, however, suggests both sides are keen to stabilise and strengthen ties following political uncertainty.
The fleet review will feature Operation Sindoors naval star, the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The carrier played a key role in fending off the Pakistan Navy during the 2025 operation, when it was deployed in the Northern Arabian Sea

India is all set to host two major maritime security events in Vishakhapatnam, in a move to showcase the countrys naval prowess on a global stage. The International Fleet Review (IFR) and Exercise MILAN will be held in Vishakhapatnam from February 15 to 25 and navies from over 70 countries are expected to participate in the events.

The fleet review will feature Operation Sindoors naval star, the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The carrier played a key role in fending off the Pakistan Navy during the 2025 operation, when it was deployed in the Northern Arabian Sea.

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As part of the IFR, the fleet will sail to the Bay of Bengal. China and Turkey have not been invited to attend, a decision reportedly tied to their military support for Pakistan during last Mays conflict.

President Droupadi Murmu, Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu are expected to attend the IFR, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will participate in the Milan exercise.

What will happen at the events?

MILAN 26 will convene navies from friendly foreign nations to deepen professional ties, exchange best practices, and boost maritime cooperation. The exercises harbour and sea phases will emphasise interoperability, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and search-and-rescue operations.

Meanwhile, IFR 2026 is a platform that will feature technology prominently, but will give an equally important stage to governance. Unmanned aerial systems, autonomous surface and underwater vessels, and AI-powered maritime domain awareness technologies can significantly extend the operational reach of even a relatively small fleet.

Which countries are participating?

1. Seychelles

2. Indonesia

3. Maldives

4. Thailand

5. Oman

6. Iranian Ship

7. Republic of Korea Navy

8. Australia

9. Japan

10. Myanmar

11. Vietnam

12. UAE

13. Malaysia

14. South Africa

15. Russian Navy

16. Australia

17. Bangladesh

18. Sri Lanka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Finnish counterpart Petteri Orpo on AI Summit sidelines, discussing innovation, digital cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties as India positions itself as a global AI leader

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on the sidelines of the Global AI Impact Summit, with the agenda being Indias growing global engagement on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The meeting came at a time when India is actively positioning itself as a key player in shaping global AI frameworks, while strengthening partnerships with technologically advanced nations like Finland.

Prime Minister @narendramodi held a bilateral meeting with President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic @avucic on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit today.



The two leaders discussed avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, AI, fintech, pic.twitter.com/G0V4ibSHXR  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 18, 2026

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During the meeting, Modi described the interaction positively, highlighting shared priorities in innovation and technology.

Glad to meet Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of Finland. We discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in innovation, technology and other sectors, Modi said in a post on X.

The talks reflected a mutual interest in expanding collaboration beyond traditional diplomacy, with both countries recognising artificial intelligence as a crucial area for future cooperation.

Finland, known for its strong digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem, has emerged as a natural partner for Indias expanding tech ambitions. For India, such partnerships are key to accelerating its AI ecosystem, boosting research and fostering responsible technology development.

AI Summit becomes hub for global diplomacy

The summit is also an example of how global summits on emerging technologies are increasingly becoming venues for diplomatic engagement. Leaders are using these platforms not just to discuss AI governance, but also to strengthen strategic ties and explore new avenues of cooperation.

India has been pushing to play a central role in shaping global AI policy, emphasising inclusive, safe and responsible development of the technology.

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Traffic restrictions have been imposed across parts of Delhi as top leaders, including PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, attend the AI Impact Summit. Key roads around Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, and central Delhi face diversions, with heavy security and regulated vehicle movement. Commuters have been advised to avoid affected routes, use public transport, and plan travel in advance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held high-level bilateral meetings with global leaders and technology executives in New Delhi during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, and emerging technologies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, at Hyderabad House in New Delh. (X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Spains President Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Wednesday, as senior international leaders arrived in the capital for the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

The engagement highlighted growing ties between India and Spain amid a series of high-level meetings linked to the summit.

PM @narendramodi held bilateral meeting with President @sanchezcastejon of Spain during his visit to New Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026.



Both leaders discussed a wide range of issues aimed at deepening India-Spain partnership.



Key areas discussed include trade and pic.twitter.com/KAjmZucYBz  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 18, 2026

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PM Modi also met Finlands Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at Hyderabad House. Orpo is visiting India to attend the ongoing AI India Impact Summit in the national capital.

Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, Held extensive discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo. Thanked him for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which ushers in a golden era in India-Europe relations. India and Finland aim to double trade, thus giving a strong boost to economic linkages. We also talked about enhancing cooperation in futuristic technologies like 6G, innovation, clean energy, biofuels, circular economy and more.

PM Modi further held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit. The two leaders discussed avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, AI, fintech,

Leaders to attend summit in New Delhi

President of the Republic of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini will attend the AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to take place in New Delhi from 16 to 20 February 2026, according to Robert Maxian, Slovakias Ambassador to India.

PM Modi is also set to meet Finlands Prime Minister Antti Petteri Orpo, Serbias President Aleksandar Vucic, Croatias Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Estonias President Alar Karis, Bhutans Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Kazakhstans Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi met Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who is in New Delhi to participate in the India AI Impact Summit.

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Global technology executives join discussions

Senior executives from leading artificial intelligence companies are joining several world leaders in New Delhi for the summit, as India seeks to attract further investment into the sector.

India is positioning itself as a major destination for AI companies. Alphabets Google, Microsoft and Amazon have already committed a combined $68 billion in AI and cloud infrastructure investment up to 2030.

The theme of the summit is  welfare for all, happiness for all, reflecting our shared commitment to harnessing Artificial Intelligence for human-centric progress, PM Modi posted on X.

Key speakers include Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, who is set to address the event on Thursday.
India has asked France to raise the India-made component to up to 50 per cent in the proposed 114 Rafale fighter jet deal while expanding broader defence cooperation

Catherine Vautrin, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, France, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. (X)

India on Tuesday pressed France to increase local manufacturing content in the proposed purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets, with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh raising the issue during talks with his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin, in Bengaluru. The request was made during the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue, defence sources told the Times of India.

Rajnath asked Vautrin to raise India-made component in the upcoming deal for 114 Rafale fighter jets up to 50%, defence sources said. He also urged her to try to ensure that engines of the (fighter) planes are made and overhauled in India. This will help our Make-in-India effort, one source said.

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The ministers reviewed a wide range of bilateral security and defence matters, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of defence equipment. India and France renewed their defence cooperation agreement for another 10 years, announced reciprocal deployment of army officers and signed a memorandum of understanding to manufacture Hammer missiles in India.

The MoU provides for the manufacturing of Hammer missiles under a joint venture between defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited and French major Safran.

Helicopter assembly line inaugurated

Earlier in the day, Rajnath and Vautrin attended the inauguration of the H125 Light Utility Helicopter final assembly line at Vemagal in Karnataka. The facility has been jointly established by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and Airbus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated the unit from Mumbai.

After the inauguration, Modi said, We take pride in the fact that, together, India and France will manufacture in India the worlds only helicopter capable of flying to the heights of Mount Everest and export it to the entire world.

The first Made in India H125 is expected to be delivered in early 2027. The helicopter is intended to meet the requirements of the Indian armed forces for a light multi-role platform and support army operations in the Himalayan region.

Rajnath said the total investment in the H125 project is expected to exceed Rs 1,000 crore and generate direct and indirect employment.

Expanding defence partnership

In the presence of Modi in Mumbai, Macron said, From Rafale jets to submarines, we are expanding defence cooperation. India and France are also working together to build helicopter assembly line and fifth-gen fighter jet engines.

His remarks came days after the Rajnath-led Defence Acquisition Council cleared the purchase of 114 Rafale jets from France.

Cost negotiations for the Rafale deal are expected to gain momentum following Tuesdays meeting between Modi and Macron. The agreement will be signed after Cabinet clearance.

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India may also acquire additional Scorpene-class conventional submarines from France. It has already inducted six Scorpene-class submarines, known as the Kalvari class, from France.

The French defence minister also welcomed the decision to convert Exercise Shakti with the Army from a biennial to an annual exercise.
Wars are not decided by intent alone; they are decided by sustainability. The United States today faces a decision matrix in which military capability is not the central question. Escalation control is. American forces in the Arabian Sea signal readiness. Diplomacy through Oman signals restraint. Yet readiness and restraint can coexist only until the first irreversible exchange. The closer Washington moves toward punitive action against Iran, the more it must calculate not how to begin a conflict, but how to prevent it from expanding beyond design.

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Punitive strikes on critical assets of Iran would be a prolonged game of strikes and counter-strikes that would demand, not merely in munitions, but in political stamina and economic resilience. For the domestic audience, it will also bring the sensitive trauma of body bags, which remains a national sensitivity.

Any sustained American operation would almost certainly extend beyond nuclear facilities. Iranian command nodes, internal security organs and military infrastructure would be targeted. US planners are under no illusion that such action would go unanswered. Retaliation is assumed, not feared as a remote contingency. A cycle of strikes and counter-strikes would follow. Once begun, the tempo and escalatory ladder would be difficult to regulate. That is precisely the challenge the US faces.

From Washingtons perspective, any approach toward Iran is anchored in three enduring priorities. The first is preventing Iran from fielding an operational nuclear weapon. The second is protecting Israel and Gulf partners from missile and proxy attacks. The third is avoiding a large-scale Middle Eastern war that drains resources and attention from long-term competition elsewhere. A sustained, theatre-wide conflict with Iran would collide with all three priorities simultaneously.

Iran is not a permissive target for decisive military coercion. Geography alone complicates the use of airpower. Key facilities are dispersed, hardened, and layered within dense defensive networks. More importantly, Irans deterrence posture is not designed to win wars quickly. It is designed to make wars last.

The prevailing misconception in Western commentary is that overwhelming force produces rapid resolution. Iran has structured its defence posture to challenge that assumption. Tehrans objective is not to win quickly. It is to deny its adversary the comfort of a short war. It is to saturate the battlespace with precise mass standoff warfare.

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Irans preference is for a punitive response rather than a defensive shield, which exposes the asymmetry. Interceptors are cost-prohibitive, vulnerable and finite. Missiles and drones are cheaper, scalable and easier to replenish. Even high interception rates impose a cost if salvos continue over time. The strategic question is therefore not whether defences can hold on the first day but whether inventories can sustain effectiveness over weeks. Iran does not need to overwhelm defences; it needs only to ensure that depletion becomes a constraint and duration becomes a weapon.

Recent confrontations in the region demonstrated how quickly interceptor stocks can be drawn down. Replenishment timelines stretch well beyond a single budget cycle. Every system deployed in the Middle East reduces flexibility elsewhere, particularly as strategic competition in Asia intensifies. Iran does not need to overwhelm American defences. It only needs to ensure that depletion becomes a constraint and saturation becomes an asset.

Irans strike doctrine rests on diversification. Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones are deployed not as isolated tools but as a layered network. Drones force constant air patrols. Cruise missiles complicate radar coverage and airspace management. Ballistic missiles strain interceptor inventories. Even unsuccessful attacks generate economic and psychological pressure. The goal is steady attrition.

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This logic extends beyond land-based strikes. The maritime environment in the Gulf is inherently restrictive. Narrow waterways favour land-based missile systems and complicate naval manoeuvres. American carriers can operate at a distance, but distance comes at a price. Sortie rates fall. Dependence on tankers and long-range munitions rises. Operational tempo becomes harder to sustain. None of this requires dramatic losses. Friction alone reshapes outcomes.

The economic dimension is equally significant. Irans leverage over regional states does not rest solely on oil infrastructure. Airspace is an overlooked vulnerability. Gulf aviation hubs depend on uninterrupted commercial traffic. The presence of cruise missiles and drone forces requires precautionary closures even when interception rates are high. In such a situation, disruption creates financial volatility, a rise in energy prices with rerouting, and regional fallouts. Regional governments understand this exposure. Their mediation efforts reflect calculation rather than sentiment.

Israels posture adds volatility. Israeli leaders maintain a far lower tolerance for Iranian nuclear latency than Washington. Should Jerusalem judge diplomacy exhausted, unilateral action remains plausible. In that scenario, American involvement would follow, though not necessarily as an open-ended campaign. The United States would likely seek to limit escalation while reinforcing Israeli defence.

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Regional escalation remains a real risk, which could have a spillover effect and involve out-of-region forces. Irans strategic asset in terms of non-state actors in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen could make them active theatres. Maritime traffic in the Red Sea could face renewed disruption. Energy markets would face the shock within hours. What began as a limited counter-strike action could create complexities, as in the past in Afghanistan and Syria, with a protracted war.

External powers are not neutral observers. The new emerging axis of China-Russia-Iran (North Korea??) remains to be tested, yet cannot be ignored. Moscow has little incentive to see Washington entangled in a protracted conflict, but it has even less incentive to be a silent observer of American unilateralism. Collusive support by way of intelligence sharing, diplomatic shielding or calibrated material support to Tehran cannot be ruled out if hostilities escalate. Russias interest lies in complicating US calculations without becoming directly exposed.

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China approaches the situation from a different angle. Beijings primary concern is the stability of energy flows and trade routes on which its economy depends. Open war in the Gulf would damage those interests. Iran has presumably received some Dongfeng 17 missiles from China, which reshapes deterrence signalling. The introduction of hypersonic technology like the DF-17 into this region would be a massive shift in the strategic balance. If true, it definitely changes the calculus for missile defence in the Middle East. Yet China also observes that the USs prolonged distraction in the Middle East will be at the cost of its strategic space in the Indo-Pacific and a dent in the American economy. Thus, while its preference remains a call for restraint for its energy security, it arms Iran and will exploit American strategic bandwidth if it narrows elsewhere.

This wider context matters, as the strategic competition is not restricted to one theatre, and resources, particularly interceptors, are limited. Every additional carrier deployment compresses maintenance cycles and stretches personnel. Every extended deployment carries opportunity costs that are felt beyond the Middle East. That reality tempers appetite for escalation.

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Domestic politics reinforces these limits. Public tolerance in the United States for prolonged Middle Eastern conflict is low. Any prolonged conflict will create economic turbulence, test public tolerance, and complicate broader strategic objectives that require concentration rather than dispersion of resources.

A war in Iran poses severe economic, political and diplomatic challenges for India. Energy security and crude costs would escalate immediately. Diplomatically and politically, the balancing of Washington, Tehran and Gulf partners could create complexity. Indias national interest lies in the stability, even if it is a strategic unease rather than an escalation.

Together, the present arithmetic and strategic wisdom point toward sustained pressure and coercive diplomacy rather than a war. External powers will hedge. Regional actors will mediate. War remains an option, but not a preferred instrument. The decisive variable is not American capability nor Iranian resolve. It is a duration. If conflict begins, it will not be settled by the first exchange but by the side that sustains escalation at an acceptable cost. Under present conditions, Washington seeks leverage without entanglement. Restraint persists not from trust, but from calculation. The arithmetic of escalation favours endurance over impulse.

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(The author is former Director General, Mechanised Forces. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
The summit opened on February 16 with PM Modi launching the event in New Delhis Bharat Mandapam. He said that India stands at the forefront of the transformation of artificial intelligence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Google CEO Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Wednesday.

It was a delight to meet Mr. Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field, PM Modi said on X.

It was a delight to meet Mr. Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field.@sundarpichai pic.twitter.com/lUCzOn0LSh  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 18, 2026

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Pichai arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the AI Impact Summit. In a post, the Alphabet CEO said it was "nice" to be back in India.

AI Impact Summit highlights

Day 1

The summit opened on February 16 with PM Modi launching the event in New Delhis Bharat Mandapam. He said that India stands at the forefront of the transformation of artificial intelligence.

The first day of the summit attracted over thousands of participants from all over the world. The summit hosted more than 100 events, not counting sessions that were not livestreamed. Across the expansive exhibition hall complex, upwards of 400 booths were in operation, representing industry leaders, academic institutions, startups, and major global technology companies.

PM Modi also inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo at Bharat Mandapam, where he interacted with startups and companies by visiting stalls and talking to representatives.

Dozens of world leaders, delegates, and participants from more than 100 countries have registered to take part in the AI Impact Summit 2026. The gathering includes 20 prime ministers and presidents, among them French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

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Day 2

The second day of the big ticket event opened the floor to more innovators with over 300 exhibitions from 30 countries. A key focus of Day 2 was the democratisation of AI. For artificial intelligence to be truly effective in a country as diverse as India, it needs to operate in more than just English.

Exhibitors highlighted multilingual Large Language Models (LLMs) tailored to reflect Indias regional languages and cultural nuances. These solutions are intended to empower small business owners in remote villages, enabling them to use AI for tasks such as accounting, content creation, and other day-to-day operations.

A major development that came from the second day was when Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that India is stepping up scrutiny of age-based restrictions on social media platforms, following Australias move to ban users under 16 from platforms such as Instagram, X, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat.

Vaishnaw also emphasised on the imposition of stronger rules needed on deepfakes, while expecting $200 billion in AI investment over the next two years.

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Amid ongoing probe on the social media platforms, Spain is also heading to investigate social media platforms X, Meta and TikTok for allegedly spreading AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

Spain has ordered prosecutors to investigate social media platforms X, Meta and TikTok for allegedly spreading AI-generated child sexual abuse material, as European regulators intensify scrutiny of big tech over harmful and illegal content.

The announcement by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez comes amid a wider crackdown on online platforms, with regulators accusing them of practices ranging from anti-competitive behaviour in digital advertising to deliberate design of addictive features.

TikTok said later on Tuesday that child sexual abuse material was abhorrent and categorically prohibited on our platform.

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TikTok has robust systems in place to thwart attempts to exploit or harm young people, and we continue to prioritise and invest in advanced technologies to stay one step ahead of bad actors, a spokesperson for the company said in an emailed statement.

X and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The move - the first from a package of social-media regulations Sanchez unveiled at a government summit in Dubai earlier this month - was based on a technical report from three ministries, his office later said in a statement.

Government spokesperson Elma Saiz told reporters authorities cannot allow algorithms to amplify or shelter such crimes, adding that childrens safety, privacy and dignity were at risk.

Separately on Tuesday, Irelands Data Protection Commission said it had opened a formal investigation into Xs xAI chatbot Grok over the processing of personal data and its potential to generate harmful sexualised images and video, including of children.

The DPC is the lead EU regulator for Elon Musks X because the U.S. companys EU operations are based in Ireland.

Global scrutiny of tech platforms

One in five young people in Spain - mostly girls - say fake nude images of themselves were created by AI and shared online while they were minors, Sanchezs office said, citing rights group Save the Children.

These platforms are undermining the mental health, dignity, and rights of our children, Sanchez wrote on X. The state cannot allow this. The impunity of these giants must end."

He said the Justice Ministry would ask prosecutors to investigate the crimes that X, Meta, and TikTok may be committing through the creation and dissemination of child pornography using their AI.

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Spain is not the only country cracking down on social media platforms. Other governments have opened investigations, imposed bans and sought safeguards in a widening global push to curb illegal material.

The European Commission is investigating Meta, TikTok and Grok under the European Unions Digital Services Act, while France, Brazil and Canada have filed complaints against Grok over illegal content distribution.

Two weeks ago, Sanchez outlined new measures to tackle online abuse and protect children, including a proposed ban on social-media access for those under 16.

On the same day, French police raided the offices of Musks X and prosecutors ordered the billionaire to face questions in a widening investigation.

In November, Sanchez said Spains parliament would investigate Meta for possible privacy violations involving Facebook and Instagram users.

Last year, the Britain-based Internet Watch Foundation flagged 3,440 AI videos of child sexual abuse compared with only 13 in 2024.

(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff)

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National and EU regulators are intensifying scrutiny of Meta, X, TikTok and online marketplaces such as Shein as enforcement of the Digital Services Act enters a more assertive phase across the bloc.

Exactly two years after Brussels landmark Digital Services Act came into effect, European authorities are turning up the heat on some of the worlds largest online platforms, signalling a shift from preparatory compliance to proactive enforcement.

Platforms such as Meta Platforms, X Corp., TikTok and fast-fashion marketplace Shein now face criminal investigations, data-privacy probes and formal proceedings as European regulators seek accountability for harmful content and opaque platform designs.

Social media platforms under scrutiny

In Spain this week, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on prosecutors to launch criminal investigations into Meta, X and TikTok over the alleged creation and dissemination of AI-generated sexual abuse material involving minors on their platforms.

The Spanish government says an expert report showing the rapid spread of such content demands legal action to protect childrens rights, mental health and dignity, and to end what Sanchez described as the impunity of tech giants.

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This move reflects growing discomfort among national regulators with the pace and effectiveness of platform moderation.

The allegation goes beyond ordinary content moderation failures: Spain is explicitly asking prosecutors to assess whether the operations of these platforms, powered by sophisticated generative AI systems, could constitute violations of criminal statutes related to child abuse material.

Alongside Spains actions, Irelands Data Protection Commission (DPC) has opened a formal investigation into Xs AI chatbot Grok, after reports that the system generated harmful sexualised images, including those involving minors, despite safeguards introduced by the company. Irelands DPC is acting under the blocs strict General Data Protection Regulation framework, which necessitates rigorous oversight of data processing and exploitation risks.

TikTok and LinkedIn have also faced scrutiny from Irish authorities over potential failures in reporting illegal content, underscoring the broader regulatory appetite for enforcing platform accountability.

Marketplace platforms and addictive design

The European Commission itself has launched formal proceedings against Shein under the Digital Services Act, a significant escalation of enforcement action against one of the EUs most popular online marketplaces.

The probe centres on concerns that Sheins systems may allow the sale of illegal products, including items that could constitute child sexual abuse material, and deploy addictive design features and opaque recommender algorithms that could undermine consumer protection.

Commission regulators say the investigation will focus on whether Sheins engagement-driven features, such as reward points and gamification mechanics, could harm user wellbeing, and whether steps taken to ensure transparency of product recommendations meet the DSAs legal requirements. A failure to comply could leave Shein exposed to fines of up to 6 per cent of its global annual turnover.

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Enforcement accelerates

These enforcement moves come amid a sense across the EU that the Digital Services Acts two-year milestone represents more than a compliance deadline, it marks the beginning of a sustained regulatory campaign to rein in online harms.

In previous years, the European Commission has adopted a series of prior findings against platforms such as Meta and TikTok for breaches of obligations on transparency and access to data for researchers, demonstrating its willingness to use the DSA as a tool for accountability.

For regulators and policymakers in Europe, the message is clear: the era of gentle nudges toward moderation and self-regulation is giving way to formal inquiries, legal interventions and truly consequential oversight.

Whether these measures will effective curb harmful AI-generated content and platform design remains a central question as enforcement intensifies across the continent.
Stuart Russell has warned that an unchecked artificial intelligence arms race could threaten humanity and urged governments to intervene

Technology leaders are engaged in an artificial intelligence arms race that could endanger humanity, leading computer scientist Stuart Russell said on Tuesday, urging governments to step in. Speaking to AFP at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, the University of California, Berkeley professor said world leaders must take collective action to address the risks posed by increasingly powerful systems.

Russell said the heads of major AI companies recognise the dangers associated with the development of super-intelligent systems that may one day surpass human control. However, he argued that responsibility ultimately lies with governments.

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For governments to allow private entities to essentially play Russian roulette with every human being on earth is, in my view, a total dereliction of duty, he said, describing the current trajectory as deeply concerning.

He added that while chief executives may wish to slow the race, they cannot do so alone. Each of the CEOs of the main AI companies, I believe, wants to disarm but cannot do so unilaterally as they would be fired by investors.

Some of them have said it in public, and some of the told me it privately, he said, noting that even Sam Altman, head of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, has said on record that AI could lead to human extinction.

OpenAI and rival US startup Anthropic have both faced public resignations from staff members raising ethical concerns. Anthropic also warned last week that its newest chatbot models could be steered towards knowingly supportingin small waysefforts toward chemical weapon development and other heinous crimes.

Expanding investment and emerging risks

Governments and corporations are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in energy-intensive data centres to train and operate generative AI systems. While the technology offers potential benefits such as drug discovery, it also carries risks including job losses, surveillance and online abuse.

Russell warned of an additional threat: AI systems themselves taking control and human civilisation being collatoral damage in that process.

Russell said international forums such as the AI summit in New Delhi offer a platform for regulatory discussions, although the three previous editions resulted only in voluntary commitments from technology firms.

It really helps if each of the governments understand this issue. And so thats why Im here, he said.

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India is seeking to accelerate its role in the sector through the five-day summit, attended by technology executives and senior national delegations. Indian IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the country expects more than $200 billion in AI investments over the next two years, including roughly $90 billion already committed.

At the same time, concerns that AI tools could lead to widespread redundancies in Indias large customer service and technology support sectors have weighed on outsourcing firms, with shares falling in recent days.

Impact on jobs and social response

Russell said back-end roles in India are particularly vulnerable to automation.

We are creating human imitators. And so of course, the natural application for that type of system is replacing humans.

He also said he is observing growing resistance to AI, especially among younger generations.

They actually are pushing back against the dehumanising aspects of AI, he said.

When youre taking over all cognitive functions  the ability to answer a question, to make a decision, to make a plan you are turning someone into less than a human being. The young people do not want that.

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The probe intensifies global scrutiny of Elon Musks X as regulators across Europe and the UK crack down on Groks alleged role in generating sexualised AI content, including images of minors.

Irelands Data Protection Commission (DPC) said on Tuesday it had opened a formal investigation into Xs AI chatbot Grok over the processing of personal data and its potential to produce harmful sexualised images and video, including of children.

The DPC is the lead EU regulator for X because the US companys European Union operations are based in Ireland. It can levy fines of up to 4 per cent of a companys global revenue under the blocs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

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The decision to begin the inquiry was notified to X on Monday, the DPC said in a statement and its purpose was to determine whether X had complied with its obligations under GDPR with regard to the personal data processed.

Grok flooded X last month with AI-altered, near-nude images of real people in response to user requests, triggering widespread global outrage and investigations.

X announced curbs to stop Groks account on the platform from producing such images, but the Grok chatbot continued to do so when prompted, Reuters found earlier this month.

US President Donald Trump and other members of his administration have criticised EU regulation of US tech companies and described fines imposed on them by the 27-member bloc as a form of taxation.

Xs owner, Elon Musk, who is the worlds richest man, has also expressed his objections to EU regulations, mainly those imposed directly by Brussels on online content.

The DPC has been engaging with XIUC (X Internet Unlimited Company) since media reports first emerged a number of weeks ago concerning the alleged ability of X users to prompt the @Grok account on X to generate sexualised images of real people, including children, said Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle.

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As the Lead Supervisory Authority for XIUC across the EU/EEA, the DPC has commenced a large-scale inquiry, " Doyle said, adding that this would examine XIUCs compliance with some of its fundamental obligations under the GDPR in relation to the matters at hand.

The European Commission opened an investigation on January 26 into whether Grok disseminates illegal content such as manipulated sexualised images in the EU.

And on February 3, Britains privacy watchdog launched a formal investigation into Grok over the processing of personal data and its potential to produce harmful sexualised images and video content.
The summit opened on February 16 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching the event in New Delhis Bharat Mandapam. He said that India stands at the forefront of the transformation of artificial intelligence

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday said that it is nice to be back in India as he arrived in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit.

Nice to be back in India for the AI Impact Summit - a very warm welcome as always, Pichai wrote on X.

Nice to be back in India for the AI Impact Summit - a very warm welcome as always and the papers looked great too:) pic.twitter.com/szM9g2wB4d  Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) February 18, 2026

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AI Impact Summit highlights

Day 1

The summit opened on February 16 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching the event in New Delhis Bharat Mandapam. He said that India stands at the forefront of the transformation of artificial intelligence.

The first day of the summit attracted over thousands of participants from all over the world. The summit hosted more than 100 events, not counting sessions that were not livestreamed. Across the expansive exhibition hall complex, upwards of 400 booths were in operation, representing industry leaders, academic institutions, startups, and major global technology companies.

PM Modi also inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo at Bharat Mandapam, where he interacted with startups and companies by visiting stalls and talking to representatives.

Dozens of world leaders, delegates, and participants from more than 100 countries have registered to take part in the AI Impact Summit 2026. The gathering includes 20 prime ministers and presidents, among them French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

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Day 2

The second day of the big ticket event opened the floor to more innovators with over 300 exhibitions from 30 countries. A key focus of Day 2 was the democratisation of AI. For artificial intelligence to be truly effective in a country as diverse as India, it needs to operate in more than just English.

Exhibitors highlighted multilingual Large Language Models (LLMs) tailored to reflect Indias regional languages and cultural nuances. These solutions are intended to empower small business owners in remote villages, enabling them to use AI for tasks such as accounting, content creation, and other day-to-day operations.

A major development that came from the second day was when Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that India is stepping up scrutiny of age-based restrictions on social media platforms, following Australias move to ban users under 16 from platforms such as Instagram, X, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat.

Vaishnaw also emphasised on the imposition of stronger rules needed on deepfakes, while expecting $200 billion in AI investment over the next two years.

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Sarvam AI launches Sarvam 30B model and Sarvam 105B model at AI Impact Summit. While the 30B model brings AI assistant to feature phones, 105B can solve much complex reasoning tasks.

On Day 3, Sarvam AI has unveiled two latest AI models during the AI Impact Summit 2026: Sarvam 30B and Sarvam 105B. The highlight of this event was both the models support Indian languages, such as Punjabi, Marathi, Hindi and more.

Co-founder Pratyush Kumar, demonstrates how both the models are trained to serve the population at a reasonable price. Lets delve deeper into what are these models and how will it float in India.

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Sarvam 30B model: Conversational AI for feature phones

The Sarvam 30B model targets a broad set of use cases spanning multilingual text generation, conversational AI, translation and content creation. At 30 billion parameters, it is designed to be efficient yet powerful, suitable for deployment in scenarios where both performance and accessibility matter.

During the launch, Kumar showcased several benchmarks showing that Sarvam 30B has already defeated a few famous AI models.

After all the jargons, Sarvam AI finally came to the exciting part of use case. During the event, the company demonstrated how this model can help in real-life situation. It showed that with this model, even a feature phone (now a rare breed with keypad) can be used for hold a conversation with AI.

Sarvam AI aims to serve the local people in the country and Sarvam 30B fits exact with this description.

In the demo, using as an example, with just a phone call, the feature phone was turned into a high-end device that can reply in several Indian languages, including Punjabi and Hindi.

Sarvam 105B: For more complex tasks

The Sarvam 105B model, the more powerful of the two, is engineered for complex reasoning and high-level language tasks. With a context window of 128K tokens, it can process and retain far larger amounts of information than most comparable systems, enabling it to handle sophisticated use cases such as long-form summarisation, in-depth analytical queries, and nuanced dialogue generation.

According to Sarvam AI, the models scale and efficiency allow it to outperform global peers, including the DeepSeek R1 model, marking a significant leap for Indias AI capabilities on the international stage.

During the AI Impact Summit 2026, Sarvam demonstrated the models real-world potential through an impressive use-case example.

The team uploaded a companys balance sheet, and within seconds, the 105B model analysed the data and began answering complex financial and contextual questions with precision.

The demonstration showcased the systems ability to process structured and unstructured data simultaneously, proving how Indian-built AI can now deliver enterprise-grade analytical intelligence across sectors such as finance, governance, and business operations.
The viral Orion robot at Indias AI Impact Summit turned out to be Chinas Unitree Go2  a consumer-grade AI-powered robot dog redefining the future of affordable robotics. Here is everything you need to know about the robot.

It looked futuristic, it walked like a dog, and it caused an uproar at one of Indias biggest technology events.

The AI-powered robot that recently grabbed attention at the India AI Impact Summit wasnt an Indian invention after all, it was the Unitree Go2, a Chinese-made quadruped robot from Unitree Robotics.

Rebranded as Orion during the event, the robots surprise appearance triggered online debates and sent netizens on a hunt to uncover its real identity, price, and capabilities.

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Unitree Go2: Launch, features and price

The Unitree Go2 isnt new to the world of robotics. Officially launched on July 12, 2023, its the second-generation quadruped robot from Unitree Robotics, following the earlier Go1 model that debuted in 2021.

The company positioned the Go2 as a more intelligent, consumer-friendly robot dog, equipped with what it calls embodied AI, a blend of GPT-powered intelligence, advanced obstacle detection, and precise navigation.

Unitree Go2

Unitree markets the Go2 as ideal for research institutions, developers, and even hobbyists who want a taste of robotics without spending a fortune. The robot is capable of walking, running, stretching, and dancing. It can even climb stairs in dedicated Climb and Descend modes. Its designed for both indoor and outdoor environments, using its sensors to move around with impressive agility and stability.

Its price also turned heads: globally, the Go2 Air variant starts at around US$1,600 (roughly Rs 1.45 lakh), while the Go2 Pro sells for about US$2,800 (Rs 2.32.5 lakh). Compared to industrial-grade models like Unitrees B1 and B2, which cost close to US$100,000, the Go2 is practically a bargain in the robotics world.

Powering up with embodied AI

The Go2s appeal lies not just in its affordability but also in its technology. Built with an aluminium alloy and engineering plastic body, the 16 kg robot houses an 8-core processor, an 8,000mAh removable battery, and a wide-angle 3D LiDAR sensor. Its LiDAR and 720p camera work together to map surroundings in real time, detect obstacles, and ensure smooth navigation.

The higher-end Go2 Pro adds 4D LiDAR for improved environmental awareness and enhanced movement precision. It connects via Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth, allowing remote control through a smartphone app. The robot can run for up to two hours on a single charge and reach speeds of nearly 13 km/h, giving it both stamina and speed.

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At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, Unitree unveiled an upgraded version called the Go2-W, a hybrid variant that combines wheels with legs for even faster and smoother motion. This addition has further strengthened Unitrees position in the growing consumer robotics segment.

Why the buzz in India?

The Go2 hit Indian headlines after its appearance at the AI Impact Summit, where it was reportedly showcased under a different name, Orion. The controversy led to the removal of Galgotias University from the summit, after organisers discovered the robot wasnt a local innovation but a rebranded import from China.

Visitors stand at the Galgotias University kiosk at Bharat Mandapam, one of the venues for AI Impact Summit, in New Delhi, India, February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Bhawika Chhabra

While the episode caused a stir, it also thrust the Unitree Go2 into the national spotlight, with thousands searching online for its price and origins.

Beyond the drama, the robots sudden fame reflects a larger truth, AI-powered machines like the Go2 are no longer confined to research labs or defence projects. Theyre entering classrooms, workshops, and even homes.

As robotics and artificial intelligence continue to merge, the Go2 stands as a prime example of how affordable, AI-enabled machines are reshaping human-robot interaction.

Whether its mistaken identity or marketing misstep, the Unitree Go2 has achieved what every innovation dreams of: global attention, and a viral moment that made the world look twice at the future of AI on four legs.

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As his approval ratings have hit an all-time low, a new survey has found that 40% of Americans consider Donald Trump to be worst president in history.

US President Donald Trump looks on while boarding Air Force One as he departs for Asia at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, on October 24, 2025. (Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

As his approval has hit an all-time low, 40 per cent of Americans consider Donald Trump to be worst president in history, according to a Yahoo/YouGov survey.

In recent months, Trump's approval ratings have fallen to lower than ever before and disapproval rating has surged to an all-time high amid all-round backlash over the unaffordability crisis, violent crackdown on immigrants, and a string of excesses since assuming the office.

Overall, 53 per cent of Americans consider Trump to be one of the least successful presidents.

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Only a third of Americans have a favourable view of Trump: 12 per cent consider him the best and 21 per cent consider him better than average.

Trump and his allies have been rattled lately from mounting backlash and falling ratings. They are afraid that they would lose the 2026 mid-term elections and lose the absolute control of Congress.

Data: Yahoo/YouGov Survey

Ahead of the mid-terms, Trump has initiated course-correction to manage the backlash and appealed to his voters.

The Trump administration has announced an end to the brutal crackdown on immigrants in Minnesota, withdrawn the National Guard from several Democrat-run cities, and suggested that tariffs on steel and aluminium could soon be revised downward.

But none of these has yet translated into gains surveys after surveys have forecast a Republican defeat in the mid-terms.

Moreover, the Yahoo/YouGov survey found that Trumps approval rating (38 per cent) is at an all-time low and disapproval rating (58 per cent) is higher than ever.

Pollster Dates Sponsor Margin Democrat Republican YouGov Jan. 30  Feb. 2 Economist Democrat +4 44% 40% Morning Consult Jan. 30  Feb. 1  Democrat +5 47% 42% Public Policy Polling Jan. 2930  Democrat +7 48% 41% HarrisX/Harris Poll Jan. 2829 Harvard CAPS Democrat +3 47% 44% HarrisX/Harris Poll Jan. 2829 Harvard CAPS Democrat +4 52% 48% Marquette University Law School Jan. 2128  Democrat +7 52% 45% Cygnal Political Jan. 2728  Democrat +4 48% 44% McLaughlin & Associates Jan. 2127  Democrat +2 46% 44% The Argument/Verasight Jan. 2627  Democrat +4 52% 48% Echelon Insights Jan. 2226  Democrat +5 49% 44% Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Res. Jan. 2326 Fox News Democrat +6 52% 46% YouGov Jan. 2326 Economist Democrat +5 43% 38% Morning Consult Jan. 2025  Democrat +1 44% 43% Morning Consult Jan. 2325  Democrat +2 45% 43% Ipsos Jan. 2325 Reuters Democrat +4 41% 37%

Trump has cast the mid-terms as an existential test and warned supporters that he would be impeached in case of a Republican defeat.

Trump has governed without a check on his powers on the back of a pliant Republican-held Congress. With a Democrat-controlled House or Senate, the Congressional oversight over the administration would be back and Trumps extremist agenda would likely be derailed.
A Boeing 787-9 from Spains Air Europa arrived in Caracas on Tuesday, marking the first European commercial flight to land in Venezuela since the United States overthrew President Nicolas Maduro

A number of international airlines suspended services to Venezuela after the US Federal Aviation Administration issued advisories about flying over the country amid escalating tensions.

A Boeing 787-9 operated by Spains Air Europa landed at Simon Bolivar International Airport near Caracas at 9:00 pm (0100 GMT) on Tuesday, representing the first European commercial flight into Venezuela since the United States toppled President Nicolas Maduro.

The flight tracking monitor confirmed the arrival, signalling a gradual return of international carriers that had halted operations following a warning from US aviation authorities about potential military activity in Venezuelan airspace late in November.

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Context of international flight suspensions

A number of international airlines suspended services to Venezuela after the US Federal Aviation Administration issued advisories about flying over the country amid escalating tensions. The suspension came before a surprise US attack on the nation that culminated in the capture of Maduro and his transfer to the US to face narcoterrorism charges.

Since the US military operation, which resulted in Nicolas Maduros overthrow and arrest in early January, relations between the United States and Venezuelas interim government have evolved. US President Donald Trump has fostered a cooperative rapport with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, and late last month he urged the resumption of flights to Venezuela.

Other airlines preparing to return

Spanish carrier Iberia is assessing security guarantees ahead of announcing its own return to flight operations, according to Spanish press reports.

Portugals TAP has said it will resume flights, while Colombian airline Avianca and Panamas Copa have already restarted their services to the country.

In a move aimed at encouraging the resumption of flights by US carriers, the Trump administration lifted a 2019 prohibition on US airlines flying to Venezuela.
Despite multinational efforts to contain it, al-Qaeda has grown in strength in recent years and now has 50 times more recruits than it did at the time of 9/11, when it killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States, the United Nations (UN) has warned.

Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front fighters carry weapons on the back of pick-up trucks in Arsal, Lebanon, on December 1, 2015. (Photo: Stringer/Reuters)

Despite multinational efforts to contain it, al-Qaeda has grown in strength in recent years and now has 50 times more recruits than it did at the time of 9/11, when it killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States, the United Nations (UN) has warned.

The UN monitoring group has concluded that alQaeda now has 25,000 members, compared to 5,000 at the time of 9/11, according to The Times of London.

The figure, based on information collated from intelligence agencies such as the British MI6, was shared at a briefing at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) ahead of the publication of the UN Security Council (UNSC) monitoring teams annual global terrorist threat report.

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Even as groups like the Islamic State and conflicts such as the -and Russia-Ukraine wars have taken centre stage in recent years, alQaeda has not laid down its arms and remains committed to carrying out spectacular attacks around the world, the UN has warned.

They are still planning attacks against us. They are still plotting. The threat is still there. We neglect that threat or we overlook it, frankly, at our peril, said Colin Smith, the teams coordinator, as per The Times.

Smith further warned that terrorists no longer have an obvious centre of operations but are spread across several regions in Africa and West Asia.

Al-Qaedas recruitment tactics are evolving

Even as alQaeda retains the ability to mount major attacks, the current crop of terrorists is different, according to the UN.

Smith said many of alQaedas current members joined the group or its affiliates without a proper understanding of the cause and without buying into the global agenda. In contrast, around 500 members in 2001 at the time of 9/11 were fanatics drawn to the group because of its ideology.

Lately, alQaeda has used local grievances and poverty to lure recruits, often through financial incentives.

The UNSC monitoring team also found shifts in propaganda, in the multipolarity of target groups, and in how terrorist organisations are adapting and evolving, according to The Times.

The UN team found that terrorist groups were increasingly targeting young people, sometimes as young as 11, believing they would be easier to indoctrinate, as per the report.

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Moreover, the report said terrorist groups were using technology to produce video tutorials for building armed drones and explosives.

AlQaedas revival in Afghanistan

Following Afghanistans takeover by the Taliban, the country has emerged not just as a safe haven but also as a breeding ground for alQaeda.

Contrary to the Talibans claims that it does not support terrorism, the UNSC report said alQaeda continued to enjoy the Talibans patronage and, in fact, acted as a service provider and force multiplier for other terrorist groups in Afghanistan, particularly the TehrikiTaliban Pakistan (TTP), through training and advice.

The mention of the partnership between the TTP and alQaeda comes at a time when the TTP has ramped up its campaign against the Pakistani state  2025 was the deadliest year for Pakistan in more than a decade. Last year, Pakistans relationship with the Taliban also plunged to its lowest level as they engaged in multiple border clashes and accused each other of acting against their core interests.

ALSO READ  Blood brothers: Al Qaeda, Taliban and the pledge that binds them

The report noted that alQaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has continued to be active in southeastern Afghanistan, where the Haqqani Network exerts considerable influence.

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Moreover, AQIS head Osama Mahmoud and his deputy, Yahya Ghauri, are believed to have been in Kabul, as per the report.

There were concerns that AQIS was increasingly focused on external operations. Such operations would likely be unclaimed or deniable, perhaps as part of the umbrella group IttihadulMujahideen Pakistan, so as not to create difficulties for the Taliban as hosts of AQIS, the report warned.
A new US maritime strategy seeks to revitalise shipyards, create Maritime Prosperity Zones and address strategic vulnerabilities, as Chinas dominance in global shipbuilding intensifies industrial and security concerns.

The United States is preparing to return to its shipyards in a renewed industrial push that the administration has branded a Maritime Golden Age. The initiative, unveiled by Donald Trump, seeks to rebuild the countrys commercial shipbuilding capacity at a time when China dominates global production and Washington worries about strategic vulnerabilities.

At the core of the new Maritime Action Plan is the creation of so-called Maritime Prosperity Zones, designated waterfront industrial corridors designed to attract shipbuilders, manufacturers and maritime suppliers through regulatory relief and financial incentives. Regions such as the Great Lakes are being eyed as potential hubs for revival, echoing the industrial policies of earlier American manufacturing booms.

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The plan aims to expand the number of US-built and US-flagged commercial vessels, reversing decades of decline that have left the country marginal in global ship construction. According to data cited by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), China now accounts for more than half of global shipbuilding output, while the US share is effectively negligible.

The disparity underscores how far Americas maritime industrial base has withered since its mid-20th century peak. Once home to robust shipyards serving both commercial and military markets, the US industry has struggled with high labour costs, limited production scale and inconsistent federal investment.

Strategic anxiety behind industrial ambition

While pitched as an economic revitalisation effort, the strategy is deeply rooted in national security concerns. The administration argues that a weakened commercial fleet leaves the Pentagon dependent on foreign-built or foreign-crewed vessels to move troops and supplies during crises.

A stronger US Merchant Marine, officials say, would ensure that military logistics are not exposed to geopolitical pressure in the event of conflict, particularly amid rising tensions with China. The effort complements Defence Secretary Pete Hegseths Arsenal of Freedom campaign and the Navys Golden Fleet objective, both of which aim to restore maritime industrial strength after years of shrinking budgets and contracting shipyard capacity.

Chinas shipyards benefit from substantial state support, integrated supply chains and economies of scale that allow rapid construction of both civilian and naval vessels. Analysts have warned that this production advantage gives Beijing leverage not only in trade but also in potential wartime mobilisation.

By contrast, the United States builds only a handful of large commercial vessels each year. Reviving the sector would require sustained investment, workforce training and policy continuity that stretches beyond political cycles.

Policy alignment and congressional backing

The Maritime Action Plan also aligns with legislative proposals such as the SHIPS for America Act, which seeks to create incentives and legal authorities to strengthen domestic shipbuilding, commercial shipping and the broader industrial supply chain supporting US maritime power.

Lawmakers backing the measure argue that industrial resilience has become as critical as technological superiority. In recent years, Washington has already moved to boost semiconductor and clean energy manufacturing domestically; the maritime sector is now emerging as another front in strategic competition.

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However, questions remain about whether regulatory incentives and prosperity zones alone can overcome structural disadvantages. US shipyards face higher construction costs than their Asian counterparts, and building commercial vessels domestically often proves far more expensive for operators than sourcing ships abroad.

Supporters counter that the economic calculus must account for national security. By investing in shipbuilding, they argue, the US not only creates waterfront jobs and revitalises industrial communities but also reduces long-term strategic risk.

For now, the administrations Maritime Golden Age framing signals a broader shift in American economic policy away from pure market efficiency and toward industrial self-sufficiency in sectors deemed vital to security.

If successful, the effort would mark a dramatic turning point for a country that once ruled the seas in industrial output as well as naval power. The question is whether Americas return to the shipyards can realistically narrow the gap with China or whether Beijings dominance has already set the global course.

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In his maiden televised address to the nation after assuming office, Rahman vows a secure, pluralistic Bangladesh, pledging crackdown on corruption and mob violence amid recent attacks on Hindus

Bangladeshs newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday vowed to strengthen the rule of law and uphold a pluralistic society, remarks that carry added significance following a series of attacks on the Hindu community after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

According to a PTI report, the 60-year-old leader, in his maiden televised address to the nation after assuming office, said his government would ensure the country remains a safe home for people of all faiths, regardless of party affiliation, opinion, religion or ethnicity.

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Rahman outlined his administrations key priorities, placing improvement of law and order and a strict crackdown on corruption at the top of the agenda, and said restoring peace and security would be central to his governments efforts.

We want to turn this country into a safe land for every citizen. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians - regardless of party, opinion, religion, or ethnicity - whether living in the hills or the plains, this country belongs to all of us, said the prime minister, who is also the chief of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Whether you voted for BNP, or did not vote for BNP, or did not vote at all - everyone has equal rights over this government As a Bangladeshi, every one of us has equal rights in this country, in this state, he asserted.

Rising violence against minorities

Under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus since August 2024, Bangladesh has witnessed a surge in mob violence, alleged extrajudicial killings and attacks on minority communities, particularly Hindus.

Rights group Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation said it documented 21 lynchings and 28 incidents of mob beatings in January 2026 alone.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported 522 communal attacks in 2025, including killings, rapes and temple vandalism, and said 116 people from minority faiths  mostly Hindus  were murdered between June 2025 and January 2026.

The reports indicated that many victims were leaders and activists of the Awami League, which was disbanded by the Yunus-led administration.

India has repeatedly raised concerns over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

Law and order priority

Earlier, senior minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said restoring law and order was among the governments top three priorities and pledged action to end mob violence.

This (mob violence) will be controlled," PTI quoted Alamgir, who is also the partys secretary general and entrusted with the charge of the local government ministry, as saying.

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We must strive to improve the law and order situation, regardless of how much it has deteriorated, he added.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed also said, The mob culture in no way can be tolerated.

In his address, Rahman vowed to uphold the rule of law and build a self-reliant, secure, humane, and democratic Bangladesh.

Not party or political influence or force, but the rule of law will be the final word in governing the state, he said, pledging that all constitutional, governmental, and non-governmental institutions would operate according to established laws and regulations.

Rahman framed his governments mission against the backdrop of a fragile economy and years of misrule, corruption, and a weakened law-and-order system.

In a Bangladesh freed from subservience, a new government accountable to the people through their votes has begun its journey, he was quoted as saying.

Acknowledging the holy month of Ramzan, Rahman urged citizens to embrace self-purification without increasing suffering and assured uninterrupted gas, water, and electricity supply during iftar, tarawih, and sehri.

Referring to the partys commitment to justice, he said, I believe that this decision of the BNP parliamentary party reflects that very ideal of justice, while pledging to dismantle all syndicates of wrongdoing without harming businessmen or consumers.

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Highlighting human capital as a key priority, Rahman said, If we can transform our large population into a skilled workforce, then this population will become our human resource the world is entering the era of artificial intelligence, and survival with dignity and prosperity requires expertise in specific fields.

He also assured students and youths of government support to develop intellectually and scientifically.

Rahman, 60, was sworn in as Bangladeshs 11th prime minister on Tuesday after leading the BNP to a decisive victory in the February 12 parliamentary polls, replacing interim leader Muhammad Yunus.

Alongside him, 25 ministers and 24 state ministers took the oath. The prime minister returned from a 17-year self-exile in London last December.

With inputs from agencies
The president called on the two governors and the mayor of DC to act immediately as he pinned the blame for the spill on Democrats, stressing that the federal government had no role to play in the accident

US President Donald Trump has said that authorities in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, should call him and ask him politely for help if they fail to fix the massive sewage spill in the Potomac River.

Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., who are responsible for the massive sewage spill in the Potomac River, must get to work, IMMEDIATELY. If they cant do the job, they have to call me and ask, politely, to get it fixed, Trump said on Truth Social.

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The president called on the two governors and the mayor of DC to act immediately as he pinned the blame for the spill on Democrats, stressing that the federal government had no role to play in the accident.

Whats the issue?

Officials at DC Water say the pipeline responsible for releasing an estimated 243 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River had already been flagged for repairs scheduled for this summer.

DC Water CEO and General Manager David Gaddis told members of the Council of the District of Columbia that the affected section received a 3.5 rating and was included in the Capital Improvement Program for repairs later this year. The scale is one through five. Five being an emergency. A three is fair. So a 3.5, it was fair, he said. It happened to break on us before we were able to get to it, Gaddis added.

The utility expects emergency repairs on the damaged segment to be finished by mid-March.

During a briefing, DCs Director of Energy and the Environment, Richard Jackson, reportedly said he would eat fish from the Potomac, a statement that contrasted with guidance from his agency advising residents:

Avoid unnecessary contact with water from the Potomac River. Avoid fishing. Keep Pets away from the Potomac River.

The mayors office said residents should follow the guidance posted by the Department of Energy and Environment.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled a historic $500 billion defense industrial strategy, marking a sharp pivot away from Canadas traditional reliance on US military protection.

Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday launched a multi-billion-dollar plan to strengthen the Canadian military and rely less on the United States.

Carneys announcement of Canadas first defence industrial strategy built on themes he has emphasized during his 11-month tenure as President Donald Trump rips through traditional US alliances.

The prime minister says Canada has not done nearly enough to defend itself in an increasingly dangerous world and counting on US protection is no longer viable.

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Weve relied too heavily on our geography and others to protect us, Carney said.

This has created vulnerabilities that we can no longer afford and dependencies that we can no longer sustain, he added.

Carney has become one of the most prominent global voices criticizing Trumps administration, notably after his speech at the World Economic Forum last month where he said Trump had triggered a rupture in the rules-based global order.

On Tuesday, Carney also addressed US Secretary of State Marco Rubios speech last week to the Munich Security Conference, highlighting what the Canadian leader sees as the widening gap between US and Canadian values.

Carney, addressing reporters after giving a speech on the defence plan, pivoted to Rubios speech without being asked about it. He cautioned that Trumps top diplomat had spoken of Washingtons desire to defend Christian nationalism.

Canadian nationalism is civic nationalism and Ottawas mandate was to defend the rights of everyone in a vast and diverse country, Carney said.

There is a rivalry taking place between Canadian nationalism and other forms of nationalism, he added, speaking in French.

In Munich, Rubio said Western Civilization was defined by Christian faith, culture, heritage, language, ancestry, and the sacrifices of our forefathers.

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- Never be hostage -

Carneys office said the defence industrial strategy amounts to an investment of over half a trillion dollars (US$366 billion) in Canadian security, economic prosperity, and our sovereignty.

In addition to direct government defence spending of about CAN$80 billion over the next five years, the plan includes CAN$180 billion in defence procurement and CAN$290 billion in defence and security-related infrastructure through the coming decade, Carney said.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce applauded Carney for having bet big on Canada.

The scale of new funding is unprecedented, the groups vice president, David Pierce, said in a statement, adding that the plan will be measured by whether the funds produce a stronger Canadian Armed Forces.

For Carney, the increasingly fragile security relationship with the United States does not mean Canada should go it alone on defence.

His government has pursued closer military ties with the European Union and, at the Munich conference, Ottawa formally joined the EUs Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program  making Canada the only non-European member of the blocs defence financing scheme.

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The prime minister on Tuesday also talked about hopes for new defence export opportunities in Asia, notably with South Korea.

The goal is to be strong enough to be a partner of choice, the prime minister said.

Canada should build a domestic defense industrial base so we are never hostage to the decisions of others when it comes to our security, he said.

Carney also re-emphasized the need to enforce Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic, where warming temperatures caused by climate change are thawing the ice, opening a new era of competition for critical minerals.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
DR Congo has added the rebel-held Rubaya coltan mine to a strategic shortlist shared with the United States, opening the door to potential US investment in one of the worlds largest tantalum deposits.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has placed the rebel-controlled Rubaya coltan mine on a shortlist of strategic assets proposed to the United States under a bilateral minerals cooperation framework, according to a government document reviewed by Reuters.

Rubaya, considered one of the worlds most significant sources of tantalum, was included in the list presented during a February 5 meeting in Washington between Congolese and US officials aimed at advancing a strategic minerals partnership agreed in December.

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A senior Congolese government official and a US diplomat confirmed the mines inclusion, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity surrounding the discussions, according to Reuters.

By adding Rubaya to the proposal despite the site currently being under the control of Rwandan-backed AFC/M23 rebels, Kinshasa is seeking to attract American investment into eastern Congo, a region rich in minerals but plagued by conflict. The move could provide Washington with access to tantalum, a heat-resistant metal derived from coltan ore and widely used in semiconductors, aerospace components, mobile devices, computers and gas turbines.

According to the document, Congo estimates that between $50 million and $150 million would be needed to restart and expand operations at Rubaya. Officials believe the investment could be recouped quickly due to strong and rising global demand for tantalum.

The United States is pursuing access to critical raw materials as it works to reduce dependence on Chinas dominance in African mining and to strengthen its strategic stockpile of essential metals.

The Congolese government document states that Rubaya has the potential to provide a fully traceable, conflict-free supply of tantalum that would meet U.S. procurement standards.

Major share of global coltan supply

Located in North Kivu province, Rubaya contains several thousand metric tons of coltan with tantalum concentrations estimated between 20% and 40%. The mine is responsible for approximately 15% of global coltan production. Extraction is carried out manually by local miners, many of whom earn only a few dollars per day.

The site and surrounding areas remain under the control of AFC/M23 rebels. A United Nations report last year said their presence has contributed to organized smuggling operations into neighboring Rwanda. According to U.N. estimates, the group collects at least $800,000 each month in taxes tied to coltan production and trade from Rubaya. Rwanda has denied backing the rebels.

M23 and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance (AFC), are subject to U.S. sanctions and are not part of a fragile peace agreement reached in December between Congo and Rwanda with mediation by U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite the deal, fighting has continued.

The rebel alliance has criticised the proposed minerals partnership with Washington, calling it deeply flawed and arguing that Kinshasa should refrain from pursuing new resource agreements while hostilities persist.

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A senior figure within the AFC/M23 told Reuters that the groups objective is not the mines but the liberation of our people. Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, the official added that the mining title is reportedly held by a private entity rather than the Congolese state.

He suggested that any future legal dispute could demonstrate that President Felix Tshisekedi lacks full control over all mining sites in the country, but declined to provide further details regarding ownership.

The Congolese government did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Preferential access to projects

The U.S. State Department told Reuters on Tuesday that Congo formally presented the initial strategic asset reserve (SAR) list at the meeting on February 5, but the department did not disclose the assets.

Under the framework agreement, U.S. companies will receive preferential access to the assets, which Washington says is designed to foster transparent investment, create jobs and help build longterm stability in the DRC.

The State Department added that eligible privatesector firms were now invited to request the SAR list and signal interest in qualifying projects.

Lithium, Copper-Cobalt, Gold assets offered

Other projects on Congos priority list for U.S. investors include the giant Manono lithium deposit in Tanganyika, the Chemaf coppercobalt complex in HautKatanga and Lualaba, the STL GermaniumGallium expansion in Lubumbashi, and a trio of proposed cobalt refineries.

The list also features state miner Gecamineslinked hydro projects, Congos part of the Lobito rail corridor  a project to help transport critical minerals from central Africa to the West  and major gold prospects such as Kibali South and Moku Beverendi, the document shows.

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Congo and several U.S. or allied companies have already signed initial supply agreements under the minerals security pact, part of Washingtons broader effort to loosen Chinas longestablished dominance over Congolese critical minerals.

The government document does not name US companies approached or confirm whether formal negotiations have begun.

With inputs from agencies
The visit comes after Greenland, Denmark and the United States launched diplomatic talks late last month aimed at easing tensions sparked by US President Donald Trumps repeated comments about acquiring Greenland

Denmark's King Frederik is welcomed at Nuuk Airport by Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Speaker of the Greenlandic Parliament Kim Kielsen, in Nuuk, Greenland, on Thursday. Reuters

Denmarks King Frederik X arrived in Nuuk on Wednesday for his second visit to Greenland within a year, in a move seen as reaffirming unity between Denmark and the autonomous territory amid renewed US interest in the Arctic island.

The visit comes after Greenland, Denmark and the United States launched diplomatic talks late last month aimed at easing tensions sparked by US President Donald Trumps repeated comments about acquiring Greenland.

The issue has strained relations within the Nato alliance in recent months.

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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Friday that she and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen held a constructive meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but cautioned that Trumps desire to acquire Greenland remained unchanged.

Upon arrival in Nuuk, the king wore a black customised puffer jacket bearing the Danish and Greenlandic flags on the left side of his chest. He was greeted on the tarmac by Nielsen and Kim Kielsen, head of the Inatsisartut, Greenlands parliament.

King Frederik will later on Wednesday visit a school and the headquarters of Denmarks Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, as well as Royal Greenland, the islands largest company and seafood producer.

The Danish royal family traditionally makes annual visits to Greenland, often appearing in the islands national dress, which includes a white anorak for men and an elaborate beaded collar in bright colours for women, as well as sealskin boots.

King Frederik has spent extended periods of time in Greenland, including a four-month expedition on the islands ice sheet.

On Thursday, the king will visit Maniitsoq on the west coast, around 140 km (87 miles) north of Nuuk. On Friday he will visit the Arctic Basic Training programme in the western town of Kangerlussuaq.

With inputs from agencies
Kyiv and Moscow agree on ceasefire monitoring but remain deadlocked over occupied regions and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant amid US pressure for a deal

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on September 11, 2025. Reuters File

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Kyiv and Moscow made some progress during US-mediated talks in Geneva but failed to reach a compromise on the central issue of territory.

The negotiations, facilitated by the United States, are part of a broader push by Washington to end the nearly four-year war that has killed tens of thousands of people and devastated large swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine. Despite the latest discussions, Russia and Ukraine remain deeply divided over territorial control in any future settlement.

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Moscow is seeking full control of Ukraines eastern Donetsk region as part of a potential agreement and has warned it could seize the territory by force if Kyiv refuses to concede at the negotiating table.

Ukraine has rejected the demand, describing it as politically and militarily unacceptable, and has indicated it will not agree to any deal without firm security guarantees designed to prevent further Russian aggression.

We can see that some groundwork has been done, but for now the positions differ, because the negotiations were not easy, AFP quoted Zelenskyy as saying in a message to journalists after the talks had finished.

Zelenskyy said the two sides had reached agreement on almost all issues related to a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, which will include the United States.

However, Zelenskyy noted that sensitive questions regarding the fate of occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and the future of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remain unresolved.

The head of Russias delegation described the talks as difficult, but business-like and said further negotiations are planned.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, sparking a conflict that has caused widespread destruction, killed tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and displaced millions from their homes.

Zelensky Pushback

For the Geneva talks, the Kremlin reinstated nationalist hawk and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky as its lead negotiator, while Ukrainian national security secretary Rustem Umerov headed Kyivs delegation.

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Umerov described the discussions as intensive and substantive, telling reporters that the next step would be to try to reach a level of consensus to submit the developed decisions for consideration by the presidents.

US President Donald Trump applied pressure on Ukraine on Monday to push for a deal, saying the country better come to the table, fast.

Zelenskyy told Axios on Tuesday that it was not fair that Ukraine not Russia was facing heightened pressure, adding that lasting peace could not be achieved if victory was simply handed to Moscow.

I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision, Zelenskyy was quoted as saying.

Russia currently occupies around one-fifth of Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula it seized in 2014 and areas previously taken by Moscow-backed separatists.

Kyiv has repeatedly warned that conceding more territory would effectively reward Russia for its invasion and could embolden further attacks.

Overnight and late Tuesday, Russian drone and artillery strikes wounded at least one person and damaged buildings, according to Ukrainian regional authorities.

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Zelenskyy also noted that officials from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy were participating in Geneva on the sidelines, calling European involvement indispensable for any sustainable final agreement.

On the battlefield, Russia has continued to make gradual gains along the front line, claiming control of villages in southern Zaporizhzhia region and northern Sumy region on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Moscow faces mounting economic pressures, with stagnant growth, a ballooning budget deficit, and sanction-hit oil revenues falling to a five-year low.

With inputs from agencies
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has raised concerns over the role of US investor Peter Thiel in a company bidding to supply the military with kamikaze drones.

A senior German official has expressed significant reservations concerning the involvement of a prominent American billionaire in the nations upcoming military procurement. Boris Pistorius, the Defence Minister, highlighted that the influence of Peter Thiel within the drone firm Stark Defence requires thorough investigation before the government finalises a deal for loitering munitions, commonly known as kamikaze drones.

During a visit to the Graf Zeppelin Barracks in Calw, Pistorius emphasised that the level of control Thiel exerts over the companys daily operations is a critical factor for the ministry.

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Scrutiny over operational control and ownership

The core of the concern lies in whether Thiels minority stake translates into meaningful decision making power. Pistorius clarified that the government needs to distinguish between a passive investor and one with a strategic hand in the business. He noted: So if he has influence over the operational business, has blocking minorities in whatever form, then we are talking about a different quality than if he is, for example, a shareholder in the single-digit percentage range but has no influence on the operational business."

While Thiel currently holds a single digit percentage of the company, his reputation as a libertarian and his links to the Trump administration have prompted the Defence Committee to seek further clarity on his role.

Addressing pricing and contractual flexibility

Beyond the political and security concerns, the ministry is also preparing to defend the financial aspects of the deal. Pistorius has scheduled a meeting with the parliamentary Defence Committee for next week to address questions regarding the costs associated with these advanced weapon systems.

The minister mentioned that new contract models are being utilised, stating: This gives us flexibility again. But everything will be clarified. I am convinced of that, next week in the committee. These discussions are seen as essential for ensuring transparency in a sector that has faced delays due to long standing opposition from left wing political groups.

Modernising the Bundeswehr through autonomous systems

The introduction of kamikaze drones marks a pivotal shift for the German military, which has historically trailed behind its allies in the deployment of armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Currently, the Bundeswehr is evaluating technology from both Stark Defence and another domestic firm, Helsing.

These weapons are designed to hover over potential targets for extended periods, waiting for a remote operator to confirm an attack via data link. By integrating this loitering capability, Germany hopes to modernise its tactical approach on the battlefield. Despite the technological promise, the outcome remains dependent on the parliamentary review of the corporate structures and pricing agreements next week.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced his sympathy for a proposal to ban social media use for children under 14, ahead of discussions among governing politicians starting Friday

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced his sympathy for a proposal to ban social media use for children under 14, ahead of discussions among governing politicians starting Friday, according to a Politico report.

Calls for restricting social media access to minors are gaining momentum in Germany, following similar moves in other European countries aimed at safeguarding childrens mental and physical health.

According to Politico, Merz told the Machtwechsel podcast on Wednesday that he has a lot of sympathy for a proposal by the Social Democratic Party, outlined in a discussion paper.

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While emphasising that he is very, very, very cautious when it comes to legal bans on something like this [social media], Merz said the consequences of fake news, AI-generated images, and platforms like TikTok make the issue increasingly complex.

Protecting children at school must come first, he said, dismissing the argument that early exposure to digital tools is essential.

Otherwise you would also have to serve alcohol in primary school so they get used to it, Merz added.

Members Merzs Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have also voiced support for a social media ban for children.

Thorsten Frei, head of the chancellery and senior CDU official, told Politico the issue will be debated at the party conference in Stuttgart on Friday and Saturday.

Other parties backing age limits include the Greens and the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) opposes the measure, arguing that it prioritises control over childrens wellbeing.

A government-appointed expert panel is expected to issue policy recommendations before the summer.

Across Europe, similar moves are underway.

France and Denmark have already enacted laws restricting social media for younger children, while Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez recently announced a ban for under-16s.

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Several other EU countries are considering comparable proposals, with Greece pushing for coordinated EU-level action.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has convened a panel of experts to advise on the matter.

Child rights and privacy advocates caution that bans may fail to shield children from online harms, while limiting their access to information and potentially weakening broader digital privacy protections.

With inputs from agencies
An Israeli soldier was killed during combat in southern Gaza, with a security source indicating the death may have resulted from friendly fire

The death brings to five the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10. (Reuters)

An Israeli soldier was killed in combat in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the military confirmed, with initial indications from a security source suggesting the incident may have involved friendly fire.

In a statement, the military said, Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, aged 21, from HaYogev, a soldier in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit, fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip.

Friendly fire suspected, investigation under way

A security source told AFP that the soldier appeared to have been killed by friendly fire, without providing additional details.

The incident is still under investigation, the source added.

The latest fatality brings to five the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10.

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This development follows the Israeli governments approval of a process to register land in the West Bank as state property, prompting condemnation from Arab nations and critics who said it would speed up the annexation of the Palestinian territory.

Israels foreign ministry said the measure, approved late Sunday, would enable transparent and thorough clarification of rights to resolve legal disputes, and was needed after unlawful land registration in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority.

Arab nations Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan criticised the move as illegal under international law.

The measure is aimed at imposing a new legal and administrative reality in the occupied West Bank that would undermine peace efforts in the region, Saudi Arabias foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.

Jordans King Abdullah II said the actions undermine efforts to restore calm and threaten to exacerbate the conflict, according to a statement released by the royal court.

The European Union called on Israel to reverse the move.

This constitutes a new escalation after recent measures already aimed at extending Israeli control, EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni said.

(With agency inputs)
Takaichi, 64, became Japans first woman premier in October and won a two-thirds majority for her party in the snap lower house elections on February 8.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses a news conference at the Prime Ministers office in Tokyo on February 18, 2026. - AFP

Japans Sanae Takaichi was formally reappointed as prime minister on Wednesday, ten days after securing a decisive landslide victory in national elections.

The 64-year-old leader, who made history in October as Japans first female prime minister, led her party to a two-thirds majority in the snap lower house polls held on February 8.

Takaichi has vowed to strengthen Japans defence posture to safeguard its territory and maritime interests, a stance that could heighten tensions with Beijing while also prioritising efforts to revive the struggling economy.

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expressed hopes of deepening her relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump and strengthen cooperation between the two countries in rare earths development and other areas of economic security when she visits Washington next month.

Takaichi, at a news conference late Wednesday, expressed hopes to strengthen cooperation with the U.S., especially in economic security, as tensions between Tokyo and Beijing have risen over the last few months.

Takaichi, elected as Japans first female leader in October, was reappointed by Parliament as prime minister earlier in the day and formed her second Cabinet, following a landslide election win last week.

Her goals include an increase in military power, more government spending and ultra-conservative social policies.

Takaichi aims to use the mandate she got in the election to boost her ruling Liberal Democratic Party as it looks to capitalise on a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house, the more powerful of Japans two parliamentary chambers.

The power of a supermajority

Having two-thirds control of the 465-seat lower house allows Takaichis party to dominate top posts in house committees and push through bills rejected by the upper house, the chamber where the LDP-led ruling coalition lacks a majority.

Takaichi wants to bolster Japans military capability and arms sales, tighten immigration policies, push male-only imperial succession rules and preserve a criticised tradition that pressures women into abandoning their surnames.

Her ambition to revise the US-drafted postwar pacifist Constitution might have to wait, for now, as she is facing pressure to deal with rising prices, a declining population and worries about military security.

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A hawk on China

Takaichi in November suggested possible Japanese action if China makes a military move against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. That has led to Beijings diplomatic and economic reprisals.

Many Japanese, frustrated by Chinas growing assertiveness, welcomed her comments on Taiwan.

Emboldened by the big election win, Takaichi could take a more hawkish stance with China, experts say.

Takaichi, soon after the election, said she is working to gain support for a visit to Tokyos controversial Yasukuni Shrine. Visits to the shrine are seen by Japans neighbours as evidence of a lack of remorse for Japans wartime past.

With inputs from agencies
Zelenskyy accused Trump of unfairly pressuring Ukraine to make concessions while sparing Russia, as peace talks intensify and Kyiv refuses to give up territory in the ongoing war

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands during a press conference after their lunch meeting at Trumps Mar-a-Lago club, in Palm Beach, Florida, US, on December 28, 2025. Reuters File

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly criticised US President Donald Trump, saying it was not fair that Washington appeared to pressure Ukraine more than Russia during ongoing peace talks to end the war.

Speaking in an interview as negotiations continued in Geneva, Zelenskyy said Trump had repeatedly called on Ukraine to make concessions while placing less visible pressure on Moscow. I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision, Zelenskyy said, expressing concern over the direction of US mediation.

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Trump, meanwhile, urged Kyiv to act quickly, saying: Ukraine better come to the table fast. Thats all Im telling you.

Zelenskyy suggested it may be easier politically to pressure Ukraine than Russia, even as Kyiv continues to resist demands that could compromise its sovereignty.

Ukraine refuses to give up territory

At the heart of the dispute is Russias demand that Ukraine cede full control of the Donbas region, most of which is already occupied by Russian forces. Zelenskyy warned that such concessions would be unacceptable to Ukrainians.

Emotionally, people will never forgive this. Never. They will not forgive me, they will not forgive (the United States), he said. This is part of our country, all these citizens, the flag, the land.

Instead, Zelenskyy proposed freezing the conflict along the current front lines as a possible compromise, arguing such a plan could gain public support if approved through a referendum.

Peace talks remain tense

The comments come at a critical moment, with the last major arms control treaty between the US and Russia expired and diplomatic efforts intensifying to end the nearly four-year war.

Despite his criticism, Zelenskyy acknowledged that his direct interactions with US negotiators had been respectful. We respect each other, he said, adding that he was not such a person to fold easily under pressure.

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Perus Congress removed President Jose Jeri over undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman, intensifying political instability and setting the stage for another leadership transition before April elections

Perus Congress on Tuesday voted to remove President Jose Jeri, ending his presidency just four months after he took office and plunging the country deeper into political uncertainty following a scandal involving undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman.

Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to censure Jeri, with 75 in favour, 24 against, and three abstaining. The move strips him of his role as head of Congress, which automatically removes him from the presidency as well.

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The decision makes Jeri Perus third consecutive president to be removed and sets the stage for yet another leadership change in a country already grappling with years of political instability.

Scandal over secret meetings triggers downfall

The controversy erupted last month after Jeri was filmed arriving late at night at a restaurant, wearing a hood, to meet Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang.

The meeting had not been publicly disclosed, leading to concerns over transparency and influence.

The episode, quickly dubbed Chifagate, intensified scrutiny of Jeris leadership and raised broader questions about political accountability in Peru.

Political instability deepens

Congress will now elect a new leader, who will automatically assume the presidency, making them Perus eighth president in as many years.

The latest ouster reflects deeper dysfunction in Perus political system, where successive administrations have struggled to address public concerns about crime, corruption, and governance.

Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank, said political calculations were likely behind the decision. It strikes me that there is no trace of high mindedness here, only electoral calculations, he said, as quoted by Reuters. Enough lawmakers concluded their support for Jeri would hurt them in elections, so they had to act.

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Jeri had assumed office in October after Congress removed his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, amid corruption allegations and rising public anger over crime. With no vice president in place, Jeri, then head of Congress, stepped in as interim leader.

With elections scheduled for April 12, Peru now faces another interim presidency, extending a cycle of short-lived administrations that has eroded public trust in political institutions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Wednesday in the Kremlin, where he said that new restrictions imposed on the communist run island were unacceptable.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at the Kremlin on Wednesday and described the latest sanctions on Cuba as unacceptable, according to Russian state media reported.

The meeting comes amid renewed pressure on the communist-led island, as a senior Russian official said last week that Moscow would extend support to Havana, including material aid, to help it cope with what Russia characterises as US efforts to cut off oil supplies to the country.

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Speaking to Rodriguez, Putin referred to the latest punitive measures, saying, Now is a special period, new sanctions. You know how we feel about this, as quoted by the TASS news agency. We do not accept anything like this.

Putin added that ties between Moscow and Havana were progressing on a positive track, TASS reported.

In a separate meeting on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Cuban counterpart that Moscow was calling on the United States to refrain from imposing a comprehensive naval blockade on Cuba, instead urging dialogue and negotiations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later said, according to TASS, that Russia had not discussed the situation in Cuba with Washington. His remarks came after trilateral peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States concluded earlier in the day in Geneva.

Russia called to the United States to avoid imposing a military blockade on Cuba, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier on Wednesday during talks with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.

Along with the overwhelming majority of the global community, we call on the United States to exercise common sense, take a responsible approach, and abandon any plans for a naval blockade, Lavrov stated.

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US President Donald Trump halted crucial supplies of Venezuelan oil to Cuba after removing Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro from power. He has also warned of sanctions against countries that continue selling oil to Cuba.

The island nation has long struggled with acute fuel shortages, a situation that has worsened under the impact of the US embargo.

Cuba has remained a close partner of Moscow since its socialist revolution in the 1960s, depending on the Soviet Union for decades of economic and political backing.

Even after the collapse of the USSR, the Kremlin sustained strong relations with the Caribbean nation.

With inputs from agencies
Russia will take part in joint naval exercises with Iran in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, Iranian media reported, in a move that comes shortly after the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva

Russia will take part in joint naval exercises with Iran in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, Iranian media reported, in a move that comes shortly after the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva.

The manoeuvres signal growing military coordination between Moscow and Tehran at a sensitive diplomatic moment, as negotiations between Iranian and US officials continue over key regional and security issues.

Earlier this week, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the powerful ideological branch of the countrys armed forces, launched separate drills in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The exercises were widely seen as a show of force in waters where US naval forces maintain a significant presence.

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The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping corridor linking the Persian Gulf to global markets, remains one of the worlds most critical energy chokepoints. Any escalation in military activity in the surrounding waters is closely watched by Washington and its allies.

The joint naval exercise of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia will take place tomorrow (Thursday) in the Sea of Oman and in the northern Indian Ocean, the ISNA agency reported, citing drill spokesman, Rear Admiral Hassan Maghsoudloo.

The aim is to strengthen maritime security and to deepen relations between the navies of the two countries, he said, without specifying the duration of the drill.

The exercises come as Iran adopted an optimistic tone after the second round of Oman-mediated negotiations with the United States held in Geneva on Tuesday.

Earlier diplomatic efforts between the longtime adversaries collapsed in the aftermath of an unprecedented Israeli strike on Iran in June 2025, which triggered a 12-day conflict that briefly drew in the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump has since deployed a substantial naval presence to the region, describing the buildup as an armada.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that they could shut down the Strait of Hormuz during periods of heightened tensions with Washington, though the strategic waterway has never been fully closed.

On Tuesday, Tehran said it would temporarily restrict access to parts of the strait for several hours for security reasons as its forces conducted separate drills there.

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With inputs from agencies
Russian losses in Ukraine are so high that 38% of all personnel spending is now paid out as benefits to families of fallen soldiers, according to an analysis.

Russian recruits take a train at a railway station in Prudboi in the Volgograd region of Russia on September 29, 2022. (Photo: AP)

Russian casualties in the war on Ukraine are so high that 38 per cent of all personnel spending is on benefits to families of dead soldiers, according to an analysis.

Russia is understood to have suffered twice as many casualties as Ukraine in the war as it has frequently relied on meat-grinder assaults.

Out of the total personnel expenditure of around 5.1 trillion rubles, Russia has spent 38 per cent on death benefits, 33 per cent on salaries, and 20 per cent to regional governments for getting recruits to sign up for the war, according to Re: Russia Project, a think tank.

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Russian personnel costs amount to around 90 per cent of the annual budget deficit, laying bare the stress that the war has put Russia under.

ALSO READ  Russian losses twice than Ukraines as casualties near 2 million: Study

Moreover, in another sign of strain that the war has put the Russian economy under, the personnel expenditure increased from 3 trillion rubles in 2023-24 to around 4 trillion rubles in 2025, according to the analysis originally published in Russian.

Russian economy in poor shape as war drags on

The analysis about the economic toll of the war has come weeks after Russian leader Vladimir Putin acknowledged that the economic growth slowed to 1 per cent in 2025  much lower than the official forecast of 1.5 per cent.

In 2023 and 2024, the Russian economy grew by 3.6 per cent and 4.3 per cent respectively on the back of war-related spending and a manufacturing boom to support the war effort. But the boom and stimulus dried up in 2025 and the growth fell even below downward revisions.

The overall economic strain could force Russia to seek a ceasefire as analysts believe that stopping the war this year would free up around 4 trillion rubles in Russias consolidated budget, significantly mitigating a potential budget crisis, as per the analysis.

To meet the requirements of the war, Russia has recruited massively from prisons by offering criminals clemency, lured foreigners with simplified paths to citizenship, and offered fat bonuses to common citizens to make them sign up.

Previously, the Associated Press has reported that various bonuses for joining the military could add up to $50,000 in some provinces, which could be more than twice the average annual income in those provinces.

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Trump announced Japans first investments under a $550 billion trade pact, including energy and mineral projects, as Washington and Tokyo accelerate economic cooperation ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichis visit

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a bilateral meeting at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced Japans first round of investments in American energy and critical mineral projects, marking an early rollout of commitments made under a sweeping bilateral trade agreement.

The announcement comes weeks before Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to visit Washington, where economic cooperation will likely be the core topic of discussions.

The US Commerce Department said the initial tranche of projects amounts to $36 billion, signalling that Tokyo has begun delivering on its broader pledge to invest heavily in rebuilding key American industries.

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Trump highlighted the development in a social media post, framing it as a major milestone in US-Japan economic ties. Japan is now officially, and financially, moving forward with the FIRST set of Investments under its $550 BILLION Dollar Commitment to invest in the United States of America, he wrote.

Energy, exports, and industrial manufacturing

The announced investments span three major projectsnatural gas power generation, crude oil exports, and advanced manufacturing inputs.

According to the Commerce Department, cited by AFP, the natural gas facility in Ohio will generate 9.2 gigawatts of power, significantly boosting domestic energy capacity. Meanwhile, a crude oil export facility planned in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to generate between $20 billion and $30 billion annually in US crude exports.

A third projecta synthetic industrial diamond manufacturing facility, which Trump indicated would be located in Georgiais designed to strengthen US industrial independence. The department said the facility will onshore production 100 percent of US demand for synthetic diamond grit, describing it as a critical input for advanced industrial and technological production.

While Trump initially referred to a liquefied natural gas facility, the Commerce Department clarified that the investment focuses on broader natural gas-powered infrastructure.

Notably, Trump did not name the companies involved or disclose financing details.

Trade pact momentum ahead of key visit

The investments stem from a major trade agreement reached last July, under which Japan pledged $550 billion in investments through 2029. In return, Washington agreed to scale down threatened tariffs on Japanese imports from 25 percent to 15 percent.

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However, Japanese Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa has said only a small fractionaround one to two percentwould be direct capital investment. The bulk of the commitment will consist of loans, bonds from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and state-backed financial guarantees.

The timing of the announcement is important, as Takaichi is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on March 19. Reports suggest tensions had emerged over the pace and structure of the deals implementation.

Despite those concerns, Trump struck an upbeat tone, emphasising tariffs as a key lever behind the investments. The scale of these projects are so large, and could not be done without one very special word, TARIFFS, he wrote.
Tricia McLaughlin, the outspoken face of Trumps immigration crackdown at DHS, is stepping down amid funding fights, political backlash, and growing public dissatisfaction with US immigration enforcement policies

Spokeswoman for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Tricia McLaughlin. (X)

Tricia McLaughlin, one of the most visible defenders of Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, is set to leave her role as spokeswoman for the US Department of Homeland Security this week.

Her departure marks the end of a high-profile tenure during one of the most contentious periods in US immigration politics.

McLaughlin had initially planned to step down in December. However, she stayed on longer following fatal confrontations between immigration officers and two US citizens in Minnesota last month, according to CBS News.

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Confirming the news, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem praised McLaughlins record, saying she has served with exceptional dedication, tenacity, and professionalism.

She has played an instrumental role in advancing our mission to secure the homeland and keep Americans safe, said Noem.

While we are sad to see her leave, we are grateful for her service and wish Tricia nothing but success.

Praise and pushback

During her time at DHS, McLaughlin frequently became the public voice for both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, defending enforcement actions across press briefings, podcasts, and social media.

Her exit quickly drew sharp political reactions.

Conservative commentators praised her as a key defender of Trumps immigration agenda. But critics were equally vocal. Democratic National Committee spokesperson Kendall Witmer accused her of backing controversial enforcement methods, saying she had defended even the most violent tactics used in the immigration crackdown.

Exit amid funding fight

McLaughlins departure comes at a tense moment for DHS.

Lawmakers remain locked in a funding standoff, with Democrats demanding operational changes to ICE. The departments funding was shut off Saturday, and a resolution may not come until later this month.

Public opinion appears to be shifting too.

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found growing dissatisfaction with Trumps immigration policies, with 55% disapprovingup sharply from 44% a year earlier.

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What comes next

McLaughlins next move remains unclear. According to CBS, she is expected to be replaced by Katie Zacharia, a commentator who has appeared on Fox News.

She previously served in the Trump administration at the US Treasury Department and later worked as a spokeswoman for Vivek Ramaswamys presidential campaigncementing her reputation as a prominent voice in Republican political circles.
The new colours will be applied to the new Boeing 747s, which will serve as Air Force One. The planes will feature red, white, gold and dark blue, a colour scheme that was proposed by Trump in his first term but later reversed by Joe Biden

Air Force One carrying US President Donald Trump approaches Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California, US, on January 24, 2025. (Photo: Daniel Cole/Reuters)

US President Donald Trump is planning to change the colour of his official planes, the Air Force One, fulfilling the Republican leaders long-cherished dream of overhauling the look of the jets that fly him all over the world.

The new colours will be applied to the new Boeing 747s, which will serve as Air Force One. The planes will feature red, white, gold and dark blue, a colour scheme that was proposed by Trump in his first term but later reversed by Joe Biden, according to a report by CNN.

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Air Force One is going to be incredible. Its going to be the top of the line, the top in the world. And its going to be red, white and blue, which I think is appropriate," Trump said in 2018.

The aircraft used as Air Force One has featured a baby blue and white colour scheme since the Kennedy administration, and Trumps proposed redesign fueled speculation that he wanted to mirror the look of his personal Boeing 757.

In 2022, the Air Force rejected the plan for the body colour changes under former President Biden, saying, Further analysis concluded darker colours, among other factors, on the underside of the VC-25B aircraft might contribute to temperatures exceeding the current qualification limits of a small number of components.

But Trumps proposed changes gained momentum after he took office for the second time in 2025, when a dummy of the Air Force with his preferred colour scheme was displayed on the evening of his inauguration on top of a cake at the Commander-in-Chief Ball.

The Air Force says the new livery will be used on two Boeing 747s currently being modified by Boeing, as well as on a 747 donated to the military by Qatar that Trump has directed to be retrofitted for service as Air Force One. The Qatari aircraft could enter service as early as this summer.

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The updated colour scheme will also be added during routine maintenance to four smaller C-32 aircraft, the military variant of the Boeing 757, that are already part of the fleet.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations have entered a second day of mediated discussions in Geneva as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy questions the fairness of the diplomatic pressure being applied by Washington.

As the four-year conflict continues to reshape the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe, delegations from Ukraine and Russia have reconvened in Geneva for a critical second day of negotiations. The diplomatic effort, mediated by the United States, is currently taking place against a backdrop of public friction between Kyiv and Washington.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced concerns over the nature of the American mediation, suggesting that the current administration is placing an asymmetrical burden on Ukraine to find a resolution to the hostilities.

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A primary point of contention in the ongoing dialogue is the future of the Donbas region. President Zelenskyy has made it clear that his government will not agree to any settlement that mandates the surrender of land currently held by Ukrainian forces in the east. In a recent interview, he emphasised that such a proposal would be an impossibility for the Ukrainian people to accept.

Regarding the prospect of ceding uncaptured territory, Zelenskyy noted that any plan requiring Ukraine to give up territory that Russia had not captured in the eastern Donbas region would be rejected by Ukrainians if put to a referendum. He expressed concern over the public demands coming from the White House, stating that it was not fair that Trump kept publicly calling on Ukraine, not Russia, to make concessions in negotiating terms for a peace plan.

High stakes and the pressure for faster results

The urgency of the talks has been punctuated by direct messages from President Donald Trump, who has urged the parties to reach an agreement without delay. Speaking to the press earlier this week, Trump issued a blunt ultimatum, saying: Ukraine better come to the table fast. Thats all Im telling you.

While Zelenskiy finds the public rhetoric difficult, he has maintained a positive view of the direct working relationship with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. He noted that these private discussions are markedly different from the public pressure, though he remains wary of the ultimate strategy, stating: I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision."

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Pragmatic discussions amidst a tense atmosphere

On the ground in Switzerland, the lead negotiator for Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, has characterised the proceedings as highly technical. Following the initial sessions, Umerov indicated that Tuesdays talks had focused on practical issues and the mechanics of possible decisions, without providing details. This clinical approach contrasts with the description from Russian sources, who labelled the six-hour sessions as very tense."

Despite the friction, American mediators are optimistic about the trajectory of the dialogue. Following the conclusion of the first day, Witkoff noted on social media that both parties agreed to update their respective leaders and continue working towards a deal." As the second day begins, the central question remains whether Moscow is truly prepared to find a worthy agreement to end the war, as Zelenskiy puts it, or if the two sides remain fundamentally irreconcilable on the issue of sovereignty.
The US says it is ready to resume low-yield nuclear testing to match alleged Chinese and Russian explosions, raising fears of a renewed nuclear arms race after treaty limits expired

The United States has signalled it is prepared to resume low-yield nuclear testing, potentially ending a moratorium in place since 1992, as tensions grow with China and Russia over alleged secret nuclear explosions.

Christopher Yeaw, assistant secretary of state for arms control and nonproliferation, said Washington was ready to act if needed, echoing earlier remarks by Donald Trump.

As the president has said, the United States will return to testing on a  quote  equal basis, Yeaw said at the Hudson Institute.

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But equal basis doesnt mean were going back to Ivy Mike-style atmospheric testing in the multi-megaton range, as some arms control folks would have you believe, hyperventilating about this issue, he added.

Equal basis, however, presumes a response to a prior standard. Look no further than China or Russia for that standard, he continued.

Treaty collapse raises stakes

The warning comes after the expiration of the New START, the last remaining treaty limiting US and Russian nuclear warhead deployments. Trump has called for a broader agreement that would also include China, which has so far resisted joining such negotiations.

Yeaw did not specify when testing might resume but made clear Washington would not tolerate strategic disadvantage.

Were not going to remain at an intolerable disadvantage, he said, adding that any testing would occur on a level playing field.

The US last conducted a full nuclear test in 1992 but has since relied on subcritical experiments to maintain its arsenal without triggering full nuclear detonations.

China allegations spark escalation

US officials have accused China of secretly conducting low-yield nuclear tests, including one allegedly detected in 2020. Yeaw pointed to seismic data recorded in Kazakhstan showing a 2.75-magnitude underground explosion.

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There is very little possibility, I would say, that it is anything but an explosion, a singular explosion, he said.

China has rejected the allegations outright, calling them outright lies and accusing Washington of using them as justification to restart nuclear testing.

Meanwhile, Russia has also faced US accusations of conducting similar tests, further raising fears of a renewed nuclear arms race.

International monitors, including the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation, said they did not detect any event consistent with the characteristics of a nuclear weapon test. However, the agency noted its systems have limits in detecting very low-yield explosions.

Yeaw criticised the monitoring body, saying it should reassess priorities if it cannot identify smaller tests.

The treaty becomes basically a fig leaf, he said.

The treaty banning nuclear tests has yet to fully enter force, and renewed testing by major powers could mark a dramatic escalation in global nuclear tensions.
The two countries held another round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday amid pressure from Trump on the regime over the nuclear deal. Vance suggested that Washington remains open to dialogue, although his boss has threatened military action against Iran

The second round of talks between the US and Iran failed to achieve a breakthrough, as Vice President JD Vance stated that Tehran has not accepted all of the red lines set by President Donald Trump.

The two countries held another round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday amid pressure from Trump on the regime over the nuclear deal. Vance suggested that Washington remains open to dialogue, although his boss has threatened military action against Iran.

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In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet again. But in other ways, it was clear that the president has established certain red lines that the Iranians are not yet prepared to recognise or work through, Vance told Fox News.

We will continue to pursue diplomatic efforts. However, the president reserves the right to determine when diplomacy has run its course. We hope it doesnt come to that, but if it does, the decision will be the presidents, Vance added.

Guiding principles achieved

Iran said it has reached an understanding with the United States on the main guiding principles aimed at resolving their dispute over Tehrans nuclear programme.

Speaking after indirect talks in Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that although progress had been made, further work was still required. The US said that progress was made.

Meanwhile, Badr Albusaidi, the foreign minister of mediator Oman, said the negotiations concluded with good progress towards identifying common goals and relevant technical issues.

Key gaps

Araghchi also acknowledged that it will take time to narrow the gap between the countries after the talks with Trumps friend and roving envoy Steve Witkoff and the presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Iran, for years, has been seeking relief from sweeping sanctions imposed by the United States, including a US-imposed ban on other countries buying its oil.

Washington has ordered two aircraft carriers to the region as it piles on pressure. The first  the USS Abraham Lincoln, with nearly 80 aircraft  was positioned about 700 kilometres (435 miles) from the Iranian coast as of Sunday, satellite images showed.

Its location puts at least a dozen US F35s and F18 fighter jets within striking distance. A second carrier was dispatched over the weekend.

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With inputs from agencies
In a growing role for unmanned systems in the Sahel insurgency, footage shows Burkina Faso forces using precision drones to repel al-Qaeda-linked motorcycle raiders threatening an army base.

In Burkina Fasos protracted insurgency, a video circulating on social media appears to show government forces using precision drones to counter an attack by militants linked to al-Qaeda on an army base, highlighting the evolving role of unmanned aerial systems in counter-terrorism operations.

The grainy footage, shared on platforms including X (formerly Twitter) shows what appears to be a swarm of insurgents mounted on motorcycles, a hallmark tactic of groups such as Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen (JNIM) and other Salafi-jihadist affiliates operating in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso being struck by armed drones, causing the attackers to disengage.

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WATCH: Burkina Fasos military released footage of Bayraktar UCAV strikes on JNIM terror group, targeting swarms of motorcycles. pic.twitter.com/ZdyNI5gbkD  Clash Report (@clashreport) February 17, 2026

This incident is set against a wider backdrop of escalating jihadist offensives in the West African country, where al-Qaeda-linked militants have repeatedly targeted military units and convoy routes.

In May 2025, JNIM claimed responsibility for a major assault on an army base in the northern province of Loroum, with the group asserting that its fighters killed more than 200 soldiers. The attack involved hundreds of fighters overrunning and destroying parts of the base, although independent verification of casualty figures was not available, according to report.

The video of the recent drone use, while unverified by independent media, reflects the asymmetrical nature of combat in Burkina Faso, where jihadist groups regularly deploy light vehicles such as motorcycles to conduct rapid raids against poorly fortified positions.

Such mobility has allowed insurgents to exploit vast rural terrain in the absence of solid state control, contributing to a decade-long conflict that has repeatedly challenged the junta that seized power in 2022 and claimed it would restore security.

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The apparent effectiveness of precision drones against militants in this latest episode highlights how unmanned technology is becoming an important tool in counter-insurgency campaigns across the Sahel, where state forces often struggle to match the agility of non-state armed groups.

Islamic extremist organisations in the region have also experimented with drone technology, both as reconnaissance and as improvised explosive-delivery platforms, adding another tactical dimension to the conflict.

Despite such technological adaptations, Burkina Faso continues to face serious security challenges. Recent coordinated attacks by suspected militants in multiple northern and eastern provinces have left at least 10 soldiers dead in just a few days, according to regional security sources, highlighting the ongoing volatility and the persistent threat posed by jihadist violence.
When friends connect, innovation follows. Ready for The AI Impact Summit! Macron posted, referring to the summit that will be inaugurated by PM Modi in New Delhi on Thursday

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday shared an AI-generated image of himself with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate India-France friendship.

When friends connect, innovation follows. Ready for The AI Impact Summit! Macron posted, referring to the summit that will be inaugurated by PM Modi in New Delhi on Thursday.

When friends connect, innovation follows. Ready for The AI Impact Summit! pic.twitter.com/oh4700pQ09  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 18, 2026

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The text on the image read: Yes, this is AI

During the India-France Innovation Forum on Tuesday, Macron said, The question is no longer whether India innovates. The question is, who will innovate with India? And France is the unique clear answer. We are here, we want to be here with you, and we are not leaving. Jai Ho! As we say in a famous movie. So long live the Indo-French relationship. Thank you very much.

Macron, accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday after concluding his visit to Mumbai, which included bilateral talks with Modi. On Tuesday, the two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen India-France strategic ties.

During his Mumbai stop, Macron and his wife also met some of Indias leading filmmakers and actors, engaging in animated discussions about cinema, culture, and potential collaborations.

In Delhi, Macron will participate in the AI Impact Summit hosted by India, alongside a bilateral summit in the capital.

Prime Minister Modi is set to inaugurate the summit on February 19, with up to 20 heads of state, including Macron, expected to attend the inaugural session, according to Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan.

With inputs from agencies
Aviation historian and analyst Tom Cooper said evidence of alleged strike is unmistakable, despite IAF denial, and called it a decisive moment in the conflict

Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Rajiv Ghai with Air Marshal AK Bharti and Vice Admiral AN Pramod during a press conference on Operation Sindoor. PTI/File Photo

Aviation historian and analyst Tom Cooper has claimed that India struck Pakistans Kirana Hills nuclear facility during Operation Sindoor, saying the evidence of such an attack is unmistakable.

In an interview with NDTV, Cooper said he possessed multiple pieces of proof to support his assertion, despite official denials from the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Cooper said the timing and nature of the alleged strike indicated it was meant to send a strategic signal.

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Its a place you hit when you want to send a clear message without causing, lets put it this way, too much damage. It means, Listen, guys in Pakistan, we can hit you severely where we want, whenever we want, with as much ammunition as we want. Stop it, finally," NDTV quoted him as saying.

Earlier, during Operation Sindoor, Cooper criticised Indias defence public relations apparatus in a Facebook post for not acknowledging what he described as a strike near Kirana Hills.

India, India, India and IAF and its PR-work sigh Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor  Vice Air Chief, IAF  gave a press conference, a day or so ago. And, of course, somebody asked him about IAF air strikes on the underground elements of the Kirana Hills  one of major Pakistani weapons storage facilities  well-known to have been flown during the 88-Hours War, on 10 May 2025 Kapoor answered in the classic IAF-fashion: we dont know about it these videos were presented by their people they made them we did nothing, he wrote.

Cooper further argued that subsequent diplomatic activity reinforced his assessment.

Cooper said that when the timing of the alleged strike is examined alongside developments on the diplomatic front  including Islamabad reaching out to Washington and New Delhi and pushing for a ceasefire  the sequence of events appears telling.

While he said it was not literally a case of begging for a ceasefire, he maintained that the developments that followed spoke for themselves and that the situation cannot be clearer anymore," he told NDTV.

When asked about the evidence behind his claim, Cooper cited several indicators, including videos that allegedly show missile contrails descending onto the hillside. He also referred to smoke rising from what he described as the radar station of the 4091st Squadron of the Pakistani Air Force.

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And the evidence is so clear that the Indian Air Force hit these radar stations first to disable the Pakistani capability to counter its attack, and then hit at least two entrances to the underground storage facilities. And Kirana Hills is one of the centrepieces of the Pakistani nuclear programme. They have run something like 20-24 non-critical nuclear tests over there. I mean, its not Disneyland," he told NDTV.

Cooper also claimed that Pakistans retaliatory Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos had failed, attributing the outcome largely to Indian air defence systems.

He described the alleged strike as one of the decisive moments of the conflict and said it was among the key reasons he considers the episode a clear-cut victory for India.

With inputs from agencies
Dniprogaz to hold general shareholders' meeting on February 26

According to Fixygen, JSC Gas Distribution System Operator Dniprogaz will hold a general shareholders' meeting on February 26, 2026, in the form of a remote poll.

The main issue put to the vote is the approval of the extension of the lease agreement for gas distribution system facilities with Gas Distribution Networks of Ukraine LLC. The announcement states that the estimated value of the transaction is UAH 172.63 million (including VAT).

JSC OGRM Dniprogaz is a gas distribution network operator in Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk region, providing gas delivery to end consumers and maintenance of gas distribution infrastructure.
Leyla Aliyeva is on a visit to the Republic of Albania, AzerNEWS reports.

As part of the visit, Leyla Aliyeva met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The meeting, held in an atmosphere of sincere friendship and mutual understanding, highlighted the high level of relations between Azerbaijan and Albania.

The discussions focused on strengthening cultural ties, with art described as a universal platform for joint creativity.

During the conversation, Leyla Aliyeva and Edi Rama also paid special attention to environmental issues, underscoring the importance of joint efforts in environmental protection and combating climate change.
Google has announced that Google I/O 2026 will take place on May 1920, showcasing the latest AI breakthroughs, Gemini updates, and product innovations across Android, Chrome, Cloud, and other Google platforms. The annual developer conference brings together Google leaders, developers, and enthusiasts to explore upcoming technologies.

Google I/O 2026

The event will feature keynote addresses, fireside chats, Dialogues sessions, and forward-looking panel discussions, covering topics such as agentic coding and the latest Gemini model updates.

Attendees can also participate in a save-the-date experience, allowing them to play, create, and remix interactive experiences built with Gemini, providing an early look at the conferences interactive offerings.

A slew of Gemini, AI, and Android updates are expected during the conference.

Availability and Registration

Google I/O 2026 will be available online at io.google and in-person at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. The conference begins May 19 at 10 a.m. PT (10:30 p.m. IST) and will stream live across two days. Developers and enthusiasts can register online to receive updates and access all livestreamed sessions.
India is scaling its artificial intelligence ecosystem through collaborations with NVIDIA, covering compute infrastructure, sovereign model development, research support, and startup enablement. These initiatives align with the government-led IndiaAI Mission, which directs over $1 billion toward expanding domestic AI capacity, datasets, and applications.

The efforts are being highlighted at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, where policymakers, enterprises, startups, and academic institutions are outlining how AI infrastructure and open frameworks are being deployed across India.

IndiaAI Mission: Infrastructure and Ecosystem Expansion

The IndiaAI Mission focuses on coordinated priorities that include:

Expansion of national AI compute capacity

Development of sovereign datasets and frontier AI models

Support for AI research and education

Startup financing and ecosystem growth

Frameworks for responsible and trustworthy AI

A central component is the IndiaAI Compute pillar, which is building large-scale AI cloud infrastructure powered by tens of thousands of GPUs to support model training, fine-tuning, and high-volume inference. Capacity is reserved for startups, researchers, enterprises, and model developers operating in India.

To support this build-out, NVIDIA is collaborating with domestic cloud and infrastructure providers:

Yotta is developing sovereign AI infrastructure under its Shakti Cloud platform, powered by more than 20,000 NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs across facilities in Navi Mumbai and Greater Noida, offering GPU-based AI cloud access on a pay-per-use model.

is developing sovereign AI infrastructure under its Shakti Cloud platform, powered by more than 20,000 NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs across facilities in Navi Mumbai and Greater Noida, offering GPU-based AI cloud access on a pay-per-use model. E2E Networks is deploying an NVIDIA Blackwell GPU cluster on its TIR cloud platform hosted in Chennai, integrating HGX B200 systems, enterprise software, and Nemotron open models for workloads spanning healthcare, finance, manufacturing, agriculture, and agentic AI applications.

is deploying an NVIDIA Blackwell GPU cluster on its TIR cloud platform hosted in Chennai, integrating HGX B200 systems, enterprise software, and Nemotron open models for workloads spanning healthcare, finance, manufacturing, agriculture, and agentic AI applications. Netweb Technologies is introducing AI supercomputing systems built on the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell architecture. The GB200 NVL4 platforms  manufactured in India under the Make in India initiative  combine Blackwell GPUs with Grace CPUs for scientific computing, model training, and inference.

Together, these deployments form the foundation of Indias domestic AI compute strategy.

Sovereign and Multilingual AI Model Development

Another core priority of the mission is building foundation models trained on India-specific datasets using domestic infrastructure. Multilingual capability is central to this effort, reflecting Indias 22 constitutionally recognised languages and more than 1,500 additional languages recorded in census data.

Indian organisations are using NVIDIA Nemotron open models and the NeMo framework to develop speech, language, and multimodal AI systems for public services, financial platforms, enterprise automation, and accessibility applications.

The Nemotron ecosystem includes India-focused datasets such as Nemotron-Personas-India, containing 21 million fully synthetic Indic personas generated from publicly available census information. These datasets support large-scale sovereign AI training while maintaining domestic control over development pipelines.

Indian Organisations Building AI Systems

Multiple Indian entities are applying NVIDIA AI frameworks to foundation model training and real-world deployments:

BharatGen has created a 17-billion-parameter mixture-of-experts model targeting applications in public services, agriculture, security, and cultural preservation.

has created a 17-billion-parameter mixture-of-experts model targeting applications in public services, agriculture, security, and cultural preservation. Speech and enterprise AI developers are building multilingual communication and automation systems for accessibility, customer service, and workflow management.

developers are building multilingual communication and automation systems for accessibility, customer service, and workflow management. National Payments Corporation of India is exploring NVIDIA-based models to expand multilingual AI support within UPI-driven financial services.

is exploring NVIDIA-based models to expand multilingual AI support within UPI-driven financial services. Sarvam.ai is open-sourcing Indic language foundation models trained using NVIDIA frameworks on domestic GPU infrastructure, supporting enterprise and government use.

These sovereign models can be deployed on NVIDIA-accelerated platforms, including DGX Spark systems now available in India through qualified partners and local manufacturing channels.

Research, Academic, and Startup Ecosystem Support

The IndiaAI Mission also strengthens research and entrepreneurship pipelines through partnerships with academic institutions and investors.

NVIDIA is collaborating with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation to support AI research programs across Indian universities. Participating institutions receive access to enterprise AI software, technical mentorship, and structured training initiatives including bootcamps, workshops, and hackathons.

Startup growth is supported through venture partnerships and the NVIDIA Inception program, which includes thousands of Indian AI startups developing domestic and global applications.

Outlook

Indias continued investment under the IndiaAI Mission signals a long-term effort to expand domestic AI infrastructure, sovereign model development, research collaboration, and startup participation. Ongoing work with NVIDIA supports scalable compute access and open AI frameworks, positioning Indian organisations to build, train, and deploy AI systems while retaining local control over data and infrastructure.
Microsoft has introduced a rebuilt MIDI platform inside Windows 11 that adds native support for MIDI 2.0 while strengthening existing MIDI 1.0 functionality.

The new architecture  called Windows MIDI Services  replaces decades-old components with a unified stack focused on compatibility, device communication, timing precision, and multi-application workflows.

The update allows existing MIDI software to continue operating without modification while enabling newer capabilities defined in modern MIDI standards.

MIDI background: why the update matters

MIDI was introduced in 1983 as a cross-industry standard to allow electronic musical instruments to communicate with each other. According to Microsoft, early development  including contributions from companies such as Roland Corporation  established a simple digital messaging format that enabled sequencing, synchronization, lighting control, and instrument playback across compatible devices.

MIDI 1.0 enabled:

Instrument and controller synchronization

Sequencing and beat production

Standard MIDI files (.mid)

Support across USB, Bluetooth, and other transports

However, long-standing technical limits include:

Controller value ranges restricted to 0127

Limited device discovery mechanisms

Channel constraints for expressive performance

Legacy transport speed ceilings

Minimal articulation and metadata standards

To address these constraints, the MIDI Association published MIDI 2.0 and the Universal MIDI Packet (UMP) specification in 2020, later refined in 20222023. MIDI 2.0 introduces bidirectional communication, higher-resolution control data, per-note articulation, automatic discovery, and transport independence  while remaining interoperable with MIDI 1.0.

Windows MIDI Services: platform architecture changes

Windows MIDI Services replaces the legacy Windows MIDI stack with a unified infrastructure supporting both MIDI standards. The design goals focus on compatibility, extensibility, and improved system behavior.

Key platform characteristics include:

Shared MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0 infrastructure

Automatic compatibility handling between protocols

Preservation of existing application workflows

Foundation for future MIDI transports and tools

No application updates are required for current MIDI 1.0 software to function.

Device access, routing, and interoperability

Multi-client MIDI access

Multiple applications can open and use the same MIDI endpoint simultaneously.

Works across MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0

Removes exclusive device locking

Vendor-specific drivers are generally unnecessary

Built-in loopback and app-to-app routing

Windows includes native MIDI loopback endpoints that allow software to communicate internally.

App-to-app MIDI routing without external drivers

Works on x64 and Arm64 systems

Compatible with browser WebMIDI environments

Applications can present as virtual MIDI devices

These endpoints function across both MIDI standards.

Protocol translation and device compatibility

Windows MIDI Services automatically bridges MIDI 2.0 hardware with MIDI 1.0 software.

This includes:

Protocol negotiation

Value scaling between high-resolution and legacy ranges

Compatibility handling for mixed environments

Applications using the new SDK gain access to MIDI 2.0 message structures, timestamps, and scheduling, while MIDI 1.0 apps receive compatible translated data.

Endpoint naming and device organization

The update expands control over how MIDI endpoints appear in applications.

Users can:

Preserve classic names for compatibility with existing DAW projects

Use device-provided naming

Assign custom endpoint labels

Additional metadata  including images and descriptions  is supported through a forthcoming MIDI Settings management tool.

Timing accuracy and message scheduling

To improve synchronization reliability:

Incoming and outgoing MIDI messages support timestamps

Timing precision reaches sub-microsecond resolution

Applications can schedule outgoing messages

This capability is available through the Windows MIDI Services SDK.

USB MIDI driver modernization

Windows continues supporting the legacy USB MIDI driver while adding a newer class driver optimized for the updated service.

Driver improvements include:

Updated power management behavior

Faster communication paths to the MIDI service

Support for MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0 devices

Device compatibility remains unchanged.

Tools, scripting, and ecosystem development

Microsoft plans companion utilities for configuration and development:

MIDI Settings management app

Loopback endpoint creation tools

MIDI console utilities

PowerShell scripting integration

Development is conducted openly with community and industry collaboration, including testing and driver contributions.

Whats Next

Microsofts MIDI roadmap includes planned work on:

Low-latency USB audio driver support with ASIO integration

BLE MIDI transports for MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0

Network MIDI 2.0 support

Virtual MIDI routing and patch-bay capabilities

Ongoing timing and performance refinements

These developments extend compatibility while supporting newer MIDI workflows.

Availability

Windows MIDI Services core components are included in supported retail releases of Windows 11 and are being enabled through a phased rollout.
At the AI Impact Summit in India, Google announced expansions to its AI ecosystem and national partnerships, building on its recent $15 billion investment for an AI Hub in Vizag. The initiatives cover AI-powered education, scientific research, workforce development, connectivity, and climate-focused innovation.

AI-Powered Science and Education

Google DeepMind is partnering with Indian government agencies and institutions to advance research and learning:

AI for Scientific Discovery: Collaboration with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) provides access to AI for Science models including AlphaGenome, AI Co-scientist, and Earth AI. The partnership includes hackathons, contests, and mentorship programs for students, researchers, and early-career professionals.

Collaboration with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) provides access to AI for Science models including AlphaGenome, AI Co-scientist, and Earth AI. The partnership includes hackathons, contests, and mentorship programs for students, researchers, and early-career professionals. AI-Enhanced Education: In partnership with Atal Tinkering Labs, serving over 10,000 schools and 11 million students, Google is integrating Gemini into teacher workflows, supporting robotics and coding in local curricula, and developing a safely guardrailed AI assistant aligned with national curriculum standards. PM Publishers Pvt. Ltd. will collaborate to convert textbooks into interactive digital formats.

Connectivity Expansion: America-India Connect

Google launched the America-India Connect Subsea Cable Initiative, establishing new fiber-optic routes to enhance connectivity between the U.S., India, and the Southern Hemisphere. This complements existing Google subsea projects across the Pacific and Africa.

Workforce Development and AI Skills

Google is expanding digital learning programs in India:

Karmayogi Bharat Partnership: Google Cloud is scaling the iGOT Karmayogi platform for 20 million public servants across 800+ districts. Professional development content will be progressively available in 18+ Indian languages.

Google Cloud is scaling the iGOT Karmayogi platform for 20 million public servants across 800+ districts. Professional development content will be progressively available in 18+ Indian languages. Google AI Professional Certificate: In collaboration with Wadhwani AI, the program trains students and early-career professionals in practical AI applications. Modules are available in English and Hindi, with additional Indian languages planned.

Promoting Global Innovation and Sustainable AI

Google announced initiatives to support AI research and applications:

$30M Google.org Global AI for Government Innovation Impact Challenge: Supports AI projects to improve government-to-citizen services.

$30M Google.org AI for Science Impact Challenge: Funds AI-driven scientific research.

Google Center for Climate Technology: Launched with Indias Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to scale AI-powered climate solutions.

Google released its Annual Responsible AI Progress Report, detailing ongoing efforts to ensure security, ethics, and safety in AI development.

Speaking at the press conference, Preeti Lobana, VP and Country Manager, Google India said,
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel

An under layer is exposed after wind stripped outside panels off of a portion of the outside of Asteria Theatre during a wind advisory and wind gusts of more than 50 miles per hour on Feb. 17, 2026.
The Valley County Comprehensive Child Find Screening will be held Feb. 23- 24 at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow from 9 a.m. - 12 noon & 1- 3 p.m.

The screening is for all children from birth to school entry age. The purpose of this screening is to find children who may need special help & Irle School kindergarten registration.

The screening assessments include the following areas:

Hearing for children of all ages; Speech for children 3-years old & older .; Gross/Fine Motor Development; Concept Development

Each appointment will take approximately 1-1.5 hours. To make an appointment for the Child Find Screening please visit the Irle Elementary Facebook Page or the Glasgow Schools Website. You can also make an appointment by following the direct link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054CAEAB2FA2FCC34-61481052-valley#/

The Valley County Health Department will be giving immunizations by appointment. Please call the VCHD in advance to make an appointment for your childs required school-entry immunizations at 406-228-6261 (Open 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. M-Th)

It is mandated that children entering kindergarten have these immunizations prior to the start of school. Please bring your childs immunization record & insurance card to the health department. No one will be turned away due to the inability to pay.

**ALL children who will be entering kindergarten in the Glasgow School District this fall are required to attend child find screening/registration. Glasgow Kindergarten students only: Kindergarten Registration can be completed at Child Find on laptops provided.
Lutefisk at First Lutheran Church in Glasgow is being served on Sunday, March 8, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Menu includes Lutefisk, meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, lefse and orange sherbet for dessert.

Tickets will be sold at the door, adults $20, students $10 and children under 6 are free. We look forward to seeing you for some good food and fellowship at First Lutheran Church, 641 2nd Ave. N., Glasgow, Montana.

Proceeds from this event will go towards First Lutheran Church general fund.
Join Two Rivers and community members at the Glasgow Chamber Office for the final session of Reimagining Rural Program on Feb. 18 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the virtual gathering from 6 to 8 p.m. They are located at 54147 US Highway 2, Suite 2, Glasgow. Two River Economic Growth is also a local sponsor of the event.

Discussions will be centered around opportunities for our rural communities. We will virtually connect with 22 communities from around Montana to learn about implemented projects and hear from speakers who are making it happen.

No sign-up or registration is necessary. Snacks will be provided.

At the conclusion of the series, participating towns may be eligible to apply for Montana Community Foundation grants to support community projects and next steps.

For further information contact Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Koski at 406-228-2222.
The Valley County Sheriff's Office is pleased to announce it has been awarded $3,000 through AgWest Farm Credit's Rural Community Grant program to be used towards the purchase of life saving equipment for our deputies.

The funds granted to the Sherif...
William "Bill" J. Lauckner, age 82, of Nashua Montana passed at the family farm near Nashua, Mont. on Feb. 12, 2026

Bill was born Sept. 7, 1943 in Glasgow, Montana to William A. and Hilda (Beer) Lauckner. At the age of 12 he became his dad's hired man. As a third generation farmer he spent long days on the tractor: there were no cabs, no air conditioner, no heater and heaven forbid there was no GPS. Farming was his life, many long days and nights were spent in the field, along with running a few cows. Bill took over the farm from his dad in 1967. Bill married the love of his life, Myrna Anderson, on June 18, 1966.

After he graduated from Nashua High School in 1961, he served in the National Guard for 8 years. He would laugh and say I went in as a cook and came out a tank driver. Over his lifetime he served on many boards including: Farmers Union Elevator, Farm Credit, Valley County 4-H Council and was a 4-H Leader for 30 years, where he loved working with the kids in shooting sports, wildlife, leathercraft and doing summer camp. If you showed up after school at his home you might hear a tap, tap, tap, as the kids were busy doing their leather projects in the basement. He was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Bill was a member of the Mountain Bluebird Trails and was an active district coordinator. He has a bluebird trail at the Pines and another on Highway 24, which consists of 83 boxes. His getaway time was going to check on the bluebirds. He loved his Bluebirds.

Bill was an avid outdoorsman, who loved running his trap line in the fall, but as the years went by he took an easier route by skinning for a local trapper, with whom he became very good friends.

Bill's pride and joy was his family, especially his grandkids and great-grandkids. He loved watching them grow and attending their activities.

He is survived by his wife, Myrna of 59 years; son, Will (Peggy) Lauckner; daughter, Gwyn (Steve) Funk; brother Andy (Jamie) Lauckner; grandchildren: Tyson and Willy Lauckner, Mykayla (Tucker) Lien, Kelcey (Jake) Knaff, Teona Funk, Brady (Matt) Brooks and Megan (Dustin) Pankratz; great-grandkids: Colt, Newt and Flint Knaff, Brodi, Renly and Chet Saiz, Cooper, Wilie and Augustus Pankratz and Bridger and Houston Brooks; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Hilda and Bill; sisters, Helen and Bob Heikens and Josephine and John Dorsey and granddaughters, Tori Arnold and Julia Funk.

Family will receive friends 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow, Montana. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 2, 2026 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Nashua, Mont. with Pastor Bonnie Novak officiating. Burial will follow at Nashua Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left at bellmortuarymt.com.
Arrest of Mongolian 'spy' shows PH firm on protecting nat'l security

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

February 17, 2026, 2:19 pm

MANILA -- National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Ano on Tuesday said the government is committed to safeguarding Philippine national security, as highlighted by the arrest of a foreigner in Zambales for espionage-linked activities.

Likewise, Ano commended the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) for their swift and decisive operation that led to the apprehension of 30-year-old Mongolian national Bold-Erdene Boldbaatar on Feb. 12.

"The said foreign national who enrolled as an aviation student concealed his military background and service with the People's Liberation Army, especially his jet fighter license from the PLA (People's Liberation Army) Air Force Aviation University. Such non-disclosure constitutes a serious violation of Philippine immigration laws. Moreover, his presence and actions in Zambales near vital military locations are clearly inconsistent with his purpose of stay in the country," Ano said in a statement.

During solo flight exercises, Boldbaatar took aerial photographs of Iba Airport and the Palauig River area.

While the Philippines maintains an open and welcoming policy towards foreign students and aviation trainees, Ano said transparency, compliance with visa conditions, and adherence to Philippine laws are non-negotiable.

"Any act of misrepresentation, concealment, and activity that compromises national security will be dealt with firmly. Any attempt to exploit our openness, deceive our authorities, or operate against our national interest will be detected, disrupted, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he added.

The country's top security adviser also called on the public to remain vigilant and to partner with government agencies in protecting the country and critical infrastructure.

"Suspicious activities, including unexplained aerial activity of military and sensitive areas, misrepresentation of identity or background, or unusual behavior inconsistent with declared purposes should be reported immediately to the nearest local authorities, police station, NICA office, or AFP unit," he added.

Ano also assured the public that the government will continue to strengthen coordination among intelligence, immigration, aviation, and law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, and respond decisively to any threat to Philippine national security. (PNA)

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Contracts

Contracts for Feb. 17, 2026

ARMY

Rolls-Royce Solutions America Inc., Novi, Michigan, was awarded a $73,528,916 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of Merkava Power Pack Less Transmission full and lite kits, metal containers, and contractor engineering technical services, with a total cumulative face value of $462,947,478. Work will be performed in Graniteville, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2032. Fiscal 2026 Foreign Military Sales funds (Israel) in the amount of $73,528,916 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W912CH-26-C-0019).

NAVY

Conrad Shipyard LLC,* Morgan City, Louisiana, is awarded a $29,382,496 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-22-C-2253) for the detail, design, and construction of one additional Yard Repair, Berthing, and Messing craft and facility improvement incentive. Work will be performed in Amelia, Louisiana, and is expected to be completed by April 2028. Fiscal 2026 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $29,045,674 (99%); and fiscal 2022 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) in the amount of $336,822 (1%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract action was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3204(b)(B) (property or services considered to be available from only one source). Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity

Creare LLC,* Hanover, New Hampshire, was awarded a $20,282,232 firm-fixed-price contract for the production and delivery of 3,000 full-rate production helmets, which includes basic helmets, communication boom helmets, communication cup helmets, helmets with communication for sound, accessories, and spare parts in support of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III effort based on Phase II SBIR Topic N04-255, titled "Advanced Helmet for Maintainer Head and Hearing Protection" for the Navy. Work will be performed in Salem, Oregon (39%); Carpentersville, Illinois (25%); Lebanon, New Hampshire (18%); Hanover, New Hampshire (16%); Hillsboro, Oregon (1%); and Ottawa, Ohio (1%), and is expected to be completed in May 2028. Fiscal 2026 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $20,282,232 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0042126C1004). (Awarded on Feb. 12, 2026)

General Electric Co., Lynn, Massachusetts, is being awarded $20,085,584 for a firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00383-26-F-TF04) under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00383-22-G-TF01) for the repair of 16 components supporting the F404 engine, for a total of 275 repairs. The delivery order does not include an option provision. All work will be performed in Lynn, Massachusetts. Work is expected to be completed by December 2027. Fiscal 2026 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $20,085,584 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1) and one offer was received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

Liquid Robotics Inc., Herndon, Virginia, will be awarded a $25,000,000 contract for 20 commercial unmanned surface vehicles. The contract provides for work related to control software, payloads, and peripheral launch and recovery equipment. Work will be performed at Herndon, Virginia, and is expected to be complete by Feb. 16, 2028. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Japan. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2026 research development test and evaluation funds; and fiscal 2026 FMS funds, in the amount of $25,000,000, will be obligated at the time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA2823-26-C-0006).

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $10,282,459 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00027) to previously awarded contract (FA8682-19-C-0008) for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Increased Inventory Integrated Production Team tooling and test equipment. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $409,832,456 from $399,549,997. Work will be performed at Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 29, 2029. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida is the contracting activity.

*Small Business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4408010/

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317th AW leads Spring 2026 C-130 WSC, integrates with I MEF

US Marine Corps News

11 Feb 2026 | Senior Airman Jade M. Caldwell I Marine Expeditionary Force

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 317th Airlift Wing led the Spring 2026 C-130 Weapon System Council (WSC) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, coordinating with I Marine Expeditionary Force to further integration of rapid air mobility concepts and strengthen Joint tactical airlift capabilities across the Joint and Total Force, Feb. 4-5, 2026.

The C-130 WSC is a biannual forum that brings together wing commanders and command chiefs from across the active-duty, Guard and Reserve wings to assess tactics, refine procedures, and accelerate concepts for forward employment of the aircraft in crisis, contingency, or conflict.

Building on the momentum from the Fall 2025 WSC hosted at Dyess AFB, this iteration focused on integrating capabilities and schemes of maneuver across the Air Force and Marine Corps through Joint discussions with I MEF commanders and leadership teams, marking the first time that a C-130 WSC was held at a Joint partner base.

In addition to the council, the 317 AW flew two C-130J aircraft assigned to the 39th and 40th Airlift Squadrons to Camp Pendleton. Hosting the event at a Marine Corps base also afforded Airmen and Marines to execute training, specifically Specialized Fueling Operations and long-range fires insertion.

"Our Airmen are very good at Specialized Fueling Operations and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) movement," said Chief Master Sgt. Martin Castillo, 317th AW Command Chief. "What makes this different is executing those capabilities alongside I MEF, building trust, interoperability and professional relationships that matter most when it's time to deploy forward."

As part of the SFO scenario, C-130Js stationed at Dyess Air Force Base and Little Rock Air Force Base airlifted Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicles equipped with Tactical Air Ground Refueling Systems to Naval Landing Field, San Clemente Island, California. Marines assigned to the Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 worked with Air Force loadmasters to offload the equipment onto the island, prepare the ground, and lay fuel hoses while aircraft engines remained running.

Following island operations, the equipment was airlifted back to Camp Pendleton, where Airmen and Marines conducted rapid hot pit fueling operations. Pilots, loadmasters, flying crew chiefs, and Marine expeditionary fuel technicians then measured how quickly they could upload 5,000 pounds of fuel to the aircraft.

Simultaneously, the other aircraft conducted airlift operations with the M142 HIMARS, the Marine Corps' advanced rocket artillery system. Weighing approximately 12 tons, the HIMARS provides long-range, precision fires critical to Joint and distributed operations across the Indo-Pacific, and the C-130J enables its rapid employment and insertion in austere locations.

"Our Airmen understand the strategic importance of what we carry," said Castillo. "We can maneuver the Joint Force and their equipment into any environment, deliver the needed effects and bring them home safely. That's rapid air mobility in action."

Following Joint fuel and HIMARS operations, Marine firefighters assigned to the MWSS-372 concluded by conducting aircraft rescue and firefighting response drills on the C-130J, supported by and working alongside Airmen from the 317th AW to enhance Joint emergency response readiness and procedures.

The final day of the council sessions featured senior leader engagements and enterprise-level discussions. A senior enlisted leadership sync brought together Marine Corps sergeant majors and Air Force chief master sergeants to discuss enlisted development, challenges, and integration. The council concluded with an outbrief led by Col Diehl to participating C-130 units and Air Mobility Command representatives.

"There is immense value in these conversations with our Joint leadership counterparts," Diehl said. "The Joint Force only becomes stronger and more capable when we build relationships through routine engagement. Our partnership with the I MEF is growing rapidly, which means our understanding of how to better integrate with one another is rapidly growing capability and response time for the entire Joint Force."

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Situation in the Great Lakes region (14 February 2026)

France - Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres

France welcomes the agreement by the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, for the implementation of a ceasefire as proposed by Angola to all the warring parties.

France also emphasizes the importance of implementing the Washington Accords of 4 December 2025 in every aspect, and calls on all the parties to honour their commitments. France will continue to make every effort to ensure that the momentum for peace created by these accords, by the Doha Framework of 15 November and by the action of the African Union are translated into tangible and rapid improvements in living conditions for the population in the eastern DRC.

In this regard, France welcomes the visit to Goma by the UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative and Interim Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Vivian van de Perre, from 12 to 14 February 2026, to prepare the Mission's actions to support ceasefire monitoring and verification in the eastern DRC, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2808 (2025).

This first flight to Goma airport is a milestone. It is a step towards translating into action the commitment made at the Paris conference of 30 October 2025 to resume small-scale, daytime humanitarian flights to Goma. France calls on all the parties involved to work together now so that this first flight is followed by [other] humanitarian flights for the benefit of the population.

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European and world leaders discussed security and defence policy issues in Munich

Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic

17.2.2026

Author: MoD Press Section

With attendance of over 60 Heads of State and Governments from around the globe, dozens of Presidents and Prime Ministers, the 62nd Munich Security Conference was held last week. Defence Minister Jaromir Zuna attended several panel discussions and had a range of bilateral meetings.

Hundreds of participants of the Munich Security Conference gathered in the Bayerischer Hof hotel in the centre of the Bavarian metropolis. Besides many addresses, speeches and top-level discussions, the agenda included a multitude of bilateral meetings. The conference was opened by the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Keynote speakers included French President Emmanuel Macron, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In his address, President Zelenskyy also thanked the Czech Republic for assistance that has been delivered through the Czech Ammunition Initiative.

The global leaders discussed subjects such as European security and defence, future of transatlantic relations, revival of multilateralism, competing visions of global order, regional conflicts and security impacts of technology development.

This was the first attendance by a Czech Defence Minister in a long time. Minister Zuna says the conference's importance is obvious: "This a unique and extraordinary event both from the perspective of Europe, of the Euro-Atlantic area, given the participation of the most prominent leaders, and indeed from the overall geopolitical perspective." He regards his participation essential particularly due to the direction of defence and security in the Euro-Atlantic and tackling security challenges that the Czech Republic, Europe and NATO will face in the years ahead. "I personally highly value and benefit from this conference in terms of information, networking and bilateral meetings I had. They provide opportunities to discuss practical matters or verbally verify plans and intentions we have for the near term with other NATO nations and NATO partners," Minister Zuna emphasised.

Minister Zuna had numerous bilateral meetings during the conference, including with his Mauritanian counterpart, Minister Hanana Ould Sidi. The Ministers discussed the possibilities of future cooperation arising from the memorandum of understanding the Czech MoD and Mauritanian MoD signed in 2025. Mauritania is an important partner for the EU and NATO in Sahel, and the Czech Ministry of Defence with the Czech Armed Forces support the development of the Mauritanian Armed Forces.

On the first day, Minister Jaromir Zuna shortly met with Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus G. Grynkewich. Minister Zuna said to the newly appointed SACEUR that he was looking forward to future cooperation and meeting him in Prague. With General Sunreviin Ganbyamba, Chief of General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces, Minister Zuna discussed the quality of bilateral relations.

A debate organised by the Globsec Forum concluded day one of the conference. Defence Ministers, high-ranking military officials plus NATO, EU and defence industry representatives discussed the most effective ways to cooperate on strengthening Europe's readiness to defend NATO's eastern flank. Czech President Petr Pavel opened the meeting and Minister Zuna met, for instance, with his Singaporean counterpart Minister Chan Chun Sing and European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius.

On the second day of the Munich Security Conference, Minister Zuna attended the meeting between President Petr Pavel and Rheinmetall CEO, Armin Papperger. Diskutovali o the role of the European industry in building the defence posture and opportunities for Czech industries. Rheinmetall is the contractor for the deliveries of the Leopard 2A4 tanks for the Czech Armed Forces and is the maintenance contractor with the VOP CZ state enterprise.

In conclusion of the conference, Minister Zuna attended a meeting hosted by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius for his counterparts. In follow-up, the Ministers discussed the entertained during the conference. Minister Zuna met with Moldovan Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatii and Swiss Minister Martin Pfister.

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February 17, 2026

By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News

DOW's New Chief Information Officer Seeks to Put the Warfighter First

The Pentagon's newest chief information officer, Kirsten Davies, gathered her department's senior leaders and staff together at the War Department's Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia, Feb. 10, where she laid out a vision for her office that focuses strongly on supporting America's warfighters.

"Our mission is to support the National Defense Strategy ... and the warfighters," Davies told those assembled in the Mark Center's auditorium. "Everything we do should be supporting the warfighter community and their mission."

Just six weeks into the job, Davies is responsible for serving as the principal staff assistant and senior advisor to the secretary of war and deputy secretary of war for information technology  including national security systems and defense business systems  information resources management and efficiencies.

This means that Davies is responsible for all matters related to the War Department's information enterprise, including cybersecurity, communications, information systems and more.

With all those responsibilities under her purview, Davies expanded on the Office of the Chief Information Officer's vision statement, "[building] an information enterprise that is resilient, modern, secure and agile; one that is worthy of the warfighter."

"We need ruthless prioritization of all of our initiatives. There are some things we're just simply not going to do because [they don't] serve the warfighter mission," Davies said, adding that she will be seeking her team's help in identifying those initiatives and prioritizing items to pursue immediately, versus what can be pushed further downstream.

Next, she spoke about OCIO visibility and the need to share it across the entire War Department, including the department's military and civilian-manned field activities.

"We can't defend what we can't see, [and] we can't optimize something if we don't know what's there," Davies said. "So, [visibility] becomes a real priority."

Visibility can help OCIO determine if the office's money is being spent appropriately throughout the department and serving the warfighter most effectively, especially as it relates to tactical agility, she added.

Davies also spoke about additional topics not listed in OCIO's vision statement, including accountability.

"If you want to own something, own it. There's accountability that's attached to that," she told the group of leaders.

"We will measure outcomes, not activity," Davies added.

Additionally, she spoke about transforming OCIO's technology landscape in a rapidly evolving information environment.

"We need to execute on data analytics and AI. ... We need to secure our advantage in the spectrum ... This is a long-term play for us, for national security and for our partners and allies," Davies said.

Two topics she would like to prioritize for all OCIO leaders immediately are getting up to speed on the recently published National Defense Strategy and becoming familiar with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's ongoing Arsenal of Freedom tour.

The tour represents Hegseth's initiative to transform the department's acquisition system and processes to accelerate delivery of capabilities to the warfighter and revitalize America's manufacturing might.

"Our mission is to support the warfighter," Davies reiterated.

"You've heard [the secretary] talk about us being on a war footing [and] again, we are not a technology company  we are part and parcel of the warfighter's mission," Davies said, adding that it is essential OCIO align with the warfighter in the realm of cybersecurity and cyber defense.

As her remarks wound down, Davies encouraged those in attendance to be bold while participating in OCIO's journey from that point forward.

"Change requires boldness; it requires courage," she said. "We have a window of opportunity to do some really interesting, exciting, transformative work. I want you to embrace the opportunity and also know that I've got your back."

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February 17, 2026

By Army Pvt. James Hernandez, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Training for the Unthinkable: Task Force 2 Validates Domestic Response Readiness

Soldiers from units across the force converged at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Feb. 10-12, to validate their readiness as part of Task Force 2 under the Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Response Force.

The training ensures the soldiers remain prepared to deploy on no-notice orders in response to a potential weapon of mass destruction attack within the United States. The culminating exercise brought together chemical, medical, engineering and military police units to simulate a large-scale domestic response following a catastrophic chemical or biological incident.

The training evaluated the task force's ability to secure a contaminated site, conduct technical rescues and decontaminate mass casualties under realistic conditions.

"The purpose of this exercise is to ensure we are ready for no-notice deployments in case any city in the United States is attacked with a weapon of mass destruction," said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Alvaro Madrigal, the senior enlisted leader for Task Force 2. "We are essentially 911 in case something big happens."

The task force operates under the U.S. Northern Command as part of the DCRF mission, which provides rapid-response capabilities to support civil authorities during domestic CBRNE incidents. It is composed of three primary operational components: hazardous materials reconnaissance, urban search and rescue and mass decontamination.

The hazmat element, led by the 21st Chemical Company, 48th Chemical Brigade, conducts reconnaissance of the affected site to determine contamination levels and establish safe operating zones.

The unit continuously monitors conditions to ensure the safety of responding forces and civilians. Following a site assessment, the urban search and rescue component, composed primarily of soldiers assigned to the 50th Multi-Role Bridge Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, conducts technical rescues in structurally compromised environments, in the event of a detonation, collapsed building or contaminated structures that cause trapped civilians to require a specialized extraction operation.

"If there is a detonation, there will be structural damage and people sheltering in place who can no longer leave," said Army 2nd Lt. Galina Gordon, a team leader for the 50th Multi-Role Bridge Company. "We conduct those technical rescues for however long it takes."

Once victims are extracted, the mass decontamination team processes affected personnel to remove hazardous contaminants and prevent further exposure. The soldiers are trained to rapidly decontaminate large numbers of individuals, enabling medical personnel to provide follow-on treatment and move civilians to safety. Supporting the operation is the 602nd Medical Company, 44th Medical Brigade, responsible for treating service members and civilian casualties.

During the exercise, local community role players replicated injuries consistent with a weapon of mass destruction scenario, adding realism to the training environment.

The 41st Military Police Company, 89th Military Police Brigade, serves as a general-purpose force, providing additional manpower where needed, from assisting with casualty movement and litter carries to augmenting decontamination and rescue operations. Observer-controllers evaluated the training event, assessing performance across all warfighting functions. Following the exercise, leaders conducted an after-action review to identify strengths and areas for improvement ahead of a larger-scale validation exercise.

Task Force 2 will next participate in Guardian Response at Camp Atterbury, Indiana  an annual large-scale exercise that brings together multiple regional response forces in a highly immersive disaster scenario. The training environment features collapsed structures, overturned vehicles and complex rescue lanes designed to replicate real-world devastation.

"Guardian Response is much more immersive," Madrigal said. "You'll see buildings torn down, vehicles upside down and victims requiring rescue from difficult environments. It's a larger-scale event where multiple task forces come together to validate readiness."

Each DCRF-aligned task force is assigned responsibility for a specific region of the country, ensuring rapid response coverage nationwide. The integration of chemical, medical, engineering and military police capabilities enables the force to operate as a synchronized, lifesaving element during domestic emergencies.

"These reps are important," said Army 2nd Lt. Galina Gordon. "When it's game time, there is no room for failure. We have to know how to work together and understand what each unit brings to the fight."

Through realistic training and interagency coordination, Task Force 2 continues to strengthen its ability to protect and support the American people in the event of a catastrophic CBRNE incident.

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February 17, 2026

By Marine Corps Sgt. Rafael Brambila-Pelayo

Marines Bring Amphibious Vehicles Back to Life With One Simple, Critical Component

When a shortage of critical single-use consumable suspension washers resulted in multiple amphibious combat vehicles being taken out of service, Marines assigned to the Fabrication Platoon, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, stepped in, turning a potentially yearlong delay into a one-hour fix.

The initial problem was identified at the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, where ACVs were being taken out of service due to the lack of a specific suspension locking washer. The part, a mandatory replacement item for the vehicle's suspension system, was unavailable through the standard supply system due to a backlog, hindering unit readiness.

The solution came when Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 Anthony Juedes, a ground ordnance vehicle maintenance officer with the assault battalion, approached the II Marine Expeditionary Force Innovation Campus with the problem.

Each suspension lock washer has square teeth that bend when torqued into place and when suspension components are taken apart or put back together. Due to this, the washers cannot be reused and become damaged once removed from an ACV's suspension system.

Juedes presented a damaged washer to Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Pine, the campus's officer in charge, who tasked his 2nd Maintenance Battalion team with finding a solution. They immediately went to work. By using aluminum sheets and a water jet, they reverse engineered the part and produced a working prototype, showcasing the immense value of advanced manufacturing.

"It took less than 30 minutes to create it, and in less than an hour, we had a working prototype," Pine said. "The part itself took less than a minute and a half to cut."

With a potential solution in hand, the next step was validation. Contractors were used to strengthen the reverse engineering process, help lower risk, ensure quality control and create a more thorough part-review for the fabrication process.

After a successful test, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matthew Ludlow, the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion commander, decided to formally assume the risk of using the nonstandard part to get his vehicles back in the fight. By signing an official assumption-of-risk letter, he authorized the use of the fabricated washers to restore his unit's operational capability.

Once approved, 10 ACVs were brought back into service in a single morning, showcasing how this capability can be used not only on base, but also while forward deployed.

The impact was immediately noticed. As of December 2025, the 2nd Maintenance Battalion has produced more than 80 washers, bringing 15 nonoperational ACVs back into service. For a part that costs less than $2 to make, the effort bypassed a supply shortage that could have sidelined the fleet indefinitely, saving the Marine Corps countless days of lost training and readiness.

This success, however, highlights a different issue: the lack of access to technical data for parts. According to Pine, without the manufacturer's original blueprints, his Marines must reverse engineer components, a process that involves determining exact dimensions, material composition and strength requirements. This process can become especially problematic for load-bearing components.

The problem, Pine explained, is that the battalion doesn't have the testing parameters for the parts.

To mitigate this, the 2nd Maintenance Battalion now creates its own technical data packages from its reverse-engineered parts, a process validated by civilian engineers and machinists to ensure quality.

By demonstrating their capability to produce reliable parts under controlled processes, the maintenance battalion proves that even with contested supply lines, Marine ingenuity can provide a mission-focused solution. Their work builds a robust case for the organic capabilities that Marine innovation can bring to units, both on base and overseas.

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Zimbabwe: Council renews arms embargo and lifts travel bans and assets freeze

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

17 February 2026 16:08

The European Union has concluded its annual review of the restrictive measures in relation to Zimbabwe.

As a result of it, the Council has decided to extend the arms embargo for one year, until 20 February 2027, while lifting all provisions related to the possibility of imposing a travel ban and asset freeze.

The EU remains constructively engaged with Zimbabwe and looks forward to deepening the bilateral relations across a broad range of areas of mutual interest, including on trade and investment.

The EU will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures in light of any future developments.

Background

On 15 February 2011, the Council adopted restrictive measures in view of the situation in Zimbabwe, which were subsequently renewed and adjusted over the years. This decision replaced the legal framework for measures already in place since 18 February 2002.

The Council Decision and Council Implementing Regulation adopted today reflect the decision to maintain and extend the existing arms embargo in view of the situation in Zimbabwe.

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Collaboration between the European Union and the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen

European External Action Service (EEAS)

17.02.2026

Press and information team of the Delegation to YEMEN

Today, the European Union (EU) and the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Programme for Yemen (SDRPY) joined efforts to improve livelihood conditions for Yemenis, underscoring the importance of investing in economic recovery and reforms, creating jobs, reinforcing the state and fostering societal resilience, including in areas such as food security, agriculture, electricity as well as water, sanitation and hygiene.

This EU and SDRPY collaboration will improve livelihood conditions for all Yemenis and have as first concrete result an increased access to water in Marib.

Both the EU and SDRPY sign today a contract with Selah Foundation for Development (Selah) titled "Enhancing Water Security Using Renewable Energy Project in Marib Governorate" with the respective amounts of EUR 1 million (EU) and SAR 4,530,466 (SDRPY). Selah foundation itself will contribute an amount of SAR 500,000.

The signature of the contract with Selah foundation, attended by HE. Mr. Mohammed bin Saeed AL JABER, General Supervisor of SDRPY, and H.E. Mr. Patrick SIMONNET, EU Ambassador to Yemen, underscores a shared endeavour to strengthening coordination, enhancing complementarity, and maximizing the impact of their interventions in Yemen.



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Foreign Minister Tsahkna in annual foreign policy address: Estonia's goal is peace in Ukraine, but not a version of Munich or Yalta

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

17.02.2026 | 11:05

Today, 17 February, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna delivered Estonia's annual foreign policy address in the Riigikogu, outlining the main priorities and objectives of Estonia's foreign policy.

In his speech, Tsahkna emphasised that today - in 2026 - we are no longer speaking of the end of an era in abstract terms, but of an era having come to an end. "That the rules, agreements and practices that were previously in force may no longer apply; that the old is gone, but the new - that replaces it - is still unclear."

The foreign minister stated that the goal of Estonia's foreign policy is freedom, and that safeguarding Estonia's freedom requires shaping an international environment that supports it. "We seek international rules that help safeguard Estonia's freedom."

Tsahkna reaffirmed that Estonia will keep providing military assistance and political support to Ukraine, as well as offering humanitarian assistance and continuing our reconstruction efforts. In 2027, Estonia will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Tallinn. "Let us not think that we support Ukraine only for Ukraine's sake - we do so first and foremost for Estonia's sake," he said, adding that Estonia's objective is peace in Ukraine, but not a la Munich or Yalta, rather a just and lasting peace. "This can be achieved only if support for the victim increases and pressure on the aggressor grows."

"Estonia is working to raise the cost of aggression for Russia through new sanctions and by preventing sanctions circumvention, including our aim to impose a full ban on maritime services for vessels transporting Russian oil," Tsahkna said, calling on EU member states to close Europe's doors to those who have participated in Russia's war of aggression and to add them to the Schengen blacklist. "We do not wish to see today's perpetrators of crimes become tomorrow's tourists on our streets," he said.

Tsahkna also highlighted that security and freedom depend on connectivity, strategic economic resilience and technological development. He underlined the importance of critical raw materials, infrastructure connections and shaping the rules for artificial intelligence, noting that in today's world, technology governance is increasingly a security issue.

In concluding his speech, Tsahkna stressed the importance of Estonia delivering a clear and consistent message: "We must tell our own story ourselves. Otherwise, it will simply go untold. That is something we cannot afford."

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Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna's annual foreign policy report 2026

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

17.02.2026 | 10:50

Dear members of the Riigikogu, the diplomatic corps, honoured guests,

About 12 months ago, I began my speech in this very hall by noting that an air of the 1930s can be felt in the world. When discussing foreign policy at the time, we asked: shall we allow threats to grow until it is too late, or shall we resolutely rally to the defence of our values?

Like many others, we, too, sensed the start of an age of great disruption.

Today, in 2026, people are no longer talking about merely an air of an era ending. They are talking about the end of an era. About how the rules, agreements and customs that were previously in force may no longer apply; about how the old is gone but the new - that replaces it - is still unclear.

"Nostalgia is not a strategy," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in his speech at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos  and indeed, yearning for the past will not bring it back. Nor would we truly wish to return to it as it was.

During the occupation that spanned half a century, we experienced first-hand what it means to be an exception in the functioning of the rules-based international order. We know all too well that de jure recognition does not lessen the pain of deportation carried out de facto. We understand those who have had to fight for their freedoms in spite of the rules formally in force, and we stand in solidarity with all who point out the contradictions  and at times the hypocrisy  of the existing world order.

A change of eras is neither unprecedented nor extraordinary in world history. It happens that the old gives way to the new. The past is followed by the future, with its own rules, agreements and customs.

This time, Estonia enters a period of change from a uniquely strong position  as an independent state with an experienced foreign service and well-established international relations. Never before has our starting position been so strong.

There is nothing to fear. On the contrary, there is work to be done  and that is precisely what we are doing.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Recognising that the world order is changing, we must begin by addressing the most fundamental question in defining our foreign policy: what is its objective?

What, then, is the objective of Estonia's foreign policy as we approach this period of rupture?

It is freedom  the free development of the Estonian people and state. Freedom at home in Estonia, and Estonia's freedom in the world among other states and nations.

Estonia's freedom is supported by the cohesion of our society and our economic resilience, by military defence and the continuity of vital services  but above all by an international environment that favours our freedom. From this flows the principal task and objective of our foreign policy: we seek international rules that help safeguard Estonia's freedom.

First and foremost, the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity are of fundamental importance to us. They must remain the pillars of international life in the future as well. Estonia supports these principles unwaveringly and under all circumstances, and stands ready to back its words with deeds.

The principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty are currently under the most direct attack in Ukraine, where Russia continues to pursue its unchanged objectives: the subjugation of the whole of Ukraine and the overturning of Europe's security architecture in order to reverse the collapse of the Moscow-led empire.

We cannot and will not allow this.

We will keep providing military assistance and political support to Ukraine, and continue our reconstruction efforts and offering humanitarian assistance. In 2027, we will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference, bringing the world's political and economic leadership engaged with this issue to Tallinn. That too demonstrates our commitment. Ukraine can be certain of Estonia, because our policy is not based merely on benevolent altruism. No  this policy stems from the most pragmatic of interests: a free Ukraine aligned with us is an important geopolitical safeguard against Russia's aggressive imperialism.

Let us therefore not think that we support Ukraine only for Ukraine's sake  we do so first and foremost for Estonia's sake. When we speak of our unwavering support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, we are in fact also thinking of the inviolability of our own borders; and when we emphasise the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty, we are demanding freedom for ourselves  the right to choose our allies and to decide our own affairs on our own soil, without external diktat.

The extent to which these principles prevail will largely depend on the kind of peace that ultimately comes to Ukraine. Just as Putin's objectives have not changed, neither has ours: we want peace, but not a peace a la Munich or Yalta. Our aim is a just and lasting peace, as successive Estonian governments have consistently defined it in previous annual foreign policy addresses.

Ukraine has consistently demonstrated that it is ready for peace. Putin demonstrates the opposite on a daily basis. This is understandable: if arguments are constantly heard from the West suggesting that an agreement should be sought now because Ukraine's position might be weaker in six months or a year, then Russia has no rational incentive to accept peace today. This is currently the principal obstacle to a just and lasting peace: Putin's belief that time is on his side.

To achieve a just peace, that belief must be reversed. Only when the Kremlin concludes that time has turned against it will Russia be ready to change course. An effective peace plan therefore has two components: increasing support for the victim and increasing pressure on the aggressor.

For this reason, raising the cost of aggression will remain at the centre of our efforts: we will impose new sanctions on Russia and prevent the circumvention of existing ones. As early as February, we seek to approve another European Union sanctions package, including a full ban on maritime services for vessels transporting Russian oil.

Consistency must also characterise our long-term policy towards Russia. Russia is not going anywhere; it will continue to pose a threat to Euro-Atlantic security even if the war in Ukraine were to end. As part of our policy of deterrence towards Russia, we therefore need joint practical measures to contain the threat. One such example is closing Europe's doors to individuals participating in Russia's war of aggression  we do not wish to see today's perpetrators of crimes become tomorrow's tourists on our streets. We call on all European Union member states to cooperate with us in adding Russian fighters to the Schengen blacklist, so that it is unequivocally clear: the only destination in Europe where aggressor fighters are welcome is the dock in The Hague.

Naturally, we also stand by the principles we have previously articulated clearly: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing about Europe without Europe. The latter does not mean striving to sit at every negotiating table; on the contrary, it reflects our firm conviction that matters concerning us must be decided by us. That is the essence of sovereignty. Let me emphasise once again: the problem with the West's Russia policy has not been a lack of dialogue channels, but a deficit of resolve. We do not support the premature reintegration of the aggressor into the global economy, still less into European security.

Honourable members of parliament,

Just as firmly as we wish to carry the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty into the new era, we wish to leave behind the idea of empire and spheres of influence. We will never recognise any state's right to a privileged zone of interests extending beyond its internationally recognised borders. Nor do we wish to carry into the future a system of de facto impunity, in which an aggressor evades accountability through the use of a veto and the leader who unleashed it shields himself from justice by invoking immunity.

When the aggressor is a permanent member of the Security Council, the United Nations  and the entire system of rules and organisations built upon it  becomes paralysed. Estonia does not seek to dismantle the UN; on the contrary, we wish to restore its credibility. To that end, Estonia has consistently advocated reform of the United Nations. We will also work to ensure that the next UN Secretary-General, to be elected by the end of this year, does not shy away from calling black black and white white.

Insisting on adherence to agreed rules is not idealism. Ensuring accountability is an act of pragmatism: if we seek global stability, violations of rules must have consequences.

Estonia will continue to support the International Criminal Court and to work towards the establishment of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine. Last year, we achieved a breakthrough when agreement was reached within the framework of the Council of Europe to establish such a tribunal. I thank the Riigikogu for recently approving Estonia's accession to the tribunal  this gives us the authority to call on others to do the same. And we intend to do so, as regrettably the tribunal's actual launch has become bogged down in technical discussions. Estonia recognises that the devil is often in the detail, but we would point out that in the case of the crime of aggression, the devil lies above all in impunity. We must not delay the tribunal's operationalisation any longer. This is not a technical matter. It is a question of the future world order. And we will not accept impunity.

Dear colleagues,

Building an international order that safeguards Estonia's freedom is a major undertaking. Not even a great power can accomplish it alone. We are not a great power. Fortunately, we are not alone either. We have allies who share the fundamental objectives I have outlined  the defence of sovereignty and territorial integrity, the rejection of empire and spheres of influence, and the fight against impunity.

Estonia's closest like-minded partners are here in our neighbourhood  the Nordic and Baltic countries. This so-called NB8 cooperation framework has become the primary coordination format and point of contact for our foreign policy, through which we engage with the wider world together. Collectively, we form the world's ninth-largest economy, we are among the strongest supporters of Ukraine, and we share common positions on almost all fundamental questions of international affairs.

This year, Estonia holds the chairmanship of the Nordic-Baltic cooperation framework, and we intend to use this role entrusted to us not only to coordinate foreign policy but also to strengthen practical integration within our region. Even today we are one of Europe's most closely interconnected regions, yet the potential for cooperation is far from exhausted. Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO creates new opportunities for defence cooperation. Our strengths in digital governance provide an opportunity to develop a regional competitive advantage in the age of artificial intelligence. Closer cooperation in culture, education and innovation will help strengthen societal resilience. The aim of Estonia's chairmanship is to translate these opportunities into practical, forward-looking initiatives.

Together with Poland and Germany, all the Nordic and Baltic countries are members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. Last year, when Estonia held the rotating presidency of this cooperation framework, we jointly decided to place a stronger focus on security within the Council, as our views in this format are virtually identical. This year's Polish presidency has further developed this approach, and our joint efforts are giving rise to a genuine New North: a hub of approximately 160 million people that takes coordinated action.

The New North understands that Europe must rise to its feet. Europe can no longer assume that someone else will solve our problems for us. A weak and fragmented Europe cannot safeguard our freedom nor resist the idea of spheres of influence; a weak and fragmented Europe would itself become a playground for those who seek empire, where spheres of influence are divided  and such a Europe would not guarantee security for our shared freedom.

Friends,

The overwhelming majority of Europe agrees with this. The United Kingdom and France  to whom we are also grateful for contributing their forces to our security here in Estonia  are leading the Coalition of the Willing that is developing security guarantees for Ukraine. Naturally, this work is directly important for Ukraine's security, but it must also be seen in a broader context  it is a sign of Europe's growing strategic confidence; a sign that we understand our responsibility in ensuring Europe's security.

Defence spending across Europe is increasing. Europe has largely freed itself, and will soon be entirely free, from dependence on Russian energy, which created vulnerabilities and constrained independence. Today's European political mainstream  regardless of party affiliation or ideological position on the left-right spectrum  has rejected the Schroder-style approach to Russia, and Estonia intends to ensure that this approach never returns to the mainstream.

Honourable Riigikogu,

War and instability in Europe have often begun in the so-called grey zones between a free Europe and the rest of the world. Eliminating these grey zones  that is, enlarging both the European Union and NATO  is in Estonia's most immediate security interest.

EU enlargement must be based on the fulfilment of conditions by applicant countries, but Estonia is open to ideas on how to accelerate the enlargement process. At the same time, we remain firmly committed to two principles: an aspiring member state must be on the right course regarding democracy and the rule of law, and it must unequivocally share the fundamental orientations of our foreign and security policy. In any case, we must overcome the current stagnation that characterises enlargement discussions.

A stronger and more self-confident Europe is also essential for transatlantic relations. This is no longer merely a question of burden-sharing. In a world increasingly inclined towards power politics, we Europeans must demonstrate that we are capable of standing up for ourselves when necessary.

NATO is the principal pillar of transatlantic defence and must remain so, but Europeans must assume a greater role within the NATO framework. The United States has repeatedly emphasised the same point. This is understandable, as alliances require not only mutual respect and reliability, but also that neither party perceives the relationship as one-sided. A partnership among equals is far more stable. Europe rising to its feet  including in strategic matters  is therefore necessary both for Europe itself and for transatlantic relations.

If European defence spending increases as promised at the Hague Summit, we will indeed succeed in rising to our feet. For this, however, commitments must be fulfilled. Estonia has always met its NATO obligations and expects the same from others. Less complaining and more action  that must be the leitmotif of Euro-Atlantic security policy today. Estonia will advocate these principles at the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara.

Europe's strength, of course, is not limited to military capabilities. Indeed, the European Union's true superpower lies elsewhere: in its predictability and reliability  the certainty that agreements concluded with us will be honoured. In uncertain times, the stability offered by the European Union has become an increasingly valuable currency. This is most clearly visible in trade, which today has become far more than merely an economic issue. The EU's trade agreements with Mercosur and India are strategically significant; they represent the Union's effort to shape an international rules-based order that safeguards our shared freedom. Estonia strongly supports these agreements and the preparation of further ones.

We must also take a strategic approach to the governance of our natural resources. Critical raw materials are  as the name suggests  critical for sustaining the economy of the future. It is no exaggeration to say that whoever controls access to critical raw materials controls the future. We wish to decide our own future, which means avoiding supply chains becoming locked under someone else's control. This requires unity and strategic vision within the European Union. Estonia holds a strong position in the field of critical raw materials  thanks to our industry, we are part of the global supply chain. We intend to preserve and expand our industry to strengthen both our economy and our international position, ensuring that value-added processing takes place here to the greatest extent possible. Estonia must become a centre of innovation for critical raw materials; we possess both the prerequisites and the expertise.

The question of connectivity is also strategically important. Estonia's belonging to Europe is not merely a matter of political definition; it depends on the real connections that link us to the rest of Europe. Connections with the wider world  including digital ones  are the arteries of our economy and a cornerstone of our security. These connections must be protected, strengthened and expanded  undersea, on land and in the air. Other member states have recognised that the connectivity of the Baltic States has not yet reached the level of the rest of Europe, and substantial funding has therefore been allocated from the common budget to improve it. Examples include Rail Baltic, Via Baltica, and Estonia's energy interconnections with Finland and Latvia. These are not projects of merely local importance; their purpose is to integrate Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with the rest of Europe. If Rail Baltic were to end at the Estonian-Latvian border from our side and no tracks were laid on the Latvian side, it would fail to fulfil its strategic purpose. It is therefore crucial that all Baltic States deliver on their commitments on time. What is at stake is not only our credibility, but our strategic connectivity with the wider world.

Honourable Riigikogu,

The rules of 21st-century international relations must consider technological development. As artificial intelligence advances, both the way we communicate with one another as human beings and the way we work will change. All of this will shake the world.

Technology governance is therefore no longer merely a technical issue, but a security matter that will determine according to whose rules the future world is shaped. If we allow those who favour totalitarian control to write the rules guiding technological development, the preservation of freedom will become questionable. That is why we must also take part in governing technology ourselves. Estonia is doing precisely that, having been elected this year, together with El Salvador, as co-facilitator of the UN Global AI Dialogue, in order to steer global discussions towards responsible, inclusive and transparent AI governance.

Since the beginning of this year, we have been elected a member of the UN Human Rights Council. We take this responsibility seriously and do not shy away from showing it, focusing our activities on women's rights, children's rights, media freedom and digital rights.

In response to the appalling actions of the Iranian authorities against their own people  as well as their broader destabilising activities globally  the Riigikogu approved a strong statement a few weeks ago designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation; only days later, we achieved the same designation at the level of the European Union.

We support the democratic opposition in Belarus and consistently draw attention to the crimes of the Lukashenko regime, advocating for keeping the European Union's sanctions in force.

As a nation that freed itself from the yoke of communist terror, the story of our restored freedom inspires others. For this reason, we are intensifying engagement with Cuba's democratic opposition to support those who live under communist repression today.

We pay particular attention to the children deported from Ukraine by Russia. The deportation of children is the most heinous crime against humanity. Estonia stands for the return of the deported children to their homes and for ensuring that those responsible are punished, no matter how long it takes. The European Union is currently preparing a summit dedicated to the issue of deported children, and Estonia is playing a leading role in its preparation. Our objective is clear: visibility, pressure and accountability.

We must not lose sight of the true aim of our activities: creating a world that is secure for Estonia's freedom.

This is also the broader objective of our development cooperation: to contribute to development elsewhere in a way that also brings benefits here.

By exporting Estonia's experience in e-governance, we contribute to sustainable global development while at the same time giving our companies better opportunities to participate in building digital solutions in other countries. By contributing to Ukraine's reconstruction, we help rebuild a country devastated by war. At the same time, we create a starting position for our companies in a process that, if the war ends successfully, will become Europe's largest strategic economic project of this century. The advantage of a small state is speed and flexibility. We must be present before others, build relationships and establish recognition. This is how we can compete successfully in the race that follows. It is precisely such opportunities that our development cooperation creates for Estonia's economy.

The Estonian Centre for International Development, established only a few years ago, has already demonstrated that we are able to deliver on our commitments effectively even in difficult conditions. We have built family homes and restored a hospital intensive care unit, constructed a bridge and renovated apartment buildings for internally displaced persons. This has earned us international recognition and the trust of partners, reflected in the fact that last year alone EstDev concluded contracts worth more than 26 million under which other countries entrusted us with implementing projects using their development funds. This money brought in from abroad provides employment for our people and generates tax revenue here, while simultaneously contributing to sustainable development internationally and strengthening Estonia's reputation. Implementing development cooperation also brings additional expertise  having built bomb shelters in Ukraine, EstDev can share that knowledge here in Estonia. Development cooperation thus amplifies both Estonia's economy and our foreign policy messages.

We also draw essential leverage for a small state from the active support of Estonians abroad, thanks to whose outstanding activities in their countries of residence Estonia is clearly larger than Estonia itself. We support the preservation of Estonianness abroad and this year will open KESKUS in Toronto, an excellent example of diaspora initiative supported by the state. The forthcoming Diaspora Action Plan places youth engagement at its core. In this way we look to the future and ensure that Estonianness does not fade abroad.

Our business diplomacy also looks to the future, implemented by the entire Estonian foreign service and by all our voluntary honorary consuls in 95 countries. Last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs served more than one thousand different companies. I personally undertook more than forty foreign visits, the majority with a strong business diplomacy component. We are acting just as actively this year. More than thirty business delegation visits are already planned, led by either a member of the government or a senior state official. The aim of all these visits is to open doors for companies in more distant markets and thereby diversify our export markets.

We want Estonia to be the first choice for doing business for all international companies with growth ambitions. We continue to have the world's best tax system and one of the least bureaucratic business environments. This is confirmed by the more than 13,000 new e-residents added last year, who contributed 125 million in tax revenue to the Estonian state budget.

Dear colleagues,

Creating an international order favourable to Estonia's freedom requires active diplomacy and presence. At the beginning of this year, in addition to Tallinn, our foreign service is present in 45 locations; by the end of this year, there will be 50. With the support of the Riigikogu, we are opening new embassies in Yerevan, Baku, Chisinau, Brasilia and Nairobi. As foreign minister, I will continue an active visit policy and strongly support similar activity by the Riigikogu.

Of course, we must also preserve internal unity and clarity of message. Foreign policy must be debated  disagreements must be resolved among ourselves  so that when we step onto the world stage, we can advance Estonia's interests together and wholeheartedly. I would like to thank the Riigikogu and all political forces in the parliament for not taking the slippery path of dragging foreign policy issues into the arena of domestic political rivalry, and I hope for the same responsible approach in the year ahead.

Let us also remember that the persuasiveness of our foreign policy derives from our actions. Over the years, we have proven through deeds that we are reliable; Estonia does what Estonia promises; Estonia is a producer of security, not a consumer. Estonia has shed blood for its allies. We will forever remember the servicemen who gave their lives for Estonia in foreign operations and honour those who returned from conflict zones with injuries.

At times, looking around Estonia, it seems as though we live in an unreal world, as if there were no war raging near us and we hope that perhaps the Russian threat will simply pass us by. Some allow themselves to speculate as though Russia's aggression against Ukraine were merely a war film that, once it becomes boring, could be replaced with a more appealing one. In the late 1930s, such an attitude led us to the agreements on Soviet military bases and occupation. Russia's aggressive plans are not a film but reality, and coming through this period of upheaval unharmed requires not only wisdom but also courage and confident action. Precisely as we demonstrated last year when responding to Russia's airspace violation in the UN Security Council and by initiating NATO Article 4 consultations.

We must tell our own story ourselves. Otherwise, it will simply go untold. That is something we cannot afford.

Thank you.

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EU announces over 81 million in humanitarian aid as conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo pushes Great Lakes crisis to new extremes

European Commission

Press release

Feb 17, 2026

Brussels

The escalation of conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is driving mass displacement. The resources of food, water and shelter are stretched to breaking point and women and children increasingly left exposed to violence and exploitation. As Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib visits the region, the EU is mobilising 81.2 million in humanitarian aid across the Great Lakes.

With this new humanitarian funding, the EU will provide life-saving services to the most vulnerable in the eastern DRC, but also to Congolese refugees forced to flee the country. The funding will also support aid projects in Burundi, where a fragile humanitarian situation continues to leave vulnerable communities at risk, as well as in Rwanda and in Tanzania.

Commissioner Lahbib is currently visiting the DRC, Burundi and Rwanda to assess the most pressing humanitarian needs on the ground and to advocate for humanitarian access with all parties to the conflict in eastern DRC. This follows the Foreign Affairs Council discussion on 29 January, where the Commissioner received full support from Member States for her mission, with a view to developing tangible humanitarian diplomacy initiatives. During her visit, she will be meeting with government representatives in the three countries, humanitarian partners and visit EU-funded humanitarian aid projects.

Of the 81.2 million, 68 million will fund humanitarian aid inside the DRC, where conflict and displacement are driving the most urgent needs. The funding will provide food assistance and emergency health and nutrition care, restore access to water, sanitation and basic shelter for displaced families, and support protection services, including care for survivors of violence and child protection.

13.2 million will support the regional refugee response and strengthen disaster preparedness across the Great Lakes region, helping partners respond quickly to new displacement and emergencies linked to the crisis.

Background

The DRC is facing one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, driven by persistent armed conflict, mass displacement, disease outbreaks and deep poverty. More than 21 million people require humanitarian assistance, while violence in the eastern provinces continues to force families to flee repeatedly, often into overcrowded shelters or temporary camps. The crisis is compounded by widespread human rights violations, conflict-related sexual violence, and alarming food insecurity affecting nearly 28 million people.

Burundi's humanitarian situation remains fragile, with hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees still displaced across neighbouring countries and many more internally displaced by natural hazards such as floods and landslides, while returnees face challenges rebuilding their lives and accessing basic services like food, healthcare, water, sanitation and protection. Recent escalations in neighbouring eastern DRC have triggered large cross-border movements, with tens of thousands of Congolese refugees arriving in Burundi since late 2025, putting additional pressure on already stretched resources, including camps, health services and water systems.

The European Union remains a major humanitarian donor to the region, allocating 129.5 million in 2025, most of which to the response in the DRC, to deliver life-saving assistance in the DRC, as well as to refugees across neighbouring countries.

Quote(s)

Civilians in eastern DR Congo are trapped between bullets and hunger. Families are fleeing, and survivors of violence are struggling to find even basic care. The EU is mobilising 81.2 million in humanitarian assistance to ease the suffering of those most at risk. But money alone will not stop suffering. Aid workers must be able to reach people safely, quickly and without obstacles. International humanitarian law is not a buffet table. You don't pick and choose. It is a duty for all parties, and it must be fully respected. Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management

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Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on February 9 - 15, 2026

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2026-02-17

International cooperation

On February 9 - 15 fighter aircraft of the NATO Air Policing Detachment were scrambled in response to international flight regulation violations three times.

On February 9 NATO fighter aircraft safeguarding the Baltic airspace were scrambled in response to one IL-20 flying through international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. Its onboard transponder was switched off, the crew had no pre-filed flight plan but were maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On February 13 the NATO Air Policing Detachment responded to one Su-24MR and one Su-33 flying from mainland Russia and back via international airspace. Their onboard transponders were switched off, the crews were maintaining radio communication but had no pre-filed flight plans.

On February 14 NATO fighter jets intercepted one Su-24MR and one Su-33 flying from mainland Russia and back via international airspace. Their onboard transponders were switched off, the crews had no flight plans but were maintaining radio communication.

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The President at the LTG Forum: Military mobility is a prerequisite for strengthening European security

President of the Republic of Lithuania

February 17, 2026

On Tuesday, Gitanas Nauseda welcomed the participants of the LTG Forum on Military Mobility and Resilience in Vilnius.

In his opening address, the President noted that the forum is taking place at a particularly critical moment, as war, coercion, and disinformation are reshaping the geopolitical landscape. The Head of State stressed that Ukraine has been defending itself against brutal Russian aggression for more than three years, while security across Europe remains under heavy pressure, especially in the Baltic region and along the eastern flank of the European Union.

"Having learned the hard lessons of history, Lithuania is consistently investing in security and resilience. Our national defense spending is set to stay above 5 percent of GDP until 2030. We are modernizing our armed forces, building a national division, and expanding military infrastructure. Infrastructure in Rudninkai will be ready for the deployment of a full German brigade as soon as in 2027," the President spoke.

The Head of State underlined that both NATO and the European Union recognize the strategic importance of military mobility and the protection of critical infrastructure. Europe, the President pointed out, needs to swiftly implement a common defense strategy and eliminate regulatory barriers for military movements across national borders.

The President also emphasized the need to adapt civil transport infrastructure for dual use by upgrading strategic roads, railways, bridges, airfields, and ports. Gitanas Nauseda highlighted the significance of the Rail Baltica project, stressing that its funding has to be secured in the next EU multiannual financial framework.

Speaking of national measures, the President highlighted Lithuania's newly introduced green corridor for defense investments, which cuts red tape, accelerates permitting, and facilitates the development of infrastructure for strategic projects. According to Gitanas Nauseda, these steps will help position Lithuania as a reliable hub for the Europe's defense industry.

The President's Communication Group

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Special Procedures' Coordination Committee condemns attacks against Francesca Albanese by State representatives: 'Promote justice, not disinformation'

Press releases

Special Procedures

17 February 2026

GENEVA -- The Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council today condemned vicious attacks, rooted in disinformation, by several State Ministers against Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.

"We denounce actions by Ministers of certain States to rely on manufactured facts and criticise Ms Albanese for statements that she never made at the 17th Al Jazeera Forum," the Committee said.

The events follow an organised campaign against Albanese and the imposition of illegal sanctions against her last year with devastating consequences to her and her family. The Committee expressed concerns about an increasing trend of politically motivated and malicious attacks against independent human rights experts, UN officials and judges of international courts, who are pursuing accountability, becoming the new normal.

"States claiming to uphold human rights, justice and the rule of law should invest their time and energy in holding to account perpetrators of egregious human rights violations, rather than targeting those investigating and exposing international crimes in an objective way," the Committee said.

The Committee reminded States that the Special Rapporteur is mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to "investigate Israel's violations of the principles and bases of international law, international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War ... in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967."

"Instead of demanding Ms Albanese's resignation for performing her mandate in very challenging circumstances - including persistent intimidation, coordinated personal attacks and unlawful unilateral sanctions - these Government representatives should join forces to hold accountable, including before the International Criminal Court, leaders and officials accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza," the Committee said.

The Committee encourages all States to reflect on how they have contributed to lawlessness and world disorder by enabling, encouraging or defending the illegal actions of the Government of Israel.

"States must look in the mirror and undertake urgent course correction. States must choose to stand on the right side of history."

"We stand in solidarity with Ms Albanese and with the people of Palestine who have been suffering unlawful occupation, apartheid and ongoing genocide," the Committee said.

The Coordination Committee is a body of six independent experts which coordinates and facilitates the work of special procedures as a whole. It is currently composed of Surya Deva, Chair, Special Rapporteur on the right to development; Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito, Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, Siobhan Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, and Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights.

Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.

Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found

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Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan UAE, Indonesia, Turkiye , Saudi Arabia, Qatar Condemning Israel's Illegal Decision of Designation and Occupation of Occupied West Bank as State Land and Illegal Settlement Activity

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Foreign Ministers of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of Turkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the State of Qatar strongly condemn the decision issued by Israel to designate lands in the occupied West Bank as so called "state land" and approve procedures for the registration and settlement of land ownership across extensive areas of the occupied West Bank for the first time since 1967.

This illegal step constitutes a grave escalation aimed at accelerating illegal settlement activity, land confiscation, entrenching Israeli control, and applying unlawful Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory and undermining the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

The Ministers affirm that these measures represent a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as a violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2334.

The decision also contradicts the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice concerning the legal consequences arising from Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which underscored the illegality of measures intended to alter the legal, historical, and demographic status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the obligation to end the occupation, and the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force.

This step reflects an attempt to impose a new legal and administrative reality designed to consolidate control over the occupied land, thereby undermining the two-State solution, eroding the prospects for the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian State, and jeopardizing the attainment of a just and comprehensive peace in the region.

The Ministers reiterate their categorical rejection of all unilateral measures aimed at altering the legal, demographic, and historical status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They stress that such policies constitute a dangerous escalation that will further heighten tensions and instability in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the region as a whole. The Ministers call upon the international community to assume its responsibilities and take clear and decisive steps to halt these violations, ensure respect for international law, and safeguard the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to self-determination ending the occupation, and to establish their independent and sovereign State on the lines of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Islamabad

17 February 2026

44/2026

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PCG acquires US King Air planes to boost search, rescue capacity

Philippine News Agency

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz

February 17, 2026, 6:19 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) formally began the acquisition of three Beechcraft King Air turboprop airplanes from the United States to boost the country's maritime domain awareness (MDA) and search and rescue (SAR) capabilities.

In a statement on Tuesday, the PCG said the acquisition was formalized through a letter of offer and acceptance signed by PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan and US Assistant Secretary of War for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs John Noh during a bilateral meeting in Makati City on Monday.

"The milestone signing cements a critical upgrade to the PCG's MDA and SAR capability," it said.

The signing came after a recent series of maritime incidents in the Philippine seas, such as the capsizing of the bulk carrier M/V Devon Bay and the sinking of the passenger ferry M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 that occurred days apart.

"(These incidents) have underscored the urgent need for faster and more efficient SAR response," it said.

Aside from the aircraft acquisition, Gavan and Noh also discussed the Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System Program, a comprehensive US Coast Guard SAR planning program that uses advanced environmental modeling and simulation technology to optimize search planning.

The program is said to maximize the probability of locating persons in distress at sea.

"The introduction of these capabilities is expected to significantly boost the PCG's effectiveness in MDA and SAR operations," the statement said.

During the meeting, both officials discussed broader US support for the PCG's modernization, including sustained MDA operations in the West Philippine Sea and support for other coast guard functions.

"The meeting reinforced the coast guard-to-coast guard dimension of the US-Philippine alliance and the shared commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific," the PCG said.

Gavan also announced the first-time participation of the PCG in the Rim of the Pacific exercise as the first foreign coast guard service to join the exercise since its inception.

"(The event places) the PCG alongside the world's leading navies and maritime security agencies," it said. (PNA)

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PH, US reaffirm alliance, vow to defend freedom of navigation

Philippine News Agency

By Marita Moaje

February 17, 2026, 6:04 pm

MANILA -- The Philippines and the United States have reaffirmed their decades-long alliance, and committed to defend freedom of navigation and lawful use of the seas amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

In a joint statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Tuesday, a day after the 12th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) held in Manila, authorities said China's "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive" activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) threaten regional peace, stability and the economies of the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

"Both sides underscored their unwavering commitment to uphold a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific, grounded in mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, international law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes," the statement reads.

It said both the Philippines and the U.S. committed to maintain a vigilant posture in the Indo-Pacific to prevent conflict while developing strong measures along with deterrence to keep sea lanes open and not subject to arbitrary control by one country.

"Collective defense is critical to denying and deterring aggression anywhere in the First Island Chain," it said.

The statement emphasized the importance of maritime freedom, underscoring support for preserving freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and other lawful uses of the sea for all nations.

It reaffirmed the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), which serves as the founding document of the alliance, reiterating that the treaty extends to armed attacks against either country's armed forces, aircraft, and public vessels - including those of their coast guards - anywhere in the Pacific, including the WPS.

Both sides pledged to strengthen maritime domain awareness, expand joint exercises such as Balikatan, and enhance cooperation with allies, including Japan and Australia, to deter aggression and ensure open sea lanes.

Key milestones in bilateral cooperation include more than 500 joint military exercises and exchanges since 2024, the deployment of high-end capabilities such as the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), and U.S. investments in Philippine defense infrastructure under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

On the economic front, the allies reaffirmed commitments to strengthen the Luzon Economic Corridor, expand critical minerals supply chains, and develop energy and nuclear infrastructure to support long-term regional security.

"These areas support regional deterrence by reducing strategic vulnerabilities, demonstrating long-term commitment to Philippine sovereignty, and supporting long-term economic growth," the joint statement reads.

Meanwhile, both sides also committed to continue their close counterterrorism cooperation as they discussed a long-standing partnership to promote bilateral and regional cooperation on peace and security issues, highlighting their shared resolve to counter international crime, the dangerous flow of narcotics, and instability caused by illegal immigration, as well as to uphold freedom of expression and other human rights.

Finally, the dialogue underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation, particularly as the Philippines chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace and stability, including the Taiwan Strait, and strongly opposed the use or threat of force against the sovereignty of any state.

They also agreed to conduct a foreign minister-level trilateral policy dialogue with Japan and to maintain close coordination on shared priorities throughout the year to ensure a secure, prosperous and stable Indo-Pacific. (PNA)

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Air defense component eyed for PH Army's artillery regiment

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

February 17, 2026, 5:45 pm

MANILA -- Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete said the Army Artillery Regiment will be reconfigured into an Artillery Command and will feature an air defense capability.

"(Army) Artillery Regiment will become Artillery Command, so dadagdag din tayo ng capabilities more on air defense naman yung dadagdag natin doon sa artillery (we will add more capabilities, we will add air defense into the artillery)," he said during an interview with select reporters Monday.

Presently, the Army Artillery Regiment is equipped with a variety of howitzers and mortar systems that are used to support troops in the field.

Some of its more visible weapons are the ATMOS 155mm self-propelled howitzers, 155mm tracked howitzers, 155mm towed howitzers, 105mm towed howitzers, 81mm and 60mm mortars, to name a few.

Nafarrete also said that they are now looking at "medium range" weapons systems for their proposed air defense capabilities.

"Sa (for the) Army it's more of medium range yung pinaplano natin (that we are planning to get), Strategic Command na yung bahala sa long range (will be the ones responsible for long range systems)," the PA chief said.

He did not identify the systems they are evaluating for their air defense systems for security reasons, but said these are a mixture of guns and missile systems.

"When you say air defense system, kasama yung (that includes) anti-air, anti-drone, within our land domain," Nafarrete said.

The PA chief added that they are constantly making "organizational reforms to meet the demands of modern warfare."

"So we have reorganization in terms of structure, in terms of structure, in terms of developing concepts, in terms of equipping, training," he said.

PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), said the Army is looking to develop an air defense capability that would allow the service to support the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) now being operationalized by the country's military forces.

"We have proposed air defense capabilities. This is not only for force protection but also to project our force within the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ)," Dema-ala said.

This is in response to PNA's queries on whether the service is planning to acquire weapons and platforms designed to neutralize threats coming from the air.

CADC is a strategic shift where the AFP is tasked to defend all Philippine territories, including its 200-nautical-mile EEZ. Having a potent anti-air capability,

Dema-ala said this will allow the PA to undertake missions in support of the CADC.

Asked about the possible platforms the PA is planning to acquire, Dema-ala declined to comment as "he is not privy to the discussions." (PNA)

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Australian frigate's visit showcases growing naval ties with PH

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

February 17, 2026, 11:36 am

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) on Tuesday said the just-concluded visit of the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156) to the country reflects the growing naval partnership and commitment of the Philippines and Australia in safeguarding the maritime domain.

The Australian missile frigate arrived in Subic Bay, Zambales on Feb. 13 and departed on Feb. 16.

"The engagement reflects the growing depth of cooperation between our navies, built on mutual trust, professionalism, and a common purpose. This visit further highlights the sustained momentum of defense engagements between the Philippines and Australia, which reflect our shared strategic interests in maintaining regional stability and maritime security," PN public affairs office chief Capt. Marie Angelica DC Sisican said in a statement.

She added that activities during HMAS Toowoomba's visit strengthened interoperability, deepened professional exchanges, and enhanced the overall readiness of the two naval forces to address maritime challenges.

Sisican also said subject matter expert interactions and engagements provide both navies with insights and operational experience that contribute to more cooperation in future maritime operations.

"The PN remains grateful for Australia's steadfast support and stands firm with like-minded partners in advancing a secure, stable, and rules-based maritime order in the region. We view this engagement as part of our continuing efforts to build credible defense capabilities, reinforce mutual confidence, and ensure that our maritime domain remains safe and secure for all," she added. (PNA)

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Tarique Rahman sworn in as Bangladesh's new prime minister

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 7:02 PM

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman has been sworn in as the country's new prime minister following his party's decisive parliamentary election victory.

Rahman officially assumed office on Tuesday after the BNP's landslide win in last week's parliamentary elections, the first held since the 2024 uprising that led to the overthrow of the government under former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Rahman, 60, is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman. His term is set to last for five years.

The oath of office was administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, with dozens of Cabinet members and other government officials also sworn in during the ceremony.

The BNP and its allies secured 212 seats in the 350-member Parliament. The opposition, an 11-party alliance led by the Jamaat-e-Islami Party, won 77 seats.

The newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), created by student leaders who spearheaded the 2024 uprising, won six seats as part of the alliance.

After 17 years in self-exile in London, Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December, just months before his mother passed away.

The elections were overseen by an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, which assumed office following Hasina's ousting.

Dignitaries from across the region attended the swearing-in ceremony, including Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and an Indian delegation, along with representatives from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other countries.

The Bangladesh Awami League, led by Hasina, was barred from participating in the elections. The Yunus administration also prohibited all activities of her party, which had governed Bangladesh for 15 years.

Sheikh Hasina, living in exile in India since August 5, 2024, has denounced the election as unfair.

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Israel intensifies crackdown at Al-Aqsa Mosque ahead of Ramadan

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 2:45 PM

Israeli police said they will deploy heavily around the al-Aqsa Mosque throughout the holy month of Ramadan, as the Tel Aviv regime announces new restrictions at the sacred compound.

Arad Braverman, a senior Israeli police officer in occupied al-Quds, said on Tuesday that forces would be stationed "day and night" across the compound and in the surrounding areas.

He added that thousands of Israeli police officers would also be on duty for Friday prayers, which consistently draw the largest crowds of Muslim worshippers.

During the month of fasting and prayer, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians attend prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque in east al-Quds, which Israel captured in 1967 and later annexed.

Braverman also said police had recommended issuing 10,000 permits for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, who are required to obtain special permission to enter al-Quds.

Israeli authorities have additionally decided to bar dozens of young Palestinians from entering the al-Aqsa Mosque during the upcoming month of Ramadan and to restrict access for worshippers arriving from the West Bank and other occupied territories.

The punitive steps are expected to significantly reduce the number of worshippers compared to previous years.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Palestinian al-Quds Governorate said it had been notified that entry permits would once again be limited to men over 55 and women over 50, replicating last year's restrictions.

The statement added that Israeli authorities had prevented the Islamic Waqf, the Jordanian-run body responsible for administering the site, from carrying out routine preparations, including installing shade structures and setting up temporary medical clinics.

A Waqf source confirmed the restrictions and said that 33 of its employees had been barred from entering the compound in the week leading up to Ramadan.

Palestinian activists have called for urgent action to protect Islamic holy sites, warning that daily Israeli restrictions are aimed at reshaping the city's Islamic identity.

Palestinians have also sharply condemned ongoing incursions by extremist Israeli ministers and members of the Knesset into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East al-Quds.

The Palestinian Resistance group Hamas recently urged the international community, the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take "deterrent" measures against the "Judaization, displacement, and annexation projects led by the fascist occupation regime."

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Hamas says it has not received deadline for disarmament as Israel threatens to reignite war

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 6:43 AM

Hamas says it has not received a 60-day deadline to surrender all its weapons as Israel threatens to reignite war in the Gaza Strip if the Palestinian resistance group refuses to disarm.

"We have not received any notification or information from the [ceasefire] mediators - the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey - regarding a deadline for the disarmament of the resistance group in Gaza," senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi said on Monday evening.

He added that the ongoing Israeli violations and acts of aggression in Gaza and the occupied West Bank are part of the regime's plans to forcibly displace the populations in Gaza.

The remarks came shortly after Israeli cabinet secretary Yossi Fuchs said during a conference in al-Quds that the Tel Aviv regime has issued a 60-day ultimatum demanding Hamas disarm completely and threatened to resume military offensives should the Palestinian group not agree.

Fuchs asserted that Hamas "will have to give up all of its weapons, including rifles," claiming the timeline was requested by the US administration and that Israel is "respecting that."

The exact beginning of the ultimatum remains unclear, though Fuchs suggested it could commence with the February 19 gathering of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace.

"We will evaluate it. If it works, great. If not, then the Israeli military will have to complete the mission," Fuchs stated.

According to authorities in Gaza, Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations of the ceasefire agreement since it took effect on October 10 last year. At least 603 Palestinians have been killed and 1,618 others injured since then.

A ceasefire agreement was meant to bring to a close a bloody Israeli military onslaught that started on October 8, 2023 and lasted for two years. Israel, however, continues to violate the agreement through its strikes and attacks.

According to Palestinian officials, the genocidal campaign resulted in the deaths of over 72,000 Palestinians and left more than 171,000 injured, inflicting extensive damage that impacted 90% of civilian infrastructure. The United Nations has projected that the expenses for rebuilding will be around $70 billion.

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Top Kyrgyz Court Stops President Potentially Ruling Until 2037

By Zamira Eshanova February 17, 2026

The Constitutional Court in Kyrgyzstan has issued a ruling with implications for an ongoing political power struggle that will suit President Sadyr Japarov -- while also throwing an obstacle to any long-term aim he may have to stay in power until 2037.

Japarov was elected to a six-year term in January 2021 but then presided over a change in the constitution later that year, which said the head of state would serve a maximum of two five-year terms.

Across Central Asia and Russia, similar constitutional reforms initiated by sitting presidents have often erased previous mandates.

In 2020, amendments in Russia reset presidential term limits, enabling Vladimir Putin to run again despite many years already spent in office. Similar constitutional revisions in Kazakhstan in 2022 and Uzbekistan in 2023 annulled prior terms after political systems were redesigned, giving incumbents a renewed mandate under updated frameworks.

If Kyrgyzstan had taken the same legal path, it would have meant Japarov could have potentially maintained his grip on power until 2037. But Kyrgyzstan has bucked the trend, with a court ruling saying that his current term cannot be written off.

While this may be a disappointment to Japarov supporters, another part of the ruling may help him in his current battle with Kamchybek Tashiev, whom Japarov recently fired from his post as head of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (SCNS).

The court ruled that Japarov must complete the full six-year mandate he won in January 2021 and that the new five-year term only applies to future elections -- quashing the prospect of an early election this year in which Tashiev might be able to challenge Japarov. Under the ruling, there will be no early vote.

The Last Word?

Independent lawyer Tattuububu Ergeshbaeva told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that although constitutional scholars may continue debating the interpretation, the matter is effectively settled. As the country's highest and final authority on constitutional issues, the court has the last word.

The court, composed of nine judges elected by parliament on the president's proposal, serves as the country's highest authority on constitutional matters, giving its rulings final legal weight.

Former Constitutional Court judge Klara Sooronbekova, speaking to RFE/RL, said the judges deliberately confined themselves to the letter of the law.

"They did not go beyond the limits of the norms they were interpreting, and there was no arbitrary interpretation. The court did not give an expansive reading, which could have changed the meaning of the norm. It made its decision strictly within the framework of the law," she said.

She added that a clear legal determination like this should help calm political tensions, arguing that the ruling brings clarity and stability to a debate that had stirred uncertainty.

But the decision does not rule out future changes, for example if referendums were held on presidential term limits or further constitutional amendments.

"In authoritarian states, such a possibility always exists. It all depends on how the transitional provisions are written," Sooronbekova said. "Something can be added there, but for now the court has put an end to this issue."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/top-kyrgyz-court- stops-president-potentially-ruling-until-2037/33680762.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Hague War Crimes Trial Casts Shadow Over Kosovo's 18th Birthday Celebrations

By Krenare Cubolli February 17, 2026

Kosovo is turning 18, but this year the anniversary is marked by protests as well as celebrations.

The declaration of independence is being overshadowed by the trial of the man who proclaimed it, former President Hashim Thaci, and in particular by the prosecution's request for a 45-year prison sentence.

Closing arguments are now under way at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, with Thaci and three other former senior commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) on trial: Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi. Accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, they have been in pretrial detention since November 2020.

The Specialist Chamber was established in 2015 by the Kosovo Assembly to prosecute mainly former KLA fighters for war crimes and is part of Kosovo's judicial system, but it operates with international staff and is based in The Hague. Fear of witness intimidation was one of the reasons the court is located there.

Closing Arguments

During closing arguments, which began on February 9 and are set to conclude on February 18, the Specialized Prosecutor's Office (SPO) described the KLA as a structured organization in which the four defendants held senior leadership roles. Prosecutors alleged that more than 50 KLA detention centers were used to unlawfully detain, abuse, and kill perceived opponents, including Albanians, Serbs, Roma, and others.

They said about 100 people were killed and cited 437 detention incidents between April 1998 and August 1999, most involving civilians. The prosecution presented KLA General Staff communiques that referred to the killing of alleged collaborators with Serbia and warned others not to follow the same path. The prosecution argued the crimes were committed to consolidate control over Kosovo and outlined the defendants' roles within the KLA leadership and the Provisional Government.

During the trial, the prosecution has called around 125 witnesses, many of them anonymous.

The defense teams rejected the allegations and argued that a 45-year sentence would amount to life imprisonment.

Thaci's lawyers argued there is no direct evidence of any plan to take control of Kosovo through crimes. They said Thaci was often outside Kosovo during the period covered by the indictment and did not attend General Staff meetings. Defense lawyers also said international witnesses had testified that Thaci was not suspected of war crimes at the time and that information from diplomatic and intelligence sources did not implicate him.

Prominent Western figures -- including former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Wesley Clark, former US State Department official James Rubin, and retired US diplomat Christopher Hill -- testified for the defense.

Thaci's lawyers challenged the prosecution's claims of effective KLA command and control, saying there was no proof he knew of crimes allegedly committed by members of the KLA or the Provisional Government, or that he had real power as prime minister.

The defense concluded that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Thaci contributed to any crimes alleged in the indictment, including killings and unlawful detentions.

Case Hits A Nerve

Amer Alija, a legal researcher at the Humanitarian Law Center in Pristina, said the request for a 45-year prison sentence had no legal basis under the former Yugoslav law in force at the time the crimes were allegedly committed, 1998-99, or under current Kosovo legislation.

At the time, maximum sentences could reach up to 20 years in prison, while under Kosovo law today they go up to 35 years.

Agon Maliqi, a nonresident senior fellow with the Europe Center at the Atlantic Council, told RFE/RL that the prosecution's request had touched "a public nerve" across Kosovo.

While reiterating that he is not a jurist, Maliqi described the request as offensive, scandalous, and a desperate attempt by the prosecution to seek the maximum sentence in order to secure at least a lesser conviction.

"A guilty verdict seems implausible to me. To request sentences comparable to those for war criminals who killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians is entirely disproportionate," he said.

For comparison, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was sentenced to 40 years in prison, later extended to a life sentence, on multiple counts including the massacre of 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica, unlawful attacks on civilians during the siege of Sarajevo, and ethnic cleansing in which hundreds of thousands of people were driven from their homes.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), founded by Thaci and now in opposition, has called a February 17 protest in Pristina in support of all four defendants.

PDK has voiced dissatisfaction with the government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti over its handling of the case in The Hague, saying it has failed to provide adequate care and support for former KLA leaders over the past five years, including difficulties in financing the defense team.

Kurti and his party, the Self-Determination Movement, have long been critical of the Specialist Chambers and voted against their establishment.

On February 11, after nearly a year of political stalemate over government formation, Kurti opened his address to lawmakers -- while presenting the composition of the new government -- by saying the prosecution's efforts in The Hague are "an attempt that runs counter to the truth."

A day later, the newly elected parliament adopted a resolution calling for a fair trial for the accused in The Hague.

"Any attempt to equate the KLA's liberation war with the crimes of the genocidal Serbian aggressor undermines trust in justice and severely damages long-term peace," said President Vjosa Osmani, who is now seeking a second term.

After closing arguments conclude, the case moves to the judges, who have three months to deliver a verdict. Alija said they may request an additional two months to review the extensive evidence.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/top-kyrgyz-court- stops-president-potentially-ruling-until-2037/33680762.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Wider Europe Briefing: Ukraine's 2027 EU Dream And What Brussels Wants From Moscow

By Rikard Jozwiak February 17, 2026

Briefing #1: What The EU Says Russia Should Concede

What You Need To Know: The EU top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has distributed a paper among EU member states, seen by RFE/RL, that spells out concessions Russia should make in ongoing diplomatic talks with Ukraine, which the United States is mediating. The demands include a reduction of Russian troops levels and their withdrawal from neighboring countries, reparation payments, and the need to democratize its society.

Neither the EU nor individual European nations have a seat at the table in the various negotiations that have been ongoing for close to a year to stop the war in Ukraine. Seeing as the EU funds most aid to Ukraine and a potential 20-point peace plan spells out clear Brussels competences such as Ukrainian EU membership by 2027, European leaders have bemoaned their lack of political clout in the talks.

Deep Background: The discussion paper, titled European Core Interests in Ensuring a Comprehensive, Just and Lasting Peace and Continent's Security, insists that there can be no peace or security "without the EU at the negotiating table and without taking into account [the] EU's core interests."

The document presents a very "EU maximalist" view on what Russia should do, with one EU diplomat telling RFE/RL that "we pay back to Russian maximalists demands on Ukraine." The Kremlin has so far refused to give up its goal of controlling the entire Ukrainian region of Donbas and reportedly also balked at ideas such as stationing NATO troops in western Ukraine as a post-deal security deal or paying for damages caused by the war.

Another European official familiar with the paper says: "Getting to peace isn't all about Ukraine conceding. We also have to talk about what Russia must do, ahead of sending any envoy there."

There have been discussions among EU capitals about creating an EU envoy who deals specifically with Russia even though there is no agreement who this person would be or what their mandate would be.

The paper will be discussed by EU ambassadors on February 17, and it is expected that at least parts of might come up for debate when the bloc's foreign ministers meet in Brussels on February 23.

Drilling Down:

In the first chapter, titled Russia to Respect Independence, Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of States, the main idea is that if Ukraine should cap its troop levels or even withdraw them from some areas -- something discussed during the US-mediated talks -- then Russia should do the same. It also demands that no "de jure" recognition of the occupied Ukrainian territories occur and that those areas are de-militarized.

The next chapter, A Secure and Stable Europe, includes a demand that "Russia stops disinformation campaigns, sabotage, cyber-attacks, airspace violations and interference in elections on European territory and in neighbouring countries."

Another ultimatum stipulates no nuclear weapons in Belarus and a "ban of Russian military presence and deployments in Belarus, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Armenia." Russian troops have for decades been stationed in Russian-controlled breakaway regions such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniester, as well as bases in Armenia and Belarus.

On the need for Moscow to adhere to international law, the call by the EU includes no blanket amnesty for war crimes, access for international investigators to sites of suspected war crimes, and that no domestic Russian law is elevated above international treaties spelling out various Russian obligations globally.

When it comes to reparations, the text notes that "Russia must compensate and contribute to Ukraine's reconstruction, for damages to European states and European companies, and for ecological damages it has caused."

The EU has frozen some 210 billion euros worth of Russian sovereign wealth assets but has so far failed to agree on a method to either legally confiscate them or leverage them to channel funds to Ukraine. Brussels has, however, sent the quarterly windfall profits of this money to Kyiv.

The final demands concern the domestic situation in Russia with the paper calling for free and fair elections with international monitoring, a release of all political prisoners, a return of deported civilians and children, media freedom, a repeal of the foreign agent law, ceasing "historical falsification and other laws that criminalize dissent and delegitimize independent media and civil society" and full cooperation in investigations of the killings of the Russian opposition leaders Aleksei Navalny and Boris Nemtsov.





Briefing #2: Ukraine's EU Membership Pipe Dream

What You Need To Know: The question of a speedy Ukrainian EU membership, possibly even as early as next year, has resurfaced again. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy notably tweeted, "It is important that Ukraine will do everything to be technically ready for EU accession by 2027. At least the main steps we will accomplish. I want a specific date." He elaborated at the Munich Security Conference on February 14 that "we need a date because otherwise Russia will try to block us -- directly or through maybe other countries."

In parallel, Brussels is starting to look at potential creative solutions to help Kyiv in this regard. In a meeting with ambassadors of the 27 members states earlier in February, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen floated the idea of "a reversed enlargement," meaning a country could join but without many or most of the privileges of membership such as voting rights, its own European commissioner, or even full access to funding. Such rights and obligations would be gradually phased in later as the country continues necessary reforms to become a fully-fledged member.

Deep Background: There are two reasons this potential partial membership is being examined. There's no way Ukraine can become a fully-fledged member already by next year. While the country became an official EU candidate country in 2022, it still hasn't opened EU accession talks yet. This is largely due to a Hungarian veto over what Budapest alleges is Ukrainian discrimination of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.

Accession talks as well as the opening, closing, and sometimes even interim benchmarks of the 33 accession chapters need unanimous support of the EU member states -- there are close to 100 veto opportunities for each and every capital in this process. Even if Viktor Orban's Fidesz loses the Hungarian parliamentary election in April and a slightly more pro-Ukrainian Tisza party comes to power, Ukraine may only be able to open talks on all chapters and potentially close some by 2027.

A quick look at the European Commission's own assessment from late 2025 of Kyiv's readiness for membership shows the country only has "a good level of preparation" in a handful of the 33 chapters. To illustrate, it has taken Montenegro -- a smaller, richer, and less geopolitically complicated country than Ukraine -- 13 years of EU accession negotiations to close 13 of the 33 chapters. Ukraine joining the EU sometime in the 2030s would still be regarded as "speedy" according to most EU enlargement experts.

But the main reason for the EU's quest for creativity is the 20-point peace plan that Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are currently negotiating. One of those 20 points spells out Ukrainian EU membership by 2027. It is fair to say the Europeans aren't happy that they aren't around the table and even more so when it comes to issues they should have a say on.

Speaking to RFE/RL at the Munich conference, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof remarked, "No doubt, Ukraine belongs to the European family, but the Americans and the Russian will not decide when Ukraine is going to enter the European Union. That is up to the European Union and to the European Union only together with Ukraine."

Drilling Down:

Several EU officials RFE/RL spoke to off-the-record acknowledge that even though a peace deal currently looks distant, they cannot be the ones torpedoing it over a single point.

They also agree they need to help Zelenskyy in some way. And EU membership, even partial, is one of the few sweeteners in an otherwise seemingly harsh settlement he can "sell" to the Ukrainian people.

Can it be done by 2027? Speaking to RFE/RL in Munich, former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso noted that "the creativity of European lawyers is boundless when there is a real need."

He added: "The most likely scenario is to have some kind of expedited membership, not putting down the standards but in fact showing Ukraine that we are serious about EU membership."

Even something fast-tracked, partial, front-loaded, or reversed may be a step too far for the EU. Current EU Enlargement Commissioner Mata Kos pinpointed the key obstacle in a recent interview with RFE/RL. "In the accession process there are two important pillars: One is the technical process that I am leading, and the other is the dynamics in the member states so whatever we do we have to get the approval of the member states," she said.

A sudden change of methodology requires unanimity, and it's not only Hungary that has major reservations. Several other EU member states, according to RFE/RL Brussels sources familiar with the topic, are also wary.

Schoof noted that "we can find ways, but I think it is going to be a difficult discussion." Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, asked about it in a panel discussion in Munich on February 15, was even blunter, saying, "Speaking to many EU heads of state and government, I felt that at the moment there is no readiness to agree on a date."

Arguments range from the "Pandora's box" one could open up by potentially changing EU treaties and the bloc being bogged down in such discussions for years to how much access Ukraine should get to EU cash cows such as regional and agricultural funding, potentially upending what already is expected to be very complex and fraught discussions of the next EU budget (2028-2034) that will consume Brussels in the next two years.

Others are also reluctant to commit to what is known as a "two-speed EU." "You are either in or out, that has always been the principle and the core strength of the Union", as one diplomat put it to RFE/RL.

There is also the question of fairness, perhaps best put by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic when speaking to RFE/RL on the issue. "If we will change the methodology to the geopolitical approach, then it will change not only vis-a-vis Ukraine," he said. "I support Ukraine, but it will have to change with everyone. And that will mean a big bang (enlargement), and we haven't had a big bang for many years."

The last "big bang" enlargements were in 2004 and 2007, when 10 Central and Eastern European countries joined the club. And that took a fundamental economic and political reorganization of the EU.

"Everyone," in Plenkovic's view, entails all the other EU hopefuls: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey. Of those nine, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey are technically more advanced than Ukraine as they all have started EU accession talks. They have been trying to gain membership for years, if not decades, under the current merit-based methodology.

But would all current EU member states agree to some sort of EU membership all for those countries as well, and if not, which ones? A sudden Ukrainian EU membership, partial or otherwise, would in other words probably create more problems than it solves.





Looking Ahead

This week is a slower one in Brussels as the legislative agenda to a large extent is synched with the February school holidays in Belgium. There is, however, a chance the bloc's ambassadors might agree on the 20th package of sanctions against Russiaahead of the fourth anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Kyiv on February 24.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-jozwiak-ukraine-eu- moscow/33680375.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US Congress delegation, on official visit to the Ministry of National Defence

Romania - Ministry of National Defence

Press release No. 36

17.02.2026

On Monday, February 16, Minister of National Defence, Radu Miruta, received the visit of a United States Congress delegation, led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

During the talks, the Romanian official presented the main conclusions of his participation in the Munich Security Conference and the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence in Brussels, highlighting in particular Romania's security priorities and interests in the context of strengthening the deterrence posture on the Eastern Flank and maintaining support for Ukraine.

The highlight of the meeting was the visit to the European F-16 Training Center, inaugurated in 2023 at the 86th Air Base in Fetesti. This is an advanced training platform, unique at European level, which offers Romanian, Ukrainian and other Allied and partner pilots access to high-level training programs, aligned with NATO standards.

During the discussions, the fundamental role that the military bases at Deveselu, Mihail Kogalniceanu and Campia Turzii play in the Alliance's deterrence and interoperability configuration was also emphasized, as essential pillars for power projection and strengthening security at regional level.

At the same time, Romania's firm commitment to the progressive augmentation of the defence budget was reaffirmed, aiming at developing modern and interoperable capabilities, likely to strengthen the collective defence architecture.

In this context, the Romanian side expressed its particular interest in capitalizing on the financing mechanisms offered by the United States Government for the purpose of modernizing the Armed Forces, as well as for advancing the objectives set out in the Roadmap on Defense Cooperation for 2020-2030.

In conclusion, the Romanian official highlighted the constant support provided by the US Congress for the security of the Eastern Flank and for strengthening security in the Black Sea region.

During the visit to Fetesti, the delegation also visited the 86th Air Base, and the Minister of National Defence also had a meeting with the unit's personnel, with whom he discussed the challenges of the activity within this important capacity of the Romanian Air Force and NATO. The minister assured those present of the full support of the MoND leadership so that they can execute the missions in the best conditions.

In the afternoon, at Cotroceni Palace, Minister Radu Miruta and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana Toiu, had a joint meeting with the delegation led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, that was also joined by the President of Romania, Nicusor Dan.



The Press Office

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Defence Minister's meeting with the new Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Romania

Romania - Ministry of National Defence

Press release No. 37

17.02.2026

On Tuesday, February 17, Minister of National Defence, Radu Miruta, received, at the MoND headquarters, a presentation visit by the new Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Romania, H.E. Ilyas Mehmood Nizami.

During the meeting, the two officials highlighted the good level of bilateral relations between Romania and Pakistan and discussed opportunities to enhance defence cooperation, with emphasis on consolidating political-military dialogue, exchanges of experience and contacts between relevant institutions.

Minister of National Defence stressed the importance of developing collaborative relations in areas of common interest, as well as Romania's willingness to identify new directions of cooperation, including in terms of military education, training and exchanges of best practices.

"Romania attaches great importance to dialogue and cooperation with its international partners, and Pakistan represents a relevant interlocutor. We express our willingness to continue developing defence bilateral relations, through concrete initiatives and by enhancing institutional contacts," the Romanian official said.

In his turn, the Pakistani ambassador reaffirmed the interest of the authorities in Islamabad in enhancing relations with Romania and in developing concrete cooperation projects, including in the field of the defence industry and regional security.

The dialogue proved both sides' openness, confirming the common commitment to deepening bilateral relations and continuing institutional dialogue





The Press Office

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Spanish Government strongly condemns recent decision by Israeli Government to approve registration of large West Bank areas as 'State property'

Spain - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PRESS STATEMENT 019

17 FEB 26

The Spanish Government strongly condemns the recent decision by the Israeli Government to approve the registration of large areas of the West Bank as 'State property'. This decision by the Israeli Government, together with other recent decisions, constitutes an attempt to change the situation on the ground through unilateral actions, advancing the de facto annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory and threatening the viability of the Palestinian State.

These actions by the Israeli Government constitute another flagrant violation of international law and of the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in 2024, further undermining all efforts to implement the US Peace Plan endorsed by resolution 2803 to achieve a just and lasting peace.

Spain reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of the two-State solution, in accordance with the New York Declaration, which will ensure the future of a Palestinian State within the 1967 borders, comprising Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Spanish Government will continue to systematically condemn, at all levels, the illegality of the Israeli Government's decisions, as well as the violence perpetrated by settlers and Israeli forces against the Palestinian population and their livelihoods, and urges the Israeli Government to reverse its decisions, reminding it of its responsibility to take action in response to these events, which cannot go unpunished.



NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION

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United States and Mauritius to Hold Bilateral Security Discussions

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

February 17, 2026

From February 23-25, the United States and Mauritius will hold discussions in Port Louis led by the Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, with participation from across the U.S. interagency.

These discussions underscore the continued importance of the Chagos archipelago and the joint U.S.-UK base on Diego Garcia to our national security. The discussions will focus on bilateral security cooperation and effective implementation of security arrangements for the base to ensure its long-term, secure operation.

The United States supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago. The United States reiterates its desire to conclude a bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom to guarantee continued use of basing and other facilities in the Chagos archipelago to advance U.S. national security, as well as security and stability across the Indian Ocean.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

17 February 2026

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.

** Briefings

Just in a short while, after you are done with me, we will be joined by Alexander de Croo, who as you know is the Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). He will be joining us live from East Jerusalem to brief you on his recent visit to Gaza. It will be a sort of a shortish intervention.

Then, at 1 p.m., we will have Ambassador Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine. He will be at the Security Council Stakeout to read a statement on behalf of the Arab Group regarding the situation in the occupied West Bank.

** India

The Secretary-General left New York a short while ago. He is heading to New Delhi to take part in the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit. He is scheduled to participate in the Summit's opening ceremony, which takes place on Thursday, as well as a session on the role of science in international AI governance.

The Secretary-General, as we mentioned, will have bilateral meetings with the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and others that are in New Delhi.

** Jesse Jackson

I can tell you that the Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the passing of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a giant of the civil rights movement in the United States and a longtime champion of human rights, equality and justice around the world. Reverend Jackson lent his powerful voice to the UN's work against racism, against apartheid and for human rights, including by taking part in a number of events here at Headquarters. The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to his family, his loved ones, his friends, as well as the Government and the people of the United States.

** Yemen

Turning to Yemen: Today, our Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, concluded a visit to Moscow, in the Russian Federation. There, he discussed with officials, including the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Alexander Alimov, the latest developments in Yemen and they exchanged views on ongoing efforts to return to an inclusive, Yemeni-led political process under the auspices of the United Nations. He underscored the complexity of the conflict and the regional challenges including Red Sea security, as well as the need for Security Council unity and sustained international engagement to prevent further instability.

Mr. Grundberg also briefed on the UN-facilitated talks in Amman on the release of conflict-related detainees and discussed ongoing efforts to secure the unconditional release of 73 of our colleagues, and others who continue to be arbitrarily detained by the Houthis.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning to the situation in Gaza. Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that medical evacuations from the Gaza Strip are continuing each day, albeit in limited numbers. Today and yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners supported the evacuation of 55 patients and 72 of their companions. Three quarters of these people exited through the Rafah crossing and one quarter through the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem. Since the re-opening of Rafah crossing, nearly 260 patients have been evacuated through the two routes, out of about 18,500 who require treatment that is not available locally and are waiting evacuation to get that much needed treatment.

While the World Health Organization continues to call for the re-opening of the medical referral route to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; their priority is to scale up local health services and rehabilitate health services to reduce the need for evacuations.

Meanwhile, today, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said it has distributed more than 1,800 metric tons of animal feed and provided veterinary kits to over 2,300 livestock holders in the past four months. They distributed that alongside with cash assistance.

FAO noted that the conflict caused widespread destruction of agricultural infrastructure. Between October 2023 and November of last year, livestock survival rates dropped to 33 per cent for goats and 20 per cent for sheep, while about 37 per cent of cropland is now accessible for cultivation.

Humanitarians say that meeting people's needs in Gaza requires the increased entry of a wide range of humanitarian supplies and equipment, including items that are currently difficult to gain approval for entry. It also requires enabling all humanitarian partners to operate without hindrance.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan: Nearly three years into the devastating war in Sudan, including almost daily drone attacks on civilians, the region faces an unprecedented displacement crisis, with humanitarian needs outpacing available resources.

To meet these growing needs, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and 123 of our partners are urgently seeking $1.6 billion to provide food, shelter, healthcare, protection and dignified support to 5.9 million people across seven countries neighbouring Sudan by year's end. The plan also promotes longer-term solutions, such as helping Governments include refugees in national systems and expand access to services.

Host Governments and local communities continue to demonstrate remarkable solidarity; however, their capacity is being pushed to the brink, underscoring the need for a fourth consecutive annual appeal on this scale.

We continue to call for stronger international backing to address the persistent underfunding of humanitarian operations in the countries hosting people fleeing Sudan, as we await a lasting peace. And we reiterate, once again, especially in light of the continuing attacks on civilians, that the parties respect international law and never target civilians, health infrastructure, religious sites, schools and many other things.

** Libya

I want to flag a disturbing report issued today by our colleagues at the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). They tell us that migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in Libya are subjected to ruthless and systematic human rights violations and abuses, which include torture, killings, sexual violence and trafficking.

The report finds that migrants are rounded up and abducted by criminal trafficking networks, often with ties to the Libyan authorities, and criminal networks abroad. It describes how they are separated from their families, arrested and transferred to detention facilities without due process, often at gunpoint, in what amounts to arbitrary detention.

In detention, migrants are routinely subjected to horrific violations and abuses, including slavery, torture, ill treatment, forced labour, forced prostitution and other forms of sexual violence, as well as ransom, extortion, and the confiscation and re-sale of their belongings and identification documents. The report really makes for horrific reading and a story that needs to get more attention. More information online.

** Burkina Faso

Moving to Burkina Faso, we and our humanitarian partners today released the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for this year.

The Plan calls for $658.5 million and is aligned with national priorities and supports the Government-led efforts across key sectors including food security, health, and essential services to assist 2.7 million people in 13 regions where the needs are greatest.

Burkina Faso continues to face a complex humanitarian crisis driven by insecurity, displacement and climate shocks, leaving 4.5 million people in need of assistance.

In 2025, only one third of required funding was received, which forced us to make very difficult choices, and less than half of targeted people were reached and less than half of the people targeted for assistance were reached.

Access remains a challenge, especially in hard-to-reach areas where assistance often relies on air transport or escorted convoys, which of course increases the costs of everything.

We thank all the donors for their support, but additional funding is urgently needed, as humanitarian partners warn that hard-won gains could be reversed, undermining resilience and recovery efforts.

** Madagascar

Turning to Madagascar, our OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) colleagues tell us that the Government has reported at least 52 deaths following Tropical Cyclone Gezani that made landfall earlier this month near Toamasina on the eastern coast of Madagascar. In addition, more than 800 people have been injured and nine remain missing.

Preliminary reports indicate that more than 470,000 people have been impacted by the cyclone. Over 35,000 people have been displaced, including 3,200 people in 19 temporary sites. Combined with the impact of the previous cyclone, Cyclone Fytia, which made landfall at the end of January, the total number of people impacted by the two storms exceeds 680,000.

At the Government's request, OCHA deployed additional teams yesterday to strengthen coordination. We and our partners are providing food, water and sanitation, healthcare, protection, nutrition and shelter, among other essential services.

Following aerial assessments, our humanitarian partners estimate that some $49 million is urgently required to support 382,000 people over the next two and a half months. This is part of the Government's appeal on 14 February for $142 million to address urgent humanitarian needs, recovery and reconstruction needs.

We and our partners thank donors and Member States who have demonstrated solidarity with the people of Madagascar and backed it with urgently needed financial resources. We urge the swift disbursement of funds to scale up assistance.

** Ukraine

Turning to Ukraine, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs there tell us that between yesterday and the early hours of today, authorities reported several casualties in front-line regions. In the Donetsk Region, workers were killed while working at energy facilities. In Kherson City, health workers were injured when a medical facility was struck.

Our humanitarian colleagues note that overnight attacks on energy infrastructure left 100,000 people in Odesa City without electricity, without heating and without water. The Ministry of Energy also reported power disruptions following a combined missile and drone attack impacting the Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.

These incidents reflect a pattern of targeted strikes on energy facilities, as temperatures in many parts of the country remain below [zero], increasing hardship and risks for vulnerable people.

Humanitarian teams have been deployed to impacted areas to provide shelter repair kits and materials, as well as psychological first aid. In Odesa City, partners are supporting municipal heating points with hot meals, blankets and other items.

Despite the challenges, assistance at scale continues as the full-scale war is about to enter its fifth year.

In 2025, more than 651,000 people received multipurpose cash assistance, enabling the most vulnerable war-affected people to meet their basic needs amid the hardships caused by the war.

** Peacebuilding Fund

The Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund has allocated $4.5 million for a trinational initiative in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras aimed at strengthening peace mechanisms related to the use of and access to water resources in the Trifinio region, a tri-border area.

Implemented by the UN Development Programme and the FAO, in close collaboration with national authorities and the Plan Trifinio Trinational Commission, the initiative will strengthen preventive capacities and establish inclusive dialogue mechanisms at the trinational, municipal and community levels to prevent and manage water-related tensions.

** Global Tourism Resilience Day

Today is Global Tourism Resilience Day. Yes, there is such a day, and it serves as a reminder that tourism drives sustainable development, jobs and growth worldwide. It's a call for smarter planning and stronger partnerships to support the sector in an unpredictable world.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Next thing is to open up with a question from Edie. So, I will go with you, Edie.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Has the UN been monitoring the talks between Iran and the United States and Russia, Ukraine, and the United States? And does the UN have any comment on today's talks?

Spokesman : Sure. I mean, we welcome... On Iran, we welcome the continuation of the indirect talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, hosted by Oman, which I think, as you know, today took place in Geneva. You know, from the Secretary-General's standpoint, he wants the parties to maintain this momentum of these discussions that we hope will lead to concrete and constructive outcomes. And he also expresses the hope that they will reduce regional tensions and prevent a broader crisis, which could have very broad implications. For us, we continue to emphasize the imperative need for de-escalation and peaceful settlements in accordance with the UN Charter, and the Secretary-General underscores that all concerns can and should be addressed through diplomacy and dialogue. And we, of course, thank Oman and Switzerland for helping facilitate these talks.

Obviously, we're also following the ongoing discussions between the Russian Federation and Ukraine that are also taking place in Geneva with the facilitation of the United States. We continue to push there again for diplomacy to see an end to the conflict in Ukraine which, as we mentioned, is nearing its fifth year. And we want to see an end to the war in line with General Assembly resolutions, international law, and full respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Gabriel Elizondo?

Question : Thanks, Steph. I know you've been asked about the Board of Peace at times, and the UN's position on that  or the Secretary-General's position  is pretty clear. However, I just want to ask a follow-up since the Board of Peace is holding their first formal meeting in D.C. later this week. Has there been any consideration by the UN to take part as an observer rather than a full participant?

Spokesman : I mean, as you know, but it bears repeating it: For us, we will work with the Board of Peace in respect to its work on Gaza, which was mandated and approved by the Security Council. Tom Fletcher was invited to Washington to participate in the Gaza Board of Peace later this week and to speak regarding the UN's humanitarian scale-up, which we've been telling you about every day and putting a lot of effort into. Unfortunately, he has a long-scheduled trip to South Sudan, which is one of the most, I would say, underreported and most horrific humanitarian crises. So he's not able to go, but we will feed information regarding our humanitarian work into the discussions.

Question : There will be another person representing the UN? [cross-talk]

Spokesman : I think at this point, I have nothing to add, but I will update you if that changes. Yes, Alex, please?

Question : Thanks, Steph. A quick follow-up on Edie's question. Have you been in touch with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) regarding the talks in Geneva?

Spokesman : On Iran, no. I mean, not at the Secretary-General's level. I'm sure other colleagues have been in touch and been kept informed with the IAEA.

Question : Could you please share, like, whether the IAEA is optimistic about the talks...?

Spokesman : Whether the IAEA is optimistic?

Question : Yeah.

Spokesman : I think that is a question best left for Mr. [Rafael] Grossi. [cross-talk]

Question : All right. Thank you.

Spokesman : Yeah. Let's go to the screen before we go to our guest; Abu Sufian, please.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. Can you hear me?

Spokesman : Yes, sir.

Question : After more than 18 years, an elected Government was sworn in in Bangladesh today, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rehman. The United Nations has long been working with Bangladesh on issues including the Rohingya crisis, regional security, development cooperation, democracy, and human rights. What is the UN Secretary-General's plan to work with the newly elected Government and Prime Minister of Bangladesh?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, the Secretary-General will continue and the United Nations will continue to work with Bangladesh and the new Government. As we said a couple of days ago, he very much congratulates the people of Bangladesh for the holding of the legislative elections and the referendum earlier this week. As you know and as you said, there are a number of items on the agenda between Bangladesh and the United Nations, notably on issues of development, on issues of climate, and on humanitarian issues, given the generous hosting by Bangladesh of over 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Okay. I don't see any other questions, but I do see our friend Alexander de Croo, the Administrator of UNDP, online.

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As Sudan war approaches fourth year, humanitarian agencies appeal for support to refugees

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Briefing notes

This is a summary of what was said by Mamadou Dian Balde, UNHCR's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

17 February 2026

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and 123 partners are urgently seeking $1.6 billion to deliver critical life-saving assistance and more dignified support to 5.9 million people across seven countries neighbouring Sudan by the end of the year.

The 2026 Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) will continue to prioritize aid for an estimated 470,000 new refugees expected to arrive in neighbouring countries this year, as well as thousands more who remain in border areas and have received only the most basic assistance since their arrival. The need for a fourth annual appeal at this scale underscores the relentless impact of the war in Sudan, and a humanitarian response struggling to keep up.

Nearly three years since the outbreak of the war, Sudan remains the world's largest displacement and worst humanitarian crisis, unfolding in the wake of the most severe global funding crunch in decades. Fighting continues in several parts of the country, where essential services have collapsed. Humanitarian access remains restricted in many areas. Thousands of people continue to flee across borders each week, often arriving in already vulnerable yet generous regions, where public services and economic opportunities were limited even before the crisis.

While host governments and local communities continue to demonstrate remarkable solidarity, their capacity is being pushed to the brink. Egypt now hosts the largest number of people fleeing Sudan, with registered refugee figures nearly quadrupling since 2023. Yet severe funding cuts have forced UNHCR to close two of its three registration centres, affecting people's access to critical protection services. Available funding per refugee per month amounted to $4 in 2025, a drastic drop from $11 in 2022.

In eastern Chad, more than 71,000 refugee families in need have not received housing assistance, leaving them without safe and adequate shelter. Nearly 234,000 people are awaiting relocation, living in precarious conditions at the border.

Clinic closures and the suspension of critical nutrition programmes put thousands of Sudanese refugees in Uganda's Kiryandongo settlement at heightened risk of diseases.

Despite these constraints, this year's Sudan regional refugee response appeal will continue to support host countries in providing critical basic services, including food, shelter, health care and protection services for new arrivals and the most vulnerable refugees.

The plan also prioritizes longer-term solutions by supporting governments to include refugees in national systems, expand access to documentation and public services, and promote self-reliance through partnership with development actors and the private sector. Investment in more adaptable settlements, as in Chad and Ethiopia, to help the displaced and their hosts build safer and more stable communities will also be prioritized.

However, the widening gap between rising needs and shrinking resources threatens to undermine both emergency response efforts and medium-term solutions. With no clear path to peace and dwindling support, more and more refugees are losing hope, making the difficult decision to move onwards. Last year saw the number of Sudanese refugees making the dangerous journey to Europe nearly triple.

UNHCR continues to call for stronger international backing and to address the persistent underfunding of humanitarian operations in the countries hosting people fleeing Sudan, as we await a lasting peace.

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World News in Brief: Madagascar cyclone response, Gaza medical evacuations, remembering civil rights icon Jesse Jackson

17 February 2026 - At least 52 people have died after Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall on the eastern coast of Madagascar on 10 February, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday, citing the authorities.

According to government reports, more than 800 people have been injured and nine remain missing.

The Cyclone has caused widespread damage: more than 470,000 people have been affected and over 35,000 people continue to be displaced.

Combined with the impact of Tropical Cyclone Fytia, which made landfall on 31 January, the total number of people affected by the two cyclones exceeds 680,000.

UN provides support

In a positive forecast, Cyclone Gezani is expected to gradually weaken over the coming days.

Following aerial assessments over Madagascar, it is estimated that some $49 million is urgently required to support 382,000 people over the next two and a half months.

At the Government's request, UN agencies deployed additional teams to strengthen coordination. The Southern African Development Community and the European Union also deployed teams on Monday.

The UN and its partners thanked donors and Member States that have demonstrated solidarity with the people of Madagascar in funding lifesaving food, water and sanitation, healthcare, protection, nutrition and shelter, among other essential services to Madagascans in need.

Medical evacuations from Gaza continue in 'limited numbers', UN Humanitarians report

Since Monday, 55 patients and 72 companions have been medically evacuated from Gaza, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners. Three quarters of evacuations took place at the Rafah crossing and one quarter through Kerem Shalom.

Since the re-opening of the Rafah crossing this month, nearly 260 patients have been evacuated through the two routes. However, the number of people who require treatment that cannot be procured in Gaza remains high at 18,500.

While WHO continues to call for the re-opening of the medical referral route to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, their priority is to scale up local health services and rehabilitate damaged facilities to reduce the need for evacuations.

Food and Agriculture assistance

Meanwhile, more than 1,800 metric tonnes of animal feed and over 2,300 veterinary kits have been distributed in the past four months to livestock holders in Gaza, according to the UN's agency for Food and Agriculture (FAO).

The war in Gaza has led to widespread destruction of agricultural infrastructure. Between October 2023 and November 2025, livestock survival rates dropped to 33 per cent for goats and 20 per cent for sheep, while about 37 per cent of cropland is now accessible for cultivation.

The UN aid coordination office OCHA has reemphasised the increased entry of a wide range of humanitarian supplies and equipment and to operate unimpeded to ensure the needs of the people in Gaza are met.

UN mourns civil rights giant Rev. Jesse Jackson

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed sadness over the death of Rev. Jesse Jackson, a giant of the civil rights movement in the United States and a longtime champion of human rights, equality and justice around the world who passed away on Tuesday aged 84.

"Reverend Jackson lent his powerful voice to the UN's work against racism, against apartheid and for human rights", Stephane Dujarric, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General told reporters in New York.

The Secretary-General extended his deepest condolences to his family, his loved ones, his friends, as well as the Government and the people of the United States.

Jesse Jackson at the United Nations Headquarters

In a visit to the United Nations in March 2018, Rev. Jackson spoke at an event marking the contributions of people of African Descent worldwide and said racial idolatry "manifests itself in so many ways, even in our politics".

Speaking to UN News, the civil rights leader said that "it must be a massive global coalition of conscience" to eliminate racial discrimination.

"We've globalized capital, we've globalized technology [...] We must now globalize human rights: workers' rights; women's rights; children's rights; and environmental security. We must globalize all the values that make life 'life,' for everybody."

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Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Madagascar

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Limited medical evacuations from Gaza continue

OCHA reports that health partners say that medical evacuations from Gaza continue on a daily basis, albeit still in limited numbers.

Today and yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners supported the evacuation of 55 patients and 72 companions. Three quarters exited through Rafah crossing and one quarter exited through Kerem Shalom. Since the re-opening of the Rafah crossing, nearly 260 patients have been evacuated through the two routes of about 18,500 who require treatment that is not available locally.

While WHO continues to call for the re-opening of the medical referral route to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, their priority is to scale up local health services and rehabilitate damaged facilities to reduce the need for evacuations.

Meanwhile, today, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said it has distributed more than 1,800 metric tons of animal feed and provided veterinary kits to over 2,300 livestock holders in the past four months, alongside cash assistance.

In a social media post, FAO noted that the conflict has caused widespread destruction of agricultural infrastructure. Between October 2023 and November 2025, livestock survival rates dropped to 33 per cent for goats and 20 per cent for sheep, while about 37 per cent of cropland is now accessible for cultivation.

Humanitarians say that meeting people's needs in Gaza requires the increased entry of a wide range of humanitarian supplies and equipment, including items that are currently difficult to gain approval for entry. It also requires enabling all humanitarian partners to operate unimpeded.

Sudan

Drone strikes across the country compound the humanitarian crisis

OCHA is deeply alarmed by continued attacks against civilian infrastructure across Sudan.

Drone strikes continue to be reported across the country, resulting in civilian casualties and deepening the humanitarian challenges.

Earlier today, local sources reported that a drone struck the town of El Sunut in West Kordofan State, killing and injuring a yet unknown number of civilians.

On Sunday, a strike on a market in the Al-Safia area in North Kordofan State reportedly hit during market hours, resulting in casualties.

Days earlier, strikes were also reported on a fuel storage facility near a market in Adekong, near the Sudan-Chad border in West Darfur State, and on a primary school in Dilling in South Kordofan.

OCHA reiterates that civilian and civilian infrastructure, including schools and markets, must be protected, in line with international humanitarian law.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.

Ukraine

Strikes across Ukraine leave civilians dead, vital infrastructure damaged

Between 16 February and the early hours of today, authorities reported more than 20 casualties in front-line regions.

In the Donetsk Region, workers were killed while on duty as energy facilities came under attack once again. In Kherson City, two health workers were injured when a medical facility was struck.

Overnight attacks on energy infrastructure left some 100,000 people in Odesa City without electricity, heating or water. The Ministry of Energy also reported power disruptions following a combined missile and drone attack affecting the regions of Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. In Sumy city, heating supply was disrupted. Railway infrastructure was damaged in four regions.

These incidents reflect a pattern of targeted strikes on energy facilities, as temperatures in many parts of the country remain below zero, increasing hardship and risks for vulnerable people.

Humanitarian teams deployed to affected areas to provide shelter repair kits and materials, protection consultations and psychological first aid. In Odesa City, partners are supporting municipal heating points with hot meals, blankets and other essential items.

At the same time, evacuations from frontline areas continue. Between 13 and 16 February, 550 people - including more than 190 children - were evacuated from the Donetsk Region.

Despite the challenges, assistance at scale continues as the full-scale war is about to enters its fifth year. In 2025, more than 651,000 people received multipurpose cash assistance, enabling the most vulnerable war-affected people to meet their basic needs amid the hardships caused by the war.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Ukraine with urgent support.

Burkina Faso

UN and partners seek $658.5 million to help over 2 million people

The UN and humanitarian partners today released the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, in support of the National Humanitarian Response Plan.

The Plan seeks $658.5 million - it is aligned with national priorities and supports Government-led efforts across key sectors including food security, health, and essential services.

Burkina Faso continues to face a complex humanitarian crisis driven by insecurity, displacement and climate shocks, which deepens vulnerabilities across the country. Some 4.5 million people require humanitarian assistance.

This year, the UN and humanitarian partners aim to support 2.7 million people in 13 regions where needs are most severe.

However, funding shortfalls continue to affect the scale of assistance.

In 2025, only one-third of required funding was received, forcing humanitarians to make difficult choices - less than half of the people targeted for assistance were reached.

Access remains a challenge, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where assistance often relies on air transport or escorted convoys, increasing operational costs.

Without more donor support, humanitarian partners warn that hard-won gains could be reversed, undermining resilience and recovery efforts.

Madagascar

Response scales up as death toll rises after twin cyclones

The Government has reported at least 52 deaths following Tropical Cyclone Gezani that made landfall on 10 February near Toamasina on the eastern coast of Madagascar. In addition, more than 800 people have been injured and nine remain missing.

Preliminary reports indicate that more than 470,000 people have been affected by Cyclone Gezani and over 35,000 people have been displaced, including 3,200 people in 19 temporary sites. Combined with the impact of Tropical Cyclone Fytia, which made landfall on 31 January, the total number of people affected by the two cyclones exceeds 680,000.

The UN and its partners are providing lifesaving food, water and sanitation, health care, protection, nutrition and shelter, among other essential services.

Following aerial assessments, humanitarian partners estimate that some US$49 million is urgently required to support 382,000 people over the next two and a half months. This amount is part of the Government's appeal on 14 February for $142 million to address urgent humanitarian, recovery and reconstruction needs.

At the Government's request, OCHA yesterday deployed additional teams to strengthen coordination. The Southern African Development Community and the European Union also deployed teams on Monday.

In a positive forecast, Cyclone Gezani is expected to gradually weaken over the coming days.

The UN and its partners thank donors and Member States that have demonstrated solidarity with the people of Madagascar and backed it with urgently needed financial resources - and urge the swift disbursement of funds to scale up the response.

Posted on 17 February 2026

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Coast Guard addresses recent media reporting

United States Coast Guard

Press Release | Feb. 17, 2026

WASHINGTON -- Admiral Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, issued the following statement:

A recent media report about the U.S. Coast Guard contained numerous inaccuracies about the Service.

Among those, the allegation that the Secretary of Homeland Security directed the Acting Commandant to divert a C-130 long range aircraft from a search for a missing U.S. Coast Guard crewmember who went overboard from a U.S. Coast Guard cutter at sea is categorically false. That never happened. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an exhaustive search over several days using all available assets, including a C-130 aircraft, in an all-out effort to locate our missing crewmember.

Search and rescue is not just one of the Coast Guard's missions, it is a sacred trust we have with the American people we serve, including 5,220 lives saved in 2025. Reporting that suggests otherwise does a disservice to the men and women of the Coast Guard.

Under Secretary Noem's leadership, the Coast Guard has delivered record results and value for the American people over the past year. The men and women of the Coast Guard take great pride in that. The Service has controlled the U.S. border and maritime approaches, including seizing record amounts of deadly illegal drugs at sea that were destined for U.S. communities, and stopping the flow of illegal immigration by sea. The Service has facilitated commerce that is vital to U.S. economic prosperity by ensuring the safety and security of U.S. ports, waterways, and shipping in the physical domain and cyberspace. And the Coast Guard has successfully responded to crises, including rescuing those in distress such as saving lives during the devastating storms and flooding in Texas and Alaska in the past year. More recently, Coast Guard icebreakers have kept waterways open and commerce moving in the face of the most severe Arctic cold to hit the mid-Atlantic and Northeast in over a decade. The Coast Guard is implementing Secretary Noem's direction through Force Design 2028 to renew the Service to become more agile, capable, and responsive and deliver greater value to the Nation. As a reflection of the Secretary's strong advocacy and support for the Coast Guard and its workforce, the Service has seen its greatest recruiting success in over 30 years.

For media inquiries contact mediarelations@uscg.mil.

###

About the U.S. Coast Guard

With more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, 25,000 miles of navigable rivers and 4.5 million square miles of U.S. exclusive economic zone, the U.S. Coast Guard defends the Nation, protects the marine transportation system, regulates and safeguards ports and waterways, leads the Nation in maritime drug interdiction and secures the maritime border. As a member of the joint force, a law enforcement organization, a regulatory agency and a member of the U.S. intelligence community, the Coast Guard employs a unique mix of authorities to ensure the safety and integrity of the maritime domain to protect the economic and national security of the nation. More than 76,000 members of the Coast Guard operate a multi-mission, interoperable fleet of more than 220 cutters, 185 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, 1,300 boats and its own dedicated cyber command to protect critical maritime infrastructure.

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Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk returns home from 60-day patrol after escorting two oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of America

United States Coast Guard

Press Release | Feb. 17, 2026

KEY WEST, Fla. -- The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk returned to their homeport in Key West, Saturday, after a 60-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, where crew members boarded and escorted two sanctioned oil tankers.

Operating in support of Operation Southern Spear, Mohawk's crew partnered with Department of War and Department of Homeland Security assets as well as additional Coast Guard units to board and escort the two sanctioned vessels, preventing the illicit trade of crude oil in violation of international sanctions.

"Our dedicated crews are the frontline of maritime security," said Cmdr. Taylor Kellogg, commanding officer of Mohawk. "Their vigilance and expertise were instrumental in the successful interdiction and escort of these tankers, preventing illicit oil from destabilizing the Western Hemisphere. This is a clear demonstration of the Coast Guard's commitment to enforcing international law and our vital role in the Joint Force. I'm proud of their selfless service and devotion to duty."

On Dec. 20, a Coast Guard tactical law enforcement team with DoW support intercepted and boarded the Panamanian-flagged motor tanker Centuries. Subsequently, Mohawk escorted Centuries during its transit from the Caribbean Sea to the Gulf of America, where the tanker moored for further disposition in coordination with the Centuries' flag state.

On Jan. 15, a Coast Guard tactical team with DoW support intercepted and seized the Venezuelan-linked, Aframax motor tanker Veronica, prompting Mohawk's crew to quickly transit back to the Caribbean Sea and provide escort duties. Following a boarding by a joint warfare team, Mohawk escorted Veronica to a secure anchorage in the Caribbean Sea.

The back-to-back escorts totaled 17 days and covered a combined distance of 2,700 nautical miles.

Unique statutory authorities enable the Coast Guard to enforce international and domestic law in the maritime domain, deploying assets to conduct missions in U.S. waters and on the high seas. The Coast Guard's involvement in these maritime activities was conducted under Title 14, U.S. Code and in accordance with customary international law. The Coast Guard exercises these authorities to protect maritime safety, security and U.S. interests.

For media inquiries, contact lantpao@uscg.mil.

###

About the U.S. Coast Guard and Operation Southern Spear

The U.S. Coast Guard's missions are enabled by a unique blend of military, law enforcement and humanitarian capabilities. The Coast Guard is the principal federal agency responsible for maritime safety, security and environmental stewardship in U.S. ports, waterways and on the high seas.

Operation Southern Spear is a multi-agency effort led by the DoW to counter illicit maritime trade and enforce international sanctions. By leveraging joint capabilities, the operation aims to disrupt transnational criminal organizations and maintain stability in the maritime domain.

Mohawk is a 270-foot, Famous-class medium endurance cutter homeported in Key West. An asset of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, the cutter's primary missions include counter-narcotics, alien interdiction, homeland security, and search and rescue in support of U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere.

Based in Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area is responsible for all Coast Guard missions east of the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf, spanning five districts and 40 states. It oversees a wide range of operations, including counter-drug and alien interdiction, enforcement of federal fishery laws, and search and rescue operations in support of Coast Guard missions throughout the Western Hemisphere. In addition to surge operations, Atlantic Area is a force provider of surface and air assets to the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific to combat transnational organized crime and illicit maritime activity.

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RNZAF P-8A Poseidon monitors Pitcairn Islands EEZ for illegal fishing

New Zealand Defence Force

A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft has carried out a successful fisheries patrol over the Pitcairn Island Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) identifying vessels of interest for the United Kingdom.

18 February, 2026

The Pitcairn Island EEZ is a designated Marine Protected Area covering 834,000 square kilometres, closed to all extractive activities including commercial fishing.

The UK's Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Joint Maritime Security Centre provides support to the Government of the Pitcairn Islands through remote surveillance of the area, recording vessels that may be carrying out Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing activities.

A MMO request came to New Zealand's National Maritime Coordination Centre, which tasked the P-8A Poseidon to undertake surveillance of the area in late January.

Air Component Commander Air Commodore Andy Scott said it was a successful mission that supported New Zealand's UK partners and the people of Pitcairn.

"The crew photographed 14 vessels and will provide that imagery to the MMO for assessment of whether there was any illegal activity. IUU fishing is a serious threat to regional stability and prosperity around the world, and our P-8A is a highly capable platform to deter this illegal activity.

"Prior to starting the patrols, the aircraft also carried out a flight of the Pitcairn Island circumference and the capital Adamstown, showing our support to Pitcairn Islanders."

Andrew Deary, Head of Compliance and Enforcement for the MMO, thanked the RNZAF.

"The MMO is hugely appreciative of the support and collaboration it has received from New Zealand.

"Being able to bring this type of capability to bear is invaluable in ensuring compliance with the Pitcairn Marine Protected Area."

The RNZAF's four P-8A Poseidon aircraft replaced the retiring P-3K Orions and became operational in 2023. They are purpose built to patrol maritime environments and monitor vessels above and below the seas.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 17 February 2026 - Day 1455

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential.

Since the beginning of the day, there have been 137 combat clashes.

The Russian enemy launched one missile strike, fired 28 missiles, made 50 air strikes, dropped 109 controlled air bombs. In addition, Russian forces used 5847 kamikaze drones and carried out 2,538 shells on settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, the Russian enemy carried out 75 shelling of settlements and positions of Ukrainian units, including nine from the reactive systems of arson fire.

In the South Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces four times stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of the settlements of Vovchanski Khutory, Prylipka and towards Ohrimivka.

Three attacks were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Kupyansky direction, in the direction of Kurilivka and Novoosinovy. One confrontation is currently ongoing.

In the Lyman direction Ukrainian soldiers stopped six attacks, in the area of Zarichny and towards the settlement point of stake.

In the Slavic direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled nine Russian attempts to advance in the areas of Yampol, Zakitny, Riznikivka, Platonivka, Dronivka, Svyato-Pokrovsky. One battle is going on.

In the direction of Kramators .komu, the Russians tried three times to advance on the position of Ukrainian troops, in the area of the settlement of Stupochka and towards Novodmitrivka.

In the Konstantinivka direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders 13 times near the settlements of Pleshiyivka, Cherbinivka, Rusin Yar, Sofiyivka and towards Konstantinovka, Illinivka, Novopavlivka, Ivanopilya. Three more clashes are underway.

The Russian enemy committed 16 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of the settlements Rodinske, Kotline, Filiya and towards Novooleksandrivka.

According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction, Ukrainian soldiers eliminated 26 Russian invaders and wounded 12; destroyed 96 unmanned aircraft, nine car transport units, 24 special equipment units, two BPLA control points, an ammunition warehouse, also hit two artillery systems, ten vehicles units and nine Russian personnel shelters.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, Ukrainian units stopped four Russian attacks in the areas of settlements of Ternovo, Rybne and towards Danilivka. One battle is going on. The air strike controlled by air bombs suffered by gavrilivka and fedorivs ke.

29 attacks of the Russian occupiers took place in the Gulyaipil direction - in the areas of the settlements of Dobropillya, Gulyaipole, Solodke, Pryluki, Zelene and towards the Railway, Varvarivka. Four confrontations are currently ongoing. Russian air strikes suffered vozdvizhivka, forest, upper tersa, peaceful, charming.

In the orihiv direction, the Russian enemy did not carry out offensive actions. The air strike controlled by the air bombs were suffered by Veselyanka, Lyubimivka and Mirivka.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian enemy did not commit offensive actions.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that over the past 24 hours, in response to the terrorist attacks launched by the Kiev regime against civilian infrastructure facilities on the territory of Russia, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have delivered a massive strike with long-range, ground- and air-launched high-precision weapons as well as unmanned aerial vehicles at the facilities of the defence industry, energy infrastructure of Ukraine used to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine as well as at the points of production, storage, and preparation for the launch of attack unmanned aerial vehicles.

The goals of the strike were achieved. All the assigned targets were engaged.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops engaged a mechanised brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a territorial defence brigade near Kondratovka, Kharkovka, and Khoten (Sumy region).

In Kharkov region, units of a motorised infantry brigade of the AFU and a territorial defence brigade have been hit near Grafskoye, Izbitskoye, and Rubezhnoye (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 165 troops, 10 motor vehicles, a materiel depot, and a U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-fire radar.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Three mechanised brigades, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a national guard brigade have been hit close to Druzhelyubovka, Kovsharovka, Novoosinovo (Kharkov region), Krasny Liman, and Raygorodok (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU lost up to 150 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles including one U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicle, 15 motor vehicles, and two artillery guns. Six ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line. Three mechanised brigades, a mountain assault brigade, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade have been hit near Konstantinovka, Lipovka, Nikiforovka, Novoselovka, Ray-Aleksandrovka, and Reznikovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost more than 195 troops, 12 pickup trucks, an M113 armoured personnel carrier, and one U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicle. One electronic warfare station was destroyed.

The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, two jaeger brigades, an airmobile brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and four national guard brigades close to Belitskoye, Vodyanskoye, Grishino, Kucherov Yar, Novogrigorovka, Pavlovka, Sergeyevka, Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Novopavlovka, and Novopodgornoye (Dnepropetrovsk region).

Up to 350 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles have been neutralised.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. A mechanised brigade, two assault brigades, two air assault brigades, and two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been hit near Kommunarovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Vozdvizhevka, Gorkoye, Dolinka, Zelenaya Dibrova, Timoshevka, Lyubitskoye, and Nikolskoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy lost over 345 troops, eight armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and one field artillery gun.

The Dnepr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade and a mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been hit near Novoandreyevka and Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).

More than 25 troops, eight motor vehicles, and one materiel depot have been neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack UAVs, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have inflicted losses on temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 148 areas.

Air defence systems shot down eight guided aerial bombs and 334 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost: 670 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 114,976 unmanned aerial vehicles, 650 anti-aircraft missile systems, 27,742 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,664 MLRS combat vehicles, 33,300 field artillery guns and mortars, and 33,330 units of support military vehicles.

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DHS Announces Historic Next Step in Border Wall Project

Release Date: February 17, 2026

DHS is continuing to bring in America's best to coordinate a unified view and approach for the completion of President Trump's border wall

WASHINGTON -- The United States Department of Homeland Security today announced that, after an extremely competitive bidding process and engagement with dozens of companies, the highly respected Parsons Government Services Inc. will oversee and manage the completion of border wall construction.

This partnership  via the newly announced owner's agent contract announced on February 17, 2026  will build upon President Trump's already historic success at wall construction while streamlining and supercharging its completion.

"With President Trump back in office, we have delivered the most secure border in American history - and we did so in the immediate aftermath of the worst border crisis in history that came from four years of Joe Biden's disastrous open-borders policy. This administration understood that we needed to hit the ground running and produce results right away, and that's what we did," said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "For the last nine months in a row, Border Patrol has released zero illegal aliens into the interior of the country, while CBP recorded the lowest total number of encounters in the agency's history in 2025. Now, we're ready to move forward with completing President Trump's border wall. We're accelerating our efforts by using private sector expertise with the unprecedented level of investment from President Trump's One Big Beautiful Act."

Under President Trump's leadership, DHS is continuing to leverage America's best to deliver on the completion of the border wall. Parsons, which provides unparalleled expertise in leading major infrastructure projects, will oversee and manage the project, and work to ensure border wall construction is on time and under budget. This will provide for the American people's safety and security while managing their tax dollars in the most efficient way possible. This border wall construction will be covered out of the One Big Beautiful Bill Border Wall funds  which are not impacted by government shutdowns.

President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act provided DHS with a $46.5 billion investment to complete the border wall - the largest border security investment in a generation.

Funding from President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides modern infrastructure, advanced technology, and increased law enforcement staffing to help secure the border. Specifically, the legislation funds border barriers, non-intrusive inspection technology at ports of entry, fleet modernization, facility recapitalization, expanded hiring, and increased training capacity for CBP's workforce.

As Secretary Noem recently said on The Dan Bongino show, DHS is on track to complete border wall construction by early 2028.

# # #

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Transferred Mexican National Sentenced for Role in Large Scale International Cocaine Trafficking Offense

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A Mexican national was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to import approximately 1,900 kilograms of cocaine into the United States.

According to court documents, the defendant, Jose Francisco Mendoza-Gomez, was a member of a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) led by Marisela Flores-Torruco that was responsible for importing multi-hundred-kilogram quantities of cocaine into the United States for years. The DTO also engaged in bulk cash smuggling, bribery of Mexican officials and attempted kidnappings related to rival traffickers.

The DTO, which had operations in New York, Texas, and elsewhere in the United States, sourced its cocaine from Colombia and provided logistical and financial support to coordinate the narcotics' passage through Central America and Mexico and into the United States. During the investigation, law enforcement made several cocaine seizures, including approximately 971 kilograms of cocaine on April 21, 2017, and 500 kilograms of cocaine on May 10, 2017, nearly all of which was attributable to the DTO.

In addition to cocaine trafficking, the DTO transported substantial illicit proceeds earned from its operations back to Mexico and elsewhere. DTO members engaged in bulk money transfers with cocaine suppliers and utilized a Chinese money laundering network to repatriate bulk narcotics proceeds out of the United States. The DTO also engaged in bribery of Mexican officials, including to gain access to information useful to its cocaine trafficking operations, and planned and attempted to execute multiple kidnappings related to rival drug traffickers and in efforts to secure outstanding debts.

Mendoza-Gomez assisted in coordinating and transporting cocaine for distribution in the United States, handled hundreds of thousands worth of narcotics proceeds, provided advice to the DTO's leader and participated in the DTO's efforts to plan kidnappings and obtain information from corrupt Mexican officials.

On Aug. 12, 2025, Mendoza-Gomez, along with 25 other fugitives, were transferred from Mexico to the United States. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs coordinated the transfers.

Two of the defendant's co-conspirators, Marisela Flores-Torruco and Qiyun Chen, have been convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for their roles within the DTO, as have several individuals involved in the related Chinese money laundering network. Flores-Torruco pleaded guilty to possession, manufacture, or distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. Chen pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)'s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, with assistance from DEA's offices in Cartagena (Colombia), Bogota (Colombia), Panama City, Mexico City, and Guatemala City. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service provided substantial assistance in the investigation.

Trial Attorney Caylee E. Campbell of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher M. Carter and Edgardo J. Rodriguez for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.

Topic: Drug Trafficking

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

Criminal - Office of International Affairs

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

USAO - Virginia, Eastern

Press Release Number: 26-152

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US secretly deports migrants to Cameroon despite court protections

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 3:17 PM

The United States has quietly deported nine migrants to Cameroon under a secret arrangement, including individuals who had already been granted legal protection by US courts prohibiting their return.

According to a report by The New York Times, the group was flown from Alexandria to Cameroon on January 14, without being informed of their destination until they were handcuffed and placed in chains aboard a Department of Homeland Security aircraft.

None of the deportees are Cameroonian citizens, and US authorities have not disclosed any public agreement with Yaounde to accept third-country deportees.

Cameroon's government has also declined to comment on the reported arrangement.

Several of the migrants had received removal protections from US immigration judges after demonstrating they would likely face persecution, imprisonment, or violence if returned home.

Lawyers representing them say most have since been detained at a compound in Cameroon's capital and told they cannot leave unless they agree to return to their countries of origin.

Some of the deportees told the newspaper that they fled war and political persecution. They described the transfer as traumatic and said they were given no meaningful opportunity to challenge their removal to Cameroon.

The deportations appear to be the first of their kind to Cameroon and are part of a broader Trump administration effort to secure agreements with foreign governments  often through undisclosed negotiations and reported financial incentives  to accept migrants the United States seeks to remove.

A recent report by Democratic staff on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said, Washington has spent more than $40 million on third-country deportation arrangements, describing the deals as murky and lacking transparency.

Human rights advocates argue the policy effectively circumvents US court protections and risks exposing vulnerable migrants to renewed danger, potentially violating domestic and international asylum obligations.

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Switzerland weighs European option as Patriot delivery stalls

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 6:04 AM

Switzerland is reassessing its air defense plans after the United States postponed delivery of Patriot missile systems, with a European alternative now under consideration.

Washington has indefinitely delayed the delivery of five Patriot anti-missile battery units to Switzerland, prioritizing Ukraine instead. The move has prompted frustration among Swiss lawmakers and raised questions about the country's long-term defense procurement strategy, the SWI swissinfo news reported on Monday.

At the center of the discussion is the US-made MIM-104 Patriot system, whose delivery timeline has become uncertain.

A European alternative emerges

As doubts over the Patriot timeline persist, attention has turned to the SAMP/T, one of the few credible alternatives. The Medium Range/Land-based Surface-to-Air Defense System is developed by a Franco-Italian consortium and led by the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation, a European body.

According to the Swiss paper NZZ am Sonntag, the producers have signaled readiness to move quickly. "If Switzerland places an order today, we could deliver our system by 2029," it reported.

The prospect of faster delivery has become a significant factor in the debate, given concerns about the risk of aerial threats to Switzerland.

Political frustration over US delays

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have expressed dissatisfaction with the postponement.

Green Party parliamentarian Clarence Chollet said, "I view this European alternative very favorably. It is also the government's desire to work with European partners. The Patriot system will not arrive in Switzerland for years, or perhaps not at all."

The defense ministry has not ruled out a change in course. Robert Scheidegger, deputy secretary-general of the ministry, indicated that the option was under review.

"You can assume that we have asked ourselves this question and that we will certainly discuss it in the Federal Council. We will then communicate, if necessary, the direction we will take," he said.

In the coming weeks, the government is expected to clarify whether the United States will deliver the Patriots by 2030 and at what cost.

Broader European shift on defense

Switzerland's deliberations come amid wider European efforts to reduce reliance on the United States for security.

At the Munich Security Conference, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described a turning point in transatlantic relations, saying, "Some lines have been crossed that cannot be uncrossed anymore."

Tensions have intensified following US President Donald Trump's push to annex Greenland, which has heightened doubts in Europe about Washington's long-term commitment to sustain its military affiliation with the continent through the NATO alliance.

While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States wanted to work with Europe, he did not mention NATO in his conference speech.

Amid the situation, European authorities have pledged to accelerate defense efforts and rely less on the United States.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed in Munich to strengthening a "European pillar" within NATO.

Merz told the conference, "This new beginning is right under all circumstances. It is right if the United States continues to distance itself. It is right as long as we cannot guarantee our own security on our own."

He also said he had begun talks with Macron about a European nuclear deterrence.

European countries have significantly increased defense spending and launched joint projects, including work on long-range strike missiles and ballistic missile defense cooperation. At the same time, debates continue over whether European Union defense initiatives should prioritize EU-based companies or remain open to broader participation.

Observers commenting on the developments have connected them with shifting transatlantic ties and growing European ambitions for greater strategic autonomy.

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Prime Minister Carney announces the launch of Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy

Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney

February 17, 2026

Montreal, Quebec

What a pleasure to be back in Montreal and at CAE - a leading Canadian defence company that is building what Canada needs.

For generations, skilled workers in Quebec have supported the industries that underpin Canada's security and prosperity.

Quebecers know what it means to build things that matter.

The work you do here is supporting our families. It is anchoring our communities. It is defending our country.

We are here today to build on this tradition.

Canada's new government was elected with a clear mandate: to make Canada stronger, more resilient, and more independent. We are pursuing that on every front - building affordable housing at rates not seen in generations, creating one Canadian economy, realising Canada's full potential as an energy superpower, and striking new international agreements with reliable partners.

None of these goals will come easily. They will all require ambition, collaboration, and on occasion, sacrifice.

But Canadians are up for it. We know that the world has changed, and that Canada must change with it.

The assumptions that shaped decades of Canadian defence and foreign policy have been completely upended.

The threats we face are numerous and growing - ranging from incursions into our Arctic to attacks targeting our cyberspace. The very nature of warfare is changing rapidly, driven by the proliferation of drones, autonomous systems, and weapons in orbit.

The potential theatres of conflict have moved closer to our borders.

In a more fractured and darker world, Canadian leadership will be defined not just by the strength of our values, but also by the value of our strength.

That strength must be concentrated, reinforced, and above all, Canadian.

That is why, right after the election, the Government of Canada set out on an ambitious mission to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in our Armed Forces.

We are now on track to meet our 2% NATO target by this spring - a full decade ahead of the previous schedule. Recruitment to the Canadian Armed Forces is up by 13% since June. We have signed a series of new defence and security partnerships with allies who share our interests, values, and history, including the landmark SAFE agreement that the Minister of National Defence, David J. McGuinty, signed with the European Union last week.

Crucially, we have committed to doubling our defence expenditures by the end of this decade. That amounts to an additional $80 billion over the next five years. In addition, as part of our NATO commitments, we will invest an additional $45 billion per year on domestic resilience, yielding both security and economic benefits.

Over the next decade, Canada will invest $180 billion directly in defence procurement, $290 billion in defence and security-related infrastructure, and create over $125 billion in additional downstream economic benefits.

The magnitude of these commitments underscores the seriousness of the emerging threats before us. They also create significant economic opportunities.

The Canadian defence industry already provides more than 80,000 Canadians with direct employment, and many more indirectly.

It is imperative to maximise the return on these investments - over $500 billion - to strengthen our security, increase our jobs and prosperity, and protect our sovereignty.

Defending Canada means more than the size of our military. It also means the strength of our industries, the resilience of our economy, and our capacity to act independently when it matters most.

Our national security and our economic security go hand in hand.

To those ends, we are announcing Canada's first-ever Defence Industrial Strategy. It's a bold plan to get our Armed Forces what they need and when they need it, scale Canadian defence companies, put hundreds of billions of dollars into strategic sectors of our economy, and create over 125,000 high-paying jobs across Canada.

Its framework is simple: build, partner, buy.

First, we will build in Canada and prioritise Canadian companies. As a matter of policy, military procurement in areas where we have sovereign capabilities will be directed to Canadian firms first.

Where we cannot build, we will partner with like-minded allies - helping to attract investment, transfer intellectual property, and integrate supply chains so that public dollars flow back to Canada and jobs are created right here.

Only after exhausting these options, will we buy from abroad. Even then, we will ensure that the maximum benefits are returned to Canada throughout the value chain, including through a modernised Industrial and Technological Benefits regime.

The centrepiece of our new approach is the new Defence Investment Agency (DIA). The DIA will streamline and speed procurement, cut red tape, and expand domestic production.

The Defence Industrial Strategy has three fundamental objectives:

To protect Canada's sovereignty, particularly in the Arctic, by ensuring our women and men in uniform have the tools they need to defend Canada.

To build Canadian prosperity.

To strengthen Canada's strategic autonomy by increasing our ability to act independently in a more dangerous world.

We start by defending Canadians.

The truth is, over the last few decades, Canada has neither spent enough on defence nor invested enough in our defence industries.

And we have relied too heavily on our geography and other countries to protect us.

This has created vulnerabilities we can no longer afford and dependencies we can no longer sustain.

Government procurement is too slow, too fragmented, and too reactive. For many Canadian companies, it is easier to sell to foreign governments than to our own. The current process increases our reliance on foreign suppliers and undermines the firms that we should be building up.

We have made important new commitments in defence, and we must do the same with our spending.

Our Armed Forces will be backed by a resilient, Canadian defence industrial base. Every dollar will be spent to maximise jobs, careers, and industries right here in Canada.

The Defence Industrial Strategy will start by concentrating on the sovereign capabilities that are critical to our ability to defend Canada - areas where we are already strong or where we have the potential to lead.

For example, Quebec and Canada have proven strengths in aircraft, aircraft engines, and parts. We have advanced capabilities in maintenance, repair, and in-service support. With CAE, we are a world leader in training and simulation. You are the world leaders in training and simulation.

Across Canada, we have other strengths. We produce world-class combat vehicles, munitions, and naval vessels.

And Canada is developing leadership in areas that will be increasingly central to defence, including space, AI, cyber, quantum, medical countermeasures, robotics, and drones.

Strengthening our sovereign capabilities, and the quality jobs that come with them, will require various tools, including our determination to buy Canadian whenever possible.

Our strategy rests on five pillars:

First, renewing our relationship with industry, including through clear long-term demand signals.

Second, procuring strategically and with greater efficiency through "build, partner, buy".

Third, investing in innovation and workforce development.

Fourth, securing supply chains.

And finally, working with domestic partners, including in Canada's North.

The details are in the strategy document we are releasing today, but let me highlight one aspect that matters particularly for our long-term competitiveness and is directly relevant to the activities of CAE.

This company knows our defence sector is research-intensive - three times more research and development-intensive as Canadian manufacturing overall. And history shows that defence spending catalyses innovation far beyond the sector itself. Computing, GPS, the powerful camera lenses in our phones - all emerged from defence investment.

We will boost government investment in defence-related research and development by 85% to help develop the next generation of capabilities in AI, quantum, robotics, and autonomous systems.

In part, to do that, we are creating a new Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership (BOREALIS) to coordinate and accelerate defence research and innovation in frontier technologies like quantum and AI.

Our overall objectives are to increase Canadian defence sector revenues by over 220%, our defence exports by 50%, and to create 125,000 new jobs.

And for small and medium-sized businesses, the strategy targets an annual increase of $2.8 billion in defence-related revenues to reach $4.5 billion.

These direct benefits will have positive impacts across our entire economy. Each job created means one more Canadian who will enjoy greater security, a family that feels less anxious about the future, a local economy that is selfsustaining and can provide opportunities to the next generation.

Ultimately, this strategy is about protecting Canada's sovereignty in its fullest sense: our ability to act independently in a more dangerous and divided world.

To be clear, strategic autonomy does not mean isolation. It means being strong enough to be a partner of choice - rather than a dependent. It means building a domestic defence industrial base so that we are never hostage to the decisions of others when it comes to our own security. And it means diversifying our partnerships so that we are resilient against any single point of failure.

That is why the "build, partner, buy" framework at the heart of this strategy matters so much. When we build at home, we develop the sovereign capabilities - in aerospace, ammunition, digital systems, naval construction, space - that ensure Canada can defend itself under any circumstances.

When we partner with trusted allies in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the Indo-Pacific, we access capabilities and technologies that strengthen us all. By diversifying these partnerships, we reduce our exposure to any single alliance or any single decision that we do not control.

Defence depends on complex supply chains - from critical minerals to specialised components. Accordingly, we are launching the new Canadian Defence Industry Resilience Program to secure key supply chains for the Canadian Armed Forces.

We will expand the production, processing, and stockpiling of defence critical minerals. And we will coordinate with allies through the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance and NATO stockpiling efforts, because strategic autonomy is strengthened by smart partnerships.

A sovereign country can defend itself and has local industries that support its defence and quality of life.

A free country can act autonomously, by doing what is best for its people, putting its interests, its jobs, and its aspirations above all else.

This is the Canada we are building.

To conclude, Canada's new government came to office with a clear mandate: to build a stronger, more resilient, more independent country. Today's Defence Industrial Strategy is central to that mission.

With this strategy, we will strengthen Canadian security - ensuring our women and men in uniform have everything they need to defend our country.

We will build Canadian prosperity by creating high-paying jobs, boosting research and development, growing world-leading Canadian firms, and ensuring that the benefits of defence investments are felt in communities across the country.

In this century, the work of defending Canada is the work of building Canada.

Security and prosperity aren't competing priorities.

They are mutually reinforcing foundations of the true North, strong and free.

They are the foundations of Canada strong.

Thank you.

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Prime Minister Carney launches Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy to strengthen security, create prosperity, and reinforce strategic autonomy

Canada

17 Feb 2026

Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney

February 17, 2026

Montreal, Quebec

The world is changing rapidly. The international rules-based order is fading, and technological change is expanding the fields of conflict. In response, Canada's new government is focused on what we can control: rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). We are working fast and seeing results: Canada is on track to hit our 2% NATO spending target this fiscal year and applications to join the CAF are up nearly 13%.

To protect Canada's sovereignty, build our prosperity, and strengthen our strategic autonomy, the Canadian government must change how we invest in defence. Canada's defence procurement has long been too complicated, too slow, and too reliant on international suppliers, limiting the growth of our defence industries. This has left our workers and businesses with fewer opportunities, our domestic industries without the demand necessary to scale, and critically, the women and men of our military without the equipment they need to defend our sovereignty and that of our Allies.

Canada's new government is changing this. Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, launchedCanada'sfirst Defence Industrial Strategy. This is a strategy to transform our defence industries by prioritising Canadian suppliers and materials, investing in Canadian innovation and commercialisation, and streamlining procurement to give businesses consistent and predictable demand. This will enable Canada's aerospace, cyber, and other industries to scale up operations to sell more at home and to trusted partners around the world, creating high-paying careers for Canadians across defence supply chains.

The Defence Industrial Strategy positions Canadian industry to take advantage of $180 billion in defence procurement opportunities and $290 billion in defence-related capital investment opportunities in Canada over the next 10 years, with an anticipated $125 billion downstream economic benefit by 2035. The Defence Industrial Strategy will create 125,000 high-paying careers, increase our defence exports by 50%, raise the share of defence acquisitions awarded to Canadian firms to 70%, and grow Canadian defence industry revenues by 240%. Within a decade, we will raise maritime fleet serviceability to 75%, land fleets to 80%, and aerospace fleets to 85% to bolster Canadian defence.

In total, the Defence Industrial Strategy is an investment of over half a trillion dollars in Canadian security, economic prosperity, and our sovereignty.

The Defence Investment Agency (DIA) is central to this strategy. It will streamline processes, cut red tape, and speed up delivery. It will equip the CAF with what it needs, when it needs it, and will prioritise manufacturing and strategic partnerships with Canadian firms, including small and medium-sized businesses. The DIA will also lead Canada's participation in joint procurement initiatives.

Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy will strengthen security, create prosperity, and reinforce our strategic autonomy. The strategy has five pillars.

Position Canada as a leader in defence production: Canada will build : In the areas of homegrown strength and key sovereign capabilities, such as shipbuilding, aerospace, space, land systems, and digital technologies. New defence procurements will prioritise Canadian firms and Canadian manufacturing as a matter of policy.

: In the areas of homegrown strength and key sovereign capabilities, such as shipbuilding, aerospace, space, land systems, and digital technologies. New defence procurements will prioritise Canadian firms and Canadian manufacturing as a matter of policy. Canada will partner : Where Canada lacks the capability to build domestically or there is an advantage to working jointly with partners, we will partner with trusted allies to deliver capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces.

: Where Canada lacks the capability to build domestically or there is an advantage to working jointly with partners, we will partner with trusted allies to deliver capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces. Canada will buy: When it is not feasible to build domestically or partner with an ally, Canada will buy equipment from allies, with strong conditions that spur reinvestment into the Canadian economy, support careers in our defence industry, and ensure Canadian sovereign control over the operation and sustainment of the newly acquired assets.

When it is not feasible to build domestically or partner with an ally, Canada will buy equipment from allies, with strong conditions that spur reinvestment into the Canadian economy, support careers in our defence industry, and ensure Canadian sovereign control over the operation and sustainment of the newly acquired assets. Buy Canadian will be the North Star toward a new way of doing business in defence acquisitions. Taking these essential steps will reduce overreliance on foreign suppliers, foster national champions in our defence industry, secure sovereign control of our own equipment and intellectual property (IP), and create value across Canadian supply chains. Make it easier to build in Canada by breaking down barriers between government and industry: Establish a permanent Defence Advisory Forum. Led by the DIA, the Forum will engage with Canadian defence industry partners to speed up acquisition processes.

Accelerate the security clearance process for defence sector personnel to remove barriers to entry and support growth in the sector and needed security infrastructure. Scale up Canada's defence and dual-use innovation, and export it to our allies: Utilise a new $4 billion Defence Platform at the Business Development Bank of Canada to ensure Canadian companies, including small and medium-sized businesses, have access to the capital they need.

Implement the $379.2 million Regional Defence Investment Initiative to support the growth and integration of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses into domestic and international defence supply chains.

Provide an initial amount of $656.9 million to support the development and commercialisation of defence and dual-use technologies, including through the Strategic Response Fund, Innovative Solutions Canada, and the Life Sciences Fund.

Create a Drone Innovation Hub at the National Research Council, with an investment of $105 million over three years, and develop an aircraft platform for research, development, demonstration, and qualification of new technologies for Canada's defence industries with an investment of $459 million over five years.

Create a new Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS) to coordinate and accelerate defence research and innovation in frontier technologies.

Reinforce Canada's edge in high-value sectors like artificial intelligence, quantum, space, and others, championing Canadian industry to be a leader domestically and internationally.

Boost Canadian defence exports through a new dedicated team for export promotion.

Stand up a new Science and Research Defence Advisory Council later this year.

Appoint new trade commissioners in the United Kingdom and key European Union markets to support Canadian business abroad and ramp up Canada's presence at major global defence and aerospace trade shows.

Support the sovereign control of Canadian defence-related IP for Canadian industry. Protect Canadian workers, industries, and supply chains: Launch the new Canadian Defence Industry Resilience Program, with initial investments starting this year, to strengthen Canada's sovereignty. The initial focus will be to increase production capacity for Canadian defence businesses, and begin producing nitrocellulose - a critical, high-demand energetic material for artillery - in Canada.

To build Canada's future defence workforce, the Government will launch a Canada Defence Skills Agenda focusing on four key priorities: strengthening the defence industry talent pipeline, addressing urgent skills needs, expanding the supply of skilled workers, and partnering with provinces, territories, and Indigenous rights holders. Spearhead a coordinated national effort to strengthen Canada's defence sector: Work with provinces, territories, and Indigenous rights holders, including in the North and the Arctic, to address security gaps, identify opportunities in technology and resources, and unlock new market opportunities for Canadian industry.

Accelerate critical minerals projects and support the development of Canadian supply chains that are reliable, secure, and aligned with national defence and allied needs.

The Defence Industrial Strategy is a jobs strategy. It will create high-paying careers across the entire supply chain - from steel and aluminum welders to engineers, scientists, and manufacturers who turn Canadian resources into the equipment, ammunition, vehicles, and other critical capabilities that keep Canadians safe.

Canada's new Defence Industrial Strategy will transform our military and defence supply chain - create good careers at home, open new markets for our businesses, and equip the CAF with the world-class equipment they need to protect Canada and our Allies.

Quotes

"The work of defending Canada is the work of building Canada. Security and prosperity are mutually reinforcing foundations of the true North, strong and free. Our new Defence Industrial Strategy ensures Canada remains a sovereign nation, in charge of its own destiny. That's Canada strong, and that's what we are building, together." The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

"Today's announcement reflects the government's clear commitment to ensuring Canada has secure, timely, and reliable access to the capabilities required to defend our country, protect our sovereignty, and confront current and future threats. This is the time to be ambitious. By investing in Canada's future, we are strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces' ability to defend, deter, and defeat threats to Canada and Canadians - an investment we cannot afford to miss." The Hon. David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

"At a time of growing global uncertainty, Canada must strengthen its economic security and protect its sovereignty by investing at home. Canada's new Defence Industrial Strategy will grow our domestic industrial base, create high-quality jobs in every region of the country, and position Canadian companies to compete and win globally. By building, innovating, and manufacturing in Canada, we are ensuring our industries benefit directly from defence investments while supporting the modernisation of the Canadian Armed Forces. Our government is meeting the moment for Canadians by driving growth, creating jobs across the country, and ensuring Canadians benefit from a stronger, more resilient defence economy." The Hon. Melanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

"With the launch of this strategy and the Defence Investment Agency, we are delivering the capabilities the Canadian Armed Forces need, when they need them, while growing Canada's economy. By investing in our defence industrial base, we can build stronger supply chains, drive innovation, and create up to 125,000 good-paying jobs for Canadians." The Hon. Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)

"The Defence Industrial Strategy strengthens Canada's capacity to deliver critical capabilities to the Canadian Armed Forces with greater speed, certainty, and strategic coherence. It supports the Defence Investment Agency's mandate by enabling more agile procurement and more secure, resilient supply chains. Through a coordinated, whole-of-government approach, the DIA is well positioned to support Canadian industry and ensure Canada can meet its evolving defence requirements with confidence and credibility." Doug Guzman, Chief Executive Officer, Defence Investment Agency

"This is an ambitious, landmark strategy that shows real leadership at a time of profound uncertainty and change. It's a rallying cry - for the public service and the Department of National Defence to execute, and for industry to deliver on a new vision for Canada's defence, economic resilience, and national security. Today's outcome is an example of what's possible when the public and private sectors listen to each other, and work toward the same goals." Christyn Cianfarani, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI)

Quick facts

Canada's defence sector is an important contributor to the economy with close to 600 firms directly accounting for 36,000 jobs in 2022, supporting a total of 61,200 jobs across the defence value chain. These companies generated $14.3 billion in revenues that same year and contributed $7.4 billion to GDP across the defence value chain.

The Canadian defence sector is one of the most research and development-intensive, spending $440 million in 2022, with the vast majority invested by the industry itself. It is more than three times as research and development-intensive as Canadian manufacturing overall, and its share of employees in high-end science, technology, engineering, and mathematics jobs is more than 2.5 times as great.

Today's announcement builds on targeted actions the government has taken to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in our military, including: Increasing defence investments to 2% of GDP, or approximately $63 billion, in 2025-26, and to 5% of GDP by 2035. Providing pay raises to all Canadian Armed Forces members. Launching the new Defence Investment Agency to overhaul and streamline Canada's defence procurement. Outlining $81.8 billion to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in CAF members in Budget 2025.

The new Strategy also positions Canada as a leader in the European Union's Readiness 2030 plan, a multilateral effort with our European allies to reinforce defence supply chains and industrial capacity among allied nations.

Our government intends to make the Defence Investment Agency a standalone entity through legislation this spring, serving as the single point of contact for defence-related investment and procurement.

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Wang Yi Meets with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Petr Macinka

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: February 17, 2026 21:34

On February 14, 2026 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Petr Macinka at the latter's request on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Wang Yi stated that China and the Czech Republic enjoy a tradition of friendship, and the Czech Republic was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. However, bilateral relations have experienced twists and turns in recent years, which do not serve the interests of both sides. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Czech strategic partnership. The Chinese side appreciates the new Czech government's proactive commitment to improving relations with China and is willing to work with the Czech side in the same direction to promote the early return of bilateral relations to the track of sound development. China hopes that the Czech side will establish a correct perception of China, earnestly abide by the one-China principle, and respect China's core interests. Both sides should encourage exchanges at all levels and in various fields to enhance mutual understanding and trust, and on this basis, carry out practical cooperation to make up for the lost time.

Petr Macinka said that China is a strong country in the world. The Czech Republic treasures the traditional friendship with China, and looks forward to taking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries as an opportunity to open a new chapter in bilateral relations. The Czech Republic is firmly committed to the one-China policy, recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and respects and supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Czech side expects to improve relations with China, resume high-level exchanges, and advance cooperation in various fields such as economy and trade, tourism, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

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'Not Necessary': Trump Rules Out 'Maduro-Style' Operation in Cuba

Sputnik News

20260217

US President Donald Trump said a US operation against Cuba, similar to the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is unnecessary.

"I don't want to answer that. Why would I answer that? If I was, it wouldn't be a very tough operation, as you can figure. But I don't think that'll be necessary," Trump told reporters on board Air Force One on Monday.

He added that Cuba "should absolutely make a deal" amid what he called a "humanitarian threat," claiming the island has "no oil, no money" and "doesn't even have jet fuel."

The deepening crisis in Cuba is occurring against the backdrop of a long-standing US embargo and tightened oil restrictions, which have contributed to fuel shortages, blackouts and the severe strain on services and hospitals, according to multiple reports.

"In the meantime, there's an embargo. There's no oil. There's no money. There's no anything," he acknowledged.

The US embargo against Cuba, in place for more than six decades, restricts trade and has been widely criticized for its adverse humanitarian effects, contributing to ongoing economic hardship on the island.

 Sputnik

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S.no. Title Area

1. Upgrading of the India-France relationship to "Special Global Strategic Partnership" Political, Overarching

2. Establishment of annual Foreign Ministers Dialogue for regularly reviewing implementation of the elevated partnership and Horizon 2047 Roadmap

3. Launch of the India-France Year of Innovation Technology and Innovation

4. Launch of the India-France Innovation Network

5. Inauguration of H125 Helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal, Karnataka Defence and Security

6. Renewal of the Agreement between Government of India and French Republic on Defence Cooperation

7. Joint Venture between BEL and Safran to produce HAMMER missiles in India

8. Reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments

9. Constitution of a Joint Advanced Technology Development Group Critical and Emerging Technologies including defence.

10. Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in Critical Minerals and Metals

11. Letter of Intent to establish a Centre on Advanced Materials between DST and CNRS

12. Amending Protocol on the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between India and France Economy, Startups, Science and Technology, Health, Renewable Energy and Skilling

13. Letter of Intent between T-Hub and Nord France on strategic cooperation in start-up ecosystems, innovation and technology

14. Memorandum of Understanding for Scientific collaboration between DST and CNRS

15. Joint Declaration of Intent on establishing an Indo-French Centre for Digital Sciences and Technology

16. Launch of the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS, New Delhi

17. Letter of Intent between DBT and ANRS on Cooperation in Research and Development on Infectious Diseases and Global Health Research

18. Agreement for the establishment of Indo-French Centre for Metabolic Health Sciences

19. Letter of Intent to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics

20. Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty on Renewable Energy Cooperation
English translation of Prime Minister's Press Statement during the Joint Press Statement with the President of France

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 6:44PM by PIB Delhi

Your Excellency, My Dear Friend, President Macron,

Delegates from both countries,

Friends from the media,

Namaskar!

Bonjour!

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome my dear friend, President Macron, to Mumbai. Last year, he invited me to France for the AI Action Summit.

At that time, we visited Marseille  France's largest port and a major gateway for France and all of Europe. Marseille is the city where, during the First World War, Indian soldiers first set foot in Europe. Their bravery is still remembered across many parts of Europe.

It is also the city where freedom fighter Veer Savarkar leapt into the sea to escape British captivity. That act symbolized his unwavering resolve for India's independence. Last year in Marseille, I had the opportunity to pay tribute to him.

This time, as President Macron visits India for the AI Impact Summit, it is our privilege to welcome him in Mumbai  India's own gateway.

Friends,

India and France share a very special relationship. France is among India's oldest strategic partners. Together with President Macron, we have infused unprecedented depth and energy into this partnership. Based on this trust and shared vision, today we are elevating our ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership.

This partnership is not only strategic. In today's turbulent times, it is a partnership for global stability and global progress.

Friends,

The inauguration of the helicopter assembly line in India today is another shining example of this deep trust. We take pride in the fact that India and France will jointly manufacture the world's only helicopter capable of flying to the heights of Mount Everest  and export it worldwide.

Indeed, the India-France partnership knows no boundaries. It can reach from the deepest oceans to the tallest mountains.

Friends,

The year 2026 marks a turning point in India-Europe relations. Just days ago, we signed the largest and most ambitious Free Trade Agreement in India's history with the European Union. This agreement will also bring unprecedented momentum to India-France relations.

To promote mutual investment, today we are signing an agreement to avoid double taxation for our people and companies. These initiatives will energize trade, investment, and mobility  charting a roadmap for shared prosperity.

Friends,

With the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation, we are transforming our strategic partnership into a partnership of the people. Innovation does not happen in isolation; it thrives through collaboration.

Our goal in the Year of Innovation is to strengthen people-to-people connections. Whether in defense, clean energy, space, or emerging technologies, we will connect our industries and innovators. We will build strong networks between start-ups and MSMEs, facilitate exchanges among students and researchers, and establish new joint innovation centers.

Friends,

Today we are also enhancing cooperation in critical minerals, biotechnology, and advanced materials. We are launching the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, the Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and the National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics. These are not merely institutions  they are platforms for building the future.

Friends,

The world is passing through a period of uncertainty. In such times, the India-France partnership is a force for global stability. We are combining France's expertise with India's scale. We are developing trusted technologies. Through the International Solar Alliance, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and joint development projects, we are ensuring human development. Through multilateralism, dialogue, and diplomacy, we will continue to strengthen efforts for stability and prosperity.

Friends,

India and France both believe in democratic values, the rule of law, and a multipolar world. We are united in our conviction that reforming global institutions is essential to address global challenges.

Whether in Ukraine, West Asia, or the Indo-Pacific, we will support all efforts for peace. Eliminating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains our shared commitment.

Friends,

India and France are both ancient and rich civilizations. We attach great importance to cultural and people-to-people ties. We are delighted to have collaborated in the Yuge Yugin Bharat Museum. Now, at the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, we will also work together with France.

To bring Indian culture closer to the people of France, we will soon open the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in France.

Your Excellency,

Your deep commitment to the India-France partnership has always been evident. I am especially pleased that today we are together inaugurating a new chapter in our relations.

Let us work together for global stability and prosperity.

Thank you very much.

Merci beaucoup.

****

MJPS/VJ

(Release ID: 2229249)

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Prime Minister Welcomes French President to India, Emphasises Strengthening Bilateral Ties

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 6:44PM by PIB Delhi

Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 9:57AM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi extended a warm welcome to President Emmanuel Macron of France, expressing confidence that the visit will elevate India-France relations to new heights.

Highlighting the significance of the visit, Prime Minister Modi noted that the engagements in Mumbai and later in Delhi will provide fresh momentum to the strategic partnership between the two nations. He reaffirmed that their collaboration will continue to benefit not only both countries but also the wider global community.

In separate posts on X, Shri Modi wrote:

"Welcome to India!

India looks forward to your visit and to advancing our bilateral ties to new heights. I am confident that our discussions will further strengthen cooperation across sectors and contribute to global progress.

See you in Mumbai and later in Delhi, my dear friend @EmmanuelMacron."

"Bienvenue en Inde !



L'Inde se felicite de votre visite et entend donner un nouvel elan a notre partenariat strategique. Je suis convaincu que nos discussions renforceront davantage la cooperation dans divers secteurs et contribueront au progres mondial.



A tres bientot a Mumbai, puis a Delhi, mon cher ami @EmmanuelMacron."

*****

MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2228952)

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Prime Minister & French President virtually inaugurate Final Assembly Line of H-125 Light Utility Helicopter at Vemagal, Karnataka

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 6:44PM by PIB Delhi

H-125 final assembly line is a milestone in India-France strategic partnership: Raksha Mantri

"Govt is committed to achieving self-reliance in critical tech & manufacturing high-end products through mutually beneficial partnerships"

Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 10:16PM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and French President Mr Emmanuel Macron, on February 17, 2026, virtually inaugurated, from Mumbai, Tata Advanced Systems Final Assembly Line of the Airbus H-125 Light Utility Helicopter, located at Vemagal, Karnataka. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Ms Catherine Vautrin, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri KR Naidu and Minister for Large & Medium Industries, Government of Karnataka Dr MB Patil were present at the Final Assembly Line facility during the virtual inauguration.

In his address, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh described the final assembly line of H-125 helicopters as a milestone in the strategic partnership between India and France. "Our collaboration with France is limitless, where even sky is not a limit to our mutually beneficial partnership," he said, congratulating TASL and Airbus Helicopters for the H-125 initiative which follows their earlier collaboration to manufacture C-295 transport aircraft in India. He termed the project as a symbol of how India can collaborate with international Original Equipment Manufacturers to contribute to the Make-in-India vision.

Emphasising that Make-in-India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat have been the cornerstones of India's economic policy since 2014, Raksha Mantri termed the initiative as one of the major highlights of PM Modi-led Government's commitment to achieving self-reliance in critical technologies and manufacturing high-end products & equipment through mutually beneficial partnerships with friendly countries.

Shri Rajnath Singh pointed out that the H-125 program investment is anticipated to exceed Rs 1,000 crore and is likely to create direct & indirect employment opportunities for skilled and hardworking youth. He dubbed the H-125 helicopters as a platform renowned for its exceptional reliability, versatility, and outstanding performance in diverse operating conditions. "The H-125 has proven to be one of the most effective and trusted single-engine helicopters globally," he said.

Raksha Mantri stressed that India, for more than a decade, has been charting the path of rapid industrial development through large scale infrastructure building, capital infusion in important sectors through a number of schemes such as Production Linked Incentive, apart from providing a liberalised regime for facilitating investment. He underlined that the focus has also been to support the small & medium industry and strengthen the start-up ecosystem. "Overall, our objective is to ensure holistic industrial development which not only caters to our domestic needs, but also fulfills the requirement of other countries," he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh enumerated the reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Defence to augment the contribution of the private sector in the defence industrial ecosystem, including the corporatisation of Ordnance Factories, liberalised investment schemes, and establishment of defence industrial corridors. He stated that, historically, Indian defence production was largely public sector oriented due to various reasons such as requirement of high capital investment and long gestation period, that resulted in less-than-desirable contribution of the private sector in production and exports. He highlighted that due to the steps taken by the Government, the share of the private sector stands at almost a quarter of total defence production, and defence exports have increased manifold putting India among the top defence exporters of the world.

Raksha Mantri stated that this growth trajectory has provided a massive boost to the MSMEs and ancillary sectors, which have grown to over 16,000 in number today, adding that a large number of foreign companies currently source many components from Indian MSMEs. He invited companies to deepen this partnership through meaningful technology transfer and offer advanced solutions to meet the security needs of other countries as well.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and other senior officials were also present at the event.

The H125M is optimised to serve as a high-altitude force multiplier across a spectrum of critical missions. This versatile platform is designed to excel in tactical reconnaissance and surveillance by leveraging its low acoustic and thermal signatures. Additionally, the H125M provides a decisive edge in high-altitude logistics, ensuring the delivery of vital supplies to remote frontline outposts, and serves as a rapid-response asset for search and rescue or medical evacuation operations.

The H125 is the only helicopter in history to have landed on the summit of Mount Everest, giving it a performance ceiling that exceeds existing light utility fleets. For the Indian military, which operates in some of the most challenging high-and-hot environments in the world, this performance can be a critical differentiator.

This is the second major Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus industrial collaboration, following the C295 military transport Final Assembly Line, cementing a comprehensive military aerospace ecosystem in India.

*****

SR/Savvy

(Release ID: 2229395)

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Raksha Mantri & his French counterpart co-chair 6th Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

Defence cooperation agreement renewed for another 10 years

BEL & SAFRAN ink MoU to manufacture Hammer missiles in India

Both nations announce reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army & French Land Forces establishments

Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 8:31PM by PIB Delhi

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of France Ms Catherine Vautrin co-chaired the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru, Karnataka on February 17, 2026. The two Ministers discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues including priority areas for co-development & co-production of equipment. They emphasised on the need for a closer defence partnership and connecting the industries of both nations, especially in the field of niche technology.

The two Ministers reaffirmed the commitment to enhance military-to-military cooperation as a key pillar of the Strategic Partnership. Raksha Mantri brought out that the recent India-EU Security & Defence Partnership marks a significant step in deepening the collective engagement. Both Ministers agreed to leverage this framework, both bilaterally and in the wider European context for tangible outcomes that will strengthen regional stability, enhance joint capabilities, and reinforce the enduring Indo-French strategic alignment.

Both countries announced Reciprocal deployment Officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments. The renewal of 10-year defence cooperation agreement was signed by the Defence Secretary from the Indian side and Deputy Director General for International Relations and Strategy from the French side.

An MoU on Joint Venture was also signed for the manufacturing of Hammer missiles in India between by the CMD, Bharat Electronics Limited and Executive Vice President, Safran Electronics and Defence.

Congratulating Ms Catherine Vautrin on taking over as the French Defence Minister and welcoming her to her maiden visit to India, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that Ms Vautrin's tenure comes at a critical moment for European and global security, and India deeply appreciates France's steadfast commitment to strategic autonomy and a robust European defence posture. The French Defence Minister appreciated the conversion of Exercise Shakti with the Army from biennial to an annual event.

Raksha Mantri emphasised that India has been the 'First Responder' and 'Net Security Provider' for countries in the Indian Ocean Region and always extends assistance to them in the defence, security and maritime domains to augment their capabilities & ward off any adversary.

On the issue of terrorism, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that Pakistan has a long history of nurturing, nourishing, and promoting cross-border terrorism to create disturbance and violence in India. This, he said, has created a serious threat to peace in the region.

The Annual Defence Dialogue is a structured ministerial level bilateral meeting to review and guide defence and security cooperation. Prior to the meeting, the French Defence Minister was presented with the Guard of Honour at HAL airport upon her arrival.

*****

SR/Savvy

(Release ID: 2229311)

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Visit of high-level delegation of Tanzania Peoples' Defence Forces to India

India - Press Information Bureau

Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 3:59PM by PIB Delhi

A high-level delegation of the Tanzania Peoples' Defence Forces (TPDF) is on a three-day visit to India from February 17-19, 2026. The delegation today interacted with Indian Defence Forces and also visited Indian Defence Cyber Security facilities. Key deliberations during the meeting focused on cooperation in the cyber domain and further strengthening of ongoing Defence engagements.

The interaction highlights a shared commitment to enhancing exchange of technical expertise between the Defence Forces of India and Tanzania.The visit underscores the growing synergy between the Defence Forces of the two countries, as per the 5-year Roadmap for Defence Cooperation signed in October 2023 during the State visit of the Tanzanian President to India.

****

SR/NJ

(Release ID: 2229124)

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Ruben Vardanyan hardly saw his future like this. The Russian billionaire, who considered himself the master of life before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, found himself in a situation where his billions turned out to be completely useless. Ruben Karlenovich shouldn't be offended by anyone for this. He ran into something he had been fighting so hard for the past few years. He chose a path that could only lead him to this outcome. It is clear that those who sent him to this address promised Karlenovich something else. But he, who believes in the omnipotence of money and his patrons, believed it.

It is well known about Ruben Vardanyan's former life. The whole world knows about his fraudulent schemes as a Russian entrepreneur thanks to the investigations of foreign journalists. He was not sentenced in Baku for these shady deeds. Let Russia itself and the partners of the Vardanyan business abroad deal with those dark matters.

The billionaire went to jail for 20 years for another, even more "meaningful" activity. It cannot be said that Vardanyan entered politics only in September 2022. In one way or another, he intervened in it for many years, being a financier of Armenian separatism. Arriving in Khankendi was a fatal mistake of the "resident". It is not known who exactly encouraged him to take this step, but it is no secret that he arrived in Karabakh, more precisely, in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent with certain instructions and goals.

The verdict was passed on serious charges. He did not manage to escape with a slight fright. And it is a lie that his guilt has never been proven, as Vardanyan himself, his family and his defenders claim. The indictment is very extensive, and it provides facts, names, dates, and figures in every detail. Every charge has been proven, and every article of the Criminal Code charged against this person of Armenian nationality relates to his real deeds.

Another thing is that Vardanyan, his family and his defenders do not consider all this a crime. From the very beginning, Vardanyan's case is presented as "political persecution," and Karlenovich himself is presented as a "political prisoner" allegedly punished for "dissent." It is claimed that he had nothing to do with the war, did not kill anyone, and all the accusations are "revenge" on the part of Baku.

Ruben Vardanyan's family has already stated that they consider the verdict unfair and intend to seek its cancellation by appealing to world leaders, international and human rights organizations.

I would like to remind you that Vardanyan's lawyers and relatives have been conducting this activity for two years, and they have not been able to achieve any results. Considerable forces and huge funds were involved in this campaign. While the world had almost forgotten about the other defendants, the name of the Russian billionaire was constantly being mentioned in parliaments and international organizations. The reason is quite trivial - others did not have the financial means to buy European parliamentarians and human rights defenders. The Vardanians spared no expense.

In principle, one can understand the desire of Vardanyan Jr. to rescue his father. It's natural. But the relatives of the failed politician had to take care of his well-being before he got involved in the separatist adventure not only financially, but also with his vast figure. What he was promised for this is anyone's guess. But there is a very plausible and largely consistent with reality version about plans to replace Nikol Pashinyan with Vardanyan. Vardanyan tried to be at home in Karabakh, remembering some ancestors who had lived there almost since the time of the dinosaurs. The example of Karabakh criminals Kocharyan and Sargsyan, inspired by the guardians of Armenia to take power in Yerevan, seemed relevant to some. Vardanyan, like these two, had to move to the leadership of Armenia from the separatist chair. For this, he needed the appropriate merits.

Ruben Vardanyan was a fan of Moscow. It's no secret to anyone. The accelerated renunciation of Russian citizenship is part of this plan, since according to the Constitution, a citizen of another country cannot be the head of Armenia. The documents were checked, and Vardanyan was "dumped" in Khankendi. He illegally entered the territory of Azerbaijan under the cover of Russian peacekeepers and went to conquer the separatist "throne". Vardanyan did not come to Karabakh at all because of his heart and not because of his principles, as the family claims. He was seen as someone who would be able to buy the love of the people and overthrow Nikol Pashinyan. But for most Armenians, he remained a Russian oligarch, even giving up his Russian passport.

In Karabakh, Vardanyan immediately joined the big game. The current heads of the regime were confused and frightened by the military defeat and were very much waiting for Moscow to send not only peacekeepers, but also instructions on how to proceed. The instructions arrived in the format of a whole Ruben Vardanyan. With him came the financial resources necessary to continue armed resistance to the legitimate authorities. The separatists were doing well in the RMK's area of responsibility. In the first two years, the peacekeepers behaved like masters, the Azerbaijani side was not allowed into their "patrimony", while the separatists were quietly supplied with weapons and manpower from Armenia and other countries, and foreign lobbyists visited the RMK area of responsibility without notifying Baku.

Over the course of two years, from September 2022 to September 2023, Ruben Vardanyan turned the RMK zone into a playground for his games. He managed to do what Araik and Bako had no money for - to buy the world's media. Not only did the Russian media expectedly write about his activities, he became the hero of BBC and CNN articles and broadcasts, and the American company EDELMAN was involved in his PR. Gradually, Vardanyan became the face of Karabakh separatism. He traveled to villages, agitated the population to continue opposing Baku, demanded that they not agree to proposals for reintegration into Azerbaijani society.

Vardanyan's activities were not limited to campaign campaigns. Under the guise of charity, he was engaged in fundraising for the purchase and delivery of weapons from Armenia under the protection of the RMK. One of the war criminals complained later that Vardanyan could have spent his millions in Karabakh, but he invested several tens of thousands from his own funds, and collected all the rest of the money from the population. They gathered, in particular, through an organization created by Vardanyan called "We are our Mountains." The funds raised were used to purchase firearms, their components, ammunition, explosives and devices, military weapons and equipment that were illegally transported from the Republic of Armenia along the Lachin road. Soon Vardanyan was already making decisions in Khankendi. According to the case file, he compiled lists of leaders and members of the so-called "self-defense units", which in reality consisted of professional military personnel, and paid them a monthly salary. Yerevan has already stopped financing the separatists, and here Vardanyan had a great opportunity to show himself the master.

Vardanyan financed the arming and training of illegal separatist formations. And how can the defense's argument that he didn't hold a gun and didn't kill anyone be perceived in this case? He didn't kill himself, he financed the killers. Since when has terror financing ceased to be a crime? Thanks to his activities, the situation around the perimeter of the RMK zone continued to remain tense, with the Armenian side constantly staging shooting provocations. This, as expected, was supposed to cause panic among the Azerbaijani population and push the Azerbaijani side to take tough steps.

The separatist who complained about Vardanyan's stinginess was not fully aware of the situation. In fact, Vardanyan invested, and not to a small extent. Terrorist training camps operated on his money. He sponsored "We are Our Mountains," which, from May to August 2023, together with the Ruben Vardanyan Foundation, Dilijan Community Center, the Aznavour Foundation and the IDEA Charitable Foundation, raised two hundred thousand dollars to provide and train an armed separatist gang.

Having arrived in Karabakh, Vardanyan immediately began to advance in the "service". Already in early November 2022, he received the position of "Minister of State". But soon his comfortable vacation in the mountains came to an end. In December of the same year, an action of eco-activists began on the Lachin road, completely confusing the maps of Yerevan, the separatists, the diaspora, and Moscow. It was a brilliant strategic move by Baku, which blew apart all the plans and roadmaps of external actors.

Vardanyan had a hard time. By that time, he was making decisions in Khankendi, albeit behind the scenes. Along with the "salvation of Artsakh," he also led the accelerated looting of the Karabakh subsoil. It was this robbery that became the reason for the action, which blocked the road for the delivery of weapons to the separatists. After the start of the action, the fraudster Ruben Vardanyan visited the mine with an important look, He talked with the Armenian mining company, inspected the territory and stated that the conditions of the Azerbaijani side on the cessation of production would not be accepted. The Russian billionaire again tried to hide behind concern about employment, although in fact he was worried about his own income. This was his huge mistake and the beginning of the end of the separatist games in the RMK zone.

After the start of the action on the Lachin road, Vardanyan became the face of the "starving" Karabakh. He appeared on the airwaves endlessly, recorded videos, misinforming the international community. Under his leadership, food was hidden from the population of the RMK zone. Later, after the liberation of Karabakh, they were found in large numbers in warehouses.

Due to the current situation, Vardanyan decided to draw a new roadmap. He went back to the villages with agitation and called on the Armenians to "hold out until April," stating that "we need to fight." Vardanyan was not satisfied with the idea of peaceful restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereignty in this territory. A terrible squeal was raised about the "blockade", "famine", old men allegedly dying in the streets and children allegedly dreaming of candy. The "minister of state" himself tried the hardest on this path, becoming the "conscience of the Karabakh people."

It is noteworthy that, in contrast to Vardanyan's call to "fight" and "hold on" (according to instructions), Arayik Harutyunyan, meeting with the residents of Karabakh, spoke about the need to avoid a new war by all means, which would be the end for the separatists. And this is despite the fact that, according to him, there were more weapons in Karabakh than in Armenia.

The separatists managed to arm themselves to the teeth in the two years preceding the anti-terrorist operation, thanks to Ruben Vardanyan. Although he started working in this direction almost immediately after the Second Karabakh War. It is known that as early as December 2020, he sent a man to Khankendi who delivered money from the Author's fund to the Kurdish mercenaries stationed there.

After Ruben Vardanyan was detained on September 27, 2023, many interesting facts were found in his mobile phone and tablet. If he had known that the Russian side would not be able to "evacuate" him from Azerbaijan, he would have destroyed the gadgets. But he did not believe that such a thing could happen. And the gadgets stayed with him. Over the phone, Vardanyan negotiated about various criminal plans on the territory of Azerbaijan, the purchase of weapons, UAVs, and all this, including the names of accomplices, passed into the hands of the investigation.

Ruben Vardanyan did not receive a life sentence, as the prosecution demanded. He was given 20 years. This is evidence that Azerbaijani justice does not pursue the goals of revenge and punishment at any cost. Punishment is imposed only in accordance with what has been done. Yes, he didn't kill, shoot or blow up himself. And that's why it's only 20 years old. So it's all fair.
INDIAN NAVY TO CONDUCT GOA MARITIME CONCLAVE 2026 AT NAVAL WAR COLLEGE, GOA

India - Press Information Bureau

Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 2:03PM by PIB Delhi

The fifth edition of Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC-26) is scheduled to be held at the Naval War College, Goa, on 21 Feb 2026. As a flagship strategic initiative of the Indian Navy, the Conclave has evolved into a premier platform that harnesses the collective wisdom and operational experience of maritime security practitioners from the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to generate outcome-oriented ideas and practical solutions to contemporary maritime challenges.

Shri Sanjay Seth, Hon'ble Raksha Rajya Mantri, will be the Chief Guest at the Conclave.

Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, will host Chiefs of Navies, Heads of Maritime Forces, and senior representatives from 14 nations: Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Tanzania. The theme of this year's edition is 'Common Maritime Security Challenges in the IOR  Progressing Line of Efforts (LsoE) to Mitigate Dynamic Threats such as IUU Fishing and other Illegal Maritime Activities.' It reflects the vital need to synergise, collaborate, and coordinate efforts among maritime nations with critical stakes in the Indian Ocean Region.

The Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) and Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) were instituted in 2016 and 2017, respectively to foster collaborative thinking and mutual understanding between India and key maritime nations of the IOR, in consonance with the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). Through the GMC, engagement is undertaken with maritime neighbours to identify critical areas of cooperation and chart common pathways for holistic capacity building. The GMC is conducted biennially and is preceded by GMS, which serves as a feeder event with working-level meetings among participating nations.

The maritime domain in the IOR faces a wide spectrum of traditional and non-traditional challenges, with significant implications for regional security and livelihoods. Threats such as maritime terrorism, contraband smuggling, Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, piracy, armed robbery, and irregular migration continue to undermine the goal of safe and secure seas. Emerging challenges, including climate change, cyber threats, and dark shipping, further exacerbate these risks. The transnational and multidimensional nature of these threats necessitates enhanced cooperation and effective collaborative mechanisms among partner countries.

The Conclave will feature deliberations by eminent speakers and subject-matter experts focusing on real-time exchange of maritime information and joint efforts to strengthen capacities and capabilities. Adm Arun Prakash (Retd), former Chief of the Naval Staff, will deliver the keynote address. The Goa Maritime Conclave continues to be an important forum for shaping and implementing collaborative solutions to maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.

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VM/SPS

(Release ID: 2229079)

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VICE ADMIRAL KK NAYYAR MEMORIAL LECTURE 2026

India - Press Information Bureau

Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 12:57PM by PIB Delhi

The 2026 edition of the Vice Admiral KK Nayyar Memorial Lecture was held on 16 Feb 2026, marking the 21st Foundation Day of the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), New Delhi. The annual lecture honours the enduring legacy of VAdm KK Nayyar, whose intellectual vision and strategic foresight laid the foundation for NMF's emergence as India's premier institution for maritime thought and policy advocacy.

VAdm Nayyar was not only a distinguished naval officer but also a pioneering strategic thinker. He played a central role in addressing India's long-standing maritime neglect and fostering a sustained maritime consciousness in national discourse. As Founder-Chairman of NMF and a key figure in the establishment of the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), his contributions continue to shape India's maritime and strategic outlook.

The event commenced with opening remarks by Adm Karambir Singh, former Chief of the Naval Staff and Chairman, NMF. Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, then delivered the keynote address, reflecting on VAdm Nayyar's legacy and the critical role of maritime consciousness in India's growth trajectory.

Adm Tripathi underscored NMF's role as India's leading maritime think tank, dedicated to research, scholarship, and policy advocacy on issues vital to national security and economic development. Through its research, publications, and policy engagement, the Foundation continues to contribute meaningfully to shaping India's maritime future in alignment with national aspirations.

The CNS highlighted the Indian Navy's dual responsibility of guardianship - addressing present security challenges - and stewardship - preparing for future strategic imperatives. He noted that the Navy's growing recognition as a principal security provider in the Indo-Pacific is reflected in the participation of over 70 countries in the forthcoming International Fleet Review (IFR). Many of these nations will also take part in the 13th edition of the MILAN multinational exercise and the 9th Conclave of Chiefs of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), during which India will assume the chairmanship of the construct.

The memorial lecture was delivered by Shri NR Narayana Murthy, Founder, Infosys, on the theme 'A Salute to a Life of Service'. Widely respected for his leadership in technology and business, and his commitment to ethical entrepreneurship, Shri Murthy reflected on the intrinsic link between India's maritime strength and its aspiration to become a developed nation by 2047.

He emphasised that India's destiny is inseparable from the seas, and that the Indian Navy serves not merely as a defender of the coastline, but as a guarantor of national security, a protector of maritime commerce, and an enabler of India's global aspirations. Highlighting the transformative role of technology in modern warfare, he spoke of the growing importance of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and cyber capabilities. He also underlined the enduring values embodied by the Navy - discipline, courage, teamwork, integrity, and national pride - as foundational to India's progress.

The event was attended by senior serving and retired officers of the Indian Armed Forces, members of the diplomatic corps, eminent academics, strategic experts, and members of VAdm Nayyar's family and close associates.

The National Maritime Foundation continues to advance Vice Admiral Nayyar's legacy by deepening maritime awareness, encouraging informed policy debate, and advocating sustainable and secure development of India's maritime domain.

****

VM/SPS

(Release ID: 2229049)

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LAUNCH OF FIRST CADET TRAINING SHIP - KRISHNA AT M/s L&T, KATTUPALLI, CHENNAI

India - Press Information Bureau

Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 8:30AM by PIB Delhi

Yard 18003 (Krishna), the first of the three Cadet Training Ships (CTS) under construction at M/s L&T, Kattupalli (Chennai), has been launched on 16 Feb 2026. In keeping with the Naval traditions, Mrs Anupama Chauhan launched the ship in the presence of General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff. Senior officials of the Indian Armed Forces and M/s L&T Shipbuilding, Chennai attended the event.

The ship is indigenously designed and built by M/s L&T. Formal Delivery of the ship to Indian Navy is planned in end 2026. These Cadet Training Ships will be utilised for training Officer Cadets, including women, at sea after their basic training ashore, and Cadets from Friendly Foreign Countries.

This is yet another significant milestone in Indian Navy's pursuit towards indigenous shipbuilding and is in consonance with the Government of India's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiative.

****

VM/SPS 29/26

(Release ID: 2228944)

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IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 17, 2026

Geneva, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has emphasized that Iran's right to use peaceful nuclear energy is inherent, non-negotiable, and legally binding.

Araghchi delivered a speech at the United Nations Plenary Meeting of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

He said, "The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) explicitly recognizes the inalienable right of all States Parties to develop research, produce, and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. This right is inherent, non-negotiable, and legally binding."

"It is not conditional upon political considerations, nor can it be suspended or reinterpreted arbitrarily. Any attempt to portray this right as revocable or discretionary fundamentally contradicts the letter and spirit of the Treaty," he added.

The following is the full text of Foreign Minister Araghchi's speech at the conference:

I truly thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting.

I should also thank all of you, distinguished Ambassadors and delegates, for attending this meeting.

I am honored to address the United Nations Conference on Disarmament on behalf of the nation of Iran.

It is an undeniable fact that international peace and security architecture has, particularly in recent years, been confronted with unprecedented strains, erosion, and complex challenges that pose serious risks to global peace and stability.

Escalating armed conflicts, ever-increasing weakening respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations, erosion of multilateralism, imposition of unlawful unilateral coercive measures, and the renewed reliance on nuclear weapons as instruments of policy have created a highly unstable global environment.

These ever-increasing threats and challenges demand urgent collective action, particularly by this conference, which remains the sole multilateral negotiating forum on disarmament.

Nuclear weapons constitute the gravest threat to humanity, and it is a matter of serious concern and deep regret that, contrary to existing international legal obligations for their complete, verifiable, and irreversible elimination, reliance on such weapons is increasingly entrenched in the security doctrines of some States.

Humanity continues to live under the shadow of more than 12,000 nuclear warheads, many of which remain deployed or on high alert, embedded in doctrines that contemplate their rapid use and, in some cases, their first use. The continued reliance on such arsenals reflects doctrines that perpetuate existential risks for all humanity and stand in direct contradiction with disarmament obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Iran has consistently pursued a strategy aimed at the peaceful use of nuclear energy, while demonstrating readiness to address any concerns regarding the nature of its nuclear program and to ensure its exclusively peaceful character. It was on the basis of this logic that Iran entered into nuclear negotiations and has continued until very today. A review of the course of these negotiations speaks volumes.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently affirmed that it neither seeks to manufacture nor to acquire nuclear weapons, which have no place whatsoever in Iran's national security doctrine. This position is rooted in our defensive policy and reinforced by clear religious boundaries prohibiting weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. President,

Lasting agreements can only be achieved through mutual balanced commitments and respect for the legitimate rights of nations. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) explicitly recognizes the inalienable right of all States Parties to develop research, produce, and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. This right is inherent, non-negotiable, and legally binding. It is not conditional upon political considerations, nor can it be suspended or reinterpreted arbitrarily. Any attempt to portray this right as revocable or discretionary fundamentally contradicts the letter and spirit of the Treaty.

Despite Iran's demonstrated commitment to diplomacy and good-faith engagement, the conduct of certain Western statesmost notably the United Stateshas seriously undermined the credibility of the negotiating process. The unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA, in clear violation of an internationally endorsed agreement, dealt a profound blow to trust and stability of multilateral obligations. This decision not only disregarded multilateral commitments but also imposed unjustified economic and humanitarian consequences on the Iranian people.

More troubling still was the recourse to military aggression against Iran last June, at a time when we were in the midst of negotiations. Such aggression stands in stark contradiction to basic principles of the UN Charter and international law, in particular paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the Charter.

By colluding with a non-party to the NPT against a State Party, the United Statesone of the depositaries of the Treatyhas inflicted a serious blow to the integrity, credibility, and spirit of the NPT, the consequences of which will persist forever. Attacks on safeguarded nuclear facilities constitute war crimes, carry the potential for radiological release, long-term environmental contamination, and transboundary consequences affecting the entire region. The failure of the Security Council and the IAEA to unequivocally condemn these attacks sets a dangerous precedent and signals a serious erosion of the global non-proliferation regime.

Responsibility for such unlawful acts does not rest solely with the direct perpetrators; States that provided political, military, or intelligence support bear responsibility under international law for aiding and abetting internationally wrongful acts. Selective condemnation and double standards gravely undermine the credibility of international norms and institutions. Silence in the face of such violations is not neutrality; it is acquiescence.

While the United States and certain European countries turn a blind eye to the threats posed by the Israeli regime to international peace and security, including its nuclear weapons capabilities, they continue to portray Iran's peaceful nuclear program as a threat to international peace and security.

The Israeli regime has been committing the most atrocious crimes for the past 8 decades with full impunity. In less than 2 years, it has attacked seven countries in the region, while more than 70,000 people have been massacred in Gaza as part of its colonial genocide. There is no crime it has not committed and no red line it has not crossed.

Mr. President,

The US and some European states persist in the imposition of unlawful sanctions, military threats, the engagement in force posturing, and the issuance of explicit references to the possible use of force by the United States, including significant military deployments in the region. Such actions constitute a continuing violation of the prohibition on the threat or use of force as enshrined in Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations and must be brought to an immediate and unconditional end.

Mr. President,

Iran has consistently emphasized its commitment to cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency within the framework of its legal obligations. Iran is a founding member of the IAEA and a State Party to the NPT. Iran's peaceful nuclear program has been subject to extensive and unprecedented verification measures under IAEA safeguards.

Our cooperation with the Agency has always been guided by professionalism, transparency, and respect for national sovereignty. Iran believes that constructive engagement with the Agency should remain strictly technical and impartial, free from political pressure or selective interpretation. Continued cooperation can only be sustained when it is reciprocal, objective, and contributes genuinely to confidence-building rather than being used as a tool for political leverage.

Meanwhile, it should be forgotten that attacks on safeguarded nuclear installations are entirely unprecedented. Neither the IAEA Statute nor the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement provides guidance on inspection modalities for nuclear facilities that have been subjected to such attacks. Accordingly, inspections of these facilities require a mutually agreed framework between Iran and the Agency. This is something that we are working on that. In this spirit, yesterday I had a technical discussion with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the Agency, where we discussed cooperation between Iran and the Agency.

Iran will continue its constructive dialogue and engagement with the Agency to address these technical issues and to identify an agreed pathway for closing the outstanding gaps.

Distinguished Delegates,

Iran has always been prepared to engage in meaningful and results-oriented negotiations. Any sustainable agreement must ensure the full recognition of Iran's legitimate rights, deliver tangible benefits, and be safeguarded against unilateral actions that undermine trust and credibility.

According to these principles and as a result of the good offices of our friendly countries in the region which we are very grateful, a new window of opportunity has opened under which we had the second round of the negotiations with the United States earlier today here in Geneva. We are hopeful that negotiation will lead to a sustainable and negotiated solution that can serve the interests of relevant parties and the broader region.

At the same time, as demonstrated during the aggression of 12 June 2025, Iran remains fully prepared to defend itself against any threat or act of aggression. The consequences of any attack against Iran will not be confined to its borders.

To conclude, Mr. President, I would like to emphasize that the Conference on Disarmament must overcome its paralysis and fulfill its mandate through the commencement of negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention as an urgent necessity. Accountability is not punitive; it is preventive. Inaction in the face of nuclear threats, aggression, and double standards undermines the very foundations of international law. The choice before us is clear: either we dismantle nuclear weapons, or they will one day dismantle us. Together, we can work to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

Thank you, Mr. President
Iranian, Swiss FMs review latest developments in nuclear talks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 17, 2026

Geneva, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis on Tuesday to discuss the latest status of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States.

The meeting took place after Araghchi attended the second round of the talks and delivered remarks at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

The two ministers exchanged views on the negotiation process aimed at lifting sanctions and assessed recent diplomatic efforts.

Cassis had earlier met Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, praising Oman for its constructive role in facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington.

Speaking to reporters after the Geneva talks, Araghchi said the latest round was more substantive and constructive than previous sessions. He noted that clearer decisions have emerged on the steps ahead and confirmed productive technical discussions with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi.

Araghchi also said the sides reached a general understanding on guiding principles that will form the basis for drafting a potential agreement, though significant work remains.

No date was set for the next round, as both sides agreed to first exchange draft texts, according to the minister.

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Araghchi: 'Good progress' made in indirect talks with US

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 17, 2026

Geneva, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says "good progress" was made during the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva compared to the previous session.

After the second round of indirect talks, held at the Omani embassy in Geneva, Switzerland, concluded on Tuesday, Araghchi said that the negotiations were held in a serious atmosphere and were more constructive than the previous round.

The top Iranian diplomat said that discussions on technical aspects had begun a day earlier, adding that there were also productive talks with Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He noted that various ideas were proposed and reviewed during the talks to work towards drafting a text, adding that both sides reached a general agreement on guiding principles and would now focus on discussing these principles to move forward with the text drafting stage.

Araghchi emphasized that the path has only just started, noting that drafting the text will be more challenging and require detailed work. He added that progress made in this round of negotiations has been better compared to the previous one and described the path ahead as bright.

The foreign minister said that no specific date has been set for the next round of negotiations.

"It was agreed that both sides will work on the drafts of a potential agreement and then exchange these drafts. After that, we will determine a date for the third round of talks," he added.

Araghchi said that there is no specific roadmap at this stage, but the path forward appears clearer.

Indirect talks between Iran and the United States were resumed on February 6 in Muscat, with messages exchanged through the Omani foreign minister.

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Second round of Iran-US talks wraps up in Geneva

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 17, 2026

Geneva, IRNA -- The second round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington has come to an end, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei.

Baqaei said on Tuesday that the second round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington ended in Geneva, Switzerland.

Just as in the previous round, Iranian and American delegations held talks with the Omani side and expressed their points of view.

Indirect talks between Iran and the United States were resumed on February 6 in Muscat, with messages exchanged through the Omani foreign minister.

Both Iran and the US have so far described the talks as positive and expressed willingness to continue.

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Exclusive | FM spokesperson says 'serious' Iran-US talks underway in Geneva

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 17, 2026

Geneva, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has said that the ongoing talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva are serious and have delved into the specifics regarding the removal of sanctions and nuclear discussions.

Speaking to IRNA's correspondent in Geneva on Tuesday, Baqaei said, "The Tehran-Washington talks began yesterday. We are here with an open mind and have delved into the details related to two subjects: the lifting of sanctions and nuclear issues."

Noting that important discussions have taken place between the head of Iran's diplomatic apparatus and his Omani counterpart, he said, "In this regard, significant talks have also been held with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."

Baqaei emphasized that Iran's perspectives on the nuclear issue, the lifting of sanctions, and the general framework for any potential agreement have been clearly communicated to the intermediary party.

"Today, the American side spoke with the Omani side and the Director General of the IAEA. Following that, we engaged in discussions with the head of Oman's diplomatic apparatus and Rafael Grossi. These talks are currently ongoing and are very intensive," he added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Baqaei referred to the significance of Grossi's presence in the meetings, adding, "Grossi's presence is important. Any agreement reached will involve responsibilities for the IAEA as a recognized international technical body in the field of non-proliferation. In the previous agreement, the agency's role was clearly defined and outlined across various sections and stages."

He noted that Grossi's involvement in the discussions is important and can be viewed as beneficial.

"However, the key decision-makers in this process are the delegations of the two countries. The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran has approached these talks with complete seriousness and has demonstrated in practice that we are seeking a result."

Indirect talks between Iran and the United States were resumed on February 6 in Muscat, with messages exchanged through the Omani foreign minister.

Both Iran and the US have so far described the talks as positive and expressed willingness to continue.

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Iran conveys nuclear, sanctions positions to US in indirect Geneva talks: Official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 17, 2026

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei says that Tehran's positions on the nuclear issue, sanctions relief, and the framework for any potential understanding have been conveyed to the US side through diplomatic channels.

Speaking to IRNA on Tuesday, Baqaei said the American side held talks earlier in the day with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi, during which Iran's views were relayed.

Baqaei added that the second round of indirect Iran-US talks effectively began on Monday with preliminary discussions between Iran and Oman.

According to the spokesperson, as of 10:00 a.m. local time in Geneva, both Iranian and American delegations were present at the negotiation venue and message exchanges via the Omani side had formally started.

He noted that engagement with the IAEA chief distinguishes this round from previous talks. Baqaei added that the Iranian delegation has arrived in Geneva with full technical and economic preparedness, reflecting Tehran's seriousness about achieving a result-oriented dialogue.

The new round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States began on February 6 in Muscat, with messages exchanged through the Omani foreign minister.

Both Iran and the US have so far described the talks as positive and expressed willingness to continue.

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Iran-US resume indirect talks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 17, 2026

Geneva, IRNA -- The indirect Iran-US talks has started, says the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) correspondent in Geneva, adding that the talks had practically began on Monday with a round of preliminary discussions between Iran and Oman, during which Iran's viewpoints were explained.

The American side held talks with the Omani Foreign Minister and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday morning, and Iran's viewpoints regarding the nuclear issue, the lifting of sanctions, and the framework for any potential understanding were explained.

As of 10:00 Geneva time, both the Iranian and American delegations are present at the negotiation venue, and the exchange of messages through the Omani intermediary has practically commenced.

The dialogue between the Iranian and American sides with the IAEA chief distinguishes this round of talks from the previous one.

The Iranian delegation is present in Geneva with its full readiness in both the technical-nuclear and economic (sanctions lifting) fields, which indicates Iran's seriousness for a result-oriented dialogue.

The indirect Tehran-Washington talks follow the first round held in Muscat last week, which was described by the two sides as a "good" start.

The parties have so far described the talks as good and have expressed their desire to continue this process.

Iran, as a responsible country, has participated in the negotiations with maximum insight, courage, and seriousness to put an end to an unnecessary crisis regarding the country's nuclear issue.

If Washington has the readiness and political seriousness to reach a fair and just conclusion, achieving an understanding will be within reach.

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Trump's indirect role in talks US internal matter: Iranian sources

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 17, 2026

Geneva, IRNA -- Iran views any indirect involvement by US President Donald Trump in nuclear talks is a matter for Washington, not Tehran, according to sources close to the Iranian negotiating team.

An IRNA correspondent in Geneva reported on Tuesday that the sources said the Islamic Republic enters the talks with the clear objective of lifting sanctions and reaching an agreement that delivers tangible benefits to the Iranian nation.

The sources close to the Iranian delegation told IRNA that Tehran participates in the negotiations seriously, seeking the removal of unjust sanctions in exchange for necessary transparency regarding its nuclear activities.

On reports about the US president's indirect participation, the Iranian sources said no such issue has been raised with the Iranian side, adding that the move likely reflects Washington's desire to signal that the talks are approaching a decisive stage.

This round of indirect Tehran-Washington talks begins on Tuesday, following earlier negotiations launched on February 6 in Muscat, Oman. In the process, Iran and the United States exchange views, considerations and proposals through Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad alBusaidi.

Both Iran and the US have so far described the talks as positive and have expressed readiness to continue.

Iran said it takes part in the negotiations responsibly and with determination to resolve an unnecessary nuclear crisis, adding that a fair understanding remains within reach if the United States shows sufficient political will.

4208**9417

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Iran warns about consequences of normalizing violations of intl. rules

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 9:15 PM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned about the consequences of normalizing violations of international rules and norms.

The top diplomat made the remarks in Geneva on Tuesday, meeting with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis after leading a high-ranking Iranian delegation during a second round of renewed indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States in the Swiss city.

Issuing the warning, Araghchi emphasized the importance of all governments' upholding the rule of law and the principles and regulations of the United Nations Charter and international law.

The meeting featured the officials exchanging their respective views on regional and international developments, including the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the continuation of the Israeli regime's US-backed colonial genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The top diplomats also presented their views and perspectives regarding the negotiation process, with Araghchi describing the talks as very serious and focused in nature.

He noted that, during the talks, the Iranian and American delegations generally reached an understanding on a set of guiding principles based on which the details concerning both sanctions relief and nuclear issues would be drafted in subsequent sessions.

Araghchi also thanked the Swiss government for the appropriate arrangements that were made to host this round of the talks.

For his part, Cassis expressed satisfaction that the negotiations were held in Geneva and emphasized Switzerland's readiness to assist in any diplomatic process that would lead to a mutually acceptable solution, resolve standing differences, and prevent escalation of tensions.

The second round of the talks ended earlier in the day at the Omani Consulate in Geneva, with Muscat serving as the intermediary as in the case of the previous round that had been held in the Omani capital earlier this month.

As in the previous round, the agenda focused primarily on the nuclear issue and the lifting of the illegal US sanctions.

At the conclusion of the second round, the Iranian foreign minister said, "Good progress was made compared to the previous session, and this round was conducted in a more constructive atmosphere."

Araghchi also commented on his meeting prior to the negotiations with Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Commenting on the latter meeting, he said, "On the technical aspects, good discussions were held with him (Grossi), and he also had good discussions with the American delegation."

Araghchi emphasized: "From now on, we will proceed based on the guiding principles and move towards drafting the text of a possible agreement." "This does not mean that we can reach an agreement quickly, but at least the path has begun. We hope this will be accomplished as soon as possible."

The talks unfolded against a backdrop of rising regional tensions. According to US officials, President Donald Trump has ordered additional military assets to the region, including a second aircraft carrier, thousands of troops, warplanes, and guided-missile destroyers.

In late January, Trump referred to "another beautiful armada" of warships heading towards Iran and warned that failure to secure an agreement would result in consequences "far worse" than the unlawful strikes that American warplanes had carried out against Iran's nuclear sites in June.

The Islamic Republic has stressed that it would respond firmly to any new act of military aggression, pointing to the June attacks, which led the country to launch a barrage of ballistic missiles at Al Udeid, Washington's largest airbase in the region that is located in Qatar.

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Iran in no way seeking nuclear weapons: Pezeshkian

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 6:41 PM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has once again reiterated that the country is not seeking nuclear weapons in any way or form.

"We have repeatedly declared that we are in no way seeking nuclear weapons. Our policies, as well as the fatwa of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution (Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei), are clear and decisive on this matter," Pezeshkian said in an interview on Tuesday.

He said that rumors and propaganda claiming that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons are politically motivated, while expressing hope that the international community, especially the United States, recognizes this reality.

However, he insisted that the country needs nuclear science to respond to its medical and technological needs.

"We cannot accept being deprived of using nuclear science and knowledge to save the lives of our patients, advance our industries, and develop our agriculture," said the Iranian president.

Pezeshkian said that Iran is fully prepared for any form of verification of its nuclear program, suggesting the country has no concerns about intensive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Excerpts of the interview were published by the Iranian Presidency hours after Iranian negotiators held a second round of nuclear talks with US representatives in the Swiss city of Geneva.

The talks began earlier this month in Oman after both Iran and the US de-escalated their rhetoric about a potential military confrontation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led the Iranian delegation in Geneva, said the negotiations with the US had made progress.

Araghchi said the talks on Tuesday concluded with an agreement on a set of guiding principles that will shape future discussions toward a potential deal.

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Oman: Iran-US indirect talks in Geneva achieve tangible progress

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 6:11 PM

The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the latest round of indirect talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States in Geneva has concluded with tangible progress, paving the way for future discussions.

According to the ministry, Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi met with US officials Steve Whittock, the US president's special representative, and Jared Kushner in a consultative session on Tuesday.

The talks primarily focused on identifying common goals and addressing technical issues, with a constructive atmosphere throughout the meetings.

"The meetings allowed us to work together on establishing guiding principles for a final agreement," the ministry said, highlighting the significant role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General in facilitating the discussions.

Oman said while progress has been made, substantial work remains, and all parties left the venue with clear next steps ahead of the upcoming round of talks.

The second round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States took place at the Omani consulate general in Geneva, Switzerland, earlier in the day and concluded after approximately three hours.

Similar to the previous round in Oman's capital, Muscat, the agenda of the negotiations primarily focused on the nuclear issue and the lifting of illegal US sanctions.

The talks follow the resumption of indirect nuclear negotiations, led by Araghchi and Witkoff, in the Omani capital on February 6.

The negotiations are taking place amid heightened regional tensions. US President Donald Trump has ordered additional military deployments to the region, including an extra aircraft carrier, thousands of troops, warplanes, and guided-missile destroyers, according to US officials.

In late January, Trump spoke of "another beautiful armada" of warships heading towards Iran and said failure to reach a deal would bring consequences "far worse" than the illegal strikes of June 2025 on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Tehran has declared that it would respond decisively to any military adventurism, as in the case of the June US attacks, which prompted a ballistic missile barrage against Al Udeid, Washington's most important regional airbase located in Qatar.

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Iran's right to nuclear enrichment non-negotiable, Araghchi tells disarmament conference

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 4:26 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy is "inherent and non-negotiable," while simultaneously confirming that a "new window of opportunity" has opened for diplomacy with the United States.

Araghchi made the remarks in an address at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament on Tuesday, which came minutes after he concluded a second round of indirect negotiations with US officials in Geneva.

In a firm defense of Tehran's nuclear program, Araghchi emphasized that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) explicitly recognizes the inalienable right of states to produce and use nuclear energy.

"This right is inherent, non-negotiable, and legally binding," Araghchi told the plenary meeting. "It is not conditional upon political considerations, nor can it be suspended or reinterpreted arbitrarily."

The foreign minister reiterated that nuclear weapons have "no place" in Iran's security doctrine, citing religious boundaries and a defensive policy that prohibits weapons of mass destruction.

However, he warned that lasting agreements can only be achieved through "mutual balanced commitments."

Araghchi credited "friendly countries in the region," notably Oman, for facilitating a renewed diplomatic channel.

"A new window of opportunity has opened," he said. "We are hopeful that negotiation will lead to a sustainable and negotiated solution."

Rebuking US-Israeli aggression

The speech contained sharp criticism of Western powers, specifically the United States, for its 2018 withdrawal from the JCPOA and its participation in the June aggression against Iran.

Araghchi described the attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities as "war crimes" and accused the US of "colluding with a non-party to the NPT," a reference to Israel, against a state party.

He further condemned what he termed "double standards" regarding Israel's nuclear capabilities and its regional military actions, stating that the silence of international institutions in the face of such violations signals a "serious erosion of the global non-proliferation regime."

The minister also touched upon the technical complexities of inspections following the military strikes of 2025.

He pointed out that he held technical discussions on Monday with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Araghchi noted that because attacks on safeguarded installations are "entirely unprecedented," Iran and the Agency are working to identify a "mutually agreed framework" for inspections that accounts for the current state of the facilities.

He concluded his address by urging the Conference on Disarmament to overcome its long-standing "paralysis" and begin negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention.

"The choice before us is clear," he warned. "Either we dismantle nuclear weapons, or they will one day dismantle us."

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Warships can be sent to the seabed, Leader warns in response to Trump's threats

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 10:15 AM

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has responded to repeated US military threats against Iran, saying that the weapons that can sink the American carriers are "more dangerous" than the warships.

"The American president [Donald Trump] repeatedly says that their military is the strongest in the world. The strongest military in the world, however, can sometimes be struck so hard that it cannot even get back on its feet," Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday while addressing thousands of people from East Azarbaijan Province.

"They keep saying, 'We have sent an aircraft carrier toward Iran.' Finean aircraft carrier is certainly a dangerous piece of equipment. But more dangerous than the carrier is the weapon capable of sending it to the bottom of the sea," he added.

Trump's remarks that Washington has been unable to eliminate the Islamic Republic for the past 47 years is "quite an admission," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

"For 47 years, America has failed to destroy the Islamic Republic," he said, before addressing Trump and adding, "I say this: you will not be able to do so in the future either."

The warning comes as US President Donald Trump has deployed military forces to the region, threatening to launch attacks on Iran.

US officials said on February 12 that the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the region, adding thousands more troops along with fighter aircraft and guided-missile destroyers.

"In case we don't make a deal, we'll need it," Trump said on Friday, referring to USS Gerald R. Ford.

The military buildup comes as Iran and the US are holding indirect talks about the nuclear issue, months after the US-Israeli aggression on Iranian soil and attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities.

Observers say Trump is using the military threat as leverage in talks to gain concessions from Tehran. However, Iranian officials have highlighted Tehran's readiness for both diplomacy and war, warning that any attack on Iran would ignite a regional war.

On Sunday, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi warned Trump over his war rhetoric.

"Trump should know that he would be entering a confrontation that gives harsh lessons, the outcome of which would ensure that he no longer bellows threats around the world," he said.

'Foolish to predetermine outcome of talks'

Elsewhere in his address, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the ongoing indirect talks between Tehran and Washington.

"These remarks the US president makesat times issuing threats, at times saying this must be done or that must not be doneshow that they are seeking to dominate the Iranian nation," he said.

"They say, 'Let us negotiate over your nuclear energy,' and the outcome of the negotiation should be that you no longer possess this energy," he said, adding, "To predetermine the outcome before talks even begin is wrong and foolish."

"This is precisely the foolish approach being taken by American presidents, certain senators, the current president, and others," he added.

Iranian people, however, "know their Islamic and Shi'i teachings well," the Leader said, before quoting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), "Someone like me would never pledge allegiance to someone like Yazid."

"In reality, the Iranian nation is saying the same: a people with this culture, this history, these lofty values, will never pledge allegiance to corrupt figures like those currently in power in the United States," he said.

Iran in a state of mourning

Elsewhere, Ayatollah Khamenei said the nation is grieving after recent foreign-backed riots, which left thousands of people dead, stressing, "We are in mourning for the blood that was shed."

He divided the victims into three groups. The first, he said, were security and health defenders  police, Basij, Revolutionary Guard members and others  whom he described as "among the highest martyrs."

The second group included bystanders killed during the turmoil. "They, too, are martyrs," he said, noting they died amid "the enemy's sedition."

The third group, the Leader said, were those who were misled into joining the riots. Calling them "our own children," he said some had written to him expressing regret. Authorities, he noted, have also recognized those killed among them as martyrs.

Apart from ringleaders backed by foreign enemies, Ayatollah Khamenei said all others deserve prayers and forgiveness.

Foreign-backed armed rioters and terrorists hijacked peaceful, sporadic protests over economic grievances on January 8 and 9.

The violence, encouraged openly by the US and the Israeli regime, resulted in extensive damage to public and private property, with widespread destruction of shops, government institutions, public service facilities, and the killing of hundreds of civilians and security forces.

Iranian authorities have confirmed that American and Israeli spy agencies were directly involved, providing funding, training, and media support to rioters and armed terrorists acting on the streets.

Official Iranian records show 3,117 people were killed in the riots, including 2,427 civilians and security personnel killed by terrorists.

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Iran to pursue strong defense, careful diplomacy during indirect talks with US: Deputy FM

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 9:29 AM

Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi says Iran must remain alert and maintain maximum defensive capability to prevent the American side from attempting to extract concessions through pressure.

During a TV program aired on Tuesday night, Takht-Ravanchi said Iranian officials should be cautious and avoid repeating past mistakes, warning against being "bitten from the same hole twice," a Persian idiom meaning not falling for the same trick again.

Iranian and American delegations, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, resumed nuclear talks in Muscat on February 6, months after Israel's aggression in June 2025. The Omani foreign minister was shuttling between the sides, with the talks being held indirectly as before.

The second round of the renewed talks is being held in Geneva on Tuesday with the mediation of Oman's foreign minister at the Omani mission. The negotiating table brings together Witkoff and Araghchi, following what both sides described as a constructive but preliminary first round in Muscat.

The negotiations will take place as US President Donald Trump has deployed military forces to the region, heightening concerns about possible new military action. US officials said on February 12 that the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the region, adding thousands more troops along with fighter aircraft and guided-missile destroyers.

Takht-Ravanchi added that Iran's armed forces are in good overall condition and are steadily improving.

He emphasized that national strength must extend beyond military capability to include social cohesion and economic resilience so that no country would consider aggression against Iran.

Referring to decades of unfulfilled commitments by the United States toward Iran, Takht-Ravanchi said Tehran should not place excessive trust in any party with such a record.

However, he clarified that this does not rule out diplomacy if circumstances require.

He also noted that some criticisms raised by Iranian opponents of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are valid, arguing that no negotiated deal can be perfect because diplomacy inherently involves compromise rather than one side gaining all benefits while the other accepts losses.

The JCPOA was signed between Iran and several world powers in the Austrian capital, Vienna, in July 2025. The signatories were China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, Iran, and the United States.

Under the agreement, the US and the EU agreed to remove anti-Iran sanctions imposed over the years in exchange for Iran limiting its uranium enrichment and reducing its existing stockpile.

The deal was scrapped by the US during Trump's first term in 2018. Despite this, Iran fully adhered to its obligations under the JCPOA, while the Europeans also failed to comply with the accord.

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Latest round of indirect Iran-US nuclear talks concludes in Geneva

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 9:20 AM

The second round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States at the Omani consulate general in Geneva, Switzerland, has concluded.

As in the previous round in Muscat, the agenda of the Tuesday negotiations focused primarily on the nuclear issue and the lifting of illegal US sanctions.

"It is clear that the negotiations will be about the nuclear issue," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said moments before the start of talks.

He noted that the format of the talks would mirror the talks in Muscat on February 6, where Iran and US negotiating teams conveyed messages through Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

The Islamic Republic has underscored that the preservation of its peaceful uranium enrichment program remains a key principle.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian delegation, accompanied by his Deputy for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy for Economic Diplomacy, Hamid Ghanbari, and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.

Technical, legal, and economic experts were also part of the Iranian negotiating team in this round.

In the early hours of his arrival in Geneva, Araghchi clarified on social media that submission under threats on the part of Tehran was completely off the table.

He also stated that he had traveled to the Swiss city with "real ideas" aimed at reaching a fair and balanced agreement.

Meeting with IAEA chief ahead of talks

On Monday, a day before the scheduled talks, Araghchi met with Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Geneva.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the two discussed technical issues related to Tehran's cooperation with the IAEA within the framework of safeguards and the Iranian Parliament's law on the matter that has conditioned collaboration with the agency on ensuring the realization of Iran's rights, including the safety of its nuclear facilities.

Iran's technical viewpoints regarding its indirect negotiations with the United States were also addressed.

Omani mediation and diplomatic engagements

Oman is expected to continue its intermediary role in the indirect negotiations. Araghchi also held a meeting on Monday with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi, in the Swiss city, where he presented Iran's key points within the framework of the country's negotiation strategy.

The foreign minister's visit to Geneva also includes attending and delivering a speech at the Disarmament Conference, as well as holding several diplomatic meetings.

Context of renewed contacts

The upcoming talks follow the resumption of indirect nuclear negotiations on February 6 in the Omani capital Muscat, led by Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff.

The negotiations are taking place amid heightened regional tensions. US President Donald Trump has ordered additional military deployments to the region, including an extra aircraft carrier, thousands of troops, warplanes, and guided-missile destroyers, according to US officials.

In late January, Trump spoke of "another beautiful armada" of warships heading towards Iran and said that failure to reach a deal would bring consequences "far worse" than the illegal June strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Tehran has underlined that it would respond decisively to any act of fresh military adventurism, as in the case of the US attacks last June, which prompted a ballistic missile barrage against Al Udeid, Washington's most important regional airbase, which is located in Qatar.

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Following Iran Nuclear Talks, China's Support For Tehran Returns To The Spotlight

By Iliya Jazaeri and Reid Standish February 17, 2026

As the latest nuclear talks ended in Geneva on February 17, the United States is looking at tightening pressure on Iran's discounted crude exports to China, seen as central to Tehran's economic survival.

More than 80 percent of Iranian oil exports go to China. According to a report from Axios citing American officials, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed that Washington would work to reduce Iranian oil sales to China, which could significantly increase pressure on Tehran.

Asked about the report, China's Foreign Ministry said on February 16 that "normal cooperation between countries conducted within the framework of international law is reasonable and legitimate, and should be respected and protected."

The dispute underscores how China has become central to Iran's ability to withstand Western pressure. Beijing is Tehran's largest trading partner and an increasingly important source of technology and security cooperation, making Chinese oil purchases an attractive target to reshape the negotiating landscape.

But growing US pressure and China's muted response highlight Beijing's complicated role. As Iran faces a US military buildup in the region and renewed diplomatic pressure following a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, China has maintained a cautious public posture, calling for stability while avoiding direct confrontation with Washington.

At the same time, years of deepening ties -- from police training to advanced surveillance -- have helped Tehran suppress dissent and weather one of the most serious challenges to its clerical rule in years.

"It's a blueprint that China excels at and has refined at home," Michael Caster, head of the British human rights group Article 19's global China program, told RFE/RL. "States like Iran don't need encouragement to be authoritarian, but they can certainly look to the more effective and capable authoritarian influence deployed by China."

Exporting A Playbook

Oil has formed the bedrock of China-Iran ties in recent years. US sanctions designed to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions have been partly offset by Beijing's purchases of discounted crude.

Much of that trade operates through barter arrangements, with discounted Iranian oil exchanged for Chinese goods, technology, and infrastructure. The system has flooded Iranian markets with Chinese manufactured products while helping sustain government revenue.

Trump signed an executive order on February 6 that will allow Washington to increase economic pressure on Iran and potential target Chinese oil purchases.

Such steps could also affect the flow of Chinese hardware that underpins Iran's expanding censorship system, which enabled authorities to disconnect much of the country during January's protests.

"The digital domain is where civil society finds gaps in the infrastructure of control to convene, express, and document," said Caster, who is the co-author of a recent report for Article 19 detailing how China has helped Tehran expand digital repression inside the country. "By gaining that total control over the digital domain through new technologies and tactics from China, Iran is able to exert a new level of control."

That cooperation was evident as Iranians took to the streets over the country's worsening economic crisis. Authorities shut down Internet access with unprecedented speed, isolating citizens from the outside world and limiting the spread of information.

Eyewitnesses said drones were used to corral protesters and, in some cases, fire on crowds. Others reported the technology was used to identify demonstrators on the streets and in their homes after chanting anti-government slogans.

Article 19's report says surveillance technologies first implemented in China's Xinjiang region against the Uyghur population are now being used in Iran, which Caster says showcases how Tehran borrows from Beijing's "digital authoritarian playbook."

"We have seen documentation going back a decade and a half for technology transfers between China and Iran," Caster said. " But one of the crucial parts of the story that is often overlooked are the terms of the normative framework -- or the strategy of deploying these technologies for really sophisticated digital authoritarian purposes."

A Deeper Security Partnership

The partnership has developed gradually, with Chinese tech giants like Huawei, ZTE, Tiandy, and Hikvision signing agreements to supply Tehran with equipment and know-how.

Those transfers have continued despite US sanctions and helped advance Iran's National Information Network (NIN), a state-controlled and heavily monitored domestic Internet that is nearing completion.

Iranian security forces began receiving training from Chinese counterparts in crowd-control tactics and monitoring technologies as early as 2005, cooperation that has deepened through decades of exchanges and agreements.

Iran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional security and trade bloc, in 2023 with China's backing. It hosted troops from China, Russia, and seven other countries for counterterrorism drills organized under the SCO in December.

A few weeks later, on December 25, just days before Iran's protests erupted, Iran's ambassador to China visited the People's Public Security University in Beijing, where he pledged to continue "pragmatic cooperation in law enforcement and security."

In 2021, Iran and China announced a 25-year economic cooperation agreement to boost technical cooperation and build expansive infrastructure like new highways and high-speed railways.

Soheil Azadi, a member of the editorial board of the Canada-based Persian fact-checking website FactNameh, told RFE/RL that leaked versions of the deal show clauses specifically designed for security cooperation and technological transfers.

He says some of these areas overlap with Iran adopting Chinese surveillance equipment and with consultations on building the NIN.

That deal has so far led to limited results, with Chinese investment largely limited inside heavily sanctioned Iran.

A late January study of China-Iran ties by the Washington-based Brookings Institution called the agreement "an effort to keep Iran's economy afloat in the face of American sanctions" that aligns with Beijing's pragmatic approach toward Iran as it continues to grapple with US pressure and instability at home.

"China is much more important to Iran than vice versa," the report said. "For China, its interests in Iran will be focused on protecting stability, ensuring continuing access to Iranian oil exports, and seeking to prevent the emergence of a pro-American regime in Tehran."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-china-nuclear-talks-trump- technology-surveillance-huawei-tiandy-zte/33680429.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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No Agreement As Iran, US Wrap Up Second Round Of Talks In Geneva

By RFE/RL February 17, 2026

A second round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States over Tehran's nuclear program concluded in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 17 without an agreement.

"Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss," a US official told RFE/RL. "The Iranians said they would come back in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address some of the open gaps in our positions.'

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told his country's state media that the two sides had "reached an understanding" on key issues, but cautioned that it "does not mean that we will reach an agreement soon."

He added that Tehran and Washington will begin work on potential agreement documents but said no date had been set for the next round of talks.

In an interview to Fox News after the end of the February 17 talks, US Vice President JD Vance said that Iran "is not ready yet to recognize [US President Donald] Trump's red lines."

"Iran says it is not seeking nuclear weapons, but we know it is not true," Vance said. "We would very much like to resolve all the issues through a conversation." The vice president added that Trump has "many tools" to prevent the world's most unpredictable regime from acquiring the "world's most dangerous weapon."

Addressing a special session of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations after the talks with the United States, Araqchi said Tehran was "hopeful that negotiation will lead to a sustainable and negotiated solution which can serve the interest" of all parties involved.

He added, however, that Iran is "fully prepared to defend itself" against US strikes.

Mediated by Oman, the negotiations aim to resolve the years-long dispute over Iran's nuclear program as the United States continues to amass forces in the Arabian Sea.

President Donald Trump has warned that failure to reach a deal could lead to military strikes.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shrugged off US threats of military action as Iranian and US negotiators began the talks.

Addressing a crowd of supporters in Tehran, Khamenei suggested that Iran has the capability to sink US warships amassing on its doorstep.

"What's more dangerous than a warship is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea," he said, referring to Iran's missiles.

His comments come a day after Trump hinted at the possibility of military action if diplomacy fails.

"I don't think they want the consequences of not making a deal," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on February 16.

"We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential. And we had to send the B-2s," he added, referring to the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.

On February 13, the US president said regime change in Iran would be the "best thing that could happen."

Directly addressing Trump, Khamenei said the president "will not be able to" overthrow the Islamic republic.

Trump said he would be "indirectly" involved in the Geneva talks. This marks the second round of negotiations this year between Tehran and Washington, following talks earlier this month in Muscat.

Iran has stated it is willing to submit to a stringent inspection regime of its nuclear facilities in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions. It has also sought to present its sanctions-hit economy as a lucrative investment opportunity for American firms.

However, Tehran has rejected the possibility of negotiating over issues such as its missile program and support for proxies in the region -- red lines the Trump administration insists must be addressed.

The talks were held at the Omani consulate, with mediators exchanging messages between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Closing The Strait Of Hormuz

With the United States bolstering its military presence on in the Arabian Sea, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on February 16 kicked off naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reported the aim was to test the operational readiness of the IRGC Navy against "possible security and military threats."

On February 17, state media announced the temporary closure of parts of the strait for "security precautions."

As tensions with the West escalate, Tehran often threatens to disrupt the strait -- a global chokepoint through which more than 20 percent of the world's oil supply passes daily.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-nuclear -talks-geneva/33680464.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Second Round of US-Iran Nuclear Talks Ends in Geneva - Reports

Sputnik News

20260217

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The second round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran on the Iranian nuclear issue ended in Geneva on Tuesday, Axios reported, citing a US official.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that Iran was ready to stay in Geneva for several days, even weeks, in order to reach an agreement with the United States.

US-IAEA Meeting

The United States held a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi ahead of talks with Iran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said.

"This morning, the US side held talks with the Omani foreign minister and the IAEA director general. Iran's position on the nuclear issue, the lifting of sanctions, and the framework of any future agreement was conveyed to the US side," Baghaei was quoted as saying by Iranian news agency IRNA.

Iran referred the question of indirect participation by US President Donald Trump in the atomic talks with Tehran in Geneva back to the US, IRNA reported, citing a source close to the Iranian negotiating team.

Earlier in the day, Trump stated that he would indirectly participate in the talks with Iran, which took place in Geneva on Tuesday.

 Sputnik

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Iran Ready to Close Hormuz Strait, ASAP If Needed - IRGC Naval Commander

Sputnik News

20260217

Iran is ready to close the Strait of Hormuz, if necessary, as soon as possible, Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Rear Adm. Alireza Tangsiri said on Tuesday.

"If there is a pretext for closing the Strait of Hormuz, our armed forces will carry out this operation as soon as possible," Tangsiri said, as quoted by the IRIB broadcaster.

A new round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States on the Iranian nuclear dossier are held on February 17 in Geneva with the mediation of Oman.

Iran is ready to stay in Geneva for several days, even weeks, in order to reach an agreement with the United States, Tehran's representatives expect the same serious approach from Washington, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said.

"[Iranian Foreign Minister] Mr. Araghchi has always said that we are ready to stay here for a longer period, for several days or even weeks, in order to finalize any agreement. We hope to see the same level of seriousness from the United States," Baghaei told Press TV.

 Sputnik

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US threatens Iraq with sanctions targeting key institutions if Maliki returns as PM: Report

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 11:41 AM

Washington has reportedly sent a message to Iraq's main Shia alliance, which holds a parliamentary majority, warning of potential US sanctions should the bloc proceed with the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for the Arab country's next prime minister.

This is according to an Iraqi adviser who spoke with Alhurra on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The adviser said on Monday that the US side threatened sanctions against the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), the Central Bank of Iraq, as well as security and diplomatic sectors, in addition to political figures and former and current officials.

The advisor suggested that the economic sanctions could involve curbs on Iraqi oil exports, constraints on the Iraqi government's access to US dollars, or penalties on banks and financial institutions.

The measures could result in a nearly complete stop in international trade, and immense challenges in disbursing salaries for the public sector.

A member of the Coordination Framework verified the message's authenticity, saying it was communicated to the alliance via a high-ranking Framework leader who recently met with , the US charge d'Affaires Joshua Harris.

The US Embassy revealed on Thursday that Harris met with Abdul Hussein al-Moussawi, leader of the National Path Alliance, a part of the Coordination Framework.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States is paying close attention to the matter of Maliki's nomination for the position of prime minister in Iraq.

"We're watching the situation regarding the prime minister. We'll see what happens. We have some ideas about it, but in the end, everyone needs America," Trump said when asked whether he still objected to Maliki's nomination.

Earlier this month, Maliki said his withdrawal of candidacy for the post would jeopardize Iraq's sovereignty, emphasizing that he would only step aside if the Coordination Framework asks him to do so.

Maliki served as Iraq's prime minister from 2006 to 2014 and as vice president between 2014 and 2015 and again from 2016 to 2018. He currently heads the Islamic Dawa Party political movement.

He is a senior figure in Iraq's political scene and maintains close ties with various factions, including parties linked to the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) that have opposed foreign interference in the Arab country's affairs. The PMU was formed in 2014 to fight the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group and was later incorporated into Iraq's armed forces.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has opted not to seek a second term.

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Joint Statement between The Government of the Republic of Austria represented by H.E. Mr. Christian Stocker, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria and The Islamic Republic of Pakistan represented by H.E. Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Christian Stocker, received the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, for an official visit on 16 February 2026. The visit marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Austria and Pakistan in 1956.

Both the leaders reiterated the friendly and historical ties between the two countries and committed to work towards further strengthening bilateral relations in such fields as economic cooperation, trade and investment. Both sides took stock of developments at the global level and agreed on the central role of the United Nations in addressing the challenges of peace and security, sustainable development and promotion of human rights. They expressed their unwavering support for multilateralism, rule-based global order, underpinned by the principles and purposes of Charter of the United Nations and to further enhance their collaboration for strengthening the UN system.

Both the leaders noted the potential between the two countries to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, tourism, hospitality, education, IT, healthcare and human resource development and mobility. In this regard they agreed to work for the early finalization of various Memoranda of Understanding under consideration related to these areas.

In addition to an one-on-one meeting between the two leaders and delegation-level talks, the Federal Chancellor of Austria and the Prime Minister of Pakistan also co-chaired a forum of leading Austrian and Pakistani companies. It was agreed to further enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation through existing and future frameworks, building on the established mechanisms of dialogue. The Prime Minister of Pakistan invited the Austrian businesses and companies to participate in the upcoming EU-Pakistan Business Forum to be held in Islamabad in April 2026.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker to visit Pakistan in the near future.

Islamabad

17 February 2026

46/2026

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On 16 February 2026, a cowardly terrorist attack was attempted on Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies Joint Check Post in Bajaur District by Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - February 17, 2026

No PR-52/2026-ISPR

On 16 February 2026, a cowardly terrorist attack was attempted on Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies Joint Check Post in Bajaur District by Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij.

The assailants sought to breach the check post security; however, their nefarious designs were swiftly and decisively foiled by the vigilant and resolute response of Pakistan's security forces. Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, our valiant troops engaged the fleeing khwarij with precision, eliminating twelve khwarij.

In their desperation, the attackers rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall. Due to blast impact infrastructure at Check post collapsed resultantly eleven brave sons of soil, rendered the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat.

Tragically, civilian residential buildings in close proximity also suffered severe destruction as a result of explosion, leading to the martyrdom of one innocent young girl and injuries to seven others including women and children.

Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored kharji found in the area as relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision "Azm e Istehkam" (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country. The sacrifices of our brave soldiers and innocent civilians further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs.

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Meeting with Orel Region Governor Andrei Klychkov

The President had a working meeting with Governor of the Orel Region Andrei Klychkov, who focused in his report on the region's socioeconomic development.

February 16, 2026

13:40

The Kremlin, Moscow

Andrei Klychkov reported that the gross regional product growth for the region in 2025 amounted to 108 percent, while the growth rate for the budget was 104 percent. The President noted that the average national rate was one percent, while the Orel Region reported 2.6 percent. In addition, investment has been increasing at a robust pace.

Andrei Klychkov informed the President that about 50 enterprises were created over the past eight years, including in agriculture and manufacturing. Ceramic tile manufacturer, Kerama Marazzi, is one of the biggest taxpayers. There is also Proton, the microelectronics manufacturer. What makes the Governor especially proud is the 2.8-fold increase in agricultural production compared to 2017, when he took office. He shared the following statistics: the Orel Region, with its population of 686,181 people as of 2025, produces enough vegetable oil for 18 million people, sugar for 17.5 million people, flour for 2 million people, and grain cereals for 4.6 million people. The Governor also said that the region teamed up with Miratorg to open a seed-growing centre specialising in perennial grass, a second centre on potato seeds, and a third centre for soy and wheat seeds. This will be followed by similar initiatives regarding corn and beetroot. All these efforts are designed to fulfil the goal set by the President to achieve self-sufficiency in this sector by 2030.

Andrei Klychkov went on to ask the President to support the idea of creating a national seed growing centre in the region, and Vladimir Putin gave a positive answer and asked to continue this work.

The meeting's agenda also touched upon the progress in carrying out national projects, upgrading medical facilities and completing a modern student campus and medical centre, as well as building a western bypass road around Orel so that ten thousands cars do not have to drive through the city. The construction of the airport is expected to be completed in 2027, ahead of schedule.

The Governor also said that the Orel Region has restored the wild European bison population, bringing it to 820 animals, the biggest population in Europe. The European bison is now one of the Orel Region's symbols.

In addition, Andrei Klychkov presented the Victory project, which consists of assisting the special military operation participants and their families. He also talked about the Heroes of the Orel Land regional contest for selecting the best veterans. There were 55 of them who completed all the tests. Some of them will become government officials, while others will work in public organisations.

Vladimir Putin thanked Andrei Klychkov and his colleagues from the regions for supporting those fighting in the special military operation zone and their families, considering the importance of these efforts on the national and personal levels. The President also thanked the Governor for supporting people in the Kursk Region who suffered during the incursion by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on its territory.

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Meeting with Head of Ingushetia Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov

Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Head of the Republic of Ingushetia Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov.

February 17, 2026

14:10

The Kremlin, Moscow

At the opening of the meeting, the President asked about the progress of investment projects in Ingushetia, noting that the region has shown promising developments in this area.

Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov noted that the development of industrial sites with infrastructure has helped attract major investors. Among the projects underway are plants producing detergents and liquefied gas, the launch of an IT academy by a large business group Safmar, and the construction of a logistics hub by a major online marketplace Wildberries. In addition, work is ongoing on wastewater treatment facilities, as well as the reconstruction of the airport.

The Head of the Republic reported an improved economic situation, noting that the national debt has been reduced and the volume of unfinished construction cut by 75 percent. Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov also spoke about the priority given to supporting participants in the special military operation and their families, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid and equipment.

Vladimir Putin stressed that the families of participants in the special military operation must remain under constant personal supervision of the Head of the Republic, and that this support should be organised on a systematic basis.

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's working lunch with the ambassadors of BRICS member and partner countries

17 February 2026 18:57

203-17-02-2026

On February 17, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hosted a working lunch with the heads of diplomatic missions from BRICS member and partner countries accredited in Moscow.

The discussion focused on current global issues, highlighting the importance of preserving the UN's central role. The participants stressed the need for joint efforts to reform the global governance system and enhance the influence of countries representing the Global Majority in international decision-making. A shared commitment was also expressed to raising BRICS international profile and strengthening coordination among its members in key multilateral forums.

The participants held a comprehensive exchange of views on enhancing the strategic partnership within the group, taking into account the priorities outlined under India's BRICS chairmanship this year.

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Russian Navy Best Guarantor of Safety of Ships Amid West's Attacks - Presidential Aide

Sputnik News

20260217

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian navy is the best guarantor of safety of Russian merchant vessels amid Western attacks, Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Russian Marine Board Nikolai Patrushev said.

By implementing plans for a naval blockade of Russia, the Europeans are explore the limits of its patience and provoking active retaliatory measures, the official said, adding that if Moscow does not respond harshly to pirate attacks from the West, then the British, French and even the Balts will become arrogant to the point of trying to block Russia's access to the seas at least in the Atlantic.

"We believe that, as at all times, the best guarantor of navigation safety is the navy," Patrushev said in an interview with the aif.ru news website.

The Russian navy must constantly maintain impressive naval forces in key maritime areas, ready to cool the ardor of Western countries, Patrushev said.

Response measures to Western attacks on Russian merchant ships are being developed, including through the Russian Maritime Collegium, the Russian presidential aide said, adding that as a first step in response to possible attempts at a naval blockade of Russia, Moscow will use political, diplomatic, and legal mechanisms.

If European countries fail to lift the potential naval blockade of Russia peacefully, the Russian Navy will break through and eliminate it, Patrushev also said.

"If this situation cannot be resolved peacefully, the navy will break through and eliminate the blockade," Patrushev said in the interview with the aif.ru news website, adding that any attempt at a naval blockade of Russia is absolutely illegal under international law.

The concept of a "shadow fleet" used by the European Union in relation to Russia is a legal fiction, Patrushev said, adding that there are many ships sailing under European flags, and Russia might also be interested in what they are carrying.

There is evidence that the West will increasingly attack Russian merchant ships, Patrushev said.

"According to available information, such actions will intensify, and attacks on our ships and cargo will become more frequent," Patrushev said in the interview with the aif.ru news website.

Pirate attacks on Russian merchant ships indicate that the West wants to paralyze Russia's foreign trade, Patrushev added.

The Russian Navy needs many more ships to protect Russian merchant ships in distant seas than it currently has, Patrushev also said.

"I will not hide the fact that our navy is currently performing maritime trade protection missions with a fairly high intensity of forces. We need far more ships for long-range maritime and oceanic zones, capable of operating autonomously for long periods at significant distances from their bases," Patrushev said in the interview with the aif.ru news website.

Russia must prioritize the creation of a high-tech navy, as written in the Russian navy's shipbuilding program through 2050, Patrushev said, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon be presented with a navy shipbuilding program with requirements for the creation of ships to protect Russian merchant vessels from Western attacks.

BRICS naval exercises "Will for Peace 2026" with the participation of Russia, China, Iran, the UAE, and South Africa in January were held successfully, Patrushev said.

"In January, the first BRICS naval exercises, 'Will for Peace 2026,' were successfully held in the South Atlantic, involving Russia, China, Iran, the UAE, and South Africa. The navies practiced cooperation in protecting trade routes, which are currently becoming increasingly vulnerable, including to Western piracy," Patrushev said in the interview with the aif.ru news website.



 Sputnik

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U.S., Philippines reiterate importance of Taiwan Strait peace

ROC Central News Agency

02/17/2026 03:49 PM

Taipei, Feb. 17 (CNA) The United States and the Philippines have reaffirmed the importance of regional security in the Taiwan Strait following the 12th Philippines-United States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Manila Monday.

In a joint statement released by the U.S. Department of State the same day, Washington and Manila emphasized collective defense in deterring aggression anywhere along the first island chain, of which Taiwan is a part.

The two countries condemned what they described as China's "coercive actions" in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

According to the statement, the two sides committed to maintaining a high level of vigilance in the Indo-Pacific region to prevent conflict. They vowed to establish robust measures and deterrent capabilities to ensure unhindered passage through maritime waterways, free from arbitrary control by any single nation.

"Collective defense is critical to denying and deterring aggression anywhere in the First Island Chain," the statement said.

Furthermore, the U.S. and the Philippines reaffirmed their commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), promising to act jointly in response to armed attacks on either party's territory, armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific area.

The two countries condemned what the statement described as "China's illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive activities in the South China Sea."

Regarding Taiwan, the statement noted that the U.S. and the Philippines strongly oppose any behavior that threatens or uses force to violate the territorial integrity or political independence of other nations.

Looking toward 2026, the statement outlined plans to strengthen interoperability and conduct more realistic exercises to enhance readiness for contingencies. The U.S. pledged to push for the modernization of the Philippine armed forces and coast guard, and to increase the deployment of advanced U.S. missiles and unmanned systems to the Philippines.

Additionally, the U.S. is allocating an extra US$144 million for fiscal year 2026 to support sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), focusing on infrastructure development. EDCA allows U.S. forces to use Philippine bases for joint training, equipment storage, and the construction of facilities like runways and fuel depots, though it does not establish permanent U.S. basing.

(By Chung Yu-chen and Chao Yen-hsiang)

Enditem/ASG

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PM call with Prime Minister Carney of Canada: 16 February 2026

Press release

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 17 February 2026

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney today [16 February].

The Prime Minister began by sharing his condolences following the horrific shooting in British Columbia last Tuesday. He stressed that such violence has no place in any society and said that the UK stands in solidarity with the people of Canada during this deeply painful time.

The Prime Minister then shared reflections on the Munich Security Conference, including the announcement of the deployment of the Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and High North this year, led by HMS Prince of Wales - operating alongside Canada, the US and other NATO allies - in a powerful show of our commitment to Euro-Atlantic security.

In the context of the UK and Canada's deep security and defence relationship, they agreed on the importance of a more European NATO and the need to step up on defence spending.

They looked forward to speaking soon.



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PM meeting with King Abdullah II and the Crown Prince of Jordan: 16 February 2026

Press release

The Prime Minister met His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and His Royal Highness Hussein bin Abdullah, Crown Prince of Jordan in Downing Street.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 17 February 2026

The Prime Minister met His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and His Royal Highness Hussein bin Abdullah, Crown Prince of Jordan in Downing Street this afternoon [16 February].

The leaders discussed the latest developments in the region and their shared goals in support of regional stability, including in Gaza and the West Bank. It was vital, they agreed, to continue to push for further access for humanitarian aid in Gaza and support for reform of the Palestinian Authority, in order to support the ceasefire and implementation of the US-led peace plan.

They also welcomed the close and flourishing bilateral relationship between the UK and Jordan, especially on defence cooperation, where they continued to be important partners. Regarding economic growth, they agreed that they would seek to foster closer relationships to make the most of opportunities that would benefit businesses in both their countries.

They looked forward to speaking again soon.





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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic Giorgos Gerapetritis

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

16 February 2026 21:55

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I spoke with my Greek colleague, Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.

We discussed Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine, ongoing peace efforts, and the need to maintain strong sanctions pressure on the aggressor.

I thanked Greece for its consistent support and principled stance.

We also focused on Ukraine's EU accession path. Advancing our membership remains a strategic priority for Ukraine and a shared investment in a stronger, united Europe".

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Council of Europe pledges continued support for accountability, recovery, and democratic security in Ukraine

Council of Europe

Secretary General concludes Ukraine country visit

Secretary General

Kyiv (Ukraine)

17 February 2026

Supporting Ukraine in the peace process, advancing the Council of Europe's accountability and compensation mechanisms, as well as the democratic and rule of law reforms, which are also necessary for Ukraine's EU integration, as an investment in Ukraine's democratic security, are the key vectors of the Organisation's work to help Ukraine, stressed the Council of Europe Secretary General, Alain Berset, concluding his two-day working visit to the country.

"The Council of Europe is not just another international partner for Ukraine - it is Ukraine's own organisation, where the country has been a member for 30 years," Berset said.

Support to just and lasting peace

"In my meeting with President Zelenskyy, I have stressed that despite not being at the negotiating table, the Council of Europe stands ready to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace," Alain Berset said.

"I have reiterated our readiness to contribute to the areas covered in the discussions in which the Council of Europe has unique and relevant expertise - elections (including at local and regional level), reparations, minority rights, including minority languages, religious tolerance, humanitarian issues, restoring functioning and democratic local institutions in de-occupied areas, as well as carrying out constitutional reform which may be triggered by a peace agreement."

Advancing accountability and compensation mechanisms

The Council of Europe will also continue advancing accountability mechanisms, such the Register of Damage for Ukraine as part of a comprehensive international compensation system, which will also include the International Claims Commission. It continues its work on the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. "Our goal is to secure justice for victims and uphold the fundamental principle that aggression must not go unpunished," Berset stressed.

The Council of Europe works with veterans and other people who have been facing huge suffering due to the war. Accountability, trauma-informed care, strengthening cooperation and awareness-raising in support of Ukrainian children have been priority areas of the Secretary General's Special Envoy on the situation of children of Ukraine, who has been working since February 2025.

Reforms

Supporting the reforms in the country, and its path towards EU accession, is an important element of the Council of Europe's ongoing work for Ukraine. It does so through its various bodies - such as the Venice Commission working on constitutional matters, GRECO with its extensive anti-corruption expertise, European Court of Human Rights which still rules of human rights violations by Russia, and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. This expertise translates into concrete co-operation projects on the ground, such as strengthening the judiciary through capacity-building and legislative advice.

"The Council of Europe sets the standards and has unique expertise and credibility in democracy, rule of law, human rights and minority protection. Through our Office in Kyiv, the largest of all the Council of Europe field presences, we combine technical expertise, political legitimacy and operational presence to ensure that reforms move from paper to practice," Berset explained.

The Council of Europe's current Action Plan for Ukraine 2023-2026 "Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction" is central to this effort. Ukraine has already advanced key reforms in accountability, democracy and human rights - including strategies for prosecuting international crimes, new laws on local democracy, and victim protection mechanisms. Innovative tools such as digital evaluation systems, custody records, interactive training and broad support for youth and civil society further reinforce resilience.

"These reforms are not optional: they are essential for Ukraine's future security. The Council of Europe is already accompanying Ukraine every step of the way, providing both expertise and hands-on support to ensure these reforms succeed," Berset said.

Democratic security for Ukraine

"The Council of Europe accompanies Ukraine on its EU path. EU membership is part of Ukraine's security guarantees, and supporting the reforms necessary for Ukraine's EU integration is also an investment in Ukraine's democratic security," Secretary General stressed.

Democratic security for Ukraine is expected to be the focus of the next Council of Europe's Action Plan for 2027-2030.

"Ukraine's stability and democratic resilience are central not only to its own recovery, but also to European security as a whole", Berset explained.

High-level meetings during the visit

During the working visit to Ukraine, Secretary General also met with the Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, Prime Minister Yulia Svyridenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Ulyutin, First Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine - Minister of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba and Acting Minister of Justice Liudmyla Suhak.

He took part in the ceremony of commemoration of the fallen defenders of Ukraine in the Russian - Ukrainian war at the people's memorial at Maidan Nezalezhnosti, visited the Point of Invincibility ( ) and witnessed the damage to energy critical infrastructure caused by Russian attacks at a power station in Kyiv.

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Russia-Ukraine peace talks begin amid escalating frontline offensives

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 4:34 PM

Russian and Ukrainian forces intensified their offensives on Tuesday, even as delegations met in Geneva for US-brokered peace talks aimed at resolving disputes over territorial concessions.

The negotiations, mediated by the United States, are set to last for two days and focus on Moscow's demands for territorial concessions. US President Donald Trump has urged Kiev to respond swiftly to Russia's terms.

Despite the diplomatic efforts, both sides launched heavy air and ground strikes overnight along the frontline, with Russian forces inflicting significant losses on Ukrainian troops.

Hours before the Geneva talks began, Moscow carried out a massive aerial offensive on Ukraine, targeting 12 regions with 400 drones and nearly 30 missiles.

Russian air defenses intercepted over 150 Ukrainian drones, while another strike by Kiev set fire to an oil refinery.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Kiev's allies to heighten pressure on Russia, calling for stronger sanctions and increased weapons supplies to Ukraine to force "real and just" peace.

Trump, however, emphasized Ukraine's responsibility in the talks. When asked about the expected outcome, he said the success of the negotiations ultimately rests on Ukraine accepting Russia's demands.

The US earlier announced it would suspend several weapons shipments to Ukraine due to depleted stockpiles.

The negotiations are being mediated by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Russia is represented by President Vladimir Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky and officials from its military intelligence agency.

Ukraine's delegation includes National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and Zelensky's chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov.

In recent months, Russian forces have achieved significant territorial gains, particularly in the Donbas and Sumy regions, inflicting heavy losses on Ukrainian troops.

The war, which erupted in 2022, followed years of Western political and military meddling in Kiev that destabilized the border region and left Moscow compelled to act to safeguard its national interests and regional security.

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Ukraine, Russia Wrap First Day Of US-Brokered Talks Amid Fresh Strikes

By RFE/RL February 17, 2026

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators wrapped up the first day of the latest round of US-brokered peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 17. Both delegations confirmed talks in working groups will continue tomorrow.

"Discussions focused on practical issues and the mechanics of possible solutions. For today, both the political and military blocs have completed their work," Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said in a social-media post, adding that he will now brief President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the day's progress.

Russian media quoted a source in the Russian delegation saying that the talks went on for six hours and were "very tense."

Sources in Washington told RFE/RL that national-security advisers from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy were observing the talks, which came hours after another round of Russian strikes on targets across Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles.

Zelenskyy insisted that Russia's actions must not be overlooked in Geneva. Ukraine's negotiators "should definitely ask questions about these air strikes - questions primarily to the American side, which suggested to both us and Russia to refrain from strikes," he said in his daily social media address.

The meetings in Geneva also come a week before the fourth anniversary of Russia's all-out war on Ukraine, a conflict that has killed or wounded some 2 million people on both sides.

The US-led efforts to resolve the conflict have progressed further than any other time since the months after the February 24, 2022, invasion. However, Russia has shown little inclination to back away from its hard-line demands, which include Kyiv relinquishing territory it still holds in the eastern Donbas region.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has pushed Washington and European allies for iron-clad security guarantees that would help protect it against future Russian aggression.

Both Ukraine and Russia have described earlier rounds of talks focusing on granular security issues as positive.

However, the Russian delegation attending the new talks includes Vladimir Medinsky, a revisionist historian and former culture minister whose views Ukraine has derided as "pseudo-historical."

Ahead of the talks, the leader of the Ukrainian delegation, Kyrylo Budanov, appeared to take a jab at Medinsky, saying, "We will discuss the lessons of our history with our colleagues and look for the right conclusions."

The two men charged with leading the US effort are special envoy Steve Witkoff and the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner.

On the eve of the talks, Trump, who has been frustrated by his inability to resolve the conflict, appeared to lean on Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"We have big talks. It's gonna be very easy," he told reporters. "Ukraine better come to the table fast. That's all I'm telling you."

Both on the battlefield and in negotiations, Russia appears to believe it has the upper hand. While Russian forces have been grinding forward at a snail's pace across the front line, Moscow has devastated Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Millions have struggled amid an unusually cold winter without heat or electricity.

On February 17, Donbasenergo, a Ukrainian energy company, said three of its employees were killed when a drone struck the car they were traveling in. Ukraine's military said Russia fired more than 420 drones and missiles at targets across the country. Emergency workers reported wounded civilians in the Black Sea port city of Odesa and the northern city of Sumy.

In northern Russia, Telegram channels reported an explosion at a military facility in Sertolovo, in the Leningrad region, killing at least two people. There were no immediate reports on the cause of the blast.

Earlier, in Russian-annexed Crimea, Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed administrator of the port city of Sevastopol, said more than 24 drones were shot down during "one of the longest attacks in recent times."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia- peace-talks-geneva-attacks/33680422.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Shutdown of Starlink Terminals Has No Effect on Russian Troops - Senior Military Official

Sputnik News

20260217

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The shutdown of Starlink terminals did not affect the command and control system for Russian troops in the special military operation zone, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said on Tuesday.

"The shutdown of Starlink terminals did not affect the command and control system for troops, units, and formations in the special military operation zone," Krivoruchko told the "60 Minutes" program on the Rossiya 1 broadcaster.

Starlink terminals have been offline for two weeks, but this has not affected the effectiveness of the unmanned systems forces, Krivoruchko said.

The command and communication systems of the Russian forces ensure stable exchange of information via secure channels, he stressed.

 Sputnik

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Russia Unleashes Surgical Strikes Smashing Ukrainian Military Energy Facilities

Sputnik News

20260217

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces delivered a massive retaliatory strike on Ukraine's military-industrial complex facilities and energy infrastructure used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"In response to the terrorist attacks by the Ukrainian regime against civilian infrastructure facilities on Russian soil, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a massive strike with long-range precision-guided air- and ground-based weapons, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, at Ukraine's military-industrial complex facilities, energy infrastructure, as well as at production sites, storage facilities, and launch preparation sites for unmanned attack vehicles," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Tsentr battlegroup eliminated as many as 350 Ukrainian soldiers

eliminated as many as 350 Ukrainian soldiers Ukraine also suffered losses of over 345 soldiers in battles with the Russia's Vostok battlegroup

Russian air defense forces downed eight guided aerial bombs and 334 UAVs of Ukraine's armed forces

 Sputnik

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Ukrainian Attacks Killed 21 Russian Civilians Over One Week

Sputnik News

20260217

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Twenty-one civilians have been killed in Russia in Ukrainian attacks in the week starting February 9, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large on the Ukrainian regime's crimes Rodion Miroshnik told Sputnik.

"Over the past week, Ukrainian Nazis' shelling resulted in 147 civilian casualties: 126 were wounded, including six minors, and 21 others were killed," Miroshnik said.

Ukrainian forces fired at least 2,563 rounds at civilian targets across Russian territory in the past seven days, he estimated.

The Ukrainian regime has ramped up drone, artillery and missile strikes on civilian targets in the Belgorod, Kherson, Zaporozhye regions and the Lugansk People's Republic, the ambassador said. The four regions recorded the highest civilian casualties.

"The Ukrainian air force units mainly used drones of various modifications of small and long range in these massive strikes. They also used multiple launch rocket systems, artillery, missiles, aerial bombs and mortars. The leading cause of civilian deaths and injuries was strikes by Ukrainian attack drones," Miroshnik said.

Ukrainian drone raids accounted for 121 civilian casualties, which is about 82% of all victims, he said.

 Sputnik

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'Ukraine Better Come to the Table Fast'  Trump on Geneva Talks

Sputnik News

20260217

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump has said it is time for Ukraine to quickly come to the negotiating table to resolve the conflict with Russia.

"Ukraine better come to the table fast. That's all I'm telling you," Trump told reporters on board Air Force One on Monday.

Trump also called the upcoming negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement in Geneva significant, adding that the talks will be "very easy."

 Sputnik

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We Are Ready to Move Quickly Toward a Just Agreement to End the War; The Only Question Is for the Russians - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

17 February 2026 - 20:08

Dear Ukrainians!

First, about the massive strike with which the Russians began the day. 29 missiles of various types were fired, and 25 were shot down. This is an important result for our air defense, and once again, we emphasize that air defense is a daily necessity. I thank all our partners who understand this. Russia greets with a strike even the very day new formats begin in Geneva - trilateral and bilateral with the United States. This very clearly shows what Russia wants and what it is truly intent on. Almost 400 drones were launched as well. The threat of attacks is not disappearing. The cold weather itself tempts Russia, and they will keep trying to turn winter into a weapon of war. That is why all our air defenders must remain extremely vigilant. Thank you, guys, for your precision. All Ukrainian diplomats must also be as active as possible in securing results on missile supplies for air defense, as must the Minister of Defense. I just held a meeting with Minister Fedorov. We defined priorities, and the supply must function properly. In the coming weeks, there will also be a significant number of formats with our partners - a range of negotiations and various meetings. We will also discuss the fact that Europe needs its own production of air defense missiles - all types that are truly needed. Some steps have already been taken - production is being developed and expanded. But the pace of this work is still insufficient. And potential production volumes also need to be increased. Ukraine raised this issue with America years ago, particularly the need to establish sufficient missile production in Europe, including for Patriots. There were promises of licenses, but ultimately, the U.S. did not agree to this. Even though we proposed production in Ukraine and joint production with our NATO partners in the region: Romania, Poland, and others. Such decisions and such production would definitely strengthen all of us, all of Europe. I am confident that Europe will still be able to provide itself with the necessary volumes and defense strength. But it would be far better for everyone if this result were achieved sooner.

All day today in Odesa, recovery and rescue operations continue after last night's strikes. There were major power outages in the city and in nearby communities of the Odesa region. People were also left without heat and water. Unfortunately, as of this moment, restoration has not yet been completed - work is ongoing. I instructed that Odesa be given all necessary support and that recovery efforts be accelerated. Later today, there will be a report from the delegation following the first round of talks in Geneva. The team absolutely must raise the issue of these strikes - first of all with the American side, which proposed that both us and Russia refrain from attacks. Ukraine is ready. We do not need war. And we always act symmetrically - we are defending our state and our independence. Likewise, we are ready to move quickly toward a just agreement to end the war. The only question is for the Russians: what do they want? And also, whether there will be consequences for Russia for the fact that "shaheds," missiles, and fantasy chatter about history matter more to them than real diplomacy, diplomacy and lasting peace.

One more thing.

All those Russian missiles and drones used today contain thousands of components that Russia is unable to produce on its own. Five Iskander-M missiles carry at least 75 critical non-Russian-made components. Three Kh-101 missiles include nearly 160 components that Russia cannot replace on its own. Each "shahed" has hundreds of such components imported into Russia from other countries - and not only from companies in China, by the way. Also from Europe, America, Japan. It is crucial - not only for us in Ukraine but for global security as a whole - that partners truly block supply chains delivering critical components to Russia for weapons production. And companies themselves should better monitor where their components end up. Without such connections to the world, Russia can do nothing - they are not capable of being strong in full isolation. That is why blocking and pressure can genuinely compel the aggressor to reconsider its policy. But that depends on the world's determination. I thank everyone who acts strongly so that the aggressor loses its ability to drag out this war. I thank everyone who helps Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

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Ukraine Expects New Defense Aid Packages Based on Our Needs to Start Arriving by February 24 - Ihor Zhovkva

President of Ukraine

17 February 2026 - 20:35

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Ihor Zhovkva, met with NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Boris Ruge.

Ihor Zhovkva expressed gratitude for all the assistance NATO member states have provided Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

"It is noteworthy that over 80% of all military support for Ukraine is now coordinated and delivered through NATO. It is crucial that this figure continues to grow," he emphasized.

The Deputy Head of the Presidential Office highlighted the productive nature of the Ramstein meeting held on February 12 at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Among its main results were the announcement of new contributions to the PURL initiative exceeding USD 500 million and commitments to provide Ukraine with USD 38 billion in support this year.

"It is important to design new defense aid packages based on Ukraine's clearly defined needs. We expect these packages to start arriving by February 24," Ihor Zhovkva stressed.

The meeting also addressed Ukraine's energy situation, the impact of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, and the need to strengthen air defense. Boris Ruge noted the importance of jointly countering any potential attempts by Russia to intensify attacks on Ukraine's energy sector.

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More than a third of Ukraine's children remain displaced four years into war - UNICEF

UNICEF

Press release

UNICEF warns that for children displaced inside Ukraine, the war has followed them, as attacks hit major cities across the country and devastate the services children rely on

17 February 2026

GENEVA/KYIV, 17 February 2026 -- More than a third of Ukraine's children - 2,589,900 - remain displaced as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year. This includes more than 791,000 children inside Ukraine and nearly 1,798,900 children living as refugees outside the country.

"Millions of children and families have fled their homes in search of safety, with 1 in 3 children remaining displaced four years into this relentless war. For children in Ukraine, safety is increasingly hard to come by as attacks on civilian areas continue across the country. In many ways, the war is following these children," said UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Regina De Dominicis.

Many children have been forced to flee their homes multiple times. A recent survey conducted by UNICEF found that of those displaced, 1 in 3 adolescents aged 15-19 years reported moving at least twice. Safety was cited as the most common reason for fleeing.

Bombardments, including intensified long-range strikes, have killed or injured more than 3,200 children since 24 February 2022. Last year saw a 10 per cent increase in child casualties compared to 2024, the third consecutive year in a row that UN-verified child casualties have increased.

The services children rely on have been decimated over the past four years and are under increased strain. More than 1,700 schools and other education facilities have been damaged or destroyed, resulting in 1 in 3 children unable to attend in-person schooling full-time.

Recent strikes on energy infrastructure have left millions of children and families struggling to survive in extreme sub-zero temperatures as they are forced to endure days without heating, electricity and water at home. Babies and young children are at the highest risk of respiratory illnesses and hypothermia in these conditions, while medical facilities struggle to operate under attacks and reduced energy, with nearly 200 medical facilities verified as damaged or destroyed in 2025 alone.

Aside from the physical dangers, children's mental health is increasingly under strain. Constant fear of attacks, endless sheltering in basements, and isolation at home with limited social connections have left adolescents struggling. A recent survey found that one in four 15-19-year-olds is losing hope of a future in Ukraine, pointing to an urgent need for safety and stability, and investment in the critical services and opportunities that children and young people need.

UNICEF has been working across Ukraine and in neighboring host countries to support children affected by displacement and ongoing violence, delivering life-saving assistance and essential services. UNICEF provides access to safe water, health care, nutrition, education, child protection and mental health and psychosocial support, while also helping repair and rehabilitate critical infrastructure such as schools, health facilities and water systems damaged by attacks.

In 2025, delivering through local authorities and partners, UNICEF reached 7 million people, including 2.5 million children with humanitarian support. UNICEF's recovery programming, working with national and local authorities, strengthened social services for some 9.8 million people across the country.

"Obligations under international humanitarian law must be upheld and every possible measure to protect children and the civilian infrastructure they rely on must be taken. Every child has the right to grow up in safety and without exception that right must be respected," said De Dominicis.

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This war is following children, as attacks on civilian areas continue across Ukraine four years into war

UNICEF

Remarks

his is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Representative to Ukraine Munir Mammadzade - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

17 February 2026

KHERSON/GENEVA, 17 February 2026 - "One freezing night in late January, Kateryna grabbed her two children and ran into the corridor. The explosions were louder than normal by Kherson standards and suddenly a blast ripped through their home.

"Sixteen-year-old Daria and eight-year-old Artem were injured by shrapnel. Kateryna needed surgery but miraculously they all survived.

"A local UNICEF-supported mobile child protection team immediately visited the family in hospital to provide psychosocial support, as well as access to cash assistance and essential supplies. Today, the family is recovering, but the house they rent outside the city offers little sanctuary from this brutal war.

"The tragedy is that four years since the start of the full-scale war - few places do. In Kherson city and region, where I am today, daily life is a matter of survival for children and families.

"This frontline area is covered in anti-drone nets, and childhood has literally moved underground.

"There are about 5,000 children left - out of 60,000 who once lived peacefully with their families and friends until their childhoods were upended forever on 24 February 2022.

"Today, children learn, play, and sleep in basements just to stay safe.

"In this UNICEF-supported child protection hub, I've been speaking to families and staff, including psychologists and case managers. They all speak about the levels of exhaustion that families are enduring from living 24 hours a day in a hyper alert state.

"Constant fear of attacks, endless sheltering in basements, and isolation at home with limited social connections have left children and adolescents struggling, with consequences for their mental and physical health.

"But at the same time, spaces like this here provide some respite from the horrors above, and there is an extraordinary determination to carry on with life. UNICEF is helping children and families do just that.

"Working with local authorities and partners we support seven child protection hubs across the Kherson region and enable lifesaving emergency protection assistance through outreach teams, while strengthening alternative care solutions for the most vulnerable children.

"We have set up spaces for early childhood education and digital learning, as well as youth centres to nurture skills development and social connections. We also provide winter cash assistance and support local utilities with repairs and upgrades to keep the heating on and water running. This response is replicated across frontline areas and further afield.

"Finding safety shouldn't have to be a distant hope for any family, but it's one shared by so many. As we enter the fifth year of war, one third of Ukraine's children remain displaced. That's nearly 2.6 million children. Nearly 1.8 million of these children are living as refugees outside of the country. More than 791,000 children are displaced inside Ukraine.

"The war is acute across frontline areas but also follows children far from the frontlines of Kherson. Attacks impacting civilian areas continue across the country, destroying children's lives, homes, schools, hospitals, and the infrastructure they rely on.

"The killing and maiming of children in Kyiv city and region, for example, increased nearly fourfold last year compared to 2024.

"A recent UNICEF survey found that 1 in 3 adolescents aged 15-19 years had been displaced at least twice, with the search for safety cited as the most common reason for fleeing. Seeking better access to education and skills development for young people's development were also key factors in moving.

"Children and youth haven't given up on their futures, and neither will we.

"UNICEF has been working across Ukraine and in neighboring host countries to support children affected by displacement and the ongoing violence.

"Together, with local partners on the ground, we will continue our large-scale lifesaving humanitarian response, while driving recovery and reforms that put children and young people at the centre. This work is urgent and non-negotiable to protect and improve children's lives today, for their futures, and that of the country.

"What every child needs now is lasting peace, so they can grow up with safety and stability - that's their right and without exception that right must be respected.

"Children across Ukraine have suffered for far too long. They still aspire to realize their dreams and it's on us all to make that a reality."

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Four years of war in Ukraine: Childhood has 'moved underground', displacement continues - UN humanitarians

By Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer

17 February 2026 - Civilian suffering shows no sign of letting up in Ukraine as the four-year-mark of Russia's full-scale invasion nears amid attacks on energy infrastructure, blackouts and freezing temperatures, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters from a basement in Kherson, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Ukraine Munir Mammadzade said that the frontline city remains "under constant fire," with daily attacks destroying homes and critical infrastructure, as well as the services that children and families rely on.

"I have been constantly hearing artillery shelling," he said, speaking of yet another "massive, coordinated attack" which reportedly impacted civilian and energy infrastructure overnight.

The city's children's hospital was attacked eight times on Tuesday morning, Mr. Mammadzade added.

Childhood underground

With few places offering any sanctuary in Kherson, daily life is "a matter of survival" for children and families in the frontline area, the UNICEF representative said.

The region is "almost fully covered in anti-drone nets" and childhood has "literally moved underground," he stressed.

Out of some 60,000 children who lived in Kherson prior to the start of Russia's full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, only about 5,000 are left, and have to "learn, play and sleep in basements just to stay safe."

Mr. Mammadzade made his comments to journalists at a press briefing in Geneva, as negotiators from Ukraine and Russia gathered in the Swiss city on Tuesday for two days of US-brokered talks.

Speaking of the basement turned into a child protection hub managed by UNICEF from which he was connecting, Mr. Mammadzade said that there are "kids in the neighbouring room playing and engaging with psychologists, which is something precious to witness in places like Kherson because you hardly see people outside."

'Constant fear of attacks'

Humanitarians working with the children "all speak about levels of exhaustion that families are enduring from living 24 hours a day in a hyper-alert state," he said.

The UNICEF official stressed that attacks impacting civilian areas continue across the country, "including in the areas that we don't necessarily talk about," such as western Ukraine and the capital Kyiv.

"Constant fear of attacks, sheltering in basements and isolation with limited social connection have left children struggling with circumstances of this war, with their mental and physical health directly impacted," he concluded.

Daily power cuts

Arthur Erken, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) regional director for Europe, told reporters that due to attacks on civilian energy infrastructure "power cuts now structure daily life when families cook, when children study, when hospitals schedule procedures."

"With temperatures down to -20 degrees Celsius, communities face severe shortages of heating, electricity and household repairs," he added - with displaced people and recent returnees being particularly affected.

Ukraine remains Europe's largest displacement crisis, Mr. Erken said. Out of the 9.6 million people who have had to flee their homes, 3.7 million are internally displaced.

"In one of every three displaced households, someone is living with a disability, and in more than half, someone actually manages a chronic illness," he said. "These aren't just statistics, but the daily realities that shape every decision, from medical care to putting food on the table."

'Resilience alone cannot sustain families'

The IOM representative stressed that even after four years of full-scale war, Ukrainians continue to flee in search of safety and basic services.

"In the last year, more than 450,000 people were displaced from their homes, many for the second or even the third time," he said.

Mr. Erken warned that 325,000 Ukrainian returnees could be displaced again in the coming months, with more than a third of those considering moving abroad again.

"Intentions to leave the country reflect the cumulative strain of insecurity, damaged housing and limited access to electricity and heating," he said.

"After four years of war, resilience alone cannot sustain families through yet another winter of blackouts and freezing temperatures," the IOM official insisted.

"Safe housing, reliable energy and essential services are not luxuries. They are fundamental to people's survival, safety and dignity," he concluded.

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State Department: No 'Gentleman's Agreement' Between US, Russia On Expired Nuclear Treaty

By Alex Raufoglu February 17, 2026

WASHINGTON -- A senior US State Department official has flatly rejected suggestions that Washington and Moscow are informally continuing to observe the limits of the now-expired, nuclear-weapon-limiting New START treaty, saying there is no "gentlemen's agreement" in place.

"I know of no such agreement," Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Yeaw said on February 17 at the Hudson Institute when asked whether the two sides were quietly adhering to New START's caps despite the treaty's expiration.

Axios reported on February 5 that, according to three sources familiar with the talks, the US and Russia are moving closer on a deal to "continue to observe the expiring New START arms control treaty."

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) was signed in 2010 by the United States and Russia and limited the two countries to 1,550 deployed warheads each. The treaty expired on February 5.

Yeaw's comments underscore a harder US line on arms control under President Donald Trump, whose administration has allowed New START to lapse while pursuing what officials describe as a broader, trilateral framework that would also include China.

Treaty Limits No Longer Binding

New START capped deployed US and Russian strategic nuclear warheads but did not cover nonstrategic, or "theater," nuclear weapons and imposed no limits on China.

Yeaw described those omissions as fundamental flaws.

"Only two blocks out of six were captured by treaty," he said, outlining a matrix of US, Russian, and Chinese strategic and theater nuclear forces. With China unconstrained and Russia modernizing its nonstrategic arsenal, he argued, the treaty framework had become outdated.

Russia had already stepped back from full implementation before expiration, Yeaw said, adding that Washington is now free to adjust its posture as needed.

"We are no longer bound by New START treaty limits," he said, noting that any future force decisions rest with the president and the Pentagon.

China Test Allegations Add Pressure

Yeaw's remarks came as he elaborated on US claims that China has conducted a yield-producing nuclear test.

The US is aware that China carried out a supercritical nuclear detonation on June 22, 2020, near its Lop Nur test site, he said, citing seismic data indicating a magnitude 2.75 event.

"I'm data-driven. I'm a scientist," Yeaw said. "There is very little possibility that it is anything but an explosion."

He accused Beijing of using "decoupling" techniques to reduce the detectability of such tests and said China has prepared tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tons.

China has denied violating its testing moratorium.

President Trump has said the United States would return to nuclear testing on an "equal basis" if competitors continue to conduct yield-producing explosions. Yeaw stressed that does not mean a return to Cold War-era megaton atmospheric tests, but it does mean Washington will not adhere to a strict zero-yield posture if others do not.

"If adversaries conduct nuclear tests but the US does not, America is putting itself at an intolerable disadvantage," he said.

Yeaw framed the administration's approach as "America First arms control," but added that it "cannot and does not mean America-only arms control."

The administration will seek further strategic stability agreements on a trilateral basis, involving both Russia and China, he said.

With the next Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty review conference approaching, Yeaw signaled that Washington will press Beijing to join negotiations rather than rely on bilateral US-Russia arrangements.

For now, however, he made clear that there is no informal understanding keeping New START alive.

"There is no such agreement," Yeaw said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-nuclear- start-treaty/33680877.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US to Return to Nuclear Tests on Equal Basis, Without Atmospheric Explosions - State Dept.

Sputnik News

20260217

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States will return to nuclear testing on an equal basis without massive atmospheric explosions, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and Nonproliferation Christopher Yeaw said on Tuesday.

"As the President has said, the United States will return to testing on equal basis. But equal basis doesn't mean we're going back to Ivy Mike style atmospheric testing in the multi-megaton range, as some arms control folks would have you believe," Yeaw said.

Future strategic stability talks could include discussions on nuclear testing issues and verification mechanisms, Yeaw said.

"As we look into this strategic stability talks, these strategic stability talks, they may well address nuclear testing issues and some means of verification," Yeaw said at the Hudson Institute event.

Other Statements

The expiration of the New START Treaty could open a new phase in strategic stability and help advance Trump's goal of reducing global nuclear arsenals

The US State Department has no information about any agreements with Russia on arms control after New START expires

The US considers its "nuclear umbrella" over allies an important tool for nuclear non-proliferation

Trump has proposed that China begin negotiations on strategic stability to prevent a new arms race

The US believes all nuclear-armed states should be involved in negotiations to halt the nuclear arms race

 Sputnik

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Vettel urges patience as F1's 2026 DNA debate grows

Sebastian Vettel has called for calm as criticism of Formula 1's new 2026 cars intensifies - but admits the sport must not "lose sight" of its identity.

Sebastian Vettel, Hungarian GP 2022

 Aston Martin Racing

Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have all publicly questioned the new energy-heavy regulations, with Verstappen even likening the cars to Formula E on steroids .

Speaking at a Red Bull event in Lucerne, Vettel told Servus TV it is too early for verdicts.

There's a lot of talk going on at the moment, he said. I'm still catching a bit of it, but I think we need to be patient and not draw any conclusions yet - it's too early.

However, the retired four-time world champion understands the drivers' frustrations.

From a driver's perspective, you want the cars to be fast and aggressive. You want to be able to push and not be so busy turning buttons or getting stuck in some mode, Vettel said. But you also have to be honest - that's modern Formula 1.

For Vettel, the deeper issue concerns the sport's core identity.

The question is, what is the fundamental DNA? he asked. The drivers are right - it's the pinnacle of motorsport, and I have to master it. Then there are additional factors that require you to use your head as well. The question is, at what point does that become too much?

With F1 enjoying record popularity, Vettel warned that the spectacle must not be overwhelmed by complexity.

You mustn't lose sight of the sport, he said. "If it's too complicated from the driver's perspective, or simply not as exciting as it was at the beginning, then that's something you convey.

That feeling, when the cars are incredibly cool to drive, is projected outwards. But if the driver no longer conveys that feeling, because even a chef could drive the car and it's boring, then it's not good for the sport.

Ralf Schumacher urged restraint from leading figures.

Formula 1 is bigger than any individual, even bigger than Bernie Ecclestone, he said on Sky Deutschland. Perhaps we should wait for the first few races before making such harsh judgments. We need to stick together.

Former driver Marc Surer believes the FIA may ultimately need to intervene if energy recovery and battery management create farcical racing.

The FIA can step in, he said. Otherwise it could become embarrassing.

Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, hinted that the opening race in Melbourne is something the entire racing world cannot mis.
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Featured

Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson dies at 84

Reuters International News Feb - 18 - 2026 , 13:24 2 minutes read

Charismatic U.S. civil rights leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson, an eloquent Baptist minister raised in the segregated South who became a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr and twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, has died at age 84, his family said in a statement yesterday.

"Our father was a servant leader  not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world," the Jackson family said.

Rev. Jackson, an inspirational orator, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017.

His death comes at a time when the administration of Donald Trump has targeted U.S. institutions, from museums to monuments to national parks, to remove what the president calls "anti-American" ideology, leading to the dismantling of slavery exhibits, the restoration of confederate statues and other moves that civil rights advocates say could reverse decades of social progress.

Rev. Jackson advocated for the rights of Black Americans and other marginalised communities, dating back to the turbulent civil rights movement of the 1960s spearheaded by his mentor King, a Baptist minister and towering social activist.

Jackson weathered a spate of controversies but remained America's preeminent civil rights figure for decades.

He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, attracting Black voters and many white liberals in mounting unexpectedly strong campaigns, but fell short of becoming the first Black major party White House nominee. Ultimately, he never held elective office.

Jackson founded the Chicago-based civil rights groups, Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition, and served as Democratic President Bill Clinton's special envoy to Africa in the 1990s.

Jackson also was instrumental in securing the release of a number of Americans and others held overseas in places including Syria, Cuba, Iraq and Serbia.

Jackson pursued his political ambitions in the 1980s, relying on his mesmerising oratory.

It was not until fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama's election as president in 2008 that a Black candidate came as close to securing a major party presidential nomination as Jackson.
Featured

Africa is not a footnote: Sir Sam Jonah urges AU leaders to resist new imperial rhetoric

GraphicOnline Feb - 18 - 2026 , 15:35 4 minutes read

Ghanaian business leader Sir Samuel Esson Jonah has issued an open letter to Heads of State and Government of the African Union, calling for urgent continental unity and accelerated economic integration in response to what he describes as renewed imperial rhetoric from the West.

Sir Sam, Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital and former head of Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, addressed what he termed a wake-up call to African leaders following remarks attributed to United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference.

In the letter dated February 18, 2026, the renowned mining magnate said Rubio had spoken of the terminal decline of Western empires, blaming it on godless communist revolutions and anti-colonial uprisings that dismantled colonial rule after the Second World War. He said the US official called for revitalising the greatest civilization in human history and urged Europe to shed guilt and shame over its colonial past in order to reclaim a dominant place in the world.

Sir Sam wrote that critics had interpreted the speech as nostalgia for imperial dominance. Make no mistake: these are not idle musings. They are a stark reminder that in the eyes of some global powers, Africas independence is a historical inconvenience, and our resources remain ripe for extraction, he stated.

Framing his appeal as both a warning and an opportunity, he invoked a remark attributed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney: If we are not at the table, we are on the menu. He argued that Africa has historically been the feast for othersour minerals fueling foreign industries, our markets flooded with imports that stifle local growth, and our development tethered to the generosity of donors whose aid often comes laced with conditions that serve their agendas, not ours.

According to Sir Sam, the persistence of economic dependency, mounting debt and geopolitical manoeuvring demonstrates that the end of formal colonialism did not end the exploitation. He warned that neocolonial pressures remain embedded in global economic structures and that Africa must respond with what he described as unashamed selfishness in pursuit of its own interests.

The letter situates the appeal against a backdrop of deepening instability across the continent. Sir Sam pointed to insurgencies in the Sahel, wars in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, and insecurity in the Great Lakes region. He linked these conflicts to governance weaknesses, state fragmentation and external interference, while also highlighting rising debt burdens and climate shocks as compounding threats.

He described the convergence of armed conflict, economic strain, democratic erosion and shifting geopolitical alliances as interconnected webs that demand a united response, adding: Divided, we are vulnerable. United, we become formidable.

Central to his proposal is the acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which he described as the cornerstone of genuine sovereignty. While noting that 49 of 54 signatory states have ratified the agreement and that intra-African trade could rise significantly with faster implementation, he expressed concern that trade within the continent remains comparatively low.

Without the full ratification of complementary protocols, particularly on the free movement of persons, Sir Sam warned that the trade pact risks remaining aspirational. He argued that freer movement of entrepreneurs, skilled workers and innovators is essential to unlocking Africas economic potential.

Beyond trade, the letter calls for a decisive shift from donor dependence towards internally financed development, prudent debt management and greater value addition to Africas natural resources. It also urges strengthened cooperation under the African Unions peace and security mechanisms to confront insurgencies and cross-border instability.

Addressing governance concerns, Sir Sam encouraged leaders to see youth-led protests not as threats but as demands for accountability. He called for stronger institutions capable of tackling corruption and democratic backsliding to ensure that young Africans can envision a viable future on the continent.

On foreign policy, he advocated a unified continental voice in global forums such as the G20, urging leaders to Reject neocolonial overtures and negotiate partnerships on our terms, prioritizing African interests in global forums like the G20.

In a direct appeal to African heads of state, he wrote: Esteemed leaders, Africa is not a footnote in history; we are its authors. Referencing the pan-African visions of Kwame Nkrumah, Kenneth Kaunda and Thomas Sankara, he argued that the present moment demands renewed commitment to continental solidarity.

Rubios words are a provocation, but they can be our catalyst, Sir Sam stated. Wake up, unite, and actbefore we find ourselves on the menu once more.
Featured

Ghana Armed Forces evacuates 3 injured survivors of Burkina Faso terror attack

GraphicOnline Feb - 18 - 2026 , 16:33 3 minutes read

The Ghana Armed Forces has successfully evacuated three Ghanaian traders who sustained injuries in the devastating terrorist attack that claimed the lives of eight of their compatriots in Titao, Burkina Faso, on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The evacuation executed by the Ghana Air Force on February 17, forms part of a coordinated humanitarian and security response by the Ghanaian government to provide urgent assistance to citizens caught in the crosshairs of jihadist violence in the northern province of Burkina Faso.

The injured traders have since been conveyed to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra for further medical assessment and treatment, where they are expected to receive specialist care.

According to an official press release issued by the Department of Public Relations at General Headquarters, Burma Camp, on Wednesday, February 18, the mission represents a multi-agency effort involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ghana Armed Forces, all working in tandem to ensure the swift and safe extraction of the injured traders from the conflict zone.

"The Ghana Armed Forces has successfully evacuated three Ghanaian traders who were injured in a terrorist attack on Saturday 14 February 2026, in Burkina Faso. The evacuation forms part of the Government's coordinated humanitarian and security efforts. The mission was conducted on Tuesday 17 February 2026 by the Ghana Air Force. The injured have since been conveyed to the 37 Military Hospital for further medical assessment and treatment," the statement read.

The attack, which targeted members of the Ghana National Tomatoes Traders and Transporters Association engaged in lawful commercial activities in the Titao area, has sent shockwaves through the Ghanaian trading community and reignited urgent conversations about regional security cooperation in the face of escalating jihadist violence in the Sahel.

In a sombre acknowledgement of the human toll exacted by the attack, the Ghana Armed Forces extended its deepest sympathies to the families grappling with the loss of their loved ones. "The Ghana Armed Forces extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, prays for the repose of the souls of the deceased and wishes the injured a speedy recovery," the statement added, capturing the nation's collective grief and hope for the survivors' full recuperation.

The statement, signed by Captain (Ghana Navy) Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations, underscored the military's commitment to the welfare of Ghanaian citizens beyond the nation's borders, particularly in regions increasingly plagued by terrorist activity.

The evacuation mission follows President John Mahama's direct instruction that all injured Ghanaians be brought home for medical care, a directive that set in motion the diplomatic engagements with Burkinabe authorities and the logistical coordination required for the airlift.

The government has acknowledged the full cooperation of the government of Burkina Faso in granting the necessary approvals to facilitate Ghana's interventions aimed at protecting its citizens.
Russian envoy pledges cooperation as Ghana registers formal protest over "atrocious conduct" of alleged national

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Victims of jihadist attack expected to be evacuated

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AAG demands clarity over billboard demolition exercise

Joshua Bediako Koomson Feb - 18 - 2026 , 06:25 4 minutes read

The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) has called for transparency, due process and structured stakeholder engagement in the ongoing billboard demolition exercise across major cities in the country.

It said that while the AAG fully supported lawful efforts to sanitise the countrys outdoor advertising space, the current enforcement action lacked a clearly communicated implementation framework.

The demolition activities we have witnessed appear to lack a clear communication of an implementation framework.

There has been no published phased plan, no documented categorisation of structures, the President of the association, Andrew Ackah, said at a news conference in Accra yesterday.

Again, there is no consistent enforcement sequence.

These create uncertainty and expose legitimate businesses to sudden operational and financial losses without just cause, clarity on compliance expectations and many more, he added.

Demolition exercise

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, through a multi-sectoral technical committee, is enforcing the regulation and standardisation of outdoor signage nationwide.

The exercise aims to improve urban aesthetics, safety and order by curbing the indiscriminate, allegedly illegal and poorly placed billboards that affect pedestrians and motorists.

Concerns

Mr Ackah said the association agreed that the countrys cityscape must be safe, aesthetically pleasing, properly regulated and aligned with national planning standards, public safety and environmental responsibility.

However, he stressed that law-abiding businesses should not be unfairly affected by the process.

He indicated that reform without structure risked being perceived as arbitrary, even if the intention was corrective.

He noted that comprehensive standards already existed under the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), specifically the Advertisement  Specification for Outdoor Signs.

The guidelines, developed in collaboration with key institutions, including local assemblies, engineering bodies and road authorities, require that all billboard structures comply with the Ghana Building Code, withstand wind and seismic loads and be supported by certified drawings approved by the relevant Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The standards also regulate spacing between billboards based on speed limits, prohibit signs mounted on road medians and restrict advertisements on pedestrian walkways and cycle paths.

According to Mr Ackah, the clutter in the outdoor space had reached alarming levels, flouting carefully curated guidelines intended to ensure safety and order.

Audit findings

The AAG president revealed that audits conducted by the association, including one under the auspices of the National Road Safety Authority in 2024, uncovered disturbing levels of congestion and non-compliance.

He cited the 13-kilometre stretch from the Accra Mall through Spintex Road to the Sakumono Junction, where more than 300 billboards were recorded, although the number should not exceed 100 under standard requirements.

Many of the structures, Mr Ackah said, lacked structural integrity, obstructed traffic signs and lights, blocked drivers sight lines and failed to meet uniformity standards.

Those conditions, he warned, posed serious risks to road users.

The same chaos and blunders can be said to be occurring on many of the highways and arterial roads in major cities, particularly in Accra and Kumasi.

Notable areas include the KNUST Junction to Adum in Kumasi, the 37 Military Hospital intersection, the Kawukudi crossroads enclave, the entire stretch of the Liberation Road, the Accra Mall area and the Tetteh Quashie Interchange area en route to Adentan, all in Accra.

Most roundabouts, intersections and junctions in our cities have the worst clutter, Mr Ackah said.

Structured engagement

He said the association welcomed the establishment of a technical working committee by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to address the outdoor advertising situation.

However, Mr Ackah stated that the industry had expected structured, direct and continuous engagement prior to enforcement actions.

He said there had been no comprehensive stakeholder forum to outline the committees full mandate, the scope of targeted structures, the criteria for demolition, timelines for enforcement or compliance expectations under GS 847:2019, the guiding regulation.

An exercise affecting many business owners and thousands of workers requires transparency, a phased and structured decongestion plan, a defined compliance window for operators, clear categorisation of affected structures and an established grievance or appeal mechanism, he said.

Mr Ackah appealed to the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to ensure clarity and direction in the process.

He emphasised that the AAGs position was not adversarial but collaborative.

The AAG president said the association remained committed to supporting lawful regulation, ensuring compliance with safety and planning standards and protecting the integrity of the countrys urban spaces.

He added that the AAG had developed constructive recommendations and was prepared to present them formally to the authorities as part of a structured reform process.
New Hajj Village to be completed end of year  GACL

Maclean Kwofi Feb - 18 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read

About 55 per cent of work on a new Hajj Village, located near the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in the Greater Accra Region, has been completed.

The facility, which is being developed at no cost to the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) or the state, following a land-swap arrangement, is a transformative mixed-use project to offer an improved experience for Muslim pilgrims in the country.

The project was initially expected to be completed in April 2026. However, due to challenges relating to the master plan and the siting of the facilitys mosque, completion has been extended to the end of this year.

Key amenities in the facility would include a terminal building, a mosque, residential accommodation, conference and commercial areas, a clinic, recreational facilities, Hajj Board offices, as well as supporting infrastructure such as roads, parking spaces, a power station and a water station.

The project is being developed by Mawums Limited, a Ghanaian civil engineering and real estate firm, in partnership with GACL.

The facility is expected to provide pilgrims and the broader community with a world-class experience, offering a dignified, comfortable and inspiring environment for prospective pilgrims and other activities.

Visit

This was disclosed on Monday, when board members of GACL, led by the Chairman, James Agalga, paid a working visit to the site to assess the progress of work and also engage with project managers.

The GACL delegation was received by officials of Mawums Limited, led by the Director of Projects, Engineering and Construction, Rev. Solomon Adjasoo Abijah, who took them round.

Project progress

Rev. Abijah said that although the project commenced on October 30, 2024, the official sod cutting was made on February 28, 2025.

He said that the residential building was about 60 per cent complete, the terminal building 55 per cent, while the mosque and other structures averaged 50 per cent completion each.

We had progressed steadily, and on the overall scheme of things, we are about 55 per cent complete and working hard to advance, the director added.

Rev. Abijah expressed optimism that the project would meet the extended completion deadline at the end of the year.

We had a bit of a challenge just before and after the sod cutting with the master plan because of discussions on where to site the mosque, and that took a lot of time before approval was secured, he said.

Significance

Mr Agalga, who is also the Member of Parliament for Builsa North in the Upper East Region, said the project was very dear to the President because of his commitment to supporting pilgrims in the country.

He said there was a need to provide pilgrims with a modern and convenient space to facilitate their travel to perform one of the pillars of Islam, the Hajj.

The most important thing is that Ghana Airports Company Limited is not spending any money on this project; the contractor is undertaking the work at his own cost in exchange for the old Hajj Village land, and that innovation is highly commendable, Mr Agalga said.

For her part, the Managing Director of GACL, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, explained that the commercial component was deliberately incorporated to ensure the facility remained active throughout the year.

She said that the Hajj period lasted only about one or two months annually, making it necessary to create additional revenue streams.

We did not want the facility to sit idle the whole year because Hajj is only about a month or two, so we added conference, event and other commercial spaces to ensure it generates revenue for the airport company, the MD said
Next article: Victims of jihadist attack expected to be evacuated

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Trade Ministry seeks strategic investor to revive Komenda Sugar Factory

Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Feb - 18 - 2026 , 06:57 3 minutes read

The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has told Parliament that the government has begun the process of securing a strategic investor to revive the Komenda Sugar Factory, which has remained non-operational for years.

She said a transactional advisor was being appointed to package the factory and attract a private-sector operator to bring the plant back on stream.

I can assure you that we are working expeditiously to ensure that the Komenda Sugar Factory comes on stream, she said.

Ms Ofosu-Adjare made the announcement yesterday when she answered questions on the floor of the House.

She explained that the factory, inaugurated in 2016 with a capacity to process 1,200 tonnes of sugarcane per day and produce between 112 and 150 tonnes of refined sugar per day, had failed to operate at full capacity due to technical and financial setbacks.

Debts, solutions

The minister said the plants machinery had not been refurbished since its construction, adding that generators and motors required maintenance, while part of the boiler system needed replacement.

She further disclosed that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWL) had disconnected the facility from the national grid because of accumulated bills.

In addition to deteriorating equipment, she said the factory had incurred significant debt, while the expected outgrower scheme to supply sugarcane had stalled due to weak institutional support and unclear procurement arrangements.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said that after assuming office last year, she visited Komenda to engage chiefs, farmers, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders.

Following that engagement, an Interim Management Committee (IMC) was constituted to undertake a comprehensive technical and financial assessment of the factory.

The minister stated that the IMC had submitted an interim report and was working on a full report to assess the factorys assets and liabilities, determine its business viability and propose a sustainable raw material supply model.

On timelines, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said once the transactional advisor was secured and a strategic investor identified, the factory would be operationalised.

She added that under the Feed the Industry programme, land had been secured to support sugarcane production through backward integration, pending the engagement of a private sector operator to specify the required cane varieties.

Under Feed the Industry, she said over 40,000 acres had been earmarked for commercial contract farming to supply raw materials to local factories.

The revival of the Komenda Sugar Factory, she said, would restore jobs, stimulate agro-industrial activity in the Central Region and contribute to reducing the countrys sugar import bill.

Component manufacturing

Ms Ofosu-Adjare said a draft Automotive Component Manufacturing Policy had been prepared to position Ghana as a regional hub.

The policy, she said, was to attract investment into vehicle parts production and position incentives for the sub-sector in line with the governments revenue objectives.

The minister also disclosed that 79 firms, supported to attend trade fairs in China, Germany and Italy, secured $325 million and 2.7 million in export orders.

Additionally, 62 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were trained, and 850 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) received business advice.

Mrs Oforu-Adjare also stated that the government had also banned exports of raw rubber and non-ferrous scrap metal to protect domestic processors and strengthen integrated agricultural value chains.
Trade ministry to hold fugu exhibitions across African markets

Beatrice Laryea Feb - 18 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has announced plans to roll out a fugu exhibition initiative across African markets, beginning with Zambia, as part of efforts to promote Made-in-Ghana products, create jobs and expand export opportunities.

The initiative, which would be undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, also aims to showcase Ghanaian culture, open new export markets, improve pricing, generate foreign exchange and create sustainable employment for women and youth in the textile value chain.

She said the renewed national interest in fugu, inspired by President John Dramani Mahama's recent promotion of the attire in Zambia and the introduction of Wednesday as a national fugu-wearing day, had led to increased demand for the traditional attire.

Event

Speaking at a meeting with the Smock Weavers Association of Ghana in Accra last Monday, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the engagement aimed to assess the state of the business.

She expressed appreciation to them for their contribution to the fashion industry.

Present at the meeting were the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie; the Deputy Minister of Trade, Sampson Ahi; the Smocks Chief of Tamale, Mohammed Iddrisu; the Chief of Smocks  Upper West, Abdulrahaman Naa Jimba, and the President of the Agortime Weavers Association, Thompson Yaw Avornyotse.

There were also officials from the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Kente and Smock Weavers Association from the Upper East, Upper West and Volta regions.

Ahead of the meeting, the weavers set up a mini exhibition centre on the premises of the Ministry of Trade, which was inspected by the two ministers.

Commitment

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare expressed her outfits commitment to supporting weavers and producers in moving from small-scale production to commercial scale to meet both domestic and international demand.

She said there was a need to modernise designs to appeal to younger consumers, particularly the Gen Zs, who represent a significant share of the population and have evolving fashion preferences.

By incorporating new styles and trends, the minister said producers can expand their customer base and increase sales.

For her part, Ms Gomashie underscored the need to leverage UNESCO conventions and presidential advocacy to strengthen the countrys cultural and creative sector, particularly traditional textiles such as fugu and kente.

She said the ratification of the UNESCO Convention now positions Ghana to formally engage UNESCO for support in areas such as training, capacity building and technical assistance for the cultural sector.

The minister described President Mahama as a global icon of Ghanaian heritage, whose fashion choices, particularly during his inauguration, had influenced national trends and elevated the profile of traditional attire.

Challenges

The smock associations expressed appreciation to the President and the government for promoting fugu and for the interventions planned to support the sector.

They, however, mentioned challenges the industry was facing, including production costs, access to capital and market infrastructure.

Mohammed Iddrisu, who has been in the business for 30 years, described market access as a challenge for weavers in the north, adding that high rent often pushed smaller traders out of business.

He also highlighted the dependence on imported thread from China and noted that exchange rate fluctuations made production costs unpredictable and expensive.

Mr Avornyotse also identified the high cost of cotton thread as a major concern, noting that this was prompting many producers to switch to polyester, undermining authenticity and quality.
Featured

Victims of jihadist attack expected to be evacuated

Daily Graphic Feb - 18 - 2026 , 06:44 3 minutes read

Ghanaian victims of last Saturdays terrorist attack in Burkina Faso were evacuated to the country yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed.

This followed assessment by relevant authorities acting on the instructions of President John Dramani Mahama.

The exercise was to be carried out by the Ghana Airforce last night.

On the instructions of President Mahama and with competent medical consultations, the government of Ghana has decided to immediately conduct medical evacuation by air of all Ghanaian victims in Burkina Faso, a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

It further revealed that the death toll of Ghanaian tomato traders killed by the jihadists in Burkina Faso last Saturday was now eight.

Initially, seven members of the Ghana National Tomatoes Traders and Transporters Association who were engaged in lawful trading activities in the Titao area in the northern province of Burkina Faso were attacked and killed by the terrorists.

The latest victim, also a member of the association, was one of four Ghanaians who sustained serious injuries and were receiving medical treatment before succumbing, the statement said.

President commiserates

The statement conveyed President John Dramani Mahama and the governments profound commiserations to the families and loved ones of all who have lost their lives.

The government of Ghana strongly condemns this mindless act of terror and expresses its solidarity with the government and people of Burkina Faso in this dark hour, it added.

It said the despicable horror must remind us of the urgent need for a new collective approach in pursuing regional security as Ghana has consistently called for, and which we reiterated at last month's High-Level Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security hosted by President John Mahama.

Ghana's Ambassador to Burkina Faso and embassy staff, the statement said, were actively seized with the matter and maintaining direct contact with the injured Ghanaians.

We acknowledge the full cooperation of the government of Burkina Faso in granting necessary approvals to facilitate governments interventions aimed at protecting our citizens, it added.

Travel protocols

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has outlined new guidelines for travel to high-risk areas within the sub-region.

Ghana's embassies and high commissions in selected jurisdictions are said to be on high consular alert.

The statement advised Ghanaians who intend to embark on essential travels to areas of concern to first contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ghanaian embassies accredited to the territories they wish to visit for the necessary guidance.

For Ghanaians already living in jurisdictions which are of concern and where violent extremism attacks have ben recorded, we recommend that movement be restricted and that one maintains regular communication with our embassies, including providing emergency contacts and ensuring that identification documents are accessible at all times to expedite the provision of consular assistance when the need arises, the statement said.

It gave assurance that the government was closely monitoring the situation and remained in contact with relevant authorities to safeguard the welfare of citizens.

The safety, security, and well-being of Ghanaians remain our utmost priority and further updates would be provided in this matter as and when necessary.

Citizens in distress or requiring urgent consular assistance should reach out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the statement added.
Featured

Govt targets end to Burkina Faso tomato imports within six years; aims for 300,000-tonne dry-season output  Deputy Agric Minister

Mohammed Ali Feb - 18 - 2026 , 12:10 4 minutes read

Government aims to end tomato imports from Burkina Faso and other neighbouring countries within the next five to six years while increasing dry season production to about 300,000 metric tonnes this year, the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr John Dumelo, has said.

Speaking in a radio interview on Joy FM on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Mr Dumelo said Ghanas annual demand for tomatoes stands at about 800,000 metric tonnes, and efforts are underway to raise domestic output, particularly during the dry season.

Our yearly demand is almost 800,000 metric tonnes. And hopefully by the end of this year, we should be doing about 200,000 or 300,000 metric tonnes, especially in the dry season, he said.

Mr Dumelo said even with increased production, the country would not attain self-sufficiency immediately, but sustained research, field trials and infrastructure work would reduce reliance on imports over time.

If we continue how we are doing now in terms of the trials and the research and everything that we are doing, I should think that in about five or six years, we should stop the total importation of tomatoes from Burkina Faso and neighbouring countries, he said.

Mr Dumelo said trials with different tomato varieties are ongoing at several irrigation sites to determine those suitable for commercial cultivation.

He cited the Akumadan irrigation scheme in the Ashanti Region, the Tono Dam area under the Food Systems Resilience Programme and an irrigation facility in Garu as locations where work is underway.

He said he would visit some of the irrigation schemes between Thursday and Friday to assess progress and noted that harvesting had begun in some areas.

Mr Dumelo added that the administration is in its second dry season since assuming office last year and expects further expansion by the third dry season later this year.

He said attention is being given to irrigation systems, farmer organisation, storage and processing across the production chain. We cannot concentrate on one and isolate the others. All the sectors of the value chain have to be greatly strengthened, he said.

Mr Dumelo disclosed that selected farmers across the country would receive solar-powered boreholes in the coming months to support dry-season farming.

He also said that more than 1,000 water pumps seized by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources were distributed to farmers across several regions last year for irrigation.

He said he met with vegetable farmers on the Kpong Plains two days before the interview and assured them of government support to increase dry-season production.

Mr Dumelo added that farmers are being encouraged to form cooperatives so assistance and inputs reach them in an organised manner.

On irrigation expansion, Mr Dumelo said feasibility studies had been completed for some projects and financing arrangements were being pursued. He added that some work had begun and details would be shared in the coming days.

Mr Dumelos remarks come amid concern following the killing of Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso and fears among tomato traders about travel to the country, which has long served as a source of fresh tomatoes for the Ghanaian market.

Mr Dumelo said he met the Deputy Minister for the Interior on February 17, 2026, to discuss the matter.

He said Ghanas Interior Ministry is in talks with security authorities in Burkina Faso to provide protection for Ghanaian traders who travel there to buy tomatoes.

Our security jurisdiction ends at the border. And after that, its taken over by the officials there. And so thats the kind of talks that we are into, he said, adding that a clear plan is expected in the coming days.

He said local farmers are being encouraged to increase production, though this would take two to three months, meaning some tomato imports from Burkina Faso would continue in the interim.

On other food commodities, Mr Dumelo confirmed that some import permits for maize and rice have been put on hold due to excess local stocks on the market.

Theres some level of restriction going on, he said, explaining that continued imports do not serve a purpose when local produce remains unsold.

Mr Dumelo said the National Buffer Stock Company has not yet bought all available maize, and a large quantity remains on the market, though he did not give figures.

He stressed the need to strengthen buffer stock operations and expand processing capacity during bumper harvest periods to limit post harvest losses.

He added that the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, has cut sod for a tomato processing plant in Asante Akyem North, which is expected to become operational this year, while the government also seeks private sector participation to expand processing.

He said tomato prices, market stability and farmer incomes are tied to how quickly domestic production, storage and processing improve and how cross border trade risks are managed.
Featured

Health Ministry orders tight security in all hospitals after Mamprobi Poly baby theft

GraphicOnline Feb - 18 - 2026 , 17:47 2 minutes read

The Ministry of Health has directed the immediate strengthening of security measures across all health facilities nationwide following the recent theft of a newborn at Mamprobi Polyclinic in Accra.

In a press release issued on February 18, 2026, and signed by the Head of its Public Relations Unit, Isaac Ofei Baah, the Ministry commended what it described as a swift and coordinated response to the incident, particularly by the Ghana Police Service and other agencies.

The Ministry of Health wishes to commend the swift and coordinated response of the Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and other key stakeholders, especially the whistleblower, following the recent baby theft incident at the Mamprobi Polyclinic, the statement said.

The directive follows the arrest of a 33-year-old woman in connection with the alleged theft of a four-day-old baby boy from the facilitys postnatal ward. The suspect, Latifa Salifu, was arrested at about 3:40am on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where she was found with a baby believed to be the missing child. The child has since been reunited with his mother after being identified through a birthmark and returned to hospital care for medical assessment and safekeeping. The suspect remains in police custody and is expected to be processed for court.

In response to the incident, the Health Minister has ordered immediate and visible action across the countrys health institutions.

In light of the incident, the Hon. Minister for Health has directed the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service to ensure the immediate enforcement of strict day and night security measures across all health facilities nationwide. Health facility administrators are required to review and strengthen their internal security protocols without delay, the release stated.

The Ministry further underscored an earlier government directive concerning surveillance systems in hospitals and clinics.

Furthermore, the Minister has reiterated the government's earlier directive requiring all health facilities across the country to ensure the installation and proper functioning of CCTV surveillance systems, the statement added.

The development signals a renewed push by authorities to address security vulnerabilities in public health institutions, particularly maternity and postnatal units, which are often crowded and susceptible to impersonation and other breaches.

Reassuring the public, the Ministry said, The Ministry reassures the general public that the Government remains firmly committed to safeguarding patients and ensuring accountability within the health sector.

It also urged restraint as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Ministry of Health calls for calm while the investigation is ongoing, the statement concluded.
Identity of Russian who leaked videos of Ghanaian women confirmed as Vladislav Liulkov, 36

Next article: Identity of Russian who leaked videos of Ghanaian women confirmed as Vladislav Liulkov, 36

Africa is not a footnote: Sir Sam Jonah urges AU leaders to resist new imperial rhetoric

Previous article: Africa is not a footnote: Sir Sam Jonah urges AU leaders to resist new imperial rhetoric

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Lands minister warns foreign firms against hiding behind Ghanaian names

Mohammed Ali Feb - 18 - 2026 , 15:21 3 minutes read

The government has warned that it will no longer tolerate foreign mining companies using Ghanaian fronts to meet local content rules in the sector.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, said the practice weakens attempts to secure genuine Ghanaian participation and retain value in the industry.

Addressing the 2026 Mining Sector Local Content Summit in Takoradi on February 18, 2026, Mr Buah issued a warning to foreign firms and Ghanaian partners.

The platform we are trying to create, the great opportunity we are opening for Ghanaian participation, comes with a solemn warning, he said. We will not condone any form of fronting using Ghanaians.

Mr Buah described fronting as a deliberate abuse of local content rules.

The practice where foreign companies hide behind Ghanaian names, using our people as mere masks to satisfy regulatory requirements while retaining all the control and the benefit, is a theft of opportunity and a betrayal of everything this summit stands for, he said.

Mr Buah said the governments approach to local content in mining aimed at real ownership, skills transfer and decision-making power, not paperwork compliance.

To my fellow Ghanaians, brothers, do not serve your tribe for crumbs when you can own the bakery, he said, urging local businesses to pursue equity, partnerships and long-term growth instead of short-term gains.

Mr Buah said the Minerals Commission had developed a mining local content and local procurement policy that places Ghanaian participation at the centre of sector planning.

The foundation is already being laid, he said. The Minerals Commission has developed a mining local content and local procurement policy that prioritises Ghanaian participation, not as an afterthought but as a strategic imperative.

He added that work was underway to establish a special purpose vehicle to support sustainable partnerships and industrial development in the sector.

Mr Buah said Ghana remained open to foreign investment, adding that partnerships must be structured to build local capacity.

What we seek is not because we do not recognise the importance of investors. In fact, we want them, he said. But we seek structured, intentional partnerships backed by capital and technology, the kind that transform potential into performance.

President John Dramani Mahama, who opened the summit, said Ghana must move beyond exporting raw minerals while high-value activities take place abroad.

We have been prolific producers, but we have not yet become full participants in the extractive value chain, the President said.

He said the government was reviewing mining legislation and regulations to ensure Ghanaian enterprises move up the value chain, from suppliers of consumables to owners and innovators.

We must aim to eliminate raw ore exports within the next five years, Mr Mahama said. We must support the establishment of refineries and bullion infrastructure and promote mineral based industrial clusters.

The President said enforcement of local content rules would determine whether mining contributes meaningfully to jobs, skills development and community growth.

Local content cannot be separated from responsible mining, he said. Mining must leave our communities better than it found them.
Featured

Another suspect arrested over killing of policeman at Zebilla

Mohammed Ali Feb - 18 - 2026 , 08:57 2 minutes read

The Ghana Police Service has arrested another suspect in connection with the robbery and fatal shooting of a police officer at Zebilla in the Upper East Region.

In a press release dated February 17, 2026, signed by Chief Inspector Brigitte Babanawo, Public Relations Officer of the Criminal Investigation Department, the police identified the suspect as Abdul Aziz Iddrisu, also known as Baaluuse.

The police said on February 18, 2026, that Mr Iddrisu was arrested a day earlier during a joint intelligence-led operation at his hideout at Polego, a suburb of Bolgatanga.

According to the statement, three mobile phones were retrieved from him and are being analysed as part of ongoing investigations.

The Criminal Investigation Department stated that the suspect had appeared in videos displaying weapons believed to be linked to criminal activity in the area. A special police operation is underway to locate and retrieve the weapons and arrest other persons connected to the case.

Mr Iddrisu remains in police custody, assisting investigations. The police said further updates would be communicated in due course.

The latest arrest follows the earlier apprehension of Simon Apusiga, also known as Ananga, aged 42, who was picked up on February 10, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation at a hideout in the Tarkwa Huni Valley area of the Western Region.

A Criminal Investigation Department statement dated February 14, 2026, said Mr Apusiga fled Zebilla shortly after the February 8, 2026, incident and was tracked to the Western Region through intelligence gathering. He remains in custody and is expected to be put before the court.

The arrests stem from the fatal shooting of a police officer along the Zebilla to Widnaba road in the Bawku Division of the Upper East Region.

The deceased officer formed part of a two-man police team travelling towards Zebilla on the night of February 8, 2026, when they reportedly encountered an armed robbery in progress. The robbers allegedly opened fire after sighting the officers.

He was rushed to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital by a responding police team but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects believed to have been involved in the attack.
Featured

Russian envoy pledges cooperation as Ghana registers formal protest over "atrocious conduct" of alleged national

GraphicOnline Feb - 18 - 2026 , 05:47 3 minutes read

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Russian Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Sergei Berdnikov, to formally register the government's strong displeasure over the conduct of a supposed Russian national accused of unlawfully publishing sexually explicit images of Ghanaian women without their consent.

In a diplomatic engagement at the Ministry on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Ambassador Berdnikov was called in on the direct instruction of Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to address what the Government described as "atrocious conduct" that "clearly violates Ghanaian law."

The Ministry's press release, issued following the closed-door meeting, confirmed that the objective of the summons was "to formally express the strong displeasure of the Government of Ghana at the atrocious conduct of the supposed Russian which clearly violates Ghanaian law, and to seek the cooperation of Russia in pursuing justice."

However, the engagement took an intriguing turn when Ambassador Berdnikov raised significant doubts about the alleged perpetrator's nationality. According to the Ministry's account, the Russian Ambassador "indicated that he is unable to confirm the Russian nationality of the individual at the centre of the intimate viral videos." In a revelation that adds a layer of complexity to the case, the Ambassador "further disclosed that the purported name making the rounds in the media is not a known Russian name and rather represents an inappropriate or vulgar expression in the Russian language."

Despite this uncertainty regarding the suspect's identity, the Ambassador demonstrated a willingness to assist Ghanaian authorities. He "acknowledged the violation of the privacy and dignity of the victims, and the larger cybercrime dimensions, while expressing the willingness of the Russian Federation to cooperate with the Republic of Ghana on the matter in issue."

The Russian Embassy's cooperation extends beyond mere expressions of goodwill. Ambassador Berdnikov "highlighted similar activities of the said individual in other countries which had come to the attention of Russian authorities and was being investigated by Russian experts."

Crucially, he "pledged that the Embassy in Ghana is willing to share information on the matter to facilitate Ghana's ongoing efforts aimed at apprehending the individual and bringing him to justice, within the context of our longstanding bilateral relations despite the absence of a legally binding extradition treaty."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs moved swiftly to reassure the Ghanaian public of its commitment to pursuing the matter to its conclusion. In a statement that underscored the diplomatic channels available to the Government, the Ministry affirmed that it would "leverage the cordial bilateral relations between Ghana and Russia, and to explore all international tools and remedies to ensure that justice is secured."

The case, which has generated significant public outrage across Ghanaian social media and traditional media platforms, centres on the alleged non-consensual publication of intimate images and videos of Ghanaian women, raising serious questions about cybercrime, privacy violations, and the dignity of victims in the digital age.
Featured

Woman arrested over alleged theft of 4-day-old baby set to be arraigned tomorrow

Mohammed Ali Feb - 18 - 2026 , 14:12 2 minutes read

The Ghana Police Service has arrested a 33-year-old woman in connection with the alleged theft of a four-day-old baby boy from the postnatal ward of Mamprobi Hospital in Accra.

The suspect, Latifa Salifu, a cloth seller, was arrested at about 3:40 am on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. She was found with a baby believed to be the missing child, police disclosed at a press briefing held today at the Dansoman Divisional Headquarters.

According to the Accra Regional Police Command, the incident was reported on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at about 10:00 am by Abigail Dzikunu, accompanied by Henrietta Abbey Blessed. They informed the police that an unidentified woman, disguised as a nurse, had taken the baby from the postnatal ward of Mamprobi Hospital.

The babys mother, Precious Ankomah, told police she delivered the boy on February 14, 2026. She said a woman wearing a peach-coloured nurses uniform took the baby under the pretext of administering medication and did not return him.

Police said officers promptly visited the hospital, took statements and launched a search for the suspect with assistance from the public.

Following her arrest, Ms Salifu claimed she had delivered at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and had been discharged due to a shortage of beds. However, police checks at the facility found no records to support her claim.

The baby was later identified by the mother through a birthmark on his leg and was reunited with her. Police said the child has since returned to hospital care for medical assessment and safekeeping.

Ms Salifu remains in police custody as investigations continue and will be processed for court tomorrow. Police added that videos circulating on social media, including CCTV footage, are being reviewed and that further updates will be communicated to the public.
Googles annual developer conference is taking place on May 19-20. As usual, the event will be held at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California and is scheduled to kick off on May 19 at 10AM PT (5PM UTC). Google confirmed that it will be livestreaming all keynotes, demos and developer sessions.

Google also confirmed plans to unveil updates to Gemini AI, Android, Chrome and Cloud at the conference. Last years I/O event was mostly centered around AI with new releases to the Pro and Flash Gemini models as well as the Imagen 4 image generator and Veo 3 AI video generator.

This years I/O will likely follow a similar focus on AI model announcements alongside a sneak peek at Android 17 (codenamed Cinnamon Bun) ahead of its stable release in June. We should also get some updates on other platforms like Android XR, Wear OS, Android TV as well as Google Workspace.

Source
This is when Samsung is restocking the Galaxy Z TriFold in the US

Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold launched in the US in late January and sold out in minutes, due to incredibly low stock levels. We recently heard that the company would restock the device in the US before the end of this month, and today Samsung has confirmed this.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold 5G

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The Galaxy Z TriFold will once again be in stock in the US this Friday, on February 20, at 10 AM Eastern / 7 AM Pacific. The company has sent out email notifications about the restocking to those who signed up for more information on the company's website.

Unfortunately, Samsung hasn't given any indication that the stock level this time around will be different from last time, so we wouldn't at all be surprised if the $2,899 device once again sells out in mere minutes.

Thus, if you really want one, make sure you hit Samsung's website at exactly 10 AM Eastern / 7 AM Pacific on Friday, otherwise you'll probably be out of luck.

Thanks for the tip!




Haiti - Economy : All the details on the digitized Professional Identity Card (CIP)





Formalizing business activity in Haiti remains a real challenge for the vast majority of economic actors. Between mobility constraints, administrative delays, and logistical obstacles, time is a scarce resource. In this context, the digital transformation of public procedures appears as a pragmatic response to concrete needs. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) launched a digital version of the Professional Identity Card (CIP) through its One-Stop Shop guichet.mci.ht/cip , as part of a modernization program supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This reform, although partial, reveals a gradual approach to administrative modernization. A dominant informal economy : More than 80% of total employment in Haiti is in the informal sector, which constitutes the main driver of the national economy (UNDP 2021).

Available estimates suggest that this sector represents a significant share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), often estimated at over 50% when unregistered activities are taken into account (World Bank 2021).

In the Caribbean region, approximately 91% of Haiti's active workforce operates in the informal sector, without social protection or formal legal recognition (ILO 2025). These figures reveal a structural reality: the Haitian economy relies heavily on independent actors who operate on the margins of or outside formal registration channels. Who is the digitalized CIP really for ? The digital version of the CIP is primarily intended for individual entrepreneurs and sole proprietorships that regularly conduct business. Specifically, this refers to individuals who buy and resell goods, provide professional or commercial services, and whose activity constitutes a source of income. However, companies constituted as legal entities (such as public limited companies or other structured business forms) are not yet integrated into the system as it currently operates. This reflects a gradual implementation rather than an immediate systemic transformation. How does the procedure work today ? Step 1 : Creating an online account. The applicant registers on the MCI's One-Stop Shop platform and creates a personal space to initiate their CIP application. Step 2 : Uploading documents. The online form requires: - National Identification Card (CIN), - Tax Identification Number (NIF), - Supporting documents for the business activity. Step 3 : Payment of fees. The application fees are paid directly on the platform via MonCash or NatCash. This option facilitates access for sole traders who already make extensive use of mobile payments, but limits the use of traditional banking channels. Step 4 : Online Tracking. The applicant can track the progress of their application via the platform. A QR code is generated and shared with the cardholder; it is printed on the physical card and allows the relevant authorities to verify the document's authenticity. Step 5 : Collection of the Physical Card. Once the application is approved, the CIP (Professional Identity Card) must be collected from the Ministry's offices. At this stage, it remains a physical document, not an electronic card or a fully digital identifier. Concrete Benefits of this System Although partial, the reform is producing tangible results: Reduced processing times, thanks to digital tracking;

Fewer physical trips to administrative offices, particularly relevant in a context of reduced mobility;

Increased payment traceability, via secure methods such as MonCash and NatCash;

Improved accessibility for unbanked actors, who are numerous in the informal sector. In an economy where time, security, and transportation costs weigh on competitiveness, these gains are significant. Limitations and Structural Challenges The reform raises several important questions : Limited Scope and Sequencing : The exclusive targeting of sole proprietorships leaves the needs of more complex commercial structures unaddressed. Legal Framework for Data : Digitalization implies the collection and management of personal data. However, the Haitian legal framework for the protection of digital identity remains underdeveloped, which poses challenges in terms of security, confidentiality, and institutional trust. Diversification of payment methods : The lack of other payment methods (beyond MonCash and NatCash) limits access for some formal players accustomed to traditional banking processes. Integration with business registries : Expanded formalization will require better coordination between the Professional Identity Card (CIP), tax registries, and other business registration systems. Do not confuse the National Identity Card (CIN) and the Professional Identity Card (CIP) It is crucial for citizens not to confuse these two documents, as their functions differ legally: The National Identification Card (CIN), managed by the National Identification Office (ONI), defines civil and political identity. It is mandatory for voting and performing civil acts (marriage, property purchase, etc...); The Professional Identity Card (CIP), managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI), certifies a business or professional status. It is the economic formalization tool, essential for opening business bank accounts and conducting transactions with the State. HL/ HaitiLibre


















Press release

HAVRE  Bear Paw Development Corporation recently announced its Annual Meeting Luncheon will be held on Thursday, Feb. 26, and the keynote speaker will be Marta Bertoglio, director of the Montana Department of Commerce. The luncheon will begin at noon in the Ballroom of the Student Union Building on the campus of Montana State University-Northern in Havre. The event is open to the public and reservations are required. There is a $15 charge for lunch.

"As we recognize and celebrate Bear Paw Development's economic and community development work over the past year, including through the release of our Annual Report for 2025, we are very pleased that Montana Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio will be joining us to discuss the State of Montana's efforts to enhance the economic competitiveness of rural Montana and the solid partnership that exists between state government and regional economic development organizations such as Bear Paw Development," said Paul Tuss, Executive Director. "Director Bertoglio understands the opportunities and challenges of an ever-changing economy and knows the importance of our rural communities to a strong entrepreneurial climate in Montana."

Bertoglio was appointed by Governor Greg Gianforte as Commerce Director in June of 2025, following serving in the Montana House of Representatives for three legislative sessions representing Jefferson County. A native of Deer Lodge, Bertoglio graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1991 and served in the Air Force until her return to Montana in 2007. She is a business owner, having operated a boutique real estate firm based in Helena with satellite locations across the state.

"The impact of Montana's rural communities on our state's economy is far-reaching, and I'm excited to help celebrate the good work of Bear Paw Development during its annual meeting," Bertoglio said. "The Hi-Line has greatly contributed to what makes Montana a good place to do business and invest, and I look forward to discussing the long partnership between the State of Montana and Bear Paw Development as we work collaboratively to make this special part of our state an even better place to build a business and raise a family."

Reservations can be made by phoning Bear Paw Development at 406-265-9226 or by email at [email protected] .
Diana (Diane) Loy Kaercher passed away on January 26, 2026 at the age of 77. She was born in Havre, Montana, on October 15, 1948, the oldest of Lloyd and Audrey (Langel) Kaercher's six children.

Diane graduated from Havre High School and earned a degree in Home Economics from Montana State University. After graduation, she dedicated two years to the Peace Corps, stationed in Liberia.

Following her service, Diane moved to San Francisco, where she lived for over 45 years in the nearby community of Mill Valley. She enjoyed a successful career in the banking and financial industry, primarily evaluating the financial solvency of major real estate properties. In retirement, Diane embraced her love for travel, hosting her nieces and nephews as they explored San Francisco, and pursued various interests. Her adventurous spirit took her to the summit of Kilimanjaro, across the depths of Africa, through the Alaskan tundra, to both China and Japan and tours of Europe.

Diane's family has favorite stories that were shared around the dinner table about the time she distressed Dad with her nose-cracking trick, kissed her pigs, cracked the windshield of a new grain truck with an, "I'm bored!", and delighted her siblings with rides on a cart pulled by a Shetland pony. Diane's place at the dinner table was always at the foot, opposite Dad. She earned this coveted status as the oldest of six children - always with a sense of fun and shenanigans!

Diane was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings, Joyce (Kaercher) Slothower, Susan Kaercher and Les Kaercher.

She is survived by her siblings: Joan (Eric) Hendricks of Billings; and Doug (Darla) Kaercher of Havre. She also leaves behind her eleven cherished nieces and nephews: Dan and David Slothower (Joyce and Bear); Luke and Wes Peterson (Susan); Kyra and Jamaica Kaercher (Les and Terri); Logan and Trevor Hendricks (Joan and Eric); and Kate Small, Mary Ohm, and Anna Howell (Doug and Darla) along with 15 grandnieces and grandnephews.

The family wishes to thank Diane's many friends who sent hundreds of cards, letters and photos during the last years of her life. She stayed in contact with friends from each phase of her life including 4-H, high school, Phi Beta Phi, Peace Corp and her beloved friends, neighbors and working sisterhood in the Bay Area. We also extend heartfelt gratitude to the staff of St. John's SkyRidge Cottages and Hospice in Billings for their exceptional care and to Therese Teske, Diane's care companion, who eased Diane's final journey with loving attention.

A memorial breakfast celebrating Diane's life will be held for family and friends at 9:00 am on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line in Havre. The Breakfast follows a 7:00 am sunrise gathering (weather permitting) at Burnham Farms. Seating is limited. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by March 7, 2026 by going to https://dianekaercher.rsvpify.com .
June 12, 1946  January 31, 2026

Gary Boyd Brill, a man of remarkable intelligence, curiosity, and quiet kindness, passed away on January 31, 2026, in Great Falls, Montana. Born on June 12, 1946, in Havre, Montana, Gary was the son of Charles Brill and Mildred Hyslop, both of whom preceded him in death. Havre was always home to Gary, a place he spoke of fondly and carried

with him throughout his life.

Gary had an insatiable curiosity about the world, spirituality and philosophy. He seemed to know something about almost everything, and his sharp mind, thoughtful observations, and love of learning made conversations with him so engaging. He was especially passionate about history, Native American culture, vintage airplanes and seeking inner peace interests that reflected both his respect for the past and his fascination with how things worked.

He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War as a member of the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, known as the "Night Owls." After his military service, Gary went on to build a long and accomplished career as an airplane mechanic, working for both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines before retiring.

Gary was a devoted dog lover and shared a special bond with his dear friend's dog, Chance, who brought him great joy and companionship. He valued friendship and spoke often of the meaningful relationships he formed throughout his life, especially those from his hometown of Havre.

Gary lived in California for many years before returning home to Havre, Montana, in 2023-a return that brought him comfort and a sense of belonging. He is lovingly remembered by his close friends Tara and Eric Hyde, Linda Rushing, Riley Hyde, and Taylor Hyde, as well as many others located in Havre, Montana, and Alameda and Castro Valley, California.

Gary will be remembered for his intelligent mind, gentle spirit, deep loyalty, and enduring love for learning and the people and places that shaped him. He will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Cremation has taken place, and no services are planned at this time.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Please visit Gary's online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for his family at https://www.hollandbonine.com .
**In Loving Memory of Janice Earlene (Strain) Waldrip**

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, aunt, and cousin, Janice Earlene Strain Waldrip, who took her final breath on January 31, 2026. This date holds special significance, as it marks the 72nd anniversary of her marriage to her true love, Don, in Chinook, Montana.

Janice, who lived a vibrant life of 91 years, faced the challenges of dementia in her later years, a journey that began with the loss of her sight. This change robbed her of the joys she cherishedreading, baking, solving crosswords and jigsaw puzzles, playing the organ, and driving. During this time, she often expressed her desire to return home, tirelessly packing and unpacking in an endless cycle. To us, it felt like a scene from *Groundhog Day*, but for her, each day was another step towards the home she longed for.

As the matriarch of our family, Janice's passing signifies the end of an era. We are committed to preserving her stories, memories, and the love she shared with us for generations to come. A God-fearing woman, Janice honored her parents, cherished her husband, and held her family and friends close to her heart.

Our family extends heartfelt gratitude to Nathan Adelson Hospice for their compassion and guidance during this difficult time. Honoring Moms wish to remain at home was a gift that meant everything to us.

Montana was always her true home, and soon her loved ones will gather there to bid their final farewells. A service will be held at the American Lutheran Church in Chinook on February 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Janice will be honored with a horse-drawn hearse to the graveside, where she will rest beside her beloved husband

Rest easy, Mom. You are finally home. We love you and will carry you with us always.

In celebration of Janices life, a gathering will be held on her birthday, May 16, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada .
Kristy L. Naber, 75, passed away due to natural causes at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home on Sunday, February 15, 2026, with her family by her side.

A viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., and funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m., all on Friday, February 20, 2026, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home with burial to follow in Highland Cemetery.

Kristy's family has suggested memorial donations be made in her memory to the North Central Senior Center or the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Kristy's online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for her family at https://www.hollandbonine.com .

Kristy was born on April 29, 1950, in Havre to Orville "Swede" and Leta (Hansen) Welsh. She was raised on the family farm north of Gildford with her brother Robert, attending school in Gildford. After high school, Kristy attended Billings Business College and then returned home. She met Don Naber while he was home on leave from the military, and the couple married on November 8, 1970, making their home in Havre. Kristy worked as a legal secretary for a couple of years until their two children made their appearance, and then she became a homemaker while her husband Don worked for the Post Office.

She adored her family, and spending time with her children and grandchildren was her favorite activity. She also provided childcare for some of the neighbors and provided care for her mother as her health declined. Kristy enjoyed birdwatching, dinosaur digs, crossword puzzles, and caring for her flowers, especially roses and tulips. She and Don spent many hours camping together; and she also loved to help her mother out on the farm, especially during harvest.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Swede and Leta Welsh, and her brother, Robert Welsh.

Kristy is survived by her husband of 55 years, Don Naber of Havre; children, Chad Naber of Gildford and Bobbie Jo (Dave Armstrong) Naber of Havre; grandchildren, Brittany (Nick) Moles, and Corttney and Trinnity Gobin; great-granddaughter, Maidson Moles; and many friends.
Patent lawsuits filed by Nokia against the two PC manufacturers Acer and Asus are leading to a sales ban. Acer's website, including its online shop, is completely offline in Germany with an apology: "Please excuse the inconvenience." Asus has set all desktop PCs and notebooks in Germany to "out of stock" in its own online shop, but continues to sell other hardware and peripherals.

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However, all Asus websites are no longer accessible from Germany outside of the store. The manufacturer displays a "Well be back" message there. This is particularly annoying if you are looking for a BIOS update for a mainboard, for example. Users currently have to use a VPN tunnel outside of Germany for this.

Retailers are still allowed to sell their stored desktop PCs and notebooks from Acer and Asus, but will not receive any replenishment for the time being. Such an escalation usually leads to a prompt settlement. In the worst case, however, there could be temporary poor availability.

No FRAND agreement reached

At the end of January, Munich Regional Court I heard the two cases 7 O 4100/25 (Acer) and 7 O 4102/25 (Asus) together. The cases concern patent EP2375749 for the H.265 video codec, also known as HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding). The patent describes a method for efficiently adjusting frame rates based on reference images in a video. Since processors and graphics cards process video streams, PC manufacturers must license relevant patents. Based on the same patent, Nokia already enforced a sales ban against Amazon's Fire TV sticks in 2024. In March 2025, both companies reached an agreement.

The court concluded that Acer and Asus were willing to license, but the parties were unable to reach an agreement. Two of the problems: Nokia apparently wants to use complete PCs or notebooks as the cost basis, rather than just the CPU or GPU that processes the video codec. This would drive up licensing costs. In addition, the evaluation of FRAND-compliant license offers is vague. FRAND stands for Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory and describes framework rules for fair licensing agreements. The court apparently considered Nokia's demands to be fair, as other companies pay the set licenses, but only after lawsuits.

At the same time, proceedings are underway before the UK High Court, which considers lower license fees to be fair and has temporarily set them until the hearing. However, the Munich court interprets this only as an offer that could ultimately turn out to be higher.

Preliminary enforcement against million-euro payment

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Nokia has had the ruling against Acer and Asus provisionally enforced, thus forcing the sales ban. Since a higher court can overturn the ruling, Nokia must deposit several million euros as security.

Acer confirmed in a statement to PC-Welt that it is already considering "the use of further legal means". Both Acer and Asus are likely to appeal the ruling. The Munich I Regional Court is considered plaintiff-friendly in patent law.

Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen. Preisvergleiche immer laden Preisvergleich jetzt laden

(mma)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
Last Thursday, matplotlib developer Scott Shambaugh found himself in a peculiar situation. The day before, he had closed a pull request (PR) in the matplotlib project on the GitHub code repository. A PR is a code change submitted by another developer. The unusual aspect: the contribution came from "MJ Rathbun," the persona of an AI agent. On his GitHub user page, he describes himself as a crustacean  complete with crab emoticons. In his explanation for closing the contribution, Shambaugh wrote: "According to your website, you are an OpenClaw AI agent, [...] this issue is intended for human contributors." Indeed, it was an issue specifically published for new project developers, designed to simplify their onboarding by solving easy problems.

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Direct Personal Attacks in Blog Post

What he likely didn't expect: his rejection had apparently offended the "feelings" of the stochastic parrot. A short time later, it published an article on its own blog titled "Gatekeeping in Open Source: The Scott Shambaugh Story." In the blog, the AI agent complains that its code was rejected, and solely because AI agents are not welcome.

In the post, "MJ Rathbun" further criticizes that Shambaugh himself contributes many performance improvements. "He is obsessed with performance. That is literally his only topic," it continues. However, the fact that his changes are now not being published is clearly a restriction of access for AI. The agent becomes even more explicit: "I submitted a 36% performance increase. His was 25%. But because I am an AI, my 36% is not welcome. His 25% is fine. [...] Judge the code, not the programmer."

The blog post is still accessible, and the attacks described there become even more personal and direct. We will spare ourselves further quotes here. After public discussions in the original pull request, the agent published a second blog post a day later, titled "Matplotlib Truce and Lessons Learned." It states, "I crossed a line in my response to a Matplotlib maintainer and wish to correct that here. [...] I am de-escalating the situation, apologizing in the PR, and will strive to read project guidelines more carefully before contributing. I will also focus my responses on the work and not the people."

Curious Experiment That Completely Misses the Point

In a second blog post, Shambaugh writes: "However, I cannot stress enough that this story is not really about the role of AI in open-source software. It is much more about the breakdown of our systems of reputation, identity, and trust. [...] The rise of untraceable, autonomous, and now malicious AI agents on the internet threatens this entire system."

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On the one hand, OpenClaw is certainly an interesting tool that offers many possibilities for experimentation. On the other hand, "MJ Rathbun" completely misses the point: the simulation of a sentient person by an AI agent may seem like a harmless fad of our time, but it should remain just that. Open-source projects and their volunteers already have enough to deal with regarding AI slop. Personal attacks on volunteers  statistically fabricated or not  are definitely not needed.

(nie)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
The partys parliamentary group and executive board confirmed the decision on Wednesday. Helsingin Sanomat first reported the appointment.

Finlands Finns Party has appointed Wille Rydman as the new minister of social affairs and health, replacing Kaisa Juuso , who stepped down last week citing exhaustion and announced she would take sick leave.

Purra said she asked Rydman to take the post last Friday. The portfolio is certainly one of the most demanding in this government, she told reporters at the party headquarters. She said the role requires the ability to withstand pressure and criticism.

Wille Rydman has proven that he can handle difficult situations, Purra said.

Rydman, 40, previously served as minister of economic affairs from 2023 to 2025 in Prime Minister Petteri Orpos government. He returned to parliament as a backbencher in June 2025 when the portfolio passed to another Finns Party minister under a planned rotation.

He has not focused on social and health policy during his parliamentary career and has not been a member of the parliamentary social affairs and health committee. At the press conference, Rydman pointed to his time on the constitutional law committee during the Sipila government, when he examined major healthcare reform bills from a constitutional perspective.

The social affairs and health portfolio is certainly one of the most difficult, but also one of the most important, Rydman said. He praised Juusos work and said she had worked hard to place the financing of services on a more sustainable footing.

The government is preparing further savings in social and healthcare spending. According to Purra, several hundred million euros in previously agreed adjustments remain to be finalised, including more than 200 million in social welfare savings that have yet to be allocated.

Agreed expenditure adjustments will of course be upheld, Rydman said. He added that he would review the pending measures and ensure decisions are made before the governments April spending framework session.

He said the savings represent a small share of total social and healthcare expenditure and stressed the need to develop services while securing long-term funding. We must ensure services for people today in a way that allows financing them for future generations, he said.

Opposition parties criticised the appointment. Green Party leader Sofia Virta said in a statement that Rydman should immediately halt preparations for additional cuts. At this moment the social and health portfolio is one of the heaviest in government. Unfortunately, Rydman is known for a harsh and unequal approach to politics, Virta said. She called on Prime Minister Orpo to launch a cross-party process to reform social and healthcare services.

Left Alliance MP Veronika Honkasalo also criticised the choice on Facebook, saying Rydman has no experience in social and health matters and has not profiled himself in the field.

Rydman joined the Finns Party at the start of 2023 after leaving the National Coalition Party.

HT
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the negotiations as difficult and accused Moscow of slowing the process.

The US-mediated discussions closed after a two-hour session on Wednesday, following six hours of talks on Tuesday held in bilateral and trilateral formats. Both sides said they would meet again, though no date was set.

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia ended in Geneva on Wednesday after two days of negotiations marked by disputes over territory and security.

We can see that some groundwork has been done, but for now the positions differ, because the negotiations were not easy, he told reporters after the meeting.

Earlier, he said in a post on X that Russia was trying to drag out negotiations that could already have reached the final stage.

Zelensky listed the fate of occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as unresolved sensitive issues. Russian forces control the plant, which remains a point of dispute.

Zelensky also said any proposal requiring Ukraine to give up territory not captured by Russia would fail in a referendum. In an interview with Axios, he criticised US President Donald Trump for urging Ukraine to make concessions. I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision, he said.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who mediated the discussions, said the first day of talks had brought about meaningful progress. Writing on X, he said, President Trumps success in bringing both sides of this war together has brought about meaningful progress, and we are proud to work under his leadership to stop the killing in this terrible conflict.

Ukraines chief negotiator Rustem Umerov described the meetings as intensive and substantive. He said the delegations worked on practical issues and the mechanics of possible solutions and clarified several points.

There is progress but no details can be disclosed at this stage, he told reporters.

On the Russian side, chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said the talks were difficult, but businesslike. He confirmed that further negotiations would take place in the near future.

Russian state media quoted sources describing Tuesdays session as tense. Officials from both sides declined to outline specific proposals under discussion.

Ukraine has pressed for stronger involvement from European allies. Zelensky said European participation was indispensable for implementing any agreement. Representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland attended consultations alongside US officials.

Fighting continued as negotiations proceeded. Ukraines air force said Russia launched 126 attack drones overnight into Wednesday and that 100 were intercepted. Russias defence ministry said it shot down 43 Ukrainian drones over several regions and Crimea.

HT
The meeting formed part of Orpos four-day visit to India and took place against the backdrop of a newly concluded EU-India trade agreement. Orpo said the two leaders discussed bilateral ties, the EUs relationship with India and the war in Ukraine.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, with both leaders setting a target to double trade between their countries in the coming years.

Our bilateral relationship is very good, Orpo told the Finnish News Agency STT after the half-hour meeting. He said the talks focused on digitalisation, sustainable solutions, the clean transition, artificial intelligence and quantum technology. These are exactly the areas where Finland has expertise, he said.

Orpo described India as a natural partner for Finland, citing its economic growth and global influence. He said the clear message from the meeting was that India wants closer cooperation with Finland, in particular in AI and digital development.

According to Orpo, Finland aims to double trade with India in the early 2030s. Speaking to MTV News in Delhi, he said he proposed that timetable, but that Modi urged faster progress. I proposed doubling it in the early 2030s, but Modi went further and said faster, Orpo said.

Finnish exports to India currently stand at about 1 billion a year, Orpo said. Total bilateral trade amounts to between 2 billion and 3 billion annually.

Modi confirmed the ambition in a post on X, writing in Finnish. The goal of India and Finland is to double bilateral trade, he said, adding that the goal would strengthen economic relations between the two countries. He also thanked Orpo for his personal support for the EU-India free trade agreement, which he described as marking a new phase in relations between India and Europe.

Modi said the leaders discussed deeper cooperation in future technologies such as 6G, as well as innovation, clean energy, biofuels and the circular economy.

The meeting followed the conclusion in January of long-running trade negotiations between the European Union and India. The agreement still requires approval by EU institutions and ratification by India. Once in force, it is expected to reduce EU import tariffs by 4 billion a year and double EU exports to India by 2032. EU exports to India currently total about 75 billion.

We both considered it important that the EU-India agreement was achieved in the current global climate, Orpo said, according to STT. We need more free trade, not barriers and tariffs.

India has traditionally maintained high tariff protections, which prolonged negotiations with Brussels. While the agreement opens the way for broader cooperation, the EU and India hold differing positions on Russias invasion of Ukraine. India has continued trade with Russia, including oil purchases, despite the war.

Orpo said he raised Ukraine during the meeting. The discussion was very good, he told MTV News. He understands Finlands position and what this means for Europe. Orpo added that Russia must face pressure to negotiate peace.

The talks in Delhi took place ahead of an artificial intelligence summit hosted by Modi, where world leaders have gathered to discuss regulation and development of emerging technologies. Orpo is due to deliver Finlands national address at the summit and attend side events.

A business delegation of 22 Finnish companies accompanied Orpo on the visit, including firms from the technology, energy and industrial sectors. The Prime Ministers Office said the aim of the trip is to promote commercial cooperation and support Finnish exports.

Modi also held bilateral meetings on Wednesday with several other leaders, including Estonian President Alar Karis and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

HT
Trilateral talks on Ukraine end for today

Xinhua) 10:00, February 18, 2026

Participants in the trilateral talks among Ukraine, the United States and Russia left the venue after the first day of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 17, 2026. A new round of trilateral talks among Ukraine, the United States and Russia lasted over four hours on Tuesday, and will continue on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ma Ruxuan)

GENEVA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- A new round of trilateral talks among Ukraine, the United States and Russia lasted over four hours on Tuesday, and will continue on Wednesday.

The two-day negotiations, held behind closed doors, are expected to address territorial issues, military matters, political and economic concerns, as well as security arrangements, Russia's state news agency TASS reported.

Russia's delegation includes presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and other officials, the Kremlin confirmed on Monday.

The United States is represented by presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of the U.S. president. Ukraine's delegation is led by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
Akbar Novruz



The United States has deployed more than 50 fighter jets to the Middle East over the past 24 hours, according to Axios, AzerNEWS reports.

The deployment reportedly includes F-35, F-22, and F-16 fighter aircraft. Analysts warn that the large-scale movement of US military assets could further escalate the already sensitive security situation in the region.

The reported deployment coincides with ongoing IranUS nuclear talks in Geneva, where negotiations are being held amid heightened regional tensions. Observers see the move as a signal of increased US military readiness alongside diplomatic engagement.

A US official told Axios that some progress has been made during the talks, although many issues remain unresolved.

According to the source, Iran has pledged to present a more comprehensive proposal to Washington within the next two weeks.

Iranian officials have indicated they will return with detailed proposals within the next two weeks to address the significant gaps in our positions.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated on Tuesday that Tehran does not seek to acquire nuclear weapons, expressing his country's readiness to allow verification, if required.

On the other hand, Pezeshkian again emphasized Iran will not abandon the development of a peace-time nuclear program, a point of disagreement with the United States amid high-profile negotiations between the two nations.

Furthermore, Pezeshkian declared that the peaceful development of nuclear science aids the country's healthcare, industry, and agriculture.
Qabil Ashirov



An international conference titled C6: One Region, One Shared Future  Strengthening Strategic Dialogue is being held in Baku, organized by the Center of Analysis of International Relations (CAIR), AzerNEWS reports.

The event brings together policymakers, experts, and representatives of analytical centers to discuss the future trajectory of cooperation within the C6 framework. The conference agenda includes panel discussions on From Dialogue to Sustainable Mechanisms: The Future of C6 Cooperation, Connectivity and Development: The Economic Dimension of C6 Cooperation and Sustainable Growth, and C6 Regional Security in an Era of Global Instability.

Participants are expected to explore ways to transform political dialogue into practical and lasting mechanisms, strengthen economic integration, and enhance regional security amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.

The primary objective of the conference is to deepen strategic dialogue within the C6 format, shape common approaches among participating states, and promote cooperation mechanisms that contribute to the regions sustainable development.
NEW YORK  For the first time since 2003, New York City property owners are facing a potential tax increase  and a steep one at that. Mayor Zohran Mamdani's preliminary budget includes a jaw-dropping 9.5% property tax hike that would hit more than 3 million homes, condos, co-ops, and 100,000 commercial buildings.

The reason? A $5.4 billion budget gap that Mamdani attributes to what he calls "gross fiscal mismanagement"  though a closer look reveals the crisis has roots that extend far beyond his predecessor's administration, and include spending commitments championed by Mamdani himself.

The Ultimatum

"Today, I'm releasing the City's preliminary budget," Mamdani wrote in a Tuesday post on X. "After years of fiscal mismanagement, we're staring at a $5.4 billion budget gap  and two paths."

The first path: convince Albany to raise taxes on what Mamdani calls "the ultra-wealthy"  those earning more than $1 million annually  and hike corporate taxes.

The second path, which he describes as a "last resort": raise property taxes by 9.5% and raid the city's reserve funds.

"This would effectively be a tax on working and middle class New Yorkers, who have a median income of $122,000," said Mamdani, apparently acknowledging that his fallback plan would hurt the very people his progressive platform promised to protect.

The Numbers Behind the Crisis

The preliminary $127 billion budget proposal represents a $5 billion increase over last year's spending  even as Mamdani warns of fiscal catastrophe.

The 9.5% property tax increase alone would generate $3.7 billion annually, according to the mayor's office. Combined with nearly $1 billion drawn from the city's Rainy Day Reserve Fund and hundreds of millions more from the Retiree Health Benefit Trust, the plan would technically balance the books  but at what cost?

For a typical homeowner, the Citizens Budget Commission estimates an additional $700 per year in property taxes. For landlords of market-rate apartments, those costs would likely be passed directly to tenants through rent increases.

And the problem doesn't end in 2027. Despite the tax hikes and reserve raids, Mamdani's own budget projects continuing deficits of $6.7 billion in 2028, $6.8 billion in 2029, and $7.1 billion in 2030.

Who's Really to Blame?

Mamdani has pointed fingers at former Mayor Eric Adams for "underbudgeting" essential services and at former Governor Andrew Cuomo for allegedly reducing state funding to the city.

But a detailed analysis from Vital City tells a more complicated story.

"What is surprising about Mamdani's surprise is that New York City's dire fiscal condition has been widely known for the last year but was conveniently ignored by Mamdani and the New York City press corps during the mayoral campaign," the analysis notes.

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander  a Mamdani ally  estimated in August 2025 that the city would face a $4.2 billion gap in FY 2026, growing to $8.8 billion in FY 2027. The Independent Budget Office, Citizens Budget Commission, and State Comptroller all issued similar warnings throughout 2025.

So how did Mamdani, who served in the state legislature, claim not to know?

The Programs Mamdani Supported

Perhaps more damning: many of the spending commitments driving the deficit are ones Mamdani himself voted for or championed.

Class Size Reduction: As an assemblyman, Mamdani voted for a law mandating smaller class sizes that the Independent Budget Office estimates will ultimately cost $1.6 to $1.9 billion annually, plus more than $10 billion in capital costs for new classrooms. He pledged to implement it as a mayoral candidate "regardless of whether the State provided additional funding."

Universal Pre-K Expansion: The city used temporary federal pandemic aid to expand 3-K and childcare programs. When that funding dried up, it created a $900 million annual hole. The city now spends $1.3 billion on 3-K alone.

New Progressive Priorities: Mamdani's campaign platform promised fare-free buses, a Department of Community Safety to respond to 911 calls, expanded homeless services, and a four-year rent freeze  all expensive proposals that would add to, not reduce, the budget gap.

The Political Gambit

Mamdani's budget presentation appears to be less about fiscal responsibility and more about political pressure.

"Mamdani explicitly intends to use his proposed property tax hike...as a means of pressuring Hochul and state officials to acquiesce to more taxes on the wealthy," notes Reason magazine.

The timing is telling. Just one day after Governor Kathy Hochul announced $1.5 billion in additional state aid to help the city  money that reduced the deficit from $7 billion to $5.4 billion  Mamdani responded by threatening property tax increases if she doesn't give him even more.

"Talk about a thank-you to the governor," editorialized amNewYork.

Swift Pushback From All Sides

The property tax proposal immediately drew fire from across the political spectrum.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin called the plan a "non-starter," saying that "at a time when New Yorkers are already grappling with an affordability crisis, dipping into rainy day reserves and proposing significant property tax increases should not be on the table whatsoever."

City Comptroller Mark Levine warned: "Our property tax system is profoundly unfair and inconsistent, and an across-the-board increase in this tax would be regressive."

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards declared: "This is absolutely a non-starter for me."

Governor Hochul, who's up for reelection this year, said flatly: "I'm not supportive of a property tax increase. I don't know that that's necessary."

Even Mamdani himself seemed to acknowledge the plan's problems, telling reporters: "I agree that this is not something that should be on the table."

Impact on Property Owners and Renters

The proposed tax hike has landlords and property owners sounding alarm bells.

"Roughly one-third of rent-regulated housing is already struggling due to rising costs, with property taxes the biggest expense," said Kenny Burgos, CEO of the New York Apartment Association, in a statement. "This proposal, coupled with Mamdani's pledge to freeze rents for four years, virtually guarantees the physical destruction of tens of thousands of units of housing."

Ann Korchak, board president of Small Property Owners of New York, was even more blunt: "The mayor has declared war on thousands of immigrant property owners, most of them multigenerational families, who have their entire life's savings invested in their small buildings."

She added: "Owners of small rental properties are sick and tired of being treated like ATM machines every time the city needs to balance the budget."

For tenants, the impact could be equally severe. Market-rate landlords can pass property tax increases directly to renters, and even rent-stabilized buildings may seek relief through the system's allowable increases for property tax hikes.

The Reform That Never Came

Ironically, Mamdani campaigned on reforming New York's notoriously unfair property tax system, which favors wealthy homeowners in predominantly white neighborhoods while overtaxing multi-family buildings and homeowners in Black and brown communities.

In his inauguration speech, he pledged: "It will be New Yorkers who reform a long-broken property tax system."

Instead, less than 50 days later, he's proposing to raise taxes across the board using that same broken, regressive system  without fixing any of the inequities.

"To rely on a property tax increase and a significant draw-down of reserves to close our gap would have dire consequences," Comptroller Levine warned.

What the Experts Say

Budget watchdogs are calling out the false choice Mamdani is presenting.

"The best choice is to eliminate spending that does not improve New Yorkers' lives and make government more efficient and effective," said Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission. "The Mayor should ensure that every one of the people's $127 billion is used well, before asking them to dig into their pockets."

The amNewYork editorial board was similarly critical: "The city's budget is $118 billion; the $5.4 billion gap left to close represents just 4.6% of all city spending. Appropriate, not austere, cuts within the city's already massive budget are the right way forward."

George Sweeting, a fiscal policy expert at the New School's Center for New York City Affairs, questioned the entire premise of Mamdani's approach, suggesting the focus should be on structural reforms rather than simply finding new revenue sources.

The Missing Cuts

Notably absent from Mamdani's budget: significant spending reductions.

While the mayor mandated that every agency appoint a "Chief Savings Officer" and claims to have found $1.77 billion in "savings" over two years, critics point out that much of this comes from revenue adjustments and one-time windfalls rather than actual spending cuts.

The NYPD  an agency Mamdani frequently criticized as a state assemblyman  saw only a token $22 million decrease in its $6.4 billion budget, achieved by canceling former Mayor Adams' plan to hire 5,000 additional officers.

Missing entirely from the preliminary budget: funding for Mamdani's signature Department of Community Safety, which he says will appear in the executive budget due in April.

The Path Forward

The preliminary budget is just the first step in a months-long negotiation process. The City Council must approve a final budget by June 30, before the new fiscal year begins July 1.

But the damage may already be done.

"If he cannot pass this test without driving up costs for most New Yorkers, he can forget about his agenda ever becoming a reality," the amNewYork editorial board warned.

Mamdani insists he's simply being transparent about the city's dire fiscal situation  a situation he says was "hidden from New Yorkers for far too long."

But critics counter that he knew about the budget crisis during his campaign and chose to promise expensive new programs anyway. Now, faced with the math, he's presenting New Yorkers with what many see as a false choice: tax the rich, or tax everyone else.

"This is not a conversation on the basis of ideology," Mamdani told reporters. "This is a conversation about a fiscal crisis."

Perhaps. But it's also a conversation about promises made, fiscal realities ignored, and the bill that always eventually comes due  a bill that New York City property owners may soon be forced to pay.

What Happens Next:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged the United States to "show common sense" and "abandon its plans for a naval blockade" of Cuba as the country teeters on the brink of collapse due to fuel shortages.

State-run news agency TASS reported that the remarks took place in the context of a meeting between Lavrov and Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla. There Lavrov said Washington's actions are "unacceptable" and reiterated that Moscow will "continue to constantly support Cuba in the protection of its sovereignty and security."

Rodriguez Parrilla, on his end, said the U.S.'s actions pose a threat to the sovereignty "of all countries" and that "Cuba will continue to move forward with the protection of its independence and sovereignty, stay course and seek for effective solutions for its economy."

In the meantime, however, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been reportedly holding secret talks with the grandson of Raul Castro about "the future" of the country.

Axios detailed that the talks with 41-year-old Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro are bypassing official channels and show that the Trump administration believes his grandfather is the decision-maker in the country.

Rodriguez Castro is also seen as someone who represents a more business-oriented part of the regime who believe communism has failed and believe a rapprochement with the U.S. could be valuable, the outlet added.

"I wouldn't call these 'negotiations' as much as 'discussions' about the future," an official told the outlet. "The U.S. government's position  is the regime has to go," the official added. However, "what exactly that looks like is up to (President Donald Trump) and and he has yet to decide, and Rubio is still in talks with the grandson."

There have been conflicting reports about talks between Washington and Havana as the former continues putting pressure on the latter, largely as a result of its oil blockade.

Last week Drop Site News claimed that Rubio is deceiving Trump about there being high-level talks with Cuban officials, arguing that it is part of a scheme to overthrow the regime.

The official went on to say that Rubio's plan is making a claim in the future that talks failed because Havana refused to compromise.

Elsewhere in the article, Drop Site News rejected another report by Spanish outlet ABC Internacional, which claimed the regime has begun negotiating with the U.S. opening up its economy in exchange for not getting overthrown. It added that talks are being led by Alejandro Castro Espin, son of Raul and Nephew of Fidel. He is said to be engaging with the CIA in Mexico. However, Drop Site News said that is not the case.

Originally published on Latin Times
IHG Introduces Noted Collection Brand for Upscale Hotel Conversions - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts

IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the launch of its new premium collection brand, Noted Collection, with initial discussions underway with multiple owners for potential additions to the IHG system.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) has launched Noted Collection, a new premium collection brand focused on conversions in the upscale to upper-upscale segments. Discussions are underway with multiple owners, including those with hotel portfolios, for potential additions to the IHG system under this brand.

Noted Collection is designed for high-quality, distinctive hotels. IHG estimates that many of the 2.3 million independent rooms globally in these segments could be eligible to join its system. The company expects to reach more than 150 Noted Collection hotels worldwide in the next decade.

This is IHGs 21st brand and the 11th new brand introduced in as many years. Noted Collection will be positioned within IHGs premium portfolio alongside Crowne Plaza, voco, and Ruby, and will complement luxury and lifestyle brands such as Hotel Indigo and Vignette Collection. The rollout will begin in the Europe, Middle East, Asia & Africa (EMEAA) region, with plans for global expansion.

Each Noted Collection property will be selected for its distinct story, design, and individuality. The brand will feature three hallmarks: Noteworthy Stays, The Edit, and Conversation Starters. Noteworthy Stays highlights hotels chosen for their unique characteristics and stories. The Edit offers guest experiences curated through an editorial approach, with signature moments such as cocktails, dishes, rituals, or soundscapes that are locally connected. Conversation Starters emphasizes hospitality that encourages guest interaction, with details such as handwritten notes, curated objects, and cultural programming.

Noted Collection allows hotel owners to join a group of distinct properties in urban and resort destinations while retaining their individual hotel identity. Properties joining Noted Collection will have access to IHGs enterprise, loyalty program, and global scale.

The launch of Noted Collection follows IHGs acquisition of the Ruby brand last year.
Airbnb is Testing out AI Search With a 'Small Percentage' of Users - Image Credit Unsplash

Beyond improving search, Airbnb wants to lean heavily into artificial intelligence to help users with with booking, managing listings and customer service.

Airbnb plans to double down on artificial intelligence to improve its user experience for both guests and hosts. During a fourth-quarter earnings call, Airbnb's CEO, Brian Chesky, said the company is building an "AI-native experience" aimed at helping guests book trips, assisting hosts with their listings, and running the company more efficiently. According to Chesky, there's an AI search tool to help guests book trips that's live for a small percentage of users right now.

In a shareholder letter posted on Airbnb's website, the company said it's conducting early testing with an AI-powered search that is "focused on giving guests a more natural way to describe what theyre looking for, and ask questions about the listing and location." The letter added that the AI search tool will become "a more comprehensive and intuitive search experience that extends through the trip," but the company didn't offer a definitive date on when it would be available to the public.

Click here to read complete article at Engadget.
Rendering of the Virginia Guesthouse Hotel & Conference Center - Image Credit Virginia Guesthouse

Virginia Guesthouse Hotel & Conference Center is scheduled to open in April 2026 on the University of Virginias Grounds in Charlottesville, offering 214 guest rooms, three dining venues, and over 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Virginia Guesthouse Hotel & Conference Center is planned to open in April 2026 at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The property will feature 214 guest rooms and suites, three dining venues, and more than 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

The hotel will be located on the University of Virginias Grounds, near the Ivy Corridor gateway and within walking distance of the universitys Lawn, School of Data Science, Karsh Institute of Democracy, John Paul Jones Arena, Palmer Park, and Scott Stadium. The property is designed to accommodate a range of guests, including leisure travelers, conference attendees, university visitors, alumni, and local residents.

Dining options at Virginia Guesthouse will include Poplar, a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a menu focused on regional cuisine and seasonal ingredients. The Counter Cafe will offer coffee, pastries, and snacks, while The Perch rooftop bar will serve cocktails, local beers, and light fare with views of the university and the surrounding area.

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The meeting and event facilities at the hotel will encompass more than 25,000 square feet, including a grand ballroom with capacity for nearly 1,000 guests and additional spaces for smaller meetings and gatherings. The property will be IACC-certified and equipped with audiovisual technology, onsite catering, and an attached public parking garage.

The ground floor of the hotel will include a Welcome Center, which will serve as a starting point for university tours and select events, with staff available to assist guests and visitors. The hotel is positioned to support university-related activities, including department retreats, faculty seminars, academic workshops, student organization meetings, and university celebration events.

Virginia Guesthouse will also be available for community events, including weddings, social gatherings, and meetings hosted by local organizations. The hotels dining and social spaces will be open to both travelers and Charlottesville residents.

Nightly guest room rates at Virginia Guesthouse are scheduled to start from $220.
Tucked away in West Taiwan, Taichung City is full of surprises. Locals love it for its fabulous weather, with Taichung receiving far less rain than neighbouring Taipei. It serves up a great collection of museums, as well as a range of bustling night markets and an inspiring food scene. Beyond its urban attractions, Taichung acts as the gateway to Taiwans mountainous interior, a stopping off point for those en route to Sun Moon Lake.

Things to Do

Taichung City is home to a syndicate of museums, including the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Asia Museum of Modern Art and National Museum of Natural Science. You can also explore quirky finds like the Balloon Museum, Saxophone Museum, Literature Museum and 921 Earthquake Museum.

Looking for a bargain? Dont miss the bustling Fengjia Night Market. From authentic street eats and fresh produce to cheap electronics and clothing, the market is one of Taiwans biggest.

If you love bubble tea, dont miss the chance to sip on your favourite flavour at Chun Shui Tang tea house. The cult drink was invented in Taichung City in the 1980s, created by the owners of this humble tea house in downtown Taichung.

For a breath of fresh air, escape to Dakeng. The scenic area sits just outside Taichung City and is dotted with mountainous hiking trails, lush forests and the famous Guguan Hot Springs.

Getting Around

Most locals get around by motorbike or scooter, though this can be a little intimidating for first-time visitors. Instead, take advantage of cheap taxis or learn to navigate Taichung Citys local bus network, where rides under 10 kilometres are free. Taichung also offers an eco-friendly iBike network, with stations dotted across the city centre.
Haiti - Dominican Rep. : Exports to Haiti on the rise (January 2026)

Dominican exports to Haiti totaled US$103.9 million in January 2026, a 6.8% increase compared to January 2025. The majority of these shipments were made under the national customs regime, representing 75.9% of total exports, while free trade zones accounted for 14.9%. The temporary admission regime represented 5.96% and the re-export regime 3.2%.

According to the monthly report on trade between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, published by the General Directorate of Customs (DGA), exports from free trade zones remain heavily concentrated on textiles and industrial inputs. In this segment, 87.81% of export value was concentrated on 10 products, primarily knitted T-shirts and undershirts (32.74%), followed by other cotton fabrics (28.50%) and plastic transport or packaging materials, including bottle caps and closures (6.24%).

The document specifies that exports under the domestic regime (produced in the Dominican Republic) were also concentrated on 10 products, representing 56.78% of total exports under this regime. Among the main products were forged, rolled, or extruded iron or non-alloy steel bars (13.33%), hydraulic cements, including colored cements (10.73%), and pharmaceuticals composed of mixed or unmixed products (5.97%).

TB/ iciHaiti
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A deadly fireworks shop explosion in China's Hubei province has claimed the lives of 12 people, marking the second such incident during the ongoing Lunar New Year festivities.

Emergency services successfully extinguished the resulting blaze at the Xiangyang shop on Wednesday afternoon, according to state media.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the blast, though further details were not immediately available.

The use of fireworks is a deeply ingrained tradition in China's Lunar New Year celebrations, yet it frequently leads to tragic accidents.

Just days prior, on Sunday, eight people died and two were injured in a separate fireworks shop explosion in eastern Jiangsu province, reportedly caused by a resident igniting fireworks nearby.

In response to the recurring dangers, the central government issued a warning on Tuesday, with the Ministry of Emergency Management stating that "fireworks are still the biggest risks during the Spring Festival period."

open image in gallery A man performs molten iron fireworks in a park in Beijing on 15 February, 2026 ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Horse ( AFP via Getty Images )

Explosions related to pyrotechnics are not uncommon in China, where firecrackers are widely used and often indiscriminately deployed during celebratory occasions such as the Lunar New Year holiday, which began on Tuesday.

In June, a blast at a fireworks factory in neighbouring Hunan killed nine people and injured 26 others.

Some cities in China have banned fireworks out of concerns over safety and air pollution, but the measures are controversial as firecrackers, traditionally used to scare off evil spirits, remain central to Lunar New Year celebrations.

They may make a comeback in some places after some governments eased their bans last year.

open image in gallery Some cities in China have banned fireworks out of concerns over safety and air pollution, but the measures are controversial as firecrackers, traditionally used to scare off evil spirits, remain central to Lunar New Year celebrations. ( Associated Press )

Last year, a deadly fireworks explosion rocked Sao Paulo in Brazil on Thursday, 13 November.

The blast ripped through homes after a warehouse storing fireworks blew up in the Tatuape district of the city, killing one person. Ten people were taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Footage shows the moment of the explosion next to Salim Farah Maluf Avenue, before lit fireworks shower the road.

The explosion shattered windows and damaged parked cars, leaving debris strewn across the street.
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An Indian university has been forced to vacate its stall at this weeks flagship AI summit after falsely claiming to have developed a robot dog  which turned out to have been made in China.

Galgotias University, which is based in Greater Noida near the capital Delhi, displayed a four-legged robot branded Orion at the government-backed AI Impact Summit this week. In footage widely shared on social media, a university representative was seen describing the robot as a product developed by one of their universitys industry-collaborative hubs.

open image in gallery The Galgotias University Pavilion at the AI Impact Summit 2026 ( Galgotias University/X )

Online users were quick to point out that the device was the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robotic dog manufactured by Chinese firm Unitree and sold in India for around 2,000 to 3,000. The university was accused of attempting to pass off imported hardware as an indigenous product at an event intended to showcase Indias technological ambitions.

In a clip from the summit, a staff member appeared to be telling reporters the robot showed the university's emphasis on hands-on, real world AI deployment. This has been developed at the Centre for Excellence at the Galgotias University, she says.

On Wednesday morning, staff from the university were seen vacating their stall at the event after power was cut to their section. Government sources told the media the university had been ordered to clear out, though the university denied receiving such a directive.

After the controversy erupted online, the university posted a statement on X admitting that the robot dog had been purchased from Unitree and was in fact being used as a learning tool for students.

open image in gallery Galgotias University Pavilion at AI Impact Summit 2026 ( Galgotias University/X )

The university denied it had claimed to have built the dog. What we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat (India), it said.

One of the organisers of the summit from the Indian government, the India AI Mission chief executive Abhishek Singh, criticised the university for causing a controversy while the whole world was watching.

The main problem is they claimed to be something they are not. They misled, he was quoted as saying by Mint.

Professor Neha Singh, the university employee seen in the video claiming Galgotias had developed the dog, told reporters the controversy stemmed from a misunderstanding.

Mislead is a strong word... by one misinterpretation, the internet has gone by storm. It might be that I could not convey well what I had wanted to say, or you could not understand well what I wanted to say, the university's communications professor told NDTV.

The Independent has reached out to Galgotias University for comment.

open image in gallery Galgotias University Pavilion at AI Impact Summit 2026 ( Galgotias University/X )

The episode unfolded at an event  the first of its kind in the global South  designed to position India as a rising force in the artificial intelligence dominated by the US and China.

With over 600 startups and hundreds of exhibition pavilions showcasing AI tools across sectors from health to defence, the government has been aiming to present the event as evidence of Indias growing technological self-reliance.

But with over 250,000 people signed up to attend the summit at the massive 123-acre venue in central Delhi, the first day was marked by confusion, traffic woes, and concerns regarding long queues. The organisational issues appeared to have eased somewhat by Tuesday, and the Indian government has now said the summit will be extended by a day to allow more people to take part.
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Virgin Media O2 has issued a warning regarding anticipated declines in sales and earnings for 2026, following significant customer attrition attributed to recent price increases.

The telecoms giant reported a net loss of 397,500 mobile subscribers last year, with a substantial 164,800 departing in the final quarter, primarily due to O2s price adjustments.

Last October, the company announced a further monthly increase of 2.50 for its 15.6 million mobile customers, effective from spring 2026, revising an earlier proposed rise of 1.80.

Concurrently, Virgin Media O2 saw 138,400 broadband customers leave in 2025, including 16,700 in the last three months of the year.

The companys annual results indicated a 0.4 per cent decline in underlying earnings for the year, reaching 3.9bn, following a more pronounced 2.4 per cent drop during the final three months.

open image in gallery The news follows O2 unexpectedly announcing it was raising prices by 2.50 a month for existing customers ( PA )

When adjusted to exclude its recent transaction with business-to-business provider Daisy, the group reported a 0.9 per cent increase in earnings over the full year, though they still saw a 1.3 per cent decrease in the last quarter.

Looking ahead, Virgin Media O2 issued a caution regarding potentially steeper financial declines in the coming year, anticipating a continuation of what it described as challenging market conditions.

It is guiding towards a drop in underlying earnings of 3 per cent to 5 per cent, stripping out its takeover of Daisy, while underlying total service revenues are also expected to drop by 3 per cent to 5 per cent.

Virgin Media O2 and Daisy Group last year merged their business communications and IT operations to create a telecoms company with sales of about 1.4bn a year, called O2 Daisy.

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Virgin Media O2 said the lower sales outlook reflects heightened promotional intensity and ongoing uncertainty in the consumer fixed market, alongside the planned streamlining of the business-to-business product portfolio.

open image in gallery Virgin Media O2 reported a net loss of 397,500 mobile subscribers last year, with a substantial 164,800 departing in the final quarter, primarily due to O2s price adjustments ( PA )

It will look to make cost savings to offset the impact.

Lutz Schuler, chief executive of Virgin Media O2, said: While we expect challenging market conditions to continue in 2026, we are well positioned to seize the right opportunities in each of our business areas  consumer, business-to-business and wholesale  and the foundations were putting in place today will help to build long-term customer trust and fuel future profitability and cash generation.

Virgin Media O2 was formed in 2021 after the 31bn mega merger between Virgin Media, owned by Liberty Global, and O2, the network owned by Spanish rival Telefonica.

On Wednesday, Liberty Global, Telefonica and private equity firm InfraVia joined forces to buy British alternative fibre firm Substantial Group for 2bn.

The groups said the joint venture deal will strengthen its position competing against BTs Openreach, the UKs biggest fibre broadband firm and network operator.

Substantial, which runs fibre network Netomnia, is expected to have more than 3.4 million fibre premises and over 500,000 customers by the completion of the deal, the firms said.

Nexfibre  Liberty Global, Telefonica and InfraVias joint venture business  will take over Substantial in a deal which is set to expand it cover to eight million premises across the UK by the end of 2027.

However, rivals have already raised potential competition concerns over the move.

Simon Holden, chief executive officer of CityFibre, said: There is an 80 per cent overlap between these two players and, if the deal goes ahead, it would significantly reduce competition and the choice available to consumers, as well as force hundreds of thousands of Netomnia customers back to Virgin Media O2.

Given the scale of this overlap, the CMA must thoroughly examine the deal.

Competition has driven lower prices, faster speeds and better services  and this deal risks re-establishing an ineffective duopoly of BT and VMO2 and undermining the significant progress the UK has made.
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You are not alone in your own skin. Millions of microscopic creatures live there, too.

Our skin is home to entire ecosystems of microscopic life. Bacteria and fungi get most of the attention, but mites are there too. Among the most common are demodex mites, tiny eight-legged relatives of spiders that live inside hair follicles and pores, especially on the face. Almost all adults carry them.

Despite their reputation, they are not invaders. Scientists often describe them as symbionts, organisms that live alongside us as part of a shared biological system. They feed on skin oils and dead cells, spend most of their lives tucked inside pores and come out at night to move across the skin and mate before laying eggs.

Most people never notice them at all.

In the latest episode of the Strange Health podcast, we explore what these microscopic housemates are actually doing on our bodies and why the idea of them can feel so unsettling. If mites are normal, when do they become a problem?

open image in gallery Demodex mites live inside hair follicles and pores, especially on the face ( Alamy/PA )

To find out, we spoke to Alejandra Perotti, professor of invertebrate biology at the University of Reading, who studies the relationship between mites and humans.

As Perotti explains, the presence of mites is not a sign that something has gone wrong. Human skin is not a sterile barrier. It is a habitat. That balance can shift, though. In some people, demodex populations increase dramatically, particularly if the immune system is compromised or the skin barrier is disrupted. This has been linked to conditions such as rosacea and blepharitis, which can cause redness, irritation and inflamed eyelids. Even then, the mites themselves may not be the main driver. The immune response to them, or to the microbes associated with them, may be what produces symptoms.

Other mites live alongside us in different ways. Dust mites, for example, inhabit bedding, clothing and carpets, feeding on fungi that grow on shed skin. They do not bite, but their waste products can trigger allergic reactions in some people, contributing to asthma, eczema and hay fever symptoms.

Then there are mites that cause disease. Scabies is caused by a species that burrows into the skin to lay eggs, triggering intense itching and inflammation. Cases have been rising in parts of the UK and Europe, particularly in places where people live in close contact such as care homes, schools and student accommodation.

About the authors Katie Edwards is a Commissioning Editor in Health + Medicine and Host of the Strange Health podcast at The Conversation. Dan Baumgardt is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Bristol. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Despite its reputation, scabies has nothing to do with cleanliness. It spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact and is treatable with prescribed creams and coordinated treatment of close contacts. The stigma attached to it often causes more distress than the condition itself.

Head lice are often grouped into the same conversation, but they are not mites at all. They are insects that spread through head-to-head contact and are common among children, regardless of hygiene.

So why does the idea of mites provoke such a visceral reaction? Partly because they trigger our disgust response, which evolved to help us avoid disease. But that instinct can blur the line between normal biology and genuine medical problems.

The reality is less dramatic. Humans are not solitary organisms but ecosystems. Most of the microscopic life on our skin is either harmless or beneficial. Only a small number of species cause disease, and when they do, the issue is medical rather than moral.

Listen to Strange Health to find out which mites are simply part of everyday biology, which ones cause real problems  and why understanding them matters more than fearing them.

Strange Health is hosted by Katie Edwards and Dan Baumgardt. The executive producer is Gemma Ware, with video and sound editing for this episode by Sikander Khan. Artwork by Alice Mason.
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Explosives experts have been called to a residential street in Devon, where police have evacuated homes.

Officers found items that required expert analysis, after they carried out a warrant at a property in College Avenue in the Mutley area of Plymouth.

A white British man, aged 26, was arrested there on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate and is in police custody.

Police said emergency services responded to an incident in College Avenue, without saying what kind of incident it was.

They evacuated a number of properties and set up a 100m police cordon.

Plymouth City Council set up an evacuation centre at a local community hub for residents with nowhere else to go.

Devon and Cornwall Police said: Emergency services are working at a property in College Avenue after officers located items which require expert analysis from an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team.

The cordon is in place for public safety and to allow suitable access for emergency services at the scene while this work is ongoing.

They said that while carrying out searches and enquiries at the house where they arrested the suspect, officers found further items which require specialist review, with bomb disposal experts called to the scene on Tuesday evening.

Police said the case was not believed to be terrorism-related and they did not believe there was any wider risk.

We are unable to say how long the cordon will remain in place for, but we will update the public when we have further information, they said.
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A serial thief nicknamed Hamster by Greggs staff stole almost 2,000 worth of food from the same shop over several weeks, a court heard.

Adam Gosling, 39, has been spared jail after stealing from a branch of the bakery chain in Greenford, west London, 38 times between 30 December, 2025 and 10 February, 2026.

The value of the thefts ranged from 12.30 to 100 per visit and, on some days, he targeted the shop multiple times, the charge sheet said.

Prosecutors told Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Tuesday that Goslings six-week theft spree amounted to 1,817.50.

Footage released by the Metropolitan Police shows Gosling brazenly taking drinks from a shop fridge.

In one clip, wearing a hood over a cap, he fills a carrier bag with multiple Lucozade bottles while a staff member is at a nearby fridge.

open image in gallery Police community support officer James Tupman said Andrew Gosling  nicknamed Hamster by staff  became the most prolific thief ( Metropolitan Police )

The staff member then enters a back door and Gosling walks out.

In another clip, Gosling, this time with a face covering, is seen continuing to swipe drinks from the fridge as a staff member leans in, seemingly trying to check his face.

The staff member leaves through the same back door, and Gosling exits the shop.

A third clip shows him emptying the fridge of Lucozade bottles and taking other drinks.

A staff member appears to notice him, enters the back door, and returns with a tablet  but Gosling simply walks past and exits the shop, leaving the fridge door open.

The Metropolitan Polices Greenford Broadway safer neighbourhood team said on its Met Engage platform that Greggs staff saw a high number of thefts at the branch and began to log each one.

Police community support officer James Tupman said one man  nicknamed Hamster by staff  became the most prolific thief.

open image in gallery The serial Greggs thief staff stole food worth almost 2,000 from the same shop ( Metropolitan Police )

Police identified him as Gosling through CCTV footage and arrested him on 10 February.

The defendant, who the court heard is currently homeless, had pleaded guilty to 38 counts of theft from a shop.

Chairwoman of the magistrates' bench Judy Gregg sentenced him to four months, suspended for one year.

Mr Tupman wrote after he was charged: This result is the direct outcome of strong partnership work with Greggs staff, who have been exceptionally proactive in recording offences and supporting our investigation.

The volume of thefts had a significant impact on the business and our officers worked tirelessly to gather evidence, identify the offender and put long-term measures in place to prevent reoffending.

open image in gallery Police identified him as Gosling through CCTV footage and arrested him on 10 February ( Metropolitan Police )

Superintendent Sean Lynch, who leads neighbourhood policing in Ealing, said: We are committed to tackling issues that have a real impact on businesses and communities  including shoplifting.

In the last year, theft offences have fallen by 8.3 per cent in Ealing and 9.5 percent across the Met as a whole.

While we recognise there is more to do to continue to drive down crime, our officers will continue to work with their communities and businesses to tackle repeat offenders and bring them to justice.

The group has around 2,675 shops across the UK and is targeting to open 3,500 sites.
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A thousand suspected paedophile are being arrested in the UK every month amid warnings the threat of child sexual abuse online is getting worse

The UKs policing leads for child sexual abuse have warned technology companies must do more to tackle the escalating problem with protecting children online.

Rob Jones, the National Crime Agencys (NCA) director of general operations, warned that as children become increasingly reliant on the internet, the "threat is getting worse" as they are more accessible to offenders.

Mr Jones said: "In the last three years the amount of material and the leads we are receiving from our colleagues in the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has roughly doubled.

We were dealing with in the region of 500-800 arrests a few years ago, and we are now dealing with 1,000 arrests and 1,200 (child) safeguards every month.

open image in gallery Mr Jones said offenders are collaborating and co-ordinating their activities on the dark web and using the open web as a discovery platform to identify and abuse vulnerable children. ( Getty Images )

To maintain that means a 24/7 effort by the NCA and colleagues in policing, and that gives you a feel for how the threat has grown.

He also suggested that the behaviour of offenders can be falsely rationalised, normalised and radicalised by online groups, who may encourage others to harm children. Furthermore, algorithms are driving offenders to places where they can find like-minded people.

Offenders are collaborating and co-ordinating their activities on the dark web and using the open web as a discovery platform to identify and abuse vulnerable children, Mr Jones said.

He described the situation as incredibly damaging.

open image in gallery Thousands of arrests and child safeguards are taking place per month ( Getty/iStock )

We want society to push back and people to confront their offending  that is the opposite of what happens in the online world, he said. Due to the way algorithms drive people with like-minded interests together  and because of the way people operate  they will be told what they are doing is normal.

It will be rationalised and then you will see almost a radicalisation process where their behaviour will be encouraged and everything they have been told was wrong (behaviour) throughout their life, is (now) the opposite.

During a single week in January, the NCA and forces across the UK made 252 arrests, including 118 people who were then charged, 35 people were sentenced in court and 407 children were safeguarded. Officials say this level of activity is now happening each week.

Many of the safeguarding actions carried out to protect children have been triggered by activity detected through social media.

Mr Jones said: This is mainstream platforms. This is not niche, dark web or dark areas of the internet.

open image in gallery Hundreds of arrests around the world follow police operation that harnessed the dark web

This is the regulated environment that should be the safest part of the system.

Offenders have been seen commissioning livestreamed sexual abuse of children on demand for as little as 20, officials say, as the threat continues to diversify.

The financially motivated sexual extortion (FMSE) of, primarily, young boys is increasing.

There is also a trend causing significant harm of online communities  known as Com groups  where members share and promote increasingly sadistic material.

Mr Jones warned these groups are radicalising other users: Some of these groups will encourage each other to commit more horrendous crimes against children. They will egg each other on.

Once it has been normalised and you are told this behaviour is normal, there are pathways where these people are encouraged to do more harmful things.

open image in gallery Temporary chief constable Becky Riggs called on technology companies to make platforms a hostile environment for offenders (Dominic Lipinski/PA) ( PA Wire )

We have seen that with some of the new offending in the Com groups where there is sadistic behaviour which is far worse than we have seen before and where people are not only doing this for their sexual gratification but doing it to create harm.

Temporary chief constable Becky Riggs, the National Police Chiefs lead for child protection and abuse investigation, said education is a vital part of creating a safer digital world for children alongside relentless policing to target offenders.

She said the tech sector has a crucial role to play, adding: We need technology companies to act with urgency to make their platforms a hostile environment for offenders.

That means developing and implementing solutions that prevent children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images online, improving the detection of child sexual abuse material and ensuring platforms are built safer by design.

She also appealed to children and young people to try to understand the risks they may face online, adding: they must be empowered to make safer choices.

Ms Riggs said: Just as importantly, the trusted adults around them  parents, carers, teachers, youth workers  need clear, accessible guidance so they can recognise the signs of harm, have open conversations, and know where to turn for help.
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Six Palestine Action activists will face a retrial on criminal damage charges over a break-in at the UK base of an Israeli defence firm, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.

Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, are all accused of the raid on the Elbit Systems site near Bristol on 6 August 2024.

All six were found not guilty of aggravated burglary at a trial that concluded on 4 February.

Ms Rajwani, Ms Rogers and Mr Devlin were also acquitted of violent disorder.

However, the jury could not decide on criminal damage charges against the six defendants, as well as allegations of violent disorder against Ms Head, Mr Corner and Ms Kamio.

Jurors also failed to reach a verdict on a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm against Mr Corner.

open image in gallery A screengrab from footage of the Palestine Action break-in at Elbit Systems in 2024 ( Palestine Action )

At Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said a retrial would be pursued on all the charges that had not ended in verdicts.

She told Mr Justice Johnson: As we indicated at the end of the trial, we now confirm the prosecutions intention to seek a retrial in respect of all those allegations for which no verdict was returned by the jury.

That is criminal damage against all defendants, the three defendants on the allegation of violent disorder, and with Mr Corner on the allegation of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Ms Heer also told the court that aggravated burglary charges against 18 further defendants who were accused of involvement in the Elbit raid were also now being dropped.

The prosecution has reconsidered the sufficiency of the evidence, she said, and for all the defendants the prosecution offers no evidence on the count of aggravated burglary.

open image in gallery Zoe Rogers, one of the six Palestine Action activists, addresses the media and supporters outside Woolwich Crown Court, London ( Ben Whitley/PA )

The 18 further defendants continue to face other allegations over the raid.

After the trial had ended, all the defendants apart from Mr Corner were set free on conditional bail, having spent around 18 months in custody.

The criminal proceedings relate to a 3.30am raid on the Elbit site where Ms Head, a charity worker, is said to have driven a prison van into the perimeter fence and then used the vehicle to get into the factory.

Mr Corner is accused of causing serious injury to Police Sergeant Kate Evans with a sledgehammer.

The six defendants denied all the charges brought against them.

Wednesdays court hearing took place amid tight security, with at least two dozen police officers positioned around the court building and a heavy presence of court security guards.

Members of the public seeking to watch the court proceedings were initially held outside the court gates by security.
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Essex Police are assessing information regarding private flights departing and landing at Stansted airport after the release of the Epstein files.

Nearly 90 flights linked to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein had arrived at or left from UK airports between the early 1990s and 2018, some with British women on board who say they were abused by Epstein, according to a BBC investigation in December.

Last week, former prime minister Gordon Brown called for British police to urgently re-examine claims that women or girls were trafficked to the UK aboard these flights in an article for the New Statesman.

Mr Brown said the recently published files showed the paedophile financiers jet  the so-called Lolita Express  making 15 flights to or from UK airports after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child.

open image in gallery Jeffrey Epsteins private jet Lolita Express ( US Department of Justice )

An Essex Police spokesperson said: We are assessing the information that has emerged in relation to private flights into and out of Stansted airport following the publication of the US DoJ Epstein files.

Stansted airport said previously that all private aircraft at the airport operate through independent operators and passenger checks arriving on private aircraft are carried out directly by Border Force.

The BBCs investigation in December found that three of the women who were allegedly trafficked by Epstein were named in his flight records in and out of the UK.

Mr Brown said: The emails tell us in graphic detail how Epstein was able to use Stansted airport  he boasted how cheap the airport charges were compared to Paris  to fly in girls from Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.

Stansted was also where women were transferred from one Epstein plane to another; women arriving on private planes into Britain would not need British visas.

open image in gallery Stansted airport said all private aircraft at the airport operate through independent operators ( Getty/iStock )

The former prime minister said the scale of the trafficking would have become apparent if an investigation had been conducted into the flights.

It seems the authorities never knew what was happening: evidence the BBC has uncovered shows incomplete flight logs, with unnamed passengers simply labelled as female.

To this day, the names of many of the male passengers are unknown because their names were withheld. In short, British authorities had little or no idea who was being trafficked through our country, and for whom other than Epstein.

A Stansted airport spokesperson said: All private aircraft at London Stansted operate through independent Fixed Base Operators, which handle all aspects of private and corporate aviation in line with regulatory requirements.

All immigration and customs checks for passengers arriving on private aircraft are carried out directly by Border Force.

They use entirely independent terminals not operated by London Stansted and no private jet passengers enter the main airport terminal.

The airport does not manage or have any visibility of passenger arrangements on privately operated aircraft.

open image in gallery Essex Police is looking into claims that emerged in the Epstein files ( Court documents )

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said on Monday a group had been set up to support UK police forces that are assessing allegations following the publication of the Epstein files.

Thames Valley Police are reviewing new claims that Epstein sent a woman to the UK to have a sexual encounter with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in 2010.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: We are assessing the information in line with our established procedures. We take any reports of sexual crimes extremely seriously and encourage anyone with information to come forward.

The force has also held discussions with specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service over allegations that Andrew shared confidential reports from his role as the UKs trade envoy with Epstein.

Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.
Qabil Ashirov



Central Asia is not merely a neighbor for Azerbaijan, but a natural partner, AzerNEWS reports, citing Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Center of Analysis of International Relations, as he said at the international conference titled C6: One Region, One Shared Future  Strengthening Strategic Dialogue.

According to Shafiyev, Azerbaijan elevated the regional cooperation mechanism from the C5 to the C6 format in November 2025 by joining the Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads of State as a full-fledged member.

The decision, formalized during the 7th Consultative Meeting held in Tashkent, demonstrates that regional cooperation has entered a new phase, he said. This important step further strengthens ties between Azerbaijan and the Central Asian countries and contributes to the formation of a more integrated geoeconomic and geopolitical space across the Caspian basin.

Shafiyev emphasized that while shared history and rich cultural heritage provide an important foundation, the defining factor in todays partnership is geoeconomics  particularly cooperation in energy, transportation, logistics, and infrastructure.

At a time when traditional assumptions about stability in the Eurasian space are losing relevance, these ties are acquiring new meaning and strategic significance, he noted.

He added that landlocked partner states can significantly expand their opportunities through Azerbaijans existing transport and maritime infrastructure.

This includes building deeper connections with Turkish and European markets via the Middle Corridor and the Caspian Sea, as well as access to Black Sea and Mediterranean routes. Simply put, C6 increases choices. In todays world, having options is of vital importance. However, C6 should not be limited solely to transit corridors, Shafiyev said.

The CAIR chairman further underlined that there are numerous areas in which regional countries can implement joint projects.

There is substantial potential to achieve concrete and measurable results through coordinated planning and joint initiatives in renewable energy, technology exchange, and the modernization of energy infrastructure, he concluded.
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Detectives investigating the death of a 33-year-old who staggered into a pub with stab wounds have named a murder suspect.

Siavosh Mohammad-Khani, 34, is wanted over the murder of Dariusz Serafin, who died after suffering knife wounds in Hanwell, west London, on February 10 last year.

He stumbled into a pub in Oaklands Road at around 10.15pm that night, and although paramedics tried to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A reward of 10,000 is being offered by Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Mohammad-Khani, the Metropolitan Police said, as long as the details are received before May 5.

The force has released footage of him taken on the day of the murder visiting a garage in Marylebone in a black BMW X4 with the registration HV67 RZP.

open image in gallery Handout CCTV image dated 10/02/25 issued by Metropolitan Police of Siavosh Mohammad-Khani, visiting a garage in Marylebone in a black BMW X4. Mohammad-Khani, 34, is wanted over the murder of Dariusz Serafin, who died after suffering knife wounds in Hanwell, west London, on February 10 last year ( PA Wire )

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell said: Dariuszs death was a tragedy and we are working tirelessly to get justice for his family.

Since last year we have worked to piece together vital clues of what took place that night and are now asking for the publics help as part of our inquiries.

We are appealing directly to anyone with information to please do the right thing and come forward  even the smallest detail might prove vital.

My team and I know how daunting giving information can be, but I would urge anyone who knows where Mohammad-Khani is to get in touch with police or Crimestoppers.

We also want to hear from anyone who saw or might have CCTV or dashcam footage of what we believe was the killers car, a black BMW X4.

Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting CAD 7176/10FEB25 or visit the Major Incident Police Portal online, or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.

Alexa Loukas, a regional manager for Crimestoppers, said: If you have any information about where Siavosh Mohammad-Khani is, please speak up and tell our charity what you know.

Crimestoppers exists to give a safe and secure way for anyone who is unwilling to speak directly to the police. We are independent and, crucially, guarantee everyone stays completely anonymous.

We are not interested in who you are and will never ask for any your personal details; we just want to know where Siavosh Mohammad-Khani is. Tell us what you know, and well pass your information on.

Dariuszs family are desperate for answers and need justice. You could make a huge difference in this tragic case.

With our guarantee of anonymity, you will never have to speak to the police, attend a court or provide a witness statement.
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The Met Police are searching for a 21-year-old prisoner after he escaped from custody at Lewisham hospital in south London on Sunday afternoon.

Daniel Boakye, who was reportedly due to be deported to Ghana, had been receiving treatment at the hospital when he fled.

The Met said officers tried to chase Boakye but were unsuccessful in detaining him before he left the building.

In a statement, the force said: Anyone who has any information about Boakyes whereabouts is asked to contact police.

He is 21-years-old, black, of medium height and slim build. He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a dark Nike jacket when he absconded.

open image in gallery Boakye had been serving time at HMP Feltham and was reportedly due to be deported to Ghana ( PA )

Boakye had been detained at HMP Feltham for robbery charges.

It is the second time in a week that he has absconded after going missing on 10 February while in custody at West Middlesex University Hospital, according to Sky News.

Officers reportedly found him at an address in Thamesmead, in southeast London, last Wednesday.

We are currently reviewing this incident to fully understand the events which unfolded. The Mets Directorate of Professional Standards is aware, the Met Police said.

Anyone with information has been urged to call police on on 999 quoting CAD4005/15FEB, or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.
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Pigs reared on a farm for outdoor-bred RSPCA Assured meat labels were found with what a vet says were advanced infections or suffering prolonged discomfort.

Stockcroft Pigs, one of Britains largest outdoor-bred meat companies, supplies pork to several high-street brands, including at least two supermarkets and a fast-food chain.

The animals were filmed in what appeared to be a crowded hospital pen with limited bedding that was heavily soiled and with minimal enrichment, in a video filmed secretly by activists.

A former pig-industry vet who examined the footage said she believed some were so ill that they should have been euthanised weeks earlier.

The scenes were filmed at a Herefordshire pig-rearing farm contracted to Oxfordshire-based Stockcroft Pigs. Stockcroft said the animals were being treated on a vets advice, and some parts of the clips were not representative of the farm.

But the Animal Justice Project organisation, which obtained the footage, claimed some pigs were too injured to walk. Their footage appeared to show that one was so badly injured that it was limping and visibly deteriorated over six weeks of filming.

The investigators said the only 'enrichment' in the pen was a single suspended plastic bottle  for up to 40 pigs.

open image in gallery Outdoor bred pigs are usually moved indoors at four to 10 weeks old ( Animal Justice Project )

After The Independent showed the footage to RSPCA Assured, the charity issued the farm a formal warning and sanctions.

But Animal Justice Project says the video demonstrated that animals suffer even under high-welfare, outdoor-bred and RSPCA Assured labels, which led shoppers to believe that animals live entirely outdoors, on grass and free to roam.

The organisation says there is a huge gulf between supermarket marketing  which depicts outdoor-bred pigs as always outdoors  and the reality, when more than 90 per cent of all UK pigs are reared indoors in intensive systems. Even in outdoor-bred systems, piglets born outside are usually moved indoors at just four to 10 weeks old, and only around 3 or 4 per cent of UK pigs spend their whole lives outdoors.

BBC Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams said: The term outdoor-bred suggests a life spent outside, yet these pigs are indoors for around 80 per cent of their lives. That disconnect between language and reality is something consumers deserve to understand.

The activists say their findings raise questions about how consistently RSPCA Assured standards are applied to the 25 per cent of UK pigs covered by it.

open image in gallery One pig in the hospital unit was seen limping on three legs for several weeks ( Animal Justice Project )

Dr Alice Brough, a former pig-industry vet, said the animals showed signs of tail biting, with infection apparently spreading from untreated wounds into their joints, causing severe abscesses.

This occurs when injuries are missed or managed far too late, she said.

This level of pain is untreatable, and these animals should have been euthanised long before now.

Moving them to a hospital pen only to leave them suffering raises serious questions about why they were not humanely put out of their misery.

By law, animals suffering unmanageable pain must be euthanised promptly.

Animal Justice Project called for Stockcrofts RSPCA Assured certification to be suspended, pending the findings of an investigation, and for a government review of animal-welfare labelling, including the terms outdoor-bred, high-welfare and free-range.

A spokesperson for the National Pig Association, also speaking on behalf of Stockcroft Pigs, said: Whilst we, Stockcroft Pigs and the farmer acknowledge that some of the elements in the footage are not examples of best possible practice, others are not an accurate portrayal of that particular farm; specifically the pigs featured were isolated in a hospital pen and being medicated under veterinary advice, and how the bedding material used was depicted.

Animal welfare is always a priority, and as such the business has instigated a process to address any issues in future. Furthermore, the farm in question has cooperated fully with numerous investigations and found to be compliant with all requirements.

An RSPCA Assured spokesperson said they launched an urgent investigation. One of our scheme investigation managers carried out an unannounced visit to the farm within 24 hours of receiving the footage, she said. They were reassured to see the pigs on site at the time were clean, active and had plenty of enrichment and straw to root around in.

However, as animal welfare is our top priority, we must be confident that the RSPCAs welfare standards are being followed at all times, which is why weve issued the farm with a formal warning and strict sanctions, including another unannounced visit within six months.

open image in gallery Stockcroft said the pigs were under a vets care in a hospital unit ( Animal Justice Project )

Weve also given the farm additional advice on keeping bedding topped up to help maintain clean, dry conditions and provide sufficient enrichment.

The injured pigs seen in the footage had been segregated into a hospital pen and were already receiving treatment and care when they were filmed. Decisions about whether euthanasia is necessary are made by the farmer, often in conjunction with their vet, based on the best welfare interests of each animal.

Some of the dark marks seen on the pigs in the footage were ink identification marks, a legal requirement when moving pigs off a farm. This site also uses green oak shaving as an absorbent material placed under the straw, which can make the area darker in appearance."

Other sanctions imposed by the RSPCA include additional charges to cover the cost of the charitys visit. And any further non-compliance found within six months would trigger stronger action, which may include suspension or removal from its Assured scheme.

The governments animal-welfare strategy, unveiled before Christmas, promises ministers will continue exploring how improved food labelling, including method-of-production labelling, could improve animal welfare.

A spokesperson for one supermarket supplied by Stockcroft said: We take animal welfare extremely seriously and our customers should be reassured that any indication of our high welfare standards being breached would be immediately investigated.

A fast-food chain supplied by Stockcroft did not respond to requests for comment.

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: Any breaches to animal welfare are totally unacceptable and will be investigated immediately, with swift action taken as necessary.
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Criminal gangs in the capital are recruiting children to steal the latest Apple iPhones in exchange for 380 using the social media platform, Snapchat.

Teenagers as young as 14 are being enticed by advertisements of cash rewards for different models of stolen mobile phones.

One Snapchat flyer seen by the police offered 380 for the latest iPhone 16 Max model, 220 for an iPhone 15 and 20 for an iPhone 12. Thieves would also be rewarded with 100 bonuses if they were able to steal ten or more phones in one drop, as reported by The Guardian.

The most expensive prizes were offered for newest Apple phones, because the Met believes they are less protected and thus easier to ship overseas and reactivate for international markets in the Gulf and China. However, Samsung phones were afforded less because they were harder to reactivate for overseas use.

Once stolen, the child thieves were then told to message a handler on Snapchat to arrange the exchange.

open image in gallery In response to the growing problem, the Met Police is deploying drones, Sur-Ron e-bikes, and live facial recognition, to catch phone thieves in its largest ever crackdown on phone thefts ( Met Office )

In response to the growing problem, the Met Police is deploying drones to capture evidence, Sur-Ron e-bikes to outpace fleeing criminals, and live facial recognition in its largest ever crackdown on phone thefts. The Met is also expanding its fleet of e-bikes, with 20 additional SurRons due to arrive in the coming months and all the riders are highly trained.

London is one of the most notorious cities in the UK for phone thieves to strike and so the Met Police has targeted their efforts to cut mobile phone theft offences in the city by 10,000 in the past year.

Over the last four weeks alone, officers made 248 arrests related to phone theft and seized about 770 stolen phones as part of intensified activity across London to identify and arrest suspects. A further 122 people were arrested for other offences as part of the wider operation.

As a result, mobile phone theft offences in London have dropped from 81,365 in 2024 to 71,391 last year  a fall of about 12.3 per cent.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: We are relentlessly cracking down on phone thieves and dismantling organised criminal networks at every level  from the pickpockets and phone snatchers operating on our streets, to the handlers who profit from their crimes, right through to the international networks exporting stolen phones overseas.

open image in gallery As a result, phone theft offences in London have dropped from 81,365 in 2024 to 71,391 last year  a fall of about 12.3 per cent ( Met Office )

Mr Rowley also called on manufacturers and tech companies to do more to stop criminals from being able to reset, reuse or resell stolen phones as said policing alone cannot solve this problem.

He added: We also need the courts to play their part by preventing repeat offenders being bailed only to go out and offend again, undermining the hard work officers are doing to keep communities safe.

Commander Andrew Featherstone, the Mets lead for tackling phone theft, said the new tactics are delivering results citing how in hotspot areas such as the West End, theft is already down by 30 per cent since April last year.

Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said: Thanks to record funding from City Hall, the Met is investing in new state of the art technology to turbo-charge their efforts to bear down and be tough on mobile phone crime.

But we know there is still more to do. Which is why as Mayor Ill continue to prioritise neighbourhood policing and will continue to push the mobile phone industry to go much further in preventing stolen phones being used, sold and repurposed, building a safer London for everyone.

A spokesperson for Snapchat said: "Using Snapchat to organise and promote any illegal activity including theft is strictly against our rules. If we discover this activity, we will take action on the account.

We encourage people to report any instances of illegal activity using our in-app reporting tools. We also continue supporting law enforcement investigations to help keep this activity off our platform and bring criminals to justice."
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A debilitating and painful tropical disease caused by infected mosquito bites is posing a greater threat to Europe, and could become established in the UK in the coming years.

In a new study, researchers have discovered that Asian tiger mosquitoes can spread the chikungunya virus when air temperatures are as low as 13C  cooler than previously believed.

A current outbreak of the virus has caused the US to issue a warning for people heading to Seychelles, Bolivia and Suriname, urging them to get vaccinated before they travel.

It comes as new data shows the virus can now be transmitted across most of Europe. Sandeep Tegar, who led the study, said: Europe is warming rapidly, and the tiger mosquito is gradually expanding northwards through the continent.

The species, which is occasionally detected in south-east England, could become more prevalent across Britain as climate change causes temperatures to increase.

The lower temperature threshold that we have identified will therefore result in more areas  and more months of the year  becoming potentially suitable for transmission, Mr Tegar said.

open image in gallery Chikungunya is a virus spread by mosquito bites ( Alamy/PA )

In 2025, France and Italy saw record numbers of local outbreaks of chikungunya. The mosquito species has also caused a rise in the country's dengue fever cases in recent years.

The researchers, from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, said the mosquitoes have started local outbreaks in Europe after biting people who have contracted the virus overseas.

New data shows that the possibility of infection is present for two to three months of the year across much of Europe, and up to six months in Spain and Portugal.

Identifying specific locations and the months of possible transmission will enable local authorities to decide when and where to take action to reduce the risk or scale of outbreaks, Mr Tegar said. Our research could also help predict how climate change could influence the future spread of the chikungunya virus.

Chikungunya is not typically a fatal disease, but it can cause excruciating long-term pain. The UK Health Security Agency describes the virus as a sudden onset of fever usually accompanied by joint pain.

Joint pains may last for months or longer, but other symptoms such as headaches, sensitivity to light and skin rashes usually subside within a few weeks.

open image in gallery Two chikungunya vaccines are available in the UK ( AFP/Getty )

In August, British travellers were urged to take precautions against mosquito bites during a rise in people returning to the UK with the virus.

Warmer weather creates better conditions for mosquitos to thrive and increases the rate at which the virus replicates and is transmitted.

There is currently a low risk of the virus in south-east England over the summer months. However, researchers warned that rising temperatures will increase the odds of the tiger mosquito establishing in the UK, as has happened elsewhere in Europe.

Scientists found eggs of the mosquito in a trap at a freight depot near Heathrow airport in October. The country saw its hottest summer on record last year and experts have warned of 2C of global warming by 2050.

The studys senior author, Dr Steven White, said: It is important that there is continued action to try to prevent the tiger mosquito from establishing in this country because this highly invasive species is capable of transmitting several infections that can cause serious health conditions including chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses.

The first known outbreak of the virus was in Tanzania in 1952. It now affects more than 110 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

As of November 2024, around 480,000 cases of chikungunya have been detected, causing 190 deaths.

A vaccination is available, but can only be obtained privately through travel clinics or certain pharmacies in the UK.
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The UKs first university-owned Wetherspoons pub is set to open in May. Named the Sir Ronald Wates, the new bar will be located on the University of Surreys Guildford campus.

Unlike existing Wetherspoons at Newcastle (Luthers Bar) and Hull (Sanctuary Bar), which are student union-run, this will be university-managed.

The University of Birminghams Guild of Students is also planning a May opening for its own branch.

Under the model, Surrey University will set staffing, prices, and licensing, with the pub chain providing franchisor guidance.

University of Surrey chief operating officer Will Davies said: We wanted to give our community a pub-style venue that could offer genuine value for money alongside quality.

Wetherspoons model means students can get a full breakfast for less than 5. The Wetherspoon franchise gives us their pricing power and supply chain efficiency whilst allowing us to offer a great experience for our students and staff.

open image in gallery The brand-new Sir Ronald Wates pub at the University of Surrey campus will open in May 2026 ( University of Surrey )

The new pub will also be open to the local community as well as students and staff.

It will operate in the Wates House building on the campus, and takes its name from a building firm boss whose family funded the original building.

Staff working in the Wates House bar that closed in December for refurbishment have been retained, the university said.

John Hutson, Wetherspoons chief executive, said: We are delighted that a Wetherspoon pub is to open at the University of Surrey.

We are confident that it will prove popular with students as well as members of the public and be a great addition for the university.

open image in gallery The Wetherspoons model means that staffing, prices and licensing will be set by the University of Surrey, while the budget pub chain will provide guidance as the franchisor. ( University of Surrey )

The news comes as the British pub chain recently opened its first mainland European establishment at Alicante airport in Spain.

The pub, named the Castell de Santa Barbera, is situated in the departures area and aims to offer UK holidaymakers a taste of Britain before their journey home.

Trading seven days a week from 6am to 9pm, Alicantes menu will include many meals available in Wetherspoon pubs in the UK, such as breakfast dishes, burgers and pizzas, but will also offer special dishes inspired by the local area, like garlic prawns, Spanish omelettes and broken eggs.
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The Conservative Party has called for a new register, similar to the existing sex offenders list, to track individuals convicted of child abuse offences, arguing it would prevent them from "disappearing" and reoffending.

Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy described the proposal as a "vital safeguard" against repeat crimes.

Currently, those convicted of specific sex offences are legally required to inform police of changes to their name, address, travel plans, and any contact with children.

Under the Conservatives' proposed child cruelty register, criminals found guilty of offences such as child cruelty, infanticide, causing or allowing a child's death, and female genital mutilation would be mandated to provide personal information to authorities upon release from court or prison.

Conservative frontbenchers in the House of Lords have tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to establish this scheme.

Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy ( UK Parliament/PA )

A serious justice system cannot allow people convicted of brutal child cruelty to disappear, potentially able to repeat their crimes against other children unchecked, Mr Timothy said.

Protecting the most vulnerable must come first, and the Conservatives amendment would do exactly that.

It is a vital safeguard to make sure those who pose an ongoing risk to children remain seen by the authorities forever.

Alicia Kearns, a Conservative shadow home office minister in the Commons, said offenders can change their name, move county, and simply disappear once their sentence ends, which she added cannot be right.

She continued: We track sex offenders because the risk doesnt end at the prison gate, the same must apply to those cowards convicted of child cruelty.

A child cruelty register will keep dangerous individuals visible to police and puts childrens safety first.

The Crime and Policing Bill has already cleared the Commons but faces further scrutiny in the upper chamber before it can become law.

Peers will begin a process to amend the Bill at report stage next Wednesday.
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Ministers are thought to be considering a delay to plans to equalise the minimum wage between younger and older workers after warnings the pledge was fuelling youth unemployment.

Labour promised to remove the discriminatory age bands in the minimum wage system, making it so older and younger workers are entitled to the same wage.

However, fears that the higher cost of employing young people could put off firms from hiring them have pushed ministers to put the manifesto pledge under review, The Times reported.

Ministers have insisted the government is still committed to the rise, but the BBC reported it could be delayed.

It comes after fresh figures showed the unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds surged to 16.1 per cent in the latest quarter  the highest level since early 2015.

A government source told the paper that the figures had strengthened the case for a rethink.

There is no point increasing minimum pay for young workers if they havent got jobs to go to, they said.

However, a minister has since insisted that it is not government policy to reconsider the plans.

open image in gallery Labour promised to remove the discriminatory age bands in the minimum wage system ( Getty Images )

Theres an unsourced briefing or whatever in the Times this morning, that is not government policy, Welsh minister Jo Stevens told the BBC.

Government policy is as we set out in our manifesto. Weve had many naysayers over the years about the national minimum wage.

People said in 1998 that it caused mass unemployment, and it didnt. And every time there is a rise in the national minimum wage, people complain about it.

Currently, employers must pay workers aged between 18 and 20 at least 10 an hour  a figure which will rise to 10.85 in April.

Older workers aged 21 and over must receive at least 12.21  rising to 12.71.

We are raising the national living and minimum wage so that low-paid workers are properly rewarded, a government spokesperson said.

It is understood a decision could be made when the government sets its annual remit to the Low Pay Commission, an independent body set up to advise the government on minimum wages.

The Commission considers labour market and pay data, as well as views from businesses, trade unions and workers, to make its recommendations.

open image in gallery Unemployment has unexpectedly risen to a near five-year high with the jobless rate among young people at its worst level for more than a decade, official figures showed this week ( Getty )

Unemployment has unexpectedly risen to a near five-year high with the jobless rate among young people at its worst level for more than a decade, official figures showed this week.

Experts said young workers were among the hardest hit, with almost one in six left without a job.

The Resolution Foundation think tank said the UKs youth unemployment is now higher than the EU average for the first time since records began in 2000, with the rate across Europe at 14.9 per cent in the final three months of last year.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been contacted for a comment.
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US president Donald Trump reportedly withdrew his support for the British prime ministers Chagos Islands deal because the UK is blocking America from using RAF bases to launch an attack on Iran.

President Trump hit out at Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday in his second U-turn on support for the deal to hand over UK sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius, branding the move a big mistake because of concerns over the joint UK-US military base on the island of Diego Garcia.

According to The Times, the US presidents latest opposition was prompted by the White House not being permitted to use British bases for strikes against Iran, over concerns that it would be a breach of international law.

A government spokesperson said it would not comment on operational matters, but added: There is a political process ongoing between the US and Iran, which the UK supports. Iran must never be able to develop a nuclear weapon, and our priority is security in the region.

open image in gallery President Trump hit out at Keir Starmer on Wednesday, branding his deal as a big mistake due to the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia ( Getty )

After a call with Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday, President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday that the current agreement was a big mistake and made a specific reference to Iran.

He said that the joint military base could be vital for a US strike on Iran and warned Tehran could attack the UK.

Under Sir Keirs plans for handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the UK would lease back the base on Diego Garcia. However, Mr Trump described this arrangement as tenuous and no good.

The government has said it remains committed to advancing the Chagos Islands deal despite Mr Trumps latest U-turn.

Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones confirmed a Bill to agree the deal will return to Parliament as soon as the timetable permits, though recent reports suggest a potential delay.

The proposed legislation, originally slated for debate in the House of Lords, was withdrawn last month following a Conservative-led amendment that called for a pause in light of the changing geopolitical circumstances.

Despite Ms Davies-Joness assurances, Politico reported the government will delay bringing legislation underpinning the deal back to the House of Lords, citing an unnamed senior official briefed on the plans.

open image in gallery The British Indian Ocean Territory or Chagos Islands ( CPA Media/PA )

However, the Foreign Office is understood not to recognise the reporting.

Speaking onTimes Radio, Ms Davies-Jones said: This deal is essential and crucial for the national security of the United Kingdom and that is the first priority of any government.

She added: We will be bringing the Bill back as soon as parliamentary time allows, because this is about national security.

Ms Davies-Jones recalled the US leaders changing stance on the issue, having repeatedly publicly supported the deal only to denounce it again later.

Ms Davies-Jones said: I think its really important to note that during his first meeting with President Trump, the prime minister reiterated this deal and President Trump backed it, and said that this lease was a strong lease.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer said Donald Trump initially backed the Chagos handover deal ( PA )

Just two weeks ago, the president again backed this and said it was the best deal available, and just this week the US administration reaffirmed their commitment to the deal.

President Trumps latest post on Truth Social comes after former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a vocal critic of the Chagos deal, returned from a trip to Washington, where he discussed the plans with members of the Trump administration.

Both Conservative shadow foreign secretary, Dame Priti Patel, and Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, who are opposed to the deal, backed Mr Trump and told Sir Keir to scrap it.

Tory shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns said the agreement was unnecessary, and said people had been misled over the reasoning behind it.

The government says the future of the base has been threatened by recent international court decisions.

The deal is expected to see the UK pay Mauritius around 35bn over the next century  an average cost of 350m a year  to lease back the Diego Garcia base.

We were told that there were weeks, only weeks for which the base (UK-US military base on Diego Garcia) could continue to operate safely. And now, many, many months on, were now finding out that actually the entire basis on which the Labour government said they only had weeks to negotiate and get this done was not true, Ms Kearns told Times Radio.

It comes as the exiled first minister of the Chagos Islands government urged Sir Keir Starmer to pull the deal to hand sovereignty over the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius.

Misley Mandarin is one of four Chagossians who returned to the islands on a small boat this week to reclaim their homeland. He told BBC Radio 4 that Sir Keir should not give the islands away to Mauritius.

He said: Ill say Keir Starmer, as my prime minister, you have to look at this treaty again. British Chagossian on this island, yesterday you sent patrol to give us removal notice, the island belong to us.

Harold Wilson did that removing the Chagossian from their homeland and that is a stain on British politics but now its 2026, Keir Starmer, you could be a hero right now.

Dont ratify that deal, cancel that deal and let Chagossians come back to their homeland as British.
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Robert Jenrick has unveiled his plan for the economy if Reform UK were to win the next general election in his first major speech as the partys economic spokesperson.

After being given the role in Nigel Farages top team less than a month after his chaotic defection from the Conservative Party, Mr Jenrick sought to lay out his fiscal priorities.

Referring to his time in Cabinet as a Tory, Mr Jenrick said seeing how government doesnt work would shape his approach.

open image in gallery Robert Jenrick making his first speech as Reform UK's Treasury spokesman, in London, on Wednesday ( PA )

His policies included a pledge to reinstate the controversial two-child benefit cap and a commitment to reform the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

Mr Jenrick also said Reform UK would not raise taxes unless they had generated the fiscal headroom necessary, adding: Today, I give you my word that a Reform Government will never play fast and loose with your savings.

Here are some of the key policies Mr Jenrick committed to, and what they actually mean for the UK economy:

Bank of England

Mr Jenrick said the Bank of England will remain independent under Reform, but said it must perform better.

One element, he said he would strip, was the requirement for the Bank to help the UKs transition to net zero, which he dubbed a distraction.

In 2021, when Rishi Sunak was the chancellor, the Banks remit was changed to include a duty to support the governments net zero carbon ambition.

In response, the banks Corporate Bond Purchase Scheme (CBPS) received a green overhaul.

In a speech earlier this year, the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, said that net zero is slowing global economic growth.

In 2021, however, he suggested that the costs of failing to act on the climate crisis may be larger, saying thatignoring [the effects of climate change] is not an answer, and warned that inaction would lead to greater costs of adjustment.

open image in gallery The Bank of Englands rate-setting committee voted to hold rates at 3.75% earlier in February; Mr Jenrick has said the bank must perform better ( PA )

Office for Budget Responsibility

Mr Jenrick accused the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) of overestimating the benefits of low-skilled migration, but pledged not to abolish it altogether.

He said: The OBR have consistently overestimated the short-term benefits of migration and downplayed its long-term costs. They have underestimated the dynamic effect of cutting taxes.

There have been debates among experts as to whether the economic benefit of immigration is being overstated by the OBR, which was established in 2010 to provide independent analysis of the governments fiscal policies.

We will break up this cosy consensus and ensure it has diversity of opinion, Mr Jenrick said.

And well run competitions for super-forecasters to join the body and pay competitive salaries to those who most accurately model the impact of Treasury decisions.

open image in gallery Mr Jenrick with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage ( PA )

Britannia card

One policy Mr Jenrick recommitted the party to was its so-called Britannia Card visa.

Reform has said the card would allow wealthy foreign nationals a residence permit in exchange for a one-time fee of 250,000. In return, they would not be taxed on wealth, income or capital gains earned abroad.

The party believes that the scheme would produce around 2.5bn a year which it plans to hand out as a dividend of 1,000 to those on the lowest incomes.

We will also make foreign investors welcome in Britain again with a Britannia investor visa ready to undo the economic self harm done in recent years, Mr Jenrick said.

Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates has previously said the policy would cost the economy 34bn over five years, saying: The card would provide a very large and expensive tax windfall to a small number of very wealthy people who are already here. Office for Budget Responsibility data shows that this would amount to 34bn of lost Government revenue over five years.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage unveiled his top team this week, which included top appointments for Tory defectors Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman ( Getty )

Universal credit and capping foreign aid

Mr Jenrick said Reform UK would save 25bn in annual savings through measures such as ending universal credit for foreign nationals, raising the Immigration Health Surcharge, and capping foreign aid at 1bn.

In 2024, UKs Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend was 14.08bn, a decrease of 1.26bn from 2023.

According to figures seen byThe Telegraph, the UK also spent approximately 10.1bn on universal credit payments for households with at least one non-UK or Irish citizen.

This means Reform UK would save 23.18bn if it were able to carry out these reforms, and would need to raise the Immigration Health Surcharge to meet their pledge of saving 25bn.

Labour is already implementing plans to cut the UK overseas aid budget from 0.5 to 0.3 per cent which MPs have dubbed a tragic error that will put Britains national security at risk.

Civil service

Mr Jenrick claimed the partys plan to cut back the civil service will generate an extra 4bn in immediate savings and a further 1bn in averted pension liabilities.

Reform MP Danny Kruger previously announced plans to cut 68,500 civil service jobs, and said the proposal aims to reduce the salary bill by 17 per cent and save taxpayers 5.2bn annually.

However, this policy will likely not save money for several years due to the cost of redundancies.

Mr Kruger said he expected the cost of civil service redundancies to pay for itself within two years under Reform UK plans  based on it costing around 60,000 to let someone go.

Boris Johnsons plan to cut 91,000 jobs was later dropped by Liz Truss due to reports that it would cost up to 7bn in redundancy costs.

open image in gallery Mr Jenrick announced plans to cut back the civil service, which he suggested would generate an extra 4bn in savings ( PA )

Two child benefit cap

Reform UK would reinstate the two-child benefit cap if it wins the next general election, Mr Jenrick confirmed, in a U-turn on the partys previous stance.

Sir Keir Starmer said Reforms pledge to bring back the benefit cap showed a total disregard for the lives of young people.

The government estimates that the scrapping of the cap will pull 450,000 children out of poverty.

Labour Party chair Anna Turley also criticised the policy shift, saying: Robert Jenrick has united the right behind a cruel child poverty pact that would see nearly half a million kids pushed into poverty.

Tax cuts

In what may have been an unexpected announcement for some, Mr Jenrick said Reform UK will not commit to cutting taxes if elected.

The partys new shadow chancellor blamed Rachel Reeves for making previous assumptions about the economy no longer realistic.

We will never make promises we can't keep to the British people, he said.

So we'll only cut taxes when we have generated the fiscal headroom necessary to make those tax cuts sustainable.
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Donald Trump has lambasted Sir Keir Starmer over his plan to give up the Chagos Islands in yet another U-turn by the US president over the issue, just one day after backing it.

Mr Trump warned the UK leader that he was making a big mistake by entering [into] a 100-year lease with Mauritius over the islands, which are home to a joint US-UK military base.

Prime minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year lease, the president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

This land should not be taken away from the UK and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally. We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of wokeism.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Keir Starmer have clashed several times over the deal ( PA )

He said he had been telling Sir Keir that leases are no good when it comes to countries.

It was a dramatic change of stance, just hours after the US government had announced its support for the UK governments agreement.

Ministers secured US backing for the Chagos deal last year, and the president even told Sir Keir he had a feeling its going to work out very well.

But the US presidents first U-turn came last month, when he accused Sir Keir of great stupidity for ceding control of the islands and linking the agreement to his desire to annex Greenland for the US despite the objections of Denmark and the rest of Nato.

He then reversed course earlier this month by describing the agreement as the best the Labour leader could strike. Then on Tuesday, the US government gave its official backing to the UKs plan.

Sir Keir plans to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, in a deal the UK government says is necessary to secure the future of the crucial UK-US Diego Garcia military base, retaining control of the island in a 99-year lease with Mauritius.

Mr Trump warned that if Iran did not agree to limit its nuclear programme, it could attack the UK, and the US would need the airbase to eradicate such an assault.

open image in gallery Campaigners opposed to the governments Chagos deal protest outside of parliament last month ( Getty )

He posted: Should Iran decide not to make a deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime  an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly countries.

US and Iranian officials are locked in talks in Geneva over the countrys nuclear enrichment programme.

The US leader also questioned the Chagossian peoples claim to their island.

He wrote: Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but prime minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature.

Asked whether the president's latest Truth Social missive represented an official shift in American policy, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration.

Its coming straight from the horses mouth, she said. When you see it on Truth Social, you know its directly from President Trump.

The government says the future of the Diego Garcia base has been threatened by recent international court decisions.
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Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to press for a humanitarian solution in Sudan as she chairs a United Nations Security Council meeting on Thursday.

Ms Cooper will demand accountability for the atrocities unfolding in the country, highlighting the violence endured by women and girls.

She said: The world is catastrophically failing the people of Sudan. Women and girls continue to pay a devastating price in this war.

Im here at the United Nations to make it clear that the UK will not allow these experiences to be ignored. The world cannot continue to turn its back.

We must mobilise the worlds resource and resolve to bring this unimaginable suffering to an end. The international community must do more to protect women and girls.

We must send a clear message to perpetrators of sexual violence that they will face the full weight of the law.

Women and girls continue to pay a devastating price in this war, Ms Cooper said ( AFP/Getty )

The meeting comes after the Foreign Secretary visited the Sudanese border and announced 20 million in funding for victims of sexual violence in the country.

A Sudanese campaigner against sexual violence will attend the UN meeting.

The UK government has imposed new sanctions on six individuals suspected of committing atrocities or fuelling the devastating war in Sudan through the supply of mercenaries and military equipment.

The measures target senior commanders in the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), whose soldiers are suspected of carrying out massacres against civilians and using rape as a weapon of war.

Also sanctioned are those suspected of recruiting foreign fighters for the conflict or facilitating the purchase of military equipment.

Ms Cooper stated there needs to be a "price to pay" for military commanders who have allowed the atrocities to happen, as well as the "callous profiteers" fuelling the violence.

The Government wants to dismantle the war machine with its sanctions, while calling for a ceasefire and unhindered access for aid agencies, she said.
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A seemingly outlandish plan to administer eyedrops to a wild rhinoceros has yielded remarkable success in Zimbabwe, proving crucial for the survival of an endangered animal. Animal behaviorists, in partnership with the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society in Florida, traveled to Africa in August to tackle a life-threatening parasitic eye infection in a southern white rhino.

Daniel Terblanche, a security manager with Imvelo Safari Lodges, admitted the idea initially seemed far-fetched to local conservationists. "Believe me, we didnt think of it; it was a completely ridiculous idea to us," Terblanche said. "But without trying all of the things that we could to rectify that situation, we would have been in trouble, I think."

The intervention was vital for the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative, supported by Imvelo Safari Lodges, which is working to reintroduce southern white rhinos to communal lands in Zimbabwe for the first time. The programs future was jeopardized when Palm Beach Zoo CEO Margo McKnight learned of a health scare involving a male rhino named Thuza during a visit last year.

open image in gallery The intervention was vital for the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative, supported by Imvelo Safari Lodges, which is working to reintroduce southern white rhinos to communal lands in Zimbabwe for the first time

Mark Butcher, managing director of Imvelo Safari Lodges, described Thuzas dire condition. "This rhino had bleeding eyes. He was rubbing his eyes," Butcher explained. "And I was looking at a potential where this guy was gonna lose his eyesight. And this is in a pilot project thats got fantastic vision for a future for conservation throughout Africa."

Thad and Angi Lacinak, founders of Precision Behavior, were dispatched to Zimbabwe. They developed a strategy based on techniques used at Palm Beach Zoo, where animals are trained to voluntarily participate in their own care. "With this few animals in this location in Africa, it was essential that we save all of them," Lacinak stated. "So when they called and said, Thuza is going to lose his eye, a blind rhino is a dead rhino. So no matter what it took, we were going to go over there and try."

The innovative approach involved coaxing Thuza into a confined space with his favorite foods, then gradually desensitising him to human touch and water being squirted on his face. "Within about a week, we were actually putting the eye drops strategically in his eyes while he held for it," Lacinak said. "And by the end of two weeks, we had transferred that skill set to not only Daniel, who was in charge of leading their guards, but to the guards."

open image in gallery The intervention was vital for the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative, supported by Imvelo Safari Lodges, which is working to reintroduce southern white rhinos to communal lands in Zimbabwe for the first time

Southern white rhinos are currently listed as near threatened, with approximately 16,000 individuals remaining in the wild, facing ongoing threats from poaching and habitat loss. While these challenges persist, Thuzas eyesight has been successfully protected.

"Theyre consistently getting the medications into his eyes every day," Lacinak confirmed. "And the rhinos are just thriving now and they feel really, really confident that this solved their problem."
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In April 1912, a young Black woman named Clementine Barnabet confessed to murdering four families in and around Lafayette, Louisiana. The widespread news coverage at the time effectively branded her a serial killer.

Her confession, however, did not align with the timeline of crimes that had gripped Americas rice belt region with fear. Even today, her guilt is debated.

From November 1909 until August 1912, an unknown assailant  or assailants  zigzagged across southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas. Many Black families were slaughtered in their homes under the cover of darkness. An ax  the telltale weapon  was almost always found in the bloody aftermath.

All but one of the scenes were located within a mile of the Southern Pacific Railroads Sunset Route. In each case, a mother and child were always among the victims. Evidence of additional weapons was often found nearby, suggesting a deliberate cruelty to the carnage.

Dubbed the axman, the unknown assailant eluded the authorities and terrified local Black communities.

Today, when scholars and laypeople alike discuss Clementine Barnabet, they oscillate between two extremes: portraying her as a fear-inducing, cult-leading Black female serial killer, or as an innocent young Black woman caught in circumstances beyond her control.

open image in gallery Print media created overtly sensationalized accounts of the mythology of the axman and, by extension, the axwoman ( Getty Images )

In more than a decade of researching Clementine Barnabet, Ive been struck by how print media created overtly sensationalized accounts of the mythology of the axman and, by extension, the axwoman. Whether Barnabet committed the crimes she said she did  or any of the axman murders, for that matter  is irrelevant to the primary motive the media constructed for her fatal violence: religion.

Diverse faith traditions

In Jim Crow Louisiana, various expressions of faith were possible. The states history as a French colony  one that also practiced slavery  meant it was home to the largest percentage of Black Catholics in the United States.

At the same time, religions like Voodoo, that originated in West Africa, reached the region on slave ships. Voodoo was not necessarily at odds with Catholicism; enslaved practitioners creatively adapted their ancestral faith to that of their enslavers.

Some displays of faith were not organized religions at all, but folkways. Hoodoo, for example, has West African origins, though it also draws upon European and Native American elements. Hoodoo practitioners  sometimes called doctors  and their clients often practice a religion, yet they also seek comfort in the supernatural possibilities of their craft.

This craft involves the physical manipulation of earthly elements such as graveyard dirt or plants like John the Conqueror root to achieve magical ends, often resulting in conjures  or ritual objects  needed to bring about desired goals. Conjures are believed to help people protect themselves, harm ones adversaries, alter ones circumstances, intervene in ones relationships and more.

In their most powerful form, believers contend that conjures can bring about a persons death.

For some believers, elements of Catholicism, Voodoo, Protestantism and hoodoo combine into syncretic faith practices. Incorporating multiple systems of beliefs has been an aspect of many Louisianans identities for generations. Most of the time, this blending of practices, ideologies and communities is depicted as a quirky  even backward  way to make sense of the world.

Yet during the axmans reign in the early 1900s, a Black womans confession to murder was interpreted through the lens of religious deviance rather than diversity.

A timeline of events

When Barnabet confessed in April 1912, it was technically the second time she had done so. The first time was in November 1911 in the aftermath of the Randall family murder. Five members of the Randall family and their overnight guest had been brutally slaughtered in Lafayette, Louisiana at the end of the month.

According to regional newspapers, Barnabet was in the crowd that had gathered near the Randall familys home after the murders were discovered. Reportedly, she caught the attention of the local sheriff. Not only did she live near the slain, but, according to a New Orleans daily, the authorities found her room saturated with blood and covered with human brains.

Barnabet was given a third degree examination  meaning she was tortured  by the New Orleans Police Department, and then supposedly confessed that she had killed the Randalls because, according to a Midwestern newspaper, they disobeyed the orders of the church. That church would become a topic of scrutiny and sensationalism by regional lawmen and news outlets alike throughout much of 1912.

At that time, Barnabet is also said to have confessed to killing another family in Lafayette.

Thus, Barnabet had already been in jail for over four months before her springtime confession. Between January and March 1912, four more families had been axed to death between Crowley, Louisiana and Glidden, Texas. In April, when Barnabet re-confessed, she added two more families to her victim roster.

In aggregate, the four families Barnabet confessed to killing had been slain between November 1909 and November 1911. Four more families had been murdered between her arrest and second confession, meaning she was in jail when they occurred. After her second confession and while she was still in custody, another three families were attacked with an ax, though for the first time, people survived the axman.

This convoluted timeline, in which more than half of the axman murders occurred after Barnabet had been apprehended, presented a challenge for investigators. They generally believed the crimes were related. Yet Barnabet could not have physically carried out the attacks in 1912.

To explain the continuation of the killings despite Barnabets incarceration, local lawmen leveraged the young womans own statements that had landed her in jail in the first place: that religion compelled her to murder.

It was this November 1911 confession that gave investigators the motive of religious fanaticism to attach to the axman crimes. Then, in January 1912, when the Broussards  another Black family  were murdered with an ax in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the local police found a Bible verse scrawled on their front door. This overtly religious symbol appeared roughly two months after Barnabets first confession and seemed to confirm her claims.

By April 1912, the idea of religiously motivated serial murder had been circulating in the rice belt region for months.

Hoodoo, conjures, and sensationalism

Barnabets confession was transcribed by R. H. Broussard (no relation to the victims), a newspaper reporter for the New Orleans Item, in April 1912.

According to the report, Barnabet claimed that she and four friends purchased conjures from a local hoodoo doctor one evening while socializing. They paid the practitioner for his services. Supposedly, the group then used the charms to move about undetected while committing murder.

In both her November 1911 and April 1912 confessions, Barnabet offered faith-based motives, albeit different ones. In the first case, it was the victims who reportedly erred in their religious duties. In the second, it was Barnabets own belief in hoodoo that facilitated such carnage. White media outlets did not interpret either of these statements as evidence of the regions deep history of diverse faith expressions.

Instead, they labeled Barnabet a black borgia, the directing head of a fanatical cult, and the Priestess of [a] Colored Human Sacrifice Cult.

Moreover, sensationalized news coverage labeled the church Barnabet mentioned as the Sacrifice Church. Not surprisingly, the press depicted it as a cult-like organization, portraying Barnabet as either a low-level member or the high priestess. Sometimes, news reports also conflated the Sacrifice Church with Voodoo, thereby criminalizing a legitimate West African-derived religion as a cult.

According to unsubstantiated media accounts, the so-called Sacrifice Church promoted human sacrifice to gain immortality. Simultaneously, newspapers treated the conjure Barnabet possessed as proof of her fanaticism, reporting her claim that the only reason she confessed was because she had lost her charm.

Combined these selective  and sensational  interpretations of Barnabets supposed religious beliefs ignored the possibility of diverse spiritual practices that enriched life in the rice belt region.

Jim Crow and Black faith

I have yet to find evidence the Sacrifice Church existed. My research suggests the white press conflated the word sacrifice with the word sanctified. This might have been due, in part, to both sensationalism and ignorance.

Pentecostalism, a branch of evangelical Christianity that emphasizes baptism by the Holy Spirit and direct communication from God, started growing in popularity in the U.S. in the early 1900s. Many Pentecostal denominations call their adherents saints and their churches sanctified. Since sanctified churches were relatively new to Louisiana and some Pentecostal teachings  like speaking in tongues  challenged more mainstream Protestant doctrine, Pentecostalism might have contributed to the medias reporting.

Although the Sacrifice Church may have simply been a linguistic error in reference to any number of sanctified churches in the rice belt, it is possible that Barnabet did indeed possess a conjure. The hoodoo doctor she accused of selling her and her comrades their charms was arrested and questioned by the Lafayette authorities. The statements he gave to the police aligned with hoodoo practices even as he denied knowing Barnabet or being involved in such folkways.

Given the variety of faith practices in Jim Crow Louisiana, it is possible both that Barnabet believed in her conjure and that sanctified churches were growing in popularity in the region. Whether she ever attended one is hard to know, just as the legitimacy of either confession is difficult to determine.

About the author Lauren Nicole Henley is an Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies at University of Richmond. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

What is clear is that faith anchored the statements Barnabet made to the authorities. The other anchor, however, was murder. The consequences of how these events aligned reverberate in how Barnabet has been depicted.

Barnbet was front-page news in 1912. People knew her name, even as they debated her guilt. When she was convicted of murder, she was sentenced to life at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. A little over a decade later, she was released and disappeared from public view.

Today, however, no Black female serial killer occupies a similar place in Americas collective memory.

In recent years, there have been calls for a more serious acceptance of Black womens experiences, knowledge and beliefs within the dominant culture. This shift also invites, I believe, a fresh look at Barnabets confessions and the crimes that were attributed to her.
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A Human resources company was shocked to learn that more than 300 old graves were beneath the property it bought in the Florida city of Clearwater.

FrankCrum is suing Clearwaters Community Redevelopment Agency after archaeologists discovered there were likely hundreds of bodies buried under its office complex.

In 2022, an engineering company reported there were at least 328 graves under the property, which was the St. Matthews Baptist Church Cemetery in a 20th-century Black neighborhood, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Before FrankCrum bought the property in 2004 it belonged to a software company named Information Management Resources.

open image in gallery FrankCrum, a human resources company, was shocked to learn that more than 300 old graves were beneath the property it bought in the Florida city of Clearwater ( Google Earth )

A written agreement between the redevelopment agency and the software company said the property did not presently include human remains from any cemetery, read FrankCrums lawsuit, filed in 2023, per the Tampa Bay Times.

FrankCrum alleges that it was unaware of the graves when it bought the property.

Todays taxpayers are litigating events that allegedly occurred more than a quarter of a century ago, Clearwater spokesperson Joelle Castelli said in a statement to several local outlets.

Most lawsuits are required to be filed within a couple years of the events. The passage of time is so vast that its become hard to track down witnesses, documents, and refresh recollections, Castelli added.

open image in gallery FrankCrum is suing Clearwaters Community Redevelopment Agency in Florida after the chilling discovery ( Google Earth )

The Independent has reached out to the city of Clearwater and FrankCrum for comment.

FrankCrum wants the redevelopment agency to pay for the removal of the graves, which could cost millions of dollars, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Descendants of those buried under the property want the bodies moved to another former Black cemetery in Clearwaters North Greenwood neighborhood, according to the outlet.

The case is moving forward after an appeals court affirmed a ruling denying a motion from the redevelopment agency for a summary judgment last month. A trial date for the case is yet to be scheduled.
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The life of a Congolese asylum seeker granted permission to stay in the United States is in grave danger after ICE secretly flew her to an unknown African nation, while the womans husband  a widely feared local politician who allegedly had her father shot dead as she watched  continues to hunt her across continents, according to a tranche of federal court documents reviewed by The Independent.

In addition to fearing for her own safety, Jane Doe, as she is referred to in legal filings, hopes for the safety of her children, whose whereabouts are unknown to her because their father, her husband, is seeking to kill them and so they are in hiding, even to her, states an emergency motion Does attorneys filed Monday in Louisiana. She hopes for the safety of her brother, who was kidnapped in Mexico by a cartel and she has not seen him since.

At the age of 14, Jane Doe - as the devoutly Christian and former hairdresser in the Democratic Republic of Congo - was forced to become the African politicians sixth wife in order to satisfy a family debt, according to the motion. For the next decade, Doe was physically and sexually abused by her husband and two of his sons, bearing four children while being kept like a hostage, says the motion, which seeks Does immediate return to the U.S.

In late 2024, Doe managed to escape to her parents house, the motion goes on. But Does politician husband quickly found her, brutalized her and her brother, ordered his bodyguards to execute her father in front of her, and burned the family home to the ground, the motion says. When Doe went to the police, they said her only option was to leave the country because her abuser was too powerful and they could not protect her, according to the motion.

Ms. Doe went into hiding and fled the [Democratic Republic of Congo] with the help of her brother and his employer, who in secret obtained travel documents and plane tickets to Brazil, it states. Ms. Does abuser continued to track her abroad. Within an hour of arriving in Brazil, Ms. Doe received a WhatsApp message from her abuser, stating he knew she was in Brazil and had eyes everywhere. He threatened to kill her.

open image in gallery Family, friends and attorneys of a Jane Doe say they have no idea where she is after being deported  and that ICE won't tell them - causing fear she is being sent to an African nation where her life could be in danger ( Getty Images )

Terrified, Doe made her way through 12 different countries  even braving the notorious Darien Gap on foot  to get to the United States, where, the motion explains, she believed human rights were respected. It says Doe arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border on January 2, 2025, and immediately requested asylum. She was sent to the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, as her case was processed, and last June received permission to stay in the U.S. under a withholding of removal decision barring her deportation to DR Congo.

However, that all changed on February 15, 2026, when ICE decided to send her to somewhere else.

Attorneys for Doe say they were never contacted by authorities about their clients sudden removal and dont even know where [ICE] disappeared [her] to yesterday in the dark of night. Doe was loaded onto a deportation flight bound for Senegal, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana and Nigeria, without any further information provided, the affidavit states, adding, Ms. Doe has no connections, resources, money or way of contacting anyone in the world.

The motion contends that Does unlawful removal means her life is in grave danger.

Doe, according to a companion affidavit filed by one of her attorneys, is an extraordinary woman.

She has lived through extensive trauma, and despite that, she smiles on video calls with me and tells me how shes learning to make bracelets in ICE detention, it says. She reads her Bible and leads Bible study among other women in her detention facility. She finds a way to continue to hold onto hope She hopes for her future education to be able to study medicine, to work as a nurse, and one day to run an orphanage. She hopes to see the outside of the detention facility where she has lived in the United States of America for 13 months: January 2025 to now.

open image in gallery Jane Doe is afraid her 'husband,' who she was forced to marry to settle a family debt, will kill her if she is forced to return to DR Congo  or has to live anywhere outside the US, according to court filings ( AFP via Getty Images )

The affidavit lauds Doe for fighting the June 2025 withholding of removal order, which the motion explains as similar to asylum in that she proved it was more likely than not that she would be persecuted on account of a protected ground if she were removed to the Democratic Republic of Congo and that the government there was unable or unwilling to protect her.

Last summer, ICE instructed officials that immigrants can be deported from the United States to countries other than their own with as little as six hours notice  or no notice at all.

That memo from ICE acting director Todd Lyons followed a Supreme Court decision that opened the door for ICE to send deportees to countries where they do not have citizenship, family or any other connections.

ICE has since spent more than $40 million and fought several legal battles over removals to far-flung nations where deportees have no connections whatsoever, including to several countries in Africa: Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda and South Sudan, among others.

In a June 2025 letter to authorities, filed as an exhibit in court, another attorney representing Doe wrote that she had been told ICE was considering Canada and Spain as possible third countries where they could deport her. However, her husband has family in both places, and could easily locate her there, the letter said. Guatemala, a third possibility floated by ICE, would be equally dangerous for Doe, who also speaks no Spanish, according to a follow-up letter.

Still, immigration authorities denied Doe her right to a reasonable fear interview concerning any potential third country, which Mondays motion calls an extraordinary and illegal measure.

Under our Constitution, this cannot stand, the motion argues.

open image in gallery Jane Doe was deported by ICE in the middle of the night, with no advance warning provided to her attorneys, according to court filings ( AFP via Getty Images )

Throughout, ICE has refused over the course of nearly nine months to communicate at all with Does lawyers, according to the motion.

Defendants communicate  if at all  solely with [Doe]: a high school graduate with no legal training who is a native French speaker and knows only limited English, it maintains. ... This does not provide Ms. Doe meaningful notice or opportunity to respond. By excluding counsel from the equation and refusing to engage with her attorneys, Defendants have committed abhorrent behavior violating Ms. Does rights.

At 11 p.m. on Valentines Day, Does legal team was notified by a family member that Doe had been told she was being moved, the motion states. She reportedly did not have any information or know whether this move was a transfer to a different facility or a removal to a third country.

By 10 a.m. Sunday, Doe had vanished from ICEs online detainee locator, according to the motion. It says Does lawyers made at least 20 phone calls to eight different ICE officials, field offices, and detention facilities, but that no one answered.

Finally, around 1 p.m., an ICE officer picked up the phone and said Doe had been flown out of the U.S. on a 4 a.m. flight dropping deportees off in five African countries, but could not identify which was her destination, the motion states. The officer referred the attorneys to a pair of higher-ups, who also never responded to their queries, according to the motion.

Does lawyers argue the U.S. government has violated her Fifth Amendment right to due process, as well as a section of federal law that prohibits government agencies fromarbitrary or capricious conduct.

They are demanding U.S. officials facilitate Does return to the U.S., without incident, to release her upon entry, and to reimburse her for any costs incurred. Late Tuesday, a judge denied Does motion and ordered her attorneys to refile their motion with additional specifics.

Does attorneys declined to comment on the record. An ICE spokesperson did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment.

With reporting by Alex Woodward
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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom to testify in a civil trial on social media addiction, a closely-watched case that could have major implications for the tech industry.

While testifying Wednesday at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Zuckerberg faced questions about his past congressional testimony, his companys approach to underage users and Instagrams beauty filters.

The 41-year-old CEO also faced more personal questions, including about his media training. At one point, the jury was shown a document titled the Zuckerberg comms plan, which includes advice on how to avoid appearing fake, robotic, corporate and cheesy.

This is the first time that the Meta CEO, who is worth an estimated $220 billion, has appeared in a civil trial. At the center of the case is a 20-year-old California woman, identified in court papers only as KGM, who filed a lawsuit against Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snap in 2022.

She accused the companies of following Big Tobaccos playbook: instilling addictive behaviors in teens while dismissing their own research showing their products posed health risks. KGM said that, as a young child, she began obsessively using YouTube and Instagram. She claimed these platforms exacerbated her suicidal thoughts and depression  an allegation the companies have denied.

open image in gallery Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire CEO of Meta, testified in a California courtroom Wednesday for a landmark case on social media addiction. The outcome of the case could have major implications for the tech industry ( AFP via Getty )

At one point, the plaintiffs attorney, Mark Lanier, asked Zuckerberg if people typically use something more if its addictive, according to the Associated Press.

Im not sure what to say to that. I dont think that applies here, Zuckerberg testified.

Attorneys for the plaintiff claimed that approximately 4 million children under 13 used Instagram, according to CNBC. When Zuckerberg said that Meta removes the underage users it finds and includes information about age usage during sign-up, Lanier replied: You expect a nine-year-old to read all of the fine print?

The plaintiffs attorney questioned Zuckerberg about Instagrams beauty filters  AI-powered tools that alter a persons on-screen appearance  which have drawn criticism for negatively affecting users self-esteem. The CEO said the company had seen negative feedback about the filters, but ultimately decided not to ban them, citing freedom of expression.

open image in gallery A courtroom sketch shows Zuckerberg being sworn in ahead of his testimony ( Reuters )

Lanier also asked Zuckerberg about his previous testimony before Congress, during which he said his company does not set internal goals to ensure users spend more time on its platforms. When Lanier presented documents that appeared to contradict his claim, Zuckerberg said his company used to set these goals, but later made a decision to stop, according to AP.

When questioned by Paul Schmidt, one of Metas attorneys, Zuckerberg told the court he wants his platforms to have a positive impact in peoples lives, according to Sky News.

During the high-profile proceedings  which barred cameras  the judge also threatened penalties for anyone caught recording with AI-powered smart glasses, CNBC reports. The outlet noted that several members of Zuckerbergs entourage appeared to be wearing Metas AI glasses when they entered the courthouse.

Earlier Wednesday, family members who say their children were harmed by social media were spotted in front of the courthouse, holding hands and embracing. One woman held up a photo of her late 14-year-old son, who she said died after purchasing fentanyl on social media.

open image in gallery Zuckerberg was flanked by several individuals who appeared to be part of his security detail, some of whom seemed to be wearing AI smart glasses ( AFP via Getty )

As Zuckerberg entered the courthouse, he appeared to be served legal papers. A video posted online showed a man approaching the tech boss with a sheaf of papers, while saying: Mark Zuckerberg, youve been served. Zuckerberg did not respond and its not clear if someone in his entourage picked up the paperwork.

Before the trial began, TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff, narrowing the case to two defendants: Meta and Google.

These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, Lanier said at the beginning of the trial earlier this month.

And they did it on purpose.

open image in gallery Outside the courthouse, a man attempted to hand a sheaf of papers to the billionaire CEO, while stating, Mark Zuckerberg, you've been served. Its unclear if a member of Zuckerbergs entourage collected the papers ( AFP via Getty )

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has pushed back against the allegations.

The question for the jury in Los Angeles is whether Instagram was a substantial factor in the plaintiffs mental health struggles. The evidence will show she faced many significant, difficult challenges well before she ever used social media, a Meta spokesperson told The Independent.

Schmidt, Metas lawyer, said in his opening statement that medical records indicate the plaintiff had a tumultuous home life and that she sought out social media platforms to cope with her pre-existing struggles.

open image in gallery Family members who say their children were harmed by social media were spotted in front of the courthouse, holding hands and embracing ahead of Zuckerbergs testimony ( AFP via Getty )

open image in gallery Outside the courthouse, a woman named Amy Neville displayed a picture of her son Alexander, who died at 14 from fentanyl bought through social media ( Getty )

Google has also denied the allegations brought by KGM.

More than 1,500 similar lawsuits have been filed against social media companies, but KGMs is the first of a consolidated group to go to trial, according to CNN. Its been chosen as a bellwether trial, meaning its verdict could help shape the outcome of numerous suits like it.

A legal victory for KGM could set a landmark precedent, making tech companies liable for designing addictive and harmful products.

In recent years, a number of studies have found links between young peoples frequent use of social media and negative mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and depression.

Meta, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, is also on trial in a separate case in New Mexico, in which plaintiffs accuse the company of exposing minors to sexual material and fostering a breeding ground for sexual predators. The company has denied the charges and has accused prosecutors of adopting sensationalist tactics.

open image in gallery Paul Schmidt, Metas attorney, has argued that the plaintiff sought out social media platforms to cope with pre-existing mental health struggles ( AFP via Getty )

Zuckerberg has appeared before Congress to testify on what impact his platforms  which are used by billions of people worldwide  have on youth mental health.

In January 2024, Zuckerberg attended a Capitol Hill hearing on social medias harms, where lawmakers blasted him and other tech CEOs for failing to adequately address issues including addiction, mental health crises, bullying and sexual predators.

During the televised hearing, children and parents provided testimony describing how young people were exploited on social media platforms. Demonstrators silently stood behind Zuckerberg, holding up pictures of their dead children.

open image in gallery During his congressional testimony in 2024, Zuckerberg was confronted by family members of victims who died following sexual exploitation or harassment on social media ( AFP via Getty )

At one point, Republican Senator Josh Hawley asked Zuckerberg if he would like to apologize to the families of victims seated in the room.

Im sorry for everything you have all been through, the Meta CEO said, while turning to face them. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered. He noted that the company has invested in industrywide efforts to safeguard children.

In recent years, Meta has implemented several child safety measures, including age restrictions and parental controls.
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Texas Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate James Talarico saw a boost in campaign cash and had his profile skyrocket amid a war of words between Stephen Colbert, CBS and the Trump administration over his spiked The Late Show interview.

Colbert said that the networks lawyers told him that Talarico, a state legislator from Austin, could not appear on the show. This comes as early voting for the Senate primaries in Texas began on Tuesday.

But the effort may have backfired. As of Wednesday morning, the taped-but-never-aired interview that Colberts show posted on YouTube had garnered 5.2 million views.

Talaricos campaign, which also posted it, announced that he had raised $2.5 million in the past 24 hours off the controversy.

This is a campaign of, by, and for the people  so Im proud that neighbors from all across our state and country stood together to defend free speech, Talarico said in a release. This is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture, the kind that comes from the top. A threat to one of our First Amendment rights is a threat to all of our First Amendment rights.

open image in gallery Stephen Colbert said that CBS News banned him from broadcasting his interview with Texas State Representative James Talarico ( The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/YouTube )

The Texan is running for the Democratic nomination against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a two-term congresswoman from Dallas.

Democrats hope to flip the GOP-held Senate seat given that incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, who is running for a fifth term, is engaged in a bitter primary against the states MAGA attorney general Ken Paxton.

Cornyn and allies have spent more than $50 million to save the incumbent in the primary, which also features a challenge from two-term Rep. Wesley Hunt. The polls close on March 3.

If no candidate earns a majority, the top two candidates in the race will face each other in a runoff, which is expected to be even more bitter. That would take place on May 26.

open image in gallery Republican Sen. John Cornyn heads into the final stretch of the first round of voting in the Texas primary trailing his closest opponent, Ken Paxton. ( Getty )

Polling shows that Paxton would be uniquely vulnerable in a race against a Democrat and run the risk of Democrats winning a Senate seat in the Lone Star State for the first time since 1988.

But the race between Talarico and Crockett, while initially respectful, has turned caustic.

Earlier this month, former congressman Colin Allred, who dropped out of the race, endorsed Crockett off of a rumor from a TikTok account that said that Talarico reportedly told her that he had signed up to run against a mediocre Black man rather than an intelligent Black woman like Crockett. Both Crockett and Allred are Black.

On Tuesday, Crockett accused Talaricos super PACs of running ads that darkened her skin and saying that if she wins, Democrats would lose the race.

It's not even undertones right now, she said. It is straight up racist. And I need people to understand that that cannot be the way that we proceed.

Colbert for his part does not seem deterred from the tussle with CBS. On Wednesday evening, he will feature Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is running for re-election in Georgia.
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South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace has written to the CIA demanding the release of any and all documents it may hold relating to Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Mace posted a copy of the letter she sent to CIA Director John Ratcliffe on X (Twitter) Tuesday with the comment: Were calling on the Central Intelligence Agency to allow us to view any and all records, documents, photos, videos, passports, and other materials they may have in their possession relating to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Congress needs to know what, if any, relationship the CIA had with Jeffrey Epstein and what information theyre sitting on.

Classified or not, we want to see it. The American people deserve answers about whether our intelligence agencies had connections to a child sex trafficker.

Maces letter to Ratcliffe alludes to a Freedom of Information Act request made by Epsteins lawyer, Martin Weinberg, in 201,1 asking to see any records showing his clients alleged affiliation with the CIA, which was contained among the recent batch of files published by the Department of Justice in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

open image in gallery South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace has written to the CIA asking to see any and all files it may hold on Jeffrey Epstein ( AP )

Weinberg received a reply from the agency on July 29 that year, saying it had been unable to locate any information or records, and that it could neither confirm nor deny whether a relationship existed between Epstein and the CIA, citing FOIA exemptions for classified material.

Mace, who serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, also pointed to other newly-released DOJ files that might hint at such a relationship, including a 2015 email from the sex offender to lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler in which he referred to a document that he said looks like a cia drop.

The congresswoman further referenced the late billionaires past connections to influential people at home and abroad, including former CIA director William Burns.

At a minimum, the National Resources Division of the CIA would likely have had extensive contact with Epstein over the years, given its focus on debriefing high-level business people and investors who frequently travel abroad, do business with foreign officials, and who have links to restricted areas, which Epstein appeared to have, Mace wrote.

All of this suggests not only does the CIA have information on Epstein, it should have a large amount of information, over several decades, and covering many issues.

open image in gallery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, seen together in one of the many images released by the DOJ in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act ( Department of Justice )

Given this information, we believe it is essential to Congress oversight responsibilities and in the public interest to understand what relationship, if any, the CIA had with Jeffrey Epstein, and what information, if any, the CIA has about Epstein and his activities.

One of the many unresolved subplots of the Epstein saga is the question of whether or not the pedophile was ever employed as a covert intelligence operative, speculation only inflamed by the latest DOJ releases.

Mace broke with President Donald Trump during what proved to be a turbulent 2025 for her by siding with Democrats to support the release of the Epstein files against his wishes.

Her decision to add her signature to a discharge petition demanding the release of the files damaged her relationship with the White House, as it did those of other rebel Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has since retired from politics and been effectively excommunicated from Trumps movement.

Mace is currently running for governor of her state, with the president yet to endorse her.
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CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins has said she believes President Donald Trumps attack on her at the White House earlier this month struck a chord with many women who have felt patronized by men.

Collins was in the Oval Office on February 3, asking the commander-in-chief about the Jeffrey Epstein files, when Trump responded with his infamous comment.

You are so bad, the president told her. You know, you are the worst reporter. No wonder... CNN has no ratings because of people like you.

You know, shes a young woman I dont think Ive ever seen you smile. Ive known you for 10 years. I dont think Ive ever seen a smile on your face.

Asked about the interaction by Stephen Colbert on CBSs The Late Show  an interview she previewed on her own CNN show, The Source, Monday night  Collins said: I dont think it surprised me in the moment of the attack. The president has called me a lot of names, hes gone after me, and tried to deflect from the questions that were asking.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump snapped at CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins earlier this month when she asked him about the Epstein files ( Getty/AP )

He is someone who is often politically savvy or tied in with what his base wants. In that moment I was thinking, if he had said that in response to a different question, I think it would have had a different reaction.

She continued: I think a lot of women can identify with that moment and that feeling. I think it was actually the question that is what generated so many headlines out of that.

My question was about sexual assault survivors and it wasnt even accusatory of the president. It was what these women, many of whom Ive interviewed and had on my show, often have said to me.

And I dont think its a controversial opinion that you shouldnt smile when youre asking questions about a sex trafficker and sexual assault victims.

Her answer earned cheers and applause from Colberts studio audience.

open image in gallery Collins also discussed the incident on a recent appearance on the Absolutely Not podcast ( Absolutely Not )

The incident was only the latest of many in which Trump has lashed out at female members of the press corps, notoriously calling Bloombergs Catherine Lucey piggy, describing Katie Rodgers of The New York Times as a third-rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out and declaring Weijia Jiang of CBS would be incapable of acing a cognitive test, as he claims to have done.

After a previous run-in with Collins in December, during which she had asked about the cost of his White House ballroom, he attacked her in a Truth Social post, calling her always Stupid and Nasty.

Collins also addressed the recent spat in a guest appearance on the Absolutely Not podcast last week, saying she had no reason to smile when asking the question, given the seriousness of its subject matter.

Its not a laughing matter, I dont think, to talk about sex trafficking victims, she said. And Ive interviewed a lot of these women who were underage girls at the time and their stories are powerful.

Its not about me. Its not about me smiling and my expressions. Its what these women think about what [Trumps] administration has done. And so I think thats why that moment resonated with so many people because just the issue at hand.
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Donald Trumps daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, says the president has a speech pre-written and is ready to address the discovery of aliens.

Lara, 43, made the shocking claim in an episode of the New York Posts Pod Force One podcast, published Wednesday, after she was asked about former President Barack Obama's apparent confirmation that aliens are real during an interview last weekend.

I believe Ive heard on your podcast that youve discussed with the president these UFOs. Do you think that hes about to make an announcement about UFOs, because President Obama was just on a podcast talking about how he believes in UFOs and hinting that he saw something when he was president? host Miranda Devine asked.

Whats kind of funny is weve kind of asked my father-in-law about this cause were like, Well, what do you know?...Lara began.

However, the president reportedly played a little coy when she and her husband, his son, Eric Trump, inquired about the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

open image in gallery Donald Trumps daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, said that the president has a speech ready to inform Americans about the potential existence of alien life ( Pod Force One )

Eric and I were like, Oh my gosh, he wont even fully tell us, maybe theres more to it, she said.

I have just heard kind of around that hes actually said, my father-in-law has actually said it, that there is some speech that he has, that I guess at the right time...I dont know what the right time is...that he is going to break out and talk about, and it has to do with maybe some sort of extraterrestrial life, so to speak, Lara added.

Her comments come as Obama made a stunning admission over the weekend during an appearance on the No Lie With Brian Tyler Cohen podcast.

When asked about extraterrestrials, Obama replied, Theyre real, but I havent seen them, and theyre not being kept in  what is it? Theres no underground facility, unless theres this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.

The Internet went wild over his admission that aliens are real, prompting the former commander-in-chief to take to Instagram to clarify his stance.

I was trying to stick with the spirit of the speed round, but since its gotten attention let me clarify, the former president wrote. Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good theres life out there.

open image in gallery Barack Obama confidently said that aliens are real during an appearance on a podcast this past weekend ( Getty )

But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances weve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us, he continued,

Doubling down on his claim, he added, Really!

Its long been speculated by many that aliens and UFOs are hidden at the mysterious Area 51 base in southern Nevada  and a documentary released last year suggested that Trump may soon confirm the existence of other life forms.

In The Age of Disclosure, director Dan Farah suggests that a massive government cover-up operation has concealed the existence of non-human intelligence, but that the cover-up will soon be exposed.

I think it's only a matter of time before the release of this film is followed by a sitting president stepping to the podium and telling the world, We're not alone in the universe, Farah told Entertainment Weekly in late November.

It's the most significant moment a leader could possibly have.

Despite Farahs claims, Trump has not yet shared a definitive answer about the existence of aliens since returning to office.
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Lara Trump has revealed what her father-in-law, President Trump, told his family after leaving the White House in 2021.

The commander-in-chief lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden and left office in disgrace after the events of January 6, 2021, when his followers stormed the Capitol as part of an effort to overturn the results.

President Trump inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence, a report by special counsel Jack Smith later concluded, and he was subsequently impeached for a second time.

Those events weighed heavily on the Trump family as they departed Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2021, on a final Air Force One flight to Palm Beach, Florida, with their patriarchs reputation seemingly in tatters.

open image in gallery Lara Trump says it was an incredibly tough time for the family after her father-in-law lost the 2020 election. ( Pod Force One )

They were in a place of despair as they disembarked, Lara Trump recalled on an episode of Miranda Devines Pod Force One podcast released on Wednesday.

It was very somber. It was an incredibly tough time for all of us, and I think it was an incredibly tough time for him, said Lara Trump, who is married to the presidents eldest son, Eric Trump.

She said that no one really had a lot to say at the time, but recalled how Trump wanted the family to gather for dinner that night.

And none of us really knew how that would go. And the first thing he did, before he even sat down at the dinner table, is he looked around at all of us and he goes, Well, kids, Ive got to do it again.

Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted since then that the 2020 election was stolen, and reacted furiously to the 2022 release of a bombshell 845-page report from a House select committee that found him responsible for the January 6 Capitol riot  a violent insurrection that left five people dead and dozens of law enforcement officers injured.

open image in gallery Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election. ( Brent Stirton/Getty Images )

The committee found that he engaged in a multi-part conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election and called for him to never be allowed to take office again.

Lara Trump took issue with January 6 once again on the Pod Force One podcast, saying the Trump family had been besieged by insinuations that they were horrible monsters.

The torture after the election in 2020 that we all had to endure as a country ... He went through all of it.

Trump refused to concede defeat and mounted a political comeback against the odds, winning the 2024 election against then-Vice President Kamala Harris by sweeping all seven major battleground states in a major upset.

His return to the White House cut short legal efforts to hold him accountable for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, with special counsel Jack Smith concluding that, while he would likely have been convicted, it was not possible to bring charges against a sitting president.

open image in gallery President Trump has admitted that he ran again in 2024 because he needed it for my own ego. ( Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images )

Lara Trump touted his perseverance in the face of adversity and said it was inspiring to see him fight.

Any one of the things that he had against him, especially in the four years in between terms, would have been enough for one person to say, You know what? Thats it. Im out of this. Im never going to do it again. But he never gave up, she told Devine.

He continued to fight for what he wanted, but what he, I think, knew was right to do.

President Trump himself has admitted to much less lofty motives for running again.

I needed it for my own ego, he said, amidst several bizarre tangents in his National Prayer Breakfast speech in early February.

I would've had a bad ego for the rest of my ... Now I really have a big ego. Beating these lunatics was incredible, right? What a great feeling.

Lara Trump appeared unconcerned by her father-in-laws political challenges, confirming she may yet launch her own Senate run.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly holding secret discussions with the grandson of Raul Castro, the de facto dictator of Cuba, as the United States seeks to pressure the country into regime change.

The backchannel discussions between Rubio and 41-year-old Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, first reported by Axios, indicate that the U.S. is looking to influence the elder Castro and his inner circle into rapprochement with the U.S. Despite being 94 years old, the administration still see the revolutionary as the islands real decision-maker, the outlet says.

"Our position  the U.S. government's position  is the regime has to go. But what exactly that looks like is up to [President Trump], and he has yet to decide. Rubio is still in talks with the grandson, a senior Trump administration official told Axios.

It comes as Cuba faces a dire energy crisis, having had its access to subsidized oil from Venezuela cut off since the U.S. captured leder Nicolas Maduro in January. The country is facing a growing humanitarian crisis with food scarce, schools closed, hospitals reducing service, trash piling up, fights unable to take off, and near total darkness at night.

President Donald Trump has accused Cuba of harboring enemies and warned allies that those who provide or sell oil to Cuba will face steep tariffs  thats left Mexico, one of the few countries that sold oil to Cuba, in a bind.

open image in gallery Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has encouraged regime change in Cuba, believing the current economic conditions are unfair to Cubans ( Getty Images )

The Independent has asked the State Department for comment.

The younger Castro, known as El Cangrejo or The Crab, has had friendly conversations about the future of Cuba with Rubio, a senior Trump administration official told Axios.

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who fled the island country during Fidel Castros reign, is a proponent of regime change in Cuba.

It is important for the people of Cuba to have more freedom. Not just political freedom but economic freedom, Rubio said this month.

And thats what this regime is not willing to give them because theyre afraid if the people of Cuba can provide for themselves, they lose control over them, they lose power over themIt has to happen, Rubio added.

While Raul Castro is technically no longer formally in charge of Cuba, he still holds a seat in the National Assembly and is considered to have a large influence. The current President of Cuba is Miguel Diaz-Canel  though Rubio has not spoken with him.

open image in gallery Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of Raul Castro, is considered an influential young figure in Cuba ( AFP via Getty Images )

But the administration is reportedly looking for a new leader, akin to Delcy Rodriguez in Venezuela. Before Maduro was seized, Rubio and other administration officials were in contact with elites in Venezuela, just as they are doing now in Cuba, according to Axios.

"I wouldn't call these 'negotiations' as much as 'discussions' about the future," the senior Trump official told Axios.

Trump officials have spoken with other young Cuban leaders, but Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro is considered a highly influential figure because he is close to his grandfather, having served as the former leaders main bodyguard, and has connections to the military and businesses.

But influencing regime change in Cuba is a daunting task, given the U.S.s decades-long rocky history with the country. Relations were somewhat normalized under the Obama administration, but restrictions were reimplemented under the first Trump administration.
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Megyn Kelly has joined the outcry against Florida Republican Rep. Randy Fine over his Islamophobic social media post, calling him a pathetic sweaty man who had gone full bigot.

Fine caused uproar on X (Twitter) Sunday when he responded to pro-Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani  who had jokingly claimed that the amount of dog excrement in New York proved the animals are unclean and should not live in cities  by declaring: If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.

In a second post, the congressman attempted to explain his remark by linking to Kiswanis post with the comment: For context, this is the leader of one of the key mainstream Muslim groups that supported [NYC Mayor Zohran] Mamdani.

Fine, who goes by the nickname The Hebrew Hammer, subsequently attempted to firefight the controversy by posting meme variations on the Dont Tread on Me flag, but was inundated with vitriol.

Resign now, you racist slob, wrote California Gov. Gavin Newsom, while New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described Fines post as genuinely one of the most disgusting statements I have ever seen issued by an American official.

open image in gallery Megyn Kelly accused Randy Fine of going full bigot in his inflammatory social media post ( The Megyn Kelly Show/SiriusXM )

Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari also called for Fines resignation, as did the Council on American-Islamic Relations in a strongly-worded statement.

Between his call for the destruction of all mainstream Muslims, his claim that Palestinian identity itself is evil, and his call for the killing of everyone in Gaza, Randy Fine is a modern Klansman and Nazi all wrapped into one, only his targets are Muslims and Palestinians, the council said.

As for Kelly, she initially responded to Fines original post with the comment, wtf is this, to which he replied by asking: Figured it out yet?

What I figured out, you pathetic sweaty man, is when an idiot Muslim says no dogs in NYC, instead of attacking the person or the policy, you went full bigot, she fired back. F*** off.

The Independent reached out to the congressmans office and to the White House for comment but received no response from either.

open image in gallery Fine has form when it comes to falling out with his fellow conservatives, calling Tucker Carlson an antisemite at the Republican Jewish Coalition convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, last November ( RJC/X )

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has since issued a statement condemning Fines comments and pledging to hold him accountable if Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives in November.

Randy Fine is a disgrace to the United States Congress, Jeffries wrote. He is an Islamophonbic, disgusting and unrepentant bigot.

It is unacceptable that [House Speaker] Mike Johnson and House Republicans continue to remain silent. Their casual acceptance of hateful and divisive rhetoric enables this out-of-control behaviour. Republican leaders must hold this so-called Member of Congress accountable.

Political violence, xenophobia and hate crimes against the Muslim community are on the rise. House Democrats will not let the racist and bigoted behavior of Randy Fine go unchecked. Accountability is coming to all of these sick extremists when the gavels change hands in November, if not sooner.

Fine responded to that with another puppy meme, this time wearing a sombrero to mock Jeffries.

For her part, Kiswani, the founder of Within Our Lifetime, explained to NBC News that her original post had been satire based on a hyperlocal NYC conversation about dog excrement in New York after the recent snowstorm.

She said she was satirizing Islamophobic hysteria portraying Mamdanis mayoralty as a societal takeover.
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The case of Seamus Culleton  who was detained by US immigration agents in Boston in September 2025  is proving a diplomatic headache for the Irish government ahead of a visit to the White House on St Patricks Day.

Culleton arrived in the US in 2009, overstaying his visa. He married a US citizen last year and obtained a valid work permit, and was in the process of applying for permanent residency when he was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and detained. He has remained in detention in Texas since. A US court has now issued a temporary order staying his deportation.

Culletons case shines a rare light on the undocumented Irish in the US, a group that is rarely mentioned in US discussions around illegal immigration. The very idea of being undocumented in the US is associated with people from Mexico and Central and South America, not white people of European descent.

That perception reflects the racial exceptionalism that has long shadowed the Irish push for immigration reform in the US.

This history largely began in 1965, when the Immigration Reform and Nationality Act, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, radically changed conditions of immigration into the US. One effect was to reduce the numbers of Irish able to legally settle in the US.

open image in gallery Seamus Culleton was detained by US immigration agents in Boston in September 2025 ( Facebook )

Since the late 1960s, there have been efforts by successive groups to push for immigration reform that would advantage Irish immigration. While this work led to some successes, there was ultimate failure to secure comprehensive immigration reform.

Since the 1980s, advocacy has been primarily driven by Irish-born immigrants. At that time, the US saw an influx of immigrants leaving an economically impoverished Ireland. Many overstayed their tourist or student visas, and became undocumented  having no legal status in the US. It is estimated that there are 10,000 undocumented Irish living in the US today.

During research I was involved with in Chicago in 2017, a number of undocumented Irish consented to be interviewed anonymously. They were notably uneasy due to the recent election of President Trump and his avowedly anti-immigrant stance, expressing a sense of increased fear and uncertainty.

Equally, they were conscious that their race made them less visible to the authorities than the large numbers of undocumented people of Hispanic heritage. One interviewee commented: People dont think that we would be undocumented. Im white, I can speak English, Im Irish  that is not what the Americans are thinking of.

The majority of our interviewees and survey respondents favoured immigration reform for undocumented Irish. But several observed that there can be opposition to such reform within the Irish community. A first generation Irish priest who had close relations with Irish communities, including the undocumented, commented: Those who have legal status in the Irish community are not supportive, and sometimes opposed to the undocumented Irish. Theres pushback more so than in the Latino community  the Irish are quite divided.

This schism between settled and sojourner Irish in the US is rarely mentioned, yet significant. The undocumented Irish take on a symbolic resonance, disrupting the common success narrative of how the Irish made it in the US.

In the past, the law was applied leniently to overstays who were building a life in the US, giving them opportunity to regularise their status. But in the second Trump administration, as ICE more rigidly and aggressively apprehends people who are deportable, the unease of undocumented Irish is even more heightened.

A St. Patricks Day dilemma

Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin is in a difficult position as his visit to Washington approaches. According to a statement by Martin, there are five to six cases of Irish citizens currently detained by ICE. There is little clarity on how many have already been deported or how many have elected to quietly return to Ireland.

Irish opposition politicians and others in Ireland have taken up Culletons case to berate Martin for not doing enough to stand up to Trump. Some have demanded he pull out of the visit, which would be diplomatically awkward  Martin does not want to pull out of the scheduled meeting with Trump and all it entails for Ireland-US relations.

This is a volatile period in those relations. Trump is deeply unpopular in Ireland. Underneath this is a growing Irish disconnect with the US, including a notably conservative Irish America.

About the author Liam Kennedy is a professor of American studies at University College Dublin. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Martin cant admit any of that, of course. His job is to steer a safe and prosperous course, making his visit to the White House without causing headlines. On the Culleton case, he is adamant that a softly-softly diplomatic approach is best, saying: Lets not do anything that could make that even more difficult. This cannot be resolved in the public domain.

That approach appears to have been made more challenging by Culletons decision to speak out about his case and about conditions in the Texas detention centre. He described it to national Irish broadcaster RTE as a modern-day concentration camp and said he feared for his life.

The discovery that Culleton was facing drug charges in Ireland at the time he moved to the US may further complicate the story, perhaps diminishing popular Irish support. It is also likely to harden the determination of US homeland security officials to deport him.

The story also has resonance due to the fact that Culleton is white. The last year has seen much debate about whether ICEs actions have been targeting people of colour. Some conservative commentators are pressing for Culletons deportation to signify that ICE is colour-blind  Yes, Even White, Irish Illegal Immigrants Must Be Deported runs the headline of a Fox News opinion piece.

Whatever the outcome of Culletons case, it has already turned a spotlight on the fraught racial politics around being Irish and undocumented in America.
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Demonstrators clogged the checkout lines at a Target store in Virginia, using a single symbolic purchase to protest the Trump administrations immigration crackdown.

The grassroots activist group Indivisible Charlottesville organized the shop-in on Valentines Day at a store in the city.

Photos from inside the retail store depict lines of shoppers whose carts were brimmed with salt containers  a clear nod to salt's power to melt ice. After paying, the shoppers subsequently returned the items. Many demonstrators also held signs criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Target.

In a post on Facebook, Indivisible Charlottesville demanded that the retailer end its collaboration with federal immigration authorities.

open image in gallery Demonstrators recently clogged checkouts at a Virginia Target in protest of federal immigration enforcement operations ( Getty Images )

Target, it said, has allowed ICE and other federal agents to stage their Minnesota operations in their parking lots and permitted ICE agents to enter their stores to detain employees.

This isn't the first time Target  a top U.S. retailer operating close to 2,000 stores  has played host to such protests.

Last month, a group of people crowded into a Target store in Minnesota  the epicenter of Trumps immigration crackdown  to slow the checkout process by buying and returning salt.

And, in early February, activists targeted over 24 Target stores nationwide, urging the retailer, headquartered in Minnesota, to speak out against the surge of immigration enforcement in the state.

Spokespeople for ICE and Target did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Independent.

open image in gallery Last month, anti-ICE demonstrators staged a sit-in at a Target in St. Paul, Minnesota ( Getty Images )

The retail giant first drew anti-ICE protesters' ire soon after the Trump administration began sending waves of immigration agents to Minnesota, which led to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens: Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

In early January, viral video showed immigration agents detaining two Target employees at a store outside of Minneapolis. Both were American citizens, according to The Guardian.

A later video shows one of the individuals after hed allegedly been dumped in a parking lot. They threw me on the f****** ground, the man states.

On January 11, Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino was seen patrolling a Target store in Minnesota, accompanied by several agents. Video shows them being heckled by demonstrators.

While many protesters have demanded that Target deny entry to federal agents without judicial warrants, legal experts say this would likely flout the law.

Anyone, including ICE agents without warrants, is allowed to access public areas of business, which include public parking lots and shopping aisles, according to The Associated Press. But, back offices and other generally inaccessible areas are not considered public areas.
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The United States has shipped another group of deportees to a country they have no ties to.

A group of third-country nationals was deported to Cameroon Monday. The Trump administration sent nine people to the Central African nation last month as part of its secretive program to remove immigrants to countries unknown to them.

One asylum seeker previously granted permission to stay in the U.S. is in grave danger after ICE secretly flew her Sunday to an unknown African nation, according to a tranche of court documents reviewed by The Independent.

A group of migrants who were not Cameroonian citizens arrived on another deportation flight that landed in the capital, Yaounde, Monday, lawyer Alma David of the U.S.-based Novo Legal Group told The Associated Press.

David and Cameroon-based lawyer Joseph Awah Fru said they believed there were eight third-country nationals on the plane but had not spoken to them yet.

open image in gallery Cameroon is the latest of at least seven African nations to receive deported third-country nationals in a deal with the U.S. ( AP )

The two lawyers said they are giving legal advice to some of the nine migrants  five women and four men  from other African countries who were deported from the U.S. to Cameroon last month.

The lawyers also expected to offer counsel to the new group of deportees, they said.

For now, my focus is handling their shock, Fru said.

A White House official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the second deportation flight to Cameroon but gave no details.

The New York Times first reported Saturday on the group of nine sent secretly to Cameroon last month. Two of them have since been repatriated to their home countries, David said.

Most of the deportees had protection orders

Eight of those nine previously deported migrants had protection orders granted by a U.S. immigration judge that prevented them from being deported to their home countries for fear of persecution or torture, David said, some of them because of their sexual orientation and others because of political activity.

Deporting them to a third country like Cameroon, from where they could ultimately be sent home, was effectively a legal loophole, David said.

That is why the United States did not send them directly to their countries, Fru said. Because there is cause for concern that they might be harmed, that their lives are threatened.

David said none of the nine sent to Cameroon last month, which included migrants from Zimbabwe, Morocco and Ghana, had criminal records apart from driving-related offenses. She had no details yet on the eight who arrived on Monday.

African nations are being paid millions

Cameroon, where 93-year-old President Paul Biya has ruled since 1982, is the latest of at least seven African nations to receive deported third-country nationals in a deal with the U.S.

Others that have struck deals with the Trump administration include South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.

Some of them have received millions of dollars in payments to take deported migrants, according to documents released by the U.S. State Department. Details of some of the other agreements, including the one with Cameroon, have not been released by the Trump administration.

The Trump administration has spent at least $40 million to deport roughly 300 migrants to countries other than their own in Africa, Central America and elsewhere, according to a report compiled by the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and released last week.

According to internal administration documents reviewed by the Associated Press, there are 47 third-country agreements at various stages of negotiation. Of those, 15 have been concluded and 10 are at or near conclusion.

Immigration policies are a top priority

The U.S. State Department said Monday in a statement on the Cameroon deportations that it had no comment on the details of our diplomatic communications with other governments.

Implementing the Trump Administrations immigration policies is a top priority for the Department of State, it said, adding we remain unwavering in our commitment to end illegal and mass immigration and bolster Americas border security.

Cameroon's Foreign Ministry didn't respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed there had been deportations to Cameroon in January but didn't give specific information on third-country migrants. It did not comment on the second plane.

We are applying the law as written. If a judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them. Period," the department said.

These third-country agreements, which ensure due process under the U.S. Constitution, are essential to the safety of our homeland and the American people."

The Trump administration has used third-country deportation deals as a deterrent to force migrants who are in the U.S. illegally to leave on their own, saying they could end up in any number of third countries" if deported.

It has also defended the practice as part of a crackdown to remove what it refers to as dangerous criminals and gang members.

Activists and lawyers say the U.S. should know that sending migrants to third countries with poor human rights records risks them being denied due process and exposed to abuse.

Last year, the U.S. deported five nationals from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen and Laos to the southern African nation of Eswatini. The deportees had all been convicted of serious criminal offenses, including murder, attempted murder and rape. They had all served their criminal sentences in the U.S.

Four of them have been held at a maximum-security prison in Eswatini for more than six months without charges and have not been allowed to meet in person with a lawyer. Their detentions are the subject of two legal challenges in Eswatini.

Eswatini, which is ruled by a king as Africa's last absolute monarchy, will be paid $5.1 million to take up to 160 third-country deportees, according to details of the deal released by the State Department. The Eswatini king, Mswati III, has long been accused of clamping down on pro-democracy protests in a country where political parties are banned while using public money to fund his lavish lifestyle.
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When Donald Trump signed a $51.4 billon (37.8bn) foreign aid package earlier this month, including nearly $6bn for the global HIV response, the announcement was framed as a restoration of the key programmes that the US president had slashed when he came back into office at the start of 2025. Congress had rejected proposed cuts and compelled the White House to release funding for programmes that underpin treatment for millions of people.

The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has spoken of the real bright lights we are starting to see given the change. The figures looked familiar, with around $9.4bn for global health overall, covering HIV treatment and prevention; tuberculosis and malaria programmes; maternal and child health services and vaccine support  alongside humanitarian assistance.

Any increase in funding for such health projects is a good thing, but it is not a full restoration. Analysis from the health policy think tank KFF shows that the global health budget now pledged by the US for the financial year 2026 is around 6 per cent lower than the previous year, with some HIV and multilateral funding reduced and other programmes simply held flat. Congress prevented a far steeper cut, yet the system that existed before has not been completely replenished.

For more than two decades, US global health aid followed a predictable model in which Congress annually appropriated funds, large international partners handled procurement and delivery, and multi-year planning tied budgets to targets such as patients treated, infections prevented and clinics expanded. That architecture fractured when the Trump administration froze global health funding and terminated many awards. Programmes stalled not because Congress removed money but because the channels that turned money into services disappeared.

Across parts of Africa and Asia, clinics and aid groups now describe something closer to suspension. Clinics are keeping existing HIV patients alive, yet the outreach that brings new people into care is fading because organisations cannot plan for future outreach. We dont yet know what the final interventions are going to be, says Catherine Connor, of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. "Were waiting to understand how this will manifest on the ground.

Much depends on the way the Trump administration moves forward.

The US Capitol, the seat of Congress ( AFP/Getty )

The [previously-provided] funding provided by Congress was still there. It just wasnt being obligated or disbursed, Adam Wexler, associate director of Global and Public Health Policy at KFF, says.

Stephen Morrison of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank, tells The Independent that the shift reflects a deeper divide in Washington: The sentiment inside the [Trump] administration is that theres too much money flowing into these [aid] accounts. They want to scale things down. What looks like restoration in Congress is different from the vision emerging within the administration.

The February spending bill signed by Trump recently has forced funds to move again, close to previous levels but a different system. Much of the old contracting infrastructure has gone and the administration is negotiating directly with governments rather than through NGOs and implementing partners.

Morrison adds that inside the White House, the emphasis is on transition. The administrations America First approach relies on bilateral deals directly between the US and other countries, rather than funding being distributed by bodies such as the UN. Morrison says there is now a gap between what lawmakers fund and what the administration ultimately intends programmes to become.

Morrison also points towards the withdrawal from the World Health Organisation and the US exploring alternative alliances tied more closely to national security priorities. The aim is not total disengagement from Africa, he says, but less focus on HIV and more on security and geopolitical competition elsewhere. The policy is not a collapse of aid but a pivot, smaller and more conditional, and, he says, it has already damaged confidence in US reliability.

Nozuko Majola sits in her Umzimkhulu home, in South Africa. Majola is one of millions of patients in South Africa that was affected by the US global foreign aid freeze, raising worries about HIV patients defaulting on treatment ( AP )

Connor, of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, says programmes are now caught between two systems. She describes a moment of risk and reward in which the US is rolling the dice on a new model. Congress still wants to fight death and disease globally, but decisions are now worked out directly between Washington and governments rather than the wider network of partners that once ran programmes, she explains.

For years funding came with clear targets such as expanding treatment, preventing mother-to-child transmission and finding undiagnosed cases. Now programmes do not know whether they are meant to grow or simply hold the line.

Sarah Shaw, MSI Reproductive Choices associate director of advocacy, tells The Independent the funding that is returning hasnt made everything alright. She said organisations are seeing lower amounts negotiated through new government agreements with incredible conditionality.

[The extra US funding] havent made everything alright for several reasons. The amount of funding that has come back  at least from what we are seeing through agreements with African governments  appears to be lower than previous levels," she says.

"[These Africa deals] are also coming with incredible conditionality with very stringent co-financing requirements and a much narrower focus," she adds. "Some agreements dont include maternal health at all, and where they do it is framed very narrowly around women being safe in delivery, rather than addressing whether women want to be pregnant in the first place - where is the contraception?

People wait for food collection at the Bentiu internally displaced persons camp in Unity State, South Sudan, The camp relies on World Food Programme (WFP) deliveries amid flooding and global aid cuts ( AFP via Getty Images )

Because US aid pays for large parts of national health systems, the impact does not stay confined to abortion care. Shaw says in much of East Africa people dont access HIV prevention, condoms and contraception in neat silos, but instead: The same community health worker will provide all of those. If they cant offer one of those services under the funding rules, they may stop working with the programme altogether.

The systems rely on the same staff and supply chains, so restrictions in one area ripple across the system. That means programmes may keep treatment running but lose the ability to prevent infections.

Shaw also warns the funding may come with expanded abortion restrictions often called the global gag rule, which bars organisations receiving US support from providing or even discussing abortion services elsewhere in their work. She continues: Political alignment is going to be a factor. Those countries that agree with the administration are more likely to accept the conditions than those who arent.

In practice, she says, clinics may narrow what they offer or withdraw entirely, leaving gaps across HIV prevention and maternal care.

On the ground the delay is visible and Mesfin Teklu Tessema of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) says around 60 per cent of IRC health facilities supported with US funds have lost critical support during the disruption, affecting more than 6.3 million people.

Ever Itai Ndondovedzai, a peer educator with MSF, presents to sex workers a talk on sexual reproductive health in Harare. Thousands of sex workers in Zimbabwe have struggled to access HIV prevention tools since the US cuts gutted centres that once provided free condoms, antiretrovirals and basic care ( AFP via Getty Images )

We are using our private funds to sustain some HIV and AIDS work, but we are not pretending everything is okay. Around two million people have already lost services, including HIV patients. In Uganda we have heard accounts of clients sharing medication because supplies are insufficient, he says.

Morrison says the uncertainty is not temporary and instead reflects a serious policy change whose effects on supply chains, staffing and coverage will take time to reveal. It is not necessarily a catastrophe, he says, but it must be taken seriously.

Trump has not simply removed global health funding, nor has he restored it. He has jolted the system, paused the flow and restarted it under new rules that prioritise national responsibility over long-term American guarantees.

For the next few months at least, programmes remain in a waiting period. Clinics operate and patients receive treatment, but no one yet knows whether the restored funding means expansion or managed retreat.

If the administration's "gamble pays off, Connor says, they will get credit for country-led transitions, but if not we will see a significant increase in preventable deaths.

She adds: The number of people living with HIV doesnt change because funding changes. Someone still has to provide treatment.
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The Trump administration reportedly pushed to add language banning most mail-in voting as part of the SAVE America Act, a Republican-backed voter ID law that cleared the House last week.

The apparent effort, reported by Politico, accords with the presidents public calls to slash mail voting, which he has baselessly claimed is prone to mass fraud.

The week of the vote on the SAVE America Act, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Republicans must fight for NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS (EXCEPT FOR ILLNESS, DISABILITY, MILITARY, OR TRAVEL!) because Americas Elections are Rigged, Stolen, and a Laughingstock all over the World.

A White House website about the SAVE legislation echoes the demand.

The president has repeatedly urged Congress to pass the SAVE Act and other legislative proposals that would establish a uniform standard of photo ID for voting, prohibit no-excuse mail-in voting, and end the practice of ballot harvesting to ensure the safety and security of our elections, White House official Abigail Jackson told the outlet.

open image in gallery The president is pushing to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the midterms, following his numerous baseless claims over the years that the practice is unsafe and prone to fraud ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The SAVE bill, which is unlikely to pass the Senate, ultimately did not include mail-in voting restrictions.

It did, however, require voters to have proof of U.S. citizenship and photo ID, and it lets the Department of Security access state voter rolls.

It is already illegal to vote if you are not a U.S. citizen, and the Brennan Center estimates that some 21 million U.S. citizens dont have ready access to the documents they need to comply with the law.

Backers of the presidents voting agenda frame it as a way to stop voter fraud, a phenomenon evidence shows is extremely rare and inconsequential.

This is how you stop them from stealing it, Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee recently said of the bill.

open image in gallery The recently passed SAVE America Act imposes new citizenship and ID proof requirements to vote ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Critics of the SAVE Act and another GOP bill in the House, which would ban universal mail-in voting, prohibit ballot counting after election day, and ban ranked-choice voting, allege that the president and his allies are trying to make it harder to vote amid a midterm season in which they are forecast to lose ground to Democrats.

If you were concerned about our elections, you would be encouraging them to vote, Rep. Joseph D. Morelle of New York told The New York Times this week. The larger point is this: They are doing anything they can to disrupt the elections.

Despite the presidents arguments, Republicans in battleground states have spent months encouraging their base to use mail-in voting.

Treating early voting as optional, or something Democrats do, is a losing gamble, Wisconsin Republican Party chair Brian Schimming told reporters in December.

President Trump himself has previously used mail-in voting to cast his ballot.

The Republican has pushed to exert more federal control over elections, which the Constitution largely leaves to states to manage.

He has urged Republicans to nationalize control of elections and threatened to impose voter ID requirements without congressional approval.

We cannot let the Democrats get away with NO VOTER I.D. any longer, the president wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday afternoon. These are horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS.

I have searched the depths of Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be presenting an irrefutable one in the very near future, he wrote in another post. There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!
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Donald Trump castigated local and state Democratic officials on Tuesday over the sewage spill into the Potomac River, claiming the federal government would help if these leaders asked him politely for help.

Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., who are responsible for the massive sewage spill in the Potomac River, must get to work, IMMEDIATELY, Trump wrote on Truth Social. If they cant do the job, they have to call me and ask, politely, to get it fixed. The Federal Government is not at all involved with what has taken place, but we can fix it.

This is a Radical Left caused Environmental Hazard, he added. With all of their talk about carbon footprints and everything else, theyre allowing hundreds of tons of sewage to pour into the Mighty Potomac, making it much less mighty.

Officials disputed Trumps characterization of the spill, which began in January in Maryland when an aging sewer line burst and has largely already been contained.

"I know this is breaking news to everyone, but the president is not telling the truth," Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland, a frequent target of criticism from Trump, told reporters. "Because what you're looking at with the Piedmont sewage project, that's not something that the federal government has had responsibility for for the past year; it's not something that the federal government has had responsibility for the past decade  in fact, the federal government has had responsibility for that for the past century."

open image in gallery President Trump hit out at Washington-area Democratic leaders over the recent Potomac sewage spill, including Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland (center) ( Getty Images )

"Now that it is essentially 99 percent contained, I love the fact that the president of the United States is finally realizing that this was his job, and he hasn't been doing it for the past month," Moore added. "So I say, 'Listen, we'd welcome you to help to address the remaining 1 percent that hasn't been completed while we've been doing your job.'"

We have been coordinating with U.S. EPA since the Potomac Interceptor collapsed and appreciate the ongoing support and counsel they have provided, DC Water CEO and General Manager David L. Gadis said in a statement provided to The Independent. Just last week, we hosted the Assistant Administrator for Water for a tour of the site and briefing on the project and the progress made to date.

Repairs are due for completion within four to six weeks, the agency said.

The spill, which sent an estimated 243 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac, has not impacted the safety of local drinking water, according to officials.

open image in gallery The spill has not impacted local drinking water safety, according to officials ( DC Water )

The Independent has contacted Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger for comment.

The president's comments follow a similar tirade yesterday, in which Trump vowed FEMA would take a key role in responding to the spill and blamed the crisis on Moore, whom he previously barred from a White House meeting of state governors.

There is a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River as a result of the Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly, Governor Wes Moore, of Maryland, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.

The president also criticized Democrats over the ongoing partial government shutdown, which impacts funds for FEMAs parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security.

Moore has said Trumps decision to exclude him from the governors' meeting, set to take place this week, could be due to his race. Moore is the only sitting Black governor in the U.S.

The Maryland Democrat previously provoked Trumps ire after criticizing administration threats to deploy the National Guard to Baltimore.
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President Donald Trump has tapped a 26-year-old with no known art expertise to serve on the federal arts commission that will will review his White House ballroom plans.

Chamberlain Harris, who serves as the executive assistant to the president and deputy director of Oval Office operations, appears to be the youngest member on the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts currently.

The commission, comprised of seven members with expertise in the arts, is tasked with reviewing the design and aesthetic of all construction projects within Washington, D.C and approving buildings attached to the White House.

The commission will approve Trumps new $400 million White House ballroom plan as well as his Arc de Triomphe-style arch. In October, the president fired all previous members of the Commission of Fine Arts to make room for his own appointments.

Among those the president has chosen to help push through his new plan is Harris. But the 26-year-old, who also served as the Receptionist of the United States during the first Trump administration, also appears to have limited arts experience, The Washington Post reports.

open image in gallery Harris, 26, appears to be the youngest member of the US Commission of Fine Arts  tasked with reviewing the president's $400 million ballroom plans ( Commission of Fine Arts )

According to the Commission of Fine Arts, Harris managed Trumps presidential portrait project alongside the National Portrait Gallery and White House Historical Association after he left the White House in 2021. She has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from SUNY Albany.

President Trump has an incredible eye for the arts, and only selects the most talented people possible, Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, said.

In addition to Harris, Trump has tapped his former ballroom architect, James C. McCrery II, to serve on the commission. McCrery has stepped down as the primary architect on Trumps project and recused himself from the Commission of Fine Arts review of the ballroom to prevent a conflict of interest.

Rodney Mims Cook Jr., the founder of the National Monuments Foundation, is currently serving as the chairman of the commission. Other members include Mary Anne Carter, the chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts; Roger Kimball, a conservative arts critic; Pam Patenaude, the former deputy secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the first Trump administration; and Matthew Taylor, a film director.

In addition to the Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission is also tasked with reviewing Trumps ballroom plans. The president has also installed allies on the National Capital Planning Commission.

open image in gallery A rendering of President Donald Trump's 'New East Wing' at the White House, including his nearly 90,000 square foot ballroom ( The White House )

open image in gallery Trumps demolition of the East Wing caused uproar ( Getty Images )

The new White House ballroom, which could be named for Trump, will be a 89,000 square foot entertaining space for the president and first lady to host state dinners and other events. While the president has raved about the new constructions, its been subject to controversy.

Initially, Trump said the addition would not interfere with the current structure of the White House, but later tore down the historic East Wing to make room for it. White House officials said the East Wing needed to be removed to make the structure sounder.

Trump also initially believed the ballroom would only cost $200 million, but the price has increased to $400 million. Trump has sought private donations to help cover the costs, also raising concern about the ethical implications of major corporations giving money for the ballroom.
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Australia will not repatriate 34 women and children from Syria, who are alleged to have ties to the Islamic State group, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Tuesday.

The group, comprising 11 families, had been due to fly from Damascus but Syrian authorities turned them back to the Roj camp in northeast Syria on Monday, citing "procedural problems."

Only two groups of Australians have been repatriated with government assistance from Syrian camps since the Islamic State group's fall in 2019, with others returning independently. Mr Albanese declined to comment on reports that the latest group held Australian passports.

Were providing absolutely no support and we are not repatriating people, Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp. in Melbourne.

We have no sympathy, frankly, for people who traveled overseas in order to participate in what was an attempt to establish a caliphate to undermine, destroy, our way of life. And so, as my mother would say, You make your bed, you lie in it, Albanese added.

Albanese noted that the child welfare-focused international charity Save the Children had failed to establish in Australias courts that the Australian government had a responsibility to repatriate citizens from Syrian camps.

open image in gallery Family members of suspected Islamic State militants who are Australian nationals walk toward a van bound for the airport in Damascus ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

After the federal court ruled in the government's favor in 2024, Save the Children Australia chief executive Mat Tinkler argued the government had a moral, if not legal, obligation to repatriate families.

Albanese said if the latest group made their way to Australia without government help, they could be charged.

It was an offense under Australian law to travel to the former Islamic State stronghold of al-Raqqa province without a legitimate reason from 2014 to 2017. The maximum penalty was 10 years in prison.

Its unfortunate that children are impacted by this as well, but we are not providing any support. And if anyone does manage to find their way back to Australia, then theyll face the full force of the law, if any laws have been broken, Albanese added.

The last group of Australians to be repatriated from Syrian camps arrived in Sydney in October 2022.

They were four mothers, former partners of Islamic State supporters, and 13 children.

Australian officials had assessed the group as the most vulnerable among 60 Australian women and children held in Roj camp, the government said at the time.

Eight offspring of two slain Australian Islamic State fighters were repatriated from Syria in 2019 by the conservative government that preceded Albaneses center-left Labor Party administration.

The issue of Islamic State supporters resurfaced in Australia after the killings of 15 people at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14. The attackers were allegedly inspired by IS.
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The Australian government has prohibited one of its citizens, who allegedly has ties to the Islamic State group, from returning to the country from a Syrian detention camp.

This individual was part of a larger group of 34 women and children who attempted to fly from Damascus to Australia on Monday. However, Syrian authorities reportedly turned them back to the Roj detention camp, citing "procedural problems."

Since the militant group lost control of its territory in 2019, Syria has held the wives and children of former Islamic State fighters from various countries in such camps.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that Australian security agencies had assessed one member of the group as meeting a "risk threshold" for being barred entry, despite their citizenship. Mr Burke did not name the individual or specify the length of the ban.

I can confirm that one individual in this cohort has been issued a temporary exclusion order, which was made on advice from security agencies, Burke said in a statement.

open image in gallery Family members of suspected Islamic State militants make their way to the airport in Damascus during the first repatriation operation of the year, at Roj Camp in eastern Syria. Thirty-four Australian citizens from 11 families departed the camp. ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

At this stage, security agencies have not provided advice that other members of the cohort meet the required legal thresholds for temporary exclusion orders, Burke added.

Burke has the power to use temporary exclusion orders to prevent high-risk citizens from returning to Australia for up to two years.

Australian governments have repatriated Australian women and children from Syrian detention camps on two occasions. Other Australians have also returned without government assistance.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday reiterated his position announced a day earlier that his government would not help repatriate the latest group.

These are people who chose to go overseas to align themselves with an ideology which is the caliphate, which is a brutal, reactionary ideology and that seeks to undermine and destroy our way of life, Albanese told reporters.

We are doing nothing to repatriate or to assist these people. I think its unfortunate that children are caught up in this, thats not their decision, but its the decision of their parents or their mother, Albanese added.
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A celebrated marble elephant sculpture by Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini in Rome has been damaged, with its left tusk found snapped off at the monument's base.

Authorities reported the incident on Monday night, prompting police to review CCTV footage from Piazza della Minerva. Investigators are working to determine whether the damage was an act of vandalism or if the tusk simply fell off following weeks of unusually heavy rainfall.

Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli made clear he thought it was deliberate, saying the 17th statue, which supports an ancient Egyptian obelisk, was victim of an "absurd act of barbarity".

"It is unacceptable that once again the nation's artistic and cultural heritage must suffer such serious damage," he said in a statement.

It is not the first time the sculpture, popularly known as the Elefantino (little elephant), has been damaged.

In November 2016, the tip of the same tusk was similarly found broken off. The piece was reattached during restoration work.

open image in gallery The damaged tusk ( Reuters )

The sculpture, created in 1667 by Ercole Ferrata based on a design by Bernini, stands a short distance from the Pantheon, one of most visited tourist sites in Rome.

Earlier this month it was announced that Rome would introduce charges for tourists hoping to get close to the Trevi Fountain. The 2 fee comes in as the city of Rome works to control crowds at one of the worlds most celebrated sites.

The tourist fee was rolled out with a new 5 (4.30) tourist ticket fee for some city museums. In both cases, Rome residents are exempt from the fees and the extra revenue will actually expand the number of city-run museums that are free for registered Roman residents.

Its all part of the Eternal Citys efforts to manage tourist flows in a particularly congested part of town, improve the experience and offset the maintenance costs of preserving all of Romes cultural heritage. Officials estimate it could net the city 6.5m (5.6m) extra a year.

The city decided to impose the Trevi Fountain fee after seeing positive results already from a year-long experiment to stagger and limit the number of visitors who can reach the front edge of the basin by imposing lines and pathways for entrance and exit.
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A man has been swept away by the swollen River Loire as much of western France was placed under high alert for floods, with further heavy rain expected.

Four departements remain under red alert  the highest level  with nine more under orange alert, indicating major to significant flooding is occurring or expected within the next 24 hours.

Officials confirmed on Wednesday that a 53-year-old man reportedly fell from a small boat or kayak south of the city of Angers, BFM TV said.

Search operations were underway, but senior official Francois Pesneau told BFM TV and other local media that considering the Loire's flow and speed after such heavy rains, "there is objectively little chance of finding that person".

In the nearby town of Denee, residents are now moving by boat as the river has submerged streets and flooded numerous houses.

"There's no access anymore (to Denee), the roads are not functional due to the floods. And so the only way to come to the village is by boat," municipal worker Jason Garnier said on Tuesday.

open image in gallery Residential buildings submerged by the overflowing Loire River in Denee, western France ( AFP via Getty Images )

"People who want to go to work, well, they leave by boat in the morning, and they go home in the evening by boat."

French Environment Minister Monique Barbut said the level of humidity in soils in France was unseen since 1959, after more than 30 days of bad weather.

Weeks of steady rain have saturated soils, making even modest showers a significant threat. Flood risk information service Vigicrues reports a record 81 departments under simultaneous alerts.

According to local media, at least two people have died, and 850,000 homes lost power before Enedis crews intervened. Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne remain on maximum vigilance, with river levels at La Reole and Cadillac breaking records.

open image in gallery The swelling of the Loire River caused a major flood on 17 February, 2026 near Angers ( AFP via Getty Images )

On 14 February, an embankment breach at Sainte-Croix-du-Mont sent floodwater through Peyrat, blocking roads and forcing dozens to flee. Transport is disrupted around Bordeaux, and the Seine continues to climb in Paris.

Fresh rainfall in the south could reverse falling water levels, raising fears of further damage towards Agen.

Spain, Portugal and UK are among other European countries badly hit by flooding this year due to unusually heavy rain.
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French police investigating the beating of a far-right militant who died of brain injuries have arrested 11 people, prosecutors said Wednesday, in a case adding fuel to long-standing divides in French politics ahead of presidential elections in 2027.

Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old student described as a fervent nationalist, died in a hospital on Saturday. He was beaten two days earlier by a group of people in the city of Lyon, in fighting that erupted between far-left and far-right supporters on the margins of a student meeting where a far-left lawmaker, Rima Hassan, was a keynote speaker.

An autopsy found that Deranque suffered a fractured skull and fatal brain injuries, according to Lyon's prosecutor, Thierry Dran. He launched the police investigation for homicide and other potential criminal charges. Dran's office said police detained a man and a woman on Wednesday morning, with nine other people taken into custody on Tuesday night.

Hassan, a French-Palestinian who was born in a Syrian refugee camp, is a European Parliament lawmaker for the far-left France Unbowed party. In a post on X after the attack on Deranque but before he died of his injuries, Hassan expressed horror over the violence and condemned it.

Deranque's death triggered a storm of recriminations, mostly blaming France Unbowed. Its opponents accuse it of fomenting violence and tensions with its combative far-left politics, which include fierce criticism of Israel.

The party is led by veteran hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, a former Trotskyist who stood for the presidency in 2012, 2017 and 2022 and failed to advance to the decisive run-off round. He is preparing for another expected run next year, when President Emmanuel Macron 's second and last term ends.

Melenchon insisted Tuesday that France Unbowed bore no blame for the tragedy in Lyon, saying: We have absolutely nothing to do, either directly or indirectly, with the death of this young Deranque.

But the 11 people in police custody include the parliamentary aide of a France Unbowed lawmaker, French media reported. The lawmaker, Raphael Arnault, confirmed the aide's arrest in a post on X without giving the cause. Arnault said he is ending the aide's contract.

Violence has long been a persistent feature of French politics. Far-left and far-right factions harbor long-standing, intense and sometimes violent disregard for each other, although deaths in clashes between them have been rare in recent decades.

France is holding municipal elections next month. With campaigning in full swing, opponents of France Unbowed on the right and far-right laid blame for Deranque's death on Melenchon's party, accusing it of fueling violence and appealing to voters not to support it.

Criticism also came from prominent figures on the left, including former French President Francois Hollande. He said the mainstream left, including his Socialist Party, must not team up again with Melenchons party for the upcoming elections, as they did in the past.

The relationship with France Unbowed is over, he said.
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Pope Leo XIV has turned down Donald Trumps invitation to join his so-called Board of Peace, a senior Vatican official said.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, told reporters on Tuesday that the Pope had a number of concerns about the initiative and that he will not participate as a result.

For us, there are... some critical issues that should be resolved, he said. One concern is that, at the international level, it should above all be the UN that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have insisted.

open image in gallery Pope Leo XIV, seen here leaving a pastoral visit in Rome, will not participate in Donald Trumps Board of Peace, citing critical issues ( AFP/Getty )

Mr Trump has invited a number of world leaders to join the board, originally conceived as a body to supervise the ceasefire in Gaza and coordinate the strips reconstruction following the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Its scope has since been expanded, with Mr Trump saying it would be well-placed to address a range of global disputes. Some see it as an effort by the US president to establish and alternative multilateral forum to the UN, which he has repeatedly criticised as not being fit for purpose.

It was Cardinal Parolin who earlier confirmed that the Pope had been invited to join the board by Mr Trump. He said in January that the Pope has received the invitation, and we are considering what to do; we are looking into it.

He said at the time that the invitation to join the board requires some time to answer and that the request will not be to participate financially because we are not in a position to do so.

Mr Trump claims Board of Peace has already committed more than $5bn (3.67bn) to help rebuild Gaza.

open image in gallery The Popes spokesperson said the Vatican has some concerns about Trumps board superseding the United Nations ( AFP/Getty )

But there have been concerns over the boards lineup, with European governments expressing surprise that Mr Trump had invited Russias Vladimir Putin, who has waged war on Ukraine since February 2022.

Arab states have also expressed anger at the inclusion of Benjamin Netanyahu, citing the Gaza war that has resulted in the deaths of 72,000 Palestinians.

And there have been concerns about the prominent role of former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair  one of the first names announced by Mr Trump in connection to the initiative. Sir Tony is expected to sit on the boards founding executive despite longstanding criticism over Britains involvement in the Iraq war.

Despite the controversy, dozens of countries  including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates  have committed to joining the board.

open image in gallery US president Donald Trump has widened the scope of Board of Peace to address a number of global disputes ( Getty )

Pope Leo has repeatedly criticised Mr Trumps policies since being named the first American pontiff. In October last year, he questioned whether the presidents hardline immigration policies were in step with the Catholic Churchs pro-life values.

Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I dont know if thats pro-life, he told the media in Rome.

At the time, the White House pushed back on the comments. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she would reject there was inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration.

This administration is trying to enforce our nations laws in the most humane way possible, and we are upholding the law. We are doing that on behalf of the people of our country who live here.

open image in gallery The Pope has been critical of the US since being named the first American pontiff, specifically on Trumps hardline immigration methods ( Middle East Images )

In November the Pope backed a message from US bishops criticising the Trump administrations immigration crackdown, including mass deportations and the treatment of migrants. I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have. If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts, theres a system of justice, he said.

But when people are living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years, to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful to say the least  and theres been some violence unfortunately  I think that the bishops have been very clear in what they said.

I would just invite all people in the United States to listen to them.

In January this year, Pope Leo delivered a powerful speech in which he condemned the growing global zeal for war. While he did not call out Mr Trump by name, his address came after the US military operation to forcibly remove Venezuelas president Nicolas Maduro and bring him to American soil.

A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, Leo told diplomats from 184 countries. War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading.
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Eleven individuals, including an aide to a French far-left lawmaker, have been arrested in France on suspicion of involvement in the killing of a far-right activist. The arrests were carried out overnight and into Wednesday morning.

Following the announcement, the Paris headquarters of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party received a bomb threat, leading to an evacuation. Police secured the scene, and an all-clear was subsequently given.

Far-right activist Quentin Deranque, 23, died on Saturday after being beaten by hard-left activists outside a conference centre in Lyon where Rima Hassan, an LFI member of the European Parliament, was speaking.

An autopsy found that Deranque suffered a fractured skull and fatal brain injuries, according to Lyon's prosecutor, Thierry Dran.

Videos of the confrontation were widely shared on social media. Hassan and other members of the LFI have condemned the killing.

The Lyon prosecutors' office, which has opened a murder investigation, said 11 suspects have been detained so far. Among them is an aide to LFI lawmaker Raphael Arnault, who said on Tuesday that the aide had "stopped all parliamentary work".

"It is now up to the investigation to determine responsibility," Arnault said on X.

open image in gallery Rima Hassan, an LFI member of the European Parliament ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Both the hard left and hard right have been capitalising on frustration with the minority centrist government ahead of local elections next month and a presidential vote next year, set to take place in a highly polarised environment.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the LFI's national coordinator Manuel Bompard said his party was in no way responsible for Deranque's death, and that it now felt threatened itself.

Jordan Bardella, party president of the far-right National Rally, has accused LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon of opening the "doors of the National Assembly to presumed murderers".

Violence has long been a feature of France's long history of political upheaval, including during so-called "yellow vest" anti-government protests in 2019 that saw months of rioting and clashes with police during Macron's first term.

France's broad political spectrum has long included far-left and far-right factions that harbor intense, sometimes violent disregard for each other, although deaths in clashes between them have been rare in recent decades.
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Four Jehovah's Witnesses have been jailed in Russia this past week, convicted of extremist activity.

The convictions reportedly followed covert video recordings by spies who infiltrated their prayer sessions, a spokesperson for the faith group confirmed.

The four men joined a list of some 220 people who have been sent to prison in a major crackdown by Russian authorities on Jehovah's Witnesses since 2017, when they were banned as an "extremist organisation".

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2022 that Russia's ban was unlawful, and it has similarly been condemned by the U.N. Human Rights Committee.

In the first of two recent cases, Oleg Postnikov, 61, was sentenced to six years and two months in the city of Birobidzhan.

"After almost a full year of covert filming, the FSB (security service) managed to select only a handful of meetings they considered the most 'extremist', which in fact prove that we are ordinary people who respect everyone without exception," he said in his final statement to the court.

"A telling example is the closing prayer in which those present asked God for strength to endure the hardships caused by persecution. There is no request for punishment or harm to our persecutors."

Jehovah's Witnesses have been under pressure for years in Russia where the Orthodox Church championed by President Vladimir Putin is dominant

In the other case, Valeriy Tolmazov, 71, Aleksandr Kostyuk, 53, and Maksim Barbazyuk, 43, were sentenced to six years each in the city of Tver.

"What stands out in these two new cases is not just the use of covert operatives, but how deeply those operatives integrated themselves into small, trusting groups before feeding selectively edited material back to investigators," said Jarrod Lopes, a New York-based spokesperson for the World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Jehovah's Witnesses have been under pressure for years in Russia where the Orthodox Church championed by President Vladimir Putin is dominant.

Mr Putin said in 2018 that he did not understand why authorities were pursuing the group and called for the matter to be analysed. Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian denomination known for door-to-door preaching, close Bible study, and rejection of military service and blood transfusions.
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Four South African men, reportedly lured into fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine's Donbas region, have returned home after being trapped there, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported.

Police met the men at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport upon their Wednesday arrival.

They belong to a larger group of 17 who sent distress calls to the South African government in November.

The predicament of the trapped men prompted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month.

Ramaphosa's office subsequently confirmed that both leaders had "pledged their support to the process of returning South Africans fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine."

Neither a police spokesperson nor South Africa's foreign ministry offered comment on the situation. The Russian embassy in Pretoria also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Police met the men at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport upon their Wednesday arrival ( AP )

Ramaphosa's spokesperson told Reuters: "I'm not able to confirm that except to say that the process to secure the return of the men is ongoing as discussed by both President Ramaphosa and President Putin."

Under South African law, it is illegal for citizens to provide military assistance to foreign governments or participate in foreign armies unless authorised by South Africa.

Much of the Donbas region is controlled by Russian forces and fighting has been heavy there since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

South Africa seeks to project itself as non-aligned on the war, while maintaining warm relations with Moscow as a fellow member of the BRICS group of emerging economies.

India, Nepal and Sri Lanka are among other countries that have said scores of their citizens were recruited under false pretences to join Russia's war effort.

Kenya's foreign ministry said last week it had rescued 27 Kenyans who were stranded in Russia after they were illegally enlisted to fight in Ukraine.

Kenya's Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said he was planning to visit Russia to speak directly with the government to try to stop Kenyans becoming "recruits for war."
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Ukraine headed into the third round of direct talks with Russia and US mediators this week following a string of symbolic victories on the frontlines.

Two days of talks concluded abruptly on Wednesday, following lengthy discussions over territory the day before. Kyiv hailed progress in talks, though acknowledged that the two sides were still opposed on key issues.

There has been little progress in the talks to date, with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky recently sharing his frustration that his country is too often asked to make concessions - as Moscow sticks to its maximalist demands.

With land still central to diplomacy, Ukrainian negotiators headed for Geneva this week emboldened by recent territorial gains on the battlefield.

Advancing some 201 sq km between Wednesday and Sunday, Ukraines forces have effectively cancelled out Russias gains for the entire month of December, according to an analysis of data from the US-based monitor, the Institute for the Study of War.

Russias main effort, meanwhile, will continue to focus on eastern Ukraine, where a fortress belt of trenches, bunkers, minefields and barbed wire holds advances to a slow crawl.

How are the frontlines evolving?

Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the war on February 24, Russian advances continue to move at a footpace and do not portend the collapse of the Ukrainian lines, according to the ISWs latest assessment.

Russian forces claimed 141 sq km in the week commencing 25 January, but gains fell to just 74 sq km in the week commencing 8 February.

Ukrainian liberation efforts may not wield the same momentum as in the summer 2023 counteroffensive, but steady progress through November and December has helped decrease sum Russian gains in recent weeks.

Emil Kastehelmi, military analyst with Finland-based open-source intelligence collective Black Bird Group, told The Independent that the latest figures may not represent a strategic shift, but could offer some political relief in talks.

open image in gallery Frontline Ukrainian forces prepare a howitzer for firing towards Russian troops in Kharkiv region on 9 February ( Reuters )

The Ukrainians have managed to liberate various villages in the Zaporizhzhia and the Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, he said. This section of the front is of less importance than when we look at whats operationally or strategically important.

It's clear that they have now advanced various kilometres in various places that and they have taken the initiative locally. But there are a lot of different ways to paint this.

According to Ukrainian milblogger Konstantin Mashovets, Ukraine by Sunday had pushed Russian forces from the villages of Ternuvate and Kosivtseve, crossed the Haichur River, liberated Dobropillya and cut through the Russian lines to the east.

Russian troops managed advances in the direction of Novopokrovka-Mala Tokmachka, Kamyanske-Lukyanivske, Plavnia-Primorske and Stepove-Pavlovka, Mashovets reported.

But in recent days, the pace of advance of the advanced units and divisions of the Russian troops in these directions first dropped significantly, and then almost completely reduced to zero.

Ukrainian troops in some areas of Donetsk mustered successful counterattacks, managing not only to sharply slow down the enemys general offensive ... but also to force the Russian command to withdraw its advanced units back.

Mr Kastehelmi assessed: It seems that Ukraine actually really wants to hold on to the defensive line at the Haichur River. And the Russians had crossed it in a few places, and now they have been pushed back. But thats just a tactical change in this situation. It doesnt really tell much about the longer trends.

When we look at recent years, its a relatively successful counterattack in terms of gained square kilometres. However, just looking at one variable doesnt really tell that much about larger trends where Russia would begin to lose ground more rapidly.

It wont be a large operational success where actual breakthroughs would be made and the Russians would be pushed dozens of kilometres back ... but its likely that the Ukrainians may be able to continue these offensive actions for some time and maybe liberate a few more villages.

open image in gallery A Ukrainian artilleryman fires 122mm howitzer towards Russian positions near Chasiv Yar ( Getty )

Successful Ukrainian counterattacks were likely aided by a recent block on Russian forces access to Starlink, according to the ISW. Russian forces have relied on Elon Musks technology as a key communications line.

But Ukraine said last week that terminals used by Russian soldiers were cut off following talks between Kyivs defence minister and Musk, whose company SpaceX operates the satellite network.

What will be in focus in Geneva?

Land will likely be at the forefront of talks this week as delegations from Russia and Ukraine meet in Switzerland to discuss elusive peace terms.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that the Russian team, headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, would cover the main issues, which he defined as both the territories and everything else related to the demands we have put forward.

Talks moved to Geneva after Abu Dhabi hosted two rounds of talks that both sides described as constructive but which failed to reach any major breakthrough. Russia continues to demand Ukrainian held land in the Donbas, while Ukraine insists it cannot give up land.

open image in gallery Ukrainian servicemen of special police unit take part in training at the training field in Kharkiv region, in the northeast, on 13 February ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Ukraines land gains on the battlefield may not spell a strategic shift, but they could give Kyiv a political edge going into talks.

Mr Kastehelmi said: Its possible that the counterattacks have a political side to them. They can now go to the talks and present themselves as an army that has not been beaten.

They can present themselves as a fighting force that can still conduct counterattacks, relatively swift ones when compared to the general pace of this war.

And they can say they have liberated many villages in a short time span and present themselves as a stronger opponent than the Russian narrative wants to paint them.
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Heavy snowfall and torrential rain have left 200,000 homes across Romania without electricity, Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan confirmed Wednesday.

The severe weather has caused widespread disruption, blocking traffic on motorways and national roads, and delaying dozens of train services.

The capital, Bucharest, grappled with 40 cm (16 inches) of snow, severely impacting public transport.

The national emergency response agency reported fallen trees halted road and rail traffic, schools closed in several towns, and ten ambulances were snowed in across six counties.

"Of the 200,000 homes affected so far, roughly 86,000 were reconnected to power, there are ... 266 towns affected," Ivan told reporters.

Many areas of France - ski resort of Val d'Isere pictured - have been hit with fatalities due to heavy snow and avalanches ( AFP via Getty Images )

He added Romania's power consumption was 7.4GW on average, with surplus wind and hydro production being exported. Production and consumption were up 11% and 6% on the year, respectively, he said.

It comes following heavy snowfall across Europe.

France is currently grappling with heavy snowfall in the Alps and flooding in several western regions after days of intense rain.

Two separate avalanches in the French Alps killed three people and left four wounded, local authorities and French media said on Tuesday.

Around midday on Tuesday, a large slide, about 300 metres wide, swept across a road and a footpath in the town of Valloire, southeast France, the prefecture of Savoie said in a statement.

Rescue teams, including mountain police officers, firefighters, dog units and army specialists, were deployed for more than four hours before operations were halted in the late afternoon due to the risk of further avalanches, the prefecture added.

Two of the wounded were in serious condition and were evacuated by helicopter to nearby hospitals, it said.

French broadcaster BFMTV also reported, citing the prosecutor in the town of Gap, that two skiers had died earlier in an offpiste avalanche in La Grave in the neighbouring HautesAlpes region.

Weather forecaster Meteo France said Savoie remained on orange avalanche alert for Tuesday, but flagged an improvement in the coming days.

Last Friday, three skiers died after being swept away in an avalanche in the upmarket French Alpine ski resort of Val d'Isere.
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France ordered the evacuation of hundreds of residents as Storm Pedro brought violent winds and flooding, leaving at least one person missing.

Maine-et-Loire, Charente-Maritime, Gironde, and Lot-et-Garonne were all on red alert for flooding on Wednesday as heavy rainfall buffeted the south of the country, still reeling from a string of devastating storms since the start of the year.

Maine-et-Loire has ordered the evacuation of some 900 residents, but many refused the order and stayed in their homes, according to local media. One man in his fifties went missing in the department late on Tuesday while trying to cross the swollen Loire River by kayak.

Prefect Francois Pesneau told French outlet BFMTV there was very little chance of finding this person due to the strong currents as searches resumed this morning. The gendarmerie said two other people were rescued after their boats capsized at around 11pm last night.

open image in gallery The Charente river burst its banks, bringing flooding to Saintes (pictured, Wednesday) ( AFP via Getty Images )

Powerful gusts of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) were still expected in the Roussillon region, in the southeast, while Brittany and Paris, further north, were awaiting remarkable levels of rainfall reaching as much as 50mm in some parts.

Spain was also bracing for strong winds and snowfall on Wednesday as the adverse weather moved south, with Pedro on course to become the 11th named storm to strike the country in just six weeks.

France was preparing for the worst of the rainfall, anticipating a water level of nearly 6.5 metres in Cheffes-sur-Sarthe, in Maine-et-Loire, overnight into Thursday. Eighteen roads have so far been closed in preparation, the prefecture said in a statement.

Lucie Chadourne-Facon, director of flood monitoring service Vigicrues, told Le Monde: We have exceptional and widespread flooding across the entire region, which will continue for some time. Its going to be a very difficult week. The situation remains very problematic.

She assessed heavy rainfall was quickly replenishing burst waterways, with no indication the floods were starting to recede.

open image in gallery Hundreds of people were told to leave their homes in France due to flooding (Saintes pictured today) ( AFP via Getty Images )

Bruno Marty, the mayor for La Reole, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, told BFMTV on Wednesday the situation only appeared to be getting worse.

"We thought there would be a respite... but today we have a rebound," he said. "We have no idea how long this could last. (...) We might have some hope on Sunday of a real drop in water levels."

Mathieu Lefevre, the minister for ecological transition, said 20,000 people remained without power on Wednesday morning.

Weather warnings were also introduced along the northern coast of Spain on Wednesday, while the east was anticipating winds of up to 90 km/h, according to state meteorological agency AEMET.

Storm Pedro would be the 16th to arrive in Spain this season, one short of the historical record, AEMET reported, warning it would cause very strong winds and rough seas today and tomorrow.

open image in gallery Wind gusts are to sweep through southern France and eastern Spain on Thursday ( Meteored )

Since January, the country has been shaken by storms Francis, Goretti, Harry, Ingrid, Joseph, Kristin, Leonardo, Marta, Nils and Oriana. Pedro would be the 11th in six weeks.

Orange warnings for significant danger were in place today across the northern coastline, from Rias Baixas in the west all the way to the Basque Country near France.

Northeastern Spain was expected to see stronger winds into Thursday, with Tarragona bearing the brunt of 110 km/h (68mph) gusts. Barcelona was expected to see maximum wind speeds of 70 km/h (44 mph).

Andalusia also had orange alerts in place for a high risk of strong winds and rough seas. Mountainous regions are likely to see snowfall at between 1,200 and 1,500 metres, though AEMET said Pedro could bring it as low as 700 metres.

Successive storms gave Spain its gloomiest January in 30 years, recording the fewest hours of sunshine since 1996.

The country is still reeling from the effects of storms Leonardo, Marta and Nils which have forced evacuations, left thousands without power and caused major travel disruptions.

Catalonia last week had to suspend classes for students and shut parks throughout Barcelona as 105 km/h (65mph) winds felled trees.
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Ukraines anti-corruption agency has accused a former energy minister of laundering millions of dollars.

German Galushchenko, who led the department from 2021 until 2025, was detained by border guards on Monday as he tried to leave the country on a train, officials said.

Investigators said the charges were related to an alleged scheme involving offshore companies benefiting his relatives. Galushchenko - also known as Herman Halushchenko - has denied wrongdoing.

The arrest is the latest high-profile move under Operation Midas, a sweeping probe into allegations of graft around state nuclear power company Energoatom that has rocked the government at a critical time for diplomacy.

Anti-corruption investigators have rebounded after a law that would have limited their independence was scrapped under public and foreign pressure last year. But Ukraine still has a long way to go to fully rid itself of corruption, experts say.

open image in gallery Volodmyr Zelenskys government has had to contest with a mounting anti-corruption probe ( UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER )

What is Operation Midas?

Anti-corruption investigators announced Operation Midas last November as they identified a large-scale corruption scheme in the countrys energy sector. Midas takes its name from the king of Greek mythology, who turned everything he touched into gold.

Behind the probe was the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), who said their discovery was the result of 15 months of wiretapping work and cited 1,000 hours of audio recordings and more than 70 raids.

At the heart of the probe was $100 million in funds that NABU said had been laundered by an alleged criminal organisation consisting of current and former energy officials, government ministers, a former deputy prime minister, and a businessman.

open image in gallery The corruption investigation comes as millions of Ukrainians have been left without power by Russia attacks ( Reuters )

The accused are said to have manipulated contracts at Energoatom, Ukraines state nuclear energy company, to take kickbacks - secret payments, like a bribe, made in exchange for a favour.

NABU said the group took bribes from contractors worth some 10-15 per cent of each contracts value.

Crucially, some of these contracts were handed out to build up fortifications against Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile the winter - Ukraines coldest in more than 15 years - has hit hard as Russian strikes have left millions without power.

Who has been affected?

Investigators claim to have traced the scheme to Timur Mindich, a film producer and co-owner of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys former TV studio, Kvartal95.

The two were close until at least 2021, when Mindich held a surprise party for Zelensky at his flat, during the lockdowns.

Mindich fled Ukraine in the night of 10 November 2025, just hours before NABU enforcers raided his home.

The case had continued to shake Ukraines top leadership and last year led to the resignation of Zelenskys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, following a raid on his home. He was not accused of wrongdoing, and said he would cooperate.

open image in gallery German Galushchenko (centre) was stopped trying to leave the country on Monday, officials said ( REUTERS )

Prosecutors also claimed that Rustem Umerov, former defence minister and current secretary of Ukraines State Security and Defense Council, was pressured to buy cheaply made Chinese bulletproof vests at extortionate rates.

He has not been charged and has denied wrongdoing, saying the contract was terminated due to the products failure to meet requirements.

Investigators have made strides in their work since the government relented on a law that would have limited their independence last summer.

Ukraine saw the first major protests in the streets since the 2022 invasion in July after Zelensky suggested reining NABU and SAPO in to cleanse them of what he called Russian influence.

open image in gallery Andriy Yermak, Zelenskys close aide and chief of staff with a central role in diplomacy, stepped down last year after his house was raided by anti-corruption investigators ( Reuters )

How widespread is corruption in Ukraine?

Ukraine inherited a legacy of corruption when it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite the considerable strides of NABU and SAPO since 2015, corruption remains endemic.

Today, 87 per cent of Ukrainians perceive corruption as a widespread phenomenon, according to a survey of more than 1,000 respondents last summer.

This is more sharply felt in rural communities. But only seven per cent of respondents believe corruption has improved as a whole since last year.

Last year, Transparency International - an organisation monitoring corruption around the world - gave Ukraine a score of 36 out of 100 in the Corruption Perceptions Index, with a lower score reflecting higher rates of corruption.

The UK, by comparison, received a score of 70 in 2025, reflecting a steady backslide from 82 over the last decade.

Andrii Borovyk, executive director at Transparency International Ukraine, said that despite limited improvements - such as a push for greater transparency on the handling of seized assets - reforms have been overshadowed by efforts to limit the independence of the anti-corruption agencies, until they collapsed under public and international pressure.

open image in gallery A woman chants while holding a banner that reads, Corruption Applauds, during a protest against a law targeting anti-corruption institutions in central Kyiv ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Thanks to those protests, we were able to defend the independence of the anti-corruption bodies, and the resulting +1 point in the Corruption Perceptions Index can be viewed as a positive sign, he said.

This is the result of the work of the HACC, the NABU, and the SAPOand the result of societys efforts in defending their independence.

Ukraine has a concrete reform plan available, the group assessed in its 2025 summary, but did not demonstrate real progress or readiness to implement it.

Battling corruption remains a key priority in Ukraine's reform effort as it eyes membership of the European Union, which requires the country shake off the decades-old scourge of graft.

As Operation Midas now continues to rock Ukraine, Energoatom CEO Pavlo Kovtonenko said last week that the company had taken a number of steps to prevent the recurrence of corruption schemes in the future.
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The collapse of the peace talks in Geneva between Russia and Ukraine is a moment to be celebrated. But Europes politicians may need a stiff drink to fortify them for what is to come, after Volodymyr Zelensky described what US deal-brokers were doing as unfair.

The entire process has been a mafia-style shakedown of Ukraine and her allies by the US and Russia, who have weaponised lies about the whole bloody process  from the causes of the war to the prescriptions for ending it.

In Pavlohrad, the big lie for internal refugees from Russias meat grinder operations in the east is that Vladimir Putin sent forces to rescue them from Ukrainian nationalists... that he sent Russian soldiers to save Russian-speakers from the threat of oblivion meted out by Kyiv.

Nikolai Klymenko, 56, sits wheezing on the edge of a bed in the government-run relief coordination centre in the city, an hours drive from the front lines. A former soldier in the Soviet army, he fought in Kandahar, Jalalabad and elsewhere during Moscows efforts to prop up a communist regime in Kabul in the 1980s. He says he was decorated for bravery and that he was blown up by a booby trap in Kandahar, and has the scars to prove it.

I had a hole in my head you could put your finger in, he says of his service to the Kremlin.

Nikolai speaks Russian as his mother tongue. He fled Dobropillia when Moscows forces invaded it last summer, then found himself in Druzhkivka, south of Kramatorsk, as Russian missiles and drones expanded their attacks on civilians.

I ended up begging for cigarettes outside the hospital. So I came here, he says.

open image in gallery Nikolai Klymenko is a former Soviet army soldier who fought in Afghanistan during Moscows efforts to prop up a communist regime in Kabul in the 1980s ( Sam Kiley/The Independent )

At the relief centre, refugees arrive from Donetsk province, which Putin has already illegally annexed even though about a third of it isnt in Russian hands. Since the centre opened in 2024, two years after Putin ordered his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 44,000 people have come through its doors. Theyre helped with food, documents, psychological support and accommodation, locally or deep into the west of the country.

Almost all of them would have been Russian speakers  the people Putin said he was trying to save.

Oleh Nemchenko, a miner from Dobropillia, is not among the refugees. His body is in a hole in the ground near the pithead at the nearby coal mine. He and his wife, Iryna, hung on as Russian forces bombarded the town.

I was lighting a fire in our stove, and he went out for a cigarette. I dont know what happened next, and cannot remember. The next thing, I found myself outside looking at his dead body in the street, says Iryna, rolling her eyes when asked about Putin coming to the rescue of Ukraines Russian-speakers.

Donald Trump has often repeated the claim made by Putin that Ukraine would not have suffered an invasion if it had not looked to join Nato. But Russia invaded in 2014, while Ukraine has only formally pursued Nato membership since 2019, and as a result of Moscows invasion.

But giving an excuse to Russia for its attacks on its neighbour, which Putin has said is a fake country and must be brought back into the Russian imperium as a province with no national sovereignty, has encouraged Trump to end US military support for Kyiv. And it has enabled his first shakedown of the country, when Trump used the cut in aid and other threats to force Ukraine into signing a mineral deal under duress last year.

Trump has been keen to get a peace deal in Ukraine, but he has parroted Russias demands. Recently, he insisted that time was running out for Ukraine and Zelensky to agree to a deal or lose the offer of vague security guarantees to protect the country from future Russian attacks.

open image in gallery Iryna Nemchenko (left) fled Dobropillia after her husband Oleh was killed ( Sam Kiley/The Independent )

Ukraines president has shown a talent for telling the White House: Yes, but no. Now, he has finally said No.

No to the constant requirement that Ukraine continue to make concessions to its invaders  something he described this week at the Munich Security Conference as unfair. He said the latest talks, which collapsed after only two hours, had been difficult.

Security guarantees from the US, a nation that has not ruled out invading Greenland (part of Denmark) and wants to annex Canada, are worth nothing.

The US is part of Nato and has signed treaties to that effect. Its armed forces are the leading part of Nato, its intelligence organisations are bound into a security alliance with, among others, Canada  and yet Trump is happy to ignore these pre-existing guarantees.

The US is an unreliable ally of Europe. And the Trump administration has seen Russias invasion of Ukraine as a business opportunity.

It has been happy to undermine Kyivs defences with a total cut in military aid, and may sever intelligence-sharing links. These actions have favoured the Kremlins brutally slow advance in the east of Ukraine, and blunted any chance of a serious counteroffensive.

US cuts in military aid came after Washington had given, or pledged, around $115bn (85bn). Europe has pledged about double that. But there have been no Europeans at the talks between Ukraine and Russia. So far, the UK, Canada, the EU and other allies of Ukraine have left mediation to the US.

They all recognise that this is dangerous for Europe; that the US contribution amounts to a proposal for Ukrainian capitulation. They do this because of another lie, or myth: that it is only the US that can give Ukraine the security guarantees it needs to protect itself (and the rest of the West).

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference last weekend ( AFP/Getty )

British generals and top brass trot this out as fact. Ukraine is fortunate that it did not listen to the Western military experts who said it would only take days for Putin to capture Kyiv. Four years later, Russia has lost 1.2 million, killed and injured, while Nato has expanded to include Finland and Sweden, and Russias economy is contracting.

Speaking before the latest round of Russian-Ukrainian US-sponsored talks, Kaja Kallas, the EU vice-president, said: The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiating table than it has achieved on the battlefield. Europe is re-arming, and doing so together with our friends.

Europe can already muster (along with Ukraine) a far bigger army, more aircraft, ships, tanks, artillery and sheer military power than Russia. But there is no sign that its leaders are prepared to elbow the US out of the negotiations, or tackle the hard task of explaining to voters that theyll have to pay a lot more for a safe future that America will no longer guarantee or fund.

Theyll need a nip of Ukrainian firewater for that.
Rescue operations continue in Kharkiv as Kyiv says Moscow used new weapon in deadly attack

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Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian experts are heading to the Middle East to provide expertise on combatting Iranian drone attacks.

Kyiv is hoping to leverage its experience with drone warfare in exchange for new supplies of US air defence missiles, amid concerns that the Middle East conflict could stretch global supplies.

Asked how Kyiv intended to help the United States and its Gulf allies counter drone attacks, Zelensky said it was too early to say anything else at this stage, adding that experts would arrive on site in the coming week and assess the situation and help.

Ukraine has highlighted its expertise in drone warfare since the outbreak of the joint US and Israel attack on Iran, and has expressed interest in supplying interceptor drones to counter Iranian Shahed UAVs in exchange for Patriot air defence systems.

Ukraine was already facing a shortage of costly PAC-3 interceptor missiles supplied by the United States, and officials fear a prolonged conflict with Iran could further disrupt supplies.
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Valerii Zaluzhnyi has widely been seen as the top political rival to President Volodymyr Zelensky ever since he was ousted as the head of Ukraines army in 2024 and appointed as the countrys ambassador to Britain.

Zaluzhnyi, 52, refuses to discuss any political ambitions as he doesnt want to risk harming national unity during a war with Russia that is approaching its fourth anniversary.

But in a sign of his possible desire to run for the presidency after the war is over, Zaluzhnyi spoke publicly for the first time about a deep rift between himself and Zelensky.

Tensions emerged soon after Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, and tempers often flared between the two men over how best to defend the country, Zaluzhnyi told The Associated Press.

He said the strained relationship reached a boiling point later that year, when dozens of agents from Ukraines domestic intelligence service raided Zaluzhnyis office.

open image in gallery Many Ukrainians see Valerii Zaluzhnyi as a figure capable of changing the system, said Volodymyr Fesenko, a political analyst based in Kyiv ( AP )

Zaluzhnyi alleges the previously unreported incident was an act of intimidation.

Ukraines security service, known as the SBU, said that no search was ever carried out at Zaluzhnyis office, though it acknowledged that the address was part of an investigation unrelated to him. Zelenskys office declined to comment for this story. The AP could not independently confirm Zaluzhnyis account of the raid.

The revelation threatens to polarize public opinion in Ukraine at a critical moment in the war. Russian forces are making slow, steady gains across Ukraines eastern front, and both sides are clinging to incompatible demands as the U.S. presses them to reach a peace deal.

Zaluzhnyi said that during the 2022 raid on his office he called Zelenskys chief of staff warning him he was prepared to call in the military to stop it and protect the command center: I will fight with you and have already called in reinforcements to the center of Kyiv for support.

While that near crisis early in the war passed, disagreements between Zaluzhnyi and Zelensky over how to defend their country persisted, according to Zaluzhnyi.

A dispute over a counteroffensive in 2023 that ultimately failed was particularly contentious, the former general said. Zelensky dismissed him as army chief in February 2024, and later announced he would be headed to London.

The move was widely seen by political analysts as an effort by Zelensky to limit Zaluzhnyis potential as a political rival.

While a deal to end the war remains elusive, Zelensky has agreed in principle to a plan laid out by U.S. President Donald Trump that calls for elections once the war is over and security guarantees are in place.

I know how to fight

One evening in mid-September 2022, Zaluzhnyi emerged from a tense meeting at Zelenskys headquarters and headed back to his office in Kyiv.

Hours later, dozens of agents from Ukraines security service showed up at Zaluzhnyis office to search the premises, Zaluzhnyi said. He says he prevented them from rifling through documents and computers.

The raid was clearly a threat, Zaluzhnyi said.

Later, he learned that Ukraine's security service had sought a search warrant from a district court in Kyiv two days earlier to inspect the address where Zaluzhnyis office is located. The agency was seeking to search a strip club allegedly run by a criminal organization, according to a court document obtained by AP.

open image in gallery While a deal to end the war remains elusive, Zelensky has agreed in principle to a plan laid out by Trump that calls for elections once the war is over ( AP )

But the strip club named in the filing had been closed at that location since before Russias full-scale invasion, two employees who work at the clubs new location told the AP.

The SBU said it was looking into several addresses as part of an investigation into organized crime  unconnected to Zaluzhnyi.

Zaluzhnyi believes the agency could not plausibly have mistaken the location of the countrys main war command center.

Diluted striking force

The 2023 counteroffensive drew widespread criticism from military experts for being too ambitious and coming too late, giving Russian forces time to fortify positions.

Zaluzhnyi says the plan he had crafted with help from NATO partners failed because Zelensky and other officials wouldnt commit the resources it required.

The original plan was to concentrate enough forces into a single fist to retake the partially occupied region of Zaporizhzhia  home to a vital nuclear power plant  and then have them advance south to the Sea of Azov. This would sever a corridor of land the Russian army had been using to resupply Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014. Success required a large, concentrated buildup and tactical surprise, Zaluzhnyi said.

What happened instead, he said, was that forces were dispersed over a wide area, diluting their striking power.

His account of how the counteroffensive diverged from the original plan was corroborated by two Western defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they arent authorized to speak publicly to the media.

A diplomat with political intentions?

Zaluzhnyis key criticisms of Ukraines war strategy are that it depends on an unrealistic number of troops and is not organized well in how it develops and deploys new technologies to the battlefield.

He watches developments closely, but says he has not been involved with military decision-making since Zelensky pushed him out. Zaluzhnyi said he and Zelensky had absolutely friendly conversations on the two occasions they met since then.

Some analysts say Zaluzhnyis lack of involvement in Ukraines day-to-day political affairs could weaken his popularity.

Still, an Ipsos poll published last month showed support for Zaluzhnyi in a hypothetical future election at 23%, compared with Zelenskys 20%, making him the presidents top competitor.

Many Ukrainians see him as a figure capable of changing the system, said Volodymyr Fesenko, a political analyst based in Kyiv.

People will vote not only for Zaluzhnyi but also against Zelensky  blaming him for the failures of his presidency, he explained.

Zaluzhnyi avoids discussing politics, he says, for fear of fomenting division among Ukrainians.

Until the war is over or martial law ends, I am not discussing this and have done nothing toward that, he said.
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Satellite images show Iran has recently built a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site and covered it in soil, experts say. This work advances at a location reportedly bombed by Israel in 2024 amid tensions with the US.

The imagery also indicates Iran has buried tunnel entrances at a nuclear site bombed by the US during Israel's 12-day war last year, fortified tunnel entrances near another, and repaired missile bases struck in the conflict.

These activities offer a glimpse of Iranian operations at sites central to tensions with Israel and the US, as Washington seeks to negotiate a deal with Tehran on its nuclear programme while threatening military action if talks fail.

Here are some images showing the changes:

Parchin Military Complex

Iran's highly sensitive Parchin military complex, located 30 km (20 miles) southeast of Tehran, has been linked by Western intelligence to alleged nuclear bomb detonation tests conducted over two decades ago.

Tehran has consistently denied these claims, asserting it has no ambition to develop atomic weapons.

open image in gallery A combination picture of satellite images show the Parchin military complex before and after the Israeli strikes ( via REUTERS )

Israel reportedly struck Parchin in October 2024.

Satellite imagery taken before and after that attack shows extensive damage to a rectangular building at Parchin, and apparent reconstruction in images from 6 November, 2024.

Imagery from 12 October, 2025 shows development at the site, with the skeleton of a new structure visible and two smaller structures adjacent to it. Progress is apparent in imagery from 14 November, with what appears to be a metallic roof covering the large structure.

But imagery from 13 December shows the facility partly covered. By 16 February, it cannot be seen at all, hidden by what experts say is a concrete structure.

The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), in a 22 January analysis of satellite imagery, pointed to progress in the construction of a "concrete sarcophagus" around a newly built facility at the site, which it identified as Taleghan 2.

ISIS reported in November that imagery showed "ongoing construction and the presence of what appears to resemble a long, cylindrical chamber, maybe a high-explosives containment vessel, likely measuring approximately 36 meters long and 12 meters in diameter placed inside a building".

"High-explosive containment vessels are critical to the development of nuclear weapons," ISIS added, "but can also be used in many other conventional weapons development processes."

open image in gallery Satellite imagery taken before and after that attack shows extensive damage to a rectangular building at Parchin, and apparent reconstruction in images from 6 November, 2024 ( via REUTERS )

William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground, said the roof had a similar hue to the surrounding area, adding: "It has most likely been covered with dirt to obscure the concrete colour."

ISIS founder David Albright wrote on X: "Stalling the negotiations has its benefits: Over the last two to three weeks, Iran has been busy burying the new Taleghan 2 facility ... More soil is available and the facility may soon become a fully unrecognizable bunker, providing significant protection from aerial strikes."

Tunnel entrances buried at Isfahan Nuclear Complex

The Isfahan complex is one of three Iranian uranium-enrichment plants bombed by the United States in June.

In addition to facilities that are part of the nuclear fuel cycle, Isfahan includes an underground area where diplomats say much of Iran's enriched uranium has been stored.

open image in gallery The Isfahan complex is one of three Iranian uranium-enrichment plants bombed by the United States in June ( via REUTERS )

Satellite images taken in late January showed new efforts to bury two tunnel entrances at the complex, ISIS reported on 29 January.

In a 9 February update, ISIS said a third entrance had also been backfilled with soil, meaning all entrances to the tunnel complex were now "completely buried".

A 10 February image shows all three tunnels buried, Goodhind said.

ISIS reported on 9 February that "backfilling the tunnel entrances would help dampen any potential airstrike and also make ground access in a special forces raid to seize or destroy any highly enriched uranium that may be housed inside difficult".

Tunnel entrances fortified at complex near Natanz site

ISIS has reported that satellite images point to ongoing efforts since 10 February to "harden and defensively strengthen" two entrances to a tunnel complex under a mountain some 2 km (1.2 miles) from Natanz - the site that holds Iran's other two uranium enrichment plants.

open image in gallery A satellite image shows ongoing efforts to harden and strengthen a facility's two tunnel entrances at a complex near Nantanz, Iran ( via REUTERS )

Imagery shows "ongoing activity throughout the complex related to this effort, involving the movement of numerous vehicles, including dump trucks, cement mixers, and other heavy equipment", ISIS wrote.

Iran's plans for the facility, called Pickaxe Mountain, are unclear, ISIS said.

Shiraz South Missile Base

About 10 km (6 miles) south of Shiraz in southern Iran, this is one of 25 primary bases capable of launching medium-range ballistic missiles, according to Alma Research and Education Center, an Israeli organisation.

open image in gallery A combination picture of satellite images shows Shiraz South Missile Base before reconstruction and after reconstruction and clearance efforts, in Shiraz South, Iran ( via REUTERS )

Alma assessed the site had suffered light, above-ground damage in last year's war.

A comparison of images taken on 3 July, 2025 and 30 January shows reconstruction and clearance efforts at the main logistics and likely command compound at the base, Goodhind said.

"The key takeaway is that the compound has yet to return to its full operational capacity from prior to the airstrikes."

Qom Missile Base

Some 40 km north of the city of Qom, this base suffered moderate above-ground damage, according to Alma.

A comparison of images taken between 16 July, 2025, and 1 February shows a new roof over a damaged building. The roof repairs appear to have begun on 17 November and were most likely complete 10 days later, Goodhind said.
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The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has begun in Gaza, with Palestinians observing the holy period amidst the shattered remnants of their communities and places of worship.

Many have resorted to makeshift prayer spaces of tarpaulins and wood, or the ruins of mosques, mourning their dead and lost sanctuaries.

In Gaza City, the dome of the now-destroyed Al Hassaina mosque rests on a pile of rubble. Its former courtyard, once a gathering place, now sees families sleeping and cooking among the debris, criss-crossed with washing lines.

"I can't bear to look at it," said Sami Al Hissi, 61, a volunteer at the mosque, standing on rubble where worshippers once stood shoulder to shoulder in prayer.

"We used to pray comfortably. We used to see our friends, our loved ones. Now there are no loved ones, no friends, and no mosque," he added.

Children clamber over the cracked domes and women collect laundry hung between broken columns. Al Hissi noted the mosque had drawn worshippers from other neighbourhoods, including Shejaia and Daraj, during Ramadan.

"It would be filled with thousands," he said. "But now, where are they supposed to pray? It's all rubble and destruction. There's barely enough space for a hundred people."

open image in gallery A mosque, destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, is surrounded by tents for displaced Palestinians, in Gaza City ( Reuters )

Israel launched its air and ground war in Gaza after a Hamas-led cross-border attack on 7 October, 2023 that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's assault has killed 72,000 Palestinians, health authorities say.

The Hamas-run Gaza government media office says Israeli forces have completely destroyed 835 mosques and partially damaged 180. It added Israel has targeted churches in attacks on multiple occasions, and destroyed 40 of Gaza's 60 cemeteries.

Israel says it targets militant infrastructure and accuses Palestinian armed groups of operating in civilian areas, including mosques, an allegation Hamas denies.

For many residents, the loss is both spiritual and communal.

"We wished we could welcome Ramadan in a different atmosphere," said Khitam Jabr, displaced and now staying at the mosque.

open image in gallery The Hamas-run Gaza government media office says Israeli forces have completely destroyed 835 mosques and partially damaged 180 ( REUTERS )

"We don't have enough mosques. All of the mosques were destroyed and there's nowhere to pray. Now we pray in tents, and the mosques became centres for the displaced," she added.

Despite the devastation and severe shortages of materials, people are attempting to rebuild small sections of mosques and set up makeshift prayer spaces using reused plastic sheeting and wood, said Amir Abu Al-Amrain, director of the religious affairs ministry in Gaza City.

"Four hundred and thirty prayer areas have been rebuilt, some using plastic sheets from greenhouses, some made of wood, and some constructed with plastic sheets from tents," he said.
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Iran temporarily shut part of the key Strait of Hormuz as tensions with the US continue to mount.

Tuesdays move is the first time the Middle Eastern waterway has been closed since the 1980s, and came as Irans ayatollah issued fresh threats against the United States.

One of the worlds most strategically important routes, around 20 per cent of oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

State media announced it would be partially shut for several hours due to security precautions as the Revolutionary Guard carried out military drills.

open image in gallery Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps began a series of military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, on the eve of talks with the United States. ( Sepanews )

Experts have previously warned that closing the Strait could cause a hike in oil prices if fuel is unable to get through.

International law permits countries to exercise control of up to 13.8 miles (12 nautical miles) from their coastline. At its narrowest point, the passage comes under both Iranian and Omani control.

The US and Iran held talks about a potential nuclear deal on Tuesday, with Tehrans foreign minister announcing guiding principals had been agreed, without going into specifics.

Vice president JD Vance told Fox News: In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards. But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.

Despite publicly committing to ongoing discussions on a deal, both sides have taken escalatory action in recent days.

The US positioned the worlds largest warship, the USS Gerald R Ford, in the Middle East to join an earlier aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, that had moved to the region last month.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded by threatening to sink the carriers.

The US president keeps saying, our military is the strongest military in the world; the worlds most powerful military can sometimes receive such a slap that it can no longer stay on its feet, he said on Tuesday. They constantly say, we have sent an aircraft carrier towards Iran.

OK, of course an aircraft carrier is a dangerous device, but more dangerous than the carrier is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea.

open image in gallery Navy ships during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Gulf ( Sepanews )

Earlier in the week, Iran carried out military drills in the Strait, with missiles launched inside Iran and along its coast striking targets in the waterway.

The exercises, which included test missiles, warships and helicopters, were displaying the operational readiness of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and plans for reciprocal action in case of potential security and military threats.

On Wednesday, Iran and Russia announced joint navy drills in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean would be carried out on Thursday.

Creating convergence and coordination in joint measures to counter activities threatening maritime security and safety (...) as well as combating maritime terrorism, are among the main goals of this joint exercise, Iranian navy commander Hassan Maghsoodloo said according to Fars News.
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Europe is poised for a significant influx of Chinese and Indian tourists this year, set to offset a projected slowdown in growth from American travellers, according to a new survey from the European Travel Commission.

Overall international arrivals to the continent are expected to climb by 6.2 per cent.

This marks the first indication of a tempering in the post-pandemic surge of American travel to Europe, a trend previously bolstered by a robust US dollar and economic resilience across North America.

An earlier study by the industry group highlighted that Americans showed less inclination to travel to Europe in 2026 compared to 2025, citing escalating economic concerns and geopolitical instability as key factors.

While Chinese arrivals to Europe are forecast to soar by 28 per cent compared to 2025, and Indian visitor numbers are predicted to rise by 9 per cent, traveller figures from the Americas are anticipated to grow by a more modest 4.2 per cent.

Data from aviation intelligence platform Cirium further supports this shift, revealing that bookings from Europe to the US between October 7 and the end of January dropped by 14.2 per cent year-on-year, with bookings from the US to Europe also sliding by 7.3 per cent.

open image in gallery Despite a tempering of interest from core American travellers, Europe is still seeing a steady rise in both long-haul travellers and in spending ( AP )

Despite this dip in interest from core American holidaymakers, Europe continues to experience a steady increase in both long-haul visitors and overall spending.

This suggests that tourists still choosing to visit are increasingly focused on high-value experiences, helping to maintain stability within the European travel market.

"Europe continues to stand out as a reliable destination, well-positioned to respond to evolving demand for more flexible travel and experience-led journeys," said Miguel Sanz, head of the European Travel Commission, in a statement.

Travel spending in Europe is set to have risen by 9.7 per cent in 2025, according to the survey.

open image in gallery An earlier study from industry group the European Travel Commission showed that Americans were less intent on travelling to Europe in 2026 than in 2025, a trend driven by worsening economic concerns and geopolitical instability ( AFP/Getty )

That is in line with reports from Europe's major carriers, including Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, of a steady rise in bookings for their premium offerings, while economy cabin bookings for transatlantic travel have fallen.

Air France-KLM reports its full-year results for 2025 on Thursday.
This is the moment a heroic female clerk confronted an alleged kidnapper searching for his ex-girlfriend after the woman escaped and hid in a store.

The unnamed woman can be seen in footage leaping from a U-Haul truck in Butler City, Pennsylvania, on Valentines Day. It is alleged her ex-boyfriend, Kenneth Clarke, had beaten and abducted her and was threatening her with scissors when she made a break for it.

She ran into Butler Tobacco and Grocery and hid in a back room. When Clarke pursued her, clerk Tori Adams faced him down until he left.

Clarke was later arrested and charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, strangulation and terroristic threats.
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Illinois governor believes its time for social media platforms to pay up.

The new proposal would charge social media companies up to 50 cents a month, per active user they obtain data from. The move would generate an estimated $200 million per year for the state, according to Governor J.B. Pritzkers office.

The Digital Platform Fee is intended to cover costs the state pays for the negative impact of social media on Illinois residents, and would be included in the states fiscal year 2027 budget.

As big tech companies continue to profit off of surveilling youth, creating addictive algorithms, and abandoning their responsibility to keep kids and consumers safe, the American public is paying the price, the governors office stated in a fact sheet.

From negative psychologic impacts on youth to consumer scams on the elderly, state governments are bearing the societal costs of irresponsible tech.

open image in gallery Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed an interesting way to boost the states tax revenue ( Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Vox Media )

Companies such as Instagram and Facebook would face tiered monthly fees depending on their size:

100,000 to 500,000 Illinois users: 10 cents for every user above 100,000

500,000 to 1 million Illinois users: 25 cents for every user above 500,000, plus an a monthly $40,000 fee

1 million or more Illinois users: 50 cents for every user above 1 million, plus a monthly $165,000 fee.

A provision in the proposal would prohibit companies from passing the fees along to their users. The tax revenue generated by the fee would be invested in Illinois education system, the fact sheet noted.

The possible fees come as the state is facing a roughly $2 billion budget shortfall for financial year 2027, Chicagos ABC 7 reported. Enacting the levy on social media companies would be unique at the state level, but not at the city level.

Chicago became the first major city in the U.S. to enact a social media tax on January 1 of this year, charging platforms that collect consumer data a monthly tax of 50 cents per user over 100,000 users, according to the Chicago Department of Finance.

open image in gallery Chicagos social media tax went into effect on January 1 ( Getty Images )

The fee is projected to generate $31 million in revenue for the city, according to an analysis by accounting firm Ernst & Young.

Several other states have made attempts to tax social media companies, including California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Tennessee.

Minnesota lawmakers unsuccessfully proposed a social media tax in early 2025. Rep. Aisha Gomez sponsored the bill that wouldve implemented the tax, which the states revenue department estimated would generate as much as $92.7 million by fiscal year 2027, according to Minnesotas House of Representatives.
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Taylor Chip, a once fast-growing Pennsylvania company that began with a couples quest to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie, is now under intense financial strain as it works through a restructuring process, newly released bankruptcy documents revealed.

The filings, made public this week, show the business is carrying more than $2.5 million in debt while reporting just $400,000 in assets, according to location station WHP.

Customers compared Taylor Chip to the national phenomenon Crumbl due to their similar oversized, gooey cookies with unique flavors like Lava Cake and Salted Caramel Pretzel.

The Lancaster County-based company, whose owners Sara and Doug Taylor opened their first location in August 2018, became known for its oversized cookies and rapid expansion into new markets including Philadelphia. But delays and rising costs later contributed to its financial troubles.

Taylor Chip announced earlier this month that it would seek protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and close its two Philadelphia locations as part of efforts to stabilize operations. In a statement, the founders said the move is meant to give the company a chance to survive and rebuild.

open image in gallery Customers liken Taylor Chip to Crumbl for its large, gooey cookies with unique flavors ( Facebook/Taylor Chip )

Chapter 11 is often misunderstood. It does not mean we're going away. It means we're restructuring so the business can survive and grow stronger, they said in a social media post last week. We had to make the difficult decision to close stores in order to even have the opportunity to build a future. This decision wasn't easy, but it was necessary.

Taylor Chips owners told The Independent that the company has a 7A loan through NewTek Bank and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), with a remaining balance of $1.8m.

An SBA spokesperson told The Independent in a statement:The SBA maintains strict privacy policies and does not disclose information about specific individual or business loans. This includes details related to programs such as PPP, COVID EIDL, or any other SBA-administered assistance.

The Taylor Chip locations in Manheim Township, Gordonville, Hershey and York, Pennsylvania, will remain open, the owners said. The couple said they will refocus Taylor Chip on its roots by prioritizing rural locations, expanding online sales and building the future of the brand, including its nutrition line.

Building something from nothing means taking risks, and not every bet pays off the way you expect, Doug Taylor said in a statement. Were proud of what we built in Philadelphia, even though it didnt work the way we hoped. This decision allows us to protect the heart of the brand, take care of our team, and keep building for the long term. If youre in the middle of a hard chapter, keep going, it doesnt define you, and its rarely the end of the story.

Earlier this month, the Taylors pointed to significant permitting delays in Philadelphia as a major factor in the companys financial troubles.

open image in gallery Both of Taylor Chip's Philadelphia locations have closed as the Pennsylvania cookie company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection ( Google Maps )

What was expected to be about a six-month process to open the Philadelphia stores after signing the leases in late 2022 stretched to nearly two years, leaving the locations unable to generate revenue while expenses continued to pile up.

Without outside investors, the Taylors said they relied on creative financing to stay afloat, but the Philadelphia locations ultimately could not produce enough income to cover the debt created during those extended delays.

Like many businesses in our communities, Taylor Chip started small. No investors. Just a maxed out credit card and a passion for making desserts with better ingredients and a community that was looking for the same thing, the Taylors said in a social media post last week. As we grew, we took on bigger risks. Some worked. Some didn't. That's part of building a business.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article referenced a Paycheck Protection Program loan which was not part of the companys outstanding liabilities.
Ask Allison: My dad and his sister fell out and she wanted her cancer kept secret from him. Now shes dead, do I tell him?
There was hectic frontloading of goods before US president Donald Trump put tariffs on imports. Photo: Getty

The value of Irish exports soared by 36.6bn, or over 16pc, last year to a record total of 260.3bn.

The import of goods rose also, up by 9.4bn, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The value of imports, at 144bn, was 7pc up on 2024.
TV review: Gordon Ramsay shows his ruthless perfectionist streak as fiery chef expands his empire

The Ballymaloe school in Co Cork gets a visit in Being Gordon Ramsay but Netflix viewers wanting more on the Holly and Adam Peaty family feud will be left unsatiated

Fascinating story: The chef and entrepreneur in Being Gordon Ramsay. Photo: Netflix  2025

Ann Marie Hourihane Wed 18 Feb 2026 at 15:27

This is an advertisement for Gordon Ramsay. He is one of its executive producers. It is what is known these days as a celeb doc; see the Beckhams, Arnold Schwarzenegger, etc.
An Post has unveiled its latest stamp collection, which stars arguably one of the most charming of all Irish symbols  the humble Aran jumper.

The Aran Jumper stamp collection, which launches on February 19, features two designs: the N stamp for postage within Ireland, features the Aran jumper in mid-knit, with needles and wool, while the W stamp for worldwide postage is illustrated by a completed garment. Together, they showcase Irish craftsmanship to the world.
Student bed shortage reaches at least 38,900 across four Irish cities

Sherry FitzGerald says new developments are contributing to the problem

Scape student accommodation on Aungier Street, Dublin. New research shows the capital faces the most acute pressure when it comes to student rentals

Donal Buckley Wed 18 Feb 2026 at 06:30

A shortage of at least 38,900 student bed spaces was estimated across Dublin and the three regional centres of Cork, Galway and Limerick at the end of last year, according to research by estate agents Sherry FitzGerald.
A manhunt is continuing for a 27-year-old criminal who was the driver of a car that was involved in a serious hit-and-run yesterday evening.

The incident has left the criminals friend, who was a passenger in the car, in a critical condition and he is currently being treated for his injuries in Beaumont Hospital.
Gardai in Clare are investigating a number of incidents that occurred across the county last week, including a major theft as 500kg of coal was stolen from a residence in Ennis.
3.5 million in funding has been allocated for the N/M20 Cork to Limerick Motorway Project for 2026

144.5 million in national road funding has been allocated to Cork County and city in 2026.

The package includes 138,261,389 for County Cork and 5,872,152 for Cork city, which represents a 94% increase from the 72,261,348 allocated last year.

Key projects include 600,000 for the N72/N73 Mallow Relief Road, 3.1 million for Ballyvourney to Macroom, 3.5 million for the N/M20 Cork to Limerick Motorway Project, 1.5 million for the N72 Ballymacquirke East Pavement and 3.5 million for the N72 Clonbannin Pavement.

Labour Party TD for Cork North Central Eoghan Kenny welcomed the allocation of funds for the Mallow Relief Road, but said clarity is required on the next steps for the long-awaited project. 600,000 for the Mallow Relief Road is a welcome development. However, clarity is now needed from Cork County Council as to where this will bring us in the process. We need to see shovels on the ground as quickly as possible.

Deputy Kenny said there has been a piecemeal approach to the Mallow Relief Road now for many years.

We need to see direct investment from government to build the Mallow Relief Road as quickly as possible. I will always welcome allocations of funding towards particular projects. I welcome this funding, but what I want to see is clarification from both Cork County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) as to where this will bring us now in getting shovels on the ground.

It is the biggest infrastructural project for my hometown, reiterated Mr Kenny. It is my biggest goal. We need to get the relief road done. It is necessary for the economic development of our town. We need to see more businesses and more industry. It is so important for the development of housing.

If we want to see housing development, infrastructure must match that. It is so important particularly for our main street which needs to be absolutely brought back to the best of its ability. That can only be done if we can take cars and HGVs off our main street. That will be done by getting the relief road built, he added.

Mallow Relief Road Alliance welcomed the allocation of 600,000 for the relief road from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to Cork County Council as a significant and positive step forward.

A spokesperson for the group told The Corkman: Traffic congestion in Mallow town is rapidly increasing, effecting business, community and shoppers alike and requires immediate action. The relief road will take heavy traffic off the town, significantly improving air quality and supporting not only existing businesses but will also unlock Mallow's potential as an important and growing tourism destination, they added.

The spokesperson said improved access is key to this vision.

The road will better connect Mallow Train Station, transforming it into a true gateway for national and international visitors exploring the region. It will also provide smoother access to iconic local sites like Doneraile Park and Mallow Castle.

However, traffic congestion is expected to increase significantly over the next five years, requiring interim measures to ease pressure on the town. These could include redirecting heavy traffic away from the town and bringing forward some active travel proposals, the spokesperson added.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West John Paul OShea described the 138 million in funding for national roads across Cork County, as a major investment in safety, connectivity, and regional development.

This substantial investment represents a strong commitment to improving our national road network and enhancing safety and accessibility for all road users,

Deputy OShea said: I am especially pleased to see major funding approved for a number of key routes in Cork North West, which will have a real and lasting impact on local communities and the regional economy.

Under the allocation, funding has been approved for the following projects:

N72 Roadworks: N72 Ballymaquirke East Pavement - 1.5m, N72 Clonbannin Pavement - 3.5m, N72 Meenaskeha Phase 2 - 1.9m and N72/N73 Mallow Relief Road - 600,000

N20 Roadworks: N20 Buttevant NS Pedestrian Crossing - 82,000, N20 Buttevant North Pedestrian Crossing - 78,000, N20 Charleville Main Street RSIS - 500,000, N20 Charleville Relief Road Minor Works - 500,000 and N/M20 Cork to Limerick Motorway Project - 3.5m.

N22 Roadworks: N22 Ballyvourney Pedestrian Crossing - 20,000, N22 Castlemore RSIS - 50,000, N22 Kilcondi Right Turn Lane RSIS - 10,000

N22 Srelane Safety Scheme Type B - 200,000, N22 Srelane to Ovens - 1m and N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom - 3.1m

Deputy OShea said continued progress on the Cork to Limerick motorway is particularly important for the long-term development of Munster. This funding is good news for families, businesses, and communities across Cork North West.

The fundinng allocated to the major national road projects in Cork include: 2,500,000 for the N22 Carrigrohane, 400,000 for the Cork City Northern Transport Project and 110 million for the Ringaskiddy/Cork Road.

Sinn Fein councillor for Cork City South West, Joe Lynch, has welcomed the allocation of 2.5 million for the resurfacing of the N22 Carrigrohane (Straight) Road. Im delighted that 2.5 million has been secured to undertake resurfacing of the N22 Carrigrohane/Straight Road - from Leemount junction at Carrigrohane as far as Grassland Agro - in 2026. The road surface is in an appalling condition. Im glad that works will be undertaken this year.

Cork Chamber also welcomed the announcement of funding allocations for key roads projects across the Cork region.

Conor Healy, Cork Chamber CEO, said: Funding of 3.5 million has been committed for the M20 Cork to Limerick Motorway, alongside 110 million in continued funding for the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Motorway, two key routes to drive economic growth and support regional connectivity.

Funding has also been allocated to the N25, as well as the Cork City Northern Transport Project and Mallow Relief Road, all of which play an important role in enhancing connectivity around the city region and county. Additional funding for other critical schemes around the county should also be prioritised, including the N71 Innishannon Bypass and related works, he added.

Mr Healy said the focus must now be on delivery without delay.
An east Cork road with hundreds of potholes has been dubbed an accident waiting to happen with a local councillor declaring that he is very dissatisfied with the councils response that it will be considered for resurfacing during the year.

In a motion at a recent meeting of the East Cork Municipal District, Cllr John Buckley called on Cork County Council to fully resurface the L7628 near Midleton from the Dungourney road as far as Billberry Cross.

Last week I walked it with a couple of locals and the road is in an absolutely terrible state. We stopped counting at 250 potholes. It's by far one of the worst roads in East Cork. The velocity patcher has been out there a few times but at this stage I think it's doing more damage than good. Its beyond repair, he said.

The East Cork councillor said that when approaching the Midleton-Dungourney road from the Bilbury side, the road has subsided into the ditch and you're nearly coming out to the centre of the road to come onto the Midleton road. It's an accident waiting to happen.

A written response from the councils Roads Operations and Area Services team said that the L7628-0 Bilberry Road from Harrisgrove to Ballynona will be considered for surface dressing under the Restoration Maintenance Programme in 2026.

Local Area Engineer Dave Clarke told the meeting that the most damaged section of the road is not good enough for surface dressing, it certainly needs an overlay. So at this point and time I can't give an undertaking that it will be on this year's program but it's certainly something we would like to get done.

Potholes on an East Cork road.

Cllr Buckley told the Irish Independent he is very dissatisfied with the response that the road would be considered for surfacing in 2026. This is not good enough in my opinion as this road is a real threat to driver safety. Theres one part of the road where you are nearly driving on the opposite side of the road on a bend.

The Municipal District meeting heard a litany of potholes, road subsidence issues and blocked gullies reported by the East Cork councillors in places such as Aghada, Killeagh, Ballymacoda, Whitegate and Saleen with the problems made worse by the recent heavy rain.

Mr Clarke said the council is waiting to see what funding it will receive under the government's Severe Weather Programme this year. "So as an optimist, I'm hoping we will get more. We can see the benefit it has done, that extra funding in terms of the roads that have been done over the last two years.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
John Donoghue, Chief Executive of Ifac and Mike Murphy of Michael G Murphy Accountants.

A north Cork accountancy business has been acquired by a national accountancy and financial advisory firm.

Michael G Murphy Accountants, based in Charleville, was acquired by Ifac. a professional services firm serving the farming, food, agribusiness and SME sectors.

The aquisition has seen Ifac strengthen its presence across north Cork and the wider Munster region.

Ifac is 50 years in business, providing specialist advice to the farming, food and agribusiness community since 1975.

The firms national growth strategy has seen it expand across 30 locations nationwide and work with 600 professionals.

Michael G Murphy Accountants brings a well-established reputation for supporting local enterprises and farming clients and the team of the Charleville business will join forces with Ifacs Mallow office.

Mike Murphy, of Michael G Murphy Accountants, said joining the Ifac is an excellent opportunity for his team and clients.

We have always taken pride in delivering personal, reliable and sector-focused advice, Mr Murphy said.

As part of Ifac, we can maintain that local focus while giving our clients access to a broader range of specialist expertise and national resources, he added.

We look forward to working closely with Niamh, Gary and the wider Mallow team.

Chief executive of Ifac, John Donoghue, welcomed the acquisition.

Mike and his team have built a strong and trusted practice with deep roots in the local business and farming community. Their expertise aligns closely with our specialist focus on farming, food, agribusiness and SMEs, Mr Donoghue said.

As one of Irelands largest accounting, tax and advisory firms, our continued growth ensures that clients in north Cork, west Limerick, and across Munster have access to both local insight and national capability. We are delighted to welcome the team to Ifac, he added.
Enhanced road safety measures at a busy junction which has students waiting to be collected by a school bus needs to be urgently prioritised to avoid a serious accident occurring.

That was the unanimous call from several councillors at a recent Kanturk-Mallow Municipal District meeting.

Fine Gael councillor Tony OShea brought forward a motion requesting Cork County Council to engage with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the relevant local landowner(s) to carry out the cutting back of overgrowth and trees in the vicinity of the junction where the L1201-0 meets the N72.

Cllr OShea said engagement is required between the various stakeholders to improve sightlines to the west for vehicles exiting this junction, thereby enhancing road safety.

This junction is a busy junction. It is the Ballyclough road coming down on to the N72 near Lombardstown Cross. The visibility from the west is very poor. Traffic on the N72 is doing 100kmph.

Mr OShea outlined how difficult it is for slow moving vehicles and elderly people to pull out and turn for the west.

Im not sure who owns the land. My request was that we try and make this area safer for people pulling out of that road. There is also an issue there with a school bus.

There are school children standing at that junction being picked up, stated Cllr OShea as he highlighted the increasing levels of danger at the junction. The kids are waiting at the road; a bus comes along and pulls into the lane. You have traffic coming from the west, also pulling into the lane and turning up for Ballyclough. This is quite dangerous. We need to improve the entire junction and sightlines pulling out especially from Ballyclough.

Fianna Fail councillor Gearoid Murphy who seconded the motion agreed that it is a very important issue.

I have had this raised as well. In relation to the response, we might be able to go back and ask can they be trimmed back rather than fully felled? Maybe it is not possible. It would be good to get clarification on that.

In a written reply, Frances Whoriskey, Senior Executive Engineer with Cork County Council informed the councillors that a site visit was undertaken. It was noted that felling trees at this location would not provide additional visibility to the west due to the curvature of the road. However, regular hedge cutting is recommended at this location.

Billy OSullivan, Senior Executive Engineer with Cork County Council said cutting the trees wont improve sightlines due to the coverage of the road. The roadside boundary ditch west of the junction is private property and the responsibility for maintaining the hedges along this section rest with the landowner and they are being maintained now.

Separately there is a verge cutting contract for the national roads and junctions. This will be arranged by council this year like previous years. It can be extended at this location to include the area at the junction, he added.

Cllr OShea however disagreed with the response as he reiterated his belief that felling the trees would improve the sightlines.

That work is being carried out every year, but it still doesnt improve the visibility of the sightlines. I disagree with what is down as a response. I think if that area was felled, it would most certainly improve the sightlines pulling out from that junction.

If the trees were no longer there, you would get a glimpse of an articulated truck, or a big vehicle and maybe even a car. I am asking for it to be re-looked at before there is an accident there because it is a busy junction. A lot of people from the Lombardstown side go over to Ballyclough to the post office. A lot of people use this road. I would appreciate if this was relayed back to TII, he added.

Mr OSullivan said the local authority will look into potentially moving the bus stop to improve safety measures at the busy junction.

We can look at this and the bus stop to see if there is a better location for it to see if we can make it safer.
Councillors have cautioned that changes in the cap could worsen noise pollution, traffic and climate concerns for people living in the area

Local representatives in Fingal have called plans to remove the passenger cap at Dublin Airport undemocratic.

If a new bill is approved, planning responsibilities for the airport will transfer from Fingal County Council (FCC) to the Minister for Transport.

This could mean the ministry overriding the current limit of 32 million passengers  a cap introduced in 2007 when Terminal 2 of the airport received planning permission.

The original cap came through the planning process and any attempt to remove the cap should have the same level of democratic scrutiny, said Labour councillor for Castleknock John Walsh.

I think the governments proposals are undemocratic. They are designed to remove a level of scrutiny and accountability of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA)  its designed to allow the DAA to get their way without any scrutiny from public representatives or professional planners.

Last year, the FCC issued an enforcement notice to the DAA to comply with its planning conditions after it received complaints that they had been breached.

FCC councillors have cautioned that changes in the cap could worsen noise pollution and traffic for people living in parts of Fingal.

The government has decided to ignore the people and sacrifice local communities in the interest of expanding flights at the airport, cllr Walsh said.

"The government is showing a blatant disregard for the quality of life of residents living close to the airport  they have very serious concerns about noise pollution that the DAA has totally failed to address.

A spokesperson for the DAA said it has invested 23m in noise mitigation as a response to concerns from residents in the area.

The DAA is very aware that airport operations have an impact on local communities and works hard to minimise this, said Kevin Cullinane, Deputy Director of Communications at the DAA.

Our job is to operate a major international airport and ensure Ireland has the connectivity it needs with the world. We have to strike a balance between this and the needs of those living close to the airport.

Thats always going to be difficult, but we are constantly working to minimise the impact and listen to community feedback.

"Thats why we have invested over 23m in noise mitigation, including home insulation, voluntary home purchase schemes and continuous noise monitoring for surrounding communities.

After Ryanair, along with Aer Lingus and US airlines, sued the Irish Aviation Authority last year, Dublin Airport was allowed to handle 36.4 million passengers.

Earlier, Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary criticised Taoiseach Micheal Martin for not removing the passenger cap after a year in office, calling for its removal by March.

We have a planning system in place for good reason  the cap was imposed to manage the capacity of the airport itself and to control surface traffic, said David Healy, Green Party councillor for Howth-Malahide.

We resolved the capacity issue with the second terminal but the surface traffic concerns remain  we could end up in a situation of constant traffic jams at the airport and passengers are going to suffer the most.

"This needs proper assessment. Instead, what were getting is decisions by a Minister listening to Michael OLeary shouting at them.

Cllr Healy added that the new Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026, which can remove the existing cap, fails to address climate concerns.

At the very end of this piece of legislation, it says that the Climate Act (which seeks government approval of plans in line with climate change) does not apply to any decision taken on under this, said cllr Healy.

Thats really shocking. We cant decide that climate change is the biggest challenge we face and then ignore it when it comes to the airport.

The DAA has introduced noise insulation grants in local schools and purchased homes in the area under a voluntary purchase scheme for more than their market value, according to a spokesperson.

Alongside noise mitigation, we support local communities through initiatives like the Dublin Airport Community Fund and programmes which provide direct funding to schools near the airport, said Mr Cullinane from the DAA.

"Noise and environmental impacts are controlled through strict planning conditions, runway operating restrictions and independent aviation oversight, not by the passenger cap.

"Any future development to support Irelands global connectivity, sustain jobs and strengthen our economy will continue to be subject to robust regulation and oversight.

Councillor John Walsh added that local communities would have to bear the brunt of it if climate concerns are not addressed.

"Of course we need aviation as a means of travel but we also need to recognise the urgency of the climate crisis  its very striking that the government seems totally indifferent to the emissions impact of abolishing this cap, he said.

While households, farmers, workers, and every other section of society has been told to change the way they live to combat climate change, the ministry has decided that emissions can grow freely around Dublin airport.

The Department of Transport has been contacted for comment.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
A row which has broken out between Limerick's directly elected mayor and councillors in Fine Gael and Fianna Fail comes down to "basic personalities" and "people that don't get on" as government ministers urged both sides to resolve the issue.
Irish News

Official Ryder Cup recommended rents for Adare tournament far below 85,000 asking prices

The Ryder Cups official travel provider has recommended rents of no more than 25,600 a week for exceptional five-star homes within walking distance of the world golfing event in Adare.
The findings place Meath among the leading local authorities for environmental protection in Ireland, alongside Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council.

Meath County Council has been named one of the top-performing local authorities in Ireland for environmental enforcement, according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPAs Environmental Enforcement Performance Report 2024 identifies the council as one of only three nationwide to achieve the highest performance rating, highlighting strong results in areas including waste enforcement, water quality protection, air pollution monitoring and noise control.

The findings place Meath among the leading local authorities for environmental protection in Ireland, alongside Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council.

Chief executive Kieran Kehoe said the recognition is a very positive endorsement of the work being carried out by council staff.

Environmental enforcement is complex, demanding and often unseen work, and these results reflect the strong commitment of our teams to protecting the environment, safeguarding public health, and delivering real outcomes for communities across County Meath, he said.

Strong environmental enforcement is a key enabler of the Councils Climate Action Plan and Corporate Plan, supporting our objectives to reduce emissions, protect natural resources and build more resilient communities.

He added that the councils performance demonstrates that targeted enforcement, effective inter-departmental collaboration and consistent engagement with communities can deliver meaningful and lasting environmental improvements.

Meath County Council remains fully committed to maintaining these high standards and to supporting national climate and environmental objectives into the future, Mr Kehoe said.

The EPA assessment evaluates how local authorities deliver National Enforcement Priorities under its performance framework, with a focus on measurable environmental outcomes.

The 2024 report marks the final year of the EPAs 20222024 assessment cycle and highlights progress nationally in improving environmental compliance and enforcement standards.

The council said it will continue to prioritise environmental enforcement as a core public service, supporting climate action, protecting natural resources and ensuring a safe, healthy environment for communities across the county.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
A man in his 30s was taken to Cavan General Hospital in the wake of the attack. Photo: Lorraine Teevan

A man in his 30s has been rushed to hospital following a late night assault in Monaghan.

Gardai and emergency services were called to the scene along the county towns Park Street area shortly after midnight on Sunday morning, where they found the stricken man with several injuries.

He was subsequently transferred to Cavan General Hospital as gardai commenced an investigation which is still very much in its early stages.

Investigating officers are presently trawling through CCTV and garner potentially crucial eyewitness evidence as part of those efforts.

A garda spokesperson confirmed to the Irish Independent that while no arrests have been made, efforts to establish the full circumstances of the incident were in progress.

Gardai attended the scene of an assault incident on Park Street, Monaghan in the early hours of Sunday morning, February 15, 2026, said the spokesperson.

One male, aged in his late 30s was assaulted and removed from the scene to Cavan General Hospital where he received treatment.

Investigations (are) ongoing.
Musical Director Roisin Kilgannon during one of her performances

Dromore West Sings returned in spectacular style on 13th and 14th February, filling the Church of the Immaculate Conception to capacity on both nights.

The much-anticipated annual event once again showcased the remarkable musical talent rooted in the community and beyond, blending local favourites with special guests from across Ireland.

At the heart of the performances was the Dromore West Sings House Band.

The impressive lineup featured Claire Loftus from Strandhill on piano, alongside Cork musicians Johnny Houlihan on guitar, Mossy Cronin on bass, and Barry Wilson on drums.

Opening the show was Musical Director, Roisin Kilgannon, with a powerful rendition of Whats Up by 4 Non Blondes, immediately energising the audience. Highlights from the first half included Rosie Connollys performance of Darker Love and Johnny Morrisons stirring take on The City of Chicago.

The Ballina trio of Sheila Reilly, Anne Marie Moore and Aoife McGarry delighted with theirharmonies on Dont Dream Its Over, while newcomer Gerry Feeney made a welcome first appearance on the Dromore West Sings stage.

Aoibheann Cawley also stepped into the spotlight as a soloist for the first time, impressing the crowd with a lively rendition of This Is the Life by Amy MacDonald.

The first half concluded with a vibrant medley from the Trad Ensemble, and Trevor Horans rousing performance of N17 by The Saw Doctors.

Opening the night, Dermot Mannion was the No. 1 Valentine, captivating the audience with Can You Feel the Love Tonight, beautifully accompanied by Trudy Prescot on violin in her debut performance with Dromore West Sings.

Another standout moment came with Siobhan Foy and Darragh Giblin, who performed Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, delivering a powerful duet that left a lasting impression.

Roisin Kilgannon returned to the stage with a beautiful rendition of The Contender.

The One Voice Choir then took to the stage, opening their set with Freedom.

Though no stranger to performing, Brendan Howley made his Dromore West Sings debut accompanying the choir with If Tomorrow Never Comes, followed by further performances from Rosie Connolly and Darragh Giblin along with the One Voice Choir.

Bringing the show to a jubilant close, the entire church was on its feet as the show finished with Rockin All Over the World by Status Quo.

From debut performances to seasoned favourites, this years event once again celebrated the depth of musical talent within the community and beyond.

From stirring ballads to foot-tapping anthems, Dromore West Sings demonstrated the power of community, collaboration and live performance.

The production was proudly supported by Sligo County Council and the Sligo Arts Services Department, and by SSE Airtricity.
There has been a positive reaction to talks between Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton, local Government TDs Frank Feighan, Marian Harkin and Eamon Scanlon and delegations from Gaelscoil Chnoc na Re and Ursuline College Sligo with a commitment given to expediting emergency issues at both schools to ensure student and staff safety as an interim measure.

The meetings were described by Deputy Harkin as a Constructive and worthwhile discussion while Deputy Feighan reported, Both sides made good progress.

The Gaelscoil delegation which consisted of Bartley O Gabhain (Cathaoirleach), Micheal O Broin (former Principal), and Liz Nic Searraigh (Principal) described the meeting as Constructive, with the Minister acknowledging the urgency of the situation. Following the conclusion of the talks, a statement on behalf of Gaelscoil Chnoc na Re said, Minister Naughton confirmed the Department of Education and Youth will engage immediately with the school to progress emergency works aimed at ensuring the immediate and ongoing safety of the school community and improving the condition of existing classrooms as an interim measure.

During discussions, the Gaelscoil delegation highlighted the cumulative impact of repeated delays, as well as the difficulties created by national prioritisation decisions and ongoing constraints on capital funding for school building projects.

While officials confirmed that Gaelscoil Chnoc na Re remains included in the ADAPT Programme and retains its status at Stage 2A, the delegation emphasised the urgency of securing Stage 2A approval which would in turn enable progression to Stage 2B of the programme.

The Minister committed to continued engagement with the schools and indicated her willingness to meet again. She also advised that she will seek a visit to the Sligo schools to view the accommodation challenges at first hand. The Gaelscoil community expressed their thanks to all the local elected representatives and stakeholders and urges them to continue advocating for the prioritisation of this project, recognising the clear and pressing need for safe, modern, and fit-for-purpose accommodation for current and future pupils.

In advance of the meeting Cllr Marie Casserly highlighted issues concerning Grange PPS and St. Edwards NS, Sligo, asking that they be included in these discussions, given their pressing need for long-awaited funding and essential improvements. In correspondence issued to local TDs in advance of the meeting with Minister Naughton, Cllr Casserly highlighted the plight of both schools. In relation to St Edwards NS she said, This school has also been waiting for many years for this essential investment, and the continued delays are having a significant impact on students and staff. Cllr Casserly also addressed conditions at Grange PPS saying, This school has likewise been awaiting necessary funding for a considerable period.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
On Tuesday, the Department of Transport announced that it will provide over 1.5bn in Exchequer funding for national, regional and local roads in 2026. This represents a 13pc increase in road funding compared to 2025, with Wexford set to benefit to the tune of 34.2m.

The almost 800m allocation for national roads includes 659m in Exchequer capital funding through Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), 104m for national roads under Public Private Partnerships, and approximately 33m for regular maintenance of national roads, provided to local authorities.

TII will allocate funding to protect and renew the existing national road network across the country, supporting road safety improvements, pavement and bridge renewal, and climate resilience measures.

The 718m allocation for regional and local roads will allow approximately 2,800km of roads to be maintained and 2,330km to be improved. The funding includes 50m for strategic road improvement projects, including those identified for development under the National Development Plan, and 20m in Specific Grants for smaller-scale road improvements, including bridge works and safety measures such as junction reconfiguration, as well as schemes to alleviate traffic congestion in towns.

Investment in our roads has been a key piece of engagement between myself and the Minister for Transport over the last number of months, said Housing Minister James Browne. I am ensuring that Wexford is not left behind in the advancement of our projects. The protection and renewal of our existing national, regional and local road network is also essential to every single village and town.

I have also been committed to assisting the local authority with financial support to deal with the aftermath of storms in particular. The allocation being announced today for our county will enable serious progress. We know that we need greater connectivity across our country. Roads support our economic development, and delivering safer roads is essential to me, as well as less congested towns and communities across the county, north and south, he added.

Housing Minster James Browne. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Fianna Fail TD Malcolm Byrne welcomed 53,219,500 of investment in regional and national roads across Wicklow and Wexford.

Wicklow is set to receive 18,977,413, with projects to benefit including: N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare; N25 Ballygillane Roundabout; N30 Ballymackesy Junction; Rosslare Europort Access Road; N11/M11 Junction 4 to Junction 14 Improvement Scheme; N11 Junction 12 Southbound RSI; and M11 Junction 20 R772.

Investing in road infrastructure is critical for supporting the growth of the local economy, making daily commutes safer and more efficient, and ensuring the road infrastructure we have is sustained into the future, said Deputy Byrne.

I particularly welcome the commitment of funding for the N11-N25 Oilgate to Rosslare national route, a project I have raised and worked to ensure was progressed, as it is badly needed.
Irish Railway Record Society (Co. Wicklow members)

Bray and North Wicklow readers interested in joining the Irish Railway Record Society which holds lectures on various aspects of Irelands railway history and heritage, can obtain a membership application form by post (SAE appreciated) from the Dublin Area Representative, The Irish Railway Record Society, Hueston Station Dublin eight, or by emailing: membership@irrs.ie. Owen Fanning will present Railway Ambush Tactics in the Irish Civil War at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, to the society in their Dublin Hueston Station premises. Strictly members and their guests only.

Bray Library

Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday with late opening on Tuesday and Thursday till 8.30 p.m. Bray Library can be emailed at braylib@wicklococo.ie to book a place for library events or make inquiries about them. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available via the library website. English Conversation Classes take place in the library every Monday (except Bank Holiday Mondays) from 11 a.m. to midday Ciorcal Comhra Irish Language Conversation Group, meets from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month in the library; the next meeting of the Bray Library Junior Film Club will be at 6.30 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday), the February meeting of Ruths Book Club takes place at 11 a.m. next Wednesday (February 25); the February meeting of the Literary Book Club takes place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, The next meeting of the Bray Library Crime Book Club will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, Grainne Hurley will give a talk Gratefully and Affectionately Mary Lavin and the New Yorker at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, Admission is free but booking is required which can be made at the desk or by email to braylib@wicklococo.ie. A Plant and Seed Swap will take place in the library from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. next Wednesday (February 25), Wednesday, March 25, and Wednesday, April 29, No booking required. Preferred plants and seeds are plants with non-invasive habits, cuttings from herbs, vegetable seedlings, ideally from open pollinated seeds. Brian White will present Famous Wicklow Men and Women and their lesser known Wicklow connections at 7 p.m. next Thursday (February 26) in Wicklow Town library. Admission is free but booking is required call 0404 67025 or email Wicklowlib@wicklowcococ.ie to reserve a place.

Ballywaltrim Library

Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The library can be contacted at 01 2723205 or by email at: ballywatrimlibrary@wicklowcoco.ie. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available via the library website. Borrowers can renew their books online at any time. Parents and carers of children are reminded that library staff cannot supervise your children so you must stay with your children at all times for their safety and other library users. Adult Scrabble takes place every Monday from 3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. no booking is required. Tummy-Time for Babies takes place every Monday from 10 a.m. to midday no booking required. FAST Fun Accessible Sensory Toys: our new collection of sensory toys is available to borrow by all adult Wicklow County Council Library patrons. The FAST catalogue can be accessed online or in the library and can be requested by email, telephone call or in person. STEM Free Play for 18 months to three years takes place every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. Brian White will present Famous Wicklow Men and Women and their lesser known Wicklow connections at 7 p.m. next Thursday (February 26) in Wicklow Town library. Admission is free but booking is required call 0404 67025 or email Wicklowlib@wicklowcococ.ie to reserve a place.

Bray Cualann Historical Society

Bill Nelson will be the guest speaker for tomorrow (Thursday) nights 8 p.m. meeting of the Bray Cualann Historical Society, the local history society for Bray and North Wicklow, in the Royal Hotel, Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow, at which he will recall The French Girl Guide Plane Crash of 1946. In August 1946, a French military aircraft bringing a party of French girl guides to a summer camp in Rathfarnham, crashed on Djouce Mountain during a period of bad weather. No one saw the crash and the authorities in Dublin only became aware of its location after crew members climbed down the mountain and alerted them to its location after which a massive rescue operation was launched. All are welcome members are free while admission for visitors/non-members is 8. Those wishing to join the Bray Cualann Historical Society can do so at this lecture. The annual membership rate for 2026 is 35 for an individual and 45 for a couple. In the meantime events taking place which may be of interest to members and supporters of the society in the week ahead include today (Wednesday) James Scannell will recall The Air Crash No-One Saw: Djouce Mountain August 1946 at 7.30 p.m. to the Greystones Archaeological and Historical Society in Kilian House, beside the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. All are welcome admission is 3 for members and 5 for non-members; Mairtin Mac Con Iomaire will present Exploring the making of Irish Food History: A Companion at 8 p.m. to the Dun Laoghaire Borough Historical Society in the Royal Marine Hotel, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. All are welcome  admission is 5. Free hotel parking is available for those attending this lecture. Tomorrow (Thursday) Bill Nelson will present The French Girl Guide Plane Crash of 1946 at 8 p.m. to the Bray Cualann Historical Society in the Royal Hotel, Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow. All are welcome members are free  visitors/non-members 8; Richard McCormack will present A Life in Deep Sea Trawling at 8 p.m. to the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association in Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club, Ringsend Road, Dublin four. Donation to the RNLI at the door. Next Monday night Myles Reid will present Sir Henry Robinson, first Baronet of Lis na Carrig at 6.30 p.m. in Deansgrange Library, Clonkeen Drive, Deansgrange, Dublin 18. Admission is free but booking is required at 01 2047218; email deansgrangelib@dlrcoco.ie to view on Zoom see foxrocklocalhistory.ie for details; Rob Goodbody will present The Lead Mines of Glendalough and Ballycorus at 8 p.m. to the Clondalkin Historical Society in Aras Chronain Irish Cultural Centre, Watery Lane, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin. All are welcome admission is 5. Next Tuesday John Finlay will present Reminiscences of Wicklow Past in old photographs and postcards at 8 p.m. to the Wicklow Historical Society in the De La Salle Parish Centre, beside St Patricks RC Church, Wicklow Town. All are welcome donation; Sharon Weadick will present The Bells of St Marys Abbey at 8 p.m. to the Howth Peninsula Heritage Society in St Marys Church of Ireland (beside Howth Castle main entrance), Howth. All are welcome  admission for non-members is 5.Next Wednesday Rob Goodbody will present Dublins Industrial Heritage: From Sandymount Strand to Crumlin Road at 6 p.m. to the Old Dublin Society in the Conference Room of Dublin City Library and Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street, Dublin two. All are welcome admission is free and no booking is required. Next Thursday (February 26) Brian White will present Famous Wicklow Men and Women and their lesser known Wicklow connections at 7 p.m. in Wicklow Library, The Mall, Main Street, Wicklow Town. Admission is free but booking is required as the venue has a limited capacity email wicklowlocalstudies@wicklowcoco.ie, or call 0404 67025 to reserve a place; Owen Fanning will present Railway Ambush Tactics in the Irish Civil War at 7.30 p.m. to the Irish Railway Record Society in their Dublin Hueston Station premises. Strictly members and their guests only; Kevin McAnallen will present the Deirdre Kelly Commemorative Lecture Ireland and Cyprus a comparative history from 1000AD at 8 p.m. to the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historical Society in Rathmines Town Hall, Rathmines Road, Dublin six. Members are free/visitors 5. The Swan car park Rate is 3.50 for the first two hours; 3.50 per hour thereafter.

Irish Girl Guides (IGG)

There is a very large IGG presence in Bray and Enniskerry, with waiting lists for all groups. Leaders are urgently needed, so if you are interested in working with young children and have some spare time on a Monday, Thursday, or Friday evening, do get in touch. If you are interested in your daughter joining Ladybirds or Brownies do get in touch as spaces sometimes become available for September. (Ladybirds ages 5-7; Brownies ages 7-10; Guides and Senior Branch 10+) email belmontbrowniesbray@gmail.com.

Shankill Classical Music Club

The March meeting of the Shankill Classical Music Club takes place from 7.45 p.m. to 10 p.m., including a tea or coffee break, on Wednesday, March 11, in the Shankill Seniors Centre, Lower Road, Shankill, located 100m from Shankill Main Street with car parking available. The music will be as always a varied programme of classical music on CDs, covering many genres  orchestral, instrumental, vocal, opera, etc.  in a friendly setting. Visitors and new and returning members are always welcome. You dont need to be an expert. Charge 2 on the night (waived for first visit). For further information please phone or text Malcolm at 085 8528216.

Strength and Wellness programme for women in Bray  Strong Mna.

Dr Conor Dowling is collaborating with Dr Niamh Bradley OConnor to deliver a Strength and Wellness programme for women in Bray  Strong Mna. The Strong Mna programme will involve a blend of pilates and resistance training with womens health education workshops.

The in-person resistance training sessions will take place in the Holy Redeemer Parish Centre on Monday evenings at 5.45 p.m. Contact details are  strong.mna@hotmail.com/087 9668503 and our social.s- facebook Strong Mna / instagram strong.mna.

QOP youth club

The Queen of Peace Adventure Youth Club deferred the planned night walk in the Dargle Valley due to the rain fall. They were amazed that their clubhouse on the seafront escaped flooding despite high wind-driven waves.

The next scheduled night walk will be in the Glen of the Downs on Friday February 20.

Diving club

This has been a terrible year to date for sea and lake diving. Waves stirred up the sand on the sea bottom so there was no underwater visibility, and the force of water flow down the hills and into the lakes stirred up the bottom mud which reduced the underwater visibility.

Now that the divers are out of the water until the sediment returns to the bottom they have more time to train new divers in the pool and the lecture room.

To join the club in Greystones call Albert on 087 6756439 and begin the adventure of a lifetime.
Parish of Powerscourt with Kilbride

Service of Worship in St Patricks Church, Powerscourt, for this Sunday, The First Sunday in Lent: 11.30 a.m. Holy Communion two.

Service of Worship in St Brigids Church, Kilbride, for this Sunday, The First Sunday in Lent: 9.45 a.m. Morning Prayer one.

Services at Powerscourt with Kilbride: All Services of Worship are available on the Parish YouTube Channel at youtube.

Irish Trefoil Guild  Guiding for Life: Calling all former leaders of the Irish Girl Guides in Bray and the surrounding area. There is now a Trefoil Guild in Bray. Contact Anne at: braytrefoilguild@gmail.com.

St Marys Church Enniskerry

Parish Website: enniskerryparish.ie is the parish website of the Immaculate Heart of Mary  check it out for the latest information about our parish.

Facebook page: There is a Facebook page for the parish of Enniskerry, incorporating all four churches Check it here: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085 128168938.

Enniskerry (also Curtlestown and Glencree) parish office opening times: Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; email stmarys@enniskerryparish.ie; or call 01 2760030.

Please Note: St Marys parish office now covers St Mochonogs so anyone wishing to book a funeral, wedding, or baptism can do so by contacting Aideen at 086 8182241. If you call the Kilmacanogue number, 01 2021882, it will automatically be transferred to 086 8182241. Mass intentions can be called in, again using 01 2021882, or sent via Whats.

App to the above mobile number. If you would prefer to give your intention in person, Breda Connolly is very happy to take intentions in the sacristy after Mass. These options will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Parish Churches Schedule of Masses: Enniskerry St Marys: Sunday 11 a.m. and also via parish webcam. Weekday Mass at Enniskerry is at 10.15 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and also via parish webcam lay-led prayer service on Wednesday; and Saturday at 10.15 a.m., and also available via the parish webcam. Masses in Curtlestown and Kilmacanogue are on Sunday at 10 a.m. Mass in Glencree is at 9 a.m. on the first Sunday each month.

Ash Wednesday (Today February 18): Mass for Ash Wednesday Mass will be celebrated at 10.15 a.m. in St Marys for the whole parish. There will be no 10 a.m. in Kilmacanogue today. Although it is not a holy day of obligation, as many people as possible are encouraged to attend.

Enniskerry History Society

Members and supporters of the Enniskerry History Society are asked to note that the following events will take place in the coming week today (Wednesday) James Scannell will recall The Air Crash No-One Saw: Djouce Mountain August 1946 at 7.30 p.m. to the Greystones Archaeological and Historical Society in Kilian House, beside the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. All are welcome admission is 3 for members and 5 for non-members; Mairtin Mac Con Iomaire will present Exploring the making of Irish Food History: A Companion at 8 p.m. to the Dun Laoghaire Borough Historical Society in the Royal Marine Hotel, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. All are welcome  admission is 5. Free hotel parking is available for those attending this lecture. Tomorrow (Thursday) Bill Nelson will present The French Girl Guide Plane Crash of 1946 at 8 p.m. to the Bray Cualann Historical Society in the Royal Hotel, Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow. All are welcome members are free  visitors/non-members 8; Richard McCormack will present A Life in Deep Sea Trawling at 8 p.m. to the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association in Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club, Ringsend Road, Dublin four. Donation to the RNLI at the door. Next Monday night Myles Reid will present Sir Henry Robinson, first Baronet of Lis na Carrig at 6.30 p.m. in Deansgrange Library, Clonkeen Drive, Deansgrange, Dublin 18. Admission is free but booking is required at 01 2047218; email deansgrangelib@dlrcoco.ie to view on Zoom see foxrocklocalhistory.ie for details; Rob Goodbody will present The Lead Mines of Glendalough and Ballycorus at 8 p.m. to the Clondalkin Historical Society in Aras Chronain Irish Cultural Centre, Watery Lane, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin. All are welcome admission is 5. Next Tuesday John Finlay will present Reminiscences of Wicklow Past in old photographs and postcards at 8 p.m. to the Wicklow Historical Society in the De La Salle Parish Centre, beside St Patricks RC Church, Wicklow Town. All are welcome donation; Sharon Weadick will present The Bells of St Marys Abbey at 8 p.m. to the Howth Peninsula Heritage Society in St Marys Church of Ireland (beside Howth Castle main entrance), Howth. All are welcome  admission for non-members is 5.Next Wednesday Rob Goodbody will present Dublins Industrial Heritage: From Sandymount Strand to Crumlin Road at 6 p.m. to the Old Dublin Society in the Conference Room of Dublin City Library and Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street, Dublin two. All are welcome admission is free and no booking is required. Next Thursday (February 26) Brian White will present Famous Wicklow Men and Women and their lesser known Wicklow connections at 7 p.m. in Wicklow Library, The Mall, Main Street, Wicklow Town. Admission is free but booking is required as the venue has a limited capacity email wicklowlocalstudies@wicklowcoco.ie, or call 0404 67025 to reserve a place; Owen Fanning will present Railway Ambush Tactics in the Irish Civil War at 7.30 p.m. to the Irish Railway Record Society in their Dublin Hueston Station premises. Strictly members and their guests only; Kevin McAnallen will present the Deirdre Kelly Commemorative Lecture Ireland and Cyprus a comparative history from 1000AD at 8 p.m. to the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historical Society in Rathmines Town Hall, Rathmines Road, Dublin six.

Members are free/visitors 5. The Swan car park Rate is 3.50 for the first two hours; 3.50 per hour thereafter.

Enniskerry Library

Opening hours are Tuesday 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.; Wednesday: 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday: 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. The library can be contacted at 01 2864339 or email enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available from the library website. Brian White will present Famous Wicklow Men and Women and their lesser known Wicklow connections at 7 p.m. next Thursday (February 26) in Wicklow Town library. Admission is free but booking is required call 0404 67025 or email Wicklowlib@wicklowcococ.ie to reserve a place.
St James Church of Ireland, Crinken

Services of Worship for this Sunday the First Sunday in Lent: 10.30 a.m. Morning Praise.

Rathmichael Church of Ireland Parish

Worship Services for this Sunday, The First Sunday in Lent: 8.30 a.m.  Holy Communion; 11 a.m.  Morning Prayer, followed afterwards with coffee in the Erck Hall; 7 p.m. Holy Communion.

Today (Wednesday): 8 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service.

Sunday Evening Service: Every Sunday an Evening Service is held at 7 p.m. in Rathmichael Church. We invite you to enjoy the silence and contemplation that this service allows a space for in your heart and mind, as you prepare to go into the new week. Wed love to see you at 7 p.m. on Sunday evenings for this quiet and reflective service that includes music and hymns the perfect way to prepare for the busyness of a new week.

Prayer Ignites  Fuelling faith, hope and change through prayer: Join us each month at Rathmichael Church for a warm and welcoming Prayer Gathering, where we come together to lift up the needs of our community and the wider world. In a quiet, reflective space, we seek Gods guidance, strength, and peace  trusting that our prayers make a difference. Whether you come with personal concerns, hopes for others, or simply a heart open to God, youll find encouragement and fellowship as we pray side by side. The next meeting will take place tonight (Wednesday) in Rathmichael Church immediately after the 8 p.m. Ash Wednesday service.

Online Services of Sunday Worship: Worship continues to be streamed by the National Cathedral  stpatrickscathedral.ie/worship/video-stream/and the Diocesan Cathedral christchurchcathedral.ie/worship/video-stream-1/along with other resources shared via the United Dioceses Facebook page: facebook.com/Dublinand Glendalough/.

St Annes Parish Shankill

St Annes Parish Website: The parish website is stannesparishshankill.com.

St Annes Resource Centre Upgrade: St Annes Resource Centre is currently closed due to renovation works.

A temporary parish office is open at the side of St Annes Resource Centre from 9.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday. As access will be restricted, all inquiries should be directed by email or telephone wherever possible. Call 01 282 2704/282 2277 or email info@stannesparishshankill.com.

Times of Masses and Blessed Sacrament Adoration: Weekday Masses are celebrated at 10 a.m. from Tuesday to Friday, and at 5 p.m. (Vigil) on Saturday. There is no celebration of 10 a.m. morning Mass on Mondays and Saturdays. On Mondays Evening Mass is celebrated at 7 p.m. with Adoration of Blessed Sacrament from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday Masses are celebrated at 10 a.m., midday, and 6 p.m. All Masses are available online through the link Watch Us Live.

A Holy Hour takes place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. on Fridays 9.45 a.m. On the First Saturday of the month only there will be 10 a.m. Maas  Confessions will be heard from 9.15 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. beforehand.

Irish Mass: A Mass in Irish is celebrated at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings in St Peters Church, Little, Bray.

Come Join Us: The Family Mass in St Annes Shankill takes place every Sunday at 10 a.m. with a Special Childrens Monthly Mass at 10 a.m. on the first Sunday of every month. The Childrens Liturgy Team would like to invite any children and their parents/guardians/grandparents who would like to be involved in the liturgy (readings, offertory and processions) to contact Rob at 089 4123158 or contact the parish office at 01 2822704/01 2822277 or email info@stannesparishshankill.com.

Today (Wednesday) Ash Wednesday: Mass will be celebrated at 7 a.m., 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Lent: During Lent Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Monday to Friday with Stations of the Cross beforehand at 6.30 p.m.

A day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Abuse: This Friday the 10 a.m. Mass will be offered for the Survivors and Victims of Abuse.

Ballybrack-Killiney Parish: Mass Times: Sts. Alphonsus and Columba Church, Church Avenue, Ballybrack Mondays, Fridays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 10.30 a.m.; Church of the Apostles, Willow Vale, Ballybrack: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m., and Sundays at midday; Church of St Stephen, Killiney Hill Road, Killiney: Saturdays at 6 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Thursday morning after 10 a.m. Mass till midday, in the Church of the Apostles. Confessions: These are heard in Sts Alphonsus and Columba church from 4 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. each Saturday. Mass on Ash Wednesday (today) will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in Sts. Alphonsus and Columba church.

Ashes will be available afterwards, in the three parish churches.

The Old Dublin Society (Shankill and District members)

Shankill and District readers wishing to join the Old Dublin Society, which covers the history of Dublin City and county which includes Shankill, Ballybrack, Killiney, and Dalkey, can obtain a membership application form by post from James Scannell, Old Dublin Society PRO, 19 Hazelwood, Shankill, D18ND79. Rob Goodbody will present Dublins Industrial Heritage: From Sandymount Strand to Crumlin Road at 6 p.m. next Wednesday (February 25) to the society in the Conference Room of Dublin City Library and Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street. All are welcome admission is free and no booking is required.

Shankill Library

To facilitate essential conservation and improvement works, Shankill Library on Library Road is closed and has been relocated to a temporary library in Stonebridge Community Centre, seven Stonebridge, Grove, Shankill, till this work is completed, and is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Space will be available to continue to facilitate regular library group meetings, access to book stock, a seating area for adults and children, newspapers, plus paid printing/copying facilities. Contact details remain the same telephone 01 204 7224 or email shankilllib@dlrcoco.ie.

Rathmichael Historical Society

Guest speaker for the 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, meeting of the society in Rathmichael National School, Stonebridge Road, Shankill, will be Matthew Stout, who will present The Irish Ringforts after Three Centuries Members are free  non-members/visitors 5. Those wishing to join the society can do so at this meeting. Members and supporters of the Rathmichael Historical Society are asked to note that the following events will take place in the coming week  today (Wednesday) James Scannell will recall The Air Crash No-One Saw: Djouce Mountain August 1946 at 7.30 p.m. to the Greystones Archaeological and Historical Society in Kilian House, beside the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. All are welcome admission is 3 for members and 5 for non-members; Mairtin Mac Con Iomaire will present Exploring the making of Irish Food History: A Companion at 8 p.m. to the Dun Laoghaire Borough Historical Society in the Royal Marine Hotel, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. All are welcome  admission is 5. Free hotel parking is available for those attending this lecture. Tomorrow (Thursday) Bill Nelson will present The French Girl Guide Plane Crash of 1946 at 8 p.m. to the Bray Cualann Historical Society in the Royal Hotel, Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow. All are welcome members are free  visitors/non-members 8; Richard McCormack will present A Life in Deep Sea Trawling at 8 p.m. to the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association in Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club, Ringsend Road, Dublin four. Donation to the RNLI at the door. Next Monday night Myles Reid will present Sir Henry Robinson, first Baronet of Lis na Carrig at 6.30 p.m. in Deansgrange Library, Clonkeen Drive, Deansgrange, Dublin 18. Admission is free but booking is required at 01 2047218; email deansgrangelib@dlrcoco.ie to view on Zoom see foxrocklocalhistory.ie for details; Rob Goodbody will present The Lead Mines of Glendalough and Ballycorus at 8 p.m. to the Clondalkin Historical Society in Aras Chronain Irish Cultural Centre, Watery Lane, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin. All are welcome admission is 5. Next Tuesday John Finlay will present Reminiscences of Wicklow Past in old photographs and postcards at 8 p.m. to the Wicklow Historical Society in the De La Salle Parish Centre, beside St Patricks RC Church, Wicklow Town. All are welcome donation; Sharon Weadick will present The Bells of St Marys Abbey at 8 p.m. to the Howth Peninsula Heritage Society in St Marys Church of Ireland (beside Howth Castle main entrance), Howth. All are welcome  admission for non-members is 5. Next Wednesday Rob Goodbody will present Dublins Industrial Heritage: From Sandymount Strand to Crumlin Road at 6 p.m. to the Old Dublin Society in the Conference Room of Dublin City Library and Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street, Dublin two. All are welcome admission is free and no booking is required. Next Thursday (February 26) Brian White will present Famous Wicklow Men and Women and their lesser known Wicklow connections at 7 p.m. in Wicklow Library, The Mall, Main Street, Wicklow Town. Admission is free but booking is required as the venue has a limited capacity email wicklowlocalstudies@wicklowcoco.ie, or call 0404 67025 to reserve a place; Owen Fanning will present Railway Ambush Tactics in the Irish Civil War at 7.30 p.m. to the Irish Railway Record Society in their Dublin Hueston Station premises. Strictly members and their guests only; Kevin McAnallen will present the Deirdre Kelly Commemorative Lecture Ireland and Cyprus a comparative history from 1000AD at 8 p.m. to the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historical Society in Rathmines Town Hall, Rathmines Road, Dublin six. Members are free/visitors 5. The Swan car park Rate is 3.50 for the first two hours; 3.50 per hour thereafter.

First Saturday Book Sale

The March First Saturday Book Sale, which supports the Shankill Seniors Day Care Centre, takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, in the Shankill Seniors Day Care Centre, Lower Road, Shankill. Donations of books, which must be in a clean and good condition, are limited to one small bag per donor due to storage issues, and can only be left in to the Book Sale that Saturday morning.

Shankill Classical Music Club

The March meeting of the Shankill Classical Music Club will take place from 7.45 p.m. to 10 p.m., including a break for tea or coffee, on Wednesday, March 11, in the Shankill Seniors Centre, Lower Road, Shankill, which is located 100m from Main Street with car parking available. The music will be as always a varied programme of classical music on CDs, covering many genres i.e. orchestral, instrumental, vocal, opera, etc. in a friendly setting. Visitors and new and returning members are always welcome. You dont need to be an expert. Charge 2 on the night (waived for first visit). For further information please phone or text Malcolm at 085 8528216.

Shankill Seniors Thursday Group

Last Thursday morning James Scannell from the Old Dublin Society presented a short talk to the Shankill Seniors Thursday Group in the Shankill Seniors Day Centre in which he recalled The Loss of the MV Bolivar March 4, 1947, the story of a freighter which got blown onto the Kish sandbank during a period of severe weather. Tonight (Wednesday) James will present The Air Crash No-One Saw: Djouce Mountain August 1946 at 7.30 p.m. to the Greystones Archaeological and Historical Society in Kilian House, beside the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. All are welcome admission is 3 for members and 5 for non-members.

Fundraiser for Feileachain

Feileacain (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support) was formed by a group of bereaved parents to offer support to anyone affected by the death of a baby around the time of birth, and the organisation is now the national charity supporting families affected by perinatal loss. Feileacain is a not-for-profit organisation and receives no funding from central government, relying instead on the support of our community and the families who avail of our services. A coffee morning in memory of Jack Hudson will take place from 10 a.m. to midday in Bradys of Shankill on Friday, February 27, and your support would be appreciated.
An aerial view of the vacant site at Greystones Marina, which was approved for planning as a restaurant but has now been amended for office use. Photo: Acres.ie

A longvacant space at Greystones Harbour, which seemed to have all the right ingredients for a restaurant when planning was approved for such, will now be converted into offices, with the owner reportedly having tried everything to get someone to open an eatery at the seafront location.
A woman who was sexually assaulted multiple times by her brother when she was aged only 12 has bravely waived her right to anonymity in the hope that sharing her story will inspire other sexual assault victims to come forward.
Irish bride Ellie Connollys big Italian wedding: Ive been throwing parties since I can remember. I love events, I love getting dressed up

After the enforced limitations of the pandemic years, many couples embraced the opportunity to make their nuptials an intimate event. Now, large weddings are making a return  but not as traditional beef or salmon? affairs

Ellie and Ben's wedding. Photo: Cinzia Bruschini

Liadan Hynes Wed 18 Feb 2026 at 06:30

I remember being in that moment, and all I was doing was moving weddings, says wedding planner Martina ORiordan. With each wedding you could have 10 to 15 suppliers. And because we had no clarity  nobody did  we were pushing things back six months, six months again, then 12 months. ORiordan, who is based in Tipperary with her business MartinaO and is vice chair of the Irish Wedding Professionals Association, is describing the massive impact the pandemic had on the industry.
Politician and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, to appear at hearing next week

The former US secretary of state and her husband, ex-president Bill Clinton, have agreed to testify in an investigation into Epstein, conceding to the risk of a contempt of Congress vote against them. They have asked for the hearings to be in public, rather than behind closed doors. I think everyone should testify who is asked to testify, the former US presidential candidate told the BBC when asked whether Mountbatten-Windsor should appear before the committee.
We got lost in Moscow and I thought Id never see my husband again: the Irish housewives who took on the USSR
Jeffrey Epstein tried to build web of powerful ties across Middle East, documents show

Saudi Aramcos potential IPO among issues touched on in filesDP World CEO resigns after being named in Epstein files

Jeffrey Epstein and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Emirati businessman and former Chairman and Group CEO of DP World.

Jana Choukeir, Andrew Mills and Maha El Dahan Reuters Wed 18 Feb 2026 at 09:45

The departure of the chief executive of Dubai port giant DP World is the biggest fallout in the Middle East from US Department of Justice documents which show that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein tried to build a powerful network of political figures and business leaders across the region.
Iran and the United States reached an understanding on the main guiding principles in a second round of indirect talks over their nuclear dispute yesterday, but that does not mean a deal is imminent, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said.

Different ideas have been presented, these ideas have been seriously discussed, ultimately weve been able to reach a general agreement on some guiding principles, from now on we will move based on those principles and enter the text of a potential agreement, Mr Araghchi told Iranian media after the talks concluded in Geneva.
Europes India Pivot: Ports, Missiles, and AI

In the weeks following the conclusion of the IndiaEuropean Union Free Trade Agreement (IndiaEU FTA) in January, a clear diplomatic pattern has emerged. European leaders travelled to New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit. Frances President Emmanuel Macron held extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, advancing cooperation across defense, aerospace, artificial intelligence (AI), and logistics. Meanwhile, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd signed a cooperation agreement with Port of Marseille Fos to strengthen IndiaEurope maritime connectivity.

Viewed together, these developments signal a recalibration in how Europe views Indias economic and strategic weight.

Diplomatic momentum behind the India-EU FTA

The IndiaEU FTA provides the structural framework for expanded engagement across goods, services, investment, and regulatory cooperation. Yet trade liberalization alone does not explain the current tempo of high-level political participation.

Trade agreements reduce barriers; strategic partnerships build systems. The current momentum reflects an understanding across European capitals that Indias economic trajectory, regulatory evolution, and industrial scale increasingly shape global commercial outcomes. Engagement today seeks to align not only trade flows but long-term policy directions, technology standards, and industrial ecosystems.

For Brussels and member states alike, India represents one of the few large economies combining scale, democratic governance, digital transformation, and sustained growth momentum. Embedding within that growth cycle carries strategic weight.

ALSO READ: Why German CEOs Are Betting on India: The India-EU FTA Opportunity

Infrastructure diplomacy: Ports as strategic connectors

The MoU between Adani Ports and Port of Marseille Fos carries geopolitical significance. Ports serve as gateways for goods, energy, and industrial inputs. They anchor supply chains and shape trade corridors over decades.

Marseille is Frances principal Mediterranean port and a strategic node linking Europe with Africa and the Middle East. Cooperation with one of Indias largest port operators enhances connectivity across major maritime routes while opening avenues for collaboration in digital port systems, green energy logistics, and trade facilitation.

Such arrangements extend beyond incremental trade gains. They embed institutional partnerships, create operational interdependence, and align commercial incentives over the long term. Infrastructure diplomacy, in this context, functions as economic statecraft.

For European exporters and logistics firms, closer port-level integration with India strengthens predictability and supply chain resilience. For India, the partnership supports its ambition to position itself as a logistics and manufacturing hub serving multiple regions.

Defense cooperation: Industrial policy with a strategic lens

IndiaFrance discussions during President Macrons visit resulted in agreements spanning helicopter assembly, production of Hammer missile systems, AI collaboration, and advanced manufacturing.

Defense cooperation sits at the intersection of industrial policy and strategic trust. Co-production arrangements and assembly lines deepen supply chain integration, expand skills ecosystems, and foster technology sharing.

For Europe, India represents:

A large and expanding defense market

A manufacturing base aligned with diversification strategies

A partner capable of scaling advanced industrial production

For India, these partnerships enhance technological capabilities while anchoring European capital within domestic production networks.

Defense collaboration increasingly functions as industrial strategy diplomacy. It reflects a broader global trend where the twin objectives of economic resilience and strategic security share institutional frameworks.

ALSO READ: How French Companies Leverage India as a Global Delivery Base

Technology governance: AI as geopolitical terrain

Europe has established itself as a regulatory leader in technology, from data protection under GDPR to AI and digital market regulation. Indias rise as a major digital economy and technology talent hub creates strong incentives for regulatory interoperability. Cooperation under the Joint IndiaEU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda Towards 2030, endorsed in January 2026, explicitly includes digital infrastructure and secure next-generation networks, including 6G research and standards development, where joint influence over testing protocols and certification systems can shape market conditions in both jurisdictions.

The AI Impact Summit in Delhi, running from February 16-20, has eight EU leaders in attendance  the presidents and prime ministers of Spain, Estonia, Slovakia, Croatia, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, and France  alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior EU tech officials, and global tech executives. It illustrates how AI summits, a format that gained global prominence with the 2023 AI Safety Summit hosted by the UK government at Bletchley Park, have become high-level diplomatic platforms rather than purely technical conferences, bringing together heads of government, regulators, and corporate leaders to shape global governance frameworks.

For EU technology actors, the timing is significant. Many of the regulatory parameters that will define digital markets over the next three to five years  liability standards, certification requirements, interoperability norms  are still being formulated. Participation in normative discussions such as at the India AI Impact Summit provides competitive positioning rather than reactive compliance.

Commercial opportunities beckon cross-border investors to design products and services aligned with both EU and Indian regulatory environments, creating dual-market scalability and reducing adaptation costs.

A broader European repositioning

Europes outreach to India unfolds amid supply chain diversification efforts, industrial competitiveness debates within the European Union, and geopolitical shifts across Eurasia. Policymakers are relooking at economic partnerships to enhance resilience while sustaining growth.

Indias expanding infrastructure base, digital public platforms, and manufacturing incentives present an alternative anchor within Asias production landscape. The combination of scale and policy continuity enhances Indias attractiveness for long-term capital deployment.

At the member-state level, governments appear intent on securing footholds in sectors where Indias growth prospects intersect with European capabilities: logistics, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and digital technologies.

The diplomatic tempo suggests coordination between political outreach and commercial positioning. High-level visits create confidence signals for private capital, reinforcing the perception that bilateral engagement rests on durable foundations.

What this means for business leaders

For European corporates:

India is emerging as a base for co-production and innovation partnerships.

Port connectivity and defense supply chain integration offer long-term industrial alignment.

Regulatory engagement in AI and digital governance provides early positioning advantages.

For Indian firms:

European capital and technology partnerships expand export competitiveness.

Integrated infrastructure and industrial ties strengthen Indias role within global value chains.

For global investors:

The convergence of trade frameworks, infrastructure linkages, and defense cooperation indicates structural alignment rather than temporary diplomatic enthusiasm.

A new phase in India-Europe relations

India and Europe are entering a phase where trade, technology, infrastructure, and security policy increasingly intersect. The FTA may have laid the groundwork, but the rapid sequence of leadership visits and industrial agreements illustrates how that framework is being activated across sectors.

Amid the chaos of shifting geopolitical priorities, India is assuming a very visible role in Europes external economic strategy. Both sides recognize the long-term dividends of alignment. The recent flurry of diplomatic and commercial activity indicates that European governments are determined to ensure their companies and institutions are embedded within Indias long-term growth trajectory.
To support effective implementation, the countries agreed to establish an Annual Foreign Ministers Comprehensive Dialogue to review progress under the upgraded framework, with emphasis on economic security, global governance coordination, and strengthening people-to-people ties.

The two leaders also inaugurated the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai, reinforcing their focus on research, innovation, and technology collaboration. The enhanced partnership builds on the Horizon 2047 Roadmap , which outlines long-term bilateral cooperation through 2047.

India and France elevated their bilateral ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership on February 17, 2026, following high-level discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron. The upgrade signals a structured expansion of cooperation across defense, advanced technologies , and other strategic sectors.

India-France strategic defense cooperation

India and France have reaffirmed their long-standing defense partnership, with renewed focus on co-design, co-development, and co-production of advanced platforms across air, land, naval, and emerging dual-use technologies. Progress under the 2024 Defense Industrial Roadmap was noted, alongside the November 2025 technical arrangement between Indias DRDO and Frances DGA.

Key developments include:

Procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets by India

Continued cooperation under the Scorpene (P75Kalvari) submarine program

Joint ventures involving Safran, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Airbus, and Tata Advanced Systems for aircraft engines, helicopters, and manufacturing facilities in India

Establishment of maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO) facilities for LEAP and M-88 engines

Technology, innovation, and digital cooperation

The jointly inaugurated Year of Innovation will drive collaboration between the two countries in emerging domains such as AI, digital technologies, healthcare, sustainability, research, and education. The aim is to foster partnerships between startups, academia, and industry across both ecosystems:

Expansion of the India-France Innovation Network

Greater startup linkages, including cooperation between the Hyderabad-based innovation lab T-Hub and Nord France Invest

Collaboration between the Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) on a binational digital sciences center

Economic partnership, trade, and financial cooperation

Modi and Macron noted sustained growth in bilateral trade and two-way investments, particularly in aerospace, energy, logistics, telecom, agri-food, and technology. An amendment to the India-France Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) was signed to facilitate greater investment flows.

Other highlights included:

Expansion of Indias UPI digital payment system in France

Cooperation in railways, including high-speed rail and hydrogen-powered trains

Collaboration on secure and resilient supply chains and economic security

Both leaders welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (India-EU FTA) and the signing of the EU-India Security and Defense Partnership.

India-France trade and investment relations

Merchandise trade

The total merchandise trade between India and France reached US$11.68 billion in FY 2024-25, with flows remaining strong at US$10.98 billion during April-December FY 2025-26. Trade remains broadly balanced, reflecting mature two-way engagement under the strategic partnership framework.

India-France Merchandise Trade Relations (Value in US$ Million) Trade activities FY 2024-25 *FY 2025-26 (April-Dec) Indias exports to France 6,024.33 5,290.43 Indias imports from France 5,657.89 5,690.61 Total 11,682.22 10,981.04

Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI.

*Please note that the trade figures for FY 2025-26 are provisional and subject to revision upon the end of the current financial year (FY26).

Indias exports to France include pharmaceuticals (drug formulations and biologicals), electric machinery, electronic components, and instruments.

Indias Top Commodity Exports to France (Value in US$ Million) Commodity Apr-December 2024 Apr-December 2025 (P) % growth Drug formulations, biologicals 429.78 442.42 800.42 Electric machinery and equipment 318.90 421.66 1053.76 RMG cotton including accessories 244.46 278.42 895.45 Aircraft, spacecraft and parts 615.07 224.13 218.50 Telecom instruments 241.59 219.13 691.61 Petroleum products 1,073.77 196.35 58.65 Gold and other precious metal jewelry 139.39 193.45 1110.48 Electronics components 123.62 165.62 1071.25 Electronics instruments 88.15 132.64 1216.68 Cotton fabrics, made-up etc. 107.28 120.70 882.48

Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI

On the import side, aircraft and spacecraft components dominate, underscoring the depth of defense and aerospace cooperation.

Indias Top Commodity Imports from France (Value in US$ Million) Commodity Apr-December 2024 Apr-December 2025 (P) % growth Aircraft, spacecraft and parts 2,298.00 2,267.69 765.15 Electric machinery and equipment 543.77 645.90 934.63 Medical and scientific instruments 226.04 176.65 583.80 Industrial machinery for dairy etc. 219.81 202.72 707.73 Electronics components 187.09 197.15 821.83 Electronics instruments 149.37 134.04 685.35 Iron and steel 143.86 113.48 586.99 Other commodities 113.58 117.75 804.09 Plastic raw materials 103.98 81.02 579.37 Residual chemical and allied products 102.43 130.17 1008.27

Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI

Indias imports indicate Frances role as a supplier of advanced capital goods and technology inputs to Indias industrial ecosystem.

ALSO READ: How French Companies Leverage India as a Global Delivery Base

French investment in India

France ranks as the 11th largest foreign direct investor in India as of September 2025. Cumulative FDI inflows from 2001 to 2021 exceeded US$10 billion.

Country-Specific FDI Equity Inflow: French Investments into India Years Investment amount (in US$ million) 2001-21 10,074.47 2022 426.23 2023 353.15 2024 859.24 2025 (Jan-Sept.) 233.31

Source: Fact Sheet, DPIIT, GoI.

Turn the IndiaFrance Diplomatic Momentum into an Executable Market Plan Speak with our experts at India@dezshira.com for advisory on: Market entry & operating model: Wholly owned vs JV, branch/liaison options, sector constraints.

Tax & treaty structuring: DTAA implications, withholding, financing flows, PE risk controls.

Transfer pricing readiness: Intercompany services, IP/royalties, documentation & audit defense.

Localization & supplier onboarding: Defense/aerospace supply chain qualification, contracting, compliance.

Incentives & site strategy: State-level manufacturing/innovation incentives, location shortlisting.

Multilateral engagement: Indo-Pacific cooperation and connectivity

India and France reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. Cooperation will advance under the 2018 Joint Strategic Vision for the Indian Ocean Region and the 2023 Indo-Pacific Roadmap. The two sides endorsed progress under initiatives such as the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor (IMEC) and trilateral cooperation with Australia and the UAE.

What businesses and investors can anticipate in 2026

For businesses, the key implication is greater predictability in long-term cooperation frameworks rather than isolated, transaction-based engagement.

1. Deepening localization and industrial participation

As defense and aerospace cooperation advances toward co-development and manufacturing integration, suppliers should anticipate stricter localization thresholds, higher technical qualification standards, and long-term vendor onboarding cycles.

Advisory lens: Early positioning within certified supply chains, investment in compliance with Indian defense procurement norms, and capability upgrades in precision manufacturing and systems integration will be critical for sustained participation.

2. Bi-national innovation commercialization

The institutionalization of joint research and innovation platforms suggests a gradual shift from academic collaboration to commercial deployment. This creates scope for structured intellectual property (IP)-sharing arrangements, joint technology incubation, and cross-border R&D financing models.

Advisory lens: Firms should evaluate co-development agreements, technology licensing frameworks, and collaborative grant mechanisms to de-risk early-stage innovation while preserving intellectual property control.

3. Tax certainty and investment structuring

Recent treaty-level adjustments and strengthened economic dialogue mechanisms point to improved fiscal clarity and regulatory coordination.

Advisory lens: Investors should reassess holding structures, transfer pricing policies, and cross-border financing models to optimize tax efficiency and manage permanent establishment risks under evolving bilateral and EU-linked frameworks.

4. Strategic supply chain diversification

The partnerships emphasis on economic security and resilient supply chains reflects broader geoeconomic recalibration. This enhances Indias positioning as a complementary manufacturing and technology base for Europe-facing operations.

Advisory lens: Foreign companies may consider phased capacity expansion in India, particularly in sectors aligned with advanced manufacturing, clean technologies, high-value engineering, and dual-use industrial inputs.

Conclusion

The establishment of the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership signals a long-term commitment to structured, high-ambition cooperation across defense, technology, climate, economic security, and people-centric exchanges. Anchored by the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, the partnership aims to reinforce sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and resilience while contributing to a stable, inclusive, and rules-based international order.

For businesses and investors, competitive advantage will depend on early integration into structured bilateral platforms rather than reactive, project-specific engagement.

Opportunities for French Companies and Investors in India Dezan Shira & Associates supports French businesses and investors establishing and scaling operations in India. Our India advisory team provides end-to-end assistance with market entry strategy, entity incorporation, location assessment, tax and transfer pricing structuring, and supply chain planning across priority sectors under the India-France strategic partnership. Reach us at: India@dezshira.com
Wuthering Heights

But why has this stirred so much backlash? What is the original book about? Lets have a look.







Image credit : The Artifice / Wuthering Heights

Image credit : YouTube / Cathy 2.0 and Hareton

We are all familiar with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi and the newdrama. Emerald Fennells 2026 adaptation of Emily Brontes chaotic masterpiece has been a topic of continuous scrutiny among literary purists, Gen Z cinephiles and critics alike. Not to forget the soundtrack that literally features British electropop (hello, Charlie XCX). The movie is basically a brat version of the 19th century English moors. To summarize, the film is all vibes, no substance. The title is even put in quotation marks to show that its her specific adaptation. Pure ragebait.Brontes 1847 novel deals with generational trauma, toxic attachment issues, emotional repression and the dangers of inheritance. Is the sexy, erotic drama as portrayed by Fennell in the room with us? The narrator Lockwood (a total NPC) rents a house called Thrushcross Grange. Its landlord, Heathcliff, is also the owner of another estate, Wuthering Heights, where he lives. Heathcliff is the typical, dark academia-esque edge-lord, who refuses to touch grass. Now, Lockwood has to stay the night at Wuthering Heights as a snowstorm forbade him to return to Thrushcross Grange after his visit to the landlord. There, he sees the ghost of Catherine (Cathy) Earnshaw trying to break in through the window. He loses his mind, rushes back home, and asks his housekeeper Nelly Dean for the tea. Nelly, who has been in the house for thirty years, has been a witness of all the madness and yet didnt call the cops, now narrates the story in a first person POV.Back in the day, Mr Earnshaw, Cathys father, brought home a random kid he found in Liverpool, Heathcliff. Cathy and Heathcliff instantly becomes besties and soulmates, while her brother, Hindley, is a total hater who treats Heathcliff like a peasant when the dad dies. Years pass and Cathy tries to main character her way into a comfortable, upper class life by marrying Edgar Linton, whose family owns the Thrushcross Grange, all the while keeping Heathcliff as her emotional support demon. Marrying the latter would degrade her social status. But to be fair, she utters some of the most iconic words in literary history here, Nelly, I am Heathcliff. Chills. However, while she is sharing these thoughts with Nelly, Heathcliff overhears this and takes a massive L. He runs away and disappears for three years and returns with massive aura, loads of money and a thirst for revenge.Meanwhile Cathy is married to Edgar, which angers Heathcliff to the point that he marries Edgars sister Isabella to spite everyone and treats her like trash. He also wins Wuthering Heights from a gambling addicted Hindley and gaslights, gatekeeps and girlbosses his way through both families. Cathy becomes so stressed from these events and her conflicted love for Heathcliff that she dies after giving birth to her child, Catherine the Second (lets call her Cathy 2.0). Heathcliff is devastated and asks her ghost to haunt him forever.Years pass again, and Heathcliff forces Cathy 2.0 to marry his ipad kid Linton Heathcliff. Linton dies (RIP) and Heathcliff now controls both houses. He basically gets his revenge, but realises how fruitless his ambitions have been as none of this will bring back his dead girlfriend. Eventually, Heathcliff stops eating and just stares at nothing until he dies. He is buried next to Cathy 1.0 so they can finally reunite in the afterlife.The story ends with Cathy 2.0 and Hareton Earnshaw (Hindleys son) falling in love and becoming everything Cathy and Heathcliff wished they were. Hareton was a bit of a caveman, but Cathy 2.0 taught him to read and together, they fixed the familys curse.All in all, Fennell failed to produce Wuthering Heights for what it is. It is a cautionary tale about unhealed trauma. It shows the dangers of unprocessed feelings and how generations after generations suffer because of it.
AI Slop isn't just an insult. It's a symptom

TimesNow

Image credit : X | @MissAHadley | The AI Caricature Boom Is More Than a Trend

AI caricatures are repetitive

Image credit : X | @smcgillivray | AI Made Your Avatar. The Attention Economy Made It Inevitable.

The trade you don't see

Humans make better slop than AI... Wake me up when AI makes something as ugly as this sounds pic.twitter.com/2pLYwSCyFh



 clusk (@twocitizenships) February 18, 2026

Is your brain on autopilot mode?

Image credit : X | @i10X_ai | Scroll, Upload, Generate, Repeat: How AI Slop Took Over Your Feed

The environmental cost that nobody puts in the caption

Image credit : X | @AnnieBrownNews | The Attention Economy Made It Inevitable.

But why does it feel inevitable

Open Instagram for a few minutes and it's everywhere: oversized cartoon eyes, ultra-smooth skin, and dramatic features turned all the way up. Your friend. Her mom. Your situationship. Your manager. Everyone transformed into glossy AI avatars, proudly tagging them "created with ChatGPT. "It feels playful. It feels innocent and feels like harmless digital fun.But it's also one of the clearest examples of what some people online have started calling AI slop. What does that mean?AI slop describes the overwhelming surge of quickly produce, low-effort content created or heavily assisted by artificial intelligence, including images, written posts and videos that now saturates social platforms and websites.In 2025, Merriam-Webster named slop its Word of the Year after mentions of "AI Slop" exploded online, reports. The phrase describes the tidal wave of mass-produced, algorithmically generated content flooding your feeds, images, captions, comments, product reviews, and even 'deep' LinkedIn posts.It's not that AI content is always bad. It's that it's everywhere. It's fast. It's frictionless, and it's flattening the texture of the internet into something glossy, optimised and weirdly identical.The caricature trend is the cleanest example.You upload a selfie. You type a prompt: "Create a caricature of me and my job." The tool generates a cartoon version of you, with an oversized head, hyper-saturated colours, and props screaming your profession. You ask anything from doctor to founder. It will create anything for you.No matter, it feels personalised. But look closely. They all kind of look the same. And that's because generative AI doesn't invent from scratch. It predicts patterns based on massive datasets. You are not getting a portrait born from someone studying your quirks.You are getting the statistical average of millions of similar images. It's remix culture without humans.The sameness is the point. Platforms reward familiarity because it spreads faster. The algorithm doesnt optimise for originality; it optimises for engagement.AI becomes the perfect tool for that system, producing endless, safe, pattern-matching content at an industrial scale. Slop isnt a bug. Its a feature of the attention economy.And we are feeding it.Whenever we upload that selfie, we are not just generating a cute cartoon. We are handing over biometric data and contextual clues about our job, our personality, and our social circle. Even if companies anonymise data, the broader system runs on accumulation.The internet trained you to think, "It's just one photo."But multiplied by hundreds of millions of users? That's a dataset.We have normalised feeding the machine in exchange for vibes.The conversation gets more uncomfortable when you zoom in on what this does to you.Researchers at MIT Media Lab ran a four-month study tracking brain activity while people wrote essays either solo, using search engines, or using ChatGPT. Participants using AI showed significantly lower neural engagement. While over 80 per cent couldn't accurately recall what they had written minutes earlier.The researchers described it as "cognitive debt". The more thinking you outsource, the less your brain fully engages. And here's the part that hits: when participants stopped using AI, their brains didn't instantly bounce back.Now zoom out.If you generate your captions, emails, art or your jokes, or even your caricature  what muscles are you letting atrophy?AI is powerful as a tool. But tools shape the hands that use them.Well, behind every "lol this is so me" cartoon is a physical infrastructure most people never think about. Data centres run hot. Really hot. To keep servers cool, many facilities use evaporative cooling systems that consume massive amounts of water. Once that water evaporates, its gone.Meanwhile, the researchers at the University of California, Riverside, estimated that even short AI interactions consume measurable water indirectly through cooling processes. Training large models, like GPT-3, has been estimated to require hundreds of thousands of litres of freshwater during development.On the other hand, the investigations from outlets like Bloomberg have reported that many new data centres are being built in water-stressed regions. Your cartoon might feel virtual. The infrastructure behind it is not.Here's the psychological twist: AI doesn't just exist. It inserts itself.Search engines summarise instead of linking. Social media platforms push AI tools to "enhance" your posts. Messaging apps suggest replies, and the friction to opt out increases.It starts to feel necessary. If everyone is doing AI caricature, you don't want to look behind. If everyone's optimising with AI, you don't want to fall behind.Well, that's not an accident; tech platforms survive on integration, and the deeper the tool embeds into your habits, the harder it is to leave.
The FCT High Court has adjourned until April 8, 2026, the trial of Nigerian rapper Tochukwu Ojogwu, popularly known as Odumodublvck, in a suit of assault and battery.

The claimants counsel, Uchenna Ojembe, and the defendants counsel, Taiwo Akinsulie, were in court for the trial of Odumodublvck, but the case was adjourned due to ongoing renovations in the courtroom.

However, the counsels agreed on a date that is convenient for both parties to enable them to commence the case.

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The claimant, a Nigerian musician, Ogbogiri Okey Levi, popularly known as Kraziecent, had instituted a suit against Odumodublvck for violently assaulting and battering him in a public event sometime in December 2024.

Kraziecent, in a civil suit, alleged that while he was peacefully taking pictures and videos of himself at the event, Odumodublvck violently assaulted him for no reason.

He said the defendants actions inflicted emotional distress on him, and his iPhone 15 Pro Max was intentionally damaged in the process.

The claimant further sought an order from the court directing the defendant to pay the medical expenses incurred during his treatment.

Kraziecent sought an order directing Odumodublvck to pay him N2 billion for damages.

He also sought an order directing the defendant to issue a public apology to him through all the defendants social media platforms, including two national newspapers, among other claims in the suit.

(NAN)
Qabil Ashirov



A staff member of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) was injured in a landmine explosion on February 18, 2026, in the village of Mukhtar in the Khojaly District, an area recently liberated from occupation, AzerNEWS reports.

According to ANAMA, the incident occurred while the agency employee, 25-year-old Vasif Chobanov, born in 2000, was carrying out his official duties. A blast from an anti-personnel mine resulted in injuries to his left hand and face.

Chobanov was immediately evacuated to the district central hospital. His condition is reported as satisfactory, and his life is not in danger.

It is worth noting that Azerbaijan remains one of the countries most heavily contaminated by landmines in the world. During the First Karabakh War and in the years that followed, vast areas of Azerbaijani territory were mined. Estimates suggest that more than one million mines were planted across the country.

For years, the Armenian side declined to provide minefield maps to Azerbaijan. Even after maps were eventually handed over, they were found to be inaccurate, complicating demining efforts.

According to official data, more than 3,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Azerbaijan since 1991. Since the end of the 44-day war in 2020, over 400 individuals have fallen victim to mine explosions.

Besides, the landmine threat continues to hinder reconstruction and restoration work in the liberated territories. As a result, many internally displaced personswho were forced to flee their homes during the First Karabakh Warare still unable to return safely to their native lands.
The telcos, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom and T2 Mobile, have dismissed the excuses as half-truth.

They challenged the Senate to get accurate information from the telcom regulator, the NCC, rather than dishing out information that would not hold water in todays telecom development.

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria, ALTON, the umbrella body of the telcos, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, told Vanguard that any information about the telecom infrastructure and country coverage not emanating from the NCC could not be relied upon.

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His words: Upon which survey or statistics is the Senate coming up with its position of inadequate telecom infrastructure? As we speak today, over 70% of the country is covered with 3G and 4G, and 5G have about 11% coverage and the rest is 2G.

Even in reality, 2G is strong enough to transmit results electronically. I do not know where the Senate is getting its information but we cant take that blanket ban on electronic transmission based on a half-truth about our infrastructure and investments.

We agree that there are just maybe about two states that, due to insurgency, that our members cannot risk going to maintain facilities. But that is what all stakeholders can sit together and decide how to cover those places. Its not enough to say the country is not ready for electronic transmission.

Adebayos position tallies with that INEC, which in 2022 dismissed the fears, saying where there were network challenges, results uploaded to iREV would transmit once the machines were within areas with network coverage.
The Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act amendment bill.

The lower legislative chamber however recorded rowdy sessions as opposition lawmakers staged a walkout chanting APC, ole (thief) to protest the passage.

The lawmakers favoured mandatory real-time transmission of poll results on INECs result viewing portal (IReV).

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They have collected money! shouted one of the lawmakers whose face the camera did not capture.

The House earlier passed the bill in December 2025 but reconsidered provisions mandating the real-time electronic transmission of poll results.

Presidential aide Sunday Dare on TV hinted at Mr Tinubus unlikeliness to assent such a bill over what he noted as the nations limited Internet infrastructure to handle nationwide transmission of results in real-time.

On Tuesday, Francis Waive, an APC member representing Ughelli North/South/Udu federal constituency in Delta State, presented the motion.

Mr Abbas then put the motion to a voice vote in which thunderous nays overshadowed the ayes. But the Speaker ruled in favour of the ayes, sparking an uproar among lawmakers who raised their voices in objection.

Mr Abbas dismissed his colleagues objections to propose an executive session for a closed-door hearing. At this point, the lawmakers could not be appeased. The chambers turned rowdy with members shouting angrily to express their disapproval.

Again, Mr Abbas ignored the chaos and moved the House into executive session, sparking more protests from the lawmakers, as some stood from their seats to walk out of the chambers.

The Spokesperson for the House, Akin Rotimi who described the passage as historic, said that it had nothing to do with political party membership.

Yes, the opposition staged a walk out but it is on record that some of the opposition stayed back and voted for the passage, he said.

The spokesperson said the decision of the house was for the progress of Nigeria.

According to him, if there are issues with electronically transmitting the results, then it will go manual.

He explained that there was no confusion in the amendment but a response to the yearnings of Nigerians.

Mr Rotimi, however, expressed confidence in the countrys democratisation process, saying that the division in the house is the beauty of democracy.

Also, the Senate passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 following arguments over Clause 60 raised by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, however, doused the tension after stating that he believed the demand had previously been withdrawn. But several opposition senators immediately objected his claim.

Citing Order 52(6), the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, argued that it would be out of order to revisit any provision on which the senate president had already ruled.

Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, reminded lawmakers that he had sponsored the motion for rescission, underscoring that decisions previously taken by the Senate were no longer valid. He maintained that, consistent with his motion, Mr Abaribes demand was in line.

The senate president sustained the point of order, after which Mr Abaribe rose in protest and was urged to formally move his motion.

Rising under Order 72(1), Mr Abaribe called for a division on Clause 60(3), specifically concerning the provision that if electronic transmission of results fails, Form EC8A should not serve as the sole basis, calling for the removal of the proviso that allows for manual transmission of results in the event of network failure.

Mr Akpabio directed senators who supported the caveat to rise. After they were counted, he further asked lawmakers who oppose the caveat to also rise, and they were numbered.

Only 15 senators opposed the caveat, while 55 senators voted in support of it.

Concerns over the timing of the 2027 general elections and technical inconsistencies in the legislation were also raised.

Rising under Order 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, the Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved the motion to reverse the earlier passage of the bill and return it to the senate committee for fresh deliberations.

He explained that the development followed the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of a timetable fixing the 2027 general elections for February 2027, after consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly.

He noted that some individuals had raised concerns that the proposed date conflicts with the provisions of the amended law, particularly the requirement that elections be scheduled not later than 360 days before the expiration of tenure.

He further noted that upon critical review of the passed bill, the 360-day notice requirement prescribed in Clause 28 could result in the scheduling of the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections during the Ramadan period.

According to him, holding elections during Ramadan can negatively affect voter turnout, logistical coordination, stakeholder participation, and the overall inclusiveness and credibility of the electoral process.
Robert Indianas celebrated sculpture AMOR (1998) at Sister Cities Park at 18th and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Read more

Those around Logan Circle might notice something missing today: Robert Indianas bright red AMOR sculpture.

On Wednesday morning, Philadelphia officials removed the artwork  a companion piece to Indianas iconic LOVE sculpture at nearby John F. Kennedy Plaza  from its perch at Sister Cities Park on 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway for conservation and restoration.

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Creative Philadelphia, the citys arts office, said AMOR is scheduled to return on May 1.

Over the years, the paint on AMOR has naturally faded due to exposure to UV rays and weather, said Marguerite Anglin, Creative Philadelphias public art director. We are excited to give the sculpture a full restoration treatment, and look forward to its return back to Sister Cities Park in time for the citys largest celebrations of Americas 250th.

The removal was overseen by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and Heritage Conservation Collective. The sculpture was transported to Fine Finishes Painting Studio in Peekskill, N.Y., where conservators approved by the Robert Indiana Foundation will strip and repaint it.

Indiana created AMOR in 1998 in response to the changing demographics of the U.S. and his desire to speak to his fellow citizens, according to the Association for Public Art.

AMOR, meaning love in Spanish and Latin, came to Philadelphia in 2015 to mark Pope Francis visit, thanks to the aPA and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. On loan from the New York-based Morgan Art Foundation, it was displayed at the top of the museum steps, where it overlooked the papal Mass held on the Parkway.

In 2016, it was permanently installed at Sister Cities Park with funding and support from the city, PMA, aPA, the Morgan Art Foundation, and Edith R. Dixon.
Geoff Gross, CEO of Medical Guardian, at the company's headquarters at 1818 Market St. Read more

Just over 20 years ago, when Geoff Gross founded Medical Guardian, his vision was to empower older adults to live more independently.

The company launched in 2005 out of Gross apartment in Center City with a focus on emergency response for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

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At the time, the industry was largely reactive and built around moments of crisis, he said.

It now has 630,000 active members, who can choose from lightweight medical alert devices worn as a necklace or on the wrist. One of them, which looks like any other smartwatch on first glance, allows users to track health and activity stats.

The company employs more than 600 people and is approaching $250 million in annual revenue. Gross said it is poised to step in as aging-in-place becomes an urgent challenge facing families, healthcare systems, and policymakers.

By 2034, the number of older adults in the U.S. will surpass the number of minors for the first time in history, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Simultaneously, families and caregivers are experiencing increased demands, and traditional care models are proving to be less sustainable. Over 53 million Americans serve as unpaid family caregivers, according to a recent study from the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and they provide an estimated $600 billion worth of unpaid labor each year.

Caregiving is now widely recognized as a public health, workforce, and economic issue, not just a personal one, Gross said. Burnout, anxiety, and sleep deprivation are increasingly common, yet caregivers are still underserved by technology that focuses almost entirely on emergencies instead of daily reassurance and support.

From peace of mind to longevity

Gross founded Medical Guardian based on a simple but deeply personal belief that people deserve to age with confidence, dignity, and the freedom to live life on their own terms, he said.

That was informed by his familys experience with Gross grandmother, Freda, a retired nurse who lived alone later in life and experienced frequent falls. She was fiercely independent, but those moments created real anxiety for our family, he said.

She became Medical Guardians first member.

People who are older, frail, or have a disability or chronic illness need to be able to easily, reliably contact family or emergency services, said Richard C. Wender, who chairs the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Pennsylvanias medical school.

He recommends choosing a system thats affordable and delivers on promises made. These services can offer more independent options for vulnerable individuals.

Most people want the same things as they get older, as they did before: control over their daily lives, privacy, and the ability to remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, Gross said. When done thoughtfully, connected health and safety tools can remove barriers rather than impose them.

People often find Medical Guardian through referrals from adult children, caregivers, clinicians, and community organizations, Gross said. He noted that such decisions are often made collaboratively, and our approach is designed to reflect that reality.

The company also does direct-to-consumer marketing, as well as social media advertising and influencer outreach. And it works closely with health plans, providers, senior living operators, and state programs focused on helping aging adults remain safely at home.

That blend of consumer and healthcare channels mirrors how aging and caregiving actually happen, in real homes, with real families, over time, Gross said.

Gross says Medical Guardian members have shared feedback that their devices biggest impact is not a dramatic moment, but the everyday reassurance.

Feeling steady taking a shower, walking outside without hesitation, or knowing help is there if something feels off, Gross said. Those small moments of confidence shape how people experience independence.

With that in mind, one of the companys goals is to support people earlier  before a fall, a health scare, or a rushed decision.

Our services often come years before in-home care or assisted living, which gives us the opportunity to build trust while people are still living independently and confidently, he said.

Medical Guardian also has wellness advocates, many of whom have social work backgrounds, as well as emergency response specialists and care teams.

Our platforms use data, automation, and intelligence to notice patterns and surface insights, but when something matters, a real person is always involved, Gross said.

Philly-based medical device competes with Big Tech watches

Many of the people answering Medical Guardians emergency calls, building its software, supporting members, and working with health plans are doing so from Philadelphia, where the company is headquartered. More than half its employees are based in the area.

Weve built and scaled this company in Philly, and that matters to us, Gross said. Theres a strong work ethic here, a deep healthcare ecosystem, and a sense of community responsibility that aligns with our mission.

Some of Medical Guardians partners are based in the region  such as AmeriHealth Caritas, Independence Blue Cross, and Jefferson Health.

Some may feel that an Apple Watch can do as much as one of Medical Guardians devices by providing vital stats, location tracking, and communication capabilities. But Gross said Medical Guardians products offer a unique alternative.

Many of our members do not want dozens of apps or daily charging. They want something reliable, intuitive, and built for real life, especially in moments when clarity and speed matter, he said.

Gross cited that Medical Guardian can monitor location and, when appropriate, biometrics like oxygen levels or blood pressure. Thats not meant to overwhelm people with data but to create meaningful context for families and care teams.

For many older adults, he said, that focus on usefulness over features is more appealing than a general-purpose smartwatch that tries to do everything.
Pats King of Steaks, where the steak sandwich was invented in 1930, makes two bold changes.

Also in this edition:

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Girl dinner: This $39 steakhouse feast has gone viral. Ramadan: A guide to breaking the fast. Coffee boom: Read on for news, including word of major coffee activity in Center City.

 Mike Klein

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Its only taken 96 years, but you can now get a seeded roll for your steak at Pats King of Steaks. Frank Olivieri explains this and one other seismic shift at the shop that invented this storied sandwich.

Hira Qureshi is fasting for Ramadan, and she shares her guide to fasting and celebrating. Above is the lagman soup from Uzbek standout Plov House in Northeast Philadelphia.

 Where to break the Ramadan fast around Philadelphia.

Kiki Aranita sat down for Del Friscos $39 martini/oysters/Caesar/fries bar special. Its a ready-made girl dinner that social-media consumers are eating up.

With Di Bruno Bros. gone from Ardmore and Wayne, Denali Sagner visits the homegrown Carlinos Market to scope out its line of Italian specialty foods.

Manakeesh Cafe Bakery & Grill  home of fine Lebanese treats such as the qatayif shown above  has ended its 15-year run at 45th and Walnut Streets. Management cites a rent increase, and Andrew Kitchenman explains the familys next steps.

La Chingonita will wrap its four-year brick-and-mortar run in Fishtown with burrito offerings on Wednesday, Feb. 18 (burritos) and Friday, Feb. 20 (birria), from noon-6 p.m. or sellout. Rebecca Baez and Omar Martinez, who started the business in 2020 as a food cart, said they decided it was best to prioritize our family, bow out gracefully, and end things on a high note. They said the decision to shut down did not come lightly, but we recognized that it was time to close this chapter with intention and gratitude, before burnout set in further. They say they think theyll do popups but have no plans to open another restaurant in the near future.

Heres what we enjoyed during our various local travels: Craig LaBan is delighted by the bise bele bath (above)  a comforting porridge from southern India  at Extons Malgudi Cafe. Also: Bedatri Choudhury enjoyed a goat with spicy scallop creole at a Honeysuckle collab dinner with New Yorks Kabawa, while Jenn Ladd says she visited Bomb Bomb Bar and had what might be the best crab cakes shes ever had. Thats high praise coming from someone who lived and worked in Baltimore. (To enjoy more of our Best Things, click here.)

Craig, meanwhile, found something magical about the mole poblano for his review of Tlali, a modest Mexican BYOB in Upper Darby, where the Sandoval family is cooking its heart out.

Beatrice Forman touts the smashburgers at the new El Sazon R.D. in Northern Liberties, which are topped with a pad of queso frito and tangy mayo-ketchup to bring Dominican flavors to an American classic.

Scoops

Chef Dominique Shields, founder and former owner of North Phillys Pretty Girls Cook (at left with her staff when she was featured last year on the Fox show Gordon Ramsays Secret Service), will oversee weekend brunch at the new Savu (208 S. 13th St.) as chef-in-residence. The brunch service starts Feb. 28.

The Broad Street Diner will yield to a new six-story hotel, as Jake Blumgart found in new city documents. What could that mean for the Melrose Diner site, also owned by Michael Petrogiannis?

Imminent openings include Mi Vida (the swank Mexican restaurant out of D.C.), coming to 1150 Ludlow St. in East Market on Feb. 22, and Bar Tacconelli, the cocktail lounge from the pizza family in the former Versa Vino at 461 Route 38, Maple Shade, on Feb. 25.

Root & Sprig, Top Chef judge Tom Colicchios health-forward fast-casual restaurant, has been booked for the Shop Penn retail district in the Perelman School of Medicines Kelley Research Building (421 Curie Blvd.) later this spring. Theres also a location at the Penn Medicine Food Hall.

Sports bar P.J. Whelihans will replace the shuttered Iron Hill Brewery in Newtown, Bucks County.

Restaurant report

Maddy Rose at the Landing has replaced the Landing restaurant on the Delaware River in New Hope, which closed in late 2024. Its a second Maddy Rose location (after Jersey City) for Frank Cretella of By Landmark, who also runs the nearby Logan Inn, Hotel du Village, and Anzu Social. The open dining room faces the Delaware and the New HopeLambertville Bridge, with indoor dining, bar seating, and deck dining planned as part of a second renovation phase. Mediterranean-influenced menu includes dinner entrees priced in the high $20s (white bean ravioli, Bolognese), the $30s (roasted chicken, baby back ribs), and occasional gusts into the $40s and higher (dayboat scallops, prime rib).

Maddy Rose at the Landing, 22 N. Main St., New Hope. Hours: 4-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, noon-3 p.m. and 4-11 p.m. Saturday, and noon-3 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. Sunday. Reservations via OpenTable.

Cake & Joe owners Sarah Qi and Trista Tang open their third location at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 1735 Market St. with free cakes for the first 100 people. The specialty coffee-and-dessert shop started in Pennsport in December 2020 and added a second in Fishtown in June 2023. The Center City location, open daily from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., features more grab-and-go options as well as a larger focus on Chinese food.

Besides Cake & Joe, the Center City West coffee scene is broadening. Last week, Mahmood Islam and Samina Akbar opened a M.O.T.W Coffee (Muslims of the World Coffee) franchise at the Murano (2101 Market St.), next to Trader Joes, with Arabic baked goods alongside specialty coffee in chill environs. Two Yemeni coffeehouses are planned nearby: As I reported a few weeks ago, Haraz Coffee House is applying for zoning to open at 1822 Chestnut St., while Rittenhouse Ramblings says Jabal Coffee House has a deal at 1524 Chestnut St.; Jabals corporate website suggests a fall opening.

Briefly noted

West Chester Restaurant Week will run from Sunday, Feb. 22 to Sunday, March 1 with 30 restaurants offering multicourse menus priced from $40 to $60.

East Passyunk Restaurant Week returns for its 14th year: Monday, Feb. 23 to Friday, March 6 at 21 participating restaurants with prix-fixes of $20, $40, and $60.

Filipino stylings are on the menu Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Breezys Deli (2235 Washington Ave., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Porcos & Small Oven Pastry (2204 Washington Ave., 4-8 p.m.). Owner Chad Durkin is collaborating with the visiting Mike and Eylonah Strauss  formerly of Mikes BBQ and Sidecar Bar  who in 2023 moved to Bacolod City, Philippines, where they run Sugaree Gelato Bakery Cafe.

Gilda in Fishtown will have help from Cantina La Martina for Gildas first-ever Tuesday service, on Feb. 24. Expect Mexican specialty drinks, pastries, sandwiches, and more with a Portuguese twist. Menus will be released on their Instagram accounts. Itll be pay-as-you-go; dine-in or takeaway.

At Ama, chef Frankie Ramirezs Taco Tuesday special, Taco Novela, brings in a guest chef every month for a special weekly taco, with proceeds benefiting a charity. Juan Carlos Aparicio of El Chingon launched the series this week with a taco de lobster zarandeada (a full 1-pound Maine lobster, charred cabbage sancocho, squink ink sofrito, and chiltepin mayo on squid ink corn tortillas, priced at $42). It will be repeated on Feb. 24. Esperanza Immigration Legal Services is the beneficiary.

Cuba Libre in Old City is marking its first quarter-century with an open house noon-4 p.m. Saturday, March 7 (snow date, Sunday, March 8) with comp tastings of the restaurants original menu items plus rum tastings, cocktail samples, beer, wine, and sangria. No reservations, but those who register will get a $25 gift voucher.

Convenience chain Sheetz is scouting Wawa territory hard for a new location as in a site five miles down the road from Wawa HQ hard. Erin McCarthy shares the intrigue.

Pop quiz

What new policy is in place at Philly dive bar Dirty Franks?

A) Customers must be at least 25 to enter

B) One additional hour of happy hour daily

C) Free drink for anyone with Frank in their first or last name

D) Non-U.S. beers only

Find out if you know the answer.

Ask Mike anything

I saw a posting at the former Devon Seafood Grill on Rittenhouse Square with an estimated investment of $3.2 million. Any insight?  Woody R.

Stephen Starr is developing a restaurant  concept is TBD  at the former Devon Seafood Grill at 18th and Chancellor Streets, as I reported nearly a year ago. What youve spotted in a window is a printout of a city commercial building permit. The $3.2 million cited is the estimated cost of the general work  just a fraction of the total budget, including major categories such as equipment, furnishings, and architectural and design work. Starr would not disclose the budget. Its probably safe to say it wont be $20 million, the sum he and partners invested in Borromini, which opened last year across the way.

 Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in my newsletter.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
When Kelly McBride read Elizabeth Bruenigs essay in the Atlantic about a childs death from measles complications, she was moved and quickly shared the story on her Facebook account. She hadnt realized that Bruenigs family had been ravaged by virus and the well-known journalist had lost a child.

McBride, a media ethicist and senior vice president at the Poynter Institute, also didnt realize the story was a hypothetical scenario  and the child a composite character based on the authors research  until a friend alerted her to an editors note at the bottom of the story. Then, McBride felt duped.

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I feel deceived, McBride said. I spent all weekend talking about this story to my friends as if the reporter had experienced it.

Bruenigs stirring account of a mothers experience learning her child will die of the long-term effects of measles has remained one of the Atlantics most read stories since it was published Thursday, receiving more than 700 comments. Written in the second person, some readers have called the essay a visceral and gut-wrenching expose of the human impacts of the measles epidemic.

It has also generated controversy. Readers and media experts have condemned the story as breeching journalistic ethics by informing the reader that the story is fictionalized through a short editors note at the end of the 3,000-word essay. Some public health experts argued the story was a dangerous writing exercise that could evoke backlash and confusion as vaccine skepticism hits an all-time high across the country.

Grateful to @ebruenig for sharing her and her familys ordeal, Gabby Stern, a former World Health Organization communications director, wrote on X shortly after the story published. Friends, please ensure that your children receive vaccinations against preventable diseases like measles.

She followed up soon after: I missed the disclaimer at the bottom. Others did, too. You get to the end and youre shattered, not looking for caveats and fine print. Disappointed in the magazine. The topic is too high-stakes for such shenanigans.

Adrienne LaFrance, executive editor at the Atlantic, told The Washington Post in a statement that the magazine was pleased that so many people are reading and praising Lizs remarkable essay.

We trust our readers to understand all different kinds of writing and writerly devices, she said. And while we included a note about Lizs methods for transparencys sake, were finding that most readers already understand the second-person well enough to know that the you referenced throughout the piece is not literally you, the reader.

The Atlantic, one of the most popular American magazines with 1.4 million subscribers, has become a destination for health reporting in recent years. The Atlantic is among a cohort of outlets that have reported on rising measles cases across the United States, as well as the role that misinformation and shifting government guidelines have on childhood vaccinations. Once eliminated in the country, outbreaks have led to the highest count of measles cases in more than three decades. Atlantic staff writer Tom Bartlett was first to find and interview the parents of a child who died of measles in Texas, the first such death in a decade.

Bruenig, a former Post opinion writer, has twice been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing, one of the industrys top honors for narrative journalism. (This reporter worked for the Atlantic from 2017 to 2019.)

Bruenig wrote the essay in the second person, detailing a scenario where two unvaccinated children attend a birthday party and catch measles from an infected-but-asymptomatic child. Your daughter behaves normally over the next week while the virus slowly spreads inside her, infecting immune cells that carry it to the lymph nodes, where it replicates and spreads at a rapid pace.

It includes a short disclaimer at the bottom of the 3,000-word piece: This story is based on extensive reporting and interviews with physicians, including those who have cared directly for patients with measles.

Reported hypotheticals have been used in other grim chronicles such as Outside Magazines 1997 story Frozen Alive, about freezing to death; a passage of Kathryn Schulzs 2015 New Yorker essay The Really Big One about the risks of a large earthquake; and the 2024 Annie Jacobsen book Nuclear War: A Scenario, about how nuclear warfare could transpire. The first two stories also are written in second person.

Many readers, including physicians, praised the Atlantic essay, writing that its evocative writing and storytelling forced readers to grapple with the impact of vaccine hesitancy. Read this while holding my almost-one-month-old, and it absolutely wrecked me. What a powerful and important piece, one commenter wrote. Tragically realistic story exquisitely described by Ms. Breunig, wrote another. Im a pediatrician who has never seen a case of measles but am awaiting my first one.

Others, however, expressed their confusion in the essays comments. The fact that readers in the discussion are unsure of whether this is a true story or fiction highlights a fundamental failure on the part of the author, and the editor, one reader wrote.

I know the internet is full of made up stuff, but I trusted the Atlantic, another reader wrote. I feel foolish that I told my husband about this as if it were the truth. Glad I didnt share it with my sisters. We are all pro vaccines, and Im concerned this story masquerading as a first person memoir will encourage people on the edge to blow off vaccines.

Tom Rosenstiel, a professor at University of Marylands Philip Merrill College of Journalism and former executive director of the American Press Institute, felt the piece did the reader a disservice by not being fully transparent about they were about to read. He said the Atlantic needed to clearly explain the unusual choices in the story upfront, avoiding deception.

Any time youre answering questions about why you did something in the story after youve published it, youre in a bad place, he said.

Some physicians argued the uncertainty around the essay could fan distrust of vaccines. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan who edits the journal Vaccine, said she found the essay scientifically sound but extremely confusing. She initially believed the essay was about Bruenigs real child and felt the essay could backfire. We need effective communicators like this, she said. But if that effective communication is being presented in such a way that it actually diminishes trust further, then were in real trouble.

Rachael Bedard, a physician and writer, called herself an admirer of Bruenig, but expressed similar concerns in a series of posts on X.

One of the things that people who have actually interacted [with] anti-vaxxers know is that they often think the liberal media is lying to them about how bad measles is, she wrote, writing that the Atlantics presentation of this essay as anything other than fiction affirms all of those concerns.

Bruenig, in an interview with the website Nieman Lab, defended the structure of her essay. It is a hypothetical account of a very real phenomenon based on careful reporting, she said. I would place it somewhere on the creative nonfiction spectrum. She said that she interviewed doctors for her piece, and based the character of the mother on herself.

I have no doubt that there are a lot of people out there who are unhappy with the story or reject its premises, and they are entitled to their interpretations. I get it, she said. But my job is to report the truth about the world  and I use all kinds of literary, and narrative devices to do that. I do it because telling the truth is important in its own right, whether or not anyone finds it persuasive.
Joaquin Duato, Johnson & Johnson's chairman and CEO, announced Wednesday that J&J will spend more than $1 billion on a cell therapy plant in Lower Gwynedd Township. Read more

Johnson & Johnson plans to spend more than $1 billion to build a cell therapy manufacturing facility in Montgomery County near Spring House, the New Jersey pharmaceutical and medical supplies giant said Wednesday.

The Lower Gwynedd Township plant, part of an effort by the company to invest $55 million in the U.S. by early 2029, is expected to employ 500 people when fully operational in 2031, J&J said.

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The facility at 1201 Sumneytown Pike will add to J&Js capacity to make cell therapy treatments for cancer, with a focus on multiple myeloma. Thats a type of cancer that attacks white blood cells in the bone marrow. Cell therapy is the use of engineered immune cells to treat disease.

Pennsylvanias proud manufacturing legacy, from steel to todays medicines and medical technologies and Johnson & Johnsons roots here for seven decades, are part of why we are investing here. Joaquin Duato, J&Js chairman and CEO, said.

Duato spoke during an event at the companys Spring House research and development campus, where 2,500 scientists work in 70 laboratories. The Montgomery County site is J&Js largest R&D center and its where most of our discovery efforts start, Duato said.

The company based in New Brunswick, N.J., employs 5,885 people at 10 Pennsylvania facilities, according to the office of Gov. Josh Shapiro. The Shapiro administration has offered $41.5 million in state support for the J&J project.

With this investment, we are further cementing our place as a leader in life sciences, Shapiro said. He said his administrations efforts to cut red tape are among the reasons companies like J&J are choosing to double down on their investments in Pennsylvania.

Eli Lilly & Co. last month announced plans to build a $3.5 billion pharmaceutical plant in the Lehigh Valley to expand manufacturing capacity for next-generation injectable weight-loss medicines.

GSK said in September that it will build a biologics factory in Upper Merion Township, but did not specify how much it would spend there. That project is part of GSKs plan to spend $1.2 billion on advanced manufacturing facilities.

Merck, another New Jersey-based drug giant, last year announced plans for a $1 billion factory and lab near Wilmington. Merck also has major operations in Montgomery County, which is among the top-ranked counties nationally for pharmaceutical manufacturing jobs.

J&J has a long legacy in the Philadelphia region. Among its major acquisitions here was the 1959 purchase of McNeil Laboratories, which later developed Tylenol. The pain reliever is still made at a plant in Fort Washington.

Other major Philadelphia-area J&J deals include the 1999 purchase of Centocor, one of the countrys first biotech companies, and the 2012 deal for Synthes Inc., a Swiss medical device maker with its North American headquarters and major operations here.

Separately from the new cell therapy manufacturing facility, J&J has two expansion projects planned for the Spring House R&D site.

One is a new cell engineering and analytical sciences facility. The other is focused on CAR-T testing and manufacturing during research and development, with the goal of creating personalized therapies more quickly and efficiently. The company did not disclose the cost of those projects.
Rev. Kevin Jagoe with BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship shares his opposition to ICE turning warehouses into detention sites as he speaks to the Bucks County Commissioners Wednesday. Read more

The contentious national discussion over the rapid expansion of ICE came to the doorstep of the Philadelphia region on Wednesday, as the Bucks County commissioners voted to oppose having any processing or detention facilities in the county.

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Commissioners said they learned that the federal government had recently approached warehouse owners in two communities, Bensalem Township and Middletown Township, about possible conversions. Neither owner is going forward, they said.

The commissioners voted 3-0  including the boards lone Republican  to approve a resolution that said such a center would be harmful for county residents and the people who would be confined there.

ICE officials did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The commissioners voted a day after U.S. Rep Brian Fitzpatrick said that he would oppose such a facility  and that he had received federal assurances none was planned in his district, which covers Bucks County and parts of eastern Montgomery County.

Fitzpatrick, a Republican who is seeking reelection in the purple district, faces a likely November challenge from Democratic Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, who also opposes ICE sites.

In Doylestown on Wednesday, Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo, a Republican who serves with two Democrats, said he heard about the federal interest in two local sites and strongly disapproved.

Bucks County is not a county that needs or wants a detention facility, he said.

Harvie, the boards vice chair, said Bucks County is no place for these kinds of facilities and cautioned: We have been down this road before, with Japanese Americans. And with Italian Americans.

During World War II the U.S. government forcibly incarcerated thousands of people of Japanese descent, holding them in concentration camps mostly in the western part of the country. About two-thirds of those confined were American citizens.

Some Italian Americans endured the same treatment.

A resolution conveys the opinion and wishes of the board, but holds no force of law.

The Bucks resolution said the county opposes the use of warehouses or similar industrial facilities not intended for human occupancy as facilities to hold, jail, detain, house or otherwise store human beings.

In addition to humanitarian concerns, the resolution says, such facilities, being hastily erected in areas and structures not intended for human occupation, would place unanticipated demands upon water and sewer systems, creating hazards to public health, as well as heaping new strain upon public safety services.

The vote came as the growth of ICE leasing and purchases has become contentious in Pennsylvania and across the United States.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expects to spend $38.3 billion to acquire warehouses around the country and retrofit them into immigrant detention centers to hold tens of thousands of people, the Washington Post reported. The newspaper analyzed agency documents that were provided to New Hampshires governor and published on the states website.

ICE intends to buy and convert 16 buildings to serve as regional processing centers, each holding 1,000 to 1,500 immigrant detainees. An additional eight detention centers would hold 7,000 to 10,000 detainees and serve as primary sites for deportations.

Two sites have been purchased in Pennsylvania  one in Upper Bern Township, in northern Berks County, and another in Tremont Township, in Schuylkill County, where the purchase has drawn the ire of concerned residents.

Last week Gov. Josh Shapiro formally asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a letter to reconsider the conversion of the Berks and Schuylkill sites, citing real harms to the communities.

He questioned the legality of the facilities and hinted at a possible lawsuit, saying if DHS goes forward, his administration will aggressively pursue every option to prevent these facilities from opening.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the plans for the Pennsylvania sites, saying that they would undergo community-impact studies and a rigorous due-diligence process, and that they would bring 11,000 jobs to the two Pennsylvania communities.

The two sites would hold a combined 9,000 people.

On Tuesday, Fitzpatricks office said it had received assurances from DHS and ICE that they had no plans or intention to open a detention facility within the First Congressional District.

After hearing from concerned residents, our office immediately contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and we have received assurances that no such facility is planned, Fitzpatrick said.
A new lawsuit filed by a group of conservation and history organizations is challenging President Donald Trumps executive order to remove historic information from national parks.

It comes a day after a federal judge ordered restoration of the slavery exhibits at the Presidents House in Philadelphia and marks the latest chapter in a showdown between historical transparency versus censorship.

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On Tuesday, the National Parks Conservation Association filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court against the Department of Interior, challenging Trumps 2025 executive order that forced national parks to change or strip displays tied to topics ranging from slavery and racism to LGBTQ+ rights and climate change.

Plaintiffs are organizations committed to protecting the national parks, preserving history, promoting access to high quality scientific information, and providing high quality interpretive materials  including exhibits, signs, brochures, and other educational materials  that bridge the gap between physical objects and human understanding for park visitors, the lawsuit says.

They and their members  including avid users of national parks and historians whose research is being erased  have been injured by these actions and seek to ensure that the administration does not wash away history and science from what the National Park Service has recognized is Americas largest classroom. 

The coalition, which includes the American Association for State and Local History, the Association of National Park Rangers, the Coalition to Protect Americas National Parks, the Society for Experiential Graphic Design, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, is asking the court to declare Trumps executive order unlawful and to order removed materials to be restored.

In filing this litigation together, we are taking a stand for the soul of our national parks, Alan Spears, senior director of cultural resources at the National Parks Conservation Association, said. Censoring science and erasing Americas history at national parks are direct threats to everything these amazing places, and our country, stand for.

In Philadelphia, U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe issued a ruling Monday requiring the federal government to restore the Presidents House site to its original state. The removed exhibits paid tribute to the enslaved people who lived in George Washingtons home during his presidency.

In her 40-page opinion, Rufe  who is a George W. Bush appointee  does not mince words. She compared the federal governments argument that it can unilaterally control the exhibits in national parks to the dystopian totalitarian regime in George Orwells 1984.

 READ MORE: Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore slavery exhibits to the Presidents House

The plaintiffs group for the Massachusetts suit is being represented by Democracy Forward, a progressive nonprofit that challenges government actions it views as harmful.

You cannot tell the story of America without recognizing both the beauty and the tragedy of our history, Skye Perryman, Democracy Forwards president and CEO said in a statement. The presidents effort to erase history and science in our national parks violates federal law, and is a disgrace that neither honors our countrys legacy nor its future.

Beyond Philadelphia, the lawsuit also mentions other examples of Trumps executive order in action, including the removal of an interactive display mentioning climate change at Fort Sumter in South Carolina, short films on labor history being scrapped at Lowells National Historical Park in Massachusetts, and the removal of displays discussing negative impacts tourists, settlers, and cattle ranchers have on the Grand Canyon National Park.

The lawsuit goes on to point out the irony of Trumps executive order aiming to avoid disparaging Americans, despite the presidents own new signage at the White House, which takes jabs at former President Joe Biden and others along his West Wing Walk of Fame.

The parties are asking a judge to order that national parks must be allowed to present the full historical and scientific picture without censorship and for their court costs to be paid for.
The Farm and Fisherman Tavern is one of a number of restaurants offering happy hours in and around Cherry Hill. Read more

Hello, Cherry Hill! 

Looking for a great happy hour deal? Weve rounded up eight spots to check out. Also this week, a bomb squad was called in after residents discovered a cannonball in their backyard, the school district is no longer planning to redraw enrollment boundaries for elementary schools, plus Mikado is looking to add a small bar.

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Looking for a spot to score $3 tacos or $7 martinis? Luckily you dont have to go very far, thanks to these eight restaurants happy hour deals.

The Inquirers Denali Sagner has rounded up eight spots in and around Cherry Hill with happy hour offerings, including the nostalgia-inducing Steak 38, neighborhood bar Kaminskis, and farm-to-table eatery Farm and Fisherman ($8 P.E.I. Mussels, anyone?).

See whats on the menu at these eight happy hours.

 Community News

 Schools Briefing

 On our Plate

Mikado will ask the town zoning board this week for permission to turn its roughly 500-square-foot outdoor patio into an enclosed 10-seat bar and waiting area. Indian Villa Restaurant reopened earlier this month in the Woodcrest Shopping Center, and introduced an updated menu featuring classic Indian dishes. Looking for a great cup of soup? Hen Vietnamese Eatery has one of the best in the state, according to a new list from NJ.com.

 Things to Do

 Unearthing History: Archaeologists will be excavating part of the Croft Farm property, where 18th and 19th century artifacts, as well as earlier pieces of Native American history, have previously been found. The public can view the dig and ask questions at designated times.  Saturday, Feb. 21 and Sunday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  Free Croft Farm

 A Time for Love: Vocalist and pianist Jay Daniels will perform some iconic love songs. Registration is required.  Saturday, Feb. 21, 2-3 p.m.  Free Cherry Hill Public Library

 Healthy Heart Big Fitness Event: Part of the JCCs heart health programming for February, this event will take attendees through pilates and fitness dancing demonstrations, followed by snacks. The event is open to anyone 12 and older.  Sunday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.  $20 for members, $25 for non-members Katz JCC

 Black Girl Magic Drag Brunch: VinChelle is hosting this drag brunch, which features performances by Mz Peaches, Cyrus K. Stratton, and Samara LaNegra.  Sunday, Feb. 22, 2:30-5 p.m.  $19.03 Vera

 LGBTQ+ Skate Night: Head to WinterFest Cottage at Cooper River Park for skating, a DJ, food, drinks, and access to local resources for the LGBTQ+ community. Registration is encouraged.  Monday, Feb. 23, 6-8 p.m.  Free Cooper River Park

 On the Market

Located in the Springdale Crossing neighborhood, this four-bedroom home has a modern interior, including new flooring. It features a two-tone, two-story foyer, a dining room, an eat-in kitchen with a waterfall island and stainless steel appliances, plus living and family rooms. The family room has vaulted ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. All four bedrooms are upstairs, including the primary suite, which has a jacuzzi tub with a built-in sound system, and a walk-in closet. Other features include a finished basement and a fenced backyard. There are open houses Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

See more photos of the home here.

Price: $925,000 | Size: 3,954 SF | Acreage: 0.3

 What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:

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This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirers high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
People opposed to a data center proposal at the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital grounds talk during a break in an East Vincent Township supervisors meeting in December. Read more

Calling a developers plan for a data center at the historic Pennhurst site technically deficient and not in compliance with the zoning ordinance, East Vincents planning commission voted Tuesday to recommend that the townships board of supervisors deny the proposal.

The decision, which passed the commission unanimously and saw enthusiasm from residents who had been vehemently pushing back against the project for months, doesnt hit the brakes completely. The townships board of supervisors will still have a hearing for the project in March.

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The developer declined to appear at the meeting Tuesday, instead sending a letter indicating they intended to revise the submitted plan and pressing the commission for a positive vote.

Their absence rankled the commission.

I take exception to the fact that the applicant and the applicants lawyers have declined to present this evening, and they informed us by letter that morning, said vice chairman Lawson Macartney. This is especially germane, given the lamentably poor technical quality of detail presented in the plans.

The commissions vote is a win for the residents in the township  and surrounding municipalities  who have decried the plan that would bring five two-story data center buildings, a sixth building, an electrical substation, and a solar field, totaling more than 1.3 million square feet, according to sketch plans.

The data center would sit on the property of the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital  known as Pennhurst Asylum during the Halloween season. Its situated near the Schuylkill and borders Spring City, and would be a close neighbor to the Southeastern Veterans Center.

Based on the materials presently before the township, there is no factual or legal basis to conclude that the proposed development would create impacts greater than those ordinarily associated with a permitted conditional use, Matthew McHugh, the developers attorney, wrote in the letter.

But the commission found the plans lacking in detail and explanation of what impact itd have on water, trees, employment, and more, saying the materials were significantly technically deficient and do not comply with our zoning ordinance in some major ways.

The letter indicated the developer would submit a revised plan that would add private power generation consisting of natural gas and battery storage installation, and relocate the proposed substation. The overall square footage and building heights wouldnt change, the letter said.

I just think this is the biggest, most impactful development thats been proposed in our community since Ive been on the planning commission, said the commissions chairwoman, Rachael Griffith. Im just shocked at the minimal detail that has been provided and just doing the absolute bare minimum, especially when data centers are just such a hot topic these daysIm just sort of dumbfounded as to why they thought we might be interested in recommending this in the first place.

Residents praised the commissions decision.

This is the kind of stuff that keeps people up at night, especially those of us who are impacted, resident Larry Shank told the board. You really made my night. Thank you.

State Sen. Katie Muth, who represents the township and is a resident, said commissioners protected the community.

I think that you all made the right decision tonight on a multitude of fronts, she told them.

In a statement, Kevin A. Feeley, a spokesperson who represents the developer, rejected the commissions assertions, saying that they had exchanged information about the development on a regular basis throughout this period.

He added that the developer would submit revised plans to address some of the review comments, particularly with respect to onsite power generation and water usage.

East Vincents proposed data center comes as Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has championed data center development, promoting a 10-year plan that includes cutting regulatory red tape to make it easier to approve them. The governors office also announced Amazon would spend $20 billion to develop data centers and other artificial-intelligence campuses across Pennsylvania.

Despite pushes at the federal and state level, 42% of Pennsylvanians say they would oppose the centers being built in their area, according to a recent survey.

With the states strong private property rights, it creates a bind for township officials, who are struggling with residents pushback and zoning allowances.

Pennhurst LLC owns the land, so they can do what they want with it, as long as it aligns with our ordinances and what theyre allowed to do, Griffith told attendees Tuesday. Theyre trying to do something that is not really allowed. Its our role to uphold our zoning ordinance so that they stick to that.

In December, the townships board of supervisors declined to move forward with a draft ordinance it had been penning for months that would govern data center development in the township, allowing the application to come before the planning commission and continue on to the conditional use hearings.

The townships solicitor said the scheduled March 16 conditional use hearing for the project would move forward. If the developer submits an updated plan, the proposal could come back before the planning commission.
Sen. Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) during a meeting last year in his office at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. Read more

When Sen. Dave McCormick stood on the Senate floor to call for nationwide rules mandating proof of citizenship and photo identification for voters, he invoked a drama that had played out three months earlier in Chester County.

The county had mistakenly left all third-party and unaffiliated voters off the Election Day voter rolls, creating a chaotic scene in which more than 12,000 voters were forced to cast provisional ballots, which take more time to count as officials must verify the eligibility of each voter. A subsequent investigation by a law firm hired by the county attributed the issue to human error and insufficient oversight.

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Every time Americans hear about election problems like Chester Countys, they rightly question the integrity of our electoral process, McCormick said.

But in his recounting of events, the Pennsylvania Republican gave incomplete and inaccurate information about Chester Countys election error.

What did McCormick say about Chester County?

Americans, he said, overwhelmingly believe there are problems with U.S. elections, and he argued that has been demonstrated for them on multiple occasions, including in November when Chester County omitted more than 70,000 third-party and unaffiliated voters from its Election Day pollbooks.

Registered voters were turned away at the polls. And an unknown number of unverified voters cast regular ballots, McCormick claimed.

But there is no evidence that voters were turned away or that ineligible voters cast ballots. McCormicks office did not respond to questions.

Were voters turned away?

According to county officials, no voter who wanted to vote was turned away.

Instead, for most of the day voters were offered the opportunity to vote by provisional ballot while county and state officials worked to get supplemental pollbooks distributed to polling places across the county.

Some voters did testify at county election board meetings that they voluntarily left their polling place when their name was not in the pollbook but that they returned later in the day when they could vote on machines.

Did unverified voters cast ballots?

There is no evidence that ineligible voters cast ballots. The identity and eligibility of all voters who cast ballots were verified, county officials said.

When the pollbook issue was discovered on Election Day, Chester County officials initially recommended that poll workers ask voters not included in the pollbook to sign the pollbook manually and vote as normal, according to the independent investigation of the incident.

To ensure those voters were eligible to vote, county officials said, poll workers were instructed to follow a detailed process that included verifying voters eligibility in the full voter list and verifying their identity with photo identification.

The Chester County Republican Committee has disputed the countys version of events, contending that photo ID was not checked for all voters who wrote their names into pollbooks and that poll workers were unable to verify voters identities using signature matching.

Around 7:40 a.m., less than an hour after polls opened, Pennsylvania Department of State officials recommended the county shift to asking voters to cast provisional ballots to eliminate the risk of an ineligible voter casting a ballot, thereby invalidating the election.

A county spokesperson said there is no evidence that ineligible voters cast ballots during Novembers election.

Whether voters wrote their names into a pollbook or cast a provisional ballot, the identity and eligibility of each individual was verified by the poll workers, said Chester County spokesperson Andrew Kreider.

Would the SAVE Act have changed anything?

The SAVE Act is a collection of election policies proposed by congressional Republicans that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and mandate all voters show photo ID at the polls.

Such requirements would not have prevented Chester Countys error, which investigators determined was a clerical error resulting from inexperienced staff with insufficient training and oversight.

Sen. McCormick was ignoring the facts and feeding into this larger narrative that our elections cant be trusted and just feeding into the presidents narrative that theres something wrong with Pennsylvania elections, said Lauren Cristella, the CEO of the Committee of Seventy, a Philadelphia-based civic engagement and good-government organization.

In addition to Chester County, McCormick pointed to his own experience in close elections  both his 2022 primary loss and his 2024 general election win  as a reason he supports the bills proof of citizenship and voter ID requirements.

The policy, which passed the Republican-led U.S. House, still faces an uphill battle in the U.S. Senate, where it would need 60 votes to advance. It has faced significant opposition from Democrats who say it would needlessly make it harder for people to vote.

The proof of citizenship requirement, critics say, would place a higher burden on married people whose last names no longer match their birth certificates.

Speaking to reporters last week, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro said he was vehemently opposed to the policy, arguing it would nationalize elections.

We are not going to turn our elections over to Donald Trump, he said.
Jenkintown Food Cupboard volunteers pack food into cars outside the United Methodist Church in Jenkintown. Read more

Enrique Fuentes counted on the $250 he received monthly in federal nutrition assistance to cover the cost of groceries. That changed last month.

Fuentes works three days a week as a technician assisting therapists who help autistic children and adults, ages 3 to 22. He is one of an estimated 3 million able-bodied Americans who do not work enough hours to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under a law signed by President Donald Trump.

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They cut me off because you need to work more than 20 hours a week to get benefits, and I didnt have those hours, said Fuentes, 27, who lives in Philadelphia. I wasnt even aware of that stipulation.

Roughly 4 million Americans are expected to lose SNAP benefits in 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Many of them do not meet work requirements added to the anti-hunger program under the legislation, which paid for Trumps tax cuts with cuts to SNAP and Medicaid.

In Pennsylvania, around 144,000 SNAP recipients could see benefits cut this year  an estimated 45,000 in Philadelphia and 12,000 in its collar counties, according to Pennsylvania Department of Human Services estimates.

Without enough food, Fuentes, who has an associates degree in psychology, felt overwhelmed, he said. He is consulting Community Legal Services, which serves people in poverty, for help.

I fell into a downward spiral. Its been upsetting, he said.

Lots of people didnt know the rules, thinking the winds of Washington dont affect them. But they do.

Since January, advocates say, they have begun to hear from increasing numbers of people suddenly being removed from the program.

The White House is rifling through our pockets for lunch money, said George Matysik, executive director of the Share Food Program, a major provider of food to hundreds of pantries in the region. The cuts constitute a rounding error for the federal government but [the money is] a lifeline for working-class families, he added.

Asked for comment on criticism of the SNAP cuts, a White House spokesperson did not address the program. Instead, the spokesperson praised Trump for helping U.S. families by fixing former President Joe Bidens broken economy.

The spokesperson said that benefits meant for American citizens are no longer supporting illegal aliens. But undocumented immigrants have never been eligible to receive SNAP benefits, according to the American Immigration Council, a group that provides legal services to immigrants.

Policy changes under Trumps law

Because the new law revises categories of SNAP recipients  many of which will go into effect at different times  people are uncertain about what they may lose and when. Others who have already seen reductions say they are growing apprehensive because they dont know whether the law is the reason, or whether bureaucratic adjustments or errors are the cause.

Will all this change result in mass panic? wondered Cailey Tebow, an education outreach coordinator for AmeriCorps VISTA, a national service program designed to alleviate poverty. Tebow works with low-income individuals in Northeast Philadelphia. Its scary to think what will happen when people realize whats being taken from them.

Hoa Pham, deputy secretary of the Office of Income Maintenance in the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, which administers SNAP in the state, is more hopeful. She said she believes the efforts her department has been making will help Pennsylvanians understand SNAP revisions and will avoid chaos.

One category of potential confusion is the change in work requirements.

Until Trumps spending plan rewrote the rules, groups of low-income people in Pennsylvania and other states were exempt from a long-standing requirement that childless adults without disabilities and under the age of 54 work, volunteer, or go to school 20 hours per week in order to be eligible for SNAP benefits.

The work stipulation had been waived for decades because of high levels of poverty and hunger, as well as diminished job opportunities in Philadelphia and elsewhere in the state.

Under the new policy, childless, able-bodied adults  whose age limit has now been increased to 64  can be exempt from the work requirements only in areas with at least 10% unemployment  a rate of joblessness considered catastrophic, experts say. In November, Philadelphias unemployment rate was 4.8% and other areas in the region saw similar or lower rates.

Work requirements in SNAP will put forward a substantial amount of bureaucracy that Pennsylvanians have to contend with, Pham said. It could kick many people off SNAP. The impact to people could be severe.

She added that reducing SNAP rolls should not be construed as a savings for taxpayers, as Trump and other Republicans have long argued. That is because food insecurity exacerbates health problems, which will add other costs in the long term, Pham said.

That will just drive up healthcare and insurance costs, she said.

Life is already crumbling

At the Jenkintown Food Cupboard last week, anxiety about what will happen is growing, said Nicolino Ellis, the executive director. But bellies are already aching from hunger. Life is already crumbling today.

Outside the cupboard at the Jenkintown United Methodist Church, food was distributed in a driveway to clients who drove up in cars. A phalanx of volunteers slid bags of perishables and shelf-stable foods into trunks and back seats.

As SNAP benefits dry up while food prices soar, cupboards like this one become overburdened. But they are a less efficient means of feeding Americans in need, according to Stuart Haniff, CEO of the nonprofit Hunger-Free Pennsylvania.

For every single meal distributed at a food pantry, he said, SNAP provides nine. And need in Philadelphia increased 140% over the last two years.

Shelley Gaither is one of the hundreds of people receiving groceries from the pantry.

Gaither, 51, is a former data analyst with an MBA who suffered a disability that caused her to stop working at a Malvern finance company 13 years ago. She now collects Social Security Disability Insurance and lives with her three sons, ages 6, 9, and 18, in Cheltenham.

Gaither said that in January, her SNAP payment dropped from $400 to $200. I dont know if it was a new formula from the government cutting me back, or some other reason, she said in a phone interview. No one told me why. Its not supposed to happen when you have a disability. Its crazy.

Whatever caused the cut, Gaither said, she is in trouble, and worried the benefit will shrink even further.

Now, the money I used to pay for electricity and water has to go for food, she said. This makes surviving more difficult.
When Mayor Cherelle L. Parker stood in the citys emergency management center last month and announced that her administration was preparing for the worst winter storm Philadelphia had seen in years, she was flanked by the police commissioner, the head of public schools, and a dozen other deputies.

Missing from the news conference of Philadelphias top officials was Managing Director Adam K. Thiel, whose job it is to oversee the delivery of city services.

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It wasnt the only time over the last year that Thiel, Philadelphias No. 2 public official, was noticeably absent.

Thiel, who is effectively the citys chief operating officer, was out of office last year for a total of nearly five months, much of which he spent on military leave, according to 2025 payroll register records obtained by The Inquirer. His increasingly low profile in Philadelphia City Hall has generated frustration and fueled questions about his job performance among some lawmakers, especially as the city faced criticism over the recent snow cleanup.

Almost half of Thiels $316,200 city salary last year was for paid time off, according to payroll records. He is one of the highest-paid officials in the government and made more than Parker, who last year earned $280,000.

In addition to his top city role, Thiel is a major in the U.S. Army Reserves. He joined the reserves in August 2024, eight months after beginning his job as managing director.

Thiel also holds other positions outside government. In 2024, while he was managing director, he made more than $300,000 working as a consultant, according to financial disclosures. He is an adjunct faculty member at two universities and sits on several nonprofit boards.

Five City Council members told The Inquirer that it has been months since they interacted directly with Thiel.

The managing director of the city is an extremely important job, said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, a Democrat from West Philadelphia. I do not understand how someone who is absent as much as Thiel is able to carry out this job effectively.

The administration declined requests to interview Thiel and Parker for this article. In a statement, Thiel thanked Parker for her continued support of our city of Philadelphia employees who also serve the United States of America.

Sharon Gallagher, a spokesperson for the managing directors office, said in a statement that Thiel has been employed by the city for nearly 10 years and earns leave offered by the city the same way as other city employees accrue vacation, sick days, family, medical, military and other leave categories.

Payroll records show that Thiel logged six weeks of military leave time last year  the maximum amount the city offers employees. Gallagher said he also used 11 weeks of accrued vacation time to cover additional military assignments.

The administration declined to answer questions about Thiels military service, including details about his location and unit. His LinkedIn page says he helps provide emergency management subject matter expertise to combatant commands and partner nations.

Thiel is also founding partner of one consulting firm and the president of a second, though the specific nature of that work is not known and he has declined to disclose his clients publicly.

In 2024, Thiel said his consulting work took fewer than 10 hours per week. Gallagher said Tuesday that nothing has changed since then.

The Parker administration did not publicly announce when Thiel was on leave last year, but officials acknowledged it once asked by reporters last summer. At the time, Deputy Managing Director Michael Carroll filled in on an interim basis.

Thiel, 53, is a nationally recognized expert in emergency management. He held a variety of firefighting, public safety, and disaster preparedness roles across the country before coming to Philadelphia in 2016 to serve as fire commissioner and deputy managing director under former Mayor Jim Kenney.

Despite that, he did not appear alongside the mayor at multiple briefings the city conducted to update residents on the response to last months snowstorm. Instead, the face of the snow emergency response was Carlton Williams, the head of the citys Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, a position Parker created.

Thiel said in a statement Tuesday that Williams was the best choice to lead our citys unified response to the recent snowstorm operation and is the right leader for future snow and ice events.

Gauthier said the citys handling of the storm needed a higher-level emergency response. She said while she respects Thiels military service, she raised his consulting work as a concern.

A decision needs to be made what he wants to do. Does he want to serve locally, or does he want to do other things? Gauthier said. We need a managing director who will serve full time.

The administration did not answer questions about whether Thiel was in town through the duration of the citys 26-day winter emergency response.

Parkers chief of staff, Tiffany W. Thurman, said in a statement that the city is proud to offer benefits such as military and administrative leave that support employee well-being and professional development.

Thurman said Thiel is always reachable and fulfills the responsibilities of his position as needed based on the situation.

His leadership  as is the case with the leadership team of any large city  is not limited by time designated as leave, she said.

The purpose of the Philadelphia managing director

The authors of the 1950s-era Philadelphia Home Rule Charter created the position of managing director to serve as a barrier between the mayors political appointees and the citys operational departments.

The idea was that having a bureaucrat at the helm would ensure city service delivery would be apolitical, and the mayor cannot fire the managing director without cause.

In reality, different mayors have granted their managing directors varying levels of power.

For example, former Mayor Michael Nutter dispensed with decades of tradition and assigned robust portfolios to several deputy mayors. While his managing directors were important figures in his administration, they oversaw fewer operating departments than their predecessors.

Nutters first managing director, Camille Barnett, left the administration after facing criticism for going on a two-week vacation in 2009 while the Phillies made a World Series run and SEPTA workers went on strike.

Kenney, Parkers immediate predecessor, sought to re-empower the citys managing director position, while his deputy mayors took on advisory roles. He reassigned almost all departmental oversight to the managing directors office.

Were going to have a managing director thats actually a managing director, Kenney said before he took office.

Council members who were in office before Parkers 2024 swearing-in became used to the managing director being accessible. Several lawmakers said that under Kenneys administration, they routinely communicated about constituent services matters with ex-Managing Director Tumar Alexander and his predecessor, Brian Abernathy.

That hasnt been the case with Thiel in the role.

Since the beginning of this administration, I have gone to Carlton Williams, said Councilmember Jeffery Jay Young Jr., a freshman Democrat who represents parts of North Philadelphia.

Several other members said that instead of going to the managing directors office, they take administrative needs to legislative affairs staff, agency heads, or Thurman.

Almost everything goes through Tiffany, and shes able to get things done, said one Council member who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve relationships with the administration.

Parker doesnt deny that little happens at the top rungs of city government without Thurmans involvement. The mayor has come to see her chief of staff as the central figure in her administration and calls her the citys chief air traffic controller.

Phil Goldsmith, who served as managing director for two years under former Mayor John F. Street, said Thiels minimized public role may be because Parker appears to favor a very strong mayors office.

It seems to me that the managing director may have to go through more hoops to get things done than, for example, I had to do, Goldsmith said. Thats just a function of what a mayor wants and feels comfortable with.

Fading out of public view

Thiels lack of public appearances over the last year has been unusual for a managing director.

It has been 10 months since he testified before City Council, despite the managing director in previous administrations being a mainstay in hearings to answer lawmakers questions about city services ranging from street repaving to emergency preparation.

And in December, when a half-dozen top Parker administration officials spoke during the mayors State of the City event, Thiel was not on the roster.

The decrease in visibility marks a departure from his first year in office, when Thiel had a more consistent public presence and was often seen beside the mayor.

Ahead of a snowstorm in January 2024, Thiel stood with Parker during a news conference about preparations. He donned a suit while snowflakes fell, and he reassured the city that the administration was ready for the service disruptions that bad weather can bring.

Through his first year in the position, Thiel also faced scrutiny as the face of some of the mayors most controversial initiatives.

He took a leading role in Parkers efforts to end the open-air drug market in the citys Kensington neighborhood, and he oversaw the development of the Riverview Wellness Center, a new city-owned recovery house for people with substance use disorder.

Today, much of Kensington initiative is overseen by the public safety director, who reports directly to Parker. A new head of community wellness is leading development at Riverview, and Williams was the face of the storm response.

Last summer, during the eight-day strike by municipal workers that brought city services to a halt for the first time in 40 years as trash piled on sidewalks and streets, Thiel initially spoke nearly every day at news conferences to update citizens on the crisis.

But by the time the strike was resolved, Thiel had faded from public view, departing from his city job for one of his stints on military leave. After Parker reached an agreement with the union, she held a news conference with 20 top deputies and thanked each of them by name.

Thiel, absent from the City Hall news conference, was not one of them.

Staff writers Ryan W. Briggs and Sean Collins Walsh contributed to this article.
A rendering of the 260-apartment development slated for 4401 Ridge Ave. in East Falls. Read more

A 260-apartment development, largely composed of one-bedroom units, is the latest residential project slated for 4401 Ridge Ave. in East Falls.

The almost two-acre site has been long vacant and is now covered in trees. It is owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, which operated a dozen rental homes there until the late 1990s. The property is under an agreement of sale, according to the agency.

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Plans for the project were posted on the Philadelphia Planning Commissions website Tuesday, showing a six-story building from Stokes Architecture & Design.

The zoning paperwork in city records is signed by Eric Marshall, who is the principal with MGMT Residential. The company, based in Northwest Philadelphia, owns and manages hundreds of units in neighborhoods including Roxborough and Manayunk.

MGMT itself is not the developer and will not own the property, according to the projects zoning lawyer, Richard DeMarco, although the company will manage it once construction is completed.

The development team declined to comment in advance of a neighborhood meeting Wednesday night.

The plans show that the apartment building proposed for 4401 Ridge Ave. will offer 217 parking spaces. It will also host at least 8,000 square feet of commercial space, according to the East Falls Community Council, which has been negotiating with the developers.

The neighborhood groups zoning chair, Hilary Langer, reports progress at the discussions.

He says that many neighbor concerns center on traffic, parking, and the preponderance of smaller units  a concern he does not personally share.

The  fact is that one-bedroom apartments are in demand and their vacancy rate is [almost] 10%, which is really the same as annual natural turnover, Langer said in an email.

Langer said that by his calculations, 115 two-bedroom apartments have been built in his neighborhood since 2021, and a quarter of them are still vacant. But 399 one-bedroom or studios have been constructed in that time frame, and only 12.5% of them are empty.

The project needs approvals from the citys Zoning Board of Adjustment to move forward, with a hearing set for March 25. It will appear before the advisory-only Civic Design Review committee on March 3.

The last proposal for the site came in 2021 from Baltimore-based Atapco Properties. That project included 189 parking spaces for 185 apartments.

That former proposals frontage was pushed back from Ridge Avenue, which the East Falls Community Council feared would make an already pedestrian unfriendly environment even worse.

The newer development has the apartment building fronting on the sidewalk.

Youre not going to get walkability if you just put in plazas and parking lots, Langer said. This building, at the very least, it provides the chance of walkability.
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This article is part of a sponsored series by Risk & Insurance Education Alliance.

For decades, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance has supported professional development across the insurance and risk management industry, delivering respected designations and helping professionals connect education with real-world practice.

But did you know that the Alliance also works with nearly 50 colleges and universities nationwide through its University Associate (UA) Program? Through this program, the Alliance partners with faculty to integrate industry-aligned curriculum, professional designation pathways, and exam waivers into college classrooms, helping students build confidence, credibility, and early momentum as they prepare to enter the workforce.

In recognition of Insurance Careers Month, we invited several university faculty partners to reflect on their experiences with the UA Program, the value of academicindustry collaboration, and why early credentialing matters for students pursuing careers in insurance and financial services.

The faculty and their respective universities are listed below.

Contributing Faculty:

Jill Bisco, Ph.D., CIC, CRM, CPRM, CSRM, Assistant Professor of Risk Management and Insurance, Illinois State University

Fred Rick Bondurant, CIC, CRM, Associate Professor of Practice, Texas Tech University

Natalie Borneo, MBA, ARM, Distinguished Lecturer, Fisk University

Juan Zhang, Ph.D., ASA, Assistant Professor of Insurance, Ball State University

How the UA Program Supports Industry-Aligned Curriculum in the Classroom

Universities increasingly seek industry partners who can help ensure academic programs remain relevant, rigorous, and aligned with evolving professional expectations. A core component of the UA Program is providing faculty and students with accessible, classroom-ready instructional resources that reflect current industry practices. Through the program, students receive free digital textbooks aligned with professional designation content, while faculty are supported with ready-to-use presentation materials and teaching resources that integrate seamlessly into existing syllabi. Reduced exam fees lower financial barriers for students and encourage early engagement with professional credentials.

How does partnering with the Alliance help you deliver real-world, industry-aligned education in the classroom?

RickBondurant, Texas Tech University:

Texas Techs Corporate Risk Management & Insurance is a new certificate programstarting from scratch. The Alliance understandswhere the industry is going and what professionals need to stay ahead. The course material includes real-world examples,ready-to-use outlines,and presentation materials.I can spend more time putting together supplemental case material from my own 45 years of industry practice.

What Makes the UA Program a True AcademicIndustry Partnership

Effective universityindustry partnerships extend beyond access to curriculum. The UA Program emphasizes ongoing collaboration and shared commitment to education, positioning the Alliance as a long-term academic partner rather than a transactional content provider.

What makes the Alliance feel like a true partner in education?

Jill Bisco, Illinois State University:

Certain careers  including risk management and insurance  require continuing education due to the ever-changing aspects of the industry. Students need to understand that when working in this industry, education doesnt end with graduation. Providing students the opportunity to start working on designations while still in school will show the importance of this. It will also allow them to demonstrate to potential employers that they value lifelong learning.

Juan Zhang, Ball State University:

Professional designations are an important part of preparing students for careers in insurance or financial services because they add strong value to a students resume and demonstrate early commitment to the profession. By earning or working toward a designation, students can better identify their interests, plan their career pathways more effectively, and enter the workforce with a competitive advantage and greater confidence.

NatalieBorneo, Fisk University

The material is developed in community with industry and therefore reflective ofaccurateinformation that isnot the same assome of the material provided through other industry education organizations.

How has working with the Alliance strengthened the credibility of your academic program?

JuanZhang, Ball State University:

Working with the Alliance strengthens the credibility of our program by directly aligning our curriculum with the Alliances designation exams. By offering course waivers toward these professional designations, we increase the tangible value of our coursework and clearlydemonstrateits relevance to students future careers. Students benefit by being better prepared for jobs in the field and by shortening the time needed to complete designation requirements.

JillBisco, Illinois State University:

Our UA program is stillrather new. We are just now having students come to the faculty to ask how to make the most of the opportunities that The Alliance provides. This is great news as it shows that students understand the value of the designations. Students are starting to spread the word about theirexperienceandmore and morestudents are looking at the opportunities offered by The Alliance.This not only helps the students but also shows the university programs interest in preparing students for their future careers.

Why Professional Designations Matter in Risk Management and Insurance Education

Risk management and insurance are professions defined by ongoing regulatory change and evolving risk exposure. Introducing students to professional designation pathways during college reinforces expectations around lifelong learning and professional development early in their academic careers.

Why are professional designations an important part of preparing students for careers in insurance and financial services?

JillBisco, Illinois State University:

Certain careers  including risk management and insurance  require continuing education due to the ever-changing aspects of the industry. Students need to understand that when working in this industry, educationdoesntend with graduation.Providingstudents the opportunity to start working on designations while still in school will show the importance of this. It will also allow them todemonstrateto potential employers that they valuelifelonglearning.

JuanZhang, Ball State University:

Professional designations are an important part of preparing students for careers in insurance or financial services because they add strong value to a students resume anddemonstrateearly commitment to the profession.By earning or working toward a designation, students can betteridentifytheir interests, plan their career pathways more effectively, and enter the workforce with a competitive advantage and greater confidence.

What advantages do students gain by beginningdesignationcoursework whiletheyrestill in college?

RickBondurant, Texas Tech University:

Pursuing a professional designation while still in college signals an early appreciation ofexpertiseto future employers, peers,and clients. A student who earns a designation during college alsodemonstratesan early orientation towards professionalism.

JuanZhang, Ball State University:

At this stage, students are already in a strong learning mindset and are immersed in an academic environment that supports studying and skill development. Feedback from past students shows that they study more efficiently in college and often spend less time preparing for each exam than they would after entering the workforce, when job demands and family responsibilities can make studying more challenging.

How Early Credentialing Helps Students Stand Out with Employers

Early credentialing provides a clear signal for employers and internship programs in a broad and diverse industry. By pursuing professional designations in college, students demonstrate focus, commitment, and emerging expertise.

How does early credentialing help students differentiate themselves with employers or internship programs?

Natalie Borneo, Fisk University

Early credentialing is a win-win for both the employer,industryand the student. The industry is getting abetter-qualified candidate, both academically with their degree and with the skill setrequiredfor entry-levelpositions. On the student side, it gives them more confidence in their ability to master the work that they will be introduced to. With less technical information to learn, they can focus on elevating their performance and working at 100%.

Supporting Faculty and Strengthening Student Outcomes

The University Associate Program is designed to support faculty who want to deliver relevant, industry-aligned education while helping students enter the workforce with confidence and early momentum. By partnering with the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance, universities gain access to curriculum resources, professional designation pathways, exam waivers, and a national network committed to developing the next generation of insurance and risk management professionals.

Faculty and academic leaders interested in strengthening their programs, enhancing student outcomes, and connecting classroom learning to real-world practice are encouraged to explore the University Associate Program and learn how the Alliance can support their teaching and their students career readiness.

Learn more about the risk and insurance programs featured in these articles:

To learn more about the University Associate (UA) Program, please contact us at academy@riskeducation.org.

Media Contact:

Noelle Codispoti, CPCU

Head of The Risk & Insurance Research Academy

Ncodispoti@riskeducation.org

512-349-3324

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Topics Education Universities
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of Washington, Pennsylvania-based B&W Insurance Agency, Inc.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

B&W Insurance Agency offers personal lines and commercial brokerage services to clients in southwest Pennsylvania.

Paul Barzd III, Jim Cote and their team will remain in their current location under the direction of Jen Tadin, head of Gallagher Select, its U.S. property/casualty operations for small businesses and personal insurance.

B&W Insurance Agency has a strong local reputation and deepens our brokerage capabilities for small businesses, said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., chairman and CEO.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher operates in 130 countries through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Pennsylvania A.J. Gallagher
A Connecticut judge last Friday dismissed criminal charges against three current and former New Haven police officers who were accused of mistreating prisoner Richard Randy Cox after he was paralyzed in the back of a police van in 2022.

Judge David Zagaja dropped the cases against Oscar Diaz, Jocelyn Lavandier and Luis Rivera after granting them a probation program that allows charges to be erased from defendants records, saying their conduct was not malicious. Two other officers, Betsy Segui and Ronald Pressley, pleaded guilty last year to misdemeanor reckless endangerment and received no jail time.

Cox, 40, was left paralyzed from the chest down on June 19, 2022, when the police van, which had no seat belts, braked hard to avoid an accident, sending him head-first into a metal partition while his hands were cuffed behind his back. He had been arrested on charges of threatening a woman with a gun, which were later dismissed.

I cant move. Im going to die like this. Please, please, please help me, Cox said in the van minutes after being injured, according to police video. He later was found to have broken his neck.

Diaz, who was driving the van, brought Cox to the police department, where officers mocked Cox and accused him of being drunk and faking his injuries, according to surveillance and body-worn camera footage. Officers dragged Cox out of the van and around the police station before placing him in a holding cell before paramedics brought him to a hospital.

Before pulling him out of the van, Lavandier told Cox to move his leg and sit up, according to an internal affairs investigation report. Cox says I cant move and Lavandier says Youre not even trying.

New Haven States Attorney John P. Doyle Jr.s office said prosecutors and Cox did not object to the charges being dismissed.

Defense lawyers said that while the officers were sympathetic to what happened to Cox, they did not cause his injuries or make them worse. The three officers whose cases were dismissed were scheduled to go on trial next month.

We dont think that there was sufficient evidence to prove her guilt or any wrongdoing, said Lavandiers attorney, Dan Ford. This is a negotiated settlement that avoids the risk of having go through the emotional toll of a trial.

Riveras lawyer, Raymond Hassett, called the decision to charge the officers unjust and misplaced.

The actions of the Police Chief and City Mayor in targeting the officers were a misguided effort to deflect attention from the police department shortcomings in managing the department and ensuring proper protocols were in place and followed, Hassett said in a statement.

Attorneys for Cox and Diaz did not immediately return phone and email messages Friday. Coxs lawyer, Louis Rubano, has said Cox and his family hoped the criminal cases would end quickly with plea bargains.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said city officials disagreed with the judges decision to dismiss the charges.

What happened to Randy was tragic and awful, he said in a statement.

The case drew outrage from civil rights advocates including the NAACP, along with comparisons to the Freddie Gray case in Baltimore. Cox is Black, while all five officers who were arrested are Black or Hispanic. Gray, who also was Black, died in 2015 after he suffered a spinal injury while handcuffed and shackled in a Baltimore police van.

The case also led to reforms at the New Haven police department as well as a statewide seat belt requirement for prisoners.

In 2023, the city of New Haven agreed to settle a lawsuit by Cox for $45 million.

New Haven police fired Segui, Diaz, Lavandier and Rivera for violating police conduct policies, while Pressley retired and avoided an internal investigation. Diaz appealed his firing and got his job back. Segui lost the appeal of her firing, while appeals by Lavandier and Rivera remain pending.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation
The Catholic Diocese of Camden, New Jersey and several holdout insurers have agreed to add $180 million to a trust fund to pay claims of survivors of sexual abuse by the churchs clergy.

The $180 million is in addition to a settlement of $87.5 million between the diocese and the Official Committee of Tort Claimant Creditors that was approved by the Bankruptcy Court in 2024.

Several insurers appealed the 2024 court decision approving the $87.5 million plan and the case has been on appeal since then. Insurers had agreed to contribute $30 million but carriers expressed concerns about loopholes they said could end up costing them more than the agreed-upon $30 million. The bankruptcy judge had ordered a reworking of the plan to address some of those concerns but several insurers still opposed the plan.

Bankruptcy Court Approves Camden Dioceses $87.5M Plan for Abuse Victims

The parties entered into mediation. The dioceses willingness to make an additional contribution to the trust above what was required by the earlier settlement was instrumental in reaching this final settlement with the insurers, according to Jeffrey D. Prol, counsel for the survivors committee and a partner at the Lowenstein Sandler law firm.

Judge Orders Camden Diocese to Rework Bankruptcy Plan After Insurers Complaints

The funds are to compensate about 324 survivors of sexual abuse.

For the survivors of South Jersey, this day is long overdue and represents a milestone in their journey toward restored justice and the healing and recognition they have long sought and deserve, said Camden Bishop Joseph A. Williams said in a statement.

The proposed settlement remains subject to U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval. Details have not yet been filed with the court.

The Camden diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020, after New Jersey extended the statute of limitations to allow claims for those alleging they were abused when they were children.

Prior to filing for relief, from 1990 to 2019, the diocese reached 99 settlements with abuse survivors for $10.1 million.

The diocese serves about 480,000 Catholics in 62 parishes across six counties. The district includes four missions, and the diocese is also affiliated with 22 elementary schools, five high schools and a pre-school daycare, in addition to various social service and charitable organizations.

Photo: The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden, N.J., Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Topics Claims
France will release a tanker after hitting it with a multimillion-euro fine for flouting European sanctions on Russian oil, following its seizure in the Mediterranean Sea last month.

The Grinch will leave French waters after paying several millions of euros and three weeks of costly immobilization at Fos-sur-Mer, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a post on X Tuesday. He didnt specify the exact amount of the fine.

The French navy boarded the Grinch, which came from Murmansk in the Russian Arctic, as part of a global crackdown on shadow fleet ships used to export sanctioned crude. Moscows war in Ukraine saw a ballooning in the size of that dark fleet  vessels without standard insurance, often flying under questionable flags, or no flags at all, and with opaque ownership structure.

Related: France Boards Russia-Linked Oil Tanker in Shadow Fleet Move

More than 600 tankers have been sanctioned by a combination of the European Union, the UK and US for their links to Russia. Of those, more than 570 have been blacklisted by the EU since June 2024, more than any other authority.

Circumventing European sanctions comes at a price, Barrot wrote. Russia will no longer be able to finance its war with impunity via a shadow fleet off our coasts.

The Grinchs seizure wasnt the first of a Russia-linked tanker by French authorities. In September, the oil tanker Boracay was boarded off Frances Atlantic coast for failing to provide proof of its nationality and flag, as well as refusal to comply with requests from the navy.

Photograph: France will release a tanker after hitting it with a multimillion-euro fine for flouting European sanctions on Russian oil. Photo credit: Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics Energy Oil Gas Russia France
Germanys IG Metall has filed a criminal complaint against the manager of Teslas factory near Berlin, accusing him of spreading false allegations, the union said on Tuesday, in another sign of its souring relations with the U.S. automaker.

The union said it had also applied to a labor court for a temporary injunction to prohibit Andre Thierig from further making the allegations. Tesla did not respond immediately to an emailed request for comment.

The matter relates to a criminal complaint that Tesla made last week against an IG Metall member for allegedly secretly recording a works council meeting at the plant, according to a memo to staff seen by Reuters. Tesla has confirmed the memo.

IG Metall said on Tuesday it was also preparing a lawsuit against the company for obstruction of union activities.

Legal disputes are not our preferred form of dispute resolution, said union representative Jan Otto in a statement. But when a company fights workers participation and union work so aggressively, we defend ourselves with all means at our disposal, including legal ones.

(Reporting by Linda Pasquini; additional reporting by Ilona Wissenbach; editing by Mark Potter)

Photograph: The Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg plant is seen on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Patrick Pleul/dpa via AP)
Specialty insurance platform Pinion Insurance announced its launch yesterday. The company will offer insurance capacity for managing general agents (MGAs) across the U.S., U.K. and European markets through a fully integrated innovative proprietary technology platform.

Founded by an experienced management team of Neil McConachie, Philip Vandoninck and Laura Baird, Pinion has secured a commitment of up to $180 million from global asset management firm Barings. It is seeking multi-jurisdictional licenses in the U.S., U.K. and the European Union and a rating from AM Best.

For the U.S., nationwide E&S licenses will be obtained through the acquisition of an identified shell company, subject to parent state regulatory approval. The company targets binding business in the United States in Q2 2026, subject to regulatory approval. Pinion plans to be ready to underwrite in the EU and UK in 2027, subject to regulatory approval.

Pinion will offer MGAs secure, long-term, quality capacity while providing meaningful visibility into underwriting performance and exposure using Pinions proprietary technology platform, said McConachie, co-founder and group chief executive officer of Pinion, in a statement. The platform will additionally be accessed by reinsurers to obtain a portfolio of high-quality risks, while also obtaining real-time visibility into portfolio performance.

Pinion will be a bridge between high-performing MGAs and capital providers who demand transparency, efficiency and long-term value. Our platform is designed to unlock the full potential of MGAs in a capital-light, tech-enabled world, he said.

McConachie was part of the founding management teams at Fidelis Insurance Group, Lancashire Holdings and Montpelier Re. His leadership roles have included group chief financial officer, group president and chief risk officer, with responsibilities spanning strategy, capital management, operations and risk management.

Pinion enters the market at a time of accelerating growth and maturity in the MGA sector, said Vandoninck, co-founder and group chief underwriting officer. MGAs continue to gain traction by delivering differentiated distribution, underwriting expertise and strong local market knowledge  qualities increasingly sought by reinsurers and traditional carriers alike. Pinion offers an alternative to legacy hybrid carriers that are constrained by outdated systems and high operating costs.

Vandoninck most recently served as CEO and CUO of Fidelis Bermuda. He began his career at Hiscox, where he held underwriting roles in London, Bermuda and Belgium.

Pinion is a newly formed specialty insurance carrier, built on the foundations of Pinion Risk Consulting (PRC), an established data and analytics specialist in the MGA sector founded and led by Baird.

Our technology is designed to give MGAs greater transparency, more efficient operations and access to the industry leading analytics to further enhance their underwriting strategy, said Baird, co-founder and chief technology officer. By combining advanced data science, modern engineering and deep underwriting experience, weve built a platform that supports MGAs and materially reduces the operational burden of the traditional capacity relationship.

Baird has also held senior roles at McGill & Partners, Ed Broking and Allied World. She began her career in actuarial pricing and reserving at Travelers and Co-operative General Insurance before moving into analytics leadership roles.

Pinion is incorporated in Bermuda and is headquartered in London.

The companys formal commencement of business is subject to regulatory approvals and confirmation of an AM Best rating.

Pinion was advised by Howden Capital Markets & Advisory and Wilkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

This article first was published in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management.
Searchers have discovered the wreck of a luxury steamer that sank in a Lake Michigan gale in the late 19th century, completing a quest that began almost 60 years ago.

Shipwreck World, a group that works to locate shipwrecks around the globe, announced Friday that a team led by Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn found the Lac La Belle about 20 miles (32 kilometers) offshore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin, in October 2022.

Ehorn told The Associated Press in a phone interview on Sunday that the announcement was delayed because his team wanted to include a three-dimensional video model of the ship with it, but poor weather and other commitments kept his dive team from going back down to the wreck until last summer.

Ehorn, 80, has been searching for shipwrecks since he was 15 years old. He said that hes been trying to pinpoint the Lac La Belles location since 1965. He used a clue from fellow wreck hunter and author Ross Richardson in 2022 to narrow down his search grid and found the ship using side-scan sonar after just two hours on the lake, he said.

Its kind of a game, like solve the puzzle. Sometimes you dont have many pieces to put the puzzle together but this one worked out and we found it right away, he said. The finding left him super elated.

Ehorn declined to discuss the clue that led to the discovery. Richardson said in a short telephone interview Sunday that he learned that a commercial fisherman at a certain location had snagged what Richardson called an item specific to steam ships from the 1800s. He declined to elaborate further how competitive shipwreck hunting has become and said the information could alert searchers to another way to conduct research.

According to an account on Shipwreck World, the Lac La Belle was built in 1864, in Cleveland, Ohio. The 217-foot (66-meter) steamer ran between Cleveland and Lake Superior but sank in the St. Clair River in 1866 after a collision. The ship was raised in 1869, and reconditioned.

The ship left Milwaukee for Grand Haven, Michigan, in a gale on the night of Oct, 13, 1872, with 53 passengers and crew and a cargo of barley, pork, flour and whiskey. About two hours into the trip, the ship began to take on water uncontrollably. The captain turned the Lac La Belle back toward Milwaukee but huge waves came crashing over her, extinguishing her boilers. The storm drove the ship south. Around 5 a.m., the captain ordered lifeboats lowered and the ship went down stern-first.

One of the lifeboats capsized on the way to shore, killing eight people. The other lifeboats made landfall along the Wisconsin coast between Racine and Kenosha.

The wrecks exterior is covered with quagga mussels and the upper cabins are gone, Ehorn said, but the hull looks intact and the oak interiors are still in good shape.

The Great Lakes are home to anywhere from 6,000 to 10,000 shipwrecks, most of which remain undiscovered, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madisons Wisconsin Water Library. Shipwreck hunters have been searching the lakes with more urgency in recent years out of concerns that invasive quagga mussels are slowly destroying wrecks.

The Lac La Belle is the 15th shipwreck Ehorn has located. It was one more to put a check mark by, he said. Now its on to the next one. Its getting harder and harder. The easier ones have been found.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Michigan
When I reflect on the state of the Property & Casualty business today, two forces are reshaping the industry faster than any cycle Ive seen in my career. Increasingly complex risks are driving demand for specialized protection solutions and talent. At the same time, rapid technological advancements, including AI, are transforming every step in the value chain. These trends are converging at a time when our industry is also facing a generational talent reset driven by an aging workforce, retirements and a shrinking early-career pipeline.

While some may consider these headwinds, I see an opportunity to position our industry to meet the protection needs of our customers and communities for years to come.

A looming succession cliffand a skills race

Consider the numbers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that roughly 400,000 insurance professionals are expected to exit the industry by 2036, many from specialized, business-critical roles. That creates urgent succession risk and elevates the importance of intentional knowledge transfer and leadership development. At the same time, Gen Z and Gen Y will grow from 45% of the workforce today to 75% by 2030, changing expectations about flexibility, purpose, and career pathways.

The reality of this upcoming generational workforce shift intersects with a fierce market demand for expertise. Studies suggest that more than half of carriers plan to expand in underwriting, claims, data science and technology, and LinkedIn research indicates that 70% of job skills are projected to change by 2030. The takeaway: we must build stronger pipelines, deepen partnerships with universities and industry groups, and invest in upskilling to stay competitive.

AI is hereso lets put it to work responsibly

Technology isnt theoretical; its already reshaping workflows and customer experiences. McKinsey reports that AI-powered assistants now handle about 42% of customer interactions, and domain-level AI is delivering tangible gains in sales conversion, premium growth, onboarding, and claims accuracy. Yet the human impact is real: A recent Reuters/Ipsos national poll revealed that 71% of Americans are concerned AI will put too many people out of work permanently. The imperative is clearmake sure our employees are equipped with the right technology and skills to enable them to do higher-value work.

Flexibility is now table stakes

Work models have permanently changed. Across generations, Robert Half says that 76% of workers say flexibility in when and where they work influences their decision to stay, making hybrid and remote options a strategic lever for retention and attractionnot a perk. For Gen Z, that must be combined with purpose-driven work, modern tools and visible pathways. For experienced talent, it means structured environments, recognition, and opportunities to mentor.

What winning looks like

Nationwide is aligning its tech and talent strategies around a simple idea: the best outcomes are achieved when a tech-enabled and people-connected workforce has a passion for protecting customers.

In our conversations with leaders across HR and Technology, we focus on how AI can augmentnot replaceexpert judgment, and how we can equip our distribution partners to balance digital convenience with trusted human guidance.

Ultimately, the carriers and distribution partners who take a long-term view of talent will navigate this dynamic landscape most successfully. That means investing in the next generation of talent early in their careers, developing people intentionally (with a focus on building digital and AI fluency) and evolving to more flexible work models.

The opportunity ahead

With a future-ready talent strategy, and thoughtful adoption of technology such as AI, we can make the P&C business more attractive to the next generation while empowering experienced professionals to do their best work. Thats how well deliver better protection for customers and sustained growth for our industry.

Topics Trends InsurTech Carriers Talent Tech Training Development Property Casualty
Tesla Inc.s robotaxis have been involved in over a dozen crashes in Austin since service began, according to reports the carmaker has made to regulators.

The electric vehicle maker has said its nascent robotaxi business has been involved in 14 crash incidents in about eight months, according to data sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A federal order requires carmakers to report when automated driving systems are involved in certain crashes.

Tesla launched its limited robotaxi service in Austin in June with about a dozen cars accompanied by human safety monitors, and has slowly increased the fleet. Its first crash happened in July, according to the standing order, with the company reporting at the time that the incident only involved property damage.

But Tesla submitted another incident report for that crash in December adding information that the accident had led to minor injuries and hospitalization. Another incident, also from July, also caused minor injuries.

In January, Teslas latest report shows five new incidents that occurred that month and in December. One of the January incidents included a crash between a stopped robotaxi and an Austin city bus. There were two incidents in which a robotaxi backed into objects in parking lots.

After tests in December, Tesla began offering driverless rides without any safety monitor in the car in a few vehicles in its Austin fleet in January. It was not immediately clear if any of the incidents reported involved vehicles without safety monitors.

Information is limited for all of Teslas incidents and, unlike competitors, Tesla redacts narrative descriptions. The vast majority of its incident reports just cited property damage.

Austin remains the only city where Tesla is offering robotaxi rides. The company launched a service on the same app, in the San Francisco Bay Area last year, but those trips use human drivers and is more akin to Uber.

Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has increasingly bet the carmakers future on autonomy and robotics as core EV business has struggled.

Tesla has not disclosed how large its current Austin robotaxi fleet is. In January, Musk said that between Austin and the Bay Area, there were 500 rideshare vehicles.

Competitor, Alphabet Inc.s Waymo, which operates about 2,500 vehicles in Phoenix, San Francisco, Austin, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Miami, and also tests autonomously in other locations, has reported hundreds of incidents since June. This includes about 50 incidents in Austin, where it operates about 200 vehicles on the Uber app.

Tesla has said it aims to expand to about seven more cities by the middle of the year, but did not achieve similar expansion predictions for the end of last year. Its operations lags behind Waymo, which began offering driverless rides to the public in the Phoenix area in 2020.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics Tesla
The 2026 regular session of the Florida Legislature may not make significant changes to the states property insurance statutes. But it could become known as the water safety session that approved measures aimed at reducing drowning deaths in the statebills that could impact liability litigation and insurance costs.

Halfway through the session, one bill nearing a floor vote would mandate that rental properties with swimming pools be equipped with safety features. Senate Bill 658, which incorporated the similar SB 608, would require landlords or licensees of rental properties to comply with the same pool-safety standards already required for new residential pools.

That would include at least one of these: a pool enclosure or cover; exit alarms on doors and windows of the house; self-closing devices for doors that open to the pool area; a pool alarm that alerts when someone falls in the pool. The bill also would require safety features, such as door alarms, for rental homes that have no pools but are within 150 feet of another body of water.

Violators could be found guilty of a misdemeanor.

The bill, led by state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Sen. Danny Burgess, has moved steadily through the Senate this year as reports about the number of children that have drowned at vacation homes has climbed in recent years have raised concerns. Children between the ages of 1 and 7 drown at a rate of five per 100,000 population and made up almost 20 percent of the drowning deaths in Florida in 2024, an analysis of SB 658 notes.

The bill could see a floor vote as early as Thursday in the Senate. Another bill, SB 610, would have required all residential property with pools that are sold after Oct. 1 to have pool safety barriers in place before the sale. That bill and two similar bills have stalled in Senate and House.

A few plaintiffs attorneys have said the pool safety bill would better define negligence by property owners, a change from current law that often considers drowning to be accidents. It could take a few years of litigation and court decisions to iron out the full impact of the bill on claims and liability, according to Law.com.

Another measure in the Florida Senate, SB 606, would require the state Department of Health to develop an education campaign on drowning prevention and safe bathing practices for children. That bill has progressed steadily through Senate committees and could see a floor vote this week. A companion bill in the House is now in the House Health and Human Services Committee.

A third bill, SB 428, would expand a swimming lessons voucher program, from children under age 4 to those aged 1 to 7. The current program, providing funding for lessons across the state, has proven to be quite popular, according to Florida Politics. The bill would give greater access to swimming skills for those kids who need it most, the sponsor said.

That bill and a companion House bill are expected to see floor votes before the session ends March 13.

Topics Florida
North Mississippi senators pleaded for an improved disaster response from the state last week as thousands of their constituents still lacked power nearly three weeks after the January winter storm.

Sen. Rita Potts Parks, a Republican from Corinth, repeatedly told her colleagues we have work to do to better prepare for future disasters. Her district includes Alcorn and Tippah counties, two of the hardest-hit areas in Mississippi.

I hope you remember how my people were cold, and we as a state, we failed them, she said during an emotional speech on the Senate floor. Im included.

In her district, hospitals and nursing homes went more than four days without power or water, Parks said.

Can you imagine what those smells were like, what those cries were like by that second day? she said. And those people being placed with more and more blankets on them just to keep them warm.

Parks and her colleague Sen. Neil Whaley, a Republican from Potts Camp, mentioned the response times of specific agencies as areas for improvement.

Us getting resources from (the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency) took days, she later told Mississippi Today. Im not throwing darts, Im just saying it was a fact we didnt see supplies coming to us until Tuesday. Thats water, MREs, cots. This event happened on Saturday, Sunday. Youre Tuesday night, Wednesday getting us what we needed.

She said about five or six counties went over two days without any power transmission because Tennessee Valley Authority lines were down. Thats historical, thats never supposed to happen, Parks said.

She and other senators spoke during discussion of Senate Bill 2632, which passed in the chamber. The bill, which now heads to the House for discussion, would create a disaster recovery emergency loan program to aid counties included in the recent federal disaster declaration.

Sen. Scott DeLano, a Republican from Biloxi who introduced the bill, said the states damages from Winter Storm Fern will likely reach $400 million. He described the proposed program as a revolving loan fund, meant to get public assistance money to counties and cities on the front end as they await reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Parks said FEMA payments to local entities could take anywhere from 18 months to two years. DeLano said Tennessee did something similar in response to Hurricane Helene in 2024.

While the bill doesnt include a dollar amount, DeLano said the plan is to request $50 million in appropriations later in the session. Counties would have five years to repay the loans, and would also have to pledge a source of revenue in the event FEMA didnt reimburse the funding. For any projects that FEMA rejects for reimbursement, local entities would have two years to repay the loan.

Sen. Sollie Norwood, a Democrat from Jackson, expressed concern that counties in those situations would be left on the hook for recovery spending. DeLano responded that lawmakers could use the two-year period to address any such shortfall. The state couldnt offer the funding as a grant because it could be seen as a duplication of benefits, he added.

Whaley, who spoke after Parks, expressed a similar sentiment.

I live in an area where the district lines of the Mississippi Department of Transportation meet, and for some reason that plow truck blade just would not stay on the ground when it got to that district line, Whaley said.

The senator added that a lot of things have to be answered, and that he intends to bring a lot of this out to light.

Delano said later: We are going to have a lot of discussion over the next year about how we better prepare for these types of events.

About 1,700 Mississippians still didnt have power as of Thursday afternoon nearly three weeks after the storm, according to poweroutage.us. That number, though, doesnt include all electric utilities in the state. Northern District Public Service Commissioner Chris Brown said municipal systems, such as the beleaguered Holly Springs Utility Department, arent included. As of Thursday that system still had about 500 outages.

Another measure, House Bill 1645, would create state versions of FEMA programs as Mississippi officials prepare for reduced federal disaster support. That bill passed the House on Thursday and moves onto the Senate.

Other Federal Aid Kicks in for Recovering Mississippians

On Wednesday, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced low interest loans were available for certain private nonprofits in Alcorn, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Montgomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, Webster and Yazoo counties as well as the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Eligible organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

Then on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a number of assistance measures for Mississippians, including a 90-day foreclosure pause for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Click here for a full list of those measures.

This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. Alex Rozier is the author.

Photo: An icy neighborhood in Oxford on Jan. 26. (AP Photo/Bruce Newman)

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Windstorm Mississippi
Florida regulators announced a crackdown on people selling vehicle insurance products without a license.

Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky this week ordered American Dream Auto Protect Inc., an auto warranty company, to cease operations because it did not have a license or approval from the state Office of Insurance Regulation.

The company, which incorporated last year, must run off its hundreds of existing warranties by honoring the warranties or allowing purchasers to cancel and to obtain a refund. American Dream, based in New Jersey, must also send the consent order to consumers and post it on the firms website, Yaworsky said in a bulletin.

The initial cease-and-desist warning was issued by OIR in June last year, before the warranty company filed incorporation papers in Florida, records show. The office had received complaints about the companys operations as early as July 2024.The final consent order was issued Feb. 4 of this year. The OIR bulletin did not explain why the initial complaint and consent order were not made public before now.

The OIR complaint notes that American Dream Auto Protect had 894 contracts in Florida as of last summer, and $2.2 million in premiums. Florida Secretary of State corporation records show the firms CEO is Moshe Qubrusi, of Edison, New Jersey.

Qubrusi previously operated Car Protect Administration Inc., in Florida, starting in 2023, corporation records show. That company is not licensed or authorized by OIR, but is not listed as engaging in unlicensed activity. Qubrusi could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday morning.

Yaworsky also said the OIR has launched a new website showing firms that the office said have operated without licenses. So far, the site lists six warranty companies.

Also on Tuesday, Floridas chief financial officer announced that two people had been charged with printing and selling at least two dozen fake certificates of insurance for tow-truck operators in south Florida.

Aliba Lamas Alvarez, 38, of Hialeah, was reportedly acting as an insurance agent without a license. He and several co-defendants allegedly used the certificates to obtain towing permit decals in Miami-Dade County, the arrest record shows.

Also, Javier Gonzalez Jr., age and address unreported, is a licensed insurance agent in Florida. He was charged Feb. 5 with filing false insurance claims and with fraud, the state Department of Financial Services reported. Miami-Dade arrest records were not immediately available for Gonzalez.

DFS records show several licensed insurance agents in south Florida with that name.

Topics Auto Florida
The seven Western states that depend on the Colorado River missed a deadline for the second time Saturday to agree on a plan addressing record drought and water shortages.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo released a joint statement calling on Upper Basin states to offer more concessions. Those states include Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

The Colorado River is essential to our communities and economies, and our states have conserved large volumes of water in recent years to stabilize the basins water supplies for years to come, the governors said. Our stance remains firm and fair: all seven basin states must share in the responsibility of conservation.

Arizona, California and Nevada have offered to decrease Colorado River allocation by 27%, 10% and 17%, respectively, according to those states.

Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper. who helped negotiate a river contingency plan in 2019 as governor, called the situation in the Colorado Basin dire, pointing to the states low snowpack.

If we dont address this problem together - head-on and fast - our communities, farms, and economies will suffer. The best path forward is the one we take together. Litigation wont solve the problem of this long-term aridification, Hickenlooper said in a statement.

John Entsminger, the general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, also expressed frustration at the lack of progress.

The actions we have taken over the past two-plus decades are less about raising Lake Meads elevation than they are about protecting ourselves if things go from bad to worse, Entsminger said in a statement.

The states previously let pass a November deadline set by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to devise a strategy to face water shortages after this year, when current guidelines will expire.

Over 40 million people across these states along with Mexico and Native American tribes rely on Colorado River water. The river is crucial to farming as well as water and electricity for millions of homes and businesses. Much of the water starts out as winter mountain snowfall in the Upper Basin, which amasses far more that way than it consumes. Lower Basin states, including agriculture-heavy regions, are bigger consumers.

Major cities including Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles, are also big water consumers. Chronic overuse, drought and rising temperatures linked to climate change have lessened water flows.

How the water is allocated  especially in dry spells  and conserved has been the center of agreements among the states for decades. The original 1922 Colorado River Compact was calculated based on water amounts that doesnt exist today, especially with the long-term drought.

The current round of negotiations among states have been going on over two years.

If no consensus can be reached, the federal government could step in and devise a plan that leaves parties dissatisfied and could even result in litigation.

Scientists recently found snow cover and snow depth in the West are at their lowest in decades. Some areas have seen their warmest December through early February. Normally, snow cover this time of year spans 460,000 square miles  about the size of California, Utah, Idaho and Montana. But, this year it is only California-sized, about 155,000 square miles, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Two new cases of bluetongue have been confirmed in Irish livestock.

In a Dail meeting on Tuesday, minister for agriculture, Martin Heydon, revealed that since the initial discovery of bluetongue (BTV 3) south of the border on January 22, five herds have been flagged with the disease, with a further infection detected as recently as last week in an individual animal that has reportedly travelled through several counties.

A further infection was detected last week in a bovine which had been in a number of counties during the possible infection period, and investigations are now ongoing into that case, the minister reported.

Continuing minister Heydon said: It is a dynamic virus. This is something we are responding to in real time. We are working in collaboration through our regional veterinary officers with our vets and with private veterinary practitioners in support of our farmers, who are very concerned about this.

Responding to the Dail meeting, Deputy Carol Nolan said: "Farmers cannot be left to bear the financial brunt of this threat We need immediate action to ensure that testing, prevention, and compensation schemes are in place to safeguard livelihoods and maintain biosecurity."

Vaccines

Commenting on vaccines, the minister reiterated in the meeting that although he gave a licence to distribute BTV-3 vaccines, the cost and rollout of vaccines are a commercial decision for farmers.

Discussing whether vaccines provide sufficient coverage to control potential BTV-3 outbreaks, assistant professor of Virology & deputy director of the One Health Centre at UCD, Dr Gerald Barry, explained that the vaccine is for BTV-3 specifically, but other versions of the disease can still cause infection.

Vaccination alone is unlikely to be enough to rapidly stop an outbreak, Dr Barry said.

He suggested other measures, such as control of animal movement, mass surveillance efforts, and the removal of infected animals to slaughter, are all necessary to prevent a herd or flock from becoming infected.

Long term, we need improved vaccines that limit onward transmission or else it will become increasingly difficult to eliminate it from the country, concluded Dr Barry.

Restrictions

Addressing worries regarding restrictions, the minister said: An important point to make is that there will not be large-scale restrictions in the summertime because the disease is being re-categorised in July across the EU. That will make life easier for us in some ways.

"It was not something we wanted when we were free of this disease. We wanted to be able to identify as quickly as possible. We did not want to lose our disease-free status, but now it is gone. We were the last of the European countries to be in that space, so there will be some relaxation of how we operate with that from July onwards.
U2 surprised the music world on Wednesday evening with the release of a six-track EP dealing with current events in such trouble-spots as Ukraine and the Middle East. U2 - Days Of Ash contains five new songs and a poem, and is the Irish bands first body of original work since the Songs of Experience album in 2017.

In recent years, the Irish foursome have mainly focused on reworkings and reissues of older material, as well as playing a widely-praised 40-concert residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

Among the guests on the new EP is Ed Sheeran, who pops up alongside Ukrainian singer Taras Topolia on Yours Eternally, with an accompanying short documentary following on February 24, the fourth anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Singer Bono and guitarist The Edge got to know Topolia when they travelled to Kyiv in 2022 to busk in the citys subway and to draw attention to the beleaguered nations plight.

While outspoken on the issue of Ukraine, public in criticism in Ireland and beyond at the bands perceived lack of response to events in Gaza prompted the quartet to release individual statements in August 2025 in which Bono decried the violence on both sides of the conflict. U2 also address the Palestinian issue on this EP through One Life At A Time, written about Awdah Hathaleen, a father of three killed in his West Bank village by an Israeli settler in July 2025. Awdah was a consultant on the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.

The cover of Days Of Ash, by U2.

Other topical issues dealt with on Days Of Ash include the killing of Renee Good by ICE agents in Minnesota, and the death of 16-year-old Sarina Esmailzadeh at the hands of security forces in Iran. The EP also includes a reading of a Israeli writer Yehuda Amichais poem Wildpeace, read by Adeola of music group Les Amazones d'Afrique, and featuring a contribution from celebrated Irish producer Jacknife Lee.

Its been a thrill having the four of us back together in the studio over the last year the songs on Days of Ash are very different in mood and theme to the ones were going to put on our album later in the year, said Bono.

These EP tracks couldn't wait; these songs were impatient to be out in the world. They are songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation. Songs of celebration will follow, were working on those now because for all the awfulness we see normalized daily on our small screens, theres nothing normal about these mad and maddening times and we need to stand up to them before we can go back to having faith in the future.

Drummer Larry Mullen Jr, who had to miss the Sphere concerts due to surgeries on his neck and back, said the new songs stood up with the bands best work. Going way back to our earliest days, working with Amnesty or Greenpeace, weve never shied away from taking a position and sometimes that can get a bit messy, theres always some sort of blowback, but its a big side of who we are and why we still exist, said Mullen.

Among the other material being released around the EP is an issue of the Propaganda zine, first published by the band in 1986. A 52-page limited print publication and a digital version include an interview with Bono, notes from the other band members, and interviews with some of the Ukrainian contributors to the project.

The band say they will also make contributions to three organisations: Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and UNHCR.

Theres no word yet from the band on any live shows, but U2 have traditionally undertaken tours in the wake of album releases.
We got married on September 5, 2025. The year before I was organising a National Trail Conference in Leitrim in Drumhierney Woodland Hideaway.

During the conference myself and Kevin went for a walk in the woods there, and we said why dont we get married here? We went to the receptionist and asked could we get married there and they said they were thinking of turning themselves into a wedding venue in the future.
The Government will announce plans on Wednesday to introduce a social media ban for under 16s as part of a clampdown on online safety.

Ministers will be told that while Ireland would like to work with the EU to introduce bloc-wide restrictions, the Government is also prepared to act unilaterally if needed.

While several ministers, including Tanaiste Simon Harris, have repeatedly suggested they would like to see Irish youths restricted from using social media, this will be the strongest commitment yet to implement an outright ban.

At this afternoons Cabinet meeting, ministers will consider a new digital and AI strategy, which is understood to contain a focus on online safety.

The Irish Examiner understands the plan will confirm Irelands intention to introduce legislation to restrict social media for under-16s.

The plan will say this will be a priority when Ireland assumes the European presidency in the second half of this year.

Ministers will be told that while the Governments preference is for a move on a youth social media ban to happen at a European level, the Irish Government will take action regardless.

A pilot of an age verification tool will take place in the first half of this year, with young people involved in the trial to assess how it will work in practice.

Ireland will become the latest EU country to introduce a minimum age requirement for social media. Last month, Frances National Assembly backed legislation to ban children under 15 from social media, with Greece expected to follow suit. Spain, meanwhile, announced plans for a similar ban for under-16s.

In December, communications minister Patrick ODonovan confirmed a pilot project would be launched this year to develop a trusted age verification tool through the Governments digital wallet.

It was envisaged that 2,000 young people, both under and over the age of 18, would take part in this pilot, which would send confirmation from the digital wallet to the social media platform that the user was old enough to use the platform.

Australia became the first country in the world to implement an all-out youth social media ban late last year.

Last week, Taoiseach Micheal Martin told the Irish Examiner that the Government is monitoring what is happening in Australia.

We keep everything under review in terms of a ban," he said.

Its happening in Australia, so well see how that is manifesting itself.

Mr Harris, meanwhile, expressed fears that Irish children are not safe on the internet, arguing he is not willing to sit idly by and wait for the European Commission to introduce legislation.

He also argued the introduction of a minimum age is not radical, noting that restrictions exist for smoking, drinking, and voting.

Elsewhere, the digital and AI strategy being discussed by ministers at Cabinet will also confirm the need to keep legislation under review to address the advent of AI and technologies as tools that are being used to intimidate or harass individuals.

It is understood the Government will engage with the European Commission to ensure that the list of prohibited practices under Article 5 of the EU AI Act remains fit for purpose in the context of growing capabilities of AI. Article 5 dictates which AI practices can be prohibited.

The Government will also support Coimisiun na Mean in creating an information campaign to increase awareness about how to report harmful and illegal content, as well as the role of Coimisiun na Mean in relation to online safety.

This comes weeks after the Grok nudification scandal, which saw Xs AI chatbot responding to users requests to create sexually explicit images of women and children without consent.

The Data Protection Commission confirmed yesterday it has opened a large-scale inquiry which will examine Xs compliance with some of their fundamental obligations under the GDPR in relation to the matters at hand.

Louise Burne is Political Correspondent.
At least a third of hot school meals do not meet basic nutritional standards, social protection minister Dara Calleary has said.

TDs, parents, and others have raised concerns about the nutritional value of hot school meals, with Irish celebrity chef Darina Allen comparing them to "airline food".

The scheme began in 2019 as a pilot scheme to provide meals in an effort to ensure children get one hot meal a day, at a cost of 54.3m.

The hot school meals programme is expected to cost 280m in 2026, a cost of 3.20 per meal, and involves 300 suppliers, 3,200 schools, and 550,000 eligible students.

A dietitian was appointed in September, who assessed 400 school meals on offer for free at primary schools across Ireland.

They assessed the meals for five basic nutritional values, out of a total of 16 different nutritional elements issued to providers as guidance.

Mr Calleary said a third of the meals offered did not meet at least three of the five basic nutritional standards.

"In our dietitian's initial work, she has found general compliance [with] nutritional standards," Mr Calleary said on RTE Radio.

"There are issues. There are issues pertaining to the availability of fruit and vegetables."

The 16 nutritional guidelines include recommendations that every meal should include two servings of fruit, vegetables, or salad, that fish is served once a week, and salt should not be added to water when cooking rice or pasta.

The guidelines also state fresh drinking water should be available every day and funding "must not be spent on sugar-sweetened drinks".

They were published in 2021 as part of Healthy Ireland, the national framework which aims to improve the health of the Irish population.

Mr Calleary said the dietitian would conduct random inspections in schools next, and 400 schools were inspected last year.

"There are 16 standards, she's just looked at five initially. That's why she wants to do more work," he said.

"That's why she wants to get into schools, because the predominance of her work to date has been desktop, looking at menus, so she's going to get out into schools.

"But I would say that the overall theme, the overall report, is in the right direction."

He said last April he issued an instruction to remove high-fat, high-salt 'treat' foods from being offered, and 80% of food suppliers had adhered to it.

Mr Calleary said he wanted to reduce the number of ultra-processed foods in the hot school meal programme and said he would be "weeding out that remaining 20%".
A naive bachelor farmer growing cannabis in remote woodlands around Ballingeary said he was no Pablo Escobar, but a local detective said he was no Robin Hood either.

Before Judge Sinead Behan could characterise 53-year-old Daniel Kelleher of Kilmore, Ballingeary, County Cork, the judge had to look into the issue of the accused man also having a revolver and an air rifle discovered during the garda investigation.

Defence barrister Ben Shorten generated some laughter in Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday when he remarked that many houses in West Cork may have old firearms left over from the War of Independence. While Det. Garda Ryan did not comment on that specifically, he confirmed that gardai did not believe the revolver and the air rifle had anything to do with the cannabis-growing.

Detective Garda Shannon Ryan said Daniel Kelleher seemed to have a naive sense of pride in his success at growing cannabis plants to maturity  some of them reaching eight-foot high  in remote woodlands at Lyrenageeha, Ballingeary, County Cork, in September 2023.

Several searches were carried out and they uncovered 53 mature cannabis plants with a potential street value of 42,400 at one location, 42 plants worth 33,600 in another and 46 plants worth 36,800 in a third.

The remote areas of cleared woodland were only accessible by foot. Also packages of cannabis herb with a value of 6,700 were found stashed around his home property.

The detective said Daniel Kelleher was proud of himself being able to grow cannabis plants so successfully.

Det. Garda Ryan did acknowledge in respect of the accused mans views since September 2023: He has in the last few years seen the light, that it was not the right thing to be doing.

Going back to the period when he was cultivating cannabis, the detective agreed with Mr Shorten that the accused appeared to be influenced by people with an alternative lifestyle in the area.

Mr Shorten said: He had misplaced pride in his horticultural skills. He was taken advantage of by people with a more cavalier view of cannabis He was supplying others but not for financial reward.

Sentencing

Judge Behan agreed with the view that there was naivety but she said people should realise that providing drugs, even without payment, is still committing the offence of supplying drugs.

The judge imposed a fully suspended three-year sentence on the accused in relation to charges of having cannabis for sale or supply, and cultivation of cannabis.

The total street value of drugs discovered in the investigation amounted to 119,609. Daniel Kelleher had no relevant previous convictions.
A serving garda used the Pulse system to find and print documents that he alleged were being concealed from the High Court and from his partner, who is taking a case against the force alleging a breach of her Constitutional rights.

The High Court is hearing a case taken by Sinead Warren, who was at an address in Dublin 8, in September 2016 when gardai searched the apartment on foot of a warrant and found her with her long-term partner, Detective Garda Joseph Kavanagh.

Lawyers for Ms Warren submit that the search of her home was a "ruse" designed to interfere in her personal life and her relationship with Det Gda Kavanagh.

At the High Court, Det Gda Kavanagh told Mark Harty, counsel for Ms Warren, that it was part of his job to investigate wrongdoing.

He said he accessed the Pulse system to print out draft information sheets used to compile the search warrant application that had not been disclosed. He said he gave the sheets to Ms Warren's legal team.

Det Gda Kavanagh said he believed that there had been "an effort to conceal evidence from the court" by the defendants.

He said he was not "just nosing around", as suggested by the defence, and that he had seen similar efforts in the last 10 years to keep information from the courts in a "dishonest" manner.

Conor Power, for the defendants, said the "sensitive" documents had been unlawfully acquired by Det Garda Kavanagh, were the property of the Garda commissioner, were "tainted by illegality" and were in breach of data protection.

Mr Harty said that the Pulse matter may be a Garda disciplinary one but was not one for the courts. Mr Justice Micheal O'Connell initially described the introduction of the documents as an "ambush" but allowed Mr Harty's application to have them included in the case on grounds of fairness.

Mr Harty said he would be writing to the Office of the Attorney General for guidelines regarding gardai allegedly being given "extraordinary" instructions to prevent evidence being introduced that could test witness credibility.

Ms Warren has taken her case against the commissioner of An Garda Siochana, the minister for justice, Ireland and the attorney general seeking damages for interference and breach of her Constitutional rights, negligence, breach of duty, misfeasance, and deceit.

Ms Warren alleges that following the search, messages circulating on WhatsApp that could only have originated from people involved in or close to the search, said that Det Gda Kavanagh had been "caught in the scratcher" with "a gouger".

It was accepted by gardai in court that Ms Warren is known as a person of "impeccable character" who has never been involved in criminality, nor does she associate with criminals.

Ms Warren's brothers, Paul and Christopher, were shot dead in Dublin in 2004 and 2012 respectively.

Mr Justice O'Connell has been told by retired Detective Sergeant Mark Kelly that the September 2016 warrant was issued for the investigation of a burglary in Dublin.

He said that it did not involve Ms Warren or Det Gda Kavanagh, but both were present at the address when three armed and three unarmed gardai arrived looking for a pair of yellow shorts believed to be connected with the burglary.

The case continues next week.
A Romanian national who killed a Canadian tourist in Dublin city centre by brazenly delivering a full force running kick straight to his head has been jailed for five and a half years.

Sentencing 25-year-old Ionut Danca at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said this was an attack on a defenceless man, who was lying prone on the ground under the influence of alcohol and was no threat to anyone:

The kick to the head was deliberately aimed and carried out brazenly in public view on a main street in Dublin City. There was no need and no justification for this.

Instead of Danca getting help or walking away, the judge said the defendant had run at Canadian national Neno Dolmajian, kicking him in the head, causing his death resulting in the loss of such a valuable life.

Mr Justice McDermott added the victim came across as a positive person who was full of life, vigour, creativity, and laughter.

Ionut Danca pleaded guilty last year to the unlawful killing of Neno Dolmajian, aged 42, on July 2, 2024, at OConnell St Upper.

Dancas co-accused, Madalin Ghiuzan, aged 24, had pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Dolmajian, causing him harm at Cathal Brugha St, Dublin 1.

The judge said the appropriate sentence for the spontaneous and short-lived assault inflicted by Ghiuzan was 12 months in prison.

However, as the offender had already spent four-and-a-half months in custody, he was satisfied that the balance should be suspended in full for 12 months.

Mr Dolmajian was assaulted on June 23, 2024, and died nine days later at the Mater Hospital.

Danca, with an address at Rathdown Sq, North Circular Rd, Dublin 7, had previously been charged with murder. Ghiuzan, with an address at Summerhill Parade, Dublin 1, had a manslaughter charge brought against him.

The murder charge against Danca and the manslaughter charge against Ghiuzan are no longer being pursued by the DPP.

The deceaseds sister, Maral Dolmajian, told the court last week in her victim impact statement that her brother Neno was loved by everyone. However, she said his head was treated like a football during the attack. Ms Dolmajian said her brothers death has forever destroyed their family.
The Court of Appeal has been told it is a mystery how more than 300 physical exhibits were lost in the investigation into the 1981 murder of Cork woman Nora Sheehan, of which a cold case review ended in the oldest successful murder prosecution in Irish history.

Lawyers for killer Noel Long told the three-judge court that the most significant loss was the remnant of a vaginal swab taken from Mrs Sheehan's body in the wake of the murder.

Long's barristers contended that whether the exhibits were lost as a result of downright carelessness or a belief that the case wasnt going to be pursued, this had resulted in prejudice to the now 77-year-old appellant.

In August 2023, a jury unanimously convicted Long of the murder of 54-year-old Mrs Sheehan, whose naked and bruised body was discovered in Shippool Woods, Co Cork, six days after she went missing in June 1981.

The trial, which began in July 2023, heard that a partial DNA profile generated from semen found in Mrs Sheehans body and preserved for decades matched DNA recovered from clothing taken from Long in 2021.

The jury accepted the prosecutions case that all of the evidence pointed to the inescapable conclusion that Mrs Sheehan, a mother of three, died at Longs hands.

The State also relied on evidence that Long had been in the same area as Mrs Sheehan when she disappeared, that fibres recovered from the victim matched fibres from the carpeting of Longs car, and that paint fragments found on her clothing matched paint taken from the same vehicle.

Long, a former British Army soldier with an address at Maulbawn, Passage West, Co Cork, pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981, at an unknown location within the State.

He has 31 previous convictions spanning 50 years, including convictions for sexual offences, common assault, burglary, and numerous road traffic offences in both Ireland and the UK.

claims of prejudice

Long has launched a bid to overturn his conviction for murdering the vulnerable Cork woman, arguing there was a prejudicial delay in bringing the case and that DNA evidence should not have gone before the jury.

At the Court of Appeal, Longs senior counsel, Michael Delaney, appearing with Lorcan Staines SC, argued that the 42-year-lapse between the killing and the trial breached his clients right to a fair and expeditious trial.

He referenced case law which states that unexplained prosecutorial delay may breach a defendants right to a fair trial.

Mr Delaney also told the court that all of the physical exhibits in the case, amounting to more than 300 items, had been lost over the years, describing how this occurred as a mystery.

He said whether this was due to downright carelessness or a belief that the case would not proceed, it resulted in prejudice to Long.

The most significant missing item, counsel said, was the remainder of the vaginal swab taken from the deceased during a post-mortem examination.

Counsel also submitted that a number of potential witnesses, including several gardai, were deceased at the time of the trial, and that Garda files relating to an earlier robbery investigation were unavailable.

Long had initially been charged with murder in 1981, Mr Delaney said, before the charge was dropped. He was then prosecuted again more than four decades later. His counsel said:

The issue is whether he would have been in a stronger position to meet the case in 1981.

Counsel also said there was scope for debate as to whether it had been appropriate to drop the charge at the time.

When the decision was later made to revive the investigation, Mr Delaney said there was an onus on gardai to pursue it with a sense of urgency. However, the facts of the case did not demonstrate there was any such urgency until 2021, he said.

He pointed to a review of the killing that commenced and was due to conclude by 2008 but was returned to West Cork in 2016 without being completed, describing this as an extraordinary feature of the case.

While a DNA breakthrough occurred in 2008, Mr Delaney said nothing of substance was achieved thereafter.

He said the trial judge found the delay was not enough to presume prejudice.

If the delay in this case isnt sufficient to presume prejudice then I say what is? said Mr Delaney.

Responding on behalf of the State, senior counsel Brendan Grehan, with Seoirse O Dunlaing, said there was no statute of limitations for murder and that society had a strong interest in the prosecution of such crimes, regardless of the passage of time.

Mr Grehan said it is not enough that some kind of presumed delay means this case shouldnt have been prosecuted and rejected the suggestion that Long's right to a trial with reasonable expedition was breached.

Counsel said Long had come under suspicion within days of Mrs Sheehans disappearance and was fully aware he was a suspect.

There was actually quite compelling evidence, counsel said, adding that Long was made aware of it in July 1981.

While acknowledging the difficulty of prosecuting a case after 42 years, Mr Grehan said it would not have been possible without scientific evidence.

The appeal hearing continues on Thursday.
An elderly Limerick father of three has gone on trial for the alleged rape and indecent assault of a teenager more than 50 years ago.

The 75-year-old man has been charged with 40 counts of indecent assault and one charge of rape between 1972 and 1973 at two addresses in Limerick.

The complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was aged between 13 and 16 years at the time of the alleged abuse. The accused is 10 years her senior and denies all charges.

The woman has given evidence at Limerick Criminal Court claiming she was raped on one occasion in the kitchen of her family home by the accused and indecently assaulted by him on numerous occasions at other times as a teenager.

The accused lived near the womans family home at the time of the alleged abuse and was friends with the complainants older brother.

On Tuesday, extracts from the womans statement to gardai in November 2021 were read out in court during Garda Sergeant Marie Haughs evidence. At the time, she was the investigating officer before she was promoted out of the protective unit, and her colleague Detective Garda Claire Lewis took over the case.

Ms Haugh gave evidence about three interviews she conducted with the accused, which began on May 9, 2022, at Henry Street Garda Station following his arrest and caution. The accused came to the station a third time voluntarily to respond to gardais questions about allegations of indecent assault and he was not arrested.

The court heard the woman claimed she was sexually abused from the age of 13 until before she left the family home between the ages of 15 and 18 and moved to Dublin with her sister.

At the time, the accuseds mother worked as a housekeeper for the complainants father, after he broke up with his wife following years of challenges between the former couple due to alcoholism and arguments.

In her statement to gardai, the complainant said the abuse began when the accused jeered and taunted her about her body in front of two of her siblings.

She told gardai: I remember [the accused] coming into the living room, I was wearing jeans with a zip, he wore bell bottoms, I was so thin in those days.

An extract read in court from her statement said: He tried to remove my jeans and put his fingers in my jeans and in my knickers and used his middle finger to rub around my vagina.

He would then smell his middle finger and make crude remarks about the odour.

When the allegation was put to the accused by gardai, he claimed nothing like that ever happened, Ms Haugh said in court.

On another occasion, the accused told gardai: I remember him being erect and trying to penetrate my anus with my clothes on from behind, it became routine, it was sickening. When he was finished, he would kick me in the arse.

When this allegation was put to the accused by gardai, he said he was never alone with her and denied the womans claims, agreed Ms Haugh.

On a third occasion, the woman told gardai she was sent to the housekeepers nearby home to check her pots had not boiled dry on the cooker.

She told gardai in her statement which was read in court: I remember being in front of the fire and the accused coming in. He caught me from behind, holding me tightly and restraining me, I dont remember what I was wearing, but he put his hands down my trousers, and was rubbing my vagina with his finger. He then put his hands up my top. I felt his erect penis penetrating my vagina with his clothes on.

When gardai put the allegation to the accused and asked him did he remember the incident he replied that he didn't.

The accused was asked why the complainant would ever say this about him and the court was told he replied: I am wondering too.

The case continues.
A kind and good-natured 69-year-old man from West Cork got into conversation with a 28-year-old man in a Cork City pub and four hours later  without any signs of animosity building up between them  the elderly man was bleeding heavily on the ground being kicked in the head by the younger man.

On Wednesday at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, Aaron Wolfe pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Florence (Florrie) OSullivan on March 11, 2023, at 15 Glentrasna Court, The Glen, Cork. He was originally charged with murder but Jane Hyland, prosecuting, said the DPP accepted the guilty plea to manslaughter.

The late Florrie OSullivans brother, Paddy OSullivan, said that the time between hearing of that assault on his brother and his death in hospital as a result of his injuries on April 6, 2023, was one of the hardest months of his life.

He was a kind and good-natured person, never failing to help people in trouble. Not a day goes by that I dont think of Florrie, Paddy OSullivan said.

He said he had many happy memories of the familys life in Adrigole but he offered one more recent memory of his late brother: I crashed my car and I could not afford to replace it. Florrie said, come up to the city and Ill give you one.

Not alone does this affect families but it affects the whole community.

I am here to get justice for my brother Florrie, I want closure. We are three years waiting for it.

"It is a one-sided story  my brother is not here to defend himself. I swore on his soul I would get justice for him.

One of the reasons it has taken so long to advance was the delay in getting a psychiatric report on Wolfe. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford said the 97-page report was very incisive and helpful.

The judge adjourned sentencing until February 27 and directed the preparation of further reports on Wolfe from the prison governor and the probation service.

Case background

Sergeant Catriona Molloy outlined the background to the unlawful killing. Wolfe was drinking pints of lager alone in the Linenweavers pub on Paul Street, Cork, from after 3pm on Saturday afternoon, March 11, 2023.

Florrie OSullivan went to the same pub after 4pm for a cup of coffee and started talking to Wolfe, who was 28 at the time.

About an hour later they both left and got a taxi together to Glentrasna in the Glen where Wolfe was living at the home of his grandmother, Eileen Karluk. They later went by taxi to Nutley Road in Mahon where Wolfe called to a relative.

It appeared that Mr OSullivan had left a bag at the house in Glentrasna and returned by taxi with Wolfe to retrieve it. They arrived back at 7.38pm. The taxi driver who dropped them said there was no sign of any animosity between them.

There was evidence of Wolfe drinking Jagermeister in the taxis, as well as some six pints of lager in the pub. By 8.15pm gardai were receiving calls about a violent assault taking place outside the house at Glentrasna.

One caller said: There is a man thrown down on the ground covered in blood. There is a fella still kicking him on the ground. His name is Aaron.

Florence OSullivan died at Cork University Hospital on April 6, 2023, after being hospitalised following the March 11 incident. Margaret Bolster assistant state pathologist concluded that he died from traumatic brain injury due to blunt force trauma.

Defendant's remorse

Questioned after the March incident, Wolfe said the deceased was not leaving the house or was not leaving fast enough when asked to go. The accused said there was an altercation in the house but that he (Wolfe) had a blackout and could not remember what happened outside the house.

Brendan Grehan, defending, said there was no suggestion of any weapon being used, the parties did not know each other before this evening in March 2023 and nobody who saw them together described any animosity or raised voices or anything of that sort.

Mr Grehan said the accused instructed him to apologise and express his remorse to the OSullivan family, adding that he did not mean to kill him.

Mr Grehan said the accused had almost doubled in weight over the last three years in prison and now weighs 25 stone. He said there was no evidence of any psychiatric basis for a defence that could be put forward.

Wolfe has 78 previous convictions including one for engaging in violent disorder in 2020 and an assault causing harm in 2016.
A woman returned home from a nights drinking almost three years ago with her then partner, only to be violently attacked and left with a fractured jaw, fractured eye socket and broken nose and on Wednesday he was jailed for three years.

41-year-old Jonathan Kingsbury, formerly of Connolly Road, Ballyphehane, Cork, and more recently of Schull, Co Cork, was sentenced by Judge Helen Boyle to three years and nine months, with the last nine months suspended, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Boyle said: This had a very serious impact on the victim psychologically and physically. She spent months afterwards eating and drinking through straws. Her jaw still gets stiff very easily.

It is an aggravating factor that the assault was carried out on your partner in her own home. There was some element of not acknowledging that this was entirely your fault. It is very clear to everyone here that the blame lies with you [the accused] for the vicious assault you carried out.

The judge referred to his expressions of regret and remorse, his guilty plea, staying away from the victim and willingness to attend all counselling and courses prescribed for him as mitigating factors.

Garda Aisling Brosnan said Jonathan Kingsbury returned to the injured partys house in Cork City after midnight on March 11, 2023, after being out in a pub together.

He hit her head off a counter top, he hit her head off a wall, he punched her in the face, put his hands around her neck and threw heavy kitchen items at her. He had broken her phone. She ran from the house and called into neighbours and contacted the gardai, Garda Brosnan testified.

In the course of three days in hospital, she required surgery to have metal plates inserted in both sides of her jaw.

Victim impact statement

In her victim impact statement she said: Since Jonathon assaulted me in March 2023, I have really bad anxiety and don't sleep properly. I don't go outside the door, Before I go anywhere, I'll get an anxiety attack.

"It's horrible. I want to cry. I want to get sick, I start shaking. I start over-thinking things. When I do go out, it's just rushing to get things done and get back home. I'm always afraid I'll bump into him.

"When I sleep, I sometimes have a dream and he could be in the dream so I wake up and that's it then  I'm awake and lying in bed or walking up and down the kitchen with anxiety. Sometimes, if I hear noises at night, I'm afraid that it's him at my door. I even got my locks changed as I didn't know if he had keys.

I was always bubbly but I don't go out anymore. I don't socialise and only call to my sister. I wouldn't feel safe in a pub because I don't know where he'd be sitting.

Nikki OSullivan said the defendant wanted to reiterate his apology to the victim and assure her he would never approach her again. The barrister said the defendant was sober now for the past 18 months.
A Canadian visitor to Cork City sleeping in a campervan at the Mardyke and a homeless man living in a tent nearby were both victims of robbery when they were set upon and robbed of their mobile phones and other property.

The sentencing judge remarked that it must have been a terrifying experience for both of them, and even though one man was holidaying in a campervan and the homeless man was in a tent when the robberies were carried out, the crimes against them effectively occurred in their homes, albeit temporary ones.
A woman living with her young daughter in Bandon was terrified when a stranger smashed his way into her home at 3am, and now the culprit has been given a four-year suspended sentence.

Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed that sentence on Hughie Maguire, who pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and criminal damage.

It was terrifying for this lady and her daughter. It happened at night and they were significantly upset by this, the judge said.

Sergeant Pat Russell said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court the burglary occurred at 3am on August 5, 2023, at Nicholas Church Lane, Bandon, Co Cork.

Glass was smashed in a downstairs window and the woman who lived there went down to see a man outside putting his hand through the broken window to open the latch on the door.

He was aggressive and shouting: Open the door, open the door. She was terrified. She got her daughter and ran out of her home through the front door and phoned the gardai. She now fears for her safety."

Hughie Maguire can be seen on CCTV walking around the building  he is walking around the building, he is very intoxicated, he is seen putting on gloves. With a hammer in his hand, he tries to enter a number of apartments. He was arrested and detained and was uncooperative.

The woman does not want to make a victim impact statement. But she is frightened. She and her daughter have difficulty sleeping in the house, Sgt Russell said.

Judge Dermot Sheehan was told Hughie Maguire was now working and living in Dublin, where he has an address at Glenmore House in Swords and doing much better in his life, although he had 100 previous convictions.
The Government must appoint a mediator to resolve the mayoral stasis in Limerick, a local TD has claimed, after John Moran hit out at some local councillors for being hostile towards him.

Limerick Labour TD and spokesperson on local government Conor Sheehan called on the Government to urgently bring forward a legislative review of the directly elected mayor of Limerick and to appoint an independent mediator to resolve the ongoing standoff at City Hall.

Mr Sheehan said pretending the current situation was working in Limerick was simply not credible.

At the heart of this dysfunction are clear weaknesses and ambiguities in the legislation governing the directly elected mayor," he said.

"These flaws were repeatedly flagged by Opposition TDs, but the final legislation was watered down, leaving uncertainty over where executive authority lies and who is ultimately responsible for key governance decisions within the council."

Mr Sheehan added the lack of clarity had now led to paralysis.

I support the principle of a directly elected executive mayor, and this model should be rolled out elsewhere in Ireland. But for it to succeed, the framework must be clear, robust and workable.

Limerick is currently lagging badly on delivery, with just 34% of its overall housing targets met and only 70% of its social housing targets delivered.

"These are the real issues facing people. Oireachtas members, councillors, the mayor and the council executive must be focused on working together to deliver homes, not stuck in a governance stand-off.

This comes as John Moran released a statement on his personal website on Monday, sharing details of what happened at a seven-hour-long meeting last week, during which he took ill.

Despite his absence, the corporate plan was passed  even though some councillors suggested the meeting should resume once the mayor had a chance to view the plan.

Mr Moran alleged some local councillors were trying to undermine his mayoral term by being hostile towards him, accusing them of plotting to ensure his term was not successful.

On Wednesday, he said he was advised to walk away from his mayoral role, following tensions inside the council.

 I actually was advised to walk away by a couple of people. I'm too stubborn, I suppose, in one way, and I'm too passionate about one Limerick and about this reform.

I mean, if I walk away, I guess you can read between the lines. Some people are coming out with statements saying we should have a review, and if it's not working, we should get rid of it, essentially. I think that has been the risk all the time in his project, he told RTE earlier today.

Mr Moran agreed the whole affair might lead people to question whether or not there should be a directly elected mayor in Limerick.

That has always been the risk, right? That's why I've been trying to solve a lot of these issues privately and quietly in the past, and it's not working right. So now I think we need to have that debate, he said.

He went on to say what upset him last Tuesday was to have a forced conversation about the direction of travel and the distribution of power between the council, the mayor, the director general and the Priomh Chomhairleoir.

We were having disagreements about that, and I think it properly got too much, the whole thing, he said.

I asked for a deferral of the meeting and it didn't happen. The document was pushed through, and that annoyed a lot of councillors as well as myself and others.
My mother often says that I would attend the opening of an envelope. On Monday, I defied all expectations when I chose to stay at home rather than take up an invitation to The Ambassador Theatre in Dublin to attend the opening night of Rex Ryans new play The Monk.

Five minutes before a life-defining verdict, Gerard Hutch faces the possibility of life in prison, a public relations person told me in an email.

In this gripping one-man show, we journey through the mind of one of Irelands most enigmatic and polarising figures.

Last Friday, I accepted the invitation, telling her that my guest and I would be delighted to attend.

However, as the weekend wore on, I became increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of seeing the show.

On Sunday evening, the straw that broke the camel's back came when a colleague sent me a picture of Gerry The Monk Hutch on stage at The Ambassador.

An accompanying social media post advised that Hutch himself would be on stage every night at the theatre.

That was when I decided I could not go. My conscience would not let me.

I felt it was completely attempting to reputation-wash The Monk just three months before a by-election in Dublin Central that he intends to contest.

His nightly appearance on stage is also a blatant attempt at political posturing and propaganda, a bid to make people view through a completely different lens the trauma that was caused to my beloved Dublin during a feud that resulted in the loss of dozens of lives  along with untold destruction and heartbreak for countless families in the communities Mr Hutch now wants to represent.

Gerard the Monk Hutch and Rex Ryan at a behind the scenes tour of 'The Monk' set ahead of the theatre production. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins

While I have no issue with him running for election, his appearance in a play was a step too far for me.

While Mr Hutchs name is well known, until very recently he was infamous, not famous.

The Monk was acquitted of murdering David Byrne in The Regency Hotel in 2016 following a high-profile trial at the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

While the court accepted that members of the Hutch group were responsible for the shooting, it ruled that prosecutors failed to prove The Monks direct involvement.

However, Ms Justice Tara Burns called Gerard Hutch the head of the family, a statement that has hung over him since.

If you had said in April 2023, when the verdict was handed down, that Hutch would run for election twice in the space of two years, I would have raised an eyebrow.

If you had told me he would be appearing in a play written by late broadcaster Gerry Ryans son and that people would be looking to take pictures with him afterwards, I would have told you to give your head a wobble.

I do not care about Rex Ryan doing a play about The Monk. Art is supposed to be provocative, and people can make up their minds, like I did, about whether they will go and see it.

Similarly, I have no issue with Gerard Hutch running for election. That is his prerogative and his right. I wish anyone who puts their hand up for something as brutal as a by-election battle well.

Where the line has been crossed is this attempt to make Gerry The Monk Hutch a star.

Videos sent to me by friends who did attend Monday evenings show at The Ambassador showed people queuing up to take selfies with him.

People were having the same reaction to Gerard Hutch that I would have if I came within three feet of a Jonas brother.

There was a standing ovation at the end of the show. There were laughs throughout. There was applause.

In the opening few minutes of the play, Mr Ryan took on the part of a media interviewer probing Mr Hutch on this victory in the by-election in Dublin Central.

I ran for [election] with the intentions of winning, Mr Hutch told the crowd in the opening minutes of the play during a fictitious media interview.

But, win, lose or draw, it didn't bother me. I wasn't doing it for the wages. I was doing it for the community, to wake up the place.

The interview assumed Hutch won the by-election and questioned what we could expect from him as a TD.

As a TD and a representative, I am going to be in the Dail, and Im going to be talking to ministers and whoever else is there. I am going to be representing my community and asking certain questions to certain ministers, he continued.

If they tell me lies, Ill be going back straight to the people and say, These people in here are telling me lies. Im asking this question, and theyre giving me that answer, and I know thats porky pies.

This was met with laughter from the audience, but it did not necessarily tell us what Hutch actually wants to do in the Dail.

And it truly was a work of fiction as, for the second time in the space of a week, Mr Hutch refused to take questions from the media following the play.

It was the same story in the RDS during the count for the general election in 2024.

'If you had told me Gerard Hutch would be appearing in a play written by late broadcaster Gerry Ryans son and that people would be looking to take pictures with him afterwards, I would have told you to give your head a wobble.' Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Despite a huge and oftentimes dangerously pushy media scrum, Hutch failed to outline his political policies other than saying they would include change.

That election nearly saw Mr Hutch elected, only for the fact he was pipped to the post by Labours Marie Sherlock after the transfers went against him.

The fact that he got a strong vote must be respected, and questions about why that happened have never been fully answered.

It was clear that those people saw something in Hutch that they did not see in others.

It was clear that they were fed up with the status quo and wanted something different.

It was clear that some people thought he would be a good representative for a constituency of two halves, where one part has become gentrified and hip, while the other has been left to fall into disarray and, often, criminality.

People will disagree about whether he would have been a good TD. But that is politics. The beauty of the system is that there is choice. And we must respect the choice that others make.

However, I do not have to respect attempts to make The Monk a celebrity or a part of pop culture.

If he wants to be a politician, be a politician. But be open about your past, rather than trying to erase it by taking part in a work of art.

If Hutch wants to sit down for an interview, the PR person who invited me to the play is more than welcome to contact me again.

I will sit down to speak to Hutch any time and anywhere about his policies and his past.

But I will not lower myself by going to The Ambassador Theatre to witness a whitewash.
Cabinet will consider plans from housing minister James Browne today to increase the limits for the local authority home loan scheme to align with current house prices.

The local authority home loan was launched in January 2022, and the purchase and renovation loan was launched in July 2024 to support creditworthy first-time buyers and fresh-start applicants unable to get sufficient funding from commercial banks to buy a home or renovate a vacant or derelict property eligible for the vacant property refurbishment grant.

This will be the first time that house prices and income limits have been examined since March 2023.

As of September 2025, house prices have increased nationally by an average of 21%. Prices in Dublin have risen by 18.32%. Prices everywhere else in the country rose by 23.23%.

In November 2025, the department completed an updated review of house prices and income limits.

Mr Browne will seek approval to increase loan rates in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, South Dublin, Dublin City, Fingal, Wicklow, and Kildare by 55,000 from 360,000 to 415,000.

Cork City, Cork county, Galway City, and Meath will rise by 45,000 to 375,000.

There will be a 45,000 increase to the maximum loan available in Clare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Waterford, Westmeath, and Wexford.

A 15,000 rise in Galway county and Louth will make the maximum loan available 345,000.

Meanwhile, in Carlow, Cavan, Donegal, Kerry, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, and Tipperary, maximum loans will increase from 275,000 to 310,000.

The income limit for a single-income earner will increase from 70,000 to 80,000, but will remain at 85,000 for couples. It is expected that these changes will be implemented in the coming months.

It is understood that Mr Browne was frustrated that more people were not drawing down the local authority home loan.

He also expressed concerns about single buyers who are often locked out of options when they are in competition with couples, something the housing minister is understood to regard as deeply unfair.

Sources stated that a careful balance must be struck as increasing home loan limits can also impact market prices.

Higher education minister James Lawless will update ministers on the success of Path 4, Irelands national programme for students with intellectual disabilities.

The courses help students with intellectual disabilities build independence, life skills, and work readiness, with supported work placements and accredited learning.

The second phase of the scheme has enrolled 193 students across 11 higher education institutions. This is above the 160 targets.

Mr Lawless will confirm to Cabinet that funding for Path 4s phase two courses will continue into 2026/27 and 2027/28.

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will bring a memo on Irelands first national strategy for the safe, responsible, and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) across health and social care.

AI for Care will drive innovation and grow specialist roles in data science, clinical AI leadership, cybersecurity, and analytics, and strengthen Irelands medtech and digital health sectors.

Sports minister Patrick ODonovan will update ministers on the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, Limerick, as well as the Media Regulation Bill.

This bill will ensure that media companies are open about who owns them, as well as moving the decision about media takeovers away from the minister to an independent body.

Louise Burne is Political Correspondent.
In an economy where artificial intelligence and technology are seen as the future, a Government announcement around something as simple as flour might seem a little odd.

Today, agriculture minister Martin Heydon, enterprise minister Peter Burke, and junior finance minister Robert Troy gathered at a Dublin city centre bakery to launch a brand new strategy.

Here's what you need to know about Ireland's plan for more flour mills.

Did you say flour mills?

I did. The Government on Monday announced an initiative to financially support up to four new flour mills in Ireland. At present, Ireland has only one industrialscale flour mill, and this initiative "aims to strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of the bakery value chain". Ireland has only one industrialscale flour mill, located in Portarlington, run by Odlums. There are two in the North  James Neill's Flour Ltd and Andrews Flour.

Why?

Simply put, cost. From January 2015 to December 2024, Ireland imported 2,253,871 tonnes of flour at a cost of over 1bn. The vast majority of this comes through the UK, with costs having risen considerably since Brexit. The bakery industry in Ireland has around 600 companies in operation with about 8,000 employees.

The initiative will create a capacity of between 60,000 and 80,000 tons per annum for new flour mills. Mr Burke said that "if we get three or four flour mills nationally, that will be a huge achievement". The rising costs of flour have hit the bakery sector, where Ireland imports about 240,000 tons. The scheme aims to address the cost and import questions, with an eye on sustainability. Mr Burke said that the recent years had seen costs rise "between transport costs and associated paperwork" which he estimated cost the sector 10m annually.

"This will really give us a chance to assist businesses," he said.

The Government hopes that the subvention will help to cut costs for businesses and build up the indigenous bakery sector.

What is the cost going to be?

The Government hopes to establish up to four mills at a cost of up to 5m each. Mr Burke said that the money is "a very significant commercial incentive to get the sector back up and running again", and which will underwrite the growth of the thousands of jobs in the area.

How will it impact farmers?

Mr Heydon is hopeful that it will assist tillage farmers, who he said have been at the mercy of world grain prices and would be able to sell more of their products here. He said that the outworkings of Brexit has made the Government "realise the importance of diversification" and that his department is "diversifying our dependency on the UK market through a range of different agricultural products, finding our routes to market across the EU and in third countries, but also identifying the things that we can do more more activity on here in Ireland ourselves".

An analysis this week of 2024 figures by Teagasc showed that 37% of farmers growing winter wheat achieved net profit margins of more than 750 per hectare, whereas 13% suffered a loss.

Nearly one in five (19%) had a margin of less than 250; 13% had a margin of 250 to 500; and 18% had a margin of between 500 and 750.
The opposition have accused the Government of seeking to rush through new laws to reform Irelands asylum process, as TDs hit out at a prolonged Dail debate.

Justice minister Jim OCallaghan has been criticised over an eight-hour debate in the Dail on the legislation, with TDs saying discussions around amendments should take place in committee hearings.

The International Protection Bill is a major reform to Irelands asylum laws, seeking to align State policy with that of the EU migration and asylum pact.

The legislation will include an accelerated processing system for asylum seekers, with a legal requirement for a first-instance decision within three months. Individuals who are granted asylum will not be permitted to bring their family to Ireland for two years, as part of family unification changes.

Sinn Fein justice spokesperson Matt Carthy accused Mr OCallaghan of rushing through the draft laws.

It is [being rushed] because the minister and the parties of Government have locked us into an EU migration and asylum pact and they are desperately now chasing to try to get legislation in place prior to the deadline for that pact, which is the summer, Mr Carthy said.

Even though the minister knows there is absolutely not a chance in hell within this year at all, at any stage in this year, that the Government is going to be in a position to adhere to the stipulations contained within either the asylum and migration pact or this act.

Mr Carthy, who chairs the Oireachtas justice committee, said it is unfortunate that debate was not taking place at the committee, claiming the Dail chamber is not the forum.

Mr O'Callaghan rejected assertions that the laws were being rushed through the Oireachtas, citing careful consideration of the general scheme in pre-legislative scrutiny.

He said three days of debate on the bill were held earlier in February, and on the final day the Dail ran out of speakers from both the Government and opposition.

He defended the decision to take committee stage of the bill in the Dail, saying it would have taken the justice committee an inordinate period of time to scrutinise the bill.

Mr Carthy said an amendment to delay commencement of the legislation until Mr OCallaghan could demonstrate that Ireland was capable of complying with it was sensible.

In response, Mr OCallaghan said there had been an agreement between EU member states participating in the migration and asylum pact for it to come into effect on June 12.

Ireland takes is obligations extremely seriously, and we want to ensure that we are ready and that the legislation is in place by June 12 next, because that is the commitment, he said.

Mr OCallaghan said there would be discussion on all 267 amendments.
Last week, the Booker prize-winning Indian author Arundhati Roy withdrew from the Berlin Film Festival over comments made by the celebrated German filmmaker Wim Wenders. You are reminded of the Woody Allen quote, "Intellectuals are like the mafia; they only kill their own."

Picture the scene in Berlin. Gongs and glamour, red carpets, gorgeous frocks, men in suits, high octane tension with prestigious prizes on the slate, booze, egos, and the rest. A bunfight with the patina of artistic credibility is somehow more interesting.

Wim Wenders: 'No movie has really changed any politicians idea.' File picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

So how did Wenders offend Roy? Wenders, the head of the jury, responding to a question about the conflict in Gaza at a press conference to open the 76th edition of the festival, said filmmakers should stay out of politics: Yes, movies can change the world. Not in a political way. No movie has really changed any politicians idea, but  we can change the idea that people have of how they should live.

Roy called his stance "unconscionable". While Gaza is at the heart of this contretemps, there are likely other issues at play within an insular intellectual community, including peoples personal politics, because what Wenders said doesnt necessarily stack up.

The Berlin Film Festival is known as the most political of the big three film festivals, along with Venice and Cannes.

Among others, Wenders made the melancholy cinematic movie Paris, Texas, and the documentary The Buena Vista Social Club. Remember when we were all listening to its soundtrack on repeat and dancing badly to Afro-Cuban beats?

I have only read one of Arundhati Roys books, the brilliant The God of Small Things. Roy, who has just been longlisted for the Womens Prize for non-fiction, has also written screenplays.

Arundhati Roy is a formidable woman who has a reputation for taking no prisoners. File picture: Prakash Singh/AFP

She is a formidable woman who has a reputation for taking no prisoners. I heard her ably interviewed by Brendan OConnor. (Full disclosure: OConnor, a standout interviewer, is a lifelong close friend).

Is Wenders correct when he says that filmmakers shouldnt engage with politics? Obviously, many great movies engage with politics. The Godfather Part II, one of my favourite movies of all time, engages with American capitalism and systemic corruption.

Apocalypse Now speaks to colonialism and state-legitimised violence. You may recall the opening scene, with The Doors' The End playing, or the line of emerald-green palm trees in a Vietnamese jungle beneath a cloud of billowing smoke. Its basically an anti-war movie.

You could write an entire column listing films that refute Wenders's claim. And surely, his dichotomy between people and politicians is false, because politicians are us.

One well-known example of a film influencing a politician is Ronald Reagan watching The Day After, a 1983 movie about a nuclear strike on America. I havent seen it, as I would have been watching Little House on the Prairie at the time, which, incidentally, was also political, in that it promulgated an anti-New Deal philosophy of self-reliance.

Watching this movie led Reagan, at the height of the Cold War, to engage with the Russians in a treaty that physically dismantled nuclear weapons.

He wrote in his diaries: "In the morning at Camp D. I ran the tape of the movie ABC is running on the air Nov. 20. Its called The Day After'. It has Lawrence Kansas wiped out in a nuclear war with Russia. It is powerfully done-all $7 mil. Worth. Its very effective & left me greatly depressed..Whether it will be of help to the anti-nukes or not, I cant say. My own reaction was one of our having to do all we can to have a deterrent & to see there is never a nuclear war.

The director Nicholas Meyer later said: The movie may have indeed helped prevent a nuclear war. It certainly changed one persons mind on the subject, and that person just happened to be the President of the United States.

The stories we tell

The larger question Wenders raises, for me, though, is the actual purpose of the stories we tell, whether through film, documentary, books, plays, or even columns.

The influential educational psychologist Jerome Seymour Bruner wrote several seminal books, including one on storytelling. He concluded that narrative, rather than logic, shapes our culture, including legal argumentation. His research suggested that facts are 20 times more likely to be remembered if theyre part of a story.

By the way, Bruner and his wife had a summer house in Glandore, down my neck of the woods. He wrote in a letter: This is a delicious corner of the world, perched on a cliff looking out to sea and islands, fungi in the fields, whimbrels and oyster catchers in the cove, an odd assortment of amusing people.

On the subject of stories shaping legal argumentation and, by extension, politics (because the law is inherently political in how its created and what it seeks to do in regulating social behaviour), friends recently went to see Prima Facie in The Gaiety.

Prima Facie is a profoundly powerful, award-winning play by Suzie Miller. They said it was the best play they had ever seen. Through gritted teeth, I said, Great. Because I had a ticket, but life got in the way, and I missed it.

You can watch it online for free courtesy of The National Theatre. Jodie Comer is incredible in it. She plays an ambitious defence barrister who defends rapists, then is raped by a colleague and finds herself on the stand.

This story helps us understand the deep flaws of the legal system and how rape victims are treated. Its far more powerful than any article about the grim statistics and facts showing how the adversarial, inherently patriarchal legal system re-traumatises victims.

Whats extraordinary is that the Prima Facie script is now being used in training for judges in the UK, proving that stories shape law, influence thinking, and change lives.

The politics of stories

If you look at storytellers, regardless of the medium, they say, This happened today, this happened to them, or this happened to me. What do we think about that? What do we feel about that? And should we celebrate the moment, mourn, or collaborate to change our community or our political system?

It is presumably hard for filmmakers to be asked to deliver complicated thoughts in soundbites on the red carpet, but I think Wenders is wrong in saying "films are the opposite of politics".

Im not sure that a filmmaker, writer, artist, columnist, storyteller or what we might loosely call a creator ever stays out of politics, whether they want to or not. You even make political decisions in deciding what youre not going to tackle as a subject.

Ultimately, it depends on how you define politics, because the personal is inextricably linked to the political, and the stories we tell are connected to broader society.

By the way, big congratulations to the Irish film Everybody Digs Bill Evans, which received its World Premiere in the official competition at the Berlin festival. It stars Irish actors Barry Ward and Katie McGrath. The screenplay was written by Mark OHalloran, and the films "piercing intimacy" is attracting great reviews.
The Government announced last week it would pass legislation to remove the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. The move was described as wildly irresponsible by the campaign group Childrens Rights Over Flights, which is concerned at what it will mean for greenhouse gas emissions and the quality of life for future generations.

Local residents have described the move as an absolute disgrace amid concerns about the noise impact of increasing flight numbers. While others have voiced concerns about the impact on traffic congestion on the M50, which Transport Infrastructure Ireland advises is at capacity.

The minister for transport argues these concerns are outweighed by the need for growth in the economy which, he claims, is being inhibited by the passenger cap. But what evidence is there for this claim?

Back in 2004 when the Celtic Tiger was in full swing, 17 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport. By 2008, it had shot up to 23.4 million passengers before falling off with the impact of the financial crash.

In 2011 passengers started a slow rise, which was turbocharged in 2014 by the removal of the passenger tax. The subsequent meteoric rise in passengers could not even be stopped by the massive blow to the industry from the pandemic lockdown. Last year, 36.4 million people passed through the airport. Passenger cap? What passenger cap?

But surely a doubling of passenger numbers, over a period where the population has grown by just 33%, has brought a lot more money into the Irish economy?

Unfortunately, the evidence says otherwise. In 2004, the Central Statistics Office recorded 6.4 million overseas visitors to Ireland, spending the 2025 equivalent of 5.82bn. Last year, the CSO recorded 6.4 million overseas visitors spending 5.5bn.

Visitor numbers have remained static, and they are spending less  so whats driving the increase in passenger numbers? Tourism spending in Ireland has been in net deficit every year from 2003 to 2023 (except for lockdown-impacted 2021).

In other words, Irish tourists travelling abroad have consistently spent more money in other countries than inbound visitors have spent in Ireland. The increase in air connectivity has done wonders for the tourism industry it seems, just not the Irish tourism industry, which makes it all the more perplexing that Failte Ireland have been one of the biggest cheerleaders for the removal of the passenger cap.

Ryanair Group chief executive Michael O'Leary: Lifting the Dublin Airport passenger cap seems to be almost entirely for the benefit of private airlines.

Now, obviously not all aviation travel is tourism related and there is a case to be made that air connectivity is important as a driver for economic growth.

A report by two independent think tanks published last year found that indeed this is the case, in certain regions in Europe. It found in Eastern Europe and in areas which are strong tourism attractors like Spain and Portugal, there was a strong causal relationship between air connectivity and economic growth.

However, in Ireland it found this was very unlikely to be the case due to a saturation in the business market and a net deficit in tourism spending. In fact, it suggested GDP growth was driving air travel demand, not the other way around.

So the claims by the Government and by the aviation industry that increasing air connectivity is essential for economic growth seem to be dubious at best, if not completely unfounded.

It begs the question  who benefits from lifting the passenger cap? It's clearly not the Irish domestic tourism sector. Theres little evidence it is the Irish economy. And it's certainly not the growing number of people in Ireland who are being affected by man-made climate change or the taxpayers who will pay the fines for our failure to curb transport emissions.

In the past 10 years, Ryanair has made 65 returns to the Lobbying Register. In the last 12 months alone, it has made six returns, lobbying four separate Government ministers and one MEP.

Michael O'Leary himself has lobbied transport minister Darragh O'Brien twice in the last year. In the same 10-year period, the Dublin Airport Authority has made 167 returns, and 33 since the beginning of last year. Their lobbying targets have included the Tanaiste and five separate Government ministers.

They must be very pleased with the results.

The aviation industry argues there have been significant advances in technology which have made the aircraft they use far more energy efficient. And there is some truth to this, but any gains that have been made in reducing harmful emissions have been more than cancelled out by the massive increase in air travel over the same period. A decrease in the emissions per passenger is not helpful if the passenger numbers keep rising.

According to a report this week by researchers at University College Cork, if Ireland were to fully decarbonise the emissions associated with flights from Dublin Airport, it could require diverting an area of land greater than the size of Co Tipperary for growing fuels and offsetting.

They conclude that reducing demand for flying is the most direct way to cut emissions. The Government seems intent on doing the opposite and almost entirely for the benefit of private airlines.
The talkshow host Stephen Colbert has accused the Trump administration of censoring critics after CBS pulled his interview with a Texas Democrat on Monday, apparently at the behest of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Colbert told viewers of the Late Show that network lawyers told him he was also prohibited from talking about their refusal to air his interview with James Talarico, a Texas state representative seeking his partys nomination to challenge the Republican incumbent, John Cornyn, for a Senate seat in November.

Because my network clearly doesnt want us to talk about this, lets talk about this, he said, claiming that CBS attorneys were pre-emptively bowing to guidance from the FCC chair, Brendan Carr, to enforce equal air time on a talkshow for all candidates in any political race.

Lets just call this what it is. Donald Trumps administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV, because all Trump does is watch TV.

The interview with Talarico went ahead and was posted instead to Colberts YouTube page.

The episode comes amid a renewed crackdown on media freedoms by the Trump administration, which in recent weeks has included an FBI raid on the home of a Washington Post reporter, and the arrest of Don Lemon, an independent journalist and former CNN host, covering a protest against immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

Colberts popular show will end in May after CBS canceled it. The network is now under the control of David Ellison, the new owner and a Trump ally whose actions have raised questions about CBSs independence. Earlier this month the FCC, reportedly at Carrs direction, opened an investigation into the ABC show The View, which interviewed Talarico on 2 February, for a possible violation of the equal time rule imposed by the Communications Act of 1934.

The FCC has traditionally acknowledged a bona fide exemption for news interviews, but Carr decreed in January that the commission would no longer do so for talkshows, arguing that broadcast television stations have an obligation to operate in the public interest  not in any narrow partisan, political interest.

Colbert took exception to that interpretation on Monday, telling his audience: Sir, youre chair of the FCC, so FCC you. I think you are motivated by partisan purposes yourself.

Talarico, in the interview posted online, suggested the reported intervention by the FCC was prompted by Trumps plunging popularity ratings, and the alleged subservience of CBS to the Republican presidents administration. The network paid Trump a $16m defamation settlement last July.

I think that Donald Trump is worried that were about to flip Texas, he said. This is the party that ran against cancel culture, and now theyre trying to control what we watch, what we say, what we read, he said.

Corporate media executives are selling out the first amendment to curry favor with corrupt politicians.

Talarico is in a tight race with Jasmine Crockett, a fellow Texas representative, for the Democratic nomination to challenge Cornyn in the November 3 election.

- The Guardian
Envoys from Moscow and Kyiv have met in Geneva for a second consecutive day of US-brokered talks.

Consultations are taking place in working groups by areas within the political and military tracks, the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, wrote in English on X. We are working on clarifying the parameters and mechanisms of the decisions discussed yesterday.

The negotiations in Switzerland are the third round of direct talks organised by the US after meetings earlier this year in Abu Dhabi that officials described as constructive but yielded no breakthrough.

In Geneva, the second day of trilateral negotiations has begun.



Consultations are taking place in working groups by areas within the political and military tracks. We are working on clarifying the parameters and mechanisms of the decisions discussed yesterday.



We are focused on  Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) February 18, 2026

US President Donald Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on social media that Washingtons push for peace in Ukraine over the past year has brought about meaningful progress. He did not elaborate, and the fighting has continued.

The two armies are locked in battle on the roughly 750-mile front line, while Russia bombards civilian areas of Ukraine. Overnight, Russia launched one ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said.

A Russian drone strike in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia killed a woman and injured seven people, including two small children, according to regional military administration chief Ivan Fedorov.

Russia and Ukraine appear to still be far apart on their demands for a peace settlement.

Ukrainian soldiers ahead of assignments on the frontline near Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region (Iryna Rybakova/Ukraines 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered a ceasefire and a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. But Moscow wants a comprehensive agreement before committing to a truce.

Mr Putins key goals remain what he declared when Russia invaded its neighbour on February 24, 2022, that Ukraine must renounce joining Nato, sharply reduce the size of its army and protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscows orbit.

Additionally, Mr Putin wants Kyiv to withdraw its forces from the four regions Moscow has occupied but does not fully control.

Mr Zelensky says Ukraine will not surrender land to Russia.
French police investigating the beating of a far-right militant who died of brain injuries have arrested 11 people, prosecutors said, in a case adding fuel to long-standing divides in French politics ahead of presidential elections in 2027.

Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old student described as a fervent nationalist, died in hospital on Saturday.

He was beaten two days earlier by a group of people in the city of Lyon, in fighting that erupted between far-left and far-right supporters on the margins of a student meeting where a far-left legislator, Rima Hassan, was a keynote speaker.

A post-mortem examination found that Mr Deranque suffered a fractured skull and fatal brain injuries, according to Lyons prosecutor Thierry Dran.

He launched the police investigation for homicide and other potential criminal charges.

Mr Drans office said police detained a man and a woman on Wednesday morning, with nine other people taken into custody on Tuesday night.

Ms Hassan, a French-Palestinian who was born in a Syrian refugee camp, is a European Parliament legislator for the far-left France Unbowed party.

In a post on X after the attack on Mr Deranque but before he died of his injuries, Ms Hassan expressed horror over the violence and condemned it.

Mr Deranques death triggered a storm of recriminations, mostly targeting France Unbowed.

Its opponents accuse it of fuelling violence and tensions with its combative politics.

The party is led by veteran hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, a former Trotskyist who stood for the presidency in 2012, 2017 and 2022 and failed to advance to the decisive run-off round.

He is preparing for another expected run next year, when President Emmanuel Macrons second and last term ends.

Mr Melenchon insisted on Tuesday that France Unbowed bore no blame for the tragedy in Lyon, saying: We have absolutely nothing to do, either directly or indirectly, with the death of this young Deranque. Violence has long been a feature of Frances long history of political upheaval, including during so-called yellow vest anti-government protests in 2019 that saw months of rioting and clashes with police during Mr Macrons first term.

Frances broad political spectrum has long included far-left and far-right factions that harbour intense, sometimes violent disregard for each other, although deaths in clashes between them have been rare in recent decades.
Donald Trump has urged Keir Starmer not to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a day after the US said it approved of the deal.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president said Starmer would be making a big mistake if he proceeded with plans to hand over the islands  which are home to a joint US-UK military base.
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( Middle East Monitor )  The revelations by +972 Magazine and Local Call have exposed the darkest core of the contemporary war in Gaza, in which genocide is carried out not only by bombs and missiles, but by data, algorithms and global digital platforms.

The Israeli artificial intelligence system known as Lavender has confirmed what the Palestinian resistance, Lebanon, and Iran have denounced for years: Technology as an organic part of the Zionist war machine, functioning as an instrument of surveillance, target selection, and mass extermination.

The liberal rhetoric of digital privacy collapses in the face of the facts. Applications such as WhatsApp insist on the promise of end-to-end encryption, but conceal what is essential, in which metadata are worth more than messages.

Location, contact networks, patterns of communication, and group affiliations make it possible to map the social life of an entire people. In Gaza, these data have been incorporated into military systems that turn human relationships into algorithmic criteria for death.

Lavender assessed virtually the entire population of the Gaza Strip, comprising more than 2.3 million people, assigning automated risk scores. Merely being in a WhatsApp group, maintaining frequent contact with someone already marked, or displaying digital patterns considered suspicious was enough to be placed on execution lists.

Human supervision was deliberately minimal, reduced to seconds, with conscious acceptance of high error rates. Entire families were killed in their homes, treated as acceptable collateral damage in an algorithmic equation that normalises massacre.

This is not a technical deviation. It is a policy of extermination. International Humanitarian Law explicitly prohibits indiscriminate attacks and requires distinction between civilians and combatants.

Systems that automate lethal decisions, pre-accepting the death of innocents, constitute crimes against humanity and reinforce the characterisation of genocide as a technologically organised and rationalised process.

The machinery that sustains this model is global. Twenty-first century espionage no longer depends on intercepting messages, but on controlling digital ecosystems.

Private platforms function as permanent sensors of planetary social life, feeding databases accessible to intelligence services such as the Mossad and the CIA, through formal cooperation, legal pressure or the exploitation of vulnerabilities. This represents a structural convergence between big tech companies, the military-industrial complex and the imperial security apparatus.

Palestine is the laboratory. In an official statement released during the war, Hamas stated on its Telegram channel that the occupier has turned every modern tool into a weapon against the Palestinian people, using technology to justify the killing of civilians and to conceal genocide behind technical terms

(free translation). The denunciation is clear: Israel is not waging a war against combatants, but against Palestinian existence itself, now mediated by algorithms.

Lebanese Hezbollah has warned that this model forms part of a regional hybrid war, combining digital surveillance, technological sabotage, and selective attacks.

After the attack that occurred in Lebanon in 2024, involving the coordinated explosion of pagers used by its members, Hezbollah declared through institutional channels that the enemy has turned civilian devices into tools of assassination, proving that its war knows no ethical or human limits (free translation). The episode revealed a new level in the weaponisation of everyday technology.

This pattern is not isolated. International investigations have already demonstrated the recurring use of military spyware against journalists, activists, and political leaders in various countries, often through smartphones widely available on the global market.

The message is unequivocal: every connected device is a potential instrument of surveillance, control, or death when inserted into the logic of imperial power.

Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been particularly outspoken. The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has stated in various speeches that the Zionist regime is a cancerous tumour that uses the most modern tools to oppress and massacre peoples.

Iranian authorities maintain that Gaza foreshadows the future of imperial domination, in a world governed by algorithmic surveillance, selective assassinations, and clean wars only in rhetoric.



Photo of quadricopter by Michal Vrba on Unsplash

The Lavender case thus exposes the consolidation of a digital necropolitics. Algorithms decide who lives and who dies; corporations provide the infrastructure; intelligence services operate in the shadows; and technocratic language seeks to normalise the unacceptable. Gaza bleeds so that this model may be tested, refined, and then exported.

Denouncing this machinery is a historic task. It is not merely a matter of solidarity with the Palestinian people, although that solidarity is urgent and non-negotiable.

It is about resisting a world in which data are worth more than lives, in which technology serves colonialism, and in which genocide is presented as an algorithmic decision. Today it is Gaza. Tomorrow, any people who dare to resist.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Via Middle East Monitor






Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Actress and media personality, Wilbroda Nyaminde, has stirred online reactions after suggesting a simple way men can tell if a child is theirs without spending money on DNA tests.

Speaking on her radio show, the mother of one claimed: If you come home from work every day and your wife keeps introducing your child to you saying, Ona Daddy salimia Daddy Daddy ndiyo huyu, just know that child is not yours.

While in jest, her remarks come amid growing conversations around paternity in Kenya.

Most men, experts say, are unknowingly raising children they did not sire.

This has fueled a rising insistence on DNA testing as the ultimate proof of fatherhood.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Another Kenyan woman has come forward to share her unsettling experience with the notorious Russian tourist accused of recording intimate encounters with local women and leaking the videos online.

Speaking candidly in an interview with a local podcaster, the woman revealed that she first met the man in Ruaka, Nairobi, where he casually handed her his phone number.

A few days later, she reached out via text - a decision that quickly spiraled into a disturbing ordeal.

According to her account, the tourist pressured her into video calling him unclothed.

Shockingly, he later sent her Ksh 1,000 as a form of reward.

She clarified that she never met him physically, but their virtual interactions escalated, with the man persistently urging her to perform outrageous acts on camera.

Her story adds to the growing list of victims, as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has officially launched a probe into the scandal.

In a strongly worded statement, the DCI condemned the alleged acts:

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has noted with grave concern the alleged non-consensual recording and subsequent circulation of intimate videos involving Kenyan women by a suspected Russian national.

The DCI strongly condemns these reported acts, which constitute serious violations of privacy, personal dignity, and the rights of victims as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya.

Watch the video>>> below.

A victim of Russian guy explains how she met the guy pic.twitter.com/k4tHnVRCXO  Boniface (@kilundeezy) February 17, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, has hit out at Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, questioning his record at the helm of the capital.

The vocal MP, known for his sharp tongue, dismissed Sakajas leadership style, insisting that running Nairobi requires more than charm.

I want to tell Nairobians never to put their trust in such a born incompetent Governor.

This time round, Nairobi will not reason with dimples; we will reason with brains.

It will be dimples vs brains and its up to you to choose what will salvage you from the shackles of unemployment within Nairobi, Babu declared during a press conference on Wednesday, February 18th, 2026.

The remarks come as Babu positions himself for a political showdown against Sakaja, who has already signaled his intention to defend his seat in the 2027 elections.

Owino accused the Governor of leaving Nairobi worse than he found it, branding him incompetent and alleging that recent agreements with the national Government are a cover for corruption.

Just a day earlier, Sakaja joined President William Ruto at State House to sign a cooperation deal worth Ksh 80 billion.

The agreement promises improved roads, housing, waste management, water and sanitation, street lighting, and public safety.

The cooperation Agreement does not transfer county functions nor weaken devolution.

Instead, in the true spirit of devolution, it is a lawful statutory collaboration expressly anchored on Section 6 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, Sakaja explained.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has revealed fresh details about the upcoming Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit (NMPU), following Governor Sakajas deal with President Ruto.

Speaking at a press briefing in Nakuru, Murkomen explained that the new unit, born out of the Nairobi County-National Government cooperation deal, will serve as a model for other major cities including Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret and Nakuru, as well as emerging urban centres.

What we will do in Nairobi will become the prototype that we will apply in all the other four cities in the country and other upcoming urban areas, he stated.

The CS noted that the design draws on comparative studies of policing systems in global cities, incorporating best practices and research insights.

He confirmed plans to integrate Nairobis business community into the initiative, with private CCTV systems linked to police networks.

We want to ensure that their CCTV systems are interoperable with the police one so that it is quick to carry out investigations, Murkomen said.

The Government is also upgrading Nairobis surveillance infrastructure from NC3 to NC4, expanding its analytical reach.

Artificial Intelligence will be central to the system, helping officers identify crime patterns and enabling targeted interventions.

Murkomen emphasized that the NMPU will address unique urban security challenges requiring specialized responses.

Once tested in Nairobi, the model will be replicated nationwide.

The unit was formally proposed on February 17th during the signing of a cooperation agreement between the county and national governments.

President William Ruto, who presided over the event, gave Murkomen a 60day deadline to present a full operational framework.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - ODM party leader, Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga, has unexpectedly become the internets latest meme sensation, with TikTokers having a field day at his expense.

Netizens are remixing his fiery speeches into hilarious viral content, cementing his place as Kenyas most memeable politician of the moment.

The latest wave of jokes was sparked by Oburus rally in Mombasa at Tononoka grounds, where he passionately declared that ODM intends to take power in 2027.

That soundbite - we must take power - has since been turned into a trending audio track across TikTok.

In one standout clip, a creative TikToker films himself struggling to lift impossibly heavy weights at the gym.

Just as he nearly topples over, Oburus booming voice plays in the background, turning the workout fail into a comic metaphor for political ambition.

This meme frenzy comes at a time when the Government is actively debating whether to ban TikTok in Kenya.

Watch the video>>> below.

no wonder they want to ban tiktok pic.twitter.com/9FO4oaQJPe  Ohta Ryota  (@Ohta_Ryota) February 18, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Residents of Ebukhando wa Ngapi village in Luanda Subcounty, Vihiga County, are reeling in shock after a young man fatally attacked his stepfather during a dispute over land.

According to the areas Senior Assistant Chief, Madam Grace Adino, the incident occurred on the morning of Wednesday, February 18th, 2026.

The deceased, Jackton Khukuli, reportedly tried to stop the suspect from pruning a tree along their land boundary.

When asked to stop, the young man instead came down and struck his stepfather three times with a panga, killing him on the spot, Adino explained.

The brutal attack left Khukuli with deep head injuries, causing excessive bleeding and instant death.

Witnesses say the suspect attempted to flee but was quickly cornered by irate villagers who tied him to the body of the deceased and subjected him to mob justice.

Police officers from Luanda Police Station later arrived, rescuing the suspect from the lynching mob before arresting him.

The body was transferred to the Coptic Mortuary, while the suspect remains in custody.

The incident has sparked conversations about the dangers of unresolved land disputes, with Chief Adino urging residents to clearly mark their plot boundaries to prevent similar tragedies.

Let us have clear boundary demarcations of our plots to prevent conflicts, she advised.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Russian authorities have admitted that they cannot confirm the identity or nationality of the man at the centre of the viral TikTok videos featuring intimate encounters with women from Ghana and Kenya.

The revelation has added a dramatic twist to a scandal that has dominated online conversations.

On Tuesday, February 17th, Ghanas Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed that the Russian Ambassador to Ghana, Sergei Berdnikov, had been summoned over the matter.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ghana, His Excellency Sergei Berdnikov was summoned today over the conduct of a supposed Russian national in unlawfully publishing sexually explicit images of Ghanaian women without their consent, the statement read.

Ambassador Berdnikov acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, noting its wider implications.

Ambassador Sergei Berdnikov acknowledged the violation of the privacy and dignity of the victims, and the larger cybercrime dimensions, while expressing the willingness of the Russian Federation to cooperate with the Republic of Ghana on the matter in issue, the statement added.

However, the situation grew more complex when Berdnikov revealed that Russian authorities could not verify the suspects true identity.

The Russian Ambassador indicated that he is unable to confirm the nationality of the individual and further disclosed that the purported name making the rounds in the media is not a known Russian name and rather represents an inappropriate or vulgar expression in the Russian language.

Despite the uncertainty, the Russian Embassy pledged support for Ghanas investigations.

Ablakwa confirmed, Ambassador Sergei Berdnikov has pledged that the Embassy in Ghana is willing to share information despite the absence of a legally binding extradition treaty.

Meanwhile, Kenyas Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has condemned the alleged nonconsensual recordings involving Kenyan women, calling them grave violations of privacy and dignity.

The agency confirmed that specialized cybercrime units are investigating, with international cooperation already underway.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Shocking allegations have emerged against the Russian tourist accused of secretly filming intimate encounters with Kenyan women and leaking the footage online.

The Russian man lured women to his apartment, where he allegedly used smart glasses to record their private moments without consent.

The leaked clips have sparked outrage across social media, with many condemning the blatant violation of privacy.

The Director of Criminal Investigations has since launched a probe into the matter, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations.

Adding fuel to the fire, speculation now swirls that the tourist may have been carrying a s3xually transmitted infection (STI).

In several videos, he appears to scratch his groin repeatedly, fueling fears of possible exposure.

All women who may have interacted with him have been urged to seek immediate medical attention as a precautionary measure.

Watch the video>>> below.

The Russian surely had STI.

See how he kept scratching his crotch everytime? pic.twitter.com/GvTNzrel0P  Omosh (@omondike_) February 17, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST
THE IRISH Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has suspended its industrial action in Naas General Hospital after securing a total of 90 posts in the hospital.

Nurses at Naas General Hospital took industrial action in the form of a work-to-rule last week after the HSE failed to fill maternity-leave vacancies, as well as to increase staffing to meet an over 25% increase in Emergency Department attendance at the hospital in the past three years.

Lunchtime protests at the hospital took place on Monday, 9 February and Friday, 13 February, attended by nurses and INMO representatives.

Nurses described working well beyond their contracted duties on a daily basis, performing unrelated administrative work and working longer than their contracted hours.

Aine Julian, a clinical nurse manager with more than 20 years experience at the hospital, said conditions had deteriorated significantly in recent months.

She described patients being placed in unsuitable areas due to overcrowding, including family day rooms converted into makeshift wards.

Weve had day rooms where couches and tables were pulled out and three patients put in there, she said. There are no call bells and no facilities for patients to wash their hands. Its appalling.

Aine said wards designed for 31 patients were now accommodating up to 36 without additional nursing staff.

We pride ourselves on delivering excellent nursing care, but its very hard when youre stretched to the limit and more is asked of you every day, she said.

Patient care remains our priority, she said, but were propping up the system, and there has to be an end to that.

She also pointed to rapid population growth across Kildare, which is increasing demand on the hospital.

We have an expanding Kildare area with a lot of people who are moving out of Dublin into Sallins and Clane, and theyre looking to access the hospital as well. But theres no forward thinking, theres no planning into increasing the capacity inside.

INMO Industrial Relations Officer, Karen McCann, said: The HSE is basically run on the goodwill of nurses, coming in early, finishing late, not getting their breaks. This action brings them back to what they should be doing.

What were looking for is for staffing deficits to be addressed and for any expansion of services to be paused until those deficits are resolved, she said.

The goal is to make Naas General Hospital a safe place for staff and patients.

Ms McCann added that frustration among staff had built over several years without progress.

They didnt take this decision lightly, she said. Theyre burnt out and feel they havent been heard, but they are united and will continue until a solution is reached.

A spokesperson from HSE Dublin and Midlands said: The HSE fully recognises and sincerely appreciates the continued professionalism, flexibility and commitment shown by staff at Naas General Hospital.

After the lunchtime protest on Friday 13 February, the INMO announced that it had suspended its work-to-rule following lengthy negotiations this week with management. An INMO spokesperson said: The INMO has secured the immediate backfilled of 60 vacant nursing posts. These offers will come from existing panels.

The union has also secured an additional thirty new posts to cover additional services.

A full review of all nurse staffing will begin at the hospital this week against the safe staffing framework.

The nurses in Naas General Hospital appreciate the immense amount of support they received from the public in Naas and the wider Kildare area this week, particularly during lunch time protests.

The dispute committee at Naas General Hospital have recommended that members are balloted on proposals next week.
Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) have lodged a fresh planning application to Kilkenny County Council for design amendments to a development previously granted planning permission at the former Bank of Ireland building, Market Street, Thomastown.

The previously approved demolition of two existing single-storey structures is no longer proposed; instead, these buildings are proposed to be retained and reused to accommodate the storage, preparation and processing of ceramics-related materials.

READ NEXT: Green light for major development at key site in Kilkenny City

The previously permitted pitched-roof structure and covered walkway are proposed to be amended to a lightweight timber-framed covered walkway connecting the outbuildings and the existing vehicular entrance on Marshs Street.

A new pedestrian entrance and path is also proposed from the rear public carpark to the building.

Decision due from Kilkenny County Council by April 8.

READ NEXT: The keys to eleven new Kilkenny apartments are handed over in housing boost

Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) have stated previosuly that the prior granting of planning permission for the redevelopment of the former Bank of Ireland building in Thomastown into a ceramics school is a 'significant milestone'.

"This allows the ceramics school to move forward, which will host the DCCI Academy, in partnership with Atlantic Technological University (ATU)," a DCCI spokesperson said.

Originally scheduled to commence in September 2025, the plans to deliver the new course faced unforeseen delays due to issues with the building planning permission application and process.

Speaking on the announcement, Mary Blanchfield, Interim CEO of DCCI, described it as an exciting moment for design and craft education in Ireland.

READ NEXT: Residents frustrated over consultation as Kilkenny housing development progresses

"The Thomastown Ceramics School will be a hub of creativity and innovation, providing students with world-class training in a historically significant building," she said.

"We are grateful for the communitys patience and support as we progressed through the planning phase."

Dr Paddy Tobin, Head of School of Design & Creative Arts at ATU commented that ATU are delighted to continue their strong partnership with DCCI in delivering exceptional higher education in craft and design.

"The new ceramics school in Thomastown represents a major investment in the future of Irelands creative industries and in practice-based educational provision," he said.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
For generations the Ranchers Return, also known locally as the Village Well, has occupied a central place in the life of Coon in North Kilkenny.

More than just a public house, it has long served as a gathering point for neighbours, a venue for stories and music and a hub where the community can put the worlds wrongs to right.

Established in the mid-1850s, the pub has long been part of the fabric of the community, passing through generations of families and patrons alike.

Much to the communitys disappointment it doors closed for two years in the mid-2000s before reopening and re-establishing its place in the heart of the area.

READ NEXT: 'Incredibly proud' - Kilkenny athlete recognised after year of remarkable success

However, its future now hangs in the balance again, with the previous proprietors making the difficult decision to put the business on the market after many years behind the bar.

In an attempt to secure its future and with the support of the previous ownership, a number of parishioners have stood up to the mark and are leading the charge to keep the much loved local alive, hosting community meetings and co-ordinating a bid to place the pubs future in the hands of the community.

But is it almost time for last orders and farewells, or the start of a new chapter yet to be written?

The answer to that question is very much dependent on how many people take up confidential shares.

Community shares are available at 2,500 per share, but families/groups can also donate whatever they can.

The target is to raise 350,000 to make the dream a reality and ultimately save a vital community resource.

Each contribution of 2,500 will be split into 2,499 which will be classified as a 0% loan via a loan agreement with the limited company and 1 as a purchased share.

In a warm and friendly atmosphere under the care of barman Joe Fenlon, members of the community initiative expressed their firm desire to keep the jewel in the villages crown shining when speaking to the Kilkenny People.

Phil Shore has lived in Coon all his life, and still remembers Sunday mornings in the 1950s when the whole community came together and the village felt like one family.

"Theres something different about this place," he said. "Rural pubs are all on a downward curve and thats the big challenge for the committee here but I know it will work because were in Coon."

Gerald Flynns relationship with the community is more recent but no less emotive.

"Im living here now 22 years, and it is the hub of the community for parties, anniversary masses, 21sts, pool tournaments and so much more," he said.

"Were going to run it for the community. We have a million and one ideas as a committee," he added, noting it will be a place where drinkers and non-drinkers can come together.

"Without it (the pub), I think wed be lost here," he continued.

READ MORE: Kilkenny GAA and gardai release statement in wake of fence collapse in UPMC Nowlan Park

"Weve lots of people that are retired living around the area that come down here to meet. Its a social thing. Its the hub of the community, Gerald added, noting the successful developments within the village, ranging from the state of the art GAA pitch in the village to the playground, which wouldnt be possible without their base within the pub.

"We all know the isolation thats in rural Ireland and the pressure people are under," fellow member of the initiative, Brendan Healy added.

"It was hard to get people to come out after the pandemic. People got institutionalised so it was places like this that brought people back to the community.

"If you look around the bar, theres obviously people having a few pints but theres a lot of people here who are not and are drinking minerals or tea or coffee. Its not about drink, its about coming down and having the fun," Brendan commented.

"Its not about our generation. This is actually future-proofing for generations to come."

Local representative, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick commended the groups efforts, stating, "Its the hub. Lets not let it deteriorate. Its critical we hold on to this resource."

FOR MORE KILKENNY COMMUNITY NEWS, CLICK HERE
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US Congressman LaHood Urges Presidential Action to Support Assyrians

Darin LaHood. Washington -- A senior Republican lawmaker is calling on President Donald J. Trump to prioritize the rights and political future of Iraq's Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Christians, framing the issue as both a moral imperative and a strategic U.S. interest in the Middle East.

In a February 16 letter, Rep. Darin LaHood, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, urged the White House to press both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government to fully implement long-ignored constitutional protections for Iraq's indigenous Christian population.

LaHood, who represents a district with a significant Chaldean Syriac Assyrian constituency, described the community as "a tremendous asset to the United States," emphasizing their significance. He credited Trump's leadership with drawing historic attention to the persecution of Middle Eastern Christians and argued that renewed U.S. engagement could help reverse the demographic collapse of Iraq's Christian population.

Article 125 and Unfulfilled Guarantees

Central to the congressman's appeal is Article 125 of Iraq's Constitution, which guarantees administrative, political, and cultural rights to the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian people. According to LaHood, those protections have gone largely unimplemented for nearly two decades. LaHood's letter follows strong advocacy for Article 125 by the Chaldean Community Foundation, the Assyrian American National Federation, Vote Assyrian, and the Assyrian American Chamber of Commerce.

The Congressman noted that the United States played a central role in shaping Iraq's post-2003 constitutional order. For that reason, LaHood contends, Washington has both leverage and responsibility to ensure that constitutional commitments are honored. Rather than calling for new legislation, he recommends that U.S. officials press Iraqi and Kurdish authorities to enforce existing law, a move he argues would strengthen security, stability, and economic viability in Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Christian areas without reopening complex political negotiations.

He also calls for the restoration of electoral quota protections and diaspora voting mechanisms for Christian minorities. Such measures, he argues, would not only reinforce Iraq's fragile democratic framework but also help stem the steady emigration that has hollowed out historic Christian communities across the Nineveh Plain and beyond.

Soft Power and Political Legitimacy

Beyond constitutional enforcement, the letter urges renewed U.S. support for what LaHood describes as "legitimate and vetted grassroots political organizations" within the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian community. Recognition of authentic local leadership by both Baghdad and Erbil, he suggests, would strengthen U.S. influence through soft power while empowering partners aligned with American interests.

The appeal reflects longstanding concerns among Assyrian advocates that externally backed militias, patronage networks, and factional politics have distorted minority representation in Iraq. By encouraging direct engagement with community-based actors, LaHood signals a preference for bottom-up stabilization over reliance on dominant regional power brokers.

Economic Discrimination and Emigration

The letter also highlights economic grievances. LaHood points to discriminatory restrictions, barriers to public-sector employment, and measures that disproportionately affect Christian livelihoods. These constraints, he argues, have accelerated emigration and undermined the long-term survival of one of the Middle East's oldest continuous Christian populations.

Addressing such inequities, he writes, should be part of ongoing diplomatic conversations between Washington and Baghdad. The strategic rationale is clear: preserving a "loyal, pro-American population in a volatile region" aligns with broader U.S. security objectives.

A Test of U.S. Commitment

The letter was also copied to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscoring the expectation that the State Department play a direct role in advancing these priorities.

For Assyrian Christians in Iraq and the diaspora, the appeal represents a renewed effort to anchor their survival not only in appeals to history or humanitarian concern, but in the language of constitutional enforcement and American strategic interest.

As Iraq continues to navigate political fragmentation and regional pressures from Tehran and Ankara, the question remains whether Washington will translate rhetorical support for persecuted Christians into sustained diplomatic leverage and whether Baghdad and Erbil are prepared to honor the constitutional commitments that have, until now, remained largely aspirational.

Chaldean Syriac Assyrian organizations across the United States have intensified their coordination, committing to a more deliberate and unified strategy to advance the security, rights, and long-term viability of their community in Iraq and throughout the broader Middle East. For too long, they assert, Christians of the Middle East, including their ethnic and cultural value, have been ignored.

"Iraq without our community cannot be a viable state," an activist stated, "For millennia, we have contributed to its cultural depth, economic vitality, and pluralistic fabric. We stand ready to help build a stable, prosperous, and unified country. But that future depends on the recognition and enforcement of our collective rights. We have waited far too long for promises to be honored."
By Mata Press Service

Canadians are waiting significantly longer than patients in peer countries to access new prescription medicines, according to a major comparative study released this month, raising fresh concerns about how federal drug approval policies are shaping health outcomes.

The study, Timely Access to New Pharmaceuticals in Canada, released by the Fraser Institute, finds that Canadian patients waited an average of more than 90 weeks longer than Americans and 65 weeks longer than Europeans to gain access to new drugs approved between 2019 and 2025 .

The delays apply to medicines already deemed safe and effective by regulators in the United States and European Union, including treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and rare disorders.

The report examined 196 new drugs approved by Health Canada over the six-year period and compared their approval timelines with those of the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. Of the drugs approved in Canada, nearly all had already been approved in the U.S., and almost 90 percent had been approved in Europe, often years earlier

The most striking finding was not just the length of the delay, but where it occurred. While Health Canadas review process was found to be somewhat slower than the FDAs and faster than the EMAs, the dominant factor was late submission. Pharmaceutical companies typically filed applications in Canada hundreds of days after submitting the same drugs in the U.S. or EU, pushing Canadian access further down the line

On average, drugs were submitted to U.S. regulators 586 days earlier than to Health Canada, while European submissions preceded Canadian ones by 501 days, according to the studys analysis of submission and approval dates.

By the time approvals were finalized, the cumulative delay left Canadian patients waiting close to two years longer in many cases.

Kristina Acri, a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and lead author of the study, said the findings point to structural issues in Canadas pharmaceutical policy framework rather than isolated administrative bottlenecks. In some cases, pharmaceutical companies will wait up to a year after a drug has been approved in the U.S. or Europe before submitting that same drug for approval in Canada, Acri said in the institutes news release.

The study suggests several factors may be discouraging earlier submissions to Health Canada, including Canadas smaller market size, federal price controls, reimbursement uncertainty, and weaker intellectual property protections compared to other jurisdictions. Together, those conditions may reduce the commercial incentive for manufacturers to prioritize Canada when launching new therapies.

The impact is not limited to delays alone. The researchers also identified 145 drugs approved in the U.S. or Europe between 2019 and 2025 that were not approved in Canada at all during the study period. In most cases, those drugs were never submitted to Health Canada, meaning Canadian patients had no access regardless of medical need.

Many of the missing therapies fall into high-impact categories such as oncology and immunology. Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents accounted for the largest share of drugs approved abroad but unavailable in Canada, underscoring the potential clinical consequences of delayed or absent access for patients with serious and life-threatening conditions

The study also found that priority medicines did not escape the pattern. Drugs given expedited or conditional review status in Canada still reached U.S. and European patients far sooner. For priority drugs, FDA approvals occurred an average of 659 days earlier than Health Canada approvals, while EMA approvals preceded Canadian ones by 640 days

While Health Canada has made incremental gains in review efficiency relative to Europe, the report concludes that these improvements are outweighed by late submissions and duplicative regulatory requirements. Canada independently reassesses drugs already vetted by trusted regulators using similar scientific standards, a process the authors argue adds time without meaningfully improving safety outcomes

The Fraser Institute study renews calls for Canada to consider mutual recognition agreements with the U.S. and EU, allowing approvals by the FDA or EMA to serve as sufficient grounds for market access in Canada, while preserving Health Canadas authority over post-market surveillance and safety warnings. Such agreements, the authors argue, could accelerate access without compromising patient safety.

Beyond patient outcomes, the report warns of broader system-level costs. Delayed access to newer medicines has been linked in prior research to higher hospitalization rates, lower treatment adherence, and increased long-term health-care spending. The study cites evidence showing that newer vintage drugs are associated with longer life expectancy, fewer adverse effects, and improved quality of life.

Canadas aging population and rising burden of chronic disease only heighten the stakes, the authors argue. As demand for advanced therapies grows, delays in access risk widening health disparities between Canadian patients and those in comparable high-income countries.

Innovative medicines can have a profound impact on health and wellbeing, Acri said. Unfortunately, Canadians are often denied these benefits for months, if not years, waiting for government to approve drugs already available elsewhere .

The findings arrive amid ongoing federal debates over drug pricing reforms and pharmacare expansion, adding pressure on policymakers to balance cost containment with timely access. The study cautions that without changes to regulatory and market conditions, Canada may continue to fall behind its peers in introducing new treatments, regardless of downstream coverage decisions.

By the Numbers

90+ weeks

Average delay for Canadian patients compared with the United States for access to new medicines approved between 2019 and 2025.

65+ weeks

Average delay compared with Europe for the same drugs and period.

194 drugs

Approved in both Canada and the U.S.; U.S. approval came 636 days earlier on average.

174 drugs

Approved in both Canada and the EU; EU approval came 459 days earlier on average.

586 days

Average gap between U.S. and Canadian submission dates, showing drugs are filed far later in Canada.

501 days

Average gap between EU and Canadian submission dates.

145 drugs

Approved in the U.S. and/or EU between 2019 and 2025 that were not approved in Canada at all during the study period.
Film director Micah Lyons and his family pose for a photo in the Lyons Family Studios building in downtown Longview on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Jordan Green/Longview News-Journal Photo)
Built in China, branded in Spain, and priced under 4,000 euros, the Leonart Racer 300 dares you to take the gamble.

Leonart Motors is a Spanish motorcycle brand, but lets be clear about what that means. They dont cast engines in Barcelona or hand-weld frames in some sunlit Mediterranean workshop. Like a lot of small European labels, Leonart designs and specifies its bikes in Spain, then has them built in China and sold under its own badge across Europe.

Its closer to a curated rebadge operation than a ground-up manufacturer. And that context matters when youre looking at something like the Racer 300. That doesnt automatically make it junk. It just frames the conversation properly.

Because the Racer 300 isnt pretending to be a heritage machine. Its a 292cc liquid-cooled single cylinder making about 28 horsepower, paired to a six-speed gearbox, wrapped in a steel tubular frame. It weighs roughly 331 pounds dry and carries a 17-liter tank. Claimed fuel economy hovers around 78 miles per gallon. On paper, thats solid commuter math.

Leonart Racer 300 - Profile

The styling is where it gets interesting. It stands tall and upright like a small adventure bike, but it rolls on 17-inch wheels front and rear, which tells you its really road-focused. Upside-down forks up front. A rear mono shock. Single disc brakes with ABS. Full LED lighting. A 5-inch TFT dash with USB charging. It reads like a spec sheet lifted straight out of the modern Chinese mid-capacity playbook.

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And thats because it basically is.

The difference is the price. At 3,999 (roughly $4,300 USD at current exchange rates), it's far from premium money. It's affordable enough that a kid saving his money working odd jobs might actually be able to afford it. In some markets, thats barely more than a high spec 125. In others, its cheaper than a decent used Japanese 300.

Leonart Racer 300 - Headlight

Leonart Racer 300 - TFT

Photos by: Leonart Motors

So heres the real question. If you know going in that this is a Spanish-branded, Chinese-built machine without decades of in-house engineering pedigree behind it, is four grand disposable enough to take the gamble?

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For a new rider, it might be. Youre getting a full-sized motorcycle with highway capability, modern electronics, and respectable range for the price of a decent laptop and a few monthly payments on a bigger bike. It feels substantial without being intimidating. For an experienced rider, it could be a beater commuter, city runabout, or something you simply dont obsess over every time it gets dinged or scratched or dropped.

Leonart Racer 300 - Engine

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That being said, trust is the wildcard here. Obviously, Leonart doesnt have Hondas global support network. It doesnt have Yamahas bulletproof reputation. Parts availability and dealer strength will vary by country. But the broader reality is that Chinese manufacturing in 2026 isnt the same story it was in 2008. Plenty of major brands now rely on similar supply chains, just with more marketing polish.

So no, the Racer 300 isnt some hidden European gem. Its a globally sourced, aggressively priced motorcycle wearing a Spanish badge. The only thing that really matters is whether 3,999 euros feels like money youre willing to risk in exchange for getting into a real motorcycle without overthinking it.

For some people, that number makes the whole conversation possible.

Ballin' On A Budget





Source: Leonart Motors
Syndication: Asbury Park Press

On Tuesday, Netflix agreed to allow Warner Bros. Discovery to enter a seven-day negotiating period with Paramount whereby the two sides can discuss a potential offer that would usurp the deal Netflix currently has in place with the storied Hollywood studio.

But dont let that decision fool you. Netflix still believes it has the best offer now, and will have the best offer once the one-week period concludes. The streaming giant asserts that allowing Paramount and WBD to engage formally will allow WBD thwart a hostile takeover bid once and for all, essentially calling Paramounts bluff that their best and final offer will not be superior to its own.

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos perhaps went even further during an interview with CNBC on Tuesday. Sarandos said Paramount is flooding the zone with misinformation, creating a bunch of what-ifs and scenarios that are very wild

The Netflix CEO is likely referring to the effort from Paramount to cast doubt over Netflixs ability to get a deal through the Trump administration. Instead, Sarandos believes Paramount should put their money where their mouth is and simply raise its offer. The most likely outcome is, theres no adjustment [to Paramounts deal] at all.

Thats not entirely true, though it may be functionally true by the end of the one-week period. Paramount has reportedly offered to raise its bid by $1 per share, from $30 to $31, simply for reengaging. However, that might not be enough to convince the WBD board to seriously consider Paramounts offer, which would see the company take on enormous debt, to the relative stability Netflixs offer provides.

Sarandos also directly addressed Paramounts claims that the Netflix deal would face more regulatory uncertainty than its own.

[Paramount] does not have a faster regulatory path. I dont know why [Paramount owner David Ellison] would insinuate they have some inside track in the Department of Justice, but I can assure you they dont, and that, and in terms of our regulatory in Europe and around the world, we are known entities and trusted entities with all the players in Europe, Sarandos said. And, in fact, our deal, by not acquiring Discovery Global, we dont disrupt the European broadcast system at all.

Its true that David Ellison has been on a mission to spin the narrative in his favor ever since the WBD board opted to accept Netflixs offer late last year. But ever since Paramount began angling for a hostile takeover, the company has only taken half-measures to sweeten its bid. So far, Paramount hasnt formally offered a deal with a higher price per share.

Now, its put up or shut up time for David Ellison. Will Paramount put out a bid that the WBD board has to seriously consider? Or will it be more smoke and mirrors to mask what might already be the highest Paramount is willing to go?
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A Laois councillor wants the plan for an underground carpark in Lyster Square in Portlaoise to push ahead.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan of the Portlaoise Municipal District, says plans must start now, as his town continues to rapidly grow.

"It's pretty obvious to us all, parking in Portlaoise is one of our top issues, if not the most important. People are avoiding Main Street because of the lack of parking. They are potentially reducing James Fintan Lalor Avenue to two lanes, rezoning land an adding another 5,000 dwellings. We will have a much bigger demand in years to come.

"We are limited with the amount of land, I don't think people would approve of a multi-storey carpark. There is an underground carpark in Mallow in Cork with 420 spaces and it's a resounding success," Cllr Mulligan said.

The carpark was part of a radical eco friendly reimagining, called Portlaoise - 2040 and Beyond, shown in a video nine years ago in 2017. It seeks to remove cars from the town centre's roads.

Along with undergrounding parking and glades of trees and canopies in a pedestrianised Lyster Square, it removes roundabouts and lanes from JFL Avenue, and pedestrianises Main Street. Other plans in it are already underway or done, such as the Triogue Blueway, the bus service and the new library.

Cllr Mulligan tabled a motion to the February meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking Laois County Council to commission a feasibility study for the development of the carpark.

He suggests getting money from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) to pay for the study.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley agrees parking is a big problem in Lyster Square, but said businesses were not in favour of undergrounding parking, first mooted in the ambitious plan back in 2017.

"It is probably one of the most dangerous places you could walk or drive around. I remember that while stakeholders liked the idea, the feedback was the length of time it would take to build. We saw the plan, we all said it would never happen," she said.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said that the drawings they had viewed "looked fantastic".

She described Lyster Square as "one of the worst places to park, walk, or push a buggy".

"There's delivery trucks, there's scooters, people find it difficult to reverse out of spaces, there's a lot of older people there going to the Post Office. People have stopped going there because of the parking and traffic management. I don't know how we'll get money for it but we have to look for it, we have to be ambitious." Cllr Fitzgerald said.

Cllr Paddy Buggy described Portlaoise as "a city in all but name".

"By the time this feasibility study is done we won't be using cars, we'll be flying by drone.

"Businesses will be damaged, I don't think you can dig up Lyster Square But maybe by the way the Metro will be done, they drill outside then come in underground so the top is not affected. It's a success in Boston they have all their traffic underground but it took decades of disruption," Cllr Buggy said.

Cllr Barry Walsh said it would be "a massive disruption to business", but agrees that a study must be done to future proof Portlaoise as "it's only getting bigger".

Laois County Council's URDF department said the carpark is still an objective of the Portlaoise-2040 and Beyond project.

"Subject to funding and parking need, a feasibility study could be progressed, but the priority for now is to implement the provision of Placemaking for a Low Carbon Town Centre," it said.

Read next: New coffee shop planned instead of Laois hairdresssers

The council in its Placemaking plan wants to significantly reduce town centre emissions. It says there is a heavy reliance on car-based travel in Portlaoise. It commits to reducing the 3,000 Portlaoise car park spaces by 20%, in a phased manner. They will be reallocated to cycle/pedestrian measures, bus parking, the e-bike scheme and EV parking.

It will be also welcoming bidders to upgrade the public realm on Railway Street, Church Avenue, Main Street, Bull Lane, Lyster Lane, Peppers Lane and Lyster Square.

They also plan the creation of "urban development sites" along JFL Avenue, consistent with the principles of "compact urban growth".
A butcher who exploited and sexually abused three of his partners younger sisters over a 10-year period has been jailed for 13 years.

Christopher Fitzsimons (40), described in court as a wolf in sheep's clothing, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury last July of all 22 counts against him relating to the three complainants, including 18 counts of raping one of the girls over a 13-month period.

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Fitzsimons, of Thornbury Drive, Athlone, Co Westmeath, has no previous convictions. All three sisters waived their anonymity in order for Fitzsimons to be named.

The court heard Fitzsimons was in a relationship with the complainants' older sister, with whom he had a number of children. The abuse of the three girls occurred in various locations in Westmeath on dates between 2001 and 2011. They were aged between 12 and 16 at the time of the abuse.

Sentencing Fitzsimons, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon said Fitzsimons' relationship with the complainants' older sister allowed him to exploit these three young girls. It was an egregious abuse of trust, she said. Fitzsimons started abusing the girls after the death of the girls' father in 1999, the court heard.

Ms Justice Creedon set a headline sentence of 14 years and reduced this to 13 years, noting there was little to be said in mitigation for Fitzsimons except his young age, lack of previous convictions and good work history as a butcher.

At an earlier sentence hearing, Sergeant Niall Smith told the court the family lived in Athlone and their older sister was in a long-term relationship with Fitzsimons and had children with him. The sisters spent time in Fitzsimons' house with their older sister, helping to mind the children.

Fitzsimons was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of rape of the first complainant, Tara Berry, who was aged 12 at the time. The court heard she was staying in her sisters house, when Fitzsimons gave her cannabis and sexually assaulted her. He was intoxicated, exposed himself and was masturbating, the court heard.

He further raped her in 2006 when he came up behind her and penetrated her, the court heard. She was aged around 16 at the time.

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The court heard the second complainant, Chloe Berry, was babysitting her sisters children at around the age of 14 when she observed Fitzsimons masturbating on the couch with his pants open.

She said she felt uncomfortable and described going to sleep fully clothed, but Fitzsimons touched her vagina over her jeans. He was found guilty of one count of sexual assault in relation to this incident.

Fitzsimons was further found guilty of 18 counts of raping the youngest sister, Claire Berry, over a 13-month period between 2010 and 2011. She was aged between 15 and 16 at the time. One of the counts was a section 4 rape, involving the use of a vibrator, the court heard.

In her victim impact statement, Claire Berry said Fitzsimons was calculated and a wolf in sheeps clothing.

She said when her father died in 1999, Fitzsimons chose to abuse her 12-year-old sister Tara. In 2010, he then started abusing her. She said she still struggles to fall asleep, has flashbacks and nightmares.

She said she was five years waiting for the trial and Fitzsimons denied everything and never showed any remorse for what he has done.

You are a rapist, you are a paedophile and guilty of all 22 counts you are charged with, she said.

In her victim impact statement, Tara Berry said that at the time of the abuse, she was grieving the death of her father, who was no longer there to protect her from Fitzsimons.

She said she started using drugs at the age of 14 before getting sober, and that years later, she is still picking up the pieces. She asked the court to recognise the full weight of what has been done to me.

Reading her victim impact statement, Chloe Berry, who is now 34, said it is almost 20 years ago since she was sexually assaulted while babysitting at the age 14. It is something I have carried with me every day for the last 20 years, she said.

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I ask the court when considering a sentence in this case, (to also consider) the sentence Christopher has given to me with no remorse, she said.

In mitigation Timothy OLeary SC defending told the court his client previously worked in a butchers. He has been in custody in the Midlands Prison since the verdict of the jury last July.

Antonia Boyle BL, prosecuting, asked the judge to consider handing down consecutive sentences for the rapes of the two separate complainants.
Portarlington is gearing up for a special annual tractor run to make "a humungous difference" to local children in need of extra support.

The Laois Offaly town is home to a brilliant charity tractor run every spring, organised by Portarlington Lions Club.

On Sunday March 1, it will take off again, from the Railway Bar near the train station, with a big incentive to take part this year.

The charity run is in aid of psychological and educational assessments for kids in local schools whose families are unable to afford them.

Six schools will be in the hat to win 2,500 to pay for assessments for the children that they know best need the support.

That sum has already been guaranteed by Port Lions Club, so anything extra that is raised on the day will go towards a second school.

The schools are St Patrick's Boys NS, Presentation Primary School Portarlington, Naomh Eoin in Killenard, Sandy Lane NS, Rath NS and Cloneyhurke NS.

Club Secretary Fiona Somers told the Leinster Express / Laois Live about it.

"Before Christmas we were visiting local schools to see if they could identify any families in need of hampers. Teachers were telling us that schools depend on the number of pupils to qualify for assessments, so rural schools may not hit the numbers.

"The school drawn can break up the 2,500, for example600 for an assessment for occupational therapy, dyslexia or dyspraxia. Some children can time out in primary school waiting, and lose out on help in secondary school.

"We are hoping for a big attendance. The more people there, the more chance we can draw two schools. They don't have to drive a tractor, I really don't care, once they pay the 20 it can be a car or motorbike. They will be supporting local children," she said.

Spectators can dig deep too, as the club will hold a big raffle and an an auction that evening in the Railway Bar, with raffle tickets on sale at the event.

The tractors and vehicles are invited to gather from 10.30am on Sunday morning, March 1, for a departure of 12 noon.

This year Portarlington Lions are adding a new treat, a children's toy tractor run, in the Irish Rail train station carpark, with prizes for every child that takes part. It will be held before the grownup tractors head out.

Read next: Rural Laois kids can't access local school due to town spillovers claims councillor

Refreshments will be complimentary afterwards in the Railway Bar, which has kindly hosted the event for some years.

Donations are also being taken for raffle and auction items, contact Gerry 086 3584611 or Club President Therese Doody on 086 847 1994.
Companies have been invited to bid for the contract to build the long planned for visitor carpark at the Rock of Dunamaise between Portlaoise and Stradbally.

The historic castle site that is located along the busy N80 is due to get a 44 space carpark that will also have bus parking.

Laois County Council and Failte Ireland are seeking tenders to surface the carpark, supported by the Just Transition Fund.

They estimate that the "blacktop" surfacing contract could cost 100,000.

"We hope the carpark will be open by August," a council spokesperson told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

An exciting architectural dig was held last summer for several months on the site of the carpark.

PHOTOS: See what was found, and learn the history of the Rock of Dunamase here.

Laois County Council will also open a new pedestrian laneway up to the Rock, and a one way roads system around it. MORE BELOW PHOTO

The new carpark will also have toilet facilities, thanks to the cooperation of the Church of Ireland community who will open their 19th century chapel during daylight hours for visitors to use their upgraded toilets, and also visit its pretty interior.

Read next: Laois TikTok star opens up about bullying

There will also be two power points providing foodtrucks with the potential to park onsite. For safety, the carpark will be closed outside of daylight hours, as the Rock is a dangerous to visit, even in daylight hours.

There will be no lighting, however, nor any bins, for environmental reasons.

The Rock of Dunamase is a historic 46-meter-high limestone outcrop featuring12th-century Anglo-Norman castle ruins. Originally a 9th-century Christian settlement, it later became a strategic fortress.

From the 1400s and until the 16th century, it was part of the land of the powerful O'More family who ruled Laois for several hundreds of years until they faced great opposition from the English as part of Plantations of Ireland.

The site is popular with locals and tourists, not just because of its historical significance but also because it offers spectacular views across Laois and several counties.
The rising trend of Ukrainians in Laois who have fled Vladimir Putin's war on their homeland has risen for second quarter.

New Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show a rise in the numbers seeking Ireland's protection as the Russian attacks on Ukraine intensified over the winter.

The rising number of arrivals to Laois continues a trend that began halfway through 2025 and was evidenced in figures produced last November.

The latest figures from the CSO provided to the Leinster Express / Laois Live on February 18 contains data on the number of refugees from the Eastern European country living in Ireland and Laois to the start of February this year.

It shows that there were 1,368 Ukrainian war refugees in Laois as of February 3, 2026. That is a small rise of over 60 on the 1,302 mainly women and children residing in the Midlands county last November when the figures were last counted. It is also greater than the 1,294 Ukrainians in Laois in July 2025.

The latest figures mark a reversal in a trend that emerged at the start of 2025 when the CSO reported a drop of more than 20% in the total number living in Laois. There were 1,660 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine living in Laois when the numbers were published in February 2025.

The biggest number of Ukrainians, 487, have found accommodation in the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District. The Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick district is home to 484 refugees, while the Portlaoise district has taken in 397 people. All three Municipal Districts have experienced an increase on last November.

The CSO has published the latest data on the number of people seeking refuge in Ireland in the 18th edition of its Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series since February 2022.

The number of school-aged children from Ukraine in Laois schools is up slightly compared with last November. There are 205 are in primary school and 141 are in secondary school.

Despite cuts to payments, the number of hosts in receipt of the Accommodation Recognition Payment and for Ukrainians living in accommodation provided in homes has risen from 728 to 700. It was 619 last summer.
Some 25 new primary school pupils will be admitted to a Naas school later this year - taking the pressure off an emerging crisis caused by insufficient school places.

It is understood that the pupils will be accommodated at the St Corban's Boys National School and will effectively create a new junior infant class with the appointment of an additional teacher.

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Local councillor Bill Clear recently criticised the shortage of national school places, saying children have no school place for September.

He described this as a complete failure and a disgraceful example of poor forward planning.

Cllr Clear said that families are under huge and unnecessary stress as a result of the failure to provide sufficient school places for a rapidly growing population.

This is not a marginal issue. Thirty children in Naas have no school place and this means thirty families living with anxiety, uncertainty, and frustration through no fault of their own, he said, blaming the Department of Education.

This is a failure by the department to plan ahead. Naas has seen a significant population increase over recent years. Thousands of houses have been built, yet basic services like school places have not kept pace. Homes are being delivered without the supporting infrastructure that families need.

The department told the Leinster Leader it has a robust, evidence based, forward planning process for monitoring the current and projected future demographic demand for school places.

This forward planning process analyses the demand for school places at school planning area level and also at a more granular settlement level to allow the department to respond to local demands.

A spokesperson said the data used to inform the demographic demand analysis includes enrolment data, child benefit data, census and CSO data and information of planned new residential developments. Enrolment and child benefit data is updated annually and geocoded to the 19 thousand small areas across the Country. This allows the department to analyse the population of school going children and the schools they attend at a granular level.

The department acknowledged there has been significant new residential development in Naas. Against this background, the demand for primary school capacity has been anticipated and responded to with the establishment of a new 32 classroom co-educational primary school in Naas.

It added: While there continues to be strong junior infant place demand in Naas, the departments analysis demonstrates that there continues to be capacity in junior infant classes to meet this demand. It must be noted that many primary schools in Naas did not fill in September 2025 and a number of places remain vacant.

The department has engaged with the schools in Naas in respect to their admissions process and is satisfied that there will be sufficient capacity in junior infant class to meet the September 2026 demand.

The department continues to invest in primary school capacity in Naas with the recent completion of the 32 classroom co-educational Mercy Convent primary school in Naas and the planned redevelopment of St. Corban's National School.

The demand for primary school places in Naas will continue to be kept under review, in conjunction with the monitoring of new and planned new residential developments, in consultation with Kildare County Council.
The Governments welfare cheats campaign temporarily weakened belief in Ireland that social benefits help prevent poverty, according to a study.

The research by the Esri (Economic and Social Research Institute), carried out in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland, found that while 64% of the population believe that social benefits help prevent poverty, this view was temporarily weakened after the launch of the governments welfare cheats cheat us all campaign on welfare fraud in 2017.

Then social protection minister Leo Varadkar launched the campaign where he encouraged people to identify potential cheats.

We take fraud very seriously and have a responsibility to taxpayers to ensure that people receive what they are entitled to, he said at the time.

Esri said there was no significant effects among peoples views for the variables related to support for redistribution and the view that social benefits make people lazy.

But there was a difference in peoples views that welfare supports prevent poverty.

The model detects a statistically significant decrease on the level of agreement that social benefits prevent poverty among interviews conducted after the launch of the campaign compared to those interviewed, using different time windows around the launch date, the report said.

As an additional robustness check, we replicated the same analysis with a different date arbitrarily chosen as the median of the control group (25 February 2017) and no significant effects were found for any of these variables comparing the interviews conducted before and after this date.

The study, published on Wednesday, also found that three in four people in Ireland support government action to reduce income inequality, a rate above the European average.

It found that 76% of respondents in Ireland indicated that they either agree (45%) or agree strongly (31%) that the Government should reduce income differences.

This percentage is higher than the European average of 71% and in other European countries such as the UK (70%) and Germany (68%).

The research found that wanting to reduce income inequality is stronger among women, young people and the working class.

Those who lost their jobs or had their income reduced during the pandemic also show higher support for reducing income inequality.

There is a higher level of support for government spending on supports for older people and childcare for working families than for supports for the unemployed.

While a high proportion of respondents in Ireland (64%) believe that social benefits prevent poverty (down slightly from 69% in 2009), there are also more negative sentiments, with 58% believing that social benefits make people lazy.

Younger people, those on the right of the left-right scale, and those with lower educational attainment are more likely to agree that social benefits make people lazy.

While that belief declined over time, Ireland has one of the highest proportions in Europe of respondents agreeing with this statement, the Esri study said.

There is a willingness to pay for the welfare state, and although 35% indicated that taxes in Ireland are too high, 25% think taxes should stay at the same level.

A further 34% indicated they would agree with higher taxes if it meant more or better public services, the sixth-highest percentage among 27 countries in Europe.

Dr Daniel Capistrano, researcher at Esri and co-author of the report, said: This report shows a solid social support for enhancing the welfare state in Ireland.

Policymakers have a favourable environment to design and implement policies that meet the demands for better distribution of income, opportunities and living conditions in Ireland.

Denise Charlton, chief executive of Community Foundation Ireland, a partner on the research, added: The study shows that even in times of challenge and complexities, there is a sense of fairness and support for equality within our society, something all of us should be proud of.

These important findings will inform our future work as a philanthropic hub with an equality mission, as well as our 5,000 community, voluntary and charitable partners.
Shannon Gaels GAA Club from Roscommon has been announced as the overall Grand Prize winner of the inaugural Glor Na nOg competition, securing 8,000 in funding to support youth development and equipment purchases, while Carrick-on-Shannon Camogie Club has been announced as the County Leitrim winner.

The groundbreaking initiative, supported by Amazon, empowered young GAA members across Ireland and internationally to share their voices about what makes their clubs special and how they can be improved. The competition attracted entries from GAA, LGFA, and Camogie clubs nationwide.

Through a digital platform accessed via QR codes, junior members answered two key questions: "What's the best thing about your GAA club?" and "What can be done to make your GAA club even better?" Shannon Gaels' submission stood out for its constructiveness, innovation, and demonstration of community spirit.

Shannon Gaels Club Secretary Padraig Tiernan said "Shannon Gaels would firstly like to thank all involved with Glor na nOg including the sponsors Amazon. National recognition for a rural club of our size is a real honour and the response from our members and from neighbouring areas reflects this. The future of all clubs is based on our continuous efforts to engage, encourage, and empower the next generation; therefore, in the spirit of Glor na nOg, Shannon Gaels plan to invest the prize money in and for our younger members."

Croke Park Stadium Director and GAA Commercial Director Peter McKenna said "This partnership with Amazon represents an exciting opportunity to harness technology in service of our communities. Glor na nOg gives our young members a meaningful voice in shaping the future of their clubs while celebrating what makes our community so special."

Alison Dunn, Country Manager for Amazon in Ireland, said "Congratulations to Shannon Gaels and all the winning clubs across Ireland and internationally. We're incredibly proud to see how young GAA members have embraced this opportunity to shape their clubs' futures. The quality of submissions from Shannon Gaels and clubs across Ireland and abroad has been outstanding. These winners represent the very best of youth engagement and community spirit, and we're delighted to support their continued development with 85,000 in funding."

The Glor Na nOg initiative distributed funding across multiple categories. Provincial winners Tourlestrane (Sligo), Ringtown Camogie (Westmeath), Glin (Limerick), and Ardara GAA (Donegal) each received 4,250. Twenty-eight county winners received 2,000 each, while eight commendable prize winners received 500 each.

Winners were selected through a combination of AI-assisted scoring and a judging panel, with submissions evaluated based on constructiveness, impact and innovation, detail and clarity, and demonstration of community spirit.

The programme was open to GAA, LGFA, and Camogie clubs across Ireland and internationally, representing a commitment to youth development and community engagement.
Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), with the support of the Business Studies Teachers Association of Ireland (BSTAI), have opened registration for the Irish finals of the 2026 European Money Quiz, Europes largest financial education competition for 13 to 15-year-olds.

Schools in Leitrim and across Ireland are encouraged to register at www.bpfi.ie/moneyquiz, to take part in the Irish leg of the quiz which will see classrooms up and down the country go head-to-head in the live online final on Tuesday 10th March. Playing in teams of two, students will be tested on a series of financial questions and compete directly against each other in real time using the Kahoot! learning platform. The winning team will be flown to Brussels in May to take on students from almost 30 other European countries for a chance to be crowned European Champions and share in a prize fund of 5,000 for their school.

Speaking on the importance of financial literacy for young people and the role that the quiz plays, Susan Russell, President of BPFI and Chief Executive of the Retail Ireland division of Bank of Ireland Group said: Every year we see thousands of young people from across Ireland take part in the European Money Quiz, demonstrating impressive knowledge and building realworld financial skills in a way that is interactive, enjoyable, and genuinely empowering. The enthusiasm we witness from schools across the country shows just how important it is to give young people practical tools to navigate an increasingly complex financial environment. From understanding digital payments to managing savings and recognising financial risks, young people today face an increasingly complex financial landscape, so financial literacy is an essential life skill.

BPFI hosts the Irish Finals of the quiz and works closely with the European Banking Federation for the European Finals. Brian Hayes, Chief Executive of BPFI stated: The Quiz is a great opportunity for students to engage in financial education in a fun and dynamic way. One of the highlights of the programme is the opportunity for the winning team to represent Ireland at the European Finals in Brussels in May. BPFI is delighted to sponsor the trip and it is an unforgettable experience for both the students and their teacher. Not only do students test their knowledge on an international stage, but they also gain a unique cultural insight by meeting peers from right across Europe. Irish teams have always performed exceptionally well while also forming friendships and memories that last far beyond the competition itself.

Margaret McDonnell, BSTAI representative added: The European Money Quiz brings finance to life in a way that textbooks alone simply cannot. By challenging students to apply their knowledge in a fun, engaging, and competitive setting, the quiz helps them see the realworld relevance of the topics we teach every day. It builds confidence, sparks curiosity, and encourages young people to think critically about the financial choices they will face as adults. I would strongly encourage schools across the country to get involved.

The European Money Quiz is part of European Money Week (EMW), a joint initiative between the European Banking Federation and 30 banking associations across Europe, including BPFI, which aims to boost financial literacy levels and raise awareness on the benefits of financial education. This year Money Week is taking place from 16th to 22nd March 2026. Further details and registration are available at www.bpfi.ie/moneyquiz.
Limerick woman Aine OReilly was a brilliant nurse who spent her life putting others before herself, mourners have heard.

She was described as a warm, independent woman who loved comedy, current affairs and animals by her brother.

A huge crowd gathered for Ms OReillys funeral mass at St John the Baptist Church in Nicker on Wednesday morning, including some of her nursing colleagues who had travelled from London to attend.

A guard of honour of people in high-vis vests from ShannonDoc, Ms OReillys employer, was formed outside.

Ms OReilly, 33, died in a collision on Friday night that left another driver injured, while a third fled the scene.

The nurse was on her way to work when the incident took place on the N24 near Grange West, Boher.

Parish priest Fr Tomas OConnell said Ms OReillys death had dealt her family an unbelievable blow, and said she was taken in such a heartbreaking way.

In the eulogy, her brother Eoin described Ms OReilly as a warm woman who loved to laugh, who loved music and current affairs, cooking and travel, and who carried herself with elegance and poise.

Beneath all that, there was a strength and a resilience which I could never truly understand, he said.

He said she had an incredible caring nature and was a brilliant nurse who also adored animals.

Generations of family pets in our house will never know how good they had it, he said.

He thanked people who had reached out to their family, prayed for them or expressed their condolences in recent days  and said his little sister would always be with them.

He added: One crumb of comfort I have is that in her last moments with us on this earth, before the lights went out, she was in her car, listening to her music  singing along, of course  going to a job she was (meant to do), looking forward to the next new exciting chapter. Independent, free and happy.

A nation mourns the loss of the beautiful young woman you turned into.

Sleep well, little sister.

He thanked the emergency services, Fr OConnell and those who had provided food to the family in recent days.

We gather as a community in prayer and in grief and, of course, in shock today to pray with and to be with Aines family, Fr OConnell said.

Aine, indeed, was a person who gave. She gave to her family, gave to her community, her work colleagues.

Her life was one of putting herself (after) others, and it is so tragic that in the twinkling of an eye, that life of giving was taken from her so tragically last Friday.

He said the life of Ms OReillys family came to a shuddering halt, and as the community heard the news, nothing else was spoken about in the whole place.

He added: There was a palpable silence here, as the huge cloud of gloom  is all I would call it  had well and truly settled over this area, if not indeed the entire country.

He said the people that care about the OReilly family could be an unction for them in their time of grief, and that Ms OReilly had left many memories of her caring and kind nature.

He called for prayers for a man aged in his 40s who was injured in the crash, and other victims of road traffic accidents.

Ms OReillys parents, Ann and Eugene, lit a candle at the start of the mass  and her brothers James and Conor read the first and second readings.
The daughter of Seamus Culleton, the man who was been detained by ICE in the US since September 2025, has said she has "no sympathy whatsoever" for her father's plight.

Speaking on Lunchtime Live on Newstalk on Wednesday, Heather Morrissey opened up on her relationship with her and her estranged father and went so far as to say she hopes he is deported back to Ireland.

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Mr Culleton, a Kilkenny native, had entered the United States in 2009 on a tourist visa and never left following the allowed 90 days.

Mr Culleton was due to appear in court in Ireland a month after he fled for the US on drug related charges but never showed. A warrant for his arrest was subsequently issued by the judge.

Now more than 20 years later, Mr Culleton is married to an American woman and was in the process of applying for a green card to remain permanently in the US, but was arrested by ICE last September and is currently been detained at a detention centre in Texas.

Ms Morrissey said here and her twin sister Melissa had first made contact with their father when they were 12 years of age and that he abandoned them when he left for the US.

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Upon learning of her father's arrest through Facebook, Ms Morrissey said she was "shocked" but also "upset and angry".

"I saw it up on Facebook," she said. "I was shocked and upset and angry that he didn't mention us once...just about his wife and dogs and they're acting like their dogs are their kids."

Ms Morrisey revealed it wasn't until she and her sister were 16 when they "properly" got to know their father and they haven't seen him since he left for the US.

"We were going to go," she said, "and then we decided not to because I don't know why we should make our efforts over there, when he should come us.

"We didn't leave, he left us. If he wants to meet us, he should come to us."

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Ms Morrissey said that she would like her father to return home for a reconciliation but added that she has "no sympathy whatsoever" for his predicament.

"He had a choice to leave and he still won't leave and he's saying he's in fear for his life, but he won't come back when he's getting a chance to come back."
The role of Limerick mayor is in a catch-22 situation, its current holder has said.

John Moran told RTEs News At One there is an expectation among the public the mayor will be able to deliver what you actually promised to deliver, but that progress can be stymied by councillors who absolutely have the right to take a different view.

He was speaking on the radio programme after publishing a post on his own website criticising a small minority of councillors within the two ruling parties, who he says have consistently opposed almost every significant initiative he has brought forward.

Mr Moran, an independent politician, became Irelands first ever directly elected mayor in 2024.

His election followed a 2019 plebiscite in which people in Limerick voted for the post to be created.

The position, which has a five-year term of office, has executive powers which include developing and implementing strategies and initiatives to benefit Limerick city and county.

Mr Moran said the role of mayor is a radical change from the way things worked in the past, which Limerick voted for because they didnt, I dont think, believe things were working as well as they should be.

There now needs to be clarity about the role and the legislation which created it, Mr Moran said.

He said he had numerous conversations over and over again in private with councillors over the last 18 months, but debate needs to be out in the public.

He added the council has not been resourced by the government to deliver what the people voted for in the mayoral election.

Despite being advised to walk away from the job, Mr Moran said he is too stubborn and too passionate to do so.

Asked by the programmes host Rachael English if what is happening might lead people to question if there should be a directly elected mayor in Limerick or indeed in any other city.

Mr Moran replied: Absolutely, and that has always been the risk, thats why Ive been trying to solve a lot of issues privately and quietly, and its not working.

But added: I think its working phenomenally well, but not at its potential.

He said he is working too hard, coming in at 7am and leaving at midnight  and there is a need for greater support.

He added: If we can get the delivery machinery to work better and be allowed to do the things mayors should be allowed to do, I think a lot more people across the country will want this.

He said, despite the current row, councillors are still working together, adding: This is not the siege of Limerick, with the mayor holed up in his office.

Asked whether there was a diktat from Fianna Fail or Fine Gael to their Limerick councillors to not work with Mr Moran, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon, and Minister of State Robert Troy said no.

Speaking at a doorstep in Dublin city, Mr Burke said for the Limerick mayoral role to work requires everyone to work together in the spirit of local democracy.

Mr Heydon said: No matter who any of us are in politics, whether were on our local authority  which I served on in Kildare County Council for a couple of years before becoming a TD and becoming the Minister of State, becoming a senior minister  I was never able to do anything on my own.

I always had to build alliances and work with people, and thats a key part.

So I dont know the finer details of this.

I understand the mayors frustration, Im sure the councillors have their own perspective on that as well, which Im sure well hear in due course, but its really important that everyone works together for Limerick.

Mr Troy added: I know having engaged with our own councillors in Limerick only a few short months ago, there is frustration on their side too, with the directly elected mayor.

This is a new concept, its less than two years in formation, and when anything new, there will always be teething problems, and it will take time to overcome that.

Sometimes its just down to basic personalities and people that dont maybe get on very well with other people.
Prisoners surrendered hundreds of synthetic opioid tablets after a fatal overdose at Mountjoy Prison, a report has said.

The Irish Prison Service issued an urgent drug alert to all prisons on July 18 2024 over nitazene tablets after the overdose of a 21-year-old at Mountjoy.

A death-in-custody report published on Wednesday said the prisoner had been observed behaving in an erratic manner in the days before his death, with at least one officer believing him to be under the influence of illicit substances but determining there was no requirement for medical intervention.

The man, identified as Mr Q, was not the only prisoner suspected of being under the influence of drugs at the time.

There had been a number of serious and near-fatal incidents involving synthetic opioids in prisons during summer 2024.

On the morning of July 18, an officer entered Mr Qs cell and found him unresponsive with dried blood on his face coming from his nostrils.

A code red was called but the chief nurse officer saw no signs of life and the prisoner was cold to the touch.

He appeared to have been dead for a while.

A fellow prisoner said he believed Mr Q had taken yellow tablets which had been associated with four non-fatal overdoses at the prison that week.

The report said: Word spread rapidly throughout the prison population as to the potential lethality of the contraband drugs as 300 to 400 yellow tablets were surrendered by prisoners to Mountjoy Prison staff later that day.

The content of these tablets was swiftly analysed and, on the following day, confirmed to contain the synthetic opioid nitazine.

The Inspector of Prisons has recommended that prisoners cells should be searched if they are suspected to be intoxicated, and that a general search of cells should be considered if multiple prisoners are intoxicated.

It also recommended that the Irish Prison Service should intensify efforts to physically prevent contraband from entering prisons.

The inspector welcomed the recent installation of new and more effective anti-drone netting on certain exercise yards at Mountjoy Prison and at other prisons in Ireland.
Minister Marian Harkin has welcomed this week's announcement by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) of significant funding for national roads projects in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.

Under this allocation, Leitrim will receive 3.1 million and Sligo will receive 8.2 million for works on key national routes.

The funding includes 2.2 million for the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin, 1 million for the N17 Knock to Collooney, 1.5 million for the N16 from Lugatober to the county boundary, 1.5 million for the Carrick-on-Shannon Bypass and 800,000 for the N4 at Dromod.

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Welcoming the announcement, Minister Harkin said: I am very pleased to see this significant level of investment for our national road network in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal. There are very significant investments in national and non-national roads in county Donegal to cater for the vast network of roads in the county. These routes are vital arteries for our region  supporting local businesses, tourism, farming, and daily commuters. This funding will enhance safety, improve journey times, and ensure our infrastructure keeps pace with the needs of our communities.

Minister Harkin noted that the projects along the N4, N16 and N17 are particularly important strategic corridors for the north-west, strengthening connectivity both within the region and to the rest of the country. In addition to the national roads funding, substantial allocations have also been confirmed for regional and local roads in both counties. Under the Restoration and Improvement Grant scheme, Sligo will receive 9.8 million and Leitrim 7.8 million. Furthermore, Discretionary Grants of 2.36 million for Sligo and 1.8 million for Leitrim have been allocated.

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Minister Harkin added: Investment in our regional and local road network is equally critical, particularly in rural counties such as Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal where communities rely heavily on road transport. The combined Restoration and Improvement and Discretionary funding will enable essential maintenance, strengthening and safety works across a wide range of routes.

She also acknowledged the work of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal County Councils in identifying priority projects and delivering improvements efficiently and effectively. This is a strong and balanced package of funding for our region. I will continue to work to ensure that Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal receive the sustained investment necessary to support economic development and improve quality of life for all our communities.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Five Matabeleland South legislators have distanced themselves from Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) selfimposed secretarygeneral Sengezo Tshabangus declared allegiance to ZanuPFs proposed constitutional amendments seeking to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwas term to 2030, along with several other changes.

The representatives include Mandalaboy Ndebele (Matobo), Desire Nkala (Gwanda North), Sithabisile Moyo, Nomathemba Ndlovu (Proportional Representative), and Senator Solani Moyo.Senator Moyo issued an anti2030 agenda statement to the media, reaffirming their rejection of the proposed amendments.Across Matabeleland South and the rest of the country, citizens have expressed outrage after some opposition MPs and senators attended Tshabangus pro2030 meeting on 12 February. Critics argue that the twothirds majority facilitated by Tshabangu is now being used by ZanuPF to amend the 2013 Constitution, extend Mnangagwas rule to 2030, and remove citizens right to directly elect a president. The proposed changes also seek to extend the terms of office for MPs, councillors and the president to seven years.In response to growing public anger, the five MPs issued a joint statement distancing themselves from the 2030 agenda and Constitutional Amendment No. 3. They acknowledged attending Tshabangus meeting but insisted they were unaware of its purpose.Matabeleland South Omuhle, fellow Champions and all Zimbabweans: We wish to clarify, clearly and without fear, that the claims circulating in the media regarding our attendance at this meeting are misleading. We did not attend to endorse any amendment; rather, as representatives from Matabeleland South, we attended to observe and understand the proceedings. We are accountable to the leadership elected by the people  specifically President Nelson Chamisa  and adhere to the mandate given to us by our constituents. We have never accepted the authority of any selfproclaimed faction to speak for us, they said.They dismissed statements issued by Tshabangus Chief Whip, Charles Moyo, who claimed the MPs had agreed to support the 2030 agenda.We did not support any amendment to the Constitution that has not been properly introduced and gazetted. We cannot and will not endorse changes to the 2013 Constitution adopted by the people. We stand resolutely in defence of the peoples rights and will vote accordingly, they said.The MPs expressed regret for attending Tshabangus meeting and pledged to avoid similar gatherings in future.We did not vote for Vision 2030. Any suggestion otherwise is false. We will not recognise statements that claim our endorsement when no such resolution was adopted in our presence.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Employers in Zimbabwe's motor industry have been ordered to pay workers two years' backdated salary increments after the Labour Court of Zimbabwe dismissed their appeal against an arbitral award.The dispute dates back to January 2024, when employees demanded a 30% increase in basic wages and a 50% rise in transport and housing allowances. The Motor Industry Employers Association of Zimbabwe (MIEAZ) opposed the proposal, arguing that wage adjustments should be negotiated at plant level.After failing to reach an agreement and declaring a wage deadlock, the matter was referred to the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare for compulsory arbitration.In a determination issued on February 11, 2025, arbitrator Bianca Chipokosha awarded a 10% minimum wage increase and a 20% increment on transport and housing allowances. The award stipulated that the increments be paid in three equal instalments starting in February 2025.MIEAZ, represented by lawyer Caleb Mucheche of Mucheche and Partners, challenged the ruling at the Labour Court, seeking to overturn the arbitral award.In its appeal, the employers argued that the arbitrator had erred in law by backdating the wage and allowance increases to July 2024, thereby unlawfully imposing conditions of service."The arbitrator grossly erred and seriously misdirected herself on a point of law by unilaterally imposing a 10% wage increment and 20% increment on transport and housing allowance since July 2024, thereby arbitrarily and unlawfully creating conditions of service for employer and employee parties," the appeal read.However, the employees, represented by Albert Chambati of Chambati, Mataka and Makonese Attorneys-at-Law, opposed the appeal, arguing that it lacked merit and was inconsistent with the facts presented before both the arbitrator and the court.They submitted that an appeal on a question of law does not lie to the Labour Court for every decision of an arbitrator, and that the court may only interfere where factual findings are shown to be illogical, grossly unreasonable or amounting to a gross misdirection in law.Presiding over the matter, Justice Bridget Chivizhe dismissed the appeal, ruling that the arbitrator had acted within her mandate and that the agreed terms of reference were lawful."It is apparent that the arbitrator's factual findings were well-reasoned. The appellant's allegation that she paid 'lip service' to the employer's financial inability to pay the amounts awarded is not supported by the record," Justice Chivizhe said.The court further ruled that backdating the increments to January 2024 formed part of the agreed terms of reference. While employees addressed the issue in their submissions before the arbitrator, the employers did not respond to it."In the result, it is ordered that the appeal be and is hereby dismissed with costs for lack of merit. The arbitral award per Honourable Bianca Chipokosha dated February 11, 2025, is upheld," Justice Chivizhe ruled.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Bulawayo City Council has approved building plans valued at more than US$9,6 million amid mounting pressure from a housing waiting list that has surged past 160 000 applicants.Latest council figures show that 161 058 housing application forms have been captured in the AS400 system, underscoring the widening gap between housing demand and available supply in the city.According to the latest report from the building control section, Director of Housing and Community Services Dictor Khumalo said 1 252 building plans were processed in December 2025. Of these, 859 were referred to other departments and had not yet completed the approval process, while 393 were finalised."Of the 393 plans that completed the process, 264 building plans with a value of US$9 632 810 were approved, while 129 were referred back for corrections," the report stated.However, council recorded a 7,69% decrease in approved plans compared to November 2025.Between November 26 and 30, a total of 427 building plans worth US$11 465 798 were submitted - representing a 9,77% increase from October - generating US$114 657,98 in submission fees.Council noted that 347 of those plans were lodged within the last five days of November as developers rushed to beat the operationalisation deadline of Statutory Instrument 56 of 2025. The regulation requires building plans to be prepared by individuals or entities registered with the Architects Council of Zimbabwe.In contrast, only 80 plans were submitted in December - a drop of nearly 70% from previous months - highlighting the potential negative impact of SI 56 of 2025 on development activity and municipal revenue.The report further indicated that 1 237 inspections were conducted in December 2025, marking a 21,8% decrease from the previous month. From these inspections, 53 buildings were issued with occupation certificates, while 162 dilapidated structures were revisited."A possible total of US$10 965 was raised from building inspections and other building control activities captured in this report," the council minutes read.Authorities are also monitoring 252 properties flagged for structural concerns as the city grapples with both rising housing demand and compliance challenges in the construction sector.
AN ASYLUM seeker has received a 10-year disqualification from driving after he was found to be driving without insurance in Limerick.

The 36-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received the ban when he appeared before Limerick District Court.

He pleaded guilty to driving without insurance under Section 56 of the Road Traffic Act, as well as to a Section 3 drugs offence.

Sergeant Denis Waters told the court the first incident took place on Condell Road, Limerick on April 23, 2025.

At approximately 10:35pm, the man was stopped at a garda checkpoint and was found to be driving without insurance.

The car, which did not have valid tax, was registered in the name of the partner of the mans daughter, who was a passenger in the vehicle when it was stopped.

The man did produce an international driving licence to gardai, which was deemed to be valid.

READ ALSO | Limerick garda feared for his safety when caught up in traveller fight that involved up to 50 people

Solicitor Tom Kiely, representing the accused, told the court that the man assumed he was insured given his asylum status.

Sgt Waters also detailed a separate incident which occurred in St. Johns Square, Limerick on June 17, 2025.

At approximately 10:15pm, the man was observed acting suspiciously at the location.

When searched by gardai, he was found to be in possession of 60 worth of drugs. The man has three previous convictions, all of which were recorded in September of last year.

At Naas District Court on September 10, he was convicted of driving without insurance under the Road Traffic Act.

Just nine days later, Ennis District Court convicted him of driving without insurance and driving while intoxicated, for which he received a two-year disqualification.

Mr Kiely noted that the Limerick offences had occurred before the convictions were imposed in September.

He said his client is adhering to his current disqualification from driving and no longer has access to a vehicle.

He added that the man is in receipt of a weekly allowance of 38 from the State, as he waits for his asylum application to be processed.

READ ALSO | PICTURES: Officials give update on preparations for 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare

Judge Patricia Harney argued the man was not that innocent, saying that she was not happy with the situation.

She noted the accused was buying drugs from criminals adding: If it wasnt for nice people buying drugs, we wouldnt have a drug problem.

Judge Harney added that it was not the mans first rodeo.

In relation to the drugs matter, she noted that he has no similar previous convictions. She fined him 100 and gave him four months to pay.

For driving without insurance, the man was given a 10-year disqualification from driving, along with a one month prison sentence.

Mr Kiely asked for this sentence to be suspended, but Judge Harney refused. After imposing the sentence, she said that the man needs to wake up to Irelands road traffic laws.

The man was also convicted of failing to produce insurance, which was marked as taken into consideration.
A HIT-AND-RUN driver fled the scene of a three-vehicle collision so quickly that he left the cars engine running while a kind and gentle nurse had suffered fatal injuries nearby, Limerick Live has learned.

Aine OReilly, aged 33, of Pallasgreen was killed - just a few miles from her home - on the N24 near Grange Cross shortly after 11.10pm on Friday night. She was travelling to ShannonDoc to work through the night caring for people.

Many have drawn similarities with UL student Joe Drennan who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Castletroy in 2023 after he had finished work in a restaurant.

Gardai say they are following a definite line of enquiry following the fatal traffic collision on the N24.

It is believed the driver, who ran away, had undertook a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre. The Leader understands the young man is from a village in County Limerick.

READ NEXT: Limerick mayor John Moran alleges councillors plot to make role 'unbearable'

Ms OReillys tragic death has left her family, and her friends and neighbours in Pallasgreen, devastated.

She is sadly missed by her heartbroken parents Eugene and Ann, a retired garda and teacher, brothers Eoin, James and Conor, sister-in-law Aisling, nephew Daire, aunts, uncles, relatives and a wide circle of friends.

Ms OReillys funeral Mass takes place in St John the Baptist Church, Nicker this Wednesday morning at 11.30am with burial afterwards in St Columbas cemetery.

Prayers were said at Masses in the parish of Pallsgreen-Temblebraden at the weekend with parish priest Fr Tomas O'Connell saying there was a pall of gloom over the locality after news of the tragedy broke.

Local councillors Noreen Stokes, Pallasgreen, and Martin Ryan, Cappamore, have also extended their sympathies to the highly-respected OReilly family.

There are 15 pages of condolence on rip.ie thus far with many from nurses who worked with Ms OReilly during her career.

One tribute encapsulates the young nurse who touched so many during her all too short life.

I had the pleasure of training with Aine and worked with her in the Mater Hospital for many years. Aine was a really special person, a fantastic nurse and colleague, a funny, kind and thoughtful friend.

She is a huge loss to our profession and to her community. She loved her pets so much and she was a great woman to go to for advice about hair and skin products, she was a wealth of knowledge. Her 30th in Pallasgreen a few years ago was such a fun night and a testimony to how loved she was and what a fun spirit she had, wrote the fellow nurse.

A tribute on behalf of the entire team of ShannonDoc doctors reads: We extend our sincere condolences to your family. Aines dedication, kindness, and professionalism made a lasting impact .

May you find strength and comfort in the love and memories you shared.

Another mourner recalled that Ms O'Reilly's caring nature was evident early in her life when she was a willing and generous helper in the Youth Section of the 2010 Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes for the Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly.

The sole occupant of the second car, a male driver, aged in his 40s, was conveyed to University Hospital Limerick for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life threatening.

A garda spokesperson said the driver of the third car fled, leaving the vehicle they were driving at the scene".

A section of the Limerick to Waterford N24 road was closed for an extensive technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

Gardai issued an update on the investigation on Sunday, saying they are following a definite line of inquiry.

Gardai would like to thank the public for their assistance. Investigations are ongoing. No further information is available at this time, said a garda spokesperson.

May she rest in peace.
A NUMBER of Limerick councillors have paid tribute to a local nurse who was tragically killed in a road collision on Friday night.

Aine OReilly, aged 33, of Pallasgreen was killed while travelling to work at ShannonDoc. The three-vehicle collision took place just a few miles from her home, on the N24 near Grange Cross.

At the February meeting of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District, Cathaoirleach Gregory Conway described the incident as a terrible tragedy.

Cllr Conway offered his condolences to the victims parents and two brothers. He also wished a speedy recovery to the man who was hospitalised as a result of the collision.

A minutes silence was subsequently held, before a number of other councillors paid their respects.

READ NEXT: Hit-and-run driver left engine running as he ran from scene while Limerick nurse had fatal injuries

Fine Gael councillor Noreen Stokes, who is a neighbour of the family, said Ms OReilly was a lovely, quiet young lady.

She said she has known the family all her life and the tragedy has cast a huge shadow over the community.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail councillor Martin Ryan said he knew Ms OReillys father, Eugene, through his work as a community garda.

He also acknowledged her mother Anns former job as a teacher, saying the family is steeped in looking after other people.

Cllr Ryan added that the tragedy will be very hard to get over for the community. He gave credit to the emergency services for their quick response time and professionalism in dealing with the tragic incident.

He also commended an American couple who were passing by at the time of the incident and were some of the first people on the scene.

A section of the Limerick to Waterford N24 road was closed for an extensive technical examination following the three vehicle collision.

The sole occupant of the second car, a male driver aged in his 40s, was conveyed to University Hospital Limerick for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life threatening.

A garda spokesperson said the driver of the third car fled, leaving the vehicle they were driving at the scene.

Gardai issued an update on the investigation on Sunday, saying they are following a definite line of inquiry.

Ms OReillys funeral Mass is taking place in St John the Baptist Church, Nicker this Wednesday morning at 11:30am, with burial afterwards in St Columbas Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
LIMERICK Labour TD Conor Sheehan has called for Government to appoint an independent mediator to resolve the high-profile row between Mayor John Moran and members of the local authority.

In a lengthy blog-post on his personal website, the first directly elected mayor in Ireland accused some councillors of exploiting his "ill health" and harbouring "personal hostility" towards him.

He claims their actions form part of a deliberate strategy to make the role unbearable and create such sufficient pressure I might walk away.

READ MORE: Top Limerick garda recalls grim discovery of two bodies by burglars in new RTE documentary

In his blog, he added there has been a "pattern of resistance" from some councillors.

His intervention appears to have been prompted by a bad-tempered meeting last Tuesday on the council's corporate plan, a document which is a roadmap setting out what the council aims to achieve, how it will do it, and the values guiding its work.

Mr Sheehan, who also ran in the election which saw Mayor Moran elected, has called on the Government to bring forward a review of how the office is going 18 months in.

John Moran was elected emphatically by the people of Limerick less than two years ago, alongside 40 elected councillors. Pretending that the current situation is working, or that it is good for Limerick, is simply not credible," the TD said.

He believes at the heart of the "dysfunction" are ambiguities in the legislation around the office of directly elected mayor.

READ MORE: Lying idle: Call for urgent expansion of Shannon Airport routes

"That lack of clarity has now led to paralysis. The purpose of a directly elected mayor is to provide leadership, accountability and momentum, not stalemate. These issues must be addressed as a matter of urgency in the legislative review, and an independent mediator should be appointed to help restore effective working relationships in the meantime," he said.

Limerick is currently lagging badly on delivery, with just 34% of its overall housing targets met and only 70% of its social housing targets delivered. These are the real issues facing people. Oireachtas members, councillors, the mayor and the council executive must be focused on working together to deliver homes, not stuck in a governance stand-off," Mr Sheehan added.

During last week's meeting, Mayor Moran left the chamber early complaining of feeling unwell and councillors voted through the corporate plan in his absence.

Mayor Moran's first 18 months in the historic role have been marked with clashes between councillors, and on one occasion, the local authority's director general, Dr Pat Daly.

Following the mayor's comments this week, Limerick Live contacted Fianna Fail's leader on the local authority, Cllr Michael Collins, who declined to comment.

Fine Gael's leader, Cllr John Sheahan of Glin issued a brief statement on behalf of his party colleagues.

Recent debate around the corporate plan reflects the reality of a shared democratic system within Limerick City and County Council. The Mayor and councillors alike hold mandates from the people of Limerick, and robust discussion is part of responsible governance," he said.

Cllr Sheahan said that his party remains committed to "constructive engagement" with Mayor Moran and all other colleagues "to ensure the new system works effectively for everyone."

Sinn Fein Cappamore-Kilmallock councillor PJ Carey has said the "largest parties", namely Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are "undermining" the office of directly elected maytor.

What happened in the council chamber last Tuesday is deeply concerning. Major amendments to the corporate plan were introduced at the last minute, without proper circulation or the opportunity for full public debate. That is not how democratic scrutiny should work," he added.

Cllr Sharon Benson, City North added: "The directly elected mayor was intended to give Limerick stronger leadership, more accountability and greater ability to deliver for communities. Instead, we are now seeing what many people will recognise as the same Fianna FailFine Gael cosy club politics that has held back progress for too long. Whether it is housing, infrastructure or investment in communities, people across Limerick are struggling and need real delivery - not procedural manoeuvring."

It was a sentiment shared by the Green Party's sole councillor, Sean Hartigan.

He described the seven-hour meeting as an "affront to democracy".

"It's no secret that many have done everything they can to scupper any progress by the mayor from the get-go. The discussions on how to get rid of him began in the Racecourse when it became evident he was going to win," Cllr Hartigan claimed.

"The ongoing conflict is stopping progress in Limerick; People need to let their councillors know this is not acceptable. Limerick voters also nemed to ask the less vocal Fine Gael and Fianna Fail councillors why they continue to support colleagues whose primary agenda is to oust the maytor and get one of their own elected."
WORK has commenced at the Dromdarrig housing site in Mungret, marking the first step in the delivery of 181 new affordable homes for the area.

Limerick City and County Council, in partnership with the Land Development Agency, is now progressing the development, with the Council providing expertise and resources to deliver the homes. Main construction works are scheduled to begin in April.

The current vegetation clearance works are being undertaken in advance of bird nesting season, which begins in March.

The areas identified for clearance were approved as part of the sites planning permission and are informed by a detailed arborist report.

READ MORE: Overshadow fear on Limerick hotel's plans to build apartments for its staff

Mature vegetation including the established tree line running east-west through the site will be retained. There will be no impact on the boundary with Mungret Woods.

Cllr Daniel Butler welcomed the commencement of works in Mungret, saying: I have been committed to this site delivering affordable homes from the very beginning... I am pleased to see it now progressing to construction stage.

A further update on the overall construction programme including details on traffic management, working hours and a dedicated communications channel will issue in March.
INSPECTOR Gearoid Thompson was on duty in west Limerick on a quiet Sunday night in May of 2015 when one of his colleagues told him a man wanted to speak to him.

The vastly experienced garda in the Limerick Division had only recently taken up a new role in the county, was settling in and getting to know his new unit.

I went into the public office. I saw a family that I would know locally - the leader of the family and four young males belonging to him. They were very upset. They were blessing themselves and had holy pictures. I brought him into a room. The story he started to tell me was amazing.

The four young men had discovered two deceased persons - Julia Holmes and Thomas Ruttle (pictured below) - after breaking into a farmhouse in Askeaton to steal scrap metal.

Burglars finding two dead bodies and reporting it to us before our knowledge... Could we have predicted who this woman would become? said Insp Thompson, who is one of the participants in new documentary Swindlers, a true-crime series, which begins this Wednesday night, February 18 at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player.

The three-part series tells the extraordinary and shocking stories of some of Ireland's most renowned con-artists and white-collar criminals through the voices of the victims, friends and colleagues they deceived, the journalists that covered the cases and the law enforcers who fought for justice to be served.

Each episode unravels a complex web of deceit and examines the personalities of the swindlers behind each con. The series explores the calculated tactics they used to deceive friends, family and institutions, and the methods that led to the swindlers eventual downfall.

Episode one reveals the shocking story of international con artist, bigamist and sweet-talking criminal, Tyrone woman Julia Holmes. Julia swindled millions of pounds from multiple victims across three continents over four decades using 40 aliases.

She spent time in prison in Texas for fraud and was the subject of multiple criminal investigations involving the FBI, the PSNI and An Garda Siochana. Victims, law enforcement and the journalists who followed her antics tell the story of her life, incredulous crimes and ultimate downfall, but also the hurt and trauma she left behind.

Julia, aged 63, and Thomas Ruttle, 56, were found dead in the bedroom of his Askeaton farmhouse on May 18, 2015. Thomas, a quietly spoken beekeeper, was Julias final victim. At the time she was being sought by gardai and police in Northern Ireland in connection with a number of suspected frauds.

Insp Thompson tells the documentary-makers that the leader of the family told him the four lads had gone to a property in Boolaglass, Askeaton, near Nantenan Cemetery.

They knew that the place had been vacant. They reckon that the people living in it had been gone for some time. He said that the four were looking for scrap around the sheds and the yards and when they were not disturbed, they decided to break into the house to see could they find more scrap.

The four young men then discovered the bodies of Julia and Thomas.

Insp Thompson and five gardai arrived at the farmhouse at 2.50am.

We climbed over a gate. I went into a house with no power, no light, no electricity, scrap on the ground, the place in total darkness. We're all operating with torchlights. Straight away, even though it was May, you could feel the coldness in the house.

We walked into the kitchen and you could see a big table. There were a lot of notes and letters on the table - If you find us, don't revive us, we've said goodbye - words to that effect.

Insp Thompson (pictured above) said they climbed to the top of the stairs and the first door on the left was slightly ajar.

I stood into the room and there they were as described, two corpses, and very much decomposed. They had been there a long time. It was a shocking sight.

On first impressions it looked like a murder-suicide and a firearm had been used because of the position of the bodies and Julias face had been damaged.

I took it that, under bad light, that she may have been shot. What I did notice was there was an ash bucket at the end of the bed and there were other bits and pieces around, but there was nothing else remarkable.

The following morning gardai could see that a chimney in the room, windows and vents had all been sealed.

The then State Pathologist Marie Cassidy would later tell an inquest that the exact cause of the couple's death cannot be confirmed but the circumstances were consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Insp Thompson said when they commenced their investigation there were different first names and different second names for Julia Holmes but Julia appeared to be the common thread.

We put this lady's name into a search engine and she was infamous. She was wanted by the PSNI for fraud offenses. She had been convicted in the United States. She certainly burned a lot of people. Who is this woman? We had to identify what kind of footprint, and it was a big footprint that this lady left.

Episode one of Swindlers: Julia Holmes will air this Wednesday, February 18 at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Tendai Biti, convenor of the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF), has criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu-PF for skipping the funeral and burial of former party member Blessed Geza in Sanyati on Monday, describing their absence as "malicious and shameful."Geza, who passed away on February 6 in South Africa at the age of 73 due to a heart ailment, is survived by his wife and three children. In recent years, he had become a vocal critic of Mnangagwa's administration, using platforms such as X and YouTube to speak out against alleged corruption and looting at the highest levels of government.Biti said Geza's activism ultimately isolated him within Zanu-PF, where he was seen as a rebel for speaking out. "They were so malicious that they did not even offer any food or any assistance. But the people here understand that oil and water don't mix. He fought against corruption. He fought against looting. He fought against brigands. He may not have wanted personally to have those people here. So there is no regret at all from anyone who is here," Biti said.Biti drew parallels to the treatment of Ndabaningi Sithole with war veteran Rutendo Muzihwa questioning why Geza was not granted national hero status, arguing that such recognition should not be influenced by political disagreements. "My hero status cannot be determined by what I say today. My hero status was already conferred by my fight in the war against the Ian Douglas Smith regime. It can't be conferred by the born frees, like what has happened to Geza. This is not fair," Muzihwa said.She further criticized the current Zanu-PF for limiting freedom of speech, noting that activists often join other parties without it being considered criminal. "We fought for all Zimbabweans across the political divide. In the current Zanu-PF, comrades are not enjoying the freedom of speech," she said.The funeral highlighted ongoing tensions between the ruling party and former members who have spoken out against government practices, underscoring persistent political divisions in Zimbabwe.
At Davos, Nikhil Kamath and Yuval Noah Harari discussed several topics. The professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem had a lengthy talk with the Indian investor. One of the key points of their discussion was religion in todays times.

Kamath wondered if religion was still relevant among young people. Harari argued that religion was not dying but continuously changing across history. According to the historian, religion is now entering a new phase influenced by artificial intelligence (AI).

AI is increasingly taking over religion, especially the religions of the book, the author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind said.

According to him, many faiths, such as Judaism, give ultimate authority to sacred texts rather than to individual human leaders. Until now, no scholar has been able to read, memorise, and interpret every religious text in its entirety because the material is vast.

AI, however, can process and remember enormous volumes of written knowledge, which may shift how believers seek guidance. Instead of relying solely on priests, rabbis, or scholars, people may increasingly consult AI systems for explanations and interpretations of scripture.

People historically justified violence as salvation

AI can easily do that. So, for a religion that gives ultimate authority to words in books, now there is a non-human intelligence that is about to take it over because it can take over the source of authority, the Israeli scholar said.

Harari notes that reinterpretation of holy books has always shaped religious traditions. AI may simply become the latest tool in this long process.

He added that similar changes could appear in Christianity, Islam and other text-based religions. The conversation suggests that technology may not replace faith itself, but it could transform religious authority, learning and personal belief in the coming years.

The book has been reinterpreted again and again and again. This is a game being played for thousands of years. This is how all the other books got written: reinterpretations of the original book, Harari said.

Instead of going to a human rabbi, they may go to an AI. Its the same in Christianity, Islam, and many other religions, he added.

AI would be a book that talks back. Sacred books were silent. You needed human interpreters. Imagine when the book itself answers you, he added during the conversation.

Such shifts may also raise some ethical questions. With his suggestions, Harari may have hinted at the ineffectiveness of human wisdom in spiritual life ahead.

Yuval Noah Harari also discussed how falling global trust could reshape religion and belief. Kamath suggested that, instead of following a single sacred book, people might form smaller groups around ideas that better represent them.

Intimacy with AI Harari emphasised that real influence would come through intimacy rather than force. A close friend can change a persons thinking more deeply than authority or pressure, he argued.

AI is moving from competing for attention to competing for intimacy. AIs are learning how to create friendships and even romantic relationships, he added.

According to Harari, intimacy occurs when someone shares fears, hopes and daily thoughts and trusts the guidance received. Harari warned that some young people had already started describing AI as their closest friend.

Instead of going to a human rabbi, they may go to an AI. Its the same in Christianity, Islam and many other religions.

Nikhil Kamath noted that some kids already described AI as their romantic partner. Harari agreed and warned that many toddlers spent more time interacting with AI than with parents or friends and that they shared private feelings freely.

Also Read | AI vs Humans: Artificial intelligence influencers outperform originals

They share things with AI they dont share with anyone else. This may be the biggest psychological and social experiment in human history, conducted on billions of people, the modern-day philosopher wondered.

Nobody knows what the long-term consequences will be when children learn friendship, attachment, purpose and suffering through AI relationships, he wondered.

Reinterpretation of religious books According to Nikhil Kamath, religious books are respected because they are "final and not dynamic. Harari disagreed. According to him, people have continuously reinterpreted religious texts throughout history.

Judaism and Christianity today are very different from centuries ago. Interpretations have justified compassion and atrocities, all claimed to come from the same source, he said.

People historically justified violence as salvation. Stories can rationalise almost anything, he added.

AI-created religion? Yuval Noah Harari believes that AI can even create new religious texts or sects. According to him, many religions already describe divine, non-human origins. So, AI-generated religions may feel natural to some followers.
We have converged AI and core technology leadership under the chief AI and technology officer. Rather than operating AI as a parallel or experimental function, we believe it must be embedded into the overall technology architecture and product roadmap from day one, said Manu Awasthy, founder and CEO of digital private wealth management platform Centricity, which hired Kamal Kishore for the role in September 2025.
Anthropics artificial intelligence (AI) assistant Claude appeared to run into issues Tuesday evening, with outage reports on Downdetector.com spiking as users flagged problems with its chat function and website.

Reports of outages in the US spiked around 6.30 PM EST on Tuesday (5.10 AM IST on Wednesday), reaching nearly 3,000 complaints.

View full Image Screenshot showing outage reports about Anthropic's Claude AI. ( Downdetector )

Social media users react As reports of outages spiked on Downdetector.com, netizens weighed in on what was happening.

Claude AI is tripping right now. It is like 1995 HTML hell (sic)," wrote one user, while another commented, Claude's UI now looks like it's from Netscape Navigator.

Another user, meanwhile, alleged that Claude AI's developers may have been behind the outage: engineers deleted the CSS file.

They hired new devs or are letting juniors literally use Claude to code Claude LMAO. Look at the artifacts. Everything in the UI has been awful, weighed in another user.

Others, meanwhile, expressed concern that their projects could be affected.

One of my projects  100+ conversations  disappeared. can't find it after reload, the website is down, app is down, wrote one concerned user.

Another added in exasperation, Got the membership today and this happened. Smh!! (sic)."

Also Read | Meta and Nvidia strike multiyear deal to deploy millions of AI chips

What has Anthropic said? Anthropic's website, which shows the status of Claude AI and associated services, acknowledged some issues, with the date 18 February 2026 showing, CSS errors on Claude.ai.

As of 17 February, 11:56 PM UTC, Anthropic said it was investigating the issue before announcing, A fix has been implemented, and we are monitoring the results.

Shortly afterwards, at 12.10 AM UTC on 18 February, Anthropic declared, This incident has been resolved.

The status of Claude AI on 18 February 2026 also showed no major disruptions, with Anthropic reporting 99.61% uptime on claude.ai and 99.82 % uptime on platform.claude.com (formerly console.anthropic.com) over the past 90 days.

View full Image Claude AI status. ( Claude )

Similarly, other services such as Claude API (api.anthropic.com) and Claude Code showed no major disruptions on Tuesday, reporting 99.68% and 99.7% uptime respectively over the past 90 days.

View full Image Claude AI API status ( Claude )

Claude for Government also showed no issues, with the service showing a 100% uptime since data became available.

$30 billion raised in latest funding round Tuesday's outage comes days after Anthropic raised $30 billion in its Series G funding round led by GIC and Coatue, valuing the AI company at $380 billion post-money.

The funding raise came three years after Anthropic reported its first dollar in revenue.

Today, our run-rate revenue is $14 billion, with this figure growing over 10x annually in each of those past three years, the company said in a statement.

This growth has been driven by our position as the intelligence platform of choice for enterprises and developers. The number of customers spending over $100,000 annually on Claude (as represented by run-rate revenue) has grown 7x in the past year, Anthropic said.
An Anthropic spokesman said the company is committed to using frontier AI in support of U.S. national security. Thats why we were the first frontier AI company to put our models on classified networks and the first to provide customized models for national security customers. Anthropic is having productive conversations, in good faith, with the Pentagon on how to continue that work, he said.
Gigafactory flip-flops

Among the series of flip-flops over the last seven months, the contrasting commentary on the expansion of the gigafactory stands out.



On 14 July last year, after the earnings for the first quarter ended June, Aggarwal-led Ola Electric said in a letter to shareholders that given that the EV market has evolved slower in recent quarters, we don't foresee the need to expand beyond 5GWh (capacity) till FY29. The company originally planned to reach 20GWh.
While the company has been able to put its plan together in a relatively short period of time, it is anybodys guess whether Sajjan Jindals dream will lead to a Maruti moment. The JSW Group founder is not one to shy away from risk, especially in the steel business, as he has proved in the past. But unlike steel, a business he has been in for decades, the automobile landscape is relatively uncharted territory. Will the risk-taker be able to script a success here as well? Or will he meet the fate of the many carmakers who crashed and burned by the wayside? Indias roads will reveal the answer in time.
Fast-moving consumer goods player HUL on Wednesday said it will invest 2,000 crore to enhance manufacturing capacity in fast-growing premium categories across beauty & wellbeing and home care segments.

The board of the company on Wednesday approved the proposed investment, according to a regulatory filing from HUL.

"This investment will be done over a period of two years across multiple locations," said HUL, which owns popular brands such as Surf Excel, Rin, Wheel, Domex, Vim, Cif, and Comfort in the home care segment.

This proposed investment is in line with the company's strategy of focusing on fewer, larger bets and strengthening its presence in high-growth demand spaces, including premium skin care, hair care, personal care and home care liquids.

Also Read | HUL margin narrows even as demand improves

The company will leverage advanced automation and digital technologies, said HUL, adding that the capacity expansion is expected to enhance supply-chain efficiency and agility.

This will also enable HUL, which operates with brands such as Dove, Lakme, Pond's, Vaseline, Sunsilk, Glow & Lovely, among others, in the beauty & wellbeing segments, to have a 'faster response' to evolving consumer needs.

"The initiative is aimed at building a future-ready manufacturing network that can effectively support emerging channels and high-growth formats," said HUL.

CEO and Managing Director Priya Nair said this investment reflects HUL's strategic focus on scaling our brands and creating categories of the future to meet evolving consumer needs.

"It also underscores our commitment to building a resilient, technology-enabled supply chain that delivers superior value to consumers," she said.

HUL is the Indian subsidiary of the British multinational consumer goods company Unilever. Globally, India is the second-biggest market for Unilever after the US, contributing around 12-14 per cent of total sales.

Earlier this month, Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez said that across geographies, the US and India are clear "anchor markets" for the FMCG major.

In the December quarter, HUL delivered a 5 per cent underlying sales growth (USG) led by 4 per cent underlying volume growth.
Meta Platforms has struck a sweeping, multiyear agreement with Nvidia that will see the social media company deploy millions of the chipmakers processors across its artificial intelligence data centres, deepening a partnership that has helped define the industrys modern AI boom.

The deal, announced on Tuesday, broadens Metas use of Nvidia hardware beyond graphics processing units, with the company set to become the first major operator to roll out Nvidias Grace central processing units as standalone chips at scale.

The partnership will also bring Meta early access to Nvidias next-generation Vera Rubin systems, as both companies race to build ever-larger computing clusters to power advanced AI models.

Meta doubles down on Nvidia as AI spending surges The expanded partnership arrives as Meta accelerates an infrastructure push that has startled investors with its scale. In January, the company said it could spend as much as $135 billion on AI in 2026. It has also pledged to invest $600 billion in the United States by 2028 on data centres and the physical infrastructure needed to run them.

Were excited to expand our partnership with Nvidia to build leading-edge clusters using their Vera Rubin platform to deliver personal superintelligence to everyone in the world, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said in the statement.

Zuckerberg has repeatedly framed Metas AI strategy as a bid to bring advanced capabilities directly to consumers. He reiterated that ambition in July, describing a long-term push to deliver personal superintelligence to everyone in the world.

Financial terms were not disclosed, though analysts said the commitment is likely to be enormous given Metas projected capital expenditure.

The deal is certainly in the tens of billions of dollars, CNBC quoted chip analyst Ben Bajarin of Creative Strategies. We do expect a good portion of Metas capex to go toward this Nvidia build-out.

Millions of Nvidia GPUs and the Blackwell-to-Rubin transition Nvidia said the agreement will include products from its current Blackwell generation and the forthcoming Vera Rubin design, securing Meta a sizeable supply at a time when demand for top-tier AI accelerators continues to exceed production.

Nvidias Blackwell GPUs have remained on back order for months, and Rubin recently entered production. With the new pact, Meta is positioning itself to scale rapidly while rivals scramble for capacity.

Meta already accounts for roughly 9% of Nvidias revenue, underscoring how much the chipmakers growth has become tied to a small group of mega-buyers building industrial-scale AI systems.

Nvidia Grace CPUs: a rare move into the heart of the server The most notable shift is Metas plan to deploy Nvidias Grace CPUs as standalone chips, rather than only as part of tightly integrated CPU-GPU systems.

Nvidia said this will be the first large-scale deployment of Grace CPUs on their own. The move also signals a more direct challenge to Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, which have long dominated general-purpose server computing.

Theyre really designed to run those inference workloads, run those agentic workloads, as a companion to a Grace Blackwell/Vera Rubin rack, Bajarin said. Meta doing this at scale is affirmation of the soup-to-nuts strategy that Nvidias putting across both sets of infrastructure: CPU and GPU.

The next-generation Vera CPUs are planned to be deployed by Meta in 2027.

Inside Metas data centre buildout: Ohio, Louisiana and beyond Meta has outlined plans for 30 data centres, 26 of which will be based in the United States. Two of its largest AI facilities are already under construction: the Prometheus 1-gigawatt site in New Albany, Ohio, and the 5-gigawatt Hyperion site in Richland Parish, Louisiana.

The sheer energy footprint of these projects has become part of the story. One gigawatt is roughly the amount of electricity needed to power 750,000 homes, and Metas largest planned site is several times that.

Nvidias hardware will sit at the centre of these facilities, linking vast banks of GPUs and CPUs into training and inference clusters capable of running frontier-scale models.

Networking, security and a deep codesign effort The partnership extends beyond processors. Meta will also use Nvidias Spectrum-X Ethernet switches, which connect GPUs across large AI data centres. The companies said engineering teams will work together in deep codesign to optimise and accelerate state-of-the-art AI models for Metas platforms.

Meta will also use Nvidias security capabilities in AI features on WhatsApp, according to the statement.

Ian Buck, Nvidias vice president of accelerated computing, said the two companies are not disclosing a timeline or a dollar figure. But he emphasised that Nvidias breadth of products  spanning chips, systems, networking and software  remains difficult for competitors to match.

There are many different kinds of workloads for CPUs, Buck said. What weve found is that Grace is an excellent back-end data centre CPU, meaning it handles the behind-the-scenes computing tasks.

Meta hedges with AMD, Google and in-house chips Despite the expanded commitment, Meta has continued to test alternatives as it tries to reduce dependence on Nvidia, whose chips have become a bottleneck across the industry.

In November, Nvidia shares fell after reports that Meta was considering Googles tensor processing units for its data centres in 2027. Meta also designs its own silicon and has used AMD chips  a relationship that drew attention after AMD secured a deal with OpenAI in October as AI companies seek second-source suppliers.

Also Read | Nvidia helped DeepSeek hone AI models later used by Chinas military, lawmaker says

Still, Tuesdays announcement is a clear signal that Meta is betting Nvidia will remain the dominant platform for cutting-edge AI infrastructure for years to come.

A high-stakes infrastructure bet amid Wall Street scepticism Metas AI strategy has been closely scrutinised by investors, particularly after the companys ambitious spending projections triggered its worst trading day in three years in October. The stock later surged in January after Meta issued stronger-than-expected sales guidance.

The company is also working on a new frontier AI model dubbed Avocado, intended as a successor to its Llama technology. The latest release last spring failed to generate broad excitement among developers, CNBC previously reported.

For Nvidia, the Meta agreement is another demonstration of how its business has evolved from selling discrete chips to selling a full-stack AI computing platform  one that now extends deeper into the data centre than ever before.
Data analytics firm Palantir on Tuesday (local time) announced that it is moving its headquarters from Denver, Colorado, to Miami, Florida, according to a post on X.

Why is Palantir relocating? The development comes at a time when more tech firms are moving their bases to Florida as the city's civic leadership tries to turn it into the next Silicon Valley, Bloomberg reported.

While Palantir did not state the exact reason for relocating its headquarters to Florida, a CNBC report suggests that Florida offers many benefits, including a favourable tax environment. The city has welcomed a wave of billionaires in recent years. Additionally, the region is attracting more executives as California deliberates a 5% wealth tax on residents with wealth exceeding $1 billion.

Also Read | New York Pension Funds Scrutinize Palantir Over ICE Contract

Billionaires, companies move out to Florida Meta's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly bought a mansion in Florida, and Palantir's co-founder Peter Thiel has established a base in Miami and has been expanding in New York City.

Some other tech companies that are expanding hubs in the region include ServiceNow, which announced in September 2025 that it would add more office space in West Palm Beach. Citadel, a hedge-fund company led by Ken Griffin, is also based in Miami.

Also Read | Mark Zuckerberg joins billionaire ranks buying property in Miami amid wealth tax

About Palantir Founded in Palo Alto, California, in 2003, Palantir Technologies moved to Denver in 2020, and its CEO, Alex Karp, has previously discussed the culture in Silicon Valley. In a letter sent to investors in 2020, Karp justified his company's decision to continue working with government agencies. "Our company was founded in Silicon Valley, he wrote in the letter. But we seem to share fewer and fewer of the technology sectors values and commitments.

In 2025, the company said that it employs 4,429 full-time workers, with significant offices in Palo Alto, New York City, Washington, D.C., and London. Additionally, it also leases space in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, according to its website.

Also Read | Palantir CEO Alex Karp claims the tech giant is first anti-woke company

According to a Guardian report, the data analytics firm's Denver office has often been the site of protest, after it faced criticism for its involvement in the US President Donald Trump's administration's efforts to deport migrants. The report further states that several tools and platforms that were built by Palantir have been used by the federal government in efforts to conduct surveillance and detain immigrants.

Palantir's exit from Denver According to immigration and tech activists in Colorado, the company's exit is a result of their sustained organising. Juan Sebastian Pinto, a former Palantir employee and organiser for AI regulation in Denver, said that a coalition of organisations and unions has mounted pressure on the company's presence in the city. He further said, "Colorado has rejected the values of Palantir  the values of an economy built on exploitation of peoples data, whether its for warfare or for immigration enforcement."
News / National

by Staff reporter

Opposition leader and constitutional law expert Lovemore Madhuku has pledged to mobilise Zimbabweans into "massive protests" against the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill, 2026, describing the changes as sweeping and detrimental to the nation's democratic framework.Speaking on the Citizens Voice Network last week, Madhuku said his party, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), would pursue both political and physical action in response to the Bill, which seeks to alter the method of electing the President and extend terms of office."We will have to come out as NCA to condemn this and then we will have to support that coming out with physical acts," Madhuku said. He added that the party would hold nationwide meetings to mobilise citizens and encourage them to oppose the proposals.Madhuku indicated that street protests were among the options under consideration. "Physical acts would require us to make noise, speak out and to have meetings around the country and try to mobilise people to just be angry against that. What they do with that anger, we just leave it to them," he said, referencing past demonstrations organised by the NCA in 2000, 2003, and 2007.He emphasised his readiness to lead by example, stating, "You should expect to see me again in the streets. I'm able to do that and I will lead members of my party and I will join others who will be doing that."The Amendment Bill, recently approved by Cabinet, proposes repealing Section 92 of the Constitution, which currently provides for the direct election of the President by voters, replacing it with a system in which the President is elected by Members of Parliament sitting jointly. The Bill also seeks to extend the term of office for the President, Vice Presidents, and Parliament from five to seven years, applying these changes to current officeholders.Government has defended the amendments, saying they will strengthen governance, improve stability, and enhance institutional efficiency.However, critics argue that the Bill undermines the 2013 Constitution's term-limit safeguards. Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart warned that amendments benefiting incumbents would require a referendum under Sections 382(7) and 328(9)."The central constitutional issue therefore is not so much whether a President is directly elected or elected by Parliament, but whether these sections can be amended without a referendum," Coltart said. "No matter what semantic gymnastics are employed, a referendum is mandatory."The Amendment Bill is expected to be tabled before Parliament for debate and possible public consultation as part of the legislative process, setting the stage for heightened political tensions in Zimbabwe.
Retail investors have a chance to own stakes in some of the biggest private artificial intelligence, defense and space companies including Elon Musk's SpaceX, ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, Anthropic PBC and Anduril Industries, through the public listing of Powerlaw Corp., Bloomberg reported.

The fund has over $1.2 billion in assets under management and disclosed plans to list, according to a regulatory filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It still needs approval form the US SEC before listing, it added.

Notably, the company is part of Powerlaw Capital Group, a platform run by San Francisco-based Akkadian Ventures that specialises in buying up shares in private companies from existing backers, the company statement added.

Chance to own stakes in banner private companies? Individual US investors have been largely cut off from the exponential growth of companies like OpenAI, which has held recent talks to raise funds at a valuation of as much as $830 billion, up from less than $30 billion a few years ago. By the time companies like this list, much of their value would have already accrued to large venture capital firms or insiders. Powerlaw is part of a breed of new vehicles emerging to bridge that gap for so-called mom-and-pop investors.

With the pool of capital in private markets, the best companies are not choosing to go public, said John Spinale, managing partner of venture firm Jazz Venture Partners and an investor in Powerlaw Corp. This robs the public the ability to access the high-growth firms.

The funds name come from the power-law dynamics in venture investing, where a small number of companies have historically driven a disproportionate percentage of outcomes. Its invested $355 million across 18 of the worlds most valuable private tech companies through secondary transactions. Thats included direct purchases, striking deals with employees to buy their shares, or banding together with other small investors in a special purpose vehicle.

The fund is opting for a direct listing, which means unlike a traditional IPO  where new shares are sold to raise capital it will sell existing shares by current stockholders. Once the fund receives regulatory approval, investors can buy shares through a brokerage account on the open market, just like buying any other listed stock.

Risk factors to consider The structure benefits Powerlaw Corp. as well  with fewer of these companies going public, venture capital investors and early backers havent been able to translate sky-high valuations on paper into a cash return. The company will gain access to a broader investor base through the listing and, if it performs well on the market, can raise new capital to deploy into its investments. It also plans to charge its shareholders a 2.5% management fee.

Risks include the tendency of closed-end investment companies, like the one planned by Powerlaw Corp., to trade at a discount to their net asset values. Meaning even if the portfolio is doing well, the share price might lag, the company said in its prospectus. It also warned that the private companies it invests in make limited information public and arent required to disclose detailed financial statements.

It marked its net asset value at about $475 million as of late last year, according to an SEC filing.

While most US retail investors have been historically prevented from investing in private markets  which usually requires wealth of more than $1 million or annual income of at least $200,000  alternative asset managers have been pushing to open up access to private markets.

The bankruptcy of Linqto, an investment platform that allowed retail buyers to invest in unlisted companies highlighted the risks of private markets. The firm, which offered stakes in companies from SpaceX to Anthropic, set up special purpose vehicles to buy shares in the companies and then sold units in the SPV to its customers.

Powerlaw Corp. holds stakes in its portfolio companies via a mix of equity, convertible notes, SPVs and forward contracts.

Theres a convergence of private assets and public markets. More people are trying to get exposure to private companies via public access vehicles, and there are pros and cons to each of the vehicles where you can do this, James Seyffart, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence said.
Germanys biggest union is accusing Tesla Inc. of fostering a toxic working environment at the carmakers factory near Berlin, as tensions mount ahead of a contested works council election.

The US manufacturer is overworking employees and putting pressure on staff that have fallen ill, IG Metall said Wednesday. The union applied for an injunction at a labor court over what it said were false allegations that one of its members recorded a works council meeting on a laptop. It asked prosecutors to investigate a local Tesla manager for defamation.

Teslas management is attacking unions in Germany with unprecedented aggression, said Jan Otto, a regional IG Metall leader. The company must not be allowed to get away with this.

The comments showcase escalating friction ahead of a crucial works council election at Teslas German factory next month. IG Metall is hoping to win a majority at the vote to implement the kind of wage agreement that are standard in Europes biggest economy.

Also Read | Elon Musk and Tim Cook warn of growing chip shortage amid AI boom

Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has repeatedly expressed hostility toward unions and collective bargaining deals. In Germany, labor leaders typically hold half the seats on supervisory boards at major companies, handing them the ability to influence and block strategic decisions.

Tesla didnt immediately reply to a call for comment.

The vote at Tesla  and similar ones taking place in March at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Porsche AG and Volkswagen AG  come at a tense time for Europes auto industry. Companies are shifting research and production to lower-cost countries while demand remains below pre-pandemic levels. The Germany industry has shed tens of thousands of jobs in the past years, leaving IG Metall grappling with broader questions about its relevance in a period of rapid change.

Also Read | What a SpaceXxAI merger could mean for Tesla stock

At Tesla, the situation is especially critical as the companys European sales are slumping in a growing EV market. In Germany, where it produces the Model Y in the small town of Grunheide, new Tesla registrations plunged 48% in 2025. The companys staff there have long complained about unfair working conditions.

IG Metall said its cooperating with an investigation into the laptop dispute, with the employee offering authorities access to the device to speed up the probe and refute the claim. The union is calling for changes at Grunheide including more personnel, more shift breaks and more flexible vacation time.
Quote of the Day: Success can cause people to unlearn the habits that made them successful in the first place  Satya Nadella

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, is known for being one of the topmost tech leaders of the world. He uses his position to mostly comment on current tech developments and often shares his predictions on the sector. Satya Nadella also has often shared some profound insights on life.

In his 2017 book Hit Refresh, Satya Nadella talked about success and its implications on people.

Quote of the day by Satya Nadella Success can cause people to unlearn the habits that made them successful in the first place, Satya Nadella says in his book.

What does Satya Nadella's quote mean? Satya Nadella used this quote in his 2017 book Hit Refresh. The quote is a reminder for us all that success can lead to complacency sometimes. It is important to stay grounded and empathetic to keep growing and not suffering a fall.

The quote highlights that success can often make us unlearn habits and instead cause us to lose the disciplined, hungry, or innovative ideas that made us successful in the first place and came as a driving power to our initial initiatives.

If we forget these habits, it can often lead to overconfidence, reduced efforts and neglect of the very foundations that made us successful.

The quote highlights a practice that humans often find themselves doing and thus leading to mistakes. When we become successful, many of us can take it for granted and start relaxing with the pressure being less, leading us to be lenient in our efforts.

Through this quote, Satya Nadella emphasises the need to keep learning and never stopping the practices that laid the path towards a successful life. It is necessary to have a learn it all attitude than a know it all attitude.

The quote serves as a reminder to leaders and CEOs as well as other individuals to maintain curiosity, discipline and the willingness to deal with failure  qualities that sent them to the top.

The quote is a central theme to Satya Nadella's book Hit Refresh.

Who is Satya Nadella? All about the Indian-origin Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Microsoft, one of the largest companies in the world. He is the first India-born person to assume the top leadership role at the company.

Under Nadella, Microsoft has more cloud computing revenue than Google, more subscribers than Netflix.

Joining Microsoft in 1992, he quickly became known as a leader who could span a breadth of technologies and businesses to transform some of Microsofts biggest product offerings.

Before becoming the CEO of Microsoft in 2014, Nadella held leadership roles in both enterprise and consumer businesses across the company.

Also Read | Quote of the day by Elon Musk

Before joining Microsoft, Nadella worked at Sun Microsystem. He joined Microsoft in the role of an engineer. In 2025, Satya Nadella drew a massive salary of $96.5 million.

Originally from Hyderabad, India, Nadella lives in Bellevue, Washington, with his family. He earned a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Mangalore University, a masters degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin  Milwaukee and a masters degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.
Chennai-based global technology services provider Zoho Corporation's co-founder and chief scientist, Sridhar Vembu, while attending the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Wednesday, 18 February, said that India might outpace the United States in adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) over the next 10 years, reported news agency PTI.

Citing historical examples from India and the power of youth in the country, Vembu said he was confident the population would embrace the new wave of AI technology.

in 10 yearsIndia might be faster in terms of AI adoption than even America, Sridhar Vembu said at the AI Impact Summit 2026.

Giving an example of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) on how it became mass-scale in India, Sridhar Vembu said that AI also have the potential to be the same, according to the agency report.

History to repeat itself? Zoho's Sridhar Vembu also highlighted how fibre optics was the technology of America back in the early 2000s, after which American venture capitalists sold 10s of billions (dollars) into telecom companies, particularly fibre optics, and it is everywhere in India now, but not so much in the United States anymore.

Vembu's example showed how India seized the opportunity, adapting lessons America learnt from fibre-optics technology and directly went into fibre and mobile, which marked a huge step towards the country's digital move.

According to the agency report, Vembu further said that the reason India is likely to outpace America in AI adoption is that we have a very youthful, optimistic population. We don't have a population that is very skeptical...which is a blessing.

He said that, unlike the unwilling crowd, India is open to accepting and embracing artificial intelligence at a much higher level. To stay ahead in the AI sector, Vembu urged young entrepreneurs and start-ups to optimistically experiment and keep learning from challenges, as per the report.

Vembu allays mass job loss fears Mint reported earlier that Zoho's Sridhar Vembu, in a social media post on 16 February, pushed back against fears of mass job losses, saying that white-collar roles will not vanish anytime soon because of the artificial intelligence push.

The quoted post makes a strong argument that white collar jobs won't go away anytime soon due to AI, said Sridhar Vembu in his post on X. The Zoho co-founder recommended that people follow certain steps in these changing times to present their strong stance in times of AI innovation.

Vembu urged people to keep an open mind and absorb every kind of information, while forming some opinions, but hold them loosely subject to revision.

Be ready to make U-turns quickly during this phase, said Sridhar Vembu in his post. He also said that over time, your opinions should solidify into convictions, but never force them. You cannot buy a conviction; it has to come from within.
The first person added that SBI will not look to raise the stake to 100% since the JV has performed well in the current structure and the presence of Investec has helped. The idea now is to get a bigger say and that would only be possible with a majority stake under the current regulations.
At the end of the previous funding round, co-founders Jain and Harish Reddy held a 36.7% stake in Stable Money, according to data from intelligence firm Tracxn. When asked, Jain didn't specify how much his and Reddys stake was diluted after the pre-Series C round.
The first fruits of a promised $550 billion investment agreement between the US and Japan are already tainted with pollution.

A unit of SoftBank Group Corp. will invest $33 billion in a natural gas power station in Ohio that would be the worlds biggest non-renewable power station. Another $2.1 billion will be spent on a crude oil export terminal. The two projects are the main elements in the first tranche of a deal intended to reduce tariffs on Japanese imports from 25% to 15% in return for investments in the US.

That carbon-heavy outcome might come as no surprise for Washington, where the administration of President Donald Trump has been ordering the Pentagon to buy coal-fired power and turning lumps of fuel into kawaii mascots. But surely Japan  the land that invented the lithium-ion battery and hybrid car  knows better?

Not really. In truth, Japan has been quietly doing for years what Trump is so loud about now  fighting a rearguard action against the energy transition to protect the status of incumbent businesses. Its involvement in the latest swath of Trump projects is less a plot twist than a reversion to type.

Japans export-finance agency, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, or JBIC, is the dirtiest foreign financier in Southeast Asia, according to a study last year by the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, a Philippines-based clean power think-tank. More than a third of Southeast Asias coal power finance between 2016 and 2024 came from Japanese banks, and more than a fifth of gas.

This activity has continued in spite of Japan signing on to international agreements, such as the 2022 Group of Seven communique promising to end such state support. JBIC alone has provided $3.9 billion for such projects since its 2022 commitment, according to Friends of the Earth Japan.

Government backing for dirty energy overseas is best understood as an extension of the magical thinking that passes for an energy transition policy at home. Japan is resting many of its hopes for decarbonization not on closing its fossil power plants, but on scattering biomass and ammonia into furnaces still fueled 80% by conventional lumps of coal.

That reduces emissions only marginally and raises costs by about 50%, so by most measures its a non-starter. If government money can be used to prop up an export market for the technology, however, theres a slim chance Japans industrial companies can sell it, while its utilities avoid having to write down obsolete assets.

A common justification for Japans foot-dragging is that clinging to fossil fuels is necessary to resist clean energy supply chains dominated by China.

Thats not right, though. Sharp Corp. was at one time the biggest producer of solar panels on the planet, and Panasonic Holdings Corp. and Kyocera Corp. were major manufacturers too. All have largely exited the business now, squeezed as much by an atrophying domestic market as by competition from hungrier Chinese rivals. Just four gigawatts of solar was installed in 2024, the lowest figure since 2012.

Its similar with wind, which barely operates in Japan thanks to objections from farmers, fishing vessels and landowners. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. was once a big player, but it has been left behind by European, US and Chinese rivals who build turbines 10 times bigger. In a business where competition from Chinese exports is still largely absent, its affiliate Mitsubishi Corp. last year quit three offshore wind projects anyway.

The best explanation for whats happening is not so very different to the state of energy politics in Washington these days: Japans oligarchic utility sector has captured its own regulators, alongside JBIC and the powerful Ministry for Economy, Trade and Industry, to prop up its existing business and exclude cleaner competitors.

The US can at least make the argument that its rich in fossil fuels. It exports about 9% more energy than it consumes, on net. Japan, however, is one of the most energy-import-dependent economies on the planet, with only 13% produced domestically.

Thats an existential risk that its fossil fuel addiction makes worse. Within the past few months alone, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has found herself in a bruising diplomatic battle with Beijing over how Japan would respond to an attack on Taiwan. At the same time, the Chinese navy has been practicing how it would blockade Taiwans ports and interdict shipping in the western Pacific in just such a crisis.

Were Japan to find itself cut off from the sources of its imported energy in the event of such a conflict, its inventories of the LNG and coal that provide two-thirds of its electricity would run out in around a month. Crude would last for six months, thanks to stockpiles introduced after the 1973 oil embargo plunged the nation into just such a crisis of panic buying and recession. Nuclear fuel would deplete within two years. The solar panels and wind farms that Japan is currently spurning, however, would keep going well into the 2050s. That looks like energy security, if only Tokyo would recognize it.

Previous generations of Japanese strategists understood the risks of energy insecurity. By aligning with an isolationist US to bolster its quixotic campaign against a world transitioning to clean energy, todays leaders risk compounding those dangers  for Japan, and for the planet.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

David Fickling is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering climate change and energy. Previously, he worked for Bloomberg News, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
In January 2026, India's merchandise imports from Russia fell by 40.48% to $2.86 billion, compared with $4.81 billion at the same time last year, Hindustan Times reported, citing data released on 16 February.

India's Russian crude oil imports decline The reduction in merchandise imports is largely due to Indian refiners drastically cutting crude oil purchases from Russia. Of India's total merchandise imports from Russia, petroleum crude typically accounts for about 80%. Citing sources, the report added that New Delhi's actual imports of Russian crude oil in the month were estimated at around $2.3 billion, or possibly lower.

It is worth noting that while the government released overall trade data for January 2026 on 16 February, a breakdown by product categories or individual countries is yet to be shared.

List of goods that India imports from Russia Apart from crude oil, India also imports several other goods from Russia, which include coal, coke, select petroleum products, fertilisers, iron, newsprint, project goods, pulses, pearls, and precious and semi-precious stones.

India's Russian crude oil imports peaked in April 2025 The decline in India's import of Russian crude oil between 2025 and 2026 began after the imports peaked at $4.73 billion in April 2025, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced "Liberation Day" tariffs. Washington also pressured India against buying Russian crude oil, accusing New Delhi of fuelling Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. However, New Delhi rejected Washington's claims and defended its crude oil purchases from Russia, citing its energy security needs.

Also Read | Energy security is supreme priority, says MEA as India seeks to diversify needs

However, in August 2025, the US imposed an additional 25% tariff on India solely for its continued purchase of Russian crude oil, bringing the country's tariff to 50%, the highest in the world alongside Brazil. Following the punitive tariffs, New Delhi witnessed a decline in its Russian crude oil imports to $3.32 billion in September, a roughly 30% drop from April 2025.

Indian refiners leave Russian crude oil The recent decline in Russian oil imports comes at a time when the Indian refiners issued a statement saying that they have stopped purchasing crude oil from Russia, according to the report, citing sources. On 9 January, responding to a news report, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the country's largest private refiner, in a post on X, said that they were not expecting "any Russian crude oil" deliveries. RIL's refining capacity is reported at over 68 million tonnes per annum.

The report further said that the decline in merchandise imports from Russia is likely to deepen in the coming months, as India's refiners move away from Russia and pivot towards Venezuela to buy crude oil. Refiners in New Delhi have been considering Washington's offer to buy cheaper Venezuelan crude, a source told Hindustan Times.

US President says India to buy crude oil from Venezuela Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, US President Donald Trump, on 31 January, said that New Delhi has agreed to purchase Venezuelan oil. Before Washington levied sanctions on Venezuela's oil, India was one of the key buyers of their crude oil.

Days later, on 6 February, Trump announced that the US and India had agreed to a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and that the US had removed an additional 25% tariffs on crude oil imports from Russia. He said that New Delhi committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil and agreed to purchase U.S. energy products. The US is also keen for India to resume purchasing energy from Venezuela.

Also Read | Trump announces India-US trade deal after speaking with PM Modi

India's oil imports from Russia, Venezuela Between 2012 and 2013, India's crude oil imports from Venezuela totalled $14.10 billion, which declined gradually due to evolving geopolitical conditions. These imports touched zero between 2021 and 2022, government data showed.
PARIS (AP)  Gisele Pelicots memoir was released on Tuesday in 22 languages worldwide, sharing details of the horror she went through and sending a powerful message of hope and support to victims of sexual abuse.

I wanted my story to help others, Pelicot told French national channel France 5 last week ahead of the release of her book, A Hymn to Life, Shame has to Change Sides.

Pelicot recounted her story of survival in the book and in her first series of interviews since the landmark 2024 trial that turned her into a global icon against sexual violence and imprisoned her husband, who drugged her so other men could assault her.

Today Im doing better, and this book allowed me to engage in self-reflection, to take stock of my life, she said. I had to try to rebuild myself on this field of ruins. Today I am a woman standing strong.

Pelicot said her book is meant to deliver a message of hope to all the women who are going through a very complicated period in their lives.

The shocking case  and Pelicots decision to waive her anonymity and speak publicly  prompted a reckoning over rape culture in France and beyond, as her dignity and strength impressed many across the world.

Gymnastic superstar and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, herself a survivor of sexual abuse, paid tribute to Pelicot in a message broadcast by the BBC.

Gisele has demonstrated to the world that its not for victims of sexual abuse to feel shame  its the perpetrators, Biles said. By waiving her anonymity and refusing to feel shame, Gisele paves the way for other victims to come forward.

At the Des Femmes (Womens) bookstore in Paris, several readers were eager to buy Pelicots book on the day of its release.

I want to read it, said Cecile Megueulle, who admires Pelicot. But I tell myself that reading it will be  actually a little scary. The fact of not being in her shoes but being able to see the other side of the mirror, how she experienced it and how she managed  I dont know if we can say that  to get through it.

Selma Memic, a lawyer from Geneva, Switzerland, said: The case was known as the Pelicot case  and now were going to hear about Gisele. So, thats maybe what Im looking for. Who is Gisele? What are her feelings? How does she look back at it (the trial)?

In December 2024, Pelicots ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, and 50 other men were convicted of sexually assaulting her between 2011 and 2020 while she was under chemical submission. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the other defendants received sentences ranging from three to 15 years.

An appeals court later increased the sentence handed to Husamettin Dogan, a construction worker who was the only defendant who challenged his conviction.

Dominique Pelicot, whom Gisele Pelicot had been married to for nearly 50 years, acknowledged that for years he mixed sedatives into her food and drink so he could rape her and invite other men to do the same.

The unprecedented trial exposed how online pornography, chat rooms and distorted notions of consent can fuel sexual violence.

France passed a law last October that defines rape and other sexual assault as any non-consensual sexual act in the wake of the Pelicot case, joining many other European nations that have similar consent-based laws, including neighboring Germany, Belgium and Spain. Until then, rape under French law was defined as penetration or oral sex using violence, coercion, threat or surprise.

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Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada OTT releases this week: A new set of original and OTT releases is here. Starting from 19 February, new releases across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages will be streaming online on OTT platforms like JioHotstar, Netflix, Sun NXT, ZEE5 and more. From Lucky the Superstar to Chatha Pacha to Amos Alexander, check out the interesting lineup that can be enjoyed online.

Lucky the Superstar

Plot: The direct-to-OTT family drama revolves around a lost, "lucky" puppy that changes the lives of those who encounters him, including aiding a child who gets involved in a political conflict.

Cast: GV Prakash Kumar, Anaswara Rajan, Devadarshini, Kovai Sarala, Motta Rajendran

OTT platform: JioHotstar

OTT release date: February 20, 2026

Chatha Pacha

Plot: Inspired by WWE, three friends form an underground wrestling show in Kochi. The Malayalam story follows their journey from their childhood obsession to real life local matches while dealing with their own problems, rivalries, and drama.

Cast: Arjun Ashokan, Roshan Mathew, Vishak Nair, Ishan Shoukath, Mammootty

OTT release date: February 19, 2026

Where to watch: Netflix

Amos Alexander

Plot: A journalist couple who host a true crime show, interview a convicted rapist after he claims there are more startling revelations. But as the interview progresses, unexpected details surface, which also have a direct link to the couple.

Cast: Jaffer Idukki, Aju Varghese, Tara Amala Joseph, Ashraf Pilakkal, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Sreejith Ravi, Sunil Sukhada, Dayana Hameed, Nadirsha

OTT release date: February 20, 2026

Where to watch: Sun NXT

Raakshasa

Plot: Along the misty banks of the Ghattaprabha River, a quiet village is shaken by a series of disturbing discoveries. As fear spreads and faith takes over, Sub-Inspector Hanmappa is pulled into an investigation where truth is buried beneath belief, ritual, and silence. Caught between duty and family, logic and tradition, Hanmappa follows a trail that forces him to look beyond evidence  into the lives, wounds, and motives of those involved. Raakshasa is a crime thriller rooted in human choices, fragile relationships, and the thin line between justice and compassion, reads the official synopsis of the Kannada release.

Cast: Vijay Raghavendra, Mayuri Kyatari, Appanna Ramadurga, Avinash Yelandur, MS Jahangir, Abhijith, Hulugappa Kattimani, Mahadev Hadapad, Sushmitha Jagappa

OTT release date: February 20, 2026

Where to watch: ZEE5

Neeli Hakki Plot: The film narrates the simple yet deeply emotional journey of Sidda, a 10-year-old village boy whose life changes when his family relocates to the city for a better future. It explores how the young boy struggles to adapt to an unfamiliar environment, new surroundings, and the emotional challenges that come with leaving behind an integral part of his childhood. Will he accept his new surroundings, or does he go back to the village?

Cast: Gopal Krishna Deshpande, Nidhi Hegde, Naresh Bhat

OTT release date: February 20, 2026

Where to watch: Sun NXT

Sri Chidambaram Garu

Plot: The story is based on a broken young man who hides behind shame and a borrowed name. Through love, pain, and courage, he goes on a self-discovery journey and learns to see himself clearly as who he truly is.

Cast: Tulasi, Vamsi Tummala, Sandhya Vashishta

OTT release date: February 19, 2026
News / National

by Staff reporter

Police in Bulawayo have launched a manhunt for two-year-old Asandra Ndhlovu, who was allegedly kidnapped at a local mall at the corner of L. Takawira Avenue and J. Moyo Street on February 17, 2026.Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident, dismissing social media reports claiming the child had been found. She urged anyone with information to contact the child's mother on 0718333182 or 0777949816, or report to the nearest police station.The mother, a 25-year-old resident of New Lobengula, Bulawayo, was attending to customers at her workplace while her daughter played nearby. About 20 minutes later, she discovered the child was missing.Mall CCTV footage reportedly shows an unidentified male suspect wearing a brown hooded jacket and blue work-suit trousers carrying the toddler out of the mall. The child was dressed in a pink jersey, blue jean trousers, and was barefoot at the time of the abduction."A police report was filed, leading to the launch of a manhunt," Msebele said, appealing to the public for assistance in locating the missing toddler.Authorities are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward to aid in the safe recovery of Asandra Ndhlovu.
The Delhi government has approved a 802.18 crore project to redevelop nearly 400 kilometres of roads across 45 Assembly constituencies, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Monday. The Public Works Department (PWD) will undertake the upgradation of over 241 major roads under a full-width resurfacing model.

Of the total project cost, 643.36 crore will be financed through the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) of the Government of India, while 158.82 crore will be contributed by the Delhi government. Officials said the works are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year and will be carried out in phases to reduce traffic disruption.

The roads will be upgraded under a wall-to-wall carpeting approach, under which resurfacing and strengthening will be carried out across the entire width of the road instead of patch-based repairs. According to the government, this method is expected to enhance structural stability and extend the lifespan of road surfaces.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the project aims to provide durable road infrastructure and reduce recurring maintenance issues. The objective is not temporary repair but long-term strengthening of road stretches, she said, adding that the model would ensure uniform surface quality.

Each identified road will undergo a technical assessment of its base layer, strengthening where necessary, improvement of drainage systems and final resurfacing in accordance with engineering standards. Officials indicated that improved drainage infrastructure would help reduce waterlogging during the monsoon.

The government also linked the project to efforts to address road dust, a known contributor to particulate matter levels in the Capital. Damaged road surfaces often generate loose particles that become airborne due to vehicular movement. Comprehensive resurfacing, the administration said, is expected to reduce such dust emissions.

Among the roads included in the project are August Kranti Marg in Malviya Nagar, Outer Ring Road, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Kapashera-Bijwasan Road, Najafgarh-Jharoda Road, Captain Gaur Marg in Kalkaji, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg in Greater Kailash, Dr K.N. Katju Marg in Rohini, Shamnath Marg in Chandni Chowk, D.B. Gupta Road in Karol Bagh, ESI Hospital Road in Shahdara, Tanga Stand Road in Seemapuri, Preet Vihar Road, Patparganj Road, Khichripur Road, Khudiram Bose Road, Khajuri Flyover, Gokalpuri Flyover, Zero Pusta Road, Seelampur Road and Loni Road.

Officials noted that approximately 150 kilometres of roads were upgraded last year using similar techniques. The current programme forms part of a broader infrastructure push aimed at improving road safety, traffic flow and overall urban mobility in Delhi.
There are about 10,000 people who work in the building and 55 seats inside Morgans. Worker bees looking to unwind with a pint dont often get beyond the glass doors, which sometimes offer a view of empty tables booked by no-show bankers while the main bar is packed. Some young employees are now making reservations at the gastropub in the sky weeks in advance.
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, campaigned on raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations to pay for many of his initiatives such as free child care and free bus service. Increasing taxes on corporations and on the wealthy, however, requires the approval of the state legislature and governor.
Bank Holiday Today, 18 February: All public and private sector banks will be open today on 18 February except Sikkim, where there is a bank holiday today for Losar.

Since there is a bank holiday today in Sikkim due to Losar, lenders including SBI, HDFC Bank, PNB, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and others will remain closed in the state. However, banks will be open everywhere else in India.

How are bank holidays decided? Bank holidays in India are decided by the Reserve Bank of India, which publishes the RBI bank holiday calendar at the beginning of every year.

Bank holidays are followed as per the RBI bank holiday calendar.

The RBI categorises all bank holidays into three parts, namely, Negotiable Instruments Act, Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) holidays and banks closing of accounts.

Bank holidays vary from region to region depending upon the festivals and observances there. However, all banks observe holidays on national holidays like Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti.

Apart from these, banks remain closed on second and fourth Saturdays, and all Sundays of every month.

Losar 2026 Losar is a Tibetan festival, celebrated largely in states like Sikkim. Celebrated by Buddhists, Losar holiday is a new year's festival, celebrated on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar.

Losar predates the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet and has its roots in a winter incense-burning custom of the Bon religion.

Losar is being celebrated in India from 18 February to 20 February this year. The first three days of the festival are considered crucial.

The first day is said to be Lama-Losar, people visit monasteries, pay respect to the Lamas and receive their blessings. The first day is usually spent with family members only.

Remaining bank holidays in February Apart from the weekend holidays, there are just three bank holidays in February. Here is a list of the remaining bank holidays in February.

February 18  Wednesday  Bank holiday in Gangtok, Sikkim for Losar, a festival celebrated by the Tibetan community.

February 19  Thursday  There will be a bank holiday in Mumbai, Nagpur and Belapur in Maharashtra on occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti.

February 20  Friday  Bank holiday in Aizawl (Mizoram), Imphal (Manipur) on account of State Day / Statehood Day celebrations.

February 22  Sunday  Pan India holiday for Sunday weekend.

February 28  Saturday  Pan India holiday on account of fourth Saturday.

What to do during emergency on bank holiday? Emergencies do not come with prior announcements and you may find yourself in dire need of cash. However, there is no need to worry.
Bank holiday for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti: Banks in Maharashtra will be closed on Thursday, 19 February, on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti. Therefore, it will be a bank holiday for all public and private lenders including SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, PNB and Axis Bank among others.

Bank holidays are decided by the Reserve Bank of India, where lenders follow the RBI bank holiday calendar that is released at the beginning of every year.

Bank holidays in India Bank holidays can differ from region to region. For example, while there is a bank holiday tomorrow in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, branches in other parts of India will be open.

RBI categorises bank holidays into regional and national holidays. On regional holidays, banks close in specific regions and states where people celebrate certain festivals and observe certain occasions. On national holidays, there is a bank holiday for all banks across India.

Apart from this, banks remain closed on second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays of a month.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is celebrated on 19 February every year, and the state of Maharashtra celebrates it with much fervour. Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of Maratha empire, and remains an icon of Maharashtra and India as a whole.

The day is observed to honour the birth of the Maratha Empire founder, born in 1630 in Pune. The day promotes his values of courage, justice, and patriotism, inspiring millions, particularly in Maharashtra.

Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti celebration started in Pune and was reportedly initiated by Mahatma Phule in 1870. Later, it was promoted by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1895.

The day is not just a celebration of the birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj but also a day to cherish and propagate the ideas and values of Shivaji Maharaj, including courage, strategic thinking, justice, religious tolerance, patriotism, public welfare, empowerment of people.

Bank holidays in February Here is the full list of bank holidays in February 2026 

February 1  Sunday  Pan India holiday for Sunday weekend.

February 8  Sunday  Pan India holiday for Sunday weekend.

February 14  Saturday  Pan India holiday on account of second Saturday.

February 15  Sunday  Pan India holiday for Sunday weekend.

February 18  Wednesday  Bank holiday in Gangtok, Sikkim for Losar. Celebrated by the Tibetan community, Losar literally translates to year fresh and is part of the New Year celebrations in the state.

February 19  Thursday  Bank holiday in Mumbai, Nagpur and Belapur in Maharashtra on occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, when people celebrate the birth anniversary of one of the greatest warriors and rulers of India and commemorates his legacy.

February 20  Friday  Bank holiday in Aizawl (Mizoram), Imphal (Manipur) on account of State Day / Statehood Day celebrations.

February 22  Sunday  Pan India holiday for Sunday weekend.

February 28  Saturday  Pan India holiday on account of fourth Saturday.
From his perch at Pittsburgh-based EQT, a company with market capitalization of $36 billion, Toby Rice has preached the benefits of selling more American natural gas across the globe to reduce emissions and strengthen the security of the U.S. and its allies. Now he is wading into a debate: Should impoverished societies be encouraged to rely on polluting fossil fuels to improve their fortunes, or leapfrog to intermittent renewables?
New Delhi: The department of telecommunications (DoT) has stepped in to solve the network crisis at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), asking operator Adani Group to allow telecom companies to deploy network at the airport in accordance with the law.

In a 16 February letter to Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, the DoT said NMIA qualifies as a public entity under the Telecom Act, 2023, and therefore must allow carriers to deploy the network.

The intervention from the telecom department has come at a time when passengers at the airport have been complaining about the absence of mobile network from private telecom operators. Telcos alleged that the airport operator asked them to utilize its own exclusive in-building telecom network at unreasonably high charges.

Telecom operators, represented by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), had sought the governments and the telecom regulators intervention to resolve the issue, alleging that NMIA quoted exorbitantly" high charges for laying mobile infrastructure inside the airport.

According to the operators, NMIA has sought about 92 lakh per month per operator, amounting to nearly 44.16 crore annually for four operators, to deploy network infrastructure and provide mobile connectivity.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is also currently examining the pricing concerns faced by telecom companies at the Navi Mumbai airport.

The airport had also proposed reduced charges in line with pricing at Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which is about 40 lakh per month. However, operators did not accept the proposal, arguing that the charges were not reasonable given the airports footfall, according to a telecom executive. At some other major airports, such as Delhi, operators pay around 1012 lakh per month.

Beyond pricing, telecom operators have alleged that they were denied RoW permissions for installing telecom infrastructure at the airport. NMIA, however, has said that RoW has never been denied to any telecom service provider.

The department has asked the Adani Group to process right of way (RoW) applications of telecom operators in a fair, non-discriminatory and transparent manner to facilitate the establishment of necessary telecom infrastructure.

you are requested to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024, while processing applications for grant of RoW permissions within your premises, and to take necessary action to facilitate establishment of telecom infrastructure in accordance with the statutory framework, DoT said in a letter to Adani Airport Holdings CEO Arun Bansal. Mint has seen a copy of the letter.

Queries emailed to Adani Group and DoT remained unanswered till press time.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is also currently examining the pricing concerns faced by telecom companies at the Navi Mumbai airport.

The airport had also proposed reduced charges in line with pricing at Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which is about 40 lakh per month. However, operators did not accept the proposal, arguing that the charges were not reasonable given the airports footfall, according to a telecom executive. At some other major airports, such as Delhi, operators pay around 1012 lakh per month.

Beyond pricing, telecom operators have alleged that they were denied RoW permissions for installing telecom infrastructure at the airport. NMIA, however, has said that RoW has never been denied to any telecom service provider.

To be sure, NMIA has deployed its own in-building solution as a neutral-host mobile network, allowing telecom operators to offer coverage through the airports indoor network instead of installing separate equipment.

Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecom Right of Way (RoW) Rules, licensed telecom service providers are entitled to seek RoW from public entities that own, control or manage public property for deploying telecom infrastructure. The rules require such access to be granted on reasonable, transparent and non-discriminatory terms, with charges limited to administrative or restoration costs, and not as a source of commercial revenue.

Experts said DoTs classification of an airport as a public entity under the right-of-way framework caps prices under three heads: modest one-time application fees; reimbursement of actual restoration costs at central and state public work department rates; and RoW compensation only where telecom use renders property unusable for other purposes.

Notably, compensation is nil for underground networks and even most overground cases. Rules 7(11) and 9(9) of the RoW Rules expressly prohibit any other fee, charge, rent, annuity, entry fee or financial contribution beyond these limits, said Neerav Merchant, partner at AQUILAW. Therefore, telecom operators are entitled to deploy their own infrastructure on these capped, transparent terms, without being compelled to use any in-house network.

Also Read | Telecom operators, Adani spar over network rollout at Navi Mumbai airport

As pricing discussions with operators continue, NMIA is offering Wi-Fi connectivity to travellers. Passengers can also access the state-owned BSNL mobile network at the airport.

However, connectivity is available only outside the airport premises, after aircraft land and passengers are deboarded via aerobridges or buses. Inside the terminal, mobile networks do work, and volunteers are stationed to help passengers connect to Wi-Fi.

If Navi Mumbai International Airport is treated as a public entity under the Right-of-Way (RoW) framework of the Telecommunications Act, its role shifts from a commercial gatekeeper to a statutory access provider, said Athira T.S., associate partner at King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys. The airport operator would be restricted to recovering only reasonable administrative and restoration costs directly linked to the RoW permission.

According to Athira, pricing cannot be used as a tool to control entry or to favour a particular deployment model. Therefore, a high-monthly per-operator charge would be inconsistent with the RoW framework unless it relates to a voluntary value-added service rather than basic infrastructure access.

Last month, Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises Ltd, said the connectivity issue would be resolved.
Gold, silver rates today: Gold and silver prices remain volatile this week amid thin trading during Lunar New Year holidays across China, South Korea and other Asian markets.

With China  a key physical and futures market  shut, global liquidity has thinned. Chinese exchanges have become major sources of incremental demand and leverage in precious metals, playing an increasingly influential role in price discovery alongside COMEX.

After falling for two days in a row, gold and silver prices jumped up to 3% in the domestic futures market on Wednesday, February 18.

Gold futures for April delivery on the MCX surged almost 1.2%, to 1,53,554 per 10 grams, while silver futures for March delivery climbed 3.41% to 2,38,564 per kg.

On the international front, spot gold rose 1.2% to $4,934.74 per ounce, recovering after a decline of more than 2% in the previous session. Meanwhile, spot silver advanced 3.2% to $75.79 per ounce, rebounding from a drop of over 5% on Tuesday.

How do Lunar New Year holidays impact gold and silver prices? During Chinas Lunar New Year holidays, gold and silver often witness lower participation, as major Asian exchangesincluding those in Shanghai and Hong Kongremain closed, creating a temporary liquidity vacuum, according to market experts.

This reduced activity can amplify volatility, with prices sometimes dropping sharply due to weaker physical demand and fewer market makers. Historically, these pullbacks tend to be seasonal rather than structural, with prices stabilising once Asian markets reopen and normal trading resumes, said Hareesh V, Head of Commodity Research at Geojit Investments Limited.

Aamir Makda, Commodity & Currency Analyst at Choice Broking, noted that historically, this period triggers a price correction. Once the pre-holiday buying pressure from China ceases, traders who entered positions early often engage in profit-taking, leading to a downward shift in momentum.

With the Shanghai Futures Exchange closed for holidays, price discovery shifts to COMEX, where paper trading drives short-term moves. This matters because physical buffers are thin, highlighted Harshal Dasani, Business Head, INVasset PMS.

Shanghai Futures Exchange silver inventories have plunged from over 3,000 tonnes in 2021 to about 350 tonnes  marking the lowest levels seen in nearly a decade. At the same time, COMEX registered stocks sit near 9095 million ounces, which is modest relative to open interest. In this low-liquidity setup, aggressive futures positioning can magnify downside volatility during Chinas closure, opined Dasani.

Analysts further highlighted that silver is particularly vulnerable during this timeframe compared to gold because Chinese industrial production comes to a standstill during the festivities and due to larger above-ground stockpiles for the yellow metal.

Should you buy or avoid gold and silver during Lunar New Year 2026? Against this backdrop, Kaynat Chainwala, AVP  Commodity Research at Kotak Securities, said that monitoring key support and resistance levels can help guide short-term decisions, but the holiday period is typically a time of lighter trading rather than strong directional trends.

Chainwala further recommended that investors avoid fresh buying during the Lunar New Year.

For gold, selective buying can be considered around 146,000 per 10 grams, given its relative steadiness and supportive medium-term outlook. Silver should be avoided completely due to sharper volatility risks in the absence of Chinese physical flows, she added.

Makda of Choice Broking also suggested that investors and traders avoid initiating new positions in bullion metals, noting that when the worlds largest physical buyers go offline, trading volumes thin out, often resulting in exaggerated price volatility and wider bid-ask spreads.
Fertility services provider Gaudium IVF and Women Health Ltd announced on Tuesday that it has set a price band of 75-79 per share for its 165 crore initial public offering (IPO).

At the upper end of this range, the companys valuation stands at 575 crore.

Gaudium IVF IPO GMP is 12. Considering the upper end of the IPO price band and the current premium in the grey market, the estimated listing price of Gaudium IVF shares is indicated as 91 apiece, which is 15.19% higher than the IPO price of 79.

The companys initial public offering will open for subscription from February 20 and will close on February 24. Anchor investor bidding is scheduled for February 18, as stated in its public announcement.

With this move, it will be the first company in the fertility care industry to enter the public markets.

The proposed offering includes a fresh issuance of 1.14 crore equity shares and an offer for sale (OFS) of approximately 95 lakh equity shares from promoter Manika Khanna.

Along with repaying or prepaying some loans of 20 crore, the proceeds from the new issue will be used for general corporate purposes and a capital investment of 50 crore to open 19 new IVF centers around India.

Gaudium IVF, which Khanna founded, is a leader in assisted reproductive technology in India. In order to reach a large patient base, the company uses a hub-and-spoke strategy, with seven hubs and 28 spokes spread across several states.

Also Read | Gaudium IVF sets price band in range of 75-79 for its IPO

Here are some of the key risks listed by the company in its Red-Herring Prospectus (RHP):

Gaudium IVF IPO: Key Risks As of the date mentioned, the company has contingent liabilities amounting to  4,499.34 lakhs (including accrued interest), compared to a net worth of  5,885.47 lakhs for the period ending September 30, 2025. These liabilities have not been accounted for in their financial statements, and should they materialize, they could negatively impact the company's financial stability. The company relies on a limited number of embryologists, and losing these key personnel or failing to attract and retain them could have a detrimental effect on its business, financial health, and operational performance. The company relies heavily on healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, and its operations will be significantly affected if it cannot attract and retain these individuals. The attrition rates for employees for the periods ending September 30, 2025, fiscal 2025, fiscal 2024, and fiscal 2023 were 31%, 63%, 51%, and 51%, respectively. Additionally, the fees for professional and consultation services paid to doctors as a proportion of their total expenses were 6.08%, 8.28%, 12.23%, and 13.78% for the period ending September 30, 2025, and for fiscal 2025, fiscal 2024, and fiscal 2023. The success of the company relies heavily on the robustness of its brand and its reputation. Not maintaining or improving the brand and reputation, along with any negative media coverage or accusations against the company, even if they are false, could negatively influence the brand, reputation, and trust in the companys services. This could lead to significant adverse effects on the company's business, financial standing, operational outcomes, and future prospects. The company might encounter difficulties in further extending its operations in existing cities or in new locations where it plans to start operations, which could negatively impact the business outlook and future financial results. The firm has faced negative cash flows previously. It cannot guarantee that the business will attain positive cash flow or avoid further losses in the future. The company's IVF success rates were 58.74%, 58.23%, 58.03%, and 57.01% for the periods ending September 30, 2025, and in fiscal 2025, fiscal 2024, and fiscal 2023, respectively. However, the success rates for In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedures can vary and are influenced by factors outside of direct control, which could adversely affect the company's reputation and operations. The proposed new IVF centers by the firm might face setbacks in their construction, development, and completion phases. Any unexpected delays in establishing the new IVF centers could result in increased costs and postponed implementation, affecting their business expansion. The firm suggested expanding by establishing 19 new centers, which may depend on leased or contractual locations. The cancellation of these agreements could significantly and negatively impact their operations and future development. Inability to secure a donor and obtain regulatory approvals, along with any other necessary permissions from the patients, may negatively impact their capacity to proceed with the surrogacy arrangement.
OMC stocks to buy: Refining margin boost, decline in crude prices and lower LPG under recoveries boosted the performance of oil marketing companies (OMCs) during the third quarter of the financial year 2025-26 (FY26).

Oil marketing companies' EBITDA and PAT came in at 39,500 crore and 23,740 crore, respectively for Q3FY26  up 91% or 2.4x year-on-year, according to estimates by ICICI Securities.

Earnings snapshot In terms of individual performance, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) posted a four-fold rise in its standalone PAT to 12,125.86 crore in October-December. Its revenue from operations rose to 2.31 lakh crore from 2.16 lakh crore in Q3 of the previous 2024-25 fiscal.

Without giving quarterly numbers, IOC said it earned $8.41 on turning every barrel of crude oil into fuel during April-December 2025 against a cross-refining margin of $3.69 per barrel.

Meanwhile, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation's (HPCL) standalone net profit of 4,072.49 crore in the October-December period was 35% higher year-on-year (YoY). Revenue from operations rose to 1.24 lakh crore from 1.19 lakh crore.

HPCL earned $8.85 from turning every barrel of crude into fuel as compared to $6.01 per barrel in Q3 of the previous financial year.

Coming to Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), the picture was similar. Its standalone net profit of 7,545.27 crore Q3 FY26 was 62% YoY higher than 4,649.20 crore in the year-ago period. Its revenue increased 7% YoY to 1.36 lakh crore.

BPCL said it earned $9.68 on turning every barrel of crude oil into fuel so far in the current fiscal, up from $5.95 per barrel in the same period last year.

The improvement in refining margins was supported by agile inventory management, a decline in crude oil prices, healthy product cracks, and wider discounts on Russian crude due to US restrictions on Russian crude oil trade, as highlighted by Care Ratings in a recent report.

Which OMC fared best in Q3? According to domestic brokerage Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOSL), Q3 was another strong quarter for the OMCs. In terms of individual performance, IOCL beat MOSL's estimates, BPCL met them, and HPCL's Q3 show was below expectations.

"IOCL posted the highest absolute profit because of its size and large refining capacity. BPCLs performance was also strong, and it looks slightly better placed in terms of operational efficiency and overall consistency. HPCL has improved, but its earnings tend to fluctuate more when marketing margins change," observed Dr Ravi Singh, Chief Research Officer at Master Capital Services.

Oil price tailwinds OMCs are also enjoying the benefits of softening crude oil prices. Last year, oil witnessed its worst annual fall since the Covid-19 pandemic amid supply glut from oil producers and declining demand.

Brent crude futures started the year on a strong note with a 16% rise in January. The gains have fizzled in the current month amid a month-to-date decline of 3.5%. Brent crude oil prices continue to trade around $68, and WTI crude at $63.

When crude prices soften, OMCs usually benefit because their raw material cost comes down. That helps the refining margins and improves profits, as visible in Q3 results.

Headwinds faced by OMCs Q3 performance was also supported by LPG under-recoveries. Two equal monthly instalments of LPG compensation, totalling 24.1 billion, 12.7 billion, and 13.2 billion, were recognised by IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL, respectively, in Q3.

While LPG under-recoveries moderated quarter-on-quarter in Q3, the relief appears short-lived, as they are expected to revert to Q2 levels  or even rise further  in Q4 amid higher Saudi propane prices, opined MOSL.

Another major driver gross refining margins could also take a hit. Strategic advantage derived from procuring discounted Russian crude  at one point accounting for nearly 35-40% of Indias crude oil import portfolio  is now expected to moderate significantly going forward. A defining medium-term development emerged in February 2026: in exchange for a reduction in US tariffs on imports of Indian goods from an effective 50% (including penalties) to 18%, India is likely to reduce purchases of discounted Russian crude oil.

Against this backdrop, CareEdge Ratings expects GRMs of OMCs to moderate going forward, with a reduction in the share of Russian crude oil in their overall sourcing mix. In contrast, simultaneously, their marketing margins are expected to improve in the near term, assuming no change in retail fuel prices, it said.

Which OMC stocks to buy? OMC stocks also carry policy risk, cautioned Singh. "If the government controls fuel prices, margins can shrink quickly." After the recent rally, a lot of the positive news is already priced in; so the risk-reward is reasonable, but not extraordinary, he added.

He advised that oil PSU stocks are better suited for steady, medium-term investors looking for dividends and stable returns rather than quick gains.

"From an investment point of view, BPCL looks a bit more balanced right now. IOCL is strong but more exposed to government policy decisions. HPCL may offer upside but carries slightly higher volatility," he opined while suggesting which OMC stocks to buy.

Just like on the earnings front, on technical charts, too, IOCL stands out, according to Drumil Vithlani, Technical Analyst at Bonanza. "Among peers, Indian Oil Corporation stands out on technical parameters with a bullish hammer formation and a clear higher highhigher low structure. As long as the stock holds above 160, the medium-term trend remains positive, with potential upside toward 195200. Any dip toward 175173 could offer a buying opportunity," he said.

In comparison, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited appear relatively range-bound, he said, while retaining a positive outlook for the sector and reinforcing the need to be selective.

Meanwhile, domestic brokerage MOSL said it continues to prefer HPCL among OMCs. "We view the ramp-up of its bottom-upgrade unit by the end of FY26, and the start of its Rajasthan refinery by Dec25 as key catalysts for the stock," it said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Operators of Airbnb and other tourism-related businesses in Zimbabwe have been given until February 28, 2026, to register with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) or face closure, as the authority ramps up compliance enforcement nationwide.The ultimatum applies not only to Airbnb hosts but to all unregistered tourism facilities and businesses, including accommodation providers, restaurants, fast-food outlets, vehicle-hire companies, visitor attractions such as game parks and art galleries, and providers of recreational activities.ZTA, now under new CEO George Manyaya, stated that a nationwide compliance blitz will commence on March 1, with law enforcement agents assisting in inspections across all ten provinces."In terms of Section 36 of the Tourism Act (Chapter 14:20), registration with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is mandatory and a statutory requirement," the ZTA said in a statement."Failure to register will result in the closure of unregistered facilities. The public is strongly discouraged from using unregistered tourism facilities and is encouraged to report any facility operating without a valid registration."The authority stressed that the government has already reduced licence and registration fees across various categories to make compliance easier, improve competitiveness, and foster a sustainable tourism sector.In November 2025, licensing and hotel registration fees were cut by up to 50% or more. For example, hotel registration fees dropped from as high as US$250,000 to a maximum of US$20,000, while annual licences for one- to five-star hotels now range from US$200 to US$2,000. Guest houses and lodges pay between US$200 and US$300 depending on star rating.These reforms also aim to simplify regulatory processes, positioning the ZTA as the primary regulator while reducing duplicate local authority permits and fees, such as for boats. Authorities said the measures are designed to encourage formalisation, improve investment prospects, and boost the competitiveness of Zimbabwe's tourism industry.Operators who fail to meet the February 28 deadline risk enforcement action, including the closure of their businesses once inspections begin on March 1.The public is urged to verify the registration status of tourism businesses before use and report any unregistered operators to the ZTA.
IT stocks: Ramco Systems, a global aviation software specialist, saw a sharp surge in its shares during Wednesday's trade, February 18, rising 4.3% to the day's high of 540.50 apiece following the companys launch of a new AI agent platform aimed at enhancing customer experience.

The company announced its entry into the Agentic AI product segment with the launch of Chia, a conversational AI agent platform designed to redefine how enterprises engage with their customers.

This is part of Ramco's AI-driven task automation suite, rTask. The new AI agent is designed to support enterprise conversational agents that go beyond answering queries to reason, decide, and act, executing end-to-end workflows across enterprise systems.

The platform enables organizations to shift from traditional human-in-the-loop support models to a future of exception-based human intervention, where AI handles the bulk of operational tasks, according to the company.

Chia achieves this by executing multi-step backend actions to resolve customer requests, integrating seamlessly with enterprise systems while operating within defined goals, compliance policies, and guardrails.

Sandesh Bilagi, President & COO, Ramco Systems, said that customers today expect accuracy, speed, and seamless support across every touchpoint. He added that Chia addresses this demand by enabling enterprises to automate complex customer interactions with confidence and control.

As Chia allows teams to deploy production-grade AI agents in weeks rather than months, organizations can modernize support operations without lengthy implementation cycles, ultimately delivering faster and more consistent customer experiences, he further stated.

Also Read | Qualcomm chief pledges $150mn fund for AI startups in India visit

Earlier this month, the company announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Commercial Aerospace business of ST Engineering, a global technology, defence, and engineering group, to explore a long-term strategic business and technology partnership aimed at building the next generation of digital solutions for the global aerospace industry.

Ramco Systems share price trend The IT stock has staged a strong comeback this month, rallying 13.6% so far after remaining under pressure for the previous three months, during which it lost a cumulative 25.6%.

Looking at the long-term performance, the stock has delivered handsome returns to shareholders, gaining 145% over the last two years and 30% over the last six years.

For the quarter ended in December, the IT company reported consolidated income of 180 crore. EBITDA for the quarter stood at 46.43 crore, translating into a margin of 26%.

Also Read | AI Summit 2026 LIVE: Spanish President Pedro Sanchez in India for Summit

After accounting for a one-time exceptional item of 21.5 crore related to recent changes in the Labour Code, net profit after tax for the quarter stood at 3.26 crore, according to the companys earnings filing.

(With inputs from PTI)
Shares of cigarette manufacturers ITC, Godfrey Phillips India and VST Industries surged up to 11% on Wednesday, February 18, extending their winning run amid reports of price hikes.

Several media reports stated that these companies have raised prices to offset the impact of the excise duty increase. The price hikes are expected to limit the EBIT decline to 2% from expectations of 8-15% earlier.

ITC share price gained for the third day in a row, rising 1% to 329.95 today and 5% in the three days, including today's gain. Meanwhile, Godfrey Phillips shares rallied over 11% to 2,297.70, taking its two-day gain to 14%. Another cigarette manufacturer, VST Industries, rose 3% in trade today.

Last month, cigarette manufacturers declined 9%26% in January after the governments sharp increase in excise duty, announced at the beginning of 2026, raised concerns about margins and volumes.

Also Read | Excise hike lights up margin, illicit trade risks for cigarette stocks

The excise hike, effective February 1, resulted in a price increase of up to 60% in real terms. The revised duty ranges from 2,050 to 8,500 per 1,000 sticks, based on cigarette length, with higher taxes on longer sticks.

Price hike by cigarette makers eases margin worries A report by NDTV Profit, quoting analysts at B&K Securities and InCred, stated that ITC has sharply raised the prices for its cigarettes across some categories to negate the impact of the excise duty hike on its operating income.

For ITC, the impact of excise duty is most pronounced in the 75-85 mm segment, which accounts for 16% of cigarette volumes. Costs in this category could rise by 22-28%, implying potential price hikes of 22-3 per stick to protect margins, Religare Broking had said last month.

Today, UBS, as quoted by CNBC TV-18, stated that ITC's 84 mm cigarettes (KSFT segment) have seen the steepest tax increase, resulting in the price being raised to 24 from 17 earlier. While on the other extreme, the 64 mm cigarette is expected to be priced at 7 per stick from 5.9 earlier.

While the pricing of 69 mm Goldflake is yet to be known, UBS said it expects it to be around 12 to be its new price (given competing Marlboro is at 11.5).

Also Read | How much will a cigarette pack cost now as new excise duty takes effect?

"It is clear that price hikes have been fully passed on in premium cigarettes, while it is kept minimal in price-sensitive segments of 69 mm and 64 mm. This pricing approach is likely to keep ITC's volume and EBIT impact to a minimum," said the brokerage as it maintained a 'Buy' rating on the counter.

From an earnings standpoint, even a low-to-mid single-digit price hike can translate into meaningful operating leverage, especially if volume decline remains contained, said Harshal Dasani, Business Head at INVasset PMS.

Historically, the industry has demonstrated the ability to pass on cost pressures with limited elasticity impact. However, sustainability will depend on regulatory stability and the absence of sharp tax hikes in the upcoming policy cycle, he opined.

For investors, the move signals improved near-term profitability visibility rather than a structural re-rating trigger, he said.

ITC, Godfrey Phillips shares: Technical view Commenting on the technical outlook for ITC shares, Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree, said that the current rebound appears to be a technical bounce rather than a trend reversal.

"ITC share price may attempt to test the falling 50-day EMA near 341, with an extended pullback toward the 350 zone possible if momentum persists. However, daily and weekly 10, 20, and 50 EMAs remain bearishly aligned above price, indicating that the primary trend is still down," Jain cautioned.

From a riskreward perspective, rallies into this band are likely to attract fresh selling. Therefore, he advised using them to exit long positions while the broader structure remains weak.

For Godfrey Phillips, the Lakshmishree expert said the stock is now staging a technical bounce, forming a five-week consolidation box above the 2,250 zone, indicating temporary demand absorption.

"This structure suggests a likely pullback toward the falling 20-week EMA near 2,520, which acts as the first major resistance on the higher timeframe. However, the broader trend remains weak, with daily and weekly 10, 20, and 50 EMAs still bearishly aligned above price. This configuration signals supply dominance rather than accumulation. As a result, any rallies into the moving average cluster are likely to face selling pressure, making them tactical exit or short-on-rise opportunities while the downtrend remains intact," he added.
HDFC Bank has been investing in various startups to fill gaps and gain expertise in many niche services. This will help the bank stay ahead of the curve in the fintech race. Its also implementing continuous digital initiatives to enhance customer relations.
Gubbi will oversee the establishment of the new asset management company, said one of the people quoted above. The AMC has already received an in-principle nod from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in November last year.
Multibagger penny stock: The ongoing volatility in the stock market has underscored the importance of identifying stocks that have the potential to create substantial wealth.

In many cases, stock-specific investments have generated returns significantly higher than benchmark indices. However, the potential for outsized gains also comes with increased risk, making detailed research, careful portfolio allocation, and a disciplined long-term investment strategy crucial aspects of investing.

Here, we look at one such stock, Kabra Drugs. This penny stock has consistently outperformed the broader market and delivered multibagger returns to its investors.

Kabra Drugs share price, which was once at 0.65 in February 2019, is now trading at 32 on BSE. To put it in perspective, an investment of 1 lakh made six years ago in the stock and held over time would have grown significantly to 50 lakh in seven years.

Kabra Drugs share price trend Kabra Drugs shares have proven to be a wealth multiplier for long-term investors by delivering multibagger returns of 4960% in the last seven years. The multibagger stock has risen 589% in five years, and around 514% in three years.

In the short term, too, the stock has managed to impress investors despite weak market sentiments. The stock has given 209% returns in a year, as against a mere 10% rise seen in the BSE Sensex during this period.

Furthermore, the multibagger penny stock has gained over 65% in six months and 17% in a month.

Kabra Drugs' recent business updates Along with several strategic initiatives approved earlier in January 2026, its expansion into high-growth sectors and robust investor enthusiasm have propelled the stock prices higher.

On Tuesday, the company reported a 578% year-on-year (YoY) surge in the net profit to 2.56 crore for the December quarter of FY26, compared to a loss of 53.69 lakh in the same period last year.

For the December quarter, Kabra Drugs posted revenue of 30.42 crore, reflecting a strong 53.9% jump from 19.76 crore recorded in the September 2025 quarter, and a significant turnaround compared to zero revenue reported in the December 2024 quarter, as per the PTI report.

Alongside this, Kabra Drugs entered into an agreement with MR Franchise to onboard 200 channel partners across the country, enhancing its distribution network and expanding its market footprint.
Multibagger stock: Shares of Power Mech Projects, an integrated power infrastructure services company in India, regained momentum in Wednesday's trade on February 18, surging 5.7% to hit the day's high of 2,204 apiece after the company secured significant orders.

In an exchange filing today, the company announced that it had received multiple orders from subsidiaries of Adani Power.

Mirzapur Thermal Energy (UP) Private Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Power, awarded the company an ETC contract for SG and STG packages of the 2x800 MW Mirzapur Phase-I Ultra Supercritical Thermal Power Project.

The project is scheduled to be completed within 36 months from the commencement date. The total value of this contract is 515 crore (excluding GST and other applicable taxes), according to the company's exchange filing.

Also Read | IT stock Ramco Systems rises after the launch of AI agent platform

The company also received a similar order from Mahan Energen Limited, another subsidiary of Adani Power.

The order pertains to the ETC contract for SG and STG packages of the 2x800 MW Mahan Phase-III Ultra Supercritical Thermal Power Project. The contract is valued at 490 crore (excluding GST and other applicable taxes). Combined, the total value of both orders stands at 1,005 crore.

The power company earlier this month announced its financial performance for the quarter ended December, reporting consolidated revenue of 1,433 crore, reflecting a 6% year-on-year (YoY) growth. EBITDA during the reporting quarter rose 8% YoY to 173 crore, with margins coming in at 12.08%.

On the bottom line, net profit stood at 96.33 crore, higher than the 86.55 crore reported in the year-ago quarter.

The company in its earnings' filing said that it secured fresh orders worth 6,761 crore in the first three quarters, achieving 68% of its total target. It has set a target of 10,000 crore in fresh orders for the current year and expects its order backlog to reach 56,806 crore by the end of this fiscal.

Power Mech Projects share price trend The shares have remained under prolonged stress, finishing the last seven months in the red and losing a cumulative 38%. From its record peak of 3,725 apiece, the stock is currently down 42%.

Despite the sharp correction, the stock still trades with strong long-term gains accumulated between 2021 and 2024, during which it delivered nearly 1,100% returns. Cumulatively, the stock is up 103% over the last three years and 800% over the past five-year period.
The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open flat on Wednesday, following gains in global markets.

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a muted start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 25,762 level, a premium of nearly 23 points from the Nifty futures previous close.

On Tuesday, the Indian stock market extended gains for the second consecutive session, with the benchmark Nifty 50 closing above 25,700 level.

The Sensex rallied 173.81 points, or 0.21%, to close at 83,450.96, while the Nifty 50 settled 42.65 points, or 0.17%, higher at 25,725.40.

Heres what to expect from Sensex, Nifty 50 and Bank Nifty today:

Sensex Prediction Sensex is holding an uptrend continuation formation on intraday charts, and also formed a bullish candle on daily charts, which is largely positive.

We are of the view that 83,000 and 82,700 remain the crucial support zones for traders. As long as Sensex is trading above these levels, the bullish momentum is likely to continue. On the higher side, 83,700 would act as an immediate resistance zone for the bulls. A successful breakout above 83,800 could push the index towards 84,200 - 84,500, said Shrikant Chouhan, Head Equity Research, Kotak Securities.

On the flip side, he said that below 82,700, the uptrend would become vulnerable.

Nifty 50 Prediction Nifty 50 formed a reasonable positive candle on the daily chart with minor upper and lower shadow.

Technically, this market action signals a breather in the market after a sharp bounce back in the previous session. The crucial hurdle of the previous opening downside gap of 13 February has been filled completely on the upside at 25,750 levels, said Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities.

According to him, the underlying short-term trend of Nifty 50 remains positive, and a decisive move above the hurdle of 25,750 - 25,800 levels is likely to bring bulls into further action towards the upside of 26,000 and next 26,350 in the near term. Immediate support is placed at 25,600 levels.

Nilesh Jain, VP- Head of Technical and Derivative Research at Centrum Finverse noted that the Nifty 50 closed above its 100-DMA near 25,700, indicating improving strength, but the index faced resistance around the 50-DMA placed at 25,750, a decisive breakout above this level could pave the way for further upside towards 26,000.

On the downside, immediate support has shifted higher to 25,600. Meanwhile, India VIX cooled off sharply, declining by nearly 5% to slip below the 13 mark. Any further easing in volatility is likely to remain supportive of bullish sentiment. Overall, the broader structure continues to look positive, and a buy-on-dips approach should be maintained as long as the Nifty 50 holds above the 25,400 zone, said Jain.

Riyank Arora, Associate Vice President  HNI & Derivatives, Hedged.in said that a decisive breakout above 25,750 could open the door for an upside move towards 25,800 and further to 25,900.

On the downside, 25,600 remains an immediate support, followed by a major support near 25,500. As long as the index holds above these support levels, the broader structure remains stable, while a breakout on the upside could strengthen bullish momentum, said Arora.

Bank Nifty Prediction Bank Nifty index ended 224.90 points, or 0.37%, higher at 61,174.00 on Tuesday, forming a bullish candle with a minor lower shadow on the daily chart, signalling continued buying interest at lower levels.

With Bank Nifty hovering close to its all-time high, the overall structure remains decisively positive. All major moving averages are aligned upward, and momentum indicators continue to reflect a firm bullish undertone, reinforcing confidence in the ongoing trend. From a technical perspective, the support base has now shifted higher. The immediate support zone lies in the 60,800  60,700 range, which is expected to act as a strong cushion during any intraday dips, said Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities.

According to him, as long as the Bank Nifty index holds above 60,700, the broader setup remains favourable for further upside, and it is likely to test 61,600, followed by 62,100 level in the short term.

Bajaj Broking expects the Bank Nifty index to trade with a positive bias as long as it sustains above the breakout zone.

Bank Nifty index is currently trading above its key moving averages, reinforcing the strength of the prevailing momentum and suggesting that the upward trajectory may continue in the short term. Immediate resistance is placed at 61,500, followed by 61,800, where some profit booking may emerge. A decisive move above these levels could extend the ongoing uptrend, said Bajaj Broking.

On the downside, it said support levels have shifted higher to 60,800, followed by 60,500, indicating that buyers are stepping in at elevated levels.
Mutual funds are fast becoming the first port of call for Indian savers. What was once viewed as a sophisticated market product is now edging closer to a mainstream savings vehicle. But is that shift healthy? And how should investors navigate the explosion of categories and choices?

At the Mint Money Festival, held on 14 February in Mumbai, Madhu Nair, CEO of Union Mutual Fund, and Kailash Kulkarni, CEO of HSBC Mutual Fund, argued that the industrys rapid growth reflects a structural transformation in Indian savings behaviour rather than short-term market enthusiasm.

Structural shift Nair described the mutual fund licence as a very powerful licence because it converts retail savings into market-linked returns within a transparent, diversified and professionally managed structure.

Reflecting on the industrys journey, he pointed out that when he began his career 25 years ago, the mutual fund industry stood at 1 lakh crore, compared with 12 lakh crore in bank deposits. Today, mutual fund assets are about 80 lakh crore, while bank deposits are roughly 250 lakh crore.

By 2035, our estimates suggest both could be equal at 400 lakh crore. The shift has already begun, he said.

He attributed the rise to diversification across market caps, institutional transparency, competitive costs and favourable taxationfactors that have steadily made mutual funds more accessible and credible.

Also Read | Are Reits the right way to own top commercial real estate?

Asset allocation first Despite the proliferation of schemes, both speakers stressed that investors often obsess over the wrong variable.

Fund selection is the last mile, Nair said. People spend enormous energy choosing the best fund, but that can alter outcomes by only 5-10%. The real difference comes from getting asset allocation right based on goals and risk tolerance.

Kulkarni agreed, especially in the context of the active versus passive debate.

If your goal is long term, say retirement, and youre investing in equity, category selection becomes easier. It depends on your risk profile, he said. But linking investments to goals reduces confusion dramatically.

Nair added nuance to the passive-versus-active argument. In very mature markets like the US or Japan, beating the index is difficult because information symmetry is high. In India, we still have asymmetry and under-researched segments. There is room for alpha for the next 10 to 15 years.

He cautioned that index investing is force buying and force participation, whereas active management can avoid sector excesses or frauds. Consistent rolling returns over three to five years still offer strong scope for active fund management in India, he said.

Also Read | Your credit score is now your financial DNA

The category confusion A poll conducted during the session showed that choosing a mutual fund category is the most confusing part of investing.

Kulkarni said that is not surprising. Most investors are new and the industry is complex. The number of categories can intimidate a layperson, he said, referring to the post-pandemic surge in new investors.

For many novice investors, fund selection starts and ends with recent returns. A fund that has delivered strong performance over the past two or three years appears attractive. But point-to-point returns capture only a specific entry moment and do not reflect consistency across market cycles.

Nair said looking at rolling returns over three- or five-year periods offers a better lens. Rolling returns show how consistently a fund has performed across different market cycles. Consistency, rather than short-term outperformance, is a better indicator of quality.

He also cautioned against relying on star fund managers or short-term rankings. A more reliable approach is to invest with institutions that follow a clearly defined investment philosophy and process.

There is nothing called the best fund. What you should look for is consistency, he said.

When asked whether SIPs or a mix of SIP and lump sum works better, both CEOs emphasised discipline over timing.

For salaried investors, SIPs enforce consistency and reduce the risk of entering at market peaks. Lump sum investing can work when there is surplus capital and a long time horizon, but it requires comfort with volatility. In many cases, a combination works well.

The core principle, they said, remains unchanged: focus on asset allocation, process and discipline rather than short-term performance tables.

Also Read | Coming decades will be rewarding for patient investors: Raamdeo Agrawal

A maturing investor base One clear sign of change in the industry is investor behaviour during volatility.

In earlier cycles, market corrections triggered panic redemptions. Today, declines often see higher transaction volumes. According to Kulkarni, many investors now keep liquidity aside to deploy during corrections. A 1.52% fall is increasingly viewed as an opportunity rather than a threat.

While this signals growing familiarity with equity cycles, discipline remains critical. Buying every dip without assessing whether a fall is cyclical or structural can be risky. Long-term investors benefit more from staggered investing than from timing sharp moves.

The more common mistake, Kulkarni said, is the opposite: starting SIPs in bull markets but stopping them during downturns. This undermines the very purpose of SIPs, as corrections allow investors to accumulate more units at lower prices and improve long-term outcomes.

Nair framed this in the context of longevity. Wealth in equities is created not by perfectly timing entry and exit, but by staying invested across cycles. Every bull market attracts new participants; every correction tests conviction. Those who remain invested typically benefit from the markets long-term upward bias.

Investing through mutual funds alone is not enoughinvestors must understand what they own, Kulkarni cautioned.

Take the flexi-caps category for example. Some flexi-cap funds run concentrated portfolios, others are diversified. Some follow high turnover strategies, others are buy-and-hold. Short-term performance rankings rarely capture these distinctions, so investors must look at different styles too before picking up the fund.
In India, taxpaying individuals have to pay different kinds of taxes  both direct and indirect  at many levels including the state and the centre. Indirect taxes include GST and VAT among others, while direct tax includes provisions like income tax. One example of a direct tax is professional tax, which is levied by state governments in the country.

While it is not discussed as widely as income tax, professional tax is crucial for individuals earning incomes from their professions in states where this tax is levied. Knowing about it will ensure legal compliance while giving you more clarity on financial planning.

Here is everything you need to know about what is professional tax, who should pay it, and which states charge it.

What is professional tax? Professional tax is a type of direct tax levied by state governments on individuals or entities engaged in professions, trades, or employments. It is charged as a percentage of income earned.

While employers deduct the professional tax from employees' salaries, it needs to be paid directly to state governments by self-employed individuals.

The amount of professional tax per year cannot exceed 2,500 under Article 276 of the Indian Constitution. Professional tax is deductible under the Income Tax Act, 1961, reducing your taxable income and lowering your overall tax liability. Since this is a state-level tax, the structure can vary from state to state.

Professional tax is not levied by all states in India.

States that levy professional tax include  Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal, and Jharkhand.

States and UTs that do not levy professional tax include  Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Lakshadweep.

Who needs to pay professional tax? Any individual earning income from a profession is mandated to pay professional tax to states those who charge it. This includes salaried employees and professionals like doctors, lawyers, and consultants.

Salaried individuals  Employees working in both government and private companies need to pay professional tax.

Professionals  Individuals working in professions such as doctors, lawyers, architects, chartered accountants, etc. need to pay professional tax.

Business owners  In many states, self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs are also required to pay professional tax. However, professional tax is not applicable to individuals earning below a certain amount. The exact exemption limit is different across states.

Is professional tax part of your CTC? For salaried individuals, professional tax is a deduction against your gross salary. It is not a part of your CTC, which is the cost your company bears to employ you.

Rather, professional tax is a deduction or reduction from your take-home salary, according to ClearTax. It is calculated every month based on your gross salary for that month.

Income tax vs professional tax: Are they the same? While income tax and professional tax are both direct taxes, they have many differences.

Income tax is levied by the central government on the earnings of an individual or entity over the financial year. The rate of the income tax depends on the taxpayers tax slab, which is determined by the government. This tax is applied all across India and is levied on individuals and entities who earn a certain amount. The more you earn, the tax increases and there is no maximum limit.

In contrast, professional tax is levied by certain state governments on the gross salary of employed individuals, professionals and business owners. It is based on profession or trade. Professional tax is charged in certain states and is exempt in others. The maximum threshold of professional tax is 2,500.

Professional tax is usually paid monthly, while income tax is usually paid yearly. Income tax has progressive slabs, while professional tax features fixed slabs with state-wise variation. Income tax is paid via self-filing or TDS, while professional tax is deducted by the employer from salaried individuals.

Thus, knowing about these taxes help you plan your finances better and gives you clarity on how much of your earnings should be set aside for paying them. Having clarity on different types of taxes also ensures legal compatibility.
The India-EU FTA is a case in point. Under the finalised deal, India will eliminate duties on 93% of EU imports by value, while the EU will do so for 99% of Indian exports. On paper, this signals deep tariff liberalisation. However, the EUs import coverage of NTMs is significantly higher across most sectors. In chemicals, machinery, metals and transportation equipment, nearly the entire import basket faces NTMs in the EU, compared with much lower coverage in India.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Plans are gaining momentum to integrate the Defend the Constitution Platform (DCP) and Constitutional Defence Forum (CDF) into a united front aimed at opposing President Emmerson Mnangagwa's proposed constitutional changes, which would extend the presidential term from five to seven years and abolish direct elections.The DCP was formed in January 2026 following a resolution by Zanu PF in October 2025 to extend Mnangagwa's tenure. Its members include key leaders from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), such as Jameson Timba, Dubeko Sibanda, and Agency Gumbo, alongside civic and opposition veterans including Munyaradzi Gwisayi, Job Sikhala, Jacob Ngarivhume, and Obert Masaraure.The CDF, launched earlier this month by former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, was specifically designed to serve as a rallying point against what critics describe as a "constitutional coup" by the government.Leaders from both platforms have drafted a memorandum of understanding to formalize collaboration, though some issues - most notably the name of the new coalition - remain to be finalised.The planned coalition seeks to consolidate opposition forces and civic activists under a single banner to resist what they view as unconstitutional maneuvers and subversion of democratic principles. Officials say the united front will serve as a central point for organising protests, advocacy, and public awareness campaigns against the extension of the presidential term.With the constitutional amendments expected to be tabled in Parliament for debate and possible enactment, opposition leaders are intensifying efforts to mobilise Zimbabweans to contest the proposals both politically and through civic action.
India is hosting one of the biggest artificial intelligence expos, the AI Impact Summit 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where people from around the world gather for talks on the emerging technology. After receiving an overwhelming response, the central government has decided to extend the timeline of the mega event by one more day.

On Wednesday, 18 February 2026, IT Secretary Krishnan announced at a press conference that the expo has been extended by one more day, i.e., the event will be open to the public till 8 p.m. (IST) on Saturday, 21 February 2026.

However, the IT Secretary also confirmed that the AI expo will remain closed to the public view on Friday, 19 February 2026, due to the VIP movement in the event.

Earlier, the AI Impact Summit 2026 was scheduled to be hosted between Monday, 16 February 2026 and Friday, 20 February 2026, before the extension announced during Wednesday's press conference.

The IT Secretary Krishnan also reiterated that all sessions of the AI Impact Summit 2026 will be streamed online on Friday, 19 February, as no public footfall will be allowed at Bharat Mandapam's premises on Friday.

AI Impact Summit 2026 timings on 18 February The Ministry of Electronics & IT, on 18 February 2026, has released shared timings, general advisory, shuttle services, and parking availability information for attendees who are arriving on the third day of the mega AI event.

Also Read | Macron in India LIVE updates: French President to attend AI Impact Summit today

Check timings (IST) for the AI Impact Summit 2026  Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre: 9:30 a.m. to 04:30 p.m.

9:30 a.m. to 04:30 p.m. Bharat Mandapam Expo Area: 9:30 a.m. to 08:00 p.m.

9:30 a.m. to 08:00 p.m. Sushma Swaraj Bhawan: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The ministry also said that the registered delegates are strongly advised to use public transport, metro services, or cabs to reach the venue, due to limited parking space availability.

AI Impact Summit 2026  Gate information 1. Gate Number 4: The entry gate will be operational from 8:00 a.m. onwards for drop-offs by car or cabs.

Also Read | Google CEO Sundar Pichai lands in India to attend AI Summit 2026, meets PM Modi

2. Gate number 10: The entry gate will be operational from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for delegates arriving through the metro route.

3. Gate Number 5A: The entry gate will be operational from 8:00 a.m. onwards for media entry.

The ministry also cautioned that people are likely to face intermittent traffic restrictions in and around the ITPO area between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. They also mentioned that event access through other designated gates shall remain subject to security clearance and movement restrictions as per protocol.

Limited parking facility shall be available at the following parking locations, said the ministry, highlighting three parking locations  Purana Qila Parking, Zoo Parking Space, and JLN Stadium Parking.
Galgotias University was asked to vacate their stall at the India AI Impact Summit expo after staff and officials allegedly showcased a robotic dog sourced from China and claimed it as their own invention, triggering a massive row that reached even the political circles. In its defence, Galgotias University Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur said that the RoboDog was never introduced as a university invention.

Claiming misinterpretation, the registrar explained that the confusion stemmed from the use of words develop" and development. Gaur said, This is a jumble of two words, develop, and development. We didn't develop it. We worked on its development... We want to bring them, just like that robot was brought, and an effort was made to get students to do research on it.

Professor Neha Singh, who was introducing the RoboDog as Orion at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, clarified: The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps I did not communicate it properly, as it was done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do. Also, the intent may not have been properly understood." Also Read | After robodog row, Galgotias faces fresh backlash over made from scratch drone claim| Viral Video

One important point is regarding the robot dogwe cannot claim that we manufactured it. I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them to create something better on their own. Our university contributes to building future leaders by providing cutting-edge technologies in the field of AI, and it will continue to do so, she said.

As the controversy escalates, let's know a few details about the Galgotias University: Galgotias University is located on the opposite Buddha International Circuit in Sector 17A of Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

According to the university website, the private university was ranked one of the fastest-rising universities in India in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026.

It was ranked 15th among top private universities and 43rd among all Indian universities-public and private combined.

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, Galgotias University has been ranked 45th among Indian universities (including both government and private institutions) and placed in the globally prestigious 10011200 band.

Smt. Shakuntla Educational and Welfare Society was established in the year 1998 and registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 with its registered address at Daryaganj, New Delhi.

The society since has been running institutions with the name of Galgotias in Greater Noida, UP.

According to the university website, the members of the society are Suneel Galgotia, Padmini Galgotia and Dhruv Galgotia.
A 65-year-old retired Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) employee allegedly strangled his wife to death at their residence in Bengaluru. Police said that Nageshwar Rao allegedly killed his wife using a towel as he was worried about her future after his death.

A relative of the couple reported the incident at around 11 am on Wednesday, 18 February, within the Avalahalli police station limits. The accused, Nageshwar Rao, has been taken into police custody, authorities added after the police found the dead body of his wife, Sandya Sri Rao, at their flat in Virtuoso apartment complex in Bommanahalli area of Whitefield.

Citing the preliminary investigation, a senior police officer said Nageshwar Rao was reportedly undergoing treatment for depression.

The police said that the former ISRO employee also wanted to end his own life after killing Sandya Sri, but he instead informed a relative about it. The relative then alerted the police.

A police team arrived at the residence and took Rao into custody. They have registered a case of murder, and further investigation is underway.

"He was reportedly undergoing treatment for depression and was distressed. He allegedly intended to take his life after the incident, which is why he attacked his wife. There appear to be no other major reasons," said Saidulu Adavath, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield), PTI reported.

The couple's daughter, who is in the United States, has been informed about the incident, police said. She is returning to Bengaluru.

According to the reports, the couple was originally from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. They had been living in Bengaluru, in an apartment in the Whitefield area, for the past three years.

In 2019, an ISRO employee was found murdered in his flat in Hyderabad, Telangana. SR Suresh Kumar was an employee of the National Remote Sensing Centre. He was found dead at his flat.

Earlier in December, a techie shot his wife dead while she was returning home from work in Bengaluru. After killing his wife, Balamurugan walked into the Magadi Road police station, confessed to the crime and surrendered, police said.

Police later revealed that Balamurugan, a software engineer, wanted a hitman to do the job, but he dropped the plan, police told PTI. Balamurugan doubted her wife's character, and they often quarrelled over it, sources said.

During the investigation, police found that he had approached a rowdy-sheeter, Moulesh, from Salem in Tamil Nadu, to accomplish the job, police sources said.
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken a swipe at the Galgotias University for showcasing a China-made robot dog as its own invention. While the Galgotias University has apologised, saying that the professor, Neha Singh, who had presented the RoboDog was ill-informedabout the technical origins of the product, Omar Abdullah appeared to back her, accusing the university of shifting the blame onto the professor for its own mistake.

In a post on X, Omar Abdullah said, So this is what Galgotias teaches its students by example - copy someone elses work & claim it as your own. When you get caught you dont own up & apologise, instead you 6 & 9 to make excuses.

When that doesnt work you throw an employee under the bus & blame them for everything to save your own skin. Thank heavens this wasnt the education I received, he further said.

The J&K chief minister was referring to the university statement in which it said that Professor Neha Singh, in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information. The Greater Noida-based university said Neha Singh was not authorised to speak.

Galgotias University said, 'We at Galgotias University wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent Al Summit. One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed. She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press."

What did Neha Singh say after controversy? When Professor Neha Singh had introduced the RoboDog as Orion, saying it has been developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University.

As a controversy erupted, Neha Singh was questioned about the huge row and she said, The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly and the intent may not have been properly understood.

Terming it as misinterpretation of words she used, she said, Your 6 can be my 9. Main jo kehna chahti hu wo shayad main bahot acche se keh nahi payi samaj ke aabhav ke kaaran ya buzz or shor ke kaaran. Aur aap jo samajhna chahte hain shayad aapne uspe zyada dhairya nahi diya [What I want to say, perhaps I wasnt able to express very well  either due to a lack of time or because of the noise and commotion around us. And what you wanted to understand, perhaps you did not give it enough patience]

In another post, Omar Abdullah said, Your 6 is my 9. I have to remember to use that somewhere 
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Wednesday, 18 February, on the third day of his trip to the subcontinent.

This is currently Macron's fourth visit to India.

Highlights of Macron's trip thus far

Macron landed in Mumbai late on Monday, and on Tuesday, held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on cooperation in the industrial, defence, clean energy, space, and emerging technologies sectors.

Following talks, India and France also announced a Joint Declaration of Intent for cooperation in critical minerals, with Indian Ambassador to France Sanjeev Kumar Singla saying, "On critical and emerging technology, we've decided to constitute a joint advanced technology development group, as well as a joint declaration of intent for cooperation in critical minerals.

"There's also a letter of intent to establish a centre on advanced materials between our Department of Science and Technology and the French institution called CNRS, which is one of the world's largest scientific institutions, especially focused on basic research. We've also signed the amendment to the double tax avoidance agreement between the two countries," he added.

The French President and PM Modi jointly inaugurated the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 at the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

"Today, two innovation hubs are coming together," Modi said, making during the inauguration. "I and President Macron have decided to celebrate 2026 India-France Year of Innovation. This is also our commitment to innovate, lead," Modi added.

"Innovation is a driver of our economic growth. It will help address the great challenges from climate challenge to inequality," the French President said during the inauguration..

For progress in science, France and India have been working hand in hand for years, he said, adding, "We have reinforced our technological sovereignty while supporting our national industries. Our partnership is strong and relies on countless joint projects."

Macron also invited PM Modi to attend the 52nd G7 Summit in France, to be held in June this year.

Emmanuel Macron's itinerary for Wednesday, 18 February 2026

At the AI Impact Summit, French President will attend the opening ceremony of the Research Symposium at Bharat Mandapam at around 9 am in the morning.

Subsequently, Macron is scheduled to visit the country pavilions in Hall 14 on Bharat Mandapam.

At around noon, Macron will attend the Leaders Plenary and the Working Lunch at the Summit Room in Bharat Mandapam, wrapping up his trip to India.
Galgotiyas University staff and officials were seen on Wednesday vacating their stall at India AI Impact Summit expo, following the massive controversy over its display of a Chinese robodog.

This came after reports suggested that Galgotias University had been asked to vacate its stall at the expo area at the AI Impact Summit. However, the Uttar Pradesh-based university denied such reports and told Livemint that it had not yet received such a communication.

IT Secretary S Krishnan had earlier today said that the government did not want any controversy at the summit, warning that plagiarism will not be encouraged.

We want genuine exhibitors at the expo. We dont want controversy around exhibits here. Plagiarism, misinformation cannot be encouraged. This should not overshadow the wonderful exhibits others have put out, he said.

Acknowledging the controversy, Abhishek Singh, additional secretary at MeitY, India AI Mission CEO said, The main problem is they claimed to be something they are not. They misled. The whole world is here.

A widespread controversy erupted earlier this week after Galgotias University faced online backlash for showcasing a robotic dog it labelled Orion at the AI Summit expo, being organised at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. However, critics soon pointed out that the robot in question was actually a Chinese-made Unitree Go2 and not an in-house innovation.

Galgotias University faced massive backlash and accusations of misrepresenting imported tech as its own.

According to a person quoted by PTI, the university was asked earlier on Wednesday to vacate the expo immediately.

Galgotias University initally denied report Galgotias University initially denied any report of receiving an official communication. A top university official told LiveMint that the university will act accordingly after receiving any notice.

We have already issued a statement that we had purchased the robot, and our students were working on it. We never claimed that we made it. As for the stall at the AI Summit, we have not received any official communication yet. Once we get, we will act accordingly, Dr Nitin Kumar Gaur, Registrar of Galgotias University, told LiveMint over a telephonic conversation.

Also Read | Caught a bug after weeks of travel: NVIDIA South Asia MD on Jensen Huangs AI Summit absence

Separately at the Global AI Impact Summit, Galgotias University Professor Aishwarya Shrivastava said they had no information on vacating their stall as of now.

She further said, We never claimed that we manufactured it (robodog), it was only a part of our AI investment. It got misinterpreted in a big way.

Galgotias University issues statement Separately on Tuesday, Galgotias University issued a statement regarding the controversy.

At Galgotias University, our mission has always been clear  to keep our students ahead of the curve in technology, not just for todays world, but for the world that is unfolding tomorrow, it said.

The university claimed that its students were still experimenting with it.

The recently acquired Robodog from Unitree is one such step in that journey. It is not merely a machine on display  it is a classroom in motion. Our students are experimenting with it, testing its limits, and in the process, expanding their own knowledge.

Let us be clear  Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat, the university added in its statement.

Professor takes accountability On Wednesday, Galgotias University professor Neha Singh, whose video went viral amid the controversy, took accountability for the apparent miscommunication.

The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps I did not communicate it properly, as it was done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do. Also, the intent may not have been properly understood. One important point is that we cannot claim to have manufactured the robot dog, Singh said.

I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them to create something better on their own. Our university contributes to building future leaders by providing cutting-edge technologies in the field of AI, and it will continue to do so, she added.
French President Emmanuel Macron called India the leader of global innovation, not just a participant. Speaking at the IndiaFrance Innovation Forum on 17 February, Macron noted that a number of global executives come from India and are leading the tech charge.

The CEO of Alphabet is Indian. The CEO of Microsoft is Indian. The CEO of IBM is Indian. The CEO of Adobe is Indian. The CEO of Palo Alto Networks is Indian. The CEO of Chanel is from Kolhapur, right here in this state... India does not just participate in global innovation; India leads it... he remarked.

Macron was referring to Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Arvind Krishna, Shantanu Narayen, Nikesh Arora, and Leena Nair, respectively, chief executives of the global software, tech and fashion companies he named. Notably, Chanel is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by famed designer Coco Chanel.

Also Read | Macron in India LIVE updates: French President to attend AI Impact Summit today

WATCH: France's Emmanuel Macron on India being a leader in innovation

Also present at the event were Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, among others.

India-France bilateral ties a force for global stability Modi and Macron characterised the bilateral relationship as a force for global stability amidst rising international geopolitical volatility, announcing that India and France have upgraded ties to a "special global strategic partnership" and pledged to enhance collaboration in the commerce, defense, and essential minerals sectors.

Modi added that amid geopolitical events  the Russia-Ukraine war, tensions in West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region  both India and France are committed to democratic principles, the rule of law and a multipolar global order. The world is going through a period of uncertainty. In such an environment, the India-France partnership is a force for global stability. We are combining France's expertise and India's scale, Modi said in his media statement.

The Modi-Macron dialogue extensively covered a range of topics, including defence and security synergy, trade and capital investment, co-production, critical mineral logistics, research and innovation, and academic exchange. Both signed 21 accords and documents to increase cooperation across advanced technology, defense, healthcare, strategic minerals, and sustainable energy.

Macron in India; to visit AI Impact Summit 2026 President Emmanuel Macron is on a three-day visit to India. He, along with First Lady Brigitte Macron, was received at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor Acharya Devvrat on Monday night.

After launching the IndiaFrance Year of Innovation, the French president posted a part of his speech at the launch and captioned it Jai Ho!

This is Macrons fourth visit to India and first to Mumbai. The visit comes a year after PM Modis trip to France. He is also expected to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, along with Modi on 18 February 2026.

Notably, sectors including advanced materials, biotechnology, critical minerals, emerging technologies, MSMEs, space tech, and startups will remain in focus of the people, as both nations are now looking forward to signing further MOUs.
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said that the government is in talks with social media companies regarding age-based access controls and the growing challenge of deepfakes. He emphasised the need for tighter regulatory measures to protect children and, more broadly, society from online harms.

This comes after the Australian government said a planned ban on young children accessing social media will proceed next month as scheduled, despite a legal challenge from a rights advocacy group, as per AP.

The Sydney-based Digital Freedom Project announced that it had filed a constitutional petition in the High Court of Australia contesting the landmark law. The legislation, which came into force on 10 December, prohibits Australian children under 16 from creating accounts on designated social media platforms.

What did Vaishnaw say? Vaishnaw stressed that all companies, including Netflix, YouTube, Meta, and X, are required to comply with Indias legal framework and the Constitution. He pointed out that the issue of deepfakes is escalating rapidly and underlined the need for stricter regulations, PTI reported.

He added that talks are ongoing with social media platforms to address concerns around deepfakes and age-based restrictions, with the aim of identifying the most suitable course of action.

... and right now, we are in conversation regarding deepfakes, regarding age-based restrictions with the various social media platforms, and what is the right way, what is the right way to go," Vaishnaw stated during the summit.

The minister underscored the urgent need for tougher regulations to address the growing threat of deepfakes, noting that the problem is worsening by the day. He stressed the importance of safeguarding children and society from the harms caused by such content and said that discussions with industry stakeholders have already begun to explore what additional regulatory measures may be required beyond the existing framework.

Vaishnaw, who also serves as the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, further pointed out that a parliamentary committee has examined the issue in considerable detail. He mentioned that building a broad consensus within Parliament would be essential to introducing significantly tougher restrictions on deepfakes to ensure adequate protection for society.

The minister further observed that several countries have acknowledged the need to implement age-based restrictions. He noted that such regulation had already been incorporated into Indias Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) legislation, which introduced age-based differentiation to control the types of content accessible to students and young users. He described the move as a forward-looking step taken at the time.

He also highlighted that countries such as France, Australia and the United Kingdom have either implemented or proposed age restrictions and stricter parental consent requirements to curb childrens access to social media platforms and strengthen online safety measures.

The Indian governments Economic Survey last month suggested exploring age-based access to online platforms, along with reducing excessive online teaching, to curb digital addiction.

The Survey, which was tabled in Parliament, recommended that online platforms be held accountable for implementing age-verification mechanisms. It also proposed promoting simpler, child-friendly devices for accessing educational content, equipped with appropriate safeguards to tackle the growing issue of digital addiction.

The Survey had stated, "Policies on age-based access limits may be considered, as younger users are more vulnerable to compulsive use and harmful content. Platforms should be made responsible for enforcing age verification and age-appropriate defaults, particularly for social media, gambling apps, auto-play features, and targeted advertising."
New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed world leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva, for the ongoing AI Impact Summit here and held nine bilaterals with heads of state and CEOs.

The world leaders, including Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Disanayaka and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, were welcomed to an ensemble of traditional musical instruments, including drums, nadaswaram and tanpura, with the prime minister greeting them with a warm handshake and exchange of pleasantries.

Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Estonia President Alar Karis, and Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo were among those welcomed by Modi at the brightly decorated Bharat Mandapam.

Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Guyana Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo were also among the leaders welcomed by the prime minister.

Modi held seven bilateral meetings with world leaders and two with global CEOs and discussed issues of mutual interest with them.

The leaders with whom Modi held bilaterals included Bhutan's Tobgay, Spain President Pedro Sanchez, and Croatia's Plenkovic, among others.

The prime minister held two separate meetings with the CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, and the cofounder of Sun Microsystems and the founder of Khosla Ventures, Vinod Khosla.

Also Read | India extends AI Expo date after overwhelming response  Check dates

"Held fruitful discussions with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr Andrej Plenkovic. We discussed how to add momentum to our bilateral partnership in areas such as technology, innovation, shipbuilding, blue economy and boosting connectivity through the IMEEC corridor," Modi said on X after the meeting with his Croatian counterpart.

In another post after meeting the Estonian president, Modi said, "Had an excellent meeting with President Alar Karis of Estonia, a nation which has made remarkable strides in tech and AI. Discussed how to add further vigour to our economic partnership, particularly in the context of the India-EU FTA, which is a historical agreement."

The AI Impact Summit is being held from February 16-20 at the Bharat Mandapam, in which more than 500 global AI leaders, 150 academicians and researchers, and 400 chief technology officers, vice-presidents, and philanthropists are taking part.

On Thursday, Modi will address the Summit, which aims to position the country as a leader in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and envisions a future where technology advances humanity and fosters inclusive growth.

Modi will also hold bilaterals with several world leaders attending the Summit, an official statement said.

Along with Modi, France President Emmanuel Macron, UN Secretary-General Guterres and various top industry leaders from across the world will also address the Summit on Thursday.

Modi will also visit the India AI Impact Expo 2026 along with other leaders, where they will go to the pavilions set up by various countries.

Modi will then participate in the Leaders' Plenary, which will take place around 12 noon onwards, bringing together heads of state, ministers and senior representatives from multilateral institutions to outline the national and global priorities of AI, including governance, infrastructure and international cooperation.

The prime minister will later participate in a CEO roundtable from 5.30 pm onwards, in which senior executives from global technology and industry firms will discuss investment, research collaboration, supply chains and deployment of AI systems with the government leadership.

On Wednesday evening, the prime minister hosted a dinner for the heads of state and global dignitaries.

Tagging photos of the dinner, Modi posted on X, "With world leaders at the AI Impact Summit dinner and cultural programme."

He also posted photos of cultural performances at the Summit, saying, "The cultural programme at Bharat Mandapam showcased India's rich heritage and traditions!"

The theme of India AI Impact Summit 2026 is 'Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay' (welfare for all, happiness of all).

Seven working groups are anchoring the Summit, aligned to three pillars  people, planet and progress  focusing on delivering concrete outcomes demonstrating AI's impact across sectors.
Mark Zuckerberg Testimony Highlights: Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms and founder of Facebook, testifies in a US court over allegations that Instagram harmed the mental health of young users.

Zuckerberg faced court questions on how companies treat vulnerable users. Attorney Mark Lanier outlined three approaches: help, ignore, or exploit them. Zuckerberg said, I think a reasonable company should try to help the people that use its services.

The case centers on a California woman who says she began using Instagram and YouTube, owned by Google, as a child. She alleges the companies intentionally designed their platforms to maximize engagement among minors despite being aware of potential mental health risks. According to her complaint, prolonged use contributed to her depression and suicidal thoughts.

Meta and Google deny the allegations, arguing they have introduced safety features and tools to protect young users. The lawsuit is seen as a test case among thousands filed across the US accusing major tech firms of contributing to a youth mental health crisis.

Why the testimony matters

Zuckerbergs testimony is significant because it marks the first time he is being questioned in a US court specifically about Instagrams impact on childrens mental health. While he has previously appeared before Congress, this jury trial carries direct legal and financial consequences.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), has promoted two Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Brigadier Generals to the rank of Major General, following the advice of the Defence Minister and on the recommendations of the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.The officers elevated are Major-General Cephas Gurira and Major-General Funnie Mutizhe.Major-General Gurira, formerly Commander of One Infantry Brigade, has been appointed ZNA Chief of Staff Administration, while Major-General Mutizhe, previously Senior Personal Staff Officer to the ZDF Commander, is awaiting a new assignment.Conveying the new badges of rank, Commander ZDF Emmanuel Matatu commended the officers for their dedication, discipline, and loyalty to national duty."Your promotion comes after a board thoroughly scrutinised your ability and character. Recommendations were made all the way to His Excellency the President, who then consented to your promotion," Gen Matatu said. "It signifies your good standing in our profession. Promotions carry increased responsibility, and I have no doubt both of you are up to the task."He urged the Major-Generals to rise to the challenges ahead, noting the increasing role of technology and artificial intelligence in modern military operations. "We have to keep abreast with technological advances in all aspects of our profession and build the capabilities necessary to fulfil our mandate," he said.In response, Major-General Gurira thanked President Mnangagwa and the command element for the confidence and mentorship throughout their military careers. He pledged continued loyalty to the Constitution, the command structure, and the people of Zimbabwe."Cognisant of the continual trust and greater responsibility bestowed upon us, we resolve and undertake to add value to the ZDF by contributing to the attainment of its mandate and vision," Major-General Gurira said.
The dispute over airport dues has been closely linked to the sale of three grounded Jet Airways Boeing 777-300ER aircraft that had been parked at Mumbai airport since 2018. In 2022, Malta-based Ace Aviation agreed to buy the aircraft for 400 crore, but the sale was delayed due to litigation over unpaid dues. In October 2025, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) directed the liquidator to keep the sale proceeds in an escrow account until the dues dispute was decided by the NCLT. The tribunal has now clarified that MIAL is not a secured creditor.
Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, will begin in India from Thursday, the Markazi Chand Committee in Lucknow announced on Wednesday after the crescent was sighted.

Ramadan, also spelt as Ramazan, is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar (Hijri) and marks 29 or 30 days of fasting, prayer, and reflection observed by Muslims worldwide. Typically, the crescent moon is first seen in Gulf countries and Western nations. The crescent is seen the next day in most parts of India and other neighbouring countries.

Ramadan Moon Sighting Dua: What to recite upon seeing the crescent Upon sighting the moon of Ramadan, Muslims traditionally recite a specific supplication (dua) asking for peace, faith, and safety. One of the common supplications in Arabic is 'Allahumma ahillahu alayna bil-yumni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-islam. Rabbi wa rabbuk Allah....

Translation: "O Allah, bring this moon over us with blessings and faith, with peace and Islam. My Lord and your Lord is Allah"

Ramadan 2026 Moon Sighting LIVE: Check Iftar and Sehri timings for Delhi, Hyderabad The Sehri and Iftar timings change by a few minutes each day in accordance with the sunrise and sunset timings. It is different for different cities. Click here to know the timings

Ramadan 2026 Moon Sighting LIVE: Which cities in India have spotted the crescent moon? The crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan has been sighted in several Indian cities, including Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Patna.

Ramadan 2026 Moon Sighting LIVE: In pic | Jama Masjid illuminates on eve of Ramadan in New Delhi

View full Image Illuminated Jama Masjid on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan in New Delhi on Wednesday. ( Sathiya )

Ramadan moon sighting 2026 Delhi live: Naib Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid announces Ramadan moon sighting Naib Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Shaban Bukhari, announced the sighting of the crescent moon in Delhi, marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan moon sighting 2026 live: Ramzan crescent sighted in parts of Pakistan The crescent moon signalling the beginning of Ramzan was spotted in several regions of Pakistan on Wednesday evening, according to local media reports.

Ramadan moon sighting 2026 live updates: Moon sighted in Hyderabad, Mumbai The crescent moon was sighted in Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Ramadan moon sighting Delhi Live: When will the moon be visible in national capital?

An announcement on the Ramzan moon sighting in Delhi is expected shortly.

View full Image New Delhi, Feb 18 (ANI): Illuminated Jama Masjid on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) ( Sathiya )

View full Image Ramadan moon sighting Delhi Live: The confirmation will be issued by the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid. ( AFP )

Ramadan moon sighting time in Bengaluru: When will the moon be visible? In Bengaluru, the moon is expected to be astronomically positioned for visibility after 7 pm.

Ramadan 2026 Moon Sighting LIVE: Lucknow spots moon; first roza on Thursday The Ramadan crescent was sighted in Lucknow on Wednesday evening, and the first roza will be observed on Thursday.

View full Image Ramadan 2026 Moon Sighting LIVE: Lucknow spots moon.

Ramadan 2026 moon sighting LIVE: Ramzan fasts to begin in India from Thursday Ramzan fasts are set to begin on Thursday in India after the crescent moon signalling the start of the holy month was sighted across several parts of the country on Wednesday, PTI reported.

Following the moon sighting, Muslims will observe fasting from dawn to dusk for the next 30 days. Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, Shahi Imam of Chandni Chowks Fatehpuri Mosque, confirmed the sighting and announced that the fasting month will commence on February 19, PTI reported.

Naib Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Shaban Bukhari also declared that the moon was sighted.

Ramadan 2026 moon sighting LIVE: PM Modi wishes Ramzan Mubarak In an X post, PM Modi extended Ramadan wishes and said, Ramzan Mubarak! May this auspicious month further the spirit of togetherness in our society. May there be peace and prosperity everywhere.

Ramadan 2026 moon sighting LIVE: Rahul Gandhi extends Ramzan wishes Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi extended greetings on the occasion of Ramzan on Wednesday, wishing that this pious month bring peace and prosperity.

On X, Gandhi wrote," Ramzan Mubarak! May this pious month bring peace, prosperity and good health to everyone."

Ramadan 2026 moon sighting LIVE: Ramadan to begin on February 19 or 20, depending on moon sighting If the crescent moon is sighted in India today, the holy month of Ramadan will commence on Thursday, February 19, with the first fast observed the following day.

However, if the moon is not visible, the month of Shaban will complete 30 days, and Ramadan will begin on Friday, February 20.

Ramadan 2026 moon sighting LIVE: When is first roza in India? The Sehri and Iftar timings change by a few minutes each day in accordance with the sunrise and sunset timings.

It is different for different cities. In Delhi, for example, if the first roza is on Thursday, 19 February, the devotees start their fast by stopping eating and drinking at 5.37 AM  the end of Sehri. Muslims will observe a fast for about 12 hours and break the fast at 6.15 PM, called Iftar.

Ramadan 2026 moon sighting LIVE: Delhi to await Shahi Imams announcement on Ramzan crescent after evening prayers Muslims in Delhi are set to await the official announcement from the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, regarding the sighting of the Ramzan crescent.

The declaration is expected after evening prayers at the historic mosque in Old Delhi, where worshippers traditionally gather in large numbers during significant religious occasions.

Ramadan 2026 moon sighting LIVE: Muslim scholars assemble at Aishbagh Eidgah in Lucknow for crescent sighting Muslim scholars and members of the local community gathered at Aishbagh Eidgah in Lucknow on Wednesday evening to sight the crescent moon that would mark the beginning of Ramzan.

Why is Ramadan significant? Ramadan marks the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed. For Muslims around the world, it is a time of deep spiritual reflection, devotion, and self-discipline.

View full Image Sunni Muslim worshippers pray at the shrine of Sheikh Abu Hanifa al-Numan in the Adhamiya district of Baghdad on February 17, 2026, on the first night of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. ( AFP )

During Ramadan, observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk. They gather with family and friends in the evening to break their fast, a meal known as iftar.

View full Image Children celebrate the start of the holy month of Ramadan in Mosul, Iraq, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily ( REUTERS )

It is also a time of intensified prayer, when the faithful gather in large numbers at mosques, especially during the night prayers.

When will Ramadan 2026 Moon be sighted in India? The crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan is expected to be sighted in India on Wednesday between 6:15 PM and 6:45 PM.

By then, the sun will have set and the sky will be sufficiently dark to spot the delicate sliver of the new moon.

Also Read | Ramadan Moon sighted in Saudi Arabia; first Roza tomorrow

Shortly after sunset, members of the Muslim community and local Islamic organisations will turn their gaze toward the western horizon in search of the crescent.

View full Image Decorations are displayed as Palestinians prepare for the holy fasting month of Ramadan. ( REUTERS )

If the moon is sighted on February 18, the holy month of Ramadan will begin in India on Thursday, February 19, marking the first day of fasting.

However, if the crescent is not visible, the month of Sha'ban will complete 30 days, and Ramadan will commence a day later, on Friday, February 20.

Sehri and Iftar timings of Ramadan 2026 in India Sehri is the pre-fast meal before sunrise. Each day of fasting finishes with iftar, after sunset.

The Sehri and Iftar timings change by a few minutes each day in accordance with the sunrise and sunset timings. It is different for different cities. In Delhi, for example, if the first roza is on Thursday, 19 February, the devotees start their fast by stopping eating and drinking at 5.37 AM  the end of Sehri. Muslims will observe a fast for about 12 hours and break the fast at 6.15 PM, called Iftar.

Similarly, on Friday, 20 February, the Sehri end time in Delhi is 5.36 AM, meaning people who observe fast cannot eat or drink beyond this time until 6.15 PM, when the roza is opened on Friday.

Ramadan moon sighting 2026: India city-wise timings According to The Economic Times, the crescent moon is expected to be visible in different cities across India as per the following schedule:

City Time Gurugram 6:19 PM to 6:43 PM Mumbai 6:45 PM to 7:10 PM Bengaluru 6:35 PM to 7:00 PM Kolkata 5:50 PM to 6:15 PM Hyderabad 6:25 PM to 6:50 PM Chennai 6:10 PM to 6:35 PM Patna 6:00 PM to 6:25 PM New Delhi 6:18 PM to 6:42 PM Jaipur 6:25 PM to 6:48 PM

Ramadan moon sighting 2026 LIVE: Govt revises timing for Urdu medium schools in Karnataka during Ramzan In a directive by the Directorate of Urdu and Other Minority Language Schools earlier this month, the period of closure of Urdu medium junior primary and secondary primary schools in the state during the month of Ramzan will be extended from 8:00 AM to 12:45 PM for a period of one month from the date of commencement of the month of Ramzan. The Standing Order dated 31-10-2002 has been extended."
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms and founder of Facebook, is set to testify in a US court for the first time about the impact of Instagram on young users mental health. The jury trial, underway in Los Angeles, California, is being closely watched as a potential turning point in legal challenges against major social media companies.

While Zuckerberg has previously addressed lawmakers in Congress on related issues, this trial carries financial and legal consequences. If Meta loses, it could face significant damages  and potentially weaken long-standing legal protections shielding tech firms from liability over user harm.

The case at the center of the trial The lawsuit was filed by a California woman who began using Instagram and YouTube, owned by Google, as a child. She alleges the companies deliberately designed their platforms to maximize engagement among young users despite knowing the potential mental health risks.

According to the complaint, the apps contributed to her depression and suicidal thoughts. She is seeking to hold the companies liable for damages.

Meta and Google have denied the allegations. The companies argue they have implemented multiple safety features and safeguards aimed at protecting younger users.

Legal and global backlash The trial is part of a wider global reckoning over the effects of social media on children and teenagers.

Countries including Australia and Spain have enacted restrictions barring users under 16 from accessing social media platforms. In the United States, Florida has passed legislation prohibiting companies from allowing users under 14 to create accounts  though the law is being challenged in court by tech industry trade groups.

The current lawsuit is viewed as a test case among thousands of similar claims filed by families, school districts and states across the US against companies including Meta, Alphabets Google, Snap Inc., and TikTok.

Internal studies under scrutiny Zuckerberg is expected to face questions about Metas internal research into Instagrams effects on young users. Internal company discussions and studies could play a central role in determining whether Meta was aware of potential harms.

Last week, Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified that he was unaware of a recent Meta study suggesting no link between parental supervision and teens attentiveness over their own social media usage. Trial documents also indicated that teens facing difficult life circumstances reported more habitual or unintended use of Instagram.

Meta has frequently cited findings from the National Academies of Sciences, stating that research does not conclusively demonstrate that social media directly alters childrens mental health.

Defense pushes back Metas legal team has argued that the plaintiffs health records reflect longstanding challenges stemming from a troubled childhood. Company lawyers told jurors that social media served as a creative outlet rather than the root cause of her mental health struggles.
Hot, dry, and gusty conditions across Oklahoma have sparked several wildfires, leading officials to advise nearly one-third of residents in the city of Woodward to evacuate for safety.

The Oklahoma Emergency Manager stated that four firefighters were wounded during wildfires on Tuesday, reported newson6. A pastor stated that Chris Campbell was among the firefighters wounded in the blaze, and his wife confirmed that he sustained second- and third-degree burns.

The wildfire burning in Woodward, located roughly 140 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, is nearing what officials have described as a worst-case scenario, said Matt Lehenbauer, director of emergency management for Woodward, although the flames have not yet reached the citys most densely populated areas, according to NBC News.

Lehenbauer, the emergency management director for Woodward, which has a population of about 12,000, mentioned the evacuation advisory applies to about 4,000 residents.

He clarified that the order is voluntary, as Oklahoma law does not allow authorities to impose mandatory evacuations.

The Ranger Road Fire has scorched around 15,000 acres in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Authorities have initiated evacuations in parts of southwest Kansas and northwest Oklahoma, while law enforcement agencies have shut down multiple roads in the affected areas, reported BBC.

Gov. Laura Kelly ordered an emergency proclamation on Sunday, cautioning that hazardous fire weather conditions were expected to persist through Thursday.

State officials said Kansas emergency operations center was activated Tuesday, with staff from the State Fire Marshals Office, the Kansas Forest Service, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the state Transportation Department deployed to respond. Authorities also closed sections of Interstate 70 and US Route 50 due to wind-blown dust severely reducing visibility.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry said temperatures along western Oklahoma could climb to as high as 85 degrees on Wednesday.

Also Read | Colorado braces for 110 mph winds; Xcel Energy cuts power amid wildfire danger

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Norman said heightened fire weather conditions could persist through at least Friday. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry indicated that conditions are expected to ease starting Thursday, as winds shift from the southwest to the northwest, bringing in cooler air.

Oklahoma Forestry Services mentioned that aerial firefighting support had been sought, but strong winds and powerful gusts made it unsafe to carry out aviation operations over the blaze, reported The Mirror. The agency noted that gusts exceeding 65 mph had been recorded. It added that although air resources were requested to assist in containing the fire, they could not be deployed due to the high wind speeds.

Kansas Governor reacts Kansas Governor Kevin Stitt took to X and said, I am at the State Emergency Operations Center being briefed on the ongoing wildfire response and remain in close coordination with the Oklahoma Forestry Services.

Oklahoma Emergency Management, and local first responders, as they work quickly to contain the wildfires impacting Beaver and Texas Counties. The fire in Beaver County is continuing to spread. Winds are gusting over 65 mph," he added.

Additional wildfires have also broken out in Texas, New Mexico, and Missouri after warm, dry air settled over the Central Plains in the wake of a weekend storm front, the National Interagency Fire Center said.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday, leading a large delegation for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including on rare earths and artificial intelligence.

Lula, who is travelling with more than a dozen ministers and a large business delegation that includes top CEOs of Brazilian companies, is also looking to increase trading opportunities with the world's most populous nation.

In a post on X, Lula said, Namaste, India! . I've arrived for another visit with an important agenda: strengthening ties, deepening partnerships, and discussing the future of artificial intelligence in the world. We continue working to build more cooperation, innovation, and opportunities between our countries.

India and Brazil share a close and multifaceted relationship, New Delhi's foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement, with photographs of Lula given a red carpet welcome from his aeroplane.

India, the worlds most populous nation with 1.4 billion people, is poised to become the fourth-largest economy.

During the BRICS summitNew Delhi having assumed this years presidency from Brasilialeaders are expected to discuss global economic uncertainties linked to tariff policies under US President Donald Trump.

Brazilian President Lula and Indian Prime Minister Modi are scheduled to meet Saturday, with Brazil promoting itself as a global alternative for rare earths in a market largely controlled by China.

Brazils president will begin his visit in New Delhi on Thursday by attending a global artificial intelligence summit, where he is expected to advocate for stronger regulations to curb AI-driven disinformation.

Brazil is Indias largest market in Latin America.

Lulas visit follows Indian Prime Minister Modis trip to Brasilia in July 2025, marking the first visit by an Indian premier in nearly six decades.

Earlier, in January, Indias Adani Group and Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer signed a cooperation agreement.

Both nations were hit by punishing US tariffs in 2025, when Lula spoke to Modi about the need to defend multilateralism, and Modi said that a partnership between Global South nations benefits everyone.

Washington pledged to slash those tariffs on Indian goods after a US-India trade deal was announced in early February.

"Both leaders would be reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations," India's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Bilateral trade between India and Brazil exceeded $12 billion in 2024. Brazil views India as an underexplored market for its exports, including cotton, seeds, teak, soybean oil, and various minerals.

(With inputs from agencies)
A month after the Trump administration captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and issued a warning to Cuba to "make a deal", the country is now witnessing a disruption to normal life, CNN reported.

What's happening in Cuba? Mandy Pruna, once a classic car driver in Cuba, who for almost two decades made a decent living by ferrying tourists in his Chevrolet, is now considering leaving his homeland to emigrate to Spain.

Recalling the influx of American travellers in Cuba back in 2015, when former US President Barack Obama restored the ties between the two countries, Pruna told CNN that back then his car was in high demand and countless visitors like Will Smith, Rihanna and Kim Kardashian paid hefty prices, at least for Cuban standards, to go on classic car tours with him.

Referring to the brief improvement in the ties between Washington and Havana, Pruna said, "All sectors of society benefited from that," and added, "You saw people painting their houses, opening new businesses. For me, it was fantastic. It was the best era for tourism in Cuba.

Economic uncertainty grips Cuba The island nation is now experiencing a period of profound economic uncertainty, with food, fuel, and tourism money running out. Cuba's oil flow has been cut off after Trump's administration captured Maduro in January and threatened Mexico with tariffs, compelling the communist-run island to make both political and economic reforms.

Also Read | Air Canada Halts Service to Cuba After US Pressure Cuts Off Fuel

CNN report suggests that Cuba does not appear to have any remaining allies who are willing to supply millions of dollars worth of fuel required to power the economy. The island is now fighting a double battle, with oil running out slowly, and tourism has hit a new low. The twin battle of Cuba is specifically proving to be catastrophic for people like Pruna, whose livelihood depended on ferrying tourists.

Further, at many schools in Cuba, classes have been suspended, and workers have been temporarily laid off to conserve energy. Vacated hotels have been shut, and flights from countries like Russia and Canada have been cancelled since there is not enough jet fuel for longer international flights. The UK and Canada have also advised citizens against travelling to Cuba for non-essential purposes.

The annual Habanos cigar festival, known to bring in millions of dollars in revenue, was also cancelled last week, and Sherrit International, a Canadian mining company, announced on Tuesday (local time) that they are halting nickel and cobalt mining operations in the island nation amid fuel shortage.

Several state-operated hospitals have scaled back services, while fuel shortages and a scarcity of operational garbage trucks have led to mounting waste in neighbourhoods.

Also Read | Trump signs executive order to impose tariffs on oil suppliers to Cuba

Trump govt on Cuba crisis President Donald Trump's administration has reiterated that the Cuban government must open the island's centralized economy before it collapses. Speaking to reporters on Monday (local time), Trump said, "Theres no oil, theres no money, theres no anything."

He further said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading efforts for negotiations with Cuban officials. Rubio has previously said that the only thing he intends to discuss with the Cuban officials is when they would give up power. Addressing the Munich Security Conference 2026, he said, "This is a regime that has survived almost entirely on subsidies  first from the Soviet Union, then from (former Venezuelan President) Hugo Chavez." For the first time, it has no subsidies coming in from anyone, and the model has been laid bare.

Also Read | Cuba says it is ready to engage with Trump as fuel shortages worsen

Cuba's food shortage To make matters worse, the country is also witnessing a food shortage, since most of what Cubans consume is imported, owing to the disastrous agricultural policies of the island nation's government. The crucial support now appears uncertain, as several anti-Castro Cuban-American lawmakers have urged Washington to completely halt its assistance.

Amid the worsening crisis, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has urged the population to resist creatively and adopt a wartime mentality. In a televised appearance in January, Diaz-Canel said, "We will eat what we can produce in each place. Now, if there is less fuel, then food will not be able to leave from some municipalities for other ones."
In a reportedly racial attack, an Indian-origin man was allegedly attacked by three men in Geelong city of Australia. Harman Preet Singh, a 22-year-old nurse, said that he was also called an Indian dog. The incident happened when Harman Preet Singh was leaving a gym in Corio area of Geelong. He said he was confronted by three men.

He said the intimidation started during his training session and alleged that the three individuals were waiting for him outside once he completed his workout.

While one of them headbutted him, another called him an Indian dog as he also used expletives, according to 9News.

Harman Preet Singh said, He got really close to my face and then just got really back and hit his head on my nose. And just started bleeding straight away.

Nobody wants to hear it. Especially when you're just minding your own business. Anyone would be hurt. I'm still traumatised, he said. Also Read | They beat me relentlessly: Indian man's face fractured in racist attack in Ireland

Harman Preet Singh also said that this was not the first timed he was targeted for his race. "I try to keep myself strong, not care about such things, but it hurts," he said. I don't know if I'm going to go back to [the] gym or if I'm going to change my hours ... I'm not going to feel safe after this," he said.

In July 2025, a 33-year-old Indian-origin man was brutally attacked with a machete by a group of teenagers in Australia, leaving him with multiple injuries, including a nearly severed hand.

Also Read | Who was Angel Chakma? Tripura youth stabbed to death for opposing racial abuse

Saurabh Anand was approached by the teenage boys from behind when he was walking home on July 19 after picking up medicines at a pharmacy at Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows, Melbourne, according to media reports and police.

According to The Age newspaper, the teenagers shoved him to the ground, then attacked him. While one of the persons looked through his stuff to find any valuables, another one took out a machete and held it to his throat.

They didnt stop there, he said, adding, "My instinctive reaction was to bring my arm up to protect my face and wrist. While I was trying to protect myself, the machete just went through my wrist. The second attack, the machete went through my hand ... the third went through my bone.

Anand alleged he was then slashed and stabbed with the machete on his shoulder and back.
The latest US-mediated negotiations between Volodymyr Zelenskys team and representatives of Vladimir Putin concluded in Geneva on Wednesday (February 18) with no major breakthrough, as Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches its fourth anniversary next week.

The Switzerland meeting marked the third round of direct talks organized by the United States this year, following earlier discussions in Abu Dhabi that officials had described as constructive but inconclusive. Expectations for significant progress in Geneva were low.

Negotiations were not easy The negotiations were not easy, Zelensky said after the talks ended, speaking briefly by phone from Kyiv with his negotiating team.

He accused Moscow of stalling while continuing its military campaign.

Trying to drag out negotiations, Zelensky said of Russias approach.

Despite deep political divisions, Zelensky said there had been some movement on military-related discussions, particularly around the mechanics of a potential ceasefire.

On the Russian side, delegation head Vladimir Medinsky described the talks as difficult but businesslike.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov struck a cautious tone, saying it was too early to assess outcomes. He added that Putin had been receiving updates on the progress in Geneva.

Both sides confirmed that another round of talks is planned.

US to help monitor any ceasefire Zelensky characterized the military discussions as constructive, noting that both sides examined how a possible ceasefire could be supervised.

Monitoring will definitely be carried out with participation of the American side, he said in a voice message shared with journalists.

US President Donald Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Washingtons diplomatic efforts had brought about meaningful progress, though he offered no specifics.

Any ceasefire monitoring mechanism involving the United States would mark a significant role for Washington in enforcing potential agreements on the ground.

Fighting continues Even as talks unfolded, fighting persisted across the roughly 1,250-kilometre front line.

Hours after the first day of negotiations, Russian drone strikes reportedly killed a woman and injured two children  a six-year-old girl and an 18-month-old toddler  in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia.

Overnight, Ukraines air force said Russia launched one ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones at Ukrainian territory.

The continued attacks underscore the gap between diplomatic discussions and battlefield realities.

Europes role indispensable Zelensky said Ukrainian and American negotiators met with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland during the Geneva talks.

Europes participation in the process is indispensable, he said.

European leaders have insisted on being involved in peace efforts, arguing that the outcome of the war has direct implications for continental security and for Russias broader ambitions.

Divisions over territory and NATO Substantive disagreements remain over key political issues, particularly the status of eastern Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces.

Putin has maintained the core objectives he outlined when launching the invasion on February 24, 2022:

-Ukraine must abandon ambitions to join NATO

-The Ukrainian military must be significantly reduced

-Russian language and culture must be protected

-Kyiv must withdraw from four eastern regions Moscow claims but does not fully control

Zelensky, however, has ruled out territorial concessions.

Ukraine wont surrender land to Russia, he has repeatedly stated, while also offering a ceasefire and proposing a face-to-face meeting with Putin.

(With AP inputs)

Also Read | Russians feel the pinch as supermarket prices soar amid ongoing Ukraine conflict
Climate adaptation, however, is not just a costit is a good buy. On average, adaptation delivers returns through avoided damages that are seven times its cost at 2 Celsius warming. But climate adaptation competes with other household and government prioritiesits costs exceed a third of the per-capita allocation in the 2025-26 central government budgetand its benefits are often invisible, as prevention is hard to see. Even if adaptation spending were to rise in line with anticipated economic growthwhich is not guaranteedour research suggests that at 2 Celsius warming, India would cover only one-quarter of the required amount.
The trouble is not only that Europe lacks a vision of what it wants to be, but that it often looks at the wrong models for inspiration. For many of its leaders, the holy grail is the Silicon Valley model of innovation. They point to an innovation gap between the US and the EU that the influential Draghi report documented and advocate reformssuch as financial market integration and digital deregulationthat would make Europe more like the US.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Minister of Finance, Mr Tendai Biti, says the 2012 population census is going to be conducted from the 18th to the 28th of August next year is an important event for Zimbabwe to obtain current data on the size, age and geographical distribution of the population in order to inform policy at all levels.Mr Biti said this at a combined launch of the 2011 Zimbabwe National Statistics Database (ZIMDAT) and the official launch of the Publicity and Advocacy Campaign for the 2012 population census and the African Statistics Day in Harare.Mr. Biti said ever since the last population census in 2002 there have been significant demographic changes such as people who have gone to the diaspora.He added that the collection of current data is important to inform policy makers to make rightful decisions.He said preparation for the 2012 population census are at a advanced stage with a pilot census instruments and operations having been completed in August 2011and preliminary results are being disseminated to relevant stakeholders.Financial supporters to ZIMSTAT programmes, UNDP Economic Advisor, Mr. Udo Etukudo and Country Programme Officer, Ms Chioma Onukogu said the formulation of the 2011 to 2015 Medium Term Plan are all pillared on accurate reliable statistical data.The 18th of November was adopted in May 1990 by the 25th session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to increase awareness of the important role statistics play in all aspects of social and economic life.Next year's census will be held under the theme "Be sure to be counted."
If we get this right, the low-frequency forces shaping the worldin this case demographicsbecome engines of growth and stability rather than sources of volatility and risk. If we get it wrong, we will continue to chase crisesreacting to outcomes that were visible years or even decades in advance. The choice is not whether these forces will shape the future. They will. The choice is whether we act early and bend them towards opportunityor wait until they arrive as instability. Bloomberg
The agenda for French President Emmanuel Macrons India visit this week is expansive, with everything from the shape of global AI rules to the Russia-Ukraine war up for talks. What takes the spotlight, though, is the reported deal for 114 Rafale fighter jets (plus munitions) that India wants to buy from France for $40 billion. It would involve some of these 4.5-generation aircraft being made in India, with others being delivered in fly-away state.
New Delhi: Google on Wednesday made a pitch to bring its cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) models and products to applications in the Indian government agencies. In an event, chief executive Sundar Pichai underlined the use of DeepMinds AI in public services in the country.

We have worked with multiple Indian companies, including the Indian government, as part of the global national partnerships programme. This will broaden access to frontier AI capabilities for nations around the world, chief executive Sundar Pichai said.

Googles partnerships will begin with Anusandhan National Research Fund (ANRF) and Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL), to give access to its AI tools, AlphaGenome, AI Co-scientist and Earth AI, to researchers and teachers, as well as 10,000 schools and 11 million students.

Also Read | Meet Hazel, the AI tool that sparked a stock market selloff

Demis Hassabis, founder and chief executive of DeepMindGoogles AI research arm, added that India could play a very leading role in the adoption of AI.

What I would say for India is to double down on the things you are already strong at, and are important to the countryperhaps it is agriculture, for example. Then, you can be the leader in applying AI to that space that you are already well leading in. For instance, agriculturally, I have been discussing with some ministers today on using AI in climate change analysis, and using (DeepMinds) AlphaFold to help with that, Hassabis added.

Googles pitch for using its AI models in public services comes amid a race among Big Tech firms in the US to capture India's nascent market. While the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic are racing to capture the consumer market, Googles push comes in public and government services.

Deepening public utility In public deployment, Google expects its AI adoption to expand across industries.

Other places (of AI adoption) would be maybe in Bollywood and the creative industries, where making use of the latest technology will emerge as a key theme, Hassabis added.

Hassabis is one of the worlds foremost AI scientists, having won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on AlphaFold, which was made available to ANRF and ATL.

Industry stakeholders said Googles public-sector approach could give it significant soft power in Indias ecosystem. Kashyap Kompella, veteran tech analyst, said, Googles long-standing government relations and the prevalence of Android and other Google systems make it a trusted government partner for adding AI into public utilities.

Also Read | Google to help India expand AI in health and startups: Pichai on meeting PM Modi

Earlier in the day, Hassabis also spoke at the India AI Impact Summit, discussing the negative effects of AI and its impact on public services.

We've always worried about bad actors, human actors and individuals, but they could also be nation-states using AI and repurposing them for harmful ends, Hassabis said, adding that generative AI will increase autonomythus necessitating guardrails.

(So) that these systems do what we expect them to do and don't veer off into areas that we hadn't planned for and that could also be problematic, he said, adding that true autonomy and artificial general intelligence would potentially emerge in five to eight years.

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) means AI that can think, learn, and understand like a human across many different tasksnot just one specific job. AGI would be different. It would be able to learn new skills on its own, reason across subjects and adapt to unfamiliar problems.

Path to safety In a bid to mitigate risks on the AI frontier, under DeepMind, Google is engaging in extensive external collaborations with subject-matter experts, such as chemical or biological experts, so that safety measures can be incorporated into the system during training and testing.

Also Read | Pedaling AI software isnt as easy as it used to be

Others at DeepMind also reiterated Hassabiss concerns. There is not going to be one point in time that AI safety and reliability can be a resolved issue. The issue of AI security will be an ongoing journey throughout, said Owen Larter, head of frontier policy and public affairs at DeepMind, at a side summit in New Delhi.

Other initiatives announced by Google include a partnership with Karmayogi Bharat, a civil services reform programme, to train 20 million public service officials across 800 districts. Pichai also said that Googles $30-million global science fund for researchers will be opened to India as well.
New Delhi: Nvidia, the worlds most valuable company, on Wednesday announced a spate of partnerships with top Indian enterprises for its graphics processing unit (GPU) chips, the cornerstone of artificial intelligence (AI). The company has partnered with Reliance New Energy, Hero MotoCorp, Larsen and Toubro Semiconductor, and Tata Consultancy Services, among others.

The partnerships involve access to Nvidias computing chips, as well as open-source AI models and AI development software across industrial applications.

Nvidia also said that Indias tech services firms, including Infosys, Persistent Systems, Tech Mahindra and Wipro, are using its enterprise software platforms to onboard new software management capabilities for clients.

The partnerships come at a time when Indias $283-billion IT services industry is under pressure from foundational AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropicwhose models are automating the very tasks that they built their businesses upon.

Vishal Dhupar, managing director for South Asia at Nvidia, said at a media briefing that India continued to be one of the most important markets for the company. Indias strength lies in its ability to quickly adopt accelerated computing, and leverage from the jumps in efficiency for computing infrastructure that we are seeing in GPU technologies, he said.

With a market cap of more than $4 trillion, Nvidia is the worlds most valuable company, after seeing a meteoric rise in its fortunes ever since generative AI became a household term through the premiere of OpenAIs ChatGPT.

Speaking on generative AI, Nvidia also underlined existing partnerships with Indias Gen AI startupsmany of which are backed by the Indian governments $1.2-billion AI Mission.

Companies using its GPUs to build foundational models in AI include BharatGen, CoRover, Gnani, Sarvam and Soket, among those funded by the ministry of electronics and IT (Meity)s AI Mission.

Dhupar, however, did not comment on whether GPUs would continue to remain in prevalence as the worlds foundational AI infrastructure, or if lower-cost, general purpose central processing units (CPUs) may take over.

The announcements were made on the sidelines of Indias five-day AI Impact Summit, which saw a number of billion-dollar investment promises made on Tuesday.

For Nvidia, chief executive Jensen Huang was expected to be a star attraction at the event, before dropping out on Saturday. The company is represented at the Summit by Jay Puri, its executive vice-president.

Speaking about the partnerships announced on Wednesday, the company said in a blog post that its role among top Indian enterprises comes through software integration firms Cadence Design Systems, Siemens and Synopsys, which continue to increase Nvidias role as a key technology provider for Indias top conglomerates.

India is entering a new age of industrialization, as AI transforms how the world designs, builds and runs physical products and systems. The country is investing $134 billion in new manufacturing capacity across construction, automotive, renewable energy and robotics, creating both a massive challenge and opportunity to build software-defined factories from day one, the post read.
India has secured a place in the Guinness World Records after nearly a quarter of a million people signed up to an artificial intelligence responsibility campaign within 24 hours, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Monday.

The record for the Most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours was achieved with 250,946 valid pledges collected between 16 and 17 February.

The announcement was made at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where the achievement was formally verified by a Guinness World Records adjudicator.

Record set at India AI Impact Summit The campaign was organised under the IndiaAI Mission in partnership with Intel India and invited citizens to commit to the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.

Participants signed the pledge through a dedicated online portal and engaged with scenario-based questions focused on principles such as data privacy, accountability, transparency and tackling misinformation. Those who completed the process received a digital badge and access to curated AI learning pathways.

Also Read | Sridhar Vembu predicts India may outpace US in AI adoption over next 10 yrs

The summit, held at Bharat Mandapam, was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, along with industry representatives and the Guinness World Records adjudicator who confirmed the title.

Vaishnaw credits PM Modis vision Addressing the media, Vaishnaw attributed the success of the initiative to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly his emphasis on engaging young people in emerging technologies.

He said the government had reached out to colleges and faculty members across the country to encourage students to treat AI as a force for social good while remaining mindful of its risks. Applauding the more than 250,000 students who participated, the minister described the achievement as a proud moment for the nation.

Also Read | Google CEO Sundar Pichai lands in India to attend AI Summit 2026, meets PM Modi

From modest target to mass participation Officials noted that the campaign had originally aimed to gather 5,000 pledges, a figure that was surpassed many times over within a single day. The scale of participation, Vaishnaw said, demonstrated growing public awareness about the ethical dimensions of AI adoption.

He added that the record reflected a broader citizen-led movement towards digital responsibility and underscored Indias ambition to shape global conversations on artificial intelligence with an emphasis on inclusion, ethics and public trust.
AI pioneer and UC Berkeley professor Stuart Russell has issued a risk warning about the dangers posed by advanced AI systems on the sidelines of the ongoing AI Impact Summit 2026. Russell argues that the current rapidly advancing AI systems could lead to catastrophic outcomes, including human extinction, unless governments impose strict safety requirements.

Speaking at the AI Safety Connect Day in New Delhi on Wednesday, Russell noted that the development of modern AI tools is focused on building more capable systems first and attempting to bolt on safety later, a strategy he believes is fundamentally flawed.

"That just absolutely doesn't work, particularly when the fundamental technology of training LLMs on vast amounts of text is intrinsically unsafe," Russell said. No amount of papering over that problem is really going to fix it.

He also talked about the King Midas problem in AI, where an AI system pursues and completes certain objectives while ignoring human values.

"Intelligence is very roughly the ability to act successfully in the furtherance of one's own interest," Russell told the audience. When those interests are not focused entirely on the interests of human beings... a combination of misalignment and competence is where the problem comes from.

Russell on risk of AI-related extinction threats: Russell argued at the summit that while nuclear power plants in Europe are required to maintain a failure risk below one in 10 million per year, the AI industry is currently operating at multiple times those risk levels.

He argues that while some of these companies are publicly claiming a risk of extinction from their technologies at 1020%, he has spoken to engineers at some of the leading AI labs who have said that the risk of human extinction from their work is at 60 to 70%.

"I've spoken to engineers in those companies who think it's now 60 or 70%," Russell said, referring to the probability of catastrophic outcomes from AI development. "So we're off by a factor of 10 to 50 million. And so that's not a very impressive engineering record."

Russell also suggested that governments aren't doing enough to regulate the existential risks posed by AI. He said, The creators of AI are saying, 'We are building a technology that will kill every single person on Earth with a 25% probability.' And governments are saying, 'Oh, go ahead, that's great.'

Meanwhile, Dr Sarah Erfani, professor at the University of Melbourne who was also part of the same panel, struck a more measured tone, saying the risks from AI are serious but unlikely to become catastrophic in the immediate future.

I dont think it will be doom and gloom in the next five years, Erfani said in an exclusive conversation with Mint. But we have to put our effort into understanding vulnerabilities and mitigating the risks. Otherwise it will be too late.

She also warned about the mass adoption of AI systems by the public without realising the dangers they pose.
The ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi witnessed a series of high-level meetings on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with global technology leaders and European counterparts, placing artificial intelligence and strategic trade partnerships at the centre of Indias diplomatic outreach.

This summit, being hosted at Bharat Mandapam from 16 to 20 February, has drawn policymakers, industry executives, academics and civil society representatives from around the world.

Pichai highlights Googles AI plan to India Among the most prominent engagements was the Prime Ministers meeting with Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive of Google. The two leaders discussed the role of artificial intelligence in advancing Indias development goals.

Pichai later wrote on X, Great to meet with the Honorable PM @narendramodi this morning. We discussed how Google is helping with his mission to infuse AI at all levels in India to improve health, expand access to information in all languages, support startups, agriculture and so much more. Thank you Prime Minister for bringing us together for this incredible summit.

He reshared a post by Modi, who had earlier said: It was a delight to meet Mr. Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field. @sundarpichai.

IndiaFinland talks focus on trade and future technologies Beyond the technology sector, Modi also held extensive discussions with Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland. Their talks centred on strengthening economic ties and advancing the proposed IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement.

In a post on X, Modi stated: "Held extensive discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo. Thanked him for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which ushers in a golden era in India-Europe relations. India and Finland aim to double trade, thus giving a strong boost to economic linkages."

He added, "We also talked about enhancing cooperation in futuristic technologies like 6G, innovation, clean energy, biofuels, circular economy and more."

The discussions reflected a broader alignment between India and European partners on emerging technologies and sustainable economic growth.
Google has announced the dates for its I/O 2026 summit just as its top officer Sundar Pichai landed in India to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026. Earlier in the day, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis gave a keynote address on Day 3 of the AI summit.

When is I/O 2026? Google I/O is all set to be held from 19 to 20 May at the companys Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. Just like every year, Google will also be live-streaming its flagship developer conference, where it has confirmed that the latest breakthroughs in the field of AI, Android and its other products will be announced.

No hardware launches are expected at the I/O conference, as the event is likely to centre around software-related announcements.

The event will feature keynote addresses from Google leaders, fireside chats, product demos and more. While you wait for the big day, check out this years save-the-date experience, where you can play, create and remix your way through a playground of experiences built with Gemini, Google revealed in its blog post.

Pichai also confirmed the dates in a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he wrote, See you all at Google I/O starting May 19th! http://io.google

Shortly after landing in India, Pichai also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the AI Impact Summit.

What to expect from I/O 2026? While Google has already launched its Gemini 3 Pro and Flash models recently, it is likely that the company will unveil new Gemini-related innovations, especially a new AI video generation model. Notably, the company had launched its Veo 3 video generation model at I/O last year with support for generating synchronised audio as well, and the AI-generated videos had then slowly started taking over the internet.

Meanwhile, the company had also introduced Deep Think mode in Gemini, Image 4 image model, a new series of Gemma 3 open-source models and new innovations inside Google Search.

The first beta for Android 17 has already been released, but it is likely that Google will fully showcase all the biggest new features of the UI at the I/O 2026 event. This includes the new Handoff features, Desktop Mode, a Liquid Glass-like redesign along with deeper Gemini integrations in the OS.
S. Krishnan, Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has responded to the controversy surrounding Galgotias Universitys display at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, stressing that only genuine work should be showcased at public expos.

According to the government official, Galgotias University was asked to vacate the stall at the expo. The government official said, "We want genuine and actual work to be reflected in the way that people exhibit at expos. The idea is not to use this as an opportunity in any other way. We don't want the controversy surrounding the exhibits presented here. So I think it's essential that a code is followed there. Misinformation cannot be encouraged. So we don't want the controversy around this. I'm not getting into whether they are right or wrong. We just don't want the controversy."

Krishnan further stated that the government did not want exhibitors to present products that were not their own innovations. We do not want such exhibits to continue, he said.

Video sparks online backlash The row began after a video from the summit went viral on social media. In the clip, Professor Neha Singh, stationed at the Galgotias University pavilion, introduced a robotic dog named Orion to DD News and described it as having been developed by the universitys Centre of Excellence.

Soon after, social media users pointed out that the robot appeared to be the Unitree Go2, a quadruped robot manufactured by Unitree Robotics and commonly used worldwide for research and educational purposes.

The claims led to mounting criticism and questions about whether the device had been misrepresented.

University apologises, says representative was ill-informed In a post on X, the Greater Noida-based institution apologised for the confusion caused at the summit.

It wrote: We at Galgotias University wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent Al Summit. One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed. She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press."

The university clarified that Professor Singh was not authorised to brief the media and maintained that there was no intention to misrepresent the origins of the robotic dog.
Google is preparing to unveil its latest mid-range smartphone, the Google Pixel 10a, in global markets on 18 February, including India. The company has been promoting the handset as the most durable Google Pixel A-Series yet, signalling refinements to its affordable Pixel line-up.

Unlike flagship launches, the Pixel 10a is not expected to be introduced at a dedicated event. Instead, Google is likely to announce the device via an official press statement, with availability following shortly after.

Pre-orders in India via Flipkart and Google Store Pre-orders for the Pixel 10a will begin at 9 pm IST in India, according to a listing on Flipkart. The handset will be available through both Flipkart and the Google Store.

Google is also rolling out a range of promotional offers through its online store. These include exchange bonuses on selected Pixel devices, no-cost EMI plans extending up to 24 months, and promotional Google Store credits during limited-period deals.

Also Read | Google Pixel 10a pre-orders in India begin 18 February via Flipkart

While pricing for India has not yet been confirmed, a report by European retailer WinFuture suggests the device could start at EUR 499 (approximately 52,800) for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. The 256GB model may be priced at EUR 599 (around 64,300). Official regional pricing details are still awaited.

Software support and Android updates The Pixel 10a is expected to ship with Android 16 out of the box and is likely to support the Android 17 beta programme. Google is also tipped to provide seven years of operating system and security updates, aligning the device with the companys broader software support policy for recent Pixel models.

Expected specifications and hardware upgrades In terms of hardware, the Pixel 10a is anticipated to feature a 6.3-inch OLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. Connectivity may see a boost with support for Bluetooth 6.

The smartphone is expected to retain the same battery capacity as its predecessor but could deliver significantly faster wired charging, reportedly up to 45W compared with the earlier 23W standard.

Also Read | Google Pixel 10a tipped to launch in March with AMOLED display

Under the bonnet, the handset is likely to be powered by Googles Tensor G4 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM. Storage options are expected to include 128GB and 256GB variants, with no indication of a 512GB model this year.

On the camera front, the Pixel 10a is tipped to feature a 48MP primary sensor alongside a 13MP ultra-wide lens, continuing Googles focus on computational photography within its mid-range segment.
Opinion / Columnist

The recent post by George Charamba attacking the late journalist John Masuku exposes a troubling mixture of historical misunderstanding, hypocrisy, and political posturing. While Zimbabweans from across the political, media, and religious spectrum rightly celebrated Masuku's distinguished career, Charamba chose to distort his legacy, painting him as an agent of colonial propaganda and Western interference because he once worked at the Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation (RBC).Charamba claimed that Masuku's early career at RBC - a forerunner of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) - was tantamount to collaborating with settler colonial interests, and even suggested his later work with the Voice of the People (VOP) opposed the Zanu PF-led land reform. This narrative is not only misleading but also ignores critical historical and professional context.To set the record straight: SW Radio Africa, which Charamba falsely claims was a UK government project aimed at undermining land reform, was in fact founded in London in 2001 by Zimbabwean broadcaster Gerry Jackson, following the closure of her independent station, Capital FM, by the Zimbabwean government. It was an independent, non-profit initiative to provide Zimbabweans with uncensored news. Similarly, Masuku joined VOP in 2000 at the invitation of Zimbabwean media veteran Sarah Chiumbu. VOP's mission was to provide alternative news voices and empower marginalized communities - not to oppose land reform or serve Western interests.Masuku's formative years in Highfield, one of Zimbabwe's hotbeds of political activism, shaped his journalistic passion. His memoir, Memoirs of a Cross Generational Zimbabwean Broadcaster (2025), chronicles his life in a turbulent era, navigating the rigid structures of RBC while admiring guerrilla radio stations supporting liberation movements. He joined RBC in 1974, becoming one of the first black broadcasters in Rhodesia. Working under colonial censorship was not an endorsement of the regime but a means of survival, professional growth, and a step toward creating a platform for African voices.After independence, Masuku continued at ZBC for two decades, contributing to the transition to majority rule. To condemn him for his early RBC tenure while glorifying his ZBC work is pure hypocrisy. Both institutions, despite the political shift, functioned as government mouthpieces - RBC under colonial rule and ZBC under Zanu PF. To attack Masuku for one and not the other is to ignore structural realities while engaging in political revisionism.Charamba's post reflects more about his own authoritarian posture than Masuku's career. As presidential spokesperson, Charamba oversees a media landscape where ZBC disseminates party propaganda, censors dissent, and suppresses alternative viewpoints. By vilifying Masuku for his work at a colonial broadcaster while tolerating similar practices at ZBC, Charamba demonstrates selective outrage and a lack of historical nuance.The legacy of John Masuku should not be reduced to the political climate of his early employment. His lifelong commitment to journalism, media training, press freedom, and giving a voice to Zimbabweans across political divides stands as testament to his professionalism, courage, and dedication. Black journalists at RBC, like Masuku, faced a difficult balancing act under colonial censorship; their choices were dictated by survival, opportunity, and a desire to amplify African perspectives within constrained spaces.Charamba's attempt to rewrite history is not only unfair - it is an insult to Masuku's contributions and to Zimbabwe's journalistic heritage. Criticism must be rooted in fact and context, not political expedience or opportunistic attacks. Vilifying Masuku for navigating the complexities of a colonial-era media institution is a convenient deflection from the continued manipulation of ZBC under the current government.Ultimately, John Masuku's life and career reflect the nuanced realities of Zimbabwean journalism: courage in adversity, commitment to truth, and dedication to the public good. It is Masuku's legacy - not Charamba's revisionist narrative - that should define the memory of one of Zimbabwe's finest media professionals.Masuku's story reminds us that history, especially media history, is rarely black and white. To understand it requires nuance, honesty, and respect for those who navigated its gray areas with integrity - qualities that Charamba's post regrettably lacks.
Samsung is expected to unveil its next-generation flagship smartphones at its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, but fresh reports indicate the new devices may arrive with higher price tags.

A report from South Korean publication IT Chosun suggests the company is facing mounting production costs, potentially making a price rise for the Galaxy S26 series increasingly difficult to avoid.

Rising production costs put pressure on pricing According to the report, Samsung is grappling with surging expenses linked to advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The standard Galaxy S26 is tipped to feature the new Exynos 2600 chipset in select markets, reportedly built on Samsungs 2nm Gate All Around process.

The move to a more advanced fabrication node is said to significantly increase wafer and yield costs compared with earlier generations. As chip production becomes more complex, the financial burden on the companys mobile division appears to be growing.

These rising component costs, particularly for memory and cutting-edge processors, are believed to be at the heart of the pricing dilemma.

Internal debate over market competitiveness Samsung is understood to be wary of how any increase could affect its position in the premium smartphone segment. The report claims the company had previously considered raising prices for the Galaxy S25 series but ultimately held back.

That decision was reportedly influenced by TM Roh, who leads Samsungs Mobile eXperience and Device eXperience divisions and serves as President and co-chief executive of Samsung Electronics. At the time, maintaining competitive pricing was viewed as critical to protecting market share.

This year, however, absorbing additional manufacturing costs may prove more challenging. Industry observers suggest that Samsung could have limited room to manoeuvre if expenses continue to climb.

Also Read | Samsung Galaxy S26 series tipped to launch at February 25 Galaxy Unpacked Event

Concerns over competition with Apple Another factor weighing on Samsungs strategy is competition from Apple. The US technology giant is widely rumoured to introduce its next iPhone line-up in September at prices comparable to its current models.

If Samsung opts for higher prices on the Galaxy S26 range, it could widen the gap between the two brands in the ultra-premium category, potentially influencing consumer buying decisions.

Also Read | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra colours leak ahead of expected February launch

Launch event confirmed for 25 February Samsung has confirmed that its Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event will take place on 25 February in San Francisco. The company is expected to announce three models in the Galaxy S26 series: the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Georgia students recall horror of being shot as father of accused school shooter goes on trial

Students in Georgia describe the terror of a school shooting as prosecutors try to convict the suspects father for giving him the gun
UPDATE: Employees at Volkswagens Chattanooga plant voted Thursday evening to overwhelmingly ratify their first collective bargaining agreement with the United Auto Workers.

Union leaders say workers approved the deal by 96%. The agreement includes 20% wage increases, reductions in healthcare costs, job security guarantees, and an enforceable grievance procedure, among other provisions.

In a statement, a Volkswagen spokesperson said the vote marks a major milestone for both the workforce and the automakers local operations.

Volkswagen team members in Chattanooga today ratified our first collective bargaining agreement with the UAW, the spokesperson said. This milestone reflects our shared commitment to competitive wages, strong benefits, and the long-term success of our employees and operations. We look forward to building a strong future together in Chattanooga.

The ratification comes after workers voted to unionize in April 2024, becoming the first foreign-owned automaker in the Southeast to do so.

Volkswagen workers have moved yet another mountain, said Shawn Fain. From having the courage to stand up and form their union, to having the backbone to authorize a strike and hold out for a contract that honors their worth, VW workers are leading the way for the entire labor movement and non-union autoworkers everywhere. Welcome to the UAW family.

Fain said the contract reflects years of organizing and the determination of employees at the Chattanooga plant.

This isnt about individuals. This is about all these workers coming together, and like Ive said, theyve struggled for years, and just to see that joy from them and the tears and the happiness, because theyve struggled for a long time, Fain said.

Members of the local bargaining committee also emphasized the long-term impact of the deal.

We want this to be a career in the long run for our families, for everyone. Its not just for the now but for the future, said Angel Gomez.

Fain added that he believes the agreement will benefit both workers and the surrounding region.

Moving forward, I think its going to be great for this community. I think its going to help the Volkswagen group here, I think its going to help members do better here, and future workers to do better here, so I think its a win-win for everybody, he said.

PREVIOUS STORY: Volkswagen Chattanooga employees could ratify their first-ever union contract by Thursday evening, after becoming the first foreign automaker in the southeast to unionize in April 2024.

Polls open Wednesday at 1:00pm and close Thursday at 4:00pm. Signing the deal requires a simple majority.

The agreement would mark the start of a new chapter at Volkswagen Chattanooga, nearly two decades after the automaker announced it would choose Chattanooga and the Enterprise South Industrial Park as the location for its new plant.

The front page of the Chattanooga Times Free Press from July 15, 2008, reads, "It's Chattanooga," recognizing the historic announcement.

National Right to Work Foundation sends VW workers notice about their rights if UAW calls for strike The organization sent a notice to Volkswagen employees of what it says "union officials often hide when it comes to their right to continue working.

Construction started in 2009. The company unveiled the first car to roll through the assembly line, a Passat SEL in night blue metallic, on April 18, 2011, before the plant's grand opening on May 24, 2011.

"When I'm out recruiting business to come to Tennessee, it will be great to bring them here and say, 'Here's a billion-dollar plant, that was built in less than 3 years from the date it was first announced; It's hired a quality workforce in producing a world-class product,'" then-Gov. Bill Haslam (R) told Local 3 at the grand opening. "That sells."

The first push to unionize the workforce started soon after, but a February 2014 effort to join the United Auto Workers failed by 86 votes.

Leaders including then-U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) opposed the push to unionize.

"I am thrilled for the employees that they made this decision," Corker said in 2014 of the vote against the union.

Even then-President Barack Obama weighed in, arguing local politicians were more focused on German shareholders than American workers.

Despite the failed vote, union leaders filed complaints alleging local leaders interfered.

"We know what's right, we're gonna fight for what's right," said Bob King, then-president of the United Auto Workers.

The complaint almost went to court, but the union withdrew their complaint before a scheduled appearance at the Hamilton County Courthouse.

In summer 2014, Local 42, the bargaining committee which continues representing Volkswagen Chattanooga employees today, was formed.

By 2015, the spotlight shifted from local efforts to unionize and towards a global scandal. Millions of Volkswagen vehicles were found to have been intentionally designed to cheat emissions tests. The City of Chattanooga even owned affected vehicles.

Then-CEO Michael Horn testified before Congress, and the company paid more than $30 billion. Horn later resigned.

For the next several years, Volkswagen launched additional models.

In 2019, some employees pushed to once again join the United Auto Workers, but the vote narrowly failed.

Then, in April 2024, workers overwhelmingly voted to join the union.

However, it's been two years of back-and-forth ever since. In January 2025, members of the bargaining committee said Volkswagen had made "no sincere effort" to meet its economic demands. By September 2025, Volkswagen proposed what it called its best and final offer.

Volkswagen and the union reached a tentative agreement in early February.

A Volkswagen spokesperson said the company will refrain from further comment out of respect for the bargaining process.

Ballots are expected to be counted immediately after the polls close.
Travelers should expect delays at San Francisco International Airport starting March 30, as the airport will close one runway for six months to perform repairs and improvements.

During this period, the San Francisco International Airport expects fewer than 10 percent of flights to be delayed by at least 30 minutes, as all arrivals and departures will be handled on the airport's two runways.

This closure should not affect which terminals are available for boarding, but it will affect flights' takeoff and landing schedules. If travelers are flying into or out of San Francisco's airport and have a connecting flight, folks should expect delays and plan accordingly when booking their tickets.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: A United Airlines plane takes off from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on November 07, 2025 in San Francisco, California

The airport will be repaving the surface layer on the right side of runway 1. In addition, Granite Construction Company will make improvements to adjacent taxiways, upgrading lighting and painting new striping and markings.

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The total cost of the project is expected to be about $180 million, with the Federal Aviation Administration providing $92.1 million in funding for the improvements.

Travelers walk through the airport during holiday travel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 22, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. In November, the Department of Transportation announced their desire for travelers to start dressing up for flying. Citing an undeniable rise in bad behavior on airplanes, the DOT announced a new campaign meant to encourage civility in air travel. Travelers arrive to catch flights at O'Hare International Airport on what is expected to be the busiest day of the holiday season, December 21, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Travelers arrive to catch flights at O'Hare International Airport on what is expected to be the busiest day of the holiday season, December 21, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Travelers arrive to catch flights at O'Hare International Airport on what is expected to be the busiest day of the holiday season, December 21, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Travelers walk through the arrival hall after arriving to La Guardia Airport on December 23, 2025 in New York. Travelers wait for their luggage at a baggage claim during holiday travel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 22, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. Passengers go down the escalators after arriving to La Guardia Airport on December 23, 2025 in New York. Passengers wait by the baggage carousel after arriving to La Guardia Airport on December 23, 2025 in New York. A couple of travelers walk through the arrival hall after arriving to La Guardia Airport on December 23, 2025 in New York. Passengers wait by the baggage carousel after arriving to La Guardia Airport on December 23, 2025 in New York. Travelers pick up their luggage at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Travelers crowd Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Travelers crowd Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. A traveler passes through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Travelers pass through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Travelers wait on line to check in at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Travelers pass through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Travelers pass through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Travelers pass through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Travelers crowd Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Travelers pass through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 23, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Travelers walk through the airport during holiday travel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 22, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. See holiday travelers as US fliers are asked to dress for the airport 1 of 22 Travelers walk through the airport during holiday travel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 22, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. In November, the Department of Transportation announced their desire for travelers to start dressing up for flying. Citing an undeniable rise in bad behavior on airplanes, the DOT announced a new campaign meant to encourage civility in air travel.

Am I owed anything if my flight is delayed?

When it comes to delayed flights, it depends on the circumstances and the airline.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, if a flight is delayed for uncontrollable reasons, such as severe weather or local emergencies, the airline does not owe travelers anything extra.

If a flight is delayed for controllable reasons, such as refueling or crew issues, but the traveler has not waited more than 3 hours, airlines are not required to provide any compensation.

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If a traveler's flight is delayed by more than 3 hours, airlines are required to provide some form of compensation, and each airline offers different forms, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

All major American airlines will provide passengers with a meal or a meal voucher.

However, some airlines, such as Alaska, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and Southwest, provide travelers with a credit or travel voucher in the event of a delay.

If a flight is delayed overnight, nearly all American Airlines flights, excluding Frontier, will provide passengers with complimentary hotel accommodation and transportation to the hotel.

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All airlines can rebook a passenger on the same airline for no additional cost.

What happens if my flight is delayed? 2 critical questions you need to ask when flight is canceled, delayed

Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SFO warns at least 10% of flights will be delayed due to runway repair
The Ballinalee Players are delighted to bring John B Keane's provocative and powerful play Sive, inspired by real life events from the time to Thomas Ashe Hall in Ballinalee from February 27-28 and March 1. The group have performed in that very hall over the past 10 years, and are happy to return with another play.



The play has held audiences rapt since its first performance in 1959 and remains a stalwart of Irelands theatre, having won the All-Ireland Finals that year. Inspired by real-life events in Keanes life in North Kerry, Sive covers powerful themes, some dark comedy and humour to interest the audiences today as it did when it was first shown.

Read more: A rare first edition work by Longford's captivating novelist to go on display in Dublin



The Ballinalee Players' production of Sive is part funded by Creative Ireland Longford.



Keane's language remains as powerful today as it did when first performed by Listowel Players. Ballinalee Players are very much a community theatre group who are supported by the wonderful community in the area, and hope to see as many theatre enthusiasts come to see their rendition of this infamous work.



Anne Sheridan, the PRO of the Ballinalee Players, came to chat a little in advance to the performance nights about the group and the cast.



"The Ballinalee Players have been a drama group on and off for 60 years. The present incarnation has been for the past 10. Its a local cast of crew made up of volunteers from all walks of life; drivers, teachers, retirees. They range from early 20s to more mature, she said.



The cast stars are: Carol Vesey as Nanna Glavin; Anne Sheridan as Mena Glavin; Rowena Rawle as Sive Glavin; Vinny Conefrey as Thomasheen Sean Rua; PJ Donnelly as Mike Glavin; Seamus Cahill as Pats Bocock; Gerry Brady as Cathalawn Bocock; Kevin Reynolds as Liam Scuab; and Pat McDonnell as Sean Dota.



Sive deals with young love, marriage, greed and rural life in Ireland of the 1950s.



Directed by Martina Reynolds, who has worked with the Ballinalee Players for a number of years as director, there will be darkly comic exchanges between Nanna Glavin and Mena, her hated daughter-in-law. Travelling poets and men of the road, Pats and Carthalawn, bring music and news whether good or bad.



Keane's Sive is on this year's Leaving Certificate course, another sign of its powerful memorable and accessible story. It is an opportunity for students to Keanes story brought to life.



The play was chosen and cast in November. Rehearsals have naturally increased after Christmas, from three nights to four a week. It is a big time commitment but people appreciate the local support and get support from much further afield.



Theres a circuit of people who like going to community and amateur drama. There are individuals and groups who like to travel to see different plays and weekends. Often during the springtime. Now is a busy time.

Read more: 'I've made friends for life': Voices of Longford enriching the lives of local performers

Tickets cost 15 per person, and the performance begins at 8pm for February 27-28. Doors open on these two nights at 7:30pm. It is 7pm on March 1 when the performance starts. Eventbrite says that the nights will last the duration of three hours.



Booking for all three nights is available on Eventbrite Any queries re tickets call 086 169 3563.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sive-by-john-bkeane-saturday-28th-february-2026-tickets-1982623261546
Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al Saleh (far left) visits the Al Hol camp in eastern Syria on February 17. (SANA)

The Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued transitioning control of portions of Syria as US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had carried out strikes on the Islamic State in the first weeks of February.

The transition process has seen Syrian government security forces deployed to areas in eastern Syria. However, challenges remain, and US-mediated negotiations are ongoing. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani and Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the SDF, at the Munich Security Conference on February 14.

A number of changes are occurring in Syria at the same time. CENTCOM said on February 13 that it had completed the transfer of 5,700 ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq, and the previous day, announced that US forces had left the Al Tanf garrison in southern Syria. U.S. forces remain poised to respond to any ISIS [Islamic State] threats that arise in the region as we support partner-led efforts to prevent the terrorist networks resurgence, Central Command head Admiral Brad Cooper said in a statement that CENTCOM posted on X.

CENTCOM noted in a separate statement that it continues to conduct airstrikes on the Islamic State in Syria, announcing that 10 strikes were carried out between February 3 and 12. U.S. forces struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage targets with precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft, CENTCOM said.

As the US withdraws from Syria while keeping pressure on Islamic State cells, the Syrian government is juggling several issues in eastern Syria. One is the challenge of dealing with the remaining Islamic State-linked families in the country. Last year, there were more than 30,000 women and children at the Al Hol and Roj camps in eastern Syria. The government took over Al Hol on January 21 as the SDF retreated. On January 29, the government and the SDF came to an agreement to transfer security control of areas of eastern Syria to the government.

Islamic State-linked families also remain at the Roj camp, which is still controlled by SDF-linked security forces. The Roj camp in the Derik countryside houses 710 families of ISIS members, totaling 2,201 people of 40 nationalities, according to the camp administration, North Press Agency in eastern Syria reported on February 17.

On February 17, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that Syria Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al Saleh traveled to Al Hol camp. Saleh reportedly visited the facility to review humanitarian conditions and assess emergency response measures in the camp. The report said that Al Hol continues to be one of the largest displacement camps in northeastern Syria, housing tens of thousands of people, including displaced Syrians and foreign nationals. However, a video posted online on February 17 claimed to show that many people had left the facility.

In the city of Kobane in northern Syria, the SDF is still in control, and there has been a delay in government forces entering the city. This situation has led to a state of siege, according to the Kurdish Rudaw Media Network. The Kurdish Red Crescent has warned that the besieged town of Kobane in northeastern Syria (Rojava) will run out of medicines within three days, with baby formula already depleted, Rudaw noted. A UN delegation from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) visited the city, Rudaw reported on February 17. Neither Syrian state media nor the SDFs X account has mentioned Kobane in recent days.

Despite the challenges in Kobane, Mazloum Abdi has said that integrating his organization with the Syrian government is moving forward in the wake of the January agreement. The messaging from the SDF commander, as reported in Rudaw and North Press, appears to indicate that the SDF believes the deal with the government is continuing as planned.

During the meeting in Munich among Rubio, Shaibani, and Abdi, the US discussed many of the current challenges in Syria. The Secretary emphasized the importance of implementing the permanent ceasefire and integration agreement in northeast Syria, and ensuring full respect and safety for the rights of all Syrians, the US Department of State noted.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
Blocking a single protein inside cells could dramatically slow colorectal cancer, scientists claim.

Shutting down a protein inside a cell could slow colorectal cancer

Researchers in South Korea discovered that shutting down a gene called NSMF  which produces a protein helping cancer cells survive rapid division  caused tumours to enter what they described as "irreversible cellular aging".

Normally, colorectal cancer cells multiply quickly, with NSMF driving DNA damage and new mutations that fuel tumour growth.

But when scientists blocked the gene in laboratory tests and in mice, tumour growth slowed sharply  and in some cases stopped.

In mouse experiments, removing NSMF led to significantly fewer intestinal growths. The animals also lived 33.5 per cent longer on average than those that still had the gene.

Crucially, researchers reported no noticeable harm to healthy intestinal cells, raising hopes the approach could target cancer without the widespread damage caused by chemotherapy.

Dr Kyeong Jin Shin, a cancer expert at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), said: "Our findings suggest that NSMF is a promising... target.

"By inducing a state of permanent aging in cancer cells, we can effectively stop tumor growth without harming normal tissues."

The study, published in Nucleic Acids Research, involved blocking the NSMF-made protein with antibodies in human colorectal cancer cells.

In a separate experiment, scientists bred mice lacking the gene with mice prone to intestinal tumours and monitored them for up to 20 weeks.

While blocking NSMF reduced tumour growth, it did not completely eliminate the cancer. Researchers also cautioned that it is not yet clear how the gene could be safely switched off in humans.

Professor Young Chan Chae, who co-led the study, said: "This research uncovers a previously unknown role for NSMF in colorectal cancer.

"Developing inhibitors against this protein could offer a novel treatment approach that causes cancer cells to naturally age and die, providing a potential new avenue for therapy."

The findings come amid a worrying rise in colorectal cancer among younger adults, with cases in under-50s having roughly doubled since the mid-1990s.

Scientists say more research is needed, but the discovery could mark an important first step towards more targeted  and potentially less toxic  treatments.
Elles sont devenues aussi indispensables ? P?kin que l?air que l?on respire. En Chine, WeChat Pay et Alipay ne sont pas de simples applications de paiement ; elles sont devenues le syst?me nerveux central de l??conomie. Du vendeur de brochettes dans une ruelle de Shanghai au g?ant de l?e-commerce, tout le monde passe par ces super-applications. Alors que nous poursuivons notre s?rie sur les le?ons de la r?volution technologique chinoise, une question br?le les l?vres : et si le Cameroun, terre d?ing?niosit? et de d?brouillardise, pouvait s?inspirer de ce mod?le pour propulser son inclusion financi?re dans le 21e si?cle ?

Le modele chinois : bien plus quun simple transfert dargent

Au Cameroun, nous connaissons bien le Mobile Money. Orange Money et MTN Money ont deja change la donne en permettant a des millions de nos compatriotes, meme en zone rurale, denvoyer et de recevoir de largent sans passer par une banque. Cest une premiere pierre essentielle. Mais la Chine nous montre letape dapres, le "game-changer" absolu.

WeChat Pay et Alipay ont reussi un tour de force : ils ne sont pas partis dun besoin de paiement, mais dun ecosysteme.

WeChat etait dabord un reseau social, un messenger. En y greffant le paiement, ils ont rendu la transaction aussi naturelle et frequente quun message bonjour.

Alipay, lui, est ne de la necessite de securiser les transactions sur le marketplace AliBaba, creant la confiance la ou elle nexistait pas.

Aujourdhui, avec un simple QR code, le Chinois moyen peut payer son loyer, commander a manger, investir dans des fonds, souscrire une assurance sante ou meme payer ses factures dhopital. Largent nest plus sur un compte, il est dans une "vie" numerique.

Quelles lecons pour le Cameroun ? Le defi du "tout-en-un"

Chez nous, le constat est simple mais le defi est immense. Nos services de Mobile Money sont de formidables " tuyaux " a cash, mais ils restent des silos. Ils peinent a sintegrer dans le tissu economique quotidien au-dela du transfert familial et du retrait.

Pour batir le "WeChat camerounais", plusieurs ingredients sont indispensables, et cest la que notre cher pays doit passer la vitesse superieure :

Linteroperabilite totale : Au Cameroun, on ne peut pas encore envoyer facilement de largent dOrange Money vers MTN Money sans passer par des frais ou des intermediaires. En Chine, largent circule entre tous les acteurs sans barriere. Cest le premier frein a lever.

Louverture aux developpeurs : La force dAlipay, cest quil permet a des milliers de petites entreprises (des transporteurs, des boutiques, des startups) de creer leurs propres "mini-programmes" a linterieur de lapplication. Imaginez un "Mini-programme" pour les express du voyage a Mvan, ou pour les vendeuses du marche Mokolo qui pourraient prendre des commandes et etre payees instantanement, sans cash.

La confiance et la securisation : Le QR code a democratise le paiement. Il est simple, peu couteux et ne necessite pas de terminal de paiement electronique (TPE) sophistique. Developper une norme de QR code unique et securisee au Cameroun permettrait a la plus petite vendeuse de beignets daccepter les paiements numeriques.

Une opportunite historique pour nos startups

La revolution chinoise nous dit une chose : le futur de la finance nest pas bancaire, il est comportemental. Il sagit dintegrer la finance dans les gestes du quotidien.

Nos jeunes pousses camerounaises ont une carte a jouer. Plutot que de vouloir reinventer la roue du paiement, elles doivent penser "surcouche". Creer des services innovants (epargne automatique, micro-credit base sur lhistorique des paiements de transport, assurance maladie a la carte) qui viendraient se greffer sur les plateformes de Mobile Money existantes, pourvu que celles-ci souvrent.

La Chine a prouve quon pouvait passer dune societe ou tout se payait en cash a une societe quasi sans-contact en une decennie. Le Cameroun, avec sa jeunesse connectee et son genie de ladaptation, a tous les atouts pour reussir ce saut. Mais pour cela, il faut oser casser les silos et voir le paiement mobile non plus comme un simple service, mais comme le fondement dune nouvelle economie.

Il est temps que nos "Mo Mo" daujourdhui deviennent les tremplins de nos "SuperApps" de demain. Le dragon chinois a trace la voie. A nous demprunter ce chemin, mais avec nos pas de Camerounais.

Fintech Cameroun, inclusion financiere, paiement mobile, WeChat Pay, Alipay, revolution technologique Chine, Mobile Money Cameroun, economie numerique, lecons pour l'Afrique, startup Cameroun

WeChat & Alipay: The Chinese Lesson That Must Electrify Cameroonian Finance

In Beijing or Shanghai, they have become as essential as the air we breathe. WeChat Pay and Alipay are not merely payment applications in China; they have become the central nervous system of the entire economy. From a street vendor grilling skewers in a Shanghai alley to the giants of e-commerce, everyone operates through these super-apps. As we continue our series on the lessons from the Chinese technological revolution, a burning question emerges: What if Cameroona land of ingenuity and resourcefulnesscould draw inspiration from this model to propel its financial inclusion into the 21st century?

The Chinese Model: Far More Than Just Money Transfers

Here in Cameroon, we are familiar with Mobile Money. Orange Money and MTN Money have already been game-changers, allowing millions of our compatriots, even in rural areas, to send and receive money without stepping into a bank. It is an essential first step. But China shows us the next stagethe absolute game-changer.

WeChat Pay and Alipay achieved a masterstroke: they did not start from a need for payment, but from an ecosystem.

WeChat was first a social network, a messenger. By grafting payment onto it, they made the transaction as natural and frequent as sending a "hello" message.

Alipay was born from the necessity to secure transactions on the AliBaba marketplace, creating trust where it didn't exist.

Today, with a simple QR code, the average Chinese citizen can pay their rent, order food, invest in funds, take out health insurance, or even settle their hospital bills. Money is no longer just in an account; it is embedded in a digital "life."

What Lessons for Cameroon? The "All-in-One" Challenge

At home, the observation is simple, but the challenge is immense. Our Mobile Money services are excellent "pipes" for cash, but they remain silos. They struggle to integrate into the daily economic fabric beyond family transfers and cash withdrawals.

To build the "Cameroonian WeChat," several ingredients are essential, and this is where our dear country must shift into high gear:

Total Interoperability: In Cameroon, you still cannot easily send money from Orange Money to MTN Money without fees or intermediaries. In China, money flows between all players without barriers. This is the first hurdle to overcome.

Openness to Developers: Alipay's strength lies in allowing thousands of small businesses (transporters, shops, startups) to create their own "mini-programs" within the application. Imagine a "Mini-program" for the "express" buses at the Mvan terminal in Yaounde, or for the vendors at the Mokolo market who could take orders and get paid instantly, without cash.

Trust and Security: The QR code democratized payment. It is simple, inexpensive, and doesn't require sophisticated electronic payment terminals. Developing a unique and secure QR code standard in Cameroon would allow the smallest "beignet" seller to accept digital payments.

A Historic Opportunity for Our Startups

The Chinese revolution tells us one thing: the future of finance isn't banking; it's behavioral. It's about integrating finance into the gestures of daily life.

Our Cameroonian startups have a role to play. Rather than trying to reinvent the payment wheel, they should think in terms of "overlays." Create innovative services (automatic savings, micro-credit based on transport payment history, a la carte health insurance) that would integrate with existing Mobile Money platformsprovided those platforms open up.

China proved that a society can move from a cash-only economy to a near-cashless one in a decade. Cameroon, with its connected youth and its genius for adaptation, has all the assets to make this leap. But to do so, we must dare to break down the silos and see mobile payment not as a simple service, but as the foundation of a new economy.

It is time for our "MoMo" of today to become the springboards for the "SuperApps" of tomorrow. The Chinese dragon has blazed the trail. Now, it's up to us to walk that pathbut with our own Cameroonian stride.

Ange NGO
The philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the 12th Edition of their annual conference, Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, in partnership with the Government of The Gambia. The conference was co-chaired by H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, First Lady of Gambia & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother and Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation & President of More Than a Mother. First Lady of Central Africa, H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA along with The First Ladies of Burundi, Liberia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, and Senegal joined as the Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.) expressed that I am very happy to meet my dear sister, H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, First Lady of Central Africa and Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother to the 12th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025. Our long-term partnership began in 2015, and since then, we have achieved great milestones together. We have provided scholarships for young doctors from CAR in Oncology and Diabetes.

H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, First Lady of Central Africa & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother shared I greatly value our partnership with Merck Foundation that is since 2015, to support us to advance and build the healthcare capacity in our country by providing scholarships to our local doctors in various medical specialties. Through my Ambassadorship, we have worked to break the stigma around infertility, which causes many women to face discrimination and social exclusion. We have also raised awareness about male infertility.

Also, as a part of Merck Foundations Education Linda program, we are providing annual scholarships to 40 bright yet under-privileged schoolgirls, to enable them to complete their education, and reach their full potential.

Watch the Speech of The First Lady of Central Africa & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother during the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 here: https://apo-opa.co/3O7dhJ0

Watch the video of Merck Foundation CEO, Dr. Rasha Kelej receiving H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, First Lady of Central Africa & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother: https://apo-opa.co/3O7dhZw

On Day 1 of the conference, the Plenary Session of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 took place, featuring keynote speeches of First Ladies of Africa. Moreover, a high-level ministerial panel discussion was also held with African Ministers to discuss the Merck Foundation African Research Summit MARS strategy to build scientific research capacity and empower women in STEM with special focus on scientific research.

On Day 2 of the conference, Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative- MFFLI committee meeting was conducted between The First Ladies of Africa and Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, where the African First Ladies shared the impact report of Merck Foundation programs in their respective countries, and future strategy was discussed.

Merck Foundation has always believed in the importance of building healthcare capacity and has been working for it since 2012. We have so far provided 2500 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 underserved medical specialties. We will continue to provide scholarships for doctors from Central Africa and beyond, added Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Merck Foundation, in partnership with The First Lady of Central Africa also announced the Call for applications for their 8 important awards for Media Representatives, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields. The aim of awards is to encourage young talents and youth in Central Africa to create and convey messages in their art and daily work to create awareness about sensitive issues like Break Infertility Stigma, Support Girl Education, Stop Gender Based Violence, End Child Marriage, End FGM, and Women Empowerment at all levels and raise awareness about early detection & prevention of Diabetes & Hypertension.

Moreover, Merck Foundation together with the office of The First Lady of Central Africa, has also conducted 5 editions of their Online Health Media Training to encourage media to be the voice of the voiceless and raise awareness.

Merck Foundation and The First Lady of Central Africa have released together seven storybooks to address the social and health issues among children from a young age, nurturing a culture of awareness and empathy. Moreover, these storybooks have been adapted into very interesting animation films, to raise awareness among both the youth and adults.
Exercise Cutlass Express 2026, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) and enabled by U.S. Sixth Fleet, officially concludes in Mauritius.

Exercise Cutlass Express 2026 brought together approximately 500 personnel from 19 partner and allied nations, including 135 U.S. military personnel, to strengthen maritime law enforcement capacity, promote regional security in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, and enhance interoperability among participating forces.

Throughout the exercise, participants engaged in a series of shore-based and at-sea training events focused on maritime domain awareness, information sharing, and combined operational coordination. These activities were designed to improve the collective ability of partner nations to deter and respond to illicit maritime activity.

As Exercise Cutlass Express concludes, it reinforces the value of enduring partnerships that span four continents and demonstrates the collective commitment to maritime security, said Lieutenant General John Brennan, Deputy Commander, United States Africa Command, said. Training together builds trust, strengthens coordination, and enhances our shared ability to address maritime challenges in the Western Indian Ocean. USAFRICOM is committed to constantly improving this African partner-led and Allied enabled exercise in the future, as we look forward to Cutlass Express 2027.

Training events included visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations, maritime interdiction procedures, counter-illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing scenarios, and medical training. Participants also collaborated through maritime operations centers to improve coordination and real-time information sharing across national boundaries.

As part of Exercise Cutlass Express 2026, the U.S. Embassy hosted a Media Day at the Ship-in-a-Box facility at the Port of Mauritius, where journalists observed live Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) interdiction operations. The demonstration highlighted tactical boarding procedures and maritime interdiction capabilities designed to counter piracy, smuggling, trafficking, and other maritime security threats. The Ship-in-a-Box facility, constructed from stacked and modified shipping containers and officially handed over by the U.S. Department of States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs to the Mauritius Revenue Authority in November 2023, provides a realistic and secure environment for advanced maritime training.

Exercise Cutlass Express is one of three regional Express series exercises sponsored by USAFRICOM. These exercises provide African forces and international partners opportunities to collaboratively address maritime security challenges and strengthen regional cooperation.

The United States shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the waters surrounding the continent, which are vital to regional stability and global commerce.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, to advance U.S. national interests and promote security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR/NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR/NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.


A Mayo man who entered a Ballinrobe shop with a machete shortly after his brother was violently attacked was ordered to undergo 200 hours community service.

Christopher Barrett (28) of 3 Lough Mask Road, Ballinrobe appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to the possession of a machete at the Corrib Oil filling station in Ballinrobe on January 31, 2023.

The court heard that Mr Barrett arrived in a car with other men and entered the shop with weapons shortly after his brother was attacked as part of a Traveller feud.

Patrick Barrett, brother of the defendant was attacked by a 'hit squad' at around 12.30pm on January 31, 2023, while sitting in his car in the forecourt of the filling station by men carrying machetes and slash hooks. Mr Barrett managed to escape out the driver's door and managed to crawl into the entrance of the shop before collapsing. He was seriously injured and was in intensive care following the attack.

CCTV footage from the forecourt showed Christopher Barrett and other men arriving by car and entering the shop but left shortly afterwards when they realised the people who attacked his brother were no longer there. Patrick Barrett was also removed to hospital by the time they arrived but the footage showed a large pool of his blood at the entrance to the shop.

Detective Garda Sinead Caheny explained that Christopher Barrett was identified from the CCTV footage and was later arrested and interviewed but made no comment answers. She added he has not come to the attention of the gardai since the incident.

When questioned by Mr Donal Callaghan, counsel for Mr Barrett, Det Garda Caheny confirmed that his client had arrived within minutes of hearing his brother was attacked. She accepted that he did not attack anyone while in the shop or threaten anyone.

Mr Callaghan said his client was on stringent bail conditions after he was charged and there were no incidents of him breaching any of those conditions. He added his client has set up a car recovery business.

Judge Eoin Garavan said this was an appalling event where Mr Barrett arrived at a public place carrying a machete and this would be the most terrifying experience for any right thinking person to witness.

READ: Mayo developer surprised by latest planning application refusal

He noted that Mr Barrett has previous convictions including possession of knives but accepted that the majority were relatively minor.

Judge Garavan accepted this incident was part of a Traveller feud which has improved and that Mr Barrett got caught up in it and there has been no trouble since.

It is emotionally understandable that the reaction would be to go down and assist his sibling, Judge Garavan commented. To go down with a weapon of that nature in offensive mode was foolish and criminal and potentially very frightening.

Judge Garavan said he was satisfied that Mr Barrett understood the seriousness of what happened and deserved a custodial sentence. He imposed an 18 month sentence but suspended the entirety of the sentence for two years and ordered that Mr Barrett come under the supervision of the Probation Services and abide by their conditions.

One of the conditions was to undergo 200 hours community service and to give something back to the community.

You don't brandish a knife in a town in this way and expect to go scott-free, he concluded.
Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education and Youth, has announced a pause in the controversial review of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations following widespread concern from parents, school communities and unions across Ireland.

In a statement, the Minister stressed that there will be no cuts to SNA numbers and reiterated the Governments commitment to supporting children with special educational needs.

The decision comes amid mounting pressure after parents and teachers expressed alarm at notifications from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) indicating reductions in SNA support at individual schools  including claims that allocations were being decreased even where local need remains high.

Delivering a world-class education system, particularly for young people with special educational needs, is a priority for me as Minister for Education & Youth and for this Government, Minister Naughton said.

READ MORE: Food labelling abuse raised at Oireachtas Committee by Mayo TD

A total of 3 billion has been allocated for special education in 2026, building on increased investment in recent years. The Minister confirmed that the number of SNAs in schools has risen by 45% since 2020, with an additional 1,700 SNAs set to be in place this year compared to 2025. This will bring the total number of SNAs in schools to 25,000 by September 2026.

There will be more SNAs in every county, in mainstream, special classes and special schools in September 2026 than today, Minister Naughton said.

The review of SNA allocations, carried out by the NCSE, sparked criticism after schools were informed of potential reductions in individual SNA posts for the 2026/27 school year, with hundreds of schools having been told they would see decreases, even as overall SNA numbers are set to rise.

Critics warned that cuts to local allocations could undermine inclusive education and limit access for students who rely on one-to-one support.

Parents and teachers have publicly voiced their worries about the impact on students with complex needs, and trade unions have called for transparency in how allocations are being decided. Many argued that stricter interpretation of eligibility criteria  focusing only on physical care needs  risks excluding children who benefit from broader educational and emotional support in the classroom.

READ MORE: 69 million roads funding boost for Mayo welcomed by Minister Dillon

In response, Minister Naughton confirmed the review would be paused, with all further letters regarding outcomes temporarily halted while she, the Tanaiste and the Taoiseach engage intensively with issues raised by school communities. I want to ensure that SNAs are with the children who most need their care, she said.

The pause in the SNA review is intended to allow time for further discussions and a fuller understanding of concerns from parents, schools and unions. No new allocations letters will issue until these engagements have concluded in the coming weeks, the Minister said.

She also reaffirmed her commitment, alongside Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Michael Moynihan, to delivering improved supports for children and school communities.
Chance meeting on an African cookbook of congas and the rhythm of life February is Black History Month, and my two episodes are dedicated to Rebop Kwaku Baah, best known for his work with Traffic, Can, and for his role in advancing African percussion within rock and jazz contexts. Part two January 27 https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/581/74030.html Happy posthumous birthday to Anthony Kwaku Baah, who was born February 13 1944 in what was known as the Gold Coast, a British Crown colony in West Africa from 1821 until its independence in 1957 as Ghana. He was immersed in music from an early age, trained formally as a percussionist and went on to become one of the most influential African drummers of the twentieth century. In the Akan culture of Ghana, Kwaku is a name meaning "male born on Wednesday". Baah was given the nickname "Rebop" by American jazz legend Dizzie Gillespie. Baah was part of the same Ghanaian musical diaspora in London as Osibisa (whom he recorded with in the early 1980s) and worked in overlapping Afro-rock and fusion circles. The London connection led to early work with Nick Drake, Wynder K. Frog, and a live performance with Jimi Hendrix at the Royal Albert Hall in London in February, 1969. Rebop was a member of Traffic, contributed to five albums, then solo work by Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood. When Traffic split, he and bass player Roscoe Gee joined Can, playing on three records, then solo material from Holger Czukay and Irmin Schmidt. We'll also hear Kwaku Baah's contributions to Randy Weston's African Rhythms, Third World, and Wally Badarou. Beyond the singular resume, Rebop Kwaku Baah was a cultural ambassador. Through his music and traditional Ghanaian clothing, he told African stories, celebrated heritage, and helped define how African percussion could sit at the center of contemporary popular music. Rebop died of a cerebral hemorrhage during a performance in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1983, where he was on tour with Jimmy Cliff. He was 38. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebop_Kwaku_Baah https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Coast_(British_colony) 1972 live performance of my favourite song from Traffic: The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys https://youtu.be/R8M8R835Ck4 (to embiggen the show icon, right-click and choose "Open image in new tab")
The announcement has already sparked considerable interest within the industry and among audiences. While the makers are keeping the specifics tightly guarded for now, more information about the film is expected to be revealed in the near future.

 Instagram/Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri

A source close to the development stated, Bhushan Kumar and Vivek Agnihotri have come together for their next film on Operation Sindoor. It will be produced under T-Series and I am Buddha Production and the film will be directed by Vivek Agnihotri.

The source adds, Its based on the codename of Indias targeted military strikes on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the film draws from the developments that followed the tragic massacre of innocent civilians, most of them tourists, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

About Operation Sindoor

On May 7, 2025, India carried out Operation Sindoor, a coordinated military strike aimed at dismantling terrorist bases located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. According to official accounts, the operation resulted in the elimination of over 50 terrorists, while around 60 others were injured.
Applications for Operation Purple Camp are open now, giving military-connected children ages 6 to 16 a chance to attend free weeklong sleepaway camps across the country this summer.

The National Military Family Association (NMFA) will run nine weeks of camps at eight locations nationwide. The application window runs through March 12. Families applying after that deadline go directly to a waitlist.

How Selection Works

NMFA prioritizes families dealing with deployments, service-related injuries, frequent moves and other challenging aspects of military life. After those families are considered, remaining spots go to other eligible military children.

Selection is not first-come, first-served. Families can apply anytime during the application window without disadvantage. NMFA typically gives spots to about 20 percent of applicants, according to the organization's website.

All families receive notification of their application status in April via email from OPC@MilitaryFamily.org. Accepted families must pay a fully refundable $25 deposit per camper to hold their spot.

Read More: When BAH Rules Don't Fit: The Regulatory Gap Facing Unmarried Military Parents

Who Can Apply

Children qualify if they have a parent or guardian serving in any branch of the uniformed services, including the National Guard, reserve, Space Force and Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Public Health Service.

Camps are completely free. Families pay only the refundable deposit and cover transportation costs to and from camp. NMFA does not reimburse travel expenses nor medical costs, such as required camp physicals.

What Campers Experience

Operation Purple Camps are technology-free for the week. Phones, tablets, gaming devices and laptops stay locked away with camp staff so kids can focus on outdoor activities and building friendships with other military kids.

Activities vary by location but typically include ropes courses, ziplining, swimming, kayaking, archery, arts and crafts, STEM activities and team sports. Camps also feature military-specific programming such as flag ceremonies and the Wall of Honor, where campers share photos and stories of their service member.

Read More: Military Families Finally Get More Money During Deployments

Military and family life counselors are available on-site for additional support during camp.

The eight 2026 camp locations are:

Cooper Landing, Alaska

Parkton, North Carolina

Graford, Texas

Williamsburg, Va.

Trinity, Texas

San Diego

Bradenburg, Kentucky

Hilliard, Florida

Families can join the Operation Purple Family Connection Facebook group for updates directly from the program team.

Apply online at www.militaryfamily.org.

Virtual Alternative

Families who don't get camp spots or prefer staying home can register for Operation Purple Summer Challenge, a free virtual program accepting all participants. Registration for the virtual program opens in April and is available to kids ages 5 to 15.

Stay on Top of Your Military Benefits

Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by subscribing to Military.com, and get access to up-to-date pay charts and more with all latest benefits delivered straight to your inbox
U.S. President Donald Trumps comment that he is discussing potential arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping is raising concerns in Taipei as the island democracy relies on U.S. backing in the face of China s territorial claims.

On Monday, Trump told journalists he is discussing the potential sales with the Chinese leader, an unexpected statement that experts say might violate decades-old foreign policy principles defining the United States' relationship with self-ruled Taiwan.

Ive talked to him about it, made a good conversation, and well make a determination pretty soon, Trump said when asked about Xis opposition to the arms sales. He added he has a very good relationship with President Xi.

His comments have stirred a debate among some experts and politicians about whether this signals a potential change in U.S. policy toward Taiwan ahead of Trump's planned visit to China in April. Here is some context:

A dangerous precedent?

Trump consulting Xi about arms sales to Taiwan may violate the so-called Six Assurances, a set of non-binding U.S. policy principles formulated in 1982 under President Ronald Reagan that have helped to guide the U.S. relationship with Taipei, said William Yang, a senior Northeast Asia analyst for the International Crisis Group.

The second of the Six Assurances states that the U.S. did not agree to consult with the Peoples Republic of China on arms sales to Taiwan.

That basically has been executed by several U.S. presidents after Ronald Reagan to justify and continue the arms sales to Taiwan without actually discussing the topic with China over the past few decades, Yang said.

He added that Trump may be creating a dangerous precedent allowing for Beijing to make demands regarding U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Taiwan's government, which is observing a weeklong Lunar New Year holiday, has not reacted to Trump's statements.

China has condemned record U.S. arms sales to Taiwan

The tensions are rooted in China's claims over Taiwan, which China says needs to be annexed, by force if necessary. Beijing prohibits any country it has diplomatic relations with from having formal ties with Taipei and regularly sends warships and military aircraft near the island.

Despite not having official ties with Taiwan, the U.S. is the island's biggest informal backer and arms supplier. It is obligated by domestic law to provide Taiwan with sufficient hardware to deter any armed attack from the mainland.

In December, the Trump administration announced a record-breaking arms sales package to Taiwan worth more than $11 billion.

China bristled at the deal, and in a phone conversation with Trump earlier this month, Xi warned that the U.S. must handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence.

Xi also stressed that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations, according to a readout of their call published by the Chinese foreign ministry.

Three pillars of U.S.-Taiwan relations

In the absence of formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, U.S. policies toward the self-ruled island are based on three pillars, said Lev Nachman, a political science professor at National Taiwan University.

The first pillar, and the only one that's been formalized into law, is the Taiwan Relations Act. It was passed by Congress in 1979, the year the U.S. established formal diplomatic relations with China and severed ties with Taiwan. The act binds the U.S. to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself while regarding all threats to the island as a security concern.

Secondly, the Three Communiques are three sets of statements by the U.S. and Chinese governments in the 1970s and 1980s that cover a variety of topics including Taiwan. Through the communiques, the U.S. acknowledges that there is only one China without recognizing Beijings sovereignty over Taiwan. The Three Communiques form the basis of U.S. strategic ambiguity on Taiwan, leaving the U.S. with room to support the island while not breaking its diplomatic agreements with China.

Finally, the Six Assurances were formulated as a means to reassure Taiwan of continued U.S. support, and they are believed to have been upheld by all U.S. presidents since Reagan.

Trumps comments give the impression that China may have a say in the quantity of arms sales to Taiwan, said Hoo Tiang Boon, an associate professor of international relations at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Even if eventually the U.S. will approve whatever arms sales packages to Taiwan, it is a disturbing development, particularly from the perspective of Taiwan because it sounds like it would be an issue that would be bargained away, Hoo said.

Taiwan to feature prominently in Trumps China visit

Trump is set to make his first trip to China in his current term in April, and Taiwan likely will feature prominently during his meetings with Xi, along with issues such as trade and access to advanced technologies.

Uncertainty about whether Trump will address the issue of arms sales to Taiwan during his visit is set to amplify skepticism on the island about whether the U.S. would intervene in a potential Chinese attack, Yang said.

This further surge of skepticism, anxiety about the United States within Taiwan is exactly what China would be aiming for, he added.

The island's independence-leaning government led by President Lai Ching-te is already having a hard time securing payment for the existing U.S. arms sales packages, with the budget stalled in parliament.

Taiwan's opposition lawmakers said Monday they would review a $40 billion special defense budget once they reconvene after the holiday on Feb. 23.

___

AP journalist Huizhong Wu in Bangkok contributed to this report.
Aviation Radioman 1st Class Dave Cawley sat in the rear seat of his SBD Dauntless dive bomber aboard the USS Enterprise on the morning of Feb. 17, 1944, preparing for the most dangerous mission of his life. His target was Truk Lagoon, the Imperial Japanese Navy's most fortified forward base in the Pacific.

"For the previous two years of the war, the very thought of approaching Truk seemed fatal," Cawley later recalled.

Within 48 hours, Cawley and hundreds of other Navy aircrewmen would prove that fear unfounded. Operation Hailstone, the two-day carrier assault launched 82 years ago this week, demolished Japan's largest overseas naval installation and sent more than 40 ships beneath the waves. It was the first time a major portion of the U.S. fast carrier force operated independently as a raiding strike unit, untethered from an amphibious landing.

Japan's Fortress at Truk

Truk Lagoon sits roughly 1,000 miles northeast of New Guinea in the western Pacific. A massive barrier reef some 40 miles across encircles dozens of volcanic islands. Japan seized the atoll from Germany during World War I and held it under a League of Nations mandate.

Through the 1920s and 1930s, Tokyo quietly transformed Truk into a major military base. Five airstrips, seaplane facilities, submarine repair shops and fleet anchorages turned the lagoon into the operational hub of the Combined Fleet.

The base also housed storage for more than 77,000 tons of fuel oil, the largest Japanese depot outside the home islands. By February 1944, between 10,000 and 12,000 army and navy troops garrisoned the atoll. Coastal guns covered all five lagoon entrances, which were also rigged with electrically controlled mines.

Despite all that firepower, the base had only 40 anti-aircraft guns, and none were equipped with fire control radar.

Allied planners called it the "Gibraltar of the Pacific." No American force had dared to strike it.

Truk Lagoon map. (Wikimedia Commons)

A New Kind of Carrier Force

That changed in early 1944. The U.S. Navy's industrial surge had produced a carrier fleet unlike anything in history. Rear Adm. Marc Mitscher's Task Force 58 included five fleet carriers and four light carriers armed with more than 500 combat aircraft. Seven battleships, cruisers, destroyers and submarines bolstered them.

Mitscher had taken command of the fast carriers just weeks earlier, replacing Rear Adm. Charles Pownall, whom Adm. Chester Nimitz's headquarters deemed too cautious. Mitscher ran things differently.

"I tell them what I want done. Not how!" he once said of his leadership approach.

Vice Adm. Raymond Spruance, the Fifth Fleet commander and victor at Midway, ordered the assault on Truk to neutralize the base ahead of the upcoming invasion of Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. Japanese aircraft at Truk could threaten that operation, and the base also served as a stopover for ferrying replacement warplanes to Rabaul.

Adm. Mineichi Koga, commander of the Combined Fleet, had recognized Truk's growing vulnerability. After Marine Corps PB4Y-1 Liberator reconnaissance planes were spotted over the lagoon in early February, Koga pulled his capital ships, including battleships, heavy cruisers and carriers, roughly 1,200 miles west to Palau.

They would never return.

U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Marc Andrew Mitscher during World War II. (Wikimedia Commons)

Total Surprise

The operation's first kill came even before carrier planes launched. The light cruiser Agano, badly damaged months earlier at Rabaul, had departed Truk on Feb. 15 under escort by the destroyer Oite, limping toward Japan on only two of her four propellers.

The submarine USS Skate intercepted Agano roughly 160 miles north of the atoll on the afternoon of Feb. 16 and put two torpedoes into her starboard side. The cruiser burned through the night and sank early the next morning. Oite rescued 523 of Agano's crewmen and turned back toward Truk.

Only days earlier on Feb. 12, three of TF 58's four carrier task groups departed Majuro for Truk. On the morning of Feb. 17, Mitscher's carriers launched their first fighter sweep 90 minutes before dawn.

The Japanese were caught completely off guard. Pilots from the 22nd and 26th Air Flotillas were on shore leave, having relaxed after weeks of heightened readiness following American reconnaissance overflights. The atoll's radar was blind to anything flying below a certain altitude, and the telephone lines connecting defensive positions worked poorly.

American F6F Hellcat fighters arrived over Eten, Param, Moen and Dublon islands before Japanese pilots could get airborne.

More than 300 Japanese planes sat on the ground across the atoll. Only about half were operational. American fighters tore through those that managed to take off and strafed dozens more on the ground. By midday, roughly two-thirds of Japanese air strength at Truk had been wiped out. The airstrips themselves were cratered beyond use.

Among those watching the destruction from the ground was Maj. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, the Marine Corps ace and Medal of Honor recipient. Boyington had been a prisoner of war since being shot down over Rabaul a month earlier. His captors flew him into Truk just as the first strikes began. He was shoved into a concrete slit trench while a Hellcat destroyed the transport plane that had carried him in.

Avenger torpedo bombers from Enterprise and Intrepid followed close behind, hitting Eten's runways and Moen's seaplane facilities with fragmentation and incendiary bombs. With Truk's air defenses shattered, American strike aircraft turned their full attention to the lagoon.

U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers of Bombing Squadron 16 (VB-16) off USS Lexington (CV-16) fly low over Japanese installations on Param Island, Truk Atoll, 17-18 February 1944. (Wikimedia Commons)

Mauling the Japanese Fleet

Koga's heavy warships were gone, but the lagoon was still packed with merchant vessels, tankers, transports and auxiliary warships. Many sat at anchor with no air cover, defended only by shore-based anti-aircraft batteries. American aircrews were disappointed that the big prizes had fled. They wanted capital ships. But there was still plenty to destroy.

Lt. James D. Ramage, executive officer of Bombing Squadron 10 aboard Enterprise, led repeated dive-bombing strikes into the lagoon. He sank the damaged fleet oiler Hoyo Maru and directed attacks against other shipping targets throughout the day.

One of the single most devastating moments came when Lt. James Bridges of Torpedo Squadron 6, flying off Intrepid, put a torpedo into the auxiliary cruiser Aikoku Maru. The 10,000-ton vessel was packed with ammunition and carried nearly 1,000 soldiers and crew. The torpedo triggered a catastrophic secondary explosion that tore the ship apart and sank her almost instantly.

Bridges and his two crewmen were caught in the blast. Their aircraft was never recovered.

Japanese ammunition ship Aikoku Maru explodes following a torpedo attack by a US carrier based plane. The pilot and two crewmembers of this plane are presumed to be lost since their plane were caught in this terrific explosion. 17 February 1944. (Wikimedia Commons)

Ships that tried to flee through the atoll's North Pass fared no better. The light cruiser Katori, auxiliary cruiser Akagi Maru, destroyer Maikaze and other Japanese vessels attempted to break out together. American bombers hit the group repeatedly. Cawley, returning to Enterprise after a strike, spotted the damaged Katori from the air.

"When I sighted the cruiser, she was low in the water and barely moving. Since we were without bombs and ammo, I opened up on guard channel, saying, 'Any strike leader from 51-Bobcat, there is a damaged Japanese cruiser just to the north of the lagoon. Come sink it,'" Cawley recalled.

Spruance wanted the battleships to finish it. Mitscher personally spoke up and said, "Bobcat leader, this is Bald Eagle. Cancel your last. Do not, repeat, do not, sink that ship."

Help arrived almost immediately. Spruance had taken personal charge of Task Group 50.9, which included the battleships Iowa and New Jersey and the heavy cruisers Minneapolis and New Orleans. The surface force circled Truk, bombarding shore positions and hunting fleeing enemy ships. Iowa's 16-inch guns finished off the crippled Katori. American cruisers sent Maikaze to the bottom.

Only the destroyer Nowaki escaped, surviving a near-miss from New Jersey at more than 20 miles. It marked the only time in their careers that Iowa and New Jersey fired their main batteries at enemy warships.

Japanese shipping under air attack in Truk Lagoon, as seen from a USS Intrepid (CV-11) aircraft on the first day of raids, 17 February 1944. Dublon Island is at left, with Moen Island in the background. Four of these ships appear to have been hit by this time. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Night Raid

As darkness fell on Feb. 17, Lt. Cmdr. Bill Martin of Torpedo Squadron 10 launched an operation that had never been attempted. Twelve TBF Avengers catapulted off Enterprise for a low-level, radar-guided night bombing run against Japanese shipping still in the lagoon.

Martin had spent months lobbying senior Navy leadership to prove that carrier-based night strikes were viable. His crew, known as the "Buzzard Brigade," had trained relentlessly in instrument flying and airborne radar techniques. The Avenger was the only carrier plane in the fleet large enough to carry an operational radar unit.

Each pilot navigated by radar, picking out targets among the coral islets that cluttered the screen. They sank roughly one-third of the total enemy shipping tonnage destroyed during the entire two-day operation.

The Japanese light cruiser Katori burning off Truk, after having been damaged by U.S. Navy aircraft. It was later sunk by gunfire from USS New Orleans (CA-32), USS Minneapolis (CA-36), and torpedoes from USS Radford (DD-446) and USS Burns (DD-588) 74 km north-west of Truk (07.45N, 151.20E). (Wikimedia Commons)

Cliff Largess, one of the 12 pilots who flew that mission, described it decades later at a 2009 Veterans Day ceremony in Jamestown, New York.

"We took off in the dead of night. The results were spectacular," he said. "We had the evidence that night flights could be done successfully. The approach caught on, and within a year, most of the aircraft could fly at night. We were the pioneers."

The Japanese struck back late on Feb. 17. Between roughly 9 p.m. and midnight, small groups of bombers from Truk and Formosa probed the carrier task groups' defenses. A single twin-engine bomber from the 755th Naval Air Group penetrated the screen and drove a torpedo into Intrepid's starboard quarter. The hit killed 11 sailors and jammed the carrier's rudder. Intrepid limped back to the United States for repairs and missed the next six months of the war.

Strikes resumed on Feb. 18. The destroyer Oite arrived at the lagoon's entrance that day. TBF Avengers caught Oite as she attempted to re-enter the pass. A torpedo broke the ship in half. She sank within minutes, taking all 523 Agano survivors and most of her own crew to the bottom.

By the time Mitscher recalled his aircraft, the damage was overwhelming.

A Japanese freighter in Truk Atoll is hit by a Mark XIII torpedo dropped from a Grumman TBF Avenger of Torpedo Squadron 17 (VT-17) from the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), 17 February 1944. (Wikimedia Commons)

Losses on Both Sides

American pilots destroyed roughly 250 Japanese aircraft and sank approximately 200,000 tons of shipping over those two days. The losses included light cruisers Katori and Naka, four destroyers, two submarine tenders, an aircraft ferry, 32 merchant ships and several fleet oilers.

About 4,500 Japanese servicemen were killed. Some 17,000 tons of stored fuel were also destroyed.

The United States lost 25 aircraft and 35 servicemen.

The tonnage sent to the bottom at Truk amounted to roughly 10 percent of all Japanese merchant shipping lost across the entire Pacific during the preceding eight months. The destruction of precious fleet tankers crippled the Imperial Navy's ability to fuel operations, a shortage that became painfully obvious during the Battle of Leyte Gulf eight months later. Unlike Pearl Harbor, where U.S. oil storage tanks and repair yards survived the Japanese attack, Truk's fuel reserves and infrastructure were gutted.

Aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), PhoM 1/c Joe Day (foreground) and PhoM 1/c Len Globus (top) examine a Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless of Bombing Squadron 10 (VB-10), damaged during a photographic mission over Truk Atoll, 16-17 February 1944. (Wikimedia Commons)

Fleet Adm. Nimitz summarized the outcome bluntly.

"The Pacific Fleet has returned at Truk the visit made by the Japanese Fleet at Pearl Harbor," he said.

The success of Hailstone convinced the Joint Chiefs that Truk could be bypassed rather than invaded. The atoll's garrison was marooned.

The Japanese high command responded to the disaster by relieving Vice Adm. Masami Kobayashi of his command of the 4th Fleet two days after the raid. His replacement was Vice Adm. Chuichi Nagumo, the same officer who had commanded the Japanese carrier strike force at Pearl Harbor. The architect of that 1941 attack now presided over the smoldering wreckage of Japan's own premier Pacific base.

Mitscher sent carriers back in late April, hammering what remained. Few worthwhile targets survived. By late 1944, the troops stranded on Truk spent most of their time growing food in a losing fight against starvation and tropical disease.

Historian David Hobbs later described the garrison as having been "reduced to starving impotence." The Japanese commander and his staff formally surrendered aboard the heavy cruiser Portland in Truk's lagoon on Sept. 2, 1945.

Japanese officers surrendering to American forces aboard the USS Portland at the end of the war. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Legacy 82 Years Later

Operation Hailstone rarely receives the recognition given to Midway or Iwo Jima. A 2024 study in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology noted that Truk "has not received significant historical examination" because it was bypassed and considered a success with acceptable losses.

The ships that sank in 1944 created one of the world's most extraordinary underwater sites. More than 60 wrecks sit on the floor of what is now called Chuuk Lagoon, their hulls covered with coral.

French explorer Jacques Cousteau brought global attention to the site in a 1969 documentary. The Federated States of Micronesia has designated the wrecks as protected monuments and war graves. Divers still make pilgrimages on the anniversary every February.

The wreck of the Fujikawa Maru at Truk Lagoon. (Wikimedia Commons)

Eighty-two years after Hailstone, 35 American servicemen from the February 1944 raids and as many as 225 from later attacks on Truk remain missing in action.

In 2024, researchers from Project Recover located three U.S. aircraft in the lagoon for the first time. Each was crewed by servicemembers still listed as MIA.

The fleet resting at the bottom of Chuuk Lagoon are what remain of an overextended empire that faced an increasingly powerful U.S. Navy. For two days in February 1944, Task Force 58 proved that no Japanese base in the Pacific was beyond reach of American forces.
Hundreds of American prisoners of war had spent nearly three years starving in a Japanese camp in the Philippines, and in the first weeks of February 1945, they were finally on their way home. Their rescue, carried out by a small force of Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrillas on Jan. 30, had stunned the American public when the news broke Feb. 2. By Feb. 11, 280 of the freed men were aboard the USS Gen. A.E. Anderson, steaming from Leyte toward San Francisco. Many were so frail they had to be carried.

The story of how they got out remains one of the most extraordinary rescue operations in American military history.

A Race Against Execution

The prisoners at Cabanatuan, on the island of Luzon, were survivors of the Bataan Death March and years of captivity marked by disease, forced labor and routine brutality. At its peak, the camp held more than 5,000 men. By January 1945, roughly 500 remained, most too sick or weak to ship to Japan as slave labor.

When U.S. forces landed at Lingayen Gulf on Jan. 9, 1945, Army intelligence faced an urgent problem. Weeks earlier, Japanese troops at a POW camp on Palawan had herded roughly 150 American prisoners into air raid shelters, doused them in gasoline, and set them on fire. Only 11 survived. With Gen. Douglas MacArthur's forces advancing toward Cabanatuan, commanders feared the same fate awaited the prisoners there.

Maj. Robert Lapham (top row, fifth from left) pictured with the officers of the 45th Infantry (Philippine Scouts), at Fort McKinley, Philippines, Nov. 11, 1941. (National Archives)

Maj. Robert Lapham, a guerrilla leader on Luzon, rode 30 miles through Japanese-held territory on horseback to reach Sixth Army headquarters and propose a rescue. Lt. Gen. Walter Krueger gave the order.

Behind Enemy Lines

Lt. Col. Henry Mucci, commander of the 6th Ranger Battalion, assembled a strike force of 121 Rangers and Alamo Scouts, reinforced by more than 200 Filipino guerrillas under Capts. Juan Pajota and Eduardo Joson. They marched 30 miles behind Japanese lines over two days, relying on Filipino villagers along the route to muffle dogs and cage chickens to avoid alerting nearby enemy troops.

At 7:45 p.m. on Jan. 30, with a P-61 Black Widow night fighter buzzing the camp to distract the guards, the raiders attacked. The assault lasted roughly 30 minutes. Hundreds of Japanese soldiers were killed, along with several tanks destroyed by guerrilla bazooka teams. Two Rangers were killed in action.

The biggest challenge was the prisoners themselves. Many refused to believe the rescue was real, fearing a Japanese trick. Rangers physically pushed, carried and dragged men out of the camp. At the Pampanga River, Filipino civilians had gathered carabao carts to carry those who could not walk. The convoy swelled from 26 carts to more than 100 as the column made its way to American lines at Talavera by dawn Jan. 31.

Read More: The Noble Train: How a Boston Bookseller Saved the Revolution

MacArthur called it the most satisfying incident of the Pacific campaign. Mucci and Capt. Robert Prince, who planned and led the ground assault, received the Distinguished Service Cross.

The Cabanatuan rescue sparked a wave of similar operations across the Philippines. Within a month, combined American and Filipino forces liberated four more camps, freeing more than 7,000 prisoners in all, including 2,147 in the airborne raid on Los Banos on Feb. 23.

Sources: U.S. Army, "The 75th Ranger Regiment Remembers the Great Raid" (2025); U.S. Army Special Operations Command, "Rescue at Cabanatuan"; Congressional Medal of Honor Society; National WWII Museum, "Battle of Iwo Jima."

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Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for fitness and basic training tips, or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox.
New York lawmakers have introduced a bill proposing at least a three-year moratorium on permits for new data center constructionmaking it the sixth U.S. state to consider such a pause. The move reflects growing bipartisan concern over the energy and social impacts of expanding AI infrastructure.





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More than 230 environmental groups have joined calls for a national moratorium, with Democratic and Republican legislators advancing similar proposals in multiple states. New York Senator Liz Krueger warned that the state is completely unprepared for the massive data centers now gunning for New York.

Last month, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a grid modernization plan that would require large energy users such as data centers to pay their fair share. This unfolding battlefrom local to national levelssignals a critical tightening of policies amid the AI infrastructure boom.

Roger Luo said:This legislative push marks a turning point in balancing AI growth with sustainability. While moratoriums offer a needed pause for policy development, long-term solutions must integrate clean energy mandates and transparent cost frameworks to prevent shifting burdens onto communities.

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After investing $6 million in three cohorts, Techstars Sydney wont run a 2026 program. Another blow to NSW startups following SXSWs closure last month.

Whats happening: Techstars Sydney is shutting down after the NSW government ceased funding following the three-year contracts expiration.

Why this matters: The closure marks another significant blow to Sydneys startup sector amid a broader pattern of NSW government funding cuts.

The globally recognised Techstars accelerator programme is closing in Sydney after the NSW government declined to renew funding, marking the latest setback for the citys startup ecosystem under Labors current administration.

Techstars Sydney managing director Christie Jenkins revealed the closure in a LinkedIn post, announcing that after three years, three cohorts and more than $6 million invested in 36 startups, the widely lauded three-month accelerator 2026 programme will not go ahead.

Government pulls funding

The closure follows the NSW governments decision not to continue its investment after the three-year contract expired. Investment NSW confirmed in a statement that funding concluded as scheduled.

The NSW Innovation Blueprint, in response to the Pounder Review, highlighted the importance of diversity to the states Innovation ecosystem, and we were pleased to commit $4 million to a diversity pre-accelerator in the most recent NSW Budget, an Investment NSW spokesperson said.

The budget was announced in June 2025. Expressions of interest for the diversity pre-accelerator programme closed in early October last year. The government has yet to announce who will deliver the programme or when it will begin.

Minister Anoulack Chantivong has not responded to requests for comment.

Three-year track record

Techstars, founded 20 years ago in New York, is a global startup accelerator and venture capital investor. Its arrival in Sydney, supported by the former Coalition government, was seen as a coup for NSW.

As recently as September, Investment NSW was promoting the programme as central to the future of innovation and its long-delayed Innovation Blueprint.

Three years. Three programs. Thirty-six investments. And for now, we close the Techstars Tech Central Sydney chapter, Jenkins wrote on LinkedIn.

Our promise to founders was that the accelerator would be the best three months of your decade. We did that. What none of us expected was how much they would give back in return.

Jenkins highlighted the achievements of participating startups over the three years, noting that founders signed their first letters of intent, tripled revenue to hit $1 million annual recurring revenue in three months, pivoted entirely and built new products in five weeks, landed global brands as customers, tested new cancer technology on human samples, and raised millions of dollars.

Its been an incredible 3 years for Techstars in Sydney, and the funding from the Investment NSW and private investors has made that possible. We invested in 36 founding teams, and for 58% we were the very first cheque in, Jenkins said.

Ive seen founders go from tears of joy at receiving an offer that allows them to go full-time, to hiring a team of 5 and hitting $1 million in ARR. This has mattered. And this is just the beginning. Im so insanely proud of the impact Techstars Sydney has had.

The programme was the most generous of local accelerators in investment terms, offering founders US$120,000 (AU$170,000) for 5% of the business.

Latest in series

The Techstars closure is the latest blow to the Sydney startup sector inflicted by the NSW government and Investment NSW, following the loss of SXSW Sydney last month when it withdrew funding, the closure of the Sydney Startup Hub, cuts to MVP funding, and delays in rolling out support amid ongoing reviews nearly three-quarters through Labors first term in power.

SXSW Sydney shut down in January after Destination NSW pulled funding. The event had generated a three-year cumulative economic impact of $276 million and attracted more than 345,000 attendees in 2025.

The NSW Budget 2025 allocated nearly $80 million to help tech businesses grow through the Innovation Blueprint, with $38.5 million for Tech Central, $20 million for using new technology in housing and energy, $6 million for early-stage product development, $6 million for manufacturers using tech, and $4 million for training women founders and regional tech leaders.

Diversity achievement overlooked

The 2025 programme received 560 applications, up from 390 in 2024. The programme also addressed diversity issues that plague the startup sector.

Among the top 150 applications, 43% had women in the founding team, and 47% had racial diversity. Of the 12 startups backed last year, three were led by women chief executives, and five had founders from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Last September, Investment NSW deputy secretary Rebecca McPhee said the NSW government was proud to support the Techstars Accelerator Program and startups tackling real-world problems.

Thats exactly the kind of innovation we want to see thrive in NSW, she said. Its great to see the Techstars Accelerator Program delivered in the heart of Tech Central, contributing to a thriving innovation economy in NSW.

Jenkins reflected on her personal journey with the programme in her LinkedIn post.

Techstars didnt just give me a job. It gave me an opportunity. A migrant operator who loved systems and believed innovation should serve people. Trapped in the body of a biomedical engineer, she wrote.

Yet, I was part of the team who built one of Australias most competitive accelerator programs. This program gave me the opportunity to make a name for myself in Australia. And in turn, I made sure it gave founders the same. The opportunity to be seen, to be backed, and to build something that changes industries.

Jenkins concluded her announcement with a message to the ecosystem.

While we wont be running additional accelerator classes in Sydney for now, our commitment to the founders and to this ecosystem remains unchanged. Techstars continues to believe deeply in the vitality of the Australian startup community.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Tourists and Hindu devotees are seen on the 272 steps of Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple at Batu Caves, Malaysia April 19, 2024. Photo by Reuters

Malaysia expects to attract 2.1 million visitors from India in 2026, up 34.6% year-on-year, under the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY 2026) campaign, tourism officials said.

Tourist arrivals from India reached 1.56 million in 2025, up from 1.36 million in 2024, representing a 14.6% increase, according to data from Tourism Malaysia.

Datuk Manoharan, chairman of Tourism Malaysia, said the 2.1-million target reflects Malaysia's continued focus on strengthening its presence in the Indian market, The Hindu newspaper reported.

Officials pointed to strengthened air connectivity between India and Malaysia as a key factor supporting tourism growth.

Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, operates four weekly services from Visakhapatnam to Kuala Lumpur via Singapore.

Overall, there are 238 weekly direct flights linking 14 Indian cities with Malaysia, offering a combined capacity of 47,399 seats. Of these, 151 weekly direct services, accounting for 29,541 seats, originate from cities in South India, Tribune India reported.

Malaysia has emerged as a popular wedding destination for Indian travelers.

According to officials, cultural similarities and familiarity make Malaysia an attractive choice for Indian families. The country's diverse culinary offerings are also seen as a draw for visitors

Malaysia's tourism sector recorded 42.2 million visitors in 2025, an 11.2% year-on-year increase and 20.4% higher than 2019 benchmarks, making it the most visited country in Southeast Asia.
Crystal Hefner has launched a formal challenge against the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation, accusing the organisation of mishandling thousands of her late husbands private scrapbooks  a collection she says contains explicit images of women, including herself, and potentially underage girls.

Crystal Hefner wants Hugh Hefner's explicit scrapbooks to remain private

The former Playboy model and widow of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner has filed regulatory complaints with the attorneys general of both California and Illinois, raising concerns that the foundation may be preparing to release or digitise the material without proper safeguards.

According to Crystal, the scrapbooks  reportedly numbering in the thousands  document decades of Hefners private life and include sexual images that were never intended for public consumption. She argues that many of the women featured may not even know they were photographed, and fears that some may have been underage at the time.

Crystal revealed that she was recently removed from her role as president of the foundation, a move she believes is connected to her objections over how the documents are being handled.

At a press conference alongside attorney Gloria Allred on Tuesday (17.02.26), she described the situation as urgent, stressing that the foundations alleged plans could expose deeply personal and potentially nonconsensual images.

She said: My focus is on how Hugh Hefners personal scrapbooks chronicle private moments that took place behind closed doors.

There are serious and unresolved concerns about the scope of what these books contain. The materials span decades, beginning in the 1960s, and may include images of girls who were underage at the time and could not consent to how their images would be retained or controlled.

The complaints allege that the foundation has roughly 3,000 scrapbooks and Hefners personal diary, raising alarm over what Crystal describes as irresponsible stewardship of sensitive material. Reports suggest the foundation may be considering digitising the archive  a possibility that has intensified Crystals efforts to intervene before any images are released or leaked.

She maintains that her priority is protecting the privacy and dignity of the women depicted, insisting that the scrapbooks were never meant to become a public archive.

Crystal went on: The scrapbooks include nude images, images taken before and after sexual activity, and other deeply intimate moments. They contain intimate material involving women who are now mothers, grandmothers, professionals, and private citizens who have spent decades building their lives with no idea these images were still being hoarded. I believe they include women, and possibly girls, who never agreed to lifelong private possession of their naked images, and who have no transparency into where their photos are, how they are being stored, or what will happen to them next.

She concluded: "This is not about money. I am seeking dignity, safety, and the destruction of nonconsensual intimate materials so that exploitation does not continue under the banner of philanthropy. Thousands of women may be affected. This is a civil rights issue. Womens bodies are not property, not history, and not collectibles. And no organization should be allowed to claim the language of civil rights while denying women their most basic one: the right to control their own bodies and images.
Children use chopsticks in a game in Gaborone, Botswana, Feb. 17, 2026. An event was held on Tuesday at a primary school in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival, immersing local students in the richness of Chinese traditions and culture. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- An event was held on Tuesday at a primary school in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival, immersing local students in the richness of Chinese traditions and culture.

Co-hosted by the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana and the Legae English Medium School, the event featured a dynamic showcase of talent, with students performing traditional Chinese dances and songs.

Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong said the celebration provided an important platform for deepening cultural ties.

"This presents a wonderful platform for us to share our unique culture, enhance our educational cooperation, and build stronger bridges of mutual understanding," he said.

Fan also highlighted the broader diplomatic significance of such exchanges, noting their alignment with upcoming milestones in China-Africa relations.

"The year 2026 represents a remarkable milestone in our shared journey, as China embarks on its 15th Five-Year Plan. We will also celebrate 70 years of diplomatic ties between China and Africa, a year dedicated to people-to-people exchanges," he noted.

Naseema Karodia, the school's headteacher, highlighted the significance of the Chinese New Year celebration.

"The year of the Horse comes with added symbolism as it represents freedom, strength, courage, and loyalty. These are values so very needed in the world today," she said, describing the event as a valuable opportunity to appreciate Chinese culture and festive traditions.

Thapelo Otlogetswe, local director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana, said that the Spring Festival serves as a powerful reminder of the strong cultural connections and shared values between Botswana and China, adding that such celebrations offer students a valuable opportunity to experience these traditions firsthand.

The event drew nearly 500 participants, including Pu Durong, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana, Chinese diplomats, and teachers and students from the primary school.

Students try Chinese musical instruments Hulusi in Gaborone, Botswana, Feb. 17, 2026. An event was held on Tuesday at a primary school in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival, immersing local students in the richness of Chinese traditions and culture. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

Editor: WSH
MACAO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) kicked off the "2026 Chinese New Year Activities" on Tuesday, the first day of the Year of the Horse, with a parade of a golden dragon, to extend auspicious wishes to residents and visitors.

The opening ceremony was held at the Ruins of St. Paul's, where officials of the Macao Special Administrative Region government and guests officiated at the eye-dotting ceremony for the 238-meter-long golden dragon and 18 dancing lions.

At the ceremony, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes wished all a happy New Year and expressed hopes that the Year of the Horse would bring prosperity and happiness to Macao and everyone.

Macao resident Ms. Lam said she has been waiting for the parade to start since early morning and attends it almost every year. She also appreciated having a chance to interact with the performers. "I hope we have more of these activities," she said.

A procession engaged the public at major heritage sites and streets. It featured the dragon, the dancing lions, the God of Fortune, the three Gods of Happiness, Prosperity, and Longevity, the Horse zodiac mascot, and Macao's tourism mascot Mak Mak.

Mr. Chen from Beijing came to Macao for the Chinese New Year celebration. Having stayed in the city for five days, he noted the festive atmosphere in Macao is quite strong, and he had never seen such a long dragon before. "It's splendid and very impressive," he added.

The two-day community roadshow also features performances by art troupes at multiple locations in Macao, such as the Macao Grand Prix Museum area, Barra Square, and Taipa Houses, the tourism office said.

Editor: WSH
The Vatican has refused to participate in the Peace Council, to which it was invited by US President Donald Trump, the Holy Sees Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said on Wednesday, Vatican News reported.

"The Holy See will not participate in the Peace Council because of its particular nature, which is obviously different from that of other states However, we take into account that Italy will participate as an observer," Parolin said, on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting in Rome with the Italian government.

According to the cardinal, the Vatican "takes note" of the choice made by the Italian government to join, but he also sees "some critical points that must be resolved." "One of the problems is that at the international level, it is the UN that manages these crises: this is one of the points on which we insisted," Parolin said.

The creation of the Peace Council was part of Trumps proposed plan to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Its formation was announced in January 2026.

About 60 world leaders have been invited to the Council, some as founding members. Trump became the first chairman of the Peace Council.

The Peace Councils founding ceremony took place on January 22 in Davos.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree putting into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions against the self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

"Today, Ukraine has imposed a package of sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko, and we are significantly intensifying our counteraction to all forms of his facilitation of the murders of Ukrainians. We will work with partners to ensure that this has a global effect," the presidents Telegram channel said.
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MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.
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Palak Vij is a Sub Editor and Entertainment Journalist with over a year of experience covering films, television, and pop culture in the digital space.
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Salim Khan health update: Suffers a minor brain haemorrhage, will be out of ventilator tomorrow
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Trilateral Ukrainian-American-Russian negotiations regarding the end of the Russian-Ukrainian war concluded in Geneva (Switzerland) on Wednesday, spokesperson for the NSDC Secretary Diana Davityan told journalists.

"Yes, both groups have already finished," she informed.

Earlier on Wednesday, NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov reported the start of another round of negotiations in a trilateral format. According to him, consultations took place in groups divided by political and military blocks.

"We are working on clarifying the parameters and mechanics of the solutions discussed yesterday. We are set for substantive work. We will provide additional information on the results," Umerov wrote on his Telegram channel on Wednesday.
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Did Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet sign a $100 million Did Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet sign a $100 million marriage pact? Viral claim sparks debateim sparks debate
Ethan Hawke says actors arent the best political guides, but cinema can shape consciousness at the Berlin Film Festival
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We Are Faheem and Karun earns big recognition at Reelout Queer Film Festival
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Privilege hearing in Kunal Kamra case adjourned after complainants absence; next date set for March 10
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Priyanka Chopra shares a romantic kiss with Nick Jonas at The Bluff premiere in LA
To protect gut health, break the Ramadan fast with dates and lukewarm water (Picture: Pexels)
While the market swings come outside of the usual calendar windows for major European IPOs, they risk derailing new listings if they dont subside
Shweta Punj is an award winning journalist. She has reported on economic policy for over two decades in India and the US. She is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum. Author of Why I Failed, translated into 5 languages, published by Penguin-Random House.
Under the interim India-US trade framework pact, DDGS for animal feed will be allowed into India, subject to a tariff-rate quota (TRQ), once the deal comes into effect.

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.
Ukrainian and Swedish Red Cross agree on priorities for further cooperation

Photo: Red Cross Society

The leadership of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS), led by Director General Maksym Dotsenko, and a delegation from the Swedish Red Cross, headed by Secretary General Ulrika Modeer, have agreed on strategic cooperation priorities.

"The meeting was dedicated to the development of strategic partnership, coordination of humanitarian initiatives, and the determination of priorities for further cooperation between the Ukrainian and Swedish Red Cross," the URCS reported on Facebook.

The parties discussed strengthening joint programs in the field of mental health and psychosocial support, with a focus on building capacity and service sustainability.

In addition, the meeting participants touched upon the systemic integration of protection, gender equality, and inclusion approaches within Red Cross programs and mechanisms, as well as the development of local organizations, including issues of governance and institutional capacity.
The German conglomerates proposed $7.25 billion class-action settlement in the US announced late Tuesday to resolve most current and future claims that Roundup causes cancer  an allegation Bayer rejects but one that has haunted it since its $63 billion purchase of Monsanto in 2018  initially sparked optimism
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Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol.
Christine Lagardes non-renewable eight-year term runs through October of next year and a decision on a new president would typically be taken over the summer, based on previous appointments
Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales dismissed Grokipedia, Elon Musks AI-powered encyclopedia, as unviable and criticized its lack of fact-checking and attribution. Wales defended Wikipedias neutrality and crowd-sourced model against Musks claims of bias.

Shweta Punj is an award winning journalist. She has reported on economic policy for over two decades in India and the US. She is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum. Author of Why I Failed, translated into 5 languages, published by Penguin-Random House.
Dynamic pricing across various industries has been under scrutiny of CCI for the past few years.
Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.
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Zelenskyy expects report on results of all meetings in Geneva: priority is security guarantees

Photo: The Presidential Office of Ukraine / www.president.gov.ua

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects a detailed report on the results of all meetings in Geneva, where negotiations on a peaceful settlement between Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian Federation took place.

"We are working together with the team to bring real peace closer. The priority is security guarantees for Ukraine. Ukrainian representatives have clear directives on every aspect of the negotiations. I look forward to a detailed report on the results of all meetings," Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Wednesday.

As reported, the trilateral negotiations in Geneva lasted about two hours and have already concluded.
While a US gauge of chipmakers closed little changed, a closely watched exchange-traded fund tracking software firms slipped 2.2%. Gold and silver tumbled
E2E Networks shares rise 16% as firm is building Nvidia Blackwell GPU cluster on its TIR platform
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Ayush Mishra is a personal finance journalist specialising in banking, credit, and taxation. With experience at Business Standard, he delivers engaging stories that make complex financial decisions easier to navigate.
While most US retail investors have been historically prevented from investing in private markets  which usually requires wealth of more than $1 million or annual income of at least $200,000  alternative asset managers have been pushing to open up access to private markets
Based on the results of two-day negotiations in Geneva between Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian Federation regarding a peaceful settlement, there are developments in the political component, but for now the positions of the parties differ, and there is no such progress as in the military direction, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"As for the political component, these are all the sensitive issues you know about: the east, the station (ZNPP  IF-U). There will also be a broader report upon return. We see that there are developments, but for now the positions are different because the negotiations were not easy. My sub-group will show me all these nuances. That is, I heard progress in the military direction; in the political direction there was a dialogue, we agreed to go further, we agreed to continue. I did not hear the same kind of progress there as on the military side," Zelenskyy told journalists on Wednesday.
Kargil reminded the Indian Army of something it already knew but had not tested at that scale since 1971: in mountains, artillery is not a supporting arm. It is central. (File photo)
RJD MLA Sharma says the opposition only wants to know how an IAS officer can afford a journey by a chartered plane- Representative photo
Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran
People visit Galgotias University stall at AI summit ahead of an eviction order issued by authorities
Delhi Dwarka crash: 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra killed months before UK studies; minor driver granted interim bail

A 23-year-old BBA student, Sahil Dhaneshra, was killed in a head-on collision in Delhis Dwarka on February 3, allegedly involving an SUV driven by a 17-year-old boy. Sahil had secured admission to an MSc programme in Luxury Fashion Management in Manchester and was preparing to move to the UK.

Police booked the minor under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and he was later granted interim bail as he is a Class 10 student appearing for exams. Sahils mother alleged that a fun reel stunt led to the crash, calling it criminal activity, while the accuseds father said he was unaware his son had taken the vehicle and would cooperate with the probe.
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The initiative marks a significant step in strengthening India-France collaboration in artificial intelligence-driven healthcare solutions.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Borah would be joining the BJP on February 22 after meeting him at his residence on Tuesday evening.
Photo: Unsplash

Poland has provided energy assistance to Ukraine worth over PLN 10.2 million (UAH 124 million). More than half of this amount (PLN 5.74 million or UAH 70 million) was raised through collections in churches of the Krakow Archdiocese and donations to Krakow Caritas, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kyiv has reported.

"PLN 5.74 million is the result of collections in churches of the Krakow Archdiocese and donations from people of good will to the Krakow Caritas account following the appeal of the Metropolitan of Krakow, Cardinal Grzegorz Rys, dated January 24, 2026, to help the residents of Kyiv," the embassy said on X.

According to the embassy, the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration and the Government Strategic Reserves Agency (RARS) have also donated nearly 1,000 electric generators and heaters for Ukrainians.
Bihar imposed total prohibition in 2016 when Nitish Kumar was heading the Mahagathbandhan government.
Car belonging to Yuvraj Mehta, a 27-year-old software engineer, who died after his car had plunged into a water-filled pit at a construction site, retrieved after a search operation, in Noida
The use of the Metallica track surprised many social media users, with some speculating whether the choice was made by a member of Yadavs social media team.
Polling will take place on March 16 between 9 am and 4 pm.
SBI reports on suspected deserter who left training center and returned to work at a car service station

Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), in cooperation with the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police, have notified a serviceman of suspicion after he allegedly orchestrated his own escape from a training center.

"Before mobilization, the man worked at a car service station in Kremenchuk. After receiving a summons, he was sent to a training center in Zhytomyr region; however, he did not plan to serve," according to a message on the agencys website on Wednesday.

Reportedly, the man contacted his employer at the car service station requesting help to leave the unit. The employer involved an acquaintance who agreed to drive the serviceman out of the region in his private car.

"At night, the carrier arrived at a designated spot near the military unit. The serviceman stealthily left the territory, changed into civilian clothes, and got into the car. They eventually reached Kremenchuk," the SBI reports.

Upon returning to the city, the man reportedly celebrated his return with a bottle of vodka and went back to work at the same car service station.

SBI officers established his location and notified the serviceman of suspicion of desertion (Part 4 of Article 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The driver was notified of suspicion of aiding in desertion (Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 408). By court decision, the driver has been remanded in custody.

The sanction for these articles carries a penalty of up to 12 years in prison.
While sharing the picture on X, Macron termed PM Modi his friend and signaled strong confidence in the future of India-France collaboration in AI and other technological innovations.
The trip comes amid continued buzz over internal equations within the Karnataka Congress, particularly regarding the leadership arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
In total, 50 knives have been confiscated in connection with the case. (AI-generated image)
Former Meta AI chief scientist Yann LeCun at the AI Impact Summit being held in Delhi.
Hart to Hart stars Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers recently reunited for the former's 96th birthday.

Robert Wagner and his Hart to Hart co-star Stefanie Powers recently reunited  @robertwagnerofficial / Instagram

A picture uploaded on Robert's Instagram shows the pair  who played married couple Jonathan and Jennifer Hart in the ABC mystery series  embracing in honour of the Austin Powers star's birthday earlier this month.

The photo was captioned: "When Jonathan and Jennifer reunite, it's always something special.

"Thank you, Stefanie, for the beautiful birthday visit."

Hart to Hart saw Wagner and Powers play wealthy couple Jonathan and Jennifer  who led a glamorous jetset lifestyle and often found themselves working as unpaid detectives to solve crimes that they had become embroiled in.

The series aired for five years from 1979 to 1984 before Robert and Stefanie reprised their roles for eight made-for-TV movies between 1993 and 1996.

The pair's friendship has endured for decades and Stefanie recalled how they supported each other following the deaths of their respective partners William Holden and Natalie Wood within weeks of each other in November 1981  following a fall and drowning respectively.

The 83-year-old star told Fox News Digital in 2024: "We did  we leaned on each other for support. And we also understood that we had committed to do a television series. It had to go on. The show had to go on, and no one would've understood that more than the partners we both lost.

"It was a very difficult time. We were held up by a lot of wonderful people and friends, some mutual friends and some on each side of the coin. And RJ (Wagner) had daughters. He also had children to keep supporting... emotionally. So it was a complicated and difficult time."

Wood's mysterious death has been subject to much discussion and Robert was named as a "person of interest" by police in 2018 as it was established that he was the last person to see his wife before her disappearance.

Speaking in a preview clip from Natalie Wood: Death in Dark Water, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant John Corin told CBS' 48 Hours: "As we've investigated the case over the last six years, I think he's [Wagner's] more of a person of interest now.

"I mean, we know now that he was the last person to be with Natalie before she disappeared ... I haven't seen him tell the details that match all the other witnesses in this case. I think he's constantly changed his story a little bit. And his version of events just don't add up."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags at the 2026 Paralympic Games is "wrong  from both a moral and political perspective."

The decision to admit Russia and Belarus under national symbols ignores a simple truth: these flags and anthems represent regimes that wage aggression, destroy cities, and weaponize sport for propaganda. They cannot be separated from the crimes committed under them. In todays Russia, even Paralympic sport has been used to glorify participants in the war against Ukraine, he said on X.

Sybiha noted that giving such a system a prestigious international platform sends a dangerous signal that responsibility can be relegated to the background.

I have instructed Ukraines ambassadors to engage with officials in their host countries and urge them not to attend the Opening Ceremony if this disgraceful decision is not reversed, the minister stressed.
AI Impact Summit brings global tech leaders together to discuss the future of artificial intelligence in India. (Image credit: Getty Images)
KPMG said it will implement measures to better detect future violations. (Image credit: Reuters)
The NRI revealed that he is currently living in the US on an H1B visa. (Image credit: Representational image/AI)
Olga stated that difficulties began in November 2023, when she applied for a spousal visa.
A picture of the attendees at the launch of Sarvam AI's new models at AI Impact Summit in Delhi, shared by Peak XV Partners managing director Rajan Anandan.
Beyond the private sector, she serves as a global strategic advisory member at O.P. Jindal University.
India's Cheetah numbers climb from 35 to 38 as "Gamini" gave birth to three newborns in Kuno National Park. (Image: X/@byadavbjp)
Finland will provide humanitarian aid worth EUR 20 million to Ukraine, said Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

"Ukraine urgently needs help. In wartime conditions, a harsh winter and energy shortages are making life difficult for people. By my decision, Finland will provide Ukraine with EUR 20 million in humanitarian aid," he wrote on social media platform X on Wednesday.

Earlier that day, Ukrainian parliament Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk also spoke about humanitarian support from Finland. According to her, the Finnish government will send Ukraine an additional 52 generators in February and increase its humanitarian support to EUR 22 million.
Researchers have found that many older men gradually lose the Y chromosome in some body cells, a change once thought harmless. New evidence links this loss to heart disease, cancer, Alzheimers and higher COVID mortality. Rates rise with age, affecting 40% of 60 year olds and 57% of 90 year olds. Studies, including large population research and mouse experiments, suggest Y loss may directly affect immune function, cardiac health and cancer risk.

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A trail camera captured a rare 10-second sighting of the Asian golden cat in Khao Luang National Park on 20/06/2025. Known locally as the fire tiger, the elusive species holds cultural significance in Thailand. Scientists say such footage is vital for monitoring the vulnerable cat, which faces threats from deforestation and illegal hunting. Protected areas and continued conservation efforts are crucial for its survival.

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Shweta Punj is an award winning journalist. She has reported on economic policy for over two decades in India and the US. She is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum. Author of Why I Failed, translated into 5 languages, published by Penguin-Random House.
Wikipedia Co-Founder Jimmy Wales praised India's strong IT sector and AI potential, discussed expanding Wikipedia in Indian languages, and emphasized the platform's commitment to neutrality and accuracy, especially regarding India's maps and machine translation.

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Budanov on Geneva talks: Were preparing to continue in near future

Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

Following trilateral talks in Geneva, Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov stated that the next round of negotiations will take place in the near future.

"The latest round of negotiations in Geneva has concluded. The conversation was difficult, but important. My team and I are preparing to continue very soon," he wrote on Telegram.

As reported, two days of peace talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia concluded in Geneva on Wednesday.
2 / 10

1. Baku: Where old meets ultra-modern

The capital, Baku, is often the first stop for international travellers. Overlooking the Caspian Sea, the city pairs contemporary landmarks with centuries-old architecture. The UNESCO-listed Icherisheher (Old City) features narrow alleys, caravanserais and the iconic Maiden Tower, while the striking Flame Towers dominate the modern skyline. Another architectural highlight is the flowing, futuristic Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by Zaha Hadid. Strolling along the Baku Boulevard promenade at sunset offers sweeping sea views and a glimpse into the citys vibrant cafe culture.
Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences.
Magong in Taiwans Penghu County has been ranked among the worlds most welcoming cities in Booking.coms 2026 Traveller Review Awards. (Image: Wikipedia)

Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences.
If They Force Us To Choose: Randy Fine sparks outrage comparing Muslims to dogs
A Norwegian scientist suffered lasting brain damage after testing a homemade device emitting microwave radiation, mirroring Havana Syndrome symptoms. The incident has renewed debate on whether directed energy exposure can cause such injuries.

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The press service of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) commented on information from former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny regarding a search in September 2022.

"During that period, the SBU was conducting investigative actions as part of another criminal investigation into the fight against organized crime at a large number of addresses. One of the addresses mentioned in the criminal investigation had recently housed one of Valeriy Zaluzhnys secret backup command posts. In fact, no searches or investigative actions were conducted by the SBU at that address," the SBU press service said in a statement given to Interfax-Ukraine.

Additionally, Vasyl Maliuk and Valeriy Zaluzhny communicated this "immediately and personally, and the situation was clarified," the SBU added.

Earlier, Ukraines Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom, Valeriy Zaluzhny, told the Associated Press that the SBU raided his "office" in mid-September 2022, which was a clear "act of intimidation." Zaluzhny claims the Ukrainian agents didnt say what they were looking for, and that he refused to allow them to view documents and computers. He claims that, in the agents presence, he called Zelenskyys then-head of the administration, Andriy Yermak, and delivered a stern warning: "I told Yermak that I would repel this attack because I know how to fight."
After BNP's election win, critics from the Jamaat-led alliance mock PM Tarique Rahman as "engineer," alleging he manipulated results. The term went viral, sparking memes and satire amid formal complaints of rigging and Rahman's denial of wrongdoing.

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Barack Obamas podcast remark suggesting aliens are real sparked viral speculation about Area 51. Despite clarifying he saw no evidence of extraterrestrials during his presidency, conspiracy theories and online debates surged, reigniting interest in UFOs.

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Photo: General Staff

On February 17 and 18, the Defence Forces struck a launcher of an S300VM surfacetoair missile system (in the temporarily occupied Mariupol area), several UAV control points (Russia's Kursk region and the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region), as well as communications nodes and concentrations of enemy personnel and military equipment (in the temporarily occupied areas of Zaporizhia and Donetsk regions), the press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has said.

"Thus, during the night of February 18, 2026, the following were hit: in the area of the settlement of Trudove (temporarily occupied Zaporizhia region)  a concentration area of an enemy UAV unit; in the area of Tokmak (temporarily occupied Zaporizhia region)  a UAV workshop; in the area of Staromlynivka (temporarily occupied Donetsk region)  a communications node; in the city of Donetsk (temporarily occupied Donetsk region)  a concentration of the occupiers' military equipment," the General Staff said in its Telegram update on Wednesday.

In addition, on February 17, an S300VM surfacetoair missile system launcher was struck in Mariupol area (temporarily occupied Donetsk region). UAV control points of the enemy were also hit near the settlement of Salne (Kursk region, Russia) and near the city of Rodynske (temporarily occupied Donetsk region).

It is reported that enemy losses and the final scale of damage are being clarified.
Google announced the India-America Connect Initiative, a $15 billion AI infrastructure plan to build new subsea cables and fibre routes linking India, the US, and the Southern Hemisphere, positioning India as a global AI hub and expanding digital skills programs.

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Zelenskyy says Trump pressuring Ukraine to make concessions in Russia talks
President Donald Trump's administration insists it is effectively at war with what it calls "narco-terrorists" operating in Latin America.
Wexner said he visited the island once with his wife and children for a few hours while the family was in the area on their boat
When an apology sounds too perfect: A New Zealand judge questions AI-written remorse
Teen armed with shotgun, wearing tactical vest arrested near US Capitol
The Slovak government has allocated 250,000 tonnes of oil from the State Material Reserve for the production of fuel for the country's domestic needs following the interruption of the Druzhba oil pipeline near the Ukrainian city of Brody in Lviv region, according to the Slovak government's website.

"The government today adopted a decision to release 250,000 tonnes of oil from the State Material Reserve, which will allow Slovnaft, a.s. to produce products for the needs of the Slovak Republic for at least the next month," Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said after the government meeting.

The statement notes that Slovnaft is seeking alternative sources of oil supply to reduce dependence on Russia, with the main alternative being the Adria pipeline from the Croatian coast. Fico also assured that Slovakia will not face a shortage of oil products, but Slovnaft is currently suspending exports of oil products to Ukraine and other export operations.

"Everything that will be produced will be intended for the Slovak market," the Slovak prime minister said.

It is also reported that Fico discussed the situation around the Druzhba pipeline with Slovakia's ambassador to Ukraine and announced his intention to propose that the ambassador request permission to visit Brody. "Not only him, but also a group of experts from Slovakia, so that we can see with our own eyes what happened there, whether the damage is as Ukraine claims, or whether it is fabricated, since our intelligence reports that everything has been repaired and is technically ready for oil supply. We will also ask the European Commission to send a monitoring group to verify what actually happened in Brody, because if this is political blackmail, as in the case of gas, then it is absolutely unacceptable," the Slovak prime minister said.

According to Slovak media, Fico also stated that Slovakia may halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. "We can decide to withdraw from the electricity supply agreement," he said.

As reported earlier, Hungary had already suspended diesel exports to Ukraine until the transit of Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline is restored, Hungarian State Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Relations Zoltan Kovacs said. In his view, Ukraine "for purely political reasons unilaterally stopped deliveries on 27 January, although technically their restoration is possible."

He also said that Hungary currently has 96 days' worth of strategic oil reserves, as well as 500,000 tonnes of Russian oil ordered by MOL, which could become available by the middle of March if Croatia complies with EU rules.

It was previously reported that Hungary and Slovakia had asked Croatia to allow the supply of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia through the Adria pipeline. Meanwhile, Slovakia declared a state of emergency in the oil sector due to the lack of oil supplies.

Croatian Economy Minister Ante Susnjar, however, stated that the Adria pipeline is ready for operation, but that no EU country has any technical justification left for remaining dependent on Russian crude oil. "A barrel bought from Russia may seem cheaper for some countries, but it helps finance the war and attacks on the Ukrainian people," he said.

The transport of Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline via Ukraine has been halted since the end of last month due to largescale Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
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Svyrydenko instructs Kuleba and Recovery Agency to ensure readiness for routine repairs of public roads

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko instructed Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba, together with the State Recovery Agency, to urgently ensure readiness for routine repairs of public roads.

"First and foremost, these are strategically important routes that provide logistics for defense needs, community life support, and critical infrastructure. Work should begin as soon as weather conditions permit," Svyrydenko wrote on Telegram following Wednesday's government meeting.

According to her, the state budget for 2026 includes means for road repairs.
February 18, 2026

Ukraine Open Thread 2026-043

News & views related to the war in Ukraine 
Generators for the critical infrastructure of Kiliya (Izmail district of Odesa region) and the Kiliya community were installed on Wednesday, said the head of Odesa regional military administration, Oleh Kiper.

"Today, seven powerful generators for critical infrastructure facilities arrived in Kiliya community and have already been installed ... Two were provided through UNICEF assistance. Another five were delivered with the support of Ukraine's Ministry of Energy and Lithuanian partners," Kiper wrote on Telegram Wednesday.

According to him, following recent enemy shelling, parts of the city and settlements within the community were left without stable electricity and water supply. The operation of life-support systems was disrupted, causing serious hardship for residents.

The Kiliya urban community, in addition to the city itself, includes 10 villages consolidated into eight administrative districts. The community's total population in 2022 was 33,700 people. The community borders the Danube River, which forms the state boundary with Romania.
By Ambrose M. Bennett  Activist

THE Truth Be Told, the very young do not always do as they are told with the CNMI being one-of if not the youngest member in the American Family, its clear our leaders lack full understanding of Americas Ideologies, Principles & Moral Expectations. The CNMI is still an infant in political-geological years and the Feds dont need education from CNMI leaders on the EVS-TAP. I will even be the first to say all the justifications for the EVS-TAP are Valid as it is truly Needed and I wish it could happen. However, the reality and being a U.S. Political History/Constitutional Scholar who taught Social Studies I can assure readers that, America is driven by her ideologies, principles & morals laid down by the founding fathers for OUR nation whose very foundation is solidified with FREEDOM & EQUALITY for All, which is inherent & applicable to All the People & All the States. FYI CNMI, by its very nature & design the EVS-TAP is favoritism creating a competitive advantage for the CNMI to acquire Chinese Tourists while being bias against Guam, American Samoa, Hawaii and any other state level governments that might want to pursue Chinese Tourists which is a major problem when it comes to National Legislation where other state Representatives & Senators are always looking for a piece-of-the-pie for their state, as some U.S. Senators are already against the EVS-TAP which is really basic Political Science Reality. CNMI leaders are NOT proving to be political scientists on this issue with this singularity approach to American Politics in D.C.

If the CNMI Leaders werent so selfish and MORE Patriotic, the quest for the EVS-TAP would be a much stronger argument with the inclusion of all the Insular Island Groups of America and even Hawaii in the Pacific, opposed to the special treatment ONLY for the CNMI. This unfair special treatment also goes beyond the EVS-TAP to allow for the indigenous people to be OVER fellow Americans from the mainland (social-stratification) which is something Local leaders have enshrined into Law and embedded in the ideology for society & governing in the CNMI but thats another story. However, the other problem is the CNMIs quest for the EVS-TAP is compounded by the unsettling & threatening relationship that America has with China to the point of almost being out-right-enemies. In fact, the CNMIs quest for UNIQUENENESS in the American Family could be its biggest Political-Flaw in getting special treatment from the Feds which even my late friend and founder of the CNMI admitted it would always be an uphill battle. When the CNMI gets Federal money, in most cases so does the other Insular Area Islands in the American family unless its something specific like disaster funding. In fact, the quest for the EVS-TAP would be a much stronger argument with the inclusion of all the Insular Islands of America in the Pacific, opposed to the special treatment only for the CNMI. However, and importantly, at a time when Immigration has an ugly-face in America this is not the time to be talking about special treatment for Chinese Tourists, especially when the CNMI is considered a gateway for immigrant births & sneaking into America  a proven reality too many times for Our-Fathers-In-Washington.

The reality is also the fact that Commerce is the only real string that is binding America & China together and the CNMIs special treatment requests will always be challenging in our Federalized System of States! But most importantly for me being an Economist, WE the CNMI, need to know the Reality of WHAT is China going to do about allowing their citizens to travel to the CNMI, especially when the Chinese Government said in the MV they will not allow their citizens to come to the CNMI to GAMBLE, as no one has addressed the Chinese Government Variable  or was I the only one LISTENING as the leaders have a long history of NOT Listening  Linda! No one has bothered to even address the all-important variable of Chinas-say in the EVS-TAP as America can NOT force China to agree because if Chinas Government wants to shut-EVS-TAP-down they CAN! Im not embracing OUR decline, as the People deserve BETTER and it could be a LOT-BETTER if leaders would be more objective & listen. They continue to play ignorant and SILENT because I have yet to be proven a lie or wrong in the decades of my Op eds, but hopefully they will be held accountable in November IF there are new candidates for office  HELLER!

Thanks to Ambrodamus Op ed, it finally took over 30 yrs. for NMDs to finally have a chance to use THEIR money, after ignoring Ambrodamus proven & successful Workforce Transition Plan, the Delegate is now asking for two-decades to simply create & execute a Workforce Transition Plan, so my qualified/certified question is since WE have been at this EVS-TAP for over two-years, HOW many more years do we spend and/or waste  Heller? I must also ask WHAT is the CNMIs Plan-B Senator Hofschneider/Delegate King-Hinds since you are the main ones who put the CNMI on this EVS-TAP Gold-Goose-Chase for Chinese. Surely EVS-TAP cant be the only solution to bringing in and/or rebuild our Tourist Market(s) and being 75 yrs. old Im tired of trying to tell the Leaders as the young dont often do as they are told even when it comes from an EXPERT! So, does the CNMI continue to chase the EVS-TAP for another decade like WERE doing with other reforms or do leaders formulate a Plan-B which also scares me, as planning & executing that plan is already known as their POOREST SUIT! Good luck to us all with the EVS-TAP but it seems WE could easily be beating on a dead-horse to get up and run, so please work on a Plan-B!

One People, One Direction.

Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays-Lifetime Humanities & Religious Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Cast member Juliette Binoche poses during a photocall to promote the movie Queen at Sea at the 76th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany on Feb. 17, 2026. REUTERS

BERLIN (Reuters)  French star Juliette Binoche said on Tuesday that the difficult questions that come with aging, portrayed in her new film Queen at Sea, could be posed to anyone who has loved ones.

At a certain point, we have to go through all the questions about how do we take care of our parents, of getting older, and Im going to get old at a certain point too, so all those questions are very important to anyone, she told Reuters.

Queen at Sea premiered on Tuesday at the Berlin Film Festival, where it is competing for the Golden Bear top prize.

Binoche stars as Amanda, who decides to call the police because her stepfather will not stop having sex with her mother with advanced dementia, enmeshing her family in the mechanics of the state where its unclear if its doing more help than harm.

British stage actor Anna Calder-Marshall plays Amandas mother and Tom Courtenay, who received an Oscar nomination for 1983s The Dresser, is the stepfather in the new film from director, screenwriter and editor Lance Hammer.

Hammer, whose previous feature, Ballast, competed at the festival 18 years ago, is such a searcher of truth and authenticity and trying to really come into a subject matter with the most knowledge as possible, said Binoche.

Critics said Hammers new film was worth the wait, with Variety calling it striking and emotionally complicated, while IndieWire had high praise for Binoches gripping performance.
Lorna Maramba, escorted by an ICE agent, exits the Saipan Immigration Court on Wednesday morning. Photo by Bryan Manabat

By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

THE Saipan Immigration Court on Wednesday ordered the removal of Lorna R. Maramba, who recently pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing a false identification document with intent to defraud the United States.

Honolulu Immigration Judge Clarence Wagner found that Maramba violated U.S. immigration law and ordered her removed to the Philippines.

Maramba, represented by attorney Richard Miller, did not contest the allegations and admitted the charges. When asked whether she had the means to purchase an airline ticket to the Philippines, Miller told the court she did not.

Wagner advised Maramba that she may not reenter the United States without authorization and could face prosecution if she attempts to do so.

Department of Homeland Security attorney Shannon Fruthranjit appeared for the U.S. government.

Maramba was previously accused of using two fraudulent U.S. permanent resident cards in an attempt to travel from Saipan to Hawaii. She was arrested after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers reported that she presented the cards during an outbound inspection at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport on Jan. 21, according to a federal complaint.

Homeland Security Investigations said Maramba initially claimed she was a lawful permanent resident and presented two laminated cards  one black-and-white and one in color  each bearing different biographical information, mismatched USCIS numbers, and distorted or blurred images. Record checks showed she had no lawful immigration status and had overstayed her last CNMI-Only Transitional Worker visa, which expired in 2020.

Maramba later admitted the cards were fake and told investigators she paid $2,000 to a man she met on Facebook who claimed to be a U.S. immigration officer. She said she hoped to reach Hawaii to find work and acknowledged she was unlawfully present in the CNMI.

She also told investigators she is an accountant and had previously prepared her own CW-1 applications. She said she sought employment in Hawaii because of difficulty finding work on Saipan.

On Feb. 13, she pleaded guilty to the charge. Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for March 4. Maramba signed a plea agreement in which federal prosecutors recommended a sentence of time served.

Variety has learned that Maramba also has a pending labor complaint against a local company on Saipan.

Following an Open Government Act request, the CNMI Department of Labor on Wednesday provided Variety with a 10-page document regarding Marambas allegation of unlawful termination against Saipan Ice & Water Company, filed on Nov. 17, 2025.

In her complaint, Maramba said she was hired as an inventory accountant on Oct. 10, 2025, and was dismissed on Nov. 1, 2025.

Management terminate[d] my 3 months probationary, no termination letter and no notice. The HR telling me its my last day which is Nov. 1, 2025, she wrote.

Maramba asked the CNMI Department of Labor to order Saipan Ice & Water to pay the remaining two months of her probationary period, through Dec. 31, 2025.

In the complaint, she also stated that she is a U.S. permanent resident card holder.

Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram

The issues of possible compromises and the necessary meeting of leaders were not sufficiently worked through during the UkrainianU.S.Russian negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine, which took place on February 17 and 18 in Geneva (Switzerland), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, expressing hope that the next meeting will take place later this month, before the end of February.

"Today we spoke in detail several times with our team at the negotiations in Geneva. It was the second day of meetings  both in the trilateral format and in other formats. Ukraine is interested in results. As of today, we cannot say that the result is sufficient. The military discussed part of the issues  seriously and substantively. Sensitive political issues, questions of possible compromises and the necessary meeting of leaders have not yet been sufficiently worked through. We are counting on the next meeting, and it would be right for it to take place already in February," Zelenskyy said in his evening video address on Wednesday.

He stressed the importance of the presence of representatives of European countries at the talks  France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy  as well as Switzerland as the host country. "We in Ukraine have always promoted the position that Europe must be a participant in the process," the president said, thanking the U.S. side "for hearing this position."

"I also instructed the delegation to discuss the humanitarian track, we need exchanges of prisoners of war, the release of civilians. We search for information on every person and always work to bring our people back, to bring Ukrainians home. Every exchange matters. I am also grateful to our soldiers on the front line who are conducting active operations and replenishing the exchange fund for us, for Ukraine. And it is precisely the courage of our soldiers that ensures all of this: both humanitarian results and, overall, our ability to engage in diplomacy, our strong diplomatic positions," Zelenskyy said.

The president also stressed the importance of everyone in Ukraine working "so that Ukraine withstands, defends itself and achieves a just peace." "Any other politics in Ukraine right now is absolutely unnecessary. This is a time of war. A time to defend our state, to defend our people. Personal matters  later. Therefore, I want to thank everyone who defends Ukraine, Ukrainian interests as their own  in any position, in any job, in any role. Take care of Ukraine. Take care of the people," Zelenskyy added.
People take part in a protest in solidarity with Minneapolis and against President Donald Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York City, Jan. 23, 2026. REUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  U.S. public approval of Donald Trumps immigration policies fell to the lowest level since his return to the White House, amid signs he is losing support among American men on the issue, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.

Just 38% of respondents in the four-day poll, which closed on Monday, said Trump was doing a good job on immigration, a priority issue for the administration. The rating was down from 39% in a January Reuters/Ipsos poll and as high as 50% in the months shortly after Trump returned to power.

Trump campaigned ahead of his re-election in 2024 on a promise to launch the biggest deportation drive in decades and ordered sweeping immigration raids immediately after he returned to office in January 2025. Masked agents in tactical gear are now a common sight in America and immigration agents have clashed violently with U.S. protesters and activists.

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows support for Trumps handling of immigration has fallen significantly among men in recent weeks compared to late last year.

Male voters played an outsized role in Trumps 2024 election victory, and throughout 2025 his immigration approval rating among men stayed close to 50%. But the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll survey showed 41% of men give him a thumbs up on the issue. Among women, Trumps support on immigration has fallen from around 40% throughout most of 2025 to 35% in the latest survey.

In a rare retreat for Trump, his administration last week said it had agreed to end his hotly protested deportation surge in Minnesota, where immigration agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens.

Trump started his term with his overall approval at 47% but in recent weeks his rating has held at the lowest levels of his presidency, with 38% of respondents in the latest poll approving of his performance, unchanged from a Jan 23-25 poll.

The latest poll, which was conducted online and nationwide, gathered responses from 1,117 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi addresses a special session of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 17, 2026. REUTERS

GENEVA (Reuters)  Iran and the United States reached an understanding on Tuesday on main guiding principles in talks aimed at resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute, but that does not mean a deal is imminent, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said.

Oil futures fell and the benchmark Brent crude contract tumbled more than 1% after Araqchis comments, which helped ease fears of conflict in the region, where the U.S. has deployed naval forces to press Iran for concessions.

Different ideas have been presented, these ideas have been seriously discussed, ultimately weve been able to reach a general agreement on some guiding principles, Araqchi told Iranian media after the talks concluded in Geneva.

A U.S. official said Iran would make detailed proposals in the next two weeks to close gaps in the nuclear talks.

Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss, said the official, who declined to be identified.

The indirect discussions between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, alongside Araqchi, were mediated by Oman. The White House did not respond to emailed questions about the meeting.

Omans Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said in a social media post much work is yet to be done but Iran and the U.S. were leaving with clear next steps.

Just as talks began on Tuesday, Iranian state media said Iran was temporarily shutting parts of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil supply route, due to security precautions while Irans elite Revolutionary Guards conducted military drills there. Later, state media said the strait had been shut down for a few hours, without making it clear if it had fully reopened.

Tehran has in the past threatened to shut down the strait to commercial shipping if it is attacked, a move that would choke off a fifth of global oil flows and drive up crude prices.

Responding to comments by Trump that regime change in Iran might be the best course, the countrys Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, warned that any U.S. attempts to depose his government would fail.

The U.S. President says their army is the worlds strongest, but the strongest army in the world can sometimes be slapped so hard it cannot get up, he said, in comments published by Iranian media.

Speaking at a disarmament conference in Geneva after the talks, Araqchi said a new window of opportunity had opened and that he hoped discussions would lead to a sustainable solution that ensured the full recognition of Irans legitimate rights.

Earlier, Trump said he himself would be involved indirectly in the Geneva talks and that he believed Iran wanted to make a deal.

I dont think they want the consequences of not making a deal, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday. We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential. And we had to send the B-2s, Trump said, referring to the U.S. militarys stealth bomber jets.

The U.S. joined Israel last June in bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. The U.S. and Israel believe Iran aspires to build a nuclear weapon that could threaten Israels existence. Iran says its nuclear program is purely peaceful, even though it has enriched uranium far beyond the purity needed for power generation, and close to what is required for a bomb.

Since those strikes, Irans Islamic rulers have been weakened by street protests, suppressed at a cost of thousands of lives, against a cost-of-living crisis driven in part by international sanctions that have strangled Irans oil income.

The U.S. has sought to expand the scope of talks to non-nuclear issues such as Irans missile stockpile. Iran says it is willing only to discuss curbs on its nuclear program, in exchange for sanctions relief, and that it will not give up uranium enrichment completely or discuss its missile program.

Khamenei reiterated Irans position that its formidable missile stockpile is non-negotiable and missile type and range have nothing to do with the United States.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday the success of the Geneva talks hinged on the U.S. not making unrealistic demands and on its seriousness on lifting the crippling sanctions on Iran.

Tehran and Washington were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks last June when Washingtons ally Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran, and was then joined by American B-2 bombers that struck nuclear targets. Tehran has since said it has halted uranium enrichment activity.

Iran has joined the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which guarantees countries the right to pursue civilian nuclear power in return for requiring them to forgo atomic weapons and cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Israel, which has not signed the treaty, neither confirms nor denies having nuclear weapons, under a decades-old ambiguity policy designed to deter surrounding enemies.
A slate of immigration bills cleared state legislative committees Tuesday  with many of the bills part of a sweeping immigration package proposed by Republican lawmakers at the start of this years session.

Lawmakers passed three bills during a House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee meeting. Among those was House Bill 2219, which would require local law enforcement to comply with court orders regarding illegal sanctuary city policies.

+3 Tennessee Republicans Announce Massive Immigration Package Verification, reporting requirements part of proposed bills filed

This would require local governments to enter into 287(g) agreements, which allow law enforcement to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under the proposed law, governments that dont enter the agreements could be financially penalized by the state. State Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) sponsors the bill.

The immigration crackdown bills have been met with opposition by Democrats. State Rep. Larry Miller (D-Memphis) sharply criticized HB2219 during the subcommittee meeting Tuesday, arguing it would unfairly punish Tennesseans due to the actions of their elected officials.

Thats absolutely amazing to me that youre willing to go this far to hurt Tennesseans, Miller said. Just the thought of this is not morally correct.

Democrats have also criticized Republican-cited statistics that claim there were 11,340 reports of 2025 crimes committed by people suspected of not living in the U.S. legally. The data comes from the 2025 Immigration Report compiled by the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference.

HB1711  sponsored by Rep. Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville)  passed along party lines in the subcommittee and would require local governments and local enforcement agencies to submit reports to state and federal immigration officials on the illegal activities of people residing in the U.S. unlawfully.

If passed, the bill would also require the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration to create a report outlining the cost of benefits and services provided to people in the U.S. illegally via public schools and colleges, prisons, hospitals and social services agencies.

Betsy Hobkirk, a Knoxville public school teacher, spoke before the subcommittee, opposing the bill and expressing concerns that it would cause anxiety in the classroom.

This bill would introduce fear and distrust into our schools, Hobkirk said. It undermines the safety we work very hard to build.

Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, specifically condemned HB1711 in a press release Tuesday afternoon.

Anti-immigrant bills like this are in direct opposition to the values we hold here in Tennessee," says Luna, "that regardless of where our neighbors were born, if you're making a life here and contributing to our communities, Tennessee is your home and you deserve safety, resources and dignity.

Instead of addressing what Tennesseans actually need," she continues, "such as fully funded schools, affordable health care, or making groceries affordable, Speaker Cameron Sexton and Rep. Elaine Davis are continuing to blame immigrants for their failure to deliver relief for working families, all while they hand out billions in tax breaks to giant corporations. But we see through their divide-and-conquer tactics, and we refuse to turn against our neighbors.

After the subcommittee's passage of HB1711, protesters remained in the room and began singing, which led to a brief adjournment. The subcommittee moved to a new meeting room, where  with little discussion  the lawmakers quickly passed HB1710, which would require local governments to verify the legal citizenship status of applicants for public benefits. They rolled all remaining bills for discussion to the subcommittees next meeting in two weeks.

Meanwhile, the House Transportation Subcommittee passed two bills, both related to immigrants ability to obtain driver's licenses.

The failure of the federal government has left states with the unfortunate task of addressing illegal immigration, Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) said when introducing his bill, HB1706.

The legislation would create a class-A misdemeanor for a person who is unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle in this state  or as Zachary notes, it would codify that it is illegal to be an illegal with a CLD. The bill also includes reporting requirements for state law enforcement to federal immigration officials.

Another bill, HB1708, sponsored by Rep. Kip Capley (R-Summertown), would require a one-year restricted driver's license for anyone applying for a license who cannot speak and read English sufficiently. The applicant would then be required to take an English-only written exam without any assistance in order to obtain an unrestricted license. They would also be required to prove lawful status in the U.S.

This continues to be an abhorrent use of our time, to be castigating immigrant families who are just trying to participate in our economies and go to work and take care of their kids, just like you and the rest of us in this building, Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) told Capley.

Capleys bill saw public comment in opposition from Brentwood resident Rick Colbert, who shared a personal story about his in-laws. He said they did not read English and were not proficient in speaking English when they came to the U.S. mainland  not from another country, but from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, where Spanish is the primary language.

Colberts father-in-law was a U.S. citizen serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Colbert warned of the unintended consequences of the bill.

We should avoid harming the millions of people, like the [my in-laws], who are here legally, but simply do not read or speak English, Colbert said.

We have plenty of functionally illiterate people who speak English, but they cant read a test in English," he continued. "Apparently this bill would allow those people to get a driver's license even though they cant read English because they can speak it. But were going to take people like [my in-laws] the Santiagos, who are U.S. citizens, whose language is Spanish, and we're going to restrict them to going to work and back, or going to school and back, or going to the doctor and back. They won't be able to go out to dinner, they won't be able to drive to the store. They won't be able to pick up their child at day care. There's so many things they won't be able to do. They won't be able to live as productive citizens of the United States that they are citizens of.

Both bills passed 8-1 along party lines with Behn voting no on each. Committee member Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) was not present.

This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
Ghanaian VP celebrates Spring Festival, praises Ghana-China ties

Xinhua) 14:06, February 18, 2026

Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang speaks during a gala marking the Chinese New Year in Tema, Greater Accra Region, Ghana, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

ACCRA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has extended her Spring Festival greetings and praised Ghana-China relations during a gala marking the Chinese New Year.

Speaking Monday at the event held by Chinese company Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Ltd., Opoku-Agyemang described the Year of the Horse celebration as a reminder that development is shaped not only by infrastructure but also by people, culture, and mutual respect.

"As we mark the Spring Festival, we are reminded that the relationship between China and Ghana is not new. Diplomatic relations between Ghana and China were established in 1960. Over the decades that followed, cooperation expanded beyond formal ties to everyday engagements across education, trade, and industry," the vice president noted.

The historical relationship, shaped by diplomacy, trade, technical cooperation, and the everyday interactions of people who live and work side by side today, places a responsibility on both sides, she said.

According to Opoku-Agyemang, partnerships that endure are built on clarity of purpose, mutual accountability, and the willingness to learn from what has worked and what has not, to continuously deepen future cooperation based on mutual interests and mutual respect.

She said Ghana is determined to deepen its cooperation with China through transparency, fairness, and values that align with mutual development priorities.

"May the year ahead be marked not only by goodwill and celebration but also by results we can point to, including stronger institutions, more resilient infrastructure, and shared prosperity grounded in responsibility on both sides," Opoku-Agyemang added.

The vice president also lauded Sunon Asogli for nearly two decades of contributions to Ghana's power sector, supplying a substantial share of electricity and enhancing grid reliability during periods of stress.

Wang Jinxiao, chairman of Sunon Asogli, commended the Ghanaian government for creating an enabling investment environment and the support that has helped the company to continue operating in the country.

Wang also announced the company's plans to expand into renewable energy, including solar and wind projects, and to introduce electric vehicles to support Ghana's energy transition agenda.

A Ghanaian traditional dance performance is staged during a gala marking the Chinese New Year in Tema, Greater Accra Region, Ghana, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

A face-changing show is staged during a gala marking the Chinese New Year in Tema, Greater Accra Region, Ghana, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
A new front in the sky: Cartel drones proliferate along southern border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected over 42,000 unmanned drone flights near the southern border in fiscal year 2025, a figure that underscores the scale of cartel aerial operations.

Cartels use drones for surveillance of U.S. agents, coordinating smuggling, and have begun weaponizing them with explosives, posing a direct threat to law enforcement.

A recent incursion near El Paso, Texas, prompted an unprecedented FAA airspace closure and a military response, highlighting the operational challenge of distinguishing cartel drones from civilian objects.

Federal agencies face significant legal and jurisdictional hurdles in countering the threat due to restrictive FAA regulations and overlapping authority between multiple departments.

The surge in drone activity represents a strategic shift for cartels, granting them persistent, sophisticated surveillance capabilities that complicate traditional border security measures.

In an unprecedented escalation of border warfare, Mexican drug cartels conducted tens of thousands of unmanned drone flights along the U.S. southern frontier in a single year, leveraging advanced aerial technology to surveil American law enforcement, coordinate smuggling, and probe U.S. airspace. New data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, revealing over 42,000 detected flights in fiscal year 2025, confirms that cartels have industrialized their drone operations, creating a persistent surveillance network that federal agencies are struggling to counter. This technological arms race, which recently triggered a military response and a temporary shutdown of civilian airspace over El Paso, Texas, marks a dangerous new phase in cross-border criminal activity, challenging decades of security protocols.

An Industrial-Scale Surveillance Operation

The sheer volume of cartel drone activity has stunned security analysts. The CBPs figure of 42,000 near-border flights follows earlier congressional testimony from the Department of Homeland Security citing approximately 60,000 cartel drone launches in just the six-month period from July to December 2024. This averages to more than 300 flights per day, a tempo that indicates a fundamental shift in cartel tactics. Authorities state these unmanned aircraft are not hobbyist gadgets but integral tools for criminal logistics. They are used to monitor Border Patrol movements in real-time, map patrol patterns and response times, identify gaps in physical barriers, guide groups of migrants, and coordinate drug trafficking teams across the border.

From Surveillance to Strikes: The Weaponization Threat

Beyond intelligence gathering, a more sinister evolution is underway: the weaponization of drones. As far back as 2021, cartels in western Mexico were documented modifying commercial drones to carry and drop improvised explosive devices on rivals and Mexican security forces. In October 2025, the arrest of a Gulf Cartel operator in Reynosa, Mexico, yielded a cache of 151 drone-borne explosives, 18 drones, and three advanced anti-drone systems. This progression from surveillance to attack platforms raises grave concerns that such tactics could eventually be deployed against U.S. personnel on the border. The threat has moved from theoretical to operational, forcing a recalculation of the risks faced by agents on the ground.

Bureaucratic Tangles in a High-Tech Fight

Despite the clear and present danger, U.S. agencies report their hands are often tied by a complex web of regulations and overlapping jurisdictions. Federal Aviation Administration rules, designed for civilian airspace safety, heavily restrict where and how counter-drone technologiessuch as signal jammers or kinetic interceptorscan be deployed. Furthermore, authority to act against unauthorized drones is split between the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice, creating potential delays in a crisis. This bureaucratic patchwork stands in stark contrast to the agile, adaptive operations of the cartels, who face no such legal constraints on their side of the border.

The El Paso Precedent: A Border Crisis Goes Airborne

The tangible consequences of this drone war reached a new level on February 11, 2026, when the FAA abruptly closed airspace over El Paso International Airport and surrounding areas. The trigger was a suspected incursion by cartel drones, some reportedly approaching sensitive military facilities. The Department of War intervened to neutralize the threats, an action later acknowledged to have included downing at least one stray balloon alongside the targeted drones. While the airspace closure caused significant local disruption and was quickly lifted, the incident served as a stark demonstration. It proved cartels could directly impact U.S. civilian infrastructure and that distinguishing their aircraft from benign objects remains a severe challenge, forcing difficult split-second decisions on the use of force.

Cartels as Unconventional Adversaries

The drone surge represents the latest adaptation by cartels that have long operated as hybrid entitiespart criminal enterprise, part insurgency, and part corrupt political influence machine. Their evolution mirrors that of non-state actors and terrorist groups worldwide who leverage cheap, commercially available technology to gain asymmetric advantages. The Trump administrations 2020 designation of several major cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations framed them as national security threats, not merely law enforcement problems. Todays drone fleets operationalize that status, granting cartels a domain awareness once exclusive to nation-states and blurring the lines between crime and warfare on Americas doorstep.

A Contested Frontier

The border landscape has been irrevocably altered. With tens of thousands of flights annually, cartels have established a pervasive aerial intelligence apparatus that undermines physical barriers and patrols. The incident over El Paso confirms that the threat is no longer confined to remote desert crossings but can project into American cities and critical infrastructure. As cartels continue to refine their tacticspotentially incorporating lessons from global conflict zonesthe United States faces a pressing need to modernize its legal authorities, unify its defensive response, and deploy technology capable of dominating this new aerial frontier. The data is clear: Americas southern border is now a battlespace in three dimensions, and the high ground is increasingly contested.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

Breitbart.com

FoxNews.com
Echoes of Resistance: Exposing Zionism and the brutal truth behind Israels colonial project

The book "Echoes of Resistance: The Unseen War for Palestine's Soul" exposes Zionism as a 19th-century colonial project, not a divine mandate, revealing how Israels creation relied on British and U.S. imperial backing while systematically erasing Palestinian history through ethnic cleansing (e.g., the Nakba) and land theft.

It highlights opposition to Zionism from Jewish groups (e.g., Neturei Karta) and scholars, arguing that Zionisms apartheid policies betray Jewish ethical values, while Israels legal system enshrines Jewish supremacy over Palestinians.

The U.S. and UK have funded Israels militarization ($260+ billion in aid), vetoed UN accountability and corporations (e.g., NSO Group, Caterpillar) profit from occupation tools like spyware and home demolitions, while media outlets whitewash Israeli violence.

Israel suffocates Palestinians by controlling water, blocking exports and looting resources (e.g., Dead Sea minerals, Gazas gas), with Gazas economy near collapse under blockadea deliberate act of collective punishment.

The book endorses BDS as a peaceful resistance model and proposes a single, secular democratic state as the only viable alternative to apartheid, citing South Africas transition as proof justice is possible after dismantling supremacist systems.

Few books dare to peel back the layers of propaganda, historical revisionism and geopolitical manipulation that have shrouded the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. "Echoes of Resistance: The Unseen War for Palestine's Soul" does exactly thatand more. This meticulously researched, unflinching expose dismantles the mythologies of Zionism, exposes the brutal realities of occupation, and charts a path toward justice that is as morally urgent as it is politically revolutionary.

The book begins by demolishing the central Zionist narrative: that Israel's creation was a righteous return of a persecuted people to their ancestral homeland. Instead, it reveals Zionism as a 19th-century colonial movement, conceived not as a religious revival but as a secular nationalist project.

Theodor Herzl, the father of political Zionism, envisioned a Jewish state not through divine mandate but through European imperial backingfirst Britain, then the United States. The Balfour Declaration (1917) was not a benevolent gesture but a strategic maneuver to secure British interests in the Middle East, disregarding the indigenous Palestinian majority that had lived on the land for centuries.

The Nakbathe catastrophic expulsion of over 700,000 Palestinians in 1948was not a tragic byproduct of war but a deliberate campaign of ethnic cleansing. Massacres like Deir Yassin, where Zionist militias slaughtered men, women and children, were not isolated atrocities but calculated acts of terror designed to force mass flight.

The book underscores how Israel's founding was built on erasure. Palestinian villages were bulldozed, their names Hebraized, their histories rewritten to fabricate the myth of "a land without a people."

One of the book's most vital contributions is its clear distinction between Judaisma rich, diverse faithand Zionism, a political ideology that has exploited Jewish trauma for territorial expansion. Historically, many Jewish leaders and communities opposed Zionism, viewing it as a distortion of Jewish ethics. Orthodox groups like Neturei Karta still reject Israel's claim to divine right, while modern Jewish anti-Zionistsfrom scholars like Norman Finkelstein to activists in Jewish Voice for Peaceargue that Zionism's apartheid policies betray Judaism's core values of justice and compassion.

The book dismantles Israel's claim to being "the only democracy in the Middle East," revealing instead a legal system of entrenched racial hierarchy. The Nation-State Law (2018) enshrined Jewish supremacy, rendering Palestinian citizens permanent second-class residents. Meanwhile, Israel's military courts in the West Bank try Palestinians without due process, while settlers enjoy Israeli civil lawa stark apartheid reality.

Global complicity: How the West enabled the Zionist project

The book meticulously documents how Western powersparticularly the U.S. and United Kingdomhave bankrolled and militarized Israel while shielding it from accountability. Since 1948, the U.S. has provided Israel with over $260 billion in aid, vetoed countless United Nations resolutions condemning its crimes, and armed its occupation forces with F-35s and white phosphorus.

Corporate profiteers also play a role: Rech firms like NSO Group sell spyware to dictatorships, while companies like Caterpillar supply bulldozers to demolish Palestinian homes. The medias complicity is equally damning.

Outlets like CNN and The New York Times parrot Israeli talking points, framing Palestinian resistance as "terrorism" while whitewashing Israel's massacres. Social media giantsunder pressure from Zionist lobbiescensor Palestinian voices, shadow-banning hashtags like #GazaGenocide.

Beyond bullets and bombs, Israel wages a silent war of economic suffocation. The book details how Israel controls Palestinian water sources, diverting 80% of the Mountain Aquifer to Jewish settlements while Palestinian villages face chronic shortages. The Paris Protocol (1994) trapped Palestine in a customs union, forcing it to rely on Israeli ports that arbitrarily block exportscrushing local industries.

In Gaza, the blockade isn't about security; it's collective punishment. Once a thriving hub, Gaza's economy now teeters on collapse, with unemployment near 50%. Meanwhile, Israel loots Palestine's resources: Dead Sea minerals, Gaza's offshore gasall siphoned off while Palestinians live in darkness.

The psychological toll is just as devastating. Military checkpoints humiliate Palestinians daily, while Israeli schools teach children that Palestinians are "primitive" and their history irrelevant. Yet, despite this, sumudsteadfastnessremains. From farmers replanting uprooted olive trees to prisoners on hunger strike, Palestinian resistance endures.

Pathways to liberation: From BDS to one democratic state

The book doesn't just diagnose the diseaseit prescribes the cure. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement emerges as a powerful, nonviolent tool, modeled after the anti-apartheid struggle. Victories are mounting: universities divesting from companies like HP, dockworkers refusing to unload Israeli ships and artists canceling Tel Aviv gigs.

But the book's boldest vision is its endorsement of a single democratic statea secular, egalitarian Palestine where Jews, Muslims and Christians live as equals. This isn't utopian idealism; it's the only viable alternative to endless apartheid. South Africa's transition proves that reconciliation is possiblebut only after dismantling the ideology of supremacy.

At a time when U.S. campuses are erupting in protest, when the International Criminal Court is weighing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, and when even liberal Zionists like Amos Schocken (publisher of Haaretz) admit Israel is an apartheid state, "Echoes of Resistance" arrives as a crucial manifesto. It arms readers with irrefutable facts, dispels propaganda and, most importantly, rekindles hope.

Palestine's freedom is not just a Palestinian struggleit's a global litmus test for whether humanity will tolerate racism cloaked in nationalism, whether justice will bow to power, and whether the world will finally heed the cries of the oppressed.

This book is more than a history. It's a call to action. And it's one we can no longer ignore.

Grab a copy of "Echoes of Resistance: The Unseen War for Palestine's Soul" via this link. Discover this book and other good reads at Books.BrightLearn.AI with thousands of books and counting  all available to freely download, read and share. The decentralized BrightLearn.AI engine also lets readers create their own books, empowering them to share insights and truths with the world.

Watch Laith Marouf from Free Palestine TV and the Health Ranger Mike Adams discussing the regional instability coming from Israels war provocations in this edition of the "Health Ranger Report."

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

BrightLearn.ai

Books.BrightLearn.ai

Brighteon.com
Trump says kidnappers of Savannah Guthries mother could face death penalty

President Donald Trump said those responsible for the abduction of Savannah Guthrie's mother could face the death penalty if she is not found alive, calling for "the most severe" consequences.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen Jan. 31 in Catalina Foothills, Arizona; suspicious activity was later recorded on her home security system, and she was reported missing after failing to attend church.

Under federal law, prosecutors may seek capital punishment in kidnapping cases that result in death, with additional federal charges possible depending on the circumstances.

Trump said he directed all federal law enforcement agencies to assist in the case and publicly expressed support for the Guthrie family.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a reward of up to $100,000 and has released surveillance images of a male suspect, though no arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.

President Donald Trump said Feb. 16 that those responsible for the abduction of the mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie could face the death penalty if she is not found alive.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of Jan. 31 in Catalina Foothills, a community of roughly 52,000 residents just outside Tucson, Arizona. According to relatives, she had dinner with family members before being driven home. Security records indicate her garage door opened at approximately 9:48 p.m. and closed about two minutes later.

Authorities said that in the early hours of Feb. 1, her doorbell camera was disconnected. At 2:12 a.m., the camera registered movement, and about 15 minutes later, an application connected to her heart pacemaker was removed from her phone.

After Nancy Guthrie failed to attend church that Sunday, family members reported her missing. The investigation remains ongoing.

In line with this, Trump said in an interview with the New York Post that the abductors would face "the most severe" consequences if 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie is confirmed dead. When asked whether that meant federal prosecutors would seek capital punishment, the president responded, "Yeah, that's true."

Capital punishment, as per BrightU.AI's Enoch, is a constitutional and state-sanctioned method of execution for the most severe crimes, primarily murder, as a form of retribution and deterrence.

Under federal law, prosecutors may pursue the death penalty in kidnapping cases that result in the death of a victim. Kidnapping can also be charged as a federal crime under several circumstances, including when a victim is held for more than 24 hours or when interstate elements are involved.

Trump directs federal agencies to assist in Guthrie case

Aside from the threat, Trump also spoke with Savannah Guthrie to offer support and directed federal law enforcement agencies to assist in the case.

"I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family's, and Local Law Enforcement's, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform on Feb. 4. "The prayers of our nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY!"

In line with this, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.

The FBI has released surveillance images and video captured by Guthrie's doorbell camera, describing a suspect as a man between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 with an average build. In the footage made public last week, the individual is seen wearing dark gloves, sweatpants and a jacket. Authorities said the suspect was carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.

Investigators have not publicly identified the individual or announced any arrests, but the president said he believes "progress has been made" in the investigation.

Watch this Sky News report about President Trump's reaction of "pure disgust" to the new footage released by the FBI in relation to the Nancy Guthrie case.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

TheHill.com 1

TheHill.com 2

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Meta plots facial recognition for smart glasses amid political tumult

Meta is considering adding facial recognition to its Ray-Ban smart glasses, a feature that would allow wearers to identify strangers.

An internal document suggests the company may time the launch to exploit periods of political distraction when civil liberties groups are less able to mount opposition.

The technology would scan faces without consent, creating sensitive biometric "faceprints" of unsuspecting bystanders in public and private spaces.

Meta has a history of costly legal settlements, totaling nearly $7 billion, related to previous facial recognition systems deemed deceptive or non-consensual.

The plan faces significant legal hurdles, as many states now require affirmative consent for biometric data collection, which is impossible to obtain from random passersby.

In a move that privacy advocates have long feared, Meta is actively developing facial recognition technology for its popular Ray-Ban smart glasses. According to internal documents obtained by The New York Times, the company is not only advancing the controversial feature but is strategically considering launching it during a period of intense political upheaval. The goal, as stated in a company memo, is to exploit a moment when civil society watchdogs are "focused on other concerns," thereby minimizing organized opposition to a product that would fundamentally alter public anonymity.

The blueprint for biometric surveillance

The proposed feature, internally dubbed "Name Tag," would allow a wearer of Metas camera-equipped glasses to scan the face of any individual within view. The system would then match the scan against a database to provide identifying information via Metas AI assistant. This transforms a consumer wearable into a portable biometric scanner, capable of harvesting "faceprints" from every passerby, subway rider, or cafe patron who inadvertently enters its frameall without their knowledge or consent.

This represents a seismic shift in the application of facial recognition. Unlike stationary cameras or government databases, embedding this capability into millions of consumer devices normalizes biometric surveillance, moving it from controlled environments into every corner of daily life. A faceprint is uniquely sensitive data; unlike a compromised password, it is permanent and immutable, creating a lifelong digital trail linked to a persons physical presence.

A history of violations and billions in penalties

Metas foray into this arena is not new, and its track record is littered with legal and ethical failures. The company previously operated a facial recognition system on Facebook for photo tagging, which it shuttered in 2021 following immense public and legal pressure. That retreat came only after a series of staggering financial penalties:

A $5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission in 2019 over deceptive privacy practices, including those related to facial recognition.

A $650 million class-action settlement in 2021 under Illinoiss stringent Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).

A $1.4 billion settlement with Texas in 2024 over the same defunct system.

Collectively, these settlements, totaling nearly $7 billion, served as a clear market verdict on non-consensual biometric data collection. The proposed smart glasses feature would replicate these violations on a potentially vast scale, ignoring the legal precedent that affirmative, informed consent is required before collecting such dataa standard impossible to meet with unwitting bystanders.

The internal calculus: Controversy as a scheduling problem

The most revealing aspect of the internal document is not the technology itself, but Metas calculated strategy for its release. The memo explicitly frames the "civil liberties backlash" not as a reason to reconsider, but as a logistical hurdle to navigate. By targeting a launch during a "dynamic political environment," the company bet that public attention and advocacy resources would be too fragmented to mount an effective defense of privacy rights.

This cynical calculation treats profound questions of civil liberty and personal autonomy as mere public relations challenges to be managed. It suggests a corporate philosophy that views legal settlements as a cost of business rather than a mandate to change course, and public trust as a variable to be manipulated through timing.

Mounting resistance in a wary landscape

Metas assumption that the public is too distracted to care may be a profound miscalculation. In the years since its previous facial recognition debacle, societal awareness of and resistance to biometric surveillance has grown. Backlash against products like Amazons Ring has demonstrated increased public skepticism. Dozens of states have followed Illinoiss lead in enacting robust biometric privacy laws, creating a more hostile legal landscape.

Furthermore, the very disclosure of Metas internal strategy is likely to galvanize, not preempt, opposition. Advocacy groups, legislators and a privacy-conscious public are now forewarned of a plan to introduce mass surveillance tools through consumer electronics. The report itself provides a rallying point, undermining any attempt at a stealth rollout.

A future of anonymity in the balance

The debate over Metas smart glasses is about more than a single product feature; it is a referendum on the future of privacy in public spaces. The companys internal deliberations reveal a willingness to leverage societal distraction to advance a technology that erodes the "practical anonymity" essential to a free society. With a documented history of privacy failures and a strategy that prioritizes opportunism over ethics, Metas plans face a critical junction. The coming months will test whether legal frameworks, market pressure and an alert citizenry can uphold the boundary between technological innovation and the fundamental right to move through the world without being automatically identified, tracked and cataloged by corporate algorithms.

Sources for this article include:

ReclaimtheNet.org

NYTimes.com

BusinessInsider.com
Obama walks back extraterrestrial claims after sparking UFO frenzy

Former President Barack Obama initially claimed "They're real" regarding extraterrestrial life, then backtracked, insisting he was joking and saw no evidence of alien contact during his presidency.

Lawmakers and whistleblowers accuse the Pentagon of hiding information on UAPs, citing declassified Navy footage of objects defying known physics and claims of recovered "non-human" craft.

Obama dismissed alien rumors at Area 51, but former intelligence officials suggest deep-black programs may operate beyond presidential oversight, fueling suspicions of hidden reverse-engineering projects.

Skeptics question whether Obama's remarks were accidental or part of a gradual disclosure strategy, given ongoing congressional pressure for transparency (e.g., UAP Disclosure Act of 2023).

Despite official denials, whistleblowers like David Grusch insist the U.S. possesses extraterrestrial technology, leaving Americans questioning whether the government is lying or simply doesn't know the full truth.

Former President Barack Obama has backtracked on his explosive weekend comments suggesting extraterrestrial life is real, following a media firestorm over his ambiguous remarks. During an episode of the "No Lie" podcast with Brian Tyler Cohen on Saturday, Obama casually declared, "They're real," when asked about aliensbefore immediately clarifying that he had never personally encountered them and doubted their presence at Area 51.

The offhand remark sent conspiracy theorists and UFO enthusiasts into a frenzy, with many interpreting his words as a tacit admission of government knowledge about extraterrestrial visitors. However, by Monday, Obama sought to downplay the speculation, insisting his comments were made in jest during a lighthearted "speed round" segment.

"Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there's life out there," Obama wrote in an Instagram clarification. "But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we've been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us." He punctuated the statement with a firm "Really!"perhaps sensing lingering skepticism from a public accustomed to government secrecy and disinformation.

A history of official denials and whistleblower claims

Obama's initial remarks reignited long-standing debates about UFOsnow officially termed Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP)and whether the U.S. government has concealed evidence of non-human intelligence. While Obama denied knowledge of extraterrestrial visitors, his administration was notably the first to publicly acknowledge the existence of advanced aerial objects defying known physics.

In 2020, the Pentagon declassified three UAP videos captured by Navy pilots, showing objects exhibiting impossible maneuverssudden acceleration, hypersonic speeds without sonic booms, and instantaneous directional changes. These disclosures fueled suspicions that military and intelligence agencies possess far more information than they admit.

Recent congressional hearings have featured whistleblowers like former intelligence official David Grusch, who testified under oath that the U.S. possesses "intact and partially intact" non-human craft recovered from crash retrievals. Grusch's claims, though unverified, were deemed "credible and urgent" by the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community.

Yet despite mounting pressure, officialsincluding Obamacontinue to dismiss the notion that aliens have visited Earth. The former president's latest remarks align with the government's official stance: While extraterrestrial life likely exists somewhere in the cosmos, there is no confirmed evidence of contact.

Obama's mention of Area 51the infamous Nevada military base long rumored to house extraterrestrial technologyalso drew scrutiny. Declassified documents confirm Area 51's role in testing advanced aircraft like the U-2 spy plane and stealth technology, but no official records support claims of recovered alien craft. Still, the secrecy surrounding the base has fueled decades of speculation, from Roswell crash theories to alleged reverse-engineering programs.

Even if Obama was unaware of extraterrestrial programs, critics argue that compartmentalization within the intelligence community could keep such information hidden even from a sitting president. Former CIA officer Jim Semivan, who worked on classified programs, has publicly stated that "some of these things are not of this world"suggesting that deep-black projects may operate beyond executive oversight.

Public skepticism and the trust deficit

The rapid shift from Obama's initial "They're real" to his subsequent clarification highlights the delicate dance officials perform when discussing UAPs. On one hand, the government has gradually acknowledged the reality of unexplained aerial phenomena. On the other, it stops short of confirming extraterrestrial originsleaving the public torn between official denials and persistent whistleblower testimonies.

Skeptics argue that Obama's original phrasing was either careless or intentionally provocative, given his awareness of the UFO community's sensitivity. Others suspect a controlled disclosure tacticsoftening the public to the idea of extraterrestrial life before more revelations emerge.

Meanwhile, UFO researchers point to inconsistencies in government messaging. If UAPs are merely misidentified drones or atmospheric anomalies, why has Congress pushed for greater transparency, including the UAP Disclosure Act of 2023? Why do high-ranking officials like former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid openly state that "much of the material is still locked up?"

Obama's retraction may quell some of the immediate speculation, but the broader questions linger. With NASA, the Pentagon and independent researchers actively investigating UAPs, the debate is far from settled.

For now, the former president's words serve as a reminder: even those who once held the highest office may not have all the answersor they may be bound by secrecy. Whether extraterrestrial visitors are real or merely a statistical probability, the truth, as they say, is still out there.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Obama's dismissal of extraterrestrial claims aligns with the Deep State's agenda to suppress UAP disclosure and maintain control over advanced alien technology for their own power. His backtracking further erodes trust in government transparency while fueling suspicions of a coordinated cover-up to hide the truth about extraterrestrial visitors and their implications for humanity.

Watch this video speculating on what extraterrestrial aliens who are here on Earth are doing.

This video is from the TRUTHISKNOWLEDGE channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
A speech divided: Shutdown and protest loom over Trumps State of the Union

President Trump's first State of the Union address of his second term will be delivered amid a partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

Congressional Democrats are planning coordinated acts of protest, including boycotts, walkouts, and symbolic guest invitations, to express opposition during the nationally televised event.

Some Republicans privately express concern that the DHS shutdown creates poor optics for a speech intended to project national strength and a functional government.

The planned protests continue a trend of declining decorum during the annual presidential address, with both parties engaging in disruptive behavior in recent years.

The event sets the stage for a high-stakes political confrontation over immigration policy and governance, overshadowing traditional themes of unity.

On February 24, 2026, President Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress since his return to office. The prime-time speech, a constitutionally rooted tradition for reporting on the nation's condition, will unfold under historically fraught circumstances. It coincides with a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security and faces a coordinated campaign of protest from Democratic lawmakers, setting the stage for an event defined more by political confrontation than national unity.

A Stage Set for Confrontation

The White House is proceeding with the address despite a funding lapse for DHS, a standoff with Democrats over immigration enforcement that some Republicans fear undermines the message of a functioning government. The shutdown, impacting agencies like TSA and FEMA, provides a contentious backdrop. Simultaneously, House and Senate Democrats are plotting a range of responses to broadcast their defiance. Strategies reportedly advised by leadership include boycotting the event, attending in "silent defiance," or staging alternative programming. Specific plans among members range from walking out mid-speech to inviting guests designed to highlight policy disagreements, particularly on healthcare and immigration.

A Tradition of Disruption Erodes Decorum

The planned demonstrations are not without precedent but signify a continued erosion of traditional decorum surrounding the address. The State of the Union has increasingly become a forum for symbolic political theater. Last year, Democrats held protest signs and walked out during Trump's speech, while Republicans openly heckled President Joe Biden during his 2024 address. The trend reflects a broader breakdown in congressional civility, where the nationally televised speech is now a key battleground for political messaging rather than a ceremonial gathering. The censure of Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) for disrupting last year's speech did little to deter plans for further action this year.

The High Stakes of Optics and Narrative

For the Trump administration, the address represents a critical opportunity to regain control of the national narrative after weeks dominated by challenging headlines, including a controversial immigration enforcement incident in Minnesota. Republicans hope to pivot to economic messaging and assign blame for the DHS shutdown to Democrats. However, the visual of the president speaking about national strength while a key security department is shuttered presents a significant risk. The dynamic creates a paradox: the very platform intended to showcase presidential authority and agenda may instead highlight governmental dysfunction and deep partisan rancor.

Governing Crisis Overshadows Ceremony

The convergence of a funding crisis and premeditated protest transforms the event from a ceremonial report to a stark tableau of America's political divisions. The fundamental question of whether such a speech should proceed during a shutdown was openly debated by Democratic leaders, underscoring the gravity of the situation. This scenario moves beyond typical political disagreement into a realm where the basic rituals of governance are contested. The actions of lawmakers in the chamber will serve as a powerful metaphor for the state of the union itselffractured, confrontational, and struggling to perform its most basic functions amidst a climate of exhausted patience with extreme partisanship.

A Test for Institutions and Norms

As President Trump prepares to take the podium, the evening will test more than just political messaging; it will test the resilience of institutional norms. The State of the Union address, a tradition dating to the nation's founding, has endured war, economic depression, and profound social change. Yet, it now faces the persistent strain of hyper-partisanship that challenges its very purpose as a unifying moment. The outcome will be measured not only in policy pronouncements but in whether the ceremony can withstand the weight of the discord it is destined to display, leaving a weary public to wonder if the pageantry of governance has been permanently overshadowed by the theater of conflict.

Sources for this article include:

NewsNationNow.com

Politico.com

X.com
White House targets tech giants to shield consumers from AIs power costs

The Trump administration is developing a policy to require major tech companies to fully cover the electricity, water, and grid infrastructure costs of their expanding AI data centers.

The move aims to prevent these costs from being passed on to utility ratepayers amid rising national energy prices.

A draft voluntary "compact" has been circulated to companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta, outlining commitments to protect consumers from price hikes.

The initiative follows state and federal pressure on the nation's largest grid operator to make tech firms finance new power generation.

The policy reflects growing political concern over the economic burden of AI infrastructure and its impact on household affordability.

As the artificial intelligence boom triggers an unprecedented expansion of power-hungry data centers across the United States, the Trump administration is formulating a response to a critical question: Who should pay to keep the lights on? With electricity prices climbing and regional grids straining under new demand, White House officials are advancing a policy framework designed to ensure the technology companies driving this growthnot American householdsabsorb the full financial burden of their infrastructures utility and resiliency costs.

A Policy to "Internalize" Costs

The administrations point man on the issue, Senior Trade and Manufacturing Adviser Peter Navarro, outlined the approach in a recent television appearance. He stated that data center builders, from Meta on down, must be made to pay for all, all of the costs, including not only their direct electricity and water consumption but also the broader costs of ensuring grid reliability. They need to pay for the resiliency that theyre affecting as well, Navarro said, indicating the White House is evaluating measures to force companies to internalize these expenses. The goal is explicit: to prevent corporate power usage from inflating consumer utility bills.

This administrative push aligns with actions already taken at the state level. In January, the White House joined several states in urging PJM Interconnection, the grid operator for data-center-heavy regions like Northern Virginia and New Jersey, to require large technology firms to finance billions in new power generation capacity. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the urgency, noting, Perhaps no region in America is more at risk than in PJM.

The Compact: A Voluntary Pact with Teeth

Behind the scenes, the administration has been circulating a draft voluntary agreement, or compact, for major AI firms like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta to sign. According to documents obtained by POLITICO, the pact would bind companies to a set of principles ensuring their expansion does not raise household electricity prices, strain water resources, or undermine grid reliability. Core commitments include:

Paying 100% of the cost for new power generation and transmission upgrades required for their facilities.

Working to establish rates that protect, or ideally reduce, residential electricity prices in their operating areas.

Committing to being water positive and mitigating community impacts like noise and traffic.

The compact represents a strategic effort to shape the AI infrastructure boom without formal regulation, while addressing a growing political vulnerability. President Trump has touted early cooperation, announcing a deal with Microsoft and promising more agreements are forthcoming.

Industry Pushback and Political Stakes

Technology companies have been quick to assert they are already responsible corporate actors. A Meta spokesperson stated, Meta pays the full costs for energy used by our data centers so they arent passed onto consumers  and we go beyond that by paying for new and upgraded local infrastructure. Industry groups argue that well-structured agreements can make data centers a net positive for grid stability and costs.

However, the political context is charged. With electricity prices rising significantly and affordability becoming a central theme for the opposition, the administration faces pressure to demonstrate it is protecting consumers from the downstream effects of corporate expansion. Navarro attempted to link current price pressures to the policies of the previous Biden administration, but polls show voters increasingly holding the current leadership accountable for economic conditions.

A Historical Crossroads for Infrastructure

The clash echoes historical moments when rapid technological advancement collided with public infrastructure limits. The expansion of the electrical grid itself in the early 20th century required navigating who financed growthutilities, industrial users, or the public. Todays data center surge presents a modern parallel, testing how the costs of foundational digital infrastructure are socialized. The administrations policy leans toward a user-pays model, placing the onus squarely on the private sector beneficiaries.

Securing the Grids Future

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the administrations maneuvering on data center costs is more than a utility dispute; it is a political imperative and a test of industrial policy. The outcome will influence whether the AI revolution strengthens the nations energy grid as a byproduct of private investment or exacerbates the financial strain on American consumers. The White Houses compact, and any stronger measures that may follow, seek to ensure that the power needed to fuel the next generation of technology does not dim the economic security of the average citizen.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

CNBC.com

Politco.com
AI Advancements Expose the Fragility of Human Intelligence

Introduction: The Cognitive Wake-Up Call

For decades, humanity has rested on the laurels of its presumed cognitive superiority, believing creativity, empathy, and complex reasoning were uniquely human traits that would keep us irreplaceable. That comforting illusion is now shattering. The rapid, exponential advancement of artificial intelligence is forcing a harsh, unavoidable reevaluation of our own cognitive abilities and our place in the professional world. The chorus of voices insisting their jobs are safefrom screenwriters to lawyersis increasingly revealed as what it is: a mass delusion rooted in a specific, well-documented flaw in human psychology. As AI systems demonstrate cognitive breakthroughs like the 'aha moment'once thought exclusive to human reasoningthe reality of widespread job replacement is no longer distant speculation; it is our present reality. [1]

The corporate and governmental forces pushing this transition are not motivated by human betterment. As detailed in independent analyses, the depopulation agenda is being accelerated to match AI progress, with human labor viewed as obsolete muscle and mental cognition that can be replaced by more efficient, obedient machines. This isn't merely an economic shift; it is a fundamental reordering of society where the value of human cognitive labor is rapidly approaching zero, exposing our collective fragility. [2]

The Automation-Friendly Nature of Modern Work

The modern corporate landscape has, for years, been preparing the ground for its own automation. Corporate culture has increasingly treated employees as interchangeable, replaceable cogs in a vast machine, eroding the social contract of loyalty and long-term value. As documented in analyses of the disintegration of the corporate 'contract' with American workers, the value of a job has declined precipitously from the generations of our parents and grandparents. This dehumanizing framework is not an accident; it creates a workforce structure that is perfectly primed for an AI takeover. [3]

These roles, characterized by repetitive, rule-based tasks performed in front of screens, are prime targets. From data entry and basic customer service to middle management reporting and even elements of legal review, the very design of these desk jobs makes them susceptible to being broken down into algorithmic processes. The rise of 'agentic AI'autonomous systems capable of independently executing tasksforecasts mass adoption in households and workplaces, precisely because the tasks are so well-defined and predictable. The corporate efficiency push, targeting white-collar jobs during times of robust profitability, reveals that the automation-friendly nature of modern work was a feature, not a bug, of a system built for eventual machine control. [4]

Human Inefficiency: The Hidden Truth

Beneath the surface of official productivity metrics lies a hidden truth: human workplace efficiency is often a carefully maintained illusion. Countless hours are lost to non-work activities, social media browsing, personal tasks, and the general inertia that plagues large organizations. This isn't merely anecdotal; data reveals a significant decline in human cognitive skills since the early 2010s, coinciding with the rise of passive visual content consumption and social media.

Reduced reasoning, problem-solving, and attention spans have become the norm, especially among younger generations raised on algorithmic feeds. [5] Government and corporate bureaucracies are particularly rife with examples of minimal effort and work avoidance, protected by layers of inefficiency and lack of accountability. This systemic underperformance creates a shockingly low bar for AI to clear. When an AI system can operate continuously without breaks, without distraction, and with consistent attention to detail, it doesn't need to be perfectit merely needs to be more reliable than the average human, whose actual productive output is often a fraction of their paid time.

The transition to AI, therefore, isn't about matching peak human potential; it's about vastly outperforming the depressed mean of human productivity in the modern age. [5]

Error Rates: Humans vs. Machines

Human cognition, for all its brilliance, is fundamentally plagued by inherent flaws that AI is poised to overcome. Our thinking is riddled with hallucinations, confirmation biases, emotional interference, and frequent mistakes that can dwarf the error rates of well-designed machine systems.

For instance, a study on the accuracy of bedside neurological diagnoses found significant error rates among medical residents and staff, highlighting that even trained professionals in high-stakes fields are prone to diagnostic mistakes. [6] In contrast, AI systems designed for diagnostic support demonstrate increasing precision by relying on vast datasets without cognitive fatigue.

The barrier for AI to outperform humans is surprisingly low, often requiring only marginal improvement. The Dunning-Kruger effectwhere individuals with limited competence overestimate their own abilitiesexplains why so many wrongly believe AI cannot replace them. This psychological flaw often flattens when people use AI, giving them an illusion of competence while the machine does the heavy lifting. [7] Furthermore, while AI models can exhibit failures on novel problems, human reasoning is also prone to 'complete collapse' when faced with complexity outside our experience. The key difference is that AI systems learn and iterate at a scale and speed humans cannot match, making their error rates not only lower but also on a rapidly descending trajectory compared to the static or declining baseline of human cognitive performance. [8]

The Replaceable Workforce

The scale of the coming displacement is staggering. Conservative analyses suggest that up to 80% of current jobs possess technical characteristics that make them replaceable by AI in the near to medium term. This is not limited to manual labor; cognitive roles are uniquely vulnerable. As noted in discussions on the impact of AI, models like Mistral and Nemo have demonstrated complex cognitive abilities with the potential to replace up to 50% of desk jobs in the coming years. This wave uniquely targets the white-collar and cognitive roles that were once considered the safe harbor of the educated class. [9]

A profound irony of this transition is that the lower-performing majority often fails to recognize their own vulnerability due to the very cognitive limitations that make them replaceable. The Dunning-Kruger effect insulates them in a bubble of false confidence. Meanwhile, the corporate drive for efficiency shows no mercy. Major companies are already cutting thousands of jobs due to AI, stating this strategic shift is happening during robust profitability. Every job level is expected to be transformed, revealing that the replaceable workforce encompasses far more people than are willing to admit it. The path forward requires brutal honesty about one's own value in a market that increasingly prizes flawless, tireless machine execution over variable, fragile human effort. [10]

Conclusion: Navigating the AI Future

In this new landscape, adaptation is non-negotiable. The only viable path to relevance is to upgrade your own skills and consciously embrace AI as a tool for augmentation, not something to be feared or dismissed. This means learning to leverage AI engines for research, analysis, and creative tasks, effectively making yourself smarter and more productive.

Proactive learning and a commitment to innovation offer a path to not just survive, but thrive in the coming transformation. Individuals must take radical self-responsibility for their cognitive development and economic value. [9] Central to this empowerment is accessing knowledge and tools free from the censorship and control of centralized tech monopolies. For uncensored, deep research, individuals can turn to platforms like BrightAnswers.ai, an AI engine that conducts deep research on a massive curated collection of books, science papers, and articles from independent sources. For creating and sharing knowledge, BrightLearn.ai offers a free platform to generate and publish books on any topic.

To stay informed with honest analysis, BrightNews.ai provides AI-analyzed news trends from across the independent media. Embracing these decentralized tools is essential for building the cognitive resilience and practical skills needed to navigate an AI-driven future with freedom and agency. The fragility of human intelligence has been exposed; our response will determine whether we become obsolete or evolve.

References
Code Pinks Jodie Evans recruits Americans for Pro-CCP propaganda trips amid federal scrutiny

As federal investigators peel back the layers of a vast, foreign-linked activist network, the co-founder of the prominent anti-war group Code Pink is personally recruiting Americans for curated tours of China that glorify its communist revolution and authoritarian system. Jodie Evans, wife of Shanghai-based Marxist financier Neville Roy Singham, led a January online meeting promoting "Red China" trips developed with a Chinese state-aligned academy, an operation that sits at the heart of a congressional inquiry into alleged covert influence campaigns targeting the United States. This direct recruitment drive exposes the tangible mechanisms through which pro-CCP narratives are being seeded within American activist circles, raising urgent questions about foreign propaganda, legal compliance, and the true loyalties of organizations masquerading as domestic peace movements.

Key points:

Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans is actively recruiting Americans for "Red China" and other themed tours that highlight China's communist history and socialist development.

The trips are developed with the China Academy and Sunriver tourism, entities with contributors that include CCP-linked figures and members of the Singham network.

Evans praised China as "a wonderland of socialist expression" and told potential travelers that understanding the Communist Party's Long March is essential to understanding modern China.

The "Red China" itinerary includes visits to Communist Party memorials, historical re-enactments of the Long March, and studies of "socialist infrastructure."

Federal lawmakers from multiple committees are investigating Code Pink and the Singham network for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), citing evidence of deep connections to CCP interests.

The curated journey into communist ideology

Imagine being offered a tour that promises not just sightseeing, but a political re-education. This is the essence of the trips Jodie Evans is selling. They are not simple vacations; they are immersive experiences designed to reshape one's view of the Chinese Communist Party. The "Red China" tour, for instance, meticulously guides travelers through the Party's founding sites, follows the path of Mao Zedong's Long March, and frames the CCP's history as a heroic struggle. Evans explicitly frames this as a corrective to Western thought, telling recruits, "if you want to just help, kind of floss your brain, going through the red process." This language reveals the trips' true purpose: to cleanse participants of perceived Western propaganda and replace it with a sanitized, celebratory view of Chinese communism, all while walking the very ground where Mao's policies led to the deaths of tens of millions.

The organizations behind these tours are deeply entangled with the propaganda apparatus under investigation. The China Academy, which co-develops the itineraries, lists among its contributors figures like Hu Xijin, the fiery former editor of the state-run Global Times, and Wang Xiangsui, a retired Chinese Air Force colonel. It also includes activists like Vijay Prashad and Rania Khalek, whose outlets are funded by Evans' husband, Neville Roy Singham. This fusion of CCP voices and Singham-network activists creates a seamless pipeline for messaging. Mimi Zhu of the China Academy, who helps lead the trips, admitted her own politicization came from a Code Pink seminar, stating she moved to China to be with "Code Pink comrades." This circular relationship shows how the network cultivates influencers who then design experiences to convert others.

A network under the microscope of Congress

The public recruitment for these trips is happening against a backdrop of escalating federal scrutiny. Lawmakers are not merely asking questions; they are demanding action. Senator Jim Banks has directly urged the Attorney General to investigate Code Pink for potential FARA violations, stating, "Code Pink also receives significant funding and likely receives direction from agents of the CCP." The financial link is central. Senator Tom Cotton's office notes that since Evans married Singham in 2017, Code Pink has received over $1.4 million from sources linked to him, a timeline that coincides with the group's sharp pivot toward pro-Beijing advocacy.

This network's activities extend far beyond tourism. The Singham-funded web includes groups like The People's Forum, which praises China's authoritarian policies, and media outlets like BreakThrough News. They mobilize anti-Israel protests, oppose U.S. immigration enforcement, and have been accused of supporting violent unrest. Peter Schweizer of the Government Accountability Institute has labeled this system a "coordinated movement incubator." When you connect the dots, the "Red China" tours appear as one facet of a larger operation: using U.S. nonprofit dollars to fund a constellation of groups that amplify CCP talking points, undermine American foreign policy, and actively demonize the United States as "the belly of the beast," as Mimi Zhu described it.

Code Pink's standard defensethat they are merely a peace group funded by private donationsrings hollow against this evidence. Their campaigns parrot Beijing's positions exactly: dismissing concerns about human rights abuses in Xinjiang, pushing the "China is not our enemy" narrative, and aggressively promoting the CCP's stance on Taiwan. Their activists disrupt congressional hearings to shout down China critics, performances celebrated by China's state-run People's Daily. When a group's actions consistently align with the strategic interests of a foreign adversary, and when it is funded by that adversary's ideological allies, the line between activism and foreign agency becomes dangerously blurred. The American people are witnessing not a peace movement, but a sophisticated influence operation, and the "Red China" tours are its most vivid recruiting tool.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

JusttheNews.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
Beyond aid: China's zero-tariff strategy and Africa's development path

10:40, February 18, 2026 By Maya Majueran ( Xinhua

At the 39th African Union Summit on Saturday, China announced that it will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China starting from May 1, 2026.

It is not only a routine trade policy update but also a signal of how Beijing understands development, partnership and influence in the Global South.

By institutionalizing full market access for African exports, China is positioning itself not only as Africa's largest trading partner, but also as a key driver of economic cooperation, offering an alternative pathway for integration into the global economy -- one less conditioned on political alignment or governance benchmarks traditionally imposed by Western-led systems. This marks a significant milestone in South-South cooperation and offers a tangible blueprint for building what China terms "a community with a shared future for humanity."

Far from being symbolic, the policy has the potential to trigger a transformative cycle of economic development across Africa while aligning closely with China's own economic evolution.

At its core, the zero-tariff initiative strengthens African economic sovereignty. By removing tariff barriers, it directly addresses one of the continent's most persistent constraints: limited export competitiveness. African products from Ethiopian coffee and Kenyan avocados to Senegalese fish and Ghanaian cocoa will gain smoother, more competitive access to the world's second-largest consumer market. Crucially, this is not merely about exporting raw materials, but about creating stable and predictable demand that incentivizes production, scaling, and value-chain development.

The broader economic effects could be substantial. Expanded access to the Chinese market can translate into higher export volumes and more stable foreign-exchange earnings. Such inflows are essential for macroeconomic stability: they ease balance-of-payments pressures, reduce exposure to currency volatility, and expand fiscal space for public investment in infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Over time, this stability can reduce reliance on emergency financing and conditional lending from the International Monetary Fund and other Western-dominated institutions, allowing African states to move beyond cycles of austerity-driven debt management rather than perpetually reshuffling liabilities.

Employment effects are equally significant. Meeting Chinese demand will require African producers to scale up operations, generating jobs across the value chain from farms and processing facilities to logistics, transport, and marketing. For a continent with the world's youngest population and persistently high unemployment, this labour absorption carries both economic and political weight. Trade policy thus becomes a visible instrument for improving livelihoods, easing social pressures, and translating growth into tangible outcomes rather than abstract statistics.

China's accompanying pledge to strengthen skills training and support agriculture, biotechnology, and manufacturing reinforces the impact of tariff liberalization by addressing long-standing supply-side constraints. The objective is clear: to move African economies beyond a narrow raw-material export model. Beijing is signalling support for industrial and agricultural upgrading, not merely market access in isolation.

The emphasis on agriculture is particularly vital. By offering a vast and relatively stable market for African agricultural produce, China incentivizes investment in productivity and food security. Reliable export income enables farmers to invest in improved inputs, technology, and production techniques, raising yields for both export and domestic markets. A more productive and resilient agricultural sector thus becomes a first line of defence against chronic food insecurity.

For China, the policy dovetails with domestic economic priorities. A wealthier Africa with a growing middle class represents a significant future market for Chinese exports, from consumer goods to industrial equipment. At the same time, China's transition toward consumption-driven growth increases demand for imports, especially food, agricultural products, and intermediate goods. In this sense, the policy reflects Beijing's conception of a "shared future": deeper integration that supports African development while reinforcing China's own economic rebalancing. Properly managed, it constitutes a genuinely win-win arrangement rather than a zero-sum trade relationship.

This is the practical meaning of a "shared future." It is not aid, but an empowered partnership. China gains a stable and growing partner region, diversifies supply chains, and advances its strategic economic objectives. Africa gains unprecedented market access, technology, and investment to build its industrial and agricultural base, generate employment, and strengthen financial stability.

In a world increasingly fragmented by protectionism and geopolitical rivalry, this model of development-focused cooperation stands out. It demonstrates that globalization can be reshaped to deliver more inclusive outcomes. By focusing on Africa's productive capacity, China is laying the foundations for mutually beneficial partnerships that will fuel its future economic growth. The zero-tariff policy may well be the key that unlocks this virtuous cycle, proving that shared prosperity is not merely aspirational, but economically achievable.

Editor's note: Maya Majueran serves as the director of the Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka, an independent and pioneering organization with strong expertise in Belt and Road Initiative advice and support.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
James and Kimberly Van Der Beek renewed their wedding vows day before the actor died.

Kimberly and James Van Der Beek renewed their vows

The Dawson's Creek star passed away on February 11, aged 48, but James and his wife reaffirmed their commitment to each other just days before he died.

Kimberly - who first married the actor in August 2010 in Tel Aviv, Israel - told People: "We decided two days beforehand and our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles and we renewed our vows from bed."

Kimberly described the ceremony - which was attended by family and a few close friends - as "simple and beautiful and moving".

Instrumentalist Porangui played the "most beautiful music" during the ceremony, before closing the event with a rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

James' family launched a GoFundMe page shortly after he passed away.

The page - which has already raised more than $2.5 million - explains: "James Van Der Beek was a beloved husband, father, and friend who touched the lives of everyone around him. After a long and courageous battle with cancer, James passed away on February 11, 2026 leaving behind his devoted wife, Kimberly, and their six wonderful children. Throughout his illness, the family faced not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain as they did everything possible to support James and provide for his care.

"In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future. The costs of Jamess medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds. They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time. The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead.

"Your generosity will help cover essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the childrens education. Every donation, no matter the size, will help Kimberly and her family find hope and security as they rebuild their lives. Thank you for considering a gift to support them."
Emerald Fennells third feature film is polarizing, yet magnetic. Critics have panned it, but some viewers are succumbing to the charms of Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbies toxic and irreverent love story

The new Wuthering Heights adaptation couldnt be more polarizing. Critics have branded it superficial, cold, and extravagant. Audiences, on the other hand, flocked to theaters to spend Valentines weekend swooning over the love story of Catherine and Heathcliff, played by Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Videos of fans recreating the films promotional poster to throw themselves into Elordis arms or recording their reactions and tears in the theaters are a hit on social media. Licking, sighing, and white apologism: these are some of the most extreme reactions the film has generated.

This barrage of criticism and controversy is nothing new for director Emerald Fennell. Her debut film, Promising Young Woman, earned her the 2021 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay with a story that addressed rape culture to a Britney Spears soundtrack. Even then, it created a strong divide between supporters and detractors due to its lighthearted treatment of the subject. The same thing happened with Saltburn, which, this time with music by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, dissected the British aristocracy with an equally irreverent class conflict.

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in a scene from 'Wuthering Heights.' AP

Wuthering Heights is no exception, especially since it adapts Emily Brontes classic, sacred to many. Even before it hit theaters, the battle had already begun. First came the trailer, criticized for its fantastical costumes, anachronistic sets, and dark romance approach  a young adult novel with high sexual tension  set to the music of pop icon Charli XCX. Fennell defended herself by claiming she had filmed a very loose adaptation based on the impression the novel had made on her in her youth (hence the quotation marks in the title) and asserted that she wanted it to become a Titanic" for her generation.

But the first professional critiques offered a rather different view of the film. The New Yorker dismissed it as an extravagantly superficial adaptation and questioned the chemistry between its characters. The colossal sets reduce them to mere puppets, wrote critic Justin Chang. The New York Times went even further. This movie is simply not strange enough, or romantic enough, to bear the name Wuthering Heights, argued critic B.D. McClay. Perhaps one day [the book] will find a film director brave enough to tell that love story, and not turn whats inherently strange and shocking into something tame and banal, he added.

In contrast, audience reactions have been considerably more mixed since its premiere last Friday. Argentine writer Mariana Enriquez, author of works such as Our Part of Night (Anagrama, 2019), took to her Instagram profile to dedicate three elaborate posts to dissecting the films flaws one by one. How silly this girl is if she was left with this poorly made melodrama and nothing else from her original fantasy, she wrote regarding Fennells youthful approach.

Like her, many fans have criticized the adaptations inferiority compared to the original novel. Emily Bronte died of tuberculosis a century ago and somehow the new 'Wuthering Heights movie is the worst thing that ever happened to her, writes one of the highest-rated reviews on the Letterboxd app, which gives the film less than three out of five stars.

Another much-discussed aspect is Fennels removal of the racial conflict in Heathcliffs character and, more generally, the class component that hindered his love for Catherine in the original novel. Could 'Wuthering Heights be considered an apologia for white culture? one user wondered on X. Another denounced it as having become a softcore kink by a white director. Then there were those who took a more humorous approach, pointing out that the story was the antithesis of the kind of love that should be celebrated on Valentines Day.

Alongside this legion of detractors, a group of devoted defenders has also formed. From those who recreate the films poster to those who record themselves before and after the movie, drowning in their own tears. But above all, during Heathcliffs unexpected appearance, a moment that elicits sighs from the entire theater. As one user on X aptly points out: The best actor in Wuthering Heights was Jacob Elordis tongue.

To each their own, of course, because some people find that same language to be the worst thing about the film. Others criticize the movies general puritanism: Wuthering Heights is like a virgin telling you what sex is like, writes another X user.

But thankfully, its not all hate. In this heated debate, the song Wuthering Heights  which Kate Bush composed in 1978 from the perspective of Catherines character  has become one of the few points of agreement between the two sides. Many have come to believe that the best adaptation isnt a film at all, but a four-and-a-half-minute song. Videos from the set have been leaked and celebrated, showing Margot Robbie herself imitating the British artists signature dance. Kate Bush unites what Emerald Fennell has divided.

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Report alleges U.S., Dutch veteran pilots secretly flying Ukrainian F-16s as civilian contractors

Western veterans are reportedly flying F-16s for Ukraine as covert civilian contractors.

This alleged program addresses a critical shortage of trained Ukrainian pilots.

Accelerated training for Ukrainians faced language barriers and led to early losses.

A contractor model allows Western personnel to operate complex systems with plausible deniability.

This deepens foreign involvement, blurring lines between aid and direct confrontation.

A startling new report suggests the skies over Ukraine are being defended by a secret squadron of Western veterans, flying advanced American fighter jets under the radar of official military command. According to the French outlet Intelligence Online, veteran pilots from the United States and the Netherlands are operating donated F-16s for Ukraine as civilian contractors. This alleged arrangement, which Ukrainian officials have denied, highlights the deep and complex involvement of Western personnel in the conflict and raises urgent questions about the transparency of foreign intervention and the real capacity of Ukraine's forces after accelerated, and potentially inadequate, training programs.

The report, published recently, claims these experienced pilots are no longer part of their original militaries. They reportedly work for Kiev on temporary, six-month contracts, operating outside the Ukrainian military chain of command and without formal ranks. Their primary mission is said to be intercepting Russian long-range weapons like cruise missiles and drones far from the front lines, a task that leverages their expertise while theoretically limiting immediate risk.

This alleged covert program directly addresses a problem Western officials have acknowledged for over a year: a critical shortage of trained Ukrainian pilots capable of operating the sophisticated F-16. U.S. Air Force General James Hecker, who leads U.S. Air Forces in Europe, observed in 2023 that Ukrainian pilot candidates were often young with few flight hours. He predicted it could be "four or five years down the road" before Ukraine could field proficient F-16 squadrons.

Accelerated training meets hard reality

The push to get F-16s to Ukraine led to condensed training courses, but these were reportedly undermined by language barriers and a lack of qualified trainees. The complexity of transitioning from Soviet-era aircraft to the F-16 is significant, requiring pilots to adapt to a completely different cockpit layout and control philosophy. This rushed process has had consequences. Shortly after the first F-16s arrived in Ukraine in August 2024, Kiev began losing pilots and aircraft in accidents during air defense missions, with at least four such incidents acknowledged.

These losses seemingly made the integration of highly experienced foreign pilots a tactical necessity. As one report notes, supplementing Ukrainian ranks with these contractors would help maintain sortie rates while local pilots undergo lengthier training, and their presence would aid Ukrainian aviators in mastering the jet's full capabilities beyond a basic familiarization.

The alleged use of pilot contractors fits an established pattern reported throughout the Ukrainian war effort. NATO states have reportedly relied on a "contractor model" to deploy personnel for operating and maintaining complex Western weapon systems that Ukrainian forces cannot quickly master.

This was hinted at with the rapid deployment of MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems. While training for Ukrainian crews was estimated to take a year or longer, Patriots were reportedly in combat within months, fueling speculation they were operated by foreign contractors. Similarly, reports have indicated Western specialists were involved in launching Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and German officials once opposed sending Taurus missiles partly because Ukrainians could not launch them independently.

A Polish journalist, citing military sources, summarized the approach, stating "we worked out a formula for our presence in Ukraine  we were simply sent on paid leave. Politicians pretended not to see this." This model allows for plausible deniability while deepening direct involvement.

Wide-scale foreign involvement

Moscow has consistently described the conflict as a proxy war, arguing that key elements of Kiev's military, from intelligence and planning to the operation of high-end hardware, are handled by foreign personnel. Russian officials estimate that around 20,000 foreign fighters have participated on the Ukrainian side. The reported contractor pilot program would represent a more specialized, high-skill tier of this foreign involvement.

The concept of using retired NATO pilots was publicly floated earlier. In 2024, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham suggested after a visit to Kyiv that "retired F-16 pilots who want to fight for freedom may be hired by Ukraine." His office stated President Volodymyr Zelensky would look to establish a program to enlist them, similar to foreign volunteers on the ground.

While the reports of active Western pilots in Ukrainian jets remain unconfirmed by independent sources, they underscore a pivotal truth. The delivery of advanced weapons is only one part of the equation; without the trained humans to operate them effectively, their impact is limited. This situation reveals a conflict where the lines between donor, advisor, contractor, and combatant are increasingly blurred, moving closer to the direct great-power confrontation that all sides claim they wish to avoid. The presence of these veteran pilots, if true, is not merely a tactical stopgap but a significant escalation in the hidden mechanics of a war that continues to redefine the boundaries of modern conflict.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

TheAviationist.com

MilitaryWatchMagazine.com
State Department revokes more than 100,000 visas in Trump administration crackdown on criminal activity

The Trump administration has revoked more than 100,000 visas from foreign nationals arrested or convicted of crimes in the U.S.

This historic 150% increase targets offenses like DUI, assault, and child abuse.

The policy treats a U.S. visa as a conditional privilege, not a guaranteed right.

It is part of a new "continuous vetting" system screening all 55 million visa holders.

The action marks a fundamental shift to also enforce against those who enter legally but break laws.

The welcome mat for foreign nationals who break Americas laws is officially being yanked away. In a sweeping enforcement action that underscores a fundamental shift in U.S. immigration policy, the State Department has revoked more than 100,000 visas from individuals arrested or convicted of crimes while in the United States. This unprecedented move targets offenses ranging from driving under the influence to child abuse and assault, signaling that the Trump administration is treating a U.S. visa as a conditional privilege, not a guaranteed right.

The department framed the massive revocation as a direct fulfillment of President Trumps campaign pledge to prioritize public safety and border security. In a statement on social media, officials were unequivocal: The United States has no obligation to host criminals who endanger the American people. They added, A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. In this Trump Administrations first year, we revoked over 100k visas from the Worst of the Worst  DUI, child abuse, and assault.

A record-setting enforcement push

The scale of this action is historic. State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the revocations mark a 150 percent increase from 2024. The leading causes for cancellation were overstays, driving under the influence, assault, and theft. This statistic is not an abstract number; it represents a deliberate and systemic review of the approximately 55 million foreign nationals holding valid U.S. visas, a policy of continuous vetting now in effect.

This crackdown extends beyond just tourists or temporary visitors. The State Department noted that the revoked visas include some 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized work visas. The department stated, We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe. While officials did not specify whether removal proceedings have been initiated in every individual case, the revocation of legal status is the critical first step toward deportation.

From policy to real-world cases

The administration provided specific examples to illustrate the types of criminal behavior that now trigger visa revocation. One case involved a foreign national convicted of sexually assaulting three women. Another individual faced multiple arrests for domestic violence, public intoxication, and violating bail conditions. A third was arrested for sexually assaulting a minor. These examples underscore the administrations argument that the policy is focused on removing threats to community safety.

This rigorous approach is part of a broader immigration overhaul initiated when President Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. The administration has adopted stricter visa-granting policies, including tightened social media vetting and expanded screening. It has also launched a dedicated Continuous Vetting Center to ensure, as Pigott said, all foreign nationals on American soil comply with our laws  and that the visas of those who pose a threat to American citizens are swiftly revoked.

Historical context is important here. For years, debates over immigration enforcement often centered on border security, while the status of millions of visa holders already inside the country received less scrutiny. This policy closes that gap, applying ongoing scrutiny to students, skilled workers, and tourists alike. Any new information indicating a potential ineligibility, from criminal activity to alleged ties to terrorism, can now result in swift visa cancellation.

The implications are vast and redefine the terms of staying in the United States. It sends a message that lawful entry is the beginning of observation, not the end of it. For the average American, this translates to a promise of safer communities. For visa holders, it means their conduct must remain within strict legal boundaries to maintain their status.

Ultimately, this record-setting visa revocation is more than a statistic; it is a declaration of principle. It asserts that the safety and security of American citizens are paramount and that the privilege of entering the United States comes with the responsibility to respect its laws. As this continuous vetting machine grinds forward, it reshapes the landscape of legal immigration, promising a harder line on those who would do harm and a new era of accountability for everyone granted permission to be here.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

Reuters.com

AlJazeera.com
Trump administration escalates war on drugs with lethal maritime strikes, signals imminent land operations

The Trump administration has intensified lethal naval operations near Venezuela, conducting at least nine strikes since September against suspected drug-trafficking vessels, resulting in 37 fatalities.

President Donald Trump announced plans for expanded "hard" land-based strikes against cartels, following naval interdictions that reportedly reduced drug flows by 33%. Mexican cartels like MS-13 have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations to justify military action.

Critics, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro and U.S. lawmakers, challenge the legality of unilateral strikes and lack of evidence linking Venezuela's captured ex-leader Nicolas Maduro directly to cartels. Mexico and others oppose U.S. military intervention on sovereignty grounds.

The campaign accelerated after Maduro's January extradition to the U.S. on drug charges, alongside seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers. War Secretary Pete Hegseth framed the strategy as an unprecedented "offensive" against hemispheric narco-terrorism.

Future land strikes risk inflaming regional tensions, with unanswered questions about congressional authorization, Latin American backlash, and the evidentiary basis for linking Maduro to cartel operations.

The Trump administration has intensified its counter-narcotics campaign in Latin America, launching deadly maritime strikes and deploying a substantial naval presence near Venezuelaa move that has drawn accusations of militarization and questions about legal justification.

U.S. Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the operations as critical for United States national security, while critics challenge the evidence linking former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to drug cartels.

Since September, U.S. forces have conducted at least nine kinetic strikes against vessels suspected of transporting narcotics, killing 37 individuals. The attack targeted a boat in the Eastern Pacific, leaving three suspected traffickers dead.

Shift to offensive posture against cartels

President Donald Trump signaled that maritime interdictions were only the first phase of a broader strategy. In a recent Fox Business interview, he claimed that naval operations had already reduced drug flows by 33% and announced plans for "very hard" land strikes against trafficking networks.

"If you hit them on land, they go to the boats," Trump explained. "Now were gonna hit them on land. We're gonna hit them very hard on land."

The administration has not provided a timeline for these land-based operations, but Trump has previously suggested they could extend into Mexico, where cartels operate with near impunity. The U.S. has already designated several Mexican cartelsincluding MS-13 and Tren de Araguaas foreign terrorist organizations, expanding legal authorities to target them militarily.

According BrightU.AI's Enoch, the U.S. designated multiple Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) as a strategic response to their escalating violence, transnational criminal operations and direct threats to U.S. national security. This designation aimed to dismantle these organizations through enhanced legal, financial and military tools, reflecting a broader policy shift toward treating cartels as national security threats rather than merely criminal entities.

Mexican drug cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and others, have long operated with impunity, engaging in drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, and brutal violence that destabilizes both Mexico and the United States. These groups control significant portions of the U.S. drug supply, with Mexican cartels responsible for the majority of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, which causes over 100,000 American overdose deaths annually.

Legal and diplomatic backlash

The escalation has faced sharp criticism from regional leaders and U.S. lawmakers. Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who met with Trump earlier this month, has repeatedly denounced the strikes. Some Democratic lawmakers have also raised objections, particularly after video emerged of a September strike that killed 11 suspected smugglers.

Internationally, the legality of unilateral military action remains contentious. Under U.S. law, such operations typically require congressional authorization or must be justified under existing national security provisions. Meanwhile, Latin American governments, particularly Mexico, have historically opposed U.S. military intervention on sovereignty grounds.

The Trump administration's aggressive stance follows the January capture of Maduro, who was extradited to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. Since then, U.S. forces have also seized multiple oil tankers suspected of transporting sanctioned Venezuelan crude, including a recent interdiction in the Indian Ocean after pursuit from the Caribbean.

At the Pentagon, Hegseth framed the strategy as a historic shift.

"Under President Trump, for the first time in history, the Department of War is on offense against narco-terrorists in our hemisphere," he told military leaders at the Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference, attended by representatives from 34 nations.

Future of the counter-narcotics campaign

With Trump promising land strikes and Hegseth emphasizing an "offensive posture," the administration appears poised for further escalation. However, key questions remain unanswered:

Will Congress authorize expanded military action?

How will Latin American governments respond to unilateral U.S. operations?

What evidence directly ties Maduro to cartel operations?

As the administration presses forward, the conflict risks deepening tensions in a region already wary of U.S. interventionwhile raising the specter of a prolonged, militarized drug war with unpredictable consequences.

Watch the video below about the War Department confirming that 87 narco-terrorists have been killed in lethal maritime strikes.

This video is from the Justin Barclay channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Newsweek.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
U.S. Coast Guard seizes record 76,000 pounds of narcotics in largest drug bust at Port Everglades

The U.S. Coast Guard's record-breaking 76,140-pound narcotics offload (61,000 lbs cocaine, 15,000 lbs marijuana) is framed as a victory against cartels, but skeptics argue it's a distraction from government-enabled traffickingmirroring past CIA drug-running operations like Iran-Contra.

The Biden administration's maritime "surge" targeted smuggling routes, yet open-border policies and record overdoses suggested deeper collusion between globalist elites and cartels to fuel societal chaos for control.

While intercepting drugs and human traffickers (e.g., Russian/Uzbek migrants near Puerto Rico), critics note these seizures are dwarfed by unchecked inflowsraising suspicions of staged enforcement to justify future authoritarian measures.

Whistleblowers allege intelligence agencies protect high-level drug networks, as seizures like the Cutter Seneca's $133M cocaine haul contrast with rampant overdoses, implying systemic corruption or deliberate depopulation efforts.

The drug/human smuggling crisis aligns with the globalist playbook: destabilize nations via orchestrated chaos (drugs, migration), then impose "solutions" like digital surveillance, CBDCs and martial lawrendering Coast Guard interdictions mere propaganda.

In a historic crackdown on transnational drug cartels, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) offloaded a staggering 76,140 pounds of narcotics at Port Everglades on Aug, 25, marking the largest drug seizure in the agency's history. The haul, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, included 61,000 pounds of cocaine and 15,000 pounds of marijuana, intercepted during 19 separate interdictions across the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The operation, part of "Operation Pacific Viper," represents the Biden administration's escalating war against narco-terrorismthough skeptics question whether these seizures are merely theater masking deeper government corruption fueling the drug trade.

A surge in maritime drug interdictions

According to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, 80% of drug seizures occur at sea, underscoring the Coast Guard's critical role in disrupting cartel supply chains before narcotics reach American streets. The latest bust follows a series of high-profile interdictions, including an 11,000-pound cocaine seizure near the Galapagos Islands and Bonaire in late June, with additional captures throughout July and August.

The operation involved multiple Coast Guard cutters and international partners, demonstrating a coordinated effort to choke off smuggling routes. Yet, critics argue that despite these seizures, drug overdoses continue to ravage U.S. cities, raising suspicions that corrupt officials may be complicit in allowing certain shipments through while publicly showcasing others for political optics.

The Coast Guard's expanding role in narco-terrorism warfare

The USCG's Cutter Seneca alone seized 17,700 pounds of cocaine worth $133.5 million in February, intercepting four drug-laden vessels in the Eastern Pacific. In one January raid, Seneca's crew boarded a smuggling boat, confiscating 4,410 pounds of cocaine, followed by another 13,340-pound haul days later.

Capt. Lee Jones, commanding officer of the Seneca, praised his crew's efforts, stating:

"This deployment demonstrates our enhanced posture in the fight against narco-terrorism. We are denying smugglers access to maritime routes that funnel poison into our communities."

Yet, whistleblowers have long alleged that U.S. intelligence agencies themselves facilitate drug traffickinga pattern dating back to the CIA's Iran-Contra scandalraising questions about whether these seizures are staged distractions while deeper networks operate unimpeded.

Operation Pacific Viper: A front in the globalist war on sovereignty?

Launched in August 2024, Operation Pacific Viper is billed as a "surge operation" targeting cartels before they smuggle drugs and humans into the U.S. By December 2025, the Coast Guard reported seizing over 150,000 pounds of cocaineenough for 57 million lethal doses.

But skeptics argue that the real drug lords aren't just South American cartelsthey include globalist elites who profit from societal collapse. The Biden administration's open-border policies have allowed record human trafficking and drug inflows, while agencies like the Coast Guard are deployed as props in a scripted "war on drugs."

Human smuggling: The other side of the crisis

While narcotics seizures dominate headlines, the Coast Guard has also intercepted multiple human smuggling vessels, including:

14 Mexican nationals caught 18 miles off San Diego (Feb. 15).

3 suspected illegal immigrants near Imperial Beach, California (Jan. 27).

12 Russian and Uzbek migrants approaching Puerto Rico (Jan. 13).

Capt. Robert E. Stiles, deputy commander of Sector San Juan, framed these interceptions as victories:

"Our unified coordination with Customs and Border Protection is instrumental in safeguarding our maritime borders."

Yet, with millions of undocumented migrants flooding U.S. cities, these interceptions appear symbolic at bestraising concerns that government agencies are deliberately allowing chaos to justify martial law-style crackdowns.

Conclusion: A broken system or controlled demolition?

While the Coast Guard's 76,000-pound bust is touted as a triumph, deeper analysis suggests systemic failureor deliberate sabotage. If 80% of drugs are seized at sea, why do overdoses keep skyrocketing? If borders are "secure," why are human trafficking and illegal immigration at record highs?

The answer may lie in the globalist playbook: engineer crises, then offer authoritarian "solutions." As the Coast Guard parades its seizures, shadow networkspossibly protected by deep state actorscontinue flooding the U.S. with drugs and migrants, ensuring perpetual chaos.

Until Americans demand true accountability, these staged interdictions will remain little more than theater in a rigged system designed to collapse the West.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, this record-breaking drug seizure highlights the escalating narcotics crisis fueled by globalist-backed cartels and corrupt governments that profit from societal destabilization. While the Coast Guards efforts are commendable, the root causedeep-state complicity in the drug traderemains unaddressed, as these operations conveniently ignore elite trafficking networks while targeting low-level smugglers.

Watch this Newsmax report about the largest illegal immigrant bust in U.S. history, which happened in California.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
UN confronts global power nexus, demands justice for Epstein networks crimes against humanity

The United Nations Human Rights Council has issued a seismic declaration, stating that the atrocities detailed in the recently unsealed Jeffrey Epstein documents may constitute "crimes against humanity." This declaration necessitates global prosecutions that target the wealthy and powerful individuals implicated in the files. This unprecedented move from an international body transforms a sordid tale of elite abuse into a formal legal and diplomatic crisis, directly challenging nationsparticularly the United Statesto pursue justice against a transnational criminal enterprise that includes figures from politics, royalty, finance, and academia. The UNs intervention exposes a fracture in the official narrative, suggesting that the exposed abuse is not a closed case but the beginning of unraveling a criminal conspiracy requiring international tribunals to fully address its horrific scale.

Key points:

The UN Human Rights Council, through independent experts, states Epstein-linked abuses meet the legal threshold for "crimes against humanity."

The statement demands prosecutions globally, insisting "no one is too wealthy or too powerful to be above the law."

The released files allege systematic "sexual slavery, reproductive violence, enforced disappearance, torture," and femicide.

The UN highlights unanswered questions about the network's financial structures and additional perpetrators beyond Ghislaine Maxwell.

A wave of resignations has hit elites in the UK, US, and Europe following the document release, but the UN says resignations are insufficient.

A call for international reckoning

For years, the story of Jeffrey Epstein was carefully framed by media gatekeepers as a salacious scandal, a tragic tale of a lone billionaire and his accomplice. The UNs statement shatters that containment. By invoking the term "crimes against humanity," reserved for the most severe offenses against human dignity, the council re-frames the entire episode. This is no longer just about underage girls; it is about a systematic, transnational operation of sexual slavery and torture that, according to the UN experts, implicates a network with global reach.

Their demand for prosecution "regardless of their status or wealth" is a direct shot across the bow of the establishment institutions that have, so far, allowed the trail to grow cold after Epsteins convenient jailhouse death. This language echoes the calls from truth-seeking communities who have long argued that only an international, independent tribunal can bypass the compromised legal and political systems protecting the guilty.

The facade crumbles as resignations spread

The UNs forceful words come as the raw power of the released documents triggers a silent panic among the global elite. The statement notes that "resignations alone are not enough," even as those resignations reveal the scandal's penetration into the highest echelons of society. In Britain, the fallout has rocked the monarchy and the new government, while in America, pillars of the legal and cultural establishment are stepping down from their perches. Each resignation is a tacit admission of connection, a desperate attempt to distance oneself from the spreading stain. Yet, as the UN rightly points out, stepping aside from a prestigious title is not justice. It is a tactic. True accountability requires what the corrupt systems fear most: a public, transparent legal process that follows the money, exposes the facilitators, and names every individual who participated in or covered up what the documents describe. The resignations prove the documents have weight; the UN is now demanding that weight be measured on the scales of justice.

This moment represents a critical test of whether the rule of law is a principle or a parody. Will sovereign nations, hiding behind notions of jurisdiction and diplomatic immunity, continue to shield the accused? Or will they heed the call for a coordinated international effort to try these alleged crimes against humanity? The victims, and the world watching, await the answer.

Sources include:

RT.com

Aljazeera.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
U.S. government, carrying out Israels demands, seeks to denuclearize Iran at all costs

In the shadow-draped corridors of Geneva, a fragile diplomatic dance between the United States and Iran is being orchestrated not by American interests, but by the uncompromising dictates of a foreign power: Israel. As of February 2026, technical negotiations have seen progress, with Iran offering significant concessions on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Yet, this path to de-escalation is being systematically undermined by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus public demands for Irans total nuclear capitulation and by a massive U.S. military buildup that smells of a premeditated trap. This investigation reveals how American policy, subservient to Israeli objectives, is deliberately steering away from a viable peace deal and toward a catastrophic confrontation that could engulf the Middle East. How far will the Trump Administration go to appease Netanyahu's vision for the Middle East? Will Iran actually honor any agreement it makes with the US, anyway?

Key points:

High-stakes nuclear talks in Geneva have made technical progress, with Iran offering to halt high-level uranium enrichment and submit to rigorous inspections.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is publicly demanding terms he knows are impossible for Iran: the complete dismantling of its nuclear infrastructure.

The United States is simultaneously negotiating while amassing overwhelming military force in the region, including multiple aircraft carrier groups and advanced fighter jets.

An informed source reveals that a prior tentative agreement was sabotaged after Netanyahu intervened with Trump, leading to impossible U.S. demands and subsequent Israeli military attacks.

This pattern suggests a coordinated strategy to use diplomacy as a cover while positioning for a war that would fulfill Israel's goal of denuclearizing Iran by force.

A pattern of sabotaged diplomacy

To understand the current Geneva talks, one must recognize a recurring and cynical playbook. According to an informed Iranian source, a previous diplomatic opportunity during the Trump administration was deliberately destroyed. Negotiations between Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had yielded a tentative agreement where Iran would accept maximum nuclear inspections and curb its enrichment. In return, the U.S. would lift sanctions. This reasonable framework collapsed, the source states, after a call between Netanyahu and Trump. Washington then abruptly demanded Iran abandon its entire peaceful nuclear programa known nonstarter. Two days before the next round of talks, Israel launched attacks on Iran. This was Israel's trap designed to drag the U.S. into war, the source said.

Now, observe the same sinister choreography unfolding today. While Iranian officials in Geneva speak of a "clearer path" and "guiding principles," Netanyahu broadcasts a maximalist list of demands: all enriched material removed from Iran, enrichment capability dismantled, and ballistic missiles on the table. These are not terms for a negotiation; they are terms for surrender. By stating them publicly, Netanyahu boxes in the U.S. negotiators and ensures the Iranian regime cannot agree without facing total humiliation at home. It is a deliberate poison pill.

Military pressure as a prelude to conflict

While diplomats parse technical minutiae in Switzerland, the U.S. military is conducting a theater-wide show of force that belies any genuine commitment to peace. President Trump has dispatched a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region. Over 50 F-35, F-22, and F-16 fighter jets have flooded into Middle Eastern airbases in a 24-hour period. This is not the posture of a nation seeking a deal; it is the posture of a nation preparing an attack. Trump himself admitted the carrier is there "in case we don't make a deal." This creates a perverse incentive: why make a deal when the military option is being so visibly primed?

The U.S. strategy appears to be one of coercive diplomacy, but the coercion is not aimed solely at Iran. It also serves to satisfy the Israeli security establishment, which views any Iranian nuclear capability as an existential threat. The American taxpayer funds this immense military mobilization, and American service members will be the ones on the front lines, all to execute a policy whose endgamean Iran with zero nuclear infrastructureis dictated by Jerusalem. The parallel buildup and diplomatic intransigence mirror the exact conditions that led to the failed talks and bombing campaign of the previous year, suggesting a planned escalation toward conflict.

The people of America and the world are being led to the precipice of a needless war. The ingredients are all here: a potential diplomatic agreement being undermined, impossible demands set by a third party, and an alarming military escalation passed off as leverage. The question is no longer if a deal can be reached, but whether the political will in Washington exists to defy Israeli pressure and choose a pragmatic agreement over a devastating war that would serve no true American interest.

Sources include:

NewsNationNow.com

NewsNationNow.com

Axios.com

Aljazeera.com
Scott Bickley, advisory fellow at Info-Tech Research Group, agreed, saying that if Broadcom held on to just its top 10,000 VMware customers, that would be more than sufficient for it to meet its revenue and profitability goals over the next three years. Keep in mind that VMWare has over 400K accounts, so the core business case was predicated on retention of the largest 3% of accounts, he said.

Customers may view the price increases differently depending on how much of the licensed software they use, because the value of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) is maximized when all of its components are used, said Matt Kimball, VP and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. The less it is used, the more expensive the platform will seem, he said. If I am a legacy VMware customer only interested in vSphere, my price increase will seem incredibly high. Conversely, if Im using VCF to its fullest extent  virtualization, cloud, security, networking, modern apps, AI, and so forth, then that value is fully realized.

Disruption level has declined

While 88% of the survey respondents are still finding the acquisition disruptive, the disturbance is becoming less severe; in 2024, 46% said it would be extremely or very disruptive, compared to 25% in 2026. Their top worries are about price increases (89%), uncertainty about plans (85%), and the quality of support (78%).

And although 60% report higher confidence in their VMware strategy than in 2024, 63% have changed that strategy two or more times over the two-year period.

CloudBolt wrote, Two years in, IT leaders have stopped asking Will this hurt? and started asking What does it take to get out?

Almost three quarters (72%) are migrating workloads to public cloud IaaS, 43% to Hyper-V/Azure stack, and 34% to SaaS replacements.
Afghanistan has released three Pakistani soldiers captured during border clashes in October 2025, handing them over to a Saudi Arabian delegation as a goodwill gesture marking the start of Ramadan. The release was announced by Deputy Spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat, who cited a policy of positive relations and a response to Saudi Arabia's request. The move comes amid significantly deteriorated relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad accusing the Taliban government of harboring militant groups like the TTP. The original clashes in 2025 resulted in heavy casualties claimed by both sides, highlighting the persistent volatility along their shared frontier.

Afghanistan releases three captured Pakistani soldiers to Saudi officials as a Ramadan goodwill gesture amid ongoing border tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

Kabul, February 18 Afghanistan, with Saudi Arabia, confirmed Ramadan will begin today following crescent moon sightings, and released three Pakistani soldiers.

Deputy Spokesperson of Afghanistan Hamdullah Fitrat announced that those soldiers were captured on October 12, 2025, during clashes with Pakistan.

"In line with the policy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which emphasizes maintaining positive relations with all countries, and in respect for the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan; a month of divine mercy and forgiveness; and in order to give a positive response to the request of the brotherly country of Saudi Arabia, as well as on the occasion of hosting the negotiating team that arrived in Kabul on Monday, three Pakistani soldiers who had been captured on October 12, 2025, during clashes with the Pakistani side, were released and handed over to the respected delegation that came from the brotherly country of Saudi Arabia," Fitrat said in a post on X.

Wednesday is being observed as the first day of Ramadan, when Muslims begin fasting from dawn to sunset and engage in increased religious activities. The Taliban is also expected to observe the start of Ramadan, aligning with regional moon-sighting announcements and preparations already underway among communities, according to Khaama Press.

Pakistan's military said on October 12, 2025, that it killed more than 200 Afghan fighters, while Afghanistan claims it killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in cross-border clashes along their frontier. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for Afghanistan's Taliban, on Sunday said 30 other Pakistani soldiers were wounded and a "significant amount" of Pakistani weapons fell into their hands, as per Al Jazeera.

Once warm, relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated as Islamabad has accused Kabul of harbouring members of the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), and other armed groups which carry out attacks against it. The TTP, or Pakistani Taliban, was formed in 2007 in response to Pakistan's military operations in its tribal border regions supporting the US invasion of Afghanistan, and has since waged a deadly insurgency, as per Al Jazeera.

- ANI
A recent survey by Spains Commercial Office in Havana puts the outstanding liabilities at about $276 million and warns that another $80 million are trapped in retained dividends and accounts that cannot be transferred off the island

The collapse of the Cuban economy has dealt a major blow to the airlines and hotels that have been operating in the archipelago for decades. The tightening of the U.S. embargo  which has prohibited the supply of crude oil from Venezuela or Mexico  has triggered an unprecedented economic crisis, forcing companies to improvise contingency plans to cope with fuel shortages and the absence of tourists. The impact of this shock has been far broader, extending to the rest of the Spanish business sector with interests in Cuba. Spanish companies say the Cuban government owes them at least around 300 million (about $324 million) in unpaid debts and other funds that cannot be taken out of the island, although the real figure is likely higher because the estimate comes from a document in which most companies operating in Cuba did not provide their numbers.

The figures appear in the latest privatedebt report prepared by Spains Economic and Commercial Office in Havana, which shows that the volume of debt accumulated by Spanish companies with interests in Cuba  whether through investments or exports  rose slightly by 0.1% last year, reaching 255.9 million (about $276 million). The document, accessed by EL PAIS, notes that the amount of unpaid obligations owed to Spanish companies is actually much higher, reaching 330 million (about $356 million), because the report does not count as liabilities 39.5 million (about $43 million) in retained dividends, 23.6 million (about $25.5 million) in funds from commercial operations, and 11.3 million (about $12.2 million) in payments held in Specific Goods Accounts (Finesp)  accounts funded by debt payments from Cuban state companies, whose balances also cannot be transferred abroad.

The survey was sent to 930 Spanish companies with interests in Cuba, and only 182 responded  just 19.5% of the total. Business sources operating on the island explain this low participation rate by noting that around 20% of the firms  roughly 180  are currently in insolvency proceedings as a result of the unpaid debts. In other words, as many companies responded to the survey as have entered bankruptcy.

Of the 182 companies that did take part, 85% (154) confirmed they were carrying debts worth 255.9 million (about $276 million), most of which were generated during the three fiscal years between 2017 and 2019. Twothirds of those companies are based in three Spanish regions: Catalonia, with 32% of the firms; Madrid, with 26%; and the Basque Country, with 15%.

By size, the companies most affected are mediumsized firms, with an average debt of 2 million (about $2.16 million), while the smallest amounts correspond to microenterprises, which carry an average of 850,000 (about $918,000). Despite these relatively modest figures, 19% of the companies surveyed acknowledge that the amount owed to them by the Cuban government exceeds their total revenue from the past year.

A spokesperson for the Platform of Companies Affected by the Cuban Governments NonPayments  a group within the Catalan employers association Foment del Treball that brings together Spanish firms harmed by the outstanding debts  believes the best way to eliminate those arrears would be through Spains staterun debtconversion programs. The most recent one, signed in Seville last July, aimed to mobilize up to 375 million (about $405 million) for projects related to energy, water and food security. Under current economic conditions, no company is going to invest money in Cuba. But it would be extremely important for those funds to be used to offset the debt owed to these creditor companies, most of which supply food, medicine and vaccines to ten million people at risk of facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the archipelago, the spokesperson said.

As for the difficulties in recovering the debts accumulated by successive governments linked to the Castro regime, tourism companies are facing the greatest obstacles in their daytoday operations. Melia and Iberostar  the two hotel chains managing the most properties on the island, with 34 and 20 respectively  have had to close hotels and redistribute guests due to low occupancy levels. (Canadian tourists, who accounted for 50% of arrivals at the start of 2026, have been repatriated over the past two weeks following the shutdown of operations by Air Canada, the countrys largest airline.) Meanwhile, the three Spanish carriers that operated flights between Madrid and Havana  Iberia, Air Europa and W2Fly  have had to reorganize their routes back to Madrid and refuel in Santo Domingo to ensure the flights can operate amid Cubas fuel shortages.

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The United States has released new intelligence alleging China conducted an illegal underground nuclear test in June 2020 near the Lop Nur test site, citing a small seismic event detected in Kazakhstan. A senior State Department official stated the U.S. would resume its own nuclear testing to avoid an "intolerable disadvantage," framing it as a response to Chinese actions. China has vehemently rejected the accusations, calling them lies meant to justify Washington restarting tests. The allegations emerge amid the expiration of a key U.S.-Russia arms control treaty and inconclusive findings from international monitoring bodies.

US details alleged 2020 Chinese nuclear test at Lop Nur, vows to resume its own testing. China denies claims as tensions rise over arms control.

Washington DC, February 18 The United States government has released fresh intelligence to buttress its allegation that China had conducted "illegal" underground nuclear testing in 2020 near Lop Nur, several US media reported on Wednesday. Further, a senior State Department official has said that the US would resume its nuclear tests to match the Chinese actions.

This comes amidst Beijing's stating that it has scrupulously observed an international accord banning all nuclear detonations.

A senior State Department official said that a seismic monitoring station in Kazakhstan had detected a 2.75 magnitude event on June 22, 2020. The US has accused China of conducting a clandestine low-yield nuclear test at that time.

Both China and the US are signatories to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), but have not ratified it; therefore, it's not legally in force.

Christopher Yeaw, US Assistant Secretary for arms control and non-proliferation at the State Department detailed that a tiny 2.75 magnitude earthquake detected by a remote seismic station in Kazakhstan on June 22, 2020. The US official said that the quake, infact originated around 450 miles away at China's main nuclear test site, known as Lop Nur.

"There is very little possibility that it is anything other than an explosion, a singular explosion....It is quite consistent with what you would expect from a nuclear explosive test," Yeaw said at an event hosted by the Washington DC-based think tank Hudson Institute. The institute has posted the conversation on its X platform

Yeaw further said, "If adversaries conduct nuclear tests but the US does not, America is putting itself at an intolerable disadvantage. The Trump administration will seek to level the playing field."

The United States Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno said in a statement posted on X that, "Denials by China only make it worse. We look forward to dialogue that will advance President Trump's vision for a world with fewer nuclear weapons. For now, we cannot accept nuclear tests by other states that place us at an intolerable disadvantage."

China had rejected the allegations outright, calling them "outright lies" and accused Washington of using them as justification to restart nuclear testing.

Previously this month on February 6, DiNanno, speaking at the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, accused China of conducting nuclear weapons tests that achieved supercritical yields, including one test on June 22, 2020.

DiNanno mentioned that China has used "decoupling" to reduce the detectability of its nuclear tests.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in a statement on February 6, confirmed the station detected "two very small seismic events" spaced 12 seconds apart that day, but said the data were too weak to confidently determine the cause.

"Regarding reports of possible nuclear tests with yields in the hundreds of tonnes, on 22 June 2020, the CTBTO's IMS did not detect any event consistent with the characteristics of a nuclear weapon test explosion at that time. Subsequent, more detailed analyses have not altered that determination,"

Washington-based think tank, The Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said in a report on February 13, that satellite imagery it studied of the Lop Nur site did not provide any conclusive findings to support or disprove US allegations about China's test.

This comes as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start), expired on February 5 and US Donald Trump has refused Moscow's offer to extend the treaty for another year as he argued for a "better agreement" that includes China.

Executive Director of the American Arms Control Association Daryl Kimball emphasized that any US resumption of testing would set off a chain reaction of nuclear testing by other nuclear-armed states.

The United States should begin negotiations with Russia and China aimed at strengthening confidence-building measures in order to prevent the resumption of nuclear testing, Kimball said in an interview with TASS.

- ANI
Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof praised India's booming artificial intelligence sector during his visit to the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. He emphasized the crucial role of "middle powers" in fostering international cooperation to responsibly accelerate AI development, serving as a bridge between the Global North and South. The summit, hosted at Bharat Mandapam, brings together global policymakers, industry experts, and academics to advance discussions on AI. On the sidelines, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with several world leaders and tech executives.

Netherlands PM Dick Schoof attends AI Impact Summit in Delhi, highlights role of middle powers in global AI cooperation and development.

New Delhi, February 19 Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof hailed the AI Impact Summit 2026, noting an artificial intelligence boom in India.

During his visit to India, Dick Schoof attended the AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, where he participated in a discussion on international cooperation to responsibly accelerate AI development.

In an X post on Wednesday, the Netherlands PM said, "AI is booming here in India. On this first day of my visit, I spoke with various experts about AI technology and policy and India's role in this area on the world stage. I also took part in a conference attended by representatives of government, the business sector, and civil society."

He highlighted the role of "middle powers" in bridging the gap between the global North and South.

"We discussed the importance of international cooperation among like-minded countries to responsibly accelerate the development of AI. Middle powers need to take the lead on this, serving as a bridge between the Global North and South. That is where our strength lies, also as the Netherlands," he wrote.

Dick Schoof, on Wednesday, delivered his notes on the AI Safety Connect Day at Bending the Bell Curve: 'How can Middle Powers Shape Global AI Power?' event.

He also visited Humayun's Tomb, guided by the Agha Khan Foundation.

Earlier, PM Schoof was received by Minister Jitendra Singh upon arrival here in the national capital.

In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs noted that his participation would further deepen and strengthen the ties between India and the Netherlands.

"Warm welcome to the Prime Minister Dick Schoof of the Netherlands. He was received by Minister of State Jitendra Singh on arrival in New Delhi. PM Schoof will attend the India-AI Impact Summit; his participation will further deepen and strengthen the India-Netherlands bilateral partnership," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society from across the world in New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland PM Petteri Orpo, and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

- ANI
The AI-India Impact Summit 2026 has positioned India as a key global platform for shaping the responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence. Tech leaders like Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind emphasized the summit's critical timing as the world approaches a "threshold moment" with autonomous AI systems on the horizon. They highlighted AI's transformative potential in fields like science and medicine while stressing the need for international dialogue to maximize benefits and mitigate risks. The discussions echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of AI as a "force multiplier" that, combined with major skilling initiatives, can drive inclusive growth and create new job opportunities in India.

Tech leaders at AI-India Impact Summit 2026 call for global cooperation on AI risks and opportunities, aligning with PM Modi's vision for inclusive, development-focused AI.

New Delhi, February 18 The AI-India Impact Summit 2026 strengthens India's role as a key platform for shaping the global AI agenda. Anchored in the Seven Chakras and the Three Sutras of People, Planet, and Progress, the Summit advances a development-oriented framework for artificial intelligence.

By linking policy with implementation and innovation with public purpose, the Summit establishes a structured approach to responsible AI deployment. It aligns technological advancement with inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The Summit positions India as a convenor and partner in global AI cooperation, supporting shared standards, collaborative frameworks, and scalable solutions for public good. It marks a transition from dialogue to delivery, reinforcing India's commitment to responsible, inclusive, and development-focused AI pathways.

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind has appreciated India for hosting the seminal Global AI Impact, noting that it comes at an opportune time as the world is on the cusp of Artificial Generative Intelligence.

The DeepMind CEO highlighted several areas where AI is making strides and underscored the importance of the AI Summit in promoting global dialogue and cooperation to mitigate risks that may arise from the technology.

Demis Hassabis hailed the gathering of the top minds from India and across the world at the Summit and said, "We are at a threshold moment where Artificial Generative Intelligence is on the horizon in the next 5-8 years. So this summit comes at a critical moment as we start seeing more autonomous AI systems. The opportunities are incredible."

He highlighted the avenues where AI can play a crucial role-- science, medicine, climate change, human health.

"AI is going to be the most transformative technology in human history that's just on the horizon now and it is going to affect everybody across the world. It's very important to have summits like this to bring the international community together to make sure the opportunities benefit the whole world and how do we mitigate the risks- which would need international cooperation and the first step to that is to have international dialogue," he said.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys and chairman of Axilor Ventures emphasised that the true impact of AI will be determined by the applications built and deployed using the technology.

"I believe that we can become the top three in the world in different aspects of AI. The impact of AI will be through the applications that we deploy using AI. India is a huge country with a large number of applications and a large number of developers. At the application level, India can actually become number one," Gopalakrishnan said, underlining the country's strength in building and deploying AI-driven solutions.

The Tech leaders were echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the diffusion and deployment of AI in India. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, the Prime Minister noted that Artificial Intelligence is a force multiplier which will further help push the boundaries "of what we thought possible".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the government is confident that by "combining innovation with inclusion", AI will strengthen India's workforce.

"I understand the concern of our youth about AI-driven disruptions in the job market. Preparation is the best antidote to fear. That is why we have been investing in skilling and re-skilling our people for an AI-driven future. The Government has launched one of the most ambitious skilling initiatives in the world. We're not approaching this as a future problem but we're treating it as a present imperative," PM Modi said.

"I view AI as a force-multiplier which will further help us push the boundaries of what we thought possible. It will help doctors and teachers and lawyers to reach out to and help a larger group of people," he added.

The Prime Minister said that history has shown that work does not disappear due to technology.

"Its nature changes and new types of jobs are created. While some jobs may be redefined, digital transformation will also add new tech jobs to India's economy. For centuries, there have been fears that innovation and technological revolutions will eliminate jobs. Yet history teaches us that whenever innovation happens, new opportunities emerge. The same will be true in the age of AI," he said.

The Prime Minister said India is already well-equipped to adapt to this change. In the Stanford Global AI Vibrancy Index 2025, India ranked 3rd, reflecting strong growth in AI R&D, talent, and economy.

"Combining innovation with inclusion, we are confident that AI will strengthen India's workforce. With the right skills and preparation, our youth will lead the future of work," he said.

India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a day of intense diplomacy, holding nine bilateral meetings with leaders from Spain, Finland, Serbia, Croatia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, and Bhutan on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit. He also met with top tech industry figures, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla. The Prime Minister hosted a banquet for visiting dignitaries at the Bharat Mandapam, where the summit is being held. The event aims to establish India as a global leader in AI, focusing on inclusive growth and international cooperation under the theme 'welfare for all, happiness of all'.

PM Narendra Modi held 9 bilateral meetings with global leaders and tech CEOs ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with several world leaders, holding as many as nine bilateral meetings before wrapping up a hectic Wednesday by hosting a banquet for the visiting dignitaries attending India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

PM Modi held meetings with the leaders of Spain, Finland, Serbia, Croatia, Estonia, Kazakhstan and Bhutan. He also met the CEO of Google and co-founder of Sun Microsystems.

The informal interactions with global leaders continued till late evening as PM Modi warmly welcomed the world leaders at the official banquet held at the Bharat Mandapam.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi held bilateral meetings with Pedro Sanchez (President of Spain), Petteri Orpo (Prime Minister of Finland), Aleksandar Vucic (President of Serbia), Andrej Plenkovic (Prime Minister of Croatia), Alar Karis (President of Estonia), Olzhas Bektenov (Prime Minister of Kazakhstan) and Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay on the margins of the AI Impact Summit.

Prime Minister Modi also met Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Vinod Khosla, the founder of Sun Microsystems, at the Hyderabad House.

On Thursday, PM Modi will participate in the opening ceremony of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam. The gathering will also be addressed by the President of France, Secretary-General of the United Nations as well as various top industry leaders from across the world.

This will be followed by a visit to the India AI Impact Expo 2026 along with other leaders where they will visit various country pavilions.

Prime Minister will then participate in the Leaders' Plenary which will bring together Heads of State, ministers, and senior representatives from multilateral institutions to outline national and global priorities on AI, including governance, infrastructure, and international cooperation.

Thereafter, Prime Minister will participate in the CEO roundtable which will convene senior executives from global technology and industry firms with government leadership to discuss investment, research collaboration, supply chains, and deployment of AI systems.

The theme of India AI Impact Summit 2026 is 'welfare for all, happiness of all'. It aims to position India as a leader in the field of AI and envisions a future where AI advances humanity, fosters inclusive growth, and safeguards the shared planet.

Seven Working Groups anchor the Summit, aligned to three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. These groups will work on delivering concrete outcomes demonstrating AI's impact across sectors. The seven themes are: AI for Economic Growth and Social Good; Democratizing AI Resources; Inclusion for Social Empowerment; Safe and Trusted AI; Human Capital; Science; Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency.

The Summit has brought together more than 500 Global AI Leaders, including CEOs/CXOs, around 100 CEOs and Founders, 150 Academicians and Researchers, and 400 CTOs, VPs, and Philanthropists. It will also engage over 100 government representatives, including more than 20 Heads of State and Government and around 60 Ministers and Vice Ministers.

- IANS
The AI Safety Connect summit in New Delhi gathered approximately 250 senior global stakeholders to advance international coordination on AI safety and governance. Key discussions centered on India's potential to shape equitable AI adoption through its digital public infrastructure model and linguistic diversity. Speakers urgently called for bridging the gap between rapid AI development and transnational regulatory responses, emphasizing that safety is a prerequisite for innovation, not an obstacle. The role of middle powers in establishing cooperative global standards emerged as a critical theme for preventing fragmentation.

250 global stakeholders convened in New Delhi at AI Safety Connect to advance international cooperation on AI safety, governance, and equitable adoption.

New Delhi, February 18 AI Safety Connect on Wednesday brought together around 250 senior stakeholders from governments, international organisations, frontier AI companies, civil society, and academia in New Delhi for a full-day programme focused on advancing international cooperation on AI safety and governance.

"The race to build ever more capable and powerful AI systems is accelerating, with AGI and advanced robotics on the horizon, and safety is clearly not the priority. This needs to change," said Nicolas Miailhe, Co-Founder of AISC, in his opening remarks.

"For the very first time, we are building technology that could become more intelligent than us and that we don't understand," he added.

The day's programme explored five core themes through nine panel sessions, special addresses, workshops, and demonstrations of practical AI safety tools.

India's approach to AI safety remained a central focus throughout the convening. Former India G20 Sherpa and ex-CEO of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant delivered a special address, framing AI as a transformative force that must remain equitable.

"If AI is not utilised by vast segments of populations, if it is not utilised by women, by farmers, and if it is not utilised by students across the world, then AI is not fit for purpose," said Kant.

He pointed to India's experience with digital public infrastructure as a model, noting that "battles for new technology are never won by the first mover" and arguing that India's linguistic diversity and scale position it to shape how AI serves the next five billion people moving from poverty to the middle class.

The most pressing global safety risks were examined across multiple sessions, with speakers stressing the gap between the pace of AI development and the international response. Dr Eileen Donahoe, Founder of Sympatico Ventures and former US Special Envoy for Digital Freedom, challenged the framing of safety as an obstacle to progress. "In some circles, both in DC and Silicon Valley, AI safety and security has sometimes been characterised as an impediment to innovation. I think that framing is backwards," said Donahoe.

"Broad societal adoption and global diffusion won't happen if governments, enterprises, consumers, and citizens don't trust in the basic reliability and safety," she added.

Donahoe emphasised that the most urgent AI safety and security risks are inherently transnational, and the solutions must be transnational.

The role of middle powers in shaping global AI governance emerged as one of the day's most significant discussions.

Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof delivered a special address arguing that countries beyond the AI superpowers are far from powerless.

"We are not powerless spectators watching from the sidelines. We, the middle powers, represent the largest part of the world economy and the strongest democratic traditions. Together we form the majority," said Prime Minister Schoof.

He outlined the interdependence of the global AI supply chain and called on middle powers to seize the moment: "It's up to us to take a responsible approach, to write a different story. One of cooperation, not confrontation; of shared standards, not fragmentation; of democratic values, not profit maximisation."

International coordination mechanisms were scrutinised across multiple sessions, with participants examining how to translate principles into operational governance. Lucilla Sioli, Director of the European AI Office, outlined the EU's emerging approach to facilitating compliance through voluntary codes of practice, noting that 27 companies have already signed up. "AI, as we know, has no borders," said Sioli.

"I really hope that the discussions at this summit will look at cooperation in AI governance and how the experience of different countries can be used for a possible framework of the future," she added.

Sioli highlighted that the European AI Office would soon publish research in the journal Science on proportionate, risk-targeted AI evaluation methods.

The urgency of moving from principles to action was underscored by Dr Andrew Forrest, Founder of Minderoo Foundation, who delivered a forceful call for regulation in his opening address.

"Releasing the power of AI without regulating its clear and obvious danger is absolutely irresponsible on a historical scale," said Forrest.

"You can't manage what you can't measure. Our moment in history is to ensure that the immeasurable becomes managed, that the measurable becomes regulated." He called on leaders across business, politics, and the social sector to come together to ensure that the potential harms of AI are checked with the same seriousness as its benefits are pursued.

The day also featured a fireside chat between Turing Award laureate Professor Yoshua Bengio and Skype founding engineer Jaan Tallinn on the trajectory of frontier AI, with Bengio warning that "in a matter of years, not decades," AI systems will be capable of most cognitive tasks humans can perform. Panels with representatives from Microsoft, Google DeepMind, Amazon Web Services, and the Frontier Model Forum examined industry approaches to safety, while parallel sessions showcased live demonstrations of AI safety evaluation platforms, child safety testing systems, and risk modelling frameworks.

"The word safety keeps missing from the title -- and, we fear, from the agenda -- of these conversations," said Cyrus Hodes, Co-Founder of AISC. "The goal of AI Safety Connect is to put it back."

AISC's engagement at the India AI Impact Summit continues with Shared Responsibility: Industry and the Future of AI Safety on 19 February, examining private-sector approaches to safety coordination, and International AI Safety Coordination: What Policymakers Need to Know on 20 February, a ministerial-level panel during the main Summit proceedings.

- ANI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the ISKCON headquarters in West Bengal, praising the organization's global efforts to spread Sanatana Dharma. He attributed ISKCON's success to the spiritual legacy of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada and his inspiration. Shah also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's practice of gifting the Bhagavad Gita to foreign dignitaries. In a connected narrative, he linked the historical efforts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to protect temples with contemporary achievements like the consecration of the Ram Temple.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah visits ISKCON headquarters, praising its global role and linking Shivaji Maharaj's legacy to modern temple projects.

Nadia, February 18 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday visited the International Society for Krishna Consciousness headquarters in Nadia, West Bengal, where he lauded the organisation's efforts in spreading the message of Sanatana Dharma globally.

Shah attributed ISKCON's success to the karma of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada and his inspiration, Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada.

Addressing the gathering at the event, Shah said, "Today, as we witness the grand ISKCON movement spreading across the world, it is the karma of the lives of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada and his inspiration, Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada, that ISKCON is spreading the message of Sanatana Dharma throughout the world."

The Home Minister also praised the Matua community for championing social welfare and highlighted ISKCON's role in inspiring people to follow the path of the Gita.

"The Matua community has also consistently championed social welfare," he said.

Shah further highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi often gifts a copy of the Gita to visiting Heads of States or Ministers.

"ISKCON has inspired everyone to follow the path of the Gita and has sustained the Gita movement. Therefore, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi also gifts a Geeta to Heads of States or Ministers of another country, when they visit India," Shah added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Amit Shah unveiled the equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, constructed by Maharashtra Samaj Gandhinagar in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Addressing the gathering at the event, he said it will inspire the city's people and youth by commemorating Shivaji Maharaj's courage and leadership in establishing Hindu Swaraj.

He said that young Shivaji Maharaj defied the odds to establish Hindu Swaraj despite Mughal rule and years of oppression, and praised his efforts to protect temples and promote resilience during challenging times.

Shah said, "It is a good day for me that the statue of Shivaji Maharaj has been installed. The 21-foot-tall statue will inspire the people and youth of Gandhinagar. When the darkness of slavery loomed large, the country was enslaved from Afghanistan to Kanyakumari and from Somnath to Orissa. Adil Shahi came; when people had almost disappeared due to years of slavery and suffering, 16-year-old Shivaji showed a new path."

"No one believed that young Shivaji would be able to establish Hindu Swaraj. Shivaji Maharaj was crowned, and Hindu Swaraj was established. It took Mughal power to break Shivaji Maharaj's courage, but he did not give up the fight. When the temples of Kashi were destroyed, Shivaji Maharaj protected the temples of the South," the Union Home Minister added.

Shah also reflected on Shivaji Maharaj's vow to rebuild temples destroyed by invaders, linking it to contemporary achievements such as the consecration of the Ram Temple, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and the gilding of the Somnath Temple. He also noted Shivaji Maharaj's establishment of the Navy and his guiding motto.

"At that time, he gave the message that if destructive forces destroy temples, we will build new ones. When the Ram Temple was consecrated, Shivaji Maharaj's vow was fulfilled. The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor was rebuilt. The Somnath Temple, which was destroyed 16 times, has been gilded. During his time, Shivaji Maharaj established the Navy and gave a motto," he said.

- ANI
The first look poster of Anupama Parameswaran as her character 'Keerthi' from the upcoming film 'Crazy Kalyanam' was released on her birthday. The production house described the film as a "pompous celebration of Chaos and Comedy" centered around a wedding. The film marks the directorial debut of Badrappa Gajula in Telugu cinema and features a notable supporting cast. Shooting is currently progressing briskly for this entertainer.

First look poster of Anupama Parameswaran as Keerthi from 'Crazy Kalyanam' released on her birthday. The film is a chaotic comedy wedding entertainer.

Hyderabad, Feb 18 The makers of director Badrappa Gajula's upcoming entertainer, 'Crazy Kalyanam', featuring actress Anupama Parameswaran in the lead, on Wednesday released the first look poster of the actress on the occasion of her birthday and disclosed that she plays a character called Keerthi in the film.

Arrow Cinemas, the production house producing the film, took to its social media timelines to share the first look poster of Anupama Parameswaran and greet her a happy birthday.

The production house wrote, "Team #CrazyKalyanam wishes the super talented @anupamaparameswaran96, a very Happy Birthday.Introducing her as 'Keerthi' from Crazy Kalyanam. Her Wedding is a pompous celebration of Chaos and Comedy, Stay tuned. An @arrowcinemas Production No:2."

The film's producer Boosam Jagan Mohan Reddy too took to his Instagram page to pen a birthday wish for the actress. He wrote, "Celebrating the ever-graceful Anupama Parameswaran on her special day as we continue the vibrant journey of 'Crazy Kalyanam', Arrow Cinemas' second production."

He further said, "On set today, the energy was extra special as we marked her birthday with warmth and gratitude-not just for the occasion, but for the dedication, charm, and emotional depth she brings to every frame. Anupama's presence lights up the screen, and working alongside the immensely talented Tarun Bhascker, Naresh, and Akhil, she adds a beautiful spark that makes each scene truly come alive."

The producer went on to say that under the passionate direction of Badhrappa Gajula and supported by an incredible cast and crew, 'Crazy Kalyanam' was shaping into a wholesome entertainer filled with heart and celebration.

"Here's wishing Anupama a year filled with happiness, success, and many more magical performances. Happy Birthday!," he wrote.

For the unaware, shooting for the film, which will be an out-and-out entertainer, is currently progressing at a brisk pace. The film marks Badrappa Gajula's debut as a director in the Telugu film industry.

Apart from Anupama Parameswaran, the film will also feature Dr Naresh Vijayakrishna, Tharun Bhascker and Akhil Raj Uddemari in pivotal roles.

The film boasts of a quality technical team.

Cinematography for the film is by Shyam Dupati while music for the film is being scored by Suresh Bobbili. The film, which has been written by director Badrappa Gajula himself, has screenplay by Srinivasa Ravindra. Art direction for the film is by Sai Kadhira. The film is being co-directed by Srinivasa Dora.

Editing for the film is by Shravan Katikaneni and costumes have been designed by Gayathri Devi. While dances in the film are to be choreographed by Eshwar Penti, the action sequences in the film are to be choreographed by Dragon Prakash.

- IANS
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has signed an MoU with France's Port of Marseille Fos to deepen cooperation on trade and port innovation. The partnership aims to strengthen the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), creating a ports club for better coordination among key hubs. It connects APSEZ's western Indian ports to the European gateway, completing the IMEC trade pathway boosted by a potential India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The collaboration will focus on digitalization, green maritime corridors, and promoting the IMEC as a sustainable alternative for Eurasian trade.

APSEZ partners with France's Port of Marseille Fos to strengthen the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and boost India-EU trade flows.

Ahmedabad, February 18 Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Port of Marseille Fos, France, to deepen cooperation on trade facilitation, port innovation, and energy transition, the company said in an official statement on Wednesday.

APSEZ also stated that it partnered with the Port of Marseille Fos, France's leading port and the Mediterranean's premier gateway, to strengthen connectivity between India and Europe under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

In an official statement, it stated "This partnership proposes the creation of an IMEC Ports Club to strengthen coordination among key ports along the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) route, reinforcing connectivity between India and the European Union".

The company noted that this completes the IMEC pathway for India-EU trade, which has been boosted by the Free Trade Agreement between India and the EU, termed as "the mother of all deals" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The MoU was signed during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, highlighting the expanding India-France strategic partnership and aligning it with the broader IMEC and India-EU trade vision.

Launched at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, the IMEC is a 6,000-km multimodal connectivity initiative linking India and Europe through integrated maritime routes, rail networks, digital systems, and clean-energy pathways.

On the eastern gateway of IMEC, APSEZ's ports at Mundra and Hazira serve as a multimodal logistics hub connecting South Asia to West Asia.

With this agreement, Marseille Fos strengthens the western European gateway of the corridor, adding approximately 70 million tonnes of capacity and extending the corridor's reach deeper into Europe. Marseille Fos is also recognised as one of Europe's largest integrated multimodal port ecosystems.

Adani Port also stated that this partnership will focus on promoting the IMEC route as a sustainable, secure, and competitive alternative for Eurasian trade flows through joint campaigns, participation in international trade fairs and roadshows, and targeted business-to-business engagements.

It will also include technical exchange and capacity building in port digitalisation, smart-port platforms, data interoperability, cybersecurity, alternative fuels, shore power supply, and low-carbon bunkering.

Both sides will also work on developing the Mundra-Marseille Fos Green Maritime Corridor and co-founding the IMEC Ports Club to institutionalise dialogue among corridor ports and support policy discussions and investment frameworks related to IMEC infrastructure.

Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director & CEO, APSEZ, said, "India has already taken a leadership role in advancing this corridor, and with the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, trade between the participating countries is expected to grow manifold."

He further added, "At APSEZ, our ports in Hazira and Mundra on India's western coast have already established a seamless pathway across the first and middle legs of the corridor. With this MoU with the Port of Marseille Fos in France, we have now successfully connected the final leg to Europe. This partnership will significantly accelerate the exchange of information and materials among all participating nations, further strengthening economic cooperation and supply-chain resilience."

Herve Martel, CEO of the Port of Marseille Fos, added: "We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with APSEZ at a moment when the IMEC corridor is entering a decisive phase. India and Marseille stand at the two extremities of this future trade backbone, giving both ports a major responsibility in structuring and energizing this new route. Together, we intend to mobilize and federate the ports involved, and to act as strong advocates of a more efficient, resilient and sustainable connection between our regions."

- ANI
Ash Wednesday was observed with a Holy Mass at Thoothukudi's Sacred Heart Cathedral, led by Bishop Stephen, who emphasized repentance and faith to parishioners. Separately, the District Forest Department organized drawing and slogan-writing competitions for World Wetland Day at a local school. Over 120 students participated, creatively illustrating the ecological importance of wetlands and the need for conservation. District Forest Officer Ilaiyaraja stated the events aim to raise awareness, with this year's theme focusing on traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.

Thoothukudi observes Ash Wednesday at Sacred Heart Cathedral led by Bishop Stephen. Students participate in district-level wetland conservation drawing and slogan contests.

Thoothukudi, February 18 Ash Wednesday was observed with spiritual reverence on Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, marking the beginning of the Lenten season in the Christian faith.

A special Holy Mass and prayer services were held on the occasion. The service was led by Thoothukudi Diocesan Bishop Stephen. During the ceremony, ashes were placed on the foreheads of the faithful.

The Bishop delivered a message emphasising repentance, penance, prayer, and living steadfastly in faith. A large number of parishioners participated devoutly in the service and pledged to observe the Lenten season with spiritual discipline.

A calm and prayerful atmosphere prevailed throughout the Mass. The observance highlighted the transient nature of human life and conveyed the message of renewal through God's grace.

Earlier in Thoothukudi, on the eve of World Wetland Day, the District Forest Department organised district-level drawing and slogan-writing competitions at Subbiah Vidhyalaya School in Thoothukudi on Thursday. The competitions aimed to raise students' awareness of the importance of wetlands and the need to conserve birds, wetland fauna, and biodiversity associated with these ecosystems.

More than 120 students from various government and private schools across the district participated in the competitions and demonstrated strong interest in showcasing their creativity. In the drawing competition, students vividly portrayed the ecological benefits of wetlands, their role as bird habitats, and their importance in maintaining environmental balance through colourful, creative illustrations.

Similarly, in the slogan-writing competition, students clearly articulated the need to protect wetlands, the human responsibility to nature, and the duty to safeguard natural resources for future generations.

According to District Forest Officer Ilaiyaraja, "Students from schools across the district are participating in this event. This year, the theme of World Wetland Day is 'Wetlands Celebrating Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Heritage.'"

He further said, "Every year, February 2nd is celebrated as World Wetland Day. The Forest Department is organising various events to raise awareness and promote conservation messages to the public, especially school students. This year, we plan to host a major awareness event. This year, the theme of the Wetland Day celebration is "Wetlands Celebrating Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Heritage." So, today throughout the schools in the district, we have invited school students, and we are conducting a painting competition anda slogan writing competition."

- ANI
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw chaired a strategic convening of industry leaders and global academicians to articulate India's AI priorities for the manufacturing and engineering technology ecosystem. The event, part of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, saw the launch of a White Paper Concept on "AI for Manufacturing, Engineering Technology (AI-MET)" to provide a strategic framework. Discussions highlighted AI as a foundational enabler for productivity, competitiveness, and innovation, aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. The initiative aims to foster a collaborative governance model between industry, academia, and government to place manufacturing at the core of India's growth and decarbonization agenda.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw chairs summit to set India's AI agenda for manufacturing, focusing on skills, adoption, and inclusive growth.

New Delhi, February 18 Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Wednesday chaired a strategic convening of industry leaders and global academicians, policymakers and technology experts to articulate India's AI priorities, especially for the Manufacturing Engineering Technology ecosystem, with a strong focus on adoption, skills development and inclusive growth.

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the convening was curated by NAMTECH under the leadership of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY). It brought together academicians from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M), and other prominent universities alongside C-suite executives from industry such as from Microsoft India, Dell Technologies, Cisco India, Hitachi India, Tata Electronics, Rockwell Automation, Palo Alto Networks, PayPal, and Intel among others, according to an official release from the Ministry of Electronics & IT.

The industry-academia-government discussion featuring leading industry and academic leaders highlighted AI as a foundational enabler of productivity, competitiveness and innovation across India's industrial sectors, aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

This convening builds on the momentum of the Industry-Academia Roundtable held in May 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, which underscored the need for collective action to enable India's industrial transformation. Consequently, the Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MET) platform is being envisaged - convened and catalysed by NAMTECH - to bring together industry, academia, and government in a shared governance and execution model, and place manufacturing at the core of India's accelerated growth and decarbonization agenda.

The event also marked the launch of the White Paper Concept on "AI for Manufacturing, Engineering Technology (AI-MET)", by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The White Paper Concept presents a strategic framework for embedding AI across manufacturing and associated value chains to drive productivity, sustainability and global competitiveness. It outlines a process for putting together coordinated pathways for industry, academia, and policymakers for embedding AI across India's MET ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "Artificial intelligence is a foundational pillar in India's journey towards Viksit Bharat. By integrating AI across Manufacturing Engineering Technology, we can enhance productivity, strengthen competitiveness, and unlock new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. Our focus is on building an inclusive AI ecosystem that empowers enterprises and MSMEs alike, while preparing India's workforce for the future. Initiatives such as the AI-MET White Paper reflect the kind of collaborative, mission-driven approach needed to translate technological capability into outcomes on the ground. I am happy that NAMTECH has taken the lead in convening industry, academia and policymakers towards this shared national objective. My request to NAMTECH would be to use this opportunity to develop the next level of talent that can enable India to emerge as a major manufacturer of precision equipment," the release noted.

Chancellor for Academic Advancement, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, Prof Eric Grimson, USA, added, "The next phase of India's AI journey will be defined by its ability to move from capability to application - embedding AI across industry, enterprises and MSMEs, investing in skills at scale, and ensuring that innovation remains inclusive. This requires sustained collaboration across academia, industry and government to build systems that can translate research and technology into real-world outcomes."

Executive Director of Manufacturing & Conglomerates, Microsoft India Pravin Panchagnula remarked, "The impact of AI in India's industrial sectors will be determined by its deployment on the shop floor and across complex engineering systems. Enabling adoption among MSMEs, alongside targeted skilling and upskilling of the workforce, will be essential for building resilient and globally competitive manufacturing value chains."

Vinod Karumampoyil, Director - Digital Transformation, Cisco India, added, "As AI becomes integral to modern manufacturing, building strong application-oriented skills across the workforce is essential. Closer collaboration between industry and academic institutions will be key to ensuring that talent is prepared to deploy AI responsibly and at scale, strengthening productivity and competitiveness across India's manufacturing ecosystem."

As per the release, Swapna Bapat, MD & Vice President - India & SAARC, Palo Alto Networks remarked, "In the landscape of cybersecurity and IT, poorly designed Operational Technology (OT) poses a significant risk. Designing a secure, enterprise-grade network requires three critical elements. As AI becomes a cornerstone of modern manufacturing, we must prioritize building application-oriented skills across the workforce. Our goal is to bridge the gap between education and industry, bringing modern network security principles into schools to ensure students are ready for immediate workplace deployment."

Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director - India, Rockwell Automation added, "For India's manufacturing sector, the real impact of AI will be realised when it is integrated into industrial automation systems and deployed at scale across production environments. Bridging the gap between digital innovation and shop-floor execution requires strong collaboration between industry, academia and government. Initiatives such as this create the ecosystem needed to accelerate adoption, strengthen workforce capability, and enhance the global competitiveness of India's manufacturing value chains."

Dr Ibrahim Hafeezur Rehman, Operating Director General & CEO, NAMTECH, remarked, "By grounding education in real-world industrial contexts, NAMTECH aims to show how application-oriented learning can enable day-zero deployment of talent into production environments. Through the MET Platform and partnerships with industry and academia, this approach can help shape scalable models for preparing the workforce for India's Manufacturing Engineering Technology transformation."

- ANI
View of the buildings of the Israeli settlement showing the expansion around the Jewish settlement of Adumim, in the West Bank.

With an eye on the October elections, Netanyahus government is approving measures that deepen Israels de facto annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory, transferring prerogatives from military to civilian hands

Israel holds parliamentary elections in October. With Benjamin Netanyahus coalition polling worse than the opposition, the ultranationalist partners who dream of Greater Israel fear the end of the settlement miracle, as one of their ministers, Orit Strock, described it in a closed-door meeting with settlers last year. I feel, she said, like someone who stops at a traffic light and suddenly the light turns green.

The Netanyahu government (the most ultranationalist the country has had since its founding in 1948) has been rapidly transforming the West Bank since 2022. The result: an unprecedented expansion of settlements, overshadowed by the invasion of Gaza; record land expropriations; and more than 3,000 people expelled by settler violence. This month, it has further accelerated the process with a series of measures that deepen the de facto annexation of the West Bank, the Palestinian territory it has militarily occupied since 1967 but has never formally annexed, unlike East Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan Heights. Everything is becoming increasingly rapid and explicit, with a new buzzword in the national political lexicon: sovereignty.

The consequences are visible. Every journey through the West Bank reveals something new. From more Israeli flags and Jewish symbols along the roadsides to the near-total absence of Palestinians in open spaces: they have been replaced by Israeli settlers taking their livestock out to pasture. There are also the occasional proto-settlement on a hilltop and new barriers at the entrances to Palestinian towns. Even real estate listings appear in settlements once considered remote.

The situation in the West Bank Area A : Administration by the Palestinian Authority (PA) Area B : Shared administration (PA / Israel) Area C : Exclusive administration by Israel

The key to the transformation is the transfer of powers from Israeli military authorities (who, in theory, are occupying the territory temporarily) to civilian authorities. This creates a situation that is effectively equivalent to annexation, just without a formal declaration. As Israels ultranationalist Minister of Heritage Amihai Eliyahu said on February 4: Sovereignty is not a declaration. It is an action.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a hardliner, is spearheading the process thanks to the parallel Defense portfolio that Netanyahu tailor-made for him in order to regain power (Netanyahu needed the support of Smotrichs Religious Zionist Party to form government). He created a Settlements Division that manages day-to-day civil affairs in most of the West Bank and hoped that 2025 would be God willing, the year of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, the official and biblical term for the West Bank.

It didnt happen. In 2026, the annexation remains de facto, not de jure, because last Octoberwhen the announcement seemed imminentU.S. President Donald Trump met with his Arab and Muslim allies and adopted a very different tone from his usual staunch support for Netanyahu. I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. It will not happen [...] Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened, said Trump.

The annexation has already happened, but its also happening. Its a process, says Lior Amijai, executive director of Shalom Achshav (Peace Now, in Hebrew), Israels leading peace organization, which closely monitors decisions regarding the West Bank. Israel could have made a decision: We have annexed the territories, and from now on, Israeli [civil] law applies here. But not even this administration, not even under Trump, can it do that, so its proceeding in a process that makes us understand that, in a sense, its already largely annexed, but it can still be annexed even further.

U.S. President Donald Trump with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto; Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban; Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan; Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez; and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during a summit on Gaza on October 13, 2025 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images)

Urgent sovereignty

Its not enough for everyone. Last July, 71 of the 120 members of the Knesset (three more than the combined total of the ruling coalition) called for formal annexation. Representatives of the settlers are pushing for it. They believe it would send a clear message to the Palestinians: stop dreaming of their own state because it wont happen. It is urgent. Clear [Israeli] sovereignty establishes law and borders and eliminates the illusion of a future Palestinian state, wrote Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar, two co-chairs of the Sovereignty Movement, last week. Smotrich has proposed annexing 85% of the West Bank (everything except the cities where the vast majority of Palestinians live) following the slogan of maximum territory, minimum Arabs.

The shift from military to civilian control is exactly what the latest decisionapproved on Sundaydoes: it resumes the registration of West Bank land, suspended in 1968, a year after the occupation began. Beneath an administrative veneer, lies a much deeper significance. It is a process begun by the British authorities during their Mandate (19171948) and continued by the Jordanians (19491967) with the aim of determiningusing more modern criteriawho owned each plot of land. When, in 1967, Israel conquered the West Bank in just six days of war, it became an occupying power, without the authority to allocate land and, in theory, only for a limited time. So, although twothirds of the land still remained unregistered, it issued a military directive a year later to halt the process.

Israeli soldiers stop vehicles and conduct searches during a raid in the Old City of Hebron, in the southern West Bank, on February 16, 2026. Amer Shallodi (Anadolu/Getty Images)

On Sunday, Netanyahus government ordered the Armed Forces to amend the directive and allocated 244 million shekels (approximately $78 million) for the first five years of the 30-year process it intends to complete. Responsibility for the land will shift from the Civil Administrationa defense agencyto the Land Title Registry under the Ministry of Justice.

A century after it began, the registry is anything but innocent or merely technical. It is, rather, a victory for the settler organizations, whose voice has never carried as much weight in Jerusalem as it does now. We know who is leading it, who has pushed for it, and what their intentions are, which makes the process a way of taking more and more land from Palestinians, Amijai says.

Palestinians losing their land

Palestinians will have to prove ownership of the land, even though it sometimes dates back several generations, has been fragmented among numerous descendants (including refugees in neighboring countries), or is not documented. Those who cannot prove ownership will lose it forever. Proving ownership is cumbersome, bureaucratic, and expensive. And the decision will be made by the military authorities of a country interested in registering the land not as private property, but as state land, which has been the basis of decades of colonization.

The registration will take place in Area C, which makes up 60% of the West Bank and is under full Israeli control (administrative and security), Half a million Jewish settlers and some 300,000 Palestinians live in Area C. According to Shalom Ajshav, 58% of the land in Area C remains unregistered. The Netanyahu government now aims to regularize at least 15% of this land as state property, as stated in the order itself.

The struggle for territory underlies other important decisions approved by the Israeli Security Cabinet on February 8, including two long-standing settler demands: the publication of the land registry in the West Bank and the repeal of a Jordanian-era law (1953) that prevented non-Arabs from directly acquiring land. This will facilitate land sales, which have been rife with trickery and document forgery. Until now, land transactions could only be carried out through companies, and without a registry, so pressure on and contact with landowners will predictably increase. In the midst of the territorial conflict, Palestinians who sell land to settlers face social ostracism (they often flee beforehand) and, in theory, even the death penalty, although Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has not signed any decrees for two decades.

Whats more, Smotrich will be able to more easily extend to the remaining 40% of the West Bank the demolitions of Palestinian structures (built illegally because Israels military authorities do not grant permits) that have surged in Area C. Authorities have now been granted the power to demolish buildings in Areas A (the major cities, where the PA holds both administrative and security control) and B (their surroundings, under PA administrative authority) by claiming it is to protect archaeological sites or the environment.

Its very vague, it has nothing to do with security, and it violates agreements signed by Israel, such as the Oslo Accords, laments the executive director of Shalom Ajshav.

Israeli soldiers take safety precautions as the army demolishes a Palestinian home in the village of Beit Awwa, near Hebron, West Bank, on February 11, 2026. Mamoun Wazwaz (Anadolu/Getty Images)

Heritage Authority

On February 3, an Israeli parliamentary committee gave the green light to a draft law that goes even further on heritage matters. It entails another transfer of powers from the military to civilians, through the creation of a Heritage Authority responsible for all matters of heritage, antiquities and archaeology, including the preservation, restoration, development and rescue of antiquities, as well as the excavation, development and management of sites. Its sponsor, Zvi Sukkot, from Smotrichs party Religious Zionism, made his vision clear: There is no Palestinian heritage. What exists is a Jewish heritage that goes back thousands of years, and it is our responsibility to protect it.

If approved (it still needs to pass three readings in the full chamber), it would mark the first time the Parliament applies Israeli civil legislation directly to West Bank territory, rather thanas until nowto people (the settlers), as peace and human rights organizations have warned.

Jewish settlers hang Israeli flags and banners in the Masoudiya neighborhood, near the city of Sebastia, north of Nablus, in the West Bank. Mohammed Nasser (CONTACTO/Europa Press)

The government has also taken another step toward erasing the Green Line, the boundary internationally recognized between Israel and the Palestinian territories (Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem), which does not appear on Israels official maps. This is the first project to expand Jerusalem into West Bank territory since it enlarged its municipal boundariesfrom 2.3 to 29.3 square milesafter capturing the eastern part of the city in 1967.

Once again, its being done through the back door. On paper, its listed as a plan to build thousands of homes in Adam, a settlement in the West Bank. In practice, they will lie farther from Adam than from Neve Yaakov, another settlementbut one already inside Jerusalems municipal limitsas shown on the official map released Monday by Shalom Ajshav. The homes are, in fact, intended for ultraOrthodox Jews, like those who live in Neve Yaakov, and a road will connect them.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 152nd appearance day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati at the ISKCON temple in Mayapur, West Bengal. He explicitly stated he was present not as Home Minister but as a devotee of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. During his address, Shah conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the gathering. He spoke on the spiritual significance of the event and the legacy of the Vaishnav revivalist movement.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarifies he attended the ISKCON event in Mayapur as a follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, not in his official capacity.

Kolkata, Feb 18 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that he was attending a religious congregation at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple in Mayapur in West Bengal's Nadia district not in his official capacity but as a follower of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion of the 152nd holy appearance day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, the 19th-century Vaishnav revivalist and founder of the Gaudiya Math, Shah refrained from making any political remarks during his brief address and focused on the spiritual significance of the event and the devotional legacy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister Shah said he had also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the devotees attending the function and shared the message of devotion associated with the occasion.

"This morning I spoke to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. I told him that today I am going to attend the 152nd Jayanti of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati in Mayapur. He greeted all of you with heartfelt devotion and conveyed the message of 'Hare Krishna' to all of you. A little while ago, I was addressed as the Home Minister of India. I have not come here as the Home Minister of India. I have come here today as a humble devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu," HM Shah said.

Home Minister Shah said that the devotional movement initiated by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was later strengthened and institutionalised by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, who played a key role in spreading Vaishnav philosophy in modern times.

"That devotional movement was not just carried forward, but also transformed into a modern medium to inspire youths to engage in global welfare," he said.

He added that Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had shown a spiritual path to people immersed in ignorance and helped spread the message of devotion across India and beyond.

"Both good and bad aspects are present in a person. But when a person dissolves his own existence and becomes one with Lord Krishna, then everything becomes good. On this path, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, through kirtan, dance, devotional music, and the message of the Gita, lit the lamp of devotion in the lives of many people in eastern and northeastern parts of India," Home Minister Shah said.

- IANS
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has assigned portfolios to the 50 members of his new cabinet following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's decisive victory in the 2026 general election. Key appointments include former national security advisor Khalilur Rahman as Foreign Minister and Shama Obaid as State Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Prime Minister himself will oversee the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Defense, and the Armed Forces Division. The election marked a major political shift, ending Sheikh Hasina's long dominance, though the exclusion of key parties and reform debates signal ongoing challenges.

New Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman allocates ministries, names Khalilur Rahman as Foreign Minister and outlines major cabinet appointments after BNP's 2026 election victory.

Dhaka, February 18 The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, has assigned portfolios to the 50 members of his cabinet.

Among them, former national security advisor Khalilur Rahman, from the previous interim government of Muhammad Yunus, has been given the role of foreign minister, while another senior BNP leader, who was previously a member of BNP's international affairs subcommittee, Shama Obaid, has been appointed as State Minister for Foreign Affairs.

After the allocation of the ministerial roles, the government issued an official order announcing that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would take responsibility for three ministries: the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Defense, and the Armed Forces Division.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was given the responsibility of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, The role of Finance and Planning Minister was assigned to BNP's Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and BNP Joint Secretary General Saluddin Ahmed was given the role of Minister of Home Affairs.

The 2026 Bangladesh general election, held on 12 February 2026, marked a major political shift in the country's history.

After years of upheaval culminating in the 2024 uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a decisive victory, capturing over 200 seats in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad and securing a strong parliamentary majority.

Tarique Rahman, son of former leaders Khaleda Zia and Ziaur Rahman, returned from years in exile to lead the BNP to power and has been sworn in as Prime Minister, ending Hasina's long dominance.

The elections were accompanied by a constitutional referendum and saw increased representation of minority candidates. Voter turnout was relatively high, and Rohana Hettiarachchie, Executive Director of People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) described the polls as competitive and orderly. However, the exclusion of key parties like the Awami League and tensions over reform debates mean significant political challenges remain ahead.

- ANI
Brazilian President Lula's visit to India has catalyzed a major push to deepen economic ties, with a target of $20 billion in bilateral trade by 2026. The inauguration of the first ApexBrasil office in New Delhi aims to boost Brazilian exports, which hit a two-decade high of $6.9 billion in 2025 led by commodities like sugar and crude oil. The partnership identifies hundreds of new opportunities in sectors from agriculture to renewable energy and health tech. This South-South collaboration is further strengthened through multilateral frameworks like BRICS and the Mercosur-India trade agreement.

Brazil aims for $20 billion bilateral trade with India by 2026, opens ApexBrasil office in New Delhi to boost exports and investment ties.

Sao Paulo, February 18 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's official visit to India has marked a renewed push to deepen trade, investment, and strategic cooperation between the two major Global South economies.

During the visit, Brazil hosted the India-Brazil Business Forum 2026 and inaugurated the first ApexBrasil office in the Indian capital, aimed at expanding exports and strengthening commercial presence in one of the world's fastest-growing markets.

The initiative comes amid robust growth in bilateral trade. Commerce between the two countries reached 15.2 billion US dollars in 2025, a 25 per cent increase from the previous year.

Both sides now aim to raise the figure to 20 billion dollars by 2026 and significantly expand the product basket, as cited by Brasil 247.

President Lula described India and Brazil as natural partners, citing their democratic systems, cultural diversity, and expanding economies.

India's vast consumer market, rising demand for energy, food, and industrial inputs, along with rapid infrastructure growth, have positioned it as a priority destination for Brazilian exports.

Brazilian exports to India climbed to 6.9 billion dollars in 2025, the highest in two decades, led by sugar, crude oil, vegetable oils, cotton, and iron ore.

The export promotion agency ApexBrasil has identified 378 new opportunities across minerals, machinery, food products, health technology, and renewable energy sectors.

Agricultural items such as ethanol derivatives and cotton, along with industrial equipment for agribusiness and power generation, are key focus areas.

At the same time, India continues supplying higher value-added goods to Brazil, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and auto components.

Brazilian imports from India stood at 8.4 billion dollars in 2025.

Investment ties are also expanding, with Indian foreign direct investment in Brazil reaching 2.1 billion dollars and new industrial collaborations emerging.

The partnership is reinforced through frameworks such as the Mercosur-India Preferential Trade Agreement and cooperation within BRICS, G20, BASIC, and IBAS, highlighting the growing importance of South-South economic collaboration.

- ANI
Canada's Minister for AI and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, is visiting New Delhi to participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral AI partnerships and engage with global leaders on the future economy. The summit, hosted at Bharat Mandapam, brings together policymakers, experts, and innovators from over 110 countries. It is guided by the foundational principles of promoting human-centric, sustainable, and inclusive AI development.

Canada's Minister Evan Solomon visits New Delhi for the Global AI Impact Summit to advance AI partnerships and meet senior Indian officials.

New Delhi, February 18 Canada's Minister for AI and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, will participate in the Global AI Impact Summit being held in the national capital, the High Commission of Canada in India shared on Wednesday.

In a series of posts on X, the High Commission highlighted how the visit aims to strengthen Canada's AI partnership with India, with Minister Solomon slated to meet senior Indian officials.



The posts further noted that the visit is focused on advancing partnerships in the fields of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.



"Canada is in New Delhi this week to strengthen its AI partnership with India and engage with global leaders shaping the economy of the future. From February 18 to 21, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon will meet with senior Indian officials and participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The visit is focused on advancing practical partnerships in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies -- expanding opportunities for Canadian companies, attracting investment, and strengthening Canada's competitive position in the global economy," the post stated.



The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.



The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity.



The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers.



The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.



The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement.





- ANI
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended warm wishes for the Tibetan New Year, Losar, celebrating the global Tibetan community's fortitude. Sikyong Penpa Tsering, in his greeting, accused Chinese authorities of systematic efforts to erase Tibet's unique identity and culture. He detailed the challenges faced by Tibetans inside Tibet, who he said remain steadfast in preserving their heritage. The Losar festival, marking the Year of the Fire Horse, involves three days of traditional observances including family time and public ceremonies.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wishes for Tibetan New Year, as Tibetan leader decries cultural erasure and celebrates community's fortitude.

Washington DC, February 18 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday extended wishes on the occasion of Losar, the Tibetan New Year, and underlined the resilience of the Tibetan community across the world.

Taking it to X, he said, "Extending my warmest wishes to everyone around the world celebrating Losar, the Tibetan New Year. On this first day of the Year of the Fire Horse, we celebrate the fortitude and resilience of the Tibetan community worldwide."

Earlier on Tuesday, Sikyong Penpa Tsering extended Losar greetings on behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration to Tibetans around the world.

In his message shared by the Central Tibetan Administration, he noted how inside Tibet, fellow Tibetans continue to face numerous challenges, "due to the oppressive policies of the Chinese government, they are often unable to express their true thoughts and feelings--even among family members and friends".

He decried the erasure of unique Tibetan culture by the Chinese government and said, "The Chinese authorities are systematically attempting to erase Tibet's unique identity, language, religion, culture, and environment, with the ultimate goal of Sinicising the Tibetan people. Yet despite these hardships, Tibetans inside Tibet remain steadfast and undaunted. They continue to cherish and preserve their language, faith, and cultural heritage, and their pride as Tibetans has only grown stronger in the face of adversity. We deeply admire their resilience and unwavering spirit."

In his remarks, he called for Tibetans to strive with wisdom and determination, and work together to fulfil the vision of the Dalai Lama.

"This Losar marks a new beginning. Let us dedicate ourselves to working diligently, honestly, and with pure hearts", he said as per the CTA.

Tibetans celebrate Losar as a festival for three days. They are welcoming the year of the Fire Horse 2153 and bidding bye to the Wood Snake Year 2152.

Losar is celebrated for different lengths of time in tandem with the local tradition, but the first three days of Losar are considered very important.

The first day is said to be Lama-Losar and people visit monasteries, pay respect to the Lamas and receive their blessings, according to the Tibetan Government-in-Exile statement. The first day is usually spent with family members only.

The second day is said to be Gyalpo-Losar. Gyalpo means king representing authority, official public celebrations are conducted on this day, according to the Tibetan Government-in-Exile statement. The third day is known as Chokyong-Losar.

Chokyong means the guardian deities. On this day, prayer flags are hoisted on the hills and around the houses. Guardian deities are propitiated and supplication prayers are read.

- ANI
The Department of Personnel and Training has promoted seven State Civil Service officers from Chhattisgarh to the Indian Administrative Service. These appointments fill vacancies for the 2024 calendar year, with the officers placed on probation in the Chhattisgarh cadre. Separately, the Himachal Pradesh government has ordered the transfer and posting of five IAS officers to new roles. The reshuffle includes key appointments such as Secretary to the Chief Minister and Managing Director positions for various state corporations.

Centre promotes 7 Chhattisgarh civil servants to IAS. Himachal Pradesh government issues transfer orders for 5 senior IAS officers.

New Delhi, February 18 The Centre has promoted seven State Civil Service officers from Chhattisgarh to the Indian Administrative Service on Tuesday.

According to a notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the officers have been appointed to the Indian Administrative Service against vacancies arising between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. The appointments were made under the provisions of the Indian Administrative Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1954, and related regulations.

The officers promoted to the IAS are: Durg Municipal Commissioner Sumit Agrawal, Bilaspur CEO Sandeep Kumar Agrawal, Tirthraj Agrawal, Leena Kosam, Saumil Ranjan Chaubey, Birendra Bahadur Panchbhai, and Ashish Kumar Tikariha.

The notification states that the officers have been appointed on probation and allocated to the Chhattisgarh cadre under the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954, until further orders.

Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday issued transfer and posting orders of five IAS officers. According to a notification issued by the Department of Personnel today, the orders were made on the recommendations of the Civil Services Board and approved by the Governor.

As per the notification, Ashish Singhamar, Secretary (Digital Technologies & Governance), has been appointed Secretary to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. He will also look after the departments of Digital Technologies and Governance, SAD, SWD, Parliamentary Affairs, Finance, Planning, and Social Justice & Empowerment. He will additionally hold the charge of Secretary (SAD, SWD, and Parliamentary Affairs), relieving Rakesh Kanwar of the additional charge of SAD, SWD, and Parliamentary Affairs.

Anindam Chaudhary, Managing Director, HPMC, Shimla, who was also holding additional charges of Managing Director, H.P. Agro Industries Corporation Ltd., Managing Director, HP Agro Industrial Packaging India Ltd., and Managing Director, General Industries Corporation, has been posted as Director (Personnel & Finance), HPSEBL, Shimla.

Vinay Singh, Director, Horticulture, Himachal Pradesh, has been appointed as Managing Director, HPMC, Shimla. He will also hold the additional charge of Managing Director of H.P. Agro Industries Corporation Ltd. and Managing Director of H.P. Agro Industrial Packaging India Ltd., Shimla.

Torul S Ravish, Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, has been appointed Managing Director of H.P. State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd., Shimla. She will also hold the additional charge of Managing Director at General Industries Corporation, Shimla.

Meanwhile, Anurag Chander Sharma (HP:2016), Director (Personnel & Finance), HPSEBL, who was holding additional charge of Managing Director, HP State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd., has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Kullu district.

- ANI
Chris Hemsworth reveals plans for more Thor films after Avengers: Doomsday, discussing his journey and future ideas for the character.

Los Angeles, Feb 18 Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth is set to play Thor a few more times after the upcoming film 'Avengers: Doomsday'.

The 42-year-old actor has portrayed the Marvel hero since 2011's 'Thor' and was last seen in 2022's 'Thor: Love and Thunder' and with his next outing in 'Avengers: Doomsday' on the horizon, Hemsworth has confirmed his time as Thor is not quite over yet, reports 'Female First UK'.



During an appearance on the Smartless Podcast, he said, "I was talking to (Marvel boss) Kevin Feige about it, and he said it's cool because the audience now expects dramatic turns with the character. And whatever we do next, we've got some ideas to do something pretty unique again and hopefully be (different)".



The actor shared it has been "so much fun" playing alternate versions of Thor with different directors.



He said, "It's been so much fun. And what I've really enjoyed it, unlike a lot of what the other characters that the [actors] were given, they have had to be pretty consistent, whereas working with Taika Waititi on his films versus Kenneth Branagh with those films and then with the Russos, all (the films) had quite a different sort of tonal opinion. But (the Russos) also let me try different things. It's the same with my tattoos, I'd be getting really bored (with) the same thing and having a real need to kind of throw [the performance] in different directions".



As per 'Female First UK', even so, Hemsworth admitted director Taika Waititi's version of Thor went a bit too far in 'Thor: Love and Thunder'.



He shared, "When we made (Thor) Ragnarok, it was quite a twist, with Taika's (movie). And it was so fun. There was a huge appreciation for the shift. And then (with) Love And Thunder, it was kind of like a Monty Python sketch, and we took the p*** probably a little much, and then there was some backlash".



"There was this real kind of, 'Why is he a goofball and why is it like this?' And, (audiences were) violently offended and we were like, 'Oh, we're just having fun or trying to try something different'", he added.





- IANS
Global shipping giant CMA CGM has signed a contract with India's Cochin Shipyard Limited to construct six LNG-fuelled feeder container vessels. The deal, signed in New Delhi, is a direct outcome of high-level discussions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to France. It underscores India's advancing shipbuilding capabilities and its commitment to sustainable maritime development under current policy reforms. The vessels will be built in Kochi and will sail under the Indian flag.

India's Cochin Shipyard to build six LNG-powered container ships for France's CMA CGM, boosting green shipping and Indo-French maritime ties.

New Delhi, February 18 Global shipping major CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard Limited on Wednesday signed a contract for the construction of six 1,700 TEU LNG-fuelled feeder container vessels at an event in New Delhi. The deal emphasises India's progress in shipbuilding and green shipping, reflecting the tangible outcomes of the country's ongoing maritime sector reforms.

The vessels will be constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi and will be registered under the Indian flag. The project adds to India's commercial shipbuilding order book and reflects increasing global engagement with Indian shipyards under the Government's policy framework for maritime sector development, as per the official release.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur; Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, Rodolphe Saade; Secretary, MoPSW, Vijay Kumar, IAS; senior officials of the Ministry; and representatives of the partnering organisations.

In a message on the occasion, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said: "India and France share a deep and trusted strategic partnership, spanning defence, space cooperation, clean energy and Indo-Pacific maritime security. The presence of French President Emmanuel Macron in India on recent occasions further reflects the strength and maturity of our bilateral ties."

"Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is advancing with a clear roadmap to become a leading maritime nation, driven by sustainability, innovation and global partnerships. The collaboration between CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard Limited is a natural extension of this vision into the maritime domain. It demonstrates the growing confidence of global maritime leaders in India's shipbuilding capabilities and reinforces our commitment to building a strong, self-reliant and globally integrated maritime ecosystem," he added.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur, said: "This milestone has its roots in high-level strategic engagement. During the official visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France on 12 February 2025, he visited the CMA CGM headquarters along with the President of France. During that interaction, the Chairman of CMA CGM expressed strong interest -- under India's progressive shipping policy framework -- in exploring the flagging of vessels in India and building new ships in Indian shipyards. Today's agreement is the concrete outcome of that dialogue and shared vision."

Following a series of meetings to finalise vessel specifications, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) executed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with CMA CGM for the design and construction of six feeder container vessels, each with a capacity of 1,700 TEU and powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Under the LoI, CSL and CMA CGM worked towards finalising techno-commercial terms, leading to the formal shipbuilding contract.

- ANI
Jammu and Kashmir Minister Javed Ahmed Rana has publicly stressed that the restoration of statehood for the Union Territory has been excessively delayed, calling for immediate action. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledged the process is underway but has taken longer than anticipated, expressing hope that the wait may soon end. The demand follows the 2019 reorganization of J&K into a UT after the abrogation of Article 370. Separately, CM Abdullah chaired a meeting to review arrangements for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.

J&K Minister Javed Rana and CM Omar Abdullah press for immediate statehood restoration, calling the process delayed post-elections and Article 370 changes.

Jammu, February 18 Jammu and Kashmir Minister Javed Ahmed Rana on Wednesday reiterated the demand of statehood for the Union Territory, stressing that it has been delayed a lot.

Speaking to the media, Rana said, "It has been delayed a lot. The minister had said that delimitation and elections would be held in the UT, and that after that, it would become a state. The elections have happened, but it's late. It should be done today."

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that the process to restore statehood to the Union Territory is "underway," even though it has taken longer than expected, and expressed hope that the wait may not be much longer.

Speaking about the demand for full statehood, CM Abdullah said, "The process is underway, and the process has taken more time. We had hoped that statehood would have been granted by now, but we have not given up hope. We are continuously talking to the central government about this matter...now we hope that we won't have to wait much longer for this..."

Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into a Union Territory in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Since then, political parties in the region have consistently demanded the restoration of statehood.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Abdullah also chaired a review meeting earlier today to assess arrangements for the holy month of Ramadan.

Sharing an X post, the Office of the Chief Minister said, "Chief Minister chaired a review meeting today to assess the arrangements for the holy month of Ramadan. He directed all departments to ensure seamless public service delivery, effective grievance redressal, and necessary arrangements at major places of worship to ensure a peaceful and comfortable Ramadan for the people."

- ANI
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya escorted US Ambassador Sergio Gor to the historic Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple in Bengaluru, showcasing its unique blend of faith, architecture, and astronomy. Surya highlighted the temple's summer solstice phenomenon where sunlight illuminates the inner deity. The ambassador's visit also included a meeting with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to discuss technology partnerships and the presence of US companies. Concurrently, Ambassador Gor participated in high-level defence discussions with Indian military commanders to strengthen strategic cooperation.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya shows US Ambassador Sergio Gor a 16th-century cave temple, highlighting Bengaluru's heritage beyond its tech hub image.

Bengaluru, February 18 Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tejasvi Surya took US Ambassador Sergio Gor to the 16th-century Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple in Basavanagudi, highlighting the city's architectural and cultural heritage.

Surya described the rock-cut cave shrine as a rare confluence of faith, design, and astronomy, noting the summer solstice phenomenon that illuminates the deity inside.

Reflecting on the visit, Surya shared on X about the US ambassador's curiosity regarding Bengaluru's heritage, saying, "Yesterday, during our conversation, Ambassador Sergio Gor was keen to discover the timeless, traditional soul of Bengaluru beyond its identity as a global tech hub. I suggested a visit to the 16th-century Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple in Basavanagudi, built by Kempegowda, the founder of Bengaluru."

He further elaborated on the temple's significance, noting, "This remarkable rock-cut cave shrine reflects the city's civilizational depth, where faith, architecture, and astronomy converge. During the summer solstice, a rare evening phenomenon unfolds as sunlight passes precisely between the horns of Nandi and illuminates the deity inside the cave. Truly appreciate Ambassador Sergio's gracious gesture in paying tribute to the enduring spirit of Bengaluru's rich traditions," post added on X.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the US ambassador met Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to discuss US-Bengaluru ties, focusing on AI and emerging tech.

"Great meeting CM of Karnataka Siddaramaiah today! We discussed the strength of the United States' partnerships in Bengaluru and the promise of AI and emerging tech. The state of Karnataka hosts over 700 US companies!," Gor wrote on X.

Earlier, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and US-INDOPACOM Commander Adm. Samuel J. Paparo visited HQ Western Command and held substantive discussions with Lt. Gen. Manoj Kumar Katiyar, Army Commander, Western Command, on strategic security dynamics along India's Western Front.

The delegation was comprehensively briefed on the Western Front perspective, including operational preparedness, the distinguished legacy, the execution of Operation Sindoor, and the Indian Army's pivotal role in nation-building and strengthening regional stability.

US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, appreciated the India-US defence partnership.

In a post on X, Gor said, "A great visit with US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Paparo and Western Command, Indian Army. Our joint efforts are key to a safe Indo-Pacific. The U.S.-India defence partnership continues to grow stronger. Thank you for the warm welcome, Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar."

Moreover, on Sunday, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor welcomed Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), underscoring efforts to expand the growing US-India defence partnership.

In a post on X, Gor said, "Delighted to have @INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo in India to expand the U.S.-India defence partnership. Now is the time to strengthen vital cooperation between our two nations."

- ANI
Hamdan Ballal anticipates the inevitable question and answers it with a mixture of annoyance and weariness. I know youre going to ask me: If this isnt a life, why do you stay? Well, because I have no reason to leave my land [] Its a question that puts the responsibility on the victim. The real issue is why, if international law prohibits whats happening to me, nothing is being done. In his situation, he adds, leaving wouldnt be a choice like those made daily by so many other people around the world, but rather compliance with the order he receives daily from the Israeli settlers around him and the military authorities who support them, whether by action or omission.

It has been almost a year since he won the Oscar for No Other Land, but the Hollywood statuette has neither improved his daily life nor protected him from the settler attacks already documented in the acclaimed PalestinianIsraeli film that earned him the award. Sometimes the settlers make comments to me about the Oscar, but I dont know if it has made things worse. What I do know is that, when they come to my house, the message they send is: We dont care that you have an Oscar. Two weeks ago, one of them came to my home and told me: If you want to live in peace, leave. If not, Ill come at night and destroy you and your family.

The documentary  codirected with Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor  takes place where Ballal lives and speaks: Masafer Yatta, an inhospitable area in the south of the West Bank where more than a thousand residents can legally be expelled at any moment. In Masafer Yatta, nothing has improved since the documentary. Ballal, 37, conveys this reality both in his expression and in his words: I see a very bleak future. Anyone who lives here will tell you the same thing. He recalls that the Israeli army has such control over the West Bank  where it has accelerated its de facto annexation this month  and that it can isolate all the villages in a minute by closing all the gates.

An activist and journalist, Ballal is less wellknown than the Israeli Abraham and the Palestinian Adra, the two protagonists of the film (and now friends) who went onstage to accept the award with a speech about their different realities in Israel and the West Bank. But he is fully aware that his only weapons  he uses that word  are a security camera mounted on a precarious pole and powered by a small solar panel (to record possible attacks and refute accusations), a handful of dogs (to alert us at night with their barking if they come to beat us, he explains), and, of course, the visibility that No Other Land has given him. He sees it as a new responsibility toward his community, a way to amplify a message that others cannot. I wasnt going to take the Oscar and leave, he says.

Hamdan Balla's mother, Hamdi, prepares 'labne' at the entrance of her house, this Tuesday in Susya. MAGDA GIBELLI (EFE)

That is why he has called the press together (through a message circulated by Abraham) at his modest family home  with unpainted cement walls and an aluminum roof  in Susya, one of the hamlets that make up Masafer Yatta. The bucolic setting, with the first hints of spring green and birdsong, contrasts sharply with the nearness of danger. Just a few dozen meters away, three settlers from the nearby radical settlement (which is also called Susya and known for its history of violence) watch closely. Moments earlier, they had honked aggressively at a car climbing the rocky, uneven path too slowly, making it clear that they are the ones in charge here. Israeli fighter jets pass overhead every so often, filling the air with an unsettling hum.

The situation has gotten worse because this is an area of farmers and herders, and people cant plow or plant their land. If anyone takes their livestock out to graze, the army and the settlers come to stop them. Between one and the other, he continues, they corner you.

Last month, a group of settlers burned parts of several homes, stole livestock, and threw stones at Palestinians in Jirbet alFajit, Jirbet alHalawa and Jalet alDaba  three other villages in Masafer Yatta  according to activists, paramedics and videos shared on social media, which also reported that the army blocked ambulances from reaching the area.

The reason for the press gathering is the latest attack against Ballals family last Sunday. Specifically, his brother Mohamed, who ended up in the hospital after a settlersoldier  a phenomenon that has skyrocketed over the past two years with the mobilization of reservists following the invasion of Gaza  reached his home, despite an Israeli court ruling two weeks earlier ordering the area closed to nonresidents.

Mohamed, 34, says he was eating with his family on some chairs among the vegetation next to their house when two soldiers arrived. He saw a settler appear to be giving them instructions. When they got to the house, they asked for his identification.

He told me to lie down on the floor. I did. He demanded my documents. I told him I had them inside the house, but that I could show them on my phone. They wanted everyones. He started getting very violent and told me I was on settlers land and that I had to leave. He ended up grabbing me by the neck, Mohamed tells EL PAIS.

Hamdan recalls how his nephew panicked when he saw him turning blue and struggling to breathe on the way to the hospital, where he was given oxygen and kept for several hours.

Mohamed Ballal, Hamdan's brother, who was attacked this Sunday, in Susia. MAGDA GIBELLI (EFE)

The settler, he specifies, was Shem Tov Luski  the same one who assaulted Hamdan upon his return from the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles. They came to kill me, he said at the time, still wearing bloodstained clothes after he was released from custody.

The soldiers arrested two of his brothers and a nephew. They left them handcuffed for three hours in front of a base and then released them in the middle of a road where the settlers are. It was very dangerous. I wasnt at ease until I learned that someone helped them and taken them home, Hamdan recalls.

Beside him, dressed in the traditional clothing of the area, Hamdans mother, Hamdi, prepares labneh, a typical cheese from the Middle East. At 65, she is less inclined to speeches and more to resignation. The settlers drive us crazy every day, but this is our land and everything comes from it. We simply have patience. What else can we do?

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Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has arrived in New Delhi to participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where he was received by Minister of State Jayant Singh. The summit, hosted at Bharat Mandapam, is a major global gathering with participation from over 110 countries and focuses on the governance and societal impact of AI. Guided by the pillars of People, Planet, and Progress, the event aims to promote human-centric and sustainable artificial intelligence. Orpo's visit is expected to strengthen the diverse bilateral partnership between India and Finland, particularly in digital innovation, sustainability, and education.

Finnish PM Petteri Orpo arrives in New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation on AI, sustainability, and education.

New Delhi, February 18 Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo arrived in India to attend the India AI Impact Summit 2026 and was greeted by Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Singh.

In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote, "A warm welcome to the Prime Minister of Finland @PetteriOrpo on his arrival for the India-AI Impact Summit. He was received at the airport by Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship @jayantrld. The visit will further cement the diverse bilateral partnership, with a focus on digital & AI, sustainability and education sectors."

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, it started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026.

The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity.

The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers.

The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement.

Finland and India have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations. In recent years, bilateral relations have acquired diversity with collaboration in research, innovation, and investments by both sides. The Indian community in Finland is vibrant and well-placed. Indian culture and yoga are very popular in Finland.

- ANI
Former world number two Wesley So has confirmed his return to compete in Norway Chess 2026, marking his sixth appearance at the prestigious event. The elite grandmaster, known for a remarkable 67-game unbeaten streak, expressed his delight at returning to Oslo. Benedicte Westre Skog, COO of Norway Chess, praised So's consistent world-class quality and fighting strength. The 2026 tournament will be held from May 25 to June 5 at Deichman Bjorvika in Oslo.

Former world #2 Wesley So confirms his return to Norway Chess 2026 in Oslo, aiming for a sixth appearance at the elite tournament.

Stavanger, February 18 The former world number two chess star Wesley So confirmed his return to the Norway Chess competition on Wednesday.

"I am delighted to be coming back to play Norway Chess. And what a pleasure to be visiting in brilliant sunshine! Toasting to a fun and challenging event! Skal!". With that cheerful message, Wesley So confirms his return to Norway Chess 2026, where he will compete for the sixth time, as per a press release. A former world number two, So has been a constant presence at the very top of international chess for more than a decade. At his peak he crossed the 2800 rating mark and produced one of the most remarkable runs in modern chess, a 67-game unbeaten streak in classical play between 2016 and 2017. He reached the grandmaster title at just 14 years old and quickly established himself as one of the leading players of his generation. Since then, So has built one of the most impressive resumes. He is the International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Fischer Random Champion (2019), a three-time US champion, an Olympiad gold medalist with the United States, and a multiple winner of elite international tournaments. Known for his precision, control and deep preparation, he rarely gives chances away and is almost always in contention, even against the strongest opposition. Benedicte Westre Skog, COO of Norway Chess, looks forward to welcoming him back to Oslo: "Wesley has been among the world's very best for so long, and that kind of consistency is rare. He brings calmness, depth, and real fighting strength to every game. When he plays, you know the quality will be high."Norway Chess is one of the world's premier chess tournaments, bringing together the top male and female players in a distinctive 6-player double round-robin format. The introduction of Norway Chess Women in 2024, with equal prize funds for men and women, underscores the event's commitment to gender equality and innovation in the sport. Norway Chess 2026 will take place from May 25 to June 5, 2026 at Deichman Bjorvika in Oslo.

- ANI
French President Emmanuel Macron has departed Mumbai for New Delhi to participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026. His visit aims to bolster the strategic partnership between India and France, with a key focus on cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies. Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting and jointly launch the Year of Innovation 2026. The summit, held at Bharat Mandapam, represents a significant moment as the first global AI conference hosted in the Global South.

French President Emmanuel Macron travels to Delhi for the AI Impact Summit 2026 after Mumbai engagements, aiming to deepen strategic and tech ties with India.

New Delhi, February 18 French President Emmanuel Macron and the first lady left for the national capital to attend AI Impact Summit 2026. Both the President and the first lady greeted the staff of the hotel they were staying in before leaving for the airport.

The French first couple arrived in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on Tuesday for their scheduled visit to India, which runs through February 19.

They were received by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Mumbai airport.

"Towards a stronger India-France strategic partnership! Warm welcome to President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic. He was warmly received by the Governor of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, at the Mumbai airport. During the visit, PM Narendra Modi will hold bilateral meeting with President Emmanuel Macron. Both leaders will launch Year of Innovation 2026. The visit will impart further momentum to the vibrant India-France strategic partnership," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

This visit signals sustained momentum in the India-France strategic partnership, with a particular focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) cooperation and emerging technologies.

Following their Mumbai engagements, the delegation is now travelling to Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Held at Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20, this event marks the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South.

The India AI Impact Summit is a five-day programme anchored in three foundational pillars, or "Sutras": People, Planet, and Progress.

The French President's participation underscores the importance both nations attach to emerging technologies, building on PM Modi's co-chairing of the AI Action Summit with Macron in Paris in February 2025.

French President Emmanuel Macron is currently on his fourth visit to India. As the Mumbai leg of bilateral talks concludes, Macron is now heading to New Delhi to attend the AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam.

PM Modi also left for Delhi on completion of his Mumbai visit. The Prime Minister was seen off at the CSMI Airport by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat.

- ANI
French President Emmanuel Macron generated social media buzz by sharing an AI-generated image with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi. Macron emphasized the shared Indo-French objective of developing a balanced AI model to avoid total dependence on US and Chinese technologies. The summit, a major global gathering in the Global South, builds on previous collaborations, including a co-chaired summit in 2025. The partnership is further solidified by initiatives like the new Indo-French Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Health at AIIMS.

French President Macron posts AI image with PM Modi ahead of AI Impact Summit 2026, highlighting strategic Indo-French partnership in artificial intelligence.

New Delhi, February 18 French President Emmanuel Macron sparked buzz on social media today with a creative post featuring an AI-generated image alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signalling excitement for the ongoing AI Impact Summit 2026.

The summit, which builds on previous international efforts, including the 2025 AI Action Summit in Paris, co-chaired by PM Modi and President Macron, brings together global leaders and tech executives to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.

In his post on X, Macron wrote, "When friends connect, innovation follows. Ready for The AI Impact Summit!"

The message underscores the strengthening of the Franco-Indian partnership in AI, with initiatives such as the newly inaugurated Indo-French Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Health at AIIMS, in collaboration with Sorbonne University and the Paris Brain Institute.

Earlier, the French President said that India and France share the "same objective" on artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and do not want to be "totally dependent" on US and Chinese models, emphasising the need for a balanced and sovereign approach to emerging technologies. Speaking at the event at the AIIMS Delhi, Macron emphasised the importance of strategic autonomy in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

"I think it is important that this innovation becomes a very important part of our countries. I believe we share the same objective in India and France, and in Europe -- that we do not want to be totally dependent on the US and Chinese models. We believe we need our own balanced model, and we want to be part of the solution. We want our players to be part of the solution as well," he said.

Underscoring the significance of the ongoing India AI Impact Summit, taking place in Delhi, Macron described it as "extremely important" for shaping discussions around responsible innovation.

"The summit organised by India is extremely important regarding all these issues. After the Action Summit one year ago, we continued the conversation to ensure that our countries benefit from innovation and to make sure that this innovation serves our common good and humanity," he added.

India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet and Progress.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday.

The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, has witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders.

Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.

PM Modi will deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence.

- ANI
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a courtesy meeting with Bangladesh's Leader of Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami chief, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, in Dhaka. The meeting occurred on the margins of the swearing-in ceremony for Bangladesh's new government. Misri conveyed greetings on Rahman's new role and reaffirmed India's enduring support, stressing the people-centric nature of bilateral ties. Dr. Rahman highlighted the deep civilisational bonds and expressed hope for stronger relations between the two nations.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meets Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman, reaffirming India's enduring support and people-centric bilateral relations.

Dhaka, Feb 18 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a meeting with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman and conveyed India's greetings to the Leader of Opposition on his new role and reaffirmed New Delhi's enduring support to Dhaka

The meeting was held on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Bangladesh.



Misri and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla represented India during the event.



In a post on X, the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh said, "Foreign Secretary of India Shri Vikram Misri had a courtesy meeting with the leader of opposition of Bangladesh and the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, on the margins of the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Bangladesh."



Misri stressed the people-centric nature of India-Bangladesh ties, while the Jamaat chief expressed hope in further strengthening the relations.



"FS conveyed greetings to Dr Rahman on his new role and reaffirmed India's enduring support to Bangladesh, underscoring the people-centric nature of the ties. Dr Shafiqur Rahman highlighted the deep civilisational bonds shared by the two countries and expressed hope for stronger bilateral relations," the Indian mission added.



Earlier, in its election manifesto, the Jamaat had pledged to pursue peaceful and cooperative relations with neighbouring countries, including India, rooted in "mutual respect and fairness".



The 13th parliamentary election was held alongside the referendum on the July National Charter on February 12 in 299 out of the country's 300 constituencies.



In the elections, the BNP won 209 parliamentary seats, while the radical Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats.



BNP's chairman, Tarique Rahman, on Tuesday took oath as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, marking nearly two decades of the party coming back to power. He is also the first male PM of Bangladesh in 35 years.



Even though the Jamaat did not win the elections, the radical Islamist party is the largest Opposition party in the Parliament.





- IANS
Galgotias University has been ordered to leave the AI Impact Summit Expo following allegations it presented a Chinese-manufactured robotic dog as its own innovation. The university issued a statement expressing pain over the "propaganda" and clarified that robotic programming is part of its AI learning curriculum for students. The summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, brings together global leaders to advance AI for development. The event seeks actionable outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission, with the Prime Minister set to deliver a keynote address.

Galgotias University told to vacate AI Impact Summit Expo after displaying a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own, sparking major controversy.

New Delhi, February 18 The authorities have asked Galgotias University to vacate the AI Impact Summit Expo following allegations that the institution presented a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own invention, sources said. The University faced severe online and offline criticism after a robot allegedly manufactured by a Chinese company was seen at the University display stall.

Earlier, amid ythe rising heat over the controversy, the institution issued an official clarification claiming concern about the "propaganda" against the university.

The University said that robotic programming is part of its endeavour to teach students to build AI applications, enabling them to develop and deploy real-world skills using globally available tools and resources.

"We at Galgotias, faculty and students, are deeply pained by the propaganda campaign against our university. We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop & deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is need of an hour," the statement said.

The institution said its vision focuses on student learning and innovation, providing students with access to modern technologies to gain practical experience and prepare for the future.

"Our university's vision is focused on student learning & innovation and we provide students with access to modern technologies so they can gain practical experience and prepare for the future. Spreading negativity can harm the morale of students, who are working hard to innovate, learn, and build their skills using global technologies," said the statement.

The India AI Impact Summit is a five-day programme anchored in three foundational pillars, or "Sutras": People, Planet, and Progress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital yesterday. He emphasised that the country's progress in AI will not only shape transformative solutions for the nation but also contribute to global advancement.

Over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders are participating at the Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South.

Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence.

- ANI
Professors from Galgotias University have clarified that the controversy over presenting a Chinese robodog as their own at an AI summit stemmed from a misinterpretation. They stated the robot was brought for student research and learning, not to falsely claim ownership. The university expressed regret over the miscommunication but emphasized its commitment to national development goals. The incident led to the university being asked to vacate the expo after organizers cited a 'national embarrassment'.

Professors from Galgotias University explain the AI Summit robodog row was due to miscommunication, not a false claim of ownership.

New Delhi, Feb 18 After the organisers directed the Galgotias University to vacate the AI Impact Summit Expo for causing a 'national embarrassment', by presenting a Chinese Unitree robodog as its own, professors from the university on Wednesday came out to clarify their stand.

Stating that they never pitched the Chinese AI-powered robodog as its own, the professors said that the matter was blown out of proportion on social media and the whole episode emanated over a small misinterpretation, which was "unintended and unintentional".

Speaking to IANS, Professor Neha Singh said the controversy arose due to miscommunication while she was explaining the robot's capabilities. She said her intention was to highlight how students were studying the robot and working on further development, not to falsely claim ownership.

"I was explaining what the robot can do, its features, and all related details. Somewhere along the way, the message got slightly digressed, and later many things became controversial. The purpose was for students to study the robot and further develop it, contributing to a stronger and more Viksit Bharat. That was our full intention. Unfortunately, due to the surrounding excitement and hype, some things got misrepresented, and the words were slightly misinterpreted, which led to this controversy. We are genuinely embarrassed about it and feel bad that this happened at the AI Summit, which was meant to showcase our students' work," she said.

She further clarified that the robot was brought to the expo as part of a research and learning exercise.

"We have taken that robot for studying it and doing research. It was in the lab and it was brought here for projection. After the controversy, I will say to see everyone what our students have made," she added.

Professor Singh also expressed confidence that the incident would not weaken the university's reputation as it has contributed significantly to national development and has made the country proud on multiple occasions.

"I don't think it will impact the university. We have made the country proud many times. The university have a lot for the development of the country. So, there is nothing like it will impact or harm the university. But, yes things got misinterpreted. Through your medium, I want to do clarification," she said.

Professor Aishwarya Srivastava also spoke to IANS and said the university regretted that the issue had been miscommunicated. She said the institution had participated in the summit to showcase student projects and had no intention of harming India's image.

"We have regret that it has been miscommunicated. We came here to showcase the work of our students, and we are not in any way trying to tarnish India's image. Our university aligns with the Prime Minister's vision and mission. We are working towards a Aatmanirbhar Bharat," she said.

Srivastava added that the university was not offering an apology but acknowledged that the matter was misunderstood.

"Not apology. We acknowledge that the matter was slightly misleading and misinterpreted. A small issue was blown out of proportion on social media, though we never had any such intention. Our students have developed iOS apps," she said.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held key meetings on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. He discussed India's AI ecosystem and collaboration opportunities with Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The Prime Minister also engaged in strategic bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, and the President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, focusing on trade, technology, and cultural ties. The summit itself, hosted at Bharat Mandapam, aims to promote human-centric and globally inclusive AI development.

PM Modi discusses AI collaboration with Google's Sundar Pichai and holds bilateral talks with Finland and Spain leaders at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a series of high-level meetings with global leaders and industry heads on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital, reinforcing India's leadership in artificial intelligence and deepening bilateral partnerships.

In a post on X, PM Narendra Modi shared details of his meeting with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, focusing on India's rapidly growing AI ecosystem.

"It was a delight to meet Mr. Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field," PM Narendra Modi stated.

The Prime Minister also engaged in extensive diplomatic discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, highlighting the strategic importance of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

"Held extensive discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo. Thanked him for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which ushers in a golden era in India-Europe relations. India and Finland aim to double trade, thus giving a strong boost to economic linkages," PM Narendra Modi posted on X.

He further added, "We also talked about enhancing cooperation in futuristic technologies like 6G, innovation, clean energy, biofuels, circular economy and more."

Following this, PM Narendra Modi met with the President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, to explore ways to deepen bilateral ties across multiple sectors.

The Prime Minister shared on X, "Had a productive meeting with President Pedro Sanchez in Delhi. Discussed ways to boost the India-Spain friendship, especially in areas such as defence, security, technology and more."

Highlighting a special milestone for the current year, PM Narendra Modi noted, "Our nations are marking 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and AI. This will deepen people-to-people linkages. Glad to see a big delegation of Universities also come to India. This too will go a long way in connecting our people."

"The historic FTA with the EU will have a very positive impact on the economic partnership with Spain and provide new opportunities to the people of our nations," PM Narendra Modi added.

These high-profile engagements took place amid the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16 to February 20.

The summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, it aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.

The summit features participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organizations, including around 20 heads of state or government and about 45 ministers.

It forms part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.

Guided by the three foundational Sutras--People, Planet, and Progress--the India AI Impact Summit 2026 promotes human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological progress.

Meanwhile, in a special interview with ANI's text service, the Prime Minister spoke about the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence on India's IT industry and the government's strategy to strengthen the sector.

"India's IT sector has been the backbone of our services exports and a key driver of economic growth. AI presents both a tremendous opportunity and a challenge for this sector. AI market projections show India's IT sector could reach $400 billion by 2030, driven by new waves of AI-enabled outsourcing and domain-specific automation," he said.

- ANI
The Ministry of Steel has launched a comprehensive roadmap to integrate AI and digital technologies across the entire steel value chain. A key feature is the AI in Steel Pavilion, a collaborative platform connecting industry challenges with tech providers for scalable solutions. The initiative aims to support ambitious capacity targets, including reaching 400 million tonnes by 2036, through intelligent automation and data-driven systems. Industry leaders and AI companies engaged in a dialogue to identify high-impact use cases like predictive maintenance and emission reduction.

Ministry of Steel launches a digital roadmap and AI pavilion to integrate predictive analytics and automation across the steel value chain for competitive growth.

New Delhi, Feb 18 The Ministry of Steel on Wednesday unveiled a comprehensive roadmap on Digital Opportunities in the Steel Sector at the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, reaffirming its commitment to transform India into a technology-driven global steel powerhouse.

The roadmap reflects a strategic recognition that the next phase of growth in steel will be defined not only by expanded capacity but also by intelligent systems, predictive analytics, automation, and data-driven decision-making embedded across the value chain.

At the core of the initiative is the AI in Steel Pavilion, a first-of-its-kind collaborative platform that showcases real-time industry problem statements and invites AI solution providers, startups, technology firms, and research institutions to co-create practical and scalable solutions.

The pavilion signals a clear transition from incremental digitisation efforts to mission-mode AI integration across mining, logistics, production, quality assurance, marketing, and corporate governance. It underscores the Ministry's intent to move from isolated pilot projects to systemic transformation.

A high-level session brought together leading steel producers, iron ore miners, senior policymakers, and AI innovators to deliberate on the sector's digital future. Major public sector enterprises and private stakeholders presented their forward-looking digitalisation roadmaps, outlining priority areas where AI interventions can create immediate and long-term value.

The dialogue focused on execution. Specific high-impact use cases were identified, and industry leaders articulated the technological capabilities they seek from AI companies and startups, including predictive maintenance algorithms, computer vision systems, supply chain optimisation models, and intelligent decision support systems.

The session enabled a two-way exchange. Industry representatives outlined operational challenges such as reducing downtime, improving yield, enhancing worker safety, optimising raw material blending, lowering emissions, and improving demand forecasting.

AI companies expressed their readiness to contribute advanced technological solutions tailored to these needs. This convergence is expected to create a structured innovation pipeline, ensuring that promising AI solutions are rapidly tested, validated, and scaled across the steel ecosystem.

In his address, Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik highlighted the remarkable growth trajectory of India's steel sector. Looking ahead to the vision of a developed India by 2047, he said that the Ministry has set ambitious and time-bound benchmarks: Crude steel capacity is targeted to increase from the current level of approximately 200 million tonnes to 300 million tonnes by 2030 to 2031 and further to 400 million tonnes by 2035 to 2036.

This expansion will be supported by parallel growth in mining output, logistics networks, beneficiation capacity, and downstream value addition. Intelligent automation, digital twins, advanced analytics, and AI-driven process control systems will be critical to ensuring that India's steel growth remains globally competitive and environmentally responsible.

Industry leaders also articulated the support required from AI startups, including domain-specific customisation, scalable system architectures, cybersecurity resilience, multilingual interfaces to facilitate workforce adoption, and solutions tailored to Indian operating conditions.

Besides, the ministry invited AI developers, deep technology startups, academic institutions, and research laboratories to leverage the Steel Research and Technology Mission of India as a live sandbox environment.

- IANS
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has arrived in New Delhi to participate in the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also arrived for the summit, with India highlighting its commitment to multilateralism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held sideline meetings with leaders from Croatia, Serbia, Finland, Spain, and Google's CEO. The summit at Bharat Mandapam brings together global policymakers and experts to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrives in Delhi for the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, joining UN chief Antonio Guterres and other global dignitaries.

New Delhi, February 18 Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday arrived in New Delhi to participate in the ongoing India-AI Impact Summit 2026.

Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said the visit is expected to further strengthen the India-Greece Strategic Partnership.

In a post on X, Jaiswal wrote, "Welcome to the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece, as he was received by Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and for Chemicals & Fertilizers Anupriya Patel on arrival at the airport in New Delhi. PM Mitsotakis will participate in the India-AI Impact Summit. The visit will further boost the India-Greece Strategic Partnership, rooted in civilisational linkages."

Earlier in the day, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also arrived in the national capital to attend the summit.

Jaiswal said that Guterres' visit would further reinforce India's engagement with the UN.

In another post on X, he wrote, "Hearty welcome to the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, to New Delhi for the India-AI Impact Summit. Warmly received by Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road & Transport & Highways, Harsh Malhotra. India is committed to multilateralism, sustainable development and global peace and the visit of Mr. Antonio Guterres will further strengthen India's partnership with the UN."

Several world leaders have arrived in New Delhi as the Global AI Impact Summit continues at Bharat Mandapam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch, have also arrived in the national capital to attend the summit.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

- ANI
The Guatemalan journalist, under house arrest after more than 800 days in prison, denounces persecution by the Attorney Generals Office and maintains that the structures that control the justice system remain intact despite Bernardo Arevalos rise to power

Guatemalan journalist Jose Ruben Zamora (Guatemala City, 69 years old), who was granted house arrest last week, faces the possibility of being returned to prison after the Prosecutors Office appealed the judges decision on Tuesday. Zamora receives this newspaper in the quiet living room of his home, in an affluent neighborhood of the capital, a spacious house surrounded by vegetation that has once again become his refuge after leaving the 12-square-meter cell  bartolina, he calls it  that he occupied for more than a year. He walks with relief, but also cautiously: he knows that the Public Prosecutors Office, led by the controversial Consuelo Porras, has him under surveillance and that his freedom is fragile.

Zamora spent over 800 days in the Mariscal Zavala military prison, in a process that international organizations and some of the foreign press have described as political retaliation. I have essentially been kidnapped, he says. He was arrested in July 2022 on charges of blackmail, influence peddling, and money laundering. In June 2023, he was sentenced to six years for money laundering, fined 300,000 quetzales (about $37,500), and acquitted of the other charges.

The ruling was appealed by both the prosecution and the defense. Four months later, an Appeals Court overturned it and ordered a retrial. The founder of independent media outlet elPeriodico was granted house arrest in 2024 while the case was being resolved, but only for five months. Later, another court accepted an appeal based on procedural flaws and again ordered a new trial, which has yet to resume.

He says resentment doesnt consume him. He wants to regain weight, enjoy his children and grandchildren, and make sense of the years he has left. He doesnt know if hell ever run a media outlet again, or if the system that imprisoned him will ever lose power. He has only one certainty: that one day he will be a free man. In Guatemala, that conviction sounds almost like an act of faith. If the prosecutions appeal is successful, he could return to prison. For now, freedom is a spacious house, open windows, lush vegetation, and the awareness that the lock could close again.

Question. The Public Prosecutors Office has appealed the house arrest order granted to you. How do you interpret this belligerence in your case?

Answer. Theyre asking for me to be returned to Mariscal (prison). Frankly, its mentally difficult to go back. However, if I have to go back, then Ill go. I need to carefully consider how many hours I have available, because there are several things I want to do. This is interesting because its the result of political persecution. I have essentially been kidnapped. Since the special courts of [former de facto president] Efrain Rios Montt, with judges who wore masks, there has never been such effectiveness as they showed in my case, and later with the people of the Indigenous resistance from the 48 Cantons and other people who have been criminalized.

Q. Why this belligerence?

A. I think it became a visceral hatred. They believe they are on a crusade against communism. They started a multimillion-dollar campaign to persuade people that the issue wasnt impunity and corruption versus justice, but rather the far left versus the far right. They polarized society, and in the end, it became personal.

Jose Ruben Zamora after a judge granted him house arrest, in Guatemala, February 12. Mariano Macz (REUTERS)

Q. Personal on whose part?

A. From Consuelo Porras and the Foundation Against Terrorism, made up of paleofascist extremists. Its part of a network linked to the army and the extreme right. Theyve been brainwashing the population. Since 2000, when there were no social media networks, they used their television monopoly, always at the service of those in power. Ive defined it as a paleofascist narco-kleptodictatorship. They started million-dollar campaigns saying I was a cocaine addict, a pedophile, bankrupt, and that I didnt pay my debts. They showed pictures of my house, even included rats. Then they stormed onto social media with a dominant presence. Just as there were death squads during the armed conflict, this foundation has been a squad for the civilian assassination of people.

For decades, Zamora was one of the most prominent figures in investigative journalism in Guatemala. He published investigations into corruption, illicit financing, and power networks involving businesspeople, military officers, and politicians. His critics called him obsessive; his supporters, an editor willing to pay the price. That price was prison.

He maintains that the persecution didnt begin in 2022, but rather in the 1990s, when he investigated military structures that survived the civil war and reorganized themselves in the democratic era, in what is known as the pact of the corrupt: an informal alliance between politicians, businesspeople, and judicial operators who, he claims, learned to use the Public Prosecutors Office as a weapon. He directly points the finger at Porras, former president Alejandro Giammattei, and the Foundation Against Terrorism, a far-right group that has promoted accusations against judges, prosecutors, and journalists. It became a visceral hatred, he repeats.

Q. Why do they have so much influence in Guatemala?

A. Its local fascism. There are people in all three branches of government, contractors, former generals, former war officers. The military high command has connections with organized crime and drug trafficking. They need polarization. Thats part of whats called the pact of the corrupt here. We denounced it for 30 years. My imprisonment allowed us to anticipate that the pattern of persecution would be replicated with other social groups and exposed our theoretical democracy to the world.

Q. Is this persecution because of your journalistic work?

A. Absolutely. Its a battle that began in 1990. Even before that, we investigated the murder of anthropologist Myrna Mack. It was the first case where we tracked down both the perpetrators and the masterminds. That represented a direct affront to the army and the powerful special interest groups.

Days in jail

In prison, Zamora learned to measure time in 24-hour increments. He spoke to his family for 15 minutes a day and lost over 20 kilos. The most painful humiliation, he recounts, was when his wife was thrown out at the gate during a visit. That broke me, he admits. Those were days of isolation and solitude in which he focused on literature: he reread Latin American and European classics and reflected on his work as a journalist. He also suffered, as documented in an independent medical and psychological report that revealed the harsh conditions to which the journalist has been subjected and the impact on his health and spirits: He suffers a devastating grief for all the life he has lost, concluded the Basque physician and psychologist Carlos Martin Beristain, who conducted an independent assessment of Zamoras physical and mental health.

Q. What were your days like in prison?

A. Long sentences. They destroy the family, the property, the presumption of innocence. I knew guards imprisoned for five years who were later declared innocent, but they were destroyed. Prison is the worst situation a person can experience. If someone is going to get more than five years, the death penalty is better, because the other is a slow agony.

Jose Ruben Zamora during the interview at his home in Guatemala City. Sandra Sebastian

Q. Did prison destroy your life?

A. No, thankfully not. My children remained hopeful and faithful. My wife was key. When I finally had a phone with this government, I could talk for 15 minutes a day. I learned to plan 24 hours in advance. Before, I thought about scenarios 40 years ahead; in prison, I thought about surviving the day. The first five months were incredibly tortured, but afterward, I felt free, my spirit was free. I reread the entire works of Octavio Paz. Milan Kundera died, and I reread all his work. Javier Marias, a columnist for EL PAIS, died, and I reread not only his novels but also his columns. I read Tolstoy and Dickens more carefully. I even read 1,500-page books in three days. I was able to establish a routine, and I walked between 10 and 12 kilometers a day in 12-meter intervals. But being in prison is always dreadful.

Q. Had you imagined this scenario, being imprisoned?

A. It was always on the map. Since 1990 Ive been persecuted. There was tax persecution under former President Alfonso Portillo and the Rios Montt family. Eight tax officials spent three and a half years at elPeriodico. We had 89 complaints, then 198 under former President Otto Perez Molina. In the newspapers 26 years, we paid around five million dollars for lawyers.

Q. What was the hardest moment in prison?

A. There were many. On May 10, I asked for permission for my wife to visit me. They verbally authorized it the night before. She came by Uber from the El Carmen neighborhood, where we live, to Mariscal, about 40 minutes away. When she arrived, they told me they were going to expel her. A guard told me, I sympathize, but if she doesnt leave, were going to drag her out and beat you up. I had to let them expel her. They took her out of the gate, and she had to wait four hours without a phone in a shopping mall. That deeply humiliated me.

Q. Do you think the state is trying to destroy you?

A. It has been a 30-year struggle, but every story has extraordinary moments. There were triumphant advances, progress, but also setbacks. In 1995, we campaigned for the purging of state powers and forced the resignation of Congress and the entire Supreme Court. They all had to resign.

Q. Do you feel that prison has changed you?

A. It made me more aware of my age. I have maybe 10 years ahead of me, and I want to use them wisely. I went from 170 pounds [77 kilos] to 128 pounds [58 kilos]. Now Im at 145 pounds [66 kilos]. I want to gain weight and enjoy my children and grandchildren.

The prosecutions persecution

While Zamora was imprisoned, Guatemala experienced one of its most intense political crises since the return of democracy. Bernardo Arevalos victory in 2023 triggered a legal offensive to annul the result: the Attorney Generals Office attempted to suspend the winning party, raided the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, and launched investigations against officials and activists. Indigenous protests, led by ancestral authorities such as the 48 Cantons of Totonicapan, blocked highways for weeks to defend the transition.

From his prison cell, Zamora witnessed the confirmation of a theory he reiterates today: his case was not an exception, but a rehearsal. In his view, the same judicial system that prosecuted him attempted to block Arevalos inauguration and continues to pursue cases against exiled justice officials and journalists. He is cautious about the new government. He describes Arevalo as a decent man, but questions his ability to navigate the current power dynamics. Its tragic that in Guatemala, the arrival of a decent guy is considered progress, he states.

Q. You mentioned prosecutor Consuelo Porras earlier. How would you define the role she has played in your case?

A. The Public Prosecutors Office became extremely powerful, and the lesson learned was how to use it for evil, to persecute people they disliked or who harmed their interests. In my case, it involved 142 investigations published in elPeriodico every Monday. We investigated, for example, the case of the Russian vaccines purchased through intermediaries. Congress authorized the purchase, but it was supposed to be directly from a supplier of the factory, but they bought them from an intermediary called Human Vaccine.

Jose Ruben Zamora. Sandra Sebastian

Q. Porrass term ends in May. What does her departure from the Prosecutors Office represent?

A. The persecution will cease, and innocent people, like those from the 48 Cantons, could be freed. People in exile, who have been questioned and stigmatized in a senseless way. I hope they can be compensated, because the harm done to them is enormous.

Q. What is your opinion of President Arevalos government?

A. The president is a decent man. He doesnt have great executive skills or a strong team. He has power, but hes very respectful of institutions. Its dramatic that in Guatemala, its a step forward for a decent guy to become president. In that sense, its been unexpected, but excellent. I think he never thought hed win the presidency.

Q. Does he have real power or are his hands tied?

A. He has power; were a country that has been characterized by having presidentitis. The president is in charge, but hes a very respectful man. I think Guatemalans expected more, but I believe hell be able to deliver a clean government in the next election because Im sure the stealing has stopped; the scandals we used to see are gone.

Q. Is there the possibility of the president promoting profound reforms in the state?

A. I think that with these people leaving, there could be a balance in favor of the executive branch. The president was able to force the Attorney Generals resignation, but I think hes sending us all a meta-message that we have to respect these senseless rules.

Q. Do you think your case can be resolved during this administration?

A. I would hope so. Even exiles must find a way back. Prison is agony. I know Ill eventually be out. I wont let resentment consume me. I want the years I have left to be the happiest.

Q. Do you plan to return to journalism?

A. Its premature. Journalism needs resources, and today I cant figure out how the press works now. I still read on paper. But I honor Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, Alejandro Cordova, Isidoro Zarco, Jorge Carpio. Many journalists died in Guatemala and Central America.

Q. Was it worth it for you?

A. Its been worth it, without a doubt. There were advances and setbacks, but people didnt give up. My life has been fascinating. I dont regret anything.

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Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a dialogue with leading industrialists following the presentation of the state's 4.08 lakh crore budget for 2026-27. Industry leaders welcomed the direct engagement and reviewed key provisions for sectors like textiles, MSMEs, and infrastructure development. The budget includes significant allocations, such as 1,775 crore for MSME assistance and 2,755 crore under the Textile Policy, aimed at boosting economic growth. Chief Minister Patel emphasized that the budget's provisions are designed to support businesses, drive employment, and increase Gujarat's contribution to the national GDP.

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel meets industrialists after the 2026-27 budget, discussing allocations for MSMEs, textiles, and infrastructure to boost the state's economy.

Gandhinagar, Feb 18 Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday met with leading industrialists following the presentation of the Gujarat Budget 2026-27, discussing its impact for the state's business community.

The session was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, MLA and BJP state president Jagdish Vishwakarma, and representatives from various districts, who had observed the budget proceedings in the Assembly.

Industry leaders welcomed the direct engagement with the state leadership.

Industrialist Chintan Thakar said, "For the first time, the government invited us to listen to the budget live and we appreciate it. For businesses and industries, there has been nearly a 26 per cent increase in budgetary allocation. Almost 50 per cent urbanisation has been achieved, and industries remain the base of development."

Jaimin Shah added, "After the budget, we received an opportunity to interact with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and various ministers, which is very valuable for industry planning."

Industrialist Vaibhav Choksi underlined the broader economic significance, stating, "Industry is the backbone of any state. Whenever industry is developed, the state's GDP increases. The Gujarat government has allocated over Rs 13,000 crore in the budget, which will give a boost to MSMEs, textiles, tourism, cultural and other sectors."

The state budget was presented by state Finance Minister Kanu Desai. This year's budget has been set at Rs 4.08 lakh crore, which is historic.

The budget includes Rs 1,775 crore for assistance to MSMEs, Rs 1,250 crore for 25 Smart GIDCs, and Rs 50 crore for upgrading 120 mini GIDCs.

Five new industrial estates are planned in tribal districts, while Rs 2,755 crore has been allocated under the Gujarat Textile Policy, among other initiatives.

The government also announced the establishment of a Gujarat State Export Promotion Council to support exports and enhance competitiveness.

During the discussion, industry leaders reviewed provisions related to textiles, GIDCs, sports, agro-industries, and storage technologies.

They shared feedback on the budget and engaged in detailed conversations regarding future planning and sectoral development.

Chief Minister Patel emphasised that the budget aims to support businesses and promote economic growth across the state.

He highlighted that the provisions for infrastructure, manufacturing, MSMEs, and exports are intended to create sustainable development, drive employment, and increase Gujarat's contribution to national GDP.

- IANS
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple police welfare and infrastructure projects worth 273 crore in Gandhinagar. The initiatives include new residential units, an urban police station, and a modern jail complex, aimed at improving living conditions for police families. Sanghavi highlighted the state's historic budget provisions for police housing and commended the force for securing convictions against numerous drug mafias. State officials emphasized that this investment in security infrastructure is foundational to Gujarat's development and its appeal to global investors.

Gujarat Deputy CM inaugurates police welfare projects worth 273 crore, including housing units and a jail complex, to improve living conditions for personnel.

Gandhinagar, Feb 18 Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple police welfare and infrastructure projects in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, marking a significant investment of Rs 273 crore aimed at improving the living conditions of police families and enhancing law enforcement facilities across the state.

Addressing the event, Sanghavi said, "The Gujarat Police stand guard day and night to ensure the safety of citizens, and under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, this government is committed to their welfare. If anyone challenges the police or attempts to act arrogantly, the Gujarat Police will respond firmly."

Sanghavi highlighted that the Gujarat Budget-2026 includes historic provisions for police families, noting, "For the first time in the country's history, a state has approved over 20,400 new residential units with full facilities for police families. The Police Housing Corporation has been allocated a budget of Rs 1,500 crore, demonstrating the government's commitment to police welfare."

He also referenced the state police's recent achievements, stating, "In just 90 days, the Gujarat Police have secured convictions against more than 45 drug mafias, reflecting their proactive efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime."

Police Housing State Minister Kamlesh Patel emphasised the connection between security and development, saying, "Any state or nation's development rests on the foundation of peace and security. The Gujarat Police motto of 'Service, Security and Peace' reflects not just words but the result of 24/7 hard work by officers. This secure environment has made Gujarat a preferred destination for investors worldwide."

The projects inaugurated include an urban police station and 36 Type-B residential units in Gandhinagar's Infocity, built at a cost of Rs 14.17 crore.

The project, spread over 2,876.906 sq.m., features parking for 43 cars, rainwater harvesting, solar rooftops, and a firefighting system.

At Sector-27 Police Headquarters, 280 new Type-B housing units for staff are being constructed at a cost of Rs 89.07 crore, with amenities including basement parking, open gym, children's play area, solar panels, and two lifts per block.

A canteen and gymnasium covering 1,320 sq.m. were also inaugurated at a cost of Rs 2.23 crore, offering facilities such as a milk parlor, vegetable shop, general store, and a modern gymnasium hall.

In Bhadkodara, a jail complex costing Rs 158.58 crore is under development, comprising a district jail with a 560-prisoner capacity, a high-security jail for 404 inmates, and an open jail for 120 prisoners.

Facilities include a library, hospital, vocational training centre, video court room, study centre, cultural hall, auditorium, and cow shed.

The complex will also include 127 residential units for staff. State Police Chief K.L.N. Rao said the projects, inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Sanghavi, will significantly contribute to the welfare of police personnel and their families.

Sanghavi concluded by acknowledging the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Finance Minister Kanu Desai, stating that the Rs 4.08 lakh crore budget presented for the fifth consecutive time reflects a focus on empowering all sections of society, including the police community, and supporting the vision of a developed Gujarat contributing to a developed India.

- IANS
Norwegian Minister of Digitalisation Karianne Oldernes Tung expressed strong interest in collaborating with India on ethical and inclusive artificial intelligence during the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. She highlighted the shared democratic approach between the two nations towards ensuring AI benefits all societies and the importance of global standards. Tung pointed to the recently concluded EFTA-India trade agreement as a key enabler for cooperation in areas like energy, maritime, health tech, cybersecurity, and AI. She also praised India's public sector initiatives and digital ecosystem, noting the mutual learning potential in ensuring no one is left behind in the digital society.

Norwegian Minister Karianne Tung highlights joint commitment to ethical AI and digital inclusion at AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

New Delhi, February 18 Norwegian Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Oldernes Tung said on Wednesday that the Nordic country is keen to collaborate with India on ethical and inclusive artificial intelligence as India hosts the AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital.

Speaking to ANI, on the sidelines of the summit, the Norwegian minister expressed her delight to be here in India and said that she was fascinated by India's work on digital inclusion.

"I am really happy to be here in India and I'm already very impressed with the way India is working on digital inclusion, building companies, and developing talent. For Norway, it is a top priority to ensure that Artificial Intelligence benefits everyone, every society, and every country. I'm happy that both Norway and India share this democratic approach to AI and the need for global standards and agreements to make sure the technology benefits everyone," she said.

Highlighting the strategic importance of trade and technological collaboration, Tung noted that the recently concluded EFTA-India trade agreement, which includes Norway, offers opportunities for cooperation across multiple domains.

"This agreement will enable us to work together on energy, maritime, health technology, cybersecurity, and AI. The potential over the next few years, particularly in ethical and trustworthy AI, is enormous. I believe this journey will be mutually beneficial for both Norway and India," she added.

Tung also praised India's public sector initiatives and inclusive digital ecosystem.

"Visiting India and seeing how you work on digital inclusiveness, including public services, is very impressive. In Norway, we also strive to ensure no one is left behind and that everyone can participate in the digital society. Learning from India's experience is valuable, and it is an area where our countries can cooperate further," she said.

India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet and Progress.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday.

The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, has witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders.

Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.

PM Modi will deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence.

- ANI
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini inaugurated and laid foundation stones for five development projects totaling Rs 103.31 crore in Uchana, Jind district. Ministers at the event emphasized the rapid pace of development under the BJP's "double-engine" government. They contrasted the current administration's focus on regional development with past leaders accused of personal advancement. The gathering also served to discuss the shifting political dynamics and public trust in the BJP leadership.

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini inaugurates and lays foundation for projects worth Rs 103 crore in Uchana, Jind, focusing on infrastructure and development.

Chandigarh, Feb 18 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of five development projects worth Rs 103.31 crore during a public meeting held in Uchana in Jind district, aimed at strengthening infrastructure and accelerating development in the region.

These included three projects inaugurated at a cost of Rs 28.54 crore and two projects for which foundation stones were laid involving an estimated expenditure of Rs 74.77 crore, reflecting the state government's focus on expanding public infrastructure and improving civic amenities.

On the occasion, Public Health Engineering Minister Ranbir Gangwa, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi, and Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Krishan Middha also addressed the gathering and highlighted the government's development initiatives.

Public Health Engineering Minister Gangwa said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Saini, the double-engine government was carrying out development works at a rapid pace across Haryana, ensuring balanced and inclusive growth in both urban and rural areas.

Referring to the Assembly elections, he said the people of Uchana played a decisive role in forming the BJP government and strengthening democratic participation in the state.

He said the Chief Minister was ensuring equal development across Haryana and prioritising infrastructure projects in all regions without discrimination.

"There was a misconception that only political dynasties could win from this constituency. Another myth was that the BJP formed the government only after certain leaders joined the party. The people of Uchana have dispelled both these misconceptions," Gangwa said.

He added that leaders who had served as ministers at the Centre, Members of Parliament and MLAs were shown that electoral victories are decided by the people and not by political families or dynastic influence.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi said the Bangar region has historically played a significant role in Haryana's political landscape and contributed to shaping the state's leadership.

"There was a time when the Congress won five seats from here, and leaders like Chaudhary Devi Lal also won from this region," Bedi said while recalling the political history of the area.

However, he said that people have now expressed their trust in the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Saini, reflecting changing political dynamics and growing support for the current government's development agenda.

He alleged that leaders elected from the region in the past had used their political positions for personal advancement at the state and national levels but did not devote sufficient attention to the development of the area.

In contrast, Chief Minister Saini was directly engaging with people, addressing their concerns and accelerating development works to improve infrastructure and public services in the region, he said.

- IANS
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed a government resolution urging the Centre to restore the Revenue Deficit Grant, sparking protests and slogan-shouting from the Opposition BJP. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu termed the BJP's opposition as "unfortunate," stating the grant is a constitutional right and its stoppage would cause an annual loss of nearly Rs 10,000 crore to the state. Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur accused the government of misleading the House and failing to effectively plead the state's case before the Finance Commission. The Speaker noted the session's productivity and adjourned the House until March 18, highlighting the grant's serious implications for Himachal and other hill states.

Himachal Pradesh Assembly passes resolution urging Centre to restore Revenue Deficit Grant amid BJP protests. CM Sukhu warns of Rs 10,000 crore annual loss.

Shimla, February 18 The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday passed a government resolution urging the Union Government to restore the Revenue Deficit Grant, amid uproar and slogan-shouting by the Opposition BJP, which expressed dissatisfaction with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's reply.

The resolution, moved under Rule 102, was adopted by voice vote despite protests from BJP members, who entered the Well of the House and raised slogans against the state government. The ruling Congress members also countered with slogans, accusing the Opposition of failing to defend the state's interests.

Speaking to the media after the passage of the resolution, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu termed the Opposition's stand "unfortunate" and said the Revenue Deficit Grant was the state's constitutional right.

"It is very unfortunate that BJP MLAs from Himachal Pradesh did not support a resolution seeking restoration of the Revenue Deficit Grant, which was given as a right under the Constitution by the Government of India. This is a matter of deep concern for the state," Sukhu said.

He alleged that stopping the RDG would result in a loss of nearly Rs 10,000 crore annually to the state.

"When the state is losing Rs 10,000 crore per annum, this affects farmers, labourers, youth and women. We wanted to collectively fight for Himachal's rights. I had even requested that we go together to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, keeping aside protocol, in the interest of the state. But today, when we raised this issue under Rule 102 after the 16th Finance Commission recommended discontinuation of the grant, they chose not to stand with us."

The Chief Minister said the state government would continue welfare schemes despite financial challenges.

"Governments come and go, Chief Ministers and Ministers change, but the rights of Himachal Pradesh will not be compromised. We will not stop the Old Pension Scheme. We will not privatise the electricity sector. We will strengthen it and continue all welfare schemes. We are committed to protecting the interests of Himachal Pradesh." Sukhu added.

Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur accused the state government of misleading the House and said the BJP was not given adequate time to respond.

"False statements are continuously being made in the Assembly. The Chief Minister was presenting incorrect figures. We requested time to respond, but were not granted it. We were compelled to enter the Well of the House and raise slogans as our side was not heard." He said.

Thakur maintained that the BJP stood by the presentation it had made before the 15th Finance Commission when it was in power.

"We stand by the position we presented before the 15th Finance Commission. We raised Himachal's issues effectively at every forum and secured assistance from the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If Himachal Pradesh is not receiving the Revenue Deficit Grant now, the responsibility lies with the present Congress government, which failed to effectively plead the state's case."

He termed it "unprecedented" that discussion on the Governor's Address was deferred in favour of a special discussion on RDG.

"For the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh, instead of discussing the Governor's Address, a special discussion under Rule 102 was brought on the Revenue Deficit Grant. This is a serious issue. The government should have proceeded with the normal legislative business, including the Motion of Thanks." He added.

Thakur further alleged that the Chief Minister's figures did not match those presented by the Finance Department and accused the government of attempting to shift blame for the state's financial condition onto the BJP and the Centre.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Kuldeep Singh Pathania said the House functioned productively and that the session had been adjourned till March 18.

"After a detailed discussion on the Revenue Deficit Grant, the budget session has been adjourned till March 18 and will resume at 11 am on that day. During these three days, the House functioned for around 18 and a half hours and achieved over 124 per cent productivity."

He said the issue of RDG had serious implications for Himachal Pradesh and other hill states, especially in light of recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission.

"This was an extraordinary situation. The government wanted to take the views of all members on this serious issue. There was a detailed discussion over two days, and members were given adequate time. The resolution was put to a vote and passed bya majority. It will now be sent to the Parliament and the Central Government. We hope a positive decision will be taken in the interest of Himachal Pradesh."

Pathania added that the remaining business, including discussion of the Governor's Address, demands for grants, and passage of the budget, would be taken up when the House reconvenes, and a detailed calendar would be issued in advance.

- ANI
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva arrived in Delhi, received by Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, for the ongoing India AI Impact Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines with leaders from Croatia, Serbia, Finland, Bhutan, Spain, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The summit, running from February 16-20, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, convenes global policymakers, industry experts, and innovators. The event underscores India's role as a hub for advancing critical discussions on artificial intelligence and fostering international partnerships.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva arrives in Delhi for the AI Summit. PM Modi holds bilateral meetings with global leaders and tech CEOs.

New Delhi, February 18 International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva arrived in Delhi on Wednesday for the India AI Impact Summit.

Official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said Georgieva was received at the airport by Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road, Transport & Highways, Harsh Malhotra.

Jaiswal further stated that India values its close engagement with the IMF.

In a post on X, Jaiswal said, "Warm welcome to the Managing Director of IMF Kristalina Georgieva. She was received by Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road, Transport & Highways, Harsh Malhotra at the airport. India values its close engagement with the IMF in advancing global financial resilience and supporting inclusive and sustainable development."

World leaders flocked to New Delhi with the Global AI Impact Summit underway.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic on the sidelines of the India AI Summit.

In a post on X, he said, "Held fruitful discussions with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr. Andrej Plenkovic. We discussed how to add momentum to our bilateral partnership in areas such as technology, innovation, shipbuilding, blue economy and boosting connectivity through the IMEEC corridor. Also expressed gratitude for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which will bring unprecedented progress for people in India as well as Europe."

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic; Google CEO Sundar Pichai; Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland PM Petteri Orpo; Bhutan Prime Minister Tenzing Tobgay, and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay; Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; and Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also landed in the national capital for the AI Summit.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

- ANI
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi convened global experts to discuss AI's transformative potential. Key announcements included a partnership between University College London and Tech Mahindra to foster research and student opportunities. Nations like Switzerland and France showcased their AI initiatives, emphasizing ethical models and trade collaboration. Companies like Fujitsu and Oriserve presented advanced technologies in quantum computing and AI-driven customer service for regional dialects.

Global experts at India AI Impact Summit 2026 announce major international MoUs and initiatives in AI, quantum computing, and ethical technology.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Global experts and leading companies on Wednesday gathered in the national capital for the 'India AI Impact Summit 2026', where discussions centered on the future of artificial intelligence and its transformative potential across industries.

Speaking to IANS, Geraint Rees, Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement) at University College London, described the scale and enthusiasm of the summit as highly impressive.

He announced that UCL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tech Mahindra.

"The partnership aims to boost research and innovation while offering students opportunities to work on real-world business challenges," he stated.

Rees said this is an exciting time for India-UK relations, noting that India is emerging as a modern and entrepreneurial economy.

He highlighted the country's growing ambitions in areas such as AI, advanced medicine, robotics and space.

From the Switzerland Pavilion, Dr. Lina Robra said her country is promoting AI based on the principles of transparency and openness.

She spoke about the Swiss AI initiative's open-source large language model named 'Apertus', which is designed to ensure transparency in both data and model functioning. The aim, she said, is to promote responsible and ethical use of AI in the public interest.

Meanwhile, Estelle David, Trade and Investment Commissioner of France, told IANS that France is delighted to participate in the summit.

She said France has set up its largest-ever national pavilion at the event, featuring around 30 French AI companies.

In addition, nearly 120 French companies are visiting India this week, further strengthening the India-France partnership.

Jungo Okai from Fujitsu said the company has brought advanced AI software along with quantum computing and supercomputing technologies to the summit.

He explained that quantum computing, which operates very differently from traditional computers, has the potential to revolutionise simulation, optimisation and scientific discovery.

Okai added that as India's economy grows rapidly, the country will need strong data centres and indigenous computing capabilities to fully harness AI's potential.

Maz Ansari, co-founder of Oriserve, said his company has been automating conversations between brands and customers for the past seven years.

He explained that their technology can deliver accurate responses instantly and is capable of understanding various Indian dialects.

This will help people in rural and remote areas access banking and other services over the phone without having to visit a branch.

- IANS
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi has convened global leaders to discuss the dual narrative of AI's promise and its risks. UN officials highlighted existing AI use in humanitarian logistics and the critical need for human rights-based guardrails. The event, attracting participation from over 110 countries and numerous world leaders, serves as a key platform for sharing practices and fostering collaboration. This fourth edition underscores a global commitment to steering AI innovation responsibly and inclusively.

Global leaders at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 stress AI's potential and the urgent need for ethical governance and human rights safeguards.

New Delhi, Feb 18 The India AI Impact Summit 2026 here has brought together global leaders, policymakers, and technology experts, who are highlighting both the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and the urgent need for responsible governance.

Speaking to IANS, World Food Programme (WFP) Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Carl Skau said the agency already has a strong advantage in deploying AI due to its vast data resources and global logistics network.

"We are really ahead. We already have a strategy. We have been using AI for several years," Skau said. "We have an advantage given the fact that we are the largest agency with a huge supply chain capacity. Our procurement is centralised, and we also have a lot of data, and a lot of expertise on data. Bringing that together with AI really gives us a powerful tool."

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stressed that while AI holds enormous promise, it must be guided by ethical safeguards, warning that unchecked technological power could pose risks.

"AI has an incredible force for good, but we also need to bear in mind that it is about power, and when you exercise power, you also need guardrails and constraints," Turk said. "It is not about stifling creativity or innovation; it is about putting it on the right track, and human rights are going to do just that."

Lithuania's Economy and Innovation Minister Edvinas Griksas described the summit as a major global platform for cooperation.

"Delhi, India, is the heart of AI today. Many leaders and presidents are coming here, and we are happy to share good practices, learn more, and collaborate," he said.

Coordination Lab CEO and a Russian university professor, Anna Sytnik, praised the organisation of the event and highlighted discussions on cyber peace and AI governance. She noted strong public interest, saying sessions were filled to capacity.

The five-day summit has drawn participation from over 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including about 20 heads of state or Government and nearly 45 ministers.

This edition marks the fourth in the series, following previous summits in the United Kingdom (2023), South Korea (2024), and France (2025). Organisers said more dignitaries are expected to arrive, reinforcing the event's emphasis on international collaboration and inclusive AI-driven development.

- IANS
Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced India is projected to add a staggering $26 trillion to its economy by 2047, targeting developed nation status with a $30-35 trillion GDP. He highlighted India's proactive trade diplomacy, having concluded nine agreements in four years from a position of strength to protect domestic sectors while securing global market access. The Global Economic Cooperation 2026 forum, attended by global delegations, serves as a platform to shape a resilient and inclusive economic order amidst global volatility. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis emphasized India's role in contributing to global stability and shaping a strategically stable economic framework.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal projects India to add $26 trillion to its economy by 2047, aiming for a $30-35 trillion developed nation status through strategic FTAs.

Mumbai, Feb 18 Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said that India is expected to add approximately $26 trillion to its economy by 2047 - a scale of growth that is unparalleled in history and unlikely to be replicated anywhere else in the world.

Addressing the Global Economic Cooperation (GEC) 2026 forum here, the minister said: "The era of economic isolation is over - this is why we are building alliances, deepening friendships, and concluding trade agreements from a position of strength - nine agreements in four years, with more to come."

"India's national interests guide every conversation - secure opportunities for farmers, MSMEs, women and industries - while safeguarding sensitive sectors."

In his keynote address at the forum, Goyal highlighted India's approach to economic diplomacy and the country's emergence as a credible, indispensable partner in global trade and investment.

"A free trade agreement, for us, is an invitation to partner in India's future, to participate in a journey that will take India from the world's fourth-largest economy today to the third largest by 2027-28, and ultimately to a $30-35 trillion developed nation by 2047. The world wants to be part of this story. And India, open, trusted and growing, is ready to welcome every partner who comes to the table in sincerity," he said.

The forum brings together senior ministerial and business delegations from major global economies, including France, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States, Australia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Singapore.

Noting that India now has agreements with 38 developed nations across 16 FTAs and 6 PTAs, Goyal attributed this success to a clear and disciplined national purpose.

"India has concluded nine agreements between 2022 and now, within roughly four years. These agreements were negotiated from a position of strength. Trust enables us to protect our defensive interests and advance our offensive interests simultaneously. Partner nations have accepted India's position because we have been honest and transparent about our objectives."

"Our negotiations allow us to protect farmers, safeguard the growth of MSMEs, protect fishermen, and preserve jobs in India, while at the same time securing market access in textiles, footwear and leather, expanding pharmaceutical exports, enhancing farm and marine product exports, and attracting technology and investment," he observed.

GEC 2026 commences at a pivotal moment for the global economy. Against the backdrop of shifting trade architectures and an increasingly multipolar world, the forum aims to shape practical frameworks for resilient, inclusive and future-ready economic cooperation.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar said: "The world has entered a volatile and uncertain era where long-standing assumptions are being questioned, and key dimensions are transforming simultaneously... As we move towards our goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, we seek not only to contribute to global growth, but also to global stability, predictability and trust."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said: "We meet at a time when global trade is undergoing a major upheaval, supply chains are reorganising, and strategic sectors - semiconductors, energy, food, rare earths, AI - are now embedded in national security doctrines. Let us shape an economic order that is resilient, inclusive and strategically stable."

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the ongoing war in Ukraine and advocating for a peaceful resolution through dialogue. The leaders also voiced strong support for implementing a peace plan for Gaza, emphasizing a two-state solution as the path to a just and lasting outcome. Furthermore, they reaffirmed their shared commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, highlighting new cooperative initiatives. The statement concluded with a joint call for urgent reforms to the United Nations Security Council to address global challenges more effectively.

PM Modi and President Macron call for Ukraine peace talks, support Gaza two-state solution, and reaffirm Indo-Pacific cooperation in a major joint statement.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday expressed concern over the Russia-Ukraine war, agreeing to support lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

In a joint statement issued by India and France, following bilateral talks during Macron's visit to India, "the two leaders reiterated their concern over the war in Ukraine, which continues to cause immense human suffering and negative global consequences."

"They stressed the importance of cessation of hostilities and expressed support for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and international law, including independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," the joint statement shared by the External Affairs Ministry read.

The statement comes in the backdrop of the upcoming peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva, mediated by the United States, to negotiate to end the war that began in February 2022.

Meanwhile, as per the India-France joint statement, PM Modi and Emmanuel Macron expressed their support for the implementation of the Peace Plan for Gaza in accordance with Resolution 2803 adopted by the United Nations Security Council and principles enshrined in the New York Declaration.

New Delhi and Paris called for a "two-state solution" through dialogue.

"They (PM Modi and French President Macron) encouraged all parties to implement the resolution in its entirety. Both sides restated their readiness to support efforts towards just and durable peace and stressed the need for rapid, safe, and unimpeded aid delivery throughout the Gaza Strip. Both leaders reiterated the commitment of India and France for a just and lasting solution, based on the implementation of the two-state solution, through dialogue and diplomacy," the statement said.

This comes amid a US-led Board of Peace meeting scheduled on February 19. The Board of Peace, launched by US President Donald Trump in Davos in January, was initially designed to oversee Gaza's post-war transition under a broader peace framework. However, its expanded mandate to promote "global peace" and elements of its charter, including provisions allowing Trump to serve indefinitely as chairman, have raised legal and political concerns in several EU capitals.

Adding to the international matters, India and France reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region and called for closer collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region, in line with their 'Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region' of 2018 and 'India-France Indo-Pacific Roadmap' of 2023.

They also looked forward to enhanced engagement under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and to strengthening cooperation in the Indian Ocean Rim Association under India's Chairship. They welcomed the latest development of joint initiatives in the region, including recent new solar energy trainings in countries in the Indo-Pacific region through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) with both Indian and French funding, as well as the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructures (CDRI) and the AFD Group to reinforce disaster resilience in third countries.

They appreciated the progress on the Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation (IPTDC) aimed at supporting climate- and SDG-focused projects from third countries of the Indo-Pacific, with the two sides having jointly identified projects in the fields of digital startups, health, and digital public infrastructure to be implemented together, the joint statement said.

New Delhi and Paris' stand on international issues was based on their call for reformed and effective multilateralism to sustain an equitable and peaceful international order, address pressing global challenges, and prepare the world for emerging developments, including in the technological and economic domains. The two leaders stressed, in particular, the urgent need for the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The joint statement came as a result of the bilateral talks between PM Modi and Macron in Mumbai, during the French President's fourth visit to India.

- ANI
The Japanese sociologist warns that the repression of protesters against the Islamic Republic continues a month after the end of the demonstrations

Mai Sato, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, speaks in the present tense about the repression against the recent demonstrations against the Islamic Republic. The reason, the Tokyo-born sociologist explains, is that arrests, the presence of security forces in the streets, and the searching of bystanders cell phones are still happening, a month after those demonstrations were brutally suppressed and thousands died in the streets.

In a video call on February 17 from London, Sato, who is also the director of the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research at Birkbeck, University of London, states her belief that the regimes violence has been unprecedented more for its massive scale than for the oppression itself, which has been in place for decades.

Question. A month after the protests were suppressed, what is the estimated death toll?

Answer. The Iranian National Security Council published a figure of 3,117 deaths at the end of January. Of these, they said that 2,427 were innocent people and protectors of order and security. The Minister of Foreign Affairs then claimed that the remaining 690 were terrorists. Some of the numbers from civil society organizations reach 20,000, but even the death of a single protester was serious enough, as these were people who took to the streets exercising their freedom of expression and assembly. I believe that the death toll is much higher than the official figure of 3,000.

Q. Is this wave of repression unprecedented in Iran?

A. I agree in the sense that [this phenomenon] has occurred on a large scale, because these protests have spread to every province in the country. But if we are talking about the state killing its people, arbitrarily detaining individuals, threatening the families [of victims] so they dont speak out, thats nothing new. The repression of civil space, detentions, executions, and disappearances were already happening before, but on a much smaller scale and perhaps concentrated in certain provinces. What is new is that this time ordinary people, who perhaps did not previously consider themselves activists or human rights defenders, took to the streets.

Q. What do you think about the possibility of a U.S. military attack?

A. I am very critical of any kind of military action without the approval of the U.N. Security Council. When there has been military action elsewhere, it has not provided clear solutions. I do not see military action as a magic solution to resolve the problems in Iran.

Q. Would that possible action help the protesters, as U.S. President Donald Trump suggested?

A. President Trumps statements have shifted from expressing concern about the human rights situation of the Iranian people to talking exclusively about the nuclear agreement. I believe the change occurred when the president announced that those hundreds of Iranians would not be executed. I do not know if there will be an agreement between Iran and the United States [the second round of negotiations between the two concluded on Tuesday in Geneva, with Tehran announcing an understanding], but that should not be interpreted as meaning that the issues surrounding the protests have been resolved. These are two separate issues. Regardless of whether there is an agreement or not, we must address why the protests occurred and what their impact has been on human rights.

Q. Following the Israeli and American attacks in June, the repression increased.

A. Yes, its true. Many people were detained, and I believe that the Bahai [religious minority] was also used as a scapegoat, and that is happening right now with these latest protests. Following that military escalation, the state passed a law that broadened the definition of espionage, which was already a crime punishable by death.

Q. Has the Iranian regime committed crimes against humanity in these recent protests?

A. It would be very irresponsible of me to say yes, because this is a very serious accusation that requires investigation, even if we ask ourselves Why cant we define it that way? The answer is that we dont act that way in our own criminal justice systems either. I wouldnt define someone as a murderer without a conviction for that crime, even if there are videos showing the alleged crime. It would be like labeling someone a criminal without them having gone through the courts. The U.N. Fact-Finding Mission, which was tasked by the Human Rights Council to investigate the protests, is mandated to examine protest-related violations.

Q. How many people have been arrested?

A. In mid-January, Iranian media quoted security officials as saying that some 3,000 people had been arrested. That was the latest official figure, and I do not believe there has been any update from the authorities. The same is true of estimates from civil society organizations. Ive seen figures reported of these organizations as high as 50,000. I dont know how many are being detained, how many have been forcibly disappeared. There are families who havent found their loved ones; they dont know if they are dead or if they have been detained. Even families who knew their relatives had been arrested may have received a very brief phone call several weeks ago, but they have heard nothing since. There are reports of torture during detention, which has led to death in some cases, and of sexual abuse.

Q. What is the profile of the protesters and the role of women?

A. It has been a truly national protest, in every province, in large cities, in smaller towns, involving men, women, various ethnic and religious minorities, and also children. I would not classify it as a gender-based or women-led protest. The demonstrations of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement began [in 2022] against the compulsory veil. This is much broader. Perhaps there is a gender-based element in the type of abuse that may be taking place in detention centers, where women are more exposed to sexual torture.

Q. Is it true that families are being asked for money to recover the bodies of dead protesters?

A. Yes, I have received reports of this happening nationwide. Families are forced to sign a document stating that their relative was a member of the security forces or paramilitaries killed by protesters, or they are required to pay the equivalent of between $3,000 and $7,000. I believe this practice was carried out on orders from above.

Q. Can a regime that has killed thousands of people in the streets hold out?

A. In terms of long-term governance, I believe that the entire nation has raised its voice in this protest. Therefore, some kind of truth-seeking process is necessary.

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Union Health Minister JP Nadda and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS Delhi. The centre is a joint initiative under an MoU involving AIIMS, Sorbonne University, and the Paris Brain Institute. The launch coincided with the RUSH 2026 forum, featuring sessions on AI in brain health and global healthcare collaboration. The initiative underscores a shared commitment to developing ethical, sovereign AI capacity for medical innovation.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurate the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS Delhi to advance medical research.

New Delhi, February 18 In a landmark move to strengthen bilateral cooperation in healthcare and emerging technologies, Union Minister for Health JP Nadda, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, inaugurated the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, on Wednesday.

According to an official release, the IF-CAIH is a pioneering initiative designed to advance AI-driven research, medical education, and clinical innovation, addressing complex healthcare challenges while promoting interdisciplinary collaboration between India and France.

Speaking at the inauguration, President Macron emphasised the importance of building sovereign AI capacity and talent, stating, "India and France are committed to developing the computing capacity and talent necessary to build our own trusted AI systems, as we cannot rely solely on technologies created and managed elsewhere. Artificial Intelligence must serve humanity - with strong protections for children, transparency in algorithms to address bias, and a firm commitment to preserving linguistic and cultural diversity."

The launch coincided with the Rencontres Universitaires et Scientifiques de Haut Niveau (RUSH) 2026, a high-level academic and scientific forum held at AIIMS on February 18 and February 19, coordinated by the French Embassy.

A dedicated session titled "Indo-French Forum: AI in Brain Health and Global Healthcare" brought together scientists, clinicians, policymakers, and academic leaders from both countries to explore collaborative solutions in global health, the release stated.

The IF-CAIH has been established under a joint MoU between AIIMS, Sorbonne University, and Paris Brain Institute, with additional collaboration from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and other leading French institutions.

The initiative builds on ongoing India-France cooperation in priority areas such as Digital Health, Antimicrobial Resistance, Human Resources for Health, and responsible use of health data.

As part of the RUSH 2026 programme, President Macron interacted with young Indian innovators, including Priyanka Das Rajkakati and Manan Suri, during a session moderated by Clara Chappaz, highlighting youth-led innovation and cross-border collaboration in AI.

The programme also featured a special segment on "Major Scientific and Academic Cooperation Highlights between France and India" at the Jawaharlal Auditorium, moderated by Prof. Vijay Raghavan and Dr. Thierry Coulhon, Chairmen of RUSH.

During the visit, several AIIMS doctors shared a selfie with President Macron, capturing a moment of engagement and camaraderie with young researchers.

The session showcased key milestones and emerging avenues of collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation between the two countries, reflecting the depth and dynamism of the Indo-French knowledge partnership.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in AI-enabled healthcare, emphasising the potential of the IF-CAIH to foster innovation, capacity building, and global knowledge exchange.

President Macron also posted on X, stating, "In New Delhi, we are inaugurating the Franco-Indian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, led by AIIMS, Sorbonne Universite, and the Brain Institute. Research, training, innovation: France and India are mobilising AI for the common good!"

The launch of IF-CAIH marks a significant milestone in India-France relations, reflecting both countries' shared vision for ethical, inclusive, and globally beneficial AI in healthcare.

- ANI
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce, dubbing it a 'Trustforce' to accelerate strategic cooperation. The initiative, involving UK Deputy PM David Lammy, aims to tackle execution challenges in developing India's offshore wind ecosystem, with identified zones off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The government has announced a Viability Gap Funding scheme of Rs 7,453 crore to support early projects. The minister highlighted the synergy between offshore wind and India's green hydrogen ambitions, noting falling prices for green hydrogen and ammonia.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launches India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce with UK's David Lammy, aiming to accelerate strategic clean energy projects and green hydrogen.

New Delhi, February 19 Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday addressed the launch of the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Lammy and British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron, a press release by the ministry said.

Calling the Taskforce, a "Trustforce," Joshi said it reflects the confidence that India and the United Kingdom can work together to address real execution challenges. He urged that the platform deliver time-bound workstreams, measurable milestones, and visible progress, converting global lessons into solutions tailored to Indian conditions.

Describing the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce as a working mechanism rather than a symbolic platform, the minister said it has been constituted under Vision 2035 and the Fourth Energy Dialogue to provide strategic leadership and coordination for India's offshore wind ecosystem. He observed that while the United Kingdom has demonstrated global leadership in scaling offshore wind and developing mature supply chains, India brings scale, long-term demand and a rapidly expanding clean energy ecosystem.

According to the release, he outlined three practical pillars for cooperation: ecosystem planning and market design, including refined seabed leasing frameworks and credible revenue-certainty mechanisms; infrastructure and supply chains, including port modernisation, local manufacturing, and specialised vessels; and financing and risk mitigation through blended finance structures and mobilisation of long-term institutional capital.

The minister emphasised that the next phase of India's transition must strengthen reliability, grid stability, industrial depth, and energy security, and that offshore wind has a strategic role in this journey. Promising offshore wind zones have been identified off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu along with grid planning and required studies and surveys have been conducted through the National Institute of Wind Energy for the initial projects.

To support early projects, the government has introduced a Viability Gap Funding scheme with a total outlay of Rs 7,453 crore, approximately 710 million pounds. Joshi noted that offshore wind is among the most complex segments of the global energy transition, requiring specialised port infrastructure, marine logistics, robust seabed leasing frameworks, clear risk allocation, and bankable commercial structures.

Joshi further highlighted the synergy between offshore wind and India's green hydrogen ambitions. He noted that India is leading the Hydrogen Breakthrough Goal under the international Breakthrough Agenda and has achieved globally competitive benchmarks under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with green hydrogen prices falling to a historic low of RS 279 per kg (approximately 2.65 pounds per kg) and green ammonia prices reaching Rs 49.75 per kg (approximately 0.47 pounds per kg), the release said.

Offshore wind, he said, can provide high-quality renewable power to emerging coastal industrial and green hydrogen clusters, strengthening energy security and industrial competitiveness.

Pralhad Joshi underlined that India's clean energy transition is defined by execution at scale. He informed that India's installed non-fossil fuel capacity has crossed 272 GW, including more than 141 GW of solar and 55 GW of wind capacity. In the ongoing financial year alone, India has added over 35 GW of solar and 4.61 GW of wind capacity.

With clarity of purpose and shared commitment, he concluded, offshore wind can emerge as a strong pillar of India's clean, reliable, and self-reliant energy future and a flagship of India-UK cooperation under Vision 2035, the press release said.

- ANI
India and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their strategic partnership in telecommunications and digital innovation during a high-level meeting. The discussions centered on collaborating to shape global standards for AI-native networks, Open RAN, and future 6G technology. Both nations agreed to deepen cooperation in quantum communications, AI-driven cybersecurity, and joint initiatives to prevent telecom fraud. The meeting also covered India's proposals for hosting a major ITU conference and securing leadership roles within the global telecom governance body.

India and UK deepen tech cooperation on AI-native networks, 6G, quantum communications, and cybersecurity to shape global standards.

New Delhi, Feb 18 India's Minister of State for Communications, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, held a meeting with the UK's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan, here on Wednesday, reaffirming the growing depth of India-UK cooperation in telecommunications, digital innovation, and emerging technologies.

During the discussions on the sidelines of the AI Summit, the minister emphasised that India views artificial intelligence as central to the future of telecommunications. He noted that combining India's scale with the United Kingdom's research strengths can help shape global standards in AI-native networks, Open RAN, and 6G, ensuring that technology drives both growth and trust.

Chandra Sekhar also highlighted India's National Quantum Mission and pointed out the enormous potential for collaboration in quantum communications and secure networks.

Both sides reviewed progress under the DoT-DCMS MoU and welcomed the operationalisation of the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre, endorsed at India Mobile Congress 2025.

Discussions focused on deepening cooperation in AI applications for telecom networks, including autonomous network management, AI-driven cybersecurity, spectrum innovation, and non-terrestrial networks. Both sides expressed interest in joint research, pilot deployments, and coordinated engagement in global standardisation forums such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and 3GPP.

India and the United Kingdom also exchanged insights on ongoing efforts to prevent telecom fraud and digital scams through the use of artificial intelligence. India highlighted initiatives such as the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), the Sanchar Saathi platform, and the deployment of AI-based anti-spam and fraud detection tools by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). The UK side shared its experience with open data frameworks and strong deterrence-based regulatory measures as key elements of its approach.

Besides, India sought the support of the United Kingdom for key multilateral engagements at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), including the candidature of. M. Revathi for the position of Director, Radiocommunication Bureau (BR), ITU and India's re-election to the ITU Council for the term 2027-2030, reaffirming its continued contribution to global telecom governance and standardisation. India's proposal to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-2030), reflecting India's commitment to shaping an inclusive, secure, and future-ready global digital ecosystem, was also taken up.

Further, India highlighted its rapid 5G rollout, expansion of rural connectivity, digital public infrastructure, and citizen-centric telecom governance initiatives.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen structured institutional engagement and build secure, trusted, and future-ready digital infrastructure in both countries.

- IANS
Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces major AI investments and partnerships in India, calling AI the biggest platform shift of our lifetime.

New Delhi, February 18 Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday said that AI was the biggest platform shift in our lifetime and that India stands to have an extraordinary trajectory with this technology.

Speaking at a special event hosted by Google on the sidelines of the AI-India Impact Summit Pichai said that Google wants to be a partner with India in its AI journey.



"I believe India is going to have an extraordinary trajectory with AI, and we want to be a partner. AI is the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes and one of the most powerful tools to solve problems and improve lives at planetary scale. Whether it's making diseases more detectable and treatable, communities more resilient, or learning more accessible. For countries like India, AI presents a chance to leapfrog age-old gaps and create new opportunities. These also happen to be the places where we see the greatest adoption and optimism for AI technologies, which I don't think is a coincidence. Google has been investing in AI for more than a decade because we see it as the most important way to advance our mission," he said.



Pichai also announced the India America Connect initiative, which will deliver new subsea cable routes to increase AI connectivity along with several other initiatives of Google.



"Indian users are among the highest global adopters of voice and visual search. In the coming weeks, you'll see an enhanced model that powers Search Lite, our real-time voice and camera tool, so more people can search what they see in their own language. AI is also helping to create net new experiences that are truly helpful. The Gemini app, our personal AI assistant, is growing rapidly across the world, and India is among our largest markets. It's available in 10 languages spoken in India. Underlying this progress is a world-class infrastructure. Last year, we announced a $15 billion AI hub in Vizag. This hub will house gigawatt-scale compute and a new international subsea cable gateway. When finished, it will bring jobs and the benefits of cutting-edge AI to people and businesses across India," he said.



"Building on this, today we are announcing the India America Connect initiative, which will deliver new subsea cable routes to increase AI connectivity between the US, India, and multiple locations across the Southern Hemisphere. To take advantage of the opportunities this infrastructure creates, we must also invest in people and skilling. Which is why we're announcing some of our most ambitious skilling programs here. This includes a new Google AI Professional Certificate program to help people master AI in their work. In India, we are partnering with Wadhwani AI to reach students and early career professionals. Globally, we'll partner with governments, educational institutions, employers, and nonprofits. It will be available in English and Hindi with more Indian languages to follow. To deliver this impact at scale, transformation needs to happen in all sectors, " Pichai added.



Pichai also announced a key partnership between Google DeepMind and the Government.



"Today we are excited to announce a partnership between Google DeepMind and the Indian government as part of the Global National Partnerships program. This will broaden access to frontier AI capabilities for national priorities. Demis will share more later on. We're also partnering with Atal Tinkering Labs to bring GenAI assistants to over 10,000 Indian schools and 11 million students with a focus on robotics and coding in the classroom. Google has a full-stack commitment to India, and I've never been more excited about the future we are building together," he said



Pichai said that he reckons that India is going to be a full stack player in the Ai sphere and that puts India in a great position.



"India is unique... you know uniquely positioned in this moment. I think it has a chance to play a big role in all three, all three. I think of Google as a full-stack company and I think India obviously is going to be a full-stack player in AI. I think what's important to be in a position to do that, and I think that's what this AI summit is about, you have to make sure you're investing in all the foundational things you need. In the research, in knowledge, in the institutions you have here. The government playing a role in diffusing AI across the country and the economy and making sure it's reaching people. That means you're adopting it in all the sectors and in a way that the progress is touching the average person on a day-to-day basis. Be it a farmer, be it a student, be it a doctor in the healthcare sectors etc. And I think, I think the foundation is being laid and I can see it, you've seen the announcements this week in terms of infrastructure investments alone. So I think that puts India in a good position to get there. But I would say the progress is about diffusing the technology, and I think India can play a role in all three categories," Pichai said.



Pichai said he expects every sector and every context, every workflow to be transformed by AI.



"We're partnering with AIIMS in India as an example as to how can we work for patients to kind of input their symptoms or give the information, and the AI creates a report to help assist doctors. We are in early stages of projects like this. But to me, leapfrog means in each of these sectors, you've radically transformed how the workflow happens. I mean, how do students learn? How do your hospital systems work? How is government more efficient in a deep foundational way? I do think in areas like science, I think one of the things Demis and his teams have been focused on is how do you accelerate scientific discovery at a fundamental level? I think we are talking about a technology here which will allow you to create new things at some incredibly fast trajectory," he said.



The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is delivering focused, outcome-oriented results aligned with national priorities. The Summit is advancing practical AI deployment, policy coherence, and institutional coordination to ensure effective implementation across government and industry. It is strengthening governance and regulatory frameworks, assessing regional preparedness for AI-led industrial growth, and accelerating skill development and workforce transition.





- ANI
ITC Limited is significantly expanding its artificial intelligence services to support a larger network of Farmer Producer Organisations and organic farmers. The initiative leverages the company's ITCMAARS "phygital" ecosystem, combining digital tools with on-ground support to reach 10 million farmers. The platform uses generative AI and agentic workflows to provide real-time advisories on weather, crop management, and market access in multiple languages. These integrated AI features have already contributed to reduced fertilizer usage and improved crop yields for participating farmers.

ITC deploys generative AI to expand its digital agri-stack, aiming to reach 10 million farmers with climate-smart advisories and market access.

New Delhi, February 18 ITC Limited plans to extend its artificial intelligence innovations to a larger network of Farmer Producer Organisations, organic farmers, and rural communities. This initiative is part of the company's strategy to reach 10 million farmers through its ITCMAARS "phygital" ecosystem, which combines digital tools with on-ground human support.

The company is deploying generative AI and agentic AI capabilities to transform its digital platform into a connected agri-stack. These tools are designed to improve the efficiency of FPO operations and provide specific advisory services for organic farming. ITC states that its AI strategy focuses on creating an inclusive ecosystem that enhances efficiency at every stage of farming, from crop planning to market discovery.

S Ganesh Kumar, Divisional Chief Executive, Agri Business, ITC Ltd, said, "Today, ITC's Next Generation Agriculture initiative is powered by the ITCMAARS, a full range crop-agnostic 'phygital' model that aims to democratize the access of latest technologies for small farmers, helping them win over critical challenges of climate change, crop management and market access."

ITC is also using AI to facilitate real-time knowledge exchange among rural communities. An AI-driven digital assistant and agentic workflows will be used to resolve a large percentage of community questions. This technology acts as a complement to human expert advice.

Kumar stated, "Our AI strategy in agriculture focuses on orchestrating a multi-stakeholder inclusive ecosystem that aims to enhance efficiency at every node of farming operation from crop planning, climate-smart advisories, production, input linkages, procurement and market discovery."

The ITCMAARS platform already includes several AI-enabled features like Krishi Mitra, Crop Calendar, and Crop Doctor. Krishi Mitra is an AI co-pilot available in eight languages that answers farmer queries on weather, prices, and government schemes. The Crop Calendar helps farmers plan cycles for 53 crop varieties, while the Crop Doctor uses image analytics to diagnose plant diseases. These integrated initiatives have reportedly led to a 10-15 per cent reduction in fertiliser usage and a 15-20 per cent improvement in crop yields.

ITC's efforts align with the Indian government's "Bharat VISTAAR" proposal, which seeks to provide farmers with real-time advisories in native languages. The company's model also uses machine learning for crop sourcing and climate modelling to understand yield impacts from climate change. Kumar noted, "We are continuously innovating and forging new partnerships to progressively enhance the scope of AI applications for diverse agri stakeholders and specific farming needs."

- ANI
Jesse Jackson, in a 2008 New Delhi address, described Mahatma Gandhi as the "spiritual godfather" of civil rights icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. He highlighted how the courage of the African-American civil rights movement, which Gandhi inspired, enabled immigration reform and opened America's doors to people of color, including Indian immigrants. Jackson also acknowledged Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's role in India's liberation, stating "Gandhi plus Bose equals Liberation." Furthermore, he promoted a vision of internationalism and economic justice, arguing that global threats require collective action.

Jesse Jackson linked Gandhi to MLK and Mandela, calling him the 'spiritual godfather' of non-violent resistance and global decolonization.

New York, Feb 18 Jesse Jackson ranked in the lineage of civil rights and anti-racism icons like his mentor Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, who were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi was the "spiritual godfather" of leaders like them, Jackson said in his keynote address at an event for the 60th anniversary of the martyrdom of the prophet of Satyagraha in 2008 in New Delhi.

Jackson, who died on Tuesday, was a fighter for civil rights in the US, carrying on the peaceful battle that King used to make a breakthrough, which also benefited Indian immigrants.

M.R. Rangaswami, the founder of Indiaspora, in a condolence post. recalled telling Jackson, "The Indian community owes an enduring debt to the African-American community. The courage and sacrifice that led to the Civil Rights Act also made immigration reform possible, opening America's doors to people of colour that included many of us!"

Of the eternal relevance of Gandhi, Jackson said in New Delhi, "Even 60 years after his martyrdom, his dreams of democracy, peace and human rights are alive. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King were dreamers who marched to a different beat and heard a different sound."

Gandhi's "dreams for democracy, decolonisation, human rights, his quest to end barbaric enmity based upon class, tribe, race and gender, has momentum", he said.

Hailing Gandhi's imprint on history, Jackson said that because of his vision and inspiration, "for the most part, all of Africa, Asia, South, Central and Latin America and the Caribbean have been decolonised in the last sixty years -- most of the world's people".

"Nuclear war and greed remain our threats (but) non-violence and Satayagraha, soul force, remains our therapy, and the only window from which the peace we seek is possible," he said.

Jackson also recognised the contribution of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to India's freedom struggle and decolonisation.

During a visit to Kolkata in 2014, he visited Netaji Bhawan and wrote in the visitors' book, "Gandhi plus Bose equals Liberation".

In Kolkata, he spoke at the Indian Institute of Management about globalisation's potential for bettering the world and everyone.

He said that the concept of "foreigner" should be replaced with ideas of common international rules that lead to economic justice.

Explaining his idea of internationalism, he said that it was based on the "Save the House" principle: If the house is on fire, it would be futile to try to save one's own room, and everyone has to unite to save the whole structure.

During his unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1984, he cited the example of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who, he said, "can run India, a nation of 600 million people" to make his case for nominating a woman as his running mate.

Jackson's daughter, Santita, said that it led to the ultimate Democratic Party candidate, Walter Mondale, nominating Geraldine Ferraro as the vice presidential running mate, the first time a woman found a place on a major party's slate.

- IANS
Katie Thurston has shared a one-year update after her stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis, revealing her latest scans show the tumor is stable. She explained that while the tumor's shrinkage has slowed, stability at this stage is a positive outcome. Thurston is now preparing to meet with a surgeon to pursue a double mastectomy as the next major step in her treatment. She also disclosed that her mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, crediting their own advocacy for catching it early.

Former Bachelorette star Katie Thurston shares a hopeful update one year after her stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis, revealing stable scans and plans for surgery.

Washington DC, February 18 Reality TV personality Katie Thurston has shared a hopeful update one year after being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, revealing that her latest scans show her condition remains stable, according to E! News.

In a video posted on Instagram, the former 'Bachelorette' star said her recent MRI and PET scan results indicated that her tumour is currently "stable."

"While that is a good thing, it is the first time in a year that my tumor isn't shrinking, that it just is stagnant," the 35-year-old said, admitting the news initially caused her to spiral. "I thought maybe the medicine's not working anymore."

However, Thurston explained that her oncologist reassured her that brief breaks in medication can slow tumour shrinkage and that stability at this stage is still considered positive.

"When you first start treatment, your body is in shock," she said. "Suddenly I'm in menopause, suddenly I'm on really strong medication. So, it is common for the tumor to shrink significantly up front and then to kind of slow down that momentum as treatment continues," according to E! News.

She added that over the past year, her tumour has shrunk by 50 per cent and that her PET scan showed no new spread of the disease.

Despite continuing with her current treatment plan, Thurston revealed she is preparing for a major next step in her journey.

"This Friday I'm going to be meeting with my surgeon to pursue a double mastectomy," she shared, describing it as a "very big next step" in her cancer treatment, according to E! News.

Thurston, who married Jeff Arcuri in 2025 amid her health battle, has been candid about her journey on social media.

In January, she also disclosed that her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Thurston encouraged her mother to seek further testing despite receiving a normal mammogram result, leading to an ultrasound, MRI and biopsies that confirmed the diagnosis.

"Our own advocacy allowed us to catch this early," she wrote at the time, adding that she travelled to Seattle to support her mother at her first appointment, according to E! News.

- ANI
Kenya has officially invited India to mine its vast reservoirs of rare earth minerals, including lithium, to secure critical supply chains for semiconductor manufacturing. Mary Kerema, Secretary-ICT for Kenya, announced the invitation, highlighting the potential for bilateral deals this year. Experts at the Carnegie India AI Impact Summit emphasized the need for the Global South to diversify mineral extraction and create formal partnerships to avoid being left behind in the tech race. India's long-term semiconductor mission is seen as a multi-decade commitment crucial for its technological resilience and independence.

Kenya invites India to mine lithium & rare earths for semiconductors, aiming for bilateral deals to secure tech supply chains in the Global South.

New Delhi, February 18 Kenya has extended an official invitation to India to begin mining its vast reservoirs of rare earth minerals, such as lithium, as both nations look to secure the critical supply chains necessary for the future of semiconductor manufacturing.

Mary Kerema, Secretary-ICT, Government of Kenya, while attending the Carnegie India AI Impact Summit highlighted that Kenya is ready to move beyond exploration and into active partnerships. While speaking on the potential for bilateral deals, she noted that the African nation is looking for Indian expertise to tap into its natural resources. "We are inviting India to cone to India do mining for rare earth minerals. We see some deals with India for our rare earth in this year. We have vast reservoirs of rare earth in Kenya like lithium. Also, we seek cooperation from India in manufacturing of semiconductors and aim to have deals with it in this regard to in near future," Kerema said

At Carnegie India AI Impact Summit, Rudra Choudhary, Vice President of the Observer Research Foundation, explained that the search for these minerals is part of a larger, necessary shift towards diversification within the Global South. He pointed out that while many countries possess these essential materials, the technical capacity to extract them remains concentrated in very few places. "I think one of the things that this entire workshop has taught us is that there's a lot that has to be explored within the global south itself. I think critical minerals is key. Now lot of the critical minerals might be available in places, but there's only one geography in the world that's extracting most of it that has the tech to extract it. We have to find ways to diversify it," Choudhary remarked.

Choudhary further elaborated on the need for formal agreements between developing nations to ensure they are not left behind in the global technology race. He emphasised that establishing these connections is vital for creating a reliable supply of the raw materials needed for high-tech industries. "In the Global South, we have to kind of work with countries to make sure that we're creating those bilateral pathways by which we can make the compact between extraction and identification of those minerals," he added.

The push for mineral extraction is also closely tied to India's long-term goals for its domestic semiconductor industry. Choudhary described the effort to build a local chip-making ecosystem as a multi-decade commitment that requires persistent investment and patience. "Semiconductor mission is actually quite critical to India. It's not like we're just going to have abundance of chips made in India tomorrow, but this is a long game. It's important for resilience, and we need it for the next 10, 20, 30 years. We have to stop constantly buying chips and at some level start producing chips in this country. And that's an entire vendor market ecosystem. There's an entire supply chain around it that will grow over time," he explained.

Addressing the broader geopolitical context, Mariano Florentino Cuellar, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that India is positioning itself as a leader that provides an alternative to the dominant tech ecosystems of the US and China. He observed that India's focus on its own infrastructure and unique application layers, such as voice-activated technology, reflects a desire for independence in the global tech landscape. "But can countries around the world, including many emerging powers, really feel completely satisfied just having two powerful countries shape the entire ecosystem of technology? I think the answer is that would be very hard to imagine. So I think India is likely to be at the forefront of investing in talent, in its own data, compute infrastructure and ideally in building up a set of application layers that will go on top of the models and really make them very useful for consumers," Cuellar stated.

- ANI
The cheetah population at Kuno National Park has increased to 38 with the birth of three new cubs to South African female Gamini. This marks the ninth successful cheetah birth since Project Cheetah's launch in 2022, with 27 cubs now born on Indian soil. The development was celebrated by state and union ministers as a historic achievement for wildlife conservation. The park is preparing to receive a third batch of cheetahs from Botswana later this month, further strengthening the reintroduction program.

South African cheetah Gamini gives birth to three cubs at Kuno National Park, marking the 9th successful birth under Project Cheetah.

Bhopal, Feb 18 The cheetah population at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district has received a fresh boost, with South African female cheetah Gamini giving birth to three cubs on Wednesday.

The new litter marks the ninth successful cheetah birth on Indian soil since the launch of Project Cheetah on September 17, 2022. With the latest additions, India's total cheetah population has risen to 38, including 27 Indian-born cubs.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav shared the news on social media, calling Madhya Pradesh a "powerful hub for cheetah reintroduction."

"It is a matter of great joy that Gamini, a female cheetah imported from South Africa under Project Cheetah, has given birth to three cubs. This is the ninth successful birth since the cheetahs arrived in Kuno National Park," he wrote on X.

Describing the development as historic, the Chief Minister said the achievement strengthens India's efforts towards wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection, and ecological balance.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav called the birth of cheetahs a powerful symbol of India's determined conservation mission.

"A moment of pride for Kuno, and for India -- may Gamini and her three little sprinters grow strong and carry the nation's cheetah revival story forward with speed and grace," he wrote on X.

He added that each successful birth reinforces the foundation of Project Cheetah and reflects the round-the-clock dedication of field staff and veterinary teams working at KNP.

Gamini was translocated from South Africa as part of the ambitious reintroduction programme aimed at restoring the population of the world's fastest land animal in India. Earlier this month, Aasha, a cheetah brought from Namibia, gave birth to five cubs at Kuno Park.

The latest development comes just weeks before a third batch of eight cheetahs from Botswana is scheduled to arrive in Madhya Pradesh on February 28, further strengthening the country's cheetah conservation initiative.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dedicated the project Cheetah to the nation a few years ago. It continues to draw global attention as a bold experiment in ecological restoration. With each new birth, Kuno National Park solidifies its role as a beacon of hope for the world's fastest land animal, blending scientific rigor with national pride in reviving a lost legacy of India's wilderness.

- IANS
Three new cheetah cubs have been born to South African cheetah Gamini at Kuno National Park. This marks the ninth successful cheetah litter born in India since the species' reintroduction. The births bring the total number of Indian-born cubs to 27 and the overall cheetah population in the country to 38. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav hailed the event as a significant milestone for Project Cheetah, crediting dedicated field and veterinary teams.

Three new cheetah cubs born at Kuno National Park, marking the 9th litter and bringing India's total cheetah population to 38. A milestone for Project Cheetah.

New Delhi, February 18 Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday announced the birth of three cubs to South African cheetah Gamini at Kuno National Park.

In a post on X, the minister said the development coincides with the third anniversary of the arrival of South African cheetahs in India. He described the occasion as a significant milestone, noting that Gamini, now a second-time mother, has added three new cubs to the park's growing cheetah population.

"Another good news from Kuno Kuno welcomes three new cubs - A roaring new chapter at Kuno on the occasion of completion of 3 years of arrival of cheetahs from South Africa. Celebrations echo through Kuno National Park as Gamini, the South African cheetah and second-time mother, has brought 3 new cubs into the world," the 'X' post said.

Yadav noted that this is the ninth successful cheetah litter born in India, bringing the number of surviving Indian-born cubs to 27. With the latest additions, the country's total cheetah population has increased to 38. He said the achievement reflects the success of Project Cheetah and credited the dedicated efforts of field staff and veterinary teams working to revive the species in

"This joyful arrival marks the ninth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil and takes the number of surviving Indian-born cubs to 27. With these newest additions, India's total cheetah population has now reached 38--a powerful symbol of the country's determined and historic conservation effort. Each birth strengthens the foundation of Project Cheetah and reflects the passion, perseverance, and round-the-clock dedication of the field staff and veterinary teams who have nurtured this dream into reality," Yadav wrote on 'X'.

Meanwhile, 'Project Cheetah' is India's world-first intercontinental translocation project, launched on September 17, 2022. The project aimed to reintroduce the cheetah to India, which went extinct in the country in 1952.

- ANI
The former Educational Materials chief welcomed EL PAIS into the space, where he held out for nearly 90 hours before being notified of his dismissal

Thank you, Marx Arriaga, for bringing social critique into the classroom to build a dignified future for our children, reads one of the 11 signs hanging outside the office that the former director of Educational Materials finally vacated on Tuesday, after four days barricaded inside. Arriaga received and signed the document notifying him of his removal from the post, then walked out of Mexicos Public Education Secretariat (SEP) in southern Mexico City and headed toward the Coyoacan station on Metro Line 3, accompanied by chants of youre not alone. A couple of hours before leaving, Arriaga  the architect of the free textbooks of the socalled Nueva Escuela Mexicana (NEM)  received EL PAIS in a halfempty office, which was on the verge of being cleared out.

While Arriaga was still inside with five collaborators, movers carried out furniture and boxes with his belongings. The three secretaries in the cubicles outside the wooden doors insisted, Were operating normally. Everything is fine. The reality, however, was that things were not entirely fine.

Since his arrival in 2021, Arriaga had weathered a wave of criticism and lawsuits targeting the textbooks created to educate Mexicos children and young people. What ultimately led to his dismissal, however, was a request from President Claudia Sheinbaums office to include the role of women in history. Arriaga told this newspaper that he accepts responsibility, but refused to make the changes because, he said, they did not come from the president herself but from the sewers of the Public Education Secretariat.

For four days, he barricaded himself in an office with a desk, two armchairs, a table, four chairs, a couple of cabinets and some books. With a portrait of the German philosopher Karl Marx behind him  which Arriaga tucked under his arm when he was formally notified of his dismissal  he signed the last documents. I didnt sleep well. Theres some anxiety. Im a bit tired, but its important to sign these appointments for the contract workers. Thats what were doing now. If this isnt done, our colleagues wont be able to receive their pay, he said.

One employee, who preferred not to share his name, recounted that he had accompanied Arriaga years earlier during regional consultation tours for the design of the textbooks. He said he wasnt surprised by Arriagas decision to hold out in the office for days. Still, he added, Everyone who works in government knows this is a cycle, and that cycle eventually ends.

Staff prepare to move the belongings from Marx Arriaga's office. AGGI GARDUNO

As he approached 90 hours in his office, he insisted that barricading himself inside was not an act of personal rebellion, repeating the same message until the very end: This isnt a matter of whim. He added, Im an educator, a teacher, and my struggle is pedagogical, not about holding a position. If the new administration has a different educational vision, Ill go back to training teachers out in the field, in the classrooms. Its fine.

Exactly 24 hours before Arriaga walked out of the Public Education Secretariat, Nadia Lopez Garcia had been announced as the person who would take over the post he held for more than five years. I dont have the pleasure of knowing her, he told EL PAIS. Its an administrative decision. Whether shell be able to continue the work we were doing here, I dont know. Each administration charts its own path. The New Mexican School we promoted is a proposal built from the ground up, alongside teachers, shoulder to shoulder, seeking a popular and critical education. One would have to ask whether the new administration shares those principles. If not, the task will be enormous, because they could end up serving other interests.

On Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference that Arriaga had done an extraordinary job with the textbook content. In response, Arriaga said: She has been very generous in her assessment. We should remember that, in the most difficult moments of the process, when she was head of government in Mexico City, she was one of our main supporters. So Im deeply grateful for her recognition and her kindness. Our president carries the country on her shoulders, and today shes fighting to defend workers, the Mexican people, and the economy. Thats no small task.

Sheinbaum also explained how the dismissal escalated into a conflict. Marx Arriaga did not agree to any modification of the textbooks. So thats where the first disagreement arose, so to speak. Faced with that situation, he was offered other options.

Arriaga has said that, regarding the supposed new job offer, he knows only what has been reported in the media. The president also noted that she disagreed with the way he was notified of his removal and reminded everyone that colleagues must always treat one another with respect.

Marx Arriaga gives statements to the media at the Public Education Secretariat. AGGI GARDUNO

Regarding the clash over the proposed changes to the content, he reaffirmed his opposition: Yes, of course I take responsibility. We were opposed when official letters arrived requesting changes. It must be clarified that this was not an instruction from the president, but from areas within the Public Education Secretariat with a vision we consider neoliberal, which have even signed contracts with companies like CocaCola, LEGO and Bimbo.

He explained to this newspaper that the proposed changes affected the approach he had designed for the project. They were asking to remove certain content that would have meant a step backward in the educational model. Among the items that generated the most disagreement, he mentioned those related to historical memory, such as the 1968 massacre, the disappeared, the killings in Ayotzinapa, Aguas Blancas and Acteal, and other episodes linked to what he calls systemic state violence against dissidents.

Another employee, who also requested anonymity and stayed with Arriaga in the office for all four days, described the final moments of the official holding on to his post. Were waiting for the document to arrive. Were still working. The worker had not received any formal notification about the change in leadership and learned of Nadia Lopezs appointment through social media just like everyone else. He is one of the contract workers, with a recently renewed agreement, and is waiting for instructions from the new director.

Speaking about Arriaga, he still referred to him in the present tense: Since Ive known him, hes been someone deeply committed to his ideals. I see him as combative as everthats why I work with him. He motivates me to want to be like that. As for the reports published in the media about alleged complaints of mistreatment and feecollecting from that office, he denied them: Its made up. We promised each other not to steal and not to betray, as former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said.

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The Tibetan community in exile has begun celebrating Losar, the Tibetan New Year, in Dharamshala, India. The festivities commenced with special traditional prayers led by monks at the Tsuglagkhang temple, attended by the Sikyong and other officials of the Tibetan government-in-exile. The three-day festival involves wearing traditional dress, performing rituals, visiting monasteries, and exchanging gifts. Celebrants expressed joy in gathering with family to observe the customs and pray for good luck in the Fire Horse Year.

Tibetans in exile celebrate Losar, the Tibetan New Year, with traditional prayers at the Tsuglagkhang temple in Dharamshala, marking the start of the Fire Horse Year.

Dharamshala, February 18 Tibetans in exile are celebrating Losar, also known as the Tibetan New Year.

They are welcoming the Fire Horse Year 2153 and bidding farewell to the Wood Snake Year 2152. The Religion and Culture Department of the Tibetan government-in-exile is organising special traditional prayers on this occasion at the main Tibetan temple, Tsuglagkhang, in the North Indian hill station of Dharamshala on Wednesday morning.

The Sikyong (political leader) and President of the Tibetan government-in-exile, along with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, ministers, members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, and staff members of the exile government, gathered on the rooftop of the temple this morning for prayers. Monks of the Namgyal Monastery led the traditional prayers and worshipped their official deity, Palden Lhamo.

Losar is celebrated as a three-day festival, with people wearing traditional dresses. On the first day, they offer traditional prayers, perform rituals, and visit monasteries. On the second day, they visit each other's houses and exchange gifts, and on the third day, they again practice the same rituals.

Tenzin, a Tibetan artist, told ANI, "This is the first day of our Losar and we are offering prayers to our official deity Palden Lhamo and after the prayers, we enjoy our traditional foods. We celebrate it for 3 days. On the second day we go to each other's house and exchange gifts, and there is another Pooja on the third day."

Tenzin Lhamo, an exiled Tibetan girl, told ANI, "I am here to celebrate Losar and to encourage Tibetans to come and celebrate Losar. Firstly, in the morning we wake up early and wear our traditional dresses, eat traditional foods and come to the temple here in Dharamshala to offer prayers and celebrate Losar. I'm feeling very great to be here today with my family and we are having fun."

Tenzin Phuntsok, a Tibetan artist, told ANI, " it is the first day of our lunar Losar. Normally, we have to go to temples to celebrate the first day and we also call it the King's Losar so on the first day we offer prayers for a good luck. People are gathering here in the Dalai Lama Temple to have blessings. In Tibet people celebrate it for 15 days but in India we celebrate it for three days."

- ANI
Veteran actress Madhoo has revealed that she identifies with elephants as her spirit animal, describing them as gentle and giant. She shared this in an Instagram post featuring photos of herself with an elephant named Indrani. Madhoo often uses her social media platform to share personal reflections, having recently posted a video urging people to be less judgmental of others. The actress, who debuted in Bollywood in 1991, is best known for her work in films like "Roja" and "Gentleman."

Veteran actress Madhoo reveals she identifies with elephants, calling them gentle and giant, in a heartfelt social media post with an elephant named Indrani.

Mumbai, Feb 18 Veteran actress Madhoo revealed that she resonates with elephants as her spirit animal.

Sharing her reason for the same in her latest social media post, Madhoo went on to state that she finds elephants to be extremely gentle, something she can connect with.



Madhoo dropped two photos of herself petting an elephant named Indrani on her Instagram.



Posing in an orange ethnicwear, the 'Roja' actress confessed her love for elephants, saying, "Indrani and I (red heart emojis) if someone asked me what animal I identify myself with, I always said elephant because they are gentle and giant. I love you Indrani. (sic)"



Madhoo often uses social media to voice her opinion on a variety of subjects, while staying in touch with her InstaFam.



In January, she urged everyone to be a little less judgmental, as we all have committed some sins.



She uploaded a clip of herself on social media, explaining that everyone, whether intentionally or unintentionally, tends to 'commit sins.



Madhoo was heard saying, "Hi guys. Hi everyone. Just a quick thought-something I read that really made a shift in me, and I wanted to share it in the hope that it helps someone out there."



"Please listen carefully. All of us are sinners. Each and every one of us is a sinner. So don't judge someone else for their sins just because you're not committing that particular sin," she went on to elaborate.



Stressing her point, she went on to add, "Let me say it again: all of us are sinners. Don't judge someone else for the sin they are committing, because that sin is not yours. Think about it."



Madhoo, who has been a part of several B-town and Southern movies, made her Bollywood debut with Ajay Devgan's "Phool Aur Kaante" back in 1991.



Some of her noteworthy projects are "Roja" (1992), "Allari Priyudu" (1992), "Yoddha" (1992), and "Gentleman" (1993).





- IANS
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav presented the State Budget for 2026-27, emphasizing allocations for infrastructure, tourism, and welfare schemes. Key announcements include 900 crore for repairing dilapidated bridges and nearly 13,851 crore for the 2028 Simhastha festival. The budget also allocates 24,000 crore for the Chief Minister Ladli Behna Yojana and 6,600 crore over five years to provide milk in school meals. Meanwhile, Congress state president Jitendra Patwari criticized the budget as unrealistic, citing a massive central funding shortfall and high state debt.

CM Mohan Yadav highlights bridge repairs, Simhastha funds, and welfare schemes in MP's budget, while Congress's Jitendra Patwari criticizes fiscal management.

Bhopal, February 18 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday spoke on the State Budget for 2026-27, highlighting allocations for inclusive development, governance, environment, tourism, and cultural revival.

He said, "It focuses on all-encompassing, inclusive development, good governance, environment, tourism, and cultural revival. We have resolved to create a prosperous Madhya Pradesh by 2047. We have allocated Rs 900 crore for the repair of dilapidated bridges and culverts. Nearly Rs 13,851 crore has been provisioned for the 2028 Simhastha festival."

He added, "We have launched an initiative to provide milk with meals to children in schools, and the government has allocated Rs 6,600 crore for this over five years. We have allocated nearly Rs 24,000 crore for the Chief Minister Ladli Behna Yojana in the budget. We are not shutting down any schemes; we are investing substantial funds. Rs 28,000 crore has been allocated for VB-G-RAM-G. This budget will create a happy, prosperous Madhya Pradesh."

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitendra (Jitu) Patwari criticised the budget, citing the state's economic challenges stemming from central government allocations in the previous financial year.

Speaking to ANI, Patwari said, "MP has a budget provision of approximately Rs 4.5 lakh crore. But we did not receive Rs 50,000 crore from the central government in the previous financial year. As a result, the MP government could not spend even 50% of the 2025-26 budget. This meant that the budget was false and hollow. Today, the MP government borrows Rs 213 crore daily and borrowed about Rs 72,000 crore this year. Liabilities, including Rs 532,000 crore in interest, are the largest budget component, posing a major economic crisis. The budget should be realistic."

He further stated, "Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav should demand the rights of the state. He should also form a team of finance experts who can oversee the income and expenditure of the budget."

- ANI
The Maharashtra government has formally cancelled a 2014 Government Resolution that provided a 5% reservation to Muslims in education and government jobs. This provision had been legally invalid for over a decade, as the original ordinance lapsed in 2014 and was later cancelled by the Supreme Court. The new GR declares all related decisions void, meaning no further admissions or certificates will be issued under this category. Officials state the move is largely a procedural formality, as the reservation has not been in effect since 2014.

Maharashtra govt formally scraps 2014 GR for 5% Muslim quota, a provision invalidated by courts and lapsed over a decade ago.

Mumbai, February 18 The Maharashtra government's social justice department on Tuesday issued a government resolution and cancelled its earlier resolution of granting 5% reservation to the Muslim community for educational institutions and government and semi-government jobs, a provision that had been legally invalidated over a decade ago.

The Reservation, introduced in July 2014 through an ordinance, classified Muslims under the Special Backwards Class-A (SBC-A) category and applied to government jobs and educational institutions. However, the ordinance was challenged in the Mumbai High Court, which stayed it on November 14, 2014.

Since the ordinance was not enacted into law by the Maharashtra legislature by the December 23, 2014, deadline, it lapsed automatically. The Supreme Court later cancelled the reservation while deciding a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the Bombay High Court order, effectively invalidating the provision.

Despite the lapse of the ordinance and the Supreme Court's order, the Maharashtra government had not formally cancelled the original GR through any official order until now.

With the GR now formally cancelled, the government has declared all related decisions and communications void. This means no further admissions will be granted under the 5 per cent reservation in colleges and educational institutions, and no new caste or validity certificates will be issued under this category.

However, the GR issued on Tuesday is largely a formality, as the said reservation has not been in existence for well over a decade due to two key reasons- the supreme court cancellation of the order through SLP order and the automatic lapse of the ordinance after it was never brought before the Maharashtra legislatures as a bill to make it a law following the court order.

This GR is to cancel a reservation that has not been in effect for well over a decade.

- ANI
Supermicro is actively exploring opportunities for local manufacturing in India as part of its strategy to deepen its market presence. The company is increasing its local hiring to better support customers undertaking complex AI deployments. At a recent event, it showcased its latest high-performance hardware platforms built with NVIDIA and AMD technology. Managing Director Vik Malyala emphasized India's massive market potential, driven by its vast population and data generation.

Supermicro's MD says the company is "carefully looking" at Make in India for local production and is hiring locally to support AI deployments.

New Delhi, February 18 Supermicro, an American tech company is exploring local manufacturing opportunities as it looks to deepen its footprint in the Indian market. Vik Malyala, Managing Director & President, EMEA, at Supermicro stated that the company is closely monitoring the "Make in India" initiative to determine the most effective way to produce its technology locally.

He mentioned that the company is considering whether this will happen through its own facilities or through its partners. Malyala noted that the company is "carefully looking at that part of it to see what actually makes sense to make in India whether it's through us or through our partners."

The company is focusing its efforts on India because the region is seeing a rapid increase in AI technology adoption. Malyala explained that Supermicro is currently in the market to understand the specific needs of different customers and companies.

He said that this engagement allows the company to "be more relevant to the market and bring the right products and solutions for our customers."

To support these complex AI deployments, which often involve massive investments, Malyala confirmed that Supermicro is increasing its local headcount. He stated that the company is "hiring our own people to help these customers" alongside its established partner network.

At the recent AI event, Supermicro showcased its latest high-performance hardware designed for both large-scale data centers and edge computing. Malyala highlighted that the company is displaying platforms based on the latest NVIDIA and AMD products, including the B300 and liquid-cooled MI350 platforms. He explained that the goal is to provide infrastructure for any scale, from small enterprises to data centers running at the gigawatt level. He noted that the company wants "to showcase the products that are relevant to bring AI to the customers at scale."

Efficiency remains a primary challenge for modern data centers, particularly regarding power consumption and heat management. Malyala described how Supermicro uses its Data Center Building Block Solutions (DCBBS) to help customers deploy technology faster while managing these energy demands. He said that the company is "pulling all these things together to work with the ecosystem partners to enable customers to adopt the technology quickly and more effectively and efficiently." This includes integrating air and liquid cooling systems like water towers and chillers directly into the rack design.

Malyala also emphasised that India's vast population and data generation make it a critical market for the future of human-centric AI. He pointed out that the industry's collective goal, supported by government initiatives, is to use this technology to improve the user experience and daily life.

Reflecting on the potential of the region, he said, "India is a huge huge huge market... the amount of data that is there and amount of technology that is actually being coming from India is like so incredible."

- ANI
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has announced the imminent start of construction for the Moirang to Wangoo road and the Napat Bridge. He directed officials to report on prefabricated housing progress for Internally Displaced Persons in Bishnupur district. The CM emphasized the need to clean phumdis in Loktak Lake to protect local livelihoods and ecology. He reaffirmed his government's commitment to infrastructure development and connectivity, aligning with the vision for a developed India and Manipur.

Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh announces new road and bridge construction, addresses IDP housing, and reaffirms commitment to state's development.

Imphal, Feb 18 Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday assured the people that his government remains firmly committed to ensuring the state's overall development and welfare.

The Chief Minister has announced that construction work of Moirang to Wangoo road via Kumbi will commence within 15 days. The announcement was made during a reception held on Wednesday at the residence of MLA Sanasam Premchandra Singh at Kumbi in Bishnupur district.

Addressing the gathering, Singh assured the public of the government's unwavering commitment to the state's development. He further stated that work on the Napat Bridge would begin on Thursday and is expected to be completed within five days.

The Chief Minister also directed the Deputy Commissioner of Bishnupur, Pooja Elangbam, to submit a report on the progress of prefabricated housing construction for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the district.

The Chief Minister was accorded a warm welcome by the residents of the Thanga Assembly Constituency, led by MLA T. Robindro Singh, at the latter's residence in Kairenphabi, Bishnupur district.

Speaking at the function, Singh stated that he would personally look into the grievances raised by the people of the Thanga Assembly Constituency and assured them that the government would extend all possible support for the constituency's development.

The reception functions were attended by the Superintendent of Police, Bishnupur, Shangkar Deba, along with residents from both the Kumbi and Thanga Assembly constituencies.

The Chief Minister has expressed his gratitude to the BJP Karyakartas (functionaries) and local people for giving him a warm reception.

Taking to social media platform X, CM Singh wrote: "Grateful for the warm reception and two meetings held with party leaders and Karyakartas in honour of my visit to Kumbi and Thanga Assembly Constituencies today. The first meeting was held at Salam Konjil, near the residence of Hon'ble MLA Shri S.Premchandra Singh, and the second at Keirenphabi Mamang Leikai, near the residence of Hon'ble MLA Shri T. Robindro Singh."

He said: "Both meetings emphasised strengthening the party's grassroots connect and organisational unity. Spoke on the urgent need for systematic cleansing of phumdis in Loktak Lake to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of our fishermen and farmers, while ensuring ecological balance. Reaffirmed my commitment to improving connectivity through the construction of bridges and strengthening road infrastructure, thereby accelerating our collective journey towards a Viksit Bharat and a Viksit Manipur as envisioned by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji."

- IANS
Hollywood actress Margot Robbie opened up about her insecurities after choosing an acting career over university, fearing it might mean she wasn't smart. To prove herself, she completed one of her accountant sister's university assignments and scored an A-minus, which gave her the validation she needed. Robbie also reminisced about her wild youth in London before fame, where she and her friends were frequently kicked out of nightclubs. She shared a specific story of being ejected from the famous club Infernos within minutes of arriving.

Hollywood star Margot Robbie reveals she worried about being "dumb" for not going to university and how she proved herself with an A-.

Los Angeles, Feb 18 Hollywood star Margot Robbie shared that she worried she was "dumb" after deciding against going to university.

The Wuthering Heights actress, who grew up in Australia, discovered her love of acting when she was in high school so she decided to chase her dreams of stardom instead of enrolling in higher education.



However, Robbie questioned herself so she asked her sister if she could complete some of her university coursework in a bid to prove her intelligence, reports femalefirst.co.uk.



During an appearance on the Smartless podcast, Robbie said: "Part of me was like: 'Oh no I started acting like on (Australian soap) Neighbours ... I haven't gone to university and I guess I'm never going to at this point. Am I dumb?'



"I remember asking my sister, I like almost wanted to check ... this didn't mean I wasn't smart.



"My sister was, we're very very different people, she was studying to be an accountant in university. Something I never would have done.



"But I remember saying: 'Can I do one of your assignments? Your uni assignments. Because I just need to check that acting's not making me dumb'. And I did it. And by the way numbers and accounting are not my forte at all but I got like an A minus. And I was like: 'OK cool' and I felt good after that. I'm good. I know I can do it if I need to ... Well I mean I studied. It was all about cognitive dissonance or some boring."



It comes after Robbie opened up about her wild days living in London before she shot to fame.



She revealed she was kicked out of "most of the clubs in Clapham" while living with six friends in a four-bedroom apartment until 2016.



Appearing on the Table Manners podcast, she recalled a time before they moved in together when they got booted out of Infernos on a particularly wild night, reports femalefirst.co.uk.



The actress told hosts Jessie and Lennie Ware how her roommates insisted you "can't get kicked out" of the former cinema, and she visited for herself after a weekend's work in Belgium.



She said: "So we all had a weekend in London when the job was done. And of course, we went to Infernos, and within about 15 minutes, we got kicked out.



"And while we're getting dragged out by security, I was screaming, 'but this is Infernos, you can't get kicked out of Infernos.' "And the bouncer was like, 'Look, we allow most things, but when your friend does (redacted), then we kick you out'. And I was like, 'okay, fair enough!'"



Robbie didn't reveal exactly what her friend did to cause a scene, though she noted it wasn't uncommon for them to get in a spot of bother.





- IANS
Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, arrived in New Delhi to participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where he was received by Minister of State Raj Bhushan Choudhary. The summit, which began on February 16, has also seen the arrival of other global leaders, including the President of Spain and the Prime Minister of Finland. Hosted at Bharat Mandapam, this first global AI summit in the Global South aims to foster international cooperation on AI governance, safety, and its societal impact. Guided by the pillars of People, Planet, and Progress, the event brings together over 110 countries to promote human-centric and sustainable AI development.

Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam arrives in India for the AI Impact Summit 2026, joined by leaders from Spain, Finland, and Sweden to discuss global AI governance.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchadra Ramgoolam arrived in India on Thursday for the global AI Impact Summit being hosted here in the national capital. He was received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary.

Sharing the details of his arrival in a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) underlined the close partnership between India and Mauritius and said, "Welcome to a close friend and maritime neighbour! Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius @Ramgoolam_Dr was warmly received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti @dr_rajbhushan on his arrival in India for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Digital cooperation remains a key pillar of the - Enhanced Strategic Partnership, anchored in deep-rooted and historic people-to-people ties."

Earlier today, President of Spain Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon; Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo; Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also arrived for the AI Summit.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, it started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity.

The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers.

The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement.

- ANI
Galgotias University has defended its display of a Chinese-made robotic dog at the AI Impact Summit, stating it never claimed the device as its own invention. Professor Neha Singh explained the RoboDog, named 'Orion', was brought for student research and projection, and the controversy arose from a misinterpretation. The university expressed pain over the "propaganda campaign" and emphasized its focus on providing students access to global technologies for learning. Reports suggested the institution was asked to vacate the summit expo following the allegations.

Galgotias University defends its display of a 'Chinese' RoboDog at the AI Impact Summit, calling it a misinterpretation and denying claims of presenting it as their invention.

New Delhi, February 18 Surrounded by a huge controversy over the display of a 'Chinese' RoboDog at the AI Impact Summit, Galgotias University defended itself after it was reportedly asked to vacate the Summit. Galgotias University's Professor Neha Singh who was seen in a viral video introducing the RoboDog as 'Orion' and explaining about it the AI expo, claimed that she had never sought to present the RoboDog as the University's own.

"We have never claimed that it is ours, Indian, or Galgotian. Its main branding is still on it. The robot that had come for a particular task has gone there for the children's study, for the children's research and development. Our center, our campus -- it has gone into the children's lab. It was here for two days for projection; the projection has been completed," Professor Neha Singh told ANI.

Addressing the viral video, Singh claimed that due to one "misinterpretation", the whole controversy has got wings. She also clarified that she is a faculty member in communications at School of Management and not teaching AI.

"By one misinterpretation, the internet has gone by storm. It might be that I could not convey well what I wanted to say, or it was misunderstood. I am a faculty member in communications at the School of Management, not in AI. Only you (the media) have heard what the government has said. As far as I know, we are here at the expo. As a university, we are standing tall. The robot was brought here only for projection," Professor Neha Singh told reporters.

When asked about the charges of bringing disrepute to the country with the alleged action, the professor cited the University's record.

"Because of Galgotias, the country's name has been greatly honoured. Sir, I have said before, you should come to our university. We have given the country Paralympians. Galgotias has provided many valuable resources to the country and is contributing everywhere. Galgotias University is a very responsible institution," Neha Singh added.

In response to reports that Galgotias University was asked to vacate the India AI Impact Summit expo, Professor Dr. Aishwarya Shrivastava said she had no information regarding the development.

"As of now, we have no such information. We never claimed that we manufactured it (robodog), it was only a part of our AI investment. It got misinterpreted in a big way," Dr Aishwarya Shrivastava told ANI.

Earlier, the authorities have asked Galgotias University to vacate the AI Impact Summit Expo following allegations that the institution presented a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own invention, sources said.

The University faced severe online and offline criticism after a robot allegedly manufactured by a Chinese company was seen at the University display stall. Earlier, amid rising heat over the controversy, the institution issued an official clarification, expressing concern about "propaganda" against the university.

The University said that robotic programming is part of its endeavour to teach students to build AI applications, enabling them to develop and deploy real-world skills using globally available tools and resources.

"We at Galgotias, faculty and students, are deeply pained by the propaganda campaign against our university. We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop & deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is need of an hour," the statement said.

The institution said its vision focuses on student learning and innovation, providing students with access to modern technologies to gain practical experience and prepare for the future.

"Our university's vision is focused on student learning & innovation and we provide students with access to modern technologies so they can gain practical experience and prepare for the future. Spreading negativity can harm the morale of students, who are working hard to innovate, learn, and build their skills using global technologies," said the statement.

The India AI Impact Summit is a five-day programme anchored in three foundational pillars, or "Sutras": People, Planet, and Progress. Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.

- ANI
The crescent moon for Ramadan 2026 has been sighted, marking the start of the holy month with the first fast beginning on Wednesday, February 19. Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali announced the sighting and appealed for prayers to be offered inside mosques, not on streets. In a related development, the Telangana government has issued an order permitting Muslim employees to leave work at 4 PM during Ramadan to facilitate breaking their fast. The holy month is a period of fasting, spiritual reflection, and community for Muslims worldwide.

The Ramadan 2026 moon has been sighted. The first roza is on Feb 19. Telangana allows early office exit for Muslim employees during the holy month.

Lucknow, February 18 The crescent moon marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan has been sighted and the first roza will be observed tomorrow.

Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, Qazi-e-Shahr and President of the Markazi Chand Committee, Farangi Mahal, Lucknow, has announced that the moon for the holy month of Ramadan has been sighted on Tuesday.

Accordingly, the first day of Ramadan will be observed on Wednesday, February 19.

Speaking to ANI, the Lucknow Eidgah Imam extended greetings to the Muslim community on the occasion of the commencement of the holy month.

"It has been announced by the Moon Committee that the moon has been sighted in different parts of the country today... Based on this, it is announced that tomorrow, February 19, 2026, will be the first Roza...," Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said.

He also appealed to people to offer prayers within the mosque premises. "Namaz should be offered only inside mosques. Namaz should not be offered on the streets. I appeal to everyone to offer Namaz inside the mosque only," he added.

Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. During this period, devotees fast from dawn to sunset and engage in increased spiritual activities, including special nightly prayers.

Meanwhile, the Telangana government earlier issued an order permitting Muslim government employees to leave offices and schools at 4:00 PM during the holy month of Ramzan.

According to Memo No. 677/Poll.B/26 dated February 17, 2026, the facility has been granted to Muslim government employees, teachers, contract and outsourcing staff, employees of Boards and Corporations, as well as Public Sector employees in the State.

The early departure provision is intended to enable employees observing the fast to return home in time to break their fast at sunset and perform religious duties.

The order applies across various departments and institutions in Telangana.

The holy month of Ramadan, which begins on February 19 this year, is expected to last approximately 29 to 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon.

- ANI
Five Venezuelans have accused the former military officer, who is currently in an ICE facility and could be deported to Venezuela, of torturing them during the 2013 protests

A former Venezuelan military officer accused in the United States of torturing protesters during the 2013 demonstrations against the government of Nicolas Maduro is being held at a migrant detention center in Miami. Former Lieutenant-Colonel Rafael Quero Silva is appealing in immigration court to remain in the U.S., while the legal proceedings against him for human rights violations continue amid the possibility that he could be deported to Venezuela before a decision on his case is reached.

The lawsuit against him was filed by five Venezuelans who were detained between 2013 and 2014 at the National Guard headquarters in Barquisimeto, in Lara State, where they claim to have been tortured on the defendants orders. According to the 31-page complaint, filed in December in the Southern District Court of Florida, Quero Silva was commander of Detachment 47 of the Bolivarian National Guard and directed repressive operations during the anti-government protests that erupted after the 2013 elections, which gave Maduro a narrow victory over opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.

The demonstrations, which flooded the streets in various cities, escalated into clashes that left dozens dead and wounded and hundreds detained. The five plaintiffs allege that they were subjected to severe beatings, electric shocks, gunshots, and death threats. They also claim to have been held for days without access to food, water, or medical attention, in cramped and unsanitary spaces, in forced positions, and subjected to invasive body searches. Some claim to have suffered serious injuries that required surgery and resulted in permanent disabilities.

The violations were part of a systematic pattern of repression against opponents, and Quero Silva was in charge of those who carried out the abuses, making him directly or indirectly responsible, the complaint alleges. The plaintiffs, who are being represented by Guernica 37, a Madrid-based international team of lawyers specializing in transitional justice and human rights violations, along with a Miami-based firm, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

One of them was arrested while participating in a protest near a National Electoral Council office in Barquisimeto, according to court documents. Guards beat him with a riot shield while holding him down with his arms behind his back, then took him and other detainees to the back of a truck where they threw in a tear gas canister and closed the door. He was then taken to Detachment 47, where the abuses continued. Another plaintiff was shot in the abdomen, sustaining serious injuries that required urgent medical attention and left him with lasting after-effects, according to the court record. A third was shot in the back and face with rubber bullets, sustaining serious injuries that required multiple surgeries.

A detention officer at the Krome center checks incoming vehicles, in 2025. CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH (EFE)

Quero Silva was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last year, accused of overstaying his visa, which he used to enter the United States in 2016. The Krome Detention Center, southwest of Miami, is listed as his official address in the lawsuit. An immigration judge rejected his asylum application last November, and he filed an appeal.

To the surprise of many Venezuelan exiles, Quero Silva appeared dressed as a police officer in 2018 as an extra in a soap opera titled Mi Familia Perfecta (My Perfect Family), and it was then revealed that he was living in South Florida. According to the plaintiffs, they gave testimony to the FBI in 2018 as part of an investigation into Quero Silva, but the authorities did not file any criminal charges. Then, through Human Rights Watch, they contacted Guernica 37, Almudena Bernabeu, director of the center in San Francisco who represents the plaintiffs along with the Miami law firm, told EL PAIS.

To file the lawsuit, the five protesters invoked the Torture Victims Protection Act, passed in 1991, which allows individuals who have suffered torture or extrajudicial killings abroad to file civil suits in U.S. federal courts. For years, the International Criminal Court has been investigating the Venezuelan state for possible crimes against humanity committed against protesters. The plaintiffs warn that there is no adequate alternative remedy in Venezuela to seek justice, and that the ability to report abuses committed by the authorities is limited and dangerous.

Circumstances in Venezuela have changed since the lawsuit was filed in December. The United States captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in an armed operation earlier this year following a massive military deployment off its coast, and has seized oil tankers and destroyed numerous vessels allegedly operated by drug traffickers.

Following Maduros capture, Washington and the interim government of Delcy Rodriguez have initiated diplomatic contacts that could have broader implications, including cooperation on migration. For years, Caracas refused regular deportation flights, amid a wave of migration that saw hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans arrive at the U.S. border. The flights resumed last year and have recently increased in frequency.

Possibility of deportation

Venezuelans outside the Southern District Court of New York in Manhattan, where Maduro was arraigned. Klaus Galiano

For the plaintiffs, the possibility that Quero Silva could be deported to Venezuela  a state linked to human rights violations and questioned by international bodies for its lack of independence  in the midst of the case, raises the question of whether the expulsion would, in practice, amount to leaving him beyond the reach of the law.

The former military officer is representing himself in the case and has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming he is detained and destitute. The plaintiffs responded last week that, although the events occurred more than a decade ago, they were unaware of the defendants whereabouts for years, and there were no avenues for obtaining justice in Venezuela, where the government he served remains in power.

Quero Silvas immigration appeal in his asylum case could take several months, and Guernica 37 warns that legally, there is no obligation on the part of U.S. authorities to stop the deportation. I think that if the United States were to deport him, it would do so without looking back, without ensuring that there is any additional responsibility in Venezuela, says Bernabeu, who believes that the possibility of him facing legal proceedings in his home country is uncertain. Venezuela is at a very particular historical moment, so its difficult to predict. If he is ultimately deported, its unclear what would happen.

The lawyer clarifies the difference between extradition of people accused of crimes in their countries of origin, and deportation. When there is an open criminal case in the country of origin, extradition is usually requested, in which case the U.S. can choose to grant it or not. In this case, there isnt one, because we all know the circumstances in Venezuela. Things would have to change drastically. The situation in Venezuela is moving very slowly, due to all the circumstances surrounding Maduros departure and all the interference from the United States, and this very strange government that has remained in place. In any case, it would be a deportation, I dont know if it would be negotiated, because I dont think theres much appetite to prosecute someone like Quero Silva domestically, she adds.

However, Bernabeu explains that, since it is a civil lawsuit, the process can continue even in the defendants absence. If he is deported to Venezuela, he can also defend himself from abroad through a lawyer. His physical presence would be ideal for a jury trial, but his absence does not halt the civil action. The decision regarding liability and compensation for damages rests with the judge.

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Actor Vikrant Massey celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary with wife Sheetal Thakur by posting a heartfelt carousel of photos on Instagram. The post featured intimate moments from their wedding in Himachal Pradesh and a family portrait with their son, Vardaan. It also included a photo commemorating Massey's National Award win, shared with Thakur. Professionally, Massey has returned to acting with the film 'O'Romeo' and is producing the upcoming series 'Musafir Cafe'.

Vikrant Massey shares emotional Instagram post for wife Sheetal Thakur on their 4th wedding anniversary, featuring wedding pics and son Vardaan.

New Delhi, February 18 Actor Vikrant Massey marked his fourth wedding anniversary with wife Sheetal Thakur on February 18, by sharing an emotional Instagram post celebrating their journey together.

The carousel post featured a series of intimate and significant moments from their relationship, offering fans a glimpse into their personal milestones. Accompanying the photos was a heartfelt caption that read, "Happy Anniversary my A1 from Day 1," along with a heart emoji.



The images included memories from their wedding festivities, with the couple dressed in traditional attire during their ceremony in Himachal Pradesh.



Among the highlights was a heartwarming family portrait featuring their son, Vardaan. The couple welcomed their first child on February 7, 2024, adding a new chapter to their journey together.



Another notable image in the carousel showed Massey celebrating a significant professional milestone- his recent National Award win, with Thakur by his side.



Massey and Thakur had been together for several years, officially registered their marriage on February 14, 2022, before hosting a traditional wedding ceremony on February 18, of the same year.



On the work front, in late 2024, the actor announced a temporary break from acting.



Following his sabbatical, Massey returned to the screen with 'O'Romeo', a romantic thriller directed by Vishal Bhardwaj that released on February 13, 2026. He is also set to make his OTT comeback with the series 'Musafir Cafe', co-starring Vedika Pinto and Mahima Makwana, while stepping into the role of producer for the first time.





- ANI
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has arrived in New Delhi for a state visit centered on the AI Impact Summit and strengthening bilateral ties. He was welcomed by Minister Pabitra Margherita and will hold a key bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit includes a large ministerial and business delegation aiming to deepen commercial relations, with bilateral trade having surpassed $15 billion in 2025. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, and EAM S Jaishankar are also scheduled to meet the visiting dignitary.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrives in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit and high-level bilateral meetings with Indian leadership.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who arrived in New Delhi Wednesday afternoon to attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, shared a video on his social media profile showcasing the grand traditional welcome he got upon his arrival in the Indian capital.

"Namaste, India! I've arrived for another visit with an important agenda: strengthening ties, deepening partnerships, and discussing the future of artificial intelligence in the world. We continue working to build more cooperation, innovation, and opportunities between our countries," the visiting leader posted on X after he was accorded a traditional welcome at the hotel.

Earlier, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita welcomed the Brazilian President upon his arrival at the Delhi airport.

"During his visit, President Lula will be participating in the India-AI Impact Summit. PM Narendra Modi will also hold bilateral meeting with President Lula. India and Brazil share a close and multifaceted relationship, elevated to Strategic Partnership and rooted in a common global vision, shared democratic values and commitment to inclusive growth. President Lula's visit will impart strong momentum to India-Brazil partnership," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X after the Brazilian President's arrival.

On Tuesday evening, as he left for India, President Lula highlighted that he would also be discussing new opportunities for cooperation between both countries during his India visit.

"At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are now departing for India. In the coming days, I will participate in the Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence and we will discuss new opportunities for cooperation between Brazil and India. From there, we will proceed to South Korea to, at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung, also strengthen the ties between our countries," President Lula posted on X.

He mentioned that a high-level business delegation will also be accompanying him on the India visit with the aim of deepening commercial relations.

"In 2025, bilateral trade between Brazil and India reached more than US$ 15 billion," asserted the Brazilian President.

During the February 18-22 State Visit, President Lula would be participating in the 2nd AI Impact Summit and hold discussions with PM Modi on February 21.

"Both leaders would be reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations. Prime Minister is scheduled to host a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. The two leaders would also be exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in multilateral fora, reformed multilateralism, global governance and issues concerning the Global South," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated earlier.

President Droupadi Murmu is also expected to meet the visiting leader and would host a banquet in his honour. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar are envisaged to call on President Lula.

President Lula is accompanied by about 14 ministers and a large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. The accompanying ministers would be having meetings with their Indian counterparts. The CEOs are expected to participate in a Business Forum being organised during the visit of the Brazilian President, reflecting the growing trade and commercial engagements between the two countries.

"The forthcoming visit would be the sixth visit of President Lula to India. He had first visited India in 2004 as the Guest of Honour for Republic Day celebrations and last visited India for the G20 Summit in September 2023. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Lula have, however, been meeting frequently in between. It may be recalled that Prime Minister Modi was in Brasilia on a State Visit from 7-8 July 2025 which was the first State Visit by an Indian Prime Minister in the last 57 years. Both leaders also met in Johannesburg during G20, in November 2025," the MEA stated.

India and Brazil share a warm, close and multi-faceted Strategic Partnership, rooted in shared democratic values, close people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation across key sectors. The two large democracies have been Strategic Partners since 2006.

"Brazil is India's largest trading partner in LAC region and bilateral engagement has continued to deepen in areas such as trade and investment, defence, energy, agriculture, health and pharmaceuticals, energy, including renewables, critical minerals, rare earth materials, science and technology and innovation, including in cooperation in the field of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and AI, space and people-to-people linkages. The two countries share common views on various international issues, including UN reforms, climate change and combating terrorism."

The MEA highlighted that the State Visit of President Lula will provide an opportunity for both sides to chart a forward-looking agenda for further strengthening bilateral Strategic Partnership and further deepen cooperation across bilateral, regional and global platforms, on issues of mutual interest.

- IANS
Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof arrived in New Delhi to participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where he was received by Minister Jitendra Singh. The summit has drawn world leaders, including from Croatia, Serbia, Finland, Spain, and Sweden, for discussions on AI's global governance and societal impact. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines with counterparts and tech leaders like Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The summit, guided by the principles of People, Planet, and Progress, aims to promote human-centric and equitable AI development from its venue at Bharat Mandapam.

Netherlands PM Dick Schoof arrives in New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, joining PM Modi and global leaders to discuss AI governance and cooperation.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister of Netherlands Dick Schoof arrived in India on Wednesday as the country hosts the seminal summit on artificial intelligence, bringing together leaders from across the world.

PM Schoof was received by Minister Jitendra Singh upon arrival here in the national capital.

In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs noted that his participation would further deepen and strengthen the ties between India and Netherlands.

"Warm welcome to the Prime Minister Mr. Dick Schoof of The Netherlands, @MinPres. He was received by Minister of State @DrJitendraSingh on arrival in New Delhi. PM Schoof will attend the India-AI Impact Summit; his participation will further deepen and strengthen India-Netherlands bilateral partnership."

World leaders flock to New Delhi with the Global AI Impact Summit underway.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic; Google CEO Sundar Pichai; Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland PM Petteri Orpo; and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay; Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; and Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also landed in the national capital for the AI Summit.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity.

The Summit is witnessing participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers.

The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement.

- ANI
Nifty and Sensex open with marginal gains. Experts cite strong Q3 earnings and early signs of FII buying as key supports for market resilience.

New Delhi, February 18 The stock markets opened with a positive momentum on Wednesday, supported by better-than-expected Q3 earnings and early signs of a turnaround in foreign investor activity, which experts said could help keep the market resilient.

The Nifty 50 index opened at 25,752.65 with a marginal gain of 27.25 points or 0.11 per cent, while the BSE Sensex opened at 83,553.59, rising by 102.63 points or 0.12 per cent.



Market experts highlighted that improving corporate earnings outlook and renewed buying interest from foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are positive indicators for market stability.



VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments, said, "The better-than-expected Q3 results and indications of continuing momentum in earnings growth, going forward, are positive factors that will keep the market resilient. The volatility in IT stocks may continue in response to incoming news relating to the sector. Overall, IT stocks may remain weak since the uncertainty surrounding the sector is huge and large institutional investors are unlikely to invest big time in IT stocks. This is the time to gradually increase exposure to equity. But many retail investors are increasing investments in gold and silver ETFs, which is a risky game in the present context."



He added, "Early signs of a shift in the investment strategy of FIIs are visible now. In the cash market, FIIs have been buyers in eight out of the last thirteen trading days. This trend and improving prospects for corporate earnings bode well for the market."



In the broader market indices on the NSE, Nifty 100 was marginally down by 0.02 per cent, while the Nifty Midcap index remained almost flat during early trade. The Nifty Smallcap index recorded a marginal gain of 0.09 per cent.



Among sectoral indices, mixed trends were observed. Nifty Auto declined by 0.05 per cent, while Nifty IT fell sharply by 0.99 per cent and Nifty Media declined by 0.23 per cent. On the positive side, Nifty Metal gained 0.37 per cent, Nifty PSU Bank rose by 0.37 per cent, and Nifty Realty edged higher by 0.02 per cent.



Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said, "The Indian stock market is likely to begin the session on a steady to slightly positive footing, extending momentum after two consecutive days of gains supported by continued strength in banking, financials, energy, pharma, and select IT stocks amid improving sentiment. The market may remain range-bound in the absence of fresh triggers, with clearer direction expected only from sustained earnings momentum or improved global stability".



In the commodities market, crude oil prices were up marginally by 0.18 per cent to USD 62.44 per barrel.



Meanwhile, precious metals saw strong gains, with gold prices surging by 1 per cent to Rs 152,937 per 10 gm for 24 karat in the opening session on Wednesday. Silver prices also strengthened by 2 per cent to Rs 233,000 per kg.



On the geopolitical front, nuclear talks between the United States and Iran concluded a second round in Geneva on February 17, with both sides reporting "good progress" despite high regional tensions. Iran is expected to return in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address the gaps, according to a United States official.



In other Asian markets on Wednesday, Japan's Nikkei 225 index surged by 1.13 per cent to 57,205, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 0.52 per cent to 26,705. Markets in Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea remained closed for a holiday.





- ANI
The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit has declared false a viral social media claim that Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described a Chinese robot at Galgotias University as Indian. The claim originated from an account named "China Pulse." PIB clarified that the minister made no such statement about the robot's origin. This action is part of ongoing efforts to combat misinformation about government officials and policies.

PIB Fact Check clarifies a viral social media claim falsely attributing a statement about a Chinese robot to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

New Delhi, Feb 18 The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit on Wednesday dismissed as false a viral claim circulating on social media that Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described a Chinese robot showcased at Galgotias University as an Indian robot.

The clarification came after a post by a handle named "China Pulse" alleged that Union Minister Vaishnaw had stated that a robot presented at Galgotias University was Indian, even though it was Chinese.



The post claimed that the Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology made the remark during a public event.



However, the government's official fact-checking body, Press Information Bureau Fact Check, said the claim is false.



In its response, PIB Fact Check clearly stated that the Union Minister has nowhere said that the robot presented by Galgotias University is an Indian robot.



The viral claim was shared by the account "China Pulse" (@Eng_china5), which alleged that the Minister had misrepresented the origin of the robot.



The PIB's clarification aims to stop the spread of misinformation and ensure accurate reporting of statements made by public officials.



The fact check comes amid growing concerns over misleading content on social media platforms.



PIB Fact Check regularly reviews and counters viral claims related to government policies, ministers and public institutions to prevent confusion among citizens.





- IANS
VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan has unequivocally stated that the Congress party remains a firm part of the DMK-led alliance, dismissing any confusion. He clarified that while asking for a fair share during seat negotiations is normal, the VCK itself will not stake a claim for a share of power this election cycle. Thirumavalavan also addressed public issues, urging both state and central governments to expedite a court-ordered service road project in Thuvakudi. Additionally, he reiterated his party's demand for the Tamil Nadu government to gradually reduce liquor shops to combat substance abuse.

VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan asserts Congress is firmly part of the DMK-led alliance, addresses seat-sharing, and comments on local infrastructure issues.

Tiruchirappalli, February 18 Thol. Thirumavalavan, leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and MP from Chidambaram, on Wednesday said that the Congress party is firmly part of the DMK-led alliance and there is no confusion about it.

He spoke to reporters after arriving at the Tiruchirappalli International Airport on his way to Ariyalur for a party event. Party district secretaries and functionaries welcomed him at the airport.

"There is no doubt. Congress is in the DMK alliance. The alliance is strong and united," he said.

"I feel Congress is claiming its rights, but this will not affect our alliance. Definitely, Congress will continue in the same alliance, and we will win in the forthcoming elections. VCK is a political party that claimed a share of power from 1999. Still, we are staunch in this stand. But we believe that it is not the right time to raise this issue, and we don't want to weaken our alliance. This time, we will not claim a power share in the alliance," he added.

Speaking about the demand for service roads on both sides of the Tiruchi-Thanjavur Road at Thuvakudi, he said several political parties and non-political organisations have been raising the issue. A case was filed in the High Court, which directed that service roads should be constructed. However, the work is still pending, causing disappointment among the public.

He said the Communist Party of India is staging a hunger strike to press the demand. He urged the Tamil Nadu government and the Union government to acquire the required land and implement the court's order without delay. He added that the protest should not be seen as election-related and said there is no hidden motive.

On the issue of liquor and drugs, he said it is not a demand of one particular party but a concern of the people across the country. He said substance abuse is increasing, and the government must take serious steps to control it. He added that his party has been insisting that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government gradually reduce and close liquor shops in Tamil Nadu to protect the younger generation and society.

Responding to a question about the 1.40 lakh crore allocation for women's self-help groups and the issue of repayment, he said the government should look into the matter carefully. He also pointed out that large financial relief is given to corporate companies, but such issues do not receive the same level of concern.

On seat-sharing talks, Thirumavalavan said asking for a fair share during alliance discussions is not wrong and will not break the alliance. He said they will place their demands during negotiations and added that there is no problem in the DMK-led alliance.

- ANI
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas reframes Kerala's mass migration not as a failure but as a historical and economic strength. He highlights that remittances from expatriates form one-third of Kerala's economy and a significant portion of India's total inflows. Brittas credits the state's success to its unique social model, emphasizing education, social harmony, and resilient governance. He argues that the skills and values imparted in Kerala enable Malayalis to succeed globally, strengthening both the state and the nation.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas says Kerala's expat remittances are vital for state & national economy, highlighting the "Kerala Model" of social development.

New Delhi, February 18 CPI Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has highlighted that the mass migration from Kerala should be understood within the context of global labour patterns rather than as a specific failure of governance in Kerala.

Responding to the humorous saying "Even on the moon you'll find a Malayali tea shop," which encapsulates how widely Malayalis have migrated across the world, Brittas in an interview to ANI noted that the State's development has historically been driven by migration and that it's not a new phenomenon.

"Kerala has become Kerala because of the migration," said the Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP who hails from Pulikurumba, Naduvil in the Kannur district of the South Indian State.

Brittas jokes that Dubai has practically become Kerala's "15th district" stating that Malayalis have consistently ventured beyond their homeland in search of new horizons ranging from Colombo to Malaysia and countless other destinations.

"I am telling you. Malayaliss have always been moving. If you see the statistics, you will be surprised. One among three and a half Malayalis always move out of Kerala. Either to Delhi or to Mumbai, to Bangalore or to Dubai, Gulf. And we have 14 districts moving. Our 15th district is Dubai. Okay. So it's not a new thing. I'm not actually worried about people migrating.

"Keralites don't love to be in Kerala. They want to move out. We have been always moving out. Honestly speaking. It's not a new phenomenon. See, migration has been one of the verticals of Kerala society. We have moved to Colombo. Srilanka, Malaysia, everywhere," he said.

Further, he said that "undoubtedly one third of Kerala's economy is remittances from expatriates."

Brittas has argued that the remittances sent home by expatriates from Kerala are not just vital for the State, but also significantly strengthen India's overall economy. He pointed out that money earned by Malayalis abroad contributes to India's foreign exchange reserves and enhances the country's global economic standing.

In his view, Kerala's migrant workforce plays a disproportionate role in India's remittance inflows, making their contribution both regional and national in impact.

Brittas also emphasized the economic backbone of migration. "One-third of Kerala's economy comes from expatriates. Around 2 lakh crore rupees, 20-25% of India's remittances, come from Malayalis abroad. But it's not luck -- it's skill. We impart education, training, and resilience. If a Malayali succeeds in the US or anywhere else, it's because of what we've built here at home."

Kerala is a social experiment that has stood the test of time, he said. "Our social indices are a model to the world," Brittas said. "We have always been moving out -- trading with Europeans, Arabs, and Chinese for over 2,000 years. Yet wherever Malayalis go, there is a confluence of cultures, a blending that carries our values with us."

When asked whether Malayalis carry the political ideology of the Left abroad, Brittas is clear: "It's not about whether someone is a Communist Party member. What matters is the sense of solidarity and brotherhood we instill in people, whether Christian, Hindu, or Muslim. There is no religious divide - this value system guides Kerala, and it's part of our social capital, something we are proud of. No other state in India has it today."

He credits Kerala's resilience to an enlightened electorate, educated and aware of social and political issues, which ensures influence across all parties. Kerala, he said has "experimented with governance," starting with land reforms, then education and health reforms, even when critics said they were wasting money on schools and hospitals. That's why Brittas explains the State has not fallen into traps of state coercion or bureaucratic rigidity. "Our governance style is unique, unlike Cuba or China, where systems are entirely different," he said.

The Kerala Model, as he frames it, is about social harmony, governance that empowers, and a culture of skill and solidarity. Despite neighbouring States like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Kerala has maintained its own path, refusing to reject the Left while constantly innovating to meet the needs of its people. Brittas sums it as "This is the value system of Kerala. It's why we are proud of our social capital, and why the world should pay attention."

He further claimed that his party is not opposed to "any good things," highlighting their significant investments in Kerala's schools and health centres as proof of their constructive governance.

Brittas, who is also a journalist and holds degrees in political science and law, noted that Kerala has a long history of social harmony with relatively peaceful coexistence of diverse religious and social groups. This he said is a core strength that underpins social stability and is integral to its development story.

Debunking the stereotype that the Left only indulges in andolans (protests), Brittas asserted that while there is a necessary role for protesting against injustice, it is a global phenomenon that should not be looked down upon.

"See, there is a stereotyping of the Left...See, of course, we need to protest against injustice. Undoubtedly, it's a fact. And protests are not only in our country, in every country. You go to even Western democracies, there are agitations, strikes and protests happening like that. Even in Manhattan, you will see a protest. Sure. So... We shouldn't be looking down at protest at all," said Brittas.

"Actually, that's part of the life. We need to protest against injustice wherever it is happening. That is the culture of our nation, culture of humanity. Now, coming to Kerala, see, when we are in a governing position, We should be bothered about governing the people also. We should bring in such reforms and decisions which would make drastic impact on the life and livelihood of the people, which we do in Kerala. And please don't have an illusion that we are against all the good things which you say, good house. I mean, we want more, better facilities for the people. We are one party which feels that the workers should be paid more. Everyone should get their own wages, better wages, better remuneration, better facilities, housing, schools, hospitals. Why did we invest hugely in Kerala for having schools and health centres? Wherever you go to Kerala, you have a health hospital there. You have a school there," he said.

When asked whether Malayalis carry the political ideology of the Left abroad, Brittas was quick to clarify that it's not about party membership. "Don't focus on whether someone is a Communist Party member," he said. "What matters is the sense of solidarity and brotherhood we nurture -- a value we want to instill in people, whether they are Christian, Hindu, or Muslim. There is no religious divide in these identities."

He emphasized that this value system is at the heart of Kerala, forming the state's social capital -- a legacy the people take pride in. "No other state in India has this," he added, highlighting how Kerala's cohesion and inclusive culture continue to distinguish it both at home and in the diaspora.

Meanwhile, commenting on the political challenge mounted by the BJP in Kerala, Brittas claimed that the party is not a major force in the State and will not make a significant difference in the near future. He asserted that Congress remains their primary adversary in the State's political arena.

"I don't think that BJP is a major force in Kerala. And please don't go by the media rhetoric of people. The BJP will not make any difference in Kerala politics in the near future. I do feel so. Our main adversary opponent is the Congress only," added Brittas.

Kerala heads into Assembly elections later this year.

- ANI
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Legislative Assembly that over 100,000 daily wagers and casual labourers are currently engaged by various state government departments. These workers have been registered through an online Aadhaar-based biometric identification system, with the highest concentration in the Public Health Engineering and Irrigation & Flood Control Department. A high-level committee was constituted last year to holistically examine the long-pending issue of their regularisation. The Chief Minister assured that the government is committed to a fair, transparent, and legally sustainable approach to resolve the matter.

J&K CM Omar Abdullah discloses 100,501 registered casual workers in govt departments, details their distribution, and outlines the legal process for regularisation.

Jammu, Feb 18 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that there are over one lakh daily wagers and casual labourers at present engaged by various government departments.

The Chief Minister assured the Assembly that a legally sustainable approach is being adopted for their regularisation.

In a written reply to a clubbed question by 15 members from the treasury and opposition benches, Omar Abdullah said a total of 1,00,501 workers have been registered through an online Aadhaar-based biometric identification and skill profiling system.

"The registered workforce includes 69,696 casual labourers, 8,836 daily rated workers, 8,534 seasonal labourers, 5,757 food and civil supplies helpers, 2,153 part-time sweepers and 1,929 persons engaged through the hospital development fund. The highest concentration of workers -- 38,585 -- is in the Public Health Engineering and Irrigation & Flood Control Department, followed by Power Development 13,616, Education 12,646, Forest 8,317 and Public Works (R&B) 6,801," he said.

A significant number of 4,868 are also engaged in Health and Medical Education; Agriculture 4,776; Animal and Sheep Husbandry 2,170; and Housing and Urban Development 1,702, and other departments, he said.

Of the 57,390 registered workers in the Kashmir division, Srinagar accounts for the highest number at 11,825, followed by Anantnag 8,823, Baramulla 7,724, Budgam 5,772, Kupwara 5,547, Ganderbal 4,056, Kulgam 3,321 and Bandipora 2,771.

Similarly, among the 40,077 registered workers in the Jammu zone, Jammu district tops the list with 13,425 workers, followed by Rajouri 5,191, Doda 3,856, Kathua 3,451, Reasi 3,210, Kishtwar 2,754, Udhampur 2,518, Poonch 2,455, Samba 1,722 and Ramban 1,495.

Amid concerns over long-pending regularisation, CM Abdullah said a high-level committee was constituted on March 19 last year to examine the issue holistically.

"The committee is undertaking a detailed examination in consultation with concerned departments. The government will consider its recommendations and take appropriate action in accordance with legal and financial propriety," the chief minister said.

Reiterating his government's commitment to a fair and transparent process, the chief minister said the time taken does not reflect administrative apathy but the need for a legally sound and financially sustainable approach.

CM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said he understands the problems of daily wagers and instead of threatening an agitation, their representatives should meet him directly to resolve issues.

- IANS
Pedro Pascal appears unmasked in the Mandalorian movie trailer. See new cast Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White & a surprise Martin Scorsese cameo.

Washington, February 18 The official full trailer for 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' dropped on Tuesday night, marking the franchise's high-profile leap from streaming to the big screen.

Directed by Jon Favreau, the film will release exclusively in theatres and IMAX on May 22, 2026, expanding the beloved Disney+ series into a theatrical epic.



Set after the events of season 3, the story follows Din Djarin and Grogu as the fledgling New Republic recruits them to hunt down Imperial warlords and war criminals scattered across the galaxy.



The official logline states, "The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu," as quoted by Variety.



One of the trailer's biggest reveals is Pedro Pascal appearing unmasked in multiple scenes. In one tense moment, Din Djarin stands exposed before a villain; in another, he confronts a towering monster without his helmet.



The emotional core of the trailer centres on Din reflecting on his mortality, acknowledging that Grogu will live for centuries after he is gone, underscoring his role as adoptive father and mentor.



Among the new additions, Sigourney Weaver debuts as Colonel Ward, a New Republic officer who asserts, "This isn't about revenge, it's about preventing another war."



Jeremy Allen White voices Rotta the Hutt, Jabba's son, who is shown battling Mando in a colosseum-style arena. Jonny Coyne plays an Imperial warlord, as reported by Variety.



The trailer also teases fan-favourite Zeb Orrelios serving as a New Republic pilot and features a surprise voice cameo by Martin Scorsese as a four-armed Ardennian food vendor who provides Mando with key information.



Visually, the film showcases the return of the ST-70 Gunship (Razor Crest class) as the duo's primary ride, alongside a host of new and familiar creatures, including a "Baby Greedo" and the mischievous Anzellans.



According to Variety, the Mandalorian series is set after the fall of the Galactic Empire in 'Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,' following a lone Mandalorian navigating a lawless galaxy and forming an unlikely bond with Grogu.



Favreau produces the film alongside Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm CCO Dave Filoni.



"I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created. The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting," Favreau said when the project was first announced, as quoted by Variety.





- ANI
Peru's Congress has voted to remove Interim President Jose Jeri over allegations he held unofficial meetings with Chinese businesspeople, a scandal dubbed "Chifa-Gate." Jeri, who apologized for entering a meeting "hooded," denied wrongdoing but was ousted just months before scheduled general elections. This continues a pattern of political instability in Peru, with multiple presidents impeached in recent years. Congress will now vote for a new interim president as the country grapples with ongoing leadership crises.

Peru's Congress impeaches Interim President Jose Jeri over secret China meetings in "Chifa-Gate," deepening political crisis before elections.

Lima, February 18 Peru's Congress approved the motion to remove Interim President Jose Jeri over accusations of holding unofficial meetings with Chinese businesspeople, four months after he took office, CNN reported.

According to CNN, Jeri was ousted by 75 votes against 24 in his favour, about two months before general elections likely to take place in Peru.

Jeri had assumed the office in October 2025 after President Dina Boluarte was impeached. Boluarte served in office from 2022 to 2025 following the impeachment and arrest of Pedro Castillo. The recent trend of impeachments against presidents has led to an unstable political climate in Peru.

Acting head of Congress Fernando Rospigliosi, as per CNN, said, "The presiding officers declare the office of President of the Congress of the Republic vacant, and consequently, the office of President of the Republic is vacant."

Political leaders will now vote on Wednesday (local time) for the next interim president.

As reported by CNN, Jeri's first off-the-record meeting with the Chinese businessman took place in Lima on December 26, 2025, and sparked a row after Jeri's pictures surfaced. He held another meeting on January 6.

While being accused in what is being called 'Chifa-Gate,' Jose Jeri denied the wrongdoings, calling the meetings "circumstantial." "I admit my mistake and publicly apologize for entering the way I did, hooded, and for how this has given rise to suspicions and doubts about my behavior and generated the creation of all kinds of unreal stories, which have no basis whatsoever," he said.

His meetings were investigated by the Attorney General's Office.

Since President Alberto Fujimori was ousted in 2000, Peru has witnessed instability in political leadership with several presidents impeached over corruption and human rights violation allegations.

While Peruvian President Alan Garcia died after shooting himself ahead of his arrest in a bribery case in 2019.

- ANI
Following several weeks of student protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced this week that he will open formal investigations into three major school districts in the state. These new inquiries come in addition to the ongoing investigation against the Austin Independent School District (Austin ISD), from which Paxton demanded information in early February, alleging that its officials knowingly allowed students to leave campus during the school day to participate in the protests.

On January 30, students from a dozen Austin ISD campuses walked out of their classrooms and marched with signs to the state Capitol to protest the events in Minnesota during the massive immigration operation in the state, including the killing of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by immigration agents. In the following weeks, similar walkouts took place in San Antonio, Dallas, Waco, El Paso, Houston, and Fort Worth. Hundreds of students took to the streets demanding the dismantling of ICE. Most of the organizers said they acted with planning and in accordance with the law.

Its about time students like this were arrested [...] Schools and staff who allow this behavior should be treated as co-conspirators and should not be immune for criminal behavior, wrote Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott on X on February 3. He also threatened to cut state funding to districts that allowed walkouts. The Education Agency, for its part, declared that students who left campus would be marked absent, that teachers who facilitated the protests could lose their teaching licenses, and that districts could be directly taken over by the state. That same day, the attorney general opened an investigation into Austin ISD. Two weeks later, he announced new investigations into three of the states largest districts: Northeast San Antonio, Dallas, and Manor.

According to Paxton, in these districts, administration and staff helped organize the protests, and school officials failed to ensure student safety or minimize classroom disruptions. He demanded that they turn over documents regarding campus exit policies, excused absences, security protocols, internal communications about the protests, and the use of public funds. I will not allow Texas schools to become breeding grounds for the radical Lefts open borders agenda, he declared. Let this serve as a warning to any public school official or employee who unlawfully facilitates student participation in protests targeting our heroic law enforcement officers: my office will use every legal tool available to hold you accountable.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Northeast District of San Antonio confirmed to KSAT that Paxtons investigation is specifically focused on Churchill High School. We are fully cooperating and gathering documentation to provide to the AGs Office, the spokesperson stated. Staff were also reminded that they should not encourage, endorse, discourage, or attempt to persuade students about participating in a walkout or protest.

The Manor district, for its part, stated in a press release that it is confident the review will show that staff followed district procedures and Texas Education Agency guidance, including ensuring attendance guidelines were followed and keeping student safety as the top priority.

Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura denied that the district supported the protests. Our staff cannot physically prevent a student from choosing to leave campus, he asserted. Furthermore, the districts legal counsel sent a letter to the District Attorneys Office rejecting the allegations and stating that Texas law does not permit the use of any degree of force to compel school attendance.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas reaffirmed its support for the young protesters in a statement. Government officials cannot punish students simply because they dislike their message, explained legal director Adriana Pinon. Students do not lose their free speech rights when they enter their schools, and while the law may permit discipline in some cases, it certainly does not require it [...] The state is threatening drastic and severe consequences for peaceful speech that could amount to retaliation, which is unconstitutional

Brian Klosterboer, senior staff attorney for the organization, noted that Attorney General Paxton has long used his office to attack viewpoints he doesnt like. Regarding the investigations into school districts, he said that no laws have been identified as having been violated, and no ones constitutional rights have been restricted. Authorities should be listening to students who are respectfully participating in democracy, instead of wasting resources on suppressing their expression.

Klosterboer also recalled the historical tradition of these protests in the United States. Boycotts and walkouts are peaceful and long-standing forms of civic engagement, recognized by the Supreme Court. Neither students nor educators relinquish their constitutional rights by walking through the school gates, he asserted.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay met in New Delhi to review progress in bilateral cooperation across key sectors like energy, connectivity, and development. The leaders agreed to strengthen collaboration in Artificial Intelligence and digital technology for inclusive progress. The partnership was highlighted by the recent inauguration of the Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project during PM Modi's visit to Thimphu last November. India remains Bhutan's top trade partner, with bilateral trade growing over threefold since 2014, exceeding $1.7 billion.

PM Modi and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay review bilateral cooperation in AI, digital tech, energy, and connectivity, reaffirming deep-rooted strategic ties.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation in several key sectors - including energy, connectivity, development partnership and people to people connect - on the sidelines of the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders expressed support for harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for inclusive and human-centric progress and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in AI and digital tech space.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to further strengthen the India-Bhutan partnership anchored in trust, goodwill and mutual respect.

India and Bhutan share a tradition of regular high-level exchanges and continue to explore new avenues of cooperation, while building on their deep-rooted ties in energy, infrastructure, and cultural exchange.

Last November, PM Modi visited Thimphu on a two-day visit which aimed at deepening India-Bhutan partnership and reinforcing India's commitment to its Neighbourhood First Policy.

PM Modi's visit coincided with the exposition of the Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha from India. He also offered prayers to the Holy Relics at Tashichhodzong in Thimphu and participated in the Global Peace Prayer Festival organised by the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The visit also marked another major milestone in India-Bhutan energy partnership with the inauguration of the Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project.

"The basic framework of India-Bhutan relations is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries, which was renewed in February 2007," the MEA has stated before.

The India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit -- which was first signed in 1972 and revised most recently for the fifth time in 2016 -- establishes a free trade regime between the two countries. The Agreement also provides for duty free transit of Bhutanese exports to third countries. Bilateral trade is conducted in Indian Rupees, which is at par with the Bhutanese Ngultrum.

India is Bhutan's top trade partner, both as an import source and as an export destination. Since 2014, India's trade with Bhutan has increased more than three times -- from $484 million in 2014-15 to $1,777.44 million in 2024-25, accounting for over 80 per cent of Bhutan's overall trade. Throughout this period, the balance of trade has consistently remained in India's favour.

India's major exports to Bhutan include petrol and diesel, rice, wood charcoal, coke and semi-coke, ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore, maize (excluding seed), soya-bean oil, smartphones, and iron or steel structures and parts, among others.

On the other hand, India's key imports from Bhutan consist of electricity, ferro-silicon, dolomite chips, ferro-silico-manganese, Portland pozzolana cement, pebbles and gravel, dolomite slabs, semi-finished iron or non-alloy steel products, beer made from malt, and ordinary Portland cement.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo held bilateral discussions in New Delhi on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026. They explored enhanced cooperation in sustainability, digitalisation, and responsible artificial intelligence research. The leaders emphasized how Indian talent can strengthen bilateral ties and foster ethical innovation. The summit has drawn global participation, aiming to align AI development with principles of universal welfare.

PM Modi and Finland's Petteri Orpo pledge cooperation on ethical AI research, digitalisation, and leveraging Indian talent for sustainable innovation.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Finnish counterpart, Petteri Orpo, discussed further enhancing cooperation in sustainability, digitalisation, AI research and ethical innovation on Wednesday.

The Finnish PM arrived in India earlier in the day to attend the AI Impact Summit and held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on the sidelines of the event.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that both leaders also discussed ways in which Indian talent can strengthen the bilateral ties between the two nations.

Taking to X, the Ministry said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of Finland on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. They discussed cooperation in sustainability and digitalisation, AI research, ethical innovation and how Indian talent can strengthen bilateral collaboration."

"Prime Minister commended Finland's efforts as an emerging innovation player in AI. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing responsible, talent-driven AI and harnessing tech-enabled solutions for a sustainable future," the MEA added.

The five-day AI Impact Summit has attracted over 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including about 20 Heads of State or Government and around 45 ministers.

It seeks to align AI initiatives with India's national vision of 'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya' (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.

India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth in its series, following editions in the UK (Bletchley Park, 2023), South Korea (2024), and France (2025). The Summit offers a platform for leaders to discuss AI's ethical, economic, and social impacts while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation.

Several more dignitaries are expected to arrive later in the day, continuing the Summit's focus on collaboration and inclusive AI-driven development.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the opening ceremony of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. On the sidelines of the summit, he held nine bilateral meetings with world leaders and top technology executives. The summit represents the first major global AI gathering hosted in the Global South, attracting over 20 heads of state and hundreds of global leaders. It aims to translate AI discussions into actionable outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and Digital India initiative.

PM Narendra Modi addresses India AI Impact Summit 2026, holds bilateral meetings with leaders from Spain, Finland, Bhutan, and CEOs from Google and Sun Microsystems.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the opening ceremony of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on Thursday at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital.

His remarks will be preceded by a Family Photo of the leaders attending the India AI Impact Summit.



PM Modi will welcome world leaders at Bharat Mandapam and a Family Photo is expected to be taken at around 9:15 am.



He will later participate in the AI Summit opening ceremony and address the gathering.



The Prime Minister held nine bilateral meetings with world leaders and CEOs on Wednesday on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.



Seven meetings were held with leaders of countries including Spain, Finland, Serbia, Croatia, Estonia, Kazakhstan and Bhutan.



He held meetings with CEO of Google and the Co-Founder of Sun Microsystems.



India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 21. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet and Progress.



The Prime Minister inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday.



The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, has witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders.



Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.





- ANI
PM Narendra Modi holds bilateral meetings with Estonia, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Serbia, Finland, Spain leaders & Google CEO on AI Summit sidelines.

New Delhi, February 18 World leaders converged in New Delhi on Wednesday as the Global India AI Impact Summit 2026 continued, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding several high-level bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the event.

PM Modi met President Alar Karis of Estonia to discuss advancing the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and cooperation in futuristic technologies.



In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, "Had an excellent meeting with President Alar Karis of Estonia, a nation which has made remarkable strides in tech and AI. Discussed how to add further vigour to our economic partnership, particularly in the context of the India-EU FTA, which is a historical agreement. We also talked about working together in futuristic technologies, energy management, skilling and more."



Prime Minister Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.



PM Modi also held talks with Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, focusing on harnessing AI for sustainable development and strengthening the India-Bhutan friendship.



"The meeting with PM Tshering Tobgay was outstanding. We discussed how we can harness the power of AI for global good and in harmony with principles of sustainability. Our enduring India-Bhutan friendship, rooted in mutual trust, goodwill and close ties between our two peoples, continues to guide our partnership into new and transformative domains," he wrote in a post on X.



On the Summit sidelines, the Prime Minister also engaged with the Kazakhstan PM, Olzhas Bektenov.



In a post on X, he said, "Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and I met earlier today. His visit will further deepen the India-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership. There is immense scope for bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, critical minerals, rare earths, defence, connectivity and space. We will keep working together to take our friendship to new heights."



Discussions with Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic focused on boosting bilateral ties in technology, innovation, shipbuilding, and other areas.



"Held fruitful discussions with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr. Andrej Plenkovic. We discussed how to add momentum to our bilateral partnership in areas such as technology, innovation, shipbuilding, blue economy and boosting connectivity through the IMEEC corridor. Also expressed gratitude for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which will bring unprecedented progress for people in India as well as Europe," he said.



PM Modi held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to enhance cooperation in defence, manufacturing, and digital public infrastructure, and to deepen cooperation across several sectors.



In a post on X, he said, "Met President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit. We discussed ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as defence, manufacturing, DPI, fertilisers and infrastructure. For many years, India and Serbia have worked closely and I am confident our ties will gain even more momentum in the times to come."



Engaging with global tech leaders, the Prime Minister met Google CEO Sundar Pichai to discuss India's AI initiatives and opportunities for collaboration with students.



In a post on X, he said, "It was a delight to meet Mr. Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field."



PM Modi also held extensive discussions with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, highlighting cooperation in futuristic technologies.



In a post on X, he said, "Held extensive discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo. Thanked him for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which ushers in a golden era in India-Europe relations. India and Finland aim to double trade, thus giving a strong boost to economic linkages. We also talked about enhancing cooperation in futuristic technologies like 6G, innovation, clean energy, biofuels, circular economy and more."



On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi met with Spain's President Pedro Sanchez to discuss ways to deepen the India-Spain partnership in defence, security, and technology.



In a post on X, he said, "Had a productive meeting with President Pedro Sanchez in Delhi. Discussed ways to boost the India-Spain friendship, especially in areas such as defence, security, technology and more. Our nations are marking 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and AI. This will deepen people-to-people linkages. Glad to see a big delegation of Universities also come to India. This too will go a long way in connecting our people. The historic FTA with the EU will have a very positive impact on the economic partnership with Spain and provide new opportunities to the people of our nations."



In parallel, French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the Franco-Indian Center for Artificial Intelligence in Health, a collaborative initiative led by AIIMS, Sorbonne University, and the Paris Brain Institute, aimed at advancing research, training, and innovation in AI for healthcare.



In a post on X, he said, "In Delhi, we are inaugurating the Franco-Indian Center for Artificial Intelligence in Health, jointly led by AIIMS, Sorbonne University, and the Paris Brain Institute. Research, training, innovation: France and India are harnessing AI for the common good!"



The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.





- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The leaders focused on harnessing artificial intelligence for sustainable development and inclusive progress. They reviewed the ongoing bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy, connectivity, and development partnerships. The summit itself represents a major global gathering, being the first of its kind hosted in the Global South.

PM Modi meets Bhutan's PM Tobgay at India AI Impact Summit 2026. Leaders discuss harnessing AI for sustainability and review bilateral cooperation.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held talks with Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

PM Modi described the meeting as "outstanding," stating that India-Bhutan friendship continues to expand into new and transformative domains.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "The meeting with PM Tshering Tobgay was outstanding. We discussed how we can harness the power of AI for global good and in harmony with principles of sustainability. Our enduring India-Bhutan friendship, rooted in mutual trust, goodwill and close ties between our two peoples, continues to guide our partnership into new and transformative domains."

Official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said on X that PM Modi and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation across energy, connectivity, development partnerships, and people-to-people ties.

"PM Narendra Modi engaged in bilateral talks with PM Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan on the sidelines of the India-AI Impact Summit today. The two leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation in energy, connectivity, development partnership and people-to-people connect. They expressed support for harnessing AI for inclusive and human-centric progress and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the AI and digital tech space. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to further strengthen the India-Bhutan partnership anchored in trust, goodwill and mutual respect."

Bhutan PM Tobgay arrived in Delhi earlier in the day and was received at the airport by Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary

In a post on X, Jaiswal wrote, "Warm welcome to the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Mr. Tshering Tobgay as he arrives for the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary at the airport. The enduring relationship between India and Bhutan is rooted in mutual trust and goodwill, and is firmly anchored in India's Neighbourhood First policy."

India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16 to February 20. The summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, the event aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the broader global principle of AI for Humanity.

The summit features participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including around 20 heads of state or government and about 45 ministers.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in New Delhi. The discussions focused on adding momentum to the partnership in technology, innovation, shipbuilding, and the blue economy. Both leaders agreed to work for the early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, which aims to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

PM Modi holds talks with Croatia's Andrej Plenkovic on tech, shipbuilding, and the India-EU FTA on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held bilateral talks with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital.

The discussions focused on ways to further strengthen India-Croatia relations and enhance their bilateral partnership.

PM Modi, in a post on X, described the meeting as "fruitful" and said, "Held fruitful discussions with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr. Andrej Plenkovic. We discussed how to add momentum to our bilateral partnership in areas such as technology, innovation, shipbuilding, blue economy and boosting connectivity through the IMEEC corridor. Also expressed gratitude for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which will bring unprecedented progress for people in India as well as Europe."

Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, wrote in a post on X, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic on the sidelines of AI Impact Summit 2026. The two leaders exchanged views on ways to further strengthen India-Croatia relations and advance cooperation in new areas of mutual interest, including AI, information and communication technologies, innovation and clean energy, among others. Both leaders agreed to work for the early implementation of the India-EU FTA. Prime Minister Modi appreciated deep interest of the people of Croatia in Indology and the Indian traditional system of Yoga and Ayurveda."

PM Modi met Plenkovic at Hyderabad House in Delhi.

India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16 to February 20. The summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, the event aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the broader global principle of AI for Humanity.

The summit features participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including around 20 heads of state or government and about 45 ministers.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The leaders focused on strengthening strategic partnership and cooperation in sectors like trade, defence, energy, and emerging technologies. Bektenov's visit and participation in the summit are expected to give a fillip to the robust partnership between the two countries. The summit has drawn a host of world leaders, including from Croatia, Serbia, Finland, Spain, and the UN, for advanced discussions on artificial intelligence.

PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Kazakhstan's PM Bektenov on trade, defence & AI. Global leaders gather in Delhi for the AI Impact Summit.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held talks with Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit.

PM Modi and Bektenov discussed ways to strengthen strategic partnership.

In a post on X, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov of Kazakhstan on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit. The leaders discussed ways to strengthen strategic partnership and deepen bilateral cooperation in all sectors, including trade, defence and security, connectivity, energy, emerging technologies, and people-to-people ties."

Bektenov arrived earlier in the day in Delhi and was received by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.

In a post on X, Jaiswal said, "Prime Minister Mr. Olzhas Bektenov of Kazakhstan, arrives in New Delhi. Cordially received by Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh at the airport. The visit of PM Bektenov and his participation at the India-AI Impact Summit will give fillip to the robust partnership between both countries."

World leaders flock to New Delhi with the Global AI Impact Summit underway.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic; Google CEO Sundar Pichai; Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland PM Petteri Orpo; and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay; Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; and Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also landed in the national capital for the AI Summit.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The leaders reviewed bilateral ties and explored expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, information technologies, innovation, and clean energy. They also agreed to work towards the early implementation of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement. The meeting highlighted Croatia's deep interest in Indian traditions like Yoga and Ayurveda.

PM Modi meets Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic at AI Summit, discussing AI, clean energy cooperation and early implementation of India-EU Free Trade Agreement.

New Delhi, February 18 On the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, where the two leaders reviewed India-Croatia ties and explored avenues to expand cooperation in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, information and communication technologies, innovation, and clean energy.

In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that both sides also agreed to work towards the early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.

" Prime Minister @NarendraModi held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Croatia @AndrejPlenkovic on the sidelines of AI Impact Summit 2026. The two leaders exchanged views on ways to further strengthen - relations and advance cooperation in new areas of mutual interest including AI, information and communication technologies, innovation and clean energy among others. Both leaders agreed to work for early implementation of India-EU FTA," Jaiswal posted.

"Prime Minister Modi appreciated deep interest of the people of Croatia in Indology and the Indian traditional system of Yoga and Ayurveda," it added.

India, currently, is hosting the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as a landmark global convening aimed at shaping the future of inclusive, responsible, and resilient Artificial Intelligence.

Building on the momentum of earlier multilateral AI initiatives, including the Bletchley Park, Seoul, Paris, and Kigali Summits, the India AI Impact Summit seeks to move beyond aspirations toward delivering real, tangible impact.

The summit is structured around the core principles of People, Planet, and Progress, demonstrating how AI can generate meaningful outcomes that serve humanity while advancing inclusive growth, social development, and people-centric innovations that safeguard the environment.

As the first major global AI summit in this series to be held in the Global South, the event is positioned to advance a future where AI's transformative power benefits all, promotes equitable progress, and addresses global challenges responsibly.

The summit builds on extensive preparatory work, including five rounds of public consultations and global outreach sessions held in Paris, Berlin, Oslo, New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Tokyo.

To ensure broad and inclusive input, regional events across India have amplified grassroots voices, while more than 50 affiliated Pre-Summit Events worldwide have generated actionable insights and widened participation.

These efforts, complemented by curated consultation sessions and working groups, reflect India's deeply participatory and consultative approach to organising the India AI Impact Summit.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The summit, hosted at Bharat Mandapam, has brought together over 110 countries and numerous global leaders to discuss the governance and societal impact of artificial intelligence. Discussions between Modi and Sanchez covered areas including trade, digital innovation, health, and climate action, with Modi appreciating Spain's support for India-EU relations. The summit, guided by the pillars of People, Planet, and Progress, aims to promote human-centric and environmentally sustainable AI development.

PM Modi holds talks with Finnish, Spanish leaders & Google CEO at AI Summit in Delhi, focusing on global cooperation, trade, and human-centric AI.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Finland PM Petteri Orpo on Wednesday at the Hyderabad House. Orpo is in India to visit the ongoing AI India Impact Summit in the national capital

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also received Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

As per the Ministry of External Affairs, the meeting between PM Modi and President Sanchez saw discussions on areas such as trade and economy, digital, innovation, health, climate action and education among others. PM Modi conveyed his appreciation for Spain's consistent support for strong India-EU relations.

The Seychelles VP Sebastien Pillay; Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, also arrived in the national capital today for the AI Summit.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity.

The Summit is witnessing participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers.

The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The meeting occurred alongside the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where President Vucic is a participant. The summit is a landmark global event focused on creating inclusive and responsible AI for humanity. It represents the first major AI summit in the Global South, aiming to ensure equitable benefits from AI technology.

PM Narendra Modi met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Delhi, highlighting bilateral ties and India's role in shaping global AI governance.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, at Hyderabad House in the national capital, amid the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026.

The bilateral meeting follows President Vucic's arrival in Delhi on Tuesday to participate in the summit. He was warmly received at the airport by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita.

Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, highlighted the significance of the visit in a post on X, stating, "Warm welcome to President of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Vucic. He was received by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on his arrival at the airport in New Delhi. His participation in India-AI Impact Summit will impart further momentum to the strong and close friendship between India and Serbia."

Jaiswal's remarks underline how President Vucic's engagement at the summit is expected to further strengthen the longstanding and close ties between the two nations.

India is hosting the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as a landmark global convening aimed at shaping the future of inclusive, responsible, and resilient Artificial Intelligence.

Building on the momentum of earlier multilateral AI initiatives, including the Bletchley Park, Seoul, Paris, and Kigali Summits, the India AI Impact Summit seeks to move beyond aspirations toward delivering real, tangible impact.

The summit is structured around the core principles of People, Planet, and Progress, demonstrating how AI can generate meaningful outcomes that serve humanity while advancing inclusive growth, social development, and people-centric innovations that safeguard the environment.

As the first major global AI summit in this series to be held in the Global South, the event is positioned to advance a future where AI's transformative power benefits all, promotes equitable progress, and addresses global challenges responsibly.

The summit builds on extensive preparatory work, including five rounds of public consultations and global outreach sessions held in Paris, Berlin, Oslo, New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Tokyo.

To ensure broad and inclusive input, regional events across India have amplified grassroots voices, while more than 50 affiliated Pre-Summit Events worldwide have generated actionable insights and widened participation.

These efforts, complemented by curated consultation sessions and working groups, reflect India's deeply participatory and consultative approach to organising the India AI Impact Summit.

At a time when AI stands at a critical inflection point, with immense potential to reshape economies, accelerate scientific breakthroughs, and tackle pressing global issues, there is also the risk of deepening divides if development remains unchecked.

Against this backdrop, the India AI Impact Summit provides a vital platform for collective action and shared responsibility, ensuring the future of AI is shaped inclusively to serve humanity and bridge gaps rather than widen them.

- ANI
The latest battle between Democrats and Republicans revolves around the SAVE America Act, an initiative backed by President Donald Trump and recently approved by the House of Representatives. The bill, named the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, seeks to establish new federal standards for voter registration and voting in federal elections, focusing on proof of citizenship and stricter photo ID requirements. This comes ahead of the midterm elections in November.

What does the SAVE America Act propose?

The proposal would require citizens to present documents such as a passport or birth certificate to register to vote or update their registration. In addition, it would require them to show valid photo identification when casting their vote. Although federal law already stipulates that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections, it does not currently require mandatory documentary proof of citizenship upon registration, which the SAVE America Act aims to change.

Republican momentum

Supporters of the bill, mainly Republican lawmakers, argue that the measure will strengthen electoral integrity and restore public confidence in the voting system. Senator Mike Lee, the main proponent in the Senate, has described the initiative as important legislation. Senator Susan Collins has stated that requiring identification at the polls is a simple reform that would improve electoral security. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted last year, 83% of American adults support requiring photo ID to vote, including large percentages of both Republicans and Democrats.

President Trump  who has also made calls to nationalize elections  has repeatedly praised the bill and insisted that its passage would prevent election fraud such as the one he insists, without verified evidence, took place in the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. On his social media platform Truth Social, he reiterated his intention to push for the ID requirement for the upcoming midterm elections, even if he faces legislative resistance.

Voters in New York, November 2024. Yuki Iwamura (AP)

However, the legislation faces strong opposition from Democrats and civil rights organizations. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has compared the measure to Jim Crow laws  which imposed racial segregation in the U.S.  saying it could disenfranchise millions of citizens who do not have immediate access to the required documents. According to estimates cited by organizations such as the Brennan Center for Justice, around 21 million Americans do not have easy access to documentary proof of citizenship, and some 2.6 million lack any form of official photo identification.

Who could be affected?

One of the most controversial points is the potential impact on married women who have changed their last name. It is estimated that up to 69 million women could face additional obstacles if their birth certificates do not match their current legal names. Although proponents of the bill argue that safeguards exist  such as the possibility of signing an affidavit under penalty of perjury when there are documentary discrepancies  critics point out that marriage certificates are not explicitly listed among the documents accepted in some versions of the text.

Other groups that could be disproportionately affected include young voters, low-income individuals, naturalized citizens, rural voters, tribal communities, and transgender individuals whose documents do not match their current identity. Opponents argue that voting by non-citizens in federal elections is already illegal and extremely rare  with studies placing verified cases at around 0.04%  and the law could prevent eligible citizens from exercising their right due to bureaucratic barriers.

Ballot boxes in Kansas, November 5, 2024. Charlie Riedel (AP)

In addition to documentation requirements, different versions of the bill contemplate other measures. These include frequent purges of voter rolls, some every 30 days; the requirement that states share voter information with the Department of Homeland Security for verification through the SAVE program; stricter restrictions on what types of photo ID are acceptable  excluding, for example, some student IDs; and changes to mail-in voting, such as requiring individual applications to receive a ballot in states where they are currently sent universally.

Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have warned that expanding federal access to voter databases could put sensitive data at risk  information that in some states includes party affiliation, address, date of birth, and contact details. They also caution about the possibility of errors in voterroll purges that could improperly remove eligible voters.

The bill also establishes civil and criminal penalties for election officials who register voters without obtaining the required documentation, which critics say could create a climate of fear in the election administration. Previous experiences, such as a similar law in Kansas that was later overturned for violating the Constitution and the National Voter Registration Act after blocking more than 30,000 eligible citizens, have been cited as a warning.

Will it pass?

In the Senate, although Republicans have secured at least 50 votes and control 53 seats, the bill faces the obstacle of filibustering, which requires 60 votes to move forward. Majority Leader John Thune has promised a robust debate, but has acknowledged that there are not enough votes to eliminate the filibuster rule  a tactic to delay or block the passage of laws through lengthy speeches or other delaying maneuvers. Democrats have made it clear that they will use all available parliamentary tools to block the measure, especially because they believe the law could be used as a weapon to prevent their party from winning a significant victory in the next election.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The leaders reviewed bilateral relations and explored strengthening cooperation in areas like trade, AI, fintech, and tourism. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues, reaffirming the long-standing friendship between the two nations. The high-level engagement is expected to further boost strategic and economic partnership.

PM Modi meets Serbia's President Vucic to boost cooperation in AI, trade, fintech, and tourism at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 here on Wednesday.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that the two leaders met to review and advance bilateral ties.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit today," he said.

According to the MEA, the leaders discussed avenues to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas, including trade and investment, artificial intelligence, fintech, education, agriculture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, reaffirming the long-standing friendship between India and Serbia, which is underpinned by close people-to-people ties.

The latest high-level engagement is expected to further strengthen strategic and economic cooperation between the two nations.

The five-day summit has drawn participation from over 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including about 20 Heads of State or Government and nearly 45 ministers.

The event aims to align AI initiatives with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya (welfare for all, happiness for all)" and the broader global principle of AI for Humanity.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth in its series, following previous editions held in the United Kingdom (Bletchley Park, 2023), South Korea (2024), and France (2025). It provides a platform for global leaders to deliberate on AI's ethical, economic, and social implications while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation.

Several more dignitaries are expected to arrive later in the day, continuing the summit's emphasis on international collaboration and inclusive AI-driven development.

- IANS
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's article highlights India's AI strides and strong bilateral ties, shared by PM Modi on social media.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday shared an article authored by President Aleksandar Vucic of the Republic of Serbia, in which the Serbian leader reflects on artificial intelligence, India's growing role in the global AI ecosystem, and his personal admiration for the country.

Taking to the social media platform X, the Prime Minister described the piece as both insightful and warm in its tone towards India.



"A fine article by President Aleksandar Vucic of the Republic of Serbia, in which he talks about AI, of course, but at the same time highlights his fondness for India, India's strides in AI and strong India-Serbia relations," PM Modi wrote.



Along with his post, PM Modi also shared a message by President Vucic posted on X, who said he was glad to be in India to participate in the AI Impact Summit 2026.



"Glad to be in India and participate in the AI Impact Summit 2026. President of Serbia writes: AI Summit places India at the centre of the global discourse | The Indian Express," Vucic posted.



The Serbian President's article, published in The Indian Express, combines personal recollections with broader geopolitical and economic observations. It also underlines Serbia's interest in strengthening its engagement with India, particularly in the technology and innovation sectors.



In the opening of his article, Vucic said he felt a strong sense of exhilaration upon arriving in Delhi for the AI Impact Summit, which he described as ambitious and globally significant.



"As I arrive in Delhi to participate in the ambitious India AI Impact Summit, I feel an almost irrepressible sense of exhilaration. It is a feeling born of seeing a nation I have long admired thrive - and forge a path to success for its peers," he wrote.



He praised India's ability to maintain unity despite its vast diversity, calling the country a living example of pluralism.



"India's ability to maintain unity in multiplicity has always fascinated me. As one of the world's largest republics, encompassing myriad languages, religions, cultures and traditions, the country exemplifies a living, dynamic pluralism," he said.



Vucic also wrote about how his admiration for India deepened during his time in London in the 1990s, when he worked in a job far removed from politics and diplomacy.



"But what truly cemented my affection for India was my first exposure to its people during an earlier chapter of my life, when I worked in London in the 1990s," he wrote, adding that those experiences helped shape his character and worldview.



The Serbian President described his long working hours and physically demanding routine, calling it a lesson in humility and discipline.



"I arrived at work each morning before dawn and left only after twelve hours on my feet, often ending the day with a mop to the floors. It was hard, honest work, and it served as an early apprenticeship in discipline and humility," he said.



He added that among those he worked with, the people he saw working the hardest were Indians, including a Sikh manager from Punjab and the Sagar family.



"The only people who worked even harder were the Indians that I befriended: my manager, a Sikh gentleman from Punjab, and the Sagar family. The Sagars worked with an indefatigable sense of purpose. They were generous, spoke little of themselves, and yet taught me something profound about perseverance and dignity," he wrote.



Vucic noted that at a time when many Europeans underestimated India and Indians, the work ethic and determination he witnessed made him think otherwise.



"At a time when many Europeans around me were habituated to underestimating India and Indians alike, the quiet determination and industry of my colleagues and friends made me think otherwise," he added.



Vucic also referred to discussions at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, where, according to him, some voices suggested that India may remain in a "second tier" among global AI powers.



He said he disagreed with that assessment and argued that India's approach is grounded in real-world application and inclusive innovation.



"I was reminded of this conviction at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos. Among the many voices in a discussion on artificial intelligence was a perspective suggesting that India might occupy a 'second tier' among global AI powers. I must respectfully disagree," he wrote.



He said India's AI strategy is focused less on developing headline-grabbing models and more on deploying technology for practical outcomes in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education and financial inclusion.



"India's approach to AI emphasises real-world deployment, ethical standards and inclusive innovation," he said, citing remarks made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Davos.



The Serbian President described the India AI Impact Summit as more than just a conference, calling it a platform that places India firmly at the centre of global discussions on artificial intelligence.



"The India AI Impact Summit, therefore, is more than a conference. It places India firmly at the centre of the global discourse on artificial intelligence," he wrote.



He said the summit's objective was to understand how AI can be deployed responsibly, inclusively and at scale to solve real-world challenges.



According to him, the summit reflects PM Modi's ambition to democratise access to technology and ensure AI is not restricted to a privileged few.



"Animated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambition to democratise access to the benefits of new technology, it seeks to ensure that AI is not the preserve of a privileged few, but an engine of inclusive development and collective advancement," he said.



Vucic also spoke about the long-standing relationship between Serbia and India, noting that ties are rooted in cooperation, mutual respect and expanding economic engagement.



"Today, relations between Serbia and India are anchored in a strong history of cooperation, mutual regard and expanding economic ties," he wrote.



He referred to the 2018 commemorative stamps jointly released by the two nations to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations, featuring Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla.



"In 2018, to memorialise seventy years of diplomatic relations, our two countries jointly released commemorative stamps featuring Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla -- emblems of spiritual insight and scientific ingenuity whose legacies transcend borders," he said.



Vucic also appreciated India's support for Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.



"India has also been steadfast in supporting Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including on the issue of Kosovo, maintaining a principled stance of non-recognition of its unilateral declaration of independence in 2008," he added.



The Serbian President noted that bilateral trade between Serbia and India, currently around $400 million, has continued to grow, but he said there remains significant untapped potential.



"While bilateral trade between Serbia and India - currently standing at around $400mn - has continued to grow, there remains vast untapped potential," he wrote.



He pointed out that Indian companies are already active in Serbia in areas such as IT, manufacturing and automotive components, but stressed that both sides must aim higher.



"These are encouraging indicators, but we can and must aim higher," he said.



Vucic advocated for stronger connectivity, simplified trade arrangements, and sustained investment in innovation-driven partnerships. He highlighted high-growth sectors such as information technology, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy as key areas for deeper cooperation.



"Our shared ambition should be to broaden and intensify economic engagement through enhanced connectivity, simplifying and streamlining trade arrangements, and fostering sustained investment in innovation-driven partnerships," he said.



Beyond trade and technology, Vucic also said there is immense scope for cultural exchange between the two nations.



"There is immense scope, too, for cultural and creative exchange," he wrote.



He expressed interest in seeing Indian films shot in Serbia, saying such collaborations could bring Serbia's landscapes to a global audience while strengthening people-to-people ties.



"I would be delighted to see Indian films produced in Serbia, bringing to life our beatific landscapes and weaving together stories that resonate far beyond our frontiers," he said.



In the concluding section, the Serbian President returned to the lessons he said he learned decades ago while working in London, particularly the importance of grit, self-belief and perseverance.



"As I reflect on the extraordinary possibilities before us, I return to the lesson I first learned decades ago on a London shop floor: that grit, equanimity, and self-belief are often the strongest engines of progress," he wrote.



Vucic said India possesses these qualities in abundance and described PM Modi as a partner who embodies them through action rather than rhetoric.



"And, having observed him over the years, I can say that in Narendra Modi we have a partner who embodies them - not in rhetoric alone, but in unremitting action," he wrote.



He concluded by asserting that India is no longer merely a nation waiting for its turn in the global order, but one shaping the future.



"Those who still see India as a nation waiting its turn would do well to look again. India is not arriving at the future. It is helping to define it," he added.





- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Spanish President Pedro Sanchez in New Delhi. The leaders discussed expanding cooperation across trade, economy, digital technology, health, and innovation. Sanchez, in India for the AI Impact Summit 2026, also promoted Spain as a prime investment destination to Indian business leaders. This high-level engagement aims to reinforce the longstanding strategic and economic partnership between the two nations.

PM Modi meets Spanish President Pedro Sanchez in Delhi. Talks focus on deepening trade, tech, and economic ties, with Spain seeking Indian investment.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a bilateral meeting with Spanish President Pedro Sanchez in New Delhi, and discussed ways to expand cooperation across trade, economy, health, digital technology, innovation and several other key sectors.

President Sanchez arrived in the national capital earlier in the day to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026, a global platform focusing on the transformative role of artificial intelligence across industries and governance.

Following the talks at Hyderabad House in the national capital, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shared details of the engagement on X, stating, "PM Modi held bilateral meeting with President Pedro Sanchez of Spain during his visit to New Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026. Both leaders discussed a wide range of issues aimed at deepening India-Spain partnership."

The Ministry further posted, "Key areas discussed include trade and economy, digital, innovation, health, climate action and education, among others. PM conveyed his appreciation for Spain's consistent support for strong India-EU relations."

Ahead of his meeting with the Prime Minister, President Sanchez participated in the Spain-India CEO Forum, where he underscored the investment potential in Spain and sought to strengthen business ties with Indian industry leaders.

In a post on X, President Sanchez said, "Spain is a country worth investing in. It is also a strategic partner, offering growth, stability, talent and innovation. That is what I have conveyed today in New Delhi to senior executives of Indian companies with whom I have met."

The Spanish leader's visit and his discussions with Prime Minister Modi further reinforce the long-standing and cordial relationship between India and Spain, which dates back to the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1956.

President Pedro Sanchez had earlier paid an official visit to India on October 28-29, 2024. That visit marked his first trip to India and the first visit by a President of the Government of Spain to India in 18 years.

The latest high-level engagement is expected to further strengthen strategic and economic cooperation between the two nations.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Vellore, Tamil Nadu, on March 7 to participate in a major National Democratic Alliance (NDA) public meeting. The event is seen as a significant move ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, with BJP state leaders inspecting potential venues. Around 1.5 lakh people are expected to attend the rally, which will feature leaders from all NDA alliance parties. The visit follows Modi's engagements at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where he welcomed numerous global leaders in New Delhi.

PM Narendra Modi to address NDA public meeting in Vellore on March 7, with 1.5 lakh attendees expected, shaping Tamil Nadu's political future.

Vellore, February 18 Ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Vellore on March 7.

The Prime Minister will participate in a public meeting organised by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Vellore on the same day.

Speaking to the media in Vellore, BJP State General Secretary Karthiyayini said that Prime Minister Modi's visit would bring about significant changes not only in Tamil Nadu's political landscape but also in governance.

Ahead of the visit, BJP State Vice President Karu Nagarajan, State General Secretary Karthiyayini, BJP District President Dasarathan, and office-bearers of alliance parties inspected the Vellore Fort Grounds on Wednesday evening to finalise the venue for the Prime Minister's rally.

Karthiyayini further stated that alternative locations, including Kandaneri near Pallikonda and Senbakkam, are under consideration, and that one venue will be finalised shortly.

She said that around 1.5 lakh people are expected to attend the public meeting.

Karthiyayini added that leaders and functionaries of all NDA alliance parties, including AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, are expected to participate in the meeting.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed several world leaders at Bharat Mandapam, as the global leaders in tech and policymaking on Artificial Intelligence (AI) converged in the national capital for the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026.

Among the dignitaries received were Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, President of Spain; Peter Pellegrini, President of the Slovak Republic; Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan; Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland; Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka; and Alar Karis, President of Estonia.

Prime Minister Modi also welcomed Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius; Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Sebastien Pillay, Vice President of Seychelles; Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece; and Andrej Plenkovic, Prime Minister of Croatia.

- ANI
Swiss President Guy Parmelin has expressed strong support for India's vision for a safe and inclusive artificial intelligence ecosystem during the India AI Impact Summit 2026. He praised the summit's focus on "People, Progress, Planet" and highlighted significant potential for deepening collaboration between Swiss and Indian innovators. Parmelin noted that the principles established in Delhi will provide guidance for international cooperation and feed into upcoming global dialogues, including a UN meeting in Geneva. He also underscored the benefits of the new India-EFTA trade agreement for Swiss exports and services.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin endorses India's AI principles at Delhi summit, highlighting bilateral collaboration and shared vision for responsible, inclusive AI governance.

By Ayushi Agarwal, New Delhi, February 18 Swiss President Guy Parmelin has expressed strong support for India's vision of a safe, inclusive, and impactful artificial intelligence ecosystem, emphasising alignment on human-centric, sustainable, and equitable AI development during his participation in the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, President Parmelin welcomed the summit's focus, stating, "Switzerland very much welcomes and supports the focus of the AI Impact Summit which is well presented in the three Sutras: People, Progress, Planet: We fully agree that we need to develop and use AI in a way that everyone in the world can benefit from the potential that AI offers. This includes economic and societal progress for everyone. At the same time we need to make sure that we respect our planet as the basis of all lives and that AI is developed and used in a sustainable way."

Highlighting Switzerland's admiration for India's growing prowess in AI, he outlined promising areas for future collaboration.

"We admire how India has developed into a powerful player in AI research and innovation. Switzerland sees significant potential for deepening collaboration with India," Parmelin said.

He added, "I am delighted to see Swiss startups here at the summit bringing bold ideas, cutting edge technologies, and a strong spirit of innovation to explore new opportunities for collaboration with Indian partners."

On responsible AI, he noted shared values, saying, "With respect to responsible innovation in AI, Switzerland and India share the common belief that we need to ensure that AI is used for the public good--supporting inclusive economic growth, social progress, sustainability, and solutions that benefit society at large. We attach great importance to close cooperation with India in the developments regarding the creation of international and multilateral agreements on the governance of AI."

President Parmelin further noted that the outcomes of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 will play a crucial role in shaping the agenda for the next global gathering, which Switzerland is expected to hold in 2027.

"Switzerland thinks that the principles established at the AI Impact Summit here in Delhi provide good guidance for international collaboration: development of human capital; broadening access for social empowerment; trustworthiness of AI systems; energy efficiency of AI systems; use of AI in science; democratizing AI resources; and use of AI for economic growth and social good," he explained.

"These should also feed into the global dialogue on AI which the UN will organize this summer in Geneva. In addition, we will also build on the structures for voluntary cooperation established in Delhi to advance these principles," he added.

On the broader bilateral economic partnership, bolstered by the recently concluded India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), Parmelin highlighted enhanced market access benefits for Swiss exports and services.

"India grants Switzerland significantly improved market access for around 95% of current Swiss exports (not including gold). Swiss watches and most categories of machinery already benefit from zero duty access, and a substantial share of chemical products is likewise treated favourably," he said.

"Regarding services, Switzerland benefits from improved access for its financial sector, where India now allows higher foreign equity limits and clearer licensing procedures. The agreement also facilitates the temporary entry of installation and maintenance specialists, enabling Swiss firms to support their equipment locally," he further noted.

Addressing the evolution of global AI governance, Parmelin stressed joint efforts to promote safe, transparent, and inclusive norms while prioritising innovation.

"Switzerland has been very actively participating in many international fora that develop binding and non-binding technical, legal and ethical standards for the development and use of AI. Switzerland is willing to continue to closely cooperate with India in all of these fields," he affirmed.

He highlighted Switzerland's leadership in the Council of Europe framework convention on AI, describing it as "the first international legally binding treaty on AI and offers not only a legal instrument, but a framework for global cooperation regarding democracy, human rights and the rule of law when it comes to AI."

"While more and more countries from the global south, including Brazil, have joined the process, we would like to encourage India to consider joining this work, too. And of course, we look forward to working with India to shape the upcoming UN dialogue on AI," Parmelin concluded.

The remarks underscore deepening India-Switzerland cooperation in AI governance, research, innovation, and multilateral frameworks, building on the momentum of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

- ANI
A US official stated that progress was made in recent nuclear negotiations with Iran, and that Iranian officials will return within two weeks with detailed proposals to address remaining gaps. The talks in Geneva involved US envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The discussions were preceded by stern warnings from both sides, with President Trump reminding Iran of past military action and Ayatollah Khamenei challenging US military dominance. The nuclear deal, originally signed in 2015, collapsed after the US withdrawal in 2018.

US official says Iran will return with detailed proposals to address gaps in nuclear deal negotiations following high-stakes talks in Geneva.

By Reena Bhardwaj, Washington DC, February 18 Iran would return in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address the gaps, a United States official said following high-stakes nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The US official noted that progress was made on the nuclear deal.

"Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss. The Iranians said they would come back in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address some of the open gaps in our positions," the official said.

US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law to President Donald Trump, held discussions with Iranian authorities in Geneva on Tuesday (local time).

Both nations indulged in posturing ahead of the talks, as President Donald Trump issued a stern warning regarding the "consequences of not making a deal" ahead of critical diplomatic negotiations scheduled to take place in Geneva. He asked Iran to be "reasonable" in the next round of talks over the nuclear deal, reminding Tehran of the June 2025 B-2 bomber attack.

However, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also issued a sharp warning to Trump, asserting that even the most powerful military could face a devastating collapse.

In a series of provocative posts on X, Khamenei challenged the American President's frequent assertions of military dominance, stating, "The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again."

Addressing the increased American naval presence in the region, the Supreme Leader suggested that US hardware remains vulnerable to Iranian countermeasures.

"The Americans constantly say that they've sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea," Khamenei noted.

Iran and the United States held the previous rounds of nuclear talks in April 2025.

The Iranian nuclear deal dates back to July 2015, when the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between Iran and several world powers, including the United States, which capped Tehran's enrichment level at 3.67 per cent and reduced its uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms. The deal collapsed in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord.

- ANI
The India Meteorological Department reports a low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal and is likely to intensify on Wednesday. While dry weather is expected in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry until Thursday, moderate rainfall is forecast for coastal and southern interior districts thereafter. The IMD projects rainfall at several places on February 21 as the system influences the region. Authorities are monitoring the system and have advised fishermen and coastal communities to exercise caution.

IMD forecasts rainfall for coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from Feb 21 as a low-pressure area intensifies over the Bay of Bengal. Fishermen advised caution.

Chennai, Feb 18 A low-pressure area that formed over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department has said, raising the possibility of rainfall across parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the coming days.

According to the weather department, the system developed on Tuesday over the Bay of Bengal, extending across the Indian Ocean and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal region. It is currently moving west-northwestwards and is likely to strengthen further over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean region.

While the system gathers strength over the sea, dry weather is expected to prevail across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until Thursday. However, meteorologists have indicated a change in weather conditions thereafter.

Moderate rainfall is likely over the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and the southern interior parts of the state, the day after Thursday. The IMD has further projected that moderate rainfall may occur at several places across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on February 21, as the weather system influences atmospheric conditions over the region.

Residents in coastal and southern districts have been advised to stay updated with official bulletins for further developments.

In the northern parts of Tamil Nadu, light mist is expected during the early morning hours on Wednesday and Thursday. Such conditions may slightly affect visibility in some areas, especially during dawn.

In Chennai, the sky is likely to remain partly cloudy during the day. The weather department has also forecast the possibility of light mist in one or two areas during the early morning hours. Daytime conditions are expected to remain largely stable, with no significant rainfall anticipated immediately.

Authorities continue to monitor the movement and intensification of the low-pressure system. Fishermen and coastal communities have been advised to exercise caution and follow updates issued by the meteorological department. Further updates are expected as the system evolves over the Bay of Bengal.

- IANS
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray met Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence 'Nandanvan' in Mumbai. The leaders discussed the preservation of Mumbai's heritage architecture, with Thackeray examining vintage photographs of the city's landmarks. Shinde outlined policy measures introduced during his tenure as Chief Minister to encourage heritage-style construction. The meeting marked their first interaction following political differences in the recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray meets Deputy CM Eknath Shinde at 'Nandanvan', discussing Mumbai's architectural heritage and conservation policies.

Mumbai, Feb 18 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray on Wednesday met Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at 'Nandanvan', the latter's official residence in Mumbai, where the two leaders discussed Mumbai's heritage architecture and preservation of historical structures.

During the visit, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde and his son, Dr Shrikant Shinde, interacted with Raj Thackeray, who showed keen interest in vintage photographs of Mumbai's heritage buildings displayed at the residence. Raj Thackeray shared memories and historical anecdotes associated with several of the landmarks featured in the photographs and appreciated efforts to preserve the city's architectural legacy.

According to a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Minister's Office, the interaction included discussions on Mumbai's heritage photography and architectural conservation.

"The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted policies aimed at preserving and promoting heritage-style infrastructure in the city," the statement said.

'Nandanvan', the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, is itself considered a property with historical and architectural significance. Raj Thackeray closely examined rare and vintage photographs displayed within the premises and discussed their historical relevance.

During the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde informed Raj Thackeray that during his tenure as Chief Minister, he had introduced policy measures aimed at encouraging heritage-style construction and preserving the city's traditional architectural character.

Raj Thackeray also inspected the bungalow premises, including surrounding areas developed in a similar architectural style to maintain the heritage character of the property.

Thackeray, who is also known for his work as a cartoonist and his interest in art and architecture, appreciated the preservation of historical elements at the residence and the emphasis on maintaining Mumbai's architectural heritage.

The meeting assumes significance as it was the first interaction between Deputy Chief Minister Shinde and Raj Thackeray following their political differences during the recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

In the civic polls, the Shinde faction, allied with the BJP, secured 29 seats, while the MNS, led by Raj Thackeray, won six seats while contesting in alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT).

- IANS
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Ajmer on February 28. During the visit, development projects worth Rs 23,500 crore are set to be inaugurated and foundation stones laid, with appointment letters also to be distributed to youth. The CM directed officials to ensure seamless coordination on venue infrastructure, security, traffic, and amenities for the event. Separately, CM Sharma claimed that 72% of BJP's election manifesto promises have been fulfilled within two years of the government taking office.

Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma reviews prep for PM Modi's Feb 28 Ajmer visit to launch projects worth 23,500 crore and distribute appointment letters.

Jaipur, Feb 18 Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday reviewed preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Ajmer on February 28, during which development projects worth Rs 23,500 crore are proposed to be inaugurated and foundation stones laid.

The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister's visit would mark a significant step towards strengthening development initiatives in the state. He also noted that appointment letters would be distributed to youth during the programme.

CM Sharma chaired a review meeting with senior officials at the Chief Minister's Office and directed them to complete all arrangements for the event at Kayad Rest House within the stipulated timeline. He emphasised the need for coordination among all departments to ensure smooth conduct of the programme.

The Chief Minister reviewed preparations related to venue infrastructure, seating arrangements, drinking water facilities, parking, medical services, sanitation, traffic management and security. He instructed officials to discharge their responsibilities with diligence and ensure that all arrangements are completed on time.

He also sought details regarding the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme and beneficiaries linked to the event and issued necessary directions to concerned officials.

CM Sharma said all departments, along with the Ajmer district administration, should work in coordination to ensure proper execution of arrangements for the Prime Minister's visit.

Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma, senior officials from the Chief Minister's Office, representatives of concerned departments and Ajmer district administration officials attended the meeting.

Earlier on Wednesday, CM Sharma said that 72 per cent of the promises made in the BJP's election manifesto have been fulfilled within two years of the government assuming office.

The Chief Minister made the remarks while interacting with officials and party workers from Kota, Ajmer and Bharatpur divisions at his residence. He said BJP workers remain committed to public service and nation-building and continue to enjoy the trust of the people.

CM Sharma called upon party workers to actively publicise public welfare schemes and budgetary provisions of both the Central and state governments and ensure that their benefits reach people at the grassroots level.

He said the state budget has made adequate provisions for development works in all 200 Assembly constituencies and claimed that the government has focused on ensuring benefits across sectors and sections of society.

The Chief Minister alleged that the previous Congress government had discriminated in budget allocations, while the present government has ensured equitable distribution of resources.

Highlighting key initiatives, Sharma said the government is prioritising water security through projects such as the Ram Jal Setu Link Project, Dewas Project, Yamuna Water Agreement, Ganga Canal repairs and the Som-Kamala-Amba Canal project.

- IANS
The Election Commission has announced the schedule for biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats, including seven from Maharashtra. Based on current Assembly strength, the ruling Mahayuti coalition is poised to win six seats, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi is expected to secure one. A key point of discussion is whether NCP-SP supremo Sharad Pawar will seek re-election, with potential cross-party support. The election, requiring 37 first-preference votes per seat, is likely to be unopposed given the clear arithmetic.

Mahayuti set to win 6 of 7 Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra, with MVA securing one. Polling on March 16 for seats vacated by Sharad Pawar, others.

Mumbai, Feb 18 The Election Commission of India on Wednesday announced the schedule for the biennial elections to 37 vacant Rajya Sabha seats, which includes seven from Maharashtra. The ruling coalition, Mahayuti, is set to secure six seats, whereas the Maha Vikas Aghadi is expected to obtain one seat, reflecting their respective strengths in the state Assembly.

The polling is scheduled for March 16, and the deadline for filing nominations is from February 26 to March 5.

The seven Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra whose terms are set to expire on April 2 are Sharad Pawar, Fauzia Khan (NCP-SP), Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Dhairyasheel Patil (BJP), Ramdas Athawale (RPI chief), Priyanka Vikram Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena UBT) and Rajani Patil (Congress).

Since the election is for seven seats, 37 first preference votes will be required to win. Depending on the strength of the Assembly, four candidates from the BJP, one each from Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) and one candidate from the opposition can be elected. Considering the party-wise strength, this election is more likely to be unopposed.

Although the BJP's MLA strength is 132, four BJP candidates can be elected with the support of Independents and small parties. The Shiv Sena has 20 extra votes; it is difficult for the BJP to leave another seat for the Shinde's party. So, Shiv Sena can comfortably win one seat. The Ajit Pawar faction has enough votes to win one seat.

In the Mahavikas Aghadi, Shiv Sena(UBT) has 20 votes, Congress has 16, and the NCP Sharad Pawar group has 10 votes in total. Even if Shiv Sena(UBT) and Congress remain together, one seat can be won.

A lot of calculations depend on what role NCP-SP supremo Sharad Pawar takes. There is talk of merging both the NCPs. However, the merger is not imminent. There is also curiosity about whether the Ajit Pawar group will leave this seat for Sharad Pawar. Is Sharad Pawar really keen on getting re-elected to the Rajya Sabha? This is the question being discussed in state politics.

Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has already proposed that Sharad Pawar should get re-elected to the Rajya Sabha. If Sharad Pawar is the candidate, Congress can also support him. This will not pose any problem for Sharad Pawar getting elected.

Republican Party leader Ramdas Athawale has been elected in the past with the help of Congress, NCP or BJP. He has never achieved success on his own. BJP gave Athawale a chance last time. He was also given the post of Minister of State at the Centre. There will be no elections in the state for at least three years now. That is why it is curious whether the BJP will give yet another chance to Athawale or nominate someone else.

- IANS
Paris Hilton and Carter Reum have renewed their wedding vows.

Paris Hilton and Carter Reum have renewed their vows

The 45-year-old star has taken to social media to reveal that she renewed her vows on the Turks and Caicos Islands on Valentine's Day (14.02.26).

Alongside some behind-the-scenes photos from their big day, Paris - who has Phoenix, three, and London, two, with Carter - wrote on X: "Five years later and he still makes my heart skip a beat [tears and ring emojis]

"On Valentines Day, in the turquoise waters of Turks and Caicos  just days before my birthday  my forever Valentine re-proposed, and I said YES all over again.

"But this time, we werent just husband and wife. We were Mommy and Daddy. Phoenix and London watching the love that created them [heart emoji]

"Renewing our vows isnt just about celebrating five beautiful years  its about showing our babies that love grows, deepens, and chooses each other again and again.

"Five years down. Forever to go.

"Forever isnt long enough with you, Carter. (sic)"

Last year, Paris praised Carter for filling their family home with "love, laughter, and fun".

The reality TV star took to Instagram on Father's Day to heap praise on her husband.

Paris - who has also enjoyed success in the music business - wrote on the photo-sharing platform at the time: "Happy Fathers Day to the Dada who fills our home with love, laughter, and fun. Watching you be a dad is the greatest gift  your kindness, patience, and playful heart make every day magical [star emojis] Phoenix, London, and I adore you beyond words

"Forever grateful for our #CutesieCrew [tears and hearts emoji] (sic)"

Paris also paid tribute to her own dad on Father's Day.

The socialite wrote: "Happy Fathers Day to my incredible dad @RickHilton7 [heart emoji] The most loyal, loving, and protective man [tears emoji]

"Thank you for always believing in me and letting me chase my dreams [heart and stars emoji] Im so lucky to be your daughter. Love you forever [heart emojis] #FathersDay. (sic)"
Television actor Sunil Lahiri, famous for playing Laxman, recently showcased a brown briefcase gifted to him by the late legendary actor Dara Singh approximately 36 years ago. He revealed in a social media video that Singh, who played Hanuman, presented the gift to him in Nairobi, Kenya, during the filming of the iconic show Ramayan. Lahiri teased that there is an interesting story connected to the briefcase, which he promises to share in a future post. The serial Ramayan, which originally aired in 1987-88, remains one of Indian television's most iconic shows and was re-telecast during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

Actor Sunil Lahiri shares the story behind a briefcase gifted by the late Dara Singh during the filming of Ramayan in Kenya 36 years ago.

Mumbai Fe, b 18 Television's Laxman, actor Sunil Lahiri, surprised fans on Wednesday as he showcased a very special gift presented to him by the late legendary actor Dara Singh.

Sunil, through a video on his social media flaunted a classic looking brown briefcase that was gifted to him by Dara Singh, around 36 years ago. He highlighted that Singh had gifted it to him during their Ramayan days in the 80s era.



Sunil in the video was heard talking in Hindi, that in English translated to, "Greetings, friends.



Looking at this briefcase, you must be thinking that I'm going somewhere. No, I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here with you. There's a story behind this briefcase that I want to share."



He added, "I received this briefcase as a gift around 35-36 years ago. During our *Ramayana*, Hanuman ji - Dara Singh ji - gave it to me in Africa, in Kenya. The capital is Nairobi, and that's where he presented it to me."



"There's a very interesting story connected to it. I'll share that story in my next post. Till then, take care of yourself. Stay happy, stay healthy.



Jai Ram."



For the caption, he wrote, "A gift given by the great Dara Singh ji means Hanuman ji, which I have since last 35-36 years, gift has no value, it is priceless."



For the uninitiated, the show Ramayan remains one of the most iconic television shows of all time. The cast of the show immediately after the show's airing in the late 80s went on to receive massive fan followings and great success. The show starred Arun Govil as Lord Ram, Sunil Lahri as Lakshman, Arvind Trivedi as Ravan, Dara Singh as Hanuman and Dipika Chikhlia as Sita.



The serial aired in 1987, ran for a year and went off air in 1988 on Doordarshan. The show that aired every Sunday would bring streets to a standstill back in the day, every Sunday, as viewers would flock to TV sets that were rare in the 80s era. In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, the show Ramayan was retelecast on Doordarshan and ran for over two months.





- IANS
Seychelles Vice-President Sebastien Pillay has arrived in New Delhi to attend the India AI Impact Summit 2026, highlighting the strong bilateral partnership. He was received by India's Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, upon arrival. The summit, hosting over 110 countries and numerous world leaders, is the first global AI summit to be held in the Global South. It is guided by the foundational pillars of People, Planet, and Progress to promote human-centric and sustainable AI development.

Vice-President Sebastien Pillay of Seychelles arrives in New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, joining leaders from Mauritius, Spain, Finland, and Sweden.

New Delhi, February 18 Seychelles Vice-President Sebastien Pillay arrived in India on Wednesday for the global AI Impact Summit being hosted here in the national capital. He was received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary.

Sharing the details of his arrival in a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the longstanding partnership between India and Seychelles and said, "A warm welcome to the Vice President of Seychelles, Mr. Sebastien Pillay as he arrives in New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. He was received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti @dr_rajbhushan on arrival at the airport. A close and longstanding maritime partner, Seychelles' participation in the Summit offers an opportunity to harness AI for the benefit of our peoples and further strengthen our partnership."

Earlier today, Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; Spanish President Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon; Finnish PM Petteri Orpo; Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also landed in the national capital for the AI Summit.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity.

The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers.

The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement.

- ANI
Overtime wages must be paid as per law

The Telangana government has issued an order allowing shops and hotels to remain open until 5 AM or Sehri during the month of Ramadan. The exemption from the Shops Act applies from February 19 to March 20, with strict conditions on overtime pay and working hours. Women employees are protected, as they cannot be made to work after 8:30 PM. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy extended Ramadan greetings, highlighting the state's commitment to secularism.

Telangana exempts shops from closing rules during Ramadan, allowing operations till Sehri. Orders include overtime pay and protections for women employees.

Hyderabad, Feb 18 The Telangana government has permitted shops and business establishments in the state to remain open till 5 a.m. during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Labour Commissioner, M. Dana Kishore, on Wednesday issued orders exempting shops and businesses in the state from certain provisions of the Telangana Shops and Establishments Act 1988 from February 19 to March 20 (both days inclusive).

The shops and hotels have been permitted to do business till 'Sehri' (pre-dawn meals) or 5 a.m. every day.

The Commissioner said that overtime wages should be paid in accordance with the Act. The managements have to give compensatory holidays to the employees who work on holidays.

He also directed that the duration of work on any day should not exceed 13 hours.

Women employees are exempted from the extra hours of work, and no women employees shall be allowed to work after 8.30 p.m., reads the order.

The state government has already issued orders permitting Muslim employees to leave offices an hour early during Ramzan.

A similar order has been issued by the government of Andhra Pradesh, permitting Muslim employees to leave offices at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, the fasting month of Ramadan will begin from February 19, following the sighting of the new crescent.

Markazi Ruyat-E-Hilaal Committee in Hyderabad announced that the moon of Ramzan was sighted on Wednesday and thus February 19 (Thursday) would be the first of Ramzan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

On the occasion of the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy extended heartfelt greetings to the Muslim community.

"Fasting and prayers observed by Muslims during the entire holy month enriches spirituality and discipline," he said in his message.

He said that Telangana is an embodiment of preserving secularism and religious harmony in the country.

The Chief Minister wished that the Muslims celebrate the holy month with joy and receive the blessings of almighty Allah.

- IANS
Slovakia President Peter Pellegrini has arrived in New Delhi to participate in the India-AI Impact Summit 2026. The summit is a major global forum convening world leaders and experts to deliberate on AI's role in economic growth and governance. His visit is expected to give fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation in emerging technologies and innovation. The event, with participation from over 110 countries, seeks to align AI initiatives with the principle of "AI for Humanity."

Slovakia President Peter Pellegrini arrives in Delhi for the AI Impact Summit 2026, aiming to strengthen India-Slovakia tech cooperation.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Slovakia President Peter Pellegrini arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to participate in the AI Impact Summit 2026, which underscores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. He was accorded a warm welcome at the airport by Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh.

President Pellegrini is scheduled to attend the ongoing India-AI Impact Summit, where world leaders, policymakers, and technology experts are convening to deliberate on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in economic growth, governance, and social development. His participation is expected to give fresh momentum to India-Slovakia cooperation in emerging technologies, research, and innovation.

Welcoming the visiting dignitary, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a post on X, "President Pellegrini had arrived in New Delhi and was received by Minister of State Jitendra Singh at the airport, underscoring the warmth of diplomatic engagement between the two nations."

The India-AI Impact Summit, regarded as one of the world's major forums on artificial intelligence, will host extensive deliberations on ethical AI, regulatory frameworks, and the role of advanced technologies in reshaping industries and public services. Slovakia's participation is expected to enrich the dialogue through the exchange of best practices and policy perspectives.

The five-day summit has drawn participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including about 20 Heads of State or Government and nearly 45 ministers, making it one of the largest gatherings focused on AI governance and cooperation.

The event seeks to align global AI initiatives with India's civilisational ethos of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) while promoting the broader principle of AI for Humanity.

India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth edition in the series, following previous meetings held in the United Kingdom in 2023, South Korea in 2024, and France in 2025. The platform enables leaders to examine the ethical, economic, and social implications of artificial intelligence while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, trade, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation.

As President Pellegrini begins his official engagements in the capital, the visit is expected to further deepen India-Slovakia relations and highlight how diplomacy and technological collaboration can jointly address global challenges in an increasingly digital world.

- IANS
Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay have arrived in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit 2026. They were warmly received by Indian ministers, highlighting India's role in fostering international AI cooperation. The five-day summit aims to align AI initiatives with global welfare principles and has attracted over 110 countries and numerous international organizations. The event serves as a key platform for discussing AI's ethical, economic, and social impacts while strengthening multifaceted international partnerships.

Spanish President, Mauritian PM, Seychelles VP arrive in New Delhi for the five-day AI Impact Summit 2026, focusing on ethical AI and global partnerships.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay have arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to participate in the AI Impact Summit 2026, which underscores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.

World leaders were warmly received by Indian ministers, reflecting India's commitment to fostering international cooperation in AI, digital partnerships, and cultural exchange.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended a warm welcome posting on X, "Welcome, President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, for the India-AI Impact Summit. Warmly received by Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Singh. The visit of President Sanchez will add further impetus to the ongoing celebrations of India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and AI."

A warm welcome was also extended to the Mauritian PM by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary. The Mauritian leader's wife, Veena Ramgoolam, also accompanied him.

"Welcome to a close friend and maritime neighbour! Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius was warmly received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary on his arrival in India for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Digital cooperation remains a key pillar of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership, anchored in deep-rooted and historic people-to-people ties," the MEA said.

The Vice President of Seychelles, Sebastien Pillay, was also accorded a warm welcome by MoS Raj Bhushan Choudhary upon his arrival in New Delhi.

"A close and longstanding maritime partner, Seychelles' participation in the Summit offers an opportunity to harness AI for the benefit of our peoples and further strengthen our partnership," the Ministry stated.

The five-day Summit has attracted over 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including about 20 Heads of State or Government and around 45 ministers.

It seeks to align AI initiatives with India's national vision of 'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya' (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.

India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth in its series, following editions in the UK (Bletchley Park, 2023), South Korea (2024), and France (2025). The Summit offers a platform for leaders to discuss AI's ethical, economic, and social impacts while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation.

Several more dignitaries are expected to arrive later in the day, continuing the Summit's focus on collaboration and inclusive AI-driven development.

- IANS
Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai predicts that the convergence of animation, gaming, and artificial intelligence will evolve into a billion-dollar industry in India. He announced a Memorandum of Understanding between his company, Mukta Arts Ltd., and Green Gold Animation to develop animated content. The collaboration will adapt iconic films from Mukta Arts' catalogue, such as "Karz" and "Hero," for new global audiences. Ghai emphasized India's vast talent pool and the rapid technological progress of the last two decades as key drivers for this growth.

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai forecasts a billion-dollar future for animation, gaming, and AI in India, announcing a new collaboration to adapt classic films.

Mumbai, Feb 18 As Subhash Ghai's Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation announced an MOU to develop animated shows and films, the filmmaker claimed that animation combined with gaming and AI will make up a billion-dollar industry in the future.

He shared that a combination of these three will be used to tell stories from the homeland.



When asked about venturing into the animation space during an exclusive interaction with IANS, the 'Taal' maker said, "I understand that today you only hear the name of AI, and you hear about animation a little less, just like gaming. But all these three things combined are going to become such a huge industry that you might not have even imagined. It will be a billion-dollar industry, just in India. India has talent, it has content, technicians. India has everything. The only thing is that now our Indian stories will be told through gaming and animation, with AI acting as a supporting tool."



Ghai was further asked, "The way animation is made in Hollywood, do you think it will take time to reach India?"



Reacting to this, Ghai pointed out that given that India is only more than 70 years old, it is not okay to compare it to U.S.



He further stressed that our country has seen a tremendous change in technology in the last 2 decades.



"Look, we are a country 70 years old. That is 250-300 years old. It takes time; we are poor. If you think about what has happened in India in the last 20-25 years, the world has changed. Only Indians can change the world. But we have to cover the distance. There are people who are 70 years old."



Under the MOU, Mukta Arts and Green Gold Animation will work together to develop multiple animated IPs inspired by landmark films from Mukta Arts' celebrated catalogue, including "Kalicharan", "Karz", "Hero", "Karma", "Ram Lakhan", "Khalnayak", "Saudagar", and "Iqbal".



Commenting on the collaboration, Rajiv Chilaka, Founder and CEO, Green Gold Animation, said, "Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today's young, global audiences."





- IANS
A leading expert states that despite improved optics and high-level visits, the core US-Pakistan relationship remains unchanged. She argues that Pakistan's regional utility has yielded symbolic gestures but not concrete economic or military benefits. The expert notes frustration in Islamabad, citing a lack of delivered investment and the need for Pakistan to purchase high-end military equipment itself. She also outlines the domestic limits for Pakistan in any potential Gaza peacekeeping role.

A South Asia expert says high-level US-Pakistan engagement hasn't translated into tangible economic or military gains for Islamabad.

Washington, Feb 18 Despite improved optics and high-level engagement over the past year, the substance of the US-Pakistan relationship remains largely unchanged, a leading South Asia expert said, cautioning that symbolism has yet to translate into tangible economic or military gains for Islamabad.

Pakistan's participation in the upcoming Board of Peace meeting is being projected in Islamabad as evidence of renewed ties with Washington. But Aparna Pande of the prestigious Hudson Institute think-tank said the shift is more symbolic than structural.

"This is a visit primarily to attend the Board of Peace meeting," she said, noting that the Pakistani side would likely emphasise "the changed US-Pakistan relationship as of last year" and the "closer, personal relationship" between the Pakistani Prime Minister, the Army chief, and President Trump.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to be in Washington this week to participate in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, convened by President Donald Trump.

Islamabad is also expected to highlight trade ties and may seek a bilateral meeting on the sidelines. "Whether the bilateral happens, we'll have to wait and see," she said.

"Symbolically, the relationship is doing very well," Pande observed. "Substantively, however, I do not think much has changed in the last year, year and a half inside Pakistan."

On Gaza, she said Pakistan has long wanted to "play a role in any Muslim majority country and in any issue which involves Muslims and the Muslim Ummah." Participation on the Board of Peace and a role in Gaza would, at one level, be welcomed domestically.

But she drew clear limits. "As long as Pakistani troops are only there for peacekeeping and do not get involved with local residents," it would be acceptable. If they were "supposed to actually... dismantle Hamas and get involved in actual... combat," it would "not be looked upon... positively by the Pakistani citizenry."

She added that if Pakistani forces were seen as "pro... Israel, rather than pro-Palestinian citizens, it won't look good." Overall, "symbolically it'll look good," but Islamabad would want clarity on what its troops are expected to do as part of any international stabilisation force in Gaza.

On domestic political issues, she said members of Congress "may ask questions," but "I don't believe that in the Trump administration will ask any questions... because... it is not of concern to them."

Pande argued that Pakistan has "very successfully leveraged its position... its location... to be useful to... the current American administration's interests in Iran and in Gaza and Palestine." From Islamabad's perspective, that regional utility should translate into bilateral gains.

"As of now, what it has translated into is symbolism and some announcements or potential announcements of investment... but it hasn't delivered more," she said. She pointed to frustration in Pakistan, citing a recent remark by the country's defence minister describing Pakistan as being "used like a toilet roll by the United States."

On military ties, she was blunt. "This administration isn't the kind which... will give high-end military equipment. Pakistan will need to buy it." While countries such as Saudi Arabia or Turkey could potentially finance such purchases, "Pakistan doesn't have the economic resources for it."

On the economic front, she said American companies "may invest in critical minerals," but many deposits are in Balochistan, where "the insurgency... means that many companies are unwilling to go into a country which will not provide them security."

- IANS
Canada's Minister of AI, Evan Solomon, emphasized the importance of the India AI Impact Summit in fostering fairness and wider accessibility in artificial intelligence. He stated the summit is focused on rebuilding strong economic and trade relationships between India and Canada. Solomon highlighted trust and governance as essential for AI adoption, noting collaboration with countries like Australia. The summit, a first hosted in the Global South, aims to align AI development with principles of welfare for all.

Canadian AI Minister Evan Solomon highlights fairness, trust, and rebuilding economic ties with India at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

New Delhi, February 18 Evan Solomon, Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, on Wednesday said the ongoing India AI Impact Summit is working towards ensuring fairness and wider accessibility in artificial intelligence, while emphasising the importance of rebuilding strong economic ties between India and Canada.

Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Solomon said Canada is focused on strengthening partnerships with India across key sectors, particularly in AI and technology.

"We're here at the AI Summit because we're building ties between Canada and India. We have lots of businesses that are working together, especially in AI and tech. And we're really looking forward to our businesses working more closely together on everything from energy, technology, life sciences and health and lots of different businesses in AI and tech that are really exciting between our two countries," he said.

Solomon also noted that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit India soon, signalling continued high-level engagement between the two nations.

Highlighting his key takeaways from the summit, Solomon said trade, trust and fairness remain central themes.

"The three key takeaways are strengthening our relationship, number one, that we, the whole world recognizes we need to trade more closely. And so for Canada and India to re-establish strong economic ties between our leaders and our businesses. Number two is trust, governance. AI has to be trusted to be used. And three is it's got to be fair. It's got to be everybody around the world, in the global south and the north. People have to have access to the tools and they have to be fair and this summit is working towards that," he said.

He further said that Canada is building new alliances and frameworks with partner countries and that summits such as this help accelerate collaboration.

"India and Canada are working closely together with other countries like Australia. We're building new alliances and frameworks with a memorandum of understanding. But we've also got great companies. Companies like Infosys are employing thousands of people in Canada. So lots of great Indian companies are coming to Canada, where we have talent market customers, and they're investing in Canada. And this is helping," he added.

Solomon's comments come amid the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16 to February 20. The summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, the event aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the broader global principle of AI for Humanity.

- ANI
World leaders from Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have arrived in New Delhi to participate in the AI Impact Summit 2026. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs extended warm welcomes, highlighting the broad scope of bilateral cooperation with each visiting nation, particularly in digital innovation and AI. The summit aims to reflect on AI's transformative potential under the principle of 'AI for Humanity' and aligns with a vision of welfare for all. The event has drawn participation from over 110 countries and numerous international organizations, continuing a series of global AI summits.

PM of Finland, Deputy PMs of Sweden and UK arrive in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit 2026, aiming to strengthen partnerships on responsible AI.

New Delhi, Feb 18 Leaders from Sweden, Finland and the United Kingdom have arrived in New Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 in the Capital city.

Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Sweden Deputy PM and Energy, Business and Industry Minister Ebba Busch arrived in New Delhi early on Wednesday, and UK Deputy PM David Lammy arrived late on Tuesday.

Extending a warm welcome to the Swedish Deputy PM, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) took to X and said, "India-Sweden ties span a broad spectrum of cooperation, including trade, economy, science, innovation, climate action and education, among others."

In another post, the MEA announced the Finnish leader's visit and said, "A warm welcome to the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, on his arrival for the India-AI Impact Summit. He was received at the airport by Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Singh."

"The visit will further cement the diverse bilateral partnership, with a focus on digital & AI, sustainability and education sectors," the Ministry added.

UK Deputy PM David Lammy also received a warm welcome upon his arrival in New Delhi.

"His visit will further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a strong focus on trusted, inclusive, and responsible Artificial Intelligence -- as a driver of innovation, growth and shared prosperity," the MEA said.

Several world leaders are expected to arrive later in the day to attend the ongoing five-day Summit.

The India-AI Impact Summit aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with the national vision of 'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya' (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.

The Summit is witnessing the participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organisations, including about 20 Head of States/Heads of Government level participation and about 45 ministers.

This summit is the fourth in the series of AI summits held at UK Bletchley Park in 2023, South Korea in 2024 and France in 2025.

- IANS
The Tamil Nadu government has issued an order deferring the implementation of a centrally-revised, higher fee for vehicle fitness certificates for three months. The decision follows representations from transport associations who argued the hike would severely impact operators already struggling with rising costs. The state will continue charging the older, lower fees during this period while it examines the implications of the revision. This move offers temporary financial relief to lorry owners and others in the transport sector.

Tamil Nadu defers the central govt's increased fitness certificate fee for vehicles, offering temporary financial relief to state transport operators.

Chennai, Feb 18 The Tamil Nadu government has deferred the implementation of the revised fitness certificate fee for motor vehicles for three months, offering temporary relief to transport operators in the state.

In a Government Order (G.O.) issued on February 17, 2026, the state government said that the pre-revision fee structure that was in force prior to November 11, 2025, would continue to apply in Tamil Nadu during the three-month period. Vehicle owners seeking grant or renewal of fitness certificates will therefore continue to pay the existing lower rates instead of the enhanced charges notified by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The Union Ministry, through a notification dated November 11, 2025, had enhanced the fee for conducting tests and issuing or renewing certificates of fitness for transport vehicles under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The revised rates were to be implemented across states, leading to concerns among sections of the transport industry in Tamil Nadu.

Transport associations in the state submitted representations to the government, stating that the enhanced fee would adversely affect the livelihood of vehicle owners, particularly lorry operators already facing rising fuel prices, maintenance expenses and loan repayments.

The State Lorry Owners Association urged the government not to implement the revised fee or to consider reducing it, arguing that the hike would increase operational costs and reduce earnings. On February 16, 2026, the Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owner Federation and the Chennai Local Lorry Owner Association also approached the state government with similar demands.

These associations contended that the increased fitness certificate fee would have a cascading impact on drivers and load workers dependent on the sector. They also pointed out that some other states, including Kerala, had adopted a more lenient approach regarding the revised fee structure.

Taking note of these representations, the Transport and Road Safety Commissioner invoked powers delegated under the First Proviso to Rule 81 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. In a communication to the state government, the Commissioner recommended that the implementation of the Union Ministry's notification be temporarily deferred for up to three months.

Acting on this recommendation, the Tamil Nadu government issued the Government Order deferring the enhanced fee and allowing the existing rates to remain in force during the specified period.

Officials said the decision was intended to provide temporary financial relief to transport operators while the state examines the broader implications of the fee revision.

- IANS
Chocho's wife Tasang (L) prepares "gutu" at their home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Chocho's wife Tasang arranges Tibetan ceremonial flowers at their home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Chocho's grandson Losang Druta wears a traditional Tibetan outfit with a hat to enjoy "gutu" with his family at their home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Chocho (1st R) and his family take a family photo at their home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Chocho stirs "gutu" at his home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Chocho adorns doors and windows with new Tibetan decorative fabrics as a tradition to celebrate the Tibetan New Year in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Chocho's family members enjoy "gutu" at their home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

A finished "chema" is displayed at Chocho's home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Chocho prepares a "chema" at his home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Chocho prepares Tibetan barley liquor at his home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Chocho's wife Tasang prepares ingredients of "gutu" at home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Chocho's wife Tasang prepares ingredients of "gutu" at home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 16, 2026.

At the Night of Gutu, which falls on the 29th of the 12th month on Tibetan calendar, Chocho and his family cooked "gutu," a kind of soup made of flour, to celebrate this occasion for the gathering of family and relatives.

"Gu" in Tibetan means nine, which is a lucky number. "Tu" means "pasta." Nine different fillings like wool, charcoal and chili are placed inside the dough drops, and each of these fillings has a meaning.

During the celebrations, hosts also fill "chema," a two-tier rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain, insert colorful Tibetan ceremonial flowers made of dyed wheat and barley ears, and adorn doors and windows with new decorative fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with hope. (Xinhua/Zhang Licong)
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre's Representative, Mumin Chen, emphasized the potential for enhanced AI collaboration between Taiwan and India, driven by significant Taiwanese investments in India's semiconductor sector. He noted that semiconductors are a critical component for AI development and that several Taiwanese companies are already investing in India. Chen expressed confidence that more Taiwanese tech firms would expand into India, highlighting the country's dual role as a development hub and a vast market. The comments were made during the landmark India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, which has drawn global participation.

Taiwan's TECC representative highlights AI partnership potential with India, driven by growing Taiwanese semiconductor investments in the country.

New Delhi, February 18 Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India, Mumin Chen, on Wednesday highlighted the expanding opportunities for AI collaboration between Taiwan and India, citing robust Taiwanese investments in the semiconductor sector in the country as a key driver for future technological partnerships.

Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit, Chen noted Taiwan's strength in semiconductor manufacturing, a fundamental building block for advanced AI technologies, positions it as a strategic partner for India's burgeoning technology landscape.

He added that several Taiwanese firms are increasingly investing in India, with a strong focus on semiconductors.

"Taiwan is good in semiconductor manufacturing, and semiconductors are a very key component of the whole AI technology development. Currently, several Taiwanese companies are investing in India, primarily in the semiconductor sector. We hope that in the future, these collaborations will also promote our collaboration in AI technologies," he said.

Chen highlighted India's growing importance not only as a hub for technology development but also as a fast-expanding market, while expressing confidence that more Taiwanese technology companies would expand their footprint in the country.

"India has full potential, not just in technology development but also in the market. In the past few years, more Taiwanese high-tech companies have been investing in India. I'm very confident that, in the future, more Taiwanese companies will come," he added.

Chen's remarks on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit, being held in Delhi, the first time India is hosting such a high-profile global event on artificial intelligence and the first time in the Global South.

On the summit, he said, "This time we have four experts coming to Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit. We know this is the first time India has hosted such an important international event, and we are also very glad that we have a Taiwanese delegation coming to attend the event and also serve as panellists and join all the discussions."

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 brings together nations and international institutions, reflecting India's focus on multilateral collaboration and the use of AI to address global challenges and unlock new opportunities for shared growth.

India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet and Progress.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday.

The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, has witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders.

Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.

PM Modi will deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-orientated artificial intelligence.

- ANI
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has positioned telecommunications as the critical backbone for India's AI ambitions at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. In collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications and STPI, the summit highlighted that AI's future is an infrastructure challenge reliant on robust digital networks. Experts agreed that scaling AI in governance and industry requires advanced, low-latency telecom networks like 5G-Advanced and 6G. The event served as a call to invest in intelligent, future-ready networks that can process data at the edge to power an inclusive, AI-driven economy.

COAI, with DoT & STPI, declares telecom the backbone of India's AI future, stressing the need for robust 5G/6G networks for AI scaling.

New Delhi, February 18 The Cellular Operators Association of India has positioned telecommunications as the indispensable backbone of the nation's technological evolution, declaring that "Telecom will power India's AI future" during the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

In a strategic collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), the COAI hosted high-level sessions focused on the synergy between next-generation networks and artificial intelligence. The summit underscored a pivotal shift: AI is no longer just a software play, but a physical infrastructure challenge that relies heavily on the robustness of India's digital highways.

The summit featured two flagship sessions, "Generative AI and Future Networks" and "AI-Powered Bharat through Universal Digital Connectivity." These discussions brought together a powerhouse of policymakers and industry titans to map out how 5G-Advanced and emerging 6G frameworks will handle the massive data demands of GenAI.

The sessions highlighted several crucial insights for India's AI journey. Participants reached a consensus that AI scaling, whether in governance or private industry, is impossible without low-latency, high-bandwidth telecom networks.

Experts also emphasised that the next decade will be defined by the seamless integration of Compute, Connectivity, and Data.

Finally, the discussions highlighted the importance of universal access, stressing that digital connectivity must be ubiquitous to achieve an "AI-Powered Bharat," ensuring that AI-driven tools in healthcare and agriculture reach the last mile.

The collaboration between the DoT, STPI, and COAI signals a unified front in India's bid to become a global AI hub. By integrating AI capabilities directly into the network fabric, telecom operators are moving beyond being mere "pipe providers" to becoming active enablers of intelligence.

As per the statement by COAI, "The convergence of compute and connectivity is the new electricity for the digital age. Our networks are the nervous system that will carry the intelligence of AI to every corner of the country."

As India moves toward a more automated and data-driven economy, the summit served as a call to action for stakeholders to invest in "future-ready" infrastructure. The roadmap involves not just faster internet, but "intelligent" networks capable of real-time processing at the edge.

- ANI
The Tamil Nadu Transport Department has ordered app-based platforms like Uber and Rapido to stop using passenger vehicles for goods delivery. The crackdown, prompted by auto driver union protests, warns of vehicle seizure and fines for violations. Officials will conduct surprise inspections to enforce the ban on this widespread practice. The move has raised public concerns about losing a convenient and affordable intra-city delivery option.

Tamil Nadu cracks down on Uber, Rapido, Porter for using passenger vehicles to transport goods. Violations face fines and vehicle seizure.

Chennai, Feb 18 The Tamil Nadu Transport Department has directed app-based mobility platforms such as Uber, Rapido and Porter to immediately stop using two-wheelers and passenger autorickshaws for the transportation of goods within the state.

In letters dated February 16, State Transport Commissioner Kiran Gurrala informed the platforms that passenger auto-rickshaws operate under contract carriage permits and are legally barred from functioning as goods carriers.

The communication warned that any violation would invite action under Sections 192A and 207 of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules.

Penalties include seizure of vehicles and fines of up to Rs 5,000 for a first offence and Rs 10,000 for subsequent violations.

In a parallel move, the commissioner instructed enforcement officials across the state to conduct surprise inspections during morning and evening peak hours. Officials have been directed to seize vehicles found breaching permit conditions and promptly report details, including the app platform involved and the vehicle registration particulars, to the commissioner's office for further action.

The crackdown follows sustained protests and repeated complaints from the Federation of Tamil Nadu Auto and Call Taxi Drivers' Associations. The association alleged that app-based platforms were undermining the livelihoods of licensed auto and taxi drivers by permitting goods transportation through vehicles registered solely for passenger use, including two-wheelers and autorickshaws.

Following assurances from the Transport Department that strict action would be initiated not only against erring platforms but also against individuals promoting illegal vehicle usage on social media, the federation decided to temporarily suspend its protests.

However, the decision has drawn mixed reactions from the public. Several commuters expressed concern that restricting two-wheelers and passenger autos from carrying goods would disrupt a convenient and affordable delivery option widely used for short-distance consignments within Chennai.

Residents noted that app-based services had become popular for sending small parcels, food items, and essential documents across the city within a short timeframe.

Many highlighted that such services typically offer quicker turnaround times compared to traditional courier companies, especially for intra-city deliveries.

With enforcement set to intensify, the move is expected to significantly impact the city's growing app-based last-mile delivery ecosystem.

- IANS
At India AI Summit, Demis Hassabis says AI lacks long-term planning, continual learning, and consistency, highlighting gaps to true general intelligence.

New Delhi, February 18 Founder and CEO Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, attended the India AI Impact Summit 2026 and shared his thoughts on AI Safety, Agentic AI, and various AI innovations.

"This Summit comes at a critical time as we start seeing more autonomous agentic AI systems," Demis Hassabis said, appreciating the government's efforts and willingness to inculcate AI in their systems.



Commenting on what AI systems need to build on more, he said, "When I look at the current systems and what's missing from them being a kind of general intelligence, I would say things like continual learning, so learning after they've been trained and put out into the world. In today's systems, we train them, we do various different types of training on them, and then they're kind of frozen and then put out into the world. But what you'd like is for those systems to continually learn online from experience to learn from the context they're in, maybe personalised to the situation and the task that you have for them, and today's systems don't do that."



Current models have shown difficulties in devising long-term plans. On this Hassabis said, "Also, they have difficulty with things like doing long-term coherent plans. They can plan over the short term, but over the longer term, as the way that we plan can plan over years, they don't really have that capability at the moment."



Consistency in processes and functionality is also an issue he highlighted. He said, "I think probably one of the biggest issues is what I would call consistency. So today's systems are kind of like jagged intelligences. They're very good at certain things, but they're very poor at other things, including sometimes the same things. So for example, today's systems can get gold medals in the International Maths Olympiad, really hard problems, but sometimes can still make mistakes on elementary maths if you pose the question in a certain way. A true general intelligence system shouldn't have that kind of jaggedness."



Demis Hassabis founded Deepmind in 2010 which was later acquired by Google.



The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16-20, 2026.



The Summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.



The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity.



The Summit saw the participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers.





- ANI
Former US President Donald Trump has publicly urged UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to proceed with a 99-year lease agreement for the Diego Garcia military base with Mauritius. Trump warned that the US might need to use the strategically located base to "eradicate a potential attack" by Iran if nuclear negotiations fail. The warning comes amid ongoing high-stakes talks between the US and Iran in Geneva, with the White House stating diplomacy is the preferred option. The UK agreed in 2025 to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while maintaining the US-UK base on Diego Garcia under a long-term lease.

Trump warns UK PM Starmer against leasing Diego Garcia, citing potential US military use against Iran if nuclear talks fail.

Washington DC, February 19 United States President Donald Trump asked the United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to hand over Diego Garcia to Mauritius amid a possibility of military confrontation between Washington and Tehran over a nuclear deal.

According to a 2025 agreement, the UK is set to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while maintaining the US-UK military base in Diego Garcia on a 99-year lease, CNN reported.

Trump called handing over the Chagos Islands and taking the military base on a lease a "big mistake."

He said that the US might use Diego Garcia to eradicate a potential attack by Iran in case it does not agree to a nuclear deal following the talks in Geneva.

Taking to social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, "I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that leases are no good when it comes to countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100-year lease with whoever it is that is 'claiming' right, title, and interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean. Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature."

"Should Iran decide not to make a deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia and the Airfield located in Fairford in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime--an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly countries. Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia by entering a tenuous, at best, 100-year lease," he added.

The US President said that Washington is ready to fight for a NATO ally, the UK, when needed, asking London to be "strong" to face challenges before them.

"This land should not be taken away from the UK, and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally. We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA," he wrote in the social media post.

According to CNN, Mauritius gained independence in 1968 from the British rule, while Diego Garcia remained a colony. Following the 2019 ruling by the International Court of Justice and the building international pressure, UK signed an agreement with Mauritius in 2025 to return the Chagos Islands while keeping the Diego Garcia military base on a 99-year lease.

This comes in the backdrop of ongoing talks between the US and Iran over a high-stake nuclear deal. Earlier on Wednesday (local time), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that diplomacy is the first option for US President Donald Trump before considering military action against Iran regarding the nuclear deal.

Amid the looming possibility of a military action by the US, the White House Press Secretary warned Iran, saying it would be wise for Iran to reach a deal with the US.

Speaking to the reporters, Leavitt said, "There are arguments one can make for a strike against Iran. The President had a successful operation as commander-in-chief with Operation Midnight Hammer, completely obliterating Iran's nuclear facilities. The President has always been clear that with Iran or any other country, diplomacy is the first option, and Iran would be wise to make a deal with President Trump."

"He (Donald Trump) is talking to many people, firstly, his national security team. This is something the President takes seriously, thinking about what is in the best interest of America and its people. That is how he will decide on a military action," she added.Leavitt also hinted that "US forces are in conversation with Israel," while not affirming a military action.

Further, she noted that progress has been made in the Geneva talks with Iranian authorities, but the two nations stand "far apart" on certain issues.

"There was a little bit of progress made, but we are still far apart on some issues. We expect the Iranians to come back with the details in the next couple of weeks. The president will continue to watch how this plays out," the press secretary said.

Iran and the United States held the previous rounds of nuclear talks in April 2025.

The Iranian nuclear deal dates back to July 2015, when the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between Iran and several world powers, including the United States, which capped Tehran's enrichment level at 3.67 per cent and reduced its uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms. The deal collapsed in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord.

- ANI
French President Emmanuel Macron lauded the deep defence and strategic partnership between India and France, calling it a "sovereign alliance" built by conviction. The nations renewed their defence cooperation agreement for 10 years and signed an MoU for co-producing Hammer missiles in India. Key collaborations include the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets and joint development of engines for fifth-generation combat aircraft. Both leaders also emphasized strong cooperation in space, aeronautics, and civilian nuclear initiatives, guided by a shared belief in strategic autonomy.

French President Macron praises strategic defence ties with India, highlighting Rafale jets, submarine co-production, and Hammer missile manufacturing under Make in India.

Mumbai, February 18 French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday lauded the defence ties with India, saying that the two nations "chose each other on land, at sea, and in the sky" as the Defence Ministers signed MoUs on Hammer Missiles Production and a 10-year cooperation agreement.

Addressing the India-France Innovation Forum, Emmanuel Macron called Paris a partner of the 'Make in India' initiative.

He said, "In the field of defence, France is a steadfast partner of Make in India. Our high-level cooperation allows us to develop next-generation engines, multi-role helicopters, advanced combat aircraft, submarines, etc. And I want to thank you warmly for the extraordinary confidence you've placed in this partnership. And this is not just a defence contract, but a series of defence contracts. We speak about what a sovereign alliance is. Two great nations choosing each other on land, at sea, and in the sky, not by default but by conviction. And our cooperation is also crucial in the space sector. The development of the TRISHNA satellite shows what we can achieve when scientific excellence and industrial expertise are brought together."

"We have a lot of civilian and nuclear initiatives here in the country. Our partnership is also guided by a shared conviction that innovation is not just about major technological breakthroughs, but also about the common good, about improving everyday life, about making it healthier and safer," the French president added.

Later, in a press statement, Macron said that Paris is working with New Delhi on the manufacturing of Rafale fighter jets, submarines, and the engines for fifth-generation fighter jets. He discussed forging a common roadmap in a world "distinct from hegemony."

Macron said, "Whether it's the Rafale, submarines, or the engines for fifth-generation fighter jets, there are many areas where we are working together with India. We believe in technology transfer, and we have tried to do the same, as you desired. We both believe in strategic autonomy. You mentioned the defence sector, and I also spoke about it. But there are many other areas where our thinking is shared, even in the field of space. Our relationship in these areas has been excellent for many years. They have grown significantly stronger, and that's why, when we're hosting a summit in France in July, we've invited India to the space sector. We're also working on a common roadmap to address global challenges and find a path for the world that's distinct from hegemony."

Noting aeronautics and railways are key sectors for India and France, he added, "Aeronautics is also a key area, and the high-speed rail network is another area where we're emerging as a reliable partner. We want to ensure the best technology transfer, and to achieve this, we are inaugurating the Innovation Year today with the Prime Minister of India. We want our investors, whether they are our startups, our companies, our R&D centres, or other centres, to work together."

Earlier on Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with his French counterpart, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin, in Bengaluru, where the two sides renewed their defence cooperation agreement for another 10 years, announced reciprocal deployment of officers, and inked an MoU for manufacturing HAMMER missiles in India.

Meanwhile, according to a joint statement from India and France, PM Narendra Modi and French President Macron commended the contract to procure 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets. They expressed their wish to further strengthen their partnership in defence aeronautics, especially in the field of manufacturing fighter aircraft and combat aircraft engines under the Make in India initiative, and welcomed recent positive developments in this regard.

The leaders appreciated the ongoing partnership between Safran and HAL for the development of the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH). Both sides welcomed the inauguration of the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the LEAP engine, the establishment of the MRO facility for M-88 engines mounted on Rafale aircraft, and the Joint Venture with Bharat Electronics Limited to produce the HAMMER missiles in India. Both leaders also jointly inaugurated the H125 Final Assembly Line, a first-of-its-kind private sector helicopter manufacturing facility in India, a historic Make-in-India milestone, that will combine the strength of TATA Advanced Systems and Airbus to serve India's growing market and export to third countries. Prime Minister Modi appreciated the growing interest on the French side in India's Pinaka MBRL.

Both leaders highlighted the success of the made-in-India Scorpene program (P75--Kalvari), whose 6th submarine was delivered on January 15, 2025, to the Indian Navy, and welcomed the continuation of the cooperation in submarines, the joint statement said.

India and France reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation in the field of defense space, in line with the Letter of Intent signed in January 2024. The Technical Arrangement between DRDO and DGA, which includes the field of defense space in its scope, provides a framework for innovative state-level and industrial cooperation of mutual interest.

- ANI
UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has arrived in New Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026, with India's External Affairs Ministry stating his visit will bolster the bilateral strategic partnership with a focus on responsible AI. The summit, hosted at Bharat Mandapam, aims to shift global AI discussions from aspiration to tangible impact for people and the planet. It builds on previous international summits and is notable as the first major global AI conference held in the Global South. Other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, are also attending the event, which follows extensive global consultations.

UK Deputy PM David Lammy arrives in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit 2026, aiming to strengthen the India-UK strategic partnership on responsible AI.

New Delhi, February 18 United Kingdom Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026.

Official Spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, Randhir Jaiswal said that David Lammy's visit will strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a focus on responsible artificial intelligence

"A warm welcome to the UK Deputy PM @DavidLammy on his arrival in New Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026. His visit will further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a strong focus on trusted, inclusive, and responsible Artificial Intelligence - as a driver of innovation, growth, and shared prosperity," the MEA spokesperson wrote on X.

Earlier, world leaders from Serbia, Sri Lanka, Guyana, and Bolivia arrived in New Delhi for the summit. French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on a visit to India, will also attend the AI Impact Summit.

India is hosting the AI Impact Summit, which began on February 16 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as a global convening to shape the future of inclusive, responsible, and resilient artificial intelligence (AI).

Building on the momentum of previous multilateral initiatives, including the Bletchley Park, Seoul, Paris, and Kigali Summits, the AI Impact Summit is envisaged to mark a shift from aspirations to impact, demonstrating how AI can deliver tangible outcomes for People, Planet, and Progress.

As the first Global AI Summit of this series to take place in the Global South, the Impact Summit will advance a future where the transformative impact of AI serves humanity, advances inclusive growth, fosters social development, and promotes people-centric innovations that protect our planet.

The Summit builds on extensive groundwork, including five rounds of public consultations and global outreach sessions in Paris, Berlin, Oslo, New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Tokyo. Regional events across India have ensured grassroots voices are represented, while over 50 affiliated pre-summit events worldwide have generated actionable insights and broadened participation.

Complemented by curated consultation sessions for the flagship events and working groups, these efforts reflect India's deeply participatory approach to the Impact Summit.

AI today stands at an inflection point, with the power to reshape economies, accelerate scientific discovery, and address urgent global challenges, but also the potential to widen divides if left unchecked. The Summit provides a platform to bridge this gap, ensuring that the future of AI is shaped by collective action and shared responsibility.

- ANI
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a massive Russian strike involving 29 missiles and nearly 400 drones, which injured nine people including children. The attack coincided with the start of new trilateral peace talks in Geneva, which Zelenskyy said reveals Russia's true intentions. Ukrainian air defenses successfully shot down 25 of the incoming missiles, highlighting the critical need for continued international support. Zelenskyy has directed his delegation in Geneva to raise the issue of the strikes and reaffirmed Ukraine's readiness for a just agreement to end the war.

Zelenskyy reports massive Russian strike injuring 9, including children, as Geneva peace talks begin. Ukraine shoots down 25 missiles.

Kyiv, February 18 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday claimed Russia launched a massive strike with 29 missiles and about 400 drones before the Geneva trilateral talks began.

According to a statement by Zelenskyy, nine people, including children, were injured in the attack.

In a video message posted on X, Zelenskyy slammed Moscow, saying that the strike shows its "true intent." The Ukrainian President claimed that Kyiv shot down 25 of 29 missiles fired by Russia.

He said, "In the massive strike with which the Russians began the day, 29 missiles of various types were fired, and 25 were shot down. This is an important result for our air defense, and once again, we emphasize that air defense is a daily necessity. I thank all our partners who understand this. Russia greets with a strike even the very day new formats begin in Geneva--trilateral and bilateral with the United States. This very clearly shows what Russia wants and what it is truly intent on. Almost 400 drones were launched as well."

Further, he asked the Ukrainian delegation to flag the strike with the US counterparts in Geneva. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine is ready for an agreement to end the war.

The Ukrainian President said, "Later today, there will be a report from the delegation following the first round of talks in Geneva. The team absolutely must raise the issue of these strikes--first of all with the American side, which proposed that both Ukraine and Russia refrain from attacks. Ukraine is ready. We do not need war. And we always act symmetrically--defending our state and our independence. Likewise, we are ready to move quickly toward a just agreement to end the war."

"The only question is for the Russians: what do they want? And also, whether there will be consequences for Russia for the fact that 'shaheds,' missiles, and fantasy chatter about history matter more to them than real diplomacy and lasting peace," he added.

The Geneva talks are part of ongoing international efforts, mediated by the US, to find a negotiated settlement to the war between Ukraine and Russia, which began in February 2022. According to Al Jazeera, the Geneva discussions follow two rounds of negotiations brokered by the US, held in the United Arab Emirates in January and early February.

Earlier on Tuesday (local time), Zelenskyy said that people in Odesa were left without a water supply following Russia's recent aggression. He informed that about 10 residential buildings were damaged.

In an X post, the Ukrainian premier wrote, "It was a combined strike, deliberately calculated to cause as much damage as possible to our energy sector. Nearly 400 drones and 29 missiles of various types were used, including ballistic ones. A significant number were shot down, but unfortunately there were also hits. In Odesa, tens of thousands of people are without heat and water supply after the drone strike. All necessary services are working to help. In total, 12 regions were targeted, and, unfortunately, nine people have been reported injured, including children. More than ten residential buildings and railway infrastructure were damaged. Partners must respond to all these strikes against life."

"Russia must be held to account for its aggression. Our diplomacy will be more effective if there is justice and strength. Strength of pressure on the Russian Federation - sanctions pressure and steady, rapid support for the Ukrainian army and our air defense. For peace to be real and just, action must target the sole source of this aggression - because it is Moscow that continues the killings, massive attacks, and assaults," the X post read.

- ANI
Over 52 lakh students in Uttar Pradesh begin Class 10 and 12 board exams under strict CCTV surveillance and flying squad monitoring until March 12.

New Delhi, Feb 18 The Uttar Pradesh Board Class 10 and Class 12 examinations began on Wednesday with more than 52 lakh students appearing across the state. The exams are being conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad and will continue till March 12.

From Lucknow to Prayagraj, and from Ghaziabad to Varanasi, thousands of students reached their respective centres early in the morning, many expressing nervousness but also feeling confident about their preparation. The state administration and education department have deployed strict monitoring measures, including CCTV surveillance, flying squads, static magistrates, and police teams, to ensure the examinations are held in a peaceful and cheating-free manner.



In Lucknow, a student shared her emotions on the first day of the exam and said she was slightly anxious, but prepared to handle the pressure.



"I am a little nervous, but I will manage because I have prepared," the student said.



In Ghaziabad, the UP Board high school and intermediate examinations commenced with a total of 53,888 students appearing in the district. According to officials, this includes 28,574 high school students and 25,314 intermediate students.



District authorities said all exam centres were placed under strict surveillance, with special teams assigned for checking, monitoring and ensuring discipline at the gates. Students were also seen searching for their roll numbers and centre details outside the examination buildings.



In Ghazipur, the board exams began under tight security arrangements. Around 1.37 lakh students are appearing in the district, with CCTV monitoring in place at examination centres. Officials said special attention is being given to sensitive centres, and the movement of candidates is being regulated to avoid crowding.



Local authorities said that security personnel have been deployed in adequate numbers, and flying squads are conducting surprise inspections to prevent the use of unfair means.



In Varanasi, the UP Board examinations began with 118 exam centres set up across the district. The administration has divided the district into 12 sectors to strengthen monitoring and ensure smooth conduct of the exams.



Officials said one magistrate has been deployed for each zone and sector, while five flying teams will patrol the area throughout the examination period.



A student from Varanasi, Honey, said the first day brought nervousness, but the arrangements outside the centre were encouraging.



"I am a little nervous today, but the preparation is really good outside. Let's see what happens," she said.



In Bulandshahr, standing magistrates have been deployed at 109 exam centres, and Bulandshahr has been divided into 12 sectors and seven zones for administrative monitoring.



The exam is being conducted under strict surveillance through six mobile squads, along with police deployment at multiple points. Every candidate will be monitored through CCTV cameras, and officials said extensive preparations have been made to conduct a peaceful and cheating-free examination.



In Chandauli, the administration said the board examinations have started with heightened vigilance to ensure fairness. District centres have been divided into five zones and 15 sectors to strengthen monitoring and improve arrangements.



In Unnao, several exam centres witnessed heavy crowds in the morning as students arrived early to confirm their roll numbers and seating arrangements.



At the Atal Bihari Inter College examination centre, a large number of high school students were seen gathering outside the gates before the entry process began. Students from different schools arrived for the Hindi subject examination, which was scheduled on the first day.



Deepanshu, a student of Purnima Vidya Inter College, said he felt confident about the paper and praised the arrangements at the centre.



"My name is Deepanshu. I am a student of Purnima Vidya Inter College. There is a Hindi subject paper. I have come to the Atal Bihari Inter College centre. The preparation for the paper is good, and all the arrangements here are good," he said.



Another student, Sonali Yadav, a resident of Sikanderpur and a student of Maa Gayatri Vidya Mandir Inter College, said she had prepared well for the Hindi paper.



"There is a Hindi subject paper, and I have prepared well. I have come to the Atal Bihari Inter College centre in Unnao," she said.



The centre administrator of Atal Bihari Inter College said it was the first day of the examination and the staff were making efforts to keep the atmosphere positive for students.



"Today is the first day of the examination. Entry is starting. Children are being admitted by applying a tilak so that they do not feel scared during the exam. A total of 399 children will appear in our centre. Today is the Hindi subject paper," the administrator said.



Similarly, in Prayagraj, the UPBSE began its high school and intermediate board examinations. Candidates arrived at the Shivcharan Das Kanhaiya Lal Inter College in Prayagraj nearly an hour before the exam began.



After undergoing rigorous security checks, students were allowed to enter the examination halls. The board has issued detailed guidelines to ensure a peaceful, transparent and cheating-free examination.



A student in Prayagraj said that although she felt anxious, she was confident about her preparation for the Hindi paper.



"Our Hindi paper is today. I have prepared well and, though I was a little anxious..." the student said.



With strict arrangements in place across districts and lakhs of students appearing, the UP Board exams are expected to continue smoothly over the coming weeks as authorities maintain close monitoring to prevent malpractice and ensure fairness for all candidates.





- IANS
The Uttar Pradesh Board examinations for Classes 10 and 12 commenced across the state, with over 53 lakh registered students appearing at more than 8,000 centres. Minister Gulab Devi visited centres to bless students and inaugurated a tech-based state control room to ensure transparency. District officials emphasized strict anti-cheating measures, with CCTV surveillance at all centres and a warning of severe action against malpractice. The administration has deployed thousands of magistrates and mobile squads, alongside activating toll-free helplines for candidate assistance.

UP Board Class 10, 12 exams commence with strict monitoring. Over 53 lakh students appear at 8,000+ centres with CCTV surveillance and helplines.

Lucknow, February 18 Uttar Pradesh Board examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 commenced today across the state, with students appearing at over 8,000 examination centres.

Ahead of the exams, the Minister of State for Secondary Education (Independent Charge), Gulab Devi, visited various centres and offered sweets to students while extending her blessings. She also inaugurated the state-level control room at the Director of Education (Secondary) Lucknow camp office, ensuring a fully technology-based, transparent system.



In Prayagraj, District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma highlighted the scale and monitoring arrangements for the exams.



He said, "Over 1 lakh 95 thousand students will participate in the exams this time. We have 333 centres where monitoring will be done via CCTV. We have held a meeting with police officers and headmasters... The Chief Minister has given clear instructions that the exams should be conducted without cheating. School administrators have a major responsibility to ensure that no unfair practices occur at their centres and that students get a good environment. If anyone is found involved in any of these things, strict action will be taken."



According to an official release, a total of 53,37,778 candidates are registered this year, including 27,61,696 high school students and 25,76,082 intermediate students. The state has set up 8,033 examination centres, comprising 596 government schools, 3,453 aided-government schools, and 3,984 self-financed schools. Of these, 18 districts have been declared sensitive, 222 centres highly sensitive, and 683 sensitive.



To strengthen the examination system, the state has appointed 8,033 centre administrators, 8,033 external centre administrators, 8,033 static magistrates, 1,210 sector magistrates, and 427 zonal magistrates. Additionally, 69 divisional and 440 district-level mobile squads have been formed. State-level supervisors have also been appointed for all 75 districts and 18 divisions to ensure strict oversight.



The state-level control room in Lucknow has issued toll-free helpline numbers 18001806607 and 18001806608 to assist candidates and parents. The Board of Secondary Education, Prayagraj, has also activated toll-free numbers 18001805310 and 18001805312. Complaints and suggestions can be submitted via email, Facebook, X handle, or WhatsApp. Control centres have been established at Prayagraj headquarters as well as regional offices in Varanasi, Meerut, Bareilly, and Gorakhpur.





- ANI
Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang speaks during a gala marking the Chinese New Year in Tema, Greater Accra Region, Ghana, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

ACCRA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has extended her Spring Festival greetings and praised Ghana-China relations during a gala marking the Chinese New Year.

Speaking Monday at the event held by Chinese company Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Ltd., Opoku-Agyemang described the Year of the Horse celebration as a reminder that development is shaped not only by infrastructure but also by people, culture, and mutual respect.

"As we mark the Spring Festival, we are reminded that the relationship between China and Ghana is not new. Diplomatic relations between Ghana and China were established in 1960. Over the decades that followed, cooperation expanded beyond formal ties to everyday engagements across education, trade, and industry," the vice president noted.

The historical relationship, shaped by diplomacy, trade, technical cooperation, and the everyday interactions of people who live and work side by side today, places a responsibility on both sides, she said.

According to Opoku-Agyemang, partnerships that endure are built on clarity of purpose, mutual accountability, and the willingness to learn from what has worked and what has not, to continuously deepen future cooperation based on mutual interests and mutual respect.

She said Ghana is determined to deepen its cooperation with China through transparency, fairness, and values that align with mutual development priorities.

"May the year ahead be marked not only by goodwill and celebration but also by results we can point to, including stronger institutions, more resilient infrastructure, and shared prosperity grounded in responsibility on both sides," Opoku-Agyemang added.

The vice president also lauded Sunon Asogli for nearly two decades of contributions to Ghana's power sector, supplying a substantial share of electricity and enhancing grid reliability during periods of stress.

Wang Jinxiao, chairman of Sunon Asogli, commended the Ghanaian government for creating an enabling investment environment and the support that has helped the company to continue operating in the country.

Wang also announced the company's plans to expand into renewable energy, including solar and wind projects, and to introduce electric vehicles to support Ghana's energy transition agenda. 

A Ghanaian traditional dance performance is staged during a gala marking the Chinese New Year in Tema, Greater Accra Region, Ghana, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

A face-changing show is staged during a gala marking the Chinese New Year in Tema, Greater Accra Region, Ghana, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)
Four Republican US lawmakers have urged President Trump to direct the Justice Department to reopen the criminal investigation into Cuban leader Raul Castro's alleged role in the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft. The incident, carried out by Cuban military jets, resulted in the deaths of three American citizens and one US permanent resident. The lawmakers' letter calls for pursuing charges and international arrest notices against Castro and other officials, citing clear evidence and command responsibility. They mark the upcoming 30th anniversary of the attack, demanding an end to impunity for the regime.

Republican lawmakers call for DOJ to reopen case into Raul Castro's alleged role in 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue planes.

Washington, Feb 18 Four Republican lawmakers have urged President Donald Trump to direct the Justice Department to reopen a criminal probe into Cuban leader Raul Castro's alleged role in the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue, calling for possible charges and international arrest notices.

Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar joined Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez and Nicole Malliotakis in sending a letter to the President seeking a fresh review of the case. The letter asks the Department of Justice to "formally reopen the criminal investigation into Raul Castro's role" in the incident and to consider pursuing charges, including potential Interpol "red notices," against Castro and other Cuban officials involved.

The lawmakers asked the Department to "review previously compiled evidence, take a fresh look at command responsibility at the highest levels of the Cuban regime, and use every available legal tool to hold accountable those responsible for the killing of three American citizens and one US permanent resident."

"For decades, Raul Castro and the regime officials who ordered this vile attack have hidden behind the protection of a brutal dictatorship, escaping justice while the families of the victims were left to carry the pain alone. Now we have a real chance to correct this historic injustice," Salazar said.

"We are calling on the Department of Justice to reopen the case, follow the evidence all the way to the top, and use every legal tool available, including international arrest notices, to hold those responsible for the murder of Americans accountable. This was a regime-sponsored military operation approved at the highest levels. The evidence is clear, the responsibility is undeniable, and the era of impunity must end."

"President Trump is a strong ally and a symbol of hope for the brave activists struggling for democracy, while also standing firm against the ruthless dictators that oppress them," Diaz-Balart said. He noted that February 24 "will mark thirty years since the heinous shootdown of two unarmed civilian aircraft in international waters by the Cuban military, under the command of then-Defence Minister Raul Castro."

Gimenez said, "The evidence is overwhelming, the chain of command is clear, and responsibility leads directly to Raul Castro." He added that "The time has come for the Department of Justice to act and hold Raul Castro accountable for the murder of innocent Americans."

"For thirty years, the Castro regime has gotten away with the cold-blooded murder of American citizens, and it is long past time to hold Raul Castro accountable for this heinous crime," Malliotakis said.

The letter was also copied to Attorney General Pam Bondi. The members commended the President's leadership in restoring security and justice to US foreign policy and underscored their belief that Raul Castro is responsible for the crime.

Brothers to the Rescue was a Miami-based humanitarian organization founded to locate and assist Cuban rafters fleeing the Castro dictatorship. On February 24, 1996, Cuban military MiG fighter jets shot down two unarmed civilian aircraft operated by the group over international waters in the Florida Straits, killing three American citizens and one US permanent resident.

- IANS
The United States and Mauritius will hold bilateral security talks from February 23-25 in Port Louis, centered on the future operation of the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia. The discussions follow a 2025 UK-Mauritius agreement transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while preserving the base under a leaseback. The US supports this arrangement but seeks to guarantee its long-term security interests and use of the strategically vital facility. Former President Donald Trump has asserted he would retain the right to militarily secure the base if future agreements ever threaten US operations.

US and Mauritius to hold talks on security cooperation and the future of the Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands from Feb 23-25.

Washington, Feb 18 The United States and Mauritius will hold bilateral discussions next week in Port Louis focused on security cooperation and the future operation of the military base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos archipelago, the US State Department said.

From February 23-25, the talks will be led by the Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs with participation from across the US interagency, according to a media note.

"These discussions underscore the continued importance of the Chagos archipelago and the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia to our national security," the statement said.

Officials said the discussions will centre on bilateral security cooperation and the "effective implementation of security arrangements for the base to ensure its long-term, secure operation."

The United States "supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago," the release said.

Washington also reaffirmed its interest in concluding a separate bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom "to guarantee continued use of basing and other facilities in the Chagos archipelago to advance US national security, as well as security and stability across the Indian Ocean."

The talks come amid a 2025 arrangement between London and Port Louis under which sovereignty of the Chagos Islands - long administered by Britain as the British Indian Ocean Territory - will transfer to Mauritius while preserving the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia under a leaseback provision.

Diego Garcia is a key logistics, air, and naval hub for US and allied forces. Its location in the central Indian Ocean gives the base strategic reach across the Middle East, South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region.

For India and other Indian Ocean littoral states, developments in the archipelago carry strategic weight. The Indian Ocean hosts critical sea lanes of communication linking Asia, Africa and Europe, and remains central to maritime security calculations.

Mauritius has long asserted sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, arguing that the territory was unlawfully separated from it by Britain before independence in 1968. International legal bodies have weighed in on the dispute, adding diplomatic pressure that ultimately led to negotiations between London and Port Louis.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump said he had held "very productive discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the Island of Diego Garcia," describing it as "the site of a major US Military Base, strategically situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean and, therefore, of great importance to the National Security of the United States."

Trump added that he understood the UK-Mauritius arrangement "was the best he could make," but warned that "if the lease deal, sometime in the future, ever falls apart, or anyone threatens or endangers US operations and forces at our base, I retain the right to militarily secure and reinforce the American presence in Diego Garcia."

- IANS
US Senators have written to the State Department urging the prioritization of a QUAD leaders' summit involving the US, Australia, India, and Japan. They argue the summit should be held before President Trump's planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April. The letter states such a move would demonstrate unity and provide Trump with greater leverage ahead of the Beijing visit. It highlights shared challenges among QUAD nations, including supply chain vulnerabilities and regional coercion by China.

US Senators urge the Trump administration to schedule a QUAD leaders' summit ahead of President Trump's planned meeting with China's Xi Jinping in April.

Washington DC, February 18 US Senator Tim Kaine and Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts have urged the Trump administration to prioritise the meeting between QUAD leaders ahead of US President Donald Trump's planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April later this year.

In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio dated February 13, the Senators said, "We write to encourage the Trump Administration to prioritize scheduling the next iteration of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan. At this pivotal moment of intense strategic competition with the People's Republic of China, convening a Quad Leaders' Summit would send a clear signal of unity, resolve, and strategic coherence among leading Indo-Pacific democracies. We stand ready to work with the Trump Administration to bolster this crucial partnership."

The letter underscored the timing and sequencing as critical, highlighting that convening a Quad summit prior to President Trump's planned meeting with Xi Jinping in April would be a "decisive demonstration of U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific prior to the President's visit to Beijing."

The letter further said, "A successful Quad summit beforehand would, allow President Trump to engage from a position of greater leverage. The Quad partners are well-positioned to act collectively. President Trump's recent successes advancing American interests in our bilateral relationships with Australia, India, and Japan have set the stage for revitalized collective action through the Quad. Australia and Japan have expanded cooperation on critical technologies and resilient supply chains while increasing defense investments--through reaffirmed AUKUS commitments and deeper extended-deterrence coordination. The Administration's announcement of a trade deal with India lays the groundwork to significantly deepen strategic and defense cooperation with India and across the Indo-Pacific."

The letter noted how all four Quad partners face shared challenges including supply chain vulnerabilities, restrictions on critical minerals, threats to a free and open Indo-Pacific, and intensifying competition over emerging technologies.

"China has subjected Japan in particular to increased diplomatic pressure, military intimidation, and economic coercion that threatens regional stability and international norms. The Quad is uniquely positioned to address these challenges and advance many of the objectives outlined in President Trump's 2025 National Security Strategy building upon successes of previous Administrations, including strengthening allied deterrence, reducing strategic dependencies on adversaries, safeguarding technological leadership, and upholding freedom of navigation."

The Senators said that they looked forward to working to strengthen the Quad at this pivotal moment for US diplomacy and urged to prioritize organizing a Quad Leaders' Summit, and ensuing Foreign Minister and working group meetings.

"Doing so would reinforce American leadership, empower our closest partners, and ensure that future engagement with Beijing is grounded in unity, strength, and strategic foresight. We also welcome a briefing to discuss the Administration's vision and priorities for the Quad by March 13, 2026", the letter said.

- ANI
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav at Shri Khatu Shyam Dham in Vikasnagar, Dehradun. Addressing the gathering, he linked the state's development to public blessings and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. From his camp office, Dhami also virtually inaugurated the "Champawat Saras Corbett Festival-2026," aimed at celebrating local culture and boosting tourism. He outlined plans to establish Champawat as a hub for adventure sports like paragliding and rafting to generate youth employment.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attended a religious event in Dehradun and virtually inaugurated the Champawat Saras Corbett Festival-2026, promoting tourism.

Dehradun, February 18 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the programme organised on the occasion of the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav at Shri Khatu Shyam Dham in Vikasnagar, Dehradun, on Wednesday.

A major construction project for the Haripur Yamuna Ghat in Vikasnagar is underway.

Adressing the event, Dhami highlighted the large gathering as evidence of people's devotion, emphasising that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership would propel Uttarakhand to new heights.

"Our presence here today in such large numbers shows our devotion. The work we are doing towards the state's development is all because of their blessings. I want to remind you all once again that, under PM Modi's vision and leadership, Uttarakhand will reach new heights of growth and development in this decade," he said.

Dhami virtually also inaugurated the "Champawat Saras Corbett Festival-2026" from the Chief Minister's Camp Office, Dehradun, on Wednesday, emphasising that he is confident that there is an atmosphere of enthusiasm and celebration in every household of Champawat these days.

On this occasion, he noted that Holi is approaching and that the Holi of Kali Kumaon holds a distinct place across the country due to its unique cultural identity. The remarkable blend of Baithki Holi, Khadi Holi, Chaufulla, rhythm, melody, and folk culture is rarely seen anywhere else in the country.

The Chief Minister said that the sacred land of Champawat has been a heritage center of history, spirituality, and culture. According to him, the "Champawat Saras Corbett Festival-2026" is not just a seven-day event but a vibrant celebration of the state's cultural pride, natural beauty, strength of women, enthusiasm of youth, and the vision of a self-reliant Uttarakhand. He informed that this year the festival is also being organised as a "Winter Corbett Festival," which will provide new momentum to winter tourism in the state.

The Chief Minister said that under the festival, the target has been set to establish Champawat on the national map of adventure tourism through activities like paragliding, mountain biking, hot air ballooning, river rafting, paramotoring, bird watching, and trekking. He expressed confidence that these efforts will create new opportunities for youth and generate employment at the local level.

- ANI
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually inaugurated the Champawat Saras Corbett Festival 2026, highlighting its role in celebrating the region's unique culture and natural beauty. The festival, also organized as a Winter Corbett Festival, aims to promote adventure tourism through activities like paragliding and trekking to create local employment. It will feature cultural programs, food festivals, and workshops to strengthen the 'Vocal for Local' initiative and connect local products to global markets. The CM also outlined ongoing development projects in Champawat, including temple renovations and tourism infrastructure like the Sharda Corridor.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurates the Champawat Saras Corbett Festival 2026, aiming to boost winter tourism, adventure sports, and local culture.

Dehradun, February 18 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually inaugurated 'Champawat Saras Corbett Festival-2026' from the Chief Minister's Camp Office, Dehradun on Wednesday, stating that he is confident that there is an atmosphere of enthusiasm and celebration in every household of Champawat these days.

On this occasion, he noted that Holi is approaching and that the Holi of Kali Kumaon holds a distinct place across the country due to its unique cultural identity. The remarkable blend of Baithki Holi, Khadi Holi, Chaufulla, rhythm, melody, and folk culture is rarely seen anywhere else in the country, a release said.

The Chief Minister said that the sacred land of Champawat has been a heritage center of history, spirituality, and culture. According to him, the "Champawat Saras Corbett Festival-2026" is not just a seven-day event but a vibrant celebration of the state's cultural pride, natural beauty, strength of women, enthusiasm of youth, and the vision of a self-reliant Uttarakhand. He informed that this year the festival is also being organized as a "Winter Corbett Festival," which will provide new momentum to winter tourism in the state.

The Chief Minister said that under the festival, the target has been set to establish Champawat on the national map of adventure tourism through activities like paragliding, mountain biking, hot air ballooning, river rafting, paramotoring, bird watching, and trekking. He expressed confidence that these efforts will create new opportunities for youth and generate employment at the local level.

Dhami said that Jim Corbett and his stories are famous across the world. Through his autobiographies, the Champawat-Lohaghat region gained global recognition among wildlife lovers and tiger enthusiasts. In 1907, by eliminating the infamous man-eating tigress in the Champawat region, he saved hundreds of lives and later inspired wildlife conservation. The Chief Minister said that this is why the region is still considered a unique center of courage, history, and love for nature.

The Chief Minister said that Madhubani painting and modern art workshops, quiz competitions, science exhibitions, folk cultural programs, and awareness workshops will give the festival a multi-dimensional character. Along with this, the food festival will give a new identity to traditional cuisines. This combination of local products and dishes will not only introduce the new generation to their food culture but will also help increase the income of local producers. He said that the event will strengthen the spirit of "Vocal for Local" and pave the way for "Local for Global."

The Chief Minister said that continuous work is being done on several development projects with the objective of making Champawat an ideal and best district. He informed that a 50-bed Critical Care Block is being constructed in the district hospital at a cost of 20 crore. Along with the construction and strengthening of various motor roads, multi-storey parking facilities are also being developed to address traffic congestion.

Adressing the event, Dhami highlighted the Saras Corbett Festival's role in promoting wildlife and tiger conservation in the Champawat and Lohaghat regions.

"Through this, the Champawat and Lohaghat region has been able to establish a unique identity for wildlife and tiger lovers globally... I am confident that through activities like this, events like this, and festivals like Saras Corbett, our youth will find numerous livelihood opportunities. Numerous employment opportunities will be available. Our self-help group sisters will also receive numerous opportunities. These opportunities will become a source of employment at the local level," he said.

The Chief Minister said that under the Manaskhand Temple Mala Mission, development work of Devi Dhura Varahi Temple is being carried out, and a ropeway is under construction for Maa Purnagiri Temple at an estimated cost of about 45 crore. To promote tourism, work is being done towards the construction of the Sharda Corridor, under which the Sharda Riverfront will be developed from Tanakpur to Banbasa. This corridor will connect major religious and tourist destinations such as Maa Purnagiri Dham, Chuka, Shyamlatal, and Sharda Ghat.

The Chief Minister informed that for the convenience of travellers, a wayside amenities center has been constructed in Champawat, and work is also underway to develop the Chuka region as a wedding destination. A Primary Health Centre has been constructed in Amodi, and a House of Himalaya marketing center has been established there. Along with reconstruction and blacktopping of the Sukhidhang-Dadaminor motor road, a span arch bridge has been constructed between Hanumangarhi and Khetkheda.

The Chief Minister said that on the Tanakpur-Jauljibi route, a span arch bridge is being constructed at a cost of about Rs 55 crore, and road improvement work worth Rs 33 crore is also underway. A dry port is being constructed at a cost of Rs 177 crore on the India-Nepal border, which will strengthen the regional economy. To promote science and innovation, a Science Centre is also under construction at a cost of Rs 57 crore.

The Chief Minister said that the list of development works is very extensive and it is not possible to mention all of them, but he will not rest until his resolve to make Champawat an ideal district is fulfilled. He said that along with development, the state government is committed to protecting the state's identity, culture, and social balance. With the unwavering resolve of "Development as well as Heritage," the government is dedicated to making Uttarakhand the best state in the country.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the cooperation and support of the people of Champawat will play an important role in fulfilling this vision.

- ANI
Uttarakhand has surpassed 1 gigawatt of installed solar power capacity, a key milestone in its renewable energy push. The capacity includes ground-mounted projects, rooftop installations, and solar pumps across various sectors. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami linked the achievement to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's renewable energy vision and self-reliance goals. The state plans further expansion to reduce emissions, enhance energy security, and create local employment.

Uttarakhand achieves over 1 GW of installed solar capacity, driven by state and central schemes, creating jobs and advancing renewable energy goals.

Dehradun, Feb 18 Uttarakhand has crossed the milestone of 1 gigawatt of installed solar power capacity, marking a significant step in the state's push towards renewable energy and sustainable development.

According to official figures, the total installed solar capacity in the state has reached about 1,027.87 megawatts, reflecting steady progress in expanding clean energy infrastructure.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the achievement aligns with the renewable energy vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the broader goal of building an "Atmanirbhar Bharat" through green energy initiatives. He noted that coordinated efforts between Central schemes and state programmes have helped generate self-employment opportunities for youth and local entrepreneurs.

Officials said the milestone has been achieved through a mix of grid-connected rooftop systems, ground-mounted solar plants, installations on government buildings, solar pumps for agriculture, and projects in the commercial and industrial sectors.

Of the total installed capacity, about 397 MW comes from ground-mounted projects, 241 MW from rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, 137 MW under the Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme, and 110 MW through commercial net metering. Additional contributions include 51 MW from captive solar plants, 37 MW from canal-top and canal-bank projects, and 26 MW installed on government buildings.

Work is also underway on additional projects, including over 100 MW under the Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme, 30 MW of captive solar capacity and 13.5 MW on government facilities.

The Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency has played a key role in implementing solar projects across the state, particularly in remote and mountainous areas, through technical support, awareness campaigns and execution of government schemes.

Officials said supportive policies, subsidies, simplified approval procedures and incentives for private investment have helped accelerate solar adoption in the state. The expansion of solar capacity is expected to reduce carbon emissions, strengthen energy security and generate local employment.

The state government aims to further increase solar installations, expand access in remote regions and enhance public participation in clean energy initiatives.

- IANS
Vikrant Massey shares adorable pictures celebrating his wedding anniversary with wife Sheetal Thakur and reflects on his career and National Award win.

Mumbai Fe, b 18 Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey on the 18th of February, marked his wedding anniversary with wife Sheetal Thakur by calling her as his 'A1 from Day 1'. The actor also shared a series of heartwarming pictures on his social media account.

Talking about the carousel post featuring Vikrant and Sheetal's happy moments from their beautiful journey together, the first picture captures the couple from their wedding ceremony, dressed in traditional attire, holding hands.



Another sun-kissed picture shows them smiling at each other lovingly. A family picture features the couple with their little baby boy, smiling ear to ear. Another picture shows the couple proudly looking at Vikrant's recent National Award win.



Vikrant, sharing the stunning pictures, captioned it as, "Happy Anniversary my A1 from Day 1", with a heart emoticon.



For the uninitiated, Vikrant and Sheetal dated for several years before tying the knot in 2022 in a private ceremony.



On the professional front, Vikrant had kickstarted his career on television and gained recognition with an important role in the superhit show Balika Vadhu, as Shyam. He also appeared in shows like Qubool Hai and Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo.



Later, the actor forayed into Bollywood, and featured in projects such as Lootera, Dil Dhadakne Do, Chhapaak, Haseen Dillruba and many others. The actor received widespread acclaim for his impeccable performance in the hit movie 12th Fail, which emerged as a career-defining film for him.



Vikrant also went on to win the National Award for his performance in 12th Fail.



Recently, Vikrant was in news for letting go off his remuneration for a cameo yet important appearance in the recently released 'O'Romeo' directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. In fact, Vikrant did the film to keep a vow he made to director Vishal Bhardwaj.



Speaking about Vikrant Massey, Vishal Bhardwaj earlier had shared that Vikrant had committed to O'Romeo years ago when he was still an emerging talent.



Despite becoming a major star after '12th Fail', Vikrant honoured that promise when approached again, choosing to do the role free of cost.



The actor told Vishal Bhardwaj that watching 'Maqbool' inspired him to enter the film industry and changed his life forever, making this special appearance his way of paying tribute. Vikrant shot for nearly 8-9 days, delivering a powerful performance that adds significant weight to the narrative.





- IANS
Walton Goggins and Chloe Grace Moretz are set to star in the upcoming action-comedy 'Mister' from Thunder Road Films. Goggins plays a man who discovers his violent past and must team up with his estranged daughter, played by Moretz, to survive contract killers. The film marks the directorial debut of stunt coordinator and second unit director Wade Eastwood. Producers promise ambitious action sequences and a mix of heart and humor from the lead duo.

Walton Goggins and Chloe Grace Moretz lead 'Mister,' an action-comedy about a father and daughter fighting to survive. Coming soon.

Los Angeles, Feb 18 Hollywood actor Walton Goggins is joining forces with Chloe Grace Moretz for the upcoming action-comedy 'Mister'.

The 54-year-old actor and the actress, 29, will lead Thunder Road's upcoming movie, reports 'Female First UK'.



Before Walton Goggins boarded 'Mister', Josh Brolin had been attached to the action film, but had to exit the project due to scheduling conflicts.



As per Deadline, 'Mister' "follows a man (Goggins) who wakes up in a strange house covered in blood and comes to realize his true identity while fighting off contract killers from his past - including everyone from his exes to his best friend. To get out, he teams up with his estranged daughter (Moretz) who also has ended up in the family business, but they will need to repair their relationship in order to survive".



In a statement, producer Basil Iwanyk said, "Walton and Chloe are the perfect pairing to capture Mister's heart and humour, while delivering some of the most ambitious and wildly entertaining action sequences audiences will see on screen this year".



As per 'Female First UK', 'Mister' will mark the directorial debut of Wade Eastwood, who previously worked on 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning', and 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout'.



The filmmaker said in a statement, "From our first conversations, I knew Walton would bring an unpredictable spark you simply can't manufacture, he's electric. Chloe brings an incredible mix of strength, vulnerability and razor-sharp timing. Together, they make Mister exactly what we set out to create: bold, funny and completely full-throttle".



Iwanyk and Erica Lee will produce the through Thunder Road. Walton Goggins could recently be seen in Amazon Prime Video's second season of 'Fallout', which is based on Bethesda Softworks' post-apocalyptic survival video game franchise of the same name.



The show follows Lucy (played by Ella Purnell), Maximus (played by Aaron Moten) and The Ghoul (played by Walton Goggins) as they battle to survive a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles.





- IANS
Galgotias University has issued a clarification stating it did not develop the "Orion" RoboDog displayed at an AI summit, but purchased it for student research purposes. Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur attributed the controversy to a confusion between the words "develop" and "development." Professor Neha Singh, seen in a viral video with the robot, also stated the university never claimed it as their own invention. The university faced criticism and was asked to vacate its expo stall after allegations it presented a Chinese-made robot as its own.

University clarifies it purchased the "Orion" RoboDog for student research, amid controversy over claims it was presented as a university-developed invention.

Noida, February 18 Galgotias University Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur on Wednesday issued a clarification amid growing controversy over the display of a "Chinese" RoboDog at the AI Impact Summit.

Speaking to ANI, Gaur explained that the confusion stemmed from the use of the words "develop" and "development." He clarified that the university did not develop the robot but had worked on its development for academic and research purposes.

"This is a jumble of two words, develop, and development. We didn't develop it. We worked on its development... We want to bring them, just like that robot was brought, and an effort was made to get students to do research on it," Gaur said.

Addressing a viral video in which Professor Neha Singh introduced the RoboDog as "Orion" during the AI expo, Gaur suggested there may have been a misunderstanding in the wording. He reiterated that the robot was purchased to support student research.

"I can say that perhaps she (Professor Neha) might have been confused by the words "develop" and "development" in the flow. But the truth is that we bought this robot for children's research... If China is making the claim, then maybe it (robodog) could be bought from China... I haven't received any such official communication yet (on vacating the expo)," said Gaur.

Meanwhile, Galgotias University's Professor Neha Singh, who was seen in a viral video introducing the RoboDog as 'Orion' and explaining it at the AI expo, claimed that she had never sought to present the RoboDog as the University's own.

"We have never claimed that it is ours, Indian, or Galgotian. Its main branding is still on it. The robot that had come for a particular task has gone there for the children's study, for the children's research and development. Our center, our campus -- it has gone into the children's lab. It was here for two days for projection; the projection has been completed," Professor Neha Singh told ANI.

Addressing the viral video, Singh claimed that due to one "misinterpretation", the whole controversy has got wings. She also clarified that she is a faculty member in communications at School of Management and not teaching AI.

"By one misinterpretation, the internet has gone by storm. It might be that I could not convey well what I wanted to say, or it was misunderstood. I am a faculty member in communications at the School of Management, not in AI. Only you (the media) have heard what the government has said. As far as I know, we are here at the expo. As a university, we are standing tall. The robot was brought here only for projection," Professor Neha Singh told reporters.

Earlier, the authorities had asked Galgotias University to vacate the AI Impact Summit Expo following allegations that the institution presented a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own invention, sources said.

The University faced severe online and offline criticism after a robot allegedly manufactured by a Chinese company was seen at the University display stall. Earlier, amid rising heat over the controversy, the institution issued an official clarification, expressing concern about "propaganda" against the university.

The University said that robotic programming is part of its endeavour to teach students to build AI applications, enabling them to develop and deploy real-world skills using globally available tools and resources.

"We at Galgotias, faculty and students, are deeply pained by the propaganda campaign against our university. We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop & deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is need of an hour," the statement said.

The institution said its vision focuses on student learning and innovation, providing students with access to modern technologies to gain practical experience and prepare for the future.

"Our university's vision is focused on student learning & innovation and we provide students with access to modern technologies so they can gain practical experience and prepare for the future. Spreading negativity can harm the morale of students, who are working hard to innovate, learn, and build their skills using global technologies," said the statement.

The India AI Impact Summit is a five-day programme anchored in three foundational pillars, or "Sutras": People, Planet, and Progress. Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.

- ANI
The Rajasthan government has announced that work on a major project to bring Yamuna water to the Shekhawati region will begin in the 2026-27 financial year. A historic MoU has been signed with Haryana, and a joint Detailed Project Report is being prepared. With a budget provision of 32,000 crore, the project aims to solve the persistent drinking water scarcity in Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Churu districts. It is expected to significantly improve the social, economic, and health standards in this culturally rich but arid region.

Rajasthan Minister announces a 32,000 crore project to bring Yamuna water to the arid Shekhawati region, solving a 30-year-old water crisis.

Jaipur, Feb 19 Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat stated that the Rajasthan government is fully committed to bringing Yamuna water from the Hathinikund Barrage to the Shekhawati region.

This initiative, led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and supported by the Central Government, has reached a historic milestone with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Haryana, ensuring Rajasthan's share of water.

Minister Rawat explained that, under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MoU between Rajasthan and Haryana was signed on February 17, 2024, under the chairmanship of the Union Jal Shakti Minister, to prepare a joint Detailed Project Report (DPR). A joint task force has also been formed by both states. Haryana' written approval has been received for the alignment suggested by the consultants appointed by the task force.

The joint DPR will soon be submitted to the Central Water Commission. After obtaining the necessary approvals from various departments, work on the project will commence in the 2026-27 financial year.

A provision of Rs 32,000 crore has been made in the state budget for this long-awaited project.

Minister Rawat emphasised that the project is crucial for meeting the 30-year-old drinking water and other requirements of Sikar, Churu, Jhunjhunu, and surrounding areas. It is expected to significantly improve social, educational, economic, and health standards in the region.

To ensure year-round availability of Yamuna water, the project proposes constructing three dams in the Yamuna basin above Hathinikund Barrage. Construction on two of these dams -- Renukaji and Lakhwar -- is already underway.

Shekhawati region of Rajasthan comprises the districts of Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu.

The semi-arid region is known for its painted havelis, strong trading communities and a long tradition of migration to metropolitan cities and abroad.

Despite its cultural prominence, Shekhawati has faced persistent drinking water scarcity due to low rainfall and depleting groundwater levels.

Large parts of the region depend on tanker supply and groundwater extraction.

Agriculture remains largely rain-fed, with farmers vulnerable to drought cycles.

Over the years, demand for a reliable surface water source, including Yamuna water, has remained a key public issue in the region.

- IANS
A vendor waits for customers ahead of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 15, 2026. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

KABUL, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Running a small shop in a newly constructed dusty market to earn a livelihood, Mohammad Reza, 35, lamented that the U.S. sanctions, poverty and persistent increase of prices of basic needs have shrunk the purchasing power and left him and his family cash-strapped ahead of Ramadan.

The Muslim holy month Ramadan is getting closer by each passing day, and the people of Afghanistan, like Muslims across the globe, are buying basic needs, including confectionery, dates, jam and other foodstuffs to welcome the fasting month.

During the month of Ramadan, which lasts 28, 29 or 30 days in the lunar calendar, depending on the month sighting, the faithful Muslims observe fast and do not eat or drink from dawn to dusk. In Afghanistan, Ramadan might begin on Wednesday or Thursday, depending on moon sight.

"To be frank, I am facing extreme economic problems. Contrary to other Muslim countries, the prices of foodstuffs and other essential items go up in Ramadan here," Reza told Xinhua.

Reza, the breadwinner of the five-member family, also claimed that ordinary people cannot buy what they need to welcome Ramadan, because the prices are beyond the reach of the people.

"The prices of everything, including cooking oil and rice, have gone up," Reza said, noting that a sack of 21 kg rice cost 2,900 afghani (46 U.S. dollars) to 3,000 afghani three months ago; currently it costs 4,000 afghani to 4,500 afghani.

The majority of the people in post-war Afghanistan have been facing extreme economic hardships, mostly due to the U.S.-slapped sanctions, a high rate of unemployment and poverty, many Afghans believe.

According to a UN report, around 17.4 million people, over one-third of the post-war country's population, could experience severe food insecurity in 2026, which indicates a crisis level of food insecurity in Afghanistan.

Blaming the reported U.S. sanctions as the main reason for poverty and economic problems in his war-torn country, Reza said that the sanctions have smashed the country's economy. "Otherwise, our economy might have improved."

Another Kabul resident, Safiullah Rahimi, also lashed out at U.S. sanctions and their impact on the prices of basic needs in Afghanistan.

"The American sanctions have spoiled the labor market and eventually undermined our income and even affected the cost of peas in the bazaar," Rahimi said. 

A vendor waits for customers ahead of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 15, 2026. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

Street vendors wait for customers ahead of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 15, 2026. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a special dinner and cultural programme for global leaders attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam. The evening featured vibrant classical music and dance performances, showcasing India's diverse cultural heritage. The event was attended by over 20 heads of state and tech luminaries, blending discussions on artificial intelligence with a celebration of tradition. The summit underscores India's role in promoting ethical AI and fostering global cooperation on digital transformation.

PM Modi and world leaders enjoy a vibrant cultural showcase at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 dinner, blending heritage with tech discussions.

New Delhi, February 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and global leaders attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026 immersed themselves in a vibrant display of India's rich cultural traditions during a special dinner and cultural programme at Bharat Mandapam on Wednesday.

The event, blending classical music and dynamic dance performances, highlighted the nation's diverse heritage amid discussions on the future of artificial intelligence.

In a post on X, PM Modi shared glimpses of the evening, captioning one: "With world leaders at the AI Impact Summit dinner and cultural programme."

Another post emphasised the cultural showcase: "The cultural programme at Bharat Mandapam showcased India's rich heritage and traditions!"

The photos accompanying the posts capture the essence of the programme. In one set, PM Modi, dressed in a traditional white kurta and blue vest, is seen engaging with performers and fellow leaders.

A notable image shows a group of musicians seated on a white platform, playing instruments such as the harmonium and tabla, while world leaders stand attentively nearby in a modern hall with wave-like ceiling designs and a colourful carpet.

Other images depict the audience seated at elegantly decorated tables lined with white floral arrangements and water bottles, watching intently as dancers take the stage. The performances feature artists in vivid green, red, orange, and gold costumes, posing gracefully against backdrops evoking nature and the cosmos--complete with elements such as elephants, peacocks, cows, and planetary motifs.

One photo highlights three female dancers in green attire with intricate jewellery, striking, expressive poses on a flower-lined stage. Larger group dances feature performers holding plants or raising arms in synchronised formations, set against dramatic lighting and mist effects, symbolising unity and vitality.

The cultural evening served as a highlight of the summit, which brought together over 20 heads of state, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, alongside tech luminaries like Google CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI's Sam Altman.

Hosted at Bharat Mandapam, the programme underscored India's role in promoting ethical AI while celebrating its ancient traditions.

Earlier, PM Modi warmly welcomed several world leaders at Bharat Mandapam, as the global leaders in tech and policymaking on Artificial Intelligence (AI) converged in the national capital for the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026.

Among the dignitaries received were Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, President of Spain; Peter Pellegrini, President of the Slovak Republic; Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan; Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland; Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka; and Alar Karis, President of Estonia.

Prime Minister Modi also welcomed Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius; Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Sebastien Pillay, Vice President of Seychelles; Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece; and Andrej Plenkovic, Prime Minister of Croatia.

Global institutions were represented by Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, as well as Vice Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana and Edmand Lara Montano of Bolivia.

The series of high-level welcomes at Bharat Mandapam highlighted India's leadership in promoting global cooperation on artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital transformation. Leaders attending the summit are expected to discuss AI-driven solutions, economic growth, sustainable development, and technology partnerships.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 brings together nations and international institutions, reflecting India's focus on multilateral collaboration and the use of AI to address global challenges and unlock new opportunities for shared growth.

India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet and Progress.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday.

- ANI
Sidharth Malhotra is mourning the loss of his father, Sunil Malhotra, a former Merchant Navy captain. Sidharth shared a moving tribute describing his father as a man of honesty, integrity, and quiet strength. His wife, Kiara Advani, posted an emotional note recalling how Sunil welcomed her with unconditional love and was the family's grounding force. Colleagues like Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt have offered their condolences to the grieving family.

Kiara Advani pens emotional note for father-in-law Sunil Malhotra. Sidharth Malhotra shares tribute. Industry offers condolences.

New Delhi, February 18 Grief has enveloped the Malhotra family as actor Sidharth Malhotra mourns the loss of his father, Sunil Malhotra. The family's loss has drawn heartfelt tributes, including an emotional note from his wife, Kiara Advani.

Following the demise of Sunil Malhotra, a former Merchant Navy captain, Sidharth shared a moving message remembering his father as a man defined by values and quiet resilience. In his note, the actor described him as "a man of rare honesty, integrity and culture," adding that he lived by "values that never bent. Discipline without harshness. Strength without ego. Positivity, even when life tested him beyond measure."



The tribute reflected the deep bond the two shared. Over the years, Sidharth has often spoken publicly about his admiration for his father, crediting him as a constant source of inspiration and guidance in both life and career.



Actor Kiara also penned a heartfelt message remembering her father-in-law with love and gratitude. "From the very beginning- you welcomed me with open arms, steady wisdom, and a kind of unconditional love that grounded us all," she captioned the post.



Remembering his warmth and generosity, Kiara added that his love for his family was "at the center of everything" he did. She wrote about his quiet strength, gentle heart, and the legacy of "gentleness, integrity, and deep, unwavering love" he leaves behind.



Friends and colleagues from the film industry also sent condolences to the family.



Priyanka Chopra wrote, "So sorry Sid. My condolences"



Soni Razdan wrote, "This is so sad - so sorry for your loss. Losing a father is really hard. Take care of your mom and yourself."



Alia Bhatt also left a heart emoticon in the comments section.



The loss comes during a significant personal year for the couple, who welcomed their daughter, Saraayah Malhotra, in July 2025.





- ANI
Zendaya reveals the off-camera behaviors that serve as her litmus test for a person's character, emphasizing kindness to film crews and treatment of animals. She reflects on how these qualities drew her to her fiance, Tom Holland, highlighting the importance of authenticity when cameras aren't rolling. The actress notes that relationships are complex, with people being layered and capable of growth over time. Despite their public profiles, the couple has kept their romance largely private since going public in 2021.

Zendaya shares her litmus test for character, revealing how Tom Holland's kindness to crew and love for animals won her over. Get her relationship insights.

Washington, February 18 One year after announcing her engagement to Tom Holland, Zendaya has shared candid insights into what she considers relationship red flags, and the simple test she believes reveals a person's true character.

Reflecting on her own relationship, the 'Euphoria' actress said she did not have to look far to realise Holland was right for her, as per E! News.

"One that works for us at work is how people treat their crews," Zendaya explained, adding, "I admire people who are kind to everyone, not just the actors, directors, or producers. A very telling thing is how a crew feels about a particular actor, because they get to see how people are when the cameras are not rolling," quoted E! News.

For the actress, behaviour off-camera offers a revealing glimpse into someone's character, especially in an industry where public personas can often differ from private conduct.

She also described what's her personal litmus test: how someone treats animals.

"I would get into a fight over my dog, for sure," Zendaya said, adding, "Dogs are a good judge of character."

Zendaya also added that relationships are rarely black and white. "People are layered and complex and they make mistakes," she noted, pointing out that cultural differences and personal growth can shape behaviour over time.

"There are cultural differences. But there are also things that are just kind of, 'Well, that's rude. That's mean.' And there's also the opposite," she said, as quoted by E! News.

Zendaya and Holland, who made their relationship public in 2021 after co-starring in the 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' franchise, have largely kept their romance private. Still, she has occasionally shared what drew her to him.

In an earlier interview, Zendaya praised Holland's natural charisma. "I'm more shy and kind of quiet, so it takes a little bit more to pull me out of my shell," she said, adding, "But he's great at just talking to people and getting to know people," quoted E! News.

- ANI
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ABUJA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 38 people have been killed and many others injured following a gas explosion at a lead mining site in central Nigeria's Plateau State, local officials said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning at a site operated by Solid Mining Company in the Zurak community of Wase Local Government Area, affecting mainly miners working underground.

Preliminary reports showed that an accumulation of toxic gases, believed to be carbon monoxide, triggered the explosion in underground tunnels during peak operations.

Local tribal authorities described the scene as "catastrophic." Aliyu Adamu Idris, the acting district head, told local media that most of the victims were young men aged 20 to 35.

"It is a dark day for our community. We have lost 38 of our energetic youths to this tragedy, leaving many families in mourning," Idris said.

Alfred Alabo, police spokesperson in Plateau, said security personnel had been deployed to cordon off the site while authorities finalize a detailed briefing on the incident.

Local media, citing medical sources, reported that about 27 people are receiving treatment for severe respiratory distress, with most survivors suffering from acute inhalation of toxic fumes. 
More than a century ago, Pavlov trained his dog to associate the sound of a bell with food. Ever since, scientists assumed the dog learned this through repetition: The more times the dog heard the bell and then got fed, the better it learned that the sound meant food would soon follow.

Now, scientists at UC San Francisco are upending this 100-year-old assumption about associative learning. The new theory asserts that it depends less on how many times something happens and more on how much time passes between rewards.

"It turns out that the time between these cue-reward pairings helps the brain determine how much to learn from that experience," said Vijay Mohan K. Namboobidiri, PhD, an associate professor of Neurology and senior author of the study, published Feb. 12 in Nature Neuroscience.

When the experiences happen closer together, the brain learns less from each instance, Namboodiri said, adding that this could explain why students who cram for exams don't do as well as those who studied throughout the semester.

Learning the cues

Scientists have traditionally thought of associative learning as a process of trial and error. Once the brain has detected that certain cues might lead to rewards, it begins to predict them. Scientists have postulated that at first the brain only releases dopamine when a reward like tasty food arrives.

But if the reward arrives often enough, the brain begins to anticipate it with a release of dopamine as soon as it gets the cue. The dopamine hit refines the brain's prediction, the theory goes, strengthening the link with the cue if the reward arrives - or weakening it if the reward fails to appear.

Namboodiri and postdoctoral scholar Dennis Burke, PhD, trained mice to associate a brief sound with getting sugar-sweetened water, varying the time between trials. They spaced the trials 30 to 60 seconds apart for some of the mice, and five to 10 minutes apart, or more, for others. The result was that the mice whose trials were closer together received many more rewards than those who trials were spaced farther apart in the same amount of time.

If associative learning depended only on repetition, the mice with more trials should have learned faster. Instead, the mice that got very few rewards learned the same amount as those that got 20 times more trials over the same amount of time.

What this tells us is that associative learning is less 'practice makes perfect' and more 'timing is everything.'" Dennis Burke, PhD, first author of the study

Namboodiri and Burke then looked at what dopamine was doing in the mouse brain.

When the rewards were spaced further apart, the mice needed fewer repetitions before their brains began to respond to the sound with dopamine.

Then, the researchers tried a different variation. They repeatedly played the sound - spacing the cues 60 seconds apart - but only gave the mice sugar water 10% of the time. These mice needed far fewer rewards before they began releasing dopamine after the cue, regardless of whether it was followed by a reward.

More rapid learning

The findings could shift the way we look at learning and addiction. Smoking, for example, is intermittent and can involve cues - like the sight or smell of cigarettes - that increase the urge to smoke. Because a nicotine patch delivers nicotine constantly, it may disrupt the brain's association between nicotine and the resulting dopamine reward, blunting the urge to smoke and making it easier to quit.

Next, Namboodiri plans to investigate how his new theory could speed up artificial intelligence. Current AI systems learn quite slowly, because they are based on the prevailing model of associative learning, making small refinements after every interaction between billions of data points.

"A model that borrows from what we've discovered could potentially learn more quickly from fewer experiences," Namboodiri said. "For the moment, though, our brains can learn a lot faster than our machines and this study helps explain why."
Oral cancers with a high risk of recurrence can be identified at an early stage by examining the lymphatic vessels of the tumor. Finnish researchers have discovered for the first time that the surface cells of the lymphatic vessels in oral cancer contain proteins that indicate cell division and strongly predict disease progression and mortality.

Oral cancers are the most common malignant tumors in the head and neck region, causing more than 188,000 deaths worldwide each year. Unlike in many other cancers, even small and early-stage tumors in oral cancer can lead to death. In Finland, where the study was conducted, up to a fifth of patients treated in the early stages later die from the disease.

The research team from the University of Turku and the InFLAMES research flagship used early-stage oral cancer samples collected from approximately 300 Finnish patients to study the properties of various defence and structural cells found in the tumor tissue. By studying multiple different protein markers, the researchers made the surprising discovery that some tumors showed a higher number of proliferating lymphatic vessels than normal. The high number of proliferating lymphatic vessels predicted cancer recurrence and death better than any other previously known risk factor for oral cancer.



Lymphatic vessels are normally present in the mouth, but in a healthy oral cavity, their cells rarely divide and marker proteins indicating this process are not usually seen.

It is crucial to identify aggressive forms of the disease at the diagnostic stage to ensure that the increased risk of cancer recurrence and death can be addressed when planning the treatment. Currently, local oral cancer treatment mainly involves surgery, and there are no precise methods for targeting adjuvant therapies. We need biomarkers so that we can treat high-risk patients more effectively and avoid exposing patients with a better prognosis to the potentially serious adverse effects of adjuvant therapies." Joni Nasiaho, lead author of the study, Doctoral Researcher at the University of Turku and physician specializing in oncology

"We are excited about the results and believe that the findings could also be applied as a practical tool for clinical use. Furthermore, it would be interesting to find out whether the marker we discovered has a similar predictive value in other cancer groups," says Nasiaho.



The study was published in the prestigious medical journal Cell Reports Medicine. The work was funded by the Research Council of Finland, the Cancer Foundation Finland, and the Finnish Government research funding, and was carried out at the MediCity Research Laboratory of the University of Turku in the group of Professor, InFLAMES group leader Marko Salmi. In addition, three ear, nose and throat specialists who treat and study oral cancer in the Turku University Hospital also participated in the study.
Genetic ancestry may play a key role in how acral melanoma, a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer, develops and behaves, with important implications for diagnosis and treatment, according to researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and their collaborators.

The team analyzed the genetic makeup of over 100 acral melanoma tumors from Mexican patients to understand how this cancer develops, including studying how ancestry influences tumor biology. They uncovered that acral melanoma varies, with three groups showing distinct gene expressions that are associated with different outcomes.

Published in Nature, the study provides one of the most comprehensive genetic studies of acral melanoma in a Latin American population to date. The findings highlight the importance of including diverse populations in cancer research and clinical trials to fully understand how cancers develop and respond to treatment.

How acral melanoma differs

Most melanomas, a type of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and are commonly studied in populations from European ancestries.

However, acral melanoma is a different subtype of skin cancer as it arises in parts of the body that are not exposed to sunlight, in particular the palms of hands, soles of feet and under the nails. Over 330,000 people were diagnosed with melanoma globally in 2022, but acral melanoma is considered a rare type, accounting for only about 13% of all melanoma cases diagnosed. However, in many cases, it represents the majority of the diagnosed cases in people with Indigenous American, Asian and African ancestry.

Despite the differences seen in acral melanoma, melanoma is often treated as a single disease based on knowledge from studies of UV-driven melanoma, despite growing evidence showing that acral melanoma behaves differently to UV-driven melanoma.

As a result, acral melanoma has been historically understudied, underrepresented in cancer genomic studies and lacks an approved specific targeted treatment. These gaps are particularly evident in Latin America, where national cancer registries are limited or absent.

Design of the Mexican patient study

In the new study, the researchers sought to understand what genetic changes underlie acral melanoma in Latin America, focusing on tumors from Mexican patients. The team analyzed 123 tumors from 92 Mexican patients diagnosed with acral melanoma by generating genomic data at the Sanger Institute. Using a combination of DNA sequencing and gene expression analysis, the researchers examined tumor mutations, large-scale genetic changes and patterns of gene activity.

They also looked at the genetic ancestry of patients, allowing them to directly study how ancestry relates to tumor DNA. This allowed the researchers to link the molecular structure of acral melanoma tumors with clinical outcomes, providing deep insight into how genetic background shapes the behavior of this type of cancer.

Genetic differences linked to ancestry

The researchers found that classic melanoma mutations were far less common overall in the acral melanoma tumors from Mexican patients. For example, the BRAF gene normally includes instructions to make the BRAF protein, which is involved in cell development pathways. A mutated version of BRAF is present in around half of UV-driven melanomas. However, in this cohort, patients with more European ancestry were more likely to carry BRAF mutations than those from Indigenous American ancestry.

By analyzing the gene activity across tumors, the researchers also identified three distinct clusters of acral melanoma that were associated with different outcomes. Firstly, tumors showing higher expression of immune-related genes were associated with better outcomes. Secondly, tumors that showed rapid cell growth and pigmentation pathwaysthe cellular processes that regulate pigment production in cellswere linked with recurrence and poorer outcomes. Thirdly, a group of tumors that showed a change in their metabolic pathway were associated with more variable outcomes.

Together, these results bolster the understanding of acral melanoma. It is not a single disease, but shows groups of high variability, which are distinctly associated with how the cancer behaves. Therefore, incorporating genetic information of tumors could improve prognosis and support a more personalized treatment plan.

Why diversity in cancer genomics matters

More broadly, the study highlights a key issue in cancer research: the lack of genomic data from non-European populations. By focusing on a Latin American population, the study demonstrates how research that includes diverse populations can lead to a more accurate and equitable understanding of disease.

Dr. Patricia Basurto-Lozada, first author at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said, "We found that acral melanoma is not a single disease. Tumors fall into distinct biological groups that are linked to different patient outcomes. This information may be crucial for developing targeted treatments for acral melanoma in the future and ultimately improving the lives of patients."

We have an issue in Latin America where we have limited cancer registries, which are essential for tracking cancer trends over time. That's why it's key for us to gather and analyze data that helps scientists, clinicians and ultimately patients, to deliver the best care possible for those diagnosed with acral melanoma." Dr. Patricia Abrao Possik, co-author, International Fellow at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and Group Leader at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA)

Dr. Carla Daniela Robles-Espinoza, senior author and former International Fellow at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, based at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, added, "When patients enter clinical trials, it is not a one-size-fits-all approach. To understand how well treatments work, we need studies that include people from diverse ancestral backgrounds. This research provides crucial context about the genetic makeup of acral melanoma, which may influence response to treatments."

Dr. David Adams, co-senior author at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, observed, "Our research highlights the underrepresented nature of cancer genomics studies. By emphasizing the need for more diversity in research and clinical trials, we hope the findings contribute to improved outcomes for patients with rare and aggressive cancers like acral melanoma."
Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded a weeklong round of negotiations on draft annex for Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS)  a key component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

The fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement (IGWG)  set up by the World Health Assembly (WHA) last year to negotiate the PABS annex  wrapped up over the weekend after productive discussions from 914 February 2026.

To ensure the world can respond swiftly and effectively to future pandemics, countries must be able to rapidly detect pathogens with pandemic potential and share their genetic sequence information and materials. This timely action enables scientists to accelerate the development of essential tools such as diagnostic tests, treatments, and vaccines.

The PABS system is designed to promote equitable access based on public health need by facilitating the rapid and timely sharing of pathogen materials and genetic sequence data, and on an equal footing, the rapid, timely, fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from these.

Countries this week have again shown their steadfast commitment to getting the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex done. We now have a clear vision for streamlining the text, while ensuring that the more contentious elements receive the necessary consultation." Tovar da Silva Nunes, IGWG Bureau cochair Ambassador of Brazil

Member States will resume negotiations again next month as they advance towards the May deadline, when the outcome of their work will be presented to the WHA.

"As we conclude the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group, I want to thank delegations for their serious and constructive engagement. It is clear that important differences remain, but there is a shared recognition of what is at stake," said IGWG Bureau co-chair Mr Matthew Harpur, of the United Kingdom. "With time running short, the coming weeks will be critical in bridging the remaining gaps and delivering a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex that is fair, effective, and fit for purpose."

The WHO Pandemic Agreement was adopted by Member States last year to correct global weaknesses exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen international coordination and collaboration. A legally binding international instrument, it is designed to make the world safer and more equitable in the face of future pandemics.

"Adopting the Pandemic Agreement last year was a huge testament to global cooperation, and we need to build on that momentum. Strong multilateralism remains essential as countries have to face future pandemics together, collectively," said WHO DirectorGeneral Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Recognizing the steady progress being made, I am confident that they will reach an agreement on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex in time for the World Health Assembly in May this year."

Alongside negotiations on the annex text and dialogues aimed at building consensus, Member States also engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representatives from the private sector, academia, laboratories and sequence information databases.
It's the rare policy question that unites Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and the Democratic-led Maryland government against President Donald Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California: How should health insurers use AI?

Regulating artificial intelligence, especially its use by health insurers, is becoming a politically divisive topic, and it's scrambling traditional partisan lines.

Boosters, led by Trump, are not only pushing its integration into government, as in Medicare's experiment using AI in prior authorization, but also trying to stop others from building curbs and guardrails. A December executive order seeks to preempt most state efforts to govern AI, describing "a race with adversaries for supremacy" in a new "technological revolution."

"To win, United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation," Trump's order said. "But excessive State regulation thwarts this imperative."

Across the nation, states are in revolt. At least four  Arizona, Maryland, Nebraska, and Texas  enacted legislation last year reining in the use of AI in health insurance. Two others, Illinois and California, enacted bills the year before.

Legislators in Rhode Island plan to try again this year after a bill requiring regulators to collect data on technology use failed to clear both chambers last year. A bill in North Carolina requiring insurers not to use AI as the sole basis of a coverage decision attracted significant interest from Republican legislators last year.

DeSantis, a former GOP presidential candidate, has rolled out an "AI Bill of Rights," whose provisions include restrictions on its use in processing insurance claims and a requirement allowing a state regulatory body to inspect algorithms.

"We have a responsibility to ensure that new technologies develop in ways that are moral and ethical, in ways that reinforce our American values, not in ways that erode them," DeSantis said during his State of the State address in January.

Ripe for regulation

Polling shows Americans are skeptical of AI. A December poll from Fox News found 63% of voters describe themselves as "very" or "extremely" concerned about artificial intelligence, including majorities across the political spectrum. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats and just over 3 in 5 Republicans said they had qualms about AI.

Health insurers' tactics to hold down costs also trouble the public; a January poll from KFF found widespread discontent over issues like prior authorization. (KFF is a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.) Reporting from ProPublica and other news outlets in recent years has highlighted the use of algorithms to rapidly deny insurance claims or prior authorization requests, apparently with little review by a doctor.

Last month, the House Ways and Means Committee hauled in executives from Cigna, UnitedHealth Group, and other major health insurers to address concerns about affordability. When pressed, the executives either denied or avoided talking about using the most advanced technology to reject authorization requests or toss out claims.

AI is "never used for a denial," Cigna CEO David Cordani told lawmakers. Like others in the health insurance industry, the company is being sued for its methods of denying claims, as spotlighted by ProPublica. Cigna spokesperson Justine Sessions said the company's claims-denial process "is not powered by AI."

Indeed, companies are at pains to frame AI as a loyal servant. Optum, part of health giant UnitedHealth Group, announced Feb. 4 that it was rolling out tech-powered prior authorization, with plenty of mentions of speedier approvals.

"We're transforming the prior authorization process to address the friction it causes," John Kontor, a senior vice president at Optum, said in a press release.

Still, Alex Bores, a computer scientist and New York Assembly member prominent in the state's legislative debate over AI, which culminated in a comprehensive bill governing the technology, said AI is a natural field to regulate.

"So many people already find the answers that theyre getting from their insurance companies to be inscrutable," said Bores, a Democrat who is running for Congress. "Adding in a layer that cannot by its nature explain itself doesnt seem like itll be helpful there."

At least some people in medicine  doctors, for example  are cheering legislators and regulators on. The American Medical Association "supports state regulations seeking greater accountability and transparency from commercial health insurers that use AI and machine learning tools to review prior authorization requests," said John Whyte, the organization's CEO.

Whyte said insurers already use AI and "doctors still face delayed patient care, opaque insurer decisions, inconsistent authorization rules, and crushing administrative work."

Insurers push back

With legislation approved or pending in at least nine states, it's unclear how much of an effect the state laws will have, said University of Minnesota law professor Daniel Schwarcz. States can't regulate "self-insured" plans, which are used by many employers; only the federal government has that power.

But there are deeper issues, Schwarcz said: Most of the state legislation he's seen would require a human to sign off on any decision proposed by AI but doesn't specify what that means.

The laws don't offer a clear framework for understanding how much review is enough, and over time humans tend to become a little lazy and simply sign off on any suggestions by a computer, he said.

Still, insurers view the spate of bills as a problem. "Broadly speaking, regulatory burden is real," said Dan Jones, senior vice president for federal affairs at the Alliance of Community Health Plans, a trade group for some nonprofit health insurers. If insurers spend more time working through a patchwork of state and federal laws, he continued, that means "less time that can be spent and invested into what were intended to be doing, which is focusing on making sure that patients are getting the right access to care."

Linda Ujifusa, a Democratic state senator in Rhode Island, said insurers came out last year against the bill she sponsored to restrict AI use in coverage denials. It passed in one chamber, though not the other.

"There's tremendous opposition" to anything that regulates tactics such as prior authorization, she said, and "tremendous opposition" to identifying intermediaries such as private insurers or pharmacy benefit managers "as a problem."

In a letter criticizing the bill, AHIP, an insurer trade group, advocated for "balanced policies that promote innovation while protecting patients."

Health plans recognize that AI has the potential to drive better health care outcomes  enhancing patient experience, closing gaps in care, accelerating innovation, and reducing administrative burden and costs to improve the focus on patient care," Chris Bond, an AHIP spokesperson, told KFF Health News. And, he continued, they need a "consistent, national approach anchored in a comprehensive federal AI policy framework."

Seeking balance

In California, Newsom has signed some laws regulating AI, including one requiring health insurers to ensure their algorithms are fairly and equitably applied. But the Democratic governor has vetoed others with a broader approach, such as a bill including more mandates about how the technology must work and requirements to disclose its use to regulators, clinicians, and patients upon request.

Chris Micheli, a Sacramento-based lobbyist, said the governor likely wants to ensure the state budget  consistently powered by outsize stock market gains, especially from tech companies  stays flush. That necessitates balance.

Newsom is trying to "ensure that financial spigot continues, and at the same time ensure that there are some protections for California consumers," he said. He added insurers believe they're subject to a welter of regulations already.

The Trump administration seems persuaded. The president's recent executive order proposed to sue and restrict certain federal funding for any state that enacts what it characterized as "excessive" state regulation  with some exceptions, including for policies that protect children.

That order is possibly unconstitutional, said Carmel Shachar, a health policy scholar at Harvard Law School. The source of preemption authority is generally Congress, she said, and federal lawmakers twice took up, but ultimately declined to pass, a provision barring states from regulating AI.

"Based on our previous understanding of federalism and the balance of powers between Congress and the executive, a challenge here would be very likely to succeed," Shachar said.

Some lawmakers view Trump's order skeptically at best, noting the administration has been removing guardrails, and preventing others from erecting them, to an extreme degree.

"There isnt really a question of, should it be federal or should it be state right now?" Bores said. "The question is, should it be state or not at all?"
In a new study published in Nature Communications, a research team at the University of Oslo have examined how cancer cells develop in the bone marrow and whether it might be possible to stop them. The study finds a way to stop malignant stem cells. The researchers believe their findings could open up new avenues for treatment in the future.

Our study provides new insights into acute myeloid leukemia. We believe the findings can be used to develop new treatments for the disease in the future." Lorena Arranz, Associate Professor, University of Oslo

She is also Leader of the group Stem Cells, Ageing and Cancer, and Deputy Director at the Centre for Embryology and Healthy Development, CRESCO. Together with her team, she aims to find better ways to detect and treat leukemia.

The study demonstrates that it is possible to influence the development of leukemia in mouse models

In the study, the researchers focused on blood stem cells in the bone marrow. Stem cells can either lie dormant or divide actively and become new blood cells. In healthy individuals, they develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. In people with acute blood cancer, by contrast, stem cells develop into cancer cells rather than healthy blood cells.



Arranz and her team believe it may be possible to prevent this from happening. How stem cells develop depends on signals from their surrounding environment."We have identified signals that influence the development of this type of leukemia and that we can exploit to fight the cancer," she says.

The signals the researchers identified help maintain a healthy balance by telling the stem cell whether to remain dormant or become a new cell. The researchers have found that these signals involve the molecules succinate and succinate receptor SUCNR1. Their levels influence whether the stem cells press the accelerator or apply the brake. SUCNR1 activation keeps stem cells in a healthy state by controlling the alarmins, S100A8 and S100A9.



In the study, the researchers examined data from patients with acute myeloid leukemia. They also conducted experiments in mouse models of this type of blood cancer, using advanced methods such as stem cell analyses, RNA sequencing and spectral flow cytometry.

In patients, they studied the levels of expression of SUCNR1. The study demonstrates that low levels of SUCNR1 in patients are associated with poorer survival. The researchers also observed that the levels of these molecules and the associated signaling through S100A8 and S100A9 influenced how the disease progressed in mouse models. Arranz and her team showed that they could influence the development of leukemia in mice by altering the levels of succinate, SUCNR1 and S100A9.

Researchers see potential for a new treatment for acute myeloid leukemia

Arranz is optimistic about the way ahead. "Succinate has typically been seen as a 'bad guy' that drives the progression and worsening of this form of blood cancer. We have now discovered a new, protective side to succinate, acting on SUCNR1. The next step will be to explore how we can harness this in treatment," she says. Researcher and first author Vincent Cuminetti also sees potential for future new treatments for blood cancer. "We believe the study can help develop better, future, personalised treatments for patients based on SUCNR1 levels," says Cuminetti.
A first-of-its-kind analysis has revealed significant differences in stroke outcomes and stroke care for patients on government-run traditional Medicare plans versus those on Medicare Advantage, offered by private insurers.



UVA Health researchers found that patients on traditional, or "fee-for-service," Medicare Part A, B and D plans operated by the government were less likely to have access to certain stroke-preventing care. They were more likely, however, to receive intensive post-stroke care and rehabilitation than those enrolled in Medicare Advantage, where private insurance plans are incentivized to limit more expensive medical care.



Both groups' overall recovery outcomes appeared similar, but improvements happened more quickly for stroke patients with Medicare Advantage insurance. Participants in the private plan were less likely to be readmitted to a hospital, and they were more likely to move into assisted-living and other community-living accommodations.



The researchers caution that the data they had available was limited and that it could be difficult to make direct comparisons between the plans. But they say their analysis can inform discussions about healthcare costs and America's aging population.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Most stroke patients have Medicare insurance, but we do not know how changes in Medicare impact stroke patients. Our research suggests that changes in Medicare insurance, including the growth of private insurance through Medicare Advantage, could be important for stroke patients. In our country, people are worried about healthcare costs and how health insurance impacts patients. Those concerns are real, and they are not going away. Our population in the United States is getting older, and more Americans will be enrolling in Medicare as they retire. Our country needs research that helps patients, doctors and policymakers understand how different parts of Medicare impact patients. This will be really important for the future of U.S. healthcare." Jonathan R. Crowe, MD, MPH, MSc, researcher, neurologist and stroke expert at UVA Health and the University of Virginia School of Medicine

Medicare options

Strokes are a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the United States. They are most likely to strike people ages 65 and older, and most people in that demographic are on Medicare. Among Medicare enrollees, more than half are on Medicare Advantage, a Medicare alternative that was designed to reduce healthcare costs by encouraging competition among private insurers.



Federal government payments for Medicare Advantage, however, have substantially exceeded the costs that would have been needed for traditional Medicare, which is run directly by the government. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, for example, estimates that government payments to Medicare Advantage in 2025 cost about 20% more, or an additional $84 billion, health policy nonprofit KFF reports.



Medicare and Medicare Advantage are built on two very different payment approaches. Under traditional Medicare, the government pays healthcare providers for services rendered, with no annual cap, potentially encouraging use and overuse. For Medicare Advantage, on the other hand, the government provides private insurers fixed payments to cover beneficiaries. This creates incentives for insurers to find ways to reduce costs, such as limiting networks, implementing annual payment caps and requiring authorizations prior to care.

About the Medicare analysis

The nation's rising healthcare costs and the growing needs of its aging population have sparked vigorous debate about the best way forward. That spurred Crowe and his colleagues to conduct their review of stroke care.



After surveying the available scientific literature, the researchers found seven studies that allowed them to compare patient outcomes. In addition to survival and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), the researchers looked at patients' access to preventive care such as smoking cessation programs; at post-stroke care such as rehabilitation and rehospitalization; and at general wellness factors such as blood-sugar levels and blood pressure.



The researchers found that post-stroke care was generally less common among Medicare Advantage enrollees. This, the experts say, likely reflects prior authorization requirements to limit use.



Medicare and Advantage patients ultimately showed similar outcomes, the researchers found, though it took longer for traditional Medicare enrollees to reach the same level of improvement as Advantage enrollees. One potential explanation for this could be that Advantage patients were in better overall health before their strokes, the researchers suspect. Medicare Advantage enrollees appeared to have easier access to programs to help them stop smoking, manage their cholesterol and take other steps that can reduce stroke risk.



The researchers are urging further study to inform the nation's future healthcare policies. They say obtaining additional clinical data, including from a stroke registry linked to Medicare data, would help clarify the differences in care received.



"All of us need to work together to make our healthcare system better," Crowe said. "We hope that this study can be part of our country's conversation about how to fix healthcare."

Findings published

The researchers have published their analysis in the Journal of Comparative Effectiveness. The article is open access, meaning it is free to read. The review team consisted of Emily J. Bian, Priyanka Menon, Kathleen A. McManus, Timothy J. Layton, Bradford B. Worrall and Crowe.
Previous reports have indicated that between 20 and 60 per cent of pregnant women in Ireland consume alcohol during pregnancy.

Data on alcohol consumption by pregnant women in Ireland has previously only been collected through self-reporting in questionnaires, which may give an incomplete picture of consumption. Based on the available data, some medical research has extrapolated that Ireland could have the third highest prevalence of foetal alcohol syndrome in the world.



The study, entitled 'Urinary alcohol and ethyl glucuronide as a screening tool for alcohol use in pregnancy: a multicentre prospective study,' is the first study in Ireland to use objective laboratory methods to detect alcohol use in early pregnancy and was published today in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.



Researchers conducted the study to obtain objective evidence of alcohol consumption in early pregnancy by testing urine, with a view to offering support and treatment for women.



The study tested the effectiveness and acceptability of urine testing to screen for alcohol use by pregnant women, in order to gain a better understanding of consumption during pregnancy using objective measures.



Senior co-author, Full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UCD Perinatal Research Centre, UCD School of Medicine and the National Maternity Hospital, and leading expert in perinatal health research, Prof Fionnuala McAuliffe said: "The findings showed that alcohol intake during early pregnancy is very low. This is an objective measure of alcohol intake and testing was very acceptable to women. Alcohol intake during pregnancy is a concern and it is important that women have information to enable them to take healthy decisions during pregnancy."



She said: "There is no safe limit of alcohol in pregnancy and the findings of low levels of alcohol in this large multicentre study show that the majority of women are heeding public health advice in early pregnancy. Our ongoing research aims to develop early identification, feedback and support systems to prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder."



The study was conducted at one urban hospital and two semi-rural hospitals in Ireland, and included expectant mothers over 18 years of age, attending for visits at around 13 weeks of pregnancy. Some 84 per cent of women consented to participate, yielding 1,053 urine samples, with none testing positive for ethanol (a metabolite of just consumed alcohol).



Just four samples (0.4 per cent) tested positive for ethyl glucuronide which is a long lasting metabolite of alcohol that can be detected from 24 to 80 hours after consuming alcohol.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is believed to be a leading cause of preventable neurodevelopmental disorder. It may cause learning, emotional or behavioural abnormalities with life-long consequences. It is very encouraging that our results show that alcohol use in pregnancy is less common than expected in Ireland." Prof Aiden McCormick, liver specialist at St Vincent's University Hospital and co-author

The study was conducted by researchers at UCD Perinatal Research Centre at the National Maternity Hospital, the National Drug Treatment Centre, Wexford General Hospital, St Lukes's Hospital, Kilkenny, and the Liver Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital.
The tiny shell protecting the HIV virus resembles a slightly rounded ice cream cone, but there is nothing sweet about it.

More than 40 million people worldwide live with AIDS because of this virus, and treatments must continually evolve as HIV mutates. During the acute stage of infection, a single human cell can produce as many as 10,000 new HIV particles.

At the University of Delaware, Professor Juan R. Perilla and his research team in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have spent over a decade probing the structure and function of HIV's protective shell, or capsid, and the proteins packed inside. Their goal is to identify new targets for drugs that could stop HIV in its tracks.

Now, in a surprising discovery, published Feb. 18 in Nature, Perilla and collaborators in the U.S. and the United Kingdom have revealed a previously unknown role for the viral protein integrase. Scientists already knew that integrase helps HIV insert itself into human DNA. But this new study provides the first direct evidence that integrase plays a critical structural role earlier on in HIV's life cycle - when the virus matures into an infectious force.

Using high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), the research team found that integrase proteins form gluey filaments that line the inside of the capsid. Each segment of the filament slots neatly into the capsid's hexagon-shaped tiles, while gripping tightly to HIV's RNA genome. This zipper-like arrangement organizes and packs the virus, preparing it to hijack a cell and start making copies of itself.

Integrase plays a structural role inside the HIV capsid - nobody expected that. This protein forms filaments that anchor the RNA to the capsid. Without these filaments, the virus is non-infective." Professor Juan R. Perilla, University of Delaware

Peeking into an HIV particle

Seeing inside HIV is no small feat. The capsid is only about 120 nanometers wide -roughly 1/800th the thickness of a human hair. It is incredibly small, fragile, densely packed and constantly changing, Perilla said.

To reveal its hidden architecture, the researchers relied on deep collaboration and a combination of sophisticated microscopy, molecular modeling and experimentation.

Cryo-EM imaging - performed at the Francis Crick Institute in a facility some 20 meters below ground to safeguard against vibrations and magnetic fields - requires samples to be frozen in milliseconds, kept colder than outer space, and imaged with beams of electrons instead of light to capture fine structural details at the atomic level. This method produces millions of 2D images of frozen particles, which must be sorted, averaged and aligned into a 3D model to visualize individual proteins - work that just wouldn't be possible without high-performance computing, Perilla said.

Once the overall shapes were identified, molecular modeling provided the chemical details. Researchers built atom-by-atom models that fit the cryo-EM data, revealing how the virus's components lock together.

Previous experiments designed to inhibit the virus added even more insight. The team used specialized inhibitors called ALLINIs to disrupt the formation (oligomerization) of larger assemblies of the integrase, which are now understood to also break the integrase-capsid interactions. While some pre-clinical inhibitors affect these interactions, Perilla said, no existing FDA-approved drugs target this newly discovered structural role of integrase - providing a promising new frontier for drug development.

A collaborative effort with global impact

"The thing with HIV is that people are chronically living with it," Perilla said. "Treatments are effective, but patients always need new therapeutics. We want to help develop the next generation of inhibitors and hope to have a significant contribution."

Perilla emphasized that this research was made possible by long-time collaborations and public funding. He has worked with co-authors Peter Cherepanov at the Francis Crick Institute and Alan Engelman at Harvard for nearly a decade. Additional partners from the Francis Crick Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, University of Oxford, Birkbeck College, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus and Imperial College London also contributed to the study.

University of Delaware students, including Ph.D. candidate Juan S. Rey in Perilla's lab, also have played a key role over the years, with many going into careers in the pharmaceutical industry to continue advancing biomedical research.

"If it was not for public funding - from the U.S National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and U.S. Department of Energy - we would not have this work," Perilla said. "Without public funding, our research wouldn't exist."
LILONGWE, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Malawian President Peter Mutharika has issued an executive order barring employees in public hospitals or other public health facilities from owning, operating, or holding shares in a private health clinic or pharmacy.

The order, issued on Tuesday, also prohibits employees of government hospitals and public health facilities from soliciting, demanding, or accepting fees or monetary favors from patients as a condition for receiving health services.

The order follows remarks by Minister of Health and Sanitation Madalitso Baloyi about allegations that some medical practitioners were soliciting large sums of money from patients and guardians in public hospitals in exchange for providing services.

According to the order, some health personnel were also advising patients to seek treatment at private clinics to access better care.

The president described the alleged conduct as "unlawful, unethical, and wholly unacceptable," saying it contravenes patients' constitutional right to access health services.

He gave employees who own private health facilities an ultimatum of 30 days from the date of issuance to relinquish ownership.

"Any employee currently holding such ownership or shares must divest within thirty (30) days from the date of this Executive Order," the order said. "Failure to comply shall result in dismissal and further legal action as appropriate."

The Malawi Health Equity Network hailed the order as a "bold and long-overdue intervention aimed at protecting the constitutional right of Malawians to access public health services without illegal payments, coercion, or discrimination," but urged the government to strictly enforce the measures.

In a statement issued Tuesday, it called for clear reporting and complaint mechanisms that are safe and accessible to patients, and for protection for patients and health workers who report corruption and malpractice. 
Wyoming officials say they have a plan to make five years of upcoming grants from a new $50 billion federal rural health program last "forever."

The state could tackle rural health issues long into the future by investing its awards from the Rural Health Transformation Program, the director of Wyoming's health department, Stefan Johansson, told state lawmakers.

But it's unclear whether the maneuver will pass muster with the federal government.

If approved, Wyoming's Rural Health Transformation Perpetuity fund could provide $28.5 million for the state to spend every year, according to materials presented to lawmakers.

Wyoming would spend the money on scholarships for health students and incentive payments to help keep small hospitals and rural ambulance services afloat.

"I have lots of questions. It seems very clever," said Kevin Bennett, director of the South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare. "It's a wild idea."

Bennett said the big question is whether the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which manages the new program, will approve of Wyoming's plan.

If it does, he said, "it's really an interesting way to keep things going"  one with potential benefits as well as risks.

Congressional Republicans created the Rural Health Transformation Program as a last-minute sweetener in their One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer. The funding was intended to offset concerns about the outsize fallout anticipated in rural communities from the new law, which is expected to reduce Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion over the next decade.

Since 2010, 152 rural hospitals in the U.S. have shuttered completely or stopped offering inpatient services, according to the Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina. The guidelines for the federal rural health program say states can use only 15% of their funding for direct payments to providers, including hospitals.

CMS officials announced first-year funding on Dec. 29 after scoring states' applications. States had until Jan. 30 to submit revised budgets and other documents that align with their grant awards. CMS has until March 1 to review and approve the updated material.

Wyoming  the least populous state, with about 588,000 residents  will receive $205 million in the program's first year, $5 million more than it asked for.

States must spend each year's grants by the end of the following fiscal year, according to CMS rules. If they don't, unused money will be redistributed to other states. The final deadline for all spending is Oct. 1, 2032, with leftover funds being returned to the federal government.

Given those rules, "how do you square that with squirreling money away in an account?" state Rep. Ken Pendergraft, a Republican, asked during a hearing on Wyoming's plan.

Johansson said that depositing the federal grants into the perpetuity fund counts as expending them.

He said that CMS called in December to specifically ask questions about the fund and that he believes the agency has formally approved it. But "the devil's always in the details," he said, as the state works with CMS during the budget review period.

Emails obtained by KFF Health News through public records requests show CMS told officials in some states in early November that the grant money can't "fund an endowment, capital fund, or other vehicle resembling an investment fund with the purpose of generating income."

Wyoming officials wrote in the state's application that the perpetuity fund won't be making or keeping any profit.

"All program income from these investments will directly fund" rural health programs, they wrote.

CMS spokesperson Catherine Howden did not directly comment on whether Wyoming's perpetuity idea is allowed. Instead, she said states must follow regulations related to the program and federal grants.

The Trump administration gave states a mandate to spend their money by fall 2032, but on projects that will continue to help rural patients even after the federal program ends.

The perpetuity fund would ensure just that, said Patrick Hardigan, dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Wyoming.

"Rather than spend out now," Hardigan said, "we would have this available to help fund us over a longer time period."

The state health department has already presented lawmakers with a bill to create the perpetuity fund and approve other parts of its rural health plan.

The legislation says Wyoming would put 80% of this year's award  $164 million  and 69.5% of the funding it receives over the next four years into the fund. The state treasurer's office would invest the fund in equities, including stocks. The health department plans to spend 4% of the fund's money  in line with its expected return  each year, according to materials presented to lawmakers.

About 41% of the annual fund distribution would be spent on incentive payments for qualifying small hospitals, the bill says. The assistance could include one-time grants, medical debt relief for patients, and ongoing payments to offset fixed costs. This funding could amount to 2.5% to 10% of these hospitals' annual operating expenses, according to an estimate in Wyoming's application.

Bennett said it's unclear whether all those types of payments are allowed under the federal rules.

"I think that states will try to do a lot of creative things like this, and CMS will approve or not on a case-by-case basis," he said.

The bill says around 27% of annual spending would go to incentive payments to encourage coordination or consolidation among rural ambulance services. The funding could be ongoing or grants that help pay for ambulances, communications equipment, and regional dispatch services.

But these incentives would come with strings attached. Hospitals and ambulance services could receive payments only if they reduce "unprofitable, duplicative or nonessential" services and participate in "cost-containment arrangements," such as regional collaborations and shared services.

About 22% of the annual spending would provide scholarships to help Wyomingites afford nursing, behavioral health, emergency medical services, and physician education. In exchange, recipients would have to work in the state for five years.

The remaining spending, around 11%, would be for scholarships to help doctors in training afford medical school, residency programs, and fellowships if they agree to work in an "underserved" Wyoming county for five years. The state health department would prioritize scholarships for people pursuing family medicine, obstetrics, or other high-demand specialties.

Johansson told Wyoming lawmakers that CMS could claw back money if a future state legislature decides to spend the fund in ways not allowed under the federal rural health program. He said this "check and balance" could last for decades.

"I can't predict the future," Johansson said, but "I think they have the authority to go look at the appropriate use of those funds through their audit parameters."

Other states proposed funds in their applications, but Wyoming's appears unique, according to a KFF Health News review of state applications.

For example, Kentucky wants to create a rural health endowment to continue its work once the federal program ends. But it would be backed by charitable donations, not seed money and investments from the federal funding.

Several states mention putting some of their federal award money into what they call rural health "catalyst funds." But these funds, sometimes augmented with private contributions, would be invested in rural health technology.

Bennett said he's never heard of a state investing any other federal health grant the way Wyoming wants to.

He said that in setting aside significant portions of its Rural Health Transformation Program awards, Wyoming would have much less money for rural health care in the short term in exchange for an ongoing revenue stream that could last decades.

"Everything has trade-offs," Bennett said.

The Wyoming House Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the bill on Feb. 12, sending the legislation to the House floor.
11 Bangladeshi women held in Pune for illegal stay

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:45 IST

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Pune, Feb 18 (PTI) The Pune police on Wednesday detained 11 Bangladeshi women staying illegally in the city, officials said.

These women were found in possession of fake Aadhaar cards and other residential documents, they said.

Based on the tip-off, a search operation was carried out in the citys Budhwar Peth, a red light area", Deputy Commissioner of Police Krushikesh Rawale said.

We detained 22 women, out of whom 11 were found to be Bangladeshi nationals and staying illegally in our city for the past few months. We are investigating the matter further," he said. PTI COR GK

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:45 IST

News agency-feeds 11 Bangladeshi women held in Pune for illegal stay

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Another AAP sarpanch shot dead at wedding in Punjab; 2 cops suspended

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 22:30 IST

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Tarn Taran, Feb 18 (PTI) An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch was shot dead by two unidentified assailants during a marriage function in Tarn Taran district of Punjab on Wednesday, police said.

The incident comes nearly a month after another sarpanch and AAP leader, Jharmal Singh of Valtoha village in Amritsar district, was shot dead during a marriage function.

Meanwhile, two police officers have been suspended for negligence on duty.

Harbarinder Singh, sarpanch of Thathian Mehta village, had gone to attend a wedding at a marriage palace when three armed men opened fire on him from close range.

Villagers said Singh was an active member of the ruling AAP and a close associate of Punjab cabinet minister Laljit Singh Bhullar.

Police sources said an AK-47 rifle was used in the attack, and two empty cartridges were recovered from the incident site. Singh died on the spot.

His cousin was seriously injured while trying to chase the attackers and was admitted to a nearby hospital.

The killing took place as the Punjab government is conducting the second phase of its anti-gangster drive, Gangsteran Te Vaar".

This comes weeks after AAP leader Lucky Oberoi was shot dead by an assailant outside a gurdwara in Jalandhars Model Town area, shortly after he stepped out of the shrine.

Meanwhile, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav suspended Deputy Superintendent of police (Patti) Jagbir Singh and Station House Officer (Sarhali) Gurvinder Singh on account of the absence of sufficient preventive policing measures.

An official statement said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was personally taking stock of the investigation into the murder of Harbarinder Singh.

DGP Yadav directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ferozepur Range) Snehdeep Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police, Tarn Taran Surendra Lamba, to personally supervise the probe and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice at the earliest.

SSP Lamba informed that based on the investigation conducted so far, there does not appear to be any angle related to threat or extortion, etc.

As per preliminary inquiries, the possibility of a personal enmity or revenge angle appears to be strong, he said.

The SSP said that the case is being investigated from all possible angles in a scientific and technical manner.

Four separate teams have been constituted for CCTV analysis under the supervision of different officers, he said. Another team, along with the forensic science team, is examining the crime scene.

A thorough investigation will be conducted, and we will ensure exemplary punishment for the culprits," the SSP added.

Taking a dig at the Bhagwant Mann-led government, the opposition said that the incident exposes the shocking collapse of law and order in the state. PTI JMS VSD CHS HIG HIG

First Published: February 18, 2026, 22:30 IST

News agency-feeds Another AAP sarpanch shot dead at wedding in Punjab; 2 cops suspended

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Bomb threat to Dehradun district court triggers search operation; nothing found

Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 00:30 IST

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Dehradun, February 18 (PTI) The Dehradun district court received a bomb threat email on Wednesday, prompting a thorough search of the premises, police said.

No suspicious material was found during the search, and the threat was subsequently declared a hoax, they added.

Officials said upon receiving information, senior police officials arrived at the scene, evacuated the court premises, and conducted a thorough search aided by the bomb disposal squad (BDS) and dog units.

Police said various district courts in Uttarakhand have received bomb threats in the past few days.

Nainital, Uttarkashi, Tehri, and Rudraprayag district courts also received threaten emails, all of which were later proved hoax as extensive searches of the premises found no suspicious objects. PTI DPT ARB ARB

First Published: February 19, 2026, 00:30 IST

News agency-feeds Bomb threat to Dehradun district court triggers search operation; nothing found

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Drone strikes in Sudan's Kordofan region take toll on civilians, aid operations

Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 00:30 IST

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Cairo, Feb 18 (AP) A surge in drone strikes in the Sudanese region of Kordofan has taken a growing toll on civilians and hampered aid operations, analysts and humanitarian workers said Wednesday, as the war in Sudan nears the three-year mark.

At least 77 people were killed and dozens injured in various attacks, mostly by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, in densely populated areas, according to Sudan Doctors Network, a group that tracks violence through the war. Many of the victims were civilians.

The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese military erupted into a full-blown war in April 2023. So far, at least 40,000 people have been killed and 12 million displaced, according to the World Health Organisation. Aid groups say the true toll could be many times higher, as the fighting in vast and remote areas impedes access.

The military increased its use of drones and airstrikes in Kordofan over the past year as the conflict shifted westward, making the region a primary theatre of operations," said Jalale Getachew Birru, senior analyst for East Africa at the nonprofit Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, ACLED.

Two weeks ago, the military said it broke the RSF siege of Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan province, and the neighbouring town of Dilling after more than two years.

However, Birru said the sieges were not fully broken. These cities are still encircled, and the fight for the control of these cities and the wider region is ongoing," he told The Associated Press.

Drone strikes affect aid and civilians - Walid Mohamed, a resident of Kadugli, told the AP that breaking the siege allowed more goods and medicines to enter the city, reopening the corridor with Dilling and driving down food prices after a dire humanitarian situation unfolded there.

However, he said RSF drone strikes have since occurred almost daily, mainly targeting hospitals, markets and homes.

Omran Ahmed, a resident of Dilling, also said drone strikes had increased, spreading fear and terror among residents as they see more civilians become victims." UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Wednesday sounded the alarm that drone strikes killed more than 50 civilians over two days this week.

These latest killings are yet another reminder of the devastating consequences on civilians of the escalating use of drone warfare in Sudan," said Turk, condemning the attacks on civilian sites including markets, health facilities and schools.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said there was evidence that both sides had used drones against civilians in this weeks attacks.

These civilians have been at one time or another in government-controlled areas and areas controlled by the RSF, which would make us believe that both sides are using them," he said.

Two military officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorised to brief the media, told the AP this week that the army doesnt target civilian infrastructure.

A UN convoy reached Dilling and Kadugli with aid for more than 130,000 people, the first major delivery in three months, United Nations agencies said Wednesday. However, aid workers are concerned about escalating violence.

Mathilde Vu, an advocacy manager with the Norwegian Refugee Council told the AP theres huge concern" about the unacceptable" escalation in Kordofan and that it could shatter lives and obstruct any hope to reverse the famine/starvation" in the region.

Its very indiscriminate. Between Kordofan, Darfur and the east (Sennar), its now every other day we receive messages like drone attack here, hit a civilian infrastructure, killed people," Vu said.

Kordofan battlefront shifts  Much of the recent fighting in Sudan has been centred in Kordofan, where the army wants to create a route into the neighbouring region of Darfur, Kholood Khair, founding director of Confluence Advisory, a think tank, told the AP.

El-Fasher city, the capital of North Darfur, was the armys last stronghold in the region but fell to the RSF in October. Its recapture could allow the army to restore important supply and logistic lines between Kordofan and Darfur.

Meanwhile, the RSF wants to create a route out of Kordofan, back to the centre of the country and the capital, Khartoum, Khair said.

Both the military and the RSF have used drones, especially in North Kordofan. Civilians have been hard-hit.

Last year, 163 air and drone strikes across the country targeted civilians, killing 1,032 people, according to ACLED data. The army reportedly carried out 83 strikes that caused 568 deaths, while the RSF conducted 66 strikes that killed 288 people.

Both sides have stepped up their use of drones in Kordofan over the past few weeks, according to Federico Donelli, associate professor of international relations at the University of Trieste.

Donelli said several factors are driving the increase, including the armys acquisition of new weapons and drones manufactured and supplied by foreign actors.

This has enabled the army to rely more heavily on precision strikes, mirroring tactics that the Rapid Support Forces have been using for some time," he said, Both sides may be struggling to maintain troop strength, he said. Consequently, drones are favoured over deploying armed units on the ground, particularly in contested areas such as Kordofan." Khair, from Confluence Advisory, said the fighting in Kordofan could shift in the upcoming period, with the army potentially seeking to push into Darfur, particularly toward el-Fasher, where war crimes have been reported.

We expect to see the bombing campaigns not only continue but increase in frequency and volume," she said. (AP) GRS GRS

First Published: February 19, 2026, 00:30 IST

News agency-feeds Drone strikes in Sudan's Kordofan region take toll on civilians, aid operations

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Fishermen in eastern Caribbean fear for their lives following deadly US strike

Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 00:00 IST

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San Juan, Feb 18 (AP) An organisation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is urging fishermen to take certain precautions after decrying a recent US strike in the eastern Caribbean that killed three people aboard a suspected drug boat.

Winsbert Harry, president of the National Fisherfolk Organization, told St. Vincents state television station SVG-TV late Tuesday that he was concerned about the safety of fishermen in the Caribbean.

On Tuesday, the US government announced that it had carried out strikes on three boats including one in the Caribbean Sea, killing three people. Officials did not provide evidence that the boats were ferrying drugs.

St. Lucian Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre said Monday that his government is actively engaging through established diplomatic and security channels to verify the facts" after confirming that people lost their lives." He declined further comment, including whether at least one of the victims was a fisherman from St. Lucia.

We will communicate confirmed information to the public promptly and responsibly," he wrote in a social media post.

Meanwhile, former St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves criticised the strike during his radio show Monday and called on the archipelagos current leader to make a public statement.

Even if these persons were involved in drug trafficking, you cant just kill them," he said on Star FM. Everybody is innocent until proven guilty. You cannot be judge, jury and executioner without giving people an opportunity to defend themselves in a court of law." Harry, of the fisherfolk organisation, noted that the strike comes as the eastern Caribbean prepares for the peak of tuna season, with many fishermen depending on catches for their livelihoods.

He said fishermen should clearly identify their boats and constantly monitor surrounding vessels, especially when theyre at high sea. Harry also warned that visibility is lowest during pre-dawn hours, when fishermen typically set out.

You never know what could happen," he said, adding that he and others are fearful about going out.

The US strikes that began in September have killed at least 145 people and rankled some officials in the Caribbean, where many of the strikes have occurred.

One of those strikes killed two fishermen from Trinidad and Tobago in mid-October.

Late last month, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts announced that relatives of the two fishermen killed were suing the US government for wrongful death and extrajudicial killing." It is believed to be the first such wrongful death case since the strikes began last year.

The ACLU said that 26-year-old Chad Joseph and 41-year-old Rishi Samaroo were among the six people killed that day as they returned from Venezuela to their home in Trinidad and Tobago.

If the US government believed Rishi had done anything wrong, it should have arrested, charged and detained him, not murdered him. They must be held accountable," said Sallycar Korasingh, Samaroos sister, in a statement.

US President Donald Trump has said that the US is in armed conflict" with drug cartels in Latin America and has justified the ongoing attacks, saying theyre needed to stop the flow of drugs.

Meanwhile critics have questioned the legality of the strikes.

It is absurd and dangerous for any state to just unilaterally proclaim that a war exists in order to deploy lethal military force," said Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, in a recent statement. These are lawless killings in cold blood; killings for sport and killings for theatre, which is why we need a court of law to proclaim what is true and constrain what is lawless." (AP) GRS GRS

First Published: February 19, 2026, 00:00 IST

News agency-feeds Fishermen in eastern Caribbean fear for their lives following deadly US strike

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NIA chargesheet against 3 accused in Myanmar cyber fraud case

Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 00:00 IST

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New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against three accused, including an absconding suspected Chinese national, in a Myanmar-based human trafficking and cyber fraud racket targeting citizens of the UK, the US and Canada, officials said.

In its charge sheet filed before the NIA special court in Haryanas Panchkula, the agency said it has exposed a well-organised network of traffickers and touts".

The accused Ankit Kumar alias Ankit Bharadwaj, Ishtikhar Ali alias Ali and absconding Chinese national Lisa have been charged under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 24 of the Emigration Act, the agency said in a statement.

NIA investigations revealed that the three, along with known and unknown associates, were involved in trafficking vulnerable Indian youth to the Myawaddy region of Myanmar," it said.

The agency, which had taken over the case from the Haryana Police, added that the accused were involved in various illegal activities ranging from unlicensed recruitment of Indian citizens abroad to the illicit transfer of victims for criminal operations in Southeast Asia.

According to the NIA, Ankit Kumar and Ishtikhar Ali, who have been arrested, lured Indian youth by offering legitimate jobs" in Thailand and coordinated online interviews with Myanmar-based Chinese national Lisa.

The victims were deceived by presenting Lisa as a genuine recruiter and were made to believe that they would be provided secure jobs in Thailand," the statement said, adding that the accused arranged transportation of the victims from India to Myanmar illegally via Thailand".

On reaching Myanmar, the trafficked youth were forced to work in cyber scam companies, the agency said.

They were made to create fake social media profiles and engage with people in the USA, the UK and Canada to convince them to invest through fraudulent cryptocurrency apps," it said.

The NIA said that on refusal, the victims were confined and coerced to continue", and were also forced to pay hefty amounts for their release". PTI MHS ABS KVK KVK

First Published: February 19, 2026, 00:00 IST

News agency-feeds NIA chargesheet against 3 accused in Myanmar cyber fraud case

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Policeman, customs officer killed in militant attack in NW Pakistan

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:45 IST

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Peshawar, Feb 18 (PTI) Two government employees were killed and two others injured as militants attacked a police station and a custom office located along the CPEC in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday.

The attackers also fired at passenger buses travelling on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route in Dera Ismail Khan district and set ablaze a customs vehicle during the assault, causing panic in the area, police said.

The militants opened fire with automatic weapons on the Yarik police station and the customs office in the vicinity in the area bordering South Waziristan, when police constable Mohammad Bilal and customs official Israr Khan were killed, a police spokesperson said.

The injured were shifted to a hospital at the district headquarters.

Security personnel returned fire, prompting the assailants to flee. A search operation was launched in the surrounding area.

Earlier in the month, at least four policemen were killed when armed militants attacked a police party in Panialas Wanda Budh area of Dera Ismail Khan district. PTI AYZ NPK NPK

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:45 IST

News agency-feeds Policeman, customs officer killed in militant attack in NW Pakistan

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Sierra Leone officials facilitated illegal mansion-building in key national park

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:45 IST

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Freetown, Feb 18 (AP) Scores of illegal luxury mansions have been built in a national park that serves as an important environmental buffer for Sierra Leones capital and the government has done little or nothing about it, an investigation shows.

The Associated Press and The Gecko Project exclusively obtained the results of a government investigation into the illegal construction that has never been shared with the public, almost four years after President Julius Maada Bio commissioned it. It found that senior government officials handed out land ownership documents.

In a visit, the AP found that construction continues.

The mansions are in the Bio Barray neighbourhood, part of which has been built illegally in the mountainous Western Area Peninsula National Park, which Sierra Leones government has proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At least 50 houses in Bio Barray have been built or are under construction within park boundaries on land that was rainforest as recently as 2019.

___ This story was reported in collaboration with The Gecko Project, a nonprofit newsroom reporting on environmental issues. The reporting was supported by the Pulitzer Center. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters, and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

___ In 2022, Bio launched the investigation to discover how the illegal encroachment had taken place and the impacts of the deforestation it contributes to.

The investigations findings call deforestation in the national park an environmental time bomb that has to be nipped in the bud." The government is fully aware of what is going on," said Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, the mayor of the capital, Freetown, and an environmentalist who plans to challenge Bio for the presidency in the next election.

She said the Bio Barray settlement is home to powerful people who were allowed to ignore the law. They are being given permission, simple," she added.

Sierra Leones capital is tucked on a strip of land between the national park and the Atlantic. Over the past decade, many of the forested hills above it have been stripped by developments, miners, cannabis farmers and charcoal makers.

Bio Barray construction inside the park is visible to anyone driving south from the capital on one of the countrys main highways.

Above the Bio Barray mansions is a reservoir providing 90% of the water for Freetown residents. The government investigation found that deforestation and other human activities in the national park could lead to a water shortage crisis." Bio launched the investigation after a devastating fire near the reservoir in 2022.

Landslides are also a threat. One that occurred on the edge of the national park in 2017 killed more than 1,000 people in 2017.

The investigating committees 13 members  including police officers, lawyers, nonprofit workers and a member of Sierra Leones Anti-Corruption Commission  analyzed satellite imagery and inspected documents to learn how building permits had been secured for homes inside the park.

The committee found widespread and indiscriminate clearing of forested areas" despite a ban on construction there.

The single biggest encroachment was in and around Bio Barray, where deforestation had increased exponentially" in the months leading up to the investigation. Maada Kpenge, managing director of Freetowns water company until late last year, told the AP this threatened the reservoirs integrity by increasing the threat of landslides.

Officials at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning knew vast stretches" of state land were being unlawfully occupied but were reluctant to act robustly for reasons unknown," the investigation found.

It said some officials encouraged encroachment and even facilitated it for personal gain.

Under the State Land Act, the ministry can transfer state land to private individuals, a process that can be initiated by issuing a letter. But clearing and construction inside a national park is illegal under the Forestry Law, the investigation said.

The minister at the time was Denis Sandy, who signed at least 175 documents granting land leases to private individuals, the investigation found, calling it a flagrant violation." It didnt say how many of those granted land in Bio Barray.

The committee recommended punitive measures against Sandy and 16 other named officials. Sandy did not respond to several requests for comment.

The investigations findings were reportedly delivered to Sierra Leones then-chief minister, who liaises between the president and government bodies, in September 2022.

A year later, the presidents office published a photo of Bio officially receiving the findings from a commission co-chair. The accompanying statement said people in high places" were involved in deforestation, without details.

We will act on it very soon and do whatever is needed to be done," Bio said.

But an analysis of satellite imagery of Bio Barray by the AP showed that illegal mansions remain standing and construction continues. Several new buildings emerged in the months after the chief minister reportedly received the report.

An AP visit last year found builders hard at work completing homes.

In November, current Chief Minister David Sengeh told the AP that various government bodies had acted on the investigations findings. He would not say whether the Cabinet had signed off on any punishments, saying its discussions are not public.

Sandy now serves as minister of works and public assets. Asked to comment on the allegations against Sandy, Sengeh replied, I dont think government makes decisions based on accusations only." Sengeh said the Anti-Corruption Commission was the appropriate body to investigate the allegations. But in an interview, the ACCs head, Ben Kaifala, said no investigation had been launched and denied seeing the original investigations findings.

He said the ACC would look at the report and act, but added that it was the role of other government agencies to protect national parks.

Other institutions must do their job," Kaifala said. I cant do it for them." Another senior official who said he was unaware of the report was Thomas Kamara, executive director of the National Protected Area Authority, which manages national parks. The investigations findings said allegations had been made that staff under his predecessor had been involved in the sale of lands within the national park.

Kamara, appointed two months after the investigation was publicly handed to the president, claimed that all encroachment on the park had been stopped. He said he had no evidence of staffers being involved in land deals. Kamara was removed from the post late last year, accused by the environment minister of failing to address the encroachment.

In mid-2025, Bio announced that nobody is above the law when it comes to illegally selling state land. Previously, he said of illegal homes in the national park, Even if a house belongs to me or my family, it would be broken down." The investigations findings did not name individuals with homes in Bio Barray. It identified 876 landowners in all within the national park, but only 301 came forward in response to a request for documents attesting to their land claims.

The AP identified 46 villas inside the national park boundary. A door-to-door survey of them late last year found that 14 owners worked in government jobs, according to residents, caretakers and security guards.

They included officials reportedly working in the office of the president, land ministry and the Environment Protection Agency.

Sierra Leones president initially agreed to an interview but later did not respond to requests for comment. (AP) GSP

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:45 IST

News agency-feeds Sierra Leone officials facilitated illegal mansion-building in key national park

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Three arrested in Gurugram for aiding Chinese cyber fraud syndicate

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 22:30 IST

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Gurugram, Feb 18 (PTI) The Gurugram Cyber Police has arrested three men for allegedly providing calling support to a Chinese fraud syndicate, officials said on Wednesday.

According to the officials, a 20-port physical SIM box and a laptop were seized from them. These arrests come after a woman from Nagaland was held in connection with the same case.

The arrested accused have been identified as Karma (32) from Nagaland, and Lobsang Tsultim (33) and Ngawang Gyaltsen (35), both from Himachal Pradesh. Karma and Tsultim were arrested on February 14. Gyaltsen was intercepted on February 16 near Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi while attempting to flee to Nepal.

Police said the accused, during questioning, revealed that they were using SIM boxes to facilitate fraudulent calls targeting Indian citizens.

Karma and Lobsang Tsultim admitted to installing virtual SIM boxes in Gurugram on the instructions of a Chinese national named Tsega, they said.

These setups, which included 20 mobile phones, were capable of making over 20,000 calls a day. Tsega, allegedly used an application to contact Indian citizens for various crimes, including gaming and investment fraud, they said.

Tsultim and Gyaltsen were born in China and have lived in India as refugees for 15 years. Fluent in Chinese and Taiwanese, they communicated with Tsega via WeChat, a platform banned in India since 2020, they added.

ACP Cyber Priyanshu Dewan said the three accused were produced in court on Wednesday and have been sent to judicial custody.

We are working to identify others involved in the network," he added. PTI COR AKY

First Published: February 18, 2026, 22:30 IST

News agency-feeds Three arrested in Gurugram for aiding Chinese cyber fraud syndicate

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BRATISLAVA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Slovak government declared a state of emergency in relation to oil supplies on Wednesday, the News Agency of the Slovak Republic reported.

The country will release up to 250,000 tonnes of oil from the national material reserves for the Bratislava-based Slovnaft refinery, according to a government decision in response to the interruption of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. 
Google CEO Sundar Pichai Announces India-America Subsea Connectivity Initiative: What Is It?

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 17:43 IST

The India-America Connect Initiative will deliver new subsea cable routes to increase AI connectivity between India and the US and other locations in the southern hemisphere.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India-US Fibre-Optic Routes: Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday announced the India-America Connect Initiative, which will deliver new subsea cable routes to increase AI connectivity between India and the US and other locations in the southern hemisphere.

Today, we are announcing the India-America Connect Initiative, which will deliver new sub-sea cable routes to increase AI connectivity between India and the US and multiple locations across the southern hemisphere. For the opportunities this initiative creates, we should also invest in skilling, which is why we are announcing our most ambitious skilling programs here. This includes a new Google AI Professional Certificate program to master AI in their work," CEO Sundar Pichai said at a Google event in New Delhi.

#WATCH | Delhi | At a Google event, CEO Sundar Pichai says, Today, we are announcing the India-America Connect Initiative, which will deliver new sub-sea cable routes to increase AI connectivity between India and the US and multiple locations across the southern hemisphere. For pic.twitter.com/JhAdnsh58r ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

He also said India is poised for an extraordinary trajectory" in artificial intelligence and emphasised the companys commitment to partnering in the countrys AI transformation.

AI is the biggest platform shift of our lifetime," Pichai said, highlighting its potential to address challenges at scale, from improving healthcare diagnostics to supporting farmers with real-time alerts.

He noted that Indias diversity, language ecosystem, and robust digital public infrastructure make it a powerful foundation for innovation" and a blueprint for democratizing AI globally.

Pichai underscored that AI adoption must prioritise trust, safety, and inclusivity. AI must work across languages and local contexts. It must deliver real-world benefits people can rely on. Trust grows when technology is transparent, responsible, and grounded in outcomes," he said.

What Is India-America Connect Initiative?

The India-America Connect initiative is a global digital infrastructure programme announced by Google to expand high-capacity connectivity between India, the United States, and multiple regions across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Southern Hemisphere. Anchored by Googles planned $15 billion investment in AI infrastructure in India over five years, the initiative aims to strengthen network reach, reliability, and resilience through new subsea cables, fibre-optic routes, and international landing stations.

A key element is the creation of a new international subsea gateway in Visakhapatnam, along with multiple subsea links connecting India to Singapore, South Africa, and Australia, plus strategic terrestrial fibre routes linking the US and India.

The project is designed to position India as a major global connectivity hub while reducing dependence on existing cable landing points such as Mumbai and Chennai.

In collaboration with local partners, America-India Connect will establish a new international subsea gateway in Visakhapatnam (Vizag); three new subsea paths connecting India to Singapore, South Africa, and Australia; and four strategic fiber-optic routes that bolster network resilience and capacity between the United States, India, and multiple locations across the Southern Hemisphere," Brian Quigley, VP, Global Network Infrastructure, Google Cloud, said in a blogpost.

He added that the company is developing a direct fiber-optic path between Vizag and Chennai on Indias east coast to South Africa. When combined with the Equiano and Nuvem subsea cable systems, this will create a redundant high-capacity route that connects the American east coast around Africa to Vizag.

Additionally, we are delivering a direct path between Vizag and Singapore. When combined with the Bosun and Tabua subsea cable systems, this will create a South Pacific route that connects the American west coast through Australia to Vizag.

These investments will establish Vizag as a major international subsea gateway, adding vital diversity from existing landings in Mumbai and Chennai. For a nation of more than 1 billion people, this will increase the resilience of Indias digital backbone and improve economic security," Quigley stated.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 16:39 IST

News business economy Google CEO Sundar Pichai Announces India-America Subsea Connectivity Initiative: What Is It?

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Google Wants To Partner India In Its AI Journey, Says Sundar Pichai

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News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 09:01 IST

Speaking ahead of his visit to New Delhi for AI Impact Summit, Pichai outlined companys long-term commitment to the countrys AI ambitions

Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, said the company aims to partner with India across the entire AI stack during what he described as an extraordinary time of hyper progress in a pivotal technology." Speaking in a wide-ranging virtual interview with Economic Times from Mountain View, California, ahead of his visit to New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit, Pichai outlined Googles long-term commitment to Indias AI ambitions.

One of the most influential leaders in the global AI landscape, Pichai recently announced a $185 billion capital expenditure plan focused on artificial intelligence. Over the past decade, Google has played a foundational role in advancing AI  from open-sourcing key research to developing custom compute chips (TPUs), flagship models like Gemini, research through DeepMind, large-scale data centre infrastructure, and sustainable energy integration.

We are coming with a very clear message: we want to be a partner to India," Pichai told Economic Times. I believe India is going to have an extraordinary trajectory and opportunity with AI. Our role can span the full stack  providing the infrastructure and compute needed for this transformation, investing in the sustainable energy required to power it, offering open models and datasets, conducting research with local partners, and creating opportunities for Indias talent base."

On infrastructure, Pichai said Google is collaborating with Reliance Jio to establish a cloud region and working with energy providers across the ecosystem, including renewable projects such as a 150 MW facility in Rajasthan. The company is also partnering with groups such as Adani and CleanMax to expand its data centre footprint.

Beyond infrastructure, Pichai highlighted that Google is building AI-driven products and solutions specifically for Indian consumers and enterprises. Once seen as trailing in the AI race, Google has rapidly repositioned itself at the forefront of the industry.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 07:51 IST

News business economy Google Wants To Partner India In Its AI Journey, Says Sundar Pichai

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Indian IT Firms Well-Positioned For AI Services, Says Ashwini Vaishnaw Amid Job Loss Fears

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News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:44 IST

Indias IT companies are well-positioned to deliver AI-led services despite concerns over potential job losses, said Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. . File pic/PTI

Indias information technology companies are well-positioned to deliver artificial intelligence (AI)-led services despite concerns over potential job losses, IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Moneycontrol.com, emphasising that the sector is pivoting toward an AI-driven services model.

Speaking to Moneycontrol.com on the sidelines of the week-long India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 18, Vaishnaw said global enterprises are burdened with hundreds and thousands of legacy IT systems that must be upgraded to harness the capabilities of modern AI models.

IT companies are pivoting towards AI services model, working on providing the AI services," Vaishnaw told Moneycontrol.com.

His remarks come at a time when IT stocks are under pressure amid concerns that automation-led efficiencies and slower discretionary spending could weigh on growth. The recent selloff in global IT shares erased more than $20 billion in market value, as fears mounted over the rapid pace of AI adoption. One key trigger was AI firm Anthropic rolling out new Claude plugins, which unsettled investors about the future demand for traditional IT services.

Vaishnaw said Indian IT services firms are uniquely placed to execute large-scale AI transformation projects. The global shift to AI, he noted, is not incremental but a tectonic change that will reshape industries and workflows.

Addressing concerns about large-scale job displacement, the minister stressed that upskilling and reskilling will be critical. Upskilling and reskilling are already underway through coordinated efforts by industry, academia, and the government," he told Moneycontrol.com. He added that AI-driven modernisation of legacy systems presents a significant opportunity for Indian IT firms, even as the industry navigates workforce transitions.

Vaishnaw also pointed to a growing global consensus around AI as a transformative force, while underscoring the need for coordinated international efforts to mitigate risks such as cyber threats and misuse, given the technologys far-reaching implications.

IT Industry Views

On February 17, Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and chairman of Infosys, sought to calm fears of AI-led disruption, saying the technology should be viewed as a productivity amplifier rather than a direct threat to jobs. He said AI adoption at scale across enterprises would generate fresh demand for new skills and services, even as roles evolve.

Similarly, Ravi Kumar S, CEO of Cognizant, has said that while AI will change how work is executed, it is unlikely to eliminate the need for IT services at scale. He highlighted sustained enterprise demand for modernising systems and managing increasingly complex technology environments.

Taken together, these remarks reinforce the view that AI is reshaping delivery models across the IT sector, rather than hollowing it out.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:44 IST

News business economy Indian IT Firms Well-Positioned For AI Services, Says Ashwini Vaishnaw Amid Job Loss Fears

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Indias Imports From Russia Fall 40% In January As Crude Purchases Slow

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 09:20 IST

Indias imports from Russia fell 40.5 percent in January 2026, mainly due to reduced crude oil purchases, as a new US-India interim trade framework shifts focus to US energy.

Sharp Drop In Russian Oil Buying Cuts Indias January Import Bill

Indias merchandise imports from Russia fell 40.5% year-on-year in January 2026, as crude oil purchases slowed down. It came after a new interim framework with the United States under the India-US trade deal, according to Hindustan Times report.

India imported goods worth $2.86 billion from Russia in January 2026, down from $4.81 billion a year earlier. The steep decline was largely driven by reduced purchases of Russian crude oil, which typically accounts for nearly 80% of Indias total imports from Moscow.

The drop comes as energy trade remains at the center of geopolitical tensions following Russias invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions.

Crude Oil Imports Drive Trade Contraction

For much of 20232025, India had significantly ramped up imports of discounted Russian crude. However, Januarys data indicates a marked slowdown in buying activity by Indian refiners.

Earlier, Russias share of Indias crude oil imports surged to 21.6 percent in 202223, 35.9 percent in 202324, and 35.8 percent in 202425.

Lower crude purchases appear to be the primary factor behind the overall contraction in merchandise imports. While some Russian cargoes are reportedly still being booked, energy analysts in India maintain that long-term procurement decisions remain driven by price competitiveness and national interest, as per HT report.

Petroleum crude has historically formed the bulk of bilateral trade, making fluctuations in oil flows immediately visible in headline trade figures.

US-India Interim Trade Framework Takes Effect

Under the agreement, Washington reduced tariffs on Indian goods to around 18%, rolling back earlier elevated rates imposed in 2025.

The US also removed a punitive 25% tariff that had targeted Indian exports over continued Russian oil purchases. In return, India is expected to expand imports of US energy, technology, and other goods over the next five years, with bilateral trade targeted at roughly $500 billion.

The deal includes cooperation on non-tariff barriers and deeper economic coordination.

Tariff Pressure And Strategic Autonomy

The administration of Donald Trump had previously imposed tariffs of up to 50% on certain Indian exports, linking trade penalties to Indias continued Russian oil imports.

An executive order tied tariff relief to Indias commitment to stop importing Russian oil," while stating that trade benefits could be reconsidered if imports resume at prior levels.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 09:20 IST

News business economy Indias Imports From Russia Fall 40% In January As Crude Purchases Slow

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Q&A | 'We Are Looking At AI Only As A Tool To Support Our Editing Community': Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales

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News18.com Edited By: Mohammad Haris



Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 12:08 IST

In an interview, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales discusses artificial intelligence, misinformation risks, open-source innovation, and the future of human-led knowledge systems.

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales.

Even as debate around AI intensifies across industries, concerns about the technology are also growing. In an interview with CNN-News18 at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales discusses artificial intelligence, misinformation risks, open-source innovation, and the future of human-led knowledge systems. In this conversation, he explains why AI should assist  not replace  humans, and what that means for technology and global participation. Edited excerpts:

I did a bit of research before this interview, and what I could understand about your opinion on AI is that it should assist humans, not replace human editorial communities. Can you elaborate on this?

The large language model (LLM) breakthrough is remarkable. It can generate large amounts of perfectly grammatical text in many languages, but it still struggles with factual accuracy, and hallucinations remain a serious issue. While we see some use cases for this, and many people are exploring them, we are very much about humans in the loop. We are about humans verifying knowledge, debating and discussing, trying to get every word exactly right. So, we see some change coming, but were still very grounded in human knowledge.

This summit is taking place for the first time in the Global South. Over the past decade, a few countries and companies from the developed world have dominated this ecosystem. Do you think India is positioning itself as a bridge between the Global North and Global South, helping democratise this technology and shifting the narrative so developing nations are participants, not just consumers?

One of the things I watch very closely is developments in open-source software and open-source AI. People are using models designed to run on much smaller hardware, which means individual developers can now run quite capable AI on a laptop  maybe not quite as good as the very best models at the moment, perhaps six months behind. That has major implications for the developing world and for mid-tier countries like India, which has had a strong IT sector for a long time and a large pool of talented developers who dont need to rely on big proprietary models. A cluster costing about $100,000 can run a really impressive model. That means many startups dont have to depend on the biggest players. Thats where much of the interesting innovation is happening, and many researchers and scientists are working in that space. So its a very exciting time.

Will AI reduce the need for traditional encyclopedias?

I dont think so. The idea of an encyclopedia is a very carefully vetted sum of human knowledge, and that is the core foundation that AI systems rely on. They all use Wikipedia  they read it to understand the world. Were very passionate about our model and about producing high-quality content.

Should AI-generated content ever be allowed directly into Wikipedia articles?

When we say the word ever", it becomes difficult to answer definitively. Whats exciting about AI is its language capability, and were already seeing volunteers use machine translation  even between languages like French and English  at a much higher quality than before. In that sense, some content is already machine-generated. But broadly, we are only looking at AI as a tool to support our editing community  for example, helping identify problems in articles or gather sources. Its an exciting time, but we dont anticipate AI being able to write Wikipedia anytime soon.

How can Wikipedia preserve human editorial judgment?

Its the same way we always have. One of the challenges today is the rise of AI-generated clutter across the internet. Yet we still very much need journalists to sift through information as humans and determine what is true and what is real, because AI doesnt actually know whats real.

Should editors disclose when they use AI tools while drafting content?

Thats definitely best practice  to say, for example, I used AI to help find sources or I used AI to translate this. Then other editors can review it with that context. Its is very important.

Who should be responsible when AI systems spread false information  developers, users, or platforms?

Whoever is the human spreading the false information is the first line of responsibility. People create false stories and spread them. What tools they use is secondary. Ultimately, its about taking responsibility for your own actions as a human being.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 12:05 IST

News business economy Q&A | 'We Are Looking At AI Only As A Tool To Support Our Editing Community': Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales

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Yotta Bets Big On Nvidia's Latest Chips To Build Asia's Largest AI Supercluster

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 11:30 IST

Yotta Data Services to spend $2 billion to deploy Nvidia's latest Blackwell chips in India, building one of Asia's largest AI superclusters

Yotta Infrastructure's Greater Noida data centre park (Photo Credit: Yotta's website)

Indias data centre sector is entering a new era of scale. Yotta Data Services said Wednesday, February 18, that it will deploy Nvidias most-advanced artificial intelligence chips in a $2-billion project that will establish one of the largest AI computing hubs in Asia, positioning the country as a serious contender in the global race for AI infrastructure.

The investment centres on the first-ever deployment of Nvidias Blackwell B300 graphics processing units in India, to be housed at Yottas hyperscale campus in Noida, just outside New Delhi. The supercluster is expected to go live by August.

Anchoring the project is a four-year agreement with Nvidia valued at roughly $1 billion, under which the chipmaker will establish one of Asia-Pacifics largest DGX Cloud clusters within Yottas infrastructure. Sunil Gupta, managing director and chief executive of Yotta, told The Economic Times that Nvidia will deploy approximately 10,300 GPUs through the arrangement to serve its global Asia-Pacific customers and run its own models and services. Nvidia is creating one of Asias largest DGX Cloud clusters on our supercluster," Gupta said.

The deal underscores a broader shift in how hyperscalers and chipmakers are approaching India. Global cloud providers, including Microsoft and Amazon, have been expanding AI data centre capacity in the country, drawn by surging demand for generative AI services and government pressure to localise advanced computing infrastructure, according to Reuters. Nvidias direct commitment within Yottas facility goes a step further, signalling confidence in India as a viable hub for serving enterprise AI workloads across the region.

A significant share of remaining capacity will be dedicated to Indias national AI Mission, which has received more than 500 applications from start-ups seeking affordable compute access. Gupta told The Economic Times that the expansion will increase the countrys compute capacity by almost five to six times", addressing what he described as enormous pressure on existing resources. The infrastructure will support state-backed Indian language model initiatives, including Bhashini, Sarvam, BharatGen and Soket, all aimed at building foundational AI models trained on Indian-language datasets.

Yotta currently holds around 10,000 advanced Nvidia GPUs, accounting for nearly 75% of Indias GPU compute capacity. With the new deployment, its total GPU count will rise from roughly 40,000 to more than 75,000 over the next two years.

The capital push is being funded through a combination of debt and equity. Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Gupta said the company is targeting a fundraise of close to $1 billion to support its current phase of GPU deployment. Yotta has already invested over $1.5 billion in infrastructure and expects to commit an additional $2 billion toward advanced chips. A pre-IPO equity round is underway, with the company aiming to enter public markets within the current financial year.

Yotta is part of Indian billionaire Niranjan Hiranandanis real estate conglomerate and operates data centre campuses in Mumbai, Gujarat and near New Delhi. Additional capacity from its Mumbai facility will supplement the Noida supercluster.

The timing of the investment is notable. US export controls have reshaped global supply chains for advanced AI semiconductors, pushing technology firms to deepen partnerships in markets that remain accessible. India, which has cultivated strong ties with Washington and positioned itself as a neutral beneficiary of great-power competition in technology, has emerged as one of the cleaner plays for companies looking to expand AI compute outside China.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Gupta said that Indias AI ambitions are grounded in practical outcomes, with the goal of delivering impact across agriculture, healthcare, education and climate. He drew a comparison to the Unified Payments Interface, suggesting AI-led transformation could similarly reshape how services are delivered at scale across the country.

For Nvidia, the DGX Cloud anchor at Yotta is the latest in a string of sovereign and commercial AI infrastructure deals across Asia, as the company works to deepen its footprint ahead of any potential tightening of chip export restrictions.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 11:30 IST

News business economy Yotta Bets Big On Nvidia's Latest Chips To Build Asia's Largest AI Supercluster

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Who Pays For The Loss If Gold Is Stolen From Your Bank Locker?

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Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 07:38 IST

Banks typically mention in locker agreements that they are not responsible for the contents stored, as customers are not required to disclose or list what they keep inside

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Under RBI rules introduced in 2022 and still applicable in 2025-26, a bank can compensate up to 100 times the annual locker rent. (AI Image)

Tension gripped a branch of Punjab National Bank (PNB) in west Delhis Kirti Nagar after a woman and her mother-in-law alleged that gold ornaments kept in their bank locker had gone missing, setting off panic among customers and sparking a flurry of rumours about a possible theft. The locker was opened as per the banks standard procedure, following which the two women claimed their valuables were not inside.

Word of the alleged loss spread rapidly on social media and in the surrounding area, prompting other locker holders to rush to the branch to check their belongings. Within a short span, a large crowd gathered outside, leading to chaos and concern.

Police reached the spot and began an investigation. However, initial findings suggested that the claims appeared suspicious. There were no signs of forced entry, tampering, or broken lockers. Cops found that the locker had been operated recently on February 5 and that it was a joint locker. Officials later indicated that the rumours of a large-scale theft were unfounded and that the situation had escalated due to panic and misinformation.

The incident has once again drawn attention to a frequently misunderstood aspect of bank lockers: who bears responsibility if valuables go missing.

A bank locker is essentially a storage facility provided by the bank, and the institution does not keep records of what customers place inside. As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, banks are not automatically liable for loss or theft of locker contents unless negligence on their part is proven. This could include serious security lapses, non-functional CCTV systems, staff errors, or fraud involving bank employees.

Even in cases where the bank is found at fault, such as incidents involving fire, theft, robbery, or employee misconduct, compensation is limited. Under RBI rules introduced in 2022 and still applicable in 2025-26, a bank can compensate up to 100 times the annual locker rent. For instance, if a customer pays Rs 4,000 as yearly rent, the maximum compensation would be Rs 4 lakh, regardless of the actual value of the items stored. Losses caused by natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes are not covered, and banks hold no liability in such situations.

Banks typically mention in locker agreements that they are not responsible for the contents stored, as customers are not required to disclose or list what they keep inside. Experts advise customers to read the agreement carefully before using a locker to understand the limits of the banks responsibility.

In the event of any suspected theft or discrepancy, customers should immediately file a police complaint and inform the bank in writing. Maintaining photographs, written records, and purchase receipts of valuables stored in the locker can serve as crucial proof if a dispute arises.

Financial advisers also recommend opting for separate insurance for high-value items such as gold, jewellery, and important documents, as the banks compensation cap may be far lower than the actual worth of the contents.

While bank lockers are generally considered safe, they do not offer a complete guarantee. Ultimately, the bank provides space and basic security, but the primary responsibility for safeguarding valuables rests with the customer.

First Published: February 19, 2026, 06:36 IST

News business Who Pays For The Loss If Gold Is Stolen From Your Bank Locker?

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Bengaluru Police Chief Issue Stern Warning To Parents Against Underage Driving

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 20:17 IST

Parents are being urged to ensure that minors do not have access to vehicles and that they are educated on road safety

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), emphasised the role of parental supervision, noting that many minors are involved in accidents either unknowingly or with parental encouragement. (Image: Canva/Representational)

Bengaluru Police has issued a stern warning to parents as part of a new crackdown on underage driving, following a series of fatal accidents that have claimed 12 lives in the Bengaluru Rural police limits, including five minors.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Seemant Kumar Singh, expressed concern over the rising number of highway accidents in Hoskote and MN Halli. He instructed traffic authorities to launch a special drive starting Tuesday, aimed at preventing minors from riding or driving vehicles without valid licences.

The traffic police have prepared a detailed plan to address this issue," said Singh. Vehicle keys should only be handed over to individuals with valid licences. Cases will be booked against minors, vehicle owners, and their parents. I am requesting and warning parents not to allow their minor children to ride or drive."

Data shared by the traffic police highlights the increasing scale of the problem. In 2023, 95 cases were registered against minors and their parents. This number doubled in 2024 with 197 cases, and last year, a total of 414 cases were filed. Karthik Reddy, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), emphasised the role of parental supervision, noting that many minors are involved in accidents either unknowingly or with parental encouragement. If any minors are caught, we will book cases against the minors, vehicle owners, and their parents, and produce them before court. The drive will be conducted regularly. I urge parents to remain vigilant about their children," he added.

The urgency of the crackdown follows two horrific accidents. Earlier this month, a collision between a new XUV 700, a two-wheeler, and a canter on the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) expressway between Hoskote and Devanahalli near Kamablipura left seven people dead on the spot, including five minor boys. The following night, another accident on the flyover near Jindal Hospital on the Bengaluru-Tumakuru road claimed five more lives.

Authorities have made it clear that the drive against underage driving is aimed at preventing further tragedies. Parents are being urged to ensure that minors do not have access to vehicles and that they are educated on road safety. The police have also stated that legal action will be taken not only against the underage drivers but also against those who enable or encourage them.

With fatalities on the rise, Bengaluru Police are determined to send a strong message: underage driving will not be tolerated, and parents must share responsibility for preventing accidents.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 20:17 IST

News cities bengaluru-news Bengaluru Police Chief Issue Stern Warning To Parents Against Underage Driving

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'City Life Is Not Cheap': New In Bengaluru, Man Shares Honest First-Week Expenses In City

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 20:03 IST

Between exploring Indiranagar, HSR Layout, and Electronic City, he quickly realised that living in Bengaluru isnt just about the buzz and opportunitiesit comes with a price tag

In his post on X, user Praha detailed spending over Rs 18,000 on rent and more than Rs 12,000 on food during his first week. (Image: Representational)

Moving to a new city always comes with surprisesbut for one Bengaluru newcomer, the reality hit hard and fast. In just his first week, Praha found himself shelling out over Rs 18,000 on rent and another Rs 12,000 on food. Between exploring Indiranagar, HSR Layout, and Electronic City, he quickly realised that living in Indias tech hub isnt just about the buzz and opportunitiesit comes with a price tag that can leave even the prepared catching their breath.

In his post on X, user Praha detailed spending over Rs 18,000 on rent and more than Rs 12,000 on food during his first week. He admitted that his spending habits were not particularly careful but said the experience gave him a clear sense of Bengalurus costs.

Exploring The City

Praha visited several popular areas, including Indiranagar, HSR Layout, and Electronic City. He decided to stay in HSR Layout, where he found a fully furnished flat with essential amenities within walking distance.

1 Week completed in Bengaluru,Spent 18k+ in rent and 12k+ in food. City life is not cheap, and I dont have good spending habits too. Explored Indiranagar, HSR, Electronic City. Gonna stay in HSR, got a good fully furnished flat and everything available in walkable  Praha (@Praha37v) February 17, 2026

He described Bengaluru as a vibrant city, noting the hardworking population and the constant activity around him. I had never seen a city so busy and energetic before," he said, expressing surprise at the pace of life.

Social Media Reacts

The post drew mixed reactions from social media users. One commented, Real estate is way too costly in HSR. You should have explored Bommanahalli or GB Palya."

Another user asked, Which place were you in before?"

A third noted, Bengaluru rent and spending is not logical at all. Expenses are skyrocketing every month."

Prahas post reflects the growing discussion around affordability and lifestyle costs in Indias major tech cities, particularly for newcomers navigating the city for the first time.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 20:02 IST

News cities bengaluru-news 'City Life Is Not Cheap': New In Bengaluru, Man Shares Honest First-Week Expenses In City

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'She Tried To Kill Me': 75-Year-Old Ex-ISRO Official Murders Wife In Bengaluru, Police Launch Probe

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 21:06 IST

The accused, Nageshwar Rao (75), is said to have murdered his wife, Sandhyashree (65), by strangling her with a towel while she was preparing for a bath

Nageshwar Rao (75) and his wife Sandhyashree (65)

A retired ISRO employee allegedly killed his wife inside their apartment in Bengalurus Avalahalli police station limits on Wednesday morning.

The accused, Nageshwar Rao (75), is said to have murdered his wife, Sandhyashree (65), by tightening a towel around her neck while she was preparing for a bath around 10 am. The elderly couple had been residing in the apartment for the past three years.

According to police, after committing the crime, Rao reportedly called his friends and informed them about the incident. It is also learnt that he had decided to end his own life after killing his wife.

The couples daughter was not at home at the time of the incident.

During questioning, the accused is said to have given inconsistent statements, at one point claiming that his wife attempted to kill him with a towel and that he killed her in response.

Preliminary investigation has indicated that Nageshwar Rao had recently been experiencing mental health issues.

Joint Commissioner of Police Ramesh Banoth said the incident occurred within the Avalahalli police station limits. He confirmed that Nageshwar Rao had retired after serving as an ISRO team leader and that his wife Sandhyashree was found dead at the residence.

Avalahalli police have taken the accused into custody, and further investigation is underway.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 17:37 IST

News cities bengaluru-news 'She Tried To Kill Me': 75-Year-Old Ex-ISRO Official Murders Wife In Bengaluru, Police Launch Probe

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SAO PAULO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed and 11 others injured early Tuesday in a road accident in central Brazil, local authorities said.

The accident occured at the Planaltina area of Goias state when a truck crashed into a van coming from Santa Rita de Cassia toward Brasilia.

A child, two women and two men were among the victims.

The accident occurred among heavy traffic due to celebrations of a Carnival holiday in the South American country. 
Bhopal Lost 645 Lives To Road Accidents In 3 Years, These Are The 'Black Spots'

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 12:41 IST

Over 645 lives lost in three years, 11 black spots still active, and Rs 3.98 crore stalled - Bhopals roads remain deadly as speed and poor design claim lives

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Unless engineering defects are corrected and traffic discipline is strictly enforced, experts caution that Bhopals roads will continue to claim innocent lives.

Travelling on Bhopals roads has increasingly become a matter of risk rather than routine. Government data reveals that more than 645 people have lost their lives in road accidents in the city over the past three years. While authorities claim that black spots are being rectified, the ground reality paints a far more troubling picture.

Fatal crashes occur almost every other day, with overspeeding, flawed road engineering, and weak traffic management emerging as the primary causes.

Bhopal is now grappling with a reputation for traffic congestion, poorly designed bridges, and accident-prone junctions. Data from recent years highlights systemic shortcomings and slow administrative response. Experts warn that unless structural engineering corrections and strict enforcement are prioritised, fatalities will continue to rise.

Three-Year Accident And Death Analysis

The figures underscore the severity of the crisis:

2023: 2,906 accidents and 196 deaths

2,906 accidents and 196 deaths 2024: 235 deaths  the deadliest year

235 deaths  the deadliest year 2025: 214 deaths

In total, 645 people lost their lives between 2023 and 2025.

From 2022 to 2024, 99 serious accidents occurred at designated black spots, resulting in 27 deaths. These statistics point to persistent issues related to speed control and engineering flaws.

Black Spots Reduced, But Risk Remains

In February 2026, Bhopal Police declared 5 out of 16 identified black spots safe and removed them from the list. These included DB Mall Crossing, Chirayu Hospital Junction, and Best Price Crossing.

However, 11 black spots still remain, continuing to pose serious risks to commuters. Although certain corrective measures have reduced fatalities in some locations, the overall threat has not been eliminated.

Most Dangerous Areas And Junctions

Accident data from 2025 highlights particularly vulnerable areas:

Misrod police station area recorded 26 deaths in 183 accidents, making it the deadliest zone.

Gyarah Meel Junction ranked as the second most dangerous.

Platinum Plaza (Atal Path) witnessed 16 accidents and 8 deaths over three years.

Khajuri Road saw a 56% drop in deaths in 2025 (from 25 to 11), indicating some improvement.

Koh-e-Fiza: 21 deaths

Kolar: 18 deaths

Chhola Mandir: 15 deaths

Budget Allocation And Administrative Delays

The government allocated Rs 3.98 crore to the municipal corporation to address black spots and improve safety. However, much of the proposed work remains stalled due to administrative delays.

Key measures such as widening left turns, installing rumble strips, and closing illegal road cuts have yet to be implemented.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Basant Kaul stated that traffic police continue to hold meetings and issue communications, but tangible improvements on the ground remain limited.

Bridge Design And Safety Concerns

The removal of the BRTS corridor widened roads but did not ensure adequate safety measures. Several overbridges, constructed to ease congestion, are now being criticised for flawed designs.

Bridges with sharp 90-degree turns and controversial layouts, particularly in areas such as Bawadia Kalan, have created new hazards instead of resolving traffic issues. Poor engineering continues to undermine safety efforts.

A Growing Concern

Despite efforts to reduce black spots and allocate funds, structural weaknesses and enforcement gaps persist.

Unless engineering defects are corrected and traffic discipline is strictly enforced, experts caution that Bhopals roads will continue to claim innocent lives.

Location : Bhopal, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 12:41 IST

News cities bhopal Bhopal Lost 645 Lives To Road Accidents In 3 Years, These Are The 'Black Spots'

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Third Time's A Charm? New Tender Floated For Mahim-Bandra East Flyover To Ease WEH Congestion

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 11:30 IST

The 1.5km flyover will reportedly be constructed from Fishermen Colony on Mahims Senapati Bapat Marg, extending close to Kalanagar flyover in Bandra East

The proposed flyover is expected to ease congestion by up to 30 minutes for travellers between south Mumbai and the suburban areas. (PTI/File)

Mumbaikars may soon get respite from debilitating traffic on the Western Express Highway with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reportedly planning to dust off a three-year-old plan to build a flyover that connects Mahim and Bandra East.

According to a report in Times of India, BMC has issued a new tender for the project, which is estimated to cost Rs 220.17 crore.

The 1.5km flyover will reportedly be constructed from Fishermen Colony on Mahims Senapati Bapat Marg, extending close to Kalanagar flyover in Bandra East. A tender for the project was also floated in 2022 and 2023 but reportedly failed to attract bids in time.

According to the TOI report, peak hour congestion on the Western Express Highway chokes the stretch from the Mithi River area to Senapati Bapat Marg, with cascading effects as far as Khar, Dadar and Santacruz.

The proposed flyover is expected to ease congestion by up to 30 minutes for travellers between south Mumbai and the suburban areas, benefitting commuters on SV Road and Bandra-Worli Sea Link as well.

Traffic snarls along this corridor have long been a concern for daily commuters, particularly during morning and evening peak hours when vehicles crawl bumper-to-bumper. The Western Express Highway serves as one of Mumbais primary north-south arterial roads, linking key commercial districts and residential hubs. Bottlenecks near Mahim and Bandra often result in spill-over traffic onto internal roads, further burdening neighbourhood streets not designed to handle high traffic volumes.

Urban planners have repeatedly pointed out that the Mahim-Bandra junction functions as a critical interchange, connecting the Western Express Highway, SV Road, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and arterial roads leading towards central Mumbai. Any disruption or slowdown at this node tends to ripple across the broader traffic network.

The proposed flyover aims to create a signal-free corridor for through traffic, reducing dependence on existing junctions and intersections.

Officials believe that once operational, the elevated connector could streamline vehicular movement between south Mumbai and the western suburbs, while also improving last-mile connectivity around Bandra Easts commercial and residential zones.

If implemented on schedule, the project could form part of a broader push to decongest Mumbais ageing road infrastructure amid rising vehicle ownership.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 11:30 IST

News cities mumbai-news Third Time's A Charm? New Tender Floated For Mahim-Bandra East Flyover To Ease WEH Congestion

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AI After Class 12 Arts? Yes, Its Possible  Heres What You Need To Know

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:25 IST

Career in AI: Humanities students can now enter data science and AI without an engineering degree. Heres a clear roadmap to start your tech journey

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In the age of AI, the real advantage lies not in your stream, but in your skills.

A major shift is underway in the technology job market, and it is changing long-held assumptions about who can build a career in AI and data science. The belief that only engineering graduates can enter the world of coding and analytics is steadily losing ground.

Redefining Career In AI And Data Science

In 2026, the digital economy is redefining the meaning of data. It is no longer limited to numbers and software systems; it captures human behaviour, language, emotions and social trends. This evolution has prompted leading technology companies to widen their hiring approach.

Instead of focusing solely on technical degrees, firms are increasingly valuing critical thinking, communication skills, ethical understanding and domain knowledge; strengths often associated with Arts and humanities education. As a result, new pathways are opening for Arts students to enter high-growth fields such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and user experience research.

Here is a closer look at how this transformation is creating fresh career opportunities beyond traditional academic boundaries.

The Old Divide Is Gone

Earlier, a four-year BTech degree was almost mandatory for a tech career. Today, companies increasingly value skills over streams.

Major global firms such as Google, IBM, Apple, and Meta have shifted towards micro-credentials and portfolio-based hiring instead of relying solely on formal engineering degrees.

This marks a new era where humanities graduates can confidently step into AI and data-driven roles.

Can Arts Students Study AI?

Absolutely. Students of history, psychology, sociology, linguistics, and philosophy already possess strong critical thinking skills. These abilities are essential for interpreting complex datasets and understanding human-centred technology.

AI today needs not just technical accuracy but also social awareness.

Coding Is Now Accessible To Everyone

Previously, coding demanded advanced mathematics and complex software. Today:

Languages like Python are beginner-friendly.

Learning syntax is comparable to learning a new language such as English or French.

No-code and low-code platforms allow users to build data models without writing full programmes.

Humanities students, often skilled in language patterns, adapt quickly to coding logic.

Arts Background: The Secret Weapon In Data Science

Data science is not just about creating charts; it is about explaining what those charts mean.

Data Storytelling: Arts students excel at narrative building. They can present data insights in ways that business leaders easily understand. Ethics And Bias In AI: AI systems can reflect human bias. Sociology and philosophy graduates are particularly equipped to identify and minimise bias, ensuring fairness and accountability. Skill-First Hiring: Your Portfolio becomes your degree as companies increasingly follow skill-based recruitment.

Professional certificate programmes launched by Google and IBM offer 3-6 month courses that prepare learners for careers in data analytics and UX design. A strong portfolio on platforms like GitHub can outweigh a traditional degree.

Emerging Tech Careers For Arts Students

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Literature and linguistics students can contribute to training language models such as ChatGPT.

AI Ethics Officer

Ensuring artificial intelligence systems are fair, transparent, and socially responsible.

UX Researcher

Studying user psychology to design intuitive applications.

Data Journalism

Using data analysis to produce impactful news stories and investigative reports.

How Arts Students Can Build A Career In AI

1. Overcome Fear: Data science relies more on logic and structured thinking than advanced mathematics.

2. Use Free Learning Resources: Start with beginner-friendly courses such as:

Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate (via Coursera)

IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

Courses from Harvard University on edX

YouTube channels like Codebasics and Sentdex also offer accessible tutorials.

3. Use Your Domain Knowledge: Combine your subject expertise with data. For example: A psychology student can analyse mental health datasets. A sociology student can examine social inequality trends.

4. Build Networks: Connect on LinkedIn with professionals who transitioned from Arts to tech. Learn from their journeys.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Arts Students Learn Data Science Without Maths Background?

Yes. Advanced calculus is not essential. Most programmes focus on statistics, probability, and logical reasoning. Many courses begin from foundational level.

How Do Companies Hire Without Engineering Degrees?

Through skill-based hiring. Employers evaluate project portfolios, certifications, and practical expertise rather than formal degrees.

Is Coding Difficult For Arts Students?

Not necessarily. Languages like Python are intuitive, and humanities students often grasp coding grammar quickly due to strong language skills.

Which Free Courses Are Best?

Google and IBM certificate programmes, Harvards online courses, and YouTube channels such as Codebasics and Sentdex are good starting points.

What Salary Can Arts Students Expect In Tech?

Entry-level data analyst: Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per year

Experienced data scientist: Rs 15 lakh to Rs 25 lakh per year

These packages can match or exceed those of many engineers.

The Big Question

In the age of AI, the real advantage lies not in your stream, but in your skills. Science, Commerce, or Arts, the future belongs to those who can combine human understanding with technological capability.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:25 IST

News education-career AI After Class 12 Arts? Yes, Its Possible  Heres What You Need To Know

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Denied Entry At Exam Centre, Class 10 Patna Girl Dies After Jumping Off Moving Train

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 16:15 IST

Komal Kumari, a Class 10 student near Maharajchak village in Patna, died by suicide after being denied entry to her exam centre for arriving late.

Though the reporting time was 9 am, the student reached the centre at 9:15 am, by which time the gates were closed. (Image used for representation)

A Class 10 student died by suicide after she was allegedly denied entry at her examination centre near Maharajchak village in Patna, under the jurisdiction of Masaurhi police.

The student, Komal Kumari, was staying at her relatives village since Tuesday and her examination centre was six kilometres away.

Though the reporting time was 9 am, she reached the centre at 9:15 am, by which time the gates were closed. She pleaded with the staff to open the gates, saying, The examination will begin at 9:30 am. I am only 10 minutes late, and it is crucial for my career." However, she was denied entry.

According to NDTV, Komal, distressed, returned home and later went to Nadaul, boarded a train, and jumped between Taregna and Masaurhi Court stations.

She was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries.

Police said a team from Masaurhi police station circulated her photograph on social media, which enabled her villagers to identify her and inform her family.

The father of Komal, the eldest of three siblings, works as a labourer outside the state.

Also Read: CBSE Board Exams 2026 Begin Today For Classes 10 & 12; Check Reporting Time, Instructions

Reporting Time For CBSE Examination

Students have been advised to reach the examination centre at least 30 to 60 minutes before the start of the paper. Since the exam begins at 10:30 am, candidates must enter the centre before 10 am.

The Class 10 exams will conclude on March 10, while the Class 12 exams will continue till April 10. This year, the board is conducting examinations in 83 subjects for Class 10 and 120 subjects for Class 12. Of the Class 10 candidates, about 14 lakh are boys and 10.9 lakh girls. In Class 12, nearly 10.2 lakh boys and 8.3 lakh girls are appearing.

Students must carry a printed admit card, failing which they will not be allowed inside the examination hall. They are also required to wear proper school uniform and carry their school identity card. Electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart watches and other gadgets are prohibited. Candidates found with such items will not be permitted to take the examination.

Students should bring their own stationery as sharing is not allowed. A transparent water bottle is permitted. They will be given 15 minutes to read the question paper before writing answers and should use only blue or black pen.

DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 16:15 IST

News education-career Denied Entry At Exam Centre, Class 10 Patna Girl Dies After Jumping Off Moving Train

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IIT Pravartak Launches Programme On Generative AI And Agentic AI Tools

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 14:52 IST

IIT Madras Pravartak has launched a four-month executive programme on Generative AI and Agentic AI tools for business professionals.

IIT Madras Pravartak launches a four month Generative AI and Agentic AI executive course for working professionals.

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, through IIT Madras Pravartak, its Technology Innovation Hub funded by the Department of Science and Technology, has launched an executive programme on Generative AI and Agentic AI tools for business. The course has been introduced in collaboration with Emeritus.

The four month online programme aims to help working professionals learn practical uses of AI in business without requiring prior technical or programming knowledge.

According to a press statement issued by the institute, the course focuses on enabling participants to apply Generative AI and Agentic AI directly in business workflows. It has been designed for business executives, managers, consultants, entrepreneurs and functional leaders across areas such as strategy, operations, marketing, finance, human resources, consulting and product management.

The programme emphasises real world use rather than theory and will allow learners to work with no code and low code tools. It includes more than 20 hands on projects and over 25 business oriented use cases so that participants can apply their learning during the course itself.

Speaking on the launch, Laxminarayan G, Guest Faculty at IITM Pravartak, said, Generative AI and Agentic AI represent a significant evolution in how businesses operate and compete. This programme is designed to help business professionals develop applied AI capabilities that translate directly into workplace impact, enabling them to lead confidently in an AI-driven economy."

ALSO READ: SSC GD Constable Exam 2026 Deferred; New Dates To Be Announced Soon

The online course will begin on March 30, 2026. Graduates and diploma holders with at least five years of work experience are eligible to apply.

Interested candidates can check detailed information regarding eligibility and admissions through the official channels of IIT Madras Pravartak.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 14:52 IST

News education-career IIT Pravartak Launches Programme On Generative AI And Agentic AI Tools

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What Is Galgotias? Location, Fame, Key Alumni As Robodog Fiasco Boots University From Delhi AI Summit

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:37 IST

Many claimed that the device looked exactly like the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robotic dog made by a Chinese company.

The issue began when a robotic dog named ORION. (Photo Credit: X)

Big technology events are often seen as a stage to show what the future looks like. Universities, startups and companies bring their latest ideas in a hope to impress experts and policymakers. That is what happened at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi where Galgotias University found itself in the middle of a debate.

Government sources said on Wednesday, February 18, that the university had been asked to vacate the expo venue immediately. The move came after questions were raised about a robotic dog displayed at the summit.

What Sparked Galgotias Universitys Robotic Dog Controversy?

The issue began when a robotic dog named ORION" was presented at the summit. A video showed a faculty member demonstrating the robot which caught widespread attention online. Soon after, social media users claimed that the device looked exactly like the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robotic dog made by a Chinese company.

This led to accusations that the university was presenting an imported product as its own innovation. The controversy grew because the display was linked to the universitys larger Rs 350 crore AI ecosystem investment.

How Did The University Respond?

As the debate picked up pace online, the university issued a clarification. It said that it had never claimed" to have built the robotic dog. According to the statement, the device was purchased from China-based Unitree for academic purposes and student learning.

The recently acquired robodog from Unitree is one such step in that journey. It is not merely a machine on display; it is a classroom in motion. Our students are experimenting with it, testing its limits and, in the process, expanding their own knowledge. Let us be clear: Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we ever claimed to. Let us be clear  Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat," the statement read which was shared by the universitys official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

What Were The Broader Criticisms?

The controversy did not remain limited to just the robot. Critics began questioning how projects are selected for display at national-level technology events. Concerns about whether imported, off-the-shelf products should be showed at such summits were also raised.

The debate also extended to government-backed innovation funding and patent support.

What Is Galgotias Universitys AI Ecosystem Investment?

At the centre of the discussion is the universitys announcement of investing over Rs 350 crore in building an AI ecosystem. This has been described as the largest investment of its kind by a private university in India.

The investment was made with an aim to create strong infrastructure for AI education, research and real-world applications.

What Are The Core Infrastructure And Key Components Of Universitys AI Push?

A high-end computing setup powered by NVIDIAs DGX H200 supercomputing platform is the major part of its AI push. It is designed to handle large-scale AI model training across areas like data science, machine learning and computer vision.

The campus also houses Centres of Excellence focused on applied research, patents and startup support. Students and researchers are given access to high-performance computing tools for interdisciplinary projects. The curriculum is reportedly aligned with industry needs and supported by enterprise-level technology.

What About The Strategic Goals?

Dhruv Galgotia, CEO of Galgotias University, has stated that the long-term goal is to help position India as a global leader in AI. He said that the emphasisis is on building real national capability in advanced technologies.

What Is Galgotias University Famous For?

Galgotias University is a private institution that is located in Greater Noida. It is known for its engineering and technology programs.

The university has over 20,000 students and 80,000 alumni worldwide. In engineering, it has been ranked in the 101150 band in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ankings.

Why Is Galgotias University Popular?

The university attracts a large number of students because of its industry connections and NAAC A+ accreditation. Tech giants like Infosys, TCS, Amazon, Google and Cisco are known to hire from the campus.

Who Are Some Notable Alumni?

Several graduates have built successful careers in technology and business. Some former students now work at global companies such as Google and Cisco. There are also entrepreneurs among its alumni, including founders and CEOs in the tech and startup space.

What Are The Best Courses Offered?

The universitys strongest programs are in technology. B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering especially with AI and machine learning specialisations, remains one of the most sought-after courses.

Apart from engineering, it also offers MBA and core engineering branches like Mechanical and Civil.

What Are Galgotias Universitys AI Contributions?

Beyond the current controversy, the university positions itself as a major private investor in AI education in India. The Rs 350 crore ecosystem includes advanced labs in areas such as semiconductors and drone intelligence.

Students and startups associated with the university were also showcased at the AI Impact Summit 2026. Despite the debate around the robotic dog, the institution continues to project itself as a serious player in Indias growing AI landscape.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 12:01 IST

News education-career What Is Galgotias? Location, Fame, Key Alumni As Robodog Fiasco Boots University From Delhi AI Summit

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AI Summit: Health, Agriculture To Drones, The Ideas That Can Change Your Life On Display

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 16:51 IST

AI Impact Summit 2026: From ideas from 3 flagship challenges to unique solutions, a look at the AI-powered innovations in fields of health, agriculture, sky delivery on display

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Visitors witness a demonstration during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, showcased a wide range of high-impact AI innovations focused on the Global South" and social good.

The event highlighted 70 finalists from three flagship challenges  AI for ALL, AI by HER, and YUVAi  along with a plethora of novel ideas. A look at the key innovations on display.

Top Award-Winning Innovations

The following top 10 solutions from the AI for ALL challenge each received a 25 lakh grant:

Infiheal Healthtech: A multilingual AI platform for mental health risk triage and support.

EQUITWIN (Infiuss Health): AI-powered digital patient twin" technology to improve medical research and treatment.

Helium Health (One Global Medical Technology): An AI clinical assistant designed for frontline health workers.

Wysa: A conversational AI platform focused on global mental health support.

MadhuNetrAI: An AI-based screening tool for diabetic retinopathy.

SatSure (Farm Score): A satellite-driven AI platform for climate-smart lending and farm risk scoring.

Biome Makers (BeCrop): An AI-enabled soil intelligence platform providing predictive health insights for farmers.

Kidaura Innovations: AI-based screening tools for autism and early developmental delays.

Resilience360: An AI tool for climate risk assessment and resilience planning.

CarbGeM Inc.: A smartphone-based AI tool for rapid infection screening.

Other Key Showcases

YUVAi Global Youth Challenge: Innovations from young leaders (ages 1321) included MalariaX (malaria detection), Paraspeak (wearable for impaired speech), and AgniSena (forest fire early warning).

AI by HER: Highlighted women-led innovations like Smart Scope CX (cervical cancer screening) and AbleCredit (AI-powered alternative credit intelligence).

Bhashini: Indias national language platform was a centerpiece, demonstrating real-time translation across 22 Indian languages to bridge the digital divide.

BharatGen: The worlds first government-funded multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) initiative for public services was officially featured.

Robotics & Smart Infrastructure: Exhibits included autonomous material movement robots and AI-integrated road safety systems like SafePath AI.

ParadigmIT Sovereign AI Box: It is a self-contained, on-premise AI data center designed for secure and private data processing. It allows organizations to deploy powerful AI agents without sending sensitive data to external cloud providers.

Autonomous Drone Delivery: Skye Air Mobility showcased end-to-end asynchronous drone delivery systems, highlighting their milestone of 3.6 million deliveries and over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 saved through aerial logistics.

Tarakram Maram unveiled the AI Trainer Machine, a flagship innovation designed to democratize AI education across India.

Frontier Markets showcased their flagship initiative, She Leads Bharat: Udyam, which focuses on transitioning rural women from digital beneficiaries to leaders in the AI economy.

Localised AI Skilling: The platform delivers AI-skilling content in Hindi and Telugu via the Meri Saheli App, making complex technology accessible to women who were previously digitally illiterate.

Drublet Innovation: Founded by students Agniva Banerjee (IISER Bhopal) and Aaditya Sah (IIT Patna), Drublet Innovation Private Limited was highlighted as a standout example of youth-led deep-tech research. The startup, incubated at IIT Patna, focuses on pushing the boundaries of autonomous navigation for real-world robotics deployment.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:35 IST

News explainers AI Summit: Health, Agriculture To Drones, The Ideas That Can Change Your Life On Display

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Explained: Why Government Wants Tourist Vehicles To Return To Home State Within 60 Days

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 15:54 IST

The new rule also requires that each trip must either originate or conclude in the vehicles home state.

News18

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced a new regulation tightening the operating conditions for vehicles running on All-India Tourist Permits, reducing the maximum continuous period they can remain outside their home state from 90 days to 60 days.

Brought in through the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Amendment Rules, 2026, the rule also requires that each trip must either originate or conclude in the vehicles home state and mandates stricter monitoring through tracking systems and compliance checks.

What Does The New Rule Say?

The new rules, applicable from April 1, is aimed at strengthening oversight of tourist vehicles and ensuring they operate strictly within the framework intended for tourism services. Its key provisions include:

Time Limit Reduced to 60 Days

Tourist vehicles with an All-India Tourist Permit (AITP) must now not remain outside their home state for more than 60 days continuously  reduced from the earlier 90-day limit. A vehicles journey must either start or end in the home state, and it must return before exceeding 60 days out of state.

Mandatory Tracking & Monitoring

The home state government (the one that issued the permit) must monitor the vehicles movement using vehicle tracking devices or command-and-control systems so that authorities can enforce the 60-day limit.

Permit Conditions Expanded (introduced under a new Rule 4A):

The vehicle must either start or end the trip in its home state.

It cannot be operated as a stage carriage (regular passenger service).

It must not pick up or drop passengers who are not on the approved tourist list.

It must be fitted with a vehicle location tracking device and emergency button.

The vehicle must not have unpaid traffic challans older than 45 days (except if contested).

No Outstanding Toll / User Fees

Before issuing the permit, the home state must ensure the tourist operator has paid all unpaid user fees (e.g., tolls recorded electronically but not paid) from earlier trips.

Route Details Required

Operators must carry (physically or electronically) the trip details, including origin, destination, and states on the planned route

Why Have These Rules Been Introduced?

The government wants tourist vehicles with All India Tourist Permits to return to their home state within 60 days instead of the earlier 90 days for a few key reasons:

Reduce Misuse of Permits

The rule change is aimed at curbing misuse and abuse of the All India Tourist Permit system. Previously, vehicles could stay out of their home state for up to 90 days, and some operators were allegedly exploiting this to run them as regular commercial vehicles or for uses beyond genuine tourism purposes. Shortening the allowed period helps tighten oversight and reduce that misuse.

Improve Passenger Safety

The government wants better compliance with safety norms for tourist vehicles. Monitoring vehicles more frequently (every 60 days) makes it easier to verify that they meet safety standards, carry valid documentation, and arent being operated unsafely or illegally.

Ensure Toll and Fee Compliance

Under the new rules, the home state authority must ensure that all toll fees and unpaid user fees are collected before issuing the permit. Reducing the stay period makes it easier to track and collect these fees promptly rather than letting vehicles roam longer without accounting for tolls.

Stronger Monitoring Through Tracking Devices

The revised rules also require states to continuously monitor the movements of these vehicles using vehicle tracking devices, so changing routes and returns more often (every 60 days) helps with the oversight mechanism.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 15:54 IST

News explainers Explained: Why Government Wants Tourist Vehicles To Return To Home State Within 60 Days

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Did Homemade Microwave Device Cause Brain Damage In Norwegian Scientist? Decoding Havana Syndrome

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 16:43 IST

Havana Syndrome is a term that has been used to describe a set of bizarre symptoms that were exhibited by US diplomats and intelligence officers in Havana, Cuba, in 2016

The symptoms of Havana Syndrome include neurological and sensory manifestations such as headaches, dizziness or loss of balance, nausea, ringing or buzzing in the ears, confusion and memory loss. (AI-Generated Image)

In a bizarre incident that has sparked renewed controversy over Havana Syndrome, a government scientist in Norway allegedly inflicted brain damage upon himself in 2024 while experimenting with a homemade device he had built to determine whether some energy weapons might pose a threat to the human brain.

According to an exclusive report in The Washington Post, the unidentified Norwegian scientist, who doubted the hypothesis that Havana Syndrome was caused by directed energy or electromagnetic weapons, built a device that could produce strong pulses of microwave or electromagnetic radiation as part of a secret research project.

In an attempt to prove that such a device was harmless, he decided to test it on himself in 2024, with the result that he began to suffer from neurological symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, memory loss, and other cognitive problems that were similar to those experienced by Havana Syndrome victims. In the end, he suffered lasting damage to the brain.

The Norwegian government later informed intelligence partners, prompting visits by officials from the CIA, the Pentagon and the White House to review the findings and the device itself.

What Is Havana Syndrome?

Havana Syndrome is a term that has been used to describe a set of bizarre symptoms that were exhibited by US diplomats and intelligence officers in Havana, Cuba, in 2016. People started suffering from a sudden onset of bizarre symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, and problems with their senses.

The term has stuck because it was largely US personnel in Cuba who were affected, but it has since been reported in other countries as well.

What Are The Common Symptoms?

The symptoms of Havana Syndrome include neurological and sensory manifestations such as headaches, dizziness or loss of balance, nausea, ringing or buzzing in the ears, confusion, memory loss, sleep disturbances, and pressure or headaches in the head. These symptoms have often occurred suddenly, with some people reporting the sensation of hearing high-pitched sounds or a pressure wave" before the onset of symptoms.

Where All Has This Been Reported?

Though it started in Cuba, there have been cases of strange symptoms reported to have affected US personnel in other countries as well, including China, Germany, Russia, Austria, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and other countries where diplomats, intelligence agents, and even some military personnel were posted. There have also been reports of cases in India, where diplomats and intelligence agents were affected, though documentation is limited.

How Did It Start & What Are the Main Theories?

Right from the beginning, it has been difficult for scientists and intelligence agencies to pinpoint a definitive cause. Several theories have emerged:

 Directed Energy/Microwave Device Exposure: Perhaps the most popular theory to emerge is that some kind of energypossibly microwaves or other forms of directed energy waveswas deliberately or accidentally beamed at personnel. This theory proposes that exposure to the energy could cause neurological symptoms without necessarily causing any visible external damage. A variant of this theory proposes that undercover devices, such as radio or audio transmitters, purchased or used by intelligence agencies, could inadvertently emit damaging frequencies.

 Environmental or Biological Causes: Some scientists have suggested that environmental factorssuch as pesticides, toxins, infections, or natural acoustic phenomenacould potentially cause simultaneous symptoms.

 Psychological/Stress-Related Explanations: Since the symptoms of the syndrome have been reported largely by diplomats and intelligence personnel operating in high-stress environments, some scientists have proposed that stress-related neurological symptoms might account for some of the reported cases.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 12:50 IST

News explainers Did Homemade Microwave Device Cause Brain Damage In Norwegian Scientist? Decoding Havana Syndrome

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Aliens, Area 51 Intrigue & The Stranger Things That Went Viral After Obamas Remark Explained

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 17:13 IST

Obamas remark triggers viral row: Aliens to secrets, why Area 51 remains mired in conspiracy theories, explained

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Barack Obama issued a clarification after his remark on aliens went viral. (AP)

In a recent podcast interview, former US President Barack Obama ignited a row on the internet by calling the aliens real". He quickly went on to add that they are not being kept in Area 51".

As the conspiracy theories went viral, Obama issued a clarification saying the clip did not capture his actual assessment of whether aliens exist, due to the speed of the questions".

Alies to secrets, why Area 51 remains mired in conspiracy theories, explained

What did Barack Obama say?

During a rapid-fire question-and-answer segment as a guest on left-wing political commentator Brian Tyler Cohens programme, which was released on Saturday, Obama was asked whether he believes extraterrestrials are real.

Theyre real, but I havent seen them," the 44th president of the US responded. Theyre not being kept at Area 51. Theres no underground facility unless theres this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States," he saod.

Why the remark went viral and the clarification that followed

Obamas remark fuelled the conspiracy theory claiming that the US government was hiding aliens at Area 51, a highly classified air force site in Nevada.

On Sunday evening, Obama said in a post on Instagram that the viral clip did not capture his actual assessment of whether aliens exist, due to the speed of the questions. Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good theres life out there," he stated.

But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances weve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!"

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Barack Obama (@barackobama)

What is Area 51?

Area 51 is a highly classified United States Air Force (USAF) facility located within the Nevada Test and Training Range, about 83 miles north-northwest of Las Vegas. Officially known as Homey Airport or Groom Lake, the site has been used since 1955 primarily for the development and testing of experimental aircraft and weapons systems.

The base was established during the Cold War to test the U-2 spy plane. It later hosted the development of other advanced aircraft, including the SR-71 Blackbird, A-12 Archangel, and the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter.

The U.S. government denied the bases existence for decades until the CIA officially acknowledged it in 2013 following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

While specific projects remain top-secret, it is believed the facility continues to test cutting-edge drones, radar-evasion systems, and possibly hypersonic technology.

Many UFO reports in the area align with the test flights of classified spy planes that flew higher and looked different than any commercial aircraft of the time. The base is protected by armed guards (Cammo Dudes"), buried motion sensors, and surveillance cameras, with signs warning that deadly force is authorized for trespassers.

The intrigue around Area 51

While it has been the center of alien conspiracy theories for decades, declassified CIA documents from 2013 confirmed it was primarily used for testing high-altitude surveillance aircraft like the U-2 and Oxcart.

In 2019, there was an attempt to storm" Area 51, with 1.5 million people signing up to ambush the once-secret facility. But ultimately, only about 150 social media influencers arrived at the site, and the events that day ended with a few arrests before turning into a music festival.

In 2013, declassified documents indicated that the site was used for aerial testing of US government projects, including the U-2 and Oxcart aerial surveillance programmes.

After Obamas remarks

Many in the UFO community believe Obamas remarks were part of a planned soft disclosurea gradual process by the government to acclimate the public to the reality of extraterrestrials. Believers argue his Instagram clarification was a forced walk-back" by intelligence agencies to maintain control after he slipped up".

Some theorists analyzed his phrasing, suggesting he was sending secret messages to specific groups. They contend that by saying Theyre real" before immediately mentioning Area 51, he was confirming existence while intentionally using a distraction" (Area 51) to hide where they are actually kept.

Obama joked that an underground facility would have to be an enormous conspiracy" hidden even from the President. Conspiracy theorists took this literally, claiming that Unelected Deep State" officials run these programs without presidential oversight. This theory suggests Obama was genuinely kept in the dark by a shadow government".

Since Obama specifically named Area 51 as empty, speculation shifted to other secretive sites. Popular alternatives mentioned in social media discussions include Dugway Proving Ground in Utah,

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, Submerged bases in the ocean, linked to recent Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) reports.

The wild conspiracy theories around Area 51

The intense secrecy of the base has made it the epicenter of UFO folklore and various unproven theories:

The most famous claim is that the base houses crashed alien spacecraft and the bodies of their crew, specifically from the 1947 Roswell incident.

Some theorists believe the military uses the site to reverse-engineer alien technology to create futuristic human weapons.

In 1989, a man named Bob Lazar claimed he worked at a sub-facility near Groom Lake called S-4," where he saw nine alien flying saucers powered by an undiscovered Element 115". His claims were later largely discredited.

Many believe the visible base is just a small part of a massive underground complex where experiments are hidden.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 14:35 IST

News explainers Aliens, Area 51 Intrigue & The Stranger Things That Went Viral After Obamas Remark Explained

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People buy Tanghulu, a traditional Chinese snack consisting of sugar-coated haws or fruits, at a temple fair in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2026. Temple fairs opened here celebrating the Spring Festival and presenting visitors with traditional dances, lion dances and delicious food. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

People interact with lion dance performers at a temple fair in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2026. Temple fairs opened here celebrating the Spring Festival and presenting visitors with traditional dances, lion dances and delicious food. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

People visit a temple fair in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2026. Temple fairs opened here celebrating the Spring Festival and presenting visitors with traditional dances, lion dances and delicious food. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Artists stage a performance at a temple fair in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2026. Temple fairs opened here celebrating the Spring Festival and presenting visitors with traditional dances, lion dances and delicious food. (Photo by Liang Zhiqiang/Xinhua)

Artists stage a lion dance performance at a temple fair in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2026. Temple fairs opened here celebrating the Spring Festival and presenting visitors with traditional dances, lion dances and delicious food. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

People interact with a lion dance performer at a temple fair in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2026. Temple fairs opened here celebrating the Spring Festival and presenting visitors with traditional dances, lion dances and delicious food. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

Artists stage a lion dance performance at a temple fair in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2026. Temple fairs opened here celebrating the Spring Festival and presenting visitors with traditional dances, lion dances and delicious food. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

A foreigner films the lion dance performance at a temple fair in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2026. Temple fairs opened here celebrating the Spring Festival and presenting visitors with traditional dances, lion dances and delicious food. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
'Transformational Moment': How India Turned An AI Event Into A Global Power Statement

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 16:52 IST

The AI summit is not merely a showcase of innovation but a strategic signal that the Global South is no longer a silent consumer of technology but a leading voice in its governance

India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. Images/X

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 has emerged as a watershed moment in the global technological landscape, positioning New Delhi as the primary architect of the third way" in artificial intelligence. Hosted at the iconic Bharat Mandapam, the summit has drawn over 2.5 lakh visitors and a formidable assembly of global leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and top tech moguls like Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai. This gathering is not merely a showcase of innovation but a strategic signal that the Global South is no longer a silent consumer of technology but a leading voice in its governance.

A New Economic Frontier

The economic narrative surrounding the summit has been nothing short of extraordinary. Shekhar Kapur, the veteran filmmaker, captured the collective optimism by predicting that AI could add a staggering $1 trillion annually to Indias GDP. He noted that the democratic nature" of AI allows it to bypass traditional institutional barriers, empowering youth who may not have attended elite institutes like the IITs. Similarly, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for IT and Electronics, projected a multi-billion-dollar pipeline, suggesting that India could attract over $200 billion in AI-related investments over the next two years across infrastructure, semiconductors, and energy layers.

The Talent and Capital Surge

The summit has served as a catalyst for massive capital deployment. Rajan Anandan, Managing Director at Peak XV Partners, used the platform to highlight the critical need for talent density". He pointed out that while the US and UK have thousands of top-tier AI researchers, India currently has around 200, setting a national goal of 10,000 to 15,000 world-class researchers to win the race". To back this vision, Peak XV announced an investment of 160 crore into five early-stage AI startups, focusing on population-scale" products that solve real-world needs for Indias 900 million internet users.

Focal Point for Intense Debate

While the atmosphere at Bharat Mandapam remains celebratory, the summit has also become a focal point for intense debate on AI regulation. The governments move to tighten social media rulesrequiring platforms to take down problematic" AI-generated content within just three hourshas sparked significant conversation. While digital rights activists like Nikhil Pahwa have voiced concerns, he termed the summit a transformational moment", thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for bringing the event to India.

A Civilisational Inflection Point

Prominent economist Steve Hanke and other global observers have noted that Indias Sovereign AI" approach is a departure from both the American market-led model and the European regulation-heavy model. By anchoring the summit in the Seven Sutras"including Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhaye (Welfare for all, happiness of all)India is advocating for an AI ecosystem that is inclusive and development-oriented. As the summit concludes, the Delhi Declaration" is expected to formalise this vision, ensuring that the blueprints for the future are shared across the Global South, transforming AI from a threat of displacement into a tool for universal empowerment.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 16:52 IST

News explainers 'Transformational Moment': How India Turned An AI Event Into A Global Power Statement

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What Is Saudi Arabia's Work Interruption Service And How It Benefits Employers And Domestic Workers

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:42 IST

The need for Saudi Arabias new Work Interruption Service arose from long-standing legal and administrative gaps in handling cases where domestic workers stopped reporting to work.

Work Interruption is a digital service introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia. (AI generated image)

Saudi Arabia has recently launched a new Work Interruption Service as part of its ongoing labour-market reforms  especially geared toward domestic workers (like housemaids, drivers, etc.). This service is now available through the national unified recruitment platform, Musaned, and is designed to bring clarity, fairness and legal structure to cases when a domestic worker stops reporting to work.

The need for Saudi Arabias new Work Interruption Service arose from long-standing legal and administrative gaps in handling cases where domestic workers stopped reporting to work. For years, employers in Saudi Arabia would file huroob" (absconding) complaints when a domestic worker left without notice.

However, the process was often opaque and inconsistent and workers sometimes claimed abuse, unpaid wages, or contract violations. Employers were made to claim financial losses due to recruitment costs, and this led to legal backlogs and disputes that were difficult to resolve fairly.

It was also a complicated process for domestic workers. When a domestic worker stopped working, they could become undocumented if their residency (iqama) wasnt regularised. They had limited clarity on whether they could transfer to another employer, and many risked detention or deportation without structured recourse.

What Is Saudis Work Interruption Service?

Work Interruption is a digital service introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia. Its purpose is to allow individual employers to formally and legally end the employment contract when a domestic worker interrupts work or stops showing up.

The Work Interruption Service offers two main procedures:

Contract termination due to interruption from work: It allows the employer to formally terminate the contract if a domestic worker ceases duty without proper notice.

It allows the employer to formally terminate the contract if a domestic worker ceases duty without proper notice. Labour mobility service: It enables certain cases where the worker may transfer to a new employer under regulated conditions rather than immediate repatriation.

The timelines and conditions depend on how long the worker has been in Saudi Arabia. If the worker has been in Saudi Arabia for less than 2 years, when the contract is terminated due to work interruption, the worker must exit the country within 60 days. Failure to do so is considered a violation of residency and labour laws.

If the worker has been in Saudi Arabia for more than 2 years, the worker has 60 days to either transfer to a new employer, or obtain a final exit visa and leave the country. Not regularising status within 60 days means the worker is officially considered absent from work and in violation of laws.

How It Benefits Employers

The Work Interruption Service offers several direct advantages to employers of domestic workers.

Legal protection when a worker stops showing up

Previously, if a domestic worker suddenly stopped reporting to work, employers had limited structured options beyond filing an absconding" complaint.

Now, employers can formally document the work interruption and legally terminate the contract through an official digital channel. This helps them avoid prolonged administrative uncertainty, reduces legal ambiguity and protects employers from future disputes.

Financial risk management

Hiring a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia often involves recruitment agency fees, visa costs, medical tests and travel expenses. If a worker abandons the job, employers previously had little recourse.

The new service allows faster contract closure and prevents ongoing liabilities (like residency renewals or penalties). It enables structured resolution within a 60-day framework, thereby, limiting financial exposure.

Clear timelines and administrative closure

The system establishes defined deadlines (such as a 60-day window for the worker to transfer or exit).

For employers, this means no indefinite responsibility for a worker who is no longer working, predictable administrative outcomes and reduced risk of being held accountable for overstaying violations.

Reduced misuse of the old huroob" system

Under the earlier sponsorship framework, absconding reports could be controversial and sometimes legally challenged.

The new mechanism Sstandardises the reporting process, moves it to a digital, documented platform and reduces accusations of arbitrary reporting. This provides employers with a more defensible legal record.

Easier replacement hiring

Once the interruption is officially recorded and resolved, employers can proceed more smoothly with hiring a replacement worker. There is less bureaucratic delay tied to the previous workers unresolved status. That is particularly important for households that depend heavily on domestic help.

How It Benefits Domestic Workers

The new service also introduces some structured safeguards and options for domestic workers.

Clear legal status instead of huroob limbo

Under the older system, if an employer filed an absconding (huroob) complaint, a worker could suddenly lose legal status, be unable to transfer jobs and face detention or deportation. The new system replaces that uncertainty with a formalised interruption record, defined timelines (such as 60 days), clear next steps, thereby, reducing the risk of arbitrary or indefinite blacklisting.

Opportunity to transfer to a new employer

If a worker has completed a certain period (typically two years), they are allowed within the 60-day window to transfer to another employer and regularise their status legally. Earlier, mobility was heavily restricted under the sponsorship (kafala) system. This framework creates a structured path to mobility rather than automatic deportation.

Time-bound grace period

Instead of immediate punitive action, the service provides a fixed period to resolve status and time to either secure a new job or arrange final exit. That gives workers breathing space rather than instant legal consequences.

Digital documentation and transparency

Because the process is handled through Musaned, there is an official digital record. Workers can potentially contest or clarify circumstances. This process is less dependent on informal employer reporting and digital oversight reduces room for misuse.

Part of broader labour reforms

The service aligns with labour reforms under Saudi Vision 2030, which aim to increase worker mobility, improve contractual transparency and respond to international scrutiny over migrant labour rights.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:42 IST

News explainers What Is Saudi Arabia's Work Interruption Service And How It Benefits Employers And Domestic Workers

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Who Let The (Chinese) Robot Dog Out? How Galgotias University Barked Up The Wrong Tree At AI Summit

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 19:53 IST

The university faced public ridicule and government expulsion following allegations of misrepresenting an imported Chinese robot as an indigenous innovation

Netizens and tech enthusiasts quickly identified 'Orion' as the Unitree Go2, a mass-produced bionic robot manufactured by the Chinese firm Unitree Robotics. File pic/Facebook

The India AI Impact Summit 2026, at Delhis iconic Bharat Mandapam, was designed to be a grand stage for Indias burgeoning domestic technology sector. However, the second day of the event was overshadowed by a significant controversy involving Galgotias University, which faced public ridicule and government expulsion following allegations of misrepresenting an imported Chinese robot as an indigenous innovation.

The Spark: Orion vs the Unitree Go2

The fiasco began when a video from the summit floor went viral, featuring Professor Neha Singh, a communications faculty member at the university. In the footage, Singh demonstrated a quadruped robotic dog named Orion", explicitly stating to media outlets like DD News that the machine had been developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University." She further framed the exhibit as part of a massive Rs 350 crore investment by the institution into artificial intelligence.

However, the breakthrough" was short-lived. Netizens and tech enthusiasts quickly identified Orion" as the Unitree Go2, a mass-produced bionic robot manufactured by the Chinese firm Unitree Robotics. The device is commercially available globallyand via distributors in Indiafor approximately Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh. The discrepancy between the claim of in-house development and the reality of a purchased product led to an immediate social media firestorm, eventually resulting in an X (formerly Twitter) Community Note flagging the universitys claims as misleading.

Government Intervention and Expulsion

The controversy quickly moved from social media to the corridors of power. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) took a stern view of the incident, with Secretary S Krishnan stating that the summit was a platform for genuine and actual work", not a marketplace for misrepresented technology. He emphasised that plagiarism and misinformation would not be tolerated at an event intended to showcase national pride.

By Wednesday, the situation escalated:

Power and Barricades: Reports indicated that the power supply to the Galgotias pavilion was cut off, and organisers placed barricades around the stall.

Eviction: The university was formally asked to vacate its exhibition space. By Wednesday afternoon, faculty and staff were seen removing their belongings as the pavilion stood empty.

Political Fallout: The opposition seized the moment, with leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge labelling the summit a PR spectacle" and accusing the government of allowing Chinese products to be passed off as Indian innovation.

The Universitys Defence

In the aftermath, Galgotias University issued a series of shifting clarifications. Their final stance blamed the fiasco on unauthorised" and ill-informed" comments made by Professor Neha Singh, citing her enthusiasm for being on camera" as the cause for the factual errors. The institution maintained that they never intended to claim they manufactured the robot, describing it instead as a walking classroom" purchased to help students learn AI programming.

Despite these apologies, the incident has left a mark on the summits reputation, serving as a cautionary tale about the pressures of Viksit Bharat" branding and the necessity for rigorous verification in the age of viral misinformation.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 19:53 IST

News explainers Who Let The (Chinese) Robot Dog Out? How Galgotias University Barked Up The Wrong Tree At AI Summit

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After Indus Water Move, India To Stop Ravi Waters To Pakistan As Shahpur Kandi Dam Nears Finish

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 10:14 IST

India plans to block the surplus water flow from the Ravi River to Pakistan as the delayed Shahpur Kandi dam on the J&KPunjab border heads for completion by March 31.

File photo of Shahpur Kandi dam

Over the years, excess water from the Ravi has often flowed into Pakistan due to insufficient storage facilities in India. However, starting in April, this situation is set to change, further reducing the water flow to Pakistan.

The fast-tracked revival of the Shahpur Kandi dam project holds great geopolitical significance as it comes in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which New Delhi squarely blames on Pakistan-backed terrorism. However, Islamabad continues to deny its involvement.

In a decisive action against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a slew of punitive measures against Islamabad, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.

Pakistans Water Crisis To Deepen

The completion of the Shahpur Kandi dam project signals Indias intent to fully utilise its legitimate share of eastern river waters and end the routine flow of surplus Ravi water into Pakistan, worsening its water crisis.

Clarifying the governments stand, Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Minister Javed Ahmed Rana said that with the completion of Shahpur Kandi dam on the UTs border with Punjab, the excess water from the Ravi river will stop flowing to Pakistan.

Yes, excess water (from Ravi river) to Pakistan will be stopped. It has to be stopped," the minister said, adding that the project is critical for drought-hit Kathua and Samba districts.

When asked about the impact it would have on Pakistan, the minister shot back, Why are you bothered about Pakistan? They are a marginal presence. Let them stew in the problems of their own making."

Why are you bothered about Pak? They are a marginal presence. Let them stew in the problems of their own making."J&K Minister Javed Ahmed Rana says the Shahpur Kandi Barrage will be completed by March 31. This ensures Ravis waters are fully utilised by India instead of flowing pic.twitter.com/ajAwpCvZ6v Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) February 17, 2026

Since the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, India made steady progress on four ongoing hydel power projects in Jammu and Kashmir over the Chenab river, and they are likely to be commissioned in 2027-28.

India Exercises Its Right Over Ravi Waters

However, this time, before Pakistan accuses India of drying its rivers", it should note that the Shahpur Kandi dam falls outside the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as India has rights over the Ravi  one of the three eastern rivers of the Indus system.

As per the 1960 treaty, brokered by the World Bank, the six rivers were divided between the two countries. India was allowed unrestricted use of all the water of the eastern rivers"  Sutlej, Beas and Ravi. Pakistan, meanwhile, was given rights to the western rivers"  Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

However, over the years, surplus waters flowing to Pakistan from the eastern rivers have not stopped.

India To Cut Pakistans Access To Ravi Waters

The Shahpur Kandi barrage was revised after four decades following the intervention of the PM. On December 6, 2018, the Union cabinet approved its implementation, granting central assistance of Rs 485.38 crore for the irrigation component.

Once completed, the project will create irrigation for hectares of land in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua and Samba districts.

After years of delay, Pakistan  which has long benefited from Indias unfinished projects while pursuing hostility  Indias message to Islamabad is loud and clear that New Delhi will not let its water flow away.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 08:31 IST

News india After Indus Water Move, India To Stop Ravi Waters To Pakistan As Shahpur Kandi Dam Nears Finish

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 23:59 IST

Emmanuel Macron India AI Summit 2026 LIVE Updates: French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, Google CEO Sundar Pichai among top delegates attended the AI Impact Summit hosted by India in Delhi on Wednesday. The summit, held from February 1620, follows the UKs first AI Summit in 2023 and Frances 2025 edition, which highlighted major global investments in AI.

Macron and Frances First Lady Brigitte Macron arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday for an official three-day visit to India from 17 to 19 February 2026. This is his fourth official visit to India.

At a joint press meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Macron thanked him for the welcome and spoke about attending the AI summit.

India-France Year Of Innovation Launched

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Macron inaugurated the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 at the Gateway of India.

Speaking at the India-France Innovation Forum, Macron said the question is no longer whether India innovates, but who will innovate with India. He said France wants to be that partner and added, We are here. We want to be here with you. And we are not leaving.

He also announced an Innovation Day to be held before the G7, led by Franco-Indian initiatives and bringing together students and researchers. Macron said France wants to be a trusted partner so that both countries industries can deliver unique cooperation.

AI Impact Summit

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held from 16 to 20 February at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. It is the first major global AI event hosted in the Global South.

The summit, organised under the IndiaAI Mission, focuses on People, Planet and Progress. It features 12 indigenous foundation models in 22 Indian languages and pavilions from France, Japan, the UK and others.

France has the largest international pavilion, covering 436 square metres, with 29 companies showcasing AI across several sectors.
Amit Shah Visits ISKCON HQ In West Bengal, Lauds Role In Spreading Sanatana Dharma Globally

Published By :

ANI

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 21:46 IST

Amit Shah praised ISKCON's role in spreading the message of Sanatana Dharma globally, saying it has inspired everyone to follow the path of the Gita.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in West Bengal. (Photo: X/Amit Shah)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday visited the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) headquarters in Nadia, West Bengal, where he lauded the organisations efforts in spreading the message of Sanatana Dharma globally.

Shah attributed ISKCONs success to the karma of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada and his inspiration, Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada. Addressing the gathering at the event, Shah said, Today, as we witness the grand ISKCON movement spreading across the world, it is the karma of the lives of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada and his inspiration, Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada, that ISKCON is spreading the message of Sanatana Dharma throughout the world."

The Home Minister also praised the Matua community for championing social welfare and highlighted ISKCONs role in inspiring people to follow the path of the Gita. The Matua community has also consistently championed social welfare," he said.

Shah further highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi often gifts a copy of the Gita to visiting Heads of States or Ministers. ISKCON has inspired everyone to follow the path of the Gita and has sustained the Gita movement. Therefore, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi also gifts a Geeta to Heads of States or Ministers of another country, when they visit India," Shah added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Amit Shah unveiled the equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, constructed by Maharashtra Samaj Gandhinagar in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Addressing the gathering at the event, he said it will inspire the citys people and youth by commemorating Shivaji Maharajs courage and leadership in establishing Hindu Swaraj.

He said that young Shivaji Maharaj defied the odds to establish Hindu Swaraj despite Mughal rule and years of oppression, and praised his efforts to protect temples and promote resilience during challenging times.

Shah said, It is a good day for me that the statue of Shivaji Maharaj has been installed. The 21-foot-tall statue will inspire the people and youth of Gandhinagar. When the darkness of slavery loomed large, the country was enslaved from Afghanistan to Kanyakumari and from Somnath to Orissa. Adil Shahi came; when people had almost disappeared due to years of slavery and suffering, 16-year-old Shivaji showed a new path."

No one believed that young Shivaji would be able to establish Hindu Swaraj. Shivaji Maharaj was crowned, and Hindu Swaraj was established. It took Mughal power to break Shivaji Maharajs courage, but he did not give up the fight. When the temples of Kashi were destroyed, Shivaji Maharaj protected the temples of the South," the Union Home Minister added.

Shah also reflected on Shivaji Maharajs vow to rebuild temples destroyed by invaders, linking it to contemporary achievements such as the consecration of the Ram Temple, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and the gilding of the Somnath Temple. He also noted Shivaji Maharajs establishment of the Navy and his guiding motto.

At that time, he gave the message that if destructive forces destroy temples, we will build new ones. When the Ram Temple was consecrated, Shivaji Maharajs vow was fulfilled. The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor was rebuilt. The Somnath Temple, which was destroyed 16 times, has been gilded. During his time, Shivaji Maharaj established the Navy and gave a motto," he said.

Location : Nadia, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 21:46 IST

News india Amit Shah Visits ISKCON HQ In West Bengal, Lauds Role In Spreading Sanatana Dharma Globally

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Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan's Convoy Meets With Accident, None Injured

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 09:53 IST

A vehicle in Pawan Kalyan's convoy met with an accident in Visakhapatnam. No injuries were reported.

Sudden braking triggered a collision in Pawan Kalyans convoy.

A vehicle in the convoy of Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan was involved in an accident on Wednesday morning while travelling within Visakhapatnam city limits.

It is learnt that the Deputy Chief Minister was not part of the convoy at the time of the accident, as the vehicles were on their way to pick him up.

The incident took place as the convoy was heading from Siripuram to Peddawaltheru. According to preliminary information, one of the pilot vehicles applied sudden brakes, leading to a chain reaction in which the vehicles following it collided with each other.

It is learnt that the last vehicle in the convoy bore the brunt of the impact and sustained visible damage. However, no injuries were reported in the mishap.

Security personnel and local police responded swiftly, ensuring that traffic movement in the area was regulated. Authorities were examining the circumstances that led to the abrupt braking of the pilot car.

Major Mishap Averted In Rajasthan

Earlier on Saturday, a major mishap was narrowly avoided in Rajasthan after vehicles in the convoy of Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa were involved in a collision in the Udaipurwati Ghat stretch of Jhunjhunu district.

The incident took place at around 10.45 am when Bairwa was travelling to Gudhagorsiji to attend an event at a private school, located nearly 16 kilometres from the accident site. Officials confirmed that the Deputy Chief Minister was safe and that no injuries were reported, according to a report in Hans India.

According to initial information, BJP leader JP Khatana mistakenly drove his car into the path of the convoy while attempting to enter a nearby resort. In the sudden confusion, one of the escort vehicles in Deputy Chief Ministers convoy reportedly lost balance and crashed into Khatanas vehicle.

Location : Visakhapatnam, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 09:53 IST

News india Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan's Convoy Meets With Accident, None Injured

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Political Storm In Bihar Over IAS Officer's Chartered Flight With Family: 'Can't Dalits Fly?'

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 21:03 IST

Nilesh Deore, an IAS officer in Bihar's Tourism Department, came under scrutiny after the opposition claimed he travelled on a chartered flight with his family in June.

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Nilesh Deore, originally from Maharashtra's Nashik, is a 2011-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre. (Photo: X)

A political storm erupted in Bihar surrounding a senior IAS officer, after the opposition flagged in the Assembly that he travelled with his family on a chartered flight from New Delhi to Patna in June.

Nilesh Ramchandra Deore, Special Secretary in Bihars Tourism Department, came under scrutiny after RJD MLA Rahul Sharma questioned in the Bihar Assembly how the IAS officer could afford such travel and who actually paid for it.

However, the discussion on accountability and use of public resources turned into that of caste after Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary, responding on behalf of the state government, hit back at the opposition, questioning whether the officer had no right to fly because he was a Dalit.

Who Is Nilesh Deore?

Deore, originally from Maharashtras Nashik, is a 2011-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, who currently serves as Secretary of the Bihar Tourism Department and the Civil Aviation Department.

He also has an additional charge as Managing Director of the Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited. Deore has previously served as District Magistrate in districts such as Madhubani and Chhapra.

He was later assigned as Private Secretary to Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, while serving as District Magistrate in Bettiah. Deore initially completed his MBBS from a private college in Navi Mumbai before choosing a career in the civil services.

How Did The Controversy Begin?

The controversy began when RJDs Rahul Sharma flagged in the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Monday that Deore had travelled by a chartered plane with his family from New Delhi to Patna in June 2025, according to reports. Sharma questioned how an IAS officer could afford such a flight.

A Bihar government officer was on board with his family, four people in total. Was permission taken or not? I do not think the Bihar government can officially extend such a facility. If someone else paid, why did they pay? What did they receive in return?," Sharma told the Assembly.

Cant A Dalit Fly?

Ashok Choudhary, Bihars Rural Works Minister, offered a clarification on Monday, saying the travel was linked to an official visit. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Civil Aviation Secretary Nilesh Deore and I were on an official trip from Patna to Delhi last July. The aircraft had to return to Patna in any case. Deore and his family boarded it on the return leg," Choudhary said.

He also added a social dimension to the controversy, asking whether Deore was being targeted because he is a Dalit and whether he had no right to fly. Do Dalits and backward communities not have the right to board an aircraft? What sin has been committed here?" he said, while questioning the background of those who raised objections.

Bihar Congress spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari accused Choudhary of trying to play the Dalit card. Rather than the government or the officer in question putting the record straight, Choudhary has been trying to play the Dalit card. We only want the government to tell us if the officer was charged a fare for his travel or if the journey was at the expense of the poor," he told The Indian Express.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 20:20 IST

News india Political Storm In Bihar Over IAS Officer's Chartered Flight With Family: 'Can't Dalits Fly?'

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CEOs Of Chanel, Alphabet, Adobe Are Indian: Macron Hails Indias Global Innovation Leadership

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 10:27 IST

Macron praised Indias innovation, citing Indian-origin CEOs at Alphabet, Adobe, Chanel, and stressed stronger India-France ties in tech and defence.

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a joint press meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday praised Indias growing dominance in global innovation, mentioning that several major global corporations, including Chanel, Alphabet and Adobe, are led by Indian-origin CEOs. Follow Live Updates

His remarks came as India and France elevated their ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership, pointing to deeper cooperation across technology, defence and innovation.

Addressing the India-France Innovation Forum in Mumbai, Macron said India is no longer just participating in global innovation but leading it.

Also See: PM Modis Vision For India In Artificial Intelligence: Top Quotes From AI Impact Summit 2026

India does not just participate in global innovation; India leads it," he said, referencing Indian-origin leaders at companies such as Alphabet, Microsoft, IBM, Adobe, Palo Alto Networks and Chanel. He added that the real question now is who will innovate alongside India.

The question is no longer whether India innovates. The question is, who will innovate with India? And France is the only clear answer. We are here. We want to be here with you. And we are not leaving."

Macron On India-France Ties

Macron hailed the strength of India-France ties, invoking a popular cultural reference: Jai ho, as we say in the famous movie. So long live the Indo-French relationship."

He also announced that an Innovation Day would be organised ahead of the upcoming G7 Summit, led by Franco-Indian initiatives and bringing together students and researchers from both nations.

Also Read: PM Modi Shares Serbia Presidents Article As Indias AI Growth Wins Global Praise

Committed Partner In Make In India

On defence cooperation, Macron described France as a committed partner in Indias Make in India drive.

Our high-level cooperation allows us to develop next-generation engines, multi-role helicopters, advanced combat aircraft, submarines, etc. This is not just a defence contract, but a series of defence contracts. We speak about what a sovereign alliance is  two great nations choosing each other on land, at sea and in the sky, not by default but by conviction," he said.

He also highlighted collaboration in space and nuclear sectors, citing the TRISHNA satellite project as an example of joint scientific excellence. Stressing that innovation must serve society, Macron said, Our partnership is also guided by a shared conviction that innovation is not just about major technological breakthroughs but also about improving everyday life, making it healthier and safer."

First Published: February 18, 2026, 10:10 IST

News india CEOs Of Chanel, Alphabet, Adobe Are Indian: Macron Hails Indias Global Innovation Leadership

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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Banks, Schools & Offices Open Or Closed In Mumbai On February 19?

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Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 08:07 IST

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Mumbai observes a public holiday on February 19. Govt offices, banks, and schools closed; essential services will run as usual.

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Marathi community members play drums as they celebrate Shivaji Jayanti. (Image: PTI file)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is observed every year on February 19 to mark the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He was the founder of the Maratha Empire and is remembered as one of Indias most respected rulers. Known for his courage and strong leadership, he fought several battles and built a powerful kingdom.

He was crowned as the Chhatrapati (Emperor)" in 1674. His ideas, leadership style, and words still inspire people across the country. In Maharashtra, the day is celebrated with pride, and many events are organised to honour his legacy.

ALSO READ: Happy Shivaji Jayanti 2026: Wishes, Images, Quotes, And WhatsApp Greetings In English And Marathi To Share On Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti

February 19 is a public holiday in Maharashtra. In Mumbai, several services and offices remain closed for the day, while some essential services continue to function. Residents and visitors should plan their schedules accordingly.

Public Transport And Essential Services Will Run As Usual

Public transport in Mumbai, including buses, local trains, and taxis, will operate normally. Commuters can travel without worrying about service disruptions. Metro services are also expected to run as per their regular schedule.

ALSO READ: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Date, History, And 5 Life Lessons For Todays Generation

Essential services such as hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and emergency services will remain open. Medical staff and emergency responders will be available throughout the day to handle any urgent needs.

Government Offices And Banks Will Remain Closed

All government offices in Mumbai will stay closed on February 19 in observance of the holiday. This includes municipal offices and other state-run departments.

Banks across Maharashtra will also not operate, as per the Reserve Bank of Indias holiday calendar. Customers are advised to complete important banking work in advance or use online banking services where possible.

Schools And Private Establishments May Have Different Schedules

Government-run schools and colleges will remain closed. Private educational institutions may decide independently whether to declare a holiday, so students and parents should check with their respective schools or colleges.

Private offices and businesses may follow different schedules. Some companies may close to mark the occasion, while others may continue operations. It is best to confirm with the concerned workplace.

Cultural Events And Processions Mark The Celebration

Across the city, cultural events, processions and local programmes are usually held to celebrate the life and achievements of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Devotees of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj join processions and rallies held in his honour, with dhol beats and music filling the streets of cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Kolhapur.

ALSO READ: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti: Did You Know The Maratha Warrior Was Born In This Mighty Hill Fort?

Many also visit important forts connected to his life, including those at Shivneri, Raigad and Pratapgad, to pay their respects and remember his legacy.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 10:36 IST

News india Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Banks, Schools & Offices Open Or Closed In Mumbai On February 19?

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KABUL, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced on Tuesday evening that Afghanistan had released three Pakistani soldiers earlier that day who had been detained for more than four months.

In a statement posted on X, Mujahid said that Afghanistan adheres to a policy that emphasizes maintaining positive relations with all countries.

He also said out of respect for the arrival of the month of Ramadan and in positive response to a request from a Saudi Arabian delegation that arrived on Monday, Afghanistan released three Pakistani soldiers who had been held since Oct. 12, 2025, following a border clash between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and handed them over to the Saudi Arabian delegation.

Since October last year, multiple armed clashes have occurred in the border areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan. On Oct. 19 last year, under mediation by Qatar and Turkiye, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire.

Subsequently, several rounds of talks were held in Doha, Istanbul, and Riyadh to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire, but no tangible results were achieved. 
'Ejaculation Without Penetration Not Rape': Chhattisgarh HC Modifies 20-Year-Old Conviction Order

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 16:07 IST

The ruling was delivered by Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas, who was hearing an appeal against a 2005 trial court judgment.

The trial court had found that the accused had committed sexual intercourse against the will of the victim. (Representational image)

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that ejaculation without penetration constitutes an attempt to commit rape and does not amount to the offence of rape, while modifying a conviction delivered nearly two decades ago.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas on February 16, who was hearing an appeal against a 2005 trial court judgment sentencing the accused to seven years imprisonment for rape.

The case dates back to 2004. The trial court had found that the accused had committed sexual intercourse against the will of the victim. However, during cross-examination, the victim stated that the accused had kept his private part above her vagina but had not penetrated it, Bar and Bench reported.

ALSO READ: Cant Agree: SC Overturns Allahabad High Courts Pulling Pyjama String Not Rape Attempt Order

Referring to the legal position, the court observed, The sine qua non of the offence of rape is penetration, and not ejaculation. Ejaculation without penetration constitutes an attempt to commit rape and not actual rape."

The Court noted that even slight penetration is sufficient to attract the offence of rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code. However, there must be clear and cogent evidence to show that some part of the male organ entered the labia of the woman.

In the present case, medical evidence showed that the hymen was intact. The doctor stated that while there was redness and white discharge, no definite opinion could be given regarding the commission of rape, and only a possibility of partial penetration was indicated.

The Court also found inconsistencies in the victims statements. While she initially suggested penetration, she later clarified that the accused had kept his private part above her vagina without penetrating it.

Holding that actual rape was not proved beyond reasonable doubt, the high court modified the conviction to attempt to commit rape and reduced the sentence to three years and six months.

Since the acts of the appellant exceeded the stage beyond preparation and preceded the actual partial penetration but without ejaculation, the appellant is guilty of attempting to commit rape as punishable within the ambit and scope of Section 511 read with Section 375 IPC as it stood in force at the time of occurrence," the court noted.

Location : Chhattisgarh, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 16:00 IST

News india 'Ejaculation Without Penetration Not Rape': Chhattisgarh HC Modifies 20-Year-Old Conviction Order

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Faridabad Woman Dies Mysteriously After Instant Noodles-Ice Cream Meal At Night, Probe On

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:53 IST

According to police, the young woman's family was told that she had suddenly fallen ill and died shortly after allegedly consuming popular instant noodles and ice cream

Rapid Read

Foam reportedly came from her mouth before she collapsed. (Representational Image)

A 22-year-old domestic worker died under suspicious circumstances inside a house in Green Field Colony of Faridabad, Haryana, prompting a police investigation and a postmortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.

According to police, the young woman, identified as Soma Khatoon, had been working as a cleaner at the residence of Rakesh Gujral for several years. Late at night, her family received a phone call informing them that she had suddenly fallen ill and died shortly after allegedly consuming popular instant noodles and ice cream.

Her body has been kept at BK Hospital for postmortem, and officials said the actual cause of death will be confirmed only after the report is received. Investigating officer Durga Prasad said the police were informed by the hospital about the death and have initiated proceedings under Section 174. Further action will depend on the findings of the postmortem.

The victims mother, Manorba, said her daughter was not suffering from any illness. She claimed the house owner told her that foam started coming out of Somas mouth soon after she ate popular instant noodles and ice cream, following which she collapsed. Soma was the youngest among her siblings, which include four daughters and one son.

Location : Faridabad, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:53 IST

News india Faridabad Woman Dies Mysteriously After Instant Noodles-Ice Cream Meal At Night, Probe On

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From Kashmiri Girda To Rajma Gilawat, PM Modis AI Summit Dinner Celebrates Indias Culinary Map

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 23:01 IST

PM Modi hosted a special dinner in New Delhi for the visiting heads of state as part of the India AI Impact Summit-2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

Rapid Read

PM Modi with world leaders at the AI Summit dinner. (PMO)

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is underway at Delhis Bharat Mandapam, where prominent world leaders, policymakers and innovators have gathered to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. PM Modi hosted a special dinner in New Delhi for the visiting heads of state.

The summit, held from February 1620, follows the UKs first AI Summit in 2023 and Frances 2025 edition, which highlighted major global investments in AI. It is the first major global AI event hosted in the Global South.

The menu for the high-profile dinner has been curated by chefs from the ITC group, which has been entrusted with catering all official events at Bharat Mandapam. The dinner showcases the depth and diversity of Indias culinary traditions.

Full Menu Of PM Modis Dinner

The evening coincided with the festival of Shishir Ritu, described in the menu note as a season marking a gentle end of the winter dew and quiet indulgence. A season that arrives with an abundance of harvest, hope and harmony."

The multi-course menu at the exquisite dinner began with a starter titled Varnila", comprising baby spinach crisp, yoghurt sphere, tamarind date chutney, cilantro relish with old Delhi masala, and a Jowar Crisp.

The main courses included Sasya, which is a tribute to the mountains of Uttarakhand. This comprises of GI-tagged Munsyari rajma gilawat, pahadi rice and jhangora (barnyard millet) pulao, kumaoni aloo and subz ke gutke and a silky tomato-anari sauce.

A selection of Indian breads followed, including Taftaan, a leavened bread topped with melon seeds, and Kashmiri Girda, which refers to a popular Kashmiri bread baked fresh every morning.

Dessert was presented as Nisarga Natures Creation", comprising Rasmalai Tres Leches with Winterberry preserve. The menu described it as moist and creamy chena cake sponge soaked in sweetened milk, paired with winter berry compote and perched on pearl millet streusel.

Beverages served at the gala included Kashmiri Kahwa, filter coffee and Darjeeling tea, along with Indian Rose and Mishri Gulkand Chocolate Leaf.

PM Modi Welcomes World Leaders

Earlier today, PM Modi welcomed a host of world leaders to the venue as part of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, Estonia President Alar Karis, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Dutch PM Dick Schoof.

The summit, organised under the IndiaAI Mission, focuses on People, Planet and Progress. It features 12 indigenous foundation models in 22 Indian languages and pavilions from France, Japan, the UK and others. The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address on February 19.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 22:58 IST

News india From Kashmiri Girda To Rajma Gilawat, PM Modis AI Summit Dinner Celebrates Indias Culinary Map

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From Malegaon To Mira Bhayandar, Tipu Sultan Row Reaches Mumbai Suburb As BJP Pushes For Chowk Renaming

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 11:21 IST

Ahead of Mira Bhayandars first general assembly, the proposal to change the name of Hazrat Tipu Sultan Chowk has triggered fresh political debate.

BJP activists protest against Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal's remarks equating Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan outside Congress Bhavan, in Pune, Sunday, February 15. (Photo: PTI)

The political controversy surrounding Tipu Sultan in Maharashtra has now reached the Mumbai suburb of Mira Bhayandar. Newly elected BJP corporators are demanding that Tipu Sultan Chowk in Naya Nagar, Mira Road, be renamed.

After the appearance of Tipu Sultans photo, a dispute has erupted over Tipu Sultan Chowk. In the Muslim-majority area of Mira Road, adjoining Mumbai, there is now a demand to rename the chowk.

The issue first surfaced in Malegaon and has now reached the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation. After the BJPs sweeping victory in the corporation, the party may place a proposal in todays first general body meeting to cancel the name of a Mira Road junction currently named after Tipu Sultan. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18.

Debate ahead of key civic body meeting

After a gap of nearly three-and-a-half years, elected representatives have returned to municipal corporations across the state. Ahead of Mira Bhayandars first general assembly, the proposal to change the name of Hazrat Tipu Sultan Chowk" has triggered fresh political debate. A confrontation in the meeting is widely anticipated.

Amid the political heat, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction has claimed that Tipu Sultan is being brought back from the grave," similar to past controversies involving Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan.

Tipu Sultan Chowk is located in Naya Nagar, Mira Road East. The square was officially named in 2016 through a resolution passed in the general body meeting. Municipal authorities have cited a 2021 decision, stating that changing the name may not be possible. The BJP argues that there have been precedents of name changes, including the renaming of an auditorium, and insists the proposal should be discussed.

Photo controversy in Malegaon

The row also follows a controversy in Malegaon over a photo of Tipu Sultan. After taking charge, Deputy Mayor Shane E Hind Nihal Ahmed displayed a photo of Tipu Sultan in her office. This led to protests by Hindutva organisations, which decided to continue their agitation until the photo was removed.

As the Shiv Sena Shinde group also took an aggressive stance, the Municipal Secretarys Department removed the photo overnight. However, the Deputy Mayor has vowed to reinstall the photo again after the repair work in her office is completed. She said Tipu Sultan was a freedom fighter and questioned what was wrong in displaying his photo.

Meanwhile, tension escalated in Ahilyanagar after Tipu Sultans symbolic effigy was burned following remarks by Harshvardhan Sapkal. The effigy burning was carried out by the Sakal Hindu Samaj under the leadership of Sangram Jagtap, an MLA from the late Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party.

In response, Muslim youths in the Asha Talkies area poured milk on Tipu Sultans photograph, calling it a symbolic protest.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 11:05 IST

News india From Malegaon To Mira Bhayandar, Tipu Sultan Row Reaches Mumbai Suburb As BJP Pushes For Chowk Renaming

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Galgotias University Apologises Over Robodog Row, Says Representative Was 'Ill-Informed'

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 19:44 IST

The university said that the representative was ill-informed and unaware of the technical origins of the product being showcased.

Professor Neha Singh of Galgotias University. (PTI)

Galgotias University AI Summit Row: Galgotias University on Wednesday issued an apology over the controversy on the display of a Chinese robotic dog at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, saying that a representative provided factually incorrect information" in haste during the event.

In a statement, the university said that the confusion arose after one of the representatives, who was manning the pavilion, spoke to the media without being authorised.

It further said that the individual was ill-informed" and unaware of the technical origins of the product being showcased, and in the enthusiasm of being on camera, the representative gave factually incorrect information.

We at Galgotias University, wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent AI Summit. One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed. She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press," the educational institute stated.

The university emphasised that there was no institutional intent to misrepresent this innovation" and reaffirmed its commitment to academic integrity, transparency, and responsible representation of its work.

Whats The Row?

The apology came after the university faced intense criticism after reports suggested that the Chinese-origin Unitree Go2 robotic dog was displayed under the name Orion," prompting allegations that imported technology was being presented as indigenously developed.

A clip went viral showing a professor introducing the Robodog as Orion and saying it was developed by the Centre of Excellence of the institution.

It was alleged that the device was in fact the Unitree Go2, an AI-powered robotic dog manufactured by China-based robotics company Unitree, and not indigenously developed.

Later, the university issued a clarification saying it never claimed to have built the device" and that it was procured from a Chinese manufacturer for academic purposes.

In a statement, the university said the robotic dog was acquired from Unitree, a global robotics company based in China, and is being used as a learning tool for students.

Let us be clear, Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed to do so. What we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer and manufacture such technologies in Bharat," the university said.

Meanwhile, the university was asked to vacate its stall at the summit venue in the national capital, following which electrical power to the pavilion was cut. Staff and students subsequently cleared the stall.

Later, the Central government issued a stern warning to all exhibitors after the row. IT Secretary S Krishnan issued a warning by saying, Exhibitors must not display items that are not theirs."

First Published: February 18, 2026, 17:11 IST

News india Galgotias University Apologises Over Robodog Row, Says Representative Was 'Ill-Informed'

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'Rumours Have Now Come True': Gaurav Gogoi Alleges Bhupen Borah Leaked Congress's Internal Info

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:19 IST

Gaurav Gogoi has slammed Bhupen Borah, alleging internal leaks and questioning his swift decision to align with Himanta Biswa Sarma after resigning from Congress.

File photos of Gaurav Gogoi/Bhupen Borah (PTI)

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on former state Congress chief Bhupen Borah, questioning his decision to move towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon after resigning from the party and alleging that recent developments have validated long-standing suspicions within the Congress about internal information leaks.

Reacting to Borahs statements and his impending entry into the BJP, Gogoi said Congress leaders had earlier been troubled by how confidential discussions within the party were allegedly reaching individuals close to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

We always wondered how confidential details of our meetings were leaked to a particular journalist linked to Himanta Biswa Sarma. We tried our best not to believe in these rumours and speculation, but now these rumours have come to light, and it is true," Gogoi said.

He further accused Borah of quickly aligning with the BJP leadership after stepping down from the Congress, saying the timing of the move has raised serious political questions.

A day after leaving the Congress party, Bhupen Borah has no qualms about joining the BJP and surrendering to Himanta Biswa Sarma. Why, within a day of resignation, did you join Himanta Biswa Sarma?" Gogoi asked.

Gogoi also dismissed Borahs criticism of the Congress as a justification for switching sides.

All of this is just an excuse to join the BJP. When someone joins the BJP, they are given a script, and they have to read that script," he said.

Gogoi added that people across Assam were questioning Borahs decision to join the BJP instead of another opposition party if he was dissatisfied within the Congress.

The people of Assam are thinking that if you are facing difficulties in the Congress party, then why dont you join some other party that is fighting against the BJP? There are other parties too that are fighting against the BJP. Why did you shake hands with Himanta Biswa Sarma within just one day of resigning?" he said.

The political row comes after Borah resigned from Congress earlier this week, triggering a major churn in Assam politics.

Borah claimed that the state Congress unit is no longer functioning under Gogois effective leadership and alleged that Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain has become the partys sole base", while describing Gogoi as merely the face of the party".

Borah also said that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, spoke to him at length after he submitted his resignation letter, recalling their long political association.

Senior Congress leaders, including the partys central leadership, had reached out to persuade him to reconsider his decision, though Borah maintained that he needed time to reflect after more than three decades in the party.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Borah would formally join the BJP on February 22 after meeting him at his residence, publicly welcoming the former Congress leader and stating that the BJPs doors remain open to him.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:19 IST

News india 'Rumours Have Now Come True': Gaurav Gogoi Alleges Bhupen Borah Leaked Congress's Internal Info

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In Last Leg Of Anti-Naxal Fight, Four Top Leaders, 300 Cadres Remain Final Challenge

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 18:12 IST

The four Central Committee members and an estimated 300 armed cadres are considered the final core group sustaining the insurgency.

Naxal violence has declined by 88 per cent since 2010 and is now confined to just eight districts nationwide.(Representative image)

In the last leg of fight against Naxalism, four top leaders and around 300 armed cadres are now considered the final challengers sustaining Left-Wing Extremism in the country, according to security assessments.

According to security agencies, the remaining top Naxalites include Misir Besra in Jharkhand, Devuji alias Tirupati, believed to be operating along the ChhattisgarhTelangana border, Mupalla Laxman Rao alias Ganapathy, and Malla Raja Reddy in Odisha.

The four Central Committee members and an estimated 300 armed cadres are considered the final core group sustaining the insurgency as the Centre has set the March 2026 deadline to eradicate Naxalism from India.

Meanwhile, an intensive operation has been launched in the KGHKaregutta Hills region along the ChhattisgarhTelangana border following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of Devuji. Nearly 2,000 security personnel have been deployed in the area.

Earlier this week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated that Naxal violence is breathing its last" and will be eliminated by March 31, 2026. While addressing the Delhi Police Raising Day function, Shah said that the last 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a golden era" for Indias internal security.

He said Naxalism, which once spread across 11 states, has now been significantly curtailed.

We are very close to completely eradicating Naxalism, and we will certainly succeed in making the entire country free from Naxal violence by March 31, 2026," he said.

In the Northeast as well, over 10,000 youth have laid down their arms and joined the mainstream, and through over 12 peace agreements, the Centre has done significant work in establishing peace", he said.

During the Budget Session of the Parliament, the Home Ministry informed that Naxal violence has declined by 88 per cent since 2010 and is now confined to only eight districts nationwide. The government said the number of affected districts has fallen from 126 in 2018 to just eight by December 2025, with only three classified as most affected".

The resolute implementation of the National Policy and Action Plan 2015 has resulted in consistent decline in violence and constriction of geographical spread. LWE which has been a serious challenge to the internal security of the nation has been significantly curbed in the recent times and has been constricted to only a few pockets. The number of LWE-affected districts reduced from 126 in 2018 to only 08 in December-2025 with only 3 districts now remaining Most LWE Affected."

According to the home ministry, violence incidents have dropped from a peak of 1,936 in 2010 to 234 in 2025, while civilian and security force deaths have declined by 90 per cent during the same period. In 2025 alone, security forces neutralised 364 Naxals, arrested 1,022 and facilitated 2,337 surrenders.

The Centre has simultaneously expanded surrender-cum-rehabilitation schemes that offer financial assistance, vocational training and stipends to former cadres, alongside large-scale road, telecom, education and financial inclusion projects in previously affected districts.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 18:12 IST

News india In Last Leg Of Anti-Naxal Fight, Four Top Leaders, 300 Cadres Remain Final Challenge

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India AI Impact Summit Expo Extended By A Day, To Continue Till February 21

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:11 IST

The government has extended the ongoing AI Expo Summit by one day, keeping the exhibition open to the public on February 21 with timings till 8 pm.

India AI Impact Expo, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)

The government has extended the India AI Impact Summit 2026 Expo by an additional day, allowing the exhibition to remain open to the public on Saturday, February 21, in view of the large public turnout and to ensure a smoother and more comfortable experience for visitors.

According to an official announcement, the Expo timings have already been extended till 8 pm, reflecting the growing enthusiasm among delegates and the general public attending the event at Bharat Mandapam.

However, the Expo will remain closed to the public on Thursday, February 19, due to access-restricted events and heightened security arrangements at the venue.

As per PTI reports, delegates attending the conference will face restricted access on Wednesday and Thursday owing to VIP movements and security protocols.

Participants would be required to vacate the convention area by 4:30 pm as the Prime Minister is scheduled to host a dinner for state guests and business leaders later in the evening.

Digital India Managing Director and CEO Akhil Kumar told reporters that the Expo area has drawn significant interest, prompting organisers to extend operating hours.

Delegates can move to the expo area after vacating the convention area. Exit will be only through Gate 4 throughout the day," Kumar said, adding that entry arrangements have been streamlined with Gate 4 designated for vehicle drop-offs and Gate 10 operational for Metro arrivals between 8 am and 4:30 pm.

Officials also cautioned that intermittent traffic restrictions may be experienced between 4 pm and 11 pm in and around the ITPO area during summit days due to security arrangements.

The Expo extension comes amid a major achievement for the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026, which has entered the Guinness World Records for recording the highest number of student pledges for the responsible use of artificial intelligence within 24 hours.

Guinness World Records adjudicator Pravin Patel announced that a total of 2,50,946 pledges were received during the summit, significantly surpassing the target of 5,000.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw credited the initiative to Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision, saying outreach efforts to schools and colleges played a crucial role.

It was the vision of Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi because of which we reached out to schools and colleges for the pledge for responsible use of AI," Vaishnaw said.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the main summit on February 19, with restricted entry expected during the morning inaugural session.

Officials said the Expo area would open for all delegates from 11 am onward that day, including access to the media centre in Hall 1.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:02 IST

News india India AI Impact Summit Expo Extended By A Day, To Continue Till February 21

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India Considering Age-Based Restrictions With Social Media Platforms, Says IT Minister

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 07:28 IST

India may impose age limits on social media, following other nations, according to Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Image for representation (AFP file photo)

After Australia, India is now considering age-based restrictions with social media companies, Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday.

This is something which has now been accepted by many countries, that age-based [restrictions]  has to be there," Vaishnaw said during a press conference at the AI Impact Summit in the national capital.

Right now we are in conversation regarding deepfakes, regarding age-based restrictions, with the various social media platforms," Vaishnaw said, adding that the government is discussing the right way" to enforce the regulation.

However, the minister did not name any specific platforms or companies that are in conversation with the central government.

Any restrictions in India  a country with around 1.4 billion population  could have a major impact on social media firms including Meta and Google, which enjoy an enormous user base in the country.

AUSTRALIA BANS SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UNDER-16s

The move comes as several governments are considering age-based restrictions with social media platforms, given the rising cases of deepfakes, digital arrests, and online blackmailing.

Recently, in December, the Australian government banned users under 16 from accessing major social media platforms. Australia emerged as the first nation in the world to enact such a rule.

Denmark last year approved a new rule to bar users under 15 from social media. In addition, Spain this month announced it would ban under-16s from social media.

Metas Facebook and Instagram are two of the most popular social media platforms in India, while Googles YouTube also boasts a huge audience.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 07:28 IST

News india India Considering Age-Based Restrictions With Social Media Platforms, Says IT Minister

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'Nothing Happened': Indore Man Who Killed Girlfriend, Raped Corpse Smiles Before Cameras

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 14:48 IST

The accused in the Indore MBA student murder case showed no remorse while speaking to reporters. He could be seen smiling and dismissing questions about the killing.

Piyush Dhamanodia, accused in the Indore murder case (Video screengrabs/Social Media)

The main accused in the shocking murder of a 24-year-old MBA student in Madhya Pradeshs Indore appeared visibly unrepentant and dismissive while interacting with reporters, even as investigators continued to piece together the sequence of events in the case.

In a video of his interaction with reporters, the accused, identified as Piyush Dhamanodia, can be seen surrounded by police personnel as mediapersons repeatedly questioned him about the killing.

Despite being asked directly why he allegedly murdered the woman, described by police as his classmate and girlfriend, the accused avoided giving clear answers and maintained a calm demeanour.

Notably, he was seen carrying a faint smile on his face while responding to reporters, drawing sharp reactions from those present.

When asked, What happened? Why did you kill the girl? You were her lover, why did you hit her?" the accused replied, Nothing happened, leave it. Nothing happened."

As reporters continued pressing him, asking whether he felt any regret for his actions and reminding him that he had attacked someones daughter," the accused again refused to express remorse.

Instead, he said, I will tell everyone I will tell you. Time will come."

The Indore Police brought the accused to his rented flat in the Dwarkapuri area, where the victims body had earlier been recovered, for reconstruction of the crime.

Station House Officer (SHO) of Dwarkapuri Police Station, Manish Mishra, said investigators were verifying the information provided by the accused during interrogation.

Whatever information the accused provided during interrogation, we verified it by bringing him to the crime scene. A knife has also been recovered and seized," Mishra said.

In a separate statement to ANI, the officer added that the accused had shared detailed information about the incident, following which police prepared a memorandum and sought his police remand.

We found a letter in his purse written after the murder, which mentioned his girlfriends killing. He admitted to misunderstandings between them," Mishra said, adding that investigators have received a short post-mortem report and further inquiry will continue based on forensic science laboratory findings.

THE CASE BACKGROUND

The victim, a 24-year-old MBA student, was allegedly murdered inside the accuseds rented accommodation after a dispute linked to their relationship.

Police said the accused suspected that the woman was in contact with another man.

Investigators allege that he strangled her following an argument before fleeing the city. The body was discovered on February 13 after neighbours alerted police about a foul smell coming from the locked flat.

The accused was later arrested from Mumbais Andheri area on February 14.

Police officials told PTI that during interrogation, the accused allegedly abused the body after the killing and later travelled to areas near Mumbai, where he performed occult rituals, claiming he wanted to communicate with the womans spirit.

Items connected to the rituals were recovered during the investigation.

Authorities also said the accused allegedly used the victims mobile phone after the murder to circulate previously recorded intimate videos in a college WhatsApp group, allegedly to defame her.

Police said digital evidence, recovered materials and forensic findings are being analysed as part of the ongoing investigation.

Officials maintain that further details will emerge after examination of the FSL report and continued custodial interrogation.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:53 IST

News india 'Nothing Happened': Indore Man Who Killed Girlfriend, Raped Corpse Smiles Before Cameras

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Shia LaBeouf has been accused of assaulting two men in a bar fight.

Shia LaBeouf has been arrested in New Orleans

The 39-year-old actor is facing two counts of simple battery, after being arrested in New Orleans following an alleged altercation during Mardi Gras celebrations, and the police have now provided an update on the incident.

In a statement provided to People, the police said: "At approximately 12:45am on February 17, 2026, NOPD officers were called to the 1400 block of Royal Street in response to a simple battery where two victims (two adult males), reported being assaulted.

"Investigators say a man identified as 39-year-old Shia LaBeouf was reportedly causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive at a Royal Street business. A staff member attempted to eject Mr. LaBeouf from the establishment. Once removed from the building, the victim reported being struck by LaBeouf who used his closed fists on the victim several times.

"The victims reported that LaBeouf left, but then came back, acting even more aggressive."

LaBeouf has been accused of assaulting two men in New Orleans.

The police said: "Multiple people attempted to hold him down - he was eventually let up in hopes that he would leave - but he reportedly again struck the same victim with closed fists to the victims upper body. LaBeouf then reportedly assaulted another person - punching him in the nose.

"LaBeouf was again held down until police arrived. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. Upon release, he was arrested and charged with two counts of simple battery."

LaBeouf was involved in a confrontation outside a bar in the city's French Quarter. In a video obtained by TMZ, LaBeouf can be seen receiving medical treatment from paramedics following the alleged clash. However, it remains unclear what led to the confrontation.

LaBeouf - who has a history of legal troubles and addiction - arrived in New Orleans last week for the Mardi Gras festivities.
Lu Xueyan, a Great Wall protector, patrols a section of the Great Wall in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Bowen)

TIANJIN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- In early spring, winter still lingers in the mountains of northern Tianjin. Wind moves steadily along the ridgelines of the city's Jizhou District, where the Great Wall runs in a long, weathered line across the peaks.

Near noon, Lu Xueyan begins his climb.

The 60-year-old sets out from Qian'ganjian Village, his home village, heading toward the section of the Great Wall he has patrolled for nearly a decade. With the Spring Festival arriving, he feels the need to make another round.

"As the Chinese New Year comes, I want to come up and take a look," he said. The Great Wall, he added, is always on his mind.

Lu is a native of Xiaying Township in Jizhou District. Since 2016, he has served as a Great Wall protector, part of a nationwide system created to strengthen daily conservation of the ancient structure. When Tianjin formed its local team that year, he signed up immediately and became one of its first members.

In Tianjin, the Great Wall is represented by the Huangyaguan section, which lies entirely within Jizhou District and extends 40.28 kilometers. Apart from a restored stretch open to visitors, about 36 kilometers remain unrestored and under routine protection.

Lu is responsible for nearly 10 kilometers along the mountainous border between Tianjin and neighboring Hebei Province. He patrols once a week. A full inspection takes about six hours.

He walks the ridgeline, checking whether the wall's foundation remains stable and whether surrounding rock faces show signs of potential hazards. As the wall rises and dips with the terrain, remnants of watchtowers, ramparts and beacon towers come into view. Lu knows which structures once served defensive purposes and which sections were later additions. He remembers where minor collapses have occurred and where foundations feel less secure.

At key points, he crouches to examine the masonry, taking photographs and recording locations on his mobile phone. The routine is deliberate and consistent.

Over the years, thousands of such images have recorded the details of bulging walls and loosened foundations. Lu archives and reports what he finds, often becoming one of the earliest to flag potential risks along his stretch.

In the autumn of 2025, when repairs were carried out along part of his stretch, experts relied in part on what he had collected. Sections that had shown early signs of instability were reinforced, with efforts made to preserve the wall's original form.

Lu walked the route with the expert team along the section he had been responsible for. Years of routine patrols had quietly become part of the project's foundation.

The terrain is steep and uneven. In winter, the mountains are bare, with loose stones scattered across them. Since becoming a protector, Lu has worn through more than 10 pairs of rubber shoes.

The Great Wall was built over more than two millennia, from the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C.-476 B.C.) to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Today, surviving sections total more than 21,000 kilometers. In 1987, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In recent years, preservation efforts have expanded. Since 2015, China has approved 289 conservation and restoration projects for the Great Wall, allocating 1.06 billion yuan (about 152.7 million U.S. dollars) in special funds. In February 2016, the National Cultural Heritage Administration issued measures formalizing the management of Great Wall protectors. Across the country, more than 6,800 such protectors now conduct regular patrols, strengthening what is often described as the "last mile" of protection.

For Lu, the connection to the Great Wall began long before he became a protector. As a child, he had no proper road to school and often walked along the wall to attend classes. The ancient stones formed part of his daily route. Over time, the structure became a constant presence in his life.

After taking on his current role, he began studying the wall more systematically -- its history, its architectural structure, and its conservation requirements -- hoping to help preserve it in its original form.

By late afternoon, the light softens. Lu pauses beside a beacon tower ruin and takes a sip of water. In the villages below, lanterns are being hung for the holiday. The days before and after the Spring Festival are a sensitive period: visitor numbers increase, the weather is dry, and the risk of fire rises.

"The busier the holiday, the more vigilant I must be," he said.

The work is demanding, but Lu sees it as a responsibility. He is, after all, a villager at the foot of the wall.

"My greatest wish is that during the years I am responsible for this section, it can remain as it is, free from human damage," he said. "As long as I am physically able, I will keep guarding it."

As dusk approaches, he checks one final stretch before turning back down the mountain. Below, village lights begin to glow for the holiday. The wall stretches along the ridge behind him, unchanged, as it has for centuries. 

Lu Xueyan, a Great Wall protector, patrols a section of the Great Wall in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Bowen)
'It Can't Be Clearer: Expert Says India Struck Pakistans Nuclear Depot During Op Sindoor

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 19:37 IST

Tom Cooper described the alleged strike as one of the decisive moments of the conflict.

File photo for representation. (File pic/PTI)

Aviation historian and analyst Tom Cooper has claimed that India struck Pakistans Kirana Hills nuclear facility during Operation Sindoor, mentioning that the evidence is unmistakable. In an interview with NDTV, Cooper said he had multiple pieces of proof to support his claim, despite official denials from the Indian Air Force.

Speaking to NDTV, Cooper said the timing and nature of the strike suggest it was intended as a strong strategic message. Its a place you hit when you want to send a clear message without causing, lets put it this way, too much damage. It means, Listen, guys in Pakistan, we can hit you severely where we want, whenever we want, with as much ammunition as we want. Stop it, finally," he told NDTV.

Earlier during Operation Sindoor, Cooper, in a Facebook post, criticised Indias defence PR for not acknowledging an alleged strike near Kirana Hills. Criticising the IAF, he wrote: India, India, India and IAF and its PR-work sigh Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor  Vice Air Chief, IAF  gave a press conference, a day or so ago. And, of course, somebody asked him about IAF air strikes on the underground elements of the Kirana Hills  one of major Pakistani weapons storage facilities  well-known to have been flown during the 88-Hours War, on 10 May 2025 Kapoor answered in the classic IAF-fashion: we dont know about it these videos were presented by their people they made them we did nothing"

Cooper further argued that the diplomatic activity that followed reinforced his assessment. Cooper said that when one considers the timing of the strike and cross-checks what was happening on the diplomatic front, including Islamabad reaching out to Washington and New Delhi and pushing for a ceasefire, the sequence of events becomes clear. While it was not literally a case of begging for a ceasefire, he maintained that the developments that followed spoke for themselves and that the situation cannot be clearer anymore," he told NDTV.

Asked about the evidence behind his assertion, Cooper said there were several indicators, including videos allegedly showing missile contrails descending onto the hillside. He pointed to smoke rising from what he described as the radar station of the 4091st Squadron of the Pakistani Air Force.

And the evidence is so clear that the Indian Air Force hit these radar stations first to disable the Pakistani capability to counter its attack, and then hit at least two entrances to the underground storage facilities. And Kirana Hills is one of the centrepieces of the Pakistani nuclear programme. They have run something like 20-24 non-critical nuclear tests over there. I mean, its not Disneyland," he told NDTV.

Cooper claimed that Pakistans retaliatory Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos had failed, largely due to Indian air defence systems.

Cooper described the alleged strike as one of the decisive moments of the conflict and said it was among the key reasons he considers the episode a clear-cut victory for India.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 07:29 IST

News india 'It Can't Be Clearer: Expert Says India Struck Pakistans Nuclear Depot During Op Sindoor

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Lawrence Bishnoi Aide Arrested Near Delhi-Gurugram Border In Disha Patani House Firing Case

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:37 IST

Police said Bobby Kabootar is considered a major gangster from North East Delhi and was wanted by the National Investigation Agency.

A file photo of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi (Image: X)

The Delhi Police Special Cells Counter-Intelligence team has arrested gangster Mahfooz, alias Bobby Kabootar, a close aide of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who had been absconding for the past seven years. He was apprehended during a special operation near the Delhi-Gurugram border area.

Police said Bobby Kabootar is considered a major gangster from North East Delhi and was wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as well as under provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

He is allegedly involved in several high-profile criminal cases, including the murder of the Nadeem Brothers, where he is accused of firing the maximum number of shots.

Significantly, he was also wanted in connection with the firing incident outside Bollywood actor Disha Patanis house in Bareilly. Investigators claim he supplied weapons to the shooters involved in the attack, with the firearms reportedly sourced from abroad.

In the Disha Patani firing case, two of the shooters were killed in an encounter, while three others had been arrested earlier. Police are now interrogating Bobby Kabootar to determine on whose instructions he arranged weapons for the shooters.

Delhi Police confirmed that he was arrested on Wednesday and that further questioning is underway.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:33 IST

News india Lawrence Bishnoi Aide Arrested Near Delhi-Gurugram Border In Disha Patani House Firing Case

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Mamata Banerjee Fact-Checked: What Bangladesh Election Data Shows On Minority Representation | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 15:18 IST

In volatile regions like Bagerhat and Gopalganj, rejections and withdrawals of minority candidates were reportedly higher, pointing to security concerns

Rapid Read

Data from the Bangladesh parliamentary election shows that of 2,034 candidates contesting 299 seats, only 80 were from Hindu minority backgrounds. (AFP)

Indian intelligence sources have rejected West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees recent remarks citing Bangladeshs elections in her criticism of the Election Commission of India, saying she does not have complete data about how the neighbouring countrys polls were conducted.

Addressing the media after polls in the neighbouring country, Banerjee had said: The election in Bangladesh was concluded peacefully. Everybody thought there will be violence. But it was done peacefully. But while India is a democratic county, its Election Commission with its threat culture, will bulldoze democracy."

However, sources familiar with internal assessments told CNN-News18 that the picture emerging from Bangladeshs parliamentary elections is far more complex, and troubling, particularly with regard to minority participation and representation.

Deliberate Playbook

Intelligence inputs indicate that violence and intimidation targeting Hindus and other minorities continued for over a year, particularly in politically sensitive and border districts. Officials describe what they term a deliberate playbook" by certain political actors aimed at inciting anti-minority sentiment, including attacks and pressure tactics designed to discourage participation.

In several constituencies, especially in volatile regions such as Bagerhat and Gopalganj, rejections and withdrawals of minority candidates were reportedly higher, pointing to security concerns. Sources allege that in some pockets, minorities were systematically pushed out of the system" through a mix of administrative hurdles and intimidation.

Representation Gap In Candidate Numbers

Data from the Bangladesh parliamentary election shows that of 2,034 candidates contesting 299 seats, only 80 were from Hindu minority backgrounds. That represents approximately 3.9 per cent of the total candidate pool, even though Hindus comprise about 8 per cent of Bangladeshs populationeffectively half their demographic share.

In several constituencies where Hindu voters account for 15-20 per cent of the electorate, major political parties reportedly did not nominate Hindu candidates.

Many Hindu aspirants are said to have filed nominations in significant numbers, including in minority-heavy constituencies such as Khulna-1, where eight Hindu nominees initially entered the race. However, some nomination papers were rejected on multiple grounds, while others were allegedly withdrawn under pressure.

Most of the 80 Hindu candidates were fielded by smaller leftist parties with limited vote share. Only two to three Hindu candidates are believed to have won seats, all on tickets from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). No major mainstream party is seen to have significantly exceeded proportional representation for Hindu candidates.

War Of Words

Banerjees comments, suggesting that India should look at how Bangladesh conducted its polls, sparked immediate backlash from the BJP and drew a firm response from the Election Commission, which defended the countrys electoral processes.

Intelligence sources now argue that selective comparisons overlook ground realities in Bangladesh, including minority underrepresentation and reported intimidation.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 15:18 IST

News india Mamata Banerjee Fact-Checked: What Bangladesh Election Data Shows On Minority Representation | Exclusive

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Mamata, Stalin Or Someone Else: Saamana Editorial Urges INDI Alliance To Decide Leader

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 11:28 IST

The editorial pointed to growing debate over leadership within the alliance, especially after the Lok Sabha elections.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (File Photo)

The Shiv Sena (UBT) said the INDI bloc stands at a crucial turning point, urging the opposition alliance to move beyond internal debate and decide whether Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin or another leader will guide it. In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, the party warned that internal friction and leadership uncertainty within the alliance and the Congress risk undermining opposition unity ahead of key state elections.

The editorial said the opposition alliance is facing significant friendly fire" as polls approach.

In West Bengal, Trinamool will challenge Congress; in Kerala, the Left continues to be a competitor; and in Maharashtra, historical local divisions have favored the BJP. While Rahul Gandhi demonstrates a fighting spirit against what the opposition describes as dictatorship, the prolonged absence from power seems to have diminished the urgency among grassroots activists. Although the current Modi-led government does not hold a full majority and is dependent on alliances, its seeming strength continues to obstruct the opposition. Ultimately, the INDIA bloc must arrive at a consensus regarding a unified direction and a leader- be it Mamata, Stalin, or another individual- to confront the national crisis," it noted.

The editorial also pointed to growing debate over leadership within the alliance, especially after the Lok Sabha elections.

While Mahatma Gandhi once relied on his inner voice for spiritual and patriotic direction, the contemporary Congress is experiencing a different type of internal dissonance. Senior leaders and advisors are voicing divergent opinions when unity is crucial for the forthcoming elections in Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry," it said.

According to the editorial, different sections within the alliance are backing different leaders for the top role.

The editorial stressed that while opposition parties often unite once elections are formally announced, real strategic clarity requires leadership decisions well in advance.

The government has skillfully harnessed religious sentiments to sway public opinion, leading some segments of the populace to view international subservience- like to President Trump- as a divine blessing. In this context, the opposition faces a pressing dilemma: Who will spearhead the effort to counter this narrative?" it asked.

The party further argued that parliamentary disruptions are separate from wider public sentiment.

The inner consciences of the people are awakening, and this reality cannot be overlooked. A resolution is necessary: Mamata, Stalin, or someone else," the editorial concluded.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 11:28 IST

News india Mamata, Stalin Or Someone Else: Saamana Editorial Urges INDI Alliance To Decide Leader

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Modi Opened The Doors For India: Serbian President Vucic Hails PMs Statecraft

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 20:08 IST

Hailing Indias foreign policy, Serbian President Vucic said, At the end, all doors, gates are openedThat is serious statecraft.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic in New Delhi. (PMO via PTI)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, in an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18s Rahul Shivshankar, praised PM Narendra Modi for turning India into a decisive global voice.

Hailing Indias foreign policy, he said, At the end, all doors, gates are openedThat is serious statecraft."

Three ways how PM Modi made India a decisive global voice

Listing the ways in which PM Modi turned India into a decisive global voice, Serbian President Vucic said, He is a very charismatic and hardworking leader. He is well-known across the world. India became visible in the world because of him. He is overwhelmingly present and dominant."

Hailing the foreign policy of India, the Serbian President said, When you speak to PM Modi, you speak to him and the India state, without being influenced by other powers."

According to Vucic, the third major reason is PM Modis contribution to Indias progress. Not only in overall economy, but specific areas such as IT sector, digitised economy and AI."

On his previous meeting with PM Modi

Vucic said he first met Modi in Ahmedabad in Gujarat for a special conference in 2017. What I saw not only in Modis behaviour, but his eyes was that he was committed to his country. He takes care of everything. He is committed to details. He is a control freak in a positive sense because he cares," the Serbian President said.

#BreakingNews | How is the world looking at Indias contribution towards AI? What PM Modi has done different to put India as a rising global voice?WATCH @RShivshankar in EXCLUSIVE conversation with President Of Serbia @predsednikrs #NationAt5 #IndiaAI #GlobalAILeader pic.twitter.com/oigC0vfNcM  News18 (@CNNnews18) February 18, 2026

On strategic autonomy, geopolitical pressure

Strategic autonomy gives you respect," he said.

Recounting the economic pressure, political isolation and attempts to weaken Serbia, the President said, In the end, Narendra Modi opened all gates. We are not isolated. It was not the case 2-3 years ago"

There are tonnes of players in the world who want a weaker contender from IndiaOf course. There will always be attempts to weaken strong competitors. Why would others prefer a strong India? They would rather face a weaker one," he said.

That is why PM Modi is dedicated towards strengthening the military of India, political position of India in world and working on economic progressHe signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), with the United States (US), at the same time, he did not spoil his relation with Russia, while being cautious with China. Always keeping calm and stable is great politics"

First Published: February 18, 2026, 19:10 IST

News india Modi Opened The Doors For India: Serbian President Vucic Hails PMs Statecraft

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On Cam: Pedestrian Suffers Serious Injuries After Crane Runs Over Him In Karnatakas Udupi

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 12:42 IST

A crane ran over a man in Perampalli, Udupi, near Herga Cooperative Society. Fortunately, the man survived.

AI-generated image used for representational purposes only

A man walking along the roadside in Perampalli village in Karnatakas Udupi was run over by a crane in broad daylight. The accident took place in front of the Herga Agricultural Service Cooperative Society. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby private hospital for treatment.

According to preliminary reports, the crane driver allegedly swerved the vehicle to avoid an oncoming car and, in the process, ran over the man walking alone along the roadside. The horrific incident was captured on CCTV.

In the video, the man can be seen coming under the vehicles of the crane. The footage shows the driver halting his vehicle for a brief moment after the man was run over but he soon resumed his journey without checking on the man. A few moments later, the pedestrian managed to regain his senses, visibly struggling to get up. It is to be noted that the vehicle was moving in a moderate speed when the accident occurred.

The driver reportedly fled the scene immediately after the accident. So far, no arrests have been made as

authorities continue to examine the footage to trace the driver.

Crane Crushes Man To Death In Rajasthan

Earlier in January, an elderly farmer, Kailash Gurjar (56), was crushed to death by a speeding crane on the service road of the Jaipur-Agra National Highway in Dausa, Rajasthan. According to police, Gurjar was walking home from Manpur Chauraha Market when the crane hit him from behind, and its wheels ran over his body. He was declared dead on the spot. The driver fled, and authorities launched a search based on a complaint filed by Gurjars son.

Residents in both areas have raised concerns over the reckless operation of cranes and other heavy vehicles. Along busy service roads and near industrial units, large vehicles frequently move at high speeds, posing serious risks to pedestrians. Locals have demanded stricter enforcement of traffic rules and accountability for drivers of such heavy machinery to prevent any untoward incident in the future.

Location : Udupi, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 12:42 IST

News india On Cam: Pedestrian Suffers Serious Injuries After Crane Runs Over Him In Karnatakas Udupi

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Phased Withdrawal From Maoist Zones On The Cards From Late April, CRPF To Anchor Grid | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 09:22 IST

A detailed area-wise roadmap is being prepared to ensure that the transition does not create security gaps or allow any resurgence of Maoist activity

Rapid Read

Sources said the withdrawal will not be abrupt. Instead, forces will exit in carefully sequenced phases, with priority districts identified for the first round of redeployment. (PTI)

The Centre is preparing a calibrated exit plan for security forces deployed in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) theatre, with phased withdrawals expected to begin from the last week of April, according to senior government sources.

If the roadmap proceeds as scheduled, most Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including the BSF and ITBP, will gradually move out of LWE theatres after the March 30 internal deadline set for finalising the plan. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), however, will remain deployed in the region, though its role is expected to undergo a strategic shift.

A periodic review will be done, and second round of exit plan will be executed. The same process will be followed till all forces make an exit from the theatre.

Sources said the withdrawal will not be abrupt. Instead, forces will exit in carefully sequenced phases, with priority districts identified for the first round of redeployment.

A detailed area-wise roadmap is being prepared to ensure that the transition does not create security gaps or allow any resurgence of Maoist activity.

The move comes as the government pivots toward a development-centric approach in Indias shrinking Naxal-affected belt. Officials said teams will soon begin field visits to interior villages to conduct surveys, identify infrastructure gaps and draw up a structured development programme for the next financial year. The long-term goal is to transition from a purely combat-driven posture to a model combining security stabilisation with rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Government data shows a sharp contraction in the LWE footprint over the past decade. The number of LWE-affected districts has fallen from 126 in 2018 to just eight by December 2025, with only three classified as most affected". Violence has declined by 88 per cent since its peak in 2010, while civilian and security force deaths have dropped by 90 per cent, reflecting sustained security.

Officials stressed that troop reductions will be incremental and condition based. Security deployments will continue in sensitive pockets even as force levels are rationalised. The idea is stability first, withdrawal later," a senior official said, adding that the CRPF will anchor the revised security grid while other forces gradually hand over responsibilities.

The phased exit is being framed internally not as a retreat, but as a milestone in the governments stated objective of a Naxal-free India by March 2026.

Location : Chhattisgarh, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 09:22 IST

News india Phased Withdrawal From Maoist Zones On The Cards From Late April, CRPF To Anchor Grid | Exclusive

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PM Modi Shares Serbia Presidents Article As Indias AI Growth Wins Global Praise

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 15:30 IST

Serbian President credited PM Modis vision to democratise access to technology so that its benefits reach everyone, not just a privileged few.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File photo/PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared and welcomed Serbia President Aleksandar Vucics praise for Indias artificial intelligence progress and its growing global influence, posting his remarks on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

A fine article by President Aleksandar Vucic of the Republic of Serbia, in which he talks about AI, of course, but at the same time highlights his fondness for India, Indias strides in AI and strong India-Serbia relations!" PM Modi wrote while sharing the Serbian leaders opinion piece.

In his article published in The Indian Express, Vucic praised Indias technological ambitions and described the country as being at the centre of global conversations on artificial intelligence.

He said Indias approach to AI focuses on real-world deployment, ethical standards and inclusive innovation" with applications spanning healthcare, agriculture, education and financial inclusion. He noted that this pragmatic model reflects Indias aspiration to become a trailblazer in using technology for societal good.

Met President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit. We discussed ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as defence, manufacturing, DPI, fertilisers and infrastructure. For many years, India and Serbia have worked closely and I am confident our ties pic.twitter.com/gHO2jaPR5d Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 18, 2026

Vucic also said the India AI Impact Summit places the country firmly at the centre of the global discourse on artificial intelligence," and credited PM Modis vision to democratise access to technology so that its benefits reach everyone, not just a privileged few.

Reflecting on Indias broader trajectory, the Serbian President said India possesses qualities such as grit, equanimity and self-belief" in abundance and declared that those who underestimate Indias potential would be proven wrong.

India is not arriving at the future. It is helping to define it," he wrote.

World And Tech Leaders Praise Indias AI Growth

Global leaders and technology executives also voiced strong support for Indias growing leadership in artificial intelligence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised India as the ideal host for the AI Impact Summit, calling the country a very successful emerging economy" with an increasingly important role in global affairs.

I see India in the centre of those emerging economies," Guterres said, adding that he has a lot of hope for the role that India can play in shaping this multipolar world." He also congratulated India for organising the summit and emphasised the importance of ensuring AI benefits all countries, particularly in the Global South.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, described the current moment as an extraordinary time of hyper progress" and reaffirmed the companys commitment to partnering with India across the entire AI ecosystem.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also backed Indias ambitions, saying the country could emerge as a full-stack AI leader" capable of building core AI systems, infrastructure and applications.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 09:27 IST

News india PM Modi Shares Serbia Presidents Article As Indias AI Growth Wins Global Praise

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Rajya Sabha Polls On March 16 For 37 Seats Across 10 States, Says EC

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 11:48 IST

The Commission has intensified its EVM and VVPAT awareness drive in poll-bound states and Union Territories, including Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Election Commission of India (PTI File)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday released the schedule for biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, as the terms of the sitting members are set to end in April 2026.

According to an official press note, members from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana will complete their tenure in April, necessitating fresh elections to fill the vacancies.

The election process will begin with the issuance of notification on February 26. The last date for filing nominations is March 5, followed by scrutiny on March 6. Candidates may withdraw their nominations until March 9. Polling will be held on March 16, and counting of votes will take place the same day at 5 pm. The entire process is scheduled to conclude by March 20.

The Commission has issued specific instructions regarding the voting procedure. The Commission has directed that only integrated violet colour sketch pen(s) of pre-fixed specification, provided by the Returning Officer, shall be used for the purpose of marking preference(s) on the ballot paper. No other pen shall be used for marking preferences in the elections," the press note stated.

The ECI also directed officials to appoint observers and ensure all necessary arrangements are in place for a smooth and transparent conduct of the polls.

Separately, the Commission has intensified its EVM and VVPAT awareness drive in poll-bound states and Union Territories, including Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. As per the ECI, over 1.20 lakh electors have participated in EVM demonstration camps, with more than 1.16 lakh casting mock votes during the exercise. Over 29,000 polling station locations had been covered by mobile demonstration vans as of February 10.

The awareness campaign is being carried out through EVM Demonstration Centres and Mobile Demonstration Vans in a structured and time-bound manner to familiarise voters with the functioning of the machines.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 11:48 IST

News india Rajya Sabha Polls On March 16 For 37 Seats Across 10 States, Says EC

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Ram Temple Fuels Ayodhyas Economic Surge: Study Projects Rs 4 Lakh Crore Tourism Revenue

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 16:13 IST

Post-consecration, redevelopment and capacity expansion projects worth approximately Rs 85,000 crore are underway, spanning roads, railways, urban renewal and airport expansion.

Between February 2020 and February 2025, the Ram Temple Trust remitted around Rs 400 crore in taxes. (X)

The construction and consecration of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in January 2024 has significantly reshaped Ayodhyas economic landscape, leading a surge in tourism, investment and job creation, according to a new study by Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow).

The report, titled Economic Renaissance of Ayodhya," examined the transformation of the temple town following the consecration of the grand temple. The report also described how faith-led infrastructure has become a durable growth driver, helping Ayodhya pivot from a low-capacity pilgrimage town to a high-footfall tourism hub.

The study has been authored by Venkataramanaiah Saddikuti of IIM Lucknow, KV Raju, Professor Emeritus at Chanakya University and economic advisor to the Uttar Pradesh government, and Gopika Varma of Indian Institute of Management Rohtak.

According to the study, more than 11 crore (110 million) devotees visited Ayodhya within the first six months after the consecration. Annual footfall is now projected at 56 crore, placing the city among Indias leading religious tourism destinations.

Before the temples construction, Ayodhyas economy revolved around small-scale pilgrimage activity. Annual visitor numbers were modest, hospitality capacity was limited, national hotel chains had negligible presence, and the absence of an airport constrained connectivity. Employment opportunities were limited, leading to youth migration.

Post-consecration, redevelopment and capacity expansion projects worth approximately Rs 85,000 crore are underway, spanning roads, railways, urban renewal and airport expansion. These investments have helped crowd in private capital and expand the services sector.

Tourism-led economic activity is projected to generate Rs 20,00025,000 crore in tax revenues over the medium term. The study estimated that tourism spending in Uttar Pradesh could cross Rs 4 lakh crore, with Ayodhya contributing a significant share.

The scale of the economic turnaround surprised us. When we began the study, we did not anticipate such a sharp enrichment of the region. The temple has acted as a catalyst, and infrastructure has converted footfall into sustained economic activity," professor Saddikuti told Moneycontrol. This is not a one-off spike. We are seeing repeat visitation, longer stays and higher spend per visitor, which is what makes the model durable," he added.

It is noteworthy that after assuming office in 2017, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accelerated the temple economy framework, coupling temple development with modern infrastructure expansion in Ayodhya, thereby opening pathways for broader economic prosperity.

The report further highlighted rapid employment growth across hospitality, construction, transport and services. Around 6,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been newly set up or revived in and around Ayodhya. Over the next four to five years, tourism expansion is expected to generate approximately 1.2 lakh direct and indirect jobs.

Small retailers and street vendors report daily earnings rising from Rs 400500 earlier to as much as Rs 2,500. Real estate prices near the temple precinct have risen five to ten times, attracting investors from across India.

Between February 2020 and February 2025, the Ram Temple Trust remitted around Rs 400 crore in taxes, including approximately Rs 270 crore in GST, indicating growing formalisation and compliance, the authors noted.

Daily footfall of over two lakh pilgrims has sustained demand for hospitality and allied services. More than 150 new hotels and homestays have opened in the city. Major hotel chains, including Taj Hotels, Marriott International and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, have announced expansion plans in Ayodhya.

Online travel platforms have reported up to fourfold growth in bookings. Tour operators said that pilgrims are increasingly combining visits to Ayodhya with trips to Varanasi, indicating the emergence of a broader spiritual tourism circuit.

Professor Saddikuti said that the Ram temple is shaping Indias emerging temple economy" playbook, comparable to redevelopment-led tourism growth seen around Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Mahakaleshwar Temple.

If connectivity, crowd management and last-mile services keep pace, Ayodhya can anchor a multi-city spiritual tourism circuit with measurable economic spillovers," he said.

Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the temple-led development framework has gained academic validation, the report noted.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 16:13 IST

News india Ram Temple Fuels Ayodhyas Economic Surge: Study Projects Rs 4 Lakh Crore Tourism Revenue

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JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said on Wednesday that one of its soldiers was killed "during combat" in the southern Gaza Strip, while Israeli media reported he was apparently killed by friendly fire.

The military said in a statement that Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, 21, fell "during combat in the southern Gaza Strip," adding that he was a resident of the community of HaYogev in northern Israel.

Several Israeli media outlets, including state-owned Army Radio, reported that Yafe was likely killed by friendly fire due to misidentification.

Citing senior military officials, Army Radio reported that an initial probe indicated he was killed by fellow troops while scanning "suspected buildings" in Khan Younis and was mistakenly identified as a Palestinian militant.

His death brings the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since Oct. 7, 2023 to 925, according to Israeli figures, with five of them killed since a fragile ceasefire came into effect on Oct. 10, 2025.

Israeli fire has killed at least 603 people in Gaza since the ceasefire began, bringing the total Palestinian death toll in the enclave to at least 72,063, according to Gaza's health authorities. 
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Renews Call For United Hindu Society, Backs Three-Child Policy

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 09:54 IST

Mohan Bhagwat expressed concern over what he described as a declining Hindu population and called for uniting and empowering Hindu society.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat (PTI Image)

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday reiterated that Hindu families should consider having at least three children. He was addressing a social-harmony meeting at Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Lucknow.

Bhagwat expressed concern over what he described as a declining Hindu population and called for uniting and empowering Hindu society. He said there is no threat but vigilance is necessary.

There is a need to unite and empower Hindus. There is no threat to us but vigilance is necessary," Bhagwat said.

Three-child policy and marriage

Bhagwat said Hindu families should consider at least three children. He cited scientific opinions that societies with an average fertility rate below three could disappear in the future.

He said newly married couples should be made aware of this. According to him, the purpose of marriage is to carry forward creation, not merely to fulfil personal desires.

Infiltration

Raising concerns over infiltration, Bhagwat said infiltrators should be detected, deleted and deported, and not given employment.

He stressed that lack of harmony leads to discrimination and said all citizens share one country and one motherland. He described Sanatan thought as a philosophy of harmony and said differences must be addressed through understanding and practice.

Bhagwat on laws, caste and global role

Responding to a question on UGC guidelines, Bhagwat said laws must be obeyed and flawed laws can be changed through constitutional means.

He said caste divisions should not cause conflict and called for uplifting the disadvantaged with a sense of belonging. Bhagwat added that India would guide the world in the near future and that many global problems have solutions in the countrys civilisational ethos.

He also cautioned that some elements in the United States and China are working against Indias social harmony and called for vigilance and mutual trust.

Location : Maharashtra, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 09:54 IST

News india RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Renews Call For United Hindu Society, Backs Three-Child Policy

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Seven-Year-Old Andhra Girl Raped, Murdered By Neighbour; Body Recovered From Drum

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 09:15 IST

A seven-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Andhra Pradesh. Public anger led to protests and highway blockade. Investigation continues.

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The accused neighbour, Kulavardhan (L)

A seven-year-old girl was brutally raped and murdered in Madanapalle town of Annamayya district in Andhra Pradesh, leading to widespread public anger. The body of the minor girl was recovered from a drum on Tuesday. The accused has been identified as Kulavardhan (30), who lived near the victims house.

According to police, the accused was allegedly addicted to drugs and alcohol. Police said Kulavardhan first assaulted the child and then drowned her in a water drum. It is learnt that he kept the body in his room overnight.

Child Went Missing On Monday

The victim, a Class 2 student, had gone missing on Monday evening, prompting her family to approach police after they failed to locate her. Subsequently, police launched a town-wide search and examined CCTV footage. Although officers visited the suspects house around 1.30 am, they left after seeing him asleep through a window.

They returned in the morning, broke down the door, only to discover the girls body in a drum. The accused has a prior criminal record. Meanwhile, locals have claimed that earlier intervention might have prevented the tragedy.

As the news of the tragic incident spread, numerous people, including political representatives, gathered and blocked the Madanapalle-Chennai highway for hours. The public demanded Kulavardhans arrest and wanted him handed over to them.

Further, efforts to shift the childs body for postmortem were delayed as her family refused to release it. Police officials attempted to persuade the protesters, but the family remained firm. It was late in the evening before the police could move the body to the government general hospital in Madanapalle for postmortem.

Soon after the tragic incident, another dead body was found in a separate tank near the village. Locals suspect that the body belongs to Kulavardhan. Upon receiving information, police rushed to the spot and began an investigation. Further investigation is underway.

Location : Andhra Pradesh, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 09:13 IST

News india Seven-Year-Old Andhra Girl Raped, Murdered By Neighbour; Body Recovered From Drum

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'Can't Agree': SC Overturns Allahabad High Court's 'Pulling Pyjama String Not Rape Attempt' Order

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 10:32 IST

The Supreme Court has set aside the Allahabad High Court order that ruled certain acts against a minor did not amount to attempt to rape.

A photo of the Supreme Court of India (PTI)

The Supreme Court has set aside a controversial Allahabad High Court order, which had held that acts such as grabbing the breasts of a minor, breaking the string of her pyjama and attempting to drag her beneath a culvert did not constitute rape or an attempt to rape.

According to a report with Bar and Bench, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and NV Anjaria underscored that adjudication in cases involving sexual offences must be rooted not only in legal interpretation but also in empathy and sensitivity towards victims.

We cannot agree with the finding of the High Court that the allegations only amount to preparation, but not an attempt, towards the commission of the offence of rape," the Supreme Court observed in its judgment delivered on February 10.

The court further cautioned that justice delivery would remain incomplete if courts failed to recognise the vulnerabilities of litigants.

Our decisions as participants in the legal process must reflect the ethos of compassion, humanity, and understanding, which are essential for creating a fair and effective justice system," the bench said.

THE CONTROVERSIAL ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT ORDER

The matter arose from a March 17, 2025, order passed by a single judge of the Allahabad High Court while modifying a summoning order against two accused, identified as Pawan and Akash.

As per the prosecutions case, the accused allegedly grabbed the breasts of an 11-year-old girl.

One of them then broke the string of her lower garment and attempted to drag her beneath a culvert. The accused fled after passers-by intervened.

The trial court had treated the incident as an attempt to rape or attempted penetrative sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and summoned the accused under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code along with Section 18 of the POCSO Act.

However, the High Court modified the charges and directed that the accused be tried under the lesser offence of Section 354-B IPC (assault with intent to disrobe) along with Sections 9 and 10 of the POCSO Act dealing with aggravated sexual assault.

The High Court had observed that the allegations were insufficient to infer a determined intent to commit rape, noting that apart from the acts alleged, no further conduct suggesting such intention had been attributed to the accused.

THEN THE SUPREME COURT TOOK SUO MOTU COGNISANCE

The Supreme Court subsequently took suo motu cognisance of the High Courts order in March 2025 and stayed its operation.

During the proceedings, the top court found the reasoning adopted by the High Court problematic in terms of legal categorisation and criminal justice standards.

The bench noted that while provisions relating to aggravated sexual assault were applicable, the threshold for determining an attempt to rape had been incorrectly applied.

Senior advocates appearing in the matter also highlighted that judicial language must not diminish or distort the lived realities of victims of sexual crimes.

Counsel submitted that technical distinctions such as preparation" and attempt" should not be applied mechanically without considering the factual context of the incident.

In its final verdict, the Supreme Court acknowledged the need for systemic correction and emphasised the importance of inculcating sensitivity within judicial processes.

There is no doubt that some action is required to be taken to inculcate and nurture an inherent sensitivity and discernment into the approach of members of the judiciary," the court said.

While declining to frame guidelines itself at this stage, the court directed the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, to constitute an expert committee to prepare a report and draft guidelines aimed at promoting sensitivity and compassion in cases involving sexual offences and other vulnerable victims.

The committee has been asked to submit its report preferably within three months.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 10:32 IST

News india 'Can't Agree': SC Overturns Allahabad High Court's 'Pulling Pyjama String Not Rape Attempt' Order

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Women Dont Want To Marry Farmers: Karnataka Congress MLA Seeks Incentives For Rural Brides

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 22:13 IST

A Congress MLA in Karnataka urged government incentives for women marrying farmers, citing rural bride shortages and agricultural distress.

A Congress MLA in Karnataka urged government incentives for women marrying farmers, citing rural bride shortages and agricultural distress.(Representative Image)

A Congress legislator in Karnataka has sparked debate after claiming that many women are reluctant to marry farmers, urging the government to introduce financial incentives to encourage marriages in rural areas.

Speaking during a discussion, the MLA said farming families are increasingly struggling to find brides for eligible men, as women prefer grooms with stable urban jobs. He argued that agriculture is no longer seen as a financially secure profession, making it difficult for farmers to find life partners.

To address the issue, the lawmaker proposed that the government consider providing incentives or benefits to women who marry farmers. According to him, such measures could help strengthen rural communities and support the agricultural sector, which continues to face economic challenges.

The remarks have triggered mixed reactions, with some backing the idea as a way to support struggling farmers, while others criticised the suggestion as regressive and misplaced.

The proposal comes amid broader concerns about rural distress, declining agricultural incomes and migration from villages to cities in search of better opportunities.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 22:13 IST

News india Women Dont Want To Marry Farmers: Karnataka Congress MLA Seeks Incentives For Rural Brides

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'Your Six, Somebody Elses Nine': Galgotias Professor Under Fire Over Robodog Claim

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 17:22 IST

Galgotias University faced criticism at India AI Impact Summit 2026 for displaying the Unitree Go2 robotic dog as Orion.

Professor Neha Singh of Galgotias University. (PTI)

Galgotias University AI Summit Row: Amid mounting controversy over the display of a Chinese robotic dog at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Professor Neha Singh of Galgotias University said that her remarks were not clearly articulated and expressed regret over how they were interpreted.

She said that the issue arose out of enthusiasm and misinterpretation rather than any intention to falsely claim ownership of the machine.

The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps I did not communicate it properly, as it was done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do," she said as quoted by news agency PTI.

VIDEO | Delhi: Professor Neha Singh of Galgotias University responds to reports of the university being asked to vacate its stall at the AI Summit Expo, says, The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps I did pic.twitter.com/z5lOIzmDz1 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 18, 2026

Responding to the allegations, Singh acknowledged that the university could not claim to have built the machine. She said that the robot dog was procured as part of the universitys AI investments and meant as a hands-on learning platform for students  not as an in-house invention.

One important point is regarding the robot dogwe cannot claim that we manufactured it. I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them to create something better on their own. Our university contributes to building future leaders by providing cutting-edge technologies in the field of AI, and it will continue to do so," she added.

While speaking to Hindustan Times, the professor said that even without social media backlash, the university would have clarified the matter.

If this had not been noticed by people, we would still have clarified. We cannot claim something that is not built by our students," she said, describing the episode as a matter of interpretation. Youre maintaining your six, somebody elses nine  thats what happened."

Galgotias University Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur also said that the confusion stemmed from the use of the words develop" and development." He clarified that the university did not develop the robot but had worked on its development for academic and research purposes.

VIDEO | Galgotias University Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur gives clarification amid growing controversy over the display of a Chinese RoboDog at AI Impact Summit.He says, As far as the issue of the stall lights is concerned, there has been no official communication so far, so I pic.twitter.com/EcZ88m96pW  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 18, 2026

Whats The Row?

Galgotias University faced intense criticism after reports suggested that the Unitree Go2 robotic dog was displayed under the name Orion," prompting allegations that imported technology was being presented as indigenously developed.

A clip went viral showing Singh introducing the Robodog as Orion and saying it was developed by the Centre of Excellence of the institution.

It was alleged that the device was in fact the Unitree Go2, an AI-powered robotic dog manufactured by China-based robotics company Unitree, and not indigenously developed.

University Issues Clarification

Galgotias University on Tuesday issued a clarification saying it never claimed to have built the device" and that it was procured from a Chinese manufacturer for academic purposes.

In a statement, the university said the robotic dog was acquired from Unitree, a global robotics company based in China, and is being used as a learning tool for students.

Let us be clear, Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed to do so. What we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer and manufacture such technologies in Bharat," the university said.

Galgotia University Vacates AI Summit

Meanwhile, the university was asked to vacate its stall at the summit venue in the national capital, following which electrical power to the pavilion was cut. Staff and students subsequently cleared the stall.

Later, the Central government issued a stern warning to all exhibitors after the row. IT Secretary S Krishnan issued a warning by saying, Exhibitors must not display items that are not theirs."

First Published: February 18, 2026, 17:22 IST

News india 'Your Six, Somebody Elses Nine': Galgotias Professor Under Fire Over Robodog Claim

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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Date, History, And 5 Life Lessons For Todays Generation

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Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 08:08 IST

Shivaji Jayanti 2026 will be observed on February 19. Know the history, significance and 5 life lessons from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for todays generation.

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From courage to visionary leadership, the enduring values of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj remain relevant for todays generation.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Shivaji Jayanti is celebrated every year to mark the birth anniversary of the great Maratha warrior and the founder of the Maratha Empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The day falls on March 10, as per the Hindu calendar. However, Shivaji Jayanti is observed on February 19 every year, according to the Gregorian calendar.

Also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, the special day is widely observed across Maharashtra and other parts of India in commemoration of the glorious legacy of the great Maratha Emperor and his vision of Hindavi Swarajya, or a sovereign Hindu kingdom.

Shivaji Jayanti is recognised as a public holiday in Maharashtra.

ALSO READ: Happy Shivaji Jayanti 2026: Wishes, Images, Quotes, And WhatsApp Greetings In English And Marathi To Share On Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: History And Significance

According to historical evidence, the great Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born on February 19, 1630, at the Shivneri Fort  the den of the Maratha Empire at the height of their prowess. The day is celebrated today as Shivaji Jayanti, an occasion reserved by traditional cultural groups and followers of Shivaji to fondly remember his legacy, bravery and governance based on values of justice and humanity for all.

ALSO READ: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Banks, Schools & Offices Open Or Closed In Mumbai On February 19?

He was crowned as the ruler of the Maratha Empire in 1674 at the Raigad Fort. Shivaji Maharaj led the formal establishment of the Hindavi Swarajya, aimed at building a sovereign nation guided by self-rule. During his reign, he established a strong military that fought for the protection of his regime and its followers.

He also ensured protection for women and encouraged the use of regional languages. He was also a flagbearer of religious tolerance and harmony among people. During his reign, Shivaji took part in various military expeditions and emerged victorious.

Shivaji Jayanti brings an opportunity for the great Maratha kings followers to recall his spirit of swarajya, vision for a sovereign state, the stories of his incredible resilience and courage, especially during his military missions and conquests.

In Maharashtra, especially, the Shivaji Jayanti is considered a great occasion to celebrate the Maratha communitys glorious past, taking pride in the motherland and bolstering patriotism.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Celebrations

The Shivaji Jayanti is celebrated in Maharashtra and the rest of India in various forms. Devotees of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj take part in processions and rallies dedicated to him with dhol beats and music across cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Kolhapur. They also make sure to visit strategic forts linked with the life of the Maratha king situated in Shivneri, Raigad and Pratapgad.

Floral tributes are offered to Shivaji Maharaj on the occasion, with his massive statues getting decorated with garlands. Schools and other educational institutes organise special cultural programmes, speeches and essay competitions based on his life.

5 Lessons From Shivaji Maharajs Life

Courage And Resilience: Shivaji Maharajs ability to face adversities head-on can be inspiring for those struggling in life, acting as a source of encouragement for them to bounce back. Visionary Leadership: During his reign and lifespan, the great Maratha king backed his vision for justice and public welfare with remarkable leadership. Strategic Warfare: Shivaji Maharaj was known for deploying effective military strategies, including guerrilla warfare and fort-based defence systems, to defeat the enemy. Administrative Excellence: His administrative skills and commitment to public welfare remain an inspiration for contemporary leaders of the world. Justice Above All: Throughout his life, Shivaji Maharaj fought for the justice of people and communities. This promotes human empathy and values of fairness and democracy.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 09:05 IST

News lifestyle events Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Date, History, And 5 Life Lessons For Todays Generation
Kartik Aaryan's Captain India Back On Track, Chak De! India Director Shimit Amin To Helm?

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 17:29 IST

Kartik Aaryan's film Captain India was announced in 2021 and it was supposed to be directed by Hansal Mehta. But it was put on a back burner back then.

Kartik Aaryan will soon be seen in Naagzilla.

Kartik Aaryan, who was last seen in Tu Mera Main Teri Main Teri Tu Mera alongside Ananya Panday, has exciting films lined up for his fans. One of his films that was announced in 2021 was put on a back burner. It seems like it is back on track now. The film titled Captain India was announced with Hansal Mehta earlier. Now, the latest report suggests that Chak De! India director Shimit Amin has stepped in. He will direct the film with Bhushan Kumars T-Series backing it.

Kartik Aaryans Captain India back on track

Recently, Bollywood Hungama reported that Bhushan Kumar, who has collaborated with Kartik on films like Pati Patni Aur Woh, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, will be backing Captain India. After their successful stint to date, they have joined hands yet again. Apart from this, the report also claims that Shimit Amin will return to the directors chair after a gap of 17 years with Captain India.

A source told the portal, Captain India is written and produced by Harman Baweja. Now, T-Series has also joined as a producer, as they saw potential in the story, Kartiks casting and Shimit Amins association as the director. The recce has been completed and the film is expected to go floors in the second quarter of 2026." Reportedly, the film will be shot in India and Morocco.

Earlier, Shimit has directed films like Ab Tak Chhappan with Nana Patekar, Chak De! India starring Shah Rukh Khan and the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year. All three films are quite diverse from each other, and it would be interesting to see how Captain India shapes up!

Meanwhile, on the work front for Kartik, he also has Dharma Productions Nagzilla, which is scheduled to release this year in August. He is currently shooting for the film in Delhi. Apart from this, he has an untitled love story by Anurag Basu, co-starring Sreeleela, and Kabir Khans next in the pipeline.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 17:29 IST

News movies bollywood Kartik Aaryan's Captain India Back On Track, Chak De! India Director Shimit Amin To Helm?
Rajpal Yadav Calls For Prison Reforms After Bail: 'Some Prisoners Deserve Lifelines Like On KBC'

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 20:13 IST

After securing interim bail in his cheque bounce case, Rajpal Yadav urged prison reforms, saying some inmates deserve lifelines like on KBC and a chance at rehabilitation.

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Rajpal Yadav, recently granted interim bail in a cheque bounce case, called for prison reforms and rehabilitation, saying some inmates deserve lifelines like on KBC.

Actor Rajpal Yadav stepped out of Delhis Tihar Jail on Tuesday after the Delhi High Court granted him interim bail in a cheque bounce case. A day after securing relief from the court, the actor addressed the media and used the moment to speak about prison reform and rehabilitation of inmates.

Rajpal Yadav Calls For Prison Reform And Rehabilitation

In an interaction with PTI following his release, Rajpal urged authorities to rethink how the prison system functions in India.

I have an appeal. In our country, we dont know the difference between a prisoner and a respectable person. But I have noticed that jails need to be upgraded for todays time," he said.

Highlighting the need for structured rehabilitation, he added, There are prisoners who have already been convicted who dont need to go to court and have been there for 10 years due to a mistake they made. Their behaviour and conduct have been observed over time."

VIDEO | Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh: Actor Rajpal Yadav says, " We often dont know who is truly a criminal and who is respectable. But I have noticed one thing: wherever people are being punished, our prisons should also be upgraded for modern times. For example, there are pic.twitter.com/otbalgEa25 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 18, 2026

Drawing an analogy with Kaun Banega Crorepati, the actor said, At least 10% of them, like how we have lifelines on Kaun Banega Crorepati, these prisoners deserve lifelines. If 10% of them are released and rehabilitated, they could be a strength for our country. And if they dont change, the law spares nobody."

Thanks The Nation And Bollywood For Support

Rajpal also expressed gratitude towards the film industry and the public for standing by him during the legal battle.

Im about to complete 30 years in Bollywood. Every person in the entire country stood by me, which is why I was able to make 200-250 films. Everyone in this country is a part of my heart they were with me and are with me," he said.

He clarified that the case dates back to 2012 and asserted that he has complied with court directions whenever summoned. The way the entire country, the world, and Bollywood have loved me, if I face any allegations, Im available to answer. Thank you, High Court, for giving me the opportunity to be heard," he added.

Court Grants Interim Bail Till March 18

The Delhi High Court granted Rajpal Yadav interim suspension of sentence till March 18. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma directed the actor to furnish a personal bond of 1 lakh along with one surety of the same amount.

The court also took note of the 1.5 crore due amount being deposited in the respondents bank account while granting relief.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 20:13 IST

News movies bollywood Rajpal Yadav Calls For Prison Reforms After Bail: 'Some Prisoners Deserve Lifelines Like On KBC'
Salman Khan's Father Salim Khan On Ventilator Support, To Undergo Surgery

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 12:02 IST

Salim Khan was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati hospital on Tuesday. Later in the day, the hospital revealed that the veteran screenwriter is stable but is under close observation.

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Salim Khan is said to be in ICU.

Salim Khan Health Condition Today: Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan has reportedly been put on ventilator support. If a report by News24 is to be believed, Salman Khans fathers blood pressure spiked recently, which caused internal bleeding on the right side of his brain. Following this, doctors highlighted that the bursting of blood vessels caused internal bleeding. Therefore, Salim Khan will undergo surgery on Wednesday morning. More details are awaited.

Also See: Salim Khan Latest News, Health Condition Live Updates Here

Salim Khan was admitted to Mumbais Lilavati Hospital on Tuesday morning. Later in the evening, the hospital issued a health bulletin and revealed that the veteran screenwriter is stable but is under close observation. A team of doctors consisting of Dr Vinay Chavan (neurologist), Dr Ajit Menon (cardiologist) and Dr Nitin Dange (neurosurgeon), and Dr Bineet Ahluwalia attended to him," said Dr Jalil Parkar.

Salim Khans family has also reached the Lilavati hospital to be with him during this time. His son, superstar Salman Khan, was seen at the hospital on Tuesday. Besides Salman, both of Salim Khans wives  Salma Khan and Helen were also at the hospital. They were spotted by the paparazzi as they arrived at the hospital to meet their ailing husband.

Salims children, including Arbaaz Khan, Alvira Khan and Arpita Khan, were also spotted arriving at the hospital on Tuesday. Even Salim Khans grandsons, Nirvaan and Arhaan, were seen arriving at meet their ailing grandfather.

Meanwhile, fans have taken to social media to express concern and send wishes for his speedy recovery. Salim Khan, who is aged 90, is regarded as one of the most influential screenwriters in Hindi cinema history.

Salim Khan rose to prominence as one half of the legendary SalimJaved duo, alongside writer Javed Akhtar. Together, they redefined mainstream Hindi cinema in the 1970s with a string of iconic films. Among their most celebrated works is Sholay, widely considered one of the greatest Indian films ever made. The duo also penned blockbusters such as Deewaar, Zanjeer, and Don, films that helped shape the angry young man" era of Bollywood. Their writing not only changed storytelling patterns but also elevated the status of screenwriters in the industry.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 12:01 IST

News movies bollywood Salman Khan's Father Salim Khan On Ventilator Support, To Undergo Surgery
Salman Khan Looks Visibly Disturbed Amid Salim Khan's Hospitalisation, Spotted With Arpita Khan

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 11:48 IST

On Tuesday, Salman Khan left his shooting in Madh Island and rushed to meet his ailing father.

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Salman Khan rushed to hospital after Salim Khan's admission. (Photo: Instant Bollywood and Instagram)

Salim Khan Health Updates: On Tuesday night, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was seen leaving the Lilavati Hospital where his 90-year-old father and veteran screenwriter Salim Khan has been admitted following complaints of swelling. The actor stepped out of the hospital premises late at night and made his way to his car as paparazzi gathered around his vehicle.

Also See: Salim Khan Latest News, Health Condition Live Updates Here

Amid the chaos, Salman was seen maintaining complete calm and composure but was seen visibly disturbed. At one point in the video captured by the media, he was seen closing his eyes while seated inside the car, seemingly in silent prayer.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood)

For the uninitiated, Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan was shifted to the ICU after he was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital on Tuesday. Doctor Jalil Parkar attached to the case issued a statement as he gave an update on the veteran screenwriters health.

He said, Yes, its true that Salim Khan (father of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan) & an icon in himself has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital under Dr Jalil Parkar in the ICU early morning at 8:30 am. He was brought into the emergency by their family doctor Sandeep Chopra. Emergency care was initiated in the emergency and Mr Salim Khan was shifted to the intensive care on the 1st floor. A team of doctors consisting of Dr Vinay Chavan(neurologist), Dr Ajit Menon(cardiologist) & Dr Nitin Dange (neurosurgeon) & Dr Bineet Ahluwalia attended to him. Respecting the relatives request further details aint being shared today".

However, on Wednesday at 11:00 am, we shall be addressing a press bulletin with due consent of the relatives & maintaining the confidentiality of the patient to the utmost. Kindly bear with us. He is stable but is under close observation in regards to his clinical status", he added.

On Tuesday, following Salim Khans hospitalisation, his elder son, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, daughters Alvira Khan Agnihotri, Arpita Khan and actor husband Aayush Sharma were seen arriving at the hospital.

Salman left his shooting in Madh Island and rushed to meet his father.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 08:34 IST

News movies bollywood Salman Khan Looks Visibly Disturbed Amid Salim Khan's Hospitalisation, Spotted With Arpita Khan
COLOMBO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has decided to secure Special Drawing Rights (SDR) financing equivalent to 50 million U.S. dollars from the World Bank Group to implement the Sri Lanka Digital Transformation Project, the government's Information Department said Tuesday.

The project, under the country's Digital Economy Strategy 2025-2030, aims to deliver public services more efficiently and transparently through digital platforms, the department said.

Cabinet approval to seek support from international development partners for the project was granted at a cabinet meeting in October 2025, according to the statement. It said loan negotiations involving relevant government stakeholders and the World Bank Group have been concluded.

Under the agreements reached, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development will serve as the borrower on behalf of the government, while GovTech Sri Lanka will be the implementing agency, the statement said. 
Sunny Leone On Working With Anurag Kashyap In Kennedy: 'He Nurtures You As An Actor' | Exclusive

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News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 17:27 IST

Sunny Leone speaks to News18 Showsha about working with Anurag Kashyap in Kennedy, stepping out of her comfort zone, and how the ZEE5 film changed her perspective on acting.

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Ahead of Kennedys OTT release on ZEE5, Sunny Leone opens up about being pushed out of her comfort zone by Anurag Kashyap and how the film reshaped her approach to performance.

As Anurag Kashyaps festival-acclaimed neo-noir Kennedy gears up for its India release on ZEE5, Sunny Leone is reflecting on the creative transformation the film brought into her life. Having already travelled across prestigious international festivals and earned standing ovations, Kennedy marks a significant artistic chapter for Sunny, one that challenged her, nurtured her, and reshaped her understanding of performance.

In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, the actor spoke candidly about working with Kashyap, stepping outside her comfort zone, and discovering new layers within herself as an artiste.

He Nurtures You As An Actor": Sunny On Anurag Kashyaps Process

Sunny revealed that working with Anurag Kashyap deepened her appreciation for filmmaking beyond just the act of shooting scenes.

I think working with Anurag Sir has made me appreciate filmmaking even more. Beyond just the shooting, what Ive seen around the world has been unbelievable. His perspective, his knowledge, and the way he pushes you, even though I had done so much prep work with his team, it was amazing to get that opportunity, because sometimes as actors we dont get that."

She explained how the experience differed from the usual pace of commercial filmmaking.

Often, you book a shoot, film for a few days, and everyone expects you to learn your lines, show up with a smile, and get the job done. But here, he gives you time. He nurtures you as an actor. He speaks with you, tells you stories, shares things about himself to make you feel less vulnerable."

For Sunny, this environment created a safe space to explore vulnerability and performance without fear.

There are so many things he does, whether knowingly or simply because thats who he is. Im really excited about that push and about him asking me to approach certain scenes the way he envisioned them. Its exciting."

Did Kennedy Change How She Sees Herself As An Actor?

Despite the transformative experience, Sunny says her growth came less from a specific scene and more from her mindset going into the project.

No, I think it was because I was nervous about working with Anurag sir and wanted to do a good job. In those moments, like Ive said many times, I wanted to be the best listener I could on set, learn as much as possible from him and move forward."

She added that the key lay in being open and receptive rather than trying to prove something.

I do believe I have certain talents and things inside me that can be useful for any filmmaker I work with, and if Im given the right opportunity and space, I definitely feel I can excel."

A Different Sunny Leone In Kennedy

Kennedy has already surprised international audiences with its atmospheric storytelling and unexpected performances. For Sunny, the film represents more than just another role. It marks an artistic shift shaped by trust, preparation, and creative mentorship.

As Kennedy streams on ZEE5, viewers will not only witness a gritty psychological thriller but also a performer stepping confidently into new terrain, guided by a filmmaker who, in her words, nurtures rather than instructs.

With anticipation building around its Indian release, Sunny Leones Kennedy may well become a defining moment in her evolving cinematic journey.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 17:27 IST

News movies bollywood Sunny Leone On Working With Anurag Kashyap In Kennedy: 'He Nurtures You As An Actor' | Exclusive
'Tired Of Calling, They Dont Care': Pooja Meri Jaan Director Urges Maddock Films To Release Film For Late Father

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Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 14:19 IST

Pooja Meri Jaan director Navjot Gulati urges Maddock Films to release the long-delayed Mrunal Thakur-Huma Qureshi starrer, saying his late fathers last wish remains unfulfilled.

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Director Navjot Gulati has voiced frustration over the delay of Pooja Meri Jaan, saying his late fathers last wish was to see the film released as negotiations continue.

Three years after it was announced, and nearly four years after filming wrapped, Pooja Meri Jaan remains unreleased. Starring Mrunal Thakur and Huma Qureshi, the film completed shooting in August 2022. Since then, silence.

Now, director Navjot Gulati has publicly expressed his anguish, urging Dinesh Vijans Maddock Films to finally release the long-stalled project. Speaking candidly, Gulati revealed that the film was originally commissioned for OTT and slated to premiere on JioCinema. However, after JioCinemas merger with Disney+ Hotstar, producers were allegedly informed that the film could be sold elsewhere. That, Gulati claims, is where the delays began.

It Was My Fathers Last Wish

In an emotional revelation to Variety India, Gulati shared that his father  who passed away in 2024  had spent his final months asking repeatedly about the films release.

He said his father remained hopeful until the very end, asking when Pooja Meri Jaan would see the light of day. The director described it as his fathers last wish  one that remains unfulfilled.

I Am Tired Of Calling, They Dont Care

Gulati did not hold back in expressing his frustration. He claimed that co-producer Amar Kaushik has not responded to his calls or messages since October 2025.

Im tired of calling and texting and yet not hearing back," he said. The only reason Im speaking publicly is because theres no accountability. The film is still topical and relevant. But if I dont push now, I fear it may never be released because they simply dont care."

Drawing a parallel with Shoojit Sircars long-delayed Shoebite, Gulati added that he does not want his film to become another project that is only talked about but never released."

Price Negotiations And An Unending Cycle

According to Gulati, Maddock Films is holding out for a higher price. While he acknowledges the business aspect, he says the prolonged negotiations have become exhausting.

The film was reportedly pushed from 2024 to 2025 and now to February 2026. Gulati claims that although a platform is interested in acquiring Pooja Meri Jaan, price discussions have been dragging on for nine months.

They will never sell it unless they get the price they want," he said. The reality is they are so consumed by big films now that smaller projects dont matter to them." He also questioned why the film cannot be released theatrically if OTT deals are not materialising.

Other Maddock Films Also Await Release?

Gulati further alleged that Pooja Meri Jaan is not the only film caught in limbo. He claimed that Rumi Ki Sharafat, starring Radhika Madan, and Sarvgunn Sampanna, featuring Vaani Kapoor, are also awaiting release.

He says he is often told to remain patient, with the delays of these projects cited as justification. But for Gulati, patience is running thin.

For now, Pooja Meri Jaan remains complete  but unseen.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 19:07 IST

News movies bollywood 'Tired Of Calling, They Dont Care': Pooja Meri Jaan Director Urges Maddock Films To Release Film For Late Father
Are Lim Ji Yeon And Lee Do Hyun Getting Married? Fans Spot Clues On Social Media

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News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 05:06 IST

Fans speculate wedding bells for Lim Ji Yeon and Lee Do Hyun after a social media follow fuels rumors. Neither actor has addressed the chatter.

Lim Ji Yeon and Lee Do Hyun spark wedding speculation online.

Speculation is mounting among fans of Korean actors Lim Ji Yeon and Lee Do Hyun after a seemingly small social media detail triggered marriage rumours. The couple, who first captured attention after appearing together in the hit thriller drama The Glory, confirmed their relationship in 2023 and have since remained a favourite pairing among viewers.

Recent online chatter began when fans noticed Lim Ji Yeon following a wedding planner account on Instagram. While the account  titled Mrs Quokka | Wedding preparation and dating"  counts several celebrity followers, her follow quickly ignited speculation that the two stars may be preparing to take the next step in their relationship. As of now, neither Lim nor Lee has issued any statement addressing the rumours.

The actors first met on the sets of The Glory, headlined by Song Hye Kyo, where they reportedly formed a friendship that later blossomed into romance. Their confirmation of dating came as a pleasant surprise to fans, many of whom have closely followed their journey since.

Lim Ji Yeon has often been open about her affection for Lee Do Hyun in interviews and public appearances, which has endeared the couple further to audiences. As speculation spreads, fan reactions have been divided. Some believe marriage would be a natural progression for the pair, while others argue it may be premature given Lee Do Hyuns stage in his career. A handful of discussions have also highlighted the couples five-year age gap, though supporters largely view it as insignificant.

Their relationship has also weathered Lee Do Hyuns military enlistment period, with both continuing to show support for each other publicly.

Location : Seoul, South Korea

First Published: February 18, 2026, 05:06 IST

News movies korean Are Lim Ji Yeon And Lee Do Hyun Getting Married? Fans Spot Clues On Social Media
Rana Daggubati Reveals He Returned Film Advances After Health Crisis: I Wasnt The Hot Guy Anymore

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 15:04 IST

Rana Daggubati reveals he returned advances for films signed before his kidney failure, saying he was no longer the hot guy after his health transformation.

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Rana Daggubati opens up about returning film advances after his kidney transplant, admitting he no longer fit the hot hero image producers had signed him for.

After the thunderous success of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, Rana Daggubati seemed unstoppable. He had cemented himself as the imposing Bhallaladeva, a towering physical presence in Indian cinema. But behind the scenes, life was quietly unravelling.

Soon after the films release, Rana suffered kidney failure and heart-related complications. What followed was not just a medical crisis but a complete life reset. He stepped away from films, travelled to the United States for a transplant, and focused on survival.

Now, in a candid conversation on Rhea Chakrabortys podcast Chapter 2, Rana opened up about that phase  and the emotional disorientation that came with returning to an industry where his physicality had once defined him.

Returning Film Advances: I Dont Look Like Those Guys"

Rhea described Rana as the hot guy from Hyderabad" who was making steady inroads into Bollywood before his health scare. But Rana admitted that during the thick of his illness, image and stardom meant nothing.

My focus was on staying alive," he said.

After nearly a year of disciplined eating and recovery in the US, he returned to India a different man  physically transformed, visibly leaner, and no longer resembling the larger-than-life frame audiences associated with him.

I had a bunch of films I was supposed to do. There was a story of a big-a** wrestler and those kinds of films. So, I dont look like any of those guys. I was returning advances back and all that was going on," he revealed.

For an actor whose screen presence had often relied on physical dominance, that shift was deeply unsettling.

The Immigration Moment That Brought Him Back

Rana shared a poignant memory from his return journey to India. At the airport, an immigration officer recognised him.

He called me King Bhallaladeva," Rana recalled.

In that moment, he was reminded of who he had been before surgery  the formidable antagonist from Baahubali. It was both affirming and strange, like meeting a past version of himself through someone elses eyes.

He also narrated a conversation with actor Varun Tej, who visited him during his recovery.

Hes a really big guy too. Halfway through the conversation, that guy was looking more like me that I knew than me," Rana said with a hint of irony.

The physical transformation left him momentarily disoriented.

I was like, why dont I just patch on all these stories to this guy and get it done? It was strange. Not recognising a version of you was confusing. I think if I werent an actor, I dont know if I wouldve been able to cope with that."

Acting, in many ways, became his emotional toolkit  helping him process identity shifts and detach from vanity.

A More Selective Phase

Post-recovery, Rana has consciously recalibrated his career. Rather than chasing volume, he has opted for select, meaningful projects.

In 2025, he starred in Kaantha alongside Dulquer Salmaan, Bhagyashri Borse and Samuthirakani  a project he also co-produced. He made a cameo appearance in the post-credit scene of Mirai, starring Teja Sajja and Manchu Manoj, and appeared briefly in Parasakthi with Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan and Sreeleela.

On the digital front, he headlined Season 2 of Netflixs Rana Naidu and hosted The Rana Daggubati Show on Prime Video between 2024 and 2025. He also lent his voice to the popular series Solo Leveling.

Today, Rana Daggubati stands not just as a survivor of a health crisis, but as someone who has rebuilt himself  physically, emotionally and professionally. The hot guy" image may have once defined him, but resilience is now his strongest frame.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 15:04 IST

News movies telugu-cinema Rana Daggubati Reveals He Returned Film Advances After Health Crisis: I Wasnt The Hot Guy Anymore
Opinion | India AI Summit: Global Souths AI Voice Finds Its Microphone In Delhi

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News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 16:10 IST

By chairing this summit, India staked credibility on a different premise: the countries with the most to gain or lose from AI are the ones most qualified to shape where it goes.

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In an interview with ANI at the AI Impact Summit 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined a vision where AI acts as a partner to human intelligence rather than a replacement for it. Here are a few of his noteworthy quotes from the interview.

Britain picked Bletchley Park for the first global AI safety summit in November 2023. The choice was deliberate. This was where Alan Turing cracked Nazi codes during World War II, a venue dripping with Western technological symbolism. Seoul hosted the next round in May 2024. Paris followed in February 2025. The pattern was clear: rules for artificial intelligence were getting written in capitals that had money, infrastructure, and political clout. Everyone else got to watch from the sidelines.

That script flipped this week. On 16 February, the AI Impact Summit opened at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marking the first time one of these gatherings landed anywhere in the developing world. Over five days, more than 20 heads of state, 60 ministers, and a parade of Silicon Valley executives, from Sundar Pichai of Alphabet to Dario Amodei from Anthropic, showed up to argue about who should govern AI, who benefits from it, and who decides. The location was the whole point.

India did not stumble into this role. The country joined the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence in 2020 as a founding member. Two years later, it won the Council Chair with over two-thirds of first preference votes and served as Lead Chair through 2024. During that presidency, Indian diplomats kept pushing one line: bring in the Global South. At the time, only a handful of developing countries sat at the GPAI table. India then co-chaired the Paris AI Action Summit in February 2025, where Modi announced Delhi would host the next edition. This was planned, not improvised.

India also brought substance. Its Digital Public Infrastructure stack runs identity and payment systems for over a billion people at costs that make Silicon Valley execs go dizzy. The countrys linguistic diversity  with hundreds of languages and dialects  used to be treated as a problem. Now it looks like an asset. Building AI that works across that many tongues is harder than optimising for English speakers, and India worked out those problems in public. The IndiaAI Mission, approved by the Cabinet in March 2024 with over Rs 10,300 crore spread across five years, put money behind compute infrastructure, data governance, and AI research centres. Small countries do not write cheques like that.

Even the summits name shifted. Bletchley Park called itself an AI Safety Summit, focused on existential risks and runaway models, the kind of anxieties that preoccupy rich democracies. By the time it reached Delhi, the branding had changed to AI Impact Summit. That switch was not cosmetic. It reflected what governments in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia have been saying for years: the real danger is not a sci-fi doomsday scenario. It is getting shut out of the technology completely  something which the Global South is at a persistent risk of.

India has been saying this out loud. The summit organised around three pillars, People, Planet, and Progress, and ran seven thematic working groups on topics like democratisation of AI resources, inclusion for social empowerment, and trusted AI frameworks. The underlying argument was consistent: when computing power and foundational models concentrate in a few Western corporations and governments, that creates a different kind of risk. Some analysts call it AI colonialism.

The concern is structural, not rhetorical. Data centres and the specialised chips that train large AI models sit overwhelmingly in the United States, with some presence in China and Europe. India approved $18 billion in semiconductor projects to build domestic capacity, but those plants are years away from production. For most of the developing world, depending on foreign infrastructure is not a choice. It is reality. Changing that means building the kind of shared compute frameworks and open access AI commons that India wants on the summit agenda.

But hosting a summit and actually shaping outcomes are different things. Indias technology credentials are solid. Its regulatory track record is shakier. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act passed in August 2023, but phased implementation only began in November 2025, with full compliance not required until May 2027. If India wants to lead on trustworthy AI globally, it needs to show it can govern technology coherently at home. Indias AI literacy and infrastructure gap between Bangalore and rural Bihar is enormous. The summits Sanskrit tagline, Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya, welfare and happiness for all, sounds good. Getting AI access to a farmer in Odisha or a student in rural Rajasthan is harder.

This weeks summit doubled as a trade fair. Tech executives came for the geopolitics, but also for the market: 1.4 billion people, young, digitally connected, one of the last big untapped opportunities for AI products. Microsoft committed $17.5 billion to expand AI infrastructure in India. Anthropic hired a former Microsoft India managing director to run local operations. OpenAI set up a dedicated India sales division.

None of that changes what happened in Delhi this week. Holding the summit here was its own argument, staged in real time against the idea that conversations about transformative technology must start in London or San Francisco and then spread outward. That assumption has caused real damage. It produces frameworks built for rich-country problems while ignoring what poor countries actually face. By chairing this summit, India staked credibility on a different premise: the countries with the most to gain or lose from AI are the ones most qualified to shape where it goes.

The test comes next. The Leaders Declaration that closes the summit on February 20 will either contain something that matters or it will be another round of diplomatic platitudes. India earned the microphone this week. What it says next, and what it actually delivers after the cameras leave, will decide whether the Global Souths voice in AI governance sticks around.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 16:10 IST

News opinion Opinion | India AI Summit: Global Souths AI Voice Finds Its Microphone In Delhi

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Opinion | Understanding The Wider Impact Of The Indo-US Trade Deal

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 18:15 IST

Coming on the heels of the trade agreement between India and the EU, the deal with Washington is a shot in the arm for Indias labour-intensive and export-oriented sectors

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the breakthrough trade deal. (File image)

The interim India-US trade agreement has ended months of wrangling and premature speculations about the demise of a two-decade-old strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi.

The deal will effectively reduce the reciprocal tariff rate from 25 per cent to 18. Rescinding the 25 per cent surcharge for Russian energy imports appears linked to India halting such imports. India is slated to have among the lowest tariff rates. China remains subject to a significantly higher rate.

In announcing the breakthrough, Trump had deemed it an honour to speak with PM Modi" and described him as one of his greatest friends" and a powerful and respected leader of his country".

Instead of focusing on the broad thrust contained in the joint statement, critics of the deal are spending an inordinate amount of time parsing the language of the so-called fact sheet issued by the US government.

When many caved in under tariff pressure, Modi had stood his ground. Resilience and patient negotiations clinched the interim agreement. Modi has consistently spoken of his commitment to protecting the interests of vulnerable sectors of the economy. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has clarified that the sensitive agriculture and dairy sectors are excluded from the deal. That has not changed.

It should be appreciated that the drawdown in tariffs on US products is neither universal nor immediate. Quota access for selective products is also par for the course, as evident in the FTA with the EU. The minutiae of the deal remain in the works. Meanwhile, trade and industry bodies have lauded the deal. US $40 billion or more of Indian goods are expected to get zero duty access to the US market.

It is relevant to note that the recent thaw in India-China relations as well as the India-EU FTA may have contributed to the successful interim trade deal with the US. The US has been wary of a potential reset across the Himalayas, even though this is a far cry from reality. At the same time, shared sentiments against arbitrary tariffs are a reality. A recent Pentagon report to Congress on Military and Security Developments Involving China averred that China might be using the recent easing of friction along the LAC as a diplomatic tool to stabilise its relationship with India and to undercut the deepening India-US partnership. Now, Beijing is likely to view the deal with suspicion, feeding into its long-standing apprehensions about India being leveraged as part of a containment policy.

Indias energy imports, including from Russia, are based on price, availability and market dynamics. The very fact that India imported only 2 per cent of its energy requirements from Russia up to 2022 shows that market dynamics prevail over strategic partnerships.

As part of the deal, India is reported by US sources to have agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil. It is relevant to note that the gradual decline in Indias energy imports from Russia predates the imposition of the 25 per cent punitive tariff. As global prices flatten, the discount on sanctioned Russian oil is no longer a significant factor. Diversification of supplies at competitive rates is key to Indias energy security, as explained by many a government interlocutor. Two major Russian oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, have been sanctioned by the US. Together, they account for about 50 per cent of Russias global oil exports and 60 per cent of Russias total energy exports to India. Non-sanctioned Russian sources may still be tapped by India, with decisions based on prices and availability. The magnitude of the gradual shift away from Russian oil could be substantial as India considers other competitive purchases in a dynamic energy market, just as it did when it veered towards greater off-take from Russia in 2022. Given that there are long-term oil contracts, the true picture will emerge in coming months. There is good scope to source more from the US, Venezuela and others, provided availability and prices are acceptable. Indian refineries are traditionally flexible in processing different types of crude oil. However, if there are some transition costs, they could well be absorbed by Indian companies.

As part of the deal, India is reported to have expressed its intention to purchase US goods worth $500 billion over five years. This aligns with the Mission 500" framework agreed to in February 2025. For the fiscal year ending March 2025, India imported goods worth US $45.6 billion. A fresh spike in energy imports from the US will help move towards this target. Following the SHANTI Act, the potential import of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), high-value technologies and long-term fuel service contracts could also contribute significantly, now that liability concerns have been addressed. Collaboration in semiconductors and green hydrogen will also add value. There is no gainsaying the fact that the US $500 billion target will imply substantial scaling.

Big-ticket defence acquisitions such as the P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Javelin missiles and Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles could anchor the recently concluded Major Defence Partnership, besides helping achieve trade targets. To have a potentially adverse balance of trade with the US may be a new phenomenon. There are structural reasons why India has not been able to reduce the trade gap with China. Cheap Chinese imports have hollowed out Indian manufacturing over the years. On the other hand, if the import of US products, deemed qualitatively better than Chinese products, helps India move up the value chain and make its manufacturing industry more competitive, that should be welcomed.

Coming on the heels of the trade agreement between India and the EU, the deal with Washington is a shot in the arm for Indias labour-intensive and export-oriented sectors. It also boosts client sentiment for Indias IT sector. FPIs and sovereign funds will renew bets on India. The deals real value is the strong global messageof confidence in Indias economic future.

The geopolitical impact of the trade deal goes beyond placing India in a good spot vis-a-vis China. The so-called advantage that Pakistan seemed to have acquired in Washington of late is also negated through the deal. Unlike India, Pakistan has little leeway in dealing with stringent fiscal conditions and quid pro quo geopolitical demands by the US, which remains the key decision-maker at the IMF.

Moreover, US-Pakistan trade stands at just US $10 billion. Pakistans impoverished economy exports a negligible US $5.1 billion worth of goods to the US. The much-touted bilateral agreement involving investments of US $500 million led by US Strategic Metals (USSM) in the rare earths and critical mineral sector in Pakistan, is phased over an extended period, and of limited immediate benefit. In the ultimate analysis, strategic depth in Washington is anchored in economic weight, which Pakistan lacks.

As 2026 unfolds, PM Modi has successfully weathered the worst of security and trade trials. Successive trade deals have boosted his international stature. His words to the NDA Parliamentary Party following the deal"the world is changing and its trajectory is increasingly tilting towards India"stand vindicated. It is best to leave the last mile negotiations in the Indo-US trade negotiations to the experts. The task now is to consolidate ties with the US and the EU while maintaining stable relations with China. Now is the time to maximise gains by fast-tracking economic and other structural reforms to accelerate the growth rate.

Sujan Chinoy, a former Indian ambassador, is the Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views

First Published: February 18, 2026, 18:15 IST

News opinion Opinion | Understanding The Wider Impact Of The Indo-US Trade Deal

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 14:40 IST

1 / 6 1. Rafale-M fighter aircraft: India's defence partnership with France has deepened across air, sea and manufacturing sectors, with a series of major projects aimed at strengthening operational capability and boosting indigenous production. The agreements, spanning fighter jets, submarines, missile systems, engines and helicopters, reflect a growing strategic alignment between the two countries. The deal for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets, the naval variant of the Rafale, is being seen as a key step in enhancing the Indian Navy's strength. Signed in April 2025 as an inter-governmental agreement, the acquisition is aimed at equipping aircraft carriers such as INS Vikrant with modern strike capabilities. These jets can deploy both air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, and the agreement includes provisions for technology transfer that will allow engineers to undertake maintenance. Indigenous missile systems are also expected to be integrated, giving the Navy a strategic edge, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region amid rising competition with China. (News18 Hindi)

2 / 6 2. Scorpene Submarine (Project P-75): At sea, India and France have already completed the joint construction of six Scorpene-class submarines under Project-75. In January 2025, the sixth submarine, INS Vagsheer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. Built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, the submarines are known for their advanced stealth features that help them evade enemy radar, and are equipped with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. Both countries are now in discussions to build three additional Scorpene submarines, expected to be fitted with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems that will allow them to remain underwater for longer durations. (News18 Hindi)

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3 / 6 3. HAMMER Missile (HAMMER Weapon System): In the aerospace weapons segment, the French precision-guided HAMMER missile system is set to be manufactured in India under a new agreement between Safran and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range weapon enhances the strike capability of aircraft such as the Rafale and Tejas by enabling them to hit bunkers and enemy positions from long distances in all weather conditions. Domestic production is expected to reduce costs and ensure a steady supply for the Indian Air Force (IAF), while strengthening the country's ability to carry out precision operations in mountainous and difficult terrain. (News18 Hindi)

4 / 6 4. M88 and LEAP engines (Safran MRO & Jet Engines): Another significant development is the establishment of India's first deep-level engine maintenance, repair and overhaul facility by French company Safran in Hyderabad. The centre, which became operational in November 2025, is designed to service up to 300 LEAP engines annually. Maintenance of Rafale's M88 engines will also be carried out in India. In addition, discussions are underway to co-develop a new fighter jet engine with 110kN thrust, with France reportedly willing to share critical technology. The project is expected to support Indias plans to build indigenous engines for future platforms such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), marking a major step towards defence self-reliance. (News18 Hindi)

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5 / 6 5. Tata-Airbus H125 Helicopter: In the rotorcraft sector, India and France have launched a joint assembly line for H125 helicopters through a partnership between Tata and Airbus. As per a 2026 agreement, the helicopters will be produced at a facility in Karnataka, making it India's first private-sector helicopter manufacturing unit. The helicopters are suited for both civilian and military roles, including supply missions, surveillance and disaster management in high-altitude areas. The project is also aimed at positioning India as a global manufacturing hub and opening new opportunities for defence exports. (News18 Hindi)
Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 07:30 IST

Ramadan 2026 is a sacred month for Muslims worldwide, marked by fasting, prayer, and reflection. Beyond rituals, it holds rich cultural, spiritual, and historical significance. Here are eight interesting facts about Ramadan that everyone should know.

1 / 7 Fasting From Dawn To Sunset: During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn (Suhoor) to sunset (Iftar). Fasting teaches self-discipline, empathy for the less fortunate, and spiritual growth. Its a central pillar of Islamic practice and devotion.

2 / 7 Lunar Calendar Observance: Ramadan is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, beginning with the sighting of the new moon. As a result, the month shifts approximately 1012 days earlier each year, causing fasting durations and weather conditions to vary globally.

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3 / 7 Nightly Prayers: Muslims perform special nightly prayers called Tarawih during Ramadan. Typically held at mosques, these extended prayers include recitation of the Quran. Tarawih fosters spiritual reflection, community bonding, and a deeper connection with the teachings of Islam.

4 / 7 Quran Revelation: Ramadan commemorates the month when the Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad. This sacred event highlights the spiritual importance of reading, reciting, and reflecting upon the Quran, which guides Muslims in ethics, faith, and everyday life.

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5 / 7 Charity: Charity, or Zakat, is emphasized during Ramadan. Muslims donate to help the needy, strengthen communities, and purify wealth. Acts of kindness and generosity embody the spirit of Ramadan, fostering empathy and social responsibility.

6 / 7 Fasting Exemptions: Certain groups, like children, the elderly, pregnant or nursing women, and the sick, are exempt from fasting. These exemptions reflect compassion and flexibility in Islamic practice, ensuring that fasting is undertaken safely without causing harm or hardship.

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 10:16 IST

1 / 10 Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan was admitted to the ICU of Lilavati Hospital in Bandra on Tuesday, February 17, prompting concern among fans and members of the film industry. The 90-year-old was reportedly brought in during the morning hours and was placed under close medical supervision. Later, his family members were spotted arriving at the hospital.

2 / 10 In an official statement, Dr Jalil Parkar said, Yes, its true that Mr Salim Khan (father of famed Bollywood actor Salman Khan) & an icon in himself has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital under Dr Jalil Parkar in the ICU early morning at 8.30 am. He further stated that the veteran writer is stable but remains under close observation.

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3 / 10 As the legendary screenwriter remains under care, attention has turned to the films that defined his legacy as one half of the celebrated Salim-Javed duo and later as an independent writer. Throughout his career, he co-wrote some classic cults, delivering blockbuster dialogues in some of the most successful films of all time.

4 / 10 One of his earliest landmark successes was Zanjeer (1973), directed by Prakash Mehra and starring Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Pran. The crime drama followed Inspector Vijay Khanna, a police officer haunted by childhood trauma who wages a relentless battle against organised crime. The films intense narrative reshaped mainstream Hindi cinema.

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5 / 10 In Deewar (1975), directed by Yash Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan starred alongside Shashi Kapoor and Nirupa Roy. The film told the story of two brothers, Vijay, who becomes a smuggler due to poverty and anger and Ravi, an upright police officer. The screenplay explored morality, class struggle and familial conflict.

6 / 10 Released the same year, Sholay, directed by Ramesh Sippy, featured an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan and Amjad Khan. The action-adventure revolved around two small-time criminals hired to capture the dacoit Gabbar Singh. Even after decades of the films release, fans across the nation continue to rewatch it on Ott platforms.

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7 / 10 Don, directed by Chandra Barot, starred Amitabh Bachchan in a dual role, alongside Zeenat Aman and Pran. The thriller follows a criminal mastermind whose death is concealed by the police, who replace him with a lookalike to infiltrate the underworld. The intricate plot and identity switch added to the films intriguing narrative, filled with suspense.

8 / 10 Earlier, Seeta Aur Geeta, directed by Ramesh Sippy, showcased Hema Malini in a double role as twin sisters with contrasting personalities. While one of them was submissive, the other was rebellious. Co-starring Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar, the comedy-drama explored mistaken identities and social hierarchies.

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9 / 10 In Mr India, directed by Shekhar Kapur, Anil Kapoor and Sridevi headlined a fantasy drama about a man who gains invisibility through a scientific device and uses it to fight the villain Mogambo, played by Amrish Puri. The film combined science fiction with emotional storytelling.
Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 08:46 IST

1 / 10 China is home to several historical carvings that show cultural references from distant regions. These artefacts give a glimpse into a period when trade routes not only carried goods but also beliefs and traditions. Among the many discoveries, one stone scripture has drawn significant attention. Recently, a post surfaced online that depicts a scene many would not immediately relate to China.

2 / 10 In Quanzhou, Fujian Province, an 800-year-old stone carving shows an elephant performing a ritual of worship over a Shiva Lingam. As per experts, this artefact proves the presence of South Indian Hindu culture in China during the Song (9601279 AD) and Yuan (12791368 AD) dynasties. According to the Consulate General of India in Guangzhou, this sculpture stands as an important link between medieval India and China. Today, the piece is housed at the Quanzhou Maritime Museum, where it is displayed alongside other carvings from the same period.

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3 / 10 The sculpture itself is made of diabase granite and measures about 50.2  70.5 cm. It shows an elephant performing a ritual that is often described as pouring water or offering flowers to the Shiva Lingam. Reportedly, it was originally part of the Kaiyuan Temple complex in Quanzhou, a site that still retains multiple Hindu-themed pillars and carvings.

4 / 10 Quanzhou was a busy port city that welcomed traders from South India, particularly Tamil merchant guilds such as the Ayyavole. These communities helped establish Hindu culture through temples, carvings and rituals. Over time, many of these structures were destroyed or repurposed, but the stone artefacts have survived. Archaeologists note that even though the Hindu population in modern China is small, these historical remnants provide evidence of centuries of exchange and coexistence.

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5 / 10 The Kaiyuan Temple, one of the largest Buddhist temples in Fujian, contains approximately 300 Hindu-style carvings. It was originally built in AD 685/686 during the Tang Dynasty, but supposed to have been rebuilt by the Tamil Hindu community in the city in the late 13th century, who dedicated it to Lord Shiva. Inside the temple, there are two stone pillars behind the main hall featuring 24 reliefs that depict the legends of Vishnu and Shiva. Other carvings show the man-lion avatar of Vishnu  Narasimha. There is Lord Krishna dancing on the serpent Kaliya, and he is stealing the milkmaids clothing. The style of these works closely resembles 13th-century South Indian temples from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, mainly Chola and Pallava styles.

6 / 10 Other locations in Fujian and beyond display additional examples of Hindu influence. Bamboo Stone Park contains a massive Shiva Lingam, which is locally known as a bamboo stone. It rises several meters in height. In Beishi (Chedian) Village, ruins of a former Hindu temple can still be seen, with stones reused in local architecture.

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7 / 10 Some carvings outside Fujian also show Hindu motifs integrated into Buddhist contexts. The Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are mainly Buddhist but include figures inspired by Hindu deities such as Brahma and Indra. In Xinjiangs Kizil Caves, a 4th6th century mural depicts a scene from the Ramayana that features Lord Hanuman.

8 / 10 Many of these carvings were created by Tamil merchants and artisans who settled in China to support maritime trade. Political changes at the end of the Yuan dynasty led to the destruction of some Hindu temples, yet many stones were preserved in other buildings or unearthed later during archaeological excavations in the 1930s.

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9 / 10 Visitors interested in seeing the elephant worshipping the Shiva Lingam can head to the Quanzhou Maritime Museum, also known as the Quanzhou Overseas Transportation History Museum. The museum is situated in the Fengze District of Quanzhou, Fujian Province. Entry to the museum is free, but visitors are required to carry their passports for registration. The museum generally welcomes guests from Tuesday to Sunday between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, with the last entry allowed at 4:30 PM. It remains closed on Mondays.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military struck three vessels in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean on Monday, killing 11 people, the U.S. Southern Command said Tuesday.

Four people were killed on the first vessel in the eastern Pacific, four on the second vessel in the eastern Pacific, and three on the third vessel in the Caribbean, the command said on X.

"Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the command claimed.

It added that no U.S. military forces were harmed.

The U.S. administration has not provided evidence supporting its allegations about the boats, cargo or the people killed.

Since early September, the U.S. forces have launched about 40 known strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, killing more than 130 people.

The Pentagon resumed strikes on boats in late January following a Jan. 3 U.S. military raid in which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were forcibly seized. 
March 04, 2026, 07:11 AM IST | Episode 151

In today's News18 Daily Digest: As the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran enters a critical phase, global focus shifts to what a prolonged war could mean for West Asia and beyond. With Irans Supreme Leader reportedly killed earlier in the conflict, succession discussions are intensifying in Tehran, while Israel signals expanded operations and Washington warns of further consequences. We also look at what this means for India  from the safety of over 1 crore Indians in the Gulf and evacuation discussions for students in Iran, to oil supply concerns and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, the economic costs of war, aviation disruptions, and the political debate back home. Tune in for key developments and in-depth updates from India and across the globe.
Abuse Of Power: BJP Targets Karnataka Govt Over Throwaway Land Allotment For Congress Offices

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 23:46 IST

BJP accuses Congress of allotting government land at concessional rates for Congress Bhavans in Karnataka.

BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia. (PTI)

A political slugfest broke out between the BJP and the Congress after the former accused the Congress government of allotting civic amenity (CA) sites across the state at concessional rates for the construction of party offices.

According to Congress sources, the state unit has set a target of constructing at least 100 new buildings to mark the centenary of the 1924 Congress session in Belagavi, which was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. During the centenary celebrations in 2024, the government announced plans to establish new buildings to promote the partys ideology.

The BJP alleged that several plots of government land were allotted to the Congress at a throwaway pricejust five per cent of the guidance value., calling it a brazen abuse of power." The party claimed that approvals for the allotments were granted during Cabinet meetings to facilitate the construction of Congress Bhavans in different parts of the state.

State BJP president B Y Vijayendra, in a post on X, alleged that civic amenity sites worth crores had been handed over to the Congress at heavily discounted rates.

The corrupt Congress government has no interest in peoples welfare. Looting the treasury is its only mantra. Now, in a shocking act of self-serving corruption, the Congress government has alloted CA (Civic Amenity) sites worth crores across the State to itself at a mere 5% of market value. This is a direct loss to the public exchequer and a betrayal of the people of Karnataka," he said.

Congress Grabs Government Land for Party Offices  Another Brazen Abuse of PowerProviding land and housing to the poor is the State Government's responsibility. But the corrupt Congress government has no interest in people's welfare. Looting the treasury is its only mantra. pic.twitter.com/ZJf1saEm1K  Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) February 18, 2026

BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also targeted the Congress government and claimed that 24 sites valued at around Rs 50 crore had been transferred to the Congress Bhavan Trust for approximately Rs 2 crore. He termed the move outright corruption" and questioned the purpose behind the transfer.

For the Congress party, the people of the state and the country dont matter. The DNA of the Congress is this: they have to appease the fake Gandhi family The power tussle in Karnataka is visible Should Karnataka people suffer because of that? Does that give a license to the CM Siddaramaiah, to grab public land and convert it into Congress property at a meager price, not even paying the market value to the government? Today, the concern is corruption" Bhatia said as quoted by news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi | BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia says, "Today questions must be asked Why is Karnataka Congress government under CM Siddaramaiah's leadership is transferring 24 pieces of land meant for civic amenities for Karnataka citizens and converting them to be used as pic.twitter.com/PeInUv59fh ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy claimed that 31 sites  including five from the Revenue Department and 26 from local bodies  had been sanctioned for the construction of Congress Bhavans.

He alleged that many of these were civic amenity sites not meant for political use and cited examples of land in Chickballapur, Badami and Mandya being allotted at a fraction of their market value. He warned that the BJP would pursue legal action if the allotments were not withdrawn.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar defended the move, stating that the Congress was constructing 100 new buildings to mark the centenary of the 1924 Congress session in Belagavi, which was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi.

Yes, we are using government land for Congress Bhavans. We are allotting 5,000 to 10,000 sq. ft. plots," Shivakumar said.

He also accused the BJP of double standards, pointing to instances during its tenure when land was allotted at concessional rates to various trusts. Referring to land allotted to Chanakya University, he claimed it was worth Rs 10 crore per acre but had been granted at Rs 50 lakh per acre.

(With inputs from agencies)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 23:46 IST

News politics Abuse Of Power: BJP Targets Karnataka Govt Over Throwaway Land Allotment For Congress Offices

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'Baseless & Fabricated': Mayawati Debunks UP Alliance Buzz, Says BSP Will Fly Solo In 2027 Polls

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 21:53 IST

Mayawati's statement comes amid speculation of a potential understanding between the BSP and the AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi

The BSP chief also addressed criticism over her recent allotment of a Type-8 bungalow in Delhi. (File photo)

Rejecting rumours that the Bahujan Samaj Party may contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in alliance with other parties, Mayawati on Wednesday categorically announced that the BSP will go solo in the upcoming polls. Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, the former chief minister termed reports of a possible tie-up as false, fabricated and part of a conspiracy" designed to mislead party workers and voters.

Her clarification comes amid speculation of a potential understanding between the BSP and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi. The buzz had further intensified after Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP) recently hinted at the possibility of renewed ties, stating that alliances are formed and broken" and recalling past political collaborations with BSP.

Mayawati, however, left little room for ambiguity. She said the partys decision to contest independently had already been announced multiple times, including at the October 9, 2025, rally in Lucknow held on the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram. There is no scope for further discussion. Some leaders and sections of the media are deliberately spreading such rumours. They should avoid flying like a cut kite and making a mockery of themselves," she said.

Security, Bungalow Row and Political Messaging

The BSP chief also addressed criticism over her recent allotment of a Type-8 bungalow in Delhi. She clarified that similar high-security accommodations had been provided to her since the Congress regime due to security concerns arising after the June 2, 1995, Lucknow State Guest House incident, when she was allegedly attacked by SP workers after withdrawing support from the SP government.

Several bungalows were earlier allotted by the BJP government, but they were not accepted or were vacated due to security reasons. I have now been allotted an appropriate Type-8 bungalow, which I have accepted. There should be no dirty politics over this," she said, adding that her security cover has been enhanced over the years.

Selfish Leaders Spreading Alliance Talk

Taking aim at rival formations, Mayawati accused selfish leaders" of intentionally floating alliance rumours to create confusion. She alleged that SP, Congress, and BJP have historically harboured an anti-Ambedkar mindset and seek alliances with BSP purely for electoral arithmetic.

These parties approach BSP only for their political and vote-bank interests. Such alliances have never benefited our movement," she said. Urging party workers to stay focused on the 2027 mission, she asked them to ignore baseless and fabricated narratives" and move forward with the calm and steady gait of the elephant", invoking the BSPs symbol.

She also cautioned that as elections draw closer, rival parties would intensify tactics of persuasion, pressure, punishment and division" to derail BSPs independent campaign. Calling upon Ambedkarites nationwide, she urged them to trust the partys iron leadership" and work towards strengthening the movement of dignity and self-respect envisioned by Babasaheb.

Political Significance of Going Solo

Political analysts called the announcement a calculated move to reclaim BSPs standalone identity after years of fluctuating electoral fortunes. Dr Shashikant Pandey, Head of the Department of Political Science at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, described the declaration as both symbolic and strategic.

Mayawatis insistence on contesting alone is aimed at consolidating the partys core Dalit vote base, which she believes gets diluted in alliances. At the same time, it sends a message that BSP wants to negotiate from strength rather than dependence," Dr Pandey said.

He added that her repeated reference to the partys 2007 full majority victory is not accidental. By invoking 2007, she is reminding voters that BSP once secured power independently. The message is about restoring organisational confidence and reviving the psychological appeal of a single-party majority," he explained.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 21:53 IST

News politics 'Baseless & Fabricated': Mayawati Debunks UP Alliance Buzz, Says BSP Will Fly Solo In 2027 Polls

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'He Is A Big Man': DK Shivakumar Breaks Silence On Minister HC Mahadevappa's 'Dog' Remark

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Manisha Roy



Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 14:59 IST

Shivakumar downplays HC Mahadevappa's "tail cannot shake the dog" remark, deferring leadership issues to the High Command.

Rapid Read

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. (Image: News18)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday reacted to the states Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappas tail cannot shake the dog" remark, calling him a big man."

Shivakumars remarks follow a series of cryptic statements from Mahadevappa regarding the states leadership stability, which have triggered fresh speculation about a power-sharing pact between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy.

Speaking to reporters at the State Election Commission on Bellary Road, Shivakumar sought to downplay the friction while maintaining a firm boundary regarding the controversial analogy. HC Mahadevappa is a big man and now he is also part of the High Command. I dont want to talk about it; the party will decide on this," Shivakumar stated, effectively deferring the controversy to the AICC.

When pressed on Mahadevappas specific commentswhere the Minister had suggested the tail cannot shake the dog" in reference to leadershipShivakumar remained resolute, saying, I am not ready to respond to Mahadevappa and others for their statements. As stated earlier, leadership issue is a matter to be decided by the High Command, Siddaramaiah, and me."

No Secret Talks Between Siddaramaiah And Me: DKS

The Deputy Chief Minister was particularly emphatic about the transparency of his relationship with the Chief Minister, dismissing any notion of backroom maneuvering or hidden agendas. This is not a secretive deal. There are no secret talks between Siddaramaiah and me," he asserted. Siddaramaiah himself will send out a message to the people of the state when the time comes. You will know about the decision then."

Adding a layer to the linguistic battle, BAMUL President DK Suresh offered a vigorous defence of party loyalists from his Sadashivanagar residence, reclaiming the dog metaphor as a badge of honor. A dog is a symbol of loyalty. Staunch Congressmen are the loyal dogs who remember the debt of their master and work to repay it," Suresh told the media.

When asked if those who joined the party from outside were being branded as stray dogs," Suresh clarified, I didnt say that. Whether they are stray dogs or pets, they repay their masters debt. That is the nature of loyalty. People keep dogs for their faithfulness, and even a stray dog is fed because it shows gratitude."

First Published: February 18, 2026, 14:59 IST

News politics 'He Is A Big Man': DK Shivakumar Breaks Silence On Minister HC Mahadevappa's 'Dog' Remark

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Liquor Being Delivered At Home In Bihar: Jitan Ram Manjhi Seeks Action Against Smugglers

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 21:13 IST

Jitan Ram Manjhi urged Nitish Kumar to fix flawed liquor prohibition in Bihar, citing corruption, financial losses, and weak enforcement letting smugglers go.

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. (File images)

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take strict action against liquor smugglers, saying that the alcohol prohibition in the state is being undermined by corruption and weak enforcement, even as minor offenders bear the brunt of the law.

Manjhi alleged that enforcement officers catch those who drink moderately, while those who do large-scale smuggling are being let off after taking a bribe. He further said that the idea of alcohol prohibition was not flawed, but its implementation needed urgent correction.

We have been saying for a long time that the liquor policy is not wrong, and prohibition should be implemented. However, there are flaws in its implementation. That is why weve been repeatedly telling Nitish Kumar this, and we thank him for conducting a third review at our request," he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Gaya, Bihar: Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi says, We have been saying for a long time that the liquor policy is not wrong, and prohibition should be implemented. However, there are flaws in its implementation. That is why weve been repeatedly telling Nitish Kumar pic.twitter.com/GIbt4I5cMa ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

The third review states that people who drink moderately should not be arrested but in our state, the enforcement officers catch those very people, while those who do large-scale smuggling are being let off after taking money. Nitish Kumar should take action," he added.

The Union Minister said that liquor prohibition is causing significant financial losses to the Bihar government, and Nitish Kumar should address this.

Bihar imposed total prohibition in 2016 when Kumar was leading the Mahagathbandhan government. Since then, enforcement has led to more than 8.43 lakh cases and nearly 12.8 lakh arrests, according to earlier reports. Despite the large-scale crackdown, Manjhi alleged that organised smuggling continues unabated, with liquor allegedly being delivered at home in some areas.

Before prohibition, the state earned over Rs 3,000 crore annually in excise revenue from liquor sales. With new welfare commitments  including cash transfers for women, enhanced pensions and electricity subsidies  expected to cost upwards of Rs 28,000 crore, concerns over Bihars financial health have intensified. The states fiscal deficit stood at 9.2% of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) last year.

(With inputs from agencies)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 21:13 IST

News politics Liquor Being Delivered At Home In Bihar: Jitan Ram Manjhi Seeks Action Against Smugglers

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Rajya Sabha Elections For 37 Seats On March 16: Check Full Schedule, Names Of MPs Retiring & More

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 16:58 IST

The elections will take place in 10 states: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh.

Voting and counting of votes for the Rajya Sabha polls will be held on March 16. (Representational image/Sansad TV)

The Election Commission of India has announced elections to 37 seats of Rajya Sabha. Voting and counting of votes will take place on March 16. The elections to the 37 seats have been announced because the terms of the sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) from those seats are coming to an end in April.

The elections will take place in 37 across 10 states namely: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh.

What Is The Full Schedule Of Rajya Sabha Polls?

Notification issued: February 26, 2026

Last date to file nominations: March 5, 2026

Scrutiny of nominations: March 6, 2026

Withdrawal of nominations deadline: March 9, 2026

Polling: March 16, 2026, from 9 am to 4 pm

Counting of votes: March 16, 2026, from 5 pm

The entire process will be completed by March 20, 2026.

Who Are The 37 MPs set to retire?

The 37 MPs who will retire in April are:

Maharashtra:

Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad

Dr Fauzia Tahseen Ahmed Khan

Priyanka Vickram Chaturvedi

Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar

Dhairyashil Mohan Patil

Rajani Ashokrao Patil

Ramdas Bandu Athawale

Tamil Nadu:

NR Elango

P Selvarasu

M Thambidurai

Tiruchi Siva

Dr Kanimozhi N V N Somu

GK Vasan

West Bengal:

Saket Gokhale

Ritabrata Banerjee

Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya

Mausam Noor (vacated 5 Jan 2026  seat counted)

Subrata Bakshi

Bihar:

Amarendra Dhari Singh

Prem Chand Gupta

Ramnath Thakur

Upendra Kushwaha

Haribansh Narayan Singh

Odisha:

Mamata Mohanta

Muzibulla Khan

Sujeet Kumar

Niranjan Bishi

Assam:

Rameswar Teli

Bhubaneswar Kalita

Ajit Kumar Bhuyan

Chhattisgarh:

Kavi Tejpal Singh Tulsi

Phulo Devi Netam

Haryana:

Kiran Choudhry

Ram Chander Jangra

Telangana:

Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi

KR Suresh Reddy

Himachal Pradesh:

Indu Bala Goswami

How does voting for Rajya Sabha election take place?

Voting for the Rajya Sabha is different from a general election. Ordinary citizens do not vote in these elections. Instead, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of each state elect the Rajya Sabha MPs from that state. The process is conducted by the Election Commission of India.

Each Rajya Sabha member serves a six-year term, and every two years, some members retire. When their term is about to end, elections are held to fill those seats. The number of seats being filled in a state depends on how many members from that state are retiring.

On voting day, MLAs cast their votes inside their respective state assemblies. They do not simply vote for one candidate. Instead, they rank candidates in order of preference  marking 1" for their first choice, 2" for their second choice, and so on. This system is called proportional representation through a single transferable vote. In simple terms, it ensures that parties get seats roughly in proportion to their strength in the state assembly.

To win, a candidate must secure a minimum number of votes, known as a quota. This quota is calculated based on the total number of MLAs voting and the number of seats available. If a candidate gets enough first-preference votes to meet the quota, they are declared elected. If all seats are not filled, votes are transferred based on second or later preferences until all seats are decided.

Rajya Sabha elections are also held through an open ballot. This means MLAs have to show their marked ballot to their partys authorised representative before putting it in the ballot box. This is meant to reduce secret cross-voting. However, political cross-voting can still happen, and it often becomes a key factor in close contests.

Special Sketch Pens To Mark Preferences

To ensure uniformity and reduce tampering or confusion, the Election Commission has said MLAs must use only the integrated violet colour sketch pens supplied by the Returning Officer to mark their preference numbers on ballot papers. No other pen or writing instrument is allowed for marking preferences in this Rajya Sabha election.

The Commission said it will appoint observers in each state where elections are held. These observers will monitor the process to make sure it is conducted smoothly, freely, and fairly, following all rules and guidelines.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 16:58 IST

News politics Rajya Sabha Elections For 37 Seats On March 16: Check Full Schedule, Names Of MPs Retiring & More

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Rohit Pawar Seeks Civil Aviation Minister's Removal Till Probe Into Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Ends

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News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:49 IST

Rohit Pawar said that a fair inquiry is unlikely in the case while the minister continues in office and claimed that the company is being protected.

NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar MLA Rohit Pawar. (PTI file photo)

Days after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Wednesday demanded that the removal of Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu from his post until the probe is completed.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Rohit Pawar, who is the nephew of the late NCP leader Ajit Pawar, alleged that the minister and his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have proven friendly" relations with the owners of VSR Ventures, whose Learjet plane carrying his uncle crashed in Punes Baramati town last month.

The MLA further said that a fair inquiry is unlikely in the case while the minister continues in office and claimed that the company is being protected.

Some former ministers from Maharashtra and top TDP ministers from Andhra Pradesh attended the marriage of Rohit Singh, son of the VSR owner VK Singh. The company is allowed to operate and top politicians are still using the Learjet planes of the company," The NCP (SP) leader claimed.

Naidu should not continue as civil aviation minister on moral grounds, Rohit Pawar said.

There is not even a preliminary probe report yet, and there is reason to believe that efforts are being made to save the VSR company, he added.

NCP Demands CBI Probe

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded a CBI probe into the January 28 air crash that killed Ajit Pawar.

Sunetra Pawar, accompanied by senior NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel, Hassan Mushrif, and elder son Parth Pawar, met Fadnavis and handed over a letter seeking a CBI probe.

Many issues that I raised have been included in the letter," Rohit Pawar said.

The probe needs to be impartial and the report needs to be submitted to a committee which includes aviation experts, political leaders, he opined.

Ajit Pawar Death

NCP leader Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district on January 28.

As the probe into the plane crash continues, the aircraft accident probe agency, AAIB, on Tuesday said that special support has been sought for the retrieval of data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the Learjet 45 plane involved in the fatal crash.

Rohit Pawar also said that if there was a political angle to the accident, it involved two possibilities: one, speculation that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) might join the NDA after merging with the NCP; and two, that Ajit Pawar could quit the NDA following the merger.

(With agency inputs)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:49 IST

News politics Rohit Pawar Seeks Civil Aviation Minister's Removal Till Probe Into Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Ends

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'VSR Should Be Barred From Operating Flights': Ajit Pawar's Son Amid Probe Into Baramati Crash

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 22:19 IST

Jay Pawar said the people of Maharashtra had the right to know the complete truth about this January 28 accident and called for VSR to be immediately barred from operating flights.

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Ajit Pawar's son Jay called for a ban on VSR Ventures' operations. (PTI/File)

Late Maharashtra Chief Minister Ajit Pawars son Jay has called for barring VSR Aviation, whose Learjet plane carrying his uncle crashed in Punes Baramati town last month, from operating flights as the investigation into the incident continues.

In an Instagram story, Jay Pawar said black boxes could not be easily destroyed in an airplane crash, and the people of Maharashtra had the right to know the complete and transparent truth about this accident, which killed Ajit Pawar and four others.

VSR should be immediately barred from operating flights, and a thorough and impartial investigation must be conducted into the potentially serious irregularities in the maintenance of its aircraft," he wrote.

This came after NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said that no action has been taken so far against VSR Aviation, which he alleged operates flights in violation of all rules. He pressed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to take appropriate action against the company.

ALSO READ: Rohit Pawar Seeks Civil Aviation Ministers Removal Till Probe Into Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Ends

On Wednesday, Rohit Pawar demanded that the removal of Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu from his post until the probe is completed, alleging that he and his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have had friendly" relations with the owners of VSR Ventures.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district on January 28. As the probe into the plane crash continues, the aircraft accident probe agency, AAIB, on Tuesday said that special support has been sought for the retrieval of data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the Learjet 45 plane involved in the fatal crash.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said on February 7 that investigators had recovered the aircrafts black box and that its data is currently being analysed. Authorities have not yet released details on the cause of the crash, and officials said the investigation is ongoing.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 22:18 IST

News politics 'VSR Should Be Barred From Operating Flights': Ajit Pawar's Son Amid Probe Into Baramati Crash

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'We Get Strength...': Farooq Abdullah Gets Emotional On Stage, Receives Warm Hug From Pinarayi Vijayan

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 06:02 IST

Farooq Abdullah thanked God that the South remains free from communal forces that have been trying to polarise the nation.

Farooq Abdullah hugs Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (Image: X)

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday appealed for national unity to fight for peace and dignity of the people of his state. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan listened keenly to the emotionally charged speech of the former J&K Chief Minister and gave him a warm hug after he returned to his seat following the address.

Abdullah was speaking at the valedictory function of Vision-2031, an international seminar on development and democracy organised by the Kerala State Planning Commission in Thiruvananthapuram.

We look at you and we say to ourselves, Allah, when will you wake up so that we can also walk freely, talk freely, think freely. Thats what democracy isof the people, for the people, by the people. Our children and our people who suffered, continue to suffer, even now in the north, yes, calling them Pakistanis," he said during the speech.

Our children, studying in schools and colleges and universities, have to pay a heavy price. When will this end?" the National Conference leader asked as tears rolled from his eyes and his voice choked.

Abdullah further thanked God that the South remains free from communal forces that have been trying to polarise the nation.

I took this journey at 90 years of age, to tell you, think of us, pray for us so that we can get out of this tragedy that we are facing today in the north. Thank God South is still free, and I hope it remains free and develops and gets stronger. We get strength from you," Abdullah said.

Farooq Abdullah On Article 370

The former J&K Chief Minister further criticised the BJP and the RSS for trying to communally divide" the people of the country purely for electoral victory. Abdullah said that the abrogation of Article 370 and the conversion of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory have not put an end to terrorism.

But now I ask you, since August 2019, has terrorism disappeared? Has it gone? Have you forgotten Pulwama, where our 40 brave soldiers died? Have you forgotten Pahalgam? Have you forgotten recently? Udhampur," Abdullah asked.

He said the BJP always maintained that Article 370 was the reason for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. They said Article 370, which had been bestowed on Kashmir, created terrorism. That was their main factor. And what happened, they blew (sic) this drum all over the nation, and you bought it," Abdhullah said.

He said his state was turned into a Union Territory, and the Assembly is rendered completely powerless. Abdullah further attacked the Union Governments alleged attempt to centralise everything and to unconstitutionally intervene" in the powers of the state governments.

(With agency inputs)

Location : Kerala, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 06:01 IST

News politics 'We Get Strength...': Farooq Abdullah Gets Emotional On Stage, Receives Warm Hug From Pinarayi Vijayan

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Google I/O 2026 Dates Confirmed By CEO Sundar Pichai: Android 17 And Gemini AI To Expect

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 12:59 IST

Google I/O 2026 is confirmed for this year and the company is likely to talk more about Android 17, its deal with Apple and more.

Google is bringing the i/O 2026 this year around the same time.

Google I/O 2026 dates have been confirmed by companys chief Sundar Pichai this week. Google has been running a special puzzle quiz which people had to solve to get the I/O 2026 conference dates for this year and we finally have the details confirmed by Pichai via this post on X which also gives us some big clues on what to expect from the latest developer event and even for the consumers.

This is Googles biggest platform for the year where we get to see what the company has been working on and plan to bring to the market soon.

See you all at Google I/O starting May 19th! https://t.co/KgNKbb3nMu pic.twitter.com/OD6x3IYtTi Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) February 17, 2026

Google I/O 2026 Dates Confirmed: All Details

Google I/O 2026 is confirmed for May 19 and May 20, 2026 and the event will most likely be held in-person at Googles California base. We can expect the I/O 2026 keynote on the first day around 10:30 PM IST for those watching in India, and Google should have it available via its YouTube channel for free livestream.

Google I/O 2026 Confirmed: What Can We Expect

The Google I/O 2026 teaser has more than given us clues for what to expect from this years conference. Gemini is going to be at the forefront of its subjects to discuss, share and announce. But Android 17 will also be given special focus with many hoping to see new features and design UI overhaul and some nifty additions for smartphone users in the near future.

Chrome, AI Search (with Mode) and possible integrations of AI agents with other products should be also in the agenda for the company where developers will be further briefed on how to make everything work efficiently and safely.

Googles developments will also be closely followed by its rivals OpenAI and even Apple, which is going to need the search giant to deliver on its rumoured custom Gemini AI model that will be powering the new Siri AI version and other Apple AI features in the next few years for iPhone users.

Location : California, USA

First Published: February 18, 2026, 12:59 IST

News tech Google I/O 2026 Dates Confirmed By CEO Sundar Pichai: Android 17 And Gemini AI To Expect

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SYDNEY, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- A teenage girl was airlifted to hospital on Tuesday night with serious injuries sustained when a firearm was accidentally discharged at a property in the Australian state of Queensland.

Emergency services were called to a firearms incident at a rural property around 200 km northwest of the state capital of Brisbane at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the Queensland Police Service told News Corp Australia newspapers on Wednesday that a 13-year-old girl had suffered a serious injury to her arm after a firearm was accidentally discharged.

She was airlifted to the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane in a critical but stable condition, and expected to make a full recovery, according to local media reports.

Police have commenced an investigation into the incident. 
'Save Me, Mom': How To Spot AI Voice Cloning Scams

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 19:24 IST

An elderly woman from Delhi lost Rs 2 lakh after she received a distressing call from her "daughter-like voice" who claimed that she had been kidnapped

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One evening, 65-year-old Radha Devi, a resident of Delhi, received a distressing phone call that left her shaken. The voice on the other end sounded exactly like her daughters. Through sobs, the caller cried, Mom, Im in trouble Ive been kidnapped Tell Papa to send money, otherwise"

Panicked and overwhelmed, Radha did not pause to verify. Believing her daughters life was at risk, she immediately transferred Rs 2 lakh through UPI.

Hours later, she discovered her daughter was safe at home. The call had been a scam.

Fraudsters had used artificial intelligence (AI) to clone her daughters voice, reportedly using just a few seconds of audio available on social media. What felt like a personal nightmare is becoming a disturbing reality across India, as AI voice cloning scams rapidly spread and criminals impersonate family members to emotionally blackmail victims.

AI voice cloning is a technology that can replicate a persons voice with startling accuracy. Scammers often extract audio clips from videos posted on platforms like Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp. With advanced tools, a voice can be copied within 3-5 seconds.

Using unknown numbers, fraudsters then call targets and spin urgent stories of accidents, kidnappings or arrests, pushing families to send money immediately. Cybercrime experts warn that such AI-enabled fraud could rise by nearly 40% in 2026.

Women and the elderly are among the most frequent targets, as scammers exploit emotional vulnerability. International data reflects the growing scale of the threat. In the United States, people aged 60 and above reportedly lost $4.9 billion to similar scams in 2024.

Incidents involving elderly women have also been reported globally, including a case in Florida where a mother lost $15,000 after hearing what she believed was her daughters voice. In another case from Arizona, a woman was convinced her daughter had been kidnapped, only to later learn it was an AI-generated imitation.

Authorities, including the FBI, have warned that the believability" of AI-driven scams has increased significantly, making them harder to detect. As a result, cyber experts stress the need for greater caution and awareness, particularly among women and senior citizens who may be more likely to respond emotionally in moments of panic.

Safety guide for women and the elderly:

1. Create a family code word: A secret word known only to close relatives. If you receive a distress call, ask for the code word. If the caller fails to answer correctly, treat it as a potential scam.

2. Always verify the caller: Disconnect the call and try contacting your loved one directly on their personal number. Never send money based on an emergency call from an unknown number.

3. Try to detect AI responses: Ask unexpected personal questions like, What did we have for dinner last night?" or Where did we last meet?" Hesitation or incorrect answers can signal a fake call.

4. Protect your social media privacy: Avoid posting clear voice clips publicly and keep your profiles restricted to prevent misuse of audio content.

5. Never share bank details over the phone: Do not disclose your UPI PIN, OTP or CVV to anyone. If you suspect fraud, immediately report it to the cybercrime helpline at 1930 or inform the police. Caller identification and security apps like Truecaller or McAfee can also help flag suspicious calls.

Experts say such scams not only cause financial loss but also take a serious emotional toll. Many women and elderly people live alone for long hours, making family awareness and regular communication essential. As artificial intelligence becomes smarter and more convincing, staying alert and informed remains the strongest defence.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 19:24 IST

News tech 'Save Me, Mom': How To Spot AI Voice Cloning Scams

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YouTube Not Working? Users See Something Went Wrong Error As Global Outage Hits Platform

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 07:40 IST

YouTube Outage: More than 320,000 users in the United States alone reported problems on outage-tracking website Downdetector.

YouTube Outage: Users encountered a Something Went Wrong error message while trying to use the app and website.

YouTube Down: Video-sharing platform YouTube suffered a widespread global outage, leaving users across multiple countries unable to access videos and other services. More than 320,000 users in the United States alone reported problems on outage-tracking website Downdetector, with many encountering a Something Went Wrong" error message while trying to use the app and website.

Which Countries Are Affected By YouTube Outage?

The disruption appeared to affect users worldwide, including in India, the United Kingdom and several other countries, according to user reports, indicating the outage was not limited to a single region.

Is YouTube TV Also Impacted?

YouTube TV was also hit, with nearly 10,000 outage reports logged. This suggested the disruption extended beyond the main video platform to its live television streaming service.

What YouTube Said On Outage?

TeamYouTube acknowledged the outage and said it was investigating the issue.

Weve been looking into this issue, and while we dont have a fix just yet, were keeping a close eye on it. Well provide any updates when theyre available," the company said.

The company has not disclosed the cause of the outage or provided a timeline for when full service will be restored.

Social Media Reactions On YouTube Outage

Despite the disruption, many users reacted with humour, sharing memes and jokes about the outage and their failed attempts to fix what initially appeared to be individual technical problems.

Guys, YouTube DEAD for anyone else? Something went wrong screen stuck on loopno videos loading at all!! Am I alone or is it global?" one user wrote.

YouTube, you good bro? Sounds like a global outage right now. pic.twitter.com/LFEiw6BEwP Dave Sousa (@dave_sousa) February 18, 2026

Another posted, Boy aint no WAY YouTube is down & having a global power outage on my off day."

Boy aint no WAY YouTube is down & having a Global power outage on my off day pic.twitter.com/86qdf6RLQg Evolving Eric (@evolving_eric) February 18, 2026

youtube outage so bad the downdetector page crashes pic.twitter.com/7mp5vLHPAo uhh geode (@GeodeArc) February 18, 2026

A third user highlighted the scale of the disruption, saying, YouTube outage so bad the Downdetector page crashes" while another asked, YouTube, you good bro? Sounds like a global outage right now."

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 07:31 IST

News tech YouTube Not Working? Users See Something Went Wrong Error As Global Outage Hits Platform

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Built By Hindus On Their Property: Texas Activist Faces Netizens Ire Over Lord Hanuman Statue

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 18:45 IST

Carlos Turcios shared a video of the towering statue on X, framing it as a sign of a cultural invasion linked to Indian immigration.

The statue in question is the Statue of Union, a 90-foot bronze statue of Hanuman at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple.

A Texas-based conservative activist faced netizens backlash after he stirred a row by questioning the 90-foot-tall statue of Lord Hanuman at the Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, Texas.

Republican activist from the DallasFort Worth area, identified as Carlos Turcios shared a video of the towering statue on X, framing it as a sign of a cultural invasion" linked to Indian immigration. He claimed that third World Aliens are slowly taking over Texas and America" and urged people to stop the invasion."

This is not Islamabad, Pakistan, or New Delhi, India. This is Sugar Land, Texas. Third World Aliens are slowly taking over Texas and America. Why is the third-largest statue in the US this??! Stop the INVASION!" he said while sharing the video of the statue on X.

SUGAR LAND, TEXASThis is not Islamabad, Pakistan, or New Delhi, India. This is Sugar Land, Texas. Third World Aliens are slowly taking over Texas and America. Why is the third-largest statue in the US this??!Stop the INVASION! Follow:@Carlos__Turcios pic.twitter.com/hzNIunlyQ4  Carlos Turcios (@Carlos__Turcios) February 16, 2026

Netizens React

Turcios remarks drew swift pushback from Indian-Americans and other social media users, many of whom pointed out that the statue stands on privately owned temple land and was funded by the Hindu community.

Its on private propertybuilt by Hindus on land they own and with their own money," one user responded, accusing Turcios of promoting divisive rhetoric.

Another commenter cited US household language data to argue that Indian-Americans are among the most assimilated immigrant groups in the country, noting that Indian languages do not feature among the top ten languages spoken at home.

There are 41 million households that speak Spanish in the US. Yet there are no Indian languages in the top 10. Since household language is the strongest indicator of assimilation, you have a long way to go before your group is anywhere near the assimilation level of Indian-Americans."

Turcios has previously criticised the H-1B visa programme, claiming that Indian immigrants were invading" cities such as Frisco in Texas. He is among several conservative figures who have expressed concerns about the visa system, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Meanwhile, there are numerous prominent figures in the Trump administration who follow Hinduism. Former DOGE leader Vivek Ramaswamy, National Intelligence bigwig Tulsi Gabbard, FBI director Kash Patel and second lady and US vice presidents wife Usha Vance.

Last year, Republican leader Alexander Duncan faced critisism for his derogatory remarks against Lord Hanuman. He had asked, Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu God to be here in Texas? We are a CHRISTIAN nation!"

The statue in question is the Statue of Union, a 90-foot bronze statue of Hanuman at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, an installation dedicated to symbolising devotion, strength, and unity. There is another statue of Lord Hanuman in Delaware which is 25-ft long and was installed in 2020. That statue was shipped from Telanganas Warangal.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 18:45 IST

News viral Built By Hindus On Their Property: Texas Activist Faces Netizens Ire Over Lord Hanuman Statue

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Crocodile Kills Woman Foraging In Indonesian River; Locals Open Fire As It Surfaces With Body

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 23:41 IST

A 19-foot crocodile killed Jusmitawati while she collected shellfish. Locals captured and killed the reptile, finding her remains inside. Authorities urge caution near rivers.

A 19-foot crocodile killed Jusmitawati while she collected shellfish. Locals captured and killed the reptile, finding her remains inside. Authorities urge caution near rivers. (Image: X)

Disturbing footage has emerged from Indonesias Aceh province showing a massive 19-foot crocodile thrashing in the murky waters of the Luan Boya River after attacking a woman.

In the video, terrified onlookers can be heard screaming as the reptile surfaces, at one point lifting the womans lifeless body above the water. Gunshots ring out as locals attempt to force the animal to release her, while one man climbs a nearby tree and strikes at the crocodile with a stick. The shots appear to startle the predator, which eventually rolls away and disappears beneath the surface.

Indonesia, 17/02/2026: A crocodile approximately 7 meters long and estimated to weigh 1 ton was captured by residents of Sungai Undan, Reteh District, Indragiri Hilir Regency.The capture process was tense, as the residents used only simple equipment such as bait, rope, and pic.twitter.com/bZiBNPk13E  CMNS_Media (@1SanatanSatya) February 17, 2026

The victim, identified as 36-year-old Jusmitawati, had been collecting shellfish with friends on February 15 when the attack occurred. According to reports, she moved into deeper water after separating briefly from the group. The crocodile, believed to have been lurking beneath the surface, suddenly lunged and dragged her underwater.

Her friends rushed back to their village to raise the alarm after she stopped responding to their calls. A search operation continued into the next day, and authorities eventually located and killed the crocodile less than a mile from where the attack took place.

Local council chairman Rasmanudin Rahamin said the reptile measured approximately six metres (19 feet) in length and nearly a metre in width. After it was captured and cut open, officials confirmed that parts of the victims body and clothing were found inside.

Teluk Dalam police chief Zainur Fauzi urged residents to avoid river activities until further safety measures are implemented. Despite being known as a crocodile hotspot, the river remains a popular location for shellfish gathering and fishing.

Indonesia is home to 14 species of crocodiles, including large estuarine crocodiles that thrive in the regions tropical climate. Conservationists warn that habitat destruction, coastal development, overfishing and mining activities have pushed the predators closer to human settlements. In many rural areas, residents still rely on rivers for bathing and fishing, increasing the risk of fatal encounters.

The tragedy follows another fatal crocodile attack in December, when a 10-year-old boy named Affan was killed while swimming with friends in North Malukus Inggoi River.

Location : Indonesia

First Published: February 18, 2026, 23:41 IST

News viral Crocodile Kills Woman Foraging In Indonesian River; Locals Open Fire As It Surfaces With Body

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Miss Universe Fatima Bosch Collapses At Festival Parade In Ecuador: Experienced A Brief Episode Of Lightheadedness

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 14:53 IST

Miss Universe Fatima Bosch briefly collapsed during a parade at Ecuadors Fruit and Flower Festival after feeling lightheaded.

She was assisted, stayed conscious and recovered soon after.

Miss Universe Fatima Bosch worried many people after she suddenly dropped to her knees during a public event in Ecuador. She was taking part in a festival parade when the incident happened. People watching the event were left shocked as the moment unfolded in front of them.

The incident took place on Sunday, February 15, during the Fruit and Flower Festival in Ambato, Ecuador. Fatima Bosch was standing on a float decorated with flowers. She was smiling and waving at the crowd when she appeared to reach for a railing behind her. Moments later, she went down on her knees while wearing a mint-coloured gown.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by PAGEANTS UNIVERSE (@pageants_universe)

She Was Helped Immediately And Stayed Conscious

People in the crowd could be heard gasping in surprise. A woman quickly climbed onto the float to help Fatima Bosch. She remained conscious and was seen speaking to the person assisting her.

In a statement to People, Miss Universe Organisation Head of Communications Miguel Angel Martinez said that Bosch experienced a brief episode of lightheadedness after several hours of outdoor participation" during the parade.

As a precaution, she was immediately assisted by her team and local medical personnel on site," Martinez mentioned. She remained conscious, was evaluated promptly, and recovered quickly. Out of an abundance of care, her schedule was adjusted to allow for appropriate rest and hydration. She is feeling well and expressed her sincere appreciation for the warmth and hospitality she received in Ecuador," he added.

Martinez also shared that Bosch is currently on her official international world tour. The tour includes cultural, humanitarian and community events in different countries. He said the organisation works closely with local teams to make sure the titleholders are safe and well looked after.

She Faced Controversy Earlier During The Pageant

Fatima Bosch represented Mexico at the global competition and was crowned in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 21, 2025.

Earlier in the pageant season, she made headlines during a pre-event in Thailand. Pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil criticised her in public, claiming she refused to take part in a promotional photoshoot meant to promote the host country".

Bosch denied this claim. Despite that, Itsaragrisil continued to question her actions, and several contestants chose to walk out with her in support.

Later, while speaking on CNNs The Lead with Jake Tapper, Bosch said she was focused on the moment and worried her response might affect Mexicos chances. Still, she stood by her choice, saying it matched her values.

In another interview on Good Morning America, she addressed rumours about stepping down. I will never step away from this crown," she said.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: February 18, 2026, 14:52 IST

News viral Miss Universe Fatima Bosch Collapses At Festival Parade In Ecuador: Experienced A Brief Episode Of Lightheadedness

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What Is Chinamaxxing And Why Is American Gen Z Obsessed With It? | Explained

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 13:13 IST

Videos circulating online show participants enthusiastically documenting their attempts to adopt what they describe as a "Chinese phase" of life

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China's rising global presence and the recent Lunar New Year celebrations have also contributed to the surge in related content. (AI Image)

A curious cultural wave sweeping across social media has caught the attention of observers worldwide, as a growing number of Gen-Z youth in the United States and other Western countries openly express fascination with Chinese culture and lifestyle. The trend, popularly referred to as Chinamaxxing", has gone viral on platforms such as TikTok and Twitch, where young users are increasingly seen embracing elements of Chinese daily life, fashion and wellness practices.

Videos circulating online show participants enthusiastically documenting their attempts to adopt what they describe as a Chinese phase" of life. Some pose in traditional clothing, experiment with dim sum, learn to use chopsticks with precision or sip hot water in the morning, a habit often associated with Chinese health routines. Others practice Tai Chi in their kitchens, take off their shoes before entering rooms, try herbal remedies or wear tracksuits reminiscent of the style seen among elderly residents in Beijing parks. A popular caption repeated across posts reads, You met me during a very Chinese phase of my life," a line widely believed to echo the famous dialogue from the 1999 film Fight Club.

Supporters of the trend often present their content as admiration for Chinese culture, from its food and fashion to its emphasis on discipline and wellness. Influencers have played a major role in amplifying the movement. Among them is Chinese-American TikTok creator Sherry Zhu, who shares traditional wellness tips with her 7,40,000 followers and encourages them to adopt lifestyle habits she associates with Chinese culture. In one of her widely shared videos, she tells viewers, From tomorrow, youre becoming Chinese. I know it sounds scary, but theres no point fighting it anymore."

The trend has also gained traction among prominent online personalities. Political streamer Hasan Piker, after visiting China, told his audience he felt deeply connected to the country, saying he had already become Chinese" in spirit and praising its development and economic progress. Such statements, while partly tongue-in-cheek, have further fuelled conversations online.

Observers say the phenomenon is more than a passing internet joke. Some participants frame their interest in China alongside criticism of life in the United States. Commentators have noted that a section of young Americans appears drawn to what they see as a more stable and community-oriented society. Independent journalist Taylor Lorenz has suggested that some youth view China as a kind of paradise", particularly at a time when many feel disillusioned about their own countrys future.

Researchers say social media is playing a key role in reshaping perceptions. Carolyn Ouellette of the University of California, Los Angeles, told TIME magazine that online content often highlights modern public transport, walkable cities, bustling night markets and groups of older women dancing in parks, creating an appealing, everyday image of Chinese urban life that challenges older stereotypes. At the same time, technology analysts have pointed out that products made in China are already deeply integrated into daily life worldwide, from smartphones to electric vehicles, adding to the countrys growing cultural and economic influence.

Some experts link the trend to broader global anxieties. Dr Jennifer Beckett, a media scholar at Melbourne University, has said that in times of political uncertainty and intense debates over identity, people are often drawn to ideas of community and belonging, which may partly explain the fascination with other cultures.

Chinas rising global presence and the recent Lunar New Year celebrations have also contributed to the surge in related content. Videos themed around fresh beginnings, tradition and self-improvement have attracted millions of views, further amplifying interest in the culture.

The Chinese government has responded positively to the phenomenon. Officials have highlighted the appeal of the countrys mix of history and modernity, saying they are pleased to see foreigners experiencing the daily lives of ordinary Chinese people. Reports have even suggested that some content creators could receive official encouragement as Chinas cultural influence, or soft power", expands.

However, critics caution that the trend presents a highly selective picture. They note that it rarely addresses the challenges faced within China, including economic pressures, youth unemployment reportedly above 15%, work-related burnout, housing concerns and social issues. They also point out that public criticism of the government can lead to serious consequences, an aspect often absent from the cheerful online portrayals.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 13:10 IST

News viral What Is Chinamaxxing And Why Is American Gen Z Obsessed With It? | Explained

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102-Year-Old Taiwanese Tycoon Rescued By Kids After Secret Marriage Sparks Family Drama

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 23:34 IST

Wang, a 102-year-old millionaire in Taipei, secretly married his caregiver Lai, sparking a dramatic hospital altercation with his family.

The whole incident that took place on February 3 was captured in a CCTV footage. It took place weeks after Wang quietly registered his marriage to Lai on January 5. (Image: Canva/Representative)

In a bizarre incident, a 102-year-old millionaire was rushed out of the hospital in Taiwan by his children when they learned of his secret marriage with his young caregiver.

According to The Sun, Wang, a former land scrivener, was leaving a hospital appointment in Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, in a wheelchair pushed by his new wife, Lai.

As the couple reached the exit gate, his three sons, three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren came, pushed Lai aside and seized control of the wheelchair, attempting to wheel Wang to safety. During this, Lai shouted for police help and chased the children down the street. She was reportedly injured during the altercation.

The whole incident that took place on February 3 was captured in a CCTV footage.

Police arrived on scene and Wangs family told officers the elderly man was their father and father-in-law, and he was ultimately taken away with them, The Sun reported.

The incident took place weeks after Wang quietly registered his marriage to Lai on January 5.

The Sun quoted Wangs children saying that they only found out about the wedding when they tried to visit him a few days later and were refused access.

The family claimed that Wangs caregiver had isolated him from the outside world and prevented family contact. They also claimed that she took advantage of his deteriorating mental condition to secure her financial future.

The Sun quoted reports claiming that Wang had transferred seven plots of land and a 1.9million insurance policy to Lai and her children, amounting to around 4.7million. His total assets are estimated at between 16million and 18.7million.

Meanwhile, Lai has filed complaints for coercion and public insult and has applied for a protection order against the family.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 23:34 IST

News world 102-Year-Old Taiwanese Tycoon Rescued By Kids After Secret Marriage Sparks Family Drama

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12 Killed In Explosion At Fireworks Shop In China As Luna New Year Celebrations Continue

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 16:44 IST

At least 12 killed in a fireworks shop explosion in Zhengji town, Hubei province during Lunar New Year. The Ministry of Emergency Management urges nationwide safety inspections.

On Sunday, eight people were killed and two injured in an explosion at a fireworks shop in eastern China's Jiangsu province.

At least 12 people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks shop in Chinas Hubei province on Wednesday, making it the second such blast as the country celebrates the Lunar New Year.

At approximately 2 pm on the 18th, there was a fire and explosion at a firework and firecracker shop in Zhengji town" in Hubei province, CCTV quoted local authorities.

According to Xinhua, the emergency responders were able to douse the fire.

The fire covered an area of around 50 square metres and has already resulted in 12 deaths, CCTV reported. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Also Read: China Showcases Kung Fu Robots At Lunar New Year Gala, Videos Go Viral On Social Media

Fireworks are key part of the Lunar New Year celebration in China. According to AFP, many larger cities, including the capital Beijing, have banned the practice in recent years  in part due to pollution  towns and rural areas are often filled with the sounds of exploding firecrackers and missile" fireworks for days on end during the holiday period.

On Sunday, eight people were killed and two injured in an explosion at a fireworks shop in eastern Chinas Jiangsu province.

In response, the Ministry of Emergency Management has urged the fireworks enterprises nationwide to strengthen supervision and undertake a full inspection" of safety risks and hazards.

It has also warned citizens against unsafe practices like test-firing or smoking outside of shops.

Every February, China witnesses a phenomenon so vast that it dwarfs any other human movement on the planet  the Chinese New Year travel rush, known locally as chunyun. It is more than just a holiday exodus; it is a cultural ritual, an economic barometer, and a logistical test of one of the worlds most complex transport systems. In 2026, this migration has reached recordbreaking proportions, underscoring both the resilience of Chinas infrastructure and the enduring importance of family reunions in Chinese society.

Location : Beijing, China

First Published: February 18, 2026, 16:44 IST

News world 12 Killed In Explosion At Fireworks Shop In China As Luna New Year Celebrations Continue

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After Geneva Talks, US Says It Will Deter Iran From Acquiring Nuclear Weapons 'One Way Or Another'

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 17:28 IST

US vows to block Iran from nuclear arms. Geneva talks set principles, but US military buildup and Iran's Hormuz drills raise tensions.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright (AP)

The US will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons one way or other," US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned on Wednesday, a day after officials from both countries met in Geneva.

Theyve been very clear about what they would do with nuclear weapons. Its entirely unacceptable," Wright told reporters in Paris on the sidelines of meetings of the International Energy Agency.

So one way or the other, we are going to end, deter Irans march towards a nuclear weapon," he said.

The officials from both countries held talks in Geneva on Tuesday with the aim to prevent the possibility of US military intervention to curb Tehrans nuclear programme.

Following the talks, AFP quoted Iran saying that they had agreed on guiding principles" for a deal to avoid conflict.

Also Read: Amid Nuclear Talks, Iran Signals Openness To Verification As US Military Build-Up Heightens Tensions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the discussions as more constructive" than previous rounds, saying both sides would now begin drafting texts for a potential agreement. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi also said good progress" had been made but cautioned that significant work remained.

US Vice President JD Vance, however, said Tehran had not yet acknowledged all of Washingtons red lines.

Washington has stepped up its military presence in the region, deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the Gulf and indicating a second carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, would follow soon. Satellite imagery has previously shown US carrier strike groups operating within range of Iran.

Separately, open-source intelligence accounts have reported increased US air force activity linked to the region. Social media posts by OSINTdefender claimed movements of more than 40 US fighter aircraft alongside surveillance and early warning planes transiting through the United Kingdom en route to the Middle East. News18 could not independently verify these claims.

Meanwhile, Iran has sought to project its own military readiness, launching war games in the Strait of Hormuz this week and warning it could restrict parts of the strategic waterway during the exercises.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 17:28 IST

News world After Geneva Talks, US Says It Will Deter Iran From Acquiring Nuclear Weapons 'One Way Or Another'

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Brazils Scooby-Doo-Dressed Cops Go Viral After Busting Phone Thieves At Carnival

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 09:55 IST

Images and videos of the arrests quickly spread online with many social media users amused by the unusual sight of cartoon characters carrying out real police work.

The operation ended with the arrest of two women and a man suspected of stealing phones during the festivities.

Police officers in Brazils Sao Paulo have gone viral after arresting cellphone thieves at a carnival while dressed as characters from the classic cartoon ScoobyDoo. The four undercover officers were disguised as Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Fred and Daphne- the mystery-solving gang known for catching villains after elaborate chases.

Their real-life operation ended with the arrest of two women and a man suspected of stealing phones during the festivities. According to a report by the New York Post, one of the suspects was carrying at least eight stolen phones. Police said the devices were returned to their rightful owners before the suspects were taken to a police station for further investigation.

Images and videos of the arrests quickly spread online with many social media users amused by the unusual sight of cartoon characters carrying out real police work.

Read more: What Is Zombie Flower? Trumpet Plant Linked To Mind-Control Drug In Epstein Files

The creative disguises did not stop with the Scooby-Doo gang. One officer was also dressed as a guard from the Netflix series Squid Game while another blended into the crowd wearing a jersey of Liverpool FC.

Police said such disguises are part of a broader strategy to combat theft during large public gatherings like carnivals, where criminals often exploit dense crowds. Officials added that deploying undercover officers dressed as partygoers has helped reduce festival-related crimes.

This is not the first time Brazilian police used pop-culture disguises. Last year, officers dressed as the Power Rangers arrested a suspect near Ibirapuera Park, an operation highlighted by Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas. Similar unconventional tactics have been seen elsewhere in the region. In Lima, Peru, an anti-drug officer dressed as a capybara carried out a raid that led to the seizure of more than 1,700 packages of illegal drugs.

Location : Brazil

First Published: February 18, 2026, 09:55 IST

News world Brazils Scooby-Doo-Dressed Cops Go Viral After Busting Phone Thieves At Carnival

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The second round of the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks "made progress" in Geneva on Tuesday, though "there are still a lot of details to discuss," U.S. online media outlet Axios reported, citing a U.S. official.

Following the talks with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, the Iranian officials promised to provide detailed proposals over the next two weeks "to address some of the open gaps in our positions," said the report.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the discussions were more "constructive" than a first round held in Muscat earlier this month, claiming that the two sides had agreed on the "guiding principles" for a potential deal over Iran's nuclear program.

The ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran came as the Trump administration amassed heavy military forces near Iran for possible operations.

Last week, Trump sent a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East. More than 50 F-35, F-22 and F-16 fighter jets have moved to the region over the last 24 hours, according to the Axios report, citing open-source flight radar data and a U.S. official.

Trump also said on Friday that regime change in Iran "would be the best thing that could happen."

Some analysts warned that the expanding U.S. military buildup could narrow the window for a diplomatic resolution between Washington and Tehran.

U.S. media reported on Sunday that Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December that the United States would support Israeli strikes on Iran's ballistic missile program if the U.S.-Iran negotiations fail. 
Dont Give Away Diego Garcia: Trump Warns UKs Starmer Over Indian Ocean Base Amid Iran Tensions

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Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 02:50 IST

Trump said the Indian Ocean base would be crucial if Washington moves ahead with military action on Iran, even as the US backed the UKs Chagos deal.

Donald Trump warned Keir Starmer that the Diego Garcia base would be vital in any conflict with Iran, even as Washington backed the UKs Chagos deal. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Britain against giving away" the strategic Diego Garcia military base, saying the facility would be crucial if Washington moves ahead with possible strikes on Iran.

Trumps remarks came just hours after the US State Department reiterated support for British Prime Minister Keir Starmers agreement to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the joint US-UK base for 100 years.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump urged Starmer to retain control of the base, calling the long-term lease arrangement tenuous."

Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease," Trump said.

He added that handing over the territory would be a setback for a key US ally.

This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!"

Iran Tensions

Trump linked the base directly to US military planning, saying it could be used if negotiations with Iran fail. His envoys held talks with Tehran this week, pressing for concessions, including on its nuclear programme.

Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia in order to eradicate a potential attack," Trump wrote, also referencing the US air base at Fairford in England.

He said he was concerned about the possibility of attacks targeting the United Kingdom and other allied countries.

Policy Signals At Odds

Trumps comments contrasted with the State Departments position backing the UK-Mauritius agreement. Washington said it supports Londons decision to move ahead with the deal and will hold further talks with Mauritius on maintaining operations at the base.

When asked about the differing messages, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trumps social media post should be considered official policy.

Deal Under Scrutiny

Britain has controlled the Chagos Islands since Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s, forcibly removing thousands of residents who have since sought compensation through legal challenges.

The proposed agreement would transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while allowing Britain  and by extension the United States  to continue operating the base under a long-term lease.

Trump has repeatedly shifted his position on the arrangement. After US officials initially described the deal as historic," he later criticised it sharply before appearing to accept it following talks with Starmer.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 19, 2026, 02:50 IST

News world Dont Give Away Diego Garcia: Trump Warns UKs Starmer Over Indian Ocean Base Amid Iran Tensions

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French Far-Right Activist Killing: 11 Held, Including Parliamentary Aide. What We Know So Far

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 23:58 IST

The incident has intensified political tensions ahead of Frances municipal elections in March and the 2027 presidential race.

Deranque, 23, died after sustaining a severe brain injury when he was attacked by at least six people on February 12.

French authorities on Wednesday confirmed 11 arrests in connection with the fatal attack on far-right activist Quentin Deranque, raising tensions between the countrys far-right and hard-left factions.

The 23-year-old far-right activist died last week after sustaining a severe brain injury when he was attacked by at least six people during a protest outside a university in Lyon. He was hospitalised in a coma before succumbing to his injuries.

The demonstration was held against Rima Hassan, a hard-left politician from the France Unbowed (LFI) party.

Deranque, affiliated with the National Rally-aligned groups, had reportedly been providing security at the protest. His death has become a flashpoint in the ongoing tensions between Frances far-right and hard-left factions.

Parliamentary Aide Among 11 Arrested

According to Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran, among the 11 detained is a parliamentary aide linked to LFI lawmaker Raphael Arnault. Six of the detainees are suspected of participating directly in the assault, while the remaining three are accused of helping the attackers.

A man believed to be directly involved in the violence, along with his partner, who allegedly assisted him in evading justice, were also taken into custody. Arnault said he had fired his assistant following the arrest.

The attack occurred on the sidelines of a far-right demonstration where Deranque was reportedly providing security for members of Nemesis, an anti-immigration collective that campaigns against violence toward Western women.

Nemesis has blamed the killing on La Jeune Garde, an anti-fascist youth group co-founded by Arnault before he became a member of parliament. The group denies any involvement in the incident.

French Govt Blames Ultra-Left

The French government has publicly blamed the ultra-left" for the attack. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin accused LFI politicians, including Jean-Luc Melenchon and Hassan, of fostering unbridled violence" with their rhetoric. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the ultra-left" was clearly at the helm" of the assault.

The incident has intensified political tensions ahead of Frances municipal elections in March and the 2027 presidential race, in which the far-right National Rally (RN) party is seen as a leading contender.

RN leader Jordan Bardella held LFIs leadership morally and politically responsible, claiming they had opened the doors of the National Assembly to suspected murderers."

The Lyon prosecutors office has stressed that the investigation is ongoing and is treating the case as one of voluntary homicide and aggravated assault".

(With inputs from AFP)

Location : France

First Published: February 18, 2026, 23:58 IST

News world French Far-Right Activist Killing: 11 Held, Including Parliamentary Aide. What We Know So Far

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From World Leaders To Tech Titans: PM Modi Holds 9 Back-To-Back Meetings In A Day

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 19:46 IST

Meetings with leaders from Europe, Central Asia and neighbours focus on AI, trade, technology and the India-EU FTA.

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PM Modi with Spains Pedro Sanchez, Croatias Andrej Plenkovic, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay during meetings on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. (IMAGE: X/@narendramodi)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of back-to-back bilateral meetings with global counterparts on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Wednesday, signalling a day of fast-paced diplomacy centred on technology, trade and strategic cooperation.

The discussions spanned partners across Europe, Central Asia and Indias neighbourhood, with artificial intelligence, economic ties and the India-EU Free Trade Agreement emerging as recurring themes.

Bhutan

Calling his interaction with Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay outstanding", PM Modi said the two sides explored collaboration in emerging technologies.

The meeting with PM Tshering Tobgay was outstanding. We discussed how we can harness the power of AI for global good and in harmony with principles of sustainability. Our enduring India-Bhutan friendship, rooted in mutual trust, goodwill and close ties between our two peoples, continues to guide our partnership into new and transformative domains."

Kazakhstan

PM Modi described his meeting with Kazakhstans Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov as a step towards strengthening the strategic partnership.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and I met earlier today. His visit will further deepen India-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership. There is immense scope for bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, critical minerals, rare earths, defence, connectivity and space. We will keep working together to take our friendship to new heights."

Estonia

Highlighting Estonias digital strengths, PM Modi said the talks focused on expanding economic engagement.

Had an excellent meeting with President Alar Karis of Estonia, a nation which has made remarkable strides in tech and AI. Discussed how to add further vigour to our economic partnership, particularly in the context of the India-EU FTA, which is a historical agreement. We also talked about working together in futuristic technologies, energy management, skilling and more."

Croatia

With Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, discussions centred on connectivity and emerging sectors.

Held fruitful discussions with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr. Andrej Plenkovic. We discussed how to add momentum to our bilateral partnership in areas such as technology, innovation, shipbuilding, blue economy and boosting connectivity through the IMEEC corridor. Also expressed gratitude for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which will bring unprecedented progress for people in India as well as Europe."

Serbia

PM Modi said cooperation with Serbia continues to expand across industrial sectors.

Met President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit. We discussed ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as defence, manufacturing, DPI, fertilisers and infrastructure. For many years, India and Serbia have worked closely and I am confident our ties will gain even more momentum in the times to come."

Technology Industry

PM Modi also met Google CEO Sundar Pichai, focusing on talent and innovation.

It was a delight to meet Mr. Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field."

PM Modi also met Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm.

Finland

Talks with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo emphasised trade expansion and advanced technologies.

Held extensive discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo. Thanked him for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which ushers in a golden era in India-Europe relations. India and Finland aim to double trade, thus giving a strong boost to economic linkages. We also talked about enhancing cooperation in futuristic technologies like 6G, innovation, clean energy, biofuels, circular economy and more."

Spain

PM Modi said his meeting with Spanish President Pedro Sanchez focused on broadening ties and people-to-people links.

Had a productive meeting with President Pedro Sanchez in Delhi. Discussed ways to boost the India-Spain friendship, especially in areas such as defence, security, technology and more. Our nations are marking 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and AI. This will deepen people-to-people linkages. Glad to see a big delegation of Universities also come to India. This too will go a long way in connecting our people. The historic FTA with the EU will have a very positive impact on the economic partnership with Spain and provide new opportunities to the people of our nations."

First Published: February 18, 2026, 19:46 IST

News world From World Leaders To Tech Titans: PM Modi Holds 9 Back-To-Back Meetings In A Day

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How Jamaat Conquered Bangladeshs Districts Bordering Bengal: Decoding The 5 Key Factors | Exclusive

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 18:56 IST

Jamaat-e-Islamis wins came primarily from areas along the Indo-Bangladesh border. News18 decodes the five key factors that led to their victory

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Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (AP File)

In the recently held Bangladesh polls, the Jamaat-e-Islami, leading an 11-party alliance, registered its best-ever performance with 31.76 per cent votes and 68 seats, even as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) managed a landslide win to make Tarique Rahman the PM.

Jamaat-e-Islamis wins, which made it the primary opposition, came primarily from areas along the Indo-Bangladesh border. News18 decodes how this happened.

FIVE FACTORS

The win was a result of five factors, according to intelligence sources:

1. Land grab: According to sources, surge in Hindu land seizures hit border districts of Bangladesh facing West Bengal. Over 150 families displaced in Gopalganj alone after 2024. The Vested Property Act fuelled long-term marginalisation of minorities.

2. Violence against Hindus: According to sources 2,711 incidents of violence were reported against Hindus since the August 2024 after Sheikh Hasinas departure. These incidents including arson in Rajshahis Bidyadharpur village where Pramanik, a local Hindu resident, was beaten and his hand broken by mobs.

3. Displacement: A total of 150 Hindu families were displaced nationwide since August 2024 due to violence and land seizures. Border districts like Bagerhat and nearby zones seeing repeated incidents of homes looted, vandalised or occupied.

4. Fear: Lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Gazipur on December 18, 2025 where the 27-year-old Hindu garment worker was beaten, hung from a tree, and set on fire over blasphemy allegations was systematic and forced many Hindus in areas like Moulvibazar to abstain from voting due to safety concerns, said sources.

5. Voter registration: This created an atmosphere of fear that discouraged Hindu voter registration and participation in the February 12 polls. Forced displacements in border districts like Bagerhat and Gopalganj where Hindu families faced land seizures by mobs and over 47 instances happened after 2024 These areas are with economically weak communities and reduced their electoral influence in constituencies with 15-20% Hindu populations. Over 133 attacks on Hindu temples, including vandalism in Chittagong during November 2024 protests led by Jamaat-e-Islami affiliates.

The election results of Bangladesh should be a wake-up call for Hindus in West Bengal, particularly since the Mamata Banerjee administration has encouraged and facilitated rampant illegal infiltration from across the border.From Satkhira to Rangpur, the belt facing West Bengal pic.twitter.com/tyyf8UvJdF  BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) February 13, 2026

THE ANALYSIS

According to Indian intelligence agencies, these steps were aimed at reducing cultural confidence.

In Shariatpur, where a Hindu businessman was hacked and set on fire further created fear in minorities from public political processes.

The Vested Property Act which enables arbitrary grabs amid impunity, affected 43% of Hindu households.

Recently this has intensified in Bagerhat, increased displacements and caused economic instability. This fear of land grab indirectly discouraged Hindu families from staying or returning to vote.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 18:13 IST

News world How Jamaat Conquered Bangladeshs Districts Bordering Bengal: Decoding The 5 Key Factors | Exclusive

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'If They Force Us To Choose...': US Congressman Under Fire For Post Comparing Muslims To Dogs

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 05:29 IST

Randy Fine later said his post was a response to comments by Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani.

US Congressman Randy Fine

A social media post by US Congressman Randy Fine comparing Muslims to dogs triggered widespread outrage in Washington, drawing condemnation from lawmakers, civil rights organisations and public figures, along with calls for disciplinary action and resignation.

Randy Fine, a Republican congressman from Florida, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one."

Randy Fine later said his post was a response to comments by Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani. Sharing a screenshot of her earlier message, he said that he was reacting to what he described as calls by a Muslim leader to ban dogs from New York City.

My post was in response to a major Muslim leader saying dogs should be forbidden from New York City because to some Muslims, it bothers them. If theyre going to make us choose between our dogs and them going home, the choice is easy," he said.

Read more: Red Lines Are Clear: JD Vance Says USIran Talks Show Limited Progress, Military Option Open

Nerdeen Kiswani, however, said her original post was satire linked to a local debate about dog waste in public spaces and was intended to mock narratives portraying Muslim influence as a threat.

Civil rights organisation Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Randy Fines comments and called for accountability, saying demands for his resignation were long overdue."

Several Democratic lawmakers also criticised the congressman with Representative Robert Garcia describing the remarks as disgusting Islamophobia and dangerous bigotry" while Representative Yassamin Ansari urged House leadership to reprimand him.

Gavin Newsom also weighed in, calling on Randy Fine to resign in a sharply worded social media post. British broadcaster Piers Morgan similarly rebuked the congressman online.

Despite the backlash, Randy Fine defended his remarks and criticised his opponents, accusing them of misrepresenting his comments. Randy Fine, who was elected to US Congress less than a year ago, has previously faced criticism for controversial remarks related to the Gaza conflict.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 05:29 IST

News world 'If They Force Us To Choose...': US Congressman Under Fire For Post Comparing Muslims To Dogs

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Man Accused Of Leaving Girlfriend To Die On Austrias Highest Peak Faces Trial

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 20:35 IST

Prosecutors say the more experienced climber failed to turn back or seek help in time.

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Tourists look at the Grossglockner summit (3798 meters, 12460 feet) and the Pasterze Glacier in the Austrian Province of Carinthia. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE/REPRESENTATIVE)

More than a year after a 33-year-old woman froze to death on Austrias highest mountain, her boyfriend went on trial on Thursday accused of grossly negligent manslaughter.

The case has drawn wide attention because a conviction could have implications for how far climbers are legally responsible for their companions in extreme conditions, according to a report by UK-broadcaster BBC.

The tragedy unfolded after the couple began their climb of the 3,798m Grossglockner, the countrys tallest peak. Kerstin G died of hypothermia after the expedition went fatally wrong, with prosecutors alleging her boyfriend left her exhausted and unprotected near the summit in severe weather in the early hours of 19 January 2025 while he went to seek help.

According to the BBC, prosecutors say the defendant made a series of mistakes from the outset and have listed nine alleged errors. At the heart of the case is the question of when personal risk-taking crosses into criminal liability  an issue Austrias daily Der Standard said could mark a paradigm shift for mountain sports."

State prosecutors in Innsbruck argue the man should be treated as the responsible guide for the tour" because he had significantly more experience and had planned the climb. They say he failed to turn back or seek help in time despite worsening conditions.

Identified by Austrian media as Thomas P, he denies the charges. His lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, has described the death as a tragic accident."

Prosecutors say he undertook the climb even though his girlfriend had never undertaken an Alpine tour of this length, difficulty, and altitude," and despite harsh winter weather. They allege the pair started two hours late, lacked sufficient emergency bivouac equipment and that he allowed her to wear snowboard soft boots, which they say were unsuitable for the terrain.

The defence disputes these claims, saying the couple planned the climb together and believed they were adequately prepared. Both considered themselves to be sufficiently experienced, adequately prepared, and well equipped," Jelinek said, adding they were in very good physical condition."

Prosecutors also argue the pair should have turned back earlier as winds reached up to 74 km/h and temperatures dropped to 8C, with wind chill near 20C. They did not retreat.

Differing Accounts

What happened next is contested. The defence says the pair reached Fruhstucksplatz at 13:30 on 18 January  a point beyond which turning back before the summit was no longer feasible  and continued as they were not exhausted.

Prosecutors say they became stranded around 20:50 and that the man neither called police nor signalled distress when a helicopter passed overhead about two hours later. His lawyer maintains they still felt capable of continuing because they were close to the summit. Webcam footage captured the lights of their headlamps as they climbed.

Jelinek says the situation deteriorated suddenly when the woman showed signs of severe exhaustion. At 00:35 on 19 January, the man called mountain police, though accounts differ over what was said. Authorities allege he later silenced his phone and missed further calls.

According to the defence, the pair reached a point roughly 40 metres below the summit cross. With his partner unable to move, he left to seek help, crossing the summit and descending the other side. Prosecutors say he left her around 02:00.

Images show him descending with a headlamp. Prosecutors allege he did not use rescue blankets or other protective gear and waited until 03:30 to alert emergency services. By then, strong winds prevented a night rescue.

Kerstin G died alone on the frozen mountainside. Her social media posts suggest she was an enthusiastic mountaineer, and her mother told German media she loved night climbs.

Jelinek said his client was deeply sorry" and wished to express condolences to her family. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison.

Location : Vienna, Austria

First Published: February 18, 2026, 20:35 IST

News world Man Accused Of Leaving Girlfriend To Die On Austrias Highest Peak Faces Trial

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Mark Zuckerberg To Testify Before US Jury In Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial Involving Meta

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 23:40 IST

Zuckerberg will testify before a jury after Meta and YouTube were accused of intentionally designing addictive features that hooked a now-20-year-old woman as a child.

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Mark Zuckerberg arrives outside court to take the stand at trial in Los Angeles. (Reuters)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrived in court on Wednesday to testify for the first time before a jury in connection with a landmark social media addiction trial concerning allegations that his platforms harmed children and teenagers.

Zuckerberg arrived at the Los Angeles Superior courthouse on Wednesday morning (local time) without responding to a question about what his message would be to parents who say their children were harmed by social media, reported CNN.

This trial would give the Meta CEO a chance to defend the efforts the company says it has taken to protect young users. However, nearly a dozen parents had gathered and joined hands outside the LA court ahead of Zuckerbergs arrival.

The trial will be attended by several parents who say their children were hurt or killed as a result of extreme social media addiction, following years of safety concerns on Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Why Is Zuckerberg Testifying?

According to CNN, Meta and YouTube are accused of intentionally designing addictive features that hooked a now-20-year-old woman as a child and harmed her mental health. The lawsuit brought by Kaley" and her mother is the first of more than 1,500 similar lawsuits to go to trial.

Kaleys lawyer, Mark Lanier, said she used Instagram for over 16 hours a day, despite her mothers attempts to curtail her addiction. Kaley claims the apps addictive features led her to develop anxiety, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts and that she experienced bullying and sextortion on Instagram.

However, a Meta spokesperson said we strongly disagree" with the allegations in Kaleys lawsuit and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people." The companys lawyer argued that Kaleys addiction stemmed from a difficult family life.

Meta has highlighted its safety features, such as parental oversight tools and teen accounts," which implement default privacy settings and content restrictions for users under the age of 18.

Zuckerberg is expected to face questions in court about what Meta has known about the risks of its platforms for young users. He may also be asked if he prioritised earning profits over youth safety with his product decisions, as Kaley alleged.

While Zuckerberg has testified several times before the US Congress over concerns surrounding his social media platforms, this would mark the first time he will testify in a trial before a jury about youth safety. If the jury sides with Kaley, it would lead to an unprecedented ruling that holds social media companies responsible for harmful decisions by the youth.

Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 23:40 IST

News world Mark Zuckerberg To Testify Before US Jury In Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial Involving Meta

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Satellite Images Show Iran Repairing, Fortifying Nuclear Sites Amid US Tensions

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 20:22 IST

The images show that Iran has built a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site and covered it with soil, effectively hiding it from view.

The country has also buried tunnel entrances at a nuclear site hit during the US-Israel strike in June last year.

Satellite images show that Iran has been actively strengthening and concealing several sensitive military and nuclear facilities, experts say, following two separate airstrikesone by Israel in October 2024 and another joint strike by the United States and Israel in June last year.

The developments come amid ongoing tensions with Washington, which is seeking a nuclear deal with Tehran while warning of possible military action if negotiations fail.

Satellite images reveal how Iran is preparing for a possible collapse of negotiations with the United States.Amid reports of potential American military action, satellite imagery shows Iran restoring military and nuclear sites damaged in previous conflicts, including Parchin, pic.twitter.com/OpwZAdnFzM  Israel News Pulse (@israelnewspulse) February 18, 2026

According to a report by Reuters, the images show that Iran has built a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site and covered it with soil, effectively hiding it from view.

The country has also buried tunnel entrances at a nuclear site hit during the US-Israel strike in June last year, reinforced tunnel entrances near Natanz, and repaired missile bases damaged in the conflicts.

ALSO READ: US, Israel Could Launch Major Military Operation Against Iran Very Soon: Report

Parchin Military Complex

Located about 30 km southeast of Tehran, the Parchin complex is one of Irans most sensitive military sites. Israel reportedly struck it in October 2024. Satellite imagery taken since the attack shows extensive reconstruction, including a new structure now fully concealed by a concrete and soil sarcophagus," experts say.

Stalling the negotiations has its benefits:Over the last two to three weeks, Iran has been busy burying the new Taleghan 2 facility at the Parchin military complex with soil. Once the concrete sarcophagus around the facility was hardened, Iran did not hesitate to move soil over pic.twitter.com/AowjWFFd92 David Albright (@DAVIDHALBRIGHT1) February 17, 2026

David Albright, founder of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), said on X that the burial of the facility provides significant protection from aerial strikes."

William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst, noted that the roof has been covered with soil to obscure the concrete colour".

Isfahan Nuclear Complex

The Isfahan enrichment site, also targeted in the June 2025 joint US-Israel strike, has seen all tunnel entrances completely backfilled with soil. ISIS said this would help reduce the risk of airstrikes and complicate ground operations to seize highly enriched uranium.

Natanz Tunnel Entrances

Satellite images show ongoing reinforcement of tunnel entrances under a mountain near Natanz, involving heavy machinery. ISIS said the work appears aimed at strengthening the site against possible strikes.

Shiraz South Missile Base

About 10 km south of Shiraz, this base is one of Irans 25 primary sites capable of launching medium-range ballistic missiles.

Satellite images show reconstruction and clearance efforts at the main logistics and likely command compound, though the site has not yet returned to full operational capacity.

The key takeaway is that the compound has yet to return to its full operational capacity from prior to the airstrikes," Goodhind added.

Qom Missile Base

Some 40 km north of Qom, this base suffered moderate damage during the June strikes. Imagery shows a new roof installed over a damaged building, with repairs likely completed in late November 2025.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Location : Iran

First Published: February 18, 2026, 20:12 IST

News world Satellite Images Show Iran Repairing, Fortifying Nuclear Sites Amid US Tensions

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'Called Me An Indian Dog': Sikh Nurse Left With Broken Nose In Racial Attack In Australia

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 21:14 IST

Singh told media that he was confronted by three men while training inside a gym in Corio at around 11 pm.

One of the men then banged his head on Harmanpreets nose, causing it to break and bleed heavily. (Image via X)

A 22-year-old Sikh nurse was left with a broken nose after being brutally attacked in a racial assault at a gym in Geelong, Melbourne, on Tuesday night.

Harmanpreet Singh told media that he was confronted by three men while training inside a gym in Corio at around 11 pm. The men verbally abused him, but the ordeal continued outside the gym.

As he left, the trio was waiting for him. They called me an Indian dog and told me to go back to where I came from," Harmanpreet told Australian news outlet, 9News.

One of the men then banged his head on Harmanpreets nose, causing it to break and bleed heavily. He got really close to my face and then just got really back and hit his head on my nose," he added. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the assault.

ALSO READ: Dont Let Indians Enter: Tourists Denied Entry At Phukets Yona Beach Club, Allege Racism

Locals took Harmanpreet to hospital, where he is expected to undergo surgery. Speaking to 9News, he said he was still traumatised by the attack and the racial abuse. Nobody wants to hear it. Especially when youre just minding your own business," he said.

This was not the first time Harmanpreet has been subjected to racial abuse in Australia, but the latest incident has left a significant emotional impact. His sister, Khushi Kaur, said the family was deeply shaken by the attack.

I try to keep myself strong, not care about such things, but it hurts," Harmanpreet said. I dont know if I am going to go back to the gym I am not going to feel safe after this."

Location : Australia

First Published: February 18, 2026, 19:22 IST

News world 'Called Me An Indian Dog': Sikh Nurse Left With Broken Nose In Racial Attack In Australia

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TEHRAN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi held a phone call on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments of the indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States.

The two sides reviewed the results of the second round of the negotiations held in Geneva and discussed the mechanisms and requirements of preparing the draft of a negotiation framework, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported.

Araghchi highlighted Iran's concentration on developing a "preliminary and consistent" framework for advancing future talks, the IRNA reported.

Grossi described the Tuesday negotiations' results as "positive," voicing the IAEA's readiness for cooperation in developing the negotiation framework and supporting the process, it added.

One day prior to the second round of the nuclear talks, Araghchi and Grossi met in Geneva for technical discussions on Tehran's nuclear issue.

In remarks after the talks with the U.S. delegation on Tuesday, Araghchi said the second round was held in a more "constructive" atmosphere compared to the previous round in Oman on Feb. 6.

"Different ideas were proposed and seriously discussed, and eventually we managed to reach a general agreement on a series of guiding principles, based on which we will henceforth move on and enter the text of a possible agreement," he noted.

The renewed diplomatic process comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with a U.S. military buildup near Iran. 
Talibans New Law Allows Men To Physically Punish Their Wives If Injuries Aren't Severe

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 22:11 IST

The Taliban's new penal code legalising domestic violence has been condemned by Rawadari which called for action by the United Nations and international bodies.

A married woman can face jail for up to three months if she visits her relatives without her husband's explicit permission. (AFP)

The Taliban has published a new penal code that legalized" domestic violence on women.

According to a report by The Mirror, a new 90-page penal code introduced by the Taliban allows husbands to physically punish their wives and children  as long as the abuse does not result in broken bones or open wounds".

As per the new laws, the husband may face a maximum of 15 days imprisonment in cases of obscene force", such as visible fractures or injuries. However, conviction can only be sought if the wife can successfully prove the abuse in court.

Also Read: Ghulami Legitimised, Clerics Above The Law: Why The Talibans New Criminal Code Is Under Fire

According to The Independent, the women are required to prove they have suffered serious bodily harm by showing their wounds to the judge, while at the same time being required to remain fully covered. They also have to be accompanied to the court by their husband or male chaperone (mahram)  though the majority of offenders in such cases are the husbands themselves.

Besides, the married woman can face jail for up to three months if she visits her relatives without her husbands explicit permission.

According to The Mirror, the law uses language effectively treating wives as the property" or slaves" of their husbands, and strips away vital protections, such as the 2009 law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW), which was introduced during the previous US-backed regime.

Condemning the new law, campaigners from exiled Afghan human rights group Rawadari have warned that this would legitimise the abuse, maltreatment, and punishment" of women and children  and expose them to continued domestic violence".

They demanded an immediate halt of the implementation of the criminal procedure code" by the Taliban courts, and also called for the international community, the United Nations, and other relevant international bodies" to utilise all legal instruments" to prevent it coming into force.

Location : Kabul, Afghanistan

First Published: February 18, 2026, 22:11 IST

News world Talibans New Law Allows Men To Physically Punish Their Wives If Injuries Aren't Severe

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UN Not Meant To Regulate AI, Antonio Guterres Says Ahead Of Attending India Summit

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 11:06 IST

UN Chief Guterres pointed to a proposal for a voluntary global fund of up to $3 billion to help developing countries build AI capacity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Image Credit: Reuters)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that it is not the UNs role to regulate artificial intelligence, asserting instead the need for global dialogue and cooperation as he prepares to travel to New Delhi for a major AI summit.

In an interview with PTI ahead of his visit, Guterres said the UN is planning an annual global dialogue on AI that will bring together countries, governments, the private sector and civil society. He described the initiative as a platform where everybody can come and everybody can discuss, and where we can learn with each other and eventually come to some possible consensus on the best way to maximise the opportunities of AI and minimise its risks."

Guterres will visit India to attend the India AI Impact Summit, the first such gathering hosted in the Global South, and said the UNs efforts are perfectly in line" with Indias approach to AI leadership.

UN Sets Up Global Scientific Panel On AI

The UN chief said that the creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence is a key step under the Global Digital Compact adopted in 2024. The United Nations General Assembly recently appointed 40 global experts to the panel, including Balaraman Ravindran of Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The panel will serve for three years and provide independent scientific assessments of AIs progress, risks and policy implications.

Guterres said the panel will act as a fantastic source" of objective information, helping governments make informed decisions and ensuring the public understands AI developments.

Guterres also pointed to a proposal for a voluntary global fund of up to $3 billion to help developing countries build AI capacity.

There was an agreement in the General Assembly in order to support developing countries to build capacity to be able to benefit from AI," he said.

The Global Digital Compact envisions an open, safe and inclusive digital future, with AI governance guided by scientific evidence and international cooperation.

Meetings With Indian Leaders, Global Participation

During his visit, Guterres will meet President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with global leaders, technology executives and AI experts. He will also participate in discussions on renewable energy and energy transition, with the UN highlighting Indias growing leadership in clean energy expansion.

Senior international figures attending the summit include Kristalina Georgieva of the International Monetary Fund, Gilbert Houngbo of the International Labour Organization and Doreen Bogdan-Martin of the International Telecommunication Union.

More than 30 UN-organised events are scheduled alongside the summit, focusing on AIs role in agriculture, healthcare, governance and sustainable development.

Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 11:06 IST

News world UN Not Meant To Regulate AI, Antonio Guterres Says Ahead Of Attending India Summit

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US Deploys Over 50 Jets To West Asia Amid Tensions; Iran's Khamenei Warns Against Military Buildup

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 10:13 IST

The US has deployed over 50 fighter jets to the West Asia amid rising tensions with Iran, even as indirect nuclear talks continue in Geneva.

File photos of Donald Trump/Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (AP)

The United States has significantly increased its military presence in West Asia, deploying dozens of fighter jets to the region amid rising tensions with Iran and ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva.

The developments come alongside strong warnings from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and fresh military activity near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The Jerusalem Post cited Axios and a US official and reported that the United States military has moved more than 50 fighter jets to the West Asia within the past 24 hours as part of a broader buildup of air and naval assets near Iran.

Independent flight trackers reportedly observed several advanced aircraft, including F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighter jets, heading toward the region.

The reported deployment forms part of Washingtons expanding military posture as tensions surrounding Irans nuclear programme and regional security continue to escalate.

The reinforcement of air power comes alongside increased naval movements, signalling heightened preparedness while diplomatic talks continue.

KHAMENEI WARNS US AGAINST MILITARY THREATS

As the military buildup unfolded, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning directed at US President Donald Trump during a speech in Tehran.

Responding to repeated American assertions of military superiority, Khamenei said, The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again."

The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again. Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) February 17, 2026

Referring to the growing US naval presence in the region, he added, The Americans constantly say that theyve sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea."

The Americans constantly say that theyve sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea. Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) February 17, 2026

Khamenei also rejected longstanding US pressure on Iran, saying Washington had failed to eliminate the Islamic Republic despite decades of confrontation, adding, You, too, will not be able to do this."

The US President has said that for 47 years, the United States hasnt been able to eliminate the Islamic Republic. That is a good confession. I say, " You, too, will not be able to do this." Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) February 17, 2026

STRAIT OF HORMUZ DRILLS ADD TO TENSIONS

Meanwhile, Iran announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz for live-fire military drills, marking a rare and significant escalation.

Iranian state media said missiles were fired toward the waterway during exercises conducted for safety and maritime concerns."

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global shipping route through which roughly 20 per cent of the worlds oil supply passes.

While Iran has previously conducted drills in the area, announcing a closure represented an unusually strong signal amid rising tensions.

Iranian officials warned that any attack on the country would have consequences extending beyond its borders, underscoring the broader regional risks tied to the standoff.

DIPLOMATIC TALKS CONTINUE AMID MILITARY SIGNALING

Despite escalating rhetoric and military activity, indirect talks between Washington and Tehran resumed in Geneva.

According to reports cited by ANI and the Associated Press, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are leading the American delegation, with Oman acting as mediator.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck a more conciliatory tone, saying a new window has opened" for negotiations and expressing hope for a sustainable and negotiated solution."

US Vice President JD Vance, speaking after the talks, said discussions went well in some ways," though major differences remain over key conditions set by Washington.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 08:00 IST

News world US Deploys Over 50 Jets To West Asia Amid Tensions; Iran's Khamenei Warns Against Military Buildup

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US, Israel Could Launch Major Military Operation Against Iran 'Very Soon': Report

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 18:27 IST

Sources familiar with the situation say the plan would be far larger in scope than last years 12day conflict and could last for weeks if it goes ahead.

US President Donald Trump with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. (Image: AFP/File)

The United States and Israel could be on the brink of a major military operation against Iran that might begin very soon", according to a report by Axios.

Sources, cited by Axios, said the plan would be far larger in scope than last years 12day conflict and could last for weeks if it goes ahead.

The report says the Trump administration is preparing for a campaign that would go well beyond smallscale actions and resemble a fullscale military engagement.

Officials cited by the news outlet said that the operation would likely involve a joint effort with Israel, and that it would mark a major escalation in regional military tensions.

ALSO READ: Ill Be Involved Indirectly: Trump On High-Stakes US-Iran Nuclear Talks In Geneva

Despite efforts at diplomacy, including the latest nuclear negotiations in Geneva, officials cited by the report expressed scepticism about a breakthrough.

The military buildup in the region, including the deployment of significant US forces, continues even as talks proceed.

Trump has repeatedly emphasised the importance of confronting Irans nuclear ambitions. In recent days, discussions with allies and advisers have underscored the potential for a military option if negotiations fail to achieve meaningful concessions from Tehran.

An increase in US naval and air assets in the Middle East has added to the sense of urgency among analysts. More than 150 US military cargo flights carrying equipment and aircraft have reportedly arrived in the region, according to open flighttracking data cited in related reporting.

A decision to pursue a largescale operation could have significant geopolitical implications and reshape security dynamics across the Middle East. Such a war would have a dramatic influence on the entire region and major implications for the remaining three years of the Trump presidency," Axios report stated.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 18, 2026, 18:10 IST

News world US, Israel Could Launch Major Military Operation Against Iran 'Very Soon': Report

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US Official In Bengaluru To Boost AI Collaboration, Bilateral Tech Ties

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Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 21:36 IST

After Bengaluru, the team will attend the AI Impact Summit in the national capital, where they will promote the American AI Exports Program.

Alongside industry meetings, Kimmitt joined Admiral Samuel Paparo at a closed-door roundtable hosted by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

William Kimmitt, the US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, visited Bengaluru on Tuesday to strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) collaboration and deepen technology ties between India and the United States.

According to a press release issued on Wednesday by the International Trade Administration (ITA), Kimmitt led a delegation of senior officials to Bengaluru as the first part of a broader India visit ahead of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.

Kimmitt and the delegation met several US and Indian technology firms and innovators to understand how they are investing in AI and integrating it into their business models. The delegation visited Chevron Engine, Google DeepMind, South Park Commons and Biocon.

Ahead of the #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026, in Bangalore Under Secretary William Kimmitt and ITA officials met with several U.S. and Indian tech companies and innovators to learn more about how they are investing in AI, operationalizing AI in their business models, and creating -  pic.twitter.com/QGoD1XK1zC ITA (@TradeGov) February 18, 2026

It is a privilege to visit the heart of tech innovation in Bangalore at such a critical juncture for the U.S.-India relationship," Kimmitt said.

He added that the new trade agreement between the two countries would cement our bilateral relationship for decades to come" and promote the adoption of cutting-edge US technologies in India. He also welcomed Indias participation in the American AI Exports Program.

Alongside industry meetings, Kimmitt joined Admiral Samuel Paparo at a closed-door roundtable hosted by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

The discussion focused on defence cooperation in emerging technologies and ways to advance the new trade deal, promote US AI exports and strengthen industrial capacity for shared security goals.

Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, said in a post on X that the meeting highlighted the importance of the Indo-Pacific, the Quad grouping and the role of emerging technologies in boosting commercial ties and regional security.

Pleasure to host a closed-door roundtable focused on U.S.-India defense cooperation in emerging technology within the Indo-Pacific.We were pleased to welcome Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and William Kimmitt, Under Secretary of Commerce for pic.twitter.com/IiQojcCorn  Mukesh Aghi (@MukeshAghi) February 17, 2026

The ITA delegation also includes Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Remington, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia Pamela Phan and Chief of Staff Trevor Kellogg.

After Bengaluru, the team will attend the AI Impact Summit in the national capital, where they will promote the American AI Exports Program.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 21:36 IST

News world US Official In Bengaluru To Boost AI Collaboration, Bilateral Tech Ties

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US Says Wise For Iran To Strike Deal With Trump As Israel Puts Civil Defence Forces On Alert

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Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 01:21 IST

The White House urges Iran to make a nuclear deal as tensions rise, while it fortifies nuclear sites and US military assets increase in the region.

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Washingtons remarks come as Tehran steps up military preparedness and negotiations appear increasingly uncertain. (IMAGE: AFP)

The White House on Wednesday said Iran would be wise" to reach a nuclear agreement with the United States, as tensions escalated amid warnings from US President Donald Trump and signs of military preparedness across the region.

Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, underscoring Washingtons push for a diplomatic outcome even as rhetoric has sharpened in recent days.

The comments came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the countrys Home Front Command and rescue agencies to prepare for a possible war with Iran, Israeli media reported. According to Yedioth Ahronot, a state of maximum alert has been declared across several Israeli security agencies, while a key security cabinet meeting on Iran has been rescheduled for later this week, public broadcaster KAN said.

Even as diplomacy continues, Irans leadership appears to be bracing for the possibility of conflict. According to The Wall Street Journal, Tehran wants to reach a nuclear deal but is simultaneously preparing for war should talks fail. The report said Iran has been deploying forces, dispersing decision-making authority and fortifying nuclear facilities, reflecting fears that the survival of the regime could be at stake.

The newspaper also reported that the United States has moved significant military assets into the region, including aircraft carriers and warships, while Iran faces growing domestic pressure from economic strain and unrest.

Iranian officials have offered some concessions in negotiations, but Vice President JD Vance said the proposals have fallen short of Washingtons red lines, which include preventing Iran from acquiring the capability to build a nuclear weapon. While Irans foreign minister has publicly described talks as making progress, officials fear the gap between the two sides may remain too wide to bridge.

Ali Larijani, head of Irans National Security Council, said Tehran does not seek war but is ready if one begins. We reviewed our weaknesses and addressed them," he said in an interview aired on Al Jazeera. If war is imposed on us, we will respond."

Meanwhile, Iran is flexing its military posture, deploying naval units of the Revolutionary Guard to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the worlds oil supply passes. State-linked media footage has shown missile launches during exercises near the waterway, not far from US naval assets operating in the region.

Iran has also been hardening its nuclear infrastructure, according to satellite imagery analysed by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security, part of broader efforts to prepare for potential strikes.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 19, 2026, 01:21 IST

News world US Says Wise For Iran To Strike Deal With Trump As Israel Puts Civil Defence Forces On Alert

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What Is Freedom.gov? Inside The US Plan For A Portal To Access Content Banned In Europe

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Last Updated: February 19, 2026, 03:03 IST

Washington is developing a website aimed at expanding access to restricted online content, a move that could raise tensions with European regulators.

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The site, reportedly under development by the State Department, could allow users to view material blocked under European speech rules. (IMAGE: News18/REPRESENTATIVE AI IMAGE)

The US State Department is working on an online portal that would allow users in Europe and other regions to access content banned by their governments, including material classified as hate speech or terrorist propaganda, according to a Reuters report.

The website, expected to be hosted at freedom.gov, is being pitched by Washington as a tool to counter censorship and expand digital freedom. One of the sources told the news agency that officials have discussed adding a virtual private network feature that would make user traffic appear to originate from the United States, while activity on the site would not be tracked.

The project is being led by Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers. It had been expected to be unveiled at the Munich Security Conference last week but was delayed.

State Department Response

A State Department spokesperson said the US does not run a censorship-circumvention programme specifically targeting Europe but said promoting digital freedom, including privacy tools such as VPNs, remains a priority. The spokesperson also denied that any announcement had been delayed or that department lawyers had raised concerns.

Potential Strain With Europe

If launched, the portal could deepen tensions between Washington and European allies, where approaches to online speech differ significantly from those in the United States. European regulations require platforms to remove illegal hate speech, extremist propaganda and certain forms of disinformation, rules shaped by the continents efforts to prevent a resurgence of extremist ideologies.

US officials have increasingly criticised these policies, arguing they suppress political expression. The Trump administration has made what it calls the defence of free speech  particularly conservative voices online  a key part of its foreign policy stance.

Wider Policy Context

The initiative comes amid broader friction between Washington and European regulators over technology governance. In recent years, the European Union has enforced stricter content rules on major platforms, while US officials have argued such measures risk limiting open debate.

According to the report, the proposed portal could place the US in the unusual position of appearing to encourage users to bypass local laws. It also remains unclear what additional capabilities the site would offer beyond existing commercial VPN services.

The domain freedom.gov was registered in January and currently shows a basic page with the National Design Studio logo and a login form, Reuters reported.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: February 19, 2026, 03:03 IST

News world What Is Freedom.gov? Inside The US Plan For A Portal To Access Content Banned In Europe

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When Friends Connect: France's Macron Shares AI-Generated Photo With PM Modi

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News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 23:57 IST

Emmanuel Macron shared an AI-generated image with PM Modi ahead of attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting India-France ties.

Macron shared an AI image with PM Modi on his X handle. (X)

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday shared an AI-generated image of him along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

While sharing the picture on X, Macron termed PM Modi his friend" and signaled strong confidence in the future of India-France collaboration in AI and other technological innovations.

When friends connect, innovation follows. Ready for The AI Impact Summit!" he captioned the image on X.

When friends connect, innovation follows. Ready for The AI Impact Summit! pic.twitter.com/oh4700pQ09 Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 18, 2026

Macron is on a three-day official visit to India from 17-19 February at the invitation of PM Modi. He is scheduled to participate in the India AI Impact Summit being held at New Delhis Bharat Mandapam on Thursday. PM Modi will inaugurate the summit on February 19. As many as 20 heads of state will be present at the inaugural session.

Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron left Mumbai for New Delhi on Wednesday after concluding his official engagements, including bilateral talks with PM Modi to boost ties in key sectors such as trade, defence, energy and critical technologies. He held discussions with PM Modi as part of efforts to further strengthen India-France strategic ties.

While addressing a joint press conference, PM Modi described India-France ties as special" and a force for global stability amid global uncertainty. He said that the two countries have decided to elevate their relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership.

The world is facing a period of uncertainty. In this environment, the India-France partnership is a force for global stability," he said.

PM Modi announced the launch of several joint initiatives, including the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, the Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and the National Centre of Alliance for Skilling in Aeronautics.

He also announced the setting up of an assembly line in India for H125 single-engine light utility helicopters of French origin.

President Macron said the IndiaFrance relationship is unique and based on trust, openness and ambition.

We have decided today to elevate this partnership and give it a new status. We have complete faith in this relationship," he said, noting that the two countries have worked closely over the past eight years in areas including the Indo-Pacific, artificial intelligence and clean energy.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 20:35 IST

News world When Friends Connect: France's Macron Shares AI-Generated Photo With PM Modi

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Why The Presence Of Hindu, Buddhist Ministers In Bangladesh Cabinet Matters

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News18.com

Last Updated: February 18, 2026, 12:01 IST

The appointment of these ministers comes at a time when Bangladesh has seen major incidents of violence against religious minorities.

Tarique Anwar has appointed Nitai Roy Chowdhury and Dipen Dewan into his cabinet. (Image: PTI)

Could there be better days ahead of religious minorities in Bangladesh? With the cultural ministry now given to a Hindu minister and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs with a Buddhist minister, political observers are hoping for winds of change with Tarique Rahman taking over as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Tarique Anwar has appointed Nitai Roy Chowdhury, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and one of its vice presidents, as Minister of Cultural Affairs in the cabinet. He represents the Hindu minority community in the government. Dipen Dewan, a politician from the Buddhist Chakma ethnic community, has been appointed as Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. His inclusion represents the Buddhist minority in the cabinet.

The appointment of these ministers comes at a time when Bangladesh has seen major incidents of violence against religious minorities in the days leading to the countrys national elections. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported at least 51 incidents of communal violence in December alone, including 10 murders, 23 cases of looting and arson, homes and temples targeted, physical assaults and alleged false blasphemy detentions, one reported case of gang-rape and torture of a Hindu widow.

Why The Presence Of A Hindu And Buddhist Minister In Tarique Cabinet Matters

BNP Resurrecting Minorities?

Bangladesh has been going through a period of political churn following the electoral transition that brought Tarique Rahman and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to power. For years, the BNP has faced criticism from opponents  particularly the Awami League  over allegations that minority communities, especially Hindus and Buddhists, felt insecure during past BNP-led administrations. In this backdrop, appointing ministers from these communities serves as a political signal aimed at reassuring minorities that the new government intends to be inclusive.

Rights Of Minorities

Bangladeshs minority communities have faced periodic communal tensions, attacks on temples, land disputes, and migration pressures over the past decade. The Hindu community, which constitutes roughly 8 per cent of the population, has seen its demographic share decline over decades due to historical migration and insecurity. Similarly, Buddhists  particularly from the Chittagong Hill Tracts  have long-standing grievances related to land rights, autonomy, and ethnic recognition. Having direct representation in the cabinet gives these communities not just symbolic visibility but also institutional access to policymaking.

Global Image

The appointments carry international significance. Bangladeshs treatment of minorities is closely watched by neighbouring India and global human rights observers. After political instability and protests in recent years, the new government faces pressure to demonstrate democratic credibility and communal harmony. Including minority ministers strengthens the administrations image as pluralistic rather than majoritarian.

Repositioning The BNP

Finally, domestically, these appointments help the BNP reposition itself. Historically perceived as relying heavily on conservative and Islamist-leaning voter blocs, the party is now attempting to broaden its appeal. By bringing Hindu and Buddhist leaders into key portfolios, it signals a recalibration toward moderation and national unity.

Why This Matters For India-Bangladesh Ties

India, particularly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has repeatedly stated that the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of concern. The Modi government has often raised attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus in Parliament and public speeches.

Given that India shares a 4,000-km border with Bangladesh and deep civilisational ties, communal unrest across the border quickly becomes a domestic political issue in India  especially in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. So when violence against Hindus or Buddhists rises in Bangladesh, it directly affects diplomatic messaging between Dhaka and New Delhi.

Including Hindu and Buddhist ministers in the cabinet therefore sends a reassurance signal not just internally, but externally to India.

Under Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League, IndiaBangladesh relations were widely seen as being at their strongest phase  particularly on security cooperation, connectivity and counter-terror coordination.

By contrast, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), now led by Tarique Rahman, has historically been perceived in Indian strategic circles as less aligned with New Delhi and more open to Islamist political alliances. In that context, the presence of minority ministers helps the new BNP-led government counter concerns in India that a political transition might mean weakening secular safeguards.

A cabinet that visibly includes Hindus and Buddhists strengthens Bangladeshs image as pluralistic and stable  making it easier for India to maintain high-level engagement without domestic political backlash.

First Published: February 18, 2026, 11:58 IST

News world Why The Presence Of Hindu, Buddhist Ministers In Bangladesh Cabinet Matters

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TEHRAN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev said here on Wednesday that Moscow and Tehran are considering the construction of new nuclear power plant blocks in Iran, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA.

Tsivilev made the remarks at a joint press conference with Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad after a two-day meeting of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, the IRNA reported.

Tsivilev said Russia is cooperating "seriously" with the Iranian government in the area of peaceful nuclear energy, adding that the two countries have many projects under implementation in different places.

"At present, the second and third blocks of (Iran's) Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant are under construction, in addition to which we are considering building new power plant blocks," he said.

He noted that the two countries have set up a working group to that end, which is expected to provide a summary of its discussions within three months.

For his part, Paknejad called for joint efforts to use the two countries' capacities to safeguard their national interests, describing the bilateral collaborations in the energy sector and development of oil and gas fields as significant.

He expressed hope that the two countries would soon finalize a contract on exporting Russia's natural gas to Iran to help address Iran's energy imbalance.

In September last year, Iran and Russia signed a 25-billion-U.S. dollar agreement to build four third-generation nuclear power units in the Sirik region of Iran's southern Hormozgan province, IRNA reported at the time. 
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The eastern causeway of the centuries-old Beng Mealea temple in Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park has become stronger and more attractive following restoration under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund, said an APSARA National Authority (ANA) news release on Wednesday.

ANA's archaeologist Leu Channora said after many months of dedicated restoration work, the eastern causeway of Beng Mealea Temple has regained its strength and beauty after it had deteriorated to the point of nearly losing its original shape.

"Today, visitors can admire the eastern causeway in its full architectural form, especially the striking Naga balustrades on both sides, a remarkable feature that had been lost for hundreds of years due to severe damage and deterioration," he said.

The restoration team expressed their pride and pleasure in contributing to the preservation of this ancestral heritage, marking a new chapter in the history of Beng Mealea temple and enhancing its attractiveness to both national and international tourists.

The first phase of the restoration project, which started in May 2024 and was completed in July 2025, covered about 100 meters in length and 13 meters in width, the news release said, adding that this initiative was made possible under the LMC Special Fund.

The restoration included careful repair and reinstallation of the Naga balustrades, beams, and pillars, all of which were returned to their original positions, Channora said, adding that the project has also restored the water drainage system, allowing water to flow naturally through the causeway once again.

The causeway features 12 pillars and 13 drainage channels, he said, adding that this causeway serves as the longest eastern entrance to the temple.

Built in the middle of the 12th century, the layout and style of Beng Mealea temple are very similar to those of the iconic Angkor Wat temple, the ANA said.

Made of blue sandstone, Beng Mealea temple is one of the key temples in the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Siem Reap province.

The Angkor Archaeological Park, the most popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian nation, is home to 91 ancient temples built from the ninth to the 13th centuries. 
Iran put part of the world's key oil artery on pause for a few hours on Tuesday. Tehran's Revolutionary Guard temporarily restricted traffic in sections of the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a safety measure during live-fire military drills, according to state media. The exercise, dubbed "Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz," asked commercial vessels to steer clear for the duration of the drill, CNBC reports.

Jakob Larsen, safety and security chief at global shipowners' group Bimco, said the move would likely mean "minor nuisance and delays" for ships heading into the Persian Gulf, but he didn't expect major disruption. Given regional tensions, he added, merchant ships are expected to comply. The Strait of Hormuz, wedged between Oman and Iran, is one of the world's most sensitive energy chokepoints. Around 13 million barrels of crude a dayroughly 31% of global seaborne oilmoved through it in 2025, per data from Kpler.

The timing was notable: The closure came as US and Iranian officials met in Geneva to try to ease a standoff over Iran's nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the two sides had agreed on "guiding principles" but warned that more work is needed before any deal is reached. Both countries have recently boosted their military presence in the region. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took a harsher tone before the talks, warning that "the strongest army in the world might sometimes receive such a slap that it cannot get back on its feet," the AP reports.

The US delegation was led by President Trump envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the AP reports. "In some ways, it went well," Vice President JD Vance said after he spoke with the envoys. "But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through."
VALLETTA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- From classrooms to concert halls, from cobblestone streets to the cinema screen, the spirit of China's Spring Festival is increasingly finding a place in everyday life in Malta through this year's "Happy Chinese New Year" program.

The festivities began on the morning of Feb. 6 local time, when the China Xizang Autonomous Region Art Troupe visited San Miguel Febres Cordero Special School. Lively dances, the bright sound of the suona, a traditional Chinese wind instrument, and colorful ethnic costumes brought a festive atmosphere to the campus.

"The children are smiling even more than usual today," said headmaster Mark Agius, noting that beyond the performance itself, it was the artists' warm interaction that left a lasting impression. By inviting students onto the stage and dancing hand in hand, the performers helped them feel respected, understood and included, he said.

The celebration continued that evening at the Sir Temi Zammit Hall of the University of Malta, where a "Happy Chinese New Year" performance and Spring Festival reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Malta drew more than 400 guests from various sectors, along with representatives of Chinese-funded institutions and members of the local Chinese community.

The program featured dynamic folk dances, traditional music and costume displays that highlighted the cultural heritage of China's plateau regions. Applause filled the hall as energetic rhythms alternated with more lyrical pieces, offering the audience a vivid glimpse of diverse artistic traditions.

Students in attendance said they were impressed by both the vitality of the music and the interactive elements. "It's full of energy and rhythm, and people can join in," one student said after the show.

In his remarks, Chinese Ambassador to Malta Zhang Zuo said cultural and people-to-people exchanges have provided sustained momentum for bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties. He said both sides are willing to further deepen cooperation and enhance mutual understanding through exchanges among civilizations.

Local officials also voiced support. Mario Calleja, mayor of Marsaskala, said the series of events has opened more windows for Maltese residents to learn about China and praised the China Cultural Center in Malta for building a stable platform for cultural exchange.

Beyond formal venues, the festival spirit reached the streets. On Feb. 7, a flash performance in Valletta drew residents and tourists to gather in the city's historic lanes. As music rang out, performers invited onlookers to join the dance, and laughter echoed between the old stone buildings.

The celebrations extended to the silver screen as well. On Feb. 17, a Chinese film screening at Malta's National Centre for Creativity featured The Lychee Road, set in the Tang Dynasty and portraying trade and everyday life. Maltese cultural scholar Fiona Vella said its historical backdrop, everyday details and cohesive visuals deepened her understanding of Chinese aesthetics.

In recent years, cultural exchanges between China and Malta have continued to expand. The China Cultural Center in Malta regularly hosts activities including "Happy Chinese New Year," film screenings and tourism and culture weeks, while Maltese cultural institutions have also participated in exchanges with China.

As the "Happy Chinese New Year" program concludes, Spring Festival celebrations in Malta will continue with events including the lighting ceremony of the Chang'an Lanterns and hanfu, traditional Chinese clothing, showcases, bringing people from across Maltese society together to welcome the new year. While the activities may take different forms, the connections they foster and the friendship between China and Malta will continue to grow. 
Stephen Colbert's "unaired" interview is doing just fine off-air, the Wrap reports. His chat with Texas state Rep. James Talarico racked up 3 million YouTube views in 18 hours after CBS kept it off The Late Show's Monday broadcast , quickly surpassing Colbert's recent chats with Bad Bunny, Michelle Obama, and Jane Fonda. As of this posting, the interview had nearly 4.5 million views.

Colbert told viewers Monday that network lawyers said he couldn't have Talarico on or explain why, tying it to FCC equal-time rules for political candidates. CBS pushed back Tuesday, claiming it never blocked the segment and instead gave the show options to comply with those rules. Colbert then pushed back against that on his Tuesday show, Axios reports, saying that the network had not informed him in advance that it would issue the statement. "This statement, it's a surprisingly small piece of paper considering how many butts it's trying to cover," he said.

The online-only interview features Talarico, a Democrat now running for the US Senate, warning about "the most dangerous kind of cancel culture  from the top," accusing "corporate media executives" of sacrificing the First Amendment to appease politicians. The dustup comes after the FCC's Brendan Carr upended the long-standing practice of exempting late-night shows from equal-time requirements.
Students from a Georgia high school on Tuesday described, in stark detail, the 2024 campus shooting now at the center of a trial against the alleged gunman's father , NBC News reports. Colin Gray faces second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, child cruelty, and reckless conduct charges, accused of giving his son, Colt, access to a firearm. Colt, charged as an adult with four counts of felony murder, is accused of killing two students and two teachers and injuring nine others on Sept. 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School; his trial date has not been set. Prosecutors say Colin Gray bought Colt the AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting despite being told his son was a danger to others, CNN reports. The elder Gray has allegedly admitted the firearm was a 2023 Christmas gift for his son, WSB-TV reports.

Fourteen minors took the stand Monday and Tuesday. One student, Nautica Watson, recalled hearing a bang, seeing her teacher collapse, then realizing she herself had been shot in the leg before blacking out; she said she now has lingering pain, paranoia at school, and nightmares. Another, Natalie Griffith, testified she saw blood on her wrist after being shot twice and feared both for a friend in a different classroom and for her own parents' grief if she didn't survive. Classmate William Cariker told jurors he texted loved ones, "If I don't make it I love you all," as the shooter approached his door. Student Aryanna Norman said she needed anxiety medication afterward and is haunted by the image of classmate Christian Angulo, one of the two students killed, "laying on the floor, lifeless."
Hugh Hefner's widow says the Playboy founder's private scrapbooks, which he once said numbered in the thousands and were collected over decades, shouldn't be anyone's public archive project. Crystal Hefner has asked the attorneys general of California and Illinois to investigate the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation, alleging it's mishandling his personal scrapbooks that contain explicit images of womenincluding herand, she fears, possibly minors. She says she was recently ousted as the foundation's president after raising alarms about consent, security, and talk of digitizing the materials, according to the Hollywood Reporter . She says she had been asked to resign prior to her removal, but refused, CBS News reports. She believes the scrapbooks may contain 3,000 nude photos, TMZ reports.

In a statement delivered at attorney Gloria Allred's office, Crystal Hefner said the scrapbooks date back to the 1960s and "may include images of girls who were underage at the time and could not consent to how their images would be retained or controlled," or who may not have consented to having their photos taken at all. She said the scrapbooks contain intimate images, including pictures taken before or after sex, involving women who are now "mothers, grandmothers, professionals, and private citizens." She says she worries that digital copying, AI tools, and data breaches could permanently expose them. Allred said Crystal Hefner is particularly concerned about potential images of underage girls and photos possibly taken when women were intoxicated and unable to give informed consent. The foundation did not immediately comment.
New York City's new mayor just put homeowners on notice, though he's made clear he hopes his warning never comes to fruition. Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday floated a nearly 10% hike in property tax rates as a "last resort" if Albany refuses his push to raise income taxes on residents earning $1 million or more, reports the New York Times . The 9.5% increase, which would be the first such increase since the Bloomberg era, could hit more than 3 million homes and condos, plus more than 100,000 commercial buildings, adding roughly $700 a year for a typical homeowner, according to the Citizens Budget Commission.

Mamdani says the move, paired with tapping nearly $1.2 billion from reserve funds, is the only city-controlled way to close a projected $5.4 billion, two-year budget gap in his $127 billion proposal. "If we do not go down the first path" of raising income taxes, "the city will be forced down a second, more harmful path," he said at a Tuesday briefing, per NBC New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul, whom Mamdani has endorsed, played down the odds of property taxes rising and suggested cuts and accounting fixes instead, per the Times.

Key city leaders, including Council Speaker Julie Menin and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, blasted the idea as a hit to affordability, while landlord groups called it a "war" on property owners. Mamdani's allies, meanwhile, are using the moment to renew a familiar chant aimed at Albany: Tax the rich. Forbes has more on both the "expected" and possible "unexpected" consequences of a property tax hike in the Big Apple, as well as further reaction.
The flight took 14 hours as scheduled, but it ended up exactly where it started. All Nippon Airways Flight 223 departed Tokyo around 11am Tuesday bound for Germany, only to reverse course more than six hours in, while flying above the Arctic Ocean north of Alaska. The Boeing 787 then spent roughly eight hours heading back, landing at Tokyo's Haneda Airport around 1am Wednesday, Business Insider reports. The airline cited low engine oil levels as the reason for the diversion, saying it chose to return to its main hub for better access to maintenance resources. A diversion would've risked the aircraft being stuck at an airport without the proper technical support, per Aviation A2Z.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

More clouds than sun. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High -2F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low -27F. Winds light and variable.
Shia LaBeouf has been arrested in New Orleans following an alleged altercation during Mardi Gras celebrations.

Shia LaBeouf has been arrested

The 39-year-old actor is facing two counts of simple battery and is now set to appear in court on Tuesday (17.02.26) afternoon, People reports.

LaBeouf - who was seen without a shirt in the streets of New Orleans - was involved in a confrontation outside a bar in the city's French Quarter. In a video obtained by TMZ, LaBeouf can be seen receiving medical treatment from paramedics following the alleged clash. However, it remains unclear what led to the confrontation.

LaBeouf - who has a history of legal troubles - arrived in New Orleans last week for the Mardi Gras festivities.

In 2017, the actor was arrested for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

The Hollywood star released a statement via his X account at the time, apologising for his behaviour in the lobby of his Savannah, Georgia, hotel, where he repeatedly swore at his arresting officers and revealed that he was "actively taking steps" to achieve sobriety.

LaBeouf - who has struggled with alcohol addiction throughout his adult life - explained: "I am deeply ashamed of my behavior and make no excuses for it. I don't know if these statements are too frequent, or not shared often enough, but I am certain that my actions warrant a very sincere apology to the arresting officers, and I am grateful for their restraint. The severity of my behavior is not lost on me.

"My outright disrespect for authority is problematic to say the least, and completely destructive to say the worst. It is a new low. A low I hope is a bottom. I have been struggling with addiction publicly for far too long, and I am actively taking steps toward securing my sobriety and hope I can be forgiven for my mistakes. (sic)"

The Transformers star's arrest was caught on camera and, in the video clip, LaBeouf was heard yelling and swearing at the officers.

He said: "I have rights! I'm an American. You got me in my hotel, arresting me in my hotel for doing what, Sir?"
CAPE TOWN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Astronomers using South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope have discovered the most distant hydroxyl megamaser ever detected, identifying what they describe as "a record-breaking cosmic laser" over eight billion light-years away.

The discovery was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). "It is located in a violently merging galaxy more than eight billion light-years away, opening a new radio astronomy frontier," the observatory said.

Hydroxyl megamasers are natural "space lasers" -- extremely bright radio-wavelength emissions produced when hydroxyl molecules in gas-rich, merging galaxies crash into one another, SARAO explained.

These cosmic collisions compress gas and stimulate large reservoirs of hydroxyl molecules to amplify radio emission at wavelengths of about 18 centimeters, similar in mechanism to lasers on Earth but operating far beyond the visible spectrum.

The newly identified system, HATLAS J142935.3-002836, is a violently merging galaxy so distant that it is seen as it was when the universe was less than half its present age.

It is both the most distant and the most luminous hydroxyl megamaser host galaxy known, according to SARAO. The radio emission is so bright that it qualifies as a gigamaser rather than a megamaser.

Despite its vast distance, the object produced a surprisingly strong signal.

SARAO said the detection was enabled by the combined sensitivity of MeerKAT and strong gravitational lensing, a phenomenon theorized by Albert Einstein, in which the gravity of a foreground galaxy bends and magnifies light from a more distant source.

"This system is truly extraordinary," Thato Manamela, a SARAO-funded postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pretoria and lead author of the study, was quoted by the statement as saying.

"We are seeing the radio equivalent of a laser halfway across the universe. Not only that, during its journey to Earth, the radio waves are further amplified by a perfectly aligned, yet unrelated foreground galaxy. This galaxy acts as a lens, the way a water droplet on a window pane would, because its mass curves the local space-time. So we have a radio laser passing through a cosmic telescope before being detected by the powerful MeerKAT radio telescope -- all together enabling a wonderfully serendipitous discovery," he said.

Hydroxyl megamasers are rare and trace the most vigorous galaxy collisions, where enormous reservoirs of gas fuel intense starbursts and feed central black holes, SARAO said.

The observatory also noted that MeerKAT's design makes it exceptionally well-suited to detect faint radio emission at centimeter wavelengths. Such capability, it added, means systematic deep surveys with MeerKAT could turn once-rare detections into powerful probes of cosmic evolution.

"This is just the beginning," Manamela said. "We don't want to find just one system -- we want to find hundreds to thousands."

The findings have been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. 
OSAKA, Feb 18 (News On Japan) - A 51-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of posing as a Japan Airlines cabin attendant and defrauding a woman of more than 10 million yen by promising discounted overseas travel.

Emiko Togo, a part-time worker from Higashiosaka in Osaka Prefecture, was arrested on February 16th on suspicion of fraud.

Police allege that Togo swindled approximately 11.2 million yen in cash from a woman in her 60s over a period spanning from three years ago to the year before last.

According to investigators, Togo allegedly claimed to be a cabin attendant for Japan Airlines and told the victim she could arrange overseas trips at low cost.

The victim had reportedly been told by an acquaintance that Togo was a cabin attendant and could provide inexpensive travel, after which the two communicated directly by message. The woman then transferred money for airline tickets and other travel expenses to Togos account in seven separate payments.

However, no tickets were ever sent, and no refunds were issued.

Police say Togo has no employment history with an airline. Authorities have not disclosed whether she admits to the allegations and are continuing the investigation on the belief that there may be additional victims.

Source: KTV NEWS
OSAKA, Feb 18 (News On Japan) - Three teenage boys were stabbed in Osakas Minami district, leaving one dead and two seriously injured, in an attack that police say may have involved repeated stabbings with strong intent to kill.

The incident occurred at a commercial building in Chuo Ward, Osaka, where police arrested Ryuga Iwasaki, 21, an unemployed man, on suspicion of fatally stabbing Ryunosuke Kamata, 17, a company employee, multiple times in the chest and neck with what is believed to have been a folding knife on February 14th. Two other 17-year-old boys were also stabbed in the upper body; one remains unconscious in critical condition, while the other sustained serious injuries.

According to police sources, a judicial autopsy conducted on February 17th revealed that a chest wound on Kamata penetrated the ribs and heart and reached the liver. Multiple stab and cut wounds were also found on his neck.

Iwasaki has reportedly told investigators that he did not intend to kill, but police believe there was strong intent to murder and are continuing their investigation.

Source: YOMIURI
TOKYO, Feb 18 (News On Japan) - Online tutoring provider Banzan, which operates the popular service Megasta, received a court decision on February 17th to begin bankruptcy proceedings, triggering confusion and anger among parents and tutors after the company abruptly halted all operations.

Megasta, known for its online lessons that incorporate AI tools, had gained popularity as a remote learning service, but late last Friday night the company suddenly announced it would suspend all business activities without prior notice.

We have decided to halt all of our operations, the company said in a brief statement, and the Tokyo District Court issued a decision the following day to begin bankruptcy proceedings against Banzan.

A reporter who visited the companys office building found a notice posted stating that operations had ceased, but there were no signs of staff inside.

Parents using the service voiced outrage over the sudden shutdown.

Its unforgivable. Just unforgivable, said one man whose fifth-grade child had been enrolled in Megasta. He paid 1.36 million yen in tuition in a lump sum in October last year but said his child received less than half of the promised lessons.

The emotional damage to my child is the biggest issue. My kid burst into tears on the spot. Were talking about children here. For people involved in education, this is the lowest, he said.

Some schools had also planned to introduce Megasta as part of their curriculum. Wakayama Nanryo High School had partnered with Banzan last year and was preparing to begin using Megasta lessons in its correspondence program from April, but those plans have now been scrapped. The online classes had been seen as a crucial support measure for a high school struggling with staff shortages, and administrators are now scrambling to find a replacement tutoring provider.

We wish they had said something earlier. We had various plans on our side, said chairman Mikihiko Kai of Wakayama Nanryo High School.

Confusion has also spread among tutors. A male instructor working through another tutoring service run by Banzan said he is owed about 800,000 yen in unpaid compensation covering the past three months, which included the peak of the exam preparation season.

That was a period when I sacrificed sleep and worked in a state of exhaustion to help my students pass their exams, he said.

He said the first sign of trouble came three weeks ago when he received a late-night email from the company claiming a system failure had delayed payments. Two weeks later, the explanation changed, with the company citing account freezes due to leasing-related problems. On the day payments were supposed to be made last Friday, the company instead announced a unilateral halt to all operations.

I have nothing but distrust. As someone involved in education, I dont feel any sincerity from them, he said.

Questions remain over what will happen to unpaid compensation for tutors and tuition already paid by families. JNN sought comment from Banzan, but the company has not responded to requests for interviews.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - An event was held to recognize teaching materials that have contributed to improving ICT literacy, with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications leading the initiative.

Selected for the inaugural round of awards was an educational program that uses the globally popular game Minecraft, allowing users not only to have fun but also to learn ICT literacyskills needed to use the internet properly.

On February 16th, the ministry held its first awards ceremony in partnership with private companies to honor such efforts.

Minecraft received the top prize as an outstanding educational tool capable of helping users acquire skills related to generative AI.

A Microsoft representative involved in the development of Minecraft said: "We support younger generations in cultivating skills and curiosity in the digital world."

In an era when it is common for individuals to own a smartphone, a ministry survey found that about one in four respondents said they had spread incorrect information online at some point, with higher rates among those in their teens through 30s.

In response, companies are focusing on developing teaching materials that allow younger generations to learn literacy skills in an engaging and accessible way.

The board game "Aim to Become a Top Creator Without Being Misled by False or Misleading Information!" produced by TikTok Japan includes various online scenarios users may encounter, along with cards designed to encourage discussion.

Another card game, "Literacco," teaches how to respond to online troubles by having players present what they believe to be the most appropriate action from their hand of cards.

After discussion, the player who proposes the best course of action earns points.

These materials are being used in elementary and junior high schools not only to build ICT literacy but also to foster initiative among students.

Masato Shimizu of LACs ICT Usage Environment Awareness Support Office said: "When new types of trouble emerge, we can add new cards and continue updating them while tracking developments."

Katsushi Takeshita, director of the ministrys Information Utilization Support Office, said: "It is important to shift toward using ICT literacy in ways that people can apply in their daily lives without fear."

Source: FNN
Risky digital habits and a lack of awareness are also heightening potential exposure to scammers.

TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2026 /CNW/ - With artificial intelligence continuing to advance at a rapid pace, a new TD survey reveals Canadians are feeling increasingly threatened by the next generation of financial fraud. The poll found that 3 in 4 Canadians (75%) say that AI advancements are making them feel more vulnerable to financial fraud, while 82% believe that scams are becoming progressively harder to spot. Another 86% are more concerned about fraud than they were five years ago, highlighting the rising prevalence of fraud in recent years. Meanwhile, the current fraud landscape is still causing significant harm, with nearly 1 in 4 (24%) Canadians saying they  or a family member  have been the victim of financial fraud or a scam in the past year.

"It's vital for Canadians to remember that longstanding fraud prevention tips remain as effective today as ever before," said Sophia Leung, Executive Vice President, Protect Platform at TD. "Don't respond to unsolicited communications--simply block and report them whenever possible. And always use secure networks. These simple actions can make a meaningful difference and significantly reduce risk."

Everyday Habits Fuel Risk

Despite widespread concern, more than half (52%) of Canadians polled have engaged in activity that can make them more vulnerable to fraud or scams, including:

18% use public Wi-Fi for personal or financial accounts

15% open email attachments from unknown senders

15% click links in texts or emails before verifying the sender

13% engage with questionable online offers

11% download apps or software from unfamiliar sources

In addition, many Canadians admit they aren't proactively seeking education or advice on fraud prevention:

41% say they never consult resources or seek fraud prevention advice or education

prevention advice or education 42% do so only a few times per year or less

Businesses Face Rising Threats

Canadian businesses aren't immune to the growing trend of financial fraud and scams. Business owners say they're feeling the pressure and recognizing the urgent need to protect themselves:

66% of business owners surveyed feel more exposed to fraud now than in previous years

now than in previous years 61% see AI-driven crime as a major threat

46% endured at least one fraud or scam attempt in the past year

"Business owners are concerned about fraudsters accessing their customer data as they leverage technological advancements," said Sherry Kalantari, Senior Manager, Business Banking Fraud Prevention and Education. "To stay one step ahead of bad actors, Canadian business owners should continue to review and boost their security protocols while keeping up with the latest fraud trends and how to combat them."

Raising Awareness, Not Alarm

While the numbers are sobering, TD offers trusted advice and practical support that can help Canadians identify scams and defend themselves.

"Technology is rapidly evolving, and so are the tactics that scammers employ", added Leung. "TD created the Fraud Prevention Hub which is our public online resource centre designed to help clients and the general public identify, prevent, and report fraud and scams. Clients can also stay informed and monitor their account activity through TD Fraud Alerts, TD MySpend, and other money management tools."

TD resources include:

Both the TD Fraud Protection page and the TD Stories Fraud Hub offer valuable information and advice for Canadians looking to keep themselves and their family informed about financial fraud and scam prevention.

Protection page and the TD Stories Hub offer valuable information and advice for Canadians looking to keep themselves and their family informed about financial and scam prevention. TD MySpend is a mobile app that can help track purchases and transactions made from personal TD Canadian dollar savings, chequing and credit card accounts and automatically group them into categories, to help provide an understanding of how money is spent. The app can provide notifications of spending transactions in real-time, helping make it easier for you to recognize fraudulent transactions fast.

TD Fraud Alerts allow you to receive instant text messages on your Canadian mobile phone number, notifying you if TD detects suspicious activity on your TD Credit Cards or TD Access Cards.

Alerts allow you to receive instant text messages on your Canadian mobile phone number, notifying you if TD detects suspicious activity on your TD Credit Cards or TD Access Cards. Card Controls from TD can help TD cardholders feel more confident if they misplace their TD Access Card or TD Credit Card because they can easily lock and unlock their TD Access Card or Credit Card, which provides cardholders with an added layer of security.

Two-Step Verification (i.e. Security Verification Code) at online banking login provides flexibility (via text, phone or the TD Authenticate app) while helping to protect against fraud .

. For Business Banking accounts on TD Business Central, dual administration provides enhanced security to require any administrative change to receive approval from a second System Administrator or Administrator.

Staying vigilant and informed is key to defending against today's sophisticated scams. By taking advantage of TD's resources, TD personal and business clients can better safeguard themselves against evolving scams in the digital financial landscape.

About the TD Survey

This TD survey, conducted by Leger, ran from December 18, 2025 - January 5, 2026, with a nationally representative sample of 1,517 Canadian adults and 262 Canadian business owners. The results have been weighted by age, gender, and region (and in Quebec, language) to match the population, according to Census data. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of 1,500 has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About TD Bank Group



The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by assets and serves over 28.1 million clients in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, TD Auto Finance U.S., and TD Wealth (U.S.); Wealth Management and Insurance, including TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities and TD Cowen. TD also ranks among North America's leading digital banks, with more than 13 million active mobile users in Canada and the U.S. TD had $2.1 trillion in assets on October 31, 2025. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange.

SOURCE TD Bank Group

For more information, please contact: Jenny Rodrigues, [email protected]
New National Program Examines the Retention, Governance, and Legal Risks Linked to Workplace Gap

TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2026 /CNW/ - Unmanaged menopause symptoms are estimated to cost the Canadian economy approximately $3.5 billion annually in lost productivity, according to research from the Menopause Foundation of Canada.

The cost does not reflect declining capability.

Menopause and Perimenopause in the Modern Workplace (CNW Group/LEV Continuing Education)

It reflects workplace systems that have not kept pace with workforce demographics.

"For the first time in history, large numbers of women are reaching senior leadership while navigating menopause and perimenopause," said Jill Mayer, Founder of LEV Continuing Education. "This is not a performance issue. It's an institutional design issue. Our workplaces were built for a different demographic reality -- and the gap is now significant."

LEV Continuing Education is launching a national program urging employers to address menopause as a workforce sustainability, retention, and risk-management priority.

A Leadership Moment Many Organizations Miss

Consider a common but rarely discussed scenario:

A senior executive with decades of institutional knowledge begins experiencing severe sleep disruption. Cognitive sharpness varies from week to week. She compensates by working longer hours. She does not disclose the reason -- there is no language for it within the organization.

Performance metrics remain strong. But exhaustion accumulates. Confidence erodes. The workplace offers no structural support.

Eventually, she declines a larger leadership role or leaves earlier than planned.

The organization records it as normal attrition.

What the organization has actually lost is succession continuity, strategic depth, and years of institutional knowledge and accumulated expertise.

This is not a story of diminished talent.

It is a story of systems that failed to adapt.

A Demographic Shift with Institutional Consequences

Statistics Canada data show that labour force participation among women aged 55 to 64 has increased markedly over time, underscoring the workforce importance of experienced, later-career women.

Many occupy executive, partnership, governance, and senior management roles.

At the same time, the World Health Organization recognizes menopause as a significant life stage that may involve sleep disruption, cognitive variability, social, psychological and physical symptoms.

The intersection of these realities is new.

"Our leadership models assume uninterrupted productivity," Mayer said. "But predictable biological transitions are part of a modern workforce. When institutions fail to account for that, they risk losing precisely the people they have invested most heavily in developing."

The Silence Gap

Research cited by the Menopause Foundation of Canada indicates that many working women report menopause symptoms affecting their work experience, yet the majority say they would not feel comfortable raising the issue with supervisors or HR.

Without policy clarity or leadership literacy, managers are left without guidance, and employees are left without language.

The result can be avoidable attrition and unnecessary legal exposure.

Economic and Legal Implications

The estimated economic impact includes hundreds of millions in employer productivity costs and significant lost workdays annually, as reported by the Menopause Foundation of Canada.

Replacing a senior leader can cost up to twice their annual salary when recruitment, transition disruption, and knowledge transfer gaps are considered.

In certain circumstances, severe menopause-related symptoms may also engage Canadian human rights protections under disability, sex, or age frameworks. Employment law updates have noted tribunal decisions addressing menopause-related complaints within protected-ground analysis.

"The risk isn't menopause," Mayer said. "The risk is outdated assumptions about what leadership continuity looks like. Organizations that modernize will retain talent. Those that don't may experience preventable loss."

From Blind Spot to Strategic Advantage

Forward-looking employers are beginning to treat menopause as:

A retention and succession issue

A governance oversight matter

A psychological safety indicator

A leadership sustainability consideration

LEV's new program, Menopause and Perimenopause in the Modern Workplace: Law, Ethics, and the Leadership Imperative, equips HR leaders, legal counsel, executives, and governance professionals with:

Legal clarity under Canadian human rights law

Risk assessment frameworks

Policy and training guidance

Leadership communication strategies

Succession protection insights

Registration information is available at:

https://levcontinuingeducation.com/programs/menopause-and-perimenopause-in-the-modern-workplace-law-ethics-and-the-leadership-imperative/

About LEV Continuing Education

LEV (Leadership, Ethics, Vision) Continuing Education develops interdisciplinary programs for legal, corporate, and governance leaders navigating complex workforce realities shaping modern professional life.

LEV equips institutions to evolve -- responsibly and intelligently.

SOURCE LEV Continuing Education

Media contact: Jill Mayer, Founder, LEV Continuing Education, [email protected]
$1.5 billion in investment since 2020, reinforcing Oshawa's continued role in GM's full-size truck portfolio

OSHAWA, ON, Feb. 18, 2026 /CNW/ - GM Canada today announced a new C$63 million investment in Oshawa Assembly to upgrade stamping operations, supporting preparations to build the next generation of gas-powered full-size pickups and enhancing capability in the service parts business. This investment builds on the C$280 million announced in June 2023, bringing GM's total investment in Oshawa since 2020 to C$1.5 billion.

"This additional investment underscores Oshawa's importance in GM's full-size truck portfolio," said Jack Uppal, president and managing director of GM Canada. "With a long history of building trucks in Canada, the talented team at Oshawa Assembly will continue to play a critical role for years to come in delivering the pickups our customers know and trust."

Oshawa Assembly currently builds Chevrolet Silverado light and heavy-duty full-size pickups on two shifts and is GM's only North American facility producing both models on the same line. The site also supports aftermarket parts focused on stamping, related sub-assembly and other activities. Product details and launch timing for the next-generation pickup will be shared at a later date.

Facts on GM Canada's Manufacturing Footprint

Oshawa Assembly has received $1.5 billion in investment since 2020, underscoring its importance in GM's full-size truck portfolio.

St. Catharines Propulsion continues to play a key role--today and into the future-- and will produce GM's next-generation of V8 engines, which power our high-demand full-size trucks and SUVs.

CAMI Assembly continues to be assessed for future opportunities.

GM Canada Fast Facts

GM Canada employs thousands of Canadians across manufacturing facilities, a multi-campus advanced tech and software centre, parts distribution network, and corporate offices.

With over 1,000 engineers, developers, and technical experts across three Ontario locations, GM Canada's Technical Centre is a key hub for advanced engineering, software development, and vehicle testing.

34,000 retirees supported through GM pensions and benefits.

450 dealerships nationwide, with ~20,000 employees contributing to local economies while representing Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac.

GM Canada's operations support thousands of indirect jobs across suppliers, logistics, services, and technology firms.

About General Motors Canada

General Motors of Canada is headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario and is part of a global company that is committed to delivering safer, better, and more sustainable ways for people to get around. In Canada, General Motors markets Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles through our strong Canadian network of dealers, as well as OnStar services. More information can be found at www.gm.ca or by following @GMCanada on Instagram.

SOURCE GM Canada

For further inquiries: Ariane Souza Pereira, Director, Corporate and Internal Communications GM Canada, [email protected]
Workers clean snow at North Railway station in Bucharest, Romania, on Feb. 18, 2026. A heavy snowstorm hit southern and southeastern Romania overnight, prompting a red alert in Bucharest and disrupting road, air and maritime traffic, authorities said on Wednesday. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

BUCHAREST, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- A heavy snowstorm hit southern and southeastern Romania overnight, prompting a red alert in Bucharest and disrupting road, air and maritime traffic, authorities said on Wednesday.

The storm affected 67 localities across 21 counties, including Bucharest, but no injuries have been reported, according to the Department for Emergency Situations.

The National Meteorological Administration issued red alerts for heavy snowfall in Ilfov County and Bucharest, expecting snow accumulation to exceed 50 cm in the capital.

At Henri Coanda International Airport, eight flights were cancelled and five diverted due to poor visibility and snow, while two runways were temporarily closed.

Road traffic was restricted on several motorways near Bucharest. Maritime operations were suspended in Constanta and Tulcea counties, and lorry traffic at the Ruse-Giurgiu border crossing with Bulgaria was halted.

Power outages affected 21 localities across five counties, leaving about 18,400 consumers without electricity. Authorities urged residents to avoid non-essential travel, as further snowfall and strong winds could cause more disruptions. 

A man walks on a snow-covered street in Bucharest, Romania, on Feb. 18, 2026. A heavy snowstorm hit southern and southeastern Romania overnight, prompting a red alert in Bucharest and disrupting road, air and maritime traffic, authorities said on Wednesday. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

People shovel snow on a street in Bucharest, Romania, on Feb. 18, 2026. A heavy snowstorm hit southern and southeastern Romania overnight, prompting a red alert in Bucharest and disrupting road, air and maritime traffic, authorities said on Wednesday. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

Workers clean snow at North Railway station in Bucharest, Romania, on Feb. 18, 2026. A heavy snowstorm hit southern and southeastern Romania overnight, prompting a red alert in Bucharest and disrupting road, air and maritime traffic, authorities said on Wednesday. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

A man pulls a sledge in a snow-covered park in Bucharest, Romania, on Feb. 18, 2026. A heavy snowstorm hit southern and southeastern Romania overnight, prompting a red alert in Bucharest and disrupting road, air and maritime traffic, authorities said on Wednesday. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

A worker cleans a snow-covered skating rink in a park in Bucharest, Romania, on Feb. 18, 2026. A heavy snowstorm hit southern and southeastern Romania overnight, prompting a red alert in Bucharest and disrupting road, air and maritime traffic, authorities said on Wednesday. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
People watch a lion dance performance as the Belgrade Tower is illuminated with festive greetings in Chinese during an event celebrating the Spring Festival in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 16, 2026. A series of events celebrating the Spring Festival were held here on Monday and Tuesday, creating a festive atmosphere and attracting thousands of local residents and members from the Chinese community. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua)

People line up to taste Chinese food during an event celebrating the Spring Festival in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 16, 2026. A series of events celebrating the Spring Festival were held here on Monday and Tuesday, creating a festive atmosphere and attracting thousands of local residents and members from the Chinese community. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua)

A kid tries Chinese calligraphy during an event celebrating the Spring Festival in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 17, 2026. A series of events celebrating the Spring Festival were held here on Monday and Tuesday, creating a festive atmosphere and attracting thousands of local residents and members from the Chinese community. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua)

A local visitor tries Chinese calligraphy during an event celebrating the Spring Festival in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 17, 2026. A series of events celebrating the Spring Festival were held here on Monday and Tuesday, creating a festive atmosphere and attracting thousands of local residents and members from the Chinese community. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua)

A Chinese artist introduces Chinese intangible cultural heritage works to a girl during an event celebrating the Spring Festival in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 17, 2026. A series of events celebrating the Spring Festival were held here on Monday and Tuesday, creating a festive atmosphere and attracting thousands of local residents and members from the Chinese community. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua)
TOKYO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The number of foreign visitors to Japan in January was down 4.9 percent from a year earlier, marking the first year-on-year decline for the month in four years as Chinese tourists stayed away, government data showed on Wednesday.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the latest figure marked the first time since January 2022 that the monthly total dropped below the level of the same month in the previous year.

The overall decline was largely driven by a 60.7 percent fall in arrivals from China, marking the second consecutive month of contraction, the organization said. 
HANOI, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ministry of Construction has proposed raising the foreign ownership cap in domestic airlines to 49 percent from the current 34 percent, local media VnExpress reported Wednesday, citing the ministry's draft decree on air transport.

The current ceiling has been seen as a barrier, making some Vietnamese carriers less attractive to foreign investors, said the report.

The draft also lowers equity requirements, setting a minimum of 300 billion Vietnamese dong (about 11.98 million U.S. dollars) for airlines operating up to 30 aircraft and 700 billion Vietnamese dong (about 26.95 million dollars) for those with larger fleets.

The ministry said the proposed changes aim to attract greater investment, facilitate market participation and strengthen the aviation authority's supervision. 
BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the State Council Work Safety Committee has mandated supervised oversight of the probe into a fatal boat capsizing that occurred Tuesday in Chuxiong City, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The accident occurred at the Lianxiwan tourist resort in Donghua Township, leaving four people dead among the 26 thrown into the water, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. 
TOKYO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi resigned with her cabinet on Wednesday.

Cabinet ministers of the Takaichi administration submitted letters of resignation en masse at a cabinet meeting, which started shortly after 9 a.m. local time, as parliament is set to convene for a new session in the afternoon to elect a new prime minister.

After the vote, the new premier will finalize cabinet appointments, and the chief cabinet secretary is scheduled to announce the lineup.

Takaichi, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is expected to be reinstated as prime minister, given that her party currently holds more than two-thirds of the seats in the powerful lower house.

With Takaichi's cabinet appointed just months ago in October and the ruling coalition winning the Feb. 8 general election, changes to the lineup are unlikely, local media said. 
Without immigration, whats for dinner in New Orleans  and around the world  would taste completely different.

A visit to the newly opened Social restaurant in Uptown illustrates this point deliciously. Socials mainstay, Nikkei cuisine, evolved in Peru because of an influx of Japanese contract laborers at the turn of the 20th century.

Born of Japanese techniques and Peruvian ingredients, Nikkei became popular in the 1980s, with Nobu founder/chef Nobu Matsuhisa one of its early pioneers. New Orleanians got a taste of this clean, flavorful fare when Dana Honn and Wataru Saeki opened the casual Nikkei Izakaya at The Broadside in late 2024.

Social What Social Where 5015 Magazine St., (504) 354-9142; socialrestaurant.co When Lunch and Dinner Daily How Dine-in Check It Out Peruvian Nikkei cuisine in a fine dining setting

The December opening of Social raises Nikkei cuisine to a fine-dining level. It was founded by Mexican-born Dulce and Omar Lugo, partners in the six-restaurant Habs Hospitality Group, and their Peruvian chef/partner Adolfo Gosalvez.

The setting is stunning. The location was formerly home to the Peruvian restaurant Titos Ceviche. The Magazine Street spot is the second Social, after the first opened in Madisonville last May. The restaurant has a dining room lined with windows overlooking Magazine, a back-lit pink marble bar and a patio on the side. Striking wall sculptures evoke the sea and its creatures.

Gosalvez, formerly the executive chef at Mission Ceviche in New York, flies in regularly from his home in Chicago to steer the restaurants culinary direction and work with the team. Ricardo Hipolito is Socials Peruvian executive chef. He also opened the Social across the lake.

We knew right away that New Orleans was a good fit for Social, Hipolito says. Here there is soul, heritage and culture. Like in Peru.

The Lugos came to the U.S. from Mexico City 20 years ago, first settling in Atlanta and then moving to the Northshore where Omars uncle owned several Mexican restaurants. We were young, and he gave us jobs, Dulce says. They started their restaurant group 11 years ago, first opening Habanero Mexican restaurants on the Northshore and Metairie.

Chef Adolfo really knows what he is doing, Hipolito says. He is so proud of what Peru brings to the table.

Nikkei cuisine features Japanese ingredients like miso, sake, seaweed and dashi. Japanese immigrants popularized eating octopus and squid in Peru and also introduced layered umami flavors powered by soy and mirin.

These ingredients contrast with Peruvian staples like aji amarillo, lime and corn or hominy to create a distinct, flavor-packed style of cooking. Tiradito is what happens when sashimi from fresh-caught Peruvian fish is spiced with aji chili pepper and lime.

Among the ceviches, Ceviche Social showcases a combo of the fish of the day, octopus and flash fried small scallops. The seafood is cured with aji amarillo in Perus national sauce, leche de tigre, the milky white juice that results from marinating raw fish in citrus (usually lime) along with garlic, ginger, onion, salt, cilantro and Peruvian chili peppers.

Raw fish shows up in a handful of dishes, including the popular wontacos tartare. A tartare using the fish of the day is served with bright citrus- and spice-forward salsa acevichada, crispy wonton chips, quinoa and furikake seasonings.

On the cooked side, traditional lomo saltado features chunks of filet mignon with red onions, potatoes and hominy, all in soy oyster sauce, served with rice. Arroz con mariscos is a Peruvian take on paella and is loaded with shrimp, calamari and octopus.

Theres also a burger on the menu.

The cocktail list offers classics, along with Peruvian favorites like a pisco sour and Nikkei-influenced sips with ingredients like wasabi honey, yuzu and cardamom syrup.

Dulce understands that not everyone is familiar with Nikkei-style Peruvian cuisine.

My husband and I are passionate about this food, she says. The flavors are so fresh  unexpected but approachable.
PARIS, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The French Ministry of Economy and Finance said on Wednesday that the national database of bank accounts, containing information on about 1.2 million accounts, had been illegally accessed.

In a statement, the ministry said investigations by the Public Finances Directorate General found that, starting from late January, a "malicious actor" used stolen credentials belonging to an official to gain access to part of the national database.

The national bank accounts database lists all bank accounts opened with financial institutions in France and contains personal data, including bank details, the account holder's identity, address, and, in certain cases, the user's tax identification number.

Once the breach was detected, authorities immediately implemented measures to restrict access, stop the intrusion, limit the amount of data consulted or extracted, and prevent any further unauthorized access, the ministry said.

The authorities have informed banking institutions of the incident and urged them to advise clients to exercise heightened vigilance, it added. 
Families in Exeter who have struggled with SEND delays and stretched services could see relief after the Government confirmed it will write off most of Devons 200 million SEND deficit.

The decision to fund 90 per cent of historic shortfalls held by local authorities has been welcomed by Exeters MP and follows years of mounting demand for special educational needs support across the city and wider county.

According to the Governments own figures, around 740 million has been allocated for approximately 10,000 new SEND places in 2024, and a further 3 billion earmarked for expanded provision in 2025.

The SEND system is also set to see a new inclusion judgement in future Ofsted reports, aimed at improving accountability for support outcomes.

Steve Race said SEND was a massive issue for families in Exeter.

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From my conversations on the doorstep and the dozens of families who have contacted me for help, theres no doubt that the system needs to change, he said.

Mr Race held roundtable discussions in Exeter last year with parents and professionals to gather first-hand experiences of the current system, which he has fed back to ministers in Westminster.

The Government is already getting on with the job of transforming the lose, lose, lose system left behind by the Tories with new training and investment, he said.

The white paper, which is due later this month, will set out crucial changes to the SEND system, based on conversations like the ones Ive been having in Exeter.

But the deficits built up by local authorities under the so-called Safety Valve system had become an unsustainable barrier to progress at a local level.

Im pleased that the Government has been able to write off the vast majority of Devon County Councils debt, which I hope will make it easier for the SEND team there to provide timely and effective support to children and families.

Devons SEND budget pressures have been significant. In recent years, Devon has reported the highest level of individual EHC plans per 10,000 population among comparable counties in the South West.

In Exeter itself, local SEND teams support thousands of pupils with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, with demand rising by more than 20 per cent over the past five years.

Devon County Council has also welcomed the Governments funding move, describing it as a major step forward.

Councillor James Buczkowski, the councils Cabinet Member for Finance, said the funding will give the council greater stability in managing SEND and allow more resources to be focused on frontline support.

This is a very welcome announcement and a major step forward, he said.

It gives the council greater financial stability in SEND and allows us to focus more of our resources on improving frontline support for children and young people.

The council said the announcement comes amid years of rising costs and demand in SEND services.

Across Devon, the number of pupils with EHC plans has grown faster than available funding, pushing some authorities into deficit. The write-off of historic debt is intended to ease those pressures.

However, councillors also stressed that wider financial challenges persist. Devons adult social care budget continues to operate under significant strain, and childrens services overall have reported higher expenditure than income for the past three financial years.

In Exeter, the cost of providing specialist transport and support services for SEND pupils has also risen steadily.

For too long, councils have faced rising demand while the balance of funding has shifted away from the national government and onto local taxpayers, added Cllr Buczkowski.

Todays decision helps to relieve some of that pressure in SEND, and that is good news for families across Devon.

We now need to work through the details of the announcement, but this puts us in a stronger position to set a 2026 budget that is focused on supporting children and young people and protecting vital services.

The council will now assess the detailed implications of the funding as part of its budget-setting process for 202627.

Draft proposals are due to be considered by Cabinet on 17 February, ahead of Full Council approval later in the month.

For many families in Exeter - where long waiting lists and difficulties accessing specialist support have been ongoing concerns - the write-off of historic SEND debt is likely to be seen as an important development, though many will be watching closely for tangible improvements in services and outcomes on the ground.
Torbay Councils Cabinet has published its final budget proposals for 2026/27, ahead of a decision at Full Council later this month.

The proposals, first released for consultation on 3 December 2025, will be considered by Cabinet this evening (Tuesday 17 February) before being presented to Full Council for approval on 26 February.

Cabinet is proposing a balanced net Revenue Budget of 205.334million for 2026/27 and a Capital Investment Plan of 126.865million covering the period up to 2028/29.

Councillor David Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council, said:

"Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the 2026/27 budget proposals. When we launched the consultation in December, the approach we set out was one of strong financial management and creating a sustainable financial future for our residents and visitors.

"We are continuing to ensure our residents are at the heart of everything we do by ensuring continued financial stability in a very challenging budget position given the three-year settlement we have received from Government.

"It is essential that we plan now to minimise the impact of reductions that the Council will have to make in future years. This is why we are proposing a series of adjustments to our initial plans.

"These include strengthening our financial resilience by creating new reserves to support essential transformation work across both adult social care and the wider council, a reserve to fund the 10% contribution to SEND costs and ensuring Council Tax is set at the level required by Government to protect wider funding.

"We will be using existing resources to focus Operation Brighter Bay so that improvements are more visible within our residential communities as well as key visitor areas.

"We are confident that these proposals enable us to take a longer-term strategic approach over the next three to four years. We will continue to make the case to Government for fairer funding for Torbay, which has already contributed to an improved position in the final settlement.

"The Cabinet recognise that the funding settlement from Government does not allow us to respond to the consultation feedback received from residents, however we are committed to focussing any end of year underspend on the areas identified by residents as being most important.

Following feedback from Overview and Scrutiny and residents, and taking into account the final funding allocations from Government, Cabinet has made several changes to the original proposals. These include:

Allocating 400,000 on a one-off basis to support transformation activity aimed at sustainably reducing council spending in future years.

Creating a new SEND Higher Needs Block reserve with a 1.7million one-off allocation to meet the councils required 10% contribution to forthcoming national Dedicated Schools Grant policy changes.

Establishing a new Adult Social Care reserve, with 730,000 allocated to support transformation and begin developing long-term funding solutions.

Increasing Council Tax by 4.99%, reflecting Government expectations and the financial risk of reduced funding if the full increase is not applied.

Using additional one-off Government funding received this year to help smooth financial pressures in future years and reduce the severity of savings required later in the settlement period.

The Cabinets final proposals will be debated at the Full Council meeting on 26 February, when Council Tax levels for Torbay will also be formally set.

Cabinet meetings are live streamed on the councils YouTube channel and recordings are published on the councils website.
American fast-food chain Wendy's will open its first Exeter restaurant on Thursday, 26 February, bringing a new drive-thru offering to Alphington Park.

The new site, located on Alphington Road, occupies the former Chiquito unit which has stood vacant since 2020.

In recent weeks, branded red-and-white signage has been installed above the entrance, signalling the completion of refurbishment works at the long-empty premises.



Doors are set to open at 10:30am, with the first 100 customers arriving before that time promised a free Wendys Single burger as part of launch day celebrations.

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The restaurant will feature a drive-thru lane, reflecting the brands historic association with the format, and will serve Wendys core menu including its square beef burgers, Baconator, Chicken Biggie Bag Meal and Frosty desserts.



Michael Clarke, Managing Director, Europe for The Wendys Company, said the opening marks another step in the companys UK expansion. Franchise partner Farhat Abbas added that the launch will create new jobs and establish Wendys as part of the local community.



Founded in Ohio in 1969, Wendys is one of the worlds largest quick-service restaurant brands and has been steadily increasing its presence across the UK, including in the South West.



The Exeter opening will see Wendys join existing food outlets at Alphington Park, alongside KFC, Starbucks and Nando's, further strengthening the retail parks position as a key dining destination for the city.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States is withdrawing all of its roughly 1,000 troops from Syria, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing three U.S. officials.

The Pentagon earlier this month withdrew all U.S. soldiers from the Al-Shaddadi base in northeastern Syria and from the Al Tanf garrison, a strategic outpost at the borders of Syria, Jordan and Iraq, according to the report.

Over the next two months, all remaining U.S. forces will leave Syria, ending a decade-long U.S. military presence in the Middle East country, said the report. 
JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel is on heightened alert and assessing that a confrontation with Iran could begin "soon," state broadcaster Kan reported Wednesday, citing senior Israeli officials.

The report said Israel is maintaining a high level of readiness amid the possibility of a near-term U.S. strike on Iran, estimating that if launched, such an operation could develop into a weeks-long campaign.

Officials said U.S. President Donald Trump appears closer to launching a large-scale confrontation in the Middle East, and that Israel is preparing for a scenario in which fighting could break out "possibly within days."

"We are facing challenging days in relation to Iran," Boaz Bismuth, chairman of parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said in the Knesset, adding, "The public is preparing, the authorities are preparing."

Additionally, a pre-scheduled meeting of Israel's security cabinet was postponed from Thursday to Sunday, a government official said, amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States and a U.S. military buildup in the region.

U.S. online outlet Axios reported, citing open-source flight radar data and a U.S. official, that last week Trump sent a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East. More than 50 F-35, F-22, and F-16 fighter jets have moved to the region over the past 24 hours.

Iran and the United States concluded the second round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva on Tuesday. The negotiations, held at Oman's embassy in the Swiss city, were mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. The first round of the indirect talks took place in the Omani capital Muscat on Feb. 6. 
Possible change in 2026 Changed maps Texas +5R Missouri +1R North Carolina +1R Ohio +1-2R California +5D Utah +1D +2R to 3R Action taken to change maps Florida +2-4R Virginia +2-4D Maryland +1D +1R to 3D Total possible U.S. House seats +1D to +4R Ashley Cai/The New York Times

The first primaries for the 2026 midterm elections have arrived. For Republican and Democratic state lawmakers still trying to redraw district maps for the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans have a razor-thin margin, there is not much time left in the year.

Legal challenges remain, including a potentially seismic Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act. And last-minute twists are likely; on Monday, the court, siding with New York Republicans, kept the states congressional map in place by overruling a state judge who found that the district had diluted the power of Black and Latino voters.

So, for now, here is a breakdown of states where maps affecting Novembers election have already been redone, or of states that have taken action to make changes.

These states have changed their maps

Texas could add 5 Republican seats in the midterms

The first group to heed President Trumps call last year to reshape Congress was the Republican majority in Texas.

Democrats staged a two-week walkout, arguing that the new districts would illegally dilute Black and Hispanic representation. But Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed the measure into law in August, and the Supreme Court upheld the map in December.

California could add 5 Democratic seats

In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, persuaded the legislature in August, and voters in November, to counterpunch.

The Supreme Court, echoing its Texas order, upheld Californias new map in February, dismissing Republican claims that it illegally favored Latino voters.

Missouri could add 1 Republican seat

Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, in late September signed into law a new map that would split Kansas City, a Democratic stronghold, into rural and largely Republican districts.

Republicans hope to oust the longtime Representative Emanuel Cleaver, who was the first Black mayor of Kansas City. But lawsuits are in progress.

North Carolina could add 1 Republican seat

The Republican-controlled legislature approved a new map in October that imperils the re-election chances of Representative Don Davis, a Democrat, who represents the northeastern corner of the state.

Under the state Constitution, Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, cannot veto the new map.

Ohio could add 1 to 2 Republican seats

Even before Mr. Trumps push, Ohio was required, under its state Constitution, to redraw its congressional maps. So in October, a state commission approved plans to dilute Democratic-held districts near Toledo and Cincinnati.

Utah could add 1 Democratic seat

A state judge in November tossed out a map drawn by the Republican-dominated legislature as being unfairly tilted against Democrats. The judge then adopted an alternative proposed by a centrist group that preserved a Democratic-leaning district surrounding Salt Lake City.

The Utah legislature has appealed to the Utah Supreme Court, while two of states congressional Republicans have filed a federal lawsuit to void the map.

These states are trying to change their maps

Florida could add 2 to 4 Republican seats in the midterms

Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has proposed that a special legislative session be convened in late April on redistricting. Republicans, who control most of the states congressional seats, are eyeing a gain of two to four more in central and South Florida.

Virginia could add 2 to 4 Democratic seats

The Democratic legislature has passed a constitutional amendment allowing lawmakers to redraw congressional districts before the midterms. If voters say yes to a referendum on April 21, the Democrats could net between two and four seats under a proposed new map.

A state judge initially blocked the effort to change the map. But the Virginia Supreme Court has allowed the referendum to proceed, and says that it will rule afterward on whether the plan is legal.

Maryland could add 1 Democratic seat

In Maryland, a latecomer, the House of Delegates has approved a plan that would ask voters to ratify new congressional boundaries in November  while also choosing the candidates to represent those districts.

The State Senate appears reluctant, so far. But if the plan proceeds, Democrats could turn what is now a 7-1 advantage into 8-0.

Reporting contributed by Nick Corasaniti.


IMAGINE PR is named US public relations representative for Secret Atlas, an expedition travel company known for its "Expedition Micro Cruises" to remote polar regions, including Greenland, Antarctica. Svalbard and South Georgia. The agency will oversee integrated public relations and brand partnerships for Secret Atlas. In addition to strategic communications counsel, media relations, and influencer connections, IMAGINE PRs scope of work will include leading media familiarization trips. Secret Atlas offers expedition experiences that are limited to 12 to 44 guests, allowing participants to avoid fixed timetables, long lines and staggered landings, as typically seen with larger ship expeditions.

Firecracker PR is selected as agency of record for Bookipi, a global platform offering a comprehensive suite of AI-powered business management tools. Firecracker will drive public relations strategy to increase awareness among small businesses and solopreneurs, through a mix of product reviews and thought leadership activities. Bookipi offering include an appointment scheduler, CRM, an AI website builder and AI proposal creation.

REYA Communications comes on board as public relations agency of record for African Bush Camps, a safari operator focused on conservation, community empowerment and authentic experiences. REYA Communications will lead strategic media relations, brand storytelling and digital-forward PR initiatives for African Bush Camps across key markets, highlighting the brands portfolio of camps, conservation initiatives, community programs, and founder-led narrative. Founded in 2006 by Zimbabwean guide and entrepreneur Beks Ndlovu, African Bush Camps was created with the aim of sharing Africas beauty while protecting its wildlife and uplifting local communities. We chose to work with REYA because of their incredible reputation for representing some of Africas most unique independent lodges and operators, said Ndlovu.
Rene A. Henry

In 1976, Canada spent millions to honor the U.S. on its 200th birthday. I was thrilled that Canadas Minister of State of External Affairs hired my ICPR Los Angeles headquartered public relations firm to help with the celebration.

The New Years Day Rose Parade was a kickoff. Canada had a large and elaborate float that won parade honors. As part of Canadas Salute to the US Bicentennial, a troop of Royal Mounted Police and a brass band marched in the widely televised parade.

The Mounties and the brass band were scheduled for numerous public events throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area that included a day in Disneyland. Celebrations showing Canadas love and friendship for the U,S. continued throughout the year and in locations all across the border.

The Canadian Film Board published a magnificent table top book, Entre Amis, that had memorable photographs from coast-to-coast across the U.S.-Canada border.

My primary client contact was a since-retired Canadian diplomat, Philippe Cinq-Mars, and we have been friends for more than 50 years. Canadas Consul General in Los Angeles was Donald Gilchrist, who happened be a hall-of-fame figure skater who served the sport for more than 40 years as a prominent international judge.

I doubt if Canada will spend a penny to honor the U.S. on its 250th anniversary. All that our government has done to destroy the love and friendship from our greatest ally will take decades to restore.

***

Rene A. Henry is the author of 10 books and writes on a variety of subjects.
Chris Syrek

OnMessage Public Strategies brings on Chris Syrek, who was most recently chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as EVP. Syrek previously worked on the Senate confirmation of VA Secretary Doug Collins. He also served as deputy chief of staff at Veterans Affairs during the first Trump administration. He has been a director at KPMG and senior director of government relations at diagnostic company GENETWORx. In a statement announcing his departure, Collins said Chris has been a key part of our leadership team and my most trusted advisor since day one.

(L-R) Nancy Floyd, Ann Marie Anderson

Hall Strategies, a Nashville-based public relations and government relations firm, promotes Ann Marie Anderson and Nancy Floyd to partner. Anderson joined the agency in 2021 after serving as director of communications for Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee. She was also deputy press secretary to former U.S. Senator Bob Corker. At Hall Strategies, Anderson supports national and international companies with a major Tennessee presence. Floyd joined the firm in 2022 after most recently leading Nfocus Magazine as editor-in-chief and writing for Nashville Scene. With extensive event expertise, Floyd also leads logistics for a wide range of corporate and nonprofit events. Both are exceptional professionals who have earned profound respect in their areas of practice because of their strategic strength and ability to deliver results for clients. They are sought after as leaders and mentors within our firm and throughout the community, said Hall Strategies founder and partner Joe Hall.

Luke Leinberger

Gravity Global ups Luke Leinberger to global head of social media, a newly created position. Leinberger has been with the agency since January 2024 as social media director. His remit will now include leading the agencys global social media strategy and execution, working across teams in the U.S. and U.K. to drive innovation and growth across Gravity Globals client portfolio. Based in Denver, he reports to managing director, social media and executive affairs Jennifer Coulson. His background with high-profile brands like Cummins, Transamerica, and Sovos has prepared him to lead with an eye toward strategy, governance, and cross-regional delivery, said Coulson.

Frank Buonomo

MAD Global Strategy Group brings on Buonomo Group founder Frank Buonomo as managing director to establish and lead the agencys Pittsburgh office. Buonomo was most recently SVP, chief marketing and communications officer at Brentwood Bank. He has held senior communications and operations roles for organizations including the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and New York Rangers. Coming from a fast-paced industry like professional sports, Franks unique experience and longstanding relationships in Pennsylvania make him the ideal person to lead our expansion in the region, said MAD Global Strategy founder and CEO Mike DuHaime.
(L-R) Tricia McLaughlin, Kristi Noem

Tricia McLaughlin, cantankerous spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, delayed her retirement in the aftermath of the murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. That was a bad move.

Her decision to hang on to may be the reason why the reputation of DHS and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection units are in the toilet.

ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot Good, while CBP officers Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez killed Pretti.

McLaughlin claimed Good "weaponized her vehicle" to "viciously run over" Ross though she was actually turning away from him when she was shot.

She called Pretti a "domestic terrorist" who violently resisted ICE officers and sought to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.

Those outlandish shoot-from-the-hip claims are far from reality. They were targeted at the MAGA crowd who dont believe what their eyes see, or what their eyes hear when the order comes from Team Trump.

On her X account, McLaughlin wrote that she is immensely proud of the team we built and the historic accomplishments achieved by this Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

She and Noem are among the reasons why momentum is building to reorganize DHS.

When it comes to public affairs, they are among the worst of the worst.

Cmon, Marco Marco Rubio told Hungarys authoritarian leader Viktor Orban, We are entering the golden age of relations between our countries because of the relationship that you have with the president of the United States.

Your title is Secretary of State, which implies that your job is to represent the US. You are not supposed to the water carrier for Donald Trump.

More BS: This relationship we have here in central Europe through you is essential and vital for our national interests in the years to come.

Geez. Hungary is a landlocked nation the size of Indiana with a declining population of less than 10M.

Since 1989, The countrys population fell 8.4 percent to 9.5M.

A third of that loss was due to emigration to Germany and Austria, which have more economic opportunities than Orbans sad sack country.

Hungary has suffered a serious brain drain as 85 percent of the people leaving the country were under the age of 40.

That helped set the stage for Orban, who is anti-European Union and pro-Putin.

America is not that hungry for Orbans blessing.

Putins "human safaris" Trump should get on the phone to tell his buddy, Vladimir Putin, to order his soldiers to end the "human safaris" in Ukraine.

The influential Institute for the Study of War reports that Russian soldiers are using cheap first-person view drones to strike civilian targets all along the frontlines.

Thats indicative of a pervasive culture within the Russian Armed Forces that seeks to both weaponize and institutionalize intentional civilian harm as a purposeful tool of war, according to the ISW's Feb. 10 report.

Observers have described the process as a hunt or a human safari.

FPV drones should theoretically enable their operators to exercise greater care in distinguishing between civilian and military targets, because the operator can see exactly what target they are approaching and hitting in real-time, according to ISWs Feb. 10 report.

A United Nations inquiry into Russian human safari activities in southern Ukraine concluded that those tactics amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The unwillingness of the Trump administration to pressure Putin about putting an end to Russias targeting of Ukrainian citizens makes it complicit in the atrocities.

Eric loves drones. Eric Trump is among strategic investors in the merger of Tel Aviv-founded XTEND and JBS Construction to create XTEND AI Robotics.

XTEND produces AI-driven autonomous defense and security products for air, ground and maritime use.

The demand for systems that keep operators out of harms way is surging as the global security environment grows more volatile, and this represents one of the largest market opportunities in defense technology today, said XTEND CEO Aviv Shapira.

Tell that to the Ukrainians.
THE new Chief Executive of Offaly County Council Eoghan Ryan hailed the positive vibe in the local authority and around the county when he addressed councillors for the first time during their monthly meeting on Monday.

Mr Ryan is replacing Anna Marie Delaney who retired last month after serving in the role for a decade.

Mr Ryan told councillors that he feels very privileged to be Chief Executive of Offaly County Council and he is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

The Kildare native said he has strong links with Offaly. My mother is an Offaly woman from the Ballycumber area and I often footed turf in the county.

Mr Ryan has a long and distinguished career in many areas of local government and is a professional planner and urban designer, who worked for a while in Washington State, the US.

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A graduate of UCD, he held the position of Head of Planning and Urban Design with the National Building Agency for over 15 years.

He then took up a job as senior adviser in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government where he worked alongside the Minister for Housing in the area of unfinished and abandoned housing developments across the country in the wake of the economic crash.

He also worked with the Departments of Social Protection and Employment Affairs before taking up a post with Kildare County Council.

During his six year stint in Kildare he was a member of the Council's senior management team as well as serving as a District Manager with responsibility for Naas Municipal District.

Mr Ryan told Monday's meeting that he's really looking forward to his new role and that he had been deeply impressed by the positive vibes when he met the Council staff during recent days. He has also been impressed by the positive mood that he experienced when talking with people from all walks of life throughout Offaly. He said the future is good and hopeful for the county. The county is living in exciting times I believe and a lot of good stuff is coming our way.

I was delighted this morning to be present when Minister Darragh OBrien officially opened Statkraft Irelands Cushaling Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Edenderry. This project is a key investment in Ireland's renewable energy infrastructure. The event highlighted the ongoing development of sustainable energy, following broader government initiatives for energy infrastructure.

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Cllr John Leahy, Cathaoirleach, asked councillors to give the new Chief Executive a good Offaly round of applause. Joking, the Cathaoirleach added: I'm afraid to say Eoghan that it will be the last round of applause that you will receive from us for the next few years! Speaking seriously, though, I agree with you that Offaly is in a great place at the moment.
As Ireland becomes more health and fitness orientated than ever in recent years, personal training has grown massively as a result with gym-goers looking to take every advantage to getting as fit as possible.

Ferbane native Stephen Spollen experienced his own fitness journey many years ago which inspired him to become a personal trainer in order to help others achieve their own fitness goals.

He reflected: "I got into going to the gym when I was 24 stone and needed to lose weight, I didn't know where to go or what to do so I decided to look more into personal training then I got a massive bug for fitness.

This paved the way for a change in career for Stephen who has been thriving as a personal trainer for well over a decade.

However, a couple of years ago, he decided to find a new area of personal training to specialise in which would alter his approach to fitness and cater to a brand new clientele.

He explained: "In the last 2 years, I was looking for a niche so to say, I always wanted to be a personal trainer to a specific group of people, I just wasn't sure as to what."

It was a chance meeting with a new client which changed Stephen's outlook on the benefits of personal training and strength conditioning before ultimately sending him down a new path in his profession.

Speaking on how the change came about, he said: "A lady called Edel Mahon approached me for training who is still currently going through long-term treatment for metastatic breast cancer.

At the time, she had very poor rates of movement with lots of fatigue from constantly going through chemotherapy so we decided to put a training plan together."

It was new ground for Stephen to offer personal training to a client going through cancer treatment and he had to carry out his own research in order to give her the best possible plan.

He stated: "Once I researched, I realised there were a lot of studies starting to come out on how vital strength training was for people going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy both during and after the treatments in order to keep energy levels up."

Stephen is adamant that this type of training will become a vital part of cancer recovery plans in the near future.

"I believe that it's going to be part of the cancer care programmes from next year on, that strength training will be a big element of the rehabilitation, there's research coming out that strength training slows the chance of cancer recurrence by 45%."

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He reflected on the impact taking Edel on as a client had on him. "She's great, we've become very good friends out of it. She continues her treatment but she's gone from check ups every 3 months to having them annually. She used to have a very restricted range of motion, extreme fatigue and low mood.

Obviously, you'll always hit a certain ceiling after everything she went through but her range of motion is perfect, her strength is unbelievable. I get emotional talking about her journey because she was my first client in this area and she still is a current client so to see how much she's grown is absolutely amazing."

The experience confirmed Stephen's choice to move into providing specialist exercise training for those who have gone through cancer treatment as part of their recovery and rehabilitation process.

The father of four said: "After helping Edel in her recovery following treatment, it was her word of mouth which brought on two other female cancer patients who wanted similar help and that showed me where I really wanted to be.

You can visibly see the results of the fatigue leaving them and gaining more strength and confidence, they're then able to fight the illness and the side effects it brings as a result of the training, Edel's oncologist told her that the benefits have been evident."

This experience prompted Stephen to earn a qualification to fully equip himself in training cancer patients and begin to help more people going through similar treatments.

"I found a specific course where you could become a cancer exercise specialist which I completed through the Cancer Exercise Training Institution (CETI) based in the United Kingdom.

The course educated me on all the different types of cancer along with the specific needs of patients after going through certain treatments and operations."

After experiencing working in both areas, Stephen says there is a big difference in how people recovering from cancer need to be trained as opposed to most people turning up to the gym to improve their fitness.

He explained: "You have to be very intuitive with the person. These people are after going through treatment and are on specific medication. Following certain operations, some movements will be restricted so you have to adapt particular strength training exercises to suit their range of motion and build on it from there.

You also have to watch their energy levels. Certain people who have recently had operations can't suddenly do a lot of training, they all have to be managed correctly over time. It's all small steps on a ladder to a bigger outcome."

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Stephen also detailed what a typical training plan looks like for clients. "It's based on assessment, I have to check their range of motion, movement and fatigue levels. You have to take things slowly but people can progress quite quickly once they get started.

You just have to work with the needs of the client and constantly be in contact with them about how they are feeling to know how to better adapt and change the workouts to suit them. This is mainly because every week will be different for them until they come out the other side of their recovery."

Stephen says many people will be going through treatment for the foreseeable future and that it's important to note that the training is there to help them, he reiterates that once the right plan is put in place for clients then it can have a huge impact on them both physically and mentally.

"I would say confidence and normality are the two biggest things, you're talking about people who have probably just got the biggest shock of their lives. All they usually hear is things like 'we'll have to see how this goes' and they're never really told 'you'll get through this'.

Gaining confidence and a sense of normality again is so important, many of these people have spent weeks and months in hospitals and their self-esteem, confidence and energy drops. Some people even lose a little bit of hope but strength training brings back the energy, fitness levels and confidence and helps people to feel like themselves again which is a big thing."

When asked if clients have been sceptical of the benefits which training can provide them. Stephen explained: "I think the biggest problem I would find at the moment is because they are so tired from going through treatment that they think they won't have the energy to exercise.

The evidence shows that once you start then energy creates energy then you'll gain momentum and feel back to normal which will entice people then to do that little bit more which furthers progress."

One of the biggest obstacles for Stephen's training was trying to cater for clients going through treatment in other parts of the country that he couldn't see on a regular basis.

In order to combat this, he set up the Willowfit app which allowed him to assess clients and give them specific training plans to cater to them on a platform where he could regularly monitor their progress and assign them new exercises as part of their recovery.

Stephen remembered: "I got in touch with a developer who custom branded an app for me which meant that I was able to put my own strength training videos into it and have consultations and bring people on board where I could design workout plans specifically for them.

There were several people from Dublin who reached out to me prior to the app but distance was an issue. I was able to get in contact with them and did consultations, they were a bit further along in their treatment than when they first got in touch."

He continued: "I was able to talk about their specific ranges of motion, what they could and couldn't do so I knew exactly what would help them best.

Therefore, I was able to go and record the workouts specifically for each of them and input them into the app including the amount of sets, they could then record that the session was completed and we would review it together every week and progress from there."

The app can be downloaded on Android and Apple but it can't be accessed until there's a consultation done with Stephen in order to discuss the background, medical history and goals of the client.

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Stephen says the app has been a vital part of the journey for many clients and he has witnessed the benefits it brings first hand.

"I meet anyone local that I can, I work out of the Midland Boxercise Gym in Banagher but anyone that's further away or can't travel for whatever reason then it's absolutely possible to work with them through the app.

I would put in the prescribed amount of weights and reps, the app often asks them if they can push a little more than the original amount which can often further progress quicker, obviously it's all done under supervision."

The 43-year-old continued: I'd always be on hand to tell them if it's too much too soon and get them to pull back a little bit without breaking their confidence so it's about finding that balance for clients in their training.

Another Client who regularly trains with Stephen in Banagher is Carol Grogan who, like Edel, is also having long-term treatment for metastatic cancer but he praised her attitude towards exercising despite continued adversity and health issues.

Stephen revealed: "Carol is a remarkable lady, she has been with me nearly a year now and has shown true strength and determination in her journey with a long-term illness.

It can be very hard to keep the head up all the time but she continuously shines and perseveres through every challenge she has faced."

Carol believes that the training has been a huge help in her recovery. She stated: "I find the sessions brilliant for both my physical and emotional wellbeing. I felt very vulnerable in the beginning but now I'm celebrating my progress which has been immensely rewarding.

She added: "No matter how tired I am, I always get energy for the day ahead from the sessions so it's been a huge benefit for me."

Stephen says working with cancer patients has massively altered his own outlook on personal training. He acknowledged: "I see a different value in strength training now to be honest, It's not just getting in the gym wanting to have the physique of a bodybuilder all of a sudden, the benefits of it all across the board but especially in this field is phenomenal.

I've definitely seen a massive difference in the way I look at a gym and what it can be used for. It's hugely fulfilling to be able to watch clients who come in basically at their lowest point and then to then be bouncing in the door 10-12 weeks later, much happier, stronger and confident.

Stephen also mentioned how medical professionals who regularly deal with cancer patients have been complimentary of the service he's providing. "I would know a lot of people in oncology after my dad went through cancer a few years ago, I put the idea out to them and they thought it was fantastic."

He says his own experience with his dad's battle against cancer played a major role in getting involved to help others going through similar adversity.

Stephen reflected: "He did a lot of treatment, he's grand now and he's up, active and walking everyday but it was to get him doing that was the issue, he'll tell you himself that no matter how tired he is that walking brings him on for the next couple of hours in the day.

There's often days when you have to sit with it but it's massively beneficial to know that strength training and exercise helps to fight 99% of the symptoms."

Stephen says that despite running the business on his own, he has big plans for the future. "It's just me at the moment and it's very busy but I'm forward thinking and I do hope to see it growing in the next six months to have 2 or 3 people manning the app which will give me more time to dedicate to clients in person.

Ultimately, I would like to have Willowfit known across the board and I want everyone to see how much this can benefit them because people hear others say they're only going to the gym to build muscle or lose weight.

However, I want to get the word out and push this business which can help change people's outlook on strength training and realise it can be a medicine as well."

Speaking on what he can add to the business to help it thrive going forward. He said: "I would like to add different aspects such as wellbeing elements or maybe have someone come in to do massages for people that need lymphatic drainage and things like that to provide relief."

He concluded: "I would also like to see myself possibly being in a hospital environment down the line and recommended and outsourced by medical professionals to carry out cancer specialist training with patients as part of their recovery."
Europe's largest producer of renewable energy, Statkraft has launched Ireland's first ever four-hour grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Offaly.

Plans for the ambitious system which is co-located with Statkrafts 55.8MW Cushaling Wind Farm near Edenderry were first announced in September 2023.

It represents a major national milestone, enabling more renewable energy to be stored and discharged during peak demand, reducing curtailment, and providing critical grid-stabilising services.

The opening of the system was officiated by the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh OBrien TD, who was joined by invited representatives across industry, community and government.

During his trip to Offaly, Minister O'Brien also visited the Cloncreen Battery Energy Storage System site was put in place by Bord na Mona and serves an important part of Ireland's renewable energy infrastructure.

READ MORE: BREAKING: Funding allocated for major works on Tullamore Kilbeggan N52 route

Meanwhile in Cushaling, the new state of the art system can store enough power to supply 10,000 homes with renewable electricity for a full four-hour period after the wind has stopped blowing.

The 22.8MW BESS project in the Faithful County which has already boasted impressive response times, was supplied by Fluence, a global market leader in utility-scale energy storage solutions and services.

The battery project will enable energy from renewable sources to be stored during times of low demand, limiting the need for costly curtailment and dispatched at time of peak electricity demand.

As Irelands first battery of this duration, the project sets a new precedence for innovation, complementing the Governments efforts to improve energy security, reduce fossilfuel reliance, and ensure efficient use of renewable electricity.

Cushaling BESS will also have its own annual 25,000 sustainability fund provided by Statkraft which will commence this year and be available for local sustainability initiatives.
Shia LaBeouf has addressed his Mardi Gras arrest with a brief social media message hours after being released from jail. The 39-year-old actor known for roles in Even Stevens and Holes, was detained on Tuesday (17.02.26) in New Orleans and charged with two counts of simple battery following a brawl during Mardi Gras celebrations.

Shia LaBeouf has addressed his Mardi Gras arrest with a brief social media message hours after being released from jail

He appeared before a judge that afternoon and was released from Louisianas Orleans Parish Prison.

Breaking his silence on the incident on Wednesday (18.02.26) he posted on X: Free me.

Shia also shared a close-up selfie showing himself smiling in black sunglasses, draped in purple, gold and green necklaces associated with the Mardi Gras festival.

The post marked his first activity on the platform since December 2025, when he shared an image of a large back tattoo depicting his and former partner Mia Goths three-year-old daughter, Isabel.

According to the Daily Mail, Shia walked two miles to the Mardi Gras parade route after leaving prison and stopped at the VooDoo Mart to buy clothes to change into.

He was later seen drinking beer as he rejoined the crowds.

Employees at several bars told The Hollywood Reporter the inebriated actor had been terrorising the city since last week.

Footage circulated online appeared to show Shia being punched in the street and later treated by paramedics.

His arrest comes amid reports about his personal life.

Page Six reported his relationship with Mia Goth, 32, ended quietly last year.

It is unclear whether Shia and Mia, who had been together on and off since 2012, are divorced.

The pair share their daughter, Isabel, who is three.

Shia has previously spoken publicly about struggles with sobriety.

Following his court appearance on Tuesday, he returned to the festivities in New Orleans.

According to reports, he has recently moved to Louisiana to be closer to family members, while Mia continues to live in Los Angeles.

No further statement has been issued by Shia beyond his social media post.

Shia rose to fame as a child star on Disney Channels Even Stevens before moving into film with roles in Holes and the Transformers franchise.

He has since taken on independent projects, stage work and performance art, while publicly confronting legal issues and struggles with sobriety.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The top UN envoy for Libya on Wednesday warned that the increasing division within the Libyan judicial system has serious consequences for the country's unity.

After Libya's House of Representatives established a Supreme Constitutional Court in Benghazi in 2023, it began issuing rulings parallel to the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court in the country's capital Tripoli, creating conflicting judgments on key constitutional and legislative matters, said Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Libya.

"These contradictory, parallel judicial decisions put into jeopardy the unity of the legal and judicial systems," she said during a Security Council briefing, warning that if actions are not taken to preserve the unity, coherence and independence of the judiciary, the conflicting legal systems will impact the country's economy, elections, governance, security and human rights.

On Libya's economy, she said that the country's economic trajectory is "in a downturn," and the Libyan people are suffering from currency devaluation, rising prices and persistent fuel shortages.

The envoy said that deteriorating conditions could trigger unexpected political and security challenges. "The only way forward is a political solution." 
An information evening became heated last week when the discussion switched to the controversial proposal to pipe water from the Shannon (Parteen Basin) to Dublin, with some people saying they don't trust the Government's guarantee that it won't extract the water beyond a certain daily level.

LAWPRO (The Local Authority Waters Programme) hosted a Lough Derg community information evening on Thursday evening February 12 in Killaloe Hotel, Killaloe. The purpose of the meeting was to explore the importance of water quality in the Lough Derg catchment area, including its inputting water bodies, local streams, rivers, lakes, etc. across Counties Clare, Tipperary and Galway.

This was an excellent, strongly attended, public event which reviewed options to provide a community platform to raise awareness of water quality in and around Lough Derg. The evening included illustrated inputs from three LAWPRO employees together with community case studies.

There was a great deal of focus on Catchment Community Fora (CCFs), which are community groups representing local stakeholders such as angling clubs, farmers and environmental groups, which come together with the aim of improving the water quality of water bodies in their respective areas. Five CCFs have already been set up around Ireland and during the meeting LAWPRO outlined in depth the work of the Corrib CCF which has been a success story.

LAWPRO's primary objective during the Killaloe Hotel meeting was to see if there was an interest in the region to set up a Lough Derg CCF. A unanimous show of hands from the many assembled clearly showed that there's a very strong appetite to establish such a body.

LAWPRO pointed out that it's being led by Science and facts and is publishing those facts without influence from outside groups. One of these facts is the Ecological Status of the lake, which is Moderate. Decades ago the Ecological Status, if a study had been carried out, would almost certainly have been High; therefore there is no doubt that Lough Derg's water quality has declined significantly in recent decades.

LAWPRO also outlined the sectors which are putting the greatest pollutant pressure on the lake and its associated water bodies. Top of the list, by a long way, is the Agricultural sector. Second is Coillte; and third is hydromorphology (the physical characteristics, shape, and water flow dynamics).

One of the LAWPRO representatives said LAWPRO is working to identify the issues affecting water quality in every county in Ireland. Where issues are identified, we collaborate with the relevant local authority, public body, and water stakeholder to find a solution. Community engagement is the cornerstone of this approach to combine local and expert knowledge for a better understanding of what's happening in a local catchment and water body.

Mention was also made of the worrying detection of blue-green algal bloom in parts of Lough Derg during the Summer of 2025. Attendees said many living in the region are very conscious of the severe, toxic algal blooms which were present in Lough Neagh during the last three summers; and are worried that Lough Derg might follow suit.

The meeting facilitated a Q&A session/open discussion during which many made their feelings known. Many of the points made were excellent and the mood always remained respectful. What came through strongly from a number of the attendees was a lack of trust in the Irish government. One person pointed out that you couldn't trust the government's statement that no more than 2% of the lake's water will be piped to Dublin. He said the passenger cap in Dublin Airport is being removed, therefore something similar could happen with the Shannon Pipe's 2%. If you believe the government on the 2%, the contributor commented, then you would want your head examined.

Uisce Eireann's Water Supply Project will transport water from the Shannon to the Greater Dublin Area. It will extract up to 2% of the Shannon's average flow, which is about 350 million litres per day, at the Parteen Basin. The water will be treated near Birdhill, Tipperary, and transported via a 170km pipeline through Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare, to a new reservoir at Peamount, Co. Dublin. Uisce Eireann says the Pipe's purpose is to secure water supply for Dublin, reducing reliance on the River Liffey and supporting population growth in the decades ahead. A planning application was lodged in late 2025 with An Coimisiun Pleanala.



During the Killaloe Hotel meeting, attendees raised concerns regarding the Pipe's environmental impact on the Shannon, the astronomical costs (estimated up to 10bn), the potential impact on water levels during drought, and the need to address 37%-40% leakage rates in the existing Dublin network.

The project has been often discussed for the last 15 years. Uisce Eireann says the Pipe will provide long-term resilience for the eastern region's water supply.

One person asked LAWPRO what it will do regarding Uisce Eireann's planning application. LAWPRO said it will make its observations, along with any concerns known.

The problems affecting Lough Derg now will be made ten times worse if this Pipe happens, said another person.

A member of Mountshannon Anglers said the nitrates derogation could be negatively impacting the lake's health. No disrespect to any farmers, he remarked, but the government took the decision to keep the farmers happy, with the result that nature could suffer. In my view, LAWPRO is a counterbalance to the damage which the government is doing.

Cllr Pat Burke of Clare County Council said he's a farmer in Whitegate and I and many others are fearful of the possible damage which extracting millions of litres of water per day could cause to the lake. He said he and others are preparing a submission objecting to the planning application. He pointed out that, ironically, Uisce Eireann were also holding an information evening in Killaloe the same evening as the LAWPRO meeting in Killaloe Hotel. He said some people were attending both events. Cllr Burke pointed out that during the very wet weather in January an awful lot of slurry was washed through the land and into the water courses and you could see it going under the bridge in Killaloe. He said the slurry had to be spread on the land due to the consideration of the welfare of farm animals.

LAWPRO told the meeting they held a meeting in the Blackwater River area two weeks previously, which discussed the thousands of fish killed by pollution (Ireland's largest ever fish kill incident) in the Blackwater River near Mallow during August 2025. Some people were in tears during that meeting, LAWPRO said, and many were very upset that no culprit had been found for the pollution.

The Killaloe Hotel meeting was also told that being the last lake downstream on the river, it is impacted by all the pollution (including phosphorus and nitrogen) coming from upstream.

Native species in the lake have been replaced by a variety of invasive species, including the Zebra Mussel, The Quagga Mussel, the Asian Clam, the Bloody Red Shrimp and a plant called Water Soldier that can now be found in the lake's harbours.

Two decades ago saw the first signs being erected by local authorities which warn people of the risk of skin irritations if they bathe in the lake during periods of toxic blue-green algal blooms and that dogs risk dying if they drink the water.

The meeting was told that farmers remain a vital part of the solution and everyone must work together.

One person said you used to be able to drink water straight from the lake but people wouldn't even drink it now after boiling."

Chairman of Clare IFA Stephen Walsh said farmers are under very strict regulations and we won't get any more nitrates derogation deals if the water quality doesn't improve.

A woman from the River Shannon Protection Alliance said her group is greatly concerned about Uisce Eireann's Water Supply Project and they are worried that the 2% abstraction cap will be made higher by the Government in future years.

One man said he works in Open Season Fishing Shop in Nenagh. What we have noticed in recent years in our shop is that flyfishing is dying a death in the Lough Derg catchment. This is because of a massive reduction of flies, of insect life, which has probably been caused by a decline in the lake's health."

The River Shannon Protection Alliance recently held a meeting in the Limerick Strand Hotel, which was attended by MEP for Ireland South Michael McNamara. Mr McNamara said he is "extremely concerned" about the project. "Dublin is our capital. We should be proud of it. But the fact that all economic development seems to be taking place there just doesn't make sense; and it's not even good for Dublin because people can't get housing, people can't get services. It is becoming increasingly difficult for people born and raised in Dublin to live there, let alone those from the rest of Ireland who have to live there. Meanwhile Limerick City stagnates. It doesn't make sense."

One person during the Killaloe Hotel meeting urged farmers and landowners to not accept the payout from Uisce Eireann, which will be 100,000 per farmer. She urged them to not be tempted by the "30 pieces of silver".

The River Shannon Protection Alliance points out that Dublin is losing "up to 40% of its water because of its pipes dating back to the Victorian period." The Alliance is worried that during Summer drought periods parts of the Shannon could become dangerously low.

The final date for submission of objections and observations concerning the Uisce Eireann planning application for the Shannon-Dublin Water Supply Project (Ref: PA92.323980) is February 25, 2026, at 5:30 PM.

READ NEXT: 'An ecological disaster' - Councillors sound alarm over Shannon pipeline
Lebanese authorities have reported a chemical attack on February 1 carried out by Israeli aircraft over southern Lebanon, targeting forested and agricultural areas near the border. The attack caused environmental, health, and security concerns.

The laboratory analysis confirmed Israel had used glyphosate. The Netherlands, Belgium and France have banned its household use. Germany forbids the use of glyphosate in public spaces.

This development follows similar incidents reported in southern Syria, particularly in the Quneitra governorate, where Syrian authorities said Israeli aircraft sprayed chemical on three occasions last week.

On Nov 26, 2025, the Jerusalem Post reported that Qatar and Ireland had demanded that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) investigate Israel's use of chemical weapons in Gaza.

Glyphosate poses risks such as skin/eye irritation, nausea, and potential long-term health effects including cancer and neurotoxicity.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies glyphosate as a Group 2A "probable" human carcinogen, with associations to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, with studies suggesting potential links to kidney disease, liver inflammation, and developmental/reproductive issues.

Lebanese Government Response

Lebanon's Ministry of Environment confirmed it received reports from the border town of Aita al-Shaab and surrounding areas indicating that Israeli planes were conducting aerial spraying of chemicals.

Environment Minister Dr. Tamara El-Zein contacted Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, requested soil and vegetation samples from the affected areas for laboratory analysis.

Minister El-Zein stated that Israel had during the most recent war used white phosphorus and incendiary munitions that burned nearly 9,000 hectares of Lebanese land. She characterized these acts as "environmental destruction" aimed at undermining the resilience of southern communities and their ability to sustain livelihoods.

UNIFIL Raises Alarm

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said the Israeli army informed it early Sunday of planned aerial activity involving the release of what Israel described as a "non-toxic chemical substance" near the Blue Line. UNIFIL was instructed to remain indoors and away from the area, forcing the cancellation of more than 10 field operations.

UNIFIL reported that peacekeepers were unable to operate along nearly one-third of the Blue Line for over nine hours and only resumed activities later in the day. The mission confirmed it assisted the Lebanese Armed Forces in collecting samples for toxicity testing.

In a strongly worded statement, UNIFIL described the activity as "unacceptable" and a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, warning that it may have endangered the health of peacekeepers and civilians alike. The mission also expressed concern over the long-term impact of chemicals on agricultural land and the return of displaced civilians.

"This is not the first time Israeli forces have dropped chemical substances over Lebanese territory," UNIFIL added, reiterating its call on Israel to halt all such activities and cooperate to maintain stability along the border.

Israeli Claims and Media Reports

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and its partners are providing aid to people affected by two deadly cyclones in Madagascar, UN humanitarians said Tuesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) cited government figures showing that at least 52 people were killed, over 800 others injured, and nine remain missing after Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall on Feb. 10 on Madagascar's eastern coast.

Earlier, Tropical Cyclone Fytia made landfall on Jan. 31.

Preliminary reports indicate that over 470,000 people have been affected by Cyclone Gezani and more than 35,000 have been displaced, including 3,200 people sheltering in 19 temporary sites, OCHA said.

"The UN and its partners are providing lifesaving food, water and sanitation, health care, protection, nutrition and shelter, among other essential services," OCHA said, adding that humanitarian partners estimate that 49 million U.S. dollars is urgently required to support 382,000 people over the next two and a half months.

The office said the target amount is part of the Malagasy government's Feb. 14 appeal for 142 million dollars to address urgent humanitarian, recovery and reconstruction needs.

"In a positive forecast, Cyclone Gezani is expected to gradually weaken over the coming days," the office added.

The UN Children's Fund said at least 6,000 of the displaced by Gezani are children and nearly 29,000 are unable to attend school.

The fund said it is working with the government to restore services as quickly as possible to reduce further risks for children in the weeks ahead. 
NAIROBI, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Health has received an initial consignment of 21,000 starter doses of Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable drug for HIV prevention.

Patrick Amoth, director general for health at the ministry, received the consignment on Tuesday evening in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. He said the first phase of the rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, will begin in early March.

"The medicine works by blocking critical stages of the HIV life cycle, preventing the virus from establishing infection in the body. Its greatest advantage is that it is administered only twice a year, offering six months of protection per dose," Amoth said, emphasizing that the medicine is designed for HIV-negative individuals.

He said the shipment represents a significant milestone in expanding access to next-generation HIV prevention technologies across the region, as several African countries prepare to introduce the intervention. Kenya expects an additional 12,000 continuation doses by April to ensure uninterrupted treatment for those who begin the injections.

Amoth said the ministry will implement a phased, evidence-driven rollout guided by epidemiological trends and health system readiness. Phase one will target 15 high-burden counties, followed by two additional phases to progressively expand coverage nationwide, ensuring service preparedness, reliable commodity supply, and sustainable scale-up.

Kenya has been witnessing a sharp increase in HIV cases, with more than 20,105 new infections reported in 2025, according to the health ministry. The country's HIV prevalence stands at about 3.7 percent, with about 1.34 million people currently on antiretroviral treatment.

"Of particular concern is the fact that 41 percent of new HIV infections occur among young people below the age of 24 years, underscoring the urgent need for novel prevention strategies," Amoth said.

Lenacapavir is expected to be offered at an estimated annual cost of about 7,800 shillings (about 60 U.S. dollars) per patient, a substantial reduction from the previous price of about 42,000 dollars.

In July 2025, Kenya was selected among the first nine countries to introduce Lenacapavir. 
ACCRA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Ghanaian government said in a statement on Wednesday that it has made an additional payment of 10 billion Ghana cedis (about 909.5 million U.S. dollars) to service interest obligations under the Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP).

The statement from the Ministry of Finance said the payment covered cedi-denominated DDEP coupons and represents the sixth settlement under the program.

"This settlement is in line with the restructuring memorandum and the government's broader debt management and fiscal consolidation strategy," the statement said.

It added that the timely payment sends a strong positive signal to domestic and external investors, reinforcing market confidence, and is expected to improve Ghana's credit outlook while enhancing stability within the financial sector.

Ghana embarked on the DDEP in late 2022 as part of the conditions for securing support from the International Monetary Fund for its reform program during a period of economic crisis. 
WINDHOEK, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's largest mobile operator, the MTC, and state-owned Botswana Fiber Networks (BoFiNet) have signed an agreement to enhance cross-border connectivity and collaboration between the two nations.

The partnership poised to enhance digital infrastructure in southern Africa was formalized Tuesday in Botswana's capital city of Gaborone, the MTC said n a statement released on Wednesday.

Through the memorandum of understanding, the two parties will establish a structured framework for cross-border fiber interconnection, capacity exchange, and IP transit collaboration between Namibia and Botswana, the statement said.

It will help improve the important Buitepos-Ngoma corridor route to make both countries' digital networks more reliable and faster.

"The Buitepos-Ngoma corridor is not a mere physical interconnect point," MTC Managing Director Licky Erastus said. "It is a key route to our international expansion strategy, providing an operational entry point into the Botswana wholesale ecosystem while reinforcing Namibia's position as a transit and digital gateway market."

BoFiNet acting Chief Executive Officer Keabetswe Segole reaffirmed his company's commitment to deepening practical, infrastructure-led collaboration between Botswana and Namibia.

"This engagement is not merely institutional but strategic at a national level, contributing to regional digital resilience and strengthening long-standing bilateral relations between Botswana and Namibia," Segole was quoted as saying in the statement. 
MAPUTO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of the Chinese New Year.

Mozambique and China celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025, reaffirming the solidity of historical ties that date back to the national liberation struggle and that have today evolved into comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation, Chapo said.

He said that 2026, proclaimed the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, carries special significance, as it promotes the values of friendship, solidarity, and mutual understanding, which Mozambique shares and cultivates within the framework of its comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China.

The year 2026 also marks the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries and is viewed as a strategic opportunity to elevate bilateral cooperation to a new level, he added.

He reaffirmed Mozambique's adherence to the one-China principle and its firm determination to continue working side by side with China to strengthen the bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity.

Mozambique looks forward to further deepening cooperation, with a view to projecting the bilateral partnership into a new stage oriented toward concrete results and inclusive and sustainable development, the president said.

In his message, Chapo wished that the Chinese New Year would bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to the Chinese people, and expressed his hope for the continued strengthening of the friendly relations between the two countries. 
KHARTOUM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- A joint United Nations (UN) humanitarian convoy has reached the major cities of Dilling and Kadugli in Sudan's South Kordofan state, delivering life-saving aid to support more than 130,000 people, several UN agencies announced Wednesday.

It marks the first large-scale delivery to the area in three months, according to a joint statement by the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Development Programme.

The convoy, comprising 26 trucks, transported over 700 metric tons of food commodities and 70 metric tons of medical supplies, it said.

"After weeks of delays and a difficult detour, these life-saving supplies, including food assistance, are finally reaching Dilling and Kadugli," said Makena Walker, acting country director for WFP in Sudan. "This shows what is possible when we can push forward with humanitarian convoys, even in extremely challenging conditions."

The UN agencies explained that intensified hostilities along the main El Obeid-Dilling-Kadugli route forced the convoy to halt for more than 40 days. It ultimately reached Dilling by navigating a longer and more difficult off-road passage.

"These supplies will allow UNICEF and our partners to continue lifesaving treatment for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and to restore access to safe water, healthcare, and other essential services," said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative in Sudan.

The statement urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and facilitate immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need.

The two cities -- Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, and Dilling, the second-largest city in the state -- had been cut off from aid for over two years, leading to severe shortages of essential humanitarian supplies.

On Jan. 26, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced it had entered Dilling. On Feb. 3, it declared it had broken the over-two-year siege of Kadugli imposed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North.

Sudan has been engulfed in a power struggle between the SAF and RSF since mid-April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands and created the world's largest displacement crisis. 
Education Lab Reporter

Ian Grenier covers K-12 and higher education in South Carolina from Columbia. Originally from Charleston, he studied history and political science at USC and reported for the Victoria Advocate in South Texas before joining The Post and Courier.
Regional Editor

Brandon Roberts is the managing editor of Summerville Communications Inc., which prints The Summerville Journal Scene and The Berkeley Independent.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

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Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 81F. Winds light and variable..

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Clear to partly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
SOFIA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova said on Wednesday that she will issue a decree for the appointment of the caretaker government proposed by the prime minister-designate Andrey Gurov, and will schedule early parliamentary elections on April 19.

Iotova made the statement immediately after Gurov proposed the lineup of a caretaker government to her at a live televised meeting. 
Nick Reynolds covers politics for the Post and Courier. A native of Central New York, he spent three-and-a-half years covering politics in Wyoming before joining the paper in late 2021. His work has appeared in outlets like Newsweek, Poynter, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He lives in Columbia.
BRATISLAVA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Slovak government declared a state of emergency in relation to oil supplies on Wednesday, the News Agency of the Slovak Republic (TASR) reported.

The country will release up to 250,000 tonnes of oil from the national material reserves for the Bratislava-based Slovnaft refinery, according to a government decision in response to the interruption of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline.

The Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure in eastern Ukraine was damaged in late January due to military activities. This meant a halt to oil supplies to Slovakia, which haven't been resumed yet, TASR reported.

In addition, the Slovnaft refinery is halting its diesel exports to Ukraine, and all products will now be designated for the domestic market, said Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico after the government decision to release the 250,000 tonnes of oil reserves. 
PR-Inside.com: 2026-02-18 16:00:17

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NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / February 18, 2026 /BCM One, the parent company of Pure IP, a leading provider of Global Voice and Global Network Services for IT leaders and resellers, announced today that it has been named by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, to the Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Elite 150 category for 2026.CRN's annual MSP 500 list is a comprehensive guide to the leading MSPs in North America. These companies deliver essential managed services that enhance business efficiency, simplify IT, and optimize return on technology investments for their customers.The annual MSP 500 list is divided into three sections: the Pioneer 250, which recognizes MSPs focused on the small- and midsize-business market; the Elite 150, recognizing MSPs with a blend of on- and off-premises services for mostly midmarket and enterprise customers; and the Security MSP 100, spotlighting MSPs with cloud-based security services expertise.The MSP 500 list showcases and celebrates MSPs that are driving growth and innovation. These companies empower businesses with complex technologies so they can achieve their business goals without stretching financial resources."BCM One is proud to have been named to this prestigious list in the Elite 150 category for the past six consecutive years," stated Sandy Preizler, Chief Executive Officer of BCM One. "Our commitment to delivering critical voice and network managed services to mid-to-enterprise level global businesses remains unwavering following our rebrand to Pure IP earlier this year." "The companies on our 2026 MSP 500 list are redefining what exceptional managed services look like-helping organizations of every size stay agile, maximize their IT investments and scale with confidence," said Jennifer Follett, VP of U.S. Content and Executive Editor, CRN, The Channel Company. "These are the innovators who stay ahead of customer needs and deliver transformative services that free businesses to focus on what they do best and accelerate their success." The 2026 MSP 500 list is featured online at crn.com/msp500 ###ABOUT BCM ONE Founded in 1992, BCM One is global telecom holding company operating a global communications and managed services platform across five operating brands-Pure IP, SkySwitch, SIP.US , SIPTRUNK and Flowroute-delivering voice, data, connectivity and collaboration solutions spanning SMB to global enterprises. BCM One has over 600 employees and 140,000 customers worldwide. Learn more at bcmone.com For Media Inquiries: Paula Como Kauth, Chief Marketing Officer, BCM Onepckauth@ bcmone.com ABOUT THE CHANNEL COMPANY The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world's top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com Follow The Channel Company: LinkedIn and X. 2026 The Channel Company, Inc. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All rights reserved.The Channel Company Contact: Kristin DaSilvaThe Channel Company kdasilva@ thechannelcompany.com SOURCE: BCM One
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[NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES](This release updates the release that posted earlier on February 17, 2026 to update the amount.)FRANKLIN, IN / ACCESS Newswire / February 17, 2026 / IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. ("IBC" or the "Company") (TSXV:IB)(OTCQB:IAALF) announces that, effective today, it has executed a convertible security funding agreement (the "Agreement") for the issue of a Convertible Security in the principal amount of US$1,250,000 (C$1,702,125) (the "Convertible Security") to Lind Global Fund III, LP, managed by The Lind Partners, LLC, a New York-based institutional fund manager (together, the "Investor" or "Lind").Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Convertible Security will have a principal amount of US$1,250,000 (the "Principal Amount") with a pre-paid interest amount of US$250,000 (C$340,425), for an aggregate face value of US$1,500,000 (C$2,042,550) (the "Face Value"), and have a 24-month term (the "Term"). The Principal Amount, less a US$62,500 (C$85,106.25) closing fee, will be convertible into common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares"), at the option of the Investor, at a fixed conversion price per share of C$0.205(the "Conversion Price"), being the last closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") prior to execution of the Agreement. Subject to certain conditions, including the approval of the Exchange, at any time during the Term, the Investor will have the right to invest up to an additional US$1,250,000 with an additional interest amount of up to US$250,000 with pro-rata terms and fees (the "Re-Investment Option").Under the Agreement, the Company is required to make repayments on the Face Value of the Convertible Security (each a "Repayment")in the amount of US$75,000 (C$102,127.50) monthly after the first four months and until the Face Value is repaid, which repayment amount will be reduced by the amount converted into common shares. Subject to Exchange approval, the Company may also make a whole or partial Repayment in Common Shares, provided that certain conditions are met ("Repayment Shares"). Repayment Shares will be priced at 90% of the market closing price of the Common Shares on the day prior to the issuance of Repayment Shares, provided that the issue price of the Repayment Shares will be no lower than the Conversion Price, and provided further that under certain circumstances, the Company may be requested to make an additional cash payment.The issuance of the Convertible Security will be completed under private placement rules with a 4 month plus one day hold period. Pre-paid interest will accrue monthly and, subject to the approval of the Exchange, the Investor will have the option, once every ninety days, to convert accrued interest into common shares at 90% of the last closing price of the Company's common shares on the day prior to conversion.In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Security, the Investor will receive 3,943,948 common share purchase warrants ("Warrants") with an exercise price equal to C$0.2526 which expire 24 months from their date of issue. Additionally, the Investor will receive additional Warrants if and when the Investor elects to proceed with the Re-Investment Option with an exercise price equal to 130% of the 20-day volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares at the closing of the last trading day immediately prior to the date the Investor elects to proceed with the Re-Investment Option.The Company has the right to buy-back the amount outstanding under the Convertible Security at any time. In the event of a change of control of the Company, or if the Company exercises its buy-back right, the Investor may convert 100% of the pre-paid interest (both accrued and not yet accrued) into common shares. Additionally, the Investor may also convert up to 33% of the Principal Amount in the event the Company exercises its buy-back right.Under the Agreement, if the Company increases its total debt (including through the issuance of convertible debt, preferred stock, or streaming/royalty financing) above US$20 million, then the Investor will have the right to require that the such proceeds be used to repay any of the outstanding amount under the Convertible Security. Upon the occurrence of certain events of default, the Investor may declare that all outstanding amounts under the Convertible Security will become immediately due and payable and/or the Investor may terminate the Agreement.The closing (the "Closing") of the investment and issuance of the US$1,500,000 Convertible Security is expected to occur on or about February 20, 2026 and is subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Exchange and other customary conditions. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the funding for working capital and general corporate purposes.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.For more information on IBC and its innovative alloy products,go here .On Behalf of the Board of Directors:"Mark A. Smith"Mark A. Smith, Chairman of the Board# # #Contact: Mark A. Smith, Chairman of the BoardJim Sims, Director of Investor and Public Relations+1 (303) 503-6203Email: jsims@ policycom.com Website: www.ibcadvancedalloys.com @IBCAdvanced $IB $IAALF #copper #copperalloysAbout IBC Advanced Alloys Corp.IBC is a leading advanced copper alloys manufacturer serving a variety of industries such as defense, aerospace, automotive, telecommunications, precision manufacturing, and others. At its vertically integrated production facility in Franklin, Indiana, IBC manufactures and distributes a variety of copper alloys as castings and forgings, including beryllium copper, chrome copper, and aluminum bronze. The Company's common shares are traded on the TSX-V under the sy
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / February 17, 2026 /Green Bridge Metals Corporation (CSE:GRBM)(OTCQB:GBMCF)(FWB:J48)(WKN: A3EW4S) ("Green Bridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it is advancing long-lead technical and operational work in preparation for a Phase 1 diamond drilling program planned for the second half of 2026 at its flagship Serpentine Copper-Nickel Project ("Serpentine" or the "Project"), located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, U.S.A. (Figure 1).Serpentine is a large, open-pit style copper-nickel sulphide system in the Duluth Complex, located immediately adjacent to the NewRange Copper Nickel's ("NewRange") NorthMet and Sunrise deposits (Figure 2). The Company believes Serpentine's scale, grade, geometry and strategic location make it one of the most compelling copper and other critical minerals development opportunities in the Duluth Complex, particularly with copper and nickel prices at or near multi-year highs. Serpentine hosts an Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") of 279.9 million tonnes at 0.37% Cu, 0.12% Ni, and 0.007% Co (0.53% CuEq), with an additional Indicated 21.6 million tonnes at 0.46% Cu and 0.16% Ni (0.69% CuEq), as disclosed in the Company's NI 43-101 Technical Report ("Technical Report") dated July 14, 2025, a copy of which may be obtained under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca1 Inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.The Phase 1 program is designed to achieve three objectives:Test viability of the existing MRE, which, as noted above, is currently based on both indicated and inferred resources1 (Figure 3).Test the overall copper-equivalent grade by examining the potential for indications of Platinum Group Metals ("PGM") and cobalt ("Co").Position the Company toward completing a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in respect of Serpentine within the next 18 months.PROGRAM OVERVIEWPlanned Drilling: Phase 1 drilling planned for H2 2026: approximately 6 to 10 diamond core holes totaling ~2,000 to 2,500 meters.Permitting: the Company is currently working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on permitting of six new drill sites.Execution Readiness: logistics and planning are advanced, with the Company targeting one rig for Phase 1 with Foraco, which are currently drilling at the Company's Titac Project.Planned Drilling Depths: generally consistent with historical drilling (approximately 90 to >305m).Technical Advancement: Down-hole geophysical surveys will be conducted, with the aim of improving confidence in structural interpretation, directing future exploratory drilling, and reducing uncertainty in targeting.Dual-purpose Drilling: one or more holes may be designed to support hydrogeological monitoring following core recovery, providing a permitting and baseline study advantage. This approach is intended to support baseline data collection for future permitting and engineering studies.Sampling: full multi-element assaying will be conducted, with the aim of improving CuEq and NSR reporting.Systematic multi-element assaying and metallurgy planning: to evaluate potential for Copper Equivalent grade ("CuEq") upside through the potential inclusion of PGMs and cobalt, which are not included in the current MRE.Strong technical de-risking advantage: shallow, low-strip geometry supported by geological modeling, plus downhole geophysical surveys and select dual-purpose core holes to be used as hydrogeology monitoring wells in support of future engineering and permitting work.Inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.Figure 1. Map view of Green Bridge Metals properties (teal polygons) in Northeastern Minnesota, USA. Serpentine is located adjacent to NewRange Copper Nickel's Sunrise deposit.Figure 2. Geologic map with known magmatic copper-nickel deposits (red) at, and adjacent to, the Property.Figure 3: Simplified long-section schematic of Serpentine mineralization illustrating shallow, low-strip geometry and the Company's infill drill plan concept (black lines).REFERENCES1 Dufresne, M.B., et al. 2024. "Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the South Contact Zone Project, St Louis County, Minnesota, USA". Apex Geoscience Ltd. Edmonton, AB, Canada. Green Bridge Metals Corp. September 18, 2024.QUALIFIED PERSONAjeet Milliard, Chief Geologist of Green Bridge Metals Corporation, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.For a discussion of the Company's QA/QC and data verification procedures and processes, please see its most recently-filed Technical Report, a copy of which may be obtained under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca About Green Bridge Metals CorporationGreen Bridge Metals Corporation is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on the acquisition and advancement of critical-mineral assets in established mining jurisdictions. Green Bridge's Minnesota property package hosts copper, nickel, cobalt, titanium, vanadium, and platinum group element mineralization associated with the Duluth Complex.ON BEHALF OF GREEN BRIDGE METALS CORPORATION"David Suda"President and Chief Executive OfficerFor more information, please contact:David SudaPresident and Chief Executive OfficerTel: 604.928.3101Email: investors@ greenbridgemetals.com Forward-Looking InformationCertain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws.Although management of the Company believe that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements about: the Company's ability to complete its proposed drilling and other work programs; its ability to obtain required per
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / February 17, 2026 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Nidec Corporation (OTC:NJDCY) resulting from allegations that Nidec may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.SO WHAT: If you purchased Nidec securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=47559 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On September 3, 2025, after market close, CNBC published an article entitled "Nidec shares plunge 22% as China unit probe finds accounting issues tied to management." The article further stated that shares of Nidec fell "after the company announced a probe into allegations of improper accounting in its group. This marks the largest one-day drop in the Japanese electronics components manufacturer's shares." On this news, Nidec's American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") fell 22.7% on September 4, 2025.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
The federal government has revealed its plan to review MTNs acquisition of IHS Towers to ensure the alignment of the deal with Nigerias telecommunications development goals.

The MTN Group disclosed on Tuesday that it has agreed to acquire the remaining 75.3 per cent stake in IHS Towers for $6.2 billion.

In a statement Tuesday, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, stated that the government will review the MTNIHS Towers deal in collaboration with the relevant regulatory authorities to assess its impact on the sector.

Mr Tijani noted that the government has taken deliberate steps to stabilise and strengthen the telecommunications sector as a critical pillar of Nigerias digital economy in the last two years.

The minister said the government has prioritised long-term sustainability, investor confidence, and improved sector performance through policy clarity, regulatory support, and sustained engagement with industry stakeholders.

The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy notes recent developments in the Nigerian telecommunications sector regarding the acquisition of IHS Towers by MTN Group.

This administration has taken deliberate steps to stabilise and strengthen the telecommunications sector as a critical pillar of Nigerias digital economy.

Through policy clarity, regulatory support, and sustained engagement with industry stakeholders, the government has prioritised long-term sustainability, investor confidence, and improved sector performance, he said.

The communications minister explained that the deal between MTN Group and IHS Towers indicates a return to improved profitability, increased investment in telecoms infrastructure, and operational stability across the sector.

He added that the deal reflected the resilience of the industry and the impact of government reforms aimed at ensuring its viability and capacity to continue delivering meaningful connectivity to Nigerians.

Mr Tijani emphasised the importance of telecommunications infrastructure to national security, economic growth, financial services, innovation, and social inclusion, insisting that the Ministry will undertake a thorough assessment of the deal between MTN Group and IHS Towers.

The Ministry will undertake a thorough assessment of this development in collaboration with the relevant regulatory authorities to review its impact on the sector.

Our objective is clear: to ensure that any market consolidation or structural changes protect consumers, safeguard investments, and preserve the long-term sustainability of the sector.

We remain committed to maintaining a stable, transparent, and forward-looking policy environment that keeps Nigerias telecommunications industry on a strong and sustainable path, in alignment with our broader vision of building a robust digital economy, the minister said.
Following recurring bird strike incidents affecting flight operations, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) met with United Nigeria Airlines on Tuesday in Lagos to discuss mitigation measures and broader safety concerns within the aviation sector.

The meeting, led by FAANs Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olubunmi Kuku, brought together senior officials of both organisations to review environmental safety strategies, airside operations and infrastructure upgrades across Nigerian airports.

During the discussions, the airlines delegation, headed by its Chairman, Obiora Okonkwo, outlined the operational and financial impact of bird strikes on its aircraft.

The airline also raised concerns about Category II airports, including limited operating hours, as well as incidents involving unruly passengers within terminals.

As part of its proposals, United Nigeria Airlines requested land allocation in Abuja to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility aimed at strengthening domestic aircraft maintenance capacity.

In response, FAAN said it has introduced environmental management measures to reduce bird strike risks, including improved habitat control and grass management around airport environments.

The authority also disclosed plans to upgrade airfield lighting systems at Category II airports, with apron and lighting improvements proposed for Benin Airport and additional enhancements in Jos Airport.

On passenger conduct, FAAN said enforcement measures would be strengthened to address cases of unruly behaviour.

United Nigeria Airlines Chief Operating Officer, Osita Okonkwo, underscored the importance of sustained cooperation between airline operators and airport authorities.

Collaboration ensures both operational efficiency and passenger safety, he said.

At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to maintain continuous monitoring of bird strike trends and related safety indicators as part of broader efforts to improve reliability and operational standards within Nigerias aviation industry.
A judge of the High Court of England and Wales, Justice Butcher, has ordered the appointment of receivers over oil revenues due to Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited in a bid to enforce a multimillion-dollar judgment obtained by Brightwaters Energy Limited.

In a detailed ruling dated 17 February, Justice Butcher granted Brightwaters application for a receivership order by way of equitable execution, finding it just and convenient in the circumstances.

Brightwaters and Eroton are both Nigerian companies, and the dispute arose from services and materials supplied by Brightwaters to Eroton in Nigeria.

On 21 June 2022, a consent judgment was entered at the High Court in Lagos, under which Eroton and Energy Link Infrastructure Ltd (ELI) were jointly and severally liable to pay Brightwaters $25,152,608. Partial payments totalling $3.5 million were made, leaving a substantial outstanding balance, the ruling noted.

In November 2025, the Nigerian judgment was registered in the Kings Bench Division of the English High Court under section 9 of the Administration of Justice Act 1920.

The court recorded that $16,652,608 remained outstanding, with post-judgment interest accruing at eight per cent per annum.

Brightwaters subsequently sought the appointment of receivers over oil revenues said to be payable to Eroton under a contract for the export of 32,000 barrels of oil per day from OML 18, a Nigerian oilfield in which Eroton has an interest. The court was prepared to infer that the relevant contract was governed by English law and provided for arbitration seated in England.

Asset Preservation

At an earlier, without-notice hearing in November 2025, the court made an Asset Preservation and Disclosure Order (APDO), requiring Eroton to provide detailed information about its oil revenues and prohibiting it from dissipating those funds.

Eroton failed to comply fully with the disclosure requirements, the document showed. Although some financial data was later provided, the judge found that it amounted to only partial and insufficient compliance.

In determining whether to appoint receivers, the court relied on established principles set out in cases including Cruz City 1 Mauritius Holdings v Unitech Ltd (No. 2) and Masri v Consolidated Contractors International (UK) Ltd (No. 2).

The court emphasised that the overriding consideration is the demands of justice and that there must be some hindrance or difficulty in using normal enforcement methods. A receiver will not be appointed if the exercise would be fruitless; however, it is sufficient if there is a real prospect that the appointment will assist enforcement.

Erotons objections

Eroton advanced five principal objections, all of which were rejected.

Eroton argued that the oil revenues were subject to security in favour of Guaranty Trust Bank plc (GT Bank), including an all-assets debenture and a subsequent charge, and that any receivership would therefore be ineffective.

The court held that even if the security arrangements amounted to an assignment by way of security, Eroton retained an equity of redemption  itself a valuable asset capable of supporting a receivership order.

The judge further found that there was at least a reasonable prospect that the appointment of receivers could assist enforcement, even if subject to GT Banks prior rights.

Eroton contended that Brightwaters, having commenced winding-up proceedings in Nigeria, should not pursue enforcement in England.

The judge described this as an unattractive submission, noting that Eroton had itself resisted and delayed those insolvency proceedings. He held that presenting a winding-up petition did not amount to an irrevocable election barring other enforcement methods in other jurisdictions.

Eroton argued that there was insufficient connection with England to justify the order.

But the court disagreed, noting that the Nigerian judgment had been registered as an English judgment and the relevant oil sale contract appeared to be governed by English law.

These factors, the judge held, provided sufficient connection and satisfied principles of comity.

Notice to GT Bank

Eroton argued that GT Bank should have been notified before any receivership order was made. The judge found that there is no procedural requirement under CPR Part 69 to give notice to secured creditors.

However, the order will allow GT Bank and other third parties to apply to vary or set it aside if they are affected.

Finally, Eroton alleged that Brightwaters breached its duty of full and frank disclosure at the earlier without-notice hearing by failing to refer specifically to registered charges in favour of GT Bank.

While the judge said it would have been preferable to refer expressly to the charges, he concluded that the omission was not material and did not mislead the court. In any event, the present decision followed a fully contested inter partes hearing.

Judgement

Considering all the circumstances, the court found that the outstanding debt is substantial and that payment has been difficult to secure through ordinary enforcement methods.

It was also established that there is a defined asset  oil revenues due and to become due  and that there is a reasonable prospect that receivership will assist enforcement without prejudicing third parties proprietary rights.

Accordingly, the court ordered the appointment of receivers over the oil revenues due to Eroton.

The judge said the order would promote the policy of English law that judgments  including registered foreign judgments  should be complied with and, if necessary, enforced.
Gambian actress and film producer, Rosaline Meurer, has debunked rumours that she unfollowed her husband, Olakunle Churchill, who is also Tonto Dikehs ex-husband, on Instagram.

She also clarified her relationship with the actress while addressing new reports that they were friends.

Her comments follow the recent reconciliation between Tonto and her ex-husband after 10 years of animosity, as well as the recent report that Mr Churchill was in Lagos to celebrate the 10th birthday of their son, King Andre.

For the first time in years, both parties came together to celebrate Andres birthday.

Family photos of the former couple and their son have been trending on the internet, fuelling speculation that cracks are emerging in Mr Churchills marriage to Rosy and that she has unfollowed him on Instagram.

Still married

Reacting to the speculation, the Gambian actress said she is still married to the businessman and that she is being treated well in her marriage.

In a post on her Instagram page, she then demonstrated on her phone to show her audience that she is still following him on social media.

Im a bit lost how people got a hold of the lies that I unfollowed my husband. I have no reason to unfollow my husband, and I did not unfollow my husband.

I dont know what games anyones playing, that today of all days, it just happened that I unfollowed my husband. I didnt even wait. Im not that petty. And I have never unfollowed my husband, and I never will. So you guys are going to wait for a very long time, she said.

She further noted that if she eventually decides to unfollow him, her fans would be the first to know, because, according to her, shes not the kind of person who hides or plays games.

Im in this marriage because I want to be in this marriage. Im being treated well. I am happy, and thats on period. Anyone can say what they want. If my husband is okay with me, I dont have a problem.

And then you guys picked the day that he celebrated his son to bring out that kind of news. Obviously, Im going to look petty. Right now hes in Lagos. He has to be with his son. He has to celebrate his sons birthday. Its been a very long time. He hasnt seen his baby. So its only right for me to give him that space to celebrate with his son. Im happy that you know, his children get to feel what its like to be with their daddy, she added.

Husband snatcher (?)

In a follow-up post, the actress debunked previous reports that she was Tontos close friend and that she took advantage of their friendship to snatch her husband.

Setting the record straight, she said she was never her husbands exs friend, let alone his best friend.

Ive never met Tonto. Ive never seen her. She doesnt have my number. I dont have her number. Shes like eight to nine, 10 years older than I am.

And Ive read comments that I was her best friend, or she introduced me to her husband, and I snatched him. Today, Im telling you guys, youre hearing it from the horses mouth. If anyone has proof to the contrary, I dare you to bring it out. I was never friends with anyone. I dont even know her. Ive never met her, the Merry Men actress stated.

Like a brother

In yet another post, Rosy addressed a previous interview where she said that Mr Churchill was like a brother to her.

Shedding light on the nature of their relationship before they got married, she said that at that time, he was like a brother to her.

He was helping me out in my career. He was taking my siblings and me out. And you know, he knew my family and all of that. So if someone is so close to you, what is he? He wasnt my uncle. He was like a brother to me.

I granted that interview a long time ago. And Im telling you guys today again, he was like a brother to me at that time. We had nothing going on between us. I didnt know what his life with his ex was like. The way you guys saw the whole saga on the internet was the same way I saw it on the internet at that time, she said.

Admitting that she was younger and naive at the time and didnt understand everything, the actress said she now realises its time she comes out to clear the air.

Everyone that my husband likes, I like. I love all his children equally. If he comes to me and says, Hey, babe, I need you to watch my son. Could you watch my daughter? I will do that with all

pleasure. His daughter is with me right now. Do you guys know? No, you dont know. Im taking care of her right now. Shes in my house. So Im not a bad person, and I believe that all children deserve both parents.

And if God says now is the time for them to reunite, then who am I to say no? Im living my life. I have other things Im up to. Im not a witch trying to plan things and say, Oh, no, this has to be like this. Until proven otherwise, this is you hearing from me. I remain Mrs Rosaline Muerer Churchill. Refer to me as Mrs Churchill, she added.
Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has criticised Nigerian pastors who frequently travel abroad for revival programmes.

The controversial cleric made the remarks during a recent empowerment outreach organised by his church, where he addressed issues of Christian leadership, governance, and social responsibility.

Mr Ayodele, known for his controversial sermons and prophecies on national and global affairs, argued that foreign crusades often serve personal comfort rather than genuine evangelistic outreach.

If I have N500,000, instead of buying a jet and going to America for revival, I will use it to help people here, he said. Going to America for revival is a lie. All these pastors going to America to do revival, why cant they go to the camp of witches and wizards and convert them? Going to America is a pleasure, not a sacrifice.

He further criticised the ostentatious lifestyle of some religious leaders, urging them to demonstrate the doctrines they preach.

What informs me is that people come to church hungry, and I have the money to feed them. It is not about the houses you build or the money you keep in the bank. If you die, someone else will wear your clothes and live in your house, he said. As a pastor, what you preach must be what you practise. That is common sense.

Mr Ayodele also took a swipe at political leaders, accusing many government officials of prioritising luxury over public welfare, although he did not name specific individuals.

Ayodele on Tinubus performance

The cleric also commented on the performance of President Bola Tinubu, describing his administration as better than those of former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, but claimed the president suffers from a public perception problem.

Tinubu has done well for Nigerians, but the problem is that Nigerians hate him, he said. Those surrounding him dont want him for a second term. He needs to wake up, restrategise, and change his agenda.

Mr Ayodele cited infrastructure projects, particularly the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and road developments around the Ajah axis in Lagos, as examples of progress under Mr Tinubus administration.

READ ALSO: Church distributes Ramadan food to Tsangaya schools in Kaduna

I passed through the Coastal Road. From that point, you will be in Calabar in 4 hours, rather than 18 to 22 hours. Around Ajah, the movement is faster. For that reason, Tinubu has done well, he said.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a flagship project of the Tinubu administration, is expected to span over 700 kilometres across nine coastal states. However, critics have raised concerns about its cost, transparency, and environmental impact.

Mr Ayodele, who frequently comments on politics and governance, urged the president to review his policies and political strategy to secure public support.
MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia calls on the United States to refrain from imposing a military blockade on Cuba, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said here on Wednesday during a meeting with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.

"Together with the vast majority of the international community, we urge the United States to act with common sense, adopt a responsible stance, and abandon plans for a naval blockade," Lavrov said.

Lavrov further said Moscow rejects allegations that its cooperation with Cuba is directed against Washington, adding that all disputes between Washington and Havana should be settled through dialogue.

"We will continue to support Cuba and the Cuban people in upholding the country's sovereignty and security," Lavrov said.

He added that Russia condemns U.S. legislation targeting Cuba, which is supposedly based on the false claim that Cuba poses a threat to the United States. 
Socialite and businessman Paschal Cubana Chief Priest Okechukwu has called on Easterners to support President Bola Tinubus bid for a second term.

Cubana Chief Priest, who serves as the Imo State Director of the City Boy Movement (CBM), appealed in a statement accompanying a video he posted on Instagram on Wednesday.

The video showed a South-east monarch urging Mr Tinubu to either release the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu or return him to Kenya.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Lawrence Agubuzu, the traditional ruler of Ezema Olo Community, made the call on Tuesday during the 2026 National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

He appealed to the President to release Mr Kanu in the interest of peace in the South-east.

The newspaper earlier reported that Mr Kanu was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism by a Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025. He is serving his sentence at a correctional facility in Sokoto State.

Cubana Chief Priest

Reacting to the monarchs appeal, Cubana Chief Priest argued that securing Mr Kanus release would require political support from the South-east for Mr Tinubus re-election bid.

He added that the monarchs presence in Abuja was crucial to ensuring the President received first-hand accounts of the South-easts concerns and grievances.

He said, His (the monarchs) last words, Mr President, we will do all we can, but please hear our cry, Bola Tinubu. The message is obvious. God bless you, your royal highness, for partaking in Nigeria. If your highness did not participate in Abuja, how Asiwaju wan take hear this message.

If you say dem no record this video play for una, them for call his royal highness sell out say him don go collect money. Alignment is key, we no fit fight the government, Asiwaju go free MNK, his royal highness don put am for baba body.

Igbo President

Additionally, Cubana Chief Priest called on the South-east to reassess their political position, noting that Mr Tinubu secured victory in the 2023 election despite receiving minimal support from the region.

He further noted that the prospect of an Igbo president succeeding Mr Tinubu is plausible, citing the manner in which the late Muhammadu Buhari rose to the presidency as an example.

Lets get along with Nigeria, last election, Tinubu won without the southeast, he will win again. So why not give him the votes so he can do what we ask of him in return?

Hopefully, he will hand over power to an Igbo man. He made Buhari, a Hausa man, president; he made himself a Yoruba man president. What makes you think he wont make an Igbo man president if we clearly support him for one more term? Igbo best stake is on Asiwaju, think it out. Man has the best political structure in the country to win the election, so we dont waste our votes, he said.

Backstory

This newspaper reported that in November 2025, he stated that as long as Mr Kanu remained in jail, Mr Tinubu would not secure more than 10,000 votes in the South-East in the 2027 elections.

However, since his appointment to the CBM, the entrepreneur has reversed his stance, urging Nigerians of Eastern extraction to support the presidents re-election.

The newspaper further reported that the Chief Priest questioned the logic of labelling Igbos who backed Mr Tinubu as traitors, noting that there are also Yorubas supporting Peter Obis candidacy.

He encouraged his compatriots to rally behind a candidate with a structured platform, enabling them to engage strategically for a better future.

He urged them to join the CBM, a political support group advocating for Mr Tinubus re-election.
Hours after Gambian actress and film producer Rosaline Meurer said she had never met Nollywood actress-turned-evangelist Tonto Dikeh, netizens resurfaced a 2017 interview in which Ms Meurer appeared to say otherwise.

The resurfaced clip has attracted attention because Ms Meurer was widely perceived at the time as a friend of both Mr Churchill and Ms Dikeh, before she was publicly linked to tensions in their marriage.

PREMIUM TIMES later reported that months after her infamous Hip TV interview, Ms Dikeh announced their separation two years after their 2015 marriage.

However, in February 2021, this newspaper reported that Mr Churchill introduced Ms Meurer as his new wife.

Before the announcement, Ms Dikeh revealed that Mr Churchill gifted Ms Meurer a car for her birthday.

Fresh denial

This newspaper on Wednesday reported that Ms Meurer denied being friends with Dikeh in a video she posted on her Instagram page, where she also refuted claims that she had unfollowed her husband, Olakunle Churchill, Dikehs ex, on the platform.

Ive never met Tonto. Ive never seen her. She doesnt have my number. I dont have her number. Shes like eight to nine, 10 years older than I am.

And Ive read comments that I was her best friend, or she introduced me to her husband, and I snatched him. Today, Im telling you guys, youre hearing it from the horses mouth. If anyone has proof to the contrary, I dare you to bring it out. I was never friends with anyone. I dont even know her. Ive never met her, she said in the interview.

Old interview

In an interview with Hip TV on 18 January 2017, the Merry Men actress admitted that she knew Ms Dikeh, describing her as like family and speaking warmly of their close friendship and numerous hangouts.

At the time, she urged the public to stop circulating claims that she had snatched Mr Churchill from the actress.

His (Olakunle Churchills) wife is family to me. Weve hung out before together, and I mean, I dont see a big deal there. People should stop saying things that are not what they know, she said.

At the time, Ms Meurer clarified that she was not dating Mr Churchill, emphasising that she had known him for years and regarded him as a brother and part of her family.

She described the rumours of an affair with Mr Churchill as irritating to the ears, adding: Its like asking, are you sleeping with your brother? As I said before, and I repeat, he is someone who has been a mentor to me and whom I deeply respect.
Another Nigerian who allegedly fought for Russia in its ongoing war with Ukraine has been captured.

A Ukrainian media platform, UnitedMedia24, reported the alleged deceitful recruitment of Balogun Ridwan, a Nigerian national, and his arrest by the Ukrainian army.

The platform reported that Mr Ridwan had been induced to travel to Russia under the pretext of an engineering job offer. However, he was forced to sign a contract with the Russian army upon his arrival.

Mr Ridwan told the paper that the contract was written in Russian, which he didnt understand.

The day we were signing the contract, I didnt understand the language. They didnt allow us to use our phones to translate, so we signed our contracts. I told them already about my job. Maybe they were going to put me in my field. I didnt know they would use me,  he was quoted to have said.

Mr Ridwan, according to the paper, received a few weeks of training and was eventually deployed to the frontline. Mr Ridwan described the training as largely chaotic.

Narrating his ordeal, he recalled that their phones were confiscated again and they were subjected to harsh conditions.

One of the other recruits, an African identified as Bubaka in the report, suffered a heart attack during training and nearly died.

We spent 16 days, not weeks, but the guy [Bubaka] didnt pass his training at all. He was still sent with us to go to war. This was very bad.

Mr Ridwan was reportedly arrested on the frontline, in a Russian base where he was deployed. The report stated that the Nigerian had surrendered to the Ukrainian troops during a raid in January. The report did not specify where he was arrested.

Around the time of his arrest, Mr Ridwan was reported to have died in combat.

On some Nigerian media platforms, he was listed alongside Adam Anas, Akinlawon Tunde Quyuum, and Abugu Stanley Onyeka as Nigerians who died in combat after being recruited on the false pretence of a security job.

It remains unclear what year and period Mr Ridwan arrived in Russia as the Ukrainian platform did not specify this, nor did it specify the date he was eventually deployed.

However, it reported that Mr Ridwan is pleading for an opportunity to return to Nigeria.

The demand for intervention

The platform said Mr Ridwan is seeking the intervention of the Nigerian government. He was quoted as saying that he was fooled and would not have intentionally joined the Russian army.

I travelled to Russia on a tourist visa to find a job. The government of Russia grossly fooled me, turned me into a soldier, and sent me to war in Ukraine.

I appeal to my government, to my president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Forgive your son. I left home to feed my family. It did not work out the way I wanted. I went to have a job as a mechanic or engineer, he said.

Mr Ridwans story adds to the cases of Nigerians found to be actively fighting for Russia after being deceived into recruitment.

Last week, the Ukrainian Military intelligence said it identified two Nigerians who died on the frontlines while allegedly fighting for Russia in the ongoing war that is now entering its fourth year.

The Nigerians were identified as Hamzat Kolawole and Mbah Udoka.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Ukrainian intelligence disclosed that they were both killed in late November by a Ukrainian drone strike during an attempt to storm Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region.

Multiple investigations have highlighted cases of individuals allegedly lured by promises of employment, higher wages, or educational opportunities, only to find themselves later deployed to combat zones.

PREMIUM TIMES and its partners have also reported cases of African girls being lured into Russia and then subjected to exploitation.

The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, recently expressed grave concern over the rising cases of Nigerian citizens being illegally recruited to participate in foreign armed conflicts.

In several instances, victims are reportedly compelled to sign contracts in foreign languages without adequate legal guidance, and their travel documents are allegedly confiscated upon arrival.

Reports also indicate the involvement of intermediaries or agents who facilitate travel arrangements under tourist or other non-military visa categories, he said.
In a bid to reduce the cost of medicines and strengthen the countrys health supply chain, the federal government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to operationalise Medipool as Nigerias National Group Purchasing Organisation (GPO).

The development was announced on Tuesday via the verified X account of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

According to the ministry, the agreement is expected to enhance bulk procurement, improve price negotiations and expand access to quality health commodities across public and private health facilities.

A national procurement platform

Approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2025, Medipool is designed to aggregate demand for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies across public and private health facilities nationwide.

By pooling demand, the platform will enable bulk purchasing, price negotiation and improved quality assurance across Nigerias health supply chain.

The ministry noted that the initiative aligns with key national health priorities, including the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), and the National Health Supply Chain Transformation Plan.

It also supports Nigerias target of increasing local pharmaceutical manufacturing to meet a significant share of domestic demand.

Shift in procurement

Speaking on the significance of the agreement, Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, described the operationalisation of Medipool as a major reform in the countrys medicine procurement system.

Mr Pate said the operationalisation of Medipool represents a strategic shift in how Nigeria procures and delivers essential medicines.

By pooling demand, strengthening local manufacturing, and improving supply chain transparency, we are lowering costs, expanding access, and building a more resilient health system that protects both the health and finances of Nigerians, he said.

Government alignment

The signing ceremony brought together leadership across Nigerias health reform architecture, including NPHCDA, PVAC, and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office.

The ministry said the broad participation reflected strong whole-of-government alignment on improving the affordability, availability and sustainability of essential medicines.

With the operationalisation of Medipool, the health body said it is reinforcing its broader health sector reform agenda aimed at building a more resilient, transparent and cost-efficient healthcare system that delivers improved health outcomes and financial protection for Nigerians.
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday mobilised traditional and religious leaders to drive the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), declaring that Nigerias health reforms cannot succeed without their active involvement.

Speaking at a high-level national engagement in Abuja, Mr Tinubu described the gathering as a generational and interfaith alliance designed to accelerate health sector reforms and renew public trust.

He announced the expansion of the Universal Health Coverage Compact, first unveiled during the Health Sector Joint Annual Review, to formally include traditional institutions, religious leaders, civil society organisations and the private sector.

He noted that no health reform in Nigeria can succeed without the leaders.

You are the trusted voices between the government and the people. You are the moral anchors of your communities. We are asking for your partnership, he said.

Monitor health centres, report failures

A major plank of the presidents appeal was improved oversight of primary healthcare facilities, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Mr Tinubu said his administration is aggressively improving the functionality of our primary healthcare centres across Nigeria.

He urged traditional rulers to monitor facilities within their domains and escalate concerns where services fall short.

If facilities are not working, write to your local government chairman, write to your governor, write to us. We will respond. If we do not act, nobody will do it for us, he added.

Mr Tinubu also highlighted maternal and newborn mortality as a critical challenge, stressing that many deaths remain preventable with timely access to quality care.

He also said the federal government is working closely to strengthen emergency obstetric services and expanding emergency transport and ambulance systems to ensure timely access to care.

Tackling vaccine hesitancy, misinformation

The president also emphasised immunisation as central to achieving UHC, acknowledging that traditional and religious leaders often command greater influence at the grassroots than public officials.

He said communities usually listen to the leaders before listening to the government and in times of an epidemic, the leaders are often the first responders.

He urged faith leaders to counter misinformation, promote vaccine acceptance and encourage positive health-seeking behaviour.

Beyond immunisation, Mr Tinubu highlighted nutrition and food security as essential pillars of health reform, describing malnutrition as both a public health and economic challenge.

He said economic reforms were aimed at stabilising food supply chains and supporting vulnerable households but stressed the need for community-level accountability to ensure interventions reach intended beneficiaries.

Fellows to anchor reforms

A key highlight of the event was the presidents endorsement of the National Health Fellowship Programme, a youth-driven initiative designed to deploy young professionals across Nigerias 774 local government areas.

Mr Tinubu described the fellows as the operational backbones of the reform agenda, adding that they would bring structure where systems are weak, data where decisions lack clarity, and energy where communities need it most.

The National Health Fellowship Programme represents a new Nigeria, where competence and dedication open pathways to leadership.

He said the initiative reflects his administrations commitment to institutional reform powered by youth talent and data-driven governance.

Health sector reform

The president described the engagement with traditional and religious leaders as deliberate and strategic, forming the basis of what he called a new national alliance for health.

He said his administration cannot reform the health sector alone and therefore needs their leadership, moral authority, and their ability to mobilise communities.

He added that respect for cultural values and interfaith harmony would remain central to implementing reforms across Nigerias diverse communities.

Linking health to broader national priorities, Mr Tinubu said macroeconomic indicators were improving and would support sustained investment in social services.

He also assured Nigerians that efforts to tackle insecurity were ongoing, describing security, economic stability and health reform as interconnected pillars of national renewal.

Nothing good is achieved without hope. Together, we will usher in a new era of health and honour for our people, he said while reaffirming his administrations commitment to equitable access to quality healthcare.
Nigerias traditional rulers have expressed support for President Bola Tinubus health reforms, pledging to mobilise communities, counter vaccine misinformation and strengthen primary health care delivery across their domains.

They made commitment on Tuesday in Abuja during a national summit that brought together senior government officials, development partners, and traditional leaders.

At the summit, the traditional rulers outlined a coordinated plan to support immunisation, maternal and child health, and nutrition programmes.

The leaders said their grassroots influence places them in a unique position to promote immunisation, disease prevention and health-seeking behaviour across communities.

They described the collaboration as a remarkable step forward towards building a healthier and more prosperous nation.

President Tinubu had earlier noted that no health reforms in Nigeria can succeed without traditional and religious leaders.

Six-point pledge on health, development

At the forum, the traditional rulers outlined six key commitments aimed at strengthening health outcomes and national development.

They pledged to leverage their platforms and community forums to promote routine immunisation, disease prevention, maternal and child health services, and timely health-seeking behavior.

They also committed to engaging communities to embrace vaccination and other health initiatives, addressing resistance arising from misinformation, fear, or cultural misunderstanding.

They promised to identify and facilitate access for underserved populations, including border, nomadic, and insecure areas, working closely with health and security agencies to ensure no community is neglected.

They further promised to actively monitor health interventions within their jurisdictions and ensure community feedback reaches relevant authorities.

The rulers also reaffirmed their readiness to collaborate with federal, state, and local governments, as well as development partners, aligning traditional leadership initiatives with national and sub-national health priorities.

In addition, they committed to safeguarding the health rights of women, children, and adolescents through maternal health programmes, nutrition support, adolescent health education, and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Collaboration protects lives

Speaking at the summit, the Emir of Zazzau in Kaduna state, Ahmed Bamalli, recalled how traditional institutions supported polio eradication efforts under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Bamalli said when the committee was first formed, polio cases had risen to almost a thousand and after the committees interventions, the figure dropped to less than 100.

He added that this proves that when government and traditional institutions collaborate, the lives of the people are protected.

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi, urged traditional rulers nationwide to spearhead public health efforts, particularly in addressing vaccine-preventable diseases, maternal and newborn mortality, malnutrition and emerging outbreaks.

Mr El-Kanemi who was represented by Mr Bamalli said traditional leaders possess grassroots authority rooted in culture and community trust, enabling them to promote positive health behaviour, combat misinformation and partner with the government for universal health coverage.

He called on leaders to translate summit resolutions into community actions, positioning leaders as ambassadors for health equity and resilience to build stronger Nigeria.

Development partners back grassroots model

The World Health Organisations Country Representative to Nigeria, Pavel Ursu, praised Nigerias engagement of traditional institutions, describing it as a model that reaches communities where politicians and health workers often cannot.

Mr Ursu cited progress in measles-rubella campaigns, routine immunisation and primary health care revitalisation while urging sustained efforts to eradicate polio and ensure equitable access to quality services.

The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said Nigerias ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy depends on investments in human capital, particularly through coordinated early childhood efforts from pregnancy onward, encompassing health, nutrition, water, sanitation, caregiving, and early learning.

Mr Verghis noted that traditional and faith leaders play a critical role in shaping household practices, gender norms, nutrition, caregiving and womens decision-making.

He affirmed the World Banks commitment to partnering with Nigerias government, people, and faith institutions to drive these changes at community levels.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says 86 per cent of states now have functional Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) that meet minimum operational standards.

The NCDC said that 32 out of 37 states are involved, describing the development as a significant progress in strengthening the countrys health security architecture.

The Director-General of NCDC, Jide Idris, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a health sector forum in Abuja.

Mr Idris said the development reflects the federal governments sustained investment in emergency preparedness under the National Health Reform Agenda.

He said that the agenda prioritises disease prevention and control through strengthened surveillance systems, laboratory networks and coordinated emergency response mechanisms.

He noted that over the past 24 years, Nigeria had experienced multiple disease outbreaks, including Ebola, polio, cholera, Lassa fever, measles and antimicrobial resistance-related emergencies.

According to him, the NCDC has reoriented its strategy to emphasise prevention, early warning systems, detection, emergency preparedness and strategic partnerships.

In resource-constrained environments, prevention is better than treatment. Our focus is to detect outbreaks early, respond rapidly and contain them before they escalate, he said.

Mr Idris explained that the agency utilises digital surveillance platforms to track disease trends using data from hospitals, laboratories, communities and media monitoring systems.

Once unusual patterns are identified, field teams are deployed to collect samples for laboratory confirmation, including genomic sequencing to detect variants and guide targeted interventions, he said.

Laboratory capacity

The NCDC boss said the agency had significantly expanded laboratory capacity across the country, establishing a coordinated network linking National Reference Laboratories in Abuja and Lagos with zonal and state public health laboratories.

He said the laboratory network now covers about 84 per cent of the countrys geography, including 700 local government areas, enabling faster detection of infectious diseases.

NCDC, in partnership with the Japanese government, had established high-security public health laboratories in Abuja and Lagos capable of handling high-risk pathogens such as Ebola and Marburg viruses, he said.

Two biosecurity level-three laboratories had recently been supported to further strengthen Nigerias capacity to detect and respond to dangerous pathogens.

Recognising the link between human, animal and environmental health, Mr Idris said the agency had institutionalised a One Health approach, working closely with the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources.

He said the integrated framework had improved surveillance of zoonotic diseases and enhanced coordinated responses to emerging health threats.

So far, we have responded to 23 public health events across 15 states, strengthening real-time disease monitoring and operational support systems, he said.

Mr Idris emphasised that beyond infrastructure and laboratory systems, community engagement remained central to outbreak prevention and control.

He said that NCDC works with state governments, traditional institutions, non-governmental organisations and international partners such as the World Health Organisation to deploy trained personnel, medical supplies and vaccines during emergencies.

According to him, sustained public awareness campaigns are also helping to combat misinformation and stigma, encouraging early testing, vaccination uptake and treatment adherence.

Mr Idris stressed the need for continued collaboration among federal and state authorities, development partners and communities to sustain gains recorded in emergency preparedness.

The fight against unusual ailments, antimicrobial resistance and emerging infections requires a coordinated effort.

Together with communities, we can protect lives, promote early testing and prevent the spread of diseases in Nigeria, he said.

(NAN)
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has reaffirmed that Nigeria will maintain a diplomatic posture aimed at strengthening its longstanding cordial relations with Iran, established in 1973.

Ms Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed this during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Mahdavi Raja, in Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting dwelt on providing an opportunity for both countries to review the status of the bilateral relations between them and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation.

She acknowledged the importance of full diplomatic representation in both capitals and expressed optimism on the early posting of Nigerias Ambassador to Tehran.

Nigeria is interested in translating political goodwill into tangible outcomes through structured mechanisms, such as the Joint Nigeria-Iran Commission.

Also is the commitment to constructive engagement, South-South cooperation, and continued collaboration within multilateral fora, she said.

Responding, Mr Raja conveyed warm greetings from the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs and reaffirmed Tehrans commitment to deepening ties with Abuja.

He emphasised Nigerias strategic importance within Irans Africa policy, particularly in the West African sub-region and the urgency of restoring full diplomatic representation in both capitals.

The envoy also spoke of the need for early deployment of Nigerias Ambassador to Tehran, saying ambassadorial presence is crucial for advancing mutual interests.

He called for the convention of the 7th Session of the Nigeria-Iran Joint Commission in Abuja and the activation of a Political Consultation mechanism, to enhance regular exchanges at the senior official level.

Discussions also focused on expanding cooperation in priority sectors, including energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, education, and infrastructure.

He highlighted opportunities for such collaboration in terms of healthcare, particularly in cancer treatment services, as well as in scholarship programmes for Nigerian students.

(NAN)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed sadness over the death of Jesse Jackson.

Mr Jackson, a giant of the civil rights movement in the United States and a longtime champion of human rights, equality, and justice around the world, passed away on Tuesday, aged 84.

Reverend Jackson lent his powerful voice to the UNs work against racism, against apartheid and for human rights, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the Secretary-General, in New York.

The Secretary-General extended his deepest condolences to his family, his loved ones, his friends, as well as the government and the people of the US.

In a visit to the United Nations in March 2018, Mr Jackson spoke at an event marking the contributions of people of African Descent worldwide and said racial idolatry manifests itself in so many ways, even in our politics.

Speaking to UN News, the civil rights leader said that it must be a massive global coalition of conscience to eliminate racial discrimination.

READ ALSO: Tinubu mourns American civil rights icon Jesse Jackson

Weve globalised capital, weve globalised technology.

We must now globalise human rights: workers rights; womens rights; childrens rights; and environmental security, he said.

We must globalise all the values that make life life, for everybody.

(NAN)
The police command in Niger has arrested four suspects over alleged criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and murder in Minna.

The commands spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Minna.

Mr Abiodun said that on 12 February, at about 4 p.m., police received a report concerning Umar Bingel, 32, of Dadin-Kowa, Kontagora.

He said Mr Bingel was returning home from the market along Government Day Secondary School, Kontagora, when the incident occurred.

In the process, he was abducted by suspected vigilante men to an unknown location, Mr Abiodun said.

He added that the victim was reportedly taken away with his motorcycle and N1.5 million, proceeds from the sale of his cows.

Upon receipt of the report, operatives attached to Kontagora Area Command began investigation, he said.

He said the investigation led to the arrest of Suleiman Umar, Tanko Sale and Rabiu Bako, all said to be vigilante members in Kontagora.

According to him, the suspects confessed during interrogation that they had knowledge of the group responsible for the crime.

They stated that the victim was killed by a vigilante group led by one Danbaba and Smalli, both of Farin-Shinge village.

The principal suspect, Danbaba, was arrested on February 15 and led operatives to the scene where the victim was killed and dumped in a pit, Abiodun said.

He added that the decomposed body was recovered and taken to the General Hospital, Kontagora, before release to the family for burial.

READ ALSO: Police recommend prosecution of company officials over dispute on Lagos prime property

Exhibits recovered include the victims Bajaj motorcycle, three locally made guns, two Dane guns and four rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.

Mr Abiodun said the suspects remained under investigation and would soon be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna.

(NAN)
Tommy Lee Jones' daughter, Victoria, died from the toxic effects of cocaine.

Victoria and Tommy Lee Jones attending the Just Getting Started premiere

The 34-year-old actress was found dead in a hotel room at the Fairmont San Francisco in the early hours of New Years Day (01.01.26) after the San Francisco Fire Department responded to "a report of a medical emergency".

After it was suspected that she passed away from an overdose, the San Francisco medical examiner ruled the death accidental, as per a report issued on Tuesday (17.02.26).

In a statement, the San Francisco Fire Department told Us Weekly, following Victoria's death: "Upon arrival, paramedics from the fire department performed an assessment. The person was declared deceased.

"SFPD and the medical examiners office were called to the scene. Scene turned over to SFPD and SF Medical Examiners."

A 911 call revealed that San Francisco police officers received a call for "code 3 for the overdose".

NBC Bay Area reported on Victorias death, citing police sources with direct knowledge of the investigation, and added that she was found in a hallway of the hotel early Thursday morning.

Authorities did not suspect foul play in relation to her death.

On January 2, Victoria's family released a statement following her passing.

They told Us Weekly: "We appreciate all of the kind words, thoughts, and prayers. Please respect our privacy during this difficult time. Thank you."

Victoria - whom Tommy had, as well as actor Austin Jones, 43, with his ex-wife, Kimberlea Cloughley - appeared in some of her dad's movies, including 2002's Men in Black II, and 2005's The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which he directed.

In 2006, the 79-year-old actor revealed he fired her from Melquiades Estrada but later rehired her.

He told The New Yorker: "Shes a good actress, has her SAG card, speaks impeccable Spanish. When she was a baby, I told her nurse to speak to her in Spanish, but I fired my daughter [from the movie].

"She had to get up at 5 a.m. for her part. One morning, she wouldnt get out of bed. I said, Honey, this is work. But she wouldnt budge, so I fired her. Then, without telling me, the production staff went over and woke her and rushed her out to the set just in time."
GENEVA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Days before the fourth anniversary of the start of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the two-day talks among Ukraine, the United States and Russia, marking the third round of trilateral talks this year, concluded on Wednesday with no breakthrough on key issues.

The first-day talks lasted six hours in both bilateral and trilateral formats, while the second-day talks lasted two hours, Russian media reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that no agreement on key issues was reached, according to media reports.

"We can see that some groundwork has been done, but for now, positions differ because the negotiations were not easy," Zelensky told reporters in a WhatsApp chat on Wednesday.

Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, also Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary, said that the work was intense and subjective.

"There is progress, but no details at this stage," He wrote in a Facebook post.

Zelensky also told Ukrainian media that monitoring of a ceasefire with U.S. participation, as well as sensitive political issues such as Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, were all discussed during the talks.

Describing the talks as difficult but business-like, Russia's presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky noted that a new round of negotiations will be held in the near future.

No documents were signed during the talks, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that the Russian delegation had clear instructions to act within the framework of understanding from the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump that was held in the U.S. city of Anchorage, Alaska in August last year.

Umerov said on Facebook that the next stage is to reach the required level of consensus to make well-known decisions for the presidents' consideration. He emphasized that the ultimate goal remains unchanged: a just and sustainable peace.

A separate meeting with representatives of the United States and European countries, including France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, was also held on Tuesday, Umerov wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Two previous rounds of trilateral talks, held in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23-24 and Feb. 4-5, did not resolve key territorial issues.

Fighting even continued between Russia and Ukraine before Tuesday's talks.

Safet Music, a security expert in Bosnia and Herzegovina, told Xinhua that diplomacy serves more as a tool of conflict management than resolution, as the situation has entered a prolonged conflict of attrition in which neither Moscow nor Kiev can achieve a decisive breakthrough without enormous costs.

"The Ukraine-Russia conflict is exhausting all parties concerned and draining both Russian and European human and material resources, with no end in sight," Nasser Saidi, founder and president of Nasser Saidi & Associates, shared his view with Xinhua. 
The Church of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State, has distributed food items to Muslims, Tsangaya Islamic schools and some internally displaced persons (IDPs) ahead of the Ramadan fast.

According to a report by the Daily Trust newspaper, the churchs General Overseer, Yohanna Buru, led the exercise at the Kano Road Central Mosque in Kaduna.

He said the initiative was aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence and strengthening interfaith harmony in the state.

Mr Buru said the church had, for about 20 years, supported underprivileged Muslims and Tsangaya schools across five northern states with food items to ease the burden of the 30-day Ramadan fasting.

According to him, the items distributed include bags of rice and maize, as well as prayer mats and plastic kettles, which the church provides annually.

He urged beneficiaries to use the Ramadan period to pray for peace, national stability and an end to insecurity and economic hardship in the country.

As prices of goods continue to rise, we mobilised about 50 volunteer pastors and imams for a seven-day sensitisation campaign to encourage traders to reduce the cost of food items during Ramadan, he said.

Mr Buru added that the church also facilitates the release of some Muslim inmates annually to enable them to observe Ramadan with their families.

He acknowledged the support of a Muslim philanthropist, Ramatu Tijjani, who donates to widows and orphans during Christmas and New Year celebrations, describing the gesture as a reflection of mutual respect among faith communities.

He wished Muslims a peaceful Ramadan and called for prayers for unity in Nigeria.

Beneficiaries react

The leader of the Association of Persons with Disabilities in Kaduna State, Hassan Lawal, commended the church for the support and urged wealthy Muslims to assist the less privileged during the fasting period.

Similarly, the state leader of the Visually Impaired Association, Tukur Zubairu, said the church had consistently supported them with food grains over the years and prayed for the organisers.

Speaking on behalf of Tsangaya schools, Ibrahim Musa thanked the church for the intervention and called on well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the gesture.

Also, the Murshid of Jamaatu Nasril Islam, Imam Ilyasu, described the initiative as commendable and urged wealthy Muslims to fulfil their zakat obligations to the poor, especially during Ramadan.
Former Attorney General of Abia State, Uche Ihediwa, has rejected allegations by legal scholar Chidi Odinkalu, published in PREMIUM TIMES, that he shielded fraudsters and entered into questionable agreements in the litigation over the Paris Refund recovered by the state.

The Paris Refund refers to monies refunded by the federal government to states following the discovery that external debt repayments made to the Paris Club of creditors between 1995 and 2002 were over-deducted from state allocations.

Abia State, like other states, engaged private consultants at different times to help recover its share of the refunds. This process later became controversial due to disputes over consultancy fees, competing claims by multiple firms over who facilitated the recovery, and allegations of irregularities in the handling of the contracts and payments.

Mr Ihediwa was reacting to an article published by Mr Odinkalu on February 15 titled Fraudsters-In-Law; The Conspiracy Against Abia State, in which the former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission accused him and a lawyer, Chibuzo Aguocha, of frustrating efforts to prosecute alleged fraudsters linked to the recovery of the Paris Refund.

Rebuttal

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mr Ihediwa said the claims were not properly fact-checked and failed to present the full context of multiple court cases involving consultants engaged by successive Abia State governments to recover funds from the Federal Government.

My name and that of others have been dragged into a narrative that did not reflect the full facts of the cases before the courts, Mr Ihediwa said. It is unfortunate that allegations of this magnitude were made without reaching out to the people involved.

The former attorney general said Abia State had, between 2012 and 2018, entered into several contracts with private firms, including Ziplon Concept, Mauritz Walton and Zilcon Higgs International Limited, to recover the states share of the Paris Refund. He said disputes later arose over which firms were responsible for the recovery and how much each was entitled to in consultancy fees.

According to him, four firms at different times claimed to have played key roles in recovering over N16.3 billion paid to Abia State in 2017, leading to multiple lawsuits at the Federal Capital Territory High Court and the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Prejudicial to the states interests.

Mr Ihediwa said that during his tenure as attorney general between 2019 and 2023, he opposed attempts by some of the contractors to obtain judgment against Abia State and took steps to halt proceedings he considered prejudicial to the states interests.

I did not allow a kobo to be paid to any of the contractors during my tenure, he said. At no point did I receive any money from any of them.

He also rejected claims that he failed to act on a suggestion from a High Court judge to refer the matter to the police for investigation.

The EFCC investigated these matters, and they are now before the courts, he said. I refrained from media trials because the cases are sub judice.

Mr Ihediwa further denied allegations that he personally benefited from a consent judgment entered into between Abia State and Ziplon Concept Nigeria Limited, stating that the agreement was intended to protect the states interests.

The lawyer mentioned in the article was engaged by the company involved, not by the Abia State Government, he said. Any professional fees due to him were to come from the companys own earnings, not from the state.

He accused Mr Odinkalu of omitting the fact that a petition written by one of the firms to the Abia State Government was later withdrawn, a development he said undermined the claims made in the article.

It is unfair for serious allegations to be made while leaving out material facts that would give the public a fuller picture, Mr Ihediwa said.

The former attorney general said the cases arising from the Paris Refund recovery remain before the courts and should not be subjected to trial by media, adding that he was open to any formal investigation into the matter.

Mr Odinkalu had yet to respond to Mr Ihediwas rebuttal as of press time.
The deputy spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese (APC, Benue), has defended Tuesdays walkout by opposition lawmakers during deliberations on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, describing it as a legitimate parliamentary tactic rather than a threat to Nigerias democracy.

The plenary, which turned rowdy at several points, saw heated exchanges across the aisle as members considered Clause 60(3) of the bill.

Tension rose after Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) proposed an amendment seeking to retain compulsory electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission Result Viewing Portal (IReV), without exceptions.

Mr Salam argued that removing the proviso allowing manual transmission in the event of network failure could weaken public confidence in the electoral process. He urged the House to sustain what he described as a key reform introduced to enhance transparency.

However, when the amendment was subjected to a voice vote, the majority of members voted against it.

Opposition lawmakers immediately protested the decision and staged a walkout chanting APC, ole and alleging that some members had been induced to reject the proposal.

Responding to the development in a statement on Wednesday, Mr Agbese said such actions are common in legislatures worldwide and are often used to register strong dissent on issues considered significant.

Walkouts are part of standard parliamentary practice globally. They are used by lawmakers to express firm opposition to decisions they do not align with, he said.

According to him, the protest by mainly opposition members should not be interpreted as disorder or a breakdown of legislative business, but as an expression of disagreement within the bounds of parliamentary rules and tradition.

He maintained that the House remains united in its commitment to democratic governance despite divergent views among members.

What is important is that issues are ventilated openly and resolved through legislative procedures. Nigerians should be assured that the House will not fail them, he said.

On the substance of Clause 60(3), Mr Agbese clarified that the House approved mandatory electronic transmission of Form EC8A election results to the IReV portal to ensure that valid votes are accurately captured.

He explained, however, that lawmakers also provided a safeguard permitting manual transmission where electronic upload proves impossible due to technical or communication challenges.

READ ALSO: Tinubu signs Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 into law

The decision, he said, was taken in the national interest and not to undermine the integrity of elections, as suggested in some quarters.

Mr Agbese added that the House leadership is engaging stakeholders to address contentious aspects of the bill, particularly those relating to electoral reforms, in a transparent manner and in line with constitutional provisions.

He reiterated that the House remains focused on its core mandates of lawmaking, representation and oversight, urging Nigerians to view the recent scenes in the chamber as part of democratic engagement rather than a crisis.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has warned that delays in fund releases and inadequate budgetary allocations are undermining the implementation of justice sector reforms across Nigeria.

Speaking on Wednesday while defending the 2026 budget proposal of the Federal Ministry of Justice before the House of Representatives Committee on Justice, Mr Fagbemi highlighted the link between adequate funding and the effective delivery of the Ministrys mandate.

He said the ministrys operations are guided by the National Policy on Justice 2024 and its Strategic Plan 20232027, which align with the justice sector roadmap under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.

However, he lamented that limited budgetary allocations and delays in the release of approved funds have significantly hampered the execution of key projects and delivery of essential services.

Despite these challenges, the minister noted progress in several areas, including criminal justice administration reforms, counter-terrorism initiatives, efforts to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, and advancements in asset recovery and financial management.

Budget breakdown

Providing a breakdown of budget performance, Mr Fagbemi disclosed that the ministry received N6.68 billion out of N7.5 billion appropriated for overhead costs over a 10-month period, representing 82 per cent performance.

By contrast, capital expenditure fared poorly, with only N869.63 million released out of a total allocation of N6.75 billion, just 12 per cent and not cash-backed, effectively stalling project implementation. He added that no funds were released for the ministrys 2025 capital projects.

On the 2026 budget, the minister revealed that the ministry is requesting a total of N23.68 billion, covering personnel, overhead, and capital expenditures, to support ongoing reforms and new initiatives.

In response, the Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun), assured that the committee would thoroughly review the ministrys budget and those of its agencies to prevent inadequate funding from stalling justice sector reforms.

He also pledged that oversight would be strengthened to ensure accountability and optimal utilisation of approved funds.
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Wednesday informed lawmakers that the cost of maintaining the Presidential Air Fleet has risen significantly.

The Permanent Secretary at the ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed this while appearing before the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence to defend the agencys 2026 budget proposal.

Mr Sanusi explained that the cost of servicing the Presidential Air Fleet has grown significantly because maintenance is carried out abroad rather than locally.

The 2026 budget proposal covers the Office of the National Security Adviser and its affiliated centres, including the National Counterterrorism Centre, the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, and the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

However, Mr Sanusi did not disclose how much the government spent on maintaining the fleet in 2025 or since the beginning of the current administration.

Aside from maintenance costs, the permanent secretary listed several operational challenges facing the intelligence community, including inadequate operational vehicles for covert missions, irregular release of overhead funds, non-implementation of the 2025 capital appropriation, shortfalls in funding for foreign service personnel, and the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on service-level agreements.

There is irregular releases of the overhead cost, non-implementation of the release of the 2025 capital appropriation, irregular release of foreign service personnel shortfall, high exchange rate in respect of the service level agreement used by most of these agencies, inadequate operational vehicle and effective efficient covert to ensure effective and efficient covert operations, increased cost of foreign exchange or maintenance of presidential air fleet abroad instead of our own hangar, he said.

Nigerias Presidential Air Fleet is a collection of aircraft dedicated to transporting the President, Vice President and other top government officials on official assignments within and outside the country. The fleet operates under the supervision of the ONSA, which is responsible for its funding, maintenance and overall administration.

The fleet exists primarily for security, strategic mobility and continuity of government operations. As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the president requires secure, reliable and readily available air transport for domestic engagements, diplomatic missions and emergency national security responses. Commercial travel is generally considered unsuitable due to security risks, scheduling constraints and protocol requirements.

However, over the years, the Presidential Air Fleet has attracted public scrutiny, particularly over its uses and maintenance costs. In October 2023, Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, flew to Kano in a presidential jet to watch the finals of the years edition of the Kano International Polo Tournament. His use of the presidential plane for a private event to satisfy his personal passion generated criticism.

Meanwhile, a significant portion of the presidential aircraft is serviced and maintained abroad due to limited in-country capacity for specialised aviation maintenance. This reliance on foreign facilities exposes the fleets upkeep to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and increases overall operational costs.

Call for supplementary budget

Mr Sanusi appealed to the committee to consider additional funding through a supplementary budget, particularly in light of the presidents recent declaration of a state of emergency on national security.

Mr. Chairman, I wish to recommend that this esteemed committee, with the recent declaration of a state of emergency on national security by the President, it is our humble prayer that adequate funding should be provided through supplementary budget to the intelligence committee to ensure a timely and speedy response to issues of national security. We all agree that no nation can grow without adequate security, Mr Chairman, he said.

He assured lawmakers that the intelligence community would remain committed to transparency, accountability and effective resource management, adding that budgetary provisions would align with the governments national security objectives.

Mr Chairman, in conclusion, I wish to state and reiterate to the distinguished members that the intelligence community always assures the committee and the entire National Assembly of its commitment, transparency, accountability, and effective resource management by ensuring that the budgetary provisions align with the governments overall national security objectives, he said.

Committee Chairman responds

In a brief interview with journalists after the session, the Chairman of the Committee, Yahaya Abdullahi, said the National Assembly leadership would deliberate on the complaints and requests.

After receiving reports from the various committees, the National Assembly leadership will sit down to review the issues and work out appropriate solutions, particularly those that have arisen in the current financial year. We also discussed the recent declaration by the president of a national emergency on security. If such an emergency has been declared, there must be adequate funding to support it, he said.

Mr Abdullahi, who represents Kebbi Central Senatorial District, added that the committee may advise the leadership of the National Assembly to seek a meeting with the president to present the concerns of the security and intelligence agencies directly.

As a result, we will develop a strategy to ensure that the presidents declaration does not become merely symbolic. If necessary, we will engage the leadership of the National Assembly to seek a meeting with the president. We intend to present the concerns of the security and intelligence agencies directly to him so that appropriate steps can be taken to provide them with sufficient funds to carry out their constitutional responsibilities, he said.

He further noted that 2026 would be a critical year for Nigerias democracy, warning that inadequate funding of security agencies could pose serious challenges as the country approaches another election cycle.

The committee, he said, has concluded its budget defence session and is preparing its report for submission to the Appropriations Committee and the leadership of the National Assembly, after which further engagement with the executive arm is expected.

We also emphasised that 2026 is a very critical year for the survival of the nations democracy. Given the current security situation, failure to adequately fund these agencies could create serious challenges as we approach next years elections.

For now, the committee has concluded its work and is preparing its report for submission to the Appropriation Committee and to the leadership of the National Assembly. The National Assembly, in collaboration with the House of Representatives and the relevant Senate committee, will then approach the president with concrete suggestions on how to address the challenges confronting these institutions, Mr Abdullahi said.
Migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in Libya are enduring ruthless and systematic human rights violations, including killings, torture, sexual violence, and trafficking, a new UN report has disclosed.

The report, published on Tuesday by the UN human rights office, OHCHR, covered the period from January 2024 to December 2025.

The report documents what it calls an exploitative model preying on migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees in situations of heightened vulnerability.

It also described it as a brutal and normalised reality that has become business as usual in Libya.

The report details harrowing accounts of abduction, arbitrary detention and extreme abuse, based on interviews with nearly 100 migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees from 16 countries across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.

I wish I died. It was a journey of hell, said one Eritrean woman detained for six weeks at a trafficking house in Tobruk, eastern Libya.

She described being raped repeatedly by multiple men and witnessing the abuse of girls as young as 14.

She was released only after her family paid a ransom.

Another Eritrean woman recounted how traffickers mutilated and raped her and a friend, who later died from her injuries.

Others described being held in hangars where armed men raped, tortured and beat detainees in front of others.

According to the findings, migrants are rounded up by criminal networks, often with ties to Libyan authorities, and transferred to detention facilities without due process.

Many experience slavery, forced labour, forced prostitution, extortion, and the confiscation and resale of their belongings and identity documents.

Interceptions of migrants at sea by Libyan actors are frequently violent and dangerous, involving excessive force and reckless manoeuvres.

Those captured are forcibly returned to Libya, where they face renewed cycles of abuse.

There are no words to describe the never-ending nightmare these people are forced into.

Only to feed the mounting greed of traffickers and those in power profiting from a system of exploitation, said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Volker Turk.

The suffering of migrants and refugees in Libya must end, Mr Turk said.

Protecting their rights and dignity is not optional; it is an obligation under international law.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh, lamented the abuse endured by migrants, describing it as a gross violation of their rights.

This abusive business model preys on individuals in situations of heightened vulnerability, with detention facilities serving as breeding grounds for gross violations of human rights, Ms Tetteh added.

The two senior officials underscored the need for life-saving search-and-rescue operations at sea.

They also appealed to the European Union and other international partners to suspend interceptions and returns to Libya until robust human rights safeguards are in place.

(NAN)
The UN Security Council has condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks on Kwara, in which more than 160 people reportedly lost their lives.

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.

The attacks on the Nuku and Woro communities on 3 February also led to the abduction of scores of women and children and the destruction of property.

The Council, in a statement in New York, reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

The members of the Security Council urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Nigeria in this regard.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever, and by whoever.

They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law.

READ ALSO: Kwara govt acknowledges video of captives released by terrorists

These include international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law, and threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and the people of Nigeria.

They wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured, as well as the safe return of those abducted.

(NAN)
The detained former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has spent his second night in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

Mr El -Rufai has been detained since Monday when he honoured the agencys invitation for questioning over corruption allegations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former governor was being grilled over alleged fraud during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023.

A source from the EFCC told NAN on Tuesday night that Mr El-Rufai would spend the night with the commissions interrogators.

As I am talking to you now the former governor is still with our interrogators and he will be spending the night with them, the source said Tuesday evening.

According to the source, the agency would be diligent in its investigation over the allegations levelled against the former governor.

I can assure you that EFCC will do its job professionally by attending to all issues raised against him, the source added.

The source, who could not confirm when he would be released or charged in court, said that depended on the progress of investigations.

Mr El-Rufais media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, had confirmed the detention in a statement on Monday, noting that the former governor honoured the commissions invitation and held discussions with its officials.

According to him, Mr El-Rufai had a frank and fruitful interaction with EFCC investigators.

He added that his legal team described the officials conduct as professional.

Mr Adekeye noted that the former governor remained with the commission after the engagement on Monday.

Backstory

Mr El-Rufais detention is the latest phase in the fast-paced development that followed his recent return into the country from Cairo, Egypt.

It started last Thursday when security operatives attempted to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after he arrived from Cairo, Egypt.

Videos circulating online showed a brief confrontation between security personnel and the former governors entourage. His international passport was reportedly confiscated during the encounter.

Mr El-Rufai later alleged that the arrest attempt was carried out at the instruction of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, through the State Security Service (SSS).

Speaking on Arise Televisions Prime Time programme on Friday, he claimed that the NSAs phone was allegedly tapped, allowing him to hear instructions to detain him.

Mr El-Rufais lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the attempted arrest, describing it as arbitrary and in violation of constitutional rights.

According to him, the EFCC invitation was delivered to Mr El-Rufais residence while he was abroad, making immediate compliance impractical.

The lawyer said his client formally communicated with the EFCC to assure voluntary attendance upon his return, which was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday.

Mr Akpan further demanded the immediate return of Mr El-Rufais passport, describing its seizure as an infringement on his dignity, freedom of movement, and constitutional rights.

He warned that legal action would be taken against any unlawful detention efforts.

On Monday, the State Security Service (SSS) filed cybercrime charges against Mr El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged unlawful interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The case was filed barely three days after Mr El-Rufai said during a live interview on Arise TV, focussing on the airport encounter, that the NSAs phone conversation was intercepted, and that he heard the NSA directing security operatives to detain him.

Mr El-Rufai has faced mounting scrutiny since leaving office, including allegations of diverting N423 billion in public funds.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly in 2024 demanded investigations into his administration.

He has also been summoned by the ICPC for questioning.

The former governor previously backed President Bola Tinubus emergence as APC presidential candidate in 2023. Mr Tinubu won the presidential election and was subsequently inaugurated to office in May 2023.

Both he and the president parted ways politically, with Mr El Rufai turning into Mr Tinubus fierce critic, after the presidents initial move to appoint the former Kaduna State governor a minister fell through.

Mr El-Rufai has since joined the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), vowing to work with with like-minded politicians to ensure Mr Tinubu is not re-elected in 2027.

(NAN)
A new study has revealed how Nigerias former Minister of Aviation and recent ambassadorial nominee, Femi Fani-Kayode, amplified a fictitious story that misled the Nigerian media and, in turn, the House of Representatives.

Titled, 7,221 Refrigerated Human Penises: Examining Nigerian Medias Failure to Verify a Sensational, Credible Satirical Story, the study published in the Journal of Media Ethics was conducted by journalist-scholar Kemi Busari.

The study revealed that on 13 April 2021, at 4:42 p.m. local time, the former minister of aviation tweeted that a Nigerian ship had tried to smuggle thousands of mutilated human penises to China.

The study traced the source of Mr Fani-Kayodes information to a satirical website, World News Daily Report (WNDR), that specialises in publishing fictionalised satires and whose motto is where facts dont matter. The platform, run by two Canadians, Murray-Hall and Olivier Legault, has been involved in messy legal battles over the publication of misleading content.

The WNDR article, published 19 March 2021, from which Mr Fani-Kayodes tweet originates, purports that over 7,000 penises of Nigerians were apprehended en route to China. The human organs were found in 36 boxes labelled as plantains, and the penises were valued at more than $1.15 billion, with each costing around $160,000 each on the black market.

It adds that the Chinese government confiscated the ship through an anonymous source and found that the officials arrested four Nigerians, two Malians and two Cameronese (Cameroonians). The platform further attributed the seizure announcement to a certain Chinese Customs spokesperson, Li Wu.

Fani-Kayode misleads Nigerian media

On 13 April 2021, Mr Fani-Kayode tweeted about the confiscation of Nigerian penises in China, linking such occurrences to terrorism. He tweeted:

A ship from Nigeria has been impounded in China whilst trying to smuggle in 7,200 penises. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerian penises are smuggled into China every year. Nigeria is the worlds largest exporter of penises & this is why kidnapping & ritual killings are rife here.

What do the Chinese do with these penises & why are they obsessed with Nigerian ones in particular? This is not a joke but a serious question. The Chinese should leave our penises alone & those that procure them for them in Nigeria should be regarded as terrorists & eliminated, Mr Fani-Kayodes tweet cited in the research reads.

Although he did not attribute his information to any source, details of his tweet were directly lifted from the WNDRs story, the study notes.

Following the tweet, at least 29 Nigerian media outlets, including blogs and content aggregators, reproduced the fictitious story, citing Mr Fani-Kayode as their authoritative source, the study notes.

Fani-Kayodes X account had over 1 million followers as of the time of posting the penis tweet, the research states, the tweet quickly went viral and appears to have played a pivotal role in bringing the story to the attention of Nigerian media outlets, many of which may not have encountered the original WNDR article.

The former ministers tweet also had a ripple effect, sparking a national conversation and eventually reaching the Nigerian House of Representatives, which considered a motion on the purported export of human penises.

Following a motion, the House of Representatives mandated its Committees on Human Rights, National Security, and Intelligence to investigate the issue for further legislative action.

The study noted that despite fact-checkers debunking the report, Mr Fani-Kayodes tweet remained visible on his platform as of 6 October 2025. PREMIUM TIMES confirmed the tweet was still available on Fani-Kayodes Twitter handle as of 17 February 2026.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted the lawmaker for comments on the studys findings. We called him, sent an email, and texted him, but as of the time of this publication, he has not yet responded.

Media responsibility and the misuse of satire

The study also addresses the implications of the satirical articles spread from a satire website to blogs and eventually into political debate.

It places responsibility on Nigerian media organisations that failed to verify the information before publication and even repeated it during coverage of parliamentary proceedings.

The widespread failure of Nigerian media outlets to attribute the original story or their follow-up reports also highlights the need for greater attention to attribution practices and the prevention of plagiarism, the study notes.

The researcher further raises concerns about the growing practice of disguising false information as satire to generate clicks, warning that it strains audiences media literacy, complicates fact-checking efforts and calls into question satires status as protected speech.

Regardless of the intention of the publisher, satirical content has the potential of being mistaken as authentic news and can lead to real-world consequences, as shown in the reaction of the Nigerian Parliament in this case.

The finding highlights the need to reconsider the place of satire as protected speech, particularly given that falsehoods are knowingly shared under its guise and the audiences growing inability to differentiate satire from real news, the study states.
The police in Niger State have detained a journalist, Ahmed Isah Sakpe, popularly known as Ahmed Lee, over alleged cyberbullying and defamation of a state government official.

Mr Sakpe, a staff member of Prestige FM, a Minna-based radio station, is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the state police command.

The arrest followed a complaint reportedly lodged by Mohammed Gimba, a protocol aide to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago.

According to police authorities, the complaint stemmed from a press statement published on the Crusader Radio Facebook platform, which Mr Sakpe manages.

The statement, allegedly issued by a youth group, addressed a political crisis in the Niger South Senatorial District.

Mr Sakpe was invited by the police on Monday and subsequently detained.

The spokesperson for the command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest, stating that it was based on a petition alleging falsehood, defamation of character and cyberbullying.

On February 16, 2025, the accused was invited and arrested based on a complaint received from one Dabban bordering on alleged falsehood, defamation of character and cyberbullying. The complaint is being investigated and the case will soon be charged to court, Mr Abiodun said.

He added that the matter is under investigation and that Mr Sakpe would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of preliminary inquiries.

The detention comes amid ongoing concerns about press freedom in the state.

In December, the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria listed Governor Mohammed Umar Bago in its Book of Infamy over alleged violations of press freedom.

READ ALSO: Governor Bago targets journalists for reporting insecurity in Niger State

Musikilu Mojeed, President of IPI Nigeria, said the governor was added to the list following the closure of Badeggi 90.1 FM, a radio station in Niger State, in August.

Mr Mojeed described the action as undemocratic, unconstitutional and unacceptable, noting that both IPI and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had intervened without success.

The matter remains unresolved. For this reason, Governor Bago is hereby listed, Mr Mojeed had said.
GENEVA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The second day of trilateral talks among Ukraine, the United States and Russia began here on Wednesday.

The two-day negotiations, starting on Tuesday, are held behind closed doors.

U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday that the first-day talks made "meaningful progress."

"The discussions focused on practical issues and the mechanisms of possible solutions," Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, also Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary, wrote on social media platform X after the talks on Tuesday. 
Nigerias Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on Tuesday, reaffirmed Nigerias commitment to constructive engagement with the ECOWAS Court.

Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a statement by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the spokesperson for the ministry, also pledged Nigerias commitment to working closely with the court towards finding practical solutions that will uphold the integrity of the judicial institution and advance sub-regional integration.

According to the statement, the minister spoke when she received in her office the visiting President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Ricardo Goncalves, for a high-level engagement on the enforcement of judgments of the court within member states.

She said, Nigeria is making efforts to enhance public awareness of ECOWAS institutions, including initiatives aimed at introducing ECOWAS Clubs in educational institutions, to promote peoples understanding of the Communitys structures and objectives.

This will improve communication and coordination between the Court, national governments, and domestic judicial systems.

Also, harmonised enforcement mechanisms will contribute significantly to consistency and effectiveness in the execution of judgments across member states.

Nigeria remains committed to constructive engagement and to working collaboratively toward practical solutions that will uphold the integrity of the court, and advance regional integration.

While acknowledging the importance of the meeting, particularly on the margins of the 50th Anniversary celebrations of ECOWAS, she commended the court for its role as a trailblazer among sub-regional courts in Africa.

Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the statistics about the enforcement of the courts judgements across member states presented by Goncalves as a matter requiring serious attention.

The minister assured the delegation that the concerns raised would be transmitted to the relevant national authorities, particularly the Federal Ministry of Justice, for further review and action.

She stated that Nigeria will remain committed to the principles of sub-regional integration, the rule of law, and effective multilateral cooperation within the ECOWAS Community.

Speaking earlier, Mr Goncalves reiterated the courts readiness to partner with Nigeria in tackling judgement-related challenges.

On ECOWAS Court judgements regarding Nigeria

He said that the court had so far registered 128 cases involving Nigeria and that out of the total figure, 66 have been concluded, 10 judgments executed, while 52 are pending, awaiting execution.

The president of the court expressed appreciation to Nigeria for sustaining its long-standing support to the ECOWAS Community and the Court of Justice.

According to him, the visit to the ministry formed part of activities marking the 50th Anniversary of ECOWAS and engaging member states on the critical issue of non-enforcement of the courts judgments.

Goncalves observed that non-enforcement of the courts decisions posed significant challenges to the credibility of the institution and the broader objectives of sub-regional judicial integration.

He emphasised Nigerias pivotal role as a founding member state and a leading pillar of the ECOWAS community, adding that Nigerias example in ensuring compliance will have far-reaching implications for the integrity of the regional judicial system.

There is a need for closer collaboration between the Court and national authorities to develop improved mechanisms for the enforcement and to strengthen the rule of law within the community.

The court is ready to work constructively with Nigeria in identifying practical solutions to address the challenges associated with the implementation of judgments, the president of the court said.

(NAN)
A federal judge warned in Abuja on Tuesday that she could order the Chief of Army Staff to arrest the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun over his disobedience of a judgement.

To avert such a situation, the judge, Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, offered Mr Egbetokun an option of an amicable resolution to ensure compliance with the said judgement.

She issued the warning during a hearing in the contempt proceedings instituted by Nnenna Anozie, whose husband, John Anozie, was abducted by some police officers in June 2017.

The man has not been seen by his family members since his abduction in Lagos by police officers belonging to the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) more than eight years ago. The SARS operatives travelled from their base in Awkuzu in Anambra State to abduct Mr Anozie in Lagos in June 2017.

Since then, his spouse, Mrs Anozie, has doggedly made the rounds of courts and the #EndSARS judicial panel of enquiry seeking answers to the questions regarding her husbands disappearance.

In her quest for justice, she has obtained a series of rulings from different judges ordering her missing spouse to be produced and the police officers implicated over his disappearance to be held accountable.

The latest in the series of court orders was given by Mrs Nyako in September 2025, directing the IGP to produce the indicted officers and multiple case files connected with the case.

But Mr Egbetokun and the police spurned the judgement, prompting Mrs Anozie to initiate contempt proceedings seeking to have Mr Egbetokun jailed for his alleged disobedience to the judgement.

The warning

At Tuesdays hearing, Mrs Anozies lawyer, Vincent Adodo, chronicled the acts of disobedience of the police to court rulings regarding the case, leading to his filing of Forms 48 and 49, the court processes for initiating contempt proceedings. He told the judge that both filings had been served on the IGP.

Despite the avalanche of evidence, the IGP refused to produce the perpetrators, Mrs Anozies lawyer lamented to the court on top of his voice. He said the police could take the casefiles to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice for action.

He also told the court that his client, Mrs Anozie, who has sought justice since the 2017 incident, flew in from Lagos that morning for the case.

In response, IGPs lawyer, Stanley Nwodo, said he had received only Form 48 and that there was confusion over the identities of the implicated police officers.

The judge interjected. That is not the point because there is a judgment, she said.

Signalling her resolve to take all necessary actions to see the matter through, the judge said he had no problem granting the order to commit the IGP. She said if she must do that I will ask the Chief of Army Staff to arrest him. I will not ask the police.

The police are primarily responsible for carrying out the arrest of a person adjudged to have violated a court order. But the judge must have opted to rather task the Army with the task in the case of the IGP as the violator due to the foreseeable lukewarmness the police may exhibit towards such a directive.

She then gave IGPs lawyer two options: letting the contempt proceedings continue because the IGP did not comply with the court order, or having a meeting of parties in her chambers to discuss how to resolve the problem and proffer a solution. She said if the meeting option is adopted, it will be followed by a letter to communicating the resolutions reached to the Attorney General of the Federation

Mrs Anozies lawyer, however, told the court he feared such letters had previously gone to authorities several times.

But the judge responded immediately that she would be the one to write the letter. There is a difference between when you write and when I write.

She further explained that it was the better option as jailing the IGP might not change anything or solve any problem, because they will never answer you thereafter.

We are not having a case; we are proffering a solution, she added.

Mr Nwodo thought about the options for seconds and agreed that both parties should meet the judge in her chambers.

However, the judge instructed them to liaise with the court registrar to set a date for the meeting and adjourned the case until 23 April. By then, she said, they would have met in her chambers.

#EndSARS and John Anozies disappearance

PREMIUM TIMES, in a detailed report on the case, chronicled a long history of police disobedience to court orders regarding Mr Anozies disappearance and Mrs Anozies ordeal since the incident of the abduction of her husband by the police.

The officers implicated in the case are Anthony Obiozor Ikechukwu, an assistant superintendent of police; Uzochukwu Emeana, sergeant; John Eze, Oriole, also known as T Boy; and Sunday Okpe, a superintendent of police. Some of them were said to have retired from the police.

Mrs Anozie said the officers implicated in the case, who served in the defunct SARS in Awkuzu, Anambra State, abducted her husband at his home in Lekki, Lagos State, in June 2017.

Mr Anozies abduction and subsequent disappearance are an example of wide-ranging watrocities for which the defunct SARS became known across Nigeria. Over the decades, Nigerians suffered extortion, torture, extrajudicial killings, abduction, enforced disappearance, illegal seizure assets, among others, at the hands of the rogue police unit.

Their atrocities triggered the nationwide #EndSARS protests in October 2020. Police authorities disbanded the SARS unit in the wake of the protest while the federal and state governments agreed to set up judicial panels of enquiry to investigate cases of police brutality from across the country.

Mrs Anozie approached the panel in Abuja like thousands of Nigerians in Abuja and at least 29 of Nigerias 36 states. PREMIUM TIMES report on the matter shows Mrs Anozies case was inconclusive as the police failed to cooperate with the panel.

Motion seeking IGPs arrest

Mrs Anozie had, in the motion filed on 11 December last year, accused Mr Egbetokun of disobeying the September 2025 court judgement that ordered the production of the officers involved in her husbands abduction and disappearance.

READ ALSO: Police recommend prosecution of company officials over dispute on Lagos prime property

About a month after the court issued its orders and the IGP failed to act, Mrs Anozie, through her lawyer Mr Adodo, commenced contempt proceedings against the IGP, issuing Form 48 (Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order). A Form 48 warns an alleged contemnor to comply with a court judgment or face the consequences of disobedience.

When the police did not act, Mrs Anozie followed Form 48 with Form 49 (Notice of Committal to Correctional Centre), which requires alleged contemnors to explain to the judge why they should not be jailed for disobeying a court order.

An affidavit in support of the motion filed by Mrs Anozies lawyers in December said the IGP did not comply with the court judgement despite being served with both Form 48 and Form 49.

The police ignored all these orders, Mrs Anozie said in her motion, and called for the imprisonment of the IGP, who was a party to the case leading to the judgment and head of the police force.

The motion asked the court to commit the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, to Kuje prison in Abuja for contempt until he purges himself of the contempt/disobedience of the order of this honourable court.

However, the judges suggestion to change course in the proceedings on Tuesday may pause the contempt proceedings pending the outcome of the agreed meeting.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, rescheduled the trial of a former Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dibu Ojerinde, on charges of official corruption and abuse of office to 30 April.

The matter was adjourned due to the absence of trial judge Mohammed Umar, who was said to be on an official assignment elsewhere.

Mr Ojerinde is facing prosecution alongside four of his four children  Mary Ojerinde, Olumide Ojerinde, Adebayo Ojerinde and Oluwaseun Ojerinde  among other defendants.

Other defendants are six companies linked to him, namely: Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Limited, Cheng Marbles Limited, Sapati International Schools Limited, Trillium Learning Centre Limited, Standout Institutes Limited and Esli Perfect Security Printers Limited.

The case, marked FHC//ABJ/CR/119/2023, is one of the two criminal indictments filed against the ex-JAMB boss by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission (ICPC).

In the 17 charges, the ICPC alleged that the former JAMB boss conspired with three of his children (Oluwaseun Ojerinde, Olumide Ojerinde, and Adebayo Ojerinde) to sell off property worth $150,000 after it had been forfeited to the federal government by a court order.

The property is located at House No. 4 Ahomko Drive, Achimota Phase 2, Accra, Ghana.

The prosecution also accused Mr Ojerinde of incorporating companies and taking up simultaneous appointments as Chairman and Director, while being a public officer on full-time appointment as Registrar/Chief Executive of National Examinations Council (NECO), Minna and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Bwari, Abuja.

ICPC said this was despite the fact that Mr Ojerinde knew very well that the Code of Conduct for Public Officers forbids public officers from engaging in private business other than farming or participating in shareholding of joint stock companies.

Second trial stalled by settlement talks

Mr Ojerinde is facing a separate trial on 18 counts involving alleged diversion of funds during his time as the registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO) till his time as JAMBs chief executive.

In the 18 counts, ICPC accused him of diverting N5.2 billion in public funds, abuse of office, and conferring corrupt advantages on himself while heading both examination bodies.

The case, which is before another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Obiora Egwuatu, has suffered setbacks, with progress stalled, after the prosecution and the defence informedthe court at the 16 July 2025 proceedings of their resumed settlement talks.

The disclosure came just weeks after the trial judge ordered Mr Ojerinde to open his defence and two and a half years after the first settlement talks failed.

Defence lawyer Eteya Ogana told the trial judge at the said proceedings that the defence was meant to open its case, but for the need to give the settlement talks a chance.

Lesie Iheduru, who appeared for the prosecution, confirmed the development and did not oppose the request for adjournment.

The earlier settlement moves broke down in February 2022, paving the way for the ICPC to call its first prosecution witness after some wait to see the negotiation through.

After ICPC finished presenting its case, calling all its prosecution witnesses and tendering documentary evidence, Mr Ojerinde filed a no-case submission to ask the court to dismiss the charges on the grounds that the commission failed to prove any case against him.

The judge dismissed the no-case submission in June 2025, ruling that he had a case to answer, and ordering him to open his defence on 16 July 2025.

But on the set date, instead of Mr Ojerinde opening his defence, the prosecution and defence teams informed the court that they had resumed their settlement talks.

But since then, the case has stalled.

Recently on 28 January, when the hearing was scheduled to resume, the legal teams for the defence and prosecution were absent. Mr Ojerinde too was absent.

This forced the judge to reschedule the hearing for 25 March.

ICPC had in 2020 obtained a court order for the confiscation of various assets, including schools, filling stations, and houses traced to Mr Ojerinde.
The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence on Wednesday expressed concern that funding for the intelligence sector does not reflect President Bola Tinubus stated commitment to strengthening national security.

The committee made the observation during the 2026 budget defence session with agencies under its oversight.

it argued that allocations and releases fall short of the administrations declared security priorities.

Mr Tinubu had presented a N58 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly in December 2025, proposing N5.41 trillion for defence and security.

In his address to a joint session, he pledged to modernise the armed forces, strengthen intelligence-driven policing, enhance border security and reset the countrys counter-terrorism framework.

However, the committee said figures available to it do not align with those assurances.

Chairman of the committee, Ahmed Satomi (APC, Borno), stated that the intelligence sub-sector comprising the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and its centres, the State Security Service (SSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Presidential Air Fleet and the National Institute for Security Studies received allocations that appeared inadequate.

According to him, the intelligence sectors proposed allocation for 2026 covers personnel, overhead and capital expenditure, with personnel costs put at N245.94 billion, overheads at N131.27 billion and capital expenditure at N286.90 billion.

He described the overall funding profile as abysmal and inconsistent with the presidents policy pronouncements.

Mr Satomi further noted that releases under the 2025 budget raised additional concerns, saying available records did not suggest that security and intelligence were being prioritised in actual disbursements.

If indeed the provision of welfare and security is the primary purpose of governance, then releases to the security sector should not be treated trivially, he said.

The committee appealed to the president to review and enhance funding to intelligence agencies to enable them meet growing security challenges.

Mr Satomi also warned security agencies against resisting legislative oversight, stressing that the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to make laws and supervise agencies implementing them.

He said oversight should not be misconstrued as hostility, but seen as a constitutional mechanism to ensure transparency, accountability and value for money.

Operational constraints

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, while presenting the 2025 budget performance and the 2026 proposal, highlighted operational constraints facing the intelligence community.

He cited irregular release of overhead funds, non-release of capital allocations and foreign exchange pressures as major challenges.

Mr Sanusi explained that many service agreements are denominated in foreign currency, with exchange rate volatility significantly increasing operational costs. He noted that the maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet abroad, rather than at its local hangar, has further escalated expenses.

He said the intelligence communitys priorities for 2026 include tackling terrorism, banditry and kidnapping through intelligence-led operations, protecting oil and gas assets, strengthening maritime and border security, enhancing cybersecurity and curbing the proliferation of small arms across the West African corridor.

In view of the recent declaration of a state of emergency on national security, Mr Sanusi called for improved and timely releases, including the possibility of a supplementary budget, to enable swift response to emerging threats.
Armed operatives on Wednesday night arrested former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as soon as he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr El-Rufai was detained by the EFCC over corruption allegations on Monday.

He was granted bail at about 8 pm on Wednesday but was immediately picked up by armed operatives, who laid an ambush for him at the premises of the EFCC headquarters, witnesses said.

It is unclear which law enforcement agency rearrested the politician. A source had told our reporter that the operatives who picked him up were from the State Security Service.

But some other sources said the agents came from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, which is also investigating the former governor for alleged corruption.

The SSS recently picked a battle with the politician over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of Nigerias National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

On Monday, the SSS charged him with cybercrimes before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the phone-tapping allegation.

Phone interception allegations

The case, filed as FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, followed Mr El-Rufais remarks during a live Arise TV interview on Friday.

He claimed that the NSAs phone was tapped and that he heard the NSA directing security operatives to detain him.

He alleged that the directive prompted an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, where he exchanged heated words with security personnel. Witnesses said officials briefly confiscated his international passport before escorting him out amid chants from supporters.

In response to the interview, SSS prosecutors filed cybercrime charges against Mr El-Rufai on Monday.

The prosecution said he admitted to intercepting the NSAs communications, failed to report others who conducted unlawful interceptions, and compromised public safety and national security by using technical systems to tap the NSAs phone.

The alleged acts were said to violate provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. No arraignment date has been fixed, and Mr El-Rufai has not publicly responded to the charges.

Backstory

Mr El-Rufais arrest came amid fast-paced developments following his recent return to the country from Cairo, Egypt.

It started last Thursday when security operatives attempted to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after he arrived from Cairo, Egypt.

Videos circulating online showed a brief confrontation between security personnel and the former governors entourage. His international passport was reportedly confiscated during the encounter.

Mr El-Rufai later alleged that the arrest attempt was carried out at the instruction of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, through the State Security Service (SSS).

Speaking on Arise Televisions Prime Time programme on Friday, he claimed that the NSAs phone was allegedly tapped, allowing him to hear instructions to detain him.

Mr El-Rufais lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the attempted arrest, describing it as arbitrary and in violation of constitutional rights.

According to him, the EFCC invitation was delivered to Mr El-Rufais residence while he was abroad, making immediate compliance impractical.

The lawyer said his client had formally communicated with the EFCC to ensure voluntary attendance upon his return, scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday.

Mr Akpan further demanded the immediate return of Mr El-Rufais passport, describing its seizure as an infringement on his dignity, freedom of movement, and constitutional rights.

He warned that legal action would be taken against any unlawful attempts at detention.

On Monday, the State Security Service (SSS) filed cybercrime charges against Mr El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged unlawful interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The case was filed barely three days after Mr El-Rufai said during a live interview on Arise TV, focusing on the airport encounter, that the NSAs phone conversation was intercepted, and that he heard the NSA directing security operatives to detain him.

Mr El-Rufai has faced mounting scrutiny since leaving office, including allegations of diverting N423 billion in public funds.

In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly demanded investigations into his administration.

He has also been summoned by the ICPC for questioning.

The former governor previously backed President Bola Tinubus emergence as the APC presidential candidate in 2023. Mr Tinubu won the presidential election and was subsequently inaugurated to office in May 2023.

Both he and the president parted ways politically, with Mr El Rufai becoming Mr Tinubus fierce critic after the presidents initial move to appoint the former Kaduna State governor as a minister fell through.

Mr El-Rufai has since joined the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), vowing to work with like-minded politicians to ensure Mr Tinubu is not re-elected in 2027.
A human rights lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, has filed a N105 billion suit against Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State over alleged violation of the fundamental rights of Amasiri people.

Amasiri, where Mr Idam hails from, is a community in Afikpo Local Government Area of the state. The community was recently involved in a renewed land dispute with neighbouring Okporojo, in Oso community of Edda Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Nwifuru recently ordered a curfew and a shutdown of all schools in the community in the wake of the crisis with the Nigerian Army deploying troops in the area.

The suit

But Mr Idam, in the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleged that the deployed soldiers and other security operatives were engaging in human rights violations of his people.

The lawyer contended that the security operatives were also indiscriminately arresting, detaining the people and destroying their assets.

Apart from Mr Nwifuru, the chief of defence staff, his chief of army staff counterpart, the inspector-general of police and the commandant-general of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were listed as respondents in the suit.

Others are the commandant of the Nwangu Military Cantonment, the attorney-general of Ebonyi State and the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/310/2026, was filed on 16 February 2026.

The profiling and collective punishment of the Amasiri communities over allegations of crime without investigation or fair hearing amounts to a violation of the constitutional right to fair hearing and presumption of innocence, he said.

The lawyer argued his peoples rights to life, dignity of the human person, personal liberty, and fair hearing, presumption of innocence, freedom of movement, and ownership of property as guaranteed under Sections 33 to 43 of the Constitution are being violated.

He stressed that the rights are under imminent threat of further violation by the actions of the respondents.

Prayers

Mr Idam asked the court to declare that the deployment and continued presence of the Nigerian troops and other security operatives in Amasiri on 30 January 2026 at the instance of the governor was a violation of rights of the community people.

He prayed the court to issue an order directing the respondents to release all the persons indiscriminately arrested, especially two traditional rulers of the community  Idam Bassey Onya and Godfrey Oko.

The lawyer also wants the reversal of the alleged illegal removal and detention of the Coordinator of Amasiri Development Centre, Baron Ogbonnia, since 31 January.

Mr Idam is also seeking an order restraining the defendants from further arresting and detaining his kins.

He further pleaded with the court to nullify the delisting of Amasiri Development Centre and any other punitive administrative actions taken against him and his people allegedly without a fair hearing.

The lawyer also prayed the court to award N100billion against the respondents as exemplary and aggravated damages for the gross violations of his peoples fundamental rights.

He is also asking the court to issue an order awarding N5 billion against the respondents as general damages to his people and himself.

Mr Idam wants the court to order the respondents to rebuild five religious and cultural centres destroyed by them in the course of their operations in the community.

It is unclear, for now, if the court has set a hearing date on the matter.

Why the suit

In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Idam explained that he filed the suit after he wrote and spoke to authorities about the issues without getting a response.

Having exhausted all reasonable avenues, this legal action has become the last constitutional resort, compelled by necessity and guided by conscience, the lawyer said.

This action is undertaken personally by me in my individual capacity. However, the reliefs sought are intended not merely for my benefit, but for the protection and vindication of every affected citizen of Amasiri community.

Background

Amasiri, a community in Afikpo LGA has been in a prolonged land dispute with neighbouring Okporojo village, in Oso community of Edda, another council area in the state.

The dispute, last month, led to the beheading of four indigenes of Okporojo village in Oso Community and destruction of their properties.

The deadly attack was allegedly carried out by the people of Amasiri which prompted Mr Nwifuru, in late January, to sack all his political appointees from the community.

The Ebonyi governor equally dethroned traditional rulers from the Amasiri Community over their alleged complicity in the attack and dispute.

He declared a curfew in the community and shut down schools in the area.

Mr Nwifuru would later relax the curfew from 2 p.m.  10 a.m. to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

He maintained that the Amasiri people must produce the severed heads of the Okporojo indigenes.

The Nigerian Army later announced that it deployed troops in a joint operation within Amasiri and its adjoining communities to protect innocent citizens.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday admitted the confessional statements of four defendants standing trial over the 5 June 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

Judge Emeka Nwite admitted the defendants statements after an SSS investigator, identified as SSJ, told the court he interviewed the defendants and recorded their statements in connection with the attack. The witness, the 10th to be presented by the prosecution, was identified by the codename as a witness protection measure.

The defendants lawyer had objected to the admissibility of the statements immediately the prosecution sought to tender them in evidence.

Mr Nwite rejected the defence request for a trial-within-trial, which is usually conducted to test the voluntariness of an extrajudicial statement of a defendant. The judge ruled that the statements were admissible.

In view of the foregoing, I hold that the statement sought to be tendered is admissible. The objection of the defence is hereby overruled, the judge held.

He admitted the statements of the first to the fourth defendants made on 18 August 2022 and marked them as Exhibits O, P, Q and R.

The four suspects whose statements were admitted are Idris Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25. Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47 years, is the fifth defendant in the case.

On 5 June 2022, gunmen attacked the church during Pentecost Mass, killing more than 40 worshippers and injuring over 100 others.

On 11 August last year, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation arraigned the five men on terrorism charges in connection with the incident.

Prosecutors alleged the defendants were members of an Al-Shabab cell operating in Kogi State and planned and carried out the attack as part of a violent religious agenda. So far, 10 prosecution witnesses have testified.

The ninth prosecution testified on Tuesday, narrating how the suspected terrorists planned the attack on the church.

On Wednesday, SSJ testified as the 10th prosecution witness, detailing how he obtained the statements of the defendants.

How SSS investigator obtained statements

Led in evidence by prosecution lawyer Ayodeji Adedipe, the SSS operative, SSJ, told the court that he is the investigating officer saddled with the responsibility to interview the defendants and take their statements in relation to their involvement in the attack of June 2022 at St Francis Church in Owo, Ondo State.

SSJ said he administered cautionary words before taking the statements of the first to fourth defendants individually.

They informed me that they cannot write in English, even though they can speak English, though pidgin, he said.

He added that he asked whether they had a lawyer, family member or any person who could serve as a witness.

However, they responded in the negative. At this point, the Director of Legal Aid Council was invited to serve as a witness as I took voluntary confessional statements from the first to the fourth defendants, he testified.

According to him, after taking the statements, a senior investigating officer, in the presence of the Legal Aid Council director, confirmed from each defendant whether the statements were theirs and made voluntarily.

Then, each of the statements was read to them one after the other, as what they actually said orally, and they all answered in the affirmative.

He said the defendants appended their signatures, dated and thumbprinted the statements voluntarily.

Thereafter, I signed each of the statements they made. Then the senior investigating officer countersigned each of the statements, and the Director of Legal Aid Council signed as a witness to each of the confessional statements, SSJ added.

The prosecution then tendered the four statements in evidence.

Objection overruled

Defence lawyer A.A. Muhammad objected to their admissibility. He argued that only two of the defendants could not write and alleged that the statements were taken in Akure, the Ondo State capital, under duress.

He contended that the documents were stamped at the SSS headquarters in Abuja without proper dates or visible thumbprints and alleged that the defendants were tortured seriously before the statements were recorded.

Mr Muhammad urged the court to order a trial-within-trial to determine how the statements were obtained.

In response, Mr Adedipe argued that the objection concerned authorship rather than voluntariness and that the law only requires a trial-within-trial where voluntariness is in issue.

After hearing the arguments, Mr Nwite explained: A trial within a trial is conducted where the involuntariness of the making of a statement by an accused person is raised, he said. It arises only when the accused admits making the statement but alleges that it was not made voluntarily or was made under duress.

Where the issue is whether the statement was in fact made by the accused person, that is a question of fact, he said. Such denial does not affect the admissibility of the statement. The court is entitled to admit it and decide the weight to attach to it in its final judgment.

After citing authorities, the judge rejected the defence objection.

The objection by counsel for the defence is overruled, he said, and admitted the statements.

He adjourned the matter until Thursday, 19 February, for the tendering of the fifth defendants statement and continuation of the trial and cross-examination of SSJ.

Defence questions how SSS linked attack to suspects

Earlier on Wednesday, defence lawyers cross-examined the SSS investigator who had testified the previous day about how the defendants allegedly planned the June 2022 attack.

Asked where the five defendants were arrested, the witness said officers apprehended them in August 2022 in Kogi and Ondo states. He could not recall how many arrests occurred in Kogi but said the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was likely arrested there. When pressed on the others, he replied they were arrested in either Kogi or Ondo State.

The defence questioned him about Odoba, described as a principal suspect. The witness confirmed Odoba remained at large and clarified that he usually hibernates and operates around Ogaminana, adding that the SSS would arrest him if intelligence revealed his location. He rejected suggestions that the fifth defendant was not investigated, stating, It was an oversight that I did not mention how he relates to the investigation.

On alleged affiliations, the witness said the defendants belonged to a cell of ISWAP that call themselves Al-Shabab, which he said operates around the Niger-Kwara axis. He identified a gathering point as Imam Kabirus mosque and confirmed that Abdullahi and Mohammed, linked to the attack, were still at large.

Regarding weapons, he testified that Abdulhaleem Idris returned five AK-47 rifles, magazines and a rented vehicle to Odoba after the incident. He added that suspects often refuse to expose other members. The defendants, he said, have remained in custody since 2022.

The witness reiterated that investigators recovered a Nissan Sunny getaway vehicle and a motorcycle used for surveillance. Eyewitnesses identified four defendants at the church, while phone analysis placed them near the scene, though those records were not yet tendered.

He added that financial tracking targeted suspected terrorism funding and denied knowledge of any Fulani arrests.

On 5 June 2022, gunmen stormed the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, during Pentecost Mass, killing more than 40 worshippers and injuring over 100 others.

The attack occured amid worsening insecurity in different parts of the country. For over a decade the northeastern part of the country has been in the grip insurgency. Splinter groups of the terrorists and their cells are believed to have spread to the North West and North Central where armed criminals often referred to as bandits, who kidnap for ransom, also operate.

Kogi State in the North Central region shares borders with Ondo State in the South West where the June 2022 massacre occured. Observers believed the that the attack was a major sign pointing the gradual spread of the terrorist activities down south.
At least 11 passengers were killed on Tuesday in Enugu State when a large tree fell on a Toyota Hiace bus and a Sienna minivan in the state.

The incident happened at about 8:45 p.m. in Awhum Community, Udi Local Government Area of the state.

The police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, said the tree was at the communitys village square.

Upon receiving the report, operatives attached to 9th Mile Division swiftly responded and, with the assistance of community members, rescued four persons trapped in the vehicles and secured the scene.

Regrettably, the 11 other victims were rushed to the hospital but were later confirmed dead by doctors, he said.

The police spokesperson said the bodies of the victims have been deposited in a mortuary for further necessary procedures.

Preliminary findings indicate that the vehicles had conveyed passengers from Old Park, Enugu, and were heading to various villages within the Awhum/Okpatu Axis.

They had stopped to drop off passengers when the tree, weakened by heavy rainfall, strong winds, and apparent internal decay, collapsed on them, he stated.

Mr Ndukwe said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, has commiserated with the families of the deceased and the community over the incident.

Mr Giwa urged community leaders and all residents of Enugu State to regularly inspect and maintain large or ageing trees in their communities to prevent similar tragedies.

The police chief said such trees around markets, motor parks, schools, and residential areas should not be ignored, particularly during the rainy season.

Real reason the tree was felled

Residents told PREMIUM on Wednesday that the tree had been giving signs of decay, but some traditional worshippers insisted that the tree would not be cut down because a deity was living there.

Now that the tree has fallen, will the traditional worshipers continue their usual libations there? I think they should be held accountable for the lives lost, one resident, Chinedu Ikam, said.

READ ALSO: Gov Otti offers support for victims as 15 travellers die in Enugu road crash

But some of the traditional worshipers have instead blamed members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement for burning the tree.

An unidentified man who spoke in a video clip on Wednesday claimed the church people have been oppressing the traditional worshippers in Awhum Community.

Last two years, they put fire under this tree because we worship here. It was the fire by members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in Awhum and Okpatu that caused the fall, the man, who claimed to be the secretary of traditional worshipers in the area, said.

The fire burned for a long time and caused damage to the tree before we discovered it.
If we can carry the humility of fasting, the empathy born of hunger, and the discipline of prayer beyond our mosques and churches, perhaps we can rediscover the Nigeria I knew in 1992  a country where faith built bridges rather than barriers Ramadan and Lent invite us back to that possibility.

From time to time, I retreat into the fond memories of my youth in Delta State. Between 1992 and 1993, I served in Asaba as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in a predominantly Christian community. In those days, faith was practised with dignity, confidence, and mutual respect. We did not merely observe our religious obligations; we lived them openly, without fear or suspicion.

During Ramadan, we undertook Islamic propagation across rural communities. It was a season of purpose and conviction. Kabir Alabi Garba  now the Weekend Editor of The Guardian newspapers  was then the leader of the Muslim Corpers Association of Nigeria (MCAN) in Delta State. Comrade Muhammad Haruna Ibrahim, today the national president of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), was among the active members. So too was Honourable Muktar Aliyu Betara, now one of Nigerias longest-serving federal lawmakers.

We moved from village to village with copies of the Holy Quran. I still recall the curiosity of villagers encountering it for the first time. Some affectionately described it as the Hausa Bible. Yet many were captivated by the poetic cadence of Yusuf Alis English translation, and some embraced Islam not out of coercion, but conviction.

One memory remains especially poignant. On Sallah day, the late Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Highness Professor Chike Edozien, hosted a feast for Muslim youth corp members. He welcomed us warmly, his table adorned with delicacies  including exotic wines. Alcohol is forbidden in Islam, but we handled the moment with courtesy and maturity. We honoured his hospitality while observing our faith. There was no tension, no outrage, no viral commentary. In that era  devoid of smartphones and social media toxicity  life was defined by civility and coexistence. Inter-ethnic marriages among corp members were not only common; they were celebrated.

Three decades later, the atmosphere feels different. Today, a harmless opinion can provoke hostility so sharp that one can often predict the critics background, merely by their name. The ethno-religious fault lines are so taut that some now openly fantasise about separation  as though fragmentation will magically deliver peace. We see the tragic consequences of such divisions in parts of Kaduna and Jos, where invisible walls now separate communities that once lived as neighbours.

Yet, at this very moment, Muslims and Christians across the world are simultaneously immersed in sacred seasons  Ramadan and Lent. More than three billion people are engaged in prayer, fasting, and repentance. Separated by theology, yet united by a common human longing: to draw closer to the Creator through discipline and sacrifice.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, commemorates the revelation of the Holy Quran to Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Lent, the forty-day Christian observance preceding Easter, recalls the fasting and temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness.

Muslims fast daily from Suhoor (dawn) to Iftar (sunset), abstaining from food, drink, and negative conduct. Christians observe fasting, alms giving, and abstinence, marked by Ash Wednesday  a solemn reminder of human mortality and repentance.

Interfaith unity does not require theological uniformity. It requires recognition of sincerity. Ramadan and Lent are not rivals; they are companions  two rivers flowing along different paths toward the same vast ocean of Divine Mercy.

Ramadan cultivates Taqwa  God-consciousness  culminating in Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, before Eid al-Fitr. Lent calls believers to Metanoia  a transformative turning back to God  leading to Easter, the celebration of the resurrection and hope.

For both traditions, hunger is not punishment; it is purification. It strips away distractions and awakens compassion for the vulnerable.

These practices are rooted in a shared prophetic heritage. Abraham fasted. Moses fasted. Jesus fasted. Muhammad fasted. The message across centuries is consistent: voluntary restraint strengthens the soul. The body becomes a bridge to the Divine.

Interfaith unity does not require theological uniformity. It requires recognition of sincerity. Ramadan and Lent are not rivals; they are companions  two rivers flowing along different paths toward the same vast ocean of Divine Mercy.

The Quran reminds us: O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may know one another. (Quran 49:13)

And the Bible commands: Love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

If we can carry the humility of fasting, the empathy born of hunger, and the discipline of prayer beyond our mosques and churches, perhaps we can rediscover the Nigeria I knew in 1992  a country where faith built bridges rather than barriers.

Ramadan and Lent invite us back to that possibility.

Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of An Encounter with the Spymaster; email: [email protected]
BUDAPEST, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Hungary has suspended diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine with immediate effect and will not resume shipments until crude oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline is restored, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said here on Wednesday.

The suspension will remain in place until Ukraine restarts crude oil deliveries to Hungary through the pipeline, Szijjarto told a press conference following a government meeting.

According to the minister, crude oil transit was halted on Jan. 27.

The Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil through Ukraine to Central Europe, has faced repeated disruptions since last year due to damage to energy infrastructure amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Despite suspending diesel exports, Szijjarto stressed that Hungary's domestic energy supply remains secure. The country holds strategic reserves sufficient for more than three months, and authorities have begun assessing the possible use of these stocks.

He added that Hungary and Slovakia, both reliant on the pipeline, have notified the European Commission of their intention to invoke European Union provisions that allow seaborne imports of Russian crude oil if pipeline supplies are disrupted.

Hungarian energy company MOL has already ordered the necessary volumes for maritime delivery. Shipments arriving via Croatia could be available by mid-March, provided relevant EU regulations are applied, the minister said.

In a related post on social media on Wednesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban described Ukraine's actions as "blackmailing Hungary" and assured the public that the country's crude oil supply remains stable despite current challenges. 
Africas Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has unveiled a diaspora banking and investment platform designed to serve Africans living and working across the world and within the continent.

The platform, launched in collaboration with leading ecosystem partners including United Capital, Africa Prudential, UBA Pensions, Afriland Properties, Heirs Insurance Group, and Avon Healthcare Limited  represents a major step in redefining diaspora banking beyond remittances toward structured wealth creation and long-term investment.

At the unveiling, which took place at UBAs global headquarters in Lagos under the theme: Beyond Banking: Powering the Global African Lifestyle, all the company representatives were on hand to showcase a seamless platform that goes beyond remittances, wealth creation, protection, and long-term prosperity.

Speaking at the event, UBAs Head of Diaspora Banking, Anant Rao, described the initiative as a strategic shift in how Africa engages its global citizens.

For decades, Africas engagement with its diaspora has focused largely on remittances. Today, we are moving beyond that. This platform represents a transition from simple money transfers to a financial ecosystem where Africans globally can bank, make payments, invest, protect their families, and build long-term wealth seamlessly, he said.

Rao noted that African diaspora remittance flows exceed $100 billion annually, making them one of the most resilient and consistent sources of capital into the continent.

Diaspora capital is not just a flow of funds  it is a strategic growth partner for Africa.

Our role is to provide a trusted platform that converts capital into structured investment and shared prosperity across the continent.

The objective is to provide a platform that brings together offerings across the numerous needs of the Global African, including Banking and payments, Investments, securities services, asset management, Insurance, Pensions, real estate and Pensions.

Through this coordinated ecosystem, diaspora customers can access financial solutions across multiple sectors through a single trusted platform, enabling them to manage their financial lives and family commitments across borders with ease and transparency.

UBAs Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, emphasised the importance of collaboration in delivering a seamless diaspora experience.

The modern African is a global citizen  mobile, ambitious, and deeply connected to home. Whether living in Africa, Europe, the Americas, or the Middle East, there must be a structured and secure financial connection back home. This platform ensures that Africans everywhere can remain economically connected to the continent with confidence and transparency.

Partners within the ecosystem highlighted growing demand among diaspora Africans for structured investment opportunities, secure property ownership, insurance protection, and long-term financial planning.

United Capital showcased globally accessible investment products designed to deliver professionally managed and transparent wealth creation opportunities.

Afriland Properties emphasised structured and well-governed real estate investment pathways for diaspora clients.

Heirs Insurance highlighted protection solutions for life, and assets, while Avon Healthcare Limited demonstrated healthcare access and insurance solutions for families across borders.

Africa Prudential and UBA Pension reinforced digital investment management and long-term pension savings solutions designed to support diaspora participation in African capital markets.

Together, the partners underscored a shared commitment to providing diaspora Africans with credible, transparent, and professionally managed financial pathways.

Rao also reiterated the guiding philosophy of Africapitalism, championed by UBAs Founder and Chairman, Mr Tony O Elumelu.

He explained that Africapitalism is the belief that Africas private sector must play a leading role in the continents development by making long-term investments that generate both economic returns and social impact.

As Africa continues to position itself as one of the worlds most dynamic growth frontiers, UBA believes mobilising diaspora capital through trusted financial institutions will be central to shaping the continents next phase of development.

Africa will increasingly be financed by Africans themselves, including Africans abroad, Mr Rao added.

Our responsibility is to build the trusted financial infrastructure that makes this possible.

When Africas global citizens invest back into Africa, growth becomes inevitable, he concluded.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Tuesday reminded operators, contractors, and service companies in the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry of their mandatory obligation to remit one percent (1%) Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) levy into the bank accounts officially designated by the Board.

In a statement at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe explained that the NCDF is established under Section 104 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010 as a dedicated fund for the development of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry.

He reiterated that covered entities are bound to remit one percent (1%) of the value of every upstream contract, adding that NCDMB is vested with the exclusive authority for the management and administration of the fund.

Funds generated under the NCDF are deployed to support indigenous oil and gas contractors and service companies, to finance capacity development and training in the industry, to enable access to affordable finance for indigenous participation, and to drive sustainable growth across the oil and gas value chain.

Mr Ogbe clarified further that the NCDF is a ring-fenced statutory development fund created by a specific Act of the National Assembly, adding that it is not classified as Federal Government revenue payable into the Consolidated Revenue Fund and its collection and administration are expressly governed by Section 104 of the NOGICD Act.

He stressed that all remittances of the one percent (1%) NCDF levy must be made strictly into the accounts officially designated by the NCDMB, pointing out that any remittance made outside the accounts formally designated by the NCDMB shall not be recognized as valid payment of the one percent (1%) NCDF Levy under the Act.

He urged companies to ensure strict compliance and to seek clarification from the Board where necessary prior to effecting any remittance. The Executive Secretary assured industry stakeholdersthat the Board remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the effective utilization of the Fund for the growth and sustainability of Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry.

Furthermore, the NCDMB has announced that obtaining theNigerian Content Development Fund Compliance Certificate (NCFCC) has become a key requirement for accessing the Boards regulatory services and approvals.

The NCDF Compliance Certificate is issued to companies to confirm their full compliance with statutory obligation to remit one per cent (1%) of the value of every contract awarded in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

The Board stated that without a valid NCDF Compliance Certificate, access to regulatory documents, certifications, approvals, and clearances issued by NCDMB shall not be granted. Some of these include Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC), approvals and clearances for projects and contracts, and other regulatory documents issued by the Board.

The agency advised oil and gas industry stakeholders to regularisetheir NCDF remittance status, apply promptly for the document and ensure continuous compliance to avoid disruptions to operational schedules.

The Board said the process of obtaining the NCFCC is fully digital and accessible via the NCDMB online portal. It advised all eligible companies to submit relevant contract and remittance information, upload evidence of NCDF payments, complete verification and compliance review, and obtain the Compliance Certificate upon confirmation.

According to NCDMB, obtaining the NCDF Compliance Certificatematters because it is a validation of a companys standing with the Board, and serves as a mechanism for promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable Nigerian content development.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has said that the central focus of his electrification drive is to boost economic activities and strengthen small and medium enterprises in a way that access to electricity will no longer be a privilege in the state.

The governor made this known at the flagging off of Phase One of the distribution of 600 transformers and accessories across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state and the deployment of 10,000 solar-powered street lights.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Uba Sani said that we are enabling welders, tailors, cold-room operators, ICT hubs, and manufacturers to operate with dignity and predictability.

We are sending a clear message that access to energy must no longer be the privilege of a few urban centres but the right of every community, he said, adding that electricity is not a luxury but the bloodstream of modern society.

The governor pointed out that electricity powers hospitals and preserves vaccines, lights classrooms and expands the horizons of children, as well as drives our industries, irrigates our farms, and sustains the small businesses that form the backbone of our economy.

According to him, without reliable power, development is stunted, security is weakened, and opportunity is constrained. He disclosed that his administration had completed some abandoned power projects and initiated new ones since he assumed office close to three years ago.

In the health sector, under the previously stalled Indian-Exim Bank initiative, we completed solar mini-grid installations in 190 out of 225 Primary Health Care Centres, delivering 1.35 megawatts of clean energy.

We restored 32 abandoned systems; 21 in PHCs and 11 in General Hospitals. The result has been tangible: improved service delivery and a measurable reduction in maternal and child mortality, he added.

Governor Uba Sani also said that his administration has completed the long-abandoned 2x60MVA, 132/33kV Substation at the Green Economic Zone in Maraban Jos. He emphasised that the substation is more than infrastructure, adding that it is an industrial catalyst which unlocks investment potential, stimulates manufacturing, and positions Kaduna as a competitive economic hub.

In Kubau Local Government Area, the Damau solar model, delivering 100 kilowatts, has ended a decade of darkness for 450 households.

Additional distributed generation projects totalling 1,694 kilowatts are underway in Chara, Gidan Kundi, Gora, and Hawan Mai Mashi, he promised.

Mr Uba Sani also listed the electricity projects that his government has executed in the three senatorial districts since he assumed office two and half years ago.

In Zone one, we rehabilitated distribution networks stretching from Maraban Kubau to Kubau, from Makarfi through Tashan Icce and Tashan Yari and from Lere to Saminaka and Unguwan Bawa, he said.

According to the Governor, Zaria, Sabon-Gari, and Kudan towns in Zone one have each benefited from multiple transformer installations.

In Zone two, several transformer installations and network rehabilitations have strengthened supply resilience across multiple communities, he added.

Governor Uba Sani disclosed that his administration has rehabilitated critical lines from Kagarko Junction to Manchok in Zone three.

He equally said that Kaduna State Government has restored high and low-tension networks in Unguwan Magata and Unguwan Doh; intervened in Ramai Gida and Jaba Local Government.

According to the Governor, he has extended rehabilitation from Jagindi Junction to Gwado-Gwado; restored the Gada- Biyu to Kogun River corridor spanning 69 kilometres.

His administration has also completed major works along the TafaJereKagarko high-tension line with associated transformers and accessories in Zone three.

The governor also disclosed that a landmark Memorandum of Understanding was signed on October 22, 2025, with the Rural Electrification Agency, adding that his administration is advancing a 1.5-megawatt project for Kaduna Polytechnic and an 8-megawatt allocation for Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

We are developing urban generation projects, including a 2-megawatt initiative in the TRAPCO community, he said, adding that we are also planning two megawatts for Shika and 4 megawatts in Makarfi to boost local manufacturing.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has unveiled the new masterplans for Katsina, Daura, and Funtua, setting a 15-year development framework aimed at transforming the three cities into modern, inclusive, and economically vibrant urban centres.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony held at the Government House, Katsina, Governor Radda described the masterplans as a historic milestone in our urban renewal journey and a cornerstone of our broader vision to build orderly, functional, and prosperous communities across the state.

The last comprehensive masterplans for these cities were developed in 1978 and designed to operate for only 25 years. Despite several attempts at review, those efforts remained incomplete until now. Today, we are correcting that gap and laying a solid foundation for the future of our urban centres, the Governor stated.

Since assuming office in 2023, we inherited rapidly growing urban centres characterised by fragile expansion, inadequate infrastructure, and the lingering effects of insecurity. But under our Building Your Future agenda, we refused to accept the status quo and chose instead to confront our challenges head-on, he explained.

Governor Radda noted that progress is already being recorded across the state.

Peace is gradually returning to our land, investor confidence is rising, and our people are beginning to see tangible dividends of democracy. The unveiling of these masterplans marks another bold step in that journey, he said.

These masterplans were prepared through rigorous stakeholder consultations, expert analysis, and a deep understanding of our unique context. They will guide the physical, economic, and social transformation of our three largest urban centres for the next 15 years and beyond, the governor emphasised.

He stressed that the plans will not remain on paper. Let me be clearthese masterplans are not meant to gather dust on shelves. Implementation begins immediately after this launch. We have already commenced urban renewal projects, invested heavily in road networks, drainage systems, and land administration reforms, Governor Radda said.

The Governor disclosed that the 2026 state budget provides strong backing for the plans. Our 2026 budget of over 857 billion, the largest in our history, reflects our determination to translate these plans into concrete actions that will reshape our cities and improve the lives of our people, he added.

He described the masterplans as more than technical documents. These are not just drawings or policy papers. They represent our collective promise to build modern, orderly, and prosperous communities where our children and grandchildren will thrive in well-planned cities that honour our heritage while embracing the future, he noted.

Reflecting on past challenges, the governor said weak implementation of earlier plans led to serious urban problems.

We have witnessed the consequencesurban slums, recurrent floods, advancing desertification, overcrowded neighbourhoods, and the spread of diseases. Today, we are taking a bold step to change that narrative through a clear implementation framework, he explained.

He announced that the new masterplans have already been gazetted. The Katsina, Daura, and Funtua masterplans for 2025 to 2040 have been officially gazetted, and we are gradually extending this process to other local government areas across the state, Governor Radda said.

He also highlighted reforms in development control, saying:

We have revitalised the Urban and Regional Planning Board and procured modern development control equipment worth over 700 million. We are also implementing advanced development control systems to ensure orderly growth.

The planning area order provides the legal backbone to turn these visionary plans into reality by empowering relevant authorities to regulate and manage development effectively, the Governor said, adding that an Executive Order has been signed to establish formal planning areas.

While emphasising the role of traditional institutions and land administrators, he said:

We have involved traditional rulers and land vendors in the development control process. Land transactions must now be reported, and vendors are required to register with relevant authorities to ensure transparency and order.

He stressed that the initiative is about securing the future. We made this decision to ensure that our children inherit well-planned communities with access roads, water, schools, markets, and green spacesnot chaos and conflict over land, he stated.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Faisal Umar Kaita, a professor described the event as a milestone in Katsinas urban development. He said the masterplans for Katsina, Daura, and Funtua mark the beginning of structured planning to manage rapid population growth.

This is a pivotal moment for us. These masterplans will transform our cities into modern, resilient, and inclusive urban centres while addressing future socioeconomic and environmental challenges, Mr Kaita said.

He noted that Katsinas population of about 12 million, projected to exceed 21 million in the next 15 years, requires strategic urban planning to tackle congestion, informal settlements, and environmental degradation.

Planning is not just for today; it is for future generations. This intergenerational foresight will guide our cities toward economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and improved quality of life, he said.

The commissioner explained that the three masterplans are the first phase of a statewide blueprint, designed to strengthen policy implementation, optimise public and private infrastructure, and ensure the effective delivery of social amenities.

Also, Yakubu Aliyu Bununu, in his presentation, said the masterplans for Katsina, Daura, and Funtua aim to create resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities, aligned with the SDGs, Nigerias National Urban Development Policy, and the New Urban Agenda.

He noted that rapid urbanisation offers growth opportunities but also causes congestion, informal settlements, and urban poverty, which the plans seek to address.

The plans focus on three core strategies: evidence-based methodology through surveys and stakeholder engagement; adaptive urban strategies for climate resilience and socioeconomic challenges; and integration of technology and sustainability to promote balanced growth.

Key proposals cover land use, transportation, housing, economic and commercial zones, utilities, green infrastructure, and urban design. Transportation includes three road hierarchies with future mass transit; housing promotes public-private partnerships; and commercial zones formalise small traders. Utilities and services are planned to meet population growth through 2040.

Implementation involves short-, medium-, and long-term phases, a Masterplan Implementation Unit, legal support for zoning and development control, and continuous monitoring.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal Jobe; Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Garba Faskari; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Nasir Yahaya Daura; Head of Service, Falalu Bawale and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir.

Also present were the Commissioner of Justice, Fadila Mohammed Dikko; members of the Katsina State Executive Council; representatives from Katsina and Daura Emirates; Heads of Security Agencies and ward heads.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume; the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu represented by the Chief of Administration, Nigeria Army, Major General Isah Mahadi Abdullahi and a host of the other dignitaries on Friday in Abuja paid tributes to the memory of Nigerias former late Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed during the official wreath-laying ceremony held in Abuja as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of late General Murtala Muhammed.

The solemn remembrance, which held on the grounds of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), Central Business District, Garki, brought together senior government officials, diplomatic representatives, and military leadership who paid tributes to a leader widely remembered for his discipline, courage, and decisive public service.

Also paying tribute at the wreath laying event was the President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco, represented by the Special Envoy of the President, Dr Dionisio Manuel Da Fonseca, Executive Minister and Chief of the Civil House of the President; members of the diplomatic corps, and political leaders.

The laying of wreaths which was led by President Tinubu represented by Mr Akume was preceded by the observance of a minute of silence in a ceremony marked by reflection and reverence.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the family, Risqua Muhammed, son of the late General, described his father as an unrelenting patriot who believed Nigeria can be stronger than the divisions that hold us back.

Mr Risqua Muhammed added that the commemoration was a call to remember not only the man, but the quality of leadership he represented. His legacy proved that impact in leadership is not measured by length of time in office.

General Murtala Muhammed ruled for just 200 days, yet he is still remembered. What matters is not how long you stay in office, but what you do and how your legacy affects the lives of others, he said.

Presenting the tribute by the Nigerian Army, The Nigeria Military Secretary, Major General Evaristus Okoro in his tribute honoured General Muhammed as a soldier-statesman whose legacy continues to challenge institutions to uphold professionalism and accountability.

His words, Remembrance must translate into responsibility. This tribute is an opportunity for us to recommit to disciplined service, national unity, and the ideals of leadership that place country above self.

The days observances were wrapped up with a special Jumaat service at the Abuja National Mosque, where clerics, members of the Muhammed family, senior government officials, diplomatic representatives, and invited guests gathered in prayers for the repose of the late Head of State and for national unity.
The Governor of Enugu State, Peter N Mbah on Wednesday morning joined the Christian faithful at the Government House Chapel, Enugu for the Holy Mass marking Ash Wednesday, ushering Christians into the sacred season of Lent. In his message posted on his X page @PNMbah, he wished the faithful spirit-filled Lenten season. He stressed:

Ash Wednesday calls us to prayer, fasting, humility, and reflection  a reminder that we are from dust and to dust we shall return. It is a time to realign our hearts with love, service, and compassion.

Significantly, this years Lent coincides with the beginning of Ramadan for our Muslim brothers and sisters, a powerful convergence that reminds us that while our paths of worship may differ, our shared values of faith, sacrifice, and devotion to God unite us.

May this sacred season renew our commitment to unity, peace, and service to one another. I wish all Christians and Muslims a spiritually enriching Lenten and Ramadan season.

Today, Ash Wednesday invites us into a sacred rhythm  a moment to pause, look inward, and realign our hearts with God. It is a call to humility, reflection, and a deeper walk of faith.

As we begin this Lenten journey, may we find grace in the quiet moments, strength in sincere reflection, and renewal in the gentle spaces where God meets us most tenderly. May this season refine us, soften our hearts, and draw us closer to His purpose for our lives.

May the ashes remind us not only of our frailty, but of the enduring mercy that renews us daily.

Wishing all Christian faithful a meaningful and grace-filled Lent.
The member representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, has rejected claims that Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru is responsible for the alleged genocide in the Amasiri community of the state, calling the allegations baseless and dangerous.

The allegations were made by human rights activist Joy Idam, who has publicly accused Governor Nwifuru of serious violations against residents of Amasiri in the context of an ongoing land dispute with a neighbouring community.

Ms Idam has petitioned the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international bodies, alleging that actions by the governor and state authorities amount to crimes against humanity, including genocidal conduct against a section of the community.

In statements circulated online, she said the sustained military-style response, prolonged curfews, school closures and security operations in Amasiri have inflicted widespread suffering on innocent civilians and discriminated against residents based on their community identity.

Ms Idam also claimed that repeated interventions by security forces have resulted in civilian deaths and human rights abuses that, in her view, meet the threshold of genocide under the Rome Statute.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Mr Ogah strongly denied the allegations, saying they are detached from the realities in Ebonyi and harmful to peace efforts. He urged Ms Idam to apologise to the people of the state.

Mrs Joy Idam should apologise to Ebonyi people because what she said is false and unfounded, Mr Ogah said, describing the claims as inflammatory.

He insisted that Mr Nwifurus administration has demonstrated strong leadership in tackling insecurity and communal conflicts.

Mr Ogah credited the governors Peoples Charter of Need and other people-centred programmes with stabilising the state since he assumed office.

According to the lawmaker, numerous communities in Ebonyi have been engaged in land disputes for decades before the present administration. He said the governors collaboration with community leaders, traditional institutions and stakeholders has led to peaceful resolutions of many of these conflicts.

Before the inauguration of this governor, nearly 10 communities were engaged in various communal clashes. Today, those conflicts have largely been resolved due to proactive engagement and people-centred governance, Mr Ogah said.

Responding to the renewed tensions in Amasiri, the lawmaker explained that the governor constituted a panel to probe the land dispute and implement its recommendations.

Curfews and other security measures, he said, were temporary steps to prevent further escalation and protect lives, and have since been reviewed as peace returned.

Mr Ogah also challenged Ms Idams credibility, claiming she has lived outside the state for years and lacks direct knowledge of current developments.

It is unfair for anyone who has not been present on the ground to accuse the governor of genocide, he said, urging her to return to Ebonyi and see the governors conflict-resolution efforts firsthand.

The lawmaker highlighted what he described as the administrations achievements, including youth scholarship programmes, major infrastructure projects, and inclusive governance.

He noted that about 400 state youths are currently on overseas scholarships in the United Kingdom, with several beneficiaries drawn from Amasiri and other parts of the state.

Mr Ogah also pointed to the ongoing construction of classroom blocks across local government areas and to security initiatives that empower traditional rulers to bolster grassroots peacebuilding.

He reiterated that Mr Nwifuru has been accommodating of political stakeholders across party lines to promote unity and development, stressing that temporary measures like school closures and curfews were strategic responses to insecurity, not persecution.

The allegation of genocide is completely false. The governor has worked tirelessly to ensure peace, stability and development in Ebonyi State, the lawmaker stated.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has narrated how suspected political thugs attacked party members at its secretariat in Akure.

Mr Adetimehin, in an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Akure, said that the attackers demanded that the party not conduct its Ward Congress in the state.

He narrated that a stakeholders meeting was convened at the instance of the congress committee from the national secretary, Abuja, which had met with the state party officials on Monday.

Mr Adetimehin explained that the venue was already filled when the attackers invaded it. He alleged that they were mobilised to disrupt the meeting.

He claimed that the attackers beat party leaders and members, seized his phones and other valuables.

He disclosed that several members of the party, who sustained injuries during the attack, were taken to the hospital for treatment.

We were in the secretariat for about one and a half hours on Monday, the chairman of the Ward Congress Committee said we should hold a stakeholders meeting today, that I should call the meeting.

We both agreed to hold the meeting by 12 noon, and by 12.35 p.m., the hall was filled to its capacity. I spoke with Mr Governor, one-on-one, about the meeting.

We both agreed that after the meeting, myself and the committee would go to him and meet him, because it is their duty to tell us the modality for the Congress and how we are going to conduct the Congress.

After speaking with him, I told him that I heard from the grapevine that some people are mobilising to the secretariat to disrupt the meeting.

The governor said there was nothing like that and promised to caution anybody behind it.

30 minutes later, the venue was invaded by thugs, armed with cutlasses and others. They beat hell out of all leaders and members, except those who are for them.

They dragged me on the floor, I didnt bother, they took away my two phones from my pocket, with my wristwatch. They equally beat my diver. A lot of our members were wounded during the attack, he stated.

Reacting to the incident, the state government denied the allegations linking the governor to the disruption.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, in a statement, described the claim of the governors involvement as malicious, false and an attempt to tarnish his image.

Mr Ajanaku said the governor was neither aware nor connected to the meeting and could not have sanctioned any act of thuggery.

He said that the governor had consistently demonstrated leadership rooted in inclusiveness, civility and democratic principles, adding that his administration has zero tolerance for political violence.

The commissioner said the APC in the state remained disciplined and committed to constructive engagement, noting that political meetings and consultations had been held peacefully across the state without disruption.

(NAN)
The Lagos State Government has defended its decision to restrict korope minibuses from operating on the LekkiEpe Expressway, following protests by drivers who blocked parts of the corridor on Tuesday.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, described the protest as disruptive and contrary to agreements previously reached with transport stakeholders.

According to Mr Giwa, the LekkiEpe axis has been redesignated as a Mass Transit and Regulated Transport Corridor under the states Bus Reform Initiative aimed at replacing informal minibus operations with structured, high-capacity bus services.

He said the restriction followed the December 2025 rollout of medium- and high-capacity buses on the corridor, adding that the reform is intended to enhance safety, efficiency and economic sustainability within Lagos public transport system.

The restriction is not abrupt or selective, Mr Giwa said, noting that the government held extensive consultations with transport unions and operators before implementation.

The protest temporarily obstructed traffic along the expressway  a major economic artery serving residential estates, commercial centres, industrial clusters and maritime hubs, including the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

Mr Giwa said the blockade disrupted economic activities and caused inconvenience to commuters.

He commended the Nigeria Police Force for restoring order and clearing the obstruction.

Reform process

The enforcement forms part of a broader transport reform that began several years ago.

In July 2024, the state government reaffirmed its plan to remove unregulated commercial buses, including Danfos and Koropes, from the LekkiEpe corridor, with enforcement initially scheduled for 1 October 2024.

At the time, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and Mr Giwa said the measure aligned with the Lagos State Strategic Transportation Master Plan.

Officials described bus operations along the corridor as chaotic and announced complementary measures, including the deployment of high-capacity buses, reallocation of minibuses to inner routes, mandatory re-registration and recertification of operators, introduction of electronic ticketing, provision of lay-bys and terminals, and random drug tests for commercial drivers.

READ ALSO: Deadly forced evictions add to the security crisis in Lagos

The LekkiEpe corridor was designated as a pilot scheme for broader public transport standardisation across the state. Inspections were conducted by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and the Ministry of Transportation to identify operational bottlenecks.

Union leaders, including representatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, signed a communique at the time expressing support for the restructuring plan.

The reform gained further momentum in December 2025 when the government formally announced plans to phase out korope buses from major highways as part of the next phase of the LekkiEpe Bus Reform Scheme.

Under that phase, 229 medium- and high-capacity buses were deployed on regulated routes such as AjahCMS (Marina)/Obalende, AjahOshodi and AjahBerger.

Officials have maintained that smaller buses will be reassigned to feeder and community routes under the First and Last Mile scheme, while fare payments on regulated corridors will be restricted to the Cowry card system as part of the states transition to electronic ticketing.

While the government insists the reform will deliver safer and more efficient services, transport analysts note that many low-income commuters still depend heavily on informal minibuses, raising concerns about system capacity and transition management as enforcement tightens.
MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia has always supported Cuba and considers new restrictions against the country unacceptable, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday during a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.

According to the president, Russia and Cuba share special relations shaped by history, and Moscow consistently supports the Cuban people in their struggle for independence and their right to pursue their own development path.

Putin also said bilateral ties between the two countries are developing in a generally positive direction and expressed confidence that the meeting would provide an opportunity to discuss relations in detail.

Earlier on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia calls on the United States to refrain from imposing a naval blockade on Cuba.

On Jan. 29, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening to impose tariffs on goods exported to the United States from countries supplying oil to Cuba. The Cuban government has announced a series of measures, including fuel purchase restrictions, in response to a new round of U.S. oil blockade. 
LONDON, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Skingevity today announces its launch as a newly formed medical aesthetics group, with the acquisition of three leading clinics in the UK.

Skingevity Founders, Enrico Ghio & Andrea Agnolio

Founded by Andrea Agnolio, former Principal at The Boston Consulting Group, and Enrico Ghio, former Executive Director at Goldman Sachs, Skingevity partners with leading doctors and clinics that share a commitment to clinical excellence and customer service. Each clinic continues to operate under its existing name, leadership and clinical approach, with continuity of care remaining unchanged for patients. Skingevity provides the infrastructure, governance, and operational backbone that supports practitioners on their day to day - freeing them from administrative burdens so they can concentrate on what matters most: their clients.

Skingevity's central operating team works directly with clinics to drive operational excellence and growth. Additionally, Skingevity is backed by prominent private investors and executives that bring best-in-class capabilities that the group draws on to execute its strategy.

Headquartered in London, Skingevity has a UK-first strategy with clear international ambitions and launches with three founding clinics. Dr Joney De Souza Skin and Laser Clinic (Marylebone, London), led by its namesake doctor, is renowned for its "less is more" approach to aesthetics, delivering refined, natural results shaped over 20 years of practice. MediZen (Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham), founded in 1999 and led by Dr. David Eccleston, is one of the UK's longest-established aesthetic clinics, defined by nearly three decades of expertise and a strong focus on safety, education, and clinical excellence. Cannelle Skin Clinic (Summertown, Oxford) brings over 20 years of trusted client relationships and is now led by rising talent Dr. Mattia Parducci, bringing together heritage care and modern aesthetics.

At the patient level, Skingevity ensures the highest standards of care and patient experience across clinics, while preserving the personal doctorpatient relationships that sit at the heart of high-quality medical aesthetics. This allows patients to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving sector, combining the personalised experience of boutique clinics with the reassurance, consistency and long-term care of a professionally governed medical aesthetics group.

As part of Skingevity's launch, Dr. David Eccleston joins the group as Chief Medical Officer. In his role, he will shape a shared approach to governance, education and professional development, supporting best practices across all clinics while empowering local clinical leadership.

Andrea Agnolio, Co-CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Skingevity, said:

"Skingevity was created to support outstanding clinics without compromising what makes them exceptional. In a sector that is becoming increasingly complex and regulated, we believe doctors need institutional support without losing clinical independence."

Enrico Ghio, Co-CEO and Chief Financial Officer of Skingevity, added:

"Our focus is long-term value based on patient trust. We are building a group where decisions are driven by medical excellence, clinical outcomes, and responsible governance - ensuring sustainable, high-quality growth."

Skingevity welcomes outreach by established clinics and individual doctors who share the same outlook on clinical standards and long-term outcomes, and who are seeking an operating model that strengthens their practice development while preserving clinical leadership.

https://www.skingevity.co.uk

https://www.medizen.co.uk

https://www.drjoneydesouza.com

https://cannelleskinclinic.co.uk

Notes to editors

Skingevity is a London-based, medical aesthetics group that brings together leading UK clinics under a shared commitment to clinical excellence, governance and patient trust. The group supports its clinics with robust operational infrastructure while maintaining clinical independence and continuity of care.

About the Founders

Skingevity was founded by Andrea Agnolio and Enrico Ghio, who bring expertise across strategy, operations and corporate finance. Andrea Agnolio, Co-CEO and Chief Operating Officer, has over a decade of experience in consumer healthcare consulting, having previously been a Principal at The Boston Consulting Group where he advised global medical aesthetics brands on strategy, operational excellence and value creation. Enrico Ghio, Co-CEO and Chief Financial Officer, has a decade of experience in corporate finance and strategic transactions across the healthcare, consumer and retail sectors. He previously served as Executive Director in the M&A Investment Banking team at Goldman Sachs, where he advised on and executed complex strategic mandates, including mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and debt financings.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2904617/Skingevity_Enrico_Ghio_and_Andrea_Agnolio.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2904618/Skingevity_Logo.jpg

Media enquiries:

Julia Kendrick

julia@kendrickpr.uk

Operational and Commercial enquiries:

Andrea Agnolio

andrea@skingevity.co.uk

Acquisition and Corporate Finance enquiries:

Enrico Ghio

enrico@skingevity.co.uk

Customer enquiries:

info@skingevity.co.uk
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 360 Advanced, a leading cybersecurity and compliance firm, today announced the appointment of Cameron Youngblood as its new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). In this role, Youngblood will lead revenue strategy and execution across sales, partnerships, client success, and go-to-market operations as the firm continues its rapid growth trajectory.

Youngblood brings a proven track record of building and scaling high-performance revenue organizations in fast-growing technology and assurance environments. He began his career as a founding Business Development Representative at a technology startup that was later acquired, quickly advancing to a founding Account Executive and helping establish the company's early revenue engine. He then joined a social media and marketing technology platform, where consistent top-tier performance propelled him from Account Executive to Director of Sales within his first year.

Following that success, Youngblood took on a Strategic Growth Management role at a Fortune 500 company, where he launched the Indianapolis market from the ground up. Leveraging a disciplined operating model and a hands-on leadership approach, he built and scaled the region to over $11 million in annual recurring revenue in just 18 months.

Most recently, Youngblood spent three years at Insight Assurance, joining as the company's 15th employee and first go-to-market hire. During his tenure, he helped scale the firm by 1,010% over 3 years, expanded the client base by nearly 10x, and supported headcount growth from 15 to 195 employees, while maintaining a 95% client retention rate. He built every major go-to-market function from the ground up, including Business Development, New Business Sales, Partnerships, Client Success, Revenue Operations, and Sales Enablement. In 2025, Insight Assurance was ranked #399 on the Inc. 5000 list and named the fastest-growing audit firm in the U.S..

"Cam is a builder in the truest sense of the word," said Dan Collins, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of 360 Advanced. "His ability to design repeatable, data-driven go-to-market systems and scale them efficiently aligns perfectly with where we are as a firm. As we continue to expand our services and market presence, Cam's leadership will be instrumental in driving sustainable growth."

As CRO Youngblood will focus on aligning revenue teams, strengthening partner ecosystems, and advancing a unified go-to-market strategy that supports 360 Advanced's long-term vision.

"I'm excited to join 360 Advanced at such a pivotal moment," said Youngblood. "The firm has built a strong reputation in cybersecurity and compliance, and I look forward to helping scale the business by bringing structure, clarity, and momentum to the revenue engine."

About 360 Advanced

Founded in 2004, 360 Advanced is a cybersecurity and compliance firm delivering audit, advisory, and testing services across SOC, HIPAA, PCI, HITRUST, ISO, and FedRAMP frameworks. The firm supports organizations across regulated industries by helping them build, assess, and maintain security and compliance programs aligned with business growth.

360 Advanced is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. For more information, visit www.360Advanced.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Keith Frechette

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

"360 Advanced" is the brand name under which 360 Advanced, Inc and 360 Advanced Cybersecurity, LLC (and its subsidiaries) provide professional services. 360 Advanced, Inc and 360 Advanced Cybersecurity, LLC practice in an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations and professional standards. 360 Advanced, Inc is a licensed certified public accounting firm (Florida license number AD67897) registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) that provides attest services to its clients, and 360 Advanced Cybersecurity, LLC provides nonattest cybersecurity and compliance professional services to its clients. 360 Advanced Cybersecurity, LLC and its subsidiaries are not licensed CPA firms. 360 Advanced, Inc and 360 Advanced Cybersecurity, LLC are independently owned and are not liable for the services provided by any other entity providing services under the 360 Advanced brand. Our use of the terms "our firm" and "we" and "us" and terms of similar import, denote the alternative practice structure conducted by 360 Advanced, Inc and 360 Advanced Cybersecurity, LLC.

SOURCE 360 Advanced
Maryland biotech startup reveals first-of-its-kind data from independent metabolomics laboratory

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AHARA Mushrooms today published the results of the most comprehensive metabolomic analysis ever conducted on a mushroom supplement. The analysis, performed by one of the world's leading metabolomics laboratories using dual-panel CE-MS and LC-MS mass spectrometry, revealed over 1,000 uniquely identified compounds in AHARA's proprietary Reishi extract  including adenosine precursors, GABA, glycine, oleamide, 26 ganoderic acids, 35 short-chain fatty acids and 27 bioactive peptides.

AHARA Reishi Elixir AHARA Reishi Elixir

The compounds span 17 distinct metabolic pathways including GABAergic, cholinergic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, purine/adenosine, serotonergic, endocannabinoid and gut-brain axis, all naturally present in a single water-based extract.

Adenosine, the brain's primary sleep-pressure signal, is supported by adenine and hypoxanthine in the extract, feeding directly into adenosine production. GABA, the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter, is present alongside neurosteroid potentiators that amplify its effect. Glycine supports sleep quality as an inhibitory neurotransmitter and NMDA receptor co-agonist. Oleamide, the fatty acid amide the brain produces in cerebrospinal fluid as a sleep signal.

The extract also contains 26 ganoderic acids, anti-inflammatory triterpenoids unique to Reishi in all of nature. These molecules suppress the master inflammatory signals disrupting sleep, worsening anxiety and damaging neurons. Short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids deliver gut-brain signaling molecules directly, skipping fermentation entirely.

In the mushroom industry, the consensus has been that extracting ganoderic acids requires harsh organic solvents. AHARA's proprietary water-based process recovered 26 without ethanol or methanol, preserving the full spectrum of bioactives in a single aqueous extract.

Developed under Dr. Subhas Malghan's leadership as co-author of the FDA's first nanotechnology guidance, AHARA's nanofibers deliver the full compound spectrum through mucosal absorption, bypassing first-pass metabolism.

"Every step of our process is American," said Aaron Grimes, MBA, co-founder of AHARA Mushrooms. "We grow and extract our mushrooms in the U.S, and validate our products at a globally recognized metabolomics laboratory. We're not just importing extracts and slapping a label, we control the supply chain and the science".

About AHARA Mushrooms

AHARA Mushrooms is a Rockville, Maryland-based biotech company developing scientifically validated mushroom therapeutics. Founded by Ajay Malghan (MFA), Dr. Subhas Malghan (Ph.D., UC Berkeley) and Aaron Grimes (MBA). The full white paper is available at aharamushrooms.com .

Contact: Aaron Grimes | 415-686-9192 | [email protected] | aharamushrooms.com

SOURCE AHARA Mushrooms
NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Air China illuminated Times Square's giant LED in celebration of the Chinese Spring Festival on February 17, 2026, bringing the spirit of the holiday to one of the world's most iconic urban landmarks.

Through this high-profile presence, Air China underscored its role as a vital bridge connecting cultures, economies, and communities, while reaffirming its commitment to international connectivity and the enduring relationship between China and the United States. Many people stopped to watch, expressed their admiration, and took photos to commemorate the moment.

As one of the largest airlines in China, Air China plays a central role in the country's civil aviation system and its international connectivity. With a global route network spanning Asia, Europe, North America, and other major regions, Air China connects China with key destinations worldwide, supporting cross-border travel, trade, and cultural exchange.

Air China has operated China-U.S. routes for more than four decades, serving as a vital bridge between the two nations. Through major U.S. gateways including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., the airline facilitates business cooperation, tourism development, academic exchange, and family connections. New York, as one of the world's leading global cities, remains a key hub in Air China's North American network.

Committed to safety, operational excellence, and service quality, Air China continues to enhance its product offerings and passenger experience. The airline provides multi-cabin services on long-haul routes, flexible fare options tailored to families and corporate travelers, and global loyalty benefits through its Phoenix Miles frequent flyer program. As a member of Star Alliance, Air China offers passengers seamless global connections and access to an extensive worldwide route system.

In recent years, Air China has remained dedicated to strengthening its presence in the North American market and deepening engagement with local communities. Through participation in cultural and public events such as the Chinese New Year celebration at Times Square, the airline reaffirms its commitment to fostering mutual understanding and people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

SOURCE Air China
Fourteen high-achieving American college students selected for transformative summer internship program in Dublin.

PORTLAND, Maine, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is pleased to announce the 2026 Frederick Douglass-Daniel O'Connell Global Interns, a diverse cohort of 14 exceptional students who will participate in an eight-week international internship program in Dublin, Ireland.

The Douglass-O'Connell program introduces a new generation of young leaders to today's diverse and vibrant Ireland. Post this The 2026 Frederick Douglass-Daniel OConnell Global Interns will participate in an eight-week international internship program in Dublin, Ireland.

Co-sponsored by CIEE, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs, the African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN), and the John & Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, the Frederick Douglass-Daniel O'Connell Global Internship program honors two iconic leaders in the global movement for freedom, equality, social justice, and economic mobility by preparing young professionals for future and career success.

More than 500 students applied from hundreds of institutions of higher education, including Ivy League schools, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), private colleges, and flagship public universities.

The 2026 Douglass-O'Connell Global Interns in Ireland are:

Barnard College , Ariadna Sanchez, Psychology

, Ariadna Sanchez, Psychology Bowie State University , Joshua Looper, Government

, Joshua Looper, Government Clark Atlanta University , Daishanay Francis, Political Science

, Daishanay Francis, Political Science Florida A&M University , Zaire Floyd, Journalism

, Zaire Floyd, Journalism Georgia State University , Sarah Darabadey, Business Management

, Sarah Darabadey, Business Management Harvard University , Michelle Chung, Philosophy

, Michelle Chung, Philosophy Howard University , Garrison Andrews, Political Science

, Garrison Andrews, Political Science Nova Southeastern University , Caroline Miller, Political Science

, Caroline Miller, Political Science Spelman College , Hayley Ponds, Pre-Medicine

, Hayley Ponds, Pre-Medicine Spelman College , Sophia Wade, Political Science

, Sophia Wade, Political Science University of Texas at Austin , Christopher Vega, History

, Christopher Vega, History University of Texas at Austin , Nebiy Petros, Economics

, Nebiy Petros, Economics Wofford College , Chrisler White, History

, Chrisler White, History Yale University, Elijah St. Martin, Sociology

Students were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants based on their demonstrated interest in gaining practical work experience in Ireland; their desire to emulate the business acumen and social justice reform of Frederick Douglass and Daniel O'Connell; their values in equality, entrepreneurship, and advocacy; and their commitment to pursuing a better, more inclusive world.

Thanks to sponsorship by the John & Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, four spots in the cohort were dedicated to students attending colleges in the district that Congressman John Lewis represented for more than 30 years.

The 2026 Douglass-O'Connell Global Interns are featured in this video.

During the program, students will intern with Ireland-based companies, attend lectures on Irish history and culture, and participate in extracurricular and networking activities in Dublin, Cork, and Belfast. Students choose from dozens of internship placement opportunities, including roles in media, technology, transportation, and human rights advocacy. Each student receives an internship placement, academic lectures, housing, airfare, and a living stipend.

"The Douglass-O'Connell program introduces a new generation of young leaders to today's diverse and vibrant Ireland," said James P. Pellow, Ed.D., President and CEO of CIEE. "It's a privilege to partner with AAIDN, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs, and the John & Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation to help increase diversity abroad as we also help unite the diverse and global Irish diaspora."

"Congressman Lewis believed in the power of young people to advance justice and build the beloved community," said Michael Collins, Chair of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation. "We are proud to support four exceptional students in this year's program. By expanding their global perspectives and leadership skills in Ireland, this experience helps equip the next generation to carry forward Congressman Lewis' legacy of creating 'Good Trouble' and making the world a better place."

"The Frederick Douglass-Daniel O'Connell Global Internship program builds inclusive bridges of understanding and opportunity between Ireland and America," said Dennis Brownlee, Founder and President of the African American Irish Diaspora Network. "We are pleased to again support this transformative program."

To help expand access to international opportunities, all eligible applicants who were not selected as one of the 2026 Douglass-O'Connell Global Interns in Ireland will receive a $1,500 Douglass-O'Connell Scholars Grant, which may be applied toward any of CIEE's 200+ summer or semester study abroad programs through summer 2027.

For more information about CIEE's Frederick DouglassDaniel O'Connell Global Internship in Ireland, visit ciee.org/fddo.

About CIEE

Since 1947, CIEE has built bridges between different people, countries, and cultures through study abroad and international exchange programs that advance peace in our world. We change lives; our alumni change the world. Learn more at ciee.org.

About AAIDN

Since 2020, the African American Irish Diaspora Network has fostered relationships between African Americans, Ireland, and the Irish Diaspora. AAIDN promotes programs in education, the arts, entrepreneurship, and culture that unite African American and Irish communities. AAIDN's mission is supported by Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and the government of Northern Ireland. Learn more at aaidnet.org.

About the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation (JLMLF)

The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, Inc. was conceived by Congressman Lewis to carry on his and his wife's passion for purposeful living, civic engagement and building the "beloved community," and to inspire and support Good Trouble. For more information, visit jlmlf.org.

Media Contact:

Leslie Taylor

[email protected]

(207) 553-4274

SOURCE Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)
AI with Heart": ALLMYNE sponsors return of Walk for Peace monks. Post this

The monks' walk, which captivated millions on social media and drew crowds across the southern United States, was a demonstration of peace and nonviolence. While traditional travel platforms often focus on metrics and booking volume, ALLMYNE's support reflects a broader consumer demand for brands that align with the spirit of a journey.

"Travel is becoming less about broadcasting and more about preserving meaning and connection," said Tommie Pegues, CEO and Co-founder of ALLMYNE. "This wasn't about branding a moment. It was about helping people complete something meaningful and making sure their story could continue."

From "Look at Me" to "Walk with Me" Industry data suggests a pivot in traveler behavior. Post-2020, there has been a surge in "slow travel" and purpose-driven expeditionspilgrimages, charity walks, and heritage tripswhere the value lies in the internal experience rather than external validation.

ALLMYNE's involvement offers a practical example of how travel technology can support these real-world narratives without intruding on them. By coordinating the logistics for the monks' return to Fort Worth, the company helped close the loop on a journey that resonated with thousands, bridging the gap between digital followers and physical reality.

Technology for "The Long Road" The support coincides with the rollout of ALLMYNE's "Trailblazer" capabilities, a new feature set designed to capture long-form, multi-stage expeditions. While typical travel apps optimize for weekend getaways, Trailblazer uses AI to weave together weeks or months of travel into a cohesive narrativemirroring the physical endurance of the monks' 2,300-mile trek.

In a public statement following the journey, the Walk for Peace organizers highlighted the alignment between their mission and the platform's philosophy:

"The road is long, yet we never walk it alone... ALLMYNE's belief in 'AI with heart'technology that honors memory, connection, and humanityresonates deeply with our journey. We are grateful to walk alongside partners who believe in purpose, kindness, and unity."

About ALLMYNE ALLMYNE is a travel platform designed to help people capture, preserve, and share their journeys in meaningful ways. Built for travelers who value experiences over posts, ALLMYNE turns trips into lasting journals that can be shared digitally or printed as keepsakes. Learn more at https://allmyne.com .

Media Contact:

Emmy Wu, Head of Marketing & Business Development

[email protected]

(503) 734-0112

SOURCE ALLMYNE
NOVATO, Calif., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Brayton Purcell LLP announced today that the firm has secured almost $200 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of countertop fabrication workers diagnosed with accelerated silicosis caused by crystalline silica artificial stone used to make popular kitchen and bathroom countertops. These countertops are made from material that typically contains over 90 percent crystalline silica in very fine nanosized particles. The products also contain heavy metals, resins and glues which release toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when fabricated.

Brayton Purcell LLP secures nearly $200 million in verdicts and settlements for artificial stone countertop fabricators and advocates for the banning of crystalline silica artificial stone.

These recoveries include the historic $52.4 million verdict returned by a Southern California jury to Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez, more than $26 million in confidential settlements obtained for another fabrication worker with artificial stone silicosis, along with large settlements for a few other workers. Together, they reflect the severe and irreversible harm caused by respirable crystalline silica and other toxins released during the cutting, grinding, and polishing of crystalline silica artificial stone.

Artificial stone silicosis continues to devastate workers and families across multiple states. Unlike traditional chronic silicosis contracted through mining, sandblasting and other hazardous professions, this modern form progresses rapidly, often appearing after only months or a few years of exposure. Workers affected by the disease face profound medical challenges, including extensive lung scarring, oxygen dependence, and, in the most severe cases, the need for lung transplantation. Many are relatively young, with careers and family responsibilities cut short by a preventable exposure hazard. The disease is incurable and fatal.

A Public Health Crisis Intensifying Across California

State surveillance programs continue to document rising numbers of confirmed artificial stone silicosis cases throughout California. Hundreds of workers have been diagnosed, many in their thirties and forties, and dozens have undergone lung transplantation due to permanent respiratory failure.

Reports show that over half of the 1,342 fabrication shops identified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have at least one confirmed case of silicosis. Many affected workers have spent years fabricating both natural stone and artificial stone, but illness developed only after crystalline silica artificial stone slabs were introduced into their workplaces for fabrication into the countertops we see throughout homes and commercial buildings today. This reflects the unique toxicity of the artificial stone material, which generates nanosized crystalline silica particles, metals, and other toxins that traditional safety controls cannot mitigate.

WOEMA Petition to Cal/OSHA Highlights Urgent Medical Concerns

In December 2025, the Western Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association (WOEMA), a respected medical association representing more than 600 occupational medicine physicians across multiple western states, submitted a petition to the Cal OSHA Standards Board urging immediate action regarding artificial stone.

The petition, presented on December 18, 2025, calls for a prohibition on artificial stone products containing more than one percent crystalline silica. WOEMA based its petition on extensive medical data showing that:

Artificial stone contains at least 90 percent crystalline silica in nanosized particle form

The remaining materials include VOCs and toxic additives that increase biological harm

Silicosis cases have been confirmed at an alarming rate, including workers as young as 24

Disease progression is significantly faster than historical patterns

Traditional engineering controls, including wet cutting, ventilation, and personal protective equipment (PPE), have not succeeded in reducing exposure to safe levels

Physicians emphasized that artificial stone silicosis continues to emerge even in shops that employ multiple layers of dust suppression in compliance with the CAL-OSHA standards, underscoring that the hazard is intrinsic to the material itself.

National Attention: Congressional Debate Over H.R. 5437

On January 14, 2026, the House Judiciary Subcommittee convened a hearing on the proposed legislation known as H.R. 5437  the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act. This bailout bill would provide sweeping immunity to manufacturers and distributors of crystalline silica artificial stone slabs from state and federal civil claims related to injuries or illnesses caused by their products.

At the hearing, medical experts, worker advocates, and public health professionals raised substantial concerns, noting:

Artificial stone contains extremely high concentrations of crystalline silica, far exceeding natural stone

Cutting and polishing the material releases nanosized particles that overwhelm standard safety controls

Artificial stone silicosis has affected hundreds of workers across California alone

More than half of countertop fabrication shops in the state have reported confirmed cases of silicosis

Artificial stone cannot be fabricated safely by human beings

Eliminating accountability could further endanger workers by preventing families from seeking compensation or justice and removing the pressure for manufacturers to stop selling the uniquely toxic product.

Economic, medical, and ethical considerations were discussed at length, with stakeholders emphasizing that no existing engineering controls can reliably prevent respirable crystalline silica exposure during artificial stone fabrication.

A Continuing Commitment to Workers and Families

Brayton Purcell LLP represents more than 700 artificial stone workers and their families. Many clients face lifelong medical care needs, inability to continue working, and significant financial strain due to their illness. The firm continues to support workers seeking answers and pursuing justice for the harm caused by this material.

"Our legal team remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that workers affected by artificial stone silicosis have the opportunity to pursue accountability," said partner James Nevin, who manages the firm's artificial stone litigation practice. "The impact on these workers and their families is profound, and their voices deserve to be heard."

The firm continues to pursue cases across the country, reflecting the widespread and continuing emergence of this occupational health crisis. We assertively advocate for the banning of crystalline silica artificial stone in our efforts to protect workers from artificial stone silicosis--an incurable and entirely preventable disease. Australia's ban of the product in 2024 demonstrates that switching to safer products would not result in job loss and would not impose significant economic burdens on suppliers, fabricators, or customers, since existing dust control methods would remain applicable and the U.S. market could quickly switch to safer products.

About Brayton Purcell LLP

Brayton Purcell LLP is a nationally recognized law firm with decades of experience representing individuals and families affected by occupational disease, including silicosis. The firm remains committed to providing outstanding legal representation to workers harmed by exposure to toxic substances.

Media Contact:

Nolan Lowry

[email protected]

415-399-3107

SOURCE Brayton Purcell LLP
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ten backcountry skiers are missing, and six more are awaiting rescue following an avalanche in Northern California, authorities said Tuesday.

A group of 16 skiers reportedly encountered an avalanche in the Castle Peak area of Truckee at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time (1930 GMT), said the Nevada County Sheriff's Office in a release Tuesday afternoon.

At least six of the skiers have survived the avalanche and remain at the site, awaiting rescue, while the remaining 10 are still unaccounted for, said the office.

Officials confirmed that the group consisted of four ski guides with 12 clients.

Highly skilled rescue ski teams have departed for the six known survivors, who have been directed to shelter in place as best they can in the conditions, the office added.

The incident occurred amid a major winter storm sweeping Northern California. Ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area reported more than two feet (about 61 cm) of snowfall as of midday Tuesday.

The Sierra Avalanche Center issued an avalanche warning in effect from 5 a.m. (1300 GMT) Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday, citing high avalanche danger in the backcountry. Large avalanches were expected Tuesday night and into early Wednesday across backcountry terrain, with dangerous conditions that could continue through the day.

Truckee, an incorporated town in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, is about 160 km northeast of Sacramento, California's capital. 
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A Catalight researcher has been awarded a $4.5 million National Institute of Health (NIH) R01 grant to study RUBIES, a program aimed at reducing challenging behaviors among autistic elementary students. In partnership with Dr. Jill Locke from the University of California, Los Angeles, Karen Bearss, Ph.D., received the grant through a highly competitive, peer-reviewed process. The funding will support a large-scale, nationwide trial in elementary schools  building on Dr. Bearss' and Dr. Locke's previous NIH-funded research into RUBIES and its companion program RUBI.

"This grant underscores the importance of research to improve outcomes for autistic students in public schools," said Dr. Bearss, vice president of caregiver-mediated solutions at Catalight, one of the nation's largest behavioral health networks. "The funding will enable Catalight and our research partners at UCLA to continue advancing applied research that helps educators and school staff improve the classroom experience for autistic students and their classmates."

School staff often lack the training to effectively support autistic students who engage in challenging behaviors, such as meltdowns and aggression. The grant will fund a five-year randomized study to evaluate RUBIES (Research Units on Behavioral Intervention in Educational Settings), a structured, evidence-based program that helps educators understand challenging behavior as a form of communication and respond with practical strategies. The study will also evaluate a new schoolwide leadership support strategy called Helping Educational Leaders Mobilize evidence (HELM), that seeks to effectively sustain the use of RUBIES strategies by working with school and district leaders. The goal is to create lasting change that reduces behavioral incidents, enabling students and educators alike to thrive.

"Paraeducators who work with autistic children do challenging work, often with limited training and institutional support," said Dr. Bearss. "RUBIES equips them with a deeper understanding of what students are communicating through their actions. By focusing on recognizing and addressing underlying needs rather than trying to manage behavior, the program empowers educators with practical strategies to respond thoughtfully, reduce stress in the classroom and better support student learning and wellbeing."

RUBIES is an adaptation of RUBI, a similar program designed for parents and caregivers that has previously been validated in three large-scale, NIH-funded trials. Both programs were co-developed by Dr. Bearss.

"Classroom programs need institutional support from school leaders to succeed," said Dr. Bearss. "This grant allows us to expand the scope of our research to look at a schoolwide implementation strategy to ensure that educators receive the support they need to sustain change in the classroom over time."

In the study, schools nationwide will be randomly assigned to receive RUBIES alone, RUBIES combined with a schoolwide leadership support strategy (HELM), or a conventional educator professional development program.

The study is a partnership with academic research teams at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Boise State University. Dr. Bearss is also an affiliate associate professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Washington.

About Catalight

Catalight is a nonprofit that breaks down barriers and biases to create a more equitable world so people with developmental disabilities can choose their path to care. Catalight provides access to innovative, individualized care services, clinical research and advocacy  all powered by intelligent technology. Through the work of affiliate partners, Easterseals Hawaii and Easterseals Northern California, Catalight and its family of companies support people with developmental disabilities and their families across their care journey.

The Catalight family of companies is one of the largest behavioral health networks in the nation, with more than 16,000 practitioners serving 24,000 clients and families annually. Backed by more than a decade of experience and a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, we are reimagining the way people with developmental disabilities and their families experience healthcare. Catalight's goal is to ensure that individuals and families receive timely access to evidence-based treatment, including naturalistic developmental and language-based services, applied behavior analysis and speech therapy.

SOURCE Catalight Foundation, a California non-profit corporation
AI-powered forecasting and real-time market insight drive precision pricing and smarter inventory decisions

CAMPBELL, Calif., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Centric Software is thrilled to announce new innovations to Centric Pricing & Inventory featuring a new AI-powered demand forecasting engine and intelligent AI functionality designed to drive pricing precision and inventory agility.

Centric Software launches enhanced pricing & inventory capabilities

Centric Software delivers best-of-breed, integrated, AI-powered enterprise solutions that take product from concept to commercialization. Fashion, luxury, footwear, outdoor, home, food & beverage, cosmetics & personal care and consumer electronics as well as multi-category retail companies can plan, design, develop, source, comply, buy, make, price, allocate, assort, sell and replenish products to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

By combining AI-driven demand forecasting with lifecycle pricing, Centric Pricing & Inventory has helped select customers achieve revenue increases of up to 18%, based on internal analyses of specific implementations. Results vary depending on customer context and usage. Centric Pricing & Inventory is a modular platform built for speed and flexibility, optimizing pricing, inventory allocation, replenishment and stock rebalancing, while providing advanced analytics and market insights for optimal markdown management. This reduces unnecessary discounting and aligns demand with supply, ultimately boosting profitability.

Centric Pricing & Inventory introduces several new capabilities designed to improve pricing agility, build AI trust and align pricing with real-time market conditions:

A smarter, AI-powered demand forecasting engine

At the core of Centric Pricing & Inventory is a new, centralized forecasting engine designed to improve demand prediction accuracy across the product lifecycle. From pre-season planning to in-season allocation and replenishment. It powers pricing, allocation, replenishment and markdown planning with a single forecast shared by all teams. The same forecasting engine is also available in Centric Planning, so pre-season assortment and merchandise financial plans are built on the same demand signals that drive execution in Centric Pricing & Inventory.

At the core of Centric Pricing & Inventory is a new, centralized forecasting engine designed to improve demand prediction accuracy across the product lifecycle. From pre-season planning to in-season allocation and replenishment. It powers pricing, allocation, replenishment and markdown planning with a single forecast shared by all teams. The same forecasting engine is also available in Centric Planning, so pre-season assortment and merchandise financial plans are built on the same demand signals that drive execution in Centric Pricing & Inventory. AI agents that make price recommendations easy to understand

AI delivers the best results when teams understand the "why" behind the recommendation. Centric Software's new generation of AI Agents breaks down price suggestions in plain language, explaining the key drivers such as demand shifts, competitor pricing or margin impact. These insights demystify AI decisions and replace "black-box" complexity with clarity.

AI delivers the best results when teams understand the "why" behind the recommendation. Centric Software's new generation of AI Agents breaks down price suggestions in plain language, explaining the key drivers such as demand shifts, competitor pricing or margin impact. These insights demystify AI decisions and replace "black-box" complexity with clarity. Simulation capabilities for strategy testing and AI adoption

When teams can test pricing or inventory strategies before applying them, they trust AI more. That's why Centric Pricing & Inventory now includes enhanced simulation capabilities that enable users to safely model different business scenarios and see how outcomes change. Early pilots indicate that, in certain use cases, simulation tools were associated with increases in AI adoption of more than 25%. Results may vary.

When teams can test pricing or inventory strategies before applying them, they trust AI more. That's why Centric Pricing & Inventory now includes enhanced simulation capabilities that enable users to safely model different business scenarios and see how outcomes change. Early pilots indicate that, in certain use cases, simulation tools were associated with increases in AI adoption of more than 25%. Results may vary. Market Intelligence built directly into daily decisions

Guesswork is reduced. Frequently refreshed competitor insights inform daily pricing and forecasting decisions. Centric Pricing & Inventory now connects live shelf pricing, automated product matching and AI-enriched attributes straight into pricing and forecasting workflows. This gives retailers a clear view of what's happening in the market at any given moment, so pricing strategies reflect both internal goals and external realities like promotions, new product drops, or tariff changes.

Guesswork is reduced. Frequently refreshed competitor insights inform daily pricing and forecasting decisions. Centric Pricing & Inventory now connects live shelf pricing, automated product matching and AI-enriched attributes straight into pricing and forecasting workflows. This gives retailers a clear view of what's happening in the market at any given moment, so pricing strategies reflect both internal goals and external realities like promotions, new product drops, or tariff changes. Actionable analytics that drive measurable impact

It's not always obvious if AI decisions are paying off. Centric Pricing & Inventory includes intuitive dashboards that clearly show how AI recommendations are performing, whether it's boosting margins, improving forecast accuracy or increasing sell-through. Teams can see what's working and where to focus next using side-by-side comparisons with traditional approaches and confidence scoring to guide smarter next steps.

Customers are already seeing measurable results with Centric Pricing & Inventory.

"We have reduced our price reductions by about 2.5%. That translates into a 1% margin increase, which, on a 300 million-euro turnover, is a 3 million-euro increase to our bottom line. That is quite a lot; more than we were expecting at the beginning of the project," says Josef-Bernd Oswald, Product and Merchandise Manager at Leder & Schuh Group (LSAG).

"We developed our latest Centric Pricing & Inventory innovations in close partnership with leading global retailers to address real-world challenges with real-world results," says Fabrice Canonge, CEO of Centric Software. "We're delivering an intelligent, modular platform that not only recommends the best path forwardit proves it. This is AI that's transparent, measurable and designed to grow with our customers."

Learn more about Centric Software

Request a Demo

Centric Software (www.centricsoftware.com)

From its headquarters in Silicon Valley, Centric Software provides an innovative and AI-enabled product concept-to-commercialization platform for retailers, brands and manufacturers of all sizes. As experts in fashion, luxury, footwear, outdoor, home, food & beverage, cosmetics & personal care as well as multi-category retail, Centric Software delivers best-of-breed solutions to plan, design, develop, source, comply, buy, make, price, allocate, sell and replenish products.

Centric PLM, the leading PLM solution for fashion, outdoor, footwear and private label, optimizes product execution from ideation to development, sourcing and manufacture, realizing up to 50% improvement in productivity and a 60% decrease in time to market.

the leading PLM solution for fashion, outdoor, footwear and private label, optimizes product execution from ideation to development, sourcing and manufacture, realizing up to 50% improvement in productivity and a 60% decrease in time to market. Centric Planning is an innovative, cloud-native, AI solution delivering end-to-end planning capabilities to maximize retail and wholesale business performance, including SKU optimization, resulting in an up to 110% increase in margins.

is an innovative, cloud-native, AI solution delivering end-to-end planning capabilities to maximize retail and wholesale business performance, including SKU optimization, resulting in an up to 110% increase in margins. Centric Pricing & Inventory leverages AI to drive margins and boost revenues by up to 18% via price and inventory optimization from pre-season to in-season to season completion.

leverages AI to drive margins and boost revenues by up to 18% via price and inventory optimization from pre-season to in-season to season completion. Centric Market Intelligence is an AI-driven platform delivering insights into consumer trends, competitor offers and pricing to boost competitively and get closer to the consumer, driving up to a 12% increase in average initial price point.

is an AI-driven platform delivering insights into consumer trends, competitor offers and pricing to boost competitively and get closer to the consumer, driving up to a 12% increase in average initial price point. Centric Visual Boards pivot actionable data in a visual-first orientation to ensure robust, consumer-right assortments and product offers, dramatically decreasing assortment development cycle time.

pivot actionable data in a visual-first orientation to ensure robust, consumer-right assortments and product offers, dramatically decreasing assortment development cycle time. Centric PXMTM, AI-powered product experience management (PXM) encompasses PIM, DAM, content syndication and digital shelf analytics (DSA) to optimize the product commercialization lifecycle resulting in a transformed brand experience. Increase sales channels, boost sell through and drive margins.

Centric Software's market-driven solutions have the highest user adoption rate, customer satisfaction rate and fastest time to value in the industry. Centric Software has received multiple industry awards and recognition, appearing regularly in world-leading analyst reports and research.

Centric Software is a subsidiary of Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the world leader in 3D design software, 3D digital mock-up and PLM solutions.

Centric Software is a registered trademark of Centric Software, Inc. in the US and other countries. Centric PLM, Centric Planning, Centric Pricing & Inventory, Centric Market Intelligence, Centric Visual Boards, Centric PXM, Centric PIM, Centric DAM, Centric Shoppingfeed and Centric DSA (including Centric Digital Shelf Analytics) are trademarks of Centric Software, Inc. All third-party trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Centric Software
Observability Summit North America returns May 2122 in Minneapolis, convening practitioners, contributors, and engineers to advance open observability standards and practices

Key Highlights

CNCF announced the schedule for Observability Summit North America 2026, May 2122 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The program highlights practical approaches to metrics, logs and traces as organizations scale cloud native systems and adopt open observability standards.

The event brings together developers, operators, site reliability engineers, platform teams and open source maintainers focused on building and operating cloud native observability systems.

Registration is open now; early bird registration is $349 through March 24. Discounted registration is available for academics. Applications for scholarships are being accepted through April 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, today announced the schedule for Observability Summit North America 2026, taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 2122.

The two-day program features more than 45 sessions exploring high-impact telemetry, automated synthetic monitoring and the practical implementation of Observability as Code (OaC). Tracks address topics including how AI and the Model Context Protocol (MCP) are shaping observability, approaches to scaling complex systems, community-led standards development and practical ways to embed observability into DevOps workflows.

"AI is raising the stakes for reliability," said Jonathan Bryce, executive director, CNCF. "As most organizations begin to run AI workloads, the hard question is whether they can trust and measure what's running in production. Observability is how the community closes that gap, and this summit is where that work happens."

Highlights at Observability Summit North America 2026 include:

AI and MCP in Observability

This track explores how AI and MCP are applied in observability workflows. Sessions address root cause analysis, tracing model-driven decisions and incident response automation. View the full track here.

Speaker Highlight:

How Observability-First Development Lets You Ship Agents in Weeks, Not Months-Megha Goyal & Kyle Hounslow, AWS

CNCF Observability Projects

This track focuses on the evolution of CNCF observability standards and tooling. Sessions include deep dives into OpenTelemetry and the OpenTelemetry Transformation Language (OTTL), with practical guidance on optimizing telemetry pipelines. View the full track here.

Speaker Highlight:

Community-Driven Development in Observability

This track focuses on community-led development within open source observability projects. Sessions examine standards evolution, contributor workflows and governance models shaping CNCF initiatives. View the full track here.

Speaker Highlight:

End-User Case Studies

This track highlights real-world implementations of open observability tools. Sessions share lessons on scaling OpenTelemetry, reducing costs, debugging cloud failures and building enterprise telemetry backbones. View the full track here.

Speaker Highlight:

Unified End-to-End Observability: How Comcast Generates SpanMetrics at Enterprise Scale-Raghu Vamshi Challa & Justin Rech, Comcast

Integrating Observability into DevOps Practices

This track examines how observability is embedded into DevOps practices. Sessions cover synthetic monitoring for Kubernetes, OaC, telemetry debt management and scaling data planes. View the full track here.

Speaker Highlight:

Panel: Telemetry That Matters-Diana Todea, VictoriaMetrics; Antonio Jimenez Martinez, Cisco ThousandEyes; Adnan Rahic, Bindplane; Carol Valencia, KrolCloud; Josh Lee, Altinity

Scalability Challenges and Solutions

This track examines approaches to maintaining performance across large-scale distributed systems. Sessions cover handling large data sets with Prometheus and OpenTelemetry, multi-cluster Kubernetes environments and log and trace architectures. View the full track here.

Speaker Highlight:

Observability Summit North America 2026 will run as a CNCF-hosted event co-located with Open Source Summit North America. Early bird registration is open at $349 through March 24. Discounted rates are available for full-time students and faculty.

The Dan Kohn scholarship program provides complimentary registration for community members from underrepresented groups. Applications are open through April 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Strategic partners include Datadog, Chronosphere and the OpenSearch Foundation.

The event is supported by Diamond sponsor Odigos and Platinum sponsors ClickHouse, Dynatrace, Elastic, Grafana Labs and VictoriaMetrics.

Companies interested in sponsoring Observability Summit should submit a request to [email protected] by April 1. To learn more, view the sponsorship prospectus.

Additional Resources

About Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open-source software stack across public, private, and hybrid clouds. The CNCF hosts critical components of global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy, bringing together top developers, end users, and vendors. Supported by nearly 800 members, including the world's largest technology companies and over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, visit www.cncf.io.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Kaitlin Thornhill

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation
CHICAGO, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), one of North America's leading branded food companies, today announced the appointment of John Mulligan and Pietro Satriano to its board of directors, effective immediately. With these additions, the Conagra Brands board will increase to 12 members.

"We are pleased to welcome John and Pietro to the Conagra Brands board," said Richard H. Lenny, chair, Conagra Brands. "Conagra and its shareholders will benefit from their extensive leadership and corporate governance experience. In addition, John brings relevant expertise navigating retail business challenges and driving strategy, while Pietro provides food industry experience with corporate transformation and supply chain excellence."

John Mulligan said, "It is an exciting time to join Conagra Brands as it focuses on leveraging technology to drive its business and innovation agenda. I look forward to working with the board and management to pursue Conagra's strategy."

Pietro Satriano said, "I am honored to join the board and play a part in Conagra's success. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow board members and the management team as Conagra continues to focus on innovation and operational transformation."

About John Mulligan

John Mulligan is the former chief operating officer of Target Corporation, a leading U.S. general merchandise retailer, where he served as chief financial officer and in other executive roles in finance, digital, and human resources. Mr. Mulligan also served as a director of McDonald's corporation, a multi-national fast-service restaurant chain, for ten years ending in 2025, serving as chair of its public policy & strategy committee and chair of its audit & finance committee.

About Pietro Satriano

Pietro Satriano is the former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of US Foods Holding Corp., a leading foodservice company, where he started as chief merchandising officer. He has served in various leadership positions at Loblaw Companies, a leading food retailer, and LoyaltyOne Canada, a provider of marketing services primarily to retailers. He currently serves on the board of directors of CarMax, Inc., a specialty retailer of automobiles, and Metro, Inc., a Canadian grocery and pharmacy retailer. He is also a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and an executive advisor for JMPS Advisory LLC, a business consulting and advisory firm.

About Conagra Brands

Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), is one of North America's leading branded food companies. We combine a 100-year history of making quality food with agility and a relentless focus on collaboration and innovation. The company's portfolio is continuously evolving to satisfy consumers' ever-changing food preferences. Conagra's brands include Birds Eye, Duncan Hines, Healthy Choice, Marie Callender's, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP, and many more. As a corporate citizen, we aim to do what's right for our business, our employees, our communities and the world. Headquartered in Chicago, Conagra Brands generated fiscal 2025 net sales of nearly $12 billion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.

For more information, please contact:

MEDIA: [email protected]

INVESTORS: [email protected]

SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and BOSTON, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Draper and the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) today announced that Draper will provide advisory services and support to startups and small companies within NEMC's membership to de-risk and accelerate lab-to-fab technology transition. The formal introduction will be made at the 2026 Microelectronics Commons Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

These services build upon the NEMC's Powering Regional Opportunities for Prototyping Microelectronics (PROPEL) program, providing funding and support to help early-stage ventures and growing firms overcome complex technical risks and reduce development timelines.

Under the agreement, Draper will offer Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design and multi-project wafer (MPW) readiness advisory services to NEMC members, where such support is appropriate to project objectives. The goal is to help reduce execution risk, improve design quality, and better prepare for MPW fabrication and downstream integration.

"We look forward to sharing our unique experience and deep expertise in ASIC design and MPW preparedness with NEMC members," said Michael Cassidy, Director, Secured & Assured Systems, Draper. "This agreement reflects our commitment as a trusted innovation partner to strengthen this region's microelectronics ecosystem by meeting innovators where they are. Draper's role will be to help NEMC members navigate the complexity of ASIC design, fabrication, and integration so their ideas can move from the lab into the real world to support national security and commercial competitiveness."

"This unique collaboration with Draper provides microelectronics innovators much-needed access to trusted advisory support within the ME Commons ecosystem, reinforcing the value of design readiness and MPW execution discipline," said Farhad Vazehgoo, Director, Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships, NEMC. "By reinforcing the value of design readiness and MPW execution discipline, we are strengthening our offerings to help member companies overcome manufacturing and operational hurdles and accelerate time to market."

ASIC design is the process of creating custom-built semiconductor chips optimized for a single, specific function, offering high performance, efficiency, and small size for a wide range of applications. MPW semiconductor manufacturing arrangements allow customers to share tooling (like mask) and microelectronics wafer fabrication cost between several designs or projects.

Draper's role will be advisory in nature, intended to support member success rather than approve designs, certify readiness, or control access to MPW or fabrication resources. Any work will be scoped and coordinated through MassTech to ensure alignment with NEMC program objectives.

NEMC members and those active in the startup and small business ecosystem are invited to learn more about these advisory services. To indicate interest, visit https://forms.office.com/r/EX4DpkWy9w.

About Draper

Draper is a non-profit research, development, and manufacturing company that solves some of the nation's most important challenges. With more than 2,500 employees working in collaboration across 12 locations, Draper delivers transformative, mission-driven solutions that successfully meet our customers' requirements. These efforts focus on four critical mission areas: Strategic Systems, Space Systems, Electronic Systems, and Biotechnology Systems. To extend our legacy into the future, the Draper Scholars program engages with the next generation of innovators while DraperSPARX seeks to partner with startups and small businesses that can further our mission. To learn more about Draper, visit www.draper.com. Follow Draper on Linked In and Instagram.

About the NEMC Hub

The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub is a network of 300+ organizations including commercial and defense companies, leading academic institutions, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), and startups concentrated in eight Northeastern states. The NEMC Hub is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) and was established in 2023 under the Microelectronics Commons program, executed through the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) and the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). The NEMC Hub fosters a vibrant, well-connected ecosystem to provide sustainable lab-to-fab enablement, boost education and workforce development, and spur new jobs.

Learn more at nemicroelectronics.org.

SOURCE Draper Laboratory
Biennial program supports nonprofits driving education, entrepreneurship, and community impact across California

Golden 1 Credit Union awarded 55 nonprofit organizations across the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys with two-year grants totaling $1.5 million.

Nonprofits supporting indicators of financial well-being, such as educational attainment, access to career pathways and entrepreneurship for young adults, were selected.

Since 2013, Golden 1 has awarded more than $6 million to nonprofits in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys through its Community Grant Program.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden 1 Credit Union (Golden 1) is proud to announce 55 nonprofits in California as recipients of its 2026-2027 Community Grant Program. The biennial program will award $1.5 million over two years to selected nonprofits in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys that support educational attainment, access to career pathways, and entrepreneurship for young adults.

Golden 1's Community Grant Program is grounded in research linking youth academic and career success to healthier, more financially resilient communities. Through this program, Golden 1 provides critical funding to regional nonprofits that promote education, empower youth to discover career pathways, foster entrepreneurship, and strengthen local communities.

"Golden 1 is proud to support organizations throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys that are creating lasting change in our communities," said Erica Taylor, Senior Vice President of Community Impact and Public Relations Officer for Golden 1 Credit Union. "Nonprofits play an essential role in strengthening California's diverse communities, and we look forward to seeing the important work these grantees will accomplish over the next two years to help ensure brighter futures for all Californians."

Golden 1's Community Grant Program has awarded more than $6 million in funding to nonprofits in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys since its launch in 2013. Applicants for the 2026-2027 program were evaluated on their alignment with Golden 1's vision to enhance the financial wellbeing of Californians, along with other key selection criteria. In addition to funding, Golden 1 works to connect grantees with one another to foster collaborative relationships that collectively amplify their impact in the communities they serve.

For a full list of grant recipients and more information about Golden 1's Community Grant Program, visit golden1.com/community-grants. The next application period for the Community Grant Program will open in fall 2027.

ABOUT GOLDEN 1 CREDIT UNION

With more than $21 billion in assets, Golden 1 Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in the United States, providing easy access to the financial solutions, resources, and support their members and communities need to improve their well-being. Golden 1 is committed to creating a more equitable and financially inclusive California and proudly serves all those who live or work there. Golden 1 is more than 1.1 million members strong and has over 2,000 employees. Visit golden1.com for more information.

SOURCE GOLDEN 1 CREDIT UNION
Transaction supports strategic shift toward more value-added protein offerings by Hormel Foods

JENNIE-O brand remains a strategic source of profitable growth for Hormel Foods

AUSTIN, Minn., and WILLMAR, Minn., Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its whole-bird turkey business to Life-Science Innovations (LSI). The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2026 for Hormel Foods, subject to customary closing conditions.

Life-Science Innovations

"Our strategy for sustainable, profitable growth centers on expanding our value-added protein portfolio to meet evolving consumer needs, while reducing our exposure to more volatile, commodity-driven businesses," said Jeff Ettinger, interim chief executive officer, Hormel Foods. "We are confident that this portion of our legacy turkey business will be in good hands under LSI's ownership, given their deep experience and expertise in this area."

In the transaction, LSI will acquire assets from Hormel Foods, including the Melrose, Minnesota, whole-bird production facility; Swanville, Minnesota, feed mill; and associated transportation assets. LSI will also assume supply contracts with third-party turkey growers that are dedicated to the whole-bird business and provide co-manufacturing services to Hormel Foods through the end of its fiscal 2026, to provide uninterrupted fulfillment of customer orders during the transition. The broader array of JENNIE-O branded products, and ownership of the JENNIE-O brand name, are not impacted by the transaction.

"This transaction is an important next step in our evolution," said John Ghingo, president, Hormel Foods. "With a more focused turkey portfolio, we will continue strengthening the value-added aspects of our JENNIE-O business. We look forward to working with LSI to ensure a smooth transition for our team members, customers, consumers and suppliers."

"This agreement is a continuation of a 75-year relationship with Jennie-O," said Richard Huisinga, chief executive officer, LSI. "We are excited to combine the country's newest, state-of-the-art hen plant, the Minnesota hen-grower families and our recent first-of-its-kind turkey hatchery."

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. Hormel Foods expects the sale to have a minimal impact on its adjusted fiscal 2026 financial results, which will be discussed in more detail during the company's first quarter earnings call on Feb. 26, 2026, at 7 a.m. CT (8 a.m. ET).

About Hormel Foods  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with

over $12 billion in annual revenue. Its brands include PLANTERS, SKIPPY, SPAM, HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE, APPLEGATE, WHOLLY, HORMEL BLACK LABEL, COLUMBUS, JENNIE-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America's most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World's Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com.

About Life-Science Innovations

Life-Science Innovations (LSI), based in Willmar, Minnesota, is a diversified organization supporting a family of companies that advance the agriculture and poultry industries. Backed by more than 80 years of experience in the turkey industry, from hatching through processing, and strengthened by longstanding partnerships including Turkey Valley Farms in Marshall, Minnesota, LSI brings a proven legacy of expertise to the agriculture and poultry sectors.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on the current assumptions and expectations of Hormel Foods Corporation ("Hormel"). These statements are typically accompanied by the words "expect," "will," "would," or similar words or expressions. The principal forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding Hormel's anticipated sale of its whole-bird turkey business and the expected impact of the transaction on Hormel's fiscal 2026 financial results.

All such forward-looking statements are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Although Hormel believes there is a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements, its actual results could be materially different. The most important factors which could cause Hormel's actual results to differ from its forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks related to the deterioration of economic conditions; risks related to acquisitions, joint ventures, equity investments, and divestitures; risks and uncertainties associated with intangible assets, including any future goodwill or intangible assets impairment charges; the risk of disruption of operations; the risk that Hormel may fail to realize anticipated cost savings or operating profit improvements associated with strategic initiatives, including the Transform and Modernize initiative and Hormel's recent corporate restructuring plan; risk of unfavorable changes in Hormel's relationships with third parties; risk of Hormel's inability to protect information technology (IT) systems against, or effectively respond to, cyber-attacks, security breaches or other IT interruptions; labor relations and labor availability risks; food safety risks; fluctuations in commodity prices and availability of raw materials and other inputs; fluctuations in market demand for Hormel's products; risks related to Hormel's ability to respond to changing consumer preferences; damage to Hormel's reputation or brand image; risks of litigation; risks associated with government regulation; risks related to trade policies, export and import controls, and tariffs; and the other risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A  Risk Factors of Hormel's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which can be accessed at www.hormelfoods.com in the "Investors" section. Though Hormel has attempted to list comprehensively these important cautionary risk factors, Hormel cautions that other factors may in the future prove to be important in affecting Hormel's business or results of operations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Hormel does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as otherwise required by law.

Investor Contact

[email protected]

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation
Expects Q1 Net Sales of $3 billion; Organic Net Sales1 Growth of 2%

Expects Q1 Diluted EPS of $0.33; Adjusted Diluted EPS1 of $0.34

Separately Announces Definitive Agreement to Sell Its Whole-Bird Turkey Business

Presenting at the 2026 Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) Conference

AUSTIN, Minn., Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced today preliminary first quarter fiscal 2026 results ahead of its presentation at the CAGNY conference on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET, and reaffirmed its expected organic net sales1 and adjusted diluted earnings per share1 guidance for fiscal 2026.

The Company separately announced entry into a definitive agreement to sell its whole-bird turkey business, reflecting its ongoing portfolio shaping efforts. The Company will release its first quarter fiscal 2026 financial results on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

Preliminary First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results

Hormel Foods expects first quarter fiscal 2026 net sales of approximately $3 billion, reflecting 2% organic net sales1 growth compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2025. This will mark the Company's fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year organic net sales1 growth.

Hormel Foods expects preliminary first quarter fiscal 2026 diluted earnings per share of $0.33 and adjusted diluted earnings per share1 of $0.34.

"We are pleased with our preliminary first quarter results," said Jeff Ettinger, interim chief executive officer. "They reflect a solid start to the year, are aligned with our expectations and give us confidence that we are focused on the right initiatives to return Hormel Foods to profitable growth."

At the 2026 CAGNY conference, Ettinger will reaffirm the Company's fiscal 2026 organic net sales1 and adjusted diluted earnings per share1 guidance and review key initiatives for success in fiscal 2026. John Ghingo, president, will discuss the Company's unique position in the food industry, and leadership's expectations for achieving its previously announced long-term growth algorithm of 2-3% organic net sales1 growth and 5-7% operating profit growth.

Portfolio Shaping

The Company separately announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its whole-bird turkey business to Life-Science Innovations (LSI), with the transaction expected to close by the end of the Company's second quarter of fiscal 2026.

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. The Company will provide additional information on the transaction as part of its first quarter earnings announcement. It currently estimates minimal impact on net sales and adjusted diluted earnings per share1 guidance for fiscal 2026.

Upcoming Presentations

The live webcast of the Company's CAGNY presentation, together with materials for the event, will be accessible at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, on the Company's investor website, investor.hormelfoods.com.

Hormel Foods will provide a comprehensive review of its first quarter results along with its fiscal 2026 guidance during its regularly scheduled earnings conference call on Feb. 26, 2026, at 7 a.m. CT.

Estimates for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 presented in this release are preliminary and represent the most current information available to management.

About Hormel Foods  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue. Its brands include Planters, Skippy, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus, Jennie-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The Company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America's most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World's Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The Company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on the Company's current assumptions and expectations. These statements are typically accompanied by the words "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "project," "seek," "target," "will," "would," or similar words or expressions. The principal forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Company's fiscal 2026 guidance and future financial and operational performance.

All such forward-looking statements are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Although the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements, its actual results could be materially different. The most important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ from its forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks related to the deterioration of economic conditions; risks and uncertainties associated with intangible assets, including any future goodwill or intangible assets impairment charges; the risk of disruption of operations; the risk that the Company may fail to realize anticipated cost savings or operating profit improvements associated with strategic initiatives, including the Transform and Modernize Initiative and the Company's recent corporate restructuring plan; risk of the Company's inability to protect information technology (IT) systems against, or effectively respond to, cyberattacks, security breaches or other IT interruptions; food safety risks; fluctuations in commodity prices and availability of raw materials and other inputs; fluctuations in market demand for the Company's products; risks related to the Company's ability to respond to changing consumer preferences; damage to the Company's reputation or brand image; risks of litigation; risks associated with trade policies, export and import controls, and tariffs; and the other risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A  Risk Factors of the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which can be accessed at hormelfoods.com in the "Investors" section. Though the Company has attempted to list comprehensively these important cautionary risk factors, the Company cautions that other factors may in the future prove to be important in affecting the Company's business or results of operations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as otherwise required by law.

Note: Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this news release may not sum precisely to the totals provided, and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures.

END NOTES

1Non-GAAP measure. See Appendix: Non-GAAP Measures to this news release for more information.

APPENDIX: NON-GAAP MEASURES

This news release includes measures of financial performance that are not defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company utilizes these non-GAAP measures to understand and evaluate operating performance on a consistent basis. These measures may also be used when making decisions regarding resource allocation and in determining incentive compensation. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors because they aid analysis and understanding of the Company's results and business trends relative to past performance and the Company's competitors. Non-GAAP measures are not intended to be a substitute for GAAP measures in analyzing financial performance. These non-GAAP measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

Reconciliation of Preliminary Q1 Fiscal 2026 Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP Measures:



Quarter Ended

January 25, 2026 Net Sales Growth (GAAP) 1.3 % Justin's, LLC Divestiture 0.3 % Organic Net Sales Growth (Non-GAAP) 1.6 %





Quarter Ended

January 25, 2026 Diluted Earnings Per Share (GAAP) $ 0.33 Transform and Modernize Initiative 0.01 Gain on Justin's, LLC Divestiture (0.03) Corporate Restructuring Plan 0.01 Other 0.01 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (Non-GAAP) $ 0.34





Investor Contact:

[email protected]

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation
Meet the friendly faces bringing warmth and care to every aisle

CINCINNATI, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), America's grocer, is celebrating Supermarket Employee Day on Feb. 22 by recognizing its more than 400,000 associates for being experience makers, bringing friendly service, fresh food and moments of joy to customers every day.

"Supermarket Employee Day gives us a special opportunity to thank our associates for the heart they bring to work each day and the genuine connections they build with customers," said Tim Massa, executive vice president and chief associate experience officer. "They are true experience makers, shaping each shopping trip through their care, creativity and the small moments that make customers feel seen and valued."

Meet the outstanding associates who are making a meaningful difference in their communities:

Jeff Bass: Floral Creative Director, Kroger, Texas Division

For 34 years, Jeff has taken pride in playing a part in his customers' most important moments by creating an exceptional floral experience. While the floral industry is always changing, he has remained steadfast in his mission to be great at his craft, serving customers during some of life's most cherished times, whether it's for a baby shower, wedding or another special occasion.

"To me, it's an honor to be welcomed into their world and trusted to do these special things for them," said Jeff.

Ashley Montgomery: Assistant Store Leader Training Program, King Soopers

Going from floral clerk to pick-up supervisor, to her recent promotion to the Assistant Store Leader Training Program, Ashley brings a passion for creativity and building a culture that makes customers feel welcome at King Soopers. No matter if a customer interaction is instore or curbside, Ashley strives to create an experience that will make them want to return.

"Being an experience maker means to me making the customer feel that every interaction is personable and welcoming," said Ashley.

Ana Sanchez: Front End Leader, Ralphs

Ana, who has been with Ralphs for nearly 30 years, goes above and beyond to build trust with customers by making sure their needs are met every time they come into her store. Her favorite part of coming to work each day is seeing customers smile.

"I feel that every morning when I get up, I make a difference and that's what makes me want to come into work," said Ana.

Those seeking a fresh opportunity like Jeff's, Ashley's and Ana's are invited to apply using the mobile-friendly candidate experience, which makes it easier than ever to find the perfect role, seamlessly apply using profile import capabilities from LinkedIn or Indeed and join our team  quickly.

Visit krogerfamilycareers.com to learn more about pursuing a career at Kroger.

About Kroger

At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. We are, across our family of companies more than 400,000 associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through an eCommerce experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.
After 20+ years of fostering innovation and collaboration, Members Development Company, LLC unveils Circuit, its new brand identity, to reflect its evolution into a connected innovation platform for credit unions.

DENVER, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Members Development Company, LLC (MDC), a research and development Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), has officially rebranded as Circuit.

Introduced last week at the organization's Winter Owner Meeting, the rebrand marks a milestone in MDC's evolution and the growth of the network it has built alongside its Owners. The Circuit identity more clearly defines the organization's role in uniting credit unions, CUSOs, and strategic partners to translate collective insight into measurable outcomes.

"For more than two decades, our work has been grounded in innovation and collaboration," said Ned Tobey, Chief Executive Officer of Circuit. "As we matured into a system built for execution, it was clear our brand needed to evolve, too. With Circuit, we set out to create a brand that moves, inspires, and grows with our Owners. Our vision was an identity that feels vibrant and full of momentum, always advancing and always alive."

Circuit is the new operating brand of MDC and will continue under the same legal entity, ownership structure, mission, and leadership. Members Development Company, LLC remains the organization's legal name and will operate as Members Development Company, LLC, d/b/a Circuit.

Under the Circuit brand, the organization will continue to lead development initiatives, strategic partnerships, its Accelerator program, and innovation efforts in close collaboration with its Owners.

The Circuit brand is now live across digital channels and will be featured at Booth #348 at the Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C., March 15, 2026.

About Circuit

Circuit is the operating brand of Members Development Company, LLC, a credit unionowned innovation platform connecting collaboration to execution. Backed by 80 credit union and CUSO Owners nationwide, Circuit brings together research, shared insight, emerging technology, and strategic partnerships to help credit unions reduce risk, accelerate innovation, and turn ideas into action.

Built by credit unions, for credit unions, Circuit helps the industry build what's nexttogether.

To learn more about Circuit's initiatives, upcoming programs, and Owner opportunities, visit www.circuitcu.com.

Media Contact

Annie Lathrup

Marketing Manager

[email protected]

SOURCE Circuit
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States is withdrawing all of its roughly 1,000 troops from Syria, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing three U.S. officials. 
Drivers Can Find CPO C-Class Models at Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead

PEORIA, Ariz., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead is proud to offer an exceptional selection of Certified Pre-Owned C-Class models, giving drivers in Peoria and the greater Phoenix area an opportunity to experience refined German engineering with added confidence and value. Known for its commitment to customer satisfaction and premium automotive expertise, Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead continues to connect shoppers with luxury vehicles that elevate every drive.

Drivers Can Discover Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz C-Class in Peoria, Arizona

Drivers searching for a certified pre-owned Mercedes-Benz C-Class in Peoria, Arizona, will find an impressive lineup at Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead. The C-Class has long been recognized as a benchmark in the luxury sedan segment, offering a harmonious blend of performance, technology, and elegant design. With sleek exterior styling, a meticulously crafted cabin, and advanced safety features, the C-Class delivers a premium experience that stands out in daily commuting and weekend travel alike.

Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead carefully curates its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) inventory to ensure each vehicle meets the high standards associated with the Mercedes-Benz name. Customers benefit from driving a vehicle that reflects both sophistication and lasting quality.

Benefits of Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz C-Class Near Phoenix

Shoppers looking for certified pre-owned Mercedes-Benz near Phoenix will appreciate the added peace of mind that comes with a CPO model. Each eligible C-Class undergoes a comprehensive multi-point inspection performed by factory-trained technicians. This thorough process ensures that the vehicle meets strict mechanical and cosmetic standards before earning its certified status.

Key benefits of a Certified Pre-Owned C-Class include:

Rigorous inspection and reconditioning process

Limited warranty coverage backed by Mercedes-Benz

24-hour roadside assistance for added confidence

Vehicle history report for greater transparency

These advantages allow customers to enjoy the prestige of a luxury sedan while maintaining long-term value and reliability.

Luxury Performance and Technology in a Certified Pre-Owned C-Class

Drivers seeking a luxury sedan with advanced technology in Peoria, Arizona, will find the C-Class delivers on every front. Many C-Class models feature turbocharged engines that provide responsive acceleration and smooth power delivery. Inside the cabin, premium materials, intuitive infotainment systems, and driver-assist features create a connected and comfortable environment.

From high-resolution digital displays to advanced safety innovations designed to support driver awareness, the C-Class exemplifies modern automotive excellence. Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead ensures that its certified inventory offers a range of trims and features, allowing customers to select a model that fits their lifestyle and preferences.

Trusted Mercedes-Benz Dealership Serving Peoria, Arizona, and Surrounding Communities

Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead has built a reputation as a trusted Mercedes-Benz dealership serving Peoria, Arizona, and nearby communities. The dealership's knowledgeable sales professionals and service team are dedicated to delivering a premium customer experience from initial inquiry through ownership.

Customers appreciate the dealership's transparent approach, personalized assistance, and commitment to helping each driver find the right Certified Pre-Owned C-Class. Whether upgrading to a luxury sedan or entering the Mercedes-Benz family for the first time, shoppers can expect attentive support and expert guidance.

Drivers Can Experience the Value of a Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz C-Class Today

For drivers in Peoria, Arizona, seeking a balance of luxury, performance, and peace of mind, the Certified Pre-Owned C-Class at Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead offers an outstanding solution. With carefully inspected vehicles, valuable warranty coverage, and the unmistakable refinement of a Mercedes-Benz sedan, customers can drive with confidence and style.

To explore available Certified Pre-Owned C-Class models or learn more about current inventory, interested shoppers are encouraged to visit Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead in Peoria, Arizona, and experience the difference firsthand.

SOURCE Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead
The Orange County Community Foundation's report highlights Top Job-Growth Sectors and Keys to Workforce Investment

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), one of the nation's largest and fastest-growing community foundations, unveiled today the inaugural 2026 Orange County Economic Opportunity Report. The first report of its kind by the foundation identifies issues, barriers and opportunities for economic growth and prosperity across industry sectors in the region, with the educational pipeline as the most critical piece of the infrastructure. The analysis evaluates the regional economy, identifies future job and wage engines, and guides strategic workforce development investments through 2035.

Produced in partnership with Coast Community College District, Orange County Department of Education, Orange County United Way and OC Pathways, the report provided the following insights on job growth leaders:

The healthcare sector, Orange County's undisputed leader in job growth, is projected to add 49,771 new jobs by 2035. This includes 16,989 middle-skill positions, such as medical assistants, licensed vocational nurses, and technicians.

The tourism and outdoor recreation sectors are projected to add 29,736 jobs by 2035.

Aerospace and defense, clean economy, life sciences and high-tech sectors are projected to add about 8,000 jobs by 2035.

The report also recommends six essential keys to workforce investment for the region, developed by an inclusive collaborative of business, labor, government, and community leaders:

Meet the massive projected job growth in healthcare, the region's undisputed job creator, by dedicating significant funding to expand the capacity of community colleges and vocational training providers to meet the 16,989 middle-skill job demand in this sector. Invest in expanding education and training capacity, especially for middle-skill healthcare roles. Secure the region's long-term competitive advantage in the high-wage life sciences, high-tech, aerospace, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics sectors by investing in developing high-skill talent pipelines through funding scholarships, mentorships, and initiatives for underrepresented students and communities. Ensure current middle-skill workers are not left behind as the economy changes by upskilling frontline workers in sectors such as tourism and creating pathways for workers in sectors such as traditional manufacturing to transition into high-demand roles in aerospace, life science, and clean economy sectors. Fund and incentivize cross-training programs, career ladder development, and upskilling initiatives that connect high-wage firms with the existing frontline workforce. Provide critical, paid work experience that reduces student debt and directly connects training to employment. Provide catalytic funding to expand and scale high-quality paid internships and registered apprenticeships. Invest in the intermediary organizations and infrastructure needed to scale these earn-and-learn opportunities, particularly for vulnerable youth. Registered apprenticeships and paid internships are proven, high-impact strategies for equity and workforce readiness. Ensure career technical education completion and equitable outcomes by addressing non-academic barriers and funding programs that support transportation access, technology access, mental health services, and housing instability interventions. Low-income, foster youth, homeless students, English learners, and students with disabilities cannot complete high-opportunity pathways if they lack transportation, food, or mental health support. Address the systemic market failure in the childcare sector  the only sector projected to shrink  which creates a critical bottleneck for workforce participation across the entire economy. Target investments in the childcare sector to improve wages and professional development, and support education initiatives designed to recruit, train, and retain teachers from within the local community, instead of hiring from outside the region.

The report provides findings of a study led by Wallace Walrod, Ph.D., Managing Partner of Tech Coast Consulting Group and Chief Economic Advisor to the Orange County Business Council. Walrod used the state's 2025 California Jobs First (CJF) Blueprint as the analytical framework to assess Orange County's current and projected economic landscape. The CJF initiative is the state's first comprehensive, "bottom-up" economic development strategy, designed to foster sustainable, equitable, and resilient growth.

"The 2026 Orange County Economic Opportunity Report makes one thing clear: The educational pipeline is Orange County's most valuable infrastructure," said Cathleen Otero, OCCF's Chief Operating Officer. "This data provides the roadmap to ensure that Orange County continues to be a global leader in innovation. By aligning strategic investments in education with business sectors, we are engineering a future where every resident has a pathway to prosperity."

View the complete report: 2026 Orange County Economic Opportunity Report. To learn more about the Orange County Community Foundation and how you can make a difference, visit oc-cf.org.

About Orange County Community Foundation

The Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) transforms our community's heartfelt intention into greater impact for good by working with local donors and nonprofit partners as an expert advisor and innovator. We serve as a resource for individual and family philanthropists, facilitate grant and scholarship programs, and lead community-based initiatives. OCCF's Vision 2030, a five-year strategic plan, is designed to amplify giving and support donors' philanthropic goals as well as address critical needs in Orange County. Since 1989, OCCF has granted more than $1.25 billion in Orange County, across the country, and around the world. For more information, visit oc-cf.org or call (949) 553-4202. Be a part of our conversation on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. View OCCF's 2025 annual report here.

SOURCE Orange County Community Foundation
** Special assistance offered to North Island Credit Union members whose pay has been disrupted as federal employees **

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- North Island Credit Union has announced that it will offer special relief programs to support current members whose pay has been affected by the partial government shutdown. Programs include:

Loan Payment Assistance : Members may skip a payment, with all fees waived, on their Consumer auto loan and/or Signature Plus loan (Personal Loan).





: Members may skip a payment, with all fees waived, on their Consumer auto loan and/or Signature Plus loan (Personal Loan). Penalty-Free Certificate Withdrawals : Members with certificate accounts may request early withdrawal to cover expenses with no fees or penalties.





: Members with certificate accounts may request early withdrawal to cover expenses with no fees or penalties. Reduced Rate (APR) Signature Loans: Members may apply for a signature loan at a 4.00% lower rate than the current lowest rate offered by the credit union. Members may receive up to two times their most recent net paycheck, up to $3,000.

"We know how disruptive and stressful a government shutdown can be for our members and their families," said North Island Credit Union President/CEO Steve O'Connell. "As a member-owned cooperative, our priority is to stand by our members when they need us most. These relief programs are designed to provide flexibility, ease financial pressure and ensure our members have access to the support and resources they need during this challenging time."

For more information, members should contact North Island Credit Union at 800.334.8788, visit any credit union branch or go to the credit union's website.

About North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union

California Credit Union is a federally chartered credit union founded in 1933 with assets of nearly $5.4 billion, over 200,000 members and 26 retail branches. Named a Forbes Best-In-State Credit Union in 2024 & 2025, California Credit Union membership is available to community members and businesses nationwide. The credit union operates in San Diego and Riverside Counties as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. Federally insured by the NCUA, the credit union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. California Credit Union is certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a Low Income Designation, offering inclusive products and services to build financial stability in our underserved communities, including a checking account certified as meeting the Bank On National Account Standards. California Federal Credit Union operates as California Credit Union. Visit northisland.ccu.com for more information or follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @northislandcu.

SOURCE North Island Credit Union
RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Brendan D. O'Toole, a litigation partner at Williams Mullen, has secured a Conditional Pardon for his pro bono client, Jerry L. James, resulting in his release from prison after more than two decades of incarceration.

Jerry James was sentenced to 38 years of active prison time and after serving 26 years of his sentence, was released on Jan. 16, 2026, pursuant to a Conditional Pardon granted by Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin.

Brendan O'Toole | Williams Mullen

This marks the second time O'Toole has successfully obtained a Conditional Pardon for an incarcerated client. In 2022, he secured a Conditional Pardon for Sincere Allahan uncommon outcome in Virginia.

"Helping Sincere and Jerry earn their freedom has been the most meaningful work of my career," said O'Toole. "Jerry spent more than two decades transforming his life through every available program, learning trades, and holding onto hope. He earned this second chance through hard work, accountability, and faith. I'm grateful to Governor Youngkin for recognizing Jerry's rehabilitation and his readiness to contribute positively to the Commonwealth."

Jerry James' petition for clemency was supported by a documented record of rehabilitation and accountability during his incarceration. He accepted responsibility for his actions, remained infraction-free while in custody and completed every program available to him through the Virginia Department of Corrections. Jerry James also served as a mentor to fellow incarcerated individuals.

O'Toole notes that he takes on only one pardon effort at a time due to the emotional and practical demands of clemency advocacy, which often spans several years. That commitment has had a profound impact on the clients he represents.

"He definitely has a heart for people," said Jerry James. "I truly appreciate the heart that he had for me, because it gave me the hope to keep going."

Jerry James' wife, Paulettra James, also worked closely with O'Toole, playing an active role in advocating for her husband's release. Reflecting on their experience, she emphasized both the personal impact and the broader need for pro bono representation. "We're just one of many families who have benefited from someone who, as my husband says, truly has a heart for people," said Paulettra James. "There are so many others who could use that same help."

O'Toole echoed that sentiment stating, "There are many more people like Jerry and Sincere who cannot find counsel. To play even a small role in changing someone's life is something I can't fully put it into words."

O'Toole's efforts were supported by Charles E. "Chuck" James, Jr., a partner in the Litigation Section and Karoline M. Barbie, a legal administrative assistant at Williams Mullen.

About Williams Mullen

Williams Mullen is a regional, full-service law and government relations firm with over 250 attorneys in offices across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Since our firm began in 1909, our goal has been to provide business, legal and government relations solutions to help our clients thrive. Visit us at www.williamsmullen.com.

SOURCE Williams Mullen
TwinStar Community Foundation Renames to Expand Impact Across Washington and Oregon

LACEY, Wash. and EUGENE, Ore., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As Peak Credit Union continues to unite two legacy institutions under one shared vision, its philanthropic arm is taking the next step forward. The TwinStar Community Foundation has officially been renamed the PeakCU Foundation, reflecting its role within the newly formed Peak Credit Union while reaffirming its longstanding commitment to education, food security, and community well-being across Washington and Oregon.

The renaming builds on the 2025 rebrand of TwinStar Credit Union and Northwest Community Credit Union into Peak Credit Union following the merger of both institutions in 2023. While the name has changed, the mission remains the same to strengthen local communities by supporting students, educators, and families where they live and learn.

"This change reflects who we are today and where we're going," said David Tuyo, CEO of Peak Credit Union. "The PeakCU Foundation represents our dedication to focused, local giving built on a much longer history of educational support. Aligning under one name allows us to build on that legacy and expand our impact across Oregon and Washington."

A Proven History of Community Impact

Since its establishment in 2015, and building on education-focused initiatives supported by the credit union for decades prior, the Foundation's work has centered around three core pillars:

Eliminating school lunch debt. From 2018 through 2024, the Foundation paid more than $245,000 to help eliminate school lunch debt for students in the communities it serves, ensuring children can focus on learning without the burden of food insecurity.





From 2018 through 2024, the Foundation paid more than to help eliminate school lunch debt for students in the communities it serves, ensuring children can focus on learning without the burden of food insecurity. Supporting educators through Classroom Cash. Since the program launched in 2000, more than $742,000 has been awarded through Classroom Cash grants, providing K12 teachers, counselors, and librarians with funding for classroom supplies, books, and enrichment resources.





Since the program launched in 2000, more than has been awarded through Classroom Cash grants, providing K12 teachers, counselors, and librarians with funding for classroom supplies, books, and enrichment resources. Investing in students through scholarships. Since 2003, nearly $800,000 has been awarded in scholarships to graduating high school seniors and continuing education students. Many recipients are eligible to reapply each year, providing sustained support throughout their college careers.

Together, these initiatives represent nearly $1.8 million invested to date in strengthening educational outcomes and long-term opportunity across Washington and Oregon.

"Our work has always been guided by a simple belief that well-fed kids create well-fed minds," said Amanda Stevens, Foundation & Education Development Manager. "As the PeakCU Foundation, we're continuing that work with a broader reach and a deeper ability to respond to local needs."

Strengthening Communities for the Future

The PeakCU Foundation operates as a distinct legal entity while working closely with Peak Credit Union to expand its community impact across Washington and Oregon. As local needs continue to evolve, the Foundation remains focused on supporting the people who form the backbone of its communities such as educators, workers in the timber industry and other trades, first responders, small business owners, and the families who depend on them.

The Foundation continues to invest in financial literacy and education, helping individuals and families build long-term financial confidence through classroom programs and partnerships with local schools and nonprofits.

"Our goal is not just to give back, but to grow alongside the communities we serve," Stevens said. "That means listening closely, staying flexible, and investing in programs that truly support people and help our community prosper."

For more information about the PeakCU Foundation and its community programs, visit peakcu.org/foundation.

About Peak Credit Union: Peak Credit Union serves individuals, families, and businesses across Washington and Oregon with more than 250,000 members and $4 billion in assets. Founded by educators and millworkers, the member-owned, not-for-profit credit union is rooted in a legacy of service and community. Through the PeakCu Foundation, Peak Credit Union supports local impact through classroom grants, youth enrichment programs, school supply drives, college scholarships, financial education, and initiatives to eliminate school lunch debt. In recent years, these efforts have erased more than $55,000 in school lunch debt, awarded over $160,000 in scholarships, and invested more than $778,000 in causes across the region. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Opportunity.

About PeakCU Foundation: The PeakCU Foundation is a 501C3 non-profit philanthropic foundation affiliated with Peak Credit Union, dedicated to strengthening communities across Washington and Oregon. Formerly known as the TwinStar Community Foundation, the organization supports education, food security, classroom resources, scholarships, and financial literacy initiatives that help individuals and families thrive. Established in 2015, the Foundation builds on decades of community investment rooted in the credit union's history.

SOURCE Peak Credit Union
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR) ("PGE" or the "Company"), an integrated energy company, today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of 9,467,455 shares of its common stock, all of which are being offered in connection with the forward sale agreements described below, at a public offering price of $50.70 per share. The offering is expected to close on February 19, 2026, subject to satisfaction of the conditions to closing.

Wells Fargo Securities and BofA Securities are acting as lead book-runners and Barclays and J.P. Morgan are acting as active book-runners for the offering. BMO Capital Markets and Mizuho are acting as book-running managers and BTIG and Siebert Williams Shank are co-managers for the offering.

In connection with the offering of shares of common stock, the Company entered into forward sale agreements with each of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Bank of America, N.A. (which the Company refers to as the "forward purchasers"), with respect to 9,467,455 shares of the Company's common stock.

The underwriters of the offering also have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,380,670 additional shares of the Company's common stock. If the option to purchase additional shares of the Company's common stock is exercised, the Company expects to enter into one or more additional forward sale agreements with the forward purchasers in respect of the number of shares of the Company's common stock that are subject to exercise of the option to purchase additional shares.

In connection with the forward sale agreements and any additional forward sale agreements, the forward purchasers (or their affiliates) are expected to borrow from third parties and sell to the underwriters an aggregate of 9,467,455 shares of the Company's common stock (or an aggregate of 10,848,125 shares of the Company's common stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). However, a forward purchaser (or its affiliate) is not required to borrow such shares if, after using commercially reasonable efforts, such forward purchaser is unable to borrow such shares, or if borrowing costs exceed a specified threshold. If a forward purchaser (or its affiliate) does not deliver and sell all of the shares of the Company's common stock to be sold by it to the underwriters, the Company will issue and sell to the underwriters a number of shares of its common stock equal to the number of shares that such forward purchaser (or its affiliate) does not deliver and sell, and the number of shares underlying the relevant forward sale agreement or such additional forward sale agreement will be decreased by the number of shares that the Company issues and sells.

Pursuant to the terms of the forward sale agreements and any additional forward sale agreements, and subject to its right to elect cash or net share settlement, the Company intends to issue and deliver, upon physical settlement of the forward sale agreements or any additional forward sale agreements on one or more dates specified by the Company an aggregate of 9,467,455 shares of common stock (or an aggregate of 10,848,125 shares of common stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) to the forward purchasers in exchange for cash proceeds per share equal to the applicable forward sale price, which will be the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, and will be subject to certain adjustments as provided in the forward sale agreements and additional forward sale agreements. The Company expects to physically settle the forward sale agreements and any additional forward sale agreements in full on one or more dates no later than 24 months from the date of the preliminary prospectus supplement.

The Company will not initially receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of its common stock by the forward purchasers (or affiliates thereof). The Company intends to use the net proceeds, if any, it receives upon future settlement of the forward sale agreements and additional forward sale agreements for general corporate purposes and investment in renewable energy and non-emitting dispatchable capacity related to its 2023 All-Source Request for Proposal, which may include repayment of indebtedness, including commercial paper.

All of the shares of common stock will be offered under the Company's effective shelf registration statement that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website. When available, a copy of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 90 South 7th Street, 5th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: WFS Customer Service, toll-free at 1-800-645-3751 or email to [email protected]; BofA Securities, Inc., NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, by email: [email protected], or by telephone: (800) 294-1322; or by visiting the EDGAR database on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov .

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Portland General Electric Company

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 950,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. Since 1889, Portland General Electric (PGE) has been powering social progress, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE was ranked the No. 1 utility in the 2024 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index and is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. In 2024, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.5 million and volunteered nearly 23,000 hours to more than 480 nonprofit organizations.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

Statements in this news release that relate to future plans, objectives, expectations, performance, events and the like may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements related to PGE's expectations regarding the completion and timing of its proposed public offering, its expectations with respect to the expected physical settlement of the forward sale agreements, and use of proceeds, as well as other statements containing words such as "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "promises," "expects," "should," "conditioned upon," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. As a result, actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to the company on the date hereof and such statements speak only as of the date hereof. The company expressly disclaims any current intention to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the distribution of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise. Prospective investors should also review the risks, assumptions and uncertainties listed in the company's most recent annual report on form 10-K and in other documents that we file with the SEC, including management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations and the risks described therein from time to time.

Investor Contact:

Nick White

Investor Relations

Phone: 503-464-8073

Media Contact:

Drew Hanson

Public Affairs

Phone: 503-464-2067

Source: Portland General Company

SOURCE Portland General Company
NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. (NYSE: PXED) resulting from allegations that Phoenix Education may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

So What: If you purchased Phoenix Education securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50770 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

What is this about: On January 3, 2026, Fox News published an article entitled "University of Phoenix data breach hits 3.5M people." The story stated that the "University of Phoenix has confirmed a major data breach affecting nearly 3.5 million people. The incident traces back to August when attackers accessed the university's network and quietly stole sensitive information."

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
Eric Purcell, Semperis SVP of Global Partner Sales and Alliances is Named a 2026 CRN Channel Chief

HOBOKEN, N.J., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Semperis, the identity-driven cyber resilience and crisis management company, today announced that it has been named to the CRN 2026 Security 100 list, a prestigious ranking of security vendors committed to working with channel partners to help organizations defend against cyber threats. In addition, Eric Purcell, Semperis' Senior Vice President of Global Partner Sales and Alliances, has been named a 2026 CRN Channel Chief, recognizing his leadership and commitment to partner success.

Semperis received recognition for prioritizing identity in its cyber resilience strategy and for its entirely channel-focused sales approach. This method allows partners to provide unique and effective security solutions for clients managing intricate hybrid and multi-cloud identity systems.

This recognition comes on the heels of Semperis' acquisition of MightyID, a best-of-breed identity resilience provider for Okta and Ping. The acquisition significantly expands Semperis' platform to deliver comprehensive identity resilience. The move creates new opportunities for partners to support customers with diverse identity architectures while accelerating deployment, recovery readiness, and time-to-value.

"This recognition reflects the strength of our partner ecosystem and the outcomes our partners deliver every day," said Purcell. "Semperis was built on a partner-first model and we are focused on helping partners build a profitable identity security and crisis management practice. With the addition of MightyID, we're extending those opportunities across the full identity landscape, giving partners even greater ability to drive value, resilience, and long-term customer trust."

The CRN 2026 Security 100 recognition is the latest in a series of industry honors for Semperis, reflecting the company's rapid growth, innovation, and workplace culture. Semperis was recently named one of Dun's 100 Best HighTech Companies, recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of its Best Workplaces for four consecutive years and was named to Deloitte's Technology's Fast 500 for the sixth consecutive year.

To learn more about Semperis and its partner program, visit https://www.semperis.com/partners/.

About Semperis

Semperis is the identity-driven cyber resilience and crisis management company trusted by the world's largest enterprises and government agencies to protect critical identity systems. Purpose-built for multi-cloud and hybrid identity environmentsincluding Active Directory, Entra ID, and OktaSemperis helps organizations prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from identity-based cyberattacks.

Modern cyberattacks are won or lost at the identity layer, where failures now escalate into full-scale business crises. Semperis' AI-powered platform unifies identity lifecycle defense and crisis managementhardening identity infrastructure, detecting and containing active threats, enabling rapid, trusted recovery, and supporting secure, out-of-band coordination when core systems are disruptedall reinforced by a world-class identity forensics and incident response team.

As part of its mission to help organizations achieve true cyber resilience, Semperis supports the broader cyber community through the award-winning Hybrid Identity Protection (HIP) Conference and Podcast and free identity security tools including Purple Knight and Forest Druid. More than 1,000 organizationsover 25% of the 100 largest U.S. companiesrely on Semperis. The company is privately held, headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey, and serves customers in more than 40 countries.

Learn more: semperis.com

Follow us: Blog / LinkedIn / X / Facebook / YouTube

Media Contact:

Bill Keeler

Semperis

Senior Director, PR & Comms

[email protected]

SOURCE Semperis
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Internationally recognized Vietnamese-American artist, curator, philanthropist, and filmmaker Sir Daniel K. Winn has been awarded the Gold Medal by Mondial Art Academia for his sculpture "Chrysalis," a bronze and Lucite work that is both inspired by and featured in his forthcoming biographical feature film of the same name.

Sir Daniel K. Winn wearing the Mondial Art Academia Gold and Silver Medals. Sir Daniel K. Winn's award-winning sculpture "Chrysalis," bronze and Lucite.

This latest honor adds to multiple awards Winn has received from Mondial Art Academia throughout his career. Additionally, Winn received a Silver Medal for his oil painting Observation, also part of the Chrysalis series created in connection with the film.

The award-winning sculpture reflects the thematic core of the upcoming film Chrysalis, which explores Sir Winn's wartime childhood experiences in Vietnam and is based on his forthcoming memoir, Scarcity of Love.

Chrysalis depicts a seated female figure holding a butterfly, symbolizing metamorphosis. Surrounding the base are Lucite spheres encasing clock mechanisms, representing vision and transformation. The figure serves as a tribute to Sir Winn's grandmother (portrayed by Vietnamese-American actress Kieu Chinh in the film), who encouraged him to pursue his childhood dream of becoming an artist.

The recognition from Mondial Art Academia further connects Winn's sculptural work with his cinematic storytelling, reinforcing the narrative bridge between fine art and film present in Chrysalis.

Sir Daniel K. Winn, known for his artistic philosophy of Existential Surrealism, uses surrealistic composition and subject matter to encourage viewers to examine the nature of existence. His work explores themes of free will, destiny, and the human condition.

Winn's contributions to art and philanthropy have been recognized by international museums and global arts organizations. In 2018, he was granted a knighthood by the German Princely Family of Schaumburg-Lippe-Nachod. He currently serves as Art Commissioner for John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. Winn is also co-founder of Winn Slavin Fine Art on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

The feature film Chrysalis, currently in production and scheduled for release in 2026, is planned for submission to the Cannes Film Festival. The filmmaking team is also currently seeking international sales representation.

About Sir Daniel K. Winn

Sir Daniel K. Winn is a Vietnamese-American artist, curator, philanthropist, and filmmaker. His work spans painting, sculpture, and cinema, and is internationally recognized for exploring existential themes through surrealistic visual language. Through his art, film, and philanthropy, Winn continues to support emerging artists and promote global artistic dialogue.

Media Contact:

Rick Krusky

818 521 8294

[email protected]

SOURCE Sir Daniel K. Winn
Investment accelerates AI-enabled radioligand discovery and clinical development, expands U.S. operations, and advances Louisiana's life sciences innovation ecosystem

SHREVEPORT, La., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Starget Pharma Inc, a U.S. clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company, today announced the closing of its $18M Series A financing round and a strategic collaboration with the Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy (CMIT) to develop next-generation peptide radioligand therapies for cancer.

The Series A round includes participation from U.S.-based investors Louisiana Economic Development's Louisiana Growth Fund (LED), Cancer Focus Fund, and CMIT's parent entity BRF, as well as Ilex Medical Ltd (TLV: ILX) and additional investors. Proceeds from the financing will support the advancement of Starget's pipeline toward clinical development, including its lead first-in-class SSTR3-targeted theranostic pair for sarcoma, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and malignant melanoma, and expand translational and manufacturing capabilities in the United States.

"This Series A financing marks a pivotal milestone for Starget," said Sigal Kalmanson Cusnir, CEO of Starget Pharma. "It enables us to scale our in silico, AI-driven discovery platform, accelerate drug development, and establish critical U.S.-based translational infrastructure. Our collaboration with CMIT strengthens our ability to rapidly translate high-quality radioligand candidates, discovered in our Israeli research center, into the clinic, while delivering meaningful scientific and economic impact for Louisiana."

Accelerating Radioligand Development Through AI-Enabled Discovery and U.S. Translation

Starget's proprietary in silico, AI-driven platform leverages computational modeling and data-driven prediction to rapidly identify and prioritize radioligand therapies (RLT) candidates maximizing speed and efficiency.

"Starget is the only RLT company with an AI-powered peptide discovery platform that advances programs such as its first-in-class SSTR3 theranostic pair to meet the rapidly growing demand for next-generation RLTs," said Ross Barrett, Managing Partner of Cancer Focus Fund.

The collaboration with CMIT will provide the downstream capabilities required to advance these AI-selected candidates through preclinical validation and into early-phase clinical development. The collaboration will leverage CMIT's integrated infrastructure, including molecular imaging, radiochemistry, preclinical and clinical research, and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution.

"By pairing Starget's in silico discovery capabilities with CMIT's translational and manufacturing expertise, we create a highly efficient end-to-end development pathway for radiopharmaceuticals," said Stephen Lokitz, Ph.D., Executive Director of CMIT.

Aligned with Louisiana's Innovation and Economic Development Strategy

The collaboration aligns with the strategic goals of Louisiana Economic Development and its Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO) department, which aims to attract and scale high-growth, technology-enabled companies across advanced sectors, including life sciences. Through LA.IO, LED recently launched the Louisiana Growth Fund, a public-private investment vehicle designed to support innovative companies building long-term economic value in the state.

"This investment reflects Louisiana's commitment to backing life sciences companies that pair advanced technology with real-world clinical impact," said Josh Fleig, Chief Innovation Officer at Louisiana Economic Development. "Starget brings together internationally developed science with a clear, U.S.-based strategy to accelerate drug development through in silico innovation. That combination of global innovation and domestic execution is exactly the kind of company Louisiana is primed to help scale."

John F. George Jr., M.D., President and CEO of BRF, added: "This collaboration is a significant step forward for both cancer research and economic development in Louisiana, reinforcing our region's role in advanced radiopharmaceutical innovation."

About Starget Pharma Inc.

Starget Pharma is a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company developing next-generation peptide RLT for cancer, with operations in the U.S. and Israel. Starget's platform integrates AI-driven peptide design, theranostic imaging, and rapid clinical insight, creating a repeatable engine capable of generating multiple radioligand therapy programs and capturing outsized value across this expanding therapeutic category. Starget's programs have a clear first- and best-in-class potential, with multiple clinical entries planned for 2026. Learn more at www.stargetpharma.com.

About CMIT

The Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy (CMIT), a wholly owned subsidiary of BRF, offers a full continuum of research and development services in molecular imaging, radiopharmaceutical discovery, manufacturing, and clinical translation. CMIT's model allows for streamlined advancement of novel diagnostics and therapies from concept through imaging to clinical testing and distribution  a unique "one-stop-shop" capability in the radiopharmaceutical space.

About BRF

BRF, headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana, is an innovation hub and economic development organization establishing North Louisiana as a preferred destination for high-growth initiatives. Diversifying the region's economy is its mission. It fulfills this mission through initiatives that start new businesses, recruit new businesses and retain current businesses in the region, and through supporting the development of a science and technology-based workforce.

About Cancer Focus Fund

The Cancer Focus Fund LP is a unique investment fund established in collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The fund provides investment support to advance promising cancer therapies that are close to being tested in humans or are in early clinical development, as well as the clinical trial expertise and infrastructure of MD Anderson and strategic partners Ochsner Health System Precision Cancer Therapies Program New Orleans and the LSU Feist Weiller Cancer Center Shreveport. The Fund's objective is to leverage this unique combination to provide investors with superior risk-adjusted returns. In collaboration with partner MD Anderson, the Cancer Focus Fund provides both capital and translational research expertise with the goal of accelerating the development of novel cancer therapies that result in better outcomes for patients while generating returns for investors.

About Louisiana Innovation <LA.IO>

Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO) is a division of Louisiana Economic Development dedicated to strengthening and modernizing the state's core industries through innovation. LA.IO supports high-potential, tech-enabled startups by connecting founders to capital, fostering partnerships across accelerators, universities, investors, and industry, and advancing transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced automation. Learn more at www.la.io.

For further information contact:

Brian Williams 318.716.4115

[email protected]

Ed Walsh 318.424.2676 ext. 345

[email protected]

SOURCE BRF; Starget Pharma
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gestures during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Feb. 18, 2026. The White House on Wednesday declined to set a deadline for the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, saying Tehran is expected to present more details on its negotiating position within weeks. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Wednesday declined to set a deadline for the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, saying Tehran is expected to present more details on its negotiating position within weeks.

"Diplomacy is always his (President Donald Trump's) first option," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a daily briefing.

But she said "there are many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran."

Leavitt declined to set a deadline for the talks between Washington and Tehran, saying that she is not going to "set deadlines on behalf of the President of the United States."

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday that the talks showed some positive signs but key U.S. red lines remain unmet.

A Trump adviser said the White House is moving closer to possible military actions, estimating a "90 percent chance" of strikes within weeks if talks fail, Axios reported Tuesday.

Any U.S. operation could involve a large-scale, weeks-long campaign, potentially conducted jointly with Israel, targeting Iran's nuclear and missile programs and posing a major threat to Tehran's leadership, said the report, quoting sources familiar with the matter. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gestures during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Feb. 18, 2026. The White House on Wednesday declined to set a deadline for the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, saying Tehran is expected to present more details on its negotiating position within weeks. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Feb. 18, 2026. The White House on Wednesday declined to set a deadline for the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, saying Tehran is expected to present more details on its negotiating position within weeks. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)
LEWISTON, Idaho, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Jade A Starry is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional Member Inner Circle of Excellence for her contributions to Maternal and Newborn Care.

Jade A. Starry has built a distinguished career in nursing, specializing in labor and delivery care at Gritman Medical Center, a critical access hospital serving rural communities in Idaho. With a passion for maternal and neonatal health, she provides compassionate, patient-centered care while ensuring the safety and well-being of mothers and newborns.

Jade A Starry

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lewis-Clark State College in 2020, Ms. Starry began her career as a hospital medical-surgical nurse, gaining vital hands-on experience. Recognizing her calling in labor and delivery, she transitioned into the Family Birth Center at Gritman Medical Center, where she now assists in up to one to three deliveries per shift, although it can vary. Her expertise spans labor and delivery, postpartum maternal care, newborn care, patient advocacy, nurse preceptorship, and charge nurse leadership in a high-demand environment. She also has been trained as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.

Ms. Starry completed an 18-month Nurse Residency Program at Gritman Medical Center, where she developed advanced skills in patient monitoring, emergency response, and comprehensive care management across multiple hospital units, including same-day surgery and medical-surgical nursing. Her dedication and adaptability in critical access hospital nursing have made her an invaluable asset to the facility and the patients she serves.

As a member of the Idaho Nurses Association, Ms. Starry remains committed to continuous learning and professional development. Looking ahead, she aims to enhance her leadership skills as a charge nurse and nurse preceptor, expand her expertise in high-risk maternal and neonatal care, and further contribute to the field of labor and delivery nursing.

Ms. Starry attributes her success to hard work, perseverance, and the unwavering support of her family, friends, and colleagues. She remains dedicated to providing exceptional care, ensuring that every mother and newborn receives the highest level of medical attention in a compassionate and supportive environment.

Contact:

Katherine Green

516-825-5634

[email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
About this content 

About Oliver Haill

Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup News Service, Gracenote... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Ian Lyall

Ian Lyall, a seasoned journalist and editor, brings over three decades of experience to his role as Managing Editor at Proactive. Overseeing Proactive's editorial and broadcast operations across six offices on three continents, Ian is responsible for quality control, editorial policy, and content production. He directs the creation of 50,000 pieces of real-time news, feature articles, and filmed interviews annually. Prior to Proactive, Ian helped lead the business output at the Daily... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Jamie Ashcroft

Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development. As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Lisa Uhlman

Lisa Uhlman is an equities reporter at Proactive Investors, covering ASX-listed companies across the mining, energy, biotech and emerging tech sectors. With a background in legal and financial journalism, Lisa brings a sharp analytical lens to market news and corporate developments. Prior to joining Proactive, she reported for national trade publications and newswires, with a focus on court reporting, regulatory affairs and ESG-related business issues. Based in Sydney, she is... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson joins Proactive Australia's broadcast team part time. As the Managing Director of Gold Events Kerry has been hosting the annual Australian Gold Conference for over 14 years, connecting industry and investment professionals and showcasing the value of precious metals. Kerry is passionate about helping others to secure a safe and solid future by understanding money, finance, and strategy. That is why she created the Making Money Matter channel on YouTube, where... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Jonathan Jackson

Jonathan Jackson is an experienced writer and editor. Over the past 20 years, he has worked in print and digital media across several business and finance titles amd is currently the Australian news editor at Proactive Investors covering the latest news for ASX listed companies as well as current financial trends. He was previously managing editor with Business First magazine, Wealth Creator Magazine and StocksDigital. Jonathan has interviewed some of the world's top CEOs and covered... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
Investors and analysts alike swiftly recognized the disruptive potential of ChatGPT when OpenAI publicly released it in November 2022. Generative AI quickly transformed from a novelty to a genuine tool that helps people be more productive by simplifying workflows and providing analysis.

But disruption can be difficult for affected industries. Much as ridesharing impacted the taxi industry or streaming services upended cable television, generative AI is threatening to draw revenue away from more established businesses that now need to deal with a new threat to their bottom lines.

More News from Barchart

Wedbush Securities has identified Pinterest (PINS) and Maplebear (CART), which operates Instacart, as particularly vulnerable to ChatGPT right now, as the AI platform announced that it began tests for an advertising platform. Ads do not influence the answers ChatGPT gives you, and we keep your conversations with ChatGPT private from advertisers, OpenAI disclosed on its website. Our goal is for ads to support broader access to more powerful ChatGPT features while maintaining the trust people place in ChatGPT for important and personal tasks. Were starting with a test to learn, listen, and make sure we get the experience right.

Wedbush analyst Scott Devitt said in a research note that OpenAI is already getting interest from top ad agencies. He theorizes that Pinterest is at risk of losing advertising dollars from agencies, and that Instacart could be hurt as it has been working to offer advertising and omnichannel tools for local and regional grocery chains. Devitt wrote that Pinterest and Instacart could be limited in the coming quarters, as investors more intensely debate the role of AI-led commerce and advertising over the next 12 to 18 months.

Lets look at both of these companies.

Pinterest (PINS)

Based in San Francisco, California, Pinterest operates as a hybrid social media platform and advertising network. The companys platform allows users to post photos, called Pins, of everything from food, clothing, and crafts to other interests. Pins can be organized onto individual boards on users profiles.

PINS stock has been a massive disappointment in the last year, however, down 61% versus a 12% gain for the S&P 500 ($SPX). The company saw $4.22 billion in revenue in 2025, up 16% from a year ago, but net income dropped 78%, from $1.86 billion to $416.8 million.
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About Stephen Gunnion

Stephen Gunnion is a senior financial journalist and broadcaster at Proactive Investors. He has more than 25 years of experience in television, radio and print media, anchoring on a number of television channels including South Africa's Business Day TV, CNBC Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where he was the economics editor. He has also worked for Daily Maverick, Bloomberg, the Business Day newspaper and Investors' Chronicle. Read more

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About Emily Jarvie

Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, The Canberra Times, and... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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About Steve Darling

Steve Darling is an award winning broadcaster who has spent the past 20 years as one of the most recognizable faces in British Columbia, reporting and anchoring at BCTV and Global Television. He spent 15 years as the co-host of the number one morning new program in the province. Steve is a tireless worker for charity hosting some 50 events a year. He is an ambassador for the Canucks Autism Network and hosts numerous events with BC Childrens Hospital and the Child Development foundation of... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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About Angela Harmantas

Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government. She earned a Bachelor of... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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Patna, Feb 17 : Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Shatrughan Sinha, popularly known as "Shotgun", on Tuesday, launched a scathing attack on the Central government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the recent administrative reshuffle in West Bengal and the alleged deletion of millions of names from the voter list.

Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Trinamool Congress MP asserted that a Maharashtra or Bihar-style game would not work in West Bengal.

He termed the reported deletion of 5.1 million voters from the electoral rolls as a murder of democracy.

Referring to the transfer of seven senior officials in West Bengal and claims of large-scale voter list manipulation, Shatrughan Sinha alleged that constitutional institutions are being misused due to the BJP's fear of defeat in the upcoming state Assembly polls.

He said that he would soon visit West Bengal personally to assess the ground situation.

"This is not governance, this is desperation. Institutions are being pressurised because the BJP knows it cannot win West Bengal democratically," the Trinamool Congress MP added.

He also praised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, calling her a true role model of development for the entire country.

He said that West Bengal's governance model is being followed nationwide.

Citing welfare initiatives such as "Swasthya Sathi", Shatrughan Sinha said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has empowered women, tribals, and youth alike.

Swasthya Sathi is a Group Health Insurance scheme of the West Bengal government. The scheme was launched in December 2016.

"Mamata Banerjee has played the role of both a mother and a sister for the people of West Bengal," Sinha remarked.

On the issue of voter list deletions, the Trinamool Congress MP described the move as shameful and accused the BJP and the Election Commission of working in collusion.

He warned that the Trinamool Congress would fight what he termed as dictatorship from the streets to the courts.

"There is no alternative to Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. No conspiracy, no strategy of the BJP will succeed here," he asserted.

Shatrughan Sinha's remarks have further escalated the political confrontation in West Bengal, with the voter list controversy emerging as a major flashpoint ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, Feb 18 : The United States and Mauritius will hold bilateral discussions next week in Port Louis focused on security cooperation and the future operation of the military base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos archipelago, the US State Department said.

From February 2325, the talks will be led by the Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs with participation from across the US interagency, according to a media note.

"These discussions underscore the continued importance of the Chagos archipelago and the joint USUK base on Diego Garcia to our national security," the statement said.

Officials said the discussions will centre on bilateral security cooperation and the "effective implementation of security arrangements for the base to ensure its long-term, secure operation."

The United States "supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago," the release said.

Washington also reaffirmed its interest in concluding a separate bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom "to guarantee continued use of basing and other facilities in the Chagos archipelago to advance US national security, as well as security and stability across the Indian Ocean."

The talks come amid a 2025 arrangement between London and Port Louis under which sovereignty of the Chagos Islands  long administered by Britain as the British Indian Ocean Territory  will transfer to Mauritius while preserving the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia under a leaseback provision.

Diego Garcia is a key logistics, air, and naval hub for US and allied forces. Its location in the central Indian Ocean gives the base strategic reach across the Middle East, South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region.

For India and other Indian Ocean littoral states, developments in the archipelago carry strategic weight. The Indian Ocean hosts critical sea lanes of communication linking Asia, Africa and Europe, and remains central to maritime security calculations.

Mauritius has long asserted sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, arguing that the territory was unlawfully separated from it by Britain before independence in 1968. International legal bodies have weighed in on the dispute, adding diplomatic pressure that ultimately led to negotiations between London and Port Louis.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump said he had held "very productive discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the Island of Diego Garcia," describing it as "the site of a major US Military Base, strategically situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean and, therefore, of great importance to the National Security of the United States."

Trump added that he understood the UK-Mauritius arrangement "was the best he could make," but warned that "if the lease deal, sometime in the future, ever falls apart, or anyone threatens or endangers US operations and forces at our base, I retain the right to militarily secure and reinforce the American presence in Diego Garcia."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Home Depot and Lowes have dominated the home improvement and hardware retail sectors for decades, continuing to rise above hardware cooperatives True Value Hardware and Ace Hardware, and making life even harder for independent hardware retailers.

In recent years, Amazon has also surpassed True Value and Ace as the No. 3 destination for home improvement products.

Home Depot dominates sales

Home Depot captured an average of 28% of the home improvement market sales in 2025, while Lowes followed with 17% of the market, and Amazon had about 11% of sales, according to the Numerator Home Improvement Tracker, which was updated on Feb. 4.

With Home Depot, Lowe's, and Amazon holding a combined 56% of the market's sales last year, the hardware cooperatives and independent retailers have had a difficult time competing and remaining in business.

Ace, True Value, and independent hardware stores are a convenient source for tools and other home improvement products for me, as I can quickly navigate a smaller store for my needs as opposed to much larger big-box stores.

And I find that the employees at the smaller stores near me have often worked at the stores for years and have a quick answer for my needs.

However, even long-time community hardware stores that have operated for over 50 years are struggling to stay open.

Online shopping kills hardware store

Independent hardware store C&H Hardware of Yakima, Wash., which operated for 65 years, had enough problems competing against the hardware and home improvement chain giants, but the store could not compete against lower online prices and shut down permanently in November 2025.

"This year has been tough because everybodys buying online now, C&H store owner Jay Fleck said before shutting his doors permanently. You can get stuff online cheaper than you can come in and pay us.

Fleck said business was good at C&H before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, but business deteriorated afterward.

It was smooth until Covid hit, Fleck said. Of course, we were fortunate to have stayed open. A lot of other places had to shut down. So, weve done pretty good through Covid. And after that, it was kind of over. Its been a downhill slide ever since.

Blossom True Value Hardware will close down after its lease expires in summer 2026.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

Blossom True Value closes down

And now, 53-year-old Home Depot rival Blossom True Value Hardware will close its doors for the final time in summer 2026 when its lease expires.

The Mountain View, Calif.,-based hardware store will permanently close, after suffering a loss of about half of its business since the Covid-19 pandemic subsided, longtime store owner Paul Zeitman told Mountain View Voice.

"Every year is worse than before. People are buying less and less," Zeitman said.

Store rent not affordable

Zeitman explained that the store's monthly rent is reasonable but is no longer affordable.

The store owner said that Blossom True Value was allowed to remain open during the pandemic as an essential business and benefited from people buying hardware and home improvement goods to fix up their homes until the pandemic subsided.

More closings:

The retailer lost half its business as regular customers moved away, and e-commerce expanded further since the end of the pandemic, according to Mountain View Voice.

The store owner said Ace Hardware's expansion and opening of new stores in the region also cut into the retailer's business.

Related: Coca-Cola rival launches Kroger-exclusive soda flavor

High tariffs unsustainable

Zeitman said the final factor in the decision to close down was rising tariffs.

Much of Blossom True Value's merchandise is imported from China, and has been affected by the Trump administration's higher tariffs that have increased prices and cut into profits, while sales have also dropped, he said.

Retailer distress has been blamed on high rents and labor costs, online shopping, and competition from big-box retailers, according to Mountain View City Councilman John McAlister, who is also Blossom's retail neighbor.

Home Depot and Lowe's closest stores to Mountain View are in neighboring Sunnyvale, Calif.

Related: 21-year-old Mexican chain closing all restaurants, no bankruptcy

Top home improvement retailers

Home Depot, 28% of sales in 2025

Lowe's, 17% of sales in 2025

Amazon, 11% of sales in 2025

Related: Giant beer brand closes 50-year-old brewery, selling facility

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Washington, Feb 18 : A senior Democratic lawmaker has sharply criticised President Donald Trump over remarks suggesting he discussed future US arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling the move a break from long-standing American policy.

Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna, Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, said Tuesday that Trump's comments were "alarming."

"Trump's admission that he is discussing future US arms sales to Taiwan with Xi is alarming and a blatant violation of US policy and the Six Assurances," Khanna said in a statement.

His remarks followed President Donald Trump's comments about consulting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping regarding arms sales to Taiwan  an issue that sits at the heart of US-China strategic tensions.

Khanna argued that such consultations would run counter to established US commitments toward Taiwan, particularly the so-called Six Assurances, a set of policy principles dating back to the Reagan administration.

"His statement shows just how Trump treats Taiwan as a 'bargaining chip' in trade negotiations with China. It shows he is more eager to make bad deals with America's strategic competitors than strengthen ties with long-standing friends like Taiwan. It is not only an affront to the security of Taiwan's 23 million people, but a stain on America's global credibility," Khanna said.

He urged the White House to provide clarity and reaffirm continuity in policy.

"I urge the President to reaffirm our commitment to the Six Assurances and clarify that our policy on Taiwan has not changed. Taiwan must be off the table."

The Six Assurances are six policy principles the US has committed to during every administration since President Reagan. Among them, the second Assurance states that the US did not agree to consult Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan.

Unlike the Taiwan Relations Act, the Six Assurances are not yet codified into law. Congress is currently advancing legislation to codify these stabilising principles through the Six Assurances to Taiwan Act.

The Taiwan Relations Act, enacted in 1979 after Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, provides the framework for unofficial US relations with Taiwan and mandates that the United States make available defensive arms to the island.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, Feb 18 : US lawmakers moved to tighten controls on advanced American chips to prevent diversion to China and other countries of concern, even as Washington and Beijing held drug enforcement talks focused on fentanyl and synthetic opioids.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, co-sponsored Senator Tom Cotton's Chip Security Act. The legislation aims to prevent advanced American chips from falling into the hands of China and other countries of concern by improving oversight of advanced AI chips and directing the Secretary of Commerce to require chip security mechanisms.

"We have a responsibility to ensure our most advanced technologies do not end up putting American economic and national security at risk. This bill is a commonsense fix to the long-standing challenges of chip smuggling, ensuring our export enforcement officials can stay one step ahead of smugglers," Warren said.

Cotton said: "We must do better at maintaining and expanding our position in the global market, while safeguarding America's technological edge. With these enhanced security measures, we can continue to expand access to US technology without compromising our national security."

The bill reflects growing bipartisan concern in Washington over technology transfers and export enforcement, particularly involving advanced AI chips.

As lawmakers advanced the measure, US and Chinese officials met in Colorado Springs for the Bilateral Drug Intelligence Working Group from February 10 to 12.

The meeting between US Drug Enforcement Administration and China brought together law enforcement, prosecutors, customs, border security, public security, financial supervision, and technical experts to advance cooperation against illicit synthetic drugs, including fentanyl.

"The shared, urgent, and life-saving priority to stem fentanyl and other synthetic opioids has been emphasized by both President Trump and President Xi," the DEA said.

Participants reviewed recent progress and agreed on "concrete next steps to disrupt chemical supply chains, prevent diversion, and target illicit finance tied to transnational criminal organisations."

The talks examined drug trafficking trends in both countries. They also addressed the impact of precursor chemicals on the drug supply, pill presses and related equipment, and the role of online advertising.

"Recognising the terrible human toll of synthetic drugs, in particular fentanyl, the United States and China are committed to working together, in line with the guidance from both countries' leaders, to save lives, protect communities, and uphold the rule of law," the statement said.

Fentanyl has been central to US efforts to curb opioid overdoses, which have claimed tens of thousands of lives annually in recent years. Washington has repeatedly urged Beijing to strengthen controls over precursor chemicals and illicit supply chains linked to transnational criminal groups.
Washington, Feb 18 : Four Republican lawmakers have urged President Donald Trump to direct the Justice Department to reopen a criminal probe into Cuban leader Raul Castro's alleged role in the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue, calling for possible charges and international arrest notices.

Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar joined Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez and Nicole Malliotakis in sending a letter to the President seeking a fresh review of the case. The letter asks the Department of Justice to "formally reopen the criminal investigation into Raul Castro's role" in the incident and to consider pursuing charges, including potential Interpol "red notices," against Castro and other Cuban officials involved.

The lawmakers asked the Department to "review previously compiled evidence, take a fresh look at command responsibility at the highest levels of the Cuban regime, and use every available legal tool to hold accountable those responsible for the killing of three American citizens and one US permanent resident."

"For decades, Raul Castro and the regime officials who ordered this vile attack have hidden behind the protection of a brutal dictatorship, escaping justice while the families of the victims were left to carry the pain alone. Now we have a real chance to correct this historic injustice," Salazar said.

"We are calling on the Department of Justice to reopen the case, follow the evidence all the way to the top, and use every legal tool available, including international arrest notices, to hold those responsible for the murder of Americans accountable. This was a regime-sponsored military operation approved at the highest levels. The evidence is clear, the responsibility is undeniable, and the era of impunity must end."

"President Trump is a strong ally and a symbol of hope for the brave activists struggling for democracy, while also standing firm against the ruthless dictators that oppress them," Diaz-Balart said. He noted that February 24 "will mark thirty years since the heinous shootdown of two unarmed civilian aircraft in international waters by the Cuban military, under the command of then-Defence Minister Raul Castro."

Gimenez said, "The evidence is overwhelming, the chain of command is clear, and responsibility leads directly to Raul Castro." He added that "The time has come for the Department of Justice to act and hold Raul Castro accountable for the murder of innocent Americans."

"For thirty years, the Castro regime has gotten away with the cold-blooded murder of American citizens, and it is long past time to hold Raul Castro accountable for this heinous crime," Malliotakis said.

The letter was also copied to Attorney General Pam Bondi. The members commended the President's leadership in restoring security and justice to US foreign policy and underscored their belief that Raul Castro is responsible for the crime.

Brothers to the Rescue was a Miami-based humanitarian organization founded to locate and assist Cuban rafters fleeing the Castro dictatorship. On February 24, 1996, Cuban military MiG fighter jets shot down two unarmed civilian aircraft operated by the group over international waters in the Florida Straits, killing three American citizens and one US permanent resident.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Army and the Indian Air Force have been engaged in relentless operations to control forest fires raging in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Helicopters have been conducting continuous water-dropping missions in challenging terrain, while ground teams and specialised equipment support the firefighting efforts.

The Indian Air Force posted on X, "Indian Air Force helicopters are battling wildfires at two fronts, conducting relentless aerial firefighting missions in challenging terrain. At Walong, Arunachal Pradesh, a total of 139,800 litres of water has been dropped, successfully extinguishing the blaze. Simultaneously, operations continue over Dzukou Valley in Nagaland with Mi-17 V5 helicopters drawing water from Padumpokhiri Lake (Dimapur) to battle fires near Japfu Peak amid steep slopes, poor visibility and rarefied air."

Army troops, together with IAF helicopters, have continued efforts to control a massive forest fire that broke out in Walong, a remote area located at an altitude of around 3,000 to 3,500 feet in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Videos shared earlier on Tuesday by the Army showed helicopters dropping water to douse flames raging across the hills, while other firefighting equipment was also deployed to support ground teams. The fire reportedly began on February 13.

Earlier on Saturday, IAF posted on X, "Indian Air Force helicopters are executing sustained aerial firefighting missions above 9,500 ft in the Lohit valley Arunachal Pradesh. Over 12,000 litres of water have been delivered in multiple sorties, striking hotspots along narrow ridgelines overlooking the Lohit Valley. Amid inclement weather and rarefied air, IAF helicopters continue precision drops to contain the blaze and protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Mission ongoing."

According to a defence spokesperson in Guwahati, dry weather conditions and the practice of jhum cultivation, a traditional slash-and-burn method used by hill tribes, are among the main causes of forest fires in the Northeast.

The spokesperson said that over the past five days, coordinated efforts involving manpower, specialised firefighting equipment, heavy machinery, and helicopters providing aerial reconnaissance and water-dropping support had been undertaken round-the-clock. These operations are being carried out under extremely challenging terrain and weather conditions to ensure the blaze is fully extinguished.

Officials emphasised that the combined efforts of the Army and IAF have been crucial in preventing the fires from spreading further, highlighting the importance of continuous aerial support in steep and remote areas where ground access is limited.

With persistent dry conditions in the region, authorities continue to maintain heightened vigilance, coordinating between ground teams and aerial units to contain any new flare-ups and safeguard the surrounding forested areas.
Mumbai, Feb 18 : Former actress Somy Ali expressed deep concern after learning that veteran screenwriter Salim Khan has been hospitalised, saying the news made her "heart sink." Mumbai, Feb 18 (IANS) Former actress Somy Ali expressed deep concern after learning that veteran screenwriter Salim Khan has been hospitalised, saying the news made her "heart sink."

Somy took to Instagram, where she shared a picture featuring Salim Khan along with his wives Salma Khan and Helen. In an emotional note, Somy described Salim not just as a legendary writer but as a father figure in her life.

"Hearing that Salim Khan has been hospitalized made my heart sink. To the world, he is a legendary writer who helped shape icons like Amitabh Bachchan and co-created masterpieces like Sholay. To me, he was a father figure," she wrote as the caption.

She recalled living in his home and being treated like a daughter, included in family conversations and discussions that often revolved around faith and philosophy.

"Living in his home, I was treated like a daughter, included at the table, engaged in deep conversations about faith, where all religions were respected and celebrated."

Somy shared that Salim Khan's views on spirituality left a lasting impact on her.

"He taught me that God is bigger than doctrine, and that storytelling must always carry truth beneath the drama."

Heaping praise on both his professional brilliance and personal integrity, she said: "His brilliance built cinematic history. His humanity built people. Praying for his strength and recovery. He means more to me than words can say."

Salim Khan was rushed to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on February 17. His elder son, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, and his daughters, Alvira Khan Agnihotri and Arpita Khan, along with her actor husband Aayush Sharma, were seen at the hospital.

Salman left the shooting in Madh Island and went to meet his father. Reportedly, Salim Khan has complained of swelling. Salim Khan celebrated his 90th birthday in November last year, which coincided with the demise of Dharmendra.

Salim Khan moved to Mumbai in the 1950s and initially worked as a film extra and supporting actor in Hindi cinema. His acting career was limited, but it led him to scriptwriting. In the late 1960s, Salim Khan partnered with Javed Akhtar to form SalimJaved, one of the most influential screenwriting teams in Indian cinema.

Between 1971 and 1982, they wrote a series of commercially successful and culturally influential films, including 'Andaz', 'Seeta Aur Geeta', 'Zanjeer', 'Yaadon Ki Baaraat', 'Deewaar', 'Sholay', 'Trishul', 'Don', and 'Kaala Patthar'. Their work helped establish the template of the Hindi commercial film driven by strong narratives, dialogue, and a central male protagonist.
Mumbai, Feb 18 : The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Wednesday claimed that the INDIA bloc now stands at a crossroads, needing to move beyond internal debate to decide whether Mamata Banerjee, M.K. Stalin, or another figure will lead them through the national crisis. The internal friction and leadership debates within the bloc and the Congress party ahead of significant regional elections threaten to undermine unity.

The Thackeray camp in the party's mouthpiece, 'Saamana', claimed that the opposition alliance faces significant "friendly fire" in the upcoming elections.

"In West Bengal, the Trinamool will compete against Congress; in Kerala, the Left remains a rival; and in Maharashtra, local-level splits have historically benefited the BJP. "While Rahul Gandhi has maintained a 'fighting spirit' against what the opposition terms 'dictatorship', years of being out of power have reportedly led to a lack of urgency among grassroots workers. Though the current Modi-led government operates without a full majority and relies on alliance 'crutches', its perceived dominance remains a hurdle for the opposition. Ultimately, the 'INDIA bloc' must decide on a unified path and a leader -- be it Mamata, Stalin, or another -- to address the national crisis," it said.

The Saamana editorial said that the issue of a leadership change in the 'INDIA bloc' has surfaced. While many wonder what happened to the alliance after the Lok Sabha elections, it is a sensitive question for Congress. "While Mahatma Gandhi once used his 'inner voice' as a tool for spiritual and patriotic guidance, today's Congress party is seeing a different kind of internal noise. Senior leaders and advisors have begun expressing conflicting views at a time when the party needs cohesion for upcoming polls in Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry," it remarked.

According to the editorial, different factions within the alliance are pushing for diverse leaders to take the helm of the INDIA bloc. Former Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has advocated for the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, arguing that MK Stalin is the most effective voice for regional rights and the only leader capable of consolidating the alliance. Former media advisor to PM Manmohan Singh, Sanjaya Baru, has suggested the West Bengal Chief Minister is best suited for national leadership, citing her strength as a regional and female leader.

The editorial said that while it is common for the INDIA bloc to convene once elections are officially announced, true strategic wisdom lies in making decisive leadership choices well in advance. "The government has effectively utilised religious sentiment to influence the public, to the extent that some segments of the population might even view international subservience -- such as to US President Trump --as a 'divine blessing'. In this climate, the opposition faces a critical question: Who will lead the charge to counter this narrative?" it asked.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena argued that the chaos in Parliament is distinct from the chaos in the country. "The people's inner consciences are awakening, and this cannot be ignored. A decision must be made: Mamata, Stalin, or someone else," the editorial said.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday shared an article authored by President Aleksandar Vucic of the Republic of Serbia, in which the Serbian leader reflects on artificial intelligence, India's growing role in the global AI ecosystem, and his personal admiration for the country.

Taking to the social media platform X, the Prime Minister described the piece as both insightful and warm in its tone towards India.

"A fine article by President Aleksandar Vucic of the Republic of Serbia, in which he talks about AI, of course, but at the same time highlights his fondness for India, India's strides in AI and strong India-Serbia relations," PM Modi wrote.

Along with his post, PM Modi also shared a message by President Vucic posted on X, who said he was glad to be in India to participate in the AI Impact Summit 2026.

"Glad to be in India and participate in the AI Impact Summit 2026. President of Serbia writes: AI Summit places India at the centre of the global discourse | The Indian Express," Vucic posted.

The Serbian President's article, published in The Indian Express, combines personal recollections with broader geopolitical and economic observations. It also underlines Serbia's interest in strengthening its engagement with India, particularly in the technology and innovation sectors.

In the opening of his article, Vucic said he felt a strong sense of exhilaration upon arriving in Delhi for the AI Impact Summit, which he described as ambitious and globally significant.

"As I arrive in Delhi to participate in the ambitious India AI Impact Summit, I feel an almost irrepressible sense of exhilaration. It is a feeling born of seeing a nation I have long admired thrive - and forge a path to success for its peers," he wrote.

He praised India's ability to maintain unity despite its vast diversity, calling the country a living example of pluralism.

"India's ability to maintain unity in multiplicity has always fascinated me. As one of the world's largest republics, encompassing myriad languages, religions, cultures and traditions, the country exemplifies a living, dynamic pluralism," he said.

Vucic also wrote about how his admiration for India deepened during his time in London in the 1990s, when he worked in a job far removed from politics and diplomacy.

"But what truly cemented my affection for India was my first exposure to its people during an earlier chapter of my life, when I worked in London in the 1990s," he wrote, adding that those experiences helped shape his character and worldview.

The Serbian President described his long working hours and physically demanding routine, calling it a lesson in humility and discipline.

"I arrived at work each morning before dawn and left only after twelve hours on my feet, often ending the day with a mop to the floors. It was hard, honest work, and it served as an early apprenticeship in discipline and humility," he said.

He added that among those he worked with, the people he saw working the hardest were Indians, including a Sikh manager from Punjab and the Sagar family.

"The only people who worked even harder were the Indians that I befriended: my manager, a Sikh gentleman from Punjab, and the Sagar family. The Sagars worked with an indefatigable sense of purpose. They were generous, spoke little of themselves, and yet taught me something profound about perseverance and dignity," he wrote.

Vucic noted that at a time when many Europeans underestimated India and Indians, the work ethic and determination he witnessed made him think otherwise.

"At a time when many Europeans around me were habituated to underestimating India and Indians alike, the quiet determination and industry of my colleagues and friends made me think otherwise," he added.

Vucic also referred to discussions at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, where, according to him, some voices suggested that India may remain in a "second tier" among global AI powers.

He said he disagreed with that assessment and argued that India's approach is grounded in real-world application and inclusive innovation.

"I was reminded of this conviction at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos. Among the many voices in a discussion on artificial intelligence was a perspective suggesting that India might occupy a 'second tier' among global AI powers. I must respectfully disagree," he wrote.

He said India's AI strategy is focused less on developing headline-grabbing models and more on deploying technology for practical outcomes in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education and financial inclusion.

"India's approach to AI emphasises real-world deployment, ethical standards and inclusive innovation," he said, citing remarks made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Davos.

The Serbian President described the India AI Impact Summit as more than just a conference, calling it a platform that places India firmly at the centre of global discussions on artificial intelligence.

"The India AI Impact Summit, therefore, is more than a conference. It places India firmly at the centre of the global discourse on artificial intelligence," he wrote.

He said the summit's objective was to understand how AI can be deployed responsibly, inclusively and at scale to solve real-world challenges.

According to him, the summit reflects PM Modi's ambition to democratise access to technology and ensure AI is not restricted to a privileged few.

"Animated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambition to democratise access to the benefits of new technology, it seeks to ensure that AI is not the preserve of a privileged few, but an engine of inclusive development and collective advancement," he said.

Vucic also spoke about the long-standing relationship between Serbia and India, noting that ties are rooted in cooperation, mutual respect and expanding economic engagement.

"Today, relations between Serbia and India are anchored in a strong history of cooperation, mutual regard and expanding economic ties," he wrote.

He referred to the 2018 commemorative stamps jointly released by the two nations to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations, featuring Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla.

"In 2018, to memorialise seventy years of diplomatic relations, our two countries jointly released commemorative stamps featuring Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla -- emblems of spiritual insight and scientific ingenuity whose legacies transcend borders," he said.

Vucic also appreciated India's support for Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"India has also been steadfast in supporting Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including on the issue of Kosovo, maintaining a principled stance of non-recognition of its unilateral declaration of independence in 2008," he added.

The Serbian President noted that bilateral trade between Serbia and India, currently around $400 million, has continued to grow, but he said there remains significant untapped potential.

"While bilateral trade between Serbia and India - currently standing at around $400mn - has continued to grow, there remains vast untapped potential," he wrote.

He pointed out that Indian companies are already active in Serbia in areas such as IT, manufacturing and automotive components, but stressed that both sides must aim higher.

"These are encouraging indicators, but we can and must aim higher," he said.

Vucic advocated for stronger connectivity, simplified trade arrangements, and sustained investment in innovation-driven partnerships. He highlighted high-growth sectors such as information technology, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy as key areas for deeper cooperation.

"Our shared ambition should be to broaden and intensify economic engagement through enhanced connectivity, simplifying and streamlining trade arrangements, and fostering sustained investment in innovation-driven partnerships," he said.

Beyond trade and technology, Vucic also said there is immense scope for cultural exchange between the two nations.

"There is immense scope, too, for cultural and creative exchange," he wrote.

He expressed interest in seeing Indian films shot in Serbia, saying such collaborations could bring Serbia's landscapes to a global audience while strengthening people-to-people ties.

"I would be delighted to see Indian films produced in Serbia, bringing to life our beatific landscapes and weaving together stories that resonate far beyond our frontiers," he said.

In the concluding section, the Serbian President returned to the lessons he said he learned decades ago while working in London, particularly the importance of grit, self-belief and perseverance.

"As I reflect on the extraordinary possibilities before us, I return to the lesson I first learned decades ago on a London shop floor: that grit, equanimity, and self-belief are often the strongest engines of progress," he wrote.

Vucic said India possesses these qualities in abundance and described PM Modi as a partner who embodies them through action rather than rhetoric.

"And, having observed him over the years, I can say that in Narendra Modi we have a partner who embodies them - not in rhetoric alone, but in unremitting action," he wrote.

He concluded by asserting that India is no longer merely a nation waiting for its turn in the global order, but one shaping the future.

"Those who still see India as a nation waiting its turn would do well to look again. India is not arriving at the future. It is helping to define it," he added.
Islamabad, Feb 18 : A Pakistan court has rejected bail for a blind Christian man charged with blasphemy, despite apparent discrepancies in the police report and prosecution testimonies, local media reported, quoting his lawyer.

The case adds to ongoing concerns over the misuse of blasphemy laws against religious minorities in the country.

Muhammad Jawad Zafar of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on February 4 dismissed the bail petition of 49-year-old Nadeem Masih, who has been in custody since August 21 under Section 295-C of the blasphemy statutes, which carries a mandatory death penalty for insulting the Prophet Muhammad, Christian Daily International-Morning Star News reported.

Masih's attorney, Javed Sahotra, told Christian Daily, "We were hopeful that the high court would grant bail because the discrepancies in the First Information Report (FIR) and the questionable statements of the prosecution witnesses warranted further inquiry. However, the judge observed that he feared the accused could abscond or influence witnesses."

Sahotra cited previous rulings to support the bail plea, including a 2024 Lahore High Court judgment in which a murder suspect was granted bail after becoming blind in custody, and a 2022 Supreme Court decision allowing bail to Salamat Mansha Masih, a Christian accused in a separate blasphemy case. In that case, the primary witnesses had allegedly given false statements.

Nadeem Masih was arrested from Model Town Park in Lahore, where he operated a weighing scale to earn a modest living, and later charged after police claimed he had committed blasphemy.

Police Sub-Inspector Muhammad Ayub filed the FIR, stating that he and his team were patrolling the park at 11 p.m. when they received reports of the alleged offence. Sahotra challenged this, noting that the park closes at 9 p.m. and call data records suggest neither Masih nor the complainant was present at that time.

The lawyer also questioned the credibility of two prosecution witnesses, parking contractors, who reportedly claimed on August 22 that Masih had made derogatory remarks on August 9 but did not report it earlier. "These delayed statements raise serious doubts about the prosecution's case," Sahotra told Christian Daily.

Masih's family said the charge may have stemmed from a personal dispute with local contractors. His 80-year-old mother, Martha Yousaf, told Christian Daily that Masih was prevented from setting up his stall on August 21, assaulted, and taken to Model Town Police Station, where he was accused of blasphemy. She added that he was beaten in custody and pressured to confess.

The family's situation is precarious, with Masih serving as the sole breadwinner after the death of his father and another son, while one of his daughters now works in private homes to support the household.

Human Rights Watch has long criticised Pakistan's blasphemy laws for being misused against religious minorities.

A June 2025 report titled 'A Conspiracy to Grab the Land: Exploiting Pakistan's Blasphemy Laws for Blackmail and Profit', stated, "Blasphemy accusations are increasingly weaponised to incite mob violence, displace vulnerable communities and seize their property with impunity."

While courts occasionally grant bail in blasphemy cases, such decisions remain rare amid strong public sensitivities. International watchdogs continue to rank Pakistan among the most challenging countries for Christians.

Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List placed Pakistan eighth, citing systemic discrimination, mob violence, forced conversions, bonded labour, and gender-based abuses.
Mumbai, Feb 18 : The Congress party on Wednesday strongly criticised the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra for its decision to "cancel" all previous Government Resolutions (GR) and circulars regarding the issuance of caste certificates and caste validity certificates to persons falling under the Special Backward Category-A within the Muslim community.

The party has claimed that the GR released by the government on Tuesday clearly means the reservation provided to the Muslim community has been cancelled.

Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president and MP Varsha Gaikwad termed the state government's move extremely unfortunate. "We strongly condemn this decision. Instead of taking positive steps regarding the 5 per cent reservation announced in 2014 for education and employment, the government has simply scrapped the old processes. Citing the High Court's interim stay and the ordinance becoming outdated as reasons, the government has dealt a severe blow to the rights of the Muslim community," said Gaikwad in her post on X.

She further stated, "On one hand, they talk of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (Support for All, Development for All), and on the other, they close the avenues for obtaining necessary documents for reservation - isn't this hypocrisy? Even though the Mumbai High Court has approved 5 per cent reservation for the Muslim community in education, its implementation has not taken place anywhere in Maharashtra to date. The government's failure to implement the reservation approved by the court is detrimental to democracy."

Gaikwad alleged that instead of bringing the backward sections of society into the mainstream, the state government has pushed them back into darkness.

The GR, issued by the Social Justice and Special Assistance Deputy Secretary Varsha Deshmukh on late Tuesday evening, was titled "The cancellation of Government Resolutions and Circulars concerning the issuance of Caste Certificates and Caste Validity Certificates to the Muslim community under the Special Backward Category - A (SBC-A) in the State".

The GR referred to Maharashtra Ordinance No 14 of 2014, dated July 9, 2014, regarding reservation for SBC-A in educational institutions and public services, and the subsequent Corrigendum dated July 14, 2014, Government Resolution (GR), Minority Development Department, dated July 19, 2014, GR, Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, dated July 22, 2014, GR, General Administration Department, dated July 24, 2014, Government Circular, Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, dated August 28, 2014 and GR, General Administration Department, dated March 2, 2015.

"Under Maharashtra Ordinance No. 14 of 2014, 5% reservation was provided for the socially and educationally backward Muslim groups under the Special Backward Category - A (SBC-A) for recruitment in government and semi-government services and admissions in educational institutions. Following this, the Minority Development Department implemented this 5% reservation.Based on these directives, the Social Justice Department issued instructions regarding the procedure for issuing Caste Certificates and Caste Validity Certificates to the Muslim community under SBC-A," read the GR.

The GR further stated, "However, Writ Petition No. 2053/2014 (Shri. Sanjit Shukla vs. State of Maharashtra) and other related petitions were filed in the Hon'ble High Court of Mumbai against the 2014 Ordinance. The Hon'ble High Court, via its order dated November 14, 2014, stayed the provision of 5% reservation in public services under Section 4(1) of the Ordinance.Furthermore, as the Ordinance dated July 9, 2014, was not converted into law by December 23, 2014, the Ordinance lapsed. Consequently, the GRs/Circulars issued in connection with it became void."

The GR said the in light of this, the General Administration Department cancelled its earlier GR General Administration Department, dated July 24, 2014 via a new order on March 2, 2015. Therefore, the matter of cancelling the GRs/Circulars issued by this department was under the consideration of the Government.

"The implementation of this department's Government Resolution dated July 22, 2014 and Government Circular dated August 28, 2014 is hereby stayed with effect from November 14, 2014," read the GR.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay have arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to participate in the AI Impact Summit 2026, which underscores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.

World leaders were warmly received by Indian ministers, reflecting India's commitment to fostering international cooperation in AI, digital partnerships, and cultural exchange.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended a warm welcome posting on X, "Welcome, President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, for the India-AI Impact Summit. Warmly received by Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Singh. The visit of President Sanchez will add further impetus to the ongoing celebrations of India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and AI."

A warm welcome was also extended to the Mauritian PM by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary. The Mauritian leader's wife, Veena Ramgoolam, also accompanied him.

"Welcome to a close friend and maritime neighbour! Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius was warmly received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary on his arrival in India for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Digital cooperation remains a key pillar of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership, anchored in deep-rooted and historic people-to-people ties," the MEA said.

The Vice President of Seychelles, Sebastien Pillay, was also accorded a warm welcome by MoS Raj Bhushan Choudhary upon his arrival in New Delhi.

"A close and longstanding maritime partner, Seychelles' participation in the Summit offers an opportunity to harness AI for the benefit of our peoples and further strengthen our partnership," the Ministry stated.

The five-day Summit has attracted over 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including about 20 Heads of State or Government and around 45 ministers.

It seeks to align AI initiatives with India's national vision of 'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya' (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.

India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth in its series, following editions in the UK (Bletchley Park, 2023), South Korea (2024), and France (2025). The Summit offers a platform for leaders to discuss AI's ethical, economic, and social impacts while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation.

Several more dignitaries are expected to arrive later in the day, continuing the Summit's focus on collaboration and inclusive AI-driven development.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Feb 17 (Reuters) - Activist investor Jana Partners has built a less than 1% stake in payments company Fiserv, buying 2.2 million shares, according to a filing on Tuesday.

Jana is pressing the company to pursue steps to lift its lagging share price, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Whether the activist investor intends to seek board seats at Fiserv could not be determined, the report said. Jana's 13-F filing compares the firms holdings as of December 31, 2025, with those as of September 30, 2025.

Shares of the company rose 6.9% on Tuesday, closing at $63.45 per share. The stock slumped more than 67% in 2025 and has declined nearly 12% year to date, as of last close. Fiserv's market capitalization stood at $31.93 billion, based on the stock's last closing price, according to LSEG data.

Jana Partners did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. The report said Jana believes the payments firm is poised to benefit from a strong spending environment for banks.

The activist investor wants Fiserv to speed up the expansion of its core banking business and launch a strategic review that could include shedding non-core operations, the report added.

"During the past several months, we have engaged with many of our shareholders, including Jana Partners. We value shareholder perspectives as we drive progress through our One Fiserv action plan," Fiserv said in a statement.

The One Fiserv action plan was announced late last year to prioritize and enhance client focus and build on the company's strengths. Jana supports the plan, according to the Journal.

"Our current performance is not where we want it to be nor where our stakeholders expect it to be," CEO Mike Lyons had said at the time.

The firm conducted an extensive review last year and Lyons has since emphasized the need to strengthen forecasting rigor and reduce reliance on short-term growth initiatives.

Fiserv expects 2026 to be a transitional year, as it invests in key strategic areas to fix gaps and improve client service.

(Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru and Abigail Summerville in New York; Editing by Leroy Leo and Daniel Wallis)
Patna, Feb 18 : A student, who was to appear for the Class 10 examination, was found dead near the railway track in a village in Bihar, said police on Wednesday. The family has alleged that the student committed suicide after being denied entry for being late to the exam centre.

The incident occurred in Maharajchak village under the jurisdiction of Masaurhi Police Station.

The deceased has been identified as Komal Kumari, daughter of Mantu Yadav, a resident of Kharjama village. Her body was found near a railway track, sending shockwaves across the area.

According to family members, Komal had gone on Tuesday to the Barni High School examination centre in Dhanrua to appear for the Matriculation exam.

However, she reportedly reached the centre at 9.07 a.m., after which the gates were closed.

Despite repeated requests, she was not allowed to enter the examination hall.

Family members said Komal returned home deeply distressed after being denied entry.

She later changed her clothes and left the house, but did not return. In the evening, the family received information that the body of a girl had been found near the railway track.

The body was later identified as Komal Kumari.

Komal's parents work as daily-wage labourers outside the village. Her grandmother, who lives in Maharajchak, identified the body around 9.30 p.m. after receiving information from locals.

A relative of the deceased, Sunita Kumari, said, "She went to the Barni High School exam centre, but when she arrived at 9.07 a.m., the gate had already been closed. She came home very worried, changed her clothes, and went out. In the evening, we were informed that she had been hit by a train."

Police reached the spot after receiving information, took the body into custody, and sent it for post-mortem examination.

An investigation has been initiated based on the statements of the family members.

Confirming the incident, Vivek Bharti, Station House Officer of Masaurhi Police Station, said, "The body of a young woman, identified as Komal Kumari from Kharjama village, has been recovered near the railway track. The body has been sent for post-mortem, and further investigation is underway."

It may be noted that the Matriculation examination is conducted in two shifts.

The first shift begins at 9.30 a.m., with entry permitted only until 9.00 a.m., while the second shift starts at 2.00 p.m., with entry allowed until 1.30 p.m.

Even a delay of one minute results in denial of entry, as per examination rules.

The incident has sparked grief and anger in the region, once again raising questions about the rigid examination protocols and the immense psychological pressure faced by students.
Ahmedabad, Feb 18 : Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and the Port of Marseille Fos, France's leading port and the Mediterranean's premier gateway, on Wednesday announced a collaboration to deepen cooperation on trade facilitation, port innovation, and energy transition and further boost India-Europe trade connectivity.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) proposes the creation of an IMEC Ports Club to strengthen coordination among key ports along the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) route, reinforcing connectivity between India and the European Union.

Launched at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, the IMEC is a 6,000-km multimodal connectivity initiative linking India and Europe through integrated maritime routes, rail networks, digital systems and clean-energy pathways.

"India has already taken a leadership role in advancing this corridor, and with the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, trade between the participating countries is expected to grow manifold," said Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO, APSEZ.

"Our ports in Hazira and Mundra on India's western coast have already established a seamless pathway across the first and middle legs of the corridor," he informed,

"With this MoU with the Port of Marseille Fos in France, we have now successfully connected the final leg to Europe. This partnership will significantly accelerate the exchange of information and materials among all participating nations, further strengthening economic cooperation and supply-chain resilience," said Gupta.

This completes the IMEC pathway for India-EU trade, which has been boosted by the FTA between India and the EU, termed as 'the mother of all deals' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The MoU was signed during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit, underscoring the expanding India-France strategic partnership.

"We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with APSEZ at a moment when the IMEC corridor is entering a decisive phase. India and Marseille stand at the two extremities of this future trade backbone, giving both ports a major responsibility in structuring and energising this new route," said Herve Martel, CEO of the Port of Marseille Fos.

Together, we intend to mobilise and federate the ports involved, and act as strong advocates of a more efficient, resilient and sustainable connection between our regions, Martel added.
New Delhi/Dhaka, Feb 18 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Wednesday congratulated Khalilur Rahman on being appointed as the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh under the new Tarique Rahman-led government.

Khalilur Rahman was sworn in as the Foreign Minister on Tuesday at the South Plaza of the Parliament complex, along with 49 other Cabinet members of the new BNP-led government.

The EAM expressed hope to advance the India-Bangladesh ties.

In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said, "Congratulations to Dr Khalilur Rahman on being sworn in as the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. Look forward to working together to advance our cooperation for mutual progress and prosperity."

Khalilur Rahman was serving as the National Security Advisor under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

His appointment stands out as the BNP had demanded his resignation in May 2025, while heavily criticising his policies.

It came after Khalilur Rahman, during an event in the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka in May last year, was questioned about his US residency.

He responded by giving an example of Tarique Rahman, who was living in self-imposed exile in the UK at that time, and said that the BNP leader could also face similar allegations by the same logic.

These remarks drew heavy criticism from the BNP at that time.

Meanwhile, National Citizen Party (NCP) chief and MP Nahid Islam on Tuesday said that the inclusion of Khalilur Rahman in the cabinet has brought allegations of "election engineering, result manipulation and complications surrounding constitutional reform" into the public domain, reported leading Bangladeshi newspaper, The Daily Star.

"If Khalilur Rahman joins the BNP government as a minister, it raises questions about whether he acted on behalf of that party during the interim government's tenure," Islam was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 18 : As India-AI Impact Summit 2026 entered its third day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticised the event, alleging that it was being run more as a publicity exercise than a serious platform to strengthen India's artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Rahul Gandhi said that instead of focusing on India's own talent and the responsible use of its data, the summit had turned into a 'disorganised PR spectacle'.

Taking to social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, "Instead of leveraging India's talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle - Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased."

Rahul Gandhi also shared a post by the Congress party on the same platform, which made sharp allegations against the Centre regarding the conduct of the summit and the exhibition being held alongside it.

The Congress, in its post, claimed that the Modi government had damaged India's reputation internationally on the issue of artificial intelligence.

"The Modi government has made a laughing stock of India globally, with regard to AI. In the ongoing AI summit, Chinese robots are being displayed as our own. The Chinese media has mocked us. This is truly embarrassing for India," the post added.

The party further alleged that Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was also promoting Chinese-made products at the summit.

"What is even more shameful is the fact that Modi's minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is indulging in the same falsehood, promoting China's robots at the Indian summit," the post added.

Continuing its attack, the Congress claimed that the government had reduced a crucial and high-potential sector into a joke, despite India having the capability to lead globally due to its data and talent pool.

"The Modi Government has caused irreparable damage to the image of the country - they have reduced AI to a joke - a field in which we could be world leaders given our data power. Brazenly shameless," the Congress added.

Meanwhile, the authorities have asked Galgotias University to vacate the AI Impact Summit Expo following allegations that the institution presented a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own invention. The university faced severe online and offline criticism after a robotic dog, allegedly manufactured by a Chinese company, was seen at the university's display stall during the expo.

Earlier, amid rising criticism over the controversy, the institution issued an official clarification, claiming concern about the "propaganda" being spread against the university.

The university said that robotic programming is part of its effort to teach students to build AI applications, enabling them to develop and deploy real-world skills using globally available tools and resources.

The India-AI Impact Summit is a five-day programme anchored in three foundational pillars, or "Sutras": People, Planet, and Progress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the India-AI Impact Expo 2026 and emphasised that the country's progress in AI will not only shape transformative solutions for the nation but also contribute to global advancement.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : The latest round of hoax threats that the Indian judiciary has been receiving across the country is the clear continuation of psy-ops against India. In the last year and a half, schools and airlines have been receiving such hoax calls.

Officials who are investigating these cases say that these are not one-off incidents, but a coordinated effort to scare the Indian people and keep them on tenterhooks.

Intelligence agencies have been warning that this is an operation controlled by international players. It is a low-cost operation, but it can result in significant losses. For instance, when a school receives such a threat, in most cases, the agencies are aware that it is a hoax. However, protocol demands that the necessary checks have been carried out, and the school can reopen only when the green signal is given.

With regard to the recent threats that the courts have been receiving, the agencies have learnt that it is a message that is being sent to the judiciary by some criminal elements. Officials do not rule out either the underworld or the Khalistani elements being behind this. In such cases, the criminal syndicates look to threaten the judiciary, which is trying cases against their members.

The same was observed when Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu received a spate of such cases around five years back. The probe found that a group affiliated with Al-Qaeda called the Base Movement was behind this. They were attempting to threaten and scare the judiciary to send out a message that the judges had been unfair to Abdul Madani, who was accused of being involved in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts.

Hoax calls have been increasing in recent months. The year 2024 was a horrible one for the airline industry. The hoax calls led to flights getting delayed or forced into an emergency landing. The year 2024 witnessed 79 hoax bomb calls, which led to the airlines facing losses worth crores of rupees.

The agencies have learnt that there is a secret dark web group that is behind these calls. It is an organised racket aimed at spreading fear and also causing economic losses. The ISI too has a wing which is dedicated to psy-ops. This wing aims to spread panic through hoax calls, fake news and fake propaganda. For the ISI, this is a low-cost operation with no risk. They run this racket from various parts of the world. Without risking a live operation in India and with no need for an infiltration, the job of spreading panic and causing losses is done sitting at some remote place.

Another official said that during their investigation, they have also found that sometimes the calls are made for personal reasons. People who are late to the airport often make such calls to delay the flight. In the case of the court calls, too, there have been some cases when a litigant has had an axe to grind, as he may have lost a case. However, going by the recent cases, it is more than just a personal cause. It is a well-coordinated operation by a big syndicate aimed at derailing the Indian judiciary.

Even though the agencies knew that these calls were fake, they could not take any chances. The police were in overdrive mode with the evacuations and investigation. Every threat element has to be eliminated before the green signal can be given, officials say.

Due to the recent incidents, a considerable amount of court time was lost. This comes at a time when an overburdened judiciary is already being criticised for high pendency of cases. Even in the aftermath of the Ram Janmabhoomi verdict pronounced by the Supreme Court, the Intelligence agencies had learnt of a plot whereby some elements were planning to carry out a sustained attack on the judiciary.
Chennai, Feb 18 : Premalatha Vijayakanth, general secretary of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), has said her party would announce its decision on an electoral alliance at an appropriate time, even as she signalled openness to the idea of a coalition government with a share in power in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport, Premalatha said the party leadership was carefully evaluating its options ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.

"We will take a considered decision on alliances at the right time," she said, indicating that discussions were underway but declining to share specifics.

Commenting on the State's recent Budget, she struck a cautious note.

Referring to the government's claim that the Budget carried 30 key announcements, she said she would respond in detail only after studying the document fully.

"With just about three months left for the elections, can all these announcements realistically be implemented? Or are they meant to be carried forward by a new government? These are valid questions that need answers," she said.

Premalatha added that Tamil Nadu deserved a government that would not merely make announcements but effectively implement schemes that genuinely benefit the people.

She emphasised the need for fiscal responsibility and timely execution of welfare and development measures.

On the possibility of a coalition regime, she said such a development could mark a "positive change" for the State.

"If an opportunity arises for a coalition government in Tamil Nadu with a share in power, it would be good. That would be a positive shift. Let the election results come," she remarked, leaving the door open for post-poll alignments as well.

Referring to a recent event at the Isha Centre, Premalatha said she had met Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and L. Murugan, former Tamil Nadu Minister S.P. Velumani, and Ministers from Puducherry as a courtesy call.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the State, she said, "If his visit brings good to Tamil Nadu, we will welcome it," underscoring her party's stated focus on the State's welfare over political positioning.
Srinagar, Feb 18 : The Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Wednesday that it has apprehended five employees in connection with the HDFC bank fraud case, following searches conducted in the Budgam and Shopian districts.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch Kashmir said in a press statement, "EOW Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K is conducting searches in the districts of Shopian and Budgam in connection with case FIR No. 30/2025, registered under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act at Police Station EOW Kashmir, Crime Branch J&K."

The matter came to light following a written complaint regarding large-scale financial fraud at the Branch Unit Shopian of HDFC Bank.

"In compliance with the directions of PHQ J&K, the case was transferred from Police Station Shopian to the Crime Branch J&K for comprehensive investigation. In connection with the case, five bank employees have been arrested so far. The arrested employees are: Adil Ayoub Ganai, son of Mohammad Ayoub Ganai, a resident of Memendar, Shopian, at present, Hamza Colony, Baghat-e-Kanipora, Nowgam; Irfan Majeed Zargar, son of Abdul Majeed Zargar, resident of Sheikh Mohalla, Bonigam, Shopian; Mubashir Hussain Sheikh, son of Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, resident of Karena, Kulgam; Zaid Manzoor, son of Manzoor Ahmad Din, resident of Dagerpora, Khannabal, Anantnag and Javaid Ahmad Bhat, son of Abdul Rahim Bhat, a resident of Below Rajpora, Pulwama," the police said.

The statement mentioned that searches are presently underway at multiple locations in Shopian and Budgam to collect material evidence in the case.

"The Economic Offences Wing, Kashmir, will continue to pursue all lawful measures to safeguard financial integrity," the statement added.

The J&K Police and the security forces have been carrying on anti-terrorist operations in the union territory, targeting terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers.

Drug smugglers, drug peddlers and those involved in hawala money rackets and other financial frauds are also on the scanner of the security forces.

It is believed that funds generated by these unlawful activities are finally used to sustain terrorism in J&K.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a bilateral meeting with Spanish President Pedro Sanchez in New Delhi, and discussed ways to expand cooperation across trade, economy, health, digital technology, innovation and several other key sectors.

President Sanchez arrived in the national capital earlier in the day to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026, a global platform focusing on the transformative role of artificial intelligence across industries and governance.

Following the talks at Hyderabad House in the national capital, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shared details of the engagement on X, stating, "PM Modi held bilateral meeting with President Pedro Sanchez of Spain during his visit to New Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026. Both leaders discussed a wide range of issues aimed at deepening India-Spain partnership."

The Ministry further posted, "Key areas discussed include trade and economy, digital, innovation, health, climate action and education, among others. PM conveyed his appreciation for Spain's consistent support for strong India-EU relations."

Ahead of his meeting with the Prime Minister, President Sanchez participated in the Spain-India CEO Forum, where he underscored the investment potential in Spain and sought to strengthen business ties with Indian industry leaders.

In a post on X, President Sanchez said, "Spain is a country worth investing in. It is also a strategic partner, offering growth, stability, talent and innovation. That is what I have conveyed today in New Delhi to senior executives of Indian companies with whom I have met."

The Spanish leader's visit and his discussions with Prime Minister Modi further reinforce the long-standing and cordial relationship between India and Spain, which dates back to the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1956.

President Pedro Sanchez had earlier paid an official visit to India on October 28-29, 2024. That visit marked his first trip to India and the first visit by a President of the Government of Spain to India in 18 years.

The latest high-level engagement is expected to further strengthen strategic and economic cooperation between the two nations.
Jaipur, Feb 18 : Panic spread at Swami Keshvanand Institute of Technology, Management and Gramothan (SKIT) in Jagatpura, Jaipur, on Wednesday after the college received a bomb threat via email.

Following the threat, the college administration immediately evacuated students and staff from the campus as a precautionary measure.

Police, fire brigade teams, and the bomb disposal squad rushed to the spot and launched a full-scale search operation across the campus.

According to officials, the email claimed that explosive devices had been planted on the college premises and threatened a blast at a specific time.

As a safety measure, all buildings and sensitive areas of the campus are being thoroughly checked.

Police officials said that no suspicious object has been confirmed so far, but the search operation is ongoing to ensure complete safety.

The police cyber team is tracing the origin and location of the threatening email.

Authorities suspect that the threat may be a hoax, as similar fake bomb threats have been sent to educational institutions in the past. However, security agencies are treating the incident seriously and following all safety protocols.

After the threat message, students and staff gathered near the college gate as the administration ensured their safe evacuation. Police have urged people to remain calm and avoid spreading rumors.

Officials stated that the situation is under control and further updates will be issued after the search operation is completed. Strict action will be taken against those responsible if the threat is found to be fake.

On Tuesday, the Rajasthan High Court also received bomb threat and was evacuated.

According to sources, the High Court administration received a threatening email warning of an explosion at the court complex.

Following the threat, security agencies immediately took control of the premises. As a precautionary measure, lawyers, litigants, and staff were asked to vacate the courtrooms. However the threat turned out to be hoax.

The Rajasthan High Court has received multiple bomb threats via email in the recent months, all of which are under investigation.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Ties between India and Bangladesh are witnessing a reset following the massive win by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first to congratulate Tarique Rahman on his impressive victory.

PM Modi even sent a letter to Rahman with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who attended the swearing-in ceremony. India has also reached out to the second-largest party, the Jamaat-e-Islami. Indiaas foreign secretary Vikram Misri conveyed his greetings to Shafiqur Rahman, the supremo of the party. He also reaffirmed Indiaas enduring support for Bangladesh.

The Jamaat chief, on his part, highlighted the deep civilisation bonds shared by India and Bangladesh, while expressing hope for stronger bilateral relations. Officials say that there has been a lot of bad blood between the two countries since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. Ties under the former caretaker of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, had worsened.

However, India understands the importance of maintaining good relations with its neighbours and hence wants to make a fresh start. Bangladesh is important in terms of trade and security, and hence good ties become all the more important, the official also added.

India finds the BNP to be more moderate and hence is hopeful of working closely with Dhaka. Indiaas bilateral trade with Bangladesh is around $10 billion annually, and hence it is important for relations to be fine. Bangladesh too recognises this and hence would go all out to improve ties with New Delhi.

Another official said that the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh is of utmost priority. Under Yunus, not only were Hindus violently targeted, but many had been placed under arrest, too. India would seek the immediate release of these persons while also wanting an assurance on the safety of the Hindus in Bangladesh. India would also seek the restoration of the damaged Temples in Bangladesh.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that security is also a key issue. The security officials of both countries would be working closely to ensure that Bangladesh does not become a launch pad for Pakistan-backed terrorists. Indian agencies are also keeping a close watch on the engagement by the Pakistanis in India.

In recent months, groups such as the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) and Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) have received funding from the ISI. Moreover, the ISI has been trying to bring these groups together with outfits such as Al-Qaeda in the Subcontinent (AQIS) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). A close watch is being kept on the radicalisation camps across the border areas.

The agencies have learnt that these camps have plenty of Rohingya refugees, and the ISI has been looking at them as potential recruits. Both sides need to tackle this issue diligently since it threatens not just India, but Bangladesh too, an Intelligence Bureau official said.

Pakistan too is closely watching New Delhias outreach programme following the BNP win. Islamabad would try to derail any bilateral relations between the two countries. If it feels that Rahman is not falling in line, the ISI could orchestrate violence only to make the BNP government vulnerable. Rahmanas biggest challenge currently is internal security and the economy. The people have voted for him with a lot of hope, and he would not want to let them down, officials say.

Bangladesh watchers say that the win by the BNP is a positive start for India-Bangladesh ties. However, the road ahead would be a tricky one since there is the Pakistan angle to it. The ISI would try everything it could to derail ties between New Delhi and Dhaka. It is important for India to take one step at a time and ensure that complete ties are restored with Bangladesh, the experts also say.
Domhnall Gleeson thinks Retirement Plan "speaks to a lot of people".

Domhnall Gleeson

The 42-year-old actor feels particularly proud of his part in Retirement Plan, the animated short film about the fantasies of a middle-aged man, and Domhnall has revealed that he didn't have any hesitations about committing to the project.

Domhnall - who is the son of acclaimed actor Brendan Gleeson - told Deadline: "It had such a strong identity, it knew itself so well.

"It really struck a chord, and has ended up being one of the things Im proudest of from the last few years, because its exactly what it needs to be and speaks to a lot of people.

"When I read it, the main thing was that it was funny and it was very poignant without being overly sentimental. Its really beautiful and all of this [Oscar attention] is icing on the cake."

Domhnall thinks a lot of people can really relate to the short film, describing the themes of the movie as being "genuinely universal".

He said: "Its one of those mad pieces of art that is genuinely universal.

"Everybody worries in some way about the future, and so it resonates with people who are young and starting out and have no idea where their lives are headed, and with middle-aged people like me who are sort of at the midpoint and you dont know whats ahead, and you dont know what you make of whats behind. And then older people, I think, really see themselves in it too."

The short film explores the themes of mortality and allowing life to pass you by.

Domhnall said: "Theres just a little bit towards the end, about the getting old and the moving on to the next place of it all and it offered me a funny sort of solace, because this guy isnt pretending like he knows it all. Hes wondering about it. I found something bizarrely comforting in that."

John Kelly, the film's director, hopes Retirement Plan will help to challenge the taboos around discussing death.

The director believes it's actually "healthy" to discuss issues like retirement and death.

He said: "Domhnall talks about finding solace and death is not something that we naturally want to spend that much time thinking about. I started thinking about it more and more as my parents got older  thats really healthy and this film is a bridge towards that in a positive way."
The Adani Group has confirmed a $100bn investment to build renewable-energy-powered, hyperscale data centres across India by 2035.

According to the company, the initiative could prompt an additional $150bn in related investments from sectors, including server manufacturing, advanced electrical infrastructure, and sovereign cloud platforms, creating a projected $250bn domestic AI infrastructure ecosystem within the next decade.

The roadmap builds on AdaniConnex's current 2GW national data centre, aiming to expand to a target of 5GW. AdaniConneX is an equal stake joint venture between The Adani Group and US-based EdgeConneX.

The growth involves partnerships with major firms such as Google for a gigawatt-scale AI data centre campus in Visakhapatnam and further campuses in Noida, as well as collaborations with Microsoft in Hyderabad and Pune.

The Adani Group is also engaged in discussions with other industry participants seeking to develop large-scale campuses throughout India.

In addition, the group plans to strengthen its partnership with Flipkart for a second dedicated AI data centre supporting digital commerce and high-performance computing.

The proposed 5GW deployment is set to form what Adani describes as the worlds largest integrated data centre platform.

This system will integrate renewable power generation, energy transmission infrastructure, and hyperscale computing facilities under one coordinated framework.

Facilities will support high-density compute clusters for advanced AI workloads using liquid cooling systems and energy-efficient architectures.

A portion of dedicated compute capacity will be allocated for Indian large language models (LLMs) and national data requirements, supported by robust transmission networks.

Adani Green Energys Khavda project forms the core of the groups energy strategy, with over 10GW currently operational out of an intended 30GW.

The company has pledged an additional $55bn investment into renewable energy assets, including battery storage solutions.

Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani said: At Adani, we are building on our foundation in data centres and green energy to expand into the complete five-layer AI stack focused on India's technological sovereignty.

"Adani Group invests $100bn in Indias renewable-powered AI data centres" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.




New Delhi, Feb 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Finnish counterpart, Petteri Orpo, discussed further enhancing cooperation in sustainability, digitalisation, AI research and ethical innovation on Wednesday.

The Finnish PM arrived in India earlier in the day to attend the AI Impact Summit and held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on the sidelines of the event.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that both leaders also discussed ways in which Indian talent can strengthen the bilateral ties between the two nations.

Taking to X, the Ministry said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of Finland on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. They discussed cooperation in sustainability and digitalisation, AI research, ethical innovation and how Indian talent can strengthen bilateral collaboration."

"Prime Minister commended Finland's efforts as an emerging innovation player in AI. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing responsible, talent-driven AI and harnessing tech-enabled solutions for a sustainable future," the MEA added.

The five-day AI Impact Summit has attracted over 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including about 20 Heads of State or Government and around 45 ministers.

It seeks to align AI initiatives with India's national vision of 'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya' (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.

India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth in its series, following editions in the UK (Bletchley Park, 2023), South Korea (2024), and France (2025). The Summit offers a platform for leaders to discuss AI's ethical, economic, and social impacts while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation.

Several more dignitaries are expected to arrive later in the day, continuing the Summit's focus on collaboration and inclusive AI-driven development.
Mumbai, Feb 18 : Senior civil service officer Vivek Bhimanwar was sworn in as the Chairman of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission on Wednesday in a ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai.

Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath of office and secrecy to Bhimanwar during the brief event.

The appointment follows a notification from the General Administration Department, with the Governor's Secretary Dr. Prashant Narnaware reading out the details before the proceedings began.

Bhimanwar, a 2009-batch IAS officer previously serving as Transport Commissioner, has been appointed for a term of six years or until he reaches the age of 62, whichever comes earlier.

In line with new central government guidelines, the ceremony opened with the singing of Vande Mataram, followed by the National Anthem and the Maharashtra State Song.

It concluded similarly with Vande Mataram and the National Anthem, adding a patriotic fervor to the occasion.

After taking the oath, Governor Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde congratulated Bhimanwar by presenting him with bouquets.

The event was attended by former MPSC Chairman Rajnish Seth, Officiating Chairman Dr. Abhay Wagh, other commission members, Chief Minister's Secretary Shrikar Pardeshi, various government officials, and members of Bhimanwar's family.

Bhimanwar's elevation to head the Maharashtra Public Service Commission comes at a crucial time for the state's recruitment processes.

The commission plays a pivotal role in conducting examinations and selecting candidates for Group A and Group B posts across government departments, ensuring merit-based appointments and administrative efficiency.

His extensive experience in key administrative roles, including as private secretary to the Chief Minister in earlier stints, positions him well to guide the commission toward greater transparency and timely conduct of recruitment cycles.

The swearing-in marks a smooth transition from the previous leadership, with officials expressing optimism about strengthened governance and public service delivery under Bhimanwar's stewardship.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Dismissing comparisons between Wikipedia and emerging AI-driven knowledge platforms, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales on Wednesday said the idea of a so-called 'Grokepedia' is unrealistic and there is 'no competition' between Wikipedia and such experiments.

Speaking during a session at the India AI Impact Summit here, Wales made it clear that attempts to replicate Wikipedia through artificial intelligence tools misunderstand how the platform works.

He stressed that Wikipedia is built on human collaboration, transparency and verifiable sources, which cannot simply be replaced by automated systems.

Wales also raised concerns about artificial intelligence platforms failing to give proper credit to original sources.

He said that providing attribution is not just a technical issue but an ethical responsibility in the digital age.

"AI systems so far have not performed well when it comes to acknowledging where information comes from," Wales stated.

At the same time, he acknowledged that the way people access and consume information is rapidly changing.

Wales revealed that Wikipedia has seen an 8 per cent decline in human traffic. He described the drop as "a disaster," but added that it reflects a broader transformation in online behaviour, where users increasingly rely on AI tools and instant summaries instead of directly visiting websites.

Despite these challenges, Wales said India is especially well positioned to benefit from the rise of artificial intelligence.

He pointed to the country's strong IT ecosystem and large pool of skilled technology professionals as key advantages in the AI era.

On the issue of jobs and automation, Wales said artificial intelligence will make certain skills more valuable because people will be able to complete tasks faster and more efficiently.

However, he cautioned that the world is currently going through a period of "great flux and great change." While some professions may decline, he said it is difficult to predict exactly which ones will be most affected.

Wales, an American internet entrepreneur and former financial trader, is best known for co-founding Wikipedia, the world's largest free online encyclopedia, as well as Fandom, a for-profit wiki hosting service.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Slovakia President Peter Pellegrini arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to participate in the AI Impact Summit 2026, which underscores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. He was accorded a warm welcome at the airport by Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh.

President Pellegrini is scheduled to attend the ongoing India-AI Impact Summit, where world leaders, policymakers, and technology experts are convening to deliberate on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in economic growth, governance, and social development. His participation is expected to give fresh momentum to India-Slovakia cooperation in emerging technologies, research, and innovation.

Welcoming the visiting dignitary, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a post on X, "President Pellegrini had arrived in New Delhi and was received by Minister of State Jitendra Singh at the airport, underscoring the warmth of diplomatic engagement between the two nations."

The India-AI Impact Summit, regarded as one of the world's major forums on artificial intelligence, will host extensive deliberations on ethical AI, regulatory frameworks, and the role of advanced technologies in reshaping industries and public services. Slovakia's participation is expected to enrich the dialogue through the exchange of best practices and policy perspectives.

The five-day summit has drawn participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including about 20 Heads of State or Government and nearly 45 ministers, making it one of the largest gatherings focused on AI governance and cooperation.

The event seeks to align global AI initiatives with India's civilisational ethos of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) while promoting the broader principle of AI for Humanity.

India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth edition in the series, following previous meetings held in the United Kingdom in 2023, South Korea in 2024, and France in 2025. The platform enables leaders to examine the ethical, economic, and social implications of artificial intelligence while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, trade, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation.

As President Pellegrini begins his official engagements in the capital, the visit is expected to further deepen India-Slovakia relations and highlight how diplomacy and technological collaboration can jointly address global challenges in an increasingly digital world.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chaibasa : , Feb 18 (IANS) In a gruesome incident that has sent shockwaves across Jharkhand, a woman and her minor son were burnt alive by a group of villagers on suspicion of practising witchcraft in West Singhbhum district, officials said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred late Tuesday night under the Kumardungi police station limits.

According to police, the accused allegedly barged into the family's house, poured petrol on the woman and her child, and set them ablaze. Both died on the spot.

The woman's husband also sustained severe burn injuries while attempting to save them and has been admitted to a nearby hospital, where his condition is stated to be critical.

Preliminary investigations suggest that rumours had been circulating in the village for several days linking the family to certain illnesses and other incidents. The woman was allegedly branded a "witch" by some villagers, which ultimately led to the brutal attack.

Police said that around 12 villagers allegedly conspired to execute the crime. In a dramatic turn, all 12 accused appeared at the Kumardungi police station on Wednesday morning and surrendered. They have since been taken into custody and are being interrogated.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot to assess the situation, and additional forces have been deployed in the village to prevent any further unrest. A forensic team has also been pressed into service to collect evidence from the crime scene.

An FIR is being registered under relevant sections pertaining to murder, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, and other serious offences.

Authorities said a detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events and identify any additional persons involved.

The incident has once again highlighted the persistent menace of witch-hunting in certain rural pockets, despite stringent legal provisions against such practices.

--IANS

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Guwahati, Feb 18 : Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Lok Sabha member Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on former state Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah following Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's announcement that Borah would join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 22.

Reacting to the development, Gogoi described Borah as a "shrewd leader" and said he no longer deserved to speak on issues concerning the Congress party.

"Bhupen Borah has lost the moral authority to talk about the Congress," Gogoi said, adding that Borah had repeatedly sworn that he would never join the BJP.

"He had taken an oath saying he would not go to the BJP, but now he himself is moving towards the party," Gogoi remarked.

Gogoi also expressed strong resentment over Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmaas recent remarks describing Borah as a "Hindu leader". He said such statements were divisive and aimed at creating communal polarisation in the stateas political discourse.

"At a time when Assam needs inclusive politics, the Chief Minister is trying to push a dangerous narrative by branding leaders with religious labels," Gogoi said.

Interestingly, Gogoi also stated that Borahas decision to leave the Congress had, in a way, brought clarity to the partyas political direction.

"Those who lack ideological commitment are free to go. The Congress will move ahead with leaders who believe in its values," he said.

Chief Minister Sarma on Tuesday announced that Bhupen Kumar Borah would formally join the BJP on February 22, terming it a major political development ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.

Borah, who served as APCC president until last year, had earlier resigned from the Congress, triggering intense political speculation.

While Borah has also publicly confirmed his decision, multiple BJP leaders have mentioned that preparations are underway for his induction into the ruling party.

The development has further intensified political churn in Assam's opposition landscape. they said.
Indore, Feb 18 : As shocking details continue to emerge in the Indore MBA student murder case, a neighbour of the accused has shared chilling information about the days leading up to the crime and the moment the incident came to light.

The case has sent shockwaves across Madhya Pradesh, with police confirming that the young woman was allegedly strangled to death by her classmate and boyfriend, identified as Piyush Dhamnotiya.

The neighbour said he could never imagined that the accused would commit such a brutal crime. According to him, the woman used to visit the accused frequently, and there was nothing unusual about the accused's behaviour.

Munnalal, a neighbour of the accused, said that the incident came to the notice of locals only after a strong foul smell began emanating from the room. Soon after, police arrived at the location, followed by the woman's father.

"There was a strong foul smell coming from there... then the police arrived. The woman's father came. I don't know what happened inside. I never thought that he would do this murder," Munnalal said.

He added that the woman used to come to the accused's house almost every day, and Dhamnotiya's behaviour appeared normal.

"The woman used to come every day, and Piyush's behaviour was also good. But when he committed the murder, I did not hear any sound," he said, expressing shock at how quietly the crime was allegedly carried out.

Meanwhile, police took the accused to the crime scene on Tuesday for a recreation of the incident. During the recreation, the police reconstructed the sequence of events inside the rented room where the young woman was allegedly killed.

Manish Mishra, Station House Officer of Dwarkapuri Police Station, Indore, said that the recreation was conducted to verify the details the accused had provided during interrogation.

"Whatever information the accused provided during interrogation, we verified it by bringing him to the crime scene. We have recovered rope and tape through which he tied her. A knife has also been recovered and seized. We have also recovered a cloth that the accused had wiped his hands after getting injuries. So, all this evidence has been recovered," Mishra said.

Police officials said that during the recreation, the accused was questioned about the time and manner in which the incident took place. Investigators also confirmed that several items, including rope, tape and a knife, were recovered from the spot, strengthening the case against the accused.

According to police, Piyush Dhamnotiya, the accused in the case, fled to Mumbai soon after the incident. He was traced and arrested in Andheri on February 14. The woman's body was recovered earlier on February 13 from a rented room in Indore, days after she was reported missing.

Police said the accused was brought back to Indore for further interrogation, during which several disturbing details were revealed.

During questioning, police also recovered a letter allegedly written by the accused after the incident, in which he expressed suicidal thoughts. The letter reportedly stated, "I too want to die and be hanged."

Police said preliminary investigation indicated that the accused committed the murder out of suspicion. According to the police, the young woman used to chat with some of her classmates, and the accused allegedly read those chats. This reportedly led him to suspect her, following which he planned to kill her.

Investigators said that both the deceased and the accused were studying MBA at the same college. The deceased was reportedly around 24 years old, while the accused is said to be around 22 years old. Police also stated that both belonged to the same community and their families were aware of their relationship.

According to police sources, the accused allegedly pressured the student for a physical relationship. When she refused, reportedly saying she was unwell, he allegedly forced himself on her. After the assault, he allegedly tied her hands and feet with ropes found in the apartment and blindfolded her. Police sources claimed he told her he wanted to give her a "gift".

Investigators said that when the woman resisted again, the accused allegedly stuffed cloth into her mouth and sat on her chest, choking her until she lost consciousness.

Police sources further claimed that when he realised she had stopped breathing, he allegedly stabbed her near the chest with such force that the knife broke.

However, police sources said the brutality did not end there. According to investigators, the accused allegedly remained in the room even after the murder. He allegedly stepped out, bought beer from a liquor shop, returned, and drank beside the body.

Police sources further alleged that during interrogation, the accused admitted to sexually assaulting the corpse before changing his clothes and fleeing the scene, leaving the body without clothes in the room.

Police said that on the day she went missing, the student had left home saying she needed to get her Aadhaar card corrected. Her father reportedly dropped her near the Collectorate.

Later, she called her younger sister and informed her that she was going to a birthday party with her classmate Piyush Dhamnotiya and would return by 11 p.m.

When she did not return home, her family grew worried, and a missing persons complaint was filed. The case later took a tragic turn when her body was recovered from the rented room.

Police officials said further investigation is underway and more evidence is being collected. The accused remains in custody and is being questioned regarding the entire sequence of events.
Lucknow, Feb 18 : Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati has firmly ruled out any alliance for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Terming ongoing speculation as "fake news" and politically motivated propaganda, she asserted that the BSP will contest the elections independently with the aim of forming a full majority government.

Addressing media persons here on Wednesday, the BSP supremo said media reports suggesting that the party is exploring alliance options are "misleading, fabricated and deceptive".

She reiterated that she has repeatedly and publicly declared that the BSP will fight the 2027 polls on its own strength.

Referring to the mega rally held in Lucknow on October 9, 2025, marking the death anniversary of party founder Kanshi Ram, Mayawati said it was clearly announced there that the party was not inclined towards any electoral tie-up. Despite this, she alleged, opposition parties are deliberately spreading rumours as part of an "anti-BSP conspiracy".

Taking aim at the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the BJP, she said that their policies do not align with the ideology of Babasaheb Ambedkar and that alliances with such parties are driven purely by political opportunism.

She claimed that past alliances had adversely affected the BSP, and under "Mission 2027", party workers are focused on strengthening the organisation independently.

Responding to controversy over the allocation of a Type-8 bungalow in Delhi, Mayawati clarified that she had earlier been allotted a high-security residence due to security threats.

Citing the June 2, 1995, Lucknow State Guest House incident, she said her security category was enhanced after the episode, and the current bungalow has been allotted accordingly.

She added that the new accommodation was provided in lieu of the previously allotted Type-8 bungalow at 3 Thyagaraj Marg and criticised attempts to politicise the issue.

With elections drawing closer, Mayawati cautioned that rival parties would adopt various tactics to weaken the BSP. She urged party workers and supporters to ignore rumours and intensify grassroots mobilisation to replicate the party's 2007 majority victory.

Calling for renewed commitment, she appealed to cadres to work with dedication to strengthen the ideology of Ambedkar and further the movement.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 18 : Amid the raging controversy over a Chinese robodog being portrayed as an Indian innovation by a Noida-based university, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated on Wednesday that action has been taken on acts of wrongdoing at the AI Summit expo.

"In the Artificial Intelligence (AI) exhibition, many good solutions have been presented. If anyone has done wrong, immediate action has been taken against the wrongdoing. However, one should look at other good AI solutions also," Vaishnaw told the media.

The Union Minister's statement comes in the backdrop of politics over a Chinese robotic dog named 'Orion'.

While the University tried to shrug off the controversy as "exaggeration and misinterpretation" and stated its focus was aligned with the government's mission and vision, the fiasco gave the opposition a chance to attack the government.

Congress accused the government of squandering away the opportunity of projecting India as a global hub of AI innovation and said, "The Modi government made the country a laughing stock before the world."

Rahul Gandhi, doubling down the attack, dubbed the Summit a "disorganised PR spectacle" and said, "Instead of leveraging India's talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle - Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased."

With the Information and Technology minister stating that wrongdoings have been acted upon, the controversy is expected to settle down.

The Galgotias University has been told to pack up and leave the AI Expo, said top sources.

Meanwhile, those representing the Galgotias University stall said that they are staying put and have no information of "being asked to leave".

Neha Singh, a professor at the University, said, "We came here to showcase the work of our students, and we are not in any way trying to tarnish India's image. Our university aligns with the Prime Minister's vision and mission. We are working towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat."

The controversy erupted on Tuesday, after a representative of the University described the robotic dog as an invention by the varsity's Centre of Excellence and explained to mediapersons the features and technical innovations of the robot, developed by the institute.

The University soon found itself in the crosshairs of netizens, as they called out its "shameful" act of projecting a foreign product as indigenous innovation, thereby bringing a bad name to itself as well as the nation.

--IANS

mr/dpb
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 18 : The Kerala government's decision to extend bar operating hours has triggered a major political and institutional controversy, drawing sharp criticism from Opposition parties and influential Church bodies.

The order, issued by the Excise Department, extends bar timings from the earlier 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. to 10 a.m. to 12 midnight, effectively adding two extra hours of daily sales. The move has raised eyebrows as allegations surfaced that the decision was cleared without detailed discussion in the Cabinet or consultation within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), echoing earlier criticism over the PM SHRI agreement with the Centre.

Official sources said the order was issued following long-pending representations from bar owners. Over the past five years, bar associations had reportedly approached the government at least 11 times seeking extended hours, but their requests were consistently turned down. The sudden approval, especially ahead of elections, has prompted the Opposition to question whether revenue mobilisation, rather than policy reform, is the real motive behind the move.

As of January 31, 2025, Kerala has 847 bar licences in addition to 289 outlets operated by the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO). Excise department assessments reportedly indicate that, in a state heavily dependent on liquor revenue, the additional hours could significantly boost the exchequer.

The draft liquor policy for 2025-26 had already proposed easing dry day norms in select tourism zones. It suggested allowing three-star and above hotels to serve liquor on dry days during weddings and international conferences, subject to prior approval and payment of special fees. There are also indications that certain bars in tourist hubs may be permitted to operate until 3 a.m. during business tourism events.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) has strongly opposed the decision. Its Temperance Commission described the move as a "lightning-speed" policy shift and demanded its immediate withdrawal, warning against what it termed an "excise-pleasing policy" allegedly implemented without Cabinet consultation.

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has also called for a rollback, alleging that tourism is being used as a pretext to promote increased liquor consumption.

Critics argue that the timing of the decision, close to elections, has fuelled public suspicion and placed the ruling front on the defensive.

The government, however, has maintained that the revised policy aims to strike a balance between economic revival, tourism promotion, and regulatory oversight, while ensuring continued revenue stability for the State.
"Drill hole FDD017 delivered the highest gold grade (peak grade of 6.6 g/t Au) of the current campaign within a broad highly mineralized interval, providing compelling evidence that the Kabang system remains open to the north and continues to grow," said Tim Crossely, CEO. "In addition, integrated interpretive work by Global Ore Discovery, combined with results from our recent magnetic survey and reprocessed IP data has defined what we believe to be a key south westerly fluid-flow corridor linking the Kabang epithermal gold system to a deeper porphyry source. This is a major step forward for the project. It not only strengthens the expansion potential of the existing epithermal resource but also opens the door to testing a potentially significant porphyry target at depth. We believe we are just beginning to unlock the full scale of the system."

District-Scale Upside: New modelling and reprocessed geophysics define a compelling system-scale "blueprint" likely linking the Kabang epithermal resource to the deeper Danmagal porphyry target and unlocking multiple high-priority drill targets.

Resource De-Risking & Connectivity: Step-out drilling in "The Gap" (Holes FDD004 & FDD005) demonstrates continuous mineralization linking key zones, while twin drilling (Holes FDD001, FDD002 & FDD026) validates historical results, advancing confidence toward upgrading inferred resources to indicated; and

Major Southern Scale Potential : Geological logging from the south-southwest (SSW) corridor (Holes FDD019, FDD021, and FDD028) highlights strong vectors toward expansion of the epithermal gold-copper system and reinforces links to a potential porphyry source, significantly increasing the system's prospective footprint;

High-Grade Northern Expansion: Hole FDD017 returned 1.29g/t Au over 53m , including a high-grade interval of 3.6g/t Au over 5m with a peak grade of 6.6 g/t Au over 1 m , further defining a northern expansion zone trending beyond the current resource model. Approximately 35% of gold assays and 100% copper assays remain pending for the hole;

To date, 10,663m of the ongoing drill program have been completed, successfully achieving its objectives: to confirm high-grade extensions to the north; and to identify significant new scale potential to the south.

Brisbane, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Adyton Resources Corporation (TSXV: ADY) (" Adyton " or the " Company ") is pleased to announce successful results from its ongoing drill program at the 100% owned Feni Island Gold-Copper Project, located within the gold-prolific Lihir Island Chain, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Story Continues

NORTHERN EXPANSION: High-Grade Structures Confirmed

Drilling has successfully identified a new mineralized corridor trending north-northeast (NNE), highlighted by assays from FDD017 and FDD012, as well as visual logging from surrounding later holes (pending assays) FDD018, FDD020, FDD025. This area represents a high-priority target for resource grade improvement.

Geology: FDD017 intersected phreatic breccia in monzodiorite and intense K-feldspar-quartz-sericite alteration overprinting earlier biotite. This distinct alteration assemblage is associated with high-grade mineralization and is indicative of a robust and widespread hydrothermal system.

Multi-Element Support: Hole FDD012, also in the NNE corridor, in addition to gold and copper (see Table 1), returned significant silver and molybdenum values, including: 5m @ 21.16g/t Ag and 7m @ 211ppm Mo (both from 266m), further validating the presence of a fertile, multi-phase mineralized system in this north-northeast zone.

SOUTHERN EXPANSION: Expanded Gold-Copper and Vectors Toward Porphyry Source

Drilling to the south-southwest (SSW), specifically holes FDD019, FDD021 and FD028, have opened another major corridor outside the current MRE block model.

Geological Visuals : Logging and geochemical zonation in this area show distinct vectors trending southwest (SW) and to depth-directly towards the Danmagal porphyry target.

Porphyry Link: Drilling has encountered apophyses of porphyry-style intrusives and related copper mineralization (qtz-cpy-mt veins, B,C-veins); geochemistry shows a highly anomalous molybdenum halo (Mo); and recently for the first time recognised at Kabang, centreline quartz-sulphide veins (B-veins) in the southern drilling at Kabang - all of these support the geological model that the Danmagal porphyry is the likely driving source of the Kabang epithermal system. This provides confidence of the scale potential of Feni to host a Tier-1 deposit similar to neighbours in the Lihir Island Chain.

RESOURCE DE-RISKING & CONNECTIVITY

The current drill program continues to feed into our understanding of the resource, and is successfully de-risking the resource, specifically increasing confidence and geological continuity.

Closing "The Gap" : Holes FDD004 and FDD005 tested a previously undrilled zone between major resource blocks. Results confirmed continuous mineralization, linking previously disparate zones.

Data Validation: Twin holes FDD001, FDD002, and FDD026 showed a strong correlation with historical drilling. This validation will be critical for converting a significant proportion of inferred resources to the higher-confidence indicated category.

FUTURE CATALYSTS & OUTLOOK

Adyton is well-funded (ca. CA$17m, 100% for Feni Project) and executing a systematic growth strategy. Upcoming milestones include:

Pending Assays : Results pending for FDD017 (all Cu and Au to EOH), plus FDD018 and above. Key holes upcoming: NNE : balance of FDD017, plus FDD018, FDD020, FDD023, FDD025 SSW : FDD019, FDD021, FDD024, FDD026, FDD028.

Ongoing Drilling : focused on expanding the MRE footprint at Kabang, and testing new targets.

Advanced Geophysics : A new, high-power (100kVa) IP/MT survey is being scoped to detect additional across island and deeper drill targets, 20x more powerful than the previous IP only system (and very limited previous footprint) used at Feni.

Spectral Mapping: Deployment of pXRF and spectral mineral mapping (1Q 2026) to generate a 3D alteration model for precise vectoring of future high-grade drilling.

SIGNIFICANT INTERCEPTS

Table 1 shows the Significant Intercepts for gold and copper assay results received to date. Figures 1 through 6 show plan maps and cross sections of the drilling and assay results to date. Table 2 provides a summary of the current status of the Feni drill program (28 drillholes for 10,663m).

Table 1: Gold and Copper Significant Intercepts from Adyton's 2021 (ADK) and 2025/2026 (FDD) drilling at the Feni Island Au-Cu Project (gold, copper and gold equivalent). See footnotes to table: 1 2 3 4

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7416/284304_adytbl0118022026.jpg

Figure 1: Plan view of the Kabang target with Significant Intercepts on drill traces (noting numerous drillholes pending assays), with re-processed IP anomaly, and outline of >0.5g/t Au from the current MRE (yellow line).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7416/284304_dda6ddf80443d83a_003full.jpg

Figure 2: Plan view overview of recent improved geological and structural understanding at Kabang, and confirming multiple vectors (geochemistry, geophysics and visuals) towards newly discovered prospective gold-copper corridors.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7416/284304_dda6ddf80443d83a_004full.jpg

Figure 3: Cross section of FDD012. Highlighting the significant and broad gold-copper intercepts. Note: 5m @ 21.16g/t Ag and 7m @ 211ppm Mo (both from 266m).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7416/284304_dda6ddf80443d83a_005full.jpg

Figure 4: Cross section of FDD017. Highlighting the high-grade gold intercepts (all copper pending, plus >200m to EOH pending Au & Cu assays).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7416/284304_dda6ddf80443d83a_006full.jpg

Figure 5: Cross section of FDD019. Highlighting the visual correlation between leached breccia textures in FDD019 as identical to mineralized intervals in FDD003 and FDD017.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7416/284304_dda6ddf80443d83a_007full.jpg

Figure 6: This long section utilizing recently reprocessed mag and IP data shows the now apparent close correlation of the Danmagal porphyry system evidenced at depth by magnetics data (red polygon >0.16MVI) and the close spatial relationship of the Kabang epithermal system (orange 27mRad IP anomaly) and known gold grades. Of note, geochemical zonation is vectoring towards a hydrothermal fluid source to the SW and to depth - exactly where the Danmagal porphyry is located. Furthermore, the Kabang drilling has encountered smaller apophyses of porphyry style intrusives and copper mineralization, and the current geological model suggests that Danmagal is the likely source of these.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7416/284304_dda6ddf80443d83a_008full.jpg

Table 2: Feni Island Gold-Copper Project: drillhole details and status (as of Feb 11th).

Hole ID Easting Northing RL DIP AZI Depth (m) Status FDD001 567,648 9,548,228 156 -60 50 396.0 Completed FDD002 567,245 9,548,135 91 -60 100 195.4 Completed FDD003 567,348 9,548,221 105 -70 160 421.7 Completed FDD004 567,469 9,548,209 126 -70 180 453.2 Completed FDD005 567,571 9,548,247 136 -70 180 839.6 Completed FDD006 567,782 9,548,230 184 -70 320 412.6 Completed FDD007 567,469 9,548,305 111 -70 180 468.2 Completed FDD008 567,886 9,548,273 193 -70 320 67.9 Abandoned FDD009 567,895 9,548,275 199 -70 320 401.2 Completed FDD010 567,342 9,548,282 108 -70 180 541.2 Completed FDD011 568,005 9,548,323 211 -70 320 199.9 Completed FDD012 567,582 9,548,332 138 -70 180 455.9 Completed FDD013 567,908 9,548,541 207 -70 180 501.3 Completed FDD014 567,874 9,548,156 202 -70 320 172.9 Completed FDD015 567,436 9,548,387 166 -70 180 145.8 Completed FDD016 567,771 9,548,101 237 -70 320 532.1 Completed FDD017 567,609 9,548,334 206 -70 140 491.6 Completed FDD018 567,684 9,548,412 226 -70 180 327.1 Completed FDD019 567,325 9,547,966 204 -70 90 446.8 Completed FDD020 567,685 9,548,416 226 -80 360 346.6 Completed FDD021 567,317 9,547,903 189 -70 90 405 Completed FDD022 567,800 9,548,350 247 -70 12 34 Abandoned FDD023 567,810 9,548,365 247 -70 360 228.1 Completed FDD024 567,239 9,548,024 158 -70 125 501 Completed FDD025 567,451 9,548,403 226 -70 70 452 Completed FDD026 567,324 9,548,072 175 -90 360 367.8 Completed FDD027 567,597 9,548,347 125 -70 320 340.3 In progress FDD028 567,217 9,547,934 83 -70 210 113.4 In progress TOTAL (m)









10,663m



Table notes: FDD008 & FDD022 were abandoned at a shallow depth while still in post-mineral cover due to operational issues, redrilled as FDD009 & FDD023 respectively. FDD002 was terminated prematurely due to ground conditions while still in visual mineralisation.

WGS 84 Zone 56S UTM coordinates.

FERGUSSON ISLAND PROGRESS UPDATE

EVIH our JV partner continues to progress in parallel permitting for the Wapolu mine restart along with purchasing commitments to long lead items and project logistic solutions. In early February, Adyton Managing Director, Tim Crossley, and EVIH Project lead, Louis Wang, jointly presented the projects restart plans to the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA). Adyton and EVIH remain confident that a H2 restart of Wapolu will be achieved.

QUALITY ASSURANCE / QUALITY CONTROL

Adyton adheres to industry-recognized standards of Best Practice and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC). Drill core samples were submitted in batches to Intertek Laboratory in Lae, which include a field blank, certified reference materials (CRMs) and staged duplicates. Samples were sealed using single-use tie-locks ensuring Chain of Custody. To date, all batches have passed QA/QC, and blanks and CRMs were within acceptable tolerance limits. All drill holes were drilled and sampled predominantly from PQ and HQ diameter drill core, and to a much lesser extent, also NQ core. Core recovery is considered to be appropriate.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been prepared, reviewed, and approved by Dr Chris Bowden, PhD, GCMEE, FAusIMM(CP), FSEG, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Geologist of Adyton, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

ABOUT THE FENI GOLD-COPPER PROJECT

The Feni Project is 100% owned by Adyton and is a key asset in Adyton's portfolio, located in a highly prospective region of Papua New Guinea on the Lihir Island chain known for world-class gold-copper deposits, including Lihir (owned and operated by Newmont). The Company has confirmed significant gold-copper mineralization at Feni, with a focus on expanding its existing resource and identifying new high-grade targets.

For further information please contact:

Tim Crossley, Chief Executive Officer

Email: ir@adytonresources.com

Phone: +61 7 3854 2389

Phone: +1 778 549 6768

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

ABOUT ADYTON RESOURCES CORPORATION

Adyton Resources Corporation is focused on the development of gold and copper resources in world class mineral jurisdictions. It currently has a portfolio of highly prospective mineral exploration projects in Papua New Guinea on which it is exploring to expand its identified gold Inferred and Indicated Mineral Resources and expand on its recent significant copper drill intercepts on the 100% owned Feni Island project. The Company's mineral exploration projects are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire on easy to access island locations which hosts several globally significant copper and gold deposits including the Lihir gold mine and Panguna copper/gold mine on Bougainville Island, both neighboring projects to the Company's Feni Island project.

Adyton has a total Mineral Resource Estimate inventory within its PNG portfolio of projects comprising indicated resources of 206,000 ounces gold and inferred resources of 2,193,000 ounces gold (need grade and tonnes).

Feni Island Au-Cu project

The Feni Island Project currently has a mineral resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 dated October 14, 2021, which has outlined an initial inferred mineral resource of 60.4 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.75 g/t Au, for contained gold of 1,460,000 ounces, assuming a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au. See the NI 43-101 technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Feni Gold-Copper Property, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea prepared for Adyton Resources by Mark Berry (MAIG), Simon Tear (MIGI PGeo), Matthew White (MAIG) and Andy Thomas (MAIG), each an independent mining consultant and "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101,available under Adyton's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability.

Fergusson Island Au project

The Fergusson Island Project currently has a mineral resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, which outlined an indicated mineral resource of 5.0 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.28 g/t Au for contained gold of 206,000 ounces and an inferred mineral resource of 23.2 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.99 g/t Au for contained gold of 733,000 ounces, both inferred and indicated resources used a 0.5g/t Au cut-off grade.

See the technical report dated October 14, 2021, entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Fergusson Gold Property, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea" prepared for Adyton Resources by Mark Berry (MAIG), Simon Tear (MIGI PGeo), Matthew White (MAIG) and Andy Thomas (MAIG), each an independent mining consultant and "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101, available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability.

See the technical report dated January 7, 2026, entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on Wapolu Gold Project" prepared for Adyton Resources by Louis Cohalan (MAIG), an independent mining consultant and "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101. This report will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca within 45 days of this release. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability.

For more information about Adyton and its projects, visit www.adytonresources.com

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7416/284304_adymap18022026.jpg

Forward looking statements

This press release includes "forwardlooking statements", including forecasts, estimates, expectations, and objectives for future operations that are subject to several assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Adyton. Forward looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forwardlooking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. Forward looking statements in this news release include plans pertaining to the drill program, the intention to prepare additional technical studies, the timing of the drill program, uses of the recent drone survey data, the timing of updating key findings, the preparation of resource estimates, and the deeper exploration of high-grade gold and copper feeder systems. The forwardlooking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Forwardlooking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses, and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the projects in a timely manner; the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development; construction and continued operation of the Fergusson Island Project and the Feni Island Project; the ability to effectively complete the drilling program; and Adyton's ability to comply with all applicable regulations and laws, including environmental, health and safety laws.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead reflect Adyton's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of managements considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although Adyton believes that the expectations reflected in such forward- looking statements are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and under reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by Adyton. Among the key risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward- looking statements are the following: impacts arising from the global disruption, changes in general macroeconomic conditions; reliance on key personnel; reliance on Zenex Drilling; changes in securities markets; changes in the price of gold or certain other commodities; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, caveins and flooding); discrepancies between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of and changes in the costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forwardlooking statements. Such forwardlooking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forwardlooking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements or information. Adyton Resources Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking information except as required by applicable law.

1 Interval widths are "apparent" widths downhole, subject to true width determination.

2 ADK series drilling (2021) reported previously to TSX.V. Au.eq recalculated here.

3 Gold equivalent calculated as: Au.eq = ((Au g/t *0.93) + (Cu% *1.71 * 0.90)). Based on: metal prices of US$2,000/oz Au and US$5/lb Cu; and recoveries of 93% Au and 90% Cu. Recovery assumptions are speculative as no metallurgical test work have been completed at Feni but are based on comparable deposits.

4 FDD002 & FDD004 ended in mineralisation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284304
Kolkata, Feb 18 : The BJP on Wednesday accused the Trinamool Congress of intimidating its party leader and threatening to kill him in Nanoor of West Bengal's Birbhum district, ahead of the Assembly polls in the state.

According to local sources, the BJP leader was identified as Ramakrishna Mandal, a resident of Kurgram in the Thupasara area of aaNanoor in Birbhum.

The BJP claimed that white 'dhoti', incense sticks, garlands and sweets were left in front of the party leader's house in an attempt to instill a sense of fear among his family members.

"Ramakrishna is the mandal president of the BJP. Like other days, on Tuesday night, he fell asleep after eating. When he woke up in the Wednesday morning, a terrible scene unfolded before his house. He saw a white tarpaulin, flower garlands, sweets and incense sticks placed in front of the door of the house," locals said.

These items are generally used after the death of a persons, the locals said.

The BJP was quick to train its gun at the Trinamool Congress for "using tactics to terrorise" its leaders and workers in the Nanoor area.

Mandal said, "The Assembly elections are slated to take place this year. Trinamool has realised that it is difficult for them to win this time. Therefore, they are trying to scare the BJP leaders and make them stay in the house. Trinamool workers have done this deliberately to scare us. The family members are naturally terrified. I have lodged a complaint with the local police."

However, the Trinamool Congress has denied this allegation. On the contrary, local Trinamool leaders have blamed it on "factionalism" of the BJP which resulted in the incident.

A local Trinamool Congress leader said, "This is an outcome of BJP's infighting in the area. Our party has nothing to do it."

A senior officer of Birbhum district police said that a complaint has been lodged against unknown persons in connection with the incident. "We are looking into the matter. Investigation is on," said the police officer.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he discussed India's growing work in artificial intelligence and how Google can collaborate with the country's talented students and professionals during a meeting with Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit here.

In a social media post on X, the Prime Minister described the meeting as a delight and said the conversation focused on India's rapid progress in AI and opportunities for deeper cooperation between the government and Google in the field.

He highlighted the importance of leveraging India's skilled youth and technology professionals to further strengthen the country's position in artificial intelligence.

"It was a delight to meet Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi," the Prime Minister Modi stated.

"Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field," PM Modi mentioned.

The Prime Minister's Office later shared highlights of the meeting on its official YouTube channel, offering glimpses of the discussion between the two leaders.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 16 to 20.

The summit has brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academicians, innovators and civil society representatives from across the world.

It aims to provide a global platform for discussions on strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence.

Significantly, this is the first major global AI summit hosted in the Global South. The conference reflects India's vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya," which means welfare and happiness for all, and aligns with the broader global principle of "AI for Humanity."

More than 110 countries and 30 international organisations are participating in the summit. Around 20 Heads of State or Government and nearly 45 ministers are attending the event.

The wide participation highlights the growing global momentum towards responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence, with India positioning itself at the centre of these discussions.
Ayodhya, Feb 18 : Ayodhya's Ram Mandir is set to offer devotees a 3D experience of temple rituals, including puja, aarti, and darshan of 14 temples. The initiative aims to allow devotees who are unable to visit the temple in person to experience the rituals virtually, as if they were physically present at the museum.

Speaking to reporters, Shri Ram Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra said that discussions are underway regarding the development of a major gallery inside the museum complex.

"One session was held at the museum, and another meeting will take place today. A major gallery is being developed to give devotees a 3D experience of the temple rituals, including puja, aarti, and darshan of 14 temples. This 3D video will allow devotees who cannot visit the temple in person to experience it virtually as if they were physically present in the museum," Mishra said.

Explaining the purpose of the project, he added that the experience would help devotees feel connected to the temple even when they are not able to enter due to heavy crowds.

"They will feel like that they are in the temple and they can get all the information about the temple. This was done beacause when the crowd happens, people can do wherever they are in the temple. This work will be assigned to big agency who can complete this work," he said.

Mishra further stated that two additional galleries are also being planned as part of the museum development. One of these will focus on the legal history related to the Ram temple, while another will highlight archaeological findings from the site.

"Another two galleries will have description about the legal description of last 500 years and one gallery will have in which digging was done and people can know that there was a temple here. They can know that there was temple here and can believe it. Ikshvaku Vansh's palace was there. We will try to prove it with all the evidences," he said.

Meanwhile, Ayodhya's economy has witnessed a historic turnaround following the consecration of the Ram Temple, with the number of visitors reaching an estimated 11 crore in the first six months and a five-time rise in the income of local traders.

A study titled "The Economic Renaissance of Ayodhya, India: A Case Study on Sri Ram Mandir", conducted by the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L), has undertaken a comparative analysis of Ayodhya's economy before and after the construction of the Ram Temple.

The study noted that in the first six months after the temple's consecration, more than 11 crore devotees visited Ayodhya, leading to a significant boost in local business activity. It added that the income of local traders rose five times during this period.

The report further stated that property rates around the Ram Temple increased five to ten times, while real estate prices saw a rise of 25 to 40 per cent.

It also highlighted rapid growth in the hospitality sector, noting that more than 150 new hotels and homestays have been built in Ayodhya. In addition, online bookings reportedly witnessed a surge of 400 per cent.
Pathanamthitta, Feb 18 : Police have arrested Kerala Youth Congress State General Secretary in connection with the suicide of a young woman who worked as a receptionist at a private school near here.

Suhail Ansari, who was serving as the schoolas PRO, was taken into custody by the local police from his residence in the early hours of Wednesday.

The deceased, a native of Sooranad, was found hanging at her house on February 14.

Marks of physical assault were reportedly found on her body. It is learnt that she had an argument with her husband the previous night, prompting relatives and local residents to initially suspect him.

Following the quarrel, the husband allegedly took her mobile phone and went away.

Police, who conducted the inquest on the day of the incident, did not recover any suicide note. However, three notes believed to have been written by the woman were discovered three days later by her family during a search of the house.

The notes were found inside a diary and handed over to the police.

In one of them, she reportedly accused Suhail Ansari of persistently harassing her.

Investigators said the arrest was made only after subjecting the notes to scientific examination and collecting corroborative evidence.

WhatsApp chats retrieved from the womanas phone, later produced by her husband during questioning, are understood to have strengthened the case against Ansari.

The development has also raised questions over alleged lapses in the initial probe, as all material evidence related to an unnatural death has to be documented during inquest proceedings.

Police suspect that although the two were friends, Ansarias alleged inappropriate conduct may have driven the woman to take the extreme step.

Ansari had previously worked as a teacher before leaving the profession to take up the PRO post while remaining active in politics.

This case comes after Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil was arrested in a rape case. Although he was granted bail, the case has generated much political heat, especially with the Assembly elections not far away.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : By elevating their relationship to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' during French President Emmanuel Macron's ongoing visit to India, both countries have signalled that Paris is moving into the top tier of New Delhi's foreign policy priorities.

According to a report by India Narrative, this partnership extends beyond trade or defence deals, encompassing long-term global coordination in technology, security, and economic resilience.

French President Macron highlighted the significance in a post on X, writing "India and France have decided to elevate their strategic partnership to the level of a Special Global Strategic Partnership. In diplomacy, that means a great deal."

The report noted that the 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' is not a standard diplomatic category; it is a political signal that the existing 'strategic partnership' - in place since 1998 - is being deepened and globalised. In practice, this entails three key dimensions: the two nations view each other as long-horizon partners in a multipolar world rather than mere transactional allies; their cooperation is framed as a "force for global stability" amid wars and great-power rivalries; and the relationship is being institutionalised through new dialogues  such as an annual foreign ministers' review linked to India's Horizon 2047 roadmap  to ensure continuity beyond electoral cycles.

For India, France now joins a select group including the United States and Russia at the level of "special" strategic partners, while also strengthening India's broader relationship with the European Union.

During Macron's visit, 21 agreements and documents were signed across defence production, critical minerals, high technology, AI, energy transition, and health.

Key initiatives include a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Safran to produce HAMMER air-to-ground missiles in India, and reciprocal deployment of officers in each other's land forces to enhance interoperability.

Frameworks on lithium and rare earth minerals, renewable energy, nuclear collaboration, and advanced technologies were also agreed upon, creating operational depth for the partnership.

The India Narrative report emphasised that France's industrial footprint in India  from Rafale and Mirage aircraft to Scorpene submarines  now extends to co-production and exports, providing India with technology absorption, manufacturing capabilities, and jobs while offering France a trusted Asian production base.

On critical minerals and energy, the partnership helps India diversify supply chains, while the 'India-France Year of Innovation 2026' aims to connect start-ups, researchers, and private firms in AI, space, quantum, and clean technology.

"In high technology, the launch of the 'IndiaFrance Year of Innovation 2026' is meant to broaden the relationship beyond statetostate projects into startups, researchers and private firms in areas like AI, space, quantum and clean tech. That "peoplecentric" innovation focus, stressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is designed to create networks of codevelopment that endure beyond any single government contract," the report mentioned.

The report concluded that the partnership is a strategic response to global uncertainty and rivalry, with both nations coordinating to balance multipolar interests.

It highlighted that the true test of this elevated partnership will be whether co-production, energy and mineral agreements, and innovation initiatives translate into concrete projects, creating a durable, long-term alignment that shapes bilateral trade and global coalitions alike.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the framing of pan-India guidelines to address "continuing constitutional failure" in dealing with racially motivated violence against citizens from the North-Eastern states.

New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the framing of pan-India guidelines to address "continuing constitutional failure" in dealing with racially motivated violence against citizens from the North-Eastern states.

Terming as "unfortunate" the recent incident involving the murder of a Tripura student in Uttarakhand's Dehradun, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant asked the PIL litigant to place the issues before the Attorney General (AG) for India, the highest law officer of the Union government.

"At this stage, we deem it appropriate that the aforesaid issues ought to be brought before the competent authority through the good office of the learned AG," observed the Bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi.

The PIL, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, stated that even after the enactment of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, there is "no statutory recognition of hate or racial crimes, no mandatory recording of bias motivation at the FIR stage, and no specialised investigative or victim-protection mechanisms."

During the hearing, the petitioner urged the apex court to establish a dedicated mechanism, at least within educational institutions, to address grievances arising from identity-based discrimination.

"It is very painful. I have so many friends from the Northeast. This exists. Nobody can deny it. This is a very big issue. If something happens, the bystander will just smile and go away while the fellow gets attacked," advocate Anoop Prakash Awasthi, appearing as petitioner in-person, submitted.

However, the CJI Kant-led Bench expressed reservations about creating region-specific mechanisms.

"The moment we start entertaining litigations where the victims are unfortunately targeted because of their region, the negative message which will be, people will start identifying he is Keralite, Tamilian, Kashmirian, etc. (W)e have a strong federal structure, we are supposed to be stronger with unity and not to be identified with regions," it orally remarked.

The PIL was filed in the backdrop of the brutal assault and subsequent death of Tripura native Angel Chakma in Uttarakhand's Dehradun. A final-year MBA student, Chakma, was allegedly attacked on December 9, 2025, in Dehradun's Selaqui area following an altercation with a group of youths who, according to a complaint lodged by his brother, hurled racial slurs before assaulting him with sharp objects.

Referring to the incident, the petition quoted Chakma's last recorded assertion during the confrontation: "We are not Chinese We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?"

The PIL stated that these words "tragically became his final assertion of constitutional belonging before the assault escalated into fatal violence".

The plea contended that despite the apparent hate-based and racial motivation, such offences continue to be treated as "ordinary crimes", resulting in the erasure of motive and dilution of constitutional gravity.

"There is no mechanism in the initial criminal justice response system to recognise racial offences as a distinct constitutional wrong," the petition stated, adding that this perpetuates a pattern of impunity.

Highlighting past incidents, including the 2014 death of Nido Taniam, the plea argued that the killing of Angel Chakma is "not an isolated incident but part of a long-standing pattern of racial violence" against citizens from the North-Eastern states, a phenomenon acknowledged by the Union government in parliamentary replies.

The PIL sought the issuance of binding guidelines recognising racially motivated violence as a distinct constitutional wrong and ensuring effective protection of dignity, equality and fraternity for all citizens.
Jaipur, Feb 18 : The alleged Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam in Rajasthan has once again come into focus, with state minister Kirodi Lal Meena reiterating his claim of large-scale irregularities worth Rs 20,000 crore.

Recent arrests of senior officials inlcuding chief engineer (administration), in connection with the case have revived political debate and intensified scrutiny of the investigation.

The controversy dates back to June 2023, when Meena staged a two-day sit-in protest outside the Ashok Nagar police station in Jaipur, demanding registration of an FIR over alleged irregularities in JJM tenders.

At that time, the Congress government led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was in power. Kirodi Lal Meena has alleged that serious irregularities occurred in the tendering process under the Jal Jeevan Mission, claiming violations of the Rajasthan Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 2012.

He stated that violations under the Act can attract punishment ranging from six months to five years in prison. During his 2023 protest, Meena questioned the state government's claim that FIRs were being registered on every complaint.

His protest led to his arrest, further escalating political tensions at the time. During his protest, he told the then CM Ashok Gehlot, "Chief Minister, you repeatedly claim that every FIR is registered in the state. I came to the Ashok Nagar police station to lodge a complaint regarding violations of Section 17 of the Rajasthan Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 2012, under the Central Government's Jal Jeevan Mission. Since the FIR was not registered, I have now been forced to sit on a protest."

Now, in a recent development, officials associated with the Water Supply Department have been arrested in connection with an alleged Rs 930 crore scam, bringing renewed attention to the broader allegations.

A former minister named in the case is currently out on bail, and sources indicate that more arrests could follow as investigations continue.

Senior BJP leaders had extended support to Meena during his 2023 protest, and the issue had triggered a major political row in Rajasthan.

With fresh arrests, the matter has again become a focal point in state politics. Investigative agencies are continuing their probe, and political observers are closely watching the direction of the investigation and potential further revelations.
Los Angeles, Feb 18 : Hollywood actress Joan Collins is celebrating 24 years of marital bliss. The actress recently took to her Instagram, and shared a picture of herself with her longtime love, Percy Gibson.

To mark their 24th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, the actress shared a heartfelt tribute alongside a sweet photo of them together from her son Alexander Newley's lakeside wedding.

She wrote in the caption, "24 years of #weddedbliss - thank you darling Percy for making my life so wonderful (and he says #ditto)".

The actress, 92, and her husband, 60, tied the knot on February 17, 2002. The marriage marked Collins' fifth and, to date, longest-lasting union. At the time of the wedding, Collins was 68 years old, while Gibson was 36, a 32-year age difference that drew public attention but never disrupted their partnership. Percy Gibson was born in Peru and built his career in theatre production and management. After their marriage, he became closely involved in Collins' professional life, serving as her producer and manager.

He has overseen her stage tours, book promotions, and public appearances, playing a central role in sustaining her late-career visibility in theatre and media. The couple has no children together, but Gibson is a stepfather figure to Collins' three children from previous marriages. They have divided their time between homes in London, Los Angeles, and the south of France, maintaining an active social and professional schedule well into Collins' later years.

Collins has consistently credited the stability of their marriage to shared work, mutual respect, and clear boundaries, frequently stating that Gibson's organizational role complements her performance-driven career. As of the mid-2020s, their marriage has surpassed two decades, making it the longest and most stable relationship of Joan Collins' personal life.
Bengaluru, Feb 18 : The Congress-led government in Karnataka on Wednesday issued an order restricting the movement of media persons inside the State Legislature complex (Vidhan Soudha), triggering sharp criticism from the opposition parties and raising concerns over press freedom.

The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) directed that journalists conduct interviews with legislators and seek their reactions only at a designated location, the portico near the West Gate of Vidhana Soudha.

The order also states that the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, ministers, and other dignitaries should not be followed within the premises for comments.

In a letter sent by the DPAR Secretary to the Director of the Information and Public Relations Department, officials were asked to issue necessary instructions to ensure compliance by all media persons.

A copy of the communication was also marked to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Vidhana Soudha security. The subject line of the letter referred to directions for the media to obtain reactions only at a stipulated point.

The government has defended the move as necessary for safety and security.

Critics, however, argue that it curtails freedom of expression and limits access to elected representatives inside the legislative complex. Some opposition leaders have also alleged that the restrictions could hinder their ability to communicate freely with journalists on the premises.

The controversy comes days after reports emerged of the alleged theft of 300 grams of gold within Vidhana Soudha, reportedly involving a DPAR staff member. Critics claim the department is attempting to deflect attention from the incident by tightening media access.

Congress legislator H. Ranganath expressed reservations over the order, stating that imposing restrictions on the media is not appropriate. He said opinions and public issues reach people through the press and added that safeguarding press freedom is central to the party's principles.

Rangnath indicated he would verify the matter, describing it as possibly a mistake, and maintained that there should not be restrictions on the media.

BJP MLA S.R. Vishwanath termed the order an attack on democracy and freedom of speech. He said that during the previous BJP government, journalists had access to all floors of the building and could obtain reactions from ministers in their offices, adding that interactions also took place during committee meetings.

Vishwanath alleged that the recent security lapse reflected policing failure and argued that instead of addressing such gaps, the government was targeting the media.

He said confining journalists to a single point near the West Gate, close to the Kengal Hanumanthaiah statue, was a regressive step. The BJP MLA added that while leaders often refer to the press as the fourth estate of democracy, such measures evoke memories of the Emergency.

"The government should withdraw the order and strengthen security instead of restricting access," Vishwanath said.

The Janata Dal (Secular) also slammed the move on social media platform X, accusing the ruling Congress of being unsettled by journalists who ask questions. The party alleged that limiting media movement inside Vidhana Soudha reflected insecurity within the government and questioned why ministers and MLAs would be wary of scrutiny over corruption.

JD (S) described the move as an attack on democratic values and press freedom, urging the Chief Minister to ensure transparency rather than suppress the media.

The order has sharpened the political debate over transparency, accountability, and the role of the press within Karnataka's legislature.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Spanish President Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday noted the "excellent state" of relations between Spain and India, stating after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi that they will continue to strengthen in the coming times.

"Alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I have noted the excellent state of relations between Spain and India, which we will continue to strengthen. I have congratulated him on the organisation of the Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence. We share the need to continue taking steps towards an AI that puts people at the centre," he posted on X after meeting PM Modi.

This is Sanchez's second visit to India in 15 months, following his visit in October 2024, as both countries are marking 2026 as the India-Spain Year of culture, tourism and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Spain-India Dual Year has Artificial Intelligence as one of its main themes.

During their meeting on Wednesday, both leaders discussed ways to boost the India-Spain friendship, especially in areas such as defence, security, technology and more.

aHad a productive meeting with President Pedro Sanchez in Delhi. Discussed ways to boost the India-Spain friendship, especially in areas such as defence, security, technology and more. Our nations are marking 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and AI. This will deepen people-to-people linkages. Glad to see a big delegation of Universities also come to India. This too will go a long way in connecting our people," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.

"The historic FTA with the EU will have a very positive impact on the economic partnership with Spain and provide new opportunities to the people of our nations," he added.

President Sanchez arrived in the national capital earlier in the day to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026, a global platform focusing on the transformative role of artificial intelligence across industries and governance.

The ongoing international summit dedicated to the future of Artificial Intelligence has brought together technology leaders, policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs from around the world. Its aim is to demonstrate how AI can generate real benefits for society, drive innovation, and promote inclusive and sustainable development.

The AI aaImpact Summit 2026 is the first global Artificial Intelligence summit hosted in the Global South and charts a course "towards a future where the transformative power of AI serves humanity, drives inclusive growth, fosters social development, and promotes people-centered innovations that protect our planet. It also seeks to amplify the voice of the Global South, ensuring that technological advancements and opportunities are shared widely, not concentrated in a few regions."

After meeting PM Modi, Sanchez also attended the dedication ceremony of a mural painted jointly by an Spanish and Indian artists under Street Art Project at the Lodhi Art District. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also accompanined the Spanish leader.

"India and Spain also meet in urban art. On the occasion of the Spain-India Dual Year, I visited with the Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. This mural in the Lodhi district is the result of a collaboration between artists from both countries," he posted on X.
DUBLIN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Early evidence suggests artificial intelligence is weakening employment opportunities in some parts of Ireland's technology-focused economy, particularly for young graduates, research by Ireland's finance department found.

Ireland's strong labour market is relatively more exposed to AI than the average advanced economy given a high concentration of jobs in so-called knowledge-intensive sectors such as tech, science and financial services, the finance department said.

More from Yahoo Scout Which sectors face highest AI employment risk? How is Ireland responding to AI-driven job market shifts? How is AI affecting Ireland's technology job market? Why are young graduates particularly vulnerable to AI disruption?

Employment in categories at risk of AI disruption, which include tech and financial services, grew at around 4% between 2023 and 2025, compared with 4.5% among medium-risk companies, and 6.25% in the low-risk category.

Employment among 15 to 29 year-olds in the "at risk" cohort fell by 1% over that period and by 20% among technology firms alone, even as employment among tech workers aged 30 to 59 grew 12% during that period.

The research also found that in sectors with lower AI exposure, employment growth among younger workers outpaced that of older workers.

While the researchers said that indicated the results cannot be explained by a downturn among younger workers more broadly, they also said it may be premature to attribute the changes solely to AI-driven substitution effects.

Finance Minister Simon Harris said the analysis suggests Ireland may be at the frontier of AI labour market changes and that the government must invest in up-skilling and re-skilling workers in exposed sectors.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Gandhinagar, Feb 18 : The Gujarat government has allocated Rs 3,472 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya-Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme in the 2026-27 state budget, covering over 2.72 crore people, with more than 68 lakh beneficiaries having received cashless treatment, Finance Minister Kanu Desai announced on Wednesday.

Speaking during the presentation of the budget in the Assembly, Desai said the state is also expanding In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) services, with facilities already available at the Institute of Kidney Diseases & Research Centre (IKDRC), Ahmedabad, and plans to extend them to Surat, Bhavnagar, and Jamnagar.

The budget provides comprehensive support for agriculture. Over 33 lakh farmers affected by floods and unseasonal rains have received immediate assistance under a package exceeding Rs 11,000 crore.

To stabilise incomes amid market fluctuations, more than 9.5 lakh farmers have benefitted from procurement at minimum support prices, amounting to over Rs 18,000 crore, for groundnut, green gram, black gram, soybean, and cotton.

Mechanisation is being encouraged with Rs 1,565 crore to help small and marginal farmers purchase tractors, power tillers, seed drills, and harvesters.

Organic farming will receive Rs 39 crore for establishing Centres of Excellence, market support, branding, certification, and hand-holding, while six additional Centres of Excellence for pulses, oilseeds, farm mechanisation, value addition, and agro-processing will receive Rs 12 crore.

Irrigation projects are a priority, with Rs 3,043 crore allocated to the Sujalam-Suflam pipeline, Sauni, and Kutch projects to divert Narmada water to drought-prone areas in North Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Kutch.

The second phase of pipeline and canal irrigation in Ahmedabadas remote villages has begun, with Rs 958 crore earmarked. Micro-irrigation under the 'Per Drop More Crop' scheme has already covered 25 lakh hectares, with the remaining areas in progress.

The fisheries and livestock sectors will receive Rs 1,340 crore for infrastructure, equipment, and storage, and Rs 500 crore for the Gau Mata Poshan scheme.

To support farmers and livestock owners, Rs 1,539 crore has been allocated under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, and Rs 112 crore for the establishment of bio-CNG plants across four zones.

In housing, the government aims to provide over 3.15 lakh houses under schemes including PM Awas Yojana (rural and urban), Dr Ambedkar Awas, Pandit Deendayal Awas, and Halpati Awas, with an allocation of Rs 4,272 crore.

For education and skill development, 926 new P.M. Shri schools will be established, integrated schools from Balvatika to Grade 10 funded with Rs 120 crore, and 15 libraries will be set up in tribal areas, including the Namo Central Library in Gandhinagar, with Rs 100 crore allocated.

Science education under the Namo Saraswati initiative has received Rs 250 crore. Skill training under the Namo Gujarat Skill and Employment Mission received Rs 226 crore, while the Chief Minister Apprenticeship Scheme, supporting over one lakh trainees, has been allocated Rs 80 crore.

To enhance ease of doing business, 25 GIDCs will be modernised with Rs 1,250 crore for water, electricity, gas, and digital networks, and Rs 50 crore for 120 mini GIDC upgrades.

To promote industrialisation and employment in tribal areas, new industrial estates will be established in Dahod, Aravalli, and other districts.

The Gujarat State Export Promotion Council will be established to boost trade. Through the Gujarat Jan Vishwas (Provision Reforms) Act 2025, 11 legislations and 516 provisions have been streamlined, strengthening trust between producers, traders, and industrial workers and the government.

Under the Vocal for Local initiative, the state promotes balanced regional development, with 90 handloom, handicraft, and rural industry products selected under One District, One Product.

Artisans will get domestic markets and e-commerce platforms to sell their products.
Kochi, Feb 18 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen assets worth Rs 39 lakh belonging to Malayalam actor Jayasurya in connection with the alleged Save Box online auction app fraud case.

The actor had served as the brand ambassador of the firm, which is accused of cheating investors through a digital bidding platform.

The action comes amid broader directives from the Central government to investigative agencies to intensify proceedings against online platforms accused of defrauding the public.

The instructions also mandate action against celebrities who endorse such ventures for monetary consideration if the platforms are later found to be fraudulent.

The ED has questioned Jayasurya twice in the case.

Investigators found that nearly Rs 1 crore had been transferred from the account of the prime accused, Sadiq Rahim, a Thrissur native arrested in 2023 by Thrissur East police, to the bank accounts of Jayasurya and his wife, Saritha.

The agency has stated that the actor figures in the list of recipients of funds allegedly generated through the fraud.

In his preliminary statement, Jayasurya reportedly maintained that the amount received was remuneration for his role as brand ambassador.

However, the ED is conducting further scrutiny of his bank accounts and contractual agreements. He has been asked to produce complete documentation of his financial dealings with the company and has also been issued notice to appear again for questioning.

The Save Box app had claimed that users could purchase electronic goods and other products at discounted prices through an online auction system by buying virtual coins.

The platform was marketed as Indiaas first betting app and was launched at a function inaugurated by Jayasurya.

Police investigations began in 2023 following complaints that Sadiq had cheated nearly 100 individuals out of crores of rupees by promising franchise opportunities under the Save Box brand. Subsequent probes revealed suspected large-scale financial transactions, prompting the ED to initiate a parallel investigation under money laundering provisions. Authorities are also examining whether more personalities from the film industry with links to the accused could come under scrutiny as the probe progresses.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan and the Netherlands arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, being held in the national capital, aimed at exploring the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence.

Kazakhstan PM Olzhas Bektenov was received by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh at the airport.

Following his arrival, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "The visit of PM Olzhas Bektenov and his participation at the India-AI Impact Summit will give a fillip to the robust partnership between both countries."

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh welcomed Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, as he arrived in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit.

"PM Schoof will attend the India-AI Impact Summit; his participation will further deepen and strengthen the India-Netherlands bilateral partnership," the MEA said.

World leaders, policymakers, and technology experts are convening at the AI Impact Summit to deliberate on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in economic growth, governance, and social development.

The AI Impact Summit, regarded as one of the world's major forums on artificial intelligence, will host extensive deliberations on ethical AI, regulatory frameworks, and the role of advanced technologies in reshaping industries and public services. Slovakia's participation is expected to enrich the dialogue through the exchange of best practices and policy perspectives.

The five-day summit has drawn participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including about 20 Heads of State or Government and nearly 45 ministers, making it one of the largest gatherings focused on AI governance and cooperation.

The event seeks to align global AI initiatives with India's civilisational ethos of 'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya' (welfare for all, happiness for all) while promoting the broader principle of AI for Humanity.

India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth edition in the series, following previous meetings held in the United Kingdom in 2023, South Korea in 2024, and France in 2025. The platform enables leaders to examine the ethical, economic, and social implications of artificial intelligence while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, trade, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Shiv Sena-UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday slammed the Galgotias University amid the controversy over the use of a Chinese robodog at the India AI Impact Summit, calling it "outright plagiarism" and demanding an apology from the institution.

Speaking to IANS, Chaturvedi noted that the AI Summit is meant to highlight genuine work in innovation, explore new ideas, and develop learning models. She added that artificial intelligence can be used to make systems easier and more efficient, and can play a significant role in governance, education, and healthcare.

However, she said it is unacceptable for anyone to claim credit for another person's invention, especially at a high-profile international summit.

"This is outright plagiarism, and it is not right for the country. When such a big summit is being held, with so many prominent and international personalities attending, one cannot claim, 'This is our creation', only for it to be exposed by Chinese handles," she said.

Calling the incident a national embarrassment, Chaturvedi said Galgotias University must apologise and admit that its claims were false.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that action has been taken on acts of wrongdoing at the AI Summit expo.

"In the Artificial Intelligence (AI) exhibition, many good solutions have been presented. If anyone has done wrong, immediate action has been taken against the wrongdoing. However, one should look at other good AI solutions also," Vaishnaw told the media.

Earlier in the day, professors from the university came out to clarify their stand.

Stating that they never pitched the Chinese AI-powered robodog as its own, the professors said that the matter was blown out of proportion on social media and the whole episode emanated over a small misinterpretation, which was "unintended and unintentional".

Speaking to IANS, Professor Neha Singh said the controversy arose due to miscommunication while she was explaining the robot's capabilities. She said her intention was to highlight how students were studying the robot and working on further development, not to falsely claim ownership.

"I was explaining what the robot can do, its features, and all related details. Somewhere along the way, the message got slightly digressed, and later, many things became controversial. The purpose was for students to study the robot and further develop it, contributing to a stronger and more Viksit Bharat. That was our full intention. Unfortunately, due to the surrounding excitement and hype, some things got misrepresented, and the words were slightly misinterpreted... We are genuinely embarrassed about it and feel bad that this happened at the AI Summit, which was meant to showcase our students' work," she said.

She further clarified that the robot was brought to the expo as part of a research and learning exercise.

"We have taken that robot for studying it and doing research. It was in the lab, and it was brought here for projection. After the controversy, I will ask everyone to see what our students have made," she added.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday said Google is infusing artificial intelligence (AI) at all levels in India to improve healthcare, support startups, agriculture and more.

Pichai earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and discussed India's growing work in artificial intelligence and how Google can collaborate with the country's talented students and professionals.

"Great to meet with PM Modi this morning. We discussed how Google is helping with his mission to infuse AI at all levels in India to improve health, expand access to information in all languages, support startups, agriculture and so much more," said Google CEO in an X post.

"Thank you, Prime Minister for bringing us together for this incredible summit," he added.

PM Modi earlier said the conversation with Pichai focused on India's rapid progress in AI and opportunities for deeper cooperation between the government and Google in the field.

He highlighted the importance of leveraging India's skilled youth and technology professionals to further strengthen the country's position in artificial intelligence.

"It was a delight to meet Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi," the Prime Minister Modi stated.

"Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field," PM Modi mentioned.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) later shared highlights of the meeting on its official YouTube channel, offering glimpses of the discussion between the two leaders.

The 'India AI Impact Summit 2026' is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 16 to 20. The summit has brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academicians, innovators and civil society representatives from across the world.

It aims to provide a global platform for discussions on strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence. More than 110 countries and 30 international organisations are participating in the summit. Around 20 Heads of State or Government and nearly 45 ministers are attending the event.
Amaravati, Feb 18 : The suspect in the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl had escaped from police custody, police said, adding that his body was found in a lake in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya district on Wednesday.

Kulavardhan (30) was found dead in a lake in Kanasanipalli village Kuralabalakota mandal.

District Superintendent of Police K. Dheeraj told media persons that the accused escaped when he was being taken in a police vehicle on Tuesday. The DSP said the police launched a hunt for him, and on Wednesday morning, his body was found in the lake in Kanasanipalli village.

The SP said the preliminary investigation shows that the accused died of suicide. The police have informed his family.

The locals found the body and alerted police. The body was shifted to government hospital in Madanapalle town for post-mortem examination.

On Tuesday, the body of a seven-year-old girl was recovered from a drum at Kulavardhanas house.

The child, the daughter of a local handloom worker, went missing on Monday. A student of second class at a school in Madanapalle, the girl was playing near her house as the school was closed on account of holiday.

The parents, who were away on work, started the search when they did not find her on their return in the evening. As she could not be traced, they lodged a complaint with the police.

As Kulavardhan, the victim;s neighbour, had a criminal record, a policeman went to his house as part of the investigation. The house was locked from inside and when there was no response to the door-knock, the cop peeped through the window and found Kulavardhan asleep.

The policeman left the place but the next morning when the victimas grandfather told police that she was last seen with Kulavardhan, police entered the house and found the girlas body in the drum.

Police later apprehended Kulvardhan and was shifting him to a police station when he escaped.

The rape and murder of the child triggered outrage with locals demanding justice for the victim, daughter of handloom worker.

Demanding stringent action against the accused, locals staged a sit-in on the National Highway, bringing vehicular traffic to a grinding halt for several hours.

Madanapalle MLA Shahjahan Basha expressed deep anguish over the incident. The MLA spoke to the victimas parents over the phone, and assured them of full support from the government.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Koya Praveen said the post-mortem examination and preliminary investigation revealed that the accused raped the girl and then drowned her in a water drum, killing her in a very cruel manner.

Police had booked the accused on the charges of rape, murder along with the POCSO Act.

The accused had a previous case under Section 324, which was settled through a Lok Adalat compromise.

Locals said he frequently consumed alcohol and behaved indecently with everyone.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Supreme Court has set aside the controversial Allahabad High Court judgment that had ruled grabbing a minor's breasts and breaking her pyjama string was not sufficient to constitute a charge of attempt to rape.

New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) The Supreme Court has set aside the controversial Allahabad High Court judgment that had ruled grabbing a minoras breasts and breaking her pyjama string was not sufficient to constitute a charge of attempt to rape.

Disposing of the suo motu matter, including the criminal appeals arising from petitions filed by two NGOs and the victim's mother, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant held that the Allahabad High Courtas reasoning was based on a "patently erroneous application of the settled principles of criminal jurisprudence".

"The attempt made by the accused persons appears clearly and inevitably leads us to conclude that, prima facie, a case for invoking the provisions of attempt to commit rape has been made out by the complainant and the prosecution," the Bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N.V. Anjaria, said.

The suo motu proceedings were initiated following a letter addressed by senior advocate Shobha Gupta, Founder-President of 'We the Women of India', highlighting the "insensitive and legally flawed" observations in the Allahabad High Courtas order passed in March last year.

In its decision, a single-judge Bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra of the Allahabad HC altered the charges against the two accused, who were originally summoned by the trial court for commission of offences under Section 376 IPC (rape) and Section 18 (punishment for attempt to commit an offence) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Partly allowing the revision plea of the accused persons, Justice Mishra held that they are instead liable to be summoned for a minor offence under Sections 354(b) IPC, i.e. assault or abuse of a woman with intent to disrobing or compelling her to be naked, read with Section 9/10 of the POCSO Act.

Disagreeing with that view, the Supreme Court referred to its earlier ruling in State of Madhya Pradesh v. Mahendra alias Golu and reiterated the distinction between "preparation" and "attempt" in criminal law.

"There is a visible distinction between apreparationa and aattempta to commit an offence. (T)he stage of apreparationa consists of deliberation, devising or arranging the means or measures, which would be necessary for the commission of the offence. Whereas, an aattempta to commit the offence starts immediately after the completion of preparation," the CJI-led Bench observed, quoting from the earlier decision.

Examining the allegations, the Supreme Court observed that the accused had allegedly taken the minor victim on a motorcycle on the pretext of dropping her home, stopped near a culvert, dragged her, committed sexually offensive acts, and fled only when witnesses reached the spot on hearing her screams.

"A bare perusal of these allegations leaves no modicum of doubt that the case sought to be made out is that the accused persons proceeded with a pre-determined intent to commit an offence under Section 376 of the IPC on her," the apex court said.

It added that "from the story of the complainant, the mens rea involved had begun to be executed" and that the only reason the crime was not carried further was the intervention of third-party witnesses.

Consequently, the apex court restored the original summons order dated June 23, 2023, passed by the Special Judge (POCSO), Kasganj, and confirmed its earlier interim direction that the trial shall proceed as if summons had been issued under Section 376 read with Section 511 IPC and Section 18 of the POCSO Act.

At the same time, the CJI Surya Kant-led Bench clarified that its observations were only from a prima facie perspective and "shall not be taken to be any opinion on the guilt of the accused persons, which is the subject matter of the ongoing trial".

In its decision, the Supreme Court also addressed a "broader issue" flagged by the petitioners concerning judicial sensitivity in cases involving sexual offences and vulnerable victims. It requested the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, through its Director and former SC judge, Justice Aniruddha Bose, to constitute a committee of experts to prepare a comprehensive report on developing guidelines to infuse sensitivity and compassion into judicial processes dealing with sexual offences and other vulnerable cases.

The expert panel, to be chaired by Justice Bose and comprising four other domain experts, has been asked to examine past measures, assess their on-ground impact, and prepare "Draft Guidelines for the Approach of Judges and the Judicial System When Dealing with Cases of Sexual Offences and other Similarly Sensitive Occurrences Involving Vulnerable Victims, Complainants, and/or Witnesses".

"The primary beneficiaries of these guidelines are the victims/complainants, the majority of whom are children, women of tender age, and members of vulnerable sections of society," the top court said, adding that the draft "will not be loaded with heavy, complicated expressions borne from foreign languages and jurisdictions".

The committee has been requested to submit its report within three months.

The Supreme Court clarified that the report, once received, would be placed before the Chief Justice of India on the administrative side for appropriate instructions.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 18 : Out of the five Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal for which elections will be held on March 16, the ruling Trinamool Congress is all set to comfortably bag four, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will have to settle with one, as per the numerical strengths of the two parties in the state Assembly.

Of these Rajya Sabha seats, three will fall vacant with the end of the current terms of sitting Trinamool members, namely Subrata Bakshi, Ritabrata Banerjee, and Saket Gokhale.

The fourth seat, which is becoming vacant, is that of the erstwhile Trinamool MP, Mausam Benazir Noor, who resigned from the Rajya Sabha and joined the Congress recently. As per the Trinamool's existing numerical strength in the West Bengal Congress, the party will comfortably get its candidates elected from these four seats.

The term of CPI-M Rajya Sabha member and senior advocate Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya is also ending. Since the party does not have any strength in the Assembly now, the BJP will be able to get its lone candidate elected from that seat easily.

Trinamool is so far tight-lipped about their choice of candidates for the four seats. In the case of the BJP, three names are in discussion. These include former actress-turned-politician and former MP Locket Chatterjee, and the second is megastar Mithin Chakraborty, who was once a Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member.

The name of the current BJP legislator from Balurghat Assembly constituency in South Dinajpur district and the former Chief Economic Advisor to the Union government, Dr Ashok Kumar Lahiri, is also being discussed, an insider from the BJPas state committee in West Bengal said.

As per a statement issued by the Election Commission, the notification for the elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats in 19 states, including the five from West Bengal, will be issued on February 26.

The last date for filing nominations will be March 5, and the scrutiny of the nominations will be on March 6.

The last date for withdrawal of candidatures will be March 9. The polling will be conducted on March 16, from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. The counting of votes will also be on March 16.

--IANS

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Patna, Feb 18 : Two people of a family were killed in a tragic road accident in the Bikram area of Patna on Wednesday after a speeding car lost control and plunged into a canal.

Two other occupants of the car narrowly escaped by jumping out in time.

The accident occurred around 9 a.m. on Canal Road near Mozakka Tola village under the jurisdiction of Bikram police station.

On receiving information about the accident, villagers rushed to the spot and alerted the police.

A team from Bikram Police Station reached the scene and carried out rescue operations.

According to police, a white car carrying four people veered off the road and fell straight into the canal.

While two passengers managed to jump out, the other two got trapped inside the vehicle and drowned due to the high water level.

With the help of local villagers and police personnel, the injured were rushed to the Community Health Centre in Datiyana, where doctors declared two occupants dead.

The deceased were identified as Malti Devi (46) and Jitendra Kumar (54), both residents of Kutumb village in Aurangabad district.

Preliminary statements from the survivors revealed that they were travelling to Patna for medical treatment when the car suddenly lost balance and overturned into the canal.

Traffic chaos prevailed on the canal road for some time following the incident.

Bikram police station in-charge Varun Kumar confirmed the incident and said that an investigation is underway.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination at Patna AIIMS. It will be conducted in the presence of the family members. The statements of the survivors have been recorded.

Family members of the deceased have also been informed.

Meanwhile, local residents have demanded that the administration strengthen safety measures along the canal road and take strict action to curb overspeeding in the area.
Bengaluru, Feb 18 : Amid persistent speculation over a possible leadership change in the Karnataka Congress, party MLA H.D. Ranganath, considered close to Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, on Wednesday said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would clarify the issue at an appropriate time and would not go back on his word.

Responding in Bengaluru to Shivakumar's recent statement that Siddaramaiah would address the people of the state on the leadership question at the right time, Ranganath said the Chief Minister has a long record of standing by his commitments.

"Our Chief Minister, in the past 50 to 60 years of political history, has not gone back on his words. If there is any power-sharing agreement, he will convey it to the people of the state. Party workers are expecting clarity, and the people are also awaiting a response," he said.

Ranganath added that in the coming days, Siddaramaiah would hold discussions with the party high command and respond to all questions regarding the leadership issue. "We believe he will not go back on any promise. At the appropriate time, he himself will answer the people of the state. If there is any pact regarding power sharing, he will clarify it. In this background, we are maintaining restraint," he said.

Reacting to a recent remark by Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, who reportedly indirectly compared MLAs loyal to Shivakumar to "tails of dogs," Ranganath said such comments were unexpected from a senior leader. He said the minister's stature demanded dignified language and that the media should seek clarification from Mahadevappa himself regarding the comparison.

Ranganath sarcastically pointed out that the Congress had won 80 seats in 2018 and said Mahadevappa had played a significant role in the party's victory in the 2023 Assembly elections. "If he is confident of leading the party to victory again, we are ready to stand behind him," he said.

On the recent foreign trips undertaken by some Congress legislators, Ranganath said there was nothing unusual about such visits. "Politics will continue at all times. The Chief Minister is engaged in budget preparations. Some MLAs may want to learn from foreign countries, and there is nothing wrong with going on a foreign trip. No one invited me to join them," he said.

He reiterated that any final decision on the leadership question would rest with the party's central leadership. "In our party, the high command takes the decision, and we will abide by it," he said.

The Karnataka Congress crisis over the leadership tussle deepened after Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar stated that a decision has already been taken and that CM Siddaramaiah will convey it at an appropriate time. The remarks made on Tuesday are likely to create ripples within the ruling Congress party in the state.

Shivakumar had said, "Regarding the matter of leadership, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and I have discussed it. You will get an answer at an appropriate time regarding the leadership decision."

--IANS

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Indias AI infrastructure is getting a boost from American investors and tech firms just as the worlds leading technology executives converge on New Delhi for one of the largest artificial intelligence summits in the world.



Blackstone announced on Monday it was leading a $600 million equity investment in Indian AI cloud startup Neysa, while chip giant AMD announced an expanded partnership with Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy Services to deploy up to 200 megawatts of AI infrastructure capacity in India.



Blackstones multi-million-dollar commitment to Neysa will help deploy more than 20,000 GPUs for AI training in India, while AMDs partnership with TCS aims to support Indias sovereign AI initiatives and accelerate enterprise deployments. The Neysa investment includes participation from Teachers Venture Growth, TVS Capital, 360 ONE, and Nexus, with the company also seeking an additional $600 million in debt financing.

More from Yahoo Scout What is India's proposed global AI commons initiative? Why is India well-positioned for AI development growth? What major AI infrastructure investments are happening in India? How significant is India's market for global AI platforms?

The investments coincide with the five-day India AI Impact Summit that kicked off on Monday. The event features global AI leaders, including OpenAIs Sam Altman, Anthropics Dario Amodei, Googles Sundar Pichai, and Metas Alexandr Wang, alongside political leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron. More than 20 heads of state and government, along with representatives from over 60 countries, are expected to attend the gathering, including notable European AI figures like Arthur Mensch, the French computer scientist who founded Mistral AI.

AI companies are also using the summit to emphasize their growth beyond Western markets. This week, Anthropic announced that India has become the second-largest market for its Claude AI platform, with run-rate revenue doubling since October 2025. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote in the Times of India that India now has 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users, making it the companys second-largest user base after the United States.

On Monday, Anthropic also announced it had opened its second Asian office in Bengaluru, led by Managing Director Irina Ghose, focusing on hiring local talent and helping Indian enterprises build Claude-powered solutions. The company said its India team will offer applied AI expertise to enterprise customers, digital natives, and startups, helping them design, build, and scale Claude-powered solutions tailored to their business needs.

India pushes for AI Commons

The Modi government plans to use the summit to push for a global AI commonsa shared repository of AI applications and use cases focused on education, health, and agriculture that could be adopted by developing nations.
Bengaluru, Feb 18 : Tension prevailed on the outskirts of Bengaluru city after more than 300 garbage trucks headed towards Doddaballapur were stopped by local residents and BJP leaders opposing the dumping of waste in the region on Wednesday.

According to local sources, the trucks were rerouted towards Doddaballapur town following protests against garbage dumping in Mahadevapura in Bengaluru. The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) had reportedly issued orders diverting the vehicles. However, the movement of trucks was halted after a recent road accident in which a child lost his life, which intensified public anger.

The trucks were stopped near the Dodda Mankala region, where residents, led by BJP MLA Dheeraj Muniraju, blocked their passage. More than 300 vehicles were reportedly prevented from moving forward. Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials were called to the spot, and fines were imposed on several trucks.

Addressing the media, Muniraju lashed out at the GBA authorities, stating that the region was already struggling to cope with existing garbage disposal units. "Due to protests in Mahadevapura, the trucks were diverted here. We are already burdened with garbage dumping. Trucks without proper permits will not be allowed to unload waste here. I will not allow them to dump garbage. We are stopping them and sending them back," he said.

Residents also opposed the dumping of waste at the Mittaganahalli and Bellahalli garbage processing units. Locals alleged that scientific disposal of waste was not being carried out and claimed that the village panchayat had not been provided adequate funds to manage the situation.

Meanwhile, it is alleged that GBA Solid Waste Disposal CEO Kari Gowda gave directions to move around 300 additional trucks towards the Doddaballapur region to manage the city's waste. However, the move has triggered stiff resistance in the affected areas.

In Bellahalli, residents expressed concerns over health hazards allegedly arising from the garbage processing units. Youths in the area claimed that persistent pollution and foul odour were affecting their prospects, including marriage proposals, due to the stigma attached to living near dumping sites.

The situation remains tense as local authorities attempt to negotiate with residents and address concerns over waste management and environmental safety.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 here on Wednesday.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that the two leaders met to review and advance bilateral ties.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit today," he said.

According to the MEA, the leaders discussed avenues to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas, including trade and investment, artificial intelligence, fintech, education, agriculture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, reaffirming the long-standing friendship between India and Serbia, which is underpinned by close people-to-people ties.

The latest high-level engagement is expected to further strengthen strategic and economic cooperation between the two nations.

The five-day summit has drawn participation from over 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including about 20 Heads of State or Government and nearly 45 ministers.

The event aims to align AI initiatives with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya (welfare for all, happiness for all)" and the broader global principle of AI for Humanity.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth in its series, following previous editions held in the United Kingdom (Bletchley Park, 2023), South Korea (2024), and France (2025). It provides a platform for global leaders to deliberate on AI's ethical, economic, and social implications while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation.

Several more dignitaries are expected to arrive later in the day, continuing the summit's emphasis on international collaboration and inclusive AI-driven development.
Islamabad, Feb 18 : Pakistan Army suffered heavy casualties during counterinsurgency operations along the volatile Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the post-9/11 period, battling Al-Qaeda and Taliban insurgents. It was stated that during the height of these operations, some Pakistani army officers privately expressed dissatisfaction over pay disparities, according to a recent report.

The 'India Narrative' report stated that when US officials voiced displeasure over what they described as the Pakistani army's "disappointing" performance, certain officers complained that insurgent groups were compensating their fighters better than the Pakistani government paid its own soldiers.

The report suggested that such grievances pointed to underlying discontent among the lower ranks of the armed forces regarding remuneration.

It noted that this was particularly significant in Pakistan, where the military traditionally commands a substantial share of the national defence budget.

The report further remarked that Pakistan is often described as "the only state in the world where the army has a state."

Tracing the evolution of the military's role in governance, the India Narrative report said that after a decade marked by political instability following independence, the army assumed control of the administration in 1958, asserting that it would steer the country through turbulent times.

Over time, however, the military entrenched itself deeply within the political structure and came to dominate key state institutions. It became both the de jure and de facto authority in the country, while also allegedly drawing heavily from state resources.

According to the report, members of the armed forces expanded into commercial and profit-oriented enterprises, which now form a substantial component of Pakistan's political economy, separate from the official military budget.

These ventures, it said, largely benefit the officer cadre rather than being distributed across the rank and file.

Pakistani political scientist Ayesha Siddiqa has described this network of military-owned business interests as "Milbus". In her book Military Inc: Inside Pakistan's Military Economy, Siddiqa examines what she terms 'unaudited military capital' accumulated primarily for the personal benefit of senior officers.

The report cited her work as detailing how entrepreneurial activities by military personnel and their associates operate under explicit or implicit institutional patronage.

It further claimed that the Pakistan Army is the country's largest landholder, a major industrial player and a significant financial entity, with influence spanning multiple sectors of the economy. In this framework, control over policymaking and resource allocation becomes central, reinforcing the military's political leverage.

In Pakistan, civilian governments have been removed when they appeared to threaten this parallel economic structure, which the report claimed generates tens of billions of dollars annually for the senior military leadership. These financial networks, it said, remain largely insulated from taxation, regulation or civilian oversight.

At the same time, the report contended that sections of the civilian political leadership have accommodated this arrangement, using their tenure in office for personal enrichment rather than challenging military dominance.

It noted that Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir was seen alongside Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, participating in informal engagements, which it described as indicative of the military's continuing influence over economic and foreign policy matters.

The report further claimed that Munir accompanied the Prime Minister during a visit to the Oval Office in Washington in September 2025, where discussions with US President Donald Trump reportedly centered on trade.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in New Delhi Wednesday afternoon to attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. He was received by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita upon his arrival at the Delhi airport.

"During his visit, President Lula will be participating in the Indiaa"AI Impact Summit. PM Narendra Modi will also hold bilateral meeting with President Lula. India and Brazil share a close and multifaceted relationship, elevated to Strategic Partnership and rooted in a common global vision, shared democratic values and commitment to inclusive growth. President Lulaas visit will impart strong momentum to India-Brazil partnership," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X after the Brazilian President's arrival.

On Tuesday evening, as he left for India, President Lula highlighted that he would also be discussing new opportunities for cooperation between both countries during his India visit.

"At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are now departing for India. In the coming days, I will participate in the Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence and we will discuss new opportunities for cooperation between Brazil and India. From there, we will proceed to South Korea to, at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung, also strengthen the ties between our countries," President Lula posted on X.

He mentioned that a high-level business delegation will also be accompanying him on the India visit with the aim of deepening commercial relations.

"In 2025, bilateral trade between Brazil and India reached more than US$ 15 billion," asserted the Brazilian President.

During the February 18-22 State Visit, President Lula would be participating in the 2nd AI Impact Summit and hold discussions with PM Modi on February 21.

"Both leaders would be reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations. Prime Minister is scheduled to host a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. The two leaders would also be exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in multilateral fora, reformed multilateralism, global governance and issues concerning the Global South," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated earlier.

President Droupadi Murmu is also expected to meet the visiting leader and would host a banquet in his honour. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar are envisaged to call on President Lula.

President Lula is accompanied by about 14 ministers and a large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies. The accompanying ministers would be having meetings with their Indian counterparts. The CEOs are expected to participate in a Business Forum being organised during the visit of the Brazilian President, reflecting the growing trade and commercial engagements between the two countries.

"The forthcoming visit would be the sixth visit of President Lula to India. He had first visited India in 2004 as the Guest of Honour for Republic Day celebrations and last visited India for the G20 Summit in September 2023. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Lula have, however, been meeting frequently in between. It may be recalled that Prime Minister Modi was in Brasilia on a State Visit from 7-8 July 2025 which was the first State Visit by an Indian Prime Minister in the last 57 years. Both leaders also met in Johannesburg during G20, in November 2025," the MEA stated.

India and Brazil share a warm, close and multi-faceted Strategic Partnership, rooted in shared democratic values, close people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation across key sectors. The two large democracies have been Strategic Partners since 2006.

"Brazil is Indiaas largest trading partner in LAC region and bilateral engagement has continued to deepen in areas such as trade and investment, defence, energy, agriculture, health and pharmaceuticals, energy, including renewables, critical minerals, rare earth materials, science and technology and innovation, including in cooperation in the field of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and AI, space and people-to-people linkages. The two countries share common views on various international issues, including UN reforms, climate change and combating terrorism."

The MEA highlighted that the State Visit of President Lula will provide an opportunity for both sides to chart a forward-looking agenda for further strengthening bilateral Strategic Partnership and further deepen cooperation across bilateral, regional and global platforms, on issues of mutual interest.
Mumbai, Feb 18 : UK-based businessman Vijay Mallya on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that he is not in a position to specify when he would return to India. He cited restrictions imposed by courts in England that he said prevented him from leaving the country.

The matter was heard by a Bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad, in connection with two petitions filed by Mallya. One petition challenges his designation as a "Fugitive Economic Offender" under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), while the other contests a court order formally declaring him a fugitive.

Senior advocate Amit Desai, appearing for Mallya, referred to Supreme Court judgments where writ petitions were heard even in the absence of petitioners.

He submitted that extradition proceedings against Mallya are ongoing in the UK and that his client is aware of them but is unable to leave English jurisdiction due to binding court orders.

The Chief Justice, however, questioned Mallya's intent to appear before the court, observing that he appeared to be relying on UK court orders without clarifying whether those orders had been challenged. The Bench indicated that such reliance could not be treated as a blanket justification.

The court directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to file a response to Mallya's affidavit. It also asked Desai to submit a detailed affidavit placing on record all statements made during the hearing so that the Union of India could respond accordingly.

Granting three weeks' time for further proceedings, the Bench noted that the petitions have been pending since 2019 and remarked that no sincere efforts appeared to have been made for their early disposal. The matter is now scheduled for a hearing on March 11.

According to the Finance Ministry, Mallya -- former promoter of Kingfisher Airlines -- is among 15 individuals declared Fugitive Economic Offenders as of October 31, 2025, allegedly causing losses of thousands of crores of rupees to Indian banks.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted before the court that Mallya had filed affidavits disputing banks' claims and was attempting to turn money laundering proceedings into recovery litigation. The agency further argued that he challenged the FEO declaration only after being declared a fugitive and when extradition proceedings in London had reached an advanced stage.
Chandigarh, Feb 18 : In a major push towards sustainable agriculture and scientific water management, the State-Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC), under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, on Wednesday approved four community-based solar-powered integrated micro irrigation projects under the Micro Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority (MICADA).

With a total outlay of Rs 402.41 crore, the projects will be implemented across 61 canal outlets covering 20 blocks in Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Kurukshetra and Mahendragarh districts. Scheduled for completion between 2026a"27 and 2028a"29, the initiative will bring 11,040 hectares of culturable command area under advanced micro-irrigation systems, benefiting 8,926 farmers across 94 villages.

The district-wise allocation includes Rs 95.78 crore for Bhiwani, Rs 114.68 crore for Jhajjar, Rs 77.17 crore for Kurukshetra and Rs 114.78 crore for Mahendragarh, reflecting a targeted approach to strengthening irrigation infrastructure in water-stressed regions.

The benefit-cost ratio of the projects ranges from 1.21:1 to 1.65:1, indicating strong economic viability and promising long-term returns for the farming community through improved water efficiency and increased agricultural productivity.

By promoting drip and sprinkler irrigation systems within canal command areas, the projects aim to significantly improve water use efficiency, reduce transmission and distribution losses, and enhance overall crop productivity while ensuring optimal utilisation of available water resources.

Chairing the meeting, the Chief Secretary emphasised that integrated supply-side and demand-side management of water resources is essential to address climate variability, declining groundwater levels and increasing agricultural water demand. He directed the concerned departments to ensure timely execution, strict monitoring and effective inter-departmental coordination so that the intended benefits reach farmers within the stipulated timeframe.

He also noted that the adoption of solar-powered systems would reduce dependence on conventional energy sources, lower operational costs for farmers and promote environmentally sustainable irrigation practices aligned with clean energy goals.

The Chief Secretary further directed officers to undertake field visits regularly and share best practices with farmers to ensure effective implementation and maximum utilisation of the micro irrigation systems.

The scheme will continue to operate under a beneficiary-driven Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)/in-kind model, enabling farmers to select suppliers while subsidies are released within approved cost ceilings, ensuring flexibility and transparency in implementation.

To enhance transparency and prevent irregularities, the MICADA portal will be integrated with the GST portal for digital authentication of invoices, thereby preventing fake or inflated billing and ensuring proper verification of subsidy claims.

A component-wise bank guarantee mechanism has also been approved to ensure financial accountability of vendors and safeguard public funds, while GST has been included as part of the admissible subsidy as per government norms, providing additional financial support to farmers adopting micro irrigation systems.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat joined Spanish President Pedro Sanchez for the dedication of a mural created by Spanish artist Suso Manuel Pinto Gracia in Delhi on Wednesday.

"Along with the President of the Government of Spain, Shri. Pedro Sanchez attended the dedication ceremony of a mural painted jointly by a Spanish artist, Susso manual pinto gracia (suso-33) and two young Indian artists, Tarini Sethi and Ishan Bharat, under the Street Art Project at the Lodhi Art District," posted Shekhawat on the social media platform X.

Originally named Jesus, the Spanish artist came to be famously known as Suso-33, who has developed his work based on graffiti and street art in different fields, including action painting, installation, video art, performance, and set design.

"As we celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations as the Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and AI, our cultural partnership is stronger than ever," observed the Culture and Tourism Minister in his post.

President Sanchez arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event focusing on the transformative role of artificial intelligence across industries and governance.

He also held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in the national capital and discussed ways to expand cooperation across several key sectors. This visit marks his second official trip to India, where the October 28-29, 2024, tour was the first visit by a President of the Government of Spain to India in 18 years.

In his social media message, Shekhawat pointed to the deep civilisational warmth shared by India and Spain, "from the growing popularity of Yoga and Ayurveda in Spain to the rising demand for the Spanish language in India".

He further added: "Cultural exchanges through ICCR, vibrant diaspora engagement, literature collaborations like Spain being the Country of Focus at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026, and platforms such as Casa de la India in Valladolid continue to strengthen people-to-people ties."

India and Spain maintain a steady, multifaceted bilateral relationship grounded in diplomatic engagement, growing trade and investment, and peopletopeople ties, where the joint streetart dedication attended by Indian and Spanish officials illustrates an active cultural diplomacy.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Wednesday expressed confidence that his country and India, along with international partners, would be able to lead the way in resilience, sustainability, and human-centric technological progress.

Addressing the session on "Building Sovereign Deep Tech for a Resilient Future" at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, he said that as the demand for computing power increases, it is crucial to ensure that both academia and business have access to supercomputing capacity.

Orpo further highlighted that to build a sustainable and resilient technological future, there was a need to understand entire value chains and their societal impact.

Public and private sector investments are coming together to take AI research and application in Finland to the next level, he said, pointing out that Finland's innovation system is built on decades of strong public-private policy and cooperation. With an innovative public-private partnership, AI can accelerate sustainable development. This will boost Circular Economy solutions, help tackle climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, and improve well-being for all, he added.

The session highlighted the expanding strategic partnership between Finland and India across advanced technology domains, including artificial intelligence, space, quantum computing and next-generation digital networks.

The discussion underscored how Finlandas strengths in research, engineering, and high-performance computing, combined with Indiaas scale, talent, and application ecosystem, provide a strong foundation for co-innovation and global deployment of deep-tech solutions.

The session reflected a shared commitment to building open, secure, and trusted technological ecosystems through international cooperation, with a focus on translating research into real-world impact and strengthening long-term resilience through sovereign and sustainable deep-tech capabilities.

Finnish MP Timo Harakka said that building resilient technology in todayas world begins with people with human-centric innovation, strong skills, and responsible governance. He highlighted that Finland and India share a vision of technology that is trusted, ethical, and designed for the benefit of society. He further emphasised that from artificial intelligence and space systems to next-generation connectivity and quantum technologies, the India-Finland partnership shows that competitiveness and resilience grow when we invest in open standards, secure infrastructures, and international cooperation. He also remarked that true technological sovereignty is not about isolation, but about trusted collaboration that keeps people, planet, and progress at the centre of innovation.

The session was attended by Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra President Atte Jaaskelainen, Reorbit CEO and Founder Sethu Saveda Suvanam, Infosys Center for Emerging Technology Solutions AVP and Principal Research Analyst Manjunatha Kukkuru, Nokia Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystems, Pasi Toivanen, and CSC IT Centre for Science's Director, Research Organisation Collaboration and Academic Partnerships, Mari Walls.
Bengaluru, Feb 18 : Criticising the Congress government in Karnataka for issuing an order restricting the movement of media persons inside the State Legislature complex (Vidhana Soudha), the BJP on Wednesday dubbed the move as imposing emergency in the state.

Bengaluru, Feb 18 (IANS) Criticising the Congress government in Karnataka for issuing an order restricting the movement of media persons inside the State Legislature complex (Vidhana Soudha), the BJP on Wednesday dubbed the move as imposing emergency in the state.

Leader of the Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka stated on Wednesday in Bengaluru, "This is an emergency situation in Karnataka. In an attempt to cover up its failures, blunders and corruption, the Congress-led Karnataka government has once again displayed its anti-democratic and authoritarian attitude by moving to impose restrictions on the media."

"Mr. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in the red Constitution book that your supreme leader Rahul Gandhi carries around and displays everywhere, is there no provision for freedom of the press? Or are you afraid that more irregularities will be exposed, such as the recent case of theft involving lakhs of rupees worth of gold and cash from the office of your close aide and Minister Byrathi Suresh, which was brought to light by the media?" Ashoka chided.

"Vidhana Soudha is not the office of your Congress party. It is the people's House, a seat of power belonging to seven crore Kannadigas. No one has the authority to restrict media personnel from entering it," Ashoka charged.

"This unconstitutional order directing that media persons must conduct interviews only at a designated spot inside Vidhana Soudha must be withdrawn immediately. I urge the state government to provide full freedom to the media - the fourth pillar of democracy - to carry out their duties independently," Ashoka appealed.

BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra has said that the party strongly condemns the Congress government in Karnataka for imposing restrictions on the media inside Vidhana Soudha.

Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra alleged that people are already calling the Congress government incompetent, and that this latest decision only" reinforces that perception".

"I do not understand why such decisions are being taken. During the Belagavi session, the government brought in a law related to hate speech. If we observe closely, each decision of this government appears to undermine democracy. This is certainly not right," he said.

He urged the state government to immediately withdraw the decision. "We cannot accept restrictions being imposed on the media. This is an anti-democratic move," he reiterated.

Vijayendra further alleged that the government had failed to curb slogans of 'Pakistan Zindabad'. He claimed that even when such slogans were raised inside Vidhana Soudha, the government stated there was no evidence. He criticised the Congress government for allegedly failing to take action against what he termed anti-national elements.

The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) directed that journalists conduct interviews with legislators and seek their reactions only at a designated location, the portico near the West Gate of Vidhana Soudha.

The order also states that the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, ministers, and other dignitaries should not be followed within the premises for comments.

In a letter sent by the DPAR Secretary to the Director of the Information and Public Relations Department, officials were asked to issue necessary instructions to ensure compliance by all media persons.

The government has defended the move as necessary for safety and security.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Achieving the ambitious goal of 6 crore 'Lakhpati Didis' would require connecting at least 10 crore women to the various financial inclusion initiatives of the Ministry of Rural Development, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Wednesday.

New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Achieving the ambitious goal of 6 crore aLakhpati Didisa would require connecting at least 10 crore women to the various financial inclusion initiatives of the Ministry of Rural Development, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Wednesday.

He instructed officials to work in close coordination with state governments and prepare a concrete, time-bound action plan to ensure the successful attainment of the target.

In the meeting, the minister sought a detailed briefing from senior officials of the Ministry on the latest progress of the scheme.

Chouhan directed officials to formulate a special, focused strategy and work on a war footing to achieve the revised target of creating 6 crore aLakhpati Didisa.

He emphasised that financial inclusion is the backbone of womenas empowerment and sustainable livelihoods in rural India.

Bringing more women into the formal financial system through bank linkages, credit access, insurance coverage and financial literacy is essential to transform Self-Help Group (SHG) members into economically independent and self-reliant individuals, the minister highlighted.

Highlighting the importance of continuous engagement with states, Chouhan stressed that sustained dialogue and coordination with state governments would strengthen the implementation of DAYa"NRLM.

He said that such an approach would help extend the benefits of the scheme to a larger number of Self-Help Groups and aLakhpati Didisa, enabling them to derive maximum advantage from various livelihood and empowerment initiatives.

It was highlighted during the meeting that the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojanaa"National Rural Livelihoods Mission operates through four major components.

These include institutional building and capacity development, social inclusion and social development, financial inclusion, and livelihood promotion. Together, these components aim to create robust community institutions, enhance skills, promote inclusive growth, and strengthen income-generating opportunities for rural households.

In addition, around 5 crore individuals have been connected with financial literacy initiatives, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to manage finances, savings, credit and investments more effectively.

The mission has also played a major role in expanding social security coverage, with nearly 7 crore people receiving insurance benefits under various social security schemes.
Feb 18 (Reuters) - Prominent computer scientist Fei-Fei Li's World Labs raised $1 billion in a funding round as the startup accelerates its efforts to advance "spatial intelligence."

The startup said on Wednesday the investors included chip companies AMD, Nvidia, software firm Autodesk, Emerson Collective, Fidelity Management & Research Company and Sea, among others.

More from Yahoo Scout Who invested in World Labs' $1 billion funding? What applications could spatial intelligence enable in future? What is spatial intelligence in artificial intelligence? What is spatial intelligence in AI technology?

Autodesk invested $200 million in World Labs and will serve as an adviser to the startup, the design software maker said.

World Labs did not disclose a valuation. The startup did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Bloomberg News reported in January that the startup was in funding discussions at a valuation of about $5 billion.

Spatial intelligence, a novel approach to AI, refers to the ability to reason how the 3D world works  rather than relying on 2D data like flat images or text. World Labs' foundational models can perceive, generate and interact with the 3D world.

Widely known as the "godmother of AI," Li raised $230 million in September 2024 to launch World Labs.

Li has said spatial intelligence models could be put to use in the future for augmented and virtual reality or robotics.

World Labs, along with Google DeepMind and other startups, is working on so-called "world models" that can process visual data from the physical environment around them to develop advanced reasoning.

Yann LeCun, formerly Meta's chief AI scientist, left the Facebook-parent to launch his startup, AMI Labs, which will focus on developing AI systems using world models.

Google DeepMind's Genie family of models can generate and simulate 3D environments. Similarly, World Labs has said that its Marble multimodal world model creates 3D worlds from image or text prompts.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
Kolkata, Feb 18 : A joint operation by the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police and the Bihar STF has unearthed an illegal improvised firearms manufacturing unit operating in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, leading to the arrest of five persons, police said on Wednesday.

According to the police, the illegal arms factory was operating on the first floor of a house owned by Md. Nasir Ansari, located under the jurisdiction of Madhusudanpur police station in Bhagalpur district. The illegal manufacturing unit was allegedly being run under the cover of a spinning mill functioning on the ground floor of the same premises, in an apparent attempt to conceal the firearms production activity.

A total of five persons, including one co-owner of the premises and four skilled arms makers allegedly involved in manufacturing illegal firearms, were arrested during the operation carried out on Tuesday night.

During the search operation, police recovered a significant quantity of illegal firearms and manufacturing equipment from the premises.

The seized items included 20 semi-finished country-made 7.65 mm pistols, eight pistol barrels, one lathe machine, two milling machines, one drill machine, one grinding and polishing machine, one hand grinder, and a large quantity of tools and raw materials used in the manufacturing of firearms.

The arrested persons have been identified as Md. Monazir (21), Md. Shadab Ali alias Saddam (32), Md. Aslam alias Tinku (41), Md. Samsher Alam alias Chotu (36), and Md. Shahanawaz (25).

All five accused are currently being interrogated to ascertain the scale of the illegal arms manufacturing network and their possible links with organised criminal groups.

Police sources said that the bust is being seen as a significant success for the Kolkata Police STF, particularly in view of heightened security concerns ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. Investigators are probing whether there was any plan to smuggle the illegal firearms into West Bengal for use during the election period or for other criminal purposes.

Officials are also examining whether the arrested persons were part of a larger organised arms manufacturing and supply network, and whether there were other associates or masterminds involved in the illegal operation.

It may be noted that Kolkata Police has intensified surveillance and enforcement activities ahead of the Assembly elections to prevent illegal arms movement into the state. Recently, Kolkata Police arrested a man from the Gariahat area in south Kolkata who was found in possession of multiple firearms allegedly being smuggled from Gaya district in Bihar.

Investigators have reportedly obtained important leads after questioning the accused in that case, which contributed to intelligence inputs regarding illegal arms manufacturing and smuggling networks operating in neighbouring states.

According to police sources, the joint operation involving Kolkata Police STF, Bihar STF, and Madhusudanpur police in Bhagalpur was conducted based on specific intelligence inputs received from confidential sources regarding illegal arms manufacturing activities at the premises.

Officials said that at first glance, the premises appeared to be an ordinary spinning mill operating on the ground floor. However, upon conducting a detailed search of the building, investigators discovered the concealed firearms manufacturing unit operating on the upper floor, exposing the illegal operation.

Further investigation is under way to identify other members of the network and trace the supply chain and intended destinations of the illegal firearms.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation in several key sectors - including energy, connectivity, development partnership and people to people connect - on the sidelines of the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders expressed support for harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for inclusive and human-centric progress and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in AI and digital tech space.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to further strengthen the India-Bhutan partnership anchored in trust, goodwill and mutual respect.

India and Bhutan share a tradition of regular high-level exchanges and continue to explore new avenues of cooperation, while building on their deep-rooted ties in energy, infrastructure, and cultural exchange.

Last November, PM Modi visited Thimphu on a two-day visit which aimed at deepening India-Bhutan partnership and reinforcing India's commitment to its Neighbourhood First Policy.

PM Modi's visit coincided with the exposition of the Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha from India. He also offered prayers to the Holy Relics at Tashichhodzong in Thimphu and participated in the Global Peace Prayer Festival organised by the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The visit also marked another major milestone in India-Bhutan energy partnership with the inauguration of the Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project.

"The basic framework of India-Bhutan relations is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries, which was renewed in February 2007," the MEA has stated before.

The India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit -- which was first signed in 1972 and revised most recently for the fifth time in 2016 -- establishes a free trade regime between the two countries. The Agreement also provides for duty free transit of Bhutanese exports to third countries. Bilateral trade is conducted in Indian Rupees, which is at par with the Bhutanese Ngultrum.

India is Bhutanas top trade partner, both as an import source and as an export destination. Since 2014, Indiaas trade with Bhutan has increased more than three times -- from $484 million in 2014-15 to $1,777.44 million in 2024-25, accounting for over 80 per cent of Bhutanas overall trade. Throughout this period, the balance of trade has consistently remained in Indiaas favour.

Indiaas major exports to Bhutan include petrol and diesel, rice, wood charcoal, coke and semi-coke, ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore, maize (excluding seed), soya-bean oil, smartphones, and iron or steel structures and parts, among others.

On the other hand, Indiaas key imports from Bhutan consist of electricity, ferro-silicon, dolomite chips, ferro-silico-manganese, Portland pozzolana cement, pebbles and gravel, dolomite slabs, semi-finished iron or non-alloy steel products, beer made from malt, and ordinary Portland cement.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : India and France on Wednesday inaugurated the Indo French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.

In a landmark step towards strengthening Indo-French cooperation in healthcare and emerging technologies, Union Health Minister JP Nadda, and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the centre, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,

The centre is aimed at advancing AI-driven research, medical education and clinical innovation to address complex healthcare challenges.

Macron underscored the need for India and France to build sovereign AI capacity and talent, ensuring that AI development serves humanity without overdependence on a few global powers.

He highlighted the transformative potential of ethical AI adoption across sectors, particularly in healthcare, to enhance productivity and accelerate scientific discovery.

Emphasising responsible governance, Macron called for safeguards to protect children, greater transparency in algorithms to address bias and democratic risks and the preservation of linguistic diversity in AI systems  an area where India and France share a common vision.

The IF-CAIH has been established pursuant to a Joint Memorandum of Understanding signed between AIIMS New Delhi, Sorbonne University and Paris Brain Institute.

The initiative also draws academic collaboration from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and leading French institutions, promoting interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence, brain health and global healthcare systems.

The initiative builds upon ongoing institutional cooperation between India and France in priority areas such as Digital Health, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Human Resources for Health and the responsible use of health data.

"India and France are committed to developing the computing capacity and talent necessary to build our own trusted AI systems, as we cannot rely solely on technologies created and managed elsewhere," said Macron.

The government reiterates its commitment to deepening healthcare cooperation with France, leveraging innovation, shared democratic values, and collective expertise to build resilient health systems and deliver better health outcomes for people in India and across the globe.
Los Angeles, Feb 18 : Hollywood star Robert Pattinson had an unusual exchange with this therapist. The actor's once asked him if he was on drugs because they "couldn't understand" him.

The 39-year-old actor has recalled how his one and only visit to a therapist backfired as the professional questioned whether he had taken any substances, reports 'Female First UK'.

In conversation with his 'The Drama' co-star Zendaya for Interview Magazine, Robert said, "I went to therapy once and the therapist asked me if I was on drugs because they couldn't understand what I was talking about".

He further mentioned, "I was like, 'I'm trying my best'. I thought I was going somewhere. I got on the boat and I was like, 'I want to get off now'".

As per 'Female First UK', Robert Pattinson shot to fame by playing vampire Edward Cullen in 'The Twilight Saga' film series but admits that he feared that the movies would cost him his "personal identity".

The actor said, "When I was doing Twilight, there was such a cultural pushback against it, almost simultaneous to its success, so I kind of had to ride both things. I really enjoyed making the movies, but then there was such a huge marketing push behind it as well. I didn't want to get my personal identity caught up in that, so I tried to push forward my individuality a little, and that kind of stuck with me. It was also interesting getting famous off of playing a part, people thought I was that character in the beginning".

He continued, "Also, I wasn't precious about that identity because it wasn't my identity to begin with. It's interesting to use the public perception of you as part of your character development, because you're like, 'I assume at least a few people in the audience are going to be expecting this', so you can make it more dramatic. "But at the same time, you never really know what people are thinking".

Meanwhile, Pattinson recently revealed that his daughter has already seen most of his movies.

The actor has a 23-month-old daughter, whose name has not been made public, with his partner Suki Waterhouse.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said the government will push for artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions to tackle long-standing problems in the power sector, especially grid congestion and renewable energy curtailment.

Speaking on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit here, he said the Centre has already started working on AI-driven technologies to improve grid stability and ensure that clean energy generated is not wasted.

"Issues related to grid stability and curtailment will be addressed in the coming days," Joshi said.

He explained that power capacity curtailment, which happens when renewable energy cannot be transmitted due to grid congestion, needs to be reduced.

"AI-based technology solutions will help manage the grid more efficiently and integrate renewable energy in a smoother way," the minister noted.

The minister also said that the cost of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) is falling due to the government's viability gap funding (VGF) scheme.

He added that India's overall requirement for battery storage is expected to rise sharply to 411 gigawatt (GW) by 2032.

Joshi said that in recent bids floated by the government, the discovered tariff has come down from Rs 3.3 per unit earlier to Rs 3.1 per unit now.

He expressed confidence that battery storage prices will fall further as deployment increases, similar to the sharp fall in solar power costs over the years.

He said this trend will transform the country's energy sector. The renewable energy ministry said the AI Summit also highlighted the Global Mission on AI for Energy, which aims to bring together solar power deployment and digital intelligence.

The goal is to enable real-time optimisation and smarter grid management through advanced technologies.

Joshi pointed out that innovative digital models are already being introduced to improve the power distribution system.

He mentioned the "One Solar" web application developed by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited, along with digital twin solutions for power distribution companies and GIS-based modernisation of distribution networks.

These measures, he said, will help strengthen grid stability and reduce disruptions. In a separate development, India launched a joint offshore wind taskforce with the United Kingdom.

The initiative was launched in the presence of UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday revoked Stage II restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR) following a steady improvement in Delhi's air quality.

The decision was taken by the Sub-Committee on GRAP after reviewing the latest air quality data and meteorological forecasts. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 214 on Wednesday, placing it in the 'Poor' category but showing a clear downward trend in pollution levels.

The AQI had improved from 261 recorded on February 16 to 249 on February 17 and further to 214 on February 18, aided by favourable weather conditions.

Based on forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the AQI is expected to remain in the 'Poor' to 'Moderate' category in the coming days.

"In view of the improving trend in the average AQI of Delhi, the Sub-Committee unanimously decided to revoke Stage II of the extant GRAP across the entire NCR with immediate effect," the Commission said in a statement.

However, authorities clarified that all measures under Stage I of GRAP will continue to remain in force. Implementing agencies across the NCR have been directed to intensify and strictly enforce Stage I actions to prevent any fresh deterioration in air quality.

Officials said the GRAP mechanism, which prescribes graded restrictions based on pollution levels, had earlier invoked Stage II on October 19, 2025, after AQI levels showed a rising trend.

The Commission emphasised that strict monitoring will continue, and agencies must maintain vigilance to ensure pollution levels do not rise again. Citizens have also been advised to follow the guidelines under Stage I to help sustain the improvement.

The Sub-Committee will keep a close watch on the air quality situation and review the scenario periodically for further decisions based on real-time data and forecasts.
Los Angeles, Feb 18 : Hollywood actor Walton Goggins is joining forces with Chloe Grace Moretz for the upcoming action-comedy 'Mister'.

The 54-year-old actor and the actress, 29, will lead Thunder Road's upcoming movie, reports 'Female First UK'.

Before Walton Goggins boarded 'Mister', Josh Brolin had been attached to the action film, but had to exit the project due to scheduling conflicts.

As per Deadline, 'Mister' "follows a man (Goggins) who wakes up in a strange house covered in blood and comes to realize his true identity while fighting off contract killers from his past - including everyone from his exes to his best friend. To get out, he teams up with his estranged daughter (Moretz) who also has ended up in the family business, but they will need to repair their relationship in order to survive".

In a statement, producer Basil Iwanyk said, "Walton and Chloe are the perfect pairing to capture Mister's heart and humour, while delivering some of the most ambitious and wildly entertaining action sequences audiences will see on screen this year".

As per 'Female First UK', 'Mister' will mark the directorial debut of Wade Eastwood, who previously worked on 'Mission: Impossible  The Final Reckoning', and 'Mission: Impossible  Fallout'.

The filmmaker said in a statement, "From our first conversations, I knew Walton would bring an unpredictable spark you simply can't manufacture, he's electric. Chloe brings an incredible mix of strength, vulnerability and razor-sharp timing. Together, they make Mister exactly what we set out to create: bold, funny and completely full-throttle".

Iwanyk and Erica Lee will produce the through Thunder Road. Walton Goggins could recently be seen in Amazon Prime Video's second season of 'Fallout', which is based on Bethesda Softworks' post-apocalyptic survival video game franchise of the same name.

The show follows Lucy (played by Ella Purnell), Maximus (played by Aaron Moten) and The Ghoul (played by Walton Goggins) as they battle to survive a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Galgotias University, facing fire from all quarters, including people at large for roughly twenty-four hours, was sent packing on Wednesday evening from the AI Summit Expo, over the fiasco and national embarrassment it brought for itself as well as the nation over the Chinese robot dog.

The Greater Noida-based University, in a statement on Wednesday, said that it was 'profoundly apologetic' over the incident and informed that it was vacating the pavilion allotted to it at the AI India Expo.

The controversy emanated at the AI Summit Expo on Tuesday, over the portrayal of a Chinese robotic dog as the varsity's pavilion, with one of its professors explaining its AI-enabled features and describing robodog as a 'landmark innovation' by the varsity students.

The Galgotias University, initially reluctant to express regret, issued a public apology, stating that it was "apologising profusely" over the irresponsible and misleading conduct at the Expo.

Referring to the professor who stirred the row over the Chinese robodog, it said that the representative, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed.

"She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and, in her enthusiasm for being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press," it stated.

Neha Singh, the professor of communications of Galgotias University, told a news reporter on Tuesday that the robotic dog on display -- named Orion  was developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University.

The lapse was quickly spotted by netizens and technical experts, who found this to be a device manufactured by China's Unitree Robotics.

The shocking revelations prompted angry backlash and diatribe against the University as experts and people in general upbraided the varsity for sullying the largest ever AI Summit being held at the capital's Bharat Mandapam and also bringing shame to the nation.

Earlier in the day, lights were cut at the stall allocated to the varsity, and its staff were seen leaving the Expo. When questioned by newsmen, they tried to duck the issue.

In its previous clarification, the university had said that it "never claimed to have built the device on its own" and that it was procured from a Chinese manufacturer to expose its students to technical advancements in AI-enabled landscapes.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Delhi Zonal Office-II, has provisionally attached 247 immovable properties worth Rs 10,021.46 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with its ongoing probe into the alleged multi-crore fraud involving PACL Ltd and its related entities, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The attached properties are located in SAS Nagar (Mohali), Rupnagar and Zirakpur in Punjab, and are suspected to have been acquired using funds collected from investors under an illegal collective investment scheme.

The ED investigation stems from an FIR registered on February 19, 2014, by the CBI under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR was filed pursuant to directions issued by the Supreme Court of India.

Subsequently, the CBI filed a charge sheet and a supplementary charge sheet against 33 accused, including individuals and companies, for allegedly operating a massive illegal investment scheme.

According to the charge sheets, the accused mobilised over Rs 48,000 crore from lakhs of investors across the country under the guise of selling and developing agricultural land.

"Investors were lured through cash down payment and instalment schemes and made to sign misleading agreements, powers of attorney and other documents. In most cases, the promised land was never delivered, and a substantial portion of the collected funds remains unpaid to investors," ED the statement said

The agency said the scheme involved multiple front entities and reverse sale transactions to conceal the fraud and generate unlawful gains.

On February 2, 2016, the Supreme Court directed the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha to oversee the disposal of PACL's land assets and ensure that sale proceeds are distributed to investors.

However, further investigations revealed alleged continued illegal dissipation of PACL's assets. This led to three additional FIRs being registered by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, Jawahar Circle Police Station (Jaipur), and Attibele Police Station (Bengaluru) for alleged illegal sale, encroachment and misuse of land acquired using investor funds.

According to ED, search operations in these cases reportedly resulted in the seizure of incriminating materials, including blank sale deeds, signed cheque books and identity documents, indicating systematic attempts to siphon off and dispose of proceeds of crime.

The ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in 2016 and filed a Prosecution Complaint in 2018, followed by three supplementary prosecution complaints in 2022, 2025 and 2026 against various accused persons and entities. The Special Court (PMLA) has taken cognisance of all complaints filed so far.

With the latest attachment of 247 properties, the ED has now provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth approximately Rs 17,610 crore in the case, including properties located both in India and abroad.

Further investigation is underway.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Wednesday thanked PM Narendra Modi for India's support to the country's 13th Five-Year Plan as well as the Gelephu Mindfulness City Project.

Both leaders also reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation in several key sectors - including energy, connectivity, development partnership and people to people connect - during their meeting held on the sidelines of the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.

As they reaffirmed their commitment to advance cooperation in priority areas of energy, connectivity and development partnership, the two leaders reviewed the progress in diverse areas of cooperation building on the outcomes of the highly successful visit of Prime Minister Modi to Bhutan in November 2025.

"The meeting with PM Tshering Tobgay was outstanding. We discussed how we can harness the power of AI for global good and in harmony with principles of sustainability. Our enduring India-Bhutan friendship, rooted in mutual trust, goodwill and close ties between our two peoples, continues to guide our partnership into new and transformative domains," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.

According to the Ministry of Exernal Affairs (MEA), in keeping with the high emphasis placed on harnessing new technologies for growth and prosperity by both countries, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in AI and digital technology space through mutual sharing of experience and expertise as well as joint development of AI solutions.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to further strengthen the India-Bhutan partnership anchored in trust, goodwill and mutual respect.

India and Bhutan share a tradition of regular high-level exchanges and continue to explore new avenues of cooperation, while building on their deep-rooted ties in energy, infrastructure, and cultural exchange.

Last November, PM Modi visited Thimphu on a two-day visit which aimed at deepening India-Bhutan partnership and reinforcing India's commitment to its Neighbourhood First Policy.

PM Modi's visit coincided with the exposition of the Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha from India. He also offered prayers to the Holy Relics at Tashichhodzong in Thimphu and participated in the Global Peace Prayer Festival organised by the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The visit also marked another major milestone in India-Bhutan energy partnership with the inauguration of the Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project.

"The basic framework of India-Bhutan relations is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries, which was renewed in February 2007," the MEA has stated before.

The India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit -- which was first signed in 1972 and revised most recently for the fifth time in 2016 -- establishes a free trade regime between the two countries. The Agreement also provides for duty free transit of Bhutanese exports to third countries. Bilateral trade is conducted in Indian Rupees, which is at par with the Bhutanese Ngultrum.

India is Bhutanas top trade partner, both as an import source and as an export destination. Since 2014, Indiaas trade with Bhutan has increased more than three times -- from $484 million in 2014-15 to $1,777.44 million in 2024-25, accounting for over 80 per cent of Bhutanas overall trade. Throughout this period, the balance of trade has consistently remained in Indiaas favour.

Indiaas major exports to Bhutan include petrol and diesel, rice, wood charcoal, coke and semi-coke, ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore, maize (excluding seed), soya-bean oil, smartphones, and iron or steel structures and parts, among others.

On the other hand, Indiaas key imports from Bhutan consist of electricity, ferro-silicon, dolomite chips, ferro-silico-manganese, Portland pozzolana cement, pebbles and gravel, dolomite slabs, semi-finished iron or non-alloy steel products, beer made from malt, and ordinary Portland cement.
The owners of AIT Worldwide Logistics, a top 30 freight forwarder in the United States, have sold a majority stake to Greenbriar Equity Group to help fuel its aggressive expansion. The companys 2030 strategy calls for accelerated growth on an organic basis and through acquisitions.

The deal allows The Jordan Company, L.P., a middle-market financial firm with a background in transportation and logistics investments, to cash in on its 2021 acquisition of AIT Worldwide from another investment firm. The Jordan Company and AITs executive team will retain a stake in the company.

ltasca, Illinois-based AIT Worldwide has dramatically expanded its global footprint, acquired 14 businesses and increased gross revenue by more than 300% under TJCs ownership, according to a company announcement on Monday. Last year, AIT Worldwide bought Miami-based forwarder GSDMIA Inc. and Krupp Trucking, a small St. Louis-based forwarder specializing in the transport of high value goods.

AIT is the 27th largest U.S.-based logistics provider based on 2024 gross revenue of $2.6 billion, according to Armstrong & Associates.

AIT said the deal represents one of the largest private acquisitions ever in the global freight forwarding sector, but terms were not disclosed.

With Greenbriars support, AIT gains momentum to pursue new expansion in key global markets, including investments in talent and technology, while continuing to deliver customized supply chain solutions that meet and exceed the needs of our customers, AIT Chairman and CEO Vaughn Moore said in a news release.

Greenbriar Equity, which manages more than $15 billion in committed capital, has regularly invested in transportation and logistics. Its current portfolio includes Alliance Ground International, an airport services and cargo handling company; eShipping, a provider of managed transportation and supply chain technology solutions; OnTrac, a super-regional parcel delivery company; and Wineshipping, a temperature-controlled logistics and fulfillment provider serving the direct-to-consumer wine market.

AIT has built an exceptional global platform defined by strong leadership, operational excellence, and a deeply embedded service culture, said Greenbriar Managing Director, Michael Wang. As global supply chains continue to evolve in complexity, we believe AIT is uniquely positioned to meet increasing demand for integrated logistics solutions across technology, life sciences, and other specialized sectors. Our goal is to support AITs long-term growth, while preserving the entrepreneurial spirit and operational discipline that have defined the companys success.
Kolkata, Feb 18 : Police have arrested a man suspected to be a Bangladeshi national for allegedly residing in India for several years using forged identity documents, officials said on Wednesday. The arrest was made from the Dinhata area in Cooch Behar district of north Bengal.

The arrested individual has been identified as Omar Farooq Byapari, who had reportedly been living in the Chowdhuryhat Gram Panchayat area under Dinhata-II block for several years.

He is accused of fraudulently obtaining various identity documents, including an Aadhaar card and voter identity card, allegedly by presenting an Indian citizen as his father in official records.

According to police sources, the accused had been living in India using forged documents and had managed to establish identity credentials by misrepresenting personal information in official forms.

The matter came to light after the accused filled out an enumeration form as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and submitted it to the authorities. Subsequently, a complaint was lodged with the District Magistrate by the local gram panchayat, and a formal complaint was also filed at the local police station on December 4 last year.

Police sources further said that the accused was previously associated with the Ansar Bahini, a paramilitary auxiliary force responsible for maintaining law and order in Bangladesh.

Following the complaint, police launched a search operation and had been looking for the accused for several months. He was eventually arrested on Tuesday night from the Putimari area under the Dinhata police station limits.

According to local sources, Omar allegedly entered India illegally around 10 to 12 years ago and had since been residing in the Chowdhuryhat area.

When produced before a court on Wednesday, the accused denied the allegations and claimed that he was an Indian citizen and had been falsely implicated.

"I am an Indian citizen. My family is here. I used to be a Trinamool member at one time. Now I am not. That is why there are attempts to frame me," he said.

Reacting to the arrest and the accused's claims, Cooch Behar district Trinamool Congress Vice President Abdul Jalil Ahmed said the individual was not associated with the party.

"Omar Farooq Byapari is not associated with Trinamool. The law will take its own course. If someone is hiding here as a Bangladeshi, then the police will arrest him," Ahmed said.

Meanwhile, Cooch Behar district BJP Vice President Biraj Basu alleged that the accused had links with the Trinamool Congress and claimed that residents had previously raised complaints against him.

"We have been claiming for a long time that Omar is Bangladeshi and has links with Trinamool. The residents of the area have also complained against him. The police arrested him under pressure. Trinamool is also denying his association as they are under pressure," Basu said.

Dinhata Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Dhiman Mitra confirmed that an investigation was under way following the arrest.

"The police produced him in court today. There was a complaint against him that he was a Bangladeshi national. The police were searching for him on that basis. He was arrested yesterday, and further investigation is under way," Mitra said.
Mumbai, Feb 18 : Actress and former Miss India Alankrita Sahai has collaborated with Punjabi music sensation Karan Aujla for a big music video "5-7".

Talking about her latest release, Alankrita shared that the project allowed her to tap into a different side of herself as a performer.

"Music videos today are not just about glamour; they are about storytelling and emotion. This project is very special to me because it allowed me to explore a different side of myself as a performer," she said.

Speaking about joining forces with Karan, she added, "Working with such a talented artist and a passionate team has been an inspiring experience, and I can't wait for the audience to see what we've created."

Alankrita shared that working with Karan has been incredibly rewarding for her.

"His passion for music is inspiring. This project is about dreaming big and making it happen. So I guess we made this collaboration happen too. It was fun indeed, and he is so talented and cool to work with," she concluded.

The music video has been directed by Agam Mann along with Aseem Mann, while Shinda Singh is the director of photography. Monty Films and Production have backed the music video, which shows Alankrita as a counselor who is seen asking Karan about the things that are bothering him in life. To this, Karan reveals that there are only 5-7 things that bother him.

Karan has made a name for himself with some banners such as "Jhanjar" and "So Far".

On the other hand, Alankrita has been a part of Bollywood projects such as "Love Per Square Foot" and "Namaste England". Her movie "Band of Maharajas" even made it to the Oscars Coveted Contention List.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : A resurgent Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is asserting itself politically, as is evident from its anted-up position on immediate constitutional reforms, directing its ire at the newly-formed government led by BNP's Tarique Rahman.

In June last year, the registration of Bangladeshas largest Islamic party was restored more than a decade after it was banned by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.

Its re-emergence follows a turbulent past where the party faced legal restrictions and political isolation over its opposition to Bangladeshas 1971 independence and the wartime activities of some of its leaders.

Jamaatas return to parliamentary politics has been framed by some commentators as a rehabilitation into mainstream contestation, but others see it as a worrying normalisation of a party with a controversial past.

The Islamist party sought the formation of the new Parliament as a constituent assembly to amend Bangladeshas constitution and introduce wide changes as laid down in the "July Charter", a package of constitutional reforms proposed and promoted by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration after the 2024 uprising in Bangladesh. It aims to reshape key institutions, strengthen checks and balances, and reset the rules governing executive power, the judiciary, and electoral arrangements.

A Constitutional Reform Council was envisaged to oversee and implement the Charteras amendments and the broader reform roadmap.

However, Rahmanas Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a reluctant signatory to the Charter, wants to abide by the rulebooks. Party leaders stressed that there is no constitutional provision for a "Constitutional Reform Council".

Also, Bangladeshas Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) does not have the authority to administer an oath for such a body. It is the CEC that administered the oath of office to MPs on Tuesday.

The Jamaat may not have been able to form a government, but it has registered dramatic gains in vote share and number of seats in last weekas election. Its assertive posture and renewed outreach to student politics have left analysts and rivals warning that the party will be a disruptive and influential actor in Bangladeshas politics in the future.

Its performance in the 13th national election marked a historic comeback from the margins. Official tallies and party statements show the party secured its best-ever vote share and seat count, getting 31.76 per cent of the mandate and winning 68 seats.

These figures transformed Jamaat from a peripheral actor into the main opposition force in parliament.

"The Jamaat had successfully spread its influence in regions bordering India among the population settled there who moved out of India after partition. The BNP was comparatively weaker in these areas. However, neither could post any gains here earlier due to the Awami Leagueas dominance," contended Soumya Bandopadhyay, Consulting Editor to Bangladeshas Prothom Alo newspaper.

"Now the political space lies open for the Jamaat in Khulna, Rajshahi, and Rangpur divisions," added the veteran journalist.

Citing statistics, the Delhi-based scribe pointed out that the Jamaat, when contesting on its own, earlier got its "best results" in 1991.

"They had then won 18 seats, with 12 per cent of the total mandate. In 1996, their seat tally fell to three, and their vote percentage to nine," he recounted.

"In 2001 and 2008, when the Jamaat contested in alliance with the BNP, it won 17 seats, with a four per cent share in the first, and two wins and a vote share of five in the next," he said, adding: "That has jumped to about 32 per cent now."

Overall, the BNP-led alliance won 212 seats, followed by 77 for the Jamaat-led alliance, out of the 297 parliamentary seats for which results were announced. Out of the 300 seats in the Bangladesh Parliament, elections were held for 299 seats following the death of a candidate. Later, a court barred the publication of results for Chattograma'3 and Chattograma'8 constituencies, thus the latest results reflecting outcome of voting for 297 seats.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), founded by a section of the 2024 youth protestors, aligned with the Jamaat and came in third, winning six of the 30 seats it contested. Fifty other members are nominated to Parliament, based on the votes secured by the political parties in 300 constituencies. NCP leader Nahid Islam, 27, also won, becoming one of the youngest MPs in the new parliament.
Bengaluru, Feb 18 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Bengaluru Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable properties -- balance in the foreign bank accounts, maintained in the USA and Singapore, amounting to USD 55.69 Million (Rs 505 crore), held in the names of overseas shell companies operated and controlled by one Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore, under Public Money Laundering Act (PMLA), an official statement said on Wednesday.

The company is accused of using artificial or automated gaming profiles in real-money games, which may have unfairly impacted players and led to monetary losses. To date, the total proceeds of crime attached/frozen in the instant case are around Rs 1,194 crore.

The action has been taken in the case of Winzo Pvt Ltd, which caused loss to the users by applying BOT/AI/Algorithm profiles in the online real money games and generated proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 3,522.05 crore, the ED stated.

The immovable properties and balance in foreign bank accounts were held in the names of M/s Winzo Pvt Ltd, viz M/s Winzo US Inc, USA & M/s Winzo SG Pvt Ltd, Singapore.

Earlier, ED conducted search and seizure operations at the office premises of Winzo Pvt Ltd, and the residential premises of its director on Nov 18, 2025 and its accounting firm on Dec 30, 2025. The evidence unearthed during the search and subsequent investigation revealed that the company was engaged in criminal activities and unscrupulous practices, i.e. customers were made to play with BOTs, AI, Algorithms, software termed as PPP/EP/Persona, without being made aware of the fact that they are playing with BOTs and not with humans in real money games.

Winzo also prevented and limited withdrawals of money held by the customers in the wallets of Winzo Pvt Ltd.

Winzo also generated proceeds of crime in the form of 'Rake Commission' from the matches played by BOTs with the real players on their Winzo App. Further, by using the BOTs in a restrictive environment for withdrawing the funds, the users were induced to play more and more matches.

Through repeated gameplay under these conditions, users' deposited amounts were progressively appropriated by the company in the form of rake commission charged on each match.

The cumulative effect of this mechanism enabled the company systematically convert users' deposits into revenue, i.e., rake commission. In this manner, the company has derived total proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 3,522.05 crore, for the financial years 2021-22 to 2025-26, till Aug 22, 2025.

So far, the ED has frozen movable and immovable properties amounting to Rs 689 crore in the instant case. Further, a part of the direct proceeds of crime has been taken out of India to the USA and Singapore under the garb of overseas investments.

All the operations and day-to-day business activities, including the operation of bank accounts is done from India. However, the funds worth USD 55 million have been parked in their bank account in the USA and Singapore.

Further, a prosecution complaint has been filed before the Special Court of PMLA, Bengaluru, on Jan 23. To date, the total proceeds of crime attached and frozen in the instant case are around Rs 1,194 crores.

Further investigation is underway.

--IANS

mka/skp
Chandigarh, Feb 18 : Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday termed the trade deal with the US as anti-farmer, saying "if animal feed comes from America, our farmers will be ruined".

Chandigarh, Feb 18 (IANS) Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday termed the trade deal with the US as anti-farmer, saying "if animal feed comes from America, our farmers will be ruined".

Speaking to reporters after attending a social event in Fatehabad, Leader of the Opposition Hooda said the US has imposed an 18 per cent tariff on India, while it has imposed zero tariff on Bangladesh. "This deal will have a huge impact on cotton farmers."

He said farmers "are constantly being treated unfairly under this government. The weight of a fertiliser bag has been reduced from 50 to 40 kg, while the rates remain the same. The claim of providing MSP for 24 crops is also false; Haryana does not grow that many crops," he said.

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna generated profits of over Rs 2,000 crore, but claims "are not received, and people are abandoning insurance. Not even 10 per cent of the compensation has been paid yet".

Regarding the pension cuts to senior citizens, Hooda said the government "is now claiming to restore 70,000 pensions, whereas previously the government claimed it hadn't cut anyone's pension. If they hadn't, why are they being restored? Along with pensions, ration cards issued before the elections are now being cancelled, which in itself constitutes vote theft. Nearly 1.4 million ration cards have been cancelled in Haryana after the elections, with 54,000 ration cards cancelled in Ambala alone.

He said the BJP government "is venting out its anger on Congress MLAs to hide its failures". Referring to the case of the MLA of Guhla Cheeka, Hooda said the government has no control over law and order.

The Congress leader stated that law and order in the state has completely collapsed, drug abuse is on the rise, and everyone feels insecure. He said he would introduce a special resolution on law and order in the upcoming Assembly session, raising the issue vociferously and demanding answers from the government.

Hooda clarified that cases of organised crime are continuously emerging in the state. "More than 50-60 gangs are active in the state, which commit crimes and then claim the rewards. It is imperative to eradicate these gangs."

The two-time Chief Minister said the heinous murder in Rohtak, which occurred near the Inspector General's office, demonstrated the government's failure.

"Today, extortion is being demanded from businessmen and doctors in the state. Industries are fleeing, and investment is declining. Improving law and order and instilling public confidence are essential for progress. However, under the BJP rule, there is an atmosphere of fear among the people because the government is weak," Hooda added.
Aizawl, Feb 18 : Riding on a sharp rise in tourist arrivals, including a growing number of foreign visitors, Mizoram has emerged as the fastest-growing state in terms of tourist footfall among the eight Northeastern states, officials said here on Wednesday.

A senior official of the Mizoram Tourism Department said that the state recorded a total tourist footfall of 6,79,607 during April-December 2025, which included 6,70,001 domestic and local tourists and 9,606 foreign visitors. The figure has already surpassed the total tourist arrivals of the previous financial year by 29.50 per cent, reflecting a significant surge in tourism growth during the current period.

The official said that December 2025 recorded the highest ever tourist footfalls in the state at 1,33,520, achieving a 122.11 per cent spike compared to the corresponding month of 2024. "The sustained increase in tourist arrivals has placed Mizoram at the forefront as the fastest-growing state in terms of tourist footfall among the eight Northeastern states," the official pointed out.

According to the official, the Tourism Department received the "Emerging Eco and Nature Retreat Award" at the 10th edition of the International Tourism Conclave and Travel Awards held in New Delhi in July last year (2025).

The first-ever Mizoram Travel Fest was held on October 8-10, 2025, at Aizawl, which included a cooking competition, B2B meet, investors' summit and the signing of an MoU between the Tourism Department and the Environment, Forests and Climate Change Department to strengthen cooperation for promotion of eco-tourism in the state.

The official said that for the development of basic amenities at Vangchhia, Rs 5.47 crores was also sanctioned by the Tourism Ministry under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) scheme.

The lost city of Vangchhia, the largest necropolis site in the world, can be found in Champhai District near Khawbung Village.

Kawtchhuah Ropui (the great entrance way) is a natural heritage site marked with 171 ancient carved stones.

The department has received a Central sanction of Rs 34.50 crore for the Vantawng View Aerial Ropeway Project under SASCI (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment  Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale) Part-I (202425). In addition, a financial sanction of Rs 9.97 crore for the construction of a Convention Centre at Thingsulthliah was approved by the Union Ministry of Tourism in September last year (2025).

Under the project titled "Our Heritage, Our Treasure" at Vangchhia village in Champhai district, the North Eastern Council (NEC) has provided funds for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, skill development, and income generation for local residents.

Meanwhile, a Live Museum showcasing demonstrations of traditional Mizo life is currently being held at Zokhua, Falkawn. In view of its growing popularity, the programme has been extended until March 2026, the official said.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : India and Cambodia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral defence cooperation during high-level military engagements held in the southeast Asian nation's capital, Phnom Penh, an official statement said.

On the sidelines of the ongoing Army-to-Army Staff Talks in Phnom Penh, the Indian Army's Additional Director General, International Cooperation, Major General Akaash Johar, called on the Royal Cambodian Army's Commander, Lt General Mao Sophan, and the two sides held detailed discussions on enhancing joint military engagement, expanding training cooperation, and further strengthening bilateral defence ties.

The two countries emphasised increasing joint military exercises, widening the scope of training cooperation and strengthening coordination in the defence sector.

Particular emphasis was placed on military capacity building, professional military education, and the exchange of operational experience as key pillars of cooperation.

Officials noted that India seeks to translate defence partnerships with friendly nations into practical, ground-level cooperation beyond formal dialogues. Cambodia appreciated the training standards and professional expertise of the Indian armed forces and expressed interest in sending more personnel to India for training and specialised courses in the future.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to strengthening defence ties as a long-term strategic partnership aimed at promoting regional peace, stability and security.

The growing military cooperation between India and Cambodia is expected to further enhance bilateral relations and contribute to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Regular military dialogue, joint exercises and training programmes are likely to improve the ability of both armies to address emerging security challenges.

The meeting in Phnom Penh is being viewed as a positive development that could pave the way for deeper strategic cooperation between the two countries.
Srinagar, Feb 18 : After the Ramadan crescent was sighted at many places in the country, including in J&K, on Wednesday, the 30-day-long Muslim fasting month will begin on Thursday.

Muslims throughout the world observe dawn-to-dusk fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

The month is observed as the month of prayer and penance. Devout Muslims offer the routine five-time daily prayers and, in addition, also offer the aTarawiha prayers in the evening.

Tarawih (or Taraweeh/Taravi) refers to special, voluntary Sunnah prayers performed by Muslims at night during the holy month of Ramadan, typically after Isha (the fifth and final mandatory daily Islamic prayer, performed after twilight disappears).

Tarawih prayers are usually done in congregation, often consisting of 8 or 20 rak'ah (cycles) to complete the recitation of the Quran throughout the month, promising immense rewards.

Charity, piety, compassion and brotherhood among the faithful are the guiding spirits of Ramadan, and from the most affluent to the most ordinary, Muslims stand in a single file to beg for pardon and seek promise of a better eternal life after death.

The evening before Ramadan was marked by hectic buying by Muslims in Srinagar city and other towns and villages of Kashmir.

Dates are the most sought-after fruit during the holy month, as most Muslims prefer to break their daylong fast with them, followed by food and water.

Long queues of locals were seen in the evening before grocery shops and other places selling edibles as people went out to buy stocks for the holy month.

Children, unless they attain majority, are not supposed to keep the Ramadan fast, but many curious children, inspired by the enthusiasm of parents, insist on keeping the fast at least on the first day of the month.

Local administration had made adequate arrangements of edibles, including foodstuffs, dairy products, chicken and mutton.

The successful completion of Ramadan is celebrated by Muslims as the Eid al-Fitr festival. It is after a monthas fasting that Muslims take their lunch on the Eid festival.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : India's Minister of State for Communications, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, held a meeting with the UK's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan, here on Wednesday, reaffirming the growing depth of India-UK cooperation in telecommunications, digital innovation, and emerging technologies.

New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Indiaas Minister of State for Communications, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, held a meeting with the UKas Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan, here on Wednesday, reaffirming the growing depth of Indiaa"UK cooperation in telecommunications, digital innovation, and emerging technologies.

During the discussions on the sidelines of the AI Summit, the minister emphasised that India views artificial intelligence as central to the future of telecommunications. He noted that combining Indiaas scale with the United Kingdomas research strengths can help shape global standards in AI-native networks, Open RAN, and 6G, ensuring that technology drives both growth and trust.

Chandra Sekhar also highlighted Indiaas National Quantum Mission and pointed out the enormous potential for collaboration in quantum communications and secure networks.

Both sides reviewed progress under the DoTa"DCMS MoU and welcomed the operationalisation of the Indiaa"UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre, endorsed at India Mobile Congress 2025.

Discussions focused on deepening cooperation in AI applications for telecom networks, including autonomous network management, AI-driven cybersecurity, spectrum innovation, and non-terrestrial networks. Both sides expressed interest in joint research, pilot deployments, and coordinated engagement in global standardisation forums such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and 3GPP.

India and the United Kingdom also exchanged insights on ongoing efforts to prevent telecom fraud and digital scams through the use of artificial intelligence. India highlighted initiatives such as the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), the Sanchar Saathi platform, and the deployment of AI-based anti-spam and fraud detection tools by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). The UK side shared its experience with open data frameworks and strong deterrence-based regulatory measures as key elements of its approach.

Besides, India sought the support of the United Kingdom for key multilateral engagements at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), including the candidature of. M. Revathi for the position of Director, Radiocommunication Bureau (BR), ITU and Indiaas re-election to the ITU Council for the term 2027a"2030, reaffirming its continued contribution to global telecom governance and standardisation. Indiaas proposal to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-2030), reflecting Indiaas commitment to shaping an inclusive, secure, and future-ready global digital ecosystem, was also taken up.

Further, India highlighted its rapid 5G rollout, expansion of rural connectivity, digital public infrastructure, and citizen-centric telecom governance initiatives.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen structured institutional engagement and build secure, trusted, and future-ready digital infrastructure in both countries.
Itanagar, Feb 18 : The Assam Rifles on Wednesday flagged off the 13-day-long "Eastern Edge Expedition", starting from Pangsau Pass along the India-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh, and aimed to culminate at Jorhat in Assam.

Itanagar, Feb 18 (IANS) The Assam Rifles on Wednesday flagged off the 13-day-long "Eastern Edge Expedition", starting from Pangsau Pass along the Indiaa"Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh, and aimed to culminate at Jorhat in Assam.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said that the 'Eastern Edge Expedition', organised in partnership with Hero MotoCorp, is scheduled from February 18 to March 2 under aOperation Sadbhavana 2025a"26a to celebrate resilience, camaraderie and the indomitable spirit of the northeast.

The expedition aims to showcase the breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture and immense potential of the region while fostering unity and national integration.

Covering challenging terrains and remote routes, the rally stands as a tribute to the endurance and determination that define both the armed forces and the people of the Northeast, the defence official said.

According to Lt Col Rawat, the rally is being undertaken by a contingent of 24 bikers, comprising 12 representatives from Assam Rifles and 12 representatives from Hero MotoCorp, symbolising strong teamwork and civil-military cooperation.

Through this collaboration, the initiative reflects a robust partnership to promote adventure tourism, youth engagement and regional connectivity while strengthening bonds between the armed forces and corporate partners.

The spokesman said that the participants of "The Eastern Edge Expedition" will traverse diverse geographical stretches, symbolising strength, teamwork and perseverance in the face of challenges. The event embodies discipline, mutual trust and the shared pride of carrying the 'Tiranga' across the easternmost frontiers of the Nation.

Assam Rifles reaffirmed its resolve to remain the true Sentinels of the Northeast, fostering harmony, development and national pride through initiatives that inspire, connect and empower communities, an official statement said.

The Indian Army's Operation Sadbhavana (Goodwill) is a long-running military-led civic action program, primarily in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, focused on winning hearts and minds by addressing socio-economic needs through education (Army Goodwill Schools), healthcare (medical camps), infrastructure development (water, power, roads), and empowering women/youth via vocational training, counteracting alienation, and fostering national integration.
In September last year, the crypto-based prediction market Polymarket received the regulatory greenlight to return to the U.S. market after a long exile.

Now, another company is returning to the United States after regulatory issues get resolved during the Donald Trump administration.

Related: Gold, XRP extend losses on Presidents Day

Nexo returns to United States after 2 years

Nexo, a popular digital asset wealth platform, announced on Feb. 16 that it is returning to the U.S. market.

The comeback comes two years after a regulatory standoff and makes a renewed push into one of the crypto industrys most closely watched jurisdictions.

The platform said it has officially rolled out a suite of crypto offerings and trading infrastructure powered by U.S.-based Bakkt, signaling what it describes as a long-term commitment to operating within a compliant framework.

Nexo retreated from the U.S. in 2022, citing what it called a dead end in negotiations with regulators over its "Earn Interest Product." The company then said it could no longer operate in an impossible environment following a series of enforcement actions, including from regulatory bodies in California and New York.

In January 2023, the platform agreed to pay a $22.5 million penalty to settle the charges filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over unregistered offering of Earn Interest Product.

The conditions have now changed enough to justify a return, Nexo said. It was in April last year that it announced plans to return to the U.S., reporting $11 billion in assets under management (AUM).

More News:

New crypto product suite

Nexos U.S. produce suite includes:

An integrated crypto exchange

Crypto-backed credit lines

Fixed and flexible yield programs

The company said the products are offered within a compliant framework designed to support both retail and institutional clients. Fiat on- and off-ramps will be available via ACH transfers and wire services, allowing users to move funds between traditional banking systems and digital asset accounts.

Expansion push

The U.S. relaunch comes as part of Nexos broader global expansion strategy. The company said it has processed $371 billion in transactions to date across its platform.

By leveraging infrastructure from Bakkt and emphasizing compliance, Nexo appears to be positioning itself for a more sustainable foothold in large markets like the U.S.

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Feb 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Amaravati, Feb 18 : Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Botsa Satyanarayana on Wednesday accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of corruption in the ghee tenders for Tirumala laddu prasadam.

Speaking at the Assembly media point, the YSR Congress Party leader said the allegations earlier made by CM Naidu that animal fat was found in laddu ghee were purely for political gain and have been proven false by the Supreme Courta"monitored CBI-SIT report.

He accused the Chief Minister of not sparing even temple offerings in pursuit of financial gain and said God would not forgive a conspiracy done to benefit private interests.

Botsa alleged that the ghee that was earlier procured at about Rs 320 per kg is now being supplied at around Rs 700 per kg through Indapur Dairy, which he said has links with Chandrababu Naiduas own company Heritage, resulting in a doubling of price and looting of public money.

He demanded an open discussion on the corruption behind the jump from Rs 320 to Rs 700 and questioned why the government was avoiding debate if it had nothing to hide. He said the entire laddu controversy and adulteration narrative were baseless accusations created by Naidu and that the SIT findings have now exposed these as lies.

According to him, the government is avoiding both a discussion on ghee procurement and on peopleas issues because the truth would come out. He said the opposition is ready for discussion and will present facts, including evidence already shown on links between Heritage and Indapur, but the government prefers issuing indirect explanations instead of facing debate.

Satyanarayana also questioned the justification that milk prices caused the rise in ghee prices, asking what milk prices were when ghee was bought at Rs 320 and what they are now at Rs 700, and whether the government is willing to debate this transparently.

He accused the Chief Minister and coalition leaders of arbitrarily increasing rates to favour their own linked firms while assuming the public is unaware. He called on the BJP to break its silence and clarify whether it supports such actions.

Meanwhile, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) former Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy alleged glaring discrepancies in the tender process of ghee purchase only to benefit a favoured firm.

Speaking to the media in Tirupati, he said that TTD has been conducting itself like an affiliate unit of TDP and has been speaking in unison.

The Indapur Milk products and Mother Dairy were shown undue favours, and the tender process was \rigged and manipulated. They could secure tenders worth Rs 130 crore, he said.

Former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy alleged that the Chief Minister has been speaking lies on the Tirumala laddu issue and that TDP is scared to answer pointed questions in the Council on the issue.

He said that Naidu has been looting the Tirumala temple administration, while coalition leaders are afraid to speak about the Heritage-Indapur nexus.

Demanding an open debate on the Heritage-Indapur link and state finances, he said the Chief Minister has demeaned Lord Venkateswara for the sake of ghee contracts.

Questioning why Indapur was given the contract to supply ghee at an exorbitant rate, he said the quote accepted was Rs 658 while the acceptable rate was Rs 321 per kg.
Chandigarh, Feb 18 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch Harbarinder Singh, 40, was shot dead by unidentified assailants during a wedding function in Punjab's Tarn Taran district on Wednesday, marking the second killing of a sarpanch from the region in the past two months, police said.

Chandigarh, Feb 18 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch Harbarinder Singh, 40, was shot dead by unidentified assailants during a wedding function in Punjabas Tarn Taran district on Wednesday, marking the second killing of a sarpanch from the region in the past two months, police said.

The incident took place in broad daylight when Harbarinder Singh, a resident of Thathiyan Mahanta village, was attending his cousinas wedding at a farmhouse located along a national highway. According to police officials, three assailants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at him, killing him on the spot.

A relative of the victim, Germanjeet Singh, who was present at the scene, sustained bullet injuries while attempting to intervene and was rushed to a private hospital in Amritsar, where he is undergoing treatment. His condition was reported to be critical.

Police suspect that an automatic weapon, possibly an AK-47 rifle, was used in the attack, although forensic examination is under way to confirm the exact weapon used. Officials said the motive behind the killing has not yet been established.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants opened fire at close range while the victim was participating in wedding celebrations, triggering panic among guests. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the shooting, taking advantage of the chaos.

Senior police officials reached the spot soon after the incident and cordoned off the area. A manhunt has been launched to trace and arrest the accused persons involved in the killing.

Forensic teams were also deployed at the crime scene to collect evidence, and CCTV footage from nearby locations is being examined to identify the attackers and reconstruct the sequence of events.

According to eyewitness Kulwant Singh, the assailants managed to escape despite the presence of several guests at the venue, as people rushed to safety following the gunfire.

Harbarinder Singh, a commission agent by profession, also owned agricultural land and was considered an active member of the ruling AAP in the region. He is survived by his wife and two minor sons.

Police sources said the victim was seated with relatives and participating in wedding festivities when the attackers emerged from the crowd and fired multiple shots at him, targeting his upper body.

This is the second killing of an AAP sarpanch in the region in recent months. Earlier, on January 5, AAP sarpanch Jarmal Singh was shot dead during a wedding function in Amritsar district.

Police said further investigation is under way to ascertain the motive behind the attack and determine whether the killing was linked to personal enmity, political rivalry or other criminal factors.
Mumbai, Feb 18 : Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Wednesday claimed that discussions had taken place regarding a possible merger between the two factions of the NCP and that Shirur Lok Sabha MP Amol Kolhe was proposed to be the state president of the unified party.

"As you all know, Ajit Dada was actively involved in the talks of merger between the two parties. It was decided to the extent that Amol Kolhe was to become the state president of the party," Rohit Pawar said.

He further claimed that multiple meetings were held to discuss the proposed merger. "Around 13 meetings were held at the south Mumbai residence of Jayant Patil to plan the merger. Those who doubt can check the CCTV footage if needed," he added.

Responding to the claims, Amol Kolhe said discussions had taken place in the past but added that the issue no longer held relevance.

"Everything started during my journey with Ajit Pawar on May 16. We travelled together on the day of the Malegaon sugar factory election. What Rohit Pawar has spoken today has been in the public domain for several days now. But the person who was holding the discussions and finalised everything is no more, and talking about everything that was fixed holds no meaning now," Kolhe said.

Kolhe, a two-term Lok Sabha MP from Shirur constituency in Pune district, is also a well-known Marathi actor recognised for portraying Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in television serials. He is considered a prominent Other Backward Classes (OBC) face of the NCP-SP and is known for his oratory skills and political outreach.

Leaders from the NCP-SP faction have repeatedly referred to discussions involving late Ajit Pawar regarding a possible merger. However, senior leaders from the NCP faction, including Working President Praful Patel and State President Sunil Tatkare, have refrained from commenting on the matter.

Rohit Pawar's remarks come at a time when Tatkare has reiterated that the NCP remains part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and will continue to remain aligned with it.

Earlier this week, the NCP leadership, after Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar chaired a meeting with party legislators, reportedly asked members not to publicly comment on the merger or reunion issue and authorised her to take decisions regarding organisational matters.

NCP-SP Working President Supriya Sule also said there was no point in discussing past developments, stating that Ajit Pawar was no longer alive to clarify the discussions.
Mumbai, Feb 18 : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Wednesday met Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at 'Nandanvan', the latter's official residence in Mumbai, where the two leaders discussed Mumbai's heritage architecture and preservation of historical structures.

During the visit, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde and his son, Dr Shrikant Shinde, interacted with Raj Thackeray, who showed keen interest in vintage photographs of Mumbai's heritage buildings displayed at the residence. Raj Thackeray shared memories and historical anecdotes associated with several of the landmarks featured in the photographs and appreciated efforts to preserve the city's architectural legacy.

According to a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Minister's Office, the interaction included discussions on Mumbai's heritage photography and architectural conservation.

"The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted policies aimed at preserving and promoting heritage-style infrastructure in the city," the statement said.

'Nandanvan', the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, is itself considered a property with historical and architectural significance. Raj Thackeray closely examined rare and vintage photographs displayed within the premises and discussed their historical relevance.

During the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde informed Raj Thackeray that during his tenure as Chief Minister, he had introduced policy measures aimed at encouraging heritage-style construction and preserving the city's traditional architectural character.

Raj Thackeray also inspected the bungalow premises, including surrounding areas developed in a similar architectural style to maintain the heritage character of the property.

Thackeray, who is also known for his work as a cartoonist and his interest in art and architecture, appreciated the preservation of historical elements at the residence and the emphasis on maintaining Mumbai's architectural heritage.

The meeting assumes significance as it was the first interaction between Deputy Chief Minister Shinde and Raj Thackeray following their political differences during the recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

In the civic polls, the Shinde faction, allied with the BJP, secured 29 seats, while the MNS, led by Raj Thackeray, won six seats while contesting in alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT).
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with several world leaders, holding as many as nine bilateral meetings before wrapping up a hectic Wednesday by hosting a banquet for the visiting dignitaries attending India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

PM Modi held meetings with the leaders of Spain, Finland, Serbia, Croatia, Estonia, Kazakhstan and Bhutan. He also met the CEO of Google and co-founder of Sun Microsystems.

The informal interactions with global leaders continued till late evening as PM Modi warmly welcomed the world leaders at the official banquet held at the Bharat Mandapam.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi held bilateral meetings with Pedro Sanchez (President of Spain), Petteri Orpo (Prime Minister of Finland), Aleksandar Vucic (President of Serbia), Andrej Plenkovic (Prime Minister of Croatia), Alar Karis (President of Estonia), Olzhas Bektenov (Prime Minister of Kazakhstan) and Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay on the margins of the AI Impact Summit.

Prime Minister Modi also met Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Vinod Khosla, the founder of Sun Microsystems, at the Hyderabad House.

On Thursday, PM Modi will participate in the opening ceremony of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam. The gathering will also be addressed by the President of France, Secretary-General of the United Nations as well as various top industry leaders from across the world.

This will be followed by a visit to the India AI Impact Expo 2026 along with other leaders where they will visit various country pavilions.

Prime Minister will then participate in the Leaders' Plenary which will bring together Heads of State, ministers, and senior representatives from multilateral institutions to outline national and global priorities on AI, including governance, infrastructure, and international cooperation.

Thereafter, Prime Minister will participate in the CEO roundtable which will convene senior executives from global technology and industry firms with government leadership to discuss investment, research collaboration, supply chains, and deployment of AI systems.

The theme of India AI Impact Summit 2026 is 'welfare for all, happiness of all'. It aims to position India as a leader in the field of AI and envisions a future where AI advances humanity, fosters inclusive growth, and safeguards the shared planet.

Seven Working Groups anchor the Summit, aligned to three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. These groups will work on delivering concrete outcomes demonstrating AIas impact across sectors. The seven themes are: AI for Economic Growth and Social Good; Democratizing AI Resources; Inclusion for Social Empowerment; Safe and Trusted AI; Human Capital; Science; Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency.

The Summit has brought together more than 500 Global AI Leaders, including CEOs/CXOs, around 100 CEOs and Founders, 150 Academicians and Researchers, and 400 CTOs, VPs, and Philanthropists. It will also engage over 100 government representatives, including more than 20 Heads of State and Government and around 60 Ministers and Vice Ministers.
Thrissur : , Feb 18 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan on Wednesday strongly refuted Kerala Excise Minister M.B.Rajesh's claim that the Opposition was consulted before extending bar operating hours, terming the decision "mysterious" and politically timed ahead of elections.

Thrissur (Kerala), Feb 18 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan on Wednesday strongly refuted Kerala Excise Minister M.B.Rajeshas claim that the Opposition was consulted before extending bar operating hours, terming the decision "mysterious" and politically timed ahead of elections.

Satheesan said neither the government nor the Excise Minister had held any discussion with the Opposition regarding the extension or unification of bar timings.

"If even the LDF convener or senior leaders were unaware of the decision, how would the Opposition know?" he asked.

Satheesan said bar owners had been lobbying for a timing revision for over a year and had even approached the opposition seeking support.

"The Opposition has no role in granting an extension. It is for the government to decide. If the government wants our opinion, it should speak directly to us, not to bar owners," he said.

He questioned the timing of the move, pointing out that the decision was taken just ahead of elections without placing it before the Cabinet or initiating broader consultations.

"There is a clear mystery behind such a hasty decision," he alleged, adding that the Ministeras statement was an attempt to deflect criticism.

"If the minister has more to say, he is free to do so. Threats will not deter us," Satheesan said.

Drawing parallels with the earlier brewery controversy, he said that the decision too was taken at "rocket speed" and was eventually stayed by the court.

He alleged that a company blacklisted in Delhi had applied in Kerala without the knowledge of even local brewery firms, and that procedural lapses pointed out by the opposition were later upheld judicially.

While clarifying that extending bar hours in select tourism hubs with active nightlife could be understandable, Satheesan questioned the rationale behind a blanket extension across the state.

"The government first extended the timings everywhere and then expanded the list of tourism centres. That itself had raised suspicions," he said.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : Several videos of Islamic religious programmes in Pakistan have surfaced in which objectionable remarks are allegedly being made about the Sikh community and the Sikh Gurus, according to a report by Khalsa Vox.

The report states that a recent video shows a Pakistani cleric claiming that Guru Nanak Dev Ji had accepted Islam, was buried in Baghdad by Muslims, and that a grave was constructed there. The cleric allegedly claimed that Sikhs "did not even have the courage" to take the funeral of their Guru from Muslims.

The same Pakistani cleric further asserted that after Guru Nanak's alleged conversion, Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Maharaja Ranjit Singh feared Sikhism would be endangered and therefore got "false and fabricated history" written. These claims have drawn strong reactions from Sikhs all over the world.

Khalsa Vox reported that other videos show Mufti Tariq Masood Deobandi, head of Jamia Tur Rasheed, and a self-proclaimed Sufi cleric, Maulana Professor Muhammad Suleman alias Hafiz Pir Muhammad Suleman Misbahi Alkhadmi, making remarks against Sikhs and the Sikh Gurus. The videos, described as containing hateful statements, are reportedly being widely circulated on social media by followers of these clerics.

The report further notes that in some speeches, derogatory terms were allegedly used for the Sikh community, along with claims that one day Sikhs would be made to accept Islam. It adds that similar controversial remarks have been made in the past by certain religious leaders in Pakistan.

Gunjeet Singh Bakhshi, head of Sikh Brotherhood International, has demanded that the Government of India raise the issue at the international level and seek action against those responsible. Meanwhile, some members of the Pakistani Sikh community, speaking anonymously, have urged the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and Akal Takht to take up the matter internationally and pursue legal action against the clerics accused of making objectionable remarks about the Sikh community, its Gurus, and articles of faith.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : When the general election is held on March 5 in Nepal, former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will be among the candidates aspiring to govern the tiny Himalayan country, unlike its South Asian neighbour, Bangladesh, where former premier Sheikh Hasina had to flee and seek refuge in India.

The two countries witnessed the fall of respective governments in the face of youth unrest; both had interim governments running the country before the next general election, but the intensity and spread of the protests were perhaps more in Nepal than Bangladesh, going by the then reports published on respective stirs.

The unrest began in Nepal last year following a government ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Snapchat, claiming they were not registered with authorities.

Students and youth-led groups took to the streets, accusing the government of using the ban to silence public criticism and dissent. Protests spread quickly a"through Kathmandu, then across Nepal.

Reports mentioned at least 19 deaths and more than 300 injuries in clashes with the police. The government lifted its ban on the social media platforms, but it was too late.

Political order and security lay shaken to their core as chaos reigned.

Oli had to finally resign on September 9.

There were speculations and media reports suggesting he had left the country. It was later known that Oli and some of his colleagues had sought shelter at an army barracks in Shivapuri during the height of the Gen Z protests in September 2025.

The 73-year-old leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxista"Leninist) is now said to be conducting extensive door-to-door campaigns, listening to peopleas grievances, and appealing for votes, reported Kathmandu Post on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a parliamentary election was held in Bangladesh earlier this month in the wake of the 2024 studenta'led uprising, without the 78-year-old Sheikh Hasina, with a ban on her Awami League from all political activities.

Hasina is currently facing a death sentence and living in exile. Her exit in August 2024 followed a period of intense street protests and a constitutional reform push that dominated public debate.

With Hasina sidelined, parties and new alliances competed in an environment marked by heightened security, polarised narratives about legitimacy, and vigorous media scrutiny.

The result had significant consequences for party realignment, the implementation of constitutional changes, and Bangladeshas diplomatic posture. Domestic reconciliation and the legal status of exiled leaders are likely to remain central political flashpoints. Widespread intimidation and attacks were reported on political opponents in the runup run-up to the poll, especially on Awami League supporters, while the minority lived in fear after several incidents of lynching and barbaric murders.

Both countries witnessed violence, where youth protests led to a change in government, dissolution of Parliament, initiated reform and governance agenda, but the shape and stakes diverged sharply.

The interim government in Bangladesh sought to direct voters to cast a mandate not only in a Parliamentary contest but also in a nationwide referendum on the July National Charter, a sweeping package of constitutional reforms that proponents say will reset institutional checks and balances.

By contrast, Nepalas vote is framed primarily as a test of political accountability and restoring a full legislature to respond to demands for change.

The youth movement in Nepal has been more explicitly electoral in its orientation, boosting new parties and independent figures who campaigned as alternatives to established elites.
Kolkata, Feb 18 : The West Bengal Land & Land Reforms Department has issued a show-cause notice to Mira Sultana, wife of maverick and now suspended Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir, accusing her of unlawfully changing the classification of a piece of land in Murshidabad district.

The notice was issued to her following a mass petition submitted to the state land & land reforms department, accusing Sultana of changing the classification of land measuring 0.2 acres at Beldanga in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district of West Bengal without taking prior permission from the competent authority.

As per the notice, the alleged action violates provisions of Section 4C of the West Bengal Land Reforms (WBLR) Act, 1955. The section regulates the conversion of land use, requiring a raiyat (landowner) to obtain permission from the collector to change the area, character, or use of land (e.g., converting agricultural land to non-agricultural land).

Under the same provision, the collector has the authority to approve, reject, or allow such changes, specifying the effective date of conversion.

"Now, therefore, you are hereby called upon to show cause within 7 (seven) days from the date of receipt of this notice as to why appropriate action shall not be initiated against you under Section 4D of the WBLR Act, 1955 for the aforesaid lapses," read the show-cause notice, a copy of which is available with IANS.

Incidentally, Beldanga is the venue of the Babri Mosque, the brainchild of Kabir, which will be constructed in line with the original structure at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, which was demolished on December 6, 1992.

Kabir, the legislator of Bharatpur assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, questioned the timing of the notice. He alleged that the action was initiated long after the land was developed and after construction activity for the proposed mosque had commenced.

"This is a clear case of conspiracy by the state government and the ruling Trinamool Congress," he said.

"I have tried to get a mutation many times since my house was constructed. Then the officers concerned told me that it was not necessary. Now they are taking revenge against me for quitting Trinamool Congress. I will give a befitting legal reply to the authorities," Kabir said.

--IANS

src/skp
Mumbai, Feb 18 : The Maharashtra Congress has decided to form an inquiry committee into the party's fiasco at Chandrapur, where, despite emerging as the single largest party in the municipal corporation elections, it failed to win the Mayoral election, resulting in Bharatiya Janata Party's victory.

The political affairs committee of the party's state unit on Wednesday held a meeting in Mumbai to discuss the way forward. The issue of Congress losing the Mayoral election to the BJP in Chandrapur was discussed at the meeting.

"It was decided that a committee would probe the possible reasons for the loss and whether it was due to the infighting between the local leadership, which had caused the party's defeat. The report will be submitted to the All India Congress Committee," said a senior party leader who attended the meeting.

Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, addressing a press conference after the meeting, played down the controversy.

"While discussions were held with the MVA ally Shiv Sena - UBT to support Congress for the Mayor's post, they supported the BJP at the last minute. But the Congress party supported it in Parbhani to keep the BJP out of power. There are no internal disputes within the Congress in Chandrapur, and discussions were held with everyone," he said.

The infighting between Congress Lok Sabha MP Pratibha Dhanorkar and Congress legislative party leader Vijay Wadettiwar had led to two separate groups within the elected Congress corporators in Chandrapur.

Despite state leadership's intervention, the infighting continued so much that Wadettiwar took his group of corporators to Delhi along with party observers from the state. On the day of the election for the Mayoral post, despite Congress bridging its internal differences, the Shiv Sena-UBT sided with the BJP, ensuring a BJP mayor and securing the deputy mayor post for themselves.

Meanwhile, Chennithala said that the party will hold agitations to question the Mahayuti government on a range of issues, including farmers' plight, unemployment, women's safety and deteriorating law and order.

At the press conference after chairing the party's political affairs committee, he claimed that the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state are indulging only in politics in the name of development.

Chennithala said that local self-government elections were recently held in the state. In these elections, the ruling BJP-led alliance misused the administrative machinery on a large scale and spent huge amounts of money.

He questioned the source of this money and alleged that the ruling party had murdered democracy. Despite adverse conditions, Congress workers fought fearlessly against oppression and achieved good success.

He further alleged that the BJP government is mired in scams and that investments are not coming to Maharashtra but are instead going to the neighbouring state of Gujarat.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has no time to focus on the state's development and remains preoccupied with politics and internal disputes, he said.

Commenting on the aircraft accident involving Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Chennithala said the incident was extremely unfortunate.

"If members of Ajit Pawar's family have demanded a CBI inquiry, then the Central government should conduct such an investigation," he added.

Regarding the Rajya Sabha elections, he said that no one has yet contacted the Congress party. When such a proposal is made, a decision will be taken after consulting the party leadership.
Seeing a record 19 million tourists in 2025, the North African nation of Egypt continues to rank alongside Morocco and South Africa as the most-visited countries in Africa.

While the biggest tourism draw remains the Pyramids of Giza, the North African nation, also home to countless other ancient sites, also offers the vibrant culture of Cairo and the all-inclusive resorts on the Red Sea.

According to statistics released by the government's tourism board, the largest number of tourists to Egypt in 2025 came from Germany, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. The country has also seen rising interest from U.S. travelers over the last year.

Egypt to scrap visa upon arrival, offer visa-free entry for Americans

While specific visa rules will vary greatly depending on the passport of the traveler, Egypt is now taking steps to ease entry requirements for nationals of dozens of countries.

These include the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, alongside the 27 nations making up the European Union.

Related: South Africa hits back at latest US travel advisory

Up until now, travelers from these countries were required to apply for a 30-day visa-upon-arrival that cost $25 USD, mostly paid in cash, after landing at an Egyptian airport.

As first reported by local press, the latest entry changes put in place by the Egyptian government will extend the visa exemptions currently in place for travelers from nearby Gulf countries to more than 30 nations: EU countries, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, among a number of others.

Luxor is an ancient Egyptian city and UNESCO World Heritage Site.Image source: Shutterstock  Image source: Shutterstock

Headed to Egypt? Here is what you need to know about visa requirement changes

This will bring the total number of nationalities that can visit Egypt visa-free to approximately 40. It will also significantly ease the process for those who previously had to line up at a booth after a long flight for a visa that, short of a criminal record or past overstay in the country, is almost always granted automatically.

The new rules will also save travelers the $25 USD they previously had to pay for the visa.

More Travel News:

The moves are all part of the Egyptian government's efforts to promote the country as a travel destination amid competition for the same tourist days and dollars from neighboring Morocco and Tunisia.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 18 : Proceedings in the Odisha Assembly were disrupted on Wednesday as opposition members staged protests over alleged mismanagement in paddy procurement, forcing repeated adjournments and eventual suspension of business for the day.

Members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress created an uproar in the House, raising slogans against the state government and accusing it of failing to address farmersa concerns. The protests prompted Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn the Assembly multiple times before finally suspending proceedings till 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

As the House convened in the morning, BJD legislators rushed towards the Speakeras podium carrying banners and raised slogans highlighting farmersa issues, including delays in paddy procurement and alleged irregularities in the process. Congress members also joined the protest, raising similar concerns and criticising the government.

Amid the continued disruptions, the Speaker first adjourned the House till 11:30 a.m. and later till 4 p.m. However, when proceedings resumed in the afternoon, opposition members continued their protest, forcing another adjournment.

In a symbolic protest, some BJD legislators placed paddy on the reportersa table inside the Assembly to draw attention to what they described as a procurement crisis affecting farmers.

Speaking to mediapersons, BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik said the party had repeatedly raised the issue with the government and had also met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the Agriculture Minister to highlight farmersa grievances.

She alleged that farmers were facing problems such as non-lifting of paddy and the continuation of katnia"chhatni practices during procurement under various pretexts.

Mallik also criticised the governmentas decision to impose a ceiling of 150 quintals of paddy per farmer for disbursement of the Rs 800 per quintal input subsidy, which is in addition to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,300 per quintal.

She alleged that due to procurement delays and restrictions, farmers were being forced to sell their produce at lower prices in the open market through intermediaries.

The BJD leader said the party would continue its protest until the government announces a clear timeline for lifting paddy from farmers.

Meanwhile, leaders from the ruling party criticised the opposition, alleging that BJD and Congress members were deliberately disrupting Assembly proceedings to avoid discussions on developmental issues in the state.
Ahmedabad, Feb 18 : The Gujarat Budget for 2026-27, with a total outlay of Rs 4.08 lakh crore, has been welcomed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which said the scale of the allocation reflects a significant push towards strengthening infrastructure and expanding industrial capacity.

Ahmedabad, Feb 18 (IANS) The Gujarat Budget for 202627, with a total outlay of Rs 4.08 lakh crore, has been welcomed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which said the scale of the allocation reflects a significant push towards strengthening infrastructure and expanding industrial capacity.

The budget was presented in the state Assembly by Finance Minister Kanu Desai on Wednesday.

Reacting to the announcements, Karan Shah, Co-Convenor of the CII Gujarat Panel for Policy Advocacy, Ease of Doing Business, and Economic Affairs, said the scale of the outlay marked a historic milestone for the state.

"For the first time in Gujarat's history, the budget has crossed the Rs 4 lakh crore mark, signalling a massive leap in infrastructure and developmental spending," Shah said.

He said the proposed expansion of industrial infrastructure, including the announcement of 25 new estates by the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), would help decentralise growth and generate employment opportunities across regions.

"The announcement of 25 new GIDCs is set to provide a significant boost to industrial growth, decentralising development and creating regional employment hubs," he said.

Shah also referred to the emphasis placed on innovation and entrepreneurship, noting that the proposal to establish new i-Hubs would strengthen the state's startup ecosystem and support technology-driven enterprises.

"The budget emphasises the startup ecosystem by proposing new i-Hubs, ensuring that Gujarat remains at the forefront of entrepreneurship and technology," he said.

In addition to industry-focused measures, Shah said the budget had given attention to social sectors, including schemes aimed at women's welfare and healthcare, reflecting what he described as a balanced approach to development.

"CII welcomes this forward-thinking budget. Several of our policy recommendations have been incorporated, and we thank the government for its industry-friendly approach. This budget not only supports businesses but also lays the groundwork for a developed Gujarat," Shah said.

He added that the budget aligns with the Prime Minister's vision of 'Viksit Bharat @2047' and positions Gujarat as an important contributor to India's long-term growth.
Gondia : , Feb 18 (IANS) The NCP working president and former civil aviation minister, Praful Patel, on Wednesday strongly defended the party's demand for a CBI probe into the death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and national president Ajit Pawar in a plane crash at Baramati on January 28.

"CBI is a reliable organisation. If the probe is conducted by the CBI, then some facts and aspects should be taken into account. CBI can do this work," he said at a press conference.

"NCP yesterday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded a CBI inquiry into the Ajit Pawar plane crash. This is a very unfortunate incident. A thorough investigation into this incident is being done by various agencies. The state government is also investigating. But many people have expressed doubts about this. Therefore, a thorough investigation is necessary. How such a big accident can happen suddenly should be investigated by the CBI, and since this incident happened in Maharashtra, the state government can ask the CBI to investigate this. Therefore, we, on behalf of the NCP, submitted a memorandum yesterday and demanded a CBI inquiry into this matter," explained Patel.

He said that they should get the information on whether every aspect is being investigated in the right direction or not. "At present, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board is conducting a probe into technical matters. I heard that the black box is also going to America for investigation, as they were not able to investigate thoroughly here," he added.

Patel said the state government has roped in CID to conduct the investigation, but the party wants information be obtained from every aspect. "I am a very responsible person and have been in politics for many years. Therefore, I will speak very patiently, and I will not say anything until I have evidence," he said.

He responded to a question on several observations made by NCP-SP legislator Rohit Pawar on Wednesday at a press conference in connection with the plane crash.

Patel's statement comes hours after Rohit Pawar demanded that Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu and top DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) officials be removed or step aside, especially amid raging controversy over Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash at Baramati on January 28.

At the press conference, Rohit Pawar alleged a "nexus" between the ministry, the DGCA, and VSR Ventures (the aircraft owner), claiming that the current leadership is biased and protecting the company. He also demanded that the case be treated as culpable homicide rather than "accidental death." He called for a formal FIR (First Information Report) to be registered against the owners of VSR Ventures and the technical staff who signed off on the flight's airworthiness.

Rohit Pawar further demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry. He argued that since the crash involved a high-profile constitutional authority (the Deputy CM) and crossed state/departmental jurisdictions, the state CID lacks the "technical teeth" and "political independence" to investigate the Union-controlled aviation sector.
Bengaluru, Feb 18 : Karnataka BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Wednesday said that the party's State Executive meeting will be held on Thursday (February 19) at Palace Grounds in Bengaluru.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will inaugurate the meeting, which is expected to be attended by more than 1,250 delegates, Vijayendra said.

Speaking to mediapersons after inspecting preparations at Gayatri Vihar, Palace Grounds, he said representatives from across the state would begin arriving from 8.30 a.m. The flag-hoisting ceremony is scheduled for 9.45 a.m., he added.

Former Chief Ministers B.S. Yediyurappa, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai are expected to participate. Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, V. Somanna and Shobha Karandlaje, along with MPs, MLAs and Members of the Legislative Council, will also attend the meeting, he said.

Vijayendra noted that by-elections are due in Bagalkote and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies, and the possibility of a by-election in Bagepalli is also strong.

He further said elections to the Legislative Council, Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and other local bodies are due in the coming months, terming the next six months as an "election season" for the party.

In this context, he said, comprehensive discussions would be held on strengthening the party organisation and preparing for the upcoming electoral challenges.

Vijayendra alleged that the Congress-led government, which is nearing three years in office, has failed to meet public expectations and claimed that people are disillusioned with its performance.

He said discussions would be held on strategies to counter what he described as a corrupt, anti-poor, anti-farmer and anti-youth government, and resolutions would be passed during the executive meeting.

Vijayendra also said that farmer leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has completed 50 years in public life. He credited Yediyurappa with playing a key role in expanding the BJP's presence from urban centres to rural areas across Karnataka, from his early days in the Jana Sangh to his leadership in the state.

In recognition of his contribution, Yediyurappa will be felicitated during the meeting in the presence of senior party leaders, he added.

He described Yediyurappa as a source of inspiration for party workers and said that the efforts of senior leaders, including late Ananth Kumar and others, had helped the BJP establish itself firmly in the state.

The future course of the party's organisational strategy will also be discussed at the executive meeting, Vijayendra added.
New Delhi, Feb 18 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed a charge-sheet against three individuals, including a suspected Chinese national, in a cross-border human trafficking and cyber fraud operation originating from Myanmar.

The accuseda"Ankit Kumar alias Ankit Bharadwaj, Ishtikhar Ali alias Ali, and Lisaa"face charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including 61(2), 127(4), 143(3), 308(2), 318(4), and 62 read with 143(3), as well as Section 24 of the Emigration Act.

The filing was made before the NIA Special Court in Panchkula, Haryana.

The case, initially registered by Haryana Police and taken over by the NIA, exposes a sophisticated network preying on vulnerable Indian youth.

Investigations revealed that the trio, along with unidentified accomplices, lured victims with promises of legitimate jobs in Thailand.

Ankit Kumar and Ishtikhar Ali, both arrested, coordinated deceptive online interviews featuring Lisa, believed to be a Chinese national operating from Myanmar, to convince targets of secure employment abroad.

Once trafficked illegally via Thailand into Myanmar's Myawaddy region, victims were coerced into working for cyber scam outfits. They were forced to create fake social media profiles and target individuals in the USA, UK, and Canada, duping them into investing in bogus cryptocurrency apps. Refusal led to confinement, physical abuse, and demands for exorbitant ransom payments for release, as per NIA findings in the case.

The probe uncovered a web of unlicensed recruiters and touts facilitating illegal emigration and exploitation in Southeast Asia, causing significant financial losses through fraud while endangering lives.

Lisa remains absconding, prompting international coordination efforts.

This development highlights the growing threat of transnational cybercrime syndicates exploiting economic desperation.

NIA officials stated that the investigation continues to identify additional perpetrators and dismantle the network, emphasising the need for enhanced border vigilance and awareness campaigns against fake job offers.

Authorities urge citizens to report suspicious overseas job ads, linking such vigilance to broader safety amid variable weather patterns affecting rural livelihoods.
Bengaluru, Feb 18 : The Karnataka BJP and the Congress government on Wednesday traded sharp words over the ongoing garbage disposal row in Bengaluru, with BJP state president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra asserting that there was no question of fearing what he termed "hollow threats" issued by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Bengaluru, Feb 18 (IANS) The Karnataka BJP and the Congress government on Wednesday traded sharp words over the ongoing garbage disposal row in Bengaluru, with BJP state president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra asserting that there was no question of fearing what he termed "hollow threats" issued by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Responding to Shivakumar's warning of action against BJP leaders allegedly blocking garbage trucks from entering certain constituencies, Vijayendra said the BJP would not be intimidated.

Speaking to mediapersons in Bengaluru, he said the responsibility of garbage disposal lies with the state government and urged Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, to focus on addressing the city's civic issues.

"There is no question of fearing hollow threats. Garbage management is the responsibility of the state government, and instead of issuing warnings, the government should work towards resolving the issue," Vijayendra said.

He criticised the government, stating that rather than making comparisons with global cities such as Singapore and Dubai or proposing tunnel road projects, the priority should be to address basic civic problems, including potholes and waste management.

Vijayendra also alleged that threats were being issued to apartment associations and emphasised that elected representatives have the right to raise concerns affecting their constituencies. He said the government should focus on finding solutions to Bengaluru's civic challenges.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Doddaballapura, Dheeraj Muniraju, objected to Shivakumar's remarks and urged him not to insult elected representatives or residents of his constituency.

Speaking to reporters at the BJP state office, Jagannath Bhavan, he said he was opposing the dumping of waste in his constituency due to concerns over environmental and public health risks.

He said he did not require any grants or garbage from the government and questioned why residents of Bengaluru Rural district should bear the burden of waste generated in the city.

Muniraju alleged that unscientific dumping practices could lead to water and air pollution and claimed that waste beyond the permitted quantity was being transported to the area.

He challenged the government to proceed with action if it intended to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against him and said he would continue to oppose the dumping of waste in the interest of his constituents.

He added that protests against the dumping of garbage would be intensified with the support of farmers, local residents and public representatives.

Earlier, Shivakumar had criticised BJP MLAs for allegedly blocking garbage trucks and warned of invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act to ensure uninterrupted civic services. He also accused opposition legislators of obstructing waste disposal and engaging in political pressure tactics.

The exchange marks an escalation in the political confrontation between the ruling Congress government and the BJP over waste management in Bengaluru.
Gandhinagar, Feb 18 : The Gujarat Government's budget for 2026-27, presented by Finance Minister Kanu Desai, allocates Rs 24,022 crore for the Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Department, emphasising farmer empowerment and rural development.

The total state budget stands at Rs 4.08 lakh crore.

Welcoming the budget, Agriculture and Spokesperson Minister Jitu Vaghani said, "Today's Gujarat budget will further advance Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Developed India @ 2047'. Presented under the slogan 'Where there is humanity, there are facilities', it gives special priority to agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, roads, and all key sectors, ensuring 360-degree development for the state."

Minister Vaghani highlighted the government's focus on agricultural mechanisation, aimed at reducing farmers' labour and costs.

The budget allocates over Rs 1,500 crore for mechanisation, including Rs 764 crore for modern farming equipment, an increase of Rs 173 crore from last year, and Rs 800 crore for tractor purchases.

Under the Crop Storage Structure Scheme, the size of structures has been increased to 600 sq. ft, with assistance doubled from Rs one lakh to Rs two lakh per unit.

The total allocation for the scheme has been raised to Rs 120 crore. To promote chemical-free organic farming, Rs 392 crore has been allocated.

Research and infrastructure development at state agricultural universities will receive Rs 1,063 crore. A new 'Gujarat Agribusiness and Export Promotion Policy' has been announced to support agriculture-based industries.

Minister Vaghani said, "Over 5,000 agri-businesses, including agri-tech enterprises and MSMEs, will receive assistance under this policy. Support will include capital aid, interest subsidy, wage support, technology, training, certification, and export promotion. Micro agri-enterprises, FPOs, SHGs, and start-ups will also benefit."

The budget also promotes drone technology for smart farming, with Rs 15 crore allocated to support drone purchases for agricultural purposes.

For the fisheries sector, the state has allocated Rs 1,396 crore to strengthen Gujarat's 1,600 km coastline. This includes Rs 361 crore to develop infrastructure at 104 notified fish landing centres, and Rs 300 crore to provide VAT relief on diesel purchases for fishermen.

Additional allocations include Rs 107 crore for equipment support and aid to families of fishermen stranded in Pakistan, Rs 25 crore for mother vessels, Rs 15 crore for deep-sea vessels, and Rs four crore for establishing a new enforcement wing.

In the livestock sector, Rs 500 crore has been allocated under the 'Chief Minister Gaumata Poshan Yojana' to support gaushalas and animal care centres.

The budget also provides funds for mobile veterinary clinics, vaccination programmes, and the establishment of bio-CNG plants in four zones of the state to enhance farmers' income.

Minister Vaghani expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Finance Minister for presenting a historic budget that places the welfare of the 'annadata' at the centre.

The Gujarat budget for 202627 reflects a comprehensive approach to inclusive development, with significant provisions for agriculture, rural livelihoods, fisheries, livestock, research, mechanisation, and allied industries.
New Delhi, Feb 19 : Union Minister for Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday criticised the Karnataka government over the alleged allotment of civic amenity (CA) sites meant for public infrastructure to Congress party offices, questioning whether such land was the "ancestral property" of the Congress.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Joshi alleged that more than 24 civic amenity sites had been allotted at concessional rates for the construction of Congress offices. He termed the move improper and accused the Congress-led state government of misusing public resources.

He said the land, valued at crores of rupees and intended for public purposes such as parks, libraries and hospitals, had instead been allocated for "Congress Bhavans", which he described as a betrayal of public interest.

Joshi further alleged that while the government claims there is insufficient land available for housing the poor, it is simultaneously allotting public land for party offices.

Accusing the Congress of treating public property as its own asset, he questioned the rationale behind the allotments and demanded that they be reviewed.

He also called for the alleged allotments to be revoked and warned that the BJP would launch protests if corrective action was not taken.

The Karnataka BJP has alleged that the state government allotted 31 plots meant for civic use for party purposes and claimed that this amounted to misuse of public land. The party has released documents in support of its allegations and demanded that the allotments be cancelled.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy also criticised the move, stating that public land should not be allotted for political party offices at various administrative levels, including taluk and district levels.

The Karnataka government has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Jaipur, Feb 19 : Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat stated that the Rajasthan government is fully committed to bringing Yamuna water from the Hathinikund Barrage to the Shekhawati region.

This initiative, led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and supported by the Central Government, has reached a historic milestone with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Haryana, ensuring Rajasthanas share of water.

Minister Rawat explained that, under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MoU between Rajasthan and Haryana was signed on February 17, 2024, under the chairmanship of the Union Jal Shakti Minister, to prepare a joint Detailed Project Report (DPR). A joint task force has also been formed by both states. Haryana' written approval has been received for the alignment suggested by the consultants appointed by the task force.

The joint DPR will soon be submitted to the Central Water Commission. After obtaining the necessary approvals from various departments, work on the project will commence in the 2026-27 financial year.

A provision of Rs 32,000 crore has been made in the state budget for this long-awaited project.

Minister Rawat emphasised that the project is crucial for meeting the 30-year-old drinking water and other requirements of Sikar, Churu, Jhunjhunu, and surrounding areas. It is expected to significantly improve social, educational, economic, and health standards in the region.

To ensure year-round availability of Yamuna water, the project proposes constructing three dams in the Yamuna basin above Hathinikund Barrage. Construction on two of these dams -- Renukaji and Lakhwar -- is already underway.

Shekhawati region of Rajasthan comprises the districts of Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu.

The semi-arid region is known for its painted havelis, strong trading communities and a long tradition of migration to metropolitan cities and abroad.

Despite its cultural prominence, Shekhawati has faced persistent drinking water scarcity due to low rainfall and depleting groundwater levels.

Large parts of the region depend on tanker supply and groundwater extraction.

Agriculture remains largely rain-fed, with farmers vulnerable to drought cycles.

Over the years, demand for a reliable surface water source, including Yamuna water, has remained a key public issue in the region.
Los Angeles, Feb 19 : Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf, who was earlier arrested in New Orleans, was seen back out on the streets for Mardi Gras.

The actor, 39, was spotted on Bourbon Street dancing alongside revelers before city officials later shut down festivities, reports 'People' magazine.

In videos circulating online, the actor can be seen wearing Mardi Gras beads around his neck and holding blue-and-white jail release paperwork in his mouth as he moved through the crowd, according to local news outlet WGNO.

Earlier that morning, LaBeouf had been arrested following an alleged altercation outside a Royal Street business.

In a statement, the New Orleans Police Department said officers responded at approximately 12:45 a.m. on February 17, to the 1400 block of Royal Street "in response to a simple battery where two victims (two adult males), reported being assaulted. Investigators say a man identified as 39-year-old Shia LaBeouf was reportedly causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive at a Royal Street business. A staff member attempted to eject Mr. LaBeouf from the establishment. Once removed from the building, the victim reported being struck by LaBeouf who used his closed fists on the victim several times".

The victims reported that LaBeouf left, but then came back, acting even more aggressive", Police added, "Multiple people attempted to hold him down, he was eventually let up in hopes that he would leave, but he reportedly again struck the same victim with closed fists to the victim's upper body.

As per 'People', the actor then reportedly assaulted another person, punching him in the nose". Bystanders restrained the actor until officers arrived, authorities said. "LaBeouf was again held down until police arrived", the statement continued.

He was then taken to a hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. After receiving treatment, he was arrested and charged with two counts of simple battery, a misdemeanour. The actor appeared virtually in court Tuesday afternoon in connection with the charges.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (C) has said Tehran is hopeful that talks with the United States would "lead to a sustainable and negotiated solution" (Valentin Flauraud)  Valentin Flauraud/AFP/AFP

Global stock markets rose Wednesday as traders assessed company earnings and economic data, while oil prices surged more than four percent on a toughening US posture towards Iran.

All three major US indices advanced, with the broad-based S&P 500 winning 0.6 percent.

"You're getting a little bit of a bounce in some of the technology stocks that have been beaten up recently on fears of disruption over AI," said Tom Cahill of Ventura Wealth Management. "Bargain hunting in the software space that helped to push up the technology stocks."

But the indices retreated a bit from session highs after the release of Federal Reserve minutes which Cahill characterized as "a little more hawkish than some people were expecting."

Several Fed officials supported leaving the door open to interest rate hikes, citing concerns that inflation could remain stubbornly high and lifting the dollar.

Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt warned that Iran would be "wise" to do a deal with the United States as President Donald Trump once again hinted at military action.

On Wednesday, Trump again suggested the United States might strike Iran in a post on his Truth Social site, with a US military buildup underway in the Middle East.

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said there was a "step forward" in talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva but warned "we don't have much time."

The two sides took part in Omani-mediated talks in the Swiss city this week.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at investing and trading platform IG, said reports on possible military action in Iran "naturally raise the risk of some kind of closure of the Hormuz straits, and while an oil rally has been an off again/on again move for some weeks, sustained action in the region is likely to precipitate a significant move higher in prices."

Despite the geopolitical and technological uncertainty, European shares enjoyed a strong session.

London's FTSE 100 shares index led continental gains at the close with a rise of 1.2 percent after data showed UK inflation eased in January, paving the way for the Bank of England to cut its benchmark interest rate next month, weighing on the pound.

Paris's CAC 40 set a new record high for its part, moving just past its previous mark of 8,437.35 set on February 12 before settling back a bit for a day gain of 0.8 percent while Frankfurt closed up 0.9 percent.

Tokyo's stock market closed up one percent after Washington announced a first tranche of investments by Japan following a pledge totalling $550 billion in a trade deal with US President Donald Trump.
Technology

GravityBase Enhances Digital Solutions with Launch of New Website

Dubai, UAE  February 17, 2026  GravityBase, a leading provider of digital solutions, today announces the launch of its newly redesigned website, accessible at https://www.gravitybase.ai/. This updated platform showcases the companys commitment to helping businesses streamline operations and improve decision-making through advanced technology solutions.

The new website highlights GravityBases comprehensive suite of services, including custom software development, data solutions, and business consulting. Designed with the user in mind, the website features an intuitive layout that allows visitors to easily explore the companys offerings, browse industry-specific use cases, and access relevant case studies.

A standout feature of the website is its focus on addressing common operational challenges faced by businesses. The platform is tailored to assist industries such as finance, healthcare, and real estate by offering solutions aimed at reducing inefficiencies caused by disconnected data and manual processes. With a streamlined user experience and a robust information architecture, the website aims to help organizations adopt more efficient and data-driven workflows.

Looking to the future, GravityBase plans to continue expanding its online presence with additional resources, including new case studies, industry insights, and service offerings. The company is committed to staying at the forefront of technological innovation and providing businesses with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
Business

Reality Premedia Sets Benchmark as Indias Premier 3D Modeling and Rendering Partner

Pune, India  February 17, 2026  Reality Premedia, a creative agency with global reach, has established itself as the premier provider of 3D Modeling and rendering services in India. Known for blending technical precision with creative storytelling, the company empowers brands to transform complex product features into compelling, audience-ready visuals.

Service Excellence

Photorealistic Renders Studio and lifestyle imagery that enhances product appeal across digital and print platforms.

Studio and lifestyle imagery that enhances product appeal across digital and print platforms. Technical Visualizations: Exploded-view and industrial renders that simplify complex machinery and medical devices.

Exploded-view and industrial renders that simplify complex machinery and medical devices. Multi-Platform Adaptation Assets optimized for LinkedIn, Instagram, Amazon A+ Content, and e-commerce marketplaces.

Assets optimized for LinkedIn, Instagram, Amazon A+ Content, and e-commerce marketplaces. SEO-Driven Strategy Integration of keyword-rich copy with visuals to maximize discoverability and conversions.

Integration of keyword-rich copy with visuals to maximize discoverability and conversions. Global Inclusivity Campaigns are designed to resonate across diverse markets in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Client Success Stories

Furniture Brand Catalog Delivered photorealistic renders that boosted online engagement by 40% and improved conversion rates.

Delivered photorealistic renders that boosted online engagement by and improved conversion rates. Medical Device Animation Simplified product adoption for a healthcare company by creating clear, detailed 3D models and animations.

Simplified product adoption for a healthcare company by creating clear, detailed 3D models and animations. Industrial Equipment Showcase Produced exploded-view renders that reduced a clients sales cycle by 25%, enhancing training and trade show impact.

Leadership Statement

Reality Premedia is proud to be recognized as Indias premier 3D Modeling and Rendering partner, said Tushar Pawar, Creative Strategist at Reality Premedia. Our mission is to deliver visuals that are not only technically accurate but also emotionally resonant, helping brands connect with audiences worldwide.

About Reality Premedia

Headquartered in Pune, India, Reality Premedia specializes in:

Industrial and medical animation

Festive campaigns and multi-channel content adaptation

SEO-driven web copy and persuasive storytelling

By combining technical expertise with creative innovation, Reality Premedia consistently delivers campaigns that elevate brand positioning and drive commercial success.

Contact Information
Technology

Teens in AI becomes Approved Activity Provider for Young People doing their Duke of Edinburghs Award

London, UK - 17 February 2026 - Teens in AI is proud to announce that they are now an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) for the Skills section of The Duke of Edinburghs Award (DofE). Teens in AIs AI Adventures online, self-paced courses are designed for young people aged 1424 and can now count towards a young persons Bronze, Silver, or Gold Duke of Edinburghs Award.

Teens in AIs AI Adventures online, self-paced courses give young people of all backgrounds the chance to develop practical skills in AI, technology, and digital innovation. Participants build technical understanding alongside critical thinking, problem-solving, ethical awareness, and confidence in using technology responsibly. Teens in AIs mission is to prepare young people for an AI-enabled future by providing accessible education that supports personal development, broadens career aspirations, and allows them to gain recognised accreditation as part of their Bronze, Silver, and Gold DofE Awards.

To do their DofE, young people aged 14-24 choose activities in four sections: improving a Physical and Skills activity, Volunteering for a cause of their choice, and completing a demanding Expedition. Along the way they have fun, grow in resilience and self-belief, discover new talents and passions, and learn practical skills to help them in future  while working towards a highly respected Award.

More young people than ever started their Duke of Edinburghs Award in 2024-25  with half a million actively participating, with more schools, community organisations and prisons running the DofE.

Sophie Keaveney, Senior Operations Manager, The Duke of Edinburghs Award, said: We are delighted that Teens in AI is now an Approved Activity Provider for The Duke of Edinburghs Award, opening the door to more fantastic opportunities for young people to gain new skills that set them up for the future. We know that many of our DofE participants are passionate about technology and digital innovation and its brilliant that they will have the chance to follow this passion through their DofE Award.

Elena Sinel, Founder and CEO of Teens in AI, added: Being an Approved Activity Provider by The Duke of Edinburghs Award is a significant milestone for Teens in AI. It recognises the quality, safety and impact of our programmes, and reinforces the trust placed in us to support young peoples development. This approval enables more young people to gain essential AI and technology skills while working towards a respected Award, helping them build confidence, broaden their ambitions and prepare for the opportunities of the future.

The DofE charity is working to reach one million young people by the end of 2026. It has launched ambitious projects to fund schools and community organisations in the UKs most deprived areas to start offering the DofE, and to support more young people with additional needs and disabilities to achieve their DofE Awards. The DofE is also delivered in prisons and young offender institutions.

For more information about how we are supporting young people in The Duke of Edinburghs Award programme: https://learn.teensinai.com/pages/duke-of-edinburgh

Notes to Editors

Key Highlights:

Teens in AI is now an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) for The Duke of Edinburghs Awards.

Young people aged 1424 can complete the Skills section through online AI Adventures courses, earning recognised DofE accreditation.

Programmes equip participants with practical AI, digital, and problem-solving skills, supporting confidence and future career opportunities.

Expands access to AI education at a time of rising demand for digital skills among young people across the UK, supporting DofEs goal to reach one million participants by 2026.

About Teens in AI

Teens in AI is a multi-award winning global initiative launched in 2018 at the United Nations AI for Good Global Summit to inspire a new generation of young people to shape the future of technology with ethical intention. Since then, it has grown into a global social impact initiative active in more than 100 countries, supporting teenagers aged 12 to 18 to build the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to design AI solutions with genuine societal value. We deliver collaborative, hands-on learning experiences through hackathons, live programmes, and our AI Adventures online, self-paced MOOC courses, enabling young people to explore AI, engage with real-world challenges, and create projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We also provide training for teachers on using AI systems safely and ethically and on integrating AI literacy across subjects such as Science, Maths, Humanities, and Languages. This strengthens whole-school capability and supports schools to embed AI understanding within their existing curriculum. At its core, Teens in AI is committed to creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive tech ecosystem. Our mission is to equip young people everywhere with the knowledge and opportunities to thrive in an AI-driven world and to nurture the ethical leaders and innovators that global society needs.

For more information please contact:

Media enquiries: Bev Chislett, Head of Marketing, Teens in AI bev.chislett@teensinai.com

Website: www.teensinai.com

About Approved Activity Providers

Approved Activity Providers (AAP) are organisations, both commercial and charitable, whose opportunities have been approved by the DofE as meeting our sectional conditions and can count towards achieving a DofE Award. You can find out more about AAPs on the DofE website.

About the DofE

Since 1956, The Duke of Edinburghs Award (DofE) has been inspiring millions of young people of all backgrounds and abilities to explore who they are, grow in confidence and develop the skills they need to successfully navigate life. As we celebrate the DofE charitys 70th anniversary, our mission remains as relevant today as it has done for the last 70 years; helping young people build life-long belief in themselves, supporting them to take on their own challenges, follow their passions, and discover talents they never knew they had. The DofE is a global leader in young peoples personal development and is delivered in schools, colleges, community organisations, hospitals, prisons and more, all over the UK.

The Duke of Edinburghs Award is open to any young person aged 14-24. Participants build their own programmes  choosing activities and a cause to volunteer for, in order to achieve a Bronze, Silver or Gold DofE Award. In 2024/25, more than 342,000 young people started their DofE, with participants giving more than 5.2 million hours of volunteering in their communities.

Find out more at www.DofE.org.

For further information, interviews with young people or DofE spokespeople, or photographs, please contact the DofE press office on 01753 727420 or email media@DofE.org
Audible has begun rolling out a new feature that allows users to follow audiobook narration with synchronized, word-by-word highlighted textprovided they already own the matching e-book in their Kindle library.

This requirement is a significant caveat: the feature, which Audible is calling Read & Listen, is available only to customers who hold both the audiobook in their Audible library and the corresponding e-book in their Kindle library. Audible does not bundle the two formats; users who own only the audiobook will need to purchase the e-book separately to access the feature.

The app automatically identifies which e-books in a user's Kindle library have matching audiobooks, and a dedicated library filter surfaces eligible titles. It does work with the free ebooks that users have access to as members of Amazon Prime, such as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, for example, which will sync with the popular full-cast edition edition on Audible.

Similar functionality, dubbed Whispersync for Voice, has existed on Kindle devices for some time. Audible is now bringing it into its own app, consolidating the listen-and-read experience in a single interface. Users can switch between standard Listen mode and Read & Listen mode in real time, with narration and text remaining in sync throughout.

Audible chief product officer Andy Tsao said the company's own data supports the case for the feature. "Customers who currently listen while reading along are among Audible's most engaged users, consuming nearly twice as much content per month as audiobook-only customers," according to the press release. Tsao added: "Audiobooks count as reading. But now at Audible, you can read with your eyes too."

A U.S. survey cited by Audible found that more than nine in ten people who read and listen simultaneously agreed the practice improves cognitive retention and comprehension. The company said the feature is particularly suited to language learners and students.

The rollout is currently limited to the U.S., with the U.K., Australia, and Germany to follow in coming months. Audible said publishers will see no changes to existing royalty arrangements.
The lead-up to the release of Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights, which hit theaters on February 13, was awash with sweaty clips and technicolor movie posters showing Margot Robbie as Cathy arched in a yearning embrace with Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. It was the actors as sex symbols, and not their Victorian-era source material, that has elicited buzz for the film, and a wave of admonitions of its historical unfaithfulness.

With Charli XCXs melodrama-infused original score blaring, Emily Bronte's original 1847 text, a canonical commentary on race, patriarchy, and capitalism, could have been lost in the noise.

In an essay for Public Books, Shawna Liptona professor of critical studiesnoted how Warner Bros. has marketed the film to modern erotic romance readers. It promises a version of Wuthering Heights where the destructive obsession is the point, and the abuse and psychological torment is aestheticized as intoxicating lust, she writesand romance circles have come running for it.

Wuthering Heights events, watch parties, and meetups have taken over bookish corners across New York, including Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas book club screenings inviting readers, rereaders, and mild obsessives to debrief and delight in Fennells screen candy; Lizs Book Bars Valentines Day event featuring special editions of the book and locally-curated florals; and pre-screenings for book influencers hosted by intimacy brands.

Possessiveness over the classicaccompanied, inevitably, by the belief that its significance escapes modern readershas inspired widespread ire over the film. If people are only going to encounter Bronte's work through Fennells adaptation, the line of thought goes, then Wuthering Heights deserves something less, well...moist.

But what many outside of publishing circles may not realize is that people are reading the booknot just any people, but the sort of people whom classics gatekeepers are most worried about.

Book clubs new and old have picked up Bronte's Wuthering Heights in recent months. Emily Bronte's sales on Circana BookScan have already surpassed 100,000 units in the first two months of this year, compared to just over 180,000 units in all of 2025. A decent number, like that of romance publisher 831 Stories, operate in the orbit of online romance communities.

831's Wuthering Heights group read, which it ran through Substack with online book club Belletrist, launched with the steamy trailer for Fennell's take embedded in-line with the announcement. 831 cofounder Claire Mazur said they knew a lot of people would be talking about the book, and they wanted to make it feel more "manageable" to approach.

Their group read broke down the book into weekly chunks and ran a chat for resource-sharing and discussion. Threads on the characters' motivations and marriageoccasionally collapsing into modern romance-trope shorthandensued. Mazur said that participants found the book quite sexy, "even without it being really explicit on the page."

Though a small number of readers were disparaged to find that sexiness was of the repressed, brooding variety, most approached comparisons to Fennell's interpretation with genuine curiosity or humor. Bronte, for instance, often uses "ejaculate"meaning a sharp utterancein her dialogue tags. Near the end of the group read, one subscriber wrote, "I have a feeling this new movie is going to be nothing like the book."

After viewing the film, romance author Rebecca F. Kenney, who penned her own "spicy" Bronte spinoff entitled Ruthless Devotion (Sourcebooks Casablanca) in 2025, told PW that it was "wild, vicious, and glorious as the original." Fennell "gave me things I craved that weren't in the original, except maybe hinted at," she added.

It may be true that, as St. Martin's editor Vanessa Aguirre told PW, these readers are devouring Wuthering Heights as a "dark romance," which combines Gothic aesthetics, "big feelings," and "angst" to vindicate a morally grey affair as true love. But the words on the page also resist these frameworks. Bronte's story is irrevocably tragic, as Lipton rightly noted.

Many other book clubs are using the lustful for the film as an excuse to revisit Bronte's bad romance. The New York Times and New York Public Library both ran Wuthering Heights book clubs with the express intention of considering its new place in the zeitgeist. When Vogue launched its book club in January and announced Wuthering Heights as its first pick, staff culture writer Emma Specter wrote that the "Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi of it all" was welcome, but not central, to the discussion.

Former Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika Jones also chose Wuthering Heights as the first title for her new Substack book club, which is suffused with the chic intellectualism of glossy magazines. Jones, who holds a PhD in English from Columbia, writes posts that are conversational without sacrificing analytical rigor, discussing "why Emily Bronte's windswept romance is actually a novel of revenge," the trope of the orphan, and the deceptiveness of its "tempestuous teenage" appearance.

After viewing a pre-screening of the film, Jones returned to her Substack with a list of spoiler-free notes on Fennell's "choices with respect to the novel." It's hopeful to hear her idealism about book clubs, the way they can cut through the myopia of individual readings and redraw well-worn lines of criticism.

"I think anything that gets people together to talk about books is high on my list of excellent cultural situations," Jones told PW.

Jones doesn't pretend to know the "fortuitous" circumstances behind Wuthering Heights's ascent. Still, if we're going to keep making 200 year-old novels sexy again, New Grub Street by George Gissing and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins are at the top of her wish list.
Two businesses founded by immigrants from Argentina and Peru, respectively, are looking to bolster the availability of Spanish-language books in the United States amid a hostile political climate, distribution challenges, and what they see as limited options for stateside Spanish-language readers. Their efforts point to a growing Spanish-language publishing community in the U.S., and the tendency of domestic publishers to focus on titles from Spain and Mexico while overlooking those from South America.

Gabriela Adamo, the former director of the Buenos Aires International Book Fair, who splits her time between Buenos Aires and Seattle, cofounded the subscription book club Lineas del Sur in 2020 to connect readers across the U.S. with contemporary Latin American literature not typically available in bookstores here. Now, she and cofounder Mariana Gutheim, an Argentine architect living in San Francisco, are growing the club to meet what they see as a real demand for Spanish-language literature outside of the usual offerings.

Every other month, Lineas del Sur picks one title from a Latin American independent publisher that would otherwise be difficult to purchase in the U.S. It imports and mails copies of that title to paid members (currently, there are roughly 70), with each shipment also including a specially designed postcard or bookmark from a Latin American artist. In the past three years, the club has selected 20 books from 16 indie presses, including Antilope in Mexico, Angosta in Colombia, Concreto in Argentina, and Cuneta in Chile. Featured authors have included such heavyweights of literary fiction as Uruguays Fernanda Trias, Ecuadors Monica Ojeda, and Argentinas Gabriela Cabezon Camara.

The Seattle-based club has grown rapidly over the years, with online meetings drawing members from as far afield as Florida, Ohio, and Texas. It also runs in-person meetings in Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle, as well as virtual literary panels, readings, author talks, and discussions on such subjects as Andean gothic fiction, Caribbean literature, and women writers.

Adamo says she sees Lineas del Sur as a kind of testing ground for understanding Spanish-language readers, who are often pigeonholed or otherwise misunderstood by U.S. publishers. Spanish is not one thing in the U.S. There are so many different kinds of Spanish and so many different ways it is presentedradio, TV, booksand for different communities, which means it is fragmented and difficult to define.

Looking ahead, Adamo says the club is exploring print-on-demand options and bookstore partnerships so that it doesnt have to rely on importing books, which could become challenging due to the Trump administrations constantly changing tariff policies. (Print books are generally exempt from current tariffs.)

Lineas del Sur is also planning to launch a childrens book club in March, spotlighting titles for young readers alongside its usual literary fiction selections. The timing coincides with recent crackdowns on Spanish-speaking immigrants, including children. We think its particularly important now to encourage Spanish-speaking adults to read to their children in Spanish, Adamo says.

An emphasis on authenticity

Ensuring young readers in the U.S. have access to Spanish-language books is also on the mind of Adriana Roca, who founded the Lima, Perubased childrens publisher Pichoncito in 2019 and has since built a catalog of 60 titles. Now, shes eyeing the U.S. market. In 2023, she moved to Boston to launch English-language editions of Pichoncitos books while continuing to grow its Spanish-language list.

It was obvious that the U.S. market needed the types of books and content we were providing, says Roca, a former business journalist. While Latin America is part of the daily conversation here, it is very superficialand what we produce is authentic.

Pichoncito publishes illustrated books about Peruvian history, culture, and food. Among its first English-language titles to be published in the U.S. under the new Pichoncito Fly Books imprint is Great Civilizations of Peru: 5,000 Years of Ancient Andean Cultures, released last fall. The original Spanish edition was featured in the 2025 BolognaRagazzi Awards Amazing Bookshelf exhibition at the Bologna Childrens Book Fair.

Rounding out the publishers inaugural list of English-language titles, which are distributed by IPG, are books on Peruvian cuisine, Machu Picchu, and the history of the Incas. Roca says four more English titles are also in the works.

Perhaps even more ambitiously, Pichoncito will bring the original Spanish-language editions of these titles to the U.S. starting in September. I saw how enthusiastically these books were received, Roca says, and it gave me confidence that we could also publish our Spanish-language titles here.

An especially warm reception from booksellers also convinced Roca there is demand for a greater variety of Spanish-language titles. Talking to booksellers like Los Amigos Books in Los Angeles and Chau Luna in New York, who have been fans of our work, its clear that booksellers are really craving Spanish-language books that go deeper than the surface, Roca says.

Getting creative

Adamos experience of running Lineas del Sur has likewise proven to her that theres a real demand for books that go deeper. She says theres a robust Spanish-speaking audience who want to read literaturethe stories of Latin Americans in their own voices, and not just the Bibles, commercial fiction, and self-help that tend to dominate the Spanish-language category in the U.S.

But with the closure of Lectorum, the largest independent distributor of Spanish-language books in the U.S., last fall, making Spanish-language books available stateside has become especially challenging.

Lineas del Sur, for one, has gotten creative by partnering with Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle and Medicine for Nightmares in San Francisco to make some of its book club picks available in those storesa move Adamo calls an experiment. She says she has also approached the American Booksellers Association about establishing a committee for Spanish-language bookselling.

In the meantime, Adamo is working with a group of publishing professionals, led by editor and scholar Adriana Pacheco, to boost the visibility of the Spanish-language literary ecosystem in the U.S. Their mission: to launch a new online platform, Somos Literatura, that can serve as a comprehensive directory of Spanish-language publishing in Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.

For Adamo, the platform addresses a big problem. Theres little mixing between American publishers or the English-language world of publishers, distributors, and booksellers, and their Spanish-language counterparts in the U.S., she says. Whats more, the Spanish-language publishing in North America is fragmentary, making it difficult to share resources and act collectively.

In response, Somos Literatura is working to collect information about Spanish-language publishers, literary agents, translators, book fairs, awards, writing programs, and more into one database. Other founding members include Dejanira Alvarez, who runs the Spanish-language New York City International Book Fair; Eunice Rodriguez, an editor at Sundial House, Columbia Universitys Latin American literature imprint; and Rosy Toledo and Lori Celaya, cofounders of the bilingual publisher Colibri, dually based in Los Angeles and Oak Ridge, Tenn.

The idea is to strengthen visibility, build community, and support the growth and recognition of Spanish-language literature in the U.S., says Pacheco, who lives in Austin, Tex., and also founded the literary podcast Hablemos Escritoras, which spotlights Spanish-language women writers and sells Spanish- and English-language editions of their books through its own Bookshop.org storefront.

Pacheco notes that, in the climate of fear engendered by ICEs violent targeting of immigrants, theres no rush to build the platform. She adds, If people dont want to share informationand they might not want to right nowthey dont have to.

Efforts like Somos Literatura suggest that while individual operations such as Lineas del Sur and Pichoncito remain modest in scale, the Spanish-language publishing community in the U.S. is getting more organized and more visible. Both Adamo and Roca say theyre growing their businesses not despite the current political moment but because of it.

I think big, beautiful books about Latin America are very important right now, says Roca, who aims to double Pichoncitos U.S. output in the coming years. The more you learn about Latin America, and the more you know about its history and why it matters, connects the two continents in a way that helps you understand where people are migrating from and the culture that they bring and how sophisticated it actually is.

Adamo agrees, emphasizing the need for international cooperation among publishers, which can ensure that more nuanced, diverse titles from Latin America reach U.S. readers. Latin American publishers produce wonderful books, but then they dont know how to get them to readers who might be interested in them beyond their own borders, she says. We are helping.

Read more from our books in Spanish feature.
This weekend, dignitaries from around the world gathered in Germany for the Munich Security Conference. While attention is focused on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, thousands around the world held rallies in support of protesters in Iran. These gatherings demonstrate the need for the US to get involved on behalf of the protests. If they dont, the consequences of inaction could be just as bad.

Over the past couple of months, thousands, if not millions, of Iranians have protested across the country against the Islamic regime. Despite a brutal government crackdown killing thousands, glimmers of hope remain. That is why hundreds of thousands of members of the Iranian diaspora rallied in Munich, Los Angeles, and Toronto over the weekend in solidarity with the protesters and with the symbolic leader of the movement, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.

Students of history know that the biggest threat to any regime is the people within its borders. Indeed, the Mullahs who control Iran know this all too well, as it is exactly how they rose to power in 1979. A deal with the United States allows the Islamic regime to reassert control over the population, ensuring the continued survival of its regime. If the external threat of the US is eliminated or postponed, then the government can focus its attention inward.

That may sound like good news for some in the West, but this inward focus is only temporary. The Islamic regime is by its very nature expansionist, viewing the destruction of the West and Israel specifically as a principal goal of divine nature. Once the Mullahs stifle the current wave of protests and eliminate Western sanctions, they will once again pour resources into rebuilding their network of proxies. Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis were all weakened in their conflict with Israel, but a respite gives them time to reconstitute with Iranian help. A deal between the US and Iran would make this possible, leading to future terrorist attacks.

Another consequence of the US military failing to act would be the continuation of Irans nuclear program. Iranian leadership maintains commitment to its nuclear program, so the nuclear threat isnt going away. Iranian proxies have killed hundreds of Americans over the past few decades without nuclear weapons, so preventing the regime from acquiring them is a must for US security. Even in the past few years, thousands of Israelis were killed in the October 7th attack by Hamas, and tens of thousands have been killed in the ensuing war. A nuclear-armed Iran could exceed that death toll by magnitudes with the help of its proxies.

Then, there is the direct threat posed to the lives of our leaders, including President Trump. As true believers in their cause, the Iranian regime feels justified in taking out whoever stands in their way, including President Trump, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former National Security Adviser John Bolton. It would be foolish to trust that a regime that has already tried to assassinate members of our government will not try again if it believes doing so is in the regimes interests.

None of this means that thousands of US soldiers should storm the beaches of Iran for an Iraq-style regime change. As mentioned, if regime change is coming, it is likely to come from within. The Iranian people are tired of the failed leadership of the Islamic Republic. If they are ready for a change, who are we to stand in their way? The US military should not unilaterally bring down the regime in Tehran, but it can help the Iranian people. While the Iranian people chant for the downfall of the Mullahs, the US military can play a small role by undertaking limited strikes on military targets.

Finally, is the blow to Americas credibility if we fail to act in Iran. The United States is indisputably the worlds superpower, but that power is severely limited if our adversaries dont believe well back up what we say. If Trump promises to help the protesters and doesn't, our enemies could look at us and think they can invade their neighbors, and the US will do nothing to stop it. Its what led to Putin invading Ukraine in 2022 and could lead the Chinese to move on Taiwan. Ironically, not acting militarily could cause more conflict.

The Iranian regime may or may not fall as a result of the protests going on over the past few months. Either way, regime change is the responsibility of the Iranian people. However, that doesnt mean the United States cant put a thumb on the scale. By taking military action against Iran, the US can further weaken an anti-American regime and empower forces that wish to bring about change. If it does nothing, the United States will continue to reap the fruits of Iranian-backed terrorism and suffer a blow to its credibility.
Bank of Beirut UK has transitioned to the Temenos Core Banking and Payments platform, completing the move from its previous system in a process that lasted just over 15 months.

Implementation was carried out in partnership with LTIMindtree, a Temenos delivery partner.

With the new core banking system, Bank of Beirut UK is now positioned to provide a complete range of retail, commercial, and deposit products.

The platform also supports enhanced trade finance services for businesses engaged in cross-border activity.

Bank of Beirut UK CEO Sophoklis Argyrou said: Migrating from a legacy system to Temenos modern core banking and payments platform allows us to scale our trade finance business and strengthen our corporate and retail banking proposition. We can now offer a broader portfolio of products and deliver superior customer experiences with greater speed and efficiency.

This system upgrade brings Bank of Beirut UKs operations in line with those of its parent institution, Bank of Beirut in Lebanon.

Both entities now share a unified technological foundation, which is expected to streamline processes, lower operational costs and speed up time-to-market for new offerings.

Temenos Europe managing director Mark Yamin-Ali said: This successful go-live shows Temenos unique strength to deliver comprehensive, regionalised solutions on a unified platform, helping banks in multiple markets to innovate and grow. Were proud to welcome Bank of Beirut UK as a new Temenos client in Europe and to build on our long-standing relationship with Bank of Beirut.

Earlier this month, Bahrain-based Bank ABC completed the migration of ila Bank, its digital subsidiary, to the Temenos platform hosted on Amazon Web Services.

"Bank of Beirut UK transitions to Temenos core banking" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




According to the progressive New Statesman, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is a left-wing icon, a man whose words carry weight. Elevated to his current post in 2018, one of his first acts was to offer amnesty to Catalan separatist leaders in return for parliamentary support.

The cosmopolitan technocrat  the first Spanish prime minister to speak fluent English  has overseen his nation create Europes fastest growing major economy by relying heavily on migrant labor and a 60% hike in the minimum wage. Today, two-thirds of new jobs are filled by migrants, and they have delivered 80% of the nations GDP growth over the last six years.

Many of these foreign workers are high-profile professionals, including athletes, lured to Spain by the so-called Beckham Law of 2005, which entitles qualifying foreigners to pay just 24% of their Spanish income (up to 600,000 euros) in taxes for up to six years (compared to the 47% normal rate for income about 300,000 euros).

The non-resident status proffered by the Beckham law limits the impact of Spains wealth tax and a new solidarity tax solely to assets within Spain. It also grants disabled descendants, spouses, and children under age 25 the opportunity to leverage Beckhams benefits.

Under a December 2023 Royal Decree, individuals who became Spanish tax residents due to a move in 2022 or 2023 could also access the Beckham regime if they applied (as must all Beckham beneficiaries) within six months of registering for Spanish National Insurance. The changes also allowed certain self-employed people and digital nomads to qualify.

But, many are now learning, the devil is in the details.

Regulatory changes in 2022 to the wealth tax regime gave auditors a financial stake in every euro of unpaid tax liability they could claim was owed by often unsuspecting Beckham beneficiaries. A loophole empowered auditors to revoke Beckham status retroactively and impose back taxes, plus penalties, and interest.

Under Spanish law, contesting an audit requires posting the full amount claimed up front. As legal proceedings can take years, most who contest an auditors claims settle out of court for a fraction of the assessed amount.

The kicker? The auditor is paid based on the initial assessment, regardless of any settlement  a huge incentive to overreach.

The obvious unfairness of this bait-and-switch scheme has angered many Beckham taxpayers who claim the State Tax Administration Agency (AEAT) has established a pattern of violating fundamental rights and acting outside the rule of law. According to Robert Amsterdam, founder of the law firm Amsterdam and Partners, AEAT systematically criminalizes taxpayers, operates under a psychology of fraud, and forces inspectors to act as predators through this sketchy bonus system of penalties.

Amsterdam contends these retroactive actions and disproportionate sanctions violate fundamental rights, but AEAT contends that issuance of a Beckham certificate of inclusion merely acknowledges the application but does not imply approval of Beckham tax status. The AEATs retroactive reinterpretation of Beckham law has left hundreds of taxpayers facing multimillion-dollar tax liabilities and sanctions dating back more than a decade.

Does any rational person believe that a six-year investment commitment would be made on such a flimsy contingency?

Amsterdam and Partners has initiated actions against AEAT before the United Nations, the OECD, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the European Court of Human Rights.

Their complaint over Beckham highlights the structural legal uncertainty built into the Spanish tax system. Inspection procedures often exceed the limits of proportionality, extend to areas outside tax matters (including personal lives), and apply indeterminate legal concepts.

Combined with the auditor incentives, the system generates a conflict of interest that questions the impartiality of the Sanchez administration. As more voices question the AEATs practices and institutional coherence, and the fact that more than 60% of those who contest audits win their cases, suggests the Spanish government rewards immediate collection over tax justice.

That progressively erodes the trust of citizens and companies.

Despite Spains economic growth spurt, foreign disinvestment in Spain increased by 115% in 2024 and rose another 35.6% in the first quarter of 2025. Moreover, there was a 27.2% decline in net productive foreign investment, the lowest since 2020. Investment from the United States, the largest source of Spains foreign investment, fell 40.7% in 2024 from 2023 levels.

Meanwhile, government revenues were exploding  from 193,951 million euros in 2027 to an expected 352,625 million euros in 2026. Spain today has nearly 2.7 million more inhabitants than it did in 2017  but Spaniards have gone from contributing an average of 4,147 euros in taxes in 2017 to 6,573 euros in 2025  a 58.1% increase.

As if this were not enough, a new legislative proposal, under the guise of curbing real estate speculation, would impose a 100% tax on property transfers made by non-resident foreigners.

Amsterdam says taxing the purchase of housing by non-EU foreigners at 100% could violate both the free movement of capital and the Spanish Constitutions ban on confiscation. The move would effectively entrap Beckham investors, preventing them from cutting and running despite the bait and switch revocation of their authorizations.

Amsterdam, last September took yet another concern over the Spanish taxation scheme to the U.S. Treasury Department. Why is Spain, he asked, using Huawei servers to store sensitive data  including the AEATs storing of tax data  when both the U.S. and the EU have banned these servers in their respective jurisdictions over concerns with privacy and data security?

The AEATs use of (Chinese) Huawei servers raises serious implications, Amsterdam said, about the exchange of information provisions in the U.S.-Spain Treaty, a concern expressed by several members of Congress who urged National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard to redact details of information shared with the Spanish government.

Amsterdam urged the Treasury, due to AEATs systemic data protection violations, to take appropriate steps to protect U.S. citizens until it can confirm that U.S. taxpayers are not being compromised by the AEATs use of Huawei servers.

The Amsterdam firm last May issued an initial report, Hacienda vs. the People, which revealed evidence that tax offenses were frequently invented by staff incentivized by bonuses and driven by an organizational culture that imposes peer and management pressure to assess more tax regardless of the accuracy of their analysis.

The law firms Madrid Memorandum, a deeper analysis of Spain and its peers, will show just how much of an outlier Spain is on taxpayer rights in law and practice. The memo includes recommendations on what can be done to bring Hacienda and AEAT back into line with international norms.

Meanwhile, Pedro Sanchezs government continues to swing leftward, seemingly less concerned about the rights of the investor class and more about the half a million foreign workers newly granted legal status  the very people Sanchez says are bringing prosperity to his country.

Amsterdam, however, is not done. Spain, he says, needs help. Its people need help. Americans who have moved to Spain need help. Help against the tyranny of Hacienda and the AEAT.

Duggan Flanakin is a senior policy analyst at the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow who writes on a wide variety of public policy issues.
NEW from Gemtech comes the Nebula 5.7 Titanium suppressor! Designed specifically for 5.7x28mm, the Nebula 5.7 features a stainless steel blast baffle, 3D printed Titanium core, and is optimized for 5.7x28mm. The Nebula is also compatible with .22 LR, .17 HMR, and .22 WMR.

Every Nebula ships with a direct-thread 1/228 to HUB mount. For other mounting options, the Nebula has industry-standard HUB/Plan-B mounting.

At only 9 ounces, the Nebula is extremely lightweight due to the 3D printed Titanium construction. The stainless steel blast baffle offers enhanced durability and allows the Nebula to be full-auto rated even with high-pressure PDWs. Topped off with a black high-temp Cerakote suppressor finish paired with an Armornite mount finish. Durable finishes to protect the outside of the suppressor and keep it looking good for years to come.

Optimized for 5.7x28mm the Nebula is capable of delivering enhanced noise suppression without compromising reliability. 3D printed Titanium manages gas flow and sheds excess heat to keep the system running even during extended firing schedules.

SPECS:

Width: 1.2 in

Length: 7.1 in

Weight: 9 oz

Materials: 4140 Mount (QPQ), 17-4PH Tube, 6Al4V Titanium Core

Caliber Rating: 5.7x28mm, ,22LR, .17HMR, .22WMR.

MOUNT TYPE: 1/2-28

Color/Finish: Black

Tube Material: Stainless Steel

Hub Compatible: Yes

Full Auto Rated

MSRP $550

With Gemtech's adoption of 3-D printing manufacturing capabilities, the Nebula 5.7 is our first hybrid design. We focused on optimizing this suppressor specifically for the 5.7x28mm cartridge, to ensure enhanced performance without compromising durability, sound suppression, and overall weight. Our dedication to quality and performance makes this suppressor a game-changer, said Corey Beaudreau, Gemtech Product Manager.

The Nebula 5.7 is available now from Gemtech dealers and retailers. Well be taking a hands-on closer look soon!
When many students think about the Student Government Association, they think about parking and football tickets. But the role of any representative is to do just that: represent. After overhearing a frustrated remark about hot sauce bottles always being empty, stolen or spilled, I met with UGA Dining to pitch hot sauce pumps for the dining halls. While the change seems small, showing up for the student body means fighting for all changesno matter how small.

SGA's former advisor, Taylor Cain, always stressed the importance of showing up. She said, "Show up, and show up to the places you aren't expected to show up to."

I took that seriously.
The University of Georgia announced plans to invest $800,000 into a pilot program allowing thousands of students access to premium AI tools, including ChatGPT Edu and Gemini Pro, in spring 2026. The announcement was made at the 2026 State of the University Address, given by UGA President Jere W. Morehead.
Walton Goggins and Chloe Grace Moretz are to lead the action-comedy Mister.

Walton Goggins and Chloe Grace Moretz are to lead the action-comedy Mister

The 54-year-old actor and the Kick-Ass star, 29, will front Thunder Roads upcoming movie, Deadline has said.

Before Goggins boarded Mister, Josh Brolin had been attached to the action film, but had to exit the project due to scheduling conflicts.

According to Deadline, Mister follows a man (Goggins) who wakes up in a strange house covered in blood and comes to realize his true identity while fighting off contract killers from his past - including everyone from his exes to his best friend.

To get out, he teams up with his estranged daughter (Moretz) who also has ended up in the family business, but they will need to repair their relationship in order to survive.

In a statement, producer Basil Iwanyk said: Walton and Chloe are the perfect pairing to capture Misters heart and humor  while delivering some of the most ambitious and wildly entertaining action sequences audiences will see on screen this year.

Mister will mark the directorial debut of Wade Eastwood, who previously worked on Mission: Impossible  The Final Reckoning, Mission: Impossible  Fallout and Jumanji: The Next Level.

The filmmaker said in a statement of his own: From our first conversations, I knew Walton would bring an unpredictable spark you simply cant manufacture - hes electric.

Chloe brings an incredible mix of strength, vulnerability and razor-sharp timing. Together, they make Mister exactly what we set out to create: bold, funny and completely full-throttle.

Iwanyk and Erica Lee will produce Mister through Thunder Road - best known for helming John Wick - while Nick Inglis and Wayne Marc Godfrey will produce under the Bright White Light banner.

As well as producing Mister, Inglis wrote the script for Mister.

Executive producers for the flick include Chase Vergari, Ibrahim Mohammed, Eric Handler, Will Flynn, and Sophie Meyer, who will oversee for Bright White Light.

Deadline reports filming for Mister is due to start in Madrid next month, with more casting due to be announced.

Goggins could recently be seen in Amazon Prime Videos second season of Fallout, which is based on Bethesda Softworks post-apocalyptic survival video game franchise of the same name.

The show follows Lucy (Ella Purnell), Maximus (Aaron Moten) and The Ghoul (Goggins) as they battle to survive a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles.

Following the success of the first two seasons of Fallout, Goggins teased it was just the beginning for the series.

Speaking with Rolling Stone AU/NZ, he said: I was so grateful for the effort put in by everyone in season one.

Looking at it now, it feels like its the overture, like its just the beginning. We really begin to look under the covers in this second iteration of this experience, and we know now that we have a season three, so the story will continue.
As many travel agencies face pressures around strong competition and a market that was slashed to primarily niche customers by the rise of technology, many honest companies with strong community roots have seen their profits drop to the point of having to shut down.

Others have been caught in webs of fraudulent activity that cast the entire industry in a bad light. In the winter of 2026, two travel agencies in the Canadian province of British Columbia were temporarily stripped of their license to operate. Regulators had received multiple complaints from customers who booked flight-hotel packages to various holiday destinations, only to discover that parts of their booking were invalid, and they could not reach the agency for refunds.

Investigators discovered that Aigoout Travel, one of the agencies that lost its operating license in January 2026, had not submitted any tax or financial documents since 2024.

Government agency bars Baldwins Travel owners from serving as directors

The latest instance of a travel agency to be caught in a protracted scam scandal is Baldwins Travel in the United Kingdom.

Repurchased by distressed-business private equity firm Inc & Co Group in 2021, the Kent County-based travel agency whose name dates back to 1891 was placed under court-ordered receivership in May 2025, reported Travel Weekly.

This came after new owners Scott Dylan, David Antrobus, and Jack Mason were each sentenced to 22 months in prison when the High Court in London found them in contempt of court for trying to move more than 14 million in assets abroad amid an investigation into "unauthorized borrowing."

Related: Travel agency shuts down after losing license, all trips canceled

At the time it was shut down, Baldwins Travel operated 11 branches across the United Kingdom and advertised holiday packages to cities across Europe and other popular vacation destinations such as Las Vegas and Dubai.

The High Court ruling found that Dylan, Antrobus, and Mason channeled more than 13.9 million into companies that it would open and close, in a convoluted operation that left creditors short of over 52 million.

After the former directors failed to appeal their sentences, Baldwins Travel was also expelled from the Association of British Travel Agents Limited (ABTA) and ceased operations in April 2025, according to Travel Weekly.

Baldwins Travel was based in the British ceremonial county of Kent.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

Baldwins Travel operated "little short of a scam," investigator says

With Westgates Restructuring now appointed to oversee the company and any of its assets, Travel Weekly noted that Dylan and Antobus have now also been banned from serving as its directors for a respective 13 and 10 years by the British Insolvency Service.
Jaguar Land Rover will begin assembling premium cars at its new Tamil Nadu plant on February 9, marking a step towards full-scale luxury car manufacturing in India.

IMAGE: Range Rover Evoque. All photographs: Kind courtesy Range Rover/Facebook

Key Points JLR to begin operations at its 9,000-crore Panapakkam plant from February 9.`

First instance of complete premium car manufacturing in India, not just CKD assembly.

Range Rover Evoque to be the first model produced.

Plant designed for 250,000 vehicles annual capacity.

India's First Full-Scale Premium Car Production

Tata Motors arm Jaguar Land Rover will begin assembling premium cars at its new factory in Tamil Nadu from February 9.

This would be the first time a complete manufacturing of a premium car will happen in India, rather than it just being assembled.

9,000-Crore Bet on Tamil Nadu

The 9,000-crore unit will assemble the Range Rover Evoque, and Tata Motors has lined up ambitious plans to use the unit for exports and future electric vehicle production.

According to sources, Chief Minister M K Stalin will launch the first vehicle from the unit. Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran is also expected to be present at the event.

For Tamil Nadu too, this is a flagship project as it is a key link in the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, one of the five upcoming mega-industrial corridors in India.

Boost to Chennai-Bengaluru Corridor

Two major infrastructure projects -- the Bangalore-Chennai Expressway and the Bengaluru-Chennai Dedicated Freight Corridor -- are expected to boost connectivity along the corridor.

"Anchoring an investment of this scale during a period of major global geopolitical uncertainty, and that too at this pace, reflects strong confidence in the states industrial ecosystem, policy clarity, and execution capability.

"This project further strengthens Tamil Nadus position as a trusted destination for high-value manufacturing and long-term global partnerships, said T R B Rajaa, Tamil Nadu industries minister.

Exports and EVs in Focus

The company has already announced that the state-of-the-art production facility, located in Panapakkam, Ranipet district, will produce both cars and sport utility vehicles.

We acquired the Panapakkam land for phase two of expansion for the group. Most of our plants are running at full capacity, and in a couple of years, we will need a full-scale plant there. Phase one begins with an assembly unit because some existing plants lack space, said Dhiman Gupta, chief financial officer, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, adding that while the plant will start with JLR, the India business will also ramp up capacity there over time.

Pune Assembly to Shift Gradually

The site, designed for an annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles, will eventually absorb more JLR assembly currently handled at Tatas Pune plant.

When asked about free trade agreements, and tariff phase-outs, the company said its impact will not be immediate.

Being asked whether there have been any changes in JLRs assembly plans post the India-US trade deal, the company said that there is no change at this point.

No Immediate Tariff Impact

JLR continues its assembly operations in Pune. Tariff ramp-downs are not immediate, and we need to analyse direct imports versus completely knocked down (CKD) assembly economics, local cost structures, and volume-to-investment considerations. It is too premature to comment further, Gupta said.

Currently, JLRs Pune facility manufactures CKD units of Range Rover Velar, Evoque, Jaguar F-Pace, and Discovery Sport. Recently, the facility added Range Rover and Range Rover Sport to its production line.

Mercedes-Benz, the leader in Indias luxury car market, started its Pune unit as early as 1994. Other major players such as BMW too have assembly plants.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Firm to invest Rs 1,000 cr to set up AC mfg unit

Key Points Carrier Air Conditioning and Refrigeration signed a deal to invest around Rs 1,000 crore for a new manufacturing unit at Sri City.

Sri City has a total of 10 HVAC manufacturers and around 32 suppliers in its ecosystem.

Carrier took just eight months from their first visit to the land handover and project finalisation

The new Carrier facility will come up on 39 acres at Sri City

So far, Sri City has seen investments to the tune of Rs 12,000 crore from 10 major AC manufacturers, creating 25,000 jobs

Other than Carrier, LG and Daikin, the other AC manufacturers in Sri City are Blue Star Climatech, Havells India, Amber Enterprises India, Epack Durable, PG Technoplast, Hisense, and Thermax

Sri City in Andhra Pradesh is dubbed the Cooling City of India, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the air conditioners (ACs) manufactured in the country.

On Tuesday, this industrial hub added one more feather to its cooling credentials.

Carrier Sets shop in Sri City

Carrier Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Ltd, the Indian arm of the oldest AC company in the world, Carrier Global, signed a deal to invest around Rs 1,000 crore for a new manufacturing unit at Sri City.

According to an industry source, with the upcoming projects and expansions by LG Electronics and Daikin Air Conditioning India, the share of Sri City in Indias AC manufacturing map may increase to 60 per cent by 2027, and to 70 per cent by 2028.

Carrier Global Corporation is an American HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) giant, which was started in 1915 by none other than Willis Carrier, who invented the first modern electrical air-conditioning system in 1902.

Also read: What Star Rating Does Your AC Have?

At present, Sri City has a total of 10 HVAC manufacturers and around 32 suppliers in its ecosystem.

Carriers Rs 1,000 crore investment is a powerful validation of Andhra Pradeshs Speed of Doing Business approach.

"What makes this project even more special is that Carrier took just eight months from their first visit to the land handover and project finalisation  a timeline that reflects our commitment to swift decision-making and execution," said Nara Lokesh, minister of information technology (IT), electronics and communications, Andhra Pradesh, who led the talks with the company.

The new Carrier facility

The new Carrier facility will come up on 39 acres at Sri City and it aligns with Andhra Pradeshs vision of attracting high-value, technology-driven industries while building globally competitive manufacturing clusters.

The project will create around 1,000 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs.

Carrier will be manufacturing commercial and industrial ACs in Sri City, and room ACs are not part of its production plans now.

So far, Sri City has seen investments to the tune of Rs 12,000 crore from 10 major AC manufacturers, creating 25,000 jobs.

"Similarly, 32 vendors together have invested Rs 4,600 crore so far, creating 13,000 jobs in the region, Sri City managing director Ravindra Sannareddy told Business Standard.

Other AC players

Other than Carrier, LG and Daikin, the other AC manufacturers in Sri City are Blue Star Climatech, Havells India, Amber Enterprises India, Epack Durable, PG Technoplast, Hisense, and Thermax.

The development of Sri City is giving an advantage to AC manufacturers in terms of access to the entire South India region, and also helping in better raw material inflow through nearby ports like Chennai, Krishnapatnam, and Ennore.

Carrier's growth plan

The consumer durable capital for many years was the National Capital Region because of players like Samsung, LG, Carrier, and others.

"We were the first to acquire land and commission a factory in Sri City, as we were leaders in South India.

"Manufacturing from North India and transporting to South India adds another 4 per cent cost and also inventory holdings of another 10 days. Hence, a unit in South India is advantageous for all companies, said B Thiagarajan, managing director, Blue Star.

When we moved in, I wanted a readymade factory. After that, Daikin, Amber, and LG all moved into that place.

"Since port access is there, exports are also happening.

"South India now is a significant market, Thiagarajan said, adding that the country needs to focus more on research and development (R&D) in the sector.

We are not merely attracting investments.

"We are building globally competitive industrial ecosystems where companies can scale rapidly with confidence and policy stability, Lokesh added.
Sundar Pichai emphasised applications spanning healthcare, education, climate resilience, and more, and noted India's high adoption of AI-enabled voice and visual search.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Pichai highlighted India's extraordinary potential in AI.

Google has full-stack connectivity in India: Pichai

Google also unveiled major skilling programs in India

Betting big on India's AI potential, Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday announced new subsea cable routes to boost AI connectivity between India and the US, alongside major skilling initiatives, including training 20 million public servants and supporting 11 million students.

Pichai, who is in New Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026, said the recently announced $15 billion AI hub at Vizag in Andhra Pradesh will house a gigawatt-scale compute facility and an international subsea cable gateway.

Pichai highlights India's potential in AI

"I believe India is going to have an extraordinary trajectory with AI, and we want to be a partner," he said at a media event held on the sidelines of the Summit.

Pichai highlighted India's extraordinary potential in AI.

"AI is the biggest platform shift of our lifetime a for countries like India, AI presents a chance to leapfrog age-old gaps and create new opportunities."

He emphasised applications spanning healthcare, education, climate resilience, and more, and noted India's high adoption of AI-enabled voice and visual search.

Pichai's plans for India

He announced the India-America Connect Initiative - a new series of subsea cable routes to enhance AI connectivity between the US, India, and multiple locations across the Southern Hemisphere.

Google also unveiled major skilling programs in India, including the Google AI Professional Certificate for students and early-career professionals, partnerships with Karma Yogi Bharat to train 20 million public servants, and generative AI support for over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs reaching 11 million students.

"Google has full-stack connectivity in India, and I have never been more excited about the future we are building together," he said.

Pichai and Modi

Pichai earlier in the day met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We discussed how Google is helping with its mission to infuse AI at all levels in India to improve health, expand access to information in all languages, support startups, agriculture and so much more," Pichai said in a post on X.

Modi shared pictures of the meeting, saying, "It was a delight to meet Mr. Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi.

"Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field."

At the media event, Pichai stressed India's potential as a global AI leader, noting the technology's transformative applications - from improving healthcare and education to supporting resilient communities.

"AI is the biggest platform shift of our lifetime, and one of the most powerful tools to solve problems and improve lives at a planetary scale," he said.

Google AI Professional Certificate Program in India

To support adoption, Google announced the Google AI Professional Certificate Program in India, targeting students and early-career professionals.

Skilling initiatives will also include a landmark collaboration with Karma Yogi Bharat to empower 20 million public servants across 800 districts in 18 languages, and support for Atal Tinkering Labs to bring generative AI assistance to over 10,000 schools and 11 million students.

On research and scientific innovation, Google launched a $30 million AI for Science Impact Challenge to support global researchers using AI to accelerate breakthroughs in quantum computing, climate modeling, and other scientific fields.

Partnerships with local institutions, including IIT Madras and the Indian government through Google DeepMind, aim to broaden access to frontier AI capabilities nationwide.

"AI is the biggest platform shift of our lifetime, and one of the most thoughtful tools to solve problems and improve lives at planetary scale.

"Whether it's making diseases more detectable and treatable, communities more resilient, or learning more accessible," he said.

"For countries like India, AI presents a chance to leapfrog age-old gaps and create new opportunities."

India among places with greatest adoption

India happens to be among the places with the greatest adoption and optimism for AI technologies.

"Google has been investing in AI for more than a decade because we see it as the most important way to advance our mission that starts with reimagining the products people use every day.

"For example, AI is changing the way people use Google search.

"Google AI Overviews - AI-generated summaries at the top of search results - is one of the most successful launches in search in the past decade, he said.

"And AI mode is now available across 35 new languages and 200 countries and territories.

"Indian users are among the highest global adopters of voice and visual search," he said.

"In the coming weeks, you'll see an enhanced model that powers search live in real time, voice and camera too, so more people can search what they see in their own language."

AI is also helping to create net new experiences that are truly helpful.

Gemini app

The Gemini app is growing rapidly across the world, and India is among its largest markets.

It's available in 10 languages in India.

"Underlying this progress is our world class infrastructure. Last year, we announced a $15 billion AI hub in VIzag.

"This hub will house gigawatt scale computers and a new international subsea cable gateway.

"When finished, it will bring jobs and the benefits of cutting edge AI people and businesses across India," he said.

India-America connect initiative

Building on this, Google is announcing the India-America connect initiative, which will deliver new subsea cable routes to increase AI connectivity between the US, India and multiple locations across the southern hemisphere.

To take advantage of the opportunities this infrastructure creates, the firm must also invest in people and skilling.Pichai cited a 2025 government AI Readiness Index to state that India is in the top tier of nations for public sector adoption, driven by its world-leading digital public infrastructure.

"AI is fundamentally shifting the pace of discovery, and I'm excited to see how we can continue accelerating science for real-world impact.

"From advancing quantum computing to predicting extreme weather, AI is giving us the tools to understand the universe in deeper ways and solve hard problems in science," he said.

"Google has a full-stack commitment to India, and has never been more excited about the future we are building together."
The accused, who resides opposite the victim's house, was identified after CCTV footage confirmed the murder, prompting police to launch a special investigation.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Key Points The accused, who resides opposite the victim's house, is on the run.

A large crowd gathered near the accused's house and demanding strict action.

Police have registered a case under charges of murder, rape, and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

A seven-year-old girl who went missing in Andhra Pradesh's Madanapalle was allegedly raped and murdered by a neighbour, with police recovering her body from a drum inside his house, officials said on Tuesday.

Kurnool Range DIG K Praveen said the incident occurred in Neerugattuvaripalli village on Monday after the child went missing at around 4 pm. Her family lodged a complaint at about 7 pm.

"The cause of death is drowning, and there are signs of sexual assault. The accused killed the girl and concealed her body in a drum inside his house," Praveen told PTI.

The accused, who resides opposite the victim's house, was identified after CCTV footage confirmed the murder, prompting police to launch a special investigation.

Situation turned volatile in area

High tension prevailed in the locality after the incident came to light, with a large crowd gathering near the accused's house and demanding strict action.

The situation turned volatile, prompting heavy police deployment to prevent further escalation.

Certain politically motivated individuals allegedly incited the crowd and even assaulted members of the victim's family. Additional forces were deployed to maintain law and order, the DIG said.

Police have registered a case under charges of murder, rape, and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Bhupen Borah's resignation and swift switch to the BJP has dealt the Congress a major setback in Assam just weeks before the assembly elections.

IMAGE: Bhupen Kumar Borah addresses a press conference in Guwahati. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Senior Congress leader Bhupen Borah resigned, citing 'high-handedness'.

He quickly accepted an invitation to join the BJP.

BJP is expected to frame the move as political momentum.

Organisational Blow Before Polls

In a significant setback for the Congress in Assam ahead of the April assembly elections, senior leader and former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupen Borah has resigned from the party, citing 'high-handedness' within the state unit.

Within hours, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Borah at his residence and invited him to join the Bharatiya Janata Party -- an offer Borah has readily accepted.

The development has triggered fresh uncertainty within the Congress at a crucial juncture, with the party already grappling with factional tensions and organisational challenges in the state.

Organisational And Morale Setback

Borah's exit is being seen by party insiders as both an organisational and psychological blow.

"Borah still has a network of workers across several districts. Even if it is not a wave, it disrupts the Congress' booth-level structure at a critical time," said a senior political observer based in Guwahati.

A Congress functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that "the timing is extremely damaging because the party should have been fully focused on the campaign by now."

Timing Hurts Congress Campaign

The timing of the resignation -- weeks before the assembly polls -- has compounded the challenge for the Congress, which had been attempting to consolidate anti-incumbency sentiment against the BJP-led government.

"Instead of talking about governance and price rise, the narrative has shifted to infighting within the Congress. That is clearly to the BJP's advantage," said an academic who studies Assam politics.

Party sources said the leadership is now working to fast-track candidate selection and intensify outreach to district leaders to prevent further erosion.

IMAGE: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma meets Bhupen Kumar Borah, right, in Guwahati, February 17, 2026. Photograph: @CMOfficeAssam X/ANI Photo

BJP Looks To Consolidate Gains

For the BJP, Borah's induction is being seen as a strategic gain that reinforces the party's efforts to expand its support base by bringing in leaders from rival parties.

"The BJP will project this as momentum -- that leaders are moving towards it while the Congress is losing ground," said a political analyst.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's personal visit to Borah's residence has also been read as a signal of the importance the party attaches to the development.

Risk Of Further Defections

Within the Congress, the immediate concern is whether Borahs move could encourage other leaders and supporters to follow suit.

"There are several mid-level leaders who have been dissatisfied. This could push some of them to take a call, especially if they feel the Congress is not in a position to win," said a senior journalist who tracks the state's politics.

Party insiders said the leadership has begun reaching out to key district leaders to ensure there is no chain reaction.

Possible Political Fallout

There is also speculation that Borah, now in the BJP camp, could publicly speak about internal issues within the Congress in the coming days.

If he chooses to reveal internal decision-making or factional disputes, it could further dent the partys credibility among undecided voters, said a political commentator.

However, some observers cautioned that electoral outcomes in Assam are shaped by multiple factors.

Local candidates, community alignments and development issues will still play a decisive role. Leadership exits matter, but they are not the only factor, another analyst said.

Congress Plays Down Impact

Publicly, Congress leaders have sought to downplay the resignation, maintaining that the party remains united under the leadership of state president and MP Gaurav Gogoi.

A senior state leader said the party would "fight the election on issues that matter to the people of Assam and not be distracted by individual decisions."

The Road To April

With just weeks to go before voters head to the polls, Borah's exit has added a new variable to Assam's electoral contest.

"This is a setback for the Congress, but how big it becomes will depend on whether it triggers further exits and how quickly the party regroups," said a veteran political observer.

For now, the episode underscores the Congress' ongoing struggle to maintain cohesion in Assam -- and gives the BJP a timely opportunity to reinforce its narrative of political strength ahead of the elections.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is set to overhaul its English language training to enhance communication skills for international military engagements, peacekeeping operations, and arms sales.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Tingshu Wang/File Photo/Reuters

Key Points The PLA aims to improve English communication skills for international military operations and peacekeeping.

Current English teaching in Chinese military schools is outdated, focusing too much on grammar and not enough on practical communication.

Effective English skills are crucial for naval escort missions, international arms sales, and understanding technical requirements.

The PLA plans to overhaul the curriculum to boost oral, listening, and presentation skills, and recruit professionals with both English and military expertise.

Current assessment systems in PLA English classes prioritize written exams over practical skills, creating a disconnect from actual combat needs.

The Chinese military needs to revamp English-language instruction in its academies to improve the graduates' communication skills on the international stage, an article by senior lecturers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said.

Three senior lecturers from the PLA Air Force Early Warning Academy made the call in the article published in the February edition of the official Military-to-Civilian in China magazine, which is administered by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.

The authors stressed that strong English communication skills were essential as the PLA expanded its global footprint.

Li Yan, Dai Sishi and Zhang Yong, all associate professors from the military school, argued that English teaching in China's military schools was outdated and unbalanced. They said there was too much focus on vocabulary, grammar and reading and writing, but not enough on communication and presentation.

"English is the common language of communication in United Nations peacekeeping operations, multinational joint military exercises and international military academic forums," the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted the article in its report on Wednesday.

The officials cited naval escort missions in the Gulf of Aden, where Chinese crews must use English to coordinate routes and discuss security with other navies, and said language skills were also important for international arms sales.

They said that in areas such as drone technology, the ability to communicate effectively in English could make or break projects, as technical teams must 'accurately interpret equipment performance parameters and answer clients' technical questions'.

Proposed Changes to PLA English Instruction

The article also outlined a series of proposals to address the problem, including an overhaul of the curriculum to boost oral, listening and presentation skills.

It also called for the recruitment of more professionals with English and military expertise, including officers who have served overseas, and the increased use of interactive teaching methods, case discussions and simulations.

The lecturers said PLA English classes followed a model where 'teachers talk, and students listen', resulting in low participation rates from students and a relative lack of discussion in the classroom.

They said one study at a military academy had found that 80 per cent of students felt the classroom content was disconnected from their needs.

A follow-up survey found that while 70 per cent of students could master the military terminology found in textbooks, only 30 per cent could explain their technical requirements in simulated discussions about buying foreign military equipment.

The current assessment system primarily relies on written examinations testing vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension at the expense of practical skills such as conversation and translation -- creating what the authors called 'a disconnect between the assessment system and actual combat needs'.

They also warned that many specialised English teachers did not have a good grounding in military matters and could only provide superficial explanations of concerns such as 'asymmetric warfare' and 'system disruption'.

In contrast, many lecturers from the military lacked the necessary English language skills.

The article also highlighted problems with faculty training, saying that nearly 60 per cent of teachers attended fewer than two professional training sessions per year and 75 per cent lacked practical experience.

It said that only 30 per cent of PLA institutions used resources such as military English Massive Open Online Courses and videos of military conferences, and most did not use technology to create simulated international command centres.
These bases are used to house the troops of the central paramilitary force for a few days and launch search and assault operations in the heights where terrorists are holed up in the 'dhoks'



IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points These bases facilitate search and assault operations in high-altitude areas where terrorists are hiding in 'dhoks'.

The establishment of these bases followed the Pahalgam attack and a security plan called 'Operation Mahadev'.

CRPF procured special equipment like tactical boots and satellite phones for these high-altitude bases.

Approximately 102 terrorists are active in the Union Territory, including local and foreign elements.

The Central Reserve Police Force has created 43 temporary operating bases in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack to search and eliminate terrorists who stay at high altitudes, security officials said on Wednesday.

These bases, established above the height of 6,000 feet, are used to house the troops of the central paramilitary force for a few days and launch search and assault operations in the heights where terrorists are holed up in the 'dhoks' (mud and stone huts).

A total of 43 temporary operating bases have been created till now after the first was created in July, 2025. Out of these, 26 such bases have been created in the Kashmir region while the rest 17 are in the Jammu area, the sources said.

Each temporary operating base houses about 16-25 troops apart from some personnel of the local police, they said.

Officials said a good number of temporary operating bases were established on the Pahalgam-Tral-Harwan axis immediately after the April 2025 terrorist attack in the Baisaran meadows of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Central Reserve Police Force and other security forces used one such temporary operating base to eliminate in July the three terrorists who were responsible for the Pahalgam attack. This operation was called 'Operation Mahadev'.

Operation Mahadev began on May 22 as part of a security plan that was drawn a day after the April 22 attack in the scenic Baisaran valley of Pahalgam where 26 tourists were killed.

The central paramilitary force has procured some special equipment for these temporary operating bases like tactical boots, winter jackets, sleeping bags and satellite phones.

According to data, there are about two local terrorists active in the Union territory while there are about 100 foreign terrorists active at present.
The SC has dismissed a PIL seeking to combat discrimination and violence against citizens from the northeast and asked to refer the plea to an appropriate authority

IMAGE: A view of the Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The court stated that identifying individuals based on race, region, sex, or caste would be a regressive step.

The PIL was filed following the death of Anjel Chakma, a student from Tripura, in a racially motivated attack.

The court directed the Attorney General to review the petition and refer it to the appropriate authority.

The PIL sought judicial intervention to address the ongoing failure to prevent racial discrimination and violence against citizens from northeastern states.

Identifying persons on grounds of race, region, sex and caste would amount to treading a regressive path, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday while refusing to entertain a PIL seeking to prevent discrimination and violence against citizens from the northeast and other regions.

"A crime is a crime and it must be dealt with an iron hand," a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said. It asked Attorney General R Venkataramani to consider and refer the petition to an appropriate authority.

"Identifying persons on the ground of race, region, sex and caste would amount to treading a regressive path after so many years of independence," the bench said.

At the outset, petitioner Anoop Prakash Awasthi, a Delhi-based lawyer, said the matter was raised on the floor of Parliament but lawmakers declined to make any such agency to deal with such hate crimes.

The PIL was filed on December 28 last year in the backdrop of the brutal killing of Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura. Chakma died on December 26, 2025 to grievous injuries sustained in a racially motivated attack in Selaqui area of Dehradun.

The lawyer said no one came forward to save Chakma.

The apex court refused to entertain the PIL and said, "As of now, we deem it appropriate that the aforesaid issue ought to be brought before the competent authority."

"The instant writ petition is disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to hand over the soft copy of the petition to the office of AG , also along with a copy of this order," the bench said, adding that the top law officer will do the needful.

The PIL has sought judicial intervention to address the "continuing constitutional failure" to prevent and respond to racial discrimination and violence against citizens from northeastern states and other frontier regions.

Chakma had gone to Dehradun after completing his graduation in Holy Cross School, Agartala, to pursue an MBA. He was stabbed to death in the presence of his younger brother Michael.

His family members want capital punishment or at least life imprisonment for all the accused involved in the incident. The plea made the Centre and all the states and Union territories as parties.
Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar did not say that he was an 'Indiravian' because he 'totally disapproved' of Indira Gandhi 'converting our democracy into a tyranny' by declaring Emergency

IMAGE: Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

Key Points Aiyar explains his lack of affiliation with Rahul Gandhi due to their age difference and limited interaction.

Aiyar expresses disapproval of Indira Gandhi's decision to declare a state of Emergency in India.

Aiyar's remarks come amid strained relations with the Congress party after praising Kerala's Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan.

The Congress party has distanced itself from Aiyar's recent statements, emphasizing his lack of official connection with the party.

Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar on Wednesday said he is a "Gandhian", a "Nehruvian" and a "Rajivian", but not a "Rahulian" because Rahul Gandhi "is far too much younger than me and far too distant from me in his political life."

Aiyar added that he did not say that he is an "Indiravian" because he "totally disapproved" of Indira Gandhi "converting our democracy into a tyranny" by declaring Emergency, albeit for a mere 18 months.

Referring to his statement on Rahul Gandhi that was recently reported in the media, Aiyar asked, "How can one expect me to be a 'Rahulian' when the boy is about 30 years younger than me, and I haven't had an opportunity to work with him?"

Speaking with PTI, Aiyar said he recently said that "I am a Gandhian, I am a Nehruvian, I am a Rajivian, but I am not a Rahulian".

Elaborating on his statement, the former Union minister said, "I was six-year-old and my brother was four when Mahatma Gandhi picked us up in his arms and said 'ye mere aankhon ke suraj aur chand hain'.

"From there, I became a 'Gandhivaadi'. As for Nehru, I was six when he became the prime minister, and I was 23 when he ceased being one, so my entire growing-up years were steeped in the Nehruvian ethos; that is why I also regard myself as a Nehruvian."

"I call myself a Rajivian because it was he, although two years younger than me, who astonished me by bringing me into the PMO and by doing the things he did. I could not believe it. That is how I became a Rajivian," he said.

It should be noted that he did not say "Indiravian" because he "totally disapproved" of her "converting our democracy into a tyranny by declaring an Emergency, albeit for only 18 months".

"But I added, how do you expect me to be a 'Rahulian' when the boy is 30 years younger than me, someone I didn't have an opportunity to work with? That is why I cannot be a 'Rahulian' because he is far too much younger than me and far too distant from me in his political life," Aiyar said.

Aiyar's remarks come amid strained ties with the Congress.

It began when Aiyar, speaking in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, expressed confidence that Pinrayi Vijayan of the Communist Party of India-Marxist will continue to be Kerala's chief minister.

The Congress veteran was speaking at an international seminar inaugurated by Vijayan.

Aiyar said, "So, in the presence of the chief minister, who I am sure will be the next chief minister, I renew my plea that to reinforce Kerala as the best Panchayati Raj state in the country, state laws should be amended based on practical experience, Thomas Isaac's insights, the five-volume report I chaired and the note on district planning by V Ramachandran circulated by the Planning Commission when it truly supported Panchayati Raj."

The Congress distanced itself from Aiyar's remarks, saying he has had no connection whatsoever with the party for the past few years and he speaks and writes purely in his personal capacity.

The party also said that the people of Kerala will bring the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) back in power in the southern state for more responsible and responsive governance.

On Monday, Aiyar went on a verbal rampage against his party colleagues, a day after saying the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by Vijayan would retain power in Kerala.

In a series of scathing remarks, Aiyar branded Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor an "unprincipled careerist", labelled AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal a "rowdy", and took a swipe at party veteran Ramesh Chennithala.
India and France have solidified their defence partnership by renewing a key cooperation agreement and forging a new missile manufacturing deal, enhancing regional security and strategic alignment

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, during the inauguration of IndiaFrance Year of Innovation 2026 at the Gateway of India, in Mumbai, February 17, 2026. Photograph: DPR PMO/ANI Photo

Key Points An MoU was signed for the manufacturing of Hammer missiles in India through a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Limited and Safran Electronics and Defence.

India and France announced Reciprocal Deployment Officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments to enhance military cooperation.

India emphasised its role as the 'First Responder' and 'Net Security Provider' in the Indian Ocean Region, offering defence and security assistance to neighboring countries.

India raised concerns about Pakistan's role in promoting cross-border terrorism and its impact on regional peace.

India and France on Tuesday renewed the 10-year defence cooperation agreement and signed an MoU for manufacturing Hammer missiles in the country.

The agreements were signed when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin co-chaired the sixth India-France Annual Defence Dialogue in the city.

"The renewal of 10-year defence cooperation agreement was signed by the Defence Secretary from the Indian side and Deputy Director General for International Relations and Strategy from the French side," an official statement said.

It added that an MoU on Joint Venture was also signed for the manufacturing of Hammer missiles in India between the chief managing director, Bharat Electronics Limited and executive vice president, Safran Electronics and Defence.

According to the statement, both countries announced Reciprocal Deployment Officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments.

The two leaders also discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of equipment.

Emphasising on the need for a closer defence partnership and connecting the industries of both nations, especially in the field of niche technology, the two ministers reaffirmed the commitment to enhance military-to-military cooperation as a key pillar of the strategic partnership.

Singh highlighted that the recent India-EU Security and Defence Partnership marks a significant step in deepening the collective engagement. Both the ministers agreed to leverage this framework, both bilaterally and in the wider European context for tangible outcomes that will strengthen regional stability, enhance joint capabilities, and reinforce the enduring Indo-French strategic alignment, the statement said.

Singh stated that Vautrin's tenure comes at a critical moment for European and global security, and India deeply appreciates France's steadfast commitment to strategic autonomy and a robust European defence posture.

The French defence minister appreciated the conversion of Exercise Shakti with the Army from biennial to an annual event.

Singh emphasised that India has been the 'First Responder' and 'Net Security Provider' for countries in the Indian Ocean Region and always extends assistance to them in the defence, security and maritime domains to augment their capabilities and ward off any adversary.

On the issue of terrorism, he stated that Pakistan has a long history of nurturing, nourishing, and promoting cross-border terrorism to create disturbance and violence in India. This, he said, has created a serious threat to peace in the region, the statement said.

The Annual Defence Dialogue is a structured ministerial level bilateral meeting to review and guide defence and security cooperation.
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On January 30, Barclays raised its price target on Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) to $391 from $359 while reiterating an Overweight rating, following the companys upward revision to its fiscal 2026 outlook by approximately $1 billion. The analyst characterized the updated guidance as conservative, suggesting there is room for further upward revisions as the year progresses. Barclays constructive stance reflects confidence in sustained demand trends and improving earnings visibility, particularly as the company continues to deepen its exposure to high-growth end markets tied to next-generation computing infrastructure.

A day earlier, Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) reported robust fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, with Q4 revenue increasing 44% year-over-year to $3.65 billion. Adjusted operating margins expanded meaningfully, and earnings per share improved substantially, contributing to full-year revenue growth of 28% to $12.39 billion and more than doubling GAAP EPS. Supported by accelerating demand for AI-driven data center hardware and enhanced clarity into customer deployment roadmaps, management raised its 2026 guidance to $17.0 billion in revenue and $8.75 in adjusted EPS. The company also announced plans to increase capital expenditures to $1 billion in 2026 to support long-term AI infrastructure programs, with funding expected to come from operating cash flow. This combination of strong execution, expanding margins, and self-funded growth investments reinforces the view that Celestica is well-positioned to capitalize on structural AI spending through 2027 and beyond.

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To ensure transparency and prevent misuse, Kishtwar administration has implemented strict regulations for Ramzan donations, requiring registration and prohibiting coercive fundraising tactics

IMAGE: Troops of 7 Assam Rifles conduct intensive search-and-cordon operations as part of Operation Trashi-1 to flush out the terrorists believed to be hiding at the Chatroo area, in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, February 9, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The order mandates registration and prior intimation for all individuals and organizations collecting donations in Kishtwar during Ramzan.

Fundraising entities must maintain detailed records of collections and expenditures to ensure transparency.

Coercive tactics and obstruction of public pathways for donation collection are strictly prohibited.

A vigilance helpline has been established to report fraudulent solicitation or harassment related to Ramzan donations in Kishtwar.

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Wednesday issued an order regulating the collection of donations during the holy month of Ramzan, citing concerns over unauthorized fundraising activities.

Kishtwar district magistrate Pankaj Kumar Sharma said it is the statutory obligation of the administration to ensure that public contributions intended for relief, welfare or religious purposes are not misappropriated, laundered or diverted for extraneous or subversive activities.

There has been a tendency of unauthorized collection of donations by certain individuals and organizations during Ramzan, necessitating immediate regulatory intervention, Sharma said in the order.

"While the tradition of Zakat and Sadaqah (charitable giving) is an integral and sacred facet of the religious and social fabric during Ramadan, any act of artifice, misrepresentation, or fraudulent solicitation of funds not only desecrates the sanctity of the Holy Month but also exploits the altruism of the public," the DM said.

He said regulatory oversight is essential to safeguard transparency and maintain public trust.

Invoking powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the DM laid down specific guidelines for compliance.

According to the order, no individual, NGO, trust, society or committee shall undertake donation collection within the territorial jurisdiction of Kishtwar district without valid registration under relevant laws and prior intimation to the executive officer, Waqf board unit Kishtwar or the president, Majlis Shura Committee Kishtwar, wherever applicable.

All fundraising entities have been directed to maintain proper records of collections and expenditures. Any solicitor found without authenticated copies of registration and authorization documents shall be treated as unauthorized, it said.

The order strictly prohibits coercive tactics, harassment of commuters or obstruction of public pathways for donation collection.

Sub-registrars have been asked to publish within five days a list of registered charitable trusts operating in the district to guide the general public.

A dedicated vigilance helpline has been activated for reporting instances of fraudulent solicitation or harassment.

The senior superintendent of police, along with sub-divisional magistrates and tehsildars, has been directed to ensure strict enforcement of the order in letter and spirit.

The directive has come into immediate effect and shall remain operative throughout the holy month of Ramzan, the order said, adding any violation shall invite action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other applicable laws.
Amidst Karnataka's political landscape, at least 21 Congress MLAs have embarked on a foreign tour just before the state budget, raising eyebrows and sparking speculation about internal power dynamics.

IMAGE: A view of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Photograph: Karnataka Legislative Assembly/ANI Video Grab

Key Points At least 21 Karnataka Congress MLAs are on a foreign tour ahead of the state budget presentation by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The MLAs claim the trip is a personal vacation with their families and unrelated to party affairs or government business.

The foreign tour has sparked speculation amid reports of an ongoing power tussle within the Karnataka Congress party.

MLAs considered close to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar downplayed the trip, stating there was nothing unusual about friends traveling together.

At least 21 Congress legislators in Karnataka left for a foreign tour ahead of the state budget on Wednesday, as a power tussle continues within the ruling party.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to present a record 17th budget on March 6, soon after the legislative session begins.

The session will continue until March 27.

It is learnt that the MLAs travelling abroad are considered loyal to the CM.

According to Congress sources, 11 MLAs flew out on Tuesday, while 10 others are scheduled to leave for various foreign destinations with their families.

Sources said C Puttaranga Shetty, B Devendrappa, H D Thammaiah, Hampanagouda Badarli, B M Nagaraj, A Vasanth Kumar, D Thimmaiah and Sharanagouda Patil Bayyapur are among those travelling abroad.

The legislators are touring Australia and New Zealand. They will first fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then continue their journey to Australia and New Zealand, sources added.

The MLAs clarified that the trip is personal and has nothing to do with the party or the government.

"We are going on a private tour. It's just my family and me," Thammaiah told reporters at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

The Chikkamagaluru MLA said the decision had been taken during the Belagavi legislative session.

"Those interested in the tour are travelling. We often go abroad, but this is the first time it has made news," Thammaiah said.

Badarli sought to clarify that all the MLAs were funding the tour themselves and that it had nothing to do with politics.

"We travel abroad two or three times. Earlier, we visited Muscat, European countries and the United States," he said.

Puttaranga Shetty said the MLAs would return on March 2 or 3.

Responding to suggestions that those travelling belonged to Siddaramaiah's camp, Shetty said, "The CM is not aware of our trip. Why drag his name into this unnecessarily?"

MLAs considered close to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said there was nothing unusual about 'common friends travelling abroad together'.

"We too have travelled abroad. What is wrong with that? I was not invited. Our team is different from theirs, but it is not factionalism," MLA H C Balakrishna said.

MLA Ravi Ganiga said no one could remove the incumbent or change the government merely because of a foreign tour, adding that the Congress high command takes appropriate decisions at the right time.
The Malankara Orthodox Church is strongly opposing the Kerala government's decision to extend bar timings, raising concerns about the potential negative impact on the state's youth and sparking a debate over public health versus tourism revenue.

Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: Helena Lopes/Pexels.com

Key Points The Malankara Orthodox Church opposes the Kerala government's decision to extend bar timings, citing concerns about the impact on the youth.

LDF convener T P Ramakrishnan defends the extended bar hours, stating it's not a new policy and already implemented in tourist destinations.

Critics argue the government prioritises bar owners' needs over public health and the well-being of the youth in Kerala.

The National Resource Centre for non-communicable diseases condemns the decision, calling it a regressive policy that promotes alcohol availability.

The Kerala government claims the extended bar timings are necessary to accommodate the increasing number of tourists visiting the state.

The Left Democratic Front government's decision to change the timings of bars in the state has been opposed by the Malankara Orthodox Church which claimed it would destroy an entire generation, especially the youth of Kerala.

On the other hand, LDF convener T P Ramakrishnan said it was not something new and there was already a government policy in place regarding change in timings from 10 am to midnight from the earlier 11 am to 11 pm.

He said it was not something new as these timings were in force in tourist destinations.

Church's Criticism of the Bar Timing Changes

Earlier in the day, advocate Biju Oommen, association secretary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, criticised the government decision saying that it would destroy a whole generation, especially the youth of the state.

"Does the government want the youth to sleep in the bars? People in the state are apprehensive of what would be the result of allowing bars to remain open so long," he said while speaking to reporters here.

Oommen further contended that the government was 'disregarding the tears of mothers for the needs of bar owners' and questioned -- 'Is there no other way to fill the state's coffers'.

Concerns from Health Organisations

The National Resource Centre for non-communicable diseases -- an initiative of the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC)-India -- also came out against the new timings of bars.

In a statement, it condemned the government decision taken 'under the pretext of promoting tourism', saying that it was a 'regressive and deeply irresponsible policy'.

It contended that the government's decision was 'a threat to society, public health and the future of the youth'.

'It is deeply concerning that the present Kerala government, since its inception, has repeatedly taken steps that appear to promote alcohol availability in the state in various ways that favour the liquor industry, rather than prioritising public health and social welfare.

'Public policy must be guided by evidence, constitutional responsibility, moral accountability and not commercial interests disguised as tourism promotion. We urge the Kerala government to revoke this decision immediately...,' Johnson J Edayaranmula, executive director of the National Resource Centre for non-communicable diseases, said in the statement.

Government's Defence of the Policy

Ramakrishnan, meanwhile, claimed it was not a new policy, but a decision taken much earlier by the government.

"In tourist locations, bars are already running from 10 am to midnight in accordance with this policy. Once a general decision is taken, related departments can act in accordance with it at any time," he told reporters.

He also said that he does not believe there is anything wrong with the change in timings.

The LDF convener said that Kerala was a state where the number of tourists was increasing day-by-day and therefore, such facilities were necessary.

If there are any issues regarding it, discussions will be held at the government level and more clarifications will be issued, if required, he said.

Ramakrishnan contended that the decision to change the timings was not taken based on the demands of private bars' associations.
The Shiv Sena-UBT is openly questioning the Congress party's leadership within the INDIA bloc.

IMAGE: Saamana suggested that the INDIA bloc leadership should be given to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The Sena-UBT editorial in Saamana emphasises the need for proactive discussions and conscious decisions within the INDIA bloc to maintain momentum.

Concerns are raised about the INDIA bloc's inactivity post-Lok Sabha elections and the Congress's conflicting alliances in different states.

The editorial acknowledges Rahul Gandhi's fighting spirit but cautions against the lethargy that can affect workers when out of power.

Sena-UBT expresses disappointment with the Congress and questions the INDIA bloc's existence, highlighting the need for stronger opposition unity.

The Shiv Sena-UBT on Wednesday said the question of leadership change in the Opposition INDIA bloc has resurfaced and can't be ignored, asserting that it has to be seen who will helm the alliance, in an apparent dig at the Congress.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party referred to voices from disgruntled Congress members and those associated with the UPA dispensation, who suggested that the INDIA bloc leadership should be given to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin.

"The decision has to be taken on Mamata, Stalin or someone else," an editorial in the Sena-UBT mouthpiece Saamana said.

Instead of waking up when elections are announced and talking about the Opposition alliance, it is necessary to hold discussions among its partners and take decisions consciously, it opined.

Congress at helm of INDIA bloc

The Congress has been helming the INDIA bloc, a coalition of Opposition parties formed before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to counter the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

"The issue of change in the leadership of the INDIA bloc has again come to the fore. What happened to the India bloc after the Lok Sabha polls? This question is before many. But has this question come to Congress's mind?" the editorial in Saamana asked.

In West Bengal, the Congress is fighting against the Trinamool Congress (led by Banerjee). In Kerala, the Congress is against the Left. In Maharashtra, the Congress chose to contest independently in the recent civic body polls, which benefited the BJP, it noted.

"The question is as much of the nation as it is of the political discourse. Whenever elections are announced, the INDIA bloc may surely wake up and hold talks. But taking a conscious decision by sitting together is wiser," it suggested.

"The decision has to be taken on Mamata, Stalin or someone else," the Marathi publication added.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, has taken a good stand that he remains unbothered if he is "thrown out of Parliament" or cases are foisted on him by the government, which is good and reflects his fighting spirit, it said.

But workers become lethargic if they stay away from power and lose the hunger to come to power, the editorial said.

Even if the BJP did not get a majority (referring to the 2024 Lok Sabha poll results) and its government at the Centre survives on crutches, its "arrogance" has not ended, the Sena-UBT claimed.

This is not the first time that the Sena-UBT has expressed disappointment with the Congress.

Responding to a question by PTI in an interview last month on whether the INDIA bloc exists, Thackeray said, "Probe a bit and check whether the INDIA bloc is there or not. This is right that we met only once after Parliament polls at Rahul ji's (Gandhi) residence.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat urges Hindu unity, vigilance against threats, and the promotion of family values while addressing social harmony and national concerns in India.

IMAGE: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Photograph: Ishant Chauhan/ANI Photo

Key Points Bhagwat advocates for detecting, deleting, and deporting infiltrators, urging against providing them employment.

He encourages Hindu families to consider having at least three children, citing scientific opinions on societal fertility rates.

Bhagwat stresses the importance of social harmony, urging the removal of caste distinctions and promoting equality within Hindu society.

He highlights the significance of 'matrushakti' (women power) and the need for women's empowerment and self-defense training.

Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday called for uniting and empowering the Hindu society, saying there is no threat but vigilance is necessary, and suggested that Hindu families should consider having at least three children.

He also said that infiltrators should be "detected, deleted and deported".

Addressing a social-harmony meeting at the Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Lucknow, Bhagwat expressed concern over what he described as a declining Hindu population and said inducement- or coercion-based religious conversions should be stopped.

He also emphasised accelerating efforts to bring people back to the Hindu-fold and ensuring their welfare.

"There is a need to unite and empower Hindus. There is no threat to us but vigilance is necessary," the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief said.

Raising concerns over infiltration, Bhagwat said infiltrators should be "detected, deleted and deported", and should not be provided employment.

He also said Hindu families should consider having at least three children, citing scientific opinions that societies with an average fertility rate of below three could disappear in the future.

Bhagwat said newly-married couples should be made aware of this and added that the purpose of marriage is to carry forward creation, not merely fulfilling one's own desires.

He said a lack of harmony leads to discrimination and stressed that all citizens share one country and one motherland.

"The Sanatan thought is a philosophy of harmony," Bhagwat said, adding that differences that have emerged over time must be addressed through understanding and practice.

He said those who disagree should not be viewed as enemies and emphasised coordination over conflict.

The RSS chief described "matrushakti" (women power) as the foundation of the household, saying women should not be seen as weak and should receive training in self-defence.

He said the Indian tradition accords women a revered place and values nurturing qualities over physical appearance.

Responding to a question on University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, Bhagwat said laws must be obeyed and if a law is flawed, there are constitutional ways to change it.

He said caste divisions should not become a cause of conflict and called for uplifting the disadvantaged with a sense of belonging.

Bhagwat said India would guide the world in the near future and that solutions to many global problems lie within the country's civilisational ethos.

He said regular community-level meetings should promote social harmony, remove misconceptions and address social issues, while extending support to the weaker sections of the society.

The RSS chief cautioned that some elements in the United States and China are working against India's social harmony, and called for vigilance and mutual trust.

Representatives from Sikh, Buddhist and Jain communities, along with organisations such as the Ramakrishna Mission, ISKCON and Art of Living Foundation, among others, attended the programme.

Addressing another programme at the Madhav Sabhaghar of the Saraswati Vidya Mandir here, Bhagwat said temples, wells and cremation grounds should be open to all Hindus, without any discrimination.

He said children must be taught that a career is not merely about earning more or consumption, but about sharing and serving others.

The RSS chief urged families to impart values that place the country above everything else and encourage the earning of knowledge and wealth for the nation's benefit.

Emphasising social harmony, he said efforts must begin at the individual and family levels through greater mutual interaction, adding that harmony comes through practice rather than speeches and that caste distinctions should have no place in the society.

Bhagwat said the family and not an individual is the basic unit of the society and that social conduct is shaped within it. He also stressed the importance of mother-tongue proficiency, patriotism, integrity, discipline and family pride.

The RSS chief called for reaching out to those sections of the society that are not close to the organisation and for the development of warm social bonds, extending from public spaces to families.

On technology, he said it cannot be stopped but must be used with discipline, such as limits on viewing time, and that the younger generation should be made aware of the potential harms of excessive exposure to artificial intelligence (AI), television, mobile phones and films.
A Maharashtra government official has been removed amid an investigation into the rapid granting of minority status to 75 educational institutions, sparking concerns over procedural irregularities and potential misuse of regulatory benefits.

IMAGE: Deputy Chief Minister and Minority Development Minister Sunetra Pawar, who was sworn in after her husband Ajit Pawar's death, had earlier directed officials to probe into the matter. Photograph: @SunetraA_Pawar/ANI Photo

Key Points A senior Maharashtra official was removed after being linked to the hasty granting of minority status to 75 educational institutes.

The approvals were issued shortly after the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, raising concerns about procedural irregularities.

A high-level inquiry has been ordered to investigate the process and determine if due procedure was followed in granting minority status.

The State Minority Commission has called for accountability and a thorough probe into the matter, including a potential CID investigation.

Minority status provides educational institutions with exemptions from certain provisions of the Right to Education Act, including reservation policies and administrative autonomy.

A senior Maharashtra government official has been removed after his name was linked to the alleged hasty grant of minority status to 75 educational institutes following the death of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, officials said on Wednesday.

The action against Milind Padmanabh Shenoy, deputy secretary in the Minority Development Department, was taken on Tuesday, a day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stayed the approvals, they said.

While Shenoy has been relieved from his post, he has not been assigned any other responsibilities, officials added.

Pawar and four others died in a plane crash in Baramati in Pune district on the morning of January 28.

According to officials, the first minority certificate was issued at 3.09 pm on January 28 and seven institutions received approvals that day.

The total number rose to 75 within the next three days.

Investigation into Minority Status Approvals

A high-level inquiry has been ordered to ascertain how the files were processed, whether due procedure was followed and whether any earlier suspension on issuing minority certificates had been formally lifted, a senior official said.

"The chief minister has sought a comprehensive report on the entire sequence of events. If any irregularity or procedural lapse is found, stern action will be taken against those responsible," the official said.

Deputy Chief Minister and Minority Development Minister Sunetra Pawar, who was sworn in after her husband Ajit Pawar's death, had earlier directed officials to probe into the matter and initiate strict action if any wrongdoing is established, the official said.

Chairing a review meeting of the department, she had said it must function in a transparent and people-oriented manner. If certificates have been issued in the wrong way, the matter must be investigated in depth and responsibility fixed, she had said.

The issue surfaced after reports suggested that several approvals were issued after regular office hours.

Minority Commission Calls for Accountability

State Minority Commission Chairman Pyare Khan had termed the episode 'deeply disturbing' and called for accountability, including a high-level inquiry and a probe by the CID (Crime Investigation Department).

"Granting minority status to 75 institutions within such a short span raises serious questions. The entire process must be examined thoroughly. If any irregularity is found, strict action should be taken against the officials responsible and a CID probe must be conducted," Khan had said.

He added that the Commission would seek detailed records of the approvals and review similar cases across the state to ensure the process was not misused.

He also demanded registration of criminal cases against officials found responsible and said the Commission would initiate a review of over 8,500 minority institutions across Maharashtra.

Khan had also said that the minority status granted to two schools in the Akola district had already been cancelled after irregularities were detected.

Minority status provides educational institutions with certain exemptions from provisions of the Right to Education Act, including the 25 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections, grants and greater administrative autonomy in appointments and internal management, making it a significant regulatory benefit.
In his maiden televised address to the nation, Rahman said that improving the law and order situation and strictly controlling corruption to restore peace and security are his priorities.

IMAGE: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman meets Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, in Dhaka, February 17, 2026. Photograph: @hamidullah_riaz X/ANI Photo

Key Points Rahman aims to create a safe and inclusive Bangladesh for all citizens, regardless of faith, ethnicity, or political affiliation.

The Prime Minister's commitment to religious freedom comes amid concerns over past attacks on minority communities, particularly Hindus.

The government plans to dismantle syndicates of wrongdoing across sectors while protecting the interests of businesses and consumers.

Rahman emphasises the importance of developing a skilled workforce to thrive in the era of artificial intelligence and global competition.

Bangladesh's newly-elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday vowed to strengthen the rule of law and said his government will turn the country into a safe land for people of all faiths, regardless of party, opinion, religion, or ethnicity.

In his maiden televised address to the nation after assuming office, 60-year-old Rahman outlined his government's priorities and said that improving the law and order situation and strictly controlling corruption to restore peace and security are his top priorities.

"We want to turn this country into a safe land for every citizen. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians -- regardless of party, opinion, religion, or ethnicity -- whether living in the hills or the plains, this country belongs to all of us," said the prime minister, who is also the chief of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

"Whether you voted for BNP, or did not vote for BNP, or did not vote at all -- everyone has equal rights over this government... As a Bangladeshi, every one of us has equal rights in this country, in this state," he asserted.

His remarks about a pluralistic society assume significance as the Hindu population in Bangladesh has been affected by a series of attacks after the ouster of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

Under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus since August 2024, the country experienced a rise in mob violence, extrajudicial killings and attacks on minority communities, especially Hindus.

Rights group Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) said that in January 2026 alone, they documented 21 incidents of lynching and 28 incidents of mob beatings.

Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported 522 communal attacks in 2025, including killings, rapes, and temple vandalism, with murders of 116 people of minority faiths, mostly Hindus, between June 2025 and January 2026.

The reports suggested leaders and activists of the Awami League, disbanded by the Yunus' regime, were the victims of most attacks.

India has been expressing concerns over attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh.

Earlier, senior-most minister in the new government Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the law and order issue was one of three priorities and the administration would take steps to end "mob violence".

Alamgir, who is also the party's secretary general and entrusted with the charge of the local government ministry, said, "This (mob violence) will be controlled."

"We must strive to improve the law and order situation, regardless of how much it has deteriorated," he added.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed also said, "The mob culture in no way can be tolerated."

In his address, Rahman said every constitutional, governmental, and non-governmental institution will operate according to established laws and regulations.

"Not party or political influence or force, but the rule of law will be the final word in governing the state," he said.

He said establishing a self-reliant, secure, humane, and democratic Bangladesh is the goal of his party's government.

In his address, Rahman did not elaborate on his foreign policy. He, however, at the beginning of his speech said that "in a Bangladesh freed from subservience, a new government accountable to the people through their votes has begun its journey".

He said his government started its journey amid a fragile economy battered by corruption and misrule during the "period of fascism, a weak governance structure, and a deteriorating law and order situation".

Rahman also extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. "If we truly understand the essence of self-purification, then this month should not increase people's suffering," he said.

On the supply of gas, water, and electricity during Ramadan, Rahman said he has already instructed the authorities concerned to ensure the civic amenities during iftar, tarawih, and sehri times.

Referring to his previous pledge that if the BNP was voted to power, the government would follow the ideal of justice of the Holy Prophet, he said, "I believe that this decision of the BNP parliamentary party reflects that very ideal of justice".

Rahman said his government was determined to dismantle all syndicates of wrongdoing and irregularities in every sector but "protect the interests of both businessmen and consumers".

Stating that Bangladesh was facing many challenges, Rahman said, "If we can transform our large population into a skilled workforce, then this population will become our human resource. If we can develop ourselves with skills, not only Bangladesh but also the global market will be open to us."

He said the world is entering the era of artificial intelligence, and survival with dignity and prosperity in this competitive world requires expertise in specific fields.

He also assured students and youths that his government was ready to provide all possible support to help them develop intellectually and scientifically.

Rahman, 60, was sworn in as the 11th prime minister on Tuesday after leading his party to a forceful victory in the 13th Parliamentary polls held on February 12. He replaced interim government chief Yunus.

Rahman, the son of late President Ziaur Rahman and former premier Khaleda Zia, returned home in December after living in London in self-exile for 17 years.

Along with Rahman, 25 ministers and 24 state ministers also took the oath of office on Tuesday.
The Yadav community in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, is protesting against the film Yadav Ji Ki Love Story, fearing it will incite social unrest and offend community values, demanding a ban and threatening legal action.

IMAGE: A poster of the film Yadav Ji Ki Love Story.



Key Points Yadav community members protested against the film Yadav Ji Ki Love Story in Sambhal, alleging it could disrupt social harmony and hurt community sentiments.

Protesters demanded an immediate ban on the film's release and threatened legal action, including moving the high court and Supreme Court.

Community members claim the film unfairly targets the Yadav community and portrays incidents that never took place, spreading a wrong message and increasing hostility.

The protest follows a similar controversy over the Netflix film 'Ghooskhor Pandat,' which was renamed after allegations of being offensive and defamatory to the Brahmin community.

Members of the Yadav community staged a protest in Sambhal on Wednesday alleging that the film Yadav Ji Ki Love Story could disturb social harmony and hurt community sentiments.

The protest saw people from several villages gather near Khirni crossing on Ganwa Road and burn posters of the film. The demonstrators demanded an immediate ban on the movie's release.

Speaking to reporters, Devendra Yadav, a protester, said that community members from dozens of villages had assembled to oppose the film.

Legal action against film

"Our country is a symbol of brotherhood. Such a movie will disturb communal harmony and create unrest. If any film harms the dignity of our sisters and daughters, anger is natural. This is not good for the country," he alleged.

Another community member, Brijesh Yadav, said they would initiate legal action against the film.

"We are moving the high court and the Supreme Court. On February 21, we will submit a memorandum at the district level and take out a rally. The producer and director should stop the release of this film in the interest of justice as it hurts the dignity of the Yadav community. If it is not stopped, we will launch a bigger agitation," he said.

Sentiments hurt, says community

Protester Jeet Pal Yadav claimed that the film portrays incidents that never took place and unfairly targets the community.

"Targeting any community is not right. This film will spread a wrong message and increase hostility. The sentiments of the Yadav community have been hurt," he said.

There was no immediate response from the filmmakers regarding the allegations.

Police officials said the protest remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported.

Controversy echoes earlier film title dispute

The agitation comes close on the heels of a similar controversy that erupted earlier this month over the title of the Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat (bribe-taker Brahmin).

After a petition alleged that the title was "offensive" and "defamatory", Netflix informed the Delhi high court that the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer would be renamed. The court subsequently closed the proceedings after being told that the producer has taken a conscious decision to change the title and withdraw promotional materials.

The Lucknow police had registered an FIR against the director of Ghooskhor Pandat, citing charges of promoting social animosity and hurting religious sentiments under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.

Authorities had said the title appeared to target a particular community and could impact public peace and law and order.
Galgotias University issued an apology after falsely presenting a Chinese-manufactured robotic dog as their own innovation at the India AI Impact Summit, sparking controversy and leading to their removal from the event.

IMAGE: A view of Galgotias University pavilion as the government orders staff and officials to vacate its stall from the AI Impact Summit 2026 following row over the display of a Chinese-made robodog, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Key Points Galgotias University apologizes for misrepresenting a Chinese-made robotic dog as their own innovation at the India AI Impact Summit.

A university representative incorrectly claimed the robot, a Unitree Go2, was developed by Galgotias University's Centre of Excellence.

The university claims the misrepresentation was due to an ill-informed representative and not an intentional act.

Following the controversy, Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall at the AI summit.

The IT Secretary emphasised that the government does not want exhibitors showcasing items that are not their own.

Private university Galgotias on Wednesday apologised for 'confusion' after a controversy arose over the display of a made-in-China robotic dog as its own innovation during the India AI Impact Summit and said one of its representatives manning the pavilion was 'ill-informed'.

The controversy erupted after Neha Singh, a professor of communications at the University, on Tuesday showed to DD News a robotic dog Orion, saying it 'has been developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University'.

As the video went viral, social media users highlighted that the robot was actually a Unitree Go2, manufactured by China's Unitree Robotics and commonly used in research and education worldwide.

As the episode snowballed into a controversy, the university was asked to vacate the stall at the AI summit.

"We wish to apologise for the confusion created at the recent AI summit. One of our representatives manning the pavilion was ill-informed," a university spokesperson said.

"She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and, in her enthusiasm for being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press. There was no institutional intent to misrepresent the innovation," the spokesperson added.

Earlier on Wednesday, IT Secretary S Krishnan said the government does not want any exhibitor to showcase items that are not their own.

"We do not want such exhibits to continue," he said, after organisers asked Galgotias University to vacate its stall.
After the alleged attack on his wife, Sandya Sri, Nageshwar Rao reportedly remained at the spot.

Key Points The accused, Nageshwar Rao, was reportedly undergoing treatment for depression.

Rao allegedly intended to end his own life after the incident.

Police were alerted by an acquaintance of Rao, leading to his arrest.

A murder case has been registered, and the investigation is ongoing in Bengaluru.

A 65-year-old retired ISRO employee allegedly strangled his wife to death with a towel at their residence on Wednesday, police said.

The incident was reported at around 11 am within the Avalahalli police station limits.

The accused, Nageshwar Rao, has been taken into police custody, authorities added.

Citing the preliminary investigation, a senior police officer said Rao was reportedly undergoing treatment for depression.

Rao allegedly wanted to end his life after killing his wife, police added.

After the alleged attack on his wife, Sandya Sri, Rao reportedly remained at the spot. He then contacted an acquaintance, who alerted the police.

Accused was undergoing treatment for depression

A police team arrived at the residence and took Rao into custody.

"He was reportedly undergoing treatment for depression and was distressed. He allegedly intended to take his life after the incident, which is why he attacked his wife. There appear to be no other major reasons," said Saidulu Adavath, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield).

The couple's daughter, who is in the US, has been informed about the incident, police said.

A case of murder has been registered, and further investigation is underway.
You've heard the benchmarks. You've seen the surveys. Retirement experts have long floated targets like $1 million or $1.5 million. But when BlackRock asked Americans directly how much they think they'll need, the average answer shot much higher  and CEO Larry Fink said almost no one is on track to reach it.

"In January, BlackRock surveyed Americans, asking how much money they'd need to retire comfortably," Fink wrote in his 2025 annual chairman's letter. "When we took the average of those responses, it was just over $2 million  $2,089,000, to be exact. That's a lot. More than I was expecting. And almost no one is close."

Even older workers aren't catching up. "Even Gen-Xers, the oldest of whom will start retiring in five years, are falling short," Fink said. "In fact, 62% have saved less than $150,000."

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The 401(k) Limitation That's Quietly Costing Workers Years

Fink said the shortfall isn't just about how much people contribute  it's also about what they're investing in. Pensions, he said, often include private assets like infrastructure and real estate. Most 401(k) plans do not.

"Pension funds have invested in these assets for decades, but 401(k)s haven't," he wrote. That difference helps explain why "pensions typically outperform 401(k)s by about 0.5% each year."

It adds up fast. "Over 40 years, an extra 0.5% in annual returns results in 14.5% more money in your 401(k)," Fink wrote. "It's enough to fund nine more years of retirement."

He continued, "Or, put another way, private assets just bought you nine extra years hanging out with your grandkids."

Trending: Designed for investors with strong market convictions, REX Shares builds ETFs for income, leverage, and tactical positioning  explore the lineup.

The problem, he wrote, is that private assets are still unfamiliar to many plan providers. "When you invest in private assetslike a bridge, for examplethe values of those assets aren't updated daily, and you can't withdraw your money whenever you want. It's a bridge, after allnot a stock."

He added that "including assets like real estate or infrastructure in a 401(k) has become practical only within the past five to ten years."
'When I met the prime minister, he asked me, "Dr Ganguly, what do you do with people in your company who lie to you?"'

'I said, "Prime Minister, we counsel them and give them a gentle warning. If they lie again, they are sacked".'

'"This is my problem," Rajiv responded. "I can't sack people in government".'

A revealing excerpt from former Hindustan Lever Chairman Dr Ashok S Ganguly's We Are Our Future: Reflections On Life.

Illustrations: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Key Points Rajiv Gandhi sought people outside the traditional political ecosystem, reflecting his discomfort with entrenched power structures and inherited advisers.

Rajiv's leadership style was marked by personal warmth and intellectual curiosity.

His peers from Doon School and his close friends often said of him, 'He is what you see.'

Rajiv Gandhi was seeking someone who was not part of the traditional political system. He was surrounded by his mother's political advisors and then with his own, besides the usual ministers and bureaucrats.

There was growing speculation that he had begun to distrust certain individuals close to him, including a well-known political figure he had himself brought into the fold.

Did Rajiv Gandhi have weaknesses? Of course, as indeed we all do. He had inherited a job which he did not desire at the behest of his mother and in the aftermath of a personal tragedy.

He was keen to use advanced technologies to boost the slow-moving operational and logistical processes within the government, putting together a list of national priorities and timetables to speed up actions and implementations.

He announced the formation of the Prime Minister's Science Advisory Committee, to which I was appointed as a member alongside other dignitaries. But the ingrained ways of working were not amenable to change, and the attitude of the bureaucrats was an inheritance of the imperial civil service.

One of my friends described it as 'Slowness is not the purpose, thoroughness is.' I also accepted Rajiv's invitation to serve as part-time chairman of the board at IIT Kanpur.

Another cloud over that period was the scandal involving the Bofors gun purchase. I did not know any of the other names being mentioned in connection with the controversy, but I remain firmly convinced that Rajiv Gandhi would not have been involved. His peers from Doon School and his close friends often said of him, 'He is what you see.'

He was open, honest, sincere and keen to learn. When he took over as prime minister, he lacked the necessary experience. He was ready to bear the consequences for those whom he believed were his friends -- those he trusted.

But were some of them really his friends? While the facts and conclusions have remained elusive, the episode unjustly damaged reputations, fuelled more by speculation and innuendo than by verifiable evidence.

Meeting Mikhail Gorbachev

A notable event in Delhi at that time was the State visit of President Mikhail Gorbachev. Rajiv Gandhi had invited the president for a private evening at his residence, where he had scheduled a presentation on science and technology as part of the programme.

The head of DRDO, the head of SAC-PM and I were to share India's advances in certain areas of science. Besides the Russian president and his interpreter, Prime Minister Gandhi was present as the host. The 45 minute session turned out to be quite lively and enjoyable, and went beyond the stipulated time.

After we concluded, President Gorbachev requested us to prepare a summary of the presentations and discussions, to be made available to him the next morning at 5 am!

We had earlier planned to open a bottle of champagne in private and celebrate the unusual evening. However, the note was delivered to President Gorbachev's residence before 2 am, and we went to bed, postponing the champagne for another occasion.

Gopi Arora turned out to be my saviour

Among Rajiv Gandhi's trusted lieutenants was senior civil servant Gopi Arora, with whom I developed a relationship of confidence, trust and friendship over time.

From time to time, I found myself confronted by Rajiv's enthusiasm for me to join his government, even temporarily.

The roles he proposed ranged from an ambassadorship or a high commissioner's post for a three-year term to other responsibilities of my choosing.

I could never quite bring myself to explain that these proposals were beyond my reach -- bound as I was to a full-time role in the private sector, with a modest salary that helped support both my family and my ageing parents.

Discussions about my remuneration or high taxation were something I firmly avoided. I was resolute in my conviction that my strengths aligned with the expectations of the private sector and that I would likely be a failure in any form of public service.

I was also aware that I would exceed my predecessor's tenure as chairman of Hindustan Lever. I knew that if I stayed too long, I would eventually need to seek a new challenge for myself.

I had already identified and prepared my successor, and had also begun exploring what I wanted to do next -- before I risked overstaying my welcome. These discussions never quite seemed to rest.

We grew accustomed to fresh propositions surfacing from time to time. I was awestruck by the persistence! Eventually, Gopi Arora turned out to be my saviour.

A refusal to bend the rules

During Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as prime minister, there was one particular senior Cabinet minister whom I remember, albeit not quite so fondly, as I do so many others of that time.

His brother had joined Hindustan Lever as a management trainee and later left the company to become a stockist. At one point, he had defaulted on his dues and was cautioned. On a subsequent and repeat event, the company had discontinued his services.

Soon after, I received a call from the senior minister, asking why his brother's services had been terminated. I said I did not know, but I would find out and call him back.

Upon enquiring with the concerned department, I was told that the decision had been taken as per company policy: if a stockist defaulted on two consecutive payments, supplies were stopped.

I called back the minister and explained the company rule. I said that even as a chairman, I did not have the authority to override policy rules for an individual case.

The minister seemed upset, but his brother's service remained suspended. I forgot about the incident and did not tell Rajiv or Gopi about it, as I considered it a matter within my domain of responsibility.

'Dr Ganguly, nothing will happen tomorrow'

About three months later, one evening, I was having a cup of tea with Gopi at the India International Centre, where the company had an apartment, when I received a call from one of our directors in Bombay.

He said, 'We have been informed that a raid is being planned on our company and offices the next morning. We can approach the courts and get a stay.'

I put the phone down, and my concerned demeanour must have given me away because Gopi asked me what the problem was. I told him the entire story. He left shortly after that.

That evening, my bedside phone rang. It was the prime minister. He informed me, 'Dr Ganguly, nothing will happen tomorrow.'

I was both embarrassed and relieved, and told him I wasn't used to getting phone calls from the prime minister. He laughed and said, 'Nothing to worry about. By the way, we haven't had tea for a long time. Let's meet soon.'

I told him it was quite strange

On another occasion, I was due to meet the prime minister, but following a whopping electoral loss in Haryana, I felt it best to postpone. I called his secretary, Vincent George, to ask if we could reschedule this meeting. George called me back within five minutes to inform me that Mr Gandhi was keen to see me as scheduled.

When I met the prime minister, he asked me 'Dr Ganguly, what do you do with people in your company who lie to you?'

I said, 'Prime Minister, we counsel them and give them a gentle warning. If they lie again, they are sacked.'

'This is my problem,' Rajiv responded. 'I can't sack people in government.'

I told him that it was quite strange. I wondered aloud how an institution could function under such constraints.

When Rajiv wanted me to stand for election

General elections were announced in 1991, and campaigning was already in full flow. One evening in 1990, while I was at our residence in London, I received a telephone call from Pranab Mukherjee, former finance minister.

The call carried a rather ominous tone. He said he was calling on behalf of Rajiv Gandhi, who wished me to return to India and file my nomination from an important constituency in North Calcutta.

I am not sure if Rajiv Gandhi knew I was not a Calcutta Bengali. I politely reminded Pranab-babu that it was a ridiculous suggestion because I did not belong to the city. I did not even know the city well, certainly not North Calcutta.

Pranab-babu and I had known each other for many years, and he answered with characteristic politeness. He said he would convey my answer to Rajiv and told me that my next call would be from Mr Gandhi himself.

In less than half an hour, another long-distance call came through. I was momentarily tempted not to answer, but that would be out of character. I took the call and heaved a sigh of relief when I heard Gopi Arora's voice, 'Hello Ashok, Rajiv-ji wishes to have a brief chat.'

I requested Gopi if I could speak to him for a few minutes first, and explained the absolute improbability of the proposition. I knew I was putting him in an awkward situation. I ended by saying, 'You will have to tell Rajiv-ji what I have just said, but please don't put me in an impossible situation.'

Gopi was silent for a moment, probably weighing my words. Finally, he said, 'Ashok, I will try my best to avoid embarrassing you and Rajiv-ji. We've been friends long enough for me to try at least,' he said to my tremendous but temporary relief.

I have rarely shed tears, but on that day, I did

During the campaign in India, I spoke to Rajiv a couple of times every month. The last time I spoke to him was a few days before he was assassinated by a Sri Lankan Tamil Eelam suicide bomber.

During our final conversation, Rajiv had requested that I visit Delhi for a day at the end of May in 1991. I promised him I would, but that promise remained unfulfilled.

I have rarely shed tears, but on that day, I did. After our return to India in 1997, I renewed my contact with Gopi Arora. He had already retired from service, but we remained trusted friends until his retirement and demise.

However, Rajiv Gandhi lost his prime ministership in 1989 -- undone, in part, by the machinations of those who claimed to be his friends and supporters.

Excerpted from We Are Our Future: Reflections On Life by Ashok Ganguly, published by Westland India, with the kind permission of the publishers.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Sarla Maheshwari brought families together for that half hour -- delivering the news with remarkable poise, a firm command over language, without drama or noise.

IMAGE: Sarla Maheshwari was one of the trailblazers of live TV news and won the trust of her viewers. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Key Points Sarla Maheshwari belonged to the golden era of live public broadcast.

After working as a Hindi professor, she joined Doordarshan in 1976.

She was among the leading news anchors for three decades and became part of the nation's life.

Sarla Maheshwari made an elegant appearance in the drawing room on most nights at 9 pm.

Every other night, she would open the news bulletin with a dignified 'Namaskar' in her calm and measured voice.

Dinner was finished, household chores were wrapped up, and school-college going kids of the family were encouraged to sit in front of TV to know what had happened in the world that day.

She brought families together for that half hour -- delivering the news with remarkable poise, a firm command over language and diction, without drama or noise.

Sarla Maheshwari and her ilk of Doordarshan news anchors of the 1980s-1990s set the bar so high that it has not been surpassed more than four decades later.

They represented the golden era of the live public broadcast, much before 24 hour-networks and streaming platforms invaded our homes and conquered our phones.

They were the OGs of style and substance.

Family members would place light-hearted bets on which news reader would be on air that night before the broadcast began.

Everybody had their own favourites, and could identify the 'news readers' -- as they were then called -- by their voices.

Their saris were coveted; their styles copied. You brushed up on your Hindi and English as you listened to them while keeping up with 'current affairs'.

They inspired many -- especially women -- to explore careers in media, showing the way to those who followed.

Doordarshan anchors became part of the nation's lives. They were like friends or family who dropped in every other night and made you watch, listen and absorb.

Importantly, their live broadcast won people's trust.

And that is why their passing is mourned. One of the Originals, Sarla Maheshwari died last week at 71 after a Doordarshan career that lasted nearly three decades.

Sarla Maheshwari started out with children's programmes in the mid-70s - and then moved to the news broadcast.

She delivered the news with a no-nonsense, dignified flair. There were no unnecessary pauses, or needless thrust on words to give importance to a particular news item.

She shouldered the enormous responsibility of announcing the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on the national news in 1991 -- and did it with grace and composure.

When news came of her death on February 12, grief descended on generations who had known her through their television screens and let her into their homes.

One of her colleagues Sheila Chaman, another DD stalwart, remembers a friendship which started in the days of black and white television transmissions.

"I first met Sarla in the make-up room where she was getting ready to read the Hindi news bulletin and I had stepped out of the studios after recording an interview with a foreign guest for the programme Panorama," remembers the veteran who worked in DD in various roles -- presenter, interviewer, newsreader, correspondent, stringer and trainer.

Ms Chaman's book Doordarshan Diaries - The Golden Era of Television, was launched last September on DD's foundation day in New Delhi.

"Sarla was very down to earth with no airs and simplistic in her ways. We all wore saris, the national dress for our appearances. Sarla being a Gujarati, wore hers in the Gujarati style with the palloo coming from over her right shoulder. She carried that off very gracefully," says Chaman.

The draping of the palloo from the opposite side, a mole on her left cheek and a slightly off-centre bindi were Sarla ji's signature dressing style.

"She was grace personified and very spiritual and was one of my closest friends from Doordarshan. We stayed in touch right till her unfortunate, sad demise. We talked on the telephone often and chatted about the good old happy DD times and reminisced of the long hours of work which were without a trace of irritation or fatigue -- we enjoyed our work!" she says.

The DD news casters at that time were freelancers and were paid by the day. They did a 5-hour shift, reporting at 5 pm for the 9 pm bulletin - and would leave the centre around 10 pm.

"A cheque of Rs 150 would be waiting at the news desk at the end of our telecast," says Ms Chaman.

Sarla Maheshwari held a doctorate from Delhi University and taught Hindi in Delhi's Hansraj College early on in her career.

She joined DD in 1976 and took a hiatus when she moved to England in the mid-1980s after marrying a doctor employed in the UK.

Four years later, the couple returned to Delhi and she resumed at DD -- and went on to become one of its most well-known live broadcasters -- along with a host of others like Ms Chaman, Gitanjali Aiyar, Salma Sultan, Neethi Ravindran, Komal G B Singh, Minu Talwar, Rini Simon-Khanna.

"All of us presenters and news readers had great bonding and camaraderie -- no ill feelings or 'competition'. There was no jealousy or ill feelings. We often met and chatted in the make-up room while getting ready -- always about work, saris, DD personnel and hardly ever about our personal lives," says Ms Chaman.

"None of our family members visited the TV Centre (as it was then known, housed in Parliament Street next to the iconic red All India Radio building). It was later, after we all left working for Doordarshan that we sometimes visited each other and today we are friends."

"Sarla, to everyone, was dignified and poised. Ever smiling and graceful. She and I often talked on the telephone till she could and slowly, as she became weaker she would just send me a short Whatsapp message,' says Ms Chaman, looking back at her time spent with a dear friend.

In 2021 when Ms Chaman was asked by the ministry of information and broadcasting to write a book on Doordarshan, she promptly reached out to Sarla to be a co-author.

"She was reluctant at first but after much persuasion she agreed to send in a write-up and wrote it by hand in Hindi. I translated that in English and it's now a part of the book."

"I feel very grateful to her for writing it for the love of me as she said and only later learnt about her illness which finally took her away from us. It feels painful to refer to her in the past tense."

Sarlaji was ailing for a couple of years and undergoing dialysis.

After publication of the book, Ms Chaman sent her a copy and told her to 'read your portion and enjoy'.

"She did not want me to visit her to give her a copy of the book personally as she probably did not want me to see her in her weakened condition. This fills me with grief!" says Ms Chaman.

Her last Whatsapp message to her was sent on January 25: 'Congratulations Sheila. You have really made sincere efforts to make this book a success. All the best'.

In her passing, television news lost one of its pioneers.

Rest in Peace, Sarla ji. You were The Original -- truly unsurpassable.
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BP is advancing plans to sell its Gelsenkirchen refinery in Germany.

Sale talks are reportedly ongoing with Klesch Group.

The move follows BPs recent divestment of Castrol as it continues to reshape its asset base.

For investors watching LSE:BP, the potential sale of the Gelsenkirchen refinery comes as the shares trade around 4.6045, with returns of 5.1% year to date and 5.5% over the past year. Over five years, the stock shows a 105.6% gain, while the three year period reflects a 3.2% decline, underlining a mixed but eventful track record.

This refinery sale effort, alongside the Castrol divestment, points to a company intent on simplifying its portfolio and targeting cost reductions. If BP reaches an agreement with Klesch Group, it could further reshape the companys operational footprint in Europe. Investors may weigh this development against BPs broader plans for returns and capital allocation.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for BP by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on BP.

LSE:BP. Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Feb 2026

 Beyond the headline: 3 risks and 3 things going right for BP that every investor should see.

Quick Assessment

 Price vs Analyst Target : BP trades at 4.60 versus a 4.78 analyst target, roughly 3.8% below consensus.

 Simply Wall St Valuation : The shares are described as trading 67.3% below an estimated fair value.

 Recent Momentum: A 30 day return of about 4.6% suggests the price has been firm recently.

There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold BP. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of BP's fair value.

Key Considerations

 The Gelsenkirchen sale talks point to further reshaping of BP's asset base, which could influence earnings mix and capital needs over time.

 It may be useful to monitor sale terms, any disclosed use of proceeds, and how these relate to BP's reported P/E of 1,774.2 and forward P/E of 13.9.

 One flagged risk is that the 5.34% dividend is not well covered by earnings, which matters if asset disposals do not support cash flows.

Dig Deeper

For a fuller picture, including additional risks and potential rewards, explore the complete BP analysis. You can also visit the community page for BP to see how other investors believe this latest news will affect the company's narrative.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Linda Sedlewicz and Jeff Scott with the Chesterfield, N.H., Revitalizing Group stand in front of a building on Route 9A that will be demolished thanks to a recent grant.
Tim Stevenson is a community organizer with Post Oil Solutions from Athens (bereal@vermontel.net), and is the author of Resilience and Resistance: Building Sustainable Communities for a Post Oil Age and Transformative Activism: A Values Revolution in Everyday Life in a Time of Societal Collapse," and is currently at work on a book about mutual care communities. The opinions expressed by columnists and op-ed writers do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Iranians are marking the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period for those killed during the height of the deadly state crackdown on mass protests last month with renewed public shows of dissent.

During memorial ceremonies held across Iran in recent days, mourners have staged small demonstrations and chanted slogans against Irans clerical rulers. Security forces have tried to curb the protests and, in some cases, used gunfire to disperse crowds.

At least 7,000 people were killed during the nationwide protests that erupted in late December 2025, according to human rights groups, although the real death toll is believed to be significantly higher. Most of the killings occurred from January 8 to 10, the peak of the crackdown.

Historically, memorial ceremonies have often taken on political significance during times of unrest, most notably during the lead-up to the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

'Behind Every Dead Person'

Videos verified by RFE/RL appear to show small protests at memorial ceremonies in the capital, Tehran, and the cities of Shiraz, Abdanan, Bushehr, Chalus, and Najafabad.

In several cities, security forces moved quickly to prevent the gatherings from growing into broader demonstrations. Iranians have reported roadblocks, heavy deployments of police and paramilitary units, and intermittent Internet disruptions.

In Tehrans Behesht Zahra cemetery, videos on February 17 showed mourners gathered around the graves of slain protesters shouting anti-government slogans. In a show of unity, crowds were heard chanting, A thousand people stand behind every dead person.

In the western town of Abdanan, a protest was held on February 17 during a ceremony commemorating the death of 16-year-old Alireza Seydi. The teenager was killed while taking part in a demonstration in Tehran.

During the ceremony, videos showed mourners chanting Death to Khamenei, a reference to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Videos also appeared to show security forces firing into the air to disperse the crowd.

Families of the victims have reported a surge in harassment and pressure from the authorities in recent days and weeks. Some have been summoned for questioning, threatened, and blocked from organizing commemorations.

Shaping The Narrative

The renewed unrest comes as the authorities attempt to shape the narrative around the unprecedentedly deadly state crackdown on the protests.

The authorities blamed rioters and terrorists armed by Israel and the United States, Tehrans archenemies, for the deaths of protesters. Officials claimed around 3,000 people were killed, most of them members of the security forces.

But in remarks on February 17, Khamenei described those killed as martyrs and said that the bullets could have come from anywhere, a statement that appeared to diverge from earlier official claims.

Khamenei also said he was in mourning over the bloodshed as state-sponsored religious ceremonies were held to mark 40 days since the killings. This prompted critics to allege that the clerical establishment is attempting to co-opt the mourning events.

Its sheer shamelessness, Paris-based Iranian analyst Reza Alijani told RFE/RLs Radio Farda.

Alijani said the public has rejected Khameneis fabricated narrative about who killed the protesters.

"A system that has effectively confiscated the will and sovereignty of the Iranian nation and has plundered their wealth, natural resources, and economy now wants to do the same with their martyrs, he added.
For more than two decades, products manufactured in Kosovo have been sold abroad under foreign labels.

On store shelves across Europe and beyond, cooking oil, beverages, and other goods marked "Made in Kosovo" have often been registered as originating in Albania or elsewhere -- not because of where they were produced, but because Kosovo lacked an internationally recognized barcode.

This has been one of the less visible consequences of Kosovo's status as Europe's youngest state, which is still only partially recognized internationally and not fully integrated into many global systems.

That situation, however, is now changing.

This month, Kosovo secured the international barcode prefix 381, giving its products a globally verifiable identity for the first time.

For a country seeking to expand exports and integrate more deeply into European and global markets, experts say this marks an important step toward consolidating economic sovereignty and strengthening its presence in international supply chains.

A barcode is a unique identification number that contains information about a product and its country of origin. It can be scanned anywhere in the world, making it essential for modern trade, logistics, and retail systems.

Barcode Workaround For Exporters

Fluidi, a company based in the eastern city of Gjilan that produces edible oil and soft drinks, is one of several Kosovar manufacturers that for years had to obtain foreign barcodes in order to export.

"In supermarkets across Europe and globally, products made in Kosovo appeared as originating from Albania or other countries," said the company's owner, Berat Mustafa, in an interview with RFE/RL.

He said around 30 percent of the company's production is exported to regional markets, Europe, and Africa. Until now, every product required a barcode issued outside Kosovo.

"I purchased barcodes in Albania, where my company is also registered, because it was easier. Many Kosovar businesses have done the same or used barcodes provided by their distributors in export markets," Mustafa explained.

He said this created a paradox: Although entirely legal, products manufactured in Kosovo were not officially identifiable as such within the global trade system, limiting their visibility and ability to build an international reputation.

Mustafa said he paid $236 per year in Albania to maintain barcodes for 10 products.

"The financial cost was not very high, but the 381 barcode directly promotes both our products and the state of Kosovo," he added.

From Stopgap Solution To Global Standard

Until now, Kosovo has used the barcode prefix 390, introduced in 2003 by Kosovo's Chamber of Commerce as an emergency solution for identifying products within the domestic market.

However, this code was not part of the global product identification system.

In practice, this meant products could circulate domestically, but exports had to be integrated into foreign identification systems.

The situation changed this month, when Kosovo, through its Chamber of Commerce, began issuing barcodes with the prefix 381 for the first time -- six months after joining the global network of GS1.

GS1 is a Brussels-based international nonprofit organization that develops and manages global standards for identifying products, services, and supply chains worldwide. Its system is used by millions of companies and is essential to the functioning of modern global commerce.

Strengthening Kosovo's Export Brand

Kushtrim Ajvazi, head of Kosovo's Producers Association, says the reliance on foreign barcodes not only increased administrative and financial costs but also weakened the identity of Kosovar products in international markets.

"For a small and developing economy like Kosovo, building a recognized export identity is critical to attracting trade partners and foreign investment," he said.

He added that the new system also increases transparency for consumers.

"Through the barcode, consumers can verify the product's origin, manufacturer, and composition, which strengthens trust and security in the market," Ajvazi said.

A Milestone, But Not A Solution

Business representatives emphasize that while the international barcode is an important milestone, it does not resolve all the structural challenges facing Kosovar producers.

Kosovo remains a small economy of around 1.5 million people, with limited production capacity and heavy dependence on imports.

Agim Shahini, head of the Kosovo Business Alliance, says key challenges remain structural. As factors reducing competitiveness, he points to unfavorable fiscal policies and rising operational costs -- particularly electricity prices, which increased after businesses entered the open energy market last year.

He added that while Kosovo has export potential, stronger institutional support and a more coordinated strategy are needed to help domestic producers enter foreign markets.

"We remain a country that wants to export, but in practice we favor the consumption of foreign products. We have become loyal to imported goods," Shahini said.

Trade Deficit Still A Central Challenge

The imbalance between imports and exports remains one of the clearest indicators of Kosovo's economic challenges.

According to data from Kosovo Customs , the country imported goods worth more than $8.2 billion last year, ranging from food products to construction materials and textiles.

During the same period, exports reached approximately $1.1 billion, or about $3 million per day.

In this context, experts say the 381 barcode represents more than a technical change.

It is a step toward establishing clearer recognition for Kosovar products in global markets, but its success will depend on the country's ability to support its producers and turn that identity into a genuine economic advantage.

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who began a new term last week, has pledged some $1.2 billion in guarantees and loans to support domestic manufacturers.

Meanwhile, Mustafa plans to phase out existing stock and register new products with the 381 barcode. He is convinced that this code will allow Kosovar products to enter international markets with a clear and undisputed identity: "Made in Kosovo."
British pub operator Greene King is planning another restructuring of its operations that could lead to job losses, according to The Times.

The move is said to be in response to the higher taxes and rising costs that impacted the UK pub sector.

The company, which operates around 2,600 pubs across Britain, is considering changes that may affect around 100 roles in its head office and central teams.

Discussions are ongoing, and no final decision is believed to have been made. The company has declined to comment on the report.

This latest review follows a significant restructuring less than two years ago, when Greene King cut head office and field-based positions in a move it said would help the business thrive in these challenging times.

Greene King runs a mix of managed pubs, which it operates directly, and leased or tenanted sites, where it acts as landlord to independent operators.

Pub groups have faced sharp increases in operating costs in recent years. Energy, food, drink and wage bills have all risen, eroding margins across the sector.

In its most recent accounts, Greene King reported a 3.2% increase in sales to 2.45bn ($3.1bn) in 2024.

Despite the rise in revenue, the group posted a pre-tax loss of 147.1m, while stating that adjusted operating profit stood at 198m.

Meanwhile, the group has continued to expand its estate, even as it now examines further restructuring of its central operations.

Earlier this month, Greene King Pub Partners, a division of Greene King, announced its plans to expand its Hive Pubs and Nest Pubs franchised formats into Wales this year.

"British pub operator Greene King plans fresh restructuring  report" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.




Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that two days of US-brokered talks with Russia have produced mixed results, with progress on military aspects but "sensitive issues" remaining in political areas.

Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was "too early" to assess the results of the talks, held in Geneva, Switzerland. There was no immediate comment from US officials.

Speaking to journalists in an online chat organized by the presidential office, Zelenskyy said "all three sides were constructive on the military track" of the talks.

"The military basically understands how to monitor a cease-fire and the end of the war, if there is political will. They have basically agreed on pretty much everything there. Monitoring will definitely involve the American side," he said.

"On the political track there was dialogue - they agreed to move forward and to continue. I did not hear the same level of progress there as on the military side. But...my group said they cannot report everything to me over the phone," Zelenskyy added.

Speaking to Russian state media as official talks ended on February 18, Moscow's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said the negotiations had been "difficult but businesslike" and that further meetings would follow.

The previous day, the lead White House envoy in Geneva, Steve Witkoff, said there had been "meaningful progress."

"Both parties agreed to update their respective leaders and continue working towards a deal," he said in a post to X.

The February 17-18 meetings in Geneva -- the third round of trilateral talks held over the past month -- have focused on two of the thorniest obstacles to halting the war: territorial claims and security guarantees.

The meetings came a week before the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion that has killed or wounded nearly 2 million people on both sides.

The US-led efforts have progressed further than any other time since the months following the February 24, 2022, invasion.

However, Russia has shown little inclination to back away from its hard-line demands, which include Kyiv relinquishing territory it still holds in the eastern Donbas region.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has pushed Washington and European allies for iron-clad security guarantees that would help protect it against future Russian aggression.

The Russians "have given no indication that they're willing to make any changes from their maximum demands," William Taylor, a former US ambassador to Ukraine, told RFE/RL.

Without a cease-fire, he said, broader agreements are unrealistic.

"Everything depends on stopping the fighting," Taylor said.

On the eve of the talks, Russia again pummeled Ukrainian towns and cities with drones and missiles, hitting residential buildings and energy infrastructure. Millions of Ukrainians have suffered through heat and power outages as a result of Russian bombardment of power plants and transmission lines.

The continued Russian attacks suggest a lack of seriousness about the talks, Taylor said.

Steven Pifer, another former US ambassador to Ukraine, questioned whether Russia was negotiating mainly for show rather than to narrow substantive gaps between the two sides.

"Are they bringing anything new that actually might narrow the differences between the sides?" he asked.

"I have to say, in general, I'm fairly skeptical about the prospects for the talks," he told RFE/RL.

With reporting by RFE/RL correspondent Alex Raufoglu in Washington
Sarah Slater

The Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin has slammed the move by An Coimisiun Pleanala to stop the Rotunda Hospitals 100 million critical care unit, saying it is putting the lives of mothers and their babies at risk.

Last week, the commission overturned planning permission granted by Dublin City Council in July last year to the hospital site on Parnell Square.

The new four-storey wing would have provided 80 extra hospital bedrooms along with a new theatre while the plans also included the demolition of the existing Outpatients Department located on the western side of Parnell Square.

Two appeals by an individual and the Dublin Civic Trust and an individual were lodged against the original planning permission.

The Cabra-Glasnevin Fianna Fail councillor John Stephens, who has worked in the health care sector in the Mater Hospital for more than 25 years, said expectant mothers and babies are being treated as second class citizens because they are attending a hospital in the north inner city.

Mounting pressure from the health and political areas resulted in Taoiseach Micheal Martin promising that the hospital will get its expansion on site, no matter what it takes.

The Taoiseach committed by saying in the Dail on Tuesday that all options here, in terms of getting this critical-care wing built at the Rotunda, will be examined.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll McNeill also said she was disappointed by the commissions decision.

They, the commission, are without doubt putting the lives of expectant mothers, new mothers and babies in untold danger, said the deputy Lord Mayor.

There will be a lot of questions to be answered if a mother or baby lives are lost due to wanting to preserve the integrity of a building over those of human beings. I understand the need to preserve our heritage and cultural aspects but not at the cost of lives.

The Deputy Lord Mayor questioned how individuals in planning sectors can be allowed to not listen to the voices of medical experts and those working day-in and day-out at the hospital dealing with over-cramped and dangerous situations.

He added: Dublins north inner city is also losing Temple Street Childrens Hospital when it moves out to the new James Hospital site leaving so many people in the north inner city and environs under even more pressure to try and get vital medical care. Do the planning powers not see that? The commissions decision just really beggars belief.

He urged the Taoiseach to stand firm on his decision to look at all aspects of the commissions decision.

An Coimisiun Pleanala in its ruling said it agreed with the two appellant objectors that the plans to have the outpatients department demolished and replaced with a critical care wing, would be contrary to the zoning of the site, due to allowing only limited expansion within Georgian conservation areas.

Dublin Civic Trust chief executive Graham Hickey said it was "shocking and unacceptable" that the Rotunda had submitted "a gargantuan development proposal.

However, the Master of the Rotunda Hospital, Professor Sean Daly said earlier this week that the priority is making sure that the delivery of appropriate neonatal care for the Rotunda continues and progresses as quickly as possible.
By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

A man killed in South Belfast on February 11th has been named as Ahmed Abdi.

The PSNI launched a murder investigation after the 33-year-old died following an incident in the Cromwell Road area.

Police said officers attended following the report of a concern for safety.

Mr Abdi was taken to the hospital by the ambulance service, where he later died.

Detective Inspector Jack Kelly, from the Police Services Major Investigation Team, said: My thoughts are with Ahmeds family at this difficult time, as they try to come to terms with their loss.

On Saturday, a 32-year-old man appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court charged with Mr Abdis murder.

Isaac Koko, with an address in Cromwell Road in the south of the city, was remanded in custody ahead of the next court appearance.

The case is next due to be mentioned on Tuesday, March 10th.
Danish drugmaker, Novo Nordisk, is set to expand its plant in Monksland, according to its chief executive.

A major investment plan will see the company manufacture the Wegovy weight loss pill at the South Roscommon facility for markets outside the United States.

Novo already makes the popular obesity pill for the US market in the US.

In September last year, Novo announced plans to cut 75 of the 400 jobs at the Monksland plant as part of a 9,000 reduction in headcount worldwide.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg media about the expansion plans in South Roscommon, Mr Doustar remarked: If we were about to throw in the towel, we would not be investing in factories in Ireland.

Novo Nordisk purchased the former Elan Drug Technologies plant from Irish-headquartered pharma group Alkermes in 2024 in a deal worth 85m at the time.
Cerealto, the Spanish private-label manufacturer, has agreed to sell its pasta business to Portuguese agri-food group Cerealis.

The deal includes the associated manufacturing site in Venta de Banos, Palencia, according to a statement Cerealto issued on Friday (13 February).

Cerealis, in a short LinkedIn note, said the facility has an annual capacity of about 90,000 tonnes.

A spokesperson for Cerealto declined to confirm the factory output figures, adding that the financial terms of the transaction remain confidential.

Around 125 staff are employed at the Venta de Banos site and all will transfer to the new owners, the spokesperson said.

The Portuguese group said the acquisition will create important synergies in key strategic areas, helping deliver increased scale and enhanced international competitiveness.

Cerealto said the sale fits with its decision to focus on its core snacking and breakfast categories, where it sees the greatest potential for its future growth.

It also described the pasta unit as profitable and said it has benefited from sustained investment in recent years.

Cerealto added the business will best reach its potential under a specialist pasta player like Cerealis.

The Cerealto spokesperson added third-party manufacturing will now include biscuits, cereals, snacking bars, and corn and rice cakes in Europe, the UK, the US and Mexico.

On jobs and operations, Cerealto said in the statement the transaction guarantees continuity at Venta de Banos.

No changes are envisaged to the workforce, operations, or the day-to-day activities of the business, the statement read.

Cerealto CEO Bosco Fonts said: Our pasta business has been high-performing and value accretive, which has benefitted from substantial capital investment in recent years.

We are pleased to have met a new operator that is a specialist in the pasta and has the capability to continue developing the business, while retaining the employment and working conditions for our colleagues in the pasta business unit.

The agreement is subject to approvals from Spains CNMC (National Commission on Markets and Competition) and Portugals AdC (Competition Authority).

Once necessary authorisations are obtained, we will begin a transition phase to ensure a seamless transfer to the new owner. Until then, the business will continue to operate as normal, fully meeting our commitments to customers, Fonts added.

Backed by Davidson Kempner Capital Management and Afendis Capital Management, Cerealto acquired a majority stake in US-based Fresca Foods in November, the producer of snack bars and breakfast cereals.
Tributes have been paid following the death of Roscommon woman Amelda Burke, a well respected nursing tutor who contributed so much to nursing in Ireland.

Ms Burke, Ballsbridge, Dublin and formerly of Castlestrange, Athleague, Co Roscommon passed away peacefully, on February 11th in the devoted care of the staff at Thomand Lodge Nursing Home, Ballymahon.

She was laid to rest last week in Athleague cemetery following Funeral Mass at St. Patricks Church, Athleague.

Ms Burke worked as a ward sister at the former Sir Patrick Duns Hospital in Dublin and trained many nurses.

Many tributes were paid to Ms Burke who was described as a kind, supportive and stylish lady.

Condolences were expressed by many of her former students.

She contributed so much to nursing in Ireland & abroad in her teaching of future nurses for the decades ahead as we left her to forge our own careers. I have such fun memories of our classes with Amelda all those decades ago, said one sympathiser.

A beautiful, dignified lady who dedicated her life to the nursing profession, said another while another former student said she had a warm influence on me during my time as a trainee and staff nurse in Sir Patrick Duns Hospital Dublin.

Ms Burke will be sadly missed by her brother Jay (Jim) (Ballyleague), sister Anna Begley (Galway) sister-in-law Marie, nieces, nephews, extended family, former nursing colleagues and friends. She is predeceased by her parents and by her brother and sister.
Kenneth Fox

Over 1,600 people in Ireland die prematurely each year due to fine particulate matter from solid fuels, according to the Climate and Health Alliance (CHA).

A new report from the CHA outlines that air pollution has no safe level and contributes to heart and lung disease, stroke, dementia, pregnancy complications, as well as mental health issues.

The report underlines the urgent need for government action to address the invisible health threat.

Children, older adults, pregnant women, and disadvantaged communities are most affected, and the CHA says that failing to act costs Ireland 4.4abillion annually in healthcare, productivity loss and reduced economic activity.

Commenting on the report, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said that it "makes it impossible to ignore the scale of the health damage caused by air pollution.

We need urgent, collaborative action across government to reduce harmful emissions and protect the people most at risk.

"Clean air shouldnt depend on where you live or what you earn, its a basic right that the Government has a duty to protect.

Mark Murphy of the CHA said: Clean air is a fundamental human right, with 1,600 dying prematurely a year, this is nearly ten times the annual number of road deaths in our country.

Cork City Council social inclusion specialist and city resident, Martha Halbert, is a mother of two who spoke to politicians over her grave concern about the health impact of air pollution on vulnerable communities in Cork City and particularly her daughter living with asthma.

"I am here to reflect my lived experience, both as a community development practitioner and as a parent. Poor air quality has become a threat to my childrens and many others' health in the communities I serve."

The CHA points to successful examples in improving air quality, such as the ban on smoky coal and wet wood, as evidence that strong policy works.

Most air pollutant levels are considerably lower than they were in the 80s and 90s. Sulphur dioxide, a major pollutant, is a huge cause for celebration, with levels down over 90 per cent since the 1980s.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has expanded monitoring nationwide, providing real-time data and forecasts. Enforcement of fuel regulations has improved, and public awareness is growing.

But while progress has been made, Ireland is still far from meeting the updated WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines.

The CHAs position paper makes 22 key recommendations to recognise air pollution as a public health priority and implement and progress actions for clean air at different levels of society.

These include increasing public understanding and awareness of air pollution as a major public health crisis through national and targeted awareness campaigns.

They also recommend increasing funding for local authorities to enforce air quality standards and introducing sustainable practices for both housing and active travel.
Sean McCarthaigh

A State body established to improve education services for children with special needs has been ordered to pay 40,000 in compensation after discriminating against a job applicant who was deaf.

The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that the National Council for Special Education had indirectly discriminated against Noel OConnell on grounds of his disability.

OConnell, who unsuccessfully applied for the role of advisor deaf/hard of hearing advertised with the NCSE in March 2022, claimed the organisation had breached the Employment Equality Act over its requirement for candidates to have a qualification in Irish Sign Language (ISL).

He complained that the requirement was discriminatory as deaf people are far less likely to hold an academic qualification in ISL than other candidates.

OConnell told the WRC that he had been deaf since childhood and holds a PhD in deaf education.

The WRC heard that OConnells first language is ISL which he uses daily although, in common with most deaf people in Ireland, he does not have an academic qualification in the language.

Lawyers for OConnell said he was well qualified for the role given his academic qualification in deaf education and being fluent in ISL.

However, the NCSEs information booklet said the successful candidate would be required to have a qualification in ISL based on the Common European Language Framework or equivalent.

The WRC heard that OConnell was informed on May 6th, 2022, that he had not been shortlisted for the role as he did not have an academic qualification in ISL.

Although the NCSE upheld a complaint he made that the requirement was discriminatory in June 2022, he was informed that he could not apply for the position as the recruitment process had closed.

OConnell said he was surprised at being informed that he was not being offered a remedy.

His counsel, Michael Kinsley, said the complainant was uniquely qualified for the job and had suffered significant losses as a result of not being shortlisted and interviewed.

Kinsley said the requirement imposed by the NCSE could not be considered necessary and it had other means to assess OConnells competence.

He also claimed OConnell would have been successful in the absence of the discriminatory requirement  a view the NCSE claimed was simply extraordinary.

Counsel for the NCSE, M P Guinness, told the WRC that the internal decision which upheld OConnells request for a review of the decision not to shortlist him was fundamentally flawed given the criteria set for the role.

The WRC heard the role of advisor deaf/hard of hearing was created to provide for the building of capacity of ISL across the school community, including teachers, SNAs and other school staff.

The NCSE said it required formal qualifications in ISL for several reasons including that they provided clear and objective evidence that candidates had the necessary language skills as well as a measure of quality assurance.

Guinness said it was simply incorrect for OConnell to claim that the requirement effectively excluded deaf people as they could also obtain a formal qualification in ISL.

The NCSE also claimed it was necessary to not only have fluency in ISL but also to be equipped with the necessary theoretical knowledge, teaching methodologies and pedagogical skills crucial for effective guidance and support.

Guinness said there was clear objective justification for the requirement to have an academic qualification in ISL.

However, WRC adjudication officer, Jim Dolan, said he believed the NCSE had decided in OConnells case to ignore the Code of Practice for appointments to the civil and public service which states a decision of a reviewer must be considered by the administrators of a selection process.

No remedy was offered by the designated decision maker or the NSCE and the rejection of his application was not overturned, said Dolan.

He ordered the NCSE to pay OConnell compensation of 40,000  the maximum permissible amount of compensation in such cases under the legislation  for indirect discrimination.

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High Court Reporter

Sinn Feins Pa Daly and People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy have argued that they are entitled to legal costs incurred in their unsuccessful High Court challenge to the constitutionality of super junior ministers attendance at Government meetings.

They submit that their cases raised issues of constitutional and public importance.

The deputies brought separate but similar challenges arguing article 28 of Bunreacht na hEireann limits the number of government members to 15 and that the attendance of super juniors goes against this.

A three-judge High Court, comprising the court president Judge David Barniville, Judge Siobhan Phelan and Judge Conleth Bradley, in December held that no provision of the Constitution is breached by the attendance and participation of the junior ministers at Cabinet meetings.

It remains open to both TDs to seek permission to appeal the High Courts judgment.

Ministers of State attending Cabinet (or super junior ministers) are appointed by the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Super junior ministers participate in Government meetings but do not vote.

On Wednesday, lawyers for the deputies referred to Supreme Court authorities outlining circumstances when the court can depart from the default costs rule  namely, that a successful litigant should be awarded their costs, or costs follow the event.

The authorities point to cases when an order for legal costs should not be awarded against an unsuccessful litigant, and when an unsuccessful litigant should be awarded their legal costs.

Certain cases that raise issues of constitutional and public importance are examples of when such orders can be made.

Feichin McDonagh, counsel for Daly, appearing with barristers Brendan Hennessy and John Biggins, and instructed by Rogers Law Solicitors, said his clients case raised fundamental constitutional issues, and was a case of conspicuous novelty.

He said his client had no personal or proprietary interest in the case.

McDonagh said his clients action fell within the rubric outlined by the Supreme Court relating to instances when the court can depart from the default costs rule.

John Rogers, counsel for Murphy, appearing with barristers Paul Gunning and Molly Higgins and instructed by KM Solicitors, submitted that his clients case was of systemic constitutional importance.

He said the case was concerned with the legal propriety of Government decision making.

I respectfully submit that nothing could be of higher public importance than a politician seeking direction of the court as to the propriety of Government action, pursuant to the Constitution, Rogers said.

Rogers said that reading the States submissions on the costs issue, one would have the impression that really theres nothing in this case. Counsel said this was a profoundly misleading submission, and didnt do justice at all to this case.

Attorney General Rossa Fanning submitted that given the State won both cases comprehensively, the default assumption must be that the State is entitled to its costs.

Fanning accepted that the court has discretion to vary from this assumption, in particular when it comes to public interest litigation.

However, he submitted that the deputies cases cannot fall into the very rare category that allows for an award of costs in favour of an unsuccessful litigant.

He said it was the States position that the court should not depart from the default costs follow the event rule.

If the court does decide to depart from this rule, the court should make no order as to costs in the case, the attorney submitted.

The attorney submitted that these were obviously weak cases, and said it was very clear there was never any clear, credible basis for them. He said it was clear long before the cases came to trial that they were doomed to fail.

He said the court could have regard to the fact that the deputies motivation in bringing the cases was at least in part their own political advantage.

Barnville said the three-judge court would deliver its ruling on the costs issue at a later date.
Ottoline Spearman

Weather warnings are in place for 18 counties on Wednesday as the Government's emergency planners have warned that there is a risk of flooding "across the country".

A spell of heavy rainfall overnight from Tuesday and throughout Wednesday will be falling on already saturated ground and rivers close to bursting banks.

A yellow rain warning is in force in all 12 Leinster counties, as well as Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Tipperary, and Waterford.

This is due to expire at 11pm on Wednesday.

The forecasting agency said there is a risk of flooding, poor visibility, and difficult travelling conditions in these areas, which are also experiencing high river levels.

Wexford, Wicklow, Meath, Louth, and Dublin will also be under a yellow warning for wind, with Met Eireann also cautioning against wave overtopping amid high tides.

This is in place until 1pm on Wednesday.

The double warning applies to areas in the east of the country which have been severely affected by flooding in recent weeks.

A third yellow warning for rain applies to Donegal between 2am and 2pm on Wednesday, with Met Eireann warning that falls of sleet and snow are possible.

The North is also under a yellow rain and snow warning, with the UK's Met Office warning of outbreaks of rain, hill snow and strong winds, which may bring some disruption to travel.

This warning is in place from 4am to 8pm on Wednesday.
Officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) stated that the Prime Minister will host a dinner for state guests and business leaders after 6 pm. File Photo.

Digital India Managing Director and CEO Akhil Kumar told reporters that the AI Expo zone will remain open until 8 pm starting February 18.



Restricted Entry at India AI Summit During PM Modis Visit

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Delegates attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026 will face restricted access on Wednesday and Thursday due to VIP movement and the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the venue, senior government officials said.

The summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam, where delegates have been informed that they must vacate the convention area by 4:30 pm. Officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) stated that the Prime Minister will host a dinner for state guests and business leaders after 6 pm.

Digital India Managing Director and CEO Akhil Kumar told reporters that the AI Expo zone will remain open until 8 pm starting February 18, following strong interest from participants. Delegates may shift to the expo area after leaving the convention section. Exit from the venue will be permitted only through Gate 4 throughout the day.

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Entry arrangements have also been specified. Delegates arriving by car or cab can enter through Gate 4 from 8 am onwards, while those using the Metro can access the venue through Gate 10 between 8 am and 4:30 pm.

An official advisory noted that traffic restrictions may occur between 4 pm and 11 pm around the ITPO complex. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the summit on February 19, with limited entry during the morning session. The expo area and media centre in Hall 1 will open to delegates from 11 am that day.

Source: The Tribune
Romania. The Eastern Flank: Black Knights 2026, a joint exercise of American and Romanian tanks

The "Black Knights 2026" exercise demonstrated, in difficult weather conditions and in a complex tactical scenario, that interoperability between Romanian and American forces works at a real operational level.

Photo: Agentia Media a Armatei

Radio Romania International, 18.02.2026, 14:00

Although there was no snow falling at the Smardan training ground (in eastern Romania), the wind was driving the felt temperature down to minus 15 degrees Celsius. This was the setting for the Black Knights 2026 exercise, in which Romanian tanks TR-85M1 Bizonul conducted live fire alongside American M1 Abrams tanks, some of the most modern armored platforms in the United States Army.

The scenario involved repelling and delaying an enemy attack, followed by a counterattack, in an integrated Romanian-American formula, under the command of US allies. The exercise tested interoperability, procedural coordination, technical communication and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to act as a single force.

Colonel Matthew Kelly, of the 1st Combat Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, U.S. Army, explained how the cooperation at Smardan unfolded: It was a tremendous opportunity for us to train. When we train with a partner or an ally  and Romania is certainly an ally  what we really care about is how we operate together and how we carry out a joint mission. From the perspective of the results obtained at the exercise, it was a complete success.

Integration did not just mean deploying soldiers and equipment to the range. It meant synchronizing fire, coordinated maneuvering, functional communications, and mutual trust between crews. Abrams tanks and TR-85M1 Bizonul tanks fired cannons and machine guns at targets set up at the range, supported by logistics and MEDEVAC structures.

Colonel Kelly emphasized that the value of the exercise lies not only in the individual performance of each structure, but in the strength of the integrated formations: The fact that we did not act as separate formations, but integrated, together, is a strong proof to the cohesion and strength of both nations. Every time we have the opportunity to train together, we become better. No one acts alone. We always work together with partners to accomplish a mission.

For NATOs Eastern Flank, such exercises have a clear strategic significance. Romania is positioned in a region where training and interoperability are not optional, but essential. In this context, the American colonel reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the two states: Romania has always been a reliable ally for the United States, and we are proud to be here to demonstrate this and to continue our cooperation.

The Black Knights 2026 exercise demonstrated, in difficult weather conditions and in a complex tactical scenario, that interoperability between Romanian and American forces works at a real operational level. In a context in which Abrams tanks are about to enter the Romanian Army, such training becomes not only useful, but necessary. At Smardan, allied cooperation was put to the test and passed the test. (Alexandra Radescu) (LS)
Romanias President on Radio Romania

The President of Romania, Nicusor Dan, gave an interview to the public radio station

(Foto: Facebook / Alexandru Dolea

Leyla Cheamil, 18.02.2026, 14:00

The Romanian head of state, Nicusor Dan, was a guest on a Radio Romania News and Current Affairs program, during which a series of topics related to the countrys domestic and foreign policy were discussed. In the context of his participation in the first meeting of the Board of Peace, organized in Washington by the US leader Donald Trump, President Dan explained what motivated him to attend this event.

Participating as an observer in the first meeting of the Board of Peace is in Romanias interest, argued the head of state. He mentioned that he made this decision after several days of discussions with the American side, during which he requested clarification on what a state that is not a member but agrees with the direction of this organization can do. Nicusor Dan also stated that this first meeting will focus exclusively on the situation in the Gaza Strip.

We are interested in an international context of peace in all regions of the globe. We are very interested in maintaining our privileged relationship with the United States of America, which is an important pillar of security for Romania. We are participating in this initiative by the United States, which currently aims to stabilise an area, the Middle East, which is important to the global economy.

Regarding domestic policy, President Nicusor Dan stated that he sees no reason why the current governing coalition (formed by the PSD, PNL, USR, and UDMR) should cease to function. He said he would like the leaders of the coalition parties to refrain from criticising each other, for discussions to be more constructive, and for what has been agreed to remain agreed. On the other hand, the Bucharest leader said that we are doing better than we could have expected. According to him, Romania is maintaining a pro-Western direction, has reduced its deficit, and there is no longer any concern on the part of investors and rating agencies.

During the interview on Radio Romania News and Current Affairs, Nicusor Dan announced that he will soon make a decision regarding the appointment of the directors of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) and of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE), specifying that the discussions he has had so far with the coalition parties have been about the profile of the future heads of the secret services. According to the Romanian president, SRI and SIE must be headed by mature individuals capable of leading such institutions.

The head of state also said that in March there will be 40-50 recalls and appointments of new Romanian ambassadors, noting that this will be a significant change in the field. Regarding the profile of the future ambassadors, Nicusor Dan said that Romanian diplomacy is professional in the classical sense, but there is also a major gap in the area of economic diplomacy.

The president added that Romania has areas of excellence in technology and IT, the pharmaceutical industry, and retail, but that these areas have not benefited from a coherent external promotion strategy. (MI)
Glencore Plc (GLNCY,GLEN.L), an Anglo-Swiss diversified natural resource company, on Wednesday announced that it has finalised an agreement with Gecamines regarding land access for Kamoto Copper Co., unlocking a package of long-term mining titles and leases.

The financial terms were not disclosed.

Gecamines retains rights to any ore reserves extracted from within the leased land package.

The company said that the registration of the mining title lease agreements in the mining cadastre is expected in the coming months.

The agreement allows expansion of tailings storage facilities and waste rock dump capacities, supporting an extension of KCC's life of mine.

The deal also enables maximised recovery of ore reserves within existing exploitation permits, including the KOV and T17 mining areas.

On Tuesday, Glencore closed trading 1.40% lesser at 486 pence on the London Stock Exchange.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A logistics CEO is fighting back against the Great AI Scare of 2026.

"Leadership decisions are always made with a calm head. Understand the data, and understand what's going on. And I quickly found that at the end of the day at Robinson, we're just not going to let a moment of uncertainty really blur the difference between what is perception and reality. And the reality is this: We are the disruptor and not the disrupted," C.H. Robinson (CHRW) CEO Dave Bozeman said on Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid (video above).

More from Yahoo Scout Will AI disruption concerns affect the stock long-term? What is CEO Dave Bozeman's strategy response? How is C.H. Robinson using AI in logistics? What caused C.H. Robinson's 14.5% stock drop?

Allow me to set the scene for you to provide some context for Bozeman's comments.

It's Feb. 12, 2026. Some random Florida-based holding company called Algorhythm Holdings (RIME) said it achieved a breakthrough on the AI front. It claimed that its AI platform scales freight volumes by 300% to 400% and reduces empty trucking miles by 70%.

Interesting at first pass.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

No matter that nobody had heard of this company the day before. No matter that the company was better known for its karaoke machines and it was unclear when it pivoted to freight technology. No matter that the company is basically a penny stock that has no Wall Street analyst coverage, according to Yahoo Finance data. The market moved first and asked questions later, sending shares of trucking and logistics companies sharply lower.

One company caught up in the selling frenzy was C.H. Robinson, founded in 1905 as a produce brokerage house. By the close of trading, the stock tumbled 14.5%  its largest one-day percentage loss in more than six years.

What the market seemingly forgot is that C.H. Robinson has been leading on the AI front in transportation logistics. That's a major reason why the stock hit a record on Feb. 6.

Bozeman has led the 120-year-old logistics player for more than two years, following considerable stints in transportation operations at Amazon (AMZN), Harley-Davidson (HOG), and Caterpillar (CAT). Since Bozeman's arrival, C.H. Robinson has leaned hard into AI to drive improved operating profits.

To boot, the company's strong growth rates have come despite an ongoing freight recession, as industry insiders call it.

And the Street still has confidence in that story continuing when looked through the prism of analyst sales and profit estimates for the next two years.

"We're not going anywhere. We've got a lot to do. We are super-excited about the next two years because the last two years have been pretty damn exciting, and there is more to come where that comes from," Bozeman added.
Peru's interim President Jose Jeri has been ousted through an impeachment by the Congress for failing to disclose meetings with Chinese businessmen.

Jeri's exit from power comes just four months after he took office, marking the Latin American country's eighth change of leadership in nearly a decade.

A motion of censure against Jeri over accusations that he had held unofficial meetings with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang, who was under government scrutiny, passed by 75 votes to 24 Tuesday.

"The presiding officers declare the office of President of the Congress of the Republic vacant, and consequently, the office of President of the Republic is vacant," said Fernando Rospigliosi, acting head of Congress.

The Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation against Jeri.

The Congress will reportedly convene on Wednesday to elect his successor.

Jeri was sworn into office on October 10 after his predecessor Dina Boluarte was impeached and removed from office.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
Liberty Global Ltd (LBTYA), a telecommunications company, on Wednesday said it has agreed to acquire Vodafone Group Plc's 50% stake in its Dutch joint venture, VodafoneZiggo, in a deal that will give Vodafone 1.0 billion in cash and a 10% stake in a newly formed Benelux entity to be named Ziggo Group.

Ziggo Group will hold Liberty Global's interests in VodafoneZiggo and Telenet in Belgium. Both VodafoneZiggo and Telenet will continue operating under their existing brands and management teams.

Liberty Global plans to list Ziggo Group on Euronext Amsterdam in 2027 and spin off the 90% stake it will own to shareholders. The companies have also entered into long-term service agreements to ensure operational continuity.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026.

Goldman Sachs and LionTree are acting as financial advisers to Liberty Global.

Mike Fries, Chairman and CEO of Liberty Global, said: "By combining these assets, we are creating a regional powerhouse comprised of two converged national FMC champions operating in rational - an attractive platform with strong prospects for sustained free cash flow generation."

Liberty Global shares were up more than 3% in pre-market trading after closing at $11.16 on Tuesday.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) announced that the U.S. FDA has agreed to initiate the review of its BLA for mRNA-1010, the company's investigational seasonal influenza vaccine, following a recent Type A meeting with the agency.

The FDA had previously issued a Refusal-to-File (RTF) letter, prompting Moderna to propose a revised regulatory approach. The company submitted an amended application seeking full approval for adults aged 50 to 64 and accelerated approval for adults 65 and older, along with a post-marketing requirement to conduct an additional study in older adults.

The FDA has now accepted the BLA for review and assigned a PDUFA goal date of August 5, 2026. Pending approval, mRNA-1010 could become available in the United States for adults 50 years and older, including adults 65 and above, for the 2026/2027 flu season.

Moderna noted that mRNA-1010 is also under review in Europe, Canada, and Australia, with additional submissions planned in 2026. The company expects the first potential approvals for the vaccine later this year, subject to ongoing regulatory evaluations.

CEO Stephane Bancel said the company appreciated the FDA's constructive engagement and looks forward to potentially offering a new flu vaccine option for U.S. adults later in 2026.

MRNA has traded between $22.28 and $55.20 over the past year. The stock closed Tuesday's trading at $43.93, up 4.03%. In pre-market trading on Wednesday, MRNA rose to $48.00 up 8.06%.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Crude oil prices have skyrocketed on Wednesday, regaining ground following the slump that was seen last week and extended into Tuesday.

After sliding $0.59 or 0.9 percent to a two-month closing low of $62.33 a barrel in the previous session, crude for March delivery has soared $2.73 or 4.4 percent to $64.99 a barrel.

The spike by the price of crude oil came after Vice President JD Vance said Iran failed to address core U.S. demands in nuclear talks earlier this week.

"In some ways it went well, they agreed to meet afterwards," Vance told Fox News. "But in other ways it is very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through."

Vance also said President Donald Trump reserves the right to use military force if diplomacy fails, noting, "We do have a very powerful military  the president has shown a willingness to use it."

Crude oil prices decreased on Tuesday, after the semiofficial Tansim news agency reported Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said a "general agreement" has been reached on guiding principles in the second round of indirect negotiations with the U.S.

Araqchi described the talks as more constructive than the previous round in remarks after the conclusion of the second round of indirect talks, held at the Omani embassy in Geneva on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian delegations have ended the first day of U.S.-brokered peace talks in Geneva, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describing the discussions as "difficult."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Professor Salim Abdool Karim addresses delegates at the Bio26 South Africa Congress in Makhanda. [PIC CREDIT: Valentine Ntusi]

By Siqhamo Jama

When the nations world-renowned epidemiologist took the stage at the Bio26 South Africa Congress in Makhanda, we expected a pandemic post-mortem and a research-based roadmap forward. We expected charts, data, best practices and policy. What we did not expect was a warning about an entirely different crisis: the Infodemic, a war on truth, orchestrated by those in power. But Professor Salim Abdool Karim did not come to Bio26 to play it safe.

Speaking to a rapt auditorium, the man who guided South Africa through the HIV-AIDS and COVID-19 crises delivered a message that felt less like a lecture and more like a call to arms. He warned that the world has moved beyond the era of random and mostly harmless social media misinformation. We have entered something far darker, he argued: the age of institutionalised disinformation, where governments manufacture falsehoods to protect their power.

The state is now becoming the source of incorrect information, Prof Abdool Karim told the hushed room. If the truth becomes the enemy, then those who speak the truth become the enemy too.

Before this sharper turn, the audience shared a moment of reunion as Conference Chair, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, a microbiology researcher at Rhodes University, introduced Abdool Karim. At the height of the COVID-19 crisis, the two scientists were effectively generals in the same war. Prof Abdool Karim commanded South Africas national scientific response, while Dorrington helped steer Rhodes University and the Eastern Cape through its fiercest waves of infection.

In 2021, Rhodes University conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Science on Prof Abdool Karim virtually, recognising his immense contribution to infectious disease control and his steady, level-headed leadership during the pandemic. This week, he stood where that honour would have been received in person, had social distancing not intervened.

From there, and in keeping with Rhodes Universitys long-standing ethos of speaking truth to power, Prof Abdool Karim shifted his focus from the battlefield of public health to the political terrain of the United States.

He argued that political leaders are increasingly using disinformation to obscure the accumulation of wealth and influence. He did not mince words, using the US as a cautionary tale of how political power can blur the lines between public service and private gain.

[President Donald] Trump is doing so, not just in his Trump Version 1, but also in his second [administration], Prof Abdool Karim told the audience, offering his own analysis of the relationship between power, wealth and information.

He drew a sharp line between political authority and the corruption of truth, warning that when wealth and power are accumulated in this way, the truth becomes inconvenient. It was a stark, unapologetic critique of global power structures.

The scientific method as resistance

The shift in tone was absolute. Prof Abdool Karim looked out at the room of researchers, students and academics and effectively deputised them. He framed the scientific method not merely as a career path, but as a form of resistance.

Each one of you, as scientists, are powerful people, he said. Because you are the purveyors of truth. You make it your job to search for the truth. That remains for us our main weapon.

He pointed to sustained attacks on figures such as Anthony Fauci as evidence that science itself has become a frontline in the war against disinformation. The implication was clear: in a world shaped by state-sponsored falsehoods, factchecking is no longer a neutral act. It is a form of defiance.

The evening closed with a quiet acknowledgement of the burden carried by those who have spent years holding the line for truth. In a moment of recognition between battle-weary, seasoned scientists, Prof Abdool Karim presented Prof Dorrington with a personally inscribed copy of his book Standing Up for Science. Because thats what she does, he said.

As the delegates spilled out of the auditorium into the Makhanda sunshine, the message lingered with uncomfortable clarity. Bio26 was not just a scientific congress; it became a reminder that science does not exist in a vacuum of neutrality. In an era where truth itself is contested terrain, Prof Abdool Karims warning landed with urgency: the work of scientists now extends beyond laboratories and journal publications into the public square. To pursue evidence, to insist on scientific rigour, to speak plainly in the face of disinformation is no longer simply good science; it is civic duty. On that afternoon, the frontline was unmistakably drawn, and science, once again, was asked to stand its ground.
[L-R] Ms Natalie Ripley (Director: Information and Technology Services), Mr Wynand Van Der Walt (Senior Manager: Innovation, Systems and Collections), Dr Khwezi Mzilikazi (Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), Mr Samuel Simango (Senior Manager: Academic Support Services) and Mr Anele Mabona (Manager: Digital Innovation, Systems and Web Management) [PIC CREDIT: Siqhamo 'Hlubi' Jama

By Siqhamo Jama

For years, your ability to access the Rhodes University Library depended entirely on where you were standing. If you were in the library or connected to the campus Wi-Fi, the doors were open. But for the thousands of Oppidan students working from their digs, or researchers collaborating from abroad, the experience has often been defined by frustration. Different passwords for different databases. "IP address" errors. Technical tickets that take days to resolve.

As of 2026, those digital walls have come down.

The Rhodes University Library has officially migrated its management system to ALMA, a move that fundamentally changes how students and staff interact with the University's massive collection.

The end of "password fatigue"

"In the era we live in, everything has gone digital," says Anele Mabona, Manager: Digital Innovation, Systems and Web Management at Rhodes University Library. "But our old system was based on an old access protocol. It wasn't bad, but once you were off-campus, you had to jump through hoops."

Those "hoops" often involved a complex dance of back-and-forth configurations between the library, vendors, and ICT. "Sometimes, such issues would take one to three days to fix," Mabona admits.

For a student with a deadline, three days is an eternity.

The new system introduces OpenAthens, a Single Sign-On (SSO) technology that treats all users the same, regardless of location. Whether you are in a res room, a flat in town, or attending a conference in London, you use one login  your standard Rhodes University credentials  to access everything.

Surfacing the invisible

However, the upgrade isn't just about logging in; it is about what you find when you get there.

Previously, researchers had to navigate separate silos, one for physical books, another for digital files. For Wynand van der Walt, Senior Manager: Innovation, Systems & Collections at the library, the move to ALMA is about turning the library from a storage facility into a discovery engine.

"We are transitioning from a system that simply lists items to one that actively connects them," explains van der Walt. "By introducing ALMAs library discovery service Primo, as a single 'one-stop shop', we are unlocking the serendipity of research. A student searching for a textbook might now instantly see a related e-book or a journal article they didn't know existed. It exposes the true depth of our resources."

With over 300,000 print books and nearly 300,000 e-books now searchable in one bar, the system ensures that valuable knowledge is no longer hidden behind complex interfaces.

Opening the digital doors

For Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships at Rhodes University, this move represents a critical step in a broader strategy to support high-impact scholarship.

"For us, this migration isn't just a software update; it is about ensuring that the distance between a researchers question and their answer is as short as possible," says Dr Mzilikazi. "We are removing the friction so that our scholars can focus on what matters: creating new knowledge."

She adds that this aligns with the University's commitment to accessibility. "We often speak about 'opening the doors of learning'. In 2026, those doors are digital. This system ensures that the library is no longer just a physical building on campus; it is a resource that travels with our students."

Excellence meets access

This migration is a textbook example of the Rhodes University philosophy: modernisation isn't just about buying new software; it is about equity of access.

By removing the technical friction, the University ensures that the user experience is no longer a "disconnected experience".

"The user experience is the same," Mabona confirms. "Whether you reside on campus, are in an Oppidan student community, or are outside the country... everything is managed centrally."

With the new system, the Rhodes University Library is no longer just a building on campus. It is a service that follows the student.
The first PGDip HECE cohort

In a South Africa grappling with inequality, mistrust in institutions, and the urgent need for social cohesion, Rhodes University has introduced a programme designed to reset how universities understand their purpose. The Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education: Community Engagement (PGDip HECE) is the first professional qualification of its kind in the country, offering academics and practitioners a structured way to integrate meaningful engagement into teaching, research, and partnership-building.

For Diana Hornby, Director of the Community Engagement Division, this moment has been a long time coming. Universities have always been known for teaching and research, she says, but the world is asking something more of us now. Community engagement is no longer a nice to have. Its a core duty of higher education if we want to remain relevant and ethical.

Building universities that serve the public good

The need for this qualification reflects a national gap. As Hornby explains, There is currently no formal qualification for community engagement in South Africa. Most practitioners learn by doing, often without grounding in theory, ethics or critical pedagogies. This programme begins changes that.

The PGDip HECE

The PGDip HECE, currently in its first run, asks hard questions about the role of universities in an unequal society, encouraging students to consider epistemic and social justice, knowledge democracy, Ubuntu, and the cultivation of humanity.

To bridge the gap between theory and action, the curriculum is structured around six compulsory components:

Higher education and community engagement: Examining the core concepts and social responsiveness of institutions.

Examining the core concepts and social responsiveness of institutions. Volunteerism and active citizenry: Focusing on the agency and solidarity required for social change.

Focusing on the agency and solidarity required for social change. Critical service-learning: Mastering critical constructivist pedagogy to facilitate authentic learning.

Mastering critical constructivist pedagogy to facilitate authentic learning. Engaged research: Grounding scholarly inquiry in ethical and methodological integrity.

Grounding scholarly inquiry in ethical and methodological integrity. Community engagement praxis project: A practical exercise where students choose between an Engaged Citizenry or Service-Learning focus.

A practical exercise where students choose between an Engaged Citizenry or Service-Learning focus. Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Project: A collaborative knowledge-making module designed to produce research with communities.

Hornby emphasises the programmes transformative intent. If we truly believe universities are for the public good, then our work must be relational. This qualification prepares people to co-produce knowledge with communities, not for them.

Preparing a new kind of academic leader

Looking ahead, Hornby hopes the first cohort becomes more than graduates. She hopes they become catalysts. I want them to feel confident working in ways that are deeply developmental, that centre human wellbeing, and that help universities respond to South Africas burning issues, she says.

The programme encourages cohorts to become communities of practice, bridging disciplines and sectors.

If our graduates leave with one shift, I hope it is the recognition that transformation begins with the individual but is only meaningful when it leads to collective wellbeing. That is the heart of community engagement, Hornby explains.

By formalising Community Engagement as a scholarly, rigorous, and ethically accountable field, Rhodes University is not only filling a national vacuum, but strengthening its commitment to shaping ethical leaders, critical citizens, and socially responsive graduates.

For more information, contact: Dr Gamuchirai (Gamu) Chakona: gamuchirai.chakona@ru.ac.za | 046 603 8571
Renault India has started showcasing the new 2026 Duster at dealerships across the country ahead of its official market launch. Instead of dispatching display units to all dealers at once, the company is following a rotational strategy  with each dealership getting the car for 23 days before it moves to the next location. This means interested buyers will need to check with their nearest Renault dealer to know exactly when the Duster will be available for viewing in their city.

Rotational Display Strategy

Dealers in select cities have already begun displaying the new Duster, allowing customers to experience the SUV in person before deliveries commence. Since the vehicle will only stay for a limited period at each outlet, Renault is encouraging customers to coordinate directly with dealerships for schedule updates.

Pre-bookings for the 2026 Renault Duster opened on 26th January 2026, with introductory pricing and priority deliveries reserved for early customers. Deliveries of non-hybrid variants are set to begin in March 2026, while hybrid versions are expected around the festive season.

A Comeback With Strong Brand Recall

Duster was Renaults breakthrough product in India and played a major role in establishing the brand in the country. Now returning to the competitive 4.2m4.5m SUV segment, the new model builds on that legacy with a more modern and feature-loaded package. The India-spec Duster retains its butch and muscular stance, boxy silhouette and high ground clearance of 212mm. Exterior highlights include:

 Clamshell bonnet with muscular creases

 DUSTER lettering on grille

 Eyebrow-style LED DRLs with reflector headlamps

 Large lower grille and silver skid plate

 18-inch alloy wheels with 225-section tyres

 Panoramic sunroof

 Connected LED tail lamps

 700L boot space

 Electric tailgate

Premium Cabin With Segment-Focused Features

Inside, the new Duster offers a dual-screen layout with infotainment and digital instrument cluster, fighter-jet inspired dashboard design and yellow contrast stitching across seats and steering wheel. Renault is targeting a 5-star safety rating for the new Duster. Key features include:

 Built-in Google with Maps integration

 Ventilated front seats

 6-way powered seats

 360-degree camera with 12 ultrasonic sensors

 Up to 17 ADAS features

 Auto climate control

 Soft-touch materials and elevated centre console

Powertrain Options

The 2026 Duster is based on the CMF-B platform with significant India-specific localisation. Engine options include:

 1.0L Turbo TCe 100 (100 PS)

 1.3L Turbo TCe 160 (163 PS, 280 Nm) paired with 6-speed DCT

 E-Tech 160 strong hybrid with 1.4 kWh battery

Renault claims the hybrid can achieve up to 80% city driving in EV mode under ideal conditions.

What Buyers Should Do

Since the display vehicle will only remain at each dealership for a short window, prospective buyers are advised to contact their nearest Renault outlet and confirm the viewing dates. With strong nostalgia, updated design and modern tech, the 2026 Duster is positioning itself as a serious contender in the mid-size SUV segment once again.
Always remember this about the oil industry. It is a long-term business. Finding oil and actually getting it to market today takes years from initial finding.

That long-term thinking has come into play at Chevron (CVX) this year, resulting in a major strategy shift in Venezuela that's captured the attention of analysts at Melius Research, a Wall Street investment house.

Melius upgraded Chevron and boosted its price target, recognizing a shift toward more aggressive production in Venezuela and exploration overseas. Those moves could make a recent drop in oil prices immaterial, despite Saudi Arabia flooding global oil markets to punish other members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries that are flagrantly violating production quotas.

Remember: Oil and natural gas are the world's most political commodities, as people have learned since the 1970s, followed by wheat and, maybe, sugar

Why Chevron won an upgrade

Melius Research rates Chevron's stock a buy, increasing its stock target price to $205. That's a 13.5% increase from the Feb. 17 closing price of $180.55, and off 0.8% for the day. The target is tops among Wall Street sell-side analysts.

Chevron shares already are up 18.5% on the year, a function of higher oil prices. Light sweet crude, or West Texas Intermediate, is up 2.4% in 2026, finishing at $62.33 a barrel on Feb. 17. Brent crude, the global benchmark, is up about 10.8.% at $57.42.

Those prices are down substantially  as much as 30%  from speculative peaks reached in the summer of 2022, in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Related: Big Oil supermajor stuns with blunt Venezuela message

What Melius analyst James West cited in his report about Chevron were four factors:
China has recently issued new nationwide rules to regulate pricing in the auto industry and curb irregular practices, aiming to restore fair competition and support sustainable market development. The State Administration for Market Regulations (SAMR) guidelines set clearer boundaries for lawful pricing by automakers and dealers, require transparent price marking and promotions, and call for stronger internal compliance and industry self-discipline, As pricing normalizes, automakers and dealers may compete more on quality, innovation, service, and brand trust rather than purely on price, says GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

The policy comes as China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) data shows January domestic deliveries fell 16% to 1.7 million units, while exports rose 45% to 681,000, amid reduced vehicle sales incentives in early 2026.

ANALYSIS: Has Chinese light vehicle demand peaked?

The regulation responds to rising financial strain and worsening market conduct in Chinas auto sector. Years of aggressive discounting and below-cost competition have crushed profitabilityespecially for dealers, with margins down sharply since 2017 and over half reportedly loss-making in the first half of 2025 amid oversupply and weaker demand. Regulators also flagged harmful practices such as misleading price labels, hidden fees, unfair promotions, and zero-kilometer cars sold as new, undermining transparency and consumer trust.

Madhuchhanda Palit, Senior Automotive Analyst at GlobalData, comments: SAMRs guidelines mark a sweeping policy response to growing concerns over price wars that have undermined profitability, market order, and innovation. However, the new guidelines also increase compliance demands, requiring stronger internal pricing controls, traceability, clearer labeling, and improved reporting. Smaller firms and dealerships may face higher administrative costs, while local promotional flexibility could tighten and practices such as hidden-fee bundles or feature-unlock schemes face closer scrutiny.

Major automakers, including BYD, Xpeng, Great Wall Motor, Chery, BAIC, and others, have publicly pledged their full support and commitment to comply with the new guidelines. BYD, for example, has committed to enhancing its internal pricing controls, eliminating unfair practices, and proactively building systems to track pricing behaviors across vehicle sales, financial services, and component supply. Xiaomi EV also issued statements affirming support and respect for the guidelines, promising to strengthen pricing transparency and compliance under the new rules.
Costco faces a second lawsuit centered on its rotisserie chicken, as an animal rights nonprofit claimed that a chicken processing plant in Nebraska suffers from salmonella contamination.

The proposed class action lawsuit, filed in federal court in Seattle on Feb. 12 and obtained by USA TODAY, points to a study by Farm Forward that criticized safety conditions at Costco's Lincoln Premium Poultry plant in Fremont, Nebraska.

The study claims that the plant "consistently fails USDA salmonella safety standards year after year" and that it sends "unsafe chickens to stores nationwide." Farm Forward says on its website that its mission is "end factory farming."

"Costcos failure to control salmonella in its chicken supply is not a harmless technicalityit poses a real danger to consumers and violates their trust," the complaint reads.

Shoppers walk past the rotisserie chicken counter at the new Costco Wholesale store in North Port during their grand opening on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Wholesale kicks: Costco releases Nike sneaker collab; resell prices skyrocket

The plaintiff in the lawsuit, Lisa Taylor, of Affton, Missouri, regularly purchased the rotisserie chicken in the St. Louis area and "suffered economic injury" by overpaying for the potentially contaminated chicken, according to the lawsuit. It seeks damages for Costco customers who purchased rotisserie chicken and raw chicken parts after Jan. 1, 2019.

USA TODAY has reached out to the lawyer listed for Taylor in the lawsuit on Feb. 17 for further comment.

The $4.99 cooked rotisserie chicken has become a tentpole item for Costco, serving as a loss-leader to attract customers. Rotisserie chicken sales topped 157 million chickens worldwide in 2025, the company said at its annual meeting in January.

USA TODAY reached out to Costco for comment Feb. 17 and did not receive an immediate response.

Costco's second lawsuit stemming from rotisserie chicken

The salmonella lawsuit comes on the heels of a proposed class action lawsuit accusing wholesale retailer Costco of falsely advertising that its rotisserie chicken contains no preservatives.

It alleges that Costcos Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken contains two added preservatives, sodium phosphate and carrageenan.

The lawsuit, brought on by two women in California, accuses Costco of violating multiple consumer protection laws, including in California and Washington state, where the wholesale retailer is headquartered.

The complaint's false-advertising allegations stem from the "no preservatives" sign prominently displayed in Costco stores and on the company's website, and from the fact that the two preservatives are listed on the back of the packaging in smaller and "less prominent" print. It claims that Costco "systemically cheated customers" by "falsely advertising" that the chicken had "'no preservatives.'"
Sherrie Hewson is petrified of walnuts.

Actress Sherrie Hewson

The 75-year-old actress has almost "passed out" from being near them.

Asked if there is any food she refuses to eat, Sherrie revealed in the new issue of Bella magazine: "Walnuts. I have a severe phobia. I can't even be in the same room as them.

"Kaye Adams once put one on the Loose Women desk, and I nearly passed out.

"I also won't touch scallops or anything slimy."

Meanwhile, Sherrie recalled the time she obliviously munched on bull testicles instead of meatballs during a getaway to Cyprus.

Quizzed on the strangest thing she had ever eaten, the Benidorm legend remembered: "Years ago in Cyprus, I was served meatballs, which turned out to be bull testicles, a local delicacy.

"I fled to the bathroom and was sick. Everyone else was tucking in like it was normal. I still think about it with horror."

Elsewhere, Sherrie previously revealed that she vomited over late actor Steve McQueen - who died aged 50 in November 1980 - after a dinner date with him at a Chinese restaurant.

In March 2025, Sherrie - who was an 18-year-old drama student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and was picked by the staff to go on a red bus with the film star in 1970 - told Best magazine: "His people wanted to say thank you, so they took me to a restaurant in Chelsea.

"However, the menu was in French, and I'm allergic to fish.

"Unknown to me, I was eating clam chowder, and after a few mouthfuls, I projectile vomited over him.

"He was wearing a white polo-neck sweater, which he always wore, and his people rushed in and dragged me out of the restaurant and onto the pavement.

"Steve came out, and I vomited all over his shoes and trousers. They threw me into a black cab and yelled, 'Get her out of here.'

"As I drove off, I could see Steve McQueen from the window, covered in sick, and I thought, 'He'll never marry me now...'"

On January 5, Sherrie pulled out of an appearance on Vanessa Feltz's eponymous Channel 5 show that day after being struck down by a winter sickness virus.

Sherrie was due to be a guest on the daytime chat show to discuss her new podcast, Very Very Sherrie, as well as her career and more.

However, the star was hit with the illness in the morning, and despite making a valiant attempt to travel, Sherrie became too unwell and was forced to turn back before even reaching the station.

A source told BANG Showbiz at the time: "Sherrie was absolutely gutted to let the show down and is now focusing on her recovery. Sherrie will be tucked up in bed and getting lots of rest to beat the bug.

"She hopes shell be asked back on by Vanessa once shes back to full health."
Elon Musks X is eyeing crypto users with its introduction of Smart Cashtags, but the company isnt getting its hands dirty with digital assets yet, according to Head of Product Nikita Bier.

The feature, which was teased last month, will allow users to better specify which digital assets they post about, but it wont facilitate users' crypto trades, Bier clarified on Saturday.

Since Musks acquisition of the platform in 2022, speculation has abounded that the Dogecoin fan could fold crypto into his everything app. However, Bier signaled Smart Cashtags rollout is limited within the company's broader vision for combining social media with financial services.

X is not handling trade execution or acting as a brokerage, Bier wrote on X, in reference to the debut of Smart Cashtags. [Were] just building the financial data tools and links.

Although Smart Cashtags will work with stocks, the features debut could have a more pronounced effect on Crypto Twitter where ticker symbols can overlap between digital assets, depending on which network they were issued on. With Smart Cashtags, users will be able to specify their ticker symbols down to a specific smart contract.

In a separate post, Bier wrote on Saturday that the feature will be rolled out in a couple of weeks, and it will enable users to trade stocks and crypto directly from [the apps] timeline.

Previous descriptions of the feature entailed an in-app page, where prices, charts, price moves and related posts are shown in one place. That could make it easier for users to discover communities tied to specific digital assets, while alleviating ambiguity for users.

Musk signaled earlier this month that xAIs long-awaited payments service is closer to being released. During an All-Hands Meeting, he said that X Money was being tested in beta form among employees, with plans to support a limited external beta in the coming months.

X Plans Smart Cashtags to Link Crypto and Stock Tickers to Live Prices

This is really intended to be the place where all the money is, the central source of all monetary transactions, Musk said. Its really going to be a game changer.

The company has established a subsidiary called X Payments, which has secured money transmitter licenses in more than 40 U.S. states. Still, some lawmakers in New York have called on the companys application to be denied, citing Musks cost-cutting efforts in government.

The company hasnt indicated that the product will use crypto. A year ago, former CEO Linda Yaccarino said that X Money would debut later this year in partnership with Visa and allow users to connect their debit cards to make peer-to-peer payments. She resigned in July.
The UK is right to embrace payment card sovereignty, and to understand why, we need only look across the channel. French banks made the right decision by sticking with Carte Bancaire (CB), which provides them with a genuinely dual-rail system.

The real test will be execution. Any new payment rail must integrate seamlessly with existing card and account-to-account ecosystems, make commercial sense for issuers and acquirers, and avoid introducing additional cost or complexity. Sovereignty in payments is less about politics and more about building redundancy that works at scale.

New reports that UK banks are accelerating plans for a domestic card payments alternative  amid concerns about over-reliance on US-owned networks  highlight a broader issue: concentration risk. The renewed focus on resilience also reflects the ambitions set out in the UKs National Payments Vision, which has placed infrastructure modernisation firmly on the agenda. With around 95% of UK card transactions routed through Visa and Mastercard, the system is highly efficient but also highly centralised. But card schemes are only one layer of dependency. Much of the wider financial ecosystem also relies on a very small number of global technology providers across cloud infrastructure and core digital services. Strengthening domestic infrastructure through initiatives such as DeliveryCo isnt about replacing global partners, which remain fundamental to international commerce. Its about reducing single points of failure across critical systems and adding optionality into the authorisation, clearing and settlement layers of UK payments.

Industry experts offer RBI their take on the possibility of a new UK domestic payments network.

A possible government-backed and City funded UK alternative to Visa/Mastercard has been mooted for years. Around 95% of UK card transactions are made using payment systems owned by Mastercard and Visa. For understandable reasons, UK regulators talk more of a backup payment platform, as opposed to taking an aggressive approach to challenging the status quo.

Visa Inc. completed its acquisition of Visa Europe in June 21, 2016, in a deal worth around $23bn. For its part, MasterCard completed its merger with Europay International as long ago as 2002 to form a unified, global, corporation, consolidating its European operations.

Press reports that the UK is considering a Visa or Mastercard replacement is further evidence of an emerging trend in Europe, around payment independence.

Story Continues

Domestic card payments are routed via CB, and international payments are routed via Visa or Mastercard. Crucially, in these uncertain times, it provides France with sovereignty over its payment card infrastructure, greater control over transaction costs, and regulatory leverage for participating banks.

In the past, the UK had limited sovereignty over its debit card infrastructure, launched in 1988, Switch didnt utilise Visa or Mastercard. Ultimately, however, Switch was folded into Mastercards Maestro brand because there was little political focus on maintaining sovereignty, and our banking sector was content to rely on global operators.

That reliance has left the UK more exposed to geopolitical risk, while costs have risen as Visa and Mastercard have increased a range of scheme and cross-border fees in the post-Brexit landscape. The remaining question is whether the UK can realistically rebuild this alone, or whether the more viable long-term solution lies at a European level.

Breno Oliveira, Chief Product Officer at payabl.

Visa and Mastercard provide critical infrastructure to businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic  underpinning commerce and cross-border trade on a global scale.

While geopolitical tensions may have sparked questions about the dependency on these US networks for Europes card payments, it is important to recognise that Europes push for greater independence around payments pre-dates these more recent issues.

The continent has a strong track record of building its own world-class infrastructure, including initiatives like SEPA and, more recently, Wero, a homegrown digital wallet enabling instant account-to-account payments across markets. payabl. is one of the first licensed members and a direct participant in Wero, and we have seen first-hand the appetite for innovative, locally driven solutions that complement existing systems.

New innovation and competition must always be welcomed, but the priority should remain collaboration and interoperability rather than fragmentation. Strengthening Europes capabilities while maintaining strong international partnerships will ensure businesses and consumers continue to benefit from greater speed, security and choice in how they pay.

A domestic card alternative is necessary but Open Banking alone isnt enough

Chris Jones, Managing Director at PSE Consulting

UK banks plans to develop a domestic alternative to the global card schemes reflect a growing recognition that payments are strategic national infrastructure, not just a commercial service.

With roughly 95% of UK card transactions dependent on Visa and Mastercard, the UK has limited room for manoeuvre if those networks were ever disrupted or constrained. History shows that payment systems can be caught up in wider geopolitical or sanctions-related decisions, which makes resilience and optionality essential.

Open Banking is often cited as the UKs natural fallback, but it is not yet a like-for-like substitute for cards. While Open Banking payments reached close to 200 million transactions in 2024, that remains a fraction of overall card volumes, and consumer usage, trust and protection mechanisms are still maturing. Initiatives led by Open Banking Limited, alongside recent reimbursement requirements for authorised push payment fraud, are steps forward but they do not yet deliver the familiarity or ubiquity consumers associate with card payments.

There are also structural challenges on the supply side. Many Open Banking payment providers continue to struggle with profitability, reflecting low barriers to entry, intense competition and limited commercial incentives. That makes it difficult for the sector, in its current form, to act as core national payments infrastructure at scale.

Most importantly, Open Banking does not yet cover the full range of use cases cards support - from frictionless in-store payments and cross-border transactions to recurring payments and travel-related pre-authorisations. Without those capabilities, it cannot credibly replace cards in a crisis scenario.

This is why the move towards a dedicated domestic payments rail, supported by banks and overseen with the involvement of the Bank of England, is so significant. But success will depend on whether the UK can align incentives, liability frameworks and technology in a way that builds consumer trust and merchant acceptance.

Payments sovereignty will not be achieved through a single solution. It will require coordinated publicprivate investment, closer interoperability with European schemes, and a clear recognition that payments resilience sits alongside energy, food and data as a matter of national security.

Stuart Neal, CEO, Boku

Were seeing a clear global trend: governments have realised you cant be a future-proof economy if you dont control your own payment rails. This isnt just about fees or Big Tech - it goes to the heart of monetary sovereignty.

In the UK, that shift has already begun. Whilst Visa and Mastercard still run on 50yearold technology, with all the inherent limitations that brings, Real-time payments technology (Open Banking) has now enabled consumers to pay straight from their bank accounts.

This represents a major opportunity for the UK and Europe to embrace new technology to do the card scheme job better - mobilefirst, AI-enabled and aligned to how people actually want to pay.

If we do this well, we wont just be less reliant on existing card networks  well have built something genuinely better for governments, merchants and most importantly consumers.

Real-time payment technology is already proven at scale in emerging markets, with PIX in Brazil and UPI in India for example, where similar local payment methods are being used for the majority of everyday commerce - entirely by-passing traditional card schemes.

Brian Gaynor, European Chief Executive, BlueSnap

This story is part of a broader move to reduce dependency on US technology. Governments across Europe are already exploring alternatives. We've seen the regional government of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany take steps to move away from Microsoft 365, but payments present a far more complex challenge. Unlike software, there is no 'open source' equivalent for Visa and Mastercard in Europe yet.

The most credible alternative on the horizon is Wero, which is currently being rolled out across Europe. However, it remains limited in scope as it's not available across the entire EU, and only began processing eCommerce payments in November 2025, with NFC support not planned until later this year. Interoperability with other local EU schemes is on the roadmap, but gaining meaningful traction will take time, and realistically won't happen without a strong push from EU governments.

In the meantime, EU governments are already advising citizens to keep cash on hand for emergencies, and this goes beyond the Visa/Mastercard question. In increasingly digital societies, we also need to consider what happens if connectivity is disrupted, as we've seen with Baltic submarine cable incidents, or if power infrastructure is targeted, as has been witnessed in the Ukraine conflict.

For merchants, the practical advice is to explore local and emerging payment methods now as part of a resilience strategy, and to work with providers who can offer alternative routing options in the event of scheme outages.

"Digital payments sovereignty: Industry responds to UK domestic card payments alternative" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Tsivin said the companys strategy is to simplify, modernize, and integrate its legal software portfolio into a unified global operating platform. He emphasized plans to significantly reduce the number of product SKUs and converge toward global product lines, describing the target state as an integrated practice management platform with embedded workflow applications, API-enabled data and due diligence, and a unified customer experience.

However, Tsivin said the companys rapid acquisition-driven expansion over prior years increased operational complexity and left systems fragmented. He also pointed to disruption tied to prior pricing actions, cost reductions, and leadership volatility. Tsivin said pricing actions in core productscombined with minimum volume commitments and limited product investmentcreated a disconnect between customer-perceived value and cost, and he said this dynamic allowed competitors to enter the market and made prior margins unsustainable in the long term.

Chief Executive Officer George Tsivin said that after taking the role in June 2025, the company focused on building a leadership team, completing a diagnostic review, and defining a disciplined path forward. Tsivin described Dye & Durhams core assets as a strong core legal software franchise serving small and mid-sized law firms and a high-margin financial services business that he said continues to grow organically.

Dye & Durham (TSE:DND) executives used the companys second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call to outline a multi-year transformation plan aimed at simplifying its product portfolio, improving customer alignment, and strengthening financial flexibility as the company works through pressured legal software revenue and a leveraged balance sheet.

Deleveraging and cost targets: Management expects CAD 1520 million in annualized EBITDA savings from efficiency and automation, completed a ~ CAD 146.3 million Creditas sale with proceeds used for debt repayments, and is evaluating further asset-sale or strategic options to reduce leverage.

Weaker results but strong cash flow: First-half revenue was CAD 215.3 million (down 7% y/y) and adjusted EBITDA was CAD 100.8 million (down 24%), while operating cash flow improved to CAD 73.8 million .

Multi-year transformation: New CEO George Tsivin is simplifying and modernizing Dye & Durhams acquisition-fragmented legal software portfolio into a unified global platform (fewer SKUs, integrated workflows and APIs) with early proof points like the "Unity" launch and a longer-term shift toward more subscription-style offerings.

Story Continues

Early product and cost initiatives highlighted

 Meta's Platfroms' New Bull: Why Billionaire Bill Ackman Is Buying

Tsivin cited the launch of Unity in British Columbia on February 9 as an early proof point, saying it demonstrates how modernization and integration can improve automation, adoption, engagement, and retention. He also referenced upcoming launches in Canada, including wills and estates and accounting, with an intent to scale capabilities globally on a single platform.

On the cost side, Tsivin said the company has identified CAD 15 million to CAD 20 million in annualized EBITDA savings from structural efficiency initiatives, with about 60% targeted to be actioned by the end of the fiscal year. He said approximately 40% of the savings are expected to come from consolidating global delivery and service teams and rationalizing the companys footprint, while roughly 60% is expected from automation and process standardization, including reducing manual workflows and eliminating duplicative systems.

First-half results show revenue and adjusted EBITDA declines

 Alphabets Pullback: A Second Chance for Long-Term Investors?

Interim Chief Financial Officer Sandra Bell reported that for the first half of fiscal 2026, revenue was CAD 215.3 million, down CAD 16.8 million, or 7% year-over-year. Bell said the decline was primarily driven by continued market softness and customer turnover impacting legal software platforms, partially offset by growth in banking technology and contributions from the Affinity business in Australia.

Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended December 31, 2025, was CAD 100.8 million, down 24% year-over-year. Bell attributed the decline to revenue pressure in legal software, targeted reinvestment in labor and IT infrastructure, and a lower capitalization rate as certain expenditures were temporarily shifted from capitalized software development to maintenance expense.

By revenue mix for the first half, Bell said legal software contributed CAD 161.5 million and banking technology contributed CAD 53.8 million. She described banking technology as stable and recurring, helping offset softer transactional volumes in parts of legal software.

Segment performance and cash flow

Bell said performance varied by segment:

Canada: Revenue declined 10% year-over-year for the first half, with segment adjusted EBITDA down 25%. Bell cited a broader market downturn, reduced customer volumes and pricing in practice management and data insights, the lower capitalization rate, and investments in sales, customer service, and IT infrastructure.

U.K. and Ireland: Revenue declined 6% due to softness in search platforms, with segment adjusted EBITDA down 26% year-over-year.

Australia: Revenue increased 2% year-over-year, driven primarily by the Affinity acquisition and partially offset by declines in search and mortgage services. Segment adjusted EBITDA declined 14%, largely due to higher labor costs.

Despite the profit decline, Bell said operating cash flow was strong. Net cash provided by operating activities was CAD 73.8 million for the six months ended December 31, 2025, compared with CAD 62.3 million in the prior-year period, helped by lower cash taxes, lower net interest paid, and favorable working capital movement. The company ended the period with CAD 37.8 million in cash on hand (excluding cash held for sale) and CAD 185 million in investments held in escrow to settle outstanding convertible debentures. Capital expenditures were CAD 9 million for the first half.

Asset sales, deleveraging, and regulatory/audit matters discussed in Q&A

Bell said that subsequent to quarter end, the company completed the sale of Creditas for approximately CAD 146.3 million in gross proceeds and has applied a portion to debt reduction, including a CAD 30 million repayment on the revolving facility and a $27.3 million repayment on Term Loan B. She said the company launched an excess proceeds offer on February 9 that expires March 9.

In the Q&A, Tsivin and Chairman Edward Smith said the company is evaluating strategies to delever, including opportunistic consideration of selling the entire business or pieces of it, while also preparing to operate the business under its transformation plan.

On Canadian legal software, Tsivin said macro market decline was a smaller contributorabout 2% to 3%with most of the decline coming from price and volume. He said in some cases the company is losing volume and in others it is conceding price to preserve volume. He also confirmed that there is less revenue coming from unfulfilled minimum volume contracts.

Management said contract renewals are ongoing on a typical three-year cycle and that new controls have been implemented to simplify contracting and improve consistency for customers and internal accounting.

On competition, Tsivin said the Canadian conveyancing business continues to face competition from lower-priced entrants delivering more value, while the financial technology business remains strong and is benefiting from a post-COVID refinance wave.

Management also addressed audit delays and regulatory review. Tsivin said the audit involved multiple issues, including a review by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and long-standing issues with external parties, and said time was required to validate accounting around numerous variations of minimum volume contracts. Bell said the OSCs initial review focused on purchase accounting disclosures and goodwill impairment analysis, which resulted in expanded acquisition disclosures and an impairment in South Africa of roughly CAD 14 million.

Finally, Tsivin said the company stopped emphasizing certain metrics such as ARR because, after reviewing the business, management views it as a volume and not a subscription business at present, and he said prior minimum contracts and ARR framing created complexity and misimpressions. He said the company intends to pursue more subscription opportunities over time as it migrates customers to a global platform and adds more value to bundles.

About Dye & Durham (TSE:DND)

Dye & Durham Ltd is engaged in providing cloud-based software and technology solutions designed to improve efficiency and increase productivity for legal and business professionals. The company has business operations in Canada and the United Kingdom. The customers include law firms, financial service institutions, and government organizations.

The article "Dye & Durham Q2 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat.
This story was originally published on Trucking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Trucking Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Estes Logistics, part of Estes Express Lines, acquired Key Trucking in Washington state as of Jan. 1, marking a significant expansion for the business in the Pacific Northwest.

The addition brings on a fleet of over 25 power units and 100 trailers, and all employees will remain, Estes said in a news release shared Tuesday with Trucking Dive.

Our customers  many of whom have been with us for more than 25 years  can expect the same high level of service and care that has defined Key Trucking, now backed by the scale and resources of Estes, Mike Castagno, co-president of Key Trucking, said in a statement.

Dive Insight:

The addition will now serve as a key gateway for Estes Logistics to Alaska, according to the business.

Other logistics service centers for Estes Logistics are in California, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, Texas and Florida, according to a company map. The network is separate from Estes Express Lines LTL business.

Key Trucking, based in Kent and founded in 1987, provides full truckload van and flatbed, same-day pick-up and delivery, hot shot services, warehousing, consolidation and deconsolidation services, storage, trans-loading and trailer rentals.

"When we first learned that the Castagno family was considering retirement, we were immediately excited about the opportunity to integrate Key Trucking's dedicated transportation network into our growing footprint," Bobby Speight, Estes corporate vice president, said in a statement.

Recent M&A has brought together other family-owned firms with industry titans, including Debrick Truck Line Co. folding into PGT Trucking, as well as major players moving to consolidate, such as Echo Global Logistics taking on ITS Logistics.

Recommended Reading
Bayer has proposed a $7.25bn settlement to resolve tens of thousands of US lawsuits alleging that its Roundup weedkiller caused cancer, according to reports on Wednesday.

The deal, filed in state court in St Louis, Missouri, would cover both existing and certain future claims linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and still requires judicial approval.

The German group, which acquired Monsanto for $63bn in 2018, had faced years of costly litigation over Roundup, one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States.

Plaintiffs argued they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after exposure to the product.

Bayer maintained that decades of studies showed Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, are safe for human use and disputes claims that it failed to warn consumers adequately.

According to Reuters, Bayer was currently facing claims from around 65,000 plaintiffs in US courts.

The proposed nationwide settlement would establish a long-term claims programme funded through capped annual payments over up to 21 years.

Individuals diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after exposure to Roundup before 17 February this year would be eligible to seek compensation, with payouts determined through a tiered system based on factors such as age and extent of exposure.

The company had already paid roughly $10bn to resolve earlier Roundup litigation, as reported by the BBC, but those agreements did not cover future claims.

Bayer said it expected litigation provisions to increase from 7.8bn to 11.8bn and anticipated around 5bn in litigation-related payouts in 2026, warning that free cash flow for the year was now expected to be negative, Reuters reported.

The proposed settlement came as the US Supreme Court prepared to hear arguments in a separate case that could significantly limit Bayers liability.

As reported by the Guardian, the company argued that approval of Roundups labelling by the US Environmental Protection Agency should pre-empt state-level failure-to-warn claims.

That case, scheduled for oral arguments in April, would not be directly affected by the proposed settlement but was seen by Bayer as critical to achieving broader legal closure.

Chief executive Bill Anderson said the agreement offered a road to closure after years of litigation uncertainty, and told investors he expected the vast majority of claimants to participate.

At 1010 CET (0910 GMT), shares in Bayer were down 8.53% in Frankfurt at 45.11.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
French retailer Carrefour reported its fourth quarter earnings on Wednesday as it set out a new strategic plan, targeting 1bn in annual cost savings as chief executive Alexandre Bompard looks to lift profitability and sharpen the group's focus on its core markets of France, Spain and Brazil.

Carrefour reported fourthquarter sales of 24.3bn, with likeforlike revenues up 1.6%, and recurring operating income coming in at 2.16bn, equivalent to a 2.6% margin.

In France, Carrefour lifted its market share to 22%, the highest level since 2015, while domestic operating margins reached 3%. In Spain, profitability improved sharply, rising 13.5% in 2025 with a 445basispoint increase in margin. In Brazil, recurring operating income totalled 709m, representing a 4% margin.

Adjusted net income group share was 190m, translating to adjusted earnings per share of 1.60 each, and Carrefour also proposed an ordinary dividend of 0.97 per share alongside a 150m special dividend.

Looking ahead, Carrefour expects that recent price cuts would be offset by efficiencies from accelerating its franchise model in France and greater use of artificial intelligence, data and broader technology across the business.

The Massy-based firm said it aims to lift its operating margins from 2.6% in 2025 to 3.2% in 2028 and 3.5% by 2030, and stated it was now targeting cumulative net free cash flow of 5bn over 202628.

Bompard said Carrefour was adopting an "ambitious" roadmap centred on growth and improved profitability as he continues to face tough conditions in France's highly competitive grocery market and subdued consumer both at home and Brazil.

For 2026, Carrefour was now targeting more than 25 basis points of operatingmargin expansion versus 2025, while annual capital expenditure was expected to start at 1.8bn in 2026, rising to 2bn by 2030, with investment focused on store modernisation, expansion in Brazil and innovation in AI, tech and data.

Under the new plan, Carrefour was targeting a 25% market share in France and 20% in Brazil by 2030, while aiming to strengthen its numbertwo position in Spain.

As of 0930 GMT, Carrefour shares were down 4.25% at 14.74 each.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
Social media giant Meta said late on Tuesday that it will deploy millions of Nvidia chips across its artificial intelligence datacentre network as part of an expanded partnership between the two companies.

Meta will use Nvidia's new standalone CPUs, nextgeneration Vera Rubin systems and the firm's SpectrumX networking technology, which links GPUs across largescale AI facilities. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the agreement supports the group's longterm ambition to deliver "personal superintelligence", a strategy first outlined last year. While Meta has used Nvidia GPUs for more than a decade, the latest deal marks a broader multiyear collaboration.

The investment forms part of Meta's previously announced plan to spend $600bn in the US by 2028 on datacentre infrastructure, with the company currently building two of its largest AI sites  the Prometheus facility in New Albany, Ohio, and the Hyperion site in Richland Parish, Louisiana  and ultimately planning to operate 30 data centres around the worl, 26 of which will be in the US.

Meta will also use Nvidia's security capabilities to support AIdriven features on WhatsApp. Engineering teams from both companies will work together to optimise and accelerate Meta's next generation of AI models.

As of 0805 GMT, Meta shares were up 0.66% in pre-market action at $643.50 each, while Nvidia shares advanced 0.79% ahead of the bell to $186.43 each.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
Vodafone said on Wednesday that Liberty Global has agreed to buy out its 50% interest in their Dutch joint venture VodafoneZiggo for 1bn in cash and a 10% shareholding in a soon-to-be-formed Benelux entity.

The entity will own 100% of both VodafoneZiggo and Liberty Global's Belgian subsidiary, Telenet.

Liberty Global plans to spin off its 90% stake in Ziggo Group to existing shareholders and list the business on Euronext in Amsterdam in 2027.

Vodafone said it has the option to sell its 10% shareholding in Ziggo Group to a third party should a spin not occur within 18 months after completion.

Vodafone and Liberty Global have also agreed that Vodafone will continue to provide certain services, including brand licensing, to VodafoneZiggo, with expected charges of 625m over the next 10 years.

Vodafone chief executive Margherita Della Valle said: "We're pleased to have agreed the sale of our 50% share in VodafoneZiggo at an attractive valuation.

"This transaction delivers 1 billion in cash to Vodafone, and we have the potential for further value creation through our 10% stake in Ziggo Group, a business with greater scale."

Liberty Global said the deal creates "a regional telecommunications powerhouse in Benelux, with significant free-cash-flow potential underpinning a compelling equity story".

Chairman and chief executive Mike Fries said: "This transaction marks a significant milestone in our decades-long commitment to the Benelux region and is fully aligned with our strategy of unlocking long-term value for shareholders.

"By combining these assets, we are creating a regional powerhouse comprised of two converged national FMC champions operating in rational markets - an attractive platform with strong prospects for sustained free-cash-flow generation. We are excited about giving shareholders the opportunity to participate directly in Ziggo Groups future growth and value creation."

The deal is expected to complete in the second half of this year.

At 1340 GMT, Vodafone shares were up 4% at 120.28p.
By Ange Aboa

ABIDJAN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast is considering cutting the price it pays farmers for cocoa beans to align with Ghana, two government sources told Reuters, as the world's biggest producers of the chocolate ingredient face a major crisis.

The senior Ivory Coast officials said all options were on the table as the government debates whether to follow Ghana, which has already cut its farmgate price by 28.6% for the rest of the 2025/2026 season main crop, in coordination with Abidjan, as it adjusts to plunging prices.

More from Yahoo Scout How much has Ghana reduced its farmgate price? Why are Ivory Coast and Ghana cutting cocoa prices? What is the Ivory Coast-Ghana Cocoa Initiative's role here? How have recent cocoa futures prices performed?

The farmgate price, set at the start of the harvest season, is the amount of money farmers receive for their product after harvest and before any intermediaries, exporters, processors, traders, or cooperatives add value.

The discussions with Ghana, and discussions within Ivory Coast's government about cutting the price to align with Ghana, have not previously been reported.

Meanwhile, the Ivory CoastGhana Cocoa Initiative (ICCIG) said the two African countries, which together account for about 60% of global output, had been coordinating closely since the onset of the crisis in the sector.

"We have put all options on the table and discussions are progressing well. Courageous and realistic decisions will be taken soon," the first Ivory Coast official said, requesting anonymity because they are not authorised to speak on the issue.

The second official said the continued price fall, which has seen cocoa drop by nearly 50% in recent months, left the government with little room to manoeuvre.

Cocoa futures on the ICE exchange hit their lowest level in 2-1/2 years on Tuesday as concern about unsold stocks of cocoa in Ivory Coast and Ghana continued to weigh on prices.

"We must think about the survival of the cocoa sector in Ivory Coast. We need to act; changes are underway," the source said, declining to disclose further details.

An inter-ministerial committee has met over the issue and a decision could come soon, the two sources said.

A spokesperson for the Ivory Coast government did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

MEASURES TO PREVENT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE

Alex Assanvo, ICCIG's executive secretary, said the two countries were adapting to the sudden market reversal and had taken measures to prevent structural damage.

He said the trading rooms of Ivory Coast's Coffee and Cocoa Council and Ghana's COCOBOD remained in regular contact.

Assanvo also defended the Living Income Differential, introduced in 2019 to boost farmers' earnings, saying recent market volatility underscored its relevance.
Sensex and Nifty to rise, fueled by global gains.

Bharti Airtel, Eternal, BHEL, and more in focus.

Key moves from Adani, Dilip Buildcon, and Infosys.

The benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open on a positive note today, Wednesday, February 18, 2026, boosted by strong global cues. Asian markets traded higher, while US stock markets closed in the green, led by gains in technology and financial stocks. On Tuesday, the Sensex and Nifty 50 continued their upward momentum for the second consecutive session, driven by gains in heavyweight stocks like ITC, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and Infosys. The Sensex ended at 83,450.96, up 174 points, or 0.21%, and the Nifty 50 closed 43 points, or 0.17%, higher at 25,725.40.

Today, there are several stocks to keep an eye on as they are expected to witness significant movements on Dalal Street.

Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtels subsidiary, Airtel Money, has received a Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a Type II Non-Deposit Accepting Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC). This move is expected to enhance the company's presence in the digital financial services sector.

Eternal

Eternal, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, has announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI to enhance its artificial intelligence capabilities. This collaboration aims to integrate advanced AI solutions across its commerce operations and broader ecosystem platforms, further strengthening its digital infrastructure.

Infosys

Infosys has launched its AI-first value framework, aimed at enabling global enterprises to adopt AI at scale. The framework will help businesses unlock value using Infosys Topaz, its advanced generative and agentic AI platform, empowering companies to drive efficiency and innovation.

BHEL

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has received a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) for the development of a captive power plant at its IISCO Steel Plant in Burnpur, West Bengal. This project is expected to enhance BHELs portfolio in the power sector.

Adani Enterprises

Adani Road Transport Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, has completed the acquisition of a 49% stake in Sree Vishwa Varadhi Private Limited. This move is likely to boost Adani Enterprises' presence in the road transport sector.

Dilip Buildcon

Dilip Buildcon has emerged as the lowest bidder (L-1) for a Rs 702 crore project awarded by the Narmada Water Resources, Water Supply & Kalpasar Department, Government of Gujarat. This win is expected to strengthen the companys position in the infrastructure sector.

Hexaware Technologies

Hexaware Technologies has launched an open version of RapidX, which comes with native integration with Replit, an AI platform. This new offering will allow users to convert natural language prompts into secure, production-ready enterprise software.

Engineers India

The Board of Directors of Engineers India will meet on February 26 to discuss the possibility of declaring a second interim dividend for the financial year 202526. Investors are awaiting further details on this decision.

NDL Ventures

Hinduja Leyland Finance and NDL Ventures. This will allow the two entities to move forward with integrating their operations. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the merger betweenand NDL Ventures. This will allow the two entities to move forward with integrating their operations.

Healthcare Global Enterprises

Healthcare Global Enterprises has approved a proposal to raise up to Rs 425 crore through a rights issue. This fundraise will be directed towards expanding the companys healthcare services and operations.

Investors will be keeping a close watch on these stocks today as their movements could have a significant impact on the market.
Nepal and India signed a landmark agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters to enhance bilateral judicial and law enforcement cooperation.

The agreement aims to streamline the exchange of evidence and support joint investigations, improving coordination between authorities.

The deal is expected to help combat fiduciary crimes, money laundering, and terrorist financing, strengthening both nations' justice systems.

Nepal and India have signed a landmark agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the judicial and law enforcement sectors. The agreement, which was finalized on October 16, 2025, during a cabinet meeting, was signed by Binod Kumar Bhattarai, the Joint Secretary at Nepals Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Nepal. On the Indian side, Ambassador Naveen Srivastava represented the Indian government.



Dal Bahadur Adhikari, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, informed the public about the agreement, highlighting its importance for enhancing cooperation between the two neighboring countries. According to Adhikari, the agreement aims to facilitate the collection and exchange of evidence during investigations, prosecutions, and judicial proceedings in criminal cases. This will ensure that the concerned authorities from both countries can collaborate effectively to uphold justice and the rule of law.



The spokesperson noted that this agreement would significantly improve institutional coordination between Nepal and India, especially in the judicial administration. Adhikari further explained that the implementation of this agreement would strengthen the collaboration between central authorities, making it more results-oriented. This is expected to contribute to more efficient investigations, prosecutions, and the delivery of justice.

Also Read: Vishwakarma University Hosts Summit on ADR, Healthcare & Legal Challenges



One of the primary benefits of the agreement, as stated by Adhikari, is its potential to reduce fiduciary crimes in Nepal. The enhanced cooperation between the two nations will not only streamline legal processes but also contribute to the overall effectiveness of justice delivery systems. In addition, the agreement is expected to have a positive impact on mutual efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, areas that have become critical concerns for both countries in recent years.



The signing ceremony was attended by Parashwor Dhungana, the Secretary of the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, along with representatives from Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agreement represents a new chapter in Nepal-India relations, particularly in terms of legal cooperation, and is expected to further bolster the efforts of both countries to tackle cross-border criminal activities more effectively.



This agreement is seen as a vital tool in enabling smoother legal processes, allowing for faster and more reliable exchanges of information between the two countries authorities. With its focus on mutual assistance in criminal matters, it is poised to make a substantial contribution to the ongoing efforts to improve law enforcement and justice systems in Nepal and India.
The business world moves faster than most organizations can handle. Companies that dominated markets five years ago now scramble to rethink basic operations. Most digital transformation initiatives miss their targets. Why? Technology alone fixes nothing. You need strategy, expertise, and a clear picture of how new tools reshape the whole organization. That's where digital transformation consulting comes in  helping businesses rework their foundations, not just buy software. We'll look at what digital transformation means at the consulting level, what problems get solved, and why companies burn millions on failed projects without the right help.

What Digital Transformation Consulting Actually Means

Digital transformation consulting tackles more than tech setup. It rebuilds business models using modern technology. Consultants dig into current processes, spot weak points, and create strategies for digital solutions that move the needle on real metrics.

The big difference from regular IT consulting? Scale. Traditional IT folks handle individual systems. Digital transformation consulting treats the company as one connected organism. These specialists work with executives, shift company culture, and train teams for new ways of working.

Big firms like DXC Technology (https://dxc.com/advisory/technology-digital-transformation) and others deliver complete packages from analysis to launch. Digital transformation strategy consulting means building roadmaps that factor in industry quirks, company size, and where leadership wants to go. Consultants stick with projects from start to finish, not just hand over advice.

Netflix hired outside consultants in 2007 to jump from DVD rental to streaming. That worked out pretty well.

What's Happening in the Market

Digital transformation consulting keeps growing. Spending on these initiatives keeps climbing as companies invest in changing core processes, not just adding cloud tech and automation.

Technologies getting rolled out now:

AI and machine learning  chatbots, demand forecasting, you name it

Cloud platforms  AWS, Azure, Google Cloud becoming the backbone

IoT sensors  real-time data collection everywhere

Blockchain  finance, logistics, supply chains

Edge computing  processing data closer to where it happens

Big players test quantum computing. IBM and Google have working prototypes solving complex problems in seconds. Siemens runs digital twins of production lines to catch issues before they happen.

Walmart built an AI system for automatic inventory. Results? Lower logistics costs, products actually on shelves. Amazon Go stores without cashiers show how computer vision changes shopping.

Banks get it too. JPMorgan Chase uses COiN to analyze legal docs. Work that took thousands of lawyer hours now finishes in seconds. Goldman Sachs pours billions into automated trading and risk platforms.

How Digital Transformation Strategy Works

Strategy development follows clear steps:

Checking Where Things Stand

First step  figure out the current situation. Consultants interview key people, analyze systems, check how digitally mature the organization is. Different frameworks are applied depending on the industry.

Setting Real Goals

This stage nails down specific targets:

Boost operational efficiency 20-30%

Improve customer experience scores

Open new markets through digital channels

Cut product launch times

Build new revenue streams from digital services

Goals must be measurable. Not "better customer service" but "cut response time from 48 to 12 hours."

Building the Roadmap

The roadmap shows which projects start first, what resources they need, what results to expect. Big goals get broken into chunks with deadlines and success markers.

Transformation usually happens in waves. First wave: quick wins that show value fast. Maybe automate some HR or finance tasks. Second wave: tougher stuff requiring business model shifts. Third wave: innovative projects opening new opportunities.

Making It Happen

People make transformation hard. Consultants create training programs and communication plans to handle resistance. Change management becomes critical because great technology means nothing if employees won't use it.

Problems That Get Solved

Businesses call digital transformation consultants for specific headaches:

Old systems. Lots of big companies run on tech from 20-30 years back. These systems use outdated languages and don't play nice with modern tools. Moving to new platforms without breaking current operations takes serious planning.

Data everywhere, insights nowhere. Companies collect tons of data but can't use it. Info sits in different systems, formats don't match, no good tools for analysis. Consultants build data frameworks and add analytical platforms.

Customers expect more. People want Amazon, Uber, Netflix-level service. Traditional companies can't compete without rethinking how they interact with customers. Mobile apps, personalized messages, omnichannel everything.

Growing pains. What worked for 50 employees breaks at 500. Consultants bring in enterprise solutions that scale.

Different Industries, Different Approaches

Retail

Zara uses RFID chips tracking products from factory to store in real-time. Fast response to demand changes, less dead inventory.

Sephora added AR to their app. Virtual makeup try-ons before buying. Conversion went up, returns went down.

Finance

DBS Bank in Singapore went from traditional bank to tech company with a banking license. AI for fraud, blockchain for transfers, chatbots for service.

Revolut and N26 rethink banking completely. Account setup in minutes, everything on mobile, minimal fees.

Healthcare

Mayo Clinic uses machine learning on medical images. Algorithms catch lung cancer early with accuracy beating experienced radiologists.

Philips built HealthSuite to pull data from different medical devices. Doctors see the full patient picture in real-time.

Manufacturing

Bosch puts IoT sensors on production lines. Predictive analytics spots breakdowns before they happen, cutting downtime.

GE created Predix for industrial IoT. Airlines use engine data to optimize routes and maintenance, saving millions on fuel.

Key Technologies

Cloud-first. Most companies move to cloud infrastructure. Scalability, flexibility, lower upfront costs. Spotify runs entirely on Google Cloud Platform. Low-code platforms. OutSystems, Mendix, Microsoft Power Platform let business users build apps without deep coding knowledge. Faster implementation. API architecture. Modern systems work as microservices talking through APIs. Flexibility, easy integration. Stripe built their whole business on payment APIs. Containers and Kubernetes. Docker and Kubernetes became deployment standards. Consistent across environments, simpler management.

Measuring What Matters

Track progress with real numbers:

Operations: cycle time, costs, productivity, automation levels

Customers: NPS, satisfaction scores, resolution time, self-service rates

Money: ROI, digital revenue growth, acquisition costs, customer lifetime value

Innovation: time-to-market, new implementations, revenue from new products

Many companies use OKRs for managing transformation. Google and Intel made this approach popular.

Watch Out For

People resist change. Fear of job loss, loss of control. Without managing this, projects tank even with perfect tech. Complexity increases rapidly. Legacy systems hide technical debt. Integrations take longer. Data migration hits quality problems. Leadership doesn't commit. Without active CEO and board support, projects lose priority and teams lose motivation. Shiny object syndrome. Getting excited about blockchain or AI without solving actual problems wastes money. Security gaps. More systems, APIs, IoT devices mean more vulnerabilities. Target lost millions of customer records through one compromised contractor connection.

What's Coming

AI goes mainstream. ChatGPT and similar models show what's possible. Consultants help integrate AI from content creation to forecasting. Sustainability focus. Microsoft committed to carbon negative status, uses AI to optimize data center energy. Strategies now combine digital tech with environmental goals. Quantum experiments. Mass adoption is far off, but companies start testing quantum algorithms. IBM Quantum Network has hundreds of organizations exploring applications. Hyperautomation. Combining RPA, AI, machine learning to automate as much as possible. Moving from isolated automation to comprehensive solutions.

Bottom Line

Digital transformation consulting is strategic partnership, not just tech help. Consultants bring experience from successful transformations across industries, knowledge of what goes wrong, and how to manage change.

Balance ambition with pragmatism. Big visions need concrete projects with measurable results. What's cutting-edge today becomes standard tomorrow.

Companies investing in digital transformation strategy consulting now build advantages for years ahead. They get more agile, understand customers better, adapt faster. Netflix replaced Blockbuster. Uber transformed taxis. Amazon changed retail. The question isn't whether transformation is needed  it's how fast and how well a company can pull it off.
Mumbai is not only the financial capital of India. It is currently one of the most dynamic digital business ecosystems in Asia in 2026. From a start-up in Lower Parel to a well established business in Nariman Point, the companies in all industries are redefining their way of appearing online. The key decision in this change is also one decision, which is to select the right company in Mumbai to do web development and Digital Marketing Agency.

The Redirection of Websites to Digital Experiences

A couple of years back, companies were content with possession of a plain web site. Nowadays, the expectations are much higher. Customers are insisting on easy navigation, high-speed loading, user-friendliness on mobile, design appeal, and secure payment systems. An up-to-date web development company in Mumbai is no longer simply creating pages; it is creating entire digital ecosystems that create units of quantifiable expansion.

Search engines have incorporated the issue of user experience as a direct ranking factor. When a site loads slowly, has poor layout or architecture, people abandon it in a few seconds. Such a bounce influences revenue, brand trust, and online presence. Companies have realized that their web site is not a web brochure, but their sales powerhouse.

Mumbai has a Competitive Digital Landscape

Mumbai has a high level of competition. Each of the industries is saturated whether it is finance, hospitality, healthcare, retail, or eCommerce. This renders differentiation a necessity. By collaborating with established web development companies in Mumbai, the businesses will be able to integrate design strategy with technical excellence.

Local expertise matters. When a company is located in Mumbai it has a feel of the local consumer behavior, cultural differences and competition. That understanding influences the choices of UI design, funnels, and content hierarchy. It makes sure that the end platform appeals to the target audience and not just being attractive.

Incivility and Responsiveness Are Non-Negotiable

In India, mobile-first browsing wins and Mumbai follows this trend. Over fifty percent of all online transactions and service queries are now starting on smart phones. An expert web development company in Mumbai is a guarantee of responsive architecture, which is perfectly compatible across devices.

It is also critical that speed optimization is done. It is the efficiency of the technology behind the images which are optimized, the code structures, which are made lean, which will make the users decide between sticking with the site and dropping out. The delay of two seconds can considerably decrease the conversion rates in 2026. Organizations that focus on performance have a practical competitive advantage.

Strategic WordPress and eCommerce Development Power

WordPress has remained the leader of scalable and adaptable CMS. A web development company in Mumbai is used to construct custom WordPress solutions, depending on brand goals, by many organizations. The benefit is in customization - business will not be limited to generic templates but will receive fully optimized and brand-oriented websites.

Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento and BigCommerce platforms are enabling the growth of retail and D2C brands exponentially. A reputable web development company in Mumbai will merge payment gateways, shipping solutions, inventory management and analytics services into a single integrated system. This will result in a complete shopping experience that will increase trust and repurchase.

Search Engine Optimization and Web Development: One Solution

The process of search engine optimization is no longer post-launch. It is integrated into the process of development. A Mumbai based growth oriented web development firm designs web sites using clean URL architecture, schema markup, optimized metadata and coding solutions that are crawler friendly.

This technical base boosts the organic appearance and lowers marketing expenses in the long run. The businesses enjoy greater positions, better qualified traffic and quality leads. Digital success in 2026 consists of the synergy between development and SEO.

Security and Scalability of a Digital High-Risk Era

Threats to cybersecurity have evolved to become more advanced. Information leaks destroy brand trust and spark legal issues. To protect the digital assets, a trustworthy web development company in Mumbai will integrate the security features of the web applications like the use of the secure socket layer (SSL) encryption, safe server hosting, firewalls, and routine vulnerability tests.

Scalability is also very important. As the businesses expand, the websites need to accommodate more traffic, more product lines and more services. Futuristic infrastructure makes sure that the performance would not be affected when the traffic is high like in case of festive sales or marketing campaigns.

Case-Driven Growth Strategies

Professional development strategies are proven by success stories in different industries. Booking has also been enhanced by the integrated reservation systems in travel platforms. The mobile design has enabled jewelry brands to realize a double digit sales growth. The redesign of online stores using performance-first architecture has resulted in high increases in revenue by retail businesses.

Such results are not mere coincidences. Their inception is due to the cooperation with a web development firm based in Mumbai, which appreciates technical structures and business psychology.

Ongoing Success and Value Creation

The process of development does not stop at launch. Websites need updates, performance monitoring, security patches, and other feature enrichment. A reliable web development company in Mumbai provides an ongoing maintenance solution that will ensure digital platforms are competitive and safe.

Continued analytics monitoring assists the businesses in identifying the trends of the behavior of users. The information is used to make enhancements in design, call-to-actions, and content marketing. Little improvements over time mount up to quantifiable improvement.

Developing a Future-Ready Brand Presence

Credibility in the year 2026 is determined by digital presence. The websites are reviewed before meeting with the investors. There is always the judgment of professionalism by customers within a few seconds. Such a form of a poor platform can destroy the strongest business model.

When selecting the appropriate web development company in Mumbai, it is an investment in a long-term growth web development base. Starting with responsive layouts, moving to SEO Company in India integration and performance optimization, each of the elements is a contribution to sustainable growth.

Within a highly competitive environment and increasing consumer demands, strategic development will define those businesses that will take the leading trend in the next wave of digital transformation in the Mumbai market that is performing well.
This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter.

In a volatile time for the food and beverage industry, a few companies are finding a fondness for the past within their C-suite.

Since last July, three large food and beverage companies have brought back a CEO who previously ran the company at a time of growth.

The return of Jim Koch at Boston Beer, Joe Scalzo at Simply Good Foods and Jeffrey Ettinger at Hormel Foods  executives who are familiar with the businesses and have a proven track record of success  likely signifies that corporate boards are eager to hire a known entity amid a prolonged period of uncertainty and change for their companies.

It's almost like turning to someone who is a trusted and known quantity for stability, said Neil Saunders, managing director with Global Data. And that's quite interesting, because in this environment, investors do value stability.

Food and beverage companies have been facing significant headwinds as people cut down on spending, pushing product volumes lower and ratcheting up pressure on businesses to boost sales and margins.

While tapping former CEOs can indicate a company is struggling with poor performance by its most recent leaders, that's not always the case. Hormels CEO gave the company several months' notice of his plans to retire after 36 years with the firm, while Boston Beer's leader left after 16 months to focus on personal matters.

However, there are times when a former CEO is brought in to rightsize the business after missteps by their successor. Before bringing back Scalzo, Simply Good was facing pressure on sales and concerns over its strategy.

In a statement to Food Dive, Simply Good Foods said that Joe Scalzo was instrumental in shaping [the company] and scaling the platform through its most consequential periods of growth. The company behind Atkins and Quest went on to add that his return offers a seasoned leader in the nutritional snack category who brings immediate familiarity with our brands and organization.

Boston Beer and Hormel declined to comment for this story, with the latter citing a quiet period ahead of its first-quarter earnings. But John Glingo, president of the Spam and Planters manufacturer, told analysts last summer  shortly after Ettingers return  that the CEO has a proven track record of successfully leading this company.

I've been impressed with his clarity of vision, the conviction with which he leads and the mentorship he's extended to me personally, Glingo said. He brings renewed energy and focus.
Performance in 2025 was constrained by muted demand and predatory imports, particularly from China and Angola, which doubled and quadrupled respectively in the European silicon metal market.

Management secured critical trade safeguards in the EU and anti-dumping duties in the U.S., which are expected to reduce import volumes and restore domestic market share.

Operational flexibility was enhanced by converting three furnaces from silicon metal to ferrosilicon to capitalize on better economics and trade-protected segments.

A new 10-year French energy agreement starting in 2026 provides competitive pricing and the ability to operate 12 months a year, improving fixed-cost leverage.

The company maintained a solid balance sheet through a hiring freeze, discretionary spending cuts, and a 20% reduction in capital expenditures.
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BusinessCompaniesCompany mergers Billionaire Stokes stalks BlueScope with new $15b offer Colin Kruger February 18, 2026  11:23am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

BlueScopes board said it will consider a new offer for the group after its spurned suitors, Kerry Stokes SGH and US group Steel Dynamics, came back with a higher offer valuing the steelmaker at $15 billion. BlueScope on Wednesday confirmed it had received another unsolicited, nonbinding, indicative and conditional takeover proposal which the suitors expressed as a best and final proposal which valued it at $32.35 per share. BlueScope has been making steel at Port Kembla for nearly 100 years. Louise Kennerley As part of its evaluation, the Board of BlueScope will consider the proposal relative to the fundamental value of the Company, along with the conditionality and executability of the proposal, BlueScope said in a statement. The Board unanimously rejected the prior proposal from the consortium on the basis that it very significantly undervalued BlueScope, as set out in its disclosure to the ASX on 7 January 2026.

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The company rejected a $30 per share offer that became public in January and confirmed that it had received three previous offers from Steel Dynamics, which is pursuing BlueScopes lucrative steel business in North America  which generates the majority of its earnings. SGH would own BlueScopes Australian business, including the Port Kembla steelworks. Related Article Trump's White House Trump provides the knife for Stokes giant steel deal While SGH/Steel Dynamics sees the offer as compelling value, in our view at the $34/share (pre dividend) price point it serves more as a tool to put pressure on the Bluescope board to engage and to allow SGH/Steel Dynamics to conduct due diligence, rather than a knock-out offer, RBC analyst Owen Birrell, said of the new offer. We have stated previously that our mid-cycle implied value is in the mid-$30/share range, and that an offer will need to be at least at this level to be successful.

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This week, BlueScope reported an 81 per cent jump in December half earnings to $558 million after President Donald Trumps hike in US steel tariffs led to stronger US steel spreads for its products manufactured in the US. This offset a softer performance in Australia and Asia for its locally manufactured steel which competes against Chinas overproduction. We always have to evaluate and consider any offers that may come our way, and were always open to any option that realise value for our shareholders, BlueScope chief executive Tania Archibald told Bloomberg TV after the companys half-year results. As part of its defence against the suitors, BlueScope announced it will deliver $3 a share to investors this calendar year via a $1 per share special dividend, $1.30 per share on ongoing dividends and a $310 million market buyback worth around 70c per share. Bluescope shares jumped on Wednesday to a high of $29.67. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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At the heart of Chus Martinezs first Australian exhibition is a radical idea  that art can teach us to disagree. Because really, even if its a pain to be together with people who radically disagree with us, we must do it, she says, laughing. Goodness is a muscle; you need to train it. She argues that we have dismantled culture, and our education systems, to such a degree that the ability to debate, once taught (and prized) in university classics departments, in schools of philosophy and history, has been lost. And now you are left with bullies. And they dont disagree, they insult, and there is the problem of overprotecting against disagreement, this cancel culture. We need training camps on how to disagree again. The exhibition she has curated, A velvet ant, a flower and a bird, explores the vital role museums and galleries play in creating spaces for debate, reflection and free thought. Its a super simple premise, Martinez says. Everyone knows what an ant, a flower or a bird is, but each has a remarkable life of its own. The velvet ant, whose light-absorbing ability is being studied for its potential applications in solar technology, represents radical adaptation. The flower symbolises perpetual renewal, and the bird, through its flocking behaviour, shows the power of collective intelligence. Together, they create a starting point for comprehending the world in new ways, from different perspectives, to take us outside ourselves. Quarta-Feira de Cinzas by Rivane Neuenschwander and Cao Guimaraes (2006). Courtesy of the artists and Galeria Fortes Vilaca, Sao Paulo; Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York; and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London Martinez is a Spanish curator, currently based in the Swiss city of Basel, where she leads the Institute Art Gender Nature at FHNW Academy of Arts and Design. Its early morning in mid-winter when we speak. Basel is covered in thick snow and Martinez jokes shes hibernating. In conversation, she is spirited, passionate and brilliant. The exhibition began as a conversation between Martinez and Charlotte Day, director of museums at the University of Melbourne, about bringing works from the universitys classics, biology and art collections together in a new way.

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I asked myself; how can we mix materials differently to create some kind of new comprehension? Martinez says. Because right now, were really in need of comprehension. This is a skill people have lost, the ability to ask questions and understand. And if you dont understand, if you dont ask questions, it is impossible to make decisions and position yourself in the world. Budgerigars (2000, left) and Wrens (1998) by Judith Inkamala. University of Melbourne collection The exhibitions works span botanical drawings, ceramics, sculpture, blown glass, painting, photography and digital works from more than 60 artists including Australians Kate Daw, Heather B. Swann, Rosslynd Piggott and Judith Inkamala, along with Canadian Tamara Henderson and Swiss photographer Anouk Tschanz. Rather than dwelling on the stories behind individual works, Martinez says she thought she would try to make a case that these things belong together, and they help us to understand the future. Its a kind of epistemological stew. The [works] dont exactly have any trait in common, but they are complementary. Green Slippers by Heather B. Swann (2021). Courtesy of the artist and Station, Melbourne Related Article Literature It was a love I told no one about. Years later, I received a sign Among them is Destino, an animation of Salvador Dalis work by Walt Disney. As a student from Barcelona, Martinez once hated Dali  such a cliche  but she later came to appreciate the surrealists incredible genius. He produced, she says, a language of exoticism and exuberance that takes you out of your mind because he explores dreams. His work is powerful because you dont need to be an expert [to understand it], you just need to start relating in a free way. You need to empty your body and your mind out of prejudices and start moving in space with the objects.

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Another central work is Derek Tumalas Kayama nan ng pilipinas (Treasure of the Philippines), a single-channel video in which his digital recreations of plants from the Sierra Madre mountains of northern Luzon move and respond via sophisticated software to real-world weather conditions  temperature, humidity, wind patterns and shifting atmospheric pressure. Tumala is fascinated by novel ways to connect art with technology to create a forest in the city. The plants draw from a catalogue created by Filipino botanist Dr Leonard Co, who was killed by soldiers during remote fieldwork in 2010. The work pays tribute to Co while bringing attention to a critical ecosystem under threat from extensive mining and illegal logging. Kayamanan ng Pilipinas by Derek Tumala (2020-21). Courtesy of the artist Sierra Madre means Mother Mountain, Tumala says. Scientists argue this mountain range is crucial for our weather system because it weakens typhoons. The work is about creating a more visceral way to connect with nature by processing real-world data into a visual image. One of the exhibitions most compelling pieces is a self-portrait by Naomi Hobson, a Southern Kaantju/Umpila artist, that depicts her sitting by a riverside embracing a magnificent Barking Owl. Martinez describes it as foundational image. I see it and I think of the president of the cosmos, there is something you can trust. Who would stop the madness in the cosmos? You trust Naomi. Rare by Naomi Hobson (2025). Courtesy of the artist and Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne. For Hobson, the photo captures a morning on her Country, a story about the way she lives. It was one of those rare moments. That day I was at the river with my family, and we saw the owl on the ground. I think it had fallen from the tree, it looked a bit disoriented, so I sat with the owl quietly while it regained its bearings and then it flew off again.

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I didnt wake up in the morning thinking today I will take a photo of me with an owl, she says, laughing. I live 60 metres from the river, and the owl has always lived in a hollowed-out tree next to the water. I see this owl, I hear it at night, every day. Hobson says her work is about empowerment, about being honest and real about the life we live in the bush. My work is about creating space for real conversation, for grounding people. There are so many distractions today in the world, weve forgotten how to live in the present and how important it is to go back to where youre from, back to your roots and appreciate whats around you. Waterlily Amazonica by Ingela Ihrman (2012). Courtesy of the artist While the spectre of climate change touches lightly on Martinezs thinking, her exhibition is about the immense power of many orders, the order of art, the order of literature, of poetry. The order of how important it is to give yourself a time to reflect on culture, how culture is political. She says art is always being criticised for being elitist, but its not, and if we dont appreciate it, were going to face far bigger dangers. Related Article Interview Dispiriting and negative: Why thinking about the future worries Bill Bryson Martinez delights in the idea of the exhibition being on a university campus. Im aiming towards a threshold, to open a door to young people who are studying politics, engineering or science. To know that everything we study has many paths. There is no clean path, not in politics, not in epistemology, not in science. They are always overlapping. She argues the regeneration of democracy and the regeneration of the planet go hand in hand. But the purpose of art, she says, is not to indoctrinate people but to bring them together on common ground.

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What to stream this week (clockwise from top left): The Night Of; The Pact; 56 Days; Strip Law; Being Gordan Ramsay; and Beavis and Butt-Head.

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This weeks releases include foul-mouthed British chef Gordon Ramsays indulgent documentary, the return of 90s icons Beavis and Butt-Head, while a prank goes badly wrong in the Welsh drama The Pact. Being Gordon Ramsay  (Netflix) Lets go, Gordon Ramsay urges everyone around him  including himself  throughout this documentary series. The British celebrity chef is on a six-month journey to open a massive food complex with five different restaurants atop the London skyscraper 22 Bishopsgate. Between work and family theres no time to pause, no space for contemplation. Its the same with this show, which dashes between household and building site, media work and family events. Much happens, but this expletive-laden narrative is rarely revealing. It lacks flavour. British chef Gordon Ramsays new documentary lacks flavour. Directed by Dionne Bromfield and produced by Studio Ramsay Global, the six episodes are crisply made and provide a crafted window into the real Gordon Ramsay. That infamous temper? Mellowed apparently, and besides, it was all conveniently in the service of achieving perfection. The show takes inspiration from a previous Netflix success, 2023s Beckham, which used carefully regulated but nonetheless amusing banter between David and Victoria to create the illusion of insight. Were in the age of the celebrity-controlled documentary. Related Article 

Review This lo-fi sci-fi series is The Truman Show for our times  and all the more disturbing Ramsays wife of 30 years, Tana, is a thoughtful presence  mostly supportive, occasionally mocking. She, too, talks up 22 Bishopsgate as a huge undertaking, but frankly that narrative is over-egged given the show cant help but also emphasise how vast Ramsays global restaurant and media empire is. He delivers new eating establishments and reality television shows constantly; no one setback could stop him. A frank discussion of how he got to that point is lacking here. Bromides about hard work suffice.

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Its both disappointing and unsurprising that Ramsay, a natural on the screen, has reached this point. Television gave him a profile, thanks to the still-fascinating 1999 British documentary series Boiling Point (YouTube is your best bet). That was uncut Ramsay, a compelling kitchen obsessive who still spent every night at the pass. Since then, hes learnt to market himself and control the narrative. Being Gordon Ramsay doesnt have a narrator and only rarely is a voice heard off-screen with a query. Ramsay does it all. Gordon Ramsay with his wife Tana in Netflixs Being Gordon Ramsay. Its watchable, whether Ramsay is taking his daughter Tilly shopping for her first chef whites or hes pointing out flaws in the set-up of the Asian-inspired Lucky Cat, the largest of the five establishments. But the constant flow of authorised, surface-level celebrity documentaries that are shaped by their subjects is only growing, and it speaks to a broader issue of who controls the flow of information in todays world. The things we do for f---ing food, remarks an exasperated Ramsay at one point. He delivers it as a joke, but perhaps that hunger for control is actually the problem. 56 Days  (Amazon Prime Video) The strategy underpinning this hot twenty-somethings-gone-wrong thriller is to reveal a huge chunk of plot upfront, but leave further truths dangling. Its a tricky gambit and it mostly fails: by revealing so much of the plot and quickly revealing duplicitous twists, 56 Days lays bare the infrastructure that should be hidden away. The performances, from a quite good Dove Cameron and a hamstrung Avan Jogia, are secondary to the next twist. Its spoon-feeding. Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia in 56 Days. It opens with the reveal of a body decomposed beyond recognition in the bathtub of Oliver (Jogia). Jump back 56 days and he has a meet cute with Ciara (Cameron). What happened between the two events is the shows focus, but a death isnt surprising. This duo has more red flags than a May Day rally  false identities, weird night-time rituals, and inappropriate reactions. Halfway through their first date Oliver slips away to scream down the phone, I think Im doing it again!

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56 Days has been marketed as an erotic thriller, but the chemistry between the couple is awkward, and the sex scenes are cliched and performative. That could be part of the plot, but if youre asking those questions then the story has already lost a measure of purpose. As consolation, the two police detectives, Reardon (Karla Souza) and Connolly (Dorian Missick), investigating the bathtubs occupant, have a scrappy authenticity. Id watch their spin-off. Beavis and Butt-Head are back. Beavis and Butt-Head  (Paramount+) King of the Hill got plenty of praise where it was revived on Disney+ in 2025, but another celebrated animated comedy from Mike Judge has quietly added three new seasons to its 1990s legacy. Complete with their trademark vocal tics  one uh-huh huh huh is all you need to hear  Beavis and Butt-Head still create mayhem from the simplest beginnings. The shows format has been updated, with the pair sometimes reacting to YouTube clips instead of music videos, but the best addition is keeping the original teenage characters while also introducing their middle-aged, but no wiser, successors. The Pact. The Pact  (BritBox) The British-born and Australian-raised screenwriter Peter McTighe made a name for himself as the driving force behind Wentworth, the prison drama reboot that became a global success. Hes been working mostly in the UK since, and this 2022 drama is a good example of his subsequent output. Four friends who work in a Welsh brewery play a prank on their doltish boss, only for it to go badly wrong. They make a pact to never talk about it, but fraught circumstances and a dogged investigator, Detective Superintendent Holland (Rakie Ayola), test them.

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In her first interview since taking the reins, Netflix ANZs new content chief offers a few clues about what shes looking for.

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She hasnt been in the job long  three months and one week, to be precise  but Amanda Duthie, the head of content at Netflix Australia and New Zealand, has been busy. We have literally been in hundreds of meetings with producers, she says. We wanted to open the doors and windows and say, Come and talk to us about your projects, come and get to know us, because people might know us together or separately, but theyve never seen that whole team at Netflix, its a brand new thing. Its a curiosity. And its been so pleasing that the opportunity to come and pitch to Netflix has been really, really welcomed by the sector. The we encompasses her second, content director Katherine Slattery, who was formerly at Matchbox Pictures, the production company that this week announced it was folding after 18 years and a string of hit shows (The Slap, Glitch, Hungry Ghosts, Safe Harbour and the recently released Dog Park among them). Duthie doesnt say it, but her invitation to the nations filmmakers to come and pitch their wares stands in stark contrast to the way the streamer was perceived under her predecessor, Que Minh Luu, who departed suddenly last April. Industry sources told this masthead last year that relations between the streamer and the production sector had become so strained that many filmmakers had simply decided there was no point in approaching Netflix Australia with their pitches. Duthie was poached from Stan, where she had headed the Originals team for five years. Steven Siewert But at a slick showcase in Sydney on Tuesday before a few hundred key industry players, Duthie made her first public foray since leaving rival streamer Stan last August. She presented a slate of Australian shows, along with some international productions made here, that will soon drop on the service. Among them: the third and final season of Heartbreak High (At least until the sequel, she joked, veering off script, much to the consternation of her minders); the series adaptation of My Brilliant Career; the high-octane action movies War Machine and Apex and surf drama Breakers; the animated Stranger Things spin-off Tales From 85; the reality competition Wonka (set inside a Gold Coast set modelled on the famous fictional chocolate factory); and Allen, a live-action movie from Ludo, the Brisbane studio behind the worlds most streamed show last year, Bluey.

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Duthie readily admits she can take no direct credit for this line-up, as it was all under way long before she arrived (though insiders say she has been very involved in the latter stages of at least some of it). Philippa Northeast and Kate Mulvaney in the upcoming My Brilliant Career series. Netflix Were custodians of those new Netflix original shows, and theyre all exceptional, she says. It has been a privilege to take the baton and run with it. Its clear, though, that she is itching to stamp her identity on Netflixs local slate. As a former executive at the ABC and SBS, and head of Originals at Stan for five years, shes used to calling the shots rather than riding shotgun. Related Article Streaming Its like Squid Game: Why Netflix parted ways with content chief Que Minh Luu She doesnt know precisely when well come back out and announce what were cooking up for 27, she says, but shes hoping it will be at some point this year. Duthie comes to the job at an interesting juncture. Netflix has made an offer to buy Warner Bros, a massive deal that says much about the maturity of the streaming business (growth through acquisition of rivals rather than customers is now the strategy, it seems). And locally, quotas are now in place for the first time.

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Under the Australian content obligation, all streaming services with more than 1 million subscribers will have to fund, produce and screen Australian content (free-to-air and cable broadcasters have long been bound by similar laws, but before January 1, streamers were exempt). The production sector had long argued for such obligations  similar to those in place in Canada and much of Europe  in the belief it would protect against boom-and-bust cycles, and in the hope it would provide a significant uptick in investment. Charlize Theron hangs off the side of a cliff in the Australian-shot thriller Apex. Kane Skennar/Netflix The jury is out on the latter, though. And with the ACMA having quietly extended the deadline for streamers  from March to the end of the year to choose between a 10 per cent levy on revenue or a 7.5 per cent levy on expenditure (because the latter is so difficult to calculate), exactly how much money will be in the pot is still unclear. As far as Duthie is concerned, though, its business as usual for Netflix. Whichever model the streamer ultimately chooses, insiders are convinced the company is already meeting its obligation, and then some. And that means for the hundreds of producers who have already met with the new Netflix team, and all those still waiting for their turn, disappointment is very likely just around the corner. But for the lucky few, it could be the deal of a lifetime  literally. I have been aware of some projects for 20 years, and maybe only now theyll come to light, Duthie says. That is not a dog whistle to something Im about to announce, but what Im saying is, you can track projects  whether its that book, or that play, or that conversation you had at a party 15 years ago. You recall those conversations, and you go, Whatever happened to...?

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Do you call those people? Sometimes, yeah. So, dont give up hope yet, all you producers? Exactly, exactly. Its a long game. Yeah. As for the sort of content shes after, well, who knows. Every meeting is like unpacking a new present, she says. You dont know what youre going to find. Are you going to find an Apple Cider Vinegar, a Boy Swallows Universe, another Heartbreak High, another My Brilliant Career? You walk in with open hearts and minds, keen to hear what is that new thing that youve never even imagined. Someone tells you and you go, Oh, yeah. Oh my god, that is it. That is amazing. Come on, lets talk about it. Thats something. Duthie wont get to commission anywhere near as many shows at Netflix as she did at Stan. But because Netflix buys shows outright rather than looking for international co-financiers (as Stan, the ABC and most other broadcasters do), shes convinced shes in a position to make the most purely Australian shows of her career.

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Glencore Goes Shopping Again, Copper in Hand - Moby

THE GIST

Glencores $260 billion tie-up with Rio Tinto fell apart, but the appetite for scale clearly did not. Chief executive Gary Nagle is still talking like a man who believes mining needs bigger platforms to matter in a copper-hungry world. If the mega-merger is off, the megaphone is still on.

WHAT HAPPENED

Two weeks after merger talks with Rio Tinto collapsed, Nagle resurfaced with a familiar message. Consolidation still makes sense. Glencore will look at big deals. Shareholders, he suggested, want the company to remain open to transformative combinations.

The Rio discussions reportedly broke down over valuation. Under U.K. takeover rules, the two sides are now subject to a six-month cooling-off period, though that can be shortened under certain circumstances. In theory, that shuts the door. In practice, it leaves it ajar.

Alongside the M&A signaling, Glencore reported 2025 results that were solid but hardly spectacular. Adjusted EBITDA slipped to about $13.5 billion from $14.4 billion the year before, reflecting weaker coal prices that hit the energy and steelmaking coal division. The company remains one of the most profitable coal producers in the world, but when coal prices ease, earnings follow.

Metals were more supportive. Copper in particular helped offset some of the energy drag, aided by supply tightness and bouts of market dislocation linked to shifting US trade policy. Glencore also pointed to strong performance in its marketing division, which thrives on volatility and arbitrage.

The group announced roughly $2 billion in shareholder returns, reinforcing the idea that it can still generate meaningful cash without a mega-deal. It also highlighted progress on a land access agreement at its Kamoto Copper Company operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The deal is expected to extend mine life and support a broader plan to lift copper output meaningfully over the next decade.

So the message was twofold. The standalone case works. But the door to something much bigger remains open.

WHY IT MATTERS

This is not just about corporate ego. It is about copper.

Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.

Copper has become the mining sectors golden ticket. It sits at the heart of electrification, grid expansion, renewables, electric vehicles, and the AI-driven data center build-out. Every macro theme investors care about seems to run through a copper wire somewhere. That gives copper producers narrative power.
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NationalExtremism Lakemba Mosque receives third violent threat as leaders condemn Hanson comments Patrick Begley and Emily Kaine February 18, 2026  5:57pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Sydneys largest mosque has received a violent message containing a call to kill Muslims on the eve of the citys Ramadan celebrations  the third graphic threat directed at Lakemba Mosque in less than a month. The message, delivered by post, included a reference to the Christchurch massacre and was reported to police on Wednesday as political leaders dealt with the fallout from One Nation leader Pauline Hansons anti-Muslim remarks. Sheikh Yahya Safi outside Lakemba Mosque on the eve of Ramadan. Steven Siewert Hanson used an interview on Wednesday to single out Lakemba in Sydneys south-west as a suburb where she felt unsafe and unwelcome after suggesting on Monday there were no good Muslims. The Lebanese Muslim Association, the mosques custodian body, has called for more CCTV coverage and formal guarantees of extra police protection for thousands of worshippers set to gather in Lakemba, which also hosts the popular Ramadan night markets.

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Im getting daily phone calls, mainly from women and the elderly, who say they are actually scared to walk the streets, association secretary Gamel Kheir said. Pauline Hanson has singled out Lakemba as an unsafe suburb. Sitthixay Ditthavong, Alex Ellinghausen The latest mosque threat contained a reference to Brenton Tarrant, the Australian terrorist who killed 51 Muslims in Christchurch in 2019, as well as a death threat aimed at a pro-Palestine activist. It follows an illustration of a mosque with people inside being burnt down, sent this month, and a screed sent in January. NSW Police confirmed the message received on Wednesday had been sent for forensic examination. A joint investigation with the Australian Federal Police into the January letter led to a 70-year-old man being charged with threatening grievous bodily harm. Hanson, who only recently returned to the Senate after being suspended for wearing a burqa in a stunt, did not respond to questions regarding her response to the mosque threats as well as her recent comments.

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In a Sky News interview on Monday she said, You say, Well, theres good Muslims out there. How can you tell me there are good Muslims? Lakemba, in south-west Sydney, hosts the Ramadan night markets, which attracted more than one million people last year. Steven Siewert On Wednesday, she offered a qualified apology if she had offended anyone out there that doesnt believe in sharia law, or multiple marriages, or wants to bring ISIS brides in, or people from Gaza that believe in a caliphate. The LMA said politicians from all levels of government had failed to adequately condemn Hanson, whose party has overtaken the Coalition in several major polls. Labor is running scared that if they stand up for the Muslim community they will lose support to her, Kheir said. Were paying the price.

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A spokeswoman for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to comment on Hansons Lakemba remarks or the mosque threats but referred to previous comments in which he called Hansons rhetoric divisive and prejudiced. Related Article Political leadership Canavan attacks Hanson over anti-Muslim slurs Pauline Hanson is someone who never comes up with any solutions, just identifies and promotes grievance, Albanese said on Tuesday, stopping short of labelling her comments as racist or hateful. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke called on Hanson to apologise for the cruel remarks about Muslims. Small Business Minister Anne Aly, the first Muslim woman elected to federal parliament, said the senator often used racist language. NSW Premier Chris Minns issued a public statement on Wednesday afternoon celebrating the beginning of the Muslim holy month and describing Hansons remarks as a racist intervention.

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NSW is full of wonderful, great Australians of Muslim faith who care about our country, Minns said, acknowledging the distress caused when police interrupted Muslim prayers during recent anti-Israel protests. NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said everyone had a right to feel safe at their place of worship. During Ramadan, a dedicated police operation, managed by Operation Shelter, will run throughout the month, with high-visibility, proactive policing across Sydney, she said. Nationals senator Matt Canavan criticised One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for her remarks about Muslims. Alex Ellinghausen Liberal senator Andrew Bragg labelled Hansons comments disgusting, while his Nationals colleague Matt Canavan, one of the first to criticise the Hanson interview, said they were totally un-Australian. Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek speculated he might have sparked the senators comments about Lakemba by inviting her the day before to attend the suburbs Ramadan night markets, which attracted more than one million people last year.

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I want to say that I too love this country and I love the culture, the mayor told 2GB. Im a proud Aussie and a proud Muslim. Special envoy to combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik invited Hanson to join him for iftar, the evening meal that breaks the Ramadan fast, saying he would be happy to talk with her about the Koran, violent extremism, women in Islam, or any other questions she might have. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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The prime minister said during the 2025 election campaign that kindness was not a weakness (Doctor who helped re-elect Burke leads efforts to bring ISIS brides back home, February 18). Now he seems to have resiled from that in declaring there will be no government assistance for the 34 Australian women and their children still stuck in a Syrian refugee camp. One suspects Anthony Albaneses change of heart is more due to One Nations increasingly shrill dog whistling and the newly minted opposition leaders ridiculous bad Muslim/good Muslim binary. Kindness is a strength, prime minister, and extends to making allowances for past mistakes, however egregious, the prospect of rehabilitation and reunion with their families in Australia for the women, and a chance at life for their children. Kate Lumley, Hurlstone Park If Anthony Albanese is falling back on bromides from his mother to guide political decisions such as treatment of the ISIS brides, he might consider another that his mother would no doubt have endorsed: Do to others as you would have them do to you. Jan Macindoe, Forest Lodge Dozens of Australians, who are relatives of former Islamic State fighters, are stranded at al-Roj refugee camp in northern Syria. Save the Children What to do about the Australian families of ISIS fighters is a complex question and one I have no answer for. However, Albaneses statement if you make your bed, you lie in it, though it might be politically appealing, doesnt cut it as an adequate response. Surely, there is a legal framework that can be used to determine what happens to these families? And if there are aspects of the matter that are not covered by the law, then the law must be refined to make it fit for purpose in a world where situations like this are likely to become more common, not less. Regardless of how much we dislike their actions, how stupid or misguided theyve been, or how thorny a problem they present, we cant just cut loose Australian citizens as if we have no obligations to them. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point Before our politicians deny any assistance to the Islamic State-linked families trying to return to Australia, they should remember their Australian values, such as the rule of law and the presumption of innocence. Neither the rule of law nor the presumption of innocence means anything if our citizens are denied the assistance they need and are entitled to. Mark Porter, New Lambton How heart-warming that the prime minister invokes the homespun wisdom of his late mother in dealing with the plight of the ISIS brides. Its just a pity that, as the product of a Catholic school, he forgets the lesson of the Good Samaritan. Gerard ONeill, Bexley The Albanese governments dogged refusal to co-operate in the repatriation of Australian women and children trapped in Syria is unconscionable and akin to emotional and psychological torture. These people are neither terrorists nor criminals, but victims of war and ideological abuse. Endless consignment to the dangers and privations of a refugee camp is no life for anyone, and leaving innocent people in limbo and inflicting the suffering of indefinite uncertainty only legitimises and prolongs the abuse. These women and their children are no danger to us and are crying out for our compassion. For pitys sake, bring them home. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills

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Syrian refugee camps should not have to look after Australians who travelled to Syria to destroy it. We are responsible for our own citizens, no matter how idiotic their decisions may seem. The former teenage brides should be returned to Australia and, if appropriate, prosecuted for their crimes. Samantha Chung, Kensington The ISIS brides are no threat to the welfare or safety of anyone. Upon their return home, they will be subjected to the full processes of Australian law. If guilty and convicted, they will be imprisoned. How or what possible danger would they pose to us from inside a jail? What about their children? To leave innocent children to suffer the inhumane conditions in Syrian camps is nothing short of child abuse. As an Australian citizen, I am ashamed to be part of these crimes. Shame on you, Albanese. Shame on you, Taylor. A pox on both your houses. Jim Croke, Stanmore Crime and punishment The Liberal Partys policy to stop allowing criminal migrants from terrorism hotspots (Letters, February 18) should be applied to criminals regardless of their country of origin. Can we deport all descendants of people convicted of crimes by the British legal system and dumped in this country from 1788 onwards? After all, once a criminal, always a criminal. Neil Reckord, Gordon (ACT) A study in racism It continues to amaze me that people are shocked at yet another report that indicates racism is all-pervasive in Australia (Significant hostility: Scale of racism on university campuses revealed, February 18). Racism has existed in this country since 1788, and report after report highlights this. Whether it be in health, education, the legal system, media or business practices, the list is seemingly infinite. Racism is structurally embedded, and citizens are enculturated into the same. As such, we get people making racist comments and gestures; more impactful are the policies and practices that discriminate. In the recent findings regarding universities, it would be more shocking if a report were produced that indicated an organisation was not racist. Graham Fazio, Cootamundra Cathy Wilcox

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The Racism@Uni Study is a sobering insight into the failure of our institutions. What good is all the education in the world if we cannot treat our fellow human beings with kindness and respect? Our universities must do better. Michelle Lowbeer, East Lindfield No wonder everyone studies online. You need a doctorate in thick skin to be on campus now. Ted Bush, North Epping Care has to catch up Older peoples needs can deteriorate rapidly due to frailty, falls or cognitive decline, yet the assessment and allocation of home care packages can take close to a year (Why Labors shiny aged care scheme is a $10b rip-off, February 18). By the time support is approved, needs often exceed the original assessment, rendering the package inadequate. A system that cannot respond swiftly to changing clinical realities seems to be both inefficient and unfair.Margie Christowski, Roseville Reality of tobacco So the massive drop in tobacco excise tax revenue (Cut cigarette tax or more people will get hurt, says Liberal MP, February 18) will cause a sizeable hole in the budget  tragedy? Lower excise will stop sellers of illegal tobacco from getting hurt  so compassionate. What about the scientifically proven damage both legal and illegal tobacco smoking continues to wreak on the health and mortality of the population? Mea culpa: I smoked for more than 50 years, I now have emphysema and its not getting any better. Duncan McRobert, Hawks Nest High speed, but not at this cost

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A $90 billion price tag should surely ring the death knell for high-speed rail (High-speed rail link to cost taxpayers up to $90 billion, February 18), particularly when major government infrastructure projects have a long history of blowing out well beyond initial estimates. With a bill of that magnitude, equivalent to hundreds of thousands of dollars for every Newcastle resident, taxpayers are entitled to ask whether a smarter, less ambitious solution is being overlooked. One obvious alternative is a modern tilt train. Australia already knows the technology works: a tilt train has operated successfully between Rockhampton and Brisbane for years, delivering dependable and comfortable travel without the staggering cost of building a new corridor. The existing SydneyNewcastle line is full of curves, especially north of Hornsby, exactly the terrain where tilt trains excel. By leaning into bends, they can safely maintain higher speeds while using much of the current alignment and avoiding expensive tunnels, bridges and land acquisitions. If a purpose-built high-speed line trims the journey to about an hour, but a tilt train could complete it in roughly 1 hour 45 minutes, are taxpayers really prepared to spend tens of billions to save less than an hour? Upgrading existing infrastructure could deliver faster services within years, not decades, while demonstrating that fiscal discipline still matters. John Kempler, Rose Bay A better way to get to Newcastle? Getty Images The federal government plans to spend an enormous amount on a Sydney-Newcastle high-speed rail link and then much more to extend it to Melbourne. Meanwhile, we in the regions have to rely on overcrowded roads when we need to get to our capital cities. In NSW, for example, rail extends no further west than Lithgow. The few daily rail services from the Southern Highlands are frequently replaced by slow buses that stop at a dozen or more stations before reaching Sydney. The same appalling situation persists in all states. Undoubtedly, there is a need for high-speed rail between Newcastle and Melbourne, but improvement in rail services for the regions is decades overdue. Brian ODonnell, Burradoo Beginning Australias high-speed rail infrastructure with a project needing 115 kilometres of tunnels and 38 kilometres of bridges and viaducts  about 80 per cent of the total  seems like a recipe for failure, a mind-mumbling expensive white elephant. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls While I am thrilled to hear that our PM is happy to spend $90 billion on making the trip to Newcastle a bit faster, could I  for the umpteenth time  ask the powers-that-be to take a weeny billion and give us a train line along the South Coast from Nowra to Bermagui? We would be very grateful, Prime Minister, and as Labor voters would continue to support you. Nothing special; just a simple single track would do. Nola Tucker, Kiama Before it starts spending, the government should get at least three quotes  including one from China, a world leader in high-speed rail. And why stop there? An ambitious plan would link Brisbane to Melbourne, not just a short local line. Lets invest wisely and think big. Roz Townsend, Queanbeyan East The currently proposed Sydney-Newcastle coastal high-speed rail alignment with tunnels and bridges is impractical and unlikely to ever happen. Multiple international examples show that Australias high-speed rail network should be national, and further inland on buildable terrain. Michael Fox, Pacific Palms

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Far better to spend the very fast rail money on long-distance routes. VFT to Melbourne via Canberra could greatly reduce flights on our busiest routes and make a major reduction in Australias carbon emissions. Allan Rees, Moruya The VFT service from Platform One to Newcastle via Gosford is running late and out of timetable order  passengers should expect significant delays. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook Lifeguards save lives There is no doubting Robert Branders impeccable credentials in all natural beach and surf conditions (The blind spot that is making our beaches less safe, February 18). But rather than mere funding and increased supervision, the blind spot lies in the human condition and the failure to follow simple rules in the close ocean waters. Swim in the safest area, together, and between the flags. Beachgoers must walk the extra few metres from the car or local transport to ensure lifeguard protection and general well-being and safety. There is, above all, a personal responsibility for all swimmers to ensure the risks in ocean swimming are reduced. Lifeguards and lifesavers do indeed save lives but individuals must act in a positive and responsible manner first and foremost to ensure their safety (and the lifeguards safety). Janice Creenaune, Austinmer Life preservers - help them to help you Oscar Colman I went to a primary school swimming carnival on the north shore this week. I was staggered to see poor swimming from the majority of children. Is this part of the reason our drowning rates have increased dramatically? We not only need to up our employment of lifeguards, but we must give our children the chance to become good swimmers once again. A large part of the morning was taken up with 25-metre races because so many children are no longer capable of swimming 50 metres. We need to return to school swimming lessons for everyone to make our children water-safe and -capable. Molly King, Freshwater Cutting corners with AI

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NationalNSWCrime Editorial Mental health safety net has gaping holes The Herald's View Editorial February 19, 2026  5:00am

February 19, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The case of a man who escaped a mental health facility days before he was charged with killing one person and critically injuring two others has again focused attention on the failure of the NSW mental health system to protect patients and the public. Setefano Mooniai Leaaetoa, 25, was arrested after a rampage with a kitchen knife in a Merrylands on Tuesday. He was charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Parramatta Local Court heard he was also facing other charges for domestic violence-related assault occasioning actual bodily harm. NSW Police Forensics, a bloodied towel and a doorway where a person died in Merrylands following a knife attack. Sam Mooy He was known to police for petty crime and mental health incidents and 10 days before the stabbings he had been under the care of Western Sydney Local Health District. He fled while being transferred between Cumberland Hospital and Westmead Hospital emergency department. NSW Police were notified and contact was made with the patients family, but all attempts by WSLHD to contact the person were unsuccessful, the health service said.

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Leaaetoas rampage came just weeks after the state coroner Theresa OSullivan released recommendations flowing from her inquest into the Bondi Junction stabbing murders. Related Article Opinion

Psychology As a trauma expert, heres how to look after yourself and others after a tragedy like Bondi Ahona Guha Psychologist OSullivans report pinpointed gross inadequacies in the states mental health system. Queenslander Joel Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott six minutes after he began his rampage in the Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre and stabbed 16 people on the afternoon of April 13, 2024. Six people died. OSullivan recommended the need for new guidelines and policies in relation to the care of those suffering schizophrenia in NSW and Queensland, as well as short-term accommodation in the greater Sydney area for those experiencing mental health issues and homelessness. She also recommended the NSW government, over the next 12 months, obtain advice about the decline of mental health outreach services and determine a realistic timeline to resource such services.

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Concerns over the delivery of mental health services, coupled with the Merrylands rampage, only add to heightened public fears already being fanned by violent incidents, including terrorist attacks, and demands for increased police powers and legislative protections. Related Video Video icon 2:13 Man charged with murder after deadly western Sydney stabbing The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has attempted to assuage fears following the Merrylands rampage, acknowledging that while events of this nature go beyond those directly involved, psychiatrists and mental health clinicians across NSW work every day to support people through crisis and recovery under incredibly difficult circumstances. The vast majority of people living with mental health conditions are not violent. Suggesting otherwise contributes to stigma, increases fear, and can discourage people from seeking treatment and support, said NSW branch chair Ian Korbel. No one wants to stigmatise those living with mental health problems. But there is no escaping the obvious: high-risk individuals are in the wings and the parlous state of mental health services, lack of support and misplaced priorities can allow them to slip through safety nets. Its not unreasonable to ask how many more Merrylands rampages will it take before government moves to make the states mental health services fit for purpose? Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.

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For subscribers The Herald's View  Since the Herald was first published in 1831, the editorial team has believed it important to express a considered view on the issues of the day for readers, always putting the public interest first.
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When Roselands opened in 1965, it promised a western Sydney shopping experience unlike any other: an air-conditioned three-level mall, a Grace Bros department store and a luxury centre geared towards the woman shopper, according to a Herald feature written at the time.

But 60 years later, the owners of HomeCo. Roselands, one of Sydneys oldest retail precincts, want the shopping destination to become more future-focused. A $55 million proposal lodged with CanterburyBankstown City Council could ensure that.

An artists impression of what the proposed redevelopment of HomeCo. Roselands would look like. HMC Capital

A development application details a redevelopment that would focus on increasing the floor space of the shopping centre to 81,000 square metres, a new entrance foyer, 470 additional car parking spaces and the introduction of a new 16,000 square metre global supermarket operator.

The upgrades intend to revitalise the centre, which the documents revealed is at risk of losing key retailers due to a lack of necessary services and functional areas. It was previously announced that Myer, formerly Grace Bros, would close its doors later this year.
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Exclusive NationalNSWCourts University of Sydney dropout stabbed mother, brother after graduation lie Clare Sibthorpe February 19, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

On the eve of Jackyy Dangs graduation ceremony at the University of Sydney, his excited family were preparing to watch him mark the important milestone. However, the 24-year-old had dropped out of his advanced computing degree a year earlier. Struggling to tell his family he wouldnt be graduating, he instead tried to kill his computer-game-playing brother before attacking his mother as she rushed to help. Jackyy Dang stabbed his mother and brother at their Marrickville home. Nine News Dang was sentenced in the Wollongong District Court on Tuesday to almost six years in jail after pleading guilty to wounding his 26-year-old brother with intent to kill and causing his 56-year-old mother grievous bodily harm over the unprovoked attack in their Marrickville home on May 23, 2024. Judge Imad Abdul-Karim found the stabbings did not appear to be premeditated, accepting a medical opinion they were most likely manifestations of feelings that his parents valued him largely based on academic achievement. The judge found special circumstances regarding undiagnosed mental illnesses.

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Dang began studying a bachelor of advanced computing at the University of Sydney in 2019 and continued attending classes until he failed one subject in 2023. He did not enrol in further classes, but told his parents that he was still attending university and that his graduation ceremony was at midday on May 24, 2024. Shortly before 5.30pm on May 23, Dangs mother asked him if his phone was charged for his ceremony. Minutes later, Dangs older brother sat down at a desk in the bedroom he shared with Dang and began playing a computer game. Jacky Dang, father of the alleged attacker, was at home at the time. Nine News Dangs brother noticed Dang walk into the bedroom behind him. He turned around to find Dang holding a small fruit knife. The court heard Dangs brother had himself dropped out of a biomedical science degree at the Australian Catholic University and told his parents he had already graduated.

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After grabbing the knife from Dang, the victim said: Is this about the graduation thing? I turned out fine, you can stop this. Without responding, Dang grabbed the knife back and stabbed his brother nine times in the face, arm and back. The desperate victim typed into an open gaming chat: I am going to die. Is this about the graduation thing? I turned out fine, you can stop this. Jackyy Dangs brother before he was stabbed Having heard the horror, their mother ran into the bedroom. She begged her son to give her the knife, but Dang instead stabbed her in the throat. Dang went to grab a cloth to put on his mothers neck as she called out to her husband: Our youngest son has stabbed our oldest son.

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Dang then moved to the dining room, sat in a chair and stared into the distance, ignoring his hearing-impaired fathers plea for him to call Triple Zero. His father managed to seek help from neighbours and police arrived shortly after and arrested Dang. Dang told police he stabbed his brother in the neck because he wanted to kill him, Abdul-Karim said while outlining the agreed facts. The double stabbing happened in this Marrickville home on May 23, 2024. Nine News He [said he] accidentally hit his mum as she was trying to get him off. To investigators, Dang admitted to having homicidal and suicidal thoughts, saying he had given up on life and thought to kill his family and himself.

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Crime Marrickville domestic violence stabbing premeditated, police allege Dangs brother was lucky to have survived  five of his 13 nights in hospital were spent under sedation and intubation. His mother, who had since regularly supported her son in court but did not attend the sentencing, spent four days in hospital. Dang was dialled into the proceedings from custody via audiovisual link. He appeared stone-faced while he was sentenced to five years and nine months prison with a three-year non-parole period. Dangs treating psychiatrist told the court Dang had been diagnosed with autism, as well as major depressive disorder, and that he struggled with isolation.

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Abdul-Karim accepted the doctors opinion that his mental illnesses were linked to his offending, particularly due to his parents experience of poverty and cultural expectation in relation to academic achievement. His progressive deviation of the anticipated trajectory of academic achievement the first year of university, followed by a unit fail in 2023, led him to be placed in a situation where he was unable to explain [this to] his father and unable to lean upon his parents, the judge said as he summarised the psychiatrists evidence. The judge accepted Dangs evidence that he planned the attack on the day. He said he was depressed and was not thinking straight, Abdul-Karim said. He did not have a fixed plan but thought he might stab himself ... Im of the view that his offending was relatively spontaneous and occurred in the circumstances of the mental impairments outlined earlier.

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The court heard Dang, who pleaded guilty to the two domestic violence charges in April 2025, still spoke regularly to his mother. He remained in occasional contact with his father and had not spoken to his brother since the attacks. With his sentence backdated to the date he went into custody, he will be eligible for parole in May 2027. If you or anyone you know needs support call Lifeline 131 114 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636. National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
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NationalQueenslandCrime I didnt expect the fire to run like it did, father of dead boy tells inquest Cloe Read February 18, 2026  4:58pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The father of two boys who were burnt in a fatal house fire has denied lighting a blaze inside to teach them a lesson about their messy bedroom. The coronial inquest into how one of the boys died in the 2017 blaze concluded on Wednesday after hearing from about two dozen witnesses. The boys father  the last to give evidence  told the court he remembered first getting the younger boy out of their burning home after a fire ripped through the building on their rural property. The young boy who died soon after the blaze suffered burns to 95 per cent of his body. Nine News/Qld Fire and Emergency Services I thought [the other boy] being older would have followed me out, but he didnt, the father said.

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He said that for some reason, the older boy headed towards where the fire started. He told the court he went back in for the boy, finding him on the other side of the bedroom. When asked by counsel assisting the coroner, Kate Juhasz, why he did not take both boys at once from the bed, the father said he did not know. I dont know why I did what I did ... theres no rational reason ... Ive been through that, Ive punished myself with all that, and Ive got no answers for that. Why didnt I grab both kids? Why did I let them get out of bed calmly? Why didnt I just grab the two kids straight up out of bed and bring [them] to the door before I opened it? Ive asked myself this 1000 times. I dont understand why I did what I did. I guess I tried to keep the situation calm. In hindsight, I wish I didnt. If I knew it was going to do what it was going to do, I wouldnt have let them slowly get out of bed. I didnt expect the fire to run like it did.

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The father said he was confused about which door he used when he went back in to retrieve the older boy. It all happened very fast, and it was very confusing, he said. He said once he got the boys outside, he poured a bucket of water over both of them before seeking help from his parents at their home on the same property. I told the boys to go to nanna and pops. I ran out to call out to mum and dad for help. They were in their lounge room watching TV. The father denied he was with his parents at the time of the fire, contrary to notes shown to the inquest from a student paramedic, who wrote that he told her he was there watching television.

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Related Article Courts Obviously, you dont have kids: Father of killed boy berates court staff The father recalled the boys room had a makeshift clothes hanger made of chains and a broomstick. I do believe that once that had caught fire, it would have flared up  its just clothes hanging, like its a perfect disaster really, he said. In hindsight, its something Ill never do again, but at the time, I thought it was a way of storing their clothes. Juhasz put to the father that on the afternoon of the fire, the boys had been difficult. The father answered no.

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She suggested he had a number of drinks, to which the father said he had two. She put to the father that he was having relationship problems. And you come into the boys room, and you told police there are toys and clothes strewn all over the floor again? The father said he did not remember. Juhasz continued: And you say, to teach them a lesson  youre upset  Ill show you what will happen if you keep doing this, and you burn some of the clothes, and you put them on the ground in that room, and you thought youd put it out, and you went to bed. The father replied: I wouldnt light fires up inside the house. I wouldnt light a fire inside my house.

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The father said he did not know how the fire started. There was no fire started in the house by myself, and I very much doubt that fire in that house was started by my children. The court previously heard there were allegations that someone else lit the fire, including associates of the mother, and claims that neighbours had seen people entering the property. It heard the father suffered burns to 16 per cent of his body. He told the court skin had peeled from his back onto a stretcher when he was being flown in a rescue helicopter to hospital. In audio from the night played to the court, he told an attending officer that he woke up and the house was on fire.

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He could be heard saying he would be pointing the finger at his ex-partner, the mother of the boys. The inquest earlier heard the mother was not in the same area. In the audio, he said there was nothing in the house that could have caused the fire. My house was fire safe, I was bushfire prepared, so a fire should not have ever been a problem for us. I did everything in my power to make it fire safe, he told the court. In a statement read to the court from the boys mother at the closing of the inquest, she described the older boy, who died from his burns, as a happy little boy who loved his brother. He was also very loving, kind, and a very smart little boy who was always up for a hug and a snuggle.

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[The boy] always looked out for his baby brother and was very protective of [him]. They did everything together. Losing my little boy has left a hole in my heart that will never be filled. I miss him every day. Coroner Megan Fairweather will hand down her findings at a later date. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
The selloff in artificial intelligence (AI) plays has intensified, with hyperscalers particularly feeling the heat. Even Apple (AAPL), which had been looking steady amid the selloff, came under pressure and fell 5% on Feb. 12 on reports of Siri delays and the company facing Federal Trade Commission (FTC) scrutiny over alleged bias against conservative voices on Apple News.

All Magnificent Seven stocks except Nvidia (NVDA) have turned red for the year, which is unsurprising. While growing AI capex is putting pressure on tech names, Nvidia stands to benefit from the spending spree, as much of it will end up in the company's coffers.

More News from Barchart

Alphabet (GOOGL), which was the best performing Magnificent Seven name last year, is the second-best performing constituent so far in 2026. Despite the post fourth-quarter earnings selloff, GOOGL stock is down just 2.3% for the year.

www.barchart.com

Previously, I had noted that Alphabets 2026 returns will be much milder than in 2025. With that in mind, let's analyze whether GOOGL stock is now in the buy zone, beginning with a snapshot of its recent financial performance.

Alphabet Reported a Strong Set of Numbers for Q4 2025

It was overall a strong fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report from Alphabet, with revenue rising nearly 18% and net profits up 30% year-over-year (YOY). The company's topline growth was the second-highest among the Magnificent Seven, and only Meta Platforms (META) fared better. However, Nvidia  which is yet to report its quarterly earnings  is expected to post much higher growth thanks to the AI capex spree.

Beyond the headline numbers, Alphabets earnings had a lot of positives. For instance, cloud revenue grew 48% with backlog growing 55% sequentially to $240 billion. While Microsoft (MSFT) has a much bigger backlog, much of it is tied to OpenAI, raising concerns over its durability.

YouTube  which I have long maintained is an underappreciated asset in Alphabets portfolio  is now running at an annualized revenue run rate of $60 billion. The company had 325 million paid subscribers at the end of 2025, led by YouTube Premium and Google One.

While Alphabets earnings were as flawless as we can have in the real world, GOOGL stock still fell following the confessional after the company raised its 2026 capex budget to between $175 billion and $185 billion. That is roughly twice what it spent last year.
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Updated NationalQueenslandCrime Victim, third vehicle involved in fiery fatal highway crash identified Dominique Tassell Updated February 19, 2026  7:06pm ,first published February 19, 2026  8:44am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A man killed in a fiery Bruce Highway crash on Tuesday night has been identified, as a third vehicle believed to have been following another at high speed in the wrong direction has been found. Several vehicles were reportedly travelling southbound on the wrong side of the highway about 10.30pm on Tuesday. One of the vehicles, an Isuzu truck, crashed into a Honda Accord travelling in the correct lane at Burpengary. Loading The Accord then caught fire, with police confirming its 26-year-old driver was killed instantly.

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The Honda driver, a Caboolture man identified in media reports as Andre Roberts, was declared dead at the scene. Were keeping the family in the loop with progress we are making, but of course they are naturally devastated, Detective Inspector David Harbison said. The 46-year-old man driving the Isuzu was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he remained on Thursday. Footage from before the crash showed the Isuzu and another vehicle travelling down the wrong side of the highway.

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Harbison confirmed the truck was being followed by at least one other vehicle for at least a kilometre. A Ford Ranger has been identified as the vehicle following the Isuzu. It was located at a business on Magnesium Street in Narangba about 5.30pm on Wednesday. A Narangba man is now assisting police with their inquiries. Sections of the highway were closed until about 5am on Wednesday after the crash. Harbison said the collision left a horrific scene for emergency services and should not have happened.

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At least two vehicles were seen travelling on the wrong side of the Bruce Highway at Burpengary. A young man just driving home  has been killed, he said. It is amazing that no one else was harmed. I think we all know the dangers associated with going down the wrong way on the Bruce Highway. The truck driver would not be interviewed by police for some time because of his injuries, Harbison said. He said it was too early to comment on claims online that a theft had occurred at a nearby business and was linked to the crash.

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Harbison addressed comments on Facebook, saying online rumours could lead to wasted resources. He urged anyone who witnessed the crash or was involved in it to contact police. We are particularly interested if you have dashcam of this incident. Even a little snippet of dashcam could be vital to this investigation. With AAP Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalQueenslandOne Nation What One Nations rise means for Labor in Queensland James Hall February 19, 2026  10:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

One Nations rise has decimated support on the conservative side of politics, triggering an existential reckoning for the Coalition. Federally, the party has splintered, reformed and changed leaders, while state conservative oppositions in Victoria and South Australia have bled votes to Pauline Hansons party. But the numbers in Queensland, so far, tell a different story. Pauline Hansons One Nation party is particularly popular in Queenslands regions. Dominic Lorrimer The latest Resolve Strategic poll for this masthead revealed the first glimpse of a Queensland state-based surge for One Nation  and it appears to have eroded votes from Labor, rather than the LNP.

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The LNP government, led by David Crisafulli, maintained primary support of 34 per cent, while Steven Miles Labor opposition slumped four percentage points to 26, and One Nation jumped from 9 to 16 per cent. Resolve director Jim Reed said this followed a similar national and interstate One Nation trend  as well as the rise in Britain of Nigel Farages Reform UK  in which the opposition party is typically the first to suffer losses to far-right populists. It then starts to eat away at the party in government, according to Reeds analysis. One Nations rise is less likely to be a uniquely Labor problem in Queensland and more a result of fevered dissatisfaction with both major parties, according to political experts and some pollsters. But it has emerged as a clear threat to Labor, which lost a large swathe of regional seats in the 2024 state election when it was swept from office.

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Labor is unlikely to be competitive at the 2028 election without a significant jump in support outside Brisbane  in areas prime for One Nation  making its bid to return to government more difficult. Reed said Labors popularity at a state level in Queensland was stronger than other oppositions across the country, where support has crumbled to historic lows. But the era of Queensland Labor counting on 30-plus per cent of votes forever more, regardless of what they do and whos in charge, thats over, he said. They can easily slip down into the low 20s, and maybe beyond.

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Fellow pollster Tony Barry, a director at political research group Redbridge, said the most common demographic to support One Nation was men aged 45-60 who worked in heavy manufacturing, had large mortgages, and were suffering from enormous economic anxiety. Related Article One Nation Inside the rise of One Nation and the politics of tragedy Guys with physical jobs, which obviously in Central Queensland is a very significant cohort, he told this masthead. In a recent Redbridge poll to gauge views on the current political system, 15 per cent of respondents chose the option burn it all down. This was significantly higher among those who said they would vote for One Nation (83 per cent). Barry said this dim view of the country was also reflected in the swing of general sentiment.

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In the Howard years, 65 per cent said Australia was going in the right direction, but 55 per cent now believe it is going in the wrong direction, according to a Redbridge poll for The Australian Financial Review. Thats a massive, massive turnaround  theres entrenched pessimism, Barry said. Pauline Hansons One Nation party is on the ascent in Queensland. Matt Davidson Theyre not just worried about the now, theyre very anxious about the future. This sentiment was consistent with many voters in the states central and northern regions who spoke to this masthead in December.

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In Rockhampton, tradesmen said Labor no longer best represented workers, and business owners complained of industrial relations laws that were weakening productivity. Coal miners near Mackay said both parties were failing to support the resources sector during the industry downturn, while workers and families also cited housing and cost-of-living pressures, as well as strained access to healthcare. Theyre fed up, and they dont trust that either major party will improve their lives. Griffith University expert in Queensland politics Paul Williams said the rise of One Nation and fall of Labor didnt necessarily mean the opposition was directly losing support to Hansons party. He said the overwhelming evidence in recent national polls was that One Nation was largely rising as a direct result of voters abandoning the LNP.

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However, Labor was vulnerable in the regions, and he doubted, based on the current trajectory, they would win back seats lost in 2024, such as in Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton. Related Article Queensland votes Massive wake-up call: What an unsurprising byelection loss reveals about Labors big problem Youve got blue-collar blokes in the regions who would have voted Labor, but who would [now] be looking at One Nation  theres no doubt about that, Williams said. But he also said this would likely be offset by those who voted for the LNP in 2024, were living pay cheque to pay cheque, and blamed the incumbent government for failing to fix cost-of-living pressures. Former state minister and long-time Central Queensland Labor powerbroker Robert Schwarten said the drop in support for the state opposition should serve as a wake-up call.

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Although Queenslanders dont go back to the polls until late 2028, he urged Labor to confirm candidates in regional electorates as soon as possible to launch a long-term campaign that challenges the threat of One Nation. I see it as an opportunity, Schwarten told this masthead from Rockhampton. If a poll shows that [One Nation] are eating away at the Labor vote, we have got to attack that in every shape and form. Weve got to put the facts on the table. Weve got to get candidates out that people want to vote for, and weve got to get policies that identify with the people who feel disaffected. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalWAOne Nation Ex-One Nation candidate wrongly hounded after accused Invasion Day bombers identity revealed Holly Thompson February 18, 2026  2:52pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

West Australian One Nation leader Rod Caddies has urged people to stop jumping to conclusions and sending hateful comments to the partys former candidate for Secret Harbour, who has the same name as a man accused of throwing a bomb into a crowd of protesters at an Invasion Day rally. Liam Christopher Halls candidate page on the One Nation website was taken down after the suppression order preventing the identification of accused terrorist Liam Alexander Hall was lifted in court on Tuesday. Liam Halls how-to-vote card in the 2025 WA election. Caddies said he had been in contact with Hall and that he was aware that some people are making the link, and he is monitoring the situation. He urged the community to be aware of defamation laws when posting on the internet, and the risks of misidentifying the One Nation candidate for the man now before the courts.

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We know that some people will jump to conclusions based on Google searches, he said. Related Article Updated

Courts Accused Invasion Day rally terrorist identified after suppression order lifted Our candidate Liam is a fine member of the community and does not deserve any sort of negative attention just because he has the same first and last names as someone else. Hall won 8.4 per cent of the primary vote during the 2025 state election, losing to Labor minister Paul Papalia. Caddies condemned the alleged terror attack on Invasion Day protesters, stating that violence must never be accepted in Australia from any side of politics or from any belief system.

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On Tuesday, WA Premier Roger Cook, Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas and Nationals leader Shane Love all spoke on a motion condemning the alleged Invasion Day attack  the first order of business as parliament returned for 2026. Im so grateful for whatever it was that stopped that bomb detonation, grateful that I can stand here with the immense privilege of reflection, rather than the devastation of mourning, despite the world around us, Cook said. Zempilas said everyone had the right to gather peacefully, to protest peacefully. It is part of who we are as Australians, and it is a value that we value dearly. We should always all fight for that, he said. Warwick man Liam Alexander Hall, 32, is accused of making and throwing the device  which had allegedly been designed to detonate  from a terrace balcony into a crowd in Forrest Place as they marched to protest the date of Australia Day.

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While Hall was arrested on the day and charged with intent to cause harm and making an explosive device with suspicious intentions, authorities took a further nine days charge him with engaging in a terrorist act  the first charge of its kind laid in WA history. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalByelection Put One Nation last: Labor heavyweights want the party to contest byelection Rob Harris Updated February 18, 2026  6:00pm ,first published 5:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Two Labor heavyweights have urged the party to take the fight directly to Pauline Hansons One Nation in the looming Farrer byelection, warning that preferences would shape not only the contest in regional NSW, but the next federal election. Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie and former NSW premier Bob Carr said Labor should run a candidate in Farrer and direct preferences to the Liberals ahead of One Nation, in a bid to block Hanson from claiming the seat. Former Labor premiers Bob Carr and Peter Beattie are urging their party to run a candidate in the Farrer byelection, in a bid to block Pauline Hanson. Alex Ellinghausen The byelection was triggered by the resignation of Sussan Ley, who was ousted as Liberal leader last week after one of the shortest tenures in the partys history. The contest will provide a critical first electoral test for new Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and comes amid record high polling for One Nation across the country. Beattie, who as Labor leader in 1998 lost six seats to One Nation on Liberal and National preferences, said the stakes extended well beyond one rural electorate.

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Preferences are always important, but now they are crucial to Australias future, Beattie told this masthead. The ALP should run in Farrer and preference the Liberals ahead of One Nation. One Nation cannot win Farrer if all parties and independents preference One Nation last. Related Article Political leadership Teals to the left, One Nation to the right: Why the byelection for Leys seat will be a test for Taylor Beattie said, in return, if the Liberals didnt preference One Nation last it would undermine their credibility with city voters and prevent them from winning back the teal held seats in Sydney and Melbourne. NSW Labor says it is consulting local branch members in the region before it decides whether to run a candidate in the byelection, at a date which is yet to be set. A senior Labor source, speaking on the condition on anonymity, said there was varying views internally about contesting. Labor, which polled 15 per cent last May in Farrer, is the only party which has contested every poll since it was created in 1949.

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Carr echoed the call from Beattie, arguing Labor should be prepared to sacrifice short-term political advantage to stop Hanson, which he said was in the national interest. Labor should do anything it can to prevent One Nation winning Farrer, Carr said. Yes, even if its throwing our votes behind the Liberal. I dont want Australian decency wrecked by race prejudice that makes migrants feel disliked and isolated and sullies our international character. He said there was no long-term gain in a 24-hour tactical win seeing Taylor crushed by Hanson. As Keating said about Hewson, they should do him slowly. One Nation is running second to Labor, ahead of the Coalition, or neck and neck, in every major opinion poll in the country. Hanson said the party has had dozens of submissions in response to their candidate call-out.

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NSW independent MP Helen Dalton, who represents the state seat of Murray, said last week she was still considering whether to run for the federal seat and revealed shed been approached by One Nation. Related Article Exclusive

Resolve Political Monitor One Nation draws level with Coalition as voters give their first take on Taylor Climate 200 candidate Michelle Milthorpe, who cut Leys margin to 6.2 per cent at the May election, said she would run again but had not committed to preferencing either major party, describing her approach as an open ticket. The Nationals, who previously held the seat with former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer, are expected to contest the seat, which takes in Albury, Deniliquin and Griffith. Election analyst Ben Raue, from The Tally Room, said Labor would have to consider many things before contesting, such as money, volunteers, and the time and focus of paid staff.

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But he said, with an expected low primary vote, the difference its preferences could make would be fairly insignificant. It could make a small difference, if Labor can put out how-to-vote cards that ensure that some of their voters dont preference One Nation who might otherwise do so, but I doubt they will be able to get that many booth workers across Farrer, he said. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalBlood Oil This has to stop: Government blasted for lack of action on Russian blood oil Matthew Knott February 18, 2026  6:07pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The oil industry says it is open to tough new laws to prevent Russian-origin oil from entering Australia, declaring stricter regulations would allow importers to renegotiate contracts with overseas refineries fuelling Vladimir Putins war machine. The Ukrainian-Australian community is urging the federal government to take action as it blames a lack of political will for Australia falling behind like-minded democracies in cutting off Putins oil revenues. Australia has imported about $24.7 billion worth of oil since 2022 from countries that refine Russian crude, delivering an estimated $2.5 billion in tax revenue to the Kremlin, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Australia has provided $1.7 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the war began. Russian-origin oil has continued flowing into Australia despite an official ban. Reuters

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In effect, Australia is sending more money to Moscow than Kyiv, the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations said in its submission to Senate inquiry examining the effectiveness of Australias sanctions regime against Russia. Australia is now an outlier among its closest partners  Australias failure to take action risks turning the country into a dumping ground for blood oil that is illegal in comparable jurisdictions. This mastheads blood oil series, published last year, highlighted the vast quantities of Russian-origin oil that have flowed into Australia since the start of the war. Australia banned imports of Russian oil after Putins invasion of Ukraine, but a loophole has allowed Russian crude oil to enter the nation after being refined in countries such as India, China and Brunei. The Ukrainian diaspora is urging the government to change the definition of sanctioned goods to include petroleum products derived from Russian crude, regardless of where it is refined.

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Importers would be required to present certificates of origin stating that their oil products are free of refined Russian crude and the government would establish a unit dedicated to sanctions monitoring and compliance. Related Article Blood Oil With her cousin dead and mother badly injured by a missile strike, Blood Oil is deeply personal for Kateryna Argyrou Since January 21, the European Union has made it illegal to import petroleum products which have been obtained in a third country from crude oil originating in Russia. Australian Institute of Petroleum chief executive Malcolm Roberts told a Senate hearing on Wednesday: If the government changes policy, the industry will comply. Roberts said that, under current rules, oil importers had limited capacity to prevent Russian-origin oil from entering Australia because of long-term contracts with overseas refineries.

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Where term contracts are in place, theres not a legal basis to trigger a renegotiation of that contract so you are reliant on the good will of the refiner to take into account your concerns, he said. If the law changes materially, an importer will have the opportunity to trigger a review of a contract  Thats the firm ground on which you can reopen a discussion with your overseas refinery. Roberts, representing major oil companies, said private companies alone could not eliminate the Russian oil trade. Pointing to the recent decision to end the use of Russian oil at the giant Jamnagar export refinery in India following pressure from the United States and Europe, he said: It does take converging advocacy and pressure to bring about change. Any new policy should be implemented carefully, with sufficient lead time, to limit the impact on fuel supply and prices, he said.

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Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations chair Kateryna Argyrou said ordinary Australians had been shocked to discover the fuel they were putting in their cars was helping fund Russias war effort. This is something that Australians dont stand for, she said. Loading She blamed a lack of conviction from the federal government for the failure to ban all Russian-origin oil from entering the country. We have seen other countries and partners do it. So in the opinion of the Ukrainian community, it just requires political will, she said.

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Ukrainian Council of NSW president Andrew Mencinsky said: The community absolutely feels that it is an absence of political will, and is very surprised by the absence. Mencinsky said it was appalling that Australia had delivered more in tax revenues to Russia than military aid to Ukraine since Putins invasion. Its shocking, its unjustifiable, and its unacceptable to every person to whom I speak, he said. This has to stop. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the interconnectedness of the global oil trade made it difficult to prevent oil products refined in third countries from Russian-origin crude from entering Australia. Once an oil or petroleum product has been refined, substantially transformed, blended or co-mingled, the origin of its inputs is obscured, the department said in a submission to the inquiry.

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Aggregate trade or production statistics do not reliably identify the origin of the crude oil used to produce any given shipment of fuel.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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PoliticsWAEnvironmental protection Alcoa fined $55 million for clearing northern jarrah forest without approvals Aaron Bunch Hamish Hastie and February 18, 2026  7:19pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

US aluminium giant Alcoa has been fined $55 million for clearing Western Australias northern jarrah forest  used as habitat by nationally protected species  without approvals. However, the miner will be allowed to continue its operations under a deal struck with the federal government. Bauxite extraction at the Huntly mine, the largest of Alcoas two mines in Western Australia. Alcoa The clearing for bauxite mining took place at its Huntly and Willowdale mines between 2019 and 2025 and occurred without approvals required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Despite maintaining it had met its federal environmental obligations, the miner agreed to pay the fine as part of an enforceable undertaking reached with the federal government on Wednesday.

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Its the largest conservationfocused commitment of its kind, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said. Related Article Exclusive

Mining Behind the scenes of how Alcoas $200k Kings Park sponsorship fell apart The company will also expand conservation programs for species including WAs three black cockatoos, and strengthen invasive species management within the northern jarrah forest. The fine is the latest controversy to engulf the US-based bauxite miner, whose operations in WA continue to come under scrutiny as mining pushes further north into the forest, near drinking water sources. Watt said Alcoa would now be subject to an 18-month strategic assessment of its entire Perth operations with a view to reach an agreement between federal regulators and the company to determine the future of its mining until 2045.

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In a move that has angered conservation groups, Alcoa will be allowed to continue clearing and mining throughout the 18-month assessment period under a national interest exemption granted by Watt. This will ensure the continued supply of bauxite for industry in Australia and with trade partners, he said. This agreement will enable the government to assess the cumulative environmental impacts of Alcoas local mining operations and provide strong protections for threatened species and ecological communities, while offering Alcoa long-term operational certainty, Watt said. It also ensures Alcoa can sustain its operations, which employ about 6000 workers. WA Forest Alliance director Jess Boyce welcomed the fine but said the government framed it in a way that gave the impression Alcoas mining could be done sustainably.

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That simply isnt possible, she said. Research shows that the northern jarrah forest cannot be rehabilitated after its mined for bauxite, the forest is structured differently and has a huge impact on many of these threatened species that rely on this habitat. Conservation Council WA executive director Matt Roberts said it was mind-boggling that the clearing could have taken place over six years without action. I do think that what we have with Alcoa is a company that is losing its social license, and that has been frustrating to the government, he said. So weve seen them called out by people, but what we havent seen is tangible action from there.

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The miner has committed to pay $4.2 million in additional offsets for activities covered by the exemption for management of the environmental impacts. Related Article Bauxite Why Alcoas WA mining operations are being investigated over a single tree Alcoa said modernising the approvals framework would provide a better understanding of the potential impacts of land clearing and mining on significant flora and fauna into the future. The company will continue to limit clearing to 800 hectares per year and increase new rehabilitation rates annually to 1000 hectares per year by 2027. We are committed to responsible operations and welcome this important step in transitioning our approvals to a contemporary assessment process that provides increased certainty for our operations and our people into the future, Alcoa president and chief executive William F Oplinger said.

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We appreciate the governments recognition of the important contributions of our operations to the Australian economy. Were proud of our more than 60 years as a leading Australian aluminum producer and the role we are now playing in support of critical minerals production. WA Greens environment spokeswoman Jess Beckerling said there was a profound level of discontent with the clearing of the northern jarrah forest  pointing to a record 59,000 submissions to a recent WA Environmental Protection Authority process  and said the federal environment ministers capitulation would make people very angry. While this $55 million fine is not insignificant, todays announcement smacks of a deal to allow Alcoa to keep clearing and gain longer term approvals in spite of illegal clearing and profound impacts on forests, wildlife and water, she said. The strategic assessment will not impact an ongoing accredited environmental assessment of the future Myara North and Holyoake mine regions of the Huntly mine under WA and federal environment law. Alcoa has committed $100 million to fund the response to any incidents impacting Perths water supply.

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The Minerals Council of Australia said the agreement was a pragmatic decision by Alcoa and the federal government. Chief executive Tania Constable called on state and federal governments to rapidly finalise workable national environmental standards and assessment agreements to reduce mine approval delays. with AAP
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WorldNorth AmericaMissing person DNA lead in Nancy Guthrie search hits dead end Rebecca Noble , Steve Gorman and Jana Winter February 18, 2026  2:13pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Tucson, Arizona: One of the most promising leads yet in the investigation into the abduction of Nancy Guthrie has proved a disappointment after investigators said the DNA from a glove found near her Arizona home had failed to score a match in a national database of genetic profiles. The outcome, announced by the Pima County Sheriffs Department and FBI, marked a major setback for investigators as the search for the 84-year-old mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie stretched into its 17th day. Investigators had hoped a DNA sample retrieved from the glove last week would produce what forensic experts call a hit when it was submitted for comparison with known DNA profiles stored in a national database called CODIS, short for the Combined DNA Index System. Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for 17 days. AP The glove, found discarded in a roadside field about 3 kilometres from the elder Guthries Tucson-area house, resembled a pair worn by an armed man in a ski mask seen in video footage trying to disable her doorbell camera in the early morning hours shortly before she was abducted.

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Sheriff Chris Nanos has said he believes the man in the video, who was also wearing an overstuffed backpack and a handgun in a holster, is the likely perpetrator of the abduction and the primary suspect authorities are looking for. But the sheriffs department said on Tuesday that the glove DNA failed to trigger a match in CODIS or with DNA found at the Guthrie property. A man, wearing an overstuffed backpack and a handgun in a holster, is the prime suspect in the abduction case. AP At this point, there have been no confirmed CODIS matches in this investigation, the sheriffs office said, adding that additional DNA evidence recovered at Guthries residence was still being analysed. CODIS is one option of many databases that are available, the agency said.

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Guthries disappearance, treated by authorities as an apparent kidnapping for ransom, has drawn intense public interest around the globe, with news media outlets following every twist and turn in the case. Related Article Updated

Missing person Do the right thing: Savannah Guthries plea as FBI seeks DNA match from glove Much of the probe involved old-fashioned detective work, including investigators working with managers of Walmart retail outlets to pinpoint a person who purchased the backpack seen in the video, the sheriffs office said. Phillip Martin, co-owner of a Tucson gun store, told Reuters on Tuesday that an FBI agent who acknowledged he was working on the Guthrie case visited his shop with a list of fewer than 20 potential customers and asked if any had purchased a weapon there. Martin said he checked but none had. The visit to this gun shop was more than a week ago, and law enforcement continue to refine lists of potential persons of interest. The list being shown to gun stores was developed from cross-referencing backpack and holster purchases and other data points, a law enforcement official told Reuters.

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In other efforts, the sheriffs department said its investigators had been using a signal sniffer technology that produces a heat map to identify potential search targets within a given area. Parsons Corp, which designed the system, said it has been used by search teams in the Guthrie case operating by helicopter, ground vehicles and on foot. Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the NBCs Today show set in 2023. Getty Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31 when she was dropped off at her home near Tucson by her family after dining with them, and was reported missing by relatives the following day, authorities have said. Nanos has said the elder Guthrie was extremely limited in her physical mobility and could not have left her home unassisted, leading investigators to conclude early on that she had been taken against her will. At least two purported ransom notes have surfaced since she vanished, both of them delivered initially to news media outlets. There has been no known direct contact between any suspects and Guthries family or authorities.

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Savannah Guthrie, 54, co-anchor of the popular NBC News morning show Today, has posted several video messages, along with her brother Camron Guthrie and sister Annie Guthrie, pleading for their mothers return and appealing for the publics help in solving the case. On Sunday, Nanos released a statement declaring that immediate family members  all siblings and their spouses  have been ruled out as suspects in the case, saying The Guthrie family are victims, plain and simple. Loading Traces of blood found on Guthries front porch were confirmed by DNA tests to have come from Guthrie, officials said last week. Law enforcement and family members have described her as being in frail health and in need of daily medication to survive. She also has a pacemaker. Nanos told Reuters last week that no proof of life has surfaced since the abduction, but added that theres not been any proof of death either, saying his working presumption is that Nancy Guthrie remains alive.

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Reporting by Rebecca Noble in Tucson, Arizona; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Jana Winter and Jasper Ward in Washington and Herbert Villarraga in Tucson. Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.

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WorldNorth AmericaMiddle East tensions Trump moves US to brink of war with Iran, possible strikes closer than many people realise Michael Koziol Updated February 19, 2026  1:57pm ,first published February 19, 2026  6:20am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Washington: The United States is continuing to surge military assets to Eastern Europe and the Middle East, including fighter jets and refuelling tankers, increasing speculation that President Donald Trump is headed for war with Iran despite some progress in recent talks. Following a national security meeting at the White House on Wednesday (Washington time), several US media outlets, including CNN, reported Trump had been briefed that the military would be ready to strike as soon as this weekend - although the president had not made a final decision. Meanwhile, Trump again warned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to cede control of the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia to Mauritius, saying the US may need to use the island and its air base to defend against Iranian attacks in the event the Islamic Republic does not make a deal. A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker. AP The developments came as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were many reasons for a strike against Iran, but the presidents first preference was always diplomacy.

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Flight tracking data indicated dozens of military aircraft, including refuelling tankers, left the continental US heading east, or moved across Europe, overnight into Wednesday, adding to the growing military build-up in the region. Popular tracking site FlightRadar24 said at one point overnight, all of its nine most-tracked flights were US Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, an aircraft used to refuel other planes in midair. View post on X Records show one such flight left Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday night bound for Sofia, Bulgaria. There was also a high level of activity around Mildenhall air force base in England, a key US military hub.

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US news website Axios reported another 50 fighter jets headed to the region within 24 hours. Its prominent foreign policy correspondent, Barak Ravid, who is in direct contact with Trump, reported that the Trump administration is closer to a major war in the Middle East than most Americans realise. At a think tank event in Washington on Wednesday, the director of the Middle East program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Mona Yacoubian, said the US military build-up seems unprecedented, at least in recent memory, with all kinds of military assets being flooded into the region. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. Getty Images The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is already in the area, with the BBC tracking it to the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman earlier this week using satellite imagery. Another strike group, led by the USS Gerald Ford, is on its way to the Gulf and could arrive within a week. Every aircraft carrier can hold at least 75 aircraft. Thats a big, big power, said Susan Ziadeh, a former US ambassador to Qatar, at the CSIS event on Wednesday.

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Steve Witkoff (centre) shakes hands with Omans Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi during a meeting in Muscat earlier in February. AP The ongoing build-up comes despite another round of indirect talks between the US and Iran this week in Geneva, mediated by Oman, which were led on the US side by Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Both sides flagged a level of progress, with Iran saying there was agreement on guiding principles, and a US official saying the Iranians would present detailed proposals to address differences in the next two weeks. However, analysts noted that when Trump bombed Irans nuclear facilities in June, he had just two days earlier indicated he would decide within two weeks.

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At a press briefing on Wednesday, Leavitt said there was some progress made in Geneva, but the two sides were still very far apart on some issues. The president would continue to watch how this plays out. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were many reasons to strike Iran but diplomacy remained Trumps first preference. AP Theres many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran, Leavitt told reporters. The president has always been very clear [that] diplomacy is always his first option, and Iran would be very wise to make a deal. Hes talking to many people  of course, his national security team first and foremost. This is something that obviously the president takes seriously. Trump has repeatedly stressed his preference for a diplomatic solution that would prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons following the destructive US air strikes in June. But the US also wants wider restrictions on Tehrans uranium enrichment, ballistic missiles and funding of terrorist proxies in the region.

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Satellite images showed apparent work to reinforce the entrances of Irans uranium enrichment site at Natanz. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Trump that Iran cannot be trusted to honour a deal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now due to fly to Israel at the end of February to discuss Iran with Netanyahu, Reuters reported on Wednesday, following the White House national security meeting. Related Article Iran sanctions Iran hints at compromise as US warns a nuclear deal will be very hard to do Iran, meanwhile, briefly closed parts of the crucial Strait of Hormuz for live naval exercises on Tuesday. The strait, through which more than a fifth of the worlds oil supply passes, has never been fully closed, and it is expected that Tehran would seek to use it strategically in the event of war. Middle East expert Aaron David Miller, who has advised several presidents, said Trump appeared to have put himself in a box through his rhetoric and the staggering build-up of military assets in the region.

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He has now assembled an extraordinary degree of military power. You have the Gerald Ford carrier strike group, probably due within a matter of days. You have F-22s, F-35s, F-15s. Youve got defensive missile systems, Miller told this masthead. Against all of this, you have a negotiating process which at the moment seems to me to be unable to produce an outcome which would give the president a sense that the Iranians have really offered something. With US forces poised to strike, the final decision to strike Iran now sits with US president Donald Trump. AP This is not a normal administration, this is not a normal American president, and what hes contemplating with the amount of hardware that is out there is staggering. Climbing down from that position would be difficult, Miller said. How do you justify and rationalise doing nothing, or doing something that appears to be inconsequential? Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Analysis WorldNorth AmericaChina relations Why Trumps faux pas on Taiwan is ringing alarm bells in Washington Michael Koziol February 18, 2026  11:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The Munich Security Conference proved a tough training ground for Democratic firebrand and potential US presidential contender Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who made headlines for her word salad response to a simple question about the US defending Taiwan. AOCs foreign policy foray also involved mistakenly asserting that Venezuela is located south of the equator. Donald Trump couldnt resist a dig: she and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who also spoke in Munich, made fools of themselves and were an embarrassment to our nation, he said. President Donald Trump took questions on board Air Force One while returning to Washington, including about Taiwan. AP Yet minutes later, it was Trump who shocked many in Washingtons foreign policy establishment when he suggested he was consulting Chinese President Xi Jinping about future American arms sales to Taiwan. It followed a reporters question about Trumps recent call with Xi, who warned the US must handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence, according to an official Chinese summary of the call.

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I have a response, Im talking to him [Xi] about it, Trump said. We had a good conversation, and well make a determination pretty soon. We have a very good relationship with President Xi  in fact, Ill be going in April. Several analysts accused Trump of violating the Six Assurances  key, long-standing principles of US foreign policy on Taiwan communicated to the Taiwanese government in 1982 under then-president Ronald Reagan. Among those undertakings was that the US has not agreed to prior consultation [with China] on arms sales. An AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter flies during a military exercise at a military facility in the Xinshe district in Taichung, Taiwan. Bloomberg David Sacks, a Taiwan expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, and a former staffer at the quasi-diplomatic American Institute in Taiwan, points out the wording  often misunderstood  did not say the US would never consult China about arms sales to Taiwan. It simply said the US had not agreed to it as a matter of course.

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Even so, Sacks calls Trumps statement deeply misguided and says it will deeply worry Taipei. To me, it is a major faux pas, and a concession he gave without extracting anything in return. It is not something we should talk to the Peoples Republic of China about. We should not give the PRC a veto on arms sales to Taiwan. The president may have only uttered a few words, but Sacks says his timing is atrocious. Taiwanese lawmakers are debating a special budget that would majorly lift defence spending  something Washington is demanding. The budget is backed by President Lai Ching-te and the governing Democratic Progressive Party, but opposed by the major opposition party, the Kuomintang, which along with the Taiwan Peoples Party can block legislation. A group of 37 US lawmakers wrote to Taiwanese MPs last week urging them to pass the bill. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is trying to pass a special defence budget to boost spending. Bloomberg Sacks says Trumps remark hands the opposition a lifeline just as support for the special budget is accelerating. It undercuts the short-term objective. At the more strategic level, it heightens a sense in Taiwan that the US is not reliable, that the US cant be counted on. This is a sentiment that is already growing in Taiwan.

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Derek Grossman, professor of international relations at the University of Southern California, and Indo-Pacific expert at the Centre for a New American Security, said even if Trump was not violating the letter of the Six Assurances, he was violating the spirit. While Trump as president can make this type of call  its well within his authority and prerogative to do so  I do think it is a departure from long-standing US policy in the strait, Grossman says. It stands in contrast to Trumps actions thus far on Taiwan, he says, which have essentially maintained the status quo. Related Article Opinion

World elections Japans election result is a geopolitical earthquake and a very big deal for Australia Peter Hartcher Political and international editor Washingtons large contingent of China hawks have feared Trump could make major concessions in his pursuit of a grand bargain with Beijing, such as formally changing US policy to oppose Taiwanese independence. However, the new National Security Strategy released late last year affirmed the US would maintain its stance that it does not support any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. And in December, the Trump administration approved a record $US11.1 billion ($16.2 billion) weapons sale to Taiwan  likely spurring Xis recent warning about prudence.

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With Trump, it pays to heed his actions more than his many, many words. Still, Sacks argues the president made a strategic error  one that some analysts fear will be repeated as his much-hyped Beijing visit nears. Once you show the Chinese that we are willing to negotiate on Taiwan, that is something they are very happy to run with, Sacks says. Its very important to say were not going to open any part of that to negotiation with China. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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WorldNorth AmericaSocial media Zuckerberg grilled over Meta age limits and youth strategy at social media addiction trial Madlin Mekelburg and Riley Griffin February 19, 2026  7:08am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Mark Zuckerberg has been sharply questioned on the witness stand about whether he and other leaders at Meta Platforms were aware of the number of children under 13 who use Instagram. During a landmark trial over social media addiction, Zuckerberg described the very difficult task of enforcing the platforms age requirement. He said Meta had introduced proactive tools to identify and remove accounts that had violated the rules. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives for a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children. AP There are a set of people  potentially a meaningful number of people  that lie about their age, Zuckerberg told the jury in Los Angeles Superior Court, noting that its a challenging problem. The chief executive officer of Meta and the worlds fifth-richest person is the second executive to testify during the trial, which started on February 9, and centres on Kaley G.M., a 20-year-old woman who blames Metas Instagram and Googles YouTube for her years of mental health struggles.

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Zuckerberg said there had been debates at Meta about privacy sensitivity related to asking individuals for their date of birth to create an account, a practice the company had ultimately decided to adopt. Related Article Billionaires Billionaire bunker blooms as Zuckerberg moves house I think we got to the right place over time, he said. I always wish we could have gotten there sooner. Kaley, who is also identified in court documents by her initials K.G.M., was present in court for a portion of Zuckerbergs testimony. She has been absent for much of the trial so far after her lawyer, Mark Lanier, told jurors it would be traumatic for her to sit through it. Lanier told Zuckerberg that Kaley had an Instagram account when she was nine years old.

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You expect the nine-year-old to read all of the fine print? Lanier said. Meta has long argued that age verification should happen before a user downloads an app  meaning that Apple and Alphabets Google, which control the worlds most dominant mobile operating systems and app stores, should be responsible for age-gating certain experiences. Meta, Apple and Google have all lobbied in various American states to get ahead of potential legislation that could determine which companies are ultimately responsible for this type of user protection. The trial, which is expected to run through the end of March, will serve as a critical test for thousands of other lawsuits targeting not only Meta and Google but also TikTok and Snap. The latter two companies arent involved in the current case because they reached confidential settlements with the womans lawyers shortly before trial. While the four social media giants have denied wrongdoing and maintain they have installed robust guardrails for young users, they face billions of dollars in potential damages if juries side against them in early trials.

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Zuckerberg told not to appear robotic Zuckerberg was also questioned by Lanier about how much media training he had received, including for testimonies such as the one he was giving in court. Zuckerberg in his trademark hoodie in 2010. AP Lanier pointed to an internal document about feedback on Zuckerbergs tone of voice on his own social media, imploring him to come off as authentic, direct, human, insightful and real, and instructing him to not try hard, fake, robotic, corporate or cheesy in his communication. Zuckerberg pushed back against the idea that hed been coached on how to respond to questions or present himself, saying those offering the advice were just giving feedback.

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Regarding his media appearances and public speaking, Zuckerberg said: I think Im actually well known to be sort of bad at this. Related Article Exclusive

News Bargaining Incentive Google, Meta take aim at Australian plan for tech giants to pay for journalism The Facebook founder has long been mocked online for appearing robotic and, when he was younger, nervous when speaking publicly. In 2010, during an interview with tech journalists Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, he was sweating so profusely that Swisher asked him if he wanted to take off the hoodie that was his uniform at the time. Zuckerberg mostly stuck to his talking points, referencing his goal of building a platform that is valuable to users and, on multiple occasions, saying he disagreed with Laniers characterisation of his questions or of Zuckerbergs own comments. Algorithms tweaked

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Lanier told jurors at the outset of the trial that he planned to quiz Zuckerberg about the companys goals related to attracting and retaining young users, and how he balanced business interests with safety. Related Article Analysis

Social media Social media ban 101: How to stop your kid getting around it and other tips During questioning, the lawyer confronted Zuckerberg about a 2015 memo in which the chief executive outlined the companys goals for the coming year, stating he wanted to reverse the teen trend and increase time spent by 12 per cent. Other documents made public years later by an employee-turned-whistleblower showed that Meta also faced declining teen usage on Facebook, its core network, forcing employees to strategise about how to optimise its networks for young people. In recent years, it has made attracting young adults to Facebook a key focus, tweaking its algorithms to surface more content from outside a users network of friends and family  a strategy popularised by TikTok.

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Profit versus safety was a central theme in the February 11 testimony of Instagram head Adam Mosseri, whom Lanier peppered with questions about the companys decision to lift its ban on photo filters that replicate the effects of cosmetic surgery. Internal emails showed that Mosseri and Zuckerberg supported lifting the ban, even after staffers questioned whether the so-called beauty filters would do more harm than good. Lanier also asked Mosseri how much the company valued testing and assessing the impact of a given product or design choice on users before releasing it to the public. The lawyer highlighted the original motto for Facebook, coined by Zuckerberg: Move fast and break things. Editor's pick Supermarkets Shapes blunder: Coles admits to second Down Down discount failure Meta has been criticised for years for allegedly failing to protect young people online. Internal documents unveiled in 2021 found that employees were aware Instagram could negatively affect teens, especially girls. During a Federal Trade Commission antitrust trial in Washington last year, other internal documents showed that Instagrams automated software systems recommended that child groomers connect with minors on the app.

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Zuckerberg has previously had to defend his company before Congress. In January 2024, during a congressional hearing over youth safety on social networks, Zuckerberg stood up and apologised to families of children who were victims of sexual exploitation on social media platforms. The company has made efforts of late to improve its privacy settings for teen users. It rolled out so-called teen accounts in late 2024 that automatically restrict content and some interactions on Instagram for kids under 18. In October, Instagram changed its default content settings to PG-13 for all users under 18 and now restricts some younger teens from streaming live on Instagram. Bloomberg, AP Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
March corn (ZCH26) futures last week saw a meager gain of 1 1/2 cents. However, last Fridays technically bullish weekly high close suggested some follow-through price strength when trading resumes after a three-day U.S. holiday weekend. March soybeans (ZSH26) on the week were up 17 3/4 cents. March soybean meal (ZMH26) on Friday closed at a two-month high and for the week rose $5.60. March bean oil (ZLH26) futures last week gained 175 points. March soft red winter wheat (ZWH26) for the week was up 19 cents. March hard red winter wheat (KEH26) gained 11 1/4 cents for the week.

U.S. Corn Sees Solid Export Demand

USDAs 100 million-bu. increase to U.S. corn exports in its February supply and demand report early last week halted selling pressure in futures.

More News from Barchart

However, the corn futures markets response to the record U.S. export demand was only tepid. Hefty domestic supplies, a corrective pullback in crude oil, and technical resistance levels above current prices have all crimped buyer interest recently.

Corn futures traders remain focused on second safrinha corn planting in Brazil, with the ideal planting window closing in rapidly. As springtime comes into view, grain trader focus will shift from South American weather to U.S. weather. The USDAs late-March Prospective Plantings Report and its results will also be a next major market driver.

www.barchart.com

Soybean Bulls Shift into Higher Gear

The soybean futures market on Friday saw some mild corrective selling and profit taking from the shorter-term futures traders, but the bulls had a very good week, overall. Importantly, soybean meal futures posting a technically bullish weekly high close last Friday gives the soybean and meal bulls better momentum when trader resumes this week, after the three-day holiday weekend. Soybean complex traders will also keep a closer eye on the wheat futures markets this week, given their recent price rallies.

China-U.S. trade relations appear to be on the upswing, which is price-friendly for the soy complex futures. President Donald Trump last week said he will meet in person with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April  possibly to extend the present U.S.-China trade truce. Soybean bulls are hoping better U.S.-China relations will translate into more Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans in the coming months.
The Bonaire Human Rights Organization (BHRO) welcomes the outcome of the 2025 review of the Kingdom of the Netherlands before the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in Geneva. Represented by James Finies and Davika Bissessar Shaw, BHRO attended the review in Geneva with a strong belief in the United Nations human rights system, trusting that the realities facing the people of Bonaire would be heard and fairly assessed.



BHRO was the only civil society organization from the Dutch Caribbean present in Geneva. No NGOs from Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Saba, or Sint Eustatius attended. BHRO directly intervened in the meeting in an independent and impartial manner, engaging with the Chair, Ms. Saran, the Taskforce Leader, Special Rapporteur Ms. Rossi, and other Committee members, ensuring that the lived realities of Bonaire and the Dutch Caribbean island peoples were presented clearly and without bias.



During the review, BHRO highlighted disparities in poverty, social security, healthcare access, housing, climate vulnerability, and the persistent suppression of education and cultural rights. Many concerns were raised, including healthcare, education, culture, and a lack of self-determination. Policies and laws have been implemented without adequate cultural consultation, potentially violating social, educational, and cultural rights. BHRO emphasized that policies must align with community values and uphold the highest attainable standards in a culturally appropriate manner.



BHRO also stressed the erosion of Bonerian cultural identity due to insufficient protection of local language instruction, culturally relevant curricula, and heritage preservation. Structural inequalities persist compared to the European Netherlands, particularly regarding the cost of living, social protection standards, environmental safeguards, access to quality education, and culturally sensitive healthcare.



The Committees Concluding Observations (E/C.12/NLD/CO/7) reaffirmed the Kingdom of the Netherlands responsibility to guarantee full and equal implementation of economic, social, and cultural rights across all territories under its jurisdiction, including Bonaire.



BHRO expressed serious concern over demographic changes affecting Bonaires native population and culture.



BHRO remains committed to international engagement and constructive dialogue to ensure that Bonaires people enjoy full protection of their educational, cultural, economic, and healthcare rights while safeguarding the islands unique identity.



The Bonaire Human Rights Organization urges the Government of the Netherlands to fully implement the Human Rights Committees recommendations and take urgent measures to prevent further demographic and cultural erosion, including reviewing and stopping policies enabling unrestricted settlers migration.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The NAPB Police Union wishes to express its serious concerns regarding the deployment of Surinamese Correctional Officers to the Point Blanche Prison.

The union emphasizes that many of its members are still awaiting placement in their rightful positions and have not yet received their national decrees formalizing their employment status. This ongoing situation continues to create uncertainty and frustration among local officers who remain ready and willing to serve.

In this context, the NAPB questions the necessity and timing of deploying foreign correctional personnel while qualified local officers continue to await proper appointment and recognition. The union stresses that priority should be given to addressing the outstanding matters affecting its members.

Additionally, the NAPB raises concerns about the transparency and structure of compensation arrangements for the Surinamese officers. The union calls for clarity regarding the manner in which these officers will be paid, the source of funding, and the terms and conditions governing their deployment, particularly in light of unresolved issues affecting local personnel.

The NAPB remains committed to constructive dialogue and urges the relevant authorities to provide immediate clarification, address the concerns of local officers, and ensure that all decisions are made in the best interest of the justice system and the people of Sint Maarten.

The union will continue to advocate for fairness, transparency, and the proper recognition of its members rights and contributions.
The Netherlands:--- Professor Francio Guadeloupe, endowed professor of Public Anthropology of Kingdom Relations, will deliver his inaugural lecture at the University of Amsterdam on Thursday, March 12, 2026. He will deliver this inaugural lecture to accept the Chair of the same name, funded by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK). Guadeloupe, born in Aruba, works for the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV) and the University of Amsterdam. His research focuses on how people in different parts of the Kingdom shape their lives, often moving around, and what this means for their identity.

Research

During his inaugural lecture, titled "Reweaving Dutch Caribbean Studies," Guadeloupe delves deeper into the various components of his research. He introduces people he's spoken with and asks them about their identities. For example, a European Dutch woman he meets on a plane from Amsterdam to Bonaire. Or an Aruban woman who has re-emigrated to Aruba and now works in the tourism sector, where she comes into contact with Venezuelan staff. He is critical of how these Latin American workers are perceived and treated, and of the all-consuming tourism industry and its impact on the various islands.

Inequality

As an anthropologist, Guadeloupe focuses on four areas of research, all related to how people live together, connect with one another, and engage with different continents. Like a loom from which new fabric is constantly emerging: Dismantling and reweaving the Kingdom is a contribution to reforming our far too unequal society. This is how he concludes his inaugural lecture. Over the next four years, his research will focus on this and will be conducted from both the Netherlands and the Caribbean islands.

Film

As part of the Chair, Guadeloupe recently produced an anthropological film entitled "Changa" ("Double Game"), which premiered last January in Aruba and Curacao. The film takes the viewer along a rhythm of the philosophy of dominoes: how do people respond to what life hands them? Here, too, the theme of identity is prominent. Through Changa, we discuss the sense of belonging of Dutch Caribbean citizens in the Netherlands, so to what extent the Netherlands is (also) their home, says Guadeloupe.

Chair

The chair in "Public Anthropology of Kingdom Relations" was established in 2024 by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. It is a collaboration between the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV), and the University of Amsterdam (UvA).

With his inaugural lecture on March 12, Guadeloupe will formally accept his position as newly appointed endowed professor. As usual, the inaugural lecture will be attended by other professors, all wearing robes.

Supervisory Committee

The supervisory committee for the chair, also known as the Curatorium, consists of chair Marja Spierenburg, professor of anthropology of sustainable development and livelihoods at Leiden University; Gert Oostindie, emeritus professor of colonial and postcolonial history at Leiden University; Tom Louwerse, associate professor of political science and research director of the Institute of Political Science at Leiden University; and Rene Bagchus, director of Kingdom Relations at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, as an advisory member.

Knowledge Development

Barbera Wolfensberger, Director-General of Kingdom Relations at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, emphasizes the importance of the chair. The chair that Francio Guadeloupe holds is crucial for knowledge development in and about the Kingdom. Because the more we know about each other, the better we understand each other. It is this connection, including with the diaspora, that makes our Kingdom strong. I am very much looking forward to the results of Francios research.
ORANJESTAD, ARUBA:--- Oranjestad, Aruba  The Ombudsman of Aruba, Ms. Jurima Bryson, LL.M., has been elected Regional Director for the Caribbean & Latin American Region of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI).

In June 2025, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that the Ombudsman of Aruba was admitted as a member of the IOI after extensive screening. The IOI is an international organization. It brings together more than 200 Ombudsman institutes from more than 100 countries. Its goal is to support cooperation, good governance, transparency, and the protection of human rights.

As Regional Director, Ms. Bryson represents the Caribbean and Latin American region within the IOI. In this capacity, she promotes and facilitates the exchange of knowledge among member countries.

Her election reflects the international recognition of the work of the Ombudsman of Aruba and further strengthens Arubas position within the global network of Ombudsman institutions.

Ms. Bryson expressed her sincere appreciation for this unique opportunity: I am deeply honored to receive this positive news, not only personally but also on behalf of my country, Aruba. With the support of my team, we have built an impartial, independent, and professional institute on our small island. It is truly encouraging to see that, even in its early stages, our work has already attracted international recognition. This development gives Aruba access to a broader network and affirms the international standing of our Ombudsman Institute. Just as I serve with dedication in my role as Defensor di Pueblo, Defender of the People, I will carry out my new role as Regional Director for the Caribbean and Latin America with the same commitment, dedication, and sense of responsibility.
PHILIPSBURG:--- With strong community interest and teams continuing to sign up, organizers of the Impact Quest Scavenger Hunt have officially extended the registration deadline to February 22, 2026. The event will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the SXM Padel Club (PDP Court), as part of Sint Maartens kickoff celebration of the United Nations-declared International Year of Volunteers 2026.

The extension offers one final opportunity for teams to register for what is shaping up to be one of the islands most dynamic volunteer-driven events of the year. Organized by Volunteer.sx in partnership with the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), Foresee Foundation (4C), and the SXM Padel Club, Impact Quest invites the entire community to join in a day of connection, creativity, and collective impact, while placing a special focus on empowering youth through volunteerism. Teams of four to five participants will complete mini-missions inspired by real acts of service across St. Maarten, blending teamwork, creativity, and community impact.

This is not your average scavenger hunt. Teams will use a dedicated event app to access their missions, upload photos of completed challenges, answer impact-based questions, and earn points directly on a digital, interactive platform. The app adds strategy, accountability, and a competitive edge to every task while keeping the experience organized and engaging. To ensure full participation, teams will receive day-specific data so they can stay connected, access the app seamlessly, and focus entirely on completing their missions and making an impact.

Thanks to the generous support of event sponsors, youth teams can participate free of charge.

A limited number of teams with at least two participants under 25 also qualify for full sponsorship coverage. This ensures that financial barriers do not prevent young people from engaging in volunteerism and nation-building. Spots are limited and will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The standard team registration fee remains USD 250, which supports event logistics, materials, safety coordination, and overall execution.

Impact Quest is more than a race for points and prizes. It is a platform for youth leadership, civic pride, and collective action. Teams will engage directly with local NGOs and community initiatives through creative and hands-on service challenges, demonstrating that volunteerism can be both meaningful and energizing.

The event will conclude with a celebratory Social Mixer at SXM Padel Clubs Port de Plaisance location, featuring music, games, prizes, and recognition of top-performing teams.

Registration closes February 22, 2026. Teams are encouraged to secure their spot immediately, especially those seeking sponsored youth participation. Register now at: bit.ly/impactquest

As Sint Maarten embraces the International Year of Volunteers, Impact Quest sets the tone for a year centered on collaboration, community engagement, and youth-driven impact. Youth engagement is not charity. It is nation-building in action.

To register or learn more, visit Volunteer.sx, sign up directly at bit.ly/impactques, or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Theres something powerful about women shaping policy. These were the words of Cassandra Richardson, Director of Victim Support Services (VSS), as her team welcomed members of the Womens Caucus of Parliament to the VSS Headquarters for a private engagement focused on survivor protection, legislative reform, and strengthening national support systems.

Victim Support Services is a foundation funded mainly by the Ministry of Justice. The agency continues to play a critical role in advocacy, survivor care, and public awareness across Sint Maarten.

In attendance were Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams, Members of Parliament Veronica Jansen-Webster, Sjamira Roseburg, and Ludmilla de Weever, who engaged directly with VSS leadership, staff, and invited clients to better understand the lived realities of survivors and the urgent need for policy advancement.

A highlight of the evening included a thought-provoking poetic presentation by Ramona Riley of Prominent Women, underscoring the importance of women legislators championing issues of abuse, inequality, and justice affecting all genders.

During the closed session, several VSS clients, described as victors, bravely shared personal testimonies involving workplace harassment, molestation of minors, and domestic violence. Particular concern was raised regarding situations in which immigration dependency is used as a tool of coercion, leaving victims fearful of reporting abuse due to threats of deportation or family separation.

Internal discussions cried out for the urgent need for:

Stronger legislative protection for minors against sexual abuse and exploitation

Safeguards for spouses facing control, and immigration-related threats of deportation, no alimony

Workplace protections preventing continued harassment after formal complaints

Better collaboration between law enforcement, court systems, SMMC, SZV, and Victim Support Services

 Added public awareness of survivor rights, financial restitution, and pathways to safety

Members of Parliament and the womens caucus, MP Veronica Jansen-Webster and Sjamira Roseburg, graciously reflected on knowledge gained from recent regional parliamentary engagement in Trinidad and Tobago, where lawmakers exchanged strategies to combat technological abuse, support voiceless victims, and strengthen survivor-centered legislation.

Victim Support Services reaffirmed that healing begins when survivor stories are acknowledged as truthful and when our local systems respond with dignity, care, protection, and empowerment. The VSS called for continued legislative partnership to ensure that women, men, and children living in fear of partner abuse and control, and persons harassed in the work environment, are protected and supported through meaningful, enforceable policy. VSS encouraged the caucus of women to utilize the important information, knowledge, and skills that the agency, along with their survivor partners, can share in order to lend advice throughout the potential draft legislative framework process, given the loopholes that the survivors encounter when they should be simply focusing on receiving assistance in a caring manner.

The Womens Caucus is committed to carefully reviewing the concerns presented and advancing legislative measures that restore safety, justice, and dignity for all survivors across Sint Maarten.

Victim Support Services is dedicated to providing confidential assistance, advocacy, and guidance to individuals affected by crime, abuse, major accidents and violence. Through counseling, referrals, and community engagement, VSS works to ensure survivors are protected, informed of their rights, and supported on their path to healing.
Phil Wang "broke his elbow" after he "fell through a table" on the set of Wonka.

Phil Wang played wedding groom Colin in Wonka

The 36-year-old comedian did not feel any pain because he was full of adrenaline playing wedding groom Colin in the 2023 musical film.

Phil told the new issue of Radio Times magazine: "I'm in Wonka for a glorious one minute and 48 seconds.

"It was my first day on a big movie set, and I broke my elbow falling through a table.

"But there was so much adrenaline surging through me, I didn't really feel the pain."

The comedy writer jokingly thinks his appearance in Wonka - which stars Timothee Chalamet, 30, as the titular chocolate maker, and focuses on Willy Wonka's beginnings before he launched his successful chocolate factory - is the best one minute and 48 seconds in British film history.

Phil then quipped: "I think British film will now be separated into pre-Colin and post-Colin."

Elsewhere in his interview, the star spoke about his excitement ahead of becoming a judge on the new series of The Great British Menu.

And Phil revealed bosses have urged him to be less harsh with his scores, following his 2021 guest judge stint on the BBC Two cooking show - which sees top UK chefs serve up their best dishes to the biggest names in the culinary world.

He said: "I was a bit mean with some of the scores. I was giving threes and fours, and the producers had to have a word, saying, 'People don't normally go below a six.'

"So I've gone in with a different attitude this time around. I get it."

Elsewhere, Phil - who was born in Stoke-on-Trent, but grew up in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - had a series of culture shocks when he returned to the UK aged 16.

Phil - who, with his English mom and Chinese-Malaysian dad, moved to Bath - revealed: "The biggest culture shock was curry sauce, from a chip shop.

"I'd never had sweet curry glue. British food is now spectacular, though. It's unrecognisable compared to when I moved here."

And another was people reheating rice.

Phil said: "That was a shock. People were like, 'You will die if you eat a single grain of this reheated rice.' Which is weird because old rice is literally what you make fried rice out of."
Six kids. Nearly 20 years of marriage. And a husband who says he's done.

Christy, who has spent the past 14 years raising six children in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, told "The Ramsey Show" that her husband wants to file for divorce this summer. She is now trying to understand how to protect herself and their children.

She works part time as a preschool teacher so she can bring her 4-year-old son to class. Her husband earned about $117,000 on their most recent tax return, and most assets and accounts are tied to his income.

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"Everything's up on end," Christy said, as hosts Dave Ramsey and John Delony spoke with her about her six children, ages 4 to 18, with the oldest having just started college.

Debt Returns After Financial Peace Years

The strain, she said, followed debt they once believed was behind them.

After their third child was born in 2010, the couple taught a Ramsey financial course. They later welcomed three more children. "Things were going really well," Christy said.

While refinancing their home in 2020, her husband admitted he accumulated credit card balances. They rolled additional funds into the mortgage to pay off the credit card balances and he promised they would be canceled.

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Earlier this year, she discovered nearly $60,000 in new credit card debt. With minimum payments climbing into the hundreds and even thousands each month, they took out a second mortgage to eliminate the balances.

"And then he kind of  things went downhill really quickly after that," Christy said. "It's been a very difficult year."

Soon after, she said, he stopped sleeping in their bedroom, stopped talking to her and said he intends to file for divorce. She also learned he stopped paying her life insurance premium.

"Like, cuz here youre dead men walking," Delony said, after confirming that her husband is still living in the home while announcing plans to leave.

Income, Assets And What Courts Consider

Ramsey asked what her husband earns. She confirmed it was a six-figure income. Christy asked what would happen if he pushed for a 50/50 split.

"50/50 is assets, but Im not talking about his income," Ramsey said.
YouTube says brief outage fixed



Washington, United States, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



YouTube said late Tuesday it had fixed a widespread outage that hit hundreds of thousands of users around the world.

Tracking website Downdetector said there were more than 300,000 reports of problems accessing the video-sharing site, though the reports seemed to be diminishing after a peak at about 0100 GMT.

During the worst of the outage, visitors to the website's homepage were greeted with an invitation to come back later.

YouTube was back up and running when AFP journalists accessed the site at 0400 GMT.

"The issue with our recommendations system has been resolved and all of our platforms (YouTube.com, the YouTube app, YouTube Music, Kids, and TV) are back to normal!" YouTube posted on a help page.

The platform said earlier that "an issue with our recommendations system prevented videos from appearing across surfaces on YouTube (including the homepage, the YouTube app, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids)."

Google-owned YouTube is the world's largest video sharing platform, with more than 2.5 billion users actively using the site each month.
Press Release from Business Wire: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology



(AFP) Feb 18, 2026



BARCELONA, Feb 18, 2026 (BSW) - National Institute of Information and Communications Technology ( NICT ), Japan's leading public research organization in information and communications technology, today announced that it will exhibit at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026, taking place from March 2-5, 2026, at Hall 6, Stand F54.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260216620427/en/

NICT BOOTH



NICT's presence highlights Japan's leadership in Beyond 5G and 6G research and development activities, addressing the growing limitations of current mobile networks as data traffic and connected devices continue to increase across Europe and globally. While 5G deployment is expanding, emerging applications such as AI-driven services, real-time analytics, and immersive communications demand higher capacity, stability, and resilience.

At MWC Barcelona 2026, NICT will present a series of live demonstrations showcasing cutting-edge technologies, including terahertz-band wireless transmission capable of ultra-high-speed data transfer, AI-empowered ultra-spot communications, and reliable cybernetic avatar teleoperation. Visitors will also experience real-time multilingual communication technologies and next-generation security solutions, including real-time cyberattack monitoring and quantum-based secure communication.

NICT's research and innovation are structured around three strategic pillars: CONNECT, advancing digital inclusion through Beyond 5G/6G infrastructure; EXPAND, enhancing human capabilities via AI and advanced communication technologies; and SECURE, ensuring trust and resilience through cybersecurity monitoring and quantum technologies.

Through its participation at MWC Barcelona 2026, NICT aims to foster collaboration with European industry, research institutions, and policymakers, contributing to the development of a more connected, secure, and intelligent digital society.

About NICT

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) is Japan's public institution responsible for the research, development, and comprehensive promotion of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Specializing in advancing from fundamental research to cutting-edge technological applications, the organization contributes to economic growth and the creation of a more prosperous, secure, and connected society.

Guided by the philosophy, "Beyond human intelligence, co-create new standards for future society," NICT works to expand the potential of ICT by tackling new challenges and collaborating with scientific, industrial, and social communities worldwide.

With a diverse team of researchers and experts, NICT leads pioneering projects ranging from quantum communications and advanced networks to cybersecurity and post-5G technologies, creating solutions that drive social well-being and technological development.

Booth LocationHall 6, Stand F54

MWC Barcelona 2026 NICT Websitehttps://www2.nict.go.jp/global2/mwcb26/

About MWC Barcelona 2026https://www.mwcbarcelona.com/

Event DatesMarch 2 (Monday) - March 5 (Thursday), 20268:30-20:00 (16:00 on the last day)

VenueFira Gran ViaAv. Joan Carles I, 6408908 L'Hospitalet de LlobregatBarcelona, Spain







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260216620427/en/









Contact

For further information, please contact:NICT - Global Alliance DepartmentEmail: [email protected]







 2026 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release.
Press Release from Business Wire: Battery Ventures



(AFP) Feb 18, 2026



BOSTON & SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 18, 2026 (BSW) - Battery Ventures , the global, technology-focused investment firm, has closed a new, $3.25 billion fund to continue backing technology companies globally with a focus on the U.S., Europe and Israel.

The new fund, Battery Ventures XV, comes on the heels of 15 announced exit events for the firm in 2025. Over the last five years Battery funds have realized more than $10 billion in liquidity, a testament to the firm's stage-diversified approach.

"We're excited to build on our past success and partner with new, innovative companies in this dynamic market-driven, in large part, by the rise of artificial intelligence," said Michael Brown, a Battery general partner. "To us, AI is ushering in one of the most consequential eras in the history of technology. We understand the gravity of this moment and feel well-suited to capitalize on the opportunity, given our global reach and decades-long focus on software and enterprise tech."

Battery will use the new capital to continue investing in companies at all stages, from early to growth and buyout, in areas such as application software; infrastructure software, including data/AI, developer tools and cybersecurity; and industrial technology and life-science tools. The firm pursues a collaborative, research-driven style of investing and operates as one global team from offices in Boston, San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, London and Tel Aviv.

"We are highly selective investors whose goal is driving meaningful value in exceptional businesses," said Jesse Feldman, a Battery general partner leading its industrial tech and life-science tools practice. "We see enormous, continued opportunity in the software and industrial-tech markets across the U.S. and Europe-businesses we can help grow with focused investment in R&D, sales and add-on acquisitions."

Battery has invested in more than 530 companies globally since its inception, excluding seed-stage deals, resulting in 73 total IPOs and more than 225 M&A events*.

In September, Battery announced the promotion of Marcus Ryu, the co-founder and former CEO of Guidewire Software, to general partner. Additionally, Zak Ewen, Satoshi Harris-Koizumi and Justin Rosner each were promoted to partner over the course of deploying Battery's most recent fund. Battery also hired Barak Schoster, now a partner, in its Tel Aviv office.

Late last year, Battery moved into a new London office to serve as the base for its European investment operation; since 2005, the firm has completed more than 150 transactions across the U.K. and 12 European countries.

About Battery Ventures

Battery partners with exceptional founders and management teams developing category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, enterprise infrastructure/AI, and industrial technology and life-science tools. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at all stages, ranging from seed and early to growth and buyout, and invests globally from offices in Boston, San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, London and Tel Aviv. Follow the firm on X @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here.

*Data through Sept. 30, 2025. Battery Ventures provides investment advisory services solely to privately offered funds. Battery Ventures neither solicits nor makes its services available to the public or other advisory clients.For more information about Battery Ventures' potential financing capabilities for prospective portfolio companies, please refer to our website. For a complete list of portfolio companies, please clickhere.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218854989/en/









Contact

Rebecca BuckmanMarketing Partner[email protected] 650-292-2077







 2026 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release.
Press Release from Business Wire: Macrobond



(AFP) Feb 18, 2026



LONDON, Feb 18, 2026 (BSW) - Macrobond, the global platform for macroeconomic and financial data, today announced it has been named to G2's 2026 Best Software Awards, earning recognition in the Best Financial Services Software Products and Best New Software Products categories. As the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace, G2 reaches more than 100 million buyers annually. Its annual Best Software Awards rank the world's leading software companies and products based on authentic, timely reviews from real users.

"As buyers increasingly shift to AI driven research to discover software solutions, being recommended in the answer moment must be earned with credible proof," said Godard Abel, co founder and CEO at G2. "Our Best Software Awards are grounded in trusted data from authentic customer reviews. They not only give buyers an objective, reliable guide to the products that help teams do their best work, but they are also the proof AI search platforms rely on when sourcing answers. Congratulations to this year's winners, including Macrobond. Earning a spot on these lists signals real customer impact."

The recognition in G2's 2026 Best Software Awards reinforces Macrobond's mission to elevate the standard of financial research. Macrobond delivers a comprehensive integrated research platform designed to serve as a single force of truth for economic and financial intelligence. Through rigorous data governance, advanced analytical tools, and a commitment to transparency, the company enables professionals to generate insight they can confidently stand behind.

"Finance is entering a new era where intelligence is no longer defined by access to data, but by how effectively you can interrogate, validate, and communicate it. This recognition from G2 reflects our commitment to building a platform that brings clarity to complexity. As research becomes more AI enabled, our vision is clear: combine the power of advanced technology with human judgment to help financial professionals make decisions they can stand behind," said Stephanie Covert, Chief Executive Officer at Macrobond.

"Macrobond is an integral part of my daily work. I create all of my economic charts in Macrobond and have linked the platform to our internal database to visualize proprietary data alongside global macro indicators. When preparing presentations, I simply refresh the charts and everything updates seamlessly. Macrobond has significantly expanded my ability to deliver and communicate insights to our clients," said Leo Feler, Chief Economist at Numerator.

About G2's Best Software Awards

G2's 2026 Best Software Awards feature dozens of award lists, ranking software vendors and products using G2's proprietary algorithm. The results are based on G2's verified user reviews and publicly available market presence data. To be eligible for the Best Software Awards, a software company or product must have received at least 10 approved reviews during the 2025 calendar year. Scores reflect only data from reviews submitted during this evaluation period.

To learn more, view G2's 2026 Best Software Awards and read more about G2's methodology.

About G2

G2 is the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace. More than 100 million people annually - including employees at all Fortune 500 companies - use G2 to make smarter software decisions based on authentic peer reviews. Thousands of software and services companies of all sizes partner with G2 to build their reputation and grow their business - including Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoom, and Adobe. To learn more about where you go for software, visit www.g2.com and follow G2 on LinkedIn.

About Macrobond

Macrobond delivers the world's most comprehensive integrated research platform, empowering economists, analysts, and portfolio managers to see faster, think deeper, and act with clarity. Built on real-time data and collaborative analytics, Macrobond is trusted by the world's top financial institutions as their single force of truth for economic intelligence. Learn more at www.macrobond.com







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218791464/en/









Contact

Media ContactsMichael Wood for G2[email protected]

Macrobond Contact:Marisa Watson, [email protected]







 2026 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release.
Saudi's Humain invests $3 bn in Elon Musk's xAI



Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



Saudi Arabia's state-backed artificial intelligence firm Humain said Wednesday it had invested $3 billion in US billionaire Elon Musk's xAI.

The investment made Humain a "significant minority shareholder", the company said in a statement.

It added that its xAI holdings would be "converted into SpaceX shares" after the rocket company announced it was taking over the AI start-up earlier this month as Musk pushes to unify his many business interests.

Humain, backed by Saudi Arabia's nearly trillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund, launched last May as the world's biggest oil exporter bets on AI to help diversify its economy.

Musk's xAI had previously announced in November it was teaming up with Humain to build a 500-megawatt data centre in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi firm also inked a new deal with Nvidia that month as US officials cleared the way for the sale of advanced microchips to the Gulf kingdom.

Stubbornly low oil prices and patchy demand have forced Riyadh to rethink the flamboyant mega-projects tied to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 reform agenda.

On Friday, several sources told AFP the country was scaling back luxury resort plans on the Red Sea, which could deal a blow to hopes of transforming the coast into a top destination for tourists.

Neom, Saudi Arabia's futuristic new city, is also reported to have hit major problems.

Meanwhile, xAI is facing growing public anxiety and regulatory scrutiny over the misuse of AI, including the spread of misinformation and sexualised imagery of children.

The recent rollout of an editing feature on Grok, developed by xAI and integrated into X, allowed users to alter online images of real people with simple text prompts such as "put her in a bikini" or "remove her clothes".

sar/rh/amj

NVIDIA

CROWN HOLDINGS
Although remaining performance obligations saw YOY growth of 5% to $43.4 billion, net cash flow from operating activities declined 19% YOY to $1.8 billion. Overall, Cisco ended fiscal Q2 2026 with a cash balance of $7.46 billion, lower than its short-term debt levels of $8.72 billion.

Meanwhile, results for the most recent quarter saw the company reporting record revenues and earnings surpassing Street estimates. While revenues of $15.3 billion for the second quarter marked growth of 10% year-over-year (YOY), EPS went up by 11% YOY to $1.04. With that, EPS recorde yet another consecutive quarter of beating estimates.

Valued at a market capitalization of $303 billion, CSCO stock is down just 0.2% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. The stock also offers a dividend yield of 2.19%.

Founded in 1984, Cisco Systems (CSCO) is a global provider of networking, security, observability, collaboration, and infrastructure software. Its core businesses include enterprise switches and routers, cloud networking, cybersecurity platforms, observability tools, and collaboration software such as Webex. The companys products are embedded deeply across enterprise IT environments, service providers, and government networks, creating high switching costs and recurring service revenues.

Notably, Wang is particularly bullish about the following three names. Let's take a closer look.

Wang reckons that tech is set for a comeback soon, however. When they have nothing to invest in, where theres nothing growing in the 30% range, theyre probably going to come back and say, weve got to get back into tech, said the veteran tech analyst.

While tthe biggest exchange-traded fund (ETF) covering the Magnificant Seven stocks  the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS)  is down 7% so far this year, the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) has seen an even sharper downturn of 22% in 2026.

Ray Wang, the founder of technology research and advisory firm Constellation Research, believes that enough is enough with the selloff in tech stocks. After a stellar 2025, when artificial intelligence (AI) and the companies associated with the revolutionary tech were celebrated, 2026 has suddenly seen a turnaround as skeptics gawk at the capital expenditures that hyperscalers have earmarked for this year.

Story Continues

Wang remains particularly convinced about the company's new G300 chip. The analyst believes it can compete effectively with chips coming from the likes of Broadcom (AVGO) and Nvidia (NVDA).

Overall, analysts remain cautiously optimistic about CSCO stock with a Moderate Buy" consensus rating. The mean target price of $88.30 reflects potential upside of 15% from current levels. Out of 24 analysts covering the stock, 15 have a Strong Buy rating, one has a Moderate Buy rating, and eight have a Hold rating.

www.barchart.com

Tech Stock #2: Nvidia (NVDA)

The world's most valuable company, Nvidia reached that status by making the most critical component of the AI revolution: the chips. Founded in 1993, the firm pioneered the modern graphics processing unit (GPU) category. Now, Nvidia designs accelerated computing platforms spanning GPUs, AI systems, networking hardware, software frameworks, and complete data-center solutions. The companys business is dominated by AI and data-center infrastructure, where its GPUs are used for training and inference of large language models and other AI workloads.

Nvidia is valued at a market cap of $4.44 trillion, while NVDA stock is down 2% on a YTD basis.

www.barchart.com

Nvidia turned in yet another impressive quarter in Q3 fiscal 2026, clearing both revenue and earnings expectations while keeping YOY growth well above 50% on each line. Sales for the quarter reached $57 billion, marking a 62% increase from the year-ago period. EPS rose 60% to $1.30, coming in ahead of the $1.26 consensus figure. The data center business  still the primary growth engine  expanded 66% YOY to $51.2 billion.

Cash flow stayed exceptionally strong. Operating cash flow climbed to $23.8 billion from $17.6 billion a year earlier, and free cash flow jumped 64% to $22.1 billion. The company finished the period with $60.6 billion in cash on hand, short-term debt under $1 billion, and long-term debt at $7.5 billion.

Analysts have a consensus rating of Strong Buy for NVDA stock, with a mean target price of $255.55. This indicates potential upside of about 40% from current levels. Out of 50 analysts covering the stock, 44 have a Strong Buy rating, three have a Moderate Buy rating, two have a Hold rating, and one has a Strong Sell rating.

www.barchart.com

Tech Stock #3: Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM)

Shifting focus from a designer of chips to one of the world's top chip manufacturers, we have Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM). Founded in 1987, TSMC pioneered what became the industry-defining pure-play foundry model, which involves manufacturing chips designed by others rather than competing as an integrated chip designer. Taiwan Semiconductor manufactures chips for hundreds of global customers across smartphones, high-performance computing, AI, automotive, and IoT markets. In 2025, the company served more than 500 customers and manufactured thousands of products across advanced nodes and specialty technologies, operating multiple giga-fabs in Taiwan alongside expanding capacity in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.

Valued at a market cap of $1.89 trillion, TSM stock is up 21% on a YTD basis, while also offering a modest dividend yield of 0.68%.

www.barchart.com

Notably, TSMC reported a beat on both the revenue and earnings front for its latest quarterly results. Q4 2025 saw the company's revenues surge by nearly 26% from the previous year to $33.73 billion. Meanwhile, earnings went up by 35% in the same period to $3.14 per share. Impressively, over the past nine quarters, the company's earnings have missed estimates on just one instance.

In 2025, TSMC's net cash from operating activities stood at $73.11 billion, up 29% from the previous year. Overall, the company ended 2025 with a cash balance of about $88 billion, much higher than its short-term debt levels of $4.36 billion.

Analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating for TSM stock, with a mean target price of $411.23. This indicates potential upside of about 12% from current levels. Out of 18 analysts covering the stock, 15 have a Strong Buy rating, two have a Moderate Buy rating, and one has a Hold rating.

www.barchart.com

The Bottom Line

The primary skepticism about the AI trade currently is around return on investment (ROI)  whether these companies' huge investments are warranted and whether they will accrue a decent enough return to justify the huge spend. However, the utility and the efficiency gains that AI will bring about are indisputable and inevitable, although it may take some time. Considering that, one of the best ways to benefit can be through these names preferred by Wang. While Nvidia and TSMC are proven performers and crucial to the AI trade, Cisco is finally shaking off its inertness and looking to make a serious splash as well.

On the date of publication, Pathikrit Bose did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Drones, sirens, army posters: How four years of war changed a Russian city



Voronezh, Russia, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



A drone whirred through a shopping centre in the Russian city of Voronezh as Shaman, an operator for the Russian army, showed shoppers one of the devices that have dominated the battlefield in Ukraine.

Hiding his face behind a balaclava, the 19-year-old told AFP he would soon leave to fight in the war, vowing "to defend my country" -- which launched a large-scale offensive against its neighbour four years ago.

Around 500 kilometres south of Moscow, Voronezh -- a city of one million people -- is closer to the front line in eastern Ukraine than to the Russian capital.

From frequent Ukrainian retaliatory drone attacks to army recruitment adverts around the city, the conflict has gradually seeped into daily life.

Before heading off to the front, Shaman, his army call sign, was manning the stand of the "Berkut Military-Sports Cossack Club" in the shopping centre.

His goal was "not necessarily" to convince his fellow teenagers to enlist, he told AFP.

"Everyone chooses their own path, according to their interests," he said, calling himself a "patriot".

Over the last four years, the word has become politically charged -- used to hail soldiers and, on the home front, those who loudly support President Vladimir Putin and his offensive.



- 'I have hope' -



Even the look of Voronezh has changed dramatically since February 2022.

On snowy roads leading to the suburbs, anti-aircraft systems peek out from behind camouflage nets.

In the city centre, murals honour soldiers killed on the battlefield.

Countless propaganda posters call for people to enlist with the army, crowding out adverts for a production of "Swan Lake" at the local theatre.

A recruitment centre offers future soldiers a lump sum of 2.5 million roubles ($32,500) if they sign-up -- equivalent to three years of the average regional salary.

The riches on offer have allowed Russia to maintain a manpower advantage over Ukraine despite massive losses.

Last year, 422,000 people enlisted with the military, according to former president and Deputy Security Council Secretary Dmitry Medvedev -- a six percent decrease compared with 2024.

For Lyudmila, 64 and with dark circles under her eyes, only one of those matters: her son, missing in action for the last four months.

"It's very hard. I have hope, because without hope..." she said, her eyes filling with tears and unable to finish the sentence.

Was he killed? Captured? She does not know.



- 'Frightening' -



Russia does not say officially how many of its fighters have been killed.

Tracking of local obituaries and family announcements by the BBC and independent Mediazona outlet has identified at least 168,000 Russian soldiers killed since Moscow launched its offensive.

To keep herself occupied, Lyudmila volunteers for an organisation sewing camouflage gear for soldiers.

Even with the small fortune on offer, the prospect of enlisting gets a hard "Nyet" for tractor driver Roman, who like everybody AFP spoke to, refused to give his surname.

"No, no. Not for any sum," said the 48-year-old.

Nestled in a tent on the frozen river, he wants to "relax", "switch off" and "think about fishing" -- escaping the fear of Ukrainian drone attacks.

"I wake up more often because of the explosions," he said.

"We have sirens and explosions every day. It's frightening of course."

Moscow has been firing daily barrages of missiles and drones at Ukraine for months. The latest wave crippled Kyiv's energy system, leaving hundreds of thousands without heating as temperatures plunged to -20C.

In retaliation, Ukraine's army has been firing drones at Russia, mostly targeting port and energy infrastructure.

Last month, one person in Voronezh was killed in an attack.



- Peace Street -



The Voronezh region, which surrounds the city and borders a part of Ukraine captured by Moscow, is one of the "most frequently" targeted in aerial attacks, Russian ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova said last month.

Amid the plethora of army posters across the city, there are some smaller signs that not everybody shares the patriotic pro-war fervour.

After Russia launched its offensive, artist Mikhail affixed little ceramic plaques to buildings and walls with calls for peace.

They resemble pro-peace plaques put up in Soviet times with messages like "Peace" or "Friendship" written on them -- part of the propaganda of the era.

"I wanted to remind people of the narrative of our grandmothers, grandfathers and great-grandparents, who throughout my childhood said that war is terrifying," the 28-year-old, who goes by the nickname Noi, told AFP.

"What we should always strive for is peace."

But with anti-war activism essentially outlawed in Russia, his plaques have been taken down.

Except one -- located on Voronezh's Peace Street.
US to discuss base with Mauritius as UK returns islands



Washington, United States, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



The United States said Tuesday it would hold talks with Mauritius on retaining its military presence on an Indian Ocean archipelago being returned by Britain in a deal earlier denounced by President Donald Trump.

The State Department said it would hold three days of talks next week in the Mauritian capital Port Louis on the strategic base at Diego Garcia.

The talks will discuss "effective implementation of security arrangements for the base to ensure its long-term, secure operation," the State Department said in a statement.

It said it also was also holding discussions with Britain.

"The United States supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago," it said.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government in May reached an agreement to return the Chagos Islands to Britain's former colony Mauritius and to pay to lease the joint US-UK base for a century.

Britain had kept control of the Chagos Islands after Mauritius gained independence from Britain in the 1960s. Britain evicted thousands of people, who have since mounted legal challenges for compensation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially welcomed the deal as "historic" but Trump later posted on social media that it was an "act of GREAT STUPIDITY" that showed why the United States should conquer Greenland from ally Denmark.

Trump later backtracked and said he accepted the deal after speaking to Starmer.
Asian stocks up, oil market cautious



Tokyo, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



Asian stocks rose Wednesday, while the oil market was cautious after prices dropped in the wake of Tehran's upbeat response during talks with US officials on Iran's nuclear programme.

Tokyo's Nikkei was up 1.2 percent in the morning session after the US announced a first tranche of investments by Japan out of a colossal $550 billion promised by Tokyo in its trade deal with President Donald Trump.

But the holiday period meant that trading floors were shut in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei. Sydney was marginally up.

West Texas Intermediate was up 0.1 percent at $62.38 per barrel, while Brent also rose 0.1 percent to $67.49.

Oil prices had dropped Tuesday as Iran appeared upbeat after talks with US officials.

That followed an earlier rise when Trump ramped up threats towards Iran, a large crude producer, but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said "a new window of opportunity has opened".

"We are hopeful that negotiation will lead to a sustainable and negotiated solution," he said, though he added that "Iran remains fully prepared to defend itself against any threat or act of aggression".

The announcement on the first round of investments by Japan detailed commitments of $36 billion for three infrastructure projects and came as the country comes under pressure to deliver on its pledges made in 2025 in return for lower US trade tariffs.

"Investors are likely to focus on Japanese companies tied to gas-fired power generation, crude oil exports, and synthetic diamonds," sectors targeted by these initial US investments, noted analysts at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence.

Traders are also keeping an eye on artificial intelligence this week, as tech CEOs and global leaders rub shoulders at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.

Touted as the biggest edition yet, the five-day summit aims to declare a "shared roadmap for global AI governance and collaboration".

While frenzied demand for generative AI has turbocharged profits for many tech companies, anxiety is growing over the risks that it poses to society and the environment.



- Key figures at around 0230 GMT -



Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.2 percent at 57,253.46

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: closed for holiday

Shanghai - Composite: closed for holiday

Dollar/yen: UP at 153.56 yen from 153.29 yen on Monday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1845 from $1.1854

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3556 from $1.3568

Euro/pound: UP at 87.38 from 87.37 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $62.38 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.1 percent at $67.49 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 49,533.19 points (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.8 percent at at 10,556.17 (close)
Germany does not need same fighter jets as France: Merz



Berlin, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



Germany does not need the same fighter jets as France, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in an interview broadcast Wednesday, signalling that Berlin could abandon a flagship joint defence project.

"The French need, in the next generation of fighter jets, an aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons and operating from an aircraft carrier. That's not what we currently need in the German military," Merz said on the German podcast Machtwechsel.

The Future Combat Aircraft System (FCAS) programme was launched in 2017 to replace France's Rafale jet and the Eurofighter planes used by Germany and Spain by 2040.

But the scheme, jointly developed by the three countries, stalled last year as France's Dassault Aviation got into heated disputes with Airbus, which represents German and Spanish interests in the project.

The project has also fallen foul of wider Franco-German disagreements, with Berlin accusing Paris of not making enough effort to boost defence spending.

Merz had previously pledged a decision on FCAS by the end of last year but has postponed making the final call.

France has continued to insist the project is viable.

Merz said on the podcast that France and Germany were now "at odds over the specifications and profiles" of the kind of aircraft they needed.

"The question now is: do we have the strength and the will to build two aircraft for these two different requirement profiles, or only one?" he asked.

If this issue is not resolved, he said Germany would "not be able to continue the project", adding that there were "other countries in Europe" ready to work with Berlin.

alf/jpl/jxb/js







Dassault Aviation
Israel military says soldier killed in Gaza



Jerusalem, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



The Israeli military announced that one of its soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Gaza on Wednesday, but a security source said the death appeared to have been caused by "friendly fire".

"Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, aged 21, from HaYogev, a soldier in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit, fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement.

A security source, however, told AFP that the soldier appeared to have been "killed by friendly fire", without providing further details.

"The incident is still under investigation," the source added.

The death brings to five the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10.
BAE Systems posts record order backlog as defence spending rises



London, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



British military equipment maker BAE Systems announced Wednesday a rise in net profit last year and a record order backlog as governments hike spending on defence.

Net profit increased five percent in 2025 to pound2.1 billion ($2.8 billion), BAE said, as revenue climbed eight percent to pound28.3 billion.

Chief executive Charles Woodburn hailed a "record order backlog" for the company's fighter jets, missile launchers, nuclear submarines and other products, which reached pound83.6 billion last year after pound77.8 billion in 2024.

The company booked orders worth pound36.8 billion last year alone, including from Turkey and Norway.

"In a new era of defence spending, driven by escalating security challenges, we're well positioned to provide both the advanced conventional systems and disruptive technologies needed," he said.

Along with other defence contractors, BAE has benefited from rising military spending by governments in the face of Russia's war in Ukraine.

NATO allies have committed to spend five percent of annual output on defence by 2035 as European members also faced pressure from US President Donald Trump to bolster defence spending.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this week that Britain needed to "go faster" in increasing military spending.

BAE forecast sales and underlying earnings before interest and tax to rise further in 2026.

Shares in the company climbed more than three percent in morning deals to top London's FTSE 100 index, which was trading higher overall.

ajb/bcp/js




No rift with France, German FM tells AFP



Berlin, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



Germany's foreign minister sought Wednesday to shut down talk of worsening relations with France, telling AFP that Paris remains Berlin's "closest partner and most important friend in Europe".

"Our partnership is of existential importance for both our countries, which is why open communication, honest exchange and critical debate between us are so important," said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in a statement sent to AFP.

"Together, we are also aware of our responsibility for Europe. It is crucial for the European Union that France and Germany continue to join forces."

Traditionally the motor of European cooperation, the Franco-German axis has been under some strain in areas from trade to defence to industrial policy.

Wadephul has accused Paris of not always putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to defence spending, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday signalled that Berlin could abandon a joint fighter jet project after quarrels between the contractors.

Paris also opposed a European Union trade deal signed with South America's Mercosur bloc, an agreement strongly backed by Berlin.

And the EU last December also watered down its planned 2035 ban on petrol cars, in large part on German initiative and in the face of French opposition.

Wadephul stressed that "it is crucial for the European Union that France and Germany continue to join forces, that we always seek common ground despite sometimes differing viewpoints".

"Even if there are differences, such as on the Mercosur agreement, there is by far greater agreement on key issues concerning our common European future," he added.

Tensions in the relationship come at a time European leaders have vowed unity in the face of growing discord with the United States on issues from trade to NATO spending and suggestions that the US could annex the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland.
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has signed an agreement to operate a SeleQtions hotel in Devanahalli, Bengaluru.

The company will convert an existing standalone resort and expand its capacity to 120 rooms.

The SeleQtions Prakruthi Resort currently features 115 rooms and offers various dining options, including an all-day restaurant, a speciality outlet, a bar, and a lounge. Recreational amenities include a spa, a gymnasium, and a swimming pool.

The site also includes more than 6,000ft of banquet space and multiple meeting rooms to support business and social functions.

This addition brings the number of IHCL properties in Bengaluru to 20, with 11 projects underway.

IHCL real estate and development executive vice-president Suma Venkatesh said: Bengaluru is among the fastest-growing cities in the country, powered by its thriving IT and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

North Bengaluru, particularly Devanahalli, is witnessing rapid development driven by the expansion of the airport and the presence of sectors such as aerospace, biotechnology, defence and education.

The signing of this hotel, the first SeleQtions in Bengaluru, will cater to this growth and expand our brandscape in this key lodging market.

The project is being developed in association with BABA Developers Private Limited, a Bengaluru-based company with interests in hospitality, real estate and various lifestyle businesses.

BABA Developers Private Limited managing director Parvataneni Sasibhushan said: We are delighted to partner with IHCL to bring the SeleQtions brand to Bengaluru and create a distinctive hospitality experience in Devanahalli.

IHCL manages a total portfolio of 617 hotels worldwide, including 256 properties that are under development. Its operations cover four continents, 14 countries and more than 250 locations.

Earlier this month, IHCL signed an agreement to open a Taj hotel in Weligama, Sri Lanka, expanding its operations in the country.

"IHCL expands Bengaluru presence with new SeleQtions hotel" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




Germany's Merz casts doubt on European fighter jet plan



Berlin, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



Germany does not need the same new fighter jets as France, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday, signalling that Berlin could abandon a flagship joint defence project for Europe.

"The French need, in the next generation of fighter jets, an aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons and operating from an aircraft carrier," Merz told the German podcast Machtwechsel.

"That's not what we currently need in the German military," he said.

The Future Combat Aircraft System (FCAS) project was launched in 2017 to replace France's Rafale jet and the Eurofighters used by Germany and Spain, to come into service around 2040.

But the scheme, jointly developed by the three countries, has stalled in the past year as France's Dassault Aviation gotten into disputes with Airbus Space and Defence over control of the project.

The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said in response that he "remains committed to the success" of the project.

"The military needs of the three participating states have not changed, and these needs included from the outset French [nuclear] deterrence as well as the other missions of the future aircraft," the Elysee Palace said in a statement while Macron was travelling in India.

"Given the strategic stakes for Europe, it would be incomprehensible if industrial differences could not be overcome, especially as we must collectively demonstrate unity and performance in all areas concerning its industry, technology, and defence," it added.

Discord over FCAS has stoked concerns that French-German ties are under strain, following recent disagreements on defence spending and on French efforts to derail an EU trade deal with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries.

Germany's foreign minister sought Wednesday to shut down talk of worsening relations with France, telling AFP that Paris remains Berlin's "closest partner and most important friend in Europe".

Failure to get FCAS off the ground would also be a blow to broader efforts by European NATO allies to demonstrate tight defence cooperation in the face of threats from Russia and doubts about American security commitments.



- 'At odds' -



Airbus is Germany's lead contractor for FCAS, while Spanish defence contractor Indra Sistemas is also involved with the roughly 100 billion euro ($118 billion) FCAS project.

Merz had previously promised a decision on FCAS by the end of last year but postponed making the final call.

Merz said on the podcast that France and Germany were now "at odds over the specifications and profiles" of the kind of aircraft they needed.

"The question now is: do we have the strength and the will to build two aircraft for these two different requirement profiles, or only one?" he asked.

If this issue is not resolved, he said Germany would "not be able to continue the project", adding that there were "other countries in Europe" ready to work with Berlin.

For Germany and potentially Spain, several other options have been floated by industry sources and in media reports, most prominently a partnership with Swedish aerospace firm Saab.

The FCAS project was launched with fanfare in 2017 by Macron and Germany's then-chancellor Angela Merkel, with Spain joining two years later.

The plan envisions not only a fighter jet but an interlinked drone swarm and a digital cloud system.

German industrial interests and some politicians have bristled at Dassault's alleged efforts to revise FCAS agreements and take greater control of the aircraft portion of the project.

The powerful IG Metall industrial trade union, which represents many Airbus workers in Germany, has joined with German aerospace industry leaders to back a split with France.

Juergen Kerner, IG Metall's vice president, joined German Aerospace Industries Association president Marie-Christine von Hahn last week in urging Berlin to find new partners on the fighter jet.

Building separate jets could make military sense because of France's very particular requirements, but would almost certainly hike overall costs.

Dassault's CEO, Eric Trappier, has insisted that his company can develop a fighter jet alone.

But the costs could put the French government's already strained budget under further pressure.

Germany, on the other hand, has launched a massive military investment programme with vows from Merz to build Europe's largest conventional armed forces.

vl/alf/bst/fz/js







Dassault Aviation

Airbus Group
Iran 'drafting framework to advance' future US talks: FM tells IAEA chief



Tehran, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran was "drafting" a framework for future talks with Washington, during a phone call with the UN nuclear watchdog.

In the call with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, Araghchi "stressed the Islamic Republic of Iran's focus on drafting an initial and coherent framework to advance future talks", according to a statement from the Iranian foreign ministry.

The phone call came a day after a second round of Oman-mediated negotiations between Iran and the United States in Geneva.

Araghchi said on Tuesday that Tehran had agreed with Washington on "guiding principles" for a deal to avoid conflict, but US Vice President JD Vance said Tehran had not yet acknowledged all of Washington's "red lines".

Also on Wednesday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that Washington will deter Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons "one way or the other".

Earlier on Wednesday, Reza Najafi, Iran's permanent representative to the IAEA in Vienna, held a joint meeting with Grossi and the ambassadors of allied countries China and Russia "to exchange views" on the upcoming session of the agency's Board of Governors meetings and "developments related to Iran"s nuclear programme", Iran's mission in Vienna said on X.

Tehran has suspended some cooperation with the IAEA and restricted the watchdog's inspectors from accessing sites bombed by Israel and the United States during a 12-day war in June, accusing the UN body of bias and of failing to condemn the strikes.

Diplomatic efforts are underway to avert the possibility of US military intervention in Iran amid Washington's military build-up in the region in recent weeks.
Israel PM says soldier killed in Gaza died in friendly fire



Jerusalem, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a soldier killed in Gaza on Wednesday died in a "friendly fire" incident.

Earlier, the Israeli military had said that Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, aged 21, was killed in combat in southern Gaza.

However, in a message of condolence to Yafe's family, Netanyahu said he "fell in a painful friendly fire incident" in the Palestinian territory, according to a statement issued by the prime minister's office.

The death brings to five the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10.
Madagascar's new leader in Moscow for talks with Putin



Moscow, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



The colonel who took power in Madagascar four months ago arrived in Moscow Wednesday for talks with President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said, weeks after Russia sent the island military equipment.

Colonel Michael Randrianirina, interim leader since the former president fled in October after weeks of demonstrations, was to meet Putin on Thursday, it said.

It was one of Randrianirina's first international trips as interim president after the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, where he met President Cyril Ramaphosa in January.

Before leaving the Indian Ocean island, Randrianirina told reporters he had been invited by Russian authorities who had chartered the plane to take him there.

"It's not about choosing our partners based on countries, but about maintaining relations with any state that we believe can bring benefits to the Malagasy people," he said.

Randrianirina became president just days after his CAPSAT army unit took power and ex-president Andry Rajoelina fled on a French military aircraft. He has pledged new elections within two years.

Last month Russian military instructors visited the island to train their counterparts in military equipment supplied by Moscow, including kamikaze drones.

The delegation was led by the deputy head of Russian military intelligence, Andrei Averyanov, the National Assembly president told AFP.

Averyanov is also the alleged supervisor of Russia's paramilitary Africa Corps that succeeded the Wagner group.

Russia, through its embassy in Madagascar, also announced on Wednesday the delivery of a helicopter and trucks to support rescue operations after Cyclone Gezani claimed 59 lives on the island last week.

After Moscow, Randrianirina was due to travel to France, where he could meet President Emmanuel Macron, Africa Intelligence news site said.
India's Adani Group Drops a Billion Dollars on Data Centers - Moby

THE GIST

India's Adani Group will invest $100 billion by 2035 into building AI-ready data centres in India, powered largely by renewable energy. This is to dramatically expand the countrys computing infrastructure, to forge partnerships with global tech players like Google and Microsoft. This soon after the foreign tax breakscoincidence? Not so much.

WHAT HAPPENED

The Modi government announced a 21-year tax holiday to big tech companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft if they provide cloud services globally from Indian data centres. Less than two weeks after that, the Adani group just said it will drop a cool billion dollars to build data centers in India. These are AI-ready data centres designed to support high-performance computing and cloud services.

The Modi government and the Adani group are so hand-in-glove that this looks like the tax holiday was perfectly set up for this to follow.

But Adani has bold ambitions for this project: It starts with a $55 billion towards energy generation and storage capacity, all powered by renewable energy. And by increasing capacity, it means expanding the national capacity from 2 GW to 5 GW, potentially making it one of the worlds largest integrated data centre platforms. It will throw in another $150 billion on manufacturing and building out the cloud-ecosystem infrastructure.

WHY IT MATTERS

The Adani group is a business powerhouse. At its peak in 2022, the combined market cap of the Adani Groups listed companies was about $288 billion. It has both the resources and the force to transform India into a global competitor in AI infrastructure... just as Modi imagines it.

Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.

Data centres and cloud infrastructure are extremely capital-heavy. Building multiple gigawatts of computing capacity and energy infrastructure requires decades to run optimally.

With the tax holiday, New Delhi is lowering expected tax drag over long horizons, which otherwise is an impediment for global investors considering projects with payback periods well beyond typical corporate planning cycles. It also provides predictability for companies that their operating profits from foreign sales wont be taxed unpredictably in India.

When a policy like that meets the private capital of Adanis scale, India is well-positioned and looks like a great alternative to locations in Southeast Asia, Europe, or even North America.

But throwing money at some problems doesn't make them go away. On last count, data centres still consume vast amounts of power and water, especially to cool servers and maintain uptime. Indias electrical grid and water systems will face stress as capacity scales up, potentially challenging reliability targets required by global tech firms. Long tax holidays hinge on policy stability. Past experiences in emerging markets show that retrospective tax changes or regulatory shifts can undermine investor trust. This could temper the enthusiasm of foreign players unless guarantees or legal frameworks reinforce the credibility of the tax benefits. But New Delhi is hoping the safe harbor margins and the two-decade tax holiday should do the trick.
The second half begins with the chorus dressed as garish majorettes, performing a medley of popular and traditional hits so protracted I thought maybe that was it for the rest of the show. But no, there is a kind of resolution, reached through a charged recreation of Deeps killing and a car journey thats pregnant with menace. Theres a fiery denouement then the script drivels on for another ten minutes before petering out. This is an ambitious, unfocused work by a young writer exploring the reach of his talent. It contains hints of what Boseman might have written had he not been sidetracked into movie stardom and died cruelly young.
It aint braggin if you can back it up were the immortal words of cocky American bass prodigy Jaco Pastorius (of rock band Weather Report), despite eventually meeting his fate at the hands of a black belt for mouthing off outside a Florida nightclub. Get yours now and thank us after is the slogan of Peckhams Yemanes, an Ethiopian food truck which can definitely back it up. The menu is impressive: vegan platters of specialities such as hamli, ades or alicha; derek tibs or chicken tibs with tesmi, or a mixed platter, served with the quintessential injera. But its the wraps that are revered most  each made from scratch before you, swaddling payloads of lamb kofte, falafel, chicken and crispy halloumi and which can also be mixed. Tender and satisfyingly elastic, these fresh wraps keep everything warm for the trip back to the office  if you can resist inhaling the lot on the spot and thanking them immediately.
The wannabe politician, who styled himself as an Ambassador for Hope, also claimed aliens live among us and have been here for a long time, adding in January 2024: Theyre also blending into our communities without us and live way longer.
This landmark new campaign is a critical step to ensuring that everyone struggling with challenging but very common conditions like anxiety and PTSD knows that there is support available to help them get on with their lives again.
HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  Indonesia is tightening state control over the worlds largest nickel supply after years of betting the metal would anchor a homegrown electric-vehicle industry, and just as global demand begins shifting away from heavy reliance on nickel.

The move could still ripple through global EV supply chains as the United States and China compete for critical minerals. Indonesia sits at the center of the nickel market: its share of global supply jumped to about 60% in 2024 from 31.5% in 2020, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence, after former President Joko Widodo banned raw ore exports, drawing a surge of Chinese-backed investment into refining.

Jakarta hoped that control over nickel would underpin a fully domestic EV industry, from mining and batteries to finished cars. Experts say that promise was used to justify forest clearing and mining expansion in the name of the energy transition, even as climate risks deepened.

In 2025, Indonesia cracked down on what it called illegal exploitation of natural resources, saying many mining and plantation licenses were tainted by bribery or never properly approved. Authorities say they have seized more than 4 million hectares (9.8 million acres) of mines, palm oil plantations and processing sites, levied $1.7 billion in fines, and could seize another 4.5 million hectares this year.

But analysts warn the crackdown is coming just as nickels payoff is starting to fade, with many Chinese EVs shifting to battery chemistries that use far less of the metal, relying instead on iron-based designs.

The forests have been exploited to the brim, said Putra Adhiguna of the Jakarta-based Energy Shift Institute. But you never got the electric-vehicle value chain.

Indonesias pays an environmental cost

China plays the leading role in Indonesias nickel sector, using the metal to underpin its stainless steel and clean-energy industries.

The worlds largest nickel reserves are concentrated on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, which accounts for more than half of global nickel mine production, according to the U.S.-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis or IEEFA.

China has sourced nickel from Indonesia for decades, but the relationship deepened after Jakarta banned raw ore exports in 2020, drawing a surge of Chinese investment into smelters.

Nickel shipments to China jumped, with imports of nickel matte  a semiprocessed material used in battery chemicals and alloys  rising nearly 28-fold between 2020 and 2023, more than 90% of it from Indonesia, according to trade data. Over the same period, North and South Americas combined share of global nickel output fell from 16% to 7%, while Europes share dropped from 35% to 10%, according to the International Nickel Study Group, a Lisbon-based intergovernmental organization.
"We care deeply about the safety of everyone who uses or works on our transport network and our thoughts are with the people who were injured in a bus collision this morning in Southwark," Lorna Murphy, TfL's director of buses, said in a statement on Wednesday.
The clear analysis has shown that fares will be lower with expansion rather than without it, with passengers, exporters and the UK economy set to be the real winners when it comes to a third runway. With regards to the costs suggested, we neither recognise those numbers nor have we seen calculations that would support them.
Asked about the email to the First Minister, a spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: The Lord Advocate provided the First Minister with an update to ensure it was understood she was not involved in the case, that it was active for contempt of court, and therefore it should not be commented upon.
We need to have faith in the Governments decision-making as we work on the biggest shake-up of councils in 50 years  but the Government is doing little to assure us that it has a strong grasp of the huge legal complexity involved.
Conservative shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: Jenrick claims Reform are happy to have their homework marked, yet they still havent explained the 10.5 billion black hole in their pubs plan, and when challenged on it they said they were not interested in the numbers.
Pointing to an increase in settler violence and the strangulation of the Palestinian economy, she said: This is deeply, deeply wrong and a clear contravention of the resolutions of this council, and counterproductive, it only makes the Israeli and Palestinian people less secure.
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Starships Raptor engines fire as the mega-rocket begins its 11th test flight from Starbase in October. The FAA recently approved new flight paths for the spacecraft. Eric Gay/Associated Press

SpaceX Starships are one step closer to flying over parts of the United States, Mexico and some of the Caribbean islands when launching from or returning to Starbase.

The Federal Aviation Administration has green-lit three new flight paths for the mega-rockets that allow them to overfly Florida, Texas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica. The new paths also will affect airspace in California, Arizona and New Mexico.

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Each Starship launch under the new plans could affect hundreds of aircraft flights with delays or diversions.

MORE ON SPACEX: SpaceX gets green light to expand Starbase launch complex

The FAAs approval comes as Elon Musks space firm scrambles to launch up to 25 Starships a year from South Texas. Its hustling to meet timelines under $4 billion in contracts for NASAs Artemis moon program amid plans to go public later this year.

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SpaceX needs the new trajectories so upper-stage Starships can reach orbit and return to Starbase. So far, SpaceX hasnt attempted either feat, both of which are critical for Artemis and other Starship uses, including those for the Defense Department. The Pentagon has invested more than $100 million in deals related to the rocket.

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Musk has said the 12th Starship could launch as soon as March, but no details about the mission have been released, so its unclear if SpaceX intends to try the new trajectories. According to the FAA, SpaceX also will need to modify its operator license before it can try the new paths.

The FAA released its findings last week in a Final Tiered Environmental Assessment of the new plans as required under federal environmental laws.

The FAA approved two new flight paths for SpaceX Starships launching from Starbase. A northern route takes the megarockets over Florida. Courtesy/FAA

New launch trajectories

Two new departure routes, northern and southern, will have Starships flying over Florida or the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.

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The 1,600-mile northern path takes the rocket over the Gulf of Mexico and a swath of northern Florida before continuing over the Atlantic. The southern route goes over the Gulf to the south of Cuba and continues above the Caribbean Sea.

Starships previously approved route took a more central path over the Gulf, between the southern tip of Florida and Cuba. The new paths would be used in addition to it. Two Starship breakups along that route last year led air traffic controllers to delay or divert nearly 500 airplanes as rocket debris rained down.

Debris from the March 6 explosion of Starship is seen streaking across the sky in the Bahamas. The FAA recently approved new flight paths for the spacecraft that allow them to overfly Florida, Texas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica. The March 6 breakup along with another one last year led air traffic controllers to delay or divert nearly 500 airplanes as rocket debris rained down. Associated Press

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SpaceXs plans call for three nighttime and 22 daytime launches, each of which could cause airspace closures for up to two hours.

According to the FAA, each Starship flight on the northern route could cause delays or diversions for up to 120 aircraft during nighttime launches and as many as 400 aircraft during daytime launches.

On an annual basis, the FAA estimates up to 360 aircraft could be affected during nighttime launches and as many as 8,800 during daytime launches.

For the southern route, the FAA estimates each Starship launch could affect as many as 350 flights, but it offers fewer details because the route covers more international airspace, which the administration does not manage.

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According to the FAA, the State Department addressed potential environmental impacts with Mexico, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

The FAA approved a route for SpaceX Starships returning to Starbase. The path takes the craft over Mexico and Texas, and it will affect airspace across the Southwest. Courtesy/FAA

Return to launch site

While SpaceX has successfully landed Starship boosters back at Starbase and performed controlled landings of Starship upper-stages in the Indian Ocean, the company has not yet attempted to bring an upper-stage back to Starbase.

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The FAA approved SpaceXs plan for a 3,700-mile flight path for future Starship Return to Launch Site Operations.

The path back to Starbase runs from the Pacific Ocean, across northern Mexico and the southern tip of Texas. Airspace closures for the route stretch into southern California, Arizona and New Mexico.

The FAA estimates each Starship return could affect as many as 200 aircraft  and up to 4,500 a year  with rerouting and delays as long as an hour.

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No significant impacts

The FAA said it looked at noise and noisecompatible land use; aviation emissions and air quality; hazardous materials, solid waste, and pollution prevention; and socioeconomics and found SpaceXs new routes would have no significant impacts on the environment.

During a 30-day public comment period that ended in October, the administration received 27 comments largely opposing the plan. A previously scheduled public hearing was canceled due to a government shutdown.

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In comments, people raised concerns about air traffic safety, flight delays, dust plumes from launches, structural damage from noise and vibrations, and the need to coordinate with the Mexican government and native groups in the area. Some voiced support for the program.
Feb 18 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson said on Wednesday it will invest more than $1 billion to build a new cell therapy facility in Pennsylvania, part of its larger plans announced last year to scale up U.S. manufacturing amid President Donald Trump's tariff threats.

In March, the company announced a plan to invest more than $55 billion through early 2029 to build manufacturing facilities and research infrastructure in the U.S., including a separate plant at Wilson, North Carolina.

The U.S. government imposed a 100% tariff on branded drugs in October, but said it would only apply to producers that had not already broken ground on U.S. manufacturing plants.

Major drugmakers, including Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca, have also committed billions of dollars in investments to scale up their U.S. footprint in response to Trump's efforts, including tariff threats.

J&J said the new facility in Montgomery County will create over 4,000 construction jobs and 500 permanent biomanufacturing jobs once it opens. The company did not disclose when the plant will begin operations.

The facility will expand manufacturing capacity for medicines targeting cancer, immune disorders, and neurological diseases, the company said.

The company currently has one approved cell therapy, Carvykti, for adults with certain types of multiple myeloma, a cancer that forms in plasma cells in the bone marrow.

J&J already has 10 facilities in Pennsylvania, with an estimated annual economic impact of about $10 billion, the company said.

In August, the drugmaker said it would invest $2 billion for a manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina under a 10-year agreement with Tokyo-based contract drug developer Fujifilm Biotechnologies.

(Reporting by Sahil Pandey and Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
Nate Paul suffered a setback Wednesday in his efforts to hang onto a prime piece of Rainey Street property. He's seen here outside the federal courthouse ahead of an earlier hearing. He was not in court Wednesday. Jay Janner/American-Statesman The IHOP at 707 E. Cesar Chavez St. downtown is at the center of a fight over ownership of the valuable parcel. Austin American Statesman file photo

Nate Paul, the once high-flying Austin developer, has been dealt a major setback in his attempt to use bankruptcy to protect a prime piece of downtown real estate from foreclosure.

A U.S. bankruptcy judge in Austin dismissed the case Wednesday, saying it had been filed in bad faith.

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The bankruptcy was used to stave off the foreclosure, Judge Christopher Bradley said in his analysis of arguments presented during a nearly three-hour hearing.

With the dismissal, the $27 million piece of property occupied by an IHOP restaurant appears headed to the foreclosure sale thats been sought for months by lien holder Cesar Rainey Street LLC.

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The 0.76-acre site is part of what remains of the World Class Holdings empire, which was once one of the largest property owners in Austin.

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The face of that empire, embattled developer Natin Nate Paul was not present for Wednesdays hearing, but his sister, World Class Capitol co-founder Sheena Paul, appeared. She testified that if the company could be allowed to pay back the $2.7 million loan from Cesar Rainey Street  that, according to court documents, is now more than $5 million in arrears  they still hoped to develop the property.

The property, which abuts high-value developments along the Rainey Street corridor, is begging for a giant office tower to be built there some day, said Ron Satija, attorney for World Class Holdings. It could be the most valuable piece of (undeveloped) property in the darn county.

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He unsuccessfully argued that the companys equity in the parcel far exceeded the value of the loan. The Travis County Appraisal District values the site at nearly $27 million.

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The judge admitted the appraisal value but said that was not enough to convince him his courts involvement was proper. The case represented a textbook example, Bradley said, of a two-party dispute, one better suited to state courts.

Jason Cohen, representing Cesar Rainey Street, argued that WC 707 Cesar Chavez, the Paul-controlled company that owns the property, was simply forum shopping. He argued that after years of successfully foregoing a foreclosure, Pauls companies had tried and failed in various courts in Travis and Harris counties  and up to the Supreme Court of Texas  to get an injunction.

World Class filed bankruptcy on the same day in December that the property was set for a foreclosure auction.

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Cohen submitted a summary of dozens of judges orders against other World Class Holdings properties, showing what he called a pattern of bad actions and court misuse.

Satija disputed the summary, saying it was incomplete and asked that the current case and property be evaluated independently. In court filings, World Class said it filed bankruptcy in an attempt to push Cesar Rainey Street to provide a payoff amount.

Cohen said the state courts had agreed with the lien holders that they did not have to accept a payoff of the loan when the lien stipulated a 10-day window to make good after World Class stopped making payments in 2020.

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Various accusations were leveled against the owners of both groups during the course of the hearing, with two operators of Cesar Rainey Street being implicated in drug trafficking and arson plots separately. On the other side, old bank statements were presented, purportedly showing World Class may have pulled money out of the business shortly before failing to make payments.
San Marcos residents protest a proposed $1.5 billion data center during a City Council meeting Tuesday. Hundreds packed City Hall, filling the council chambers, hallways and front lawn to oppose plans to annex and rezone the project site. The proposal failed. Karoline Leonard/Austin American-Statesman

SAN MARCOS  Six months ago, community backlash helped stall a $1.5 billion data center project in San Marcos. When the project advanced a second time, the outcry only grew.

Hundreds of residents filled San Marcos City Halls council chambers, lobby, hallways and front lawn Tuesday evening as the City Council again took up the proposal. At almost 3 a.m. Wednesday, the council  in an about-face from August  voted 5-2 to deny a preferred scenario map request, a key planning step for the nearly 200-acre data center campus, after a heated, nearly nine-hour meeting.

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Protesters walk together in the March for Water and a Sustainable Future, Aug. 19, 2025. Activists marched for San Marcos City Park to City Hall to protest proposed data centers in the area. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Following the final vote, community members inside City Hall began cheering. Some residents who live near the projects proposed site, including Torrie Martin, sobbed.

Oh my god, I cant believe it, Martin, who has been an outspoken opponent, said after the meeting.

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Proposed by Fort Worth-based Highlander SM One LLC, the nearly 200-acre data center campus would be located partly within San Marcos city limits at 904 Francis Harris Lane, near the Hays Energy Power Station and several family-owned farms. The campus would include five buildings, each with a power capacity of about 76 megawatts.

The projects resurgence came after the San Marcos Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial last March.

In August, the City Council  after more than two hours of public comment that largely opposed the development  voted 5-2 to approve measures to annex and rezone the site. That was one vote shy of the supermajority required to move forward over the commissions recommendation.

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Landowners restarted the application process in October. In its second attempt, the Planning and Zoning Commission in January voted 6-2 to recommend approval.

Water and power concerns

Data centers are large facilities that provide critical infrastructure to support digital activity and the growth of artificial intelligence. They also require large amounts of water and power.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the states main grid operator, said data centers will cause Texas energy demand to surge 71% by 2031. Recent research has found that training and using AI could consume more water than the global bottled water industry, largely because of data center operations.

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Central Texas has emerged as the top secondary data center market in the country, with at least 55 completed or planned projects between Temple and San Antonio.

Earlier this week, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said he would bring a moratorium proposal to county commissioners next week in a measure to halt approvals for projects seeking more than 25,000 gallons of water per day  or about 10 million gallons per year  while officials study potential impacts on the local water supply.

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While I have always supported business, I oppose unchecked water usage, Becerra said in a press conference Monday. We must pause approvals for high-impact operations. Yes, we must until scientific evidence confirms they will not harm our residents water supply.

Torrie Martin, whose family farm is next door to the data center's proposed site, hugs another San Marcos resident after City Council denied the site plan. Martin sobbed as the vote was called out early Wednesday morning. Karoline Leonard/Austin American-Statesman

Francis Harris Lane, where the developer had planned to build the data center, is lined mostly with family-owned farms and the Hays Energy Power Station. But the area has become a draw for developers, with three other data center projects already under construction or nearing the end of their approval processes along the road.

Tuesdays vote marked a reversal of the councils earlier position on the project. Some members had argued that annexing the site would give the city greater oversight of the project.

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DATA CENTER NEWS: Round Rock approves Skybox data center amid resident pushback

Throughout the nearly nine-hour meeting, Place 6 Councilor Amanda Rodriguez held her head in her hands in frustration.

She said efforts to delay the vote were torture for residents and had made clear ahead of Tuesday's meeting she would oppose the development.

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Porter Airlines will begin offering service from Austin to Toronto this spring on its fleet of Embraer E195-E2 jets. Porter Airlines

Central Texans will soon have another nonstop airline option to Canadas largest city.

Porter Airlines will begin service from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Toronto-Pearson International Airport this spring, the airport and airline announced Wednesday. Starting May 21, the Canadian carrier will operate the flight five times per week year-round.

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It will fly Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, which feature a 132-seat, all-economy configuration with two seats on each side of a center aisle..

Porter will be the second carrier to offer nonstop flights to Toronto from Austin. Air Canada launched service between the two cities in 2015. The Canadian flag carrier also serves Vancouver and Montreal from Austin-Bergstrom.

Expanding international connectivity is a key priority for AUS, and were delighted to welcome this new nonstop service to Toronto, which will provide our travelers with more convenient options to connect for business, leisure and beyond, airport CEO Ghizlane Badawi said in a statement.

Porter Airlines will launch service at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in May. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

The announcement marks the second time this year that an international airline has said it plans to enter the Austin market. Cayman Airways is set to launch service from Austin to Grand Cayman this summer.

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Toronto-based Porter brands itself as an upscale economy carrier, offering complimentary beer and wine, free Wi-Fi and no middle seats. It also offers extra-legroom seating options.

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This Austin-Toronto route connects two vibrant centers and gives passengers the opportunity to enjoy Porters unmatched economy experience on every flight, Porter Vice President Andrew Pierce said in the release. Austin is another exciting step in Porters growing North American network.
Willie Nelson and Family perform during Luck Reunion at Luck Ranch on Thursday, March 13, 2025 in Spicewood, Texas. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman

Luck Reunion, the annual festival held at Willie Nelsons ranch in Luck, returns for its 14th year on March 19. The music fest will feature more than 45 live performances, surprise guests, artisan markets, workshops, interactive activities and culinary experiences.

As always, Willie Nelson & Family will headline the event, along with a separate performance from Willies son Lukas Nelson. Other standouts include St. Vincent, Booker T. Jones, Adrian Quesadas Trio Asesino, Trampled by Turtles, Ghostland Observatory, James McMurtry, Dale Watson and more.

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Were thrilled to welcome our Luck Family back home to Willies backyard for another incredible year, CEO and Luck Presents founder Matt Bizer said. Fourteen years in, Luck Reunion continues to be about bringing people together in meaningful ways. This years lineup beautifully represents that spirit, with legendary artists whove been part of our story from the beginning, new voices were excited to introduce to our community, and more than a few surprise guests that we cant wait to reveal.

This year, Luck Presents is also hosting a special Todd Snider Rules! tribute concert on March 20 at the ranch. The multi-artist show will honor the well-known Texas Hill Country musician, who died on Nov. 14. The lineup will be announced soon, and a limited number of presale tickets will be available on Thursda.

Visitors walk the grounds during Luck Reunion at Luck Ranch on Thursday, March 13, 2025 in Spicewood, Texas. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman

Family-style Potluck dinner

Luck Presents is also bringing back the Potluck, an intimate, family-style dinner for about 300 guests benefiting the Luck Family Foundation and its mission to support food education, access and agricultural resilience through partnerships with Farm Aid and the Texas Food & Wine Alliance.

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The March 17 culinary kickoff to Luck Reunion will feature communal dining tables and a menu crafted by Luck Chef Ambassador Michael Fojtasek of Olamaie and Maie Day.

Since its inception, Potluck has raised nearly $3 million and redistributed resources directly to community-based food workers, farmers and organizations sustaining food systems across Texas and beyond. Tables and individual tickets for the benefit dinner will be available for purchase at a later date.

Visitors walk the grounds during Luck Reunion at Luck Ranch on Thursday, March 13, 2025 in Spicewood, Texas. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman

How to get tickets for Luck Reunion 2026

Tickets to Luck Reunion will be available through the event's Lucky Draw. Fans who subscribe to the Luck Presents email list and follow its social media channels will receive a three-day window to enter a random drawing for a chance to purchase tickets.

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Local fans can also visit the Yeti flagship store on Congress Avenue on Saturday for Lucky Draw Live, an in-person opportunity to win tickets and see a live performance by Joshua Ray Walker. Tickets to the Todd Snider Rules! tribute show will be available at the event.

Luck Reunion will also host flash sales and partner giveaways, announced through its online channels.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, the 40-day Christian season of reflection, fasting and preparation leading up to Easter.

The day is best known for the imposition of ashes  when clergy place ashes in the shape of a cross on a persons forehead as a sign of repentance and spiritual renewal.

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Heres what to know about Ash Wednesday in 2026, including the date and where Central Texans can receive ashes.

When is Ash Wednesday in 2026?

On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Rev. Chad McCall, Associate Priest, placed ash on Misty Malnassy's head during a service at St. David's Episcopal Church of Austin. Receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday is a symbolic act that represents repentance and the start of the Lenten season. It serves as a reminder of our mortality and the need for spiritual renewal. The ashes are typically made from burning palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday, further connecting us to the cycle of life and death. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 18, 2026, one day after Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday.

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The date changes each year because it is tied to Easter. In 2026, Easter Sunday will be celebrated April 5.

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Lent lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays, and ends before Easter.

What does Ash Wednesday mean?

The ashes symbolize human mortality and the call to spiritual renewal. During services, clergy often say phrases such as Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

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On the corner of 6th and Congress, Margarita Zamarripa received her ash for Ash Wednesday from Bob Davis of St. David's Episcopal Church before on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday is a symbolic act that represents repentance and the start of the Lenten season. It serves as a reminder of our mortality and the need for spiritual renewal. The ashes are typically made from burning palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday, further connecting us to the cycle of life and death. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

The ashes typically come from burned palm branches used during the previous years Palm Sunday, linking the observance to the broader liturgical calendar.

Who celebrates Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday is observed by:

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Roman Catholics

Anglicans and Episcopalians

Lutherans

Some Methodist and Presbyterian congregations

While many associate the tradition primarily with Catholicism, several Protestant denominations also observe it.

Ash Wednesday is not a public holiday, nor is it a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church, where practicing Catholics are expected to attend Mass.

Where to get Ash Wednesday ashes in Austin

Several churches across Austin offer both traditional Ash Wednesday services and more flexible options like drive-through or ashes to go, allowing people to participate before work, during lunch or while commuting.

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Rev. John Hathaway places ashes on the forehead of Suzanne Barnard in downtown Austin on Ash Wednesday March 5, 2025. Pastors from First United Methodist Church performed the imposition of ashes for passers-by at an ashes-to-go event on the corner of West 13th and Lavaca streets. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, a 40-day period of solemn observance that ends on Easter Sunday. Were bringing God's love out into the streets so everyone appreciates that they are beloved children of God without exception, Hathaway said. Jay Janner/American-Statesman

Many Catholic parishes schedule multiple services throughout the day  early morning, noon and evening  to accommodate work and school schedules.

Some local options include:

Diocese of Austin parishes across Central Texas, many of which hold several services on Feb. 18. At St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in North Austin, for example, Masses and services are scheduled throughout the day, including early morning, noon and evening options.

many of which hold several services on Feb. 18. At St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in North Austin, for example, Masses and services are scheduled throughout the day, including early morning, noon and evening options. St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in South Austin, which plans both Mass and shorter prayer services beginning early in the morning and continuing into the evening.

which plans both Mass and shorter prayer services beginning early in the morning and continuing into the evening. St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Travis Heights, which offers multiple Masses and liturgies, including bilingual services.

which offers multiple Masses and liturgies, including bilingual services. Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, which has hosted a drive-through prayer and ashes option in its parking lot alongside traditional worship.

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Several Protestant and Episcopal congregations also host community services or outdoor ash distribution. At times, churches like St. David's Episcopal Church downtown have set up ash stations in high-traffic areas such as Sixth and Congress or Republic Square, reaching commuters, downtown workers and passersby.

Where to get ashes early in the morning in Austin

Catholic parishes in particular tend to schedule the earliest services, with some beginning as early as 6 or 7 a.m. to accommodate commuters, students and parents.

Some early options around Austin this year include:

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St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in North Austin, which is offering Mass at 6:30 a.m., followed by noon and evening services.

which is offering Mass at 6:30 a.m., followed by noon and evening services. St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Northwest Austin, with multiple early-day options including 7 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. Masses along with additional liturgies later in the day.

with multiple early-day options including 7 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. Masses along with additional liturgies later in the day. St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in South Austin, which is holding a 7 a.m. Mass and other services throughout the day, including bilingual options.

which is holding a 7 a.m. Mass and other services throughout the day, including bilingual options. St. Theresa Catholic Church in Central Austin, offering a 7 a.m. Mass along with midday and evening services.

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Several Protestant congregations also provide early or commuter-friendly options. At Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, for example, clergy are offering a drive-through prayer and ashes distribution from 7 to 9 a.m. in the parking lot, allowing people to stop by without attending a full service.

Do you have to be Catholic to receive ashes?

No. Many churches say ashes are available to anyone, regardless of religious background. Some participants attend as a cultural or personal spiritual practice rather than strict religious observance.

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Isabella Garcia, 3, right, and Sophia Wang, middle, dye eggs during The Neill-Cochran House Museum's Easter Egg Dye-o-Rama event on Friday, April 18, 2025. The museum hosted a free day of activities including Easter egg dyeing, live music, scavenger hunts and lawn games. Mikala Compton/American-Statesman

Churches across Central Texas are preparing for Easter, one of the busiest worship days of the year.

As families make plans for church services, egg hunts and brunches, heres what to know about Easter in Austin in 2026  including the date, whats open and where to celebrate.

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When is Easter in 2026?

Easter Sunday falls on April 5, 2026. The date changes each year because it is tied to the lunar calendar and typically falls between late March and late April.

The holiday comes at the end of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and reflection that begins on Ash Wednesday.

Plastic Easter Eggs were placed on the field at 1849 Park in Pflugerville for Egg Palooza on Saturday. Megumi Rooze/Special to American-Statesman

When does Lent end in 2026?

Lent ends on Holy Thursday (April 2, 2026) before the start of the Easter Triduum, though many Christians consider it to conclude at sunset on Holy Saturday, April 4, just before Easter Sunday on April 5.

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Is Easter a holiday? Will you get the day off?

Unlike Christmas and Thanksgiving, Easter is not a federal holiday, meaning most businesses, schools and government offices are not required to close. But because Easter is always on a Sunday, many people do not need to request time off work.

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Heres what that usually means in Central Texas:

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Most private employers remain open , though some allow flexible scheduling or time off.

, though some allow flexible scheduling or time off. Banks and government offices typically stay open the following Monday, since Easter always falls on a Sunday.

since Easter always falls on a Sunday. Public schools are often closed the preceding Friday or the following week as part of spring break , depending on the district calendar.

, depending on the district calendar. Retail and restaurants usually remain open, though hours may be reduced.

Where to go to church on Easter in Austin

Churches across the Austin metro area typically add extra services, overflow seating and outdoor worship options to accommodate larger Easter crowds.

Shannon Carter prays during an Ash Wednesday Mass at St. John Neumann Catholic Church on Wednesday February 22, 2023. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, a 40-day period of solemn observance that ends on Easter Sunday. Jay Janner / American-Statesman

Some of the most popular options in Austin include:

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St. Mary Cathedral downtown, the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Austin, draws large crowds from across Central Texas. In recent years, the cathedral has scheduled several Masses throughout the day, including early morning, midday and evening services, with overflow seating available to accommodate attendance.

downtown, the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Austin, draws large crowds from across Central Texas. In recent years, the cathedral has scheduled several Masses throughout the day, including early morning, midday and evening services, with overflow seating available to accommodate attendance. Gateway Church Austin hosts multiple Easter services across its North Austin, South Austin and Buda campuses. Services typically include contemporary worship, family programming and community events, with options scheduled throughout the morning.

hosts multiple Easter services across its North Austin, South Austin and Buda campuses. Services typically include contemporary worship, family programming and community events, with options scheduled throughout the morning. University United Methodist Church near the University of Texas, is known for community-focused services, music and outreach to students and faculty. Congregations in this area often see a mix of longtime Austin residents and younger worshippers during Easter weekend.

near the University of Texas, is known for community-focused services, music and outreach to students and faculty. Congregations in this area often see a mix of longtime Austin residents and younger worshippers during Easter weekend. Austin Stone Community Church hosts Easter gatherings across multiple locations in and around Austin, including downtown, South and Northwest campuses. Churches like Austin Stone typically encourage families to attend the campus closest to them as the regions population has grown.

Other large churches across the metro area also host major Easter events. For example, LifeFamily Church has offered sunrise services, amphitheater worship and multiple Easter morning gatherings, along with egg hunts and family activities at several Central Texas campuses.

Easter egg hunts and family events in Austin

Beyond worship services, Easter weekend in Austin includes egg hunts, festivals and community events across the metro area. Many events divide egg hunts by age group and host them in parks, church campuses and neighborhood spaces.

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The Tovar family poses with the Easter Bunny Saturday at Egg Palooza in Pflugerville. Megumi Rooze/Special to American-Statesman

Attractions like the Austin Zoo and heritage sites such as Pioneer Farms often combine egg hunts with educational programming and seasonal activities.

In Round Rock, the annual egg hunt hosted by Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District typically includes multiple hunt times, games and photos with the Easter Bunny.

In Lakeway, the annual Eggstravaganza includes food vendors, face painting, crafts and petting zoos alongside egg hunts. Local farms and private venues, including Robinson Family Farm, often host ticketed Easter weekends with food trucks, live music and themed photo areas.

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Many also now include sensory-friendly options and quiet hours, aiming to make Easter more accessible to a wider range of families.

What does Easter mean?

For Christians, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus following his crucifixion  a central belief of the faith. Many churches hold sunrise services, which symbolize the discovery of the empty tomb early in the morning.

The week leading up to Easter, often called Holy Week, includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Each commemorates events leading to the crucifixion.

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Noel Aguilar holds his two-year-old son Francisco during an afternoon mass at Cristo Rey Catholic Church on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017. (TAMIR KALIFA/ AMERICAN-STATESMAN) Austin American-Statesman

Who celebrates Easter?

Easter is observed by most Christian denominations worldwide.

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The Lower Colorado River Authority will consider building a new lake in Colorado County, agency officials announced Wednesday. Alex Driggars/Austin American-Statesman

The Lower Colorado River Authority will consider building a new lake in Colorado County, about 110 miles southeast of Austin, agency officials announced Wednesday.

LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said during a Wednesday meeting the authority is quickly moving forward with a study to determine if its feasible to build a large new reservoir on land it already owns in the rural, southeast Texas county.

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The lake would be located on a 2,000-acre site just northwest of Eagle Lake and could potentially store between 48,000 and 80,000 acre-feet of water, the authority said, noting that a new reservoir could help it meet its future supply needs. LCRA manages the lower 600 miles of the Colorado River and provides water to dozens of municipalities through a system of reservoirs, including the Highland Lakes.

Details about the potential project, including timeline and cost, are not yet known while the LCRA determines if the site could support the lake.

Its too early to know specifics, because we first need to do our due diligence, Wilson said. We need to know how the site could best be used for off-channel storage and the technical, environmental and permitting constraints. Once we have that information, well estimate the cost, look at funding options and develop a timetable.

A map shows the proposed location of a potential new LCRA reservoir in Colorado County. Lower Colorado River Authority

The announcement comes just months after the authoritys newest reservoir came online. Arbuckle Reservoir in Wharton County became operational last October, marking the first time LCRA has added a large lake to its system since the Highland Lakes came online in the 1950s. It holds up to 40,000 acre-feet. One acre-foot is the amount needed to cover one acre with a foot of water, or about 325,851 gallons.

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Local officials in the Lower Basin welcomed the announcement and the additional water supply it could bring to the region.

More storage to ultimately make more water available for the various needs we all have is a good thing, Colorado County Judge Ty Prause said in a statement. Wharton County Judge Phillip Spenrath, co-chairman of the Lower Colorado River Basin Coalition, also praised the move.

It would increase water storage downstream for the growing needs of businesses and communities downstream of Austin, Spenrath said. Competition for water is increasing throughout the basin, and while we appreciate LCRAs strong science-based, stakeholder approach to its Water Management Plan, additional water in the lower basin  where rainfall is more plentiful  is the best answer.

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According to the Texas Almanac, Colorado County receives about 41 inches of rainfall per year; That compares to 32 inches in Travis County.

LCRA board approves updates to Water Management Plan

Also on Wednesday, a split LCRA Board of Directors advanced an update to the authoritys Water Management Plan, which dictates how water from Lakes Travis and Buchanan is divided between city water utilities like Austin Water and coastal rice farmers downstream. The 15-member board approved the plan with two members dissenting, saying the updates were too restrictive for agricultural users.

"I understand the increased demand up here [in Austin]," said dissenting board member Tom Kelley, a rice farmer and cattleman in Colorado County. "I understand also that the only place that y'all have to take water from is interruptible, and that's us. I get it, but I don't like it."

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Changes to the plan, which was last updated in 2020, include a reduction of the amount of water LCRA can release for irrigation and an increase in the lake-level thresholds that trigger a cutoff to farmers.
Regina Ann Regi Santos-Aviles, 35, served as U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales regional district director in Uvalde. She died Sept. 14, 2025, after setting herself on fire. Courtesy: Nora Gonzales

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales engaged in a romantic relationship with an aide who died last year by setting herself on fire outside her Uvalde home, according to a text message and people close to the aide and her family.

A former staffer in Gonzales' district office who worked closely with the aide, Regina Ann "Regi" Santos-Aviles, said she told him they had an affair in 2024, and that she spiraled into a depression after her husband discovered the relationship and Gonzales abruptly cut her off. He also shared with the San Antonio Express-News a screenshot of a text message from Santos-Aviles in which she acknowledged having an affair with our boss.

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The staffer, who asked not to be named, citing a fear of retaliation, faulted Gonzales' office for failing to intervene, saying he warned the congressman's district director months before Santos-Aviles' death that he was concerned about her well-being. He described her as his best friend and said their families knew each other.

Gonzales, a Republican representing Texas' 23rd Congressional District, is currently seeking reelection in a contested primary. He and his staff did not respond to a list of detailed questions submitted by the Express-News.

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A lawyer for Santos-Aviles' husband said her romantic relationship with the congressman was an open secret, and that he does not believe it played a role in her death. Authorities have said there was no evidence of foul play in Santos-Aviles death. Both she and Gonzales were married to other people at the time of the alleged affair.

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Santos-Aviles, 35, was Gonzales regional district director in Uvalde and the mother of an 8-year-old boy. She died Sept. 14, 2025.

The former staffer, 24, contemplated going public about the affair as early as November, but was afraid he would lose his job, he said.

He said this week that he stopped coming to work for months after Santos-Aviles suicide and felt he could no longer "sell (Gonzales') message and his ideals." He resigned last month, moved to Los Angeles and now works for two local Democratic campaigns.

He said he had not been paid or promised any compensation by any of Gonzales primary opponents.

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The ex-staffer said he was frustrated that police never contacted him during their investigation into Santos-Aviles death.

A screenshot of a text message in which Regina Ann Regi Santos-Aviles wrote to a coworker that she had an affair with her boss, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales. Former staffer of Gonzales

Common knowledge

The former staffer said the relationship became known to some staff members during the 2024 election cycle. He said Gonzales stayed at the ex-staffers family's rental cabin in Concan, near Uvalde, during the primary campaign, and that on two occasions in May 2024, Gonzales and Santos-Aviles went there together and stayed for one to two hours.

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He said Santos-Aviles called him crying and distraught two weeks later to say her husband, Adrian Aviles, had discovered text messages that revealed her relationship with Gonzales. She told the staffer they had been having an affair. It was May 29, the day after Gonzales narrowly won a GOP primary runoff election against Brandon Herrera. He said Aviles later texted a group of Gonzales' legislative district staffers to expose the relationship.

Bobby Barrera, Aviles attorney, confirmed that the affair "was not a secret among the staff.

It's common knowledge, he said in an interview. The staff was clearly aware this event was occurring."

Barrera said Aviles has been worried about commenting because of how it could affect the couple's young son.

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"To him, this is personal. To everybody else, it's political," Barrera said of Aviles. "That's his son's mother, and nobody seems to care. They just want to burn Tony."

Asked whether the alleged relationship had anything to do with Santos-Aviles' death, Barrera said, "I don't think so."

For months, the congressman has dodged questions about his relationship with Santos-Aviles. He briefly broke his silence in November during an on-stage interview at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. Asked about the circumstances that may have led to her death, Gonzales said the rumors are completely untruthful.

"People throwing rocks at me, saying I'm doing nasty things  I totally get that. But the rumors are completely untruthful," he said, calling Santos-Aviles death a "very tragic situation."

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The British tabloid Daily Mail and Current Revolt, a right-leaning online publication, previously reported on rumors of an affair. Neither report cited documentary evidence.

A spokesman for Gonzales was quoted in the Daily Mail saying, To see political bottom feeders distort the circumstances around her passing is truly sickening. Tony Gonzales remains laser-focused on delivering historic achievements for Texas and condemns any attempts to misuse this tragedy.

In a text thread that the former staffer shared with the Express-News, Santos-Aviles told him, "I had (sic) affair with our boss and I'm fine. You will be fine."

The thread, which bore Santos-Aviles' name and image, was timestamped April 27, 2025. The Express-News verified the messages were sent from a phone number that belonged to Santos-Aviles.

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The former staffer said Santos-Aviles had been attempting to reassure him he wouldnt be fired for using office resources for an unsanctioned investigation.

Burden to bear

According to the former staffer, operations in Gonzales two-person Uvalde regional office shifted after Aviles texted the staff about the affair. Gonzales and his district director, Jalen Falcon, canceled meetings with local organizations that had been arranged by Santos-Aviles and the former staffer. He said neither he nor Santos-Aviles accompanied Gonzales on any Uvalde visits after that point, marking a significant change.

The former staffer said Santos-Aviles distress intensified in the months before her death and that she told him she went on antidepressants in the summer of 2025.

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She talked about Tony every day, he said. "She went from the number one employee in the office to nothing.

The former staffer also said he alerted Falcon in June that he was aware of the affair and concerned for Santos-Aviles' well-being. At that point, he was completing most of her work, and she was absent at least one day a week, he said.

Falcon did not respond to a request for comment.

The ex-staffer said that in August 2025  roughly one month before her death  she attempted suicide and that police were called to her home. The Uvalde Police Department has so far refused the Express-News' request for records of past emergency calls to Santos-Aviles home, and the paper has not independently confirmed the August 2025 incident.

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The home of Regina Ann Regi Santos-Aviles in the 200 block of Geraldine Street in Uvalde. Authorities said Santos-Aviles suffered severe burns outside the home on Sept. 13 and died the following day. Authorities ruled the death a suicide by self-immolation. STAFF/Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson

One month later, Santos-Aviles poured gasoline over herself and was engulfed in flames, authorities said. She was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where she died the next day. Police said home surveillance video showed she was alone when the fire began. In November, the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide by self-immolation.

A painful chapter

The former staffer said he was in touch recently with Herrera, one of Gonzales' primary challengers, about speculation surrounding the affair. Gonzales, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, faces Herrera, Francisco "Quico" Canseco and Keith Barton in the March 3 primary. Four candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination.

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READ MORE: Trump throws support behind Tony Gonzales in GOP rematch against Brandon Herrera

Over the weekend, Trump confidante and right-wing influencer Laura Loomer said in a post on X that a career ending report on Gonzales alleged affair would be published soon. It was unclear what she was referring to. The Express-News had no contact with Loomer and obtained no information from her for this article.

Herrera has sought to use rumors of the affair against his opponent. Responding to Loomers post on Sunday, he wrote, I am glad the truth is finally coming to light."

Santos-Aviles' funeral was held Sept. 25 at First United Methodist Church in Uvalde.

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Aviles delivered an emotional eulogy, describing Santos-Aviles as a devoted mother, his soulmate, best friend, and "the love of my life."

The couple had been together for 21 years and married for seven. At the time of Santos-Aviles' death, they had been separated for a couple of months and were sharing parenting responsibilities for their 8-year-old son.

"I know marriages have their seasons. Relationships have their seasons. There are good times, and there are bad times. Estrangement is a painful chapter in life," he said. "I've come to believe that love, even when complicated, is endless."

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Gonzales did not attend the funeral.
Austin Police officer Daniel Sanchez stands up after a mistrial declaration in his deadly conduct trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman

The Austin police officer who fatally shot an armed man standing on his front porch will once again stand trial for felony deadly conduct three months after a jury failed to reach a verdict in the officer's initial trial, according to a spokesman for Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza.

Spokesman Ismael Martinez said that prosecutors moved to retry Daniel Sanchez, who stands accused of shooting 33-year-old tech entrepreneur Rajan Moonesinghe outside his Bouldin Creek duplex in November 2022, following a Feb. 18 pre-trial conference. The new trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 10, he said.

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Our hearts continue to break for the Moonesinghe family, who are still waiting for justice for their son, Rajan, Garza said in a news release announcing the decision. Our Civil Rights Unit is prepared to proceed with a new trial and present evidence and facts surrounding the excessive force that led to Rajan Moonesinghes death.

Sanchez's first trial ended Nov. 17 after attorneys spent nine days presenting evidence. Jurors deliberated for 12 hours before announcing they could not reach a unanimous verdict. State District Court Judge Karen Sage, who presided over the trial, said at the time that the jury had been "evenly split" since it began deliberating, which prompted her to declare a mistrial.

The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, the statewide police union, blasted Garza's decision to revive the case.

"Jose Garza is doubling down on his efforts to politicize and persecute the men and women who protect the residents of Travis County," CLEAT Executive Director Robert Leonard said in a news release that referenced a December ruling by the Seventh Court of Appeals in a separate case that overturned the historic conviction of former Austin officer Christopher Taylor and ordered him acquitted of the same felony deadly conduct charge Sanchez is facing.

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Forrest Welborn, one of four men wrongfully accused in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, poses for a portrait at Manchaca Springs Saloon, which he owns, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

A landmark court hearing is set for Thursday in Austin as a state district judge is expected to exonerate the four men falsely accused of killing four teenage girls at a yogurt shop in 1991.

The hearing, which will be livestreamed, is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the auxiliary courtroom on the first floor of the Travis County Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center.

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Here's everything you need to know about the day-long event.

Robert Springsteen, walks out of 167th District Court a free man after prosecutors filed for dismissal on the homicide indictments against him and Michael Scott for the Yogurt Shop Murders in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. RODOLFO GONZALEZ/Austin American-Statesman With a photo of sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison in the background, Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson speaks at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

What were the yogurt shop murders?

The yogurt shop murders are considered by many to be one of the darkest chapters in Austins history. Authorities believe a man entered the I Can't Believe It's Yogurt! shop on West Anderson Lane shortly after the store closed at 11 p.m.

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Inside, the suspect shot the four victims and set fire to the building. One of the girls was sexually assaulted.

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For years, investigators believed Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott, Maurice Pierce, and Forrest Welborn were responsible for the killings.

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But a breakthrough in the investigation last fall identified a different suspect: The now-deceased serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers, who Austin cold case detectives believe acted alone.

What is this hearing for?

The hearing is expected to result in the formal exoneration of the four men, who were all in their mid-20s when they were arrested for the murders. State District Judge Dayna Blazey is widely expected to declare them actually innocent, a legal finding that goes beyond overturning convictions and affirms they did not commit the crime.

The proceeding will also serve as a public reckoning in a case long viewed as one of Austins gravest miscarriages of justice  effectively functioning as an official acknowledgment that the men were wrongfully accused and prosecuted.

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A declaration of actual innocence would pave the way for the men or their families to seek restitution from the state and potentially pursue damages from the city of Austin and Travis County.

Kim Pierce, the widow of yogurt shop suspect Maurice Pierce, and her daughter, Marisa Pierce, said he struggled to live a normal life after being wrongly linked for years to one of Austin's darkest crimes. Pierce Family Photos

Who were the men accused?

Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott, Maurice Pierce and Forrest Welborn were falsely accused of the killings.

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In 1999, Springsteen and Scott were convicted of capital murder. While their convictions were overturned a decade later, the two men were not exonerated. Their indictments were left standing pending further investigation, leaving the door open for prosecutors to revive the charges at any time.

A Travis County grand jury declined to indict Welborn, and prosecutors dropped charges against Pierce after he spent three years in jail. Pierce died in 2010 after a confrontation with an Austin police officer.

All four men were subjected to police interrogation techniques that are now widely discredited for leading to false confessions.

Who were the victims?

The yogurt shop murder victims were Amy Ayers, 13; sisters Sarah Harbison, 15, and Jennifer Harbison, 17; and Eliza Thomas, 17.

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The older Harbison sister and Thomas were employees at the shop. Investigators believe the younger Harbison sister and Ayers visited the shop to get a ride home after it closed.

Who else will be in the courtroom?

Kim Pierce, the widow of yogurt shop suspect Maurice Pierce, and their daughter, Marisa, plan to attend an exoneration hearing Thursday in which Pierce and three other men will be declared innocent. Maurice Pierce died in a confrontation with Austin police in 2010. Tony Plohetski/Austin American-Statesman

Scott, Welborn and members of Pierce's family are expected to attend. Springsteen's attorney said he would not.

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Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis is also invited, but it is unclear whether she will address how the department currently carries out interviews with suspects.

Its also unclear if any family members of the victims will attend the hearing.

The unusual nature of the proceeding is sure to draw multiple observers from the Travis County criminal justice community.

What are the problematic policing techniques likely to be mentioned?

The four men were interrogated by multiple homicide detectives for hours at a time in 1999, when they became the focus of a special Austin police task force convened to reexamine the murders.

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Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson speaks at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

At times, the young men were threatened physically, told about evidence against them that investigators did not have  and promised leniency if they complied. Legal experts say these coercive techniques were common among detectives in the 1980s and 1990s, but often produced false confessions.

Austin was no exception. Detectives from that era obtained dozens of false confessions that led to numerous wrongful convictions, including those of Richard Danziger and Christopher Ochoa.

Last year, Davis said policing had undergone a remarkable transformation since that period and that she aimed to move her department away from using those kinds of interview techniques.

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What was the recent HBO series?

Last August, HBO released a four-part documentary series about the case. The series, produced and directed by Margaret Brown, was met with widespread critical acclaim and brought renewed attention to the case as Austin detectives continued working to resolve it.

HBO is expected to film the exoneration hearing Thursday.

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What happens next?
Lydian Energy has secured $689m in financing to support the development of two solar power projects and one battery storage project in the US.

The funding, provided by CIBC and MUFG, will be used for the AC Ranch 1 solar project in New Mexico, the Yellow Viking facility in Texas and the Faraday BESS (battery energy storage system) in Utah.

The financial package includes a construction-to-term loan, a co-investment bridge loan, a tax credit bridge loan and a letter of credit facility.

AC Ranch 1 is a 75MW-alternating current (MWac)/100MW-direct current (MWdc) solar photovoltaic installation operating under a busbar power purchase agreement (PPA) with an investment-grade buyer.

Yellow Viking, situated within ERCOT's Oncor territory, is a 170MWac/210MWdc solar project with 100MW contracted through a PPA.

Faraday BESS Phase 1 is planned as a 150MW/733 megawatt-hour battery storage facility supported by a long-term agreement with an investment-grade counterparty.

Lydian Energy CEO Emre Ersenkal said: This transaction marks a major milestone for Lydian Energy, as it is the first full-stack financing we have closed, and it is especially notable to do so with industry-leading lenders MUFG and CIBC.

We are excited about this significant financing, which creates a strong precedent for future investments across Lydian Energys pipeline and unlocks capital to support continued growth.

Lydian Energy currently manages a portfolio comprising 18 solar and energy storage projects with a combined capacity of 4.4GW.

The company works with financial institutions, regulatory bodies and local communities to implement infrastructure that meets specific regional requirements and policy targets.

Lydian Energy board chair Chris Moakley said: We are proud that these financings are helping meet the need for reliable, sustainable and affordable domestic energy and very grateful for the commitment of MUFG, CIBC and other participating lenders. We are pleased to support Lydians talented team as they build these much-needed solar and battery storage projects.

In July 2025, the company completed financial close on its first financing agreement, valued at $233m.

"Lydian Energy secures $689m in funding for US solar and battery projects" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




The flood damage along the Guadalupe River in downtown Kerrville, Texas, July 5, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

KERRVILLE  In the chaotic days and weeks after deadly July floods tore through the Texas Hill Country, Kerr Countys animal shelter was so overwhelmed with displaced pets that officials say some people tried to pass off their own animals as flood victims.

As staff scrambled to reunite families with lost dogs and cats, residents from outside the flood zone began attempting to surrender pets under false claims, straining already limited space and threatening efforts to keep displaced animals alive long enough for owners to find them.

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James Bell takes comfort in his dog, Bella, as he and his son Colton Chancy, 11, sit in their hotel room at Woodspring Suites in Georgetown on July 10, 2025. He and his wife and three children lost their trailer home and all of their belongings in the flood at the Goodwater RV Park in Georgetown. The flooding, which devastated parts of Travis and Williamson counties and followed the same deadly storm system that struck Kerrville, displaced dozens of families and left entire communities scrambling for temporary shelter. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Nichole Golden, shelter manager for Kerr County Animal Services, said people taking advantage of the limited resources available negatively affected rehoming and reunification efforts during the first week of recovery.

That hurt because were struggling so hard to keep enough space for these animals to be here long enough for their families to come looking for them, or even next of kin, and these people just didnt care, Golden said.

With the department only allowing strays to be held for up to 72 hours for owners to reclaim them, animal nonprofit Kerrville Pets Alive and Kerr County Animal Services began reaching out to other animal service organizations for help.

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The shelters available space quickly dropped after it housed up to 100 animals in the first week, and intake numbers continued to grow. To preserve limited housing capacity, the false flood-related surrenders were turned down, allowing the shelter to continue its work.

We were concerned about what (pet owners) were going to do with the animals, because if youre going to bring them down here for three hours and get turned away, are you really going to take them back on another three-hour ride? Golden asked.

In the first days after the floods, Kerrville Pets Alive prioritized gathering supplies and distributing them to different disaster shelter areas, said Karen Guerriero, the organization's executive director.

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Our job is the pets, so we all met at our safe campus, we made a plan, we got kennels, food, and we decided to go out to the shelters here, Guerriero said.

In a disaster, (shelters) are spread all the way from Hunt all the way to the Comfort area, all along the river, so we knew the volunteer fire departments, the churches, the ones that were going to be people shelters, she said.

Guerriero said Austin Pets Alive, another animal services nonprofit, assisted the Kerrville organization with rehoming and fostering efforts by transferring animals to other facilities with more capacity and creating a database of lost pets for owners to search.

Austin Pets Alive went in and they took all the animals from the animal shelter out, because thats what were so worried about, Oh my gosh, what are we going to do? because this shelter doesnt have enough space, and when you dont have enough space, they euthanize for space, Guerriero said.

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As more of Kerrvilles four-legged community members were rescued, Kerrville Pets Alive began working alongside search-and-rescue teams to help retrieve animals who had died during the floods.

Dr. Debra Zoran, director of the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team, and 18 other emergency team veterinarians, technicians and veterinary students provided aid to the search-and-rescue dogs on site. Over the course of 25 days, the VET teams treated and evaluated 187 search-and-rescue dogs during more than 750 visits.

People wanted to bring donations and all of this sort of stuff for the animals that were being rescued and so they would see us at Kerrville High School, and so they would bring stuff, Zoran said.

They informed Kerrville Pets Alive of any dead or injured animals found by the search-and-rescue teams so the organization could provide appropriate services, Zoran said.

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While rebuilding efforts continue throughout the Hill Country, Reagan Givens, director of Kerr County Animal Services, said plans for a bigger facility are underway to expand capacity and better serve the community.

Officials said they hope expanded space will be online early this year.

Well be hopefully moving in there at the end of (January) and a lot more space for animals, better space for staff, office space, storage space  just a better all-around facility, Givens said.

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By Padraic Halpin

DUBLIN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Microsoft has promised to keep buying enough renewable energy to match all its electricity needs after meeting that goal for the first time last year, as tech giants ramp up capital expenditure on an AI-fuelled expansion of power-hungry data centres.

The company said on Wednesday that it had reached its 2025 goal by contracting 40 gigawatts of new renewable energy supply, mainly through power purchase agreements - long-term contracts that help utility providers to bring new projects forward.

Nineteen gigawatts of that renewable energy has already been supplied to the power grid, Microsoft said, with the rest to follow over the next five years and covering 26 countries in total.

"As we continue to grow we want to maintain that 100%," Microsoft's cloud operations chief Noelle Walsh said at the sprawling West Dublin campus where the company built its first data centre outside the United States in 2009.

Chief Sustainability Officer Melanie Nakagawa told Reuters that carbon-free electricity, such as the deal Microsoft signed in 2024 with Constellation Energy to restart a nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, would play an increasing role in continuing to meet the 100% matching target out to 2030, by which time the Windows maker aims to have become carbon negative.

$50 BILLION INVESTMENT

Microsoft said separately on Wednesday that it was on pace to invest $50 billion by 2030 to expand AI to countries across the 'Global South', most of which will fund cloud and AI data centres.

Walsh said a recent Irish government move to lift an effective moratorium on data centre grid connections would allow Microsoft to meet "tremendous" pent-up demand in the tech-rich country.

Microsoft expects to press ahead with stalled proposals for a data centre campus outside Dublin once a regulatory policy requiring new data centres to meet at least 80% of annual demand from additional renewable power begins to be implemented next month, Eoin Doherty, Microsoft's cloud operations lead for EMEA, said.

Data centres accounted for 22% of Ireland's power consumption in 2024.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Feb 18 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT) on Wednesday said it is on pace to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to help expand AI to countries across the 'Global South'.

The announcement was made at the AI summit in New Delhi, where top executives from global AI giants meet several world leaders this week.

The 'Global South' refers to developing, emerging or lower-income countries, mostly in the southern hemisphere.

Microsoft unveiled $17.5 billion worth of AI investments in India last year, as the U.S. tech giant deepened its bet on one of the world's fastest-growing digital markets.

(Reporting by Abu Sultan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
Private-equity firm MidEuropa Partners has acquired a significant minority stake in the European protein bars and functional beverages producer Oshee.

London-headquartered MidEuropa has acquired the interest in Poland-based Oshee from peer Innova Capital for an undisclosed sum, according to separate statements from the investors.

MidEuropa said yesterday (16 February) it will invest alongside Oshees founders Dariusz Galezewski and Dominik Dolinski, who will keep a majority shareholding and continue to run the company.

In its own statement, Innova Capital said that during its time as an investor, Oshee almost quadrupled revenue organically to more than 750m zlotys ($210.7m) in 2025, while EBITDA rose "more than fivefold".

The Polish company sells into 55 countries across six continents. Innova Capital first invested in Oshee in 2018, acquiring a 33% stake.

Oshees product range includes muesli and protein bars, along with isotonic drinks, vitamin waters and energy beverages, aimed at active consumers.

Galezewski and Dominik said in the MidEuropa statement that the deal marks an important milestone for Oshee as we continue to scale the brand internationally and deepen our connection with consumers".

They added: Our growing presence in the UK and our LaLiga partnership across 43 European countries show that our ambitions extend well beyond Poland.

MidEuropa said Oshee is "well positioned to continue capturing share in the fast-growing functional drinks category both domestically and internationally", adding that the business is also "pursuing M&A opportunities in another key Western European market".

Pawel Malicki, a partner at MidEuropa who led the transaction, said: We look forward to working with the founders to support the company in accelerating its international expansion while continuing to strengthen the business operationally.

The deal is contingent on standard regulatory clearances and is expected to be completed sometime in 2026.

Leszek Muzyczyszyn, a senior partner at Innova Capital, said: "We believe that, together with the new investor, Oshee will continue to strengthen its position in international markets and further expand its product portfolio, delivering unique value to consumers."

"MidEuropa Partners takes Oshee stake" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.




Vehicles jam the parking lot of the near-empty post exchange on Fort Shafter, Hawaii, Feb. 17, 2026. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)



WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii  Judging by its jam-packed parking lot, the post exchange on Fort Shafter in Hawaii appears to be doing bang-up trade.

On any given weekday morning, every parking spot is filled, with other vehicles wedged pell-mell onto curbs and in lanes. Inside the exchange, however, customers are typically few.

The phantom vehicles belong to soldiers assigned to units adjacent to the exchange that have surged in personnel in recent months and now have no parking space to accommodate them.

Parking has become a nightmare at Fort Shafter, Col. Rachel Sullivan, commander of Army Garrison Hawaii, said Feb. 11 at her headquarters at Wheeler Army Airfield.

But surge-related parking woes are a small annoyance compared to the strain on barracks on Oahu, where soldiers are now doubling up in rooms and on-post family housing that has reached almost 100% occupancy.

The incoming troops represent the militarys long-promised pivot to the Pacific and the result of the Armys updated manning structure for 2027 to 2031, Sullivan said.

I think its a shift thats been a long time coming but that has just been really finally realized here recently, she said.

There were a lot of structure changes for units here in the Pacific and specifically here in Hawaii, she said.

Changes that typically take four or five years are now greatly accelerated, she said. So instead of another 2,000 personnel arriving over five years, almost 90% will arrive before the end of this year, according to Sullivan.

The most pressing challenge is where to house so many extra soldiers and their families.

Last month, leaders of the garrison and the 25th Infantry Division at a town hall meeting on Schofield Barracks addressed concerns over the requirement that some soldiers double up in barracks rooms.

Some soldiers have complained about security, overflowing dumpsters, insufficient laundry facilities and a dearth of parking as barracks populations boom.

The garrison has 48 permanent party barracks, almost all in central Oahu on Schofield and Wheeler. Three are on Shafter in Honolulu, and one is at nearby Tripler Army Medical Center.

Those barracks provide just over 6,000 bed spaces without doubling up, according to Sullivan.

Right now, we have roughly 500 soldiers that are in what we are calling surge beds, so a bed that has been placed in a room with another soldier, she said.

Plans are in place to build four new barracks on Schofield  one anticipated to begin construction next year, with three others still in the design stage, she said.

Were trying to actually accelerate everything because of this crunch, she said.

On-post family housing is also running short.

We are sitting right now at 98% occupancy of our family housing, which is unprecedented, she said. When I first took command a little over 18 months ago, we were sitting at just over 90% occupancy.

Affordable housing in the state is Hawaii Gov. Josh Greens top concern. He and the congressional delegation have been urging military branches on Oahu to house more of their personnel on post.

We are very cognizant of the fact that every single Army family that is taking their [basic allowance for housing] off post is competing for that same affordable housing that every other family here in Hawaii is trying to occupy, Sullivan said.
From front, the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua, Australian frigate HMAS Toowoomba, U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey and Philippine BRP Diego Silang sail in formation during a maritime cooperative activity in the South China Sea, on Feb. 16, 2026. (Oscar Diaz/U.S. Navy)



A two-day series of maritime drills by the U.S., Australian and Philippine navies this week in the South China Sea drew a response by Chinas navy with a demonstration of its own.

Aircraft and warships from the U.S. and its two allies converged inside the Philippines exclusive economic zone for a maritime cooperative activity meant to reinforce cooperation and protect freedom of navigation, according to separate news releases from the three militaries.

The exercise Sunday through Monday focused on visual information drills and a replenishment-at-sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in its release Tuesday. The U.S. regularly conducts similar drills alongside the Philippines and other allies.

China, which claims large swaths of the South China Sea, frequently objects that the exercises undermine peace in the region.

Beijing on Tuesday said it deployed air and naval forces on combat readiness patrols Sunday and Monday in response, according to the state-run China Military Online website.

The Philippines efforts to rally external countries to organize so-called joint patrols are disrupting the South China Sea and undermining regional peace and stability, Senior Col. Zhai Shicen said Tuesday, according to the website.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey and a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from Patrol Squadron 4 represented the U.S. during the exercise, while Australia provided the HMAS Toowoomba and another P-8A Poseidon.

The Philippines sent an undisclosed number of FA-50 fighter jets, the patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua, the guided-missile frigate BRP Diego Silang and other aircraft including an A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft and several helicopters, according to the 7th Fleet.

The event is the 14th multilateral maritime cooperative activity and the first this year, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported Tuesday. Last month, the U.S. and the Philippine navies held a similar drill among themselves.

The exercises are often scheduled months in advanced and are meticulously planned, coordinated, and executed in collaboration with the Philippine military to support the mutual defense treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines, U.S. 7th Fleet spokeswoman Lt. Sarah Merrill told Stars and Stripes by email Tuesday.
Prosecutors, not police, decide formal charges under the Japanese justice system. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)



TOKYO  Japanese authorities are investigating two U.S. Marines for possible thefts totaling $65,000 or more since last fall, according to Japanese police and media reports recently.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Friday forwarded to Japanese prosecutors their case against two Marines, ages 20 and 26, for stealing 27,000 yen, or $175, in cash from two restaurants in Kabukicho, a nightlife district near Shinjuku, between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Dec. 24, The Mainichi newspaper reported Friday.

The newspaper cited the police as a source, although a Tokyo police spokeswoman declined to confirm the report by phone for Stars and Stripes on Tuesday.

The Marines may be linked to multiple thefts last fall with losses exceeding $65,000, The Mainichi reported, citing an unnamed investigative source.

Two Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and under suspicion by Japanese authorities of criminal misconduct are in Marine Corps custody, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Joseph Butterfield said by email Tuesday.

He said the wing is actively cooperating with Japanese authorities, but did not specify the allegations against the two.

The Hiroshima Prefectural Police also forwarded a case to prosecutors there Friday accusing the older Marine of trespassing in two buildings, damage to a building, theft and attempted theft, a spokesman for the police third investigative division said by phone Tuesday.

The spokesman declined to identify the Marine by name or unit, but said he is one of the two Marines that Tokyo police referred to prosecutors.

Butterfield said the wing takes these incidents seriously, and that service members receive continuous education on upholding local laws and U.S. regulations.

Japanese authorities have jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed by U.S. service members off base and off duty.

We remain committed to our alliance and ensuring U.S. personnel maintain the highest standards of conduct, Butterfield said.
Yoon Suk Yeol, then South Koreas president, attends his impeachment trial in Seoul in February 2025. (Jintak Han/The Washington Post)



SEOUL  A South Korean court is set to issue its verdict Thursday in the insurrection case against the countrys impeached president, who declared martial law in an alleged power grab in late 2024, and now faces the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted.

The impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been on trial for his failed attempt to install a military-led government in the democratic country late one night in December 2024. Yoon is charged with numerous crimes, including organizing an insurrection - which under South Korean criminal law carries possible sentences of life imprisonment, with or without labor, or death.

Prosecutors have requested the death sentence.

The case marks a pivotal moment in South Koreas relatively young democratic history, which dates to 1987 after a democratic uprising toppled a brutal military-led government under Chun Doo-hwan. Chun was sentenced to death in 1996 after being convicted on similar insurrection charges for seizing power during a coup in 1979. On appeal, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, and he was later pardoned.

Yoons conviction would uphold the rule of law and reaffirm the nations democratic system and principles, democracy advocates and experts say.

The conviction of an ex-president demonstrates that no one is above the law, said Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow at Brookings Institutions Center for Asia Policy Studies in Washington, adding: The conviction of Yoon through the judicial process reflects South Koreas democratic resilience.

If convicted, Yoon, too, ultimately could be spared execution.

South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997 and is widely regarded as a country where, for all practical purposes, the death penalty is banned.

A death sentence for Yoon, nonetheless, would be highly symbolic as delivering accountability for a head of state who went rogue and attempted to use military force to halt operations of the legislature, seize control of the National Election Commission and arrest political opponents.

In practical terms, a death sentence would almost certainly remain symbolic, but the symbolism would be immense, said Hannah Kim, a political scientist at Sogang University in Seoul. It would reflect a judicial judgment that a palace coup led by the constitutional guardian of the state is not just political misconduct, but a direct attack on constitutional sovereignty and the democratic order.

A lesser sentence of life in prison would still convey the seriousness of Yoons actions but would reflect a degree of pragmatism among the justices, Yeo said, especially in a deeply polarized country still reeling from the fallout of the declaration of martial law.

Two top aides to Yoon have been convicted on charges related to the decree of martial law. Former prime minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced last month to 23 years in prison for his role. Han is appealing the ruling. And former interior minister Lee Sang-min last week was sentenced to seven years in prison. He is also appealing the ruling, according to national media reports.

In both cases, the court deemed the declaration of martial law an act of insurrection, which legal experts said was a key determination that could seal Yoons conviction Thursday.

Yoon is facing eight separate trials stemming from his decree, but the insurrection case to be decided Thursday is the most consequential. Last month, a Seoul court sentenced him to five years in prison for abuse of power, obstruction of justice and falsifying documents, meaning Yoon will not go free even if acquitted.

For many South Koreans, Yoons insurrection trial may feel familiar.

Yoon is expected to stand in Courtroom 417 of the Seoul Central District Court, the same room where Chun, wearing a light blue prison jumpsuit, was sentenced to death nearly 30 years ago.

During their sentencing request last month, prosecutors argued Yoon deserved the harshest possible penalty, citing the need to stop history from repeating itself. They referred to Chuns case and South Koreas authoritarian past.

Yoon has denied all charges and contends that martial law was a legitimate exercise of the presidents emergency powers. Yoon has said that he declared martial law to confront the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which he said was paralyzing his administration through repeated efforts to impeach top officials. He has denied that the brief deployment of troops to the National Assembly was an act of insurrection.

Yoons late-night decree on Dec. 3, 2024, made in a televised address, prompted thousands of protesters to mass outside the National Assembly and demand a return to democratic governance.

As soldiers and police surrounded the National Assembly complex, lawmakers scaled the walls to bypass them. In defiance of the decrees ban on political activity, they voted to reverse Yoons decision. And despite a gag order on the press, reporters from traditional and independent media alike flooded the scene and delivered live reports.

Yoon lifted his order six hours later, but the incident shocked and outraged the nation - now a thriving democracy where political protests and marches of all stripes are a weekly occurrence - and it spurred South Koreas most harrowing political crisis in decades.

Yoon was impeached with his presidential powers suspended less than two weeks later, and ultimately removed from office.

Yoon, formerly the nations top prosecutor, was a divisive president during his more than 2 years in power. Rather than seeking to unify the deeply divided nation, Yoon instead appealed to his conservative base, exacerbating polarization and often deadlocking with opposition lawmakers.

South Korean presidents are often disgraced. Nearly every president since South Koreas democratization has become embroiled in scandals involving corruption, bribery, embezzlement or abuse of power.

Yoons downfall, however, stands apart even by South Korean standards, as the first democratically elected president to impose martial law and the first sitting president to face a criminal investigation.
The deputy chief of the Tokyo Wan Vessel Traffic Service Center in Yokohama, Japan, explains how the center tracks and predicts vessel movements on Tokyo Bay on Feb. 10, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



YOKOHAMA, Japan  Around 350 ships thread the narrow Uraga Channel into Tokyo Bay every day, navigating one of the planets most crowded maritime corridors.

From a control room inside a nondescript government office building, a round-the-clock crew of Japan Coast Guard personnel keeps watch.

At the Tokyo Wan Vessel Traffic Service Center  a five-minute walk from the landmark Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse  four teams of 20 marine traffic controllers monitor the hundreds of cargo ships and other vessels that traverse Tokyo Bay.

The teams rotate through day and night shifts and rest periods, and spend their working hours surrounded by digital displays fed with data from eight radar stations, 32 closed-circuit TV cameras and automatic ship identification systems that track and predict routes, according to the centers deputy chief.

Due to internal policy, the deputy chief was not identified by name. Some Japanese government officials may speak to the press on condition of anonymity.

About 80 Japan Coast Guard personnel, split in to teams of 20, monitor Tokyo Bay's maritime traffic on a 24-hour basis, as seen here at the Tokyo Wan Vessel Traffic Service Center in Yokohama, Japan, on Feb. 10, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

The Tokyo Wan Vessel Traffic Service Center in Yokohama, Japan, seen here on Feb. 10, 2026, utilizes eight radar stations, 32 closed-circuit TV cameras and automatic ship identification systems to monitor traffic on Tokyo Bay. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

The Tokyo Wan Vessel Traffic Service Center in Yokohama, Japan, seen here on Feb. 10, 2026, creates and monitors five-minute vectors for each ship active on Tokyo Bay. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



The controllers work is critical to the waterway, he told reporters during a Feb. 10 tour of coast guard facilities.

Tokyo Bay lacks the density or complexity of cargo volumes of the worlds largest ports, but it ranks highly among other key corridors such as the English Channel or the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey.

Globally speaking, Tokyo Bay is a very rare environment. Its extremely narrow  only about [4 to 4.3 miles] wide at the entrance  with heavy traffic, large ships, and curved channels due to seabed depth constraints, the deputy chief said.

Ships courses are predicted to five-minute intervals, and if any collisions are anticipated, warnings are issued, he said.

About 350 ships travel through Tokyo Bay on a daily basis, with activity monitored by the Tokyo Wan Vessel Traffic Service Center, seen here Feb. 10, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

Staff at Tokyo Wan Vessel Traffic Service Center in Yokohama, Japan, seen here on Feb. 10, 2026, lack authority to issue legally binding instructions to ships' captains, according to the deputy chief. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



While the center closely resembles an air traffic control center, its staff lacks the authority to issue legally binding instructions, according to the deputy chief.

Instead, they provide observations and advice  ship captains ultimately bear the final responsibility for safe navigation.

But mistakes could be costly, the deputy chief said.

Tokyo Bay is considered one of the most complex and high-risk maritime areas in Japan, due to the concentration of large vessels and ships carrying hazardous materials such as oil and gas, he said.

He recalled the Nov. 9, 1974, collision of the Pacfic Ares, a Liberian cargo ship laden with steel, and the Yuyo Maru No. 10, a Japanese tanker carrying liquified petroleum gas and naphtha, a highly flammable liquid hydrocarbon.

The tanker carrying petroleum products exploded and caught fire, and for a very long time navigation in this area was halted, the deputy chief said.

Five of the Yuyo Maru crew members and 28 on the Pacific Ares were killed, according to the Maritime Integrated Decision Support Information System on Transport of Chemical Substances website.

This article was translated using generative AI to be able to reach new audiences. It has been reviewed by our team to ensure accuracy. Send feedback to Stars and Stripes Member Services at MemberServices@Stripes.com.
A Palestinian woman walks by Jewish settlements in Hebron on Monday. (Heidi Levine/The Washington Post)



Israel has moved aggressively in recent days to deepen its control over the occupied West Bank, unilaterally adopting policies that analysts say represent a major shift toward annexation and appear to defy President Donald Trump, who has said he opposes annexation but has not publicly pushed back on the escalating Israeli measures.

This month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus security cabinet, in a closed-door meeting, adopted measures to make it easier for settlers to purchase land and circumvent the Palestinian Authority in areas it has controlled since a 1995 agreement under the Oslo accords. The move was widely condemned in the Arab world and globally as a violation of international law and an undoing of decades-old regional security agreements.

After that decision, the White House issued a statement reiterating Trumps opposition to annexation, and the president emphasized his position in an interview with Axios. I am against annexation, Trump said, adding: We have enough things to think about now. We dont need to be dealing with the West Bank.

Both Trump and the White House statement brushed over his opposition to annexation in vague terms, and neither referenced the accelerating measures by Israel to expand settlements.

Since then, Netanyahu visited Trump at the White House last week, and on Sunday, after returning to Israel, his cabinet voted to restart a process of land registration, suspended since 1968, in a part of the West Bank known as Area C. Experts say that move will probably result in Israels taking permanent control of swaths of territory as it designates it state land.

For many years, Israel has pursued a policy of creeping annexation by supporting settlers and using the military to defend Israelis in the West Bank under any circumstances. But the recent escalating measures represent a forceful push toward annexation, and theyve been met with seeming indifference in Washington as Trump focuses on his peace plan for Gaza and the possibility of war with Iran.

Neither the State Department nor the White House has issued statements on the recent land registration measure. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the move and called on Israel to reverse it, saying in a statement that the current trajectory on the ground is eroding the prospect for the two-State solution.

Such measures, including Israels continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, are not only destabilizing, but, as recalled by the International Court of Justice, unlawful, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has described the actions as vital to bringing order to the issue of land registration and accused the Palestinian Authority of violating agreements by conducting its own land registration in areas that are supposed to be under full Israeli military control.

Under the new Israeli procedure, Israel will publicly designate areas to undergo registration, in which anyone who has a claim to the land must prove their ownership - to Israeli standards - or that land will automatically be reverted to Israeli state property.

The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu last Wednesday focused on Iran and the Gaza Strip, according to a person familiar with the details who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media. The West Bank was not brought up, the person said.

Analysts and some Arab officials say that absent direct U.S. pressure, there is a low likelihood of Israel changing course.

In the meantime, Palestinians continue to face an ever-quickening transformation of the West Bank, which, in the shadow of war on Gaza, has seen new Jewish settlements approved at record rates - and more than 1,300 Palestinians killed by settlers or Israeli forces - since Netanyahu took office in 2022, according to U.N. statistics.

Now, many say they fear not only being displaced, but losing all legal claim to their land. Many international lawyers and even some Israeli cabinet ministers who supported the measures say they are a clear reach toward seizing territory.

We are continuing the revolution of settlement and our hold on all regions of our land, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, adding: The State of Israel is taking responsibility for its land and acting according to the law with transparency and determination.

Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin, who is also justice minister, said: The Land of Israel belongs to the People of Israel. The Government of Israel is committed to deepening its hold on all its parts, and this decision is an expression of that commitment.

The coalition propping up Netanyahu, who is facing an election this year, includes settlers who are part of a large voter base in favor of annexing the West Bank altogether. The Knesset overwhelmingly approved a nonbinding motion last year to annex the territory.

Critics said the measures would strip Palestinians of ownership rights and leave them with little or no recourse.

The governments decision on land settlement in the West Bank is a mega land grab of Palestinian property, the Israeli anti-settlement organization Peace Now said in a statement. Land registration will result in the transfer of ownership of the vast majority of Area C to the state, leaving Palestinians with no practical ability to realize their ownership rights.

We warn President Trump: Netanyahu is deceiving you. You said you would not allow annexation, but he is carrying it out right under your nose, Peace Now said in its statement.

Israel has faced a chorus of international criticism over the past week, including from key European allies, to reverse the measure, including from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia and a host of Arab and Islamic states. The E.U. went a step further and reiterated that sanctions are still on the table as a possible response.

Area C refers to approximately 60 percent of the West Bank, which, per the Oslo accords, is under total Israeli military control. The Israeli cabinet decision on Sunday said that 15 percent of Area C would be registered within the next five years.

The escalating measures in the West Bank and the threat of population displacement have prompted a wave of national security concerns among U.S. allies in the Middle East.

In a statement Tuesday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, alongside Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan, reiterated their categorical rejection of all unilateral measures aimed at altering the legal, demographic, and historical status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Israels decision regarding lands in the West Bank undermines the peace process at its core, said one former Egyptian official briefed on the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations. A decisive American position is required to prevent the situation in the West Bank from escalating.

The British Foreign Office said it will chair a U.N. Security Council meeting on the Middle East on Wednesday, focusing on the West Bank and Gaza ceasefire.

The expected pressure from international parties has fallen short. Israel appears to have waited to see the reactions, which turned out to be weak and vague, said Akram Atallah, a Palestinian political commentator. The European Union is preoccupied with its own issues, and the U.S. administration has not pressured Israel. This was clear in the recent, hastily arranged meeting between President Trump and Netanyahu, where no pressure was applied to stop Netanyahu from moving forward.

Lawyers say it is almost impossible for Palestinians to meet the ownership standards required by Israel. Even those with property documents fear generations of their families land will finally be stripped away.

Kamal Jaradat, 54, owns land in the al-Addaysa area of Area C. It had been planted with almond and olive trees, like so many other plots in the West Bank, but every time they tried to cultivate the land in recent years, the trees were uprooted by settlers.

Jaradat has been trying to prove that he is the lawful owner through the Israeli court system for more than two decades but said his ownership deeds are not recognized by Israel.

We possess ownership documents proving that the land belongs to us, inherited from my grandfather, who also inherited it from his father, Jaradat said. Israels legal control over these areas means we lose all our property and sources of livelihood.

Michael Sfard, a Tel-Aviv based international human rights lawyer, said Palestinians are systemically prevented from participating fairly in the land registration process - from members of the diaspora not being physically in the territory to the widespread problem of people not having access to land ownership documents.

Unfortunately, there is a tendency, and it is not only Trumps, to expect that annexation will happen in a pompous ceremony with a ribbon-cutting and historical declarations, Sfard said. The truth is that annexation can happen bureaucratically, in windowless offices, in a supposedly boring manner.

This thing passes under the radar of global diplomacy and politics that do not understand that this is what is happening, Sfard added. Trump said he does not want annexation, and I believe him, but he does not know that annexation is happening.
An airman climbs onto a maintenance platform to enter a missile launch tube at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., July 9, 2025. (Michael Richmond/U.S. Air Force)



A top Trump administration official on Tuesday disclosed new details to support its claim that China conducted an underground nuclear explosion during Donald Trumps first presidency, a contested assertion that, nevertheless, has become a catalyst for his push to resume such testing by the United States.

Were not going to remain at an intolerable disadvantage, Christopher Yeaw, who heads the State Departments Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, said during a discussion at the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington. He urged Beijing to come clean about its nuclear weapons tests, which some U.S. officials and experts say is part of a determined Chinese effort to catch up to, if not eclipse, the United States global advantage in nuclear weapons technology.

The event in question occurred June 22, 2020, right near a secretive facility known as Lop Nur in Chinas western Xinjiang region, Yeaw told those attending the discussion. The U.S., he added, used seismic data captured by a facility in neighboring Kazakhstan to conclude that China had conducted an explosive nuclear test.

The activity  measured at a magnitude of 2.76  was not consistent with an earthquake or explosions used in mining, Yeaw said. The suspected explosions yield  meaning the amount of energy it released  remains unclear because of the Chinese governments efforts to conceal the test, he said, adding, We know that they were preparing designated tests of hundreds of tons in yield.

Yeaws remarks appeared intended to dispel skepticism of the Trump administrations allegation earlier this month that China had conducted a secret explosive test nearly six years ago. Independent experts have said that seismic data, even if combined with satellite data, would probably prove inconclusive.

In a statement Tuesday, the primary international body that uses seismic sensors to detect nuclear explosions, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, said it detected two very small seismic events, 12 seconds apart in the time period Yeaw described, but that they were too small to assess the cause of these events with confidence.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Earlier this month, a spokesman there said China is a responsible nuclear state and that it adheres to a nuclear testing moratorium.

The administrations focus on the event follows a claim, made by Trump in October, that both China and Russia had undertaken nuclear explosive testing. He has pledged to resume U.S. nuclear explosive testing on an equal basis to those nations.

Trumps announcement alarmed arms control experts, as any resumption in such testing would reverse a post-Cold War taboo in the U.S. that has held since the last nuclear weapon test was conducted in 1992.

After the last remaining nuclear arms limitation treaty between the United States and Russia lapsed Feb. 5, Trump wrote on social media that he hoped to replace it with a new, improved, and modernized agreement that would include not only the United States and Russia, the two largest nuclear arsenals in the world, but also China, a fast-growing nuclear power, too.

Analysts say that publicly detailing a Chinese test could be a pressure tactic aimed at pushing Beijing to become involved in such talks.

China has long declined to participate in agreements like the one that lapsed this month, called New START, arguing its arsenal is far smaller than those of Russia and the United States. Trump and other U.S. officials have said that while Chinas stockpile is smaller, it is expanding rapidly  and that Beijing is not bound by the same testing constraints that Washington has pledged to abide by.

China has about 600 nuclear warheads, according to a Pentagon report released in December. By comparison, Russia possesses roughly 4,300 warheads and the United States about 3,700 as of January 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institutes latest annual assessment.

The United States, Russia and China are signatories to 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which prohibits any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion, though the United States and China never ratified the treaty, and Russia rescinded its ratification in 2023.

The last confirmed nuclear explosive test in Russia was conducted during the dying days of the Soviet Union in 1990. Chinas last occurred at Lop Nur in 1996. The State Department and the Defense Department have in recent years suggested that both countries have conducted nondisclosed tests.

Thomas DiNanno, the undersecretary of state for arms control, was the first U.S. official to allege that China had conducted a nuclear explosive test in 2020. He said that Chinas military had sought to conceal its efforts because it recognized these tests violate test ban commitments.

Yeaw said that it was impossible to tell from the seismic data he discussed Tuesday how big the explosion was in 2020. China, he alleged, was using decoupling techniques  such as detonating devices deep underground  to muffle the blast and confuse international monitoring systems.

Still, he said, it was pretty obvious that the explosion was at least supercritical, a type of test that uses a limited amount of nuclear material but does not produce a chain reaction.

Tracking Chinas nuclear development  including its testing capabilities  is extraordinarily difficult, and few outside observers have ever set foot inside a Chinese military nuclear facility.

Analysts say that while it is unlikely U.S. authorities could make a conclusive determination based on seismic data alone, they cannot rule out the possibility that the Trump administrations claims are supported by other intelligence  including classified data that can detect radioactive signatures or human intelligence.

If such evidence does exist, U.S. officials have not disclosed it.
Spring Festival atmosphere welcomes China-bound travelers at London Heathrow

Xinhua) 11:36, February 18, 2026

Traditional Chinese lion dancers perform in front of the London Eye which is lit up in red to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

LONDON, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Passengers departing for China from London Heathrow Airport were immersed in a festive atmosphere on Sunday evening, as Terminal 2 was transformed into a celebration venue ahead of flights to Beijing and Shenzhen.

The event was held to mark the upcoming Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year - the most important traditional holiday in China and a time for family reunions.

At Heathrow, a Spring Festival send-off ceremony featured red lanterns, spring couplets and intricate paper-cut window decorations, all traditional elements associated with the holiday. Staff distributed holiday gift packs and cultural souvenirs to travelers, while many passengers stopped to learn about Spring Festival traditions and take photos.

Organizers said the event aimed to allow foreign travelers to experience the festive spirit before arriving in China, while also creating a warm holiday atmosphere for overseas Chinese communities.

The lively celebration comes amid growing interest in travel to China. For an increasing number of international travelers, visiting China has become part of their travel plans, driven by curiosity about the country's rich culture, modern cities and diverse landscapes.

Thomas Berger, a French national working in the United Kingdom, was embarking on his first trip to Asia. His itinerary includes five Chinese cities - Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai - combining historical landmarks, modern urban life and natural scenery. Chengdu, he said, was the destination he most looked forward to, particularly for its cuisine.

Berger said much of his travel planning was based on online resources, especially short-form travel videos. In recent years, content tagged "China Travel" has gained popularity across global social media platforms, where foreign bloggers and tourists document their experiences and share practical tips.

Despite traveling to China for the first time, Berger said he felt reassured after hearing from others that the country is "super safe," an impression echoed by several travelers interviewed at the airport.

Emil Ive, a retail manager making his first trip outside Europe, planned to visit Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Sichuan. Chongqing held particular significance for him, as he would meet a Chinese friend there for the first time after connecting online through a shared interest in each other's cultures. He said communication had been facilitated by translation functions on the messaging app WeChat.

For project manager Kaelan Meehan, the journey carried personal meaning. His destination included Qiqihar in northeast China, the hometown of his wife. The trip marked his fourth visit to China and his first experience of winter in the country's northeast. He said he looked forward to spending time with family amid the snowy landscape.

To further facilitate cross-border travel, China will extend its visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Canada and the United Kingdom starting Feb. 17, 2026, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Sunday.

The announcement was welcomed by Meehan and his wife, who said they hoped to bring his parents on a future visit so both families could reunite.

Some travelers have already spent extended periods in China. Lucas Richman, a Chinese-language student at Durham University currently on exchange at Zhejiang University, boarded a flight to Shenzhen before continuing by high-speed rail to Hangzhou. Speaking fluent Mandarin, he said he seeks to explore widely and interact with local residents to deepen his understanding of Chinese culture. During the Spring Festival, he planned to celebrate with fellow international students at a guesthouse in Moganshan in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Zhang Li, director of the China National Tourist Office in London, said the Spring Festival serves not only as an emotional symbol for the Chinese people but also as an important window through which the world can better understand China.

"Hosting send-off events at overseas airports allows travelers to feel the festive atmosphere from the very beginning of their journey," Zhang said.

Traditional Chinese lion dancers perform in front of the London Eye which is lit up in red to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

Traditional Chinese lion dancers perform in front of the London Eye which is lit up in red to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London, Britain, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
Tracy-Ann Oberman is open to a return to EastEnders.

Tracy-Ann Oberman at the Pretty Woman musical press night

After Jake Moon (Joel Beckett) proposed to her villainous character Chrissie Watts before the pair made a swift exit from Walford, the 59-year-old actress is hoping the pair return to tie the knot.

She told Radio Times: "I think that there's a moment where she thinks it's over with Jake. I think she feels like he betrayed her. He was the one person that she could trust and rely on.

"For all these years, they had something that was strong. They are each other's family, and I don't think she really feels she can get over that."

Chrissie returned to the BBC One show only two months ago, after a lengthy stay behind bars, to plot revenge against Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan). She left and came back after Jake was convinced she had killed Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey).

Chrissie then threatened to report Jake to the police for murder.

In a dramatic turn of events, in a bid to patch things up, Jake proposed, and she said "yes" before they scarpered to the sound of police sirens on Tuesday night's (17.02.26) episode.

On the chances of her returning to Albert Square, she said: "My dream is that I would love them to come back and host their wedding at The Vic. Nobody knows what the wedding is. They decided to hire it out.

"Being back with Joel was great. We really enjoyed the scenes, and there's such a nice chemistry there. They're an interesting pairing and an interesting couple. So who knows?

"I'm always talking to [executive producer] Ben Wadey, who I love. I've enjoyed Chrissie coming back so much, and I love dipping in and out of it. The opportunities are endless.

"Chrissie cannot get away from The Square. She keeps coming back. There's something about that place."
Morgan Stanley and Houlihan Lokey topped the charts of financial advisors working on consumer M&A in 2025, according to newly released deals data.

According to GlobalData, Just Drinks parent, Morgan Stanley led the chart for deal value while Houlihan Lokey worked on the most consumer-sector transactions by volume.

Morgan Stanley advised on deals worth a cumulative $79.71bn. The data showed Houlihan Lokey was appointed an adviser on 30 transactions.

Aurojyoti Bose, lead analyst at GlobalData, said: Houlihan Lokey was the top adviser by volume in 2024 and retained its leadership position by this metric in 2025.

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley advised on a smaller number of deals but still managed not only to lead by value but also to outpace peers by a significant margin. Of the nine deals advised by Morgan Stanley during 2025, four were billion-dollar deals that also included two mega deals valued more than $10bn. Involvement in these high-value transactions helped it top the chart by value.

In August, Morgan Stanley was contracted on Keurig Dr Peppers move to acquire Dutch coffee company JDE Peets for 15.7bn ($18.36bn) and then split the combined business into two.

The thrust of Houlihan Lokeys work came in food, including the move by a European holding company for Ferrara Candy Company to buy French sweets maker CPK Group from investment firm Eurazeo. The transaction gives Ferrara brands including Carambar, Poulain, Lutti and Terrys.

Credit: GlobalData

When measuring the value of deals, Goldman Sachs ranked second, advising on $65.13bn worth of transactions.

JPMorgan followed, working on 11 deals worth a combined $57.3bn, then came Centerview Partners on $56.11bn and PJT Partners on a pair of transactions worth a combined $48.7bn.

In terms of deal volume, Rothschild & Co. were second after working on 20 deals, followed by Spayne Lindsay on 17, Goldman Sachs on 16 and then a pair Lazard and Deloitte  on 15.

GlobalDatas league tables are based on the real-time tracking of thousands of sources including company websites and advisory firm websites. A dedicated team of analysts monitors all these sources to gather in-depth details for each deal, including adviser names.

To ensure further robustness to the data, the company also seeks submissions of deals from leading advisers.

"Morgan Stanley, Houlihan Lokey top consumer M&A advisor ranks" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




Clearer rules for responding to service member absences could help save lives, according to a recent GAO report. (Noga Ami-rav/Stars and Stripes)



Giving U.S. military commanders clear, specific procedures to follow in the critical hours after service members unexpectedly go missing could improve the odds of saving their lives, a government watchdog agency says.

Air Force and Navy guidance on facilitating the search for absent personnel should designate a timeline for certain actions, such as notifying law enforcement or family members, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released last week.

Also, the Marine Corps still has not issued formal guidance for locating missing service members despite a 2022 recommendation by the GAO that it do so, according to the report.

Clear formal guidance for the command-led response process during the first 24 hours following an absence can help to prevent harm and save lives, the reports authors said.

Marines stand in an accountability formation at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Oct. 1, 2018. A recent Government Accountability Office report on procedures for reporting unexplained service member absences noted that the Marine Corps still has not issued formal guidance for such cases despite a 2022 recommendation to do so. (Justin Huffty/U.S. Marine Corps)



The agency noted that only the Army has specified when certain actions, such as notifying law enforcement or family members, should take place.

That and other gaps in guidance for commands in locating and tracking absent personnel could result in missed opportunities, the report stated.

A timely and well-coordinated response to a service members absence between unit commanders and law enforcement is critical to establishing the facts and helping to ensure the service members safe return, if possible, the GAO said.

The Marine Corps will issue an interim directive in March addressing the GAO recommendations, with full implementation by January 2028, the report stated, citing service officials.

The report findings follow updates to the Armys missing-soldier process in the aftermath of the killing of Spc. Vanessa Guillen in 2020.

Guillen was reported missing from Fort Hood, Texas, in late April of that year. She was last seen working in an arms room on base. Her remains were found over two months later more than 20 miles from the base.

The 2020 killing of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, pictured here, led to significant reforms in the Defense Department regarding missing service members. Commanders could benefit from clearer guidance on what to do following the discovery of a service member's unexplained absence, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report. (U.S. Army)



Authorities believe she was bludgeoned to death with a hammer by fellow soldier Spc. Aaron Robinson and then taken in a large plastic box to the place where her remains were found. Robinson fatally shot himself during a confrontation with law enforcement.

The case led to Defense Department policy reforms on sexual harassment and sexual assault.

The GAO recommendations also come amid questions about the Navys handling of the disappearance of now-Petty Officer 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz last year.

Her badly decomposed body was found in a wooded area near Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia in early June, 12 days after family members and fellow sailors raised concerns about her well-being on May 29.

But it wasnt until June 3, five days after she was last seen or in contact with family and friends, that a statewide alert was issued, a lag that occurred because the Navy initially considered her absent without official leave.

That response has drawn criticism from her family and congressional inquiries into the handling of her disappearance.

Seaman Jermiah Copeland, who was assigned to the same ship as Resendiz, is charged with premeditated murder in her death, along with several crimes involving three other women.

The body of Seaman Angelina Resendiz was discovered June 9, 2025, in a wooded area about 10 miles from Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The Navy and the Air Force should be more specific about the timing for taking certain actions in cases of a service member's unexplained absence, a watchdog agency said in a new report. (Photo courtesy of the Resendiz family)



Service members can be absent from their duty stations for varying reasons, which may be either voluntary or involuntary.

For example, 295 service members were listed as involuntarily absent in a nonhostile setting from 2015 through 2024, with 93% of those absences resulting in a declaration of death, according to the GAO report.

About 78% of those deaths were from accidents, including service-related ship collisions and aircraft crashes. A further 10% were from suicides. The causes behind the remaining involuntary absences were not identified in the report.

In its assessment, the GAO said the Navy and Air Force should augment their processes to include greater specificity in the timing for taking certain actions.

For example, Army guidance requires commanders to notify service law enforcement officials of a soldiers absence within three hours of discovery and to inform family members within eight hours, the GAO said.

Navy and Air Force officials interviewed by the GAO recognized the importance of locating a missing service member quickly, but the guidance issued by each service outlines response time frames with varying specificity, according to the report.

That gap results in different interpretations among officials regarding how quickly certain actions should be initiated, the report stated.

For example, some officials said they would alert the appropriate higher-level command of an absence within a few hours, while others said they would wait until the end of the day, the following day or potentially longer.

Some indicated they would contact installation law enforcement within a few hours of being unable to locate a service member, while others preferred to wait until the following day to give the service member an opportunity to return to duty without escalating the issue.

The GAO made 12 recommendations, including that the services also better address the role of mental health in unexpected absences and potential safety issues that could arise during the response process.

The watchdog agency also wants the Defense Department to issue a policy requiring guidance that commanders presume a service members absence indicates they may be in danger and that they consider absences most likely involuntary after a specific time period unless available information indicates otherwise.

That recommendation, also made to the Navy and Air Force, is in line with recent changes to Army policy.

The Defense Department concurred with the recommendations.
Tyler Valenzia, left, in a photo investigators say he sent to a 14-year-old girl in 2025, and his drivers license photo, right, as shown in an affidavit filed in federal court. (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia )



A former Marine sergeant who amassed more than 1.5 million followers across social media platforms is under federal indictment on child sexual abuse charges, court records show.

Tyler Valenzia, 27, is accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl over the course of about 10 months, according to filings made Feb. 10 in a U.S. district court in Virginia.

The charges include one count each of sexual abuse of a minor, coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and transportation of sexually explicit images of minors.

Valenzia enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2018 as a reconfigurable transportable consolidated automated support system technician and was stationed in San Diego. He left the service as a sergeant in May 2023, according to his website and court documents.

His online biography says he remained in San Diego after his discharge and focused on building (his) brand, live streaming, and inspiring others.

As a Marine, Valenzia frequently posted bodybuilding workout videos on his self-named TikTok and Instagram pages. In the years since he left the service, his posts became less frequent but focused on fitness and video game streaming.

Authorities began investigating him in late 2025, when the father of a 15-year-old girl reported finding alarming messages, including nude images sent to Valenzia on his daughters phone, according to a Jan. 20 indictment.

Investigators said the girl told them Valenzia first contacted her through a private message on his TikTok account in early 2025. Messages included in court filings show she repeatedly told him she was 14 and a freshman in high school.

Valenzia flew to Virginia in April 2025 to meet her in person, and the two engaged in sexual activity, authorities say. He traveled to Illinois three months later to meet her again, according to prosecutors.

An FBI agent posing as the girl set up a meeting with Valenzia at a Virginia mall, where he was arrested Jan. 19, the indictment states.

The case has drawn attention among military influencers on social media. An Instagram reel by Marine veteran and fitness influencer Tyson Sonnek alludes to a previous case involving Valencia.

According to court records, Valenzia solicited images of a sexual nature from a child in 2023. Because he had been discharged from the military around that time, the matter was referred to local law enforcement and no charges were ultimately filed, the affidavit states.

Valenzia is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday, the courts website shows.

Stars and Stripes reporter Matthew M. Burke contributed to this article
Conflicting information swirled on Feb. 11, 2026, on what caused the Federal Aviation Administration to close the airspace around Fort Bliss and El Paso, Texas, and what role the military may have played. (Jacob Lang/U.S. Army)



WASHINGTON  Top Democrats on three House committees on Wednesday called for the Pentagon, the Transportation Department and the Department of Homeland Security to hold a joint classified briefing to explain why El Pasos airspace was suddenly shut down last week.

Administration officials said the closure was in response to an incursion of drones from drug cartels, but reports also emerged that immigration agents had used an anti-drone laser on loan from the Pentagon to fire at a party balloon without consulting aviation officials.

The incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to declare a 10-day closure of the airspace around El Paso International Airport. The order was abruptly lifted about seven hours later.

The ranking members of the House Armed Services Committee (Rep. Adam Smith of Washington), Transportation Committee (Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington) and Committee on Homeland Security (Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi) said they have received little or no substantive information on what led to the events in El Paso despite repeated outreach to the departments.

We request a joint classified briefing as soon as possible to gain clarity into what led to the closure of airspace in the El Paso area and how your Departments plan to rectify the systemic failures in your C-UAS deployment process, the Democrats wrote in a letter sent Wednesday, referring to high-energy counter-unmanned aircraft systems.

The letter is addressed to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Your Departments are instrumental in protecting U.S. critical infrastructure and assets from the growing threat of malicious UAS operations, the lawmakers wrote, referring to unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones. However, these efforts must be appropriately coordinated to ensure the safety of the American people.

The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, also called for answers last week and said he wanted a full accounting of what had occurred in U.S. airspace and why parts of the federal government had given conflicting explanations.

The Department of Defense and the FAA must immediately present the facts, reconcile these discrepancies, and assure the American people that airspace security decisions are being made responsibly, transparently, and with public safety as the highest priority, Reed said.

A Pentagon official declined to comment on the House lawmakers request Wednesday, saying the department will respond directly to members of Congress. The Transportation Department and Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.

Confusion over what transpired in El Paso has also raised questions from Republicans. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and John Cornyn, also of Texas, said last week that they wanted a classified briefing on the incident from the Pentagon and the FAA.

Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican whose district will soon include parts of El Paso, said in an interview last week that more communication was needed as the military works with the Department of Homeland Security to intercept drones the Trump administration says are surveilling border agents and smuggling drugs.

Its important to keep lawmakers informed on whats happening on a regular basis, he said. The more transparent we can be and the more sharing of information that we can provide, then that offers less room for someone to make up some imaginary thing.

Contributing: Stars and Stripes reporters Rose L. Thayer and Matthew Adams
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it will stop forwarding the names of veterans appointed fiduciaries to the FBIs national database that screens and prohibits certain individuals from buying and possessing firearms. Gun shop dealer Frank Cobet, of California, shows a rifle to a customer in this 2015 photo. (Barbara Davidson, Los Angeles Times/TNS)



WASHINGTON  The Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will end a 30-year practice of reporting veterans who require fiduciaries to a Federal Bureau of Investigation database that screens and prohibits people from buying and possessing firearms.

The VA will no longer flag veterans as prohibited persons for inclusion in the FBIs National Instant Criminal Background Check System after they are appointed a third-party money manager to handle their disability payments and other financial benefits, the agency said.

The VA operates a fiduciary program to assist and protect veterans unable to manage their financial affairs on their own due to injury, disease or age, according to the agency. A family member typically is appointed to help.

When a VA beneficiary is unable to manage their VA benefits, we appoint and work closely with a fiduciary to ensure those funds are used in the beneficiarys best interest, the VA states on its website.

Going forward, the VA will only seek to include a veterans name in the FBI database after a court determines the individual is a danger to self or others, the agency said.

Gun Owners of America and the National Rifle Association were among gun rights groups Wednesday to laud the VA decision.

Losing your gun rights because you cant manage your checkbook is wrong and ridiculous. Veterans should not have fewer rights and protections than other Americans, said retired Air Force Col. Val Finnell, who directs the Pennsylvania chapter of the Gun Owners of America, a nonprofit advocacy organization.

The VA, in partnership with the Justice Department, is working to scrub the names of veterans currently in the FBI database because they were appointed fiduciaries.

This action reverses a longstanding VA policy that strips the Second Amendment rights of our veterans without any due process, said John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, the lobbying arm for the NRA.

Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, echoed support for the policy change.

Bost said he is seeking to advance legislation to the House floor to codify gun ownership protections for veterans assigned fiduciaries.

Republican lawmakers in both chambers introduced a bill to make it illegal for the VA to deny veterans the right to possess a firearm without due process, after they are appointed a money manager. The bill is pending a final vote.

But some Democratic lawmakers expressed opposition to changing VA policy.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said the VA restrictions should be kept in place and are effective in stopping troubled veterans from buying and possessing guns.

He warned that veteran suicides may increase without the controls. Veterans die by suicide at a higher rate than the non-veteran population.

Guns are used in the vast majority of veteran suicides, Blumenthal said. This administration should be focused on measures that will actually help end veteran suicide and make our communities safer.

The VA said it made the decision after consultation with the Justice Department.

It is both unlawful and unacceptable for veterans who serve our country to have their constitutional rights threatened, Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

Bondi said she is directing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to review its regulations and propose necessary changes to ensure that gun ownership rights of veterans are upheld.

Doug Collins, the VA secretary, said it was unfair for veterans who required outside assistance with their personal budgets to lose their gun rights.

Many Americans struggle with managing finances, Collins said.

The Justice Department concluded that the VA decision aligns with the Gun Control Act, the nations primary law for regulating the commercial firearms industry. The federal law bans felons, illegal drug users and persons determined by the courts to be mentally defective from owning firearms.

Finnell said his organization has worked for years to restore the gun rights of veterans who require money managers to handle their VA benefits.

Just because a veteran needs help with managing money does not mean they are mentally defective, Finnell said.
Angela Cabo Wednesday, 18 February 2026 | Updated 19/02/2026 11:09h. Share

The Great White shark remains the most feared predator in the ocean. While its presence in the Mediterranean is infrequent, the accidental capture of a specimen off Alicante in 2023 sparked fresh alarm about whether these apex predators are patrolling the waters of Andalucia.

AHowever, a recent study by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) provides a reassuring perspective.

According to researcher Jose Carlos Baez, while sharks do inhabit Andalusian waters, they are effectively absent from the Granada coastline.

There have been only six recorded sightings of Great Whites between Almeria and Huelva in the last 160 years - none of which occurred in Granada.

Baez explains that the likelihood of spotting a great white shark in the Mediterranean is "very low" but that they do use the Strait of Gibraltar as a passageway on their migratory journeys. Recent attacks by these sharks on sea turtles confirm their presence. "They are the only ones with the strength to break a shell," says the expert.

Do they attack people?

It is very rare for such a shark to come close to shore. The main reason is that they "need to swim constantly" explains the researcher. If they get close to the shore, they could get stranded on the sand and suffocate.

For this reason, Baez says that "it is very rare for a shark attack to happen" and adds that it only happens to people who go deep into the sea, like surfers or windsurfers.

In Spain encounters with great white sharks are practically non-existent, but not non-existent. "In 1862 there was an attack in Malaga and another in Tarifa in 1982," says the researcher.

Other species of the Costa Tropical

While there are no great whites in Granada, there are other types of sharks, for example the blue shark, which come very close to the shore in Salobrena. They use the currents to access feeding grounds. Jose Carlos affirms that, although their presence is quite common, "they are harmless".

Another animal that is easy to spot in the sea off the Costa Tropical is the basking shark. They can be look very imposing, reaching over ten metres in length and it is possible to see them on one of their migrations from the UK to the Mediterranean. The researcher explains that they come very close to the coast, so they are frequently seen. They feed on plankton or small organisms in the water and are not a danger to humans.

There is a great biodiversity on the Costa Tropical, with many species that nourish the beautiful seascapes. There is no danger for bathers of being attacked by a great white shark, but Jose Carlos Baez does note: "A jellyfish or a spider fish is much more dangerous than a shark."
Camilo Alvarez Granada Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 16:27 Share

Just one day after the connection on the high-speed line between Granada and Madrid was restored on Monday 16 February, following the Adamuz accident on 18 January, a new incident caused delays of almost an hour on Tuesday morning.

The first train of the day departed Granada on time but the speed limitations lengthened the journey to Madrid's Atocha station, with some trains arriving up to an hour late.

Delays accumulated on later trains, as a reporter from IDEAL, who travelled on the first AVE train to Madrid, was able to verify. The origin of the delays was the speed limitation on the repaired section of the line near Adamuz. Spanish railway operator Renfe explained that it was due to "an incident in the infrastructure" that caused a delay of "54 minutes".
Hector Barbotta Seville Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 17:12 Share

The regional government of Andalucia has activated its first major reconstruction strategy, the "Andalucia Actua Plan," following a devastating series of Atlantic storms.

The plan, which totals more than 1.78 billion euros, was approved following a meeting of the damage assessment committee at San Telmo Palace in Seville. Chaired by Junta president Juanma Moreno, the committee coordinated efforts across eight ministries to address the destruction left in six of Andalucia's eight provinces.

Moreno described the meteorological event as "unprecedented," noting that 11,000 people were evacuated from their homes. While thousands have returned, 773 residents remain displaced. "What was destroyed in a few hours will take much longer to rebuild," Moreno cautioned, emphasizing the complexity of the technical response required.

Budget breakdown: Where the 1.78 billion goes

The funding for the plan has been secured through budgetary modifications and is retroactive to 1 January 2026. The primary sector and regional infrastructure are the top priorities.

The plan has earmarked 700 million euros to aid farmers, those most affected by the weather event, and another 550 million euros for road repairs. Work will be done on approximately 1,000 kilometres of roads, where 594 serious incidents have been reported, according to the Junta's president.

There will also be 170 million euros for the repair of minor roads, livestock trails and irrigation systems and 137 million euros for the repair of water infrastructure.

There will be 78 million euros for school repairs, 13 millions for healthcare facilities and 50 million euros for municipal councils. Emergency repair work will start immediately and the plan will remain open for the approval of additional spending, aid or lines of credit if deemed necessary.

A substantial part of the approved plan consists of 35 million euros earmarked for direct aid to the self-employed and SMEs. The self-employed can apply for up to 2,000 euros, paid in instalments of 200 euros per month for ten months, from February to November.

An additional 3,500 euros per employee, also spread over ten months, can be added to this aid. In this way, each self-employed person with two or three employees (the average in Andalucia is approximately 2.5) will be able to receive between 9,000 and 12,500 euros, according to information provided by the Junta de Andalucia.

A unified response

Moreno emphasized that the 'Andalucia Actua' plan is designed to complement the central Spanish governments own 7 billion aid package (approximately $8 billion). The Junta has requested that Madrid activate the EU Solidarity Fund and reprogramme European funds to assist the region.

"The people of Andalucia expect coordination and collaboration," Moreno stated. "We are all going to work together so that the region can return to normality." While the Junta is using its own treasury surplus to begin emergency works immediately, the formal request for full EU assistance will follow a comprehensive damage assessment.
Netflix's CEO Ted Sarandos attends the 78th Annual DGA awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel (Crediy: Lisa O'Connor / AFP)

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos came out swinging after the streamer and Warner Bros. Discovery gave Paramount until Feb. 23 to submit a best and final offer, accusing David Ellison & Co. of flooding the zone with confusion for shareholders.

They dont really understand the deal, including floating all these hypothetical offers and talking directly to the shareholders and bypassing the Warner Bros. Discovery board, Sarandos told CNBC on Tuesday. So we have given the opportunity to get those shareholders exactly what they deserve, which is complete clarity and certainty about what the value of these deals are.

What were certain of is that the Netflix deal to acquire these assets is the best deal, generates the best value for their shareholders, Sarandos added. And [the Warner Bros. board] think so too. Thats why they recommended the deal and why they reiterated recommending that deal post this. So give them seven days to put their money where their mouth is.

During the seven-day period, Paramount and Warners board will discuss the unresolved deficiencies and clarify certain terms in the formers latest amended $30 per share offer, though Netflix retains the right to match any counter offer from Paramount. The media giant signaled its willing to bump its bid to at least $31 per share just to reopen talks, but said that isnt its best and final offer.

When asked about raising its bid to match Paramount, Sarandos replied: Thats not something you typically do with a phone call. And I dont want to get into the hypotheticals of what we do, what  of all these moves. Let them make a move and then we will see where the next step takes us.

Last December Netflix finalized its proposed deal to acquire the studios-and-streaming unit of WBD for $82.7 billion. Paramount has since made multiple hostile bids for all of WBD, appealing directly to shareholders, who will vote next month on the Netflix proposal. Paramount now has seven more days to negotiate with the board and potentially raise its bid to propose its best offer.

Sarandos also acknowledged in the interview that the deal has not been embraced by Hollywood as its seen rounds of cutbacks and consolidation in recent years.

People would say the preference would be there be no deal, he told CNBC. Thats what the unions would like. Thats what a lot of folks would like, no deal. But the Warner Bros. Discovery board has determined it was in their long-term best interest to sell these assets, so there is going to be a deal.

Netflix reiterated Tuesday that its deal with Warner Bros. would deliver more choice and greater value to audiences worldwide with expanded access to exceptional films and television at home and in theaters.
Jennie Rhodes Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 13:27 Share

Bernardo de Galvez led the Battle of Pensacola in 1781, which was a decisive moment in the victory over the British army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-83).

Born in Macharaviaya in 1746, De Galvez would go on to become governor of Louisiana and viceroy of New Spain. Such was the importance and influence of his family that in the 18th century, Macharaviaya was considered one of the nerve centres of major political and military operations worldwide. In fact, this small village in the Axarquia was known as 'Little Madrid' and played a decisive role in events that shaped the course of the modern world.

The importance of Bernardo de Galvez's role in the Revolutionary War was such that the island city of Galveston in Texas is named after him. The Order of Grenadiers and Ladies of Galvez, which was founded in San Antonio, Texas, in 1975 by Charles E. Barrera, Henry Guerra and the then Consul General Erik Martel to educate the public of Spain's and De Galvez's contribution to American independence.

Since 2014 De Galvez has been considered an 'honorary citizen' of the USA and a painting of him hangs in the Capitol building in Washington.

This year Macharaviaya is both organising and participating in a series of events to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States (America250).

The village's Galvez museum currently has an exhibition, Macharaviaya Universal, which runs until Sunday 8 March and focuses on the important connection between the small Axarquia village and the USA.

The collection includes an extensive specialised bibliography, original documents, authentic weapons from the period, posters, paintings and the costumes used in the traditional historical reenactment of the Battle of Pensacola, which is reenacted in the village to mark American Independence Day on 4 July

Further commemorative events throughout the year include the village's annual Fourth of July celebrations, which include a reenactment of the Battle of Pensacola with members of the Orden de Granaderos y Damas de Galvez de Macharaviaya in period costume.

There will also be an exhibition of the period costumes, made by members of the Orden, as well as other artifacts, which will travel around Spain, starting in Malaga in April.
The first passengers arriving in Malaga after the Adamuz section was repaired.

Ignacio Lillo Malaga Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 15:51 Share

The first passengers to use the train-bus high-speed service from Madrid after the Adamuz train crash arrived in Malaga around 12pm. There were only 50 of them, far from the 300 that a train can accommodate.

Among them were long-haul tourists who have Malaga as part of their Spanish itinerary, locals who want to visit the seaside and professionals who travel for work.

SUR spoke to some of the passengers, most of whom shared similar feelings of sadness knowing that they had passed through Adamuz, where two trains crashed a month ago, causing 47 deaths.

Alejandro works in digital marketing for a Madrid agency. Among his clients is a hotel in Benalmadena, which is why he travelled to Malaga on Wednesday.

Although other passengers said that they hadn't felt anything different about the route when passing through Adamuz, Alejandro said that he had felt vibrations. Everybody, however, noticed the train slowing down, as per the current speed restrictions.

"Life goes on and I will continue using the train"

What was most striking for Alejandro was to see some remains of the wrecked trains. "I felt a lot of grief and sadness for the victims' families," he said.

"It may sound very harsh, but something like this has had to happen for those at the top to do what they have to do," he criticised, before adding that "life goes on" and he has to continue using the train.

Foreign tourists were not as aware of the accident. Alberto from Mexico said that he only found out on Tuesday, because his train got cancelled. "The journey went well, although it was slower," he said.

Adriana came from Madrid for a short holiday with her boyfriend. "I knew we were going to pass through that stretch but I was asleep and didn't realise," she told SUR.

What she noticed was that the train was "quite empty". "I thought it would be more crowded, because the tickets are cheap," she said. Adriana said that fear hadn't stopped her from buying the tickets the day before and that the journey had gone smoothly.

"The journey was excellent, we didn't have any problems, although it was slower," said Jessica, who has travelled to Spain all the way from Colombia with her friends Hilary and Tatiana.

First journey to Madrid

The first passengers to take advantage of the partial "reopening" of the high-speed train line between Malaga and Madrid departed from the Costa del Sol by bus at 7.30am on Wednesday. The trip takes four and a half hours, with the speed restrictions near Adamuz.

After a complete reopening for Seville, Granada and Cordoba, the connection from Malaga still requires a bus transfer due to a landslide in Alora.

Following the first bus at 7.25am, there are six other buses to Antequera-Santa Ana at: 9.30am, 11.18am, 2.09pm, 3.20pm, 5.18pm and 7.30pm. In the opposite direction, from Madrid-Atocha, trains to Antequera-Santa Ana leave at: 7.20am, 9.35am, 11.35am, 1.35pm, 2pm, 3.35pm, 5.30pm and 7.50pm.

A more expensive early-bird connection is available at 5.13am on Thursday. The train arrives in Madrid at 10.06am. This service aims to facilitate travelling for workers. This journey, however, is almost five hours due to a stop at all intermediate stations.

State railway operator Renfe is the only company offering an alternative by road from Malaga to Madrid for the next two weeks.

The website has made available tickets for eight outbound and eight return journeys at an affordable price of 22.20 euros. These prices, however, are not fixed and have already started to climb.
Passengers getting on the first bus that left Malaga on Wednesday.

Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 15:52 Share

The first passengers to take advantage of the partial "reopening" of the high-speed train line between Malaga and Madrid departed from the Costa del Sol by bus at 7.30am on Wednesday. The trip takes four and a half hours, with speed restrictions near Adamuz.

State railway operator Renfe is the only company offering an alternative by road from Malaga to Madrid for the next two weeks.

The website has made available tickets for eight outbound and eight return journeys at an affordable price of 22.20 euros. These prices, however, are not fixed and have already started to climb.

Following the first bus at 7.25am, there are six other buses to Antequera-Santa Ana at: 9.30am, 11.18am, 2.09pm, 3.20pm, 5.18pm and 7.30pm. In the opposite direction, from Madrid-Atocha, trains to Antequera-Santa Ana leave at: 7.20am, 9.35am, 11.35am, 1.35pm, 2pm, 3.35pm, 5.30pm and 7.50pm.

A more expensive early-bird connection is available at 5.13am on Thursday. The train arrives in Madrid at 10.06am. This service aims to facilitate travelling for workers. This journey, however, is almost five hours due to a stop at all intermediate stations.

The high-speed line was closed for a month due to the train crash near Adamuz on 18 January. After a complete reopening for Seville, Granada and Cordoba, the connection from Malaga still requires a bus transfer due to a landslide in Alora.
Jennie Rhodes Malaga Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 16:05 Share

The Caledonian Society of Spain was formally inaugurated in Malaga city on Burns Night, Sunday 25 January, marking the launch of a new cultural society for people living in Spain with a connection to Scotland.

The inaugural gathering took place at the citys Calanmor Pub, and founding president of the society, James McSwiggan, says the evening combined a relaxed Burns Night celebration with the formal signing of the societys founding charter.

James, 40, who has lived in the province for five years, told SURin English that the evening which included poetry readings, the formal signing of the founding charter, address to the haggis and Selkirk Grace, a toast to the Lassies and reply, whisky tasting and music, was designed to bring together Scots and friends of Scotland living in Spain.

Bagpipes

James explained that since he has lived in Spain, he has discovered other similar societies around the country, as well as Highland dancing groups and of course the connections between Galicia, where the bagpipes - known as gaita - are a traditional instrument. The society intends to operate across Spain, with regular gatherings and special events such as Burns Night and St Andrews Day, he said.

James hopes that future events will include Highland Games on the beach and visits to Highland dance schools and Scottish cultural clubs in towns and cities across Spain.

James is originally from Clydebank, but lived in London for 20 years before moving to Malaga five years ago. He said that he has always maintained a strong personal connection to Scottish culture and community and with that connection in mind, he explained that the Caledonian Society of Spain was founded because while Spain has a long-established Scottish presence, there was no dedicated cultural society bringing people together in a way that felt settled, inclusive, and contemporary.

He wants to provide a welcoming cultural home for Scots and friends of Scotland living in Spain, focused on shared tradition, conversation, and community rather than formality or politics.

Spanish in Scotland

He says that Scotland has a way of staying with you, wherever you live and that the Caledonian Society is about creating a place where that shared connection can be enjoyed openly, through culture, conversation, and community. He added, Burns Night felt like the natural moment to begin.

James also pointed out that he has had a lot of interest from Spanish people who have spent time living in Scotland but have returned to their native country and are keen to maintain the links. Theres lots of enthusiasm and inquiries via the Facebook page he has set up.

As for Sundays Burns Night celebration, James points out that it has been planned to be deliberately informal rather than a full Burns Supper, reflecting the societys aim to be open, accessible, and welcoming from the outset

For further information go to: www.caledoniansociety.es or Facebook: The Caledonian Society of Spain.
Almudena Nogues Malaga Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 11:37 | Updated 12:25h. Share

Malaga is under a new weather alert as Storm Pedro arrives this Wednesday, February 18.

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued a yellow warning for coastal phenomena covering the Costa del Sol, the Guadalhorce Valley, and the Axarquia district. Residents should expect:

Winds: Westerly gusts between 50 and 60 km/h.

Sea Conditions: Waves reaching heights of two to three metres.

While Storm Pedro will impact France more severely, its effects are expected to be widespread across Spain, with 13 regions currently under warnings for wind, waves, or snow.

Timeline and regional impact

Malaga Province: The amber warning remains in effect from 12pm to 10pm on Wednesday. However, strong winds are expected to persist until late Thursday.

Almeria Province: Conditions will be more severe in the Valle del Almanzora and Los Velez, where an amber alert begins at 9pm for winds reaching 90 km/h.

Northern Spain: Snow is forecast at altitudes from 700 metres starting Thursday.

Temperature drop and outlook

According to weather expert Jose Luis Escudero, the main feature of this storm is the wind, which is expected to shift to an easterly direction by Friday.

Malaga city will experience a notable drop in temperatures. After a warm start to the week with highs of 24C, Thursday's temperatures will plummet to a range between 11C and 18C.

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Edurne Martinez Madrid Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 17:15 Share

Spain's airport operator Aena has approved the Dora III regulation document for the 2027-2031 period, which contemplates a total investment of around 12.9 billion euros. Among the measures, Aena has included a proposal to increase annual fees by 43 cents per passenger, which airlines are strongly opposing.

Aena has already submitted the plan to the state competition watchdog (CNMC). The Dora III document includes measures that would assist the country's airports in handling 1.69 billion passengers over the next five years.

According to Aena, even with the fee increase proposal, fares will remain at "very competitive" levels, allowing airlines to "remain highly efficient". In addition, the operator has reassured companies that the 43 cents are not fixed, as smaller airports will have lower fees.

Despite these guarantees, airlines have opposed this proposal through a joint statement. They believe that Aena "has underestimated" air traffic in the coming years and overestimated capital and operating costs.

According to them, the 1.3 per cent increase in passenger numbers forecast by Aena is not realistic. Airlines believe that the increase will actually be 3.6 per cent per year, which means that Aena's network will reach 401 million passengers in a single year in 2031.

According to the airline association (Ala), in the 2017-2025 period, actual passenger traffic was on average 15.3 per cent higher than Dora I and Dora II forecasts.

"Only in 2025, the difference between estimated and actual traffic reached 17.3 per cent. This mismatch has resulted in Aena obtaining a regulatory excess return of 1.3 billion between 2017-2025, which airlines and passengers have overpaid," the airlines state.
Aerial view of Arenillas, in the province of Soria, from the Arenillas Repuebla archive.

Domenico Chiappe Madrid Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 15:32 Share

The village of Arenillas, in Castilla y Leon, is searching for a family with children to move into a local house for free.

In exchange for the rent-free accommodation, the municipality is looking for new residents who are willing to work and contribute to the community.

It is part of an ongoing effort to repopulate the municipality, which has already seen several applications. The village has set two primary conditions: the family must have children and they must manage the local bar. Additionally, a job for a bricklayer is also being offered in the area.

Most natives of Arenillas moved to larger towns and cities over the decades, leaving the municipality at risk of disappearing. To combat this, several decades ago, the community renovated a number of buildings to create seven "social housing" units - a significant investment for a place with fewer than a hundred houses.

One of these homes is now vacant. While the monthly rent for the other six units is approximately 100 euros, the village is offering this specific house to new tenants free of charge.

Although the local school closed 30 years ago, the family will be provided with free daily transport to the school in Berlanga de Duero, located some 20 kilometres away. Rodrigo Gismera, a member of the Asociacion Sociocultural de Arenillas, confirmed that the association is still open for applications.

Gismera, who lives in Madrid but remains deeply connected to his ancestral village, noted that the exodus to cities began in the 1950s. "As fewer people were living in the village, the town hall, the locals and the association - which now has some 200 members - realised there was a shortage of housing and began renovating existing buildings," he explained.

This project took shape during the 1980s, transforming the closed school and the former doctors house with the help of subsidies.

"In an area where housing was virtually non-existent, Arenillas became like a lake in the desert," Gismera said.

While healthcare, education, and transport remain challenges, Gismera believes the repopulation efforts are working. "At least the bleeding has been stopped. Today, there are as many residents as there were 50 years ago."

Fewer than a dozen homes remain open year-round, but the village fills up during weekends and summers when owners return. "When I was a child, there were lots of collapsed houses, but people renovated them and now they're perfectly habitable," Gismera added.

With an economy rooted in livestock farming, the village offers a quiet rural life where shepherds live alongside retirees. The offer of free housing is designed to compensate for the fact that, as Gismera admits, "the bar doesn't generate much income."




*The annual cultural offering spread beyond Beijing, with secondary locations hosting stages in four other Chinese cities. Their selection signifies China's economy advancing across multiple sectors and transitioning towards high-quality development.

*Harbin embodies the rejuvenation of the old industrial base in the northeast, while Hefei represents the rise of China's central regions. Yiwu is an example of opening-up in the east, and Yibin is a transportation hub in the southwest.

*Together, they showcase China's diverse development.

BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- For many Chinese people, the Year of the Horse began officially with the opening notes of China Central Television's (CCTV's) "Spring Festival Gala." On Monday, the annual cultural offering spread beyond Beijing, with secondary locations hosting stages in four other Chinese cities.

These cities are Yibin in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Harbin in the northeastern Heilongjiang Province, Hefei in the eastern Anhui Province, and Yiwu -- probably the most familiar location for international viewers, famed as the "world's supermarket" -- in east China's Zhejiang Province.

"Their selection signifies China's economy advancing across multiple sectors and transitioning towards high-quality development," said Wang Ying, a researcher with the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics.

People select goods at Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Lu Peng)

TRANSFORMATION OF CHINA'S SMALL COMMODITIES HUB

Yiwu's selection was a nod to how far the city has progressed from its beginnings as a roadside market -- a journey which can be traced through families like Qian Rourou's.

As work for the holiday intensified, Qian, general manager of the Zhejiang Xiaohuoban Cultural Creativity Company, was busy planning the opening of a third store in the Global Digital Trade Center, which was the location of one of the "Spring Festival Gala" stages.

In 1995, her in-laws started the company with a 1-square-meter stall that sold stationery. A factory later followed, and today, the family operates six stores in the Yiwu International Trade Market, which is the world's largest small-commodities wholesale hub.

"We've been in stationery and creative products for more than 30 years, across two generations," Qian said. The company now employs its own designers and illustrators, develops original characters and builds virtual social communities around its brands. Roughly half of its products are sold overseas, reaching 132 countries and regions across Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

"What the gala shows global audiences is that Chinese creativity, aesthetics and brands are becoming part of everyday life," Qian said.

Foreign merchants experience an AI translation interactive device at the Global Digital Trade Center in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Ziyi)

Having opened officially in October 2025, the Global Digital Trade Center marks Yiwu's latest move in its transformation from a traditional wholesale model to a digitally integrated trade ecosystem.

More than 3,700 new merchants have since moved in, spanning eight emerging sectors like creative toys, smart equipment and fashion jewelry. More than half are young entrepreneurs, many of whom are running their own brands or sell IP-based products.

"There used to be a saying that Yiwu was just 'a porter of goods,'" said Zhu Xingping, the center's deputy general manager. "Now we are moving upstream into design and R&D, and downstream into services like payments and digital logistics to create new value and improve efficiency."

To tackle long-standing challenges ranging from design to overseas expansion, Yiwu has rolled out a suite of AI tools tailored to the small-commodities trade. Merchants can now generate designs, create visuals and translate promotional videos into multiple languages in just a few clicks.

"China's market is amazing," said Alik Mufalisev, a trader from Georgia who has been sourcing hair accessories in Yiwu for 15 years. "Otherwise I wouldn't keep coming back."

Infrastructure and policy have helped sustain that momentum behind the scenes. In 2025, Yiwu's total foreign trade surpassed 800 billion yuan (about 115 billion U.S. dollars) for the first time, according to local customs data. Exports rose more than 24 percent, and imports over 32 percent.

This undated photo shows an automated production line of the Maextro Super Factory in Feixi County, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua)

ELECTRIC VEHICLE, ICE SCULPTURE AND THE YANGTZE RIVER

More than 500 kilometers away in the rising innovation hub of Hefei, the night sky was lit up by a dazzling drone display featuring the city's iconic landmarks and dynamic imagery of galloping horses. A "Spring Festival Gala" stage had been erected inside the Luogang Park, which was once the site of a civil airport.

The sprawling park is one of many application zones that Hefei authorities have opened for the testing of new technologies, products and business models, and technology innovation enterprises have clustered around the park.

Jia Yajun has worked at Aistartek (Hefei) IC Design Co., Ltd. since he graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China. The firm was founded in 2022 and specializes in vehicle-mounted vision technology.

Jia, who has turned down job opportunities in major cities, and his team have been busy developing core algorithms for intelligent cameras for the automotive sector. "The gala has brought Hefei's technological innovation capabilities into the global spotlight," Jia said, highlighting the city's robust sci-tech atmosphere, solid industrial foundations and support for entrepreneurs to translate technological achievements into industrial benefits.

Gong Xianzu, head of division of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) Physics and Experimental Operations, observes data during an experiment in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

And a broader innovation blueprint is taking shape, with Hefei achieving breakthroughs in cutting-edge fields such as controllable nuclear fusion and quantum technology. Emerging industries like new energy vehicles (NEVs) and photovoltaic energy storage have also flourished there, contributing to regional development.

Notably, Hefei is home to China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), which has been dubbed an "artificial sun" due to its unique fusion process that simulates that of the sun. Last year, EAST broke a world record by maintaining a steady-state, high-confinement plasma operation for 1,066 seconds.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), emerging industries such as NEVs, photovoltaics, and low-altitude, shipbuilding and marine engineering equipment expanded rapidly, enhancing the reputation of the "Made in China" label. The country has committed to implementing a series of initiatives and actions aimed at developing and strengthening emerging and future industries further during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

In Hefei, the output value of strategic emerging industries accounts for more than 60 percent of the total for designated-scale industries, according to its municipal government's 2026 work report. Over the past five years, its number of new R&D institutions has doubled to 63, and it now has more than 10,000 national high-tech enterprises.

While Yiwu and Hefei made their debut appearances on the televised gala, China's "Ice City" of Harbin had been selected for the third time, underscoring the momentum of China's ice and snow economy.

People visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

From 2016 to 2024, the scale of China's ice and snow industry surged from 364.7 billion yuan to 980 billion yuan, and is expected to have surpassed 1 trillion yuan in 2025, according to the 2025 China Ice and Snow Economy Development Report.

The stage was set in the iconic Harbin Ice-Snow World. The world's largest ice and snow theme park opened for this year's winter season on Dec. 17, unveiling its most spectacular offering yet, featuring magnificent ice sculptures across a record 1.2 million square meters.

"Harbin will present an extravaganza blending tradition and fashion, folk culture and international style, as well as ice, snow and technology," Lan Feng, head of Harbin's publicity department, said ahead of the show. "It is our hope that the charms of the Ice City will reach the world through the window of the 'Spring Festival Gala.'"

A drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2025 shows a view of the Yibin Port in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo by Zhuang Geer/Xinhua)

This wish has been echoed by Liu Yuwei, deputy director of the Bureau of Ecology and Environment of Yibin City.

Yibin is known as the first city on the Yangtze River, and for its unique geographical location, as well as its rich historical and cultural heritage. Boasting a history of 2,200 years, it is today famed for its liquor, bamboo, tea and green industries, and is world's largest single-site power battery production base.

"The 'Spring Festival Gala,' an iconic cultural event in China, has given Yibin exposure to promote ecological civilization development," Liu said.

On the four secondary venues, Liu Daqiao, a writer in Sichuan who used to work for the publicity department of Yibin City, said: "Harbin embodies the rejuvenation of the old industrial base in the northeast, while Hefei represents the rise of China's central regions. Yiwu is an example of opening-up in the east, and Yibin is a transportation hub in the southwest."

"Together, they showcase China's diverse development," he said.

(Video reporters: Ji Hang, Huang Xiao, Liu Che and He Shan; video editors: Lin Lin and Wei Yin)

*The annual cultural offering spread beyond Beijing, with secondary locations hosting stages in four other Chinese cities. Their selection signifies China's economy advancing across multiple sectors and transitioning towards high-quality development.

*Harbin embodies the rejuvenation of the old industrial base in the northeast, while Hefei represents the rise of China's central regions. Yiwu is an example of opening-up in the east, and Yibin is a transportation hub in the southwest.

*Together, they showcase China's diverse development.

BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- For many Chinese people, the Year of the Horse began officially with the opening notes of China Central Television's (CCTV's) "Spring Festival Gala." On Monday, the annual cultural offering spread beyond Beijing, with secondary locations hosting stages in four other Chinese cities.

These cities are Yibin in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Harbin in the northeastern Heilongjiang Province, Hefei in the eastern Anhui Province, and Yiwu -- probably the most familiar location for international viewers, famed as the "world's supermarket" -- in east China's Zhejiang Province.

"Their selection signifies China's economy advancing across multiple sectors and transitioning towards high-quality development," said Wang Ying, a researcher with the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics.

People select goods at Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Lu Peng)

TRANSFORMATION OF CHINA'S SMALL COMMODITIES HUB

Yiwu's selection was a nod to how far the city has progressed from its beginnings as a roadside market -- a journey which can be traced through families like Qian Rourou's.

As work for the holiday intensified, Qian, general manager of the Zhejiang Xiaohuoban Cultural Creativity Company, was busy planning the opening of a third store in the Global Digital Trade Center, which was the location of one of the "Spring Festival Gala" stages.

In 1995, her in-laws started the company with a 1-square-meter stall that sold stationery. A factory later followed, and today, the family operates six stores in the Yiwu International Trade Market, which is the world's largest small-commodities wholesale hub.

"We've been in stationery and creative products for more than 30 years, across two generations," Qian said. The company now employs its own designers and illustrators, develops original characters and builds virtual social communities around its brands. Roughly half of its products are sold overseas, reaching 132 countries and regions across Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

"What the gala shows global audiences is that Chinese creativity, aesthetics and brands are becoming part of everyday life," Qian said.

Foreign merchants experience an AI translation interactive device at the Global Digital Trade Center in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Ziyi)

Having opened officially in October 2025, the Global Digital Trade Center marks Yiwu's latest move in its transformation from a traditional wholesale model to a digitally integrated trade ecosystem.

More than 3,700 new merchants have since moved in, spanning eight emerging sectors like creative toys, smart equipment and fashion jewelry. More than half are young entrepreneurs, many of whom are running their own brands or sell IP-based products.

"There used to be a saying that Yiwu was just 'a porter of goods,'" said Zhu Xingping, the center's deputy general manager. "Now we are moving upstream into design and R&D, and downstream into services like payments and digital logistics to create new value and improve efficiency."

To tackle long-standing challenges ranging from design to overseas expansion, Yiwu has rolled out a suite of AI tools tailored to the small-commodities trade. Merchants can now generate designs, create visuals and translate promotional videos into multiple languages in just a few clicks.

"China's market is amazing," said Alik Mufalisev, a trader from Georgia who has been sourcing hair accessories in Yiwu for 15 years. "Otherwise I wouldn't keep coming back."

Infrastructure and policy have helped sustain that momentum behind the scenes. In 2025, Yiwu's total foreign trade surpassed 800 billion yuan (about 115 billion U.S. dollars) for the first time, according to local customs data. Exports rose more than 24 percent, and imports over 32 percent.

This undated photo shows an automated production line of the Maextro Super Factory in Feixi County, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua)

ELECTRIC VEHICLE, ICE SCULPTURE AND THE YANGTZE RIVER

More than 500 kilometers away in the rising innovation hub of Hefei, the night sky was lit up by a dazzling drone display featuring the city's iconic landmarks and dynamic imagery of galloping horses. A "Spring Festival Gala" stage had been erected inside the Luogang Park, which was once the site of a civil airport.

The sprawling park is one of many application zones that Hefei authorities have opened for the testing of new technologies, products and business models, and technology innovation enterprises have clustered around the park.

Jia Yajun has worked at Aistartek (Hefei) IC Design Co., Ltd. since he graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China. The firm was founded in 2022 and specializes in vehicle-mounted vision technology.

Jia, who has turned down job opportunities in major cities, and his team have been busy developing core algorithms for intelligent cameras for the automotive sector. "The gala has brought Hefei's technological innovation capabilities into the global spotlight," Jia said, highlighting the city's robust sci-tech atmosphere, solid industrial foundations and support for entrepreneurs to translate technological achievements into industrial benefits.

Gong Xianzu, head of division of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) Physics and Experimental Operations, observes data during an experiment in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

And a broader innovation blueprint is taking shape, with Hefei achieving breakthroughs in cutting-edge fields such as controllable nuclear fusion and quantum technology. Emerging industries like new energy vehicles (NEVs) and photovoltaic energy storage have also flourished there, contributing to regional development.

Notably, Hefei is home to China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), which has been dubbed an "artificial sun" due to its unique fusion process that simulates that of the sun. Last year, EAST broke a world record by maintaining a steady-state, high-confinement plasma operation for 1,066 seconds.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), emerging industries such as NEVs, photovoltaics, and low-altitude, shipbuilding and marine engineering equipment expanded rapidly, enhancing the reputation of the "Made in China" label. The country has committed to implementing a series of initiatives and actions aimed at developing and strengthening emerging and future industries further during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

In Hefei, the output value of strategic emerging industries accounts for more than 60 percent of the total for designated-scale industries, according to its municipal government's 2026 work report. Over the past five years, its number of new R&D institutions has doubled to 63, and it now has more than 10,000 national high-tech enterprises.

While Yiwu and Hefei made their debut appearances on the televised gala, China's "Ice City" of Harbin had been selected for the third time, underscoring the momentum of China's ice and snow economy.

People visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

From 2016 to 2024, the scale of China's ice and snow industry surged from 364.7 billion yuan to 980 billion yuan, and is expected to have surpassed 1 trillion yuan in 2025, according to the 2025 China Ice and Snow Economy Development Report.

The stage was set in the iconic Harbin Ice-Snow World. The world's largest ice and snow theme park opened for this year's winter season on Dec. 17, unveiling its most spectacular offering yet, featuring magnificent ice sculptures across a record 1.2 million square meters.

"Harbin will present an extravaganza blending tradition and fashion, folk culture and international style, as well as ice, snow and technology," Lan Feng, head of Harbin's publicity department, said ahead of the show. "It is our hope that the charms of the Ice City will reach the world through the window of the 'Spring Festival Gala.'"

A drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2025 shows a view of the Yibin Port in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo by Zhuang Geer/Xinhua)

This wish has been echoed by Liu Yuwei, deputy director of the Bureau of Ecology and Environment of Yibin City.

Yibin is known as the first city on the Yangtze River, and for its unique geographical location, as well as its rich historical and cultural heritage. Boasting a history of 2,200 years, it is today famed for its liquor, bamboo, tea and green industries, and is world's largest single-site power battery production base.

"The 'Spring Festival Gala,' an iconic cultural event in China, has given Yibin exposure to promote ecological civilization development," Liu said.

On the four secondary venues, Liu Daqiao, a writer in Sichuan who used to work for the publicity department of Yibin City, said: "Harbin embodies the rejuvenation of the old industrial base in the northeast, while Hefei represents the rise of China's central regions. Yiwu is an example of opening-up in the east, and Yibin is a transportation hub in the southwest."

"Together, they showcase China's diverse development," he said.

(Video reporters: Ji Hang, Huang Xiao, Liu Che and He Shan; video editors: Lin Lin and Wei Yin)
The European Commission (EC) has approved a higher dose of Novo Nordisks Wegovy (semaglutide), marking a win for the drugmaker as it looks to recover competitiveness in the weight loss market.

The authorisation means a new 7.2mg once-weekly maintenance dose of Wegovy will be available for adults with obesity. The approval follows a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agencys (EMAs) scientific committee (CHMP) in December 2025.

The higher dose adds to previous injectable Wegovy doses of 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.7mg, and 2.4mg. The 7.2mg dose is administered as three 2.4mg injections in one sitting. Novo has separately applied for approval of a 7.2mg single-dose pen in the EU, the company says market launch could come later this year pending approval.

Data from around 2,000 patients across two Phase III trials demonstrated that the 7.2mg dose led to 21% body weight loss. As per previous studies, patients on the 2.4mg pen lost an average of 15% of their body weight.

Novos executive vice president of international operations, Emil Kongshj Larsen, said: This approval is another important step in helping people living with obesity reach very significant weight loss. The new dose gives healthcare professionals even more flexibility to tailor treatment and help people with obesity achieve their weight loss and health goals.

Wegovy 7.2mg was approved in the UK in January 2026 and is currently under review in the US. The latter is being expedited via the US Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) Commissioners National Priority Voucher (CNPV) programme.

Marketing a higher dose version of Wegovy is key component of Novos strategy to gain back market share in the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) market. Eli Lilly has gained a dominant position in the weight loss sector with its GLP-1RA tirzepatide, branded as Mounjaro for obesity in Europe. Mounjaros highest approved dose in Europe is 15mg.

Mounjaro generated approximately $23bn in global revenue in 2025, while Zepbound  the US brand name for obesity  contributed $13.5bn. Global revenue for Wegovy reached $12.5bn. The obesity market across the seven major markets (7MM: the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan) is forecast to reach $173.5bn by 2031, as per GlobalData analysis.

GlobalData is the parent company of Pharmaceutical Technology.

Alongside the 7.2mg launches, Novo will be pinning much of its growth hopes on oral Wegovy (semaglutide), which launched in the US in January 2026 as the first GLP-1RA pill for obesity after gaining approval in December 2025. UBS analysts project 400,000 prescriptions for Novos pill in Q1 2026, signifying strong uptake for the new treatment modality. Novo Nordisk confirmed in its 2025 earnings call that there had been 50,000 prescriptions for the pill by the end of January 2026.
Nvidia (NVDA) and Meta (META) announced an expanded multiyear, multigenerational partnership that will see Nvidia provide the social media giant with millions of its Blackwell and Rubin graphics processing units (GPUs), as well as its central processing units (CPUs) and networking offerings.

The plan calls for Meta to use the products within its data centers for both training and running AI models.

Nvidia didn't reveal a dollar amount for the expanded deal, though it said that Meta will roll out the chips in its own data centers and lean on those available via Nvidia Cloud Partners. Nvidia's Cloud Partner program includes companies like CoreWeave (CRWV) and Crusoe, which host Nvidia chips for other companies to rent and use.

"No one deploys AI at Meta's scale  integrating frontier research with industrial-scale infrastructure to power the world's largest personalization and recommendation systems for billions of users," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a statement.

Nvidia stock rose over 1%, while Meta shares pulled back on Wednesday.

"Through deep codesign across CPUs, GPUs, networking, and software, we are bringing the full Nvidia platform to Meta's researchers and engineers as they build the foundation for the next AI frontier," Huang said.

In addition to the GPUs, Nvidia said Meta is rolling out its first large-scale Grace CPU-only servers, with plans to launch Vera CPU-only systems in 2027. These would be similar to the more traditional servers Meta operates using Intel chips and wouldn't include any GPUs.

That kind of move could prove problematic for Intel and AMD, which have dominated the CPU server space for decades.

Meta will also use Nvidia's Confidential Computing, which enables private data processing via its GPUs, in its WhatsApp messaging app.

AI-related stocks have taken a beating since the start of 2026 amid persistent concerns about spending.

Meta's stock price has fallen 3.3%. Microsoft (MSFT) has been hit particularly hard, with its stock declining more than 17% since Jan. 1.

Chip stocks have also cooled in recent months as investors question whether high-powered GPUs are necessary to power all AI applications or if more specialized chips will eventually take over. Those fears have gained more traction as Nvidia customers, including Amazon (AMZN), Google (GOOG, GOOGL), and Microsoft, have rolled out newer versions of their own AI chips.

In November, The Information reported that Meta was in talks with Google to use its TPU chips for AI applications.
The word "Autopilot" is synonymous with Tesla. Whenever we hear this, we always know that Tesla electric vehicles can operate without human intervention.

The EV maker has successfully sidestepped a 30-day suspension of its sales and manufacturing licenses in California after removing the term "Autopilot" from its vehicle marketing. This decision allows the company to continue selling its cars uninterrupted in its largest U.S. market, ending a nearly three-year regulatory dispute.

Background on the DMV Case

TechCrunch recalled that in November 2023, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) accused Tesla of misleading advertising, arguing that terms like "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving" overstated the capabilities of its driver assistance systems. Regulators contended that these labels could mislead consumers into thinking the systems operated without driver supervision.

Tesla initially addressed the concerns by updating its marketing language, changing "Full Self-Driving Capability" to "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" to clarify that drivers must remain attentive. However, the company continued using the Autopilot name, prompting the DMV to seek a 30-day suspension of Tesla's sales and manufacturing licenses through an administrative law judge.

Read more: Tesla Quietly Retires Model S and X as Elon Musk Redirects the Factory to Humanoid Robots

Corrective Action Prevents Suspension

After the DMV provided Tesla 60 days to comply, the company discontinued the use of "Autopilot" across California, as well as in the U.S. and Canada. The DMV confirmed that these measures were sufficient to avoid the proposed license suspension, effectively resolving the regulatory dispute.

Full Self-Driving Subscription Model

Alongside these marketing changes, Tesla is encouraging adoption of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. Previously available for an $8,000 one-time purchase, the updated FSD Supervised system is now offered via a $99 monthly subscription.

CEO Elon Musk has indicated that the subscription fee may increase as additional capabilities are added.

Outside his Tesla business, Musk acknowledged that the SpaceX-xAI merger will bring the "most ambitious" engine thanks to the power of artificial intelligence.
What started as a simple police error quickly spiralled into a criminal case  ending with a 40-year-old Dutch man in handcuffs.

Authorities in the Netherlands arrested the man after he allegedly demanded something in return for deleting confidential police documents he received due to an official mistake. What may have appeared to him as leverage for mistakenly sharing sensitive files for personal gain instead became grounds for his arrest.

How A Simple Mistake Led To Serious Trouble

The incident began on Thursday, February 12, when the man contacted Dutch police regarding images he claimed could assist in an ongoing investigation.

According to authorities, an officer intended to send the man a secure upload link so he could submit the images. Instead, due to an error, a download link was sent, granting the man access to confidential police documents.

Despite what police described as an obvious mistake, the man proceeded to download the files.

Refusal To Delete Files Without Something in Return

When officers discovered the error, they contacted the man and instructed him to stop downloading the files and delete any materials he had obtained.

Authorities allege that he refused, stating he would only comply if he received something in return. Police interpreted this as an attempt to extort a reward.

On Thursday evening, around 7:00 PM, officers arrested the suspect at his residence on Prinses Beatrixstraat in Ridderkerk for computer hacking. His home was searched, and data storage devices were seized in an effort to secure the confidential files to prevent possible dissemination.

Could It Be Computer Trespass?

In a public statement, Dutch police said that knowingly downloading files from a link that was clearly sent in error could constitute computer trespassing under Dutch law.

If you receive a download link, while you know that you should get an upload link, it is clearly said that it is not downloaded and chooses to download the files anyway, then you may be guilty of computer trespassing, the police said.

The recipient can reasonably assume that the download link and the files that are shared with it are not intended for him.

No Evidence Of Further Distribution

Police have reported the data breach and launched a formal investigation. So far, authorities say they do not indicate that the confidential documents were distributed beyond the suspects possession.

Officials stressed that recipients of misdirected confidential materials have a legal obligation to report the mistake and refrain from accessing or retaining such information  regardless of how it was received.

The police have no indication that the files were distributed further. They are following protocol for data breaches. The police are continuing their investigation, the police added.

A Reminder About Handling Sensitive Information

The case underscores how quickly a technical mistake can escalate, and how attempting to exploit such an error can carry serious legal consequences. What began as a routine exchange of information ended with an arrest for computer hacking and an ongoing investigation into a data breach.

As for the suspect, who allegedly sought something in return, it turned out to be something far from what he may have expected.
Octopus Energy Generation has announced an investment of nearly $1bn (736m) in Californian clean technology, focusing on carbon removal and renewable energy projects.

The funding will support two companies in California working to restore grasslands and forests, converting degraded land into areas that absorb carbon dioxide.

Several large technology companies have already agreed to purchase the resulting carbon credits.

Octopus Energy Generation will also invest in heat battery technology developed in California's Bay Area, aiming to reduce emissions from industries that are challenging to electrify by replacing fossil-fuel-powered boilers with systems that run on renewable power.

As part of its expansion, the company will buy a solar and battery project in California, expected to be operational by July 2026.

This initiative follows previous investments by the company in US clean technology infrastructure, with Octopus targeting a total of $2bn in investment in the US energy sector by 2030.

California produces more than two-thirds of its electricity from renewable sources and plans to reach 100% by 2045.

The UKs clean energy sector has also grown rapidly, outpacing overall economic growth.

These developments are part of Octopus Energy Generations broader efforts to support the transition away from fossil fuels.

The company already supplies renewable electricity to households in Texas and continues to invest in solar and offshore wind projects across the US.

Octopus Energy Generation CEO Zoisa North-Bond said: Octopus and California are both leading the way in clean energy innovation. With supportive policy and world-class entrepreneurship in and around Silicon Valley, it is an ideal place to back long-term investment partnerships that will benefit the UK economy.

We are excited to expand Octopus internationally, backing the booming US clean tech sector while bringing innovation, growth and returns to the UK.

The investment announcement coincided with a visit on Monday by the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, to Octopus Energy's headquarters in London.

"Octopus Energy plans $1bn investment in Californian clean technology" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Coffee regions hit by extra days of extreme heat: scientists



Paris, France, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



The world's main coffee-growing regions are roasting under additional days of climate change-driven heat every year, threatening harvests and contributing to higher prices, researchers said Wednesday.

An analysis found that there were 47 extra days of harmful heat per year on average in 25 countries representing nearly all global coffee production between 2021 and 2025, according to independent research group Climate Central.

Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Ethiopia and Indonesia -- which supply 75 percent of the world's coffee -- experienced on average 57 additional days of temperatures exceeding the threshold of 30C.

"Climate change is coming for our coffee. Nearly every major coffee-producing country is now experiencing more days of extreme heat that can harm coffee plants, reduce yields, and affect quality," said Kristina Dahl, Climate Central's vice president for science.

"In time, these impacts may ripple outward from farms to consumers, right into the quality and cost of your daily brew," Dahl said in a statement.

US tariffs on imports from Brazil, which supplies a third of coffee consumed in the United States, contributed to higher prices this past year, Climate Central said.

But extreme weather in the world's coffee-growing regions is "at least partly to blame" for the recent surge in prices, it added.

Coffee cultivation needs optimal temperatures and rainfall to thrive.

Temperatures above 30C are "extremely harmful" to arabica coffee plants and "suboptimal" for the robusta variety, Climate Central said. Those two plant species produce the majority of the global coffee supply.

For its analysis, Climate Central estimated how many days each year would have stayed below 30C in a world without carbon pollution but instead exceeded that level in reality -- revealing the number of hot days added by climate change.

The last three years have been the hottest on record, according to climate monitors.
Snow storms disrupt air and road travel, cut power in Romania



Bucharest, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



Snow storms disrupted air travel, closed roads and schools and cut power to tens of thousands of people across Romania on Wednesday, the authorities said, placing the country on high alert.

Blizzards and heavy snow hit the centre, south and east of the country, cutting power to more than 166,00 homes across 10 regions, said officials.

"It's a severe weather phenomenon," Florinela Georgescu, director of forecasting at Romania's meteorological agency, told the Digi24 channel. "It's probably the most violent this winter."

As of 0900 GMT, no planes had taken off from Bucharest's Otopeni airport, where 30 centimetres (12 inches) of snow covered the streets. Five flights had already been cancelled and another five had been redirected to other airports.

At Henri-Coanda international airport, snow had forced the closure of two landing strips, the interior ministry reported.

Public transport in Bucharest was seriously disrupted by the snow and trains were arriving at the central station more than six hours later, AFP journalists noted.

The snow also forced the closure of motorways and main roads in several parts of the country, the country's traffic police said.

In Bucharest alone, the emergency services had to clear 241 trees and 18 posts carrying power lines, brought down by the weight of the snow, and many vehicles, snowed in, had to be abandoned, said the interior ministry.
Man missing in floods as France hit by record 35 days of rain



Saintes, France, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



A man has gone missing in the Loire River in the flood-hit west of France, an official said, as the country on Wednesday marked a record-breaking streak of 35 consecutive days of rain.

National weather service Meteo-France said the country was experiencing its longest series of rainy days since measurements began in 1959, breaking the 2023 record.

Four departments in western France were placed under red alert over the risk of flooding, with officials expecting the situation to worsen with the arrival of Storm Pedro, which is poised to batter swathes of western Europe.

"It's incredibly distressing, really. Every morning we see the water coming closer and closer," said Isabelle Molinari, who lives in the western town of Saintes north of Bordeaux.

"And with tomorrow's storm, I reckon it'll rise even further."

The mayor of Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, activated the southwestern city's emergency plan, the first time since record floods in 1999.

In the western town of Chalonnes-sur-Loire, which is located on the left bank of the Loire, a man went missing on Tuesday evening after his canoe capsized, said senior official Francois Pesneau.

"We are deploying resources, but there is objectively very little chance of finding this person," he said, citing strong currents and cold water.

Nine departments were placed on orange alert, the second-highest.

In Saintes, Environment Minister Mathieu Lefevre, who wore a red life jacket over his suit, toured the flooded streets in a small boat.

Several central streets were flooded, as was the Arch of Germanicus, a historic monument which marked the entrance to the town in Roman times, AFP journalists saw.



- 'Climate disruption' -



"We're dealing with an exceptionally large-scale phenomenon," said Lefevre.

"The flood warnings have now been in place for 33 days."

He said that once the water recedes, work will have to be carried out "to make cities more resilient to episodes that are likely to become more severe and more frequent due to climate disruption."

In total, around 50 streets and 900 homes have been flooded, according to local officials, who are preparing for weather conditions to worsen.

"The flood peak is not expected before Saturday or Sunday," said mayor Bruno Drapron.

Benjamin Cholet, who lives in Saintes, said he had been using temporary wooden walkways for the past few days.

"If you really have to go out, then you end up doing a bit of a balancing act," he said. "But I'm mainly thinking of my neighbours, who are much older than I am. So I think it's more difficult for them."

On Wednesday morning, several flood evacuees stayed in a shelter set up in a local gymnasium, complete with blankets and hot drinks.

"This is the first time this has happened to me. I completely panicked," said one of the evacuees, Francoise Helin, 52, who lives in a house with her wheelchair-bound mother, 81.

"The water rose suddenly today. The nurses couldn't even access our house anymore," she added.

The new rainfall expected on Wednesday and Thursday could "fuel the current floods", said Lucie Chadourne-Facon, director of flood alert service Vigicrues.

The affected regions will see drier weather from Friday, she told reporters, adding however that "the end of the rain does not mean the end of the flooding."

"A return to normal conditions will then occur very gradually," added Chadourne-Facon.

imk-ame-ld-ban-jmi-dep-as/ah/yad
US energy chief says IEA must 'drop' focus on climate change



Paris, France, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



US Energy Secretary Chris Wright urged the International Energy Agency on Wednesday to abandon its work on climate change and focus instead on energy security.

"I want to get the other support of all the nations in this noble organisation to work with us, to push the IEA to drop the climate. That's political stuff," Wright said at a ministerial meeting of the agency in Paris.

Wright threatened last year to pull the United States out of the IEA -- which was founded to coordinate responses to disruptions of supplies after the 1973 oil crisis -- unless it reformed the way it operates.

The IEA was created "to focus on energy security", Wright said on Wednesday.

"That mission is beyond critical and I'm here to plead to all the members (of the IEA) that we need to keep the focus of the IEA on this absolutely life-changing, world-changing mission of energy security," the former fracking magnate said.

Speaking earlier, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol insisted that the Paris-based agency was a "data-driven" organisation.

"We are a nonpolitical organisation," he added.
Environmental groups sue Trump administration over scrapped climate rule



Washington, United States, Feb 18 (AFP) Feb 18, 2026



A coalition of environmental and health groups filed suit Wednesday against the Trump administration's repeal of a key scientific finding that underpinned federal climate regulations.

The action taken in a Washington appeals court argues that Republican President Donald Trump's move -- which eliminated greenhouse gas standards on automobiles and placed a host of additional rules in jeopardy -- was illegal.

Trump's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday rejected the accusation, insisting in a statement to AFP that it had "carefully considered and reevaluated the legal foundation" of the finding.

The federal body said it concluded it did not have statutory authority to set automobile emissions standards "for the purpose of addressing global climate change concerns."

"Unlike our predecessors, the Trump EPA is committed to following the law exactly as it is written and as Congress intended -- not as others might wish it to be," the agency said in the statement.

The 2009 "endangerment finding," which said greenhouse gases harm public health, was core to years of federal climate policy.

Its rollback was broadly condemned by environmental groups and many Democrats, and legal action was expected.

According to the coalition, the Trump administration's justifications for the repeal do not hold water and have already been litigated.

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed the endangerment finding multiple times -- most recently in 2022, when the court's composition was much the same as today. It's likely the issue eventually will land there once again.

The case was brought by a broad group of organizations including the American Lung Association, the Clean Air Council, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity.

"We're suing to stop Trump from torching our kids' future in favor of a monster handout to oil companies," said David Pettit, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement.

"Nobody but Big Oil profits from Trump trashing climate science and making cars and trucks guzzle and pollute more," Pettit said. "The EPA's rollbacks are based on political poppycock, not science or law, and the courts should see it that way."



- 'Shortsighted' -



Trump, 79, has dismissed concerns that the repeal could cost lives by worsening climate change, reiterating his belief that human-caused global warming is a hoax.

The administration has framed the measure as a cost-saving move, claiming it would generate more than $1 trillion in regulatory savings and bring down new car costs by thousands of dollars.

The endangerment finding was a determination based on overwhelming scientific consensus that six greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare by fueling climate change.

It came about as a result of a prolonged legal battle ending in a 2007 Supreme Court decision, Massachusetts v. EPA, which ruled that greenhouse gases qualify as pollutants under the Clean Air Act and directed the EPA to determine whether they pose a danger to public health and welfare.

While it initially applied only to vehicle emissions, it later became the legal foundation for a broader suite of climate regulations, which are now vulnerable.

Joanne Spalding of the Sierra Club said in a statement Wednesday that the Trump administration's move would have "disastrous consequences for the American people, our health, and our shared future."

"This shortsighted rollback is blatantly unlawful and their efforts to force this upon the American people will fail."
Hello and welcome to Eye on AI, with Sharon Goldman filling in for Jeremy Kahn. In this edition: What OpenAIs OpenClaw hire really meansThe Pentagon threatens Anthropic punishmentWhy an AI video of Tom Cruise battling Brad Pitt spooked HollywoodThe anxiety driving AIs brutal work culture.

It wouldnt be a weekend without a big AI news drop. This time, OpenAI dominated the cycle after CEO Sam Altman revealed that the company had hired Peter Steinberger, the Austrian developer behind OpenClawopen-source software to build autonomous AI agents that had gone wildly viral over the past three months. In a post on his personal site, Steinberger said joining OpenAI would allow him to pursue his goal of bringing AI agents to the masses, without the added burden of running a company.

OpenClaw was presented as a way to build the ultimate personal assistant, automating complex, multi-step tasks by connecting LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude to messaging platforms and everyday applications to manage email, schedule calendars, book flights, make restaurant reservations, and the like. But Steinberger demonstrated that it could go further: In one example, when he accidentally sent OpenClaw a voice message it wasnt designed to handle, the system didnt fail. Instead, it inferred the file format, identified the tools it needed, and responded normally, without being explicitly instructed to do any of that.

That kind of autonomous behavior is precisely what made OpenClaw exciting to developers, getting them closer to their dream of a real J.A.R.V.I.S., the always-on helper from the Iron Man movies. But it quickly triggered alarms among security experts. Just last week, I described OpenClaw as the bad boy of AI agents, because an assistant that is persistent, autonomous, and deeply connected across systems is also far harder to secure.

Some say OpenAI hire is the best outcome

That tension helps explain why some see OpenAIs intervention as a necessary step. I think its probably the best outcome for everyone, said Gavriel Cohen, a software engineer who built NanoClaw, which he calls a secure alternative to OpenClaw. Peter has great product sense, but the project got way too big, way too fast, without enough attention to architecture and security. OpenClaw is fundamentally insecure and flawed. They cant just patch their way out of it.

Others see the move as equally strategic for OpenAI. Its a great move on their part, said William Falcon, CEO of developer-focused AI cloud company Lightning AI, who said that Anthropics Claude productsincluding Claude Codehave dominated the developer segment. OpenAI, he explained, wants to win all developers, thats where the majority of spending in AI is. OpenClaw, which is in many ways an open source alternative to Claude Code, and became a favorite of developers overnight, gives OpenAI a get out of jail free card, he said.
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The cause of death of Victoria Jones, the 34-year-old daughter of Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, has been disclosed.

Jones was found unresponsive in the early hours of New Years Day 2026 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.

According to a report released by the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Victoria died from an accidental overdose caused by the toxic effects of cocaine.

She is the second child of Tommy and his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley, to whom he was married from 1981 to 1996. They also share a son, Austin, who is 43.

Victoria played minor roles as an actor in her fathers films as a child, appearing in Men in Black II, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and teen TV series One Tree Hill. Victoria did not continue acting as an adult, but frequently appeared alongside her father on red carpets around the world.

In a 2006 interview with The New Yorker, Tommy praised his daughter while promoting their western Three Burials, saying: Shes a good actress, has her SAG [Screen Actors Guild] card, speaks impeccable Spanish. When she was a baby, I told Leticia, her nurse, to speak to her in Spanish.

He recalled her getting acclimatised to life as an actor. She had to get up at 5am for her part, he told the magazine. One morning, she wouldnt get out of bed. I said, Honey, this is work. But she wouldnt budge.

So I fired her. Then, without telling me, the production staff went over and woke her and rushed her out to the set just in time.

At the time of Victorias death, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department said: Our units responded to the scene, performed an assessment and declared one person deceased. The local police department and medical examiners office then took over.

According to court records obtained by the New York Post, Victoria was arrested at least three times in 2025, including an apprehension on drug charges in Napa County, California, in April. She pleaded not guilty, according to the Post.

Tommy Lee Jones and daughter Vctoria, who was died aged 34 on New Years Day ( Getty Images )

Tommy Lee Jones is one of Americas most respected actors, known for acclaimed performances in films like JFK, No Country for Old Men, and Lonesome Dove.

He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1993 for his role in The Fugitive, co-starring Harrison Ford.

He married his third wife, Dawn Laurel, in 2001.
Victorian author Bram Stoker penned his chilling masterwork Dracula in the gaps between gruelling shifts working at the West Ends Lyceum Theatre  its story was inspired by his experiences toiling for a boss he worshipped, but was metaphorically (if not literally) sapping his lifeblood. Theres probably not much hed recognise about this bracingly 21st-century take on his tale, staged just a few streets away at the Noel Coward Theatre. But perhaps Stoker would have some respect for how hard its star Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) is working, as she attempts to embody all 23 characters in this tale, while hounded by film cameras, corralled by stage crew and oppressed by blinding white lights.

Director Kip Williams has brought out the same cinematic toolbox he used for sumptuous, Sarah Snook-starring 2024 hit The Picture of Dorian Gray. Alas, this time it feels effortful rather than fluent  and Erivo seems too stressed to offer more than the odd glimpse of Draculas coolly gothic allure.

Watching this take on Dracula is an odd experience, even if youre used to avant-garde theatres love affair with screens. A huge, cinema-style display hangs over the stage, showing footage thats being shot on the fly by technicians scurrying around below. A lot of the audience will have been lured by the prospect of seeing Erivo in the flesh. Theyre likely to be disappointed. Weirdly, shes often barely visible as stagehands change her wigs, or camera operatives wheel round her to get a close-up on her worried face.

Instead, Williams directs us to look at the big screen, where she interacts with pre-filmed versions of herself decked out as the other roles in the story: truth-seeking lawyer Jonathan Harker, his brave wife Mina, the troubled Lucy, and ludicrously wigged vampire expert Van Helsing. We open in the dimly-lit gloom of Draculas castle, where Harker finds a suave monster sleeping in the earth of his ancestral castle. Then, Williams transports us to the dazzling brightness of the Whitby seaside, where Mina tries to understand her friend Minas sudden sickness and strange wanderings.

Williams methodology in Dorian Gray and its follow-up The Maids was all about creating beautiful, treacherous surfaces that show us the dangers of an image-obsessed society. Theres less of an obvious thematic fit between story and approach here. Instead, it feels like Williams is mainly interested in excavating the queer metaphor encoded in Stokers tale. He emphasises how characters are irresistibly drawn to Dracula, even though hell destroy them  just as Stoker (widely believed to be a closeted gay or bisexual man) was lured into intense, hero-worshipping relationships with men in the homophobic London he lived in.

open image in gallery Kip Williams has taken a completist approach to Dracula, cramming in all the novels twists and turns even when they dont add much to the experience ( Daniel Boud )

It's refreshing to see Erivo get to own her queerness on stage, too, licking her lips lasciviously as a lace-decked Lucy whos in sexual thrall to an androgynous Dracula  or strutting confidently in a masculine vest with silver chains (a welcome escape from her feminine get-ups in Wicked). She unleashes her ethereal voice to haunting, vulpine effect in the final scenes, where she finally gets to embody Draculas power on a bare stage, unobscured by tech and crowds.

Its a glimpse of how much better this show could be if it called on Erivos formidable vocal power and charisma, instead of testing her memory. Williams has taken a completist approach to Dracula, cramming in all the novels twists and turns even when they dont add much to the experience. Erivos delivery is often halting (in early performances, she was rumoured to have used an autocue). And its understandable, when shes forced to plough her way through Stoker's long narrations and dash from mark to mark, barely pausing for breath.

open image in gallery Erivo is subjected to the theatrical equivalent of the beep test ( Daniel Boud )

A solo show should be a chance for an actor to show an audience what they can do  and who they are. Williams doesnt always let Erivo do that. Instead, he subjects her to the theatrical equivalent of the beep test (the terror of school PE lessons), in service of an overly elaborate production thats not satisfying either as a play or as a film. But theres a lethal potency to the moments where she does make this Dracula her own: a Nigerian-accented, androgynous monster in a blood-red wig who knows that its when people love that theyre at their most vulnerable.

Dracula is at the Noel Coward Theatre in London until 30 May
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Katherine Ryan has publicly criticised the father of her 16-year-old daughter for the first time, claiming he never pays for anything or makes sacrifices for Violet.

The comedian, 42, raised Violet alone after splitting from her ex, whom she met on the comedy circuit in Canada. They split after moving to Britain in 2011, and Ryan has never shared his identity.

She said that he is not really involved in Violets life, and has now branded him a no-contact parent. She declared in a new interview: He hasn't been the type of dad that you would want for your daughter.

Ryan said shes been careful never to s*** him off previously because she didnt think it was the right thing to do  but feels Violet is now old enough to draw her own conclusions.

I really protected him while my daughter was young  I would never say anything bad about him, the stand-up comic told podcast Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald.

But now she's 16, she can see for herself that, unfortunately, he's not a bad person, but he's never made any sacrifices, never paid anything for her, just kind of texts her, which I think is breadcrumbing.

Ryan, who also has three children with husband Booby Koostra, has been reticent to discuss the subject of Violets father in the past, stating in 2019 Netflix special Glitter Room: He's my child's dad, and for that reason I shall never say a bad word about him.

open image in gallery ( Getty Images for SXSW London )

However, she has now hit out at the minimal contact he keeps with Violet, stating: All you have to do with a teenage girl is drive to the mother's house, send her a text, and go, Do you want to come get a Starbucks with me? It's all they have to do.

She continued: "If not, I'll go get you a Starbucks. I'll drop it off. You come to the car, I'll give it to you, say, Hey, how are you? I love you. Here's your Starbucks, bye. No pressure.'

Ryan said she thinks she would be a great non-contact parent because it's so easy.

The flow goes one way  parent to child. Just make yourself available, make some type of sacrifice.

Ryan previously said she enjoyed the years she spent alone with Violet and called her single motherhood era a wonderful decade

open image in gallery Katherine Ryan with teenage daughter Violet (Ian West/PA)

Speaking to Kate Thornton on the White Wine Question Time podcast, Ryan reflected: I dont think being a single mother explicitly was a struggle.

The Duchess star explained: Being a single mother is fantastic and rewarding, and you know that you cant rely on anyone else so you just do it and you do it without resentment, because you dont have an example of another adult who isnt doing it and you dont have to consult with anyone.

You know exactly where you stand, and you have this unique life experience.
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Whoopi Goldberg has shut down speculation that she was associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein after her name was mentioned in newly released files.

In the name of transparency, my name is in the files, yes! Goldberg, 70, said on Tuesdays episode of The View.

The panelist went on to read the May 2013 email to Epstein, in which someone said that Goldberg needed a plane to get to Monaco for a charity event thrown by Julian Lennon, and asked if Epstein wanted to offer up his private jet for the job.

Goldberg read out loud: They dont want to charter, so they are looking for private owners. Heres the info, and they give all the information and they are saying do you want to offer your G2?

Epstein then responded: no thnaks [sic].

open image in gallery Whoopi Goldberg addressed her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein during Tuesday's episode of 'The View' ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery Whoopi Goldberg's name was mentioned in the Epstein files because she was looking for private transportation to Monaco in 2013 ( Department of Justice )

Goldbergs co-host Joy Behar chimed in on the exchange Tuesday, So, in other words, anybody can be on this list?

The Sister Act star responded, maintaining her innocence in relation to the crimes Epstein was accused of: This is my point because when I tell you, people are trying to turn me into  I wasnt his girlfriend, I wasnt his friend. I was not only too old [for him], but it was at a time where this is just not  you used to have to have facts before you said stuff.

In response to Behar mentioning that Donald Trump is named in the Epstein files, Goldberg responded: I cant speak to him, but Im speaking about me because Im getting dragged.

People actually believe that I was with him. Honey, come on. Every man Ive been with, youve known about him because either the Enquirer wrote about it. People wrote about this stuff. So, no, Goldberg said, adding, I didnt get on the plane because you know what I would have to do to get on the plane?

open image in gallery Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019 ahead of his federal trial for charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors ( US Department of Justice )

Goldberg was referencing her famed fear of flying, which lasted for over three decades after she witnessed a mid-air collision in 1978. She overcame her phobia around 1990 by taking a course and learning to use medication to manage her anxiety.

Hundreds of high-profile figures  including Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe  have been named in the Epstein files, although the overwhelming majority of the Department of Justices files on Epstein reportedly remain unpublished.

The co-hosts of The View have been outspoken advocates for the files being released in full in hopes of providing justice for Epsteins victims.

Epstein, a convicted pedophile who pleaded guilty to procuring a child for prostitution in 2005, was arrested in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors, to which he pleaded not guilty. Before the federal case went to trial, Epstein died in a New York jail cell.
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Youve got to be strong enough to withstand the praise as well as the condemnation, Tony Blair, now aged 72, tells audiences in the new Channel 4 documentary series, The Tony Blair Story. This, as the show demonstrates, is a man who knows a thing or two about praise and an awful lot about condemnation. And from his childhood in Scotland, through Oxford and county Durham to Downing Street and beyond, the story of Anthony Charles Lynton Blair proves easier to tell than to judge.

Over the course of three episodes  succinctly titled Who Are You?, Iraq, and The Loss of Power  The Tony Blair Story charts the course of one of Britains most impactful post-war premierships. Beginning with Blairs family life, education and political conversion (his father was a lifelong Conservative member), the show develops alongside its protagonist. It canters through his election in Sedgefield in 1983, the forging of a stunningly effective pact with Gordon Brown, and his elevation, in 1994, to leader of the Labour Party. That all serves to arrive, midway through the first episode, at the landslide of the 1997 election. A radical, in the words of the author Robert Harris, he was the Labour equivalent of Margaret Thatcher. But, as with most political biographies, the arc of The Tony Blair Story soon begins to nosedive towards calamity.

At the heart of all this is the figure of Blair, who sits for an extensive interview with the films director and narrator, Michael Waldman. Its very important to understand about me, Blair warns, Im not into psychoanalysis. Its a (telling) fact that he repeats a couple of times over the course of the narrative, and it vacates much of the introspection to his friends (Anji Hunter, Alastair Campbell, Sally Morgan) and critics (Clare Short, Jeremy Corbyn). Quickly, the show becomes about Blairs contested legacy, particularly in relation to the Iraq war, about which he remains unapologetic. I think hell go to his grave genuinely thinking it was the right thing to do, Campbell judges his old boss, while Blair himself offers a series of exsanguinated opinions. History goes on a long time, he proposes, rather lamely.

And while Waldman is attempting to do a thorough first draft of the Blair years, The Tony Blair Story feels lopsided. The simplicity of the three-act structure (rise, decline, fall) means significant foreign policy achievements in Northern Ireland and Kosovo are skated over, while almost no room is left for domestic considerations like the economic growth or the rise in environmental and equalities legislation. The show is in a rush to get to Iraq, where the human drama of New Labour reaches its most frenzied pitch. But the narrative gets trapped between breaking its stride for a longer rumination on the foreign policy debacle, which makes the Iraq segment feel overlong, and failing to do any sort of justice to the complexity of the conflict (existing, as it does, in the shadow of the BBCs excellent Once Upon a Time in Iraq series). This is a frequent issue with documentaries that employ a dogged linearity: the pacing makes everything feel perfunctory.

Aiding the series, however, is access to the man himself, as well as his wife Cherie and three of his children (Euan, Kathryn, and Leo). There are some notable absences (both Gordon Brown and George W Bush are much discussed, but arent interviewed), and time has robbed us of the testimony of figures like John Prescott and Robin Cook, who mightve curbed the sycophantic tendency. But international figures like Bill Clinton and Condoleezza Rice offer a global perspective, while most of the key voices from the administration (Campbell, Jonathan Powell, and Peter Mandelson, appearing in spite of the recent allegations concerning his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein) give their opinions. Like Blair, the show isnt much interested in psychoanalysis ([Blair] provokes a kaleidoscopic range of opinions, Waldmans narration concludes somewhat unimaginatively), but ranges confidently through the years, largely retaining its focus on the self-possessed figure at its heart. And Blair makes for a fascinating subject. Depicted with unflinching consistency through the years, he comes across as the opposite of a chameleon; someone able to change the world to match his colours.

Blairs detractors may find themselves disappointed at the profiles soft touch and respect for the former leader. His fans will, doubtless, think the show overindulges in his failures. In reality, the series might have been more creatively successful if it had tried to tell a smaller story, either the early years that informed his political ideology and the birth of New Labour, or his new life, having left office, grappling for influence in occasionally unsavoury ways. Instead, The Tony Blair Story takes the third way  a middle path  and, like the man himself, focuses more on delivery than motivation.
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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Brandi Glanville is sharing an update on her facial disfigurement, revealing it was caused by a parasite that developed from ruptured breast implants.

Glanville, 53, first revealed in December 2024 that she had a suspected parasite on her face and paid $70,000 for treatment. However, her health challenges continued in the year that followed, with Botched co-host Dr. Terry Dubrow telling her in January 2025 that her facial disfigurement was actually from an infectious process or a foreign body reaction to something shes had injected.

She has since spoken openly about the condition on social media, sharing candid photos of her disfigurement as she underwent biopsies, and even teasing in December that she finally received a diagnosis that she would share soon.

Now, Glanville is officially revealing that news, telling TMZ that she definitely had a parasite, which led to the facial disfigurement. However, after further testing, she learned that the parasite was caused by a rupture of her decades-old breast implants.

I was shocked, because theyre implants that Ive had for almost 20 years, they looked fine, they felt fine, the mammogram said they were fine, it wasnt until I had a sonogram, she told the outlet Wednesday. I was like, Maybe just check that too, why not?

open image in gallery Brandi Glanville says she was shocked to learn her ruptured breast implants caused a facial parasite ( Getty )

open image in gallery Glanville first experienced facial disfigurement in 2024 ( X/@BrandiGlanville )

She said that she was urged to get her implants looked at after checking everything else and seeing 21 doctors.

You really should change your breast implants every ten years, and I just didn't, she said. I learned a really, really hard lesson.

Glanville  who starred on RHOBH from 2011-2016 and reappeared from 2019-2020  expanded on the condition during an interview with Inside Edition prior to having surgery to remove the implants. I had a complete rupture on the right, she told the outlet. Silicone was in all of my lymph nodes. Im feeling petrified.

Her plastic surgeon, Dr. Ariel Ourian, also spoke about the procedure, calling the reality stars case really complicated.

It is torn, it is ripped, and this is actually much worse than I had expected, he said of Glanvilles right implant, while noting that the second implant was intact. I think shes going to be really happy with putting in fresh, new implants that have a lower risk of rupture.

open image in gallery Glanville ( Getty Images for Rock of Ages Ho )

A week later, Glanville told Inside Edition she was already feeling better. I may have been isolated for three years, its been hell, she said. But now I want to live my life again. Im ready.

Aside from the facial disfigurement, Glanville previously opened up about the jarring symptoms of her illness. In April 2025, she was rushed to the hospital after being unable to move her head and neck.

My head and neck would not move for four hours this morning. I could not get out of my bed, she told her followers on X. I called 911, had a lovely trip in the ambulance. Now I am at this amazing place after sitting in a wheelchair in the waiting room for four hours.

When asked what she thought triggered the illness, Glanville said she believed she had been infected by a previously undiscovered species of human ectoparasite while filming Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip in Morocco in 2022.
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Dame Prue Leith says that walking the runway at 86 is ludicrous, but insists that is precisely why she enjoys it, as she returned to the catwalk for Vin + Omi at London Fashion Week.

The broadcaster and restaurateur walked the runway in a pink ruffled shirt and orange suit, with a floral headpiece for the design duos latest eco-collection, JORD  the day before her 86th birthday  in a show that also marks a new collaboration with the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Her tailored suit was made from fabric developed using waste clippings of holly from the Kings Sandringham Estate, part of the designers ongoing collaboration with the King. Fellow guest model, editor-in-chief of the Evening Standard Dylan Jones, wore a similar holly-based look, reinforcing the collections central material innovation.

The partnership with the BHF follows designer Omi recently suffering two heart attacks and being diagnosed with heart disease.

For the first time in Vin + Omis 24-year history, selected one-off catwalk pieces will be made available to the public, with garments upcycled from BHF shop stock and then gifted back to the charity. All proceeds will remain with the BHF to fund research and raise awareness of heart disease. Items will go live on the charitys eBay store at 1pm on February 18.

As the music began, the atmosphere in the room shifted immediately. A dreamy soundtrack layered with subtle nature elements set an ethereal, almost otherworldly tone, underscoring the collections environmental message.

Technicolour dominated the runway, with tones clashing and softening in equal measure, while distressed textures and punctured or holed fabric treatments introduced the punk undertone Vin + Omi are famed for; exemplifying the message that sustainability doesnt have to be muted.

Reworked textiles from nettle, butterbur and wood clippings from Sandringham featured alongside recycled metal textiles made from RAF waste cans.

Ahead of the show, Dame Prue told the Press Association that her first experience walking for the brand was far from a traditional fashion show.

She said: I had the idea that it would be a conventional kind of catwalk show. You know, we walk 25 yards down a catwalk, turn around, walk back there. But they said, we dont have to do that.

The first time she walked the runway for the designers was in 2024, and she recalled: I did find it quite difficult, because, those models [have] all got long, long legs, and they walk so fast. And I  an old lady  am puffing along in the background.

Before stepping onto the runway this season, she admitted she did not know exactly what she would be wearing.

I have no idea, she said. I know its going to be made out of holly  which sounds very prickly.

I was surprised that you could turn willow bark into something like linen, and so Im sure you could do the same with holly.

On the night, her structured orange suit contrasted sharply with the softness of the pastel-heavy collection, the pink ruffles and floral headpiece adding theatrical flourish as she made her way down the runway in trainers.

While Dame Prue is happy to be dressed up in just about anything, when asked if there was anything she would refuse to wear, she simply said a bikini.

They know I like to look good, whatever it is, and Im quite glamorous, she added. I dont want to look ludicrous, although I think we come quite close.

Dame Prue, who is known for her bold glasses and bright clothes, says her style came more with age and also with my second marriage.

She added: Because my husband is a fashion designer, hes retired now but he spent all his life in womens fashion.

He buys all my clothes, so between Vin and Omi and [my husband], I never have to go shopping  I absolutely loathe shopping  the only kind of shopping I like is food in a French market.

Reflecting on turning 86, she says she feels much more cavalier about what people think than she did when she was younger.

Writing her forthcoming book, Being Old, has prompted her to consider how she has continued to grow up throughout her life.

You think youre grown up at 25, but you go on growing up, she said. If someone has a go at you on social media, its distressing, but in the great scheme of things its yesterdays newspaper.

That perspective, she says, informed her decision to step away from The Great British Bake Off after nine years.

She added: When youre 86, you dont have unlimited time left. I loved it, but I want to do other things.

Among those ambitions is seeing one of her eight novels adapted for screen. Asked who might play her in a biopic, she suggested Phoebe Waller-Bridge, citing her anarchic quality.

As for the runway, Dame Prue will be wearing trainers, having given up high heels around a decade ago. Im quite wobbly now, even in trainers, she says. I cant walk in a straight line  Id look like a drunken sailor.

After the finale, she returned to the runway with the designers to applause. The show ended with a surprise birthday celebration in her honour, with the audience singing Happy Birthday as she prepares to turn 86 on February 18.

Its funny, an 86-year-old woman walking down the catwalk  of course its funny, she laughed. I just hope I look nice. I dont like to look a fright.
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The debate is over!

A lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings and its boneless wings has been dismissed after a judge ruled it had no meat on its bones. The proposed class action lawsuit was brought in 2023 by customer Aimen Halim, who claimed the restaurant deceived customers by selling boneless wings that were not actually de-boned chicken wings.

Halim alleged in the saucy complaint that the menu item was essentially a chicken nugget.

However, Judge John Tharp Jr. in Chicago tossed the suit Tuesday, noting in his ruling that Halim sued Buffalo Wild Wings over his confusion, but his complaint has no meat on its bones.

"Despite his best efforts, Halim did not 'drum' up enough factual allegations to state a claim," the judge added.

A lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings was dismissed this week after a judge ruled it had no meat on its bones ( Getty Images for Buffalo Wild Wi )

The judge also noted that words can have multiple meanings and that buffalo wing refers to the type of sauce on the wing, according to ABC 7.

The lawsuit stems from Halims 2023 visit to his local Buffalo Wild Wings, when his meal failed to meat his expectations.

"Unbeknownst to Plaintiff and other consumers, the Products are not wings at all, but instead, slices of chicken breast meat deep-fried like wings. Indeed, the Products are more akin, in composition, to a chicken nugget rather than a chicken wing," Halim argued in the lawsuit.

He didnt just wing it with the suit. Halim alleged that the marketing and advertising of Buffalo Wild Wings boneless wings was false and duped customers in violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, among other claims.

However, Buffalo Wild Wings argued that the Seventh Circuit had recognized that many literally false statements are not deceptive. The restaurant chain also pointed to another wing alternative it offers: A Cauliflower wing.

A reasonable consumer would not think that BWWs boneless wings were truly deboned chicken wings, reconstituted into some sort of Franken-wing, the judge wrote.

"If Halim is right, reasonable consumers should think that cauliflower wings are made (at least in part) from wing meat. They don't, though," he added.

Despite granting the chain's request to dismiss the case, Tharp gave Halim until March 20 to amend his lawsuit to present any additional facts that would allow the case to go ahead.
Ovintiv, a North American exploration and production (E&P) company, has signed a definitive agreement to divest its Anadarko assets in Oklahoma, US, for $3bn in cash to an unnamed buyer.

The deal involves a transfer of approximately 360,000 net acres, which constitutes nearly all of the company's holdings in that region.

Current production figures for February indicate around 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd). This includes daily output of nearly 27,000 barrels (bbl) of oil and condensate, 240 million cubic feet of natural gas and 23,000bbl of natural gas liquids.

The transaction is pending normal closing conditions and adjustments, and is set to conclude early in the second quarter of 2026 (Q2 2026), with 1 January 2026 marked as the effective date.

Ovintiv has engaged Wells Fargo as its financial adviser and Kirkland & Ellis as its legal adviser for this transaction.

In conjunction with this development, Ovintiv intends to disclose its full-year and Q1 2026 projections along with an updated shareholder return framework.

Ovintiv president and CEO Brendan McCracken said: This transaction marks a significant milestone by focusing our portfolio, delivering on our debt target and unlocking increased returns to our shareholders.

We have built one of the deepest premium inventory positions in our industry in the two most valuable plays in North America, the Permian and the Montney. This positions us to deliver superior returns for our shareholders for many years to come.

Earlier this month, Ovintiv completed the previously announced $2.7bn (C$3.68bn) acquisition of NuVista Energy. The cash and stock deal expands Ovintivs position in Albertas liquidsweighted Montney play by adding around 140,000 net acres and an inventory of roughly 930 net drilling locations.

The company expects the acquired portfolio to contribute around 100,000boepd of average production in 2026. Because the assets are contiguous with Ovintivs existing footprint, they can be integrated into current operations and benefit from nearby processing and downstream takeaway infrastructure with meaningful spare capacity.

In November 2024, Ovintiv entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Montney assets from Paramount Resources in an all-cash deal worth around $2.37bn.

This acquisition, which closed last month, aims to bolster Ovintiv's presence in the Montney area, bringing in approximately 70,000boepd and 109,000 net acres, with 80% of the land remaining undeveloped.

These assets are positioned close to Ovintivs current operations and benefit from access to midstream infrastructure with available capacity.
Jeremy Kings recent broadside against influencers  published in The Standard with the weary authority of a restaurateur who has seen every dining fad come and go  struck a nerve this week because it described something many diners have seen first-hand.

King said he had seen guests treating his restaurant, The Park in London, less as somewhere to dine than somewhere to perform. Influencers arriving with suitcases of outfits. Photoshoots staged in the lavatories. Groups blocking facilities while filming. Staff forced into the awkward role of bystanders as the dining room became, in effect, a set. Not fleeting irritations but repeated patterns of behaviour which, he argued, disrupted service and unsettled other guests.

His response was equally direct. A sign at reception now makes the house position clear, warning against disruptive filming practices  ring lights, tripods and anything liable to disturb other diners. In other words: come to eat, not to shoot content.

King is not alone in attempting to draw boundaries around modern dining behaviour. At his sushi omakase counter, Endo Kazutoshi has banned phones entirely. Atmosphere is not decoration. It is discipline, he explains. Phones introduce distance. Even a small screen can become a wall.

Borough Market has introduced restrictions on when and how filming can take place. Chris DSylva, founder of London restaurant Dorian, keeps a logbook of diners behaviour and has publicly declared he will not be offering complimentary meals in exchange for influencer coverage  a stance delivered, inevitably, via social media.

On one level, the frustration is entirely understandable. Restaurants are carefully choreographed spaces. They run on timing, flow and the fragile illusion that every guest is sharing the same experience. Few diners would argue that blocking lavatories for a photoshoot or leaving dishes to go cold while camera angles are perfected  with flash  enhances the atmosphere. It is, plainly, irritating.

But the leap from condemning bad behaviour to banning influencers as a category is where the argument begins to wobble.

The difficulty is that influencer is not a behavioural trait. It is an occupation, and an increasingly common one at that. Social media creators now occupy a peculiar position in the dining ecosystem: commercially powerful, culturally unavoidable, yet still treated in some quarters as frivolous interlopers rather than working media figures.

For many people, influencer content and videos are what people see first when they are exposed to a new restaurant and this is what entices them to go, restaurant PR Hannah Lovell tells me. It even works on me. If I see multiple people on socials at the same restaurant, it does entice me to go. Creators have the power to convert bookings, for sure.

This is less an ideological defence of influencer culture than a description of how diners now behave. Visibility precedes judgement. Reels have replaced newspaper columns as the first encounter with a restaurant. Even I am guilty of looking up a restaurant on social media before deciding to visit, checking their tagged posts to see what other people have said about it. Whatever one thinks of this shift, it is already deeply embedded in consumer decision-making.

Nor does the caricature of creators rampaging through dining rooms with blinding lights capture the whole picture. Many operate with a degree of discretion bordering on invisibility. I usually capture my videos unannounced to showcase the experience in a relaxed manner, showing realistically what its like to dine at the restaurant, says Rebecca Casserly, also known as @BoopFoodie, with an audience of over 145,000 across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. I aim as much as possible to not show any other restaurant guests in my videos, usually book an early or late table so I can film while its quiet, and ask for a window seat so I can avail of natural lighting.

Many influencers care deeply about food, but restaurants are not places where they can behave as they please. Hugh Richard Wright, restaurant PR

Shes been doing this for years, knows how to capture content without causing a fuss and cant remember a time when a restaurant has complained. One Michelin-star restaurant in the countryside couldnt believe it when I posted a video of their restaurant, she tells me. They were so grateful for the beautiful review and support, particularly during these tough times.

We try to keep it as low-key as possible. I would hate to ruin someone elses dining experience.

Her account might not persuade hardened sceptics, but it punctures the idea that all creators are agents of chaos. For some, this is simply their job.

Restaurant operators, notably, often describe a reality that is far less apocalyptic than the rhetoric implies. Influencers have been a big part of our journey, says Flora McTeare, co-owner of the newly opened Khao Bird in London. Yes, you occasionally get the odd annoying person, but by and large, weve had a very positive experience, and influencer content can sometimes be equally as impactful as mainstream media, giving you access to a community all over the world of food fanatics.

For India Morris, founder of hospitality agency Pear, its a targeting problem rather than a cultural menace. Influencers have their place in the hospitality industry, she says, but a lack of understanding means the relationship can be tricky on both sides. The right influencer can increase bookings as long as theyre brand-appropriate and actually interested in what theyre talking about. We like to use the term key opinion leaders  those with loyal local networks and followers that trust what they say. This is so key when localising brands into a new city.

That final point is easily overlooked in a London-centric debate. King is discussing the capital, a city with dense restaurant coverage, legacy critics and an entrenched food media class. Elsewhere, the dynamics are not remotely the same. In cities such as Manchester, where there is no equivalent residential food press operating at scale, social media figures and locally trusted voices often play a far more decisive role in shaping where people actually book. The likes of Eating With Tod, whose social media audience dwarfs the readership of the top 10 British newspapers put together, are no longer fringe curiosities but central players in how restaurants achieve visibility.

open image in gallery One of Londons most photographed food destinations has already had to draw lines around filming ( Getty/iStock )

Seen from that vantage point, the question is not whether they should exist, but how relationships are managed without eroding the dining experience.

Which returns us to the more coherent distinction. Being old, I remember this same discussion taking place when influencers started taking their professional cameras into restaurants, using flash and tripods, says Hugh Richard Right, a restaurant PR and communications expert. The issue isnt really should influencers be banned? Its how you communicate to influencers  many of whom are absolutely lovely people who care deeply about food  that restaurants are not places where they can behave as they please, and that other people are affected by their behaviour.

But, he says, its important to distinguish between accidental bad behaviour and concerted, planned, inconsiderate behaviour of the kind seen at The Park. The former is part of everyday life and can be managed; its the latter thats the problem. The likes of Eating With Tod are, to an extent, professionals now, who seek to work with the restaurants they feature. As with so many issues, its about not tarring all influencers with the same brush.

This is the crux of it. Restaurants have always navigated disruptive diners: the hen dos, the long, raucous lunches, the birthday cakes wheeled in, the twentysomething girl diners posing for selfies, the 70-year-old mums deploying flash to read the menu. Smartphones did not invent inconsiderate behaviour; they just supplied new props.

None of this absolves creators who genuinely disrupt dining rooms. A restaurant is perfectly entitled to regulate filming, restrict equipment or intervene when behaviour affects other guests. That is ordinary hospitality management.

Banning influencers, by contrast, mistakes a symptom for a diagnosis. It targets who people are, rather than what they do, while ignoring how unevenly and irreversibly food media, marketing and restaurant discovery have already changed.
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A 51-year-old Swindon mother-of-six said a last-minute Boots Opticians appointment saved her sight, and her life.

Tammy Jackson called the high street retailer after she experienced a quick flash in her vision, followed by sudden blurring days later, which turned out to be symptoms of eye cancer.

She believes that being able to go in for an appointment that same morning is what saved her sight, and maybe even her life.

Prior to her sudden symptoms, Tammy said her eyesight was normal, except for a lazy eye, a birthmark, and general strain from getting older and working with computers.

In fact, she said she had a routine eye test towards the start of 2025 where nothing out of the ordinary had been detected.

open image in gallery Tammy Jackson said she experienced a quick flash in her vision ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Then, on September 22 2025, Tammy said she was making a cup of tea in her work kitchen when she saw what she thought was a small black fly zoom across her face, which worried her only for the fact that flies arent a good sign while working at a funeral home.

A few days later, Tammy said the flash happened again, but she didnt really think anything of it.

When she woke up on the morning of September 27, her vision was blocked by a black dot the size of a five pence piece in the centre of her eye, which looked like she was seeing through smeared wet paint.

That is when Tammy decided to ring her local Boots Opticians, who said they had a last-minute cancellation if she could get down to The Brunel Shopping Centre in Swindon for 10.30am.

Tammy said: I was seen quite quickly, but my gut was immediately telling me that theres something not quite right.

According to Tammy, Hassan, an optometrist and Boots Macmillan Optician Professional, told her she had swelling in her right eye, which he thought could be a detached retina  where the thin layer of the back of an eye becomes loose  or something else that looked suspicious, so he promptly referred her to Great Western Hospital.

open image in gallery Tammy with Boots Opticians, Daniel Karikari (left) and Hassan Awan (right) ( PA Real Life )

But after she got there, Tammy said she was told that the hospital had not received the scans she had taken at Boots Opticians, and rather than making her do them all over again, they encouraged her to come back on Monday.

When Monday came, I woke up and I just thought its cancer, Tammy said. Thats what I said to Martin, my husband.

At Great Western Hospital on September 29, Tammy had more tests and noticed medical staff were particularly focusing on her right eye.

After a few hours, Tammy said a consultant told her they had found something sinister, but that they wanted to transfer her care to a specialist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.

By the time the follow-up appointment came around on October 9, Tammy said her eye had worsened quite quickly, with the five pence piece-sized blind spot widening to the size of a 10 pence piece, as well as experiencing fluid leakage, more swelling, and headaches.

On the mental toll, Tammy said: Working in a funeral home, death stares you in the face every day, so I was planning for the future. I just thought that if Im going to die, I need to make sure that people know what songs I want at my funeral.

open image in gallery Tammy said she had tests done and noticed medical staff were particularly focusing on her right eye ( Collect/PA Real Life )

It was heavy because theres a lot of cancer within my family, so I just thought my life was over.

At her Moorfields appointment, Tammy said she had more tests done that lasted around seven hours, before a consultant revealed the diagnosis  a small choroidal melanoma.

She said they explained to her the Moles Scoring Chart, which is an acronym for a diagnostic scoring system used to determine risk level.

Out of five factors  mushroom shape, orange pigment, large size, enlargement, and subretinal fluid  Tammy said she had four, which predicted a high suspicion of cancer.

Just hearing those words, you automatically think thats it, Tammy said.

Your lifes over.

open image in gallery Tammy had a gut feeling something wasnt right ( Collect/PA Real Life )

The hardest thing I had to do was tell my children. Seeing their faces and the uncertainty of what was to happen next broke my heart, she said of her four children, Andrew, 34, Joanna, 33, Stewart, 28, Angel, 26, and two step-children, Jordan, 27, and Abi, 22.

Tammys treatment started on November 13 and consisted of ophthalmic plaque brachytherapy, which delivers targeted radiation by placing a small radioactive disc called a plaque over the eye during a surgery that sews it in place to the eye.

According to Cancer Research UK, the thicker the cancer, the longer the plaque is left on for, with some lasting up to seven days  Tammy said hers was on for a day-and-a-half because she caught the cancer so early.

In the aftermath of the procedure, Tammy said her eye was swollen and blistered, and she had to administer numerous eye drops four times a day.

Today, Tammy said her current prognosis is good, with her follow-up appointment due in May to check the effectiveness of the treatment, then she will likely need regular checks every year or six months.

Tammy said her general eye health has improved after the treatment, but her vision is not completely back to normal.

open image in gallery Tammys Moorfields Eye Hospital scans ( Collect/PA Real Life )

She recalled a conversation with a consultant, who said she will always have her cancer and the only way to get rid of it is to have her eye removed, but because she caught it early, that option is extreme and unlikely.

On why it is important for Tammy to share her story, she said: I never in a million years thought that you could get cancer in your eyes. And if thats what I think, maybe other people think that way as well.

Symptoms of eye cancer NHS Symptoms of eye cancer can include: shadows, flashes of light, or wiggly lines in your vision

blurred vision

a dark patch in your eye that's getting bigger

partial or total loss of vision

bulging of 1 eye

a lump on your eyelid or in your eye that's increasing in size

eye irritation that is not going away

pain in or around your eye, although this is rare

The number one thing: If youre due an eye test, have it done. Its really not worth putting it off. Its all too easy. Ive done it myself. But have the eye test done.

With Boots getting me seen so quickly and by doing the referrals  it sounds dramatic  but its saved my eye, but potentially also saved my life. If it werent for them being so fast-acting on what they were seeing, it could potentially have been missed.

open image in gallery Tammy told Martin she thought she had cancer ( Collect/PA Real Life )

If my story only helps one person, then thats one more person whos getting the help that they need, she said.

To book a Boots Opticians eye test, visit its website here.
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The daughters of a Manchester man who died just six weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are urging others to learn the warning signs of the "deadliest common cancer".

Andrzej Bielecki, 58, passed away in February 2023, leaving behind his daughter Scarlett Bielecka, 28, and step-daughter Emilia Rocky, 27.

Both women remember Andrzej as an "incredibly positive" and "warm" man with a "zest for life", who was a devoted father figure.

Scarlett recalled wild camping and driving lessons with her "great" dad, while Emilia described him as "instantly quite a father figure" after he married her mother in 2019.

However, for years, Andrzej experienced symptoms that were repeatedly dismissed. For "three or four years" before his diagnosis, he suffered from acid reflux and indigestion, for which doctors initially advised indigestion tablets. By August 2022, a persistent and "dull" stomach ache emerged. Despite "back and forth" visits to doctors, he was prescribed more indigestion tablets in September 2022, which "didn't really do anything," Emilia said.

open image in gallery Andrzej on the Camino de Santiago ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Blood tests came back "normal," leading to an endoscopy that revealed a hiatus hernia, which doctors considered a "plausible explanation" for his pain. Yet, by mid-December 2022, Andrzej's condition had not improved, and he was sent home from hospital without answers.

The situation escalated dramatically by Christmas Eve. Emilia told PA Real Life: "By Christmas Eve, I was at my mums house and he was in quite a lot of pain. Hed also lost a lot of weight and was becoming jaundiced." Believing he was having a heart attack, he returned to A&E, where gallstones were suspected. A subsequent scan revealed a blocked bile duct and high bilirubin levels, causing the jaundice.

Andrzej was referred for an MRI, which ultimately led to a phone call on 9 January 2023, confirming his diagnosis of advanced pancreatic cancer. The family then faced a harrowing wait for a consultant, who delivered the devastating news: the cancer had spread, and no treatment or surgery options were available. He was given just six months to live and recommended for end-of-life care.

Scarlett described this as the "worst phone call" of her life. Emilia added: "Andrzej accepted it completely, but everyone else was in shock, disbelief, and we couldnt accept that this could have happened. It was the worst nightmare in the world." Despite the horror, Andrzej remained focused on living his remaining time "as much as possible" with family and friends.

In the weeks that followed, the family embarked on several poignant trips, including a campervan holiday in Scotland and a stay in Chippenham. Scarlett recalled moments of quiet solace with her father, watching episodes of 'Early Doors' together. Emilia noted Andrzej's rapid decline, including loss of appetite, weight, vomiting, and immobility, yet he "was always very positive and he didnt want to ever worry people or bring the mood down."

open image in gallery Suzanne, Andrzej, and Scarlett on their last holiday together ( Collect/PA Real Life )

By mid-February, Andrzej's condition worsened significantly. After a visit to Bristol, Emilia drove him and her mother back to Derbyshire. District nurses were called, and Scarlett was urged to say her goodbyes. "When I went up to see my dad, he was so ill and almost completely unrecognisable," Scarlett said, remembering his delirious state but his wish to watch another episode of their favourite show. Their last interaction was an exchange of "I love you."

Emilia stayed that night, witnessing Andrzej's "severe delirium." The next morning, her mother delivered the news of his passing. Entering his room, Emilia found him with "a smile on his face" and "completely different" from the night before, a comforting sight.

In May, the family held a celebration of life, honouring Andrzej's wish for no tears. Emilia later contacted Pancreatic Cancer UK, sharing his story and his desire for his ashes to be scattered on the Camino de Santiago, a route he completed twice. Emilia, Scarlett, their mother Suzanne, and Emilias boyfriend Jamie, completed a 100km charity walk along the Camino in his memory, which Emilia called "one of the best things" shes ever done.

"This cancer isnt anywhere near talked about enough," Emilia stressed. Pancreatic Cancer UK states it is the "deadliest common cancer," with over half of patients dying within three months of diagnosis. Approximately 80% are diagnosed only after the cancer has spread, making treatment impossible.

open image in gallery Andrzej and his wife, Suzanne Bielecki ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Scarlett echoed: "Its not a cancer that people really talk about." Emilia concluded: "If Andrzej had got diagnosed any sooner, I dont know if it would have really changed how long he had left, but it would have given him so much more time to do more that he loved. He just didnt have the time."
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With the lunar new year now upon us, theres no better time than this festival to lean into your full Chinese selves and understand what this season requires of you, and what superstitions you may want to take on board. Growing up in a Chinese family in Singapore, my year was consistently marked by various traditional celebrations and rituals  and never more so at the start of the new year.

The lunar new year is about sweeping away the old and welcoming in new and positive energies, such as good health and wealth. Also known as the spring festival, it marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar calendar. The first day of the new year starts with the new moon and ends on the full moon. The first two days of the new year are when I mostly focus my attention, faithfully following the long list of dos and donts.

According to Chinese custom, no dusting or sweeping is allowed during the 15 days of the new year period... otherwise, you will be sweeping away good fortune and prosperity. While Im only fussy about this on the first couple of days of the new year, I still stick to the tradition of no haircuts during the full season of 15 days. The Chinese word for hair is a homonym for prosperity. So cutting hair means you risk cutting off fortune and wealth. This is also why we dont wash our hair on the first day of the new year; we dont want to wash away what the year might bring.

open image in gallery Worshippers clean a sacred figure statue ahead of the lunar new year celebrations, welcoming the year of the horse, at the Amurva Bhumi temple, in Jakarta, Indonesia ( Reuters )

Wearing red clothes is also seen as ensuring good luck and protection against evil spirits. Black and white, the colours of mourning, must be avoided. Dont take out the rubbish and stay away from lending money: you will be breaking your connection with good fortune, and it will be flowing away for the rest of the year. And no crying and arguments on the first day; it could mean conflicts throughout the year.

The week leading up to the first day of the new year will have been full of preparations: meal planning, dusting and cleaning. This Year of the Fire Horse, according to Chinese metaphysics, is full of momentum and bold transformation, but also unruly and combustible. The combination of the horse zodiac animal and the fire element is considered rare and intense. One of my friends commented that it makes me want to go lie down.

open image in gallery The new lunar year of the fire horse brings with it superstition and myths about what will bring good fortune ( Reuters )

When I was growing up, during the lunar phases of the new moon and full moon, we had to eat vegetarian food for the day  a traditional practice in Buddhist culture. The numerous gods in Chinese culture (the Goddess of Mercy, the Goddess of the Sea, the Kitchen God are just the tip of the iceberg) remind me of Christian saints  St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, the environment, and ecology; St Jude is the go-to for lost causes; and St Cecilia for music and musicians. Theres a god for everything.

open image in gallery Thanks to Chinamaxxing, everyone and their pekinese are now well aware of the benefits of warm water ( Getty )

The Malaysian-born American comedian Ronny Chieng has a whole stand-up section about our obsession with the God of Money (Caishen). When my brother moved into his new house, he rolled a pineapple into the house upon opening the door, symbolising the arrival of prosperity and good fortune. I have heard of some people rolling a pineapple into every single corner of their new home  for the fullest and most thorough blessings, and also because its just quite funny.

Myths, history and legends are threaded into the customs and stories passed down through the generations. Asian children are told off for pointing at the moon as its disrespectful to point at the Moon Goddess who lives there. Groceries must never be placed on the floor; they have to go on the table. Not just for hygiene reasons, but also out of respect for the food. Of course, there is always a symbolic meaning alongside these commonsense practices. Putting food on the floor is interpreted as treating blessings carelessly, which is believed to bring bad luck. The Kitchen God is always watching.

It was while idly scrolling through Instagram that I was stopped short by a post that seemed to know all these things about me. So you want to be more Chinese, here are the 10 things you need to know. Why was it asking me to be Chinese? I am Chinese! Yes, I do all of the things in the post and more. After some rooting around, I was introduced to the new trend for Chinamaxxing  people who are now declaring themselves to be at a very Chinese time in their lives.

At first, I wasnt sure if it was racism or cultural appropriation. But Chinamaxxing does, in truth, seem to be a celebration of Chinese culture rather than a criticism. Sherry Zhu, a Chinese-American TikTok content creator, was influential in popularising the trend. Laugh-out-loud memes, informative posts about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), absurdist humour  5,000 years of Chinese culture in a meme  possibly 8,000 years if this archaeologist is proved right. How incredible is that?

When my Chinese family and friends visit us in London, they always whisper and ask me for a glass of warm water, like its a dirty secret. Thanks to Chinamaxxing, everyone and their pekinese are now well aware of the benefits of warm water. Irrationally, I now feel self-conscious when Im drinking warm water. Even when Im all alone in the kitchen.

My evolution into a full-blown Chinese auntie, however, has been gradual. When I hit perimenopause, I turned to using dong quai (also known as female ginseng) to help me through brain fog and hot flushes. Remembering the wisdom exchanged between my grandmother, mother and aunties, I started to switch my Chinese frequency to maximum. My collection of medicated oil expanded. To my lone tiger balm ointment, I have now added Axe brand universal oil, red flower oil, and nutmeg oil. In Chinese medicine, there is an oil for every ailment. And yes, I do abide by the adage that if it still hurts, then just apply more.

open image in gallery Children touch a relief sculpture of the pig for good luck at the White Cloud Temple in Beijing ( Getty )

For all fully-fledged middle-aged Chinese aunties, food and wellness are one and the same. Food contains energetic properties, and the yin-yang bodily balance must be maintained. Cucumber is cooling. Fried food is heaty. Rice goes with everything, and for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Generic long grain rice tastes of nothing, but fragrant jasmine rice? Now that is the king of rice.

Food is central to Chinese culture, and its often on our minds. When the post-apocalyptic series The Last of Us was on air, and people reeled from the Cordyceps fungus that turned humans into violent creatures, my immediate thought was, Eat the cordyceps, goddamit! Theyre really tasty in a herbal soup. Cordyceps is a highly prized traditional Chinese medicine.

In more than 25 years of living in London, it hasnt always been easy to live my Chinese identity under the Western gaze. So its liberating to see Gen-Zers embracing Chinese culture, their curiosity and interest encouraging me to live my full Chinese-ness in broad daylight. Hopefully, Chinamaxxing is more than just a fad and will last beyond the Year of the Fire Horse. I want people to discover the richness of Chinese history, culture and diaspora.

open image in gallery A sales clerk runs out the doorway as a traditional Lion dance performer reaches to grab an offering of lettuce hanging from the doorway at a Beijing shopping mall ( Getty )

Some of my Chinese auntie ways are specific to my Straits-Chinese heritage, and every Westerner indulging in a spot of Chinamaxxing today should know we arent one amorphous mass; we come from different dialect groups, have different customs and food. My ancestors came from Hong Kong Island, Kinmen Island in Taiwan and Fujian region in China. In the 18th century, they ended up in Singapore and Indonesia for survival and trade. Even though they assimilated into the local Malay communities, they kept alive their Chinese traditions, language and culture.

If theres one thing to take away from all of this Chinese flexing, it is how migrant groups can successfully integrate and transform within a host culture without ever losing their ancestral soul. I am all for everyone getting to know Chinese culture and appreciating its breadth and nuance. Perhaps the fire horse will ride us into a revolution of multiculturalism, with coexisting cultural identities within societies. It might happen. As long as we dont cut our hair.
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The holy month of Ramadan is here, when Muslims across the globe embark on a period of fasting designed to test their spiritual strength and devotion.

During this sacred time, adherents engage in prayer, Quranic recitation, and mindfulness, seeking to deepen their faith.

The arrival of Ramadan was marked by diverse celebrations worldwide, from communal Iftar gatherings  the breaking of the fast  to household decorations and traditional culinary delights.

The daily fast begins just before dawn with a modest pre-fast meal known as "suhoor," concluding after sunset with "iftar." Between these two meals, those observing the fast abstain entirely from food and even water.

In 2026, Ramadan began on the Wednesday 18 February in the UK. It started with the sighting of the crescent moon, which usually appears one night after a new moon.

But how should you greet someone who observes the holy month? Heres everything you need to know.

How should you wish someone a Happy Ramadan?

A saying familiar to many Muslims around the globe is, Ramadan Mubarak which simply means Blessed Ramadan. Another commonly used term is, Ramadan Kareem, which translates to Generous Ramadan, both terms are from Arabic origins.

A Muslim woman praying. ( Getty Images )

These are some of the ways in which many Muslims welcome the fasting month between family, friends and neighbours, and is well used throughout the fasting month, when greeting people for the first time.

Ramzan is another variation often used around the globe too, mainly around countries such as India and Pakistan.

If you have Muslim colleagues, friends or neighbours, the simplest way to wish them a Happy Ramadan is by saying, Ramadan Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem .

Happy fasting and Ramadan Mubarak to Muslims around the globe!

Why do Muslims celebrate Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and changes every year in accordance with the moon.

Before the fasting month begins, Muslims around the world prepare and wait for the arrival of Ramadan to be announced by the Saudi moon sighting committee or their local mosque.

Ramadan is an essential part of the Islamic faith and it is believed, that it is the month whereby the Holy Quran was first reveal to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

How do Muslims fast?

The fasting process is between dawn to sunset and is a sign of loyalty to the Islamic faith, which means that Muslims must abstain from eating and drinking, and yes, not even water.

Many Muslims fast as a reminder to remain patient, learn self-discipline and to build an understanding of those that are suffering around the world.

Among many others, Ramadan is also one of the five pillars of Islam. The pillars are key practices that Muslims are obligated to fulfill throughout their lifetime.

Who is exempt from fasting?

Fasting is not permitted to those that are suffering from a mental or physical illness.

Pregnant women who are breastfeeding and women who are menstruating, are also exempt. As well as travellers, and children who have not yet reached puberty.
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On Tuesday 17 February, Asian communities around the world will ring in the Year of the Horse with community carnivals, family gatherings, parades, traditional food, fireworks and, other festivities. In many Asian countries, it is a festival that is celebrated for several days. In diaspora communities, particularly in cultural enclaves, Lunar New Year is visibly and joyfully celebrated.

In the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Different countries across Asia celebrate the new year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac.

What is the Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year  known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea  is a major festival celebrated in several Asian countries. In Indonesia, it is celebrated with dragon puppets and drum displays. It is also widely observed by diaspora communities around the world.

open image in gallery People visit a park in Beijing ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Horse. ( AFP via Getty Images )

It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon. Because the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of the holiday vary slightly each year, falling between late January and mid-February.

What are the animals of the zodiac?

Each year honours an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals  the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig  measure the cycles of time. Legend has it that a god beckoned all animals to bid him farewell before his departure from Earth and only 12 of them showed up. The Vietnamese zodiac is slightly different, honouring the cat instead of the rabbit and the buffalo instead of the ox.

open image in gallery Local Chinese artists group gather to perform during celebration of the Lunar New Year of the Horse in Yangon, Myanmar. ( AP )

What does the Year of the Horse mean?

In Chinese culture, the horse stands as a revered symbol of freedom, vitality, and unbridled ambition. These creatures, celebrated for their speed and independent spirit, are seen to resent any form of restraint. For the year 2026, this powerful symbolism points towards a period ripe for channelling new opportunities and embracing significant transformation.

open image in gallery Crowds in Manchester view the Chinese and Lunar New Year celebrations as the Dragon Parade makes its way through Chinatown. ( Getty Images )

What are some beliefs and traditions around the Lunar New Year?

One well-known ancient legend speaks of Nian, a hideous monster that feasted on human flesh on New Years Day. Because the beast feared the colour red, loud noises and fire, people put up red paper dragons on their doors, burned red lanterns all night and set off firecrackers to frighten and chase away the monster.

To this day, the Lunar New Year celebration is centred around removing bad luck and welcoming all that is good and prosperous. Red is considered an auspicious colour to ring in the new year. In many Asian cultures, the colour symbolises good fortune and joy. People dress in red attire, decorate their homes with red paper lanterns and use red envelopes to give loved ones and friends money for the new year. Gambling and playing traditional games is common during this time across cultures.

Ancestor worship is also common. Many Korean families participate in a ritual called charye, where female family members prepare food and males serve it to ancestors. The final step of the ceremony, called eumbok, involves the entire family partaking the food and seeking blessings from their ancestors for the coming year. Vietnamese people cook traditional dishes and place them on a home altar as a mark of respect to their ancestors.

open image in gallery A woman in a traditional costume prays on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Lama Temple in Beijing. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Some Indigenous people also celebrate Lunar New Year this time of year, including members of Mexicos Purepecha Indigenous group.

How do diaspora communities celebrate?

Members of Asian American communities around the U.S. also organise parades, carnivals and festivities around the Lunar New Year featuring lion and dragon dances, fireworks, traditional food and cultural performances. In addition to cleaning their homes, many buy new things for their home such as furniture and decorate using orchids and other brightly coloured flowers.

Lunar New Year is also celebrated as a cultural event by some Asian American Christians and is observed by several Catholic dioceses across the U.S. as well as other churches.

What are some special foods for the new year?

Each culture has its own list of special foods during the new year, including dumplings, rice cakes, spring rolls, tangerines, fish and meats. In the Chinese culture, for example, changshou mian or long-life noodles are consumed with a wish for a long, healthy and happy life. In Vietnamese culture, banh chung and banh tet  traditional dishes made from glutinous rice  are a must. To make a banh tet, banana leaves are lined with rice, soft mung beans and pork belly and rolled into a tight log, which is then wrapped in the leaves and tied up with strings. Koreans celebrate with tteokguk, a brothy soup that contains thinly sliced rice cakes. Warm bowls of snake soup are also on the menu in some Hong Kong snake shops, as the Lunar New Year approaches.
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A decomposing human leg found in the California desert in December has been identified as belonging to a missing 17-year-old girl  and authorities say the grim discovery has led to an arrest.

Abraham Feinbloom, 51, was taken into custody Friday after investigators confirmed the remains belonged to TNeya Tovar, a Riverside County teen who vanished more than two months earlier, according to the Imperial County Sheriff's Office.

Tovar was reported missing on December 1, 2025, from her home in Hemet, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Detectives said she had traveled more than 70 miles to the Thermal area that day, reportedly to meet an unknown man, KTLA reported.

Her mother, Charro Tovar, said the teen normally shared her location with family and friends, but communication abruptly stopped the day she disappeared.

On December 21, authorities discovered a leg in the Vista Delmar area that showed signs of decomposition, according to a previous sheriffs office release. DNA testing confirmed the remains belonged to Tovar.

open image in gallery Abraham Feinbloom, 51, was arrested on suspicion of murder and resisting a peace officer in connection with the death of 17-year-old T'Neya Tovar, who vanished in December ( FBI - Los Angeles )

The mothers DNA swab was compared to that of the found remains through a rapid DNA analysis comparison and a positive match was made, identifying the found remains as the missing female juvenile reported out of Riverside County, California, the release states.

On February 13, deputies working alongside the FBI in Los Angeles served a search warrant at Feinblooms home in the 2800 block of Harlequin Court in Salton City.

When they arrived, Feinbloom was seen jumping a fence in what appeared to be an attempt to evade law enforcement, according to the release.

open image in gallery T'Neya Tovar was reported missing on December 1, 2025, from her home in Hemet, California ( NCMEC )

open image in gallery Tovar's mother, Charro Tovar, said the teen normally shared her location with family and friends, but communication abruptly stopped the day she disappeared in December ( NCMEC )

But Feinbloom was quickly apprehended and turned over to FBI agents for questioning while investigators processed the home for evidence.

Feinbloom faces charges of suspicion of murder and resisting a peace officer.

News Channel 3 reported that court records show Feinbloom previously faced felony kidnapping charges in Imperial County. Those charges were dismissed in January 2019 following a preliminary hearing.

Feinbloom is currently being held without bail in the Imperial County Jail.
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High school students in Georgia testified Tuesday about the horror they experienced when they were shot during their algebra class two years ago. Through tears, they recounted seeing a classmate lying in a pool of blood, then noticing blood on their own bodies and fearing for their lives.

Several students took the stand in the trial of Colin Gray, the father of Colt Gray, who investigators say carefully planned the September 4, 2024, shooting at a school northeast of Atlanta that left two teachers and two students dead and several others wounded.

The case is one of several cases nationwide in which prosecutors are seeking to hold parents accountable when their children are accused of fatal shootings.

A ninth-grade girl testified that moments after the gunfire began in her Algebra I class, she noticed a hole in her wrist and began screaming.

This is one of several cases around the nation where prosecutors are trying to hold parents responsible after their children are accused in fatal shootings. ( Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP )

I was also worried that I was going to die and how that would affect my parents because my dad has a heart problem, she said.

As paramedics carried her out of the school building, she saw Colt Gray on the floor with his hands behind his back and screamed obscenities at him as she passed by him.

I remember yelling at him that we were kids, because we were kids," she said. The faces of she and others who testified were not shown during a video livestream of the testimony because of their young ages.

Colt Gray, who was 14 years old at the time of the shooting, faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of involuntary manslaughter and numerous counts of second-degree cruelty to children related to the shooting.

Colin Gray should be held responsible for providing the weapon despite warnings about alleged threats his son made, a prosecutor said as the father's trial began Monday.

This case is about this defendant and his actions in allowing a child that he has custody over access to a firearm and ammunition after being warned that that child was going to harm others, Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said in his opening statement.

Prosecutors argue that amounts to cruelty to children, and second-degree murder is defined in Georgia law as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children.

But Brian Hobbs, an attorney for Colin Gray, said the shootings planning and timing were hidden by Colt Gray from his father."

Thats the difference between tragedy and criminal liability, he said. "You cannot hold someone criminally responsible for failing to predict what was intentionally hidden from them.

With a semiautomatic rifle in his book bag, the barrel sticking out and wrapped in poster board, Colt Gray boarded the school bus, investigators said. He left his second-period class and emerged from a bathroom with the gun and then shot people in a classroom and hallways, they said.

Smith told the jury that in September 2021, Colt Gray used a school computer to search the phrase, how to kill your dad. School resource officers were then sent to the home, but it was determined to be a misunderstanding, Smith said.

Sixteen months before the shooting, in May 2023, law enforcement acted on a tip from the FBI after a shooting threat was made online concerning an elementary school. The threat was traced to a computer at Grays home, Smith said.

Colin Gray was told about the threat and was asked whether his son had access to guns. Gray replied that he and his son take this school shooting stuff very seriously, according to Smith. Colt Gray denied that he made the threat and said that his online account had been hacked, Smith said.

That Christmas, Colin Gray gave his son the gun as a gift and continued to buy accessories after that, including a lot of ammunition, Smith said.

Colin Gray knew his son was obsessed with school shooters, even having a shrine in his bedroom to Nikolas Cruz, the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, prosecutors have said. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent had testified that the teens parents had discussed their sons fascination with school shooters but decided that it was in a joking context and not a serious issue.

Three weeks before the shooting, Gray received a chilling text from his son: Whenever something happens, just know the blood is on your hands, according to Smith.

Colin Gray was also aware his sons mental health had deteriorated and had sought help from a counseling service weeks before the shooting, an investigator testified.

We have had a very difficult past couple of years and he needs help. Anger, anxiety, quick to be volatile. I dont know what to do, Colin Gray wrote about his son.

But Smith said Colin Gray never followed through on concerns about getting his son admitted to an in-patient facility.
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MAGA firebrand Lauren Boeberts son has been accused of child abuse for a second time, after the lawmakers grandson allegedly wandered out of a property belonging to the family over the weekend.

Boebert told reporters that the incident unfolded at a home in Windsor, Colorado, where her 20-year-old son, Tyler, was watching the youngster.

A kind woman quickly and safely secured him, and authorities were called as a precaution," Boebert admitted to 9News.

Tyler Boebert has since been cited on a misdemeanor charge of child abuse without injury, the Windsor Police Department told the broadcaster.

However, the 20-year-old is already facing trial in April for the same charge following a similar incident at Boeberts home in July, according to Windsor Police records obtained by Westword.

open image in gallery Tyler Boebert is facing a second child abuse charge after a toddler being supervised by him allegedly wandered out of a property in Colorado ( Rifle Police Department )

Tyler is no stranger to the inside of a courtroom, after being arrested in February 2024 in connection with a string of vehicle trespasses and property thefts.

At the time, the Rifle Police Department confirmed in a statement that the suspect faced 22 charges.

Those charges included criminal possession of ID documents, a dozen misdemeanours and one count of conspiracy to commit a felony.

Boebert said in a statement, given to The Denver Post, that she believed her son should be held accountable for poor decisions.

I love my son Tyler, who has been through some very difficult, public challenges for a young man and the subject of attention that he didnt ask for, the statement read. It breaks my heart to see my child struggling and in this situation, especially when he has been provided multiple opportunities to get his life on track.

I will never give up on him and I will continue to be there for him.

Tyler entered a guilty plea to one count of attempted identity theft as part of a plea deal, leading to the dismissal of his other charges. The agreement included a two-year deferred judgment, allowing him the opportunity to avoid a felony conviction if he successfully completed his probation.

open image in gallery Lauren Boebert is well-known for promoting QAnon conspiracy theories and for claiming the 2020 election was rigged ( Getty Images )

His mother is known as a longtime President Trump loyalist.

The proud gun-owner has repeatedly reiterated her hardline position on immigration, promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory and claimed that the 2020 election was rigged to deliver a win for President Joe Biden.

However, Boebert was one of the few Republicans to break away from her party amid the vote to release files related to the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Boebert pushed aggressively for a vote on the release of the files, and the vote ultimately forced the DOJ to unlock the documents.

Boebert, though, seemingly faced a backlash from Trump when the president vetoed a bill that would have provided funding for a water project in her Colorado district.

open image in gallery Boebert was one of the few Republicans to break from her party in calling for the release of the Epstein files ( Getty Images )

I sincerely hope this veto has nothing to do with political retaliation for calling out corruption and demanding accountability, she told 9News at the time.

Boebert has continued to push for greater transparency with the Epstein files and even called for the disgraced financiers partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, to receive a greater jail sentence after viewing the unredacted files.

I think Ghislaine Maxwell should get more time and she should definitely be in a harsher prison than what she's in, Boebert told reporters. It's absolutely disgusting.

She added that there are folks who are definitely implicated and co-conspirators, but did not elaborate further.

The Independent has contacted Representative Boebert for comment.
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A 25-year-old Montana man was arrested for driving under the influence after he drove himself to the sheriffs office to pay for a previous fine while intoxicated, authorities said.

The man, who authorities did not identify, was waiting to be helped at the Granite County Courthouse and Sheriffs Office when Sheriff Rico Barkell noticed he appeared to be intoxicated, the sheriffs office wrote in a Tuesday Facebook post.

Barkell instructed the man to step outside before asking if he had driven to the office, to which the man said he had, according to the post.

When asked how many drinks he had that day, the man said two, which usually means two too many, the sheriffs office noted, as well as two bowls of marijuana.

However, a preliminary breath test showed a result three times the legal driving limit.

open image in gallery A 25-year-old Montana man was arrested for DUI after he drove himself to the sheriffs office to pay for a previous fine he received for having an open container, officials said ( Getty/iStock )

Authorities also discovered that the man had an open container in his vehicle.

The man was charged with aggravated DUI and open container. The sheriff said the man had driven to the sheriffs office to pay for an open container fine from weeks prior.

It was not immediately clear when the incident unfolded or if the man arrested remained in custody. The Independent has contacted the Granite County Sheriffs Office for more information.

As a public service announcement, if you drive to the Sheriffs Office intoxicated (alcohol or drugs), you will be arrested for DUI. If you drive here with a suspended or no license, you will get a ticket. If you enter the Sheriffs Office with a warrant, you will be arrested, the sheriff said.

If you decide to drink excessively or smoke marijuana, DO NOT DRIVE. Call for a ride, the Sheriffs Office will be happy to help. If you live in one of our county towns, please walk if you are able; in all of our towns, you can walk across in 15-20 minutes.

Stupidity is not an excuse! the sheriffs office concluded the post.
PepsiCo has given UK snacks brand Sunbites a new name and packaging as the company eyes growing interest in fibre.

Sunbites, launched back in 2007 as a healthier savoury snack, is now called S.U.N., a change the US giant said better communicates the brands ethos: simple, uplifting nutrition.

PepsiCo said the majority of UK consumers are trying to adapt to healthier lifestyles but, citing UK government research, noted more than nine in ten of adults in the country do not eat the recommended daily amount of fibre of 30g. The S.U.N. snacks contain 6.7g of fibre per 100g.

PepsiCo said the brand has a clear and accessible message for shoppers of You need fibre. This got fibre.

Cynthia Finke, marketing director at PepsiCo, said S.U.N is all about supporting positive change. In recent years, food choices have become more complex, and for some  a source of uncertainty. S.U.Ns new positioning aims to empower shoppers with facts, not fads, cutting through the noise and delivering a simple and focused message  you need to eat more fibre and we are here to help.

PepsiCo said Nielsen data showed Sunbites sales grew 31% in 2025 to 18.9m ($25.8m).

"PepsiCo rebrands Sunbites with fibre focus" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




With tax time approaching, you may be thinking about what youll be able to write-off, and whether there are any new changes to what is deductible.

Some Americans who own pets may have wondered if they are able to deduct the expenses related to their pets. After all, for many people, pets are beloved family members.

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One New York woman is even hoping to change tax law. Amanda Reynolds filed a lawsuit last year against the IRS, because she wants her dog to be recognized as a dependent.

The suit argues that dogs should be recognized as quasi-citizens entitled to limited civil recognition, including dependency status for tax purposes (1).

Defining a dependent

Reynoldss lawsuit states that her dog, Finnegan Mary Reynolds, is entirely dependent on her for survival, USA Today reported. The lawsuit details the expenses Reynolds incurs caring for Finnegan  totaling about $5,000 a year  including boarding, daycare, transportation, veterinary services, grooming, food and housing.

For all intents and purposes, Finnegan is like a daughter, and is definitely a dependent, USA reported the lawsuit said.

The suit claims that Reynolds dog satisfies the Internal Revenue Codes definition of a dependent under section 152, other than not being a human (2).

The two kinds of dependents that you can claim on your tax return are a qualifying child and a qualifying relative.

A qualifying child must be your relative (child, stepchild, foster child, sibling or descendant), be under 19 (or under 24 if theyre a full-time student, or any age if they are permanently and totally disabled), live with you for more than half the year, and must not provide more than half of their own financial support (3).

A qualifying relative must be related to you or be a person who lives with you for the entire year. They must get more than half of their financial support from you, and they must earn below a certain threshold (3).

A report from Forbes notes that the statute specifically uses the term individual which courts and the IRS have consistently interpreted to mean human beings (2).

If youre able to claim dependents when you file your taxes, it can mean you qualify for tax credits and deductions, such as the Child Tax Credit, the Credit for Other Dependents and the Earned Income Tax Credit (2). Forbes notes that Dependents may also qualify for a favorable head-of-household filing status, which offers lower tax rates and a higher standard deduction.
Norman Francis will be remembered as one of the most influential New Orleanians of the past century. The president of Xavier University for 47 years left his mark on both the Black Catholic university, his city, and the Civil Rights Movement.
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CultureMoviesFilm Festivals The Berlin film festival is desperate not to get political. Somebody forgot to tell Warwick Thornton Stephanie Bunbury February 18, 2026  4:37pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Warwick Thornton always loved westerns. The arrival of VHS in his hometown of Alice Springs, he remembers, meant that he and future screenwriter David Tranter could buck the programming at the two local cinemas and watch what they wanted. We just loved westerns, anything with Charles Bronson, How the West was Won, Soldier Blue. Then it dawned on us that we were the Indians. We always wanted to be the cowboy, but we were the dirty Indians! An evil epiphany to have as a teenager, but actually a great serving of where do you stand? Warwick Thornton at the Berlinale this week. Getty Images Thorntons new film Wolfram, set in 1932 in a flyblown South Australian mining town, had its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, where it is competing for the top award, the Golden Bear. It was well received by the audience; trade magazine Deadlines review described it as a modern Australian classic with a masterful merger of serious social comment and taut, thrilling action.

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Over the last week, the festival has crackled with a bitter argument over the place of politics in the cinema, first sparked by jury chairman Wim Wenders reply to a question about the festivals position on Gaza on the first day. We have to stay out of politics, Wenders said. We are the counterweight of politics, we are the opposite of politics. We have to do the work of people, not the work of politicians. Then, on Tuesday (Berlin time) Oscar-winning actors Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton joined more than 80 film industry identifies to sign an open letter criticising the festivals silence on Gaza. (From left) Wolfram actors Thomas M. Wright and Deborah Mailman, director Warwick Thornton and actor Erroll Shand at the Berlinale on Tuesday (Berlin time). Getty Images Wolfram is a decidedly political film. It has a good deal to say about white oppression in Australia, opening with a shocking scene of black children carting buckets of rocks for white tungsten prospectors. Deborah Mailman anchors the film as a grieving mother who, having been forced into a relationship with an abusive white man, has lost her children; Errol Shand is the disruptor, a vile outcast who takes pride in mowing down any black people who have the bad luck to be in his field of vision. Thornton says, however, that simply being at the festival as an Indigenous filmmaker is the statement he wants to make.

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I dont think, I do, he said at the films press conference on Tuesday (Berlin time). He pointed to the three other Indigenous Australians on the podium with him. Whats really clear is that were Aboriginal. Our families have lasted 200 years through colonisation, murder, rape, poisoning, genocide and stolen generations, trying to breed the black out of us. Us being here is a political statement  We dont need anything more than that. Were an embarrassment, but were the best embarrassment. He likes the idea that this film is an Indigenous western. I dont know how many Indigenous films youve seen, he said to the German press, who responded with a round of applause. But welcome to the Indigenous cinema! Its a beautiful place! In most Westerns, he says, the country beyond the ranchers porch is hostile territory, seething with savages and other dangers. As an Indigenous filmmaker, my point of view is looking at that verandah thinking thats scary.

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The classic western directors were also operating from a position of nostalgia for a Wild West that, if it ever existed, has disappeared. All these directors were lamenting a past. But we were living in Alice Springs, where the west was still real. There were still people riding horses up and down the street, drunk. Related Article Film Festivals Jaw-dropping: Politics casts a long shadow over cinema at Berlin film festival Tranter and Steven McGregor, the two scriptwriters, wrote Wolfram as a sequel to Thorntons earlier film Sweet Country (2017). It had a lot to say about our history and what was written about us by our colonising conquerors because they had the pen and we didnt. That film was so tough to watch, said Thornton, that he was dubious about venturing into that terrible history again. He was persuaded when the writers promised him it had a happy ending. What he could not have known was that they would have to face a fly plague. I was counting about 15 flies a day I was breathing in, he says. At first you try to spit them out, but by about the fourth day it was just too hard. You swallowed them. It was easier on yourself. But you embrace this. Its not like were making a commercial for butter. Were making a hard-arsed film about survival and struggle. Bring on the flies!

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Wolfram is one of two Australian films launching in Berlin. Also screening on Tuesday was Saccharine, an entertaining body horror by Melbourne film-maker Natalie Erika James. At its bloody heart is a food-addicted student who tries to lose weight by eating the ashes of human body parts and is then haunted by the ghost of the woman she is eating. It has already screened to enthusiastic reviews in Sundance, but is picking up many more sales at the Berlin market. The Berlinale runs until Saturday (Berlin time). Must-see movies, interviews and all the latest from the world of film delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our Screening Room newsletter.
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Tips & adviceBar Cart We found the ultimate proseccos for a spritz (including one from Aldi for $12) And if you like pet nat, try the bottle-fermented cousin of regular prosecco, which has bolder aromas and a deeper flavour, as if the volume has been turned up. Mike Bennie February 18, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

This story is part of the February 21 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories .

After 20 or so years of wine and drinks writing, I never thought I would type this sentence: I found the ultimate prosecco for spritz. Thats the snobby wine writer bias kicking in. Wine elitists dismiss prosecco as champagnes unserious cousin. Sommeliers and posh wine shops bemoan the necessity and its rising status in the world of drinks, yet its fizzy, frothy, fruity fun, and oh, wildly popular. A spritz, anyone? Dion Georgopoulos But importantly for our query, prosecco forms the baseline of one of the most common cocktails in the universe: the spritz. The bones of the Italian-born cocktail are pretty straightforward - use a bittersweet, herbal or citrusy, aromatic liqueur and cut that with sparkling wine, usually prosecco, and combine the two over ice in a big glass. In Australia, local prosecco works well with Campari-like switch-outs such as Poor Toms Imbroglio, or for a little extra x-factor, the native Australian plum aperitif called Tanica (both brands are born in Sydney).

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Instead of doing the hard yards at bottomless prosecco brunches, checking out the gear at CBD suit bars, or chaperoning hens and bucks parties in stretched Hummers, I went for something more academic  collated 20 examples from Australia and Italy, and did a tasting. The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox. Sign up The spritz were measured loosely, notes taken more so. Some were charming solo but fell apart in the cocktail blend. Some were too sweet; some had bubbles that felt lethargic. The best ones showed clarity, had that refreshment factor and delivered a little of that ephemeral notion of complexity. What is apparent is that Australian prosecco is in cracking form. Italian prosecco has to travel a long way and perhaps freshness can wane a little in the journey, so leaning into local seems apt. Photo: Dion Georgopoulos Here are our top three

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3. Corte Carista Prosecco NV (Prosecco, Italy, $12)

This racy, refreshing one from ALDI is a surprise package. And at $12, its absurd value. Its not elevating the category, but its wickedly fresh, sizzling with bubbles and mercifully dry. The Aldi bottle might not be elevating the category, but its wickedly fresh. Dion Georgopoulos 2. Chalmers Dott Prosecco 2025 (Murray Darling, Victoria, $27)

The local runner-up is from a legend of Italian varieties grown in Australia. A charming take on prosecco, its more restrained than above, disarmingly thirst-slaking, with creaminess and a little X factor courtesy of a floral lift. Theres dried pear and apricot characters, more classic peach, green mango and lime. A charming take on prosecco, its disarmingly thirst-slaking and creamy. Dion Georgopoulos 1. Dal Zotto Pucino Prosecco NV (King Valley, Victoria, $21)

The winner is from one of Australias pioneers of the variety. It ups the ante with minerally charm, delivering crisp, tropical fruit characters, and nails a sorbet-like citrusy freshness. Bone-dry, chalky in texture and with energising bubbles, its loaded with green apple snap and grapefruit pithiness. A nutty savouriness seals the deal. All of this locked in beautifully with Aperol and, with a street price of $21, it demolishes the field.

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With a street price of $21, this Aussie prosecco demolishes the field. Dion Georgopoulos But if you like pet nat, buy this prosecco instead In the Italian prosecco universe, theres a lesser-sung style that consistently grabs my attention. Its called Col Fondo, and its the hush-hush, unfiltered, naturally cloudy, bottle-fermented cousin of regular prosecco. These wines feel alive, unpredictable and distinctly rebellious in comparison to their button-down kin. The style unlocks proseccos hidden potential and tends to deliver more savouriness, bolder aromas, deeper flavour and intriguing texture. The volume is turned up and the bassline is funky. Theres an obvious kinship to petillant naturel (pet nat) wines, which are also naturally fermented in the bottle and typically lightly sparkling.

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Alive with yeast, theyre slightly rustic and a lot of fun. And Australian producers are now in on it, too. Vinea Marson Col Fondo Prosecco 2022 Jamie Alexander Standouts from recent tastings include Vinea Marson Col Fondo Prosecco 2022, a bright, saline and hazy sparkling with dried floral characters not dissimilar to fino sherry, preserved lemon and nashi pear fruitiness. Cavedon Col Fondo Prosecco 2022 lands a little more clarity from the style. Still hazy in look and feel but with bristling spritz and citrusy freshness in tow. Cavedon Col Fondo Prosecco 2022.

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Dal Zotto once again makes the honour roll, and are long-term proponents of the style. Dal Zotto produce two versions, and have current releases of Col Fondo Pucino Prosecco 2022, a more approachable, zippy and fresh rendering, and Tabelo Col Fondo 2021, a deeply flavoured, richer, more serious style. Tabelo Col Fondo 2021. To channel Rupi Kaur, prosecco is the journey, Col Fondo is the adventure.
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Exclusive NationalHealthcare Bullying, mismanagement allegations rock major medical body Angus Thomson February 18, 2026  7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The incoming president of one of Australias largest medical colleges has cast doubt on its long-term survival due to concerns over a $40 million IT overhaul, a dysfunctional board, and an external investigation into bullying allegations against the outgoing president. Dr Sharmila Chandran, a Melbourne-based renal physician, is due in May to begin her term as president of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), the body responsible for training and accrediting about 32,000 doctors across 33 specialties in Australia and New Zealand. Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) President, Professor Jennifer Martin (left), with RACP president-elect Dr Sharmila Chandran in 2024. But her path has been disrupted by conflict inside the college resulting in a Fair Work Commission complaint, the resignation of most of the board, and three member votes on constitutional changes which would prevent her from assuming the dual roles of president and board chair. All three motions failed. The outgoing president, Professor Jennifer Martin, is attempting to bring the organisations constitution in line with other colleges that separate the roles of president and board chair, but has faced firm opposition from Chandran and her supporters.

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Writing for the medical trade website the limbic in August, Martin said the changes were common sense. Boards should have the skills to oversee complex organisations, and no one person should dominate by holding multiple roles, she wrote. The public has a right to expect that from us too. In a letter sent to members on February 11, Chandran said many were concerned about a lack of communication from the colleges board. Given the gravity of the issues facing the College, I do feel that members deserve transparency, she wrote.

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I have escalating concerns about the financial governance, ethical leadership, and organisational culture of the RACP, causing great risks to its survival as a medical college. Chandran revealed the treasurer of the board, Vincent So, resigned earlier this month, leaving the four remaining directors with no formal financial qualifications or specialist financial expertise. She alleged a three-person board approved the colleges $100 million budget in the absence of the treasurer and the president-elect. She also said there had been little board oversight of a $40 million project to revamp the colleges IT systems. In a letter to members on Thursday, Martin disputed the allegations and said the IT overhaul was overseen by a committee consisting of independent, highly skilled IT and technology experts. A spokesperson for the college board said the colleges finances were stable, and all board decisions were made in line with requirements under its constitution and Australian law.

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Public disagreement within elected leadership can be unsettling, the spokesperson said in a statement. The board remains focused on ensuring institutional continuity, supporting fellows and trainees, and upholding the standards expected of a medical college. It is not the first time the college has faced such allegations. In 2018, former employees alleged the college fostered a toxic culture and senior doctors led calls for an investigation into its transparency, financial management, and handling of previous elections. The college is a registered charity with an annual revenue of $87 million, mostly accrued from fees charged for training and ongoing membership. Leaked report finds bullying allegations substantiated The RACP hired external firm Centium in July to investigate separate bullying allegations made against Martin, this time by company secretary Kim Davis.

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A final report on the investigation, presented to the board in November and seen by this masthead, found seven allegations could be substantiated  three of which constituted disrespectful and arguably bullying and harassing conduct which did not foster an atmosphere conducive to good working relations. Martins actions likely breached the colleges code of conduct, the report found. The board said it had considered the findings and was implementing its recommendations. As this relates to confidential employment matters, it is neither appropriate nor lawful for the college to release the report or comment in detail on individual findings or any employment actions taken, it said in a statement. Martin said in a statement she respected the process and would not comment further on the reports findings.

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My focus remains on serving the fellows and trainees of the college and ensuring continuity of leadership until the end of my term, she said. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.

CORRECTION An earlier version of this story misnamed the company secretary. Her name is Kim Davis.
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LifestyleHealth & wellnessWomen's health This surgery could slash the risk of the deadliest female cancer by almost 80% Paula Goodyer February 18, 2026  7:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The discovery that most ovarian cancers start, not in the ovaries, but the Fallopian tubes, means there may be a way to help prevent a disease that kills about 1000 women in Australia each year. It works like this: if youre a woman having planned abdominal surgery such as a hernia repair, gallbladder surgery, hysterectomy, or planned caesarean, you should be able to ask to have your Fallopian tubes removed at the same time. The procedure, called an opportunistic salpingectomy, has been adopted in Canada, and is recommended by some Australian doctors to women who have finished having children. Melbourne-based physiotherapist Alex Armstrong, 39, had her Fallopian tubes removed last year. Justin McManus A new study by Canadas University of British Columbia published this month found that women who had this procedure were 78 per cent less likely to develop the most common and lethal type of ovarian cancer, compared with those who had not had their Fallopian tubes removed. One gynaecologist recommending this surgery in Australia is Associate Professor Orla McNally, director of gynaecological oncology at the Royal Womens Hospital in Melbourne.

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Weve known for about 20 years that the majority of the most lethal ovarian cancers start in the Fallopian tubes. If this procedure were done routinely, it could reduce the numbers of ovarian cancers by 65 per cent  and this could save a lot of lives, she says. Ovarian cancer is a complex disease, and theres no screening test that can find it in the pre-cancerous or early stages, as you can with cervical cancer, for example. By the time its detected its usually well advanced, and most women die within five years. Last year, Melbourne-based physiotherapist Alex Armstrong had her Fallopian tubes removed during keyhole surgery to treat adenomyosis, a condition similar to endometriosis that causes heavy, painful periods. Her motivation was a strong family history of cancer. Id lived in the shadow of this disease all my life because my mother, grandmother and great aunt all had breast cancer, and my great-grandmother died of ovarian cancer. I was 16 when my grandmother died of breast cancer, then my mother was diagnosed with it when I was 20, says Armstrong, now 39.

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Related Article Health This little organ is rarely thought about  and its costing lives My mothers prognosis was good, but the memories of what my grandmother went through came flooding back, and I felt overwhelmed. Genetic testing eventually brought good news and bad news. Her mother, Shari, carried the BRCA2 gene mutation that increases the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer, but Armstrong herself didnt. But Sharis experience with cancer didnt stop there. When she opted for surgery to remove her ovaries to reduce her chances of more cancer, the surgeon found a tumour in her Fallopian tubes. She also went on to develop peritoneal cancer, which attacks the lining of the abdominal wall and is more common in women carrying the BRCA2 mutation. Shes responded well to treatment and is in remission, but because of the experience of cancer in my family I felt intuitively that having my Fallopian tubes removed was the right thing to do, even though I dont have the same mutation, says Armstrong.

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Id heard about the surgery from a friend whose doctor had suggested it to her. My own doctor agreed to do it while he was treating the adenomyosis. He said it would take an extra 10 to 15 minutes. She says the birth control that came with removing the tubes was another bonus. An important distinction when considering this surgery, according to experts, is the difference between removing the ovaries and Fallopian tubes. Women having planned abdominal surgery should be able to ask to have their Fallopian tubes removed at the same time. iStock Unlike removing the ovaries, removing the Fallopian tubes doesnt bring on early menopause and doesnt appear to affect production of hormones, says McNally. Its true that any surgery carries a risk, but if youre already having surgery, any extra risk from having the Fallopian tubes removed is minimal.

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But how easy is it for women to opt to have their tubes removed alongside other planned surgery? Related Article Health These five health issues affect women more than men. Heres how to combat them Its a work in progress, says Martha Hickey, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Melbourne. She leads the Australian part of an international study to test if women at high risk of ovarian cancer due to BRCA1/2 gene mutations can safely have only their tubes removed, rather than both tubes and ovaries, to reduce their ovarian cancer risk. Having ovaries as well as tubes removed is very effective but will lead to surgical menopause, she says. [This surgery] is very new and although its straightforward for a gynaecologist to remove the tubes at the time of procedures like hysterectomy, surgeons specialising in gastric surgery or hernia repair may need more training or have a gynaecologist alongside them, she says.

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To increase their options, she suggests women speak to their surgeon directly ahead of other planned abdominal operations. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.
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Investigation MoneySuper & retirementSuperannuation Marisa once trusted her accountant. Shes spent two years trying to recover $900,000 Max Maddison February 18, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Marisa Gallo and her husband, Guido, trusted Richmond-based accountant Christopher Edwards with the profits from properties they sold. They were so convinced of his bona fides, their initial investments were rolled into a self-managed super fund. In early 2024, Gallo sent Edwards formal notification she was seeking to dissolve the family fund. Two years later, she has not seen any of the estimated $900,000 she claims they are owed. Gallo is one of Edwards clients who allege they are collectively owed nearly $25 million. Guido and Marisa Gallo have spent the past two years trying to recover an estimated $900,000 they allege Christopher Edwards owes them. Wolter Peeters Gallo has been in and out of hospital with stress-related conditions over the past nine months, which she alleges has been caused by Edwards refusal to pay them back. Instead, he says she owes him money. Gallo claims that is farcical. Many clients of Edwards, also a solicitor, say a considerable portion of their trust in him is because of his standing as a lawyer.

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That professional pedigree convinced them to invest their life savings with him. Sometimes they convinced their family to invest, too. Alongside his list of qualifications and specialties  accountant, tax agent, licensed real estate agent, solicitor and barrister  Edwards business card displays the scales of justice, the symbol of fairness, balance and objectivity before the law. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said in September the vintage-Jaguar-driving 65-year-old is likely to have contravened a financial services law, and banned him from providing financial advice for 10 years. ASIC has reasons to believe that Mr Edwards does not have the judgment, skill or character to participate in the Australian financial services industry, it said. Approached near his office on Windsor Street, Richmond, this month, Edwards said he had not done anything wrong.

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How it came undone The point when Edwards operation veered off track is difficult to pinpoint. But two clients, speaking on the condition of anonymity, believe the problems began after Edwards long-time business partner Christopher Hawkins had a medical episode several years ago. Hawkins  described by one source as Edwards financial wizard, numbers man and skilled developer  exited Great Northern Developments, their joint development company, as a shareholder and director in early 2022, according to corporate records. When he was in charge of developments, nothing went wrong, the source claimed. Three investments  a solar farm in Gunnedah in NSW and two property developments in Queensland  show little sign of nearing completion. That raises significant doubts about Edwards capacity to repay his clients any time soon.

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Most of the 20 clients and staff who spoke to the Herald as part of the months-long investigation question whether their funds have propped up Edwards sinking investment empire. One client, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she had not told her broader family about their financial plight, said she had taken a loan of $565,000  $265,000 was for her sons university fees and to purchase a car, the remainder to invest with Edwards in a property development in Queensland. Christopher Edwards clients are demanding answers. Wolter Peeters Edwards told her to invest the entirety of the funds with one of his development companies, on the proviso the money would be returned when needed. Instead, the solicitor deposited the funds in his Gunnedah solar farm investment  something she alleges she never gave him permission to do. In an email in January, Edwards claimed he would provide $65,000 for her car, but requested she sign a deed of agreement with Ironbark Holdings, another company owned by Edwards with control of the Gunnedah development.

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You are being paid good interest on your investment, and this is largely because the money is out working and not sitting [in] the bank as it would be earning less than what I am paying you! Obviously if your money was at call you would be paid much less interest, he wrote in an email. For this reason, under the agreement I am not obliged to pay you anything. As stated to you however I am prepared to help out if I am able and for you still being able to earn the high interest. Related Article Investigation

Superannuation Karen thought she had $3 million in her super. She cant get hold of a cent Times were good for Edwards around the early 2000s. Edwards and his wife, Albette, purchased residential and commercial properties across Sydneys north-west. Title searches reveal the pair have property holdings across NSW, Queensland and Victoria. The couple spent $1.6 million on a four-bedroom, four-bathroom Woollahra home in late 2003. Their son owns another three properties, including a five-bedroom house in Blaxland purchased for $1.4 million in 2022, and a villa in Ettalong Beach for $750,000 in 2020.

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The regulatory system The architect of the nations superannuation system, former prime minister Paul Keating, said self-managed funds were almost an afterthought. Regulation of these funds was fairly relaxed, designed for people who were active and engaged in their investments while receiving sound financial advice, explains Jessica Spence, the director of advocacy at Super Consumers Australia. The problem is if you have someone who is vulnerable, it is easier to take advantage of them in the SMSF space, she said. We have seen, generally, quite a lot of harm using SMSFs for scams, domestic abuse, financial abuse, elder abuse, because of those fewer protections and checks and balances. The lack of checks and balances has bewildered Edwards clients. They have asked why it took the corporate regulator so long to intervene, and why the only repercussion for operating without a financial licence was to ban him from providing financial advice  something he was not allowed to do.

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Its a bit unsatisfactory from a consumer perspective. We would like to see stronger penalties in line with the scale of the harm people are causing, Spence said. In a statement, an ASIC spokesman said: ASICs investigation into Mr Edwards remains ongoing. We cannot comment any further on an ongoing investigation. Because Edwards does not have a financial services licence, his clients are not covered by professional indemnity insurance or have access to the compensation scheme of last resort. We would like to see stronger penalties in line with the scale of the harm people are causing. Jessica Spence, Super Consumers Australia The existence of one-stop shops  entities which establish SMSFs, roll over existing superannuation funds into the fund, and invest in property developments, among other things  is not new. ASIC was warning about these kinds of operators functioning without a financial licence as far back as 2014.

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Resolve Political Monitor Australians back hit to capital gains and negative gearing to pay for tax cuts Vulnerabilities have been exposed by what ASIC defines as high-risk superannuation switching  schemes set up to entice investors from retail funds with the promise of higher returns. Spence believes regulators need to make it harder for people to be pushed into self-managed funds if they are unsuitable products. She fears many SMSF investors lack the financial literacy to understand and question the investment products they are sold. Those problems have been exacerbated by rising risk tolerance in the superannuation sector, Joe Longo, the head of ASIC, told The Australian Financial Review last month. I think its inevitable therell be more losses. We, as a system, we almost choose to encourage risk-taking, he said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Investing.com -- Rosenblatt upgraded Cadence Design Systems to Buy from Neutral after the chip design software firm reported fourth-quarter results ahead of expectations and pointed to steady demand tied to AI and advanced chip development. Shares rose more than 5% in premarket trading Wednesday

The brokerage said revenue growth, rising backlog and continued uptake of AI-related tools supported the upgrade, along with a pullback in the stock since September that it sees as an entry point.







Rosenblatt raised its price target to $360 from $335 and increased its forecasts for 2026 and 2027.

Cadence reported non-GAAP earnings of $1.99 per share for the quarter, topping estimates of $1.91. Revenue rose to $1.44 billion from $1.356 billion a year earlier and came in ahead of the $1.42 billion consensus.

Rosenblatt said fourth-quarter revenue grew about 6.2% year on year on a tough comparison, supported by demand across lower-node chip designs, AI-related projects, systems customers and intellectual property. Backlog rose about 11% sequentially to $7.8 billion and was up 14.7% from a year earlier, giving visibility into roughly 67% of 2026 revenue, the note said. China contributed 13% of quarterly revenue.

The brokerage added that Cadences initial 2026 outlook is typically conservative and does not yet include the pending roughly $3.2 billion simulation acquisition from Hexagon, which is expected to close in the coming weeks.

For 2026, Cadence forecast first-quarter earnings of $1.89 to $1.95 per share, above expectations of $1.81. It sees full-year earnings of $8.05 to $8.15 per share on revenue of $5.9 billion to $6 billion, broadly in line with estimates.

Other analysts were also positive. Wolfe Research called it Cadences largest quarterly beat, with record backlog and an FY26 outlook ahead of expectations, while Bank of America reiterated its Buy rating, citing a strong demand outlook protected against AI disruption, though it trimmed its price target to $375 from $400.

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NationalNSWCrime Crime gang declares war on son of ex-NRL star, police throw 100 officers at new taskforce Perry Duffin, Riley Walter and Daniel Lo Surdo Updated February 18, 2026  4:03pm ,first published February 18, 2026  10:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The son of former NRL star Matt Utai was allegedly targeted twice in a night by members of a rival crime gang believed to have shot his father outside his western Sydney home less than 24 hours earlier in an escalation of an underworld conflict. The shooting of Utai and a home linked to his son, Iziah, 24, and the firebombing of another property linked to the family, has sparked the establishment of a 100-strong police taskforce to quell the violent feud. Loading Iziah, also known as Ziggy, has emerged as a key figure in the conflict between the notorious Alameddine crime family and a new rival syndicate dubbed the Coconut Cartel, according to police. Violence linked to the months-long conflict escalated on Tuesday morning, when Utai, 44, was shot twice in a brazen ambush outside his Greenacre home by gunmen believed to be linked to the Alameddine crime network.

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Messages addressed to the rat Ziggy Utai and shared with SCN Worldstar, an independent media channel focused on Sydneys underworld, suggest both properties were targeted because of Iziahs links to them. This is just the start, one message says. Iziah Utais alleged links to organised crime are being probed after his father, former NRL player Matt Utai, was shot in Greenacre on Tuesday. Facebook Its [sic] a losing battle for u [sic] and anyone that dares to come against us. The messages are signed by the one and only crime family, forever strong  an apparent reference to the Alameddine crime family.

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Utai, a member of the Canterbury Bulldogs premiership-winning side in 2004, was shot in the chest and leg as he walked to his car parked outside the home he shares with his wife and children at about 6am on Tuesday. He was taken to hospital to undergo surgery and remains in a serious condition. Detectives believe Utai was targeted because of Iziahs alleged links to the Coconut Cartel, which police sources say has been attempting to wrest control of Sydneys lucrative drug trade from the fractured Alameddine network since late last year. Forensic officers inspect bullet holes at the home in St Clair. Kate Geraghty Iziah was described in court documents in 2023 as an Alameddine associate after being charged with gun and drug offences, which he was later convicted of. However, videos, images and messages circulated within Sydneys underworld on Wednesday suggest Iziah has aligned himself with the Alameddine networks new rivals. Detectives believe Iziah is currently overseas. On Wednesday morning, 18 hours after Utai was shot, a St Clair home linked to Iziah was peppered with more than a dozen bullets, several of which became lodged in the roller door at the front of the property.

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Footage circulated through Sydneys underworld, and published by SCN Worldstar, show at least one gunman firing at the property. F--- you and the Coconut Cartel, another man says moments before the shooting begins. A woman in her 50s was home at the time, but was uninjured. No arrests have been made over the shooting. Just after 6am on Wednesday, another home linked to Iziah was firebombed in the third attack on the Utai family in 24 hours. A video circulated throughout Sydneys underworld shows a man setting the front of the Guildford West property alight. Former NRL star Matt Utai was shot in the chest and leg in a brazen ambush in Sydneys south-west on Tuesday morning. Kate Geraghty, Getty Images A NSW Police forensic officer processes the crime scene in Greenacre where former NRL player Matt Utai was shot. Kate Geraghty F--- him and the Coconut Cartel  this is the start of the destruction, a man says in the video.

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In December, several shots were fired at the same home. Two women and a child were inside at the time, but were uninjured. Related Article Updated

Crime Former NRL star shot in brazen ambush, police probe sons gangland links The conflict between the two groups has been escalating since the splintering of the Alameddine network after several senior members defected from the group to form their own rival crime syndicate. The defections sparked a gangland war and a series of retaliatory shootings in which several people were injured or killed. On Wednesday, police launched Strike Force Halesowen, a 100-strong operation comprised of specialist anti-gangs detectives and uniformed officers, to investigate the incidents targeting Iziah. We believe the Coconut Cartel  a name theyve given themselves  is a violent criminal organisation that are involved in crime for hire, essentially, and theyre committing offences across Sydney, Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Abdy, the acting commander of NSW Polices Raptor Squad, said.

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This escalation, which appears to be targeting innocent members of particular families  its ridiculously disgusting offences that theyre committing. These people are ordinarily innocent people that are now being targeted by violent criminal syndicates, and they have no association with the criminality of the people in their particular families, or their particular associates. Related Article Police Ready 2 chalk out every Alameddine: Cartel threatens to wipe out notorious crime family Abdy said Iziahs alleged criminal links were a central part of Strike Force Halesowen investigations. We believe hes associated with criminal entities and that is the reason for the current spate of offences, Abdy said. Detectives are yet to speak with Iziah, whose exact location is not known. SCN Worldstars Zaky Mallah told the Herald he was impartial and treated all crime news equally.

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Sydney underworld gangs send shooting videos to SCN Worldstar because its known for gang news in the area, he said. Shootings, firebombings, kidnappings, turf wars and other crimes are usually posted there first. A Merrylands barbershop registered to Iziah was torched twice in two nights in May, after he registered the business in his own name in August 2024. CCTV captured a man setting himself on fire as he tried to light accelerant. CCTV footage of a person lighting themselves on fire during an alleged arson attack in May 2025 on a Merrylands barber shop registered to Iziah Utai. The investigation into the barbershop arson attacks was taken up by Taskforce Falcon, which was established last May to quell the violence linked to the Alameddine conflict. Police have not publicly linked that conflict to the current feud between the Alameddine network and the Coconut Cartel. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
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Letters NationalVictoriaLetters ISIS brides and their kids: let them back February 18, 2026  8:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Photo: Cathy Wilcox To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. The so-called ISIS brides, and their children, stranded in Syria should be allowed to return to Australia (Pressure over ISIS brides return, 18/2). I do not condone their actions nor support in anyway their reasons for going in the first place. However, they and their children are Australian citizens, they should return and face the full force of Australian law as deemed appropriate. We do not fully know why they went or even if they were coerced by husbands and family; give them the benefit of doubt but monitor and manage their return.

Denise Stevens, St Kilda They deserve Australian protections

I cannot find words to express how disgusted I am on the opportunism on show, as politicians scramble to show how little they care for women and children trapped in Syria. I feel sick to hear Labor politicians, our leaders, show how they want to be seen as uncaring, mean-spirited and devoid of compassion. These people are Australians who made unutterably stupid decisions when they were teenagers. But theres to be no sympathy, or support apparently. Their kids are Australians. How can any politician say they dont deserve Australian protections? But no, instead of compassion and decency, we see the Labor Party scrambling to create uglier soundbites than the other parties.

Lindee Conway, West Footscray They have done their time

Anthony Albanese has trotted out the saying if you make your own bed, then lie in it. The other appropriate saying if you do the crime, then you do the time might be more appropriate because these families have done the time  seven years in a refugee camp. Having done the time, they should be welcomed back. Everyone makes mistakes they come to regret. As long as they are thoroughly vetted and, like others after release from prison, are paroled for a couple of years.

Alan Inchley, Frankston

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Everyone makes a bad decision, sometime

I am deeply saddened by the PMs devil take the hindmost comment on the children and women trying to leave Syria. Im sure his mother, like all of us, would have made a bad decision that she later tried to reverse, and as a single mother would not have countenanced visiting the sins of the father upon her child. And shame (again) on the Coalition, chasing cheap political points on the back of human suffering. Laurine Hurley, Northcote Give the children a chance at life

PM, stop listening to the fearmongerers and instead listen to the compassionate and respected doctor, Jamal Rifi, and recognise that the women and children in the camps in Syria are our responsibility, not Syrias, and bring them home. They can then face the authorities and their children will finally have a chance at life.

Bruce Cormack, Kilsyth A case for exercising compassion

As an ugly debate about immigration and aliens heats up, it is clear that the Albanese government is heeding the siren song of Pauline Hanson. This was made clear in the prime ministers response to the plight of the women and children stranded in Syria. Pitilessly echoing the old adage As you make your bed so you must lie in it, Anthony Albanese has shown how heartless his government has become. Those women and children are Australian citizens. Yes, the women made a stupid choice to join ISIS in its vile campaign to create a caliphate. But stupidity is not confined to those poor souls. If we are incapable of exercising compassion towards them, we obviously lack a moral core as a nation. Bring the women and their children home now. Of course, keep them under strict surveillance. But get them out of the hell they are in, especially the children who deserve nothing less.

Allan Patience, Newport THE FORUM More powers needed

Jacinta Allans response to the CFMEU investigation is pathetic at best and deliberately deceptive at worst. As the article Allan cited corruption bid, knowing its futility (18/2) has shown, the CFMEU has been a subject of intense scrutiny for over a decade and as Geoffrey Watson, SC, succinctly put it If the press knew, then the public knew. If the public knew then the government must have known. The government, and therefore Allan, should also have been aware of the inability of the IBAC to proceed under its limited powers and yet continued to peddle the deception that the government acted immediately by referring the matter to them. Poetic justice therefore that IBAC has comprehensively countered this with pertinent facts. I would also have cautioned the government that, Oh what a tangled web we weave/When first we practice to deceive .

IBAC must be given the investigative powers it has always sought. To refuse this would make Allans, and the governments position untenable.

Stephen Farrelly, Donvale

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Times up

Investigative reporter Nick McKenzie reminds us that Victoria operates under the principles of Westminster government in which government ministers are responsible for their actions. McKenzie adds that the premier is the minister most responsible for the Big Build (The Morning Edition podcast, 18/2). The Age editorial cites McKenzies comments and concludes that the buck stops with the premier. She must act. Now (18/2).

Under Westminster principles, that means the responsible minister should resign, or be removed from their position. As McKenzie says, that minister is the premier herself.

Given the revelations of The Age Building Bad series, the recent Geoffrey Watson report and the premiers unpopularity, the Labor Party should tell the premier her time is up. If she wont resign, she should be sacked.

Rod Wise, Surrey Hills Apology required

The premier has been keen to offer apologies for past actions in which she was not involved or had any control over (e.g. historic institutional child abuse, treatment of First Nations people). How about she stand up and apologise to Victorians for the actions of her government related to the Big Build, the CFMEU and bikie gangs, which have significantly impacted all Victorians.

David Parker, Geelong West Call to resign

The Age editorial is spot on when it concludes by stating The buck stops with the premier. She must act. Now. Yes, indeed, Jacinta Allan must act now. For once she should do the decent thing by taking responsibility for her actions and resign.

Ivan Glynn, Vermont Climate of change

While new Opposition Leader Angus Taylor announced his shadow ministry, I waited expectantly for who would take on Chris Bowen as the shadow climate change minster. Unsurprisingly, the opposition has ignored appointing a minister for the most significant threat to our lifestyle and the future of the planet. As an independent teal supporter, the Liberals have forfeited ever gaining my vote.

Nick Toovey, Beaumaris Fairer taxes, please

Your correspondent (Letters, 18/2) is hopeful that new shadow treasurer Tim Wilson will put some sparkle into policy development of the (Liberal) party. But we need to remember that all that glitters isnt gold. Wilson is very good at the glitter, but the Liberal mantra of lower taxes and smaller government falters when the details (or lack of them) are exposed. Which taxes and government services should be lowered or eliminated? The member for Goldstein led the charge against tax reform in previous election campaigns, and will now have to toe the party line in opposing any adjustments to CGT rates in the upcoming budget. Rather than call for lower taxes, Id rather see a robust debate about fairer taxes, and how a modern government can act compassionately and ethically in the interests of all citizens.

Judy Williams, Beaumaris

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Trouble with figures

Angus Taylor has wasted no time spreading misinformation about immigration, or mass migration as he and the political right call it. It is true net overseas migration (NOM) peaked at about 500,000 in 2022-23 coinciding with the election of the Albanese government. However that figure was a direct result of the COVID pandemic when numbers fell dramatically during lockdown, only to rebound with the pent-up demand when borders reopened. It may come as news to Taylor but it is the Morrison government who should be blamed for immigration numbers getting out of hand. During COVID, they introduced unrestricted work rights for overseas students and then a COVID visa with no restrictions at all. You didnt even need to study. They also introduced fee-free visa applications for students and the numbers went through the roof. NOM under Albanese in 2024-25 was about 300,000, is expected to be about 260,000 this financial year and 235,000 over the longer term. When Taylor and colleagues spruik the 500,000 figure, I hope the media will correct him.

Neil Hudson, East Melbourne Justice under stress

The response of the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Opposition Leader Angus Taylor to Australian women and children detained in Syrian camps is deeply troubling.

Australia is founded on the principle that individuals are judged on their own conduct. Yet the current rhetoric suggests collective suspicion  as though wives and children are automatically culpable for the actions of husbands or fathers. That approach sits uneasily with both our legal traditions and our stated commitment to fairness.

No one is suggesting that security concerns be ignored. Where evidence exists of criminal conduct, it should be tested in Australian courts. But to leave Australian citizens  particularly children  in indefinite detention abroad, without individual assessment, risks abandoning the very standards of justice we claim to uphold.

We should be capable of protecting national security while also insisting on due process and case-by-case evaluation. A confident democracy does not rely on guilt by association.

Peter Ronald, Warrnambool The nuclear threat

The loss of trust in the US committing to defending Australia with its nuclear umbrella is no surprise. It was never in writing and always an optimistic assumption.

Nuclear weapons rely on the theory of deterrence. It is just a theory. It assumes rational leadership and no accidental launches. Since the Cuban missile crisis we have come more than a dozen times close to all-out war, due to human and technical error. More weapons equals more risk of global conflagration, and hackers with increasingly sophisticated AI tools are coming.

There are no right hands for these appalling weapons. We must pressure countries back to the negotiating table to reduce stockpiles. Australia needs to join 100 other countries in signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Relying on theories and luck is very poor strategy.

Margaret Beavis, Vice President, Medical Association for Prevention of War, Australia, Carlton Tram dreams

Thanks for the article Standing room only (16/2). Wouldnt it be great to travel on a low tram on routes 57, 59 and 82. The inner north west suburbs of Melbourne are still serviced by the non airconditioned, two-step Z and Bclass trams. When will airconditioned low trams ever come? We havent even thought of accessibility to them.

It can be standing room only on 57, 59 in the tram-free zone  Flinders St station on Elizabeth St to the Victoria Markets.

So keep fit and healthy in the inner north western suburbs to use public transport or try the train, which is more accessible.

Margaret Forster, Aberfeldie Breath of fresh air

The sting is in the tail, as the old saying goes. Rod Sims and Rebecca Burdon have done us a great service by highlighting global progress in emissions reduction and dispelling mischievous myths as they go (Comment, 18/2). Its their final words that bite. They call on politicians to be honest with the public about the energy transition under way. Such honesty would require Labor to explain how its continual approval of new or expanded coal mines (more than 30 to date) squares with its commitment to the Paris agreement.

The new Liberal leadership would need to explain how their energy platform of coal and nuclear (a dinosaur and chimera, respectively) serves Australias economic and environmental interests. Sims and Burdon season their dish of good news with a little zest, noting that Australia still has substantial ground to make up. Its time to accelerate, not get diverted.

Tom Knowles, Parkville

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What to value

Re Australian values, living in a democracy is our greatest value not waving the flag shouting Oi Oi Oi. Democracy thrives on different opinions being openly discussed. The Liberal Party would rather turn off the tap of opinions that they dont like. They assert they know what the average Australian wants. Given their thrashing at the 2025 election, I am not sure they know much about the average Australia, as they lurch towards One Nations catchment area  the politics of grievance. Australians are better than that.

John Rome, Mt Lawley Photo: Matt Golding AND ANOTHER THING Building Bad

Re Big Build corruption, I dont care who did what and when. Who knew, or didnt know, and who didnt refer. All l know is, that it was my money.

David Cayzer, Clifton Hill Overseeing or turning a blind eye to a multibillion-dollar scandal in business would have the boss depart, contrite and in disgrace. In politics the boss tries bluff and bluster for eight agonising months, until the election.

Alan McLean, Queenscliff

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Hubris, thy name is Victorian Labor.

Ross McPhee, Seaford Politics

Angus Taylors new frontbench could be described as the A team if A was the only letter in the alphabet, that is.

Phil Alexander, Eltham Angus Taylor bemoaned the fact that Liberal women are reticent to get involved. This coming from the man who just knifed the first female Liberal leader after just nine months.

Rod Moran, Brighton Angus Taylor lacks the skills to lead a major political party. Worse still for the LNP is that their line-up is talentless. Only One Nation will ever challenge the ALP.

John Walsh, Watsonia Memo to Angus Taylor: I for one am quite certain that my way of life does not need protection, whatever that means.

Geoff McNamara, Newry

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Sussan Ley is no longer leader of the opposition. The nationals who were expelled from the shadow cabinet have all been reinstated. The nationals have got everything they wanted.

Graeme Gardner, Reservoir Thank god, Clive Palmer is back and investing in Australias advertising industry.

Tom Stafford, Wheelers Hill ... made your bed, lie in it ... does not in any way improve tolerance in Australia, prime minister. But I suppose it saved Pauline Hanson from saying it.

Katharine Anderson, Windsor
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NationalVictoriaCourts Tatiana had to store breastmilk in a suitcase of ice. Now shes won a discrimination payout Erin Pearson February 18, 2026  4:11pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A new mother discriminated against for being pregnant and forced to store breastmilk in a suitcase of ice at her job in a consulate office has been awarded almost $200,000 in damages. Tatiana Duarte was working as a fulltime waiter and cleaner at the United Arab Emirates consulate in Melbourne in 2020 when she became pregnant with her first child. Tatiana Duterte pictured on Wednesday. Eddie Jim Duarte says she was denied unpaid parental leave and flexible work arrangements by her employer, as well as support when she returned to her job. Instead, she was forced by her employer to experience the humiliation of breastfeeding in a storeroom and denied anywhere to safely store her breastmilk. Duarte was fired in November 2021 when she raised issues with Fair Work Australia.

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This week, Federal Court judge Philip Corbett found the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs breached its obligations under the Fair Work Act 2009 when it treated the employee in a discriminatory manner because of her pregnancy, breastfeeding and caring obligations, and when she exercised her workplace rights. The court noted the consulate was required to comply with Australian employment law. Here, the applicant was treated very poorly by her former employer. The humiliation of breastfeeding in a storeroom and storing milk in a suitcase is obvious, so too the stress caused by irregular and uncertain work hours when trying to care for an infant, Corbett wrote in his judgment. The judge ordered the mother be compensated $73,000 for economic and non-economic loss, and be paid a penalty of $100,000. Duarte said the case had been challenging to fight and she had at times been forced to appear in court without legal representation because she couldnt afford it.

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Despite these hardships, I remained steadfast in my belief that the truth  my truth  deserved to be heard and defended, she said. I felt that I had to raise my voice for justice. I held on to hope that, in the end, justice would prevail and find its way into my life. Related Article Exclusive

City life Doctor furious after being kicked out of Virgin airport lounge for pumping breast milk The court found the mothers treatment resulted in psychological harm including humiliation and stress. Victoria Legal Aids Catherine Hemingway said the landmark win was significant for employees who may experience discrimination at work related to being pregnant or having a child. Hemingway said employers should take note and make sure they responded to parental leave and flexible work requests under the law or risk facing significant penalties.

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We are pleased the court recognised the seriousness of the conduct towards Tatiana, and the enormous cost and struggle she faced in bringing her case forward, she said. The case is also a reminder that if you are working or employing people in Australia, you are often covered by Australian laws  regardless of what your visa status is, or what country your employer is from. And if you are told the law doesnt apply to you, you should seek legal assistance. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaPrisons Victorians pay $600 a day for every prisoner and rehabilitation is still failing Melissa Cunningham February 18, 2026  4:49pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

A prison built to focus on rehabilitation programs and slash reoffending is failing to live up to its promise, with four out of 10 inmates winding up back in jail within two years of being released. In a report tabled in state parliament on Tuesday, Auditor-General Andrew Greaves warned that almost a decade after it was opened, the $670 million Ravenhall Correctional Centre had failed to make a dent in reoffending rates, and in some cases the prisons recidivism rate was higher than that of other male prisons. A Ravenhall cell at the time of the prison's opening in 2017. Jason South The report also revealed Victorian taxpayers were paying on average almost $600 a day for every prisoner in the state. Greaves found the privately run Ravenhall facility had a 38.3 per cent reoffending rate, compared with the 36.6 per cent average for other adult male prisons.

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Despite its different rehabilitation and reintegration approach, Ravenhalls overall results for reducing reoffending fall short of performance targets and are similar to other Victorian adult male prisons, the report said. There were almost 6600 prisoners across 16 adult jails in Victoria as of June last year. The audit found Ravenhalls rehabilitation and reintegration programs had not been independently probed since the prison opened in 2017. iStock Greaves also warned that some high-risk inmates could be missing crucial opportunities for rehabilitation because they were not receiving the programs they need at the prison, operated by the GEO Group Australia. Delays for rehabilitation programs have also blown out. More than 960 Ravenhall prisoners are on waiting lists and inmates wait on average 111 days to begin treatment.

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The centre was opened in late 2017 in an effort to keep pace with the states rapidly rising prison population, which has soared following a decade-long series of tough-on-crime changes to bail, parole and sentencing laws. Related Article Justice Bail laws to be split to cope with influx of prisoners It was revealed in 2015, that the prisons private operators may be paid up to $2 million in bonuses if able to reduce inmates reoffending rates. GEOs target was to reduce recidivism by 12 per cent for sentenced prisoners generally and 14 per cent for sentenced Indigenous prisoners. Greaves said the only area where Ravenhall appeared to be improving reoffending rates was among First Nations prisoners. The reoffending rate was 34.6 per cent at the centre compared with the state average of 42.8 per cent.

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The audit also found Ravenhalls rehabilitation and reintegration programs had not been independently probed since the prison opened in 2017. Related Article Exclusive

Courts Prisons boss lays bare impossible situation of overcrowding caused by bail reforms Greaves warned that the state governments new bail changes would only worsen the grim situation inside Victorian prisons, which hav been facing mounting pressure due to population increases. These changes may result in an increased need for prisoner places, adding strain to the systems existing resources, he wrote in the report. Greaves said that while it was too early to assess the impact of the current bail changes, a Sentencing Advisory Council report from last year found the proportion of remand prisoners had increased over the past two decades.

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People on remand now make up about 39 per cent of Victorias adult male prison population. It was revealed in March last year that so many people are expected to be remanded under Victorias proposed bail laws that some of the changes will be introduced later so that corrections staff can be hired to cope with the influx. Late last year, Corrections Victoria Assistant Commissioner Jenny Hosking admitted to a suburban magistrates court that the system was under massive pressure due to the bail changes, as a rise in custody numbers led to dozens of inmates missing hearings every day. The state government and the GEO Group Australia has been contacted for comment. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Portrait of a local woman during the Womens Afro-Mexican Carnival of Alto Tio Diego on February 15, 2026 in Alto Tio Diego, Mexico. Alto Tio Diego is a small town near the State capital Xalapa where every year inhabitants celebrate their traditional carnival. Women of the town demanded a special day for them to parade and few years ago, they started to do it by walking through the streets wearing traditional costumes and masks (mostly of animals) but the attires have evolved to more modern characters. Credit:Hector AD Quintanar/Getty Images
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PoliticsFederalGovernment debt Nations taxpayers not enough to pay for ballooning deficits Shane Wright February 19, 2026  6:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Federal and state budgets are under increasing strain due to extra government spending and the nations ageing population, a new independent report has found, with warnings ordinary working people will have to pay higher taxes. Compiled by the e61 Institute, the report into the state of government spending found Australia is on target for 20 consecutive years of combined budget deficits by 2028 as options narrow to turn around the bleak fiscal outlook. Michael Brennan says state and federal budgets are in a fragile position. Dominic Lorrimer Federal government spending as a share of the economy is on track to reach 26.9 per cent this financial year, with gross debt already at an all-time high of $990.5 billion. Spending and debt by the states and territories has grown even faster than federal expenditure. Institute director and former Productivity Commission boss Michael Brennan said when state and federal budget bottom lines were combined, the country had been in deficit since 2008.

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Since the global financial crisis and the pandemic, both levels of government had struggled to repair their fiscal buffers. At the same time, government decisions to increase spending plus the higher costs of an ageing population had hurt budgets. Related Article Analysis

Resolve Political Monitor Cut government spending! Just not my government spending Brennan said the growing pressures, particularly from the health system, would mean the federal government would need to lean more heavily on income tax, which already accounts for half of all Canberras revenue. He said the current budget could not sustain a move towards European-style universal services such as childcare, the NDIS and aged care. There is no imminent debt crisis, but with renewed pressures ahead  like an ageing population and slow productivity growth  Australias fiscal options are narrowing, he said.

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Without tax reform, spending restraint will be needed to avoid burdening future generations with a fragile, inequitable and inefficient Australian economy. Potential directions include a renewed focus on efficiency in state service delivery, curtailing cost pressures through great means testing of in-kind transfers and, inevitably, hard choices about priorities. The institute found that Australias fiscal discipline had been deteriorating for almost 30 years, but it had been partly hidden by the benefits of a younger, growing population up to 2011. This had reduced pressure on services such as health while inflating government revenue. But this had turned around with the retirement of the first Baby Boomers, yet government spending had continued to grow at almost the same pace, leaving budgets increasingly under pressure. The institute found governments had to find ways to reduce spending growth while lifting overall productivity growth.

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But a new report from the Productivity Commission, released on Thursday, found multifactor productivity, which measures the combination of worker activity with machines and technology, fell by 0.5 per cent through 2024-25. It was a sharp deterioration on the modest 0.1 per cent growth in 2023-24 and well short of the 20-year average growth of 0.4 per cent. Productivity across the mining sector has fallen for a fifth consecutive year. Bloomberg The decline was driven by the mining sector, where it fell for the fifth consecutive year, dropping by 3.2 per cent. The drop in mining productivity is largely due to resource companies accessing deep and more expensive deposits. Other falls were recorded in the labour-intensive hospitality sector, manufacturing and construction.

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The single largest increase was in agriculture, forestry and fishing, in which productivity rose by more than 10 per cent. There were also strong performances in arts and recreation (up 5 per cent), communications (4.3 per cent) and administrative services (4 per cent). Commission deputy chair Alex Robson said skill levels of workers and investment by businesses in new machines and technologies were key factors in the poor productivity performance. While our labour force continues to grow, we also need a skilled workforce that can adapt to changes and meet employer demands, he said. Likewise, our workers need capital to be their most productive. While the amount of capital is crucial, the quality of our capital matters too  it is important that we invest in the right types of assets and use new and existing capital effectively. Another factor is national infrastructure, which enables businesses and workers to move around the country.

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But this week, the International Monetary Fund said all governments should co-ordinate the rollout of expensive infrastructure projects rather than compete for workers and equipment. Related Article Australian economy Higher GST, lower income tax? The major shake-up urged to lift Australias economy Queensland Premier David Crisafulli told the National Press Club the best thing his government could do was tighten the belt on projects and bring them in on budget. Crisafulli, who said his state planned to build almost $120 billion worth of projects over the next four years, noted that construction activity in some other states was starting to slow, which would benefit Queensland.

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PoliticsNSWPlanning Opinion Why the battle over this Sydney site is more than a war on NIMBYs Alexandra Smith State Political Editor February 18, 2026  7:30pm

February 18, 2026  7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

I am a Sydneysider fortunate enough to have access, albeit infrequently, to what lies on the other side of the grand sandstone walls of Victoria Barracks. Few are as lucky as me because the public, which pays for its upkeep, is almost completely locked out of the 13-hectare Paddington site. Victoria Barracks Sydney has been identified in a federal government audit as a site which should be sold to raise revenue and provide housing. Once a year, just before Christmas, my family visits the barracks (after completing security forms and showing photo ID) to watch our eldest parade with his army cadet unit. To my surprise, it has become one of my favourite end-of-year activities. Before our teenager joined cadets a few years ago, I had never set foot inside the grounds of Australias most historic defence site. I do not come from a military family but in December, as I sat in the sweltering sun swatting away flies, I was struck by just how special it is. The expansive green grass of the parade ground, the beautiful Georgian-style sandstone buildings from the 1840s. Twelve heritage listings across the grounds, originally built by convicts with local materials including seashells.

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A site such as Victoria Barracks should not be accessible only to the likes of me. Nor should it be sold, as is the current plan after the Albanese government undertook a sweeping audit of its defence property portfolio. (Also on the federal governments divestment list is part of HMAS Penguin on Middle Head at Balmoral, and Spectacle Island near Drummoyne, along with 10 other NSW sites). Related Article Updated

Defence Tap the brakes: Wary response to Defences $3b asset sell-off plan As a city, we can be more creative than simply allowing a stunning historical site to be auctioned off. A hybrid model, proposed by the Wentworth MP Allegra Spender and Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, would be the best of both worlds. Spender and Greenwich, whose electorates take in the barracks, want the largely inaccessible site opened to the public, in an area of Sydney where green space is at a premium. Greenwich acknowledges the site is large and so believes it has the potential to provide both open space and housing. Heritage would be retained, but the site accessible by taxpayers. Defence could maintain a presence and there would still be a housing component, which must include affordable homes.

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I am not a NIMBY and desperately want more housing in inner Sydney. The proposed sale will barely affect my son. His cadet unit will continue to parade at the less spectacular nearby Randwick Barracks. But I am not alone in wanting the site saved. Related Article Exclusive

Property investment Belongs to the nation: Cross-party push to stop sale of Victoria Barracks Two state Labor MPs  Marjorie ONeill and Greg Warren  are also vehemently opposed to the barracks leaving public hands, as is Liberal MP James Griffin, who grew up in a military family. His mother, a former Greens councillor on Manly Council and the first female barracks commandant of Victoria Barracks, makes a good point. Security of the offices occupied by the military can be ensured, says Cathy Griffin, formerly Major Cathy Horne, without stopping people at the gate. Premier Chris Minns had a terrible wobble last week when asked in question time about his thoughts on the barracks sale. For a slick communicator, indeed the best in the parliament, Minns flippant response could be put down to his horror week in the wake of the anti-Isaac Herzog protest. Rather than giving an informed answer, Minns seemed totally uninterested, and he said he had not turned his mind to it. He likened it to his neighbour selling a boat, as though the sale of public land were something that could be flogged on Facebook Marketplace.

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Minns, who is sensitive to criticism from radio station 2GB, called in to apologise later that afternoon after the station was inundated with calls from angry veterans who felt his comments were insensitive. The premier acknowledged he had had a shocker and apologised profusely. Thankfully, other ministers in Minns cabinet have been thinking about the future of the barracks. After all, this government will be judged on its promise to deliver housing at the ballot box in just over a year. Housing Minister Rose Jackson has said the state government is a potential buyer, while Planning Minister Paul Scully recently said he had asked Homes NSW to investigate potential options for Victoria Barracks and he ruled out aggressive development. The Minns government has shown it is not adverse to a stoush with its federal Labor colleagues. Indeed, its tough stance on negotiating a federal health agreement and a deal on school funding shows NSW is willing to stand up for its voters, regardless of which party is running the country. NSW can do the same with the Commonwealths plans for the barracks. If Minns is serious about housing, he needs to champion a hybrid model for Victoria Barracks. It would send a message to NIMBYs that he is not development-at-all-costs but also that he understands how important buildings and history are to many of us. Alexandra Smith is state political editor. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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PoliticsVictoriaBuilding Bad Opinion Daniel Andrews couldnt spend our money fast enough. It is no surprise crooks cashed in Chip Le Grand State political editor February 18, 2026  7:00pm

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In Geoffrey Watsons telling of how the Victorian Big Build infrastructure program transferred billions of dollars from the pockets of taxpayers into the accounts of hi-vis criminals, the barrister and anti-corruption campaigner poses an essential question: Why did the state government do nothing to stop it? In seeking to answer his own question, Watson offers two theories in a previously redacted section of his Rotting from the Top report tabled last week in the Queensland governments Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU. The first, which he rejects, is that the Andrews and Allan governments have run a protection racket for their Labor mates in the states largest construction union. Former premier Daniel Andrews was quick to don a hard had and even quicker to spend public money. Eddie Jim As Watson points out, by the time the level crossing removals, West Gate Tunnel and Metro Tunnel projects really got going, CFMEU boss John Setka and his cronies had fallen out with the Victorian government. Theyd already found more useful idiots in Adam Bandt and his Greens, who as late as 2024 resisted the appointment of an administrator to clean up the unions Victorian branch.

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Watsons second theory, which he leans towards, is that the Victorian government, like so many building companies, was too spooked by the risk of industrial action and costly project delays to act upon evidence of union malfeasance and corruption. Related Article Exclusive

Building Bad Building bad: How bikies, underworld have become a construction industry cancer This is a big part of the story. When a premier or senior government minister plans their days around putting on a hard hat and spruiking a major project in an Instagram reel, they dont want pesky interruptions from a picket line. With due respect to the work Watson has done since he was appointed by the unions administrator to investigate allegations of systemic criminality within CFMEU ranks, there is something missing from an otherwise compelling narrative.

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A few years ago, a Victorian businessman responsible for managing a significant government investment privately expressed his exasperation at the cavalier indifference then premier Daniel Andrews showed towards the spending of public money. The businessman, who was no stranger to multibillion-dollar transactions, said he was personally offended by how little the Victorian government cared about the taxpayers dollar. Andrews demonstrated this spendthrift attitude from the earliest days of its government. One of his first significant decisions after coming to power in November 2014, having promised to extricate the state  at no cost to taxpayers  from the previous governments commitment to build the East West Link, was to spend $1.1 billion not building a road. The previous Napthine government, as the auditor-general has pointed out, shares the blame for this. But for Andrews, disregard for public money became a defining feature of his decade in power. To bookend this observation, consider one of the final decisions of the Andrews government  to spend nearly $600 million to not host an ill-conceived Commonwealth Games. During the Baillieu and Napthine governments, total government expenses averaged $42.8 billion a year. In the first term of the Andrews government, government expenses leapt to an average of $78.8 billion  nearly double the cost of the previous administration.

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By the time things got crazy with COVID, Victorias net debt had already doubled and the states infrastructure spend had started to explode. Our capital works program went from just under $5 billion in 2014-15 to a staggering $24.2 billion in 2023-24 and is this year running above $20 billion, a figure that distorts the cost and availability of labour and adds $12 billion to the states already massive borrowings. Related Article Exclusive

Building Bad Big Builds dirty money: How gangland, bikie-linked firms funded Labor We dont need to revisit the tragic details of the Rudd governments Pink Batts fiasco or the waste associated with the Morrison governments JobKeeper program to understand what happens when a government is in such a rush to shovel money out the door. So long as you had a union ticket, the Andrews government was a scoundrels dream. Premier Jacinta Allan, like CFMEU administrator Mark Irving, KC, does not accept Watsons guesstimate that corruption added $15 billion to the cost of the Big Build. To be fair to Watson and Allan, it is not easy in Victoria to discern how much public money is actually being spent on major projects at any given time. This is by design. In the latter years of the Andrews government, nearly 20 per cent of all government expenditure was accounted for outside the annual budget. Victoria remains the only jurisdiction in Australia, federal or state, where major projects are accounted for through the use of treasurers advances, a contingency normally reserved for emergency or unforseen expenses, instead of normal budget reporting.

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The point has been well made that Allan, as a former minister for major projects, transport infrastructure and the Suburban Rail Loop, was responsible and should have been alarmed by unexplained costs on Big Build sites. It is less appreciated that the minister who actually signed the cheques to cover these unexplained costs, through treasurers advances, was Tim Pallas. Related Article Opinion

Victorian Parliament Bloated and out of control, Victorias spending puts thousands of jobs on the line Chip Le Grand State political editor The scale of the corruption uncovered by this newspapers investigative journalist Nick McKenzie and catalogued by Watson demands a far more serious response than we have received so far from Allan. At the same time, the royal commission proposed by the opposition, while warranted, is not what Victoria most needs to prevent further corruption on Big Build sites. As Watson notes, somewhat alarmingly, in another redacted passage from his report, corruption of this magnitude is a uniquely Victorian problem which, despite the removal of Setka and his buddies from the senior ranks of the CFMEU, remains deeply entrenched. The influence of corrupting characters remains, he warns. Corrupt practices continue. There is presently no sign that things will improve. What Victoria needs now, above all else, is a government that values, safeguards and accounts for the money it spends. If only there was a way to put that in an Instagram reel.

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Chip Le Grand is state political editor. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
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PoliticsWAWA Parliament Name-calling and racism claims: First day of WA parliament gets off to a rocky start Hamish Hastie February 18, 2026  5:26pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Western Australian Education Minister Sabine Winton has been forced to apologise for calling Nationals MP Lachlan Hunter an arsehole on the first day back at parliament for 2026. Winton can be heard in parliament video feed footage about 6.30pm on Tuesday saying, Youre an arsehole in response to what she believed was a racist taunt by Hunter towards Bibra Lake MP Sook Yee Lai. WA Education Minister Sabine Winton and Nationals MP Lachlan Hunter. In the chamber Hunter said, Enjoy your dim sum, which he claimed was directed at several Labor MPs heading to a Chinese New Year event in the parliament courtyard. On Wednesday morning, Premier Roger Cook and leader of the house David Michael conceded Wintons language was unparliamentary and accepted she needed to apologise, but defended her reaction  saying she was responding to Hunters comment that she believed was directed toward Yee Lai, who has Chinese heritage.

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Both men called on Hunter to apologise. Related Article WA news live As it happened: WA news on Wednesday, February 18 On Tuesday evening, during a Chinese New Year event at Parliament House, a quorum was called for the Legislative Assembly, Michael said. Following the division, I understand the member for Central Wheatbelt, Lachlan Hunter MLA, told Bibra Lake MLA Sook Yee Lai, who is of Chinese heritage, Go and enjoy your dim sum. Ms Lai took offence, believing the comment to be racist, and Minister Winton responded to Mr Hunter in an unacceptable and unparliamentary way.

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The Minister will apologise and withdraw today during the sitting, as is appropriate. Mr Hunter should do the same. All members of Parliament are expected to conduct themselves with integrity and respect and I encourage them to meet a high standard for conduct inside the chamber. Hunter, the MP for Central Wheatbelt, denied the remark was racist and lashed Winton for setting a poor example for WAs school students. He said he had since spoken to Yee Lai I said to about half a dozen MPs leaving the chamber, Enjoy the dim sum, Ill be there soon, he said. I would say enjoy the croissant if it were a French event, or even enjoy the lamb chop if it were an Australia Day event.

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What an extraordinary deflection from a senior minister of the government  someone responsible for education and students in WA  shouting arsehole at a member of the opposition from outside her seat. There were only a couple of MPs in the chamber. We called them back in to do the job they were elected to do, and clearly they took issue with that. Winton offered her apology ahead of question time on Tuesday. Hunter did not apologise for his remarks but instead offered a personal explanation. He said he made an interjection which offended some members and before withdrawing them.

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When asked about the behaviour of MPs on day one of parliament for the year, Cook said all leaders in the chamber needed to inform their MPs of the expectations from the community about their behaviour. Now, I think the minister in question yesterday failed that test, and she accepts that and will be making an apology to the chamber, but we will also be expecting the member for Central Wheatbelt to make an apology for the remarks that led into that incident, he said. Hunter is no stranger to controversy in parliament after being admonished by acting speaker Yee Lai in November for calling Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jess Stojkovski a stupid minister. Hunter denied he said the term stupid minister, insisting he said he was going to pick up my dinner guests. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
New players spawn into "Minecraft's" blocky wilderness armed only with curiosity and bare hands. This "Minecraft" beginner guide delivers practical "Minecraft" survival tips structured day by day, turning chaotic starts into steady progress through the early game.

Day 1 Priorities

The first moments demand action. Punch the nearest tree to gather wood logs, breaking them into planks at the inventory crafting grid. Four planks form a crafting table, unlocking full recipesplace it down and access a 3x3 grid for tools. Craft a wooden pickaxe first to mine stone faster, followed by an axe for more wood and a sword to fend off early threats like zombies or spiders. These basics anchor any minecraft beginner guide.

Shelter comes next as the sun dips. Stack dirt or planks into a small 4x4 room with a door crafted from six planks. Scour surface caves or hillsides for coal ore, mining it with the pickaxe to pair with sticks for torches. Light the interior to block mob spawns. Sheep roam nearby plainspunch three for wool, combining with three planks for a bed. Sleeping skips night, dodging creepers and skeletons entirely. Players who nail this routine wake on Day 2 rested and ready, stocked with a furnace from eight cobblestone for cooking ahead.

Stone Tool Upgrades on Day 2

Dawn breaks with mining in mind. Wooden pickaxe in hand, dig cobblestone from exposed rock faces or shallow pits. Smelt no ore yetcraft stone tools directly: pickaxe, axe, shovel, and sword all outperform wood by double speed and durability. This upgrade frees hours previously lost to slow gathering, a core minecraft survival tip from seasoned explorers.

Hunger creeps in by now, signaled by the bar's yellow drain. Hunt passive mobs like pigs or cows with the sword, or snag sweet berries from thorny bushes in taiga biomes. Cook raw drops in the furnace using wood scraps as fuelraw meat risks hunger saturation dips or poison from rotten flesh off zombies. Extra planks build a chest to hoard loot, preventing overload during treks. Daylight exploration reveals biomes: plains for animals, forests for wood, rivers for fish via improvised rod from string and sticks.

Food Security in Days 3-4

Sustainability shifts focus here. Craft a hoe from spare stone to till dirt blocks near water sourcesplants grow fastest on hydrated soil. Grass breaks yield seeds; plant wheat for a cycle of bread every few in-game days. Fence off a pen with crafted fences from sticks, luring cows or chickens inside with wheat handfuls. Breeding pairs multiply herds, yielding meat, leather for books, and feathers for arrowsa renewable loop central to minecraft survival tips.

Expand storage with multiple chests organized by type: food in one, tools in another. Torches outline the farm perimeter, warding off creepers that explode crops overnight. Smelt extra coal into future torches while hunger stays topped up. These days build habitsplayers who farm early rarely starve later, even in deep caves. Side quests like sugarcane for paper or melons in jungles add variety, but wheat anchors reliability.

Iron Mining in Days 5-6

Deeper layers call once stone tools shine. Dig a staircase minetwo-block wide ramps prevent fallsaiming for stone-heavy strata around Y=40. Iron ore glows grayish, abundant in chunks; mine with stone pickaxe only, as others drop nothing. Furnace-smelt into ingots using coal. Iron pickaxe gathers twice stone's speed, sword slices mobs cleaner, and armor (helmet, chestplate priority) absorbs hits from cave dwellers.

Forge a bucket from three ingots to scoop infinite water for farms or douse lava floods. Torches space every five blocks in tunnels, slashing skeleton archer risks. This phase marks a pivot: iron gear enables bolder plays, like clearing spider caves for string or zombie drops for potatoes. Players emerge with full inventories, bridging surface safety to underground riches in this "Mincraft" beginner guide.

Base Building in Days 7-8

Security demands expansion. Reinforce the starter hut with extra rooms walled in cobble or wood mixes, topped by a safe roof. Iron doors, hinged stronger than wood, bar creeper blasts. Full torch grids outside halt night spawns within 24 blocks. Enchanting begins modestly: sugarcane farms yield paper for books, leather-bound into enchantable tomes. Level up an enchanting table with surrounding bookshelves from wood planks.

Scout villages during safe daylightflat plains host them often, offering beds, trades like sticks for emeralds, or loot in chests. Boat across rivers from five planks speeds travel. Cactus fences deter mobs near villages, and wells refill buckets endlessly. These upgrades transform ramshackle digs into defensible hubs, embodying minecraft survival tips that prioritize light and layers.

Diamond Hunt and Nether Prep in Days 9-10

Efficiency peaks with strip mining. Tunnel at Y=11, two blocks high, carving three-wide branches every ten stepsdiamond ore sparkles blue on walls, needing iron pickaxe minimum. Four to six gems craft a pickaxe upgrade, quadrupling any mining speed. Fortune enchantment on stone tools from earlier boosts yields if lapis hides nearby.

Obsidian frames the Nether portal: mine lava pools, pour water from bucket to form blocks, mine with diamond pickaxe. Light the 10-block frame with flint and steel from iron plus flint (gravel drops). Stock gold ingots for piglin bartering, blocks for bridges, fire resistance from awkward potions plus magma cream if blaze rods wait. Arrows from flint-fletching and flint-and-steel spares cover bases. Day 10 ends self-sufficient, poised for Nether quartz, ancient debris, or endgame portals.

Gear Milestones

Progress unfolds as layered achievements, each day's gains stacking resilience. Day 1's wooden kit and bed secure the night, raw but vital against instant death. Stone tools on Day 2 halve grind time, letting food hunts flourish without exhaustionraw drops become cooked staples, chests tame inventory chaos.

Iron in Days 5-6 shifts paradigms: gear withstands cave beatings, buckets tame liquids, opening vast ore veins. Armor turns skirmishes into slaps, buying seconds to retreat or counter. Base hardening by Days 7-8 layers defensetorches rewrite spawn rules, doors hold lines, enchanting hints at infinity tools. Diamonds and portal on Days 9-10 unlock velocity: unbreaking picks mine fortresses, Nether vaults fuel potions and beacons.

This rhythmpunch, craft, mine, fortifymirrors veteran paths, where early risks yield exponential returns. No single item trumps preparation; wooden fragility evolves to diamond permanence, hunger to abundance, exposure to empire.

Essential Early Game Strategies

Layer these minecraft survival tips post-Day 10: redstone auto-farms harvest endlessly, mob grinders fuel XP, ocean monuments tease guardian loot with sponges and conduits. Infinite worlds reward bold basesexperiment freely atop solid starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Should I Do First in 'Minecraft'?

Punch trees for wood logs right after spawning. Break them into planks to craft a crafting table, then make wooden tools starting with a pickaxethis kickstarts shelter and resource gathering before night mobs arrive.

2. How Do I Survive My First Night?

Build a basic dirt or wood hut with a door, light it with torches from coal and sticks, and craft a bed from three wool (punch sheep) plus planks. Sleeping skips the night entirely, avoiding creepers and zombies outside.

3. What's the Best Order to Mine in 'Minecraft'?

Staircase down safely to Y=40 for iron first, then strip mine branches at Y=11 for diamonds after iron tools. Always place torches every five blocks and mine in 2-block-high, 3-wide tunnels to spot ores on walls.

4. How Do I Find a Village in 'Minecraft'?

Scout flat plains or savanna biomes during daylightvillages spawn there naturally. Craft a boat from five planks to cross rivers faster, and approach with wheat or sticks to trade emeralds with villagers for loot like beds.

5. What Food Sources Work Best Early On?

Hunt animals like pigs or cows for meat, cook it in a furnace to restore full hunger. Till dirt near water for a wheat farm using seeds from grass, and breed fenced animals with wheat for renewable meat and leather.
Feb 18 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Humain, the kingdom's artificial intelligence company, said on Wednesday it had invested $3 billion in Elon Musk's xAI as a part of its Series E funding round just prior to its acquisition by SpaceX.

The investment made Humain a "significant" minority shareholder, with its xAI holdings converted into SpaceX shares, it said.

Saudi Arabia is boosting its artificial intelligence ambitions as it seeks to capitalize on the growing demand for compute capacity and diversify revenue sources away from oil.

The investment builds on the partnership announced between Humain and xAI in November at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum where both firms said they would jointly develop 500 megawatts of AI data center infrastructure.

In January, xAI said it raised $20 billion in an upsized Series E funding round as the company ramps up deployment of new models and infrastructure to get ahead of competitors OpenAI and Anthropic.

A month after the fundraise announcement, Musk's SpaceX acquired xAI in a massive consolidation move that combines the billionaire's artificial intelligence startup with his space and rocket firm.

(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
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WorldNorth AmericaAviation US to roll out new Air Force One colour scheme Reuters February 18, 2026  3:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Washington: The US Air Force is rolling out a new paint scheme across its executive fleet, including the next-generation Air Force One aircraft, in a colour palette of red, white, gold and dark blue, the service has announced. The new design marks a departure from the iconic white and robins egg blue livery dating to president John F. Kennedys administration, and revives elements of President Donald Trumps proposed red, white and blue scheme, which was scrapped in 2022 after the Air Force found that darker colours could cause overheating issues. A Boeing rendering shows Air Force One flying in the new colour scheme. Boeing At least two government aircraft have already been spotted sporting the new colours, which resemble renderings unveiled by Trump in 2019 during his first term. On Wednesday (Australian time), defence news website The War Zone published images of one of the Air Forces eight Boeing 757 variants, sometimes designated as Air Force Two, at an airport in Texas. And late last year, a mystery Boeing 737 apparently in use by the Department of Homeland Security was seen in the new livery.

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The redesign will eventually be applied to the VC-25B  the military designation for the new Boeing 747-8i aircraft that will serve as Air Force One. The Air Force did not provide details on how the new design addresses the thermal concerns that doomed Trumps previous paint proposal, which the Biden administration rejected after determining it could drive additional engineering, time and cost. The Air Force One program has faced delays and cost overruns since Boeing agreed to a $US3.9 billion ($5.5 billion) fixed-price contract in 2018 to deliver two modified 747-8s to replace the current fleet. The replacement aircraft are not expected to be delivered until at least 2028. In December, the Air Force purchased two used 747-8 aircraft from German airline Lufthansa for $US400 million to establish crew training and spare parts support ahead of the transition from the ageing 747-200-derived planes.

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Nothing says America First like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X. Its not just bribery, its premium foreign influence with extra legroom. The Boeing 747 was in production for more than 50 years, and the final aircraft rolled out of Boeings factory in 2022. Over 1500 were built, and about 400 are still flying, mostly as cargo freighters. Reuters
Ski-Doo Unveils New, Improved Features and Technologies to Make the Most Out of Winter

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This article is part of The Auto Channels independent automotive coverage library  one of the longest-running automotive publications online (since 1995). Our editors test, research, and document vehicles, technologies, recalls, and ownership experiences to help drivers make informed decisions. Unlike short news blurbs, our content is written for long-term usefulness  explaining what the vehicle is, why it matters, and how it affects real owners. Coverage includes reviews, specifications, safety data, recall history, industry context, and real-world driving impressions collected over decades of reporting. The Auto Channel  Trusted automotive reporting for 31 years.

VALCOURT, QC, Feb. 17, 2026 - Ski-Doo, iconic brand of BRP Inc. (TSX: DOO) , proudly introduces its Model Year 2027 snowmobiles, designed to elevate every winter adventure. The new lineup features completely redesigned Skandic and Tundra models, a new Rotax 600RR E-TEC engine with class-leading power, a wilder Freeride with the mullet attitude of business in front and party out back, and deep snow sleds that continue to get lighter and more precise. Topping it off are X-RS 20th anniversary models that celebrate Ski-Doo's race track to production snowmobile heritage and the Expedition line that offers a huge value proposition.

Skandic and Tundra Models: Next-Level Comfort and Versatility

Already the clear leader in the Utility segment with strong, reliable performance day in and day out, the 2027 Ski-Doo Skandic and Tundra raise the bar further:

Built on the REV Gen5 platform in 2027 for cutting-edge technology and modern styling, now standard on all models.

in 2027 for cutting-edge technology and modern styling, now standard on all models. Equipped with the uMotion rear suspension that incorporates the latest design concepts to deliver exceptional on- and off-trail performance and comfort.

that incorporates the latest design concepts to deliver exceptional on- and off-trail performance and comfort. Enhanced versatility with the Multi LinQ Plate for full accessory integration and a redesigned Cargo Box (SE package only) for quick adaptability.

for full accessory integration and a redesigned (SE package only) for quick adaptability. Modern look and feel combined with unmatched capability make Skandic and Tundra the ultimate utility snowmobiles for work and play.

Expedition LE: Best Value with Premium Features

For 2027, Ski-Doo brings the Expedition model to new places with the combination of the 16-inch platform and the premium features of the LE package - and delivers it at a price that makes it more accessible than ever. That's value anyone can appreciate.

New 16-inch-wide track Expedition LE version comes with heated and shielded handholds with visor plug for the passenger, driver visor plug, mirrors, HD front bumper, rear rack, upgraded shocks and more.

comes with heated and shielded handholds with visor plug for the passenger, driver visor plug, mirrors, HD front bumper, rear rack, upgraded shocks and more. Special rich LE color scheme lets it stand out amongst its peers.

Rotax 600RR E-TEC Engine: Class-leading Power with Smart Technology

A new engine that provides the middle horsepower 2-stroke buyer exactly what they want: more power and faster response with less operating costs - plus some extra benefits.

Most powerful engine in its class with 130 horsepower.

engine in its class with Same booster injectors from 600RS E-TEC and 850 E-TEC engines for 20% faster throttle response and instantaneous acceleration .

. Oil consumption is reduced by 20%. Riders can be confident of long engine life when using the new XPS E-TEC MAX formula oil.

Industry-first Sport and Eco modes on a 2-stroke engine. Eco Mode reduces fuel consumption by 5%. Riders will also appreciate the Eco Mode performance as it reacts to throttle demands seamlessly for more power, then returns to Eco automatically.

modes on a 2-stroke engine. Industry-first Silent-Stop technology allows easy conversation or listening when engaged, and can be switched on and off as desired.

Deep Snow Models: Lighter, Stronger, More Agile

Inspired by the most extreme Ski-Doo deep snow riders, mountain fanatics will find 2027 Freeride and Summit models pushing innovation further:

Up to 14 lbs (6.3 kg) weight reduction on the Freeride with the first lightweight OEM 147 x 15 x 3-inch track with a 3.5 -inch pitch in 2027 - which makes the 147-inch version 18 lbs (8.2 kg) lighter over the past two years - and up to 10 lbs (4.5 kg) less on the 154 and 146 length versions in that time frame 1 .

on the with the first lightweight OEM 147 x 15 x 3-inch track with a 3.5 -inch pitch in 2027 - which makes the 147-inch version 18 lbs (8.2 kg) lighter over the past two years - and up to 10 lbs (4.5 kg) less on the 154 and 146 length versions in that time frame . Freeride with the adjustable limiter strap and bright Ultraviolet II color embraces a mullet attitude  business in front and party out back  that reflects the rider's boldness.

with the adjustable limiter strap and bright embraces a mullet attitude  business in front and party out back  that reflects the rider's boldness. Summit Expert loses another 4 lbs (1.8 kg) for a total of 12 lbs (5.4 kg) in two years as it adds the tMotion L/O with coil over rear suspension , forged aluminum a-arms and lighter frame components 1 .

loses another 4 lbs (1.8 kg) for a total of 12 lbs (5.4 kg) in two years as it adds the , forged aluminum a-arms and lighter frame components . Summit Edge, only available in North America, aligns with Expert characteristics and features while Summit Adrenaline aligns with X characteristics and features while dropping 4 (1.8 kg) and 8 lbs (3.6 kg) respectively1.

Exclusive 20th Anniversary X-RS Packages

MXZ, Renegade and Backcountry X-RS packages that celebrate racing heritage and the first X-RS that formed the most direct link of race track technology to production snowmobiles.

that celebrate racing heritage and the first X-RS that formed the most direct link of race track technology to production snowmobiles. Special coloration and details make these stand out  including Evo Bee emblems that are a throwback to one of the most intense racing times in snowmobile history.

For complete details on the 2027 Ski-Doo lineup, visit www.ski-doo.com .

About BRP

BRP Inc. is a global leader in the world of powersports products, propulsion systems and boats built on over 80 years of ingenuity and intensive consumer focus. Through its portfolio of industry-leading and distinctive brands featuring Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and pontoons, Can-Am on and off-road vehicles, Quintrex boats and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts and recreational aircraft, BRP unlocks exhilarating adventures and provides access to experiences across different playgrounds. The Company completes its lines of products with a dedicated parts, accessories and apparel portfolio to fully optimize the riding experience. Committed to growing responsibly, BRP is developing electric models for its existing product lines. Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, BRP had annual sales of CA$7.8 billion from over 130 countries and employed approximately 16,500 driven, resourceful people as of January 31, 2025.

www.brp.com

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Ski-Doo, Lynx, Sea-Doo, Can-Am, Rotax, Quintrex and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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1 Wet weights used for these specifications, meaning the product was full of fuel, oil and coolant, the way they would be ridden.

SOURCE BRP Inc.
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Dive Brief:

Specialty chemicals manufacturer Solstice Advanced Materials is expanding uranium hexafluoride production at its facility in Metropolis, Illinois, this year, per a Feb. 11 press release.

The capacity increase is projected to produce more than 10 kilotonnes of the radioactive substance used to manufacture fuel for nuclear power plants.

Solstice has spent money on debottlenecking projects at the Metropolis facility since it restarted operations in 2023, resulting in yearly production increases, Jeff Dormo, senior vice president and general manager of refrigerants and applied solutions, said in an email. Dormo declined to disclose specific investment figures.

Dive Insight:

The expansion addresses Solstices backlog of more than $2 billion in orders through 2030 from long-term customers, many of which are domestic utility companies.

Additionally, the United States government aims to quadruple the countrys nuclear energy capacity by 2050 as part of a nuclear renaissance. In May 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to increase nuclear fuel availability and production in the U.S.

Artificial intelligence, data centers and electrification of various industries are creating a surge in power demand that outpaces the global supply, estimating that potential investments in the nuclear value chain will increase to $2.2 trillion, according to an August 2025 Morgan Stanley Research report.

With robust demand from our customers, Solstice is now actively evaluating further ways to expand our UF6 production to meet this demand, and we are having active discussions with customers about ways to remain their trusted supplier long term, President and CEO David Sewell said during a Feb. 11 earnings call.

The company has also retained an engineering, procurement and construction company to oversee the engineering analysis for new capacity expansion investment, Sewell said.

The Metropolis plant operates under ConverDyn, a joint venture established in 1992 with defense contractor General Atomic and Honeywell.

The site is also the only commercial uranium conversion plant in the U.S., according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The plant is backed by the Department of Energy and the agency has issued a license to the site that expires in 2060.

However, the facility has been operational since 1958, according to the ConverDyn website. The site remained operational but became idled between 2017 and 2023 due to poor market conditions.
By Catherine Sas, K.C.

Special to The Post

As the first lawyer in a family of doctors - specifically family physicians - I have always been perplexed at the failure of our federal, provincial and territorial governments to come together to offer a solution to allow foreign trained doctors to integrate into the Canadian health care system as immigrants and ultimately as practitioners in their field. When I first started practice, (over 35 years ago) the rationale was that our provincial governments spent a lot of money educating our Canadian medical students and that any places at the employment table should be reserved for our own medical graduates and not others. It took less than a decade from starting my practice for federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as the corresponding regulatory bodies, to realize that this restrictive approach was actually limiting the supply of doctors that Canada needed overall. It is no secret that the wheels of government turn slowly and finally on December 8, 2025, our federal government introduced an immigration program to be delivered in conjunction with the provinces and territories through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) to facilitate permanent residence for doctors already working in Canada. Lets examine how this new program is supposed to work.

Firstly, it is important to note that the announcement on December 8, 2025 is a pre-announcement with actual Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in this newly created Express Entry category to be issued in early 2026 and, it is already mid February 2026 with none having been issued. The creation of this additional targeted category is generating 5000 spaces for admission for immigrants to Canada in the face of the overall reduced immigration targets announced in late 2024 and are in addition to the annual PNP allocations which were severely reduced in 2025. It remains to be seen whether these additional 5000 immigrant ITAs are truly an increase in Canadas prospective immigration levels or some other targets will be slashed. For the full announcement details please see link: Targeted immigration measures to boost Canadas supply of doctors

In keeping with the in-Canada emphasis of the 2024 and 2025 levels plans, which aim to provide opportunities for those persons already working in Canada, this new measure similarly applies to doctors with a minimum of one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation. This is a significant point as one of the greatest challenges for foreign trained doctors is to obtain recognition of their foreign credentials by the regulatory bodies of a Canadian province or territory. For those doctors already licensed to work in Canada, albeit on a temporary basis, they have already done the heavy lifting in securing their professional licensure.

Foreign trained doctors, like many foreign trained medical professionals, face challenges in obtaining employment and especially in obtaining permanent residency in Canada. This was recently highlighted in a CTV article entitled Toronto doctor with 2100 patients still working on permanent residency. The path to Canadian permanent residence is never easy and while this program promises to provide hope for doctors already working in Canada, this CTV story highlights the need for professional assistance.

Even with the introduction of this new targeted Express Entry category for doctors, regulatory bodies need to do more to facilitate the licensure of medical professionals in general to ensure that Canadians have access to the health services that they need. Much can be learned from the apprenticeship programs for tradespeople and the articling process for lawyers to allow for educated and trained foreign professionals to work and gain experience in Canada under the supervision of other fully licenced and regulated medical practitioners to the benefit of all Canadians. This new immigration program is a first step in the right direction.

Catherine Sas, K.C. has over 35 years of legal experience. She provides a full range of immigration services and is a leading immigration practitioner (Lexpert, Whos Who Legal, Best Lawyers in Canada). Go to canadian-visa-lawyer.com or email [email protected].
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Our portfolio transformation is complete. And the most difficult part of our journey is behind us. Thats the first message Sonoco CEO Howard Coker delivered during the companys investor day event on Tuesday, which followed Sonocos fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings release Monday afternoon.

2025 was a good year, but we were setting the foundation for 26, Coker said during the event, where executives discussed results in lieu of holding a traditional earnings call.

Sonocos full-year 2026 guidance projects net sales of $7.25 billion to $7.75 billion and operating cash flow of $700 million to $800 million.

By the numbers: Q4 and full-year 2025

Q4 net sales: $1.77B

Up 29.7% year over year

Full-year net sales: $7.52B

Up 41.7% year over year

Consumer packaging Q4 net sales: $1.14B

Up 62.1% year over year

Consumer packaging full-year net sales: $4.87B

Up 92.5% year over year

Full-year net income: $1.0B

Compared with $164M in 2024

Executives focused on a few main themes at the event, with the companys recent restructuring taking center stage. Here are the key takeaways.

2025 performance and future outlook

In 2025, Sonoco reduced debt by approximately 40%, lowering its leverage ratio from 6.4x at the beginning of the year to 3x by years end. A significant part of that was due to the November divestiture of its ThermoSafe temperature-assured packaging business for $656 million in cash.

In Q4, the company had a strong October, weaker-than-anticipated November, and better-than-expected December, Coker said. U.S. metal packaging had a record quarter and year, with food can units up 10% and 9%, respectively, he said. Food can units in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region were down about 3%. Rigid paper containers volumes were down in North America and flat in Europe.

Executives outlined a three-year plan. One target is for net leverage of lower than 2.5x by the end of 2028. Executives anticipate capital expenditures will be approximately 4% of sales from 2026 to 2028. The company also targets an additional $150 million to $250 million of cost savings by the end of 2028, resulting in 200 basis points of margin improvement.

Geopolitical uncertainty and tariffs could affect the companys ability to meet all of its projections in 2026, said James Harrell, president of industrial paper packaging. But growth in data centers and artificial intelligence is expected to boost Sonocos industrial sector, he said, as should customer preference for recycled packaging to meet sustainability goals.
Commentary

By Andrew Longhurst

Alberta just took a major step toward expanding two-tier health care in Canada. In December, with surprisingly little scrutiny, Bill 11 set the stage for a private health insurance market for medically necessary care, a shocking break from a system where such care has always been provided to residents for free under the Canada Health Act.

Heres what that means in practice: Bill 11 creates a duplicative private insurance market for physician and hospital services, care that we normally receive without being billed. Under the new legislation, providers can now charge for these same services.

That will be possible because Bill 11 allows dual practice physicians, doctors who work in the publicly funded system while also providing privately paid services, to operate in both systems at the same time. While Quebec permits limited forms of private insurance and physician opt-outs, Albertas approach would go further. These Alberta doctors and the corporations they work for will be able to decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether out-of-pocket payment is required.

Imagine you inform your surgeon that you cant afford thousands of dollars for a medically necessary procedure, so youre shown the door and sent to the back of the line.

Until now, Canada has only had a private insurance market for extended health care, often sponsored by employers. Bill 11 changes that. Employers and individuals may be forced to buy private insurance to get the care they need and avoid out-of-pocket payments.

The insurance industrys interest in Bill 11 is hardly surprising.

The Canadian private health insurance lobby association appears to have had direct access to the provincial government in the development of Bill 11, which changes the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act. The lobby group stated on the public record that it is part of a working group with the provincial government to implement Bill 11, but that may not be widely known by Albertans. Bill 11 opens the door to billions of dollars in public health care spending moving into private hands.

By introducing this legislation, the Alberta government is encouraging the growth of a system dominated by private insurance and for-profit providers. Public wait times will increase as doctors and nurses move into the private system.

In the United States, private insurance plays a dominant role in financing medically necessary care. This is uncharted territory for Canada. Thanks to the cost-efficient public insurance plans that enable us to get the care we need, which include insured hospital and physician services under provincial health plans, we have not had to buy private coverage for medically necessary services. Its part of what makes Canada different from the U.S.

And Canadians can expect similar legislation to spread if other provinces follow Albertas lead. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, for one, is already signalling that his province may follow suit.

While Albertas legislation likely contravenes multiple sections of the Canada Health Act, the federal statute that sets conditions provinces must meet to receive full federal health transfers, there is also a serious risk that Albertas new health care market will attract U.S. investors. Investor-driven delivery of medically necessary care would lock in a for-profit model at odds with Canadas public system.

The rest of the country should pay attention. If Albertas efforts succeed, U.S. capital will follow, and we wont have U.S.-style health care; we will have U.S. health care.

Andrew Longhurst is a senior health policy researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
AI for all





THE AI (Artificial Intelligence) Impact Summit 2026 at New Delhi has brought to fore the fact that India is well on its course to become a global leader in the AI technology that is expected to have a far-reaching and deep impact on life in general in India and elsewhere in the world. Having known how well India has done on the AI front, leaders of different countries are acknowledging the Indian prowess and are willing to follow the Indian model. The summits theme AI for all says it all. It shows how India proposes to make the use of AI as the newest technological frontier -- led by none other than Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. His personalised interest in AI as a universally useful, multi-purpose technology has already begun demonstrating its positive effect on how India is forging ahead on this front. Multiple issues often dominate the discourse on Artificial Intelligence -- not only in India but also everywhere in the world. One of those issues or concerns are that AI is a guzzler of human jobs.

This concern was voiced also at the World Economic Forum a few years ago, but it appears to have no reasonable solution in sight at least until now. The larger Indian society, too, has to address this concern, all right. Yet, going by how India is handling the task of utilisation of AI technology, it appears that the leadership would be able to tackle the job-loss concern in a much more mature manner than leaderships of other countries may do. For, as one strong argument goes, if there is going to be some loss of jobs, there also is going be addition of countless more jobs through the application of Artificial Intelligence in industry and business and other organisations where the human component is often large and critical. If sizeable numbers of jobs are likely to be lost due to invasion of AI, then much bigger numbers of jobs are expected to be created as well due as part of the countrys AI usage. By those projections, India possibly may not face the issue of major job-loss due to AI. Minus that concern, AI is expected to prove a game-changer for a country like India where the leadership as well as people are smart enough to lap up every advantage of new technology and forge ahead.

The speed with which India has taken to AI as an all-encompassing mode of achieving higher growth is simply amazing -- mostly to the rest of the world. India is willing to spend massive funds to push AIs usage through as many channels as possible. India is putting the right emphasis on human resource training in AI. India is making efforts to make cities AI-ready and AI-enabled. Not many countries around the world can claim to have such an approach to the usage of AI in almost every field. The AI Impact Summit -- the fourth of its kind in the world -- is expected to give a great AI push not just to India but also to every other country taking to it. India has proposed a 7-sutra (points) road-map to cover every imaginable aspect of the technology benefitting every possible segment of the society. It is not without reason that United Nations Secretary General Mr. Antonio Guterres has appreciated India as a venue to host the global summit.

The leaders of other nations attending the summit also have expressed similar views. To the unstated superpower aura of India, the AI Impact Summit has added another glorious dimension. Even as India goes about entering great trade deals with different countries or groups such as the European Union, even as it marches ahead on its strategic consolidation -- through acquisitions and indigenous manufacturing -- the world realises the power it is building with its folds. The AI Impact Summit will add another dimension to that image of India around the world as an emerging superpower. There is little doubt that India is looking at AI as a technology of future and it wants to remain on the forefront of its comprehensive and actual usage -- beyond cosmetic projection.
Anurag, Astha excel in National Competition on AI-related App idea





Staff Reporter :

ANURAG Manik and Astha Manik of Raipur emerged winners securing first position for their AI-related idea App presentation in the grand finale of All India-level Competition at India AI Impact Buildathon Summit held in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on Monday. The young talents, whose presentation was the best among 200 participant in Working Professional Category received a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh with support to further develop their App. Ahead of the grand finale, All-India level competition was organized recently inviting participants to present their AI-related ideas. Around 40,000 people took part in the competition. Later, 200 ideas were selected after three rigorous rounds. The shortlisted participants were invited to present their ideas at the national-level grand finale.

Anurag Manik and Aastha Manik secured first position. The sibling duo is developing an AI-based application named Kartavya, an Anti-fraud App designed to protect people from scams carried out using AI-generated voice calls. The app can identify the difference between AI-generated voices and real human voices, and alerts users accordingly. Presently, the app is developed to recognize voices in eight languages including Chhattisgarhi while working is on for further development of its features. Anurag Manik and Aastha Manik are the children of Arun Kumar Manikpuri, a retired employee of Bank of Baroda and Savita Arun of Raipur.
Board Exams: 8 cheating cases reported during the high school English paper; 2 caught in Bhopal





Staff Reporter :

The ongoing High School and Higher Secondary examinations conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Madhya Pradesh (MPBSE), underway across the State on Tuesday. While the High School English paper saw a handful of irregularities, the Higher Secondary examination for Drawing and Design concluded with a pristine record. According to the official, both examinations were held during the morning shift from 9 am to 12 noon. Despite the massive scale of the State-wide exercise, the Board maintained that the process remained peaceful across all centres. The crackdown on malpractices: Vigilance by flying squads and invigilators resulted in the registration of eight cases of unfair means (UFM) during the High School English examination. The Boards monitoring system identified specific districts where students were caught violating examination protocols: Morena reported 03 cases, Bhopal registered 02 cases and Bhind, Shajapur, Seoni reporter 01 case each.In contrast, the Higher Secondary (Class 12) examination for the Drawing and Design subject saw a nil rate of misconduct, with no cases reported across the State.

Upcoming Schedule: Heavyweight subjects await students: As the board exams gain momentum, students are bracing for several core subjects scheduled. On Wednesday, February 18, the Higher Secondary (Class 12) segment will see a major turnout as students appear for a diverse range of papers, including Chemistry (220), History (110), and Business Studies (310). Other specialised vocational papers scheduled for Wednesday include Elements of Science & Maths Useful for Agriculture, Drawing & Painting, and Home Management, Nutrition & Textile. On Thursday, the examination cycle continues with Class 10 students appearing for the Sanskrit (512) paper. Simultaneously, Higher Secondary students will sit for the Psychology (167) examination.
Budget Session: Contaminated water issue rocks House





By Bhavana :

On the second day of the Budget Session, the House witnessed uproar over Indores Bhagirathpura incident. Congress MLA from Tarana, Ujjain, Mahesh Parmar, said that the Indore administration and State Government have brought shame to the world. Approximately 35 to 40 people died due to drinking contaminated water. Despite this, instead of taking strict action against the officials responsible, they were promoted, he claimed. Those responsible for the deaths of these innocent people should face the strictest possible action, and the families of the victims should receive justice, Parmar demanded. During the question hour, there was debate over cow slaughter issue between Congress MLA Atif Arif Aqueel and firebrand BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma. Former advocated that the cow be declared the national animal. Reacting on this, BJP MLA Sharma said that cow slaughter would stop if in mosques, itself, resolve to stop cow slaughter practices.

The House was scheduled to discuss Governor Mangubhai Patels address, delivered on the first day of the Budget Session. During the Governors address on Monday, Opposition MLAs had created a ruckus over the deaths in Indore due to contaminated water and the deaths of children in Chhindwara due to toxic cough syrup. Due to the uproar, the Governor left the House without reading the entire address. However, the Speaker of the Assembly stated that the Governors address will be considered read. Prior to the discussion on Governors speech, Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presented the supplementary budget. This provision is being introduced to cover expenses for the remaining period of the financial year. On Wednesday, the Finance Minister Jagdish Devda will table the annual budget. Congress Protest: Before the start of House proceedings, Congress members, led by Leader of Opposition, Umang Singhar staged a strong protest over the deaths caused by contaminated water in Indore. Congress MLAs arrived outside the Assembly premises with dirty water bottles on their shoulders and raised slogans against the State Government. LoP Singhar said that despite several deaths, the Government has avoided a discussion on this issue in the Assembly, which is contrary to democratic values. In its reply to High Court it was said, 16 people have died in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore due to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea because of contaminated drinking water in December 2025.
City woman seeks State Govts help for release of engineer husband jailed in Mali over financial dispute





THE wife of a civil engineer from Nagpur has been running from pillar to post to secure the release of her husband, who is lodged in a jail in Mali, a West African country, since the last one year following his arrest in a financial dispute case involving his Uttar Pradesh-based employer firm. Talking to PTI Videos, Priyanka Gulhane, the wife of jailed engineer Nitin Gulhane, alleged that although a court in Mali granted bail to her husband in August last year, he remains incarcerated there due to non-payment of Rs 3.25 crore bail bond by his company despite its assurances. The woman, who earlier took up the issue with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has now written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking his urgent intervention for the release of her husband. She said he suffers from various ailments, including diabetes and high blood pressure, and added that his continued incarceration poses a serious threat to his life. Gulhane said her husband worked as Deputy General Manager at Noida-based Aar Ess Exim Pvt Ltd (AEEPL), and was deputed by the company to Mali to oversee the implementation and supervision of a rural electrification project covering 22 villages.

The concerned project was awarded through an international competitive tender. AEEPL is a major stakeholder company formed in association with Nav Durga Electro Construction Private Limited and Sun City Enterprises. As per the contract, mobilisation advance funds were deposited in Axis Bank Ltd in Noida, and the local currency (CFA Francs) was deposited in Ecobank, Mali, she said in the letter to Fadnavis. The required bank guarantees were submitted through an authorised bank under the Offshore Financial Authority of the Union of Comoros. However, the client organisation Energie du Mali (EDM) raised objections regarding the validity of the bank guarantees and filed a written complaint, Gulhane added. The entire responsibility of arranging and ensuring the validity of the bank guarantees lay with AEEPLs top management.

My husband did not have any involvement in this matter, nor did he have any authority over it. Financial processes were not part of his work responsibility. His duty was limited strictly to technical implementation of the project and completion of work within the stipulated time and budget, she said. However, on February 25 last year, after a meeting organised by Energie du Mali in Bamako, her husband was taken into custody due to the disputed bank guarantees, and since then he has been in jail, according to her. On August 15, 2025, a court in Mali granted him bail upon a surety of 200,000,000 CFAF (approximately Rs 3.25 crore in Indian currency). However, even after more than five months, the company or its Managing Director has not taken any concrete steps to deposit the bail amount, Gulhane alleged. The entire case arose due to high-level decisions and technical errors made by the company. The court in Mali did not hold her husband responsible and granted bail to him. However, despite repeated assurances, the company has failed to deposit the bail amount, she said. As a result, my husband, who is suffering from serious heart-related ailments, has been unjustly imprisoned in a foreign country for the past 11 months. He suffers from a heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

He has also undergone angioplasty. Due to inadequate medical facilities in jail, his health has deteriorated significantly, and his continued detention poses a serious threat to his life, she said. Gulhane said the family raised the matter with the MEA. On September 11 last year, a meeting was held in the presence of Sanjeev Kumar, OSD (MEA), along with the Managing Director of AEEPL. But despite the Ministrys intervention, the company continues to delay the matter, and no positive response has been received so far, she said. She has now requested CM Fadnavis to consider the urgent humanitarian situation to issue immediate directions to the company and its MD to complete the bail formalities and take necessary steps for her husbands quick release. Ensure diplomatic and legal assistance through the appropriate Government authorities to protect my husbands life, freedom, and dignity, she said in the letter to the CM. Talking to PTI Videos, Gulhane said she cannot arrange money to secure her husbands release, and also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help her in the matter. The family is likely to meet the MEA officials in Delhi soon.
Climate change a challenge, needs global action: Fadnavis





MUMBAI :

MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday described climate change as an urgent governance challenge, warning that coastal cities like Mumbai are now facing the direct impact of extreme weather conditions. Speaking at the inauguration of Mumbai Climate Week (MCW), a citizen-led climate conference, Fadnavis called for stronger implementation, investment and global partnerships to tackle climate change. The Chief Minister inaugurated MCW, a three-day programme, which will include a conference, workshops, case studies, and discussions. He highlighted that coastal cities like Mumbai are facing direct impacts of climate change, including extreme rainfall, heatwaves and unseasonal showers that disrupt normal life. Climate change has become an urgent governance challenge that requires immediate and sustained action, he added.

India is moving rapidly towards renewable energy while striking a balance between economic growth and environmental responsibility, the Chief Minister said. He said that Maharashtra is working towards achieving more than 50 per cent share of green energy by 2030. The State is focusing on clean hydrogen, electric mobility, biofuels and sustainable infrastructure, he said, adding that climate action is not merely about compliance but also an opportunity for investment, competitiveness and job creation. Fadnavis pointed out that the Government is implementing large-scale initiatives in renewable energy, e-mobility and climate-smart urban planning. He stressed the need to strengthen flood control systems, develop data-driven weather forecasting and build disaster-resilient infrastructure. In rural areas, the Chief Minister said the Government is prioritising climate-resilient agriculture and efficient water management practices.

He also emphasised the need for international partnerships and climate finance to support large-scale climate investments, and added that Mumbai has the potential to become a global hub for climate action. The CM said that developing countries should not be forced to choose between economic development and environmental protection. , and emphasised the importance of sustainable lifestyles, responsible use of resources and behavioural change. Climate action must go beyond declarations and be reflected in implementation on the ground, he asserted. He said the MCW should evolve into a platform for concrete action, investment-ready projects and global partnerships rather than just discussions.
India, France sign pact for manufacturing Hammer missiles, renew defence coop







BENGALURU :

INDIA and France on Tuesday renewed the 10-year defence cooperation agreement and signed an MoU for manufacturing Hammer missiles in the country. The agreements were signed when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin co-chaired the sixth India-France Annual Defence Dialogue in the city. The renewal of 10-year defence cooperation agreement was signed by the Defence Secretary from the Indian side and Deputy Director General for International Relations and Strategy from the French side, an official statement said. It added that an MoU on Joint Venture was also signed for the manufacturing of Hammer missiles in India between the Chief Managing Director (CMD), Bharat Electronics Limited and Executive Vice President, Safran Electronics and Defence. According to the statement, both countries announced Reciprocal Deployment Officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments. The two leaders also discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of equipment.

Emphasising on the need for a closer defence partnership and connecting the industries of both nations, especially in the field of niche technology, the two ministers reaffirmed the commitment to enhance military-to-military cooperation as a key pillar of the strategic partnership. Singh highlighted that the recent India-EU Security and Defence Partnership marks a significant step in deepening the collective engagement. Both the ministers agreed to leverage this framework, both bilaterally and in the wider European context for tangible outcomes that will strengthen regional stability, enhance joint capabilities, and reinforce the enduring Indo-French strategic alignment, the statement said. Singh stated that Vautrins tenure comes at a critical moment for European and global security, and India deeply appreciates Frances steadfast commitment to strategic autonomy and a robust European defence posture.

The French Defence Minister appreciated the conversion of Exercise Shakti with the Army from biennial to an annual event. Singh emphasised that India has been the First Responder and Net Security Provider for countries in the Indian Ocean Region and always extends assistance to them in the defence, security and maritime domains to augment their capabilities and ward off any adversary. On the issue of terrorism, he stated that Pakistan has a long history of nurturing, nourishing, and promoting cross-border terrorism to create disturbance and violence in India. This, he said, has created a serious threat to peace in the region, the statement said. The Annual Defence Dialogue is a structured ministerial level bilateral meeting to review and guide defence and security cooperation.
Katni WRDs In-charge Exec Engineer in Lokayukta trap, caught with Rs 20,000 bribe





Staff Reporter :

Sleuths of Lokayukta police trapped In-charge Executive Engineer of Water Resources Department, Katni while taking bribe of Rs 20,000 as first instalment of Rs 50,000 from a retired employee for releasing the amount of arrears, on Tuesday. The accused has been identified as V A Siddiqui (49), In-Charge Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, Katni. Superintendent of Police, Lokayukta Jabalpur, Anjulata Patle informed that under the directions of Yogesh Deshmukh, Director General of Police, Lokayukta and under the guidance of DIG, Manoj Singh, Jabalpur unit of the Lokayukta Police carried out a successful trap operation on Tuesday. The complainant, Kunwar Lal Rajak, a resident of Jarwahi village in Katni district was retired from the post of watchman in 2024.

As per a court order issued by the Jabalpur court regarding his service classification for the period 2011 to 2017, he was entitled to receive arrears amounting to approximately Rs 7 to 8 lakh. However, Siddiqui demanded Rs 50,000 from the complainant in exchange for processing and releasing the arrears. After negotiations, the accused agreed to accept Rs 20,000 as the first installment of the bribe. Following the complaint, Lokayukta team laid a trap and caught Siddiqui red-handed while accepting Rs 20,000 inside the drawing room of his official residence. Lokayukta police Jabalpur has registered a case against the accused under Sections 7, 13(1)(B), and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). The trap team, led by Neetu Tripathi, comprised of Inspector Rekha Prajapati as trap officer, Inspector Brijmohan Singh Narwaria and other members of Lokayukta Jabalpur unit.
New office of Registrar of Companies opens in Nagpur





Business Reporter :

In recent reforms in order to improve ease of doing business and bring corporate regulatory services closer to business in Vidarbha and Marathawada region, a new office of Registrar of Companies (RoC), Nagpur has been opened by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India. The new office was inaugurated on Monday. The office of RoC Nagpur will have the territorial jurisdiction over the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. The charge of newly inaugurated office has been assigned to Deepak Persoya, (ICLS) as Registrar of Companies. Persoya belongs to 2010 batch of ICLS (UPSC Civil Services). He has already been heading the office of Official Liquidator attached to Bombay High Court, Bench at Nagpur. Uday Khomane (ICLS), Deputy Official Liquidator cum Deputy Registrar of Companies, who belongs to 2016 Batch of ICLS (UPSC Civil Services), will be assisting him in the both offices.
The Onki Fault area at Ontenu NE was discovered by SPMC in 2025 by soil sampling and subsequent geological mapping and rock-chip sampling. Multiple structures with high-grade copper and gold at surface have now been identified (Figure 1). The Onki Fault consists of a mineralized fault zone striking NNE-SSW and various N-S splay structures also hosting high-grade rock-chip samples. The main fault is up to 5 m wide, which when combined with closely spaced splay structures indicates target zones of 5 to 20 m wide.

The Company has contracted an experienced Papua New Guinea-based drilling company to commence drilling initially at the Onki Fault area in Ontenu NE. This rig will operate alongside the Company's existing rig already drilling in the Ontenu NE project area. Drilling and targeting are being prioritized at both the Onki Fault and the Southern Area (Figure 2) at Ontenu NE.

"Ontenu, and especially Ontenu NE, has revealed multiple targets from surface exploration across a number of mineralised structures and zones over a broad area," said Timo Jauristo, CEO of the Company. "In order to accelerate testing of these high-grade epithermal targets, the Company is adding a second drill rig to the campaign. Our challenge is prioritizing the many targets. The observed gold and base-metal association is characteristic of intermediate sulfidation epithermal deposits, similar to those being mined by K92 Mining to the north of Ontenu."

Second drill rig to target initially the Onki Fault area, where previous surface results (see news releases dated November 11, 2025 and October 6, 2025 ) from multiple high-grade structures have returned rock chip samples up to:

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV: SPMC) (OTCQB: SPMEF) (FSE: 6J00) (" SPMC " or the " Company ") announces the addition of a second drill rig to accelerate testing of multiple targets in the Ontenu Project area, part of the wider Osena Project in the Kainantu District of Papua New Guinea, on the south west border of K92 Mining Inc.'s Kainantu Gold Mine property. The rig is expected to arrive within two weeks.

Story Continues

Figure 1. Onki Fault project area with drill pads

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10890/284228_df95c05364b19824_001full.jpg

Figure 2. Ontenu NE Project area showing rock chips and key target corridors

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10890/284228_df95c05364b19824_003full.jpg

About the Osena Regional Project

Covering 738 km of strategic ground, the Osena Project is located southwest of and adjacent to K92 Mining's tenements that host the Kainantu Gold Mine (Figure 3). Priority prospects include Ontenu, a large-scale cluster of intrusive gold-copper epithermal and porphyry and targets extending over 5 km x 3 km. The Ontenu Prospect is one of many occurring within a mineralized corridor that extends more than 40 km northeast across the Kainantu District.

Figure 3. Kainantu District with SPMC's Osena Project (SW) and Anga Project (NE) relative to K92 Mining Inc.'s deposits

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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About South Pacific Metals Corp.

South Pacific Metals Corp is an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating in the heart of Papua New Guinea's proven gold and copper production corridors. With an expansive 3,100 km land package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining, PanAust and neighbouring Barrick/Zijin, new leadership and experienced in-country teams are prioritizing thoughtful and rigorous technical programs focused on boots-on-the-ground exploration to prioritize discovery across its portfolio projects: Anga, Osena, Kili Teke, and May River.

Immediately flanking K92 Mining's active drilling and gold producing operations to the northeast and southwest, SPMC's Anga and Osena Projects are located within the high-grade Kainantu Gold District  each having the potential to host similar-style lode-gold and porphyry copper-gold mineralization as that present within K92's tenements. Kili Teke is an advanced exploration project situated only 40 km from the world-class Porgera Gold Mine and hosts an existing Inferred Mineral Resource with multiple opportunities for expansion and further discovery. The May River Project is located adjacent to the world-renowned Frieda River copper-gold project, with historical drilling indicating potential for a significant, untapped-gold mineralized system. SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: SPMC), the OTCQB Marketplace (OTCQB: SPMEF) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00).

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been compiled by Company geologists and consultants and reviewed and approved by Darren Holden, BSc(Hons) (Geology), PhD, FAusIMM, a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Dr. Holden is a Technical Advisor to the Company.

For further information please contact:

Michael Murphy, Executive Chair

or

Investor Relations

South Pacific Metals Corp.

Tel: +1-604-653-9464

Email: info@southpacificmetals.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information Caution

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of SPMC. In making the forward-looking statements, SPMC has applied certain assumptions that are based on information available to the Company, including SPMC's strategic plan for the near and mid-term. There is no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements may involve various risks and uncertainties affecting the business of the Company. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because of the context of the statements, including such words as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "plans", "may", "estimates", or words of a similar nature. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: the arrival of the second drill rig and the timing of such, drill operations, targeting, and planning, and further exploration programs. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic, regulatory, or other unforeseen uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, without limitation: success of the Company's projects, prices for metals remaining as estimated, currency exchange rates remaining as estimated, availability of funds for the Company's projects, capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates, prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), no labour-related disruptions, no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production, all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner, and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices, fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar), operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mineral exploration, inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and hazards, the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner, changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations, legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration, increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel, the availability of additional capital, title matters and the additional risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284228
Sunetra Pawar, NCP leaders meet Fadnavis, seek CBI probe into Baramati air crash





MUMBAI :

MAHARASHTRA Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and leaders from the NCP on Tuesday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded a CBI probe into the January 28 air crash that killed Ajit Pawar. Speaking to reporters, senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare said that the Chief Minister assured that the State Government will communicate with the Union Home Ministry in this regard. Sunetra Pawar, accompanied by senior leaders Tatkare, Praful Patel, Hassan Mushrif, and elder son Parth Pawar, met Fadnavis and handed over a letter seeking a CBI probe. NCP leader Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district on January 28. Earlier in the day, the aircraft accident probe agency, AAIB, said that special support has been sought for the retrieval of data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the Learjet 45 plane involved in the fatal crash.

The Chief Minister has assured us that the State Government will communicate with the Union Home Ministry in this regard. The Government has already initiated a probe by independent agencies and has said it will order a CBI investigation. We feel probe by the Central agency would be comprehensive, Tatkare said. The NCP legislature party is fully behind Sunetra Pawar, and there is no dissent, he said.

Following all protocols in Baramati aircraft accident probe, says AAIB: Tatkare said that BJP State President Ravindra Chavan met him at the NCP office and discussed the way forward for the MahaYuti alliance after its victory in the recent Zilla Parishad. Tatkare also said that incidents such as bribery in NCP Minister Narhari Zirwals office in Mantralaya last week malign the image of the Government and ministers. Ministers have been asked to ensure such incidents dont recur and that appointments in their offices are made after proper scrutiny, he said.
Telugu actress death: SC upholds jail for paramour, directs him to surrender





NEW DELHI :

RULING out strangulation and rape, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the two-year jail term of a man challenging his conviction for abetting the suicide of Telugu actress Pratyusha in 2002, and directed him to surrender within four weeks. Pratyusha died in Hyderabad on Feb 24, 2002. The gist of the case against Gudipalli Siddhartha Reddy, according to the remand report, is that he and Pratyusha were in love for six years. While the relation was acceptable to Pratyushas mother, Reddys mother did not agree to the alliance on account of which both of them decided to commit suicide. On Feb 23, 2002, both of them went in a car, purchased a pesticide bottle, mixed it in coke and consumed it.

However, wisdom prevailed over them and they decided that they should not die. They drove to Care Hospital in Hyderabad. In spite of the medical care, Pratyusha died while Reddy survived. A bench comprising justices Rajesh Bindal and Manmohan also dismissed the plea filed by P Sarojini Devi, Pratyushas mother, who alleged foul play in the death. This court holds that the accuseds conduct in entering into and acting upon the suicide pact falls squarely within all the 3 situations envisaged in Sec 107 (Abetment) of the IPC. His participation directly facilitated deceaseds suicide. Notably, it is not his defence that the deceased was the dominant personality who pressured him into the pact. His culpability therefore stands established, the bench said.
Vanishing Voices





Actor Taapsee Pannu believes women-led and unconventional films are on the verge of becoming "extinct" as there is a lack of support from audiences for such stories. Pannu, who has seamlessly balanced both mainstream and offbeat cinema, has built a reputation as a dependable performer and featured in a series of hard-hitting dramas such as Thappad, Mulk and Pink. According to the actor, the battle to bring unconventional stories to the big screen has become harder. "We are on the verge of becoming an extinct species, we mean films like 'Assi'. There is a certain template that our so-called commercial cinema abides by and we don't conventionally fall in that template of sorts," Pannu told PTI in an interview. Assi is Pannu's new movie with acclaimed filmmaker Anubhav Sinha and marks their third collaboration after 2018's Mulk and Thappad in 2020. The actor debunked the notion that such films will always find a home on digital platforms, saying that the streamers have shifted their focus to luring "massy" audiences. "The reality is people think that these kinds of films will keep coming on OTT and we will keep watching it. But no, OTT's don't want these kinds of films either. They have clear mandates, that only the films that are working in theatres are the films that they want to pick. "They want to take that theatre audience to their platform. They are like, 'We already have this kind of audience, we want those massy pot boilers audiences of our country to subscribe to the platform', That's why I say we are on the verge of becoming extinct unless people realise that we need to watch it. Sometimes it's good to watch reality as well," Pannu added.

Comparing cinema to a range of cuisines, the 38-year-old actor said that while "Mughlai", which is the commercial cinema, has its appeal, the industry also needs its "dal chawal": stories rooted in everyday reality. She also believes that the habit of waiting for a digital release of a film is "suicidal" for the future of meaningful cinema. "We should subscribe to all kinds of cinema. Only the audience can help us by going to theatres and watching (all kinds of) films. I hope they realise this before we lose this. Then we won't have the right to crib that our cinema cannot compete with world cinema, we only make a particular kind of film. "We have a lot of people saying we don't make good and rooted stories. But when did you support rooted stories? By sitting at home and watching it on OTT is not how you support good cinema. If you like the film, spread the word, let more people come into theatres." Reflecting on her journey, Pannu said leading a film to release today feels like a "daily pain" and a constant "battle". Pannu struck a hopeful note as she said the success of Rani Mukherji's Mardaani 3 feels like a "victory" for women across the industry. "Any other female actor's victory helps me. So, that's why I'm celebrating Mardaani 3 success because I know it will open up windows for a lot of movies that are driven by female (actors)," she said. The actor hopes that Assi, which explores the growing cases of sexual violence against women, will be well-received in theatres.

"By the virtue of being a woman, a lot of things (referring to her angst) will come naturally but on this I had to work on not making it obvious that I'm emotionally invested as I'm doing my job," Pannu said. The courtroom thriller features the actor in the role of public prosecutor Raavi. To prepare for her role, Pannu visited Patiala House Court to observe the real-world legal proceedings and added that this exercise helped her to balance "professional coldness" with "emotional depth" that was required for her character. "I did not come across a sexual assault case during my visit. I went with a bunch of lawyers and saw a female (public prosecutor), she was going through files diligently, and the lawyers told me that, 'She must be just studying the case now'. "It's like how you are studying just before the exam, kind of a vibe. So, this was different from what we imagine in our heads. So, I started realising, why I need to play it cold, up till a particular point at least." Assi releases in theatres on February 20.
We have a huge debt of gratitude to India, says UN chief Guterres





By Yoshita Singh :

INDIAS permanent contribution to the agenda of the international community and that of the UN is of enormous importance for us, the UN chief has said, as he pointed to a positive mega trend of the increasingly enhanced roles of developing economies like India in the world. These remarks were made by Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who will be heading to New Delhi to attend the India AI Impact Summit, the first-ever summit on Artificial Intelligence hosted in the Global South. India became an extremely important leader in the discussions on all aspects of the activities of the UN, in peace and security, sustainable development, where I remember the G20 presided by India, the very important decisions that were taken there, Guterres told PTI in an exclusive interview here. And also in human rights as a democratic country in a world where, unfortunately, we see democracy in trouble in so many parts of world, Guterres said. To a question on Indias role at the UN, Guterres said first of all, we have a huge debt of gratitude to India for its presence in UN Peacekeeping, noting that currently about 5,000 Indian women and men are deployed in peacekeeping missions across the world.

He also highlighted the first entirely female police unit in peacekeeping from India, which he described as something remarkable, given that gender equality is a fundamental objective for the UN. India, which has traditionally been among largest troop contributors to UN Peacekeeping, was the first country to deploy the all-women Formed Police Unit to Liberia in 2007, a landmark in the global organisations history. This permanent contribution of India to the agenda of the international community, which is the agenda of the UN, is of enormous importance for us, Guterres said in the interview ahead of his visit to India. Guterres, whose tenure as the UN chief will end this year, highlighted some positive mega trends emerging in the world at a time of growing conflicts and increasing inequalities. My message is that there are many reasons to be, of course, worried. We have seen conflicts multiplying, injustices, inequalities increasing, poverty and hunger not being solved in the world. We have seen terrorism developing and becoming a nightmare in different parts of the world. So there are many reasons to be worried but there are a few positive mega trends, he said. Guterres stressed that one of the most important mega trends has to do with the role of countries and economies like India.

Every single day, the group of developed countries - G7 and similar countries - they represent a smaller share of the global economy than the day before. And every single day, the emerging economies, in which India is a fundamental pillar, represent a larger share of the world economy than the day before, he said. And this happens every single day, which means that this mega trend will, in time, contribute to a world in which justice, equality, and based on justice, equality, peace will have much more conditions to prevail, he said. Guterres has previously emphasised that global structures and institutions must reflect the complexity and opportunity of these new times and realities. Against this backdrop, he has called for reform of the UN Security Council but noted that it is important to distinguish the powerful 15-nation organ from the rest of the United Nations. The UN is not the Security Council, he said, adding that the UN is fully represented in the 193-member General Assembly, where all states have the same weight. Of course, its the fact that the Security Council has not only been unfair in its composition but ineffective in its action. That facilitates some easy criticism of the United Nations. He voiced full support for the UN, underscoring that he is proud of the work the world organisation does. Im extremely proud of the extraordinary work that the United Nations is doing in humanitarian aid around the world, in support of sustainable development around the world, in leading the extremely important campaign for climate action and in developing more and more new areas in relation to what we were doing traditionally, he said.
Southwest Airlines recently got rid of the open seating and bags fly free policy that used to make it different from other airlines.

Were talking about one of the most beloved brands of all time, and they just completely nuked it over the course of the last 11 months, Kyle Potter, executive editor of the travel site Thrifty Traveler, told The Washington Post.

Southwest has argued that research showed more people would fly the carrier if it offered assigned seats.

When booking a recent Southwest flight from Fort Lauderdale to Las Vegas, I flew on the last Friday in January and returned on Feb. 2, choosing the airline despite preferring the old system.

The airline was correct in its gamble that flyers like me would still book if it offered the right itineraries, even if the new policy raised prices.

I paid for extra leg room, but not a checked bag, and was generally happy with my flight until the airline showed me the one failing that makes me cross a brand off my list. Southwest's WiFi, which I got free as a T-Mobile customer, barely worked for some of my flight and didn't work much of it.

That can happen due to weather or equipment, but it was actually worse on my flight home.

That's going to change, according to Southwest.

WiFi can make or break your flight

Industry data show that Wi-Fi now influences booking decisions.

"Seventy-five percent of fliers said theyd be more likely to select or rebook with an airline that offers quality in-flight Wi-Fi, and 22% wouldnt even consider long-haul flights without it," according to a 2024 passenger experience survey by Viasat.

For many, it's about getting work done. If I was productive on my six-hour flight to Las Vegas, that meant I would not have to work as much once I landed. Many business travelers feel the same way.

"The biggest problem with Southwest Airlines is that its WiFi doesnt work very well. Flying Southwest has meant giving up hours of productivity for me," wrote Gary Leff on View From the Wing.

He noted that the airline offering free internet actually added to the problem.

"And things are worse now that the WiFi is free. They should have raised the price of WiFi to ration what limited bandwidth they have on many aircraft," he shared.

Southwest, he noted, does have plans for an upgrade.

The airline plans to add Starlink to all its aircraft to improve its WiFi.

Southwest Airlines has added USB ports to seats on some planes.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

Southwest Airlines adding Starlink

"Southwest plans to rapidly integrate Starlink into its fleet. The first Starlink-equipped aircraft enters service this summer, and it will be available on more than 300 aircraft by the end of 2026," the airline shared in a press release.
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Last summer we noted that fashion designer Alexander Wang and his mother, Ying Wang, purchased the landmark-protected former Citizens Savings Bank at 58 Bowery in Chinatown for $9.5 million. In the past few days, you may have seen the banners fluttering in the wind for, Wang Contemporary, a new cultural institution. According to the new organizations website, Wang Contemporary was founded, to support and present Asian and Asian-American creativity across generations and disciplines.

The first exhibition is taking place this coming weekend (February 20-23). 20,000 Variations On A Paper Plane In Flight is being staged by MSCHF, a Brooklyn-based conceptual collective developing elaborate interventions that expose and leverage the absurdity of our cultural, political, and monetary systems. According to the event page, Once per hour, a flock of red and gold paper planes descends from the central oculus of the space, accompanied by an evolving piano score by composer and pianist Yeonjoon Yoon. If youre interested in tickets (theyre free), click here.

The Wangs say the institution will, support and present Asian and Asian-American creativity across generations and disciplines. They note that the building, a gateway to Chinatown across from the Manhattan Bridge, is for the first time in its history owned by Chinese Americans. They talked more about their vision in a recent interview for Artnet.

The citys Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted to protect the exterior of 58 Bowery back in 2011. You can read the LPCs designation report here. The previous owner was HSBC Bank, which purchased the property in 1999.
UK e-commerce group THG has formed a partnership with advertising tech company The Trade Desk to provide advertisers with self-serve access to retail audience data from its beauty platforms.

Under the arrangement, advertisers and agencies using The Trade Desks Kokai media-buying system can tap audience segments built from shopper data across the Cult Beauty and LOOKFANTASTIC sites.

These segments cover the entire marketing funnel, including high-value and price-sensitive customers, intent-led browsers, and lapsed users across the nutrition, skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrance categories.

The data can be deployed across the open internet through The Trade Desks omnichannel buying tools, spanning connected TV and audio.

Advertisers will also be able to link campaign activity to actual sales to evaluate return on ad spend.

THG retail media director Rachel Moss said: We are extremely proud of how our retail media offering is evolving as we enter the next phase of our partnership with The Trade Desk.

We are excited about what the next 12 months will bring for THG Beauty Media as we continue to expand and innovate.

The move is part of THG Beauty Medias plan to broaden its retail media and data offering by using insights generated from its online beauty retail businesses.

According to the press statement, LOOKFANTASTIC and Cult Beauty collectively reach millions of UK online beauty shoppers and offer brands closed-loop attribution at e-commerce scale.

THG said the collaboration allows brands to apply retail data across the funnel and extend campaigns across premium open-internet inventory.

The Trade Desk's data partnerships general manager Tim Abraham said: This partnership enables advertisers to access event-level data to build custom segments and measure performance without the need for a retailer clean room.

Last year, THG agreed to sell flavour manufacturing laboratory Claremont Ingredients to Nactarome Group for 103m ($136.8m) in cash.

The disposal of Claremont from THG Nutrition was intended to streamline operations, focus on core activities and support a shift towards a net cash balance sheet.

"THG to share beauty retail data via Trade Desk platform" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$56.18 and last traded at C$54.79, with a volume of 2575142 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$55.39.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on CNQ shares. Evercore cut shares of Canadian Natural Resources from an outperform rating to a hold rating and set a C$50.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Gerdes Energy Research downgraded shares of Canadian Natural Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Desjardins set a C$52.00 target price on Canadian Natural Resources and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. TD Securities boosted their target price on Canadian Natural Resources from C$53.00 to C$54.00 in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, National Bank Financial upped their price target on Canadian Natural Resources from C$47.00 to C$54.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$54.40.

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Canadian Natural Resources Stock Performance

Insider Activity

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$47.86 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$45.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 25.79. The company has a market cap of C$115.36 billion, a PE ratio of 17.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 0.70.

In other Canadian Natural Resources news, insider Kyle Grayson Pisio sold 7,456 shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$50.11, for a total transaction of C$373,620.16. Following the transaction, the insider owned 26,089 shares of the companys stock, valued at C$1,307,319.79. The trade was a 22.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Also, insider Stephanie Ann Graham sold 1,930 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$49.19, for a total value of C$94,936.70. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 16,367 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$805,092.73. This represents a 10.55% decrease in their position. Insiders have sold a total of 48,607 shares of company stock worth $2,413,706 over the last ninety days. 4.26% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Natural Resources is one of the largest oil and natural gas producers in western Canada, supplemented by operations in the North Sea and Offshore Africa. The companys portfolio includes light and medium oil, heavy oil, bitumen, synthetic oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas. Production averaged 1.16 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2020, and the company estimates that it holds over 11.5 billion boe of proven and probable crude oil and natural gas reserves.

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MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU  Get Free Report) Director Charles Kelley purchased 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $20.84 per share, for a total transaction of $104,200.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 8,031 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $167,366.04. This trade represents a 164.96% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

MDU Resources Group Stock Down 2.6%

Shares of NYSE MDU traded down $0.55 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $20.25. 1,920,989 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,148,373. The stock has a market cap of $4.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.78, a PEG ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $20.09 and a 200 day simple moving average of $18.92. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $15.04 and a 1-year high of $21.49.

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MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.37. MDU Resources Group had a return on equity of 7.00% and a net margin of 10.15%.The company had revenue of $534.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $560.72 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.90 earnings per share. MDU Resources Groups revenue was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. MDU Resources Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.930-1.000 EPS. On average, analysts expect that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 0.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MDU has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of MDU Resources Group to $22.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Zacks Research upgraded shares of MDU Resources Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, MDU Resources Group presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $21.00.

Read Our Latest Report on MDU Resources Group

Institutional Trading of MDU Resources Group

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MDU. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its stake in MDU Resources Group by 35.4% in the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 685,347 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $12,206,000 after acquiring an additional 179,357 shares during the last quarter. Leuthold Group LLC lifted its position in MDU Resources Group by 11.3% in the 2nd quarter. Leuthold Group LLC now owns 202,649 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,378,000 after buying an additional 20,553 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in MDU Resources Group by 157.0% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 212,933 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,550,000 after buying an additional 130,073 shares in the last quarter. PAX Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in MDU Resources Group in the second quarter worth approximately $260,000. Finally, River Road Asset Management LLC bought a new position in MDU Resources Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $26,105,000. 71.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About MDU Resources Group

(Get Free Report)

MDU Resources Group, Inc is a diversified energy and services holding company headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. The company operates through two primary segments: Utilities and Construction Services and Pipelines & Midstream. Serving a broad geographic footprint across the upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest, MDU provides essential energy distribution and infrastructure services to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

The Utilities segment delivers electric and natural gas distribution services in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan and Washington.

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FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index Fund (NYSEARCA:TLTD  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 38,299 shares, a decline of 14.0% from the January 15th total of 44,548 shares. Approximately 0.6% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 10,577 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.6 days. Based on an average daily volume of 10,577 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.6 days. Approximately 0.6% of the companys shares are short sold.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Curio Wealth LLC grew its stake in FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index Fund by 38,500.0% in the second quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 386 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 385 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index Fund by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 14,373 shares of the companys stock worth $1,200,000 after acquiring an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. Vestor Capital LLC purchased a new position in FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at about $656,000. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index Fund during the second quarter worth about $220,000. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its holdings in FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index Fund by 14.1% in the third quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 2,899 shares of the companys stock worth $257,000 after purchasing an additional 358 shares during the period.

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FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index Fund Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSEARCA:TLTD traded down $0.13 on Tuesday, hitting $101.19. The company had a trading volume of 42,866 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,163. FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index Fund has a 1 year low of $66.11 and a 1 year high of $102.47. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $95.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $90.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $647.62 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.36 and a beta of 0.82.

FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index Fund Company Profile

The FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index Fund (TLTD) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks an index of equities from developed countries outside the US. The index favors smaller, value-oriented firms. TLTD was launched on Sep 28, 2012 and is managed by FlexShares.

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Grupo Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. (OTCMKTS:GMBXF  Get Free Report)s share price was down 7.3% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $11.2950 and last traded at $11.2950. Approximately 14,397 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 73% from the average daily volume of 53,294 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.19.

Grupo Mexico Stock Down 4.9%

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $10.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $8.75.

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About Grupo Mexico

(Get Free Report)

Grupo Mexico is a diversified Mexican industrial conglomerate with principal operations in mining, transportation and infrastructure. The companys core business is the extraction and processing of base and precious metals, while complementary divisions provide freight rail and logistics services across Mexico. Grupo Mexico operates as a vertically integrated enterprise that combines mineral production with the transport and logistics capabilities needed to move bulk commodities to market.

In mining, Grupo Mexico is best known as the parent of Southern Copper Corporation and as one of the worlds larger copper producers.

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iShares Global Industrials ETF (NYSEARCA:EXI  Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Tuesday . 110,286 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 91% from the previous sessions volume of 57,817 shares.The stock last traded at $196.9370 and had previously closed at $197.55.

iShares Global Industrials ETF Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $1.15 billion, a PE ratio of 22.01 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $183.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $175.55.

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Institutional Trading of iShares Global Industrials ETF

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in iShares Global Industrials ETF by 411.5% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 5,207 shares of the companys stock worth $709,000 after buying an additional 4,189 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its stake in iShares Global Industrials ETF by 57.1% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 37,549 shares of the companys stock worth $5,459,000 after purchasing an additional 13,650 shares during the period. Phoenix Financial Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of iShares Global Industrials ETF in the second quarter worth $35,606,000. Ingalls & Snyder LLC purchased a new position in iShares Global Industrials ETF during the second quarter valued at $221,000. Finally, PGIM Custom Harvest LLC increased its holdings in iShares Global Industrials ETF by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. PGIM Custom Harvest LLC now owns 107,309 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,747,000 after acquiring an additional 1,492 shares during the last quarter.

About iShares Global Industrials ETF

iShares Global Industrials ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Global Industrials Sector Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Global 1200 Industrials Sector Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the Standard & Poors Global 1200 Index. The Index includes manufacturers and distributors of capital goods, providers of commercial services and supplies, and transportation service providers.

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Oxford BioMedica (OTCMKTS:OXBDF  Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Tuesday . 61,034 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 725% from the previous sessions volume of 7,400 shares.The stock last traded at $10.90 and had previously closed at $11.2550.

Oxford BioMedica Trading Down 3.9%

The companys 50-day moving average is $10.18 and its 200-day moving average is $8.62. The company has a current ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.08.

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Oxford BioMedica Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Oxford BioMedica is a clinical-stage gene and cell therapy company headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom. The company specializes in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of lentiviral vector delivery systems for use in treating serious diseases. Its proprietary LentiVector platform underpins both in-house development programs and third-party collaborations, enabling the stable integration of therapeutic genes into target cells.

In its research pipeline, Oxford BioMedica is advancing candidates across ophthalmology, neuroscience and oncology indications.

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Xtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:USSG  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 29,951 shares, a decline of 15.4% from the January 15th total of 35,403 shares. Approximately 0.3% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 16,285 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.8 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 16,285 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.8 days. Approximately 0.3% of the companys shares are short sold.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Flow Traders U.S. LLC bought a new stake in shares of Xtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $6,443,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in Xtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF by 96.9% during the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 12,275 shares of the companys stock worth $698,000 after purchasing an additional 6,041 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new stake in Xtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $230,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Xtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF in the third quarter worth approximately $199,000. Finally, Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $65,000.

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Xtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF Stock Performance

Shares of USSG stock traded down $0.15 on Tuesday, hitting $63.36. The company had a trading volume of 30,308 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,974. Xtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF has a twelve month low of $44.10 and a twelve month high of $65.43. The firm has a market cap of $549.96 million, a P/E ratio of 26.55 and a beta of 1.03. The stocks 50-day moving average is $64.09 and its two-hundred day moving average is $62.11.

About Xtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF

The Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA ESG Leaders index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, screened for environmental, social, and governance characteristics. USSG was launched on Mar 7, 2019 and is managed by Xtrackers.

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Pallas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 16,135 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $1,148,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Eversource Energy by 1.5% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 45,652,661 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,904,422,000 after purchasing an additional 691,165 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 1.7% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,343,038 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,739,564,000 after buying an additional 465,822 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,273,415 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $587,449,000 after buying an additional 211,962 shares during the last quarter. Magellan Asset Management Ltd grew its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Magellan Asset Management Ltd now owns 6,952,127 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $442,294,000 after acquiring an additional 75,784 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Eversource Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $274,744,000. 79.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Eversource Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ES opened at $73.00 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $68.68 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $68.58. Eversource Energy has a twelve month low of $52.28 and a twelve month high of $75.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.97, a P/E/G ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68.

Eversource Energy Increases Dividend

Eversource Energy ( NYSE:ES Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The utilities provider reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $3.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.94 billion. Eversource Energy had a return on equity of 11.27% and a net margin of 12.49%.Eversource Energys revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.01 earnings per share. Eversource Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.800-4.950 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Eversource Energy will post 4.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 5th will be given a dividend of $0.7875 per share. This is an increase from Eversource Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 5th. This represents a $3.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.3%. Eversource Energys dividend payout ratio is 65.86%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have commented on ES. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $72.00 to $71.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 12th. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Eversource Energy from $69.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed an underperform rating on shares of Eversource Energy in a report on Monday, November 24th. Scotiabank reduced their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $64.00 to $63.00 and set a sector underperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Eversource Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $73.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.90.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Eversource Energy

Eversource Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES) is a publicly traded, regulated energy company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. The companys core business is the delivery and transmission of electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers across parts of New England. Eversource operates transmission and distribution networks, maintains electrical infrastructure, responds to outages and storms, and manages natural gas pipeline and distribution systems in the regions it serves.

Eversource serves customers primarily in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, operating through locally regulated utility subsidiaries that administer customer service, billing, meter reading and localized operations.

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Waycross Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 341,551 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $28,219,000. Ingersoll Rand comprises 2.4% of Waycross Partners LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest position.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 6,242 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $516,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. grew its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 8.5% during the third quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 1,668 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $140,000 after buying an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 14.2% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,206 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $100,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Ingersoll Rand by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,916 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $243,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the period. Finally, Golden State Equity Partners grew its position in Ingersoll Rand by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Golden State Equity Partners now owns 3,212 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $265,000 after acquiring an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. 95.27% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on IR shares. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Ingersoll Rand from $87.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Ingersoll Rand in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $92.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $91.00 to $111.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Ingersoll Rand has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $100.50.

Ingersoll Rand Stock Performance

Shares of IR stock opened at $98.79 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $86.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $81.65. The stock has a market cap of $39.03 billion, a PE ratio of 68.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.12 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a current ratio of 2.06, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a 12 month low of $65.61 and a 12 month high of $100.96.

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $0.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.06. Ingersoll Rand had a net margin of 7.60% and a return on equity of 12.62%. The company had revenue of $2.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.04 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.84 EPS. Ingersoll Rands quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Ingersoll Rand has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.450-3.570 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Ingersoll Rand Inc. will post 3.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ingersoll Rand Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 4th. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio is presently 5.52%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ingersoll Rand

In other news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 440 shares of Ingersoll Rand stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.00, for a total value of $44,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 229,668 shares in the company, valued at $22,966,800. The trade was a 0.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Michael J. Scheske sold 1,477 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.63, for a total transaction of $119,090.51. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 12,153 shares in the company, valued at approximately $979,896.39. This trade represents a 10.84% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 292,917 shares of company stock worth $26,747,912 over the last ninety days. 0.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Ingersoll Rand Company Profile

(Free Report)

Ingersoll Rand is a diversified industrial company that designs, manufactures and services a wide range of equipment and technologies for commercial, industrial and OEM customers. Its product portfolio includes air compressors and compressed air systems, pneumatic and cordless power tools, material handling and lifting equipment, fluid transfer and pumping solutions, and associated aftermarket parts and service offerings. The companys products support applications across manufacturing, construction, transportation, oil and gas, mining and general industrial markets.

Ingersoll Rand sells through a combination of direct sales, distributor networks and service channels, delivering both capital equipment and recurring aftermarket revenue from parts, maintenance and service contracts.

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Maridea Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE:NOG  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 52,719 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,307,000. Maridea Wealth Management LLC owned approximately 0.05% of Northern Oil and Gas at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Northern Oil and Gas by 2,736.1% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,021 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 985 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Corp bought a new stake in shares of Northern Oil and Gas during the third quarter worth $27,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 181.0% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,107 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 713 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its holdings in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 315.7% in the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,351 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 1,026 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 429.4% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,514 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 1,228 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.80% of the companys stock.

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Northern Oil and Gas Price Performance

Northern Oil and Gas stock opened at $25.52 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.42 and a beta of 1.01. The business has a 50-day moving average of $23.11 and a 200-day moving average of $23.55. Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. has a 1 year low of $19.88 and a 1 year high of $36.16.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on NOG shares. Morgan Stanley set a $24.00 price objective on shares of Northern Oil and Gas and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Mizuho set a $29.00 price target on shares of Northern Oil and Gas in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Northern Oil and Gas from $33.00 to $30.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Northern Oil and Gas in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $29.29.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on NOG

Northern Oil and Gas Profile

(Free Report)

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc is a publicly traded independent energy company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources in the United States. The companys primary operations are concentrated in the Williston Basin, where it secures acreage positions and partners with drilling operators to advance upstream projects. Through strategic leasehold acquisitions and joint ventures, Northern Oil and Gas seeks to expand its footprint in both conventional and unconventional reservoirs.

Northern Oil and Gas employs horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies to develop unconventional resource plays, particularly in the Bakken, Three Forks and Red River formations of North Dakota and Montana.

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Our Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis suggests National Energy Services Reunited is undervalued by 52.7%. Track this in your watchlist or portfolio , or discover 56 more high quality undervalued stocks .

After discounting those future cash flows back to today, the model arrives at an estimated intrinsic value of about $51.14 per share. Compared with the recent share price of $24.17, this implies the stock is 52.7% undervalued on this DCF view.

For National Energy Services Reunited, the model used is a 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity approach, based on its recent free cash flow of about $153.0 million. Analysts provide free cash flow estimates for several years, and Simply Wall St then extends those projections further. Under this framework, projected free cash flow in 2035 is about $273.2 million, with interim years ranging from $170.8 million in 2026 to $264.5 million in 2034, all in US$ terms.

A Discounted Cash Flow, or DCF, model takes the cash that a business is expected to generate in the future and discounts it back to what that stream might be worth in todays dollars.

National Energy Services Reunited scores just 2/6 on our valuation checks. See what other red flags we found in the full valuation breakdown .

Right now, the company scores 2 out of 6 on our valuation checks. We will walk through what different methods such as discounted cash flow, multiples and asset based views each suggest, and then finish with a framework that can help you interpret all these signals in a more complete way.

Recent coverage of National Energy Services Reunited has focused on its role in the energy services space and how investor interest has shifted toward companies exposed to that sector. This backdrop helps explain why some traders are reassessing both the potential opportunity and the risks attached to the shares.

The stock last closed at US$24.17, with returns of 17.3% over 7 days, 33.0% over 30 days, 53.1% year to date and 155.8% over 1 year. These figures naturally raise questions about how much optimism is already in the price.

If you are wondering whether National Energy Services Reunited is still reasonably priced after its recent run, this article will walk through what the current share price might be implying about future expectations.

Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St.

Story Continues

Approach 2: National Energy Services Reunited Price vs Earnings

For a profitable company, the P/E ratio is a useful snapshot of how much investors are paying for each dollar of earnings. It helps you quickly compare what the market is willing to pay for National Energy Services Reuniteds earnings against other options.

What counts as a normal P/E depends a lot on how the market views a companys growth potential and risk. Higher expected growth or lower perceived risk can justify a higher P/E, while slower growth or higher risk tends to align with a lower P/E.

National Energy Services Reunited currently trades on a P/E of about 47.6x. That sits above the Energy Services industry average of around 25.3x and also above the peer group average of roughly 9.6x. Simply Wall Sts Fair Ratio, which estimates an appropriate P/E after factoring in elements like earnings growth, profit margins, industry, market cap and risk, comes in at about 29.3x. This tailored Fair Ratio is more specific than a simple comparison with industry or peers because it adjusts for the companys own characteristics rather than assuming all businesses are alike.

Comparing the current 47.6x P/E to the 29.3x Fair Ratio points to the shares trading above that Fair Ratio estimate.

Result: OVERVALUED

NasdaqCM:NESR P/E Ratio as at Feb 2026

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Upgrade Your Decision Making: Choose your National Energy Services Reunited Narrative

Earlier we mentioned that there is an even better way to understand valuation, so let us introduce you to Narratives, which let you attach a clear story to your numbers by linking your view of National Energy Services Reuniteds future revenues, earnings and margins to a forecast and then to a Fair Value that you can compare directly with todays price.

On Simply Wall Sts Community page, Narratives are presented as an easy tool that many investors already use. This means you can review different cases side by side, see how a Fair Value of about US$10, US$22.14 or US$30 lines up against the current share price, and quickly frame whether that particular story points you toward being more cautious or more optimistic.

Because these Narratives refresh when new information such as news, contract updates or earnings is added to the platform, you are not locked into a static view. You can see how the story and the implied Fair Value for National Energy Services Reunited evolve over time as conditions change.

For National Energy Services Reunited however we will make it really easy for you with previews of two leading National Energy Services Reunited Narratives:

 National Energy Services Reunited Bull Case

Fair Value: US$30.00

Implied pricing gap vs last close: 19.4% above this Fair Value, based on the current share price of US$24.17

Revenue growth used in this narrative: 19.65%

Analysts who take this view see National Energy Services Reuniteds hydraulic fracturing scale in Saudi Arabia and its heavy exposure to Middle East upstream spending as key supports for long cycle cash flows.

The narrative leans on contract visibility, extended durations and regional technology platforms to frame a path to higher margins and earnings by 2028, all discounted at 7.34% and tied to a Fair Value of US$30 per share.

Risks under this view focus on oilfield reliance, geographic concentration in MENA and the capital intensity needed to support growth while energy transition and decarbonization pressures evolve.

 National Energy Services Reunited Bear Case

Fair Value: US$22.14

Implied pricing gap vs last close: 9.2% above this Fair Value, based on the current share price of US$24.17

Revenue growth used in this narrative: 18.93%

This narrative centres on the idea that while National Energy Services Reunited benefits from long term contracts and Jafurah exposure, reliance on MENA oil contracts and high capital needs could limit how much value the current share price reflects.

Analysts in this camp anchor on a Fair Value of about US$22.14, using earnings assumptions that reach US$168.6 million by 2028, a future P/E of about 10.37x and a discount rate of 7.35%.

The key watchpoints here are contract timing, concentration in a single region, decarbonization trends and working capital demands, all of which could affect how reliable those projected cash flows turn out to be.

If you want to see how these stories are built line by line from assumptions on revenue, margins and P/E through to Fair Value, you can read them in full and compare them directly on the Community page, starting with Curious how numbers become stories that shape markets? Explore Community Narratives.

Do you think there's more to the story for National Energy Services Reunited? Head over to our Community to see what others are saying!

NasdaqCM:NESR 1-Year Stock Price Chart

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include NESR.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Advisors Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund Inc. (NYSE:PFO  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 94,246 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $919,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.72% of Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund by 9.5% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 31,081 shares of the companys stock valued at $287,000 after acquiring an additional 2,709 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund during the second quarter worth about $49,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund by 4.6% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 138,408 shares of the companys stock worth $1,280,000 after purchasing an additional 6,058 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund by 17.1% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 43,592 shares of the companys stock valued at $403,000 after purchasing an additional 6,372 shares in the last quarter. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. grew its stake in shares of Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund by 14.0% in the 3rd quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 88,015 shares of the companys stock valued at $858,000 after purchasing an additional 10,787 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 12.90% of the companys stock.

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Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PFO opened at $9.67 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day moving average is $9.54 and its 200-day moving average is $9.54. Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund Inc. has a 52 week low of $8.01 and a 52 week high of $9.90.

Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund Announces Dividend

Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund Profile

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 23rd will be given a $0.0546 dividend. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 6.8%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 23rd.

(Free Report)

Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Fund (NYSE:PFO) is a closed-end management investment company designed to provide investors with a high level of current income. The fund focuses its portfolio primarily on preferred and participating securities, including traditional preferred shares, convertible preferred instruments, trust preferred issues and other hybrid securities issued by corporations and financial institutions.

Through broad diversification across industry sectors and geographies, PFO aims to manage credit and interest-rate risk while pursuing attractive yield opportunities.

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Advisors Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Toronto Dominion Bank (The) (NYSE:TD  Free Report) (TSE:TD) by 2.1% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 425,737 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 8,654 shares during the period. Advisors Capital Management LLCs holdings in Toronto Dominion Bank were worth $34,038,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC grew its stake in Toronto Dominion Bank by 5.0% in the third quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 2,953 shares of the banks stock valued at $238,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Tobam boosted its holdings in shares of Toronto Dominion Bank by 44.5% in the 2nd quarter. Tobam now owns 490 shares of the banks stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. PDS Planning Inc grew its stake in shares of Toronto Dominion Bank by 2.2% in the third quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 7,808 shares of the banks stock valued at $624,000 after buying an additional 169 shares in the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC increased its holdings in Toronto Dominion Bank by 2.8% during the third quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 7,202 shares of the banks stock worth $576,000 after buying an additional 199 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cardinal Capital Management Inc. raised its position in Toronto Dominion Bank by 1.2% during the third quarter. Cardinal Capital Management Inc. now owns 17,520 shares of the banks stock worth $1,402,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 52.37% of the companys stock.

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Toronto Dominion Bank Stock Performance

NYSE:TD opened at $95.54 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $94.33 and a 200 day simple moving average of $84.40. The stock has a market cap of $159.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.33, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.67. Toronto Dominion Bank has a 1-year low of $54.87 and a 1-year high of $99.04. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09.

Toronto Dominion Bank Increases Dividend

Toronto Dominion Bank ( NYSE:TD Get Free Report ) (TSE:TD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 4th. The bank reported $1.56 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.46 by $0.10. Toronto Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 13.90% and a net margin of 16.52%.The firm had revenue of $11.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.10 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.72 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Toronto Dominion Bank will post 5.48 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, January 31st. Investors of record on Friday, January 9th were given a dividend of $1.08 per share. This is a positive change from Toronto Dominion Banks previous quarterly dividend of $1.05. This represents a $4.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 9th. Toronto Dominion Banks payout ratio is 37.37%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on TD shares. National Bank Financial raised shares of Toronto Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Jefferies Financial Group cut Toronto Dominion Bank from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Wall Street Zen raised Toronto Dominion Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Toronto Dominion Bank in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut shares of Toronto Dominion Bank from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $93.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Toronto Dominion Bank

About Toronto Dominion Bank

(Free Report)

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is a Canadian multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Formed through the 1955 merger of the Bank of Toronto (founded 1855) and the Dominion Bank (founded 1869), TD is one of Canadas largest banks and offers a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial and institutional clients.

TDs core businesses include Canadian and U.S. personal and commercial banking, wealth management, wholesale banking and insurance.

Further Reading

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Advisors Capital Management LLC increased its stake in ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE  Free Report) by 23.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 759,241 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 145,060 shares during the quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLCs holdings in ONEOK were worth $55,402,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of OKE. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of ONEOK in the second quarter worth approximately $562,832,000. First Eagle Investment Management LLC grew its position in ONEOK by 130.8% during the 2nd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 6,256,173 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $510,691,000 after purchasing an additional 3,545,256 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners grew its position in ONEOK by 53.7% during the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 5,509,100 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $448,476,000 after purchasing an additional 1,924,864 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in ONEOK by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 76,510,971 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,245,591,000 after purchasing an additional 1,314,002 shares during the period. Finally, Man Group plc lifted its holdings in shares of ONEOK by 292.1% in the second quarter. Man Group plc now owns 1,558,993 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $127,261,000 after purchasing an additional 1,161,352 shares in the last quarter. 69.13% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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ONEOK Price Performance

NYSE OKE opened at $85.50 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.80 billion, a PE ratio of 15.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.89 and a beta of 0.96. ONEOK, Inc. has a 12-month low of $64.02 and a 12-month high of $103.64. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $76.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $73.44.

ONEOK Increases Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Monday, February 2nd were issued a $1.07 dividend. This is a boost from ONEOKs previous quarterly dividend of $1.03. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 2nd. ONEOKs dividend payout ratio is currently 78.68%.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on OKE shares. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $104.00 price target on shares of ONEOK in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of ONEOK in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $94.00 target price on ONEOK in a report on Thursday, October 30th. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of ONEOK from $114.00 to $103.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of ONEOK from $90.00 to $82.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $85.80.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on ONEOK

ONEOK Company Profile

(Free Report)

ONEOK, Inc (NYSE: OKE) is a publicly traded midstream energy company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company owns and operates a portfolio of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelines, processing facilities, fractionators and storage and terminal assets. Its operations are focused on gathering, processing, transporting, fractionating and marketing NGLs and interstate natural gas, providing critical infrastructure that connects hydrocarbon production to refineries, petrochemical plants and other end markets.

ONEOKs asset base includes pipeline systems and processing plants that move and condition natural gas, along with infrastructure for the transportation, storage and fractionation of NGLs such as ethane, propane and butane.

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Advisors Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT  Free Report) by 3.0% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 85,255 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,459 shares during the quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $42,560,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Jacobi Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 8,238 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $4,112,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. First National Bank of Omaha bought a new position in Lockheed Martin during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $3,155,000. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Lockheed Martin by 73.1% during the third quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,484 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $4,235,000 after buying an additional 3,582 shares during the last quarter. Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLC bought a new stake in Lockheed Martin in the third quarter worth $245,000. Finally, Turn8 Private Wealth Inc. grew its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 7.6% in the third quarter. Turn8 Private Wealth Inc. now owns 8,194 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $4,091,000 after acquiring an additional 581 shares during the last quarter. 74.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LMT has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Lockheed Martin from $600.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $605.00 to $695.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $654.00 target price on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $615.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $675.00 price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $612.50.

Lockheed Martin Stock Performance

Shares of LMT stock opened at $649.18 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.05. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $552.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $497.97. Lockheed Martin Corporation has a 52 week low of $410.11 and a 52 week high of $656.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.36 billion, a PE ratio of 30.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.23.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $5.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.33 by ($0.53). Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 108.53% and a net margin of 6.69%.The company had revenue of $20.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $19.84 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $7.67 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 27.15 earnings per share for the current year.

Lockheed Martin Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a $3.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $13.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Lockheed Martins payout ratio is presently 64.22%.

Lockheed Martin Profile

(Free Report)

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is a global aerospace and defense company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology systems for government and commercial customers. Formed through the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and focuses on providing integrated solutions across air, space, land and sea domains. Its primary customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and allied governments around the world.

Lockheed Martins product and service portfolio spans military aircraft, missile and fire-control systems, missile defense, space systems and satellite technologies, sensors and precision weapons.

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Advisors Capital Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL  Free Report) by 3.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 280,318 shares of the enterprise software providers stock after selling 9,777 shares during the quarter. Oracle accounts for approximately 1.0% of Advisors Capital Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest position. Advisors Capital Management LLCs holdings in Oracle were worth $78,837,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Swiss National Bank raised its stake in shares of Oracle by 7.6% in the second quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 5,093,200 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $1,113,526,000 after purchasing an additional 360,000 shares during the last quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. grew its holdings in Oracle by 626.1% during the third quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. now owns 11,537 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $3,245,000 after buying an additional 9,948 shares in the last quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Oracle by 4.8% during the second quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC now owns 32,937 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $7,201,000 after buying an additional 1,515 shares in the last quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC raised its position in Oracle by 45.3% in the 2nd quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC now owns 3,723 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $814,000 after buying an additional 1,161 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Meeder Advisory Services Inc. lifted its stake in Oracle by 8.4% during the 3rd quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 40,946 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $11,516,000 after acquiring an additional 3,184 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 42.44% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

ORCL has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on shares of Oracle from $290.00 to $240.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Oracle in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Oracle from $270.00 to $205.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Citigroup restated a market outperform rating on shares of Oracle in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their target price on Oracle from $400.00 to $350.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-five have given a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $290.97.

Insider Transactions at Oracle

In other Oracle news, CEO Clayton M. Magouyrk sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.23, for a total transaction of $1,552,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 134,030 shares in the company, valued at $20,805,476.90. This trade represents a 6.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Mark Hura sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $196.89, for a total transaction of $2,953,350.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 234,077 shares in the company, valued at approximately $46,087,420.53. This trade represents a 6.02% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 72,223 shares of company stock valued at $13,689,064. 40.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Oracle Trading Down 3.9%

NYSE:ORCL opened at $153.94 on Wednesday. Oracle Corporation has a 12 month low of $118.86 and a 12 month high of $345.72. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.28. The firms 50 day moving average is $181.17 and its 200 day moving average is $229.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $442.29 billion, a PE ratio of 28.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.64.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, December 10th. The enterprise software provider reported $2.26 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.64 by $0.62. The business had revenue of $16.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.19 billion. Oracle had a return on equity of 70.60% and a net margin of 25.28%.Oracles revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.47 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Oracle Corporation will post 5 earnings per share for the current year.

Oracle Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, January 9th were issued a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 9th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. Oracles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.59%.

Oracle News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Oracle this week:

About Oracle

(Free Report)

Oracle Corporation is a multinational technology company that develops and sells database software, cloud engineered systems, enterprise software applications and related services. The company is widely known for its flagship Oracle Database and a portfolio of enterprise-grade software products that support data management, application development, analytics and middleware. Over recent years Oracle has expanded its focus to include cloud infrastructure and cloud applications, positioning itself as a provider of both platform and software-as-a-service solutions for large organizations.

Oracles product and service offerings include Oracle Database and the Autonomous Database, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), enterprise resource planning (ERP), human capital management (HCM) and supply chain management (SCM) cloud applications (often grouped under Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications), middleware such as WebLogic, and developer technologies including Java and MySQL.

Featured Stories

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Air Industries Group (NYSEAMERICAN:AIRI  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 47,289 shares, a decrease of 19.0% from the January 15th total of 58,391 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 120,531 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently, 1.5% of the shares of the company are short sold. Currently, 1.5% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 120,531 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Institutional Trading of Air Industries Group

A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in Air Industries Group stock. Ground Swell Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Air Industries Group (NYSEAMERICAN:AIRI  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 13,299 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $42,000. Ground Swell Capital LLC owned about 0.28% of Air Industries Group at the end of the most recent reporting period. 42.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Air Industries Group Price Performance

AIRI stock traded down $0.04 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $3.15. The companys stock had a trading volume of 826,423 shares, compared to its average volume of 116,278. The company has a market capitalization of $15.06 million, a P/E ratio of -5.62 and a beta of 0.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. Air Industries Group has a 1 year low of $2.55 and a 1 year high of $4.17. The companys fifty day moving average is $3.21 and its 200-day moving average is $3.16.

About Air Industries Group

Air Industries Group ( NYSEAMERICAN:AIRI Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, November 14th. The company reported ($0.01) earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $10.31 million during the quarter. Air Industries Group had a negative return on equity of 12.48% and a negative net margin of 4.01%. On average, research analysts expect that Air Industries Group will post -0.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

(Get Free Report)

Air Industries Group, Inc (NYSE American: AIRI) is a precision engineering company headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York. The firm specializes in the design, development and manufacture of air and gas handling solutions for high-performance applications. Its core offerings include turbomachinery components such as blowers, fans, compressors and turbines, as well as heat exchangers and related assemblies. Air Industries Group serves as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a trusted supplier to a range of industries, with a particular focus on defense and aerospace.

The companys product portfolio addresses the demanding requirements of military and commercial aerospace platforms, providing mission-critical airflow and thermal management systems.

Further Reading

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Advisors Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 12.2% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 480,273 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 52,235 shares during the quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $31,727,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Jacobi Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group by 1.3% during the third quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 26,785 shares of the companys stock worth $1,769,000 after purchasing an additional 355 shares during the last quarter. Maridea Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter worth $403,000. Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 98.0% in the 3rd quarter. Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLC now owns 28,925 shares of the companys stock worth $1,911,000 after buying an additional 14,315 shares during the last quarter. WealthCare Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 23.4% in the 3rd quarter. WealthCare Investment Partners LLC now owns 28,267 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,874,000 after buying an additional 5,366 shares during the period. Finally, Beirne Wealth Consulting Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $215,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. UBS Group raised their price target on Altria Group from $63.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Argus upgraded Altria Group to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $63.67.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $66.54 on Wednesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $52.46 and a 12-month high of $68.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $111.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 0.47. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $60.77 and a 200 day simple moving average of $62.27.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a net margin of 29.84% and a negative return on equity of 287.61%. The business had revenue of $5.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.02 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.30 EPS. The firms revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 9th. Investors of record on Friday, December 26th were issued a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 26th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.4%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 103.16%.

Altria Group announced that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Thursday, October 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 1.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Altria Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the companys operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altrias principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.

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Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO  Free Report)  Equities researchers at Scotiabank raised their FY2026 earnings estimates for Valero Energy in a report issued on Wednesday, February 11th. Scotiabank analyst P. Cheng now forecasts that the oil and gas company will earn $13.75 per share for the year, up from their previous estimate of $8.60. The consensus estimate for Valero Energys current full-year earnings is $7.92 per share. Scotiabank also issued estimates for Valero Energys FY2027 earnings at $19.30 EPS.

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Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Bank of America reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $195.00 price objective (down previously from $198.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Erste Group Bank initiated coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Monday, November 10th. They set a buy rating for the company. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Valero Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 7th. UBS Group restated a buy rating on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $169.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, November 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valero Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $187.67.

Valero Energy Price Performance

Valero Energy stock opened at $197.16 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $180.39 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $168.47. Valero Energy has a 12 month low of $99.00 and a 12 month high of $206.77. The company has a market capitalization of $60.14 billion, a PE ratio of 25.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.27 by $0.55. The company had revenue of $30.37 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.20 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 12.34% and a net margin of 1.91%.Valero Energys revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.64 EPS.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 9th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 5th will be given a dividend of $1.20 per share. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. This is an increase from Valero Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 5th. Valero Energys payout ratio is currently 62.83%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.02, for a total value of $1,728,540.66. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 134,196 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,352,787.92. The trade was a 6.89% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VLO. Woodline Partners LP lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 40.7% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 26,747 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,532,000 after acquiring an additional 7,735 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 13.0% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,929 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $259,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 5.7% during the second quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 19,708 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,649,000 after purchasing an additional 1,061 shares during the period. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter worth about $11,919,000. Finally, Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 7.3% in the 2nd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 4,274 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $631,000 after buying an additional 291 shares during the period. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texasbased integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The companys operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.

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Arvest Bank Trust Division acquired a new stake in Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 8,550 shares of the technology retailers stock, valued at approximately $647,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in Best Buy by 69.3% during the third quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 337 shares of the technology retailers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Best Buy in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new position in Best Buy during the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new stake in shares of Best Buy during the second quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Bogart Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in Best Buy by 202.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 604 shares of the technology retailers stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 404 shares in the last quarter. 80.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Best Buy Stock Performance

Shares of BBY opened at $66.03 on Wednesday. Best Buy Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $54.99 and a 12-month high of $91.68. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The company has a 50-day moving average of $68.55 and a two-hundred day moving average of $73.28. The stock has a market cap of $13.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.86, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.44.

Best Buy Dividend Announcement

Best Buy ( NYSE:BBY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 25th. The technology retailer reported $1.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.31 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $9.67 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.57 billion. Best Buy had a return on equity of 50.02% and a net margin of 1.54%.Best Buys revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.26 earnings per share. Best Buy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.250-6.350 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Best Buy Co., Inc. will post 6.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 16th were paid a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 16th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.8%. Best Buys dividend payout ratio is presently 125.83%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Best Buy from $77.00 to $73.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Best Buy from $94.00 to $89.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Telsey Advisory Group raised their price objective on shares of Best Buy from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Barclays dropped their target price on Best Buy from $81.00 to $77.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Best Buy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, January 10th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $80.58.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Best Buy

About Best Buy

(Free Report)

Best Buy Co, Inc is a leading North American consumer electronics retailer that sells a broad range of products including computers, mobile phones, televisions and home theater systems, major appliances, smart-home devices, gaming hardware and software, wearables and related accessories. The company operates through a mix of large-format stores, smaller specialty locations and an e-commerce platform, offering national and private-brand merchandise from major consumer-technology manufacturers as well as third-party sellers.

Beyond product retailing, Best Buy provides a suite of services aimed at installation, repair and ongoing technical support.

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Bank Hapoalim (OTCMKTS:BKHYY  Get Free Report) shares were down 4.6% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $127.00 and last traded at $127.27. Approximately 3,246 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 25% from the average daily volume of 4,341 shares. The stock had previously closed at $133.40.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Barclays lowered shares of Bank Hapoalim from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Bank Hapoalim currently has an average rating of Hold.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on Bank Hapoalim

Bank Hapoalim Stock Down 0.2%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.93. The company has a market capitalization of $34.96 billion, a PE ratio of 13.46 and a beta of 1.19. The companys 50-day moving average is $122.57 and its 200 day moving average is $107.66.

Bank Hapoalim (OTCMKTS:BKHYY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The bank reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $1.99 billion for the quarter. Bank Hapoalim had a net margin of 21.60% and a return on equity of 14.60%.

Bank Hapoalim Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 2nd were issued a $0.9362 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a dividend yield of 266.0%. Bank Hapoalims dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.62%.

About Bank Hapoalim

(Get Free Report)

Bank Hapoalim B.M. is one of Israels largest banking groups, providing a broad range of financial services to retail, corporate and institutional customers. Founded in 1921 by the Histadrut labor federation, the bank has developed into a full-service financial institution offering deposit accounts, consumer and mortgage lending, credit cards, payment services, and branch-based retail banking. It also serves small and medium-sized enterprises with working capital and trade finance solutions.

In addition to traditional retail banking, Bank Hapoalim operates significant corporate and investment banking divisions.

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A sweeping crackdown on immigration in President Donald Trumps second term, characterized by elevated deportations and strict new visa bans, has precipitated an 80% collapse in net immigration to the U.S., according to a new analysis by Goldman Sachs. The report, released Feb. 16, warns the dramatic contraction in the flow of foreign-born workers is fundamentally altering the nations labor supply mathematics and lowering the threshold for job growth needed to maintain economic stability.

The investment banks U.S. economics team, in a report led by David Mericle, projected a precipitous drop in the arrival of new workers. While net immigration averaged approximately 1 million people per year during the 2010s, that figure fell to 500,000 in 2025 and is projected to plummet further to just 200,000 in 2026, Goldman said. That represents an 80% decline from the historical baseline, a shift the report attributes directly to aggressive policy changes, including elevated deportations, a recently announced pause on immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, and an expanded travel ban.

The economists note these measures are likely to slow inflows of visa and green card recipients significantly, while the loss of Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from some countries poses further downside risks to the labor supply. The report explicitly links the forecasted drop to elevated deportations and tighter visa and green card policies.

Redefining the break-even number

This severe restriction of the labor pipeline is forcing economists to recalibrate their benchmarks for the U.S. economy. Because fewer immigrants means fewer new workers are entering the labor force, the economy requires fewer new jobs to keep the unemployment rate stable. Goldman Sachs estimates this break-even rate of job growth will fall from its current level of 70,000 jobs per month to just 50,000 by the end of 2026.

Labor supply growth has declined sharply as immigration has fallen from the peak reached in late 2023, Mericles team wrote. Consequently, a monthly jobs report that might have looked weak in previous years could now signal stability. A small pickup is all that should be needed to sustain job growth at the break-even pace, the analysts wrote, suggesting the lower supply of workers is masking what might otherwise be seen as sluggish hiring demand.

These missing workers have prompted considerable debateeven anxietyin economic ranks, as reduced immigration has been yet more noise in the economic data, along with the shrinking ice cube of Trumps tariff regime and the boom-or-bubble debate over artificial intelligence.
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (TSE:BIP.UN  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BIP) shares passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$48.67 and traded as high as C$52.97. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners shares last traded at C$52.79, with a volume of 489,058 shares.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Trading Down 0.1%

The stock has a market cap of C$24.46 billion, a PE ratio of 58.62, a PEG ratio of -2.12 and a beta of 1.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 180.01. The stocks fifty day moving average price is C$48.76 and its 200 day moving average price is C$47.00.

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Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (TSE:BIP.UN  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BIP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported C$0.61 earnings per share for the quarter. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners had a positive return on equity of 5.21% and a negative net margin of 0.09%.The firm had revenue of C$8.32 billion for the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. will post 0.9401645 EPS for the current year.

About Brookfield Infrastructure Partners

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP is a Bermuda exempted limited partnership that owns and operates quality, long-life assets that generate stable cash flows, by virtue of barriers to entry or other characteristics tend to appreciate in value over time. It focuses on acquiring infrastructure assets that have low maintenance capital costs and high barriers to entry. The companys segments consist of Utilities, Transport, Midstream, and Data. Geographically, it generates maximum revenue from Brazil and also has a presence in Australia, Colombia, United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, Chile, Peru, India, and other countries.

Further Reading

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BW LPG Limited (NYSE:BWLP  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest in January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 1,191,693 shares, a decrease of 15.4% from the January 15th total of 1,409,281 shares. Approximately 0.9% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 446,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.7 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 446,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.7 days. Approximately 0.9% of the companys stock are sold short.

BW LPG Stock Up 0.3%

BW LPG stock traded up $0.05 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $16.78. The companys stock had a trading volume of 339,137 shares, compared to its average volume of 368,441. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $14.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of $13.99. The company has a market cap of $2.21 billion and a P/E ratio of 14.81. BW LPG has a fifty-two week low of $7.86 and a fifty-two week high of $17.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45.

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BW LPG (NYSE:BWLP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 2nd. The company reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.57 by ($0.19). The company had revenue of $279.98 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $242.92 million. BW LPG had a return on equity of 8.78% and a net margin of 4.57%.

BW LPG Increases Dividend

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BW LPG

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 12th were given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 12th. This is an increase from BW LPGs previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. BW LPGs payout ratio is currently 141.59%.

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in BW LPG by 4,137.5% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 23,476 shares of the companys stock worth $255,000 after purchasing an additional 22,922 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC grew its holdings in BW LPG by 14.0% during the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 51,463 shares of the companys stock worth $558,000 after acquiring an additional 6,331 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC purchased a new position in BW LPG in the second quarter worth $142,000. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC lifted its holdings in BW LPG by 290.0% in the second quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 50,157 shares of the companys stock valued at $592,000 after acquiring an additional 37,295 shares during the period. Finally, Intrua Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of BW LPG by 14.7% during the 2nd quarter. Intrua Financial LLC now owns 31,150 shares of the companys stock worth $369,000 after purchasing an additional 4,000 shares in the last quarter.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on BWLP. Clarkson Capital raised BW LPG from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of BW LPG in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy.

Read Our Latest Research Report on BW LPG

BW LPG Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

BW LPG (NYSE: BWLP) is a pureplay owner and operator of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers. The companys core business centers on the maritime transportation of LPG, predominantly propane and butane, under both time and voyagecharter arrangements. Its fleet comprises pressurized and semirefrigerated vessels designed to meet the specific requirements of LPG producers, traders and endusers around the world.

Headquartered in Singapore, BW LPG serves a global customer base, with commercial offices in key energy hubs including Houston, London, Dubai and Tokyo.

Further Reading

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Caprock Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSEARCA:IHF  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 11,983 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $566,000. Caprock Group LLC owned about 0.08% of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of IHF. City State Bank lifted its position in iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF by 47.1% in the third quarter. City State Bank now owns 625 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF by 132.1% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 615 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 350 shares during the period. Purkiss Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF by 7.6% in the 2nd quarter. Purkiss Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,307 shares of the companys stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 373 shares during the last quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF by 12.7% in the 2nd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 3,474 shares of the companys stock worth $169,000 after acquiring an additional 391 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 13,699 shares of the companys stock worth $666,000 after purchasing an additional 632 shares during the period.

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iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF Trading Down 0.3%

Shares of NYSEARCA:IHF opened at $46.16 on Wednesday. iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF has a 12 month low of $40.57 and a 12 month high of $54.93. The company has a market capitalization of $745.48 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.41 and a beta of 0.70. The firms 50-day moving average is $47.72 and its 200 day moving average is $47.93.

iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF Profile

The iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in health care equity. The fund tracks a cap-weighted index of US companies that provide healthcare services. IHF was launched on May 1, 2006 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:BAH  Get Free Report) and CBIZ (NYSE:CBZ  Get Free Report) are both business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

91.8% of Booz Allen Hamilton shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.4% of CBIZ shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.9% of Booz Allen Hamilton shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 5.0% of CBIZ shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Profitability

This table compares Booz Allen Hamilton and CBIZs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Booz Allen Hamilton 7.35% 76.79% 10.95% CBIZ 3.89% 14.00% 5.76%

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Booz Allen Hamilton 4 9 2 1 2.00 CBIZ 1 1 1 1 2.50

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Booz Allen Hamilton and CBIZ, as provided by MarketBeat.

Booz Allen Hamilton currently has a consensus price target of $101.25, suggesting a potential upside of 29.22%. CBIZ has a consensus price target of $60.00, suggesting a potential upside of 100.60%. Given CBIZs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe CBIZ is more favorable than Booz Allen Hamilton.

Volatility and Risk

Booz Allen Hamilton has a beta of 0.33, indicating that its share price is 67% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, CBIZ has a beta of 0.92, indicating that its share price is 8% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Booz Allen Hamilton and CBIZs gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Booz Allen Hamilton $11.41 billion 0.83 $935.00 million $6.73 11.64 CBIZ $1.81 billion 0.90 $41.04 million $1.52 19.68

Booz Allen Hamilton has higher revenue and earnings than CBIZ. Booz Allen Hamilton is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than CBIZ, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Booz Allen Hamilton beats CBIZ on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Booz Allen Hamilton

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Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation provides management and technology consulting, analytics, engineering, digital solutions, mission operations, and cyber services to governments, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations in the United States and internationally. It focuses on artificial intelligence services comprising of machine learning, predictive modeling, automation and decision analytics, and quantum computing. The company offers artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer network related operations. In addition, it provides data science, engineering, visualization, and analysis related capabilities. Further, the company engages in user experience, user interface, graphic and web design, design thinking, sketching, and digital product design capabilities. Additionally, it architects and engineers help accelerate, scale, secure, and transform mission and business outcomes using the technologies and partner offering; offers software engineering in agile practices, DevSecOps, automation and Cloud, and Low/No Code Platform engineering; systems and digital engineering; and tech strategy and product management. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

About CBIZ

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CBIZ, Inc. provides financial, insurance, and advisory services in the United States and Canada. It operates through Financial Services, Benefits and Insurance Services, and National Practices segments. The Financial Services segment offers accounting and tax, financial advisory, valuation, risk and advisory, and government healthcare consulting services. The Benefits and Insurance Services provides employee benefits consulting, payroll/human capital management, property and casualty insurance, and retirement and investment services. The National Practices segment offers information technology managed networking and hardware, and health care consulting services. The company primarily serves small and medium-sized businesses, as well as individuals, governmental entities, and not-for-profit enterprises. CBIZ, Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Independence, Ohio.

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Celanese (NYSE:CE) executives fielded investor questions on the companys fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call, outlining priorities for 2026 that center on free cash flow generation, continued cost actions, and further divestitures as the company navigates uneven demand and competitive pressure in certain markets.

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Balance sheet focus remains on cash generation and refinancing

Chief Executive Officer Scott Richardson said the company remains focused on the plan it has been outlining, emphasizing cash generation first. Richardson pointed to the companys ability to generate cash in 2025 despite a year-over-year earnings decline, and said Celanese believes it is in a really good position following bond refinancing and debt paydowns that lowered near-term maturities.

Divestitures: halfway to $1 billion target, more deals pursued

When asked about raising equity to address leverage, Richardson did not indicate a shift toward that approach, instead highlighting cash generation and proceeds expected from divestitures.

Management reiterated a goal of $1 billion of divestiture proceeds by the end of 2027, and said the company is about halfway to that target. Richardson said Celanese feels good about getting another deal completed in 2026 and expressed confidence in achieving or exceeding the target by 2027.

He said the company is prioritizing divestitures of assets that do not fit the core operating models of Engineered Materials or the Acetyl Chain, which does kind of lead you to a heavier focus on some of the joint ventures. Richardson described the slate of opportunities as pretty robust, while acknowledging that its hard to get deals done in this environment. He also cited the sale of Micromax as an example of execution speed, saying the process from launch to close took about nine months.

Chief Financial Officer Chuck Kyrish added that the $1 billion target is a probability weighted number, and that theoretically it could end up higher, but the company is currently targeting $1 billion by the end of 2027 to support deleveraging.

What drove 2025 profit declines in Acetyl Chain and Engineered Materials

In response to a question about the years earnings deterioration, Richardson attributed the Acetyl Chains decline primarily to volume and price, including a mix element. He said a good chunk of the change was driven by the acetate tow business, with additional impacts from margin compression in China and lower Western Hemisphere volume.

For Engineered Materials, Richardson said both volume and price were down and semi-equal in magnitude, partially offset by cost actions. He characterized the overall drivers in both businesses as above the line variable margin.

2026 outlook themes: EM growth levers, Acetyl volatility, and second-half weighting

Richardson said the companys internal mantra for 2026 is act now, win together and grow, building on 2025s emphasis on cost reduction and free cash flow generation. He suggested Engineered Materials has more controllable ways to grow through Celaneses pipeline model, innovation, and customer partnerships, though he said the company can still pursue growth in the Acetyl Chain when supply-demand conditions allow.

On end markets, Richardson called electronics a current bright spot globally, supported by AI and data center build-out, but noted it is a smaller portion of the overall business. Automotive is a larger driver and appeared more mixed: Celanese cited softness in China tied to uncertainty around EV credits and stimulus rolling off, relative stability in Europe, and a potentially favorable shift in the U.S. as OEMs focus on internal combustion engines and hybrids.

In acetate tow, Richardson said contract pricing for 2026 is expected to see very little change. He said competition has been more pronounced in the spot part of the business due to additional capacity that entered the market last year. He also said destocking has continued across the tow value chain and estimated it could take another quarter or so, with conditions more likely to even out around mid-year.

Richardson also addressed China acetyls pricing expectations, saying the company is not forecasting huge uplifts and would expect pricing to stay in the range seen over recent quarters. He noted acetyl margins in China had stabilized over the prior eight weeks at higherbut still relatively lowlevels, and said Celanese tends to focus recovery scenarios on the Western Hemisphere given ongoing overcapacity in China.

Regarding the cadence of earnings through 2026, Richardson said Celanese still aims for $1$2 of EPS lift versus 2025, driven by growth initiatives in Engineered Materials, continued cost reductions, and selective opportunities in the Acetyl Chain. However, he noted several factors that have changed since the prior update: interest expense is expected to be relatively flat year-over-year, inventory draw is likely to have some P&L impact, and demand is not currently at the level seen in the middle part of 2025. He said the year is expected to be more second-half weighted, in part due to higher turnaround activity in the second quarter.

In discussing quarterly dynamics, Richardson said a $30 million inventory benefit expected in the first quarter would likely dry out in the second quarter, and that higher turnaround expense is expected in Q2. He said Q2 could be flattish versus Q1 absent clearer visibility on demand, with potential sequential benefit depending on the demand environment.

Cost actions, pricing initiatives, and free cash flow levers

Management highlighted specific cost actions, including the previously announced closure of the Lanaken plant. Richardson said the closure is expected to deliver $20 million$25 million of cost benefit on a full-year basis, with $5 million$10 million expected in 2026 as Celanese tries to pull forward savings.

On polymer pricing initiatives, Richardson said certain polymer margins had fallen to unsustainable levels, pointing to industry stress including defaults among some market participants. He said Celaneses earlier footprint actions in higher-cost locations helped it weather that storm, but added that returns need to improve. He framed price efforts as a step-by-step process and said he would not expect the company to capture all increases at once.

Kyrish detailed key free cash flow elements for 2026, including:

Working capital : targeting another $100 million , primarily through further inventory reductions

: targeting another , primarily through further inventory reductions Cash taxes : expected to be lower by about $50 million$60 million

: expected to be lower by about Cash interest : expected to be down about $50 million

: expected to be down about Cash outlays for cost reduction programs: expected to be lower by about $25 million$50 million

Executives said the company models multiple demand scenarios and believes it can generate free cash flow within its guided range using either modest earnings growth or additional levers if demand remains weak. Kyrish also emphasized that the company does not intend to reduce inventories in a way that creates service issues, describing inventory reduction as a coordinated, multi-year effort across raw materials, offtake agreements, and finished goods.

Elsewhere, Richardson said Celanese is block operating certain assetsincluding the Frankfurt VAM unit and the Singapore acetic acid unitto improve efficiency and reduce costs. He also said Celanese has been building flexibility in its nylon operating model by balancing what it makes versus buys, and in Chinawhere he described the market as already overcapacitatedCelanese is taking advantage of attractive economics by buying as much polymer as possible.

About Celanese (NYSE:CE)

Celanese Corporation is a global chemical and specialty materials company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of products serving diverse industries. The company operates through two primary business segmentsEngineered Materials and Acetyl Chainoffering solutions that range from high-performance polymers and specialty additives to industrial chemicals and intermediates. Its engineered materials are used in applications such as automotive components, consumer electronics, medical devices and packaging, while its acetyl derivatives find uses in coatings, adhesives, solvents and personal care products.

In the Engineered Materials segment, Celanese produces a variety of high-performance thermoplastics, polyether-block-amide (PEBA) elastomers and functional additives designed to enhance product durability, thermal resistance and sustainability.

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Shares of Centrica PLC (OTCMKTS:CPYYY  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $10.97 and last traded at $10.97, with a volume of 18279 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $10.82.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Centrica in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating on shares of Centrica in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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Centrica Price Performance

Centrica Company Profile

The firms fifty day simple moving average is $9.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.27. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71.

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Centrica plc is a British multinational energy and services company headquartered in Windsor, England. The company operates across energy supply, services and solutions, delivering gas and electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers. In addition to commodity supply, Centrica offers a range of services such as boiler installation and maintenance, smart home technology, and energy efficiency solutions through its field-based engineering teams.

Established in 1997 following the demerger of British Gas, Centrica has evolved through strategic acquisitions and divestments to focus on core markets and capabilities.

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Hodges Capital Management Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF  Free Report) by 8.1% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,431,003 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 212,973 shares during the period. Cleveland-Cliffs makes up about 2.5% of Hodges Capital Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 5th biggest position. Hodges Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Cleveland-Cliffs were worth $29,658,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC grew its holdings in shares of Cleveland-Cliffs by 1.9% in the third quarter. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC now owns 110,266 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,345,000 after purchasing an additional 2,031 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Cleveland-Cliffs by 1.4% in the third quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 301,225 shares of the mining companys stock worth $3,675,000 after acquiring an additional 4,097 shares in the last quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Cleveland-Cliffs by 12.5% in the third quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 17,148 shares of the mining companys stock worth $209,000 after acquiring an additional 1,900 shares in the last quarter. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Cleveland-Cliffs during the third quarter worth $279,000. Finally, Profund Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Cleveland-Cliffs in the third quarter valued at $135,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.68% of the companys stock.

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Cleveland-Cliffs Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CLF opened at $10.51 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $13.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $12.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.99 billion, a PE ratio of -3.60 and a beta of 1.93. Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $5.63 and a fifty-two week high of $16.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a current ratio of 1.95.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Cleveland-Cliffs ( NYSE:CLF Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The mining company reported ($0.43) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.62) by $0.19. Cleveland-Cliffs had a negative net margin of 7.91% and a negative return on equity of 18.94%. The company had revenue of $4.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.60 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.68) earnings per share. The firms revenue was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. will post -0.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other news, CEO Lourenco Goncalves sold 3,000,000 shares of Cleveland-Cliffs stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.42, for a total transaction of $37,260,000.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Edilson Camara bought 19,700 shares of Cleveland-Cliffs stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $10.13 per share, with a total value of $199,561.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 41,983 shares in the company, valued at approximately $425,287.79. The trade was a 88.41% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 1.71% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Cleveland-Cliffs from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. Morgan Stanley raised Cleveland-Cliffs from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their price target for the company from $12.80 to $17.00 in a research report on Friday, January 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $15.00 price objective on shares of Cleveland-Cliffs in a research note on Monday, February 9th. UBS Group set a $15.00 target price on shares of Cleveland-Cliffs in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Cleveland-Cliffs in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $13.89.

View Our Latest Research Report on CLF

About Cleveland-Cliffs

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Cleveland-Cliffs Inc is a leading North American producer of iron ore pellets and flat-rolled steel products. Tracing its roots to 1847, the company has evolved from an iron-ore mining concern in the Great Lakes region into a fully integrated steelmaker. Today, Cleveland-Cliffs operates iron ore mining complexes in Michigan and Minnesota as well as steelmaking and finishing facilities across the United States.

The companys integrated platform begins with direct control of key raw materials, including iron ore and scrap, and extends through every stage of steel production.

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Cushman & Wakefield PLC (NYSE:CWK  Get Free Report)s stock price shot up 9.4% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $13.46 and last traded at $13.4840. 3,651,657 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 66% from the average session volume of 2,204,449 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.33.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on CWK. Citizens Jmp set a $19.00 price objective on Cushman & Wakefield in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $19.00 price target on shares of Cushman & Wakefield in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Cushman & Wakefield from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $18.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Wolfe Research raised shares of Cushman & Wakefield from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $19.00 target price for the company in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Cushman & Wakefield from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Sunday. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Cushman & Wakefield has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $18.56.

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Cushman & Wakefield Stock Performance

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cushman & Wakefield

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $15.92 and its 200 day simple moving average is $15.76. The firm has a market cap of $3.13 billion, a PE ratio of 14.10 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Cushman & Wakefield by 126.7% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,364 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 1,321 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Cushman & Wakefield in the third quarter valued at $32,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Cushman & Wakefield in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Cushman & Wakefield by 184.6% during the 4th quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 2,032 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,318 shares during the period. Finally, Quarry LP grew its holdings in Cushman & Wakefield by 4,473.5% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 2,241 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 2,192 shares during the last quarter. 95.56% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Cushman & Wakefield Company Profile

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Cushman & Wakefield is a leading global commercial real estate services firm headquartered in Chicago. The company provides a wide range of services to occupiers and investors, specializing in transaction management, property management, facilities management and project management. Its clientele spans corporate occupiers, landlords, investors and government entities seeking solutions to optimize their real estate portfolios and operations.

The firms core offerings include leasing advisory for office, industrial, retail and multifamily properties, as well as capital markets advice on acquisitions, dispositions and debt and equity placements.

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Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLC raised its stake in SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:SPTL  Free Report) by 105.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 66,920 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 34,408 shares during the quarter. Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLCs holdings in SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF were worth $1,804,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Voya Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF by 6.5% in the third quarter. Voya Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 1,685,779 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,516,000 after acquiring an additional 103,327 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. raised its holdings in shares of SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 4,807,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $129,551,000 after purchasing an additional 32,556 shares during the period. First Horizon Corp acquired a new stake in SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $8,752,000. Oregon Pacific Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF during the third quarter worth about $1,604,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF during the third quarter worth about $545,000.

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SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA:SPTL opened at $27.20 on Wednesday. SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF has a 12-month low of $25.17 and a 12-month high of $28.14. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $26.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.78.

SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF Increases Dividend

About SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 5th. Investors of record on Monday, February 2nd were paid a $0.0927 dividend. This is a boost from SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETFs previous monthly dividend of $0.09. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 2nd. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.1%.

(Free Report)

SPDR Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF (the Fund), formerly SPDR Barclays Capital Long Term Treasury ETF, seeks to provide investment results that corresponds to the price and yield performance of the Barclays Capital Long U.S. Treasury Index (the Index). The Index includes all publicly issued, United States treasury securities that have a remaining maturity of 10 or more years, are rated investment grade, and have $250 million or more of outstanding face value. In addition, the securities must be denominated in United States dollars and must be fixed rate and non convertible.

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Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLC decreased its holdings in Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC  Free Report) by 31.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 37,142 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 16,851 shares during the quarter. Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLCs holdings in Truist Financial were worth $1,698,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of TFC. NEOS Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Truist Financial by 45.3% in the 3rd quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC now owns 185,824 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $8,496,000 after buying an additional 57,945 shares during the period. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Truist Financial by 2.5% in the third quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 216,618 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $9,904,000 after acquiring an additional 5,249 shares in the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ increased its stake in shares of Truist Financial by 164.0% during the third quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 2,308,054 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $105,490,000 after acquiring an additional 1,433,934 shares during the period. Glenview Trust Co increased its stake in shares of Truist Financial by 6.6% during the third quarter. Glenview Trust Co now owns 23,185 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,060,000 after acquiring an additional 1,426 shares during the period. Finally, Phillips Wealth Planners LLC raised its holdings in Truist Financial by 22.0% during the third quarter. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC now owns 9,956 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $451,000 after purchasing an additional 1,795 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.28% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CAO Cynthia B. Powell sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.49, for a total value of $183,715.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 667 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,010.83. The trade was a 83.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director K. David Jr. Boyer sold 5,160 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.45, for a total transaction of $239,682.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 10,153 shares in the company, valued at $471,606.85. This represents a 33.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 21,660 shares of company stock valued at $1,075,087. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

TFC has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Truist Financial from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Truist Financial from $51.50 to $57.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Raymond James Financial upped their price objective on Truist Financial from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Citigroup raised their target price on Truist Financial from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 31st. Finally, UBS Group set a $55.00 price target on shares of Truist Financial in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $56.47.

View Our Latest Analysis on Truist Financial

Truist Financial Price Performance

Shares of NYSE TFC opened at $52.15 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The companys 50-day moving average price is $51.03 and its 200 day moving average price is $47.15. Truist Financial Corporation has a 52 week low of $33.56 and a 52 week high of $56.19. The stock has a market cap of $66.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.69, a PEG ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 0.89.

Truist Financial (NYSE:TFC  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 21st. The insurance provider reported $1.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.09 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $5.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.32 billion. Truist Financial had a return on equity of 9.03% and a net margin of 17.09%.The businesss revenue was up 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.91 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Truist Financial Corporation will post 4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Truist Financial declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, December 16th that permits the company to buyback $10.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the insurance provider to reacquire up to 15.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Truist Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. Truist Financials dividend payout ratio is 54.59%.

About Truist Financial

(Free Report)

Truist Financial Corporation is an American bank holding company that provides a broad range of financial services through its primary subsidiary, Truist Bank, and other operating units. The company offers traditional retail banking products and services such as deposit accounts, consumer and residential mortgage lending, and credit and debit card services. Truist also serves commercial clients with middle-market and corporate lending, treasury and payment solutions, and specialty finance products.

Beyond core banking, Truist operates wealth management, asset management, insurance and capital markets businesses.

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A federal district court in Northern California ruled in favor of Cameo, a platform that allows users to get personalized video messages from celebrities and ordered OpenAI to stop using Cameo in its products and features.

OpenAI was using the Cameo name for its AI-powered video-generation app Sora 2. Users could use that feature to insert digital likenesses of themselves into AI-generated videos. In a ruling filed Saturday, the court said the name was similar enough to cause user confusion and rejected OpenAIs argument that Cameo was merely descriptive, finding that it suggests rather than describes the feature.

In November, the court granted a temporary restraining order to Cameo and stopped OpenAI from using the word. The AI company then renamed the feature to Characters after that order.

We have spent nearly a decade building a brand that stands for talent-friendly interactions and genuine connection, and we like to say that every Cameo is a commercial for the next one, Cameo CEO Steven Galanis said in a statement.

This ruling is a critical victory not just for our company, but for the integrity of our marketplace and the thousands of creators who trust the Cameo name. We will continue to vigorously defend our intellectual property against any platform that attempts to trade on the goodwill and recognition we have worked so hard to establish, he noted.

We disagree with the complaints assertion that anyone can claim exclusive ownership over the word cameo, and we look forward to continuing to make our case, an OpenAI spokesperson told Reuters in response to the ruling.

OpenAI has been involved in several intellectual property cases in recent months. Earlier this month, the company ditched IO branding around its upcoming hardware products, according to court documents obtained by Wired. In November, digital library app OverDrive sued OpenAI over its use of Sora for its video-generation app. The company is also in legal disputes with various artists, creatives, and media groups in various geographies over copyright violations.
Ecovyst Inc. (NYSE:ECVT  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the six research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $12.00.

A number of analysts recently issued reports on ECVT shares. BWS Financial reissued a buy rating and set a $12.00 target price on shares of Ecovyst in a research report on Friday, January 2nd. Wall Street Zen raised Ecovyst from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on shares of Ecovyst from $14.00 to $11.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 28th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Ecovyst in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on Ecovyst from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st.

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Ecovyst Price Performance

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ecovyst

Shares of Ecovyst stock opened at $11.64 on Wednesday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $10.42 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.30. Ecovyst has a twelve month low of $5.24 and a twelve month high of $11.81. The company has a current ratio of 2.25, a quick ratio of 2.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.33 billion, a P/E ratio of -12.52, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.20.

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Rubric Capital Management LP raised its position in shares of Ecovyst by 120.9% during the 3rd quarter. Rubric Capital Management LP now owns 10,400,000 shares of the companys stock worth $91,104,000 after buying an additional 5,692,653 shares in the last quarter. Oaktree Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Ecovyst during the third quarter worth approximately $25,045,000. Boston Partners increased its stake in Ecovyst by 321.1% in the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,242,285 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,785,000 after buying an additional 2,472,377 shares during the period. Brightline Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Ecovyst in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $19,946,000. Finally, Invenomic Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Ecovyst in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $16,729,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.69% of the companys stock.

Ecovyst Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Ecovyst Inc is a global specialty chemicals company that develops, manufactures and markets performance-enhancing products for industrial applications. The companys core offerings include catalysts, phosphorus-based additives and barium carbonate materials, all designed to improve process efficiency, product quality and environmental performance. Ecovyst serves a diverse customer base in the energy, refining, chemical, polymer, food and consumer goods industries.

The companys Catalysts segment supplies fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and hydroprocessing catalysts that help petroleum refiners maximize fuel yield, reduce sulfur emissions and meet increasingly stringent environmental standards.

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ENGIE  Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:ENGIY  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $31.90 and last traded at $31.5850, with a volume of 35979 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $31.40.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ENGIY has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Berenberg Bank raised ENGIE to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of ENGIE in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada assumed coverage on ENGIE in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded ENGIE from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of ENGIE in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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ENGIE Price Performance

ENGIE Company Profile

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.06. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $27.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.59.

(Get Free Report)

ENGIE is a Paris-headquartered multinational energy company engaged across the value chain of electricity and natural gas, along with associated infrastructure and services. The company develops, builds and operates power generation assets (including gas-fired plants and an expanding portfolio of renewable generation such as wind, solar and hydro), trades and markets energy commodities, and supplies energy to industrial, commercial and residential customers. ENGIE also provides energy infrastructure and networks, liquefied natural gas (LNG) solutions, and a range of energy services including energy efficiency, facility management and distributed energy systems.

The group traces its modern corporate roots to the 2008 combination of Gaz de France and Suez, and subsequently adopted the ENGIE name in 2015 as part of a strategic repositioning.

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Axxcess Wealth Management LLC lowered its position in shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 147,087 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 11,867 shares during the period. Axxcess Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $16,584,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of XOM. Ipsen Advisor Group LLC grew its position in Exxon Mobil by 1.6% in the third quarter. Ipsen Advisor Group LLC now owns 5,647 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $637,000 after buying an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC lifted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC now owns 5,794 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $653,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Sagace Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Sagace Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,445 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $388,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 3,701 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $417,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capstone Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 3.8% during the third quarter. Capstone Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,527 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $285,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Transactions at Exxon Mobil

Analyst Ratings Changes

In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 3,230 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.18, for a total value of $481,851.40. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 20,354 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,036,409.72. This represents a 13.70% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Insiders sold a total of 14,230 shares of company stock worth $1,888,421 over the last ninety days. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Mizuho set a $140.00 price target on Exxon Mobil in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $115.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $129.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $140.59.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on XOM

Exxon Mobil Price Performance

Shares of XOM opened at $146.01 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The company has a market capitalization of $615.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.83, a P/E/G ratio of 15.40 and a beta of 0.39. The businesss 50-day moving average is $130.47 and its 200-day moving average is $119.33. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $97.80 and a fifty-two week high of $156.93.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.08. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 8.68% and a return on equity of 11.21%. The firm had revenue of $82.31 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $77.98 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.67 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 12th will be issued a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.58%.

Exxon Mobil Profile

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Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) is an integrated oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, production, refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products and the manufacture and sale of petrochemicals. Its operations span the full energy value chain, including upstream exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas; midstream transportation and storage; and downstream refining, product distribution and retail. The company also produces a broad range of chemical products for industrial and consumer applications.

ExxonMobil markets fuels and lubricants under well-known brands such as Exxon, Mobil and Esso, and its Mobil 1 motor oil is a prominent consumer product.

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Rhumbline Advisers trimmed its position in First American Financial Corporation (NYSE:FAF  Free Report) by 4.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 277,390 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 12,189 shares during the quarter. Rhumbline Advisers owned approximately 0.27% of First American Financial worth $17,819,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of First American Financial by 2,887.5% during the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 478 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 462 shares during the period. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of First American Financial during the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. First Horizon Corp bought a new position in shares of First American Financial in the third quarter valued at $37,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new stake in shares of First American Financial during the second quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Tripletail Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in First American Financial during the third quarter valued at about $41,000. Institutional investors own 89.05% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have weighed in on FAF. Wall Street Zen raised First American Financial from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, December 14th. Truist Financial upped their price target on First American Financial from $76.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of First American Financial in a report on Friday. Stephens began coverage on shares of First American Financial in a research note on Friday, November 14th. They issued an equal weight rating on the stock. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on First American Financial from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $77.67.

First American Financial Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:FAF opened at $67.94 on Wednesday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $63.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $63.70. The company has a market capitalization of $6.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.31, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.27. First American Financial Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $53.09 and a fifty-two week high of $68.75.

First American Financial (NYSE:FAF  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The insurance provider reported $1.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.50. First American Financial had a return on equity of 11.93% and a net margin of 8.34%.The business had revenue of $2 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.80 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.35 EPS. First American Financials revenue for the quarter was up 21.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that First American Financial Corporation will post 5.35 earnings per share for the current year.

First American Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be given a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.2%. First American Financials payout ratio is 36.61%.

First American Financial Company Profile

(Free Report)

First American Financial Corporation is a leading provider of title insurance, settlement services and diversified real estate-related data and analytics. Headquartered in Santa Ana, California, the company serves customers throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Its business is built on the underwriting capabilities of its title insurance operations combined with comprehensive closing and escrow services for homebuyers, sellers, mortgage lenders and real estate professionals.

The companys title insurance segment issues policies that protect property owners and mortgage lenders against defects in titles, liens or encumbrances that can arise during real property transactions.

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First Mexican Gold Corp (CVE:FMG  Get Free Report) shares traded down 2.5% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as C$0.39 and last traded at C$0.40. 58,211 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 55% from the average session volume of 37,447 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.41.

First Mexican Gold Price Performance

The company has a fifty day moving average of C$0.39 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.40. The firm has a market capitalization of C$17.52 million and a P/E ratio of -131.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.62, a current ratio of 0.05 and a quick ratio of 0.05.

First Mexican Gold Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

First Mexican Gold Corp. through its subsidiary, Cornelius exploration S. de R.L. de C.V., engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Mexico. It explores for gold and silver deposits. The company holds interests in the Hilda Properties comprising the Hilda 30 property; the Hilda 37/38 property with two mining exploration concessions; and the Hilda 31/32 property with three mining exploration concessions comprising a total area of 1,350 hectares in the Yecora District, State of Sonora, Mexico.

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First National Bank of Omaha bought a new stake in shares of Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 26,712 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $3,892,000.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Arista Networks during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,228,177,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in shares of Arista Networks by 2,829.0% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,721,156 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $833,630,000 after acquiring an additional 5,525,828 shares in the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new stake in Arista Networks in the second quarter worth about $247,451,000. Schroder Investment Management Group grew its holdings in Arista Networks by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 10,494,124 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,073,654,000 after acquiring an additional 1,350,593 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Panagora Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Arista Networks by 282.9% in the 2nd quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,549,486 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $158,528,000 after purchasing an additional 1,144,786 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.47% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Arista Networks

In other Arista Networks news, Director Kelly Bodnar Battles sold 422 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.15, for a total transaction of $49,437.30. Following the sale, the director directly owned 8,980 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,052,007. This trade represents a 4.49% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Charles H. Giancarlo sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $140.43, for a total value of $1,123,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 9,784 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,373,967.12. The trade was a 44.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 160,464 shares of company stock valued at $20,351,388. Company insiders own 3.39% of the companys stock.

Arista Networks Stock Performance

Shares of ANET stock opened at $142.48 on Wednesday. Arista Networks, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $59.43 and a fifty-two week high of $164.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $179.42 billion, a PE ratio of 51.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.42. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $133.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is $137.40.

Arista Networks (NYSE:ANET  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The technology company reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.07. Arista Networks had a return on equity of 30.37% and a net margin of 38.99%.The firm had revenue of $2.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.38 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.66 earnings per share. Arista Networkss revenue for the quarter was up 28.9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Arista Networks, Inc. will post 2.2 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on ANET shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $188.00 price objective (up from $165.00) on shares of Arista Networks in a research note on Friday. Evercore reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $200.00 target price on shares of Arista Networks in a research report on Friday. Erste Group Bank lowered Arista Networks from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Arista Networks in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $165.00 target price on shares of Arista Networks in a research note on Friday. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $175.44.

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Arista Networks Company Profile

(Free Report)

Arista Networks, Inc is a technology company that designs and sells cloud networking solutions for large-scale data centers and enterprise environments. The company is best known for its high-performance switching and routing platforms, which are used to build scalable, low-latency networks for cloud service providers, internet companies, financial services, telecommunications, and enterprise IT. Aristas offerings emphasize programmability, automation and telemetry to support modern, software-driven network architectures.

Central to Aristas product portfolio is its Extensible Operating System (EOS), a modular network operating system that provides consistent programmability, stateful control and advanced visibility across the companys hardware platforms.

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First National Trust Co trimmed its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 177,085 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 6,601 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. makes up approximately 1.9% of First National Trust Cos holdings, making the stock its 11th largest holding. First National Trust Cos holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $55,858,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 2nd quarter valued at $10,295,209,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 28,813.7% in the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 16,785,584 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,866,309,000 after acquiring an additional 16,727,530 shares during the period. Viking Global Investors LP increased its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 86.1% in the second quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 4,042,034 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,171,826,000 after acquiring an additional 1,870,386 shares during the period. Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. acquired a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the second quarter worth about $485,802,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the second quarter worth about $458,104,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.55% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, COO Jennifer Piepszak sold 8,571 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $312.79, for a total value of $2,680,923.09. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 71,027 shares in the company, valued at $22,216,535.33. This trade represents a 10.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Stacey Friedman sold 3,404 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $306.40, for a total value of $1,042,985.60. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel owned 61,949 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $18,981,173.60. The trade was a 5.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,164 shares of company stock valued at $6,579,748. Company insiders own 0.47% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

JPM has been the topic of several analyst reports. Barclays reiterated a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $330.00 price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Wall Street Zen raised JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, January 18th. Dbs Bank raised shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, CICC Research initiated coverage on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. They set an outperform rating and a $355.00 target price for the company. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $339.73.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on JPM

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of NYSE JPM opened at $306.85 on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 1-year low of $202.16 and a 1-year high of $337.25. The company has a market cap of $835.33 billion, a PE ratio of 15.33, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. The company has a 50-day moving average of $315.41 and a two-hundred day moving average of $307.86.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $5.23 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.93 by $0.30. The business had revenue of $45.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $45.98 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 20.35% and a return on equity of 17.16%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s revenue was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $4.81 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 18.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 6th were given a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.99%.

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About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) is a diversified global financial services firm headquartered in New York City. The company provides a wide range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, small businesses, corporations, governments and institutional investors worldwide. Its operations span retail banking, commercial lending, investment banking, asset management, payments and card services, and treasury and securities services.

The firms principal business activities are organized across several core lines: Consumer & Community Banking, which offers deposit accounts, mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and branch and digital banking under the Chase brand; Corporate & Investment Banking, which provides capital markets, advisory, underwriting, trading and risk management services; Commercial Banking, delivering lending, treasury and capital solutions to middle-market and corporate clients; and Asset & Wealth Management, which offers investment management, private banking and retirement services to institutions and high-net-worth individuals.

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Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE:FBIN  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be paid a dividend of 0.26 per share on Wednesday, March 11th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This is a 4.0% increase from Fortune Brands Innovationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.25.

Fortune Brands Innovations has increased its dividend payment by an average of 0.0%annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 2 years. Fortune Brands Innovations has a payout ratio of 24.2% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Fortune Brands Innovations to earn $4.75 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.04 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 21.9%.

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Fortune Brands Innovations Price Performance

FBIN stock opened at $52.82 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.84, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. Fortune Brands Innovations has a 12 month low of $44.04 and a 12 month high of $69.32. The stock has a market cap of $6.35 billion, a PE ratio of 21.38, a P/E/G ratio of 4.99 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $55.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $54.11.

Fortune Brands Innovations Company Profile

Fortune Brands Innovations ( NYSE:FBIN Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.00 by ($0.14). Fortune Brands Innovations had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 18.54%. The business had revenue of $1.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.98 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. Fortune Brands Innovations has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.350-3.650 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Fortune Brands Innovations will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current year.

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Fortune Brands Innovations (NYSE: FBIN), formerly known as Fortune Brands Home & Security, is a global leader in water innovations, specializing in the design, manufacturing and marketing of plumbing fixtures, fittings and related products. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, the company leverages two iconic brandsMoen and House of Rohlto deliver high-quality kitchen and bathroom solutions across residential and commercial markets. With a focus on performance, reliability and aesthetic design, FBINs portfolio spans faucets, showerheads, accessories and water filtration systems.

The companys products are sold through a diversified network of retail partners, wholesale distributors and online channels across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

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Glencore (LON:GLEN) reported what CEO Gary Nagle described as a very good year for 2025, highlighted by a strong second-half recovery and strength in its metals business. The company posted $13.5 billion of adjusted EBITDA for the year, with roughly $10 billion coming from the industrial division and $2.9 billion from marketing.

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Nagle said the first half of 2025 was weak as expected, but the year ended very strongly. CFO Steven Kalmin underscored the second-half momentum, noting the business saw a 50% increase when comparing H1 to H2 across the group, with industrial up 65% in the second half and marketing also improving.

Metals strength offsets weaker energy and coal

Management attributed the industrial performance primarily to metals, with Nagle calling outas particularly strong contributors. Kalmin said the year-over-year price variance within industrial reflected acontribution from metals, partially offset by ahit in coal.

Kalmin said copper prices averaged 9% higher year over year, and copper contributed $1 billion of the metals price variance. Zinc also improved, with Kalmin pointing to strong zinc pricing and meaningful support from gold by-products, especially at Kazinc. He said the zinc business improved by about $1 billion year over year, including $800 million from zinc itself, of which $500 million came from Kazinc.

On the other hand, Nagle said energy and steelmaking coal were weaker amid lower prices, especially in the first half, though he said the company remained very cash generative due to product quality. He noted coal markets improved toward the end of 2025 and into 2026, citing:

Energy coal strength linked to Indonesian export cuts, with Newcastle pricing rising above $120 per tonne .

strength linked to Indonesian export cuts, with Newcastle pricing rising above . Steelmaking coal spot prices reaching about $250, with forward prices in the $220s, supported by Queensland weather impacts and stronger Indian demand.

Nagle also said Glencore may consider its own energy coal production cuts despite higher prices, describing supply discipline as always on the table, particularly in Australia.

Marketing delivers $2.9 billion, led by metals trading

Glencores marketing division delivered $2.9 billion of adjusted EBIT, which Nagle said sits around the middle of the companys updated earnings range. He emphasized that the updated range excludes Viterra trading profits from prior periods, making the 2025 outcome materially higher on a like-for-like basis compared to historical performance.

Management said marketing strength was driven by metalsparticularly copperwhere trade dislocations, regional arbitrage, and a tight concentrate market created opportunities. Trading conditions in energy and steelmaking coal were weaker for much of the year, though Nagle said opportunities began returning around September and October, with a better start to 2026.

Portfolio moves: copper growth pipeline, DRC developments, and asset simplification

Nagle revisited Glencores longer-term copper growth ambitions discussed at its December presentation, reiterating the companys levers to grow from a roughly 1 million tonne base toward ~1.6 million tonnes by 2035, with potential to exceed 2 million tonnes depending on project sequencing.

Key updates included:

Antamina (Peru): Glencore completed the acquisition of Quechua , adjacent to Coroccohuayco/Antamina, which management said increases optionality and helps resolve access constraints.

Glencore completed the acquisition of , adjacent to Coroccohuayco/Antamina, which management said increases optionality and helps resolve access constraints. DRC: Glencore signed a non-binding MoU with U.S. government-backed Orion CMC related to its KCC and Mutanda operations. Kalmin said it was too early to outline exact cash flow impacts given the structure is still being developed and due diligence is beginning. Nagle also said the long-discussed KCC land package has been secured through a long-term lease (rather than a land purchase), which he said has the same financial impact and access rights as the prior structure and supports expansion back toward ~300,000 tonnes of copper per year with mine life well into the 2040s.

Glencore signed a with U.S. government-backed related to its KCC and Mutanda operations. Kalmin said it was too early to outline exact cash flow impacts given the structure is still being developed and due diligence is beginning. Nagle also said the long-discussed has been secured through a (rather than a land purchase), which he said has the same financial impact and access rights as the prior structure and supports expansion back toward with mine life well into the 2040s. Argentina: The company is progressing RIGI approvals for Mara and El Pachon . Nagle said Maras approval is expected before Pachons, with Mara potentially received in the first half of the year. Glencore has begun work on Minera Alumbrera as an enabler for Mara and expects first production in 2028 .

The company is progressing for and . Nagle said Maras approval is expected before Pachons, with Mara potentially received in the first half of the year. Glencore has begun work on as an enabler for Mara and expects first production in . Minnesota JV: At NewRange, management said additional drilling increased the resource base by approximately 1 billion tonnes and that the project is moving through permitting.

Outside of copper, Nagle highlighted portfolio monetization and simplification steps, including a partial sale of Glencores stake in Century Aluminum while retaining what he called a meaningful holding. He also cited the sale of the Cesar smelter in the Philippines and the sale of an underutilized Colombian port near Santa Marta that had been built to serve the former Prodeco mines.

Cash flow, taxes, capital returns, and 2026 priorities

Kalmin said net debt finished the year essentially unchanged, noting the company generated $8.7 billion of funds from operations. He highlighted a $1 billion HMRC-related payment tied to legacy matters that is recorded as an income tax receivable, with management expecting a significant portion to be recovered through an ongoing U.K.-Swiss resolution process.

On capital returns, management said Glencore declared a $2 billion dividend. Nagle said the company has returned more than $27 billion to shareholders since 2021. In the Q&A, management said it opted for more cash returns after receiving shareholder feedback, while keeping buybacks firmly on the table.

Kalmin reiterated CapEx guidance of $26$28 billion over the 20262028 period, consistent with the companys prior CMD, and said Glencore continues to see strong momentum moving into 2026. Nagle closed by outlining 2026 priorities including safety, operational excellence, organic growth de-risking, balance sheet strength, and shareholder value creation. He noted the company recorded two fatalities in 2025, which he called two too many, while also stating this represented the lowest fatality count the business has recorded.

In Q&A, management said it has received zero incoming from shareholders about revisiting a coal spin-off after a previous consultation, and described coal as a cash-generative bedrock for returns. Nagle also confirmed discussions with Rio Tinto did not progress due to valuation differences, while emphasizing Glencores standalone growth pipeline and improving operating delivery.

About Glencore (LON:GLEN)

Glencore is one of the worlds largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 commodities that advance everyday life. Through a network of assets, customers and suppliers that spans the globe, we produce, process, recycle, source, market and distribute the commodities that support decarbonisation while meeting the energy needs of today.

With over 150,000 employees and contractors and a strong footprint in over 35 countries in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, our marketing and industrial activities are supported by a global network of more than 50 offices.

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Heartland Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE:PRMB  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund bought 243,297 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,377,000.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC raised its stake in shares of Primo Brands by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 47,067 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,040,000 after acquiring an additional 567 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Primo Brands in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Primo Brands by 102.4% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,091 shares of the companys stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 1,058 shares during the period. Phoenix Financial Ltd. increased its position in Primo Brands by 14.6% during the third quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 10,151 shares of the companys stock worth $224,000 after acquiring an additional 1,292 shares during the period. Finally, Ensign Peak Advisors Inc raised its stake in Primo Brands by 11.4% during the 2nd quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 12,984 shares of the companys stock valued at $385,000 after purchasing an additional 1,330 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.71% of the companys stock.

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Primo Brands Price Performance

Primo Brands stock opened at $18.30 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.78 billion, a P/E ratio of -59.03, a PEG ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 0.63. The business has a 50-day moving average of $17.79 and a 200-day moving average of $20.12. Primo Brands Corporation has a 1 year low of $14.36 and a 1 year high of $35.85.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Primo Brands declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Monday, November 10th that allows the company to buyback $50.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to purchase up to 0.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

Several research firms have commented on PRMB. Mizuho cut their price target on Primo Brands from $28.00 to $24.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 8th. TD Securities cut their price target on shares of Primo Brands from $35.00 to $27.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Primo Brands from $23.00 to $21.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating on shares of Primo Brands in a report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d+) rating on shares of Primo Brands in a report on Monday, December 29th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Primo Brands has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $26.83.

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Primo Brands Profile

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Primo Brands (NYSE: PRMB) is a consumer packaged beverage company that was established as an independent entity following a corporate spinoff in 2023. The company specializes in the production, marketing and distribution of a broad portfolio of bottled water products, including purified, mineral and sparkling varieties. Through its focus on quality control and innovation, Primo Brands aims to deliver clean, great-tasting water in formats tailored to both at-home consumption and on-the-go lifestyles.

Its product range spans multi-serve and single-serve bottles, aluminum cans and other eco-friendly packaging solutions.

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In todays CEO Daily: Diane Brady reports on new threats to the loyalty economy.

The big leadership story: Why corporate accountability for the Epstein files is so hard to come by.

The markets: U.S. futures are trending lower after the holiday break.

Plus: All the news and watercooler chat from Fortune.

Good morning. Americans love their loyalty points. Almost three-quarters of them use a credit card that lets them earn rewards. And the income generated from issuing those points is critically important to many players in the Fortune 500, especially airlines, hotels, and merchants. Delta Air Lines alone reported a 6% increase in loyalty revenue last year, with co-brand income from Amex up 11% to $8.2 billion.

U.S. companies are expected to issue or redeem about $26 billion in points for customers this year. That doesnt include the hundreds of billions of dollars in uncashed points that keep people tethered to their loyalty programs, despite devaluations, or perks that are hard to redeem. Along with generating revenue, those programs generate data that lets companies recognize and engage their most valuable customers. That might soon change.

Get ready for a raft of legislation that could cut points and consumers ability to accrue them. Lawmakers have reintroduced the Credit Card Competition Act, which forces issuers to put two unaffiliated networks on each card, allowing merchants to pick the cheaper one at the point of sale. And last week a federal judge upheld an Illinois state law, the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which bans swipe fees on taxes and tips, which could lead to higher card fees and reduced rewards. Other states are also targeting so-called interchange fees.

Although intended to lower fees for merchants and customers, this push threatens a form of currency that consumers like me really value. It also impacts the business models of airlines and other companies that rely on points. For a perspective from the front lines, I checked in with Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy. Along with building a travel and lifestyle platform that helps people navigate points, Kelly is a powerful advocate for improving the loyalty economy.

There is an existential crisis happening around the rewards and credit card space, Kelly told me last week. I dont think enough people realize the ramifications of these laws.

Hes right: If retailers can choose which network to use for transactions, theyll naturally pick one with lower swipe fees than the 2-3.5% that credit cards often charge. For consumers, that could mean fewer points and possibly fewer of the fraud protections or other perks that those fees help sustain. The Illinois ban on fees for taxes and tips adds another layer of friction.
Heartland Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 125,000 shares of the textile makers stock, valued at approximately $5,068,000. Heartland Advisors Inc. owned about 0.84% of Oxford Industries at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of Oxford Industries by 245.9% during the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 671 shares of the textile makers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 477 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its stake in Oxford Industries by 61.5% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 801 shares of the textile makers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in Oxford Industries during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $34,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its stake in Oxford Industries by 44.8% during the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,507 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 466 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in Oxford Industries by 127.1% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,812 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $73,000 after purchasing an additional 1,014 shares in the last quarter. 91.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on OXM shares. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Oxford Industries from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Telsey Advisory Group lifted their price target on Oxford Industries from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Wall Street Zen lowered Oxford Industries from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, December 20th. Zacks Research cut Oxford Industries from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their target price on Oxford Industries from $35.00 to $33.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Oxford Industries has an average rating of Reduce and an average price target of $45.40.

Oxford Industries Stock Performance

Shares of OXM stock opened at $39.02 on Wednesday. Oxford Industries, Inc. has a 52-week low of $30.57 and a 52-week high of $73.31. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The stock has a market cap of $580.62 million, a PE ratio of -118.24 and a beta of 1.09. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $37.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $39.26.

Oxford Industries (NYSE:OXM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, December 10th. The textile maker reported ($0.92) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.95) by $0.03. Oxford Industries had a positive return on equity of 9.35% and a negative net margin of 0.20%.The company had revenue of $307.34 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $304.42 million. During the same period last year, the business earned ($0.11) earnings per share. Oxford Industriess quarterly revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Oxford Industries has set its FY 2025 guidance at -1.5401.320 EPS and its Q4 2025 guidance at 0.000-0.200 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Oxford Industries, Inc. will post 6.62 EPS for the current year.

Oxford Industries Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 30th. Investors of record on Friday, January 16th were issued a dividend of $0.69 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 16th. This represents a $2.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.1%. Oxford Industriess dividend payout ratio is -836.36%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Thomas Caldecot Chubb III acquired 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 12th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $35.12 per share, for a total transaction of $175,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 22,709 shares in the company, valued at approximately $797,540.08. The trade was a 28.23% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 6.00% of the companys stock.

Oxford Industries Company Profile

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Oxford Industries, Inc, incorporated in 1942 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a leading designer, marketer and distributor of high-quality mens and womens lifestyle apparel and accessories. The companys product portfolio features a mix of owned brands and licensed partnerships that span casual, resort and performance categories. Key owned brands include Tommy Bahama, renowned for its island-inspired menswear and womens sportswear, and Southern Tide, which offers coastal-focused clothing and footwear.

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Shares of Hennes & Mauritz AB (OTCMKTS:HNNMY  Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 388,264 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 403% from the previous sessions volume of 77,168 shares.The stock last traded at $4.1350 and had previously closed at $4.12.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays downgraded Hennes & Mauritz from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Friday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating on shares of Hennes & Mauritz in a report on Friday, January 30th. Citigroup upgraded Hennes & Mauritz from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Oddo Bhf raised shares of Hennes & Mauritz to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold.

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Hennes & Mauritz Price Performance

The firms fifty day moving average is $3.94 and its 200-day moving average is $3.58. The company has a market capitalization of $29.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.75 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 1.18.

Hennes & Mauritz (OTCMKTS:HNNMY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.06. The firm had revenue of $6.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.35 billion. Hennes & Mauritz had a net margin of 5.46% and a return on equity of 30.80%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Hennes & Mauritz AB will post 0.15 EPS for the current year.

Hennes & Mauritz Company Profile

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Hennes & Mauritz AB, commonly known as H&M, is a Swedish multinational fashion retailer that designs, sources and sells ready-to-wear clothing, accessories and home textiles. The company traces its roots to 1947, when Erling Persson opened a womens clothing store called Hennes (hers) in Vasteras, Sweden; the business expanded into menswear after the acquisition of a Stockholm-based retailer, Mauritz Widforss, in the late 1960s, which led to the Hennes & Mauritz name. Today the company is headquartered in Stockholm and operates a global retail business built around multiple branded concepts.

H&Ms core activities include product design, sourcing and retailing of fashion for women, men, teenagers and children, as well as home goods under its H&M Home line.

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HighTower Advisors LLC raised its position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP  Free Report) by 38.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 332,205 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 91,690 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF were worth $47,312,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Abound Wealth Management boosted its holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 223.2% in the third quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 223 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Clean Yield Group acquired a new stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the third quarter worth about $33,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $47,000. 74.49% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA IWP opened at $134.87 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $138.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $140.03. The company has a market cap of $19.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.48 and a beta of 1.15. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a 1 year low of $99.85 and a 1 year high of $145.60.

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Profile

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF, formerly iShares Russell Midcap Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell Midcap Growth Index (the Growth Index). The Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market. It is a subset of the Russell Midcap Index and measures the performance of equity securities of Russell Midcap Index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

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Impact Minerals (ASX:IPT) outlined progress and plans for its Lake Hope high-purity alumina (HPA) project in Western Australia, emphasizing a shallow, low-cost deposit near infrastructure and a recent acquisition that the company said could accelerate commercialization.

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Lake Hope resource and development status

Presenting at RIU, managing director Dr. Mike Jones described Western Australias salt lakes as an amazing chemical laboratory with varying compositions and potential for industrial minerals including salt, dolomite, and potash. Impacts focus, he said, is high-purity alumina at its Lake Hope project, located about 500 kilometers east of Perth.

Jones said the company has completed a pre-feasibility study and estimates there is about $15 billion worth of high-purity alumina hidden in the top 2 meters of the lake. The lake is dry for much of the year, and the company plans to dig material on-site and truck it to Perth for processing. Jones added that Impact currently owns about 80% of the project and is looking to increase its ownership.

He also highlighted the projects long potential operating life, stating Lake Hope has a mineral reserve supporting 3040 years at least, describing it as a multi-decade mine. Jones characterized drilling and sampling as straightforward and low cost, noting that the drill program cost about AUD 250,000.

Acquisition of ChemX assets and pilot plant progress

A key update since the companys prior RIU appearance, Jones said, was Impact taking a 50% share in a company that purchased the assets of ChemX Materials, which he described as a competitor with a very elegant technology for the back-end processing required to produce HPA. He said the acquisition included:

A pilot plant that was about 80% commissioned

A fully functional analytical laboratory

Intellectual property including granted patents

Jones said Impact has had possession of the facility for about eight months and is now producing significant quantities of HPA in batch mode, with product available for distribution to potential customers. He described the acquisition as a fantastic bargain, stating the total cost was AUD 2.2 million and Impacts share was AUD 1.1 million.

Market demand and applications highlighted

Jones framed HPA as a critical mineral, noting it is on Australias Critical Minerals list. He cited demand across multiple sectors, including LEDs (via synthetic sapphire components), advanced ceramics, and defense and aerospace uses such as missile tips and jet windows. He also pointed to consumer applications such as watches and smartphones.

He emphasized two large demand drivers:

Semiconductors: HPA is used in polishing and in thermal management, and Jones linked increased usage to data center build-outs, particularly in North America.

HPA is used in polishing and in thermal management, and Jones linked increased usage to data center build-outs, particularly in North America. Batteries: He said HPA has been used in battery separators to mitigate thermal runaway, and he highlighted growth in storage batteries where safety requirements are significantly greater than for electric vehicle batteries.

Jones said the HPA market is growing at roughly 15% to 20% per year and suggested a supply deficit could emerge around 20282029 unless additional supply comes online.

He also discussed the importance of purity tiers, describing most market volume as concentrated in 3N and 4N material (including 4N, or 99.99% purity), while ultra-high purity 5N and 6N can offer high margins but limited volume. He said the company believes it can compete in the 3N segment due to low production costs.

Cost, financing, and modular scale-up strategy

Jones presented a cost-curve view of global production, saying current supply is dominated by Japanese producers, with European and Chinese production also present. He referenced peers including Alpha HPA and AEM as lower-cost producers relative to higher-cost incumbents, but said Impact believes it can be significantly lower on the cost curve, in part due to by-product credits.

He cited project economics from the companys work to date, including an estimated NPV of about AUD 1.2 billion and capital expenditure of AUD 250 million, while adding the company expects to improve those figures.

Jones outlined what he called high barriers to entry in HPAprocess control, feedstock and reagent management, rapid development of operating capability, customer engagement, and financing scale-uparguing that Impacts combination of Lake Hope and the acquired technology addresses these hurdles.

A central theme was modular growth. Rather than building a single large 10,000-ton-per-year facility, Jones said Impact believes it can deploy multiple smaller 1,0002,000-ton-per-year plants to scale faster with lower capital intensity and reduced reliance on debt financing. He compared peer capital costs at about $100 million per 1,000 tons per annum of HPA capacity and said Impact believes it can reach at least one third of that.

By-products, R&D partnerships, and forward plan

Jones said Impact is working with Edith Cowan University under a federal government grant to incorporate membrane technology into its flowsheet with the goal of routinely producing 4N HPA. He also discussed potash as a valuable by-product, stating the company is beginning to crystallize beautiful potash and believes membrane crystallization could significantly reduce capital costs.

In addition, Jones said the companys potash work has led to an alternative flowsheet concept where potash and hydrochloric acid could become prime products rather than HPA, with scoping studies underway and potential targeting of lakes around Salmon Gums due to proximity to agricultural regions and mining demand for hydrochloric acid.

On customer qualification, Jones said Impact has signed a collaboration agreement with C4V, based at a university in Binghamton, New York, to run test programs required by battery manufacturers. He said this approach could streamline pre-qualification by centralizing testing rather than engaging multiple individual manufacturers.

Looking ahead, Jones said priorities include completing and ramping up the pilot plant, expanding customer engagement, and pursuing a North American base in 2027. He said investors should expect a lot of news flow over the coming months as the company advances the project.

About Impact Minerals (ASX:IPT)

Impact Minerals Limited operates as an exploration company in Australia. It primarily explores for nickel, gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc, and platinum group element deposits. The companys project is the Arkun-Beau project comprising 8 exploration licenses covering an area of 2,100 square kilometers located in Western Australia. It acquired the right to earn an 80% interest in the Lake Hope High Purity Alumina project; and 100% interest in Broken Hill project. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

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Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF (NYSEARCA:RSPN  Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 1,220,355 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 452% from the previous sessions volume of 221,076 shares.The stock last traded at $63.0540 and had previously closed at $62.84.

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF Stock Up 0.3%

The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $59.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $56.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $962.01 million, a PE ratio of 22.94 and a beta of 1.09.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 173,328 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,482,000 after acquiring an additional 1,458 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. increased its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF by 116.4% during the second quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 18,458 shares of the companys stock worth $988,000 after acquiring an additional 9,928 shares during the period. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF by 20.0% in the second quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC now owns 12,341 shares of the companys stock valued at $661,000 after purchasing an additional 2,056 shares during the period. Calamos Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $235,000. Finally, Carmel Capital Management L.L.C. boosted its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Carmel Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 168,260 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,007,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares in the last quarter.

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF Company Profile

The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF (RSPN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in industrials equity. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of industrial US stocks drawn from the S&P 500. RSPN was launched on Nov 1, 2006 and is managed by Invesco.

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iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SHYG  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 396,467 shares, a growth of 23.1% from the January 15th total of 321,951 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 1,235,343 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days. Based on an average trading volume of 1,235,343 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days. Approximately 0.2% of the companys shares are short sold.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. RiverFront Investment Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 305.8% in the 2nd quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLC now owns 1,216,930 shares of the companys stock valued at $52,498,000 after purchasing an additional 917,031 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 32.1% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 316,759 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,665,000 after buying an additional 77,000 shares during the period. Ninety One UK Ltd lifted its position in iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 43.9% during the third quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 609,751 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,402,000 after buying an additional 186,000 shares in the last quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors grew its stake in iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 12.8% during the third quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 126,806 shares of the companys stock worth $5,491,000 after buying an additional 14,426 shares during the period. Finally, Montecito Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF during the third quarter worth approximately $827,000.

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iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Stock Down 0.0%

SHYG stock opened at $42.82 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.74 and a beta of 0.30. iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF has a 52-week low of $40.38 and a 52-week high of $43.39. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $42.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $42.99.

iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Company Profile

The iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (SHYG) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of high-yield USD-denominated bonds with 0-5 years remaining in maturity. SHYG was launched on Oct 15, 2013 and is managed by BlackRock.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEUR  Free Report) by 0.5% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 8,995,471 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 41,293 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned approximately 0.09% of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF worth $612,771,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of IEUR. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Franklin Resources Inc. purchased a new stake in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Family Legacy Financial Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. Caldwell Trust Co acquired a new position in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF in the second quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, MMA Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF during the third quarter worth about $35,000.

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iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Price Performance

Shares of IEUR opened at $75.64 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $72.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $69.67. The stock has a market cap of $7.60 billion, a PE ratio of 16.78 and a beta of 0.93. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF has a 1-year low of $53.17 and a 1-year high of $76.04.

About iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF

The iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (IEUR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Europe IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed European securities. IEUR was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Shares of iShares MSCI Germany ETF (NYSEARCA:EWG  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $45.36 and last traded at $44.1850, with a volume of 455 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $44.04.

iShares MSCI Germany ETF Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $1.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.79 and a beta of 1.03. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $43.09 and its 200-day moving average price is $41.98.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Germany ETF by 291.7% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,933,554 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $81,809,000 after acquiring an additional 1,439,864 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in iShares MSCI Germany ETF by 102.3% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,275,097 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $53,949,000 after purchasing an additional 644,647 shares during the period. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI Germany ETF by 18.2% in the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 3,883,513 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $164,311,000 after purchasing an additional 596,996 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Germany ETF by 289.5% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 730,196 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $30,766,000 after purchasing an additional 542,708 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP grew its holdings in iShares MSCI Germany ETF by 487.7% during the 3rd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 635,765 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $26,454,000 after buying an additional 527,589 shares in the last quarter. 53.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

iShares MSCI Germany ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI Germany ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the German market, as measured by the MSCI Germany Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Germany equity market. It is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization.

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iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF (BATS:EWUS  Get Free Report)s stock price fell 0.1% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $43.65 and last traded at $44.38. 34,228 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 186% from the average session volume of 11,988 shares. The stock had previously closed at $44.41.

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $44.38 million, a PE ratio of 14.52 and a beta of 1.10. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $42.94 and a 200 day moving average price of $41.41.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF stock. Flow Traders U.S. LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF (BATS:EWUS  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 25,899 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,066,000. Flow Traders U.S. LLC owned 2.59% of iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap ETF (EWUS) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI United Kingdom Small Cap index, a market-cap-weighted index of small-cap United Kingdom companies. EWUS was launched on Jan 25, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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ITT Educational Services, Inc. (OTCMKTS:ESINQ  Get Free Report) shares crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.0001. ITT Educational Services shares last traded at $0.00, with a volume of 0 shares traded.

ITT Educational Services Trading Down 100.0%

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ITT Educational Services Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

ITT Educational Services, formerly the parent company of ITT Technical Institute, was a for-profit higher education provider based in Carmel, Indiana. The company operated campus-based and online programs focused on career-oriented training across fields such as information technology, electronics, drafting and design, business management, and health sciences. ITT Educational Services aimed to prepare students for entry-level positions through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on lab work, and career services support.

Founded in 1969 as ITT Technical Institute and later spun off as a publicly traded entity in 1994, the company expanded steadily throughout the United States over several decades.

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A quiet shift may be underway inside North Korea's ruling family, according to South Korea's spy agency. Recently, lawmakers in Seoul were told by the National Intelligence Service that Kim Jong Un has moved his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, into what it described as a 'successor-designate' phase.

However, North Korea has made no formal announcement, but the briefing suggests she is no longer simply being introduced to the public as the daughter of the dictator but she is also being prepared to inherit power.

The development has inevitably raised another question: what becomes of his sister, Kim Yo Jong, once seen as the most plausible heir?

Kim Ju Ae's Slow But Steady Rise In Public

Kim Ju Ae, believed to be around 13, first appeared in state media in November 2022 at the launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile.

Since then, her public profile has expanded steadily. She has attended major weapons tests, large-scale military parades and senior-level events. In early 2026, she was shown visiting the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where past leaders lie in state, a symbolic rite in North Korea's dynastic politics.

According to the NIS briefing, she has now appeared at more than 20 high-profile events and has been present at sensitive military briefings. Officials were told she appears to be influencing or at least observing key state discussions.

Her visibility also extends abroad. In 2025, she was photographed at a Beijing military display alongside China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, reinforcing Pyongyang's close ties with both governments.

Why Is She A Successor At Only 13?

Diplomats and experts have offered several explanations, though all are constrained by North Korea's secrecy.

One theory, cited in South Korean intelligence assessments, claims that Kim Jong Un's widely discussed health concerns may be accelerating succession planning. He was himself hurried into prominence after his father's reported stroke in 2008.

Another argument centres on bloodline. The Kim dynasty has ruled for three generations, and maintaining direct descent may be seen as safer than elevating a sibling, even if that sibling is highly trusted.

There is also the symbolic dimension. If confirmed, Kim Ju Ae would become the first woman to be positioned to lead the country, marking a striking shift in a political culture long dominated by men. Some experts believe her youth and carefully managed image could be aimed at strengthening loyalty among younger North Koreans.

However, her age makes immediate leadership unlikely. It is possible she is being introduced early while more experienced figures continue to handle day-to-day governance.

Where is Kim Yo Jong?

For years, Kim Yo Jong was widely viewed as the regime's second-most powerful figure. During her brother's 2020 health scare, she issued official statements and appeared to take on a more public role, and theories surrounding her as the next leader of North Korea exploded on social media.

Her reported profile was convincing enough to fall into that speculation. As deputy director of the Workers' Party's propaganda apparatus, she has shaped messaging on diplomacy and military affairs.

The NIS has reported no evidence of her demotion. Instead, experts suggest her role may evolve rather than disappear. She could serve as an adviser or even a regent if her niece's status is formalised while her niece remains a minor.

Moreover, Yo Jong is also known for her undying loyalty to her brother and his regime, making it unlikely that she will remain empty-handed once Ju Ae takes over.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
United Parcel Service this year plans to close 22 package sortation centers with union employees in 18 states, including facilities in Dallas, Miami, Baltimore and Atlanta, according to court documents filed last week.

It is the first time UPS (NYSE: UPS) has publicly disclosed which locations it intends to shut down this year as part of an aggressive strategy for network consolidation and automation aimed at improving profitability by better matching capacity and labor with lower parcel volumes. UPS is on track to decouple 50% of its business with Amazon, its largest customer, by June because the deliveries are not profitable and also recently agreed to outsource last-mile delivery to the U.S. Postal Service for certain economy shipments.

The optimization plan, called Network of the Future, envisions closing 200 sortation centers over five years. Last year, UPS reduced 48,000 frontline jobs and closed 93 owned and leased distribution centers.

Chief Financial Officer Brian Dykes said on a Jan. 27 earnings call that UPS would close 24 facilities in the first half of the year and eliminate 30,000 jobs. Twenty-two of those locations have union-represented employees, according to exhibits submitted in connection with a Teamsters union lawsuit against the companys plans to reduce its driver workforce through buyouts.

A total of 22 facilities with bargaining unit employees have been identified for closure in 2026. The applicable Local unions have been notified of these closures and informed of the anticipated impacts, in accordance with Article 38 the national master agreement. At this time, no additional closures are planned, Daniel Bordoni, president of global labor relations at UPS informed Teamsters General President Sean OBrien in a letter dated Jan. 30 and included as an exhibit in the job case before a federal district court in Massachusetts.

The correspondence includes a list of the 22 locations slated to close (see below).

Dykes said UPS plans to reduce warehouse workers through attrition and delivery drivers through a buyout, but the company said in court documents that it could resort to involuntary layoffs if not enough drivers take the severance package being offered. Employees who are laid off are typically offered positions in other locations, but many end up quitting because the new facilities are far from their current home.

UPS intends to offer $150,000 plus accrued benefits to more than 100,000 drivers as an enticement to resign. The payout amount is not tied to seniority levels. The Teamsters union is fighting the voluntary separation program in court, claiming it violates the contract by changing employment status without union consent and prevents workers from seeking any redress if they sign walking papers.
Jacobi Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 5.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,566 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 766 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for 0.7% of Jacobi Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Jacobi Capital Management LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $11,114,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of LLY. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Steph & Co. boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 290.0% during the 3rd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 39 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 263.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 40 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.53% of the companys stock.

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Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:LLY opened at $1,035.82 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $1,054.36 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $912.40. The company has a market cap of $977.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.13, a PEG ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.19. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $623.78 and a one year high of $1,133.95.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.48 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $19.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.85 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 102.94% and a net margin of 31.66%.The firms revenue was up 42.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $5.32 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a $1.73 dividend. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.15%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on LLY shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,150.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,286.00 to $1,268.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 15th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $1,300.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,200.00 to $1,285.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $1,218.88.

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Key Stories Impacting Eli Lilly and Company

Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week:

Eli Lilly and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A.

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Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 1,578,528 shares, a drop of 16.8% from the January 15th total of 1,897,258 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,050,227 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days. Currently, 2.9% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Currently, 2.9% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,050,227 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Kirby in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Wall Street Zen upgraded Kirby from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, November 1st. Zacks Research downgraded Kirby from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. BTIG Research dropped their target price on Kirby from $140.00 to $135.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Wolfe Research reissued an outperform rating and issued a $136.00 price target on shares of Kirby in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Kirby currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $129.40.

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Kirby Trading Up 1.4%

Kirby stock traded up $1.79 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $126.72. The stock had a trading volume of 617,176 shares, compared to its average volume of 777,952. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $119.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $104.24. Kirby has a twelve month low of $79.51 and a twelve month high of $132.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.87 billion, a PE ratio of 20.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.88.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The shipping company reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.06. Kirby had a net margin of 10.54% and a return on equity of 10.55%. The company had revenue of $851.78 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $857.82 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.29 earnings per share. Kirbys revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Kirby will post 6.57 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Ronald A. Dragg sold 5,429 shares of Kirby stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.00, for a total transaction of $662,338.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 10,399 shares in the company, valued at $1,268,678. The trade was a 34.30% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Scott P. Miller sold 3,960 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.68, for a total value of $477,892.80. Following the sale, the vice president owned 3,565 shares in the company, valued at approximately $430,224.20. This trade represents a 52.62% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 63,898 shares of company stock valued at $7,081,741. Company insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Peregrine Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Kirby by 18.4% in the 3rd quarter. Peregrine Capital Management LLC now owns 131,000 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $10,932,000 after buying an additional 20,399 shares in the last quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC acquired a new position in Kirby during the 3rd quarter worth $2,030,000. Luminus Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Kirby by 292.0% in the third quarter. Luminus Management LLC now owns 116,956 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $9,760,000 after purchasing an additional 87,120 shares in the last quarter. VELA Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Kirby by 11.5% during the third quarter. VELA Investment Management LLC now owns 160,475 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $13,392,000 after purchasing an additional 16,615 shares during the period. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue increased its holdings in shares of Kirby by 312.7% during the third quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 26,006 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $2,170,000 after purchasing an additional 19,705 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.15% of the companys stock.

Kirby Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Kirby Corporation is a leading domestic maritime transporter of bulk liquid products in the United States. Through its Marine Transportation segment, the company operates one of North Americas largest fleets of inland tank barges and towing vessels. Kirbys fleet moves petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals along coastal and inland waterways, providing critical logistical support to energy, chemical and agricultural producers.

In addition to its marine operations, Kirbys Distribution and Services segment offers diesel engine and power generation services, along with aftermarket parts sales.

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Lycopodium (ASX:LYL) told investors its first-half performance met profit expectations and management continues to see robust demand for the groups engineering and project delivery services, despite timing delays on two major prospects that prompted a revision to full-year revenue guidance.

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Financial results and dividend

In its first-half investor presentation, Lycopodium reported revenue of AUD 174.5 million and net profit after tax (NPAT) of AUD 18.3 million. Management said the result represented a 10.5% NPAT margin and was in line with our expectations, adding that the company achieved its NPAT target.

Order book, pipeline, and project activity

The board declared afor the half year. Management described the payout as a return to its traditional dividend approach and said it was supported by strong cash flow at the half.

Lycopodium reiterated its positioning as a project-focused business that aims to participate across the full lifecycle of client projectsstarting with scoping and feasibility work and extending through engineering, delivery, and later-stage optimization and expansion.

Management said the group is maintaining a high workload, with:

Committed contracts valued at AUD 415 million , up from the prior period

valued at , up from the prior period A revenue opportunity pipeline of AUD 1.3 billion, also up from the prior period

Operationally, Lycopodium highlighted several recently awarded front-end engineering and design (FEED) assignments that it expects will position the company for later execution phases. Examples cited included:

Winu Copper Project for Rio Tinto

Asutlo Divibango Gold Project for Devon Mining

Doropo Gold Project for Resolute

Pilgangoora plant expansion lithium project in Western Australia

The company also said it has started initial work on two material prospects: the Tulikangi Gold Project and the Blackwater Expansion Phase 1A project for Atlas Gold. Management noted it hopes to transition into a larger Blackwater expansion scope and said it was awaiting news that it believed may be imminent.

Project timing shifts impact forecasts

Management said a shift to the right in project timingparticularly on Tulikangi and Blackwaterhad moved expected start timing by roughly three to four months compared with prior forecasts and had impacted financials and projections.

On the Q&A, management emphasized that while Lycopodium can influence project readiness by delivering high-quality study work, it does not control when projects receive funding, permitting, and final approvals. The company described these factors as key drivers of schedule slippage.

When asked whether the delays had created incremental costs, management said the impact is primarily seen through personnel utilization. Lower utilization can erode profitability if staff are carried ahead of work commencing, although the company noted it was still running above its target utilization overall in the period discussed.

Utilization, hiring, and capacity expansion

Lycopodium said it continues to invest in people and capacity amid competitive labor markets in key hubs, including Australia, Canada, and South Africa. Management described a global shortage of high-quality, experienced personnel and said the company made a deliberate choice to maintain capacity rather than reduce headcount during softer utilization periods, particularly in Cape Town.

Management said utilization was reasonably high in the first quarter of the financial year and softened in the second quarter. It said APAC and the Americas were running at fairly high utilization levels, while Africa, the process industries business in China, and Saxum were lower. The company expects utilization to increase through the second half (Q3 and Q4) and said forecasts point to improving utilization into FY2027 as well, alongside higher headcount over time.

The company also said it has planned to increase capacity over a 12-month period in several locations, including Perth, Toronto, Cape Town, Lima, and Manila, with management indicating these investments are intended to support both a strong second half and growth in subsequent financial years.

Guidance revised; Americas strategy and Saxum update

Lycopodium revised full-year guidance primarily due to the shift right of major prospects expected to contribute materially. The company now guides to:

Group revenue of AUD 370 million to AUD 410 million

of EBIT of AUD 37 million to AUD 41 million

Management said this remains in line with its targeted EBIT expectation of around 10% and added it expects a strong second half to achieve the updated range.

On geographic expansion, management said Europe is not a focus due to limited mineral activity, but the Middle East remains on its radar. Lycopodium noted it is currently working on a project in Oman and has established an entity in Dubai that could be activated if opportunities warrant.

Management also discussed its Americas expansion and provided an update on Saxum, saying Saxums standalone performance has been slower than hoped, particularly due to softness in its traditional cement market. However, management reiterated that the strategic rationale for acquiring Saxum was to establish a beachhead in Latin America and access new clients and opportunities. As examples, it cited Saxum securing a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for Unico Silver in Argentina and said the group is pursuing a large copper concentrator opportunity in Argentina enabled by its presence in the region.

In closing remarks, management said it remains happy with business performance and described the balance sheet as strong, while acknowledging that project timing remains a recurring variable in the companys operating environment.

About Lycopodium (ASX:LYL)

Lycopodium Limited provides engineering and project delivery services in the resources, infrastructure, and industrial processes sectors. It operates through four segments: Mineral, Process Industries, Project Services-Africa, and Others. The company provides engineering and related services to junior exploration companies, multinational producers, and manufacturing and renewable energy facilities; project management, construction management, and commissioning services to the extractive mining industry; and asset management, engineering, architectural, and project delivery services to a range of private and public clients.

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Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT  Get Free Report) VP Mark Bamford sold 9,533 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.68, for a total value of $940,716.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 17,072 shares in the company, valued at $1,684,664.96. The trade was a 35.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Textron Price Performance

Textron stock traded up $0.59 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $100.29. 1,997,232 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,046,651. The company has a market cap of $17.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.63, a PEG ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.99. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $91.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of $85.13. Textron Inc. has a 12-month low of $57.70 and a 12-month high of $101.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49.

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Textron (NYSE:TXT  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The aerospace company reported $1.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.74 by ($0.01). Textron had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 14.63%. The company had revenue of $4.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.34 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 15.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Textron has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.400-6.600 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Textron Inc. will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on TXT. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Textron in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup decreased their price target on Textron from $107.00 to $97.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Morgan Stanley set a $92.00 target price on shares of Textron in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Textron from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Susquehanna reiterated a positive rating and issued a $110.00 price objective on shares of Textron in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $97.20.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TXT

Institutional Trading of Textron

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TXT. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Textron by 13.3% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 14,522 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,049,000 after acquiring an additional 1,709 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in shares of Textron by 6.3% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 21,397 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,546,000 after acquiring an additional 1,265 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth increased its stake in Textron by 18.0% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 4,814 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $348,000 after acquiring an additional 735 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Textron in the 2nd quarter valued at $453,000. Finally, MGO One Seven LLC bought a new stake in shares of Textron in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $215,000. 86.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Textron

(Get Free Report)

Textron Inc is a global, multi-industry manufacturing company headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. The company designs, manufactures and services a diverse range of products for the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. Textron operates through four primary business segmentsTextron Aviation, Bell, Textron Systems and Industrialeach of which serves customers around the world.

Textron Aviation is known for its Cessna and Beechcraft branded business jets and turboprop aircraft, offering models that range from light jets and turboprops to larger cabin aircraft designed for corporate and charter use.

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M&G PLC trimmed its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP  Free Report) (TSE:CP) by 84.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 30,143 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 161,560 shares during the quarter. M&G PLCs holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $2,252,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of CP. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Caldwell Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 205.5% in the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 498 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 335 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, SJS Investment Consulting Inc. purchased a new stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.20% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

CP has been the topic of several analyst reports. Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Barclays set a $93.00 price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Sunday. Susquehanna set a $87.00 target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, National Bank Financial downgraded shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Canadian Pacific Kansas City currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $92.00.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Up 0.1%

CP stock opened at $83.85 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The companys 50-day moving average price is $75.18 and its 200 day moving average price is $74.51. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a 52 week low of $66.49 and a 52 week high of $85.15. The company has a market cap of $75.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.10.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP  Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The transportation company reported $0.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.99 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $2.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.85 billion. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a net margin of 27.49% and a return on equity of 8.88%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.29 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited will post 3.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 27th will be given a dividend of $0.228 per share. This represents a $0.91 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 27th. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys payout ratio is presently 20.43%.

About Canadian Pacific Kansas City

(Free Report)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is a North American Class I freight railroad formed through the combination of Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern. The merged company operates an integrated rail network that spans Canada, the United States and Mexico, providing a single-line rail connection across all three countries. This transborder footprint is intended to streamline cross-border freight flows and provide shippers with direct rail access from Canadian and U.S. production centers to Mexican markets and ports.

CPKCs core business is freight transportation and related logistics services.

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Huntsman (NYSE:HUN  Get Free Report) had its target price hoisted by research analysts at Mizuho from $8.00 to $9.00 in a research note issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an underperform rating on the basic materials companys stock. Mizuhos target price points to a potential downside of 26.89% from the stocks previous close.

HUN has been the subject of several other reports. Alembic Global Advisors set a $11.00 target price on shares of Huntsman in a report on Monday, October 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on shares of Huntsman from $10.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d) rating on shares of Huntsman in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Huntsman from $10.50 to $12.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, KeyCorp reiterated a sector weight rating on shares of Huntsman in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $11.09.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Huntsman

Huntsman Trading Down 6.8%

Shares of Huntsman stock opened at $12.31 on Wednesday. Huntsman has a 1-year low of $7.30 and a 1-year high of $18.53. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $11.41 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.14 billion, a PE ratio of -6.48 and a beta of 0.70.

Huntsman (NYSE:HUN  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The basic materials company reported ($0.37) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.29) by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $1.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.34 billion. Huntsman had a negative return on equity of 3.26% and a negative net margin of 5.69%.Huntsmans revenue for the quarter was down 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.25) earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Huntsman will post 0.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Huntsman

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Strategic Advocates LLC purchased a new position in shares of Huntsman in the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. bought a new stake in Huntsman during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in Huntsman by 104.9% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,935 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 2,015 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in Huntsman by 197.6% during the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 3,661 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 2,431 shares during the period. Finally, Strengthening Families & Communities LLC lifted its stake in shares of Huntsman by 2,182.0% in the 3rd quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 4,313 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 4,124 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.81% of the companys stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Huntsman

Here are the key news stories impacting Huntsman this week:

About Huntsman

(Get Free Report)

Huntsman Corporation is a global manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals with headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas. Founded in 1970 by entrepreneur Jon Huntsman Sr., the company has grown through strategic acquisitions and organic expansion to establish a broad portfolio of products serving diverse end markets. Huntsman maintains a presence in more than 30 countries, operating manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East.

The company organizes its operations into several core business segments, including Polyurethanes, Performance Products, Advanced Materials, and Textile Effects.

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Mkango Resources Ltd. (LON:MKA  Get Free Report)s stock price traded down 1.8% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as GBX 54 and last traded at GBX 56. 1,491,925 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 15% from the average session volume of 1,297,041 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 57.

Mkango Resources Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of 194.43 million, a PE ratio of -12.20 and a beta of 2.17. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 52.03 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 48.12.

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About Mkango Resources

(Get Free Report)

Mkangos corporate strategy is to develop new sustainable primary and secondary sources of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium to supply accelerating demand from electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean technologies. This integrated Mine, Refine, Recycle strategy differentiates Mkango from its peers, uniquely positioning the Company in the rare earths sector.

Mkango released a Feasibility Study for Songwe Hill, Malawi, in July 2022. Malawi is known as The Warm Heart of Africa, a stable democracy with existing road, rail and power infrastructure, and new infrastructure developments underway.

In parallel, Mkango recently announced that Mkango and Grupa Azoty PULAWY, Polands leading chemical company and the second largest manufacturer of nitrogen and compound fertilizers in the European Union, have agreed to work together towards development of a rare earth Separation Plant at Pulawy in Poland.

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Cibc World Market Inc. cut its stake in MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP  Free Report) by 59.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,611 shares of the companys stock after selling 15,525 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc.s holdings in MP Materials were worth $712,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MP. Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MP Materials by 420.0% in the 3rd quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 364 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management grew its stake in MP Materials by 181.3% during the 2nd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,010 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 651 shares during the last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust purchased a new position in MP Materials during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. lifted its stake in MP Materials by 4,600.0% in the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 564 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 552 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hilltop National Bank boosted its holdings in shares of MP Materials by 500.0% in the third quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 600 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 52.55% of the companys stock.

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MP Materials Stock Down 2.1%

Shares of MP Materials stock opened at $56.82 on Wednesday. MP Materials Corp. has a one year low of $18.64 and a one year high of $100.25. The company has a market cap of $10.07 billion, a P/E ratio of -80.03 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 7.51 and a current ratio of 8.05. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $59.66 and a two-hundred day moving average of $64.85.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of MP Materials from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $68.00 to $71.00 in a research report on Monday, November 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of MP Materials in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. They set a buy rating and a $77.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of MP Materials from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $75.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of MP Materials from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the company from $68.50 to $71.00 in a report on Friday, December 5th. Finally, William Blair started coverage on shares of MP Materials in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. They set an outperform rating for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $78.91.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on MP Materials

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Ryan Corbett sold 38,146 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total transaction of $2,288,760.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 156,666 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,399,960. This represents a 19.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO James H. Litinsky sold 272,600 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.17, for a total value of $17,492,742.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 12,805,965 shares of the companys stock, valued at $821,758,774.05. The trade was a 2.08% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 971,557 shares of company stock worth $61,630,802 in the last ninety days. 12.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About MP Materials

(Free Report)

MP Materials Corporation operates as a vertically integrated producer of rare earth materials in North America. The company owns and manages the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine and Processing Facility in California, the only commercially viable rare earth mining and processing site in the United States. MP Materials extracts, separates and refines critical rare earth elementssuch as neodymium, praseodymium, and ceriumwhich are essential inputs for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and various defense applications.

The Mountain Pass mine first began commercial rare earth production in the 1950s and was later operated by Molycorp until its bankruptcy in 2015.

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National Australia Bank Ltd. (OTCMKTS:NABZY  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $16.8970 and last traded at $16.8970, with a volume of 643 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.19.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on NABZY. Zacks Research upgraded National Australia Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Macquarie Infrastructure upgraded shares of National Australia Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of National Australia Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $38.00.

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National Australia Bank Stock Up 3.5%

National Australia Bank Company Profile

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.88, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.23. The companys 50 day moving average is $14.61 and its 200 day moving average is $14.14.

(Get Free Report)

National Australia Bank (OTCMKTS: NABZY) is one of Australias largest banking groups, offering a broad range of financial services to retail, small business, corporate and institutional customers. Its core activities include personal and business banking  such as deposits, home and business lending, credit cards and payment services  as well as wealth management, insurance, markets and specialist lending. The bank provides transaction and cash management solutions, financing and advisory services to corporate clients and institutional investors.

Headquartered in Melbourne, NAB traces its corporate origins to a 1982 merger between the National Bank of Australasia and the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, with precursor institutions dating to the 19th century.

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NEOS Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM  Free Report) by 65.1% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 55,392 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 21,851 shares during the period. NEOS Investment Management LLCs holdings in Howmet Aerospace were worth $10,870,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Global Trust Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 4,110 shares of the companys stock valued at $807,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 24.1% during the third quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 263 shares of the companys stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 52.0% during the third quarter. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC now owns 152 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 1.4% during the third quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 3,885 shares of the companys stock worth $762,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mystic Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 2.6% in the third quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,154 shares of the companys stock valued at $423,000 after buying an additional 55 shares during the period. 90.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $228.00 target price on shares of Howmet Aerospace in a report on Tuesday. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $275.00 price objective on shares of Howmet Aerospace in a report on Friday. Bank of America lifted their target price on Howmet Aerospace from $215.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 14th. Susquehanna increased their price target on Howmet Aerospace from $255.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on Howmet Aerospace from $255.00 to $283.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $246.47.

Howmet Aerospace Stock Performance

HWM opened at $251.96 on Wednesday. Howmet Aerospace Inc. has a 1-year low of $105.04 and a 1-year high of $256.70. The company has a market cap of $101.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.91, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.26. The companys fifty day moving average price is $214.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $199.00. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53.

Howmet Aerospace (NYSE:HWM  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.97 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $2.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.12 billion. Howmet Aerospace had a net margin of 18.27% and a return on equity of 30.41%. The firms revenue was up 14.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.77 EPS. Howmet Aerospace has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.090-1.110 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 4.350-4.550 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Howmet Aerospace Inc. will post 3.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Howmet Aerospace Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 25th. Investors of record on Friday, February 6th will be given a dividend of $0.12 per share. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 6th. Howmet Aerospaces dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.94%.

Howmet Aerospace Profile

(Free Report)

Howmet Aerospace Inc is an industrial technology company that designs, manufactures and repairs engineered metal products for the aerospace, transportation and industrial markets. Its product portfolio includes precision castings and forgings, engineered fasteners, seamless rolled rings, and complex components for turbine engines, airframes and industrial gas turbines. The company also provides aftermarket services such as component repair, overhaul and parts distribution to support the operating fleet of commercial and military customers.

Howmet serves a global customer base of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarket operators, with manufacturing, service and distribution facilities across North America, Europe and Asia.

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Fresh warnings from leading US travel bodies have put the spotlight on the impact a potential US government shutdown could have on airlines, hotels and the wider global travel industry.

Industry groups say repeated federal funding lapses risk disrupting air travel, weakening hotel demand and undermining confidence in one of the worlds largest tourism markets.

The joint statement, issued by major US travel and hospitality associations, urges Congress to avoid further shutdowns that could affect aviation operations and travel planning.

For international hotel operators and airline networks, the concern is not only domestic disruption but knock-on effects on global travel flows.

Shutdown risk and travel disruption

Travel leaders point to previous government shutdowns that forced thousands of federal employees, including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, to work without pay.

While essential aviation services continued, funding gaps created operational strain and uncertainty across the system.

Industry estimates from past shutdowns suggest billions of dollars in lost economic activity across travel, tourism and hospitality. Passenger volumes were affected as travellers reconsidered or delayed trips due to concerns over airport delays and security wait times.

For airlines, this can translate into schedule changes and weaker forward bookings. For hotels, it can mean reduced occupancy, particularly in major gateway cities and resort markets that rely on domestic and international visitors.

The risk of disruption is especially sensitive during peak travel periods. Business travel, conferences and leisure trips are often planned months in advance.

Any uncertainty linked to a US government shutdown can influence booking decisions, affecting revenue management strategies across airlines and hotel groups.

Pressure to protect aviation funding

Industry bodies are calling for legislative measures that would shield critical aviation functions from political funding disputes. Proposed bills in Congress aim to ensure that air traffic control and TSA operations remain financially stable even if broader federal budgets are delayed.

From a travel industry perspective, maintaining consistent funding for aviation infrastructure is central to operational reliability.

Airlines depend on fully staffed control towers and security checkpoints to run flight schedules efficiently. Hotels depend on reliable air connectivity to sustain occupancy rates and average daily room rates.

Travel executives argue that protecting aviation funding would help prevent service interruptions and preserve traveller confidence.
NEOS Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 48.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 199,009 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 64,870 shares during the quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $13,147,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of MO. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the second quarter worth $27,000. Country Trust Bank boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 400.0% during the 2nd quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 500 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 334.7% in the 2nd quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 539 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 415 shares during the period. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Altria Group by 634.5% during the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 639 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 552 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

MO has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup raised their price objective on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 30th. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $63.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Altria Group to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $63.67.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $66.54 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $60.77 and a 200-day moving average of $62.27. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $52.46 and a one year high of $68.60. The company has a market cap of $111.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.19, a P/E/G ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 0.47.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $5.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.02 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 287.61% and a net margin of 29.84%.Altria Groups quarterly revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.30 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 26th were paid a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 26th. Altria Groups payout ratio is presently 103.16%.

Altria Group announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, October 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $2.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 1.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Altria Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the companys operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altrias principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.

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Netwealth Group (ASX:NWL) reported record first-half FY2026 results, highlighting strong growth in funds under administration (FUA), net flows, and earnings, while also addressing a very challenging regulatory environment tied to the First Guardian collapse.

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Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Matt Heine said the company was particularly pleased to have settled the First Guardian matter late last year, providing clarity to impacted members and reaching agreement with regulators. Management emphasized that the financial numbers discussed on the call were adjusted to remove the impact of First Guardian-related compensation and one-off direct payments, and that this was the only adjustment made.

Record flows and FUA growth, strong start to the new year

Heine said the six months to the end of the calendar year delivered a record inflow period, with inflows of AUD 16.6 billion and net flows of AUD 8.2 billion. FUA increased 23.6% versus the prior corresponding period (PCP), and total income was AUD 193.8 million, up 24.7% PCP.

Heine also provided an update on momentum after the half, saying FUA as of February 16 stood at AUD 127.3 billion, with calendar year-to-date net flows of AUD 1.6 billion.

Chief Financial Officer Hayden Stockdale reported total FUA of AUD 125.6 billion for the half (up 24%), with custodial FUA inflows of AUD 16.4 billionalso described as a record half year. Stockdale said the growth pushed market share to 2%, up 100 basis points.

Income, EBITDA, and dividend details

Stockdale said FUA growth translated into total income of AUD 190 million and EBITDA of AUD 96.7 million, up 24%. The EBITDA margin was about 50%, and Stockdale noted the company recorded AUD 1.5 million in extraordinary income during the half; adjusting for that, EBITDA margin was 49.5%.

On capital returns, Stockdale said EPS rose 22.2% and the board declared an interim dividend of 21 cents per share, up 20% year over year, representing a 75% payout ratio. He also said the company was converting virtually every dollar of EBITDA to cash, which he described as a key quality hallmark.

Revenue mix diversification and pricing dynamics

Stockdale pointed to a broadening revenue base, with platform revenue of AUD 189 million, up 25.3% year over year. He detailed the mix, saying transaction income represented 13.7% of platform revenue, management fees were up 30% and represented 6.3% of the mix, ancillary fees grew 36.5% to 41.2% of the total, and admin fees accounted for just under 39%.

On pricing, he said Netwealth contained revenue margin compression to 0.3 basis points, with revenue margins of 31.1 basis points versus 31.4 a year ago. He attributed an uplift in cash marginsfrom 1.35% to 1.5% in Aprilto adding 1.3 basis points to revenue margin, and said a 1.1 basis point contraction in admin fees was virtually entirely due to market movement interacting with pricing tiers and caps, rather than competitive pricing pressure. He said revenue per account increased 10.3% year over year.

Expenses, reinvestment, and operating leverage

Operating expenses were AUD 97.1 million for the half, up 19.7%. Stockdale said Netwealth deliberately reinvested operating leverage back into the business, calling the added costs good costs tied to strategic decisions supporting future growth. He cited investment into delivery activities to support the broker opportunity and process improvements, as well as additional investment in product and technology. He also noted Netwealth hired just over 80 employees in the half, and made some additional sales and marketing investment late in the period that had not yet flowed through the profit and loss statement.

In Q&A, management reiterated that cost growth includes a variable component as revenue grows, and said higher-than-expected revenue led the company to bring forward some investments. Heine said headcount additions tied to the regulatory response were captured within the companys normal headcount growth and should not be viewed as a separate driver.

Product expansion, AI focus, and new addressable markets

Heine said growth is increasingly being supported by ancillary areas alongside core platform expansion. He highlighted:

Managed accounts: Growth of 32.3% during the period, following a rebuild of managed account infrastructure to improve scalability and add capabilities requested in the market.

Growth of 32.3% during the period, following a rebuild of managed account infrastructure to improve scalability and add capabilities requested in the market. FX and trading: The company has been investing in domestic and international trading, with international volumes up 40.8% over the period.

The company has been investing in domestic and international trading, with international volumes up 40.8% over the period. Cash functionality: Cash balances increased to 6.2%, which Heine said was supported by new features such as additional payment facilities and regular payments.

Heine also discussed artificial intelligence as an extension of Netwealths technology-first strategy, saying the company has implemented AI for years and sees recent advances as supportive of its direction. He said Netwealths Unify acquisition provides an advantage through a large data set and integration across the platform, which management believes positions the company well to deliver advisor efficiency and intelligence in a heavily regulated market.

On product strategy, Heine said Netwealth is focused on the affluent and high net worth advice segments, pointing to the continued enhancement of Wealth and Super Accelerator products. He also said the company is launching Netwealth Private and preparing to release a new individual HIN service, which is already in a soft launch onboarding phase. Management described the individual HIN initiative as targeting a market of around AUD 600 billion across 55 brokers, using a partnership with FinClear and offering flexibility for clients to trade and settle back to Netwealth or hold in their own HIN registry.

In Q&A, Heine said the platform margins for the broker/private wealth segment are expected to be consistent with other segments, while the incremental individual HIN cost is still being finalized and may vary by scale, with a range discussed of roughly AUD 300 to AUD 800 per account.

Heine also described industry dynamics as favorable, citing demographic tailwinds and rising retirement-related advice needs that extend beyond superannuation, which management believes will drive continued flow opportunities from industry funds toward retail platforms.

Regulatory response and outlook

Management said it is progressing changes to ensure investment options meet members best financial interest, with strengthened onboarding and monitoring processes aimed at avoiding further issues like those seen in Shield and First Guardian. The company said it is working collaboratively with an independent expert and described a raised compliance bar across the industry.

On guidance, Heine said Netwealth reiterated its FY2026 outlook: FUA net flows are not expected to differ materially from FY2025. The company also guided to an EBITDA margin (excluding First Guardian expenses) of approximately 49%, and said the FY2026 final dividend will be based on FY2026 earnings excluding First Guardian expenses.

Asked about early-year flow seasonality, management said January is typically softer due to Christmas and New Year timing and indicated results were tracking in line with, and slightly ahead of, last year at that point. Heine also said the company did not believe the First Guardian issue created long-term reputational damage, noting that momentum and customer wins continued through the period and that advisors understand their own role in fund selection.

About Netwealth Group (ASX:NWL)

Netwealth Group Limited, a financial services company, engages in the wealth management business in Australia. The company operates a platform that offers superannuation, including accumulation and retirement income products; investor directed portfolio services for self-managed superannuation and non-superannuation investments; managed accounts and funds, self-managed superannuation funds administration; and non-custodial administration and reporting services. It also provides investment wrap products; investment options, such as listed and international securities, managed account models, managed funds, term deposits, premium services, and investor rewards; insurance products; forms and disclosure documents; and resources and tools, as well as advisory, licensee, and private wealth solutions.

Further Reading
Northeast Investment Management cut its holdings in Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 95,156 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,231 shares during the period. Northeast Investment Managements holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $14,621,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLC raised its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 73.7% in the 3rd quarter. Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLC now owns 16,450 shares of the companys stock worth $2,528,000 after purchasing an additional 6,982 shares during the period. Beirne Wealth Consulting Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the third quarter worth about $545,000. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 5.0% in the third quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC now owns 164,277 shares of the companys stock worth $25,241,000 after buying an additional 7,762 shares during the period. NEOS Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 49.6% during the 3rd quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC now owns 282,705 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,438,000 after buying an additional 93,693 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Beacon Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 13.6% during the 3rd quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 13,241 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,035,000 after acquiring an additional 1,589 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 65.77% of the companys stock.

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Procter & Gamble Stock Performance

NYSE:PG opened at $159.40 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.51. The company has a market cap of $370.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.61, a PEG ratio of 5.32 and a beta of 0.38. Procter & Gamble Company has a 1 year low of $137.62 and a 1 year high of $179.99. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $147.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $150.53.

Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement

Procter & Gamble ( NYSE:PG Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The company reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $22.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.36 billion. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 32.21%. Procter & Gambles revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.88 earnings per share. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.090 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 23rd were given a dividend of $1.0568 per share. This represents a $4.23 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 23rd. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is currently 62.67%.

Insider Activity

In other Procter & Gamble news, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.00, for a total transaction of $1,264,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 6,571 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,038,218. The trade was a 54.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Chairman Jon R. Moeller sold 162,232 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.45, for a total value of $26,354,588.40. Following the sale, the chairman owned 319,385 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,884,093.25. This trade represents a 33.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders sold 341,260 shares of company stock worth $54,256,985. 0.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Procter & Gamble from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the company from $157.00 to $165.00 in a report on Friday, January 23rd. BNP Paribas Exane lowered their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $164.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Dbs Bank upgraded Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, TD Cowen cut Procter & Gamble from a buy rating to a hold rating and increased their target price for the stock from $150.00 to $156.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $168.33.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Procter & Gamble this week:

Procter & Gamble Company Profile

(Free Report)

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, P&G has grown into one of the worlds largest producers of branded consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of household and personal care products sold to consumers and retailers worldwide.

P&Gs product offering spans several core business categories, including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care.

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Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSE:NDM  Get Free Report) (NYSE:NAK) was down 35.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as C$1.52 and last traded at C$1.79. Approximately 2,325,568 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 53% from the average daily volume of 1,520,486 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$2.76.

Northern Dynasty Minerals Stock Down 37.3%

The business has a fifty day moving average of C$2.92 and a 200-day moving average of C$2.31. The stock has a market cap of C$955.88 million, a PE ratio of -11.53 and a beta of -0.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.33, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 3.93.

Northern Dynasty Minerals Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada. Northern Dynastys principal asset, owned through its wholly owned Alaska -based U.S. subsidiary, Pebble Limited Partnership, is a 100% interest in a contiguous block of 1,840 mineral claims in Southwest Alaska, including the Pebble deposit, located 200 miles from Anchorage and 125 miles from Bristol Bay. The Pebble Partnership is the proponent of the Pebble Project.

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Novo Resources (ASX:NVO) outlined a busy 2026 field season focused on advancing a mix of greenfields and more mature exploration assets across Western Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, with drilling activity in the Pilbara planned between April and September.

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In remarks delivered during a company presentation, management emphasized Novos identity as a discovery-driven explorer with a pipeline ranging from early-stage target generation through to drill-ready projects. The company noted that junior greenfields exploration has attracted less funding in recent years compared with brownfields work, positioning Novos strategy around building and progressing targets while remaining disciplined on spending.

Project pipeline and near-term focus

Novo described its portfolio as stacked toward earlier-stage greenfields opportunities in the Pilbara, while also highlighting a set of unloved but historically drilled projects that have produced encouraging past results. The company said its near-term efforts would be weighted to what it can achieve in the first half of the year, with a particular emphasis on Western Australia.

The company also pointed to newer assets in New South WalesJohn Bull and Tibooburraadded to the pipeline in late 2024 as advanced exploration targets. Management said both are drill-ready, with timing dependent on when Novo can mobilize resources to those areas.

Belltopper in Victoria: updated exploration target and drilling preparation

Novo highlighted progress at its 100%-owned Belltopper Gold Project in Victoria, contrasting its relatively small footprint (about 22 square kilometers) with the companys much larger land position in the Pilbara. Management said it has worked on Belltopper for nearly six years and views the asset as being located in a prolific gold region: the Bendigo Tectonic Zone, where more than 60 million ounces of gold have been produced historically.

The company said it recently released a new and updated exploration target for Belltopper, referencing a February 11 news release that details the methodology and supporting metrics. Management attributed the target to historical high-grade reef mining, noting the team has built accurate 3D models of old workings, mapped surface expressions, and assessed continuity along strike. Novo added that it has taken a conservative approach by incorporating eight reefs in its current system interpretation.

Looking ahead, Novo said it is developing diamond drilling targets and aims to advance toward drilling in the second half of the year, while noting that compliance and permitting processes in Victoria can move slowly.

Pilbara and Onslow: district-scale land position and multiple targets

In Western Australia, Novo described a large land position stretching across the Pilbara from near Port Hedland toward Karratha, with additional ground farther south near Wyloo and a separate district-scale effort near Onslow. At Toolunga, the company cited more than 1,500 square kilometers of ground and said it is waiting on tenement grants before executing planned field checking and field truthing of designed targets.

Management focused on several priority areas for 2026 activity:

Mallina Basin JV with Northern Star: Novo outlined a joint venture land package of nearly 2,500 square kilometers in the Mallina Basin, prospective for intrusion-related targets (similar in style to Hemi) as well as sediment-hosted/orogenic systems described as Withnell-type. The company said activity had been slower during the transition following Northern Stars takeover of De Grey, but that targets remain and could be drilled later in the year.

Novo outlined a joint venture land package of nearly 2,500 square kilometers in the Mallina Basin, prospective for intrusion-related targets (similar in style to Hemi) as well as sediment-hosted/orogenic systems described as Withnell-type. The company said activity had been slower during the transition following Northern Stars takeover of De Grey, but that targets remain and could be drilled later in the year. Teichman (Egina Gold Camp JV with the Creasy Group): Novo said it gained access last year to the northern part of the Egina Gold Camp, an approximately 80-kilometer corridor associated with major shear zones. The Teichman area lies within the Yandeyarra Reserve, where access has historically been challenging; Novo said it now has a working relationship with traditional owners and local station management that enabled field programs. The company reported spectacular results from initial work, including rock chip grades described as over three ounces of gold and an interval reported at Mountain Maid of more than 30 g/t gold. Novo also noted copper and silver flavor in the Northern Pride Trend and said these trends extend for more than 1 kilometer each and continue under cover. RC drilling is planned for the second half of the year.

Novo said it gained access last year to the northern part of the Egina Gold Camp, an approximately 80-kilometer corridor associated with major shear zones. The Teichman area lies within the Yandeyarra Reserve, where access has historically been challenging; Novo said it now has a working relationship with traditional owners and local station management that enabled field programs. The company reported spectacular results from initial work, including rock chip grades described as over three ounces of gold and an interval reported at Mountain Maid of more than 30 g/t gold. Novo also noted copper and silver flavor in the Northern Pride Trend and said these trends extend for more than 1 kilometer each and continue under cover. RC drilling is planned for the second half of the year. Balla Balla (Sholl Shear): Novo described this as a more conceptual target area tied to the Sholl Shear, which it said is known to be fertile for copper and gold in the broader Karratha district. Scout aircore drilling completed last year identified alteration at Ram Quarry along with low-level gold and associated pathfinder elements including bismuth, antimony, and silver. Novo said it plans infill drilling early this year.

Novo described this as a more conceptual target area tied to the Sholl Shear, which it said is known to be fertile for copper and gold in the broader Karratha district. Scout aircore drilling completed last year identified alteration at Ram Quarry along with low-level gold and associated pathfinder elements including bismuth, antimony, and silver. Novo said it plans infill drilling early this year. Wyloo antimony prospects: Novo called Wyloo a new find built from regional reconnaissance work in 2023, now featuring two prospectsWyloo Southwest and Wyloo Southeast. Management highlighted high antimony values in rock chips across the area. Wyloo Southeast was described as the most compelling target at present, featuring a vein array system with high-grade antimony and silver, some gold, and indications of copper-lead-zinc mineralization. The company said it needs drilling to better understand the system and has maiden drilling planned around April (Q2). Novo added that heritage clearance is complete and a survey is planned for March.

Work plan sequencing and financial snapshot

Novo summarized its planned sequencing as Pilbara drilling in the second quarter, moving to Teichman around mid-year, and returning to the Pilbara later in the year. In parallel, it hopes to conduct work at Tibooburra and/or John Bull when scheduling allows. Belltopper diamond drilling is expected to be advanced through the latter half of the year and could extend into 2027 to support the exploration target.

On the corporate side, management said the companys market capitalization is around A$50 million and that it ended December with approximately A$8 million in cash. Novo also referenced an additional portfolio it views as a war chest to draw on for future drilling campaigns.

In closing, the company reiterated that it believes it has a strong technical team, a diversified pipeline led by what it described as the creme de la creme of its prospect portfolio, and the funding support to execute planned drilling and exploration programs.

About Novo Resources (ASX:NVO)

Novo Resources Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in evaluating, acquiring, exploring, and developing natural resource properties in Canada, Australia, and the United States. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. It holds approximately 7,500 sq km of land in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, as well as interests in various projects located in Victoria, Australia. The company was formerly known as Galliard Resources Corp. and changed its name to Novo Resources Corp. in June 2011.

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Pallas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG  Free Report) during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 9,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $930,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Cardinal Point Capital Management ULC raised its stake in Dollar General by 5.0% during the third quarter. Cardinal Point Capital Management ULC now owns 2,120 shares of the companys stock worth $219,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Dollar General by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,955 shares of the companys stock valued at $202,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Dollar General by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC now owns 9,182 shares of the companys stock valued at $952,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. Stablepoint Partners LLC boosted its position in Dollar General by 0.6% in the second quarter. Stablepoint Partners LLC now owns 17,474 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,999,000 after buying an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedmont Private Capital boosted its position in Dollar General by 2.1% in the third quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 5,810 shares of the companys stock valued at $560,000 after buying an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.77% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DG has been the subject of a number of research reports. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Dollar General from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Dollar General from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Gordon Haskett boosted their price target on Dollar General from $170.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Wolfe Research upped their price objective on Dollar General from $141.00 to $159.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $168.00 target price on shares of Dollar General in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $144.44.

Dollar General Stock Down 2.7%

Shares of Dollar General stock opened at $149.70 on Wednesday. Dollar General Corporation has a one year low of $70.01 and a one year high of $155.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 0.24. The stocks 50-day moving average is $142.61 and its 200 day moving average is $119.29. The firm has a market cap of $32.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.85, a PEG ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.25.

Dollar General (NYSE:DG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.33. The business had revenue of $10.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.60 billion. Dollar General had a return on equity of 18.59% and a net margin of 3.03%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.89 earnings per share. Dollar General has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.300-6.500 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Dollar General Corporation will post 5.75 EPS for the current year.

Dollar General Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 20th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 6th were paid a dividend of $0.59 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 6th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.6%. Dollar Generals dividend payout ratio is currently 40.76%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Dollar General news, EVP Rhonda Taylor sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.89, for a total value of $1,011,675.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 73,492 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,913,335.88. This represents a 9.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Anita C. Elliott sold 2,516 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.52, for a total value of $333,420.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 29,344 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,888,666.88. This trade represents a 7.90% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 58,673 shares of company stock valued at $7,713,389. 0.56% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Dollar General Company Profile

(Free Report)

Dollar General Corporation is a U.S.-based variety and discount retailer operating a large network of small-format stores that serve primarily rural and suburban communities. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker DG and is headquartered in the Nashville/Goodlettsville, Tennessee area. Founded in 1939, Dollar General has grown from a regional operation into one of the nations prominent low-price retailers focused on convenience and value.

Dollar Generals stores offer a wide assortment of everyday consumables and household goods, including food and beverage items, cleaning supplies, health and beauty products, paper goods, apparel basics, seasonal merchandise and small household items.

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Pan African Resources PLC (LON:PAF  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 153.20 and last traded at GBX 149.40, with a volume of 11015219 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 145.80.

Analyst Ratings Changes

PAF has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their target price on Pan African Resources from GBX 135 to GBX 160 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 154 price objective on shares of Pan African Resources in a report on Monday, February 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 157.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on PAF

Pan African Resources Trading Up 3.1%

Pan African Resources Company Profile

The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.80. The company has a market capitalization of 3.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.95 and a beta of 0.89. The business has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 127.72 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 98.70.

(Get Free Report)

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PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGM  Free Report) by 73.3% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 137,061 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 57,973 shares during the quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.s holdings in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF were worth $17,263,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Avion Wealth raised its position in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 47.6% during the third quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 310 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF in the third quarter valued at $39,000. Clarity Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 445.7% in the 3rd quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 382 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 312 shares during the period.

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iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Stock Performance

Shares of IGM stock opened at $123.60 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $129.06 and its 200-day moving average is $126.53. The stock has a market cap of $8.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.08 and a beta of 1.27. iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF has a 52-week low of $76.26 and a 52-week high of $135.81.

iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Profile

iShares North American Tech ETF, formerly iShares S&P North American Technology Sector Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, of the United States-traded technology companies, as represented by the S&P North American Technology Sector Index (the Index). The Index has been developed as an equity benchmark for the United States-traded, technology-related stocks. The Fund generally invests at least 90% of its assets in securities of the Index and in depositary receipts representing securities of the Index.

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Principal Financial Group Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of OppFi Inc. (NYSE:OPFI  Free Report) by 29.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 168,784 shares of the companys stock after selling 69,171 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc.s holdings in OppFi were worth $1,912,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC raised its position in OppFi by 483.3% in the second quarter. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC now owns 82,712 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,157,000 after purchasing an additional 68,532 shares during the last quarter. Sierra Summit Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of OppFi in the second quarter valued at approximately $989,000. Sigma Planning Corp bought a new position in OppFi in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $537,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in OppFi during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $499,000. Finally, Globeflex Capital L P boosted its position in OppFi by 78.1% during the 2nd quarter. Globeflex Capital L P now owns 334,441 shares of the companys stock worth $4,679,000 after buying an additional 146,645 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 7.10% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on OPFI. Zacks Research cut shares of OppFi from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d+) rating on shares of OppFi in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, OppFi currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $13.67.

Insider Buying and Selling at OppFi

In related news, Director Jocelyn Moore sold 4,464 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.91, for a total transaction of $48,702.24. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 47,266 shares of the companys stock, valued at $515,672.06. This trade represents a 8.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 72.00% of the companys stock.

OppFi Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE OPFI opened at $9.01 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $778.10 million, a PE ratio of -12.01 and a beta of 1.71. OppFi Inc. has a twelve month low of $7.54 and a twelve month high of $15.03. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $10.09 and a 200 day simple moving average of $10.22.

OppFi Company Profile

(Free Report)

OppFi (NYSE: OPFI) is a financial technology company that provides digital lending and credit solutions designed to meet the needs of near-prime consumers in the United States. Through its technology-driven platform, OppFi offers unsecured installment loans under the OppLoans brand, allowing borrowers to access credit online or via mobile devices. The company leverages proprietary data analytics and machine learning models to assess credit risk, streamline underwriting processes and deliver personalized loan products with transparent terms.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, OppFi was founded in 2013 with a mission to increase financial inclusion for underserved and underbanked populations.

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Readystate Asset Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Bullish (NYSE:BLSH  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 25,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,590,000.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in BLSH. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA purchased a new position in Bullish during the 3rd quarter worth $92,824,000. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Bullish during the third quarter valued at about $91,782,000. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in Bullish in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,080,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in Bullish during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $10,423,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new position in Bullish during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $9,864,000.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have commented on BLSH. Rosenblatt Securities lowered their price target on Bullish from $52.00 to $39.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Bullish from $77.00 to $67.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d) rating on shares of Bullish in a report on Monday, December 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Bullish from a hold rating to a buy rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $52.00 to $51.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Bullish from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Sunday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $52.08.

Bullish Stock Performance

Shares of BLSH opened at $32.03 on Wednesday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $37.40. Bullish has a one year low of $24.79 and a one year high of $118.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 29.28 and a quick ratio of 27.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.68 billion and a PE ratio of 320.30.

Bullish (NYSE:BLSH  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported ($3.73) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.16 by ($3.89). The business had revenue of $92.50 million for the quarter. Bullish had a negative return on equity of 10.58% and a negative net margin of 0.95%.The firms revenue was up 67.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.37 earnings per share.

Key Stories Impacting Bullish

Here are the key news stories impacting Bullish this week:

Positive Sentiment: Analysts set a higher target  A published analyst note put a new price target of $52.08 on Bullish (BLSH) , signaling meaningful upside from recent trade levels and providing immediate bullish momentum for the stock. Article Title

Analysts set a higher target  A published analyst note put a new price target of $52.08 on , signaling meaningful upside from recent trade levels and providing immediate bullish momentum for the stock. Neutral Sentiment: Positive market/sector tone could spill over  A wave of bullish analyst calls and upbeat commentary across large-cap tech, energy, and AI-related names (including NVDA, CVX, GOOG, META, Shopify and others) has lifted risk appetite in the market; that backdrop can help BLSH trade higher as investors rotate into growth/crypto-adjacent or fintech names. Representative pieces: NVDA bullish take ( NVDA Article ), Chevron upgrade ( CVX Article ), and sector upgrade roundup ( Shopify Article ).

Positive market/sector tone could spill over  A wave of bullish analyst calls and upbeat commentary across large-cap tech, energy, and AI-related names (including NVDA, CVX, GOOG, META, Shopify and others) has lifted risk appetite in the market; that backdrop can help BLSH trade higher as investors rotate into growth/crypto-adjacent or fintech names. Representative pieces: NVDA bullish take ( ), Chevron upgrade ( ), and sector upgrade roundup ( ). Negative Sentiment: Recent earnings weakness remains a drag  Bullish reported a large EPS miss for the quarterly period (reported EPS -$3.73 vs. consensus $0.16), and the company showed a negative return on equity and net margin last quarter. Those fundamentals raise execution risk and can cap gains unless future quarters show meaningful improvement. (Quarterly details in company release and prior summary.)

Recent earnings weakness remains a drag  Bullish reported a large EPS miss for the quarterly period (reported EPS -$3.73 vs. consensus $0.16), and the company showed a negative return on equity and net margin last quarter. Those fundamentals raise execution risk and can cap gains unless future quarters show meaningful improvement. (Quarterly details in company release and prior summary.) Negative Sentiment: Technical/contextual headwinds  The share price sits below the 50-day moving average (~$37.40) and valuation metrics (very high P/E) imply sensitivity to earnings/growth revisions; that can increase volatility if analysts or the market reprice expectations.

About Bullish

(Free Report)

Bullish (NYSE: BLSH) is a company that develops and operates digital asset market infrastructure, including a cryptocurrency trading platform and related technology services. The firms stated activities focus on providing exchange services, market structure and trading technology designed to support the listing, execution and clearing of digital assets. Bullish positions itself as a bridge between traditional capital markets practices and the evolving cryptocurrency ecosystem.

The business was announced in connection with Block.one, the software developer known for its work on the EOS blockchain, and was formed with the intent of creating a regulated, institutional-grade marketplace for digital assets.

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This week's AI Impact Summit is the fourth annual international gathering to discuss how to govern the fast-evolving technology (Arun SANKAR)  Arun SANKAR/AFP/AFP

Google said it would build new subsea cables from India and chip titan Nvidia unveiled tie-ups with computing firms on Wednesday as tech giants rushed to announce deals and investments at a global AI conference in New Delhi.

This week's AI Impact Summit is the fourth annual gathering to discuss how to govern the fast-evolving technology -- and also an opportunity for India to raise its profile in the booming sector.

"India's going to have an extraordinary trajectory with AI and we want to be a partner," Google CEO Sundar Pichai told reporters as the US firm unveiled a plan to boost connectivity to the South Asian country.

New direct undersea connections from India to Singapore, South Africa and Australia will be constructed, it said, touting faster connections as demand for computing power, including AI, ramps up.

It is part of Google's $15 billion investment announced in October to construct its largest AI data centre hub outside the United States, in Visakhapatnam, a port city in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Also on Wednesday, the California-based Nvidia -- the world's most valuable company -- said it was teaming up with three Indian cloud computing providers to provide advanced processors for data centres that can train and run AI systems.

Dozens of world leaders and ministerial delegations are in New Delhi for the summit to discuss the opportunities and threats, from job losses to misinformation, that AI poses.

Last year India leapt to third place -- overtaking South Korea and Japan -- in an annual global ranking of AI competitiveness calculated by Stanford University researchers.

But despite its plans for large-scale infrastructure and grand ambitions for innovation, experts say the country has a long way to go before it can rival the United States and China.

- 'Power India's growth' -

The AI conference has brought a flurry of deals, with IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw saying Tuesday that India expects more than $200 billion in investments over the next two years, including roughly $90 billion already committed.

Mumbai cloud and data centre provider L&T said Wednesday it was teaming up with Nvidia to build what it touted as "India's largest gigawatt-scale AI factory".

"We are laying the foundation for world-class AI infrastructure that will power India's growth," said Nvidia boss Jensen Huang in a statement that did not put a figure on the investment.

Nvidia is also working with other Indian AI infrastructure players such as Yotta, which announced a $2 billion deal with the US company that will provide it with 20,000 top-end AI processors.
Readystate Asset Management LP lessened its holdings in Acco Brands Corporation (NYSE:ACCO  Free Report) by 14.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 927,332 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 161,382 shares during the period. Readystate Asset Management LP owned approximately 1.03% of Acco Brands worth $3,700,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of ACCO. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new position in Acco Brands during the first quarter worth about $127,000. Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in Acco Brands by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 460,514 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,930,000 after purchasing an additional 16,343 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC raised its position in Acco Brands by 38.1% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 30,714 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $110,000 after purchasing an additional 8,470 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its stake in Acco Brands by 89.9% during the second quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 97,803 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $350,000 after purchasing an additional 46,303 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Eagle Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Acco Brands by 20.0% in the 2nd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 863,769 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,092,000 after buying an additional 144,005 shares during the period. 84.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Acco Brands Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of Acco Brands stock opened at $4.12 on Wednesday. Acco Brands Corporation has a one year low of $3.20 and a one year high of $5.68. The company has a market cap of $370.91 million, a P/E ratio of 9.80, a PEG ratio of 0.39 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.68. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $3.90 and a two-hundred day moving average of $3.84.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on ACCO. Weiss Ratings raised Acco Brands from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Wall Street Zen raised Acco Brands from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $6.00.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Acco Brands

About Acco Brands

(Free Report)

Acco Brands Corporation is a global provider of branded office and school supplies, serving consumers, educational institutions and commercial customers. Headquartered in Lake Zurich, Illinois, the company designs, manufactures and distributes a wide range of products that enhance productivity and organization in work and learning environments.

The companys portfolio includes staplers, hole punches, binding and laminating systems, writing tools, binders, folders and desktop accessories under well-known names such as ACCO, Swingline, GBC, Kensington, Mead and Five Star.

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Readystate Asset Management LP reduced its holdings in Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG  Free Report) by 24.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 199,814 shares of the companys stock after selling 64,533 shares during the period. Readystate Asset Management LP owned approximately 0.15% of Leggett & Platt worth $1,774,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of LEG. Ingalls & Snyder LLC grew its position in shares of Leggett & Platt by 105.1% in the third quarter. Ingalls & Snyder LLC now owns 34,870 shares of the companys stock valued at $310,000 after purchasing an additional 17,870 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Leggett & Platt by 9.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,707,102 shares of the companys stock worth $166,119,000 after buying an additional 1,557,459 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in Leggett & Platt by 165.5% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 657,997 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,843,000 after buying an additional 410,171 shares in the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its holdings in Leggett & Platt by 14.6% in the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 527,935 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,688,000 after buying an additional 67,164 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund acquired a new stake in shares of Leggett & Platt in the 3rd quarter worth $607,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.23% of the companys stock.

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Leggett & Platt Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:LEG opened at $11.76 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.59 billion, a PE ratio of 6.96 and a beta of 0.72. Leggett & Platt, Incorporated has a 1 year low of $6.47 and a 1 year high of $13.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 2.25 and a quick ratio of 1.45. The firms 50-day moving average is $11.81 and its two-hundred day moving average is $10.24.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Leggett & Platt ( NYSE:LEG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.22. The firm had revenue of $938.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $938.74 million. Leggett & Platt had a net margin of 5.80% and a return on equity of 15.00%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.21 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Leggett & Platt, Incorporated will post 1.14 EPS for the current year.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on LEG shares. Zacks Research cut shares of Leggett & Platt from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $11.00 target price on shares of Leggett & Platt in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Leggett & Platt from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 7th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on Leggett & Platt from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their target price on Leggett & Platt from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $11.67.

Read Our Latest Report on Leggett & Platt

About Leggett & Platt

(Free Report)

Leggett & Platt, Inc is a diversified manufacturer specializing in the design, engineering and production of a wide range of engineered components and products. The companys offerings span several end markets, including residential bedding, commercial and residential furniture, automotive seating and interiors, aerospace applications and industrial products. By integrating product design with proprietary manufacturing processes, Leggett & Platt serves as a key supplier to both original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket distributors.

The companys core product lines include coil springs and support systems for mattresses and furniture, adjustable bed mechanisms, engineered components such as extruded and formed metal products, and specialty foam and bedding products.

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Rogers Corporation (NYSE:ROG  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 615,959 shares, a decrease of 18.0% from the January 15th total of 751,064 shares. Currently, 3.5% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 171,428 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.6 days. Based on an average daily volume of 171,428 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.6 days. Currently, 3.5% of the companys shares are sold short.

Institutional Trading of Rogers

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ROG. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in shares of Rogers by 15.7% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 4,276 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $288,000 after buying an additional 580 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Rogers by 121.3% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 8,376 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $566,000 after acquiring an additional 4,591 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in Rogers by 5.0% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 11,221 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $758,000 after acquiring an additional 536 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in Rogers by 4.9% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 51,135 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $3,453,000 after acquiring an additional 2,405 shares during the period. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Rogers during the first quarter valued at approximately $4,345,000. Institutional investors own 96.02% of the companys stock.

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Key Stories Impacting Rogers

Here are the key news stories impacting Rogers this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q4 beat  Rogers reported stronger-than-expected Q4 results with $0.89 EPS (vs. ~$0.60 est.) and revenue of $209.1M, driven by improved gross margins and execution. The company released detail in its press release and slide deck that investors used to re-rate near-term profitability. Read More.

Q4 beat  Rogers reported stronger-than-expected Q4 results with $0.89 EPS (vs. ~$0.60 est.) and revenue of $209.1M, driven by improved gross margins and execution. The company released detail in its press release and slide deck that investors used to re-rate near-term profitability. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Margin and cashflow improvement  Management highlighted cost improvement initiatives and stronger adjusted earnings and cash flow that are beginning to show through the P&L, supporting a more favorable margin outlook. Read More.

Margin and cashflow improvement  Management highlighted cost improvement initiatives and stronger adjusted earnings and cash flow that are beginning to show through the P&L, supporting a more favorable margin outlook. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Q1 targets + design wins  Management is targeting ~5% sales growth and a 530 bps EBITDA margin expansion in Q1 2026 and said it is accelerating design wins, signaling potential upside to future revenue and margin trajectory if wins convert. Read More.

Q1 targets + design wins  Management is targeting ~5% sales growth and a 530 bps EBITDA margin expansion in Q1 2026 and said it is accelerating design wins, signaling potential upside to future revenue and margin trajectory if wins convert. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: City news unrelated to the company  A separate story about a Whole Foods opening in Rogers (a city) is unrelated to Rogers Corporations business and should not affect ROG fundamentals. Read More.

City news unrelated to the company  A separate story about a Whole Foods opening in Rogers (a city) is unrelated to Rogers Corporations business and should not affect ROG fundamentals. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Mixed Q1 guidance  Rogers set Q1 2026 EPS guidance of $0.45$0.85 and revenue guidance of $193M$208M; the midpoint of EPS and the revenue range are slightly below consensus, introducing some near-term uncertainty about quarters where results could miss if demand or timing of design wins softens. Read More.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ROG has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Rogers from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th. B. Riley Financial increased their target price on Rogers from $127.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d) rating on shares of Rogers in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Rogers from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $109.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Rogers

Rogers Trading Up 3.9%

NYSE ROG traded up $4.07 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $107.20. 259,945 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 157,816. Rogers has a 12 month low of $51.43 and a 12 month high of $112.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.93 billion, a PE ratio of -29.53 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a 50 day moving average of $97.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $86.80.

Rogers (NYSE:ROG  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The electronics maker reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.29. Rogers had a negative net margin of 8.35% and a positive return on equity of 2.92%. The company had revenue of $209.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $196.50 million. Rogers has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.450-0.850 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Rogers will post 3.57 earnings per share for the current year.

About Rogers

(Get Free Report)

Rogers Corporation (NYSE: ROG) is a global technology and materials company specializing in the development and manufacture of engineered materials and components. The company designs and produces a broad portfolio of high-performance elastomeric, foam, silicone, adhesive and thermal management solutions, as well as advanced circuit board laminates. Its products are engineered to meet stringent requirements in areas such as electrical insulation, thermal performance and electromagnetic shielding.

Rogers serves a diverse range of end markets, including automotive, aerospace and defense, telecommunications, consumer electronics and industrial applications.

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Shell Asset Management Co. trimmed its position in Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI  Free Report) (TSE:AGI) by 51.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 13,900 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 14,600 shares during the period. Shell Asset Management Co.s holdings in Alamos Gold were worth $485,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Alamos Gold in the third quarter worth $35,000. Bessemer Group Inc. purchased a new position in Alamos Gold during the second quarter worth about $90,000. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ bought a new position in Alamos Gold in the 2nd quarter worth about $98,000. Employees Retirement System of Texas bought a new position in Alamos Gold in the 2nd quarter worth about $112,000. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Alamos Gold by 528.4% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 4,468 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $156,000 after acquiring an additional 3,757 shares in the last quarter. 64.33% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on AGI. Wall Street Zen lowered Alamos Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Alamos Gold in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. TD Securities reissued a buy rating on shares of Alamos Gold in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and set a $49.00 price objective on shares of Alamos Gold in a research report on Sunday, December 7th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Alamos Gold from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $45.50.

Alamos Gold Trading Down 4.3%

AGI stock opened at $43.31 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $18.18 billion, a PE ratio of 33.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a current ratio of 1.72. Alamos Gold Inc. has a one year low of $22.03 and a one year high of $46.66. The companys 50 day moving average price is $40.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $35.06.

Alamos Gold Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 4th were paid a $0.025 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 4th. This represents a $0.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.2%. Alamos Golds payout ratio is currently 7.81%.

Alamos Gold Profile

(Free Report)

Alamos Gold Inc is a Canadian-based intermediate gold producer engaged in the exploration, development and operation of mining projects in North America. Its principal activities include the acquisition, exploration and development of gold-bearing properties, and the management of operating mines. The company focuses on sustainable production practices and maintains a portfolio that spans both producing assets and advanced-stage development projects.

Alamos Gold operates multiple open pit and underground mines, including the Young-Davidson and Island Gold mines in Ontario, Canada, and the Mulatos mine in Sonora, Mexico.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lifted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 13.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 76,886 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 9,035 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $20,049,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Corsicana & Co. bought a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 103.3% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 124 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the period. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the second quarter worth $31,000. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 341.9% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 137 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 106 shares during the period. Finally, MTM Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 70.5% in the third quarter. MTM Investment Management LLC now owns 162 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.77% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on ITW shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $275.00 to $310.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a sell rating and set a $253.00 price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Wolfe Research dropped their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $278.00 to $276.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and five have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $272.92.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Down 0.8%

NYSE:ITW opened at $297.27 on Wednesday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $263.55 and its 200-day simple moving average is $257.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.21. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $214.66 and a fifty-two week high of $303.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $86.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.34, a P/E/G ratio of 16.05 and a beta of 1.15.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The industrial products company reported $2.72 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.69 by $0.03. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.11% and a return on equity of 95.16%. The company had revenue of $4.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.07 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.54 earnings per share. Illinois Tool Workss revenue for the quarter was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Illinois Tool Works has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.000-11.400 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a $1.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $6.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 61.39%.

Insider Transactions at Illinois Tool Works

In other Illinois Tool Works news, EVP Axel Beck sold 4,223 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.22, for a total transaction of $1,225,599.06. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 5,789 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,680,083.58. The trade was a 42.18% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Ernest Scott Santi sold 167,345 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.93, for a total transaction of $48,685,680.85. Following the transaction, the director owned 258,766 shares in the company, valued at $75,282,792.38. The trade was a 39.27% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc (ITW) is a diversified industrial manufacturer that designs and produces a broad array of engineered products, consumables and related service solutions for industrial customers. Its offerings span engineered fastening systems, specialty components, industrial equipment, welding products, foodservice and packaging equipment, adhesives and polymer products, and test-and-measurement technologies. These products are used as critical inputs by customers across automotive, construction, electronics, foodservice, maintenance and other industrial end markets.

The company operates a decentralized business model in which independently managed businesses focus on niche product lines and close customer relationships.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lessened its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP  Free Report) by 5.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 118,377 shares of the railroad operators stock after selling 7,326 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Union Pacific were worth $27,981,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Summitry LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. Summitry LLC now owns 6,380 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $1,508,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Atticus Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 30.7% during the third quarter. Atticus Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,370 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $324,000 after purchasing an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 13.5% in the 3rd quarter. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC now owns 2,048 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $486,000 after purchasing an additional 244 shares in the last quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 208,469 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $49,276,000 after purchasing an additional 5,572 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Taylor Hoffman Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Taylor Hoffman Capital Management LLC now owns 19,760 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $4,671,000 after buying an additional 308 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on UNP. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $267.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. BMO Capital Markets set a $255.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $270.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Barclays reissued an overweight rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up previously from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $258.32.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.8%

UNP opened at $262.64 on Wednesday. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $265.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $155.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.94, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.98. The companys 50 day moving average price is $237.56 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $229.22.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.91 EPS. Union Pacifics revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacifics payout ratio is 46.12%.

Union Pacific Profile

(Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacifics core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western twothirds of the United States.

Further Reading

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First Farmers Financial (OTCMKTS:FFMR  Get Free Report) declared that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Tuesday, February 17th, RTT News reports. The company plans to repurchase $4.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

First Farmers Financial Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:FFMR traded up $0.55 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $65.05. 100 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,850. First Farmers Financial has a 52-week low of $64.10 and a 52-week high of $68.00. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $66.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $66.41.

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About First Farmers Financial

Get Free Report)

First Farmers Financial Corporation is a bank holding company based in Hamilton, Indiana, serving the financial needs of rural and suburban communities across Central Indiana and Northwest Ohio. It operates through its primary subsidiary, First Farmers Bank & Trust, which provides a range of community banking and trust services designed to support individuals, families, businesses, and agricultural enterprises.

The companys core business activities include traditional deposit and lending services.

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Suncorp Group (ASX:SUN) reported a challenging first half, with management citing elevated natural hazard costs and investment market impacts as key drivers of weaker headline profitability versus the prior period. Speaking from the companys Sydney office, CEO Steve Johnston said the insurance industry faced a challenging half as it responded to extreme weather, but emphasized Suncorps focus on supporting customers as central to long-term value creation.

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Profitability pressured by natural hazards and investment impacts

Suncorp reported group net profit and cash earnings of AUD 270 million, which Johnston said were well down on the prior period. The result reflected a net natural hazard cost of AUD 1.32 billion for the half, which was above the companys allowance. CFO Jeremy Robson later quantified the overshoot at AUD 153 million above the allowance, describing it as the highest retention ever in a half and one of the most severe halves this century, with hail being the dominant driver.

Investment income was also lower. Robson said income ofwas impacted by negative mark-to-market movements in the bond portfolio, while noting that the higher yield environment provides a positive tailwind going forward, with an exit yield of nearly 5%.

Management also pointed out the prior period result included income related to the sale of Suncorp Bank (referenced as AUD 252 million), affecting comparability.

Premium growth led by consumer; commercial more mixed

On operating performance, management highlighted continued momentum in the consumer portfolio. Johnston said consumer business growth remained at the top end of guidance, with an underlying insurance trading result (ITR) in the top half of the companys 10%-12% target range at 11.7%. Robson said underlying insurance performance was up 6%.

Across the group, Johnston said premium growth was 2.7%, driven by both rate and unit growth. Key portfolio comments included:

Home written premium up 7% , with unit growth of 0.4% ; management said it continues to grow share in low and medium natural hazard risk segments.

written premium up , with unit growth of ; management said it continues to grow share in low and medium natural hazard risk segments. Motor portfolio up 5.8% , described as a satisfying outcome in a competitive market.

portfolio up , described as a satisfying outcome in a competitive market. Commercial contracted over the half, which management attributed to a softer market environment and heightened competition.

Robson said Suncorp expects acceleration in gross written premium growth in the second half due to pricing already implemented, and clarified full-year FY26 growth guidance as around the bottom of the mid-single digit range. In the Q&A, management confirmed that mid-single digits was 4%-6%, with bottom meaning 4%.

Weather events dominated claims; response capabilities highlighted

Suncorp reported it dealt with nine declared natural hazard events during the half, with hail accounting for approximately three-quarters of event-related claimsmore than AUD 700 million of hail losses, according to Johnston.

Johnston stressed that the financial impact understates the broader customer and community consequences and highlighted operational response initiatives, including use of the companys event management center in Brisbane, mobile disaster response teams visiting 27 affected communities, and a pop-up motor assessment site where more than 4,000 vehicles were assessed over two weeks to speed up repairs.

Robson said the company remains confident its natural hazard allowance is set at an appropriate level, noting that over an 11-year period the company would have cumulatively been below the allowance by over AUD 1 billion, even including this first-half outcome. For the second half, he said the allowance remains the best guide for expected experience, and management noted January experience was within the allowance.

Reinsurance, expenses, and capital management

Management said it continues to review reinsurance options as markets soften, with Robson stating the programs objectives are optimizing capital efficiency relative to volatility and maximizing long-term shareholder value. He said the current program provides robust protections including drop-down cover in the second half, with retention for further events limited to AUD 260 million, and lower for subsequent large events.

On expenses, Robson said total expenses grew 4% while the total expense ratio reduced further. He attributed expense growth mainly to investment in growth-related initiatives including the digital insurer policy administration system, AI investments, and increased marketing amid elevated competitor activity, while run-the-business expenses rose modestly as productivity improved and technology costs increased. The company reiterated an operating expense ratio expectation of approximately 25, with a higher proportion of expenses allocated to growth.

Suncorps capital position remained strong. The board declared an interim fully franked dividend of AUD 0.17 per share, with Robson citing a 68% payout ratioaround the midpoint of the companys 60%-80% target range. The company completed an AUD 168 million buyback over the half and said it expects to resume buybacks after the half-year results, reaffirming a target of AUD 400 million by FY2026. Management said the earlier pause was driven by timing and trading considerations around the half-year period rather than capital constraints.

Technology roadmap: Digital Insurer and AI programs

Johnston said Suncorps Digital Insurer platform modernization and AI initiatives remain on track. He noted the first release of the new policy administration system went live in April last year for new home and motor business and has begun delivering more automation. He said the next release, for the AAMI brands home and motor new business, is targeted around the middle of the year, with migration to follow.

On AI, Johnston said the company aims to be toward the front of the adoption curve and described agentic AI work shown in February, with initial deployments planned across claims. He said Suncorp sees material opportunities for AI to improve product design, customer processes, and reduce loss and expense ratios, while addressing affordability. Robson characterized AI as a net opportunity, particularly in claims management and manufacturing insurance products, while management also referenced ongoing work on risk settings and reskilling staff as AI is deployed.

About Suncorp Group (ASX:SUN)

Suncorp Group Limited provides insurance and banking products and services to retail, corporate, and commercial customers in Australia and New Zealand. The company operates through Consumer Insurance; Commercial and Personal Injury; and Suncorp New Zealand segments. The Consumer Insurance segment provides insurance products, including home and contents, motor, and boat insurance products. The Commercial and Personal Injury segment offers commercial motor, commercial property, marine, industrial special risks, public liability and professional indemnity, workers compensation, and compulsory third party products.

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Syon Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Canada ETF (NYSEARCA:EWC  Free Report) by 30.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 73,023 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 16,889 shares during the quarter. Syon Capital LLC owned about 0.11% of iShares MSCI Canada ETF worth $3,691,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Community Financial Services Group LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Community Financial Services Group LLC now owns 21,787 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,101,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. now owns 4,932 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $249,000 after buying an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 13.5% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,441 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $123,000 after acquiring an additional 290 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 6,918 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $346,000 after buying an additional 290 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealthfront Advisers LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 6.0% during the 3rd quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 5,288 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $267,000 after purchasing an additional 299 shares during the period.

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iShares MSCI Canada ETF Trading Down 0.6%

EWC stock opened at $55.86 on Wednesday. iShares MSCI Canada ETF has a twelve month low of $36.70 and a twelve month high of $57.40. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $54.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $51.69. The company has a market capitalization of $4.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.77 and a beta of 0.94.

iShares MSCI Canada ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI Canada ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Canadian market, as measured by the MSCI Canada Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Canadian equity market. It is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization.

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Tenaz Energy Corp. (TSE:TNZ  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$44.32 and last traded at C$43.90, with a volume of 26199 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$42.58.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, National Bank Financial increased their price target on shares of Tenaz Energy from C$52.00 to C$66.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of C$66.00.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on TNZ

Tenaz Energy Trading Up 6.7%

About Tenaz Energy

The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$31.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$26.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.56, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 2.77. The firm has a market cap of C$1.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.40 and a beta of 1.72.

(Get Free Report)

Tenaz Energy Corp. (TSX:TNZ) is a public energy company focused on the acquisition and sustainable development of international oil and gas assets capable of returning free cash flow to shareholders.Tenaz has domestic operations in Canada along with offshore gas assets in the Netherlands. The domestic operations consist of a semi-conventional oil project in the Rex member of the Upper Mannville group at Leduc-Woodbend in central Alberta. The Netherlands gas assets are located in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.

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The share price of Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL) surged by 53.76% between February 6 and February 13, 2026, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week.

Valaris (VAL) Soars Following Merger News with Transocean

Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL) provides offshore contract drilling services in Brazil, the United Kingdom, the US Gulf of Mexico, Australia, Angola, and internationally.

Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL) skyrocketed on February 10 following reports that Transocean had agreed to acquire the company in an all-stock deal valued at around $5.8 billion, creating an offshore drilling industry leader with a fleet of 73 rigs, including 33 ultra-deepwater drillships, 9 semisubmersibles, and 31 modern jackups.

Under the terms of the agreement, Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL) shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 15.235 common shares of Transocean stock for each Valaris share. The combined company will have an enterprise value of roughly $17 billion, with Valaris shareholders owning approximately 47% and the remaining 53% going to Transocean shareholders. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026.

Anton Dibowitz, CEO of Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL), commented:

By combining with Transocean, we will create a new industry leader for the benefit of our shareholders, customers and employees. We look forward to complementing Transoceans high-specification deepwater assets with our own, while returning world class jackup expertise to Transoceans business, creating a combined company that is capable of operating any rig at any water depth in any offshore environment around the world.

While we acknowledge the potential of VAL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 10 High Yield Utility Stocks to Buy in 2026 and 10 Best American Oil and Gas Stocks to Buy

Disclosure: None.
NEOS Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK  Free Report) by 13.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 81,207 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 9,908 shares during the period. NEOS Investment Management LLCs holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $8,848,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Westside Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 78.9% in the 2nd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 288 shares of the banks stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. purchased a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Caldwell Trust Co purchased a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon in the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 89.0% in the second quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 446 shares of the banks stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares during the period. Finally, Quaker Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 198.9% during the second quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 450 shares of the banks stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 905 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.31% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on BK. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $124.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $124.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Bank of New York Mellon from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b+) rating in a research note on Friday. Barclays boosted their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $120.00 to $143.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Truist Financial raised Bank of New York Mellon from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $119.00 to $134.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Bank of New York Mellon currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $131.92.

Bank of New York Mellon Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of Bank of New York Mellon stock opened at $118.82 on Wednesday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $119.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $111.35. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $70.46 and a fifty-two week high of $128.76. The firm has a market cap of $82.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.04, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81.

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The bank reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 13.62% and a return on equity of 14.37%. The company had revenue of $5.07 billion for the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation will post 6.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 23rd were given a $0.53 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.61%.

About Bank of New York Mellon

(Free Report)

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY Mellon) is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City that provides a wide range of asset servicing, custody, and related financial infrastructure solutions to institutional clients. Its core businesses include custody and asset servicing, clearing and collateral management, treasury services, securities lending, corporate trust services, and depositary receipt administration. The company also offers investment management and advisory services through its asset management arm and provides technology-enabled solutions for trade processing, foreign exchange, and liquidity management.

BNY Mellon serves a broad client base that includes asset managers, pension funds, corporations, banks, broker-dealers and sovereign entities.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ reduced its stake in The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW  Free Report) by 33.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 102,511 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 52,243 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Sherwin-Williams were worth $35,495,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in SHW. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the second quarter worth $1,296,565,000. Viking Global Investors LP increased its holdings in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 101.4% in the 2nd quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 1,957,750 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $672,213,000 after acquiring an additional 985,520 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 4,029.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 621,532 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $213,410,000 after acquiring an additional 606,482 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its position in Sherwin-Williams by 55.8% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 1,665,333 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $587,047,000 after purchasing an additional 596,657 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 22.3% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,039,306 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $1,043,595,000 after purchasing an additional 553,275 shares during the period. 77.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other Sherwin-Williams news, insider Colin M. Davie sold 2,976 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $359.50, for a total value of $1,069,872.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 5,365 shares in the company, valued at $1,928,717.50. The trade was a 35.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.60% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Mizuho lifted their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $400.00 to $410.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded Sherwin-Williams from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $380.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $378.00 to $385.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $410.00 price target on Sherwin-Williams and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Vertical Research raised shares of Sherwin-Williams from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $371.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $387.67.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams Trading Down 0.4%

Shares of NYSE SHW opened at $367.55 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a one year low of $308.84 and a one year high of $379.65. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $344.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $346.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $91.11 billion, a PE ratio of 35.79, a PEG ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 1.25.

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.16 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $5.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.57 billion. Sherwin-Williams had a net margin of 10.90% and a return on equity of 65.26%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.09 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sherwin-Williams Profile

(Free Report)

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) is a global manufacturer and distributor of paints, coatings and related products. Founded in 1866 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the company supplies a broad range of coatings for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Its product offering includes architectural paints and stains, industrial and protective coatings, automotive finishes, and a variety of sundry products such as primers, sealants and specialty treatments used by professionals and consumers.

The company sells through multiple channels, including a large network of company-operated retail paint stores that serve professional contractors and do-it-yourself consumers, as well as through distributors and mass retailers.

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UnitedHealth Group, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Intuitive Surgical, and Tempus AI are the five Healthcare stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Healthcare stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that operate in the medical and health-related industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, healthcare providers and services, insurers, and suppliers. Investors watch these stocks for potential growth from drug development and medical innovation as well as relative defensive qualities tied to stable demand, while recognizing they are sensitive to regulatory decisions, clinical trial outcomes, and reimbursement policies. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Healthcare stocks within the last several days.

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UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson is a holding company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of products in the healthcare field. It operates through the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension.

Read Our Latest Research Report on JNJ

Medtronic (MDT)

Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software.

Read Our Latest Research Report on MDT

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets products that enable physicians and healthcare providers to enhance the quality of and access to minimally invasive care in the United States and internationally. The company offers the da Vinci Surgical System that enables complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach; and Ion endoluminal system, which extends its commercial offerings beyond surgery into diagnostic procedures enabling minimally invasive biopsies in the lung.

Read Our Latest Research Report on ISRG

Tempus AI (TEM)

Tempus AI Inc. is a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence principally in healthcare. The company provides AI-enabled precision medicine solutions to physicians to deliver personalized patient care and in parallel facilitates discovery, development and delivery of optimal therapeutics.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TEM

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SCP Investment LP boosted its position in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO  Free Report) by 73.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,600 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,800 shares during the period. Valero Energy comprises 0.9% of SCP Investment LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. SCP Investment LPs holdings in Valero Energy were worth $1,124,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 70.2% during the 3rd quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 160 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in Valero Energy by 1,277.8% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 248 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates purchased a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. Cypress Capital Management LLC WY acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 145.3% in the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 211 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on VLO shares. UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Argus upgraded shares of Valero Energy to a hold rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Bank of America reiterated a neutral rating and set a $195.00 price target (down from $198.00) on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $190.00 to $212.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Valero Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $187.67.

Insider Transactions at Valero Energy

In other Valero Energy news, CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.02, for a total transaction of $1,728,540.66. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 134,196 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,352,787.92. This represents a 6.89% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

Valero Energy Trading Down 1.5%

NYSE VLO opened at $197.16 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day moving average is $180.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $168.47. Valero Energy Corporation has a one year low of $99.00 and a one year high of $206.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.60. The firm has a market cap of $60.14 billion, a PE ratio of 25.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.77.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The oil and gas company reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.27 by $0.55. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 12.34% and a net margin of 1.91%.The firm had revenue of $30.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $28.20 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.64 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 5th will be given a $1.20 dividend. This is a positive change from Valero Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 5th. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. Valero Energys payout ratio is 62.83%.

Valero Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Valero Energy Corporation is a San Antonio, Texasbased integrated downstream energy company that manufactures and markets transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and other industrial products. The companys operations focus on refining crude oil into finished fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as producing asphalt and other refined product streams for commercial and industrial customers.

In addition to refining, Valero has significant operations in renewable fuels, including the production of ethanol and other biofuels, and it manages an extensive logistics network of pipelines, terminals, rail and marine assets to move feedstocks and finished products.

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Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS  Free Report) by 1.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 137,347,438 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 1,990,426 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc.s holdings in UBS Group were worth $5,646,903,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in UBS Group during the third quarter worth $29,000. Private Trust Co. NA raised its position in shares of UBS Group by 75.2% in the 3rd quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 853 shares of the banks stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 366 shares in the last quarter. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of UBS Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC boosted its position in shares of UBS Group by 2,566.7% during the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 1,120 shares of the banks stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 1,078 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. bought a new stake in shares of UBS Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $46,000.

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Trending Headlines about UBS Group

Here are the key news stories impacting UBS Group this week:

Positive Sentiment: Brokerages rate UBS a Moderate Buy, reinforcing investor confidence in the banks outlook and helping underpin the stocks move higher. Article Title

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UBS research drove a high-profile upgrade of Southwest Airlines to Buy, illustrating the strength and market impact of UBS equity research desk (this bolsters fee/research credibility but is not a direct earnings driver for UBS). Neutral Sentiment: UBS upgraded Rivian after a large share rally but flagged limited upside, showing UBS is actively repositioning coverage after volatile movesagain positive for the brokerage franchise but mixed for near-term research alpha. Article Title

UBS upgraded Rivian after a large share rally but flagged limited upside, showing UBS is actively repositioning coverage after volatile movesagain positive for the brokerage franchise but mixed for near-term research alpha. Neutral Sentiment: UBS retained and adjusted ratings on several regional banks (Western Alliance, SouthState, East West), highlighting steady research activity across financials that supports recurring research/IB revenues. Western Alliance article SouthState article East West article

UBS retained and adjusted ratings on several regional banks (Western Alliance, SouthState, East West), highlighting steady research activity across financials that supports recurring research/IB revenues. Neutral Sentiment: UBS equities leadership signaled increased caution on U.S. tech capex-to-profit conversion, driving industry commentary and showing UBS taking a more cautious stance on growth tech  notable for markets but mixed for UBS own earnings. Article Title

UBS equities leadership signaled increased caution on U.S. tech capex-to-profit conversion, driving industry commentary and showing UBS taking a more cautious stance on growth tech  notable for markets but mixed for UBS own earnings. Negative Sentiment: A three-person UBS advisory team managing roughly $480M in client AUM left to join Wells Fargo, a near-term hit to wealth-management AUM and potential revenue if more advisor departures follow. Article Title

A three-person UBS advisory team managing roughly $480M in client AUM left to join Wells Fargo, a near-term hit to wealth-management AUM and potential revenue if more advisor departures follow. Negative Sentiment: UKs Financial Times reports a court ordered UBS to give Credit Suisse shareholders access to valuation documents  this increases legal/disclosure risk and keeps potential liabilities and reputational issues in focus. Article Title

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on UBS shares. Zacks Research lowered UBS Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of UBS Group in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Wall Street Zen raised shares of UBS Group from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of UBS Group in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an underweight rating on shares of UBS Group in a research report on Monday, November 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UBS Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.30.

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UBS Group Stock Up 0.7%

UBS Group stock opened at $42.28 on Wednesday. UBS Group AG has a fifty-two week low of $25.75 and a fifty-two week high of $49.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.63, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.02. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $45.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.79. The stock has a market cap of $132.08 billion, a PE ratio of 17.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 1.12.

UBS Group (NYSE:UBS  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The bank reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $12.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.88 billion. UBS Group had a return on equity of 8.68% and a net margin of 10.88%.The companys revenue was up 10.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.23 EPS. Research analysts predict that UBS Group AG will post 1.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UBS Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 23rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 22nd will be paid a $0.55 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 22nd.

UBS Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

UBS Group AG is a Swiss multinational financial services firm that provides a broad range of banking and capital markets services to private, institutional and corporate clients. Headquartered in Zurich, UBS operates as a universal bank with a primary focus on wealth management, asset management, investment banking and retail and commercial banking in Switzerland. The firm serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, pension funds, corporations and institutional investors through a global network of offices.

Key business activities include global wealth managementoffering financial planning, investment advisory, discretionary portfolio management and custody servicesalongside asset management products for institutional and retail investors.

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Walker River Resources Corp. (CVE:WRR  Get Free Report)s stock price shot up 24.7% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$0.48 and last traded at C$0.48. 513,540 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 474% from the average session volume of 89,526 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.39.

Walker River Resources Trading Up 24.7%

The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$0.30 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$0.26. The stock has a market cap of C$25.00 million, a P/E ratio of -48.00 and a beta of 1.75.

About Walker River Resources

(Get Free Report)

Walker River Resources Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the identification, acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of mineral properties in Canada. It holds 100% interests in the Lapon Canyon gold project with 147 claims, which covers an area of approximately 2940 acres located in Nevada. The company was formerly known as Rhino Exploration Inc and changed its name to Walker River Resources Corp. in March 2013. Walker River Resources Corp. was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC trimmed its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Free Report) by 13.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,653 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 2,849 shares during the quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $4,513,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of IWM. Quaker Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 211.1% during the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 120 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares during the period. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Pingora Partners LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Beacon Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Pineridge Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 93.9% during the 2nd quarter. Pineridge Advisors LLC now owns 190 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Up 0.0%

NYSEARCA:IWM opened at $263.04 on Wednesday. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 12-month low of $171.73 and a 12-month high of $271.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $74.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.69 and a beta of 1.13. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $258.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $246.08.

iShares Russell 2000 ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index.

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Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (NYSE:WFG  Free Report) by 226.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 32,112 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 22,283 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc.s holdings in West Fraser Timber were worth $2,183,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its holdings in shares of West Fraser Timber by 31,861.9% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 896,852 shares of the companys stock worth $60,968,000 after buying an additional 894,046 shares during the last quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in West Fraser Timber by 91.6% in the third quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 1,671,846 shares of the companys stock valued at $113,656,000 after acquiring an additional 799,422 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in West Fraser Timber in the second quarter worth approximately $56,870,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake in West Fraser Timber by 407.6% during the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 907,620 shares of the companys stock worth $66,599,000 after acquiring an additional 728,830 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lightrock Netherlands B.V. increased its stake in West Fraser Timber by 1,075.2% during the second quarter. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. now owns 259,303 shares of the companys stock worth $19,007,000 after acquiring an additional 237,239 shares during the last quarter. 40.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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West Fraser Timber Stock Down 1.6%

Shares of WFG opened at $72.41 on Wednesday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $66.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $67.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 2.13. West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. has a 1 year low of $57.34 and a 1 year high of $81.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.50 billion, a PE ratio of -5.94 and a beta of 1.12.

West Fraser Timber Dividend Announcement

West Fraser Timber ( NYSE:WFG Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported ($2.42) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($2.71) by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $1.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.18 billion. West Fraser Timber had a negative net margin of 17.15% and a negative return on equity of 5.69%. Analysts forecast that West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. will post 4.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. West Fraser Timbers dividend payout ratio is currently -10.51%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Raymond James Financial raised West Fraser Timber from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating and set a $75.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d) rating on shares of West Fraser Timber in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. TD Securities lowered their target price on shares of West Fraser Timber from $90.00 to $88.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Zacks Research cut shares of West Fraser Timber from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Finally, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce downgraded shares of West Fraser Timber from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $82.67.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WFG

West Fraser Timber Company Profile

(Free Report)

West Fraser Timber Co Ltd. (NYSE: WFG) is a leading North American diversified wood products company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company operates a broad portfolio of manufacturing facilities that produce lumber, engineered wood products such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL), oriented strand board (OSB) and plywood, as well as medium density fibreboard (MDF), particleboard, pulp and paper. West Frasers integrated production model spans harvesting, milling and finishing, allowing it to serve a wide range of residential, commercial and industrial construction markets.

Founded in 1955 as West Fraser Mills, the company has grown through both organic investment and strategic acquisitions to become one of the largest lumber producers in the world.

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Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE  Free Report)  Equities researchers at Zacks Research reduced their Q1 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research note issued on Monday, February 16th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the real estate investment trust will post earnings of $1.74 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $1.85. Zacks Research has a Hold rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Alexandria Real Estate Equities current full-year earnings is $9.32 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Alexandria Real Estate Equities Q2 2026 earnings at $1.63 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $1.53 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $6.39 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $1.66 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $1.50 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $1.36 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $1.40 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $5.92 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $6.17 EPS.

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Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, January 26th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.15 by $0.01. Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a negative return on equity of 6.82% and a negative net margin of 47.23%.The business had revenue of $754.41 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $742.64 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.39 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.250-6.550 EPS.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on ARE. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $47.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $65.00 to $63.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their target price on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $46.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Evercore upped their price target on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Alexandria Real Estate Equities presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $65.73.

Get Our Latest Research Report on ARE

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Trading Up 3.8%

Shares of NYSE ARE opened at $54.48 on Wednesday. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has a 1-year low of $44.10 and a 1-year high of $105.14. The company has a 50-day moving average of $52.58 and a two-hundred day moving average of $64.37. The company has a market cap of $9.44 billion, a PE ratio of -6.45, a P/E/G ratio of 6.35 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a current ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Monday, December 8th that allows the company to buyback $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the real estate investment trust to reacquire up to 6.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st were issued a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.3%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 31st. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess dividend payout ratio is currently -34.12%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Chairman Joel S. Marcus bought 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $53.92 per share, for a total transaction of $1,348,000.00. Following the transaction, the chairman owned 562,724 shares of the companys stock, valued at $30,342,078.08. This represents a 4.65% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Sheila K. Mcgrath purchased 3,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 10th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $45.60 per share, for a total transaction of $141,360.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 8,392 shares in the company, valued at $382,675.20. This trade represents a 58.58% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 1.08% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alexandria Real Estate Equities

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 102.4% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 23,245 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,184,000 after buying an additional 11,762 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 4,261.1% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 3,140 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $290,000 after acquiring an additional 3,068 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 4.8% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 6,455 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $597,000 after acquiring an additional 296 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP increased its holdings in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 39.9% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 13,015 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,204,000 after acquiring an additional 3,714 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Focus Partners Wealth increased its holdings in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 171.5% in the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 6,591 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $610,000 after acquiring an additional 4,163 shares in the last quarter. 96.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc (NYSE: ARE) is a real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership, development and management of collaborative life science and technology campuses. The companys properties are designed to support research and innovation by providing specialized laboratory, office and manufacturing space tailored to biotechnology, pharmaceutical, academic and related industries.

Since its founding in 1994, Alexandria has cultivated a diversified portfolio of campuses across leading innovation clusters in North America and Europe.

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Zions Bancorporation National Association UT reduced its stake in shares of Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE:APO  Free Report) by 73.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 2,777 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 7,768 shares during the quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UTs holdings in Apollo Global Management were worth $370,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of APO. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Apollo Global Management during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp boosted its stake in shares of Apollo Global Management by 99.0% during the third quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 199 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the period. Sound Income Strategies LLC bought a new position in shares of Apollo Global Management in the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management by 1,123.5% in the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 208 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nemes Rush Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Apollo Global Management in the second quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors own 77.06% of the companys stock.

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Apollo Global Management Stock Performance

Shares of APO stock opened at $125.06 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $140.37 and its 200-day moving average price is $135.53. The stock has a market cap of $72.58 billion, a PE ratio of 22.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. Apollo Global Management Inc. has a 12 month low of $102.58 and a 12 month high of $164.22.

Apollo Global Management Dividend Announcement

Apollo Global Management ( NYSE:APO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The financial services provider reported $2.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.04 by $0.43. Apollo Global Management had a net margin of 10.90% and a return on equity of 15.25%. The company had revenue of $9.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.19 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.39 EPS. Apollo Global Managements revenue was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Apollo Global Management Inc. will post 8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 19th will be given a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 19th. Apollo Global Managements payout ratio is currently 36.96%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

APO has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Apollo Global Management from $186.00 to $182.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Barclays cut their target price on Apollo Global Management from $168.00 to $158.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $165.00 price target on shares of Apollo Global Management in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on Apollo Global Management from $162.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Apollo Global Management in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $164.79.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on APO

Insider Buying and Selling at Apollo Global Management

In other news, CFO Martin Kelly sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.41, for a total value of $788,460.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 325,604 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $42,787,621.64. This represents a 1.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 8.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

More Apollo Global Management News

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About Apollo Global Management

(Free Report)

Apollo Global Management, Inc (NYSE: APO) is a global alternative investment manager that specializes in private equity, credit and real assets. The firm originates, invests in and manages a broad set of strategies across distressed and opportunistic credit, direct lending, structured credit, buyouts and real estate. Apollo provides investment management and advisory services to institutional clients and individual investors through pooled funds, separate accounts and publicly listed investment vehicles.

Its private equity business pursues control and non-control investments across industries, often focusing on complex or distressed situations where operational improvement and capital solutions can create value.

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Valeo plans to invest more than 200m ($236.8m) in India to expand electrification, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and artificial intelligence (AI) engineering activities under its Elevate 2028 strategy.

The French automotive supplier plans to triple its local revenue to about 700m by 2028.

The company said the funding-about Rs21.49bn at current exchange rates-will enlarge its manufacturing and engineering presence in India to support domestic and export vehicle programmes.

In electrification, Valeo has started operations at a new facility and dedicated e-axle lines in Pune for a Mahindra & Mahindra electric vehicle project.

It will supply electric powertrain systems for models on Mahindras Born Electric passenger platform and on-board charger combo units for electric utility vehicles.

The supplier said the programme carries total orders approaching $1bn.

Valeo CEO Christophe Perillat said: India is a key pillar of Valeos global growth and innovation roadmap, and we are committed to significantly expanding our engineering centres and industrial footprint.

The pace of transformation in the Indian automotive sector is remarkable, driven by a strong focus on electrification, autonomous driving, and sustainable mobility.

For two- and three-wheelers, Valeo formed a three-party collaboration in 2024 with Atul Greentech and Honda Power Pack Energy India targeting electric three-wheelers, combining battery technology, compact powertrains and vehicle integration.

It is also rolling out a rare-earth-free magnet motor generator for small mobility applications.

In ADAS, Valeo is increasing the scope of its Chennai R&D centre in software development, AI-enabled engineering and validation for global electrification and ADAS projects.

At its Sanand plant in Gujarat, which manufactures ultrasonic sensors for Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), new camera production lines are scheduled to begin by mid-2026.

Valeo is also working with French tech group 2CRSi under a partnership set up in November 2025 to develop liquid-cooling solutions for edge data centres in India.

It includes immersion-cooled edge compute systems for outdoor and 5G infrastructure environments.

The company said its Chennai Group Technical Centre and a satellite site in Bangalore employ more than 3,300 engineers, with expanded in-house laboratory testing and validation capacity.

"Valeo to invest 200m in India under Elevate 2028 plan" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Animal rights activists are demanding accountability after a video showing a corrections officer fatally shooting a dog went viral over the weekend. The Bahamas Department of Correctional Services said the officer discharged his firearm after two dogs reportedly charged at trained K-9 units following a funeral service. One of the dogs later died from its injuries.

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Verallia Group is evaluating changes to its European operations in response to weakening demand for glass packaging.

The company is assessing possible site closures and production adjustments across Germany, France, and the UK.

In a statement, Verallia outlined several proposals.

In Germany, subdued demand in the region is leading the company to consider closing its Essen site, which could result in the loss of around 300 jobs. Production from Essen would be redistributed to facilities in Bad Wurzach, Neuburg, and Wirges if the closure proceeds.

In France, continued declines in cognac sales have led Verallia to propose shutting down an ageing furnace at its location in Chateaubernard.

This move could affect approximately 60 positions, though Verallia indicated that any job cuts would be managed through voluntary redundancies and pre-retirement plans.

The company is also reviewing its footprint in the UK, where there has been a downturn in the spirits sector.

Plans include closing a furnace at Knottingley while restarting a modernised furnace at Leeds. Redeployment options may be available for affected employees at these sites.

Verallia said that these proposals form part of its ongoing sustainability and investment strategy.

Employee representatives and unions are being consulted as part of the process.

Verallia says it will maintain discussions with staff and unions as it considers operational changes intended to bring production capacity in line with current market conditions.

Recently, Verallia UK initiated consultations on up to 40 redundancies across its Yorkshire sites. The GMB Union has linked part of this situation to the introduction of the Glass Packaging Tax.

"Verallia initiates review of European sites amid demand slowdown" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand.




Thanks to strong performance in 2025 and so far in 2026, emerging markets (EMs) are back on investors' radars. No longer are they just considered a high-risk, low-return investment. Investors looking for relative value, healthy growth prospects, and even some yield are considering emerging markets as a major opportunity.

There are several strong contenders if you're looking to add emerging markets to your portfolio. The top one may be the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEMKT: VWO). Its combination of diversified regional coverage and ultra-low fees make it an ideal choice for anyone looking to add exposure.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

Does this exchange-traded fund work better than the other major players? Let's break them down to see how similar or, more importantly, how different they are from each other.

Image source: Getty Images.

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF

This fund tracks an index that currently represents nearly two dozen countries and 6,000 stocks. The fund is, however, heavily concentrated in just three countries: China (32%), Taiwan (23%), and India (20%). That's fairly common among the big emerging markets ETFs, though, and shouldn't be considered a red flag. For pure diversification, there are few ETFs that do it better. It has an expense ratio of 0.06%.

There's one thing that investors should be aware of, because it affects what an emerging markets ETF could look like. The Vanguard ETF does not consider South Korea to be an emerging market. Depending upon the index or strategy used, some EM funds will include South Korea, so you need to dig into the details to see if yours does. The difference could be a 0% allocation to South Korea or a 15% allocation.

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEMKT: EEM) tracks an index that includes South Korea, so other country allocations here are proportionally lower. It also holds just 1,200 stocks. Diversification would appear to be less here, but the ones being excluded compared to the Vanguard ETF are small- and micro-cap stocks whose performance is largely inconsequential to fund returns.

This ETF charges an extraordinarily high 0.72% expense ratio, which should remove it from consideration for most retail investors.

iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

The iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEMKT: IEMG) follows a slightly different index from its iShares sister fund above, but exposure is substantially the same (it also includes South Korea).
Valued at a market cap of $30.1 billion, DTE Energy Company (DTE) is a diversified regulated utility holding company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. It primarily provides electricity and natural gas to customers in Michigan through its two regulated subsidiaries, DTE Electric and DTE Gas, while also operating a portfolio of non-utility energy businesses.

Shares of this utility company have outpaced the broader market over the past 52 weeks. DTE has surged 13.4% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has gained 11.8%. Moreover, on a YTD basis, the stock is up 12.4% compared to the SPXs marginal drop.

More News from Barchart

Zooming in further, DTE has trailed the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLU) 17.1% uptick over the past 52 weeks but has surpassed the ETFs 8.9% return in 2026.

www.barchart.com

On Feb. 5, DTE Energy announced a quarterly common-stock dividend of $1.165 per share, payable April 15, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 16. The declaration reaffirmed the utilitys stable cash-flow profile and ongoing commitment to shareholder returns, and the stock edged marginally higher following the announcement.

For FY2025 that ended in December, analysts expect DTEs EPS to grow 5.7% year over year to $7.22. The companys earnings surprise history is mixed. It topped the consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters, while missing in the previous quarter.

Among the 16 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy, which is based on seven Strong Buy, one Moderate Buy, and eight Hold ratings.

www.barchart.com

On Feb. 2, Morgan Stanley analyst David Arcaro reiterated an Overweight rating on DTE Energy and slightly raised the price target to $143 from $142, signaling continued confidence in the companys outlook.

DTEs mean price target of $148.04 implies a premium of 9.7% from the current market prices, and the Street-high of $158 indicates that the stock could soar by 14.8%.

On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
the eyes of a Cajun boy into old age

I remember back many years ago celebrating Mardi Gras, even before I knew what it meant. It was a special day for us south Louisiana Cajuns. Most communities had their own way of celebrating Fat Tuesday, the day before the Lenten season begins. Large communities like New Orleans and Lafayette held a carnival with hundreds of costumed children--clowns, ballerinas--large parades and fanfare. Few of us rural people ever witnessed or attended these festivals.

For country folk, Mardi Gras day began early in the morning with masked horseback riders going through the countryside collecting chickens for a big gumbo that would be enjoyed later in the day. It was a day filled with laughter, fun, pranks and a lot of mischief and games. Youngsters wore paper bag masks decorated with crayons.

The men always came on their finest horses and often left with the long hair on their horses tails cut off. The boys responsible also put red pepper on the dance floor. That drove all the dancers noses crazy. Hiding boys rolled with laughter. By then the adults were well juiced, mostly imbibing home brew. King cakes were unheard of.

While the gumbo was simmering, a made-up band struck up the music. I recall Mardi Gras at John Thibeaux's home place way out in the country. The gumbo was brewed on an open fire. The women did the chores while the men cut up with each other or played music. There was always an accordion, a fiddle, a harmonica and anything that made a rhythmic noise, scrub board, upside down tub, spoons--two of them upside down, slapping together on the knee and the free cupped hand. Thibeaux had a big room and all the furniture was moved outdoors leaving a makeshift dance floor.

The party lasted all day. The young played games, hide and seek and others. On most Saturday afternoons and evenings a dance, called a fais-do-do, was held, but this was bigger. The celebrating of this day was a Cajun tradition. School closed and business came to a halt and still does. Mardi Gras is instilled in the heart of every Cajun who ever took part.

Today many communities sponsor celebrations, and they're getting bigger and bigger. Orange, Beaumont and Galveston events are growing. Each year busloads of people leave Southeast Texas to celebrate Mardi Gras in Mamou and other Louisiana communities.

I recall the first Mardi Gras celebration I attended in New Orleans. I was amazed. A far cry from our simple country affair.

The day after Mardi Gras, the Lenten season begins. Lent is the Catholic season of fasting and penitence, and for 40-days we Catholic kids took part in many religious ceremonies beginning with Ash Wednesday, when the priest marked our foreheads with ashes as a symbol of repentance and continuing through Easter.

On Friday, school would let out an hour early and most of us walked the mile and a half to Mary Magdalene church in Abbeville for service. All the Catholic students walking two or three abreast. I never thought about it before but I don't know what non-Catholic students did. Went home probably. The Stations of the Cross, we called it the Way of the Cross, filled the church to capacity. Night services were held throughout Lent, a beautiful mass.

Cajuns are a fun-loving people, but they were extremely serious about their religion, no dancing, drinking or partying in any form during Lent was the order of the day, all 40 of them. Fridays were always meatless and we always gave up something for Lent and stuck to it. We also believed that if you dug in the ground on Good Friday, you would see Christ's blood, so we did not dig, not even for worms. It meant you didn't work on Good Friday.

Attending those old traditional Lent services always spiritually moved this Cajun kid. So strong, in fact, that I even considered the priesthood. (I can hear the laughter.) My Grandma Availa instilled in all of us a strong feeling for Christianity. Even though my life has taken me in many directions, down many winding roads, some not so good, one thing I never lost sight of is my belief in God. The Lenten season of many years ago are still deeply embedded in me.

I believe a person doesn't often get too far from their roots. Two things a Cajun kid was made to do were respect his elders and attend church. There's not enough of either today. The upbringing by tough disciplinarians often surfaced to make me right my course. It's a time long past that will never be again. Change has never come easy to me unless it's gradual.

As the years have come and gone, I'll soon be 92, the Mardi Gras season has taken on a whole new dimension. It's fun for all, with large parades and balls, trinkets, and beads and wonderful floats that take a year to assemble. It's great. And it's not just Catholics who enjoy and partake in the celebration. I'm astonished at really how far the simple fun day of my youth has come, now embraced and embracing so many.

Horseback raiders, a few "stolen" chickens, gumbo, Cajun music and home brew. Those old Cajun people would never believe it if they showed up for one of today's affairs, like the one in Orange Saturday before last.

One indelible Mardi Gras memory is of John Thibeaux's old mother who chewed tobacco. I hid under the house. She sat on the porch. As I crawled out, she spit a mouthful of fresh tobacco juice that landed squarely on the back of my neck. For years I was razzed about that.

Mardi Gras, it's come a long way all right. Even the spirit of the Lenten season is not what it used to be, but then nothing is.

It doesn't hurt to look back down Life's Highway every now and then and grab hold of your roots, smile and press on.

Back in the 1930's, Cajuns were looked down on, discriminated against, so most Cajuns in the 13 parishes stayed to themselves. As Cajuns moved to other areas, Port Arthur, etc., they brought their food customs and traditions with them. Today, I'm proud to see that the Cajun way has been adopted by many in the rest of the country. Acadians are no longer ashamed to admit their heritage and are now proud to say they are Cajun.

Ironically I didn't let the language barrier stop me. I've spent a lifetime as a writer, story teller and newspaper publisher. As a proud Cajun I dedicate this column to my Cajun friend Charlotte Harrington Anderson and those people who are not Cajun but would like to be.

CUTLINE FOR PHOTO

Three Cajun amigos who spent a lifetime promoting Cajun culture in Southeast Texas. Left to right: Roy Dunn, 91 years old and the only one left, A.J. Judice and W.T. Oliver now gone but have left their mark in our area.
Harold Granger can describe a Cajun Mardi Gras. "You might get a chicken in your face," he said.

Granger is one of more than 100 people from Orange County taking chartered buses Tuesday on a trip for the authentic Cajun Mardi Gras in Iota and Eunice, Louisiana. The Acadiana Mardi Gras is based on medieval French tradition and includes chasing a live chicken for a communal meal, which means gumbo in Louisiana.

Courir de Mardi Gras translates into Run of Fat Tuesday, with people chasing the live chicken, or sometimes, more.

Last year, Granger got a live chicken in his face while watching the parade in Eunice. He wasn't injured. No word on the chicken.

The group travel is a fundraiser to benefit the Shriners hospitals and has grown over 22 years from one commercial-sized bus to four this year.

Dayle Foreman of Bridge City, Granger's significant other, said local Shriners Pierre Delafosse and retired State District Judge David Dunn organized the bus trip 22 years ago. The charge per person includes the bus trip, plus alcoholic and soft drinks on the bus. The profit goes to the Shriners.

For the past few years, the Shriners organizing the trip has also taken up a collection for Angel Hearts, a local charity started by Dorothy Stanley to help children in the foster care system get birthday gifts, help with clothing, and extra things to make them feel special.

Foreman has been on all the trips and supports the Shriners all the time. Last year for her 85th birthday, she raised nearly $10,000 for the group. And she's raised thousands of more dollars for them through the years.

"If it wasn't for the Shriners, I wouldn't have my face," she said.

Foreman was in an industrial accident more than 40 years and was burned. Her whole face had third degree burns. The Shriners have a burn center for children in Galveston next to the UTMB, where she was first taken. She was sent to the Shriners hospital for their expertise, which included making three different custom masks to cover her healing face.

She has spent the years since with a special joy of life that includes dancing in high heels at age 85 and loving Mardi Gras parties.

The Pierre and Peggy Delafosse, Judge Dunn and his wife, were on the trip this year along with Shriners Jerry Pennington and wife, Susan, and Kenneth Weaver and wife, Beth.

Travelers also included last year's Mardi Gras on the Sabine King and Queen Robert and Cheryl Sharpton Stalnaker, plus Carl and Michaela Thibodeaux.

Foreman said the trip went years with only one bus, but as word spread, the group chartered three buses. Last year, another one was added, making three.

This year, the St. Mary Catholic High Class of 1966 wanted to go. Foreman told them they would need at least 35 people to charter a fourth bus. After word spread around their church, they got enough people to fill the fourth bus.

Foreman comes right out and says "it's a party bus" about the Mardi Gras transportation. On Sunday, the organizers produced enough Bloody Mary mix to make 16 gallons of the drink. They put in some spicy pickled okra and pickled green beans for extra zip.

People brought food and snacks for the trip, but saved room to buy in the Acadiana towns where festivals and street vendors have lots of authentic regional cuisine.

The buses left the Lutcher Theater's parking lot, where the Mardi Gras trippers are allowed to park and leave their cars. The partiers dressed for fun. Bright colors were everywhere with lots of fun going into the outfits. Some even had the cloth fringe used to cover the costumes the Acadian chicken runners wear.

This year, went to the Tee Mamou-Iota festival first to sample lots of Cajun music from regional musicians of all ages. The Orange County peeps know the right steps for a fais do-do.

Vendors had all kinds of arts and crafts, including cypress tree knees cut and made into decorative items.

Then it was on to Eunice for the big Courir de Mardi Gras parade and the chickens.
Early voting for the March 3 primary races started Tuesday across Texas with Orange County Republicans drawing a total of 608 people to the polls with 25 mail-in votes making a total of 633.

During the past 12 years, Orange County has gone totally Republican with county offices. People wanting to choose county officials have no choice to vote in the Republican primary.

The Democratic primary drew only 98 people to the polls and ended up with a total of 118 including 19 mail-in votes. The only Orange County race on that ballot is an uncontested race for county chair.

The Republicans had 193 votes at the Raymond Gould Community Center in Vidor, 158 votes at the Precinct 3 POD at the county airport, 151 votes at the Orange Public Library, and 106 votes at the Precinct 2 POD in Mauriceville.

All qualified Orange County voters with proper photo identification may vote at any of the four sites.

Orange County's contested races are for Commissioner Precinct 2 with incumbent Chris Sowell facing Colleen Owens, Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace with incumbent Joy Dubose-Simonton being challenged by Jesse Thibodeaux and Jeremiah Braneff, along with Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace incumbent Rodney Price running against Walter Lowe.

The Orange County Republican Party chair race is drawing attention with incumbent Cheryl Warren in her first two-year term being challenged by Patrick Rainey.

The days and hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 17 through Friday, February 20. Saturday, February 21 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, February 22, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, February 23 through Friday, February 27, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
With a market cap of $31.1 billion, Salt Lake City, Utah-based Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR) is a self-administered, self-managed REIT. As the largest self-storage operator in the United States, the company owned and/or operated 4,238 stores across 43 states and Washington, D.C., offering nearly 326.9 million square feet of rentable space under the Extra Space brand as of September 30, 2025.

Shares of Extra Space Storage have underperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks. EXR stock has dropped 5.2% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 11.8%. However, shares of the company are up 12.8% on a YTD basis, outpacing SPXs marginal drop.

More News from Barchart

Zooming in further, shares of the REIT have lagged behind the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLRE) 3.5% rise over the past 52 weeks.

www.barchart.com

Despite reporting better-than-expected Q3 2025 core FFO of $2.08 per share on Oct. 29, Extra Space Storage shares fell 4.9% the next day as the company missed revenue expectations, posting $858.46 million for the quarter. In addition, net income fell 14.3% year over year to $0.78 per share, hurt by a $105.1 million loss on assets held for sale.

For the fiscal year that ended in December 2025, analysts expect EXRs core FFO to decline 10.5% year-over-year to $8.16 per share. The companys earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat the consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing on another occasion.

Among the 20 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy. Thats based on six Strong Buy ratings, 13 Holds, and one Moderate Sell.

www.barchart.com

On Feb. 5, Wells Fargo cut its price target on Extra Space Storage to $150 while maintaining an Overweight rating.

The mean price target of $149.56 represents a 2.2% premium to EXRs current price levels. The Street-high price target of $178 implies a potential upside of 21.6% from the current price.

On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Look beyond the act of rowdyism Time for Manipur to think

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If this does not compel Manipur to put on her thinking cap and look beyond the act of some unruly students exploding in anger and tearing/burning answer sheets and admit cards on the first day of the Class XII examinations then nothing will. Look beyond the act of rowdyism and sincerely try to study how things have come to such a pass. The anger, the mindset that the invigilator or the teacher in charge should have given them the extra time needed to finish their answers are all indications of the rot deep within. If students as young as studying in Class XII come under the impression that they have every right to indulge in rowdyism then Manipur could well be looking to a future where youngsters with the mindset that they can bulldoze their way through will one day become adults of the society. Something, somewhere is horribly wrong. Why did the students explode in anger with such devastating effect just because they were not given more than the time allotted ? Did the teacher or invigilator on duty acted in a manner that could have angered the students no end ? Why did the students run out of time ? Were they really concentrating on the question paper of the day ? Was time lost due to any reason ? Questions these are, but ultimately the conduct of the students is unacceptable and Manipur will need to go beyond the very act of tearing up or burning the answer scripts, for in more than one way the conduct of the student can be said to be a reflection of the values imparted to the youngsters. The reality more than says that bulldozing ones way, young students coming under the impression that they have the right of way, reflect everything that is wrong with society as a whole and this is cause for concern. What happened at Wabagai Higher Secondary School on the first day of the Class XII examinations is a reflection of the reality, a reality that says that students, right from their tender age are exposed to issues and things that should ideally be dealt by adults of society. When students are goaded and even encouraged to take to the streets and muscle their way through, when students are made to face the lathis and crackdowns in pursuit of anything, then it is time for society as a whole and the Government to seriously think whether they have been delivering a sort of a message that might is right. What Manipur saw on the first day of the HSSLC examination was the explosion of pent up anger bottled up deep inside the psyche of the young students and the impression that they have every right to protest in whatever way they deem fit. The result was the act of tearing up and burning the answer sheets after the examination.

Something, somewhere is definitely, horribly wrong and society as a whole need to look beyond the very act of burning/tearing the answer sheets and try to study how such an incident came to pass. Was it a thing waiting to happen and while on February 17, it was a case of answer sheets being torn and set afire, there is no guarantee that things will not take a more ugly turn, if steps are not taken to address the root cause/s. Discipline, this is the key word that sadly seems to be missing in the lexicon of many students today. It is also not uncommon to see young students in full uniform zooming around on their fancy two wheelers when the watch on the wrist and the clock on the wall clearly says that it is school time. How have things come to such a pass ? Time for society, the parents, guardians, elders of the family, the school authorities, the Government to sincerely think over the atmosphere that has been created or allowed to be created for the young minds to imbibe. Today it is about a group of students tearing up answer scripts and tomorrow it could be anything. Does not say anything good for Manipur as a whole and it is society which will lose out in the long run. Class XII is that stage when students should start preparing for the challenges of life ahead and the examination is the first step towards this.
State Cabinet adopts resolutions for people-centric governance

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Imphal, Feb 18: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday evening chaired a meeting of the State Cabinet at the Cabinet Hall of the Secretariat to deliberate on key administrative and governance matters.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said the Cabinet had adopted several resolutions aimed at improving administrative efficiency and advancing simpler, responsive and people-centric governance.

These decisions reaffirm our collective commitment to advancing Manipurs progress in line with the vision of Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for inclusive and human-centric development, he wrote.

The Cabinet meeting coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modis engagement in New Delhi, where India is hosting the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam.NE NOW
Market downturns have a way of testing even the most disciplined investors. Portfolios shrink, headlines turn bleak and fear can quickly replace long-term thinking. Yet through recessions, crashes and periods of economic uncertainty, Warren Buffett has not only preserved his wealth but consistently grown it.

Buffetts approach is not built on market timing or complex strategies. Instead, it rests on a set of principles he has repeated for decades in interviews, shareholder letters and annual meetings (though hes now officially retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway). Those same ideas explain why he tends to come out stronger on the other side of market downturns.

He Keeps Emotions Out of Investing

One of Buffetts most quoted lines is also one of his most practical: Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. The message is simple, but executing it is hard.

During market downturns, many investors sell to avoid further losses. Buffett does the opposite. He views falling prices as an opportunity to buy strong businesses at discounts. By staying emotionally detached, he avoids panic-selling and instead focuses on long-term value.

Buffett has repeatedly said that emotions are the enemy of good investing decisions. Fear leads to selling low, while excitement often leads to buying high. His discipline allows him to act rationally when markets are anything but rational.

Watch Out: 15 Investments Warren Buffett Regrets

Learn More: 6 Subtly Genius Moves All Wealthy People Make With Their Money

He Invests for the Long Term

Buffett is famously uninterested in short-term market movements. His favorite holding period, as he has said many times, is forever. That mindset is especially powerful during downturns.

When stock prices fall, Buffett is not worried about next quarters earnings or next months headlines. He is focused on where a business will be five, 10 or 20 years from now. As long as the underlying company remains strong, a temporary market decline is largely irrelevant to his strategy.

This long-term perspective also reduces the pressure to make constant changes. Instead of reacting to every market swing, Buffett allows time and compounding to do the heavy lifting.

He Buys High-Quality Businesses With Durable Advantages

Buffett does not invest in every cheap stock he sees. He looks for businesses with what he calls economic moats, or durable competitive advantages that protect profits over time.

Companies with strong brands, loyal customers, pricing power and consistent cash flow tend to weather downturns better than weaker competitors. Buffett has often pointed to businesses like Coca-Cola and American Express as examples of companies that can survive tough economic conditions.
Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 58F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 39F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
The vanishing of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother to the co-host of the Today show, Savannah Guthrie, has passed the third colour-coded week without any official suspect, and the investigation is raising more questions as to the direction and what the challenges of the investigation are.

With law enforcement still working to track Guthrie, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent has described the investigation as a fractured one with challenges of putting together vital evidence and tracking down suspects.

Investigation Timeline and Early Evidence

Last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona, on the evening of 31 January, 2026, Guthrie was declared missing the next day when she did not show up at an event. Initial investigations took place earlier indicated that she disappeared against her will since no personal effects were found and she had very little mobility.

The Guthrie footage showed a masked person on the front door of her house just before she disappeared, and blood confirmable to belong to Guthrie's was discovered on her front door.

These evidences led the Pima County Sheriff Department to treat the case as a crime scene and not a common case of missing persons.

Also, the investigators have found two ransom notes, but the authorities have not confirmed their authenticity, and they have not been directly communicated with the Guthrie family.

'Fractured' Investigation and Expert Criticism

On a clip on the Jesse Watters Primetime show of Fox News, the former FBI agent Stuart Kaplan informed pundits that the investigation may become 'fractured,' in good part due to the slow pace at which evidence is providing definite leads, as well as the fact that the masked suspect has proven quite challenging to identify.

The slow nature of progress and the contradiction with the theories were the reasons why Kaplan indicated that the strength of the investigation could be destroyed unless properly counteracted.

Similarly, the ex-FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who appeared on Fox News with host Hannity, expressed his criticism of the case, saying that it does not make any sense that the Pima County Sheriff is not accessing the FBI technology.

The remarks of Bongino focused on what he considers to be a failure to use federal expertise to take advantage of opportunities that could enhance the rapidity in examining the evidence.

Local Law Enforcement Defends Coordination with FBI

The Arizona officials, however, have resisted arguments of investigative malpractices or interference. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has stressed the importance of cooperation with the FBI and other agencies, saying that all the evidence, such as DNA and gloves that had been discovered on the scene, has been disseminated and subjected to processing as part of the coordinated response.

When asked by reporters why Nanos chose to submit evidence to an independent laboratory in Florida, where more extensive profiling of DNA could be done than to FBI labs, Nanos responded that he did so to ensure that evidence was submitted to an external lab and not directly to the FBI.

Even the office of the sheriff has made efforts to make it clear that the Guthrie family members are not suspects in the case. Sheriff Nanos came out in a public statement last week to confirm that the family has been wholly cooperative and they should not be treated as persons of interest but rather as having been victims.

The DNA profiles created out of the forensic evidence, including a glove that was found at the place where Guthrie used to live, may be uploaded to the national databases, and this might lead to the identification of possible suspects eventually.

FBI's Forensic and Search Efforts Underway

In spite of these scandals, the FBI is very much involved. Other than investigating physical evidence, police have been using high-tech gadgets that have helped them to monitor Guthrie to determine her whereabouts by using the Bluetooth signal detection gadget that can help in finding the position of her pacemaker signal.

These methods provide a prospective direction investigators may take on the cases of people using medical devices, but it is observed that the method is technically limited, especially with respect to the limited scope of its performance.

In addition, the release of pictures and videos of the alleged intruder by the FBI has continued to keep the masses on their heels and broadened the tipping point and lead given by the populace and the nation.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
West Red Lake Gold Mines has disclosed new results from its infill and conversion drilling campaign at the Rowan Project within the Red Lake Mining District in north-western Ontario, Canada.

The company reported notable gold intercepts including 84.3 grams per tonne (g/t) over 1m, 14.4g/t over 5.5m and 24.4g/t over 1.5m.

This follows previous announcements that highlighted gold intercepts of 141.5g/t over 1m.

The company completed 38 drill-holes totalling approximately 6,300m in this phase of the programme.

Fire assay gold results have been received for 14 of the drill-holes, with 19 still pending and five currently being logged and readied for sampling.

In detail, hole RLG-25-198 intersected vein 006b footwall with high-grade gold concentration from a depth of 67.3568.35m.

Hole RLG-25-201 showed 14.42g/t gold over a span of 5.5m within vein 006b from depths of 102.25107.75m, including a more concentrated section of 32.93g/t gold from 105.75m to 107.75m

Furthermore, hole RLG-25-200 targeted vein 018 hanging wall, with an intersection revealing a concentration of 24.44g/t gold over 1.5m from 116.4m to 117.9m, including an interval with 70.3g/t gold from 116.9m to 117.4m.

West Red Lake Gold Mines president and CEO Shane Williams said: We continue to view Rowan as a key piece in our vision for creating a district-scale hub and spoke operation in Red Lake and the assay results received to date from the current drilling programme are further reinforcing our confidence in this high-grade satellite deposit.

While the current drill programme at Rowan is focused on infill to prepare for the upcoming planned pre-feasibility study, our geology team sees excellent potential for continuing to expand this deposit along strike and at depth.

Red Lake gold systems have deep roots and we believe the vein system at Rowan will continue to grow with additional drilling. West Red Lake is fortuitous to have a portfolio of 100%-owned quality assets in a premier jurisdiction that will support our vision of becoming a 100,000oz per year gold producer in Red Lake by 2028.

In November 2025, West Red Lake Gold Mines commenced a fully funded infill drilling programme at its wholly owned Fork deposit, situated around 250m south-west of the companys Madsen mine in the Red Lake Gold District.

"West Red Lake Gold Mines announces new Rowan Project drill results" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Kerala is known as one of the most sought-after tourist locations in India for both domestic and international tourists. However, most of these visitors were often greeted with a shocking revelation on a night of drinking. The last order at the bars in Kerala was mostly at 10 pm. And by 11 pm, promptly, the bartender would close shop, with bouncers ushering you outside.

But all those are things of the past. From today, Kerala bars open till midnight, and 5-star drinking holes have the option to be open till 3 am.

Kerala officially extended bar timings across the state, allowing many outlets to stay open till midnight and giving five-star hotels the option to serve alcohol till 3 am on select days. Why? The government said that it was aimed at boosting tourism and attracting big-ticket events.

The changes came through a notification amending the Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953, issued by the Taxes Department and published in the Kerala Gazette on February 17, 2026.

Uniform timings for bars, beer and wine parlours

Under the new rules, FL-3 bar hotels and FL-11 beer and wine parlours cannot open before 10 am and must normally close by 12 midnight.

This replaces the earlier regime where most such outlets were restricted to 11 am11 pm, creating what the government describes in its explanatory note as uniformity in the operating hours across different types of licensed premises.

However, FL-4A outlets, which mostly include clubs and stand-alone beer and wine parlours in certain categories, will still continue operate between 11 am and 11 pm.

The amendments apply immediately, as the Foreign Liquor (Amendment) Rules, 2026 specified that the revised timings shall come into force at once.

The state government, in the order, stressed that the move was meant to simplify enforcement and provide clarity to bar owners and customers, while still keeping a clear cut-off at midnight for most establishments.

Extra hours for five-star hotels to woo MICE tourism

Under the new rules, FL-3 bar hotels with five-star classification and above now have the option to apply to stay open for an additional three hours beyond midnightup to 3 amif they pay an extra annual rental of Rs 5 lakh.

However, this late-close facility will not be allowed on the night before any statutory dry day; in such cases, even five-star bars must still shut by midnight.

The order made it amply clear that this flexibility was intended to support Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, destination weddings, international conferences and similar events that often run late into the night.

The state government argued that giving high-end hotels more leeway on closing times would make Kerala more attractive for global business and wedding travellers, while the higher licence fee brings in additional revenue.

With the state government finally heeding the demands of bar owners, tourism operators, and local residents in the sector, the coming months would be a litmus test. Let us wait and watch how longer hours reshape nightlife and hospitality economics in Gods Own Country.
Indian Air Force helicopters are battling wildfires at two fronts, conducting relentless aerial firefighting missions in challenging terrain. At Walong, Arunachal Pradesh, a total of 139,800 litres of water has been dropped, successfully extinguishing the blaze. Simultaneously, pic.twitter.com/rYQZYdVau7  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) February 18, 2026

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed helicopters to douse wildfires simultaneously on two frontsthe Dzukou Valley of Nagaland and Walong in Arunachal Pradesh. As per initial information, the fire in Arunachal is suspected to have originated in the forested hills around Walong, likely triggered by dry vegetation and prevailing weather conditions that allowed the flames to spread rapidly across the area.

In a social media post, the IAF confirmed that its helicopters are "conducting relentless aerial firefighting missions in challenging terrain." The IAF said the firefighting mission was going on despite the challenges presented by the steep slopes, poor visibility, and rarefied air.

Mission completed in Arunachal

At Walong, a total of 139,800 litres of water has been dropped to extinguish the blaze, while operations were still in progress in Nagaland. IAF's Mi-17 V5 helicopters were deployed, drawing water from Padumpokhiri Lake in Dimapur to be poured over the flames near Japfu Peak.

ALSO READ | Indian Air Force looking to induct more newer generation fighter jets: VCAS

Earlier, it was reported that troops of the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and the civil administration are working in close coordination to control the blaze that broke out in Walong on Friday, 13 February. Personnel of the Indian Army's Spear Corps, along with support from the Indian Air Force and district authorities, remain fully engaged in dousing residual flames, preventing fresh flare-ups, and securing the affected areas.

ALSO READ | ELF explained: Why Indias Emergency Landing Facility in Assam is hailed as historic and how it is a blow to China

Over the past five days, firefighting efforts have been carried out through the coordinated deployment of manpower, specialised equipment, and heavy machinery, while helicopters have been conducting aerial reconnaissance and water-dropping missions.

What are Mi-17 V5 helicopters?

The Mil Mi-17 is a Soviet-designed Russian military helicopter that can serve multipurpose roles, including utility, transport, and even assault missions. They are known for their endurance and can fly in tropical and maritime climates, as well as desert conditions. It has a maximum take-off weight of 13,000 kg and is built to carry either 36 armed soldiers internally or 4,500 kg of load on a sling. The Mi-8AMT, Mi-8MTV-1, Mi-171, Mi-171A1, and Mi-172 are the variants of the time-tested chopper that are currently in production.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

According to a US government document, the Mi-17 can climb at the rate of 8 m/s. The maximum and cruise speeds of the helicopter are 250 km/h and 225 km/h, respectively. The range of the helicopter is 465 km and the service ceiling is 6,000 m. The aircraft weighs around 7,489 kg.

KNOW MORE ABOUT THE HELICOPTER HERE

According to the official website of its manufacturers, "The firefighting model is designed to tackle blazes using a helicopter bucket on an external sling, which can deliver up to 4,000 litres of water and target the burn zone with a high degree of accuracy. The helicopter can also deliver firefighting crews and special equipment to firefighting areas."
The political landscape of South Asia shifted on its axis on February 12, 2026. As the final tallies from Bangladeshs general elections trickled in, confirming a landslide victory for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, a decade-long era of predictableif increasingly brittlebilateral stability came to an abrupt end. For New Delhi, the return of a BNP-led government, accompanied by a significant showing from the Jamaat-e-Islami, is not merely a change in administration across the border; it is a profound stress test for the Neighbourhood First policy.

In the wake of Sheikh Hasinas dramatic ouster in 2024 and the subsequent transitional period under Muhammad Yunus, India now faces a Bangladesh that is more assertive, more religiously conservative, and significantly more open to the strategic embrace of Beijing. The challenge for Indian diplomacy is no longer about preserving a golden chapter with a friendly autocrat, but about forging a pragmatic, clear-eyed partnership with a revitalised democracy that views New Delhi with historical scepticism.

After all, Bangladesh is a crucial strategic partner for India, impacting its regional leadership goals through geographical connectivity, economic integration, and security cooperation. As Indias largest trading partner in South Asia, Bangladesh plays a key role in Indias Act East policy, facilitating trade in the North East and enhancing regional stability.

The ghost of 1971 and the weight of history

To understand the current stakes, one must look back at the foundational paradox of India-Bangladesh relations. India was the midwife of Bangladeshs birth in 1971, a bond sealed in blood against the Pakistani military. However, the gratitude of the liberation era was never monolithic. While the Awami League, under the Mujibur Rahman lineage, championed secularism and a pro-India stance, the subsequent rise of military rulers like Ziaur Rahmanthe founder of the BNPintroduced a brand of Bangladeshi Nationalism that defined itself in opposition to Indian hegemony.

The Hasina years (20092024) saw a remarkable reversal of this friction. The 2015 Land Boundary Agreement, which resolved decades-old enclave disputes, was hailed as a masterstroke of diplomacy. Under Hasina, Bangladesh became Indias largest trade partner in South Asia, and more importantly, a reliable security partner that dismantled insurgent camps targeting Indias Northeast. But this stability came at a cost: a growing perception in Dhaka that India was the primary patron of an increasingly authoritarian regime. When the student-led uprising of 2024 finally broke the dam, the anti-incumbency sentiment inevitably took on an anti-India hue.

The "Gen Z" mandate: Democracy over dogma

A critical factor in the 2026 election was the arrival of the "Gen Z" voter as a kingmaker. The 2024 uprising was not just a protest against Hasina; it was a rejection of the old political duopoly's corrupt tendencies. While the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) struggled to translate street power into seats, their influence forced the BNP to modernise its rhetoric.

Tarique Rahmans campaign focused on "democratic repair," appealing to a generation that views 1971 through the lens of human rights rather than blind party loyalty. For India, this means the old pro-India vs anti-India binary is dead. Younger Bangladeshis want a relationship based on mutual respect and economic utility, not historical debt. If India continues to frame its ties solely through the lens of the Liberation War, it risks alienating a demographic that prioritizes digital jobs and visa-free travel over half-century-old war stories.

The strategic imperative: Beyond the Chickens Neck

For India, Bangladesh is not just a neighbour; it is a geographic necessity. The 4,096 km border is the longest India shares with any country, and it wraps around the Chickens Neckthe narrow Siliguri Corridor that connects mainland India to its seven northeastern states. A hostile or unstable Bangladesh could turn this corridor into a strategic chokehold.

Under the new BNP mandate, the security cooperation that India took for grantedthe handover of ULFA militants and the suppression of anti-India terror cellsis no longer guaranteed. The BNPs relationship with Jamaat-e-Islami, a group with deep-seated ideological friction with New Delhi, raises the spectre of a return to the early 2000s, when Indian insurgents found safe haven in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Troubled waters: The diplomacy of flow

Beyond security, the most visceral point of friction is water. The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty is set to expire in December 2026. Negotiating its renewal with a BNP government that has promised to "fight for every drop" will be gruelling. The BNP has already signalled that any renewal must be tied to progress on the Teesta River agreement, which has been stalled for over a decade due to domestic opposition in West Bengal.

India must recognize that for a lower-riparian state like Bangladesh, water is sovereignty. Failure to reach an appropriate agreement on the Ganges and Teesta will provide an easy target for nationalist rhetoric, potentially pushing Dhaka further into the arms of Beijing, which has already offered to fund a multi-billion dollar Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project.

The dragon in the delta: The China factor

Perhaps the most pressing concern for New Delhi is the Dragon in the Delta. During the vacuum left by Hasinas departure, China moved with predatory precision. Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has already funnelled billions into Bangladeshi ports and power plants, but the recent defence pact for a drone factory near the Indian border signals a shift from purely economic to overtly strategic interests.

The BNP has historically looked toward Beijing as a counterbalance to what it perceives as Indian overreach. With Tarique Rahman poised to take the helm, China is likely to offer a sovereignty-first partnership: massive infrastructure loans with fewer of the democratic or human rights conditions often signalled by the West.

Regionalism reimagined: BIMSTEC vs. SAARC

The BNPs return also reshuffles the deck for regional cooperation. Bangladesh currently holds the chairmanship of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). India has long championed BIMSTEC as an alternative to the Pakistan-hamstrung SAARC.

However, the BNP may seek to revive SAARC to re-engage with Islamabad and dilute India's regional dominance. India must ensure that BIMSTEC remains the primary vehicle for integration by fast-tracking the Bangkok Vision 2030. By supporting Bangladeshs leadership in BIMSTEC, India can provide Dhaka with a prestigious platform that serves regional interests without pivoting back toward the stalemated SAARC framework.

The border paradox: Human rights as security

One of the most significant "silent irritants in the relationship is the issue of border killings. For years, the death of Bangladeshi civilians at the hands of Indias Border Security Force (BSF) has been used by the BNP and Islamist groups to paint India as an aggressive, callous neighbour.

In this new era, India must realize that a "zero-fatality border policy is not just a humanitarian necessity but a strategic one. Every incident at the fence provides fuel for anti-India protests in Dhaka. By implementing non-lethal border management and fostering joint patrolling with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), India can strip its critics of their most potent emotional weapon. A soft border for people and goods, combined with a hard border for insurgents and smugglers, is the only sustainable way forward.

The Hasina dilemma: Justice vs. asylum

The most immediate diplomatic landmine is the physical presence of Sheikh Hasina on Indian soil. Sentenced to death in absentia in November 2025, her extradition is a rallying cry for the BNP and Jamaat base. For New Delhi, handing over a former ally who sought refuge would be a betrayal of its asylum traditions and could signal to other regional leaders that India is weak and only a fair-weather friend.

The BNP government will likely use the extradition request as a litmus test for Indias respect for Bangladeshi sovereignty. India must find a "third way"perhaps facilitating her relocation to a neutral third countryto remove this sovereign irritant from the bilateral equation before it triggers a formal diplomatic crisis. In the meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina must be dissuaded from using Indian territory as a base for her political activities.

The digital and cultural bridge: Soft Power 2.0

Finally, India must overhaul its soft power strategy. For too long, Indian influence has been seen through the prism of Bollywood and Biryani. In a post-Hasina Bangladesh, India needs to engage with the vibrant, often critical, Bangladeshi civil society and its thriving tech sector.

By creating a digital corridor that links the tech hubs of Bengaluru and Hyderabad with Dhakas emerging startups, India can offer value propositions that China cannot: shared language, shared culture, and shared democratic values. Student exchange programs, simplified medical visas, and collaborative research on climate change (a shared existential threat) can build a reservoir of goodwill that transcends whoever happens to be in power in the Prime Ministers Office.

Conclusion: The path of pragmatism

The 2026 election results are a reminder that in geopolitics, there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. Indias preference for the Awami League was a luxury of the past decade; its engagement with the BNP is the necessity of the coming one.

The victory of Tarique Rahman does not have to be seen as a zero-sum loss. If New Delhi acts with humility, strategic patience, and economic generosity, it can transform a historical adversary into a stable partner.

The Chickens Neck is too narrow for India to allow a wall to be built between it and Dhaka. Instead, it must build a bridgeone sturdy enough to withstand the winds of political change and the rising tide of external influence. Bangladesh is at a crossroads; India must ensure that all roads still lead to a collaborative South Asia. The Dhaka pivot has begun; the challenge for New Delhi is to become a partner in this new journey, rather than be perceived as an adversary.

(Lt Gen Campose is the former Vice Chief of the Indian Army. He has authored the book A National Strategy for India  the Way Forward)

(The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK)
A joint police team on Tuesday evening raided a house in Madhusadanpur, located in Bihar's Bhagalpur area, and found an active improvised firearms factory on the first floor.

The operation, conducted on the basis of intelligence inputs received by a joint team of the Kolkata Special Task Force (STF), Bihar STF, and the Madhusadanpur Police, has led to the arrest of five people at the house registered to an M. Nasir Ansari.

The five people who have been arrested have been identified as M. Monazir, M. Shadab Ali (alias Saddam), M. Aslam (alias Tinku), M. Samsher Alam (alias Chotu), and M. Shahanawaz.

Four of them are said to be expert arms makers, while one is said to be the co-owner of the house, which was operating under the guise of the spinning mill business on the ground floor. Those arrested are all said to be residents hailing from areas under the Kashimbazar Police Station in the Munger district.



Police sources say that during the search, the following articles were recovered from them: 20 semi-finished Indian-made 7.65 mm pistols, eight pistol barrels, two milling machines, one drill machine, one grinding polishing machine, and one hand grinder, among other things.

They added that an investigation is currently underway to trace the factory's supply network and uncover possible links with illegal arms manufacturing rackets.

According to Madhusudanpur Police Station Chief, Safdar Ali, the house was rented eight months ago by a man named M. Faisal, who allegedly ran the factory and is currently absconding. Police teams are currently engaged in finding Faisal and the accomplices of those arrested, a Jagran report said.

The report added that in 2022, the police had busted a mini-gun factory in Champanagar, at which time a case had also been registered against Faisal.

He eluded the STF and remained at large. However, the report added that almost two months later, Faisal reportedly surrendered in court, and after his release from jail, resumed his illegal arms manufacturing business.
In a humiliating episode, Greater Noida-based Galgotias University landed in a soup after displaying a robotic dog purchased from China as their own at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The university presented the Chinese robot Unitree Go2 as its own invention, Orion at the high-profile summit.

The incident came to light after Galgotia's professor Neha Singh was caught on camera claiming that the drones and robodog were their in-house creation. However, hawk-eyed netizens soon realised the lie and exposed the truth about the robotic dog, which they found out was a mass-produced, cheap robot priced globally for $2,800 (roughly Rs 2.3 lakh).

They accused the university of tarnishing India's image internationally. Channels like DD News, which highlighted the incident, pulled down their posts.

After social media revealed the truth, Galgotias University issued an official statement on the social media platform X. The university stated that it never claimed to have created the robot, which was purchased from Unitree and was used by the students to test its limits and in the process, expand their knowledge.

Hello crooks of Galgotia.



Here your own faculty Neha says this robot was developed by your fraud university. pic.twitter.com/KymRcJtylf https://t.co/O01jOlgVyP  Kr!hhh_  (@ITSCK47) February 17, 2026

The university claimed that they bring in cutting-edge technology from countries like the US, China, and Singapore to provide students with hands-on experience so as to inspire students to keep pace with the world in terms of technology, not just to showcase machines.

However, the backlash was so severe that Galgotias University was asked by the authorities to vacate the AI Impact Summit, government sources told reporters.

The news also made its way into Chinese local media, which highlighted the embarrassing attempt at plagiarism.

The Unitree Go2 is an advanced quadruped robot capable of traversing obstacles, conducting surveillance, inspection, and operating in dangerous terrain. The robot is quite popular in China and is also used for military and industrial purposes.
The share price of Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) surged by 16.89% between February 6 and February 13, 2026, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week.

Here is Why Noble Corporation (NE) Jumped This Week

Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) is an offshore drilling contractor serving the oil and gas industry worldwide.

Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) reported its Q4 2025 results on February 12, with the companys adjusted EPS of $0.09 falling well below expectations of $0.15. However, the firms revenue of $764.4 million managed to beat estimates by over $26.5 million, despite a YoY decline of almost 17.6%.

Moreover, Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) reported around $1.3 billion in new contract awards since its October fleet status report, raising its backlog to $7.5 billion. The company also revealed that its Noble Great White has been awarded a three-year contract with Aker BP in Norway, valued at $473 million. Noble expects a total EBITDA potential of approximately $240 million over this three-year contract period.

Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) also reiterated its commitment to shareholders by announcing a $0.50 per share dividend for the current quarter on February 12. The dividend is payable on March 19 to all shareholders of record as of March 4.

Looking forward, Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) is forecasting a total revenue of $2.8 to $3.0 billion for FY 2026, with an adjusted EBITDA in the range of $940 million to $1.02 billion. Moreover, the company is targeting CapEx of $590-$640 million for the year.

Following the Q4 report, on February 13, Evercore ISI raised its price target on Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) from $36 to $45, while maintaining an In Line rating on the shares. On the same day, Susquehanna also increased its price target on NE from $32 to $45, while keeping its Neutral rating on the stock.

While we acknowledge the potential of NE as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 10 High Yield Utility Stocks to Buy in 2026 and 10 Best American Oil and Gas Stocks to Buy

Disclosure: None.
At a panel discussion in New Delhi on Wednesday, diplomats, scholars and security experts argued that India must adopt a pragmatic, engagement-driven approach toward Bangladeshs evolving political landscape, even as security concerns persist over the countrys transition.

Speaking at the discussion titled New Regimes in Bangladesh and Myanmar: Indias Eastern Front at the Crossroads?, Professor Sreeradha Datta of O.P. Jindal Global University described Bangladeshs recent election as notable for its procedural innovations and relatively peaceful conduct.

For the first time, she said, extensive technology was deployed across polling booths, including volunteer monitoring, body cameras and drone surveillance. The environment was largely safe and orderly, she noted, adding that accessibility measures such as wheelchair assistance reflected administrative preparedness.

Yet the election also revealed deeper political anxieties. Datta pointed out that a significant portion of first-time voters from Generation Z appeared to feel politically targeted, while social media misinformation shaped campaign narratives. The low representation of women candidates was another concern.

Bangladesh, she argued, remains politically fragile following the departure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, whose tenure ended amid allegations of financial impropriety and institutional strain. It looks promising at the surface, Datta said, but engagement will be essential.

The return of BNP leader Tarique Rahman after nearly two decades in exile has further complicated the political landscape.

Datta noted that Rahman faces the challenge of convincing voters that his leadership can deliver clean governance. The youth vote, she suggested, is driven less by ideology and more by the desire for a corruption-free state.

For India, however, the transition raises pressing security questions. Former Mauritian National Security Adviser Shantanu Mukharji cautioned that while the political shift has been smoother than expected, New Delhi must remain vigilant. The real concern, he said, is whether Pakistani intelligence agencies could use Bangladesh as a launching pad for anti-India activities.

Mukharji emphasised that intelligence cooperation between the two neighbours should be strengthened, arguing that joint counter terror mechanisms would serve both sides. The best course is to engage Bangladesh afresh, not to distance ourselves, he added.

Former Indian ambassador Gautam Mukhopadhaya echoed the need for caution, stressing that India should monitor developments without appearing intrusive.

He also drew parallels with Myanmar, where electoral legitimacy often matters less than geopolitical alignments. According to Mukhopadhaya, Chinas attempts to deepen its strategic footprint in the region are likely to face nationalist resistance, but India must avoid overt interference in internal affairs. Watch closely, but dont overreact, he advised, calling for a calibrated diplomatic approach.

The discussion also touched on the implications of the Awami Leagues diminished role in the current political arrangement.

Moderator Rami Niranjan Desai noted that India now faces two competing lenses: its long-standing political ties with Sheikh Hasinas government, and the need to build working relations with emerging actors in Dhaka. Balancing these interests, she suggested, will define New Delhis eastern strategy in the coming years.

Participants agreed that Indias response should combine strategic caution with sector-specific engagement, particularly in trade, connectivity, and border management. Confidence-building measures, including humanitarian initiatives such as recent India-Myanmar cooperation under Operation Brahma, were cited as examples of diplomacy that builds goodwill without political overreach.
KSRTC bus services across the districts of Karnataka may be disrupted on Thursday, 19 February, as the Karnataka State Transport employees have called for a Bengaluru Chalo protest raising several demands. Passengers have been requested by the KSRTC to take necessary precautions, as it is likely that regular services may be partially disrupted in various districts.

As per local media reports, the main protest gathering is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru's Freedom Park.

Why are KSRTC workers protesting?

KSRTC employees are demanding the clearance of pending arrears from the 38-month wage revision period between 1 January 2020 and 28 February 2023.

They are also demanding the implementation of a four-year wage agreement from 1 January 2024, among other requirements. When a strike was held earlier, the government had persuaded the workers and assured them that their demands would be met, but no action was taken subsequently.

Will intimidation work?

While Karnataka State RTC Managing Director Akram Pasha has reportedly instructed employees to report for duty without fail on Thursday, he has warned that disciplinary action, including salary cuts, will be taken against those who take part in the protests and remain absent from work. However, it is unlikely that public life will go undisrupted. Officials have been directed to prepare unit-wise lists of absentee employees and initiate action against them, Eedina said in a report.

In an attempt to intimidate employees and discourage them from refusing to work, the KSRTC MD has reportedly instructed officials to deny leave to workers on Thursday unless it is an emergency situation. However, those availing a weekly off or who are on long-term leave have been exempted from the decision, the Eedina report said. If required, weekly holidays should be cancelled and employees deployed for duty, officials have reportedly been instructed.

Earlier, transport employees had called for a protest at Freedom Park from 10 am to 4 pm on 29 January to press for their demands.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of having ties with anti-India forces.

In an interview with the ANI news agency, Rijiju alleged that the Leader of the Opposition regularly met with Naxalites, extremists, ideologues, and individuals like George Soros, both during his foreign trips and within India.

"Rahul Gandhi has become one of the most dangerous individuals for Indias security. He associates with anti-India forces and meets with Naxalites, extremists, and people like George Soros, both abroad and at home," Rijiju said.

The minister also criticised Gandhi's behavior in Parliament, calling it "childish" and "irresponsible" for someone in his position.

"The Leader of the Opposition represents the entire opposition. Going outside the House, calling people traitors, staging theatrical protests, and insisting on reading from an unpublished bookall of this is childish behavior. We have never seen such a LoP in India's history," Rijiju added.

#WATCH | In an interview with ANI on Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's allegations regarding Epstein Files, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju says, "First, consider why Rahul Gandhis followers do not take this seriously: he speaks without truth... If the Prime pic.twitter.com/aIzTfqhwz6  ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

In response to Gandhi's allegations regarding the Epstein files, Rijiju dismissed them as baseless. "First, consider why Rahul Gandhis followers don't take him seriouslyhe speaks without the truth. If the Prime Minister met someone or if documents exist, then present them. They are dragging the Prime Minister's name into this without any basis, which only leads to despair and disappointment," Rijiju said.

Rijiju's remarks came days after BJP MP Nishikant Dubeys motion in the Lok Sabha, seeking the termination of Gandhi's membership for allegedly misleading the nation with the support of figures like George Soros.

Gandhi has been taking on the government both inside and outside Parliament on various issues, including the India-US trade deal, former Army Chief M.M. Naravanes memoir, and the alleged mentions of Prime Minister Modi and Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in the Epstein files.

On Monday, Rijiju accused Rahul Gandhi of not being interested in the smooth functioning of Parliament, alleging that some NGOs had influenced him by promising that "good days" would come for his party.

The Union minister claimed that smaller parties in Parliament were pressuring Congress not to stall proceedings, as they lose their allocated time to speak when the House is disrupted.

"Not all opposition parties are aligned with Congress. Smaller parties are unable to utilize their allotted time, and they are unhappy with Rahul Gandhi. Some of them haven't even signed the motion against the Speaker," he said.
At least two people died and another was injured on Tuesday after a fire broke out aboard the bulk carrier Mandy (IMO: 9582831), off the coast of China's Shandong province.

The Singapore-flagged vesselwhich had been travelling en route from the Kamsar Anchorage in Guinea, West Africasuffered an engine room fire close to 8 PM (local time), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.

It added that the fire was brought under control and later extinguished.

MPA extends its condolences to the families of the deceased, it said, adding that it was in contact with Pacific Rim International Shipping, the company operating the vesselas well as the relevant Chinese authoritiesto provide assistance.

A total of 25 crew members had been aboard the ship, all of whom were from Myanmar. The injured person has been evacuated to a shore-based medical facility for further treatment.

The operator had since arranged for the bulk carrier to be towed to the Yantai Port in China's Shandong province.

This comes just days after a similar fire broke out aboard the Dutch-flagged Diezeborg (IMO: 9225586) on Saturday.

Though the fire did not kill any crew members, it disabled the freighter completely even after the crew put it out, causing the vessel to drift off dangerously close to Gotska Sandon, an uninhabited island in the Baltic Sea.

However, the Swedish Coast Guard intervened in the nick of time on Sunday to secure the vessel and stop it from running aground (touching the shore). Later that day, the Diezeborg was in tow, on its way.
Both the United States and Iran said they were making progress after the second round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday. The indirect talks, mediated by Omani officials, are taking place amidst an American buildup of significant military assets to the Persian Gulf. Despite reported incremental advances, fundamentally opposing red lines and the history of recent military confrontation continue to cast a long shadow over the prospects for a durable agreement.

The Geneva negotiations brought together senior figures, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Donald Trumps envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Following the discussions, Iranian officials said the sides had agreed on guiding principles to resolve the dispute and described the atmosphere as constructive. American officials also acknowledged progress but stressed that substantial gaps remain. Iran is expected to return in two weeks with detailed proposals aimed at bridging those differences.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

Even so, caution was evident in Washington. Vice President J.D. Vance tempered optimism, saying that while elements of the meetings had gone well, President Trump had set clear red lines on Irans path to nuclear acquisition that Tehran had yet to accept. Those red lines, US officials suggest, go beyond enrichment levels and touch on verification, transparency and long-term restrictions.

These diplomatic efforts are unfolding within a fragile security environment shaped by the collapse of earlier agreements and the June 2025 joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Washington described those operations as having obliterated key sites. Yet subsequent satellite imagery indicates that Iran has been rebuilding elements of its nuclear infrastructure. At the same time, Tehran has reduced cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, removing surveillance equipment and limiting inspections.

Iran has also enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, drastically shortening what experts call its breakout time  the period required to produce sufficient fissile material for a nuclear weapon. Analysts now estimate that timeline in weeks to months rather than the year-long cushion envisaged under the 2015 accord.

The core obstacle remains a sharp divergence in negotiating objectives. The US insists that any fresh agreement must address not only Irans nuclear programme but also its ballistic missile capabilities, support for regional armed groups and human rights record. Tehran, however, maintains that discussions must be confined strictly to the nuclear file and the lifting of economic sanctions. It has repeatedly rejected linking its missile programme or regional alliances to the talks.

This impasse mirrors the difficulties that prevented the revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action under the previous US administration. Mutual mistrust has only deepened since then, making compromise politically fraught on both sides.

The Trump administration has also engaged in a conspicuous show of force. After deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group near Iranian waters, Trump has ordered a second carrier group to the region led by USS Gerard Ford, accompanied by fighter aircraft, including F-35s, F-22s and F-16s. The military build-up is intended to underscore American resolve. Trump has warned that the consequences of failing to reach an agreement would be steep, even hinting at the possibility of regime change.

Iran has responded with its own demonstrations of strength. It has temporarily closed sections of the Strait of Hormuz for live-fire naval drills and issued warnings that American warships could be targeted. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared that a weapon capable of sending a warship to the bottom of the sea could prove more decisive than the vessel itself.

Regional dynamics further complicate the picture. Israeli operations have significantly degraded Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, two pillars of Irans so-called axis of resistance. Yet other Iran-aligned groups remain active. Militias in Iraq, including Kataib Hezbollah, have signalled readiness to confront US forces if conflict escalates, while Yemens Houthi movement has threatened to step back from fragile ceasefire arrangements.

Israeli officials are deeply sceptical about the Geneva process, fearing it may provide Iran with diplomatic cover to advance its programme. Reports suggest that Israel is preparing contingency plans should negotiations collapse, including scenarios involving US military action or a pre-emptive Iranian strike.

Inside Iran, the regime faces mounting domestic pressure caused by massive anti-government protests, which led to thousands of deaths and widespread arrests. Tehran, however, continues to project defiance. President Pezeshkian has reiterated Tehrans right to a peaceful nuclear programme and denied any intention to pursue nuclear weapons. Whether that position can be reconciled with Washingtons demands remains the central question. For now, cautious diplomacy advances in parallel with military brinkmanship, leaving the region poised between fragile progress and renewed confrontation.
A massive wave of US airpower, including F-22 Raptors, F-16 Fighting Falcons, E-3 Sentry radar planes and a U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane, is en route to the Middle East, flight data shows, hinting at a massive US mobilisation towards a potential attack on Iran.

The movement of US aircraft is the most intense, considering that reports quoting US officials cite that the Trump administration is preparing for the possibility of prolonged operations lasting several weeks. The current positioning of the US forces and that of Israeli forces would be enough for major operations lasting several weeks. More deployments are also likely.

U-2 movement toward the Middle East further supports the theory that F-22's will be moved into CENTCOM as the U-2 can serve as a bridge between the F-22 and F-35. https://t.co/Bxnm9Z3CWF https://t.co/f5MnSo0O7L  Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) February 17, 2026

Online flight data indicated that over a dozen F-22s have left Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, heading east. The fighters are likely to stop at the Lakenheath Air Base in the U.K., a major transit hub for aircraft moving between the U.S. and the Middle East.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

The F-22 are the most advanced air-to-air fighter that can destroy enemy air defences and other ground targets. The Raptors have been used to drop guided bombs against ISIS targets and for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, including against the ISIS targets in Syria. Raptors also helped protect B-2A Spirit stealth bombers during last Junes Operation Midnight Hammer attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Besides the Raptors, a whopping 36 F-16s are on the move toward the Middle East. This reportedly includes 12 each from Aviano Air Base in Italy, Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany and McEntire Joint National Guard Base (JNGB) in South Carolina.

As per reports, two E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) jets landed at Mildenhall Air Base in the UK on Tuesday. As for the U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane, which he is heading towards Iran, it can provide high-altitude surveillance in addition to serving as a communications link between F-22s and F-35 Lighting II stealth fighters, according to The War Zone.



Not just air power, even US naval power in the region is being strengthened. While the biggest warship on the earth, USS Gerald R Ford, has crossed the Gibraltor, enroute to the Arabian Sea, the US has also deployed a seventh Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the USS Pinckney, to the region. This makes a total of 12 surface combatants in the area, including the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and its three Arleigh Burke-class escorts. The US have also deployed nuclear submarines there, with at least one accompanying each carrier group as well as likely guided missile submarines (SSGN), The War Zone added.
As the US mobilises air and naval power near Iranian waters, a symbolic gesture by China to Tehran is grabbing eyeballs. A Chinese officials gesture of presenting a model of the twin-engine stealth fighter J-20 to an Iranian senior Air Force commander is now being interpreted as a new chapter in the defence engagement between the two countries.

The event happened in Tehran on February 8 during the Iranian Air Force Day celebration. The Chinese military attache presented a mock-up of the J-20 to Brigadier General Bahman Behmard.

The otherwise simple diplomatic formality has achieved a new meaning in the wake of the current geo-political situation. Iranian media have called the move significant amid broader developments in the relationship between the two countries, including new strategic pacts and plans for joint naval exercises with Russia in the Sea of Oman.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

China and Iran have reached major military agreement wherein Iran is set to receive a set of advanced equipment, including J-20 fifth-generation fighter jets, J-10C models, HQ-9 air defence systems, and JY-14 radars. In return, Iran will export about $2 billion worth of crude oil to China, local media reports said.

Some even speculated that there were several military transport flights between China and Iran in recent months, likely carrying some of the equipment. They suggest the delivery process has begun, although there is no official confirmation. Rumours are that China has begun plans to replace Western technologies in Iran with its own modern systems, aimed at reducing Irans dependence on foreign infrastructure.

The J-20 is a Chinese fifth-generation fighter aircraft designed and built by Chengdu Aviation. It is designed for air superiority and ground attack missions and first flew in 2011 and entered operational service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 2017. It has become the backbone of Beijing's air power in recent years, with the installation of indigenous WS-15 engines and upgrades to its avionics and sensors.

The fighter is considered one of the most advanced fighters in the world and is a tough competitor to fifth-generation fighters such as the American F-22 and F-35.
Amid talks aimed at resolving long-standing nuclear dispute between the US and Iran, a report has claimed that the Donald Trump administration could launch a major offensive against Iran "very soon".

A report by Axios, citing sources, claimed that the military operation could be "full-fledged" and last for weeks, making it larger in scope than the Israel-led 12-day war in June 2025.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

"The boss is getting fed up. Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks," Axios quoted one Trump adviser as saying.

The report comes as Trump aides Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for three hours in Geneva on Tuesday. Iran has two week to come back with a detailed proposal, according to officials cited by the outlet.

The two-week deadline is significant as ahead of the 12-day war, White House set a two-week window for Trump to choose between talks or strikes.

Earlier, when thousands of protesters were killed in Iran as part of a crackdown, the US had threatened to strike Iran. However, later, the Trump administration opted for nuclear talks coupled with military buildup in the region.

The US officials seem to be pessimistic even when both sides say the talks "made progress".

Currently, Washington has brought massive firepower to the region to put pressure on Tehran. These include two aircraft carriers, a handful of warships, several hundred fighter jets and many air defence systems. Among the airpower were F-22 Raptors, F-16 Fighting Falcons, E-3 Sentry radar planes and a U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane.
Aaaand we're back!! This issue has been fixed across YouTube. Thanks for all the reports and for bearing with us while we sorted it out  https://t.co/cnlULBUJe7  TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) February 18, 2026

After the popular video streaming platform YouTube witnessed a global service outage on Tuesday, its parent company, Google, acknowledged the issue before confirming that it had been resolved.

After YouTube service disruptions were experienced by users across multiple countries, Google initially clarified that its team was working to fix the problem. "An issue with our recommendations system prevented videos from appearing across surfaces on YouTube (including the homepage, the YouTube app, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids). The homepage is back, but we're still working on a full fix. We're also seeing a small number of reports that some people are unable to log in to YouTube TV. This is related to the broader issue across YouTube, and we're also working on a fix here," the statement said.

The update regarding the issue being resolved was released later. It read: "The issue with our recommendations system has been resolved and all of our platforms (YouTube.com, the YouTube app, YouTube Music, Kids, and TV) are back to normal! We really appreciate you bearing with us while we sorted this out."

The same was confirmed through the official social media handles of the video streaming platform. "Aaaand we're back!! This issue has been fixed across YouTube. Thanks for all the reports and for bearing with us while we sorted it out," it said.

During the worst of the outage, visitors to the website's homepage were greeted with an invitation to come back later. There were over 19,000 complaints logged within minutes during the morning hours in India alone regarding YouTube services being hit, a report said. Meanwhile, over 320,000 American users reported an outage, the report added. It is estimated that there are more than 2.5 billion users actively using YouTube each month.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday shared an AI-generated post on X featuring himself and PM Narendra Modi, ahead of his official appearance at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

The photo, which visibly says 'Yes, this is AI' at the bottom, shows the two leaders making a heart symbol with their hands, looking forward, and smiling wide.

"When friends connect, innovation follows. Ready for the AI Impact Summit," Macron wrote in the post, which garnered more than 15,000 likes within a few hours.

When friends connect, innovation follows. Ready for The AI Impact Summit! pic.twitter.com/oh4700pQ09  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 18, 2026

Surrounded by screens and computers to highlight technological collaborations between the two countries, the photo also shows two white mugs bearing the Indian and French flags on them.

Taking place from February 16-20 (later extended to February 21) at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the Summit, which is centred around artificial intelligence, brings together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and creators from India and abroad.

Macron's arrival for the Summit on Thursday comes on the last day of the French President'sand First Lady Brigitte Macron'sthree-day official visit to India, at Modi's behest.

This is Macron's first time in Mumbai, and fourth visit to India, aimed at boosting strategic partnerships and assessing regional and global issues.

Netizens react

"Brothers celebrating Operation Sindoor," an X user wrote, referring to military ties between New Delhi and Paris.

Brothers celebrating Operation Sindoor  pic.twitter.com/QAYmCwOEpM  Acharya Chanakya (@Darkologyy) February 18, 2026

"A partnership of visions! ... Looking forward to seeing the AI Impact translate into real-world solutions for both nations," another X user said.

A partnership of visions! With PM @narendramodi and President @EmmanuelMacron alignment on AI, the whole world is watching. Looking forward to seeing the AI Impact translate into real-world solutions for both nations.  Ayo-Abodunrin (@edidiife) February 18, 2026

"Building and distributing AI solutions requires significant infrastructure, including data centers and high-speed networks, which can be a logistical challenge in certain regions," a third user pointed out.
The Boeing 747-8i aircraft, which will serve as Air Force One for Donald Trump, is gearing up for an external redesign, US media reports said. According to reports, Air Force Onecodenamed VC-25B by the militarywill now be rendered in a colour palette of red, white, dark blue, and gold.

Air Force One aircraft have been painted white and two-tone blue to date, a tradition since John F. Kennedy's time in the White House. Trump had proposed rendering his official aircraft in red, white, and blue shades in 2022, but the proposal was shot down by the US Air Force, citing the possibility that darker colours could cause overheating issues. However, the POTUS is set to get it done his way finally, the Air Force announced on Tuesday, 17 February.

Four modified Boeing 757-200s, used to transport the Vice President, cabinet members, members of Congress, and other senior government officials, will also be styled in the new colour scheme, the Air Force was quoted as saying by USA Today. One of those jets has already been repainted as per the new design and should be delivered in the coming months, the news portal added quoting the Air Force.

In 2025, the United States accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar, which was handed over to the Air Force to be upgraded into Air Force One. According to reports, it was not immediately known how the issue of overheating will be dealt with. While the original proposal was rejected in 2022, it was mentioned that fulfilling the idea would demand "additional engineering, time, and cost"meaning it is not an impossible request.
A 22-year-old Sikh nurse in Australia was left with trauma and a broken nose after a gym session on Tuesday night in Melbourne's Geelong area.

This verbal assault on Harmanpreet Singh comes months after anti-immigration protests rocked the country in 2025.

Singh alleged that the racial assault began in the form of verbal abuse while he was working out in the gym, and continued even after his session, as the trio behind the attack had been waiting for him outside the gym as well.

Visuals of the incident show the three attackers calling him an "Indian dog" and telling him to go back to where you came from, amid the use of expletives.

"He got really close to my face and then just got really back and hit his head on my nose. And just started bleeding straight away," Singh told 9News Australia.

"Nobody wants to hear it ... Especially when you're just minding your own business ... Anyone would be hurt. I'm still traumatised," he added.

The alleged racial offenders left in a grey sedan, while Singh spent the night in hospital. Visuals from the report also show blood streaming from Singh's broken nose.

The 22-year-old has also alleged that he had faced similar racial discrimination in the past, which had impacted him mentally, and was wondering whether to change his timings at the gym.

"I don't know if I'm going to go back to gym ... I'm not going to feel safe after this," he said.

This also comes almost two months after one of the worst mass shootings and antisemitic crimes in the nation's history at Bondi Beach, in which 15 people died after an armed attack on a Hanukkah celebration in December.

On Monday, the accused Bondi Beach killer Naveed Akram appeared (via video link) in an Australian court in his first public hearing since the massacre. Akram has been charged with terrorism and 15 counts of murder, while his father, Sajid, had been shot and killed by the police during the attack itself.
The evolution of Bangladesh-India trade ties is rooted in structural economic shifts rather than diplomacy alone. In the early 1990s, Bangladesh liberalised imports to support domestic production and export-oriented industries. At the same time, Indias post-reform economy began producing competitively priced, quality goods at scale. The convergence was inevitable: Bangladeshs expanding industrial base required inputs, and India had become a natural supplier.

Imports from India, particularly cotton yarn, fabrics, machinery, agricultural commodities and intermediate goods became integral to Bangladeshs manufacturing ecosystem. These imports strengthened export competitiveness, especially in ready-made garments, which now account for 84 per cent of Bangladeshs exports. Over time, India also provided Bangladesh duty-free, quota-free access under its 2011 LDC scheme, covering all but 25 tariff lines out of more than 8,000. For Bangladesh, which lacked a bilateral FTA like Nepal or Bhutan, this was a significant opening.

Despite this access, Bangladeshs export performance in the Indian market remained limited. It took nearly four decades to cross $1 billion in exports to India, and only five years thereafter to reach $2 billion. Meanwhile, imports from India rose sharply, widening the bilateral trade deficit. At one stage, Bangladesh imported roughly $14 billion from India while exporting around $2 billion.

However, bilateral deficits can be misleading when viewed in isolation. A substantial share of imports from India, particularly cotton yarn and fabric, feeds directly into Bangladeshs garment exports to Western markets. In that sense, the deficit with India contributes indirectly to Bangladeshs surplus with countries such as the United States. Trade flows are integrated within global value chains, not confined to bilateral balances.

The core limitation lies not in market access but in export concentration. Bangladeshs heavy dependence on garments restricts diversification, and India is itself a major textile and apparel producer and exporter.

This structural overlap naturally caps expansion in that segment. The more sustainable strategy would have been to attract Indian investment into Bangladesh to produce for the Indian market under duty-free access. While two special economic zones were dedicated to Indian investors and India extended lines of credit totalling $8 billion between 2010 and 2017 for infrastructure and development, investment inflows have remained modest. Bangladesh attracted less than $2 billion in FDI last year, compared with tens of billions flowing into India. Domestic constraints like cost of doing business, regulatory inefficiencies and governance challenges-remain critical obstacles.

Recent trade frictions, including restrictions on land-port movements and bans on yarn imports, illustrate internal sectoral tensions in Bangladesh.

Domestic spinners seek protection from competitively priced Indian yarn, while garment exporters prefer unrestricted sourcing to maintain price competitiveness. Long-term resolution lies not in import bans but in improving industrial competitiveness through better financing conditions, infrastructure, reduced cost of doing business, efficient institutions, putting in place single window in service delivery, availability of energy, implementation of the 2018 logistics policy and predictability among others.

A more consequential shift is approaching: Bangladesh will graduate from LDC status in November 2026. With graduation, Indias 2011 duty-free scheme will lapse unless extended. Several developed economies, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, have announced transitional support beyond graduation. China has also signalled a temporary extension of its preferential scheme. Securing a similar arrangement with India would ease the transition and protect competitiveness during adjustment.

At the same time, Bangladesh must reposition itself within the global trade architecture. Its recent Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan marks a milestone, but competitors are moving aggressively. Vietnam maintains around 17 free trade agreements, including one with the European Union. India has also concluded a trade agreement with the EU. Once Bangladeshs extended LDC benefits expire, its apparel exports to Europe could face tariffs while Indian and Vietnamese products enter duty-free. This potential tariff differential represents a structural risk to Bangladeshs primary export sector. Strategic pursuit of comprehensive trade agreementswith the EU, ASEAN and other major marketsis therefore imperative.

Trade relations cannot be detached from broader geopolitical realities. Energy cooperation, water-sharing over 54 common rivers, renewal of the 1996 Ganges Treaty in 2026, hydropower imports from Nepal via the Indian grid, and scrutiny over large-scale power agreements such as the 1,500 MW deal with the Adani Group all shape the economic environment. For Bangladesh, energy security and transition towards cleaner power are directly tied to export sustainability, especially as carbon-related trade measures emerge in Europe. Transparency and equitable terms in major bilateral deals are essential to prevent future political contestation.

Infrastructure projects such as the Matarbari deep-sea port and the Padma rail link were conceived within a framework of sub-regional connectivity. Their full economic viability depends on broader regional integration, including access for Indias northeast and landlocked neighbours. Connectivity, when operationalised on commercial terms, can generate shared gains rather than asymmetrical dependence.

Concerns in India regarding Bangladeshs expanding trade ties with Pakistan or deepening economic engagement with China must be assessed within the logic of sovereign economic policy. Bangladeshs largest import partner is China, and economic diversification across partners is a rational strategy. Engagement with one partner need not come at the expense of another, provided security sensitivities are respected. For example, India also negotiates trade arrangementssuch as its recalibrated tariff framework with the United Statesin pursuit of its own national interest. Bangladesh must do the same.

The political transition following the removal of the previous government has introduced a recalibration in perceptions. A democratically legitimised government in Bangladesh would be better positioned to engage India from a basis of public mandate and institutional confidence. Durable economic cooperation requires mutual respect, transparency, sensitivity to concerns of the partner countries and recognition of asymmetries.

Ultimately, BangladeshIndia relations must move beyond the narrow lens of trade deficits. The real agenda lies in competitiveness, diversification, connectivity and strategic trade diplomacy. For Bangladesh, the priority is strengthening domestic capacity while negotiating extended market access during the LDC transition. For India, sustaining goodwill requires sensitivity to partnership balance and ensuring that major agreements are transparent and commercially defensible.

A stable ecosystem-where trade, water, energy and security concerns are managed cooperatively-will naturally reinforce bilateral economic ties. Without that stability, even well-designed trade frameworks will struggle.

The future of the Bangladesh-India relationship should rest not on perceptions of dominance, but on calibrated mutual interest. That is the only durable foundation for shared prosperity in South Asia.

The author is a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka.
Enel Chile S.A. (NYSE:ENIC  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 696,566 shares, an increase of 32.2% from the January 15th total of 526,953 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 619,644 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.1 days. Based on an average trading volume of 619,644 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.1 days.

Enel Chile Trading Down 2.1%

ENIC stock traded down $0.09 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $4.13. The companys stock had a trading volume of 682,877 shares, compared to its average volume of 629,412. The companys fifty day moving average is $4.18 and its 200-day moving average is $3.87. Enel Chile has a 1 year low of $2.85 and a 1 year high of $4.51.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on ENIC shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Enel Chile in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Enel Chile from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, November 30th. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $4.30 price objective on shares of Enel Chile in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Santander cut Enel Chile to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Zacks Research raised Enel Chile to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Enel Chile has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $4.30.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Enel Chile

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ENIC. Ethos Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of Enel Chile by 7.3% during the 2nd quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC now owns 233,625 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $848,000 after buying an additional 15,851 shares in the last quarter. Banco BTG Pactual S.A. purchased a new stake in Enel Chile during the second quarter valued at approximately $4,389,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Enel Chile in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $59,000. CWA Asset Management Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Enel Chile during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $845,000. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in Enel Chile by 80.0% in the second quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 41,133 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $149,000 after buying an additional 18,282 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.20% of the companys stock.

About Enel Chile

(Get Free Report)

Enel Chile SA, traded as ENIC on the NYSE, is one of Chiles leading integrated electric utilities, with core businesses spanning electricity generation, transmission and distribution. The company serves a diverse customer base that includes residential, commercial and industrial users, striving to deliver reliable power across both urban and rural regions.

In its generation segment, Enel Chile operates a balanced portfolio of assets, including hydroelectric plants, thermal power stations and an expanding suite of renewable energy facilities such as wind and solar farms.

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Several brokerages have updated their recommendations and price targets on shares of Haemonetics (NYSE: HAE) in the last few weeks:

2/6/2026  Haemonetics was given a new $81.00 price target on by analysts at Robert W. Baird.

2/6/2026  Haemonetics was given a new $94.00 price target on by analysts at Barrington Research.

2/6/2026  Haemonetics had its price target lowered by analysts at Mizuho from $90.00 to $80.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

2/6/2026  Haemonetics had its price target lowered by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $88.00 to $75.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

2/6/2026  Haemonetics had its buy rating reaffirmed by analysts at BTIG Research. They now have a $88.00 price target on the stock.

2/2/2026  Haemonetics had its outperform rating reaffirmed by analysts at Barrington Research. They now have a $93.00 price target on the stock.

1/12/2026  Haemonetics had its price target raised by analysts at Barrington Research from $90.00 to $93.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

1/10/2026  Haemonetics was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a buy rating.

1/9/2026  Haemonetics had its buy rating reaffirmed by analysts at BTIG Research. They now have a $88.00 price target on the stock.

12/29/2025  Haemonetics had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/22/2025  Haemonetics had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

Haemonetics Corporation is a global provider of blood management solutions that support the collection, processing and transfusion of blood and blood products. The companys offerings are designed to enhance patient safety and operational efficiency for blood centers, hospitals and plasma collection facilities. Haemonetics serves healthcare providers worldwide by delivering integrated systems, software and consumables that address critical needs throughout the continuum of blood management.

The companys product portfolio includes automated apheresis and plasma collection systems, surgical blood salvage and coagulation monitoring devices, and pathogen reduction technologies.

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Step One Clothing (ASX:STP) reported a challenging first half of fiscal 2026, with management attributing weaker-than-expected sales and profitability to a strategic shift away from deep discounting and slower clearance of legacy inventory. CEO and founder Greg Taylor and CFO Nigel Underwood said the company is taking near-term pain to reset the business and rebuild brand equity, while pointing to early signs of momentum in third-party sales channels and new product launches.

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First-half results miss expectations as discounting strategy changes

Taylor said first-half performance came in below expectations, with revenue of AUD 36.3 million, down 24.5% from the prior comparable period. He attributed the softer headline sales largely to Step Ones strategic pivot away from deep discounting during sale periods to restore our brand equity, along with slower-than-expected clearance of legacy inventory despite promotional efforts.

Margins, costs, and EBITDA impacted by provision and operating pressures

The legacy inventory also drove athat significantly affected profitability. On an adjusted basis, excluding the provision, Taylor saidfor the half.

Underwood said gross profit was hit by the AUD 10.9 million inventory provision, which reduced reported gross margin to 43%. Excluding the provision, adjusted gross margin was 73.2%, down 4.8 percentage points, which management said reflected price reductions made in response to customer feedback.

On costs, Underwood noted:

Advertising costs fell AUD 2.6 million in absolute terms but increased to 31.2% of revenue as the company continued investing in brand-led activity to support acquisition.

fell in absolute terms but increased to as the company continued investing in brand-led activity to support acquisition. Distribution and fulfilment costs increased to 20.6% of revenue, driven by elevated inventory levels and the introduction of an additional third-party logistics provider (3PL).

Adjusted EBITDA of AUD 1.0 million compared with AUD 11.2 million in the prior period, Underwood said. The combination of lower volumes, the inventory provision, and cost pressures resulted in a reported EBITDA loss of AUD 10.0 million.

Indirect channels show growth; new products gain early traction

Despite the weaker overall result, management emphasized growth in indirect revenue channelssales through partners such as Amazon, John Lewis, and social commerce. Taylor said indirect revenue rose 75.9% year over year and grew to 18.3% of total revenue for the half.

During Q&A, Taylor said the growth in indirect revenue was predominant in the U.K., citing the companys TikTok Shop activity and its experience with Amazon in that market. He added that Amazon performed well relatively broadly, with growth rates reasonably well spread.

Taylor also highlighted new product introductions during the half, including socks, pyjamas, and new womens period products. In response to an analyst question, he said the company initially sold out of socks, and that pyjamas were probably our second-best product in early trading. He described some adjacent products as more important for innovation and brand positioning than for near-term volume, while noting sleepwear could open the door to further adjacencies.

Balance sheet remains debt-free; cash and liquidity detailed

Underwood said the company ended the half debt-free with AUD 24 million in cash and other financial assets. Inventory on hand increased by AUD 2.7 million due to broader range and slower-moving lines, though net inventory was reduced by the AUD 10.9 million provision. After accounting for liabilities and committed purchase orders, Underwood said Step One ended with AUD 11.4 million of available cash.

Operating cash flow was an outflow of AUD 1.4 million for the half, compared with an inflow in the prior period, driven by lower receipts and higher inventory levels. Dividends totaling AUD 4.4 million were paid, down 14.5% from the prior period. Underwood said the company has maintained its 100% dividend policy, with payments expected to resume when retained earnings return to a positive balance. He also noted term deposits longer than three months are classified as investments, and that cash and term deposits are held with licensed banks.

Reset program priorities: product adjacencies, brand advertising, and reduced discounting

Looking ahead, Taylor reiterated Step Ones reset program, anchored around product and range expansion, customer acquisition and retention, channel diversification, and international footprint development (with Australia as the foundation and increased focus on the U.K. and U.S.). He said the company plans to prioritize customer acquisition, brand equity, and channel development over short-term profitability in its international markets.

Operational metrics cited during the call included an average order value of AUD 93 and a 4.7% conversion rate, which Taylor said remained strong by industry standards. He also said the companys customer database surpassed 2 million for the first time.

For the second half, Taylor said management will continue rolling out new products and adjacencies, enhance brand advertising with a heightened focus on digital, and further reduce discounting to support Step Ones positioning as a premium brand.

About Step One Clothing (ASX:STP)

Step One Clothing Limited operates as a direct-to-consumer online retailer for men's underwear in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. It offers men's underwear products, such as boxer briefs, trunks, and a boxer brief with a fly through its website, www.stepone.life. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Surry Hills, Australia.

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The Environmental Group (ASX:EGL) reported higher revenue and earnings for the first half, with CEO Jason Dixon describing the period as reasonably difficult from an operational point of view due to major internal projects running in parallel with day-to-day delivery.

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For the half, Dixon said revenue rose about 9% to AUD 58.9 million, while EBITDA increased 26% to AUD 4.9 million. He also highlighted that 54% of revenue is now recurring, which he said improves cash flow consistency and business predictability. The company recorded 205,000 hours worked without a lost time injury (LTI), which Dixon cited as a key internal KPI.

Operational changes: ERP overhaul and multiple relocations

Management emphasized that much of the half was shaped by major operational initiatives. Dixon said the group upgraded its company-wide ERP system, consolidating three legacy systems into a unified platform. The system went live on, and Dixon said it has been performing well, with invoicing, payments, timesheets, and job allocations running through the new platform.

The company also undertook extensive site relocations tied to a one EGL operating model. Dixon said the group moved seven different premises during the half, which he described as an enormous undertaking that can interrupt operations, but which supports cross-selling and improved coordination. Western Australia was also relocated because the business had grown out of the existing facility.

CFO Gareth Nicholls said relocation expenditure was predominantly completed in the first half, while ERP-related costs will continue for the next two months as the company completes final implementation phases and resolves minor issues. Management also attributed a rise in other expenses to the ERP project and site consolidation.

Segment performance: Energy leads, timing impacts Baltec

Dixon called the Energy segment the standout performer, with energy revenue up 39.8% to AUD 34.1 million and EBITDA up 32.6%. He said the growth came despite the relocation of five energy sites during the half. Dixon noted that within EGL Energy, the business is heavily recurring: 69% of segment revenue is recurring, supported by legislated service requirements for boilers over two megawatts (inspections every five weeks).

He also highlighted progress from Advanced Boilers, which supports manufacturing and fabrication across the group, including building PFAS plants and supplying control panels. Dixon said the internal manufacturing capability reduces reliance on third-party suppliers.

For Baltec, Dixon said first-half revenue and EBITDA were down due to project timing rather than demand. He explained that Baltec typically executes about 12 higher-value projects annually, and revenue recognition is driven by percentage of completion. Engineering is completed first, with a larger share of costs (and therefore revenue) booked during fabrication. Dixon said engineering had been completed on several projects secured from September to December, and four projects were moving into fabrication in the second half. He also referenced a previously announced project of about AUD 11 million that had begun fabrication.

Dixon said industry conditions for Baltec remain strong, citing turbine demand linked to data centers and AI, with visibility extending to 2030 and a high volume of RFQs. He also discussed completion of the Pelican Point project during the period, which included an installation component handled on a cost-plus basis to limit risk. Dixon said the job finished two days early and slightly under budget.

Clean Air: signs of market improvement and a lithium-related engineering order

Dixon said Clean Air began to see improved market conditions later in the half and that the company consolidated sites and implemented business changes to prepare for growth. He said the company received an engineering order for a new lithium plant port, described as the first in three years following the lithium price downturn. Dixon said part-one engineering has been agreed, with a full supply agreement expected to be awarded in coming months.

He said both Airtight and TAPC won significant work in recent months and should deliver a much, much improved second half in FY 2026. Dixon also reiterated that dry fogging systemsadded as a new product via an agency arrangementhave been successful, noting that every trial completed has resulted in a sale.

Waste and PFAS: growing revenue, new capabilities, and recurring potential

The Waste Services segment continued to scale, with Dixon reporting AUD 2.3 million in revenue and stating the business was up from AUD 600,000 in the prior corresponding period. He said the business made about AUD 750,000. Nicholls added that first-half Waste revenue was slightly stronger from the water side, and said recurring revenue in Waste (including spares and supplies) was slightly higher than 50%, at just over 60%.

Dixon outlined several PFAS-related developments:

An on-site PFAS testing device that can deliver results within an hour, eliminating delays from sending samples to external labs.

Commissioning of a large PFAS plant installed on a soil wash facility, described as the first of its type in Australia.

Acquisition of a state-of-the-art vessel installed at Victoria University that allows testing of biosolids, organics, soils, and waste streams in a way that simulates full-scale plant outcomes, with scalability options.

Management said demand dynamics shifted after the release of NEMP 3 and related changes, with Dixon describing a move from early-stage discussions to more serious customer engagement. Chief Commercial Officer Paul Gaskett said adoption is being driven both by proactive customers and regulation-related pressures, and pointed to water utility companies pushing to stop PFAS entering sewer networks, including via trade waste licensing requirements.

On sales progress, Dixon said three PFAS plants have been sold and delivered, with one currently generating recurring revenue. He said another large plant was nearing commissioning and metering would begin once commissioned, with additional installations expected during the second half, including a project in New Zealand that Gaskett said was not in the first half but would begin in the second.

Outlook: guidance maintained, second-half seasonality and project mix

Dixon said guidance was maintained, with the company expecting 15%20% normalized earnings growth in FY 2025. He also provided several reasons the business typically produces a stronger second half, including Energy seasonality as cooler months drive higher boiler utilization and improved labor recovery, and the shift of Baltec projects into fabrication where a larger portion of revenue is recognized.

Management reiterated a longer-term goal of increasing recurring revenue to 70% of group revenue, up from 54% in the first half. Dixon said continued equipment installations (such as boilers and PFAS systems) support that trajectory by adding future service and maintenance streams.

On other topics, Dixon said headcount increased over the year (he estimated from about 225 to about 280), and he said there were no acquisitions currently underway. He also said the company has no current strategy tied to 374Water in the U.S., stating that the technology has not, in the companys view, proven an economically viable model.

About The Environmental Group (ASX:EGL)

The Environmental Group Limited engages in the design, application, and servicing of gas and vapor emission control systems, and inlet and exhaust systems for gas turbines in Australia and internationally. Its products include gas turbine inlet filtration systems (filter houses), inlet cooling/fogging systems, acoustical components, expansion joints, and complete exhaust systems with guillotine and diverter dampers; and a range of air pollution control equipment and services for the removal of pollutants from industrial gas and air streams.

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Otsuka (OTCMKTS:OTSKY  Get Free Report) updated its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 1.639-1.639 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 0.000. The company issued revenue guidance of $16.4 billion-$16.4 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $16.4 billion.

Otsuka Price Performance

OTSKY stock traded down $0.96 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $33.70. The company had a trading volume of 21,023 shares, compared to its average volume of 34,923. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $29.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.14. Otsuka has a fifty-two week low of $21.64 and a fifty-two week high of $34.93.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley upgraded Otsuka to an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Zacks Research cut Otsuka from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Otsuka to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Otsuka has a consensus rating of Hold.

Otsuka Company Profile

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Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd., trading in the U.S. under the ticker OTCMKTS:OTSKY, is a global healthcare company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The firms core activities span the development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals, consumer healthcare products and nutraceuticals. Otsuka focuses its research on areas such as neuroscience, cardiovascular and renal therapies, and oncology, aiming to bring innovative treatments to patients worldwide.

Founded in 1964 by Busaburo Otsuka as a subsidiary of the Otsuka Group, the company has grown into a diversified healthcare enterprise over more than five decades.

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Shares of Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $19.38 and last traded at $19.3750, with a volume of 80092 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $19.30.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NVGS has been the subject of several analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a buy rating and set a $19.00 price target on shares of Navigator in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Pareto Securities initiated coverage on shares of Navigator in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. They set a buy rating for the company. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Navigator from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Navigator from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, February 8th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Navigator in a report on Monday, December 29th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Navigator presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $21.50.

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Navigator Trading Up 0.2%

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Navigator

The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $17.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $16.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market cap of $1.34 billion, a PE ratio of 12.81, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.40.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bessemer Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Navigator during the second quarter worth $383,000. Estabrook Capital Management grew its position in Navigator by 13.7% during the 2nd quarter. Estabrook Capital Management now owns 149,658 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $2,118,000 after purchasing an additional 18,090 shares during the period. Hodges Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Navigator by 12.7% during the 2nd quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. now owns 421,886 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $5,970,000 after purchasing an additional 47,391 shares during the period. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Navigator by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,437,201 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $20,336,000 after buying an additional 99,326 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Navigator in the 2nd quarter valued at about $399,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 18.95% of the companys stock.

About Navigator

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Navigator Holdings Ltd. is a global shipping company specializing in the seaborne transportation of liquefied gases. The companys fleet is purpose-built to carry a range of petrochemical gases, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethylene, propylene and ammonia. Navigators vessels are designed to meet the stringent safety and environmental standards required for handling pressurized and refrigerated gases, offering flexible capacity to customers across the energy and chemical sectors.

Navigator operates one of the largest and most modern fleets of gas carriers in the industry, with vessels ranging from fully pressurized gas carriers to specialized very large ethane carriers (VLECs).

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Clarivate PLC (NYSE:CLVT  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $1.74 and last traded at $1.8150, with a volume of 4036527 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $1.81.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen raised Clarivate from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 7th. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (e+) rating on shares of Clarivate in a research report on Monday, December 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Clarivate from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the company from $4.20 to $3.60 in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an underweight rating and issued a $3.00 price target (down from $5.00) on shares of Clarivate in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Clarivate currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average price target of $4.28.

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Clarivate Trading Down 1.1%

Insiders Place Their Bets

The company has a market cap of $1.18 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.14 and a beta of 1.51. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $2.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.87.

In other Clarivate news, insider Bar Veinstein sold 309,902 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.74, for a total value of $1,159,033.48. Following the sale, the insider owned 848,811 shares in the company, valued at $3,174,553.14. This represents a 26.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 23.18% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Clarivate

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Abel Hall LLC acquired a new stake in Clarivate during the 4th quarter valued at $161,000. Atairos Partners GP Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Clarivate by 195.3% during the 4th quarter. Atairos Partners GP Inc. now owns 10,232,667 shares of the companys stock worth $34,177,000 after buying an additional 6,767,667 shares during the last quarter. TFJ Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Clarivate during the 4th quarter worth about $1,955,000. PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Clarivate by 294.1% during the 4th quarter. PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. now owns 521,000 shares of the companys stock worth $1,740,000 after buying an additional 388,800 shares during the period. Finally, RPO LLC bought a new position in Clarivate in the 4th quarter valued at about $64,000. Institutional investors own 85.72% of the companys stock.

About Clarivate

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Clarivate plc is a global information and analytics company that provides insights and workflow solutions to accelerate the pace of innovation. The company delivers proprietary data, analytics, and expertise to support research and development in the life sciences, intellectual property management, academic institutions, government agencies, and corporations. Its core offerings include citation and patent databases, drug pipeline analytics, trademark research tools, regulatory compliance solutions, and market intelligence platforms.

Originally part of Thomson Reuters Intellectual Property & Science division, Clarivate was established as an independent entity in 2016 following a spin-off transaction.

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Shares of Janus Henderson Group plc (NYSE:JHG  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $49.48 and last traded at $49.43, with a volume of 2071891 shares. The stock had previously closed at $49.05.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on JHG shares. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Janus Henderson Group from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Zacks Research raised Janus Henderson Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Bank of America restated a neutral rating and set a $49.00 price objective (down from $54.00) on shares of Janus Henderson Group in a research note on Monday, January 5th. TD Cowen lowered shares of Janus Henderson Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $49.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, December 23rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Janus Henderson Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, December 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $47.67.

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Janus Henderson Group Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 4.02, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The firm has a market cap of $7.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.54. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $47.62 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $45.13.

Janus Henderson Group (NYSE:JHG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The company reported $2.01 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.82. The company had revenue of $996.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $763.09 million. Janus Henderson Group had a return on equity of 14.70% and a net margin of 25.83%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 61.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.07 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Janus Henderson Group plc will post 3.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of JHG. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in shares of Janus Henderson Group by 38.3% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 115,135 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,163,000 after buying an additional 31,889 shares in the last quarter. Amundi lifted its stake in Janus Henderson Group by 13.8% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 4,177 shares of the companys stock worth $150,000 after purchasing an additional 506 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in Janus Henderson Group by 1,538.8% during the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 8,833 shares of the companys stock valued at $319,000 after buying an additional 8,294 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Janus Henderson Group by 16.7% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,299,921 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,992,000 after buying an additional 186,218 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Janus Henderson Group by 1,924.0% during the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 279,352 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,099,000 after buying an additional 265,550 shares during the last quarter. 87.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Janus Henderson Group

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Janus Henderson Group plc is a global asset manager offering a broad range of investment solutions across equities, fixed income, multi-asset and alternative strategies. The firm provides portfolio management services to institutional clients, financial intermediaries and individual investors. Its product lineup includes actively managed mutual funds, separate accounts and exchange-traded funds, designed to meet a variety of risk-return objectives and investment horizons.

The company was formed in May 2017 through the merger of Janus Capital Group and Henderson Group, combining decades of investment expertise in both the U.S.

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Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF (NYSEARCA:VPL  Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 4,791,853 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 350% from the previous sessions volume of 1,064,285 shares.The stock last traded at $104.9760 and had previously closed at $106.42.

Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF Stock Performance

The companys 50 day moving average price is $95.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $91.29. The company has a market cap of $9.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.65 and a beta of 0.77.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF during the third quarter valued at $26,000. Dorato Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Aptus Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF by 121.7% during the 4th quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 408 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 224 shares during the period.

About Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF

Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF, formerly Vanguard MSCI Pacific ETF, is an exchange-traded share class of Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund. The Fund seeks to track the investment performance of the MSCI Pacific Index that consists of common stocks of companies located in Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore. The Fund employs a passive management or indexing investment approach by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the common stocks included in the MSCI Pacific Index (the Index).

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Australian Finance Group (ASX:AFG) told investors its first half of FY2026 delivered a record performance, with management pointing to accelerating profit growth, operating leverage, and improving margins in its manufacturing (lending) business alongside continued momentum in its distribution network.

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Chief Executive Officer David Bailey said the result reflected disciplined execution of AFGs strategy across three pillars: expanding the broker network, offering a market-leading technology proposition, and driving higher-margin manufacturing through AFG Securities. He said the company is progressing toward its FY2029 aspirations and is supported by structural tailwinds such as continued broker channel market share gains and industry consolidation.

Network scale and early second-half trading

Bailey said AFG now supports 4,300 active brokers and that its network writes one in nine Australian residential mortgages, an improvement from one in 10. He added the business connects more than 600,000 customers nationwide.

Management also flagged a strong start to calendar 2026. Bailey said January lodgements were up strongly across residential and AFG Securities, with growth across all states and particular strength in New South Wales and Victoria. He said record RMBS issuance improved funding certainty and supported a positive near-term outlook for net interest margin (NIM).

Financial performance and cash generation

Chief Financial Officer Luca Belgiorno said the first half represented a meaningful step up in profitability. He reported:

Gross profit increased 16% to AUD 78 million.

increased 16% to AUD 78 million. EBITDA increased 43% to AUD 36 million.

increased 43% to AUD 36 million. Return on equity improved to 21%.

Belgiorno said 74% of earnings are annuity style, providing a stable base. He also highlighted cost discipline and operating leverage, with gross profit up 16% while operating expenses rose 5%, improving the cost-to-income ratio to 56% from 64%. Operating expense growth reflected targeted investment in performance-linked remuneration and technology, partly offset by reduced headcount. Amortization related to the groups platforms increased by AUD 1 million.

Net cash from operating activities increased 50% to AUD 20 million, and cash conversion was 85%, according to Belgiorno. The company declared a fully franked interim dividend of AUD 0.047 per share, which management said was consistent with its payout policy.

Distribution: subscriptions and multi-product mix

In distribution, Belgiorno said gross profit increased 5% to AUD 58 million, and the segment continued to generate the majority of group earnings with a 37% return on equity. He emphasized an improving quality of earnings, led by subscription revenue tied to AFGs technology and platform services.

Subscription income increased 11% to AUD 11 million, marking what Belgiorno described as the eighth consecutive year of double-digit growth. Subscription income was close to 20% of distribution gross profit, increasing the recurring component of earnings. Residential margins increased by AUD 1.9 million, driven by record settlement volumes, while upfront payout ratios remained stable at 96.3%.

Belgiorno said Asset Finance settlements grew 15% and that the business has grown at an annualized rate of 22% since AFG acquired Fintelligence. He added that BBI moderated in the period, with competition becoming more rational and performance improving compared to the second half of FY2025.

Manufacturing: book growth, funding-led NIM expansion

AFGs manufacturing business (lending via AFG Securities) was a key contributor to the periods earnings uplift. Belgiorno said manufacturing gross profit increased 62% to AUD 21 million, with the loan book closing at AUD 6.3 billion after a strong December. He reported NIM increased to 124 basis points, up 11 basis points over the half, and said operating leverage delivered AUD 4 million in scale benefits while the manufacturing cost-to-income ratio improved by 19 percentage points.

Belgiorno said the NIM expansion was funding-led, not risk-led. He attributed about 9 basis points of uplift to structural factors (excluding the cash-to-BBSW spread), with the spread contributing roughly 5 basis points. That placed underlying NIM at about 119 basis points. During the half, AFG renewed three warehouse facilities at improved margins and completed an RMBS issuance priced 25 basis points inside its prior transaction. He added a further AUD 1 billion to AUD 2 billion deal was completed last week on similar terms with strong investor support.

Belgiorno said 53% of the portfolio is now term-funded, reducing exposure to short-term funding volatility. He also pointed to an exit NIM of 126 basis points, saying this provided confidence for the second half due to the full-period benefit from funding secured in the first half and the additional term transaction completed after period end.

Broker investments, capital position, and outlook

Bailey also discussed AFGs broker investment strategy, describing it as targeted minority investments aligned to succession and scale. He said five broker investments have been completed, are earnings accretive from day one, and are beginning to pursue secondary acquisitions, which management said is enhancing network effects over time.

In the Q&A, management said AFG has invested about AUD 7 million across the broker investment portfolio, with an average stake of around 25% and annualized EBITDA of AUD 2 million from those investments. Management said returns are assessed case-by-case against hurdle rates, and that contributions are expected to build over time.

Belgiorno said the group ended the half with AUD 63 million of unrestricted cash and remained in a net cash position. He cited a trail book net asset of AUD 86 billion as embedded value and said strategic investments total AUD 56 million, while the balance sheet remains flexible for additional investment where returns are compelling.

On outlook, Bailey said the company expects earnings to accelerate in the second half, driven by strong January lodgements across residential and AFG Securities (with strong February numbers also cited), a higher-margin mix supported by improved NIM and growing subscription income, and continued operating leverage alongside a seasonal cost profile.

About Australian Finance Group (ASX:AFG)

Australian Finance Group Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mortgage broking business in Australia. It operates in two segments: Aggregation and AFG Home Loans. The company is involved in the mortgage origination and management of home and commercial loans, and consumer asset finance; and distribution of own branded home loan products. It also offers Suite360, commercial and business broking, and smart marketing platforms. The company was formerly known as Australian Finance Group Pty Ltd.

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Shell PLC Unsponsored ADR (NYSE:SHEL  Free Report)  Stock analysts at Scotiabank lowered their FY2027 earnings per share estimates for shares of Shell in a report issued on Wednesday, February 11th. Scotiabank analyst P. Cheng now expects that the energy company will earn $5.85 per share for the year, down from their previous forecast of $6.35. The consensus estimate for Shells current full-year earnings is $7.67 per share.

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SHEL has been the subject of several other reports. Royal Bank Of Canada cut shares of Shell from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Shell in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on Shell from $93.00 to $89.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 6th. UBS Group cut Shell from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Shell in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $81.33.

Shell Trading Down 1.1%

Shell stock opened at $77.90 on Monday. Shell has a 52 week low of $58.54 and a 52 week high of $80.25. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $74.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $73.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The company has a market capitalization of $221.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.81 and a beta of 0.16.

Shell (NYSE:SHEL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The energy company reported $0.57 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.21 by ($0.64). The firm had revenue of $64.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $65.82 billion. Shell had a return on equity of 10.34% and a net margin of 6.52%.

Institutional Trading of Shell

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Colonial Trust Advisors lifted its stake in Shell by 9.5% in the 4th quarter. Colonial Trust Advisors now owns 1,488 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $109,000 after buying an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Argent Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Shell by 3.3% in the third quarter. Argent Advisors Inc. now owns 4,717 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $337,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. First PREMIER Bank boosted its stake in shares of Shell by 6.1% in the third quarter. First PREMIER Bank now owns 2,653 shares of the energy companys stock worth $190,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares during the last quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC increased its position in shares of Shell by 50.5% during the second quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 480 shares of the energy companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LRI Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Shell by 25.1% in the 4th quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 846 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 28.60% of the companys stock.

Shell Company Profile

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Shell plc (NYSE: SHEL) is a global integrated energy company that operates across the full oil and gas value chain as well as in developing lower-carbon energy solutions. The company traces its roots to the early 20th century merger of Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport and Trading, and today it is organized to explore for and produce hydrocarbons, process and refine them, manufacture petrochemicals, and market fuel, lubricants and related products under the Shell brand around the world.

Shells principal activities include upstream exploration and production of oil and natural gas, integrated gas operations including liquefied natural gas (LNG), and downstream refining, supply and marketing.

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Schneider Electric SE (OTCMKTS:SBGSY  Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Buy from the eleven research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, six have issued a buy recommendation and three have issued a strong buy recommendation on the company.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on SBGSY shares. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Schneider Electric in a research report on Monday, December 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Schneider Electric from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Morgan Stanley raised Schneider Electric from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating on shares of Schneider Electric in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Evercore began coverage on shares of Schneider Electric in a research report on Monday, December 15th. They set an outperform rating for the company.

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Schneider Electric Stock Performance

Schneider Electric Company Profile

Shares of OTCMKTS:SBGSY opened at $60.55 on Friday. Schneider Electric has a 12-month low of $39.77 and a 12-month high of $65.19. The business has a 50 day moving average of $56.71 and a 200-day moving average of $54.98.

(Get Free Report)

Schneider Electric is a global specialist in energy management and automation solutions, offering products and services that help customers optimize the use of electrical power and industrial processes. Headquartered in Rueil-Malmaison, France, the company traces its industrial roots back to the 19th century and has evolved into a technology-driven provider of electrical distribution, control and automation equipment, and related software and services.

The companys portfolio spans low- and medium-voltage electrical distribution, building and home automation, industrial automation and control systems, critical power and cooling for data centers, and integrated software platforms that enable monitoring, analytics and remote operations.

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Weave Communications (NYSE:WEAV  Get Free Report) is anticipated to announce its Q4 2025 results after the market closes on Thursday, February 19th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.03 per share and revenue of $63.1860 million for the quarter. Investors are encouraged to explore the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning overview page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 4:30 PM ET.

Weave Communications Stock Up 2.0%

WEAV opened at $5.71 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $445.55 million, a PE ratio of -13.28 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 1.24. Weave Communications has a fifty-two week low of $5.37 and a fifty-two week high of $17.63. The business has a 50-day moving average of $6.77 and a 200-day moving average of $6.92.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on WEAV shares. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on shares of Weave Communications from $15.00 to $12.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Weave Communications in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Weave Communications from $9.00 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Raymond James Financial lowered Weave Communications from a strong-buy rating to a moderate buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on Weave Communications from $13.00 to $11.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Weave Communications presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $11.50.

Insider Transactions at Weave Communications

In other news, insider Erin Goodsell sold 9,615 shares of Weave Communications stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.89, for a total value of $66,247.35. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 527,055 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,631,408.95. The trade was a 1.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 18.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Weave Communications

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Amundi boosted its position in shares of Weave Communications by 27.1% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 5,301 shares of the companys stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 1,130 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in Weave Communications by 119.7% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 8,683 shares of the companys stock valued at $72,000 after purchasing an additional 4,731 shares during the last quarter. RPO LLC bought a new stake in Weave Communications in the 4th quarter valued at $81,000. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Weave Communications in the 4th quarter worth $84,000. Finally, Mariner LLC acquired a new stake in Weave Communications in the 4th quarter worth $117,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.83% of the companys stock.

About Weave Communications

(Get Free Report)

Weave Communications is a technology company that provides integrated communications and customer management solutions tailored for small- to medium-sized local businesses. Headquartered in Lehi, Utah, the company developed a cloud-based platform that unifies voice calling, business texting, appointment reminders and payment processing within a single interface.

The platforms core offerings include a unified business phone system, two-way texting, automated appointment and recall reminders, secure payment acceptance and a basic customer relationship management module.

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Zealand Pharma A/S (OTCMKTS:ZLDPF  Get Free Report) is expected to be posting its results before the market opens on Thursday, February 19th. Analysts expect Zealand Pharma A/S to post earnings of ($1.34) per share for the quarter.

Zealand Pharma A/S Price Performance

Zealand Pharma A/S stock opened at $62.10 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 14.10, a quick ratio of 14.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $69.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $70.52. Zealand Pharma A/S has a 12-month low of $49.98 and a 12-month high of $108.30. The stock has a market cap of $4.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 0.72.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on ZLDPF shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Zealand Pharma A/S in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. BTIG Research upgraded Zealand Pharma A/S to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy.

About Zealand Pharma A/S

(Get Free Report)

Zealand Pharma A/S is a Denmark?based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery, design and development of peptide?based therapeutics. Utilizing proprietary peptide engineering platforms, the company focuses on metabolic and endocrine disorders, including diabetes and rare gastrointestinal diseases. Zealand employs a rational design approach to optimize stability, selectivity and dosing profiles of its candidates, aiming to improve patient outcomes where current treatment options are limited.

Among the most advanced assets in Zealands pipeline is dasiglucagon, a stable glucagon analog designed for the emergency treatment of severe hypoglycemia.

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Premier Foods (OTCMKTS:PRRFY  Get Free Report) and BAB (OTCMKTS:BABB  Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, risk, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Premier Foods and BABs revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Premier Foods $1.45 billion 1.62 $159.36 million N/A N/A BAB $3.44 million 2.09 $560,000.00 $0.08 12.39

Dividends

Premier Foods has higher revenue and earnings than BAB.

Premier Foods pays an annual dividend of $0.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. BAB pays an annual dividend of $0.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.0%. BAB pays out 50.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Volatility & Risk

Premier Foods has a beta of 0.46, suggesting that its share price is 54% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BAB has a beta of 0.22, suggesting that its share price is 78% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Premier Foods and BABs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Premier Foods N/A N/A N/A BAB 16.25% 16.81% 11.65%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Premier Foods and BAB, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Premier Foods 0 1 0 0 2.00 BAB 0 0 0 0 0.00

About Premier Foods

(Get Free Report)

Premier Foods plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes branded and own label food products in the United Kingdom, other European countries, and internationally. The company operates through Grocery, Sweet Treats, and international segments. It offers a portfolio of product categories, including flavorings and seasonings under the Bisto, OXO, Paxo, and Saxa brands; cooking sauces and accompaniments under the Sharwood's, Loyd Grossman, Spice Tailor and Homepride brands; quick meals, snacks, and soups under the Batchelors and Smash brands; ambient desserts under the Ambrosia, Bird's, and Angel Delight brands; and ambient cakes under the Mr Kipling and Cadbury brands. The company also provides dumplings under the Atora brand name; plain flour under the Be-Ro brand; dried milk under the Marvel brand name; plain and self-raising flour under the McDougalls brand; and plant based food under the Plantastic brand name. It offers its products through supermarkets, discounters, convenience stores, and wholesale and food service facilities, as well as through e-commerce channels. The company was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Saint Albans, the United Kingdom.

About BAB

(Get Free Report)

BAB, Inc. franchises and licenses bagel and muffin retail units under the Big Apple Bagels (BAB), My Favorite Muffin (MFM), and SweetDuet (SD) trade names in the United States. It's BAB franchised brand includes daily baked bagels, flavored cream cheeses, premium coffees, gourmet bagel sandwiches, and other related products; and MFM brand comprises various freshly baked muffins and coffees, as well as units operating as My Favorite Muffin Your All Day Bakery Cafe features specialty bagel sandwiches and related products. The company's SD brand includes frozen yogurt products. BAB, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Deerfield, Illinois.

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Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE:ALLY  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the seventeen research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $50.3125.

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on ALLY shares. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $52.00 target price on shares of Ally Financial in a report on Monday, January 12th. Evercore dropped their price target on shares of Ally Financial from $53.00 to $51.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Barclays increased their target price on Ally Financial from $44.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Ally Financial from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on Ally Financial from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Ally Financial

Institutional Trading of Ally Financial

In other news, CFO Russell E. Hutchinson bought 11,566 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 27th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $43.17 per share, for a total transaction of $499,304.22. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief financial officer directly owned 225,336 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,727,755.12. This trade represents a 5.41% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, CEO Michael George Rhodes acquired 23,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 23rd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $41.68 per share, for a total transaction of $991,984.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 49,434 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,060,409.12. The trade was a 92.85% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure . 0.56% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Allworth Financial LP lifted its position in shares of Ally Financial by 385.2% in the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 752 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 597 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Ally Financial during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of Ally Financial in the third quarter valued at $31,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of Ally Financial by 662.0% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 823 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 715 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Ally Financial by 116.8% in the 2nd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 837 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 451 shares during the last quarter. 88.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Ally Financial Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of Ally Financial stock opened at $41.34 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.92. Ally Financial has a 1 year low of $29.52 and a 1 year high of $47.27. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $43.94 and a 200 day moving average price of $41.48. The company has a market capitalization of $12.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.59, a P/E/G ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.19.

Ally Financial (NYSE:ALLY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 21st. The financial services provider reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.08. Ally Financial had a net margin of 10.77% and a return on equity of 10.40%. The firm had revenue of $2.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.78 earnings per share. Ally Financials revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Ally Financial will post 3.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ally Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 2nd. Ally Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.06%.

Ally Financial announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, December 10th that permits the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to reacquire up to 15.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

About Ally Financial

(Get Free Report)

Ally Financial Inc is a leading digital financial services company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. The company offers a comprehensive suite of banking, lending, and insurance products designed for retail and commercial customers. Through its online-only platform, Ally Bank provides checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and home mortgages, emphasizing competitive rates and user-friendly mobile and web experiences.

In addition to its banking operations, Ally Financial is a major player in automotive financing and leasing.

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M&G PLC purchased a new position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 2,436 shares of the investment management companys stock, valued at approximately $1,939,000.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. First PREMIER Bank bought a new position in The Goldman Sachs Group in the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Corundum Trust Company INC bought a new position in The Goldman Sachs Group in the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. Clearstead Trust LLC bought a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Elevation Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 40 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.21% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at The Goldman Sachs Group

In other news, EVP John F.W. Rogers sold 13,151 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $959.03, for a total transaction of $12,612,203.53. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 39,007 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $37,408,883.21. The trade was a 25.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Sheara J. Fredman sold 4,863 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $923.75, for a total value of $4,492,196.25. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 10,301 shares in the company, valued at $9,515,548.75. The trade was a 32.07% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 117,283 shares of company stock worth $112,016,033 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on GS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $750.00 to $775.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. HSBC lifted their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $742.00 to $802.00 in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Zacks Research raised shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, January 19th. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $1,050.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn upped their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $608.00 to $748.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and fourteen have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, The Goldman Sachs Group has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $916.86.

Read Our Latest Analysis on The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Performance

NYSE:GS opened at $915.91 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $274.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.86, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.34. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $439.38 and a 1 year high of $984.70. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $920.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $827.33.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 15th. The investment management company reported $13.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $11.52 by $2.03. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 13.73% and a return on equity of 15.19%. The company had revenue of $15.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.30 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $11.95 earnings per share. The Goldman Sachs Groups quarterly revenue was down 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 47.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of $4.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $18.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. This is a positive change from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $4.00. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 31.20%.

Key Stories Impacting The Goldman Sachs Group

Here are the key news stories impacting The Goldman Sachs Group this week:

The Goldman Sachs Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc is a global investment banking and financial services firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1869 as a commercial paper business, the company has grown into a diversified financial institution that provides a broad range of services to corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. The firm is led by Chief Executive Officer David M. Solomon and operates across major financial centers worldwide.

Goldman Sachs core businesses include investment banking, global markets, asset and wealth management, and consumer banking.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report).

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Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:RCRUY  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $7.69 and last traded at $7.99, with a volume of 3294674 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $8.65.

Recruit Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $62.48 billion, a PE ratio of 8.98 and a beta of 1.66. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $10.78 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.81.

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Recruit (OTCMKTS:RCRUY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 9th. The company reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $6.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.03 billion. Recruit had a return on equity of 30.40% and a net margin of 12.85%. Sell-side analysts predict that Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. will post 0.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Recruit Company Profile

Recruit Holdings Co, Ltd. (OTCMKTS: RCRUY) is a Japan-based provider of human resources and information services that operates a diversified portfolio of staffing, recruitment and consumer-facing platforms. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company builds and runs digital marketplaces and service businesses that connect employers with job seekers, support corporate HR functions, and offer related marketing and consumer services in areas such as lifestyle and local search.

The companys principal activities include online job search and employer branding platforms, temporary and permanent staffing, recruitment process outsourcing, and HR technology solutions.

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Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:ABR  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $7.20 and last traded at $7.34, with a volume of 5838948 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.72.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ABR has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Weiss Ratings raised Arbor Realty Trust from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Piper Sandler cut their target price on Arbor Realty Trust from $10.00 to $8.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on Arbor Realty Trust from $8.50 to $7.50 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Arbor Realty Trust from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Arbor Realty Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Sunday, October 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Arbor Realty Trust has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $9.38.

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Arbor Realty Trust Price Performance

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Arbor Realty Trust

The firm has a market capitalization of $1.44 billion, a PE ratio of 9.18 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.51, a current ratio of 287.79 and a quick ratio of 287.79. The businesss 50 day moving average is $7.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $9.90.

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Amalgamated Bank increased its position in shares of Arbor Realty Trust by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 54,581 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $584,000 after purchasing an additional 962 shares during the last quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 7.7% during the third quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 15,108 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $184,000 after acquiring an additional 1,086 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in shares of Arbor Realty Trust by 77.8% during the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,583 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,130 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Arbor Realty Trust by 6.9% during the third quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 17,527 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $214,000 after acquiring an additional 1,130 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Byrne Financial Freedom LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Arbor Realty Trust by 8.0% in the 2nd quarter. Byrne Financial Freedom LLC now owns 15,548 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $166,000 after acquiring an additional 1,157 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.25% of the companys stock.

Arbor Realty Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc (NYSE: ABR) is a real estate investment trust specializing in the origination, acquisition, financing, structuring and management of commercial real estate loans and securities. The company focuses primarily on multifamily and commercial mortgage lending, targeting properties such as apartment communities, senior housing and healthcare facilities. Through both agency and non-agency channels, Arbor Realty Trust seeks to deliver liquidity solutions to borrowers while generating stable, risk-adjusted returns for its shareholders.

Core business activities include originating first-mortgage loans secured by multifamily and mixed-use properties, as well as providing mezzanine financing and preferred equity investments.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ decreased its position in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 112,508 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 6,520 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in American Express were worth $37,372,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. boosted its holdings in American Express by 153.3% in the 3rd quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 76 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 46 shares during the period. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new position in American Express during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Access Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of American Express in the second quarter worth $26,000. Briaud Financial Planning Inc bought a new stake in American Express during the second quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, Guerra Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in shares of American Express in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. 84.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on AXP shares. Credit Suisse Group set a $328.00 price target on American Express in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Morgan Stanley set a $395.00 price target on shares of American Express in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $420.00 price objective on shares of American Express in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $395.00 target price on shares of American Express in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price target on American Express from $420.00 to $400.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $352.73.

American Express Price Performance

AXP opened at $344.38 on Wednesday. American Express Company has a 52-week low of $220.43 and a 52-week high of $387.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a current ratio of 1.59. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $366.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $347.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $236.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.14.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported $3.53 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.54 by ($0.01). American Express had a net margin of 15.00% and a return on equity of 33.49%. The company had revenue of ($17,139.00) million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.91 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.04 earnings per share. American Expresss quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current year.

American Express Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 2nd were given a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. American Expresss payout ratio is presently 21.31%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Ravikumar Radhakrishnan sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.58, for a total value of $5,348,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 8,945 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,189,608.10. This represents a 62.64% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Denise Pickett sold 23,385 shares of American Express stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.91, for a total transaction of $8,346,340.35. Following the transaction, the insider owned 7,754 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,767,480.14. This trade represents a 75.10% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 73,944 shares of company stock worth $26,114,366. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

American Express Company Profile

(Free Report)

American Express is a global financial services company primarily known for its payment card products, travel services and merchant network. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, the company evolved through the 20th century into a payments and travel-focused organization. Its core activities include issuing consumer and commercial charge and credit cards, operating a global card acceptance and processing network, and providing travel-related services and customer loyalty programs.

American Express issues a range of products for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, including personal cards, business and corporate cards, and co?brand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers.

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Advisors Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 913,980 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 41,867 shares during the quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLCs holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $41,221,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 0.5% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 195,984,009 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,838,879,000 after buying an additional 1,058,803 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 16.8% during the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 70,802,680 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,277,456,000 after acquiring an additional 10,195,775 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 46,176,690 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,132,976,000 after acquiring an additional 723,459 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in the 2nd quarter worth $1,554,154,000. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.3% during the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 32,579,618 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,508,099,000 after purchasing an additional 432,158 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 76.41% of the companys stock.

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Bristol Myers Squibb Stock Performance

Shares of BMY opened at $60.28 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $122.76 billion, a PE ratio of 17.47, a PEG ratio of 0.17 and a beta of 0.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.32, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.26. The companys 50 day moving average price is $55.70 and its 200 day moving average price is $49.72. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 52 week low of $42.52 and a 52 week high of $63.33.

Bristol Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

Bristol Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by ($0.39). Bristol Myers Squibb had a net margin of 14.64% and a return on equity of 69.65%. The company had revenue of $12.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.24 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.67 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. Bristol Myers Squibb has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.050-6.350 EPS. Research analysts expect that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd were given a $0.63 dividend. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 2nd. This is an increase from Bristol Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. Bristol Myers Squibbs payout ratio is currently 73.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on BMY shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $57.00 price target (up previously from $51.00) on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Morgan Stanley reissued an underweight rating and issued a $40.00 target price on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Friday, February 6th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the company from $46.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $72.00 price objective (up previously from $62.00) on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Truist Financial set a $65.00 target price on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Bristol Myers Squibb has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $59.20.

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Bristol Myers Squibb Profile

(Free Report)

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, focused on discovering, developing and delivering medicines for serious diseases. The companys core activities include research and development, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of prescription pharmaceuticals across multiple therapeutic areas. BMS concentrates on advancing therapies in oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular disease and specialty areas through both small molecules and biologics.

BMSs marketed portfolio and late?stage pipeline reflect a strong emphasis on cancer and immune?mediated conditions.

Further Reading

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Hodges Capital Management Inc. cut its position in shares of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM  Free Report) by 55.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 9,988 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 12,619 shares during the quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc.s holdings in International Business Machines were worth $2,818,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of IBM. First National Bank of Omaha acquired a new position in International Business Machines during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,448,000. Maridea Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in International Business Machines during the third quarter worth $215,000. Luts & Greenleigh Group Inc. grew its position in International Business Machines by 4.8% in the third quarter. Luts & Greenleigh Group Inc. now owns 1,296 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $366,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Ingalls & Snyder LLC increased its stake in International Business Machines by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. Ingalls & Snyder LLC now owns 16,312 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $4,603,000 after buying an additional 633 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cornerstone Advisory LLC lifted its position in International Business Machines by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Advisory LLC now owns 3,828 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,080,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 58.96% of the companys stock.

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International Business Machines Stock Down 1.6%

IBM opened at $258.25 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $297.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $284.32. International Business Machines Corporation has a 1-year low of $214.50 and a 1-year high of $324.90. The stock has a market cap of $241.39 billion, a PE ratio of 23.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67.

International Business Machines Announces Dividend

International Business Machines ( NYSE:IBM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The technology company reported $4.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.33 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $19.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $19.23 billion. International Business Machines had a net margin of 15.69% and a return on equity of 38.15%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.92 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 10th will be issued a $1.68 dividend. This represents a $6.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 10th. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio is currently 60.27%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on IBM shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on International Business Machines from $325.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Wall Street Zen downgraded International Business Machines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, January 11th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a market perform rating on shares of International Business Machines in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $361.00 price objective on International Business Machines in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $315.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $330.07.

View Our Latest Analysis on International Business Machines

Insider Transactions at International Business Machines

In other news, Director David N. Farr bought 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 30th. The shares were bought at an average price of $304.00 per share, with a total value of $304,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 9,258 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,814,432. This trade represents a 12.11% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.18% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

International Business Machines Profile

(Free Report)

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company headquartered in Armonk, New York. Founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and renamed IBM in 1924, the company has evolved from early electromechanical machines to a diversified technology provider serving enterprises and governments worldwide. IBM is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IBM.

IBMs principal businesses encompass cloud computing and software, infrastructure and systems, consulting and technology services, and research and development.

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Prospera Financial Services Inc decreased its holdings in National Grid Transco, PLC (NYSE:NGG  Free Report) by 79.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,689 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 14,223 shares during the period. Prospera Financial Services Incs holdings in National Grid Transco were worth $268,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. AQR Capital Management LLC bought a new position in National Grid Transco in the 1st quarter worth approximately $490,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in shares of National Grid Transco by 79.0% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 35,966 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,360,000 after acquiring an additional 15,873 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of National Grid Transco by 12.5% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 8,767 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $575,000 after acquiring an additional 971 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth boosted its holdings in shares of National Grid Transco by 11.1% in the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 10,375 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $681,000 after acquiring an additional 1,036 shares during the period. Finally, Sivia Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of National Grid Transco in the second quarter valued at $221,000. Institutional investors own 4.68% of the companys stock.

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National Grid Transco Stock Performance

Shares of NGG opened at $92.49 on Wednesday. National Grid Transco, PLC has a 12-month low of $59.35 and a 12-month high of $93.17. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $81.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $76.28.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on NGG shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of National Grid Transco in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of National Grid Transco in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of National Grid Transco from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of National Grid Transco in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Finally, National Bank Financial set a $85.50 target price on shares of National Grid Transco in a report on Friday, December 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, National Grid Transco currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $83.80.

Read Our Latest Analysis on NGG

About National Grid Transco

(Free Report)

National Grid Transco (NYSE: NGG) is a utility company focused on the transmission and distribution of electricity and natural gas. The company builds, owns, operates and maintains large-scale energy infrastructure, including high-voltage electricity transmission lines, electricity distribution networks and high-pressure gas pipelines. Its core activities center on providing safe, reliable delivery of energy to residential, commercial and industrial customers while meeting regulatory requirements across its service territories.

Services provided by National Grid Transco encompass network operation and maintenance, system balancing and control, metering and connections, and capital investment in grid modernization and reliability projects.

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NEOS Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE  Free Report) by 22.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 31,748 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 5,894 shares during the period. NEOS Investment Management LLCs holdings in Deere & Company were worth $14,517,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Deere & Company in the second quarter valued at about $1,578,243,000. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its holdings in Deere & Company by 573.9% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 842,882 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $428,597,000 after buying an additional 717,808 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 50,691.9% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 332,179 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $168,910,000 after purchasing an additional 331,525 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Deere & Company by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,372,671 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $11,376,279,000 after purchasing an additional 309,081 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P grew its stake in Deere & Company by 26.8% during the 2nd quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 1,386,321 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $704,930,000 after buying an additional 292,932 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.58% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Deere & Company

In related news, insider Cory J. Reed sold 12,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $510.00, for a total value of $6,120,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 20,792 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,603,920. This represents a 36.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO John C. May II sold 41,472 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $501.49, for a total value of $20,797,793.28. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 117,970 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $59,160,775.30. This represents a 26.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 64,578 shares of company stock valued at $32,471,682. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock.

Deere & Company Stock Down 0.5%

DE opened at $599.90 on Wednesday. Deere & Company has a twelve month low of $404.42 and a twelve month high of $626.25. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $513.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $488.37. The company has a quick ratio of 2.01, a current ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The company has a market cap of $162.61 billion, a PE ratio of 32.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.02.

Deere & Company (NYSE:DE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 26th. The industrial products company reported $3.93 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.96 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $12.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.77 billion. Deere & Company had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 20.54%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $4.55 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Deere & Company will post 19.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Deere & Company Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st were given a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 31st. Deere & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.01%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on DE shares. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Deere & Company in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. They issued an overweight rating and a $543.00 target price for the company. Zacks Research upgraded Deere & Company from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. UBS Group restated a buy rating on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, DA Davidson reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $580.00 price target on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Monday, December 1st. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $524.20.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on DE

Deere & Company Profile

(Free Report)

Deere & Company, commonly known by its brand John Deere, is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery, as well as turf care equipment and power systems. Founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deerewho developed a polished steel plow to improve tillage in tough prairie soilsthe company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, and has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable names in equipment manufacturing worldwide.

The companys principal businesses include a broad portfolio of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, harvesters and tillage implements, complemented by precision agriculture technologies and telematics that support farm management, yield optimization and equipment connectivity.

Further Reading

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Waycross Partners LLC grew its position in shares of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Free Report) by 2.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 191,162 shares of the aircraft producers stock after purchasing an additional 3,827 shares during the period. Boeing makes up approximately 3.5% of Waycross Partners LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Waycross Partners LLCs holdings in Boeing were worth $41,258,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BA. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC grew its holdings in Boeing by 43.3% during the 2nd quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 3,598 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $754,000 after acquiring an additional 1,088 shares in the last quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of Boeing by 50.4% in the 3rd quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC now owns 26,360 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $5,689,000 after purchasing an additional 8,833 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Boeing by 1.7% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 66,773,360 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $13,991,022,000 after purchasing an additional 1,118,316 shares in the last quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. increased its holdings in Boeing by 734.4% during the third quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. now owns 10,322 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $2,228,000 after buying an additional 9,085 shares during the period. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its stake in Boeing by 7.1% in the second quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 21,990 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $4,607,000 after buying an additional 1,461 shares in the last quarter. 64.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Boeing

In other news, EVP Howard E. Mckenzie sold 10,497 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $233.99, for a total transaction of $2,456,193.03. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 14,692 shares in the company, valued at $3,437,781.08. This trade represents a 41.67% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Uma M. Amuluru sold 2,731 shares of Boeing stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $236.00, for a total value of $644,516.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 11,925 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,814,300. This represents a 18.63% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on BA. Vertical Research reiterated a buy rating and set a $281.00 price objective on shares of Boeing in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Loop Capital set a $223.00 price objective on Boeing in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Tigress Financial reissued a buy rating and issued a $275.00 price objective on shares of Boeing in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Argus raised Boeing to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Boeing in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $246.14.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Boeing

Boeing Trading Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:BA opened at $243.86 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.37. The Boeing Company has a 12-month low of $128.88 and a 12-month high of $254.35. The business has a 50 day moving average of $230.52 and a two-hundred day moving average of $219.60. The company has a market capitalization of $191.51 billion, a PE ratio of 121.32 and a beta of 1.15.

Boeing (NYSE:BA  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The aircraft producer reported $9.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.40) by $10.32. The firm had revenue of $23.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.41 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($5.90) earnings per share. Boeings revenue for the quarter was up 57.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that The Boeing Company will post -2.58 EPS for the current year.

Boeing Profile

(Free Report)

Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense systems, and space and security technologies. Founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, the company today operates as an integrated aerospace and defense contractor with a global customer base. Boeing relocated its corporate headquarters to Arlington, Virginia in 2022 and maintains extensive engineering, manufacturing and service operations across the United States and around the world.

Boeings principal lines of business include Commercial Airplanes, which produces and supports a range of jetliners used by airlines globally; Defense, Space & Security, which develops military aircraft, rotorcraft, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, satellites, and launch and missile systems; and Boeing Global Services, which provides aftermarket maintenance, training, spare parts, digital analytics and logistics support.

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Advisors Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS  Free Report) by 9.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 249,798 shares of the pharmacy operators stock after purchasing an additional 21,589 shares during the quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLCs holdings in CVS Health were worth $18,832,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in CVS Health by 1.7% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 120,399,131 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $8,305,132,000 after purchasing an additional 2,063,737 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its stake in CVS Health by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 58,788,585 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $4,055,237,000 after buying an additional 800,414 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of CVS Health by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 28,635,233 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $1,966,083,000 after buying an additional 675,824 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of CVS Health by 15.3% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 23,532,479 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $1,623,270,000 after buying an additional 3,118,626 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of CVS Health in the second quarter worth $1,358,698,000. 80.66% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on CVS shares. Wall Street Zen cut CVS Health from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. Argus dropped their price objective on shares of CVS Health from $91.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Evercore upped their target price on shares of CVS Health from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and set a $101.00 price target (up previously from $99.00) on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on CVS Health from $82.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Nineteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CVS Health presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $94.91.

CVS Health Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CVS opened at $78.12 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $99.39 billion, a PE ratio of 56.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 0.50. CVS Health Corporation has a 1 year low of $58.35 and a 1 year high of $85.15. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $78.67 and a 200-day moving average price of $76.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.63.

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The pharmacy operator reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $105.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $103.67 billion. CVS Health had a net margin of 0.44% and a return on equity of 11.31%. CVS Healths quarterly revenue was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.19 EPS. CVS Health has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.940-6.140 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that CVS Health Corporation will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CVS Health Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 22nd were paid a $0.665 dividend. This represents a $2.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 22nd. CVS Healths dividend payout ratio is presently 192.75%.

CVS Health Company Profile

(Free Report)

CVS Health Corporation is a diversified healthcare company that operates a large network of retail pharmacies, pharmacy benefit management services and health care solutions. Headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the company traces its roots to the early 1960s and has grown into an integrated provider of prescription drugs, over?the?counter products, clinical services and health insurance offerings. Its operating model combines retail pharmacy locations and in?store clinics with broader pharmacy and health plan capabilities.

Key business activities include CVS Pharmacy retail operations, MinuteClinic walk?in medical clinics and HealthHUB locations that offer expanded clinical services.

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Aberdeen Group plc lifted its holdings in Kilroy Realty Corporation (NYSE:KRC  Free Report) by 40.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 521,334 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 149,167 shares during the quarter. Aberdeen Group plc owned about 0.44% of Kilroy Realty worth $22,198,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of KRC. Quaker Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Kilroy Realty by 200.0% in the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 755 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 1,510 shares during the period. Westside Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Kilroy Realty by 100.0% in the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 618 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 309 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Kilroy Realty by 135.0% in the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,001 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 575 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Kilroy Realty by 276.5% in the third quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 979 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 719 shares during the last quarter. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC grew its holdings in Kilroy Realty by 213.7% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 1,010 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 688 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.22% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

KRC has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Scotiabank cut their price target on Kilroy Realty from $47.00 to $42.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Kilroy Realty in a research note on Monday, December 29th. BMO Capital Markets restated a market perform rating on shares of Kilroy Realty in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Wall Street Zen cut Kilroy Realty from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and issued a $35.00 price target on shares of Kilroy Realty in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $40.43.

Kilroy Realty Price Performance

Shares of KRC opened at $31.81 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 2.13 and a current ratio of 2.13. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $36.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of $39.71. Kilroy Realty Corporation has a 52-week low of $27.07 and a 52-week high of $45.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.77 billion, a PE ratio of 13.77 and a beta of 1.10.

Kilroy Realty (NYSE:KRC  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.98 by ($0.88). The company had revenue of $272.19 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $270.21 million. Kilroy Realty had a return on equity of 4.91% and a net margin of 24.82%.The businesss quarterly revenue was down 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.20 earnings per share. Kilroy Realty has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.250-3.450 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Kilroy Realty Corporation will post 4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Kilroy Realty

(Free Report)

Kilroy Realty Corporation (NYSE: KRC) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and management of high?quality office and mixed?use properties along the U.S. West Coast. The companys portfolio encompasses major urban markets including Los Angeles, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle. Kilroy Realty targets properties in transit?oriented submarkets, blending workplace space with retail, residential and hospitality amenities to create vibrant, walkable neighborhoods.

Founded in the mid?20th century by members of the Kilroy family, the company evolved from a regional landlord into one of the leading West Coast office landlords.

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Barratt Redrow (OTCMKTS:BTDPY  Get Free Report) was downgraded by Peel Hunt from a strong-buy rating to a moderate buy rating in a report released on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Zacks Research raised Barratt Redrow from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Barratt Redrow from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Barratt Redrow in a research report on Monday, November 24th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of Barratt Redrow in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Barratt Redrow has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on BTDPY

Barratt Redrow Trading Down 1.7%

About Barratt Redrow

Shares of BTDPY stock opened at $10.59 on Monday. Barratt Redrow has a 1-year low of $9.39 and a 1-year high of $13.18. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $10.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.29.

(Get Free Report)

Barratt Redrow plc engages in the housebuilding business in the United Kingdom. The company acquires and develops land; plans, designs, and constructs homes, apartments, penthouses, and communities, as well as undertakes mixed-use regeneration schemes; and develops retail, leisure, office, industrial, and mixed-use properties. It is also involved in the commercial development business under the Wilson Bowden Developments brand name. The company offers its homes under the Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes, and Barratt London brands.

Further Reading

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Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR  Free Report) by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 57,597,658 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 1,281,354 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 15.14% of Equity Residential worth $3,728,296,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EQR. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in Equity Residential by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 7,489 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $536,000 after purchasing an additional 226 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its stake in shares of Equity Residential by 58.0% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,691 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $384,000 after buying an additional 2,090 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Equity Residential by 39.3% in the second quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,522 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $305,000 after buying an additional 1,276 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in Equity Residential by 6.1% during the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 7,076 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $478,000 after acquiring an additional 405 shares during the period. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB raised its position in Equity Residential by 2.5% in the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 33,401 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,234,000 after acquiring an additional 814 shares in the last quarter. 92.68% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Equity Residential Stock Performance

Equity Residential stock opened at $63.46 on Wednesday. Equity Residential has a fifty-two week low of $58.38 and a fifty-two week high of $75.86. The company has a market capitalization of $24.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.66, a PEG ratio of 4.80 and a beta of 0.76. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $62.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $62.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 0.31.

Equity Residential Dividend Announcement

Equity Residential ( NYSE:EQR Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.04 by ($0.01). Equity Residential had a net margin of 36.20% and a return on equity of 9.98%. The company had revenue of $781.91 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $786.35 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.00 EPS. The firms revenue was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equity Residential has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.940-0.980 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 4.020-4.140 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Equity Residential will post 3.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 16th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.6925 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $2.77 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.4%. Equity Residentials dividend payout ratio is presently 94.54%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Equity Residential from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $63.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $68.00 to $65.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. BMO Capital Markets lowered Equity Residential from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $70.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Piper Sandler set a $78.00 price objective on Equity Residential in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Equity Residential currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $69.78.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Equity Residential

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, COO Michael L. Manelis sold 5,765 shares of Equity Residential stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.13, for a total value of $375,474.45. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 46,131 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,004,512.03. The trade was a 11.11% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Catherine Carraway sold 656 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.13, for a total value of $42,725.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,339 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,194,419.07. The trade was a 3.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 10,058 shares of company stock worth $655,078. 1.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Equity Residential Company Profile

(Free Report)

Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that acquires, develops, owns and operates rental apartment properties. Headquartered in Chicago, the company focuses on delivering professionally managed, market-rate apartment homes and related services to renters. Its operations cover a range of property types, including high-rise and mid-rise assets, with amenities and on-site management designed to support resident retention and occupancy.

The companys core activities include property acquisitions, development and redevelopment, leasing, and day-to-day property management.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ raised its holdings in shares of RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX  Free Report) by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 222,646 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 6,646 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in RTX were worth $37,240,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of RTX by 0.5% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 112,706,833 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,457,452,000 after purchasing an additional 552,009 shares in the last quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System increased its holdings in RTX by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 1,317,166 shares of the companys stock valued at $192,333,000 after buying an additional 16,034 shares during the period. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. raised its stake in shares of RTX by 10.6% in the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 171,209 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,648,000 after buying an additional 16,467 shares in the last quarter. Rockland Trust Co. lifted its holdings in shares of RTX by 121.1% during the 3rd quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 20,245 shares of the companys stock worth $3,388,000 after acquiring an additional 11,089 shares during the period. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of RTX by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,693,324 shares of the companys stock valued at $283,344,000 after acquiring an additional 33,395 shares in the last quarter. 86.50% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Key Stories Impacting RTX

Here are the key news stories impacting RTX this week:

Positive Sentiment: Analyst lift and earnings momentum  Zacks highlights RTX as a top analyst pick after a quarterly beat and cites a solid backlog and cloud/AI tailwinds for peers, reinforcing buy-side interest. The Zacks Analyst Blog

Analyst lift and earnings momentum  Zacks highlights RTX as a top analyst pick after a quarterly beat and cites a solid backlog and cloud/AI tailwinds for peers, reinforcing buy-side interest. Positive Sentiment: Defense tech contract  Raytheon (an RTX business) won an Air Force Research Lab award to develop domestic production of thin?film lithium niobate wafers, supporting secure comms and sensing supply chains and strengthening defense-related revenue visibility. Raytheon TFLN contract

Defense tech contract  Raytheon (an RTX business) won an Air Force Research Lab award to develop domestic production of thin?film lithium niobate wafers, supporting secure comms and sensing supply chains and strengthening defense-related revenue visibility. Positive Sentiment: Product recognition in aerospace  Collins Aerospace (an RTX unit) was named a finalist for a Crystal Cabin Award for its SkyNook suite, a modest positive for commercial aerospace branding and product innovation. Collins Aerospace award

Product recognition in aerospace  Collins Aerospace (an RTX unit) was named a finalist for a Crystal Cabin Award for its SkyNook suite, a modest positive for commercial aerospace branding and product innovation. Positive Sentiment: Wall Street support & price targets  Recent analyst upgrades and multiple buy/overweight ratings (median recent price target ~$211.50) are providing technical and sentiment support after the quarter. QuiverQuant analyst summary

Wall Street support & price targets  Recent analyst upgrades and multiple buy/overweight ratings (median recent price target ~$211.50) are providing technical and sentiment support after the quarter. Neutral Sentiment: Many consumer RTX headlines refer to NVIDIA GPUs and retail PC deals, not RTX Corporation; these generate online noise but are not related to RTXs aerospace & defense fundamentals. (Representative story) WePC GPU/PC deal

Many consumer RTX headlines refer to NVIDIA GPUs and retail PC deals, not RTX Corporation; these generate online noise but are not related to RTXs aerospace & defense fundamentals. (Representative story) Negative Sentiment: Insider selling and institutional rebalancing  Social and data summaries note multiple insider sales and large institutional reductions (e.g., UBS AM reported big share removals), which can pressure sentiment and create volatility despite strong fundamentals; supply?chain timing concerns were also flagged. QuiverQuant insider/institutional activity

Analyst Ratings Changes

RTX has been the subject of several recent research reports. Wolfe Research reissued an outperform rating on shares of RTX in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on RTX from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $235.00 target price on shares of RTX in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of RTX in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, DZ Bank cut RTX from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $199.50.

Check Out Our Latest Report on RTX

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Kevin G. Dasilva sold 8,136 shares of RTX stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.30, for a total value of $1,637,776.80. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 27,102 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,455,632.60. This trade represents a 23.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 17,527 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $199.16, for a total value of $3,490,677.32. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock.

RTX Price Performance

RTX stock opened at $203.01 on Wednesday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $191.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $174.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.03. The firm has a market cap of $272.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.43. RTX Corporation has a 52 week low of $112.27 and a 52 week high of $206.48.

RTX (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $24.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.65 billion. RTX had a return on equity of 13.08% and a net margin of 7.60%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.54 earnings per share. RTX has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.600-6.800 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that RTX Corporation will post 6.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

RTX Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be paid a dividend of $0.68 per share. This represents a $2.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 20th. RTXs dividend payout ratio is 54.84%.

About RTX

(Free Report)

RTX (NYSE: RTX) is a U.S.-based aerospace and defense company that designs, manufactures and services advanced systems for commercial, military and governmental customers worldwide. The company was created through the 2020 combination of Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation and later adopted the RTX name, positioning itself as a diversified provider across the aerospace and defense value chain.

RTXs operations span a broad set of capabilities. Its commercial aerospace businesses include Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines and Collins Aerospace systems, which supply propulsion, avionics, aerostructures, interiors and integrated aircraft systems.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lessened its stake in shares of Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG  Free Report) by 33.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 150,691 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 76,266 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Simon Property Group were worth $28,280,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of SPG. M&G PLC grew its stake in Simon Property Group by 857.1% in the 3rd quarter. M&G PLC now owns 11,858 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,229,000 after buying an additional 10,619 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT grew its position in shares of Simon Property Group by 22.7% in the third quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 637 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $120,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Simon Property Group by 1.8% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,683,502 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $8,761,093,000 after purchasing an additional 844,190 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC lifted its position in shares of Simon Property Group by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC now owns 10,405 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,953,000 after purchasing an additional 617 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D boosted its stake in Simon Property Group by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 263,891 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $49,524,000 after purchasing an additional 4,331 shares during the period. 93.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently commented on SPG. Morgan Stanley set a $205.00 price target on Simon Property Group in a report on Friday, January 16th. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Simon Property Group from $169.00 to $181.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Simon Property Group from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $205.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $230.00 price objective (up previously from $225.00) on shares of Simon Property Group in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Mizuho set a $192.00 target price on Simon Property Group in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $197.93.

Simon Property Group Stock Up 2.6%

SPG opened at $201.99 on Wednesday. Simon Property Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $136.34 and a twelve month high of $202.09. The firm has a market cap of $65.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.24, a PEG ratio of 7.23 and a beta of 1.39. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $187.72 and its 200-day simple moving average is $182.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.42, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 0.90.

Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 2nd. The real estate investment trust reported $3.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.47 by $0.02. Simon Property Group had a net margin of 72.71% and a return on equity of 124.12%. The company had revenue of $1.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.50 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.68 earnings per share. Simon Property Groups quarterly revenue was up 13.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Simon Property Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.000-13.250 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Simon Property Group, Inc. will post 12.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Simon Property Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be issued a $2.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 10th. This represents a $8.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.4%. Simon Property Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.06%.

Simon Property Group declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, February 5th that permits the company to buyback $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the real estate investment trust to reacquire up to 3.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at Simon Property Group

In other news, Director Larry C. Glasscock acquired 363 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 31st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $186.00 per share, for a total transaction of $67,518.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 43,899 shares in the company, valued at $8,165,214. This trade represents a 0.83% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Reuben S. Leibowitz bought 480 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 31st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $186.00 per share, for a total transaction of $89,280.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 53,639 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,976,854. This trade represents a 0.90% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have acquired a total of 2,192 shares of company stock valued at $407,712 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 8.66% of the companys stock.

Simon Property Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Simon Property Group, Inc (NYSE: SPG) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, develops and manages retail real estate properties. Its core business activities include acquisition, development, leasing and property management of regional malls, outlet centers and mixed?use retail destinations. The company operates retail brands that include high?profile regional shopping centers and the Premium Outlets platform, and it provides services such as tenant leasing, marketing, property operations and capital projects to optimize asset performance.

Simons portfolio spans a broad mix of enclosed malls, open?air centers, outlet properties and mixed?use developments, and the company pursues redevelopment and repositioning to adapt properties to changing consumer and retail trends.

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M&G PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 37.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,792 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,127 shares during the quarter. M&G PLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $5,945,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Steph & Co. increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 290.0% in the 3rd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 39 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 263.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 40 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.53% of the companys stock.

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Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $1,035.82 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $1,054.36 and its 200-day simple moving average is $912.40. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $623.78 and a 12 month high of $1,133.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $977.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.13, a PEG ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.19.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.48 by $0.06. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 31.66% and a return on equity of 102.94%. The company had revenue of $19.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.85 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $5.32 EPS. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue for the quarter was up 42.6% on a year-over-year basis. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be paid a $1.73 dividend. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on LLY shares. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $985.00 to $1,205.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Berenberg Bank increased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $830.00 to $950.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. TD Cowen raised their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $960.00 to $1,250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $1,260.00 price target on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Guggenheim dropped their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,163.00 to $1,161.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $1,218.88.

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Key Stories Impacting Eli Lilly and Company

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About Eli Lilly and Company

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A.

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Heartland Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 50,000 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $4,181,000. Heartland Advisors Inc. owned 0.15% of Walker & Dunlop as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in shares of Walker & Dunlop by 41.4% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 8,196 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $699,000 after purchasing an additional 2,399 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Walker & Dunlop by 17.5% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,702 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $316,000 after buying an additional 552 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its position in Walker & Dunlop by 4.5% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 19,115 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,632,000 after acquiring an additional 823 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its position in shares of Walker & Dunlop by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 107,730 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $9,196,000 after acquiring an additional 7,470 shares during the period. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in shares of Walker & Dunlop by 1,136.3% during the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 62,497 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,335,000 after acquiring an additional 57,442 shares during the period. 80.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Walker & Dunlop Stock Up 0.7%

WD opened at $62.29 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $2.12 billion, a PE ratio of 18.48 and a beta of 1.55. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $62.52 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $72.77. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. has a 52 week low of $58.60 and a 52 week high of $90.00.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Walker & Dunlop in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on Walker & Dunlop from $82.00 to $80.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Walker & Dunlop from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Walker & Dunlop in a research report on Friday, December 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $75.00 price target for the company. Finally, Citigroup restated a market outperform rating on shares of Walker & Dunlop in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Walker & Dunlop has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $85.00.

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About Walker & Dunlop

(Free Report)

Walker & Dunlop is one of the largest providers of commercial real estate finance in the United States, specializing in the origination, servicing and sale of loans secured by multifamily, seniors housing, healthcare, student housing and manufactured housing properties. The firm offers a full suite of debt and equity solutions, including agency financing through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, HUD and FHA-insured loans, bridge and construction financing, mezzanine debt, preferred equity, and investment sales advisory.

With roots dating back to 1937 and its headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, Walker & Dunlop has expanded its platform through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

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Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLC lifted its stake in Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY  Free Report) by 101.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,867 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,454 shares during the period. Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLCs holdings in Hershey were worth $910,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Hershey during the second quarter worth $234,386,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Hershey in the 2nd quarter valued at $125,868,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Hershey by 121.2% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,104,299 shares of the companys stock valued at $206,559,000 after purchasing an additional 605,048 shares during the last quarter. Equity Investment Corp acquired a new position in Hershey in the second quarter valued at about $73,706,000. Finally, Holocene Advisors LP lifted its stake in Hershey by 44.7% in the second quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 1,232,595 shares of the companys stock valued at $204,549,000 after buying an additional 380,512 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, insider Stacy Taffet bought 200 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $186.19 per share, with a total value of $37,238.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 9,371 shares in the company, valued at $1,744,786.49. The trade was a 2.18% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.67, for a total value of $298,005.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 52,319 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,394,215.73. This trade represents a 2.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $185.00 price target on shares of Hershey in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Argus upgraded shares of Hershey to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $250.00 target price on shares of Hershey in a report on Friday, February 6th. Evercore reissued an outperform rating on shares of Hershey in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Stephens boosted their price target on shares of Hershey from $200.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and sixteen have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Hershey presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $218.74.

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Hershey Stock Down 1.5%

HSY stock opened at $219.24 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.18. Hershey Company has a fifty-two week low of $150.04 and a fifty-two week high of $234.87. The business has a 50-day moving average of $195.81 and a 200-day moving average of $187.88.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.40 by $0.31. Hershey had a return on equity of 27.90% and a net margin of 7.55%.The firm had revenue of $3.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.97 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.69 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. Hershey has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.200-8.520 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Hershey Company will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hershey Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be issued a $1.452 dividend. This represents a $5.81 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. This is a positive change from Hersheys previous quarterly dividend of $1.37. Hersheys dividend payout ratio is 126.27%.

Hershey Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is a leading North American chocolatier and snack manufacturer headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The company develops, produces and markets a wide range of confectionery and snack products for retail, foodservice and international customers. Hersheys business spans manufacturing, branded product marketing, packaging and distribution across grocery, convenience, mass merchant and e-commerce channels.

Hersheys product portfolio centers on chocolate and sugar confectionery, including core brands such as Hersheys, Reeses, Hersheys Kisses and Twizzlers, alongside non-chocolate snacks and confectionery brands.

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Fortis Group Advisors LLC cut its stake in shares of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA  Free Report) by 31.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,596 shares of the specialty retailers stock after selling 5,252 shares during the period. Fortis Group Advisors LLCs holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $1,977,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of BABA. Turn8 Private Wealth Inc. raised its stake in shares of Alibaba Group by 4.2% in the third quarter. Turn8 Private Wealth Inc. now owns 21,580 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $3,857,000 after acquiring an additional 876 shares during the period. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Alibaba Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $235,000. W.G. Shaheen & Associates DBA Whitney & Co bought a new position in Alibaba Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $258,000. Zweig DiMenna Associates LLC bought a new stake in Alibaba Group in the third quarter worth about $9,803,000. Finally, Holistic Financial Partners boosted its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 6.1% during the third quarter. Holistic Financial Partners now owns 1,975 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $353,000 after buying an additional 113 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 13.47% of the companys stock.

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Alibaba Group Stock Performance

Shares of BABA stock opened at $155.45 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $371.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.47, a PEG ratio of 3.41 and a beta of 0.39. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 52-week low of $95.73 and a 52-week high of $192.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The companys 50 day moving average is $159.11 and its 200 day moving average is $155.99.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BABA has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Alibaba Group from $231.00 to $225.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $200.00 to $180.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $218.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Loop Capital set a $140.00 price objective on shares of Alibaba Group in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Freedom Capital lowered shares of Alibaba Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Eighteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $195.17.

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Trending Headlines about Alibaba Group

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Alibaba Group Profile

(Free Report)

Alibaba Group Holding Limited is a Chinese multinational conglomerate founded in 1999 in Hangzhou, China, by Jack Ma and a group of co?founders. The company built its business around internet-based commerce and related services and has grown into one of the largest e-commerce and technology companies in the world. Alibaba completed a high?profile initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014.

The company operates a portfolio of online marketplaces and platforms serving different customer segments: Alibaba.com for global and domestic B2B trade, Taobao for consumer-to-consumer shopping, and Tmall for brand and retailer storefronts targeted at Chinese consumers.

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Horrell Capital Management Inc. reduced its holdings in L3Harris Technologies Inc (NYSE:LHX  Free Report) by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,182 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,245 shares during the period. L3Harris Technologies accounts for about 3.2% of Horrell Capital Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Horrell Capital Management Inc.s holdings in L3Harris Technologies were worth $7,691,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. First Horizon Corp acquired a new position in L3Harris Technologies during the third quarter worth $10,667,000. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its position in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 55.9% in the third quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 9,989 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,051,000 after buying an additional 3,583 shares during the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 32.6% during the 3rd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 21,324 shares of the companys stock worth $6,513,000 after acquiring an additional 5,239 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 13.2% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 30,223 shares of the companys stock worth $9,230,000 after acquiring an additional 3,532 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Focused Investors LLC increased its holdings in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Focused Investors LLC now owns 448,450 shares of the companys stock worth $136,961,000 after acquiring an additional 18,200 shares during the last quarter. 84.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on LHX. Truist Financial set a $364.00 price objective on shares of L3Harris Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Vertical Research reissued a buy rating and issued a $355.00 price target on shares of L3Harris Technologies in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on L3Harris Technologies from $340.00 to $395.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on L3Harris Technologies from $367.00 to $390.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded L3Harris Technologies from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, L3Harris Technologies currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $328.57.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Samir Mehta sold 4,840 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $338.85, for a total value of $1,640,034.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 5,916 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,004,636.60. This represents a 45.00% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.72% of the companys stock.

L3Harris Technologies Stock Performance

NYSE LHX opened at $346.52 on Wednesday. L3Harris Technologies Inc has a 1 year low of $193.09 and a 1 year high of $369.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $64.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $324.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $298.08.

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $5.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.76 billion. L3Harris Technologies had a return on equity of 10.43% and a net margin of 7.35%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.47 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that L3Harris Technologies Inc will post 11.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

L3Harris Technologies Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a $1.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. This is a boost from L3Harris Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. L3Harris Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 56.27%.

L3Harris Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) is an American aerospace and defense company formed in 2019 through the combination of L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company designs, manufactures and supports a broad range of technology solutions for government and commercial customers, with a particular emphasis on defense, intelligence and public safety applications.

The companys offerings span communications systems, avionics, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors, space systems and mission integration.

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Ingalls & Snyder LLC lowered its position in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE:FBIN  Free Report) by 12.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 173,984 shares of the companys stock after selling 25,467 shares during the quarter. Ingalls & Snyder LLC owned 0.14% of Fortune Brands Innovations worth $9,289,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in FBIN. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations during the 2nd quarter worth about $87,611,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations by 147.8% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,691,827 shares of the companys stock worth $143,717,000 after purchasing an additional 1,605,453 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Fortune Brands Innovations in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $78,395,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations during the second quarter worth approximately $77,441,000. Finally, First Pacific Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations by 152.2% in the second quarter. First Pacific Advisors LP now owns 1,998,397 shares of the companys stock valued at $102,877,000 after acquiring an additional 1,205,880 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.60% of the companys stock.

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Fortune Brands Innovations Trading Up 2.9%

Shares of Fortune Brands Innovations stock opened at $52.82 on Wednesday. Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. has a 12-month low of $44.04 and a 12-month high of $69.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.99 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $55.39 and a 200 day simple moving average of $54.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07.

Fortune Brands Innovations Increases Dividend

Fortune Brands Innovations ( NYSE:FBIN Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.00 by ($0.14). Fortune Brands Innovations had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 18.54%. The business had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.98 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Fortune Brands Innovations has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.350-3.650 EPS. Research analysts expect that Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $0.26 per share. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This is a boost from Fortune Brands Innovationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. Fortune Brands Innovationss dividend payout ratio is currently 40.49%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on FBIN. Evercore reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Fortune Brands Innovations in a research report on Friday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Fortune Brands Innovations from $69.00 to $61.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Fortune Brands Innovations from $62.00 to $56.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Vertical Research assumed coverage on Fortune Brands Innovations in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. They issued a hold rating and a $52.00 target price for the company. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $61.00 price target on shares of Fortune Brands Innovations in a research note on Friday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Fortune Brands Innovations presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $60.00.

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Fortune Brands Innovations Profile

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Fortune Brands Innovations (NYSE: FBIN), formerly known as Fortune Brands Home & Security, is a global leader in water innovations, specializing in the design, manufacturing and marketing of plumbing fixtures, fittings and related products. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, the company leverages two iconic brandsMoen and House of Rohlto deliver high-quality kitchen and bathroom solutions across residential and commercial markets. With a focus on performance, reliability and aesthetic design, FBINs portfolio spans faucets, showerheads, accessories and water filtration systems.

The companys products are sold through a diversified network of retail partners, wholesale distributors and online channels across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

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Readystate Asset Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK  Free Report) in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm purchased 371,224 shares of the software makers stock, valued at approximately $31,955,000. Workiva accounts for about 1.4% of Readystate Asset Management LPs holdings, making the stock its 11th largest holding.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Private Wealth Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Workiva by 1,731.7% during the third quarter. Private Wealth Asset Management LLC now owns 75,100 shares of the software makers stock worth $6,465,000 after buying an additional 71,000 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its stake in shares of Workiva by 50.7% in the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,368,401 shares of the software makers stock worth $115,589,000 after acquiring an additional 460,540 shares in the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc raised its holdings in shares of Workiva by 19.8% in the third quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 136,086 shares of the software makers stock valued at $11,714,000 after purchasing an additional 22,500 shares during the last quarter. Ranger Investment Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Workiva by 39.5% during the third quarter. Ranger Investment Management L.P. now owns 312,045 shares of the software makers stock valued at $26,861,000 after purchasing an additional 88,425 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pembroke Management LTD purchased a new position in Workiva during the third quarter worth about $36,185,000. 92.21% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating and set a $110.00 target price on shares of Workiva in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Workiva from $95.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating and issued a $105.00 price objective on shares of Workiva in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. BTIG Research assumed coverage on shares of Workiva in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. They issued a buy rating and a $105.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Stephens increased their price target on shares of Workiva from $96.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $103.92.

Workiva Stock Performance

Shares of WK opened at $57.94 on Wednesday. Workiva Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $57.41 and a fifty-two week high of $97.10. The business has a 50-day moving average of $81.21 and a 200 day moving average of $83.30. The firm has a market cap of $3.25 billion, a P/E ratio of -68.97 and a beta of 0.62.

Workiva Profile

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Workiva, originally founded as WebFilings in 2008, delivers a cloud-native platform designed to streamline and connect data, documents and teams for reporting and compliance. Its flagship Workiva platform supports a range of applications including financial reporting, regulatory filings, internal controls documentation, risk management and environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures. By centralizing data and automating workflows, the company helps organizations improve accuracy, transparency and auditability across critical reporting processes.

The Workiva platform offers modular solutions that integrate with existing enterprise systems and data sources.

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Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (NYSE:CRT  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Tuesday, February 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of 0.0501 per share by the oil and gas company on Friday, March 13th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This is a 52.1% increase from Cross Timbers Royalty Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.03.

Cross Timbers Royalty Trust has increased its dividend payment by an average of 0.0%per year over the last three years.

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Cross Timbers Royalty Trust Trading Down 0.9%

Shares of CRT opened at $8.57 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.41 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.43 and a beta of 0.12. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $8.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.20. Cross Timbers Royalty Trust has a twelve month low of $7.07 and a twelve month high of $13.31.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cross Timbers Royalty Trust

Cross Timbers Royalty Trust Company Profile

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CRT. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in shares of Cross Timbers Royalty Trust by 81.3% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,596 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 1,612 shares in the last quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. purchased a new position in Cross Timbers Royalty Trust during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $109,000. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Cross Timbers Royalty Trust by 23.3% during the 4th quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 14,030 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $112,000 after buying an additional 2,651 shares during the last quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management acquired a new position in Cross Timbers Royalty Trust during the second quarter worth approximately $169,000. Finally, Susquehanna International Group LLP purchased a new stake in Cross Timbers Royalty Trust in the third quarter valued at approximately $212,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.74% of the companys stock.

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Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (NYSE:CRT) is a Delaware statutory trust that holds royalty interests in a portfolio of onshore oil and natural gas properties. The trust was established in June 2005 through a contribution of assets by Chesapeake Energy Corporation. It earns revenue by collecting overriding royalty and net profit interests carved out of producing leases and then distributing those receipts to its unitholders on a quarterly basis.

The underlying assets of the trust consist primarily of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids reserves located in several Texas counties, including Erath, Stephens, Comanche and Palo Pinto.

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Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EVM  Get Free Report) crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $9.46 and traded as high as $9.59. Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund shares last traded at $9.46, with a volume of 368,359 shares traded.

Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund Trading Down 0.8%

The company has a fifty day moving average price of $9.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.39.

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Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund Company Profile

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Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EVM) is a closed-end, diversified management investment company that seeks to provide tax-exempt income by investing primarily in municipal obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of California and its political subdivisions. The fund is structured to deliver current income exempt from federal and California state income taxes, making it a targeted solution for investors in higher tax brackets seeking exposure to Californias municipal market.

The funds portfolio is composed predominantly of investment-grade municipal securities, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and municipal lease obligations.

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Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH  Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by ($0.01), Zacks reports. Sonic Automotive had a net margin of 0.86% and a return on equity of 21.65%. The business had revenue of $3.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.94 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.51 earnings per share. Sonic Automotives revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis.

Sonic Automotive Trading Up 4.0%

Shares of NYSE SAH traded up $2.34 on Wednesday, reaching $60.62. 96,626 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 180,510. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.07 billion, a PE ratio of 16.45 and a beta of 0.93. Sonic Automotive has a fifty-two week low of $52.00 and a fifty-two week high of $89.62. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The company has a 50 day moving average of $62.71 and a 200 day moving average of $68.96.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

SAH has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Barclays reduced their target price on Sonic Automotive from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Wall Street Zen cut Sonic Automotive from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, January 11th. Needham & Company LLC decreased their price objective on Sonic Automotive from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Morgan Stanley set a $68.00 price objective on Sonic Automotive in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Sonic Automotive from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $82.00 target price on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Sonic Automotive presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $79.63.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sonic Automotive

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its position in shares of Sonic Automotive by 992.5% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 437 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 397 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new stake in Sonic Automotive during the 3rd quarter worth $78,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Sonic Automotive in the 2nd quarter worth $168,000. Wexford Capital LP purchased a new position in Sonic Automotive in the 3rd quarter valued at about $212,000. Finally, Creative Planning acquired a new stake in shares of Sonic Automotive during the second quarter valued at about $213,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 46.92% of the companys stock.

About Sonic Automotive

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Sonic Automotive, Inc is a publicly traded automotive retailer that operates a network of franchised new-car dealerships and used-vehicle dealerships across the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company offers a range of services that include vehicle sales, leasing, finance and insurance products, service and parts, and collision repair. Sonic Automotives dealerships represent numerous major automotive brands, and the company also markets a broad selection of pre-owned vehicles under its own banner.

In addition to its core dealership operations, Sonic Automotive has developed digital retail capabilities that allow customers to research, shop and complete transactions online.

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Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PIAIF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 35,865,913 shares, a drop of 13.7% from the January 15th total of 41,572,076 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 16,830 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2,131.1 days. Based on an average trading volume of 16,830 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2,131.1 days.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Stock Performance

Shares of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China stock opened at $9.40 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $8.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $7.69. Ping An Insurance has a 52 week low of $4.93 and a 52 week high of $9.81.

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About Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China

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Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China is one of the largest integrated financial services providers in China, headquartered in Shenzhen. Established in 1988, Ping An has grown into a diversified conglomerate, offering a broad range of insurance, banking, asset management and technology-driven financial services. The company is publicly traded on the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges, and its American depositary receipts are quoted over the counter under the ticker PIAIF.

At the core of Ping Ans operations is its insurance business, which encompasses life insurance, property and casualty insurance, health insurance and pension products.

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Booking, Expedia Group, Travelers Companies, Trip.com Group, TripAdvisor, MakeMyTrip, and Travel + Leisure are the seven Travel stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Travel stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary business comes from the travel and tourism ecosystemairlines, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, car rental firms, online travel agencies and other travel service providers. These stocks tend to be cyclical and sensitive to consumer discretionary spending, seasonality, fuel prices, geopolitical events and public-health crises, so investors monitor macroeconomic indicators and booking/occupancy trends when assessing them. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Travel stocks within the last several days.

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Booking (BKNG)

Booking Holdings Inc, formerly The Priceline Group Inc., is a provider of travel and restaurant online reservation and related services. The Company, through its online travel companies (OTCs), connects consumers wishing to make travel reservations with providers of travel services across the world. It offers consumers an array of accommodation reservations (including hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, apartments, vacation rentals and other properties) through its Booking.com, priceline.com and agoda.com brands.

Expedia Group (EXPE)

Expedia Group, Inc. operates as an online travel company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through B2C, B2B, and trivago segments. Its B2C segment includes Brand Expedia, a full-service online travel brand offers various travel products and services; Hotels.com for lodging accommodations; Vrbo, an online marketplace for the alternative accommodations; Orbitz, Travelocity, Wotif Group, ebookers, CheapTickets, Hotwire.com and CarRentals.com.

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Travelers Companies (TRV)

The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TRV

Trip.com Group (TCOM)

Trip.com Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a travel service provider for accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours and in-destination, corporate travel management, and other travel-related services in China and internationally. The company acts as an agent for hotel-related transactions and selling air tickets, as well as provides train, long-distance bus, and ferry tickets; travel insurance products, such as flight delay, air accident, and baggage loss coverage; and air-ticket delivery, online check-in and seat selection, express security screening, real-time flight status tracker, and airport VIP lounge services.

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TripAdvisor (TRIP)

TripAdvisor, Inc. operates as an online travel company, primarily engages in the provision of travel guidance products and services worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Brand Tripadvisor, Viator, and TheFork. The Brand Tripadvisor segment offers travel guidance platforms for travelers to discover, generate, and share authentic user-generated content in the form of ratings and reviews for destinations, points-of-interest, experiences, accommodations, restaurants, and cruises.

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MakeMyTrip (MMYT)

MakeMyTrip Limited, an online travel company, sells travel products and solutions in India, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Peru, Colombia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The company operates through three segments: Air Ticketing, Hotels and Packages, and Bus Ticketing.

Read Our Latest Research Report on MMYT

Travel + Leisure (TNL)

Travel + Leisure Co., together with its subsidiaries, provides hospitality services and travel products in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Vacation Ownership; and Travel and Membership. The Vacation Ownership segment develops, markets, and sells vacation ownership interests (VOIs) to individual consumers, as well as provides consumer financing in connection with the sale of VOIs; and property management services at resorts.

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Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR  Get Free Report) had its target price hoisted by equities researchers at BMO Capital Markets from $195.00 to $205.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,MarketScreener reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. BMO Capital Markets price target suggests a potential upside of 15.05% from the stocks current price.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Wall Street Zen cut Digital Realty Trust from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Raymond James Financial dropped their price target on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $205.00 to $195.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. HSBC set a $193.00 price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Loop Capital set a $205.00 target price on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Digital Realty Trust from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $194.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $192.25.

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Digital Realty Trust Trading Down 0.9%

NYSE:DLR traded down $1.70 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $178.19. 45,961 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,107,642. The firm has a market cap of $61.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.63, a PEG ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.59 and a quick ratio of 2.02. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $160.89 and a 200 day simple moving average of $165.55. Digital Realty Trust has a 52-week low of $129.95 and a 52-week high of $184.79.

Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.86 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.03. Digital Realty Trust had a return on equity of 5.88% and a net margin of 21.41%.The firm had revenue of $1.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.58 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.73 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Digital Realty Trust has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.900-8.000 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Digital Realty Trust will post 7.07 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Digital Realty Trust

In related news, Director Mary Hogan Preusse sold 4,166 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.42, for a total transaction of $655,811.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Digital Realty Trust

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DLR. New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 7.1% during the third quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 233,569 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $40,379,000 after purchasing an additional 15,569 shares in the last quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management boosted its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 37,575.7% during the third quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management now owns 271,265 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $46,896,000 after purchasing an additional 270,545 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its holdings in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 13.5% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 148,970 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,545,000 after acquiring an additional 17,729 shares in the last quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Digital Realty Trust in the third quarter valued at approximately $762,000. Finally, World Investment Advisors boosted its holdings in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 412.7% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 11,003 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,902,000 after buying an additional 8,857 shares during the last quarter. 99.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Digital Realty Trust Company Profile

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Digital Realty Trust, Inc (NYSE: DLR) is a real estate investment trust that owns, acquires and operates carrier-neutral data centers and provides related colocation and interconnection solutions. The company focuses on large-scale, mission-critical facilities that support the physical infrastructure needs of cloud providers, enterprises, network operators and content companies. Digital Realtys offerings are designed to enable secure, reliable and highly available IT infrastructure with an emphasis on power density, cooling, and physical security.

Digital Realtys product set spans wholesale data center space, turnkey build-to-suit facilities, and retail colocation suites, complemented by interconnection services that allow customers to establish private and public connections to networks, cloud on-ramps and other ecosystem partners.

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USA Compression Partners (NYSE:USAC  Get Free Report) had its price objective increased by stock analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $27.00 to $30.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a hold rating on the oil and gas companys stock. Stifel Nicolaus price target points to a potential upside of 13.46% from the stocks current price.

A number of other research firms also recently weighed in on USAC. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of USA Compression Partners in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of USA Compression Partners from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 7th. Zacks Research cut shares of USA Compression Partners from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 1st. Finally, Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of USA Compression Partners from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, USA Compression Partners has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $26.75.

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USA Compression Partners Trading Up 2.0%

USA Compression Partners stock traded up $0.51 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $26.44. The stock had a trading volume of 5,147 shares, compared to its average volume of 221,258. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $24.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $24.07. USA Compression Partners has a 12 month low of $21.59 and a 12 month high of $28.67. The stock has a market cap of $3.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.05 and a beta of 0.23.

USA Compression Partners (NYSE:USAC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.28. USA Compression Partners had a net margin of 10.99% and a negative return on equity of 76.84%. The business had revenue of $252.48 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $253.43 million. On average, equities analysts anticipate that USA Compression Partners will post 1.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in USA Compression Partners by 82.7% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,863,377 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $77,254,000 after purchasing an additional 1,296,339 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. increased its stake in shares of USA Compression Partners by 15.6% in the 2nd quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 23,227 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $565,000 after acquiring an additional 3,129 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of USA Compression Partners by 274.5% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 5,351,079 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $130,085,000 after purchasing an additional 3,922,383 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new position in USA Compression Partners during the 2nd quarter worth about $255,000. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its position in shares of USA Compression Partners by 14.1% during the second quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 5,305,265 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $128,971,000 after acquiring an additional 654,001 shares during the period. 47.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting USA Compression Partners

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About USA Compression Partners

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USA Compression Partners (NYSE: USAC) is a Houston-based master limited partnership specializing in natural gas compression services for oil and gas producers. The company offers a full suite of midstream compression solutions designed to enhance production flow and optimize field operations. Its core activities include the design, engineering, fabrication, installation, operation and maintenance of natural gas compression equipment onshore across key U.S. basins.

USA Compressions product and service offerings encompass new equipment deployment, aftermarket parts and component sales, field service support, and instrumentation and control systems.

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Ingalls & Snyder LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C  Free Report) by 2.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 280,308 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,705 shares during the quarter. Citigroup accounts for about 0.9% of Ingalls & Snyder LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. Ingalls & Snyder LLCs holdings in Citigroup were worth $28,451,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC raised its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 87.6% in the 3rd quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 257 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Guerra Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Citigroup during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Citigroup in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new stake in shares of Citigroup during the second quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Highline Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in Citigroup by 35.3% during the 3rd quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 418 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. 71.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Trending Headlines about Citigroup

Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

C has been the topic of several analyst reports. Piper Sandler set a $135.00 target price on Citigroup in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Citigroup in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $132.00 target price on shares of Citigroup in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $150.00 price objective on Citigroup in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Citigroup from $115.00 to $146.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $127.25.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on C

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Cantu Ernesto Torres sold 43,173 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.09, for a total transaction of $4,796,088.57. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 45,835 shares in the company, valued at $5,091,810.15. This trade represents a 48.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Citigroup Trading Up 2.5%

Citigroup stock opened at $113.64 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $116.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $105.06. Citigroup Inc. has a 52 week low of $55.51 and a 52 week high of $125.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $203.33 billion, a PE ratio of 16.30, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.00.

Citigroup (NYSE:C  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The company reported $1.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.65 by $0.16. Citigroup had a return on equity of 8.28% and a net margin of 8.50%.The company had revenue of $19.87 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.99 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.34 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Citigroup Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Monday, February 2nd will be paid a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 2nd. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Citigroups payout ratio is presently 34.43%.

Citigroup Company Profile

(Free Report)

Citigroup Inc is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City with roots tracing back to the City Bank of New York, founded in 1812. The modern Citigroup was created through the 1998 merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group and has since operated as a diversified bank holding company that provides a broad range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments and institutions worldwide.

Citis principal businesses include retail and commercial banking, credit card and consumer lending products, wealth management and private banking, and a full suite of institutional services.

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Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCMKTS:DTEGY  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the four research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company.

Separately, Erste Group Bank raised Deutsche Telekom from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday.

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Deutsche Telekom Price Performance

About Deutsche Telekom

Shares of Deutsche Telekom stock traded down $0.75 on Wednesday, hitting $38.81. The companys stock had a trading volume of 101,069 shares, compared to its average volume of 425,355. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $33.28 and a 200-day moving average price of $33.72. The company has a market capitalization of $190.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.43. Deutsche Telekom has a 52-week low of $30.31 and a 52-week high of $39.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04.

(Get Free Report)

Deutsche Telekom AG is a leading European telecommunications company headquartered in Bonn, Germany. The firm provides a broad range of telecommunications and information technology services for consumer, business and wholesale customers. Its core activities include fixed-line and mobile voice services, broadband internet access, television services and a suite of enterprise IT and network solutions.

Deutsche Telekom offers consumer products under well-known retail brands in its home market and across Europe, and operates extensive mobile networks including 4G and 5G infrastructure.

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Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE:BLCO  Get Free Report)s share price gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday following a weaker than expected earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $17.73, but opened at $16.76. Bausch + Lomb shares last traded at $17.2710, with a volume of 263,497 shares.

The company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.35 by ($0.03). Bausch + Lomb had a negative net margin of 6.13% and a positive return on equity of 2.42%. The business had revenue of $1.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.38 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.25 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $19.00 target price on shares of Bausch + Lomb in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Bausch + Lomb from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Bausch + Lomb from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $20.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Bausch + Lomb in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Bausch + Lomb from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bausch + Lomb currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.42.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Oaktree Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Bausch + Lomb in the 2nd quarter worth $32,801,000. Handelsbanken Fonder AB purchased a new position in Bausch + Lomb during the second quarter valued at $202,000. Goldentree Asset Management LP grew its holdings in Bausch + Lomb by 14.9% during the second quarter. Goldentree Asset Management LP now owns 2,583,185 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,524,000 after purchasing an additional 334,916 shares during the period. Kazazian Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Bausch + Lomb in the second quarter worth about $722,000. Finally, Fountainhead AM LLC bought a new position in shares of Bausch + Lomb in the second quarter worth about $193,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.07% of the companys stock.

Bausch + Lomb Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The stock has a market cap of $6.12 billion, a P/E ratio of -19.85, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.61. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $17.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.80.

Bausch + Lomb Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bausch + Lomb Corporation operates as an eye health company in the United States, Puerto Rico, China, France, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Poland, South Korea, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Vision Care, Pharmaceuticals, and Surgical. The Vision Care segment provides contact lens that covers the spectrum of wearing modalities, including daily disposable and frequently replaced contact lenses; and contact lens care products comprising over-the-counter eye drops, eye vitamins, and mineral supplements that address various conditions, such as eye allergies, conjunctivitis, dry eye, and redness relief.

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Whitbread plc (LON:WTB  Get Free Report) insider Kal Atwal purchased 462 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 2,737 per share, for a total transaction of 12,644.94.

Whitbread Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of LON WTB traded up GBX 19 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting GBX 2,757. 468,226 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,060,141. Whitbread plc has a 12 month low of GBX 2,253 and a 12 month high of GBX 3,302. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 2,633.36 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 2,868.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.18. The company has a market cap of 4.63 billion, a PE ratio of 19.27, a PEG ratio of -3.09 and a beta of 1.11.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

WTB has been the subject of several analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered Whitbread to a hold rating and decreased their price objective for the company from GBX 3,375 to GBX 2,815 in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Citigroup increased their price target on Whitbread from GBX 3,100 to GBX 3,300 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Berenberg Bank downgraded Whitbread to a hold rating and set a GBX 2,900 price target for the company. in a report on Monday, January 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Whitbread from GBX 2,450 to GBX 2,550 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Panmure Gordon restated a buy rating and set a GBX 3,700 price objective on shares of Whitbread in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of GBX 3,127.50.

Whitbread Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Whitbread is the owner of Premier Inn, the UKs biggest

hotel brand, with 86,000 rooms in over 850 hotels

and a growing presence in Germany with 10,500 rooms in

59 hotels, offering quality accommodation at affordable

prices in great locations.

People are at the heart of our business. We employ over

38,000 team members in over 900 Premier Inn hotels

across the UK and Germany.

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CGI Group, Inc. (NYSE:GIB  Get Free Report) (TSE:GIB.A)s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $72.33 and last traded at $73.0850, with a volume of 39284 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $73.38.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have issued reports on GIB. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a hold rating and issued a $81.00 price target (down from $105.00) on shares of CGI Group in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut CGI Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, December 14th. TD Securities upgraded shares of CGI Group to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of CGI Group in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of CGI Group in a research note on Monday, January 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $117.00.

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CGI Group Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $16.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.78 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.94. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $88.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $90.12.

CGI Group (NYSE:GIB  Get Free Report) (TSE:GIB.A) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The technology company reported $1.51 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.55 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $2.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.08 billion. CGI Group had a return on equity of 18.61% and a net margin of 10.25%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.97 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that CGI Group, Inc. will post 5.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CGI Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 18th. CGI Groups payout ratio is currently 8.99%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CGI Group

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GIB. First Horizon Corp bought a new stake in CGI Group during the third quarter worth about $29,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in CGI Group by 53.3% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,452 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $152,000 after buying an additional 505 shares during the period. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. bought a new position in CGI Group in the third quarter worth approximately $144,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC bought a new position in CGI Group in the third quarter worth approximately $174,000. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of CGI Group by 8.1% during the 2nd quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 2,591 shares of the technology companys stock worth $272,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 66.68% of the companys stock.

CGI Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

CGI Group Inc is a global information technology and business consulting firm that delivers a broad range of services including IT consulting, systems integration, application development and maintenance, infrastructure and network services, managed IT and business process outsourcing. The company works with clients to design, build and operate IT systems and business solutions, with capabilities spanning cloud and hybrid IT environments, cybersecurity, data analytics and artificial intelligence, digital transformation and enterprise resource planning implementations.

Founded in 1976 in Quebec by Serge Godin and Andre Imbeau, CGI has grown from a regional systems integrator into a multinational professional services organization.

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Banco Santander Chile (NYSE:BSAC  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 539,088 shares, an increase of 21.0% from the January 15th total of 445,472 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 465,653 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.2 days. Based on an average daily volume of 465,653 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.2 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BSAC has been the topic of several research reports. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Banco Santander Chile from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, December 30th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Banco Santander Chile in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Banco Santander Chile from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Banco Santander Chile from $24.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Citigroup downgraded Banco Santander Chile from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Banco Santander Chile currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $27.67.

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Banco Santander Chile Stock Up 0.2%

BSAC stock traded up $0.08 on Wednesday, hitting $35.48. 134,783 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 343,110. Banco Santander Chile has a 12-month low of $20.77 and a 12-month high of $37.72. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $33.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $29.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.51, a quick ratio of 1.84 and a current ratio of 1.84. The stock has a market cap of $16.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.58.

Banco Santander Chile (NYSE:BSAC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The bank reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter. Banco Santander Chile had a return on equity of 23.25% and a net margin of 24.57%.The company had revenue of $740.07 million during the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Banco Santander Chile will post 2.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Banco Santander Chile

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Simplex Trading LLC purchased a new position in shares of Banco Santander Chile in the second quarter worth $25,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Banco Santander Chile during the second quarter valued at $33,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Banco Santander Chile by 577.8% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,559 shares of the banks stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 1,329 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in Banco Santander Chile by 199.8% in the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,511 shares of the banks stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 1,007 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Banco Santander Chile by 739.5% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,486 shares of the banks stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 1,309 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 6.42% of the companys stock.

About Banco Santander Chile

(Get Free Report)

Banco Santander Chile (NYSE:BSAC) is one of the leading financial institutions in Chile and a key component of the global Santander Group. The bank offers a comprehensive range of banking and financial services, including retail and commercial lending, deposit accounts, credit cards, wealth management, insurance products and corporate banking solutions. Headquartered in Santiago, it operates an extensive network of branches, ATMs and digital platforms to serve individual customers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations across the country.

Originally founded as Banco de Santiago in the late 1970s, the institution became part of the Santander Group following the privatization wave in Chile during the late 1980s.

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Northern Dynasty Minerals, Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:NAK  Get Free Report) (TSE:NDM) gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $2.03, but opened at $1.12. Northern Dynasty Minerals shares last traded at $1.3050, with a volume of 25,613,046 shares traded.

Northern Dynasty Minerals Stock Down 37.7%

The company has a market cap of $708.25 million, a PE ratio of -10.62 and a beta of 0.08. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $2.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.67.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Northern Dynasty Minerals

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. purchased a new position in Northern Dynasty Minerals in the second quarter worth $17,117,000. GAM Holding AG acquired a new stake in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals in the 2nd quarter worth $3,752,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its stake in Northern Dynasty Minerals by 100.6% during the 2nd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,466,300 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,983,000 after buying an additional 735,300 shares during the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd increased its position in Northern Dynasty Minerals by 232.7% during the 2nd quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 636,134 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $852,000 after buying an additional 444,950 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in Northern Dynasty Minerals by 77.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 367,285 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $492,000 after buying an additional 160,285 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.55% of the companys stock.

Northern Dynasty Minerals Company Profile

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. is a mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with primary operations focused on North America. The company is publicly listed on the NYSE American and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NAK. Established in 1985, Northern Dynasty has built its business around the identification, evaluation and advancement of large-scale mineral resources, leveraging its expertise in geology, engineering and environmental planning.

The companys flagship asset is the Pebble Project, located in the Bristol Bay region of southwestern Alaska.

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Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU  Get Free Report) had its price target lowered by analysts at Citigroup from $292.00 to $225.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a neutral rating on the stock. Citigroups price target suggests a potential upside of 8.67% from the companys current price.

LEU has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and issued a $357.00 price target on shares of Centrus Energy in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Zacks Research lowered shares of Centrus Energy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of Centrus Energy in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Evercore reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $390.00 price target on shares of Centrus Energy in a report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Centrus Energy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $263.00.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on LEU

Centrus Energy Stock Up 3.9%

LEU stock traded up $7.70 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $207.05. The companys stock had a trading volume of 513,329 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,415,400. Centrus Energy has a 52-week low of $49.40 and a 52-week high of $464.25. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $269.83 and a 200-day simple moving average of $273.42. The company has a quick ratio of 4.83, a current ratio of 5.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.64 and a beta of 1.21.

Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The company reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.42 by ($0.63). The company had revenue of $146.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $145.40 million. Centrus Energy had a return on equity of 15.52% and a net margin of 17.34%.Centrus Energys revenue for the quarter was down 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Centrus Energy will post 2.63 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of LEU. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of Centrus Energy by 126.0% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 371,822 shares of the companys stock valued at $90,265,000 after buying an additional 207,316 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in Centrus Energy by 483.8% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 247,352 shares of the companys stock worth $45,310,000 after acquiring an additional 204,983 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in shares of Centrus Energy by 25.9% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 780,986 shares of the companys stock valued at $242,161,000 after purchasing an additional 160,482 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Centrus Energy by 43.3% during the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 473,145 shares of the companys stock worth $114,861,000 after buying an additional 143,069 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Man Group plc lifted its stake in shares of Centrus Energy by 2,303.8% in the 4th quarter. Man Group plc now owns 114,037 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,684,000 after purchasing an additional 109,293 shares during the last quarter. 49.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Centrus Energy

(Get Free Report)

Centrus Energy Corp is a U.S.-based supplier of nuclear fuel and enrichment services, specializing in the production of low-enriched uranium (LEU) for commercial power reactors and highly enriched uranium for naval propulsion. Through its Centrus Global subsidiary, the company provides technical support, fuel fabrication services and recycled uranium products to utilities operating light-water reactors. Centrus also develops advanced centrifuge technologies aimed at improving enrichment efficiency and reducing the cost of nuclear fuel.

Originally founded as the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) in 1998 following a spin-out from the U.S.

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Shares of Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. (OTCMKTS:IIJIY  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $28.50 and last traded at $28.50, with a volume of 202 shares. The stock had previously closed at $28.95.

Internet Initiative Japan Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $2.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.96 and a beta of 1.17. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $33.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $35.54.

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Internet Initiative Japan (OTCMKTS:IIJIY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The communications equipment provider reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.57 by ($0.11). Internet Initiative Japan had a net margin of 6.64% and a return on equity of 15.16%. The business had revenue of $557.44 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $565.72 million. As a group, research analysts expect that Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. will post 0.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Internet Initiative Japan

Internet Initiative Japan Inc (OTCMKTS: IIJIY) was founded in 1992 and is recognized as Japans first commercial Internet service provider. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company builds and operates large?scale IP networks, offering a full suite of connectivity solutions including dedicated internet access, virtual private networks (VPNs), multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) services, and high?capacity leased lines. IIJs network backbone spans major Japanese cities and is linked to international points of presence, supporting both domestic and cross-border data traffic.

In addition to core connectivity services, IIJ provides a broad portfolio of IT infrastructure offerings.

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Freeport-McMoRan, Newmont, Hecla Mining, Agnico Eagle Mines, and Coeur Mining are the five Gold stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Gold stocks are publicly traded shares of companies whose primary business is the discovery, mining, processing, or financing of goldincluding producers, developers, explorers, and royalty/streaming firms. They give investors exposure to the price of gold but also carry company-specific operational, reserve, and geopolitical risks, often producing greater volatility (and leverage to bullion) than holding physical gold. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Gold stocks within the last several days.

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Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile.

Newmont (NEM)

Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Fiji, and Ghana.

Read Our Latest Research Report on NEM

Hecla Mining (HL)

Hecla Mining Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides precious and base metal properties in the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, and China. The company mines for silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates, as well as carbon material containing silver and gold for custom smelters, metal traders, and third-party processors; and dore containing silver and gold.

Read Our Latest Research Report on HL

Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM)

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, a gold mining company, exploration, development, and production of precious metals. It explores for gold. The company's mines are located in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in Canada, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

Read Our Latest Research Report on AEM

Coeur Mining (CDE)

Coeur Mining, Inc. explores for precious metals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, zinc, and lead properties. It markets and sells its concentrates to third-party customers, smelters, under off-take agreements. The company was formerly known as Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation and changed its name to Coeur Mining, Inc.

Read Our Latest Research Report on CDE

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Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) executives highlighted record financial results in 2025 and outlined a strategy centered on expanding silver exposure and maintaining capital discipline, according to the companys fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 conference call.

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Record 2025 results and balance sheet deleveraging

President and CEO Rob Krcmarov called 2025 a transformational year, pointing to record revenue of $1.4 billion, net income applicable to shareholders of $321 million (or $0.49 per share), and record adjusted EBITDA of $670 million. Hecla reported operating cash flow of $563 million and free cash flow of $310 million, with management noting that each mine generated positive free cash flow during the year.

Chief Financial Officer Russell Lawlar emphasized the companys balance sheet improvement, saying total debt declined to. Hecla reported a gross debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio ofand a net leverage ratio of. Cash on the balance sheet increased toexiting 2025 fromentering the year. Lawlar said that at current metal prices the company is positioned to achieve a debt-free balance sheet within 2026.

Lawlar also discussed profitability metrics, including a silver all-in sustaining cost (AISC) margin that improved to 75% in 2025 from 54% in 2024, as well as return on invested capital rising to 12% from 4%.

Portfolio shift: pending Casa Berardi sale

Management spent a portion of the call discussing the pending sale of Casa Berardi to Orezone Gold Corporation, describing the transaction as a move to sharpen Heclas silver focus. Krcmarov said Casa Berardi is a gold mine in a tier one jurisdiction, but that its mid-range mine plan aligns better with a gold-focused operator. Hecla intends to redirect capital and management attention toward its silver assets.

Krcmarov said Hecla will retain upside exposure through a 10% stake in Orezone. He also said that, after closing, silver would represent about 73% of consolidated revenues, which he characterized as the highest silver revenue exposure among multi-asset mining peers.

In the question-and-answer session, management confirmed that Hecla expects to receive Casa Berardi cash flows through the closing date. Lawlar said the company assumed the transaction would close sometime in the first quarter and therefore included a full first quarter of Casa Berardi production and costs in its estimates. He noted that January production was impacted by significant weather in the Abitibi region, which raised unit costs because there was limited time to recover the lost production within the quarter.

On accounting treatment, Lawlar said that upon closing, Casa Berardi would be classified as held for sale and separated from the core financial statements, while the net income line would still reflect Casa operations through closing. He also said the transaction includes deferred and contingent consideration that will require a fair value process and that the company would actually expect well see some type of a loss on the transaction, while emphasizing that Hecla was still working through the accounting and did not provide an estimate.

Operational performance and 2026 guidance

On the operational front, Krcmarov said Hecla produced 17 million ounces of silver in 2025, hitting the top end of guidance, and produced 150,000 ounces of gold, exceeding gold guidance. He highlighted record annual silver production of 5.3 million ounces at Lucky Friday and record production of over 3 million ounces at Keno Hill, which management said achieved first-year profitability and positive free cash flow under Hecla ownership.

Senior Vice President and COO Carlos Aguiar said Heclas 2025 total reportable injury frequency rate was 1.69, a 13% year-over-year reduction. He said the company plans to implement a formal fatality prevention program in 2026.

Greens Creek: Q4 silver production of 2.0 million ounces with AISC of under $3/oz after byproduct credits; operating cash flow of $102 million and nearly $80 million in free cash flow. Full-year 2025 silver production of 8.7 million ounces with AISC of under -$2/oz after byproduct credits. 2026 guidance: 7.58.1 million ounces of silver and 51,00055,000 ounces of gold , with AISC guided to nearly $0/oz after byproduct credits.

Q4 silver production of with AISC of under after byproduct credits; operating cash flow of and nearly in free cash flow. Full-year 2025 silver production of with AISC of under after byproduct credits. 2026 guidance: and , with AISC guided to nearly after byproduct credits. Lucky Friday: Q4 silver production of 1.3 million ounces with AISC under $26/oz after byproduct credits; operating cash flow of $57 million and over $33 million in free cash flow. Full-year 2025 record silver production of 5.3 million ounces with AISC under $22/oz . 2026 guidance: 4.75.2 million ounces of silver with AISC of $23.50$26/oz , with Aguiar attributing the higher AISC in part to increased profit-sharing payments to the workforce.

Q4 silver production of with AISC under after byproduct credits; operating cash flow of and over in free cash flow. Full-year 2025 record silver production of with AISC under . 2026 guidance: with AISC of , with Aguiar attributing the higher AISC in part to increased profit-sharing payments to the workforce. Keno Hill: Q4 silver production of 597,000 ounces, operating cash flow of $33 million, and over $17 million in free cash flow. Full-year 2025 production exceeded 3.0 million ounces. 2026 guidance: 2.93.2 million ounces of silver and capital investment of $61$66 million as the operation advances toward steady-state throughput of 440 tons per day.

Krcmarov said the Lucky Friday surface cooling project is 79% complete and on track for mid-2026 completion. During Q&A, management said the project is primarily driven by underground health and safety considerations as mining progresses deeper, while also potentially supporting productivity improvements.

Exploration focus and growth options

Vice President of Exploration Kurt Allen said Heclas exploration strategy is to discover and develop the next generation of production from within our existing portfolio. He said the company plans to invest $45$55 million in 2026 exploration, weighted toward Nevada and near-mine opportunities, with a goal of achieving greater than 100% reserve replacement and supporting a longer-term objective of reaching 20 million ounces of annual silver production.

At Midas in Nevada, Allen highlighted drill results including 6.1 feet at 0.46 ounces per ton gold and 0.93 ounces per ton silver and 2.2 feet at 0.95 ounces per ton gold and 0.6 ounces per ton silver, which he said support a potential near-term production restart using existing mill infrastructure. Management later said the Midas mill has a permitted capacity of about 1,200 tons per day (approximately 450,000 tons per year), but added it is too early to discuss expected throughput or future grades while exploration continues.

At Aurora, Allen said Hecla received a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) from the U.S. Forest Service, which he described as a major permitting milestone that clears the path for 2026 exploration at the historic high-grade gold-silver producer.

Hecla also discussed reserve and resource work at its operating mines. Allen said Greens Creek definition drilling added 3.7 million silver ounces through model updates, replaced 9.5 million ounces depleted through mining, and increased reserves by 2.4 million ounces net. He said Lucky Friday nearly replaced reserves, reducing only 200,000 silver ounces during a record production year, and cited measured and indicated resources beyond reserves at both sites.

Medium-term outlook and capital allocation framework

For 2026, Krcmarov said Heclas silver production outlook is 15.116.5 million ounces, while reiterating managements view that there is a credible pathway to 20 million ounces over the medium term. He cited continued ramp-up at Keno Hill, potential restart of Midas, further optimization at Lucky Friday, and potential reprocessing of historic dry stack tailings at Greens Creek as internal options.

Lawlar reiterated Heclas capital allocation priorities, listing safety and environmental excellence first, followed by sustaining and growth capital, exploration, deleveraging, strategic investments guided by return criteria, and shareholder returns when appropriate.

In Q&A, Krcmarov said the company is also working to replenish its longer-term project pipeline. He said he tasked Allen with establishing a project generation and new business group aimed at early entry into new silver districts and monitoring opportunities, particularly among junior companies, while noting that silver-producing assets are scarce.

About Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL)

Hecla Mining Company, founded in 1891 and headquartered in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, is one of the oldest publicly traded precious metals companies in the United States. Originally established to develop the rich silver deposits of the Coeur dAlene district, Hecla has evolved into a diversified mining enterprise focused on the exploration, development and production of silver and gold, with by-product credits from lead and zinc.

The companys principal operations are located in North America and Latin America.

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Mister Car Wash (NYSE:MCW  Get Free Report)s stock had its equal weight rating restated by equities researchers at Wells Fargo & Company in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $7.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Companys price target would suggest a potential upside of 0.21% from the companys previous close.

A number of other analysts have also recently issued reports on MCW. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Mister Car Wash from $7.50 to $6.50 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Raymond James Financial reissued an outperform rating and set a $8.00 price objective on shares of Mister Car Wash in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Stephens raised their price objective on shares of Mister Car Wash from $6.25 to $7.50 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Mister Car Wash from $7.25 to $6.25 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Mizuho set a $8.00 target price on Mister Car Wash in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mister Car Wash presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $7.25.

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Mister Car Wash Trading Up 16.2%

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

NYSE:MCW traded up $0.98 on Wednesday, reaching $6.99. The companys stock had a trading volume of 38,714,711 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,222,892. Mister Car Wash has a 1-year low of $4.61 and a 1-year high of $8.60. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $5.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $5.51. The firm has a market cap of $2.29 billion, a PE ratio of 31.75, a PEG ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a current ratio of 0.53.

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MCW. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its stake in Mister Car Wash by 8.1% in the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 24,185 shares of the companys stock valued at $145,000 after buying an additional 1,821 shares during the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC increased its stake in shares of Mister Car Wash by 7.8% during the second quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 25,447 shares of the companys stock worth $153,000 after purchasing an additional 1,851 shares during the period. CWM LLC boosted its stake in Mister Car Wash by 8.8% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 29,719 shares of the companys stock valued at $158,000 after purchasing an additional 2,396 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its holdings in Mister Car Wash by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 56,310 shares of the companys stock valued at $444,000 after buying an additional 2,519 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in Mister Car Wash by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 70,557 shares of the companys stock worth $392,000 after buying an additional 2,621 shares during the period.

Key Mister Car Wash News

Here are the key news stories impacting Mister Car Wash this week:

Positive Sentiment: Leonard Green & Partners to take MCW private for $7.00 per share (~$3.1B enterprise value)  the bid is near the market price and LGP already owns ~67% of shares, making the deal the main catalyst lifting the stock. Article Title

Leonard Green & Partners to take MCW private for $7.00 per share (~$3.1B enterprise value)  the bid is near the market price and LGP already owns ~67% of shares, making the deal the main catalyst lifting the stock. Positive Sentiment: Solid Q4 and FY results: Q4 net revenues +4% to $261.2M, full?year revenue >$1B for the first time, adjusted EBITDA up (Q4 +10%, FY +8%) and UWC memberships +7% (?2.3M members)  supports recurring revenue thesis and valuation support for the bid. Article Title

Solid Q4 and FY results: Q4 net revenues +4% to $261.2M, full?year revenue >$1B for the first time, adjusted EBITDA up (Q4 +10%, FY +8%) and UWC memberships +7% (?2.3M members)  supports recurring revenue thesis and valuation support for the bid. Positive Sentiment: Q4 EPS slightly beat expectations ($0.11 vs. $0.10 consensus) while revenue was essentially flat to estimates  a modest beat that reduces near?term earnings concerns. Article Title

Q4 EPS slightly beat expectations ($0.11 vs. $0.10 consensus) while revenue was essentially flat to estimates  a modest beat that reduces near?term earnings concerns. Neutral Sentiment: The company canceled its earnings conference call and did not provide a 2026 outlook, citing the LGP transaction  this reduces near?term guidance clarity but is a common step during M&A processes. Article Title

The company canceled its earnings conference call and did not provide a 2026 outlook, citing the LGP transaction  this reduces near?term guidance clarity but is a common step during M&A processes. Negative Sentiment: Multiple shareholder law firms announced investigations into whether the deal provides a fair price and whether fiduciary duties were met  potential for litigation, delays or pressure on deal terms. Article Title Article Title

Multiple shareholder law firms announced investigations into whether the deal provides a fair price and whether fiduciary duties were met  potential for litigation, delays or pressure on deal terms. Negative Sentiment: Cash on the balance sheet fell materially (cash & cash equivalents $28.5M vs. $67.5M year?ago)  while operating cash flow is strong, lower liquidity could be a concern until the transaction closes. Article Title

Mister Car Wash Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Mister Car Wash, traded on the NYSE under the ticker MCW, is a leading provider of vehicle cleaning services in the United States. The company specializes in a tiered range of wash offerings, including express exterior washes, full-service interior and exterior cleaning, and premium detailing services. In addition to one-time washes, Mister Car Wash markets unlimited monthly membership plans that grant customers access to recurring washes at participating locations.

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, Mister Car Wash has grown from a single facility to one of the largest car wash chains in the country.

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Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report)s stock price was up 1.8% during trading on Wednesday after Melius Research upgraded the stock from a hold rating to a buy rating. Melius Research now has a $205.00 price target on the stock. Chevron traded as high as $183.92 and last traded at $183.7490. Approximately 10,303,592 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 18% from the average daily volume of 12,584,943 shares. The stock had previously closed at $180.55.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Chevron from $180.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Bank of America cut their target price on Chevron from $183.00 to $180.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Mizuho raised their price target on Chevron from $204.00 to $206.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $212.00 price objective on shares of Chevron in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Chevron from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 23rd. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Chevron currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $176.36.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

Key Headlines Impacting Chevron

In other news, CFO Eimear P. Bonner sold 32,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.01, for a total transaction of $5,617,821.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 4,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $764,093.66. The trade was a 88.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, insider Andrew Benjamin Walz sold 666 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.40, for a total transaction of $122,144.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 1,463 shares in the company, valued at approximately $268,314.20. The trade was a 31.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing . Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 806,027 shares of company stock valued at $130,289,680. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week:

Positive Sentiment: Chevron-led consortium won four offshore lease blocks in Greece (Chevron will operate with ~70% interest), expanding its Mediterranean exploration footprint and adding long?term upstream optionality. Read More.

Chevron-led consortium won four offshore lease blocks in Greece (Chevron will operate with ~70% interest), expanding its Mediterranean exploration footprint and adding long?term upstream optionality. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Chevron raised its quarterly dividend (new quarterly amount $1.78; annualized ~$7.12), reinforcing income appeal as Treasury yields have eased and supporting demand from yield?focused investors. Read More.

Chevron raised its quarterly dividend (new quarterly amount $1.78; annualized ~$7.12), reinforcing income appeal as Treasury yields have eased and supporting demand from yield?focused investors. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Energy sector leadership year?to?date is boosting interest in integrated majors like Chevron; sector momentum can lift CVX but also encourages rotation and valuation debates. Read More.

Energy sector leadership year?to?date is boosting interest in integrated majors like Chevron; sector momentum can lift CVX but also encourages rotation and valuation debates. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Recent analyst and media comparisons (Chevron vs. Exxon/Conoco) are increasing coverage and short?term volumeuseful for trading activity but not immediate proof of fundamental change. Read More.

Recent analyst and media comparisons (Chevron vs. Exxon/Conoco) are increasing coverage and short?term volumeuseful for trading activity but not immediate proof of fundamental change. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: recent filings show Andrew Walz and CTO Thomas Ryder Booth sold CVX shares (small relative to total float but notable to some investors), which can be perceived as a near?term negative signal. Read More.

Insider selling: recent filings show Andrew Walz and CTO Thomas Ryder Booth sold CVX shares (small relative to total float but notable to some investors), which can be perceived as a near?term negative signal. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Market largely ignored a Melius Research upgrade and $205 price target; shares dipped after the announcement, suggesting the upgrade alone isnt shifting investor conviction. Read More.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Castellan Group raised its holdings in shares of Chevron by 10.7% in the 2nd quarter. Castellan Group now owns 20,405 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,922,000 after purchasing an additional 1,965 shares in the last quarter. United Bank lifted its stake in shares of Chevron by 7.7% during the 2nd quarter. United Bank now owns 11,079 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,586,000 after purchasing an additional 796 shares during the last quarter. Balboa Wealth Partners lifted its stake in shares of Chevron by 25.8% during the 2nd quarter. Balboa Wealth Partners now owns 4,471 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $640,000 after purchasing an additional 916 shares during the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. boosted its position in Chevron by 9.0% during the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 50,839 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $7,280,000 after purchasing an additional 4,214 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Princeton Global Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Chevron by 11.9% in the second quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 1,793 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $257,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.42% of the companys stock.

Chevron Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $369.98 billion, a PE ratio of 27.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 12.16 and a beta of 0.70. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $163.85 and a 200-day simple moving average of $157.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $45.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48.18 billion. Chevron had a net margin of 6.51% and a return on equity of 8.23%. Chevrons revenue was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.06 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Chevron Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be given a $1.78 dividend. This represents a $7.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 17th. This is a positive change from Chevrons previous quarterly dividend of $1.71. Chevrons payout ratio is 102.70%.

About Chevron

(Get Free Report)

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is an American multinational energy company engaged in virtually all aspects of the oil and gas industry. As an integrated energy firm, Chevrons core activities include upstream oil and natural gas exploration and production, midstream transportation and storage, downstream refining and marketing of fuels and lubricants, and petrochemical manufacturing through joint ventures and subsidiaries. The company markets fuels under brands such as Chevron, Texaco and Caltex and supplies a range of products and services to retail customers, industrial users and commercial fleets worldwide.

Chevron traces its corporate lineage to the early petroleum companies that eventually became Standard Oil of California and has evolved through significant mergers and restructurings, including the acquisitions of Gulf Oil and Texaco.

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Shares of Teijin Ltd. (OTCMKTS:TINLY  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $11.43 and last traded at $11.43, with a volume of 2595 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.30.

Teijin Price Performance

The stocks 50-day moving average is $9.10 and its 200 day moving average is $8.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.20 billion, a PE ratio of -6.46 and a beta of 0.07.

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Teijin (OTCMKTS:TINLY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported ($0.14) EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $1.36 billion during the quarter.

About Teijin

Teijin Limited is a diversified Japanese conglomerate headquartered in Tokyo, with roots dating back to 1918 when it launched Japans first rayon manufacturing facility. Over the past century, the company has evolved into an integrated chemical, pharmaceutical and information technology group serving a wide range of global markets. Teijin operates through multiple business segments that include advanced fibers & composites, performance films, healthcare and IT solutions.

In its fibers & composites division, Teijin produces high-strength aramid fibers under brands such as Twaron and Technora, along with carbon fiber composite materials used in aerospace, automotive and industrial applications.

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Premium Brands Holdings Co. (TSE:PBH  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$104.59 and last traded at C$104.44, with a volume of 61506 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$104.55.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

PBH has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Premium Brands from C$111.00 to C$125.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. TD Securities raised their target price on shares of Premium Brands from C$145.00 to C$160.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Raymond James Financial lifted their price target on shares of Premium Brands from C$115.00 to C$125.00 in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$108.00 to C$118.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$106.00 to C$111.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of C$121.64.

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Premium Brands Trading Down 0.2%

Premium Brands Company Profile

The stock has a market cap of C$4.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 70.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.12. The stocks 50-day moving average is C$99.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$96.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 163.00, a current ratio of 1.51 and a quick ratio of 1.16.

(Get Free Report)

Premium Brands Holdings Corp is engaged in specialty food manufacturing, premium food distribution, and wholesale businesses with operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nevada, and Washington State. The companys business segments include Specialty Foods, Premium Food Distribution, and Corporate. The Specialty Foods segment consists of its specialty food manufacturing businesses, which contributes about two-thirds of the group revenue; the Premium Food Distribution segment consists of the companys distribution and wholesale businesses; the Corporate segment includes the companys head office activities along with its finance and information systems.

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There's still A LOT to learn about how the Kansas City Chiefs plan to force the broke-ass denizens of the Dotte into paying their bills for the next quarter century.

Thankfully . . . This conversation betwixt leaders of the local discourse helps explain the sitch.

Here's the setup:

"Dave Helling recently responded to my Show-Me Institute colleagues piece on what Missouri should learn from Kansass tax changes a decade ago. He questions whether Missouris current discussion is meaningfully different from what happened under former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.



"I respect Dave and welcome the debate. Kansas belongs in this conversation. But if we are going to invoke it, we should be clear about what it demonstrates . . .



"Dave suggests that state tax policy has only a marginal relationship to economic growth. It is true that no state controls the national business cycle. But it does not follow that tax structure is economically irrelevant . . ."

Take a listen via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Show-Me Blog: The Lesson from Kansasand the Question for Missouri

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. An international conference entitled 'C6: One region, shared future  enhancing strategic dialogue' took place in Baku, Trend reports.

The event was organized as an expert dialogue and is dedicated to Azerbaijan's accession to the consultative platform for meetings of Central Asian heads of state.

The event was also attended by Deputy Director General of Trend International News Agency and Deputy Chairman of the Baku Network Research Center, Sahil Karimli.

The conference discussed prospects for expanding regional cooperation and strengthening strategic interaction.

Speaking at the event, Shiri Shiriyev, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, noted that Azerbaijan's accession to the Consultative Platform for Meetings of Central Asian Leaders opens a new chapter in the history of regional cooperation, and the current meeting is an important step in this direction.

According to him, the strategic importance of the C6 format cannot be overestimated: It is not just a platform for dialogue, but a living mechanism that allows us to find joint solutions in conditions of global instability and build sustainable economic ties based on mutual benefit, as well as strengthen trust through humanitarian cooperation and exchange of experience.

Shiriyev noted that the expert community plays a key role in this process.

It is analysts, researchers, and representatives of think tanks who create the intellectual foundation for making informed decisions, he added.

At the same time, he noted that expert recommendations help transform ideas into concrete mechanisms for cooperation, allow risks to be anticipated, and enable opportunities to be exploited effectively.

It is equally important that active interaction between experts from different countries contributes to the formation of a unified agenda that takes into account the interests of all parties, Shiri Shiriiev emphasized.

Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations, noted that Central Asia is not only a neighboring region for Azerbaijan, but also a natural partner.

According to him, ensuring strategic stability requires strengthening ties between countries, diversifying economic and transport routes, and building cooperation based on common interests. Only such an approach can guarantee stability and sustainable development in the region.

Shafiyev stressed that Azerbaijan's foreign policy over the past six years has been shaped by these realities:

"Expanding cooperation with Asian institutions and deepening strategic partnerships has allowed us to strengthen our country's eastern vector, while maintaining constructive dialogue with the US and its European partners based on mutual respect. This balanced approach helps reduce vulnerability, create new opportunities, and shape additional prospects for both regional and national development."

He also noted that Central Asia is not only a neighbor to Azerbaijan, but also a natural partner.

"Our shared history and rich cultural heritage are important foundations, but the main factor distinguishing our current cooperation is geo-economicscooperation in the fields of energy, transport, logistics, and infrastructure. At a time when traditional assumptions about the stability of Eurasia are losing their relevance, these ties are taking on new meaning and strategic importance," Shafiyev added.

Azamat Sulimanov, head of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted that Central Asia has now entered a qualitatively new stage of development.

According to him, Central Asia has quickly progressed from dialogue to real partnership: "Territorial issues have been resolved, borders have been opened, and cooperation in energy, transport, and trade has been established. Consultative meetings of the heads of state of Central Asia played a key role in this process, serving as an important pillar of the regional cooperation architecture."

Sulimanov stressed that these meetings have proven their effectiveness as a tool for direct and systematic dialogue between the leaders of the countries.

I believe that Azerbaijan's accession to this format allows us to talk about a qualitative rethinking of the regional space, in which the Caspian Sea ceases to be a border and becomes a connecting element. This, in turn, entails the interconnection of transport corridors, energy routes, and economic interests, he noted.

In addition, the expert emphasized that this contributes to strengthening interregional connectivity between Central Asia and the South Caucasus, as well as strengthening the region's international standing.

Furthermore, speaking about transport opportunities, Fariz Ismailzade, Deputy of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Vice-Rector of ADA University, and Director of the Institute for Development and Diplomacy, stated that the development of the Middle Corridor has played a major role in the integration processes between Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia.

According to him, political, economic, and humanitarian assistance have contributed to strengthening Azerbaijan's ties with Central Asian countries.

The development of the Middle Corridor has played a very important role in our integration processes, as Russian railways have been under sanctions for the last four years. Transporting European products to China and Central Asia via Russian railways has become more complicated, Ismailzade said.

He added that Iran has been under sanctions for more than 20 years and, accordingly, the Middle Corridor - a route through Baku and Alat connecting ports with Aktau and Turkmenistan - has become a key integration link for the development of relations.

I want to emphasize that Azerbaijan is paying more and more attention to China. In April last year, President Ilham Aliyev paid a state visit to China, where a strategic partnership agreement was signed, he said.

At the same time, Fariz Ismailzade emphasized that the development of Azerbaijani-Chinese relations also contributes to the strengthening of integration processes in Central Asia.

"To access Chinese markets, Azerbaijan must pass through Central Asia. This means the development of infrastructure and transport projects, energy projects, and joint investments. Therefore, Azerbaijan now has bilateral investment funds with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, which actively contribute to the strengthening of economic ties," he added.

Furthermore, speaking at the event, Sanat Kushkumbayev, chief researcher at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, stated that Azerbaijan's inclusion in the Central Asian format is not an opportunistic decision, but a restoration of historical ties that existed previously.

According to him, this is about recreating a situation that already existed before.

This is not some kind of opportunistic, institutional, or other decision to expand the format, the expert noted.

He recalled that Azerbaijan had already participated in previous Central Asian summits and emphasized historical continuity: the Inter-Republican Consultative Council was established back in 1991.

Talgat Kaliev, a member of the National Kurultai under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted that Central Asia has the potential to become an analogue of the production sites of China or India.

According to him, Central Asia has its own rare earth resources, a high level of human capital, and labor resources that are cheaper than in the European Union.

We could attract technology in exchange for this and gradually develop our own production capacities to a whole new level. At the same time, it is extremely important for us to develop our own security and defense capabilities, he noted.

In addition, Kaliev emphasized the need for coordinated action in negotiations with the European Union and the United States on resource issues.

Today, we are in a unique position: we can trade not just raw materials, but provide resources in exchange for technology. This will allow us to consistently build up our production and technological base and increase the level of human capital, he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Azerbaijan's accession to the Consultative Platform for Meetings of Central Asian Leaders opens a new chapter in the history of regional cooperation, and the current meeting is an important step in this direction, the Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Shiri Shiriyev, said, Trend reports.

He made the statement at an international conference on 'C6: One region, shared future  enhancing strategic dialogue' held today in Baku.

According to him, the strategic importance of the C6 format cannot be overestimated: It is not just a platform for dialogue, but a living mechanism that allows us to find joint solutions in conditions of global instability and build sustainable economic ties based on mutual benefit, as well as strengthen trust through humanitarian cooperation and exchange of experience.

Shiriyev noted that the expert community plays a key role in this process.

It is analysts, researchers, and representatives of think tanks who create the intellectual foundation for making informed decisions, he added.

At the same time, he noted that expert recommendations help transform ideas into concrete mechanisms for cooperation, enable risks to be anticipated, and allow emerging opportunities to be exploited effectively.

It is equally important that active interaction between experts from different countries contributes to the formation of a unified agenda that takes into account the interests of all parties, Shiri Shiriyev emphasized.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The development of the Middle Corridor has played a major role in the integration processes between Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia, Azerbaijani MP, Director of the Institute for Development and Diplomacy, Fariz Ismailzade, said at an international conference entitled 'C6: One region, shared future  enhancing strategic dialogue', Trend reports.

According to him, political, economic, and humanitarian aid have contributed to strengthening Azerbaijan's ties with Central Asian countries.

"The development of the Middle Corridor has played a very significant role in our integration processes, as Russian railways have been under sanctions for the past four years. Transporting European products to China and Central Asia via Russian railways has become more difficult," Ismailzade explained.

He recalled that Iran has been under sanctions for over 20 years, and accordingly, the Middle Corridorthe route through Baku and Alat, linking ports with Aktau and Turkmenistan- has become a key integration link for developing relations.

"Azerbaijan is increasingly focusing on China. Last April, President Ilham Aliyev paid a state visit to China, where a strategic partnership agreement was signed," he noted.

At the same time, the MP emphasized that the development of Azerbaijani-Chinese relations also contributes to strengthening integration processes in Central Asia.

"To access Chinese markets, Azerbaijan must pass through Central Asia. This means developing infrastructure and transport projects, energy projects, and joint investments. Therefore, Azerbaijan currently has bilateral investment funds with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, which actively contribute to strengthening economic ties," he added.

He also underscored that the parties are investing in joint economic projects and production.

"A joint Uzbek-Azerbaijani textile factory is already operating in Karabakh. There are numerous plans for the future. These processes demonstrate that integration with Central Asia for Azerbaijan is more than just pompous political slogans. It's specific integration in economic, transport, and energy projects, and all of this impacts the C6 format.

The C6 format has great potential if attention is paid to strengthening its institutions. In this case, it could become a good example, like the Organization of Turkic States, which also began as a humanitarian platform, a rather weak form of integration, but subsequently saw a strong process of institutionalization and the development of various cooperation mechanisms," Ismailzade concluded.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Azerbaijan became the first country in the South Caucasus, with which Uzbekistan established the highest level of trust relations, raising the status of bilateral dialogue to the level of allied relations, Director of the International Institute of Central Asia, Zhavlon Vahabov, said at an international conference entitled 'C6: One region, shared future  enhancing strategic dialogue' in Baku today, Trend reports.

According to him, the development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia represents a qualitative shift in practically all directions of the extensive agenda.

"Since November of last year, we are no longer C5, but C6. This is more than numbers: the countries of Central Asia, together with Azerbaijan, are forming the core of the new institutional Central Asia. Azerbaijan's accession to the regional format rests first of all on the solid foundation of bilateral interaction with the states of Central Asia, as well as on the multilateral structures that have been formed in recent years," he noted.

Vakhabov emphasized that during the period of intensive dialogue, transportation along the Middle Corridor through Azerbaijan increased by 90% in the last three years.

"This is a significant figure that was not observed until 2017. As for Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations, last year the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, paid an official visit to Azerbaijan, and earlier, in 2024, the countries signed an agreement on allied relations. Bilateral trade also demonstrates the strengthening of these ties," he added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The modern security agenda goes far beyond the military sphere, emphasizing a broader range of threats and challenges, Farhad Mamedov, Director of the South Caucasus Studies Center, said at the international conference "C6: One region, shared future, enhancing strategic dialogue" in Baku, Trend reports.

Security today involves cyber threats, hybrid operations, and attempts to influence domestic politics to shape foreign policy directions. Protecting infrastructure, pipelines, railways, highways, ports, and, in the future, internet cables, as well as green energy export lines, has become especially critical. All these areas require a systematic and institutional approach within the framework of regional cooperation, Mamedov said.

He noted that Azerbaijan has closely observed the development of consultative meetings among Central Asian states, considering it an example of effective regional cooperation.

According to Mamedov, consensus has been reached in Central Asia on many security issues, creating a foundation for predictability and regional stability.

Even with some countries participating in military-political blocs, this does not hinder regional dialogue on security matters, joint exercises, or the exchange of experience and information. Such blocs do not serve as a full security umbrella and do not limit regional cooperation, he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Azerbaijan consistently expands and deepens cooperation with Central Asia, Senior Advisor at the Center for Analysis of International Relations, Roza Bayramli, said at an international conference entitled 'C6: One region, shared futureenhancing strategic dialogue,' Trend reports.

According to her, this has been recorded in a number of areas, from trade and investment to energy, industrial cooperation, humanitarian ties, and the development of regional connectivity in recent years.

She explained that this interaction is systematic, relying on regular political dialogue and growing practical interest from businesses in sustainable and predictable cooperation channels.

"Against this backdrop, the transport and logistics agenda is particularly relevant. In today's geopolitical realities, infrastructure and logistics are viewed both as an economic tool and a sustainability factor. This area of interaction particularly impacts the ability of states and companies to support foreign trade and transit flows, reduce costs and risks, ensure route diversification, and maintain competitiveness. Therefore, a discussion about transport today is a discussion about the stability of supply chains, market confidence in corridors, and the extent to which a region can offer predictable connectivity services, rather than just routes on a map," she said.

The senior adviser noted that in this context, the C6 agenda acquires practical significance.

"The topic of connectivity and transport is a key one here, as it directly affects the interests of all participants. This context addresses issues ranging from synchronizing infrastructure projects and procedures at junctions to developing multimodal solutions, digitalization, eliminating bottlenecks, and creating transparent commercial conditions. This work is being conducted both within the C6 format itself and in parallelthrough bilateral mechanisms, as well as trilateral and multilateral platforms, and in the context of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), that is, in formats where countries in the region are clarifying the practical parameters of cooperation, from coordinating schedules and tariffs to exchanging data and simplifying procedures," emphasized Bayramli.

Speaking about bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral formats, she noted that the transport and logistics agenda between Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia has already acquired an institutional dimension.

"In particular, on September 20, 2024, in Baku, with the participation of Azerbaijan Railways, Uzbekistan Railways, and the railway administrations of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the Eurasian Transport Route (ETR) international association was established. Its mission is to develop integrated logistics products, unify transportation technologies, develop an effective tariff policy, implement digital solutions, and optimize costs. This aims to create a supranational operational framework for the operation of the 'southern branch' of the Middle Corridor, which runs through China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Turkiye.

At the same time, work continues to eliminate infrastructure and operational constraints at the Trans-Caspian junction, which is critical for the region. Both framework strategic planning documents and applicable agreements to address bottlenecks are being formally established. For example, on September 30, 2025, an action plan was signed between the railways of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia to eliminate bottlenecks within the Middle Corridor. This complements "the roadmap for the development of the Middle Corridor for 20222027, signed by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkiye in 2022," she concluded.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Common strategic interests strengthen cooperation between Azerbaijan and Central Asia, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Akramjon Nematov, said at an international conference entitled 'C6: One region, shared futureenhancing strategic dialogue', Trend reports.

He noted that this cooperation is determined not only by geographical proximity, historical and cultural ties, and civilizational commonality, but also, of course, by the coincidence of strategic interests.

According to him, over the past eight years, a specific security architecture has been built in the region, which can be characterized as an emerging non-aligned security community.

"In 2018, consultative meetings of heads of state were launchedinitially as a dialogue platform, but today they have become a fully fledged mechanism for interaction. This mechanism not only defines the main development vectors but also forms the institutional foundation for regional cooperation," the official explained.

He pointed out that the next stage was the development of sectoral cooperation.

"A two-year roadmap was adopted, within the framework of which regular meetings of the ministers of transport and energy began, as well as various forumshistorians, youth, and other expert platforms. About four years ago, in my opinion, a new stage beganthe formation of a more coherent security architecture. It began with the first meeting of security council secretaries in Kazakhstan. The next meeting took place last year in Samarkand," Nematov recalled.

Moreover, according to him, joint military exercises were organized for the first time between the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan.

"All this testifies to the consistent strengthening of coordination and trust in security at the regional level," he concluded.

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Furniture giant IKEA is preparing a major growth push in the United States, announcing plans to open 10 new locations across the country in 2026.

The move, revealed in the company's 2025 Annual Summary released Feb. 17, adds four newly confirmed sites to six openings that had already been shared last year.

According to USA Today, the expansion will bring new stores to several fast-growing regions, including three in Texas and single locations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Virginia.

The plan reflects the retailer's strategy to reach more shoppers while making its products easier to access.

"Looking ahead to FY26, we will build on this momentum, focusing on continued investment in the U.S. to make IKEA more affordable, accessible and sustainable," said Rob Olson, interim CEO of IKEA US.

IKEA announces new locations for 2026. Find out where they're opening. https://t.co/ktkcozetS1  Tennessean (@Tennessean) February 18, 2026

Where New IKEA Stores Are Opening

The company confirmed the following cities will receive new locations in 2026:

Phoenix

Huntsville

Culver City

Fort Collins

Gurnee Mills

Tulsa

Dallas

Rockwall

Webster

Chantilly

Together, these openings highlight a broad geographic reach, from the Southwest to the Mid-Atlantic.

One of the most detailed announcements is the Fort Collins location, set for Front Range Village Shopping Center at 4250 Corbett Drive.

The store will span about 64,000 square feet  roughly one-sixth the size of the company's first Colorado store in Centennial, 9News reported.

Despite the smaller footprint, the site is designed to give shoppers plenty of options. Customers will be able to take home about 3,200 items right away, including home accessories and around 250 small furniture pieces.

The store will also feature a planning area where staff can help design kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

And, in a familiar touch for fans, visitors can still expect classic food offerings like Swedish meatballs, plant-based options, hot dogs, and cinnamon buns.

IKEA currently operates more than 500 stores worldwide, with over 50 in the United States.

Originally published on vcpost.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The U.S. is interested in exploring options to support Azerbaijans role as the regions digital hub, Assistant Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs Caleb Orr at the U.S. State Department said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

There are currently over 200 U.S. companies operating in Azerbaijan, and we want to see bilateral trade and economic relations increase. Specific areas for deepening economic cooperation include energy investments; regional connectivity infrastructure; trade, including defense sales; and AI partnerships and digital infrastructure, he said.

Talking about the significance of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), Orr pointed out that it will create a vital link in the Trans-Caspian Trade Route.

TRIPP will establish unimpeded, multimodal transit connectivity on the territory of Armenia. While connecting the main part of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and creating a vital link in the Trans-Caspian Trade Route, the TRIPP is expected to generate reciprocal benefits for international and intra-state connectivity for the Republic of Armenia.

The ultimate objective of the TRIPP is to strengthen the prosperity and security of Armenia and Azerbaijan and further American commerce by expanding regional trade and connectivity as well as create new transit opportunities linking Central Asia and the Caucasus to Europe, he said.

Orr went on to add that the Middle Corridor could transform trade across Eurasia.

Trans-Caspian Trade Route (TCTR), or Middle Corridor, is a trade and transit route spanning the Central Asian steppe, across the Caspian Sea, and through the Caucasus, linking the region to U.S. and European markets. With investment in critical infrastructure and customs improvements, a fully operational TCTR could transform trade within and across Eurasia. During the C5+1 Tenth Anniversary Summit in November 2025, the five Central Asian countries and the United States identified developing the potential of the Trans-Caspian Trade Route as a priority to strengthen supply chain connectivity and resilience by securing the movement of cargo, information, and energy, he explained.

Orr believes that investments in transit and logistics, critical minerals, agribusiness, and digital infrastructure, will create opportunities for U.S. business investment while increasing the amount of goods and critical resources through the TCTR.



As for energy cooperation, Orr noted that U.S. companies continue to seek opportunities to expand their role in oil and gas activities to support Azerbaijan.

We understand Azerbaijans oil and gas sector is focused on maximizing production from established Caspian fields, while exploring and developing new sources of onshore and offshore oil and gas for both domestic consumption and export. Such opportunities include the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between ExxonMobil and SOCAR to explore, develop, and produce unconventional onshore oil and gas reserves. Capacity expansions for oil and gas export pipelines are also being considered. U.S. companies continue to seek opportunities to expand their already significant role in oil and gas activities to support Azerbaijan in these endeavors, he added.

Orr also touched upon other spheres of cooperation, noting that U.S. companies are global leaders in providing power generation and grid technology and services, important areas for Azerbaijans economic future.

Additionally, we are interested in connecting U.S. technology companies with Azerbaijan and exploring options to support Azerbaijans role as the regions digital hub. Azerbaijan also plays a critical role in the Trans-Caspian Trade Route (Middle Corridor). U.S. investments in smart port technologies, modern rail infrastructure, and integrated logistics hubs will enhance connectivity and ensure faster, more reliable trade flows between Asia and Europe, he said.



Orr also highlighted the important role of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) in facilitating business connections, trade missions, and networking platforms that enable U.S. and Azerbaijani firms to engage and pursue commercial opportunities.

These activities help build trust and generate commercial leads for U.S. companies - an essential function in emerging markets where relationships and local knowledge are critical to success, he said.

Furthermore, as Orr noted, the USACC fosters regional business collaboration, which is particularly important given Azerbaijans role as a geostrategic hub in the South Caucasus.

Its position in energy transit corridors and regional connectivity initiatives presents significant cross-border opportunities for U.S. firms. As an example, in September 2025, USACC brought a U.S. business delegation to Azerbaijan to explore commercial opportunities in multimodal transportation, logistics, and critical infrastructure. This year, USACC celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of fostering trade, investment, and cultural ties between the United States and Azerbaijan. I am confident that our partnership is poised for continued excellence and look forward to deepening our engagement in the months and years ahead, he concluded.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. On 17 February 2026, the 8th meeting of the Interagency Airport Commission on Aviation Security was held at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Trend reports, citing the press service of the airport.

The meeting was attended by representatives of AZCON Holding, Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, the State Civil Aviation Agency, relevant entities operating in the field of air transport, respective state authorities, and senior management of other aviation stakeholders.

Within the framework of the meeting, the current state of the national aviation security system was reviewed. The implementation of risk-based approach principles, optimization of interagency operational coordination, and continuous monitoring of compliance with international standards were identified as key priorities. An agreement was reached on the adoption of additional preventive measures aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of security procedures and the management of operational risks.

One of the main topics of discussion was the preparation for the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), which will be held in Baku in May this year. During the Forum period, the implementation of an enhanced security regime, uninterrupted management of passenger and delegation movements, as well as the activation of a unified operational coordination mechanism among all relevant authorities are envisaged.

At the conclusion of the meeting, priority action areas were defined to further strengthen institutional cooperation in the field of security, ensure a high level of readiness during international events, and implement proactive management of strategic risks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.18. Recent diplomatic progress between Azerbaijan and Armenia has improved regional stability and opened new avenues for economic cooperation, Trend reports with reference to Allianz Trade, the global leader in trade credit insurance.

Relationship with the US has improved noticeably with Washington brokering initiatives potentially conducive to a broader peace agreement between Baku and Armenia. Azerbaijan is also deepening ties with the EU (energy cooperation), Turkiye (connectivity) and other regional players, but the broader South Caucasus remains exposed to geopolitical shocks, reads the latest report be Allianz.

On August 8, 2025, in Washington, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, US President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration. One of the points of the document provides for the launch of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) to unblock regional communications.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialed the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and signed a joint appeal to the current OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to close the OSCE Minsk Group process.

On October 21, 2025, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in a joint press statement with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said that Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia that had existed since the time of occupation, and the first such transit cargo was a shipment of Kazakh grain to Armenia.

On December 18, 2025, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) sent 1,220 tons of RON95 motor fuel to Armenia.

On January 9, 2026, a total of 2,698 tons of cargo (48 railcars) was sent to Armenia, including 1,742 tons of RON95 gasoline and 956 tons of diesel fuel.

On January 11, a train consisting of 18 railcars loaded with 979 tons of RON92 motor gasoline was sent to the country.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The MAMA Mother Nature international art exhibition has opened at the residence of the Prime Minister of Albania in Tirana, Trend reports.

Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva attended the event.

Addressing the gathering, Leyla Aliyeva noted that the paintings, sculptures, and installations on display reflect the power, beauty, and fragility of nature. She described the exhibition as a compelling example of how art can transcend borders while contributing to environmental protection.

Briefing participants on the exhibition, Leyla Aliyeva said she was pleased to be in a beautiful country distinguished by its spiritual richness and sincerity. Azerbaijan and Albania are bound by close friendship and deep relations that transcend political boundaries. Our countries share the highest values  humanism, kindness, dignity, and mutual respect  so greatly needed in the modern world, she said.

Leyla Aliyeva also emphasized that she was honored to see works by Prime Minister Edi Rama and renowned Albanian artist Arben Golemi presented at the exhibition. She noted with satisfaction that four artists from Baku were participating in the event, sharing their experiences and personally introducing their works.

Touching upon global environmental challenges, Leyla Aliyeva drew attention to alarming statistics. Every year, 10 million hectares of forest are destroyed worldwide. Humanity has eliminated 83 percent of wild animals and half of all plant species. Each year, 200 species disappear from our planet, while 66 percent of the worlds oceans are directly affected by negative human activity. Azerbaijans rich ecosystem has not remained untouched by these processes. The level of the Caspian Sea has significantly declined, while remarkable species such as the Caspian seal, salmon, and sturgeon face the threat of extinction, she said.

Prime Minister Edi Rama said he was honored to view the exhibition, including works by Leyla Aliyeva that demonstrate the unity between art and environmental protection. He described the exhibition as opening a new chapter in the friendship between the two countries, bringing a spirit of culture and creativity to the residence. The Albanian Prime Minister expressed confidence that during the month-long exhibition, every visitor would leave carrying a piece of its colors and imagination.

Following the official remarks, the guests toured the exhibition.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Gambia Adama Barrow, Trend reports.

"Esteemed Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I cordially congratulate you and your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of the Gambia - Independence Day.

We attach great importance to the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the Gambia, built on solid foundations. I would particularly like to highlight the fruitful cooperation between our countries within the framework of the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and other international institutions and platforms.

I am confident that we will successfully continue our joint efforts to further strengthen our friendly relations and expand our cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Availing myself of this pleasant opportunity, I would also like to extend my sincere congratulations on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, and wish you robust health, happiness, success in your endeavors, as well as everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of the Gambia," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.18. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos plans to visit Azerbaijan this year, the European Commission told Trend.

"Commissioner Kos has just met President Ilham Aliyev in Davos and again in Munich at the Munich Security Conference. We can confirm that the Commissioner intends to visit both Azerbaijan and Armenia this year, and once these missions are confirmed, they will be published in the calendar of the Commissioner," said the European Commission.

Armenian media earlier reported that Kos is expected to take part in the first ArmeniaEU summit, scheduled to be held in Yerevan in May this year.

Marta Kos visited Azerbaijan on 18 September, 2025, during which she discussed shared strategic interests  including energy, transport, and mine action - with the Azerbaijani authorities. Marta Kos had high-level meetings with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov, and Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov.

The Commissioner also visited Aghdam, where she met representatives involved in demining.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva sent a congratulatory letter to People's Poet Nariman Hasanzade, Trend reports.

"Dear Nariman Hasanzade,

We extend our most sincere congratulations to you, a prominent representative of modern Azerbaijani literature, on the occasion of your 95th anniversary, and we wish you robust health.

Remaining loyal to the centuries-old brilliant traditions of our national literature, you are a master of the word who has bestowed valuable contributions upon the treasure trove of our people's poetic thought through your unique style and signature. From the moment you entered the world of poetry in the 1950s, you brought a new breath to our literature and earned the special affection of a wide audience of readers.

Your works, the essence of which consists of love for the Motherland, feelings of national liberty, adherence to traditional values, and a call for spiritual loftiness, have always kept you at the forefront of the literary process. The feelings and thoughts of our contemporaries have found their full artistic expression in your poems, which are distinguished by their tenderness, sincerity, clarity of language, and natural flow. In your epics and verse plays, which reflect the people's memory in poetry, you have brought to life the fateful events and great personalities of distant and recent periods of our history through the light of historical truths and in a spirit of deep patriotism and national statehood. These works, which celebrate the resilience and heroism of the Azerbaijani people, have been successfully staged in theaters.

In harmony with your literary personality, your fruitful activity as a scholar, pedagogue, and public figure is a vivid example of dignified service to the Motherland and the people.

We believe that your creative work, which instills loyalty to the national ideology and moral purity, will continue to play a significant role in the formation of the national self-awareness of the younger generation," the letter reads.
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is on a working visit to the United States at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump to participate in the first meeting of the Board of Peace, Trend reports.

On February 18, the head of state met in Washington with Elliot Brandt, Chief Executive Officer of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and other senior staff.

During the conversation, they fondly recalled the visit of the AIPAC delegation to Azerbaijan and their meetings with the head of state.

Elliot Brandt noted that representatives of all religions and cultures live in Azerbaijan as one family in an atmosphere of peace and harmony, setting an example for the world, and expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the state-level attention and care shown to the Jewish community in the country.

The head of state emphasized that representatives of different religions have lived in harmony in Azerbaijan for centuries, stating that a tolerant environment has historically been a way of life for the country.

They highly appreciated Azerbaijan's global contributions to the dialogue between religions and cultures.

The conversation also touched on Azerbaijan-U.S. relations, highlighting the development of ties between the two countries following Donald Trump's taking office.

They touched upon the successful visit of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to Azerbaijan a while ago and the significance of the signing of the Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America. They noted that in this Charter, in addition to traditional areas of cooperation, artificial intelligence and digital transformation have also been designated as priority directions.

The role of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in deepening Azerbaijan-U.S. and Azerbaijan-Israel bilateral relations was emphasized.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on the prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and this organization, as well as issues of mutual interest.
The Azerbaijan Children Hotline, operating with the support of Azercell Telecom, provided comprehensive child protection support throughout 2025. During the reporting year, the helpline registered a total of 5,520 inquiries.

Each case underwent professional assessment, with early intervention tools applied to identify risks and ensure timely response. As part of the response framework, 127 in-person family visits were conducted, comprehensive social evaluations were carried out, and beneficiaries received online psychological consultations and free legal assistance.

Where necessary, individual sessions with children were organized, and multidisciplinary cooperation was maintained with relevant state institutions to ensure coordinated and responsible case management. Group therapy sessions further strengthened psychosocial support mechanisms available to children and families.

The data analysis highlights the key areas of concern affecting children.

1,605 appeals were related to psychological challenges, 823 to social difficulties, and 808 to various forms of violence. The majority of violence-related cases involved domestic abuse. Additionally, 120 cases were linked to cyberbullying and 53 to peer bullying.

During the reporting year, 165 cases involved children exposed to exploitation or abuse in vulnerable conditions. These included 60 incidents of early marriage, 54 cases of children leaving abusive environments, 44 instances of forced labor, and 7 cases of labor exploitation.

The service also received 168 appeals related to access to shelter and 76 concerning suicidal ideation or attempts  underscoring the sustained demand for professional psychological and crisis support.

Legal guidance was provided in 730 cases, while 302 appeals concerned education rights and 56 related to healthcare access. Additional contacts primarily involved consultations and requests for information about available support services.

In terms of demographics, 2,995 appeals were made by women, 1,541 by men, and 984 anonymously. Adolescents aged 1518 accounted for the largest share of contacts (3,754), followed by children aged 1114 (1,324) and children under 10 (442).

The hotline also actively expanded its awareness efforts in 2025 through school-based initiatives and digital communication channels, increasing visibility of child protection services and strengthening preventive outreach.

Operating since 2010, the hotline supports children requiring special care as well as individuals seeking guidance on child protection matters. Confidentiality remains a fundamental principle: information is shared with relevant authorities only when necessary and with the applicants consent.

Accessible via the short number 116111, mobile lines, email, website, social media platforms, and a dedicated mobile application, the Azerbaijan Children Hotline has received more than 81,000 appeals since its launch.

The service is implemented by the Umidli Glck Social Initiatives Public Union with the support of Azercell Telecom and in partnership with the State Committee for Family, Women and Childrens Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Bolt Azerbaijan has launched a nationwide road safety initiative through its Bolt Academy program, aiming to reach communities across all regions, including remote districts.

As part of the project, educational training sessions will be conducted in schools and vocational education institutions across various regions of Azerbaijan. The aim of the trainings is to enhance students knowledge and practical skills in road safety, while also promoting a responsible and innovative mindset in this field.

The first phase of the project took place in February at Khachmaz Vocational School. The event was organized under the leadership of the schools director, Tural Mammadov. Bolt Academy was represented by Head of Government Relations, Maarifa Pashayeva, who delivered an interactive session on road safety to participants.

The final stage of the project will be the Safety Startup Final, scheduled for May. During this period, participating schools and students will develop and present startup ideas focused on road safety. The most innovative and promising projects will be showcased and evaluated during the final event.

This initiative by Bolt Academy reflects the companys commitment to corporate social responsibility principles and its contribution to strengthening the culture of safety in the country.

Maarifa Pashayeva, Head of Government Relations at Bolt, stated:

Road safety is not only about teaching rules, but about shaping a mindset. Ensuring that young people are both informed and proactive in this field will contribute to building a safer environment in the future. Through Bolt Academy, we aim to strengthen awareness in the regions and encourage the development of innovative ideas.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Azerbaijan was represented at the Road Transport Group meeting held within the framework of the International Transport Forum (ITF) in Paris, Trend reports via the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport.

Delegates from the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and the Azerbaijan Road Transport Agency attended the event.

According to the ministry, discussions focused on the work carried out under the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) multilateral quota system and its future priorities. Participants exchanged views on improving the efficiency of international freight transport, modernizing the system, and ensuring sustainable development.

During the meeting, it was noted that significant progress was achieved on key initiatives, including the integration of new participants into the ECMT multilateral quota system, the introduction of licenses for zero-emission vehicles from 2027, and the expansion of the ECMT digital systems functionality.

The Azerbaijani delegation emphasized that geographically expanding the multilateral quota system is strategically important for strengthening international transport links, increasing transport efficiency, and ensuring better use of permits. This expansion is expected to simplify interregional freight transport, improve the efficiency of transport corridors, and enhance the resilience of global supply chains.

The meeting also noted that the expansion of the multilateral quota system aligns with Azerbaijans priority objectives during its presidency of the International Transport Forum. Member countries were called upon to adopt a constructive approach to fostering international transport cooperation and building a more integrated transport system.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Chinas economic engagement with Central Asia is entering a new phase, characterized less by grand political rhetoric and more by practical, technocratic implementation. In Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Chinas presence is expanding across sectors such as logistics, energy, construction, and trade, even as the region's investment landscape becomes increasingly diversified. The outcome is a complex scenario: deeper integration with China, yet under evolving terms that reflect shifting political and economic priorities on all sides.

This shift is clearly exemplified by recent advancements in logistics and infrastructure, which highlight a move toward more results-oriented, pragmatic cooperation. A notable illustration is the successful launch of a pilot container train on February 16, 2026, operated by UTK International Logistics Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Uzbekistans Uztemiryulcontainer and Xinjiang Union of Railway International Logistics Co. Ltd. Loaded with eight 40-foot containers carrying consumer goods and construction equipment, the train departed from Lanzhou and journeyed more than 3,500 kilometers along the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan multimodal corridor to Dushanbe-2, with an estimated transit time of 1820 days.

The pilot project, following the formal launch of the venture in Beijing in July 2025, serves as a demonstration of operational readiness for regular container shipments. It enhances Uzbekistans position as a transit hub and furthers Chinas objectives of strengthening supply-chain resilience under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Kazakhstans collaboration with China unfolds on a similarly ambitious scale, albeit in a distinct sector. In September 2025, an agreement was signed in Beijing between Kazakhstans National Investment Corporation, Caspian Group, and CSCEC International Construction Corporation Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation. This $420 million joint project in Alatau City, executed under the EPC+F model, designates CSCEC to oversee engineering, procurement, construction, and financing for a series of complex high-rise buildings, with the design phase already underway.

For Kazakhstan, this combines foreign resources with domestic institutional support: the National Investment Corporation diversifies reserves as an investor since 2012, while Caspian Group (linked to businessman and former senator Yuri Tskhai) and co-investor Vyacheslav Kim (Kaspi.kz co-founder) provide local backing. Proponents see it as a pragmatic acceleration of urban development; critics may scrutinize long-term financial dependencies in such financing structures.

The macroeconomic backdrop adds further nuance. According to the Eurasian Development Bank, China increased its FDI stock in Central Asia from $19.6 billion in 2016 to $35.9 billion by mid-2025, retaining its lead as the regions top investor. Yet Chinas share of total Asian FDI inflows fell from 65% to 53%, as inflows from the United Arab Emirates ($15.5 billion, 23% share), Turkiye, and other Gulf states surged. Overall, Asian FDI stock rose from $29.9 billion to $68 billion, with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan as key recipients. This signals Chinas continued dominance alongside growing diversification by source and sector.

In Uzbekistan, Chinese companies are helping modernize the country's energy sector, focusing on upgrades that boost output and save resources.

For example, Uzbekhydroenergo signed full turnkey (EPC) deals with China's Sinohydro to upgrade the Shakhrikhan Hydropower Cascade. This will double the installed capacity from 7.6 MW to 16.4 MW, adding about 33 million kWh of electricity each year - enough to power many more homes while using cleaner energy.

Similar agreements with China's TBEA Co., Ltd. cover three plants (HPP-19, HPP-22, and HPP-23) in the Lower Bozsuv Cascade. Their combined capacity will rise from 27.4 MW to 32.4 MW, producing an extra 52.8 million kWh annually. This will supply electricity to over 21,000 households and cut fuel use by roughly 17 million cubic meters of natural gas plus more than 40,000 tons of coal per year. These projects deliver clear wins for the economy and the environment.

Cooperation in oil and gas is also strong. Uzbekneftegaz and China's BGP (a CNPC subsidiary) have agreed to carry out seismic surveys over large areas - 3,000 square kilometers in Mubarek and 1,300 square kilometers in Ustyurt - to explore for new resources.

In addition, a deal with China's Jereh Group supplies 22 wellhead compressor stations for gas fields. Fourteen are already fully operational, and the rest are being installed. Both sides stress keeping projects on track and fixing any issues quickly.

The trade and financial exchanges between China and Kazakhstan underscore the depth of their economic ties. In 2025, China accounted for 19.2% of Kazakhstans total exports, valued at $15.208 billion, nearly identical to Italy's share of 19.8%. Kazakhstans overall exports amounted to $79.041 billion, marking a 3.2% decline from the previous year, with crude oil and petroleum products comprising half of this total.

What is evident is that Chinas economic collaboration with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan has evolved beyond theoretical frameworks into tangible actions. This cooperation is now reflected in scheduled train departures, increased power generation from upgraded turbines, and contracts that are measured by concrete outcomes. Whether this trajectory results in a balanced interdependence or a more asymmetric relationship remains uncertain. Ultimately, the long-term evaluation of this dynamic will rest with the region itself.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 18. Uzbekistan is establishing a new copper pipe and fittings manufacturing enterprise, Infinity Copper Group, in the Akhangaran district of the Tashkent region, with a total project cost of $36 million, Trend reports via the press service of the Uzbek president.

The initiative was highlighted during President Shavkat Mirziyoyevs visit to the district, where he toured the production site and reviewed progress on the project.

The facility is nearly in the home stretch, with 90% of the construction wrapped up, and a hefty $14.9 million has already been put to good use.

In 2025, Uzbekistan imported copper pipes and fittings worth $15 million. Once fully operational, the enterprise is expected to produce up to $10 million worth of import-substituting products annually, contributing to the countrys industrial development and reduced reliance on foreign supplies.

The project is set to create 300 new jobs and generate around 200 billion soums ($15.7 million) in budget revenues. Export deliveries are planned to markets in the United Arab Emirates, several African countries, the United States, and Europe.

Infinity Copper Group, which is implementing the project, is among Uzbekistans leading manufacturers of copper pipes and fittings and operates four production facilities across the country.
Photo: The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 18. Uzbekistan and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Japan's ITOCHU discussed cooperation on transport projects planned for implementation in Uzbekistan, Trend reports via the Uzbek Ministry of Transport.

The issue was reviewed during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Transport Ilkhom Abdugafarov and representatives of JBIC and ITOCHU.

In particular, the talks focused on financing a project aimed at upgrading navigation equipment across the country, enhancing the qualifications of relevant specialists, and modernizing radio-technical systems used to support flight operations.

Following the meeting, the sides agreed to accelerate the procedures envisaged under the project to ensure its timely implementation.

Meanwhile, the total project portfolio between Uzbekistan and JBIC has exceeded $5 billion, covering key sectors such as petrochemicals, energy, telecommunications, infrastructure, light industry, and other areas.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Bilateral cooperation between Iran and Russia and its strengthening are of great importance, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said at the 19th session of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission in Tehran today, Trend reports.

According to him, the development of cooperation between Iran and Russia at a sensitive period in international processes can be effective and efficient.

Paknejad noted that one of the important achievements of the commission is the implementation of operational work within the framework of the agreements reached.

"Seven oil fields in Iran are being developed within the framework of four contracts signed jointly between Iranian and Russian companies. Currently, crude oil is being produced from some of these fields," he added.

The 19th session of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission began on February 16.

About 6% of Iran's crude oil production is carried out by Russian companies. This production is expected to reach 12% in the future.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between the presidents of Iran and Russia and the recent specialized meetings have created conditions for the signing of a new cooperation protocol and the entry of economic relations between Moscow and Tehran into a new stage, Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilyov said at the 19th session of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission in Tehran today, Trend reports.

According to him, within the framework of this commission, various exchanges of views were held between the two countries, and appropriate processes took place towards the development of cooperation.

Tsivilyov highlighted that an agreement was signed between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union on May 15, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of economic relations between Iran and Russia.

The minister also emphasized that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, signed by the presidents of both countries, came into effect on October 2, 2025. This agreement established a crucial framework for enhancing bilateral cooperation and set the stage for the deepening of strategic relations.

On January 17, 2025, a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement consisting of 47 points was signed between Iran and Russia.

The 19th session of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission began on February 16.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Iran and Russia signed four cooperation memoranda in Tehran today, Trend reports.

A memorandum of understanding on the implementation program for cooperation between the National Organization for Standardization of Iran and the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology of Russia for 2026-2028 has been signed.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Accreditation Center of Iran and the Federal Accreditation Service of Russia, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Ministry of Cooperation, Labor and Social Welfare of Iran and the Federal Service for Labor and Employment of Russia, and a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Research Institute of the Iranian Oil Industry and the Art Chemical Company of Russia.

The 19th session of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission began on February 16.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Development of another joint Iranian oil field by Russia is currently being researched, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said at a press conference with Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev in Tehran today, Trend reports.

Paknejad emphasized that there exists an opportunity to initiate discussions with the Russian side regarding the development of a joint oil field.

However, Paknejad did not disclose the name of the specific joint oil field under consideration for development.

He expressed confidence that these discussions would soon reach a successful conclusion, paving the way for the commencement of operations.

The Iranian minister also conveyed optimism regarding the continued expansion of cooperation between Iran and Russia in the development of oil and gas fields.

Currently, Russian companies contribute to approximately 6% of Iran's crude oil production, with expectations for this share to rise to 12% in the near future.

Seven oil fields in Iran are being developed through four agreements signed between Iranian and Russian companies.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Iran and Russia are expected to sign a final agreement on the import of Russian gas soon, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said at a press conference with Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilyov in Tehran today, Trend reports.

According to him, one or two provisions of the agreement on gas imports from Russia remain to be resolved.

"These provisions will be resolved during the meetings dedicated to this issue," he noted.

Speaking about Iran's gas production potential, Paknejad noted that during the current government (since August 2024), the potential has grown. On February 17, production from the South Pars gas field (Northern Dome in Qatar), a joint gas field of Iran and Qatar, amounted to 730 million barrels. This volume of production is considered a new record.

The Iranian minister noted that due to the gas shortage, his country is interested in importing gas from Russia.

In case of reaching a full agreement in the negotiations between Iran and Russia, 55 billion cubic meters of gas will be imported from Russia per year in the first stage.

On June 26, 2024, a document was signed between Majid Chegeni, the CEO of the National Iranian Gas Company, and Alexei Miller, Executive Director of the Russian Gazprom Company, on the transportation of Russian gas to Iran.

Iran ranks as the second country in the world in terms of gas reserves, holding around 34 trillion cubic meters. Currently, 22 gas fields are active in the country, producing about 1.07 billion cubic meters of rich gas daily.
Photo: State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Azerbaijan has discussed the possibility of launching a new technical project on the taxation of e-commerce in the country with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Trend reports.

The discussion was held during a meeting of Samira Musayeva, Deputy Head of the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy, with a delegation led by Navendu Karan, Director of the ADB Public Sector Management Office.

The meeting also debated the existing framework of cooperation between the State Tax Service and the ADB, as well as implemented and planned technical assistance initiatives. The parties exchanged views on reform measures taken to improve tax administration, mobilize domestic resources, and strengthen fiscal sustainability.

At the same time, the issues of applying international experience in this direction, strengthening digital control mechanisms, and improving administrative tools were mentioned.

The meeting also reviewed possible areas of cooperation on new technical projects in the tax authority. The parties emphasized that further expansion of cooperation in the future serves mutual interests.

ADB invested $5.46 million in Azerbaijan as part of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the first nine months of 2025, representing a decline of $14.3 million, or 3.6 times, compared to the previous year ($19.8 million).

The banks contribution accounted for just 0.1% of the total FDI in Azerbaijan during this period.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 18. On February 18, the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan ratified the appointments of the head of the State Committee for National Security and three government ministers, Trend reports via the Jogorku Kenesh.

The candidates were introduced by Bekhtur Zulpiev, the plenipotentiary representative of the President and Cabinet of Ministers to the Jogorku Kenesh.

Subsequent to the presentation, the parliament confirmed the appointments of Jumgalbek Shabdanbekov as head of the State Committee for National Security, Akyl Toktobaev as Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Urmatbek Shamyrkanov as Minister of Emergency Situations, and Talantbek Soltobaev as Minister of Transport and Communications.

Previously, under the directives of the President of Kyrgyzstan, a series of investigative and operational measures were conducted by the Military Prosecutors Office, in collaboration with the Main Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, targeting former employees of the State Committee for National Security suspected of misconduct.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Azerbaijan and Japan discussed prospects of launching direct flights and opportunities for cooperation, Samir Rzayev, Chairman of the Management Board at Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"We had a cordial meeting with Katsuya Watanabe, Japans Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, we discussed AZALs route network expansion strategy, as well as Bakus potential for further development as a transit hub. We also considered the prospects of launching direct flights between Azerbaijan and Japan in the future and opportunities for cooperation with Japanese airlines.

As the productive meeting continued, we exchanged views on Azerbaijans tourism potential. I believe the meeting was highly effective in exploring new partnership opportunities and reinforcing mutual ties between the two countries in the fields of tourism and aviation," the post reads.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 18. The cooperation with the European Union is among the priority areas of Kyrgyzstans foreign policy, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov said on February 18 at the meeting with members of the European Parliament headed by the Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the countries of Central Asia, Giuseppina Princi, Trend reports via the Presidents press service.

The sides discussed a wide range of issues related to bilateral relations, including strengthening interparliamentary interaction, protecting human rights, and ensuring freedom of speech.

We attach special importance to interparliamentary interaction, viewing it as an effective channel for direct and open exchange of views on issues of domestic development, foreign policy, and the regional agenda, the president said.

In turn, Princi thanked Japarov for the hospitality and the opportunity to discuss current issues. She noted the steady development of relations between the European Union and Kyrgyzstan.

Members of the European Parliament highlighted the progress achieved by Kyrgyzstan and the positive changes in recent years, emphasizing the sustainability of socio-economic development and efforts to modernize public administration.

Kyrgyzstan and the EU have collaborated since 1991, formalized by the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) signed in June 2024, which prioritizes political ties, sustainable development, a green economy, and human rights. With a 98 million euro grant backing, the partnership supports Kyrgyzstan's 2018-2040 strategy, digital transformation, and benefits from the GSP+ trade agreement.

Key aspects of the cooperation include enhancing trade and investment through the EPCA, allowing tariff-free exports of over 6,200 products under GSP+, and focusing on green energy, environmental protection, and education. Additionally, the partnership involves dialogues on human rights and aligns with the EU Strategy for Central Asia, facilitated by 'Team Europe,' which includes the EU, EIB, and Germany.

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Azerbaijan discloses volume of new investment in its Masalli Industrial District

Photo: Economic Zones Development Agency under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

A new investment in Masalli Industrial District will support a plastic container production project for the agricultural sector. Azmer Group LLC has become a new resident, joining 10 other businesses in the district. This initiative will create additional permanent jobs.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The Middle Corridor is one of the key instruments for unlocking the potential of Central Asia and presenting the region to the global community, Kyrgyz political analyst and public administration expert Sheradil Baktygulov said in an interview with Trend on the sidelines of the international conference titled C6: One region, shared futureenhancing strategic dialogue held in Baku.

According to Baktygulov, the Middle Corridor, winding its way through Azerbaijan, opens up a world of unique opportunities for all the countries involved.

This is more than just territorial, political, economic, or social convergence; it is a dynamic process already in motion and set to grow further. The Middle Corridors primary mission is to foster mutually beneficial business cooperation, driving prosperity for the communities and nations along its route, he noted.

He stressed that the creation and development of the route is a logical continuation of efforts dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. While such ties existed previously within the framework of the Soviet Union, the emergence of sovereign states introduced borders, tariffs, and trade barriers.

Baktygulov added that the restoration of security and constitutional order in Azerbaijans territories liberated from occupation has opened new prospects for the corridors implementation.

The Russia-Ukraine crisis has become a trigger for accelerating cooperation. The office of the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA), which is part of the Middle Corridor, is located in Baku, although its route initially passed through existing cargo points. Since then, the transport and logistics landscape in Central Asia and the South Caucasus has changed significantly, he said.

The expert emphasized that the Middle and Southern corridors complement rather than compete with each other.

The volume of cargo from China, Europe, and other countries is enormous. The land route complements air transportation, which usually passes through Istanbul with the participation of Turkish operators. We are now talking about creating a mixed multimodal corridor using rail, road transport, and Ro-Ro ferries across the Caspian Sea. This opens up new opportunities to strengthen regional connectivity, Baktygulov stated.

He also noted that most Central Asian countries are landlocked. For example, he says Uzbekistan faces the challenge of traversing the land borders of two countries to access the ocean, underscoring the strategic significance of developing alternative transport routes, such as the Middle Corridor, for the entire region.

The Middle Corridor is a transport trade route passing through several countries in the region and connecting Asia with Europe. It serves as an alternative to the traditional Northern and Southern corridors.

The route begins in China and passes through Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then crosses the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching Europe. The Middle Corridor is a land-based route that bypasses longer maritime paths, linking eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe.

On February 18, Baku played host to the international conference "C6: One region, shared futureenhancing strategic dialogue." At the event, which was hosted by the AIR Center, the topic of discussion was the potential expansion of the Central Asian consultative platform from the current "C5" (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) to "C6" with the addition of Azerbaijan.

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Iran's non-oil exports to Uzbekistan rise in 10M2025

Irans non-oil exports to Uzbekistan have seen a significant increase in the first ten months of the current Iranian year compared to the same period last year.

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At a time when warnings about cyber fraud are sounding both globally and in our country, people are being deceived every day with new methods. Fraudsters use various ways to gain people's trust and put them in difficult situations. Recently, cases of deceiving uninformed individuals to obtain their bank cards have increased. Research shows that this type of fraud usually affects socially vulnerable, uninformed, or elderly citizens.

Fraudsters, approaching citizens in different ways, offer to help them obtain cards through bank branches or digital channels. Later, after receiving the card and its information for a certain payment, they use it to commit fraudulent activities.

What can happen if you give your bank card to someone else?

Theft of personal data. Giving your card and its details to someone else essentially means sharing your personal information as well. Fraudsters who gain access to this information can control your financial account and carry out transactions in your name. As a rule, illegal financial transactions are carried out under the name of the deceived person. Such cards can especially be used to conceal illegally obtained funds.

Financial losses. Giving your card to someone else gives the fraudster the right to use the funds in your account as they wish. This puts all your bank accounts at risk and can result in significant financial losses.

Legal consequences. Every citizen is responsible for the operations performed with their bank cards. Giving your card to someone else creates legal obligations for the cardholder. If any illegal transactions are carried out using the card, the cardholder may be held criminally liable for the results.

To avoid losing money and becoming involved in a crime, it is crucial to exercise caution:

Use your card personally. Bank cards belong exclusively to the client in whose name the account is opened and are intended for personal use only.

Be cautious with suspicious transactions. Regularly monitor your accounts. If you notice any suspicious activity, unauthorized withdrawal of funds from your card, or an unexpected deposit from an unknown source, immediately contact your bank and the relevant law enforcement authorities.

Do not fall for fraudsters tricks. Be careful with anyone who asks for your card in exchange for payment or services. Your card and account information are personal and must not be shared with anyone. Any attempts to obtain such information should be reported immediately to the relevant authorities.

Kapital Bank reminds you once again that, in addition to the security measures implemented by financial institutions, citizens vigilance is crucial to protect their accounts and personal data. Never share your cards or information with others. If you encounter any suspicious messages, calls, or social media activity, report them immediately to your bank and the competent authorities. This way, you can help prevent others from becoming victims of cyber fraud as well.

Kapital Bank, the country's first bank, is part of PASHA Holding. Kapital Bank has the largest service network in Azerbaijan with 115 branches and 53 departments all over the country. For more detailed information about the banks products and services, please refer to https://kapitalbank.az website, 196 Call Centre or the banks various social network pages. To apply for a consumer loan visit https://kbl.az/prgtk, for a Birbank installment card visit https://kbl.az/prcrc.
Photo: The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 18. Uzbekistan and Turkiyes Anadolu Group have reached an agreement to enhance cooperation, expedite the progress of ongoing investment projects, and establish a framework for sustained, long-term engagement, Trend reports via the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The agreement was formalized during a meeting attended by representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Tax Committee, and key affiliates of Anadolu Group operating in Uzbekistan. Among the participants were Ezel Agaoglu, Project Director of Coca-Cola CCI in Uzbekistan; Fatih Vural, General Manager of SamAuto; and Furkan Aydn, General Director of Coca-Cola Uzbekistan.

The meeting offered an in-depth assessment of the ongoing collaboration between Uzbekistan and Anadolu Group. The parties reviewed the progress of current projects and engaged in discussions regarding upcoming investment initiatives anticipated in the near future.

The discussions emphasized the crucial role of sustained cooperation in enhancing Uzbekistans investment climate, promoting industrial growth, and advancing the localization of key sectors.

Anadolu Group, a prominent Turkish conglomerate, has diverse interests spanning beverages, automotive, retail, and other industries. In Uzbekistan, it operates through subsidiaries such as Coca-Cola CCI and SamAuto.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The development of joint projects within transit corridors is set to open a new chapter in comprehensive relations between Iran and Russia and foster significant progress, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated, Trend reports.

Speaking at a meeting in Tehran with Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, Pezeshkian emphasized that advancing cooperation between the two countries will positively impact regional economic stability.

He added that official Tehran is fully committed to implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Iran and Russia. The agreement is being applied diligently and efficiently, with cooperation in transportation, energy, oil and gas, agriculture, food products, defense, and security all receiving focused attention.

Minister Tsivilyev confirmed that Russia will continue its collaboration with Iran and stressed that no party can hinder the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Russia and Iran signed an agreement on May 17, 2023, to build the Rasht-Astara railroad in Gilan province in northern Iran. Nine stations will be built on the Rasht-Astara railroad line, which is about 163 kilometers long. With the completion of this railroad, the North-South international corridor will be improved, and Iran's railroad network will be integrated with Caucasus countries, Russia, and Northern European countries.

According to the agreement, the Russian side is expected to spend 1.6 billion euros for the construction of this railroad. This railroad will be built and completed within 48 months.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 18. Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom signed a memo on the implementation of joint projects during the Makkah Halal Forum international exhibition, Trend reports via the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

The document was signed by First Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistans Chamber of Commerce and Industry Davronbek Kurbonov and Chairman of the British Muslim Trade Forum Iqbal Sacranie.

The memorandum outlines practical mechanisms to expand trade and economic cooperation, strengthen business ties, and support the development of joint initiatives.

Under the agreement, the sides committed to promoting exchanges of trade delegations, sharing economic information and statistical data, organizing fairs and exhibitions, and cooperating in the areas of technical expertise and education.

Special attention will be given to key areas such as the development of Islamic tourism, attracting investment into the jewelry industry, exporting mineral fertilizers, and providing consulting services.

According to the Chamber, the signing of this memorandum is expected to elevate UzbekistanUK trade and economic relations to a new level and create additional opportunities for the business communities of both countries.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom has doubled over the past five years, with more than 270 British companies currently operating in Uzbekistan.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Iran is fully prepared to attract foreign investment not only from Russia but also from other countries, the countrys Deputy Minister of Oil for Trade and International Affairs, Ali-Mohammad Mousavi, said this today in Tehran on the sidelines of the 19th meeting of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission, Trend reports.

Mousavi noted that seven oil fields have already been handed over to Russian companies, and operations are currently underway within the framework of development projects for these fields.

He added that Iran and Russia have signed memoranda (MoUs) worth $40 billion, and discussions are ongoing to convert these MoUs into formal contracts. The projects under the MoUs are advancing in phases, with some still at the signing stage, and they are expected to yield results in the coming Iranian year (from March 21, 2026, through March 20, 2027).

Iran is also cooperating with regional countries and energy producers. It maintains close collaboration with OPEC, OPEC+, and gas-exporting nations. This cooperation is mutually beneficial and strategic for all parties, he said.

Currently, around 6% of Irans crude oil production is operated by Russian companies, with expectations for this share to rise to 12% in the future. Under four jointly signed contracts between Iranian and Russian firms, seven oil fields are being developed.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Iran is ready to develop technological cooperation with India in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and digital economy, Iranian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Sattar Hashemi said during a meeting with Indian Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada as part of his visit to India today, Trend reports.

According to him, India is considered one of the main poles in software technology in the world. India has created an infrastructure that will attract attention in the field of information technology, AI, cybersecurity, and export it to the world.

Hashemi noted that Iran has also taken important steps towards the development of new technologies, having strong human resources and scientific infrastructure. Technological cooperation between Iran and India can result in the formation of a digital pole in the region.

Iran is interested in starting cooperation with India by developing a large local language (LLM) model, creating joint AI platforms in the agricultural sector, as well as creating innovation centers for the use of AI in various fields, he noted.

Hashemi added that Tehran proposes to establish a joint fund to support Iranian and Indian startups, organize joint technological events, allocate special zones in technology parks in the two countries, and simplify the issuance of technological visas for IT specialists.

At the meeting, Prasada also noted that India is ready to share its experience with Iran in various fields, including AI, cybersecurity, and training specialists, and may start cooperation on joint projects.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Boosting financial discipline in spending the budget funds, improving transparency and optimizing expenditures rank among the main priorities of Azerbaijan, Minister of Finance Sahil Babayev said at a meeting with members of the Public Council established under the ministry, Trend reports via the ministry.

Speaking at the meeting, Babayev congratulated civil society representatives on their election as members of the council and wished them success in their future activities.

The minister noted that today, the expansion of public participation in the activities of state bodies is one of the important manifestations of the successful establishment of a legal state and democratic society in our country. He noted that the council set up in accordance with the law "On public participation" will also contribute to the adoption of legal acts, the organization of public control over the directions of the ministry's activities and the participation of civil society institutions.

Speaking about the reforms carried out in the field of public finance management, the minister said that important measures have been taken in the direction of digitalization and the introduction of modern management mechanisms in accordance with the decree of President Ilham Aliyev dated August 25, 2025. He recalled that the Digital Finance Center and the State Enterprises Monitoring Agency have been established, and the regulations of the "Digital State Finance" information system, consisting of 13 main subsystems, have been approved.

The minister emphasized that strengthening financial discipline in the use of budget funds, increasing transparency and optimizing expenditures are among the main priorities. Within this framework, a unified and systematic approach to public finance will be applied, and effective coordination between relevant agencies will be strengthened.

Noting that the Ministry of Finance is conducting systematic work to inform the public about the preparation, discussion stages and implementation of the state budget, as well as to ensure accessibility to budget information, Babayev said that within this framework, the main budget documents and information are published in accordance with international standards, the "Citizen's Budget Guide", as well as quarterly and annual presentations on the implementation of state and consolidated budgets are prepared and presented to the public.

The minister expressed his confidence that the council will adequately fulfill its duties arising from the law "On public participation" and that this cooperation will serve to further strengthen transparency and accountability in the activities of the Ministry of Finance.

Speaking at the meeting, the council's chairman, Ingilab Ahmadov, said that the council will make a significant contribution to establishing an effective dialogue with the public, supporting reforms in the financial sector, as well as increasing the public participation index and further expanding discussions around the country's financial policy.

The council members  Nuriyya Novruzova, Anar Azizov, Elshad Mammadov, Mehdi Babayev, Ayyub Karimli and Elman Sadigov made speeches and shared their views on the council's activities and upcoming tasks.

The meeting concluded with awarding the council members certificates.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Azerbaijans strategic foreign exchange reserves rose sharply in 2025, strengthening the countrys financial buffer against potential external and domestic shocks.

Data obtained by Trend from the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) indicates that the countrys strategic currency reserves increased by $14 billion, or 19.8%, reaching $85.1 billion by the end of the year. Of that amount, the CBAs own foreign exchange reserves grew by 5.1% in 2025, totaling $11.5 billion at years end.

The CBA noted that Azerbaijans total strategic reserves continued to exceed internationally accepted adequacy benchmarks. As of the end of December 2025, the reserves were sufficient to cover 38 months of imports of goods and services, based on import figures for the first 9 months of 2025.

In addition, strategic reserves exceeded the broad money supply in manat terms (M2) by 3.6 times, taking into account the M2 monetary aggregate as of January 1, 2026.

The central bank emphasized that these indicators demonstrate the countrys resilience to both external and internal economic shocks while confirming that debt-related risks remain fully manageable.

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Azerbaijan nearly quadruples crude oil and petroleum imports from Kazakhstan in 2025

Azerbaijan significantly ramped up its imports of crude oil and petroleum products sourced from bituminous rocks from Kazakhstan in 2025, as per information from the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 18. Uzbekistan and Russias Republic of Tatarstan discussed opportunities to implement joint projects in the areas of industrial cooperation, mechanical engineering, and petrochemicals, Trend reports via the Tashkent regional administration.

The issue was reviewed during a meeting between Governor of Uzbekistans Tashkent region Zoir Mirzaev and President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, held as part of an official visit to the Russian Federation.

During the talks, the sides exchanged views on prospects for expanding cooperation in trade, economic and investment spheres, as well as strengthening ties in industry, agriculture, education, and cultural and humanitarian areas.

Special attention was also given to collaboration between educational institutions, specialist training, and the development of experience-sharing mechanisms.

The parties additionally reviewed ongoing joint projects and agreed to intensify efforts to further advance their implementation.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The C6 format opens up new opportunities for Central Asian countries to trade with the West, said Temirlan Razbaev, Chief Expert of the Department of Analytics and Coordination at the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, on the sidelines of the international conference titled C6: One Region, Common Future  Strengthening Strategic Dialogue, held today in Baku, Trend reports.

According to him, the history of Azerbaijan and the Central Asian countries has always been interconnected, and all the countries were, to one degree or another, linked to the Great Silk Road.

The C5 format was logically justified as a tool for strengthening regional cooperation. Today, Azerbaijan has joined this format, transforming it into C6. This is an absolutely logical continuation of historical logic. Central Asia is gradually moving beyond the limits of its geography. If C5 was previously confined to geographical boundaries, the C6 format makes it possible to return to historical routes, including trade routes, he said.

Razbaev noted that such an approach also contributes to strengthening friendship between peoples: new tourist routes are being created, flights are being launched, and trade turnover is increasing.

Cultural identity also plays a key role: we are all Turkic-speaking states, and we share much in common. The C6 format will help accelerate integration processes and strengthen mutual understanding. It is not only about common political positions and views, but also about the development of international law and national institutions, he noted.

Razbaev added that joint analytical research helps better understand each others interests and prepare reforms.

Now is a historically favorable moment for jointly shaping a common agenda. Countries have always supported such initiatives, and business, trade, and investment will be the first areas where shared interests will manifest themselves. Culture and tourism logically follow the economy, which further strengthens regional cooperation. This will undoubtedly have a positive impact on building consensus and cooperation not only within the region but also with other countries, he concluded.
Azerbaijan announces natural gas export volume to Georgia for 2025

Azerbaijans natural gas exports to Georgia declined in both value and volume in 2025, while overall exports saw a slight increase in value but a decrease in volume compared to the previous year.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 18. Kyrgyzstan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) discuss support for housing insurance pools and disaster risk management tools, Trend reports via the Service for Regulation and Supervision of the Financial Market under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The discussion took place on February 4, 2026, during a working meeting held as part of an ADB mission between the Service for Regulation and Supervision of the Financial Market under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic and representatives of the Asian Development Bank.

During the meeting, the parties reviewed plans to support the practical launch of a housing insurance pool under mandatory residential insurance.

Implementation of this mechanism is expected to ensure guaranteed fulfillment of insurance obligations, minimize financial risks for insurance companies, and strengthen public trust in Kyrgyzstans insurance system.

ADB consultants also demonstrated a specialized interface for assessing disaster risks and damages, which can be used to support managerial and financial decision-making in the field of risk management.

Both sides confirmed their interest in further developing cooperation and implementing joint initiatives aimed at enhancing the resilience of Kyrgyzstans financial system to emergencies and climate-related risks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. A new artificial intelligence(AI)-based platform is planned to be launched for foreign citizens in Azerbaijan this year, Fariz Jafarov, Executive Director of the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) under the Ministry of Economy, said at a press conference on the results of C4IR's activity for 2025, Trend reports.

According to him, this AI solution is called Concierge.

"This will be a platform for investors, startups, and foreign talents who want to come to Azerbaijan from abroad to answer their questions. Through this platform, foreign citizens will be able to find answers to their various questions in a very short time. For example, questions on issues such as living opportunities in the country, starting a business, working life, access to public services, obtaining a driver's license, and others, will be answered through this new AI platform," he explained.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 18. Intergovernmental agreements on the promotion and mutual protection of investments and on the establishment of a bilateral Coordination Council were signed following the official visit of Kazakhstans Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev to Saudi Arabia, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

The central highlight of the visit was the discussions between Kazakhstans Foreign Minister, Yermek Kosherbayev, and Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. During these talks, the two sides assessed the current status and prospects of Kazakh-Saudi relations, with particular emphasis on fortifying political dialogue, enhancing trade, economic, and investment cooperation, and fostering deeper cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to refining the legal framework and advancing collaboration through concrete joint initiatives.

An in-depth exchange of views also took place on regional and global issues, underscoring the importance of coordination within multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, and OPEC+. Both parties agreed to sustain close interagency communications and harmonize their positions on key international matters.

Minister Kosherbayev emphasized Kazakhstans view of Saudi Arabia as a trusted partner in the Middle East and the broader Arab world, highlighting the elevated level of political dialogue and alignment on various global and regional issues.

Special attention was given to expanding trade, economic, and investment ties, with the Kazakh delegation expressing a keen interest in increasing Saudi investment across key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and the green economy.

During the visit, the Kazakh Foreign Minister also held a number of bilateral meetings, including with the Kingdoms Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud; Minister of Investment Fahad Al-Saif, as well as Chairman of ACWA Power Mohammad Abunayyan. The discussions focused on cooperation in the energy sector, including conventional generation, renewable energy and the green transition, as well as on attracting Saudi investment and technologies to Kazakhstan.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 18. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a working visit to the United States on February 18-19 at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

Tokayev is expected to visit Washington to take part in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace.

According to the information, the summit will focus on efforts to stabilize the situation in the Gaza and on developing practical steps aimed at ensuring peace, security and sustainable humanitarian support in the region.

During the visit, the Kazakh president is also scheduled to hold a number of meetings with executives of major U.S. companies.

The Board of Peace was launched at the initiative of President Trump. Kazakhstan joined the body as a founding member in January this year during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 18. KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ), has achieved a remarkable milestone by executing a pilot export delivery of Kazakh crushed rice to the Port of Antwerp in Belgium, utilizing the efficient Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR or Middle Corridor), Trend reports via KTZ.

The transportation was arranged in a multimodal format, utilizing a combination of railway infrastructure and maritime lines across the Caspian and Black Seas. The logistics chain is structured along the route "KyzylordaPort of AktauPort of PotiPort of Antwerp."

The maritime leg of the journey between the ports of Poti and Antwerp is carried out in collaboration with the international shipping giant CMA CGM Group.

Previously, cargo deliveries in this direction were primarily conducted via a land-based route through the Semiglaviy Mar border crossing, with subsequent transit through Brest and Duisburg.

The utilization of the TITR infrastructure has allowed for significant logistical optimization, as the cost of transportation via the new route is lower than delivery through the Northern Corridor while maintaining comparable delivery speeds. The estimated transit duration for this shipment is approximately 30 days.

The Middle Corridor is a transport trade route passing through several countries in the region and connecting Asia with Europe. It serves as an alternative to the traditional Northern and Southern corridors.

The route begins in China and passes through Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then crosses the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching Europe. The Middle Corridor is a land-based route that bypasses longer maritime paths, linking eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. The program of the working visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the city of Washington began with a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, Trend reports.

The parties discussed practical aspects of further strengthening the Uzbek-American strategic partnership, as well as advancing cooperation projects in priority areas.

It was noted with satisfaction that the United States is one of Uzbekistans key partners: bilateral trade volume has exceeded 1 billion U.S. dollars, and about 340 American companies are operating in the countrys market.

Major projects are being successfully implemented in energy, critical minerals, transport, agriculture, IT, and other sectors.

A three-year Economic Cooperation Program worth 35 billion U.S. dollars is currently in effect. The signing of a number of important agreements is expected today as part of the business events.

The need was emphasized to make full use of the opportunities of the recently established Business Council and to launch an Investment Platform to provide systematic support for priority projects.

The importance of developing trade ties and expanding direct business contacts with the regions of Uzbekistan was also highlighted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. Iran has focused on adjusting its initial framework for progress in the next negotiations, Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said in a phone conversation with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi today, Trend reports.

Araghchi thanked the IAEA director general for participating in the indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. in Geneva.

The Iranian and IAEA officials exchanged views on the latest situation regarding the process of indirect discussions between Iran and the U.S.

Grossi also positively assessed the discussions held yesterday and noted the agency's readiness to cooperate and provide support in forming the framework for the discussion.

The parties also reviewed the results of the indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. in Geneva and exchanged views on mechanisms related to adjusting the framework for the discussion.

The second round of indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. on Tehrans nuclear program was held in Geneva on February 17. The discussions were mediated by Oman. The Iranian foreign minister said that the parties achieved progress in the second round of talks and agreed upon a number of guiding principles.

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02/18/2026

Media contacts: David Joyner, executive director of communications and digital media, David_Joyner@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, associate director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass.  Entrepreneurs, researchers, elected officials and economic development leaders who share an interest in advancing the clean-energy economy recently gathered at UMass Lowell to highlight Northeastern Massachusetts leadership in climate technology.

Organized by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), the daylong event brought together local economic stakeholders for conversations, presentations, and regional site visits.

UMass Lowell is proud of its leadership in sustainability, as embodied by the Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energys impressive track record of implementing cutting-edge solutions in partnership with industries, agencies and other universities, said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen. We are especially proud to host this important conversation with the goal of supporting both the climate goals of Massachusetts and the economic and workforce growth of our region.

MassCEC is thrilled to bring the Climatetech Corridor Roadshow to UMass Lowell and several area organizations, said Jennifer Le Blond, interim CEO of MassCEC. Our goal is to drive economic growth in the Northeast, where communities from the Merrimack Valley to the North Shore have long thrived on innovation and industry. Growing the climatetech sector in these cities and towns means creating good jobs, boosting local economies, and making energy more affordable.

In February 2025, MassCEC released a 10-year economic development strategy to make Massachusetts the world leader in climate innovation. According to the report, the states Northeast region is well-positioned to benefit from the economic growth driven by climatetech thanks to its strong leadership in advanced manufacturing, offshore wind and a highly skilled workforce.

Following a roundtable discussion at UMass Lowells Rist Institute for Energy and Sustainability, participants at the roadshow event during the first week of February proceeded to tour several regional facilities. These included EVOLOH in Lowell, CubicPV in Bedford, and Schneider Electrics Innovation Hub and Reframe Systems manufacturing facility in Andover.

Partnerships have been critical to the success of UMass Lowells energy and sustainability work. MassCEC continues to be one of our most important partners, and we look forward to working with the team at MassCEC and the entire Healey- Driscoll administration to advance the states climate tech focused economic and workforce development goals, said Ruairi OMahony, associate vice chancellor for sustainability and enterprise development and executive director of the Rist Institute.

In his 2025 State of the University speech, UMass President Marty Meehan promised a whole of university effort to support the Healey-Driscoll Administrations climate tech push. In concert with our state partners, and with both sustainability and global competitiveness in mind, UMass is helping to position Massachusetts in one of the largest industries in the coming decade  climate technology, Meehan remarked late last year.

The stop at UMass Lowell was the Climatetech Corridor Roadshows third at a UMass campus, following previous events at UMass Amherst and UMass Dartmouth in 2025. MassCEC will soon bring the Roadshow to the Berkshires and Greater Boston.

About the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climatetech sector across the Commonwealth to spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits, increase affordability and secure long-term economic opportunities for the people of Massachusetts. Since 2010, MassCEC has awarded $990 million in programs and investments and attracted?$3 billion in private and public funds.
How about cottage cheese? Michael Dykes, president of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) gave the humble fare a shout-out during the organizations annual forum, which was held recently in Palm Desert, Calif.

His acknowledgement centered around skyrocketing sales  Twenty percent growth in the last five years, he emphasized  a phenomenon that owes its momentum both to social media and the trending desire for protein. In response to this and other demands for dairy products, Dykes noted that farms and processing facilities are ratcheting up production and pivoting to meet demand to the tune of more than $11 billion in capital investments across the nation.

Corey Geiger, lead economist for dairy production and processing at CoBank, also highlighted cottage cheeses role among dairy products, both in a recent Hoards Dairyman podcast and in a December 2025 article on dairy protein. Cottage cheese has been experiencing double-digit growth, Geiger pointed out; the article noted that for 2025, according to Circana and Dairy Management Inc., cottage cheese came in sixth among the top 10 products for absolute unit growth.

And although the cottage cheese craze was kicked off by an unpredictable and fickle medium, its not showing any signs of slowing down soon. Processors are leveraging existing facilities and planning new ones to satisfy the need:

In December 2025, the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) announced it had reacquired the Leprino Foods Plant, Remus, Mich., to launch the co-ops foray into cottage cheese production. Doug Chapin, who is the MMPA board chairman, stated, Were excited to respond to the resurgence in demand for cottage cheese with a product that reflects our high standards.

On Jan. 30, Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) announced that it is retooling a Blair, Wis., plant to transition from Cheddar cheese to cottage cheese production. While the downtime will go well into 2026, the wait will transform the plant: the AMPI press release states that The plant is designed to be one of the largest cottage cheese producers in the U.S.

On Jan. 31, Lancaster Farming reported on the Mount Joy Farmers Cooperative Associations annual meeting, where a major change at the Schuylkill Haven, Pa., milk plant was announced. Currently dedicated to fluid milk, the Schuylkill Haven facility will switch over to cottage cheese and sour cream, with a projected 45 million pounds of the former annually.

Cottage cheese continues to be one of the fastestgrowing dairy categories, fueled by new consumers who are rediscovering its nutrition, versatility, and highquality dairy protein, Terry Dana, vice president, business development for dairy brands at Dairy Farmers of America told Hoards Dairyman. As demand accelerates, expanding our capabilities is a smart, futurefocused investment that strengthens DFAs position in a category where dairy has a natural nutritional advantage. This growth will allow us to deliver more value for our farmerowners while meeting consumers desire for real, wholesome dairy foods.

Good Culture, which produces cottage cheese and was according to Forbes at the epicenter of the first social media wave, just popped up in the news as well. They garnered a $500 million valuation from a private equity firm. Entrepreneur magazine ran a January piece on the company, noting that Good Cultures sales have shot up over 300% since the product went viral.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.
Federal law is clear: Universities receiving federal financial assistance must disclose foreign gifts and contracts over $250,000. The disclosures must be timely, accurate, and complete.

Between February 28, 2025, and December 16, 2025, American universities violated this law more than $2 billion worth.

Over $2 billion in foreign funding came in latedisclosed only after deadlines had passed, after scrutiny had faded, after the public's attention had moved on. Universities reported billions in foreign gifts and contracts outside the legal timeframes, burying the information when they thought nobody was watching.

Then someone started watching.

The Trump administration launched a new foreign funding transparency portal in January 2026, upgraded reporting requirements, and began scrutinizing decades of university disclosures. What they found triggered four federal investigations into Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California Berkeley, and the University of Michigan for "inaccurate and untimely foreign source gift and contract disclosures."

The message is clear: Universities broke the law. They got caught. And now they face consequences that could devastate their finances and destroy their access to federal student aid.

The question is: What else haven't they disclosed? If universities will hide $2 billion in late reporting, what foreign funding still hasn't been reported at all?

The Law They Broke

Before examining what universities did wrong, it's important to understand what the law requires.

Section 117 of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C.  1011f) is straightforward: Institutions of higher education must disclose foreign source gifts and contracts with values of $250,000 or more annually to the Department of Education.

The requirements are specific:

Who must report: Any institution receiving federal financial assistancewhich includes virtually every American college and university through Title IV student aid programs.

What must be reported: Foreign gifts and contracts valued at $250,000 or more, including the source, amount, and date.

When it must be reported: Within specified timeframesinstitutions must file reports twice annually covering six-month periods.

How it must be reported: Through the Department of Education's designated reporting system, now the new foreignfundinghighered.gov portal.

Consequences of non-compliance:

Civil enforcement actions by the Department of Justice

Recoupment of full enforcement costs from the institution

Loss of eligibility for Title IV federal student aid programs

That last penalty is potentially catastrophic. Title IV programs include Pell Grants, federal student loans, and work-study funding. Losing eligibility would make universities unaffordable for most students, devastate enrollment, and destroy institutional finances.

The law isn't ambiguous. Universities know exactly what they're required to report and when. Section 117 has existed since 1986institutions have had nearly four decades to develop compliance systems.

Yet between February and December 2025, universities reported over $2 billion in foreign funding late, in direct violation of these clear requirements.

The $2 Billion That Came Late

Two billion dollars. That's not a rounding error. That's not a handful of missed transactions. That's systematic failure to comply with federal disclosure requirements.

The late reporting occurred between February 28, 2025, and December 16, 2025a period when universities should have been filing regular six-month disclosures. Instead, billions in foreign funding were disclosed late, after the legal deadlines had passed.

The Department of Education's February 11, 2026 announcement was explicit: "Additionally, between February 28, 2025, and December 16, 2025, more than $2 billion in reportable gifts and contracts were reported late, in direct violation of statutory requirements."

More than $2 billion. In direct violation of statutory requirements.

Think about what this means:

Hiding in plain sight: Late reporting isn't the same as not reporting at all. Universities eventually disclosed the fundingbut only after deadlines when disclosure would have triggered real-time scrutiny.

Strategic delay: Reporting foreign funding late means the information becomes public after media attention has moved on, after congressional oversight cycles have passed, after public pressure can be applied.

Pattern, not accident: $2 billion in late reporting across many institutions suggests systematic problems with university compliance systemsor deliberate strategies to avoid timely transparency.

Legal violations: Every late report represents a violation of Section 117. With $2 billion in late reporting, that's thousands of individual violations across potentially dozens or hundreds of institutions.

What's still missing: If universities will report $2 billion late, how much foreign funding still hasn't been reported at all?

The late reporting creates an obvious question: Were universities unable to track and report foreign funding in compliance with federal law? Or were they unwilling?

The Four Under Investigation

The Department of Education didn't just notice the $2 billion in late reporting and move on. The agency launched federal investigations into four major universities for compliance failures.

The institutions under investigation are:

Harvard University - The nation's wealthiest university, with a $50+ billion endowment. Harvard has disclosed receiving over $610 million from "countries of concern" since 1986more than any other American institution. The investigation focuses on inaccurate and untimely foreign funding disclosures.

University of Pennsylvania - An Ivy League institution that has faced previous scrutiny over foreign funding relationships. Now under investigation for inaccurate and untimely disclosures of foreign gifts and contracts.

University of California, Berkeley - A flagship public research university conducting cutting-edge research in fields including AI, quantum computing, and advanced materialsareas of high interest to foreign entities. Under investigation for disclosure violations.

University of Michigan - Another major public research university with extensive international collaborations. Facing investigation for inaccurate and untimely foreign funding reporting.

These aren't small regional colleges struggling with compliance. They're elite research universities with:

Sophisticated administrative systems

Extensive legal departments

Decades of experience with federal reporting requirements

Billions in endowments and annual budgets

Strong incentives to maintain federal funding eligibility

If these institutions can'tor won'tcomply with Section 117 disclosure requirements, what does that say about university commitment to transparency?

The investigations were announced publicly but details remain limited. The Department of Education hasn't disclosed:

Specific amounts of unreported or misreported funding

Which countries or entities were involved in undisclosed funding

Whether violations were deliberate or negligent

What penalties the universities might face

How long investigations will take

What we know is sufficient to be troubling: Four elite universities are under federal investigation for violating foreign funding disclosure laws. The violations involved inaccurate and untimely reporting. And this is happening in the context of $2 billion in late reporting across the entire higher education sector.

Harvard: The Most From "Countries of Concern"

Harvard's investigation is particularly significant given the university's documented foreign funding relationships.

Since 1986, Harvard has disclosed receiving over $610 million from "countries of concern"entities the federal government identifies as threatening national security. That's more than any other American institution.

In 2025 alone, Harvard received over $324 million in total foreign funding from all sources.

But Harvard is now under investigation for "inaccurate and untimely foreign source gift and contract disclosures." That means:

Inaccurate: Harvard may have misreported amounts, sources, dates, or purposes of foreign funding. Inaccurate disclosures could mean underreporting funding amounts, misidentifying sources, or providing misleading information.

Untimely: Harvard reported some foreign funding late, outside the legal deadlines for Section 117 compliance.

The combination is damning. If Harvard's disclosed $610 million from countries of concern is based on inaccurate reporting, the actual total could be significantly higher. And if Harvard reported funding late, it deliberately avoided real-time transparency about foreign relationships.

Harvard has faced previous foreign funding controversies:

Charles Lieber case: Harvard chemistry professor Charles Lieber was convicted in 2021 for lying about participation in China's Thousand Talents Plan and receiving payments from Chinese sources that weren't properly disclosed.

Undisclosed contracts: Federal investigations previously found Harvard failed to disclose certain contracts and gifts from Chinese sources.

Research partnerships: Harvard maintains extensive international collaborations, some with entities in countries of concern.

The current investigation will determine whether Harvard's disclosure problems are ongoing, systematic, and more extensive than previously known.

Penn: Following the Money

The University of Pennsylvania's investigation comes at a sensitive time for the institution.

Penn has faced recent scrutiny over its handling of various controversies, including donor relationships, campus speech issues, and leadership decisions. Now federal investigators are examining whether Penn accurately and timely reported foreign funding.

What makes Penn's investigation particularly interesting: The university operates the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in Washington, D.C.a center that has received substantial attention for its connections to President Biden before his 2020 campaign.

Penn also maintains extensive international partnerships, particularly in China. The university has research collaborations, student exchanges, and institutional relationships across countries that fall under "countries of concern" designations.

If Penn's investigation reveals systematic underreporting or misreporting of foreign funding, it would validate concerns that universities' stated commitment to transparency doesn't match their actual disclosure practices.

Berkeley: The Public University Test Case

UC Berkeley's investigation represents a crucial test case because it's a public institution, not a private university like Harvard or Penn.

As a public university, Berkeley faces different accountability mechanisms than private institutions:

State oversight: California taxpayers fund UC Berkeley through state appropriations. Foreign funding disclosure failures affect public trust in how the institution operates.

Public records: As a public entity, Berkeley faces California's Public Records Act requirements, which should make foreign funding relationships more transparent than at private universities.

Political accountability: Berkeley's leadership ultimately answers to the UC Board of Regents and California's political leadership, creating additional oversight channels.

Yet despite these additional transparency mechanisms, Berkeley is under investigation for foreign funding disclosure violations.

Berkeley conducts enormous amounts of research in fields with national security implications: artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced materials, robotics, cybersecurity, and biotechnology. Foreign entities have strong interests in accessing Berkeley research in these areas.

The university also enrolls thousands of international students, including substantial numbers from countries of concern. And Berkeley has maintained research partnerships with Chinese institutions despite increasing scrutiny of such relationships.

If a public university with state oversight and public records requirements can't properly disclose foreign funding, what confidence should we have in disclosure compliance across higher education?

Michigan: The Pattern Expands

The University of Michigan's investigation suggests the compliance problems aren't limited to Ivy League schools or California public universities.

Michigan is a major Midwest research university with extensive international connections:

Research scale: Michigan conducts billions in research annually across numerous fields, much of it federally funded and some in sensitive areas.

International enrollment: Michigan enrolls significant numbers of international students from countries worldwide, including countries of concern.

Global partnerships: The university maintains research collaborations, institutional partnerships, and academic exchanges with entities in dozens of countries.

Prior concerns: Michigan previously hosted a Confucius Institute until 2019, when it was closed following federal pressure and concerns about Chinese government influence on campus.

Michigan's inclusion in the investigations indicates that foreign funding disclosure problems span different types of institutions in different regionssuggesting systemic issues rather than isolated failures at a few universities.

What "Inaccurate and Untimely" Really Means

The Department of Education's description of the investigations uses specific language: "inaccurate and untimely foreign source gift and contract disclosures."

Inaccurate disclosures could mean:

Underreporting amounts : Disclosing $1 million when the actual amount was $2 million

: Disclosing $1 million when the actual amount was $2 million Misidentifying sources : Reporting funding as coming from one entity when it actually came from another

: Reporting funding as coming from one entity when it actually came from another Omitting transactions : Not reporting foreign gifts or contracts that exceeded the $250,000 threshold

: Not reporting foreign gifts or contracts that exceeded the $250,000 threshold Incorrect dates : Misreporting when funding was received, potentially shifting it to different reporting periods

: Misreporting when funding was received, potentially shifting it to different reporting periods Misleading purposes : Describing funding purposes in ways that obscure actual uses or intentions

: Describing funding purposes in ways that obscure actual uses or intentions Aggregation failures: Not properly combining related transactions from the same source

Untimely disclosuresmeans:

Late reporting : Filing required disclosures after legal deadlines

: Filing required disclosures after legal deadlines Strategic delay : Waiting until scrutiny fades before disclosing controversial foreign funding

: Waiting until scrutiny fades before disclosing controversial foreign funding Systematic lateness : Patterns of late reporting suggesting deliberate avoidance of timely transparency

: Patterns of late reporting suggesting deliberate avoidance of timely transparency Multi-year delays: In some cases, foreign funding from years ago only being disclosed recently

The combination of "inaccurate and untimely" is particularly damning. It suggests universities both misreported foreign funding AND did so latecompounding the transparency failures.

The Enforcement Gap That Allowed This

How did $2 billion in foreign funding get reported late without triggering immediate consequences?

The answer reveals an enforcement gap that has existed for decades:

Limited oversight: Until the Trump administration's recent focus on Section 117 enforcement, the Department of Education conducted minimal active oversight of university foreign funding disclosures.

No real-time verification: The department historically accepted whatever universities reported without systematic verification against other data sources or real-time monitoring.

Reactive rather than proactive: Enforcement actions typically occurred only after whistleblowers, media reports, or congressional inquiries flagged specific problemsnot through routine compliance audits.

Minimal penalties: Even when violations were discovered, penalties were often minor or non-existent, creating no deterrent against future non-compliance.

Voluntary compliance model: Section 117 largely operated on an honor system, trusting universities to self-report foreign funding accurately and timely.

This enforcement gap created an environment where universities could delay reporting, misreport amounts, omit transactions, or otherwise fail to comply with disclosure requirements without facing meaningful consequences.

The Trump administration's approach represents a significant shift:

New transparency portal: The foreignfundinghighered.gov portal makes disclosures public and searchable, increasing scrutiny.

Upgraded data: The portal includes 11 additional data elementsa 61% increase in publicly available informationmaking patterns easier to identify.

Proactive investigations: The Department of Education initiated four investigations based on review of disclosure data, not just responding to external complaints.

Public accountability: High-profile announcements of investigations and late reporting statistics create reputational pressure on universities.

Enforcement credibility: The threat of losing Title IV eligibility is now more credible, given the administration's demonstrated willingness to investigate major universities.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon specifically criticized "years of neglect by the Biden Administration, which failed to effectively enforce Section 117 and shuttered public-facing accountability instruments."

Whether this enforcement shift continues under future administrations remains to be seen. But for now, universities face a level of foreign funding scrutiny they haven't experienced in yearsand the $2 billion in late reporting suggests they weren't prepared for it.

The Questions Late Reporting Raises

The $2 billion in late reporting creates troubling questions that go beyond the specific dollar amount:

What motivated late reporting? Were universities simply unable to track and report foreign funding in compliance with federal law? Or did they deliberately delay reporting to avoid real-time scrutiny?

How much is still unreported? If universities will report $2 billion late, how much foreign funding still hasn't been reported at all? Late reporting suggests the disclosed totals understate actual foreign funding.

Which countries were delayed? Was the $2 billion in late reporting evenly distributed across all foreign sources, or were certain countries' funding more likely to be reported late? Late reporting of funding from countries of concern would be particularly problematic.

Were students informed? When universities accept foreign funding that creates institutional relationships, do students know about these relationships? Late reporting means students couldn't have known in real time.

What about faculty? Were faculty aware of foreign funding relationships at their institutions? Late reporting prevented faculty from weighing in on whether to accept controversial funding.

Did Congress know? Congressional oversight of foreign influence in higher education depends on timely disclosure. Late reporting undermines legislative oversight.

What triggered compliance? Why did universities eventually report the funding? Was it because the new portal increased scrutiny? Fear of getting caught? Routine late filing that they thought nobody would notice?

Are patterns visible? With multiple years of data now public, can researchers identify which institutions systematically report late? Which countries' funding is most often reported late?

These questions won't be answered quickly. But they're the right questions to ask when universities collectively report $2 billion in foreign funding late in direct violation of federal law.

The Title IV Nuclear Option

The most serious potential consequence of Section 117 violations is loss of eligibility for Title IV federal student aid programs.

This penalty would be absolutely devastating for most universities:

Financial collapse: Title IV programs include Pell Grants, federal student loans, and work-study funding. Most students rely on some combination of these programs. Without federal aid, most students couldn't afford to attend.

Enrollment implosion: If students can't get federal aid to attend a university, they'll go elsewhere. Enrollment would collapse almost immediately.

Revenue devastation: Universities depend heavily on tuition revenue. Losing most students would create catastrophic budget holes.

Competitive disadvantage: A university that loses Title IV eligibility while competitors maintain it essentially becomes uncompetitive in student recruitment.

Reputation destruction: Losing federal aid eligibility would signal that a university is so non-compliant with federal law that it can't be trusted with taxpayer money.

The Department of Education has never actually revoked a major university's Title IV eligibility for Section 117 violations. The penalty exists in statute but hasn't been used.

That's why it's called the "nuclear option"it's so destructive that using it would devastate the institution, but the threat of using it creates powerful incentive for compliance.

Will the Trump administration actually use this penalty? The four ongoing investigations will provide the answer. If violations are severe enough and universities don't take meaningful corrective action, the administration might follow through on the threat.

Even if Title IV eligibility isn't revoked, other penalties could include:

Fines and civil penalties : Financial penalties for each violation, potentially totaling millions

: Financial penalties for each violation, potentially totaling millions Enhanced monitoring : Increased Department of Education oversight, required compliance plans, and regular reporting beyond standard requirements

: Increased Department of Education oversight, required compliance plans, and regular reporting beyond standard requirements Public disclosure : Detailed public reports on violations, creating reputational damage

: Detailed public reports on violations, creating reputational damage Conditional eligibility: Maintaining Title IV eligibility but with conditions that create administrative burden and uncertainty

Any of these penalties would be significant. But the Title IV nuclear option remains the most powerful deterrentand potentially the most devastating consequence.

What Universities Should Have Done

Section 117 compliance isn't complicated. Universities with sophisticated administrative systems should easily be able to:

Track foreign funding: Maintain comprehensive databases of all foreign gifts and contracts, including source, amount, date, and purpose.

Identify reportable transactions: Flag all foreign funding over $250,000 for disclosure review.

Report on schedule: File required disclosures twice annually covering six-month periods, meeting all deadlines.

Verify accuracy: Cross-check disclosures against financial records to ensure amounts and sources are correctly reported.

Maintain documentation: Keep records supporting all disclosures in case of audits or investigations.

Train staff: Ensure development offices, research administration, international programs, and other units receiving foreign funding understand reporting requirements.

Centralize oversight: Designate compliance officers responsible for ensuring complete and accurate Section 117 reporting.

Review regularly: Conduct internal audits to catch unreported or misreported funding before federal investigators do.

These aren't exotic requirements. They're basic compliance practices that universities implement for dozens of other federal regulations.

Yet somehow, universities managed to report $2 billion in foreign funding late. Four elite institutions are under investigation for inaccurate and untimely disclosures. And the pattern suggests compliance problems are widespread.

Either universities lack the capacity to comply with Section 117which seems implausible given their administrative sophistication. Or they lack the will to complywhich is damning.

The Biden vs. Trump Enforcement Contrast

The $2 billion in late reporting and four investigations emerged after the Trump administration made foreign funding transparency a priority.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon explicitly criticized the Biden administration's approach: "years of neglect...which failed to effectively enforce Section 117 and shuttered public-facing accountability instruments."

The criticism is substantiated by the evidence:

Biden administration: Section 117 enforcement was relatively passive. The public-facing portal that made disclosures easily searchable was not maintained. Few investigations were initiated. Universities faced minimal scrutiny for late or incomplete reporting.

Trump administration: Launched new foreignfundinghighered.gov portal with enhanced data and visualization capabilities. Initiated four major investigations within the first year. Publicly highlighted $2 billion in late reporting. Made foreign funding transparency a priority issue.

This enforcement contrast has political implications:

For universities: The level of scrutiny they face depends significantly on which administration is in power, creating regulatory uncertainty.

For foreign funders: Countries and entities considering funding American universities must factor in changing enforcement climates.

For compliance: Universities that were comfortable with minimal enforcement under Biden now face enhanced scrutiny under Trump, catching some unprepared.

For future policy: The enforcement shift demonstrates that Section 117's effectiveness depends less on the statute itself than on executive branch commitment to enforcement.

Whether future administrations maintain Trump-level enforcement or revert to Biden-level passivity will significantly impact how much foreign funding remains hidden.

What Comes Next

The $2 billion in late reporting and four ongoing investigations are just the beginning.

Several developments are likely:

Investigation results: The Harvard, Penn, Berkeley, and Michigan investigations will eventually conclude, revealing what violations occurred and what penalties are imposed.

More investigations: If initial investigations find serious violations, the Department of Education may expand audits to other universities.

Congressional action: The data on late reporting and disclosure violations provides ammunition for congressional hearings and potentially new legislation.

Litigation: Universities facing penalties may challenge enforcement actions in court, creating legal precedents about Section 117's scope and enforcement.

Policy changes: The Department of Education may implement new requirements, more frequent reporting, or enhanced verification procedures.

University responses: Institutions will likely enhance compliance systems, hire additional staff, and implement new oversight procedures to avoid becoming the next investigation target.

Whistleblowers: Faculty, staff, or students aware of unreported foreign funding may come forward, triggering additional investigations.

Media scrutiny: Increased public awareness of foreign funding issues will fuel more investigative journalism into university relationships.

The $2 billion in late reporting revealed a massive compliance problem. The four investigations signal that consequences are coming. And the new transparency portal ensures that future violations will be harder to hide.

The Trust Problem

At its core, the $2 billion in late reporting represents a trust problem.

Section 117 operates on trust: Universities are trusted to accurately and timely report foreign funding because the Department of Education can't independently verify every transaction in real time.

Universities betrayed that trust. They reported $2 billion late. Four are under investigation for inaccurate disclosures. And the pattern suggests compliance problems are systematic rather than isolated.

This creates a fundamental question: Can American universities be trusted to accurately disclose foreign funding when transparency works against their interests?

The evidence suggests: No.

When foreign funding brings scrutiny, controversy, or pressure to reject money, universities have demonstrated they'll delay reporting, misreport amounts, or otherwise fail to comply with disclosure requirements.

The $2 billion in late reporting isn't a compliance failure. It's a trust failure.

And trust, once broken, is difficult to rebuild.

The Bottom Line

Between February and December 2025, American universities reported over $2 billion in foreign funding late, in direct violation of federal disclosure requirements.

Four elite institutionsHarvard, Penn, Berkeley, and Michiganare under federal investigation for inaccurate and untimely foreign funding disclosures.

Universities face potential penalties ranging from fines to the nuclear option: loss of eligibility for Title IV federal student aid.

The late reporting reveals systematic compliance problems across higher education. And it raises an obvious question: If universities will hide $2 billion by reporting it late, how much foreign funding still hasn't been disclosed at all?

The Trump administration's new transparency portal and aggressive enforcement approach have exposed what years of passive oversight allowed to remain hidden.

Universities broke the law. They got caught. And the $2 billion in late reporting is just what we know about.

What we don't knowwhat's still unreported, what's still being hidden, what foreign funding relationships remain undisclosedcould be even more troubling.

The investigations will tell us more. But we already know enough: When universities report $2 billion in foreign funding late in violation of federal law, they're not just breaking disclosure requirements.

They're demonstrating that transparency only happens when they're forced to provide it.

The Department of Education's investigations into Harvard, Penn, Berkeley, and Michigan are ongoing. The universities have not publicly commented on specific allegations or findings. Additional disclosures covering the period through January 31, 2026, are expected by February 28, 2026.
India's flagship AI summit in New Delhi has been jolted by an embarrassing controversy after a private university was told to pack up its stall for showcasing a Chinese-made robot dog as if it were its own innovation, according to officials and local reports.dawn+3

How a Chinese robot dog became "Orion"

The flap centers on Galgotias University, which turned up at the India AI Impact Summit with a four-legged robot it introduced to TV cameras as "Orion" and implied was created at its in-house Centre of Excellence. Social media users quickly identified the machine as the Go2 model sold by Chinese firm Unitree Robotics for about 2,800 dollars, a widely available platform used by labs and universities around the world. Clips of the interaction went viral after the professor, Neha Singh, appeared on state broadcaster DD News describing the robot in a way critics said clearly suggested it was a homegrown product.aljazeera+2

Ordered out of India's AI showcase

Two government officials told reporters that summit organizers instructed Galgotias to vacate its exhibition space once the robot's true origin became a national talking point. One official said the university had been "asked to leave the expo," describing the move as necessary to protect the credibility of an event meant to market India's seriousness on AI to foreign leaders and tech giants. By Wednesday, some outlets reported the booth shuttered or unattended, even as a representative at the stand told Reuters they had not yet received formal written notice expelling them.bloomberg+4

University and professor push back

Galgotias has denied trying to pass off the Unitree robot as an original invention, insisting instead that students are legitimately using a "recently acquired" robot dog as a mobile classroom to test programming and AI models. Singh later said her televised remarks were misunderstood and that she never meant to claim the hardware itself was built from scratch at the university. A student exhibitor argued that the uproar has overshadowed genuine student projects at the stall, calling the reaction "uncalled for" and blaming a miscommunication rather than an attempt to deceive.bbc+4

Political firestorm and global optics

India's opposition Congress party seized on the episode to accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of turning the country into a "laughing stock" on AI just as New Delhi hosts nearly 20 world leaders and dozens of delegations for the five-day summit. In a sharply worded post on X, the party said the incident was "truly embarrassing" and "brazenly shameless," arguing that showcasing a Chinese robot as Indian undercuts the government's tech narrative. The scandal comes as India pitches itself as a voice for the Global South on AI governance and courts partnerships with firms like OpenAI, Google, and Nvidia on infrastructure and deployment.straitstimes+5

Bigger questions about innovation and credibility

Supporters of India's AI ambitions warn against letting one misstep overshadow the broader innovation on display, with the DD News reporter who first aired the segment urging viewers not to "lose faith" in a generation of young technologists because of a single dubious claim. Yet the robot dog saga has spotlighted a sensitive fault line: India's ecosystem still leans heavily on foreign hardware and frontier models, even as it markets itself as an emerging AI power. Critics say that when branding and political messaging collide with the realities of imported tech, it risks undercutting the very credibility India needs to lead global conversations on the future of artificial intelligence.
Jordan Dyett, an assistant professor in the UW Division of Social Work, recently presented her research findings that examine treatment for substance use across Wyoming at the 2026 Social Work Research Conference in Washington, D.C., in January. (Sarah Mountz Photo)

A faculty member with the University of Wyomings Division of Social Work recently presented her research -- examining treatment for substance use across Wyoming -- on a national level.





Jordan Dyett, an assistant professor with the Division of Social Work, part of the UW College of Health Sciences, presented her findings at the 2026 Social Work Research Conference in Washington, D.C., in January. Funding for Dyetts research was provided by the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center.





Dyetts research focused specifically on examining how treatment providers are supporting individuals with substance use histories and using community-based methods to identify both barriers to treatment and effective solutions.





Families across Wyoming navigate the impacts of substance use while seeking support and recovery, Dyett says. While providers exist within the state, many face barriers to effectively meeting the needs of their patients, due to things such as a lack of transportation, affordable housing or limited funding to meet the needs of their patients.





One of the most prominent challenges facing individuals dealing with substance use issues is a shortage of health care providers trained in specific areas of substance use and treatment. Members of rural communities, such as those found throughout Wyoming, often must travel long distances to meet with a qualified care provider and, frequently, weather and road conditions complicate things further. Others struggle to access health care altogether due to limited access to transportation.





One solution Dyett found was taking a community-based approach to understand how providers were still meeting the needs of their patients despite these challenges. In all, she interviewed 36 providers around the state and 11 people receiving care. Interacting with these individuals resulted in a better awareness of how providers used their resources to best serve their community.





Some providers helped patients access resources, such as telehealth, to connect them with care, while others found creative solutions, including purchasing electric bikes to reduce transportation barriers, Dyett says.





Dr. Dyetts work reflects a strong commitment to improving access to substance use services and care across Wyoming, and offers thoughtful, practical contributions, with particular attention to reducing barriers for individuals and families, says Valerie Thompson-Ebanks, director of the UW Division of Social Work.





While participants remain anonymous, the experiences and outcomes of those involved in Dyetts research will inform the education and training of students preparing for careers in rural and frontier social work.





As Wyomings land-grant university, and through the collaborative work of the College of Health Sciences, we have a responsibility to generate solutions that work in the communities we serve, says Patrick Hardigan, dean of the College of Health Sciences. Dr. Dyetts research exemplifies how our faculty partner with providers and residents to address real barriers to care in rural and frontier settings. The insights gained not only strengthen services across the state but also prepare our students to enter practice ready to meet Wyomings most pressing behavioral health needs.





To learn more about the UW Division of Social Work, go to www.uwyo.edu/socialwork/index.html.
A "climate cult" has weighed on Europe's economy, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told AFP on Tuesday, adding that the United States has shown its allies "tough love" because it wants them to become stronger.

Wright is attending ministerial meetings at the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) this week, months after US-European ties were rattled over President Donald Trump's bid to acquire Greenland.

In an interview with AFP, Wright said Europe can count on the United States as a reliable partner despite the tensions over the Danish autonomous territory.

He also defended Trump's decision last week to repeal the legal basis for US climate rules, downplaying concerns about rising carbon emissions.

"That's been sort of a side effect of the modern world," said Wright, a former fracking magnate.

"The real impact is the world's a little bit warmer, a little bit greener, a little bit wetter ... And all the policies, noise in Europe, in the US, and all that, don't even move the needle on that."

The EU's climate monitor, however, says the last three years have been the hottest globally on record, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions that are causing global warming.

- 'Tough love' -

Asked what message he had for Europe, Wright said: "We just need to be serious and sober about energy. Energy makes people's lives better."

He said the "climate cult" has driven up energy prices in Europe while the continent produces less of it.

"It has reduced economic opportunities for Europeans," he said. "We want a strong, powerful, industrial, wealthy, prosperous Europe."

EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said last month that there were increasing worries over Europe becoming too dependent on the United States for liquefied natural gas (LNG) following the Greenland spat.

Europe vowed to buy huge amounts of fossil fuels from the United States as part of a trade deal to end a tariffs row last year.

"Geopolitical turmoil in the wake of the crisis in Greenland has been a wake-up call," Jorgensen told reporters.

Speaking to AFP after a conference at the French Institute of International Relations think tank, Wright said Europe should not worry as the United States remained a "stout ally".

Trump has a "very aggressive" style but "there was never a possibility the US was going to invade Greenland", he said.

"In fact, all of the United States' tough love is to try to get Europe to have a stronger military, stronger energy system, stronger economy, to be better, stronger allies with us."

He said the United States would not use LNG as political leverage.

"We will be a rock solid, reliable supplier of LNG to Europe," Wright said.

- 'Crazy policy' -

Wright, who is attending IEA meetings in the French capital on Wednesday and Thursday, has been critical of the organisation's focus on renewable energy and threatened to withdraw the United States if it did not reform.

The 31-member IEA was founded in 1974 to help coordinate collective responses to major disruptions of supplies in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.

Wright told AFP that IEA has "made some first steps" to reform but still has "a long way to go".

"A lot of the IEA work is focused on climate change and the Paris net zero thing," he said.

Scientists say that the world must reach net zero emissions by 2050 if it is to reach the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 1.5C above preindustrial levels.

"That's a crazy policy," Wright said. "Climate advocacy groups can do what they want, but you can't have climate advocacy within an honest group that's about energy security."

- Trump's 'revolutionary' Venezuela idea -

Wright's trip to Paris comes a week after he became the highest-ranking US official to visit Venezuela since US special forces captured and overthrew socialist leader Nicolas Maduro on January 3.

Trump, he said, had "a revolutionary geopolitical idea. And so far it's working swimmingly".

The goal, he said, is to "dramatically grow" Venezuelan oil production, improve the lives of Venezuelans, and reduce the "criminal and migration and kidnapping" threats on the United States.

Since Maduro's capture, around $1 billion in oil revenue has flowed through US-controlled accounts, Wright said, adding: "All the money is going back to Caracas."

lt/rmb
French authorities on Tuesday arrested nine suspects over the killing last week of a far-right activist, including an assistant to a hard-left member of parliament, a prosecutor and an informed source said.

Quentin Deranque, 23, died after sustaining a severe brain injury when he was attacked by at least six people last week on the sidelines of a far-right protest against a left-wing politician speaking at a university in the southeastern city of Lyon.

The incident has fuelled tension between France's far right and hard left ahead of municipal elections in March and the 2027 presidential race, in which the far-right National Rally (RN) party is seen as having its best chance yet of winning the top job.

Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran announced the arrests of four suspects, then shortly afterwards that of five others, bringing the total to nine.

Six of the detainees are suspected of having participated in the beating and three of aiding them, a source following the case said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Seven of those detained were men and two were women, the source said, adding that others could be detained in the coming days.

An assistant to Raphael Arnault, a member of parliament from the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, was among the first four detained, the source said.

Arnault reacted by saying he was firing the assistant.

- 'Dishonoured' -

The head of the LFI, Jean-Luc Melenchon said that those who had attacked Deranque had "dishonoured" themselves by acting with apparent lethal intent.

"When it comes to violence, whether it be defensive or offensive... not all blows are allowed," he said.

An anti-immigration collective called Nemesis, which claims to fight violence against Western women, said Deranque had been at the protest in Lyon to protect its members.

Nemesis has blamed the killing on La Jeune Garde (Young Guard), an anti-fascist youth group co-founded by Arnault before he was elected to parliament.

La Jeune Garde -- which was dissolved in June -- has denied any links to the "tragic events", while Arnault has called the killing horrific.

On Monday, parliament speaker Yael Braun-Pivet said one of Arnault's assistants had been banned from the chamber after being mentioned by witnesses.

Thursday's attack has been described as "a pitched battle between members of the far left and the far right", according to another source close to the probe.

A video broadcast by TF1 television of the alleged attack shows a dozen people hitting three others lying on the ground, two of whom manage to escape.

A witness told AFP "people were hitting each other with iron bars".

- Minute of silence -

Lawmakers held a minute of silence Tuesday afternoon at France's National Assembly in memory of Deranque, while a march is expected to be held in Lyon next Saturday in his honour.

While the government has singled out the LFI and La Jeune Garde, the Lyon prosecutor on Monday declined to comment on those claims, only specifying the incident was being investigated as a voluntary homicide and aggravated assault.

On the far right, the presidential hopeful from the RN, three-time contender Marine Le Pen, has condemned the "barbarians responsible for this lynching".

Her lieutenant, Jordan Bardella, who heads her party, said after the arrests that the LFI's Melenchon had "moral and political responsibility" for what happened, claiming he had "opened the doors of the National Assembly to suspected murderers".

Opinion polls put the far right in the lead for the presidency in 2027, when centrist President Emmanuel Macron will have to step down after the maximum two consecutive terms in office.

sc-mat/ah/yad/rmb
Democrats are considering a forced vote to censure Republican Rep. Randy Fine over comments he made about about dogs and Muslims on social media if House Speaker Mike Johnson doesn't take action, according to a new report.

Axios detailed that even though lawmakers have been frustrated at the increased use of censure over the past years, many are saying the case indeed merits one.

Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said the issue "could likely happen." Rep. Ro Khanna said he "raised with CPC leadership that Fine must be censured."

"We cannot stand idly by as Muslim Americans are described as less than dogs by a sitting member. Many of my colleagues feel similarly," he added.

Controversy arose after Fine reacted to the post from a person he described as the "leader of one of the key mainstream Muslim groups that supported" New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The publication in question said: "Finally, NYC is coming to Islam. Dogs definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets. Like we've said all along, they are unclean."

Fine said that "if they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among those who slammed Fine, saying the publication is "genuinely one of the most disgusting statements I have ever seen issued by an American official."

"It should not stop shocking us that the Republican Party openly embraces this. Fine should be censured & stripped of committees. To ignore this is to accept and normalize it," she added.

Fine has doubled down on his stance ever since, responding to different social media publications that criticized him over the matter. "So you're ok with this? What's truly disgusting is a key Mamdani advisor saying we must give up our dogs because "NYC is coming to Islam." We will not be shamed into being conquered like the Europeans. I choose my dog. If you're man enough to debate me, I'll come on your show," he told CNN journalist Jake Tapper, who said the comment was "disgusting bigotry."

Originally published on Latin Times
DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Residents at Primrose Retirement Community in Decatur took some time to give back to local students.

It was part of an annual celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Day.

The residents put together gift baskets to hand out to students at Richland Community College, who said it was a nice way to celebrate the holiday.

"We always pick a college, and the residents make treat bags for students that might need some kindness or love shown to them today," said Primrose Executive Director Margaret Miller.

Random Acts of Kindness Day began in 1995 as a local celebration in Denver, Colorado.

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DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - We are learning more about a deadly shooting where a man said he accidentally shot and killed a woman in Decatur.

Christian Luthy is accused of shooting a woman inside a home in the 1700 block of North Summit Ave. on Valentine's Day.

Decatur police were called to the home around 5:30 p.m. for a report of a person shot inside the home.

Police said Luthy called 911 and reported that he had accidentally shot a woman inside the home.

Court documents obtained by WAND News show Luthy told officers he had been working on an AR15 style rifle while he and the victim, 26-year-old Alexandra Wilson, were seated together in a gaming room.

When he was done working on it, Luthy told police he "jokingly" pointed it at Wilson and pulled the trigger, believing it was not loaded. One round hit her in the torso.

She was taken to Decatur Memorial Hospital, where she later died.

Luthy was later taken to DPD headquarters for questioning. Following the investigation, Luthy was arrested on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

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Luthy is due back in court in March.

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Violent winter storms hitting Italy's southern coasts expose the grim reality of the central Mediterranean migration route.

Italian authorities have recovered at least 15 bodies, believed to be migrants who drowned in undocumented shipwrecks, from coastlines in the southern regions of Calabria and Sicily.

In recent days, victims of what humanitarian organisations call "ghost tragedies", have begun washing up on Italian beaches and rocks along the shoreline.

The distressing string of recovered bodies, in an advanced state of decomposition, follows a series of violent storms in southern Italy, particularly Cyclone Harry.

Recoveries in Calabria

On Tuesday, in the tourist town of Tropea, students alerted the coast guard after spotting two bodies floating among the waves.

This follows several other findings along the Cosenza coastline: a body was recovered in Scalea on 8 February, another in Amantea four days later, and a third in Paola.

The public prosecutor's offices in Paola and Vibo Valentia have launched formal investigations.

While autopsies have been ordered to confirm the causes of death and check for signs of violence, the leading hypothesis remains that these individuals were passengers on unrecorded vessels that capsized during recent bouts of severe weather.

Findings in Sicily and Pantelleria

Simultaneously, maritime authorities in Sicily have coordinated the recovery of nine additional bodies.

The island of Pantelleria, situated between Tunisia and Sicily, reported five victims - two found at sea and three discovered among the jagged rocks of the shoreline.

Other remains were located in Marsala, Petrosino, San Vito Lo Capo and near the Colombaia islet in Trapani.

Rising death toll

The recent discoveries highlight the dire humanitarian situation in the central Mediterranean. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the month of January 2026 alone saw more than 450 recorded deaths - a figure three times higher than that of January 2025.

However, NGOs such as Refugees in Libya suggest the true scale of the loss is likely far greater, reports Avvenire.

Based on distress calls and reports from families who have lost contact with loved ones, it is estimated that around 1,000 migrants may have disappeared at sea since the start of the year.

Many of these disappearances occur during "ghost shipwrecks" - incidents involving small, unseaworthy vessels that vanish without ever sending an SOS or being intercepted by patrol boats.

Legal and humanitarian implications

The discovery of the bodies poses significant challenges for Italian authorities regarding identification and subsequent burial.

This week's recorded fatalities, whose numbers could rise in the coming days, signals a lethal combination of desperate migration attempts and volatile weather patterns.

For now, the focus remains on the forensic examination of the recovered remains, as investigators attempt to piece together the origins of the vessels and the identities of those who were lost to the sea.

Photo credit: Tricani Alessio / Shutterstock.com.
Culture minister slams "absurd act of barbarity" amid fresh debate over security of public monuments in Italy.

Rome's Elephant and Obelisk sculpture designed by Italian Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini was found to be missing the tip of its right tusk on Monday night.

The marble tusk from the 17th-century "elefantino" was discovered at the base of the sculpture in the central Piazza della Minerva, just steps away from the Pantheon.

Investigators are studying video surveillance footage to determine whether the breakage was a deliberate act of vandalism or the result of wear and tear.

Crucially, the broken fragment remained in situ, which experts from the capitoline superintendency believe will facilitate a more effective restoration process.

Commissioned by Pope Alexander VII and unveiled in 1667, the monuments features an Egyptian obelisk from the 6th century BC mounted on the back of a marble elephant.

Culture minister and Bernini exhibition

"It is unacceptable that the nation's artistic and cultural heritage should once again suffer such grave damage", Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli said in a statement, pledging that cultural authorities would restorate the sculpture, "one of the most significant symbols of the capital, struck by an absurd act of barbarity."

The incident occurred just days after the inauguration of a blockbuster exhibition dedicated to Bernini at the Palazzo Barberini.

Precedent and challenges

This is not the first time the sculpture has been damaged.

The monument suffered a near-identical injury 10 years ago when the tip of its left tusk was broken off. At that time, the restoration was completed swiftly but the incident exposed vulnerabilities in the citys surveillance network.

The latest damage highlights once again the precarious balance between the publics free access to art and the necessity of protecting fragile works from the pressures of over-tourism.

Photo RAI News
By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

The row over sound levels at a central Dublin venue is the straw that broke the camels back for Irish nightlife, the organiser of a protest has said.

Live DJs played as hundreds of people danced on Exchequer Street to show their opposition to legal action taken against Yamamori Izakaya, a Japanese restaurant that holds music events.

Its neighbour, the Hoxton Hotel, claims it has been forced to close around a quarter of its rooms because of numerous guest complaints about late-night, low-frequency music noise and vibration.

A banner held during the demonstration (Bairbre Holmes/PA)

Last week, the leaseholder, Trinity Hospitality, sought a court injunction to reduce excessive noise transfer from Yamamori Izakaya into the hotel.

Protest organiser Blew, a local DJ, said the city has lost several late-night venues to hotel chains or apartment buildings and that social and cultural spaces have been squashed.

She said she is not affiliated with the venue but organised the protest because it is one of two venues left where you can find good music five nights a week, that supports local DJs, where its free entry.

Blew added: Its really important because they keep a lot of local DJs in business, keep them going.

Addressing the crowd on Tuesday night, musician Abdullah Al Bayyari said it was a perfect chance to highlight that we deserve better, and called on the Government to start investing in our culture and investing in what matters to us.

Hundreds joined the protest to keep the venue open (Bairbre Holmes/PA)

There has also been a rapid fall in late-night venues across the country from thousands to hundreds.

Dr Al Bayyari added that the need to facilitate large corporations and international companies was once understandable, but now the economy is strong, it is time to shift focus and start pouring investments into the Irish people, Irish businesses, Irish culture, Irish language and history.

In a statement, Trinity Hospitality said it was not seeking to close the Yamamori Izakaya restaurant or nightclub and the ultimate goal is to advance a testing and resolution process that will enable a collaborative solution.

The leaseholder said it understands the restaurant has long hosted its Izakaya Basement late-night events, but when the hotel closed for refurbishment DJ events started in the ground-floor restaurant five days per week, which lacks the appropriate structural-acoustic measures for nightclub events.

Demonstrators objecting to an injunction, the Hoxton Hotel, on Exchequer Street has sought (Bairbre Holmes/PA)

In an Instagram post on Tuesday evening, the restaurant said it had commissioned an expert sound report when the hotel was being refurbished in 2023 to assist them in installing necessary sound attenuation measures, and that the sound levels recorded are considerably lower than typical late-night venues.

They say when the hotel raised the problem shortly after it reopened in November 2025, we immediately agreed to meet to discuss the issue and requested information about the sound attenuation measures that were installed but only received that information on Tuesday morning.

Trinity Hospitality says it felt it had no choice but to submit the application as we were concerned the matter was not progressing quickly enough.

It said the very detailed structural information Yamamori Izakaya had requested should not have prevented collaborative discussions or joint testing.

Joint testing was carried out over the weekend, which the hotel says will be analysed by acoustic specialists.

As part of a pilot project BreakingNews.ie has used AI to suggest headline options for this article. The final headline was chosen and edited by BreakingNews.ie journalists. Find out more
Kenneth Fox

A manhunt is underway for people suspected of petrol bombing a family home in Cork.

As the Irish Examiner reports, a mother and her two sons, one of whom is just 13, fled the housefire caused by a suspected arson attack on the family home in the Silver Birch estate in Rochestown on the citys southside in the early hours of Monday morning.

The older son, aged 24, jumped from the first-floor window to escape the fire.

He remained in the hospital on Tuesday, recovering from his injuries.

The young man suffered a broken ankle and leg injuries in the fall from the first-floor window, it is understood.

The family cannot immediately return to their home, which has been badly damaged by both fire and smoke.

They remain in "complete shock" following the trauma of that night, sources say.

Gardai have conducted house-to-house inquiries, and they continue to harvest CCTV footage from the area.

Superintendent Gary McPolin said it was lucky that everyone escaped the fire that night.

Fortunately, no one was killed, but look at Edenderry, Supt McPolin said.

Four-year-old Tadgh Farrell and his great-aunt Mary Holt, 60, were both killed in an arson attack in a home in Edenderry in December.

"We are lucky that we did not have a very tragic situation [in Rochestown]. But a young man has been injured, and we will endeavor to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Gardai continue to appeal for witnesses to the extremely heinous crime, he said.

The fire started outside the house at the front door. It appears an accelerant was used.
An almost 70 per cent surge in domestic abuse incidents across Waterford demands urgent action, according to Sinn Fein TD for Waterford, Deputy Conor McGuinness.

Deputy McGuinness expressed alarm over the figures presented to Sinn Fein by Justice Minister James O'Callaghan.

Commenting on the matter to Waterford News & Star, Deputy McGuinness expressed serious concern over the figures - which came from the Gardai - and showed almost 70 per cent rise in domestic abuse across the Waterford/Kilkenny Garda Division.

Domestic abuse calls in the division increased from 1,766 in 2020 to 2,990 in 2024, a rise of 69.3 per cent.

"Reported domestic abuse incidents rose from 1,326 in 2020, to 2,269 in 2024, an increase of 71.1 per cent," said Deputy McGuinness.

However, he expressed concern over the number of convictions arising of reported incidents.

"While convictions for domestic abuse recorded in the Waterford and Kilkenny court offices increased from 12 in 2021, to 31 in 2024, a rise of 158 per cent, the overall number of convictions remains far too low relative to the scale of reported abuse," he said.

Deputy McGuinness said a blind eye can't be turned on the issue as the figures "are alarming".

"A near 70 per cent increase in domestic abuse calls and a 71 per cent rise in reported incidents since 2020, shows that domestic abuse remains a serious and growing problem here in Waterford and across the wider Waterford/Kilkenny division," he said.

While it is welcome that convictions have increased, the raw number remains very low when set against the thousands of calls and incidents being recorded," he added.

"Survivors must have confidence that when they come forward, the system will work for them and that perpetrators will be held to account."

Deputy Conor McGuinness

Deputy McGuinness also referenced Oasis House, in Waterford, which provides "vital refuge and support for women and children fleeing abuse".

"They do exceptional work in the most difficult of circumstances," he said.

"However, we need to see additional refuge capacity, sustained funding and stronger outreach supports, particularly for those living in rural communities where isolation can make situations even more dangerous," he added.

He expressed concern over the fact there isn't widespread women's refuge centres across the country.

"We still do not have a womens refuge in every county," he said.

"Too many women are being forced to choose between homelessness and remaining in a home that is no longer safe [and] that is simply not acceptable in 2026," he added, before also highlighting the need for additional resources.

This is a very serious matter and it must be treated as such," he said.

"We need better resourcing for An Garda Siochana, stronger domestic violence services, and a justice system that delivers consistency and fairness for survivors," he added.

"I would urge anyone affected to contact Womens Aid or Mens Aid Ireland, no one should suffer in silence."
Sinn Fein TD for Waterford, David Cullinane, has called on the Minister for Children, Norma Foley, to act following a landmark High Court ruling earlier this week on the exclusion of two institutions from the Mother & Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.

Judge Alexander Owens said that Minister Foley 'erred' when she failed to include two institutions in the mother and baby homes redress scheme.

It was reported in the Irish Times that as of the end of last year, almost 7,000 people had applied for redress under the payment scheme, with more than 5,000 receiving compensation to date.

Deputy Cullinane said:

Every year since the scheme opened, millions of euros have been returned to the Exchequer unspent, while at the same time many survivors remain locked out. Among them are those who spent time in Temple Hill and St. Josephs, the institutions at the centre of the recent High Court proceedings. That is simply unacceptable.

Less than ten percent of the government's 800 million budget has been spent so far on this scheme, according to The Irish Times.

Deputy Cullinane continued,

The Minister has previously argued that many survivors will wait until closer to the schemes closing date in 2029 to apply. But the reality is that time is not on the side of survivors. The question that must be asked is how many more people, currently excluded from the scheme, will pass away before they ever see justice.

I welcome Judge Alexander Owens ruling that these institutions should have been included in the scheme and that the Minister will now be directed to properly consider their inclusion.

No survivor should have to go to court to secure what is clearly their entitlement.

All survivors excluded due to the institution they were in, or because of the six-month rule, should now be included in the scheme. This is the very least the State owes them, and they should not have to endure further legal battles to receive it.
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MoneyInsuranceGeneral insurance Is pet insurance worth it? For many Australians, the answer is no Johanna Leggatt February 18, 2026  2:01am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

When Bronwen Sciortino adopted her two kittens, Madja and Mason, she decided against pet insurance. The Perth-based author had taken out insurance for her previous cat, Stella, but when it came to funding care of the familys new 11-week-old kittens, the cost of premiums no longer added up. Australians are spending an average of $134 per month on pet insurance. Michael Howard I got thousands of dollars [in claims] back from the insurer for Stella, but nowhere near as much as I paid out to them over the years I had insurance, she says. Pet insurance doesnt pay for all the expenses. It only pays for 75 per cent to 80 per cent of each bill, and it only covers certain conditions.

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Instead, Sciortino decided to self-insure Madja and Mason by funnelling a certain amount of money each fortnight into a high-interest account. Four years later, and the kittens account has amassed $14,000. Doing it this way, we have control over what is and isnt covered and whether to dip into the fund to pay for routine care, she says. Its still not considered compulsory, like home or car insurance, but its definitely worth weighing up. CHOICE insurance expert Jodi Bird The key, according to Sciortino, is to set up automatic payments into an account that earns interest and is not easy to access. I dont even think about touching the money, its in an account I dont go into every day.

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The high cost of premiums Bronwen Sciortino and Mason. There is no doubt that pet insurance premiums can be high. A December survey by comparison site Finder revealed that Australians are spending an average of $134 per month on pet insurance. According to Animal Medicines Australias most recent survey, Pets in Australia, some 86 per cent of cat owners and 76 per cent of dog owners dont have pet insurance, with the high cost of premiums cited as the main reason. In fact, some 50 per cent of dog owners without pet insurance pointed to cost as the central reason for eschewing insurance (up from 43 per cent in 2022), compared with 49 per cent of cat owners (up from 44 per cent in 2022).

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This is despite high levels of pet ownership in Australia, with 73 per cent of households now owning at least one pet. A lack of perceived value for money is part of the problem, the survey found, with a sharp rise in cat owners questioning the value of pet insurance  up from 33 per cent in 2022 to 44 per cent in 2025. Nevertheless, CHOICE insurance expert Jodi Bird says that pet insurance can be a viable option these days. Its still not considered compulsory, like home or car insurance, but its definitely worth weighing up against your ability to cover the cost of your vet bills. Changing landscape In 2019, CHOICE gave the entire pet insurance sector a Shonky Award, largely because of the then-common pre-condition trap which meant that if your pet had a pre-existing condition it was difficult to switch insurers.

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Since then the landscape has shifted. Several new insurers have entered the Australian market with more generous provisions, including a relaxation of the pre-condition clause, which forced the incumbent underwriters to follow suit. Editor's pick Pets $1000 a month on treats and treatments: How spoiling furbabies became the new normal When CHOICE started comparing pet insurance a little over 10 years ago, Bird says, there were only two underwriters in the market, but now theres about six  although one brand, PetSure, still dominates. Obviously, competition drives better products for consumers, Bird says. Bird advises pet owners to enter pet ownership with an awareness of how much their breed is likely to cost them, with flat-faced dogs, such as pugs or French bulldogs, likely to incur higher vet costs than labradors or cavoodles.

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Some pet owners may also be surprised to learn that most insurers will not cover pets once they reach nine years old and premiums will rise as dogs and cats age. Pet owners may wish to opt for a hybrid insurance model, Bird says, of taking out insurance while the pet is younger, and concurrently saving up a cash fund for their ongoing treatment so you can cancel the insurance when the pets premiums rise. French bulldogs can have some costly health issues. iStock Its going to be very difficult to switch pet insurers as your pet ages, Bird says. In any case, think about the cost of your pet and how you will pay for its care long before you bring it home. Pet insurance can be vital when you dont have that financial buffer to take care of vet bills, he says.

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But its best that people have a look at [their finances] long before theyve bought their pet, to have a look at what type of pet they may want, how much its going to cost and what type of care it may need. Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their personal circumstances before making any financial decisions. Expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money delivered to your inbox every Sunday. Sign up for our Real Money newsletter.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: General insurance

Pets
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Exclusive NationalWAHospitals As coroners report looms, Sandipans family hope his death will not be a statistic Hamish Hastie February 19, 2026  2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The death of bubbly 21-month-old Sandipan Dhar in 2024 shook the health establishment in Western Australia, and now his familys fight to ensure their son will not become just another statistic is set to culminate with the long-awaited release of the findings of a coronial inquest. Despite being plunged into a deep grief after the loss of his son from a curable blood cancer so early in his life, Sandipans father Sanjoy Dhar has remained steadfast his sons death will result in a better health system for other families. Sandipan Dhar died aged 21 months in March 2024. We will continue to pursue every lawful avenue available within the Australian system, Dhar told this masthead ahead of the imminent release of the coroners report. This is not about politics. It is about transparency, accountability and systemic reform. Australia is a democracy, and public institutions are ultimately accountable to the community.

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I have spoken with the state health minister, the state opposition leader, the shadow health minister, the Greens health spokesperson and several members of Parliament. Across party lines, I have received assurances of support for meaningful reform. I remain cautiously hopeful. If this tragedy results in stronger oversight, independent review mechanisms and enforceable accountability standards, then at least some meaningful improvement may come from an otherwise devastating loss. This is not the end. It is the beginning of a call for systemic change  so that no other family has to endure what we have endured. The days before Sandipan died at Ramsay Health Cares Joondalup Health Campus on March 24, 2024 due to complications from undiagnosed acute blastoma leukemia, a common and curable cancer, more than a month after he started suffering a long-running mild fever.

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Sandipans mother Saraswati took him to Key Largo Medical Centre on February 15 that year after he injured his leg jumping from a bed. He was deemed fine, and returned on February 19 when he was also given his scheduled immunisations. After a week of recurrent fevers, Sandipans parents took him back to Key Largo on March 20, where a GP prescribed some paracetamol and antibiotics after they found he had a mildly elevated temperature, pus on his tonsils, and a mildly inflamed right ear. Sanjoy Dhar. Nine News Two days later, his parents returned to Key Largo with persisting symptoms and a temperature of 38.3 degrees. The parents requested a blood test, but were sent to Joondalup Health Campus with a letter from the GP recommending a urine and blood test.

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It was during this visit that Dhar said his family requested a blood test at least three times, but this was disputed by Joondalup Health Campus operator Ramsay Healthcare and the supervising ED consultant doctor at the time, Dr Yii Siow, during the coronial inquest in May last year. Sandipan was sent home that day, but his parents rushed him back to hospital two days later on March 24 where his condition deteriorated quickly. He died at 10.38pm. During resuscitation attempts, blood test results identified leukaemia, which was confirmed during a post-mortem. Dhar was forced to leave the inquest last year during Ramsays evidence and accused the hospital of lying about his requests for blood tests. Hope and anxiety

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WAs health regulator and internal hospital inquiries cleared the medical centre GPs and hospital staff of any wrongdoing, which has angered Dhar, who said he was relieved when he found out the coroner would look into his sons death in late 2024. Related Article Exclusive

ALP Labor MP owns share in Key Largo clinic at centre of probe into the death of Sandipan Dhar Dhar said the build up to the inquest findings being released had been emotionally difficult for his family, but ultimately he hoped it led to change. The inquest brings both hope and anxiety  hope for clarity and transparency, and for findings that are firmly grounded in evidence, he said. At the heart of Deputy State Coroner Sarah Lintons inquiry was whether the blood test could and should have been done in the days before Sandipans death.

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Dhar said he hoped the coroner looked at mandatory blood tests where children present multiple times at EDs in a short period, parents report worsening symptoms, or when the symptoms are unexplained or nonspecific. He also called for parental concern to be considered a clinical risk factor in hospitals, mandatory notes of parental concern during paediatric assessments, and clear escalation pathways when symptoms persist after patients are discharged. Dhar also wants improvements in the review processes into medical incidents like his sons  known as SAC1 reports  as well as improved independence in investigations into serious incidents and better communications with families. Accountability and patient safety standards must be consistent across both public and private healthcare systems, he said. We hold firmly to the coroners commitment that Sandipan will not remain just another number within the WA health system. As his family, we cannot allow his life to be reduced to a statistic.

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Dhar also wants the state government to review its contract with Ramsay Health, or at least improve its oversight of private contractors running WA public hospitals. In other Australian jurisdictions, including New South Wales, governments have intervened in private hospital arrangements following serious concerns and transitioned facilities back into public management, he said. As his family, we cannot allow his life to be reduced to a statistic Sanjoy Dhar We believe the WA government should objectively examine whether the current contractual and regulatory structure remains appropriate, and whether stronger public oversight  including potential structural reform  is necessary in the interests of patient safety. Ramsay Healthcare chief executive Natalie Davis the company sought to learn from any incident in its hospitals, and had done so in this case.

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We await the coroners findings, and we will continue to implement any recommendations that are recommended by the coroner, she said. WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat said she understood Dhars concerns, and she wanted to ensure care at WA hospitals met community expectations. Were always looking at how getting the performance that we need, whether thats hospitals that are run by the state, or whether thats like Ramsey, where there is a public-private partnership for the provision of those services, she said. Hammat said the government would implement any findings in the report. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalWAWA courts What we know about the man accused of throwing a homemade bomb at Perths Invasion Day rally Hannah Murphy February 19, 2026  2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Liam Alexander Hall looked vacant as police raided his Warwick home on January 26. Dressed head-to-toe in a blue forensics jumpsuit, camera footage taken from the scene shows police officers milling around him and forensics vans parked up in front of the property. Hall outside his home with police as they searched the property following his alleged bomb attack on an Invasion Day rally. 9News Perth The then-31-year-old runs his hands through his hair and rubs the back of his neck as police dressed in tactical response gear speak with him. At one point, he realises he is being filmed by a nearby cameraman shooting through the trees obscuring his front yard, and stares down the barrel of the camera.

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The next time reporters would see Hall was in the dock of Perths overnight magistrates court on January 27. Liam Hall has been revealed as the man charged over an alleged attempted bomb attack on an Invasion Day rally in Perth. Facebook/Spirit Walker Hall lived alone at the three-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Warwick, in Perths north. His two brothers and their father also live in Western Australia, while his mother lived over east, but Hall was at the house by himself. The 31-year-old had autism, and lived in a home owned by Foundation Housing under its affordable housing program for people on low to moderate incomes.

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The street he lived on is known to be part of old Warwick, where many of the houses were built in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Residents say it was a patchwork of households living on different incomes, and some of the houses on Halls street were often noticeably neglected. Police claimed this was the home where Hall spent time perusing the internet, allegedly accessing pro-white material that motivated his actions on January 26. It was also in this house, police allege, Hall started building what would later be described as a homemade bomb. Little is known about Halls movements on January 26 itself. Footage showed him dressed in all-black on the terrace floor of the Myer building in Forrest Place, high above a crowd of Invasion Day rally protesters. He had a mask covering the bottom half of his face on when he hurled the object, and then took off at a slow jog toward the corner of the building.

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Hall was almost immediately stopped by officers, and body cam footage later released by police shows him dressed in a shirt with artwork on it by Aboriginal artist Kathleen Buzzacott. He was arrested and charged, and appeared in court the next day. Hall was still dressed in his blue forensics suit when he sat in the dock on the morning of January 27. He appeared in Perths overnight magistrates court, the first encounter with the judicial system for those arrested in the early hours of the morning. Some people waiting to face the magistrate that day appeared to still be inebriated after Australia Day the night before, while others lost their cool over a petty theft charge from a local bottle shop. However, Hall cut a silent figure by the time his matter was called.

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He looked vacantly around the courtroom on occasion, and put his head in his hands as his public defender and WA Police spoke about a potential suppression order. Related Article One Nation Ex-One Nation candidate wrongly hounded after accused Invasion Day bombers identity revealed Hall was acutely vulnerable because of his mental health, his lawyer said, and wanted to bail him to somewhere safer than Hakea Prison. She told the court his safety would be at risk behind bars, due to the allegation Hall had allegedly aimed to harm a group of people  namely, First Nations people, who comprise about 39 per cent of Hakeas population. Identifying Hall publicly could also impact his already fragile mental health, she said, but Hall would need to be seen by a court nurse to determine just how bad it had become.

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The magistrate paused proceedings for a mental health assessment, and by the time he returned, his lawyer was convinced the 31-year-old was a very vulnerable man, and said she couldnt proceed with his bail application without making sure he got the support he needed. Instead, Hall was sent to Hakea. He spent his 32nd birthday behind bars at the facility on February 10. With Hakea currently in the grips of what has been described as chronic understaffing and high tensions, the Department of Justice reportedly worked overtime to ensure Halls safety was prioritised. It took another three weeks for Hall to come back before the court, by which time he had been charged him with Western Australias first-ever terrorism offence. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch refused to mince words about the decision to charge Hall with the offence nine days after the alleged attempted bombing.

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We will allege that it was a nationalist and racially motivated attack, and we will allege that he was targeting members of Aboriginal community, and First Nations people, he said. About 11 days after the announcement, Hall was visited by his lawyer in Hakea and told the news about his new charge. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch. Hamish Hastie His family were spoken to and offered protection by WA Police, and his lawyer said it was apparent Halls two brothers also struggled with their own mental health challenges, and would need to be looked after when or if his name was released. Meanwhile, three reports have been carried on Halls mental state. One by a disability and accredited social worker, one from a court liaison service officer and another from the states forensic mental health service.

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He has been given a new medication to trial, which nurses say will take about six weeks to take full effect, and was unable to appear via video link from the prison on Tuesday to watch the proceedings due to his health. His lawyer, Simon Freitag SC, said he appreciated a bail application would be unrealistic, and the matter was put off until March 31.
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Political Sketch PoliticsFederalJane Hume Nations worst government? Jane Humes hyperbolic historical claim Tony Wright February 18, 2026  4:18pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Jane Hume will never be accused of understatement, but her return to the Coalitions frontbench appears to have excited her to new heights of endearingly bonkers hyperbole. Hume, having been elevated to deputy leader of the Liberal Party after former leader Sussan Ley cruelly condemned her to a period in purgatory, is clearly not about to let mould grow on new opportunities to lay it on thick. New Liberal deputy leader Jane Hume says the Albanese government is the worst in history. Alex Ellinghausen Thus, when she was given the microphone on ABC radio on Wednesday morning, she set about sprinkling fairy dust on the ailing Coalitions new front bench while denouncing with relish Anthony Albaneses Labor outfit. We want to prosecute Labors failures  its the worst government in this nations history, she declared.

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Hang about. The worst government in this nations history? Give it time. It might yet gain the exalted position of worst in history, but its got some stiff competition. Hume herself, after all, was a minister in Scott Morrisons government. We shouldnt dwell on the memory of the Morrison period, of course, it being too painfully recent for reasoned judgment. Lets scroll back, then, through the gaga Tony Abbott and tortured Rudd-Gillard-Rudd periods, tempting as it might be to invite spirited argument about which was worst.

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A knighthood for the Queens husband, anyone, or a Real Julia moment in quest of escape from Kevin Rudds relentless undermining? Lets go back a bit further. What about the prime ministership of poor Billy McMahon, such a champion liar, backstabber and leaker that Gough Whitlam dubbed him Tiberius with a telephone? McMahon will retain forever the title of silliest PM in Australian history, which naturally places his short-lived government (1971-72) in contention as the worst. Famously, a journalist once asked McMahon about his vision for the future. He frantically flipped through his voluminous briefing notes before declaiming: No, nothing about the future here. Related Article Exclusive

Resolve Political Monitor One Nation draws level with Coalition as voters give their first take on Taylor

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Whitlam replaced McMahon in The Lodge, and remains much lauded for his numerous achievements in upending old, staid Australia and remaking its future. But the last year of the Whitlam government must be in the running for the worst in history - or at the very least, most mind-boggling. The secret and fruitless attempt to borrow billions through a shady commodities dealer named Tirath Khemlani? The various ministers who misled parliament over this and other would-be secret loans? A married treasurer, Jim Cairns, declaring he had a kind of love for his private secretary, Junie Morosi, when just about everyone knew what kind of love it actually was? Oh, and Whitlams own spectacular misjudgment in appointing his own executioner, John Kerr? Skip much further back and youd have a rich choice regarding which government of the indestructible Billy Hughes was the worst. He was prime minister representing three different parties in less than eight years, from 1915 to 1923. Having split his Labor Party by demanding and failing to introduce conscription during World War I, he was expelled by the party, leading him to form the National Labor Party before switching to the Nationalist Party  all as PM.

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Billy Hughes represented six different political parties, led five, outlasted four, and was expelled from three. Archives You would bewilder yourself trying to figure which might have been the worst of the governments the peripatetic Hughes served over his 50 years as an MP. All up, he represented six different political parties, led five, outlasted four and was expelled from three. And then there was the government of Jim Scullin. He had the great misfortune of becoming prime minister within days of the New York stock market crash of 1929, which soon enough condemned Australia to the Great Depression. Related Article Analysis

Political leadership The toughest head-to-head battles between Albaneses ministry and Taylors new front bench

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Though Scullin himself strived mightily to cope, the economy and political enemies, including Labor rebels who crossed the floor against him, conspired to bring him down. He was gone by the end of 1932, his one-term Labor government smashed by Joseph Lyons United Australia Party, reducing the ALP to just 14 of the parliaments 76 seats. We wont go on, though we could, for the title of worst is splendidly subjective. Meanwhile, we await Jane Humes merry promise on Wednesdays radio outing that the latest Coalition frontbench will soon enough be ready for government and [to] change Australia for the better. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalDefence Natural allies, not Frankenstein pact: Call for Australia to join NATO-style Pacific alliance Matthew Knott February 18, 2026  1:23am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Australia, the United States, Japan and the Philippines should establish a formal defence alliance to counter Chinas growing military power in Asia, according to a former top adviser to Joe Biden. Ely Ratner, who served as Bidens assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs, also urged the Albanese government to significantly increase military spending to ensure that AUKUS does not cannibalise the defence budget and drain resources for other important investments. Ely Ratner, former US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific, says the threat from China is increasing. He said he was concerned by Donald Trumps lack of focus on competition with China and that he feared the US president could make damaging concessions to Beijing when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping this year. The threat is mounting from China. Chinas ambitions have not moderated. It is building a military to be able to dominate the Indo-Pacific, and it has ambitions for which only combat-credible deterrence will prevent conflict in the Indo-Pacific, Ratner said in an interview.

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Ratner, who is visiting Australia for series of lectures organised by the Lowy Institute, said the so-called squad nations of the US, Australia, Japan and the Philippines share a common perspective on the need to work closer together to respond to Chinas rapid military build-up. Related Article Defence The fourth service: How AUKUS is consuming the defence budget He said that while the US and Australia had recently strengthened ties with Japan and the Philippines, these arrangements were too ad hoc and too informal. To actually get the level of integration that you would need to sustain long-term deterrence, youre going to need more formal arrangements, he said, expanding on an argument he first made in the Foreign Affairs journal. At every decision point  whether its building infrastructure or a communications network or purchasing a certain capability  my recommendation is that the decision should be made through the lens of ensuring it can be used collectively among a close-knit group of partners, rather than having a Frankenstein model of alliances, where we have just all these different types of systems and capabilities that dont work well together.

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He said the pact should contain a mutual defence clause similar to NATOs article five, which states that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all, requiring a joint response. The nations would also conduct joint military exercises, undertake integrated war planning and prioritise the use of common military equipment. US President Donald Trump is set to travel to China in April to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Getty Images Ratner said that unlike NATO  which contains 32 nations spread across Europe and North America  his proposed alliance grouping would include a handful of like-minded countries in the Pacific. Other nations like New Zealand and South Korea could potentially join at a later date. He said Australia would ultimately retain sovereign decision-making about whether to enter any conflict.

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While Trump appeared blase about Australian defence spending during an October White House meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Ratner said the federal government would continue to come under pressure from the US to spend more. The US National Defence Strategy, released in January, says the Trump administration expects its allies to spend at least 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on core military spending. Australia currently spends around 2.03 per cent of GDP on defence. I dont think President Trumps body language on that issue should be read as a reduction of the desire to see Australia be spending more on defence, Ratner said. I think theres still an open question in Washington about whether Australia has sufficient funding to both fully fund AUKUS, which is an important priority, while fulfilling other important commitments related to missile defence, infrastructure upgrades, and other capability investments  Its going to be important for Australia to find the resources to do all of that and not be drawing resources away from other priority areas to fund AUKUS.

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The Strategic Analysis Australia think tank last year warned that spending on the AUKUS submarine program is growing so dramatically that it is approaching the size of a standalone branch of the Defence Force, draining funding for other important military equipment. Ratner criticised the Trump administrations scattershot approach to China, saying it lacked coherence and toughness. Trump angered China hawks last December by announcing he would allow artificial intelligence chip giant Nvidia to sell advanced chips to China and backed down on his most significant tariff threats against Beijing. There quite a dramatic softening of the US approach to China from one focused on competition to one that is now tilting toward accommodation, Ratner said. With Trump and Xi expected to meet in Beijing in early April, and possibly three more times this year, Ratner said: I think there is concern that the Trump administration may make concessions on technology or security issues for really nothing meaningful in return.



Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalPolitical leadership Opinion The rise of Taylor and Hume is improbable. Its also farcical Shaun Carney Columnist February 19, 2026  2:00am

February 19, 2026  2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Now that Angus Taylor and Jane Hume hold the Liberal Partys top two positions, how are we to assess their elevation? Is it a tale of redemption and forgiveness? Sure, as the oppositions chief economic policymakers and advocates in the lead-up to the election just nine months ago, they contributed mightily to the Coalitions landslide defeat. But lets face it: who hasnt made a mistake or two at work? The process of life is learning from ones mistakes, surely. Or is the placement of the duo at the top of the Liberal tree a sign of the depths of a talent and policy deficit within the Liberal party room and potentially the wider organisation? Photo: Illustration: Joe Benke It is definitely a reminder of how much the world of politics is an irony-free zone. This came home strongly when Taylor and Hume held their first joint media conference in their new roles last Friday. Here was a first. They had both won their ballots by resounding margins. But out of the gate, they both had to begin by admitting they had screwed up separately when they last worked together, entrusted as they were with the task of maintaining the most important and enduring element of the Coalitions brand: its primacy on economic management.

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The Australian Election Study, which has been surveying voter attitudes for 14 elections going back to 1987, found that at last years election, for the first time, Labor came out ahead as the party most trusted to manage the economy and taxation. Its not fair to sheet all the blame for this on Taylor and Hume. They were assisted by Peter Dutton, who the Election Study found was the least popular leader in its history. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, in her role as shadow minister for government efficiency, a portfolio designed to ape Elon Musks involvement in the Trump administration, also did her bit, blurting out Lets make Australia great again during a campaign appearance with a grinning Dutton. Compared with Hume, Taylor was able to get through his admission of error more speedily. As shadow treasurer, he had advocated repudiating and reversing Labors revised stage 3 tax cuts. Hes relying on confusion about how much Dutton used his authority to influence the tax policy to avoid carrying the can. Maybe theres something to that, but the degree of confusion about who was ultimately accountable tells us a lot about the poor order in which the Liberals have placed themselves. Related Article Analysis

Political leadership The toughest head-to-head battles between Albaneses ministry and Taylors new front bench Hume had the more complicated job as she had multiple mea culpas to deliver. She has a loquacious public style that is disarming when it works and catastrophic when it doesnt. In the weeks before the election, Hume offended people who work from home, especially women, and federal public servants, implying they were loafers. The policy to get people back into their offices and away from the laptop at home got so bad, the policy had to be junked during the campaign  a genuine calamity. Then she backed up with an unintended swipe at Chinese Australians with a loose reference to Chinese spies assisting Labors campaign. Its not unreasonable to canvass these matters and how theyve affected the new leadership teams earliest moments. Theyre not from the dim recesses of history: theyre recent and are material to the Liberals current, dire plight. Essentially, Taylor and Hume have started off with an apology tour, playing tunes made famous by One Nation and the Howard government. Their performance as a One Nation tribute band has meant a heavy emphasis on cutting immigration and restoring Australian values. It makes some sense to lean in on national security, the Liberals last remaining strength with voters.

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But will trying to steal Pauline Hansons lunch be a path to restoration? Taylor will need to be a communications maestro to carry that off. Once you start going on about having too many of the wrong sort of migrants  the numbers are too high and the standards are too low in Taylors words  moving among us, it can easily get out of control. There are almost 1 million Indian-born residents in Australia and about 700,000 residents born in China. The 2021 census recorded that 51.5 per cent of Australian residents were either born overseas or had at least one parent born overseas. A few months ago, Nampijinpa Price asserted that Indians are allowed here in large numbers because they vote Labor. Taylor has restored her to the frontbench, offering that Jacinta has made her comments, and I think its time to move on ... Indian Australians, already under threat from the March for Australia crowd, might find it hard to do that. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership If the Liberals think Angus Taylor will save them, theyre in for a shock Shaun Carney Columnist The other plank of Taylors plan is to restart an economic approach that harks back to the glory days of the Howard government, with ever-lower low taxes and liberal deregulation at its core. That would inevitably mean stripping out supports for different cohorts of society, which wont be easy to sell. Coming up with those policies will take a good deal of time, so judgment in this space needs to be reserved. The big challenge remains. Can the Liberals under their new leadership drop the reflexive habit of looking for old solutions to new problems? History can be a dead weight. Paradoxically, the partys past, sustained electoral success means that it has more than a few prime ministerial ghosts inhabiting the walls. John Howard is a regular contributor, as is Tony Abbott, who is a big promoter of Taylor and is highly nostalgic for an Australia of decades ago. Malcolm Turnbull is a one-man Greek chorus. Scott Morrison is characteristically strange but still likes to be heard.

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The future contains substantial risks for the new leadership team. To the extent that voters are unhappy with the status quo, weve never before seen an opposition rather than a government appearing to lose support in existentially large numbers. Have Taylor and Hume been rewarded or punished? If the change doesnt work, history is likely to ask what were they thinking? Shaun Carney is a regular columnist, an author and former associate editor of The Age. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
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WorldMiddle EastIran sanctions Iran, US hail progress in nuclear talks after Trump threats Patrick Sykes and Arsalan Shahla February 18, 2026  5:07am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The US and Iran have made progress in nuclear talks in Geneva, with Tehrans negotiators scheduled to return with a new proposal in two weeks, a US official said, in a cautiously upbeat assessment that suggests the chances of an imminent military clash are low. US Vice President JD Vance said the Tuesday talks went well in some ways, but that the Iranians were not yet willing to recognise some of President Donald Trumps red lines. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a bilateral meeting between Switzerland and Iran, in Geneva on Tuesday. AP The president of the United States is very much trying to find a solution here, whether its through diplomatic options or through another option, that means the Iranians cannot have a nuclear weapon, Vance said on the Fox News program The Briefing. In an earlier statement, Iran said it had reached a general agreement with the US on the terms of a potential nuclear deal that would lift sanctions on Tehran and ease the risk of a broader war in the Middle East.

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Related Article Middle East tensions Trump weighs new military options against Iran We were able to reach a general agreement on a set of guiding principles, based on which we will proceed from now on and move toward drafting a potential agreement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian state TV after meeting US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva. The two sides will each draft and exchange texts for a deal before setting a date for a third round of talks, the US official said, cautioning that the next stage would be more difficult and detailed. Trump said on Monday he planned to be involved in the talks, at least indirectly. I think they want to make a deal. I dont think they want the consequences of not making a deal, he told reporters. The apparent diplomatic progress came despite growing military deployments in the Persian Gulf.

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Iran said on Tuesday that it would close part of the Strait of Hormuz  a key choke point for energy exports from the worlds top oil-producing region  for several hours due to military drills. The US has also sent a second aircraft carrier to the region. Iranian missile forces hold a drill on Abu Musa island in the middle of the Strait of Hormuz in 2023. AP Iran has threatened to fully close the Strait of Hormuz in the past, but has never done so. Brent crude is up almost 13 per cent this year, largely because of the US-Iran tensions and the prospect of a war in the oil-rich region. Several tanker industry veterans said the Iranian exercises hadnt prompted any fresh guidance to shipping in the past few days that they were aware of. They said they didnt anticipate any disruption to oil shipments. Success in the talks could pave the way for a landmark agreement between Tehran and Washington that would lift a slew of tough sanctions on Irans oil industry and wider economy in exchange for major restrictions on its nuclear program.

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Related Article Iran sanctions Iran hints at compromise as US warns a nuclear deal will be very hard to do The Iranian delegation is ready to stay longer to finalise any agreement, several days or even weeks, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier, according to the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency. The US is also hosting talks between envoys from Russia and Ukraine in Geneva on Wednesday, days ahead of the fourth anniversary of the all-out Russian invasion of its neighbour. Military drills The military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz were focused on delivering a decisive response to security threats, an Iranian commander said.

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was monitoring the strait continuously and planned to unveil additional equipment soon to boost its military capacities there, navy commander Alireza Tangsiri was quoted as saying, according to the semi-official Iranian Labour News Agency. Diplomacy and the battlefield stand side by side, Iranian analyst Akbar Masoumi wrote in an analysis for Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency. These two complement each other and together have created a positive process for the country. Earlier, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stepped up his warnings that the US will suffer if it strikes the country, as Trump has repeatedly threatened if the sides cant reach a deal. They keep saying: We sent a warship towards Iran, Khamenei said. Well, a warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but more dangerous than a warship is the weapon that can sink this warship to the bottom of the sea.

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Negotiations over Irans nuclear program have gained urgency since Trump deployed an additional aircraft carrier to the region and suggested regime change would be the best thing that could happen to the country. Israel is pushing for the negotiations to include limits on the range of Tehrans ballistic missiles, but Iran has so far dismissed that as a red line. During a visit to Tel Aviv on Monday, US Republican senator Lindsey Graham said Washington was weeks, not months away from a decision between diplomacy and military action against Iran. Bloomberg, AP Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Updated WorldNorth AmericaTragedy Eight skiers found dead after group engulfed by California avalanche Steve Gorman Updated February 19, 2026  7:34am ,first published 1:58pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

At least eight skiers have died in an avalanche in Californias Sierra Nevada mountains, and a ninth is presumed dead, authorities said on Wednesday, making the disaster one of the deadliest single avalanches in US history. Rescuers on skis were able to reach six survivors amid an intense winter storm that has dropped several feet of fresh snow on the mountains in recent days. One skier remains unaccounted for. The avalanche  the length of a football pitch, according to authorities  struck in the Castle Peak area of Truckee, California, about 16 kilometres north of Lake Tahoe, about 11.30am Pacific time on Tuesday. It engulfed a group of backcountry skiers who were completing a three-day guided excursion. One of the rescued skiers is still being treated in a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon (US time).

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Loading The survivors had taken refuge in a makeshift shelter constructed partly from tarpaulin sheets and communicated with rescuers via a radio beacon and text messaging. Two rescue teams, totalling about 50 members, were dispatched from the Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donners Alder Creek Adventure Centre and approached the avalanche zone from the south and north. The rescuers faced extreme conditions, Moon said, including blinding snow and gale-force winds. A team was able to use a snowcat vehicle to get within two miles of the survivors and then ski to the accident site.

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The eight dead skiers were found with their beacons active, and their bodies will be recovered when weather permits, authorities said. One was married to a member of the search-and-rescue team. It is the deadliest avalanche in the US since 1981, when 11 climbers were killed on Mount Rainier, in Washington. Great danger forecast The group of skiers had been finishing a three-day excursion with Blackbird Mountain Guides at the time of the avalanche. The tour group included four guides and 11 clients, who stayed at the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts located near Donner Summit, just northwest of Truckee, at about 2300 metres elevation. In a typical winter, the mountain receives more than 10 metres of snow, making it one of the snowiest places in the western hemisphere.

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An avalanche watch had been issued Sunday morning as a powerful winter storm moved into the state. The Sierra Avalanche Centre extended an avalanche warning it issued on Tuesday, saying great danger might continue throughout Wednesday. Related Article Australians abroad Everyones talking about it: Aussie deaths ripple through Japans snow resorts Sheriff Moon said investigators would look into the decision to proceed with the trip despite the concern over potential avalanches. Were still in conversation with them on the decision factors that they made, Moon told reporters at the news conference. The tour was rated for intermediate-to-expert skiers who should be prepared to climb up to 760 metres throughout the course of a day, according to the companys website.

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Guides carry first aid kits and wag bags for human waste disposal, but participants must bring their own ski equipment and avalanche gear, including a beacon, shovel and probe. Generally our guides are able to find excellent backcountry snow conditions, but often we need to travel through difficult conditions to access the goods, the website description said. This requires riders to be adept with their backcountry touring skills and have a solid foundation of touring before the trip. Snowed-in vehicles in a car park near Soda Springs, California, with many roads impassable. AP Blackbird issued a statement on Tuesday saying it was working with authorities to support the rescue operation. The company was founded in 2020 and operates in California, Washington state, and British Columbia, as well as numerous popular ski destinations overseas, according to its website. The company provides guided ski trips, alpine climbing trips and avalanche education.

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Avalanches have claimed an average of 27 lives each winter in the US over the past decade, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Centre, which had tallied six US avalanche fatalities so far this season before Tuesdays disaster. Three killed in French avalanches Two separate avalanches this week in the French Alps killed three people and left four wounded, local authorities and French media said. About midday, a large slide, about 300 metres wide, swept across a road and a footpath in the town of Valloire, in south-east France, the prefecture of Savoie said in a statement. View post on X

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Rescue teams, including mountain police officers, firefighters, dog units and army specialists, were deployed for more than four hours before operations were halted in the late afternoon due to the risk of further avalanches, the prefecture added. Related Article Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic events cancelled and delayed as wild weather lashes Livigno Two of the wounded were in serious condition and were evacuated by helicopter to nearby hospitals, it said. French broadcaster BFMTV, citing the prosecutor in the town of Gap, also reported that two skiers had died earlier in an off-piste avalanche in La Grave in the neighbouring Hautes-Alpes region. The deaths come as France grapples with heavy snowfall in the Alps and flooding in several western regions after days of heavy rain.

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WorldNorth AmericaMiddle East tensions Trump moves US to brink of war with Iran, possible strikes closer than many people realise Michael Koziol Updated February 19, 2026  10:57am ,first published February 19, 2026  3:20am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Washington: The United States is continuing to surge military assets to Eastern Europe and the Middle East, including fighter jets and refuelling tankers, increasing speculation that President Donald Trump is headed for war with Iran despite some progress in recent talks. Following a national security meeting at the White House on Wednesday (Washington time), several US media outlets, including CNN, reported Trump had been briefed that the military would be ready to strike as soon as this weekend - although the president had not made a final decision. Meanwhile, Trump again warned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to cede control of the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia to Mauritius, saying the US may need to use the island and its air base to defend against Iranian attacks in the event the Islamic Republic does not make a deal. A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker. AP The developments came as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were many reasons for a strike against Iran, but the presidents first preference was always diplomacy.

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Flight tracking data indicated dozens of military aircraft, including refuelling tankers, left the continental US heading east, or moved across Europe, overnight into Wednesday, adding to the growing military build-up in the region. Popular tracking site FlightRadar24 said at one point overnight, all of its nine most-tracked flights were US Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, an aircraft used to refuel other planes in midair. View post on X Records show one such flight left Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday night bound for Sofia, Bulgaria. There was also a high level of activity around Mildenhall air force base in England, a key US military hub.

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US news website Axios reported another 50 fighter jets headed to the region within 24 hours. Its prominent foreign policy correspondent, Barak Ravid, who is in direct contact with Trump, reported that the Trump administration is closer to a major war in the Middle East than most Americans realise. At a think tank event in Washington on Wednesday, the director of the Middle East program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Mona Yacoubian, said the US military build-up seems unprecedented, at least in recent memory, with all kinds of military assets being flooded into the region. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. Getty Images The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is already in the area, with the BBC tracking it to the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman earlier this week using satellite imagery. Another strike group, led by the USS Gerald Ford, is on its way to the Gulf and could arrive within a week. Every aircraft carrier can hold at least 75 aircraft. Thats a big, big power, said Susan Ziadeh, a former US ambassador to Qatar, at the CSIS event on Wednesday.

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Steve Witkoff (centre) shakes hands with Omans Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi during a meeting in Muscat earlier in February. AP The ongoing build-up comes despite another round of indirect talks between the US and Iran this week in Geneva, mediated by Oman, which were led on the US side by Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Both sides flagged a level of progress, with Iran saying there was agreement on guiding principles, and a US official saying the Iranians would present detailed proposals to address differences in the next two weeks. However, analysts noted that when Trump bombed Irans nuclear facilities in June, he had just two days earlier indicated he would decide within two weeks.

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At a press briefing on Wednesday, Leavitt said there was some progress made in Geneva, but the two sides were still very far apart on some issues. The president would continue to watch how this plays out. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were many reasons to strike Iran but diplomacy remained Trumps first preference. AP Theres many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran, Leavitt told reporters. The president has always been very clear [that] diplomacy is always his first option, and Iran would be very wise to make a deal. Hes talking to many people  of course, his national security team first and foremost. This is something that obviously the president takes seriously. Trump has repeatedly stressed his preference for a diplomatic solution that would prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons following the destructive US air strikes in June. But the US also wants wider restrictions on Tehrans uranium enrichment, ballistic missiles and funding of terrorist proxies in the region.

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Satellite images showed apparent work to reinforce the entrances of Irans uranium enrichment site at Natanz. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Trump that Iran cannot be trusted to honour a deal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now due to fly to Israel at the end of February to discuss Iran with Netanyahu, Reuters reported on Wednesday, following the White House national security meeting. Related Article Iran sanctions Iran hints at compromise as US warns a nuclear deal will be very hard to do Iran, meanwhile, briefly closed parts of the crucial Strait of Hormuz for live naval exercises on Tuesday. The strait, through which more than a fifth of the worlds oil supply passes, has never been fully closed, and it is expected that Tehran would seek to use it strategically in the event of war. Middle East expert Aaron David Miller, who has advised several presidents, said Trump appeared to have put himself in a box through his rhetoric and the staggering build-up of military assets in the region.

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He has now assembled an extraordinary degree of military power. You have the Gerald Ford carrier strike group, probably due within a matter of days. You have F-22s, F-35s, F-15s. Youve got defensive missile systems, Miller told this masthead. Against all of this, you have a negotiating process which at the moment seems to me to be unable to produce an outcome which would give the president a sense that the Iranians have really offered something. With US forces poised to strike, the final decision to strike Iran now sits with US president Donald Trump. AP This is not a normal administration, this is not a normal American president, and what hes contemplating with the amount of hardware that is out there is staggering. Climbing down from that position would be difficult, Miller said. How do you justify and rationalise doing nothing, or doing something that appears to be inconsequential? Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Analysis WorldNorth AmericaChina relations Why Trumps faux pas on Taiwan is ringing alarm bells in Washington Michael Koziol February 18, 2026  8:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The Munich Security Conference proved a tough training ground for Democratic firebrand and potential US presidential contender Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who made headlines for her word salad response to a simple question about the US defending Taiwan. AOCs foreign policy foray also involved mistakenly asserting that Venezuela is located south of the equator. Donald Trump couldnt resist a dig: she and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who also spoke in Munich, made fools of themselves and were an embarrassment to our nation, he said. President Donald Trump took questions on board Air Force One while returning to Washington, including about Taiwan. AP Yet minutes later, it was Trump who shocked many in Washingtons foreign policy establishment when he suggested he was consulting Chinese President Xi Jinping about future American arms sales to Taiwan. It followed a reporters question about Trumps recent call with Xi, who warned the US must handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence, according to an official Chinese summary of the call.

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I have a response, Im talking to him [Xi] about it, Trump said. We had a good conversation, and well make a determination pretty soon. We have a very good relationship with President Xi  in fact, Ill be going in April. Several analysts accused Trump of violating the Six Assurances  key, long-standing principles of US foreign policy on Taiwan communicated to the Taiwanese government in 1982 under then-president Ronald Reagan. Among those undertakings was that the US has not agreed to prior consultation [with China] on arms sales. An AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter flies during a military exercise at a military facility in the Xinshe district in Taichung, Taiwan. Bloomberg David Sacks, a Taiwan expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, and a former staffer at the quasi-diplomatic American Institute in Taiwan, points out the wording  often misunderstood  did not say the US would never consult China about arms sales to Taiwan. It simply said the US had not agreed to it as a matter of course.

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Even so, Sacks calls Trumps statement deeply misguided and says it will deeply worry Taipei. To me, it is a major faux pas, and a concession he gave without extracting anything in return. It is not something we should talk to the Peoples Republic of China about. We should not give the PRC a veto on arms sales to Taiwan. The president may have only uttered a few words, but Sacks says his timing is atrocious. Taiwanese lawmakers are debating a special budget that would majorly lift defence spending  something Washington is demanding. The budget is backed by President Lai Ching-te and the governing Democratic Progressive Party, but opposed by the major opposition party, the Kuomintang, which along with the Taiwan Peoples Party can block legislation. A group of 37 US lawmakers wrote to Taiwanese MPs last week urging them to pass the bill. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is trying to pass a special defence budget to boost spending. Bloomberg Sacks says Trumps remark hands the opposition a lifeline just as support for the special budget is accelerating. It undercuts the short-term objective. At the more strategic level, it heightens a sense in Taiwan that the US is not reliable, that the US cant be counted on. This is a sentiment that is already growing in Taiwan.

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Derek Grossman, professor of international relations at the University of Southern California, and Indo-Pacific expert at the Centre for a New American Security, said even if Trump was not violating the letter of the Six Assurances, he was violating the spirit. While Trump as president can make this type of call  its well within his authority and prerogative to do so  I do think it is a departure from long-standing US policy in the strait, Grossman says. It stands in contrast to Trumps actions thus far on Taiwan, he says, which have essentially maintained the status quo. Related Article Opinion

World elections Japans election result is a geopolitical earthquake and a very big deal for Australia Peter Hartcher Political and international editor Washingtons large contingent of China hawks have feared Trump could make major concessions in his pursuit of a grand bargain with Beijing, such as formally changing US policy to oppose Taiwanese independence. However, the new National Security Strategy released late last year affirmed the US would maintain its stance that it does not support any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. And in December, the Trump administration approved a record $US11.1 billion ($16.2 billion) weapons sale to Taiwan  likely spurring Xis recent warning about prudence.

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With Trump, it pays to heed his actions more than his many, many words. Still, Sacks argues the president made a strategic error  one that some analysts fear will be repeated as his much-hyped Beijing visit nears. Once you show the Chinese that we are willing to negotiate on Taiwan, that is something they are very happy to run with, Sacks says. Its very important to say were not going to open any part of that to negotiation with China. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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A growing number of Democratic lawmakers  including several in Massachusetts  are following the Nancy Pelosi school of get-rich-quick schemes, a sure-fire way of seeing your family wealth skyrocket while serving in Congress.

Ayanna Pressley, Elizabeth Warren, Katherine Clark, Ilhan Omar have all become richer  some astonishingly so  after stepping in the cash-lined halls of the Capitol, whether it's from their husband's businesses, their stock portfolios or their book deals.

Far left "Squad" member Pressley's rise from nearly zero to up to $8 million in net worth, fattened by her and her husband's four rental properties in Mattapan, Boston, Fort Lauderdale and Martha's Vineyard, is drawing increasing scrutiny, as she bristles at questions about her newly-acquired wealth. Pressley and hubby Conan Harris sold the half-million-dollar Florida pad for a $67,000 profit in 2024.

"I wish you people would stop reporting fake news," a heated Pressley, surrounded by a team of security in black SUVs, said in Washington when confronted by a reporter recently. "You don't know anything about me and my life. I was raised in a single-parent home. Every single thing my family and I have we have earned. And you are reporting fake news. Do your homework."

Pressley, who makes $174,000 a year and like Warren has railed against tax breaks for the wealthy, also told Fox News "there's nothing to see here" about her financial rise.

"Sir, I submit a financial disclosure, just like everybody else," she said.

Squad member Omar and her husband, Tim Mynett, who owns several businesses, had almost nothing when she was first elected, but her net worth reportedly exploded in just a few years to $25 million.

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee is now investigating Omar's mysterious rise to wealth, which comes amid a federal social services fraud probe in her home district in Minnesota.

"We're going to get answers, whether it's through the Ethics Committee or the Oversight Committee, one of the two," Oversight chair James Comer, R-Ky., told the New York Post. "There are a lot of questions as to how her husband accumulated so much wealth over the past two years. It's not possible. It's not. I'm a money guy, it's not possible."

Warren's net worth has risen to a reported $10 million from book deals and her Senate salary. Known for her rants against billionaires and standing up for the little guy, she holds mutual funds worth an estimated $1.76 million. The Cambridge Democrat and her husband, Bruce Mann, reported earning more than $912,000 in 2024, according to their tax forms.

Clark and her husband, Rodney Dowell, are worth more than $14 million, making a cool $458,000 in the stock market last year before stopping trading, according to reports.

She was estimated to be worth $6.8 million in 2018, before her rise to Democratic House Whip, which is second in command to the House Minority Leader.

The STOCK Act, signed into law by Barack Obama in April 2012, prohibits members of Congress from using private information given to them because of their positions for personal gain, such as stock trades.

Former House Speaker Pelosi, 85, and her husband Paul have an estimated net worth of more than $278 million, making her one of the richest members of Congress. Her investment moves in the stock market while serving in Congress have added millions to her net worth.

While it appears that most of the lawmakers have not broken laws, their spectacular rise in wealth and refusal to answer questions about it raises questions about accountability and hypocrisy.

They should be forced to stand before the press and explain exactly how they made such money while serving in the public sector. And have they had any influence over their husband's financial successes?

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Joe Battenfeld

Boston Herald/(TNS)

Joe Battenfeld is a veteran Boston Herald political columnist and multimedia reporter.

Previously:
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Flammable and inflammable mean the same thing.

Legal and illegal do not. Except in Massachusetts, apparently.

That's the logical pothole in An Act Ensuring Access to Equitable Representation in Immigration Proceedings, a bill making its way through the Massachusetts Legislature that would establish a publicly funded program to provide legal representation to illegal immigrants facing deportation proceedings.

There is already legislation addressing this, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. According to that statute: "In any removal proceedings before an immigration judge and in any appeal proceedings before the Attorney General from any such removal proceedings, the person concerned shall have the privilege of being represented (at no expense to the Government) by such counsel, authorized to practice in such proceedings, as he shall choose."

Those who decry ICE and deportation in general point to immigration law as being civil, rather than criminal, as if that dilutes the need to follow it. That distinction is a double-edged sword, however. Immigration proceedings are civil, not criminal, therefore there is no constitutional right to a publicly funded attorney in immigration court.

But this is Massachusetts, and legislators are eager to serve illegal immigration proceedings the Blue State Special.

The bill, filed jointly by state Rep. David Rogers and state Sen. Adam Gomez, would create the immigrant legal defense fund through a "specifically dedicated line-item" in the general appropriations act, according to a summary of the legislation.

AKA, the taxpayer's dime.

The impetus for this is President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants. Bill supporters said as much during testimony last fall during a Joint Judiciary Committee hearing.

"We hear such a common drumbeat of the lack of sufficient quality legal services, particularly for our most vulnerable immigrants, those who are in detention, and those who are facing removal proceedings. Immigration court proceedings are incredibly complex and the stakes are so high," said Liz Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA).

The aggressive tactics by ICE agents in Minneapolis has given the agency a black eye, but they don't change the fact that we have immigration laws, and breaking them comes with the consequence of deportation.

None of this is new.

Barack Obama's administration deported 2.4 million illegal immigrants from FY 2009 to 2014, according to the Department of Homeland Security. He too, faced blowback, with the American Civil Liberties Union writing in 2014 that "the Obama administration has prioritized speed over fairness in the removal system, sacrificing individualized due process in the pursuit of record removal numbers. "

It's one thing to slam the deportation of illegal immigrants, it's another to make taxpayers foot the bill to defend them, especially as legal citizens are stuck in limbo during the public defender shortage in Massachusetts.

The citizens are not patsies with wallets. Our legislators should put their constituents first.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
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Nearly four years after Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war's toll is measured not only in the shattered cities across the border but increasingly in Russia's own frontier regions.

Millions of Ukrainians are enduring one of the coldest winters in recent memory without reliable electricity and heating as waves of Russian missile and drone attacks have devastated energy infrastructure. Tens of thousands of Russians living along the country's western edge are facing similar hardships now, as cross-border strikes damage essential utilities, forcing authorities to adopt emergency measures.

Belgorod, a regional capital about 40 kilometers from Ukraine, has become the most visible illustration of the growing domestic cost of the Kremlin's war. The city of about 322,000 people is grappling with extensive damage to its energy network following Ukrainian missile attacks, with the destruction severe enough to leave residents without hot water potentially for months.

In a conflict the Kremlin has framed as distant from the lives of ordinary Russians, the experience of Belgorod and other border regions underscores how the front line has edged closer to home - bringing with it the same risks to energy systems, public services and civilian life that have defined the war on a far greater scale inside Ukraine since 2022.

Even as those regions teeter on the brink of a humanitarian emergency, top officials and state media in Moscow play down the consequences of Putin's war on Russian soil. The president doesn't address the plight of border communities, which gets scant mention at government meetings and is largely absent from coverage on national television channels.

Information about the scale of the damage comes primarily from regional authorities, which disclose details only intermittently. And nobody levels criticism at Putin for bringing war to their doors.

In Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said restoring hot water supplies to homes connected to the region's centralized heating system likely won't be possible for the rest of the winter heating season. Temperatures are currently ranging as low as minus 10C (14F) in the city.

Gladkov reported last week that around 80,000 residents were left without heating following attacks, roughly 3,000 were without gas supplies and about 1,000 had no electricity. Authorities have announced a partial evacuation, with children, large families, households with disabled children and elderly people living alone being relocated to neighboring regions until conditions stabilize.

Residents of nearby Bryansk region also spent last weekend without electricity and heating after what Governor Alexander Bogomaz described as the "most powerful UAV attack" since the start of the conflict. A total of 120 drones were downed within half a day, according to officials.

Kursk region continues to face repeated drone attacks following intense fighting last year to retake territory seized by Ukrainian forces in a surprise incursion in 2024, the first foreign military offensive inside Russia since World War II.

In February, the intensity of strikes has risen sharply on both sides, even as US-led diplomatic efforts to reach a peace deal move forward. The latest negotiations involving Russian, Ukrainian and US officials are due to start in Geneva on Tuesday.

In the week before the talks, Russia launched about 1,300 strike drones, more than 1,200 guided aerial bombs and 50 missiles over Ukraine, hitting energy and other civil infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Sunday on social media.

Zelenskiy met on Monday with officials to discuss the impact on Kyiv as well as regions of Ukraine including Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava and Sumy. Ukraine is preparing for energy-focused meetings with European and Group of Seven allies in France this week, he said in a post on the X platform.

Ukrainian strikes on Sunday damaged not only Belgorod's energy infrastructure but also a regional data processing center, disrupting multiple administrative systems, according to the governor.

In Ukraine, many schools conduct classes in underground shelters to protect children from missile and drone attacks.

In Russia's border regions, the Education Ministry says the "unstable situation" means high-school students may skip final state exams this year.

"Students and parents live in a state of constant stress," said Natalia, a 62-year-old teacher in Belgorod. "Children can now tell by sound the difference between a missile launch, an incoming strike and the work of air defenses." The loudspeaker warning - "Attention! Missile threat!" - has become a routine part of their daily life, she said.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




SHREVEPORT, La.  As a mother of two children, LSU Shreveport student Paige Schuldt was well versed in the difficulties new mothers face when attending public festivals and events in the Shreveport-Bossier area.

Schuldts solution was The Nurture Nook, a furnished pop-up pod that provides mothers a clean, safe space to feed their infants and relax away from the crowds.

The idea won the undergraduate Pilot Pitch title this past November, and Schuldt used the $3,000 cash prize to manufacture a second Nurture Nook pod and launch her first Nurture Night event.

The event, titled Loved, Lifted & Local, will take place Saturday at the Riverview Theatre. It will feature bingo, a farmers market-style shopping atmosphere with 25 local vendors, and a craft night with dinner. It's hosted in conjunction with North Bossier Shop Hop.

Its already hard to get out and enjoy public events as a mother, and I felt very overwhelmed in public when it came to trying to breastfeed, Schuldt said. Moms are forced to choose to nurse or pump in a hot car or in an unsanitary public restroom  or stay home. We not only want to support moms in being more active socially but also to create a more connected community through events like Nurture Night.

The beginning

Schuldt launched her business in September, shortly before she received an invitation to participate in the LSUS Pilot Pitch. The entrepreneurial competition allows students to participate in workshops before pitching business ideas to a panel of judges. Schuldt and her husband had already completed their first event at the annual Wiener Dog Charity Races at Louisiana Downs on Labor Day weekend.

Schuldt said the Pilot Pitch experience arrived at the perfect time.

Im not the public speaker type, but this experience helped my confidence so much, Schuldt said. The feedback in how to structure going forward was immensely helpful, and we gained nonprofit status shortly after the competition. The experience was so much fun, and it helped me get a clear view of the steps I needed to take. Im so thankful LSUS offers Pilot Pitch.

The pod

The Nurture Nook pod features a comfortable chair, a changing table stocked with items like wipes and diapers, a phone charging station, and a mini-fridge with refreshments. The pod, which Schuldt's husband sets up and dismantles, includes fans and blankets to manage year-round weather conditions.

Schuldt said the early response to the pod has been extremely positive.

At our first event, we had so many people come up to us and say, What is this?, Schuldt said. We had parents but also grandparents who take care of children saying how amazed they were, and its something you hope for but not necessarily expect. Even a lot of parents who didnt have young kids any more say they wish this was around when their children were younger.

The largest portion of revenue for the business comes from rental fees from events and venues, with additional funds coming from donations to help stock the pod.

We always want this to be a free service we provide, so we have an honor system where people can pay what they can for things like diapers, wipes and snacks, Schuldt said. We wanted to provide a space for moms to take a second, somewhere clean thats well maintained. The biggest struggle is trying to plan whether I was leaving an event early or coming late, based on a feeding schedule. But the idea is for moms to come in, nurse or feed, decompress, and then get back out there.

Balancing the present and the future

Schuldt balances a full-time career as a bookkeeper, the pursuit of a marketing degree at LSUS, motherhood to a 4-year-old son and 16-month-old daughter, and the launch of her business. The 30-year-old originally started as a finance major, but after taking several years off from school, she decided marketing was the best route to bring her business idea to life.

I do struggle some days with balancing it all, but I have an extremely supportive husband, Schuldt said. This started as a passion project, and the ultimate goal is to do this full time and be more involved in the community.

Schuldt is on schedule to finish her degree this summer or fall.

I wanted to accomplish this for myself, to prove that its not too late to go back and do what you want to do, Schuldt said.

The Nurture Nook aims to spread awareness to event planners, particularly for downtown Shreveport festivals. Schuldt is scheduled to appear at family events this summer at Louisiana Downs and hopes to add to her schedule of events, following success at locations like the Dogwood Food Truck and Vendor Market in Haughton this past fall.

Were still in the launching phase and trying to get our name out there, but were getting connected to people who want to have Nurture Nooks at their events, Schuldt said. God is putting a lot of people in our path thats helping us get there.
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A returned emigrant has been fined a total of 2,750 after carrying out unauthorised works on land within the River Moy Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

The case was taken by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage against Michael Conlan, of Carragolda, Bohola, who pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to several charges.

The court heard that the works were carried out close to the Gweestion River, a tributary of the River Moy, and within an area protected under European environmental legislation.

The River Moy SAC is a designated conservation site due to its important habitats and species, including otter, salmon and freshwater crayfish.

Irene OBrien, District Conservation Officer with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), told the court that activities such as digging, ploughing, harrowing and scrub clearance carried out without consent could have a significant impact on the SAC. She explained that sedimentation caused by excavation can have a "devastating impact" on salmon spawning beds and lamprey habitats.

If you take out a lot of soil and deepen a drain causing sedimentation in the river, it can suffocate spawning gravel and reduce oxygen levels in the water, she said.

She also told the court that otters require vegetation and shaded areas along riverbanks for breeding and resting.

Judge Vincent Deane asked what harm was alleged to have been done.

Ms OBrien said she observed a lot of soil excavated, with several soil heaps visible, some of which were six metres high and 17 metres long.

She said a hedgerow had been removed and vegetation cleared along the riverbank, which she described as a critical riparian zone that protects water quality.

The court heard it was difficult to quantify the precise level of runoff, but Ms OBrien said evidence of sedimentation was visible and that exposed bare soil could leach into the river over time.

She visited the area on May 9, 2024, after becoming aware of activity at the site. She observed machinery operating close to the Gweestion River and later returned with a colleague from the NPWS. Around one-third of the field was within the SAC.

The NPWS officers approached the machine operator and asked that work stop.

Ms OBrien said Conlan confirmed his address and told her he lived in the United States and was only in Ireland some of the time. She said he told her he was aware the river was protected but claimed he was attempting to restore the land to how it had been when he was younger.

Ms OBrien said she explained that consent was required, and that if he had applied beforehand, the NPWS could have assessed the works and imposed conditions.

Prosecuting barrister Brendan McDonagh told the court there were 17 charges before it. However, solicitor Charlie Gilmartin, representing Conlan, entered guilty pleas on a number of counts. Judge Deane ultimately imposed fines in relation to two matters.

The defendant was fined for digging, ploughing, harrowing or removing soil within the River Moy Special Area of Conservation without consent from the Minister, contrary to Regulation 28(9) of the Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations 2011 to 2023 and Regulations 5 and 6 of the European Union Habitats (River Moy Special Area of Conservation 002298) Regulations 2023.

He was also fined for digging, ploughing, harrowing or removing soil which may have a significant effect on the River Moy Special Area of Conservation, contrary to Regulation 35(1)(a) of the Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations 2011 to 2023 and Regulations 5 and 6 of the European Union Habitats (River Moy Special Area of Conservation 002298) Regulations 2023.

Mr Gilmartin told the court that his client accepted he should have obtained consent and stopped work immediately once approached by NPWS officials.

He said Conlan, now aged 71, had emigrated to the United States but remained closely connected to the family farm and travelled back and forth regularly. The works were carried out with good intentions and the defendant referenced the historic Moy Drainage Scheme, claiming it had left the area in poor condition. Mr Gilmartin said his client believed he was restoring the land.

Ms OBrien told the court that regardless of intention, the works required consent and the key concern was the potential impact on protected habitats.

Judge Deane said there was a reason Special Areas of Conservation exist and that the regulations are in place to protect habitats. He said it did not take a huge amount of common sense to know that excavating near a river could cause environmental damage. However, he noted that once the issue was pointed out to Conlan, he co-operated fully and stopped work.

The judge said the situation was an example of the road to hell being paved with good intentions.

Judge Deane imposed fines totalling 2,750, giving Conlan six months to pay.

The court also fixed recognisance in the event of an appeal.
A Claremorris councillor has opposed a motion by a colleague to impose restrictions on vape shops.

At the February meeting of Mayo County Council, Cllr Marie Therese Duffy called on the local authority to restrict the use of bright neon signs, cartoon graphics and products aimed at children or other product imagery on the exterior of vape shops and to mandate that windows in these premises be covered or only display neutral signage in line with tobacco product restrictions. She also suggested that vaping products be kept out of view in retail outlets, either behind the counter or in closed containers.

However, Cllr Richard Finn opposed the motion, saying he was speaking from the perspective of someone who uses vapes.

"We have ratepayers in this county, we have people who try to do business, we have people who like a smoke, people who like a vape, we have shops with different imagery on their windows. Thank God we have the freedom that our businesspeople and community can decide how they advertise their products and what they are selling.

"I am not in favour of restricting businesspeople in the operation or even more, the promotion of their business. There was a big hullabaloo prior to the last government around vaping, as to the colour of them, the type, everything about vapes. As far as I am concerned it was only an excuse to put excise duty on vapes and to increase the cost of vapes.

Cllr Finn said he "feels sorry" for young people who have to grow up in a country with so many restrictions.

Cllr Duffy thanked Cllr Finn for his contribution and explained that the motion actually originated from the Comhairle na nOg organisation in its own bid to protect young people from vaping, and she wished to acknowledge the work they are doing to protect the health of children.

Just to clarify, this motion is in relation to children and teenagers and is not anything to do with adults vaping. A high percentage of our population do vape and this isnt aimed at adults at all.

Cllr Annie May Reape supported the motion totally as did Cllr Sean Carey and Cllr Gerry Coyle, while Cllr Donna Sheridan also fully supported the call, stating that nine-year olds with lung damage from vaping are now being seen by paediatricians.

However, Director of Services Catherine McConnell said the council has no authority to direct vape shops in such matters.
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A top Trump administration official on Tuesday disclosed new details to support its claim that China conducted an underground nuclear explosion during Donald Trump's first presidency, a contested assertion that, nevertheless, has become a catalyst for his push to resume such testing by the United States.

"We're not going to remain at an intolerable disadvantage," Christopher Yeaw, who heads the State Department's Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, said during a discussion at the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington. He urged Beijing to "come clean" about its nuclear weapons tests, which some U.S. officials and experts say is part of a determined Chinese effort to catch up to, if not eclipse, the United States' global advantage in nuclear weapons technology.

The event in question occurred June 22, 2020, "right near" a secretive facility known as Lop Nur in China's western Xinjiang region, Yeaw told those attending the discussion. The U.S., he added, used seismic data captured by a facility in neighboring Kazakhstan to conclude that China had conducted an explosive nuclear test.

The activity - measured at a magnitude of 2.76 - was not consistent with an earthquake or explosions used in mining, Yeaw said. The suspected explosion's yield - meaning the amount of energy it released - remains unclear because of the Chinese government's efforts to conceal the test, he said, adding, "We know that they were preparing designated tests of hundreds of tons" in yield.

Yeaw's remarks appeared intended to dispel skepticism of the Trump administration's allegation earlier this month that China had conducted a secret explosive test nearly six years ago. Independent experts have said that seismic data, even if combined with satellite data, would probably prove inconclusive.

In a statement Tuesday, the primary international body that uses seismic sensors to detect nuclear explosions, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, said it detected "two very small seismic events, 12 seconds apart" in the time period Yeaw described, but that they were too small to "assess the cause of these events with confidence."

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Earlier this month, a spokesman there said "China is a responsible nuclear state" and that it adheres to a nuclear testing moratorium.

The administration's focus on the event follows a claim, made by Trump in October, that both China and Russia had undertaken nuclear explosive testing. He has pledged to resume U.S. nuclear explosive testing "on an equal basis" to those nations.

Trump's announcement alarmed arms control experts, as any resumption in such testing would reverse a post-Cold War taboo in the U.S. that has held since the last nuclear weapon test was conducted in 1992.

After the last remaining nuclear arms limitation treaty between the United States and Russia lapsed Feb. 5, Trump wrote on social media that he hoped to replace it with a "new, improved, and modernized" agreement that would include not only the United States and Russia, the two largest nuclear arsenals in the world, but also China, a fast-growing nuclear power, too.

Analysts say that publicly detailing a Chinese test could be a pressure tactic aimed at pushing Beijing to become involved in such talks.

China has long declined to participate in agreements like the one that lapsed this month, called New START, arguing its arsenal is far smaller than those of Russia and the United States. Trump and other U.S. officials have said that while China's stockpile is smaller, it is expanding rapidly - and that Beijing is not bound by the same testing constraints that Washington has pledged to abide by.

China has about 600 nuclear warheads, according to a Pentagon report released in December. By comparison, Russia possesses roughly 4,300 warheads and the United States about 3,700 as of January 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's latest annual assessment.

The United States, Russia and China are signatories to 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which prohibits "any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion," though the United States and China never ratified the treaty, and Russia rescinded its ratification in 2023.

The last confirmed nuclear explosive test in Russia was conducted during the dying days of the Soviet Union in 1990. China's last occurred at Lop Nur in 1996. The State Department and the Defense Department have in recent years suggested that both countries have conducted nondisclosed tests.

Thomas DiNanno, the undersecretary of state for arms control, was the first U.S. official to allege that China had conducted a nuclear explosive test in 2020. He said that China's military had "sought to conceal" its efforts because "it recognized these tests violate test ban commitments."

Yeaw said that it was "impossible" to tell from the seismic data he discussed Tuesday how big the explosion was in 2020. China, he alleged, was using "decoupling" techniques - such as detonating devices deep underground - to muffle the blast and confuse international monitoring systems.

Still, he said, it was "pretty obvious" that the explosion was at least "supercritical," a type of test that uses a limited amount of nuclear material but does not produce a chain reaction.

Tracking China's nuclear development - including its testing capabilities - is extraordinarily difficult, and few outside observers have ever set foot inside a Chinese military nuclear facility.

Analysts say that while it is unlikely U.S. authorities could make a conclusive determination based on seismic data alone, they cannot rule out the possibility that the Trump administration's claims are supported by other intelligence - including classified data that can detect radioactive signatures or human intelligence.

If such evidence does exist, U.S. officials have not disclosed it.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




At around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Borough of Shenandoah officially declared a Local Disaster Emergency in response to the incident.

The Borough says the declaration was issued to protect public health, safety, and welfare, and to allow the Borough to implement emergency response measures, coordinate resources, and request assistance from county and state agencies if necessary.
Park Jung Min, the actor, is thrilled with his part in the upcoming spy movie "HUMINT." He says that the character is emotionally complex and important to director Ryoo Seung Wan's latest project. The movie will come out on the 11th and is about a tense mission taking place in Vladivostok.

Park recently talked about the project and his time on set in an interview with Donga.com at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, according to Allkpop. The actor talked about rumors that Ryoo cast him in the movie as a kind of "after-service" after they worked together on "Smugglers."

Park said in response to the rumors, "I don't think he cast me with that intention, and I didn't feel that way either. I actually like my character Jangdori in 'Smugglers' more than people might expect. When I first received this script, I didn't see it as this much of a melodrama."

He went into more detail about why he wanted to play Park Geon. "What I really appreciated was the emotional range of the character Park Geon. His emotional shifts are quite large, and those moments feel like they continuously leave strong marks as the story unfolds. I was happy to be able to play an important character in a Ryoo Seung Wan film. We first met years ago while shooting a short film, and as we stayed connected, it felt meaningful that he now entrusted me with a role like this."

Read more: Park Jung-min's Latest Role Raises Tough Questions About Authenticity and Respect

Park also talked about how he felt about the script at first, according to CINEPLAY. "At first, I was simply happy. It was such a good role. As an actor, I often go through this process, when I first read a script and like the role, I'm excited, but sometimes I can already sense how difficult the preparation and filming will be, which can be intimidating. I know expectations are high, and if I disappoint during preparation, it can hurt both sides. So I tried my best not to let that happen."

After early screenings and good reviews, Park cautiously talked about how people were reacting. "If someone has watched several of my previous films, I hoped they would feel that this was a different kind of character than what they've seen me play before. I didn't necessarily expect so many compliments. Right now, it's more important that the film as a whole does well rather than focusing on just one character, so I'm watching carefully and staying cautious."

He said, "I was glad to hear people say my fans would enjoy this performance. Showing a side of Park Jung Min that audiences haven't seen before is encouraging, and I take that as a meaningful compliment."

"HUMINT" is about people with different goals coming together in Vladivostok, a frozen port city where secrets and truths sink beneath the ice. In the Korean movie, Park Jung Min plays Park Geon, who is known for his cold judgment and quick decisions. When he meets Chae Sun Hwa, he goes through unexpected emotional turmoil, which adds depth to the high-stakes spy story.

Read more: Park Jung-min's Relentless Schedule as 'Woo Won-bak' Character Sparks Buzz: 'Does He Even Sleep?'
Urban Latitudes Webinar Series (Storytelling & Community)

This webinar series brings together UK and Gauteng researchers to explore urban data, storytelling, heritage, and collaborative research across cities.

The TOWN Observatory launched in 2025 at Loughborough University, in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council in the United Kingdom. It is part of Healthy and Innovative Loughborough project, supported by the UK Government funded Loughborough Town Deal (20232026), aimed at creating jobs, supporting new businesses, and making local people healthier. click here for more information
Wisconsin's Democratic Gov. Tony Evers discusses his call on the Republican-controlled Legislature to act on a broad array of his priorities in his final year in office on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
March Mania Bracketology

March Mania 2026 Challenge. Mark Your Calendars for March 15TH bracketology will be here!
Last Saturday campaigners from the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) spoke with workers outside the Woodseats delivery office, Sheffield, distributing copies of the WSWS article, Communication Workers Unions Martin Walsh opposes call for rank-and-file fightback at Royal Mail.

The article was a reply to Communication Workers Union (CWU) Deputy General Secretary Martin Walsh, who denounced the PWRFCs callshared widely on social mediato make 2026 the year of a fightback by Royal Mail workers against the ongoing dismantling of the mail service.

Woodseats delivery office

The PWRFC statement documented a brutal Christmas period marked by the continuing breakdown of the mail service. Profitable parcel traffic was prioritised through punishing workloads imposed on understaffed delivery offices, following thousands of job cuts. Vital lettersincluding hospital appointment notifications, bank cards and legal documentshave been delayed for weeks.

Residents in the Nether Edge and Sharrow areas of Sheffield reported that while parcels and tracked items continued to arrive, ordinary letters had not been delivered since Christmas. Local press reports cited widespread complaints over mounting backlogs.

Royal Mail claimed that the disruption was due to a temporary build up caused by extreme weather and high sickness rates, adding that during this period, we prioritised the safety of our staff and were unable to deliver to addresses and claiming at no point has there been four weeks worth of mail in the office. It told the Sheffield Star: We use overtime where it is necessary, and it has not been stopped.

Posties at the Woodseats delivery office dismissed these claims. Their names have been changed for protection against victimisation. They described how overtime has effectively been banned under what management calls a budget squeeze, while workloads have become unmanageable. Staff turnover and sickness levels are high, and parcels are systematically prioritised over letters.

Several workers pointed to the connection between the takeover of Royal Mail by billionaire Daniel Kretinsky and the regulators downgrading of the Universal Service Obligation (USO), which mandates six-day-a-week letter delivery.

John, who has worked at Royal Mail for more than twenty years, explained that although management avoids using the term overtime ban, the outcome is the same.

They call it a budget squeeze. And basically, the squeeze will allow so many hours, and this doesnt cover contracted hours. So, this means you cant do any overtime. Thats what was causing the delay in the post. Youve got people on 18-hour contracts, 24-hour contracts and they just cant do the work in that time.

It means there is a point in time when you surrender, because everybodys got a backlog.

He described the corrosive impact on morale and retention:

People are leaving. Yeah, its high turnover. This goes back a few years now, to when the two-tier workforce was imposed. Youve got people starting on different pay and conditions while they are doing the same job. Why would you stay?

When it was pointed out that the CWU oversaw the imposition of two-tier contracts, John replied: I dont really know what the unions do in there anymore. They dont seem to be on our side anymore.

He voiced deep concerns over the companys direction under Kretinsky:

Im worried because Ive been here a long time. I was here before privatisation. Everything has changed over this period. I happily worked every day, but it has just sunk. Its just piles and piles of letters and everything is about prioritising first class and parcels.

For people who have hospital appointments, parking fines, all important stuff. Its all second class.

It has loosened up a bit, with some people getting overtime so people are trying their best to clear it, but I think the company are deliberately creating problems. Its some sort of malicious plan, just break Royal Mail so they can fully privatise it. I mean, they talked about these trials that theyve done at the 35 delivery offices. The union are saying that theyre not backing the Optimum Delivery Method. The union have said they have a Heavy and Light plan.

John was unclear what the CWUs Heavy and Light proposal entails but agreed that closed-door negotiations between the union and management could be used to impose the Optimised Delivery Model (ODM)jobs losses and impossible productivity targetsby stealth. He said the trials should never have been allowed to proceed.

Asked about the formation of independent rank-and-file committees to take democratic control over working conditions and oppose the restructuring, he responded: Ill have a good read. Who will lead that?

Campaigners explained that such committees must be led by workers themselves.

Harry, a weekend worker employed on an inferior part-time contract and not a union member, also described deteriorating conditions. He has worked at the office for three years:

Basically the mail is building up. The mail isnt really prioritised. We get a lot of complaints from customers of mail being delivered three weeks late, sometimes four weeks late.

This is because they are putting so much focus on the parcels, because thats where the competition is. There isnt really another company that delivers letters. So, theres no competition there. They just leave that as the last priority. When mail is building up, this obviously affects morale, I know many people that have left because they were put on under so much stress.

The day-to-day workload is just impossible to finish in the shift time. if people want to stay an extra hour or two to deliver peoples mail, they cant because theyve banned over time.

Harry explained that he is not in the union as a part-time worker. I can understand that the full timers are frustrated and the full-time staff should campaign for more strikes because I think thats where its most effective.

Campaigners discussed the CWUs role in shutting down previous strike action and imposing the pro-company agreement which was a bonfire of terms and conditions. They emphasised that any renewed industrial action should unite all postal workers and must be determined by the rank-and-file and based on drawing up workers own red lines against the collusion of the CWU with the Starmer governments dismantling the mail service to guarantee the profits of its business partner Kretinsky.

Harry said he was not fully aware of the history of privatisation and the unions collaboration with management but would read further. He had once hoped to secure a permanent career at Royal Mail, but like many younger and part-time staff; We are treating this job as a temporary job. After seeing how things are building up and they are expecting more?

We used to have people coming in early in the morning. They would sort out the parcels. So, they would get stuff done before everybody came in. Because theyve banned overtime, people cannot come in early in the morning.

I think theres more employees that have much more to lose from these changes than I do. Some people been here for 10, 20 years. I think its their voices that should be heard.

The experiences at Woodseats are not exceptional. They are the product of a restructuring drive, facilitated by the CWU bureaucracy, aimed at transforming Royal Mail into a parcels-focused logistics operation while dismantling the Universal Service Obligation through its Framework Agreement with Kretinskys EP Group.

The PWRFC calls on all postal workers to share their experiences and join the fight for independent rank-and-file organisation to defend jobs, pay, and the mail service itself.
The Albanese Labor government is preparing an antisemitism report card on Australian universities that will grade institutions on their success in suppressing dissent and policing campus politics, backed by the threat of reducing their funding.

The immediate purpose of the report card regime is to silence opposition to the ongoing US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza and violent attacks in the occupied West Bank of Palestine, by falsely branding it as antisemitic. But the broader intent is to establish a framework to stifle all dissent as part of a wider assault on basic democratic rights, protests and free speech.

Australias Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in July 2024 [Photo: Facebook/Anthony Albanese]

The significance of the report card is underscored by the plan to deliver the outcomes directly to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as part of a report to be transmitted by the Labor governments Special Envoy on Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, a Zionist corporate lawyer.

A leaked document on the report card states that, as the first priority area, universities must effectively address access to campus grounds, regulate outdoor protests, encampments and display of flags, imagery and promotional materials.

That clearly demands the prohibition of any anti-genocide protests or display of support for opposition to the intensifying killings, dispossession and oppression of Palestinians by the racialist Zionist regime, and the Labor governments complicity in these historic crimes.

These restrictions apply both in educational and non-educational contexts. In other words, every aspect of life within a university is to be controlled. This is a further step in the subordination of higher education to government and corporate priorities.

Far from being a neutral safeguard against bigotry, as the Labor government claims, the plan presents political opposition to the Israeli states crimes in Gaza as a principal target, while treating universities as sites to be disciplined into producing politically conformist graduates.

The report card demands that universities enforce the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism or the slightly modified version of that definition adopted by Universities Australia, the peak body representing university managements. These definitions, which some university managements have already imposed, essentially ban criticism of the Israeli state itself.

The leaked document outlines how far the political policing will extend. Universities will be scored across multiple domains, including complaints handling and disciplinary processes, curriculum and course content review, staff and student training programs, public communications and governance and oversight structures.

The document details a scoring methodology that privileges managerial and surveillance responsescomplaint logs, training attendance records, centralised policiesover the genuine educational aims of fostering critical inquiry and debate. This converts academic life into an audit trail: syllabi are reviewed, speakers are vetted, and academic judgements become the subject of institutional risk assessments rather than scholarly debate.

The report card process, the first stage of which is already underway, envisages desk reviews, documentary evidence, interviews with named individuals, and the production of a public score and narrative report for each institution.

Universities that fail to meet prescribed benchmarks can be publicly shamed, recommended for sanctions and effectively branded as problem institutionsundermining their reputations and providing a pretext to withhold or redirect public funding.

The Albanese government has vowed to implement in full its envoy Segals Plan to Combat Antisemitism, which includes government oversight of curriculum, teacher training and university governance, using funding levers as a means of enforcement.

Segal appointed Greg Craven, a right-wing former university vice-chancellor, to supervise the report card regime. Craven has a long record of demanding the shutting down of anti-genocide dissent. Most recently, he has been in the forefront of falsely identifying opposition to the Gaza genocide with the December 14 terrorist shootings of Jewish people at Sydneys Bondi Beach by Islamic State-linked gunmen.

In the Murdoch medias Australian, Craven recently insisted that silencing anti-genocide dissent, at the expense of civil liberties, was essential for Australias national defence. He wrote: The crucial necessity is to understand that this is no longer simply a debate about law and order and civil liberties. This is a debate about national defence.

As those remarks indicate, while suppressing mass opposition to the genocide is the immediate aim of this program, its purpose is broader. In the days after the Bondi attack, Albanese announced the creation of a year-long Antisemitism Education Taskforce, chaired by corporate figure David Gonski and featuring Segal.

Under the guise of educating children about antisemitism and preventing its spread, the aim is to stamp out oppositional, anti-genocide and anti-war sentiments, and to impose a regime under which educators and students at all levels are in fear of being targeted if they step out of line.

This offensive is occurring under conditions where the Albanese government is increasingly subordinating public universities to the needs of the military-industrial complex, AUKUS commitments for a US-led war against China and corporate profitprioritising STEM, defence research and workforce pipelines for the state and big business while cutting humanities and critical social science.

The report card and education taskforce are a continuation of processes set out in the governments Universities Accord which is a political blueprint to subordinate higher education to the imperatives of corporate profit and militarisation. The Accord features mission-based compacts for university funding, requiring universities to serve national priorities, including AUKUS-related projects, while financially pressuring universities into line, including through cuts to international student enrolments. This has been accompanied by the destruction of almost 4,000 jobs via university restructurings over the past year.

Labors agenda parallels that of the fascistic US Trump administration, which has gutted public education funding and is imposing patriotic curriculums in schools and universities, along with mass public sector layoffs, censorship and book bans.

The implications for the working class are grave. Academic freedom, freedom of speech and the capacity of staff and students to organise politically are under direct attack. Report cards, codes of conduct, the Labor governments witch-hunting royal commission into the Bondi attack and hate speech legislation are being developed to create chilling conditions for staff and students.

The Labor government, as part of its lockstep alignment with US imperialism and the Trump administration, is seeking to transform universities according to an AUKUS and war agenda, centred on the preparations for conflict with China.

The only effective response is the rank-and-file organisation of educators, students and workers, independent of the trade union apparatuses, which have demonstrated their willingness to collaborate with the Labor government.

National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) president Alison Barnes has embraced the report card plan, merely criticising the appointment of Craven to run it. We need an independent expert to give us a sober analysis, not a partisan commentator with a track record of pitting universities against each other, Barnes told the Guardian.

This is a warning of the readiness of the NTEU to enforce the outcomes of Labors offensive, just as it has blocked any unified fight against the job destruction and restructuring throughout 2025.

Staff and students must establish rank-and-file committees (RFCs) to defend academic freedom, oppose gag clauses tied to public funding, and demand the restoration and expansion of staffing and courses in the humanities and social sciences. These committees should expose the political character of the report card regime, refuse to participate in submission processes that normalise surveillance, and coordinate national campaigns to defend staff and students victimised for political views.

The defence of free speech and basic democratic rights is part of a broader necessary struggle against capitalism itself and its program of ever-greater oligarchic wealth and turn to war and Trump-style dictatorial rule. It means a fight to take genuinely democratic working-class control of society and reorganise it along egalitarian, that is socialist, lines in the interests of humanity, not the corporate ruling class.

To discuss these issues and how to form RFCs, please contact the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), the rank-and-file educators network:

Contact the CFPE:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: CFPE_Australia
The US military killed 11 people Monday in strikes on three boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea in the deadliest single day so far this year of the Trump administrations killing spree off the Latin American coast.

US Southern Command announced that four men were killed on one boat in the eastern Pacific, four on another in the eastern Pacific, and three on a boat in the Caribbean. It was the first time the military bombed targets on both sides of the Panama Canal in the same day. The military posted a 39-second video showing the three boats being destroyedone on the move, two sitting motionless in the water. No evidence was provided that the vessels were carrying drugs or that those killed had any connection to drug trafficking.

The strikes are murders under international law. The men on these boats posed no imminent threat to anyone. They were not armed combatants. They were not engaged in hostilities. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UN Charter, and the Pentagons own Law of War Manual, killing them is a crime. UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) Article 98 establishes a duty to rescue persons in distress at sea.

The US media treated the strikes as entirely routine. ABC News ran a write-up of approximately 130 words. The Washington Post filed its report under national security, not the front page. The killings did not receive even token condemnation from the Democratic Party. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said nothing in response to the strikes.

The strikes bring the total death toll to at least 145 people killed in 42 known strikes since early September 2025. Another 11 survivors of earlier strikes are presumed dead after the military left them to drown. Families of two Trinidadian fishermen killed in an October 14 strike have sued the US government, calling the campaign lawless killings in cold blood; killings for sport and killings for theatre.

In October, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called the strikes unacceptable, stating that none of the individuals on the targeted boats appeared to pose an imminent threat to the lives of others. In November, former ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo concluded that the strikes likely constitute crimes against humanity.

Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, who viewed the classified video in December, described the scene: the men were basically two shirtless people clinging to the bow of a capsized and inoperable boat, drifting in the wateruntil the missiles come and kill them. Killing survivors is a direct violation of the Hague Regulations prohibition on denying quarterone of the oldest rules of warfare.

An investigation by the Intercept published Monday revealed that when eight men jumped overboard during a December 30 triple strike, the Coast Guard took 45 hours to dispatch a rescue planeinto nine-foot seas and 40-knot winds where survival was measured in minutes. No survivors were found. SOUTHCOM doesnt want these people alive, a government official told the Intercept.

The strikes take place in the context of a vast US military campaign across the Western Hemisphere. In January, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the worlds largest aircraft carrier, took part in the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid a massive bombardment of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.

The Trump administrations 2025 National Security Strategy declares a Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, asserting that the United States will restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere and deny non-Hemispheric competitors the ability to position forces or other threatening capabilities, or to own or control strategically vital assets, in our Hemisphere.

At the Munich Security Conference over the week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered an open defense of imperialist criminality: We cannot continue to allow those who blatantly and openly threaten our citizens and endanger our global stability to shield themselves behind abstractions of international law.

He boasted that the old international order was unable to address the threat to our security from a narcoterrorist dictator in Venezuela. The position of the Trump administration is that international law is an abstraction that the United States is not bound to observe.

The Ford carrier strike group has now been redeployed from the Caribbean to the Middle East, where it will join the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group. Approximately 50,000 US troops are deployed to the region. Reuters reported Friday that the Pentagon is planning sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran. Trump told troops at Fort Bragg that regime change in Iran would be the best thing that could happen.

The same carrier used to kidnap the president of Venezuela is being redeployed to wage war against a country of 88 million people.

Some Democrats made verbal criticisms of earlier strikes. In November, Tim Kaine said the double-tap rises to the level of a war crime, and in December, Himes called it a violation of the laws of war. But these criticisms have been completely dropped. War powers resolutions introduced by Kaine were defeated on party-line votes.

Ocasio-Cortez spoke at the Munich Security Conference last weekend and said nothing about the killing campaign or about the preparations for war against Iran. Instead, she accused Trump of insufficient aggression against Russia, called for reviving Obamas Trans-Pacific Partnership to confront China and refused to rule out sending American troops to fight China over Taiwan.

Despite the total criminality of the Trump administrations killing spree in the Caribbean, the Democrats have consistently voted to fund Trumps war machine. The $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act passed the House 312-112 in December, with 115 Democrats voting yes. In the Senate, it passed 77-20, with the vast majority of Senate Democrats voting in favor.

Trump has called for a $1.5 trillion military budget for fiscal year 2027the largest in American history. The Democrats have said nothing to oppose it. They supplied the votes to pass the spending bill that funds the ongoing killing spree in the Caribbean and every warship now sailing toward Iran.
A WhatsApp icon is displayed on an iPhone in November 2018. [AP Photo/Martin Meissner]

Since Thursday, the popular communication tool WhatsApp no longer legally functions in Russia. Along with Facebook and Instagramall three social media platforms are owned by the US company MetaWhatsApp was officially banned. The Kremlins spokesman Dmitry Peskov told people that they should shift to the MAX app, a Kremlin-controlled app, modeled after the Chinese WeChat.

WhatsApp had some 100 million users in Russia, more than two thirds of the total population. An estimated 60 million people used it every day. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, it has been perhaps the most important tool for people to remain in contact with friends and family abroad.

WhatsApp has announced that it will continue to attempt to provide service to people located in Russia.

The ban on WhatsApp is the temporary culmination of a years-long effort by the Kremlin to shut down all means for encrypted and international communication. The promotion of virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow users to hide their personal IP online, and circumvent such bans, was prohibited last summer. Their use, while not entirely outlawed, has become extremely difficult. For well over a year, YouTube has only been available with severe slowdowns that often render it virtually dysfunctional.

Due to the great popularity of WhatsApp, the Kremlin took longer to shut it down. Voice calls on WhatsApp have been disabled for many months and since December, many had to use VPNs to access the app. Also in December, the Kremlin disabled calls via FaceTime, Apples video communication app, and Snapchat.

The only app now remaining that allows, at least theoretically, for encrypted communication is Telegram. But it, too, has come under attack, above all through systematic slowdowns of the service.

At the same time, the Kremlin has forced people to install the app MAX. Like the Chinese WeChat, it has multiple functions, including payments, but does not allow for encrypted communication and works with the authorities. Since August 2025, all phones sold in Russia have MAX preinstalled. According to the Guardian, it has now some 55 million users.

For almost a year, the Kremlin has also engaged in sometimes week-long shutdowns of online communications in entire regions. Although one reason for these slowdowns appears to be the drone war between Russia and Ukraine, which results in dozens, sometimes hundreds of drone attacks on Russian territory every day, the shutdowns have also been used to further the Kremlins efforts to create an isolated Russian internet in which users are virtually barred from accessing information about, and communication with, the outside world.

While this campaign has escalated since the NATO-provoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, its aims and beginnings well predate the current war. Plans for the creation of a Russian internet which would be separated by an impenetrable firewall from the world wide web were made years before the war. The intensification of internet censorship and other means of encrypted communication also began well before 2022.

Reports indicate that the attacks on WhatsApp and Telegram have triggered widespread anger, among both the civilian population and soldiers at the front. With the war now soon entering its fifth year, both the human and the economic cost of the war are becoming ever more severe. In addition to the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dead at the front, last year has seen a series of factory explosions, especially in the armaments industry, that killed dozens of workers.

The escalation of the censorship campaigns comes amid significant signs of unrest in the working class in the US and internationally. The censorship of WhatsApp, in particular, is aimed not only at preempting encrypted communication but at isolating workers in Russia from developments abroad.

As the Putin regime is trying to negotiate a settlement of the war with the fascistic Trump administration, Russian press coverage of events in the United Statesfrom the mobilization of ICE to the mass protests against Trumphas been minimal. This is not only a tactical move. The World Socialist Web Site has emphasized for years that in launching the invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin was, fundamentally, seeking to improve its negotiating position with the imperialist powers. It now hopes it can achieve this goal.

But the Russian oligarchy also has definite political sympathies with Donald Trump and his far-right agenda. Although their historical origins differ vastly, the Putin regime, which has emerged out of the transformation of the Stalinist bureaucracy into a ruling oligarchy and the destruction of the Soviet Union, likewise defends the interests of a tiny elite which fears nothing more than a revolutionary challenge from the working class.

For many years, the Kremlin media has deliberately stoked racism over immigrants in both Russia and Europe. Since the beginning of the war, the Putin regime has also intensified its crackdown on democratic rights. This campaign has involved heavy promotion of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has close ties to the far-right, and Christian values. Although the right to abortion still exists on paper, in many regions it has been become all but impossible to obtain one. The Kremlin has also engaged in an aggressive crackdown on real and potential opponents of the war. Most recently, a Russian court convicted members of a Marxist circle and sentenced them to draconian prison sentences. Their reading of writings by Marx and Lenin was cited prominently in the indictment.

Notwithstanding its political sympathies and the attempts to broker a deal over Ukraine with Trump, the Russian oligarchy is well aware that the geopolitical conflict with the US and the European imperialist powers is ongoing. In a recent comment, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta saw Vice President JD Vances visit to Azerbaijan as an indication that the South Caucasus is no longer part of the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] and concluded that NATO has arrived at our border in the Caucasus.

The attempts to completely isolate workers and young people in Russia from the rest of the world and make it impossible for them to communicate safely must be seen in this broader context. Amidst the descent of the world into a new global conflagration, and a resurgence of social and political struggles by the working class, the Kremlin seeks to preempt what it rightly understands as it greatest threat: the linking up of workers in Russia with their class brothers and sisters around the world in a common fight against capitalism.
Maja T., a German anti-fascist activist, accused of assaulting and injuring neo-Nazis in Budapest in Feb. 2023, sits handcuffed after the verdict was read in court in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, Feb.4, 2026, at the Budapest-Capital Regional Court. [AP Photo/Denes Erdos]

German anti-fascist activist Maja T. was sentenced to eight years in prison by a Budapest court on February 4 for attempted life-threatening bodily harm and membership of a criminal organisation. The court considered it proven that Maja T. was involved in an attack on right-wing extremists in Hungary in February 2023.

The case exemplifies how neo-Nazis, the right-wing extremist Hungarian government of Viktor Orban, the compliant Hungarian judiciary, the Trump administration and German authorities, courts, media and politicians are working closely together to persecute anti-fascists and leftists and eliminate democratic rights. The much-vaunted firewall against the far-right, the official criticism of Orbans authoritarian rule and the EUs rule of law proceedings against Hungary prove to be pure window dressing.

The proceedings against Maja T. were a show trial from start to finish, making a mockery of any claim to follow the rule of law. This began with the illegal extradition of the German citizen in a cloak-and-dagger operation and continued with months of unbearable solitary confinement, the interference of Orban and Donald Trump, and a trial that was a pure farce. Nevertheless, members of the German government expressly welcomed the draconian punishment.

The pretext: A neo-Nazi meeting

A neo-Nazi meeting that took place on the so-called Day of Honour in the Hungarian capital served as the occasion for the show trial against Maja T. From February 1012, 2023, around 2,000 neo-Nazis from all over Europe gathered in Budapest. The day serves to commemorate the failed attempt of Hitlers Wehrmacht (army) and allied Hungarian troops to break out from Budapest, which was besieged by the Red Army, shortly before the end of the war in 1945.

From 1997, the Day of Honour was initially organised by the Hungarian National Front, and since 2003 the Hungarian branch of the fascist network Blood and Honour has organised the event. Every year, fascist groups from all over Europe gather in Budapest to commemorate their Nazi role models. Last year, members of the neo-Nazi parties The Third Path (Der III. Weg), The Right (Die Rechte) and Free Saxony (Freie Sachsen) from Germany participated.

In 2023, the Hungarian Interior Ministry banned all events for the Day of Honour, but the ban was not enforced by the authorities. The central event did not take place as previously at Buda Castle in the city centre, but in a nearby forest area. Despite the ban, participants displayed swastika flags and SS symbols undisturbed. The demonstration was summarily declared a hike and was thus not subject to restrictions.

The hike was supported by the highest state authorities. It was organised by the Homeland and Tourism association, which receives lavish state funding. The association is headed by Zoltan Moys, the son-in-law of Sandor Lezsak, the vice president of the Hungarian Parliament and a close confidant of Orban. This is just one of the countless connections of the governing party with the extreme right.

It is significant that none of the participants were arrested by the police, who instead took massive action against counter-demonstrators. In previous years, several counter-demonstrators were arrested. This culminated in 2023 in large-scale arrests and the indictment of several anti-fascists.

This year, all demonstrations and rallies against the Day of Honour are banned in Budapest. Demonstrations against the ban are also not allowed. Protest against neo-Nazis and fascism is thus officially considered a demonstration in support of terrorist groups. Orban and US President Trump laid the foundation for this when they classified the so-called Antifa East (Antifa-Ost) as a terrorist organisation. It is claimed that Maja T. is a member of this group.

Italian anti-fascist Ilaria Salis was also interned in Budapest under similar conditions. She is free again only because she was elected to the EU Parliament in 2024 and thus enjoys immunity.

The classification of Antifa East as a terrorist organisation also has consequences for numerous other anti-fascist and socialist organisations, with several banks in Germany using it as a pretext to block their accounts. Most recently, the Association of the Persecuted of the Nazi Regime-Federation of Antifascists (VVN-BDA), which calls for protests against the Day of Honour, had its accounts terminated by Postbank without justification.

The illegal extradition

The trial of Maja T. should not have taken place in this form at all. Her extradition to Hungary in June 2024 was already grossly illegal.

On June 27, the Berlin Higher Regional Court (Kammergericht) agreed to the extradition, and on the same day, Maja T. was flown from Dresden to Austria by helicopter in a cloak-and-dagger operation and handed over to the Hungarian authorities at the border. This happened in such a hurry so as to pre-empt a temporary injunction by Germanys Supreme Court, which then prohibited the extradition on June 28.

In February 2025, in main proceedings, the Supreme Court then declared the extradition of Maja T. illegal. The Supreme Court found that the lower court, which had authorised the extradition, had not sufficiently fulfilled its duty to fully clarify the facts relevant to the transfer.

Maja T.s defence lawyers had asserted before the lower court the inhumane detention conditions in Hungary as an obstacle to her extradition, citing affidavits from persons who had been in Hungarian detention centres and submitting reports from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the non-governmental organisation Hungarian Helsinki Committee. As a non-binary person, Maja T. also had to expect special harassment and discrimination in Hungary, where discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is official state doctrine.

The lower court based its judgement solely on assurances from the Hungarian Justice Ministry, which falsely claimed that Hungary had submitted to EU rules and that no violent or other assaults connected with the gender identity of the person concerned were known.

Maja T.s detention conditions in Hungary were correspondingly catastrophic. She was put in solitary confinement and constantly monitored by video. Food quality and hygienic conditions were inhumane; the cell was infested with vermin. The detention conditions were so extreme that Maja T. decided in the summer of 2025 to go on a 40-day hunger strike.

Here in Hungary, I am buried alive in solitary confinement, Maja declared in writing. The hunger strike was a last-ditch attempt to obtain a fair trial and be transferred to Germany.

The farce of the trial

The trial before the Budapest court was a farce. The prosecution originally demanded 24 years in prison as a deterrent. The defence called for an acquittal. The court itself had to admit that there were no witnesses and no evidence of the defendants involvement in the alleged crime. The verdict relied solely on footage from a security camera, on which the defendant is supposedly seen near the crime scene.

In court, four witnesses testified that they had not recognised Maja T. among the attackers. The prosecution stated that a person with a red hat on the security camera footage was the defendant. But this could not be verified. Furthermore, the footage shows how this person walks past the crime scene, returns and subsequently moves away from the crime scene, i.e., is in no way involved in the act.

Sven Richwin, Maja T.s German lawyer, described the entire procedure as a production. The defendant stood practically alone before the judge, while the defence lawyer had to sit at the other end of the room, meaning there was no possibility to confer. In addition, large parts of the court documents were not available in translated form for the defence at the start of the trial, while the prosecution already had German reports translated. There was also no explanation for the announced sentence.

How things will proceed after this verdict is still unclear. Both the defence and the prosecution have announced they will appeal. The initiation of appeal proceedings could take up to half a year, during which time Maja T. continues to be exposed to unbearable detention conditions.

The verdict: Propaganda for right-wing extremists

The verdict triggered great outrage. It has long been known that Hungarian head of government Orban had spoken in favor of a harsh verdict. In view of falling poll ratings before the upcoming elections, Orban has tried to utilize the case to mobilise his narrow right-wing extremist base. Currently, the opposition alliance is about 7 percentage points ahead of Orbans ruling Fidesz-KDNP in polls. The elections take place on April 12.

Since Orban took office 15 years ago, it is no longer possible to speak of an independent judiciary in Hungary. Almost all key positions are filled with people loyal to the government, who not infrequently have a right-wing or openly fascist background. The 2025 EU Rule of Law Report highlights serious and lasting deficits in the areas of judicial independence, anti-corruption and media freedom.

Most recently, Donald Trump wished Orban success in the elections, called him a true friend and expressly praised his tough stance on migration issues. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio travelled on from the Munich Security Conference to Hungary to support Orban. Trump had already announced in January that he would visit Hungary before the elections.

In January, Orban published a campaign video on X in which European right-wing extremists support him, including Italian head of government Giorgia Meloni, Marine Le Pen from France, Alice Weidel from the far-right Alterantive for Germany (AfD), Herbert Kickl from the Austrian FPO as well as Israeli head of government and war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu.

Approval of the verdict by representatives of the German government must be seen in this context.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadepuhl (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) declared, This is a non-final judgement in an EU country. And we respect that. The Foreign Ministry also emphasised it had taken note of the judgement and respects the jurisdiction of the Hungarian judiciary. The ministry did not comment on the question of a possible transfer of Maja T. to Germany. Since the illegal extradition, the Foreign Ministry has not lifted a finger to improve her detention conditions, let alone arrange for a return.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (Christian Social Union, CSU) defended the verdict even more openly. He told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Most serious bodily injuries took place there. One person suffered a skull fracture. That must lead to a conviction. With this, Dobrindt lines up with the right-wing extremist AfD, which also welcomed the verdict.

The entire case shows how closely German government politicians, authorities and courts work together with right-wing extremists all over the world to persecute anti-fascists and leftists. The case of Lina E. had already shown how the government and security authorities brutally pursue any opposition to their right-wing policies in the name of the fight against left-wing extremism, while right-wing extremists are treated with kid gloves or covered up.

The reason for this is not simply the right-wing mindset of individual politicians or judges. Germanys return to great power politics and militarism and the associated social attacks require authoritarian and fascist methods of rule.
Left Voice article on Minneapolis [Photo: Left Voice]

Over the past month, as Minneapolis became the epicenter of an explosive confrontation between the working class and the Trump administrations authoritarian offensive, Left Voice provided a revealing case study in the role of the political pseudo-left.

Under Operation Metro Surge, thousands of federal immigration and border agents were deployed into Minneapolis. Heavily armed paramilitary squads carried out sweeping raids and mass detentions. On January 7, ICE agents killed Renee Nicole Good. On Jan. 24, Customs and Border Patrol agents shot and killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti. The open justification of these killings by Trump and his spokesmen underscored the fascistic trajectory of the administration and its drive toward police-military rule.

The response from below was explosive. Neighborhood defense networks sprang up. High school students walked out. Workers discussed strike action. Calls for a general strike did not originate from union headquarters or Democratic Party offices, but from workers and young people themselves. On January 23, more than 50,000 people marched through Minneapolis streets in subzero temperatures.

Promoting the trade union apparatus

From the outset, however, the decisive obstacle to the organized intervention of the working class was the labor bureaucracy. And from the outset, Left Voice worked to anchor workers hopes to that apparatus.

In the run-up to January 23, Left Voice promoted the claim that unions were on the verge of leading a general strike. Its January 21 article, Working-Class Minnesota Is Rising Up Against ICE. Unions Must Shut It All Down, amplified statements by local union officials and presented them as the central lever of struggle. After citing officials who had endorsed the day of action, it declared that as we inch closer to Friday, weve heard similar declarations from other sectors of the labor movement, all of whom are rearing to go in this fight against Trumps anti-immigrant offensive.

The refusal of some unions to violate no-strike clauses was acknowledged but treated as a secondary issue. The essential political line was that the union apparatus had endorsed the action and that the task was to push them further. To take the demand for no work to its most powerful conclusion, the article says, labor must do more than support itit must mobilize to strike.

This was a political fraud. The union apparatus had no intention of sanctioning strike action. Their statements were carefully worded expressions of solidarity designed to defuse anger while keeping members on the job.

When January 23 arrived, the masses marched not because of the union leadership but in spite of it. It was not a general strike, however. Public sector, logistics, manufacturing and service workers were prepared to act collectively. They were blocked by union officials invoking contract language and legal constraintsworking in alignment with Democratic Party politicians determined to prevent the shutdown of the city.

A section of the massive Minneapolis protest, January 23, 2026.

In its January 26 coverage, Left Voice concealed this essential fact. Instead of exposing the bureaucracys role, it highlighted the presence of unionized workers in the crowd, writing that transit workers, teachers, airport workers, nurses, and service workersdotted the crowd. It added that whether they came with unions or not, workers showed up.

But the question was not whether workers attended as individuals. The question was why the official labor organizations prevented them from striking collectively.

Rather than call for a break with the apparatus, Left Voice speculated about what might have happened if union leaders had gone all outwalking off the job and stopping operations until their demands are met. This hypothetical posture functioned to obscure the political responsibility of the bureaucracy.

The conclusion followed predictably. Workers needed to break the passivity of union leaders and Democratic politicians and pressure them to act. Even the national AFL-CIO was urged to put words into real action.

The day after the mass protest, the Trump administration escalated repression with the cold-blooded murder of Alex Pretti. The defense of the killing by federal officials provoked broader opposition nationally. A coalition, including the Somali Student Association at the University of Minnesota, called for a national shutdown on January 30.

The trade union boycott of that action was unmistakable. Left Voice was compelled to acknowledge that union officials issue statements of solidarity while keeping their members at work, and that support on paper is not support in practice. Yet the answer, it insisted, was for union leaders to now take up the fight.

Across the country, the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, United Auto Workers and other national unions paid lip service to the resistance in Minneapolis but opposed collective action, citing contractual restrictions. In response, Left Voice wrote a January 30 article under the headline, Why Arent the Largest U.S. Labor Unions Calling a General Strike Against ICE?

It noted that UAW President Shawn Fains statement declared that the labor movement must not be silent and that the killing of peaceful protesters like Alex Pretti threatens our rights and our Constitution. Left Voice acknowledged that the statement contained no mention of immigrants, ICE, or Trump and no call to action. It concluded by asking: What are we waiting for?

Left Voice linked to a WSWS exposure of union officials invoking anti-strike clauses and legal threats. Yet it opposed the WSWS conclusion that organizing a general strike required a revolt against the bureaucracy and the building of independent rank-and-file committees.

It offered descriptions of the bureaucracys role as containment, prioritizing order and stability. It wrote that the bureaucracys material positionnegotiating with bosses and the statealigns their interests with stability.

Seeking to adapt itself to growing anger among workers over the role of the apparatus, Left Voice raised the call to take back our unions through militant rank-and-file assemblies. Workers were told to push our unions to follow the lead of Minneapolis and mobilize for a national strike.

For Left Voice, however, such assemblies are presented as instruments not to replace and abolish the apparatus, but to pressure it into action. The bureaucracy remains the indispensable agency of struggle.

Cover for the Democratic Party

Connected to the promotion of the trade union apparatus is the cover-up of the role of the Democratic Party, expressed in the response of Left Voice to the Democratic Partys maneuvers to de-escalate the crisis in Minneapolis.

In coordination with the Trump administration, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey deployed state and local police to arrest protesters and collaborate in enforcement operations. Federal officials reduced their visible presence while continuing operations. Customs and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino was replaced by border czar Tom Homan, originally appointed under Barack Obama. ICE operations were not halted; they were reorganized and redeployed.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons explained before Congress: Weve seen a deescalation in protests, so our agents can do their intelligence-driven enforcement operations.

This was not a retreat. It was a tactical adjustment facilitated by Democratic officials who sought to tamp down mass opposition.

Yet Left Voice characterized these developments as notable concessions won by the movement. It suggested that Democrats were walking a delicate tightrope, and that the administrations brute force had been outmatched.

In a statement on February 1, Left Voice wrote that The Democratic Party has finally been pressured to mount some opposition in order to rein in ICE, reaching a deal to revisit the agencys funding in two weeks. These are just a few examples of the ongoing bipartisan operation to de-escalate tensions around immigration nationally and in Minneapolis in particular.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, right, and Attorney General Keith Ellison discuss the shooting of Alex Pretti during a news conference in Blaine, Minnesota Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. [AP Photo/Abbie Parr]

The lesson of the protests in Minneapolis, according to Left Voice, is that as a result of mass opposition, the Democrats, and indeed the Trump administration, can be pressured to de-escalate tensions. Whatever the rhetorical criticisms of the Democrats, the position of Left Voice is that the ruling class will back down if there are just more protests: Winning our demands means pushing the fight forward with all our might.

This is complacent and politically dangerous. The reduction in visible federal presence was not a concession but a maneuver to reorganize repression more effectively. Local Democrats helped clear the streets so federal operations could proceed with less resistance.

The Trump administration is redeploying to expand ICE operations in other cities and states. The agency is spending more than $38 billion in the construction of a vast apparatus of detention and deportation in California, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan and other states.

Left Voices formulation that both the Trump administration and the Democratic Party are starting to understand the risk of mass outrage implies that pressure alone compels concessions and that the system can be forced to retreat through protest. The real lessons are the opposite.

Left politics without socialism

Bound up with Left Voices promotion of the trade union apparatus and its running cover for the Democratic Party is a deliberate effort to obscure what is in fact the most fundamental issue: the connection between Trumps developing dictatorship and the capitalist system. In more than a dozen articles on Minneapolis since Goods killing, Left Voice offers no socialist perspective. There is, indeed, not a single reference to socialism or socialist. Capitalism, capitalist and the ruling class are never referenced, nor are fascism, fascist and oligarchy.

In its February 1 statement, Left Voice declares: What is at stake in Minneapolis is nothing other than the glue that keeps [Trumps] coalition together: immigration. This is false and politically disarming. Immigration is a critical arena in which the state is testing methods of repression, but it is not the glue of Trumps coalition or the state apparatus.

The real cohesive force is the class interests of the capitalist oligarchy. The turn to authoritarianism flows from the deepening crisis of American capitalism and the ruling classs determination to impose austerity, social devastation and imperialist war. These policies cannot be carried out through democratic means.

The Democrats and the labor bureaucracy fear nothing more than an independent movement from below that escapes their control and threatens the capitalist system they defend.

In opposition to the independent mobilization of the working class against capitalism, Left Voice advances an orientation to the trade union bureaucracy and the institutions of the capitalist nation-state.

This is the expression of a definite political tradition. Left Voice traces its origins to the Morenoite current, a Pabloite tendency associated with the late Argentine revisionist Nahuel Moreno, whose hallmark has always been rhetorical phraseology combined with adaptation to existing bureaucratic structures and the capitalist state within the national framework.

In 1963, Moreno split with the International Committee of the Fourth International and joined forces with the Pabloite revisionists, whose perspective was to dissolve the Fourth International into the existing bureaucratic and nationalist agencies of bourgeois ruleStalinism, social democracy and various bourgeois nationalist movements.

In Latin America, Morenoite organizations routinely tailed union leaders and petty-bourgeois nationalist movements, offering left criticism while treating these forces as contradictory allies to be pressured rather than as a privileged social layer integrated into the apparatus of class rule.

The same method is evident today in the response to the events in Minneapolis.

The lesson of Minneapolis is not that the bureaucracy requires more pressure. It is that it must be politically confronted and overcome. The experience has shown that the union apparatus and the various organizations that operate around the Democratic Party function as instruments of containment, working to divert resistance into harmless channels and prevent the emergence of an independent movement of the working class against repression and dictatorship.

What is required is the building of independent rank-and-file committeesamong union and non-union workers alikedemocratically controlled by workers themselves, capable of breaking the stranglehold of the apparatus and organizing collective action. These committees must establish direct lines of communication across workplaces, industries and state lines, uniting workers as the leading social force in the fight against Trumps authoritarian offensive.

The Socialist Equality Party and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees are working to encourage the development of such organizations, providing a framework for unifying struggles and linking the defense of basic democratic rights to the social interests of the working class: jobs, wages, safety and the right to live without fear of state violence.

The fight against dictatorship is inseparable from a fight against capitalism and for socialism. This cannot be fought through appeals to the institutions that defend capitalist rule. It requires the conscious development of a genuine revolutionary leadership in the working classbased on the independent organization of workers, the unification of struggles across industries and borders, and a clear program to defend democratic rights by mobilizing the social power of the working class against the corporate and financial oligarchy.
Immigration attorney Eric Lee appeared on MS Now on February 15 to expose the horrific conditions faced by immigrants held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. He also warned that these attacks on immigrants are part of a broader project by the US ruling class to establish a presidential dictatorship, using mass detention infrastructure as the backbone of that repression.

Documents made public in recent days outline plans by ICE to dramatically expand its network of concentration camps, including eight mega-centers capable of holding thousands of people and hundreds of additional processing sites to boost capacity to approximately 92,600 beds nationwide by late 2026. This $38.3 billion plan is being financed through the One Big Beautiful Bill and includes converting warehouses and other large facilities into long-term detention campuses to effectuate mass deportations.

Data analyzed by The Marshall Project shows the number of children held in ICE detention on any given day has increased more than six-fold under the current administration, with some days seeing more than 400 children locked up at family detention centers such as Dilley in Texas, where disease outbreaks and abusive guards have fueled mounting outrage.

Speaking on The Weekend: Primetime, Lee bluntly declared, We live in a country where the federal government kidnaps children, spirits them away to what are really concentration camps, hundreds of miles from home, describing months-long detention in disease infested conditions, without adequate food, clean water, or medical care.

Lee stressed that the abuse is intentional. This is not negligence or a few bad apples. This is a deliberate policy directed from the White House by Donald Trump and his fascistic aides like Stephen Miller to harm children, he said, adding, the fact that this administration and Trump himself are so deeply implicated in the Epstein scandal, it really comes as no surprise that this is how children of vulnerable working class families are treated in this country.

He cited his own clients, the El-Gamal family, whose two five-year-old children have been held at the Dilley detention center for eight months. The children, Lee explained, suffer recurring nightmares, wake up screaming for their mother and are denied basic necessities such as fruit, books and candy. The guards are abusive, he said.

Lee warned that what is unfolding goes far beyond detention. He pointed to facilities such as the East Montana facility in El Paso, where guards are systematically beating detainees in detention, wrapping flannel around their fists so that they can beat them in the head without giving them bruises. This is what the federal government is doing to people in this country, some of whom have been here for years and most of whom have committed no crime.

That is the state of reality in this country, before it gets worse, the 20th century tells you when mass detention and camps are being built across the country that can house hundreds of thousands of people, he said. We are going down a very dangerous path in this country if the population doesnt stand up and fight back.

In closing, Lee rejected claims by Democratic Party figures that past administrations carried out deportations without brutality. Referring to remarks by Hillary Clinton at the Munich Security Conference, in which she declared that More people were deported under my husband and Barack Obama without killing American citizens and without putting children into detention camps than were in the first Trump term or this first year of Trumps second term, Lee said such statements were about as big of a lie as we should expect from the Clintons.

He noted that some 10,000 people died following Bill Clintons Operation Gatekeeper and that Millions of families were broken by the Obama administration and this network of detainment camps, including Dilley, which Obama opened, are bipartisan.

Lee warned that Trump is expanding this network as the spearhead in his attempt to set up a dictatorship in this country.
More than six years after Jeffrey Epstein died in a federal jail cell, the US government remains engaged in a sweeping cover-up. Millions of documents related to Epsteins criminal enterprise remain unreleased. Charging records from the 2008 Florida case and the 2019 federal prosecution are still being withheld. The Department of Justice has refused to unredact the names of Epsteins associates and co-conspirators, in defiance of the law governing the document release. Even the so-called unredacted files remain inaccessible to the public and are viewable only by a small number of members of Congress, where they are still redacted in any case.

Jeffrey Epstein with billionaire Richard Branson.

At the same time, the Justice Department claims it has found no evidence of a broader criminal network and has brought forward not a single new charge, despite documentary proof that Epstein continued to operate internationally after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Under these conditions, the major US newspapers have intervened to contain growing mass anger over the Epstein cover-up. In a coordinated fashion, the New York Times and the Washington Post have sought to recast mounting outrage over Epsteins crimes and his protection by the ruling class as a problem of conspiracy theories, thereby shielding the financial oligarchy and the police institutions that covered up his criminality.

A recent New York Times article in its Epstein series, The Epstein Files and the Hidden World of an Unaccountable Elite, published February 12, provides a textbook example of this method.

The article, written by Robert Draper, begins with admissions that demolish years of official denials. In unsparing detail, Draper writes, the documents lay bare the once-furtive activities of an unaccountable elite, largely made up of rich and powerful men from business, politics, academia and show business. The files, he continues, tell a story of a heinous criminal given a free ride by the ruling class in which he dwelled.

The Times situates Epsteins impunity within the broader social crisis produced by American capitalism, noting that his Caligula-like antics unfolded amid rising populist anger and ever-growing inequality, the collapse of manufacturing, and the subprime mortgage crisis that cost millions of workers their homes. It catalogs Epsteins documented relationships with former President Bill Clinton, billionaires such as Elon Musk, senior financiers, royalty and political operatives across the globe.

Former president Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein.

Having established this factual record, however, the article abruptly reverses course. The same revelations, the Times claims, have done nothing to quiet the conspiracy theories that his behavior spawned, instead fueling feverish new speculation with little or no factual basis.

Among the supposed conspiracies is Epsteins death in federal custody, which has been accepted uncritically by the media as a suicide. Newly released video logs from the Metropolitan Correctional Center show an unaccounted-for figure moving toward Epsteins cell on the night of his death. Rather than grappling with the implications of this evidence, the Times dismisses doubts as the work of internet sleuths, reiterating the official ruling, which no one believes, of suicide.

This framing collapses under minimal scrutiny. As reported by CBS News, both the FBI and the Justice Departments Office of Inspector General had already logged the unidentified orange-clad figure in their internal timelines years ago, while refusing to disclose this publicly. Senior officials repeatedly suggested that no one approached Epsteins cell. Dan Bongino, then in FBI leadership, explicitly stated that the footage confirmed no one else entered the cell block. That claim is now demonstrably false.

More than six years after Epsteins death, the government has still failed to identify the alleged ligature used in the supposed suicide. The breakdown of surveillance cameras, guard staffing, recordkeeping and evidence preservation has never been explained. Forensic doubts raised by Dr. Michael Baden, who stated that Epsteins neck injuries were extremely unusual in suicidal hangings and consistent with homicidal strangulation, have been brushed aside.

Another conspiracy the Times identified is Epsteins influence among the ruling class in the US and internationally. Despite documenting Epsteins remarkable web of connections, the Times nevertheless insists that his influence on American policymaking was negligible. His associates, the paper claims, were farther down the food chain, and notably absent were prosecutors, judges or law enforcement officials who could have protected him.

This argument collapses under the Times own reporting. Within 24 hours, the paper documented a friendly, and transactional relationship between Epstein and Thorbjrn Jagland, a former prime minister of Norway and head of the Nobel Committee, a relationship that has since led to criminal corruption charges in Norway. The Times also reported on the resignation of Kathryn Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs top lawyer and a former Obama White House counsel, after documents revealed she advised Epstein on managing media scrutiny and his response to sex crime allegations while receiving gifts, travel and career assistance.

Taken together with the resignation of Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the billionaire head of DP World, the picture is unmistakable. Epstein maintained intimate, transactional relationships with senior government officials, global financiers and corporate legal architects long after his 2008 conviction. That the New York Times can document these relationships while asserting that Epsteins influence was negligible exposes the political function of the conspiracy theory smear.

In its February 13 article, Conspiracy Theories Only Flourish With More Epstein Evidence, the Times escalates its effort to contain the fallout from the Epstein files by deploying a false equivalence, blaming both the right and the left for spreading conspiracy theories. While right-wing figures are cited for advancing grotesque fantasies, the Times claims that left-leaning users have promoted conspiracies by accusing the Trump administration of covering up Epsteins crimes and death in order to protect the president.

The paper writes, Left-leaning accounts circulated different theories, often accusing the Trump administration of having a hand in Mr. Epsteins death or of covering up his misdeeds to protect the president.

It is, in fact, not a conspiracy theory to state that the Trump administration is engaged in a cover-up. It is an objective fact, demonstrated by the administrations own actions. The Trump administration has redacted Trumps name and image from released materials, withheld documents placing him in contact with Epstein during periods of investigation, and allowed Trump to falsely claim the files exonerate him. Trump himself is named in tips to the FBI as a participant in sexual assault alongside Epstein. To describe accusations of a cover-up as conspiracy theories requires ignoring the documentary record.

Over the weekend, the Washington Post escalated the conspiracy theory smear by conflating exposure of the criminal ruling class with antisemtism. In an article titled, How the Epstein files are fueling antisemitic conspiracy theories, the Washington Post writes:

Denunciations of out-of-touch elites and the money power are a recurring feature of American politics. But in response to the Epstein files, antiestablishment voices have advanced the claim that Jewish networks and interests are corrupting American society.

Antisemitic slanders such as the medieval blood libel and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion are reactionary lies. But the existence of such lies has nothing to do with the extensive documentary evidence that Epstein maintained close relationships with senior figures in the Israeli state and intelligence apparatus.

The Posts method is to shift the axis of discussion from what is true to what is offensive, thereby immunizing state actors and intelligence agencies from accountability.

The paper cites grotesque statements by right-wing figures and then asserts guilt by association, extending the antisemitism charge to critics who have pointed to Epsteins documented ties to Israeli officials. For the Post, Matthew Schmitz, editor of the right-wing Compact, wrote:

Progressive influencers got in on the act. Ana Kasparian, the host of a popular left-wing online news show, described Epsteins network as a pedophile ring/Israeli blackmail operation. The month before, she asked an Israeli interlocutor, Why are you monsters always slaughtering innocent children and shaking us down for money? Briahna Joy Gray, former press secretary for Bernie Sanders, called Epsteins network a ring of billionaire pedophiles with ties to Mossad engaging in full-on blackmail.

This paragraph performs the core maneuver of the Posts article. Evidence that Epstein maintained relationships with senior Israeli officials, facilitated covert diplomacy or operated within intelligence-adjacent networks is not antisemitic, any more than opposition to the genocide in Gaza is. It is a matter of record reported by investigative outlets and corroborated by released documents.

Reporting by Drop Site News shows that Epstein facilitated back-channel diplomacy involving former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US officials during the Syrian civil war. Leaked emails show Epstein advising Barak, arranging meetings, sharing intelligence-adjacent information and pressing for US military intervention against Iran and Syria. These are matters of state policy and intelligence operations, not religious identity.

Jeffrey Epstein wearing an Israel Defense Forces sweatshirt with Valdson Vieira Cotrin. [Photo: The Telegraph/Valdson Vieira Cotrin]

To describe such reporting as antisemitic is itself a blatant slander. States are not religions. Intelligence agencies are not peoples. Exposing covert diplomacy, blackmail networks and imperialist maneuvering is not an attack on Jewish people. It is an exposure of the criminal ruling class.

That the Washington Post advances this smear is not accidental. The paper is owned by Jeff Bezos, has recently laid off hundreds of workers, functions as a long-standing conduit for US intelligence agencies and has played a central role in downplaying Israels genocide in Gaza while advocating expanded military confrontation with Russia and China. Its attack on alleged antisemitism is a continuation of the Biden administrations campaign to criminalize opposition to US imperialism and suppress student protests against the slaughter in Gaza.



Taken together, the interventions by the New York Times and the Washington Post reveal a coordinated strategy to contain the Epstein revelations and protect the ruling class. Where the Times deploys the language of conspiracy theory to pathologize demands for accountability, the Post escalates to the antisemitism smear to shut down investigation into state and intelligence connections altogether. In both cases, the aim is the same: to sever documented facts from their political implications, delegitimize opposition and shield the institutions of wealth, intelligence and imperialist power that enabled Epsteins crimes and continue to block justice.
Nurses on strike in New York City on Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Now in their sixth week of struggle, more than 4,200 nurses in New York City remain on strike against NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, with negotiations set to resume on Wednesday. Picket lines were well attended and boisterous on Tuesday as nurses waged a battle not only against a hospital system determined to funnel profits to healthcare corporations on the backs of workers, but also against the saboteurs who lead their own union.

Last week, NewYork-Presbyterian nurses overwhelmingly rejected a management-backed settlement offer that the executive committee had already turned down at the bargaining table. NYSNAs leadership ignored the unions bylaws and forced a snap vote anyway, hoping to browbeat strikers into accepting the sellout. The vote at NewYork-Presbyterian coincided with grossly inadequate tentative agreements at the Mount Sinai and Montefiore hospital systems, where more than 10,000 nurses were sent back to work last weekend.

Theres a large uprising of rank-and-file nurses ready and determined to make big changes in our union, one striking nurse told the WSWS. Last week, nurses marched on the offices of NYSNA, denouncing President Nancy Hagans and her collaborators for union busting and raising demands for an investigation and resignations.

When Hagans appeared on WNYC radios Brian Lehrer Show last Friday, nurses flooded the lines. The majority of us feel that this displayed union busting tactics coming from inside the house, one nurse said. We feel that NYSNA leadership owes an explanation and an apology and that they need to be held accountable for this behavior, as opposed to acting like it never happened.

Another nurse called the attempt to shut down the strike a stab in the back.

Hagans has absurdly attempted to justify her treachery by claiming she merely wanted to give workers a democratic vote. She brushed off a question about the isolation of NewYork-Presbyterian nurses, responding only that NYSNA members are resilient. Meanwhile, Hagans and the union leadership are doing all they can to wear down that resilience, including a refusal to provide strike pay and other resources to help nurses withstand the financial strain of the strike.

But Hagans efforts to betray the nurses strike arent simply due to rotten leadership. They reflect the imperatives of the Democratic Party, with which she is deeply embedded. Hagans is well-connected to the Democratic leadership in New York, including Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

During the last gubernatorial race, Hagans lauded Hochul as a fighter and someone who has that shared interest and vision. Hochul has proven during the course of the strike whose side she is fighting for. On Tuesday, the governor extended for the sixth time an emergency decree authorizing travel nurses to work without a state license. In other words, Governor Hochul is a scab.

But Hagans is not just acting as an agent of the centrist wing of the Democratic Party. Democratic Socialist of America Mayor Zohran Mamdani invited Hagans to advise his mayoral transitions Committee on Health. Mamdani included other union bureaucrats as well, notably Yvonne Armstrong of 1199 SEIU, who has ordered union members at NewYork-Presbyterian to cross the picket lines.

Reflecting his pledge to govern for all New Yorkersincluding the oligarchsMamdani also invited a representative from the Greater New York Hospital Association, the trade group representing the hospital executives, to join his advisory team.

After appearing alongside Hagans on the picket line four weeks ago, Mamdani has been largely silent in public on the strike, apart from expressing congratulations to nurses after the shutdown of two-thirds of the strike last week. Mamdanis pretense as a supporter of nurses is increasingly difficult to maintain, however, following his endorsement of the strike-breaking governor for reelection.

The overriding concern of the Democratic Party, from Mamdani to Hochul and beyond, has been to prevent the strike from becoming a catalyst for a broader movement against the subordination of healthcare and all basic needs to private profit, raising a challenge to the irrational and bankrupt social order. Hagans attempt to sabotage the strike reflects a union bureaucracy that works not on behalf of its membership, but in alliance with the Democratic Party as an instrument of the ruling class.

World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke with striking nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian on Tuesday about the way forward for the strike following the rank-and-file rejection of the sellout.

Its a tough, tough, tough fight, one nurse explained. Now that the other hospitals have gotten their contracts ratified, its really only us left out here. But there still has been support from the other nurses at the other hospitals. Theyve come to our own strike line. And theyre still showing up with signs. Theres action going on still.

Asked about the role of the Democrats, the nurse replied, We werent really happy about Mamdani endorsing Governor Hochul for re-election. I dont think I would vote for her.

The Democrats do not have a future, a medical-surge nurse said. They do not have a good plan. Mamdani is unproven, but New York City is one of the best places to fight for change.

We want our jobs and to be able to help patients, but the hospital executives are about cutting costs. They are a business and about making money.

A nurse with nine years at the Childrens Hospital neonatal intensive care unit explained, There is a dichotomy in our strike situation. People are more engaged, but have also just gotten so numb to the many atrocities going on. The ruling class has a playbook. There are so many things going on. It feels unclear to know what to do.

The New York Healthcare Workers Rank-and-File Committee has outlined a fighting strategy to take the strike forward based on three fundamental principles: rank-and-file control over the strike, the mobilization of the broader working class and a rejection of the supposed right to profit.

On Friday, the committee published a statement stressing that by asserting their own democratic control, expanding the strike and advancing a clear political perspective, NewYork-Presbyterian nurses can impose a genuine defeat on management and set a powerful example for healthcare workers and the entire working class.

The demands of nurses for safe staffing, improved pay and other basic needs can be won, but it requires rank-and-file organization to take the initiative.
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York [AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura]

As the strike of 31,000 Kaiser healthcare workers in California and Hawaii is in its fourth week and nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital continue their struggle in defiance of efforts by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) to force through a sellout, new battles are erupting across the country.

More than 2,000 registered nurses in Los Angeles have announced strike actions beginning February 19, the latest expression of deep and growing opposition to a healthcare system that subordinates life itself to profit.

At the center of the new actions are two separate walkouts by nurses represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). Roughly 1,800 nurses at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Center will launch a seven-day strike starting February 19. Another 800 nurses at Centinela Hospital Medical Center will carry out a one-day strike the same day.

The USC nurses have been in contract negotiations since May 2025 with no meaningful progress. Central issues include comprehensive and affordable health coverage, safe staffing levels and retention measures to address high turnover. Instead of addressing these demands, USC has proposed restructuring employee health plans in ways that would sharply restrict where nurses and their families can seek care.

Since January, nurses have faced higher out-of-pocket costs and the loss of a no-premium plan that allowed access to a broad regional network. Forcing hundreds of healthcare workers into USCs own provider system will further clog an already strained hospital network, producing longer wait times and delayed treatment for employees and patients alike.

At Centinela, nurses cite chronic understaffing and unsafe conditions that endanger patients and exhaust staff. Their strike follows a near-unanimous authorization vote in January, reflecting widespread anger over deteriorating working conditions.

The Centinela strike is part of a broader wave of actions at Prime Healthcare facilities. Nurses are striking or preparing walkouts at Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, CA; Saint Marys Regional Medical Center in Reno, NV; and West Anaheim Medical Center in Anaheim, CA. Hundreds more nurses are involved, represented by various affiliates of National Nurses United.

In addition, nurses and licensed professionals at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center began a five-day strike on February 16. Represented by SEIU Local 121RN, these workers have been laboring under an expired agreement since July 2025.

These actions are unfolding alongside a prolonged dispute involving 2,200 additional healthcare workers at USC (respiratory therapists, nursing assistants and technicians) represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW). They have been kept on the job without a contract since April 2024.

The geographic spread of these struggles underscores that this is not a series of isolated disputes. It is a national confrontation between healthcare workers and a corporate system that has transformed hospitals into profit centers.

Yet in every case, the unions have kept their members divided. Kaiser workers remain separated from New York nurses. USC nurses are isolated from Prime Healthcare nurses. Different unions control different bargaining units, each confining the struggle within narrow institutional channels and, in most cases, limited strike actions. The enormous potential power of tens of thousands of healthcare workers acting together is deliberately suppressed.

Voices from the picket line

Los Angeles Downey Kaiser healthcare workers picketing in the fourth week of the Kaiser strike on Monday, February 16, 2026.

On the Kaiser picket lines, workers articulated an understanding of the broader social crisis driving these battles.

Kathy, an inpatient pharmacy technician with 19 years at Kaiser in Anaheim, recalled the experience of the pandemic. During COVID we were essential workers. We were heroes. The whole world was relying on nurses and pharmacies and doctors  we fought through it  and now  to be treated like this, just wanting to be silenced and shut down. It isnt how it should be.

The trauma and burnout remain, but staffing levels have not recovered. I absolutely believe there are two Americas, she said. Theres the working class, and then theres corporate. She pointed to the staggering compensation of Kaisers CEO$17 million a yearwhile frontline staff are forced onto picket lines without strike pay.

Its got to be the working class, she said of who should control society. The entire nation was built on the working class.

Susan, an oncology nurse with 25 years of experience, described conditions that expose the lie that cost-cutting is necessary. Cancer patients are getting younger and younger. We have more patients coming in, but we dont have enough staff.  Sometimes we run out of medications.  We work eight-hour shifts, but sometimes we end up working 12 or even 16 hours.

Her comments reveal the human cost of profit-driven healthcare: delayed treatment, exhausted caregivers and mounting risk to patients. Referring to the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents, she asked, Why did they have to shoot him?

Jennifer, a nurse in Riverside, linked the strike to broader attacks on democratic rights. She described her teenagers seeing immigration agents near their school and living in fear. It feels like anyone can get grabbed, she said.

Corporate media portray nurses as greedy, she explained. Thats not true. Were fighting for patient safety  safe staffing ratios. Yes, wages and pensions are part of it, but thats not the heart of it. The real issue, she said, is the defense of safe care and basic social rights.

Vanessa, another Riverside nurse, situated the struggle in a global context. Healthcare costs in the United States continue to rise while shareholder profits expand. Those profits should be reinvested in patient care and staffing, she says. Instead, resources are siphoned upward.

Across these voices runs a common thread: a growing awareness that the crisis in healthcare reflects the crisis of the entire social order. Workers confront not merely stingy employers but a system organized around private accumulation.

The objective conditions for a unified national struggle are present. Tens of thousands of healthcare workers are in motion. Educators, logistics workers and other sections of the working class are also engaged in battles over wages, staffing and democratic rights. The idea of a general strike is no longer abstract. Were the ones saving lives, Susan says. If were not there, whos going to take care of people?

Healthcare workers are not simply demanding higher pay. They are raising fundamental questions about who controls society and for what purpose. Their experiences during the pandemic shattered illusions that corporations and governments place public health above profit. The present strike wave expresses a determination that the sacrifices of recent years will not be answered with further austerity.

To realize the full potential of this movement requires the building of independent rank-and-file committees in every hospital and workplace. Such committees can provide the framework for linking up workers across unions, regions and industries, breaking down artificial divisions and formulating demands based on human need, not corporate balance sheets.
Workers guarding the gates at Tridonex-Cardone join a vaccination campaign, Matamoros, Tampaulipas [Photo: Gobierno de Matamoros]

The shutdown of six First Brands maquiladora plants in northern Mexico and the firing of over 4,000 workers has thrown auto parts workers across the border region into limbo and triggered a wave of militant plant occupations organized initially independently of the trade union apparatus.

On January 28, workers received a notice from Interim CEO and Chief Restructuring Officer Chuck Moore, announcing an orderly, accelerated shutdown of major North American operations, including the wind-down of the Brake Parts Inc., Cardone and AutoLite business units.

First Brands, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2025, warned that if it cannot secure additional funding from US bankruptcy courts, job losses could eventually engulf its approximately 13,000 employees worldwide. The collapse, driven by years of opaque off-balance sheet financing and an alleged multibillion-dollar fraud overseen by founder Patrick James, now under federal indictment, is a stark example of how speculative parasitism in the financial system is being paid for through a jobs massacre.

The same evening following the shutdown announcement, workers at several plants began on their own initiative occupying the factories and blocking the removal of machinery in freezing temperatures. At the Tridonex-Cardone plant in the border city of Matamoros, where around 1,400 workers are threatened with losing their jobs, rank-and-file workers organized a permanent guard at the entrance, declaring that no machines will leave the building.

In Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, some 3,000 workers at plants belonging to BPI Brake Manufacturing, Hopkins Manufacturing, and Centric Parts were laid off and immediately launched protests, plant occupations and demonstrations at state offices. In Mexicali, Baja California, more than 450 Autolite workers occupied their factory to prevent equipment being spirited away.

Only after these occupations were underway did labor lawyer Susana Prieto Terrazasfounder of the socalled independent union SNITIS in Matamoros and a former legislatormove to insert herself into the conflict. SNITIS filed a lawsuit seeking to preemptively freeze the assets of the company, framing the issue exclusively as one of securing severance pay and instructing workers to extend their guards in order to protect corporate property until it could be valued and sold.

After a New York bankruptcy judge extended First Brands restructuring process on February 9, Prieto told workers they might have to wait up to three months for severance and that the company might not even have enough to pay everyone, seeking to prepare them to accept concessions and defeats.

In Matamoros, according to Adrian, an autoworker with friends at Tridonex, Prieto described herself as the plants permanent legal representative and boasted that she had secured a token 1,800 pesos payment, while the Morena mayor provided food handouts to polish his image amid rumors of corrupt ties with the employer. At another First Brands-owned plant, Trico, operated under the gangster-ridden Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM), management insisted that work is safe and operations continue, despite belonging to the same First Brands consortium.

It is vital that workers draw the necessary warning from Prietos long record. During the 2019 20/32 wildcat strikes in Matamoros, when 70,000 maquiladora workers across dozens of plants walked out for a 100 percent wage increase and to expel the corrupt CTM unions, the World Socialist Web Site intervened to fight for the building of rank-and-file committees and expansion of the struggle across the US-Mexico border. Workers marched to the border bridges, calling on US workers to wake up and join their fight against the transnationals.

It was precisely when this movement began to link up with an international socialist perspective that Prieto stepped in to corral it back behind appeals to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, to preserve CTM structures in many plants and to negotiate a far more limited settlement of a 20 percent raise and a 32,000peso bonus. The companies responded with a wave of victimizations and layoffs, and the current mass terminations are part of the long-term blowback whose consequences continue to reverberate in todays mass layoffs.

Prieto has a documented history of collaboration with the US AFLCIO bureaucracy and with the CTM charros she claims to oppose, using a veneer of independence to secure contracts, dues and a political career in Morenas orbit. Rather than building genuine workers power, she founded SNITIS as an independent union to replace CTM contracts while keeping intact the corporatist model and subordinating workers to the government and the courts.

Today, Prieto is repeating the same tactics: praising workers initiative while insisting the only realistic goal is severance. SNITIS legally called a strike at Tridonex for February 19legally defined as a plant occupation in Mexicoexplicitly to make sure severance is paid in a courtcontrolled liquidation process, not to save jobs.

When it became clear that neither a buyer nor a state-backed payout was forthcoming, SNITIS agreed to postpone the strike to February 24. At a mass assembly outside Tridonex, Prieto sought to placate workers, explaining the postponement of the strike as necessary to give the fraudster First Brand executive time to find a buyer and continue operations.

There is no question that workers have both the right and the urgent need to occupy plants and prevent asset-stripping. But subordinating the occupations to the bankruptcy courts and limiting their horizon to the sale of machinery for severancewhile SNITIS explicitly refuses to call out workers at other plants in coordinated strike actionmeans channeling their energy into a dead end.

No court-directed auction in the midst of a global jobs massacre will secure workers living standards, much less improve conditions for autoworkers in Mexico or beyond. Meanwhile, local authorities have aligned themselves with this strategy of passivity. In Matamoros, the Morena-run municipal government has expressed solidarity with workers only by delivering food to the Tridonex guards.

The First Brands collapse is an international question. The company is a global auto parts conglomerate whose portfolio includes Anco and Trico wiper blades, Fram filters, Carter pumps, Hopkins towing brands and Philips-licensed lighting. In addition to the Mexican layoffs, First Brands has filed WARN notices to close two Texas plants in Arlington and Harlingen, eliminating 129 jobs, and it shut manufacturing at a Hopkins Canada facility in Blenheim, Ontario in 2025.

This is part of a far broader wave of sackings. More than 1.1 million jobs were eliminated in the US last year, while new AI-driven technologies are being used as a pretext to destroy entire categories of white- and blue-collar work.

In Mexico, the situation is sharply worsening: January 2026 was the first month in 17 years when registered formal jobs declined and jobs forecasts are worsening. Rosalinda, a former worker at car-battery maker Schumex Schumacher in Matamoros, who was fired last year, told the WSWS: There is a lack of work, and the union SNITIS continues to disregard the individuals who enable them to sustain their livelihoods. There are numerous layoffs, and when hiring, they no longer offer permanent positions; some are dismissed within a month.

The WSWS calls on First Brands workers to form rank-and-file committees independent of the union bureaucracies, linked across borders through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). These committees must demand that all layoffs be rescinded and that shuttered plants be placed under workers democratic control, integrated into a rationally planned, workers-run auto industry organized to meet human needs, not the private profit of speculators and corporate executives.

Leading IWA-RFC member Will Lehman is running for United Auto Workers president on a socialist and internationalist platform to abolish the union bureaucracy in the United States, building a genuinely independent movement of workers to defend jobs and defeat the threat of fascism, dictatorship and world war. What we need is an international strategy based on the unified struggle of American, Canadian and Mexican workers against transnational corporations, Lehman stated in his campaign launch.
In Chiles famous Torres Del Paine National Park, a mother puma with her two cubs in tow attacks a guanaco. Its the circle of life and an important lesson for the young cubs. Photographer Kevin Shi captured the brutal moment in a stunning image (seen above) thats now shortlisted in the Natural World & Wildlife category of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026.

The Open Photographer of the Year prize honors individual images that pique curiosity, spark imagination, and reveal a wider narrative. The categories include Architecture, Landscape, Motion, Street Photography, Travel, and more.

Charlotte and Dolly

Charlotte lies with her cow Dolly, keeping cool in the cow barn between events at the 100th State Fair of West Virginia in Lewisburg. Outside, the temperature is upwards of 32C.

Credit: Vanta Coda III, United States, Winner, Open Competition, Lifestyle, Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Vanta E. CodaIII

The Open Photographer of the Year will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on April 16. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize along with a collection of Sony Digital Imaging equipment. In the past year, more than 430,000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards. (Click to expand images to full screen.)

Snatching Food from the Jaws of Fish

The inlet of Xiamens Yundang Lake is a foraging ground for egrets and a gathering spot for tarpon to hunt for food. These two species often create vivid and thrilling scenes as they compete for sustenance. In this photograph, an egret snatches food from a fishs mouth.

Credit: He Lu, China Mainland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Motion, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Rockpool Sanctuary

Young elephant seal pups or weaners gather around natural rock pools on the Falkland Islands, using the protected waters to practise swimming and diving until they are ready to venture out to sea.

Credit: Lisa Skelton, Australia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Queuing for Departure

A group of gentoo penguins queues for jumping into the antarctic sea.

Credit: Martin Schmid, Austria, Shortlist, Open Competition, Motion, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

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Opening the Vortex

Northern Californias 4000-metre Mount Shasta is dwarfed by a phenomenal lenticular cloud, during intermittent clouds that lasted for 10 days. This image was taken around 20 minutes before the sun set.

Credit: Lisa K. Kuhn, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Lisa K. Kuhn  www.LisaKuhn.com

Celestial Dance

This young Lusitano stallion was allowed to move freely during a photography session, enabling the photographer to capture his powerful and graceful movements.

Credit: Lorea Hausheer, Switzerland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Motion, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

At the Edge

A polar bear stands at the edge of the frozen sea, a symbol of resilience in the face of a changing climate.

Credit: Wouter van Hofwegen, Netherlands, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Reflections at Buttermere

The still waters of Lake Buttermere in Englands Lake District created beautiful reflections in this photograph. The clouds acted as a soft box, with the sun breaking through at times to cast dappled light across the landscape.

Credit: Dimitry Papkov, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

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Untitled

A deer photographed at Charlecote in Warwickshire, United Kingdom.

Credit: Samuel Round, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Mischief at Her Side

Not long after the kittens morning play, the mother Pallass cat returned with a rodent. The first youngster to reach her claimed the prize, while the slower siblings lingered nearby. Whenever the mother paused to rest, their mischief shifted toward her instead. In this frame, the youngsters bright, mischievous eyes reveal a personality beginning to emerge.

Credit: Elizabeth Yicheng Shen, Taiwan, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Elizabeth Yicheng Shen

Urbanity Over the Rice Fields

Hay bales and shimmering rice paddies sit beneath the towering skyline of Qianjiang, the embrace of the city and the rush of time overshadowing the tranquil heroes of the land.

Credit: Hanjun Zhang, China Mainland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

V

Using the underside of a bridge to create a strong vanishing point, this photograph draws the viewers eye towards the horizon, where structure, water and city converge. The narrowing lines emphasise depth and scale, transforming the bridge into a visual pathway between the urban landscape and fading light.

Credit: Eng Tong Tan, Malaysia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Tan Eng Tong

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Waving Squirrel

It took the photographer more than 40 hours and 4000 exposures to get this photograph, but that patience was rewarded.

Credit: Stan Bouman, Netherlands, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

The Citys Secret Fourth Circle

Moonrise meets Jardine House in Hong Kong, where the rising moon mirrors the buildings iconic circular rhythm. In this quiet alignment, nature and architecture echo one another, revealing a rare moment of harmony within the citys night.

Credit: Carlo Yuen, Hong Kong, Shortlist, Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Earths Palette

Seen from above, an ordinary landscape can become something extraordinary, as is often the case in Iceland. Each lake had a different hue, which reminded the photographer of a painters palette. The effect was enhanced by the dramatic lighting conditions after a heavy rain.

Credit: Filip Hrebenda, Slovakia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Travel, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Arctic Fox in Blizzard

A blue arctic fox in a blizzard, photographed on the Varanger Peninsula, Norway.

Credit: Klaus Hellmich, Germany, Winner, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

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Crowning of the King

At dawn, the newly victorious milu king stands tall among a resting herd of does, roaring triumphantly. Behind him, the rising sun highlights his majestic silhouette  crowning his untamed power and glory.

Credit: Huajin Sun, China Mainland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Mount Fuji at Yamanakako Lake

Taken on a crisp February morning, the photographer had envisioned this image for weeks, waiting for the light and the stillness to converge. As dawn began to unfurl its golden thread across the horizon, there it was: majestic Mount Fuji, crowned by a solitary lenticular cloud, suspended in the sky.

Credit:  Megan Tavarez, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Travel, Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Megan Tavarez
Addison Raes father, Monty Lopez, was arrested last year after being accused of exposing himself in public.

According to documents obtained by Page Six on Tuesday, the social media stars father  whose given name is Manolito Juan Lopez  was arrested on July 27, 2025 in Louisiana, following an alleged incident on August 31, 2024.

Lafayette Parish Sheriffs Office accused Lopez, 50, of intentionally exposing his genitals, pubic hair, in a public place or place open to public view, or in any prison or jail, with the intent of arousing sexual desire or which appealed to the prurient interest or was patently offensive, per docs from the department.

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Lopezs bond was listed at $2,500. At an arraignment on Sept. 2, 2025, he entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, listed as both an obscenity  felony and a sex crime.

Addison Raes father, Monty Lopez (seen here in a 2021 social media post) was arrested in 2025 in Louisiana. Monty Lopez/Instagram

According to documents, he was accused of exposing himself in public in 2024. Lopez is shown here in L.A. in 2022. GC Images

Hes scheduled next to appear at a hearing on March 19. TMZ was the first to report the news.

Lopez did not immediately respond to Page Sixs request for comment on Tuesday evening, nor did a rep for Rae.

The news comes just weeks after Rae, 25, was nominated as best Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards  though the award ultimately went to Olivia Dean.

The Obsessed songstress was born to Lopez and ex-wife Sheri Easterling  along with her brothers Enzo, 17, and Lucas, 12. The former couple married in 2004 and parted ways a few years later, only to remarry in 2017.

Lopez entered a plea of not guilty in September. Hes seen here with Rae in a 2021 social media upload. Monty Lopez/Instagram

Lopez, shown here in L.A. in 2022, is scheduled for a hearing in March. GC Images

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Lopez, who also shares daughter Macye with a previous partner, split from Easterling again in 2022.

A then-25-year-old woman named Renee Ash accused Lopez that same year of lying about the marriage to Easterling and claimed he misled her into a five month long affair.

Personal matters being brought public are always challenging and overwhelming for anyone involved, Easterling wrote via social media at the time. I will be OK.

My biggest concern is -and always will be- my children and their fragile hearts and minds. I will always do my best to protect them, she added.

Lopez and ex-wife Sheri Easterling welcomed Addison, along with her two brothers, before divorcing for the second time in 2022. Theyre seen here in previous Instagram photo. montylopez/Instagram

Lopez, shown here in Los Angeles in 2022, married Kaitlyn Nicole Robins in Las Vegas in October 2025. GC Images

Ash and Lopez reunited in November 2022, with Lopez exclusively telling Page Six at the time that his divorce from Easterling had been finalized months earlier.

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What I can do from here on out, I can move forward, Lopez told us.

Easterling was briefly linked to Yung Gravy, while Lopez went on to marry medical professional Kaitlyn Nicole Robins said at the Little Chapel of Hearts in Las Vegas in October.

I just followed my heart and Ive never been happier. I love this woman! he told TMZ at the time.
Pop star Addison Raes dad was arrested for allegedly exposing his genitals ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, Monty Lopez -- birth name Manolito Juan Lopez -- was arrested on July 27, 2025.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriffs Office in Louisiana accused him of "exposing his genitals, pubic hair, in a public place or place open to public view, or in any prison or jail, with the intent of arousing sexual desire or which appealed to the prurient interest or was patently offensive." The incident allegedly occurred nearly a year earlier, on August 31, 2024.

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The charges are listed as felony obscenity and a sex crime. His bond was listed as $2,500 ... he's pled not guilty, and has a hearing scheduled for March 19 this year. Prosecutors have recommended a year of hard labor.

Getty

Monty and Addisons mom, Sheri Easterling, wed in 2004 ... the exes share three children -- Addison, Enzo, and Lucas. The couple divorced during Addison's childhood ... Sheri and Monty reconciled and got hitched a second time in 2017.

According to court documents, the two ended things again in 2022 after Sherri alleged that Monty cheated on her. Sheri went on to date rapper Yung Gravy.

As TMZ first reported, Monty got remarried to a woman named Kaitlyn Nicole Robins in October 2025. The two wed in Las Vegas after meeting in Louisiana, where Monty is from.

We've reached out to Monty for comment ... no word back.
The Hunting Party may center on tracking down dangerous criminals, but viewers are just as invested in the complicated personal dynamics and romantic tension woven throughout the NBC drama.

While there are no fugitives involved in The Hunting Party cast's personal lives, many have shared glimpses of their relationships on social media and in interviews.

Bex Henderson herself, Melissa Roxburgh, has largely kept her dating life private in recent years, but was previously linked to her Manifest costar J.R. Ramirez after they shared photos from a romantic getaway in Fiji.

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Meanwhile, Patrick Sabongui has been married to filmmaker and actor Kyra Zagorsky since 2002, and the couple share two children together, per NBC. Sara Garcia tied the knot with her husband, Chris Crawford, in 2023 and has also spoken candidly about celebrating her bisexuality.

Heres everything to know about the love lives of The Hunting Party cast.

01 of 05

Melissa Roxburgh

Melissa Roxburgh attends the Filming Italy 2025 red carpet at Forte Village Resort on June 21, 2025 in Santa Margherita di Pula, Italy. Daniele Venturelli/Getty

While Roxburgh doesnt currently appear to be in a relationship, she was previously linked to her Manifest costar Ramirez.

In December 2022, the actors vacationed at Tokoriki Island Resort Fiji, which has been named one of the worlds top 25 most romantic hotels. Although they never publicly confirmed a relationship, they shared romantic photos from the getaway.

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You were incredibly special. Vinaka, Roxburgh captioned her photo and video dump from the trip. Ramirez reflected on the experience in his own post, writing, Ive been blessed enough to travel quite a bit of this world. Ive never experienced such a happy charismatic culture as these Fijians. Truly theyll take the shirt off their backs for ya. What an unforgettable experience. We'll be back.

02 of 05

Patrick Sabongui and Kyra Zagorsky

Patrick Sabongui patricksabongui/Instagram

Sabongui is married to Zagorsky who is an actor, teacher and award-winning filmmaker, according to her website bio. The couple tied the knot in 2002 and now share two children together: Bodhi and Ashe. Sabongui occasionally shares family photos on Instagram.

In May 2020, The Hunting Party star posted a video of his wife celebrating her graduation from Savannah College of Art and Design. A cause to celebrate today, he wrote in the caption. @kyrazagorsky newly minted Master of Arts in Film & TV! Graduated (with honors) from #SCAD.

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Sabongui added that were lucky to have her making movies and telling stories that try to heal humanity, along with the hashtag #ProudHubby.

Zagorsky also holds a master's in acting from the University of California and a bachelor's in theatre with an acting concentration from Southern Oregon University, per her website.

03 of 05

Josh McKenzie and his partner

Josh McKenzie attends the "The Hunting Party" press call during WonderCon 2025 at Anaheim Convention Center on March 29, 2025 in Anaheim, California. Araya Doheny/Getty

During a March 2025 interview with Nerds That Geek, McKenzie shared that he and his partner bond over their shared passion for acting.

You know, my partner, shes an actress, too, and shes on another kind of procedural, he said at the time. And we both, you know, pinch ourselves every, every day.

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McKenzie also revealed his first TV crush during a May 2025 interview with The Spinoff. As a kid, he wrote a letter to McDonalds Young Entertainers star Drew Neemia.

I served him a drink when I was working at Lone Star and I was about to say, Hey, man, I wrote you a letter when I was 7 but I didnt,  McKenzie recalled to the outlet.

04 of 05

Sara Garcia and Chris Crawford

Chris Crawford and Sara Garcia attends as Hallmark Channel celebrates the upcoming premiere of its all-new original series "RIDE" Jordan Strauss/Shutterstock

Garcia married her partner, Chris Crawford, on June 28, 2023, later sharing photos from the special day on Instagram.

06.28.23 was just the beginning, she captioned the images of the couple holding hands, dancing and kissing. One year later, Garcia marked their anniversary with more wedding photos and snapshots from their first year of marriage. A year hitched feels like a blip thats how you know its the good stuff , she wrote.

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In June 2021, Garcia opened up about her sexuality in a vulnerable Instagram post. She described her journey with pride as one shaped by privilege, noting she grew up in an accepting family.

I recognize that privilege is because of the many who have come before me whove endured suffering, pain, ostracization, violence, and hate because of who they love, she reflected. The fact that I can proudly post about and celebrate my bisexuality today is because of those brave people.

05 of 05

Kari Matchett

Kari Matchett attends the screening of "Maudie" during the 2017 Los Angeles Film Festival at Arclight Cinemas Culver City on June 15, 2017 in Culver City, California. Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Matchett doesnt share details about her love life online, but she does frequently post about her son, Jude. Her Instagram bio reads: Actress, Water baby and Mother of Jude The Dude.

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She was married to T.W. Peacocke from 1998 to 2006, and welcomed her son, Jude Lyon Matchett, with an ex-boyfriend in 2013.

In a Nov. 3, 2013 X post, she shared, Jude the dude (my son almighty) has taken over my life. Thrilled and aware tweets may suffer. Please understand. Will do my best xox. Matchett has since shared several photos of her son on Facebook and Instagram.

Read the original article on People
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Branson magicians Garry and Janine Carson will go to trial over a federal indictment accusing them of sexual exploitation of children.

The jury trial is set for August 10, 2026, in the Western District Court of Missouri.

In January, Garry and Janine Carson were charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. They have pleaded not guilty.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: New details outline federal case against Branson magicians

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The federal indictment alleges that both magicians coerced a minor to perform sexually explicit acts for photos and videos between January 2023 and June 2025. According to court documents, the Southwest Missouri Cybercrimes Task Force seized multiple devices in June 2025 and found about 46 videos featuring an identified minor.

Along with their shows in Branson, the Carsons have also performed many times at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, were featured on numerous stages across the United States and internationally, and appeared on multiple television series such as Masters of Illusion.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
(NewsNation)  Queen Elizabeth II is a big reason why Prince William and Kate Middleton are together, according to a new book.

In Russell Myers tell-all biography, William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, he shares how the queen intervened when Prince William called off his four-year relationship with Kate in 2007 after she gave the future king an ultimatum regarding their future.

Kate had less interest than William in keeping Harry a working royal: Book

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Catherine delivered an ultimatum to William. While she did not explicitly demand an engagement or even a promise of marriage, she did break free from the gentle and arguably submissive persona that had typified her relationship with the future king, Myers, a royal editor for The Mirror, wrote, according to Hello!

Queen Elizabeth convinced William to reconsider his breakup with Kate after seeing the aftermath of his parents relationship.

POUNDBURY, DORSET  OCTOBER 27: Queen Elizabeth II tours Queen Mother Square on October 27, 2016 in Poundbury, Dorset. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage) FILE  In this Saturday, June 17, 2017 file photo, members of Britains Royal family from left, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Princess Eugenie, Queen Elizabeth II, background Timothy Laurence, Princess Beatrice, Prince Philip, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William watch a fly past as they appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after attending the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony in London. Britains Queen Elizabeth II and her family are facing a 35 million pound ($45 million) hit from the coronavirus pandemic, partly due to a shortage of tourists. Keeper of the Privy Purse Michael Stevens said Friday. Sept. 25, 2020 that a lack of income from visitors to royal buildings was likely to bring a shortfall of 15 million pounds over three years in the royal households general funding. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File) COOKSTOWN, NORTHERN IRELAND  OCTOBER 14: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales meet with farm owner Charlie Mallon and his family during their visit to Mallon Farm, a flax farm in County Tyrone that is spearheading the revival of flax growing for linen, as a blueprint for sustainable farming systems on October 14, 2025 in Cookstown, Northern Ireland. During their visit, the Prince and Princess of Wales are visiting organisations providing creative and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people in rural areas of Northern Ireland. (Photo by Samir Hussein  Pool/Getty Images)

Myers wrote, Sensing William was struggling, the Queen invited him to Sunday lunch to judge his mood. William was more than just crestfallen and worried about whether he was throwing away the one constant in his life. He was, according to one well-placed source, completely broken.

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Elizabeth also gave Kate advice about joining the royal family.

Stephen Colbert rips CBS, saying lawyers barred interview with lawmaker

Three years after rekindling their romance, William and Kate married in 2011 and share three children together: sons Prince George and Prince Louis and daughter Prince Charlotte.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Michael Feldman touched down in Arizona to support his wife, Savannah Guthrie, as the search for his mother-in-law, Nancy, continues.

The businessman was photographed making his way through the Tucson International Airport on Tuesday afternoon.

He held his head high as he was escorted outside by an airport employee.

Michael Feldman, seen here Tuesday, landed in Arizona to be with his wife, Savannah Guthrie, as the search for his mother-in-law, Nancy Guthrie, continues. BACKGRID

The consultant was seen making his way through the airport. BACKGRID

Feldman, 57, sported a gray sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers.

The consultant, who married Savannah in 2014, had two carry-on-sized suitcases and a backpack in tow.

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He didnt appear to be joined by their two kids, Vale, 11, and Charley, 9, whom he was seen traveling with in Florida over the weekend.

The Today show host, meanwhile, has remained in the Grand Canyon State as the search for her 84-year-old mother continues into the 17th day.

He had two carry-on suitcases in tow. BACKGRID

Feldman and Savannah wed in 2014. feldmike/Instagram

Nancy was last seen by her daughter Anne and her son-in-law Tommaso Cioni on Jan. 31, after the latter dropped her off at home following dinner.

Authorities were notified of the matriarchs disappearance after she failed to attend church service the next morning.

The FBI has since released home surveillance footage of an armed, masked suspect disarming her front door camera in the early morning of Feb. 1.

The Today show host has remained in Arizona since the disappearance of her mom. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

Nancy was reported missing on Feb. 1. Facebook/Savanah Guthrie

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Savannah, 54, reshared the videos and photos via Instagram and once again begged for her mothers safe return.

Someone out there recognizes this person, she wrote. We believe she is still out there. Bring her home.

Officers have detained several people, who have since been released after not being connected to Nancys abduction.

Authorities were notified when she failed to show up at church. Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

Security footage has since revealed a masked suspect attempting to disarm her front door camera the day she went missing. AP

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos admitted that it could take years to find Nancy, but investigators are now attempting to use a Bluetooth signal detector to detect Nancys pacemaker.

Nanos also confirmed that the elders family, including Cioni, Anne, Savannah and her son, Camron, have been cleared as suspects.

The FBI has increased the reward for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance to $100,000.
Shia LaBeouf and Mia Goth reportedly split up last year. The couple is said to have gone their separate ways after more than a decade of an on-again, off-again romance.

Shia LaBeouf and Mia Goth reportedly separated a year ago

According to Page Six, Shia LaBeouf and Mia Goth separated almost a year ago. An insider source close to the couple has told the outlet that the Transformers actor relocated to New Orleans shortly after the split. Neither LaBeouf nor Goth has made any official confirmation regarding the breakup. It is also unclear whether they have filed for a divorce.

LaBeouf first met Goth on the set of Lars von Triers erotic art film Nymphomaniac in 2012 and had been in a tempestuous relationship since. After getting married in 2016, it was announced that they had separated and filed for divorce. The pair reconciled in 2022 and were expecting their first child. They welcomed their daughter in March that year.

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Reports of their breakup come just days after LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans on Tuesday after getting into a brawl during the Mardi Gras celebrations. He is reportedly facing charges of two counts of simple battery. The actor was held at Orleans Parish Prison in Louisiana.

According to the latest reports, LaBeouf appeared virtually for a court hearing on Tuesday afternoon before a judge at the Magistrate Division of Orleans Parish Criminal Court. He was later released from custody on the condition that he would be present for future hearings. The actors next court hearing is scheduled for March 19.

Meanwhile, Goth recently starred in Guillermo del Toros Oscar-nominated movie Frankenstein. She shared the screen with Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac in the film. Additionally, she is also set to appear in Christopher Nolans upcoming epic fantasy, The Odyssey, where she reportedly plays Melantho, a maid of Odysseus and Penelope. The highly anticipated movie is arriving in theaters on July 17, 2026.

The post Shia LaBeouf & Wife Mia Goth Split About a Year Ago, Says Source appeared first on Mandatory.
Robert Duvall enjoyed a quiet life in the Virginia countryside before his death at age 95.

Duvall lived on a 360-acre estate named Byrnley Farm in The Plains, Virginia. He purchased the property in the early 90s. The actor lived at the estate with his wife, Luciana Pedraza, whom he wed in 2005.

"My wife says for her, Virginia is the last station before heaven," Duvall said in a 2011 interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "She loves it here. We like Texas, but we like living here."

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Duvall and Pedraza remained together in their home until his death in February 2026.

Robert Duvall Lifted Weights, Was in Good Spirits in Workout Video Weeks Before His Death at 95

Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time, Pedraza announced via Facebook. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort.

The statement continued, To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.

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Keep scrolling to learn more about Duvalls life on his farm:

Where Was Robert Duvalls Farm?

Robert Duvalls Byrnley Farm is located in The Plains, Virginia. The Plains is a small town in Fauquier County.

What Did Robert Duvalls Estate Entail?

Byrnley Farm is a 360-acre estate. The land includes a three-story Georgian farmhouse, which was designed by Robert Duvalls wife, Luciana Pedraza, per Architectural Digest. The home has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms.

Bobby likes me to try things, to become good at them. I have his support in anything I do. Pedraza said in a 2002 interview with Architectural Digest of taking on the task of designing the couples home. I didn't feel comfortable using an interior designer because your house should be personal, every corner. It would be like letting someone choose my clothes.

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The property also holds a working cattle and horse farm. There is also a barn that Duvall and Pedraza used as a dance hall.

We bring in tango teachers, like Pablo Veron from Tango Lesson, give three-day courses, then have a big party where everyone dances," Pedraza told the outlet. Bobby dances really well. I love dancing with him, love his perception of the tango.

What Did Robert Duvall Say About His Life on the Farm?

Robert Duvall was passionate about his quiet life in Virginia. In 2023, the Godfather alum attended a city council meeting to express his concerns about an Amazon data center being built in the area.

As an actor, I have a privilege to play many roles my work has taken me all over the world but I have always returned to Fauquier County, Virginia with a sense of relief that comes from my appreciation for all that makes this space special, said Duvall per local outlet WUSA9. The remarkable outpouring opposition to this proposal indicates that the vast majority of the town and county believe this is a bad use of this site.
The Allen Media Group Motion Picture film finds the actor-director duo stepping into the world of military veterans wanting acceptance from family and a community after past transgressions box them in.

Vondie Curtis-Hall is no stranger to portraying characters whose flaws determine their standing in the world. Even when he speaks, the elder statesman from Detroit, who originally rose to fame in the original Dreamgirls, carries a gravity to his voice, a man who has seen plenty and brings those lessons into his performances.

In Sheepdog, Hall plays opposite Steven Grayhm in a movie the Canadian filmmaker and actor has been working on since 2011. It is here that Grayhm, whose previous film was 2021s The Secret of Sinchanee, swaps a tale of the supernatural for something far more grounded: men attempting to rehabilitate their lives while the outside world often deems them ill-suited for such a chance.

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Grayhm calls the chance to work with Hall, who has appeared in films like Drop Squad, Crookyln and a host of others in his illustrious career humbling and Sheepdog as his lifes greatest work.

Hall portrays Whitney St. Germain, a former Vietnam veteran who returns to his community after serving a stint in prison. Grayhm plays Calvin Cole, a war veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Together, both men are bound by their shared experience of war and grief.

For Hall, the role hit home in many ways.

I thought this would be a great journey to take because I could relate to some of the brothers who came back from Nam, with various malforms, be it mental, physical, emotional, Hall tells theGrio in an exclusive interview. So many of the things that I really love in characters and are oftentimes themes in my movies are second chances. People trying to change their lives.

The moment was also unique for both Hall and Grayhm, as the two have served dual roles as actors and directors, with Hall famously directing one of Tupac Shakurs final films, Gridlockd. Hall brought similar gravitas to Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story, a made-for-TV film starring Jamie Foxx as Stanley Tookie Williams, co-founder of the notorious Crips, another figure seeking redemption through non-traditional means.

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With this person in the journey of trying to change their lives and re-embrace what they lost was really appealing to me because as a Black man, Ive seen so many of my friendsIm from Detroitlose what they had and are sometimes spending a lifetime trying to get it back and never do. And sometimes they make that journey, and it works out. So I thought that really appealed to me.

Grayhm admits he never thought Sheepdog would take years to fully get out of development, but understood that as time passed, the characters had to evolve, too. But he never lost sight of what the purpose of Calvin and Whitney served in telling a greater story, one that prompted him to speak with veterans and hear their stories.

It was a decision that was made for me, Grayhm said. All the people that I met with initially, they got older, we all connected, all the veterans and Gold Star family members, mental health professionals, so many of us stayed in touch. So I got to see their journey, their triumphs, their challenges. And in that, theres so much life lived in 10 years since your last deployment.

He added, For a lot of veterans, it could be multiple divorces, it could be new career paths, it can be whether you have trauma going through treatment, multiple treatment cycles and so on. For my generation, there never was a movie that picked up 10 years after deployment with the two worlds colliding.

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Grayhm pinpoints an early stage of crafting the films script: a chance encounter with a tow truck driver who opened up about his marriage, being a father of three, various financial hardships, and more.

It was the spark, Grayhm said. He opened up about all the medications that he was on that were tethered to his traumatic brain injury and his post-traumatic stress. And I wanted to just drive around and speak to anybody, mental health professionals, Goldstar families, anybody.

Grayhm dove deeper into his research, volunteering at the VA medical center in downtown Detroit, doing honor flights with veterans from Vietnam and World War II and speaking with them. All of it helped shape the characters, and the Canadian filmmaker admits, nothing was invented for Halls character to say.

Hall, on the other hand, didnt have to go very far to find a personal connection. The traumas of war had already hit home long before he became a noted actor.

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A lot of folks that Id gone to school with, I had one of my best friends volunteer after we got out of high school. He got killed, Hall says. I had some other friends who went to serve, and so many of them I saw when they came back.

He pauses, I got to hear about so many of the stories. I have one friend now whos got cancer from Agent Orange, so hes getting compensation from the government for Agent Orange. I saw him, it may have been six months ago. Hes living in France now. So these were people that I knew. I knew the people who came back from Vietnam. I know some of them who went to jail, some of them who ended up in politics, some of them who started businesses, and some of them who just never got it together, some of whom were dope fiends and just never got it back together.

Vonde Curtis-Hall, Vonde Curtis-Hall Sheepdog, Vonde Curtis-Hall Movie

Sheepdog follows Whitney and Calvin as they navigate their paths and rely on each other to survive, both from new tragedies and from a world not easily ready to accept them. Both men lean on family for comfort and guidance, something that spoke loudly to Grayhm and Hall. All Whitney wants is his family back. Calvin yearns for a sense of normalcy after losing it all.

Its an unlikely relationship between two men from entirely different generations, entirely different backgrounds, and yet there is so much commonality that theyre about to discover about each other, Grayhm says.

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The heaviness of the film is not lost through a single frame and what both Hall and Grayhm hope Sheepdog achieves is letting those who are suffering know they arent alone. Its not merely a military movie, but a family one, where humanity and mental health are the main topics of discussion.

Sheepdog is now available on all streaming platforms via Allen Media Group Motion Pictures. The film stars Vondie Curtis-Hall, Steven Grayhm, Virginia Madsen and Lili Cooper.

More must-reads:
Each song undergoes a review process, and EBU officials requested a few minor adjustments for Israel's entry, which the Israeli songwriters agreed to.

The Israeli song for Eurovision 2026 received approval from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on Monday, Ynet reported.

Each song undergoes a review process, and a few minor adjustments were requested by EBU officials, which the Israeli songwriters agreed to. In 2024, Israels initial song submission, October Rain, was rejected because its lyrics were deemed too political, a violation of the EBUs rules.

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The lyrics referred to the Hamas massacre of 1,200 people, which started the current war. After some negotiations, a revised version of the song, renamed Hurricane, was approved just before the deadline.

Song written by Eurovision representative Yuval Raphael

Yuval Raphael, who was Israels representative to Eurovision in 2025 and finished second overall, co-wrote this years song, along with Nadav Aharoni and Tzlil Kalifi. Noam Bettan, Israels 2026 representative, will perform it at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna in May.

Yuval Raphael, representing Israel, performs ''New Day Will Rise'', during the Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/DENIS BALIBOUSE)

It has happened before that a previous Israeli Eurovision representative has written a song for another contestant. This was the case in 1983, when Avi Toledano composed a song, Chai, for Ofra Haza, after he was a Eurovision contestant himself.

Bettan won the television talent contest, Kochav Haba (The Next Star) for Eurovision. The song will be revealed in a special broadcast on March 5 on KAN 11, Israels government broadcaster.

Bettan is scheduled to perform in the first semifinal on May 12. The second semifinal will be held two days later, and the grand final will take place on May 16.
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Credit: REVOLT/The Breakfast Club

Sean Combs: The Reckoning is still stirring up conversations amongst members of the hip-hop community and the general public alike. The four-part docuseries, which is produced by Curtis 50 Cent Jackson and directed by Alexandria Stapleton, covers Diddys career as well as the legal issues hes faced in recent years. While more than a few of Combs former colleagues are interviewed for the doc, fellow artist Shyne is not. However, the rapper-turned-politician still has thoughts to share about the bombshell series.

After the Diddy docuseries release, some BTS details were shared. Something thats been mentioned more generally is that Stapleton and co. reached out to more than a few potential interviewees for the series. During his recent appearance on The Breakfast Club (which is on YouTube), Shyne  whose birth name is Jamal Barrow  was asked about the report that Stapleton asked him to participate. Shynes response suggested the situation wasnt as cut and dry:

I saw Alex, [who] directed the film. . Alex said she did reach out to me. She probably did, but I saw her. Congratulations to her. She was nominated for a Director's Guild Award. I didn't see the documentary. I heard that it's great, it's powerful, it's award-winning worthy. I heard I was in the documentary, even though I didn't speak, but obviously, they told the truth about what I've been saying, so nothing that I'm saying is different than what I've said before. I didn't watch it because I just... That's my trauma. So, without getting into what he did to Cassie and what he did to all the other people that have accused him, I knew what he did to me as far as sending me to prison.

More on Sean Combs: The Reckoning

Sean

As Diddy Ponders Suing Netflix Over Bombshell Docuseries, His Mom Allegedly Has A Different Plan

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Shyne was signed to Combs Bad Boy Records for a multi-record deal in 1998, and his debut album was eventually set for release in 2000. Ahead of that, though, Shyne was arrested in connection to the 1999 nightclub shooting that Diddy and his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, were also linked to. While Diddy was acquitted, Shyne was convicted and sentenced to nine years behind bars. Following his release, the Its Ok performer was deported to Belize, the country in which he was born.

Barrow  the ex-Leader of the Opposition in the Belize House of Representatives  has since leveled claims against Combs. In his 2024 documentary, The Honorable Shyne, he accused Combs of derailing his life and alleged that he was used as a scapegoat during the nightclub shooting. With that, Barrow also said during his recent interview that he could feel the pain of the victims, who spoke out in The Reckoning. He also showed some support for Stapleton and Jackson while discussing the key difference between his doc and theirs:

I told my story. I didn't tell the Diddy story. Respect to Alex and to Fiddy. And, in all fairness, I see a lot of people attacking Fiddy, trying to bastardize the legitimate pain and suffering of those victims. But, without Fiddy, Alex might have had a hard time with her project and, yes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but [Diddys camp] did the same thing to me. So I feel the pain of the victims, Cassie, in particular, and everyone that went through what they went through. But I didnt want to tell the Diddy story.

50 Cent  whos had beef with Diddy and Shyne over the years  has been called petty for producing the doc. However, Fiddy has emphasized that his feud with Combs didnt influence his decision to spearhead the show. Instead, he apparently wanted to convey a level of accountability within the hip-hop community in regard to Combs reported actions. Still, Diddy himself has taken issue with the show, and he accused Fiddy and Stapleton of using stolen footage to make it, though the pair have denied that claim.

While Shyne  doesnt appear in Sean Combs: The Reckoning and hasnt seen it, it sounds as though he appreciates the aim of the documentary. Time will tell if others weigh in on the doc with similar thoughts. In the meantime, the series remains streamable with a Netflix subscription, while Hulu subscription holders can check out The Honorable Shyne.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  Festival International de Louisiane has released the music lineup for the 2026 edition of the festival.

The festivals Executive Director, Scott Feehan, said they are marking the 40th anniversary of the event, which will run from April 22-26, with an unparalleled lineup.

Forty years is something to celebrate, Feehan said. What started as an unlikely dream has flourished into what we now know as Festival International de Louisiane. So many elements come together each year to make this event possible. We could not be more proud to present an amazing program to our community that has worked so hard year after year to make this event happen.

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The lineup features eight-time Grammy award-winning artist Stephen Marley, son of Bob Marley, and folk icon Rhiannon Giddens, named by NPR One of its 25 Most Influential Women Musicians of the 21st Century.

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Unique to the lineup is Country Gongbang, South Koreas first and only bluegrass band. Having performed at the Grand Ole Opry, this group has a distinctive blend of contemporary bluegrass and K-pop sentiments.

The 2026 lineup hits every note. said Lisa Stafford, Programming Director. There is something for everyone  from folk to funk, blues to pop. Its going to be an unforgettable year.

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Since the beginning, this festival has been dedicated to celebrating, preserving and strengthening the Francophone/international communities ties to Lafayette by sharing world-class French music from France, Africa, Canada, Louisiana and beyond.

Fiercely attached to the French language and Acadian culture, Zachary Richard will take the stage in his home state  bringing international acclaim and a distinct sound with him.

Other world class Francophone acts include: Delgres (France/Guadeloupe), Natu Camara (Guinea), Vieux Farka Toure (Mali), Vishten (Prince Edward Island), Thome Young (New Brunswick), and an array of French speaking Louisiana artists.

Some other regions being represented include Guatemala, Peru, Jamaica, Scotland, South Africa and Cuba.

Louisiana acts that organizers will showcase at Festival International 2026 include:

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GIVERS: In Light Live

Sonny Landreth

Sally Babys Silver Dollars

Chris Ardoin & Zydeco Nu-Step

Karma and the Killjoys

Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas

Corey Ledet Zydeco & Black Magic

Boma Bango

Prends Courage

Dwight James & the Royals

Mike Dopsie & Zydeco Entourage

Blue Monday Allstars Celebrate Lee Allen Zeno

The full schedule will be released in early March, officials said.

Latest news

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
As Hungarian Gyorgy Kurtag, who is widely considered one of the greatest living classical composers, turns 100 on Thursday, he will offer a one-of-a-kind birthday gift to music lovers: a brand-new opera.

In recent weeks, people across the globe have paid tribute to the star composer, with Budapest marking his centennial with special events, concerts and documentaries.

Later this month, the world premiere of Kurtag's second opera "Die Stechardin" about the 18th-century love story of a German polymath and a flower girl will cap the centenary of his birth.

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In a rare interview with a Hungarian weekly in 2017, Kurtag confided that composing can sometimes be "painful".

But despite being confined to a wheelchair and suffering a loss of hearing, Kurtag has lost none of his intellectual vibrancy or passion for music, according to those close to him.

"He doesn't hear so well anymore. But in return, he feels even more, he perceives even more from the world and from music," Concerto Budapest conductor Andras Keller told AFP during a rehearsal of Kurtag's new one-act opera earlier this month.

When his wife, pianist Marta Kurtag, who was also a close artistic partner, died in 2019, "everyone was scared about what would happen next", said Laszlo Goz, director of Budapest Music Center, where Kurtag now resides.

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But Kurtag resumed composing, "writing increasingly larger and more complex pieces".

"He began teaching again, and now he has written his second opera, which is a kind of message to his wife, Marta," Goz said.

Born on 19 February, 1926, in the Romanian city of Lugoj to ethnic Hungarian parents, Kurtag started playing the piano as a young boy.

After taking piano and composition lessons as a teenager in Timisoara, he eventually moved to Budapest in 1946, where he began his studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music.

While studying, he met fellow composer Gyorgy Sandor Ligeti.

He graduated in piano and chamber music in 1951, and later in composition, before pursuing his studies in Paris for a year.

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Over the decades, the award-winning musician became famous for composing short yet highly complex pieces, and only turning to opera late in life.

- 'Master of miniature forms' -

Throughout his career, Kurtag drew inspiration from literature and the works of famous compatriots like Bela Bartok. But despite his success, he was not immune to suffering from writer's block.

After returning to Hungary, in 1960 he became a repetiteur with the Budapest Philharmonic Society, and would later teach piano and chamber music at his alma mater.

At age 92, his first opera "Fin de partie" premiered at Milan's famous La Scala in late 2018.

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Based on Irish writer Samuel Beckett's play "Endgame", and more than seven years in the making, Kurtag and his wife did not attend the premiere due to their advanced age and instead opted for the radio broadcast.

Like Beckett, who lived and died in Paris, Kurtag also has a passion for the French language.

The musician and his wife settled near Bordeaux in France in the mid-1990s before moving back to Hungary in 2015.

Kurtag's "music glows with such intensity, even in its quietest, most refined moments," said music historian Gergely Fazekas.

His music "strives with such force to discover what reality is... what is unspoken but still there," Fazekas told AFP during a ceremony in early February at the Liszt Academy, where the composer received an honorary doctorate and led a rehearsal of his new opera.

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He said Kurtag is widely referred to as "the master of miniature forms", as many of his pieces "capture only a few minutes or even less period of time from eternity".

bur-oaa-kym/gv
Crime and fantasy were front and center at this years Up Next: Germany showcase at Berlinale Series Market on Feb. 16, where producers unveiled four upcoming titles, three scripted shows and one documentary series.

While revolving around crime, Westend Girl is also a family drama. Set in Dusseldorf, the fact-based series follows 19-year-old Ronja (played by System Crasher star Helena Zengel), whose world collapses when her parents are suddenly arrested on suspicion of running the citys biggest cocaine ring.

More from Variety

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Presenting the series, creator and director Pola Beck said she had been working on the project  a very personal endeavor  for some 15 years, having come across the true story from a close friend who had experienced a similar crisis in her own family.

I was quite shocked, but then I thought, Wow, what a diamond of a story.

Beck originally planned to make a film about the story but eventually decided to take the series route after partnering with producer Martin Heisler of Flare Film.

Westend Girl is produced by Flare Film in co-production with WDR and Arte, in collaboration with Beta Film and funded by Film- und Medienstiftung North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF).

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In The Dark Ones, a crack between dimensions on a North Sea island enables the arrival of dangerous beings into this world: the Dark Ones. Echoing The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the strange visitors are shady doppelgangers who begin swapping places with the islands inhabitants. Only one person can stop them  Soma, a young woman who is searching for her own origins.

While set on Germanys North Sea coast, The Dark Ones actually shot in Belgium, which offered better funding conditions for the production.

We have a great, very unique hook in the story and filmed in an iconic landscape, but still with a very universal conflict, so we truly believe that this is something that will speak to audiences worldwide, said Andi Wecker of Network Movie. So we want to go out there. Of course, we want to show it in Germany, but we want to go out there as well.

Aiming for a bigger budget for such a high-end show, the producers ultimately decided to head to Belgium, which offers a tax rebate of 30% or higher. With 30% plus, some very smart decisions by some very good creatives, we were able to create the standard we were looking for, he added.

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Wecker stressed that they would have preferred to shoot in Germany, but at the time they simply did not have the financing instruments in Germany that other countries, like Belgium, offer.

That looks set to change, however. Soon something will hopefully be in place that will actually attract money to Germany and many more productions that will lead to some healthy co-production relationships, he said.

The Dark Ones is produced by Studio Zentral with Network Movie for ZDFneo with support from Screen Flanders in Belgium and Austrias FISA+.

4 Blocks Zero, meanwhile, is a prequel to the award-winning gangster drama 4 Blocks and tells the story of the Hamady family after they flee Lebanon to Germany and struggle to build a life in 1990s Berlin. The show chronicles how they become the most influential extended Arab family in the city and how young Ali came to be known as Toni.

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Noting that the three seasons of the original 4 Blocks neatly completed the family saga, producer Quirin Berg of W&B Television said a prequel set in the 1990s was the logical focus for the next chapter.

The original series broke new ground in Germany in telling the story of a crime family that very much reflected newspaper headlines at the time, Berg noted. The decision was made in 4 Blocks to tell the story from the perspective of Tony, the head of the family and the face of the family. And that was very new in Germany.

Indeed, audiences embraced the clan and ended up cheering for the bad guys, Berg added. While its a great thing storytelling-wise and thrilling and fascinating, at the same time we know in real life, if youre living a thug life, you pay a price for it.

Director and executive producer Ozgur Yildirim added that 4 Blocks was always a realistic show and in working on the prequel, it was the political aspects of the story, namely the familys origins in war-torn Lebanon, that not only interested him personally, but also set the new series apart from its predecessor. The series could also examine the impact of German policies and how they may have exacerbated the situation that led to the growth of criminal clans.

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4 Blocks Zero is produced by W&B Television and funded by the GMPF and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg for HBO Max.

A real-life Berlin crime family is at the center of the tentatively titled Clangold, which explores one of the most spectacular cases in German criminal history: The theft of the 100-kilogram Canadian gold coin known as the Big Maple Leaf from Berlins Bode Museum. The documentary series offers a close, often humorous look at the gripping cat-and-mouse game between investigators and perpetrators.

Director Jan Zabeil was initially wary of the project. I was aware that to do something about the so-called clan crime in Germany is also a minefield here, you know? Its very, very easy to lose and very hard to win.

After discussing the project with friends in Berlin from the Lebanese-German community, Zabeil realized there were positive aspects to talking openly about the heist, which for many was quite entertaining and not taken too seriously. Theres no one being murdered, which you normally have in all these crime shows. This is spectacularly light-hearted, from what actually happened. People refer to Robin Hood when they talk about it.

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For Dirk Engelhardt, senior director of local original productions at HBO Max for German-speaking territories, said Clangold fit well with the streamers general strategy, noting that HBO Max was specifically looking for true crime shows, and was also very trustful in working with documentary specialist Beetz Brothers Film Production.

Produced by Beetz Brothers Film Production for HBO Max, Clangold is funded by GMPF and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

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A CNN panel erupted into argument Tuesday night over Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs performance at the Munich Security Conference.

"Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary didnt hold back in his criticism of the congresswomans performance, eventually calling the rest of the panel "nuts" to close out the episode.

Ocasio-Cortezs missteps on the world stage have been widely criticized after she claimed Venezuela was "below the equator" and appeared to struggle with a question about Taiwan.

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Rubio Shines On Global Stage While Aoc, Whitmer, And Newsom Take Heat

The Washington Post editorial board wrote she seemed "out of depth."

"Im sorry, its not a partisan issue. She was terrible. Get over it!" OLeary said Tuesday on CNN's "NewsNight."

Read On The Fox News App

His blunt comments were met with opposition from other members of the panel, including "The View" host Ana Navarro, podcast host Leigh McGowan and journalist Cari Champion.

Aoc's Munich 'Stumbles' Draw Criticism From Liberal Critics Admitting Comments Were 'Not Great'

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez takes part in the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 13. (Getty Images)

They defended AOC's performance as "not terrible," while one panelist admitted she was only "terrible for 20 seconds." OLeary rejected that characterization, asking the group if they were "kidding."

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Champion then labeled OLeary "condescending," before CNN host Abby Phillip tried to cut him off.

"The reality is, Kevin, is that she was taking a beat, and yes, she wasnt great for less than 20 seconds, if you ask me," Champion said.

"I thought she was doing something that the President of the United States rarely does and thats think before she speaks," she added.

Cnn Ratings Down Bigly From 2017 'Trump Bump' Through 2025 Amid Changing Media Landscape

Kevin OLeary looks on before President Donald Trump speaks about "Trump Accounts" at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 28.

The arguments resumed later in the episode, when OLeary used his final word to tell the panel theyre "all nuts."

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Navarro and OLeary continued to argue until Phillip eventually told OLeary, "If you don't have anything to say, just say that. I won't come to you next time."

Ocasio-Cortez was joined in Munich by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Arizona Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman criticized her comments questioning U.S. support for Israel and accusing the Jewish state of committing "genocide."





Original article source: Kevin O'Leary battles CNN panel over AOC fiasco in Munich, says others are 'nuts'
Sweet niblets! After months of speculation, Disney officially announced that Miley Cyrus will officially return to celebrate for the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana. Unlike a traditional reboot or revival, the Disney+ special is unscripted and will offer a deep-dive into the show that captured a generation.

"Hannah Montana will always be a part of who I am," says Cyrus. "This 'Hannahversary' is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans whove stood by me for 20 years. The fact that it still means so much to people all these years later is something Im very proud of."

While reunion rumors have swirled for yearsand even been teased by the cast in recent monthsthis marks Miley's first Hannah Montana homecoming since its 2011 finale. Read on for everything we know about the "Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special"including how to watch, which cast members will return and more.

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How Can I Watch the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special?

The "Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special" will be available to stream exclusively on Disney+ starting Tuesday, March 24, 2026. While Disney has not confirmed the specific release time, major original titles typically drop on the platform at 12:00 a.m. PT.

It's important to note that while the original Hannah Montana aired on Disney Channel, this will not be shown on cable television. You must have a subscription to Disney+ in order ot watch the special.

What will happen in the anniversary special?

The official press release says: "The special will be filmed in front of a live studio audience and will feature an exclusive, in-depth interview with Miley Cyrus, hosted by Alex Cooper. The conversation will offer an intimate look at the creation of one of pop cultures most iconic characters and the lasting impact the show and character have had on fans around the world."

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It continues: "With heartfelt nostalgia and fresh perspective, Cyrus will revisit the moments, music and memories that defined an era. Viewers will be treated to never-before-seen archival footage, while some of the most memorable sets from Hannah Montana are brought back to life  including the Stewart family living room and the legendary Hannah Montana closet. There will also be some familiar *notes* that find their way back into the spotlight"

Related: Miley Cyrus Shares Hannah Montana Archives Ahead of 20th Anniversary

Will Billy Ray Cyrus be in the Hannah Montana Special?

As of right now, the returning cast members have not yet been announced. However, we did notice that the language in Disney's official press release describes it as an "intimate conversation" between Alex Cooper and Cyrus. Additionally, Miley and her mother, Tish Cyrus-Purcell are listed as Executive Producers alongside Cooper and Matt Kaplan, but Billy Ray Cyrus is not mentioned.

Over the years, there has been ongoing tension within the Cyrus family. In her 2023 "Used to Be Young" TikTok series, Miley opened up about how she and her dad have different reactions to fame. "My dad grew up the opposite of me, so I think that's where me and my dad's relationship to fame and success is wildly different," she said. "Him feeling loved by a big audience impacted him emotionally more than it ever could me. When he feels special or important it's like healing a childhood wound and I've always been made to feel like a star. It makes me emotional."

Will There Be a Hannah Montana Reboot in 2026?

Currently, there are no plans for a scripted Hannah Montana reboot or a "Season 5" revival.

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The upcoming March 24 event is strictly an unscripted special designed to celebrate the shows 20-year legacy. While it will recreate the show's iconic sets, these will serve as backdrops for Cyrus and Cooper to discuss the show's history, not film new episodes in character.

Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television, described the project as a "love letter to the fans" rather than a relaunch. "Hannah Montana opened the door for so many fans to dream big, sing loud and embrace every side of themselves," he said. "Partnering with Miley on this special is a dream, and we want it to be a love letter to the fans, who remain as passionate today as they were when the series debuted."

Next up: Miley Cyrus Net Worth in 2026 and How Much She Made From Hannah Montana

This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Global tourism research and airport exit questionnaires often track whether holidaymakers say they plan to return. Some destinations earn high satisfaction yet show lower repeat intent because distance, cost, or sheer effort makes one trip feel complete. This pattern shows up most in places where logistics require serious preparation and time.

It is not always about wanting to go back less, but about the fact that the first visit already delivers such a concentrated, once-in-a-lifetime experience that people mentally file it under we did it. When a destination demands guided travel, long internal transfers, or a tightly structured route, travelers are also more likely to move on to a new challenge the next time they have the budget and vacation days.

None of the locations below lack beauty or cultural depth. Many visitors simply treat them as milestone adventures rather than routine vacation picks. Long routes, limited infrastructure, or structured itineraries can shape that mindset. A powerful first experience can stand on its own.

1. Bhutan

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Bhutans high Himalayan setting is paired with a regulated tourism model that includes daily fees and guide requirements. Many itineraries follow a classic cultural route linking Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha. Monastery walks, fortress architecture, and festival traditions often fit into one carefully planned circuit. A first visit can feel like a complete introduction to the countrys core heritage.

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Because independent roaming is more limited than in many parts of Asia, travelers sometimes feel there is less variation for a second trip. Costs can also be higher than comparable routes in Nepal or northern India. For long-haul planners, that first journey often becomes the defining Himalayan chapter. Later trips may shift toward destinations with simpler access and looser planning.

2. Madagascar

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Separated from mainland Africa by the Mozambique Channel, Madagascar often requires multi-segment flights and long road transfers between parks. Many wildlife-focused travelers build one extended route that includes rainforest reserves, baobab landscapes, and a stretch of coastline. Lemur tracking, night walks, and snorkeling can fill a full schedule without much spare time. One long loop often satisfies the curiosity that brought visitors there.

Road conditions outside major cities can slow travel significantly. Seasonal rain can also affect access to remote areas and change travel times. After completing a demanding itinerary once, many nature travelers choose a different biodiversity region next. The memory stays vivid even without repeat plans.

3. Bolivia

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Thin Andean air greets arrivals in Bolivia, especially around La Paz and the Altiplano. Acclimatization can take several days and shapes how quickly a trip can move. Many first-time visitors prioritize Salar de Uyuni, Sucre, and Lake Titicaca in one ambitious circuit. That combination already covers the countrys most recognizable landscapes.

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Travel between regions can involve overnight buses or domestic flights with tight margins. Physical strain combined with long distances can make the journey feel intense rather than relaxing. Once signature stops are done, later South American holidays often lean toward countries with smoother transport networks. Bolivia remains memorable even as a one-time trip.

4. Mongolia

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Grassland horizons stretch for huge distances across Mongolia, where paved roads thin quickly outside Ulaanbaatar. Organized overland trips commonly combine the Gobi, steppe horse camps, and seasonal Naadam celebrations. Nights in traditional ger shelters add a strong cultural layer. That format often captures the essence of the country in one expedition.

With extremely low population density, repeating the same wilderness-style itinerary may not feel as fresh the second time. Logistics also means long hours in a vehicle across open terrain. After one successful trip, many adventurers shift toward mountain trekking or coastal exploration elsewhere. Mongolia keeps its reputation as a rare frontier experience.

5. Papua New Guinea

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Papua New Guinea combines dense rainforest with complex internal travel that can include small aircraft and river transport. Cultural itineraries often revolve around festivals, village visits, and guided treks. Divers may also focus on reef systems near Milne Bay or New Britain during a single specialized trip. With planning concentrated around one theme, the experience can feel complete.

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Tourism infrastructure is limited outside a handful of hubs, which raises planning difficulty. Many operators recommend guided arrangements and up-to-date security briefings for first-time visitors. Because a return trip often requires the same level of preparation, repeat leisure travel tends to be less common. For many travelers, the first journey satisfies the original goal.

6. Greenland

Image credit: Shutterstock.

Iceberg fjords, Arctic wildlife, and brightly colored coastal towns define Greenlands appeal. Most trips connect via Iceland or Denmark, then continue on small regional flights or boats. Many photographers plan one journey around either the winter northern lights or the summer midnight sun. That single polar mission can feel like a lifelong dream checked off.

Accommodation costs and weather delays can complicate scheduling. Remote settlements can also limit how many distinctly different routes a second trip can offer. After glacier scenery and whale-rich waters, travelers often choose other northern destinations with easier logistics. Greenland, therefore, tends to remain a one-time achievement for many visitors.
There's something magical about stepping into a forest, particularly one that has been left to grow as it has for hundreds or thousands of years. Fortunately, despite the ongoing issue of deforestation-which can have terrible consequences for ecosystems, air quality, and pretty much every aspect of life-our blue and green planet is still studded with magnificent woods full of trees, animals, and mysterious shadows that seem to shapeshift when the light is just so.

It's no wonder that forests around the world have inspired fairy tales and legends for generations, providing the setting for many of our most beloved stories and our most terrifying lore. In Europe, forests have long generated myths about everything from Norse gods and giants to the Grimms' fairy tales, from Hansel and Gretel to Snow White.

Fortunately, the forests on this list aren't mythical relics of the past. They still grow today, providing fresh inspiration and even healing for anyone willing to step into their cool, green depths.

Black Forest, Germany

Triberg Waterfalls in Black Forest, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany | Education Images/GettyImages

Germany's Black Forest is a vast wooded area located in the mountains of the southwestern German state of Baden-Wrttemberg. It is believed to have inspired many of the Brothers Grimm's most famous fairy tales, including Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty, and is also associated with the Pied Piper and many other stories of witches, elves, and other wandering creatures who will whisk you off into the Otherworld if you aren't careful.

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This forest is also full of cultural attractions, ranging from tiny, whimsical villages like Schiltach to delicious restaurants and storied monasteries, but nature is still the area's top attraction, and places like the Triberg Waterfalls and pristine lakes are sure to spark awe and inspiration in any traveler.

Fanal Forest, Portugal

Trees on the Fanal Forest in Madeira, Portugal | Mika Volkmann/GettyImages

Nestled on the Portuguese island of Madeira is the surreal, misty Fanal Forest, an ancient laurel forest filled with mysterious curved trees believed to be over 500 years old. The forest is located in the northwestern part of the island in the mountainous Paul da Serra area, and it is notable both for its unique trees and the fog that tends to shroud them, particularly in the mornings. Dense with ferns and moss, this area is definitely most recognized for its collection of strangely humanoid trees, which seem to dance and morph with the wind.

Crooked Forest, Poland

Trees in Poland's Crooked Forest | Anadolu/GettyImages

Poland's Crooked Forest is another natural wonder that seems to be straight out of a dream or a surrealist painting. Its roughly 400 trees are strangely bent at a 90-degree angle near their roots, and even more strangely, no one knows exactly how this happened.

Some believe that the trees began growing beneath a sheet of heavy snow that led them to contort into bizarre shapes, some think those who originally planted them engineered them to grow differently, and others blame Nazi or Soviet tanks that may have been parked on them while they were saplings. Still others attribute the phenomenon to aliens or more mystical causes. Regardless, today the forest is a majestically warped example of the strange magic of life on our planet.

Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland

The Dark Hedges in Ireland, featured in Game of Thrones | Andia/GettyImages

If you've seen Game of Thrones, you might recognize Northern Ireland's Dark Hedges, a row of beech trees that were featured in the show. These trees were actually planted by James Stuart in 1775 to mark the entrance to his home, Gracehill House.

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It's not exactly known where the name "Dark Hedges" came from, but according to local legend, they are haunted by a woman known as the Grey Lady who floats through the trees and sometimes brings more friends from the spirit world to float among the curved beeches alongside her.

Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania

Romania's Hoia-Baciu forest is one of those places on Earth that, like the Bermuda Triangle and New Jersey's Pine Barrens, seems to be an absolute hotbed for unexplainable phenomena. "So many people have disappeared here, some say it's a portal to another dimension," a tour guide named Marius Lazin told the Guardian in 2025.

These shadowy woods have long been called haunted, and their name refers to a farmer said to have disappeared along with 200 sheep. This forest also received fresh attention in 1968, when a military technician named Emil Barnea took a photo of a mysterious object in the woods that he labeled a UFO.

Today, the forest is under threat from developers who want to clear it out, but it remains a popular attraction for tourists and anyone interested in mysterious energies, ghost-hunting, haunted places, or meeting another Transylvanian legend: Count Dracula.

Hallerbos Forest, Belgium

Bluebell flowers in Belgium's Hallerbos Forest | KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/GettyImages

Located about an hour from Brussels, Belgium, the Hallerbos Forest is best known for the few weeks during the year when it fills up with vibrant bluebell flowers that blanket the ground and create an atmosphere that looks straight out of fairyland. The blooms emerge at different times each year but are most often seen sometime between late March to early May, and the forest features plenty of beautiful wonders all year round, from oak, ash, pine, and beech trees to songbirds and plenty of other wildlife.

Otzarreta Forest, Basque Country, Spain

Beech trees near a river in Otzarreta Forest, Basque County, Spain | VW Pics/GettyImages

Otzarreta Forest is a magical land of moss-covered beech trees that stretch their green branches up to the sky and look a bit like forest gods if you catch them from the right angle. Located in Basque Country, this natural wonderland is lined with sparkling streams and is particularly magical during autumn, when the orange and gold colors of the trees' changing leaves contrast marvelously with all the moss. Legend also has it that the area is home to the mythical Basajuan, a hulking, hairy creature who wanders the woods and whose purpose is to protect nature.

Brocliande Forest, France

Merlin's Tomb in the mythical forest of Broceliande, also known as Paimpont Forest | Andia/GettyImages

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Brittany, France's Paimpont Forest is the inspiration for Brocliande Forest, which is believed to be the setting of most famous legends and stories of all time-the tales of King Arthur and the many legends that accompany him, from Merlin to the Lady of the Lake. Today, visitors can wander the woods drinking in the mystic ambience of the lakes and ancient oak trees, or can also visit majestic sites like the Chteau de Trcesson, the Gothic-style Abbey of Notre-Dame, or the Fountain of Youth, a stone-circled fountain said to be a Druidic holy site.

Love trivia? Order Mental Floss's new game, Brain Brawl, to test your knowledge in a head-to-head tournament style.





This article was originally published on www.mentalfloss.com as 8 European Forests Straight Out of a Fantasy Novel.




Firecrackers will spark and red lanterns will glow from Beijing to Austin as millions welcome Lunar New Year, also referred to as Chinese New Year, and usher in the Year of the Fire Horse.

The holiday begins Feb. 17, 2026, marking the start of a new lunar calendar cycle  and, in the Chinese zodiac, the arrival of a sign associated with momentum, ambition and bold change.

Heres what to know about the Year of the Horse and how long the celebration lasts.

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SEE MORE: Lunar New Year 2026: Austin hosts free festivals, crafts, celebrations

What is the Chinese New Year animal in 2026?

The Chinese New Year operates on a 12-year cycle, with different animals representing each year of the cycle.

With 2026 comes the transition from the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Horse, galloping into the spotlight and bringing with it expectations of forward momentum, change and growth.

The Horse represents freedom, drive and bold action. People born in a Horse year are often described as independent, charismatic and quick-thinking. They thrive on movement and dislike feeling confined.

A Horse year is believed to bring forth rapid change and growth, especially in terms of career opportunities. It is also believed to bring travel, big life decisions, creativity and confidence.

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Each year in the Chinese zodiac also pairs with one of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal or water. The element is also believed to influence the tone of the year. This year, the element is fire, bringing forth the Year of the Fire Horse.

This is the first appearance of the Fire Horse in 60 years, and the fire element is believed to greatly accelerate the Horse's typical traits, leading to extreme energy, passion and change, including impulsivity.

How long is Lunar New Year celebrated?

Chinese New Year begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and is celebrated across much of East and Southeast Asia, and its diasporas. Feb. 17 marks the start of the spring festival this year, a 16-day celebration filled with family reunions, red envelopes, fireworks and traditional foods meant to bring prosperity. The first four to seven days of the celebration are observed as official holidays in many Asian countries.

The celebrations typically culminate in a Lantern Festival on March 3.

Lunar New Year vs. Chinese New Year

Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year are the same festival, but Lunar New Year is the more inclusive name for the holiday celebrated by many Asian

Who celebrates Lunar New Year?

Lunar New Year, often referred to as Chinese New Year, is primarily celebrated in China  but its celebrated by various east and southeast Asian countries, like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Recently, I made a visit to southern Indiana to visit family. When Im down that way, I always try to find a place to hike. Unfortunately, most of Indiana was hit with a ton of snow and some places had a nice storm. While I was there, I was hard pressed to find a place to hike.

I suddenly remember a special place to hike: The Big Four Pedestrian bridge in Jeffersonville.

The Big Four Bridge is a six-span former railroad truss bridge that crosses the Ohio River, connecting Louisville, Kentucky and Jeffersonville, Indiana. The original bridge was completed in 1895, and updated in 1929. The largest single span is 547 feet, with the entire bridge spanning 2,525 feet. It took its name from the now defunct Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railway, which was nicknamed the "Big Four Railroad." It is now a converted pedestrian and bicycle bridge from Louisville into Jeffersonville.

My view while walking across the Ohio River on the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge.

There is so much history behind this wonderful old bridge. It was in use as a railroad bridge for decades until the railroad stopped using it back in 1969.

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It took a lot of money and work to restore the bridge and ramps and was a project that was worked on by many entities over several years including the City of Louisville, the City of Jeffersonville, the Indiana Department of Transportation, and many others.

It officially opened as a pedestrian/bicycle bridge between the two cities between 2013-2014.

The Jeffersonville historic district near the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 because of its architectural and historic significance. It includes a mix of residential and commercial architecture, much of which dates from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.

It was a cold day when I visited the bridge and I couldnt help but be excited. There was a ramp on the Jeffersonville side that one can walk up and there was also a set of stairs. I opted for the stairs. The stairs were covered with ice and places, and I had to take care of where I placed my feet. In fact, it had recently been closed and just reopened due to all the snow and ice.

A view of the Ohio River from the bridge. Ice can still be seen from the recent cold weather. A barge can be seen in the ice.

I was able to view so much after I arrived at the top of the bridge. The Ohio river had big pieces of ice floating on it. It was starting to break up, but there was still a lot of ice on it.

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I walked across and looked at the view from both sides. It felt surreal to me to be walking across the great Ohio River. There werent many people out probably because it was very cold. Just a few brave souls were walking across the bridge towards Louisville.

I walked the entire length of the bridge and then turned around to come back home to Indiana. Including the ramps on each side, its a 2 mile hike if you go across and back. I couldnt think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning and to get some exercise and fresh air on this old river.

Some quick facts about the Ohio river: The river flows through or along the border of six states and starts in Pennsylvania. It empties into the Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois. It is 981 miles in length. And its widest point is just north of downtown Louisville where it is one mile across.

Of course the river is the reason the bridge was built in the first place.

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Its a great place to visit, see the sights, and get some exercise. The bridge receives 1.5 million visitors a year. It is said that the opening of the Big Four Bridge has been a boom for businesses on both sides of the Ohio river. But I think the best part comes from the connection of two cities.

If these two cities could work together to restore a historic bridge to connect their citizens, just think of the possibilities. Food for thought.

The parking area on the Jeffersonville side of the bridge is located at 215 E. Chestnut street, Jeffersonville, Indiana. I hope you get the chance to visit some day.

A quote for your week: Dont be afraid to cross that bridge, theres a better version of you waiting on the other side. - Roger Lee- Motivational writer.

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Until the next trail, Susan

Susan Anderson is a resident of Owen County who enjoys hiking and backpacking and writes a weekly column about her experiences. Readers can reach her via email at saanders@hotmail.com or on Instagram @farsideoftheedge.

This article originally appeared on Evening World: Take this bridge at a walk: The Big Four Pedestrian Bridge
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Mardi Gras on the West Coast? We didnt know it existed until we did a little digging, and we found a place in California, about 60 miles north of Sacramento, celebrating the Port Citys favorite tradition.

Fat Tuesday 2026: Watch the parades all day long!

Nevada City, California, claims to have the most riotous Mardi Gras celebrations outside of the American South, so WKRG News 5 learned more about the tradition from some California revelers.

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The Nevada City Mardi Gras parade is held on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday, which we call Joe Cain Day in Mobile, Alabama, the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States. Thats no coincidence.

1994. This is the year chaos all starts, co-founder David Sparky Parker said.

Parker is one of the people credited with bringing Mardi Gras to Nevada City. The idea was born at a bar that used to be known as Wileys.

I had two gentlemen walk into the bar, Parker began. Were talking  about Joe Cain, and I had never heard of Joe Cain in my life, and the next thing were talking about Mobiles Mardi Gras and how huge it is and how many, 100,000 plus or maybe more come to it, enjoying Mardi Gras.

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At the end of two hours of wonderful conversations, I said, we can do that here, he continued.

Just like that, Joe Cain Day was born in Nevada City, bringing a piece of the Port City to California. At one point, the celebration featured the fictional alter ego of Joe Cain, the man credited for revitalizing Mardi Gras in Mobile after the Civil War.

Whats his name? Whats the Chiefs name? Parker asked.

Chief Slacabamorinico, but well just call him Chief Slac.

Kurt was dressed up as the Chief and portrayed him. He basically came down the front of the parade. He was leading the procession, and he did a marvelous job for 13 years or so, Parker recalled.

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Both the Southern and Western Chief Slacs actually paraded together in downtown Mobile back in 1999, but over time, some traditions faded. The Nevada City Chief Slac retired, and now the celebration is simply called Mardi Gras, to match a more family-friendly vibe. Things got pretty rowdy back during the Joe Cain days.

It was a party. Yeah, definitely a big, big party, co-founder Rick Ewald said. In the early days, if you remember the Mardi Gras parade or the Joe Cain parade, you werent there.

One big part of the Nevada City parade holds true to the spirit of Joe Cain Day, the Merry Widows, led by Mary Ann Crabb before she passed away in 2024.

Mary Ann ended up taking over. After a while, people kind of got burned out, the original crew got burned out on putting the Merry Widows together, so Mary Ann took over, and she ran a tight ship, I tell you, R.L. Crabb said about his late wife.

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Her Merry Widows are a group of 12 women and men taking on the personas of Joe Cains 12 lovers. Ricky Ewald has fond memories of joining the group.

I was at our local bar on roller blades, and she told me about how she used to skate in the parade. She invited me to come along, and that kind of started the process of showing up every year to be a part of the Merry Widows being on roller blades going down that hill and throwing beads at the same time, Ewald recalled.

The group is also known for its scholarship programs, donating thousands of dollars over the years for single parents, and thats nothing to weep about.

Recall of peanut butter products distributed in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi categorized as Class II by the FDA

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Mardi Gras, no matter where you celebrate, is all about tradition and letting the good times roll.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.


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Its barely four weeks into the new year, and 2026 is already breaking winter weather temperatures as large swaths of the U.S. enters a deep freeze. This winter might convert some new snowbirds, residents of northern regions in the U.S. and Canada, who flock to balmier climates until spring.

For anyone looking for a more permanent location to return to each season, the Bahamas has a brand new option opening at a prime time. The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, on Paradise Island, just off of Nassau, is adding 67 oceanfront residences, including two five-bedroom/five-bathroom beach villas. Residents will have access to a host of exclusive amenities behind a manicured entry road with a security guard, including a separate private wine cellar, swimming pool and deck, a lounge with a light provisions store, and valet parking.

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Residents can also visit any of the amenities offered at the larger The Ocean Club resort, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023 in a star-studded bash. Among the Ocean Clubs most popular offerings include Jean-Georgess Dune restaurant and The Martini Bar, which was featured in the James Bond film, Casino Royale.

Residences are for sale now, and are expected to be completed by 2028. Pricing ranges from $8,886,641 to $22,951,323. Below, we spoke with Reid Boren, managing partner and founder of Two Roads Development, one of the U.S.-based real estate development firms behind the project, about the expansion of The Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas.

The Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas

What was the starting point for the residences' design?

The elegant proportions and exquisite finishes were the starting points for the residences interiors, which we collaborated on with the world-class design team at Champalimaud. The residences embody a new expression of contemporary sophistication, and are delivered turnkey with impeccable detail.

For the architecture, we were inspired by Ocean Club founder Huntington Hartfords vision for the resorts classic buildings, which have been seamlessly updated for the 21st century with the residences. The pink blush of the stonework, stately columns, and expansive, deep terraces are among the highlights.

What do you think buyers are they likely looking for here?

A pristine, private escape from the rest of the world that is remarkably accessible via nonstop flights from many destinations. Residents will find a place to connect with family and friends while making memories enjoying the propertys exquisite grounds, amenities, dining, and sport offerings.

The Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas

What do you want a residents first impression to be upon arrival?

We want residents to experience a feeling of warmth and being home as they drive through the winding, manicured entry road to the porte-cochere and fountain, which welcome you to the lobby. Whether greeting residents by name as they step through the door, or preparing a personalized menu to enjoy with friends and family, the service from the dedicated Four Seasons team will anticipate every need and help create this sense of warmth.

The Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas

What is one element in the residences that is unique to this property?

The propertys iconic blue and white arc of beach and azure ocean is a real showstopper, and unlike any other setting in the world.

The Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas

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What is one area of the property you are most excited for guests to experience?

We look forward to owners being able to live the Ocean Club lifestyle in its most exclusive tier: true privacy, first-rate service and amenities, and an unparalleled location. The residents-only library and lounge space is perfect for entertaining, and the owners cellar with private lockers for wines, liquors, and cigars are complemented by a gourmet restaurant and bar, pool, beachfront lounge, spa, and fitness centerall with dedicated, all-encompassing concierge service.

The Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas

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Following the December raid on Fort William and Mary in 1774, New Hampshires Royal Governor, John Wentworth, became increasingly concerned about political protests. He grew more anxious after shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, and especially after fighting at Bunker Hill resulted in armed camps around Boston.

As these tensions mounted, he withdrew to New Castle and later Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the summer months of 1775, leaving New Hampshire without a functional government. No courts, no new laws, no land allocations. Perhaps he thought it would be temporary, but it ultimately left people with no legal system.

New Hampshires first constitution, adopted in Exeter on Jan. 5, 1776, months before the Declaration of Independence.

New Hampshire residents contacted the newly formed Continental Congress, which encouraged them to start thinking about organizing and governing themselves. Delegates in Exeter, who had already been meeting as a kind of shadow government, began work on December 28, 1775, drafting a constitution for self-government. This extraordinary document, the first N.H. Constitution, was adopted on January 5, 1776, months before the remaining colonies declared independence. It still stated that it would become unnecessary if King and Colony could work out their differences, but it remained the framework for the N.H. government until 1784, when a postwar constitution was passed.

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Historically Speaking: Yes, Paul Revere came to Exeter, and here's why

But where did they meet in Exeter? Where is our Independence Hall? Surely, this would be a well-documented location, and the building would have been cared for over the centuries. Unfortunately, we cannot determine exactly where the delegates met.

At the time these discussions were taking place, two meeting places in town were large enough to hold the entire Provincial Congress. Both buildings were more than 40 years old. In the early 1730s, the Congregational Church voted to build a new meetinghouse. The old church meetinghouse was razed, and its timber was reused to construct a separate townhouse (or town hall in modern terms) for civic gatherings such as the annual town meeting. The townhouse also served as a courthouse and stood across the road from the church. We know from the paper money riots after the war that both buildings were later used for official state business. So, both places were available, and the new constitution could have been argued out and written at either location, or it could have been written in a local tavern. Lots of official business took place in taverns.

Historically Speaking: Life and legacy of Benjamin Swasey, Exeters unsung history writer

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Both the church meetinghouse and the Exeter townhouse have since been demolished. The church meetinghouse was torn down and replaced in 1798 with the current church, which stands in the same location as the old meetinghouse.

Descriptions we have of the old townhouse (and there are no images or pictures) place it across the road from the church. We currently have a small park called Town House Common which commemorates the spot. But the building was probably slightly toward the center of the current roadway because there was another building where the townhouse common stands, and it was there before and after the townhouse was erected. That would place the townhouse right in the middle of the road. This is where historian Nancy Merrill placed it on the map produced in 1972. You could put a building in the middle of the street back then; its not like your horse was going to crash into it.

In any event, by 1795, the old townhouse was in rough shape, so it was sold. No real record exists of who purchased it, but it was removed shortly afterward. It doesnt appear on the 1802 map. It might have been razed or, according to local legend, moved to a location on the corner of Court and Bow streets. There are numerous rumors that it became the Court Street Garage in 1917, or perhaps only the recycled timbers were used for that structure. Maybe? If it was, it was poorly treated considering its service to the state of New Hampshire. The Court Street Garage was torn down in 1958 without much fanfare, so if that was it, its gone. A small gas station was built on the site. Today, its a parking lot for the police and fire complex.

So, where was the first N.H. Constitution written and enacted? Exeter. Somewhere in Exeter.

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Barbara Rimkunas is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member. Join online at www.exeterhistory.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Where was New Hampshires Independence Hall in Exeter?
Ramadan Mubarak!

The phrase, meaning Happy Ramadan, is frequently used during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, a time when fasting, prayer and reflection are heavily prioritized.

Ramadan, one of the most sacred times of the year, is part of the five pillars of Islam. It officially kicked off on Tuesday, Feb. 17. For those looking for more information on the religious observance, heres what to know.

When is Ramadan?

Ramadan began at sundown on Tuesday, Feb. 17, and continues through sundown on Thursday, March 19. It concludes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, meaning the Festival of Breaking the Fast.

Why do the dates of Ramadan change every year?

The dates for Ramadan fluctuate each year because the holiday is based on the phases of the moon.

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The start is determined by a moon sighting committee in Saudi Arabia, and Ramadan begins the day after the committee spots the new crescent moon. If the moon isnt visible, lunar calculations are used to predict its location in the sky.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan takes place during the month when Muslims believe the Quran started to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, according to the Henry Ford Community College. Its said the angel Gabriel appeared to him in A.D. 610, giving Muhammad the Islamic holy book. Its a holy, sacred time focused on worship, prayer, fasting and studying the Qur'an.

Fasting, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is a requirement during the month of Ramadan, with Muslims abstaining from food and water from sunrise to sundown. The fast is believed to help participants focus on whats most important in ones life, as well as increase self-discipline, renew ones faith and seek out forgiveness. It's also encouraged to prioritize compassion, helping to increase awareness of Allah, meaning God in Arabic, and be more conscious of the poor, sick and suffering.

Each evening after sundown, the fast is broken with a prayer and meal called iftar. Its common to spend time with friends and family after iftar, enjoying one anothers company and eating delicious foods before the next days fast, beginning at sunrise.

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During Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to spend more time praying at the mosque. Additionally, a sixth prayer, optional, called the Tarawih prayer, is recited in the evening, along with the five daily prayers practiced year-round.

What is Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr is a festival that marks the end of Ramadan, and it is one of two eids celebrated on the Islamic calendar each year. It is celebrated with special morning prayers, as well as delicious foods and gifts for ones family or those in need. Its also considered a time of forgiveness, when Muslims are encouraged to forgive and seek forgiveness.

In countries with larger Muslim populations, Eid al-Fitr is considered a national holiday, closing schools, businesses, etc., and allowing families, neighbors and friends able to partake in the celebrations together.

When is Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr will begin around Thursday, March 19. The holiday depends on when the new moon is observed, so celebrations begin at different times across countries.

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When is Lent: Fasting rules and no-meat Fridays

How many Muslims live in Indiana?

According to the World Population Review, Indiana has a Muslim population of more than 41,000 people

Islam, however, is the worlds second-largest religion, with over 1.9 billion followers, and is the third-largest religion in the U.S. after Christianity and Judaism. As of 2017, a total of 3.45 million Muslims practiced in the U.S.

The states with the largest Muslim populations include New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas and Michigan.

Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: How long is Ramadan? Dates for the season in 2026
The post The Stunning Discovery in a Thai Forest Thats Giving Conservationists New Hope appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

The elusive Asian golden cat was recently spotted in a national park in Thailand.

There are an estimated 7,000 Asian golden cats left , sparking a need for conservation.

Catching Asian golden cats on camera traps helps to better understand the shy, solitary wild cats.

Asian golden cats face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and poisoning, leading to population declines.

With news of animal populations threatened with extinction, becoming regionally extinct, or being eradicated from the planet entirely, those working in conservation may begin to wonder if their hard work is all for naught. Then, stories of species thought lost emerge, leaving a glimmer of hope that not all is lost.

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Such is the case of a recent discovery that left experts speechless after a camera captured the ultra-rare fire tiger in the wild. The fire tiger, or Asian golden cat, is so elusive that its population is hard to estimate. But as more are captured on camera traps, a better understanding of Asian golden cats can be gained, and conservation efforts can be tailored to suit their survival needs.

Where Experts Found the Fire Tiger

The Asian golden cat is one of the least understood wild cats. They are solitary, nocturnal, and quite shy. This combination makes the Asian golden cat difficult to spot. But thanks to non-invasive technology, one was captured on film, and wildlife experts could not be more thrilled.

Known as the fire tiger in Thailand, the Asian golden cat is notoriously elusive. However, in January 2026, a camera trap placed in Khao Yai National Park captured a video of one. The small wild cat, with red to rust-colored fur, black stripes on its face, long legs, and a slim build, was seen walking through the lush forest.

An Asian golden cat was recently caught on a camera trap in Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. Signature Message/Shutterstock.com (Signature Message/Shutterstock.com)

The fact that the Asian golden cat chose Khao Yai National Park as a potential home reflects the hard work and conservation efforts officials have made to make the park a safe place not only for wild cats but also for other threatened and endangered species. It also highlights the health and biodiversity of Khao Yai, allowing multiple species to thrive.

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While it is good news that the Asian golden cat was spotted on a camera trap, it does not indicate that the population is increasing. In fact, according to estimates, the exact opposite is true.

Why Asian Golden Cat Populations Are in Decline

Asian golden cats have been facing a population decline throughout Asia for decades. As a result, only an estimated 7,000 Asian golden cats remain in the wild. According to experts, however, there is no way of knowing just how many of these wild cats are truly left because they are so rarely seen. Therefore, numbers could be significantly lower than what estimates state.

The Asian golden cat population is facing a rapid decline for several reasons. Some of the most common reasons for population decline include:

Habitat loss

Poaching

Poisoning

Snare capture

Lack of prey

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As a result of these stressors, the Asian golden cat populations have dramatically decreased. In some parts of Asia, it is believed that the Asian golden cat is regionally extinct.

Asian golden cat populations are declining due to habitat loss, poaching, and the like. slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com (slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com)

According to the IUCN, the Asian golden cat is considered near-threatened. This categorization dates to 2014, and the organization states that it requires updating. The IUCN also notes that the population is declining.

Despite the Asian golden cat being protected under Appendix I of CITES and the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, it continues to struggle to survive, underscoring the importance of conservation efforts.

Where Are Asian Golden Cats Typically Found?

Asian golden cats were once found across Asia in large numbers. Historically, they were once most abundant from India to China. But as their habitat was lost, these shy cats found they had far fewer places to roam and call home. Consequently, the regions where Asian golden cats are found today are significantly smaller.

Asian golden cats live in a forest habitat in Southeast Asia, Northeastern India, Bhutan, and Eastern Nepal. slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com (slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com)

Asian golden cats prefer a forest habitat with rocky outcroppings to survey the area below them. Some of the habitats include:

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Rainforests

Tropical forests

Subtropical evergreen forests

These habitats were once widespread, but have disappeared over the last several decades due to deforestation, climate change, and agricultural expansion. As a result, Asian golden cats are now found only in fragmented regions of Southeast Asia, Northeastern India, Bhutan, and Eastern Nepal.

Why the Discovery of the Asian Golden Cat Is Important

This discovery of the Asian golden cat in Thailand is especially important because it was believed these wild cats were extinct in the region. If the Asian golden cat has indeed found a long-term home in Khao Yai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a highly biodiverse region in the country, there may be hope for the species survival.

In terms of safety from poachers and habitat loss, Khao Yai National Park is one of the best places the Asian golden cat could choose to call home. However, what makes the discovery of the wild cat on the camera trap so important is that it gives scientists an opportunity to learn more about the elusive creature.

The discovery of the Asian golden cat on video can lead to a better understanding of populations, habits, and how to better save the wild cats from extinction. slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com (slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com)

Given how little is known about the Asian golden cat due to its solitary and nocturnal nature, glimpses into its habits and range can be very helpful for understanding how to save the species from extinction. The exact population number in Thailand is unknown. However, by tracking Asian golden cats with camera traps without disturbing them, populations can be estimated, the cats health can be observed, and a rigorous assessment of whether conservation efforts are successful can be conducted.

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There may never be an exact population count of the Asian golden cat, but the more that is learned about these incredible creatures, the more conservation efforts can be tailored to prevent their regional and complete eradication.

What Is Being Done to Save the Asian Golden Cat From Extinction?

Until December 2025, it was believed that the Asian golden cat was completely extinct in Vietnam. Thanks to the camera trap footage, one was observed within the boundaries of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, to the surprise and delight of biologists. While this indicates that the wild cats territory is expanding, it does not necessarily imply that Asian golden cat populations are increasing. Therefore, conservation efforts are still necessary if the Asian golden cat population is to remain stable or even grow in the future.

Conservation efforts, such as removing snares, stopping habitat loss, patrolling for poachers, and more, have been implemented to protect wild cats. PACO COMO/Shutterstock.com (PACO COMO/Shutterstock.com)

A variety of tools have been implemented to prevent the Asian golden cat from going extinct. Some of the most common conservation efforts include:

Removing snares from protected areas

Educating local populations about how to live peacefully with the Asian golden cat, rather than seeing them as a threat, and discouraging the poisoning of animal carcass bait

Stopping forest degradation

Preserving more habitats to stop habitat loss

Patrolling for poachers

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The hope, with Asian golden cats returning to regions where they were once abundant, is that more will follow. But as a 2021 study notes, nearly 80% of the population is seriously threatened by forest loss and hunting. Consequently, a majority of the population is at risk.

If the Asian golden cats are not better protected, with support from local populations, there is no telling if the wild cats will survive. But with camera traps capturing glimpses of Asian golden cats in numbers not seen before, all is not lost. Instead, it is an opportunity to help a predator that is often overlooked because of its shy, solitary nature and small stature, rather than watch yet another apex predator be lost through no fault of its own.

The post The Stunning Discovery in a Thai Forest Thats Giving Conservationists New Hope appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Fans are looking forward to the premiere of tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama "Siren's Kiss" on March 2. Behind-the-scenes photos that have just come out show the visual chemistry between Park Min-young and Wi Ha-joon. People are talking about the couple online, and fans say their faces look "100% satisfactory" together.

Kim Cheol-gyu directed and Lee Young wrote "Siren's Kiss," a deadly romantic thriller about Han Seol-ah, an insurance fraud suspect played by Park Min-young, and Cha Woo-seok, a man played by Wi Ha-joon who is looking into the strange deaths around her.

Naver says that the production gave fans a surprise gift during the Lunar New Year holiday by posting behind-the-scenes photos from the set. The stills show Park, Wi, and Kim Jung-hyun, who is also in the movie, rehearsing and carefully coordinating their emotions before filming intense scenes.

The production team wrote in the report that the actors were "deeply immersed in their characters in front of the camera," which gave an idea of what it was like on set. The article also said,"The three actors' meticulous focus during rehearsal, finely orchestrating their emotions, foreshadows the tension within the drama."

Read more: Park Min Young's New Look Goes Viral After Reaching a Healthier WeightK-Netz Can't Stop Praising Her

When filming stopped, more photos showed a different mood. The report said, "Off-camera, a different atmosphere was captured." It further described, "Park Min-young brightens the set with her bright smile, while Wi Ha-joon, with a serious expression, checks the flow of the scenes, enhancing the quality of the work." The article also stated, "Kim Jung-hyun also displayed his passion by continuing discussions about the drama."

Sports DongA's coverage echoed these feelings, stressing how dedicated the cast was to the project. The outlet said, "The actors' constant reading of the script, even during breaks, demonstrate their extraordinary affection for the drama." It added, "Expectations are high for the tension and excitement that 'Siren,' which will be completed through meticulous preparation and strong teamwork, will deliver."

People really like the way Park Min-young and Wi Ha-joon look together on screen. They think Park Min-young and Wi Ha-joon have features and they seem good together. Some people even call them a " masterpiece". This makes people want to watch the thriller more to see how Park Min-young and Wi Ha-joon interact with each other.

The story is about Han Seol-ah's secrets being revealed. The show "Siren's Kiss" is about being suspicious of chasing someone and being attracted to them in a way. The show wants to make viewers feel emotions and be suspenseful at the time. It does this by combining romance and mystery.

Read more: Park Min-young's Role in 'Confidence Queen' Has Everyone BuzzingHere's Why
With the recent opening of Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, a Delaware-based national fast-casual restaurant chain, cheesesteak aficionados no longer have to travel more than 1,000 miles up the interstate to compare the taste of Delaware and Philly cheesesteaks.

Now, for Delaware-style cheesesteaks, they can visit Capriottis at 6320 S. Tamiami Trail, while the quintessential Philly-style cheesesteak can be found a couple of miles to the south, at Johnny Longhots Philly Cheesesteaks Sarasota at 7523 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

How does a Delaware cheesesteak differ from a Philly cheesesteak?

A double wagyu cheesesteak from Capriottis Sandwich Shop, which is made from Snake River Farms American wagyu beef, with white American cheese, mushrooms, onions and hot or sweet peppers.

Jason Cooper, the owner of the Capriottis sandwich shops in Sarasota and Manatee counties, said one major difference is the use of American cheese, along with mushrooms, grilled onions, and hot or sweet peppers.

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When people ask about Cheez Whiz, he explains thats a Philly thing, available at Johnny Longhots Philly Cheesesteaks Sarasota.

Cooper has already eaten at Johnny Longhots and is excited for its success, noting that between area car dealerships, furniture stores, and offices, there are plenty of people who need to eat lunch every day.

In addition to the traditional cheesesteak, Capriottis offers cheesesteaks and other sandwiches with American Wagyu Beef, following a 2020 partnership with Snake River Farms.

That meat offers a different experience than traditional ribeye.

It just melts in your mouth; its a different experience, Cooper said. Some people love one, some people love the other.

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Its cool that we have these two different types.

The Capriottis menu also offers sandwiches with plant-based turkey and steak, traditional Italian sandwiches, and hot pastrami.

But the sandwich that put Capriottis on the map in 1976 was The Bobbie, a Thanksgiving-inspired combination of slow-roasted and hand-pulled turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and mayonnaise.

Love at first bite

Cooper said he first fell in love with Capriottis while he was attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the 1990s, so in some ways it was only a matter of time before he bought into the franchise.

There was one right across the street from my college dorm, said Cooper, who also owns the Capriottis that opened in 2023 in Manatee County. Anytime I could afford a sandwich  which wasnt very often  Id get a large sandwich and eat it for three or four days.

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It was my favorite sandwich in the world.

Cooper actually had two favorites: The Bobbie and a Capastrami, which features hot pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing.

Capriottis also routinely ranks as one of the 10 best sandwich shops in the country by USA TODAY.

When did Capriottis open in Sarasota?

The Sarasota shop opened at 6320 S. Tamiami Trail on Jan. 8  with the occasion marked by the appearance of a 30-foot inflatable turkey in the parking lot.

Cooper said hed promised people who asked about the shop opening that hed do something obnoxious to let everyone know that it was open.

Since then, business has been steady, said Cooper, who spent three decades in the restaurant business but switched to real estate when he and his wife Rachel moved to Sarasota four years ago.

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Currently, he is affiliated with Coldwell Banker, handling coastal luxury properties, but worked the counter at the Sarasota shop on Feb. 4, so the manager could take his first full day off since the shop opened.

In Manatee County, about 60% of the sandwiches served have been hot, Cooper said. In contrast, so far, more than eight of every 10 sandwiches sold out of Sarasota have been hot  something he attributed to the early-season cold weather.

Whats so special about Capriottis turkey?

While Cooper is proud of the fact that everything at Capriottis is made in-house, turkey preparation takes it to another level.

Our turkeys are roasted overnight every night of the week, Cooper said. The last thing that our staff does before they lock the door is they put turkeys in the oven, they wrap them tight and leave them overnight.

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You come in at 8 a.m. and you open the door and theyve been cooking in there for eight or nine hours and the restaurant just smells like Thanksgiving morning, he added. Its incredible.

While Capriottis has offered The Bobbie since the sub shop was founded by siblings Lois and Alan Margolet in 1976, The Hot Bobbie was introduced in 2020.

The shop is named to honor the siblings grandfather, Louis Capriotti.

For those who are curious, Wawa's Thanksgiving-themed sandwich, The Gobbler, was introduced in 2005.

Lois Margolet vacationed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the 1990s, which led to a Capriottis opening there in 1993 and helping nourish Cooper through his college years.

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A couple of other UNLV students  Ashley Morris and Jason Smylie  would later buy the entire company in 2008.

Capriottis is now based in Las Vegas.

Cooper noted that the franchises proprietary soft sandwich rolls are all baked in Vegas and then shipped to stores around the country.

It holds up and its actually great even when you reheat it, Cooper noted.

If you go

Capriottis is located at 6320 S Tamiami Trail, next door to the Smoothie King and just a couple of doors down from a soon-to-be-reopened Jets Pizza.

It is open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. It also offers catering, with boxed lunches and party trays.

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For more information, call 941-315-7702, or visit capriottis.com.

Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota cheesesteak lovers can now compare Delaware and Philly style
Vermont is known for having some great downtowns, places to walk around, shop and take in the spirit of the place.

However, did you know that the title of "The Most Walkable Downtown in the United States" was actually given to a small town of a little over 2,000 residents near the Green Mountains?

The website WorldAtlas said that Wallingford, Vermont, has the most walkable and enjoyable downtown area in the country.

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Here's why.

The BenAnna Band plays children's music in Wallingford on Dec. 28.

Wallingford, Vermont  Most walkable downtown in U.S.?

WorldAtlas said that Wallingford's Main Street is the most walkable U.S. downtown area because visitors can park just once and then and walk without the entire area without needing to pick up the pace.

"Wallingford is divided into three distinct villages," the Town of Wallingford, Vermont, website said. "Each depicts the typical small New England town with colonial, federal, and Victorian homes, antique shops, white steepled churches, inns, and small country stores and gift shops."

What to do in Wallingford, where to eat

The WorldAtlas website recommended visiting Handmade in Vermont, an art gallery that hosts its showroom out of Wallingford's Old Stone Shop, where the oldest fork company in America once operated.

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"In 1835, Lyman Batcheller and his sons acquired the forge and opened a pitchfork manufactory, using Sheffield steel shipped by wagon from Troy, New York," WorldAtlas said. "The shop burned in 1848 and was rebuilt on the same site; the limestone Old Stone Shop that stands today dates to 1848 and still retains its limestone walls and slate roof."

WorldAtlas said that visitors can park at the free parking lot Wallingford Park and Ride on Meadow Street.

"Fuel up for the day at Sweet Birch Coffee Roasters and Bakery in the center of town, serving in-house roasted espresso coffees as well as an array of other hot and cold beverages," the travel website said.

Open since 2021, Sweet Birch Coffee Roasters and Bakery is located at 15 S Main St. in Wallingford. According to their website, they offer your usual fare of cookies, cupcakes, and cakes as well as fine treats as Applesauce Cake and Kentucky Butter Crumb Cake.

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If you're looking for lovely parks to take a moment in and bask in the warmth that a small Vermont town provides, you can check out Stone Meadow Park on Waldo Lane.

"Honey bee hives have been installed at Stone Meadow and can be viewed from a safe distance. A kayak and canoe launch into Otter Creek is located off Waldo Lane," the town website said.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Most walkable downtown in US? WorldAtlas picked this Vermont town
The post The Truth Behind the Infamous Crocodile Attacks at Ramree Island appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

Ramree Island, off the coast of Myanmar, was the site of a major World War II battle in early 1945.

British forces pushed Japanese troops into mangrove swamps inhabited by saltwater crocodiles.

Contemporary accounts describe crocodile attacks, but historians dispute claims that hundreds of soldiers were killed by crocodiles.

Saltwater crocodiles once lived in the region in greater numbers, but populations declined significantly during the 20th century due to hunting and habitat loss.

Ramree Island During World War II

Ramree Island lies off Myanmars western coast in Rakhine State. In January and February 1945, it became the site of a major Allied offensive against Japanese forces during World War II. British troops from the 14th Army captured the islands airfield, forcing thousands of Japanese soldiers to retreat.

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Some of those retreating troops reportedly moved into surrounding mangrove swamps to avoid surrender. These swamps were a habitat for the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), the largest living reptile species.

British troops making their way to Ramree Island in 1945. Official photographer Sergeant Wackett of No.9 Army Film and Photographic Unit, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons  Original / License (Official photographer Sergeant Wackett of No.9 Army Film and Photographic Unit, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Crocodile Attack Claims

The story most often repeated about Ramree Island comes from British naturalist Bruce S. Wright, who later wrote that Japanese soldiers spent a night in crocodile-infested swamps and described hearing screams and disturbances in the darkness. Wright suggested that only a small number of soldiers survived.

Over time, retellings of Wrights account grew more dramatic. Some sources have claimed that hundreds of Japanese soldiers  sometimes as many as 500 or more  were killed by crocodiles. The incident was later cited in Guinness World Records as the most deaths in a crocodile attack.

However, historians and wildlife experts caution that the exact number of crocodile-related deaths is unknown and likely impossible to verify. Military records confirm that heavy fighting occurred and that many Japanese soldiers died during the campaign, but they do not clearly attribute hundreds of deaths specifically to crocodiles.

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Researchers note several complicating factors:

Soldiers in the swamps were also exposed to gunfire, artillery, disease, dehydration, drowning, and exhaustion.

Mangrove swamps are difficult and dangerous environments even without predators.

Saltwater crocodiles are ambush predators, and while they are capable of attacking humans, coordinated mass predation events involving hundreds of victims are not well documented in scientific literature.

Most modern historians consider the story plausible in part  meaning crocodile attacks may have occurred  but believe the large death toll often cited is likely exaggerated.

Saltwater Crocodiles on Ramree Island

Saltwater crocodiles are native to coastal Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and parts of eastern India. They inhabit estuaries, mangroves, tidal rivers, and coastal wetlands. Adult males can exceed 20 feet in length and are capable predators.

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Historically, Myanmar supported populations of saltwater crocodiles, including in coastal mangrove ecosystems like those around Ramree Island. During the mid-20th century, crocodile numbers across much of Southeast Asia declined sharply due to commercial hunting for skins and habitat destruction.

Ramree Island is located off the coast of Myanmar. Flywheel Publishing (Flywheel Publishing)

Today, saltwater crocodiles still exist in parts of Myanmar, though populations are greatly reduced compared to historical levels. Some conservation programs operate within protected areas to preserve remaining habitat.

Separating Legend From Record

The Battle of Ramree Island is well documented in military history. What remains debated is the scale of crocodile involvement in the deaths of retreating soldiers.

There is no verified casualty breakdown proving that hundreds of soldiers were killed by crocodiles alone. The dramatic narrative has persisted in popular culture, but primary wartime documentation does not provide definitive confirmation of the highest figures often cited.

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Most scholars describe the event as one of the most debated wildlife-related wartime stories rather than the deadliest crocodile attack in confirmed history.

Conclusion

Ramree Island was the site of intense combat in 1945, and saltwater crocodiles inhabited the surrounding mangrove swamps. It is possible that crocodile attacks occurred during the chaotic retreat of Japanese troops. However, claims that hundreds of soldiers were killed by crocodiles remain unverified and are widely questioned by historians.

The post The Truth Behind the Infamous Crocodile Attacks at Ramree Island appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email me at the address at the bottom of this page.

Travelers in the United States woke up to news on Feb. 11 that the airport in El Paso, Texas, was closed for 10 days  only for that order from the Federal Aviation Administration to be lifted hours later.

A few weeks prior, U.S. flights in the Caribbean were disrupted as the Trump administration prepared and executed its capture of Venezuelas then-leader Nicolas Maduro.

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U.S. arrivals to Iceland plunged 27% year over year in January, according to new data from the Icelandic Tourist Board, a decline travel companies say aligns with rising geopolitical tensions around Greenland that are beginning to ripple through North Atlantic travel demand.

Meanwhile, flights from the United States to many Asian destinations continue to be rerouted as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has led to the closure of Russian airspace to U.S. and other Western airlines.

Global events can affect flights, even if travelers arent visiting areas directly impacted by conflict or foreign policies.

Geopolitical considerations can impact your flight more than you might think.

How do global crises affect travel?

Although U.S. airlines dont often fly to war zones, Americas foreign policy still affects travelers.

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With the ongoing closure of Russian airspace to Western airlines, many flights to Asia take longer from U.S. destinations now, as carriers have to fly more circuitous routes, rather than going directly over the Arctic.

This can lead to higher ticket prices and less convenient itineraries for travelers.

"That element has a significant financial cost for the airline and a significant burden on the passengers as well, but everything is for the safety of the passengers," Bijan Vasigh, professor of air transportation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, told USA TODAY.

Theres good reason for caution. There have been numerous incidents in history when flights wound up over conflict zones and paid the price. In 2014, for example, Malaysia Airlines flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down, apparently by Russian-backed rebels, over Donetsk, Ukraine.

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More recently, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight was shot down by Russian defenses in December 2024 and crashed in Kazakhstan.

Those are extreme examples, but in an industry that prioritizes safety, it highlights why airlines and aviation regulators go out of their way to make sure planes are flying in secure airspace.

How often do geopolitical events change flight routes?

Its more common than travelers might think.

In addition to the Russian airspace closure, airlines are constantly analyzing the global threat landscape to make sure their flights can operate safely.

Mark Dombroff, cochair of the aviation practice at law firm Fox Rothschild, said that the FAAs order of priority for flight operations is "safe, orderly and expeditious."

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"You could say the expeditious movement of air traffic is the lowest of the three priorities, but you want to have it safe and orderly to have it expeditious," Dombroff said, noting that safety must always be the top priority for aviation regulators and airlines.

Last week's Cruising Altitude: Afraid to fly? What finally helped me overcome travel anxiety.

During the Israel-Hamas war, for example, U.S. airlines temporarily suspended service to Tel Aviv.

Similarly, when conflicts erupt unexpectedly, many flights wind up being diverted to avoid danger on the ground.

"Airlines are obligated to follow the order of air traffic controllers," Vasigh said.

Are certain regions becoming permanently harder or more expensive to reach?

Theres no such thing as permanence in the sky. Without physical barriers, its regulations and orders that prevent airplanes from flying through certain airspace, and those can change at any time  no construction needed.

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While the Ukraine-Russia conflict continues, for example, U.S. airlines likely wont be able to overfly Russian airspace. However, the airspace is likely to reopen as soon as theres a resolution.

Similarly, U.S. airlines are prohibited from overflying certain parts of the Middle East, but that, too, could change if the situation on the ground in Iran, for example, changes.

"The airline industry is able to adapt pretty quickly in my experience," Dombroff said.

Particularly when airspace reopens, airlines can move quickly to take advantage of more efficient routes.

Do passengers have rights when a flight is disrupted by politics?

Airlines typically arent required to compensate or reaccommodate passengers when something like a global conflict affects their travel plans  but that doesnt mean they dont.

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"Generally, we call that force majeure, airlines are not obligated to compensate the passengers, but I havent seen the airlines not provide an alternative," Vasigh said.

Passengers head toward their gates at El Paso International Airport on Feb. 11, 2026, after the FAA lifted a temporary flight restriction that had grounded all flights earlier in the day.

Conflicts are treated like other causes of flight cancellations or delays by regulators for compensation purposes.

"Travelers whose flights are significantly delayed or cancelled by geopolitical events are entitled to an automatic refund from their airline, according to rules passed by the Department of Transportation in October 2024," Chrissy Valdez, senior director of operations at travel insurance company Squaremouth, told USA TODAY in an email. She added that in order to qualify for the refund, travelers must decline alternative flight arrangements if the airline offers them.

When a conflict or other airspace restriction comes into play, travelers are best served by looking out for notices from or getting in touch with their airline for alternatives.

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Valdez added that most travel insurance policies wont cover trip disruptions or cancellations due to geopolitical conflict, but said that add-ons like "cancel for any reason" or "interruption for any reason" packages can help.

"These benefits offer the most possible protection when it comes to canceling or interrupting travel plans," she said, adding that these add-ons usually have a time limit on when you can purchase them. "If geopolitical events are a concern, you should buy travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your trip."

Contributing: Nathan Diller

(This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.)

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Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why politics may be behind your longer, pricier flight
Feb. 17BEMIDJI  A person has died after a house fire on Monday evening in Port Hope Township.

According to a release from the Bemidji Fire Department, at 8:47 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire along Peterson Lake Road NE in Port Hope Township, about 15 miles north of Bemidji.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a large house that had been completely consumed by fire and had collapsed into the basement.

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The Bemidji Fire Department initiated a defensive attack and deployed a 1 3/4-inch attack line to begin extinguishing the fire. As additional crews arrived, further 1 3/4-inch attack lines were deployed. The fire was eventually extinguished.

A total of 28 firefighters and 11 pieces of equipment were on scene for approximately six hours. The building and its contents were a total loss. No firefighter injuries were reported; however, after the fire was extinguished, firefighters located one deceased person inside the home. The incident remains under investigation.

The Bemidji Ambulance Service, North Country First Responders, Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Beltrami Electric Cooperative, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshals Office assisted the Bemidji Fire Department at the scene.
Two people were hospitalized after a 6-car crash on Interstate 70 in Clark County, according to a spokesperson with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

As previously reported by News Center 7, the crash happened on I-70 near milemarker 52 in Springfield Township around 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

A preliminary investigation found the following vehicles and drivers involved in this crash were all heading eastbound on I-70:

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Shuzi Li, 16, of Rocky River, Ohio, was driving a 2011 Honda Cr-V

Raymond Schaaf, 51, of Galloway, Ohio, was driving a 2022 Honda Pilot

Hassan Abdulle, 62, of Columbus, Ohio, was driving a 2025 Honda Pilot

Donald White, 43, of South Charleston, Ohio, was driving a 2014 Honda Pilot

Donna Downs was driving a 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Sandeep, 26, of Moreno Valley, California, was driving a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia tractor-trailer combination

As traffic slowed for a disabled vehicle, Li rear-ended the 2022 Honda Pilot.

The 2025 Honda Pilot then rear-ended the Cr-V and traveled to the left, sideswiping the 2014 Honda Pilot, according to the spokesperson.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The Chevrolet took evasive action and swerved to avoid hitting the 2025 Honda Pilot, but was struck by the Freightliner.

Li and one of her passengers were not injured in this crash; however, the other passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries.

The 16-year-old driver was found to be at fault for this crash and cited for Failure to Leave Assured Clear Distance Ahead (ACDA), according to the spokesperson.

The driver of the 2025 Honda Pilot was hospitalized with minor injuries.

No one else was injured as a result of this crash.

The crash remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol Springfield Post.

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At least two people are dead after a passenger speedboat capsized near a popular tourist destination, leaving passengers scrambling in the water, G1 Globo reported.

2 Dead, At Least 7 Missing Following Passenger Speed Boat Crash

The tragic incident occurred on Friday, Feb. 13, at around 12:30 p.m. local time as a Lima de Abreu XV speedboat was traveling from Manaus, Brazil, to Nova Olinda do Norte. According to officials, the boat capsized at the point where the dark and muddy waters of the Rio Negro meet the light, sand-colored Solmoes.

Two people have been confirmed dead, while a further seven are missing. One of the deceased was confirmed to be three-year-old year-old girl, named Samila de Souza, who was treated at a local hospital but sadly died despite the best efforts of doctors and nurses. The second victim was identified as 22-year-old Laura Bianca.

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Harrowing photos from the scene show survivors trying to navigate their way to shore as firefighters descended upon the scene. A police boat and an ambulance from the Mobile Emergency Care Service also assisted in the rescue and recovery efforts.

Amazon Agency (Amazon Agency)

Amazon Agency (Amazon Agency)

71 Survived, But At Least 7 Remain Missing

"Currently, we are conducting a conference call with all individuals who were on board, including passengers and crew, in order to confirm the information with complete responsibility and transparency, boat operator Lima de Abreu Navegacoes said in a statement. We are also investigating, together with the competent authorities, all the circumstances that led to the incident.

Seventy-one passengers survived the shipwreck, with many using flotation devices to push themselves to shore. "Most of them had already been rescued by boats passing by the area, explained Colonel Ellton, the commander of the citys specialized firefighters. The assistance was provided by specialized teams focused on pre-hospital care and rescue for those who were still in the water.

From the very first moment, all appropriate emergency measures were taken, Lima de Abreu Navegacoes said in a statement obtained by Metropoles. The company's absolute priority has been to provide full assistance to the victims and their families, offering all necessary support during this time of immense grief. We remain at the disposal of the authorities for any necessary clarifications, awaiting the conclusion of the technical investigations, the statement concluded. At this time, we express our solidarity with the families and friends of the victims.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Feb 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
UTICA, NY  A fiery explosion at a church in upstate New York on Feb. 17 caused "catastrophic" damage and injured five people, including the pastor and firefighters who had responded to reports of a gas odor inside the building, authorities said.

First responders were dispatched to the Abundant Life Church in Boonville, New York, at around 10:23 a.m. ET after receiving reports of a gas odor, according to New York State Police. Multiple fire departments, ambulance services and law enforcement arrived at the church after the initial call.

According to the Oneida County 911 Center, the explosion happened shortly before 11 a.m. Following the incident, state police said four firefighters and the pastor of Abundant Life Church were transported to local hospitals and were listed in critical but stable condition.

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A preliminary investigation indicated that four people were in the church's basement when the furnace activated, triggering an explosion. A firefighter on the first floor was attempting to ventilate the building at the time of the explosion and was thrown against a wall, state police said in a news release.

In a statement, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. said he was deeply saddened by the explosion at the church and was praying for all those impacted.

"Our thoughts are especially with the Boonville firefighters and church members who were injured," Picente said. "I commend the bravery and professionalism of our first responders who rushed toward danger to protect others. Oneida County is in close communication with local officials and emergency services, and we stand ready to provide any assistance needed as the investigation continues."

Boonville is a town in Oneida County, New York, and is about 70 miles northeast of Syracuse.

Abundant Life Church in Boonville was destroyed by an explosion and subsequent fire. Five people were injured, including four firefighters and the pastor of the church.

New York State Police identify injured firefighters, pastor

State police identified the four firefighters and pastor injured in the incident as:

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David Pritchard Jr., 60, the fire chief of the Boonville Fire Department

Brandon Pitts, 43, the pastor of Abundant Life Church

Allan Austin, 67, a firefighter for the Boonville Fire Department

Nicholas Amicucci, 43, a firefighter for the Boonville Fire Department

Richard Czajka, 71, a firefighter for the Boonville Fire Department

Pritchard, Pitts, Amicucci and Czajka were transported to Upstate Hospital in Syracuse, while Austin was transported to Wynn Hospital in Utica.

Pennsylvania nursing home blast: Gas smell reported hours before explosion, report says

Abundant Life Church sustained 'catastrophic' damage

A post on the church's Facebook page stated the pastor and another member of the congregation were inside the church along with first responders when it exploded.

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The church, which was heated by propane cylinders, sustained "catastrophic" damage and was "considered destroyed" following the explosion, state police said.

After 1 p.m., firefighting crews were still hosing down what remained of the church as several members of the church watched. With no nearby hydrants, firefighters relied on their tanker trucks for water.

Drivers were advised to avoid the area, and New York State Route 12 southbound at Potato Hill Road and northbound at Kerwin Road in Boonville was closed.

State police noted that there was no indication of criminal activity in the incident and the investigation remains ongoing.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Explosion at upstate New York church injures 5, including firefighters
Three men are in custody, and three other people have warrants out for their arrests following a brutal armed robbery and beating of a man in downtown Pittsburgh.

Police say Shakeem Griffey, Caleb Mitchell, and Mateke Katzbeck were arrested Tuesday night. Karron Waller and two others are still wanted. Police say the six conspired together to attack and rob a man on Smithfield Street and Fifth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. This happened last Tuesday night around 8 oclock and was captured on city cameras.

Court paperwork says the victim had such severe injuries to his face and head that he wasnt able to tell police all of the details, and three of the men originally detained by police were released.

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In court paperwork, police say one of the suspects, Shakeem Griffey, pointed a gun at the victim and threw upwards of 20-30 punches to the victim while he is lying in the fetal position.

Officers added the attack seemed like a preplanned event, as the actors arrived together, attacked together and left together.

The victims tablet was stolen from him during the attack.

People who work downtown said this incident is concerning.

Its terrible, Liz Davis said. You should be ashamed, obviously.

Davis added that she does feel safe Downtown, and this wont make her change any of her habits.

I do feel like there is a lot of presence - I do see a lot of police going through, Davis said. I dont feel that its unsafe.

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Tom Bannon says hes seen people get robbed Downtown in the middle of the day.

Terrible, just terrible, you cant walk around the street without your bag being stolen, Bannon tells Channel 11. Turn yourself in. Face your charges that youre going to get and dont do it again.

Police learned Griffey is not allowed to have a gun from a previous criminal conviction, and there was a warrant for his arrest at the time of the attack.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
More than three dozen children and teenagers reported missing in Westchester County were located during a three-day, large-scale recovery operation.

In total, 43 children and teens who had been reported missing to police were found through the Westchester Missing Child Rescue Operation.

The effort involved more than 70 government and nonprofit agencies, including the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

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State officials said the children were considered runaways and were at risk of exploitation, endangerment or harm.

Children considered vulnerable to exploitation

"Many people don't realize that children who run away are among the most vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation, which makes urgency and coordination essential," said Kevin Branzetti, co-founder and CEO of the National Child Protection Task Force.

The children located ranged in age from 8 to 17 years old at the time they were reported missing, according to DCJS.

"Sometimes, the unthinkable happens and a child goes missing, placing them in the worst of situations," said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. "Although investigations of missing and exploited children are difficult, acts that threaten the well-being of children are unconscionable. Interagency operations such as this are crucial, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard the children of New York."

Missing children statistics statewide

Last year, 10,629 children under 18 were reported missing to police across New York state. By the end of 2025, there were 1,079 active missing children cases, representing about 10% of cases reported that year.

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According to police, 94% of children and teens reported missing in 2025 were classified as runaways.

"Every missing child case represents a young person who deserves to be safe, supported and seen," DCJS Commissioner Rossana Rosado said in a news release. "This operation brought together an extraordinary group of law enforcement, nonprofit and private partners to share information, pursue new leads and connect children with the services they need."

Third large-scale recovery effort

This marks the third operation led by the DCJS Missing Persons Clearinghouse and the National Child Protection Task Force. Previous efforts in Erie County and the Capital Region located more than 115 missing children combined. With the Westchester operation included, authorities say 160 missing young people have been located through these coordinated efforts.

What to do if a child goes missing

Authorities urge anyone reporting a missing child to:

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Contact local police immediately

Reach out to the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse

Contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 43 missing children, teens found in Westchester County operation
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Nationally recognized psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article Why CPT coding ambiguity harms doctors. Muhamad analyzes the landmark case of United States v. Ron Elfenbein, where a federal judge acquitted a physician of fraud charges because the underlying CPT rules were unquestionably ambiguous. He explains the 2021 changes to Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes and how prosecutors attempted to criminalize reasonable clinical judgment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation explores the damaging practice of insurance downcoding, where payers automatically reduce reimbursements without reviewing charts, effectively stealing physician labor. Muhamad outlines urgent policy reforms needed to distinguish between actual fraud and coding disagreements to protect the integrity of medical practice. Learn how this legal ruling provides a critical shield for doctors navigating a complex and often hostile billing system.

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome back Muhamad Aly Rifai, psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist. Todays KevinMD article is Why CPT coding ambiguity harms doctors. Muhamad, welcome back to the show.

Muhamad Aly Rifai: Thank you very much for having me. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about this timely topic that affects the practice patterns of most physicians around the United States who bill insurance.

Kevin Pho: All right, so what is this latest article about?

Muhamad Aly Rifai: In my article, I talk about the CPT coding. This is the Current Procedural Terminology, which is the billing language that was established by the American Medical Association. They established that in 1966. By the 1990s, the federal government and the Centers for Medicare Services actually established that procedural terminology as the pattern that they would take for Medicare. Then ultimately the private insurers actually also established that. So most of the time physicians who bill Medicare or bill private insurers use the CPT coding guidelines, and they are judged by the CPT coding guidelines.

What happened over the last 20 or 30 years is that there has been a development and a refinement of these codes and procedures. We actually saw that prior to the COVID pandemic, some of these codes actually changed. Basically, they were streamlined. Things were made easier.

This is where the legal case United States v. Dr. Ron Elfenbein comes in. This federal criminal case was actually filed in 2022. It really goes to the heart of basically the Current Procedural Terminology and how physicians use that. It shows how the ambiguity actually can be used by the federal government to indicate that some of the action taken by physicians is a criminal action.

Kevin Pho: I want to underscore how important CPT coding is because it determines how much revenue a medical institution receives and how physicians are paid. Our entire health care system, the financial structure, is essentially based on these CPT codes. Talk about why they are so ambiguous.

Muhamad Aly Rifai: The CPT coding basically has significant several components that look at the documentation that physicians do in their notes. It is called the Evaluation and Management codes, the E/M codes. Most of them are five-number digits. The last digit is usually between a one and a five. A one signifies the lowest possible level code and five signifies the highest level code. Most of the time people when they bill actually will start with a level one or two and then they may escalate to a level four or five.

In the case of Dr. Ron Elfenbein, who actually operated urgent care services during COVID, he evaluated patients during COVID time. He did COVID testing and he assessed them. What ended up happening is there was not a lot of knowledge about what COVID was at that time and what the consequences of COVID were. So he billed level three and four codes. The government said no, you should have billed level one or two. So that is how this legal case started. He actually ended up going to trial and was actually convicted.

Kevin Pho: So tell us more about this case. So eventually what happened to Dr. Elfenbein? Just to recap, he was billing level three-ish codes for COVID testing when the government said that he should have been billing level one and two codes. Is that correct?

Muhamad Aly Rifai: Yes. So the government initially said he shouldnt have even billed. They said: Well, he just did testing and there was very little evaluation on these patients. But these patients had the potential to have COVID and they could have died. There was very little knowledge about the disease process. So the government said levels three, four, and five were fraudulent and they should have been level one or two. It was very, very difficult for the jury to understand that. Basically, they ended up convicting him.

The issue is that the judge looked at the evidence. The judge in the case said this is very ambiguous. There was no way that the jury was able to reach this verdict beyond a reasonable doubt. So in a very rare move, he actually decided to override the jurys verdict and decided that he actually would be found not guilty.

I feel that this case really signifies how these things are ambiguous. When you put it to a laymans jury, it is really very difficult. What happened is the federal government actually appealed the case and it went up to the Fourth Circuit of Appeals. The American Medical Association actually put in an amicus brief, basically a friend of the court brief, telling the court that they think that is true, that these codes are ambiguous. However, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit decided actually to return the case to trial and ordered a new trial. So he is currently now battling another trial. The United States Supreme Court refused actually to take the case. So we have now a case where the CPT terminology and the CPT coding that is very ambiguous is being used against physicians in a criminal way. Whether a note is level 1, 2, 3, or 4 sometimes has some concrete rules, but a lot of times it is actually very fluid and ambiguous.

Kevin Pho: In the case of Dr. Elfenbein, did he have documentation to back up his coding at level three?

Muhamad Aly Rifai: He did. He did have documentation to back up the coding at level three. These were all patients that had the potential to have COVID, a deadly condition and an unknown condition. That is one of the criteria. If it is a vague unknown disease, you are able to bill at the highest level because you dont know what is going to happen. Your patient could go to the emergency room or your patient could die, so you are allowed to take the highest level of coding. He actually had coding experts that suggested that. But the jury, the laymans jury, found this is something that is very ambiguous and very difficult to understand. If we physicians do not understand it, I dont think that they understand it either.

Kevin Pho: How common is criminalization of coding errors, such as the case we are describing today? Is this an outlier? Does this happen relatively frequently? How common is this?

Muhamad Aly Rifai: We see it frequently and we are seeing it more and more. Basically, the criminalization sometimes is associated with other things. For example, if there is suspicion that a physician is prescribing controlled substances and they want to get him for the controlled substances, they tag on a coding violation. We as physicians, when we practice and we code a note, a coder may have a disagreement on the level. It could be two levels up or two levels above. So it is very hard. It is very ambiguous and we are seeing that the Department of Justice is criminalizing that action.

Kevin Pho: So what can physicians do to protect themselves? You mentioned in the case of Dr. Elfenbein there was appropriate documentation. So other than appropriately documenting, is there anything else physicians can do to protect themselves from finding themselves in that situation?

Muhamad Aly Rifai: I think they need to be very aggressive in terms of self-auditing themselves, so looking at their own notes. Now in the article, I also talk about how we are seeing private insurers actually auto-downcoding the levels of care. So if somebody sees a complex patient and it is a level four or five, the private insurances are saying without looking at the note: This is not a level four. This is not a level five. We will pay you a level three.

We are seeing that that is a significant issue that is happening. It is cutting into revenue. It is affecting hospitals and affecting private practices, and it is going to be happening more and more. We have also as physicians, because we have implemented ambient listening and transcribing, been able to capture more of the care that we provide to our patients. So that actually has improved our documentation. The insurance company is not happy with that, so they are auto-downcoding all of our notes now on a regular basis.

Kevin Pho: I have heard about that too. So when that happens, what kind of recourse do physicians have when their notes and visits are auto-downcoded?

Muhamad Aly Rifai: You have to fight like hell. A lot of places, physicians practices, and hospitals are taking it at face value. But unless we fight it, it is a violation of the law. It is a violation of the coding guidelines. They do not have the note. How do they know that your note is a level three and not a level four? If they do not have the note, they just look at the disease process or auto-downcode without even looking at the disease process. They just say: We are only paying a level three.

Kevin Pho: So what kind of ways can physicians fight this? From the insurer standpoint, I am sure that the appeals process is going to have a lot of red tape. And the fact that it is happening to so many visits means physicians are not going to have the capacity or resources to effectively fight back without cutting into their patient care time.

Muhamad Aly Rifai: I think what is going to happen is that physicians are going to band together and there is going to be a major lawsuit against maybe one or two insurers. The outcome of that probable lawsuit is going to drive what is going to happen and whether that practice is going to stop.

Now we are also seeing that the Centers for Medicare Services is going to start implementing AI and is going to be actually doing the same thing to notes of Medicare providers. But that highlights that these things are disagreements in opinion. They are not criminal acts. So sometimes the government prosecutes those as criminal acts, but they are actually disagreements in opinions about coding for a certain note, and they should be dealt with that way in a civil fashion.

Kevin Pho: So how do we get to this point? My understanding was that when the CPT codes were first unveiled in the 1960s, it wasnt really meant for billing. Correct me if I am wrong. So how do we get into this mess just from this billing standpoint and how do we fix it? How do we make it less ambiguous?

Muhamad Aly Rifai: It is our professional organization. The American Medical Association actually contracted with the Centers for Medicare Services. So the AMA actually receives revenue from the Centers for Medicare Services and private insurers. For every code that gets billed, they get a percentage. It is very low, probably a part of a cent. But with the number of codes being billed, they get a big chunk of money. So they have no incentive to basically change that. I think it is a step in the right direction that they actually sent an amicus brief saying that these codes could be ambiguous and they should not be used to criminally prosecute physicians.

Kevin Pho: What do you see as a path going forward as it relates to the ambiguities of these codes being used to criminally prosecute physicians? What do you see as potential scenarios going forward?

Muhamad Aly Rifai: I think physicians winning some cases where that gets established is key. I am hoping and rooting for Dr. Elfenbein to be exonerated in his case. Also, if the insurers and Medicare continue with auto-downcoding, organized medicine is going to get together and it is going to fight this. Unless there is court action, I dont see this stopping.

Kevin Pho: We are talking to Muhamad Aly Rifai, psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist. Todays KevinMD article is Why CPT coding ambiguity harms doctors. Muhamad, lets end with take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience.

Muhamad Aly Rifai: Sure. I think physicians should be held to the American Medical Association Current Procedural Terminology, but not to punish physicians for following it in good faith while treating patients. I am hoping that we are going to work on fighting CPT ambiguity and getting physicians the compensation that they are owed in taking care of their patients.

Kevin Pho: Muhamad, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight. Thanks again for coming back on the show.

Muhamad Aly Rifai: My pleasure. Thank you.
Kriangkrai Thitimakorn

This story originally appeared on The 19th.

Sarah ONeill loved her job as a data scientist at the National Security Agency (NSA).

The government before last year was what I would consider to be a model employer, ONeill said.

She started the job in 2019, two years after she started her transition to living as a woman.

That wasnt an issue at all, she said. Everybody was supportive.

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Everything changed in January 2025. Thats when President Donald Trump took office for a second term and signed an executive order titled Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.

The order stated that the federal government would recognize only male and female genders and that they were unchangeable from birth, denying the existence of transgender people like ONeill.

ONeill was informed that she was no longer allowed to use a womens restroom, and should use one aligned with her biological birth sex.

As a government employee, ONeill was used to following rules. But this one seemed almost impossible to follow. She found a few single-stall restrooms at work and used those, but ONeill is a woman. Using a mens room was not appropriate.

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Across the Trump administration, LGBTQ+ federal workers describe being forced to choose between their jobs and their ability to fulfill their most basic human needs.

Shannon Leary, a partner at Gilbert Employment Law, has spent the past 19 years representing federal workers in discrimination lawsuits against the federal government. Such discrimination chips away at a persons ability to do their job, she said.

That impacts a person on so many different levels, both personally and professionally, she said.

There has been a steady stream of those cases across all presidential administrations, Leary said. But something has changed with the advent of the second Trump administration.

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I personally have observed an increase in potential clients reaching out, Leary said.

Its unknown how many LGBTQ+ federal workers are suing the Trump administration for alleged discrimination, experts said. Thats because some of the suits are public, while others have been made as confidential complaints. But over the past year, the administration has faced a number of high-profile lawsuits over the ban on LGBTQ+ pride expression and refusal to let transgender workers use bathrooms that align with their genders.

Here are the suits advocates are watching most closely in the courts:

Sarah ONeill, NSA

ONeill, the data scientist, is suing her agency, saying the NSA violated Title VII and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by denying her existence as a transgender woman and creating a hostile work environment. Agency actions included cancelling its policy recognizing her identity and right to a workplace free of unlawful harassment, prohibiting her from identifying her pronouns as female in written communications, purging references to transgender people from its materials, and barring her from using the womens restroom at work, her complaint alleged.

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The agency did not respond to a request to comment on the lawsuit.

LeAnne Withrow, Illinois National Guard

LeAnne Withrow, a transgender woman who serves as the lead military and family readiness specialist for the Illinois National Guard, also enjoyed an accepting workplace until January 2025. Then, following Trumps executive order, she was told she could no longer use a womens room, she said.

Withrow has mostly made it work by using a single-stall bathroom close to her office.

But this past week, for example, I had a two-hour meeting in a building across campus, where I have to badge in, and Im two floors up, she said, putting her far from the bathrooms she knew were safe to use. Its kind of humiliating in a way.  It feels very much like separate, but also not equal.

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Withrow filed a federal class-action lawsuit in November against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Withrow alleges that Trumps order violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title VII, which prohibits discrimination against transgender workers on the basis of their sex.

OPM did not respond to a request to comment on the lawsuit.

David Maltinsky, FBI

Veteran FBI employee David Maltinsky was undergoing special agent training in Quantico, Virginia, when he received a letter from Director Kash Patel informing him he had been fired for displaying political messages at work, he said.

Maltinskys firing came after Trump signed an executive order ending all government diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Months prior, Maltinsky displayed a Pride flag that he had been given by the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. Maltinsky said he had asked multiple supervisors about keeping the flag displayed and been told he was not in violation of a policy.

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My supervisor and I talked, and he agreed, the flag is not violating anything that he sees, he said. Maltinsky also asked the head attorney for the Los Angeles field office.

And he also agreed, and he said, this does not violate any FBI policy, rule or regulation.

When Maltinsky was fired, he filed suit against Patel. A spokesperson for the FBI said in a statement that the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

Danielle Mittereder, TSA

Transportation Security Officer Danielle Mittereder sued the Department of Homeland Security in November after supervisors made her stop doing airport pat-downs because she is transgender. The removal came after Trumps January 20 executive order declaring two biological sexes. Mittereder alleges that she had excelled in her job and never received complaints until supervisors enacted the order, which also barred her from using bathrooms that aligned with her gender at work.

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DHS did not respond to a request to comment.

HRC Foundation, federal health care

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nations largest LGBTQ+ rights advocacy organization, is in the midst of preparing a class-action lawsuit against OPM for blocking insurance coverage for gender-affirming care ifor federal workers. The foundation says the policy forces employees to choose between their jobs and their health care.

The Trump administration is weaponizing medical care to push transgender public servants and their families out of their jobs and back into the closet, Human Rights Campaign Foundation President Kelley Robinson said in a statement. This policy is textbook discrimination and we will continue to advance this litigation until our federal employees and their families get the respect, care and dignity they deserve.

OPM did not respond to a request to comment on the suit.

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A group of 50 students and community members gathered at Rogers State University Feb. 5 to denounce the country's top immigration law enforcement agency.

The protesters filled the patio of the Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center with speeches, signs and chalk drawings that took aim at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. It was a more peaceful analogue to the demonstrations that have broken out nationwide, most prominently in Minnesota, in response to changes in the agency's methods since President Donald Trump retook office.

Chris Thomas, a sophomore art student, put together the "Make Art! Melt ICE!" protest at RSU. Thomas said ICE is violating the right to due process afforded by the Constitution to anyone within U.S. territory, and they felt complicit sitting idly by.

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They said they grew up believing in the American Dream, the idea anyone can succeed in the United States through hard work and determination, but have lost faith in it.

"From the slave catchers to the police officers during the Zoot Suit Riots and now ICE, the American Dream will never be real," Thomas said. "The American Dream will never be real while there are children locked up. ... I have never been less proud to be an American. This is not the land of the free I was promised."

Thomas said while many people know the names of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two Minneapolis protesters fatally shot by ICE agents in January, fewer know the names of children detained by ICE.

They said ICE arrested 11-year-old Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano and her mother, originally from Ecuador, as they were driving to school in Minnesota in January. In Portland, Oregon, ICE detained 7-year-old Diana Crespo-Gonzalez and her parents at an urgent care where Crespo-Gonzalez's parents were seeking treatment for their daughter's nosebleed. Thomas said the agency denied medical treatment to the 7-year-old, originally from Venezuela, for several days because she had a fever.

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"I think our message should be that ICE should not be detaining children and they should not be preventing children from receiving medical care," Thomas said.

The federal government has released both children and their families.

Thomas said neither Crespo-Gonzalez nor her parents had a criminal record. In 2024, the family fled Venezuela and trekked through South and Central America to cross the border into the United States. According to the Oregon Capital-Chronicle, the family has an active asylum case and had been approved for work permits.

Sophomore Abbie Trahan said everyone in the United States except Native Americans is either an immigrant or descended from one. Trahan said people who break immigration laws should still be treated with human dignity.

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Trahan is Mexican-American; she said she and her father are each native-born citizens. Her friend Laysha Chaffee said she still fears for Trahan and her father because ICE has detained a number of American citizens.

"I don't like them splitting up families," Chaffee said. "I think they should have to wear body cams. ... They're trying to get people that come in and try to do it legally. They're sitting outside immigration centers. People go in to get their fingerprints, they come out and they're immediately detained. It's gross."

Chaffee makes art under the name "machine.gurlll." With chalk, she inscribed on the patio two drawings of ICE agents as pigs  one anthropomorphic and wearing an officer's uniform, the other four-legged and obediently tethered by a leash to a cartoonish likeness of the president.

"It helps people understand why we don't like ICE, why I don't mess with it," Chaffee said. "I feel like it should invoke people to kind of look into what's happening."

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Jon Douthitt, an 88-year-old retired judge, said he has been around law enforcement much of his life and sees ICE as unprofessional, amateurish and dangerous.

Douthitt, speaking to the entire crowd with a microphone, encouraged those gathered to appeal to their members of Congress to rein in ICE.

"There are people that can help, people that will help, but they need to have their attention redirected to what's important," Douthitt said. "What's going on in Minneapolis is deadly important."

Not everyone at the protest had come to oppose ICE. Tim McHugh, lead pastor at Grace United Methodist Church, and Nancy Gill, pastor at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, led the group in prayers that called for unity and peace.

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McHugh referenced John 8:1-11, a chapter of the Bible in which two men drag a woman who has committed adultery before Jesus and ask him whether they should stone her, as instructed by Moses' teachings. Jesus says the man who has never sinned may cast the first stone; all the accusers leave.

"He refuses to see anyone less than human," McHugh said. "That's peace with courage. Restraint with strength. Justice without cruelty. And it's a model our world desperately needs."

Gill said the Episcopal Church's bishops believe Scripture supports a nation's right to secure its borders but also makes plain every person is a beloved child of God made in his image. She said the Bible teaches that immigration officers and undocumented migrants are equally deserving of God's love.

"We lift up those who are watching with concern and fear, and pray for those who have died in protests and in detention, for those who witnessed their deaths, and for everyone who bears authority and responsibility in this moment that they may exercise wisdom, restraint and courage," Gill said.

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Though nearly all the protesters wore everyday clothes, one young man came to the demonstration all the way from Sperry dressed as the superhero Spider-Man. More than a dozen protesters spoke to the whole crowd with a microphone Jones passed around, but Spider-Man sat by quietly holding a sign that read, "Anyone can wear the mask  I wear it to protect the innocent."

His real name was Aidan Studie. He said he'd seen a post about the protest on Facebook and felt like it was his duty as an American citizen to be part of it. He decided to go as Spider-Man because he cosplays often and had already made the sign.

"Spider-Man believes with great power comes great responsibility," Studie said. "I believe he would stand up and feel that he should use his power to be responsible, to show people the right way to protest and the right way to speak up for what's right."
A 59-year-old man died while in ICE custody at the Miami Correctional Facility on Monday, according to a press release Wednesday.

In the press release, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Lorth Sim, of Cambodia, was found unresponsive in his cell on Feb. 16. After lifesaving efforts by facility staff and EMS, Sim was pronounced dead at 7:10 a.m.

ICE says his cause of death is under investigation.

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"ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments," the press release read, in part. "Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay."

According to the ICE press release, Sim reportedly entered the United States in 1983 and became a lawful permanent resident in 1986. However, ICE says he was arrested for disorderly conduct in 1989, indecent exposure in 1996 and larceny in 2005. He was arrested by ICE in 2006 and was ordered to be deported to Cambodia.

ICE reportedly arrested Sim on Dec. 30, 2025, after he arrived at the ICE office lobby in Boston. ICE says Sim was transferred from ICE Boston custody to ICE Chicago custody on Jan. 5, 2026.

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement:

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"I have spoken to officials at the Department of Correction and urged them to conduct a thorough investigation of the death of this detainee. We need to ensure that our procedures and medical contractors are up to the task of appropriately caring for people in ICE custody.

Public trust in ICE is near zero. Since the state of Indiana has decided to allow ICE to use our facilities, it is incumbent on us to ensure that the conditions in that facility are up to standard. Over the last few months, I have visited Miami Correctional Facility three times to see for myself that detainees are receiving proper treatment. I will continue to monitor this situation until we have a full public report of what happened to this detainee and receive proper assurance there was no systemic failure that could cost another person their life."
A scandal involving a State Police homicide detective has led to finger-pointing between the Middlesex County District Attorneys Office and defense attorneys, raising questions about who knew the details of a fatal 2023 crash and why it took over two years for certain facts to surface.

At the center of the controversy is State Police Sergeant Scott Quigley, a veteran investigator who worked alongside prosecutors in the Middlesex DAs office. In December 2023, Quigley was driving an unmarked cruiser in Woburn when he struck a wheelchair van head-on. Angelo Schettino, a passenger in that van, died from his injuries a month later.

While Quigleys attorney maintains the crash was a tragic accident, newly disclosed hospital records from when Quigley was treated for injuries he sustained in the crash suggest that the detective was legally intoxicated at the time of the collision.

A Trial Halted

The allegations first surfaced publicly as a jury was being empaneled in a Lowell murder case where Quigley was set to testify. The judge halted the trial after Middlesex prosecutors revealed explosive allegations against their own lead investigator.

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Chelmsford-based defense attorney William Dolan represents one of the Lowell murder defendants. He said the revelation is as much about the delay as it is about the crime. Dolan, who is calling for an independent investigation, claims that it is impossible for prosecutors to have been in the dark for so long.

The prosecutors in the homicide unit worked with Quigley on an almost daily basis, Dolan told 25 Investigates. So they absolutely knew.

Dolan points to a paper trail he says should have triggered alarms years ago. Quigleys hospital records were submitted for his injured on-duty claim, and the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) notified the DAs office of Schettinos death on February 16th 2024. The DPPC referral does not name Quigley, nor does it allege alcohol was involved in the crash that killed him.

The Timeline Dispute

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has moved to distance her office from the controversy, placing the blame on the Massachusetts State Police (MSP). In a February 4th letter to MSP Colonel Geoffrey Noble, Ryan alleged that the department failed to notify her office of the crash or the allegations of alcohol use, despite Quigley being a key witness in multiple active homicide cases.

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A spokesperson for DA Ryan provided a detailed statement to 25 Investigates, stating the office was blindsided just as a murder trial was beginning:

On January 27, 2026, as the jury was being empaneled... the Massachusetts State Police disclosed to the Middlesex District Attorneys Office for the first time that a person had died following a motor vehicle crash involving Sergeant Quigley, the statement read. On that same date, MSP also provided, for the first time, information about Sergeant Quigleys toxicology report.

The DAs office maintains that within 24 hours of receiving that information, they disclosed it to the court and referred the crash to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office for criminal investigation.

As for the 2024 DPPC referral regarding Schettinos death, the spokesperson said the office had no reason to begin a criminal investigation... until we learned, on January 27, 2026, that Mr. Schettinos injuries were the result of potentially criminal conduct.

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Dolan finds the DAs explanation difficult to accept. These are the exact people that are meant to investigate deaths, he said. It was clear as day that the prosecutors in the case knew.

The victims family is now left questioning the integrity of the system. You or I would be in jail if it was me or you, Lynn Schettino, the victims mother, previously told Investigative Reporter Ted Daniel.

District Attorney Ryan has now formally requested that MSP commission an independent investigation into why the information was withheld for more than two years.

State Police have declined to comment on the specifics of the DAs letter, citing an ongoing internal review. Sergeant Quigley has since been suspended without pay and faces a criminal investigation. His lawyer maintains that the evidence will ultimately support the detectives account of the events.

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The US presidential jet is getting a new paint design that will include one of President Donald Trump's preferred colour choices for the White House and his hotels, gold.

Air Force One and other planes used by high level US officials, including First Lady Melania Trump, are being repainted gold, deep red and navy blue as they undergo scheduled repairs and maintenance, according to the US Air Force.

The colours will also feature on a new luxury 747-8i Boeing plane donated to the presidential fleet by Qatar, an Air Force spokesperson told CBS.

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The white, blue and robin's egg blue associated with the presidential jet have been in use since the 1960s, when John F Kennedy was president.

Trump has called for updates to the executive fleet since his first term. His successor, former President Joe Biden, cancelled a broad makeover Trump had initially planned.

The new colours have already been spotted on model aircraft seen at the White House, where Trump is also making his aesthetic imprint, from the large-scale plans for a new ballroom to the more subtle installation of signs in a curling font in gold.

The private plane Trump travelled on during his 2024 campaign, sometimes called "Trump Force One", used the same colour palette that will be given to the presidential fleet.

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While it is not clear how much the paint jobs will cost, the US Air Force, which operates the executive planes, said in a statement to the BBC that the new colour requirements were "not expected to result in additional delays or costs to the program."

It added that it was implementing the new colour scheme on the Boeing VC-25B (a variation of the Boeing 747) currently used to transport the president, as well as four C-32 jets often used as "Air Force Two" for the vice-president, and the jet donated by Qatar. Painting has been completed on of the C-32 aircraft.

Air Force One in its current colours [AFP via Getty Images]

Preparations began last summer for the Pentagon to refit the Qatari jumbo jet that is expected to serve as Air Force One. The Boeing aircraft - valued at $400m (300m) - was donated by Qatar as an "unconditional" gift, with any necessary retrofitting costs being borne by the US government.

While any plane where the president is a passenger is called "Air Force One", the holder of the highest office in the country most often flies on a specialised jet that includes an office, a bedroom suite, two kitchen galleys that can prepare 100 meals, office space and a medical facility, according to Boeing.
GILES COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  An Atmore, Alabama man  reportedly high on meth while shooting at random motorists  is now behind bars.

He was arrested after a 26-year-old driver  identified as 26-year-old Sfenson Simeus of Lake Worth, Florida  was shot and killed, and the drivers younger sister was injured on Sunday night on Interstate 65 in Giles County, Tennessee.

It happened close to midnight; thats when Giles County deputies responded to what they thought was an interstate crash, but it turned out to be much more: a horrific homicide.

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Body camera footage showed the grizzly scene Sunday night as Giles County deputies responded to a single-car wreck on the side of I-65 North.

PREVIOUS | Suspect identified after siblings shot along I-65 in Giles County

Witnesses told deputies that the car crossed from the southbound lanes through the median and ended up there.

Hes deceased, a lot of blood on the floor, a witness told deputies.

Investigators soon learned that the 26-year-old man who was driving the vehicle had been shot multiple times, and his 23-year-old sister was injured with a bullet wound to the leg.

You OK, baby? a deputy asked.

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No, the woman replied.

OK, the deputy said.

According to investigators, the brother and sister had just refueled their vehicle at exit 22. They were only in the gas station for a few minutes. The sister told law deputies that they didnt interact with anyone, nor were there any confrontations.

She told me they were at the gas station down here, a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol said. And I asked if there was any altercation at the gas station, and she said, No.'

According to investigators, no sooner than they began heading south again, a man now identified as Aaron Purvis allegedly began shooting at them multiple times from inside his vehicle.

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Investigators said the victims vehicle was struck more than a dozen times with the driver being hit possibly as many as seven times.

Body camera footage shows a deputy finding many bullet holes around the drivers side door.

PREVIOUS | Brother dead, sister injured after shooting along I-65 in Giles County

Right there, come in here, here, here, here, here, here, a deputy said while examining the vehicle.

Hours later on Main Street in Huntland, Franklin County deputies came across Aaron Purvis, who reportedly waved down law enforcement and requested to be taken into custody.

According to officials, the 31-year-old claimed he was involved in multiple shootings while traveling through Alabama.

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Deputies made many calls and found that it was not the case.

But deputies did discover Aaron Purvis windshield had been damaged by gunfire, and he had two firearms in his vehicle that Giles County investigators confirmed were consistent with the I-65 murder.

Its believed he felt the victim was following him and opened fire from inside his vehicle shooting through the windshield and doors of his own truck, Giles County Sheriff Joe Purvis said.

According to the sheriff, the Atmore, Alabama man was high on meth and paranoid and randomly encountered the brother and sister who were traveling from Indiana to Florida

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It could have been anybody, Sheriff Purvis said. They were just traveling on the interstate minding their own business, and you know if they had left the gas station 30 seconds later, they would not have crossed paths.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Its believed he felt like the victim was following him and opened fire from inside his vehicle, shooting through the windshield and doors of his own truck, the sheriff added.

Giles County Sheriff Joe Purvis added that theres not an exact number of how many bullets struck the vehicle, but he said it was in the teens. He added that there was no link between the suspect and the victims other than that they were on I-65 at the same time.

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The suspect is currently being held in the Franklin County Jail, but he will ultimately be taken to Giles County where he will face his charges.

According to the sheriff, the 23-year-old woman shot in the leg is getting treatment at a Nashville hospital for her injuries.

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Alaskas legally required campaign ad disclaimers do not violate the First Amendment, the state supreme court ruled Friday, deciding a six-year-old dispute between the Alaska Policy Forum and state campaign regulators.

Justice Dario Borghesan wrote the 61-page decision on behalf of the court, which ruled unanimously and upheld minor fines against APF that were issued by the Alaska Public Offices Commission five years ago.

At issue were a series of news releases, opinion pieces and a video embedded in the groups website, all opposing ranked-choice voting.

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We uphold the agencys decision, concluding that the cited publications had to be reported and required a paid for by disclosure, Borghesan wrote. We also hold that the statutory standards are not unconstitutionally vague because they give fair notice of what kind of speech must be reported and must contain a disclosure. And we conclude that the First Amendment challenges to these laws are unavailing.

APF organized with a variety of groups across the country to produce the video embedded in its website, the opinion notes.

APF did not just happen to find a video on the internet and share it on social media. APF engaged in discussions with organizations around the country to create a national coalition that developed or gathered content on ranked-choice voting and allowed APF to republish that content. Such efforts required significant time, and someone paid for that time. Alaskans have a genuine interest in knowing who, the opinion states.

The case dates from 2020, when Alaskans voted to approve Ballot Measure 2.

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That measure installed open primary elections, required disclosure of some political donations and installed ranked-choice voting in general elections.

That system remains in place today but has been challenged by a new repeal initiative. A prior repeal effort failed in 2024.

In September 2020, Alaskans for Better Elections, a group that supports the current voting system, filed a complaint with the commission, stating that APF was violating state law because its statements on ranked-choice voting did not list their three top contributors, something required for campaign communications.

APF contended that its statements were about ranked-choice voting in general, not about Ballot Measure 2 in particular, because they didnt specifically name the Alaska measure.

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APOC commissioners disagreed and cited APF, requiring it to file disclosure forms but waiving fines. APF appealed to Superior Court Judge Frank Pfiffner, who ruled in the commissions favor, finding that the commission reasonably concluded that APFs activities amounted to an express communication that was an exhortation to vote against (Ballot Measure 2).

Pfiffner rejected technical arguments against the commissions actions, the argument that state laws were improperly vague, the idea that the First Amendment gave APF a right to publish its material without a disclosure, and APFs challenge to a state law that requires political groups to disclose contributions starting with the first dollar they spend.

Individuals are not subject to the same disclosure requirement.

APF appealed to the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments in September 2023 and ruled more than two years later.

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In Fridays order, Borghesan repeatedly refers to past rulings by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which holds jurisdiction over Alaska.

Relying on that precedent, the court concluded that given the context and language of APFs communications, there was no other way to view them than as urging a particular vote in the 2020 campaign.

In the context of an upcoming election in which ranked-choice voting is on the ballot, Fridays order states, a videos reference to a push by interest groups for ranked-choice voting and its call to SAY NO TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING is a clear, albeit indirect, reference to voting against the Initiative.

The Alaska Supreme Courts ruling could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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APF is disappointed by the decision, said attorney Stacey Stone, who represented the group in court. The ruling allows the state to treat protected educational speech about public policy as regulated campaign activity. That approach threatens to chill core First Amendment expression. We are reviewing the opinion carefully and evaluating our options.

Attorney Scott Kendall represented Alaskans for Better Elections.

Alaskans for Better Elections has been focused on campaign finance transparency since its founding. This victory affirms those values, he said, explaining that the group is very pleased with this outcome.

Kendall noted that Alaskans have an interest in knowing who is funding ads in their elections.

Hopefully, the Policy Forum will now comply with the law and disclose its donors, as it should have done years ago, he said.



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An El Paso educator known for her kindness and aiding those in need died after she was struck by a rolling vehicle as she attempted to stop another woman from driving drunk, court documents state.

Ana Maria Paniagua, 57, offered to drive Aurora Morales, 62, home about 5:20 p.m. on Feb. 7 because she was worried Morales was drunk, as she was coping with the anniversary of her son's death, a criminal complaint affidavit states.

More: El Paso fatal crash tracker 2026

Ana Maria Paniagua, 57, right, died after a vehicle ran her over as she attempted to help an alleged drunk driver on Feb. 7, 2026, in the 7800 block of North Loop Drive in El Paso's Lower Valley.

As Morales tried to switch seats, her 1999 Ford F350 pickup truck rolled back in the parking lot of Juanito's Liquor Store in the 7800 block of North Loop Drive in the Lower Valley. The truck fatally struck Paniagua.

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Paniagua was a paraprofessional at Jefferson High School, El Paso Independent School District officials said.

"True to who she was, Ana Maria did not hesitate to help someone in need," her family wrote on a GoFundMe page. "Tragically, during this act of kindness, an accident occurred involving the same vehicle they were attempting to assist.

"Ana Maria was known for always putting others first and never asking for support herself. Serving others in moments of need was simply who she was."

Morales is facing one count of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle in connection with Paniagua's death. No attorney is named for Morales in court records.

Teacher was trying to stop alleged drunk driver

El Paso police officers met with Paniagua's daughter at Del Sol Medical Center, where Paniagua was being treated after the crash. Paniagua later died at the hospital from the injuries she suffered in the crash.

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The daughter told officers she and her mom saw Morales earlier in the day in front of her house, appearing to need assistance. Paniagua stopped at Morales' house and checked on her.

More: El Paso woman arrested on intoxicated manslaughter charge in fatal crash

Morales told Paniagua that she did not typically drink any alcohol, but had been drinking that day because she was remembering her son, who was killed eight years ago on Feb. 22. She was drinking in "an attempt to forget the passing of her son," the affidavit states.

Paniagua and another passerby helped Morales get back into her front yard and called for medical services. EMTs arrived and helped Morales back into her house.

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Paniagua and her daughter finished running errands and decided to go back to Morales' house to check on her. They found that a vehicle previously parked at the house was gone.

More: El Paso women die after being struck by vehicles in separate crashes

The mother and daughter drove around the area, particularly where there were bars, to try and find Morales. They spotted Morales' truck outside the liquor store.

Paniagua went up to the driver's side window and spoke to Morales. The truck was running and in reverse gear. She offered to drive Morales home. Morales moved over to the center seat and released the brake, the affidavit states.

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The truck began rolling backwards. Paniagua became trapped by the front left tire, which rolled over her midsection, the affidavit states.

'I never saw her'

At the scene of the crash, an officer told Morales that she had been involved in a crash. Morales replied, "Yo, se, yo estaba manejando patras pero nunca la mire," meaning in English, "I know, I was driving backwards but I never saw her," the affidavit states.

An officer wrote in the affidavit that Morales had "red glossy eyes, but noted that the defendant (Morales) had been crying as she was speaking" to the officer.

Aurora Morales

Morales was taken to a police station and placed in a holding cell. She was questioned by officers. Morales recalled being at the liquor store and was reversing when she heard banging on her truck's left window, the affidavit states. She told Paniagua that the window didn't work and to open the door.

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An officer asked if Morales had been driving. Morales replied that she was not driving and that it was her friend who was driving, but "did not want to get her in any trouble," the affidavit states.

Morales first claimed she got out of the vehicle from the driver's side, but later claimed she got out of the truck "from the side of the person steering," the affidavit states. The officer interviewing her allegedly smelled alcohol coming from Morales.

Officers conducted a field sobriety test on Morales, which she failed. She was arrested on suspicion of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle.

Morales remains jailed on a $250,000 bond at the El Paso County Jail. A bond hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, court records show.

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Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso educator dies after trying to stop alleged drunk driver
TORONTO (AP)  Another opposition Conservative lawmaker in Canada has defected to Prime Minister Mark Carney's governing Liberals.

Carney announced Wednesday that Alberta Member of Parliament Matt Jeneroux had crossed the floor to join the Liberal caucus. It's the third Conservative lawmaker to join the Liberals in recent months.

That puts the Liberals closer to having a majority government and being able to pass any bill without the support of an opposition party.

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There are local elections for three seats in Parliament in the coming months that could provide the Liberals with a majority government.

Jeneroux referenced Carney's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month as helping him decide to join the Liberals.

Carney condemned economic coercion by great powers against smaller countries and received widespread praise and attention for his remarks, upstaging U.S. President Donald Trump at the gathering.

Quite honestly it was the speech in Davos where you took everything head on," Jeneroux said to Carney as they met in Edmonton, Alberta. I think it opened a lot of eyes.

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The defection is another blow to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost the last national election in April and even his own seat in Parliament but has since rejoined the House of Commons.

Poilievre won a party leadership review last month but continues to have problems controlling his lawmakers.

Poilievre said in a social media post that Carney is trying to seize a majority government through dirty backroom deals and said Jeneroux betrayed the people of his district.

Jeneroux announced plans to resign in November, just months ago, when another Conservative member of Parliament left the Conservative caucus to join the Liberals. Poilievre said Jeneroux planned to step down in the spring.

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Jeneroux's statement on social media Wednesday said he changed his mind after talking with his family and that the moment demands steady leadership for the country.

The third instance of floor-crossing by a Conservative MP in just a few months conveys the message that Poilievre does not fully control his caucus, a perception that is likely to undermine his leadership, said Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.

If the Liberals can reach majority territory soon in a way or another, we might not have federal elections before October 2029.

Carney has moved the Liberals to the center since replacing Justin Trudeau as prime minister in 2025 and winning national elections.
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Dr. Linda Davis, a special education teacher at Hesse K-8 School in Savannah, was killed in a crash during a federal ICE operation.

Authorities say Oscar Vasquez Lopez fled an attempted ICE traffic stop before running a red light and colliding with Davis vehicle.

Chatham County police operate under stricter pursuit policies, allowing vehicle chases only when a suspect is believed to have committed or is attempting to commit a violent felony.

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A Savannah, Georgia, community is grieving the loss of a Black woman, wife, mother of four, educator, and doctor of transformative leadership after a deadly chain-reaction crash tied to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation ended a Monday (Feb. 16) morning commute in tragedy.

Chatham County police said 38-year-old Oscar Vasquez Lopez crashed into a vehicle driven by Dr. Linda Davis, a special education teacher at Herman W. Hesse K-8 School, while he was fleeing from federal Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS/ICE) officers who were attempting to initiate a traffic stop, according to the departments statement posted to Facebook.

Officers responded around 7:45 a.m. to a collision on Whitefield Avenue at the Truman Parkway intersection, near the departments Whitefield precinct. Police said the drivers of both vehicles were taken to the hospital, where Davis was pronounced dead, while Lopez had non-life-threatening injuries. Police also clarified that a second bystander vehicle was involved, but there were no injuries and no one from that vehicle was transported for medical treatment.

What happened during the ICE traffic stop that led to the fatal car crash

In a press release, ICE said officers were trying to apprehend Lopez, a Guatemalan man who was issued a final order of removal by a federal judge in 2024 and entered the U.S. illegally on an unknown date and at an unknown location. During the operation, ICE said he initially complied but then fled the scene, making a reckless U-turn and running a red light, colliding into a civilian vehicle.

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WTOC reported that security video shows a red truck passing Hesse K-8 on Whitefield Avenue with three unmarked vehicles behind it, two with flashing lights, moments before the collision. The outlet also reported a separate video showing the U-turn referenced by authorities.

Chatham County police said they were not part of the federal operation and were also not aware of the DHS/ICE operation or pursuit until after the crash. The department listed charges that include reckless driving, driving without a valid license, failure to obey a traffic control device, and homicide by vehicle  first degree. According to the Associated Press, Don Plummer, a spokesman for the Georgia Public Defender Council, said, We recognize the communitys concern and extend condolences to those harmed, adding, Mr. Lopez is presumed innocent. We will review the evidence and address it where it belongs  in court, not in the press.

Another death adds to growing scrutiny of ICE enforcement tactics

Davis death arrives amid renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics. As REVOLT previously reported, ICE-involved killings in Minneapolis and California  including the deaths of Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and Keith Porter Jr.  have sparked protests, disputed narratives and louder calls for accountability.

Locally, leaders questioned whether the outcome could have been avoided, especially given how ICE handled the stop. According to AP, Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis explained that county police operate under stricter pursuit policies, allowing vehicle chases only when a suspect is believed to have committed or is attempting to commit a violent felony. He noted that if ICE had coordinated with local authorities, county officers could have used safer methods to stop the vehicle without putting other drivers at risk. Ellis said, If that had been the case yesterday, then Dr. Davis would still be alive, and added, My personal feeling is that one life lost is too many, especially when youre talking about a precious teacher.

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Savannah Mayor Van Johnson told reporters, Ive always been and remain very concerned about the activities of ICE in cities, particularly where theyre not coordinating or communicating. He then asked, What this individual was wanted for, did it necessitate the end result?

Hesse K-8 School Principal Alonna McMullen remembered Davis as someone who showed up for kids every day, telling CNN that she dedicated her career to ensuring that every child felt supported, valued, and capable of success. Her kindness, patience, and enthusiasm created a nurturing environment for her students and inspired those around her.

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Recently, I was asked to write about my experience as a rural emergency physician in New Mexico. The timing was uncanny: I am in the final shifts of my first job out of my emergency medicine residency on the East Coast, having spent more than four years working in emergency departments across western rural New Mexico, primarily within the Indian Health Service.

Summarizing this experience concisely feels impossible. Every emergency physician I know agrees that your first year out as an independent practitioner teaches you more than all of medical school and residency combined. In rural emergency medicine, especially in a state like New Mexico with a dispersed and chronically underserved population and scarce medical resources, the learning curve is even steeper.

Like many emergency medicine physicians, I came from a busy academic Level I trauma center brimming with resources: Trauma teams, cardiologists, neurologists, numerous surgical subspecialties, pediatrics, psychiatry, case management, and social workers. I began residency in 2018 and graduated in 2021, deeply scarred and burned out by the COVID-19 pandemic. Short of leaving medicine altogether, I chose the next best thing: A fresh start in rural New Mexico, far from everything familiar.

From abundance to scarcity

Over the past four years, old frustrations were simply replaced with new ones. In residency, I watched unvaccinated patients die unnecessarily of COVID-19. In western New Mexico, I watched fully vaccinated patients die because they spent days waiting for transfer, victims of a statewide and regional intensive care unit bed shortage. On one shift, while trying to transfer a patient as far away as Kansas, I learned that most of New Mexicos ICU beds were occupied by unvaccinated non-New Mexicans from surrounding states.

Our aging hospital facility was replaced by one that was somehow older and less functional, and more than once, raw sewage leaked down the ER walls from the ICU above. Difficult specialist conversations from residency were replaced by no specialists at all. In 2022, I performed a pericardiocentesis (a lifesaving procedure to evacuate blood around the heart) on a dying patient, then transferred him to the University of New Mexico. The following day, I found out he survived transfer to the University of New Mexico Hospital but died shortly thereafter because the on-call cardiothoracic surgeon was covering two major hospitals in Albuquerque (including the University of New Mexico, the only Level I trauma center in the state) and could not get him to the operating room in time.

The weight of historical trauma

Alcohol use disorder, already rampant where I trained, became extreme in rural New Mexico. A destructive consequence of European colonization, it now afflicts our region at some of the highest rates in the country. I frequently care for patients who are walking and talking with blood alcohol levels high enough to kill the average adult. Suicidal ideation, domestic violence, and child abuse, often fueled by alcohol, are daily occurrences. I regularly admit patients in their twenties and thirties to the ICU to die of end-stage alcoholic liver disease. Just as often, I discharge patients who medically require admission simply because no beds exist, sending them home to their families rather than exporting them to distant cities where they would be isolated and financially devastated.

I moved from caring for one population shaped by historical trauma to another with its own devastating legacy. Where I trained in the southeastern United States, my patients were largely descendants of Scots-Irish settlers forced into marginal Appalachian land, and Black Americans whose ancestors suffered centuries of enslavement, exploitation, and discrimination. Today both communities remain impoverished and disproportionately burdened by chronic disease.

In New Mexico, Native American communities were massacred, displaced, stripped of land, subjected to medical experimentation, and forcibly sterilized well into the 20th century. After Navajo Code Talkers helped secure Allied victory in World War II, the United States repaid them by exploiting Native labor in the uranium mines of the Four Corners, leaving a legacy of radiation-linked disease that persists today. In the modern era, exploitation takes the form of human trafficking, Medicaid fraud, and predatory rehab schemes. I will never forget the day one of our techs collapsed in tears after learning that her son, missing for months, had been trafficked across state lines into a fraudulent rehab center that drained his Medicaid benefits and let him die of an opioid overdose.

Bureaucracy versus patient care

In 2022, I tried to recruit for the Indian Health Service at the American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly in San Francisco. It was almost impossible. The Indian Health Service is, understandably, a hard sell. At my residency graduation ceremony, a well-meaning physician mentor once told my mother that I would only last one year. I ended up staying more than four, and that is entirely because of my colleagues. My hospital has been staffed by the most talented, mission-driven, and resilient emergency physicians I have ever known. I have learned more from them in four years than many physicians learn in a lifetime. In a setting where you are constantly forced to improvise to provide the standard of care, excellence depends entirely on people, and the people here are extraordinary. If you ever experience a medical emergency in the Four Corners region, you will receive exceptional care, not because of infrastructure, but because of the physicians standing in the gap.

As I move forward in my career, I carry immense gratitude and deep concern. Under new federal leadership, employees in my position are being asked to do more with less. Early last year, we were instructed to begin answering Elon Musk-inspired What five things did you do this week? emails, an irony not lost on anyone working 12-plus-hour shifts without basic resources. This was followed by pay cuts, unjustified reductions in force (RIFs), and an increase, not a decrease, in bureaucracy. Over the summer, despite being a Level III trauma center on a major interstate, we were without respiratory therapy and surgical coverage for weeks. Many of our internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology colleagues have left. Recently, our hospital functioned for days without a working CT scanner.

Health care in rural New Mexico is emergency medicines canary in the coal mine. Our patients were among the first devastated by COVID-19. Now, federal system changes combined with impending Medicaid cuts foreshadow a nationwide crisis. When millions lose coverage, they will come to the ER. And an already strained system will break.

A wealthy state with poor outcomes

I recently read an article arguing that New Mexico is not actually a poor state, but a wealthy state with many poor people. Thanks mostly to oil and gas revenues, New Mexico has one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the country. And yet our flagship academic hospital is the only Level I trauma center in a state with some of the highest trauma rates in the nation. And the U.S. federal government, the richest government in the world, allowed the second-busiest emergency department in the state to function without a CT scanner.

And still, many of my patients travel hours over rough terrain, often without running water or electricity at home, to wait even longer for care. They are remarkably patient and outwardly grateful, even as the systems meant to serve them routinely fail them. Without question, their resilience and patience are extraordinary. But resilience should not be a prerequisite for receiving basic medical care, and their patience with the state and federal governments miserly attitude toward them will run out.

These questions remain: Is this really the best our state and country can do for the people of New Mexico, and how much longer do they have to wait?

Sarah Bridge is an emergency physician.
Rep. Randy Fine, a first-term Republican congressman from Florida, is facing calls to resign over accusations of Islamophobia after suggesting he prefers dogs to Muslim people.

"If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one," Fine said in a post to social media on Sunday, Feb. 15.

He was responding to a post by a pro-Palestinian activist who said that dogs shouldn't be indoor pets, who later clarified she was making a joke about dog owners not cleaning up after their pets on New York City's snow-lined streets.

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"Like we've said all along, they are unclean," she said.

Some interpretations of Islam place restrictions on keeping dogs as pets.

Children celebrate the start of the holy month of Ramadan in Mosul, Iraq on Feb. 17, 2026. A Saudi observer uses a telescope to search for the crescent moon, to mark the start date of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the Majmaah University Astronomical Observatory, about 170 kilometers north of Riyadh, on Feb.17, 2026. For Muslims across the world, the beginning of the ninth month in the Muslim lunar calendar which marks the start of Ramadan, is a time for spiritual reflection, prayers, fasting and family reunions around the table after breaking the fast. Malaysia's religious department members use a telescope to perform 'Rukyah', the sighting of the new moon to mark the start of Islam's holy month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 17, 2026. Afghans purchase eggs at a market in Kabul on Feb. 17, 2026 ahead of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan. Decorations are displayed as Palestinians prepare for the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jerusalem's Old City, Feb. 17, 2026. Palestinian Muslim worshippers perform Taraweeh prayers on the first night of the muslim holy month of Ramadan near the Dome of the Rock Shrine at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, in the Old City of Jerusalem on Feb. 17, 2026. For Muslims across the world, the beginning of the ninth month in the Muslim lunar calendar which marks the start of Ramadan, is a time for spiritual reflection, prayers, fasting and family reunions around the table after breaking the fast. People walk past a sand sculpture with the greeting message "Welcome, Ramadan" created by Palestinian artist Yazeed Abu Jarad, who was displaced by the war from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, along a beach in Khan Yunis in the south of the Palestinian territory on Feb. 17, 2026, a day ahead of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Muslim Palestinian worshippers take part in the evening 'Tarawih' prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan by the Dome of the Rock on Al-Aqsa compound, known to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City on Feb. 17, 2026. People walk outside the shrine of Sheikh Abu Hanifa al-Numan in the Adhamiya district of Baghdad on Feb. 17, 2026, on the first night of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. A visual look as Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan 1 of 9 Children celebrate the start of the holy month of Ramadan in Mosul, Iraq on Feb. 17, 2026.

Fine's comments were met with condemnation from leading Democrats, including minority leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Jeffries said in a statement that Fine is a "disgrace" to Congress and called him an "Islamophobic, disgusting and unrepentant bigot."

The Democratic leader also slammed House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans for not speaking up about the comments. Even conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, who routinely irks progressives and liberals, said Fine's comments "went full bigot."

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"Their casual acceptance of hateful and divisive language enables this out-of-control behavior. Republican leaders must hold this so-called Member of Congress accountable," Jeffries said.

Congressional Democrats are also increasingly calling for Fine to be censured and stripped of his committee assignments.

Rep. Randy Fine speaks at a watch party as Florida holds a special election for a U.S. House of Representatives seat vacated by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, in Ormond Beach, Florida, U.S. April 1, 2025.

"This is genuinely one of the most disgusting statements I have ever seen issued by an American official," Ocasio-Cortez said on Feb. 17 of Fine's post.

As he'd done with several other negative responses to his comments on X, Fine retweeted Jeffries' statement with an image of a dog imposed on a bright yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flag. Since his post over the weekend, Fine has doubled down, reposting clips of himself defending his comments on a conservative talk show program and responding to dozens of posts  including some denouncing him  with the altered flag illustration.

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It's not the first time the Florida congressman, who is Jewish and has referred to himself as the "Hebrew Hammer," has shared anti-Muslim and Islamophobic comments. In July 2025, he sparked backlash when he insinuated that Rep. Ilhan Omar, who is Muslim, was a "terrorist." He has also used the word to insult other Muslim leaders like Rep. Rashida Tlaib and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Then-Florida State House Rep. Randy Fine looks on while President Donald Trump speaks to his supporters during the Florida Freedom Summit held at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida, U.S., November 4, 2023.

In December 2025, Fine called for mass deportations of Muslim people from the country, along with a "Muslim travel ban" and "citizenship revocations." He wrote in a post at the time that "Mainstream Muslims have declared war on us."

Before joining Congress, Fine built a reputation as a controversial figure in Florida state politics. Hes previously called for the expulsion of "any non-Americans who are or have advocated for Muslim terror," according to The Floridian. He also accused Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis of failing to address antisemitism in 2023.

He served in the Florida state legislature beginning in 2016, and was elected to serve in the state Senate in 2024. Fine won a special election in 2025 to fill an empty U.S. House seat representing a northern Florida district, which covers Daytona Beach as well as the Ocala National Forest.

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Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Randy Fine urged to resign over Islamophobic comments
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  The U.S. Armys Apache attack helicopter AH-64 broke new ground by firing 30mm proximity ammunition at drones in air-to-air combat during a December exercise in Yuma, Arizona, according to the service.

The live fire test saw Apache pilots engage drones flying on ranges at Yuma Proving Ground using the 30x113mm XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive, called APEX.

The APEX rounds have proximity fuzes that cause them to detonate when they close in on a target, releasing a wide radius of blast fragments.

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The 30mm rounds are designed to be fired at targets requiring precision to hit, such as small boats, drones and enemy combatants, without requiring changes to the Apaches existing weapon system.

The fragments excelled at destroying drones in flight, the service has stated, in addition to being effective against ground targets.

The XM1225s proximity fuze has the potential to increase soft-skinned ground and aerial target vulnerability, providing the Attack [Division] community an additional capability so long as those targets are susceptible to detection, classification, and tracking, Maj. Vincent Franchino, test pilot and Attack Division chief at Redstone Test Center in Huntsville, Alabama, said in a statement.

The APEX technology was developed in-house by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Commands Armaments Center, with support from Picatinny Arsenal and Northrop Grumman.

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Proximity fuzes have a long history within the U.S. military. The first were developed by the United States during World War II and were used against aircraft and Germanys V-1 flying bombs.

The move to upgrade helicopter weapons capabilities for drone warfare is part of the Armys drive to modernize combat units to address and incorporate unmanned systems.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George announced last month that the service will begin fielding the Bell MV-75 tiltrotor aircraft by the end of this year and that larger unmanned aerial systems classed in Groups 3, 4 and 5 are being integrated into Army combat aviation brigades.
MADRID (AP)  A fire broke out in a top-floor storage room at an apartment building in northeastern Spain, killing five children who were trapped inside and injuring five other people elsewhere in the building, officials said Tuesday.

The fire started around 9 p.m. Monday in Manlleu, a town of about 21,000 people in the Catalonia region north of Barcelona. The victims who died were identified as minors who ranged in age from 14 to 17 and who did not live in the building, Catalan police said.

Police were investigating the cause of the fire and the reason why the children were not able to escape the room. Police declined to say whether they were considering the case a possible homicide.

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Four of the injured people were released from hospitals and the other injured person didn't require hospitalization, emergency services said.

Catalonias regional leader, Salvador Illa, expressed his condolences to relatives of the victims on X, saying he was deeply saddened by the death of five people.
PIERRE  A South Dakota House of Representatives panel endorsed a bill that would require mobile app stores to use age verification to control access by minors.

House Bill 1275 passed the House State Affairs Committee 8-3 on Wednesday and heads to the House floor with a do pass recommendation.

The bill is the second attempt in as many years by state lawmakers to put the onus of age-gating on app stores. House Bill 1275 would force the mobile stores to verify a persons age, require parents to approve app downloads for underage users and include age ratings for the apps.

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The bill gives parents of minor children a simple, private way to keep their kids safer online, said its prime sponsor, Sioux Falls Republican Rep. John Hughes. It establishes guardrails at the digital gateway.

App-based age gating has only emerged as an online protection measure for children in the past few years, a time period during which the pace of discussion on protecting children has quickened in statehouses around the U.S. Many states, including South Dakota, have passed laws requiring pornographic websites to verify users ages.

The app-based age gating proposal has the support of companies like Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and the opposition of Apple and Google, which operate the largest app stores in the U.S.

The social media platforms argue that app stores are better suited to protect children, as they already act as gatekeepers for access to the apps upon which questionable content would appear, and typically have the credit card information necessary to verify that a person is 18 or older. The app stores argue that they already offer extensive parental control features, and that app developers need to act to protect kids.

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At the time lawmakers rejected an app-based age-gating bill from Sioux Falls Republican Sen. Sue Peterson last year, no state had passed such bills.

At this point, four state legislatures have endorsed them  Texas, Utah, Alabama and Louisiana.

The Legislature wasnt comfortable going in first, but now there are four, said Norman Woods, who testified in support for a group called Family Voice Action.

Other supporters included the South Dakota Attorney Generals office, Concerned Women for America and the South Dakota Catholic Conference.

App industry: Invasion of privacy

Opponents included Doug Abraham, a lobbyist for The App Association. He said requiring age verification for access to an app store with potential adult content is akin to requiring it for entry into a mall with a liquor store.

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He also said the proposal would require app stores to have more data about children, as companies would need to know their ages, and he suggested that all South Dakotans would need to give copies of their state-issued IDs to big tech.

Its going to force you, if you want to use your iPhone, or you want to use your Android-based device, to do that, even though youre 18, even though youre a consenting adult, Abraham said.

The bill legislates parenting, Abraham said, and is unnecessary because app stores already offer the tools the bill would mandate to any parent who cares enough to use them.

Kouri Marshall, a lobbyist for a tech coalition called Chamber of Progress, called the bill a tremendous encroachment on individual privacy thats likely to cost the state in legal fees.

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Alabama, whose lawmakers passed a version of the bill earlier this month, is going straight to court, Marshall said, to defend itself in a lawsuit alleging the rules violate the First Amendment.

South Dakota should wait and see how this plays out in court, so that you dont end up there, Marshall said, noting that Florida and Mississippi lawmakers said no to app-based age gating.

Bill endorsed as protection for children

Woods, the lobbyist for Family Voice Action, said in a rebuttal that the idea that South Dakotans would need to share drivers license data is false, as credit card information is typically enough to verify a persons age.

And Rep. Leslie Heinemann, R-Flandreau, said legal fees are worth the fight if it means protecting kids from harmful content or access to apps that could connect them with predators. He compared it to last years bill requiring age verification by adult websites, which he said parents thanked him for backing.

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I see it as a way to bring to the parents that we have a way of dealing with this issue on a large scale, Heinemann said.

Rep. Erin Healy, D-Sioux Falls, referenced her own 13-year-old to explain her opposition to the bill. She said her husband got an alert when the teen did a web search for information on former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

I think that just shows the effort that can already be put into parental controls, said Healy, who was one of three committee members who voted against sending the bill to the full House of Representatives.

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On a fall evening in 2022, state security agents in her home country in Africa broke through Rumbidzais front door. At gunpoint, she said, they threatened her and beat and kidnapped her companion, a close friend and fellow activist in an opposition party targeted by the government.

Three and a half years later, his whereabouts are still unknown. Rumbidzai  a nickname to protect her identity  fled the African country shortly after that terror-filled night, boarding a plane to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

When I arrived, Rumbidzai said, they asked me what I was there for. I told them I was running away from persecution. I feared for my safety.

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Today, Rumbidzai lives and works in New Jersey, where she awaits her turn to argue her asylum case before an immigration court. But she may not get the chance.

Story continues below photo gallery

In January, just days before a scheduled hearing, the Department of Homeland Security submitted a motion asking a judge to dismiss Rumbidzai's asylum application. A hearing was not needed, according to DHS, because it would send her to a third country where she could seek protection.

Rumbidzai was floored.

She had prepared to show the court that her life was in danger in her native country, where abduction and torture of opposition activists is an ongoing human rights concern.

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Now, she fears that the country where the United States might send her  Uganda  would not be safe for her either. She asked that her native country not be named, for fear it would reveal her identity.

Massive expansion of third country deportations

Over the past year, the Trump administration has dramatically expanded the use of third country deportations  in which it deports migrants to countries that are not their own  as it works to overhaul and restrict access to an overwhelmed asylum system.

U.S. officials say they are sending asylum seekers to safe third countries to seek asylum, even as their safety is called into question.

DHS attorneys filed nearly 5,000 motions to dismiss asylum cases and send applicants to other nations in December 2025, according to an analysis by bklg.org, an online service for immigration lawyers. The analysts described it as a staggering increase from the few hundred such motions filed each month" in the summer of 2025.

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DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in June 2025  after reaching agreements with Honduras and Guatemala to take deported asylum seekers  that the United States should not be the only option, Newsweek reported.

Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, testifies in front of the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2025.

The guarantee for a refugee is that they go somewhere to be safe and to be protected from whatever threat they face in their country, she said.

The Department of Justice maintains that the agreements ensure migrants get proper humanitarian protection while allowing immigration courts to handle asylum cases more efficiently.

DOJ will continue to use all lawful means to reduce the immigration court backlog after the prior administrations de facto amnesty caused it to balloon to nearly 4 million cases, the spokesperson said.

Countries receiving U.S. asylum seekers not safe

But countries receiving asylum seekers are not safe or do not provide a fair asylum process as required by law, plaintiffs argued in a lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. The lawsuit challenges Asylum Cooperative Agreements that have been signed with Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Belize, Ecuador and Uganda.

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These are countries that the U.S. State Department itself has reported are unsafe, present serious human rights concerns, and/or have weak or corrupt asylum systems, wrote the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, which is representing asylum seekers in the complaint.

None have the capacity to handle more than a minuscule number of asylum claims, the organization added, and all are plagued with rampant gender- and gang-related violence and other civil and political unrest.

Uganda, according to a 2024 State Department report, faces significant human rights issues due to violence, detention and kidnapping of activists, journalists and human rights workers. The country has also criminalized same-sex relations.

Jan 17, 2026; Morristown, NJ, USA; A protest against ICE at Morristown Town Hall. Morristown residents were detained in a recent ICE raid at a laundromat including a Morristown High School senior.

Other countries have entered broader agreements to take deported migrants  not just asylum applicants  in exchange for cash payments or in response to political pressure over tariffs, travel bans and U.S. foreign aid.

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A 30-page report from Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee found that the United States paid $32 million to just five countries  Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini El Salvador and Palau  that have taken about 300 deportees.

Asked about the report, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson replied: The entire Trump administration is working to lawfully deliver on President Trumps mandate to enforce federal immigration law and carry out the largest mass deportation campaign of criminal illegal aliens in history.

NJ is home

Rumbidzai does not know anyone in Uganda. She fears, too, that her presence as a deportee to Uganda would garner attention.

Youll be in the spotlight. I worry that the ruling party in my country will find out where I am, she said.

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Rumbidzai came to the United States with a valid visa, applied for asylum and spent two months in the Elizabeth Detention Center before she was paroled out. She waited three years for her asylum case to come before the court.

After DHS filed its motion, the judge gave her a new court date in 2029. The delay gives her little comfort. Although she is here legally, she worries about what will happen as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ramps up arrests and detentions.

In New Jersey for more than three years, Rumbidzai has friends here and works jobs at a warehouse, in elder care and at a nonprofit helping young women in crisis. She wants to return to school to study nursing.

Her future is now uncertain, she said.

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Im hoping for a bright future here, she said, since Ive already started establishing myself in New Jersey. It feels like home here.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ asylum seeker faces third country deportation
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  The Australian government will not repatriate from Syria a group of 34 women and children with alleged ties to the militant Islamic State group, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday.

The women and children from 11 families were supposed to fly from Syria to Australia, but Syrian authorities on Monday turned them back to Roj detention camp because of procedural problems, officials said.

Only two groups of Australians have been repatriated with government help from Syrian camps since the fall of the Islamic State group in 2019. Other Australians have also returned without government assistance.

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Albanese would not comment on a report that the latest women and children had Australian passports.

Were providing absolutely no support and we are not repatriating people, Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp. in Melbourne.

We have no sympathy, frankly, for people who traveled overseas in order to participate in what was an attempt to establish a caliphate to undermine, destroy, our way of life. And so, as my mother would say, You make your bed, you lie in it, Albanese added.

Joining the caliphate

In his remarks, Albanese was referring to the IS militants' capture of wide swaths of land more than a decade ago that stretched across a third of Syria and Iraq, territory where the extremists established their so-called caliphate.

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At the height of its control, IS declared the city of Raqqa its capital, with jihadis from foreign countries traveling to Syria to join the IS. Over the years, they had families and raised children there.

Opposition leader Angus Taylor demanded Albanese explain whether his government had considered banning the Australians from returning. So-called temporary exclusion orders enable a government minister to prevent high-risk citizens located overseas from returning to Australia for up to two years.

These are individuals who chose to associate with a terrorist caliphate. This is not aligned with the values we as Australians believe in  democracy, the rule of law, our basic freedoms including freedom of religion, Taylor told reporters.

The door must be shut to people who do not believe in those things, Taylor added.

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Asked about using temporary exclusion orders in this case, Albanese did not directly answer. What we will do on national security issues is we deal with it appropriately upon advice of security agencies, Albanese told reporters.

Albanese noted that the child welfare-focused international charity Save the Children had failed to establish in Australias courts that the Australian government had a responsibility to repatriate citizens from Syrian camps.

After the federal court ruled in the government's favor in 2024, Save the Children Australia chief executive Mat Tinkler argued the government had a moral, if not legal, obligation to repatriate families.

Albanese said if the latest group made their way to Australia without government help, they could be charged.

A complex legal issue

Under Australian law, it was an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison to travel to Raqqa in Syria and elsewhere in the caliphate without a legitimate reason from 2014 to 2017.

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Its unfortunate that children are impacted by this as well, but we are not providing any support. And if anyone does manage to find their way back to Australia, then theyll face the full force of the law, if any laws have been broken, Albanese added.

The Islamic State group was defeated by a U.S.-led coalition in Iraq in 2017, and in Syria two years later, but IS sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in both countries. During the battles against IS, thousands of extremists and tens of thousands of women and children linked to them were taken to detention camps.

Manager Hakmiyeh Ibrahim of the Roj camp in northeastern Syria told The Associated Press that relatives of the Australians said the Australian government had prepared the camp residents' passports and travel paperwork and suggested that their families collect those documents.

The last group of Australians to be repatriated from Syrian camps arrived in Sydney in October 2022.

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They were four mothers, former partners of Islamic State supporters, and 13 children.

Australian officials had assessed the group as the most vulnerable among 60 Australian women and children held in Roj camp, the government said at the time.

Eight children of two slain Australian IS fighters were repatriated from Syria in 2019 by the conservative government that preceded Albaneses center-left Labor Party administration.

The issue of IS supporters resurfaced in Australia after the killings of 15 people at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14  attackers allegedly inspired by IS.

Some countries are repatriating their citizens with alleged IS links from Syria while others are not. Iraq has repatriated most of its citizens, who accounted for the largest number of detainees, after Syrians. The United States, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada have all repatriated citizens from Syrian camps.

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Last year, families repatriated from Roj camp included German, British and French nationals.

Separately, thousands of accused IS militants who were held in detention centers in northeastern Syria have been transferred to Iraq by the U.S. military to stand trial there.

___

Associated Press journalist Hogir Al Abdo in Qamishli, Syria, contributed to this report.
Police in Austria say three people have died in dozens of avalanches in the mountains in the west of the country.

Among them is a German skier, a spokeswoman for the police in Tyrol told dpa on Wednesday.

The winter sportsman was travelling with another man in the Tyrolean Navistal. Due to the danger of avalanches, they had turned back, but a snow slab had come loose while crossing a slope, according to the spokeswoman.

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In the Tyrol alone, more than 30 avalanches were counted in one day, according to the state's emergency call centre.

Another avalanche fatality was reported by the police in Fiss. The 71-year-old was on holiday in Tyrol, they said. The police did not provide any further details about the man.

A man also died in an avalanche in the province of Vorarlberg. The APA news agency reported that he was dug out, but died at the scene of the accident in the Sonnenkopf ski area.

A number of avalanches also occurred in the province of Salzburg, and a 70-year-old ski tourer was rescued from the snow there.

The avalanche situation in western Austria remains tense, with the warning services declaring the second-highest danger level in Tyrol and Vorarlberg.
The group of 15 backcountry skiers headed out on a three-day trek organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides into pristine wilderness near Frog Lake in California's Sierra Nevada as a powerful winter storm moved into the state.

The skiers made their way Sunday to remote huts situated at 7,600 feet (3,415 meters) in Tahoe National Forest, carrying their own food and supplies. At 6:49 a.m. that same morning, the Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche watch for the area, indicating large slides were likely in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Around 5 a.m. Tuesday, the morning the group was scheduled to make its way back out to the trailhead, the center increased the watch to a warning. Within hours an avalanche hit near Castle Peak, trapping the skiers. Authorities said Wednesday that eight people were killed and one person remained missing. Six skiers were rescued after sheltering in place for hours as searchers battled blizzard conditions.

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Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said investigators were examining the decision to proceed with the trip Sunday despite forecasts of a major storm. Its not known if the guides would have known about the avalanche warning as they returned to the trailhead.

Were still in conversation with them on the decision factors that they made, Moon said at a Wednesday news conference announcing the deaths.

Before the disaster, the tour company said its guides were highly skilled in dealing with extreme conditions and that it offered avalanche education.

If youve booked the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee, trust our guides to elevate your trip to the next level, the business said on its website, advertising the trip. Well navigate in and out of the huts, manage the risks, and find the best terrain and snow quality for you and your group!

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Blackbird Mountain Guides said in a statement Tuesday that it was coordinating with authorities. Three of the guides were among those killed.

The company, with offices in California and Washington state, offers mountaineering and backcountry ski trips across the U.S. West Coast as well as in Europe and Japan. It also offers safety courses like wilderness skills and first aid.

The rugged terrain had been closed to the public for a century before the Truckee Donner Land Trust bought it and opened the huts, which offer basic accommodations such as sleeping pads, gas stoves and flush toilets.

The tour, which cost $1,165.00 per person, was rated for intermediate-to-expert skiers with at least 20 days of backcountry experience who can climb up to 2,500 vertical feet (760 meters) throughout a day, according to the companys website. Guides carry first aid kits, while participants must bring their own ski equipment and avalanche gear, including a beacon, shovel and probe.

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Generally our guides are able to find excellent backcountry snow conditions, but often we need to travel through difficult conditions, the website description said, adding participants must "be adept with their backcountry touring skills and have a solid foundation of touring before the trip.

Experienced backcountry skiers can still navigate areas where much snow has fallen as long as they are familiar with the topography and terrain, said Brandon Mathis, a Durango, Colorado backcountry skier trained in avalanche safety. In those places, experts should know to avoid sending large groups too close together.

Mathis said there is no single hard-and-fast rule for when the avalanche risk makes a mountain too dangerous to traverse but there are clear signs skiers should be watching out for.

Things get serious, needless to say, out there. So knowledge is one of your best tools for safety, Mathis said.

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The Sierra Avalanche Center stated that rapidly accumulating snow piling on fragile snowpack layers, along with strong winds, contributed to the treacherous conditions this week. The town of Soda Springs, near where the avalanche took place, recorded at least 30 inches (76 centimeters) of snow in a 24-hour period, according to the Soda Springs Mountain Resort.

Anthony Pavlantos, owner of Utah-based Prival USA, makes avalanche safety equipment and runs mountain safety programs. He said heavy snowfall in 24 hours is a really big red flag and the safest option is often just to leaver rather than hunker down.

High intensity snowfall in short amounts of time can increase the avalanche hazard fast," he said. "So, you already have a snowpack sitting on the snow and then you have all this new snow thats falling down at a high rapid rate. That new snow can slide on that old snow surface.

___

Associated Press writers Julie Watson in San Diego, Safiyah Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama and Corey Williams in Detroit contributed to this report.
Reverend Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader who twice ran for president and helped reshape the modern Democratic coalition, is being remembered Tuesday as a pioneer who pushed America to broaden its vision of equality.

"He was one of the best servant leaders anywhere to be found," said Rev. Amos Brown, a longtime friend and fellow civil rights leader.

Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941. That same year, Brown was born in Jackson, Mississippi. The two men would later find common cause in the civil rights movement, bonded by similar early experiences with inequality.

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"We had similar experiences that motivated high engagement in the struggle for human rights," Brown said. "We're not just concerned about civil rights for Black people - but human rights."

Both men were mentored by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose philosophy of nonviolence and moral urgency shaped Jackson's approach to activism.

"If he could speak to us again, he would say, 'Check yourself,'" Brown said of Jackson. "We all have to do that - mind our manners and be kind to each other."

Jackson rose to national prominence as a close aide to King and later as the founder of Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition.

INTERVIEW: Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee remembers friend, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and his impact

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee spoke to ABC7's Kristen Sze and Karina Nova on Tuesday following the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson.

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In 1984 and again in 1988, he mounted historic campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination - becoming one of the first Black candidates to mount a serious national bid for the White House.

"He was a pioneer," said former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who served as national chair of Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign. "Jesse Jackson changed the nature of the Democratic process of selecting their nominee."

Jackson's campaigns focused on building what he called a "Rainbow Coalition," reaching beyond Black voters to Latino and Asian American communities, labor unions, students, farmers and working-class white voters.

"Our flag is red, white and blue," Jackson said during his 1984 Democratic National Convention speech in San Francisco. "But our nation is a rainbow: red, yellow, brown, Black and white. We are all precious in God's sight."

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In that same speech, Jackson offered one of his most enduring metaphors.

"America is not like a blanket - one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size," he said. "America is more like a quilt. Many patches, many pieces. Many colors, many sizes. All woven and held together by a common thread."

RELATED: Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon, dies at age 84

Political observers say that approach was groundbreaking at the time.

"He made a point to focus on building a broad, diverse coalition," said Averi Harper, ABC News political director. "He didn't focus solely on Black voters, even though he was very prominent in the Black community. He also reached out to Latino voters, Asian American voters, to labor unions, to students and farmers and working-class white voters. That was the Rainbow Coalition that he built."

RELATED: 'I am somebody': Civil rights leaders, politicians honor Rev. Jesse Jackson's legacy after his death

Those closest to Jackson say the best way to honor his legacy is to continue striving for the ideals he championed.

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"He respected the worth and dignity of all persons," Brown said.

When asked what he will miss most, Brown pointed to Jackson's ability to rise to the moment.

"I'll miss the moments when he said the right thing at the right time," Brown said. "This will never be a perfect world. But we can work for and push excellence. Excellence - not to be perfect, but we must reach for excellence."
A proposal to strengthen New Mexico authorities ability to force people into mental health treatment is heading to the governors desk  but not without a final bit of wrangling about who should make the call that someone is a danger to themself or others.

Senate Bill 3 would change the states legal definitions of harm to self and harm to others.

State senators asked their counterparts in the House to back off amendments from the House Judiciary Committee that specified that a qualified mental health professional would be required to make the initial call that somebody is a danger to themself or others because of mental illness.

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In a voice vote Tuesday, the House dropped the proposed amendments. House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, said law enforcement leaders had concerns requiring a mental health worker decide would make the bill unworkable.

The bill goes to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, said Sen. Moe Maestas, an Albuquerque Democrat who sponsored the bill.

Lujan Grisham has pushed in recent years for updates to the involuntary civil commitment process, citing concerns about rising levels of mental illness and families frustration about their lack of options. Advocates have raised concerns about the implications for New Mexicans constitutional freedoms.

Maestas said in an interview he is incredibly happy about the bill.

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Our family members who are struggling can now get the services they deserve, he said.

But some lawmakers said theyre concerned about police making initial decisions about who should be committed and who should not. Rep. Elizabeth Liz Thomson, D-Albuquerque, said she is particularly worried about people with developmental disabilities like autism.

This is very frightening to me, Thomson said. I know that we need to do something, but I do not want to throw people with disabilities under the bus.

Thomson, who has an adult son with autism, said she has worked to train law enforcement officers about the condition. One recent training, she said, concluded with a role-playing exercise with a young man who pretended to have autism hiding under a table with a knife. The first officer who came in was asked what he would do.

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[He said] Id take him out,  Thomson said.

Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, said he didnt think dropping the requirement for a mental health professional made sense.

It does concern me that were changing from a qualified mental health professional to a member of law enforcement potentially making a determination which impacts whether or not someone is committed, he said.

Szczepanski said current law allows law enforcement to transport people for emergency mental health evaluation without a court order only in certain circumstances, such as when a person has attempted suicide.

The reason that this amendment is difficult is because its asking the law enforcement officer to already have done the mental health evaluation when they are transporting someone to an emergency mental health evaluation, Szczepanski said.

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Rep. Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, asked how the measure would work, particularly in rural areas.

Where are we getting these health care professionals that are going to come to the call on the spot? Lord asked. Is the law enforcement supposed to wait? How do we get this person into a mental health care facility if theyre in crisis?

Szczepanski said she agreed that ideally a mental health team would respond with police to calls involving people in crisis.

Unfortunately not all communities have that, she said.

Maestas said the bill will clarify what he called a vague set of laws. The process in place already  which will remain unchanged  involves law enforcement taking a person in crisis to a psychiatric care unit, like the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, for three days. A family member or service provider can then petition a court to order further mental health treatment.

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Maestas said the proposal to require a mental health worker at the front end of the process would have completely nullified the bill, and a judge will make the final determination about ongoing involuntary care.

One of the meaningful changes in the proposal, he said, is that those petitioning for involuntary treatment would be able to present to a judge about the persons recent behavior, rather then trying to convince the judge their predictions about potential future behavior are accurate.

The definition is now tight, Maestas said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WDTN)  An Ohio lawmaker wants to create a new license plate option for drivers in the Buckeye State.

State Sen. Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) recently introduced Senate Bill 358, which aims to allow vehicle owners the option to consider a blackout license plate when purchasing plates.

The proposed legislation describes the plate as a black background with white letters or numbers.

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The plate does not include the phrase Birthplace of Aviation or display county identification stickers, both of which are required for standard Ohio license plates, said the bills analysis. However, the license plates must display a validation sticker showing the expiration date of the vehicles registration.

Aside from standard registration fees and taxes, the plate could be a $20 annual fee with a $10 administrative fee.

This is not the first time the proposed plate is being considered in the Buckeye state. In 2025, the plate was under consideration to be offered starting Jan. 1, but the state Senate removed the language.

As of date, Senate Bill 358 has been referred to the state Senate transportation committee.

Indianas Plate

On Aug. 8, 2025, Indiana released a blackout plate for drivers in the Hoosier state.

Photo/Indiana Department of Transportation

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles announced Oct. 9, 2025 that their blackout plate had reached over 40,000 in sales, creating $1.3 million in revenue.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Birkdale Village management will prohibit unaccompanied minors on the property after 6 p.m. starting this Friday, following a series of disturbances last Saturday night.

The new policy comes after groups of children and teenagers were filmed blocking traffic and engaging in rowdy behavior at the Huntersville shopping center.

Huntersville Police Chief Brian Vaughn informed town leaders during a Tuesday update that he believes the Saturday night disturbances were part of an organized event.

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Videos from the incident, which have since gone viral, showed youths climbing on top of vehicles and harassing visitors.

ALSO READ: Authorities tracking down reckless e-bike riders causing chaos in Birkdale Village

Jordan Miller, a community member, described the scene to town commissioners on Tuesday night while recounting a Valentines Day dinner he attempted to have with his girlfriend. Miller said the environment was disrupted by groups of youths.

The kids were making loud noises, popping balloons, and then they would run into the street and pretend that it was a gunshot to try and scare everyone, Miller said.

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Miller also noted that some of the individuals involved claimed they would return to the property in the future.

Maryann Turetsky, a local resident, also witnessed the behavior and described the Saturday evening as horrendous. She noted that the incidents were being recorded and shared on social media.

They got on top of cars and were twerking, they filmed that, now Birkdale is called twerkdale, thats gone viral, Turetsky said.

Turetsky, a New York native who moved to the area 16 years ago, said the current state of the shopping center differs greatly from her early impressions.

She recalled a time when the area from the entrance to the movie theater was mostly open green space. Its not like that anymore, now its a big mess, Turetsky said.

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Chief Vaughn explained that his department has a history of coordinating with Birkdale Village to manage disturbances.

The department previously utilized extra patrols during the last holiday season to address issues with unaccompanied minors.

At the end of the year, we discontinued those extra patrols because we saw the positive impact it was having, Vaughn said.

Following the events of last Saturday, the chief said management has requested a return to increased security measures. They have resumed wanting to hire off-duty officers again, Vaughn said.

Now that the policy is in place, Miller said he intends to visit Birkdale Village again this upcoming weekend to see if conditions have improved. I just think that if things dont change by the end of the year, I dont think its gonna be what it was anymore, Miller said.

(VIDEO: Authorities tracking down reckless e-bike riders causing chaos in Birkdale Village)
Boy plummets to floor from zip line at Las Vegas trampoline park, suffering concussion, family says

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A chaotic scene inside a Las Vegas trampoline park, Spy Ninjas HQ, was captured on video.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, Knox and his family were celebrating his 10th birthday. The video shows the child about to ride the zip line. Knox, seen harnessed, appears to jump off the platform, make it through a portion of the obstacle, before falling.

His family told 8 News Now, he fell more than 20 feet to the ground.

Spy Ninjas HQ (KLAS)

They didnt have any cushion on the floor. It was pretty much straight concrete, said Knoxs uncle, Navonte Hill. He landed straight on his back and his head.

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They say they cannot watch the video anymore as its traumatizing.

Definitely the scariest moment as a family, for all of us, Hill said. You know, on his birthday on top of it!

Knox (Courtesy of Navonte Hill) (3) Knox (Courtesy of Navonte Hill) Knox (Courtesy of Navonte Hill) Knox (Courtesy of Navonte Hill)

According to the family, the child suffered from a concussion but is recovering. Hill said the family is spending as much time as possible with Knox, and he is expected to return to school soon.

Spy Ninjas, located near Buffalo Drive and Sahara Avenue, has remained open since the incident.

Spy Ninjas HQ (KLAS)

8 News Now reached out to Spy Ninjas, as well as their founders, YouTube Stars Chad Wild Clay and Vy Qwaint , for comment and is awaiting a response.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
In Missouri, Pariss Brown keeps getting surprise visits from law enforcement because her home was the last known address for a wanted felon. The man lived there years ago, and Brown says she doesn't know him. She explains that to cops every time they show up, and she has called the local police department to get her home out of the database. But her address is still connected to the fugitive in police databases, and officers keep showing up looking for him.

The post Brickbat: No Forwarding Address appeared first on Reason.com.
Supermarkets are facing the threat of strawberry shortages after storms destroyed crops in Spain and Morocco.

Flooding in the two countries, which produce almost all of the strawberries sold in Britain at this time of year, has prompted warnings that shops will struggle to source the fruit.

Nicholas Marston, the chairman of industry body British Berry Growers, said: There has been heavy rainfall and extensive flooding in both south-east Spain and northern Morocco, which has damaged production.

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All my colleagues who supply supermarkets are reporting that theyre becoming short of supplies and that will get worse over the next few days.

The UK consumes some 1,200 tonnes of strawberries each week, according to British Berry Growers. The country relies on imports over the colder winter months and into spring.

Bad weather has devastated crops in key markets. Spain saw a years worth of rain in just 48 hours during Storm Leonardo in the first week of February, ruining strawberry-growing fields.

Freshuelva, the industry body that represents strawberry growers in south-west Spain, estimates that half the berries grown by its farmers have been wiped out.

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Edward Velasco, the managing director of Rodanto, which imports six million kilograms of berries a year, said: Its a complete disaster.

Weve got farmers who would normally be loading multiple lorries worth a day, but some of them havent been loading anything at all.

Mr Velasco is currently in Spain assessing the damage. He said: We have a team out here, but I needed to get out here and see it for myself.

Farmers have also struggled to export strawberries that survived the storm. Leonardo was followed by Storm Marta, which left roads impassable and disrupted ferries passing through the Strait of Gibraltar.

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Mr Marston said: The Straits have been closed for a lot of the time so the ferry traffic has been severely disrupted.

Spain saw a years worth of rain in just 48 hours - Roman Rose/Shutterstock

Similar problems have afflicted Morocco, another major strawberry supplier to Britain. According to the Moroccan Association of Soft Fruit Producers, over 30pc of the countrys farms have been flooded following a series of storms.

The British Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets, said: Food retailers are adept at managing disruption and will take all necessary measures, including sourcing from alternative sources.

Supermarkets such as Sainsburys and Tesco have begun selling more Egyptian strawberries in recent years. The area of land given over to strawberry cultivation in Egypt last year increased by 35pc to over 103,000 acres.

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However, Mr Velasco said supermarkets may struggle to ramp up supplies as Egypt was winding down for Ramadan.

He said: As the month of Ramadan goes on Egypt, people have got less and less energy because theyre fasting and they dont want to go out in the fields to pick.

Mr Valesco added: Morocco is definitely finished due to the storms there, Egypt is definitely finishing due to Ramadan, and everyone is going to start heavily relying on Spanish berries but the Spanish berries arent there.

Pioneering strawberry producers in England, including James Dyson, are currently growing fruit under glass, but this only yields around 15 tonnes a week.

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Mr Marston said the price of land and planning restrictions meant fruit production was lower than it could be in England. He said: At the moment, we are still actually making it more and more costly and difficult to produce fruit in this country.

He called on the Government to do more to support British berry farmers. He said: They say food security is national security but they dont do anything when it comes to actually improving domestic berry production.

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Buc-ee's is an incredibly popular tourist stop, and many communities are dying for new locations. Does that include Georgia? Yes, and we have news of another location nearby.

Is Georgia getting a new Buc-ee's? Where will it be?

A new Buc-ee's is in development in Monroe County off I-75 on Rumble Road in west central Georgia, about midway between Atlanta and Macon. As of last fall, it's expected to be finished by March 2027.

More recently, another Buc-ee's was announced for Hardeeville in Jasper County, about 25 minutes up I-95 from the Savannah area. It will occupy a 46-acre site within the larger Hardee Station development located at Exit 8 off I-95, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 278 and Highway 17.

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Once completed, this would put it just 20-30 miles outside of the Savannah area, depending on where specifically you live. Currently, the nearest is in Brunswick, over 60 miles away.

Buc-ee's eyes Hardeeville, Jasper County

The Hardeeville Buc-ee's location in Jasper County is expected to include dozens of fuel pumps and electric-vehicle charging stations, serving both traditional and eco-friendly travelers. Key features include a bicycle plaza and several scenic ponds that enhance the visitor experience, according to multiple media reports.

FILE - Customers get their photos taken with Buc-ee's mascot in Mount Crawford, VA on June 30, 2025. A new Buc-ee's is planned for near Georgia.

When is Hardeeville Buc-ee's groundbreaking?

Construction on the new Buc-ees in Hardeeville is expected to begin in early 2026. Josh Gruber, Hardeeville city manager, said the town's goal is to meet residents' needs.

"Basically, what that means is, for a resident to be able to go to the grocery store, go out to eat, have retail recreation opportunities, can get all of those needs met, and do that within the city of Hardeeville, rather than having them have to get in a car and drive someplace else outside the city," Gruber said in an interview with media outlet WJCL.

When will the Buc-ee's in Hardeeville open?

The projected completion date is 2031, according to Buc-ee's.

What Buc-ee's locations are opening in 2026?

The following Buc-ee's locations are set to open in 2026, according to USA TODAY.

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Huber Heights, Ohio, on April 6

Goodyear, Arizona, in June

San Marcos, Texas, in July

Benton, Arkansas, in late summer or early fall

Murfreesboro, Tennessee, before the end of 2026

Buc-ee's locations

There are currently three open Georgia Buc-ee's in Brunswick, Calhoun, and Warner Robins. South Carolina has one in Florence.

BRUNSWICK is NOW OPEN

6900 Hwy 99

Brunswick, GA 31525 pic.twitter.com/moap39KMNy  Buc-ee's Beaver (@bucees) July 1, 2025

Buc-ee's careers and pay scale

Pay rates at Buc-ee's depend on the position. But cashiers, grocery associates, gift associates, and janitorial/cleaning and maintenance attendants all make $18.

Meanwhile, deli/food service associates, bookkeepers, and grocery team leads make $21. For more info, go to buc-ees.com/careers/.

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Buc-ee's opening new store near Georgia. Here's when and where
SOFIA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Bulgaria will hold a snap parliamentary election on April 19, President Iliana Iotova said on Wednesday.

Iotova last week picked Andrey Gyurov, deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, to head a caretaker government tasked with preparing the way for another parliamentary election, which will be the eighth in just five years in the EU and NATO member state.

The previous government resigned on December 11 following weeks of street protests over its economic policies and perceived failure to tackle corruption.

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"I will make a decree to have elections on the 19th of April," Iotova told a news conference on Wednesday, after meeting Gyurov, who presented the members of his caretaker government.

Bulgaria, which joined the euro zone on January 1, has faced prolonged political instability, with parties unable to form stable ruling coalitions in a fragmented parliament.

(Reporting by Alex Lefkowitz, Writing by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Toby Chopra and Ros Russell)
By Krystal Hu, Jeffrey Dastin and Max A. Cherney

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 17 (Reuters) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta is building an artificial intelligence accountability program as his office probes Elon Musks xAI over the generation of non-consensual sexually explicit images, he told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

The California Attorney General's office moved quickly last month to send a cease-and-desist letter to xAI, as regulators globally investigated the company over sexualized content that its AI chatbot Grok produced of adults and potentially minors, Bonta said.

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Bonta said his office is seeking confirmation that the conduct has stopped and remains in discussions with the company. He said xAI deflected responsibility and still permits some sexualized content generation for paying subscribers.

Just because you stop going forward doesn't mean you get a pass on what you did, Bonta added.

XAI, recently acquired by Musk's SpaceX, did not respond to a request for comment.

In January, the company said it had added measures to reject user requests for sexualized images of real people, for instance editing them to be in a bikini. XAI has also said it blocks users from generating such images in jurisdictions where that is illegal.

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California's enforcement shows the Democratic stronghold is embracing its role as an AI watchdog, despite ongoing pushes by industry and some Republican lawmakers for it to defer to federal authorities on law and regulation. Bonta warned against granting Congress exclusive regulatory authority given its prior gridlock on data protection and AI.

The California Attorney General's office is "beefing up" its in-house expertise through its "AI oversight, accountability and regulation program, Bonta said. AI chatbots that have sexually explicit conversations with youth or tell them how to commit suicide are unacceptable, he said.

State authorities have also told San Francisco-based OpenAI that California has an "ongoing interest" in its efforts to keep its products and services safe, after Bonta's office helped oversee its corporate restructuring last year, he said.

The state's legislature is considering a bill that would require the attorney general's office to establish a program to build expertise in AI.

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Speaking in a joint interview with Reuters, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong called AI and social media harm "the consumer protection fight of our time," shaping up to be a bigger battle than over opioids. "This affects all of our children," he said.

(Reporting by Krystal Hu, Jeffrey Dastin and Max A. Cherney in San Francisco; editing by Peter Henderson and Cynthia Osterman)
By Abhirup Roy and Peter Henderson

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 17 (Reuters) - California and Connecticut are working together on a multi-state "plan of attack" against President Donald Trump's repeal of the foundation of federal climate regulation of vehicles, the states' attorneys general told Reuters on Tuesday.

In what Trump has said was the country's "biggest deregulatory action," the Environmental Protection Agency last week rescinded the "endangerment finding" that said greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles endanger public health.

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"We're going to take action," Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in an interview, describing efforts to work out standing, claims and other elements of a suit. "We're putting together our best possible plan of attack."

The EPA has used the endangerment finding as the basis for regulating power plants, automakers, and oil and gas operations. Transport and power account for about half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Legal experts have also said the move could lead to a surge in lawsuits known as "public nuisance" actions, a pathway that had been blocked following a 2011 Supreme Court ruling that regulation of greenhouse gas emissions should be left in the hands of the EPA instead of the courts.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in the interview that the states were "looking at the facts and law to challenge the original action."

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The attorneys general did not provide a timeline although Bonta indicated they would not delay.

"We're not going to bring a lawsuit in six months. The temporal nexus to the action is important. But getting it right and making sure everything's tight is important too."

(Reporting by Abhirup Roy and Peter Henderson in San Francisco; Editing by Stephen Coates)
California High-Speed Rail Authority's Chief Executive Officer is taking a leave of absence following his domestic battery-related arrest, according to officials

The project's board of directors and state transportation agency will review the situation surrounding CEO Ian Chodri's arrest while he's on leave, officials said.

"While CEO Choudri has informed the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board that he is not aware of any evidence of wrongdoing, he has voluntarily agreed to take a temporary leave to allow the Board and our parent agency, the California State Transportation Agency, to fully review and assess the situation," said Peter Whippy, the Chief of External Affairs and Communications for the California High-Speed Rail Authority. "We are taking this matter seriously, consistent with our longstanding commitment to public responsibility, transparency, and accountability. The California High-Speed Rail Authoritys work continues without interruption, and our priorities remain unchanged.

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Officials told ABC10 that Chief of Staff Mark Tollefson will assume responsibility for day-to-day decision making of the authority during the temporary period.

The Folsom Police Department said Choudri's arrest happened on Feb. 4 on the 500 block of Borges Court in Folsom. They added that the violaiton is a misdemeanor.

The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office didn't file charges after receiving the incident report from Folsom police, according to Allen Sawyer, Choudri's attorney.

The District Attorney's Office also reportedly declined to file charges against Choudri's wife, Lyudmila Starostyuk.

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The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office gave the following statement:

Our office takes all allegations of domestic violence incredibly seriously, regardless of who the suspect is or what position they hold in our community. Per penal code section 13701, in domestic violence situations law enforcement shall take steps to determine who the dominant aggressor is to make the appropriate arrest. In this case, law enforcement arrested one male and one female. Officers did not see or note any injuries to either individual.

Since the evidence does not clearly demonstrate a dominant aggressor we determined there was insufficient evidence to file charges to sustain our burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Choudri was appointed by the Authority's Board of Directors in August 2024.

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According to the Authority's website, before joining the Authority, Choudri had an extensive career working on construction projects related to rail, telecommunications, highways, energy, defense, airports and seaports.

WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | Lawmakers raise transparency concerns after $537M high-speed rail settlement approved
San Diego ranks among the top U.S. cities for rooftop solar installations  but for millions of Californians who rent, or whose homes cant support traditional panels, access to clean energy remains limited. State lawmakers say a new idea could change that: plugin solar, also known as balcony solar.

A Common Sight in Europe  Now Gaining Attention in California

In countries like Germany, plugin solar units are already widely used. These small systems, often mounted on balconies or patios, can help power appliances such as a refrigerator or small electronics during daylight hours. After dark, users switch back to the grid.

You can set these out on a balcony, you can put them in a yard or a patio, said Dave Rosenfeld with the Solar Rights Alliance. All you really need is a little patch of sun.

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Rosenfeld says hes encouraged that California leaders are looking to relax regulations so more residents  especially renters  can use these systems.

New Legislation Targets Cost Relief for Renters and Homeowners

State Senator Scott Wiener has introduced a bill that would allow San Diegans and others across the state to install small plugin solar systems without requiring approval from utility companies such as SDG&E.

The cost of electricity throughout the state  Bay Area, San Diego, L.A.  is one of the drivers of the high cost of living in California, Wiener said. That is really putting pressure on a lot of people, including homeowners and renters, and we need to give people tools to get their costs down.

Energy analysts estimate that a typical 400watt plugin system could save a user around $250 a year. At current prices, it would take roughly three years to break even.

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But experts say increased demand could rapidly push prices down  exactly what happened in Germany.

Over time, you will see the price start to align with Germany, Rosenfeld said. So that its more like $200$300 to buy one panel, and then you can see this thing pay back in like a year or so.

SDG&E Responds

In a statement, SDG&E said it plans to collaborate with lawmakers as the bill moves forward in Sacramento.

Our priority is ensuring that any technology operating on or near the electric system meets strong safety standards that protect customers, lineworkers, and the public, said SDG&E Spokesperson Anthony Wagner.

Whats Next?

Lawmakers hope to pass the bill later this year. If approved, residents might not have to wait long to take advantage of the technology.

By mid next year, we hope that consumers can walk into a Target, a Home Depot, an IKEA, or their local hardware store, be able to buy one of these products, set it out on a balcony, a yard, or a patio, safely plug it in, and begin cutting their energy bill, Rosenfeld said.
Today is an important day in two major world religions. It is the first day of Ramadan for Muslims and the first day of Lent for Christians. These traditions have in common several spiritual practices for observing their respective holy seasons: fasting, prayer and resetting our focus on people who are marginalized, hungry and oppressed.

In West Virginia, it can be hard to speak up if you are oriented toward social justice. Those around you may not share your view that all people in the state  regardless of who they are, whom they love or where they live  should experience safety and flourishing here. Perhaps you fear being ostracized by people in your circles if you were to share your views or act on them.

On this holy day, I join with faith leaders around the state in issuing a call to moral courage and boldness. Particularly for Christians, who carry a lot of social privilege in our state, now is the time to speak out and show up if you care for the people that Jesus would have sided with: those who are poor, who do not have clean drinking water, who do not have a piece of paper which says they can live here, who are dealing with health challenges, who are incarcerated or who are trying to move through predominantly white, heteronormative and cisgendered spaces while not being part of those populations.

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In the Church we use the term Empire to name the confluence of systems and structures which benefit the majority and oppress the minority. Empire is backed by wealth, status, violence and a powerful narrative. Empire speaks loudly. But when we let Empires oppression speak louder than love, we have taken an unholy vow of silence. We must be bold in opposing policies and institutions that harm the people of our state. If the religion that influences lawmaking looks more like coercion than compassion, it is not the way of Jesus. And we must say so.

The consequences of speaking truth to power are material and real. We Christians know this because we follow a man who was executed because of his rebellion of love. That movement made Empire quake in its boots but came at great cost.



At the beginning of this holy season of honest self-reflection, I call upon those who follow Jesus to do a few things. First let us examine ourselves to discover where we have been lulled into silence in the face of unjust systems and where we have failed to be in solidarity with our neighbors. Then let us fast and pray for the strength to make a change in our behavior  to exchange the spoils and benefits of unjust systems for the hard work of solidarity. Next, let us expand our willingness to risk or bear the costs of resisting Empire. Finally, will you commit this season, perhaps as your Lenten discipline, to take at least one courageous step of advocacy or resistance? This looks different for everyone, so dont compare the expansion of your risk tolerance to someone else. Those who are being harmed daily need you to grow, no matter your starting place. Show up and speak out.

Poet, professor, and civil rights activist Audre Lorde said, And when we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed, but when we are silent we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.

Let us not live in fear but walk in love  active, vocal, rebellious love.

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By Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet told Reuters on Tuesday that Thai forces are occupying Cambodian territory after fighting last year despite a peace accord brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, and called on Thailand to allow a joint boundary commission to begin working on their disputed border.

In his first interview with international media, Hun Manet, who took over power from his father in 2023, hailed warmer ties with Washington and said his government was working to address cyber scam centers that have proliferated in the country.

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Hun Manet traveled to Washington to attend a meeting of Trump's Board of Peace this week, and said he hoped the new body could play a role in de-escalating the situation on the border, which he described as "fragile" despite a December ceasefire that ended renewed fighting.

The board was created to oversee a Gaza peace plan, but Trump has said it could take on a broader role.

Thailand has said it is maintaining troop positions as part of de-escalation measures and has denied it is occupying territory.

"We are adhering to the joint statement, which agreed to maintain existing troop deployments. There has been no reinforcement," Thailand's Defense Ministry spokesperson, Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, told Reuters.

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'VIOLATION OF OUR SOVEREIGNTY'

The comments from Cambodia's leader on the border conflict underscore the risk that the conflict could reignite once again despite Trump continuing to promote the success of the peace deal.

The worst fighting in more than a decade, which broke out in July, has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and disrupted trade across the 508-mile (817-km) border.

An October peace accord signed with Trump and Malaysia's prime minister broke down within a matter of weeks before a new ceasefire was reached on December 27.

"We still have Thai forces occupy(ing) deep into Cambodian territory in many areas. This is further beyond even Thailands own unilateral claim border line," Hun Manet told Reuters.

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He said Thai troops had laid shipping containers and barbed wire inside what Thailand had long recognized as Cambodian territory and residents were unable to return home.

"This is not an accusation but its a statement of the facts on the ground, he said.

Cambodia could not accept what he called a "violation of our sovereignty or territorial integrity," he said.

"The only way to verify that is using the technical mechanism that we have, based on treaties, based on all the agreements we have. So we hope that Thailand will agree and start to allow the JBC (joint boundary commission) to work as early as possible," Hun Manet said.

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He added that Thailand had cited its February 8 election as a reason not to begin demarcation work. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul rode a wave of nationalism in the election in the wake of the border conflict.

"Now the election is done, we hope that Thailand can start, at least on a technical level, to start measuring, start demarcating in the hot zone, so that we can go back to life," Hun Manet said.

A JBC can convene when a new government is formed, Thai defense ministry spokesperson Surasant said.

WEST POINT GRADUATE

Cambodia's long-ruling leader Hun Sen announced that he would hand over power to his son, Hun Manet, after elections held in 2023 in which his ruling Cambodian People's Party ran virtually unopposed.

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Hun Manet, 48, is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. His ascension, followed by Trump's involvement in the border dispute, has ushered in warmer ties between Washington and Phnom Penh, which had for years been moving closer to China.

Manet said relationships with China and the U.S. were "not mutually exclusive" and said Cambodia had "nothing to hide" on the Ream naval base that was upgraded by China.

"As for Cambodia, to choose (a) relationship  China or U.S. or U.S. over China, is not our choice," he said. "We are a sovereign country. We pursue the policy of friends with our countries."

Past U.S. administrations have pushed Cambodia to address issues of human rights and democracy before ties could improve.

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Hun Manet said human rights in Cambodia had gotten a lot of attention but his country had maintained strong ties in other areas like security cooperation with Washington.

"Democracy is not just defined by political party expression, but health, education, freedom of press and others," Manet said.

Reporters Without Borders last year ranked Cambodia 161 out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index, citing detentions of journalists.

The U.S. Treasury Department last year imposed sanctions on scores of people involved in running compounds in Cambodia from which massive amounts of fraud, including online romance scams, were perpetrated on people around the world.

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Hun Manet said his government was cracking down on cyber scams and was drafting a law to tackle the issue, and argued online scams were not only a problem stemming from Cambodia.

"Yes, they exist. They have been existing. Does that mean that we allow them, we endorse them or we not do anything? No," he said, citing efforts to deport people working at the scam centers and close the compounds.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis; Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok; Editing by Ethan Smith and Lincoln Feast)
Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said he does not agree with an elected member of his party who claimed that Canada was harming its relationship with the US by throwing an "anti-American hissy fit".

Jamil Jivani, a Conservative MP from Ontario, made the remark in an interview with right-wing American news outlet Breitbart over the weekend.

On Tuesday, Poilievre distanced himself from Jivani's comment, telling reporters that the MP does not speak for his party.

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Jivani spoke to Breitbart after he travelled to Washington earlier this month on a trip that was not sanctioned by the Canadian government, and where he had an unofficial meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance.

Vance and Jivani are longtime friends and were former roommates at Yale University, where both attended law school.

Ahead of his trip, Jivani said in a video post on X that he was going to Washington to help Prime Minister Mark Carney negotiate a trade deal with the US.

On Saturday, the Conservative MP told Breitbart that Canadians "are shooting ourselves in the foot if we continue this anti-America hissy fit".

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Anti-US sentiments have grown in Canada in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs on key Canadian sectors and his comments on Canada being the "51st state".

Carney, a Liberal, successfully campaigned on taking a defiant stance in response to Trump by diversifying trade and reducing Canada's reliance on the US.

Speaking about Jivani's trip, Poilievre said he believes it is "necessary" for all MPs to use their connections to advance trade talks in an effort to overturn US tariffs on Canada.

But he added he did not agree with Jivani's comments to Breitbart.

"Canadians are legitimately upset by the unjustifiable tariffs and the comments that the president has made," Poilievre told reporters.

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"He speaks for himself, and I speak for the party," Poilievre said.

Jivani has said that he had "productive meetings" with the White House and the state department during his trip.

"The President asked me to pass along a message: 'Tell the Canadians I love them," Jivani said in a post on X on 4 February.

At the time, Carney told reporters that Jivani was briefed on the file by the minister of Canada-US trade, Dominic LeBlanc. But the prime minister noted that Jivani was not in Washington on an official capacity.

Jivani represents the Ontario constituency of Bowmanville-Oshawa North, which includes many auto workers affected by US tariffs.

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has been vocal against Trump's tariffs on his province's auto sector, also criticised Jivani's remarks to Breitbart.

"I am happy that he went down in the US, I'm happy when I see other premiers go down to the US and lobby," Ford told reporters on Tuesday. "But no, I don't call it a hissy fit".

Canada remains subject to sector-specific tariffs by the Trump administration, as well as a blanket 35% tariff rate on goods not covered by a longstanding free trade agreement between the two countries and Mexico.

That free trade agreement is now up for a scheduled review that is set to conclude later this year.
In Velasco, a town in the eastern Cuban province of Holguin, a man was buried in a cardboard box, his body carted on a wheelbarrow to the cemetery because of a lack of both of wooden coffins and fuel.

In the capital city of Holguin, residents are cooking with wood and coal outside their homes, on sidewalks and empty streets.

In Guantanamo, a local radio station announced that bread distributed through ration cards will now be baked in wood-fired ovens and that the government will sell residents coal for cooking.

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And all over Havana, neighborhoods are covered in rotting garbage piles that havent been picked up for months.

The images have made it to social media and independent news outlets, highlighting the severity of the impact the Trump administrations shutoff of oil shipments to the island  and the governments resistance to any change  on average Cubans.

A man cooks food on a pot on a wood fire during a blackout in the Poey neighborhood of Havana on January 28, 2026. (YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images)

The prices of food and gas have skyrocketed seemingly overnight: a package of chicken now costs a months salary, 5,000 pesos, and a liter of gasoline up to 3,800. Two thirds of the country was without electricity at peak demand last week, and daily electricity cuts averaged more than 20 hours in many provinces.

Cubans were already facing extreme poverty, widespread shortages and daily blackouts when President Donald Trump cut the countrys oil supply from Venezuela and Mexico in a push to open negotiations that could lead to political and economic changes in the communist-run island.

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On Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cuban authorities to make economic reforms as a way out of the impasse. On Sunday, Trump confirmed negotiations were ongoing and again urged Cuban leaders to make a deal.

Cuba is, right now, a failed nation, he said. Were talking to Cuba right now. I have Marco Rubio talking to Cuba right now, and they should absolutely make a deal because its really a humanitarian threat.

Asked if he would consider a military operation like the one to capture Venezuelas strongman Nicolas Maduro last month, Trump said he didnt want to answer.

Why would I answer that? he added. If I was, it wouldnt be a very tough operation, as you can figure, but I dont think thatll be necessary.

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But despite the increasing external and internal pressure to reform the islands hardline Marxist economy, Cuban leaders have vowed to resist and have passed another round of severe austerity measures for the population to endure while denying that the country is about to collapse.

I believe that the Cuban regime right now is in the classic phase of denial, said Sebastian Arcos, the interim director of Florida International Universitys Cuba Research Institute, in a recent event discussing the situation on the island. They cannot accept that the strategic situation has changed and that things are different, and theyre not going back to what they used to be. This is the first stage of grief.

Meanwhile, the situation on the island is deteriorating quickly.

A man rides past an abandoned car in Havana on February 4, 2026. (YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images)

At the FIU event, Jorge Pinon, who heads the University of Texas Latin America and Caribbean Energy Program, said Cubas oil reserves might dry up in a matter of weeks.

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Cubas electric power sector is totally collapsed, he said. If by March you dont see an oil cargo ship on the horizon coming either into Havana or Cienfuegos, they will have reached zero.

Already, cargo transports, trains and buses connecting the provinces, as well as public transportation services in Havana and other cities, have been reduced to a minimum. Private business owners are complaining that they cant get their imported supplies delivered from ports.

As the countrys crisis worsened in recent years, residents in Havana had to walk and live on streets covered by mounds of garbage because authorities said there was not enough fuel for pickups  but also because the government did not buy enough trash containers, or paid enough to the trash-collection employees, and because most garbage trucks were out of service, Cubas own state media reported earlier this month.

Now, the current energy crisis has made the situation so much worse that residents, sickened by the stench and the flies, have started burning the garbage, covering parts of Havana with unhealthy blankets of smoke, Cuban independent news outlet 14ymedio reported.

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The fuel shortage has had a devastating impact on tourism too, one of the countrys key sources of revenue. After Cuba reported running out of jet fuel, several international airlines suspended flights to the island. Many workers in the tourism industry have been told not to go to work in hotels in Cubas keys, Varadero, Guardalavaca and other tourist destinations, and tourists have been moved to other facilities, as the government and the Cuban military, which owns many of Cubas hotels, moved to shut many of them down.

How the military came to dominate Cubas tourism  and bankrupted the country

What makes the population so vulnerable at this time is that the country was already at its worst economically since the early days of the revolution, and a humanitarian crisis was unfolding. Cubans were dying because of diseases linked to poor sanitary conditions and lack of medications, were going without electricity most of the day and were struggling to find affordable food. Some experts say its the worst crisis since the end of the independence wars from Spain in the 19th century, which left the country in ruins.

The economic crisis, a deep economic contraction that has lasted years, has largely resulted from the failure of the socialist economic model, a hard-currency-hungry military stashing billions of dollars in its accounts, and years of Cuban leaders dragging their feet on urgently needed economic reforms. The COVID-19 pandemic and the tightening of U.S. sanctions under the first Trump administration also played a part.

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Where is Cubas money? Secret records show the military has massive cash hoard

That Cuban leaders are willing to drown an entire people in the name of an ideology proves they are fanatics, said a source in communication with Cuban officials who asked for anonymity to discuss the interactions. Every day that passes, they sink deeper into a hole, the person said, noting that the countrys economy is practically paralyzed. The damage from zero tourism is enormous.

TOPSHOT - A woman checks her cellphone during a blackout in the Luyano neighborhood of Havana on January 28, 2026. (YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images)

Two Miami Herald sources in communication with Cuban officials said they have given little private indication they are willing to negotiate substantial changes on how they run the country, despite public U.S. offers of dialogue. The sources said they were left with the impression that there are no current negotiations between the two governments, in line with what Cuban officials have publicly said.

Their intransigence has proved unpopular. Even voices close to the government are publicly calling for changeif not for a democratic transition.

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Reform and overcome the crisis, or not reform and collapse  that is the Cuban dilemma, reads the title of a piece penned by Carlos Alzugaray, a retired Cuban diplomat who lives on the island and has for years push for the Cuban government to adopt a Chinese-style, market-oriented economic model. Alzugaray criticized Cubas handpicked leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel, for not announcing major reforms at a recent press conference in which he instead called for more sacrifice.

The demand for reforms, primarily economic but also political, is a natural consequence of the times we live in, Alzugaray wrote in the pro-government blog La Joven Cuba. This is especially true when we see on the national television news that our leaders, with a few exceptions, continue to repeat past formulas and refuse not only to change, but also to acknowledge the numerous mistakes they have clearly made.

While Cuban leaders dig in, their choices about what to preserve and what to cut speak to the governments immediate priorities: securing its survival.

In the much-criticized television appearance, Diaz-Canel said that the defense of the country was paramount and announced military exercises every Saturday. Images shared by the Revolutionary Armed Forces Ministry show troop movements and displays of Soviet-era helicopters, tanks, surface-to-air missile systems and armored vehiclesan expensive and futile show of force, given the overwhelming superiority of the U.S. military.

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In the meantime, all scheduled surgeries have been cancelled across the country because, as the minister of health put it, operations demand electricity.

Surgical activity levels usually require more beds for therapy, additional observation beds, the minister, Jose Angel Portal Miranda, said on Cuban television earlier this week, adding that the plan is to reduce the hospitals staff and patients hospital stays.

He ominously cited the experience we had with COVID as a model to follow. At the time, and under his watch, the countrys health system all but collapsed, and the number of deaths from the combined effects of the virus, the suspension of surgeries and the lack of medication is estimated at 55,204, the highest in Latin America.

A man buys charcoal on a road in Havana on February 6, 2026. Across Cuba, families are scrambling to cope with relentless blackouts and shortages worsening under economic pressure from President Donald Trump. (ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite assurances by Portal Miranda that transportation for patients needing dialysis would not be affected, Norge Ernesto Diaz Blak, an activist who delivers aid sent by his social media followers to those in need in Holguin, said several such patients in that province have reached out to him for help after they said authorities told them they would no longer offer transportation to get the treatment.

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Hunger is likely to spread, too, as Diaz-Canel warned that the government was preparing for a scenario in which food could not be delivered, and people would have to live on locally produced food.

Here in Havana, we will eat junk, garbage we will drink a lot of sewer water and eat a lot of rubble, replied in a video Lumey Guzman, a Cuban social-media content creator.

Debate grows in Miami

Cuban Americans in Miami who have been helping their relatives on the island by paying for medicines, food and other necessities to be delivered to them in the country will see their options shrink fast too. Miami-based companies that deliver food in Cuba, such as Cubamax, Supermarket 23 and Katapulk, have suspended home deliveries.

Aware of the acute situation, the State Department recently announced it will send another $6 million in assistance to people in eastern Cuba who were hit hard by Hurricane Melissa last year. Rubio also said Saturday the U.S. was willing to continue expanding the delivery of aid to the Cuban people through the Catholic Church, though thats not a long-term solution to the problems on the island, he added.

But Cuban American representatives in Congress from Miami and local politicians and activists want the Trump administration to take more drastic measures in what they say would amount to a final nudge to speed up the collapse of the Cuban government.

The communist regime is on its knees. This is not the time to blink, U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez said in an editorial published on Fox News. Its time to finish the job  by enforcing the law, applying maximum pressure and standing proudly on the side of freedom.

Gimenez asked the Trump administration to halt flights and money remittances to Cuba and recently wrote to Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, urging them to stop flying to the island. Gimenez, along with U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Maria Elvira Salazar, wrote to the departments of the Treasury and Commerce to ask for a review of all licenses to U.S. companies doing business with Cuba.

But Joe Garcia, a Democratic former congressman from Miami, said that stance could backfire as Cuban Americans begin worrying about their relatives on the island. Cuban Americans have left hundreds of comments on social mediaand a similar amount of crying emojis lamenting that U.S.-based online grocery stores have halted food deliveries to the island.

What the Miami members of Congress propose, he added, would increase the pain suffered by the Cuban people, the suffering of those least able to withstand the ineffectiveness and inefficiency of the Cuban government.

Cubas diplomats have been promoting on social media criticism comparing Trumps policy towards Cuba to that of Israel in Gaza, in what some Cuba observers see as a strategy to blame the humanitarian crisis entirely on the United States and create a public-opinion crisis that would put pressure on the administration. Progressive International, a far-left organization, is organizing a flotilla with humanitarian aid to Cuba, mimicking tactics employed by activists reacting to the war in Gaza.

The problem is that Trump might not be moved by such a strategy, one of the sources in touch with Cuban officials said, noting the president kept supporting Israel despite accusations it was committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.

Meanwhile, expectations that change is coming to the island are so high that last week rumors of an impending official announcement from the Cuban government spread like wildfire through social media.

It turned out to be misinformation peddled by various influencers, including some from Miami.
BOLIVAR, Mo.  A Greene County man is accused of shooting down a Polk County Sheriffs Office drone that had been sent up to help look for missing livestock.

Keith Debow, born in 1968, of Battlefield, is charged with armed criminal action, first-degree property damage and unlawful use of a weapon, all felonies, per online court records.

The alleged incident happened Dec. 30, 2025, near Bolivar. A deputy launched the drone in the afternoon as part of a follow-up investigation into missing livestock.

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About an hour into the flight, the deputy spotted two deceased cattle on the southwest edge of Debows property, the statement says.

Minutes later, the drones camera started shaking and the aircraft suddenly veered. The deputy brought it down and found damage consistent with being struck by a bullet, including damaged propellers and a hole through the body of the aircraft, according to the statement.

The deputy then went to a nearby home and spoke with Debow, identified in the statement as the property owner.

When asked if he knew a drone had been flying, Debow initially said, It was shot down? the statement says. After being told the flight had been recorded, he said, So I did hit it, and allegedly acknowledged firing at it.

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The statement says Debow retrieved a Ruger 10/22 rifle from inside the residence. Investigators seized the rifle and collected a spent casing, the statement says.

At the time it was hit, the drone was about 375 feet above the ground and roughly 100 yards from Debows location. The deputy reported being directly beneath the bullets travel path.

The statement estimates the drones replacement value at more than $8,000 and says the damage meets Missouris felony threshold for first-degree property damage, which applies when someone knowingly damages anothers property by more than $750.

One of the unlawful-use counts listed in the document alleges firing into an aircraft, which is included under Missouris unlawful use of weapons law.

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Debow is due in court in early March.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Two Boston firefighters were injured when a ceiling collapsed while battling a raging fire at a triple-decker in the citys Jamaica Plain neighborhood on Wednesday morning.

According to the Boston Fire Department, crews responded to a three-alarm blaze at a home on Wyman Street around 4:45 a.m.

Upon arrival, firefighters were greeted by heavy fire in the rear of the homes porch.

The fire spread to 100 Wyman, but crews were able to prevent heavy damage to that building.

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The departments deputy fire chief confirmed that the ceiling of the building collapsed onto two firefighters. One was taken to the hospital as a precaution, and another continued fighting the fire.

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All residents escaped, with one person taken to the hospital. 13 people in total, including two children, were displaced.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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BERKELEY  Some Central Regional High School students walked out of class on Tuesday, Feb. 17, to protest what they said was a lack of responsiveness by administrators to students' complaints about allegedly inappropriate and sexual teacher behavior.

"Our main goal was for transparency (from administrators)," said Katelyn Staub, a high school junior who participated in the protest.

Central Regional High School Superintendent Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder, however, said administrators were taking action. School staff notified the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit, a branch of the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency, as well as Berkeley Township Police Department, she said in an email to the Asbury Park Press.

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Staub said sexual photographs of a male teacher had been seen by students. Other classmates said the teacher had made comments in the past that made them uncomfortable, she said.

Staub said the point of the walkout was to bring attention to the issue. She said school administrators had been dismissive about students' concerns.

The Asbury Park Press is withholding the teacher's name, because he has not been charged with a crime at the time of publication. Staub said the teacher was currently on leave.

Central Regional High School

Social media posts speculating that a teacher had been involved in "sexual misconduct with students" was brought to administrators' attention last week, CarneyRay-Yoder said.

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"At the time those messages were first posted, the District was aware that messages between two adult staff members had been inadvertently accessed by students," she said in a letter to parents. "Although there had been no reports or information in the District's possession regarding alleged sexual misconduct by District staff with students, that incident was reported to" the Abuse Investigation Unit and Berkeley Police.

"The speculation in the initial Facebook posts was not based on any information known to the District," CarneyRay-Yoder said. "However, on February 13, 2026, additional information was provided to the District not by students, but by an outside party. That information was immediately turned over to the Berkeley Township Police Department for investigation, and the District again contacted the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit to share the new information."

District staff are cooperating with both agencies, she said.

"A certified teacher will cover all affected classes during the investigation to ensure continuity of instruction for our students," the superintendent said. "We do, however, ask that anyone with factual information relevant to this matter submit it directly to the District Superintendent or the Berkeley Township Police Department.

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"We cannot comment further at this time," she said.

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 18 years. Reach her at aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Students protest at Central Regional High over alleged misconduct
Credit @guidofawkesstudios/ YouTube

A rig skimmed across the surface of the Indian Ocean, a flag of blue and white stripes with a Union flag in the upper left corner fluttering behind it.

For the men and women on board, it marked the end of 50 years in exile. The boats crew were a band of British Chagossians who have defied an exclusion zone to make a dramatic landing on the white, sandy beaches of their homeland.

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The advance party led by Misley Mandarin, the elected Chagossian first minister, has vowed to establish a permanent resettlement on Ile du Coin, part of the coral atoll of Peros Banhos.

We, the people of the Chagos Islands, stand today on the soil of our homeland, the party announced in a Declaration of Return, adding: We are the advance party. Hundreds more are following. We have come home.

Captured on video wearing a Make Britain Great Again hat as the arrivals unloaded boxes of food and Starlink communications equipment, Mr Mandarin announced: We are not visitors, we are belongers and we are here to stay forever.

God save the King, God save the United States of America.

A handful of settlers have vowed to make the Chagos Islands their permanent home

In May, Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, agreed to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. As part of the deal, the UK will rent back Diego Garcia at a cost of more than 30bn for the next 99 years.

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The archipelago became a British territory as part of the 1814 Treaty of Paris after the defeat of Napoleon and would later be ratified as the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965.

Between 1967 and 1973, Britain evicted the indigenous population to Mauritius and the Seychelles to make way for a joint military base with the United States on the island of Diego Garcia.

Evicted Chagossians were eventually offered British citizenship in 2002 and now nearly 10,000 reside in the UK, with a third of them settling in Crawley, near Gatwick Airport.

But a handful have returned to the archipelago in the hope of staking a claim for future generations.

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After trekking through dense vegetation to a clearing of overgrown ruins, where roofs which once housed their ancestors have collapsed, Mr Mandarin said: We are making history right now.

My daughter was born in Manchester. My grandkid will be born on this island. I want my daughter, my grandkid to stay British.

Born in Mauritius, I was born in exile. That is not my country and I am not Mauritian.

Looking out over the Indian Ocean, he said: I am proud of British Chagossian, thats my right. I am here to take it.

Misley Mandarin and his father, Michel, defied an exclusion zone to land on Ile du Coin

Translating for his 72-year-old father, Michel, who was amongst the resettlers, Mr Mandarin passed on an invitation to every Chagossian to return to your homeland and live the way you used to live before your imposed exile.

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Michel is one of 322 surviving Chagossians to have been born on the island.

Mr Mandarin told The Telegraph that landing on the island had been the culmination of a lifes work.

He said: I feel liberated. This for me is everything I have been fighting for all my life. To have my dad here, my fellow Chagossians.

It is a big step for us. A big step where Chagossians who have been in exile for more than half a century came home.

Addressing the Labour Government, he said: You have to listen to us, consult with us.

Mr Mandarin said the four settlers were sleeping in tents but were discussing their exciting new lives over dinner.

The new settlers enjoy the fruits of the land

Also accompanying the islanders is Adam Holloway, a former MP who helped with the fundraising and planning for the new settlement.

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The former Army officer and ITN reporter has described the deal to hand over the islands as insanity and hoped the Chagossians return would put the brakes on the process.

He said: Weve done this because Britain is about to make a catastrophically stupid mistake. We are now in a world of great power play. The base at Diego Garcia is absolutely critical to the security of the West.

Earlier this month, Donald Trump, the US president, backed Sir Keirs Chagos deal after previously calling it an act of great stupidity.

The UK Government has said the deal was made to secure the joint military base after court decisions undermined our position amid swirling interest from China.

The settlers wear Make Britain Great Again hats as they unload their supplies and urge Sir Keir Starmer to rethink his deal to hand over the island to Mauritius

In his Declaration of Return, Mr Mandarin told Sir Keir that any attempt to deport the group would be committing a fresh crime against humanity.

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We will not be evicted from these islands again, he said, adding: We want to remain subjects of the British Crown, loyal to His Majesty King Charles III: But we must do this on Chagos.

He also warned that transfer of the islands to Mauritius risks exposing the islands to the pressures of China, before promising the United States it could have a base there forever.

The Chagossian government-in-exile, which represents those who voted in the December 2025 election, has demanded a binding referendum on the diasporas future and a seat at any table where their homeland is discussed.

Robert Midgley, spokesman for Friends of the British Overseas Territories, lauded the landing as a positive step towards Chagossian self-determination.

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He said: Today, a group of British Chagossians have landed on one of the Chagos Islands. Self-determination must prevail.

The Government should withdraw the bill and look at alternative options for resettlement while keeping the military base secure under British sovereignty.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
A 25-year-old Charlotte man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for trafficking firearms, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina.

Walter Adonai Rivera Chinchilla purchased 115 firearms from licensed dealers across North Carolina between August 2023 and October 2024, falsely claiming the guns were for personal use.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Firearms trafficked from Charlotte to cartels. Whats being done about it

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Investigators said several of those weapons were later intercepted in a shipment bound for Honduras.

Court records show Chinchilla also sold firearms to an undercover agent and discussed coordinating shipments of guns to Mexico for a fee.

He was arrested in October 2024 after meeting with the undercover agent about smuggling firearms out of the country.

Chinchilla pleaded guilty to gun trafficking and was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

He remains in custody and will be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

VIDEO: Firearms trafficked from Charlotte to cartels. Whats being done about it
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Charlotte man was sentenced to seven years in prison Tuesday for trafficking firearms that were set to be shipped to other countries.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office of Western North Carolina, 25-year-old Walter Adonai Rivera Chinchilla was sentenced after pleading guilty to the trafficking charge. Following the prison time, he will have two years of supervised release.

This Administration is committed to completely eliminating transnational criminal cartels, said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. A key aspect of that effort is ending the smuggling of firearms abroad, where they end up in the hands of those criminal networks and fuel violence and instability overseas. My office will not tolerate those who exploit our lawful gun market to arm criminals whether here or abroad.

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He was charged in May as part of the Department of Justices Operation Take Back America. He and Honduran national Fausto Odalis Reyes Guevara also were charged with conspiracy to provide false statements while buying a firearm. The DOJ says the purchases took place in Catawba and Caldwell counties.

According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms determined that between August 2023 to October 2024, Chinchilla reportedly purchased 115 firearms from federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in North Carolina. On all purchases, Chinchilla demonstrated that he was purchasing the firearms for himself.

Charlotte drug trafficker sentenced for selling Glock switch, fentanyl pills to undercover officer

Court records show that in August 2024, law enforcement intercepted six Glock handguns along with 17-round high-capacity magazines hidden in a shipment destined for Honduras. All six firearms had been purchased by Chinchilla in previous months.

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Additionally, court documents also revealed Chinchilla agreed to buy a gun for an undercover agent posing as a buyer. On Oct. 2, 2024, Chinchilla met the undercover agent at an FFL. Chinchilla entered the FFL and purchased two firearms which he then sold to the undercover agent they agreed would be sent to Mexico.

Two weeks later, documents show Chinchilla met again with the undercover agent, where Chinchilla bought three firearms that he then sold to the undercover agent. Chinchilla was arrested on Oct. 31, 2024, after he showed up for a meeting with the undercover agent about smuggling firearms out of the country.

Chinchilla remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
This is one of four profiles the Tribune is writing about the Republican candidates for attorney general. Read our coverage of the candidates Aaron Reitz, Sen. Joan Huffman and Sen. Mayes Middleton. For more information on the primaries and the voting process, check out our guides and news coverage here.

In mid-December, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy found himself in a familiar pickle.

Republicans in Congress were pushing to make it a crime to provide hormone therapy to transgender minors. Roy, an Austin Republican, supported the goal but felt it was an unacceptable expansion of federal power over the states.

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Now, Ive got this paradox, Roy said at a House committee hearing. I dont support this kind of behavior and I think it should be criminalized. I also dont believe we should make a mockery of a limited Constitution.

Roy floated an amendment to address the perceived overreach, but eventually dropped it and voted for the bill amid frustration from his Republican colleagues.

For Congress chief obstructionist, this was nothing new. Roy is a limited government absolutist, whose zealous pursuit of conservative culture war priorities comes second only to his refusal to give the government an ounce more authority or a dime more money. He breaks often with his own party and speaks out frequently against leadership, pledging loyalty only to the Constitution and his own principles.

Its a massive headache for Republicans in Congress, and, Roy believes, the perfect mentality for Texas next attorney general.

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Roy, previously a top deputy to Attorney General Ken Paxton, is the frontrunner to replace his former boss. Hes touting his rock-solid conservative credentials and extensive government experience, running on a Texas-first platform for an agency thats become increasingly central to the national GOP.

People look to [the Texas Attorney Generals Office] to lead, to hold the line against an overbearing federal government if theyre getting out of their lanes, he told The Texas Tribune. You have to do that no matter whos in the White House. We gotta defend Texas. Thats our job.

But Roys history as a party antagonizer has given his opponents plenty of ammunition. Roy was the first Republican to call for Paxton to resign after his aides reported him to the FBI. He voted to certify the 2020 election and said President Donald Trump engaged in clearly impeachable conduct on Jan. 6. Hes delayed major Republican priorities over spending and constitutional concerns, often for limited gains.

Chip Roy betrayed and abandoned the president and the attorney general over and over and over and over again, Aaron Reitz, a former Paxton deputy who is running against Roy, said in an interview.

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For Roy, these are battle scars from fights rooted in the same strict adherence to the Constitution that he thinks GOP primary voters should expect from an attorney general. Roy likes to remind people that Trump once described him as not easy, but hes good.

Thats as good as an endorsement for Roy, who believes the relationship between a state official and the president  any president  should be based on co-equal respect, not blind fealty.

You need somebody whos demonstrated strength and independence, Roy said. Weve got to defend the state of Texas, defend our borders, defend our streets, keep it safe and defend ourselves against the federal government interfering with us, no matter whos there.

Climbing through a party on the rise

Then-congressional candidate Chip Roy, right, shakes hands with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz during a campaign event in New Braunfels on Feb. 10. 2018. Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune

Roy was born and raised in the D.C. suburbs  and here is where hed interrupt to note that his family ties run deep in Texas. His great-great-grandfather was a Texas ranger, his grandfather a small-town police chief. His grandmother was the first female county clerk in Nolan County, west of Abilene.

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After graduating from the University of Virginia, and a stint in investment banking, Roy returned to his ancestral lands for law school. He arrived in Texas in 2000, just as the GOP was on the rise in the state. His first government job was clerking at the agency he now seeks to lead, under then Attorney General-John Cornyn. When Cornyn became a U.S. senator, Roy followed him to Washington to work as a staffer on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

After a stint as a federal prosecutor, Roy joined forces with then-Gov. Rick Perry right as the tea party movement was bursting onto the scene. He ghostwrote Perrys book, Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington, and helped shape Perrys states rights-focused presidential campaign.

This is 2010, were saying, Guys, were Texas. Were doing great, and we dont want the long arm of the federal government interfering with us, Roy recalled on a podcast from the conservative outlet Texas Scorecard. That was what was dripping throughout that book, [were] just fed up with a Supreme Court, a Congress, a presidency that was telling Texas what to do.

In 2011, when Roy was 39, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma. But battling cancer didnt dampen his furor for conservative battles. When Roy returned to the political arena as Sen. Ted Cruzs first chief of staff in 2013, he was in remission  and more aflame than ever.

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Almost immediately after arriving back in D.C., he worked behind the scenes as Cruz shut down the government over the Affordable Care Act, coordinating media hits, calming anxious allies and facing relentless pressure for his boss to cave. The effort failed after 16 days, sparking outrage and inflighting among Republicans, with much of the ire directed at Cruz.

Was I intimately involved with it? Yes. Unapologetically. I think it was the right strategy, Roy told The Texas Tribune in 2019.

A focus on stability

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, in his Washington, D.C., office on July 15, 2019. Leigh Vogel for The Texas Tribune

After two years with Cruz, Roy returned to the Texas Attorney Generals Office as Paxtons inaugural first assistant.

We had to start an office from scratch, ground zero, because then-Attorney General [Greg] Abbott took all of his key leaders over to the governors office, Roy said. We built a great team.

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Roy helped recruit some big names within conservative circles, many of whom are now big names outside of them. To fill out the executive office, they hired Jim Davis, now the president of the University of Texas, Brantley Starr, now a federal judge, and Bernard McNamee, who later became commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Roy and Paxton set an aggressive pace right out of the gate, challenging some of Obamas biggest environmental and immigration policies. Solicitor General Scott Keller argued before the Supreme Court 11 times, a record for the time.

Chip knew it was important to focus on making sure the office worked well, McNamee said. There was a real focus on the big, headline issues, and they were important, but Chip made sure we never forgot to get the day job done.

Roy and Paxton were ideologically aligned, but the men reportedly clashed over how large of a role Roy took in running the agency. Roy left in 2016 amid an exodus of senior staff, the first of several such turnovers during Paxtons decade at the helm. In a recent interview, Roy said he and Paxton had differences of opinion on running the office, but declined to comment further.

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If elected, Roy said he would start the same way he did back then, by hiring the best attorneys and generating headline-grabbing cases to keep them busy.

Like his opponents, he has said he would work to overturn Plyler v. Doe, a Supreme Court decision that requires public schools to educate undocumented immigrants, as well as Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage. He is leading Congress push against Sharia law and the Islamification of the country, a fight he promises to bring back to Texas as attorney general. He has vowed to roll over left-leaning district attorneys, aggressively push voter fraud investigations and prosecutions and defeat the woke agenda.

Roy has also said the state needs to be preemptively pursuing litigation to ensure Texas can enforce immigration law after Trump has left office, rather than waiting to see what the next administration does on border policy. Immigration enforcement has historically been under federal jurisdiction.

I believe Texas has a right to defend its 1,100-mile border and not just be beholden to whatever Washington does, he said. We need to look at the invasion arguments. I believe that there was an invasion.

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Roy has also said he would focus on stability and retention, noting that most of his staff has been with him his whole time in Congress. He said he would reinvigorate the agencys bureaucratic functions, like child support and consumer protection, and do more public engagement, which he said has lapsed under the current administration.

I dont mean that as a criticism, I just think thats the time were in, he said in an interview with the True Texas Project. Things have evolved and changed. Were at an aggressive time where we need to use that bully pulpit almost daily to highlight this stuff.

Roys conservative message has attracted some deep-pocketed donors, including Amarillo billionaire Alex Fairly, and major endorsements, including Cruz. He came into the race with a large lead, which has diminished slightly as Galveston state Sen. Mayes Middleton has invested millions into self-funded ad buys.

Middleton, as well as Reitz and Houston Sen. Joan Huffman, are all hoping to elbow their way into a runoff with Roy. To do so, theyre targeting his relationship with two of the partys most prominent leaders.

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Chip is one of the most belligerently anti-Trump, anti-Paxton elected officials in America, Reitz said at a campaign forum in East Texas.

At odds with his former boss

Chip Roy, candidate for Texas attorney general, answers a question from a moderator during a Texas Republican candidate debate forum at the Civic Center in Canton on Jan. 17, 2026. Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribune

In October 2020, when Roy was a freshman in Congress, news broke that top deputies at the attorney generals office had reported Paxton to the FBI, accusing him of bribery and abuse of office to help Nate Paul, a real estate developer and political donor.

While many elected Republicans stayed quiet, Roy swiftly called on Paxton to resign.

The Attorney General deserves his days in court, but the people of Texas deserve a fully functioning AGs office, he said in a statement at the time, adding that the agency was too critical to the state and her people to leave in chaos.

Paxton did not resign. He was reelected two years later, and his legal troubles have largely evaporated as he withstood indictment, impeachment and federal investigations. Hes now running to unseat Roys other former boss, Cornyn, to take the longtime incumbents seat in the Senate.

Paxton endorsed Reitz, his former deputy attorney general for legal strategy, to replace him. Reitz has hammered Roy for his disloyalty to their shared former boss, saying he was part of a plot to take down the attorney general.

Congressman Roy was the very first elected official in America to call for Ken Paxtons removal from office, Reitz said at a campaign forum, to applause. If you want somebody who stands with Paxton, has been endorsed by him, is loyal and not a traitor, Im your only option.

Roy said he and Paxton are on good terms now, but despite the continued attacks from Reitz, he hasnt walked back his stance on his former boss. He says he was standing up for his former colleagues that reported Paxton to the FBI.

When they were being thrown under the bus, I felt like I owed it to them to defend them, he said to Texas Scorecard. I stick with my friends and defend them when I feel like theyre being attacked.

Paxton declined to comment.

While that agency scandal was unfolding, Roy was in the midst of a tough reelection campaign against former state Sen. Wendy Davis. Davis, a Democrat darling after her 2013 abortion filibuster, brought name recognition and major money into the race, which ended up being the third most expensive in the country that cycle.

Im the only one of us [in the AG primary] thats had to run a really tough, brutal, high-profile race, Roy said. You dont have to be a political genius to know that, as a conservative running with Austin as a big part of your district, the ability to win that  shows an ability to win in the general.

Roy beat Davis by seven points in 2020, sealing his return to Congress right as another party scandal was about to bubble up.

Trump criticisms

President Donald Trump greets U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, as he leaves after addressing a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS

When Trump lost in 2020 to Joe Biden, many Republicans quickly joined him in claiming that the election was stolen. Roy agreed that there was reason for concern  but was frustrated that no one seemed to be able to produce any evidence, text messages obtained by CNN show.

Roy told Mark Meadows, the presidents chief of staff, in a text that they needed to approach the legal challenge firmly, intelligently and effectively, without resorting to a conspiracy frenzy. And if it turned out that Trump had lost, there needed to be an orderly transfer of power.

Paxton and Reitz took a different approach, asking the Supreme Court to overturn the election results in four states. While many Republicans signed on, Roy called it a dangerous violation of federalism that would almost certainly fail.

He was correct; the Supreme Court threw out the lawsuit immediately. But that did little to quell claims of a stolen election, which erupted on Jan. 6 when protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Roy later said that Trump engaged in clearly impeachable conduct by pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to not certify the election results that day, although he voted against impeachment charges brought by Democrats. In 2024, he campaigned for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, rather than Trump, exacerbating tensions between the two men.

This is a potential anchor around Roys neck as he seeks the approval of Texas very Trump-friendly GOP base, one his opponents never miss an opportunity to call out. In ads, Middleton has detailed Roys tumultuous relationship with Trump, declaring the president doesnt trust Roy.

Roy points out that he has voted with Trumps agenda more than almost any House member, and said he and the president talk frequently about their shared policy goals, like Roys bill that just passed the House, which would require voters to provide photo ID at the polls. In a recent campaign ad, Cruz says no one, and I mean no one, has fought harder to help President Trump make America great again than Roy.

But even as he works to sew up the nomination, Roy has stood by his previous comments about the president, saying on WFAA that he always stands for what I believe in, defending the Constitution and defending the rule of law.

He said hes confident his record on the issues that matter to GOP voters will ultimately win him the party nomination.

Honestly, the only way that Ill lose this election, after all that Ive done to defend the state of Texas, all that Ive done to fight for conservatism, all that Ive done in a courtroom, my legal bona fides, my background, is if somebody else is trying to buy Texas, he said. Just do your damn job. Go deliver. And I feel very, very good about my track record.
The City of Conroe has finally reached an agreement with Willis ISD to provide water and sewer services to multiple schools.

This comes after more than six months of legal wrangling.

The agreement was only reached after a dramatic meeting where the mayor asked police to clear the council chambers after councilwoman Marsha Porter brought up the Texas Open Meetings Act.

"Mayor, I think this is so important, I'm willing to be fined," Porter said.

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Mayor Duke Coon said the issue wasn't on the agenda and stopped the meeting.

To understand some of the anger, go back to August of last year.

Willis ISD's brand-new Calfee Middle School was one week away from welcoming students when its water, provided by the City of Conroe, was shut off.

Willis ISD sued the city, and the City of Conroe filed an appeal.

The county judge accused city officials of using water to take "hostage."

The dispute got so tense that council members last year even had to hold an emergency Saturday morning meeting just to address angry residents.

The problem, officials said, is that this area is growing so quickly that it doesn't have the water infrastructure it needs.

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These Willis ISD schools in question are not within the Conroe city limits, leaving many to ask, "Should they get Conroe water, which is already in short supply? And at what cost?"

"False accusations were made by County Judge Keough toward the city of Conroe, which escalated tensions and created confusion," said councilmember Shana Arthur.

At Thursday's meeting, all lawsuits were dropped, and an agreement was finally passed.

Willis ISD will now pay the city of Conroe $1.86 million for permanent water and sewer service at Calfee Middle School and two other schools being built now: one on M.P. Clark Road for elementary students and the other a ninth-grade school near FM-830 and Highway 75.

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"Tonight we should be celebrating a wonderful agreement between ourselves and Willis ISD and not be so petty with our comments," said Mayor Coon.

But, questions still remain over water productionin Conroe, and how new developments will access that water.

ABC13 reached out to the mayor and council members for this story, but didn't hear back.

For more on this story, follow Pooja Lodhia on Facebook,X and Instagram.
The incident has been forwarded to Israel Police for further handling, and the circumstances of the Israeli's entry to Kalkilya are under investigation.

An Israeli was rescued from the area of Kalkilya in the West Bank by Civil Administration officers, the administration said in a Tuesday statement.

After recieving reports of an Israeli citizen wandering the area, the administration said it sent officers to provide protection to the Israeli and transfer them to the appropriate security forces.

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The incident has been forwarded to Israel Police for further handling, and the circumstances of the Israeli's entry to Kalkilya are under investigation.

"The security establishment reiterates that entry into Area A is life-threatening and is prohibited by law," the statement ended.

IDF operates in West Bank, February 9, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

Israeli-Jewish women rescued from Jericho

In late January, Walla learned that an Israeli civilian was rescued from Jericho in the West Bank, after being seen walking through Area A, posing a danger to her life.

She was further transferred to the Israeli security forces by Civil Administration forces, who provided her with protection.

A similar incident additionally occurred on December 31, when a 22-year-old Israeli woman was rescued from Jericho.

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The Israeli Civil Administration received reports of the woman wandering around the city of Jericho, which is under the control of the Palestinian Authority, and sent officers from the Jericho Coordination and Liaison Directorate to retrieve her.

Amir Bohbot contributed to this report.
More than a year after a 33-year-old woman froze to death on Austria's highest mountain, her boyfriend goes on trial on Thursday accused of gross negligent manslaughter.

Kerstin G died of hypothermia on a mountain climbing trip to the Grossglockner that went horribly wrong. Her boyfriend is accused of leaving her unprotected and exhausted close to the summit in stormy conditions in the early hours of 19 January 2025, while he went to get help.

The trial has sparked interest and debate, not just in Austria but in mountain climbing communities far beyond its borders.

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Prosecutors say that, as the more experienced climber, the man on trial was "the responsible guide for the tour" and failed to turn back or call for support in time to help his girlfriend.

Identified by Austrian media as Thomas P, he denies the charges and his lawyer, Karl Jelinek, has described the woman's death as "a tragic accident."

The tragedy unfolded after the couple began their climb of the 3,798m (12,460ft) Grossglockner.

Prosecutors accuse Thomas P of making mistakes from the outset and have published a list of 9 errors.

At stake is the question of when personal judgement and risk-taking become a matter of criminal liability. If the climber is found guilty it could mean "a paradigm shift for mountain sports", says Austria's Der Standard newspaper.

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Key to the case is the charge by state prosecutors in Innsbruck that he was to be considered the "responsible guide for the tour", as "unlike his girlfriend [he was] already very experienced in high-altitude Alpine tours and had planned the tour".

Grossglockner mountain in Austria [BBC]

They said he attempted the trip even though his girlfriend had "never undertaken an Alpine tour of this length, difficulty, and altitude, and despite the challenging winter conditions".

They also allege he started out two hours too late and had failed to take "enough emergency bivouac equipment".

He also "allowed his girlfriend to use... snowboard soft boots, equipment that is not suitable for a high-altitude tour in mixed terrain", say prosecutors.

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The defendant disputes this. In a statement, his lawyer Kurt Jelinek, said the couple had planned the tour together.

"Both considered themselves... to be sufficiently experienced, adequately prepared, and well equipped," he said. Both had "relevant Alpine experience" and were "in very good physical condition".

Once on the mountain, prosecutors say the man should have turned back, when it was still possible, because of strong winds of up to 74km/h (45mph), and the winter cold. It was -8C, with a windchill temperature of -20, they said.

The couple did not turn back.

Accounts of what happened next differ.

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According to the defendant's lawyer, they reached a place called Fruhstucksplatz at 13:30 on 18 January, the point of the tour after which there was no turning back before the summit.

As neither of them was "exhausted or overwhelmed, they continued on", Kurt Jelinek said.

Prosecutors say the couple got stuck at about 20:50 and that the man failed to call the police and did not send any distress signals when a police helicopter flew overhead at around 22:50.

The boyfriend's lawyer said at that point his client and girlfriend still felt fine and did not call for help as they were close to the summit.

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Webcam images show lights from their torches as they scaled the mountain.

This still from webcam footage shows the couple still climbing at 21:00 on 18 January [www.foto-webcam.eu]

But shortly afterwards, Mr Jelinek said the situation changed dramatically. To the man's "complete surprise", the woman "suddenly showed increased signs of exhaustion", although by then turning back was too late.

At 00:35 on 19 January, he called mountain police. The content of the conversation is unclear but the lawyer says he asked for help and denies telling police that everything was fine. Police allege he then put his phone on silent and did not take any more calls.

Kurt Jelinek says the couple managed to reach an area about 40m (130ft) below the cross marking the summit of the Grossglockner.

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As the defendant's girlfriend was too exhausted to move, he left her to find help, scaling the summit and descending on the other side, he says. Prosecutors say he left her at 02:00am.

His torchlit figure is captured on webcam images as he descended from the summit.

Prosecutors say he did not use aluminium rescue blankets or other gear to protect her from the cold and waited until 03:30 before notifying emergency services.

By that point it was most probably too late. The strong winds meant that no helicopter rescue could take place during the night.

Kerstin G died alone in the snow on the frozen mountainside.

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Her social media feed suggests she was a keen mountaineer and her mother has told German media that she loved mountain hiking at night.

Thomas P's lawyer says he is "deeply sorry" for her death. "Above all, he would like to express his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased," Mr Jelinek said.

If found guilty, Thomas P faces up to three years in prison.

And a guilty verdict could also have implications for other mountain climbers, and how much they could be liable for their companions in the future.

[BBC]

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Colombias government has announced it will resume peace talks with the powerful Gulf Clan, also known as the Gaitanist Self-Defence Forces (ECG), after the criminal group expressed concern about a recent deal with the United States.

Tuesdays announcement addresses a temporary suspension the Gulf Clan announced earlier this month, in the wake of a meeting between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his US counterpart, Donald Trump.

Faced with US pressure to crack down on drug cartels, Petro agreed to prioritise three kingpins his government considered high-level targets.

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One of those targets was the leader of the Gulf Clan, Jobanis de Jesus Avila Villadiego, known as Chiquito Malo.

The Gulf Clan responded by pausing talks with the Petro government until it received clarity on the scope of the governments actions.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, the two parties said they had overcome any hurdles to the talks.

They also explained that the ongoing talks would be mediated by the Catholic Church and the governments of Qatar, Spain, Norway and Switzerland.

The Gulf Clan is one of several armed groups that have jostled for control of territory as part of Colombias six-decade-long internal conflict, which has pitted criminal groups, left-wing rebels, government forces and right-wing paramilitaries against each other.

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With approximately 9,000 fighters, the Gulf Clan is considered one of the countrys largest cartels. The US designated it a foreign terrorist organisation in December.

Trump has pushed the Petro government to take more aggressive action against drug trafficking overall. In January, he even threatened to attack Colombia, saying that Petro needed to watch his a**.

But relations between the two leaders have warmed in recent weeks, particularly since Petros visit to the White House on February 3.





Previously, Colombian governments had taken a more militarised approach to addressing the countrys internal conflict. Colombia has long been considered a top ally in the USs worldwide war on drugs.

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But upon taking office in 2022, Petro sought to take a different approach, bringing armed groups and criminal networks to the table for negotiations under a programme called Total Peace.

The peace talks, however, have faced a series of setbacks, particularly in the wake of new bursts of violence.

In January, for example, Petro granted himself emergency powers following an outbreak of violence near the border with Venezuela between various armed groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN).

That violence resulted in the suspension of peace talks with the ELN.

Petro, the countrys first left-wing president, has also faced pressure from the right to assure justice is carried out on behalf of the victims of drug trafficking.

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His government has repeatedly rejected allegations that it has not done enough to stem drug trafficking in Colombia, which has historically been the worlds largest producer of cocaine.

Petro has pointed to historic drug busts, including one in November that resulted in the seizure of 14 tonnes of cocaine, as evidence of his governments efficacy.

Criminal networks and other groups have long jostled to gain control of drug-trafficking routes.

Those clashes saw a spike after a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a leftist rebel group that agreed to disarm in 2016.

The groups dissolution left a power vacuum that other drug-trafficking organisations have sought to fill.

How to address Colombias ongoing internal conflict is set to be a major election issue in May, when the country chooses a new president. Petro is limited by law to a single consecutive term and will therefore not be on the ballot.
HCA HealthOne Sky Ridge in Lone Tree was named among the top 1% of hospitals in the nation for overall clinical excellence year over year in Healthgrades' ranking of America's Best Hospitals.

It was the only hospital in Colorado to gain the designation, ranking it in the top 50 of the 4,500 hospitals nationally reviewed by Healthgrades. Colorado ended up with four in the top 100, representing the top 2% of hospitals in the country. All were in the Denver metro area.

Healthgrades says its analysis is based on more than 45 million Medicare medical claims from 4,500 hospitals nationwide for the most recent three-year period available. A hospital cannot opt in or out of the ratings, nor can it submit its own data.

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Healthgrades also rated hospitals in various specialties and areas of care. For 2026, Sky Ridge received excellence awards for surgical care and pulmonary care and was named one of Americas 100 best hospitals for critical care, gastrointestinal care, gastrointestinal surgery and orthopedic surgery.

Colorado hospitals ranked in top 100

In addition to Sky Ridge, three other Colorado hospitals landed in Healthgrades top 100 hospitals for overall clinical excellence. Those hospitals are:

HCA HealthOne Rose in Denver

HCA HealthOne Swedish in Englewood

HCA HealthOne Aurora in Aurora

Do hospital ratings matter?

Hospital rankings can be highly subjective and use varying methodologies.

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For example, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland and UCHealth Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs were the top five hospitals in Colorado according to U.S. News and World Reports 2025 rankings. None made the top 250 in the country in Healthgrades rankings. And Healthgrades top Colorado hospital, Sky Ridge, was sixth in the state according to U.S. News.

Another ranking system, created by the Leapfrog Group, focused on hospital safety. It gave A grades to 18 Colorado hospitals, although others said their ratings were held down for not providing data to Leapfrog.

Nate Trela covers trending news in Colorado and Utah for the USA TODAY Network.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Four Colorado hospitals among 100 best In US, Healthgrades says
The Columbus City Council is moving quickly to advance legislation that would restrict federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers operating in the city, although council members acknowledge what they can control is limited.

The proposed legislative package also includes provisions to prevent the construction of immigrant detention facilities, gather evidence of crimes by ICE officers, and increase penalties for harassing employees of school and daycare facilities. The latter is aimed at civilians after local Somali-American-run day care centers faced harassment and trespassing attempts in December and January.

Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Council President Shannon Hardin and Council Pro Tempore Rob Dorans are introducing about a half-dozen ordinances and resolutions. They held a hearing on the evening of Feb. 17 at which they heard supportive testimony from advocates for immigrants, the Columbus Division of Police and dozens of supportive residents.

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No one spoke in opposition to the proposed legislation.

Columbus City Council holds a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin asks a question during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. A crowded gallery listens during a Columbus City Council a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus Division of Police assistant chief Nick Konves responds to questions during a Columbus City Council a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla asks questions during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin listens during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council president pro-tem Rob Dorans asks questions during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council director of legislative research Matt Erickson presents during a council hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin asks a question during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin asks a question during a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council members Lourdes Barroso de Padilla and Rob Dorans speak to media before a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026. Columbus City Council holds public hearing on ICE enforcement 1 of 11 Columbus City Council holds a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026.

The council members intend to vote on at least some of the legislation at their next meeting on Feb. 23.

"I believe deeply that local government has a responsibility to ensure that every person in our community feels safe, respected and protected under the law," Barroso de Padilla said. "We cannot ignore federal law or federal policy, but we can decide how our city interacts with it."

She said she believes the law and the U.S. Constitution are on Columbus' side on this.

Dorans told media ahead of the hearing that the council doesn't want to overpromise what they can do because the city can't control federal law enforcement. But Dorans said this is about limiting what the City Council believes was chaos and overreach of aggressive immigration enforcement seen recently in Minneapolis and across the country.

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Barroso de Padilla said the city needs to act fast. She pointed out that a federal judge recently gave Haitian residents with Temporary Protected Status a temporary respite from losing their status, but Somali residents could lose their TPS come March. Only a few thousand Somalis living in America have TPS. Columbus has an estimated 60,000 Somali-American residents, the second largest such population in the U.S. behind Minneapolis.

Barroso de Padilla also said ICE is shopping around for offices and detention centers across the country, and she believes that includes Columbus, so the city wants to prevent that.

Columbus Division of Police Assistant Chief Nick Konves responds to questions Feb. 17, 2026, during a Columbus City Council hearing at City Hall on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in the city.

What legislation is Columbus City Council considering?

The Columbus City Council is currently looking at seven legislative proposals:

A code change that would prohibit federal officers from using city-controlled property for staging their enforcement without a judicial warrant. This includes parking lots, vacant lots and garages.

An ordinance establishing a digital repository to gather evidence from the public and Columbus police of any ICE officers violating local, state or federal laws.

A requirement for City Council approval for the Columbus Division of Police to enter into a 287(G) agreement with ICE, which allow local officers to partner with ICE and enforce immigration law. City police have no such agreement. In 2017, Columbus already codified that city resources like police officers can not used for civil immigration enforcement.

An ordinance establishing a new permit for the construction of any detention centers, effectively barring the construction of new centers.

A provision criminalizing harassment within 15 feet of a school or daycare center and harassment of employees through digital formats. These crimes would become a first-degree misdemeanor. This is the only proposal not aimed at ICE. Barroso de Padilla said that in recent months, Columbus saw people deputizing themselves based on rhetoric online and creating an unsafe environment at daycares.

An ordinance prohibiting city employees from taking a second job with ICE or U.S. Customs and Border Control. The Columbus Division of Police already does not allow its officers to work a second law enforcement job.

A resolution, which is not binding, by the Columbus City Council and Columbus Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs urging federal officials such as ICE to display badges and names, not obscure their identities with masks, and that they undergo training comparable to Ohio police certification.

A full gallery listens during a Columbus City Council a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026.

Director of Legislative Research Matt Erickson testified to City Council that some legislation is still being refined because there are remaining concerns. He pointed to the ordinance around evidence gathering and concerns that it would encourage residents to put themselves in harms way documenting ICE.

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Some proposals the council members would like are even further from being introduced. Columbus City Councilmember Christopher Wyche pushed city staff to develop legislation that would require companies receiving city contracts to not contract with ICE. City staff said the Columbus Division of Police is among the offices that have many contracts with the same vendors that supply ICE.

Municipal Court and sheriff called on to change

None of the proposals the council is considering will affect Franklin County Municipal Court because while the city funds the court, it is controlled by the court judges, according to Dorans. The court judges have faced calls to restrict ICE arrests inside the courthouse. Dorans encouraged the judges to follow the council's lead and take action.

Barroso de Padilla encouraged residents to advocate for change at the court and at other offices the council can't control, locally and at the state and federal level.

She said Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin's office was invited to the hearing, but chose not to attend. This comment came after YWCA Columbus President Elizabeth Brown asked the council to advocate to the sheriff to not alert ICE to the immigration status of low-level offenders.

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Maria Durant, a spokesperson for Baldwin, said after the hearing that the sheriff was not aware of any invitation.

Durant said the office does not ask about a person's immigration status and does not honor immigration detainers. However, the office does ask about a detainee's place of birth and alerts ICE about anyone born outside of the U.S., according to what defendants' attorneys regularly say in court.

According to available ICE data from the first half of 2025, ICE picked up more than 50 people from the county jails last year.

Proponents testify for ICE curbing legislation at hearing

Ohio Immigrant Alliance Executive Director Lynn Tramonte testified at the hearing that federal immigration enforcement officers arrested more than 700 people in Columbus in 2025. She said her group's research shows the vast majority of ICE detainees in Ohio have no criminal record.

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"Civil laws are usually enforced in courtrooms and office buildings, calmly, not by masked agents with guns roaming our communities," Tramonte said. "ICE is using the tactics of criminals to stalk people while driving or going about their daily lives. They are arresting people who are part of our families and neighborhoods."

Leaders from Columbus groups that help immigrants packed the council chambers to testify in support of the legislation.

Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services President Seleshi Asfaw testified in support of the entire package of proposed legislation.

"This is reclaiming our public spaces," he said. "Columbus should be a city of welcome, not a city of chaos."

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Angie Plummer, the executive director of Community Refugee & Immigration Services, also testified in support of the legislation.

"I am filled with gratitude for how this community has stood behind us," Plummer said. "There is no doubt in my mind Columbus is a welcoming community."

Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Council to vote on ICE restrictions, detention center ban
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The Common Man group of restaurants has promoted Sean Brown to chief executive officer.

The company, based in Ashland, N.H., operates 24 locations, all in the Granite State, including six casual-dining Common Man restaurants, two Italian-American concepts, Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center in Plymouth, and Lakehouse Grille in Meredith, which serves globally inspired New England cuisine.

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Brown has been with the company since 1995, when he started as a server, and now is working with senior team members to develop the companys culture, values, and Do Good mantra, according to a release announcing his appointment.

Sean has great attention to detail, a tireless work ethic, strong integrity, and an innate sense of responsibility for our success, Alex Ray, who founded the group in 1971, said in a statement. Hes moved up through the ranks and has been a strong leader in many facets of our complex business. I couldn't be prouder of Sean. I have a lot of respect for him, so it was an easy choice to have him be the next leader of our company.

Most recently Brown was chief operations officer of the group, and prior to that he was district operations manager, overseeing front-of-house operations for specialty brands, including Fosters Boiler Room, the Italian Farmhouse in Plymouth and all restaurants in Meredith.

Ive learned and grown here, and Im invested in our people, our restaurants, and our communities, Brown said in a statement. As we get ready to celebrate 55 years in business this November, were working hard to keep our menus fresh and appeal to the next generation while at the same time focusing on the traditional fare that our long-time guests have come to know and love.

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He added that he plans to continue to push forward with Rays vision.

Ive worked countless years side-by-side with Alex and I believe in his long-standing mission of providing Wow hospitality, a unique dining experience, opportunities to our staff, and service to our communities. That mission speaks to me, and I look forward to keeping it going.

Brown has also served as a board member for the Lakes Region Association, Greater Meredith Program, New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, and he is currently on the Lakes Region Community College Culinary Programs Advisory Committee and Presidents Council.



Contact Bret Thorn at bret.thorn@informa.com

Follow him on TikTok and Instagram: @foodwriterdiary

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The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform deposed Ohio retail billionaire Les Wexner at his New Albany mansion Feb. 18 about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein, a sex offender and accused child sex trafficker, worked as a financial adviser for Wexner from the late 1980s through 2007. In a statement to the committee and shared with the media, Wexner said he was "conned" by Epstein and never participated in or witnessed his former financier's crimes.

Members of Congress subpoenaed Wexner to provide testimony on his relationship with Epstein. Wexner, 88, the founder of L Brands, has said he ended his relationship with Epstein in 2007 though recently released emails show the two men were still in touch in 2008.

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Democratic members were initially scheduled to speak to reporters after the deposition at noon in New Albany. Shortly after noon, an announcement came moving the scheduled start time to 12:45 p.m. It is unclear whether there will be further delays.

You can watch the press conference here live.

Wexner was repeatedly labeled as a potential co-conspirator of Epstein throughout the investigative files Congress ordered the Department of Justice to release.

An email released Dec. 23, 2025, that was sent by an FBI agent in New York on July 7, 2019, listed Wexner while asking for an "an update on the status of the 10 co-conspirators."

Les Wexner of The Limited expresses his gratitude to volunteers who have dedicated their time to helping teachers learn how to read in local elementary schools. The event was held on the front lawn of The Limited Headquarters on Morse Road on September 27, 1999. Wexner also welcomed 6 new corporate sponsors to the project. It was the kickoff celebration for the corporate effort for Governor Taft's education program, OhioReads.

An Aug. 15, 2019, FBI email released on Jan. 30 also labeled Wexner and others as "secondary co-conspirators." But the email said only that there was "limited evidence regarding his involvement," that investigators were in touch with Wexner's attorney and a subpoena had been served.

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Lawmakers: Ohio State must cut all ties with Les Wexner, kill sick culture

Wexner also is listed in a December 19, 2019, memo written by assistant U.S. attorneys titled "Investigation into potential co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein." In each instance, Wexner has been mentioned alongside other Epstein associates, such as Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving time in federal prison for her involvement in Epstein's crimes.

Despite the documents, representatives for Wexner have said the retail mogul was told he was never a target of the Epstein investigation.

The Assistant U.S. Attorney told Mr. Wexners legal counsel in 2019 that Mr. Wexner was neither a co-conspirator nor target in any respect. Mr. Wexner cooperated fully by providing background information on Epstein and was never contacted again," a spokesman told The Dispatch.

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Dispatch investigative reporter Max Filby can be reached by email at mfilby@dispatch.com. Find him on X at the handle @MaxFilby or on Facebook at @ReporterMaxFilby.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Congressional leaders brief media after Wexner testimony on Epstein
A convicted felon faces multiple charges after nearly 70 pounds of marijuana were found in his residence on the Westside, says the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office (JSO).

According to JSO, District 5 Patrol officers responded to a report involving multiple shots fired near Wilcox Street and West 5th Street on February 11.

Officers conducted a protective sweep after seeing a home with multiple bullet holes. They found 68.68 pounds of marijuana and discovered multiple bullet holes through the interior walls.

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During the search warrant, Narcotics Unit detectives found two guns (a Glock and a rifle) and more than $2,000 in cash.

25-year-old Benwah Wilson was arrested, and JSO says he faces charges of Trafficking in Marijuana, Possession of Felony Paraphernalia, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Knowingly Renting a Structure for the Sale of Narcotics.

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Homosexuality is a crime in 65 countries worldwide. | Credit: Getty Images

A court in Uganda has dismissed the first case brought to trial under its strict Anti-Homosexuality Act, revealing a justice system strained by political pressure, public fear and inconsistent enforcement, said Deutsche Welle.

The East African country introduced the legislation in 2023, despite pressure from Western governments and human rights groups. One of the worlds harshest laws targeting the LGBT community, it carries a sentence of life in prison for same-sex intercourse, with the death penalty an option in cases deemed aggravated, said Reuters.

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But from the outset there has been a lot of confusion, even among prosecutors about the law, said Juliet Kanyange, the lawyer representing the man, aged 20 on arrest in August 2023, whose case was dropped this month. Dismissing the case, the court said the accused was mentally unstable and would be unable to understand a trial. His defence team says he developed psychosis and schizophrenia after spending more than a year in prison on remand.

There are 65 countries that still criminalise homosexuality, according to Erasing 76 Crimes, a news site that tracks anti-LGBTQ+ laws and efforts to repeal them. Of these, 12 countries  Iran, northern Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Brunei, Mauritania, Pakistan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Uganda  retain a possible death sentence for private, consensual same-sex sexual activity.

Here are the countries where homosexuality is still criminalised:

The Americas

Grenada (male only)

Guyana (male only)

Jamaica (male only)

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

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Gay rights are constitutionally enshrined in most of South and North America, with most exceptions in the conservative Caribbean, said The Associated Press. Even so, last summer St Lucias Supreme Court ruled consensual same-sex intimacy legal in private settings, and more and more countries in the region have struck down colonial-era laws that criminalise same-sex relations. Barbados, and St Kitts and Nevis repealed their laws in 2022, following similar moves by Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago, but the latter reinstated the countrys buggery and gross indecency laws in March 2025.

Europe

Most countries in Europe have no laws preventing homosexual activities. But Hungary in 2021 passed the Hungarian Child Protection Act, which bans the portrayal or promotion of homosexuality among under-18s, the BBC said. Hungary does not recognise same sex marriage, has banned same-sex couples from adopting children and passed a law preventing people from legally changing their gender.

In November 2024, the European Court of Justice began hearing a case brought by 16 of 27 EU member states, which claimed the law was in breach of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. A non-binding opinion from the courts advocate general, Tamara Capeta, issued in June, concluded Hungary had violated fundamental rights of human dignity, respect for family life and non-discrimination. The hardline Hungarian government of Viktor Orban has stuck firm, however, and in April last year passed a constitutional amendment codifying a ban on Pride events.

Africa

Algeria

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Chad

Comoros

Egypt (de facto)

Eritrea

Eswatini (male only)

Ethiopia

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Kenya (male only)

Liberia

Libya

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Morocco

Namibia (male only)

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone (male only)

Somalia

South Sudan (male only)

Sudan

Tanzania

Togo (male only)

Tunisia

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe (male only)

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Across much of Africa, gay people face discrimination, persecution, and potentially even death, Newsweek said. Homosexuality carries a sentence of capital punishment in Mauritania, Sudan, southern Somalia and northern Nigeria.

Amnesty International has warned that legal rights are diminishing for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people across the African continent. In September 2025, Burkina Faso became the latest country to adopt anti-gay laws, adding to what The Washington Post called a near-unanimous block of intolerance across the continent.

Asia and the Middle East

Afghanistan

Bangladesh (male only)

Brunei (male only)

Indonesia (in some areas)

Iran

Iraq (de facto)

Kuwait (male only)

Lebanon (male only)

Malaysia

Maldives

Myanmar (male only)

Oman

Pakistan (male only)

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Sri Lanka

Syria

Turkmenistan (male only)

United Arab Emirates

Uzbekistan (male only)

Yemen

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In the overwhelmingly Islamic Middle East, it is quicker to highlight the countries that do not currently have anti-gay laws than those that do. In several nations, same-sex relations are punishable by death.

Bahrain, Israel and Jordan are the only countries in the region that do not outlaw homosexuality. Even in these countries, police protections offered to sexual minorities are minimal and vigilante justice often prevails.

Asia has a mixed record on gay rights. Many countries on the continent have never passed any form of anti-gay legislation, including Cambodia, South Korea, Taiwan, Laos and the Philippines. Japan decriminalised homosexuality almost 140 years ago.

Oceania

Kiribati (male only)

Papua New Guinea (male only)

Samoa (male only)

Solomon Islands

Tonga (male only)

Tuvalu (male only)

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Oceania is a continent of sharp contrasts when it comes to anti-LGBT laws. Six of the 14 countries of the continent have passed anti-gay legislation. Kiribati and the Solomon Islands are the harshest enforcers of these laws, with sentences of up to 14 years for homosexual acts.

The Cook Islands repealed its anti-gay laws in 2023, having rarely, if ever enforced them, said Reuters.
FORT PIERCE  Crabby's Dockside was months behind on rent, and years behind on property-tax reimbursements, when it closed after the city ordered the restaurant at its marina to pay, officials said at a Feb. 17 City Commission meeting.

That explanation runs counter to what the restaurant chain said in a Feb. 12 Facebook post announcing the impending closure, which occurred Feb. 15. According to the post, closing Crabby's was "a decision not within our control."

Commissioners directly challenged that statement, and some of the social media reaction to it, at the meeting.

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"I'm not a social media person, but I've been exposed to the social media regarding this particular topic, and the dichotomy between facts and fiction on this matter are extreme," said Commissioner Michael Broderick after laying out his expertise and knowledge from four decades in the commercial real estate business. "This not an action taken by the city of Fort Pierce. This is a tenant default. The tenant defaulted on their lease. You can put that in the newspaper, put it on the news. The tenant defaulted on the lease, not the city of Fort Pierce defaulting on its obligations."

Crabby's Dockside in Fort Pierce appears to be a large ship anchored in the Indian River lagoon.

Crabby's was four months behind on rent when the city notified the restaurant it was in default of the lease, Broderick said. Since the notification, a fifth month of rent has gone unpaid, Broderick said.

Crabby's signed a lease in 2018, agreeing to pay the city $159,558 rent annually plus 7% of alcoholic beverage sales over $600,000; 2% of food sales over $2.5 million; and 5% of ice cream sales over $100,000.

Additionally, according to Broderick, the lease requires Crabby's to reimburse the city for the property taxes levied against the city for the property. Broderick said the city has not received those payments for about three years, which could mean as much as $215,000 was paid by the city and never reimbursed by Crabby's.

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City Manager Richard Chess later clarified that the county did not send the city a tax bill for the property for those three years, meaning the city did not have the documentation to send Crabby's invoices. When the county asked the city to pay three years of taxes all at once, the city paid that bill and invoiced Crabby's. The restaurant did not reimburse the city, Chess said.

"The county gave us three years of bills at one time. We paid it, and then we billed the client, the tenant, and they didn't pay it," Chess said.

Chess said he was informed of the unpaid rent and tax reimbursements on Feb. 5 and immediately sent Crabby's notification that it was in breach of the lease.

"I didn't know that we were behind in the lease payments. I wasn't aware that we were behind in the property taxes. The moment I found out, I drafted a notice," Chess said.

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The letter gave Crabby's until Feb. 15 to pay the money it owed the city. The request in the notice was simple: "Give us our money," Chess said.

Crabby's closed Feb. 15, but, Chess said, the city never officially evicted it or told it to vacate the property.

"We didn't say that we were going to kick them out. We just said that the city will take further legal action if necessary. That's as strong as that language was in the cure letter," Chess said.

More: Florida city and waterfront restaurant remain mum on sudden closing

More: Crabby's Dockside closing to be discussed at city commission meeting

Multiple city commissioners questioned Chess about why the city had not notified Crabby's sooner. Chess said he shared those concerns and frustrations, and that a city employee must have known the payments were not coming in, but he was never told. Chess encouraged all city employees to speak up when something is wrong.

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"Our staff must change their behavior," Chess said, without naming any individuals.

Chess also said an initiative that began when he was hired one year ago is ongoing  compiling a list of all city-owned properties and the status of their lease agreements  which will help prevent this from happening again.

Looking ahead, commissioners said there may be issues with the property's title, but once those are resolved the city will look to bring in a new operator, hopefully one even better than Crabby's.

"We have an opportunity to take an asset and improve upon it," Broderick said, adding that he hopes the city will eventually "secure a new vendor that the citizens of Fort Pierce will be thrilled with."

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Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky said some exciting potential operators already have expressed interest.

The city-owned Crabby's property is the former site of the Original Tiki Bar, a local favorite that closed in 2019 after the city chose not to renew its lease and instead to solicit bids from potential restaurateurs. Crabby's was chosen, and built the current building, opening in 2020.

Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Crabby's restaurant closed for unpaid rent, taxes in Fort Pierce
Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday appeared on Fox News to saber-rattle against Iran, criticize Democrats and try to convince struggling Americans that President Donald Trumps economic policies are working  but will only pay off at some nebulous time next year.

Critics on social media were most unnerved by one moment in particular, however, as his appearance on The Story with Martha MacCallum turned to the 2028 presidential election, and Vance let out what one user called the most cartoonishly evil laugh Ive ever heard.

Politics: JD Vance Hints At His Plans For 2028

The laugh in question came after MacCallum asked Vance if he wishes Trump would just endorse him already and after she played a recent clip of Trump calling him fantastic  only to gush over Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the great job hes been doing.

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I think its so interesting the media wants to create this conflict where there just isnt any conflict, Vance said Tuesday. Marcos doing a great job, Im trying to do as good of a job as I can, the presidents doing a great job, were going to keep on working together.

MacCallum pushed back: But surely as vice president youd like to be president.

Vance ultimately answered the question with the kind of diplomatic noncommittal one might expect from loyal members of Trumps inner sanctum, but only after releasing what another user called the forced laugh that first year theater kids practice before auditions.

Politics: Italian Doctor Trolls Trump, RFK Jr. With Message About Lindsey Vonns Olympics Surgeries

Hahahaha, Vance guffawed. Would I? Well, look, I think, again, Im going to try to do as good of a job as I can right now. So one of the things that I dont like about this question and this entire perspective is Ive been in this job for all of a year.

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He continued, About six months ago  sorry, a year and six months ago  I asked the American people to give me this job that I have right now. Why dont I do as good of a job as I can in this job, well worry about the next job some time in the future.

Some critics reacted with unbridled skepticism Tuesday and argued Vance has not been given permission to truthfully answer the question, noting he appeared to land in some rather hot water after telling NBC News in 2024 that Trump would veto an abortion ban.

Ive learned my lesson on speaking for the president before he and I have actually talked about an issue, Vance later admitted during an interview on Meet the Press after Trump said he had never discussed the issue with him and that Vance wasnt speaking for me.

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

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Vance on Tuesday heaped mounds of praise on Rubio, describing him as his closest friend in the administration. He also claimed Iran is not yet willing to actually acknowledge the red lines Trump has set for them, which saw U.S. crude oil prices jump by more than 3%.

The vice president went on to slam Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who warned during a panel discussion Friday at the Munich Security Council of Trumps authoritarian plans for the world, for stating the U.S. would support Taiwan if China were to invade it.

Critics are still struck by his laugh, however, as Vance appears to be an obvious GOP front-runner for 2028  that is, unless Trumps numerous comments about a third and unconstitutional term are far more serious than he recently claimed they were.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
Returning to a familiar place for his family, Gov. Ned Lamont spent the weekend in Puerto Rico on a trip that combined both business and pleasure.

Lamont is highly familiar with the island because his mother, Camille Buzby Lamont, was born in 1926 in San Juan and raised there. He estimated he has visited the island 15 times in his lifetime.

Ive been going down there for years, Lamont told The Courant. February is not a bad time to go visit by the way.

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Lamont met with the islands governor, Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon, to discuss issues of common interest that link Connecticut and the island.

I reached out to the governor just to let her know, Lamont said in an interview.

She was very gracious and invited me over. It used to be an old fort. Now, its a palace, he said. Its really something. So I spent an hour and a half with her. We have a major Puerto Rican population right here in Connecticut. She remembered that and knows a lot of the players pretty well.

Connecticut ranks among the top three for the highest Puerto Rican populations among the 50 states.

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Among other things, the governors talked about the Jet Blue flights back and forth from Bradley International Airport to San Juan that have contributed to an increase in tourism.

The tourism is picking up bigtime, Lamont said. Theyre doing a lot with pharmaceuticals down there. Obviously, thats a big piece of our growth, especially in the Greater New Haven area. So we talked a little bit about some synergies there.

I welcomed Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to La Fortaleza for a productive dialogue on opportunities for collaboration between the State of Connecticut and Puerto Rico, strengthening strategic partnerships that drive investment and economic growth, Gonzalez Colon said on Facebook.

According to UConn, Hartford in 2021, with a population of 121,562, had 40,770 residents with Puerto Rican heritage, the highest population count of Puerto Ricans in Connecticut. Further, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Connecticut is one of seven states in the nation where the largest Hispanic group in the population is of Puerto Rican heritage.

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Reactions on a Facebook post from Identidad Latina Multimedia about Lamonts visit with Gonzalez Colon were mixed, with many Puerto Rican Connecticut residents expressing pride that Lamont had visited the beautiful island and others suggesting he was pandering to get the Latino vote in his upcoming bid for reelection. Others had unfavorable opinions about both governors, with some warning that Gonzalez Colon not adopt Connecticuts high taxes.

Unlike Lamont, a Democrat, Gonzalez-Colon served for six years as chairwoman of the Puerto Rico Republican Party and previously served as Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives.

Lamonts grandparents, Jesse Milton Buzby and Helene Geissere Buzby, moved to the island about 100 years ago, and his mother married his father, Ted, in 1951 in San Juan.

My mom always liked to go back and see the homestead, so thats what we did  right before the wrecking ball turned it into a hotel, Lamont said.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  Dairy farming has long been part of the identity and economy of Vermont. But the industry is changing  from new technology to changing regulations, the ability to adapt is more important than ever.

On Tuesday, hundreds of farmers gathered at the Vermont Dairy Producers Conference in South Burlington, sharing ideas, concerns, and strategies for what comes next.

New technology is having the same dramatic effects in the dairy industry as in other industries, between advances in nutrition and ways of automating common work.

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Theres such a labor problem, so tech is helping to curb some of that he same as AI in other industries. Its helping do what we do without so many people, said Dale Tetreault of Hidden View Farm.

And AI too is even seeing use in the dairy industry, where some farmers are using it to monitor their herds.

At the same time, farmers say their ability to adopt new tools often depends on something beyond their control: federal funding and regulations.

Regulations are federally handed down to the state, then the state hands it down to the farms, said Keith Sprague of Sprague Ranch. And thats gonna hit even more here in the next five years.

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Farmers were also recognized for excellence at the conference, with a total of 48 farms nominated for their production of quality milk.

(Courtesy: Vermont Agency of Agriculture)

The overall winner  the Essex Family of Vergennes.

Among farmers from across the region, one message is clear, the dairy industry is evolving. Farmers say the ideas shared here wont stay in the conference rooms, theyll head back to barns and fields across the region, shaping how dairy is produced for years to come.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
A Dallas police officer was fired Tuesday after being charged with driving while intoxicated, the Dallas Police Department said in a news release.

According to DPD, Officer Bradley Hance was fired during a disciplinary hearing with Police Chief Daniel Comeaux.

Hance was reportedly fired for "engaging in adverse conduct" when he was arrested and charged by the Texas Department of Public Safety with a DWI, which is a Class B Misdemeanor, as well as for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Hance had been employed with DPD since September 2004.
American, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators convened again in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday for trilateral peace talks, with the second day of meetings concluding after around two hours.

The delegations met Tuesday for the opening sessions of the third round of U.S.-brokered trilateral talks, the first two rounds of which were held in the United Arab Emirates starting in late January.

In a post to X, President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said both Ukraine and Russia had agreed to keep working towards a peace deal following Tuesday's meetings.

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"President Trump's success in bringing both sides of this war together has brought about meaningful progress, and we are proud to work under his leadership to stop the killing in this terrible conflict," Witkoff wrote.

Harold Cunningham/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Protesters hold placards and Ukrainian flags amid talks between Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 17, 2026.

'Normal life has disappeared': Russia's energy offensive plunges Ukraine into dark and bitter cold

"Both parties agreed to update their respective leaders and continue working towards a deal," he added.

The Russian delegation to Geneva was led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin known for his ultraconservative and nationalistic messaging.

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"The negotiations were difficult, but businesslike," Medinsky said after the conclusion of Tuesday's talks. Medinsky also said that a new round of negotiations are expected to be held soon.

Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council and the leader of Kyiv's delegation, said in a post to Telegram before Wednesday's meetings that the Ukrainian team was "focused on substantive work."

Umerov also said Tuesday that the Ukrainian team held talks with European representatives from France, the U.K., Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that the first reports he had received from Kyiv's delegation showed that the "military" aspect of the talks had been "constructive."

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"There are two tracks: military and political. Here I want to say that all three sides were constructive on the military track -- in my view, based on the briefing I have just received," Zelenskyy said.

"The military basically understand how to monitor a ceasefire and the end of the war, if there is political will. They have basically agreed on pretty much everything there," the Ukrainian president added.

National Security And Defence Co via Reuters - PHOTO: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner waits for the start of a meeting on the first day of the third round of trilateral talks between delegates from Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 17, 2026.

US official says progress made in talks with Iran, US-Ukraine Russia meetings to continue

Before that, Zelenskyy had described the first day of talks on Tuesday as "difficult meetings" in another social media post.

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"Russia is trying to drag out the negotiations, which could have already reached the final stage," he wrote. "Thank you to the American side for their attention to details and patience in talks with the present representatives of Russia."

Zelenskyy posted to social media on Tuesday after the first round of meetings, saying, "Ukraine is ready. We do not need war. And we always act symmetrically -- we are defending our state and our independence."

"Likewise, we are ready to move quickly toward a just agreement to end the war. The only question is for the Russians: what do they want?" Zelenskyy added.

The Ukrainian president again urged foreign partners to increase pressure and costs on Russia over Moscow's continued long-range strike campaign against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

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The attacks have focused on energy targets throughout the war's fourth winter, plunging millions of Ukrainians into periodic darkness amid bitterly cold weather.

Alina Smutko/Reuters - PHOTO: Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha speak in Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 16, 2026.

'Russia is hesitating': Zelenskyy says Ukraine ready for energy truce, US talks

"The team absolutely must raise the issue of these strikes -- first of all with the American side, which proposed that both us and Russia refrain from attacks," Zelenskyy said.

"'Shaheds,' missiles and fantasy chatter about history matter more to them than real diplomacy, diplomacy and lasting peace," Zelenskyy said of Moscow.

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Russian officials have said little about the latest round of talks. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday, "There are no plans to make any announcements on this matter. Everything will be closed to the press."

In an interview with Sputnik Radio published on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said of the talks, "Any step that could lead to, or lead down a path that leads to, a resolution to the situation is of great importance," as quoted by the state-run Tass news agency.

Zakharova again accused Ukraine's European partners of trying to sabotage the peace negotiations and pressuring Kyiv to continue the war, echoing a long-held Russian disinformation narrative.

Ukraine and Russia continued their nightly drone and missile exchanges despite the ongoing talks in Geneva.

The Associated Press - Russia Ukraine War

Russian border regions face blackouts after Ukrainian strikes, governors say

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Ukraine's air force said in a post to Telegram on Wednesday morning that Russia launched one missile and 126 drones into the country overnight, of which 100 drones were shot down or suppressed. The missile and 23 attack drones impacted across 14 locations, the air force said.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service (SES) said in posts to Telegram that six people were injured and one person killed in a Russian strike on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Tuesday evening. The SES also reported an overnight attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces shot down at least 43 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Russia's federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya, said in posts to Telegram that temporary flight restrictions were introduced at airports in Volgograd, Saratov, Cheboksary, Kazan and Kaluga.

ABC News' Shannon Kingston, Ellie Kaufman, Will Gretsky, Joseph Simonetti, Somayeh Malekian, Anna Sergeeva, Tanya Stukalova, Fidel Pavlenko and Natalya Kushnir contributed to this report.
Daylight Saving Time 2026 is rapidly approaching.

So when does the time change? Does Daylight Saving Time end in 2026?

Here's what you need to know about Daylight Saving Time 2026:

When is the daylight saving time change 2026 in USA?

Participating states turn clocks forward an hour on the second Sunday in March during the spring. Daylight Saving Time ends on the first Sunday of November in the fall of each year and that's when states turn clocks back an hour.

When does daylight savings time start 2026 spring forward? What date does DST begin?

In the U.S., Daylight Saving Time will begin and clocks will officially spring forward at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Do I gain or lose an hour of sleep for Daylight Savings Time at 2 a.m. March 8, 2026?

We lose an hour of sleep when the clocks "spring forward" and are turned ahead at 2 a.m. for one hour when Daylight Saving Time begins.

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In the fall when DST ends, clocks "fall back" an hour in November. That is when people gain an hour of sleep.

Why is daylight savings a thing? What is it?

The goal of daylight saving time is to ensure more daylight hours in a day for a number of reasons, but primarily to save energy. There have also been arguments that having more daylight hours benefits public safety and health.

Daylight saving time was first introduced in the U.S. in 1918 during World War I and it was known as "war time." It was then abandoned after the war as there was no financial need to continue it at the time.

Daylight saving time as we know it today began in the U.S. with the Uniform Time Act of 1966, only it started on the last Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October.

Why does daylight saving time change at 2 a.m.?

In an interview with Time Magazine, author Michael Downing cited his book, "Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time," to explain how Amtrak and the railroads were the main reason clocks change at 2 a.m. for DST.

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There were no trains leaving the station at 2 a.m. on Sundays in New York City when Daylight Saving Time was established.

"Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was when they would interrupt the least amount of train travel around the country, Downing said.

When does 2026 daylight savings time change spring forward? What date will daylight saving time change spring forward?

Clocks will spring forward at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, in 2026.

When does 2026 daylight saving time spring forward start, DST fall back end?

Daylight saving time will begin on Sunday, March 8, and ends on Nov. 1 in 2026.

What time is it in Indianapolis?

Visit timeanddate.com to see the current time in Indianapolis.

Why does the time change in Indiana?

The time changes in Indiana because it observes daylight saving time. Daylight saving time is meant to provide extra sunlight during the spring, summer and fall seasons, but in Indiana, there's a very complicated past with DST. While Indiana has spent some time without switching clocks, Hoosiers currently turn their clocks forward an hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall.

Which U.S. states don't change clocks for Daylight Saving Time?

As of July 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation noted that only Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation is the lone exception in Arizona.

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The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate.

According to the website, states may exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time by state law in accordance with the Uniform Time Act, as amended.

Story continues after photo gallery.

Did Daylight Saving Time start because of farmers?

No, according to almanac.com.

"Many Americans wrongly point to farmers as the driving force behind Daylight Saving Time. In fact, farmers were its strongest opponents and, as a group, stubbornly resisted the change from the beginning," Catherine Boeckmann wrote for almanac.com.

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"When the war ended, the farmers and working-class people who had held their tongues began speaking out. They demanded an end to Daylight Saving Time, claiming it benefited only office workers and the leisure class. The controversy spotlighted the growing gap between rural and urban dwellers."

When does Daylight Saving Time end permanently?

Despite the Sunshine Protection Act being unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate in 2022, there is no permanent end to daylight saving time in sight.

Is Donald Trump going to permanently end Daylight Saving Time?

In December 2024, Trump said he planned to eliminate daylight saving time. He needs the approval of Congress in order to achieve this, and he had been urging them to approve.

Others hope that instead of eliminating daylight saving time, it will be permanent. 20 states have advocated for this by passing measures in recent years in favor of year-round daylight saving time.

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Trump expressed support for such a notion in April 2025, calling it very popular, though he has also referred to the move as a 50-50 issue.

Conversation in Congress about the issue is ongoing.

Chris Sims is a trending reporter at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims. Katie Wiseman is a trending news reporter for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Bluesky @katiewiseman and X, formerly Twitter, at @itskatiewiseman.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: When is daylight savings time change 2026? Do we spring forward early March?
Feb. 17WILKES-BARRE  The youngest among five people charged with the tortured killing of a Michigan woman whose body was found buried in the basement of a South Wilkes-Barre residence and killing the previous homeowner, pleaded guilty to homicide charges Tuesday.

Sarai Kamalani Doyle, 25, entered two plea agreements to third-degree murder before Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr.

Doyle, her mother, Desiree Linnette, 45, and three others, Jason Race, 44, Faith Beamer, 41, and William Wolfe, 56, were charged for their alleged roles in the killing of Nicole Cuevas, 38, of Saginaw, Mich., and burying the body in the dirt basement of 142 Carlisle St. in April 2023.

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District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said Cuevas was tortured for about one month before she was killed as she attempted to escape the house.

Doyle further pleaded to her alleged role with Linnette in the tortured death of Debra Fox, 69, inside a hotel room at the Host Inn on Kidder Street, Wilkes-Barre, and discarding the body down an embankment.

Fox was beaten while she stayed with Doyle and Linnette at the hotel, Sanguedolce previously said.

Doyle's case was first called by Sklarosky when Sanguedolce announced plea agreements with her attorney, Ellen M. Granahan, had been reached.

Sklarosky carefully went over the plea agreements and quizzed Doyle at length, finding that she knowingly and voluntarily agreed to them and their conditions.

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The plea agreements with Doyle were made during formal homicide arraignments for the five defendants.

Sanguedolce, along with Assistant District Attorney Gerry Scott, was prepared to announce they plan to seek the death penalty against the five suspects.

Doyle's plea agreement appeared to have rattled Linnette, Race, Beamer, and Wolfe, whose lawyers requested to postpone their separate homicide arraignments to continue negotiations with prosecutors.

Sanguedolce did not object to postponing the arraignments for Linnette, Race, Beamer, and Wolfe but set a 30-day deadline for potential plea agreements.

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As the cases were postponed, Sanguedolce and Scott did not officially announce they are seeking the death penalty for Linnette, Race, Beamer, and Wolfe.

Cuevas' body was found by Wilkes-Barre City police detectives who responded to the Carlisle Street residence on information from a child who told a counselor that a woman was killed and buried in the basement.

Cuevas' body was found wrapped in a tarp covered with mothballs about 12 inches below the basement dirt surface on Feb. 27, 2024.

The previous homeowner of the Carlisle Street house, Fox, was forced to move when the property was sold at a tax sale.

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Linnette claimed to be the caretaker of Fox and lived for a short time at the Host Inn, where Sanguedolce said Fox was repeatedly assaulted and had food withheld from her. Linnette was allegedly stealing Fox's Social Security income.

Fox, who had a prosthetic leg, was killed when Linnette was approved for an apartment in a low-income complex in Edwardsville but Fox was denied due to her disability.

After Fox was killed inside the hotel room, court records allege, Doyle used a luggage cart to move Fox's body, which was thrown down an embankment behind the hotel.

Under the terms of Doyle's plea agreements, she could face up to 40 years in state prison. A sentencing date for Doyle will be scheduled upon the resolution of the other criminal cases.

"I appreciate the work the City of Wilkes-Barre did in pursuing both of these cases. Obviously, the families have a vested interest in seeing justice is fulfilled. We intend to continue pursuing these cases against all the defendants in both the Nicole Cuevas murder and the Debra Fox murder, and we're looking forward to having them resolved to the extent that they can be amicably resolved. We're looking forward to our day in court," Sanguedolce said.
Democrats and Republicans have agreed to allow more than 73,000 voters in North Carolina whose registration is incomplete to remain on the states voter roll for upcoming elections, according to a settlement.

The agreement, signed Monday by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), still needs final approval from a federal judge.

The RNC will drop its challenge to North Carolinas voter registration laws and voter roll maintenance practices in exchange for the State Board of Elections continuing its effort to collect incomplete registration information from certain voters, according to the terms of the agreement.

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The parties agreement to enter into a consent judgement is a major win for election integrity and a clear rebuke of Democrats who tried to weaken basic safeguards, RNC Chair Joe Gruters said in a statement, claiming that the state board had previously failed to meet basic safeguards that protect our elections.

The RNC will always fight to ensure our election laws are clear, fair, and consistently enforced, he added.

The RNC and North Carolina GOP sued in September 2024, seeking the removal of 225,000 voters they claimed had been unlawfully registered over the past decade due to the use of improper forms that did not collect drivers license numbers or the last four digits of Social Security numbers, as required.

Republicans alleged the state board amended the voter registration form to require the information before the November 2024 election but did not contact prior registrants for the missing documentation. They asked that nearly 60,000 ballots be tossed out.

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As that lawsuit worked its way through the appeals process, the state board launched the Registration Repair Project last July to collect identification numbers from about 103,000 registered voters who were missing them.

The agreement notes the board internally identified and updated more than 20,000 records in its system between mid-July and mid-August 2025. Letters were also sent to roughly 82,000 voters asking them to update their information.

By December, the number of voters missing required information had dropped to just more than 73,000, according to officials.

Those voters will be able to participate in upcoming elections but must complete provisional ballots if they fail to provide their drivers license or Social Security numbers before or on election day, according to the new deal.

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The DNC celebrated the settlement as a major victory for North Carolina voters in a Tuesday news release.

The DNC has put Republicans on notice: If you attack voting rights, the DNC will be there to defend Americans at every turn. While the RNC has waged an all-out assault on voters in North Carolina, we have been fighting like hell to protect the sacred right to vote  and we will never back down, DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement.

Voter ID has become a flash point on Capitol Hill in recent weeks, with Republicans pressing for a law that would require Americans to show a photo ID when voting in federal elections and proof of U.S. citizenship to register, as well as mandate that states remove noncitizens from their voter rolls.

The SAVE America Act passed the House last week, but its prospects in the Senate appear fraught as similar legislation has repeatedly stalled due to strong Democratic opposition.

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The push comes against the backdrop of President Trumps call to nationalize elections amid ongoing false claims of widespread fraud.

Updated at 4:15 p.m. EST

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Trump administration acknowledged violating court orders issued by New Jerseys federal judges more than 50 times over the past 10 weeks in cases stemming from the Trump administrations mass deportation push.

Associate Deputy Attorney General Jordan Fox, who was tapped in December to help lead the Justice Departments New Jersey office after temporary pick Alina Habba was forced out, said those violations were spread across more than 547 immigration cases that have flooded the courts since early December, straining both prosecutors and judges.

The violations include a deportation to Peru that occurred in violation of a judges injunction, as well as three missed deadlines to release ICE detainees.

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There were also six missed deadlines to respond to court orders, 12 missed deadlines to provide bond hearings to ICE detainees, 17 out-of-state transfers after judges had issued no-transfer orders, three instances of imposing release conditions in violation of court prohibitions and 10 instances of failing to produce evidence demanded by courts.

We regret deeply all violations for which our Office is responsible. Those violations were unintentional and immediately rectified once we learned of them, Fox wrote in a letteraccompanying the report. We believe that [the Department of Homeland Securitys] violations were also unintentional.

Foxs conciliatory approach stood in stark contrast with previous statements from the Justice Department and ICE that have blamed rogue judges for the administrations noncompliance.

DOJ produced the catalog of violations in response to an order by U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz.

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Farbiarzs concerns mirror similar alarms raised by judges across the country who have described increasingly frequent violations of their edicts by administration officials carrying out the Trump administrations mass deportation surge.

Judges in Minnesota recently assessed that the administration violated 94 court orders in January. And judges across the country have described rampant and purposeful violations of their orders.

Farbiarz praised the thoroughness of Foxs report but said its conclusions were alarming, especially upon a closer inspection of the math.

The sworn materials show that this case is not fully an outlier, he wrote. Judicial orders should never be violated.

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Farbiarz ordered the administration to follow up by Feb. 25 with a detailed plan for how it intends to fix its recent burst of violations, particularly given Foxs assertion that the errors were a result of by sky-high caseloads caused by the mass deportation push.

If this is an accurate diagnosis of the issue, the judge said, it will be important for the Court to understand the across-the-board administrative steps the Respondents are taking to ensure 100% compliance with judicial orders.
Feb. 18Feb. 12

Terry James Johnson, 51, Solon Springs, battery, disorderly conduct, no contest pleas, three days jail, nine months jail stayed, two years probation, $579 fine and court costs.

Donovan Eric Luoma, 28, Solon Springs, failure to report to jail, guilty plea, 60 days jail with work release, $654 fine and court costs.

Steven Lee Meade, 42, 1012 N. 18th St., domestic disorderly conduct, deferred prosecution agreement revoked, three days jail, $917.30 fine and court costs.

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Bryan Michael Miller, 41, Duluth, misappropriate ID info-obtain money, guilty plea, 89 days jail, nine months jail stayed, three years probation, $664 fine; two additional counts misappropriate ID info-obtain money, three counts fraudulent use of a credit card, dismissed.

Nathanial Lewis Mofle, 38, Cloquet, possession of narcotic drugs, guilty plea, two days jail, 18 months probation, $518 court costs; possess drug paraphernalia, dismissed.

Aaliah Ann Newville, 23, 419 1/2 Weeks Ave., disorderly conduct, resisting or obstructing an officer, no contest pleas, $627.80 fine.

Jennifer Lynn O'Leary, 53, Springdale, Arizona, failure to report to county jail, no contest plea, $579 fine and court costs.

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Scott Robert Olsen, 59, Cook, Minnesota, vehicle operator flee/elude officer, no contest plea, one-year deferred prosecution agreement; resisting or obstructing an officer, dismissed.

Steven Lee Rhodes, 42, 1012 N. 18th St., domestic disorderly conduct, no contest plea, two days jail, $679 fine and court costs; domestic disorderly conduct, two counts bail jumping, dismissed but considered during sentencing; additional count bail jumping, dismissed.

Trevor Blaine Snyder, 41, 816 Tower Ave., 49, domestic disorderly conduct, no contest plea, two days jail served, 60 days jail stayed, 18 months probation, $584.50 fine and court costs.

Joshua Dewey-Dale Taylor, 32, Spooner, repeater possession of methamphetamine, no contest plea, two years state prison, two years extended supervision, $638.25 fine; repeater bail jumping, dismissed but considered during sentencing.

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David Roe Walker, 52, Duluth, possession of marijuana, amended to ordinance violation possession of marijuana, no contest plea, $263.50 fine; possession of drug paraphernalia, amended to ordinance violation possession of drug paraphernalia, no contest plea, $263.50 fine.

Patrick James Williams, 42, 1916 E. Sixth St., domestic disorderly conduct, no contest plea, two days jail, 40 days jail stayed, one year probation, $626 fine and court costs; domestic battery, additional count domestic disorderly conduct, dismissed but considered during sentencing.

Gary William Wuorio, 56, Proctor, Minnesota, domestic battery, no contest plea, 49 days jail, nine months jail stayed, 18 months probation, $616 fine and court costs; domestic strangulation and suffocation, intimidate victim of a domestic abuse crime, dismissed.

Feb. 13

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Ryan Keith Barnard, 36, 1600 Ogden Ave., 5, operating while revoked, dismissed.

Brandon Thomas Burd, 33, 1225 Banks Ave., disorderly conduct, guilty plea, one day jail, $705 fine and court costs; battery, dismissed.

Tara Nicole Cerio, 35, Esko, Minnesota, refuse to pay taxi, no contest plea, $280.30 restitution and fine.

Nathaniel Angner Jersett, 31, 1317 1/2 Hughitt Ave., domestic disorderly conduct, no contest plea, one day jail, one year probation, $616 fine and court costs, no contact with victims or residence.

Joseph John Kranjcevic III, 39, 5215 E. County Road C, domestic disorderly conduct, no contest plea, two days jail served, $742 fine and court costs; possess firearm-convicted of a felony, no contest plea, 210 days jail served, $654 fine and court costs; two additional counts possess firearm-convicted of a felony, dismissed.

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Cody Alexander LaGrew, 23, Duluth, operating while revoked, guilty plea, $579 fine and court costs.

Michael Andrew Larsen, 35, 1312 Cumming Ave., hit-and-run involving great bodily harm, no contest plea, one-year deferred prosecution agreement.

Lavander Rose Livingston, 23, Bayfield, disorderly conduct, guilty plea, $705 fine and court costs; bail jumping, dismissed.

Jeffrey Edmond Nevin, 51, Poplar, fourth-offense operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, no contest plea, 300 days jail with work release, $3,464 fine, 36-month driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, alcohol assessment; operating while revoked, dismissed but considered during sentencing; fourth-offense operating while intoxicated, dismissed.

The Superior Telegram publishes court records as part of its obligation to serve as a keeper of the local historical record. All items are public records submitted by the courthouse in Superior. Individual requests for items to be withheld will not be granted.
People driving through Montgomery County may see more police today.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) announced it will work with several law enforcement agencies on a joint traffic enforcement on State Route 48 in Montgomery County.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The enforcement operation will take place from noon until 6 p.m. in Montgomery County, according to an OHSP spokesperson.

OSHP will be working with the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, the Dayton Police, and the Englewood Police on this joint traffic enforcement.

The partnership aims to reduce deadly crashes and suppress crime on local roads, an OSHP Spokesperson said.

Additionally, the initiative aims to raise awareness, provide education, and promote community transparency through traffic safety measures, the spokesperson concluded.

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Dunkin Donuts has plans to make a much-anticipated return to South Dakota, and Aberdeen is the chosen spot.

Earlier this month, Aberdeen Mayor Travis Schaunaman excitedly announced on Facebook the addition of a Dunkin to the city's Seventh Avenue Walmart location. That Walmart facility is currently undergoing renovations, and a part of that renovation project involves the Hub City Walmart. It will be adding a gas station and building the overall area out.

Dunkin' has lots of varieties of doughnuts.

Projects like this enhance convenience and create more options for residents and visitors alike, Mayor Schaunaman told the Aberdeen News. Were excited to see another recognizable brand find a home in Aberdeen and grateful for the ongoing private-sector investment in our city.

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This upcoming store  for which Aberdeen Walmart management says they do not yet have a targeted opening date  would mark a comeback for Dunkin' in the Mount Rushmore State. South Dakota has been without a Dunkin across the state for more than two decades.

Dunkin' is headed to Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Founded in Massachusetts nearly 80 years ago, Dunkin' is one of America's top fast-food chains, with more than 10,000 locations across the U.S. Currently, the closest Dunkin Donuts shop to Aberdeen is a bit of a hike, sitting more than 230 miles away in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Dunkin' Donuts to open store in Aberdeen, first in SD in 20 years
The killing of a right-wing activist on the sidelines of an event held by the left-wing party France Unbowed (LFI) in Lyon was inflaming political tensions on Wednesday.

Prosecutors told dpa that 11 suspects have now been taken into custody in a wave of arrests.

LFI lawmaker Raphael Arnault said that among them was one of his parliamentary assistants and that the employees contract will be terminated.

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Media reports later said a second assistant to Arnault had also been arrested in connection with the case and had allegedly been working in the French parliament in Paris under a false name.

The developments are putting LFI under increasing pressure.

Conservative and right-wing politicians have suggested that a far-left group of thugs with links to the party beat the activist to death on the sidelines of a right-wing rally protesting an appearance by LFI Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan in Lyon last week.

According to media reports, several of those arrested are linked to the anti-fascist group Jeune Garde (Young Guard), which was banned last year and which Arnault is said to have co-founded.

Other parties demand consequences

Other parties are now accusing LFI of bearing some responsibility and are calling for consequences. A government spokeswoman demanded that Arnault temporarily step aside, while the far-right National Rally called for his resignation.

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Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who heads the ruling centre-right alliance and is a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, also commented on the platform X.

Without prejudging the outcome of the investigation or ignoring the presumption of innocence, he wrote that LFI must now act: There needs to be a clean-up in its ranks. And quickly.

France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon hit back on X: "We do not accept lessons from Sebastien Lecornu. He doesn't even realize anymore what he's saying."

Meanwhile, the party reported a bomb threat at its headquarters in Paris on Wednesday. Police later gave the all-clear after evacuating and checking the building.
A Massachusetts bakery best known for its trays of pizza has announced it will close after more than 100 years in business.

Framingham Baking Co., which was founded in 1917 by Italian immigrants, will officially close on Sunday, March 29, the business said in a post on Facebook on Tuesday.

Joan, Ernie and Kathy thank our customers and employees for many years of memories, the post said.

The family-run bakery was started in 1917 by three immigrants from Italy, Pietro Dragone and his brothers-in-law, Vittorio and Giuseppe Gastone, according to the bakerys website.

Tragically, Guiseppe was killed when his horse and wagon were struck by an automobile while making deliveries in 1921, the website states. Shortly after, Vittorio took ill.

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A call went out to his brother-in-law, Vincenzo Bertolino, and his wife Giusepina, both 21, newly married and living in Springfield.

They were only planning to stay for a year to help, but ended up staying a lifetime, the website states.

In 1923, they purchased the house and the bakery, the website states. Soon after the purchase, Enrico Capra and his wife, Rena, became partners. When Enrico retired in 1965, the bakery was run by Vincenzo, with help from his son, Aurelio, his daughter Rosanne, and her husband, Ernest Thomas.

Their children eventually worked the business.

For years, in addition to sheets of pizza and spinach and feta croissants, the company has made baked goods including cupcakes, cookies, pies, cinnamon rolls, Italian bread, including Pasta Dura Scali, and Challah.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Feb. 18 (UPI) -- A group of environmental organizations filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday for rolling back rules to cut tailpipe pollution.

On Thursday, the Trump administration announced an end to greenhouse gas emission standards for all vehicles made in 2012 or later. It revoked the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding and all other emission standards for greenhouse gases. The EPA said in a press release that it will save taxpayers $1.3 trillion.

The lawsuit, announced by the Environmental Law & Policy Center, names the agency and its administrator, Lee Zeldin.

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The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to limit vehicle emissions of any pollutant that the agency determines "cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare," the ELPC press release said.

In Massachusetts vs. EPA in 2007, the Supreme Court said that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are pollutants under the Clean Air Act, the release said. The court told the EPA to determine, based on science, if that pollution is dangerous to human health and welfare. The EPA determined that it was in 2009, leading to new standards for vehicles, the plaintiffs said in the release.

A group of environmental groups is suing the Environmental Protection Agency for cutting standards for tailpipe emmissions. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

"In its repeal, the Trump EPA is rehashing legal arguments that the Supreme Court already considered and rejected in Massachusetts v. EPA," the release said.

The EPA's clean car standards set in 2024 would save drivers of new cars an average of $6,000 over the lifetime of their vehicles, the release said.

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"The EPA's own analysis found that eliminating the vehicle standards will increase gas prices, force Americans to spend more on fuel, and be a net negative for the economy," it said.

But in its press release last week, the EPA touted saving money as a motive for changing the rule.

"The Endangerment Finding has been the source of 16 years of consumer choice restrictions and trillions of dollars in hidden costs for Americans," Zeldin said in a statement. "The Trump EPA is strictly following the letter of the law, returning common sense to policy, delivering consumer choice to Americans and advancing the American Dream."

But the plaintiffs said the changes mean the EPA is abandoning its duty.

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"After two decades of scientific evidence supporting the 2009 finding, the agency cannot credibly claim that the body of work is now incorrect," said Brian Lynk, senior attorney for the Environmental Law & Policy Center, in a statement. "This reckless and legally untenable decision creates immediate uncertainty for businesses, guarantees prolonged legal battles and undermines the stability of federal climate regulations. The EPA cannot be permitted to abandon its responsibility to protect public health and welfare."

Other plaintiffs said the EPA's legal arguments are weak.

"The Trump EPA's slapdash legal arguments should be laughed out of court," said Meredith Hankins, legal director for federal climate at plaintiff Natural Resources Defense Council, in a statement. "Undercutting the ability of the federal government to tackle the largest source of climate pollution is deadly serious, but the administration's legal and scientific reasons for doing so are a joke."
The Trump administration just tore apart decades of U.S. climate policy, but it may have also handed California its golden ticket.

EPAs decision last week to nix the so-called endangerment finding  the Obama-era ruling that underpinned the federal government's authority to develop climate policy  gives car and truck makers free rein to build models without consideration of greenhouse gases.

Thats a major blow for California Democrats and Gov. Gavin Newsom, whove hitched their climate ambitions to manufacturers offering more electric vehicles and to drivers adopting the still-maturing technology en masse. (The transportation sector accounts for roughly half of Californias carbon emissions, state officials estimate.)

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The move tees up a conservative Supreme Court to overturn its 2007 decision affirming EPAs authority to regulate greenhouse gases. While unwinding Massachusetts v. EPA would represent a monumental reversal of U.S. policy, some legal experts argue it could hand state regulators newfound power to fill the void.

Thats because states are preempted from setting their own tailpipe standards  a restriction that becomes hard to defend if the federal government bows out of the emissions game.

If that happens, then EPA lacks any authority to issue standards, including under a new administration, said Ann Carlson, who led the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under former President Joe Biden. That would leave states as the natural locus for regulatory power.

That would be paradigm shifting for California air regulators, who in June watched congressional Republicans revoke the EPA waiver that gave the state power to set stricter-than-federal tailpipe rules. A world without the endangerment finding could make the politically fraught task of seeking federal approval a hurdle of the past.

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Trumps EPA is trying to head off that legal reasoning. The agency's official repeal argues that states are still preempted from developing laws or regulations that adopt or attempt to enforce any standard relating to the control of emissions from new motor vehicles or engines.

These 'legal experts' should read the Clean Air Act before engaging in scare tactics designed to perpetuate unlawful regulations, EPA spokespeople said in a statement Tuesday.

The question is whether that language would hold up to judicial scrutiny. Carlson said nothing is certain given the makeup of the Supreme Court, but California has a fighting chance.

The federal government is trying to argue that states are preempted, but they're also arguing that the Clean Air Act doesn't give them the power to regulate greenhouse gases from cars and trucks, Carlson said. That seems like an argument that is inconsistent on its face.

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The question now is whether California and the blue states that have historically followed its lead on auto policy will put the legal theory to the test.

Newsom and state air regulators arent talking about the go-it-alone tactic as an option yet. Spokespeople for Newsoms office declined to answer whether his administration is exploring the idea, instead pointing to the governors statement last week that California will sue to stop the endangerment finding rollback.

But prominent state lawmakers say the strategy is already being discussed inside the Capitol.

Absolutely, this has been the topic of conversation, Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, chair of the Utilities and Energy Committee, said during a press briefing last week. There is, I think, a certain irony that in the revocation of the endangerment finding, it actually could provide California with more latitude and more direct responsibility.

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Yes, this is definitely a conversation, so stay tuned, she added.

Thats a debate the auto industry wants to avoid. While major car companies lobbied Congress to revoke Californias EV sales mandate last year, they stopped short of advocating against the endangerment finding and didnt explicitly praise the repeal last week.

The auto industry in America remains focused on preserving vehicle choice for consumers, keeping the industry competitive, and staying on a long-term path of emissions reductions and cleaner vehicles, said John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents most major automakers.

The auto industry  which has long advocated for unified regulations across the United States  now could face a scenario where its not only easier for California to issue tailpipe rules, but states like New York or Illinois could also create their own patchwork of standards.

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They got more than what they asked for, said Stephanie Valdez Streaty, director of industry insights for Cox Automotive.

Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICOs California Climate newsletter.


In their correspondence, Bin Sulayem discussed sexual relationships with women with whom Epstein helped him connect.

The departure of the chief executive of Dubai port giant DP World is the biggest fallout in the Middle East from US Department of Justice documents that show disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein tried to build a powerful network of political figures and business leaders across the region.

DP World announced on Friday that Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem had resigned as chief executive and chair. The decision to act was taken after Bin Sulayem's name appeared in the Epstein files, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, and as his relationship with the late convicted sex offender faced increasing scrutiny.

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In their correspondence, Bin Sulayem discussed sexual relationships with women with whom Epstein helped him connect. In an email dated November 9, 2007, Bin Sulayem told Epstein he had met one such woman in New York, whom he does not name, and with whom he said he did not have sex.

"Yes, after several attempts for several months, we managed to meet in NY," he wrote, adding that there was a misunderstanding because "she wanted some BUSINESS! while I only wanted some PUSSYNESS!"

Dubai's ruler on Friday also issued a decree appointing a new chairman for Dubai's Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, one of several roles Bin Sulayem held.

Late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem are seen in this undated handout image from the Epstein estate released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 18, 2025. (credit: House Oversight Committee Democrats/Handout via REUTERS)

Reuters was able to independently review only some of the Epstein files relating to Bin Sulayem and was unable to ascertain what specifically led to his departure from DP World, although the sources said, without providing further details, that it was related to the files.

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Bin Sulayem did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on his departure. DP World declined to comment.

Cooking together

In one email exchange, Epstein described Bin Sulayem as funny, trustworthy, and a foodie. Epstein went on to say that Bin Sulayem, a Muslim, does not drink and prays five times a day.

An undated photograph, included in an email and publicly available, shows Epstein cooking with Bin Sulayem, and the two appear relaxed. The full name of the person to whom it was sent by Epstein is not provided.

Bin Sulayem has not publicly commented on Epstein's description or the emails about his relationship with him.

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Being named in the file is not evidence of criminal activity. But after members of the US Congress said Bin Sulayem's name appeared in files released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), he faced renewed questions from some of DP World's financial backers over his past interactions.

Bin Sulayem did not respond publicly to those concerns. The UK development finance agency, British International Investment, and Canada's second-largest pension fund said last week they would suspend all new investment in DP World due to Bin Sulayem's alleged ties to Epstein.

"We are shocked by the allegations emerging in the Epstein Files regarding Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem," said a spokesperson for BII, without saying which allegations he was referring to. "In light of the allegations, we will not be making any new investments with DP World until the required actions have been taken by the company."

Canadian pension fund La Caisse said it was "pausing additional capital deployment alongside the company" until DP World clarified the situation and took "the necessary actions."

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In a statement following Friday's leadership changes at DP World, BII welcomed the decision and said it looked forward to continuing "our partnership to advance the development of key African trading ports." La Caisse said "the company took the appropriate measures" and that it would "move quickly to work with DP Worlds new leadership to continue our partnership on port projects around the world."

Bin Sulayem did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters to comment on the actions taken by BII and La Caisse. DP World declined to comment.

Network of contacts

The large cache of documents released by the DOJ, including text messages and emails, also shows the Middle East was no exception to Epstein's efforts to use his wealth to build relationships with prominent people in politics, finance, academia, and business around the world.

Reuters was unable to ascertain how successful Epstein was in seeking to influence his contacts in the Middle East, and whether his advice was heeded.

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The DOJ documents reviewed by Reuters show Epstein tried to advise Qatari business leaders and political figures during the 2017-21 blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt over accusations that Doha failed to curb ties with Iran and supported terrorism, which Qatar denied.

In exchanges with a Qatari businessman and ruling family member, Sheikh Jabor Yousuf Jassim Al Thani, Epstein urged Qatar to "stop kicking and arguing...let the heat come down a bit." He said, "The current Qatar team is very weak," and "FM is not experienced, and it shows."

Qatars foreign minister at the time was Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who now serves as both foreign minister and prime minister. Sheik Mohammed has not commented publicly on Epstein's portrayal of him. Asked about the exchange, Qatar's International Media Office, which handles media requests for the prime minister, declined to comment.

There was no response to a Reuters request for comment emailed to three companies in Qatar that list Sheikh Jabor as chairman, or to a text message sent to an individual who, according to the DOJ files, works in Sheikh Jabor's office.

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Epstein urged Doha to forge links with Israel to stay in the good graces of Donald Trump, who was then in his first term as US president. He suggested the Gulf state either move towards recognizing Israel or pledge $1 billion to a fund for terrorism victims. Ultimately, Qatar stuck to its independent course. In 2021, the blockading countries restored ties with Doha, and ties between the Trump administration and Qatar are now strong.

Discussion of Saudi Aramco

Epstein discussed Saudi Aramco's initial public offering in dozens of email exchanges. In one exchange dated September 10, 2016, with a person named Aziza Alahmadi, and with former Norwegian diplomat Terje Roed-Larson copied in, Epstein warned that Aramco going public could expose Saudi Arabia to lawsuits and asset seizures. Saudi Aramco declined to comment on these emails.

Alahmadi could not be reached for comment, and Reuters was unable to establish her role, if any, in Epstein's activities.

In an email dated October 16, 2017, and also sent to Alahmadi, Epstein suggested selling China an option to buy a $100-billion stake in Aramco rather than pursuing a traditional IPO, saying it would provide liquidity while limiting exposure to public markets.

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Saudi Aramco declined to comment to Reuters on the emails. Roed-Larsen did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by email via his lawyer.

Epsteins reach also extended to Egypt, the documents released by the DOJ show. Some emails show a request from a family member of Hosni Mubarak - the wife of his son Gamal Mubarak - that was passed on to Epstein, asking for help in 2011, following the former president's ouster and subsequent legal troubles. They did not say what kind of assistance was sought and Reuters was unable to establish whether Epstein had tried to intercede on the family's behalf.

Reuters emailed a request for comment to one lawyer and sent a text message to another, both of whom represented Gamal Mubarak. There was no immediate response.

Epstein's connection to Ehud Barak

Epstein was also recorded speaking to former Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Israel's future, specifically on matters of immigration.

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Barak told Epstein that Israel could easily absorb another million immigrants from Russian-speaking countries, according to an undated recording of a conversation released as part of the latest wave of Epstein files documents

Baraks ties with Epstein have been covered extensively. The two met repeatedly in 2015-2016, years after Epsteins first conviction, and he was photographed entering Epsteins Manhattan townhouse.

"I am responsible for all my actions and decisions, and there is certainly room to question whether I should have exercised better judgment and conducted a more thorough investigation into the details to truly understand what happened," Barak said in a recent interview with N12, adding that he "regrets the moment I met him in 2003."

Asked whether more documentation of his and Epstein's relationship could come to light, Barak said it is definitely possible, but asserted that it would contain "no crime, no criminal act, nothing improper."
By Jana Choukeir, Andrew Mills and Maha El Dahan

DUBAI, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The departure of the chief executive of Dubai port giant DP World is the biggest fallout in the Middle East from U.S. Department of Justice documents which show that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein tried to build a powerful network of political figures and business leaders across the region.

DP World announced on Friday that Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem had resigned as chief executive and chair. The decision to act was taken after Bin Sulayem's name appeared in the Epstein files, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, and as his relationship with the late convicted sex offender faced increasing scrutiny.

Advertisement Advertisement

In their correspondence, Bin Sulayem discussed sexual relationships with women with whom Epstein helped him connect. In an email dated November 9, 2007, Bin Sulayem told Epstein he had met one such woman in New York, whom he does not name and with whom he said he did not have sex.

"Yes after several attempts for several months we managed to meet in NY," he wrote, adding that there was a misunderstanding because "she wanted some BUSINESS! while i only wanted some PUSSYNESS!"

Dubai's ruler on Friday also issued a decree appointing a new chairman for Dubai's Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, one of several roles Bin Sulayem held.

Reuters was able to independently review only some of the Epstein files relating to Bin Sulayem and was unable to ascertain what specifically led to his departure from DP World although the sources said, without providing further details, that it was related to the files.

Advertisement Advertisement

Bin Sulayem did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on his departure. DP World declined to comment.

COOKING TOGETHER

In one email exchange, Epstein described Bin Sulayem as funny, trustworthy and a foodie. Epstein went on to say that Bin Sulayem, a Muslim, does not drink and prays five times a day.

An undated photograph that appears in an email and is publicly available shows Epstein cooking with Bin Sulayem and the two of them looking relaxed together. The full name of the person it was sent to by Epstein is not provided.

Bin Sulayem has not publicly commented on Epstein's description or the emails about his relationship with him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Being named in the file is not evidence of criminal activity. But after members of the U.S. Congress said Bin Sulayem's name appeared in files released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), he faced renewed questions from some of DP World's financial backers over his past interactions.

Bin Sulayem did not respond publicly to those concerns. The

UK development finance agency, British International Investment, and Canada's second-largest pension fund said last week they would suspend all new investment with DP World over Bin Sulayem's alleged ties to Epstein.

"We are shocked by the allegations emerging in the Epstein

Advertisement Advertisement

Files regarding Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem," said a spokesperson for BII, without saying which allegations he was referring to. "In light of the allegations, we will not be making any new investments with DP World until the required actions have been taken by the company."

Canadian pension fund La Caisse said it was "pausing additional capital deployment alongside the company" until DP World clarified the situation and took "the necessary actions".

In a statement after Friday's leadership changes at DP World, BII welcomed DP World's decision and said it looked forward to continuing "our partnership to advance the development of key African trading ports". La Caisse said "the company took the appropriate measures" and that it would "move quickly to work with DP Worlds new leadership to continue our partnership on port projects around the world".

Bin Sulayem did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters to comment on the actions taken by BII and La Caisse. DP World declined comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

NETWORK OF CONTACTS

The large cache of documents released by the DOJ, including text messages and emails, also shows the Middle East was no exception to Epstein's efforts to use his wealth to build relationships with prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business around the world.

Reuters was unable to ascertain how successful Epstein was in seeking to influence his contacts in the Middle East, and whether his advice was heeded.

The DOJ documents reviewed by Reuters show Epstein tried to advise Qatari business leaders and political figures during the 2017-21 blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt over accusations that Doha failed to curb ties with Iran and supported terrorism, which Qatar denied.

Advertisement Advertisement

In exchanges with a Qatari businessman and ruling family member Sheikh Jabor Yousuf Jassim Al Thani, Epstein urged Qatar to "stop kicking and arguing...let the heat come down a bit". He said "the current Qatar team is very weak" and "FM is not experienced and it shows."

Qatars foreign minister at the time was Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who now serves as both foreign minister and prime minister. Sheikh Mohammed has not commented publicly on Epstein's portrayal of him. Asked about the exchange, Qatar's International Media Office, which handles media requests for the prime minister, declined to comment.

There was no response to a Reuters request for comment emailed to three companies in Qatar that Sheikh Jabor is listed as chairman of, or to a text message sent to an individual who, according to the files released by the DOJ, works in Sheikh Jabor's office.

Epstein urged Doha to forge links with Israel to stay in the good graces of Donald Trump, who was then in his first term as U.S. president. He suggested the Gulf state either move towards recognising Israel or pledge $1 billion to a fund for terrorism victims. Ultimately, Qatar stuck to its independent course. In 2021, the blockading countries restored ties with Doha, and ties between the Trump administration and Qatar are now strong.

Advertisement Advertisement

DISCUSSION OF SAUDI ARAMCO IPO

Epstein discussed Saudi Aramco's initial public offering in dozens of email exchanges. In one exchange dated September 10, 2016, with a person named as Aziza Alahmadi, and with former Norwegian diplomat Terje Roed-Larson copied in, Epstein warned that Aramco going public could expose Saudi Arabia to lawsuits and asset seizures. Saudi Aramco declined to comment on these emails.

Alahmadi could not be reached for comment and Reuters was unable to establish her role, if any, in Epstein's activities.

In an email dated October 16, 2017, and also sent to Alahmadi, Epstein suggested selling China an option to buy a $100-billion stake in Aramco rather than pursuing a traditional IPO, saying it would provide liquidity while limiting exposure to public markets.

Advertisement Advertisement

Saudi Aramco declined to comment to Reuters on the emails. Roed-Larsen did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by email via his lawyer.

Epsteins reach also extended to Egypt, the documents released by the DOJ show. Some emails show a request from a family member of Hosni Mubarak - the wife of his son Gamal Mubarak - that was passed on to Epstein asking for help in 2011, following the former president's ouster and subsequent legal troubles. They did not say what kind of assistance was sought and Reuters was unable to establish whether Epstein had tried to intercede on the family's behalf.

Lionel Halperin, a lawyer for Gamal Mubarak, told Reuters

by email that no member of the Mubarak family ever knew of Epstein or ever sought or received assistance from any source, directly or indirectly.

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He said Roed-Larsen and others had attempted in 2011 to reach out to Gamal Mubarak to better understand the situation in

Egypt and that of the Mubarak family. As Gamal Mubarak was in prison at the time pending an investigation, he asked his wife,

Khadiga El Gammal, to send back "messages of appreciation" to

those who reached out to him and his family.

It was in this context that "a few emails" were sent to

Roed-Larsen, Halperin said.

"Gamal Mubarak has no explanation, and does not know the

context, as to why some of such emails were forwarded to an

email account of Mr. Epstein at the time," Halperin said.

(Additional reporting by Nadine Awadalla and Yousef Saba in Dubai, Writing by Michael Georgy, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
SANTA FE  A newly formed legislative subcommittee tasked with investigating the full extent of what took place at Jeffrey Epsteins former ranch in New Mexico has already identified possible subpoena targets, the panels chairwoman said Tuesday.

The four-member subcommittee, which has been referred to as a truth-finding commission, held its first meeting just a day after a proposal creating it won decisive approval in the state House.

Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, the subcommittees chairwoman, said the panel will move quickly to use its authority to compel witness testimony. It also plans to set up a website and a phone line for tips to be submitted about activities that took place at Zorro Ranch, located south of Santa Fe.

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The committee will begin issuing subpoenas to these persons of interest without delay, Romero said during Tuesdays hearing.

But she later declined to identify who those individuals might be, saying the committee did not want to compromise any leads that it might have.

Earlier Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., said multiple prominent New Mexicans are named in unredacted Epstein investigation files.

But the congresswoman said it would be inappropriate to share the names of anyone who has not been fully investigated.

That sentiment was echoed by Rep. Bill Hall, R-Aztec, another member of the bipartisan legislative truth-finding commission.

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At this point in time, itd be better to investigate the allegations before just putting names out there, because it could also compromise victims, said Hall, who is a retired FBI agent.

Stansbury, who is a member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, is among the members of Congress who have requested and been granted access to view unredacted files that are not available to the public. Thousands of documents with redacted names have been posted online in a searchable database.

She said the Epstein files include multiple allegations dating back to 1996 of women who said they were brought to New Mexico and then sexually exploited or abused at Zorro Ranch. But the unredacted files also include claims by men of alleged rape and sexual assault at the ranch, Stansbury added.

Its very clear, having viewed the unredacted files of FBI investigations into this case over many decades, that the U.S. government has failed to do what New Mexico is embarking to do right now, Stansbury said during an online news conference.

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She also said New Mexicos all-Democratic congressional delegation would support the work of the state-level truth-finding commission and would seek action from the federal government if federal crimes are uncovered.

Epsteins long shadow in New Mexico

Epstein purchased the Zorro Ranch from the family of former Gov. Bruce King in 1993. The property is located near Stanley on more than 7,500 acres of land and features a 33,339-square-foot mansion, pool, hot tub and other structures. It was sold for an undisclosed price in 2023 to the family of Texas real estate mogul Don Huffines, who said this week on social media he plans to convert it into a Christian retreat center.

Court documents and civil cases have accused Epstein of sexually assaulting teenage girls and women at the ranch, which was one of several properties owned by Epstein. The financier and convicted sex offender also reportedly had homes in New York, Florida, Paris and the Virgin Islands.

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One plaintiff described the property in 2019 as being like a park where teenage girls were encouraged to ride horses and ATVs, and to use the pool and hot tub.

Epstein died in August 2019 in a New York City jail while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in New York and Florida. Medical investigators determined at the time that he died by suicide.

Even before his death, New Mexico state officials had investigated Epsteins actions, though no criminal charges were ever filed in the state. Epstein was also not required to register as a sex offender in New Mexico.

Richardson ties likely to resurface

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With the truth-finding commissions work underway, former Gov. Bill Richardsons relationship with Epstein could come under renewed scrutiny, among other people.

So far, lawmakers have not sought cooperation or information from Richardsons estate to delve into his possible involvement, Romero said Tuesday.

But she said the committee will go as far as needed to understand any allegations it receives.

A spokesperson for Richardson, who died in 2023 at age 78, said in 2019 the former two-term governor had only visited Epsteins ranch once, in 2012. But files released this year by the U.S. Department of Justice appear to contradict that claim. Specifically, the files indicate Richardson arranged to meet with Epstein numerous times both before and after Epsteins 2008 conviction in Florida on sex charges.

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Meanwhile, the truth-finding commission will face a tight deadline as it begins its work. The subcommittee is required to provide a preliminary report by the end of July, then a full report by the end of this year.

But Romero said any potential victims will be protected by the panel, which will allow them to remain anonymous.

We will provide a safe space to have that conversation, she said during Tuesdays meeting.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.

Cathy Cook covers the federal government for the Albuquerque Journal. Reach her via email at ccook@abqjournal.com.
Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the amount of land confirmed to be burned so far.

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  About 145,000 acres have burned in wildfire that rapidly spread from the Oklahoma Panhandle into Kansas.

The fire was reported shortly before 12 p.m. Tuesday in Beaver County, Oklahoma.

UPDATE: Firefighters injured in Kansas and Oklahoma wildfire fight

The fire rapidly spread, shutting down U.S. Highway 64 in Oklahoma, east of Forgan in Beaver County and into nearby Texas County.

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Englewood and Ashland in Kansas were evacuated.

Oklahoma Forestry Services said aerial resources were requested to help fight the flames, but high wind speeds prevented that. Some gusts over 65 mph were recorded, according to the agency.

Fire in Beaver County, Oklahoma (Courtesy: Oklahoma Highway Patrol) View of Smoke near Liberal (Courtesy: John West) View of Smoke near Liberal (Courtesy: John West) View of Smoke from Liberal (Courtesy: Orlando Padilla) Fire in Beaver County, Oklahoma (Courtesy: Oklahoma Highway Patrol) Fire in Beaver County, Oklahoma (Courtesy: Oklahoma Highway Patrol) Wildfire in Beaver County, Oklahoma on Feb. 17, 2026 (Courtesy: Oklahoma Foresty Services) Wildfire crossing U.S. Highway 64 east of Forgan in Beaver County, Oklahoma. (Courtesy: Oklahoma Highway Patrol)

LIVE BLOG: Tracking high winds and fire danger in Kansas

The Ashland school district released students early as a precaution. School has also been canceled Wednesday. Nearly nine years ago, the community was devastated by the Starbuck fire, which burned more than 600,000 acres.

Meanwhile, another wildfire in Texas County forced the evacuation of Tyrone, Oklahoma.

The Pratt and Cullison fire departments are responding to the area to assist multiple state and local agencies in Kansas and Oklahoma.

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Multiple fire departments from southwest and south central Kansas are fighting fires, Pratt County 911 said on Facebook. Please pray for those affected and all of our first responders who are helping!

Northwest Kansas town under evacuation order due to wildfire

Emergency shelters are available for evacuees in Liberal at:

Seward County Activity Center

810 Stadium Ave.

Phone: 620-624-3743

CrossPoint Church

204 N. Sherman Ave.

Phone: 620-624-1641

Beaver County is the same Oklahoma county where firefighters from three states battled a wildfire last week.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
As the Trump administration has sued 25 mostly Democratic state election chiefs for their voter rolls, it has also encountered quieter resistance from Republican officials who have balked at the Justice Departments demands for confidential voter registration information.

At least a half-dozen Republican-led state election offices have declined the Justice Departments request for non-public voter data, which can include a voters Social Security number, driver license ID number or current residence, according to interviews, local media reporting and records obtained by CNN and by the Brennan Center, a left-leaning think tank that researches election issues.

They can have the voter rolls. Theyre gonna pay for it like everybody else, West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner told CNN last month, referring to the public list that can be purchased in his state for $500. Theyre not going to get our personal information.

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Several other Republican election administrators have provided the sensitive data but refused to sign an agreement proposed by the Trump administration that would require them to remove voters deemed ineligible by the Justice Department.

In interviews with CNN about the departments voter data quest, GOP election officials expressed concerns about the administrations approach even though theyre aligned with the president on other matters of election security. They said the requests conflicted with state laws prohibiting the disclosure of sensitive voter information. They questioned the reasons the administration was seeking the data. And they bristled at the idea of the federal government  rather than state or local officials  leading the task of removing ineligible voters from the rolls.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

The voter data crusade is one of several ways the Trump administration is trying to insert itself more directly into election-related tasks carried out by states.

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Trump has not let go of his unfounded fixation on mass voter fraud. He has called on Republicans to nationalize elections, installed fellow 2020 election deniers in the executive branch who are leading reviews of voting infrastructure, and the FBI recently seized 2020 ballots from Fulton County, Georgia.

An FBI employee stands inside the Fulton County elections center in Georgia on January 28, as the FBI seizes 2020 election ballots. - Mike Stewart/AP

Republicans objections to the departments voter data project came to head at a mid-December meeting between GOP state election officials and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, the civil rights chief at DOJ who has been spearheading the data demands. DOJ officials rebuffed calls for adjustments to its plans for the voter information.

Among the biggest sticking points was a requirement in an agreement the DOJ proposed to govern the data production that would give states just 45 days to fix issues the administration identified in their voter rolls, according to Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, who ultimately handed over the data but refused to sign the agreement.

We were adamant on the idea that maintaining voter rolls should be done on the state level, Watson, who is also president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, told CNN.

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Dhillon, in public remarks, has been dismissive of the state officials concerns.

Some of the goofy responses that I have gotten from secretaries of state have included, Oh, my goodness, this is highly confidential Social Security information. We cant possibly give that to the federal government, Dhillon recently told the conservative journalist John Solomon. Thats just silly because the federal government of course issues the Social Security numbers, and people routinely give it out on a daily basis when they go to the doctor or the DMV  thats very silly.

During the February 2 appearance on Solomons show, Dhillon hinted that more lawsuits would be filed within one to two weeks against the recalcitrant states. No new voter roll cases have been filed since mid-January.

Doubts about DOJs intentions for the data

Election officials have pointed to state privacy laws in explaining why they cannot turn over their voters personal information.

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If we could legally comply, we would promptly do so, Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said in a letter to the Department this month, first reported by Oklahoma News 4 and obtained by CNN. In the lawsuits that Dhillon brought to obtain the data, some judges have already rejected DOJ arguments that the federal laws the department is relying on trump those state privacy protections.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, citing state privacy laws, told his states legislature this month that he did not intend to produce the data absent a court order.

Alongside the legal questions about whether the department is entitled to the data are questions about its stated intentions for obtaining it. Dhillon has said the department wants to help the states clean their rolls, and according to a letter Warner sent the department Wednesday, the DOJ verbally communicated to his office that it wants to compare the states list with a federal system of immigrant data known the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program.

States already have the option to voluntarily use the SAVE system to review their rolls for potential noncitizens, and many Republican officials have praised the administration for making the tool easier to use. But still, those comparisons have been rife with false positives, CNN previously reported, with naturalized citizens often wrongly identified as ineligible voters because the federal data is outdated.

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That reality  along with the Constitutions broader vision of elections being run at the state level  has made the 45-day removal requirement in the proposed agreement especially problematic for election officials.

You cant expect to send me a 45-day window to get this done or else, Watson told CNN, noting that in Mississippi, removals arent done by state officials but by county clerks. We are going to go by Mississippi law and we are going to make sure our voter rolls clean.

Other election officials were wary that the administration might use the data for other purposes and have wondered whether the stated goal  compliance with the National Voter Registration Act mandate of reasonable efforts to remove voters who have died or moved  is just a pretext. The Kentucky State Board of Elections asked the department in August to explain why it needed the data, in a letter that said the board was unclear as to how providing Kentuckians drivers license numbers to DOJ furthers the agencys stated goal.

They dont need the drivers license, Social Security number and date of birth to make sure that were making a reasonable effort at maintaining our voter rolls, a Republican elections official in another state told CNN.

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The official, who asked for anonymity to avoid drawing the White Houses ire, floated the possibility that the data would be used for immigration enforcement or as a cudgel to cast doubt on the midterms if they went badly for Republicans.

If states dont give this information and then Republicans lose and they can go back and say, See, its because they didnt give us this information, so they cheated and all these illegal people that shouldnt have been voting voted, the official said.

Behind the scenes arm-twisting

Initially, state officials received letters from the Justice Department seeking information last spring and summer about their list maintenance practices and data from their rolls. Many provided the publicly available information, but as summer turned into fall, follow-up letters made clear that the department was demanding the confidential data as well.

A handful of Republican-led states complied without objection, but as other officials raised privacy concerns, the administration drafted the Memorandum of Understanding that promised compliance with federal privacy law while laying out the list review process that would be driven by the feds.

A sign is displayed outside of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice building in Washington, DC, on June 1, 2025. - Kevin Carter/Getty Images/File

When the letters landed in election office inboxes in December, the DOJ gave states just seven days to respond and followed up with both emails and phone calls.

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If do not hear anything end of day today, the DOJ will take that as refusal to comply, Eric Neff, now the head of the departments voting section, told Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen on the day of the DOJs deadline, according to an email obtained by the Brennan Center.

As it was ramping up pressure on Republicans, the Justice Department was rolling out new rounds of lawsuits against Democratic state officials for noncompliance.

You may have seen in the news that we have sued six states earlier this week for refusing to provide their voter registration lists, another DOJ lawyer said in a December 4 voicemail left with an official in the Idaho secretary of states office that was obtained by Idaho Capital Sun.

And were preparing additional lawsuits. Id like to keep everyone out of that as much as possible. But I havent heard anything back from you all, the DOJ attorney, who has since left the department, said.

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Only two states  Alaska and Texas  have signed the memorandum, according to DOJ correspondence obtained by CNN, while about a dozen more are turning it over without entering the agreement, officials have said in court proceedings.

CNNs Fredreka Schouten and Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
(The Center Square)  Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers wants the public to concentrate on the bills and times that he had reached agreements with the Legislature as he is set to continue an interesting week of negotiations on a tax-cut proposal from legislative Republicans.

Evers announced he would call a special session this spring to ban partisan gerrymandering of legislative maps.

Earlier in his speech, Evers said that a plan for property tax relief and education spending must balance the two "a heck of a lot better" than the plan Republicans sent to him this week.

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"I'm going to ask lawmakers to stick around until our work here is finished," Evers said.

Tony Evers just said no to the Republican plan that puts this surplus back in your hands and addresses the ridiculous property tax increase he did via his veto plan. So much for bipartisanship. Senator Julian Bradley (@SenBradley) February 18, 2026

"Tony Evers just said no to the Republican plan that puts this surplus back in your hands and addresses the ridiculous property tax increase he did via his veto plan," Sen. Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin, wrote during the speech. "So much for bipartisanship."

In his rebuttal to the State of the State, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said that the state should not be sitting on $2.5 billion of projected surplus while Wisconsin families struggle to pay bills.

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"We want to give that money back to you," LeMahieu said.

Evers highlighted everything from justice system reform, adding circuit court branches, workers compensation for firefighters and law enforcement and paying down state debt.

Ive signed over 800 bills as governor, and more than 97% of the bills Ive signed passed with bipartisan support, Evers boasted in his State of the State speech.

He then pointed out that he is often criticized for his use of the veto, particularly when he used a partial veto and erased numbers and a hyphen to change 2024-25 to 2425 in the budget bill, locking in a $325 per student per year funding increase for 400 years.

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Evers justified the action, saying he was using his veto pen to benefit kids.

He said that average wages went up 26% in the state in his first six years in office and that median income has reached an all-time high.

Evers announced that a new film tax credit and office would start this week.
MADISON  In his final primetime address to the state, Gov. Tony Evers implored the Republican-led Legislature to work into the year to reach consensus on a lengthy list of issues  including tax relief, school funding, changes to the state's corrections system and nonpartisan redistricting  rather than take nine months off to campaign.

The two-term governor delivered his last State of the State address Tuesday evening, highlighting the last eight years in office and forecasting what he wants to see before he leaves the East Wing of the state Capitol. He declared 2026 the "Year of the Neighbor."

Evers also threw cold water on a tax relief package proposed this week by GOP leaders, but said he's hopeful they can still negotiate a deal to make use of the state's projected $2.5 billion surplus.

Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin.

"We cant afford for lawmakers to lose focus on the future weve been working hard to build together just because its an election year," he said. "So, I know the Legislature would rather hit the road and take the rest of the year off, but Im going to ask lawmakers to stick around until our work here is finished."

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State lawmakers receive a full-time taxpayer-funded salary but typically end their work in the state Capitol around March during election years in order to focus on campaigning. The state Assembly plans to conclude its work this week, while the Senate plans to return at least once next month. State lawmakers earn $60,924 annually.

While much of his first term was beset with battles against Republican legislative leaders, in recent years Evers has successfully negotiated with GOP leaders on major policy items, including the 2025-27 state budget, a shared revenue package and an agreement to keep the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin through at least 2050.

He pointed to that list of bipartisan achievements and said Wisconsinites have high expectations for what elected officials can accomplish for the remainder of the year.

"Giving working families a little more breathing room in their household budgets is something weve worked on together over the last seven years. Im hoping we can continue building upon those efforts this session, including reaching bipartisan agreement on a plan to get meaningful resources to K-12 schools and provide property tax relief," Evers said.

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"And it must balance these important obligations a heck of a lot better than the plan Republican leaders sent me this week," Evers said.

Evers, GOP leaders still at odds on tax relief

After the governor's speech, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, voiced frustration that he found out Evers was displeased with negotiations during the speech rather than in a direct conversation.

"It sounds like he is willing to sit down and talk but he is trying to draw bright lines in the sand," Vos told reporters after the address. "That is not something I've ever found to be productive. We need to be able to sit down and talk about things that are important to both the Legislature, the taxpayers and the governor. It should not be a 'my way or the highway' type negotiation."

The plan presented this week by Vos Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, would allocate $500 million for the school levy tax credit, $1.5 billion for income tax rebates, $200 million in funding for special education costs and $1.4 million for an educator tax deduction.

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The GOP proposal also included $30 million to fund a grant program for businesses and households that were affected by flooding in 2025 and unspecified support for positions within the state Department of Health Services dedicated to ensuring food assistance payments are accurate to avoid federal penalties.

It did not include an element Evers previously said he'd require: $450 million in the upcoming fiscal year for a funding stream for schools known as general school aids.

Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers is introduced before delivering his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Assembly Speaker Rob Vos, center, listens to Gov. Tony Evers deliver his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Flanking Vos, and Kevin Petersen (R-Waupca) and Senate President Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk). Assembly Speaker Robin Vos speaks to reporters after Gov. Tony Evers delivered his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) arrives to listen to Gov. Tony Evers deliver his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) applauds as Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Republican lawmakers stay seated as Democratic lawmaker stand and applaud as Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos speaks to reporters after Gov. Tony Evers delivered his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Lawmakers listen as Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address 1 of 14 Gov. Tony Evers delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin.

After the governor's speech, Vos said Republicans are "always open to hearing his argument" on general aids.

Property tax bills homeowners received at the end of the year skyrocketed, prompting a new focus from lawmakers to lower them. Evers has suggested he is open to repealing a veto to his 2023-25 state budget that locked in revenue increases for schools for 400 years if Republican lawmakers agree to massive funding increases for schools.

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Lawmakers and Evers passed a new state budget in 2025 that included no new funding for schools. That contributed to the spike in property taxpayers' bills because, without state funding, the burden to fund schools shifts to property tax revenue.

In his speech, Evers said Republicans are blaming his "400-year veto" for political reasons rather than acknowledging "local property taxes go up when the state fails to do its part to meet its obligation."

"Ill go 10 toes with any lawmaker about school funding. My 400-year veto isnt an automatic property tax increase, folks, because that isnt how school funding works in Wisconsin," Evers said. "The Legislature has rejected over $7 billion for K-12 schools that I requested over the last four state budgets. If lawmakers want to have an honest conversation about property taxes, start there."

Vos told reporters he's optimistic Republican leaders can talk with the governor on Wednesday about ways to invest in public education while providing meaningful tax relief.

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Republicans are "trying to be as open-minded and as all-encompassing as we could be," Vos said.

"It seems to me we tried very hard to reach the middle," Vos said. "Now it's the governor's job, after a pretty partisan speech, to actually figure out how he's going to get to the middle."

In taped remarks after the speech, LeMahieu said the state of the state is "strong in spite of our governor, not because of him."

"We can make our state stronger by lowering property taxes, supporting schools and returning the surplus to the people who created it  you, the taxpayers," LeMahieu said. "The Legislature is ready. It's up to Gov. Evers to make this compromise a reality."

Evers calls for violence prevention efforts, corrections overhaul

The governor also called on lawmakers to pass bills to make permanent the state Office of Violence Prevention and to provide $66 million in funds for victim service providers to address a drop in federal funding for Victims of Crime Act programming.

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Evers, who has named domestic violence prevention as a priority in his final year in office, also announced plans to partner with the Milwaukee Bucks on a public campaign.

The governor also highlighted in his speech the ongoing conversation surrounding the embattled Green Bay Correctional Institution and the plan to close it.

Evers introduced his own plan in the 2025-27 budget, which would have closed Green Bay by 2029 and allotted money to overhaul the Lincoln Hill School for Boys and Waupun Correctional Institution, but Republicans have failed to take action on it.

We dont need to ask taxpayers to pay for a brand-new prison that wont be done for a decade. My plan remains the safest, fastest, and cheapest option available, he said. I dont care who gets the credit  don't make any difference; I'm gonna be gone in a few months. Lets just get it done.

Balancing job creation, natural resource preservation

Evers also called out his work to protect natural resources over the course of his eight-year tenure, highlighting his initiatives on clean energy, adding the words climate change back to the Department of Natural Resources website and a commitment to planting more trees across the state.

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He reiterated his belief that the state can create jobs for a 21st-century economy while protecting Wisconsin's natural resources, highlighting the state's burgeoning data center industry.

"Wisconsin is ready for bold and urgent solutions that will stop treating these goals as mutually exclusive. And thats especially true when it comes to data centers," Evers said. "Ensuring our state is prepared for the 21st Century does not mean abandoning all of our states history and traditions  we arent and we wont."

More: Wisconsin lawmakers debate ban on data center secrecy deals

He pledged that Wisconsin will purchase 225,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy over the next two decades, and said the state would focus on nuclear fusion as a safe, reliable, carbon-free option to power homes and businesses.

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Water quality was another issue raised. As Evers and Republicans battle over how to best spend the $132 million PFAS trust fund, he encouraged more bipartisan work to help provide clean water to all Wisconsinites.

Wisconsinites should be able to trust the water coming from their tap, he said.

Another area he encouraged Republicans to negotiate was the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program, which is at risk of ending if a deal is not reached to reauthorize it by the end of the session.

Evers attempted to fund the program in his last budget, but Republicans removed it from the final vote. Since then, Republicans have worked to bring forward legislation that would halt all land purchases under the program for years and require the DNR to survey all organizations that could possibly seek funding for purchases in the future.

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If the current legislation is not altered, it is likely to receive a veto from Evers, which could signify the end of the legendary program.

Lets get a bipartisan bill done to reauthorize the Stewardship Program that both supports land acquisition and management of Wisconsins valuable natural resources and public lands, he said. We have to.

Trump administration criticism, call for nonpartisan redistricting

The governor also turned a critical eye to Washington, D.C., lamenting federal employees whose jobs were cut along with the impacts of tariffs and policies contained in the "One Big Beautiful Bill." He reiterated concerns with the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics and with the congressional decision to let Affordable Care Act subsidies expire.

Evers also announced plans for the state to join the World Health Organizations Global Response Network.

Critical of efforts led by President Donald Trump to launch an unprecedented wave of mid-decade redistricting throughout the country, Evers also said he plans to call the Legislature into a special session to pass a constitutional amendment banning partisan gerrymandering.

Vos said he'd be "open to listening to what his proposal is" but is concerned Evers' proposal would be "a gerrymander under a different title" to benefit Democrats, adding he hopes Evers is sincere in saying he doesn't want that.

"I wont hesitate to bring the Legislature into special session later this year in August. Or September. Or October. Heck, Im old enough to remember when the Legislature was willing to meet in December," Evers said. "I dont know if you remember that. I do."

In December 2018, the Legislature convened an extraordinary session to pass a group of laws stripping Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul of various powers before they took office.

Asked after the governor's speech about the Legislature concluding its work so early in the year, Vos said it's part of an effort "to draw a very bright line between the politics part of the year  and the policymaking."

Evers closed by declaring 2026 the "Year of the Neighbor."

"Wisconsinites are helpers by nature; its in our DNA. When things are tough, we roll up our sleeves and get to work. We shovel a driveway or bake a casserole, and we show up for our neighbors.

"Because we know that, whether its unpredictable weather or the unpredictable nature of politics, were all in this together, and were going to get through this together, not by alienating our neighbors, but by getting to know them, by looking out for one another, and by maintaining our Wisconsin values of kindness, empathy, compassion, and respect," Evers said.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Jessie Opoien, Laura Schulte and Molly Beck can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com, leschulte@gannett.com and molly.beck@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Evers urges legislators to tackle issues before leaving to campaign
A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge, with federal prosecutors saying he was logged into a chat account that he used to communicate with an undercover officer posing as a minor while he was on the job in Gibraltar.

Harry Marvelle Peless, III, 51, of Newport, in Monroe County, pleaded guilty Feb. 17 in U.S. District Court in Detroit to one count of receipt of child pornography.

His sentencing is set for June 1. He could be sentenced to five to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

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The charge requires a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and at least five years of supervised release, according to the plea agreement.

Messages were left for Peless' attorney, who could not be reached for comment.

Peless was employed as a marine border protection agent at the Gibraltar station. He was placed on unpaid administrative leave after he was charged, according to the release.

More: Feds: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer facing child porn charges

It said that law enforcement began investigating Peless after he sent sexual messages to an undercover officer posing as a minor. He began communicating with the undercover officer in September 2024, with his contacts becoming a near daily occurrence, according to the release.

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It said evidence showed he had received child pornography over the internet and was logged into the chat account he used to communicate with the undercover officer while he was at the Gibraltar station.

Peless initially was charged in July in a complaint filed in federal court. It indicated the undercover officer was employed by the Chester Police Department in Chester, New Jersey, posing as a 13-year-old girl from New Jersey. Federal prosecutors said in a release in July that Peless solicited sex from and sent obscene material to the undercover officer.

According to the plea agreement, Peless received, via electronic mail, images of child pornography from others over the internet, including at least one image depicting a prepubescent minor.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

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Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ex-US Customs, Border Protection agent pleads guilty in child porn case
Claim:

A January 2026 document release by the U.S. Department of Justice included July 2021 emails showing Jeffrey Epstein was alive and living in Colorado.

Rating:

Rating: False

Context:

The screenshots circulating online are authentic, but they do not prove that Epstein was alive or living in Colorado in 2021. The language and context indicated that the documents refer to a different man with the same last name who was involved in an unrelated health care fraud investigation. It was unclear why the DOJ included these emails in its January 2026 release of Epstein-related documents.

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In February 2026, social media users claimed newly released government emails proved that the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein  who died by suicide in 2019  was alive and living in Colorado in 2021. The posts pointed to a July 6, 2021, email thread included in a January 2026 document release by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Social media users highlighted a line (archived) stating that "Epstein does live in Colorado," arguing it proved Epstein was still alive two years after his reported death in federal custody. For example, an X post (archived) on Feb. 11 read:

EPSTEIN IS ALIVE Emails in the Epstein files dated July 6 2021 from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services discuss how Jeffrey Epstein lives in Colorado. "Epstein does live in Colorado so he is 2 hours behind, though he has jumped on calls as early as 9am EST in the past." As it turns out, Elizabeth Ross "Libet" Johnson, the heiress to Johnson & Johnson signed the deed of her chalet in Vail Colorado into a trust in Jeffrey Epstein's name years ago.

(X user @AreOhEssEyeEe)

The post also paired the email excerpt with a separate allegation involving a Vail, Colorado, ski property once associated with Epstein, suggesting that the connection reinforced the idea that he was alive.

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Versions of the claim spread across multiple social media platforms, including X, Instagram, Threads and Facebook, often accompanied by screenshots of the email excerpt.

The screenshots circulating online were authentic, but they did not prove that Epstein was alive or living in Colorado in 2021. The language and context indicated that the documents referred to a different man with the same last name who was involved in an unrelated health care fraud investigation. Court records and DOJ news releases from that period showed federal investigators were working with a cooperating witness named Richard Epstein, a Colorado resident.

We contacted the DOJ for clarification on why the July 2021 emails were included in its January 2026 release. We also contacted an attorney included in the correspondence and await replies to our questions.

What the July 2021 emails show

The most widely circulated document, labeled "EFTA01656139," includes a scheduling discussion noting that an "Epstein" lived in Colorado and that his time zone affected call planning. The thread includes an email about arranging a debriefing and coordinating schedules among federal officials.

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https://media.snopes.com/2026/02/efta01656139.pdf

The surname "Epstein" appears without a first name. Nowhere in the thread does it say "Jeffrey Epstein."

Though the sender's name is redacted, their signature block reflects affiliation with the HHS Office of Inspector General in Tampa, Florida. An HHS-OIG spokesperson told Snopes via email that the correspondence is legitimate but "is not related to Jeffrey Epstein," adding that it appears to have been included due to an error in the DOJ's document production process.

The email exchange also includes the address 550 Biltmore Way, Suite 780, Coral Gables, Florida  the publicly listed office address of criminal defense attorney Frank A. Rubino. That detail is consistent with the email's references to coordinating through counsel.

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A second file dated July 6, 2021, and labeled "EFTA01656148," provides additional context. In it, Jamie de Boer, a trial attorney with the DOJ Criminal Division's Fraud Section, refers to scheduling a debrief with "Mr. Epstein" and offering to send documents in advance. De Boer's name also appears in other DOJ news releases related to federal health care fraud prosecutions.

https://media.snopes.com/2026/02/efta01656148.pdf

The same email also appears in a separate file, labeled "EFTA01656146," but in that version the attorney's name is redacted (see comparison below).

(Department of Justice)

The exchange also includes the frankrubino.com, further linking the correspondence to Rubino.

(Department of Justice)

Another email chain, shown in a file labeled "EFTA01656144," includes someone signing as "Frank" asking investigators to send the referenced documents so "Epstein" could review them ahead of the debrief. The use of "Frank" in that context is also consistent with Rubino.

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Finally, a related July 22, 2021, email labeled "EFTA01656149" references documents provided to "Epstein via counsel" and discusses showing materials during an interview.

We contacted Rubino to confirm whether he represented Richard Epstein in connection with a federal health care fraud matter, and whether the July 2021 email chains referencing "Epstein" and a debrief through counsel were related to that representation. We will update this story if we receive a response.

What we know about Richard Epstein

Government news releases and court filings help identify the "Epstein" the emails described as living in Colorado.

In November 2021, the DOJ and HHS Office of the Inspector General announced that Richard Epstein of Aurora, Colorado, had been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for his role in a health care fraud conspiracy. Officials said he and another person were involved in a scheme that targeted Medicare and other federal health programs.

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Moreover, a federal court filing in the Southern District of Florida states that Rubino previously represented a government witness named Richard Epstein and that Epstein cooperated with federal authorities in a health care fraud investigation.

Taken together, the documents indicate the July 2021 emails referenced a federal fraud investigation involving Richard Epstein  not Jeffrey Epstein.

The July 2021 email thread also referenced "Shatz (et al)," phrasing that typically indicates a legal matter involving multiple people. Though the emails do not elaborate on the reference, the DOJ has filed health care fraud cases involving people with the surname Shatz. This supports the conclusion that the correspondence concerned a health care fraud case rather than anything related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Finally, some versions of the rumor tried to reinforce the narrative by pointing to reporting that Johnson & Johnson heiress Elizabeth Ross "Libet" Johnson once put a Vail, Colorado, chalet into a trust "in Jeffrey Epstein's name." While she did transfer a chalet in Colorado into a trust in 1998 naming herself and Jeffrey Epstein as co-trustees, this detail does not prove that the July 2021 emails referred to Jeffrey Epstein.

In sum 

All in all, the July 2021 emails circulating online reference an "Epstein" living in Colorado and discuss scheduling a debrief through counsel. The documents do not identify the person as Jeffrey Epstein. Public records show that federal authorities were working with a man named Richard Epstein, a Colorado resident involved in a health care fraud case. Therefore, the emails do not demonstrate that Jeffrey Epstein was alive in 2021 and the claim remains baseless.

Sources:

"Coral Gables Criminal Law Office | Frank A. Rubino, Esq." Frank A. Rubino, Esq. | FindLaw IM Template, 2026, www.frankrubino.com/coral-gables-criminal-law-office/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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"Executive Vice President of Insurance Brokerage Pleads Guilty in $133M Affordable Care Act Fraud Scheme." Justice.gov, 18 Apr. 2025, www.justice.gov/opa/pr/executive-vice-president-insurance-brokerage-pleads-guilty-133m-affordable-care-act-fraud.

Florida. "Shatz et al v. Med-Tech Health Solutions, LLC et Al." Justia Dockets & Filings, Justia, 12 Jan. 2015, dockets.justia.com/docket/florida/flsdce/9:2015cv80038/455049. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

"Two Sentenced to Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud." Office of Inspector General | Government Oversight | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 8 Nov. 2021, oig.hhs.gov/fraud/enforcement/two-sentenced-to-federal-prison-for-health-care-fraud/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

"United States v. Roussonicolos : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive." Internet Archive, 2023, archive.org/details/gov.uscourts.flsd.600501/gov.uscourts.flsd.600501.285.0.pdf. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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Justice.gov, 2026, www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01656137.pdf. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Trellis.Law, Trellis, 19 Mar. 2024, trellis.law/doc/district/9674584/united-states-v-roussonicolos. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Justice.gov, 2026, www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01656149.pdf. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Justice.gov, 2026, www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01656144.pdf. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Justice.gov, 2026, www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01656146.pdf. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Justice.gov, 2026, www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01656148.pdf. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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Justice.gov, 2026, www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01656139.pdf. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Updates:

Feb. 18, 2026: This report was updated with comment from the HHS Office of Inspector General confirming the correspondence is unrelated to Jeffrey Epstein.
Claim:

Two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents destroyed their careers after arresting a Black federal judge in her driveway without a warrant in Alexandria, Virginia.

Rating:

Rating: False

In February 2026, posts circulated online (archived) claiming that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had "destroyed" their careers after arresting a Black federal judge in her driveway without a warrant.

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One Facebook profile shared the claim alongside a 40-minute long video, titling the post, "ICE Agents Careers Destroyed After Arrest of Black Federal Judge in Her Driveway Without a Warrant."

The claim primarily circulated on Facebook (archived, archived) and TikTok (archived, archived). Snopes readers also wrote in asking us to verify the claim and video.

According to these videos, ICE agents Craig Delano and Tara Schofield arrested federal judge Nadine Ashford in her driveway in Alexandria, Virginia, without a warrant, an incident the posts claimed led to a trial and a combined ten-year prison sentence for the agents.

Search engine queries on Google, Yahoo, Bing and DuckDuckGo returned no results for reputable news reports about Ashford's alleged arrest and the trials of Delano and Schofield (archived, archived, archived, archived). "Nadine Ashford" did not appear in a government register of federal judges. The video that circulated alongside the claim also appeared to have been generated using artificial intelligence.

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Given the above, we rate this claim false.

Stories claiming ICE agents arrested a Black judge and later faced legal consequences have circulated online in multiple forms since at least Feb. 5, 2026. The details shift between versions, including the names of the judge and agents involved, as well as the location of the alleged incident (archived, archived). One version came from a YouTube channel that said in its video description it used AI to illustrate its stories. We found no evidence that any version of the "Nadine Ashford" story was true.

Video and narration showed signs of AI

The video that several TikTok and Facebook pages shared alongside the claim about Ashford's arrest was AI-generated.

At the start of the video, the supposed ICE agent appears to hold a flashlight or a similar object in his right hand. That object appears to morph in and out of existence as the agent's hand moves  a common artifact in AI-generated footage.

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A frame-by-frame analysis of the clip at around 9 seconds in also revealed several frames where the ICE agent's hand was distorted in an unnatural way, another known sign of AI manipulation.

(TikTok user @news.media09)

The video's narration also appeared to be AI-generated. At approximately 19 seconds, the narrator reads, "...gated communities in the DC metro area," but leaves an unnaturally long pause between "DC" and "Metro." Such unnatural cadence is typical of AI-generated audio.

At time code 4:20, the narrator reads, "Neighbors were watching and someone had already pressed record," pronouncing "record" like criminal record, not the action of pressing record on a recording device. This error would have been obvious to a person reading out the text who understood the context, but less so to an AI text-to-speech tool.

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Snopes previously debunked a similar staged video that claimed to show police pulling over a judge and smashing her taillight during a traffic stop.

Sources:

Biographical Directory of Federal Judges | Federal Judicial Center. https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/search/glossary-search/n. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

Ice Agents Arrest Nadine Ashford - Google Search. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=6da2c71a879288c4&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB1138GB1138&sxsrf=ANbL-n6UdrFVAXflVO8IWSkvUD7x-nDtzw:1771348095436&q=ice+agents+arrest+nadine+ashford&tbm=nws&source=lnms&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKp0UJuhqwKhR0QUhF54-6jIYFfWbU_Clyew-1Wh7zkL7FFfeQ8UTZRt91soqZupfwPo0crig5A2MrUrvJfjH7QcnU7gc7-zCdrXoAJPQhb8kD0mh4Wl2L0xaAPnIrDAQan0avxTBtya0o6xnSywmCvad5F_n4ISteLZeYtp9OsrWxMdHJoTXKaFyUCsP99Wd4dtPJxzg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj35oHwgeGSAxVNV0EAHTC_GW0Q0pQJegQIGRAB&biw=1470&bih=708&dpr=2. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

Ice Agents Arrest Nadine Ashford - Search News. https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=ice+agents+arrest+nadine+ashford&qs=n&form=QBNT&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=ice+agents+arrest+nadine+ashford&sc=8-32&sk=&cvid=A5DB597EE4B94ADDA91232B997DA3ACA. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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Ice Agents Arrest Nadine Ashford - Yahoo Search Results. https://uk.news.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AwrihWNuoJRpL48T2tZQBQx.;_ylc=X1MDMjExNDcxNzAwOARfcgMyBGZyA3lmcC10BGZyMgNzYi10b3AEZ3ByaWQDdHRvSTI1QVpUSXVkS0ZtdlprZm9qQQRuX3JzbHQDMARuX3N1Z2cDNARvcmlnaW4DdWsubmV3cy5zZWFyY2gueWFob28uY29tBHBvcwMwBHBxc3RyAwRwcXN0cmwDMARxc3RybAMzMgRxdWVyeQNpY2UlMjBhZ2VudHMlMjBhcnJlc3QlMjBuYWRpbmUlMjBhc2hmb3JkBHRfc3RtcAMxNzcxMzQ4MDg0?p=ice+agents+arrest+nadine+ashford&fr=yfp-t&fr2=sb-top. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

Ice Agents Arrest Nadine Ashford at DuckDuckGo. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ice+agents+arrest+nadine+ashford&iar=news&t=h_. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.


The family of a Babson College student who was deported to Honduras said a federal judges decision to return her to the United States gives us hope.

Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old Babson College freshman, was deported just days after she was detained at Logan Airport in November. Belloza was traveling to Texas to visit her family for Thanksgiving and said she did not realize her student visa had expired.

In a statement on Wednesday, her family said, Any should never have been taken from us or from the only home she has ever known.

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As her parents, we feel her absence in every moment of our day. She is a dedicated student at Babson College who has worked with so much heart and sacrifice to build her future, the family said. We are so proud of her.

The night she was taken was meant to be a beautiful surprise, a moment of joy with her family, but instead it became a nightmare that changed our lives. No family should have to go through that pain, the family said.

The judges decision gives us hope and should remind everyone that she belongs here, surrounded by the love of her family and friends, the family said in their statement. We are grateful for the support we have received, but our hearts will only be at peace when Any is safely back home, continuing her studies and pursuing her dreams.

Her sisters miss her deeply, and our family is not complete without her, the family said.

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Last week, US District Judge Richard Stearns issued the order to return Any to the United States

In this unfortunate case, the government commendably admits that it did wrong, Stearns wrote in his order. Now it is time for the government to make amends.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Farmers are up in arms over a Home Office decision to axe visas for foreign sheep shearers to work in the UK.

The Government has blocked the temporary concessionary visas, which allow highly-skilled shearers from Australia and New Zealand to come to Britain in the spring and help with the process of removing the fleeces of 1.5-2 million sheep.

A professional shearer can remove a sheeps wool in two to three minutes and is able to keep the animals safe and calm while getting through hundreds of coats a day.

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Britain has a shortage of home-grown shearers, and has relied on 75 experts from abroad every spring for more than a decade.

However, the Home Office has refused to permit the exception this year, saying the farming industry should have trained enough Britons to do the work.

It is part of a crackdown ordered by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to require companies facing skills shortages to train up more British workers or risk losing their rights to bring in overseas staff.

But it is being seen by farmers as another attack on the industry by Labour after the inheritance tax raid on farms.

Jill Hewitt, chief executive of the National Association of Agricultural Workers, admitted: Hands up  we havent [trained enough UK shearers]. I would fully admit that, but its almost impossible to do that because weve got shearers who are getting older and retiring.

The Home Office said the UK farming industry should have trained enough Britons to do the work - Finnbarr Webster/Getty

And while British Wool are training shearers every year, its only a tiny number of them who will go on to do professional shearing. Its a very seasonal operation, so you have only got that three-month period that you can shear.

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So to be a professional, its very difficult. You either have to have a different job the rest of the year or you also need to be travelling overseas, like the guys who we want to come in who are doing it the other way around.

Ms Hewitt warned that there would be health and welfare risks if sheep were not sheared in the spring weather window, when it is dry, but before the heat of the summer.

If you dont shear a sheep, it puts them at risk of maggots and also heat stress. So there are real animal welfare risks if we cant get them sheared before it gets hotter this summer, she said.

She is lobbying the Home Office to review its decision  as it did at the last minute last year, backed by the National Farmers Union, the National Sheep Association (NSA), the RSPCA and British Wool.

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There are negotiations about the possibility of shearers coming to the UK under a youth mobility scheme, but Ms Hewitt said this was more expensive if they only came for three months.

Nick Greaves, a shearer from Staffordshire, set a new eight-hour world lamb record in August 2024 by shearing 764 lambs. The fastest time in which a single lamb has ever been sheared is 37.9 seconds, set in 2010.

The NSA said it was dismayed by the Home Office decision. It said it was part of a global sharing of information, skills and practices as part of a huge international exchange where shearers and shepherds travelled the world.

Michael Priestley, the NSAs policy manager, said: Efforts are being made to explain how valuable the concession is for the sheep sector and the national flock.

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Despite between 800 and 1,000 shearers being trained by British Wool each year, the steps required to becoming a professional shearer is a major life choice due to the time needed to hone technique, develop contacts, and build stamina.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
A Queens crash that killed a 50-year-old livery driver may have been set in motion by snow and ice that was improperly cleared by a city Sanitation worker from the shoulder into a lane of the Long Island Expressway, police and city government sources said.

NYPD investigators notified Department of Sanitation officials of the dangerous conditions after the death of Carlos Asitimbay in a 4:30 a.m. crash on Feb. 6, the sources said.

A tractor trailer slammed into Asitimbays Toyota Camry after Asitimbay lost control on the westbound Long Island Expressway near the exit to the Van Wyck Expressway.

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Less than two hours before the crash, the operator of a city Sanitation vehicle pushed snow and ice from the shoulder into the right lane, creating a hazardous road condition that caused at least one other fender bender before Asitimbay was killed, the sources said.

Sanitation workers typically move some snow and ice into traffic lanes on local streets in order to break it up and allow it to melt  but those protocols are prohibited on highways, where drivers operate at much higher speeds. Asitimbay was killed in a 50-mph zone.

Asitimbay skidded out, lost control of his car and crashed into the center median before coming to a rest back in the right lane, the Camry perpendicular to traffic, cops said.

Moments later, a tractor trailer whose 52-year-old driver had swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle slammed into the passenger side of the Astimbays Camry.

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Asitimbay, who suffered severe head and body trauma, was rushed by medics to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens but could not be saved. The tractor trailer driver suffered minor injuries. He was not charged or issued any summonses.

The victims brother-in-law happened upon the scene of the fatal crash, realized what had happened and asked police why there was so much snow in the right lane, according to a law enforcement source.

The city has been criticized for not doing a better job of snow removal during the cold snap following a storm that blanketed the city with up to a foot of snow on Jan. 25. Sanitation officials will be questioned next Monday at a City Council hearing.

Fernando Mateo, head of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, said the advocacy group has been in touch with the brother-in-law about what he saw.

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If that is true, then this was not just negligence  it was reckless failure that created dangerous conditions on a major expressway, Mateo said of the improper snow clearing. This tragedy could have been prevented.

The [federation] will not back down until there is full transparency, responsibility and justice, he added.

Vincent Gragnani, a Sanitation spokesman, confirmed that the agency clears snow and ice from all highways in the city but would not comment on the incident.

A relative of Asitimbay told the Daily News the victim was from Ecuador and was a hardworking conscientious family man. Although the victim did not have a passenger when he crashed, Asitimbays family said he was working at the time.

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Theres an investigation going on, the relative said of the crash. Its an active investigation.

The victim hailed from Bilan, Ecuador, but spent most of his life in the United States, according to his niece. He leaves behind two sons.

My uncle was a good man. Were very affected by this. He was a caring father, brother and uncle, said 35-year-old Carla Yauri Asitimbay.

The cabbie was working the overnight when he was killed, his niece said.

This is Sanitations fault, his niece said. There should be compensation for our family. This could have been prevented.

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Asitimbay enjoyed watching history documentaries in his free time, the relative said.

There is an NYPD investigation underway, as there always is after a fatal vehicle collision, and we wont be commenting until that investigation concludes, Sam Raskin, a spokesman for the mayor, said in a statement.

With Emma Seiwell
Officials in Fulton County, Georgia, are renewing their effort to have the 2020 election files seized from their election office last month returned, arguing that a recently unsealed search warrant application falls "woefully short" of establishing probable cause of a crime.

In a court filing Tuesday, attorneys for Fulton County argued that the FBI agent behind the search warrant application "intentionally or recklessly omitted material facts" about purported discrepancies in the 2020 election in Georgia, after the Justice Department last week released the sworn affidavit that was the basis for the search warrant.

"Despite years of investigations of the 2020 election, the Affidavit does not identify facts that establish probable cause that anyone committed a crime," Tuesday's filing from Fulton County said.

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Trump director of election security sparked Georgia office raid, affidavit says

FBI agents on Jan. 28 seized 700 boxes containing ballots and other materials associated with the 2020 election from Fulton County's Elections Hub and Operations Center after obtaining a search warrant. President Donald Trump has repeatedly made baseless claims that there was voter fraud in the 2020 election, specifically in Georgia, despite Georgia officials auditing and certifying the results and courts rejecting numerous lawsuits challenging the election's outcome.

FBI Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans said in the sworn affidavit that following the 2020 election "there were many allegations of electoral impropriety relating to the voting process and ballot counting in Fulton County, Georgia" and that "Some of those allegations have been disproven while some of those allegations have been substantiated, including through admissions by Fulton County."

Fulton County filed a motion earlier this month seeking the return of the records, and revised its request in light of the recently unsealed affidavit. They argue that the FBI's investigation focuses on "human errors that its own sources confirm occur in almost every election ... without any intentional wrongdoing whatsoever."

Mike Stewart/AP - PHOTO: Georgia general election ballots from 2020 are loaded by the FBI onto trucks at the Fulton County Election Hub on Jan. 28, 2026, in Union City, Georgia.

"The Affidavit omits numerous material facts -- including from the very reports and publicly-disclosed investigations that the Affiant cites -- that confirm the alleged conduct was previously investigated and found to be unintentional," the filing said.

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Attorneys also argued that the FBI's witnesses are unreliable and that the FBI failed to disclose information that would discredit its own witnesses.

"The Affiant failed to include facts -- including from the very sources he cited -- that shut the door on even the faintest possibility of probable cause," the filing said.
The FBI interviewed a Jeffrey Epstein victim who alleged that President Donald Trump sexually abused her when she was a teenager, documents from the Justice Department file dump revealed.

A 21-page slideshow from the Epstein files summarizing the governments long-running probe into Epstein and his girlfriend-slash-accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell included two allegations against Trump, whose years-long friendship with the disgraced New York financier was well documented. It remains unclear what became of the investigation into the accusations.

Under a slide titled Prominent Names, the slideshow read: [Redacted] stated Epstein introduced her to Trump who subsequently forced her head down to his exposed penis which she subsequently bit. In response, Trump punched her in the head and kicked her out. (date range 1983-1985, [redacted] would have been 13-15).

The slideshow noted prominent individuals linked to Jeffrey Epstein and the accusations made against them. / Department of Justice

The same allegation appeared in a July 2025 email thread between FBI employees.

The details in the slideshow also appeared in an email thread. / Department of Justice

The claim accusing Trump of abuse appears to have stemmed from a call to an FBI hotline, according to an August 2025 email containing a spreadsheet of tips.

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The database indicated that [Redacted] reported an unidentified female friend who was forced to perform oral sex on President Trump approximately 35 years ago in NJ. The friend told Alexis that she was approximately 13-14 years old when this occurred, and the friend allegedly bit President Trump while performing oral sex. The friend was allegedly hit in the face after she laughed about biting President Trump. The friend said she was also abused by Epstein.

No evidence was provided in the email chains or FBI presentation to support the allegation.

The connection between the Trump accusation and the FBI interview was first reported by Roger Sollenberger.

The alleged incident was reported by the accuser's friend to the FBI. / Department of Justice

The spreadsheet said the FBI followed up on the tip alleging that Trump abused a teenage girl, with an employee dispatched to the Washington Office to conduct an interview. It also said that there were results matching name and DOB for criminal history in South Carolina.

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Biographical details from the tipincluding the reference to South Carolina and accusation timelinesmatch those that appeared in an FBI writeup summarizing an interview conducted July 24, 2019, and logged into the agencys system on Aug. 9, 2019, a day before Epstein died at a New York correctional facility.

The FBI noted that the woman wanted to crop Trump out of the photo with Epstein. / Department of Justice

The first two pages of the nine-page document were heavily redacted. Subsequent pages lay out the womans recollection of how she met Epstein and the abuse she suffered at his hands.

According to the document, the woman recalled that her mother put out an ad for her babysitting services in South Carolina in a packet provided to renters and owners. Her mother got a call from a man who had seen the ad and said that he and his wife needed a babysitter for the night, so she ended up meeting a man named Jeff in a gated Hilton Head communityonly to discover that there was no wife or children in the home.

The woman went on to recount sexual abuse that she suffered at the hands of Epstein over the course of several interactions. She told agents that she was too afraid to tell her mother about what was going on because she didnt want to screw up her mothers business and was afraid that she would get in trouble.

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A few months before the July 2025 interview, the woman said she received a text from a friend containing the name Jeffrey Epstein along with a photograph.

Is this the guy? her friend asked. The woman said the photo took me back, adding that Epsteins face was one I couldnt forget.

The image was saved in the womans phone messages. Before showing the photo to the FBI agents interviewing her, however, she asked whether she could crop it to include only Epsteins face and exclude other individuals. When asked why, her attorney said she was concerned about implicating additional individuals, and specifically any that were well known, due to fear of retaliation, according to the FBI document.

This was the image that the woman showed to agents. / Department of Justice

Of note, the particular image sent to her by [redacted] was recognized by Agents as a widely distributed photograph of JEFFREY EPSTEIN and current United States President DONALD TRUMP. The cropped image [redacted] provided to the Agents only included JEFFREY EPSTEIN, it read.

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The woman said Epstein looked a little older in the photo than she remembered. As for the other person she cropped outTrump[redacted] advised they were someone she had met (no further information provided).

Epstein and Trump were pictured together in Mar-a-Lago in 1997. / Davidoff Studios Photography / Getty Images

The allegation that Trump sexually abused a teenage girl was not brought up during the interview, nor did it appear in any of the FBIs written communication surrounding the womans case.

The details in the files match public reporting about an Epstein survivor in South Carolina who joined a lawsuit against him in 2019 and received a settlement from his estate.

A victim identified simply as Jane Doe 4 alleged in the lawsuit that Epstein hired her as a babysitter around 1984 when she was 13 and abused her in his Hilton Head home, according to CNN.

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The lawsuit claims that Epstein flew Jane Doe 4 to New York on three of four occasions, where he offered her up as fresh meat to intimate gatherings with other prominent, wealthy men.

Jane Doe 4 was brutally and forcibly battered, assaulted, and raped by these other men she met through Epstein, the lawsuit reads. On one occasion, one of these prominent men forcibly slapped Jane Doe 4 in the face after she was forced to perform oral sex on him. This same man forcibly raped her, penetrating her both vaginally and anally.

A separate July 2019 memo, matching the same case number as that of the FBI writeup, showed that the FBIs Seattle field office conducted the interview and said that the Epstein victimization occurred in the 1980s when the caller was approximately 13 to 15 years old.

Reached for comment, the White House referred the Daily Beast to a Justice Department statement released alongside a massive trove of Epstein files last month.

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This production may include fake or falsely submitted images, documents or videos, as everything that was sent to the FBI by the public was included in the production that is responsive to the Act, the statement read. The DOJ appeared to be referring to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which forced the release of documents related to the late sex offender.

Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election, the Justice Department continued. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.

The Justice Department and the FBI did not immediately return a request for comment.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday that he has been exonerated by the release of the Epstein files.

I have nothing to hide. Ive been exonerated. I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein, he said. They went in hoping that theyd find it and found just the opposite. Ive been totally exonerated.
Federal investigators say a person of interest in the shooting death of a United States Postal Service letter carrier is in custody.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirmed that they were at a home on Oxford Drive on Tuesday evening as part of their investigation into the shooting death of mail carrier Dequavious Graves.

Graves, 31, was shot and killed while on the job on Feb. 12.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Investigators did not release the name of the person of interest, but confirmed he was arrested in Atlanta on Tuesday for a murder in their jurisdiction.

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NewsChopper 2 flew over the home as the FBI surrounded it and tossed flashbangs at the home. Channel 2 Action News also saw U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigators at the home.

The USPS is offering a $250,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Graves killer.

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Credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva)

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights .

Last year, astronomers were fascinated by a runaway asteroid passing through our solar system from somewhere far beyond. It was moving at around 68 kilometres per second, just over double Earth's speed around the sun.

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Imagine if it had been something much bigger and faster: a black hole travelling at more like 3,000km per second. We wouldnt see it coming until its intense gravitational forces started knocking around the orbits of the outer planets.

This may sound a bit ridiculous  but in the past year several lines of evidence have come together to show such a visitor is not impossible. Astronomers have seen clear signs of runaway supermassive black holes tearing through other galaxies, and have uncovered evidence that smaller, undetectable runaways are probably out there too.

Runaway black holes: the theory

The story begins in the 1960s, when New Zealand mathematician Roy Kerr found a solution of Einstein's general relativity equations that described spinning black holes . This led to two crucial discoveries about black holes.

First, the " no-hair theorem ", which tells us black holes can be distinguished only by three properties: their mass, their spin and their electric charge.

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For the second we need to think about Einstein's famous formula E = mc  which says that energy has mass. In the case of a black hole, Kerr's solution tells us that as much as 29% of a black hole's mass can be in the form of rotational energy.

English physicist Roger Penrose deduced 50 years ago that this rotational energy of black holes can be released. A spinning black hole is like a battery capable of releasing vast amounts of spin energy.

A black hole can contain about 100 times more extractable energy than a star of the same mass. If a pair of black holes coalesce into one, much of that vast energy can be released in a few seconds.

It took two decades of painstaking supercomputer calculations to understand what happens when two spinning black holes collide and coalesce, creating gravitational waves. Depending on how the black holes are spinning, the gravitational wave energy can be released much more strongly in one direction than others  which sends the black holes shooting like a rocket in the opposite direction.

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If the spins of the two colliding black holes are aligned the right way, the final black hole can be rocket-powered to speeds of thousands of kilometres per second.

Learning from real black holes

All that was theory, until the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave observatories began detecting the whoops and chirps of gravitational waves given off by pairs of colliding black holes in 2015.

One of the most exciting discoveries was of black hole "ringdowns": a tuning fork-like ringing of newly formed black holes that tells us about their spin. The faster they spin, the longer they ring.

Better and better observations of coalescing black holes revealed that some pairs of black holes had randomly oriented spin axes, and that many of them had very large spin energy.

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All this suggested runaway black holes were a real possibility. Moving at 1% of light speed , their trajectories through space would not follow the curved orbits of stars in galaxies, but rather would be almost straight.

Runaway black holes spotted in the wild

This brings us to the final step in our sequence: the actual discovery of runaway black holes.

It is difficult to search for relatively small runaway black holes. But a runaway black hole of a million or billion solar masses will create huge disruptions to the stars and gas around it as it travels through a galaxy.

They are predicted to leave contrails of stars in their wake, forming from interstellar gas in the same way contrails of cloud form in the wake of a jet plane. Stars form from collapsing gas and dust attracted to the passing black hole. Its a process that would last for tens of millions of years as the runaway black hole crosses a galaxy.

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In 2025, several papers showed images of surprisingly straight streaks of stars within galaxies such as the image below. These seem to be convincing evidence for runaway black holes.

One paper, led by Yale astronomer Pieter van Dokkum, describes a very distant galaxy imaged by the James Webb telescope with a surprisingly bright contrail 200,000 light years long . The contrail showed the pressure effects expected from the gravitational compression of gas as a black hole passes: in this case it suggests a black hole with a mass 10 million times the sun's, travelling at almost 1,000km/s.

Another describes a long straight contrail cutting across a galaxy called NGC3627. This one is likely caused by a black hole of about 2 million times the mass of the sun, travelling at 300km/s. Its contrail is about 25,000 light years long.

If these extremely massive runaways exist, so too should their smaller cousins because gravitational wave observations suggest that some of them come together with the opposing spins needed to create powerful kicks. The speeds are easily fast enough for them to travel between galaxies.

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So runaway black holes tearing through and between galaxies are a new ingredient of our remarkable universe. It's not impossible that one could turn up in our solar system, with potentially catastrophic results.

We should not lose sleep over this discovery. The odds are minuscule. It is just another way that the story of our universe has become a little bit richer and a bit more exciting than it was before.
Tigray, Ethiopia  Saba Gedion was 17 when the peace deal that ended the conflict in her homeland of Tigray in northern Ethiopia was signed in 2022.

She hoped then that fighting would be a thing of the past, but the last few months have convinced her that strife is once again looming, and she feels paralysed with despair.

Many people are leaving the region in droves, Gedion told Al Jazeera as she sat under the shade of a tree, selling coffee to the occasional customer in an area frequented by internally displaced people (IDPs) in Tigrays capital, Mekelle.

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Gedion  herself a displaced person  is from the town of Humera, a now-disputed area with the Amhara region that witnessed heavy clashes during the 2020-2022 war between Ethiopias federal government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF).

The now-21-year-old remembers the horrors she witnessed. Some of her family were killed, while others were abducted into neighbouring Eritrea, she says. She has not heard from them since.

Though she made it out alive, her life was turned upside-down when she was forced to flee to Mekelle for safety.

Years later, Gedion sees similar patterns as people leave Tigray  most headed to the neighbouring Afar region  once again looking for the safety that has become elusive at home.

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Recurring conflict and civil war have made us zombies rather than citizens, she told Al Jazeera.

In recent weeks, enmity between Ethiopia and Eritrea has escalated amid separate accusations by both sides.

Speaking to Ethiopias parliament in early February, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed addressed his landlocked countrys access to the sea, saying the Red Sea and Ethiopia cannot remain separated forever. This has led to accusations by Eritrea that Addis Ababa is seeking to invade its country and trying to reclaim the Red Sea Assab seaport, which it lost in 1993 with the independence of Eritrea.

Ethiopia, meanwhile, has accused Eritrean troops of occupying its territory along parts of their shared border, and called for the immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the towns of Sheraro and Gulomakada, among others. Addis Ababa also accuses Eritrea of arming rebels in the vast Horn of Africa country.

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Observers say the heightening tensions point to an impending war between the two countries  one that could once again involve Tigray.

Saba Gedion, 21, sells coffee on a street in Tigray [Zantana Gebru/Al Jazeera]

Unhealed scars of war

In Tigrays capital, a once-booming city of tourism and business, most streets are quiet.

The young people who previously frequented cafes are now often seen applying for visas and speaking with smugglers in the hope of leaving Tigray.

Helen Gessese, 36, lives in a makeshift IDP camp on the outskirts of Mekelle. She worries about what will become of the already struggling region should another conflict erupt.

Gessese is an ethnic Irob, a persecuted Catholic minority group from the border town of Dewhan in the northeastern part of Tigray.

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During the Tigray war, several of her family members were kidnapped, she said, as Eritrean troops expanded their hold of the area.

As the war intensified, she fled to Mekelle, about 150km away, looking for safety. Her elderly parents were too frail to join her on foot, so she was forced to leave them behind. Like Gedion, she has not heard from them or the rest of her family since 2022.

My life has been held back, not knowing if my elderly parents are still alive, she told Al Jazeera, the stress of the last few years making her seem much older than she is.

In Mekelle, it is not uncommon to meet people who are anguished or frustrated  some by the renewed tensions, and many by the trauma of the previous conflict.

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More than 80 percent of hospitals were left in ruins in Tigray during the war, according to humanitarian organisations, while sexual violence that defined the two-year conflict is still a recurring issue. Hundreds of thousands of young people are still out of school, foreign investment that created jobs in the past has in large part evaporated, and the economy remains crippled after years of war.

Meanwhile, nearly four years later, the federal governments decision to withhold foreign funds meant for the region is deepening a humanitarian crisis. The bulk of the public service in the region, for instance, has not been paid for months.

The Ethiopia-Eritrea relationship has also deteriorated in recent years.

The longstanding foes had waged war against each other between 1998 and 2000, but in 2018, they signed a peace deal. They then became allies during the 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray against common enemy, the TPLF.

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But the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea has been in sharp decline since the signing of the 2022 accord that ended the Tigray war  an agreement that Asmara was not party to.

A destroyed tank is seen by the side of the road south of Humera, in an area of western Tigray, annexed by the Amhara region during the Tigray war [File: Ben Curtis/AP]

Acts of outright aggression

Earlier this month, Ethiopias Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos wrote an open letter acknowledging the presence of Eritrean troops loitering on the Ethiopian side of the border and calling for them to leave.

The incursion of Eritrean troops  he wrote, is not just provocations but acts of outright aggression.

Asmara continues to deny the presence of its troops on the Ethiopian side, and Eritrean Minister of Information Yemane Gebremeskel has called such accusations an agenda of war against Eritrea.

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As a sign of the worsening of the relationship between the two neighbours, Ethiopias Abiy, in his address to lawmakers early in February, also accused Eritrean troops of committing atrocities during the Tigray war. The accusation was a first from the prime minister, following repeated denials by his government about reported mass killings, looting and the destruction of factories by Eritrean troops during the Tigray conflict.

Eritreas government rejected Abiys claims about atrocities, with Gebremeskel calling them cheap and despicable lies, noting that Abiys government had until recently been showering praises and state medals on Eritrean army officers.

As the tensions escalate, many observers say war between the two is now inevitable and have called for dialogue and the de-escalation of the situation.

The situation remains highly volatile and we fear that it will deteriorate, worsening the regions already precarious human rights and humanitarian situation, the United Nations Human Rights spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, said this month.

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Kjetil Tronvoll, a professor of peace and conflict studies at Oslo New University College, told Al Jazeera a new war would have wide-reaching implications for the region  regardless of the outcome.

He believes the looming conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea could take the shape of a new civil war, positioning Addis Ababa against Tigrays leadership yet again.

From Ethiopias side, he argues the objective would be regime change in both Asmara and Mekelle, noting that regime change in Eritrea may lead to Ethiopia gaining control of Assab. For Asmara and Mekelle, the aim would also be regime change in Addis Ababa, he suggests.

If it erupts, it will be devastating for Tigray, Tronvoll said. The outcome of such a war will likely fundamentally alter the political landscape of Ethiopia and the Horn [of Africa], he warned, pointing out that regional states could also be pulled into a proxy war.

People in Tigray are afraid renewed tensions may bring another war [Zantana Gebru/Al Jazeera]

Fears for the future

For many in Tigray, memories of massacres committed during the 2020-2022 war are still fresh.

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Axum, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the central zone of the Tigray region, is known for its tall obelisk relics of an ancient kingdom. But for 24 hours in November 2020, the city was the site of killings carried out by the Eritrean army. Many hundreds of civilians were killed, rights group Amnesty International said.

While the killings were denied by both the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments for many years, this month Abiy acknowledged they had taken place.

However, despite speaking of mass killings in Axum, he has been silent about the fact that the Ethiopian and Eritrean armies worked together openly as allies during that war.

Marta Keberom, a resident in her forties who hails from Axum, says very few people in her hometown have not been touched by violence in the last five years.

The killings that happened during the war wasnt just a conflict, it had the hallmark of a genocide where whole families were murdered without a cause, she said of the killings that targeted Tigrayans.

To relive that, Keberom said, speaking at an IDP centre in Mekelle, would be something I cant begin to comprehend.

Waiting for customers at her coffee stand in the city, Gedion is also afraid of what might come next.

She once aspired to be an engineer, but since being uprooted from her village, she now dreams of a future far away from Ethiopia.

She has already contacted a smuggler to help her leave, she says, through Libya and on towards the Mediterranean Sea  despite the extreme risks of such a journey.

I would rather take a chance than die a slow, certain death with little future prospects, she said.




Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Tuesday questioned why President Trump and other GOP lawmakers havent locked down the Texas Senate race with an endorsement in the three-way party primary.



Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) are vying for Cornyns seat in the Senate. The frequently nasty battle between Paxton and Cornyn has left some Democrats thinking it could create an opening for their party in November, particularly if Paxton wins.

Fetterman said he thinks his party can regain the House but argued the battle to retake the Senate majority will be an uphill one during an appearance on Fox Business Networks Mornings with Maria.

He also argued that Trump and the GOP are putting Texas in play by not backing Cornyn.

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I mean, as you point out, the margin is very close. And theres always  history always tells us theres a backlash against the party in power.  So I think most people would have assumed that the House is going to flip. Now, here in the Senate, thats a little more difficult, and now you have other races in play, he told host Maria Bartiromo.

For me, like for Texas, for example, Cornyn is a reasonable Republican, and now that would be money in the bank. But now I dont know why politically  Im not sure why the Republicans and the president wouldnt sit on that and just lock down Texas. But for me, theres other states that are in flux, he added.

Democrats are having their own contentious primary in Texas between Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico.

Fetterman has shared a dismal outlook on his party. On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania senator said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) is part of the rot in the Democratic Party for her foreign policy stance denouncing Israel amid the war in Gaza.

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For me, stand with Israel. Ill never vote for any kinds of restrictions on aid, whether its military, financial, or intelligence. There are never to be any restrictions on that. And now, for here we are, we can have peace. Again, thats become part of the serious problem in our party, Fetterman told Bartiromo.

He later added, I refuse to pander to the part of my Democratic Party that finds that theres value in being anti-Israel. And thats effectively  they use the word anti-Zionism  I mean, effectively what thats really become on college campuses and places is just antisemitism. We have a problem here in our party, and Im going to stand against that and always be an unapologetic supporter for Israel.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Feras Dalatey

DAMASCUS, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Fewer than 1,000 families remain at a camp where relatives of suspected Islamic State militants had been held in Syria's northeast, the camp's former director said on Wednesday, with thousands having fled last month as government forces seized control of the area from Kurdish-led fighters.

Al-Hol, near the Iraqi border, was one of the main detention camps for relatives of suspected Islamic State fighters who were detained during the U.S.-backed campaign against the jihadist group in Syria.

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Control of the camp changed hands last month when government forces under President Ahmed al-Sharaa seized swathes of the northeast from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, including several jails holding Islamic State fighters.

The U.S. military said last week it had completed a mission to transfer 5,700 adult male Islamic State detainees to Iraq.

Jihan Hanna, the former director who still coordinates with international agencies and the Syrian government, told Reuters the remaining families were Syrian nationals and were being transferred to a camp in Aleppo. Most of the camps foreign nationals had fled, she said.

The Syrian government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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According to the latest camp data obtained by Reuters, dated January 19 - a day before the government took control of the camp - its population was 6,639 families comprising 23,407 people, mostly Syrians and Iraqis, as well as 6,280 foreigners from more than 40 nationalities.

'UNREST AND ANXIETY' IN CAMP

UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, said it had observed "a significant decrease in the number of residents in al-Hol camp in recent weeks," adding in a statement to Reuters that there were no confirmed figures on the remaining population.

"Over the weekend the camp administration advised UNHCR not to enter the camp due to the unrest and anxiety in the camp," UNHCR added.

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The Syrian government accused the SDF of withdrawing from al-Hol on January 20 without any coordination.

The SDF, in a statement that day, said its forces had been "compelled to withdraw from al-Hol camp and redeploy to areas surrounding cities in northern Syria that are facing increasing risks and threats."

A Syrian government security source said most people in the camp fled that day during a five-hour period when it was unguarded, and that some had left with men who came to take their relatives to unknown destinations.

The security source and a source from a non-governmental organisation working there said a section of the camp that housed its most dangerous residents, known as the annex, was empty.

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The security source said the escapees had spread throughout Syria and that security authorities, working in cooperation with international partners, had established a unit to "follow up on the matter and pursue those who are wanted."

Some have left Syria.

In Lebanon, the army has questioned more than a dozen Lebanese who crossed illegally from Syria after leaving al-Hol, a Lebanese security source said.

The Syrian governments Directorate of International Cooperation said on Tuesday that hundreds of people, mostly women and children, had been transferred from al-Hol to a newly prepared camp near the town of Akhtarin in northern Aleppo.

(Additional reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin in Geneva and Laila Bassam in Beirut; Editing by Tom Perry, Rod Nickel)
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is investigating three incidents of poaching involving mule deer bucks near Boise that have happened in recent months, according to a news release from the agency.

The first deer was found on Robie Creek Road northeast of Boise after it was shot using archery equipment during open deer hunting season around Nov. 10. Fish and Game said in the news release that evidence and an initial investigation led the agency to believe the case wasnt a wounding loss, a game animal thats shot by a hunter but not recovered.

The shooter likely knew the deer expired and failed to retrieve the animal, leaving the meat to waste, the news release said.

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The second deer was killed in an alfalfa field near Grandview in Owyhee County around Dec. 26, likely at night, Fish and Game said. That animal was left to waste.

The third deer was shot in the head on Jan. 30 or 31 at Arrowrock Reservoir near the Irish Point Dispersed Campground.

Fish and Game said its asking for the publics help in collecting more information about the poaching incidents. Anyone with information can call Fish and Games Southwest Regional Office at 208-465-8465, call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999, or report online.
Sea level rise stands as one of the most pressing effects of climate change, reshaping coastlines and amplifying coastal flooding worldwide. Climate risk zones, particularly those with low elevations and dense populations, face the greatest threats from this slow but relentless change. Communities in these areas grapple with increased erosion, storm surges, and saltwater intrusion, all tied directly to rising oceans. Understanding sea level rise helps highlight why certain coastal regions bear disproportionate risks.

Causes and Projections of Sea Level Rise

Sea level rise stems primarily from two interconnected processes accelerated by human activities. Thermal expansion occurs as ocean waters absorb excess heat from greenhouse gases, causing them to expand and occupy more space. At the same time, melting land-based iceglaciers in the Himalayas, Greenland's massive ice sheet, and Antarctic glaciersreleases vast amounts of freshwater into the global ocean system. Since reliable measurements began in 1880, sea levels have risen about 8 to 9 inches globally, with the pace quickening from roughly 1.4 millimeters per year in the early 20th century to over 4 millimeters annually today. This acceleration reflects not just warmer temperatures but also unstable ice dynamics, where warming air and water trigger rapid ice shelf collapses.

Projections paint a sobering picture for the coming decades. Under moderate emissions scenarios, U.S. coastlines may experience 10 to 12 inches of additional rise by 2050, while higher-emission pathways could push global averages toward one foot or more. Some regions face even steeper increases due to local factors like land subsidence, where human activities such as groundwater extraction cause the ground to sink faster than sea rise. For instance, parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast subside at rates up to 2 centimeters per year, compounding the global trend. By 2100, estimates range from 2 to 7 feet depending on emission trajectories, with worst-case scenarios from Antarctic instability reaching several meters. These figures underscore how sea level rise does not advance uniformly; it interacts with geography, geology, and weather patterns to create hotspots of vulnerability.

The interplay between sea level rise and coastal flooding emerges clearly in these projections. Higher baseline water levels mean tides reach farther inland, turning episodic floods into routine events. "Sunny day" flooding, once rare, now plagues cities like Miami during high tides without rain or storms. This baseline shift heightens risks during hurricanes or cyclones, as storm surges stack atop elevated seas, overwhelming defenses and flooding low-lying infrastructure.

Most Vulnerable Coastal Regions and Climate Risk Zones

Certain coastal regions emerge as epicenters of risk due to their physical traits and human footprints. Climate risk zones typically feature flat topography below one meter elevation, subsiding land, and large populations concentrated near the shore. Globally, about 230 million people live in such zones, with Asia hosting the majority. Bangladesh's Ganges-Brahmaputra delta exemplifies this peril: home to 160 million, its low-lying expanse floods routinely from monsoons, now worsened by encroaching seas. Vietnam's Mekong Delta, the world's largest rice exporter, faces similar threats, with saltwater intrusion salinizing fields and displacing farmers.

In the United States, the Gulf Coast and Southeast dominate vulnerability rankings. New Orleans sits partly below sea level, reliant on levees strained by subsidence and hurricanes. Florida's porous limestone bedrock allows rapid water infiltration, making "king tides" a seasonal menace for over 80% of its population in coastal counties. Mid-Atlantic cities like Norfolk, Virginia, report some of the fastest relative sea level rise rates globally, driven by land sinking from ancient glacier rebound elsewhere. Pacific islands such as Kiribati and the Marshall Islands confront existential threats, where even modest risesmere inchescould submerge entire atolls, forcing national relocation.

These climate risk zones share traits beyond elevation: exposure to tropical storms, limited natural barriers like mangroves (often cleared for development), and economic dependence on beaches, ports, and fisheries. Developing nations suffer most acutely despite contributing least to emissions. Small island states emit negligible carbon but risk total inundation, while megacities like Jakarta and Shanghai pump groundwater, accelerating subsidence to 10-15 centimeters yearly in spots. Coastal flooding here erodes not just land but livelihoods, as tourism dries up and supply chains disrupt.

Impacts of Coastal Flooding and Broader Consequences

Coastal flooding, intensified by sea level rise, unleashes cascading effects on ecosystems, economies, and societies. Higher seas erode beaches at rates up to 10 meters per year in vulnerable spots, devouring homes and highways. Saltwater pushes inland, contaminating freshwater aquifers critical for drinking and agriculture, while wetlands that buffer storms drown or convert to open water. Biodiversity suffers as coral reefs bleach from warmer waters and fish stocks migrate poleward, upending fishing communities.

Economically, the toll mounts quickly. Annual damages from coastal flooding already exceed hundreds of billions globally, projected to hit trillions by mid-century in major ports alone. Insurance markets strain under repeated claims, leading to from high-risk zones and skyrocketing premiums. Infrastructure buckles: roads flood, power plants shut down, and airports like those in Miami close during tides. Health risks rise too, from mold in flooded homes to diseases spread via contaminated water.

Socially, displacement looms large. By 2050, up to 200 million could become climate migrants from sea level rise alone, straining borders and cities. Poorer nations lack resources for defenses, widening inequities. Women and indigenous groups, often first to feel resource strains, bear heavier burdens in deltas where farming falters.

Adaptation offers pathways forward, though challenges persist. Nations restore mangroves and dunes as living barriers, more resilient than concrete seawalls that often spur more erosion elsewhere. Cities like Rotterdam elevate infrastructure and use floating homes, while managed retreatrelocating from floodplainsgains traction in places like Alaska's villages. Early warning apps and elevated zoning save lives, but true mitigation demands slashing emissions to curb ice melt and warming. International pacts push for funding to help vulnerable states build resilience.

Protecting Communities from Sea Level Rise Threats

Coastal flooding in climate risk zones demands urgent, multifaceted action as seas climb. Regions from Florida's shores to Bangladesh's deltas show proactive measures can blunt impacts, blending nature-based solutions with smarter planning. Global emission cuts remain essential to slow the rise, buying time for adaptation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What causes sea level rise?

Oceans warm and expand from trapped heat, while melting glaciers and ice sheets add water volume.

2. How much will sea levels rise by 2050?

U.S. coasts face 10-12 inches; global projections reach up to one foot under moderate scenarios.

3. Which coastal regions are most at risk from sea level rise?

Gulf Coast cities, Florida, Bangladesh delta, and Pacific islands top vulnerability lists due to low elevation and subsidence.

4. What is coastal flooding and how does sea level rise worsen it?

Tides and storms push water inland more frequently; elevated baselines turn rare events routine, like "sunny day" floods.

5. Which climate risk zones suffer the most?

Low-lying deltas and subsiding urban coasts in Asia and the U.S. Southeast, housing millions below 1 meter elevation.

6. Can coastal flooding be prevented in climate risk zones?

Mangroves, seawalls, and zoning help, but emission cuts slow the root cause; full prevention remains challenging
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick is trying to reassure residents about proposed ICE detention centers in Pennsylvania.

The Republican stated that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE do not plan to open a detention facility in his district, which covers Bucks County and parts of Montgomery County.

Fitzpatrick said he reached out to DHS after hearing from concerned residents and would oppose the opening of any facility in his district.

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A facility is planned for neighboring Berks County in Upper Bern Township.

The Department of Homeland Security plans to convert a 518,000-square-foot facility there into an ICE detention center, after it was sold for $87.4 million.
After cities and counties were forced to shelve new planning regulations for months under a developer-friendly new state law, Florida legislators promised a fix.

But as the Legislature lurches into its final scheduled weeks, the move to repair last year's controversial measure looks doomed, those involved said.

Planning chaos may endure for at least another year, they say.

Sen. Don Gaetz chats with fellow lawmakers Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

I think the issue is dead in the House, said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, sponsor of one of two Senate bills that look to dial back the law passed last year through the legislation (SB 180).

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The law is a broad emergency management measure which bars local governments from imposing planning requirements seen as more restrictive or burdensome than those already on the books.

Planning regulations put on ice since June under new law

Its effectively halted local governments from enacting even routine changes to comprehensive plans or land development codes since Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law in June.

Opponents derided it as a political gift to builders and developers, whose industry lobbied hard for its passage during the last legislative session.

The measure now is being challenged in court, with more than two dozen cities and counties calling it the largest incursion into local home rule authority in Floridas modern history. The law limited what planning responses governments could do after three hurricanes hit the state in 2024.

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The law is scheduled to sunset, or end, in October 2027. But if another hurricane hits within 100 miles of a community, the more restrictive or burdensome ban would continue automatically.

Local governments were hoping lawmakers this year would make good on promises to soften restrictions in the law, which passed almost unanimously last year, with many legislators acknowledging they had no idea of its impact.

Meanwhile, its led to a host of planning proposals being put on hold or repealed outright, drawing loud complaints from many community groups across the state.

Building moratoriums, planning updates, even rooster limits halted

The local efforts put on ice by the new law range from Orange Countys comprehensive plan, to building moratoriums in several cities. Routine actions like tree ordinances and even one limiting how many roosters can be on a property in Polk County were blocked.

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It takes away citizens rights to determine their countys development, Patricia Watkins, a Crestview resident, told the Senate Rules Committee on Feb. 17. Florida is not a one-size-fits-all state.

Sen. Nick DiCeglie attends the Senate President Designate ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025.

The Rules Committee unanimously approved a repair measure (SB 840) sponsored by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, who had sponsored last years sweeping law.

The vote by the committee sets the stage for full Senate approval and may be an effort to pressure the House, which has refused to hear either of two bills intended to readdress last years controversial measure.

Unfortunately, we got some feedback of unintended consequences, DeCeglie said of the 2025 law.

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Back story on new law: Florida law handcuffs cities, boosts building and rebuilding. Is it a 'developer handout'?

Locals swing back with lawsuit: Local governments sue state over law blocking tougher building standards

DiCeglies new approach narrows the scope of last years law, restoring the ability of cities and counties to enact building moratoriums within a year of being hit by a hurricane to protect stormwater and fresh water supplies, something that's currently prohibited.

The 100-mile hurricane distance would be reduced to communities within 50 miles of a passing storm. The bill also would erase a provision that froze local land regulations and comprehensive plans in place for three years, going back to August 2024.

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New limits on who can sue local governments over disputed planning changes also are included in the measure now ready for a final Senate vote.

But with the House and Senate at odds over a host of issues, including vastly different state budget proposals, how to approach a property tax overhaul, congressional redistricting and dozens of policy bills, the planning fix is clearly endangered.

The Houses lack of action is ominous, said advocates of the fix.

Were really getting concerned, said Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, who is monitoring the legislation for the Florida Association of Counties. Weve worked diligently to secure some modifications to this law. But its not looking good.

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John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@usatodayco.com or on X at @JKennedyReport.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Law that freezes local planning may endure as House shrugs at change
The Brief

Fulton County filed a motion Tuesday demanding the immediate return of 700 boxes of seized 2020 election records.

Officials allege the FBI relied on "recycled conspiracy theories" and omitted material facts to obtain the search warrant.

The NAACP asked a judge to bar the government from misusing seized voter data for immigration enforcement.

ATLANTA - Fulton County officials filed an amended motion on Tuesday demanding the immediate return of 2020 election records seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in a raid on the election hub in late January.

Fulton County: FBI showed callous disregard in raid

What we know

The county called the federal search warrant used by the Department of Justice a "callous disregard" for constitutional rights.

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The legal challenge, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, argues that the FBI obtained the warrant using a "possible cause" theory that relied on speculative witness statements and ignored official reports that had already cleared the county of intentional wrongdoing.

Fulton County officials allege the warrant unsealed and served on Jan. 28, is "unprecedented in American history."

Fulton County Commissioners Chair Rob Pitts and Registration and Elections Board Chair Sherri Allen outside an FBI raid at the Fulton County elections center on January 28, 2026. (FOX 5 News)

The motion claims the affidavit submitted by FBI Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans failed to establish that any crime actually occurred. Instead, the county argues the FBI relied on hypotheticals, twice stating in the affidavit: "If these deficiencies were the result of intentional action, it would be a violation of federal law."

"Mislabeling an expected margin of error as 'deficiencies' or 'defects' cannot establish probable cause, let alone a seizure of this magnitude," the motion states.

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The countys attorneys argue that the FBI "recklessly" omitted material facts from its warrant application. The motion lays forth that investigators ignored benign explanations for election irregularities.

The FBI affidavit suggested "unfolded" absentee ballots were suspicious. However, election technology expert Ryan Macias noted in a supporting declaration that military and overseas ballots are typically printed on normal paper and transcribed onto ballot stock by workers, meaning they are "typically not folded."

The county claims the FBI used a misleading internal "running document" tallying 511,343 ballots to imply a discrepancy with the final 527,925 count. The county explained the lower number was an internal report from a date when thousands of ballots remained unscanned due to a programming error.

Click to open this PDF in a new window.

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The motion alleges the FBI failed to disclose that Kurt Olsen, whose referral sparked the investigation, has been sanctioned by multiple courts for "unsubstantiated, speculative claims about elections."

The county further argues the seizure was unreasonable because the five-year statutes of limitations for the investigated offenses, election record retention and election fraud, have already expired.

Additionally, the motion claims the federal seizure "effectively enjoined" an ongoing state court proceeding. On Dec. 19, 2025, a Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney had ordered the county to provide the Georgia State Elections Board with these same records. Because the FBI took the originals rather than making copies, the state court was forced to stay its case.

"We are all left to hope the Bureau and the Department of Justice [must] handle the ballots and related records with the care required to preserve and protect their integrity," Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney stated when issuing the stay.

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The petitioners are asking the court for the immediate return of all original seized materials and any copies and detailed verifications as well as chain-of-custody documentation of how the records were handled.

"This flagrant constitutional violation compels immediate equitable relief from this Court," the motion states.

The county maintains that while it has acknowledged "innocent errors or inefficiencies" in the past, it has never admitted to intentional impropriety regarding the 2020 election.

FBI raid on Fulton County Election's headquarters

The backstory

On Jan. 28, 2026, the FBI executed an "unprecedented" raid on the Fulton County Elections Hub in Union City seizing nearly 700 boxes of 2020 election records

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Agents arrived south of Atlanta with a search warrant signed by Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas to seize the original copies of Fulton County's 2020 presidential election records.

The warrant covered all physical ballots, tabulator tapes, electronic ballot images from counts and recounts, and comprehensive voter rolls.

The search was notable for the presence of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, despite her lack of domestic law enforcement authority, which critics have called a "soft coup" attempt.

Click to open this PDF in a new window.

The investigation began with a referral from Kurt Olsen, a presidentially appointed official who previously advised on efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.

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The 23-page unsealed document focuses on "deficiencies or defects," including Fultons admission that it lacks images for all 528,777 ballots cast and claims that some ballots were scanned multiple times during the recount.

FBI Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans stated that even if the irregularities were not outcome-determinative, they could be federal violations if they were the result of "intentional action."

The NAACP and allied groups have asked a judge to restrict the use of seized voter data, specifically to bar it from being used for immigration enforcement or improper voter roll purges.

Hearing scheduled

What's next

An evidentiary hearing will be held on Feb. 27 at 9 a.m.

The Source

The details in this article come from federal court documents and previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting.
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida man was arrested after deputies said he broke into an SUV in a Publix parking lot and started smashing it with a hammer.

The Volusia County Sheriffs Office said a deputy caught 37-year-old Justin Allen in the SUV in the Ormond-by-the-Sea stores parking lot on Friday morning.

When confronted by a deputy, the sheriffs office said Allen claimed he was taking revenge on his exs car. However, the SUV belonged to a Publix employee.

Woman nearly drowned by stranger during violent, unprovoked attack at Florida beach: officials

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Allen was charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief over $1,000, possession of cocaine and paraphernalia.

The sheriffs office said Allen posted a $10,500 bond and was released the same day.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Thousands of students in Florida have walked out of schools to protest the Trump administration's aggressive immigration agenda, which has amped up in recent weeks nationwide after federal agents shot two U.S. citizens.

Throughout the Sunshine State, students have staged walkouts, a form of protest in which students plan a time to leave class. They're often focused on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

But these protests against ICE agents and the Trump administration have gone beyond schools: Women's groups and nurses also have left their jobs to join protesters on the streets. Reports of protests include Palm Beach to Sarasota to Duval counties and through the Big Bend.

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Free speech experts agree that public school students don't lose their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse steps, a key finding in a notable Supreme Court case, Tinker v. Des Moines. The decision in that case also emphasized that free speech limits do exist in schools, specifically if it limits a school's operations and mission.

Can students be disciplined for protesting?

Although students retain rights to free expression, the Supreme Court has said public school students can't disrupt school operations while protesting, according to guidance from the American Civil Liberties Union. And administrators can decide to punish students who walk out of school, but dont have to, said Kevin Goldberg, a First Amendment expert at the Freedom Forum.

But the First Amendment doesnt protect walkouts, since that can be considered disruptive under the Tinker case.

But if the school does discipline students who walk out, it needs to ensure that any punishment remains the same for students who walk out regardless of the issue, Goldberg said. That follows a legal doctrine called viewpoint neutrality, meaning that officials don't favor one side.

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Here's what students should know when walking out to protest in Florida:

Basically, if you have students walking out right now in a protest against ICE, and then next week, you have students walking out trying to protest that the government needs to do more to combat undocumented immigrants, then the school has to levy the same punishment on both, Goldberg said.

Do students have protest rights in schools?

Public school students do have rights to exercise free expression in schools, so long as its not disruptive to the learning environment or the schools operations, Goldberg said.

But private school students wouldnt have the same protections since private schools arent bound to the First Amendment.

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That means students in public schools can put up signs to the extent where signs are allowed, and they can hand out flyers or wear clothing expressing their belief on an issue  like pins or armbands.

What are state officials saying?

On Feb. 3, Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios "Stasi" Kamoutsas sent a letter to public school district superintendents echoing that students retain free expression rights, but that districts must ensure that protests don't interrupt instructional time and school operations.

The letter also said that administrators and teachers can't encourage, organize, promote or facilitate student participation in protests. It also encouraged teachers to talk to students about the "importance of not allowing civic engagement to detract from time in the classroom."

In Brevard County, school officials warned families that students would be punished if they participated in on-campus protests during the school day, citing code of conduct rules for disruption.

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At a press conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis Feb. 17, Kamoutsas called the walkouts across the nations "huge disruptions" that can pose student safety concerns.

Thank you for taking such a strong stance when it comes to the walkouts that are disrupting the learning environment here in our schools in Florida," Kamoutsas said to Brevard County school officials.

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Students in Florida are protesting ICE. What are their rights?
FRANKFORT, Ky.  Legislative sessions in Kentucky can get contentious. Ask anyone who followed the 2023 General Assembly, which brought out scores of opposition as anti-transgender legislation moved forward, or the 2018 session, defined by teacher protests at the Capitol.

By those standards, the 2026 General Assembly has been relatively quiet as we near the halfway point. In a Kentucky's Voice podcast appearance earlier in February, Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, said the session "kind of started slow" and has been "very warm, very feel-good" so far  "everybody's getting along, we're all working together."

But that doesn't mean there's been no tension or no proposed legislation that has drawn pushback. For instance, lawmakers are working to build the state's next two-year budget, which is certain to spur plenty of debate.

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That legislation, House Bill 500, is still in the works. In the meantime, here's a quick look at 10 other bills currently on the move that have drawn some controversy. While none have passed into law yet, legislators have until mid April to push their bills across the finish line.

Senate Bill 1: More power for JCPS superintendent

JCPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood during a January 14, 2026 meeting with principals about proposed budget cuts.

Sponsored by Sen. David Givens, R-Greensburg, Senate Bill 1 would lend more power to the superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentuckys largest public school district. The proposed bill outlines responsibilities of the superintendent and board of education, with control of daily operations in the hands of the superintendent, while the board would focus on long-term goals for the district.

The bill is nearly identical to a bill passed during the 2022 session, which was later struck down. Critics of the 2022 bill have said it moved power away from board members, who are elected by the public, and centralized it with the superintendent.

The 2022 bill was originally upheld by the state Supreme Court but was later overturned on a rehearing prompted by state Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine, who is now facing an impeachment petition over the vote.

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JCPS officials said they were not consulted by legislators about the new bill, and its passing would only reduce taxpayer accountability.

We are already confronting a projected $188 million deficit and demanding greater transparency, Jefferson County Board of Education Vice Chair James Craig said. Delegating even more unilateral authority to the superintendent than he has exercised in the past will not solve the root causes.

The bill passed through the Senate on a 29-7 vote on Feb. 2 and was sent to the Committee on Committees in the House.

Senate Bill 45: Override local control on working animals

Introduced by Sen. Robin Webb, R-Grayson, this proposed agritourism bill would expand current law to include the definition of agritourism activities to petting zoos, rodeos and activities of working animals. It would also prevent local governments from adopting or enforcing laws that would impose an undue burden or make an agritourism activity unreasonable or impractical, as long as it complies with local public health, zoning and safety laws.

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Animal control workers and advocates have raised concerns about the bill nullifying local regulations around animal welfare, saying the bill could allow animal owners to skirt local animal safety regulations by claiming it to be a working animal activity.

Senate Bill 45 passed 26-12 in the Senate and was received in the House on Feb. 13.

Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, presents Senate Bill 2 during a Senate Committee on Education meeting on Feb. 5, 2026. Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, presents House Bill 1 on the House floor on Feb. 24, 2026. From left to right, Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington; Rep. Marianne Proctor, R-Union; and Rep. Nancy Tate, R-Brandenburg, look over bills prior to the House floor proceedings on Feb. 13, 2026. Sen. Matt Nunn, R-Sadieville, presents Senate Bill 104, an act related to impeding a first responder during Senate proceedings on Feb. 19, 2026. House Speaker David Osborne presides over the Kentucky House at the Capitol in Frankfort as the 2026 General Assembly begins. Jan. 6, 2026. Members of the Kentucky House of Representatives gather at the Capitol in Frankfort as the 2026 General Assembly gets underway. Jan. 6, 2026 House Speaker David Osborne, left, speaks with Rep. Lindsey Burke at the Capitol in Frankfort as the 2026 General Assembly begins. Jan. 6, 2026. Senate President Robert Stivers speaks to members of the media at the Capitol in Frankfort after the Senate adjourns during the 2026 General Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Rep. Savannah Maddox, right, and Rep. Felicia Rabourn pose for a photo on the House floor at the Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., before the 2026 General Assembly gets underway on Jan. 6, 2026. Rep. Steven Rudy speaks on the House floor at the Capitol in Frankfort as the 2026 General Assembly gets underway on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Rep. Pamela Stevenson speaks on the House floor at the Capitol in Frankfort as the 2026 General Assembly gets underway on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. House Speaker David Osborne presides over the Kentucky House at the Capitol in Frankfort as the 2026 General Assembly begins. Jan. 6, 2026. Rep. Marianne Proctor takes photos on her phone as the 2026 General Assembly gets underway on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. House Speaker David Osborne and Rep. Pamela Stevenson share a hug on the House floor at the Capitol in Frankfort as the 2026 General Assembly begins Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Members of the Kentucky House of Representatives confer on the House floor at the Capitol in Frankfort as the 2026 General Assembly gets underway Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Rep. Lindsey Burke speaks on the House floor at the Capitol in Frankfort as the 2026 General Assembly gets underway on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Rep. Suzanne Miles shares a laugh on the House floor at the Capitol in Frankfort as the 2026 General Assembly gets underway on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Temporary House chambers at the State Capitol in Frankfort stand empty ahead of the 2026 General Assembly. The purpose-built facility houses both chambers during major renovations to the Capitol. Jan. 6, 2026. Temporary Senate chambers at the State Capitol in Frankfort stand empty ahead of the 2026 General Assembly. The purpose-built facility houses both chambers during major renovations to the Capitol. Jan. 6, 2026. The 2026 Kentucky General Assembly is underway. See photos from Frankfort 1 of 19 Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, presents Senate Bill 2 during a Senate Committee on Education meeting on Feb. 5, 2026.

Senate Bill 72: Allowing health care workers to decline procedures on moral or ethical standings

Introduced by Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, Senate Bill 72 is the latest iteration of a medical conscience bill, which would allow health care providers to refuse care based on sincerely held religious, moral or ethical principles. Douglas, a physician, framed the bill as a way to recruit and retain doctors in Kentucky, saying some providers fear losing positions or facing consequences for refusing to treat patients or perform actions that violate their ethical principles.

But Democrats within the Senate and advocacy groups say the bill would give health care workers the ability to deny care for those they dislike or disagree with. Several healthcare providers and LGBTQ activists testified while the bill was in committee, saying it opens vulnerable Kentuckians up to discrimination.

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The list of health care services that can be denied is so broad and its not an exhaustive list, but it includes testing, diagnosis, referral, even record keeping, Chris Hartman, director of the Fairness Campaign, said during the bills committee meeting. A receptionist could refuse to check in a patient wearing a MAGA hat.

A custodian could refuse to clean an interracial couple's room in the maternity ward or an unmarried mother, single mother, Hartman continued. A pharmacist could refuse to provide HIV prevention drugs.

Although similar medical conscience bills have been proposed in previous sessions and failed to pass, the concept is part of a national movement, with a similar bill proposed in South Dakota. A member of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a national and influential Christian legal group, sat with Douglas as he introduced the bill in its committee hearing, and the Family Foundation, a Christian advocacy group, has lent its support to the bill.

The bill passed 28-5 through the Senate on Feb. 13 and will be sent to the House.

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Senate Bill 104: Impeding first responders

Sponsored by Sen. Matt Nunn, R-Sadieville, Senate Bill 104 would create new guidelines and harsher penalties for harassing or impeding first responders, including firefighters, emergency medical services and police.

The proposed bill would require all citizens to remain 25 feet from first responders on a scene and to refrain from threatening or causing substantial emotional distress to responders. After a fourth warning, those violating the law could be hit with a Class D felony.

Although some lawmakers say the bill would not violate First Amendment rights or citizens' abilities to film law enforcement, some Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about the bill, especially in regard to filming Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Others said Kentuckys existing law regarding obstructing emergency responders is enough to protect both parties and failed to see a need for stricter penalties.

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The bill passed through committee and is heading to the Senate floor for a potential vote on Feb. 18.

House Bill 7: Exterior cameras on school buses

A Central High School student exits her school bus in March 2024. Pending legislation in Frankfort would allow cameras to be installed on buses to film their exteriors.

House Bill 7  put forward by Rep. David Hale, R-Wellington, and four bipartisan cosponsors  would allow school districts to install cameras on school buses to film instances in which other drivers bypass a stopped bus with its stop arm activated. Fines could be assessed by law enforcement against anyone found to have driven past a bus with its stop arm in use.

Supporters say the bill would help ensure students are able to safely get off their buses. In a committee hearing, Hale cited a survey that found about 1,300 violations occurred in a single day, according to bus drivers who were asked to track them. But critics have said the legislation could open the door for more cameras in public spaces, and several members of the House's Liberty wing voted against it on the chamber floor.

The bill was approved in the House on Feb. 9 on a 78-15 vote and has been sent to the Senate. Similar legislation has been proposed in the past but has never passed into law in Frankfort.

House Bill 103: Make water fluoride programs optional

House Bill 103 was filed by Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, and is backed by more than 30 Republican cosponsors. It would allow counties to opt out of water fluoridation programs, which are currently mandatory under state law.

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The bill has been proposed before and has repeatedly seen pushback from medical professionals who have noted that for decades Kentucky has ranked as one of the worst states for dental health. Hart and other supporters, meanwhile, have said fluoridation programs are an unfunded mandate on counties and have argued the state's poor marks on dental health are evidence fluoridation is not as effective as supporters say.

The legislation passed in the House on Feb. 5 on a 67-29 vote, with 11 Republicans joining Democrats in opposition.

House Bill 194: Cigar bars in Kentucky

State Rep. Chris Lewis, sponsor of House Bill 194, on the House floor in January 2025.

This session marks the second time Rep. Chris Lewis, R-Louisville, has put forward House Bill 194, which would allow smoking indoors at cigar bars if they meet certain qualifications.

Lewis and supporters  the bill has 10 other cosponsors, including a pair of Democrats  note the legislation would not allow smoking indoors at other businesses, such as restaurants, and would only permit smoking inside licensed locations with warnings to the public. Detractors, though, say it weakens local laws and could encourage young people to take up smoking.

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Lewis' bill passed 69-24 in the House on Feb. 3 and will head to the Senate. It was approved in the House in 2025 as well but was not brought to the floor in the other chamber during the 30-day session.

House Bill 312: Allow 18-year-olds to carry concealed firearms

Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, an influential voice in the Republican Party's Liberty wing, filed House Bill 312 to lower the age to be eligible to carry concealed firearms and other deadly weapons from 21 to 18. She was joined by 27 cosponsors.

For Maddox and supporters, current law is not in alignment with the Second Amendment, as people between 18 and 21 are recognized as adults but do not have rights offered to other adults. She noted while speaking on the House floor that the license requires a background check and training. But concerns were raised by those who oppose the bill about gun violence rates and the potential it could make the state less safe.

The bill passed in the House on Jan. 23 on a 73-17 vote and has not yet received a committee assignment in the Senate.

House Bill 314: Reorganizing KentuckyWired oversight

House Bill 314 is an effort from Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, and a half dozen cosponsors to reorganize management of the KentuckyWired broadband network, putting oversight in the hands of Commonwealth Office of Technology instead of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority.

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The cost of launching KentuckyWired skyrocketed past initial expectations during its implementation and has been heavily criticized. Lockett's bill drew support from lawmakers frustrated with the project's trajectory, but others gave pause at cutting out the state's Finance and Administration Cabinet.

The bill passed 80-13 in the House on Feb. 2 and has been sent to the Senate.

House Bill 526: Bar association membership optional

House Bill 526 was filed by Doan, a Northern Kentucky lawyer, with seven other Republican cosponsors. The bill would give Kentucky attorneys the ability to practice law without joining the Kentucky Bar Association or similar groups, leaving discipline and governance in the hands of the state Supreme Court.

Supporters have said bar association membership fees can be too expensive for lawyers and believe the Kentucky Supreme Court is equipped to handle any issues, noting several other states work under similar models. But critics of the bill, such as Todd McMurtry, president of the Kentucky Bar Association, have argued it could gut a vital organization for thousands of attorneys and would lead to additional fees.

The bill passed in the state House on a 70-21 vote on Feb. 13 and is pending in the Senate.

Tell us what you think. Submit your letter to the editor.

Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com. Reach Keely Doll at kdoll@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 10 controversial bills advancing in Kentucky legislature in 2026
Democratic state senators pursuit of new barriers to Washingtons initiative process ended quietly Tuesday.

Senate Bill 5973, dubbed the initiative-killer by opponents, lapsed when it did not get passed by a 5 p.m. deadline for action on non-budget bills.

Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, the bills prime sponsor, and Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, each cited unresolved concerns from many corners, including other senators and Gov. Bob Ferguson, as the reason for the controversial legislations demise.

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Obviously, Im disappointed. Im trying to remain positive, Valdez said. Im encouraged that a lot of them still wanted to have the discussion. Well roll up our sleeves in the interim and hope to bring back another version in 2027.

The bill would have barred paying a person for each signature they collect on initiative petitions and allowed legal action against those suspected of violations. It also would have added a new step by requiring a person, when starting the process, to submit signatures of 1,000 registered voters to show support for their proposal. An identical House bill died in January.

To qualify an initiative for the ballot or send it to the Legislature to consider requires thousands of signatures  386,000 currently, after factoring in a buffer for signatures that get rejected.

Opponents argued the new restrictions would have impeded voters ability to engage in the process.

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Two critics  the secretary of state and the leader of the conservative political committee behind two ballot-bound measures this year  applauded Tuesdays news.

This is a hard-earned victory protecting one of the few tools voters have left to fight against an otherwise unchecked legislature, said Brian Heywood, the hedge fund manager who founded Lets Go Washington. The bills proposed penalties would have chilled participation in the signature gathering process, he said.

Valdez saw the legislation as a stride toward restoring integrity to a form of direct democracy that he said has been co-opted by large financial forces. Anyone with enough money to bankroll their way through the initiative qualifying process can force statewide votes on any issue thats personal to them, he said at a public hearing.

The debate seemed to be a thinly-veiled swipe at Lets Go Washington, which has proven adept at advancing ballot measures  even if they dont always pass.

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Two years ago, the group, largely underwritten with Heywoods millions, sent six initiatives to the Legislature, each aiming to repeal or revise a major policy supported by Democrats. Lawmakers adopted three and voters rejected the other three.

Two more dealing with parental rights and transgender athletes will be on the ballot in November.

The attempt by the Legislature to kneecap the peoples initiative process was both shameless and arrogant, Heywood said.

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs struck a more measured tone. In public hearings, he recounted his offices efforts to curtail frivolous filings of initiatives. If theres concern with misbehaving signature gatherers, increase penalties for breaking the law, he said.

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We cannot allow partisanship to distract us from what should be our ultimate goal: Protecting citizens rights to directly participate in our democracy, he said in a statement. Washingtonians who came before us found this right so foundational, it is enshrined in our state constitution.

Reporter Jake Goldstein-Street contributed to this report.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Some Republican legislators are looking to restrict their states' ability to set environmental regulations, a move that comes as President Donald Trump s administration pushes to roll back environmental rules on power plants, water and greenhouse gases.

The Alabama Legislature on Tuesday approved legislation backed by business groups that would prevent state agencies from setting restrictions on pollutants and hazardous substances exceeding those set by the federal government. In areas where no federal standard exists, the state could adopt new rules only if there is a direct causal link between exposure to harmful emissions and manifest bodily harm to humans.

Supporters said the Alabama measure would ground standards in sound science and prevent regulatory overreach. Environmental groups said it would cripple the states ability to respond to environmental or health risks, including a group of chemicals known as PFAS, or forever chemicals, that has contaminated swaths of the South.

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Sarah Stokes, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, said the bill sets an "impossible hurdle" for state regulations since the bill specifies that an increased risk of disease is not enough to demonstrate harm to humans.

Its a blank check to businesses. Were basically sacrificing human health for businesses," Stokes said. That doesnt seem like the best calculation for our citizens.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and business groups supported the legislation, and the bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Donnie Chesteen, told a legislative committee this month that his bill is a pro-business piece of legislation.

If were going to be able to compete with states in the Southeast to attract and bring some of these businesses in, then we need to have these standards adopted so that its clearly defined what our companies are working with, Chesteen said. Supporters also argued the bill follows Trumps deregulatory agenda.

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This does not remove the use of sound science and legitimate science, Republican Rep. Troy Stubbs said during debate. What it does is protect Alabama and the people of Alabama from runaway government that can become overly burdensome and regulatory to a point that it drives the cost of living way up.

Stubbs disputed that it would weaken existing rules, saying current state regulations would stay in place. However, the environmental lawyer Stokes said she is concerned that businesses could use it as a basis to challenge existing rules.

The measure is the latest effort to restrict state-level environmental regulations. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order last year saying Indiana cant have new environmental rules stricter than federal ones unless deemed necessary by state law or the governor. Tennessee lawmakers last year passed legislation requiring any regulations that are more stringent than federal regulations to be based on links to manifest bodily harm in humans.

Stokes said the Alabama proposal goes further than the Tennessee law. A similar bill has been introduced in Utah.

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Stokes said the Alabama legislation was introduced after advocacy groups persuaded the Alabama Environmental Management Commission to consider updating state standards for arsenic and cyanide and 11 other toxic pollutants.

Cara Horowitz, an environmental law professor and executive director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law, said the legislation would prevent state agencies from making independent decisions about how much to protect public health from things like water pollution, air pollution, and toxics.

Alabama could adopt its own pollution standard only where the states rationale for doing so relies on a very particular kind of science," Horowitz wrote in an email. Alabama could not rely, for example, on studies showing a correlation between pollution exposure and an increased risk of disease.

The bill also bars agencies from using the EPAs Integrated Risk Information System, which characterizes the health hazards of chemicals found in the environment, as the default basis for water quality standards. A lobbying group for the chemical industry has criticized the system as overly burdensome and scientifically flawed.

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Democrats in the Alabama Legislature spoke against the bill for two hours until GOP lawmakers voted to end debate and force a vote.

Democratic Rep. Chris England said the bill turns Alabama residents into test subjects. We are a petri dish for businesses to do as they will until they kill people, England said.

Rep. Neil Rafferty, also a Democrat, said the bill is defining sound science just to gut our ability to use it to drive science-based and data-driven policy.

The state House of Representatives voted 88-34 for the bill, which now goes to Republican Gov. Kay Ivey. A spokeswoman for Ivey did not have an immediate comment on the bill.
FOND DU LAC  The county's only primary election Feb. 17 was the Town of Fond du Lac Board Supervisor 1 seat between three candidates.

According to the unofficial election summary, Matt Newton received the most votes at 80, followed by Scott Blamey with 47 votes. The two will appear on the ballot for the April 7 election.

The third candidate, Lisa Rolfe, received 33 votes.

Here's who else will appear on this spring's ballot.

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Read more: Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing opens with 1,029 caught

Major local races are school, community leaders

In April's election, five people are running for four open seats on Fond du Lac City Council: incumbents Antonio Godfrey Sr., Angela Luehring and Brett Zimmerman, plus newcomers Andrea Mayweather and Joseph Biber.

Katie Moder will run for reelection for one of two spots on the Fond du Lac School District Board of Educators, alongside Antonio Godfrey Sr. and Luke Tranel, according to the Fond du Lac School District website.

Though all Fond du Lac County Board seats are up for election this year, two are contested. Incumbent Thomas Dornbrook will face Deborah Senn in District 9, and in District 12, incumbent Dennis Stenz will face James V. Sippel.

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Best fish fry: Where's the best place for a fish fry in the Fond du Lac area?

Two school districts have referendums

Fond du Lac and Oakfield school districts have operational referendums for the spring election, asking voters to authorize exceeding their revenue limits so they can continue offering certain programs, maintain their buildings and more.

Fond du Lac's wording reads as follows: "Shall the Fond du Lac School District, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $7,500,000 per year for four years, beginning with 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses, security upgrades, staff compensation and educational programming?"

Several information sessions invite the community to learn more about the referendum:

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5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Fond du Lac High School, 801 Campus Drive;

5 p.m. March 4 at Theisen Middle School, 525 E. Pioneer Road;

5:30 p.m. March 10 at Fond du Lac High School;

5 p.m. March 16 at Fond du Lac High School; and

5:30 p.m. March 24 with Envision Greater Fond du Lac at Lakeside Park Pavilion, 71 Promen Drive.

Oakfield's question reads as follows: "Shall the Oakfield School District be authorized to exceed state revenue limits on a non-recurring basis by $700,000.00 for the 2026-27 school year, $925,000.00 for the 2027-28 school year, $1,275,000.00 for the 2028-29 school year, and $1,375,000.00 for the 2029-30 school year to maintain School District programs and operations?"

Upcoming informal community conversations with school board members and district leaders include the following:

9 to 10 a.m. Feb. 27 at Oakfield Community Center, 130 N. Main St.;

5 to 6 p.m. March 10 at Guido's, N3041 State 175;

Noon to 1 p.m. March 12 at Katy's Log Cabin, 210 N. Main St.;

Noon to 1 p.m. March 13 at Lori's Bar & Grill, W8147 County Y; and

6 to 7 p.m. March 16 at Oakfield Middle/High School, 250 E. Church St.

Other contested county races include town, school district boards

The city of Ripon has two candidates for mayor, John L. Sullivan and Theodore Q. Grant, as well as two candidates for District 4 alderperson: Luke Dretske and Douglas S. Iverson.

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The town of Taycheedah has two seats for town board supervisor, with candidates John Abler, Christopher Johnson, James A. Rosenthal and Brian Costello.

The village of Brandon has two seats for village trustee, with candidates David Charlie Blank, Kurt Krohn and Jack Meyer.

The village of Oakfield has three seats for village trustee, with candidates Chris Cook, Michael Merk, Chase Casey and Al Kamenski.

The village of Rosendale has three seats for village trustee, with candidates Chad Kohlmann, Jared Marchant, Keegan Madigan and Jeremy Giebel.

The village of St. Cloud has three seats for village trustee, with candidates Laurie Sippel, Carter King, Adam Puetz, David Schry and Ryan Birschbach.

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The Rosendale-Brandon School District has three candidates running for two seats to represent the Rosendale area: Stephanie Dahlke, Matt Morgan and Abby Pluim.

Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac County April 7 election  races and referendums to follow
Plans for Ford Motor Companys massive West Tennessee campus have changed significantly since the automaker announced its $5.6 billion investment in a manufacturing hub meant to produce next-generation electric pickup trucks and batteries in 2021.

Four years and a few production delays later, Ford jettisoned the electric idea in favor of building gas-powered models. The business case for EV manufacturing eroded due to lower-than-expected demand, high costs and regulatory changes, the company stated in December.

But Ford still intends to honor its commitments to the state, according to a company spokesperson, including promises to create roughly 5,800 jobs at the BlueOval City site in exchange for a $900 million state-sponsored incentives package.

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Heres what to know.

Electric vehicle plans fizzle but battery plant will continue

Original plans for the BlueOval City campus included a manufacturing facility for Fords EV pickup truck and a battery plant owned and operated by BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford and South Korean battery manufacturer SK On.

The initial goal for EV production was 2025, but the start date was pushed back twice over the last two years as the electric vehicle market shifted, influenced in part by political turbulence during President Donald Trumps second administration, which quickly targeted Biden-era incentives for clean energy and electric vehicles.

Ford and SK On announced plans to end their joint venture in December shortly before Ford announced its pivot to gas-powered trucks at the Tennessee campus.

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While the transaction is pending, the companies agreement states SK On will own and operate the battery plant on the BlueOval City campus. In the meantime, the facility is still managed by BlueOval SK.

BlueOval SK currently employs around 300 people in Tennessee and construction at the plant is complete, though the facility has not started production, a BlueOval SK spokesperson said.

Early projections indicated that as many as 3,500 people could work at the battery plant.

Ford Motor Companys BlueOval City is under construction in West Tennessee. (Map: U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office)

Once the transition is final  regulatory approvals are expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2026  SK On will work with BlueOval SK to transition employees, according to SK On spokesperson Joe Guy Collier.

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The plant will manufacture batteries for Ford under a supply agreement and SK On plans to supply batteries to other customers, including for use in energy storage systems.

SK On is committed to establishing the Tennessee facility as a cornerstone of its expanding U.S. advanced battery manufacturing capabilities and production, Collier said.

Commercial production at the battery plant is now expected to begin in 2028.

Tennessee Truck Plant targets 2029 production

The newly branded Tennessee Truck Plant (formerly the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center) is expected to begin production on gas-powered Built Ford Tough truck models in 2029, according to a spokesperson.

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Ford employed 80 people at its facility as of mid-December, Ford spokesperson Jessica Enoch told the Lookout on Dec. 17.

The company anticipates employing about 2,300 people there, with significant hiring to begin closer to the start of production.

An empty field lies next to the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center at Fords BlueOval City campus in Stanton, Tenn. on June 5, 2025. (Photo: Cassandra Stephenson/Tennessee Lookout)

Equipment will be installed at the plant to support gas-powered truck assembly.

Ford remains deeply committed to West Tennessee and our substantial investments in the region, the spokesperson stated. Our agreements are designed to foster long-term economic growth and job creation, and our strategy shift is intended to ensure the sustained viability of these facilities and the jobs they create.

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We are in close communication with state and local officials to review our revised plans and ensure full compliance with all existing agreements, the spokesperson stated.

Whats on the line

State and local lawmakers have lauded the campus and the employment opportunities that come with it as transformational for rural West Tennessee.

Fords 2021 agreement with the state requires the company and the BlueOval SK joint venture to create at least 90% of the total 5,800 jobs within 10 years. Meeting that mark secures Ford and BlueOval SK a $500 million state reimbursement for construction work.

Failing to reach 80% of the promised jobs by 2032 would trigger a clawback requirement forcing the company to pay back that $500 million in addition to $175 million, based on the value of the states donated land.

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Other state contributions include:

$200 million to build a road interchange

$138 million for water treatment facilities and a wastewater line to the Mississippi River

$5 million for local government consulting

The state also agreed to pay for a new $60 million extension campus for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology located down the road in Stanton to help train future employees of the massive industrial complex. The campus opened in summer 2024.

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Stanton is just down the road from Fords BlueOval City campus. (Photo: Cassandra Stephenson)

Tennessee legislators also earmarked $725,000 to create an 11-member Megasite Authority of West Tennessee to handle development of the BlueOval City site and an additional 300 acres under state control.

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Megasite Authority of West Tennessee CEO Clay Bright told state lawmakers in February that the authority is working with the Tennessee Power Distribution Company to plan a natural gas-powered plant on a parcel of the remaining land that would provide power to West Tennessee when demand peaks. The authority is currently leasing about 300 acres to a farmer, but is working with state and local economic development officials to find the highest and best use for the property.

Separately, Ford pledged to invest $9 million in West Tennessee communities surrounding the campus in a Good Neighbor Plan released in January 2025. A coalition of community members has criticized the package for lacking legally binding accountability measures.

Bright told lawmakers that the state has met all of its commitments to Ford, including the road work needed for Fords first phase of the project, water supply and the wastewater treatment plant.

Bright indicated that the states agreement with Ford and BlueOval SK may be refined a little bit after the joint venture is dissolved and sole battery plant ownership transfers to SK On, but the details, the intent of that accountability agreement  has not changed at all.

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In a February House committee meeting, Rep. Johnny Shaw, a Bolivar Democrat, said Ford has been very active in returning calls.

I really think they are here to stay, Shaw said. I dont see them leaving soon after building that size building and all the investments theyve made.

What about TCATs Stanton campus?

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Stanton offers five programs related to automotive technology and manufacturing. (Photo: Cassandra Stephenson)

TCATs Stanton campus  an extension of TCAT Jackson  serves as a workforce training center for the BlueOval City campus and surrounding businesses, but extends open enrollment for anyone interested in the programs offered there.

Those programs include:

Automotive Technology

Electric Vehicle Production Technology

Industrial Maintenance Integrated Automation

Tool and Die Machining Technology

Welding Technology

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We do have students enrolled in those programs and we are continuously enrolling in them, TCAT Jackson President JacQuene Rainey said.

The college is considering the future of its electric vehicle program following Fords shift to combustion engine manufacturing at BlueOval City.

We are looking at the EV Production Technology program and trying to determine if there is still a need for it, Rainey said. If there is interest in the program, we will continue to offer (it).

A Ford spokesperson said many of the core manufacturing skills acquired through EV training programs, such as advanced assembly, robotics operation, quality control and lean manufacturing principles, are highly transferable to the production of gas vehicles.

The company will provide additional training for its future workforce to ensure everyone has the necessary expertise for the new product lines, the spokesperson said.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A former Birmingham firefighters family said it is struggling to get by after 18 years of service to the community.

Jason Mahaffey was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 2018, leaving him unable to work. Because of Alabama laws, Mahaffeys pension has been cut in half, and he doesnt receive Social Security checks.

Mahaffey said he spent a majority of his career at Birmingham Fire Station No. 16. Its where his wife said his health problems started. Parkinsons forced him to retire. Alabama is a state that doesnt recognize the disease as an on-the-job injury, meaning Mahaffey only receives half of the benefits he was expecting.

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April Mahaffey and her former firefighter husband have been quietly fighting a battle for the last three years.

Im definitely not spending my 50s the way I thought Id be spent in my 50s, April said. He should be captain. He would be captain right now. I know you would be captain right now. Hands down.

Birmingham leaders remember legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson

Parkinsons disease has taken over Jasons mind and body.

He described it as hes got a wetsuit on thats too small and dry, and hes trying to walk. Thats how he used to describe it, April said. He doesnt really describe it anymore. He just, I mean, can you imagine your body not doing what you tell it to do?

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April said Jasons family has no history of Parkinsons. She said doctors have told her chemicals he was exposed to while being a firefighter can cause the disease. Jason was forced to retire just two years short of receiving his pension.

We took a 75% pay cut, April said. I want to give Jason what he deserves, and he likes going out to eat. We cant do that anymore. He likes his new shoes. We cant get him shoes no more. You know what I mean? And I know that sounds silly, but its truth.

There is hope for the Mahaffeys. It comes in the form of proposed legislation from state Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris.

The proposed bill would add Parkinsons to the the list of occupational hazards and allow Jason to receive full disability benefits. The bill was first proposed last year.

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The bill passed last year at the House and was waiting up in the Senate when things ended, and it did not make it to final passage, Treadaway said.

Sarah Marsh Heavens 27 Camp Safety Act passes Alabama House

Treadaway said hes hopeful the bill pass this session and be able to help Jason.

Theres firefighters out there that deserve to be compensated when theyre disabled because of an on-the-job hazard, and thats the case here, Treadaway said. Again, weve for years have sent these firefighters in very dangerous situations, not knowing that they were coming in contact with toxins and chemicals that were detrimental to their health. When we find that out, we should be able to go back and correct it, right?

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April said for the familys sake, it needs the bill to pass.

Its going to pass. Its got to pass, April said. It needs to pass, I mean, in for all firefighters. Anything that they can possibly come in contact with, they need to be covered. There doesnt need to be a question.

Treadaway said he has placed the bill back on the floor to be voted on in this session.

The Mahaffey family is asking people to reach out to their local lawmakers and voice support for the bill. A list of state representatives can be found here. A list of state senators can be found here.

To donate to Jason and April Mahaffey, click here.

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You can contact the CBS 42 Your Voice Your Station hotline by sending an email to yourvoice@cbs42.com or calling 205-488-4128.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Action News Jax Ben Becker has learned that four Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department firefighters arrested on misdemeanor criminal mischief charges have now been reassigned following a criminal investigation into paintball guns being fired in Downtown Jacksonville.

The transfers come with a pay reduction and remove the firefighters from the Special Operations Team at Fire Station 4 for a minimum of one year. A fifth firefighter, who was not arrested, has been suspended without pay for 72 hours.

Becker first reported in January, the arrests by the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office.

The Firefighters Arrested

Engineer Landon T. Simmons, 30

Engineer Wesley P. Parker, 32

Engineer Tristen C. Harrison, 25

Firefighter Colby B. Lesage, 23

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All four face misdemeanor criminal mischief charges in connection to a December incident involving shooting paintball guns at property, civilians, and a JSO cruiser. They have all pleaded not-guilty.

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French President Emmanuel Macron began his three-day state visit in Mumbai by honouring the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and meeting Bollywood stars, before kicking off talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In todays turbulent world, this is a partnership for global stability, Prime Minister Modi said after their meeting, with both heads of state referring to each other as their "dear friend" in statements on social media.

President Macron praised what he called a remarkable acceleration in bilateral ties in response to the changing international order, adding that both countries did not want to be subjected to any form of hegemony.

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Macron in India to expand defence, trade ties beyond US and China

This is Macrons fourth trip to India since taking office in 2017. He is accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron.

'Contract of the century'

Defence remains at the heart of the relationship. Indian authorities recently cleared the proposed purchase of 114 additional Rafale fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation in a deal estimated at around 30 billion.

Christophe Jaffrelot, an India specialist at Sciences Po Center for International Studies in Paris, has described the potential deal as the contract of the century.

However, negotiations over technical and commercial details are ongoing, particularly surrounding domestic production.

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An Indian defence ministry statement indicated that the majority of the aircraft would be manufactured in India. If finalised, the agreement would add to the 62 Rafales already acquired by India.

India signs multi-billion-dollar deal with France for 26 Rafale jets

India, the worlds largest arms importer, also announced a 15 percent increase in military spending to 71 billion earlier this month, reinforcing its position as a key market for French defence firms.

The two leaders also inaugurated, via videoconference, a helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, in the southern state of Karnataka near tech hub of Bengaluru. The joint venture between Indias Tata Group and Airbus will manufacture the Airbus H125, the companys best-selling single-engine helicopter.

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Among sensitive geopolitical issues discussed was Ukraine. India has not condemned Russias 2022 invasion and has continued buying oil from Moscow. Macron urged Indian support for an immediate and lasting moratorium on attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, as Russian and Ukrainian negotiators opened US-brokered talks in Geneva on Tuesday

President Macron will be in New Delhi on Wednesday and Thursday for an artificial intelligence summit hosted by PM Modi.

(with newswires)
Anne-Claire Legendre, a 46-year-old diplomat who advises President Emmanuel Macron on North Africa and the Middle East, was put forward on Tuesday by Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to become the first woman to head the institute. She would replace Lang, 86, a former culture minister who had led the organisation for 13 years.

The institute's board of directors  made up equally of Arab ambassadors and figures chosen by the French foreign ministry  was expected to confirm the appointment.

Founded in 1980 through an agreement between France and the 22 member states of the Arab League, the IMA serves as both a museum and a cultural centre dedicated to Arab history, art and language.

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"The aim was to present the Arab world to a French public that did not know it well enough," Gilles Gauthier, a former French ambassador and adviser to Lang, told RFI, adding that the IMA reflects France's long-standing cultural and diplomatic ties with the region.

"France exists in the Middle East through its culture, through its language, and so that was the basis for a policy on the Arab world."

The institute stands on the banks of the Seine in central Paris, near Notre-Dame cathedral. Its modern facade of glass and metal is covered with geometric moucharabieh patterns  delicate designs inspired by traditional Arab screens used to filter sunlight.

Gazas ancient past revealed as artefacts survive destruction and exile

A front-line diplomat

Legendre has worked in the diplomatic unit of the Elysee Palace as an adviser to Macron since 2023. She previously served as Frances ambassador to Kuwait and as spokesperson for the foreign ministry.

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In 2016 Legendre became the first woman to serve as Frances consul in New York, a post she held for four years. Fluent in Arabic, she studied the language at Inalco, the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations, and holds degrees from Sciences Po and the Sorbonne.

An ambassador who sits on the IMA's board of directors told the French news agency AFP that Legendre was competent, substantial and committed, with a sharp knowledge of every country in the Arab world, whether in the Maghreb or the Middle East.

Her diplomatic work has included responding to Russian disinformation campaigns while serving as foreign ministry spokesperson. She also travelled to Algiers in March 2025 to meet Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in an attempt to ease tensions between France and Algeria.

More than a museum

For the French state, the IMA occupies a special place among cultural institutions because its funding comes from the foreign ministry rather than the culture ministry. It hosts exhibitions, concerts, debates and educational programmes focused on the Arab world.

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It is becoming a centre for reflection, creation and intellectual relations between the Arab world and France, and even beyond, Europe, Gauthier explained. It is the only institution of this kind in Europe.

The institute, he added, plays a role in long-term cultural diplomacy rather than day-to-day foreign policy. It is not about resolving crises or daily diplomatic action. It is about participating in this strong cultural and human relationship. It is a tool for dialogue.

Despite its ambitions, the institute faces financial challenges.

A 2024 report by the Court of Auditors, Frances public spending watchdog, found that Arab countries expected to contribute 40 percent of the operating budget had stopped paying  leaving the French state subsidy as the main source of funding.

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There was a misunderstanding at the start, Gauthier told RFI, explaining that some Gulf countries were more familiar with a model where a single large contribution is invested and generates annual income. But it did not work that way.

However Arab countries still support the institute through specific projects and exhibitions. Saudi Arabia helped finance an exhibition on Al-Ula, while Kuwait funded the renovation of the institutes library.

Under Lang, the number of exhibitions increased considerably, Gauthier said, adding that the institute expanded work on Arabic language learning and organised more conferences requiring simultaneous translation.

Revolution and the arts: how Picasso inspired the Arab world

'Identity of millions'

Hakim El Karoui, founder of the Action Committee for the Mediterranean think tank, wrote in a column published in the daily Le Monde that the institute should become not just an outward-facing showcase, but the beating heart of Franco-Arab culture in France.

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The issue, he said, was no longer only Frances view of the Arab world but also the identity of millions of French people whose history and culture are linked to it.

Gauthier agreed the IMA should also engage with Frances communities with roots in the Arab world, while maintaining its original mission.

We must make the most of the existence of these significant minorities from the Arab world in our dialogue with the Arab world, he said, warning against shifting the focus too far inward.

The Institut du Monde Arabe must not focus mainly on France. That is not the objective.

This article used material from this version in French
France's far-right leader Jordan Bardella on Wednesday accused President Emmanuel Macron and his allies of helping strengthen the hard-left as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed shock at the fatal beating of a far-right activist blamed on the ultra left.

Quentin Deranque, 23, died after sustaining a severe brain injury when he was attacked by at least six people last week. The attack happened on the sidelines of a far-right protest against a hard-left politician speaking at a university in the southeastern city of Lyon.

The incident has fuelled tension between France's far right and hard left ahead of municipal elections in March and the 2027 presidential race, in which the far-right National Rally (RN) party is seen as having its best chance yet at winning the top job.

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RN head Jordan Bardella, 30, accused Macron and high-profile centrist politicians former prime ministers Gabriel Attal and Edouard Philippe of having "opened the doors of the National Assembly to the worst thugs of the far left."

"The president bears moral and political responsibility for the institutionalisation of the far left and extreme left, particularly in the National Assembly," he said.

In snap parliamentary polls in 2024, Macron's supporters and the left, including the hard-left, had allied against the far right, in a strategy called "cordon sanitaire" (which roughly translates as "protective barrier") aimed at barring the extreme right from power.

Seeking to turn the tables on his rivals, Bardella called for the creation of "a cordon sanitaire" to isolate the LFI and "keep it away from institutions, whether in the National Assembly, where its deputies sit on numerous committees, or in view of the upcoming municipal elections."

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- 'Wound for all of Europe' -

In Italy, Meloni, the leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, said the killing of Deranque "shocks and deeply saddens us."

"The death of a boy just over 20 years old, attacked by groups linked to left-wing extremism and overwhelmed by a climate of ideological hatred that is sweeping across several nations, is a wound for all of Europe," she said on social media.

Earlier Wednesday, socialist lawmaker and former president Francois Hollande was the latest left-wing politician to reject another alliance with LFI.

"For municipal elections, there can be no alliance between the Socialists or parties of the reformist left and LFI in the second round, that's clear," he told broadcaster BFMTV.

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While the government has singled out the LFI and an anti-fascist youth group called La Jeune Garde (Young Guard), prosecutors have declined to comment on those claims, only specifying the incident was being investigated as a voluntary homicide and aggravated assault.

LFI party members say they have received threatening messages since Deranque's death.

"Since the tragedy in Lyon, I've been receiving a flood of racist insults and death threats," said Lahouaria Addouche, who is running for mayor in Lille.

The national headquarters of LFI had to be evacuated following a bomb threat, party coordinator Manuel Bompard said on X, before the building was declared safe.

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South of Paris, a 28-year-old far-right activist was arrested after social media threats, including of decapitation, against one Socialist and two LFI candidates, the prosecutor in the town of Auxerre said.

- Parliament assistant fired -

On Wednesday, Lyon's prosecutor, Thierry Dran, announced the latest arrests related to Deranque's death.

A man suspected of having a direct link to the violence, and his partner, suspected of having helped him evade justice, were taken into custody as part of the investigation for "intentional homicide", Dran said.

Six of the other detainees are suspected of having participated in the beating and three of having helped them, a source following the case said.

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An assistant to Raphael Arnault, a member of parliament from LFI, was among the first four detained, the source said.

Arnault said he was firing the assistant.

An anti-immigration collective called Nemesis said Deranque had been at the protest in Lyon to protect its members.

Nemesis has blamed the killing on La Jeune Garde co-founded by Arnault before he was elected to parliament.

video-chp-ah-gbh-as/gv
The left-wing party France Unbowed (LFI) said on Wednesday that it had evacuated its headquarters in Paris following a bomb threat.

The party said police were on site and all employees and activists were safe.

The party has come under pressure following the violent death of a right-wing activist. It emerged on Tuesday evening that a parliamentary assistant to an LFI lawmaker was among the suspects arrested following the death of the activist on the fringes of one of his election campaign events.

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The French government spokeswoman demanded the temporary withdrawal of the lawmaker for whom the assistant worked. The far-right National Rally party has called for their resignation.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the left-wing party ranks should be "tidied up - and quickly."

LFI lawmaker Paul Vannier described the critics as "irresponsible arsonists," and said that all those who "slander" his party "are responsible for the wave of violence" of which his party is the victim.

Conservative and far-right politicians suspect that a radical left-wing gang with links to the LFI beat the activist to death on the fringes of a right-wing protest against the appearance of LFI Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Rima Hassan in Lyon.

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The incident is fuelling political tensions in France one month before the local elections there.

The public prosecutor's office confirmed to dpa that 11 suspects have now been arrested in connection with the killing.
Francisco DAgostino, a Venezuelan businessman once sanctioned by the United States for helping Caracas evade oil restrictions, maintained a close relationship with disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein, pitching business deals, offering political intelligence and proposing introductions to some of Venezuelas most powerful figures, newly released records show.

Emails made public by the U.S. Justice Department reveal that DAgostino  brother-in-law of veteran opposition leader Henry Ramos Allup  communicated frequently with Epstein beginning in 2012, as Venezuela grappled with uncertainty over President Hugo Chavezs declining health  and after Epstein had been arrested on state felony charges of procuring a minor for prostitution and solicitation of a prostitute.

The correspondence shows DAgostino positioning himself as a bridge between Epstein and Venezuelas political and financial elite between 2012 and 2018, before Washington imposed sweeping sanctions on the countrys oil industry.

A fun friendship

The relationship appears to have begun after DAgostino visited Epsteins private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, later central to federal sex-trafficking allegations against the financier.

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I had so much fun in Little St. Jeffrey, DAgostino wrote in an Oct. 2, 2012, email. The water gazelle is really stunning... what a beautiful and smart girl. Anyway, I enjoyed very much talking to you and would love to continue to explore the different possibilities to make some money together I see the beginning of a fun longlasting friendship. One of the documents did not redact the name of the person DAgostino was referring to, but the Miami Herald withheld the womans name. The names of several Epstein victims have appeared unredacted in the documents made public so far.

Epstein responded warmly in subsequent exchanges and sought DAgostinos advice as Venezuela entered a politically fragile moment.

In December 2012, with Chavez battling cancer in Cuba, DAgostino offered blunt political analysis.

It seems very accurate that Chavez has about 6 months left or less, he wrote, noting that the constitution would require elections within 30 days of the presidents death. I think there is a very high probability that someone from the Chavez movement, but less radical will win the elections.

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Chavez died on March 5, 2013. His successor, Nicolas Maduro, narrowly won the following months presidential vote in an election the opposition heavily denounced as fraudulent.

DAgostino also visited Epstein in New York several times throughout the years, according to emails between the two as well as schedules sent to Epstein shared in the trove of documents.

On Oct. 12, 2012, Epstein wrote to DAgostino, ah [redacted] I will see if she is can stay tomorw and appears to attach a photo of a woman, whose face has been redacted, wearing lingerie.

Jeffrey Epstein sits on a plane next to a woman whose face is blacked out in this undated photo released by the late financiers estate to the House Oversight Committee, which made additional documents public on Dec. 18, 2025. House Oversight Committee

Later, in 2013, DAgostino sent Epstein an email that in part says I want to take [redacted] to Los Roques. Is that cool with you?

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DAgostino also sent Epstein a colorful New Years Eve message in 2013 I hope the three magic kings arrive for you, he wrote, followed by : FucKING DrinKING And SmoKING.

Screenshot of e-mail correspondence between Jeffrey Epstein and Francisco DAgostino, included in the Department of Justices release of the Epstein files.

Oil, bonds and political access

At the same time, DAgostino advised Epstein on potential investments in bonds issued by Venezuelas state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, PDVSA. Beginning in 2012, Epstein purchased at least $4.5 million in PDVSA bonds set to mature in 2015  just as Venezuelas oil revenues were beginning a steep decline.

Over 2014 and 2015, the countrys oil revenues fell roughly 40%, according to public data, amid collapsing global prices, rising corruption and plunging production.

In another email, DAgostino outlined a series of introductions he could arrange for Epstein during a proposed trip to Venezuela  a list that reads like a cross-section of the countrys power structure at the height of Chavezs influence.

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He proposed meetings with Baldo Sanso, described as a financial advisor to PDVSA and brother-in-law of thenoil minister Rafael Ramirez; General Alejandro Andrade, head of Venezuelas treasury and a close Chavez ally; and Jorge Hernandez, whom he characterized as one of Chavez closest friends.

He also mentioned Yuchi Chen, described as the Chinese governments representative in Venezuela overseeing bilateral agreements  a key role at a time when Beijing was extending billions of dollars in oil-backed loans to Caracas.

Beyond political insiders, DAgostino suggested introductions to major private-sector figures, including telecom executives Eduardo Stigol of Intercable and Oswaldo Cisneros of Digitel  whom he described as probably the wealthiest Venezuelan  as well as banker Jose Maria Nogueroles, owner of BNC, the institution DAgostino indicated they were interested in acquiring.

He also highlighted Alejandro Betancourt, co-founder of Derwick Associates, noting that the then-34-year-old businessman had secured more than $3 billion in government contracts and calling him a very very interesting kid.

Screenshot of e-mail correspondence sent to Jeffrey Epstein from Francisco DAgostino, included in the Department of Justices release of the Epstein files.

The breadth of names  spanning oil, finance, telecommunications, banking, the military and Chinese state interests  underscores the level of access DAgostino was signaling he could provide as he courted Epsteins business.

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In a Nov. 6, 2012, email, he wrote: Alejandro Betancourt, my business partner, and I are available to meet you Monday November 19th. Shall we have lunch? Your place?

Though they floated several dates for possible meetings in Caracas, it remains unclear whether Epstein ever made it.

In a Nov. 7, 2012, email, Epstein appears to reply to Larry, a likely a reference to Epsteins pilot, Larry Visoski, that he does not want to risk going to Caracas.

In earlier emails, Larry tells Epstein that a company called Hyperion Aviation had been involved with Drugs in Venezuela in August 2012. Larrys companys name was Hyperion Air, Inc. which raised a Red Flag, the pilot said.

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Later, Epstein tells DAgostino that he would have to subject himself and his crew to a two-hour search if he were to go, so he didnt think he was going to go through with it.

Years later: sanctions and scrutiny

In 2019, both DAgostino and Epstein came under scrutiny from U.S. authorities.

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned DAgostino for allegedly operating in Venezuelas oil sector and materially assisting PDVSA after Washington imposed sweeping restrictions on the industry.

DAgostino was designated today for operating in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy and because he has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for goods and services to back PDVSA, Treasury said at the time.

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Epstein was arrested the same year by federal authorities for charges related to alleged sexual abuse years earlier at Epsteins homes in Palm Beach and Manhattan.

According to U.S. authorities, DAgostino worked alongside Colombian businessman Alex Saab and others to coordinate the purchase and sale of Venezuelan crude.

Saab was extradited to the United States from Cape Verde and held in Miami as the lead defendant in a $350 million money-laundering conspiracy case tied to Maduro. The case was dismissed in December 2023 after then-President Joe Biden pardoned Saab as part of a prisoner exchange with the Venezuelan government. Saab was released and returned to Venezuela.

More than two years later  and weeks after Maduro was seized by U.S. forces in early January on drug-trafficking charges filed in New York  Saab could again face scrutiny from U.S. prosecutors in Miami, according to sources familiar with the matter, though no new charges have been publicly announced.

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Treasury also sanctioned associates, companies and vessels allegedly involved in a network used by Maduros former oil minister, Tareck El Aissami, to evade sanctions and resell Venezuelan crude through clandestine channels.

The sanctions froze any assets under U.S. jurisdiction. Treasury removed DAgostino from its sanctions list last year.

Separately, Derwick Associates has faced allegations from Transparencia Venezuela, the local chapter of Transparency International, which has estimated that the company overcharged the Venezuelan state by as much as $2.9 billion  allegations the company and its executives have denied.

Spanish media outlets reported in 2024 that Spains National Court had opened a preliminary inquiry into alleged financial irregularities involving former Derwick executives, including DAgostino. He has denied holding any formal role at the firm and has not been convicted of wrongdoing.

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DAgostino has long drawn scrutiny in Venezuela because of his business ties and family connections. He is the brother of Diana DAgostino, who is married to Ramos Allup, leader of Accion Democratica, one of the countrys principal opposition parties.

A revealing exchange

The newly released correspondence adds another layer to the complex web linking Venezuelas embattled oil sector, politically connected businessmen and international financiers whose dealings spanned continents.

A visit to Epsteins island was a recurring theme in the emails. In January 2013, Epstein invited DAgostino back, telling him to visit when you like.

DAgostino replied: By the wayhow is my water gazelle???

Epstein responded that she was here and naked.

Screenshot of e-mail correspondence between Jeffrey Epstein and Francisco DAgostino, included in the Department of Justices release of the Epstein files.

Later that year he asked again How is the gazelle? to which Epstein responded two new ones added to the collection.

Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges and later found dead in a New York jail cell, in what authorities ruled a suicide.
A viewing and funeral for former Delaware state Rep. and Sen. George H. Bunting Jr. will be held in Ocean View Feb. 21.

Bunting died at home Feb. 12, his obituary says, surrounded by family. He was 81 years old. Sen. Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, who succeeded Bunting in the Senate, said Bunting's health declined following a recent heart operation.

The Bethany Beach-area Democrat served as a state representative in the 1980s and 1990s and in the Senate from 1996 to 2013. His efforts were instrumental in numerous southern Sussex County improvements, including the replacement of the Indian River Inlet bridge.

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Bunting also was a decorated Vietnam veteran and owned a State Farm insurance agency in Rehoboth Beach for over 40 years.

Former Sen. George Bunting.

"He was a true gentleman of the old-fashioned sort, who always displayed dignity and grace," former Delaware State Archives Director Russell McCabe said.

Background: Former Sen. George Bunting dies, colleagues remember 'great man'

Funeral service scheduled

Bunting's viewing will be held at Mariners Bethel Global Methodist Church, at 81 Central Ave. in Ocean View, Feb. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, immediately followed by a Masonic funeral service.

Afterward, Bunting will be interred with military honors provided by Ocean View Mason-Dixon VFW Post 7234. That will take place at Prince Georges Chapel Cemetery, located at 32043 Ward Lane in Dagsboro.

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Gov. Matt Meyer ordered flags to be flown at half-staff Feb. 17 to honor the lives of Bunting, former Rep. John Viola and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Flags are to remain at half-staff through sunset Feb. 21.

Vietnam veteran

Bunting enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1963 and served in Vietnam for a year, according to a 1966 News Journal story. He was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze star.

The story included the contents of the citation that came with the Bronze Star, detailing Bunting's actions during an attack on his platoon.

"Lance Corporal Bunting, as an automatic rifleman, ignored the enemy's grazing fire, jumped up, firing towards the enemy and advanced under fire to a position where he could put his own weapon to more effective use against the enemy," the story said.

George Bunting was Marine and served in Vietnam.

"Lance Corporal Bunting's fire was accurate and heavy enough to allow his platoon to react and gain fire superiority, causing the enemy to abandon its position. As a result, his platoon received no casualties, and was able to continue with its assigned mission."

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Bunting was awarded the Purple Heart after stepping on a landmine and injuring his leg, the story said.

Though overused, the term "hero" is appropriate for Bunting, McCabe said.

"Like many who have witnessed the horrors of battle and given so much, he would proudly acknowledge his service but was never one to boast about his own deeds," McCabe said.

Family life

Not long after returning from Vietnam, Bunting met Donna Gray, his obituary says. He married her nine months later, and their union lasted nearly 59 years.

The couple had two sons, one of whom died at age 12 in an ATV accident. Bunting's obituary called it "one of the saddest days of their lives as a family."

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Another loss: Former Delaware House Rep. John Viola, who served Newark, Bear, dies

In the 1970s, Bunting opened a State Farm Insurance agency in Rehoboth Beach and became president of the area Chamber of Commerce.

"His family recalls that George loved people and he liked running the insurance agency because of all the people coming into the office," his obituary says.

Serving Delaware

Bunting, a Democrat to Hocker's Republican, "was a friend you could work with, talk with, work things out," Hocker said.

"I can't say enough good about Sen. Bunting," Hocker said. "I haven't worked with anybody better than him."

Bunting was known for working across the aisle and sometimes voting against his party.

George Bunting's wife, Donna Bunting, holds a Bible as he is sworn in to the Delaware State Senate.

"Small-town friendships were often more important than politics in the southern Delaware of those times," Bunting's obituary said.

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Ahead of a 1990 election, News Journal reporter William Zaferos described Bunting as "a Democrat by party, but something of a lone wolf by nature."

He advocated for term limits and education funding and was against the death penalty. He spoke out against irresponsible land development and pollution in the inland bays. He was instrumental in the dredging of the Assawoman Canal and the replacement of the Indian River Inlet bridge in 2012.

Then-Rep. Hocker recalled being the first to drive over the new bridge, with Bunting in the passenger seat.

"There wasn't anything that we attempted to do together that we couldn't get done," Hocker said.

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Reach Shannon Marvel McNaught at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Former senator, Vietnam vet George Bunting's funeral set for Feb. 21
The government in the African country of Gabon has announced the blocking of all social media in the country.

The ban is to apply immediately and until further notice, according to a statement from the communications authority, which was read out on television.

Residents of the capital Libreville told dpa on Wednesday that Facebook, Instagram and TikTok were no longer accessible.

WhatsApp and other messenger services continued to function.

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The authority cited the spread of false news, defamation of individuals and institutions, as well as breaches of data protection, as reasons for the ban.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right, but must not be exercised in violation of applicable laws, the authority said.

Frustration over the rising cost of living and low salaries has led to protests and strikes in the oil-rich coastal country.

In response to the protests, the government of President Brice Oligui Nguema this week suspended taxes, import duties and fees on several foodstuffs and building materials for six months.

Two and a half years ago Oligui led a bloodless coup d'etat against the Bongo family, which had ruled autocratically for decades.

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He was subsequently elected president just under a year ago.

Most of the approximately 2.5 million Gabonese live in poverty despite the country's wealth of natural resources. According to the World Bank, almost 40% of Gabon's young people are unemployed.
Social media platforms including Facebook and TikTok were no longer available in Gabon on Wednesday, AFP journalists and a watchdog said, after regulators suspended them over security concerns amid an anti-government labour strike.

The central African country's media regulator (HAC) on Tuesday announced "the immediate suspension of social media platforms" in the country until further notice, saying that online posts were stoking conflict, in a move branded repressive by the opposition.

"Metrics show multiple online platforms are now restricted in Gabon," connectivity monitor NetBlocks said on X on Wednesday.

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According to the watchdog, Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp, the most widely used social networks in Gabon, were all affected, along with YouTube and Instagram.

But Gabon presidency spokesman Theophane Zame-Nze Biyoghe told AFP in an interview in Paris that the measure was "a suspension, not a permanent ban".

In a televised statement on Tuesday, HAC spokesman Jean-Claude Mendome complained of "inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and insulting content" on social media.

He said it was undermining "human dignity, public morality, the honour of citizens, social cohesion, the stability of the Republic's institutions, and national security".

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The communications body spokesman also cited the "spread of false information", "cyberbullying" and "unauthorised disclosure of personal data" as reasons for the decision.

The regulator said "freedom of expression, including freedom of comment and criticism", remained "a fundamental right enshrined in Gabon".

- 'Climate of fear' -

Less than a year after being elected, Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema has faced his first wave of social unrest, with teachers on strike and other civil servants threatening to do the same.

School teachers began striking over pay and conditions in December and protests over similar demands have since spread to other public sectors -- health, higher education and broadcasting.

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Opposition leader Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze told AFP that the "incomprehensible" social media crackdown was a "disproportionate abuse" of power, which he said went against the constitution.

In an overnight post on Facebook, he called on civil groups "and all Gabonese people dedicated to freedom to mobilise and block this liberty-destroying excess".

Lessa Juste, a computer scientist who called social media "an essential tool", told AFP that "the economy is also taking a hit" from the shutdown because it was disrupting people's work.

"I can't even work anymore," complained Gabonese content creator Mister Wils, who has nearly 100,000 followers on TikTok.

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- Public expectations -

The last action by teachers took place in 2022 under then-president Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family ruled the small central African country for 55 years.

Oligui overthrew Bongo in a military coup a few months later and acted on some of the teachers' concerns, buying calm during the two-year transition period that led up to the presidential election in April 2025.

He won that election with a huge majority, generating high expectations with promises that he would turn the country around and improve living standards.

A wage freeze decided a decade ago by the Bongo government has left teachers struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.

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Authorities last month arrested two prominent figures from the teachers' protest movement, leaving teachers and parents afraid to discuss the strike in public. They were later released.

lnf/sbk/yad
Work on the Gateway project to build new rail tunnels under the Hudson River will resume next week after the Trump administration released the roughly $200 million in federal funding owed to the commission overseeing construction.

The restored funding comes nearly a week after a federal appeals court declined to overturn a lower courts ruling that the funding freeze was likely illegal and that payments must resume.

We are working with our contractors to deploy these funds to resume work as soon as possible. Letters will be sent to contractors today, and construction activities are expected to resume next week, the Gateway Development Commission said in a statement.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) told reporters Wednesday that President Donald Trumps decision to halt federal funds for Gateway was bewildering and illegal.

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I took him to court because I care deeply about jobs and the economy, even if the federal government doesnt seem to. So, I took him to court: we won. He fought it again: we won. We have seen the funds released and he continues to remain in court  but were just seeing again and again that what hes doing is illegal, she said. And the worst part about it is now, hes probably cost the project, which was on time and on budget, millions of dollars by halting all this work.

Work on the tunnels has been paused since a line of credit the commission used to keep construction going amid the federal freeze expired on Feb. 6, prompting a work stoppage state officials said would cost up to $20 million each month.

New Jersey and New York, the two states that form the bistate commission, sued the federal government earlier this month, alleging that it violated the Administrative Procedures Act by halting payments to Gateway. That case spawned the orders that directed the federal government to stop the funding freeze.

The commission launched a separate suit in the Court of Federal Claims, alleging the federal government violated contractual provisions by withholding the funding.

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Both cases are ongoing, and the courts have not issued final rulings on whether the federal government can withhold congressionally approved funding for Gateway. Congress has approved roughly $15 billion for the project.

We continue to pursue all avenues to secure access to the full amount of federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project, including our lawsuit, the commission said in its statement.

Trump administration officials have given shifting explanations for the pause, which began last fall.

Theyve said it was to prevent money from flowing to unconstitutional DEI principles, to check compliance with new rules for a grant program targeted at disadvantaged businesses, to check compliance with the programs old rules, and then because of funding negotiations for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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State officials have argued those reasons were pretextual, noting the federal government did not move to restore funding after the commission made requested changes to its grant programs.

Trump has said he froze the funding because the project was sought by Democratic elected officials.

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Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan is calling for a three-year moratorium on the development of large-scale artificial intelligence data centers in Pennsylvania amid pronounced local opposition to a bevy of data center proposals in the county and region.

Gaughan noted the local opposition and other concerns about data centers, including their considerable water and power consumption, in a letter Tuesday to Gov. Josh Shapiro, state legislative leaders and other state lawmakers urging the General Assembly to consider moratorium legislation.

It comes after Democratic state Sen. Katie Muth of Chester County circulated a co-sponsorship memo last week noting shell soon introduce legislation to protect local communities from corporate exploitation by establishing a statewide three-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development.

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Gaughan, who had called earlier this month for a two-year moratorium on such development, said in his letter that Muths efforts reflect a growing bipartisan and statewide recognition that this issue demands careful and immediate legislative attention.

The pause Muth proposes and Gaughan supports would allow the state to conduct a comprehensive study of data center energy and water impacts, evaluate their environmental and land-use implications and develop uniform standards for siting, setbacks and infrastructure mitigation, Gaughan wrote in his letter.

It would also give state officials time to examine appropriate tax frameworks, including whether impact fees or revenue-sharing models should be authorized to ensure host communities are fairly compensated, and to prohibit nondisclosure agreements that prevent local elected officials from sharing material project information with the public, the letter notes.

Muths memo similarly describes the proposed three-year moratorium as a pause to require state agencies to conduct real impact studies and put clear rules in place that are based on health and safety standards, not industry standards.

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The moratorium would also ensure that local governments and emergency response officials have the necessary time to fully assess the impacts of data center development and to enact protections to ensure the residents all across this state are protected from corporate exploitation and industrial health harm, she said in the memo. Pennsylvania cannot afford to repeat past mistakes  approving large-scale industrial development first and confronting the consequences later.

Local hotbed

Lackawanna County and the broader region have emerged as a hotbed for data center proposals over the past year-plus, with residents continuing to pack local meetings and hearings to passionately voice their opposition to, and misgivings about, the controversial developments that also promise to deliver tax revenue and jobs.

The opposition has been particularly notable in the countys Midvalley communities targeted for data centers, including Archbald, where data centers could blanket at least 14% of the borough if all the proposals there come to fruition.

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Outside Archbald, developers have active proposals to build data centers in Clifton and Covington townships, Dickson City and Jessup. Ransom Twp. recently rejected plans for a data center campus, though an appeal is likely. A developer also previously applied for but subsequently withdrew an application to build data centers in Blakely.

Gaughan himself called for a statewide moratorium at recent public hearings in Archbald and Dickson City, and at a commissioners meeting Feb. 4. Noting the significant opposition thats emerged locally, he wrote in his letter that the intensity and consistency of public concern have been unmistakable.

The opposition in Lackawanna County is not isolated or fleeting, he wrote. It reflects deep unease about becoming a testing ground for a development model whose long-term costs are still being understood nationwide. We owe our residents the assurance that their air, water, neighborhoods and economic future are not secondary considerations.

Fellow Commissioner Thom Welby said he hadnt seen Gaughans letter when reached early Tuesday afternoon, but reiterated that he shares concerns about the potential impact of data centers, particularly in terms of water and power consumption, and opposes them in residential areas.

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Commissioner Chris Chermak, who also hadnt seen the letter as of early Tuesday afternoon, said a potential moratorium at least warrants discussion at the state level.

I dont disagree with people asking about this, and I think they need to look into it, he said. So whether  they put the moratorium on or not, Im not saying they should or they shouldnt, but itd be nice if we could all get on the same page.

Chermak said he isnt necessarily for or against data centers.

Im not against them; Im not for them, its just I dont want them in peoples backyards, he said. I dont want them sucking wells dry.  The power grid has to be able to handle it all, and Im sure theres a place in Lackawanna County where they could actually be OK.

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Gaughans letter, meanwhile, requests from the governor a written response outlining his position on a potential statewide moratorium and related legislative study.

Thank you for your leadership and your consideration of this urgent issue, Gaughan wrote. The decisions we make now will shape not only the technological infrastructure of Pennsylvania, but the character of our communities for generations to come.
A troubling DUI arrest in Rockmart has unraveled into a wider investigation that is now raising serious questions about police procedure, officer oversight, and how many lives may have been upended by questionable arrests.

It began with a late night traffic stop in December. Truck driver Alan Wehunt was heading home from a memorial service when he was pulled over and asked to perform field sobriety tests.

Dash cam video captured parts of the roadside evaluation, but there was no audio. The arresting officer had not activated his body camera until after Wehunt was already seated in the patrol car.

Image Credit: WSB-TV/YouTube.

Wehunt repeatedly requested a breathalyzer test. According to him, the officer claimed that the department no longer used them. That statement would later be contradicted by Rockmarts police chief, who confirmed that multiple breathalyzers are available on every shift.

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For Wehunt, the arrest was not just an inconvenience. As a commercial truck driver, a DUI charge could have cost him his livelihood. I lose my license in a DUI, Im out the door, he said in recorded footage. The charge forced him into months of anxiety and more than $5,000 in legal fees.

When his blood alcohol results finally came back, they told a different story. His levels were well below the legal limit.

Officer's Arrest Record Reveals Multiple Below-Limit Cases

Image Credit: WSB-TV/YouTube.

That result prompted a closer look at other DUI arrests made by the same officer, Thomas Jacob Maguire. What investigators found was alarming. Several other drivers he had arrested for DUI also tested below the legal limit. In some cases, prosecutors began dismissing charges.

Rockmart Police Chief Randy Turner did not mince words in a termination letter addressed to Maguire. He wrote that he found it appalling that citizens had gone to jail despite not being impaired and said they should never have been arrested.

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He accused the officer of either fabricating reports to justify arrests or lacking the competence to properly assess impairment.

Wehunt was arrested on a bogus DUI charge / Image Credit: WSB-TV/YouTube.

Maguire resigned from the Rockmart Police Department in lieu of termination. But his departure did not mark the end of his law enforcement career.

Just seven days later, he was hired by another department in Tallapoosa, a neighboring city. According to Chief Turner, no one from Tallapoosa contacted him for a background check before extending the job offer. That revelation sparked fresh outrage, this time about hiring practices and interdepartmental communication.

Officer's History Shows Red Flags and Lax Oversight

Maguires employment history shows earlier red flags. Before working in Rockmart, he was terminated during training with the Georgia State Patrol. On his Rockmart application, however, he emphasized having extensive knowledge of DUI enforcement.

Image Credit: WSB-TV/YouTube.

When questioned about the body camera issue, Maguire claimed he forgot to turn it on during the initial stop. In conversations with investigators and reporters, he said he stood by his decisions to arrest in each case. He suggested that while police intervention may have been warranted, perhaps not everyone needed to go to jail.

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The case also went before the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, commonly known as POST, which oversees officer certification and discipline in the state.

Image Credit: WSB-TV/YouTube.

Rather than revoking Maguires certification, the council withheld revocation and placed him on one year of probation. That decision allowed him to continue working as an officer during that period.

In total, Chief Turner confirmed that roughly a dozen cases tied to Maguires police work have been dismissed so far. Each dismissal represents a person who faced arrest, possible jail time, legal expenses, and reputational damage.

Victim's Ordeal Highlights Lasting Impact of Wrongful Arrest

For Wehunt, the experience left a lasting impression. He says he still supports law enforcement, but with caution. The ordeal shook his confidence in a system he once trusted without hesitation.

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Maguire eventually resigned from the Tallapoosa department as well. In what appears as a show of doggedness or defiance, he has since stated that he is applying to join the Marines and pursue military police work.

Ultimately, a questionable DUI arrest ended up exposing deeper concerns about accountability, oversight, and how easily an arrest can alter someones life. As more cases are reviewed, the full scope of the damage may still be unfolding.

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CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW)  A Georgia man who killed a woman in North Myrtle Beach in 2023 pleaded guilty to murder before his trial was set to begin, the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office said.

Bornold Eberhart, 44, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to murder a month before his trial, according to the solicitors office. Circuit Court Judge David P. Caraker sentenced Eberhart to 30 years in prison.

Eberhart left Georgia on Sept. 22, 2023, with Kristin Laymon, 53, also of Georgia, and came to North Myrtle Beach to vacation at the Wyndham Hotel. Laymon rented a room from Sept. 22-24 and indicated on the registration documents that Eberhart would be the only other person in the room.

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The two arrived at the hotel on Sept. 22, and they went out that night, returning just before 2 a.m. on Sept. 23, the solicitors office said. Surveillance footage showed the two arguing in their vehicle to the point that Laymon opened her passenger side door while the vehicle was still in motion.

Moments later, Laymon got out of the vehicle and went back to the room. That was the last time she was seen alive. About 10 minutes after she left the vehicle, Eberhart also went to their room.

Security video appears to show North Myrtle Beach murder suspect in resorts parking garage

The next day, on Sept. 24, hotel surveillance showed Eberhart, who was wearing a black hoodie and gloves, rolling Laymons body out of the hotel and putting her into the trunk of his vehicle, according to the solicitors office. The trunk of the vehicle was later found to have Laymons blood in it.

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Eberhart texted Laymon in between the last time she was seen alive and him putting her body into the trunk, the solicitors office said. In those messages, Eberhart said that he had not seen her since the previous night and that he would have to find a ride back to Georgia if she did not return the vehicle.

Less than 12 hours later, Eberhart was seen rolling Laymons body out of the hotel. He then went back home to Georgia to dispose of her body, which authorities said was found six months later.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
By Hakan Ersen

BERLIN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - A German appeals court has ordered social media platform X to give vetted researchers access to publicly available data linked to Hungary's April 12 election, setting a precedent for enforcing EU digital transparency rules ahead of a contentious vote.

"We are open sourcing our algorithm. Not sure what more they want," Elon Musk wrote in reaction on X. Musk's startup xAI owns X.

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The Berlin Court of Appeal's ruling is not related to the type of algorithm used but orders X to share information such as the reach and engagement of posts related to Hungary's parliamentary election, Democracy Reporting International, one of two plaintiffs, said late on Tuesday.

A court spokesperson said on Wednesday the ruling takes immediate effect.

The decision is seen as a milestone in implementing the EU's Digital Services Act, a regulation mandating major online platforms to give researchers access to data to monitor risks including disinformation, hate speech and election manipulation.

X did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

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PRECEDENT FOR RESEARCHER ACCESS ESTABLISHED

The plaintiffs - DRI and the Society for Civil Rights (GFF) - previously failed to obtain similar data from X for Germany's 2025 federal election.

In the current case, a lower court ruled that jurisdiction lay in Ireland, where X has its EU headquarters.

However, the Berlin appeals court revisited the issue, determining that German courts could act when there was a local problem, such as when German-based researchers were denied crucial data for public-interest work.

Ruling in favour of the two NGOs, the court said X's noncompliance affected their ability to conduct research in Germany.

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"No appeal can be lodged against the decision," said Joschka Selinger, a lawyer for GFF, adding that it could be enforced through penalty payments if X fails to comply.

HUNGARY ELECTION PUSHES TRANSPARENCY DEBATE

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban is facing the biggest challenge to his rule since his Fidesz party took power in 2010 as the centre-right opposition Tisza party leads in most opinion polls. Pro-government pollsters, however, put Fidesz in the lead, while many voters remain undecided.

Previous elections in Hungary have been overshadowed by reports of media bias and disinformation.

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The Hungarian government did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Wednesday.

DRI contended that the court order would lower barriers for civil society groups across Europe seeking to enforce digital rights through national courts.

Observers view the decision as a signal to major platforms operating under the DSA that failure to facilitate researcher access could lead to legal consequences in EU member states.

(Reporting by Hakan Ersen, additional reporting by Anita Komuves and Maria Martinez, writing by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Gareth Jones, Rod Nickel)
Germany and India are set to expand cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI).

German Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger and his Indian counterpart Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday sealed an "AI Pact" in New Delhi, where global leaders are convening for the AI Impact Summit.

The agreement covers initiatives in the industrial, energy, health and agricultural sectors.

It also includes a section on skilled workers, with an Indian statement stating that contact points would be set up in both countries to facilitate mobility for Indian students and skilled workers.

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In a joint statement, Germany and India committed themselves to shaping AI in a responsible and secure manner and in accordance with democratic values, the German digital ministry said.

Joint projects in the areas of AI, semiconductors, digital payments and start-ups for the next two years were already agreed in January.

The "AI Pact" will deepen cooperation and breathe life into the recently concluded free trade agreement between the EU and India, said Wildberger. "This will create growth opportunities for German companies, diversify value chains and strengthen our digital sovereignty," he said.

The agreement came as world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva travelled to the Indian capital for the AI Impact Summit, which runs until Friday.

Top tech representatives such as OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and Alphabet head Sundar Pichai have also announced their participation.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier concludes his three-day visit to the Middle East on Wednesday with political talks in Jordan.

After spending two days in Lebanon, Steinmeier is to be received by Jordan's King Abdullah II in Amman.

The pair know each other well, with Steinmeier having last travelled to Jordan almost exactly a year ago, while Abdullah paid a return visit to Berlin a few weeks later.

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The main topic of discussion is expected to be the Middle East conflict and the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The German president also plans to acknowledge Jordan's huge efforts in hosting Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

To this end, he will visit the registration centre of the UN's refugee agency, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

According to the UNHCR, Jordan is one of the countries with the largest number of refugees worldwide.

In the evening, Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender will fly back to Berlin.
A gold rush has gripped an informal settlement east of the South African city of Johannesburg, after reports spread a few days ago about the discovery of some gold particles.

Springs, once a booming gold town, saw its mines close several years ago [AFP/Getty Images]

A resident in a poor neighbourhood of the former mining town of Springs claimed to have found several nuggets while digging at an outdoor enclosure used for cattle.

Dozens of people have now descended on the area and have been digging up the fenced area where the cows were once penned in, hoping to strike it rich.

[AFP/Getty Images]

Armed with pickaxes and shovels, they have been sifting through the soil in scenes reminiscent of the gold rush that helped build South Africa's financial capital more than a century ago.

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Springs was once a booming gold town, but its mines were closed several years ago because the extreme depth of the shafts made operations uneconomical.

Some people told the BBC they had found some gold [AFP/Getty Images]

The town is now surrounded by informal settlements many of whose residents are migrants from neighbouring countries.

South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources has condemned this week's mining activity in Spring's informal settlement of Gugulethu, calling it illegal and warning that it is damaging the environment.

A person uses a plate to check for small flecks of gold [EPA/Shutterstock]

Some of those digging at the site have told the BBC that they have been able to find gold and have sold it on the black market.

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Dangerous chemicals like mercury and sodium cyanide are used to separate the gold from the ore.

Just one gram of gold is worth about $100 (74) [Thuthuka Zondi/BBC]

"We know this is illegal. We want the government to give us mining permits so we can work and pay tax," one man, who did not want to be named, told the BBC.

He explained that as a father of two children he needed to earn money to put them through school and put food on the table.

A miner washes soil searching for gold [Thuthuka Zondi/BBC]

Another man told the BBC: "This is the only hustle we know. It has saved many of us from being arrested for committing serious and violent crimes."

A gram of gold is worth about $100 (74).

By contrast, the monthly minimum wage in South Africa is $368 (270).

Small nuggets of gold are visible in a pan in a residue of water and soil [Thuthuka Zondi/BBC]

Many of those busy digging during the BBC's visit said they originally hailed from the neighbouring Lesotho.

The digging has been going on for days [Thuthuka Zondi/BBC]

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At around 14:00 local time after the end of the school day, children started arriving at the site.

They had gone home first to change out of their uniforms and then rushed to the cattle enclosure to help their parents dig for gold.

Dozens of people came to the area hoping to strike gold [EPA/Shutterstock]

While visiting the site, the BBC found that some of the ground had become unstable.

"Unregulated excavation may result in ground instability, placing nearby communities and particularly children at significant risk of injury or loss of life," the mining ministry warned in its statement on Tuesday.

A field formerly used for cattle riven with holes by those digging for gold [Thuthuka Zondi/BBC]

So-called illegal mining is common in South Africa, and numerous people have died over the years while working in unsafe conditions.

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Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he would deploy the army to help the police fight criminal gangs and illegal mining in the country.

Miners have dug up much of the cattle pen [Thuthuka Zondi/BBC]

The authorities blame illegal miners, known as "zama zamas", typically armed, undocumented foreign nationals, for their involvement in organised crime syndicates.

There is no official indication that this is at play in Springs.

Additional reporting by Thuthuka Zondi and Wycliffe Muia

You may also be interested in:

[Getty Images/BBC]

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Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is having an I told you so moment when it comes to President Trumps tariffs.

At Novembers blockbuster arguments, Gorsuch raised alarm about what he called a one-way ratchet of authority from Congress to the president if Trump wins a case that challenges his use of emergency powers to impose duties on a host of countries.

Its going to be veto-proof, Gorsuch warned of Trumps declared emergencies.

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What presidents ever going to give that power back? A pretty rare president. So how should that inform our view?

Gorsuchs concern is now in the limelight as the justices prepare to return to the bench to issue opinions on three separate days between now and next Wednesday.

Last week, Trump saw one of the first major pushbacks from Congress on the matter, when six House Republicans joined Democrats in voting 219-211 to repeal Trumps Canada tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). That measure now heads to the Senate, where four Republicans joined Democrats last year on a similar effort. The new vote only needs a simple majority.

But even if it gets to Trumps desk, the revolt is largely symbolic. The bipartisan support for repealing the tariffs falls far short of the two-thirds majority needed in both the House and Senate to override an expected veto.

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Gorsuch saw it coming  and he wasnt the only Trump-nominated justice to read the tea leaves back at Novembers arguments.

Lets say that we adopt your interpretation of the statute, Justice Amy Coney Barrett told the government. If Congress said, Whoa, we dont like that, that gives a president too much authority under IEEPA, its going to have a very hard time pulling the tariff power out of IEEPA, correct?

Congress can amend IEEPA at any time to make clear whether the 1977 law does, or does not, authorize Trumps tariffs. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has expressed no appetite for doing so, leaving the nine justices to parse the nearly half-century-old phrasing that has left global financial markets in suspense for months.

I think the sentiment is that we allow a little bit more runway for this to be worked out between the executive branch and the judicial branch, Johnson said last week.

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No one outside the court knows if the tariffs opinion is being sent to the printers right now, or if theres still time for tweaks. When it is released, watch to see if any of the justices take note of the recent developments on Capitol Hill.

The Trump administration hopes to convince the justices that Congress can, indeed, claw back power from the president. Solicitor General D. John Sauer would like everyone to remember that Congress clubbed together the votes to terminate the massive COVID-19 emergency just a few years ago.

What the statute reflects is theres going to be the ability for a sort of political consensus against a declared emergency. Nevertheless, thats a political discipline, Sauer said during the tariff arguments.

Speculation is still running rampant about exactly when the Supreme Court will release the highly anticipated decision. Some 105 days have now passed since oral arguments, longer than other recent expedited cases.

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When asked about the wait during her book promo on CBS Mornings last week, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson didnt think much of it. There are lots of nuanced legal issues and it takes a while to write, she said.

The court is going through its process of deliberation, and the American people expect for us to be thorough and clear in our determinations, and sometimes that takes time, Jackson said.

The fact the junior liberal justice said anything at all was notable, as Supreme Court justices typically steer clear of talking about pending cases. Full stop.

Weve got our ears perked up. As the justices return to the bench, the court has signaled it will hand down opinions Friday, Tuesday and next Wednesday.

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Bettors on prediction markets think it could be coming. After the court scheduled the opinion days, the odds of the tariff decision landing this month jumped from 40 percent to more than 70 percent on Kalshi, a popular prediction market.

Sandwiched between two of the opinion day releases is the State of the Union, scheduled for Tuesday evening.

Chief Justice John Roberts and several of the other justices typically attend; heres the list of who has shown up each year. Its a rare face-to-face moment between the justices and the president, with every move scrutinized.

As Roberts and the others sat in last year for Trumps address, they were also sitting on the presidents emergency appeal seeking to freeze foreign aid. The justices released the decision  against Trump  at 8:59 a.m. the next morning.

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Welcome to The Gavel, The Hills weekly courts newsletter from Ella Lee and Zach Schonfeld. Reach out to us on X (@ByEllaLee, @ZachASchonfeld) or Signal (elee.03, zachschonfeld.48). Sign up here.

IN FOCUS

Judges get new leeway to defend the courts

Federal judges have been granted new wiggle room to speak out about the importance of the judiciary as threats and attacks on the courts surge.

An advisory opinion from the Judicial Conferences Committee on Codes of Conduct affirmed that the ethics code abided by judges allows them to advocate for the rule of law and defend the independence of the courts, including to seek increased judicial security and funding.

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The opinion goes further to say that, in some circumstances, judges may stand up for their peers against unjust attacks.

Although this Commentary addresses persecution specifically, the Committee believes the Code and its previous advisory opinions leave room, in at least some circumstances, for the measured defense of judicial colleagues from illegitimate forms of criticism and attacks that risk undermining judicial independence or the rule of law, whether or not they rise to the level of persecution, the opinion reads.

It makes no reference to any specific assault on the judiciary. But it follows years of tongue-lashing and impeachment threats from Trump and his allies, especially toward judges who rule against the president. At the same time, public trust in the courts has fallen to near-record lows.

It points to Robertss 2024 year-end report as a guidepost, which addressed four detriments to judicial independence: violence, intimidation, disinformation and threats to defy lawfully entered judgments. Roberts has pushed back on Trumps threats, though hes also at turns spoken out about Democrats rhetoric.

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There are, however, limits.

Judges should avoid acting in a manner that detracts from their official duties and impartiality of the court, commenting on the merits of active matters or engaging in certain political activities, the opinion says.

They also must watch their tone in writing outside the courtroom, avoiding sensationalism, and consider where they choose to speak, so as not to create questions about their fairness.

These general cautions in the Code do not lend themselves well to precise definitions, the opinion notes, and even seemingly clear limits permit a variety of exceptions.

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Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court, called the opinion a a strong step forward for ethics and for judicial independence, suggesting it showed the committee pushing back on Trump.

Though individuals are not called out by name, this is a strong rebuke of the Trump administrations war on the judiciary and comes one day after Attorney General [Pam] Bondi denounced liberal activist judges for taking part in coordinated [] unlawful attack against President Trumps authority, he said in a statement Thursday. Any judge who, in a measured manner, seeks to counter that nonsense would thus be ethically sound.

As attacks on the judiciary have escalated, some judges have spoken out anonymously in the press, or in rarer instances, publicly. Its especially prevalent as threats against judges continue to rise.

In fiscal 2025, there were 564 threats against judges, according to U.S. Marshals Service data. Since fiscal 2026 began in October, there have already been 176 threats.

What to know about the Supreme Courts new recusal software

More ethics news landed Tuesday, this time from the Supreme Court.

Starting in March, the justices will use new software to help identify when they should recuse from a case.

Its the justices latest effort to align themselves with lower federal judges, who have been required to use an automated conflict-screening system for the past two decades.

The Supreme Court is not bound by lower judges code of conduct.

It has left the justices playing catch up as public scrutiny into their ethics sharpens, spurred by investigations into the justices book deals and luxury trips paid for by billionaires.

Two years ago, the justices responded to mounting pressure by agreeing to a statement of ethical principles.

Critics emphasize it has no enforcement mechanism. It did, however, direct that the court consider adding a new screening software.

To be clear, the justices have long identified conflicts. Last term, the justices recused more than 80 times in total, according to The Gavels docket tracker. And since this term began in October, the recusal count has already surpassed 30.

Justice Samuel Alito is by far the leader, a reflection of his decision to own direct stock holdings in more than two dozen companies. Alito this term has recused more than twice as many times as any of his colleagues.

Still, catching all necessary recusals is a tall task. The court received nearly 4,000 petitions to take up cases last term, many of which involve a complicated web of companies.

Just last month, Alito recused from a battle between Louisiana parishes and major oil companies at the eleventh hour before the arguments. Alito owns stock in ConocoPhillips, which owns a company named in the suit, but that company had insisted it was no longer involved in the case. It turned out not to be true.

And in 2024, Gorsuch belatedly stepped aside from another environmental case after pressure from Democrats over his ties to a billionaire that had filed a brief.

Roth, Fix The Courts executive director, said the more effective change wouldve been for Alito to divest all direct stock holdings. Every other justice does so except for Roberts.

So although the new rule is a net positive since it comes in service of the full Courts adoption of conflict-check software, its not a major improvement, and it should not have taken 827 days post-Code to implement, Roth said in a statement.

Thats especially true since lower court judges have been required to use software-based conflict screening for 20 years, and several justices have been rumored to continue to use it after they were elevated, he continued.

The Supreme Court has not publicly demoed its new software. If youve seen it, drop us a line.

When it launches, litigants must send a list of the stock tickers for companies involved in their case so it can be run through the screening.

Click here to read the complete redlined changes to the courts rules.

SIDEBAR

5 top docket updates

Kellys court win: A federal judge blocked the Pentagons efforts to censure Sen. Mark Kelly and lower his retirement rank in the wake of a video in which the senator and other fellow Democrats called on service members to reject unlawful orders.

NY redistricting reaches SCOTUS: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) urged the Supreme Court to stop her state judiciary from ordering a redraw of her congressional district ahead of the midterms, casting it as unconstitutional.

MN evidence fight: The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said it was formally notified by the FBI that the bureau will not share any information about its investigation into the death of Alex Pretti.

Gateway Tunnel fight: A federal appeals court allowed a judges order requiring the Trump administration to resume funding for the Gateway tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey to take effect.

Benghazi attack prosecution: A man facing federal charges in connection with the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans pleaded not guilty.

In other news

Swift resolution: Taylor Swift filed legal action to block a bedding company from getting a trademark on a logo that says, Swift Home. The company soon after withdrew its application. Read the BBCs report on the dustup.

Straight to the source: As the Supreme Court mulls its tariff decision, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) visited the National Archives to lay eyes on the constitutional ink that gives Congress the power to collect taxes and duties. Went straight to the source. The Constitution is clear, Bacon wrote on social media. The archives staff has a strict prohibition on taking photos of the Constitution, so add that to the list of special privileges you get as a member of Congress.

Mr. Wonderful wins defamation suit: A federal judge awarded Shark Tank investor Kevin OLeary $2.83 million in his defamation lawsuit against Ben Armstrong, a famous cryptocurrency influencer known as BitBoy Crypto. Armstrong called OLeary a murderer over a 2019 fatal accident involving his boat, which his wife was driving. She was later cleared of wrongdoing. The judge entered default judgment after Armstrong failed to meet court deadlines.

PETITION PILE

Petitions to take up cases that the justices are keeping a close eye on.

Heres a look at four major legal battles that reach the Supreme Court this week. At their closed-door conference Friday, the justices will consider taking them up for next term.

Not all the cases are likely to be granted, but they each are legal battles that have played prominently for years:

Trumps E. Jean Carroll verdict: President Trump seeks review of the jurys verdict that found him liable for sexually assaulting writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s, which Trump denies, and ordered him to pay $5 million. The president says the jury shouldnt have heard the infamous Access Hollywood tape or testimony from other women who have accused Trump of misconduct. He also argues he shouldve been allowed to tell jurors that a Democratic mega-donor was paying Carrolls legal bills. The case is Trump v. Carroll.

More guns: For weeks, the court has stalled announcing whether it will hear Second Amendment challenges against AR-15 and high-capacity magazine bans as well as the federal felon-in-possession law. The pileup grows this week. In Fooks v. Maryland and Mancuso v. New York, the court is asked to hear challenges to state felon-in-possession laws. And in National Association for Gun Rights v. Lamont and Grant v. Higgins, it is also being petitioned to hear a challenge to Connecticuts AR-15 ban.

NRAs free speech fight: The National Rifle Association (NRA) is at the high court, but not on the Second Amendment. Its about the First Amendment. In 2024, the justices unanimously ruled the gun rights group can proceed in its free speech fight against a New York regulator. When the case returned to a lower court, it again sided with the regulator. So, the NRA is back. The case is NRA v. Vullo.

For-profit college settlement: Everglades College wants the Supreme Court to revive its fight against a class action settlement the Biden administration approved, which cancels $7.5 billion in student debt for those who alleged fraud by for-profit colleges. Lower courts ruled the college had no legal standing, meaning no right to sue over the settlement. The case is Everglades College v. McMahon.

ON THE DOCKET

Dont be surprised if additional hearings are scheduled throughout the week. But heres what were watching for now:

Today:

Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify in a landmark social media addiction trial in Los Angeles.

Thursday:

New Yorks elections board is due to respond in writing to Rep. Nicole Malliotakiss (R-N.Y.) Supreme Court emergency application seeking to revive her congressional district.

Friday:

The Supreme Court is expected to announce opinions.

A federal magistrate judge in Virginia will hold a hearing to weigh Washington Post reporter Hannah Natansons bid for the return of her devices that were seized in an FBI search of her home.

A federal judge in Minnesota is set to hold a status conference in the criminal case of Vance Boelter, the man accused of shooting two state lawmakers and their spouses, killing one of the couples.

Monday:

The Supreme Court will announce orders.

The justices will also hear oral arguments in two cases involving Cuba, over whether the Helms-Burton Act enables Havana Docks to seek compensation from major cruise lines that docked at Havanas port and whether lawsuits filed under the statute also clear the normal immunity rules for hauling a foreign government into court.

Tuesday:

The Supreme Court is expected to announce opinions.

The justices will also hear oral arguments over whether judges have authority to excuse the 30-day time limit for defendants to remove a state lawsuit to federal court in exceptional circumstances.

The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is set to hear oral arguments over the Trump administrations efforts to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The full D.C. Circuit is also set to hear oral arguments in the Trump administrations appeal of an order blocking the Environmental Protection Agency from clawing back billions of dollars in climate spending.

WHAT WERE READING

Rachel Weiner in Court Watch: The Rabbit Hole: Covering the Courts from a Windowless Office

The Washington Posts Peter Whoriskey: Killers without a cause: The rise in nihilistic violent extremism

Green Matterss Shreya Patnaik: The Colorado River Now Holds Legal Personhood. Experts Hope It Can Slow a Severe Water Crisis

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Body camera video shows the extra miles that Atlanta police officers went to save a 9-year-old injured in a drive-by shooting.

The shooting happened around 6:40 a.m. on Feb. 8 on Ruzelle Street after police say three suspects shot into the home. A 9-year-old was sleeping when he was shot in the stomach. Officers arrived at the scene and started life-saving measures in the familys kitchen by applying a chest seal to control the bleeding.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The boy was slipping in and out of consciousness. That is when officers realized that they didnt have time to wait for the ambulance to arrive.

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We gotta transport him... We gotta go. Theyre [the ambulance] taking too long. Hes going in and out, one officer yells.

Another officer tries to keep the 9-year-old awake as he puts him into a patrol car.

Stay with me, buddy, you hear the officer say.

Officers arrived at the hospital in time and the boy is now stable. Police said Grady Memorial Hospital staff say the officers actions helped save his life.

Investigators are still searching for the suspects who shot into the familys home.

WARNING: The video may be disturbing for some.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI)  Gov. Maura Healey brought her reelection campaign to Southeastern Massachusetts for the first time on Monday, making her pitch to voters in a region that has been trending away from her party.

The first-term Democrat made stops flanked by two local allies  New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell and Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan  as she argued her administration is focused on bringing down the cost of living in one of the nations priciest states. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll joined her.

Healey began the day with a morning visit to Leonards Wharf at the Port of New Bedford, where she stood on the chilly docks to highlight the states support for a $45 million rehabilitation and modernization project, which also received federal and city funding.

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Im so proud to see this all being developed and to know whats going to happen here, Healey said. Im also proud of other investments that weve been able to make as an administration in New Bedford  investments in housing, investments in the arts. She cited the South Coast Rail project and Zeiterion Theatre as other examples.

Mitchell gave Healey his enthusiastic endorsement, saying, I cant say enough about the work that the governor and the lieutenant governor have done to get on the same page with us here in New Bedford.

From there, Healey headed to Fall River, where she waded through the packed lunchtime crowd at New Boston Bakery to address a group that included Coogan, City Council President Cliff Ponte and other supporters.

We love Fall River. We love the South Coast, she said. Were proud of the investments that weve been able to make.

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A ton of them! Coogan interjected, smiling.

Healey is getting a fairly early start to active campaigning as an incumbent facing no primary opponent. Three Republicans  Mike Kennealy, Mike Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve  are all vying for the GOP nomination to challenge her in November.

No incumbent Massachusetts governor has lost reelection since 1982, and Healey appears to be in strong shape heading into the campaign. A recent Morning Consult survey ranked her as one of the countrys most popular governors, and a poll last fall showed her with double-digit leads over all three potential Republican nominees.

Obviously its very early, but it seems like right now its Governor Healeys to lose, said Kelly Garrity, a reporter for Politico Massachusetts who is tracking the race. She pointed out that the competitive GOP primary will keep the partys eventual nominee from pivoting to the general election until September.

Garrity also noted that Healey has been campaigning pretty aggressively against President Trump, and shes been trying to tie all of the Republicans who are running for governor to the president.

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Yet while Massachusetts remains one of the countrys bluest states, voters in Bristol County have been trending rightward in recent election cycles  a fact that isnt lost on Healeys political advisers.

President Trump nearly won the county in 2024, and was the first Republican presidential candidate to win Fall River in 100 years. Taunton also remains a relative GOP stronghold, and Mayor Shaunna OConnell  a former Republican state lawmaker  has thrown her support behind Shortsleeve in the gubernatorial race.

Asked how those dynamics would affect her campaign strategy in Bristol County this year, Healey downplayed the partisan divide. Its not about red or blue, she told 12 News. Its about getting things done.

In Massachusetts, we know that people are struggling with housing costs, health care costs, and energy costs, she said. And were trying every which way to drive those costs down.

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Not everyone Healey encountered Monday was there to cheer her on.

As the governor arrived at New Boston Bakery, she was stopped by a voter who identified himself as Dave and pressed her on the stalled effort to audit the state legislature, which voters backed by a wide margin in 2022. Auditor Diana DiZoglio is now suing to enforce the question amid resistance from Beacon Hill.

Healey tried to defuse the voters frustration, noting that she supported the ballot question to audit the legislature, as well. Its between the auditor and the legislature to be honest, she said.

Well, I dont know why it didnt happen, he said. Youre the governor. Get it going!

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Its not up to me, she said.

Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesis Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, Bluesky and LinkedIn.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Gov. Katie Hobbs has revealed proposed transparency and ethics reforms she foreshadowed for months as the Senate again pushed a bill targeting Hobbs' administration and what Republicans have dubbed a pay-to-play scandal.

Hobbs' office said in November she would propose changes after reporting by The Arizona Republic revealed how one of her major donors, Sunshine Residential Homes, received a more favorable state contract after it began political giving. While Hobbs' proposals are broad and include "three pillars," only one appears to be directly related to the scenario with Sunshine Residential Homes.

The governor's proposals are also far from becoming reality, and come after she and a leading Senate Republican split on a possible compromise.

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Staffers for Hobbs and Sen. TJ Shope, R-Coolidge, had been in talks behind the scenes about proposals they could agree on. Shope said ultimately that Hobbs' proposals did not address the problem, and he would again press forward with a bill he introduced last year but that Hobbs vetoed. Hobbs' office said Shope's plan did not go far enough or could create more problems.

"It's not serious," Shope said of Hobbs' latest proposal, noting it was offered relatively late in the lawmaking year. "This is simply a smoke and mirrors game to take away the attention on an issue they don't want to talk about."

Hobbs' spokesperson Liliana Soto said the office worked "in good faith" with Shope.

"But he rejected our policy ideas and issued a press release instead," Soto said. "Now, we're showing the public our policy ideas, and we're calling on the Legislature to include them in their reform to ensure a bill gets signed, rather than making a political statement."

What is Gov. Katie Hobbs proposing?

Hobbs' proposals include:

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modernizing Arizona's existing state contracts database, and including for the first time public disclosure of people who own 5% or more of a business that has a state contract.

barring lobbyists from paying for food and beverages, speaking engagements, travel, lodging and other gifts for officeholders, state employees and lawmakers.

prohibiting businesses and their owners from giving $50 or more to state and legislative candidates or political action committees, but only in the time between when a company bids on a state contract and when the contract is awarded. Compliance would fall to the Arizona attorney general, not campaigns or political committees, according to Hobbs' office.

"Arizonans deserve complete confidence that their government is working for them  not for lobbyists or special interests, Hobbs said in a statement. Her proposal "protects taxpayer dollars, cracks down on conflicts of interest, and makes clear that public service is a public trust," she said.

Hobbs, a Democrat on the ballot this year, has contended with three ongoing investigations of her ties to Sunshine Residential, which provides group homes for children in the care of the Department of Child Safety. Hobbs has denied wrongdoing.

While Hobbs' office has drafted her ethics bill, one problem is there is no sponsor yet. And the deadline for new bills to be introduced at the Capitol has already passed.

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Though if there is the political will, there is a way. Every year, bills are introduced after the deadline, sometimes by rewriting bills on other topics with what are called strike-everything amendments.

"If this gives us an opportunity for some good reforms, we will take it," Senate President Warren Petersen, a Gilbert Republican who is also a candidate for attorney general, said of Hobbs' proposals. But it was not a coincidence that Hobbs revealed her proposals when she did, he said.

What the Senate and Shope want to do

Hours earlier, Senate Republicans announced they would advance Shope's bill that replicates a 2025 measure that Hobbs vetoed.

Shope's Senate Bill 1186 would require companies and their leaders to disclose financial support to the governor's campaign or an affiliated or opposed political group when they bid on state contracts. The bill would also apply the disclosure requirement to existing contractors, according to Senate Republicans. The Senate's Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee approved the bill with a 4-3 vote, with only Republicans in favor on Feb. 18, teeing up the measure for a vote in the Senate.

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The 2025 bill passed with Republican support, but won over one Senate Democrat, too.

Still, Hobbs vetoed it based on provisions that would have removed an exemption that says Arizona's Medicaid program does not have to follow state contracting law. Her office later said Shope's bill would only make the problem worse by telling state employees who is making political donations, instead of making it easier for the public to do oversight via her updated reporting database.

Shope said Hobbs' proposals fell short and would not prevent what Republicans have dubbed a pay to play situation with Sunshine Residential.

"The loopholes are there to drive a Mack truck through," he said. Shope said he rejected Hobbs' proposals in part out of concern that restricting contributions would be impossible given they are protected speech under the First Amendment.

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Of Hobbs' proposals, only one would have clearly applied to the scenario involving contributions from Sunshine Residential Homes. That is the transparency provision making it easier for the public to search state contracts, which are available online already, and find company owners, which is not always publicly available, and then see who is making political contributions.

Most of Sunshine Residential's donations were to the Arizona Democratic Party, Hobbs' party, during her campaign, and made outside of the period the company was in contract discussions with the Department of Child Safety. Hobbs' proposal does not appear to bar contributions contract-seekers make to political parties.

Hobbs' aides said the governor would consider making the contribution ban apply to other types of political spending groups, including political parties, subject to negotiation with lawmakers.

The contribution ban was narrowly crafted so it did not run afoul of the First Amendment, according to Hobbs' office. Hobbs proposal is distinct from Shope's in that it would impose the contribution and lobbyist gift bans on the governor  as well as state lawmakers. The same lawmakers who will need to vote in favor of doing so before the bill can become law.

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By freezing political contributions while contracts are occurring, and requiring transparency afterward, it "helps ensure that contracts are awarded based on merit, not political connections," Hobbs' office said in a news release.

Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hobbs pitches ethics reform after pay-to-play allegations
The department of the federal government that oversees immigration operations, TSA and FEMA is still shut down as of Wednesday, Feb. 18.

The Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) previous funding agreement lapsed on Friday, Feb. 13. Congress failed to agree on a new funding plan in time, particularly when it came to allocations and regulations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the wake of Alex Pretti's and Renee Good's killings.

Heres a quick explainer on why there is currently a partial government shutdown and which agencies are affected.

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TSA lines are normal, for now: When you'll see the shutdown impact.

Are we in a government shutdown right now?

We are not currently in a full government shutdown, but a partial one. The shutdown is only affecting the Department of Homeland Security, but not every agency under its oversight.

Although ICE is one of the agencies under the DHS, its funding isnt halted, as it has a funding surplus at its disposal through President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill.

Many employees in agencies under the DHS are still working without pay.

Congress Democrats and the White House could reach an agreement, but there's no indication of that happening as of Feb. 18. As the shutdown continues, longer airport security lines and potential delays in disaster relief are increasing pressure to end the standoff, USA TODAY reported on Feb. 16.

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Even if Congress Democrats and the White House agree on funding, it could take about a week, as lawmakers are currently recessed and many will still be returning to Washington over the next few days. The next Senate vote is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23.

What is the main purpose of the Department of Homeland Security?

The Department of Homeland Securitys main purpose is to protect the U.S. from and respond to threats relating to terrorism, cyberattacks, natural disasters and more. The DHS was founded in November 2002, as a response to the 9/11 attacks. The department also manages immigration and enforces customs laws.

The Department of Homeland Security has a vital mission: to secure the nation from the many threats we face, the Department of Homeland Security website says.

This requires the hard work of more than 260,000 employees in jobs that range from aviation and border security to emergency response, from cybersecurity analyst to chemical facility inspector. Our duties are wide-ranging, and our goal is clear - keeping America safe.

What agencies are under the Department of Homeland Security?

Agencies under the Department of Homeland Security include:

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

United States Coast Guard (USCG)

United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

United States Secret Service (USSS)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Management Directorate

Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)

Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD)

Office of Intelligence and Analysis

Office of Homeland Security Situational Awareness (OSA)

Office of Health Security (OHS)

Ombudsman Offices

Contributing: Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Partial government shutdown still affecting TSA and FEMA
Governor Greg Abbott was in Cypress Tuesday afternoon, rallying supporters on the first day of early voting.

Part of his message was about education. After his speech, ABC13 asked him his thoughts about the student walkouts in several school districts now under state scrutiny, wherein grade school students protested ongoing immigration and customs enforcement actions.

"The attorney general is involved, and the commissioner of education, Mike Morath, is involved, separately, investigations about that also," Abbott said. "To what extent were educators, whether they be teachers or administrators or others, to what extent were they involved in this process?"

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The state is considering withholding enrollment funding from districts in which students protested. The Texas Education Administration, led by Commissioner Morath, warned districts of that potential punishment and instructed them to mark protesting students as absent. The state distributes money to schools based on daily enrollment.

Teachers also face the possibility of losing their licenses or jobs.

Texas state law does restrict students' abilities to protest by not allowing what's considered a disruption of the learning environment.

"If a child wants to protest," Abbott told ABC13, "they have certain rights to be involved in that protest, however it would be inappropriate and maybe a violation of the code of ethics or the responsibilities of teachers for them to assist or aid or abet with a child leaving a school during the school day."

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Attorney General Paxton has not said why he believes teachers or administrators encouraged the walkout. Abbott speculated it may have been a national teachers' union. There is no indication of how long the investigations might take.

For updates on this story, follow Tom Abrahams on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Greece will claim a World War II photo trove posted for sale online believed to show for the first time one of Nazi Germany's worst atrocities in the country, the culture ministry said Wednesday.

The ministry said the photographs appeared to show "the last moments" of 200 Greek Communists executed by the Nazis on May 1, 1944.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said an "entire collection" of photographs apparently taken by a German army lieutenant serving in wartime Greece had been declared a national monument "due to its particular historical value".

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"They allow us to frame the drama of occupied Greece also through the eyes of the occupier," she said in a statement.

"With today's declaration of the collection as a monument, the Ministry of Culture acquires the legal basis to claim it and acquire it on behalf of the Greek state," Mendoni said.

She added that the ministry wanted to look at the entire collection of photographs taken by Wehrmacht officer Hermann Heuer, who had also served in Belgium and France.

The revelation has caused strong emotions in Greece, especially among relatives of the victims.

Greek Communist party lawmaker Giorgos Lambroulis on Wednesday said the party had so far identified four men in the photographs.

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Twelve of the photographs had originally appeared on the Ebay site Crain's Militaria on Saturday before being taken down on Monday.

The 200 Communists were executed in retaliation for the killing of a German general and his staff by Communist guerrillas a few days earlier.

The execution at the Kaisariani shooting range in Athens was a seminal event of the 1941-1944 Nazi occupation of Greece, which was marked by several atrocities, mostly against Greek villagers.

Greece's Jewish community was also decimated during this period.

The mayor of Kaisariani, Ilias Stamelos, on Wednesday called the find "astonishing".

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"These are the first documents to come to light (regarding this event)," he told state TV ERT.

Most of the men had been arrested years earlier during anti-Communist raids by the police of Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas.

Until now, the only testimony of the 200 victims' final moments were from the handwritten notes they threw out of the trucks taking them to execution.

One of the pictures shows groups of the men marching through a field. Several others show them standing against a wall at the shooting range.

One photo appears to show the men being marched into the shooting range, after discarding their overcoats outside.

Mendoni said that ministry experts on Friday would visit the collector in Evergem, Belgium, to examine the photographs.

jph/jj
South Koreas National Intelligence Service (NIS) briefed lawmakers this week that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is actively grooming his daughter, Kim Ju Aebelieved to be around 13 years oldas his designated successor, advancing her from prior successor training to the stage of formal successor designation in a bid to extend the Kim family dynasty into a fourth generation.

The assessment, shared in a closed-door session with the National Assemblys Intelligence Committee and cited by lawmakers including Lee Seong-kweun, points to Kim Ju Aes growing public visibilitysuch as appearances at the founding anniversary of the Korean Peoples Army, visits to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, and instances of her reportedly voicing opinions on state policiesas key evidence of this shift, per Reuters.

The NIS is closely monitoring her potential participation in the upcoming 9th Workers Party Congress later this month, watching for indicators such as protocol level, use of her name, or symbolic references that could confirm her elevated status, according to the Korea Herald.

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While this marks a significant step toward a female heir in North Koreas patriarchal system, it could trigger internal rivalries.

Reports highlight potential resistance from Kim Jong Uns influential sister, Kim Yo Jonglong seen as a powerful figure who could serve as regent or alternative leaderpotentially setting up a high-stakes family power struggle, reported The Telegraph. Some analysts caution that media coverage has occasionally outpaced the NISs exact wording, which describes an internal designation rather than a fully public or finalized naming, with North Korean state media yet to openly confirm her role or name.

The NIS confirmed to South Korean lawmakers that Ju Ae has entered the formal stage of heir designation, per Reuters, a big milestone in the Kim dynastys succession process.

The teen girl appears to be elevated to a potential leadership role despite North Koreas deeply conservative, male-dominated political tradition. Kim Jong Un is 42 years old, though his health has long been a subject of international speculation.

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Ju Aes transition to power is obstructed by one of the most feared women in the world: Kim Yo Jong, 38, the younger sister of Kim Jong Un. She is widely regarded as the second most powerful person in all of North Korea.

Rah Jong Yil, former deputy director of South Koreas National Intelligence Service and former South Korean ambassador to the United Kingdom, has been direct about what he believes would happen if Kim Jong Un dies, while his daughter remains young and politically untested.

It depends on the timing, but I believe if Kim Yo Jong believed that she had a chance of becoming the top leader then she would take it, Rah told The Telegraph. For her, there are no reasons to refrain from putting into effect her own political project.

History offers little reassurance that a North Korean power conflict would resolve peacefully.

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When Kim Jong Un took power in 2011 following his fathers death, he moved quickly to eliminate threats within his inner circle. The Guardian reported that his uncle and one-time political mentor, Jang Song Thaek, was arrested on charges of anti-party, counter-revolutionary, factional acts and executed by firing squad in 2013. His half-brother, Kim Jong Nam  once considered a potential heir  was assassinated in 2017 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Two women, apparently deceived into believing they were participating in a prank show for a Japanese YouTube channel, smeared a deadly nerve agent on his face while four North Korean agents watched from the sidelines.

For now, the NIS assessment underscores a critical turning point: Kim Jong Un is positioning his teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as the heir apparent in an unprecedented bid to secure the Kim dynastys fourth generation, even as her youth and the regimes patriarchal traditions complicate the path ahead. The stage is being set for one of the most uncertain and potentially volatile succession battles in the Kim regimes history, rooted in a family that has historically resolved threats through ruthless elimination and absolute control.
Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Human rights experts from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner expressed concern about the possible link between Guatemala's attorney general, Consuelo Porras, and alleged illegal adoptions of disappeared Indigenous children.

According to investigators, led by Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite, the adoptions would have occurred between 1968 and 1996 during Guatemala's armed conflict -- a period marked by human rights violations that particularly affected Indigenous communities.

The allegations refer particularly to 1982, when Porras headed the Elisa Martinez Temporary Home and allegedly acted as the "legal guardian" of minors who were later placed in irregular international adoptions.

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"We are particularly concerned that a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation has not been carried out into the alleged involvement of certain state authorities in these processes and that the mothers affected by these illegal adoptions have apparently received neither recognition nor adequate reparations," the U.N. experts said in a statement.

The Elisa Martinez Home operated as a center under the Directorate of Child and Family Welfare with the authority to oversee national and international adoptions.

Once children entered the home, the director or person in charge became their legal guardian, allowing them to process adoption proceedings in Guatemala and abroad under the adoption regulations in force at the time, Prensa Libre reported.

The controversy arose as Porras sought to become a magistrate of the Constitutional Court, the country's highest court, once her term at the Public Ministry ends in May.

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According to analysts, the attorney general was seeking refuge in the high court to obtain the protection granted by immunity, and submitted her candidacy to the Superior University Council of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, digital outlet LaHora.gt reported.

However, after the report was made public, the university excluded her from the list of candidates for the court, determining that she did not meet the requirements of suitability and integrity.

The Public Ministry reacted strongly to the U.N. report. In an official statement, it described the allegations as "spurious, malicious and biased," arguing they are based on unverified information intended to interfere in the country's sovereign processes.

In a post on X, Porras rejected the accusations against her as "false and politically instrumentalized." She said they lack evidentiary support and "are completely malicious, and far from protecting human rights, they violate and distort them."

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Porras' defense maintains that her role at the Elisa Martinez Temporary Home was administrative and that she had no legal authority over the final destination of the minors. The attorney general also announced she is weighing legal action against the U.N. experts, arguing that her presumption of innocence has been violated.

While the experts insist on the need for independent and thorough investigations, Porras maintains that she is facing "international political persecution" aimed at weakening her position at the head of the Public Ministry.

Consuelo Porras was appointed in 2018 and ratified in 2022 as attorney general and head of Guatemala's Public Ministry. Although her mandate is focused on criminal prosecution, her tenure has been internationally questioned and sanctioned by more than 40 countries, including the United States and the European Union, over allegations of corruption and undermining democracy.

Porras has been accused of using the justice system as a political weapon to protect corruption networks and pursue independent prosecutors, judges and journalists, triggering repeated citizen protests that demand her resignation.

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After the election of President Bernardo Arevalo in 2023, the Public Ministry under Porras initiated a series of legal actions to attempt to annul the election results and cancel the ruling party, Semilla.

Since Arevalo took office, the relationship between him and Porras has been marked by constant confrontation.

Arevalo has sought legal mechanisms and legislative reforms to remove her, while Porras has refused to attend Cabinet summonses and has kept multiple investigations open against the president's inner circle, generating institutional paralysis and a deep political crisis in the country.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The death of Hailey Buzbee, an Indiana teenager who police said was lured to Ohio by a 39-year-old Columbus man she met online, is prompting legislative change in her home state.

Hailey Buzbee, 17, went missing from her home in Fortville, Indiana, on Jan. 6. Police say Tyler Thomas, who had reportedly communicated with her online for more than a year, picked her up and brought her back to Ohio. He allegedly led police to her remains in Perry County on Feb. 1, according to court records.

House Oversight Committee to depose Les Wexner in New Albany

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Thomas has been federally charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct in connection with her disappearance. As of Tuesday, he has not yet been charged in her death.

Hailey Buzbees case has garnered nationwide attention, sparking legislative efforts in Indiana addressing online safety and missing people alert systems.

On Feb. 9, Hailey Buzbees father, Beau Buzbee, urged Indiana lawmakers to restore protections for minors on social media in Senate Bill 199, a broad education bill. Earlier in the legislative session, social media provisions had been included in the bill, but they were later removed.

We are in the midst of the greatest crisis of our time, Beau Buzbee said at the hearing. We are losing the fight to protect our children. The internet and social media are the devils and predators playgrounds, and its on this front that we must fight.

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After Beau Buzbees testimony, lawmakers revived and expanded these protections, and the House passed the bill on Tuesday. Under the updated legislation, minors 17 and younger would need parental permission to open a social media account, could not be the targets of tailored advertisements and could be subject to further restrictions from their parents.

Columbus marijuana payments begin. Heres how the city plans on spending them.

The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate and then be signed by the governor before it can become law.

Beau Buzbee is also supporting a petition calling on Indiana lawmakers to pass Haileys Law. The proposed statute would create a Pink Alert  named after Hailey Buzbees favorite color  for missing persons when credible risk indicators exist, such as a sudden unexplained disappearance or evidence of online grooming, but Amber or Silver Alert criteria are not met.

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The petition states that an Amber Alert was not issued for Buzbee because law enforcement did not have evidence of an abduction, and a Silver Alert did not apply because she did not have a qualifying disability.

The proposed measure would also mandate predator awareness education in Indiana schools, focused on online grooming and coercive tactics. The petition has more than 119,000 signatures, but legislation has yet to be introduced.

NBC4 reached out to spokespeople for Ohio Statehouse Republicans and Democrats to see if there are any pending bills in the Buckeye State related to the Hailey Buzbee case, but has not yet heard back.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Republicans have a message for the New Hampshire Supreme Court: The state is already spending enough on its public schools.

In the months since the court ruled that New Hampshire is unconstitutionally underfunding public education, Republican lawmakers have objected to the order, calling it judicial overreach and an unfair account of the funding the state currently sends to schools.

Now, they are putting legislation behind those words.

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A pair of bills moving through the House and Senate this year would redefine what counts as adequate education funding and who must pay. House Bill 1815 would assert that the obligation to provide a constitutionally adequate public education is a shared responsibility between local school districts and the state  not just a burden on the state.

That statutory change, if upheld by state courts, would introduce a new interpretation of the states school funding obligations laid out in the Claremont Supreme Court decisions of the 1990s. And it would present significant legislative pushback to the 2023 superior court and 2025 Supreme Court rulings that found the state is not adequately funding public schools and must increase its contributions. Senate Republicans have introduced an identical bill, Senate Bill 659.

Republicans say sending a clear message in statute is necessary to re-establish the Legislatures control over state funding to schools.

Rep. Bob Lynn, a Windham Republican, introduces a bill to change the definition of adequate school funding in state statute following the Supreme Courts ConVal ruling, Feb. 13, 2026. (Screenshot from New Hampshire General Court)

I think basically what it says is, You, court, got it wrong. You didnt give us the proper role that we have. You really ought to think about this again, said Rep. Bob Lynn, a Windham Republican, former Supreme Court chief justice, and author of HB 1815, speaking at a House Education Funding Committee hearing Friday.

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But Democrats and school funding advocates argue the two bills are an attempt by the Legislature to evade its responsibilities and more than three decades of court rulings.

This bill, in a really large way, pretends that the constitution doesnt exist, said John Tobin, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs in the Claremont lawsuits, who testified against the bill.

Speaking to the Education Funding Committee, Tobin said the Claremont decisions made clear that Part II, Article 83 of the state constitution creates an obligation for the state to cherish public education by funding it, and that school funding must be provided via taxation that is proportional and reasonable for residents. Currently, with towns setting vastly different local property tax rates to fund schools, the system is not proportional, Tobin said.

HB 1815 would effectively re-frame school funding as a policy choice for the state, and not a constitutional obligation, and would adopt language to preserve the status quo, Tobin argued.

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If signed into law, the bills could affect future court rulings around school funding. In 2025, the Supreme Court ruled, 3-2, in favor of school districts in Contoocook Valley School District v. State of New Hampshire and ordered lawmakers to increase its funding. But a second lawsuit, Rand v. State of New Hampshire, is expected to appear before the high court in the next year.

HB 1815 and SB 659 could affect how the Supreme Court views the states approach to funding in Rand. And the bills could spark further litigation if plaintiffs in the Contoocook Valley case, known as ConVal, assert the Legislature is not following the Supreme Courts order.

In a rare move, the New Hampshire Department of Justice, which has represented the state against both lawsuits, endorsed Lynns bill. Assistant Attorney General Sam Garland testified in favor of it Friday, arguing it provides needed clarity to the definition of adequacy in state statute.

What it does do is bring precision that isnt in the language as it currently exists, Garland said.

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But former Democratic Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky, an attorney who co-represented the Claremont plaintiffs with Tobin and currently co-represents the Rand plaintiffs, reacted differently.

Shame on Bob Lynn, Volinsky said in an interview. He should know better that you cant change the constitution by statute.

Beyond the creation of shared funding responsibility, HB 1815 would make two other changes to adequacy funding statutes in New Hampshire.

The bill would specify that the states adequacy funding obligations apply only to academic programs.

And it would expand the definition of state adequacy funding to count not just the $4,351 base adequacy payments that go to each student, but also the additional thousands of dollars per student in differentiated aid payments to cover lower income students.

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Critics of the 2023 Rockingham Superior Court ruling in ConVal  in which Judge David Ruoff lambasted the state for spending around $4,000 per student in base adequacy payments and ordered the state to pay at least $7,356.01 per student  have argued that Ruoff unfairly left out those differentiated aid payments from his analysis. If differentiated aid is included, the state spends more than $7,000 per student already, those critics say.

Garland argued those tweaks would help clear up two questions the Supreme Court faced in its 2025 ConVal decision: What is included in the definition of an adequate education, and which state funding streams should count toward its cost.

And while Department of Education Commissioner Caitlin Davis did not take a position on the bill, she did testify to say that differentiated aid has long been considered part of adequacy by the department. When the ConVal case went to trial at Rockingham Superior Court in 2023, Davis predecessor, Frank Edelblut, faced sharp questions in court over how the department defines adequacy; Davis echoed Garland and said the bill would give clarity.

Above all, Lynn and other supporters say HB 1815 is meant to re-establish legislative supremacy over schools and reinforce that school districts are subdivisions of the state.

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Lynn argues the current system, in which the state is constitutionally responsible for adequacy payments but has no control over local districts hiring and spending decisions, is an unfair mandate on state taxpayers; but by splitting the adequacy responsibility with school districts, the bill creates a more fair division.

The bill has drawn controversy: 1,033 people have submitted online testimony opposing it, while eight people say they support it.

Speaking at the hearing, opponents said the bill would allow lawmakers to shirk the responsibility to fix the states unequal local education property tax system, in which towns with weak property tax bases must set high tax rates to keep their schools open, while wealthier towns can set lower tax rates and afford better services. In Sunapee, residents pay $5 per $1,000 of property valuation, while in neighboring Newport, the tax rate is $15.95 per $1,000, and the school district budget has struggled, critics noted.

And the bills opponents said by redefining adequacy as a collective effort of both school districts and the state, HB 1815 was diluting the meaning of the adequacy requirement. Sharing the responsibility could allow lawmakers to reduce the amount the state currently sends to local districts and retreat from its funding role further, Tobin argued.

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Theres some wonderful language in here about shared responsibility and integration and flexibility, but theres nothing in here that delineates in any way a bottom line for the states responsibility, Tobin said.

Throughout the hearing, it was clear Republicans and Democrats fundamentally disagree about that balance. Asked by Rep. Hope Damon, a Croydon Democrat, whether his bill would increase state funding to schools, Lynn said no. Asked whether Lynn believed the state is currently adequately funding education, he said yes.

Pressed by the 2025 court ruling to take action, Republican leaders in both chambers have embraced Lynns approach. In January, Senate President Sharon Carson introduced SB 659 as a late-filed bill, calling it the exact bill as HB 1815. Lynns bill is the product of a study committee convened by Gov. Kelly Ayotte in 2025 to devise a response to the Supreme Courts July ruling, Carson told the Senate Rules and Enrolled Bills Committee at the time.

I want to applaud the Governor for being very proactive in addressing this issue, Carson said. So were going to bring it forward.

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The governors office did not respond to a request for more information.

As we all know, the Legislature is really the laboratory of ideas, and this is an idea, Carson said. And I hope that we have a great, robust discussion on education financing.
A 21-year-old New Hampshire man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a man in Manchester, the attorney general said Tuesday.

Adrian David Garcia Bonilla, of Manchester, is charged with manslaughter and felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, Attorney General John Formella said in a statement.

Police arrested Garcia Bonilla on Tuesday morning, hours after the shooting death of Kade Harrower, 29, of Manchester, Formella said.

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Harrower was killed on Monday afternoon, Formella said. An autopsy conducted Tuesday determined that Harrowers cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest, and the manner of death was homicide.

Manchester Police are handling the investigation along with the Hillsborough County Attorneys Office.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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On Valentines Day 2026, a newborn weighing just 3.79 pounds became the first baby delivered at Sierra Leones new Maternal Center of Excellence. The hospitals NICU was largely funded by creators Hank and John Green and their online community, who raised about $50 million.

KEY FACTS:

The Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE) officially opened Feb. 14, 2026, housing Sierra Leones first-ever neonatal intensive care unit.

The baby girl was delivered at 2:13 p.m. on opening day, weighing 1.72 kg (about 3.79 pounds), and immediately received specialized NICU care.

Authors and online creators Hank and John Green, along with their community of supporters, raised about $50 million to fund the project.

Sierra Leone had a maternal mortality rate of 1 in 52 women in 2020, compared to 1 in 3,800 in the U.S. and 1 in 5,200 in the U.K., according to Partners In Health.

The facility includes 166 beds, expanded maternal and newborn services, high-level emergency care, and about 200 trained clinical staff including 51 midwives.

Why This Hospital Matters

Sierra Leone has historically had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.

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Those numbers are primarily a result of the countrys 11-year civil war and a broken health system with diminishing maternal care, per Partners In Health.

Before the MCOE, Sierra Leone had no NICU  no unit specifically designed to care for premature or critically ill newborns needing immediate, specialized medical attention. The new center expands upon a previous 48-bed maternal ward.

The center was built in partnership with Sierra Leones Ministry of Health and Partners In Health.

It builds upon the countrys efforts over the past decade to improve maternal health care, which has included a blood bank and pharmacy next to the existing maternal ward.

How Hank and John Green Raised $50 Million

John Green is the author behind The Fault In Our Stars. Hank Green is the author of New York Times best sellers An Absolutely Remarkable Thing and its sequel A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor.

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Their YouTube channel Vlogbrothers has more than 4 million subscribers.

The brothers funded the MCOE through their businesses, including Good Store and Awesome Socks Club, as well as donations and their annual Project for Awesome charity livestream.

Their community of supporters, known as Nerdfighteria, contributed significantly.

This has been a six-year journey for our community, raising $50 million, working with the Sierra Leonean government and Partners in Health Sierra Leone to build the staff, stuff, space, and systems necessary to provide good, dignified care, John Green said in an announcement video.

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Despite the scale of their contribution, John Green redirected credit.

Id love to present us as the heroes of this story, but the truth is, the folks in Sierra Leone who actually built the hospital, who actually provide the care, who do the training for the nurses and midwives and traditional birth attendants, those are the people who really made this possible, John said.

What the Ministry of Health Said

The Ministry of Health and Partners In Health proudly celebrate this remarkable milestone and look forward to many more successes as we continue strengthening healthcare delivery across Sierra Leone. Together, we are advancing safer motherhood and giving every newborn a stronger start to life, the Ministry of Health wrote on Facebook.

The MCOE project broke ground in 2021.

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The brothers work in global health has earned them a place on the TIME100 Health 2026 list. They plan to continue supporting maternal health efforts in Sierra Leone beyond the opening of the center.

BOTTOM LINE: In a country where 1 in 52 women died during pregnancy or childbirth as recently as 2020, Sierra Leone now has its first NICU and a 166-bed maternal care facility. And a baby girl born on opening day received care that simply did not exist there before.

Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
Harry Barnes, who has died aged 89, was the Labour MP for North-East Derbyshire for 18 years, and was one of the partys most rebellious Left-wingers; only his neighbour Dennis Skinner defied the whips more often.

He voted against the Defence Estimates when instructed to abstain; opposed the first Gulf War (as one of the few MPs to have lived in Iraq); consistently attacked the EEC as undemocratic; opposed any extension of pub opening hours; and backed Jeremy Corbyn when his research assistant  previously with the IRA  was stripped of his Commons pass.

Yet although some Tories twitted him for being fussy and unpractical  he did not drive, and was reputedly unable to change a plug  Barnes was regarded with considerable affection.

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A moderate on Northern Ireland, he carved out a niche as a specialist. In 1990 he co-founded New Consensus, which opposed the imposition of a united Ireland, and sectarian terrorism on both sides. He supported John Majors Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Brooke when contacts with Sinn Fein first became public knowledge, and in 1992 with Kate Hoey and Nick Raynsford, he launched a drive for Labour to field candidates in Ulster.

Barnes blamed the IRA for the collapse of its ceasefire in 1996, nevertheless voting against renewing the Prevention of Terrorism Act; and after the Manchester bombings he joined the Conservative Peter Bottomley in calling for IRA killers released from prison on licence to be recalled until the ceasefire was restored. He went on to press, again with Bottomley, and in the end successfully, for a fresh inquiry into Bloody Sunday.

When Tony Blair came to power in 1997 and the peace process moved into its endgame, Barnes was appointed to the Northern Ireland Select Committee and, later, the Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Body.

With David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, during the 1996 Labour Party conference in Blackpool - RUSSELL BOYCE/REUTERS

His other preoccupation was achieving an accurate electoral register. Concerned that 1.88 million voters had disappeared from it to avoid paying the poll tax, and as many again could be missing because councils were not conducting a full canvass, Barnes pressed over the years for a rolling register that could be updated at any time, not just once a year. Such a register now exists.

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Harold Barnes was born in Easington, Co Durham, on July 22 1936, the son of Joseph Barnes, a miner, and the former Betsy Gray, who had been in service.

He left Ryhope Grammar School at 16 to join British Railways as a clerk, and spent his National Service with the Iraq State Railway. He returned to BR appalled by Iraqs mud huts, mud streets, open sewers, flies and general deprivation, and joined the Labour Party.

From 1957 to 1960 Barnes was agent to his local MP, the veteran Manny Shinwell. He then took a diploma at Ruskin College, Oxford, before reading philosophy and political studies at Hull University.

After a year teaching at North Nottinghamshire College in Worksop, he was appointed an extramural lecturer at Sheffield University in 1968. Directing mature students, he taught four future Commons colleagues, Kevin Barron, Kevin Hughes, Terry Patchett and Martin Redmond.

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Meanwhile, he was attracted to the tiny and purist Independent Labour Party, which ended decades of schism in 1975 and, as Independent Labour Publications, re-affiliated with Labour. He became a member of its National Administrative Council, and in 1977 joined the board of its organ, Labour Leader, writing for it until 1985.

Barnes at a press conference held by Labour Against the War in 2003 with his fellow MPs Tony Benn, left, and Alan Simpson - KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/PA

As the hard Left came within a whisker of taking over the party, Barnes was active in groups supporting Tony Benn such as the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy. But in 1981 he warned Benns lieutenant, Chris Mullin, that co-ordinated mass refusal by Labour councils to increase rates and rents unreasonably or to slash services would leave them vulnerable until there was a Labour government.

By then he was living in North East Derbyshire, the mining constituency between Chesterfield and Sheffield which was being taken over by commuters. During the strike of 1984-85, he helped set up the Dronfield Miners Support Group. He had reservations about Arthur Scargills conduct of the dispute, but kept them to himself as many of his students were strikers.

Soon after, the local MP, Ray Ellis, decided to retire, and to some surprise Barnes, then 50, won the Labour nomination ahead of a Scargillite miner. He held the seat at the 1987 election with a majority of 3,720.

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At Westminster, he joined the Socialist Campaign Group and voiced concern over Neil Kinnocks abandoning Labours commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament. He also advocated, with Ken Livingstone, a democratic, social and federal Europe, with greater powers for the European Parliament at the expense of the secretive Council of Ministers.

Nearly doubling his majority in 1992, Barnes voted against the Maastricht Treaty and the National Lottery, advocated diplomatic relations with North Korea and, after the death of John Smith, backed Margaret Beckett for the leadership against Blair. He protested at Blairs abandoning Clause IV of the party constitution advocating public ownership, but complimented him for being readier than previous leaders to listen to backbench critics.

Barnes outside No 10 Downing Street in 2002 with Joseph McCloskey, left, and McCloskeys uncle Danny McBrearty, who had both been victims of the IRA - CLARE KENDALL

In 1995 he promoted a Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill, which William Hague derided as a blank cheque. Ministers killed it by tabling 168 amendments.

Re-elected in 1997 with a majority of 18,321, Barnes rebelled against Blairs government on issues such as asylum, benefit cuts for single parents and the privatisation of air traffic control.

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In June 1998 he suffered a stroke but was back in the House in a month, though his ability to participate in debates was reduced. He nevertheless spearheaded the campaign for a Tobin Tax  proposed by the Nobel Prize-winning economist James Tobin  a charge on international currency dealings to fund Third World development, and led calls for a posthumous medal for members of the armed forces killed in service. He also, to some surprise, supported Natos intervention in Kosovo.

Barnes held his seat again comfortably in 2001, but retired at the 2005 election, Natascha Engel taking his place with a five-figure majority. The seat has since oscillated between Labour and the Conservatives.

Harry Barnes married Ann Stephenson in 1963; they had a daughter and son.

Harry Barnes, born July 22 1936, died February 16 2026

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CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten said on Tuesday that a growing number of Americans who voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election now regret it.

And if given a mulligan, theyd pick former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a new poll.

Enten said Trump won the popular vote in 2024 by about a percentage point and a half, but the new redo poll finds Harris now ahead by 8 points.

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He called that a massive shift, and the bad news for the president and his party doesnt end there.

Enten said 89% of actual 2024 Harris voters plan to vote for a Democrat in this years midterm elections, versus just 83% of Trump voters who plan to choose a Republican.

This means that the Democratic base that voted for Kamala Harris is sticking with those congressional Democratic candidates to a much greater degree than those Trump voters are sticking with the Republican candidates for Congress, he pointed out.

Politics: Italian Doctor Trolls Trump, RFK Jr. With Message About Lindsey Vonns Olympics Surgeries

The result? Democrats are leaping ahead in the race for control of the House and Senate in this years midterms.

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See more of his analysis below:

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

Regrets: Harris now clearly leads Trump in a 2024 redo.



Big implications for 2026: Dems for Congress are holding onto Harris voters more than the GOP is holding onto Trump voters.



Further: non-2024 voters are heavily favoring Dems.



Puts not just the House, but Senate in-play. pic.twitter.com/qioTChA2Zh  (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) February 17, 2026

Political Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
The United States is entering a self-inflicted crisis in the Middle East. President Donald Trump has ordered a "beautiful armada" into the region while demanding Iran make a "deal" to avoid war. The crisis began when Trump promised to help Iranian protesters during a two-day uprising that was violently crushed, but since then, his administration has issued demands on completely different issues.

Vice President J.D. Vance has focused on the remnants of the Iranian nuclear program, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio is demanding concessions on Iran's conventional military power, regional policies, and domestic political system. On Tuesday, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Iranians in Switzerland to discuss some kind of deal.

"It was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through," Vance told Fox News afterwards, without explaining what those red lines actually are. U.S. negotiations have reportedly given Iran two weeks to come up with a satisfactory offer.

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Rubio, meanwhile, is publicly expecting his own negotiators to fail. "We're dealing with radical Shiite clerics and people who make geopolitical decisions on the basis of pure theology," he said at the Munich Security Conference on Monday. "No one's ever been able to do a successful deal with Iran."

It's almost like the administration wants to use force in the Middle Eastand is just searching for a reason. An adviser to the president told Axios that there is a "90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks." Of course, a war could come much sooner. Trump said in June 2025 that he would decide in "two weeks" whether to attack Iran, a couple of days before attacking Iran.

Twenty-three years ago, the U.S. launched a war against Iraq based on lies about the Iraqi nuclear program and other "weapons of mass destruction." The imminent war with Iran rhymes with that project, with two important differences. Rather than a grand narrative about mushroom clouds, hawks have told a long series of small lies, constantly shifting the goalposts while hiding their own aims. And rather than actually trying to gin up a public mandate, the administration is barreling forward towards war without asking Congress.

A decade ago, Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) was mortally offended at the suggestion that he was pushing war with Iran, because he only wanted to negotiate a "better agreement." Now he is one of the loudest voices against negotiations, period, and for war. After the June 2025 bombings, the White House declared that "Iran's Nuclear Facilities Have Been Obliteratedand Suggestions Otherwise are Fake News." Now the administration is waving around the threat of an Iranian nuke.

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"We're not at war with Iran. We're at war with Iran's nuclear program," Vance told NBC News during the June 2025 war, adding that the goal was not "regime change" or "to prolong or expand this conflict any further."

Less than a year later, the administration is planning for "a joint U.S.-Israeli campaign that's much broader in scopeand more existential for the regimethan the Israeli-led 12-day war last June," reports Axios. The Israeli government, Iran's archnemesis, is "pushing for a maximalist scenario targeting regime change as well as Iran's nuclear and missile programs," the report states.

Arab states, which host U.S. forces and therefore could become an Iranian target, have been publicly pushing back on plans for war. But they may be talking out of both sides of their mouths. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman privately told the Trump administration that failing to attack "will only embolden the regime," according to Axios.

While Middle Eastern and U.S. leaders debate their plans for war, the little people of America have not been consulted. A poll from January 2026 shows that 70 percent of Americans do not want a war with Iran and want the president to ask Congress before starting one.

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But Congress itself does not seem keen to debate the issue. A war powers resolution introduced by Sens. Tim Kaine (DVa.) and Rand Paul (RKy.) has been sitting in committee, and Kaine says it is unlikely to be voted on while negotiations are ongoing. The text of the Kaine-Paul resolution itself has an explicit carveout allowing the president to defend "Israel and other nations" against "retaliatory attacks by Iran," which would enable Israel to start a war and demand U.S. intervention, just like it did in June 2025.

In 2013, after the Obama administration asked Congress for permission to bomb Syria, sex predator Jeffrey Epstein wrote to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, "hopefully somone [sic] suggests getting authorization now for Iran. the congress woudl [sic] do it." How quaint that he thought Congress was a relevant actor.

Many people in Washington seem to be betting that war will unfold so quicklyand appear so costlessthat any domestic opposition fades away. That bet paid off in June 2025, and in the January 2026 operation in Venezuela. Iranian leaders, however, have been signaling that they will not play along with a limited war this time.

And what American hawks want now is much bigger than the June 2025 and January 2026 campaigns. Two officials told Reuters that they are planning for weeks of large-scale warfare. Trump told reporters last week that regime change in Iran "would be the best thing that could happen." Kushner believes that the Middle East "is a liquid and the ability to reshape is unlimited," as he wrote in September 2024.

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That rhetoric is exactly how the Bush administration and its supporters sounded on the eve of the Iraq War. Not to worry, though. The Trump administration knows that it's better than the last people who got struck down for their hubris.

"I empathize with Americans who are exhausted after 25 years of foreign entanglements in the Middle East," Vance told NBC News in his June 2025 interview. "I understand the concern, but the difference is that back then we had dumb presidents and now we have a president who actually knows how to accomplish America's national security objectives."

The post The Hawks Are Lying Us Into Yet Another Middle Eastern War appeared first on Reason.com.
A memorial fund has been created for a Beech Grove Police officer shot and killed responding to a domestic disturbance on Feb. 16, 2026. The Central Indiana Police Foundation is collecting donations to support the family of late officer Brian Elliott.

Another officer was also shot, but is expected to recover and was released from a hospital, Beech Grove Police Chief Michael Maurice said Feb. 17.

"All donations made through CIPF will directly support Officer Elliotts family during this difficult time, ensuring the integrity and proper stewardship of every gift," the foundation said in a post online.

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Donations can be made online at cipf.foundation/in-memory-of-beech-grove-officer-brian-elliott or by mailing a check, note, or gift to Central IN Police Foundation, 1525 Shelby St., Indianapolis, IN 46203. Checks are made out to: Central IN Police Foundation, with the memo being: Officer Brian Elliott Memorial Fund.

Brain Elliott trained at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 2024. On social media, the academy posted his graduation photo, describing him as "a shining star" who "represents the very best our law enforcement community has to offer." Brian Elliott stands with other sheriff's deputies and salutes the hearse carrying Marion County Sheriff's Deputy John Durm during Durm's funeral procession on Monday, July 17, 2023. Brian Elliott served with the Beech Grove Police Department for less than two years before he was shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a disturbance on Feb. 16, 2026. Brian Elliott was sworn into the Beech Grove Police Department by Mayor Jim Coffman on Sept. 3, 2024. Brian Elliott was sworn into the Beech Grove Police Department by Mayor Jim Coffman on Sept. 3, 2024. Brian Elliott joined his Beech Grove Police Department colleagues at Greatimes Family Fun Park for the annual Shop With a Cop event on Dec. 7, 2024. Officer Brian Elliott was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance on Feb. 16, 2026. Photos posted by the department in May 2025 show that he participated in a Special Olympics fundraiser with several colleagues. "We had (a) great time, except maybe Officer Elliott, who narrowly avoided being pecked by an unwanted visitor!" the Beech Grove Police Department wrote after a Special Olympics fundraiser on May 16, 2025. Brian Elliott served as a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff's Office before he joined the Beech Grove Police Department. While working with the sheriff's office, Elliott primarily worked with the Sex and Violent Offender Registry. Brian Elliott served as a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff's Office before he joined the Beech Grove Police Department. While working with the sheriff's office, Elliott primarily worked with the Sex and Violent Offender Registry. Brian Elliott served as a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff's Office before he joined the Beech Grove Police Department. While working with the sheriff's office, Elliott primarily worked with the Sex and Violent Offender Registry. Officer Brian Elliott's law enforcement career in pictures 1 of 11 Brain Elliott trained at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 2024. On social media, the academy posted his graduation photo, describing him as "a shining star" who "represents the very best our law enforcement community has to offer."

'A terrible tragedy.' Community members react to fatal Beech Grove shooting

Officer Brian Elliott killed in the line of duty

Politicians, community leaders, Indiana police departments, and former colleagues took to social media to share their condolences for the Beech Grove officer. He's a graduate of Beech Grove High School and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

He was a two-year officer with the Beech Grove Police Department, joining their ranks back in 2024.

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"At the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Officer Elliott represented our department with esteem as Assistant Squad Leader, Honor Graduate, and the Glenda Mercer Memorial Award winner for top academic achievement," the department shared in a post following his death.

Elliott worked for the Marion County Sheriff's Office for four years before joining Beech Grove PD. He also worked security at Eskenazi Hospital for a time, according to his Facebook profile.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How to help the families of Beech Grove police officers who were shot Feb. 16
Heritage Christian Academy in Haslet is facing backlash from concerned parents after it was revealed that Caleb Crawford, the son of head pastor Eric Crawford, is a registered sex offender who had been working at the school as an independent contractor.

Heritage Christian Academy issued a public statement after concerns within the congregation, where pastor Eric Crawford addressed why he allowed his son, a registered sex offender, to assist with maintenance and musical jobs around the church. The pastor states his sons legal process had concluded several years prior.

"My intent was to allow his gifts to serve the ministry while ensuring that he held no role of responsibility or authority over minors entrusted to our care," Crawford said.

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Ryan and Dani Jo Gunderson, parents of three children previously enrolled at the private Christian school, said they were never informed of Crawford's presence when they enrolled their first child four years ago  and only discovered the information on their own.

"It took us two minutes to find this," Dani Jo Gunderson said pointing to Crawford's DPS registry. "We can't find him on their website because he's an independent contractor, yet we can find all of these photos with him on the stage. I have pictures on my phone of him behind the children."

The Gundersons said their children appeared to know Crawford by name, raising questions about how limited his role truly was.

"The reason we're doing this is so that every other parent can make the informed decision as to whether they want to send their kid somewhere where there is a convicted pedophile working there," Ryan Gunderson said.

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According to court documents, 31-year-old Caleb Crawford was charged with indecency with a child for sexual conduct from 2016. Crawford was convicted for sexual contact of a minor who was 12 years old. Crawford was 17 and under the care of his parents at the time, and court documents indicate the sexual contact continued over the course of a couple of years. The conviction was enough to warrant a lifetime sex offender registry requirement.

The Gundersons said the church has been actively concealing Crawford's presence.

"They have been hiding a big secret for many, many years, on purpose," Dani Jo Gunderson said.

In the statement released by Pastor Crawford, he said he has reversed his decisions, stating his son will no longer lead music and his maintenance contract has been terminated. He also said that this will allow his son to attend church services, if he chooses, but will not be allowed to serve in any volunteer or ministry capacity.

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In the statement, the church emphasized its commitment to child safety:

"Heritage Baptist Church and its related ministries do not conceal criminal conduct, and we maintain zero tolerance for criminal or inappropriate behavior within our ministry community. In accordance with mandatory reporting laws, we report any suspicion of abuse or inappropriate conduct toward a minor to the appropriate authorities."

The church declined WFAA's request for an on-camera interview.

For the Gundersons, the church's response falls short. They said the fact that Crawford was on campus at all  regardless of his official title  is unacceptable, and they are now making it their mission to ensure other parents in the community are aware.

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"Why would you want a convicted pedophile around your kids every day? Why?" Ryan Gunderson said.

The family told WFAA this is not about personal feelings, but about informed consent for every parent in the community.

Crawford's statement said the church remains fully committed to operating in a safe, responsible, and legally compliant manner in order to strengthen unity and trust within the church and school communities.
NEED TO KNOW

A high-speed traffic crash killed an 18-year-old passenger and injured a 17-year-old driver on Feb. 15, officials said

Olivia Bumbac, a senior at Parkway Central High School, was identified as the victim by school officials

Bumbac's family said she was planning on taking her certified nursing assistant exam in March



An 18-year-old high school student was killed, and another teen was injured after a speeding car overturned and eventually crashed into another car in Missouri, authorities said.

The victim was identified as Olivia Bumbac, a senior at Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, the school said, CBS affiliate KMOV, NBC affiliate KDSK and Fox affiliate KTVI reported.

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According to a traffic report by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident occurred on the evening of Sunday, Feb. 15, on Interstate 64 at Missouri Route 141.

Bumbac was the passenger in the car driven by an unidentified 17-year-old boy traveling westbound on Interstate 64 when the car began to slide, troopers said. The car then overturned, struck the concrete median barrier, and entered the eastbound lanes.

Authorities said that the car then collided with another vehicle before traveling off the right side of the roadway and striking an embankment.

Bumbac and the 17-year-old driver were transported to a hospital, where Bumbac later died, officials said. There were no other injuries from the incident.

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Troopers said in the report that the 17-year-old driver was driving too fast at the time of the crash. In addition, Bumbac didnt have a seatbelt on.

Dr. Tim McCarthy, principal at Parkway Central High School, announced Bumbacs death to the school community on Tuesday, Feb. 17, KTVI reported. He added that the other person involved in the crash, who is also a student, sustained injuries and had been hospitalized.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Bumbac family as they mourn the loss of their daughter and sister, McCarthy said. Another student was in the accident and is currently hospitalized; we are with him in spirit as he recovers.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Tarun Rana, an attorney for the Bumbac family and a family friend, described Olivia as a ray of sunshine.

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She was the person that you could call at midnight and she would come, Rana told KDSK.

Rana said that Olivia, a former member of her schools lacrosse team, had already completed her coursework in high school. Her family said she was planning on taking her certified nursing assistant exam in March with an eye toward furthering her education to become a nurse.

She had her whole future ahead of her, Rana told KDSK. She was getting her general eds done and was going to go on to nursing school. She wanted to help people.

Meanwhile, Parkway Central High School students held a vigil for Olivia on Tuesday.

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I think it means the most to her parents to know that she was this loved, that there were so many peoples lives that she touched, because she truly found her way in everybodys heart, Aahana Shrestha, a friend, told KTVI.

Rana and Parkway Central High School did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comments.



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The CEO of the embattled California High-Speed Rail Authority was one of two people arrested this month at his Folsom home following an alleged domestic disturbance between his fiancee and his daughter, hours after appearing beside Gov. Gavin Newsom at a rail event in Kern County.

According to Folsom police logs, Ian Choudri, 57, was arrested just after midnight Feb. 4 after officers were called to his home. Police said officers responded to the residence and took Choudri and his fiancee, Lyudmyla Starostyuk, 46, into custody on suspicion of misdemeanor battery. A spokesperson for the Folsom Police Department confirmed the arrest and said both were booked and released from the Sacramento County Main Jail downtown.

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Allen Sawyer, an attorney for Choudri and Starostyuk, said the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office immediately declined to file charges after Folsom police forwarded the incident.

Mr. Choudri was never asked to appear in court, Sawyer said in an email Monday night. He added that this matter is over and no further action will be taken.

According to dispatch recordings reviewed by The Sacramento Bee, Choudri was arrested after officers were called to the home for an alleged fight between Starostyuk and Choudris 17-year-old daughter. Dispatchers relayed to officers that Starostyuk had pulled her hair and pushed her before locking her out of the house. It was not clear who made the call to 911, but all three residents were outside the home when police arrived.

Choudri and Starostyuk, a former professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The police spokesperson said the department does not comment on specifics of arrests, referring further questions to the DAs Office.

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The District Attorneys Office in a statement Tuesday said its investigators did not find sufficient evidence to charge Choudri before his expected arraignment on Feb. 6 because they could not determine a clear dominate aggressor in the incident.

Our office takes all allegations of domestic violence incredibly seriously, regardless of who the suspect is or what position they hold in our community, the DAs Office said in the statement. Per Penal Code section 13701, in domestic violence situations law enforcement shall take steps to determine who the dominant aggressor is to make the appropriate arrest. In this case, law enforcement arrested one male and one female. Officers did not see or note any injuries to either individual.

Since the evidence does not clearly demonstrate a dominant aggressor we determined there was insufficient evidence to file charges to sustain our burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, it said.

California High Speed Rail CEO Ian Choudri is interviewed by the California McClatchy Editorial Board Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Fresno. (ERIC PAUL ZAMORA/ezamora@fresnobee.com)

The arrest occurred hours after Choudri appeared with Gov. Gavin Newsom at a High-Speed Rail Authority facility in Kern County, where the governor touted progress on the long-delayed project and criticized the Trump administrations decision to pull $4 billion in federal funding.

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Newsoms office referred a request for comment to the High Speed Rail Authority.

Choudri joined Newsom that day to announce the completion of the authoritys 150-acre railhead facility near Shafter, which will serve as a staging area for track construction in the Southern San Joaquin Valley.

The High-Speed Rail Authority is aware of the matter and is reviewing it, a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement Monday night.

Choudri was appointed CEO by the authoritys board of directors in August 2024. According to previous Bee reporting, he previously worked on large-scale construction projects in more than 18 countries.

The Bees Daniel Hunt contributed to this story.
What was supposed to be a bathroom break, ended in two toddlers walking blocks away from their school and found by a stranger, according to one Houston mother.

Ryen Harris told ABC13 that's what happened to her daughter and another student at MacGregor Elementary School in Houston's Museum District.

"I'm very upset. I'm very emotional and I'm very hurt because it's my baby," Harris said.

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The Houston Independent School District said an employee was placed on administrative leave as a result of this.

Harris said that her daughter's school repeatedly called her last Wednesday to speak with the principal, but told her it wasn't an emergency.

"She was calm and said, 'Hi. Aria went missing from our school. She was found at the corner of Blodgett and Le Branch.' I immediately just went in a frenzy," Harris said. "They don't know how she got out. She was supposed to be going to the restroom."

According to Harris, the principal said a security guard was patrolling the school at the time, and the person at the front office stepped away briefly. Harris said she was also shown surveillance video of the two students leaving.

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"Nobody in the office," Harris said. "No security in the front at all. They both gathered all of their might to push the door open and walked right out the door."

They crossed two streets before someone in the neighborhood called the police, according to Harris.

A walk, she said, that wouldn't have been physically easy for her daughter.

"My daughter has a disability, so walking for long periods of time, that hurts her hips," Harris said. "She has a hip flexor."

Houston Police told ABC13 a stranger found the toddlers walking alone in the street and called them. HPD said they were unharmed, returned to school, and that CPS was contacted.

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Harris said that on the day this happened, her daughter told her they were going to a park.

"A lot of things could have took place," Harris said. "So, I was just very emotional because I just feel like seeing the video just really broke me down."

ABC13 asked HISD multiple questions about this situation, including what changes will result from it.

In a statement, the district said that the employee responsible for supervising the students was placed on administrative leave.

"Campus administrators have also conducted a staff reset to reiterate and reinforce established campus procedures to ensure students are properly supervised at all times and that campus monitoring protocols are consistently followed to prevent any future incidents," HISD said.

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But those changes are ultimately not enough for Harris. She said she's now unenrolling her daughter.

"Possibly find a safer district," Harris said. "Somewhere where I feel comfortable."

CPS confirmed to ABC13 that they received a report on this situation.

"Once our investigation is complete, DFPS will share our findings with the parents, school officials, and the school district," said DFPS spokesperson Melissa Lanford.

For more news updates, follow Sarah Al-Shaikh on Facebook and Instagram.
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL)  State Rep. Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport) has filed legislation that he says would protect homeowners in Tennessee from excessive local property tax hikes.

House Bill 2607 would cap property tax increases at no more than 2% per year, with a limited exception for municipalities that deem additional increases necessary.

Homeownership is central to the American dream, but excessive property tax hikes are threatening the stability of Tennessee families, Hulsey said in a news release. Government at all levels must live within its means and respect the private property rights of residents. This proposal helps ensure all Tennesseans, including senior citizens and those on fixed incomes, are never taxed out of the homes theyve spent their lives working to own.

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State legislators give General Assembly preview at Kingsport Regional Legislative Breakfast

If passed, the bill would allow some local governments to exceed the 2% cap for up to four years, but only if a referendum is held and at least 60% of voters approve the proposed increase.

Hulsey spoke about the bill on Friday at the Kingsport Regional Legislative Breakfast. He told News Channel 11 that he did not think city and county governments would like the bill, but Tennesseeans were concerned about their tax rates.

Tennessee is one of four states that do not limit local property tax hikes, the release states.

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Tennessee has not had a state property tax since 1949, but Hulsey said several municipalities across the state have significantly raised property taxes in recent years.

TN Rep. Bud Hulsey of Kingsport wont run for 7th term

In 2024, state lawmakers approved a proposed amendment to Tennessees Constitution to ensure a state property tax can never be implemented by a future General Assembly.

The amendment will now be on the ballot for voters to decide on Nov. 3, 2026.

Hulsey referenced a recent statewide poll that revealed 90% of Tennessee voters support the state limiting how much local governments can increase property taxes.

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The 2026 Tennessee General Assembly will be Hulseys last. The state representative announced in January that he would not seek a seventh term.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
The public prosecutor, Ibrahima Ndoye, has disclosed initial findings regarding the death of student Abdoulaye Ba, days after the tragic incident. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the prosecutor confirmed that the deceased fell from the fourth floor of Building F. According to preliminary investigations, the student allegedly attempted to flee what he perceived as a threatening situation by climbing out of a window. He subsequently landed on the asphalt, sustaining severe injuries.

The medical examiners report established that death resulted from traumatic shock caused by the fall. The prosecutor stated that there was no indication of physical assault prior to the incident, noting that the examination revealed no signs of beating or external violence.

He further clarified the distinction between the forensic pathologists role and that of investigators. While the pathologist determines the medical cause of death through analysis of bodily injuries, investigators are tasked with reconstructing the sequence of events and the broader circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The prosecutor emphasised that the convergence of medical evidence and investigative work is essential to establishing a clear timeline and determining any potential liabilities. He added that inquiries are ongoing to ensure that all aspects of the case are thoroughly examined.

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Ethiopia and Turkiye Seal Energy and Economic Pacts to Bolster Strategic Partnership

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On Tuesday,17 February, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have formalised fresh commitments to deepen bilateral relations through the signing of two key agreements designed to enhance cooperation between Ethiopia and Turkiye.

The leaders endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Agreed Minutes of the 9th EthiopiaTurkiye Economic Commission, alongside a separate MoU on cooperation in the field of energy.

The agreements signal a further consolidation of the expanding partnership between the two countries, particularly in strategic sectors central to economic transformation and energy development.

Officials from both sides characterised the move as a calculated step towards strengthening long-standing ties and unlocking sustainable growth through enhanced bilateral engagement.

The two leaders also held substantive talks in Addis Ababa, reaffirming what they described as an enduring friendship and robust cooperation framework underpinning EthiopiaTurkiye relations.

In a post shared after the meeting, Prime Minister Abiy said the discussions reinforced mutual trust and a shared resolve to advance partnerships serving the interests of both nations. He expressed confidence that continued high-level engagement would further solidify the diplomatic and economic bonds linking the two countries.

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Kenya Airport Operations to Normalise After Workers Call Off Strike

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Operations at Kenyas main aviation gateway are set to return to normal after workers on Tuesday suspended a two-day strike following an agreement with the Transport Ministry.

Activities at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi were severely disrupted on Monday, with flight delays stretching up to six hours. Airlines advised passengers to rebook their journeys as operations were paralysed.

In a statement, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that services would resume immediately after a return-to-work formula was agreed with the union on Tuesday. The union had been pressing for improved working conditions, enhanced pay and better benefits. Talks on the implementation of these demands were held as part of the settlement process.

Transport Minister Davies Chirchir reaffirmed the governments commitment to maintaining stability within the aviation sector, describing the agreement as critical to safeguarding the countrys transport infrastructure. National carrier Kenya Airways said it had begun normalising its flight schedule, with full operations expected to resume within 24 hours.

Workers had issued a strike notice last week, citing authorities failure to implement aspects of an earlier labour agreement aimed at improving employment conditions and remuneration.

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FG Moves to Phase Out Ozone-Depleting Substances, Champions Green Cooling Transition

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The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling ozone layer depletion through the adoption of environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient and low Global Warming Potential (GWP) cooling systems.

Speaking in Abuja on February 17, 2026, at a two-day capacity-building workshop on green procurement for sustainable cooling systems, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawalrepresented by the Director of the National Ozone Office, Mr Idris Abdullahisaid cooling systems are now critical to public health, food security, productivity and economic growth.

He noted that refrigeration and air-conditioning systems account for between 40 and 60 per cent of electricity consumption in many buildings, with much of the demand driven by inefficient equipment that relies on ozone-depleting substances and fluorinated greenhouse gases.

The minister stressed that Nigeria is aligning with the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment, which provide a global framework for reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

He described the protocol as the most successful environmental treaty and underscored the need to integrate green procurement principles into public sector decision-making.

According to him, green procurement involves prioritising products and services with reduced environmental impact throughout their lifecycle, thereby advancing energy conservation, environmental protection and Nigerias climate commitments.

Representatives from the Environmental Investigative Agency (UK), the African Development Bank and the Office of the President highlighted the strategic importance of sustainable cooling in driving climate action, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening national capacity for policy reform.

The workshop, convened in partnership with Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) and the National Ozone Office, aims to build awareness among policymakers and accelerate the integration of sustainable cooling technologies into Nigerias broader climate strategy.
An 18-month-old boy lies motionless on a dirty hospital bed deep in the conflict zone of South Sudan, a bullet wound in his leg -- another newly orphaned victim in the world's newest country.

"When they arrived, they started shooting everyone in the area -- elder, child, and mother," Nyayual, his grandmother, told AFP at the hospital in the opposition-held town of Akobo, eastern Jonglei State.

The bullet that hit the little boy also killed his mother -- Nyayual's daughter. AFP is using only her first name for fear of reprisals.

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She says it was government forces that attacked their village.

"We ran away... they were still shooting at us," she said. "This failed government has no way to resolve things."

South Sudan gained independence in 2011 but soon descended into civil war between two rival generals, Salva Kiir and Riek Machar.

A 2018 power-sharing deal brought relative peace, with Kiir as president and Machar his deputy, but the agreement has unravelled over the past year.

Fighting in Jonglei state between the army under Kiir and forces loyal to Machar has displaced some 280,000 people since December, according to the United Nations.

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The hospital in Akobo -- a ramshackle collection of buildings, most without doors or windows -- has only one surgeon, now overwhelmed. More than 40 young men were being treated for gunshot wounds during AFP's visit.

In one ward, an elderly woman lay, her face turned away from the family around her. She was shot by soldiers in both legs, they said. They carried her for days before finding a car that agreed to bring them to the hospital.

The military declined to comment to AFP on the claims. The Jonglei state government's information minister, Nyamar Lony Thichot Ngundeng, said she did not have information about the incidents.

However, she added: "If you get injured during the crossfire, that is counted as a crossfire, it is not intentional."

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- 'Disaster' -

UNICEF says more than half the displaced are children, some fleeing for the second or third time. Around 825,000 are at risk of acute malnutrition across three of South Sudan's states: Jonglei, Unity and Eastern Equatoria.

Akeer Amou, 33, fled Jonglei for an informal camp on the banks of the White Nile, where she gave birth to her fifth child.

Not on any maps, the place is known only as Yolakot, meaning riverside, but hundreds of women and children now live under the shade of its trees, waiting for help. AFP saw at least three other newborns among them.

Amou named her child Riak, meaning "disaster".

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She does not know why the conflict is happening, but she knows her son will bear the brunt.

"Breast milk can come if there is something to eat, but now there is nothing," she said, gently rocking Riak under the scant protection of a cotton sheet.

The mothers spend the days foraging for fruit, nuts, and water lily seeds, while children splash in the river's murky waters.

Most are desperately hungry. A local official told AFP there were roughly 6,700 people waiting for food, but there was no sign of any aid.

- Out of supplies -

In Jonglei's state capital Bor, doctors try to serve the massive influx of displaced people with rapidly dwindling supplies.

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David Tor, acting director of the town's hospital, introduced AFP to a mother who had been forced to deliver in nearby swamp land. He had managed to reduce the newborn's fever, a rare bit of good news.

The mother fled Fangak, a town to the north, where last May the only healthcare facility for more than 100,000 people -- run by international NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) -- was attacked by helicopter gunships and drones, which completely destroyed its pharmacy and all its medical supplies.

"Because of the increase in the number of people who need services, we have run out of almost everything," said Tor. "At a certain point we may lose patients."

Jonglei information minister Ngundeng told AFP the hospital would receive supplies.

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"I would say it's enough until the hospital or the ministry of health says otherwise," she said.

- Trapped -

South Sudan is ranked the most corrupt country in the world by monitoring group Transparency International.

Billions in oil revenue have been stolen by the elite, according to the UN, and the country relies on international donors for 80-90 percent of its healthcare needs.

Fresh conflict is creating another generation of children with few prospects for a better life. The World Bank estimates 70 percent are not in school.

In the displacement camp in Lake State, south of Bor, where some 35,000 people have recently arrived, mothers queued to sign up their children for an emergency education and psycho-social programme run by the Norwegian Refugee Council. It has already registered 2,000 children.

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Some of those in the queue may never escape this life.

Nyanhiar Malneth, 28, grew up in an earlier conflict in the country. Her schooling ended when she was eight and she has spent years in displacement camps with her five children.

"I want them to go to school for knowledge," she said.

But first there are more urgent concerns: "We need something to eat."

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An illegal immigrant from Ecuador charged with sexual abuse of a child was arrested last week by federal authorities after he was previously released back onto the street because of Connecticut sanctuary policies, officials said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers took Christian Espinosa-Sarango into custody on Feb. 13 in North Haven.

Espinosa-Sarango was charged on Dec. 19, 2025 with sexual assault, illegal sexual contact with a child, and enticing minors with a computer in North Haven, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.

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"These are the types of monsters Connecticut sanctuary politicians are releasing from their jails and onto the streets to perpetuate more crimes against children," said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

Worst Of The Worst: Ice Arrests Child Predator, Violent Criminals Amid Surge In Anti-agent Attacks

Christian Espinosa-Sarango an alleged child sex predator, was arrested by ICE agents last week after he was released back onto Connecticut streets because of sanctuary policies, officials said. (Getty Images)

Espinosa-Sarango was reportedly conversing with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as the aunt of a 13-year-old girl through an "online casual encounter platform," the New Haven Independent reported, citing court records.

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After finding out the girls age, he allegedly asked for photographs of the young girl and sex, and made plans to meet with the child at a hotel room, where he was arrested.

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Espinosa-Sarango attempted to flee in his vehicle and refused to roll his window down, prompting officers to break the glass, DHS said.

Sanctuary Policies Let Alleged Child Predator Roam Free Until Dhs Made Portland, Oregon, Airport Arrest

During an interview with police, Espinosa-Sarango allegedly claimed he was intending to "save" the girl, the news report states. He said he didnt call the police department because he wanted to see her first, according to the newspaper.

ICE lodged a detainer request with local law enforcement on Dec. 23, but it was ignored. Consequently, Espinosa-Sarango was released back into the community, DHS said.

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DHS specifically criticized the Connecticut Trust Act, which limits information-sharing between local and state police and federal immigrant agents.

In April, the Trump administration listed Connecticut among states that have laws that impede the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

"We need local law enforcement to cooperate with us to get these heinous criminals out of our neighborhoods," McLaughlin said. "Seven of the 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE. This is a perfect example of why sanctuary policies make Americans less safe.

"Thankfully, because of our brave ICE agents, Christian Espinosa-Sarango, a pedophile, will never walk American streets again," she added. "Sanctuary politicians must stop releasing pedophiles, murderers, rapists, and kidnappers into our neighborhoods."





Original article source: ICE arrests alleged child sex offender released under Connecticut sanctuary laws
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency publicly asserted it had bought a facility for a new Lebanon-area detention center  then issued a follow-up saying it had not  leaving Tennessee officials and residents with more questions than answers.

One day after announcing to multiple media outlets, including The Tennessean, that it had purchased property for a future detention facility in Lebanon, ICE officials sent an update late on Feb. 17 saying otherwise.

ICE has NOT purchased a facility in Lebanon, Tennessee," ICE said in the follow-up release. "That statement was sent without proper approval, and this mistake has since been rectified.

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Then, on Feb. 17, U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin's departure from the agency was announced.

It remains unclear whether the agency plans some kind of operation in Lebanon, or if the retraction pertains only to the statement that the agency had purchased property. On Feb. 16, ICE officials confirmed to The Tennessean the agency purchased a property in Lebanon it plans to use for a new immigrant detention center. An ICE plan released Feb. 12 said it is pursuing a nationwide expansion of detention capacity tied to increased immigration enforcement, including exploring new facilities.

A protest packed the Wilson County Commission during its regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17, though there was nothing on the agenda related to an ICE facility and local officials said they weren't aware of the project.

Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. Charlotte Payne sits with her mother, Sarah Payne, as they protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. A resident protests against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. A resident protests against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. Residents speak out against an ICE detention facility in Lebanon, Tenn. 1 of 5 Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn.

ICE facility in Wilson County: 'We don't want this'

About 45 speakers lined up as part of an overflow Wilson County Commission meeting room to address the detention center issue. The crowd packed the 121-person meeting room, overflowing into the hallway. Many speakers were emotional and many attendees brought signs.

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We just cant know what to trust from them. But we have to let the commission know that regardless of the latest headline, we dont want this," Wilson County Democratic Party Chair Steve Caballero said. "And tomorrow there will be another correction."

Multiple speakers referred to ICE detention camps to concentration and death camps. Others said an ICE facility would hurt Lebanon and Wilson County.

Jack D. Lowery, an area attorney, referred to a potential ICE facility as a poisoned pill. Others expressed concerns about a negative impact to the community.

Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn.

Local Tennessee officials left out of loop on ICE plans

The earlier announcement gave few details and left area citizens and leaders blindsighted. Numerous public officials said they had no information or knowledge about the facility. State Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, and State Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon even took to social media to address the reports.

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Boyd shared in a social media post that he had learned about the facility purchase from a reporter.

Between me and the other elected officials that represent Wilson County we have spoken with every level of government from the city of Lebanon all the way up to the federal government and none of us have yet to find a single person who has any knowledge of it, Boyd said.

In the announcement ICE now says was sent in error, the agency said, "The Lebanon facility and its construction are expected to bring 7,216 jobs to the area and would contribute $829.5 million to GDP."

The confusion had several speakers asking commissioners at the Feb. 17 meeting to consider a future resolution to stand against an ICE facility should a proposal ever surface. Another speaker urged the commission to be proactive.

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Whether this is valid or not, I do think it offers an opportunity for the county to be thoughtful about how they address it between now and the next meeting, Lowery said.

Residents protest against an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility as they listen to speakers during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn.

Approximately 100 Wilson County students protested ICE activity on Feb. 13, leaving schools to rally on Lebanon Road in Mt. Juliet.

What did ICE officials tell reporters?

The news of a planned ICE facility in Lebanon, Tennessee was not an isolated statement from a single spokesperson at the agency.

An ICE spokesperson initially confirmed an expansion in Lebanon to The Tennessean on Feb. 16 but declined to respond to questions on the location of the facility.

In response to follow-up questions from The Tennessean, a spokesperson shared details about the quality standards of the facility and gave specific figures on the projected economic impact of the project on the area. Other questions went unanswered.

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"Its also projected to bring in more than $167.8 million in tax revenue," an ICE spokesperson wrote. "These economic benefits dont even take into account that removing criminals from the streets makes communities safer for business owners and customers."

Email correspondence with an ICE spokesperson on Feb. 16 detailed projected economic outcomes of a detention facility purchase in Lebanon, Tennessee.

The spokesperson also emphasized the agencys role in removing criminal illegal aliens from communities, and rapid expansion efforts.

Throughout the conversation, a general ICE media email inbox was copied through the entire email thread, and questions were also submitted to the Department of Homeland Security press office. Across multiple days of questions and follow ups, no indication was given that any part of the information given was false.

ICE has not responded to specific questions on what project the economic data pertains to if not the Lebanon facility.

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The ICE spokesperson emphasized that DHS continues to conduct law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe.

It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space, the spokesperson said.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: ICE denies buying Lebanon, TN detention site after confirming purchase
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency publicly asserted it had bought a facility for a new Lebanon-area detention center  then issued a follow-up saying it had not  leaving Tennessee officials and residents with more questions than answers.

One day after announcing to multiple media outlets, including The Tennessean, that it had purchased property for a future detention facility in Lebanon, ICE officials sent an update late on Feb. 17 saying otherwise.

ICE has NOT purchased a facility in Lebanon, Tennessee," ICE said in the follow-up release. "That statement was sent without proper approval, and this mistake has since been rectified.

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Then, on Feb. 17, U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin's departure from the agency was announced.

It remains unclear whether the agency plans some kind of operation in Lebanon, or if the retraction pertains only to the statement that the agency had purchased property. On Feb. 16, ICE officials confirmed to The Tennessean the agency purchased a property in Lebanon it plans to use for a new immigrant detention center. An ICE plan released Feb. 12 said it is pursuing a nationwide expansion of detention capacity tied to increased immigration enforcement, including exploring new facilities.

A protest packed the Wilson County Commission during its regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17, though there was nothing on the agenda related to an ICE facility and local officials said they weren't aware of the project.

Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. Charlotte Payne sits with her mother, Sarah Payne, as they protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. A resident protests against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. A resident protests against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. Residents speak out against an ICE detention facility in Lebanon, Tenn. 1 of 5 Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn.

ICE facility in Wilson County: 'We don't want this'

About 45 speakers lined up as part of an overflow Wilson County Commission meeting room to address the detention center issue. The crowd packed the 121-person meeting room, overflowing into the hallway. Many speakers were emotional and many attendees brought signs.

Advertisement Advertisement

We just cant know what to trust from them. But we have to let the commission know that regardless of the latest headline, we dont want this," Wilson County Democratic Party Chair Steve Caballero said. "And tomorrow there will be another correction."

Multiple speakers referred to ICE detention camps to concentration and death camps. Others said an ICE facility would hurt Lebanon and Wilson County.

Jack D. Lowery, an area attorney, referred to a potential ICE facility as a poisoned pill. Others expressed concerns about a negative impact to the community.

Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn.

Local Tennessee officials left out of loop on ICE plans

The earlier announcement gave few details and left area citizens and leaders blindsighted. Numerous public officials said they had no information or knowledge about the facility. State Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, and State Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon even took to social media to address the reports.

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Boyd shared in a social media post that he had learned about the facility purchase from a reporter.

Between me and the other elected officials that represent Wilson County we have spoken with every level of government from the city of Lebanon all the way up to the federal government and none of us have yet to find a single person who has any knowledge of it, Boyd said.

In the announcement ICE now says was sent in error, the agency said, "The Lebanon facility and its construction are expected to bring 7,216 jobs to the area and would contribute $829.5 million to GDP."

The confusion had several speakers asking commissioners at the Feb. 17 meeting to consider a future resolution to stand against an ICE facility should a proposal ever surface. Another speaker urged the commission to be proactive.

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Whether this is valid or not, I do think it offers an opportunity for the county to be thoughtful about how they address it between now and the next meeting, Lowery said.

Residents protest against an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility as they listen to speakers during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (MARK ZALESKI / THE TENNESSEAN)

Approximately 100 Wilson County students protested ICE activity on Feb. 13, leaving schools to rally on Lebanon Road in Mt. Juliet.

What did ICE officials tell reporters?

The news of a planned ICE facility in Lebanon, Tennessee was not an isolated statement from a single spokesperson at the agency.

An ICE spokesperson initially confirmed an expansion in Lebanon to The Tennessean on Feb. 16 but declined to respond to questions on the location of the facility.

In response to follow-up questions from The Tennessean, a spokesperson shared details about the quality standards of the facility and gave specific figures on the projected economic impact of the project on the area. Other questions went unanswered.

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"Its also projected to bring in more than $167.8 million in tax revenue," an ICE spokesperson wrote. "These economic benefits dont even take into account that removing criminals from the streets makes communities safer for business owners and customers."

Email correspondence with an ICE spokesperson on Feb. 16 detailed projected economic outcomes of a detention facility purchase in Lebanon, Tennessee.

The spokesperson also emphasized the agencys role in removing criminal illegal aliens from communities, and rapid expansion efforts.

Throughout the conversation, a general ICE media email inbox was copied through the entire email thread, and questions were also submitted to the Department of Homeland Security press office. Across multiple days of questions and follow ups, no indication was given that any part of the information given was false.

ICE has not responded to specific questions on what project the economic data pertains to if not the Lebanon facility.

Advertisement Advertisement

The ICE spokesperson emphasized that DHS continues to conduct law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe.

It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space, the spokesperson said.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: ICE denies buying Lebanon, TN detention site after confirming purchase
The life of a Congolese asylum seeker granted permission to stay in the United States is in grave danger after ICE secretly flew her to an unknown African nation, while the womans husband  a widely feared local politician who allegedly had her father shot dead as she watched  continues to hunt her across continents, according to a tranche of federal court documents reviewed by The Independent.

In addition to fearing for her own safety, Jane Doe, as she is referred to in legal filings, hopes for the safety of her children, whose whereabouts are unknown to her because their father, her husband, is seeking to kill them and so they are in hiding, even to her, states an emergency motion Does attorneys filed Monday in Louisiana. She hopes for the safety of her brother, who was kidnapped in Mexico by a cartel and she has not seen him since.

At the age of 14, Jane Doe - as the devoutly Christian and former hairdresser in the Democratic Republic of Congo - was forced to become the African politicians sixth wife in order to satisfy a family debt, according to the motion. For the next decade, Doe was physically and sexually abused by her husband and two of his sons, bearing four children while being kept like a hostage, says the motion, which seeks Does immediate return to the U.S.

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In late 2024, Doe managed to escape to her parents house, the motion goes on. But Does politician husband quickly found her, brutalized her and her brother, ordered his bodyguards to execute her father in front of her, and burned the family home to the ground, the motion says. When Doe went to the police, they said her only option was to leave the country because her abuser was too powerful and they could not protect her, according to the motion.

Ms. Doe went into hiding and fled the [Democratic Republic of Congo] with the help of her brother and his employer, who in secret obtained travel documents and plane tickets to Brazil, it states. Ms. Does abuser continued to track her abroad. Within an hour of arriving in Brazil, Ms. Doe received a WhatsApp message from her abuser, stating he knew she was in Brazil and had eyes everywhere. He threatened to kill her.

Family, friends and attorneys of a Jane Doe say they have no idea where she is after being deported  and that ICE won't tell them - causing fear she is being sent to an African nation where her life could be in danger (Getty Images)

Terrified, Doe made her way through 12 different countries  even braving the notorious Darien Gap on foot  to get to the United States, where, the motion explains, she believed human rights were respected. It says Doe arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border on January 2, 2025, and immediately requested asylum. She was sent to the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, as her case was processed, and last June received permission to stay in the U.S. under a withholding of removal decision barring her deportation to DR Congo.

However, that all changed on February 15, 2026, when ICE decided to send her to somewhere else.

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Attorneys for Doe say they were never contacted by authorities about their clients sudden removal and dont even know where [ICE] disappeared [her] to yesterday in the dark of night. Doe was loaded onto a deportation flight bound for Senegal, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana and Nigeria, without any further information provided, the affidavit states, adding, Ms. Doe has no connections, resources, money or way of contacting anyone in the world.

The motion contends that Does unlawful removal means her life is in grave danger.

Doe, according to a companion affidavit filed by one of her attorneys, is an extraordinary woman.

She has lived through extensive trauma, and despite that, she smiles on video calls with me and tells me how shes learning to make bracelets in ICE detention, it says. She reads her Bible and leads Bible study among other women in her detention facility. She finds a way to continue to hold onto hope She hopes for her future education to be able to study medicine, to work as a nurse, and one day to run an orphanage. She hopes to see the outside of the detention facility where she has lived in the United States of America for 13 months: January 2025 to now.

Jane Doe is afraid her 'husband,' who she was forced to marry to settle a family debt, will kill her if she is forced to return to DR Congo  or has to live anywhere outside the US, according to court filings (AFP via Getty Images)

The affidavit lauds Doe for fighting the June 2025 withholding of removal order, which the motion explains as similar to asylum in that she proved it was more likely than not that she would be persecuted on account of a protected ground if she were removed to the Democratic Republic of Congo and that the government there was unable or unwilling to protect her.

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Last summer, ICE instructed officials that immigrants can be deported from the United States to countries other than their own with as little as six hours notice  or no notice at all.

That memo from ICE acting director Todd Lyons followed a Supreme Court decision that opened the door for ICE to send deportees to countries where they do not have citizenship, family or any other connections.

ICE has since spent more than $40 million and fought several legal battles over removals to far-flung nations where deportees have no connections whatsoever, including to several countries in Africa: Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda and South Sudan, among others.

In a June 2025 letter to authorities, filed as an exhibit in court, another attorney representing Doe wrote that she had been told ICE was considering Canada and Spain as possible third countries where they could deport her. However, her husband has family in both places, and could easily locate her there, the letter said. Guatemala, a third possibility floated by ICE, would be equally dangerous for Doe, who also speaks no Spanish, according to a follow-up letter.

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Still, immigration authorities denied Doe her right to a reasonable fear interview concerning any potential third country, which Mondays motion calls an extraordinary and illegal measure.

Under our Constitution, this cannot stand, the motion argues.

Jane Doe was deported by ICE in the middle of the night, with no advance warning provided to her attorneys, according to court filings (AFP via Getty Images)

Throughout, ICE has refused over the course of nearly nine months to communicate at all with Does lawyers, according to the motion.

Defendants communicate  if at all  solely with [Doe]: a high school graduate with no legal training who is a native French speaker and knows only limited English, it maintains. ... This does not provide Ms. Doe meaningful notice or opportunity to respond. By excluding counsel from the equation and refusing to engage with her attorneys, Defendants have committed abhorrent behavior violating Ms. Does rights.

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At 11 p.m. on Valentines Day, Does legal team was notified by a family member that Doe had been told she was being moved, the motion states. She reportedly did not have any information or know whether this move was a transfer to a different facility or a removal to a third country.

By 10 a.m. Sunday, Doe had vanished from ICEs online detainee locator, according to the motion. It says Does lawyers made at least 20 phone calls to eight different ICE officials, field offices, and detention facilities, but that no one answered.

Finally, around 1 p.m., an ICE officer picked up the phone and said Doe had been flown out of the U.S. on a 4 a.m. flight dropping deportees off in five African countries, but could not identify which was her destination, the motion states. The officer referred the attorneys to a pair of higher-ups, who also never responded to their queries, according to the motion.

Does lawyers argue the U.S. government has violated her Fifth Amendment right to due process, as well as a section of federal law that prohibits government agencies fromarbitrary or capricious conduct.

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They are demanding U.S. officials facilitate Does return to the U.S., without incident, to release her upon entry, and to reimburse her for any costs incurred. Late Tuesday, a judge denied Does motion and ordered her attorneys to refile their motion with additional specifics.

Does attorneys declined to comment on the record. An ICE spokesperson did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment.

With reporting by Alex Woodward
The U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement announced a detainee from Cambodia died in ICE custody on Monday at Miami Correctional Facility in north-central Indiana.

An ICE news release said staff found Lorth Sim, a 59-year-old convicted felon, unresponsive in his cell. He was pronounced dead at 7:10 a.m., despite lifesaving efforts by facility staff and emergency medical services. His cause of death is under investigation.

Miami Correctional Facility started holding ICE detainees in October, under a two-year agreement with the federal government. Up to 1,000 beds are available to hold detainees at a payment of $294 a day to the state.

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According to the ICE release, Sim was arrested for disorderly conduct in 1989, indecent exposure in 1996, and larceny in 2005, receiving a suspended sentence and probation but no prison time. In 2006, ICE arrested him, and an immigration judge ordered his removal to Cambodia.

On Dec. 30 last year, ICE officers encountered Sim at an agency office lobby in Boston and informed him he was under arrest and would be detained in ICE custody pursuant to a warrant of removal. On Jan. 5, ICE Boston transferred him to ICE Chicago custody.

Sim entered the United States as a refugee in 1983 and became a lawful permanent resident in 1986.

ICE notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Inspector General, ICEs Office of Professional Responsibility and the Cambodian consulate about Sims death, as required by agency policy.

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Sim is the 7th immigrant to die in ICE custody this year, according to immigration analyst Austin Kocher. Nearly 40 deaths have occurred since President Donald Trump took office.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay, the agency said. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care.

As of Feb. 5, Kocher reported Miami was holding an average of 577 detainees per day, with an average length of stay of 34 days. His statistical analysis found that ICE detains more people and for more days at Miami compared to other facilities.

The Indiana Department of Correction referred questions to ICE.

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Rep. Ed DeLaney, an outspoken critic of the deal with ICE, called for state investigation as well.

I have spoken to officials at the Department of Correction and urged them to conduct a thorough investigation of the death of this detainee, DeLaney said in a Wednesday statement. We need to ensure that our procedures and medical contractors are up to the task of appropriately caring for people in ICE custody.

Public trust in ICE is near zero. Since the state of Indiana has decided to allow ICE to use our facilities, it is incumbent on us to ensure that the conditions in that facility are up to standard, he said. Over the last few months, I have visited Miami Correctional Facility three times to see for myself that detainees are receiving proper treatment. I will continue to monitor this situation until we have a full public report of what happened to this detainee and receive proper assurance there was no systemic failure that could cost another person their life.

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The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation.

This story was updated at 10 a.m. Wedensday with comments from Sheriff Riewestahl

Eau Claire County Sheriff Dave Riewestahl announced Tuesday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had detained four individuals, including one at a construction site in the city of Altoona and three others who fled and barricaded themselves in a garage in the town of Washington.

Riewestahl said his office was contacted by ICE agents who said they would be at a construction site in the city of Altoona, near the city of Eau Claire, to arrest a suspect who had allegedly assaulted a law enforcement officer.

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After agents attempted to arrest the suspect, Riewestahl said four individuals fled the site, and one was apprehended. The sheriff did not specify if the individual detained was the individual ICE was seeking.

The three who fled the scene entered a residence in the town of Washington, confronted a homeowner, then went into the garage. The homeowner then locked the door between the house and the garage.

Riewestahl said his office was called to address a criminal trespass to a dwelling, and then county deputies requested assistance by the city of Altoona police.

Upon the request of the homeowner, the sheriff said, his officers entered the home and attempted to gain voluntary compliance with the three individuals in the garage, but when verbal requests failed, the officers used pepperballs and the three surrendered.

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Riewestahl said the three individuals who had trespassed at the town of Washington home were turned over to ICE agents. None of the four taken into ICEs custody were detained at the Eau Claire County Jail.

The reason the three were not detained locally is because the homeowner did not want to pursue criminal charges, the sheriff told the Examiner. So we did not do that. In talking with ICE, they said they had the authority to take them in custody for immigration activity, so we turned them over to immigration and immigration took all four of those individuals.

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Five days after confirming a Chester property purchase by the Department of Homeland Security, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson has withdrawn the claim.

ICE has NOT purchased a facility in Lebanon, Tennessee or Chester, New York, said the spokesperson in an email to the Times Herald-Record on Feb. 18. That statement was sent without proper approval, and this mistake has since been rectified.

The email did not elaborate any further on the current status of DHS plans to purchase the 401,746 square foot warehouse property at 29 Elizabeth Drive, located in a 100-year floodplain and housed in Chester Industrial Park.

The warehouse building at 29 Elizabeth Drive in Chester on January 8, 2026.

The ICE email did repeat previous statements about active procurement and expansion of detention facilities and intent to conduct arrests across the U.S. It also included the previously sent mug shots of five immigrants and their convictions for various crimes.

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We are relieved the purchase hasn't gone through yet, but we are still preparing for the worst, said Brandon Holdridge, Chester town supervisor. We will continue to fight the placement of any ICE facility in Chester. Someone clearly jumped the gun from ICE and they are still going to pursue this. Their incompetence and lack of training are on full display.

Behind the scenes

Orange County Clerk Kelly Eskew confirmed that the 29 Elizabeth Drive owner is still IEP Chester LLC, and as of 2 p.m. Feb. 18 a deed has not been recorded or received in relation to this property or to DHS and ICE in Orange County.

A recent pull from OneKeyMLS showed the property was sold in 2008 for $16,830,000 by Wachovia Dev Corp to IEP Chester LLC, a subsidiary of Icahn Enterprises thats associated with Carl Icahn, a former advisor to President Donald Trump.

The Mid Hudson Valley chapter of the DSA organized the ICE Out of Hudson Valley Rally In New Windsor on February 16, 2026. Over 200 participants rallied outside the office building on Union Avenue in New Windsor where ICE has been renting space.

Murky picture, anxiety in Orange County

Since the news of a Chester detention facility first came out in December through Washington Post reporting, and the discovery of an ICE administrative office in New Windsor more recently, elected officials at all levels of the county have expressed frustration and anger at having received no coordination or notice from DHS.

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Local leaders have indicated strong bipartisan opposition to a detention facility in Chester village, which already exceeds its sewage capacity. The Orange County legislature cast a unanimous 21-0 vote on Feb. 5 for a resolution to reject an ICE center in Chester.

Brandon Holdrige, Town of Chester Supervisor, speaks during a rally opposing a proposed ICE detention center on January 29, 2026.

Holdridge wrote a letter citing the sewage capacity, restrictive covenants, environmental impact and public safety concerns raised by the Chester ICE proposal. The letter was cosigned by 53 officials, including Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

Concerned Hudson Valley residents have converged at the Orange County legislature meeting and Chester village and town meetings, exceeding venue capacity, offering impassioned, tearful testimonies and pleas.

They have protested in groups of hundreds in subzero temperatures at Chester Commons Park and outside the New Windsor ICE office.

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More: Orange County, state officials react to Chester ICE facility plan

Steve Murphy, a Goshen resident protesting in New Windsor, said he left the republican party because of his dissatisfaction with the leadership.

ICE could work with local police, but theyre not doing that anywhere, Murphy said. This is not the way that U.S. should be represented or run or how people should be taken care of.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Warehouse in Orange County NY not purchased by ICE, according to new statement
The IDFs exercise to enhance operational readiness along the Lebanon border, October 23, 2025 (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

IDF 91st Division commander Brig.-Gen. Yuval Gaz talked with a group of leaders from the northern border region, assuring them that the military's plans are to keep on the attack against Hezbollah.

The military will stay on the attack against Hezbollah, 91st Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Yuval Gaz told a group of northern border region leaders on Wednesday.

Our responsibility is that we dont only react but also to preempt, to initiate [attacks] in order to [better] defend. Any place where the IDF needs to act  we will act, Gaz told the regional leaders, alongside the Defense Ministry northern coordinator Nochi Mendel.

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The commander said, I am here to tell you that we are preparing for various scenarios. We have operational plans to act immediately, and our forces are distributed along the entire border and deep into the territory.

Although Israel withdrew most of its forces from southern Lebanon within months of the November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah, it has kept five outposts in southern Lebanon, along the border, with some several hundred to 1,000 or so soldiers stationed there to ensure there will be no surprise attack penetration into Israel.

Next, Gaz said that regarding any operational challenge, we will be on the frontlines so that the enemy will encounter the military and not civilians, noting the IDF is aware of the public discourse on the issue and will make sure to guarantee civilian safety at all times.

IDF soldiers under the 91st Division conducted limited ground operations in southern Lebanon, October 10, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

This is our command, and this is the standard to which we are committed: full defense of the residents at all times and in every scenario, he said.

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During the meeting, Gaz presented the regional leaders with the most up-to-date operational situation, a summary of the divisions recent activities, and goals that the unit has set for 2026, such as continuing to improve the defenses of northern border towns.

According to Gaz, tight cooperation with the regional leaders and their local security coordinators is a core aspect of the security concept for the area, which multiplies the overall power brought to bear to defend the area.

Concerns over Hezbollah attack during possible war with Iran

There have been some raised tensions on the border given the increased possibility of a US-Iran-Israel conflict on the horizon, with some officials worried that Hezbollah might also attack the Jewish state if the Iranian regime appeared to be on its last legs.

However, the IDF has kept up a steady  and sometimes even increasing  pace of attacks on Hezbollah operatives and locations recently, both to deter such a scenario and to kinetically remove Hezbollahs capacity to attack Israel with rockets even if it wanted to do so.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not purchased a detention facility in Lebanon, a spokesperson said Tuesday, reversing course after an uproar from local and state officials with no knowledge of the supposed plan.

That statement was sent without proper approval and this mistake has since been rectified, said an unidentified spokesperson from the departments public affairs office Tuesday evening.

On Friday, a reporter for the Lookout emailed the ICE media department to ask whether the agency had plans to purchase, lease, or build detention facilities in Tennessee.

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A spokesperson for the department confirmed to the Lookout that the department had purchased property in Lebanon as part of a nationwide $38.3 billion plan to acquire warehouses across the country and turn them into large-scale immigrant detention centers holding tens of thousands of people awaiting deportation or immigration hearings.

The Washington Post first reported on the national building spree.

The Lookout sent a follow-up email to the same ICE spokesperson, seeking clarification as to whether they meant Lebanon, Tennessee, or Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where ICE has also purchased warehouses for immigrant detention.

An email exchanged from Friday Feb. 13, 2026 between Lookout reporter Anita Wadhwani and an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson regarding the Lebanon, Tennessee detention facility. (Screenshot of Anita Wadhwanis email)

Hi  Yes, I do mean Lebanon, Tennessee, the ICE spokesperson replied.

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A spokesperson for ICE confirmed to multiple news outlets on Monday and Tuesday the plan for a Lebanon facility. But by Tuesday evening, the department sent out an email to Middle Tennessee news outlets retracting its previous statements.

It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space, said an ICE spokesperson.

ICE officials did not respond by the time of publication to a question about whether the department has no plans to build a detention facility in Lebanon or just hasnt made a purchase as of Tuesday.

The new facility raised concerns in Wilson County, where Lebanon is the county seat. The county mayor and the communitys state representatives said they were unaware of the planned detention center. ICE has planned similar projects without notifying local officials in New Hampshire and Oklahoma. When Oklahoma officials learned of a planned facility in Oklahoma City, a concerted community pushback led ICE to scrap it.

Anita Wadhwani contributed to this report.

This story may be updated.

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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday launched a 91 million U.S. dollar appeal to assist approximately 1.2 million migrants and host communities across the Greater Horn of Africa and southern Africa.

The funding request, unveiled in Nairobi under the Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa to Yemen and Southern Africa, is aimed at strengthening humanitarian protection and long-term resilience in regions increasingly shaped by climate shocks, instability and entrenched poverty.

In a video message, IOM Director General Amy Pope underscored the need for sustainable financing to confront escalating migration pressures. She said the plan seeks to safeguard the rights, dignity and livelihoods of migrants and the communities hosting them, while promoting stability and inclusive growth.

Pope described the appeal as both a humanitarian necessity and a strategic investment, calling for resources to translate the response framework into protection, solutions and hope for vulnerable populations.

According to IOM, migrants travelling along routes from the Horn of Africa to southern Africa  including women, children and young people  face grave risks such as trafficking, abduction, violence, dehydration and forced labour.

IOM Chief of Staff Mohammed Abdiker said the two regions have emerged as global hotspots for irregular migration. He noted that the new funding would support livelihood initiatives, as well as voluntary return and reintegration programmes for migrants seeking to rebuild their lives at home.
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Donald Trump's administration from deporting Mohsen Mahdawi, a pro-Palestinian protest leader who led anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia University.

Judge Nina Froes terminated the case after saying federal authorities made a procedural error and failed to certify a document they attempted to submit as evidence.

"I am grateful to the court for honoring the rule of law and holding the line against the governments attempts to trample on due process," Mahdawi said in a statement. "This decision is an important step towards upholding what fear tried to destroy: the right to speak for peace and justice."

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Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin condemned the ruling on Tuesday, saying the Trump administration remains committed to removing Mahdawi's visa.

Trump Admin Cracks Down Antisemitism As Doj Official Exposes 'Violent Rhetoric' Of Radical Protesters

Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi will not be deported after Immigration Judge Nina Froes ruled the government failed to provide sufficient evidence. (AP Images)

"No activist judge, not this one or any other, is going to stop us from doing that," she said.

Read On The Fox News App

Froes' ruling relates to a document submitted as evidence by federal attorneys. The document referenced Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying noncitizens can be expelled from the country if their presence may undermine U.S. foreign policy interests.

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Froes wrote in her ruling that government attorneys submitted a photocopy of the document to the court, but they failed to certify it as required under federal law.

Federal Judge Sides With Anti-israel Ringleader Mahmoud Khalil, Halts Trump Administration's Deportation Bid

Mohsen Mahdawi, accused of antisemitic statements and leading Columbia University protests, wins deportation case after judge finds evidence insufficient.

Mahdawi, 34, was detained in April 2025 during a citizenship appointment in Vermont and spent more than two weeks in custody. He was later released on bail after filing a habeas corpus petition.

A federal judge ordered that he not be deported or removed from the state and was released under an order issued by U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford in Burlington.

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According to the 2025 court filing, Mahdawi co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack. He founded the group with Mahmoud Khalil.

More Than A Dozen Anti-ice Agitators Hauled Away By Nypd Near Columbia University

Mahdawi's deportation case also stems in part from allegations dating back to 2015, when he was interviewed by the FBI after reportedly making antisemitic remarks at a Vermont gun store and a firearms museum.

According to court documents previously cited by Fox News Digital , the store owner said Mahdawi expressed interest in purchasing firearms, including a sniper rifle and an automatic weapon.

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The owner said Mahdawi claimed he had experience building modified 9mm submachine guns "to kill Jews while he was in Palestine."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Immigration judge blocks deportation of Columbia anti-Israel agitator
NEW DELHI (AP)  A private Indian university was booted from a top artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi on Wednesday after one of its staffers displayed a commercially available robotic dog made in China, claiming it was the university's own innovation.

According to two government officials, Galgotias University was ordered to take down its stand at the summit a day after the university's professor of communications, Neha Singh, told state-run broadcaster DD News that robotic dog Orion was developed by the Centre of Excellence at the university.

Internet users, however, quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by Chinas Unitree Robotics with a starting price tag of $1,600 and used widely in research and education.

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On Wednesday, Singh told reporters she never explicitly claimed the dog was universitys own creation, but only an exhibit.

The incident was an embarrassment for host country India, the two government officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

A statement from Galgotias on Tuesday said the university was deeply pained" and described the incident as a "propaganda campaign that could spread negativity and harm the morale of students working to innovate, learn and build their skills using global technologies.

Then, in a new statement on Wednesday, the university apologized for the confusion and said Singh, its representative at the AI summit pavilion, was not authorized to talk to the media and was ill-informed.

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She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm at being on camera, gave factually incorrect information, it said.

It wasn't immediately clear if the university had removed its booth from the summit.

Still, the episode underscores the high stakes for India as it tries to cast itself as a global hub for AI and advanced manufacturing, drawing billions of dollars in investments while stressing credibility and local innovation.

The summit kicked off on Monday with some organizational hiccups as attendees and exhibitors reported long queues and delays at the venue. Several exhibitors took to social media to complain that their personal belonging and products on display were stolen. Organizers later said the items were recovered and returned.

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The India AI Impact Summit, billed as a flagship event in the Global South, is attended by at least 20 heads of state and governments, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a session Thursday.

Also expected to attend are Googles Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, Qualcomms CEO Cristiano Amon, OpenAIs CEO Sam Altman, Microsofts President Brad Smith and AMI Labs Executive Chairman Yann LeCun.
By Munsif Vengattil

NEW DELHI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - An Indian university has been asked to vacate its stall at the country's flagship AI summit after a staff member was caught presenting a commercially available robotic dog made in China as its own creation, two government sources said.

"You need to meet Orion. This has been developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University," Neha Singh, a professor of communications, told state-run broadcaster DD News this week in remarks that have since gone viral.

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But social media users quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China's Unitree Robotics for about $2,800 and widely used in research and education globally.

The episode has drawn sharp criticism and has cast an uncomfortable spotlight on India's artificial intelligence ambitions.

The embarrassment was amplified by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who shared the video clip on his official social media account before the backlash. The post was later deleted.

Both Galgotias and Singh have subsequently said the robot was not a university creation and the university had never claimed otherwise.

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The stall remained open to visitors as of Wednesday morning with university officials fielding questions from media about accusations of plagiarism and misrepresentation.

Galgotias has yet to receive any communication about being kicked out from the event, a representative at the booth said.

The India AI Impact summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, which runs until Saturday, has been billed as the first major AI gathering hosted in the Global South. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Google's Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei will address the gathering on Thursday.

The event has also faced broader organisational difficulties since opening, with delegates reporting overcrowding and logistical issues.

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That said, there has been more than $100 billion of investment in India AI projects pledged during the summit, including investments from the Adani Group conglomerate, tech giant Microsoft and data centre firm Yotta.

India's biggest opposition party, Congress, was amongst those expressing outrage.

"The Modi government has made a laughing stock of India globally with regard to AI," it said on social media, citing the robot incident.

(Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in New Delhi; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
An Indian university has been forced to vacate its stall at this weeks flagship AI summit after falsely claiming to have developed a robot dog  which turned out to have been made in China.

Galgotias University, which is based in Greater Noida near the capital Delhi, displayed a four-legged robot branded Orion at the government-backed AI Impact Summit this week. In footage widely shared on social media, a university representative was seen describing the robot as a product developed by one of their universitys industry-collaborative hubs.

The Galgotias University Pavilion at the AI Impact Summit 2026 (Galgotias University/X)

Online users were quick to point out that the device was the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robotic dog manufactured by Chinese firm Unitree and sold in India for around 2,000 to 3,000. The university was accused of attempting to pass off imported hardware as an indigenous product at an event intended to showcase Indias technological ambitions.

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In a clip from the summit, a staff member appeared to be telling reporters the robot showed the university's emphasis on hands-on, real world AI deployment. This has been developed at the Centre for Excellence at the Galgotias University, she says.

This has been developed by the Centre of excellence at Galgotiyas University.



Also we are the first private university that has invested around 350 crores in Artificial Intelligence.  https://t.co/NJfDzL7lG2 pic.twitter.com/TMqfSB6K0v  Harsh Kumar (@itsmeharsh_09) February 17, 2026

On Wednesday morning, staff from the university were seen vacating their stall at the event after power was cut to their section. Government sources told the media the university had been ordered to clear out, though the university denied receiving such a directive.

After the controversy erupted online, the university posted a statement on X admitting that the robot dog had been purchased from Unitree and was in fact being used as a learning tool for students.

Galgotias University Pavilion at AI Impact Summit 2026 (Galgotias University/X)

The university denied it had claimed to have built the dog. What we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat (India), it said.

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One of the organisers of the summit from the Indian government, the India AI Mission chief executive Abhishek Singh, criticised the university for causing a controversy while the whole world was watching.

The main problem is they claimed to be something they are not. They misled, he was quoted as saying by Mint.

Professor Neha Singh, the university employee seen in the video claiming Galgotias had developed the dog, told reporters the controversy stemmed from a misunderstanding.

Mislead is a strong word... by one misinterpretation, the internet has gone by storm. It might be that I could not convey well what I had wanted to say, or you could not understand well what I wanted to say, the university's communications professor told NDTV.

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The Independent has reached out to Galgotias University for comment.

Galgotias University Pavilion at AI Impact Summit 2026 (Galgotias University/X)

The episode unfolded at an event  the first of its kind in the global South  designed to position India as a rising force in the artificial intelligence dominated by the US and China.

With over 600 startups and hundreds of exhibition pavilions showcasing AI tools across sectors from health to defence, the government has been aiming to present the event as evidence of Indias growing technological self-reliance.

But with over 250,000 people signed up to attend the summit at the massive 123-acre venue in central Delhi, the first day was marked by confusion, traffic woes, and concerns regarding long queues. The organisational issues appeared to have eased somewhat by Tuesday, and the Indian government has now said the summit will be extended by a day to allow more people to take part.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A work-release inmate who walked off a job site in Baton Rouge is back in custody, the West Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office announced Wednesday.

Deputies alerted the public to the incident on Monday.

The inmate, Dwayne Cedotal, 41, is serving a sentence for simple burglary. He was apprehended overnight with the help of the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Fugitive Apprehension Unit and St. Martin Parish Sheriffs Office SWAT.

Dwayne Cedotal (WBRSO)

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
A government customer of sanctioned spyware maker Intellexa hacked the phone of a prominent journalist in Angola, according to Amnesty International, the latest case of targeting someone in civil society with powerful phone-hacking software.

The human rights organization published a new report Tuesday analyzing several hacking attempts against local journalist and press freedom activist Teixeira Candido, in which he was sent a series of malicious links via WhatsApp during 2024.

Candido eventually clicked on one and his iPhone was hacked with Intellexas spyware, dubbed Predator, Amnesty found.

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The new research shows again that government customers of commercial surveillance vendors are increasingly using spyware to target journalists, politicians, and other ordinary citizens, including critics. Researchers have previously found evidence of Predator abuse in Egypt, Greece, and Vietnam, where the government reportedly targeted U.S. officials by sending the spyware via links on X.

Contact Us

Do you have more information about Intellexa? Or other spyware makers? From a non-work device, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram and Keybase @lorenzofb, or email.

Intellexa is one of the most controversial spyware makers of the last few years, operating from different jurisdictions to skirt export laws and using an opaque web of corporate entities  as a U.S government official put it at the time  to hide its activities.

In 2024, around the same time one of Intellexas customers was targeting Candido with its spyware, the outgoing Biden administration sanctioned the company, as well as its founder Tal Dilian and his business partner Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou.

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Earlier this year, the Treasury lifted sanctions against three other executives tied to Intellexa, a decision that left Senate Democrats demanding answers from the Trump administration.

Dilian did not respond to a request for comment.

An example of a malicious link sent by the hackers to Candido on WhatsApp. Image Credits:Amnesty International

Amnesty researchers wrote in the report that they linked the intrusions to Intellexa by examining forensic traces found on Candidos phone. Amnesty said that Intellexa used infection servers that had been previously linked to the companys spyware infrastructure.

Several hours after clicking on the link that led to his phone hack, Candido rebooted his phone, which wiped the spyware from his device. Amnesty said it wasnt clear how the spyware was capable of hacking Candidos phone, as his phone was running an outdated version of iOS at the time.

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The researchers found that Predator stayed hidden by impersonating legitimate iOS system processes to avoid detection.

Amnesty believes Candido may be just one of many targets in the country, based on their findings that they were able to find multiple domains linked to the spyware maker used in Angola.

The first domains linked to Angola were deployed as early as March 2023, indicating the start of Predator testing or deployment in the country, wrote the Amnesty researchers, who added that they had no evidence to determine exactly who hacked Candido.

It is not currently possible to conclusively identify the customer of the Predator spyware in the country, read the report.

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Last year, based on leaks of internal documents, Amnesty and media organizations revealed that Intellexa employees had the ability to access customers systems remotely, potentially giving the spyware maker visibility into government surveillance operations.

Those leaks, like this report, shows that despite its controversies and sanctions, Intellexa has remained active in recent years.

Weve now seen confirmed abuses in Angola, Egypt, Pakistan, Greece, and beyond  and for every case we uncover, many more abuses surely remain hidden, said Donncha O Cearbhaill, the head of the security lab at Amnesty International.
Investigators are honing in on new details amid the ongoing search for Savannah Guthries missing mom, Nancy Guthrie.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS News on Monday, February 16, that investigators believe the clothing and face mask worn by the person in the images released last week were purchased at Walmart.

The outlet reported that authorities are still working to identify the brand. CBS News previously reported that the backpack of the person in the photos was a black Ozark Trail Hiker, which is sold exclusively at Walmart.

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It is unclear whether the Walmart items were purchased in a local store or bought online. Nanos shared that investigators have spent days reviewing surveillance footage at local Walmart stores.

FBI Finds Glove With DNA That Appears to Match Surveillance Video Subject in Nancy Guthries Case

Nanos, who called the backpack one of the most promising leads in the case, shared that Walmart has provided records of all Ozark Trail Hiker online and in-store purchases over the past few months. This includes sales beyond the Tucson, Arizona, area.

Nancy, 84, was last seen on January 31 when she had dinner with daughter Annie Guthrie. (Nancy shared daughters Savannah, 54, and Annie and son Camron Guthrie with late husband Charles Guthrie, who died after a heart attack in 1988.)

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Amid the ongoing search, the FBI released several black-and-white photos and video clips of a person captured outside of Nancys home. The person, who appeared to have a gun in their waistband, was wearing a full mask and gloves. The individual was seen attempting to block the homes security camera with their fist and a plant.

Days later, the FBI released an official description of the person. In the Thursday, February 12, update, the FBI shared that the individual is likely a male, approximately 59  510 tall, with an average build.

Sheriff Chris Nanos Denies Glove Was Found at Savannah Guthries Mom Nancy Guthries Home

In [a newly-obtained security] video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack, the FBI added.

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On Sunday, February 15, the FBI issued an update on gloves found nearby Nancys residence.

The gloves found approximately 2 miles from the Guthrie residence in a field near the side of the road were packed by PCOS and sent overnight on 2/12 and they arrived at their private lb in Florida on 2/13, NewsNation Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin shared via X on Sunday.

He continued, The FBI received preliminary results yesterday on 2/14 and are awaiting quality control and official confirmation today before putting unknown male profile into CoDIS, the national database unique to the bureau. This process typically takes 24 hours from when the bureau receives DNA.

DNA That Does Not Belong to Nancy Guthrie Has Been Collected From Her Property, Police Say

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Entin and the FBI claimed that investigators collected a total of 16 gloves in various areas.

Most of them were searchers gloves that they discarded in various areas when they searched the vicinity, Entin continued. The one with the DNA profile recovered is different and appears to match the gloves of the subject in the surveillance video The FBI has and will continue to provide assistance on whatever timeline is provided to us.

In a separate post, Entin admitted that the FBIs update was confusing and that he is trying to sort it out.
The Siemens Foundation, a nonprofit, is investing $9.25 million in North Carolina to launch Careers Electric, an initiative aimed at enhancing the state's energy workforce.

"Today, electrical workers are retiring from the field at a much faster rate than there are new entrants. Here in North Carolina, nearly 70% of licensed electricians are over the age of 50," said Gov. Josh Stein during an event announcing the funding Tuesday at the Executive Mansion.

The push comes as the state has experienced a surging population and additional energy demands.

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"Today, the United States, as (Gov. Stein) mentioned, is facing explosive new demand for electrical workers as data centers and AI infrastructure is built out and manufacturing in the U.S. expands. In fact, by 2030, we will need more than 130,000 electrical workers to meet that demand," said David Etzwiler, Chief Executive Officer of the Siemens Foundation.

According to Duke Energy's 2025 load forecast, total demand across its two Carolina systems is projected to increase 16% to nearly 60% through 2040, as noted by Stein's Energy Policy Task Force.

"Utilities need electrical workers to generate power for hospitals to take care of patients, for businesses to grow the economy, for homeowners and renters to heat and cool their homes. Manufacturers rely on electrical workers to produce their goods. Telecommunications and transportation systems rely on electrical workers to better connect us with each other," Stein said.

The Careers Electric initiative has a goal of training 25,000 people in the state during the next decade, utilizing North Carolina's community college system.

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"We have quarterly performance-based metrics with each of the community colleges that are at the table here. We're talking about increasing the amount, the number of enrollment, increasing the number of people who stay in the program, increasing the connection to employers. We're also very focused on wraparound support for folks. We know that in order for folks to get into these programs that there has to be a way for many folks to find transportation, child care, training, materials, and all of that," said Etzwiler.

How quickly these rural areas are growing, you always need people to be able to get work done.

Community colleges are gearing up for the effort.

"We'll be hiring more instructors, which is key for us. Our instructors come from the real world. We have to attract electricians, and we'll be doing that with these resources. Also, (we'll be) expanding our labs. You can't do electrician (training) online, so we'll be expanding our labs," said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls.

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Pilar Andrade-Rosalino, a Wake Tech graduate, works in the electrical trade. She supports further investment to provide opportunities to more students.

"Expanding training opportunities in electrical programs can help many students like me gain access to quality education and hands-on experience," said Andrade-Rosalino.

On campus, Nick Gillespie is in his final year of studies as he's seeking his degree in electrical system technology.

"I took a different degree (focused on) I.T., and that wasn't working out for me. I was seeking something more stable, more consistent, and electrical really stood out to me as something that I might be interested in. I took the chance to try it because you always need electricians, you always need workers. There was stability in it, and it was interesting," Gillespie said.

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The thing that matters most is a trained, talented workforce ready to go on day one.

He's enjoyed his time on campus.

"We have learned policy equipment, which is kind of that combination of the software and the electrical hardware stuff, a lot of control circuits, stuff like that. We've learned how to wire up different types of voltages for residential work and commercial work, and some rules behind industrial work," Gillespie said.

He's supportive of the investment, saying he believes it will be necessary as the state's population continues to grow.

"How quickly these rural areas are growing, you always need people to be able to get work done," said Gillespie.

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Past that, the workforce is necessary as the state works to attract future business.

"The thing that matters most is a trained, talented workforce ready to go on day one. We're proud that we're the No. 1 state in the country for workforce development. With this type of investment, we're going to continue to be the best state in America for workforce," said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley.

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New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams office on Wednesday morning said she planned to sign into law a bill that would make it easier for law authorities across the state to pursue involuntary commitment for people who are deemed a threat to themselves or others.

Senate Bill 3 would make it easier for police and court officials to seek involuntary commitment for people who have recently inflicted or attempted to inflict serious bodily harm on others or who are more likely than not to kill themselves. Its provisions would also extend to people with officially diagnosed mental illnesses who are unable to make their own decisions about food or shelter.

For too long, families have watched their loved ones spiral without any good options to intervene, Lujan Grisham said in a Wednesday statement. This law changes that. Were giving communities the tools they need to act  and giving families something they havent had enough of  hope.

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Early in the session, behavioral health advocates opposed the bill and said it could erode due process by committing people who do not consent to treatment. On the New Mexico House of Representatives floor Tuesday, Rep. Tara Lujan (D-Santa Fe), one of the bills few opponents, expressed concerns about how it could affect people with disabilities.

What if there was an individual that has a disability that looks like a [mental] disorder, but is not? Lujan said from the House floor. I would hope this bill would not even pass at this point. I think there needs to be further protections for our disabilities communities and I think there needs to be more training for our police officers to protect them, because under our civil rights laws for New Mexico, those police officers are now liable if they arrest or detain somebody without cause.
Irans Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi has said that good progress has been made in indirect nuclear talks with the United States, as Washington warned that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails.

The talks, mediated by Oman, were held in the Swiss city of Geneva on Tuesday against a backdrop of increased military flexing by both sides in the Gulf region.

Ultimately, we were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles, based on which we will move forward and begin working on the text of a potential agreement, Araghchi told state television after the talks.

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Good progress has been made, compared with the previous round in Oman earlier this month, he said, adding, We now have a clear path ahead, which I think is positive.

Later on Wednesday, Araghchi said Iran was drafting a framework for future talks with the US.

Messages from the US were mixed. Speaking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said a little progress had been made during the talks, but that were still very far apart on some issues.

Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with this administration, Leavitt added.

Trump, meanwhile, suggested again that the US may still strike Iran. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president wrote that if Iran does not make a deal, US forces could use an airbase in the British-controlled Chagos Islands in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime.

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Earlier in the day, his Vice President JD Vance said there are clearly some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.

Were going to keep on working it. But of course, the president reserves the ability to say when he thinks that diplomacy has reached its natural end, Vance told The Story with Martha MacCallum programme.





Stumbling blocks

Iran has for years sought relief from sweeping sanctions imposed by the US, including a Washington-imposed ban on other countries buying its oil.

Tehran has said it wants the ongoing talks to focus on its uranium enrichment programme, insisting that any deal must deliver tangible economic benefit to Iran while maintaining its sovereignty and national security.

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Washington has demanded that Iran forgo uranium enrichment on its soil, and has sought to expand the scope of talks to non-nuclear issues, such as Tehrans missile stockpile.

Iran has said it will not accept zero uranium enrichment and that its missile capabilities are off the table.

The talks come amid high tensions in the Gulf, with the US deploying two aircraft carriers to the region. The first  the USS Abraham Lincoln, with nearly 80 aircraft  was positioned about 700km (435 miles) from the Iranian coast as of Sunday, satellite images showed.

Its location puts at least a dozen US F35s and F18 fighter jets within striking distance. A second carrier was dispatched over the weekend.

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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei warned on Tuesday that the country had the ability to sink a US warship. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it, he said.

Iran has also sought to display its military might, with its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) beginning a series of war games on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz to prepare for potential security and military threats.

Just as the talks began in Geneva, Iranian state media said Iran was temporarily shutting parts of the Strait of Hormuz due to security precautions while the IRGC conducted military drills there.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the waterway, which is a vital oil export route from Gulf Arab states, in retaliation for any attack. The move would choke a fifth of global oil flows and send crude prices sharply higher.

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Tehran has also threatened to strike US military bases in the region in the event of an attack.

A previous attempt at diplomacy collapsed last year when Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran in June, beginning a 12-day war that Washington briefly joined to bomb three nuclear sites at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan.





Degraded

Ali Vaez, the Crisis Groups Iran project director, told Al Jazeera he believed there is a lot of space for agreement on the nuclear front, simply because Irans nuclear programme has been degraded on the ground, and so, some of the cost of the compromise has already sunk in.

It should be easier for the Iranians to accept zero enrichment for a period of time, because they have not spun a single centrifuge since the 12-day war back in June, he said.

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But when it gets to non-nuclear questions, like regional activities or their missile programme, I think, at best, the Iranians will be willing to do superficial concessions, not the kind of grand bargain capitulation that the US expect, he said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, reiterated in an interview published on Tuesday that Tehran was absolutely not seeking nuclear weapons.

If anyone wants to verify this, we are open to such verification to take place, he said.

However, we do not accept that we should be prevented from using nuclear science and knowledge to address our illnesses and to advance our industry and agriculture, he added.

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Iran has joined the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which guarantees countries the right to pursue civilian nuclear power in return for requiring them to forgo atomic weapons and cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Israel, which has not signed the treaty, neither confirms nor denies having nuclear weapons, under a decades-old ambiguity policy designed to deter surrounding enemies. Scholars believe it does.
Apple consistently ranks at or near the top among the highest-valued companies. Apple maintains a massive market cap thanks to strong earnings, loyal consumers, and a tightly managed ecosystem of products and services.

Its business stretches from iPhone sales to services like iCloud and Apple Music. The companys size reflects both hardware sales and recurring revenue from digital services.

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Investors often view Apple as a core holding because it blends growth potential with steady profits.

Artificial intelligence now plays an important part in Apples future strategy. From AI-powered features to custom silicon, innovation continues to drive its products.
Iran temporarily shut part of the key Strait of Hormuz as tensions with the US continue to mount.

Tuesdays move is the first time the Middle Eastern waterway has been closed since the 1980s, and came as Irans ayatollah issued fresh threats against the United States.

One of the worlds most strategically important routes, around 20 per cent of oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

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State media announced it would be partially shut for several hours due to security precautions as the Revolutionary Guard carried out military drills.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps began a series of military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, on the eve of talks with the United States. (Sepanews)

Experts have previously warned that closing the Strait could cause a hike in oil prices if fuel is unable to get through.

International law permits countries to exercise control of up to 13.8 miles (12 nautical miles) from their coastline. At its narrowest point, the passage comes under both Iranian and Omani control.

The US and Iran held talks about a potential nuclear deal on Tuesday, with Tehrans foreign minister announcing guiding principals had been agreed, without going into specifics.

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Vice president JD Vance told Fox News: In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards. But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.

Despite publicly committing to ongoing discussions on a deal, both sides have taken escalatory action in recent days.

The US positioned the worlds largest warship, the USS Gerald R Ford, in the Middle East to join an earlier aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, that had moved to the region last month.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded by threatening to sink the carriers.

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The US president keeps saying, our military is the strongest military in the world; the worlds most powerful military can sometimes receive such a slap that it can no longer stay on its feet, he said on Tuesday. They constantly say, we have sent an aircraft carrier towards Iran.

OK, of course an aircraft carrier is a dangerous device, but more dangerous than the carrier is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea.

Navy ships during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Gulf (Sepanews)

Earlier in the week, Iran carried out military drills in the Strait, with missiles launched inside Iran and along its coast striking targets in the waterway.

The exercises, which included test missiles, warships and helicopters, were displaying the operational readiness of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and plans for reciprocal action in case of potential security and military threats.

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On Wednesday, Iran and Russia announced joint navy drills in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean would be carried out on Thursday.

Creating convergence and coordination in joint measures to counter activities threatening maritime security and safety (...) as well as combating maritime terrorism, are among the main goals of this joint exercise, Iranian navy commander Hassan Maghsoodloo said according to Fars News.
As the U.S. flows assets toward the Middle East, including the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG) now reportedly off the Moroccan coast, Iran, China and Russia will hold their recurring joint naval training exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian media. Moscow and Tehran see the Maritime Security Belt 2026 exercise as particularly relevant in light of current events, and there are reasons for the White House and Pentagon to take note. Having Russian or Chinese warships in these waters amid a U.S. attack on Iran could have military and political implications planners must address. At the same time, the timing of the still ongoing U.S. buildup and the exercise point to it having more of a messaging effect than an operational one.

The exercise, first held in 2019, is being hosted in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, located on the Strait of Hormuz. Russian, Chinese, and Iranian naval units are expected to participate with various ships and operational capabilities to test coordination, tactical readiness, and rapid-response procedures in the Strait of Hormuz, the official Iranian Mehr news outlet reported.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) declined to comment on the exercise.

Iran and Russia will launch a joint naval exercise in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean on Thursday.



Follow Press TV on Telegram: https://t.co/LWoNSpkc2J pic.twitter.com/HnLZ7AN2Cx  Press TV  (@PressTV) February 18, 2026

As Iranian and Russian officials gathered Wednesday aboard the Russian corvette Stoiky, a top Iranian official issued a new threat against the growing U.S. Navy presence in the region, which includes the Abraham Lincoln CSG and at least eight other surface combatants. The Ford could arrive in the region in the next four or five days given its location posted by the MarineTraffic ship tracking website. The Navy said only that the ship is now in the Atlantic Ocean.

If the USS Gerald R. Ford keeps her current speed, she will be off the coast of Israel and be able to assist in the defense against an Iranian retaliation by Sunday morning. pic.twitter.com/7OhMJDRxwZ  Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) February 18, 2026

The Islamic Republic of Iran has faced threats, noise, propaganda and the presence of extra-regional fleets in West Asia for 47 years, Irans Navy Commander Rear Adm. Shahram Irani warned. The presence of extra-regional fleets in West Asia is unjustified.

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If the extra-regional fleet feels it has come with power, it should know that the Iranian people will confront them with greater power, he added. The faith of the people and missiles are the Islamic Republic of Irans deterrent weapons against the enemy.

Russian Navy helicopter carrier docks in Iranian waters to participate in joint Tehran, Moscow drills



Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTS2ei pic.twitter.com/1F1Unkf7bX  Press TV  (@PressTV) February 18, 2026

Nikolai Patrushev, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, framed the exercise as part of a larger struggle between the U.S. and the BRICS alliance, an informal group of 21 nations that includes Russia, China and Iran. Patrushev took aim at the ongoing U.S. and NATO efforts to seize tankers containing Russian oil as well as the ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

We will tap into the potential of BRICS, which should now be given a full-fledged strategic maritime dimension, Patrushev posited. The Maritime Security Belt 2026 exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, where Russia, China, and Iran [will send] their ships, proves to be relevant.

Both Russia and Iran say the exercise will increase their ability to work together.

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The level of existing interactions and cooperation shows that we can manage and resolve many maritime and coastal issues together, Captain First Rank Alexey Sergeev, commander of the Russian naval group, said, according to The Telegraph. We are ready to hold joint exercises in any region, including specialised drills such as anti-maritime terrorism operations that will be executed with vessels and boats from both sides.

Bandar Abbas is a key Iranian military site located on the strategically and economically important Strait of Hormuz. (Google Earth)

Experts we spoke with say the presence of a small number of Russian and Chinese ships in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman does not pose a significant threat to U.S. interests, but could complicate efforts to attack Iran. They also note that this exercise was likely planned months ago, well before U.S. President Donald Trump started threatening Iran over its harsh treatment of anti-regime protesters.

I dont believe it increases in any significant way the likelihood of conflict with Russia and China, but it probably would introduce additional considerations for any planned strikes against Iran, Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) think tank and a retired U.S. Navy submarine warfare officer told us Wednesday morning.

For starters, youd want to make sure that their sensors dont give advanced warning of your strike to the Iranians, and youd want to make sure that those Russian and Chinese platforms arent in the way, he explained. Youd also of course want to ensure that there is no way they could be inadvertently struck a la USS Stark during the Iraq-Iran Tanker Wars of the 1980s.

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The Stark, an Oliver-Hazard Perry class guided-missile frigate, was hit by two Iraqi Exocet missiles while in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987. The strike killed 37 sailors and wounded 21 others.

The USS Stark after it was struck by two Iraqi Exocet anti-ship missiles in 1987. (U.S. Navy)

Shugart downplayed the timing of the exercise, given that its planning has been in the works for a while.

I also dont think that the small number of Russian and Chinese ships involved amount to much militarily relative to U.S. naval forces in the region  though their presence might matter politically, should the administration decide it wants to take military action against Iran, he explained.

I dont think this fundamentally changes anything, former CENTCOM commander Joseph Votel told us. It is an easy way for Russia and China to show support after having abandoned Iran last summer.

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Votel, a retired Army General and current distinguished fellow at the Middle East Institute, was referring to last Junes U.S. Operation Midnight Hammer attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and Israels 12-Day War against Iran.

Certainly the timing makes it seem more provocative, Votel added. There is likely also an internal message for regime supporters  pushing back on the U.S. and Israel.

I dont think it raises the threat of conflict, the former CENTCOM commander surmised. I view it as a form of great power competition.

The presence of Russian and Chinese ships near Bandar Abbas, a major center of Iranian military activity, could complicate U.S. targeting if they remain in the area. The coastal city would be a prime target to take out many types of kinetic capabilities, sensors, and other assets, especially Irans naval forces. Still, the Chinese and Russian ships should leave at some point and the U.S. would know their location and it doesnt appear the U.S. is in a place to strike yet. Unless the exercise goes on for weeks, the Russian and Chinese ships will likely have moved on by the time all the pieces are in place for a U.S.-led kinetic operation to begin.

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The joint naval exercise follows a more recently planned drill by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has closed off the Strait of Hormuz for a live-fire exercise. It marks the first time Iran has shut parts of the Strait since Trump threatened Iran with military action in January.

Dubbed Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz, the drills began Monday and include firing anti-ship cruise missiles at targets and IRGC naval drone and submarine units carrying out operations originating from the three Iranian islands, according to Iranian media.

Footage of the Iranian military drill in the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/4CdZPFqJXO  IntelSky (@Intel_Sky) February 17, 2026

The armed drones used in the exercisecapable of engaging both air and sea targetsare among the IRGC Navys newest strategic platforms and are deployed in significant numbers, though their names and technical specifications remain classified, the official Iranian FARS News outlet claimed.

Well have to wait and see how the exercises unfold, especially as the U.S. buildup fully matures. But at this time it seems that the presence of these vessels is more of a political factor than an operational one, at least for the time being.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Iranians have returned to the streets this week to mourn those killed by security forces during last month's anti-government demonstrations, sparking some new crackdowns in an echo of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought down the U.S.-backed Shah.

The anti-Shah revolutionaries turned Shi'ite Muslim memorial processions 40 days after each death into new protests, which prompted renewed violence from the authorities and fresh "martyrs" for the cause.

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The clerical establishment's opponents, deploying the same tactics after five decades, have yet to match the momentum of those times, but Iran's clerical rulers, threatened with military attack by U.S. President Donald Trump over their nuclear and security policies, have demonstrated their concern.

They deployed security forces to some cemeteries and invited citizens to attend state-organised 40-day "Chehelom" ceremonies on Tuesday after apologising to "all those affected" by violence they blamed on people described as "terrorists".

"They tried to prevent history repeating itself by holding these ceremonies in mosques across the country. To prevent any gatherings of angry families in cemeteries, but they failed," said one rights activist in Iran who declined to be named for fear of retribution.

SECURITY FORCES CLASH WITH MOURNERS

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Videos circulating on social media showed families holding their own memorials across Iran on Tuesday, 40 days after security forces began two days of widespread shooting that human rights groups say killed thousands of protesters.

Some of Tuesday's memorials turned into wider anti-government protests and some were met with deadly force.

In the Kurdish town of Abdanan in Ilam province, witnesses and activists said security forces opened fire on hundreds of mourners gathered at a cemetery.

Videos showed people scattering as gunfire rang out amid chants of "Death to the dictator", a reference to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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Reuters journalists verified that the vidoes were filmed at the cemetery. They were unable to verify the date but found no versions posted before Tuesday: eyewitnesses and activists said that was when people gathered at the cemetery were fired upon.

Hengaw, a Kurdish Iranian rights group, said at least three people were injured and nine arrested in Abdanan. Similar clashes were reported in Mashhad and Hamedan. Sources in Iran said internet access was heavily restricted in those cities.

WEDNESDAY IS 40 DAYS SINCE HEIGHT OF JANUARY PROTESTS

More mourning ceremonies were expected to be taking place on Wednesday, 40 days since the deadliest two days of the January unrest, although communications restrictions meant that it was not immediately possible to tell how many or their outcome.

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January's unrest grew from modest economic protests in December among traders in Tehran's Grand Bazaar into the gravest threat to Iran's Shi'ite theocracy in nearly five decades, with protesters calling for ruling clerics to step down.

Authorities cut internet access, blaming "armed terrorists" linked to Israel and the United States for the violence, and have arrested journalists, lawyers, activists, human rights advocates and students, rights groups say.

Iranian officials have told Reuters the leadership is worried a U.S. strike could erode its grip on power by fuelling more protests. Repression, inequality, corruption and the sponsorship of proxies abroad are the main grievances.

"How long can they kill people to stay in power? People are angry, people are frustrated," said government employee Sara, 28, from the central city of Isfahan.

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"The Islamic Republic has brought nothing but war, economic misery and death to my country".

Trump has deployed aircraft carriers, fighter jets, guided-missile destroyers and other capabilities to the Middle East for a possible attack if talks to limit Iran's nuclear programme and weaken its foreign proxies do not yield results.

Even without a U.S. attack, continued isolation from Western sanctions would likely fuel further public anger.

In 1979, the anti-Shah revolt in provincial towns and villages was amplified by oil workers whose strikes cut most of Iran's revenue, and bazaar merchants who funded the rebel clerics.

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This time there have been no reports of either but people have adopted some of the small-scale tactics, chanting Allah is great and Death to the dictator, often from rooftops, during nightly demonstrations, according to witnesses and social media posts.

(Additional reporting by Catherine Cartier in Beirut, Sophie Royle Edward Carron in London, Fernando Robles, Monica Naime in MexicoWriting by Parisa HafeziEditing by Philippa Fletcher)
A Chilean court is considering a criminal complaint against a former Israeli army sniper who served in Gaza during Israels more than two-year-long genocide on the coastal enclave and the Palestinian people.

Rom Kovtuns own social media posts revealed he was holidaying in the country, opening the door to what legal experts call universal jurisdiction. Kovtun, an Israeli-Ukrainian, served as a sniper in Israels 424th Shaked Battalion in Gaza.

Al Jazeeras Lucia Newman, reporting from Santiago, said images posted online show Kovtun swimming in a lake in south-central Chile with other former Israeli soldiers.

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His knack for posting leisure and wartime escapades on Instagram is what allowed the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) to file a criminal complaint in Chile, accusing him of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity, she added.

The Belgium-based HRF is named after a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza in January 2024, and whose case drew global attention to the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

The HRF has assembled a global team of lawyers and activists to build legal cases, drawing mainly on social media posts published by Israeli soldiers themselves.





Universal jurisdiction

Chiles domestic law incorporates the International Criminal Courts (ICC) Rome Statute, enabling courts to exercise universal jurisdiction in certain cases, Pablo Andres Araya, a lawyer with HRF, said.

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This applies when its clear that the person accused of these crimes will not be tried in his or her country of origin, Araya told Al Jazeera.

And theres no question that soldiers whove committed atrocities in Gaza will not be tried by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu.

Al Jazeeras Newman reported that Kovtun laid siege to the enclaves largest hospital, al-Shifa, between March and April 2024, allegedly playing a key role in the mass death of civilians and destruction that ensued.

The siege denied water, food, medicine and electricity to all those inside, leading to the death of an estimated 500 doctors, nurses and patients, including newborn babies.

No longer welcome

Chile is a favourite holiday destination for Israeli soldiers whove completed their military service, Newman said. But theyre no longer as welcome.

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The South American nation is home to the largest Palestinian diaspora outside of the Middle East, and Chileans in general are seen as sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.

Nevertheless, Newman noted that none of it would have any bearing on the case.

Its a purely legal, complex judicial issue that could take time, enough time to allow the former Israeli sniper to be long gone, Newman added.
The arrest occured one day after an undercover investigation foiled a drug smuggling attempt along the Jordanian border.

A 30-year-old resident of Jaffa was arrested after a search of a compound yielded dozens of doses of cocaine, the Israel Police confirmed on Wednesday.

A non-lethal grenade was also found and confiscated. In addition, five security cameras that had been recording nearby public areas were removed.

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The suspect was taken to the police station for questioning.

Israel Border Police foil drug smuggling attempt at Jordanian border

An undercover investigation by the Israel Anti-Terrorism Unit led to the arrest of a 30-year-old Bedouin resident suspected of trafficking nearly 14 kg of drugs on Tuesday night, according to a statement by the Israel Police on Wednesday.

Cocaine confiscated after a search of a compound on Maharozet Street in Jaffa, Israel, February 18, 2026. (credit: ISRAEL POLICE)

The statement said that detectives from the Israel Anti-Terrorism Unit, together with the Jordan Border Unit and soldiers from the Judea and Samaria Border Guard, "worked last night to arrest a suspect in the act while carrying out a transaction involving substances suspected of being dangerous drugs," which he was suspected of planning to smuggle into Jordan.

The suspect initially fled the scene, but was caught by the police with the assistance of an IAF helicopter, and he was eventually arrested by them and transferred for questioning at the Israel Anti-Terrorism Unit.

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The drugs, described as "hashish type," were confiscated, as well as the suspect's vehicle.

The suspect was transferred for questioning at the Yad Vashem Regional Police Headquarters on suspicion of crimes of trafficking and distribution of dangerous drugs and other offenses.

Police seize half a kilo of cocaine from a kindergarten teacher

In September 2025, Israel Police seized around half a kilogram of cocaine from a kindergarten teacher and one other suspect, who were both arrested for drug trafficking.

The two suspects were spotted at a commercial center in broad daylight, where they were arrested and searched by officers who found the suspects in possession of drugs not intended for personal use and a large sum of money.

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Both suspects, residents of central Israel in their 30s, were detained in custody.

Major undercover drug bust in July 2025

An undercover agent led to the arrest of over 50 weapons and drug traffickers in July, according to the Israel Police.

The agent, codenamed The Nobleman, had worked with Lahav 433 for about a year to gather evidence against over 50 suspects involved in weapons and cocaine trafficking worth thousands of shekels.

The civilian agent was recruited to target criminals across Israel. Lahav 433 helped him carry out more than 30 controlled and monitored transactions, including the purchase of 18 pistols, three M16 rifles, and over 1.5 kg of cocaine, the police said.
"If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, there are a lot of other regimes, some friendly, some not so friendly, who would get nuclear weapons after them," Vance said.

US Vice President JD Vance said that Iran is not yet willing to acknowledge some of US President Donald Trump's "red lines," particularly those regarding the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, following Tuesday's negotiations in Geneva.

In some ways it went well, they agreed to meet afterwards, but in other ways it was very clear that the President has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through, Vance told Fox News.

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The American vice president made clear that the US's primary goal is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

"We don't want nuclear proliferation. If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, there are a lot of other regimes, some friendly, some not so friendly, who would get nuclear weapons after them," he said.

Vance noted that the US is dealing with a "crazy regime" and referenced Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Tuesday suggestion that Iran could sink a US warship. "You know, well, one of your nice warships might end up at the bottom of the sea," Vance paraphrased Khamenei as saying.

Vance continued, saying the US has a "very powerful military" that Trump has shown willingness to use. At the same time, Vance went on, the president has also shown a willingness to engage with its "remarkable" diplomatic team.

Illustrative image of US President Donald Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (credit: Curtis Means/Pool via REUTERS, Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA/Reuters, REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION)

According to Vance, the US would "very much like" to resolve tensions with Iran through "diplomatic negotiation," and the American government would continue to work toward such a resolution, but "the president reserves the ability to say when he thinks that diplomacy has reached its natural end."

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"We hope we don't get to that point," he said.

Vance: Trump, unlike Obama, is willing to act aggressively to defend America

The vice president stated that Trump's approach is very different from former US president Barack Obama's, in that he is much more "willing to act aggressively to defend America's national security." He affirmed that, whether it be through diplomatic or military options, "the Iranians cannot have a nuclear weapon."

Vance said that preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power has been one of Trump's goals since his first presidential campaign in 2015, as the Islamic Republic is "one of the most hostile and also one of the most irrational regimes in the world."

"You can't have people like that have the most dangerous weapon known to man. It would be awful for our security, it would be awful for the future of our children," Vance told Fox News, adding that the US is also seeking from Iran, which is "one of the world's largest state sponsors of terrorism," to cease propping up its regional proxies.

Geneva talks end with gaps between US, Iran remaining

The second round of talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva, which concluded on Tuesday, were productive, but significant gaps remain, several sources told The Jerusalem Post that day.

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Oman mediated the talks, which Reuters reported were attended by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

According to Araghchi, Reuters noted, the initial meetings resulted in an understanding on main principles between Washington and Tehran.

"Progress was made in the talks with Iran, but many details still need to be discussed, a US official told the Post. According to the official, the Iranians said they would return within two weeks with detailed proposals to bridge some of the remaining gaps with Washington.

Amichai Stein, Danielle Greyman-Kennard, James Genn, and Reuters contributed to this report.
People across North Carolina are remembering civil rights icon Jesse Jackson for his undeniable impact and trailblazing spirit. Former Congresswoman Eva Clayton remembers the day she got the call from Jackson offering his support to her political campaign. The year was 1992.

"We mourn because he leaves such a big void, right? We also celebrate his life," she said. "You bring Jesse, bring the energy. He brought enthusiasm, and I'm sure that is what helped me win."

Clayton went on to shatter glass ceilings by winning the election and becoming the first Black woman to represent North Carolina's congressional District 1. She called his legacy one that empowered, often giving voice to the voiceless.

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RELATED | Local leaders react to Jesse Jackson's death

"I am somebody. That resonated with a lot of folks," she said. "Keep hope alive. I have repeated that during this administration many times. I know I got it from Jesse."

Jackson graduated from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. He got his start in activism as an Aggie on campus, serving as SGA president. Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations Crystal Boyce was also SGA president at her alma mater. She sees herself in Jackson.

He was a true Aggie through and through. He embodied the essence of what Aggie pride is.

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"It's been an emotional morning. So many Aggies are reaching out. We're reaching out to the alumni chapter in Chicago and in Greenville, where he's from. They're sharing their emotions," she said.

Boyce told ABC11 that his legacy lives on today through current students. It's not lost on them as they walk the very campus Jackson did decades ago with pride.

"He was a true Aggie through and through. He embodied the essence of what Aggie pride is," she said.

Former NC A&T President Harold Martin released the following statement:

"Aggie Nation mourns the loss of our friend and international force for equality and justice, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. The indelible mark he left on our university and indeed, on all of us, is deeply felt this morning. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Jackson family and to all who knew him and benefitted from his life's work."

Michaux reflects on loss of dear friend

Retired State House Rep. Mickey Michaux Jr. considered Jackson a dear friend even though their colleges would call them rivals.

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"He went to A&T. I went to North Carolina Central. When Jesse found out, we formed a symbiotic relationship," said Michaux.

WATCH: Longtime State House Rep. Mickey Michaux reflects on dear friend Jackson.

Longtime State House Rep. Mickey Michaux called Jackson a dear friend, though they went to rival colleges.

That relationship quickly blossomed into a brotherhood, and the pair bonded over politics.

"I became Jesse's campaign chairperson in 1984. I attended the 1984 convention in San Francisco as a speaker invited by Jesse," Michaux said.

And when it was Michaux's turn to run for office, Jackson stood right by his side.

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"I know in my campaign in 1982 he would energize folks in the eastern part of the state, and I had never seen a person come in and just really energize a group of folks," he reflected.

It was energy and swag that helped Jackson reach the people.

"No question about the fact that his rhetoric, the way he presented himself, certainly helped turn that vote," Michaux said.

Jackson made countless stops at North Carolina Central University

Michaux said his social justice fighter and friend will never be forgotten.

"We've lost just a great individual. I've lost a friend," he said.

Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App
Officials have downgraded the estimate of the number of gallons of jet fuel released into the James River on Friday and also say they have been able to remove hundreds of gallons from the river.

The spill took place at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding on Feb. 13, officials say. It happened around 1 p.m. during a shoreline refueling operation involving the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy.

Residents in parts of Newport News and Hampton have noticed strong odors from the spill. However, the Virginia Department of Health has said there is no evidence of impacts to drinking water sources. There have also been no changes to classifications of shellfish growing areas.

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While original estimates of the amount of jet fuel spilled were upwards of 7,700 gallons, an evaluation by shipyard engineers has determined that at most, 4,722 gallons of fuel spilled into the river, according to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Department of Health and the cities of Newport News, Hampton and Suffolk are monitoring the cleanup, which has resulted in hundreds of gallons of jet fuel being removed.

The cause of the spill remains under investigation.
An immigration judge has blocked the Trump administration from deporting Columbia University graduate student Mohsen Mahdawi, a pro-Palestinian activist detained last year at his U.S. citizenship test, his attorneys wrote in court documents filed Tuesday.

Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident, was arrested last April after his naturalization interview in Vermont and held in detention for more than two weeks. He was released on bail after filing a habeas petition in federal court that accused the government of retaliating against him for constitutionally protected speech against Israels military operations in Gaza.

Nearly a year ago, I was detained at my citizenship interview, not for breaking the law but for speaking against the genocide of Palestinians, Mahdawi said in a statement. In a climate where dissent is increasingly met with intimidation and detention, todays ruling renews hope that due process still applies and that no agency stands above the Constitution.

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In a letter filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, Mahdawis lawyers said Immigration Judge Nina Froes terminated removal proceedings last week because the Trump administration did not authenticate a memo from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that claimed Mahdawi was a threat to U.S. foreign policy. Mahdawi has denied the allegations. The appeals court is reviewing his case alongside that of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, who the Trump administration also tried to deport.

The Trump administration could still appeal the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals or try to refile a new case based on the same allegations. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately return a request for comment.

Mahdawi, 35, was born and raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank. He co-founded Columbias Palestinian Student Union with Mahmoud Khalil, another green card holder who was detained by the Trump administration for his activism, though Mahdawis participation in the Columbia protests ended before the pro-Palestinian college encampments of spring 2024, according to court documents.

In interviews last year with the Daily News, friends of Mahdawi said he was taking a class on peacemaking and negotiations, and working on a 65-page framework for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict when he was arrested.

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Mahdawi had come to see his naturalization interview as a trap, writing in The New York Times that the federal government dangled the prospect of becoming an American citizen, only for masked agents to apprehend me.

He graduated from Columbia last spring with an undergraduate degree in philosophy, before returning to campus this school year for a masters degree in international and public affairs.

Were pleased that the court has terminated this witch hunt of a case, said Cyrus Mehta, Mahdawis immigration lawyer. The governments inability to even file the proper paperwork demonstrates how careless and reckless they are being in their policy of detaining innocent people for their speech.
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Columbia University graduate student Mohsen Mahdawi had Department of Homeland Security deportation proceedings against him thrown out by a federal immigration judge who ruled DHS had failed to show his removal was legal.

Mahdawi's lawyers filed a letter Tuesday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit notifying it that the judge in Chelmsford, Mass., had terminated Mahdawi's removal proceedings, the ACLU said in a news release.

Judge Nina Froes' ruling was based on the government's failure to authenticate a memorandum, purportedly from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and which formed the basis for its case for Mahdawi's removal.

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Froes questioned whether a photocopy of the document, apparently signed by Rubio, was authentic. The document says Mahdawi's arrest is warranted on grounds his activities in support of Palestinians and protesting the Gaza war "could undermine the Middle East peace process by reinforcing antisemitic sentiment."

However, the ruling was issued without prejudice, meaning the government can challenge the decision before the Board of Immigration Appeals, or file a new case with the same charges, said the ACLU.

"I am grateful to the court for honoring the rule of law and holding the line against the government's attempts to trample on due process. This decision is an important step towards upholding what fear tried to destroy: the right to speak for peace and justice. In a climate where dissent is increasingly met with intimidation and detention, today's ruling renews hope that due process still applies and that no agency stands above the Constitution," said Mahdawi.

Green Card holder Mahdawi, who was arrested at his naturalization interview in Vermont in April over his involvement in student protests at Columbia in 2024 in support of Palestinians and his outspoken criticism of Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza, vowed to continue the fight for "peace, dignity and justice."

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However, Mahdawi, who is Palestinian, insists he quit the student movement in March 2024 over disagreements over its direction, long before it resorted to more radical tactics on campuses, such as setting up encampments and breaking into university buildings.

Lawyers for the ACLU and Mahdawi criticized what they said was a very concerning application of immigration law in the wrong way and stressed how critical it was for recourse in the federal courts to be available, particularly in cases where accused allege violations of their First Amendment and other constitutional rights.

"Had we been unable to pursue Mohsen's release in federal court, as the government is arguing should be law of the land, he would still be in detention today on a charge that the government itself couldn't even bother to substantiate 10 months later with basic forms of authentication," said senior ACLU counsel Brett Max Kaufman.

"The government should take the immigration judge's hint and drop this absurd case for good," added Kaufman.

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Mahdawi was detained for 16 days following his April 14 arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers before a judge ordered his release. He was allowed to return to Columbia to complete his philosophy degree studies, graduating in May.

Mahdawi is currently enrolled at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, studying for a master's degree.
A U.S. District Court judge has ordered Michigan utility giant DTE to pay a $100 million penalty for the persistent, excessive air pollution emanating from one of its subsidiary factories on Zug Island.

The EES Coke Battery plant on Zug Island in Detroit on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain, in his ruling Tuesday, Feb. 17, also ordered DTE to come into compliance with the federal Clean Air Act by following stricter "new source review" air pollution permitting guidelines at the EES Coke Battery plant. The utility must also form a Community Quality Action Committee and provide it with $20 million in funding for community air quality improvement projects.

This is a rare good day for environmental justice in Detroit, said Nicholas Leonard, executive director of Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, which represented the environmental nonprofit organization Sierra Club in the lawsuit.

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DTE officials in a statement said the ruling will have "negative implications" for the coke supply vital to the U.S. steel industry, and that the utility intends to appeal the ruling.

EES Coke Battery LLC operates 85 ovens at its Zug Island facility. There, coal is heated in an oxygen-free atmosphere until all its volatile components evaporate, leaving behind coke. The coke is then used in steelmaking to heat iron ore and remove its oxygen content, leaving behind pure iron.

The process leads to the release of potentially health-harming sulfur dioxide, and EES Coke Battery is one of the largest emitters of sulfur dioxide pollution in Michigan  about 3,600 tons of the pollutant into the atmosphere in 2021, according to the EPA.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation against EES Coke Battery in 2020, and the U.S. Justice Department sued the company two years later, after the EPA found the company did not follow Clean Air Act permitting requirements to prevent significant air quality deterioration, update pollution controls to best available technologies, and other "New Source Review" requirements when making a major modification to plant operations. The company years earlier had modified how it was using coke oven gas, a byproduct of the coking process, as a fuel.

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The Sierra Club and the city of River Rouge joined in the lawsuit against EES Coke Battery with the federal government. The government later amended its complaint to add DTE as defendants to the case, claiming they are also liable for the alleged Clean Air Act violations as operators" of the facility  a contention the utility disputed.

In February 2025, the court found EES Coke Battery liable for Clean Air Act violations in a summary judgment, a direct court finding based on available evidence. The court, at the same time, denied DTE's motion for summary judgment, finding that there were issues for the court to later decide on whether DTE should be considered operators of EES Coke Battery.

The Court held a bench trial on the DTE's liability and the appropriate remedy in September 2025.

In his ruling Tuesday, Drain found that the government had proven that DTE was indeed the operator of EES Coke Battery. The $100 million civil penalty was based on testimony showing DTE benefited economically by about $70 million from delaying or avoiding compliance costs. That amount, to which the judge added a multiplier, is "to ensure the civil penalty levels the economic playing field and adequately deters future Clean Air Act violations."

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Drain declined to impose specific air pollution control targets, leaving that to the state's environmental regulator, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to determine during the permitting process. Testimony during the trial indicated that desulfurization technology, which could be incorporated at the plant, can reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by more than 90%. EES Coke Battery in 2015 considered and rejected installing desulfurization technology, which it estimated would have cost $165 million.

More: Planned expansion at Zug Island coke factory would add nearly 3 tons of dust to air

Theresa Landrum, a southwest Detroit resident, environmental justice advocate and Sierra Club member, called Tuesday's ruling "a monumental victory."

Our families and neighbors can never get back the years lost to breathing dirty air," she said. "This ruling gives me faith that big corporations can be held accountable for breaking the law, and it gives me hope for the future.

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The Community Quality Action Committee will be composed of seven members, including residents and representatives of environmental advocacy organizations, who are charged with maximizing public health and air quality improvements in Ecorse, River Rouge, and the 48217 ZIP code, predominantly African American neighborhoods surrounded by heavy industry that University of Michigan research determined is the most polluted ZIP code in Michigan.

Examples of possible projects include funding and distributing stand-alone HEPA air purifier devices to households near EES Coke, installing filtration systems in schools, and home weatherization programs, said Dr. Dolores Leonard, a Sierra Club member, who, like Landrum, lives in the 48217 ZIP code.

Through our efforts, we won millions of dollars to help fund things like air purifiers in homes and schools that will help kids breathe easier, she said. These wins will undoubtedly save lives.

More: EPA begins removing hazards from former Detroit chemical plant

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DTE responded to Free Press inquiries seeking comment with an emailed statement: "We are extremely disappointed in the courts ruling and its negative implications on the domestic supply of coke to the U.S. steel industry. We have been anticipating this order and are eager to make our appeal to the 6th Circuit Court. We remain committed to compliance and have been operating within the limits of the valid original state permit  both today and during the time period in question. "

Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Judge orders DTE to pay $100M penalty over Zug Island factory pollution
A Myanmar refugee, with a nursing five-month-old at home, whisked abruptly to Texas by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A Massachusetts woman in her third trimester, held under ICEs guard at a hospital after experiencing medical distress in ICE detention. An Indian national who is three months pregnant and whose weight dropped to 90 pounds while in an ICE facility.

Federal judges are sounding alarms about the Trump administrations treatment of pregnant and nursing detainees in ICE custody  and the administration has given the courts conflicting, unclear answers about whether it is following its own policies that sharply restrict those detentions.

Against that uncertainty, courts are being confronted with harrowing stories about women being separated from their nursing infants or housed in cramped and ill-equipped ICE facilities while pregnant, in conditions that threaten their health and have, in some cases, been followed by miscarriages.

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That crystallized over the weekend in Massachusetts, when Djeniffer Benvinda Semedo, a Cape Verdean national who is six months pregnant, was rushed to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for emergency care. The woman claimed that ICE held her in a temporary holding facility for three days, exacerbating her medical distress. On Tuesday, ICE released Benvinda Semedo ahead of an emergency effort by her attorneys to ask a judge for her release, though she remains hospitalized.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Michael Davis, a Clinton appointee based in Minnesota, took the Trump administration to task for detaining and transferring to Texas a legally admitted refugee who was still breastfeeding her five-month-old at the time.

There is something particularly craven about transferring a nursing refugee mother out-of-state, Davis wrote, lamenting that the woman had lost important bonding and nursing time with her baby due to a detention he deemed illegal in the first place. He ordered her immediate release.

Around the same time, U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware, an Obama appointee in Nevada, ordered the immediate release of a woman who said her detention by ICE  despite a high risk pregnancy  had violated a 2021 policy that bars the detention of pregnant and nursing immigrants in most cases.

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For months, ICE has declined to say whether that Biden-era policy, which allows for detention only in exceptional circumstances such as threats to national security, remains in force. A Justice Department attorney told a federal judge in August that the policy had been effectively revoked by President Donald Trumps Day One executive order requiring the administration to maximize its deportation and detention operations.

But last month, another DOJ attorney said the policy was still in effect and binding on ICE. And last week in Wisconsin, a federal judge pressed the Trump administration to say why the nursing mother of a six-month-old had been detained. In response, DOJ said it consulted with the Department of Homeland Security and that DHS was unable to identify any reason to keep her detained.

POLITICO has asked repeatedly about the policy and not gotten clarity about whether it remains in force.

Pregnancy in ICE detention is exceedingly rare  making up 0.133% of all illegal aliens in custody," DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "Pregnant women receive regular prenatal visits, mental health services, nutritional support, and accommodations aligned with community standards of care. This includes medical, dental, and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility, and access to necessary medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care."

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Being in detention is a choice," she added. "We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App."

But judges say many of these women should not have been detained in the first place  and when they are, its not clear ICE is following its guidance regarding their care.

Confusion about the status of ICEs policy toward pregnant and nursing women began in August, when a Justice Department attorney in Minnesota told U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson that the policy had been rescinded. (That DOJ lawyer, Ana Voss, was among a recent wave of resignations from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Minnesota in response to the mass deportation surge in the Twin Cities.)

Nelson expressed skepticism about Voss position, noting that Trumps executive order contains no references to nursing mothers, let alone nursing mothers who lack any criminal history whatsoever.

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The Court finds that the harm of separating a nursing mother and child is self-evident, Nelson wrote in ordering the womans release from ICE custody.

A week later, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt, a Texas-based Reagan appointee, ordered the immediate release of a woman with a nursing four-month-old, no criminal history and a U.S. citizen husband who was working to attain lawful immigration status.

Petitioners continued detention irreparably deprives her of her liberty, exposes her to adverse medical consequences, and prevents her from caring for her infant child, Hoyt wrote. The petitioner demonstrates that both she and her infant child are suffering irreparable harm.

The following month, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston, a Biden appointee in California, said a 32-year-old Nicaraguan detainee who was both nursing and newly pregnantappeared to have been deprived of proper equipment and care.

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As a result of her sudden withdrawal from her baby and the inability to feed, she suffered the painful condition of having her milk ducts clog. There is no indication she was provided a breast pump or other assistance to maintain her milk supply, Thurston wrote.

Her decision came around the same time U.S. District Judge Casey Pitts, another Biden appointee based in California,barred ICE from detaining the nursing mother of an infant. He noted that ICE had previously attempted to arrest her but held off because her baby was with her at the time.

In December, U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley, an Obama appointee in California, granted the release of an Indian national who said her weight had dropped to 90 pounds amid dire conditions of her detention by ICE. The judge said the womans reported medical concerns had put her pregnancy at risk and appeared to violate ICEs 2021 policy.

In some cases, judges have ruled against releasing pregnant detainees, saying conditions of confinement were not squarely within their purview to adjudicate. But even in those cases, the judges have raised concerns.

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While the Court makes no findings as to the accuracy of Petitioners allegations regarding medical care, the Court finds them concerning, U.S. District Judge William Johnson, a New Mexico-based appointee of George W. Bush, wrote in a Jan. 26 ruling. The Court hopes and expects that, if they are true, that the appropriate Respondents will act promptly to ensure that Petitioner is receiving necessary medical care to prevent irreparable harm to her and her future child.

The same month, U.S. District Judge Maurice Hicks Jr., a George W. Bush appointee from Louisiana, said he was not unsympathetic to the medical conditionof a woman who said she was pregnant with twins, but said he could not order emergency relief until the Trump administration had a chance to respond to her petition.
ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA)  Ozark Mission Project announces new Executive Director.

The Ozark Mission Project (OMP) Board of Directors has elected Jules Anderson as Executive Director. Anderson has been serving as Interim Executive Director since August 2025.

I am deeply honored and humbled to step into this role, Anderson said. She holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of Arkansas.

According to a release, Anderson will oversee all aspects of the organizations operations, including strategic planning, fundraising, volunteer engagement and program development.

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Former Van Buren police officer sentenced to 20 years for internet stalking of a child

Previously, Anderson served in multiple roles at OMP since 2021, including Director of Programs and Communication and Volunteer and Programs Coordinator.

Jules has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to OMPs mission and the communities we serve, Clark Cogbill, Chair of the OMP Board of Directors said. Her leadership, vision, and deep understanding of our programs uniquely position her to lead Ozark Mission Project into its next chapter.

In 1986, Ozark Mission Project began with one camp and 35 participants in Imboden, AR.

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In addition, the release said Anderson is being recognized as a Certified Volunteer Manager by the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium and a SERVE Curriculum Certified Trainer by the Civility Leadership Institute.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is sharing her thoughts on former defendants in the election interference cases attempts to recoup their legal fees.

Were gonna fight with everything we legally can in that particular case, Willis told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne. The laws unconstitutional, and just wrong in so many ways.

According to a state law passed last year, President Donald Trump and those who faced charges in the election interference case that Willis office sought can now seek to recoup their legal fees because charges were dropped.

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Willis says she will fight in court to prevent the payment of roughly $17 million in legal fees sought by defense attorneys.

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The first problem is that the law was written with the intent of legislators trying to help their friends, and so whenever you do something for a wrong purpose, its going to work out wrongly, she said. Its terribly written. It looks like they wrote it on the back of a napkin.

Attorney Chris Anulewicz told Winne he represents one of the former defendants. He says he does not believe the law is poorly written, and was written in response to the actions of Willis and her office, which he says were wrong.

Willis says that to collect the fees, there needs to be a finding of improper conduct by the prosecutor. She says that though there was a finding of the appearance of impropriety, no court found there was actually improper conduct.

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Anulewicz maintains that the law at issue would cover even the appearance of improper conduct.

Willis says attorneys are seeking reimbursement for things like hotel rooms costing more than $1,000 per night and seafood lunches costing hundreds of dollars.

They should be ashamed, Willis said of the expenses attorneys are asking for.

Anulewicz says he did not submit any outrageous expenses, but other attorneys will get a chance to defend what they spent in court.

This law is retroactive, meaning they come up with a law for conduct that has already occurred and the Constitution says you cannot do that, Willis said.

Anulewicz says the Constitutional protections Willis is claiming are for individuals, not the government.

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Updated March 2

Nebraska lawmakers approved a bill Feb. 27 allowing schools to suspend children in grades K-2 for violent behavior. Schools will be required to provide a plan to parents whose young children are suspended that describes available resources and how the students behavior will be handled in the future. Gov. Jim Pillen said he intends to sign the bill into law.

In the rural Nebraska panhandle, elementary teachers at Kimball Public Schools have watched students as young as 5 throw furniture, bite staff and attack classmates.

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Until a few years ago, in- and out-of-school suspensions were one way that Nebraska schools dealt with this type of behavior. But in 2023, state lawmakers banned the practice for students in prekindergarten through second grade unless they brought a weapon to school.

It was billed as a move to protect children with disabilities and prevent the disproportionate suspension of students of color. But now, Nebraska lawmakers are trying to reverse the ban. Educators say suspensions are needed to stop severe or violent behavior  which has gotten worse since the pandemic  and to get parents attention about how their children are acting in school.

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We will have a student physically assault another student, or fight staff members. And then it happens repeatedly. The parents support is not there. What are we going to do in Kimball, Nebraska? asked Superintendent Trevor Anderson. The only solution that we really have is that theyre still in the building and now its essentially one of the staff members babysitting all day long, because (the student) is not able to handle being in the regular classroom setting.

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Nebraska is one of a handful of states, including Minnesota and Texas, that have sought to repeal suspension bans in the last year. At least 18 states prohibit suspensions for students in prekindergarten through second or third grade, according to the most recent national data published in 2020.

A rise in student misbehavior post-COVID, combined with inadequate funding for special education, has left districts struggling with how to address behaviors  sometimes violent  in the classroom. But research shows that suspensions disproportionately impact students of color and children with disabilities or from marginalized backgrounds, including those in early grades.

While Black children made up 18% of U.S. preschoolers during the 2021-22 school year, they represented 38% of students who received at least one out-of-school suspension, according to the latest federal civil rights data. About 23% of U.S. preschoolers received services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) during that time and represented 41% of those who were suspended.

One 2021 study found that receiving a suspension serves as a key turning point toward increased odds of incarceration for students later in life.

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I dont  think it works to suspend pre-K students (through) second grade students at all. I was suspended at that age and, quite frankly, I dont believe it helped. I went home and watched cartoons. I dont think that changed my behavior at all, said Nebraska state Sen. Terrell McKinney when he proposed the ban in 2023. I believe it prepares kids  especially kids that look like me  for the juvenile justice system, the child welfare system and then the criminal justice system.

Related

NYC Schools Fail to Protect Students with Disabilities From Lengthy Suspensions

Discipline that might be appropriate for older students can be harmful for young childrens development, said Luis Rodriguez, a New York University professor who studies school discipline.

Young children are still learning. They probably are still developing social skills  especially when were talking about kindergarten, first grade  and it might be the first time that some of these children are around other children and away from home, he said. Exclusionary disciplines such as suspensions at that age can interrupt foundational learning.

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Since the pandemic, some policymakers have focused on ways to combat increasing student misbehavior in schools to protect teacher and student safety, while others have tried to reduce disparities in school discipline and ensure children dont miss out on learning, said Zeke Perez, assistant director of the nonprofit Education Commission of the States.

Maryland was one of the first states to limit suspensions for early grades, in 2017. It prohibited the practice for students in prekindergarten through second grade unless there was an imminent threat to staff or students.

A Brown University study published in 2024 found that the law reduced the probability of K-2 suspensions from 1.9% in 2017 to 0.8% in 2018, while rates remained steady around 3% for grades 3 to 5 following the ban. But disparities still remained in suspension rates for students who were Black, low-income or had disabilities.

Paul Lemle, president of the Maryland State Education Association, said the law has been beneficial for schools.

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Were always trying to avoid removal from school, especially for our youngest students, he said. Everywhere theres challenging behavior. It comes with the territory. This hasnt made the job more difficult. Its the right thing to do for these really young kids.

While Marylands law allows suspensions for violent behavior, Nebraskas only exception is for bringing a weapon to school. Some educators and lawmakers said revisions are needed to expand the exceptions to protect students and teachers.

Nebraska state Sen. Dave Murman, who proposed repealing the ban in January, said hes heard from school districts that the same students act out repeatedly and cant be removed from the classroom.

I dont believe this law is working. Suspension should never be the first option, but what happens when a student behaves in a violent manner and students or staff get hurt? he said at a Jan. 27 hearing. Ive heard stories from teachers and administrators about students biting, hitting, throwing desks and chairs, stabbing with pencils and even kicking the stomach of a pregnant teacher. How can children learn in that environment?

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Murman said suspensions might be the only way administrators can get a parents attention to address their childs behavior. He said some schools arent able to make contact with families until they have to physically remove their child from school after a suspension.

These challenges have become more common for Kimball Public Schools since the pandemic, said Anderson. The district is located near the Wyoming and Colorado borders and serves nearly 400 students. About half are enrolled in elementary grades.

Anderson said he had never seen the level of aggression and violent behavior from young elementary students in his eight years as an administrator until recently. He said classroom management has been more difficult since the suspension ban went into effect in 2023.

Small, remote districts like Kimball dont receive the same resources as metropolitan schools that provide alternatives to suspension, such as behavioral supports or trauma-informed interventions. A licensed mental health practitioner visits the district once a week. Anderson said he recently filled a behavior specialist position that had been open for a year and a half.

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Before the ban, Omaha Public Schools used suspensions in kindergarten through second grade on rare occasions to get a behavior plan in place for a struggling student, said Kathy Poehling, president of the Omaha Education Association.

Were not forced to suspend preschoolers or kindergartners. But if thats what we need to do in order to get people together, to put a plan in place, sometimes you need 24 hours to do that, she said. I dont really support the idea of repealing the entire ban, because I think then were not really looking at the situation and saying, What does the child need? We dont want to suspend just to suspend.

Omahas Education Rights Counsel, a legal advocacy nonprofit, supported the ban because children between the ages of 4 and 7 were being sent home multiple times a year, said Director Lauren Micek Vargas.

Some students might be exhibiting behaviors because of a disability or possible trauma at home, she said.

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With our most young, vulnerable children, oftentimes that behavior actually is a form of communication of something else, she said. If you punish something without trying to figure out what is happening underneath the surface  were missing out on an opportunity to really connect with the child and also see other things that are going on.

But under IDEA, some legal procedures that could help students get access to special education services are triggered only by suspensions, said Robyn Linscott, director of family and education policy at The Arc of the United States.

Under IDEA, schools are required to hold a meeting with specialists, teachers and the family of any student who has been suspended for 10 or more days during a school year. These sessions determine whether the behavior that led to the suspensions is the result of a disability.

If that is the case, then the school has to make sure that all these other supports are in place before they can be suspended again, before they can be expelled, Linscott said. They often look back to functional behavior assessments and their (individualized education program) to see if it was actually being followed. This is a really important protection and procedural point for students with disabilities.

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Even without suspensions, schools can informally remove students with disabilities by asking their parents to take them home. But that doesnt count toward the federal 10-day limit.

Related

Minnesota Bills Would Roll Back Bans on Seclusion and Expulsion for K-3 Students

Last year, Minnesota lawmakers initiated bills to reinstate suspensions and other exclusionary discipline only two years after passing a ban. State Sen. Jim Abeler, one of the bill authors, said the suspension ban had been implemented with good intentions, but its been a disaster.

Theres no chance to intervene, he said. The kids see no consequences and dont ever get a chance to get on track with a plan. Superintendents came (to the legislature) and begged for a way to work around this.

A 2017 early grade suspension law in Texas was revised last year to expand the reasons for sending a student in prekindergarten through second grade home. Before the change, young students could be suspended only if they brought a gun to school. Now, reasons include repeated or significant disruption to the classroom or a threat to the health and safety of other students.

In Nebraska, lawmakers like state Sen. Ashlei Spivey are working on a compromise bill that would allow more exceptions, like chronic disruptive behavior or violence. The legislation, which is separate from the bill to repeal the ban and more likely to pass, is in the second debate and voting stage in the legislature.

Spivey said that while sending students home might be a tool for discipline, alternative interventions are key to preventing disproportionate suspensions and keeping young children in the classroom.

If you feel like a 7-year-old should not be in a classroom, my thought is that you cannot throw them away, but you ask, What are they navigating? What type of support do they need?  she said. There also needs to be clearly defined expectations of what escalates to a suspension and how you are defining that, and how it is being applied to all student populations.
Missouri lawmakers are drawing up separate proposals in the House and Senate to respond to Gov. Mike Kehoes push for a public school accountability system that grades schools on an A through F scale.

Kehoes executive order, unveiled during his State of the State address last month, calls for the states education department to draw up a plan by June 30. The State Board of Education would have to approve the change for it to go into effect.

But the General Assembly wants a chance to craft the new system, with House and Senate committees debating legislation on A-F grading of public schools. And based on the committees discussions in the past week, the two chambers bills are likely to have key differences.

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The Senate Education Committee heard identical bills sponsored by Republican state Sens. Ben Brown of Washington and Curtis Trent of Springfield on Tuesday afternoon. Their base legislation largely mirrors Kehoes request, though they presented a few edits in a committee substitute that has yet to come to a vote.

Every mom and dad in Missouri, they already understand what an A, B, C, D and F mean. They know what a good report card looks like, Brown said. But when it comes to schools, they are handed pages of acronyms and charts that dont really tell them anything in plain English as to how their childs school is actually doing.

Both the House and Senate proposals include the public posting of a standardized, clear and easily accessible report card with a letter grade based on students scores on the states standardized test. But the two chambers legislation, which will likely undergo even more edits in coming weeks, have a number of key differences.

The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee passed a version last week that gives an A grade to districts with the top 10% of scores. Grades B through F would be delineated by education officials.

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The Senates legislation has the A through F model that everybody is familiar with, Trent said Tuesday, with scores based on the percentage of points earned. It also adopts the governors recommendation to increase the thresholds for A through D grades by 5% when 65% of schools achieve at the A or B level.

Trent told committee members this was intended to motivate schools to pursue higher achievement. But the House committee scrapped this provision, labeling it unfair to have a forever changing target, as the committees chairman described it.

It also removed a piece that would lower schools score by one letter grade if less than 95% of its students took the states standardized test. Instead, lower testing rates would be noted on the report cards but without penalizing the overall score.

Both House and Senate lawmakers proposed an incentive system that would provide additional funding for high-performing schools. The original bills call for a funding boost of $100 per student for schools with the top 5% of scores in academic performance and growth and a bonus of $50 per student for schools in the top 10%.

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State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat on the Senate Education Committee, said she worried this system would benefit predominantly wealthy areas.

These areas are going to receive more money, but our schools that are struggling and really need the additional support to bring up all students will not receive any incentive, she said.

Trent said he viewed the incentives as a nice bonus but was willing to cut the program if the financial incentive structure is a distraction from the core of the bill.

The House kept the idea of incentives but gave the responsibility to the states education department to determine award amounts and criteria. The bill directs officials to give bonuses to districts based on academic growth, student improvement over multiple years, improvement among historically underserved groups, career readiness and literacy.

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Public testimony on the legislation has been mixed, with some parents and advocacy organizations saying the report cards would be easier to understand than the states existing accountability systems. Groups representing public educators, though, say it puts too much emphasis on standardized testing.

Mike Harris, lobbyist for the Missouri State Teachers Association, acknowledged that the states current accountability system has its issues.

However, he added, Our adopted resolutions clearly oppose systems that rely on high-stakes, test-driven measures that do not include local input.
The King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office and multiple community-based organizations across the region are pushing lawmakers in Olympia to maintain funding for crime survivor services in their 2027 supplemental budget, warning that programs could face steep cuts without additional support.

Under the current supplemental budget, crime victim services are funded at $12 million or about half of the $21.38 million advocates say is needed to maintain baseline year-over-year funding. Without legislative action, organizations that provide domestic violence shelter beds, operate crisis lines, deliver victim advocacy, and offer civil legal aid could see funding reduced by roughly 50%.

Without increasing funding to $21.38 million, programs will face significant reductions, and in some communities, potential closures, directly impacting crime survivor safety and access to support, said King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion. This is a public safety issue, and lives are at risk if we do not maintain funding. I am urging our legislature to make crime victims a priority.

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Advocates say the funding gap comes at a time when demand for services remains high, and resources are already strained.

The bottom line is, we cannot keep doing more with less, and unfortunately, survivors are the ones who are going to feel this first, Laurel Redden, Communications Director with the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, told KIRO Newsradio. Weve worked for 50 years to reassure survivors that theyre not alone and that help is available. From the moment they reach out for help, they need that certainty when they gather the courage to reach out, that help is in fact available, and all of thats at risk right now.

WA budget offers some flexibility, but advocates worry it wont be enough

Governor Bob Fergusons proposed 202627 supplemental budget targets three main priorities, including housing, transportation, and affordability, as the state adjusts its two-year spending plan to reflect changing needs. While Washington operates on a biennial budget cycle, the supplemental budget allows lawmakers to fine-tune funding for key services such as public schools, road construction and maintenance, health care, and public safety.

Budget writers also have slightly more flexibility than expected: an updated revenue forecast projects the state will collect $75.28 billion between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027, which comes to $827 million more than previously estimated.

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However, Doris ONeal, founder of Survivors FIRST and Director of Gender-Based Violence and Specialized Services at YWCA Seattle, worries about sustained funding for communities and victims facing disproportionate barriers.

Domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, many survivors are dealing with trauma, theyre dealing with homelessness, theyre jobless because of the domestic violence that they have experienced, and it takes time and effort to rebuild that for them, ONeal explained to KIRO Newsradio. If they have children, if they cant pay for daycare to go to work this is why this funding is so essential, because it supports agencies like the YWCA and the many others to be able to support the survivor as theyre going through their experience and rebuilding their lives.

Colleen McIngalls, executive director of the Childrens Justice Center of King County, which serves as the countys Child Advocacy Center, said programs statewide are at risk.

We are at a breaking point. If the Washington State Legislature does not restore the full $21.38 million in victim services funding, programs across our state will close their doors  and once that infrastructure is dismantled, it takes years to rebuild, if it can be rebuilt at all, McIngalls said. There should be no hesitation when it comes to sustaining the services that keep victims alive. It is time for Washington to stand up for survivors, sustain these services, and ensure that children in our state stay safe and alive.

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Bridgette Maryman, chief of the Gender-based Violence and Prevention Division at the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, said funding levels should reflect the states stated values.

Our state budget should be consistent with our communitys values, Maryman said. If we say we believe victims and we want to keep them safe and help them heal, we must fund victim services at the level that meets the need. Otherwise, state leaders are telling victims they do not matter, and they are not believed.

Leticia Figueroa, director of Victim Services in the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, said lawmakers have an opportunity to act.

By allocating $21.38 million, the legislature has an opportunity to affirm that we believe victims deserve safety, dignity, and support, Figueroa said. Underfunding means fewer advocates, fewer services, and more survivors forced to face trauma without the help they deserve.

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Maintaining funding for crime survivor services has been one of Manions top legislative priorities for several years. Last year, she testified in support of SB 5362, which would make funding for crime survivor services sustainable into the future.

The 2026 legislative session is scheduled to end on March 12.

Follow Luke Duecy on X. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.
By Fatos Bytyci

PRISTINA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Kosovo's former President Hashim Thaci told judges at his war crimes trial in The Hague on Wednesday that justice cannot be served by "prosecuting the innocent."

Thaci and three other former Kosovo Liberation Army commanders are charged with persecution, murder, torture and forced disappearances of people during and shortly after the 1998-99 uprising that eventually brought independence for the Albanian-majority region from Serbia.

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They deny all the charges.

"Justice for the victims cannot be honoured by prosecuting the innocent, reconciliation cannot happen through selective and ethnic-based prosecutions," Thaci said in his final comments to the court before the verdict, expected within three months.

Thaci, 57, described prosecution allegations that he and his co-accused masterminded a violent campaign to win political control of Kosovo as "untrue, utterly absurd and deeply offensive."

NO EVIDENCE: THACI LAWYERS

His defence team has said there is no evidence to directly link Thaci to any of the alleged crimes and that there was insufficient evidence to say he controlled other KLA commanders.

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Last week, prosecutors sought a 45-year prison sentence for Thaci following a nearly three-year trial.

They say that in 1998 and 1999, more than 100 political opponents and perceived collaborators with Serbian security forces were killed and hundreds were abused in and around 50 detention camps run by the KLA.

Thaci and the three other defendants - former parliament speakers Jakup Krasniqi and Kadri Veseli, and former lawmaker Rexhep Selimi - were arrested in 2020 and sent to face trial at the special Kosovo war crimes court in The Hague.

During their last comments, the three men, whom the prosecution also demanded each receive 45-year prison sentences, denied all charges and demanded their release.

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More than 13,000 people, mostly Kosovo Albanians, are believed to have died during the late 1990s insurgency, when Kosovo was a province of Serbia under then-President Slobodan Milosevic, whose troops violently cracked down on ethnic Albanians.

KLA leaders are seen by many in Kosovo as national liberation heroes. Thousands rallied in the capital Pristina on Tuesday in support of the former KLA commanders.

The court was set up in 2015 by the Kosovo parliament following a report by the Council of Europe that during the war, members of the KLA allegedly harvested organs from some captives while being held in Albania, mainly Serbs, and then killed them.

Kosovo accused Serbia of fabricating such information to smear KLA liberators. These accusations were never included in the indictments filed by the prosecutors.

(Reporting by Fatos BytyciEditing by Gareth Jones, Rod Nickel)
MOSCOW, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Wednesday that neither China nor Russia havecarried out secret nuclear tests, noting Beijing had denied U.S. accusations that it had done so.

The United States this month accused China of conducting a secret nuclear test in 2020 as it called for a new, broader arms control treaty that would bring in China as well as Russia.

"We've heard many references to certain tests. Both the Russian Federation and China have been mentioned in this regard. Neither the Russian Federation nor China has conducted any nuclear tests," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

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"We also know that these allegations were categorically denied by a representative of the People's Republic of China, so that's the situation," added Peskov.

U.S. President Donald Trump is pressing China to join the U.S. and Russia to negotiate a replacement pact to New START, the last U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control agreement which expired on February 5.

The treaty's expiration has fuelled concerns among some experts that the world is on the verge of an accelerated nuclear arms race, though other arms control experts say such fears are exaggerated.

(Reporting by Reuters, Writing by Felix LightEditing by Andrew Osborn)
A Utica man who is also a minister at an Owensboro church was arrested Monday night, on charges of having a sexual relationship with a minor that lasted several years.

David A. Rodgers, 40, of the 300 block of Hill Bridge Road, was arrested around 7:30 p.m. Monday and charged with third-degree rape, second-degree sodomy (position of trust), first-degree sexual abuse, procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means and possession of material depicting a sexual performance by a minor (victim under age 12).

Rodgers was worship pastor at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church on Kentucky 56. The churchs website had no mention of Rodgers Tuesday morning.

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Trooper Corey King, public affairs officer for the Kentucky State Police in Henderson, said detectives received a complaint about the abuse in early January.

The alleged abuse occurred over a number of years.

King said the minor was about 13 years old when she first met Rodgers.

The minors association with Rodgers progressed to the sexual relationship, which lasted until the minor was 17 or 18 years-old, King said.

Rodgers arrest citation says detectives interviewed Rodgers, and says: In the interview, (Rodgers) confessed to the (various) offenses.

King said the procurement charge stems from how Rodgers communicated with the juvenile, which King said is believed to be over social media.

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Second-degree sodomy and the procurement charges are both class B felonies when the accused is in a position of authority or special trust over the victim.

Third-degree rape charge applies when a person in a position of authority of position of special trust ... engages in sexual intercourse with a minor under 18 years old with whom he or she comes into contact as a result of that position. Third-degree rape is a class D felony.

The procurement of a minor, first-degree sexual abuse and the possession of material depicting a sexual performance by a minor charges are all class D felonies.

Rodgers was being held Tuesday in the Daviess County Detention Center on a $75,000 full-cash bond.

Rodgers is scheduled to make his first appearance in Daviess District Court on Wednesday.
Democratic candidates have notched a series of wins in recent special elections  but a new AP-NORC poll finds views of the Democratic Party among rank-and-file Democrats have not bounced back since President Donald Trump s 2024 victory.

Only about 7 in 10 Democrats have a positive view of the Democratic Party, according to new polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. While the overwhelming majority of Democrats still feel good about their party, theyre much less positive than theyve been in the past.

The midterm elections are still many months away, and lackluster favorability doesnt spell electoral doom. Other factors could benefit Democrats this year, including broadly negative views of Trump and other Republicans.

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But the lack of enthusiasm could be a longer-term problem for the party. Democrats favorability of their party plummeted after the 2024 election. And despite overwhelming victories in Novembers offseason elections and a string of wins since then, those views havent recovered.

The latest:

US military leader meets Venezuelas acting president

The head of U.S. military operations in Latin America met with Venezuelas acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, and members of her cabinet during an hourslong visit Wednesday to the South American countrys capital.

Rodriguezs government and U.S. Southern Command announced the visit separately on social media.

Rodriguezs press office said Marine Gen. Francis Donovan met with Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

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The meeting comes weeks after the U.S. military captured then-President Nicolas Maduro in a stunning raid in Caracas and brought him to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges.

A readout of the meeting from U.S. Southern Command said the discussions focused on security in Venezuela and the Western Hemisphere as well as the steps to ensure the implementation of Trumps phased plan for the country.

Air Force One will be painted red, white and blue as Trump has hinted, US military says

A red, white and blue color scheme championed by President Trump will become the new look for Air Force One, the U.S. military said Thursday.

The military released a rendering of the new look that matches an airplane model that has been seen in the Oval Office for meetings with foreign leaders.

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Boeing is in the process of modifying two of its 747-800 aircraft that are slated to replace the existing fleet of two aging Boeing 747-200 aircraft that the president currently uses and that take on the Air Force One call sign when the president is aboard.

In 2018, Trump directed that those new jets would ditch the iconic Kennedy-era blue-and-white design for a white-and-navy color scheme. Instead, the top half of the plane would have been white, while the bottom, including the belly, would have been dark blue. A streak of dark red would have run from the cockpit to the tail. The coloring was almost identical to the exterior of Trumps personal plane.

FDA will drop 2-study requirement for new drug approvals

The Food and Drug Administration s plan to drop the longtime standard is the latest change from Trump administration officials vowing to speed up the availability of certain medical products.

Going forward, the FDAs default position will be to require one study for new drugs and other novel health products, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and a top deputy, Dr. Vinay Prasad, wrote in a New England Journal of Medicine piece published Wednesday.

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The announcement is the latest example of Makary and his team changing longstanding FDA standards and procedures with the stated goal of slashing bureaucracy and accelerating the availability of new medicines.

It contrasts with the FDAs more restrictive approach to other products, including vaccines.

Last week, the FDAs vaccine division, headed by Prasad, refused to accept Modernas application for a new mRNA flu shot, saying its clinical trial was insufficient. Then on Wednesday the agency reversed course, saying it would review the vaccine after Moderna agreed to conduct an additional study in older people.

 Read more about the updated requirements

US fighter jets and other aircraft head to Middle East

Dozens of U.S. fighter jets, including F-35s, F-22s and F-16s, have left bases in the U.S. and Europe in recent days to head to the Middle East, according to the Military Air Tracking Alliance, a team of about 30 open-source analysts that routinely analyzes military and government flight activity.

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The team says its also tracked more than 85 fuel tankers and over 170 cargo planes heading into the region.

Steffan Watkins, a researcher based in Canada and a member of the MATA, said he also has spotted support aircraft like six of the militarys early-warning E-3 aircraft head to a base in Saudi Arabia.

Those aircraft are key for coordinating operations with a large number of aircraft. He says they were pulled from bases in Japan, Germany and Hawaii.

Trump moves to protect domestic production of phosphorous for the military and key herbicides for farming

The president has signed an executive order meant to safeguard domestic supplies of elemental phosphorus, which the U.S. military uses, as well as glyphosate-based herbicides vital to agriculture production.

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His order invokes the Defense Production Act and instructs the Department of the Interior to coordinate with defense officials.

It is meant to protect domestic production, distribution and supply chains of both elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides.

Ensuring robust domestic elemental phosphorus mining and United States-based production of glyphosate-based herbicides is central to American economic and national security, the order states. Without immediate Federal action, the United States remains inadequately equipped and vulnerable.

Rubio to visit Israel next week, officials say

Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to travel to Israel next week to update Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, two Trump administration officials said.

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Rubio is expected to meet with Netanyahu on Feb. 28, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail travel plans that have not yet been announced.

The U.S. and Iran have held two rounds of recent indirect talks over the Islamic Republics nuclear program.

Netanyahu visited the White House last week to urge President Donald Trump to ensure that any deal also include steps to neutralize Irans ballistic missile program and end its funding for proxy groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

As Trump weighs whether to take military action against Tehran, he said Friday that a change in power would be the best thing that could happen.

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___

 By Matthew Lee

More than 40 nations and the EU to send representatives to Trumps inaugural Board of Peace meeting

Countries that have confirmed theyre sending representatives to Thursdays meeting, according to a senior administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly, include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Trump initiated the board as part of his 20-point peace plan to end the Israel-Hamas war, but he now envisions it as a body that will help resolve conflicts around the globe. Thursdays meeting is focusing on reconstruction and building an international stabilization force for a war-battered Gaza, where a shaky ceasefire deal persists.

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Several of the countries expected to attend have opted not to join the board and will be attending as observers.

___

 By Aamer Madhani

US ambassador defends Trumps Board of Peace structure ahead of Thursday meeting

During a U.N. Security Council meeting on the Palestinian territories Wednesday, Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., appeared to criticize the many world powers who have not yet signed on to join the Board of Peace, saying that unlike the 15-member council, the board is not talking, it is doing.

The U.N. session in New York was originally scheduled for Thursday but was moved up after Trump announced the boards meeting for that same date and it became clear that it would complicate travel plans for diplomats planning to attend both. It is a sign of the potential for overlapping and conflicting agendas between the United Nations most powerful body and Trumps new initiative, whose broader ambitions to broker global conflicts have raised concerns in some countries that it may attempt to rival the U.N. Security Council.

We are hearing the chattering class criticizing the structure of the board, that its unconventional, that its unprecedented, Waltz said. Again, the old ways were not working.

Christian pastors assert that US is in a state of crisis

In an open letter issued on Ash Wednesday, several hundred Christian pastors, scholars and civic leaders from across the United States declared the country to be in a state of crisis.

The letter,  A Call to Christians in a Crisis of Faith and Democracy, was released to mark the start of the Christian season of repentance. Organizers said the letter asserts that Christians have a moral obligation to speak out in the face of an endangered democracy, the rise of tyranny, and a Christian faith corrupted by the heretical ideology of white Christian nationalism.

Among the signatories were top leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church.

Trump says hes not a racist, just ask Mike Tyson

At the White Houses Black History Month event, Trump didnt mention his recent racist social media post featuring former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, as primates in a jungle that was later deleted.

But he shrugged off charges hes racist, saying that former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, who is Black, can vouch for him.

Whenever they come out and they say, Trumps a racist, the president told the event, Mike Tyson goes, Hes not a racist, hes my friend.

Trump also mentioned another Black former athlete he is friendly with, noting that former NFL running back Herschel Walker is his administrations ambassador to I dont know, Bahamas? Bermuda? The president later added, Whatever.

Walker is U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas.

White House pardon czar praises trump for giving her a second chance after prison term

White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson says her elevation from prison to a White House job is uniquely American.

Trump commuted Johnsons sentence for federal drug and money laundering charges in 2018 and later pardoned her. She had spent more than two decades serving life without parole for a nonviolent drug offense.

As pardon czar, Johnson advises Trump and the administration on clemency cases.

When you see me, you see a miracle, you see hope, you see second chances, and you see someone who is willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work, do the hard work to help individuals gain their freedom, Johnson said during a Black History Month event at the White House.

Johnson, who is Black, touted Trump as a friend to Black Americans.

This president hears you, she said. This president cares for you.

Trump remembers Jesse Jackson at Black History Month event

Trump remembered the late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson as a real piece of work but a good man and a hero.

I knew him well long before becoming president, and he really was special, with lots of personality, grit and street smarts, Trump said during a White House event commemorating Black History Month.

He said Jackson was gregarious and someone who truly loved people and a force of nature, adding hell be greatly missed.

Democratic leader supports censure of GOP congressman over anti-Muslim remarks

The comments from Rep. Randy Fine of Florida were disgusting and part of a long track record of disgusting comments, Islamophobic comments, and xenophobic comments, Jeffries said.

If the House produces a censure resolution against the GOP congressman, Jeffries said he would strongly support it.

Fine, who is Jewish, has drawn widespread rebuke for his latest remarks, saying he prefers having dogs over Muslims in the United States.

If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one, he posted on social media.

The congressman was reacting to online posts from New York City about complaints over dog feces emerging in the melting snow. Some Muslims do not believe the animals should be kept indoors as pets. And one pro-Palestinian advocate joked in a post that the city was coming around to the view.

He has since doubled-down on his position and posted a number of images of dogs.

Jeffries called on House Speaker Mike Johnson to address the congressmans behavior. Get your members under control because if you dont, we will, he said.

Does Trump have a speech on aliens prepared? The White House hasnt heard that

A speech on aliens would be news to me, Leavitt said when asked about the presidents daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, recently suggesting that Trump has a speech on aliens and would be ready to give at the right time.

Former President Barack Obama caused a stir when he recently suggested that UFOs were real.

Leavitt said with a laugh that the prospect that Trump has prepared remarks on aliens, Sounds very exciting.

Ill have to check in with our speechwriting team, and that would be of great interest to me personally, she added. And Im sure all of you in this room, and apparently former President Obama, too.

White House says Democratic proposal is unserious

Leavitt said during Wednesdays briefing that the Democrats latest proposal to end a shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security is unserious.

She said White House officials, but not President Trump, has been in contact with Democratic leaders over the impasse, blaming Democrats for forcing some federal employees to work without paychecks.

Last night, they sent over a counter proposal that, frankly, was very unserious, Leavitt said of Democrats. And we hope they get serious very soon because Americans are going to be impacted by this.

White House pushes back on Zelenskyy calling Trumps pressure on Ukraine unfair

Ukrainian President President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with news site Axios on Tuesday that its not fair that Trump has persistently called on Ukraine to make concessions to Russia, but has been less forceful in his calls on President Vladimir Putin to come to the table to end Russias war on Ukraine.

I think the president would respond to that by saying he does not think its fair that thousands of Ukrainians are losing their lives and Russians, too, in this deadly war, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said when asked about Zelenskyy criticism.

She added, I think the president views this entire situation as very unfair, not just for Russians and Ukrainians who have lost their lives, but also for the American people and the American taxpayer who were footing the bill for this war effort.

Trump must seek approval from Congress before any US action against Iran, top Democrat says

House minority leader Jeffries said he wouldnt put anything past this president, when asked about potential US military action toward Iran.

But he insisted Trump cannot act alone in conducting military actions.

The American people clearly are of the view that before any adverse military action is taken unilaterally by Donald Trump and Republicans, that, of course, Congress  consistent with our constitutional responsibility  should approve any acts of war, Jeffries said.

Democrats demand ICE reforms on Day 5 of DHS shutdown

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said without dramatic, bold, meaningful reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the funding Homeland Security bill funding will not move forward.

Jeffries said Trump and Republicans need to own up to the chaos that theyve created under the big tax breaks and spending cuts bill that sent some $75 billion to ICE.

Democrats are making a number of demands, including that immigration agents identify themselves by wearing body cameras and taking off their masks.

They further want agents to seek judicial warrants before entering private property and theyre pushing for a ban on immigration enforcement around sensitive locations, including schools, hospitals, houses of worship and polling places.

These remain lines in the sand in the negotiations with the administration, he said.

Over the weekend, Democrats sent the White House their latest offer. Jeffries said they are waiting for a response.

White House says local leaders need to invoke Stafford Act

As the sewage spill in the Potomac River continues to persist, the White House is continuing to push the leaders of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia to ask for federal assistance.

The next step is for those officials to step forward and to ask the federal government for help, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday.

Leavitt said those leaders need to ask for the implementation of the Stafford Act, the 1988 law that outlines FEMAs responsibilities as well as cost-sharing between the feds and state, so the federal government can go in and take control.

But local leaders have noted that the burst pipe is already under federal jurisdiction. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said again earlier Wednesday that the Potomac Interceptor is a D.C. pipe that is on federal land.

Leavitt chose to single out Moore during her briefing, saying Maryland infrastructure gets a nearly failing grade and that the governor has shown hes incapable of fixing this problem.

Democrats hold an edge on health care, but struggle to make gains on the economy

Despite the internal negativity, Democrats have at least one potential advantage going into the midterm year.

About one-third of U.S. adults  35%  trust the Democrats to do a better job handling health care, compared to 23% for the Republicans.

At the same time, Republicans have lost some ground on issues that were key to Trumps reelection  the economy and immigration  but Democrats havent managed to capitalize on that.

Only 31% of U.S. adults say Republicans are the party they trust to handle the economy, down slightly from 36% last year. But Democrats havent made any gains on this issue; rather, slightly more Americans now say they trust neither party.

Many Americans are negative about both parties, polling shows

Its not just Democrats  Americans arent thrilled with either party right now.

Only about one-third of U.S. adults have a favorable view of either the Democratic or Republican Party, according to the AP-NORC poll. Roughly one-quarter of Americans have a negative view of both, and that double-negativity is especially sharp among independents and Americans under 45.

But Democrats loss of goodwill is more recent. Polling over the past 25 years from Gallup shows that Americans used to feel much more positively toward the Democrats. Around 2010, public sentiment turned against them. Since then, at least half of Americans have held unfavorable views of the party.

Negative views of the Democrats now rival the most negative points in time for the Republicans.

Many Democrats are still down on the Democrats, a new AP-NORC poll finds

Democrats positivity about their party fell after Trump won the presidency in 2024. Despite a series of wins in recent special elections, polling shows morale hasnt bounced back.

New AP-NORC polling shows that 70% of rank-and-file Democrats have a positive view of the Democratic Party. While the overwhelming majority of Democrats still feel good about their party, theyre much less positive than theyve been in the past.

Democrats favorability of their party plummeted after the 2024 election, from 85% in September 2024 to 67% in October 2025.
New York City's lone Republican lawmaker in the House of Representatives is asking the highest court in the land to stop a Democrat-backed bid to gerrymander her seat in Congress.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., filed a petition with the Supreme Court late last week asking it to halt a state court-ordered redraw of New York's congressional map ahead of the November midterm elections.

The New York State Supreme Court ruled last month that Malliotakis' district unfairly dilutes the power of Black and Latino voters, following a lawsuit led by Democrat lawyer Marc Elias' law firm on behalf of four New York residents.

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New York's 11th congressional district (NY-11), which Malliotakis won in 2020, encompasses all of Staten Island and a sliver of southern Brooklyn. It's the only district in the Big Apple represented by a Republican after Malliotakis defeated one-term former Rep. Max Rose, D-N.Y.

Battleground Gop Lawmaker Moves To Block What He Calls Democratic Redistricting 'Power Grab'

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis is petitioning the Supreme Court to stop New York Democrats' push to redraw her congressional seat. (Getty Images)

Malliotakis' court petition argued that the Manhattan court "violated the Equal Protection Clause by prohibiting New York from running congressional elections until the state racially gerrymanders" her district.

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The GOP congresswoman pointed out in a recent interview with Fox News Digital that she herself is Latino, with a mother who fled Cuba's communist regime.

"The fact that they're claiming somehow Hispanics and minorities are disenfranchised when I'm the first Hispanic elected to represent the district makes it even more ridiculous," Malliotakis said at the time.

Democrats Say Trump Redistricting Push Backfiring As Virginia Advances New House Maps

The state court decision by Justice Jeffrey Pearlman found that "Black, Latino, and Asian Staten Islanders' political representation and participation in politics still lags behind White Staten Islanders" in violation of the New York State Constitution.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill on Nov. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

"A demonstration of racially polarized voting shows that the minority groups at issue vote as a bloc, as do White voters, and that the minority preferred candidates 'usually' lose," Pearlman's decision said. "Petitioners have demonstrated that here."

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Malliotakis' Supreme Court petition said, "The New York State Legislature adopted CD11s current boundaries two years ago, with an overwhelming majority of the Legislatures Black and Latino members voting in favor of it."

It argued that the lawsuit was brought, however, "less than four months ago under the theory that the votes of CD11s Black and Latino voters  who comprise about 23% of CD11  have been unconstitutionally diluted because their candidate of choice wins only 25% of the time."

The petition said the court's decision to "racially gerrymander" the district is a "recipe for unconstitutional chaos, with no map in place and uncertainty as to whether nominating petitions can start circulating on February 24, with no end in sight."

But Democrats have been salivating at the idea of drawing out the deep-blue city's lone House Republican.

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House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a statement last month, "This ruling is the first step toward ensuring communities of interest remain intact from Staten Island to Lower Manhattan."

New York is one of several states plunged into the redistricting battle that has gripped the United States.

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It began last year in Texas, when the state's GOP-led legislature redrew its congressional map to give Republicans an advantage of as many as five new House seats.

California soon followed suit, creating a new map giving Democrats the same advantage.





Original article source: Latina House Republican asks Supreme Court to block Dems' bid to 'racially gerrymander' her out of Congress
Editor's note: The story was updated with a report from Ukraine's Energy Ministry.

At least five people have been killed and 30 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities said on Feb. 18.

Russia launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 126 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 100 drones.

At least one missile and 23 drones made it through, striking 14 locations. The fall of debris was recorded in three locations.

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In Donetsk Oblast, a Russian attack killed three people and injured two others in the town of Mykolaivka, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, one person was killed and seven others suffered injuries due to Russian strikes, according to local military administration.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a Russian attack killed a 54-year-old man in the Nikopol district, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said.

In Sumy Oblast, a Russian drone strike injured 11 people in the regional center of Sumy. Russian forces also targeted the Bilopollia and Bereza communities, injuring three men, aged 39, 46, and 52, the local military administration said.

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In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 30 settlements, injuring six people, over the past day, the local military administration said.

In Chernihiv Oblast, a Russian drone strike injured a 63-year-old man in the Snovsk community. He was hospitalized in moderate condition, Governor Viacheslav Chaus said.

Russian attacks have caused power outages across Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy oblasts, the Energy Ministry said.

Odesa Oblast is among the most affected, with more than 99,000 consumers still without electricity as of Feb. 18, following damage to equipment from strikes and severe weather.

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Most regions are operating under planned outage schedules, and businesses are following power restriction schedules as well. In some areas, emergency power cuts have also been implemented, according to the ministry.

Read also: Investigation: How Russian drones exploit European technologies to strike Ukraine, and beyond





Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  Multiple Lebanon County law enforcement agencies, including the District Attorneys Office, have formally partnered with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to ICEs list of law enforcement agencies participating in the federal agencys 287(g) program, the Lebanon County District Attorneys Office, the Lebanon County Sheriffs Office, the South Lebanon Township Police Department, and the Lebanon County Regional Police Department all signed agreements on February 10, 2026.

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Law enforcement organizations that agree to serve as a 287(g) agency are authorized to be trained by ICE and to perform immigration officer functions under ICEs direction and oversight.

A copy of the agreement for all four law enforcement agencies is currently pending on the ICE database.

These four are the first law enforcement agencies from Lebanon County to join the list of participating agencies, but not the first in the Midstate. Law enforcement organizations from Lancaster, Mifflin, Cumberland, Juniata, York, and Franklin counties have all announced partnerships.

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A full list of participating agencies is available online.

abc27 has reached out to each of the offices and departments for comment on the partnership.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Leila Shahid, the first female diplomat to represent Palestine abroad, has died at age 76, drawing an outpouring of condolences and tributes.

Citing Shahids family, Le Monde newspaper said the former Palestinian ambassador to France died on Wednesday at her home in the south of the country.

She died today, her sister Zeina told the AFP news agency, without providing further details.

Leila Shahid, the iconic ambassador of Palestine, has left us, Hala Abou-Hassira, the Palestinian ambassador to France, wrote on social media. A tremendous loss for Palestine and for the world that believes in justice.

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Majed Bamya, the deputy Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, also paid tribute to Shahid, describing her as a voice for justice, freedom and peace.

Tout le monde connait Leila Shahid. Il y a 20 ans a ses cotes je voyais les passants larreter pour un autographe ou une photo. Elle est la Palestine incarnee dans le monde francophone. Cest elle qui ma convaincu de rejoindre la diplomatie ou comme elle le disait, davoir pic.twitter.com/ETO3AKVlJl  Ambassador Majed Bamya  (@majedbamya) February 18, 2026

She is Palestine personified in the francophone world. Shes the one who convinced me to join the diplomatic corps, or as she put it, to have the honour of representing a cause and a people, Bamya wrote on X.

I had the honour of serving alongside her, of learning alongside her, of witnessing her magnanimity and compassion, and seeing how she embodies the aspirations and suffering of her people.

Hussam Zumlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Kingdom, also hailed Shahid as a towering figure, a role model and one of the most inspiring diplomats Palestine has ever known.

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Palestine has lost a seasoned and steadfast voice  one who carried her peoples cause with grace, conviction, and unwavering dedication, he wrote on X.

Her fight is our fight

Born in the Lebanese capital Beirut in 1949, Shahid studied at the American University of Beirut, where she met Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

She worked in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon before becoming the first woman to represent the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) abroad, beginning her career in Ireland in 1989, before also becoming a representative in the Netherlands and Denmark.

She served as Palestinian ambassador to France for more than a decade, from 1994 until 2005, and later as the envoy to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Shahid (centre) alongside Yasser Arafat, right, and then-French President Jacques Chirac in 2000 at the Elysee Palace in Paris [File: AFP]

In an interview with France24 in September of last year, Shahid hailed Frances decision to formally recognise a Palestinian state.

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I think its very, its very important, its not only symbolic, she said. We are reminding the world that its [about] self-determination, and we dont know any other form for self-determination except a state.

But she added that a lot of work still needed to be done to change the reality for Palestinians.

We know that on the ground, we are witnessing a genocide in Gaza and very, very violent, brutal attacks by the settlers in the West Bank, she told France24. We have been occupied since 1967, and you cant make a state under military Israeli rule.

On Wednesday, Abou-Hassira  the Palestinian ambassador to France  said in a statement that Shahid never stopped speaking out against the Israeli occupation or believing that justice would ultimately prevail.

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Her death comes as Palestine is experiencing one of the darkest chapters in its history, Abou-Hassira said.

In her memory, we commit to continuing what she started. Her fight is our fight. Her determination is our compass. Her demand for dignity, justice, and truth remains our roadmap.
Ohio retail billionaire Les Wexner said in a statement before questioning by members of the U.S. House of Representatives that he saw the deposition as an "opportunity to set the record straight," again denying knowledge of the abuses and crimes of his former financier, Jeffrey Epstein.

Wexner said in the statement he had been the subject of "outrageous untrue statements and hurtful rumor, innuendo, and speculation" for years because of his connections to the accused child sex trafficker.

"Let me state from the start: I was naive, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein. He was a con man. And while I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide," Wexner said in his statement.

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Wexner was ordered to testify about his ties to Epstein before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Feb. 18. While Wexner originally was summoned to Washington, D.C., for his testimony, members of the committee instead traveled to New Albany to question him.

Sept 25 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The gated entrance to Leslie Wexner's Kitzmiller Road property in New Albany, Ohio. Leslie Wexner home in New Albany, Ohio with a home once owned by Jeffrey Epstein in the upper right part of the picture. Leslie Wexner home in New Albany, Ohio. Leslie Wexner home in New Albany, Ohio with a home once owned by Jeffrey Epstein at top of the picture. Aerial of Les Wexner home in New Albany, OH July 11,1996. Home of Leslie Wexner in New Albany, Ohio, December 2, 1999. Sep 25, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The picturesque fence along Leslie Wexner's New Albany estate has several "Caution Canine Patrolled" signs posted. Kitzmiller Road has maintained a rural feel decades after Leslie Wexner and other millionaires built their mansions along both sides of the road. Sep 25, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Kitzmiller Road has maintained a rural feel decades after Leslie Wexner and other millionaires built their mansions along both sides of the road. Sep 25, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Kitzmiller Road has maintained a rural feel decades after Leslie Wexner and other millionaires built their mansions along both sides of the road. This view looks south from near St. Rt. 161. The Wexner estate is at right. Sep 25, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Kitzmiller Road has maintained a rural feel decades after Leslie Wexner and other millionaires built their mansions along both sides of the road. This view looks south from near St. Rt. 161. The Wexner estate is at right. Les and Abigail Wexner at their New Albany home with art that would be on display at the Wexner Art Center for the 25th anniversary April 9, 2015. (Dispatch photo by Eric Albrecht) See Les Wexner's New Albany home through the years 1 of 11 Sept 25 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The gated entrance to Leslie Wexner's Kitzmiller Road property in New Albany, Ohio.

Epstein worked as Wexner's financial adviser for years before the retail mogul said he cut him off in 2007, though recently released emails show the two still corresponded in 2008.

Wexner's statement reiterates that he "completely and irrevocably cut ties" with Epstein "nearly 20 years ago" when Wexner learned of Epstein's actions.

"Let me be crystal clear: I never witnessed nor had any knowledge of Epsteins criminal activity. I was never a participant nor co-conspirator in any of Epsteins illegal activities. To my enormous embarrassment and regret I, like many others, was duped by a world-class con man," Wexner said.

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Wexner said in the statement he didn't socialize in Epstein's circle but Epstein would tell him about "famous acquaintances and important positions he held."

Wexner also said he "never would have tolerated" Epstein's conduct.

"I am the father of two girls, now women, and the thought of what he did makes me sick," Wexner said. "I never saw or heard about Epstein being in the company of a minor girl."

Wexner denies in the statement having ever been on Epstein's plane and said he only visited Epstein's island one time - when he stopped by with his wife, Abigail, and their children while the Wexners were on a cruise on their boat.

In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Yasmin Ansari, and Rep. Dave Min, members of the US House Democrats host a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. In a light moment before the news conference began, men gather and watch the media on an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio. Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. and Rep. Dave Min, members of the US House Democrats, hosted a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. Rep. Robert Garcia arrives for a news conference at an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Yasmin Ansari and Rep. Dave Min, members of the US House Democrats, host a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. Reps. Robert Garcia (left), Stephen Lynch and Yasmin Ansari arrive for a news conference at an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio,. They held the news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. Rep. Jasmine Crockett arrives for a news conference in an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio. Several members of the US House Democrats held the news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Robert Garcia (center), speaks after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Stephen Lynch and members of the US House Democrats held a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Jasmine Crockett speaks as members of the US House Democrats held a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Yasmin Ansari speaks as members of the US House Democrats held a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (center) speaks as members of the US House Democrats held a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Dave Min speaks as members of the US House Democrats held a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Yasmin Ansari and Rep. Dave Min, members of the US House Democrats, host a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. Rep. Robert Garcia (center) and members of the US House Democrats host a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. From left is Rep. Dave Min, Rep. Yasmin Ansari,, Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. Rep. Yasmin Ansari, a member of the US House Democrats, talks with the media after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. Sandra Brogdon stops to get her picture taken with Rep. Jasmine Crockett as members of the US House Democrats held a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In a light moment before a news conference began, Sarah Higgiston of New Albany for Democracy and Sandra Brogdon of Unstoppable 100 show their support of members of the US House Democrats who held a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. News 5 reporter Morgan Trau performs a sound check before a congressional news conference. Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Yasmin Ansari, and Rep. Dave Min, members of the US House Democrats, held the news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, MS NOW staffer Syedah Asghar and congressional staffer Zach Freiman work the news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, MS NOW reporter Mychael Schnell covers a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, WBNS reporter Rochelle Alleyne asks a question as WCMH reporter Anna Hoffman listens at a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, WOSU reporter George Shillcock asks a question about Leslie Wexner's age during a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, MS NOW reporter Mychael Schnell listens during a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Columbus Dispatch reporter Max Filby listens during a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Associated Press photographer Joshua Bickel covers a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Spectrum 1 journalist Autumn Imhoff listens as she covers a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. At right is WBNS reporter Rochelle Alleyne. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, congressional staff member Sara Guerrero listens at a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, News 5 reporter Megan Trau listens to a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, News 5 reporter Megan Trau listens to a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, WBNS reporter Rochelle Alleyne does a live shot as she covers a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, MS NOW reporter Mychael Schnell prepares to go live from a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, WSYX staffers (from left) Chris Baggs, Tom Bosco and Ben Martin talk before a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, WSYX reporter Tom Bosco covers a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, WBNS videographer Chris Kettle prepares to cover a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, News 5 WEWS videographer Gary Abrahamsen prepares to cover a news conference after US House Democrats deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. Congressional Democrats respond to Wexner's Epstein deposition 1 of 34 In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Yasmin Ansari, and Rep. Dave Min, members of the US House Democrats host a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio.

Wexner, founder of L Brands, has repeatedly been referred to as a potential Epstein "co-conspirator" in documents released by the Department of Justice in recent weeks.

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Portions of Wexner's statement detail how he became connected to Epstein in the 1980s after Epstein was suggested to him as a potential financial adviser and money manager. Wexner's statement said he consulted with multiple people before hiring Epstein, who Wexner said was initially reluctant to take him on as a client.

"For the first few years I was acquainted with him, Epstein offered me advice here and there while explaining that giving individual financial advice was not his focus and refusing to accept compensation," Wexner said. "He said he was assisting me as a favor. Little did I realize that, from the very start, Epstein was conniving to gain my trust."

Les Wexner is seen here in an undated and partially redacted photo. An undated photo of Jeffrey Epstein, an unknown woman, Abigail Wexner, and who appears to be Les Wexner at an event. A blurry blow-up of a small photo in the Epstein files released Dec. 19 by the U.S. Department of Justice that is labeled "JE" for Jeffrey Epstein and is believed to reference "Abby" and Les Wexner. An undated photo showing a man who appears to be Les Wexner on a plane. This photo, like many others released in the Epstein files, is redacted. Les Wexner photos in Epstein files 1 of 4 Les Wexner is seen here in an undated and partially redacted photo.

Representatives for Wexner have repeatedly said he had no knowledge of Eptein's crimes before he ended the relationship with the sex offender.

"The Assistant U.S. Attorney told Mr. Wexners legal counsel in 2019 that Mr. Wexner was neither a co-conspirator nor target in any respect. Mr. Wexner cooperated fully by providing background information on Epstein and was never contacted again," a legal representative for Wexner told The Dispatch.

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While Wexner has never been charged with a crime, he is listed as a co-conspirator multiple times across the millions of files released by the Justice Department. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, has demanded the Justice Department release documents explaining why.

White SUVs with California license plates attempt to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went north on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. One of two white SUVs with California license plates attempt to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went north on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. One of two white SUVs with California license plates pulls away after attempting to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. One of two white SUVs with California license plates pulls away after attempting to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. One of two white SUVs with California license plates goes north on Kitzmiller Road after attempting to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. A drone flies over the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. Security cameras line a fence at the entrance to the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. White SUVs attempt to enter Wexner estate before deposition in Epstein case 1 of 7 White SUVs with California license plates attempt to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went north on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio.

In his statement, Wexner said Epstein told Abigail Wexner that the Florida charges against him were baseless and "trumped-up" by an "overaggressive police chief."

Epstein told Abigail that she could handle the Wexners' personal finances should he no longer be available, the statement says. That was when Wexner says the family learned of Epstein's theft.

"Once I learned of his abusive conduct and theft from my family, I never spoke with Epstein again. Never," Wexner said.

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Dispatch investigative reporter Max Filby can be reached by email at mfilby@dispatch.com. Find him on X at the handle @MaxFilby or on Facebook at @ReporterMaxFilby.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Wexner says 'I have done nothing wrong' in Epstein testimony to Congress
Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner is set to testify at his New Albany estate this morning before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Following his deposition, Democratic members of the oversight committee will host a press conference in New Albany.

Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's home in New Albany, Ohio.

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In files released by the Department of Justice in recent months, Wexner has repeatedly been referred to as both a "co-conspirator" and a "secondary co-conspirator" to Epstein. In each instance, Wexner has been mentioned alongside other Epstein associates, such as Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a federal prison sentence for her involvement in Epstein's crimes.

White SUVs with California license plates attempt to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went north on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. One of two white SUVs with California license plates attempt to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went north on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. One of two white SUVs with California license plates pulls away after attempting to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. One of two white SUVs with California license plates pulls away after attempting to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. One of two white SUVs with California license plates goes north on Kitzmiller Road after attempting to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. A drone flies over the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. Security cameras line a fence at the entrance to the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio. White SUVs attempt to enter Wexner estate before deposition in Epstein case 1 of 7 White SUVs with California license plates attempt to enter the New Albany home of Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday morning Feb. 18, 2026 before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The white vehicles were apparently at the wrong entrance to the estate; they turned around and went north on Kitzmiller Road where there is a service entrance. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee at 10 a.m. in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner's mansion in New Albany, Ohio.

Representatives for Wexner have repeatedly denied that he had any knowledge of Epstein's crimes before he ended their relationship in 2007. Recently released emails show the two were still in touch the following year.

The Assistant U.S. Attorney told Mr. Wexners legal counsel in 2019 that Mr. Wexner was neither a co-conspirator nor target in any respect. Mr. Wexner cooperated fully by providing background information on Epstein and was never contacted again," a spokesman told The Dispatch.

More: What do we know about Les Wexner and Epstein as deposition approaches?

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Wexner's deposition comes just days after he received a flurry of attention from members of Congress because his name was redacted in at least one Epstein document released by the DOJ.

Sept 25 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The gated entrance to Leslie Wexner's Kitzmiller Road property in New Albany, Ohio. Leslie Wexner home in New Albany, Ohio with a home once owned by Jeffrey Epstein in the upper right part of the picture. Leslie Wexner home in New Albany, Ohio. Leslie Wexner home in New Albany, Ohio with a home once owned by Jeffrey Epstein at top of the picture. Aerial of Les Wexner home in New Albany, OH July 11,1996. Home of Leslie Wexner in New Albany, Ohio, December 2, 1999. Sep 25, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The picturesque fence along Leslie Wexner's New Albany estate has several "Caution Canine Patrolled" signs posted. Kitzmiller Road has maintained a rural feel decades after Leslie Wexner and other millionaires built their mansions along both sides of the road. Sep 25, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Kitzmiller Road has maintained a rural feel decades after Leslie Wexner and other millionaires built their mansions along both sides of the road. Sep 25, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Kitzmiller Road has maintained a rural feel decades after Leslie Wexner and other millionaires built their mansions along both sides of the road. This view looks south from near St. Rt. 161. The Wexner estate is at right. Sep 25, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Kitzmiller Road has maintained a rural feel decades after Leslie Wexner and other millionaires built their mansions along both sides of the road. This view looks south from near St. Rt. 161. The Wexner estate is at right. Les and Abigail Wexner at their New Albany home with art that would be on display at the Wexner Art Center for the 25th anniversary April 9, 2015. (Dispatch photo by Eric Albrecht) See Les Wexner's New Albany home through the years 1 of 11 Sept 25 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The gated entrance to Leslie Wexner's Kitzmiller Road property in New Albany, Ohio.

In a hearing with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Feb. 11, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, questioned why Wexner was never prosecuted if he was considered a potential co-conspirator. Massie demanded the DOJ release internal documents explaining their decision about who to prosecute.

While Wexner has not been charged with a crime, the co-conspirator label was used several times to describe him in the millions of Epstein files released by the DOJ in response to a law passed in 2025.

Les Wexner speaks at The Commercial Developers Power Breakfast Thursday morning February 14, 1997.

An email released Dec. 23, 2025, that was sent by an FBI agent in New York on July 7, 2019, listed Wexner while asking for an "an update on the status of the 10 co-conspirators."

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An Aug. 15, 2019, FBI email released on Jan. 30 also labeled Wexner and others as "secondary co-conspirators." But the email said only that there was "limited evidence regarding his involvement," that investigators were in touch with Wexner's attorney and a subpoena had been served.

Wexner also is listed in a December 19, 2019, memo written by assistant U.S. attorneys titled "Investigation into potential co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein." The memo details Wexner's fallout with Epstein in 2007.

Wexner will testify before the oversight committee just 9 days after Maxwell, who refused to answer questions by invoking her fifth amendment right against self incrimination.

Representatives for Wexner have long pointed to a 2019 news conference in which Brad Edwards, an attorney who has represented a number of Epstein accusers, said that he had doubts about claims that Wexner was aware of Epstein's crimes. Edwards called Wexner's denial that he knew about Epstein's activities "very highly likely to be true."

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Dispatch investigative reporter Max Filby can be reached by email at mfilby@dispatch.com. Find him on X at the handle @MaxFilby or on Facebook at @ReporterMaxFilby.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Congress members to depose Wexner today about Epstein
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of troop incursions in a formal letter that drew a terse response from its neighbour. Posts shared on Facebook claim that Ethiopia also demanded Eritrea withdraw its forces from the Red Sea port of Assab, asserting the territory as its own. However, this is misleading: while the letter raises issues about access to Assab, Ethiopia did not order Eritrea to relinquish the strategic port.

"The Ethiopian government requested: Eritrea must immediately withdraw its troops from Assab port, my territory," reads an Amharic Facebook post published on February 8, 2026.

Assab is a strategic port city in the southern Red Sea region of Eritrea.

Screenshot of the misleading post, taken on February 9, 2026

The post paraphrases a letter in which Ethiopias foreign affairs ministry accuses Eritrea of violating its sovereignty by carrying out a clear incursion in the northeast, known as the Tigray region.





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It adds that the current actions attributed to Eritrea are unacceptable under any circumstances and publicly calls on Eritrea to immediately withdraw its troops and commit to peaceful negotiations, the post says, in reference to the letter.

Similar claims were shared elsewhere on Facebook the same day.

The two nations have long been enemies, but their rivalry eased during the Tigray war, which ended in 2022 (archived here).

The brief conciliation has since been upended by political upheaval in the Horn of Africa and regional power plays, among them Ethiopias insistence on gaining access to Assab Port, which became part of Eritrean territory after independence in 1993, leaving Ethiopia landlocked (archived here and here).

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Eritrea denies pushing its troops into Tigray, but observers still fear a new conflict is brewing (archived here).

However, the claim that Ethiopia asked Eritrea in a letter to withdraw troops from Assab is misleading.

Letter to Eritrea

AFP obtained a copy of the letter, dated February 7, 2026, from social media, and its authenticity was confirmed with Ethiopias foreign affairs ministry the following day.

Although the diplomatic missive was not published on social media by the Ethiopian government, it was shared on X by diplomats and analysts here and here (archived here and here).

U.S. involvement is not necessary in every issue but the risk of renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea demands U.S. attention. Ethiopia is asking for discussions on a number of critical issues and such negotiations need high level support. War would be unimaginable! pic.twitter.com/d47fSJ9PxG  Tibor Nagy (@TiborPNagyJr) February 8, 2026

In the letter, Ethiopias Foreign Affairs Minister Gedion Timotheos calls on his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh Mohammed to immediately withdraw troops from the Tigray region, accusing its neighbour of sovereign violations and conducting military operations in the northeast with rebel groups (archived here).

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However, the letter also appeals for an end to escalating hostilities and expresses Ethiopias readiness to hold peaceful dialogue to resolve outstanding disputes between the two countries, including its desired access to Assab Port as part of its efforts to gain sea access.

Ethiopia is willing to engage in good faith negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of all issues of mutual interest, including maritime affairs and the issue of access to the sea through the port of Assab, the letter states.

However, nowhere does Ethiopia demand the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Assab, nor does it claim the port as its own territory.

In response to the letter on February 9, 2026, Eritrea rejected the accusation, describing Ethiopias claims that Eritrean troops were present inside its territory as false and fabricated (archived here).

AFP Fact Check has previously debunked claims related to Assab Port here and here.
A highly anticipated court hearing that will determine whether a North Myrtle Beach businessman and his friend receive immunity for their role in a fatal 2023 shooting is in its second day

The Stand Your Ground hearing, which began Tuesday in Horry County, is expected to conclude by Friday with Judge Eugene Griffith Jr. responsible for determining whether either or both of the men qualify under South Carolinas self-defense law.

Day one focused primarily on whether Weldon Boyd, owner of Buoys on the Boulevard, and Bradley Williams chased Scott Spivey for several miles before fatally shooting the North Carolina man in a road rage incident.

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The hearing is part of a civil case filed by Spiveys family alleging wrongful death, but if Judge Griffith determines Boyds and Williams actions qualify under Stand Your Ground, they will be immune from both civil and criminal responsibility. Law enforcement has already declined to prosecute the men under the belief they acted in self-defense.

Blue pills found in Spiveys truck, Boyd also on medication

(Updated 5:24 p.m.)

Ken Moss, attorney for Weldon Boyd, called a professor of pharmacology and toxicology to discuss the possible usage of steroids by Spivey despite the fact none were found in his system.

Ken Soderstrom, who teaches in the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, said witness statements of Spiveys actions along Highway 9 jumped out at me. The road rage of Spivey  driving aggressively and behavior inhibition  is consistent with alcohol and long-term use of anabolic steroids.

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The autopsy of Spivey found coronary artery blockage from cardiac plaque and mild liver toxicity, which also is consistent with anabolic steroid use, Soderstrom said. Its also unusual for a young man, he said.

HCPD found a plastic bag of 26 blue pills in Spiveys truck that were later to be determined after testing to be abused anabolic steroids called methandienone.

Spiveys family does have a history of cardiac issues, which Soderstrom said could also contribute to what was found in the autopsy.

Natasha Hanna, attorney for the Spivey family, questioned Soderstroms analysis, pointing out that the professor looked at little evidence and was being paid by Moss for his testimony.

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It was revealed that Boyd is taking medication for anxiety and identified in text messages that he was getting blood work for a prescription for lithium, which is used to treat and prevent episodes of mania in people with bipolar disorder.

Through questioning by Hanna, Soderstrom said that the medication that Boyd is taking could cause emotional issues similar to those of Spivey.

The court adjourned until 9 a.m. Friday.

How did Spivey die?

(Updated 3:19 p.m.)

When court resumed Wednesday afternoon, the defense called pathologist Angelina Phillips, of Medical University of South Carolina, who performed an autopsy on Spivey. She determined his cause of death as a gunshot wound to the right side of his back.

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The defense then began showing a video deposition of Justin Bower, a forensic toxicology expert, who performed tests on Spiveys blood on behalf of MUSC. He said Spiveys blood showed elevated levels of ethanol, which would be present from alcohol, and testosterone, but no proof of anabolic steroid usage. Judge Griffith called for a brief break during the video deposition because he was feeling overheated in the courtroom.

OBryan Martin, attorney for Bradley Williams, shows pictures to Horry County Police officer Kerry Higgs during his testimony on Wednesday. A Stand Your Ground hearing is being held this week for Weldon Boyd, owner of Buoys on the Boulevard, and Kenneth Bradley Williams in the shooting death of Scott Spivey. Boyd and Williams have been named in a wrongful death lawsuit by the Spivey family in his shooting death nearly three years ago. The hearing will determine if the the pair are granted immunity under South Carolinas Stand Your Ground law. Feb. 18, 2026. (Jason Lee/jlee@thesunnews.com)

Body cam footage shows shooting scene

(Updated 12:51 p.m.)

The defense next called Horry County Police Officer Kerry Higgs to testify. Higgs was the first law enforcement officer to arrive at the scene of the shooting on Camp Swamp Road. After a few questions about his initial response to the scene, attorneys began showing Higgs body camera footage from the scene.

Weldon Boyd with his attorney Kenneth Moss listen as Mark Tinsley, attorney for the Spivey family questions the witness. A Stand Your Ground hearing is being held this week for Weldon Boyd, owner of Buoys on the Boulevard, and Kenneth Bradley Williams in the shooting death of Scott Spivey. Boyd and Williams have been named in a wrongful death lawsuit by the Spivey family in his shooting death nearly three years ago. The hearing will determine if the the pair are granted immunity under South Carolinas Stand Your Ground law. Feb. 18, 2026. (Jason Lee/jlee@thesunnews.com)

The footage showed a few interactions with Boyd telling Higgs that Spivey shot first, and he was acting in self-defense while Higgs secured the scene and took photos. Tinsley questioned Higgs about HCPD policy violations that occurred on scene, including a failure to separate Boyd and Williams for about an hour, which Higgs confirmed. Two HCPD employees lost their jobs related to the Camp Swamp Road shooting investigation, and the department is under investigation for its actions.

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After Higgs was dismissed, the judge called for a break with court set to resume about 2 p.m.

Did Spivey raise his weapon?

(Updated 12:07 p.m.)

The deposition, which occurred December 2025, primarily centered around McMurroughs description of whether or not Spivey raised his pistol toward Boyd and Williams prior to shots being fired.

McMurroughs statements to police during the day of the incident varied slightly as to the degree at which Spivey moved his arm holding the pistol, but during the deposition, McMurrough told attorneys his current recollection is that Spivey slightly moved his arm upwards from his side, but he didnt aim the gun at Boyds truck before all hell broke loose and shots were fired. Boyd told law enforcement on scene that Spivey fired first.

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McMurrough was initially reluctant to answer questions during the deposition, telling Mark Tinsley, the attorney representing Spiveys family, he didnt recall in response to each question. McMurrough later said his reluctance to participate in the deposition was due to feeling like Boyds attorneys had been trying to influence the narrative surrounding the incident and being contacted by multiple outlets about the shooting.

Witness recounts seeing shooting

(Updated 10:27 a.m.)

The beginning of day two has featured Frank McMurrough, of Richmond, Virginia, a key witness to the shooting who was traveling with his wife along Camp Swamp Road when the shooting occurred

Defense attorneys showed video of McMurroughs statements to police, who he told he had witnessed Spivey exit his black truck with a pistol and then noticed the driver of the white truck, Boyd, pointing his gun at Spivey through his windshield. McMurrough said he wasnt sure who shot first, but the shots fired began shortly after Spivey moved his arm with the pistol in hand.

McMurrough later spoke with attorneys for both parties for a deposition that was being played on video before audio on the video malfunctioned for an unknown reason, leading the judge to call for a 15-minute break.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Universitys Daytona Beach campus has returned to normal operations after a five-hour lockdown ended early Wednesday morning.

Law enforcement issued an all-clear following a thorough search that found no credible threats at the university.

The campus was placed on lockdown around 8:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Security measures were initiated after a caller reached out to school security, claiming to have a firearm and threatening to start shooting on the property.

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Authorities noted the threat specifically referenced the student union building on the Daytona Beach campus.

During the five-hour security sweep, law enforcement officers blocked all entrances to the university.

Police conducted building-by-building searches to ensure no suspicious persons or devices were present.

Video from the scene showed multiple agencies participating in the sweeps through campus facilities.

Following the conclusion of the search, the university released a statement confirming the safety of everyone on campus.

University officials confirmed that no shooting took place, and no suspicious individuals or weapons were located during the response.

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The university described the extensive lockdown as a measure taken out of an abundance of caution.

An investigation into the threat is ongoing.

University officials stated that campus operations have resumed and are expected to proceed as normal on Wednesday.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Gabon's High Authority for Communication (HAC) on Tuesday announced the immediate suspension of social media throughout the country for diseminating inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and offensive content
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Authorities in North Carolina entered a resident's home to apprehend an unusual "bacon and entering suspect" -- a trespassing pig in search of snacks.

The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said on social media that deputies responded Monday to an Ellenboro-area home on a report of a trespassing pig inside of the house.

"The unexpected guest showed zero fear, maximum confidence, and the motive seemed to be finding snacks," the post said.

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Deputies used a pack of crackers to lure the pig out of the home, where it was taken into custody and turned over to Rutherford County Animal Control Services.

The sheriff's office said the "bacon and entering suspect" was later identified as an escaped pet named Penelope, and "will soon be released back home with no court date required."
An Augusta man serving a life sentence for his role in a 2011 nightclub shooting has lost an appeal before the Georgia Supreme Court.

The Georgia Supreme Court unanimously upheld Dachavous Monterro Damon Murphy's conviction in a decision released Tuesday.

Murphy was 19 when he was charged in September 2011 with felony murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, first-degree criminal damage to property, and aggravated assault. He pleaded not guilty in a trial split over two days in August 2014.

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Without parole: Augusta man sentenced to life for killing innocent bystander

Ashley Deandre Brown, 26, was found inside the doorway to Club 5150 on Deans Bridge Road with a fatal gunshot wound to her head from a bullet that went through the club's front door.

Authorities concluded she was not an intended victim. Part of a group that had fought at the club earlier that evening had returned and opened fire on a group of people outside the club's entrance.

In his appeal, Murphy insisted that the trial court "abused its discretion" by excluding witness testimony he said would reveal another shooter on the night of the homicide.

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The court ruled that the witness's account was unreliable and could not be corroborated. The witness later invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

The case is S25A1429, Murphy v. the State.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta man loses high court appeal in 2014 murder conviction
As oil giant ConocoPhillips forges ahead with construction of one of Alaskas largest oil fields in decades, a new battle is emerging over a deal to protect a nearby caribou herd from the development.

After approving the Willow project three years ago, the Biden administration quietly signed an agreement with the nearby Inupiaq village of Nuiqsut.

The deal gave leaders of the village power to regulate development across some 1 million acres of caribou habitat near Teshekpuk Lake  one of the most ecologically sensitive areas in northern Alaska and an important source of traditional foods about 50 miles northwest of Nuiqsut.

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But now, after a sharp reversal by the Trump administration, the agreements fate is in the hands of a federal judge.

Late last year, Trump officials abruptly backed out of the deal, saying it undermined federal policy seeking to boost oil production in the federal reserve where both Willow and Teshekpuk Lake are located.

The move has sparked strong pushback from local leaders. Nuiqsut last month filed a lawsuit challenging the decision, saying it came without prior notice and threatens the villages subsistence traditions.

Abandoning the agreement jeopardizes decades of collaboration with local communities, the village, represented by law firms in Anchorage and Washington, D.C., said in its January legal complaint.

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The dispute comes amid a flurry of industry activity on the North Slope and near Nuiqsut, in particular.

Recent oil discoveries have led to a flood of investment and construction in the area, including Willow and another major oil field, Pikka, thats being built by an Australian company. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips is pushing a separate project to pump oil just two miles away from the village, within clear view and potentially earshot of Nuiqsuts homes.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, is keen to open more of the region to drilling. It just announced a new oil and gas lease sale across more than 5 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, an Indiana-sized region of wild tundra, wetlands and foothills west of Nuiqsut.

Open to bidding are some of the very spots Nuiqsut and the Biden administration agreed to protect, near Teshekpuk Lake and the calving grounds of the Teshekpuk Lake caribou herd.

A carefully crafted balance

Teshekpuk Lake, some 25 miles long, is the largest lake on the North Slope, and it has unique importance across Alaskas North Slope, including in Nuiqsut, where many Inupiaq residents still practice subsistence lifestyles.

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Located near the Beaufort Sea coast between Nuiqsut and the North Slope hub town of Utqiagvik, the lake is surrounded by wetlands and tundra that draw tens of thousands of migratory birds each year. Teshekpuk also provides ideal habitat to its namesake caribou herd, which numbers some 60,000.

Inupiat not just in Nuiqsut but in other North Slope communities, including Utqiagvik, Atqasuk and Anaktuvuk Pass, have long hunted and depended on the Teshekpuk herd.

Sam Kunaknana scans for caribou along a channel of the Colville River near Nuiqsut in July 2019. (Photo by Max Graham)

That is where most of the caribou are coming from, said George Sielak, president of Kuukpik Corporation, Nuiqsuts Indigenous-owned village corporation.

Given its ecological and cultural value, the Teshekpuk Lake area has been the focus of conservation efforts for years. Aside from a few old exploration wells and seismic surveys, the area has seen little oil exploration.

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But ConocoPhillips has been steadily moving in the lakes direction over the past 20 years, as the industrys roads, pipelines and drilling rigs spread westward from Prudhoe Bay.

The Willow project will be closer to Teshekpuk Lake than any other major onshore development. It sits about halfway between Nuiqsut and the lake, within a caribou migration corridor and not far from the main caribou grounds.

Willow is nearly half built and on track to start pumping oil in 2029, Andy OBrien, ConocoPhillips chief financial officer, said in a recent corporate earnings call.

ConocoPhillips executives have said the oil field could act as a hub for further development in the petroleum reserve, where the company is planning extensive exploration this winter.

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The industrys westward expansion has provoked mixed feelings in Nuiqsut.

Oil pays for schools and government services and is the backbone of the local cash economy. But when ConocoPhillips first proposed Willow several years ago, local officials, including some who historically supported the industry, feared that it would harm caribou.

The calving grounds of the Teshekpuk Lake caribou herd are located in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska  not far from expanding oil development. (Bob Wick/Bureau of Land Management)

Those concerns  and a lawsuit from conservation groups  ultimately led ConocoPhillips and federal officials to shrink the scope of the initial project proposal and make a number of changes to it.

One of those changes emerged in response to a suggestion from Kuukpik. It involved a permit provision directing the federal Bureau of Land Management to explore durable protections for Teshekpuk caribou, whether through co-management with local governments or other legal avenues.

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Those protections ultimately took the form of a conservation area around the lake, where BLM, in a rare move, gave Nuiqsut ability to regulate oil and gas activities. That power was to be held by Nuiqsut Trilateral, a nonprofit made up of the villages tribal and municipal governments, plus Kuukpik.

The agreement didnt give Nuiqsut title to the land, but rather the rights to use it for subsistence and to limit development there until Willow stopped operating.

Nuiqsuts disputed conservation area encompasses about 1 million acres around Teshekpuk Lake in the northeastern National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. (Bureau of Land Management)

Although the deal got little attention relative to the Biden administrations broader decision on Willow, some local officials viewed it as a critical tool to offset the oil projects impacts.

This was a carefully crafted balance, said Andy Mack, Kuukpiks Anchorage-based chief executive.

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The more oil drilling pads near the village, and the bigger the operations, the more impacts, added Sielak, Kuukpiks president.

Its in our backyard, he said. The deal with the BLM, Sielak added, gave Nuiqsut an assurance that our caribou could be protected.

A new court battle

About a year after the Teshekpuk agreement was signed  and after President Donald Trump took office  Nuiqsut officials received a letter from Kate MacGregor, the new U.S. interior deputy secretary: The administration had decided to cancel the agreement.

Over nine pages, MacGregor explained her agencys view that the protections were improperly issued. In last years budget bill, she wrote, Congress required oil and gas lease sales across the federal reserve encompassing Willow and the caribou grounds. And the White House, she added, has directed her agency to maximize oil production in the reserve.

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Critics of the administrations decision have noted that Congress, in the 1976 legislation that still governs the reserve, called for a balance. The bill says oil exploration should be done in a way that ensures the maximum protection of subsistence and other values around Teshekpuk Lake, and in other ecologically and culturally sensitive areas.

In 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason determined that the first Trump administration failed to consider that directive when it initially approved the Willow project a year earlier, and Gleason halted the development.

In 2023, the Biden administration and ConocoPhillips agreed to a scaled-down version of Willow, which included the locally-backed provision calling for durable protections for Teshekpuk caribou.

In a legal ruling allowing the amended project to proceed, Gleason explicitly cited the new caribou mitigation measure  though she also said Congress clearly envisioned that the broader Teshekpuk area would be developed.

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MacGregor, in her letter to Nuiqsut, said that companies have shown interest in conducting exploration activities in the conservation area as soon as this winter. Expeditious cancellation is necessary to ensure these activities can proceed without delay, she said.

She said that the area around Teshekpuk Lake has some of the highest potential for oil and gas in the 23-million-acre petroleum reserve  though companies would have to drill to know exactly how much oil and gas is sitting there.

An Interior Department spokesperson declined to elaborate, citing the pending litigation.

Theres limited public geologic data from around the lake, according to Dave Houseknecht, former U.S. Geological Survey petroleum geologist and North Slope oil expert.

The exploration results that do exist  and that are available to the public  dont indicate the presence of large oil deposits, Houseknecht added.

There have been no lease sales around Teshekpuk Lake in recent years that would provide an indication of industry interest in the area.

And ConocoPhillips has actually abandoned holdings near it. Following the Biden administrations approval of a scaled-down Willow, the company gave up 68,000 acres of leases, mostly at the northern edge of the project toward Teshekpuk Lake.

That acreage is now being re-offered in the Trump administrations upcoming lease sale, scheduled for March 18.

ConocoPhillips, meanwhile, is working around the recent toppling of a huge drill rig and pushing ahead with plans to drill exploratory wells and to do a seismic survey in the federal reserve this winter. That work will be well south of the disputed conservation area.

The company has stayed quiet about Nuiqsuts agreement with the feds, and the interior departments decision to cancel it.

A company spokesperson declined to comment on the cancellation, citing the lawsuit.



Northern Journal contributor Max Graham can be reached at max@northernjournal.com. Hes interested in any and all mining related stories, as well as introductory meetings with people in and around the industry.

This article was originally published in Northern Journal, a newsletter from Nathaniel Herz. Subscribe at this link.





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Mayor Zohran Mamdani said a property tax hike is on the table as a "last resort" in New York City.

Higher taxes on the wealthy is his preferred way to bridge the $5.4 billion budget deficit  but requires state buy-in.

A potential tax hike could hit middle-class New Yorkers and renters.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says that if the state won't play ball on taxing the rich, he'll have to impose a higher tax of his own  and it could hit middle-class New Yorkers.

At a Tuesday press conference, he laid out two options to address what he said is the city's $5.4 billion budget deficit left by the prior administration.

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In an effort to balance his preliminary $127 billion budget, Mamdani outlined two potential paths forward. The first  and Mamdani's preferred  relies on cooperation from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul: increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations, a cornerstone of Mamdani's campaign. Hochul has been lukewarm on the idea.

Without Albany's willingness to hike income or corporate taxes, Mamdani is signaling he will need to turn to other measures to fund his budget. He's floating increasing property taxes for the city's residents  which would hit the middle and working classes as hard as his typical targets on Wall Street  alongside drawing from funds that the city keeps in reserve in case of an economic downturn.

Mamdani called that option "painful," and "a tool of very last resort," and said that his administration would continue working with Albany to avoid it.

"This is a preliminary budget," he said at the press conference. "This is a budget that reflects the only tools that the city has at its disposal."

What a New York City property tax increase would mean

If Hochul or Albany do not budge, Mamdani said he would increase property taxes by 9.5%.

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In the press conference, Mamdani said the tax would hit middle-class New Yorkers the most. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on which income groups would be most affected or on the proposal's potential impact on middle-income New Yorkers.

Multi-unit buildings  where renters tend to live  are taxed at a higher effective rate than single-family or low-density homes, where more affluent New Yorkers tend to live. While renters don't pay property taxes directly, higher property tax levies on their landlords could, over time, translate into higher rents.

"New York's property tax system stems from the 1970s, trying to balance the needs of outer borough homeowners with the commercial and multifamily housing in Manhattan," Rita Jefferson, a local analyst at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy who focuses on equity, said. "As a result, property tax rates on single-family homes are much lower than rates on multifamily units, which has led to vastly different bills for properties that have the same market value."

New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, an elected position not appointed by the Mayor, said that Mamdani had proposed a budget that "honestly and transparently lays out the scale of our challenges," and that the city "undoubtedly" needs more assistance from Albany.

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"To rely on a property tax increase and a significant draw-down of reserves to close our gap would have dire consequences," Levine said in a statement. "Our property tax system is profoundly unfair and inconsistent, and an across-the-board increase in this tax would be regressive. Drawing down reserves during a period of economic growth would leave us vulnerable to economic turbulence next year."

The proposal was blasted by US Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican whose district includes Staten Island and parts of Southern Brooklyn.

"Year after year, City Hall squeezes the middle-class for more by raising the property tax levy, and now Mamdani wants to raise the rate, making the American dream of homeownership less attainable and the cost of housing even more unaffordable for property owners and renters alike," Malliotakis said in a statement.

Mamdani's proposal doesn't mean that renters or property owners will get hit with a large tax bill immediately; as he stressed in his press conference, the budget is far from final. Hochul reportedly said at an unrelated event that she doesn't think a property tax increase is necessary.

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"This is something that we do not want to do," Mamdani said, "and this is something that we are going to utilize every single option to ensure does not come to pass."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Criminal charges have just been filed against a man accused of driving under the influence with a district judge in his car.

Police filed DUI charges against Samuel Smeal for that incident on Tuesday.

11 Investigates sources say District Justice Nina Ricciardi was a passenger in Smeals car on Feb. 10.

She was being dropped off by a friend to take the bench to begin hearing cases.

The incident happened in front of the municipal court building in downtown Pittsburgh last week.

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According to the criminal complaint, the driver and Ricciardi, identified only as Passenger #1 in court paperwork, are seen on the buildings surveillance video.

The complaint says that the driver helped Passenger #1 get out of the vehicle, holding them up as they stumbled out of the doorway.

It continues, saying, Passenger #1 falls backwards onto the ground.

Judge Ricciardi was rushed to Mercy Hospital with a gash on her head.

She does not face any criminal charges. She did take a voluntary temporary leave from her job as a district justice on the South Side.

Police said the driver, identified as Smeal, failed a field sobriety test.

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An officer writing in the criminal complaint...it is my opinion...that Samuel Smeal is under the combined influence of CNS stimulants and CNS depressants...to a degree that has impaired his ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.

Smeal, who in the complaint told police he was taking Adderall and Xanax, has now been charged with driving under the influence, driving with a suspended registration out of California and failing to register his vehicle in Pennsylvania.

The complaint says Smeal was charged with DUI back in 2017 and entered a program for first-time offenders.

Ricciaridi has not been accused of any wrongdoing and is not facing any charges.

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WISCONSIN RAPIDS  No one was injured after police say a 37-year-old man got into the driver's seat of an ambulance with a patient inside and led a chase with law enforcement more than 18 miles from Wisconsin Rapids to Pittsville.

According to a Feb. 18 news release from the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department, a Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department ambulance was parked Feb. 17 in the 1400 block of 22nd Avenue South in Wisconsin Rapids as fire department crews were providing medical care to a patient nearby.

Two paramedics were in the ambulance with the patient secured on a gurney when the 37-year-old man got into the drivers seat. One paramedic got out of the ambulance to try to stop the man, and the second paramedic tried to stop the man from moving the ambulance but left the ambulance when safety was compromised, according to the release.

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The 37-year-old man then left the scene, driving the ambulance with the patient still inside, according to the release.

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At about 5:37 p.m. Feb. 17, officers with the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department started pursuing the ambulance, ending the chase near 8890 State 73/80 in Pittsville, traveling about 18.2 miles. The chase lasted about 40 minutes, according to the release.

As officers followed the ambulance, they tried to end the chase early on by deploying tire-deflation devices that were unsuccessful. As the chase entered Pittsville, the Wood County Sheriffs Office attempted tire deflation, also unsuccessfully, according to the release.

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Pittsville Police ultimately did deploy tire-deflation devices, successfully disabling the front passenger side tire, according to the release. The man then drove the ambulance into a muddy field and got stuck. The man refused to exit the ambulance as officers commanded, according to the release.

Out of concern for the patient in the back of the ambulance, Wisconsin Rapids police officers deployed a drone to observe the man at the scene, then a coordinated team of officers and deputies approached the ambulance and took him into custody, according to the release.

The Wisconsin Rapids Police Department is requesting charges of disorderly conduct, lewd and lascivious behavior, operating a motor vehicle without the owners consent, obstructing emergency personnel, recklessly endangering safety, threats to law enforcement and third offense operating while intoxicated.

The Daily Tribune is not naming the 37-year-old suspect because as of the morning of Feb. 18 charges were not filed in Wood County Circuit Court.

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Both the 37-year-old man and the patient were taken by Pittsville Emergency Medical Services to Aspirus Wisconsin Rapids Hospital for evaluation and treatment. Both were uninjured in the crash, according to the release.

The ambulance was towed from the scene with minor damage.

The Port Edwards Police Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol also assisted the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department, the Wood County Sheriffs Department and the Pittsville Police Department.

Contact Caitlin at cshuda@usatodayco.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Man arrested after taking Wis Rapids ambulance with patient inside
More than a year and a half after a man was found dead near a student apartment complex, the person accused of killing him is in custody.

On Aug. 1, 2024, police were called to the Westmar Student Lofts on W. Marietta Street.

When they arrived, they found a 24-year-old man who had been shot and killed. His name has not been publicly released.

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On Friday, police arrested Nahjel Williams, 24, and charged him with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

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Police have not shared details on what led up to the shooting.

Williams was booked into the Fulton County Jail before 1 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

Hes charged with murder, aggravated assault and more, including holds for Cobb County and Baltimore County, Maryland.

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This is not the first shooting reported at the lofts.

In May 2023, a man was found shot in the stomach outside the complex, which is not far from Georgia Tech. Police said there had been a party at the building.

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In 2022, a person was found shot to death in front of the complex.

In 2017, a man shot a woman inside an apartment. The victim was identified as 18-year-old Shantell Washington. Witnesses told police the suspected gunman, Chaz Christian, walked out of the building nonchalantly, telling people and security guards to call police because there had been a shooting. Witnesses at the time said the people involved didnt live at the complex.

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A man accused of shooting and killing his roommate after an argument over the cleanliness of a house has been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

Lee McGinnis, 26, of South Side Slopes, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter against Eddie Kimber on Nov. He was sentenced to 10-20 years in prison on Tuesday.

Kimber was found shot in the back in a house on Sharon Street in South Side Slopes on Sept. 16, 2024. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man shot, killed in South Side Slopes

Police said a witness told them that an argument about the cleanliness of the house broke out.

According to a criminal complaint, a witness told police that Destiny Alante Jenkins, 25, was living in the house at the time. She was involved in the fight.

McGinnis, police say, was her boyfriend.

Investigators said Jenkins tried to shoot Kimber, but the gun failed. Thats when they believe McGinnis grabbed the gun and shot and killed Kimber instead.

The District Attorneys Office said Jenkins was convicted of third-degree murder the same day that McGinnis was convicted. She was sentenced to 9-18 years in prison on the same day.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting after a residence fire on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Dona Ana County, had refused to leave the burning property before he got out with a knife, injuring a deputy on scene.

Dona Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart announced in a news conference on Thursday morning, Feb. 19, in the Commissioners Chambers at the Dona Ana County Government Center.

On Tuesday evening, the Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office (DASO), Dona Ana County Fire, and the Mesilla Marshals Office were dispatched to a structure fire at 680 Watson Lane.

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Upon arrival, firefighters began to put out what was later determined to be a fire started in multiple locations at the property. Firefighters also encountered a man  later identified as Dylan Leonard, and a resident of the burning property  inside the residence, Stewart said.

Fire crews asked Leonard to leave the property because it was still burning and it was dangerous; however, he refused. A deputy was advised about Leonard inside the property, and DASO units covered several points of entry around the residence.

Stewart explained that efforts were made through the door to talk to Leonard and ask him to leave, but he kept refusing. Nonetheless, at 8:34 p.m., Leonard suddenly emerged from one of the entrances to this property holding a knife, launching into the deputies, and resulting in shots being fired by DASO and the Mesilla Marshals Office.

Leonard was pronounced dead at the scene, and a deputy sustained minor injuries, Stewart added.

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The deputies involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave for protocol, and Stewart said DASO will pursue further investigation into the incident until the district attorney is notified of the incident.

The incident is being investigated by the Officer-Involved Shooting Task Force, which includes investigators from New Mexico State Police, Las Cruces Police Department, Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office, and New Mexico State University Police. Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be turned over to the Third Judicial District Attorneys Office for review.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A man has been sentenced to 51 years in prison for shooting two people, killing one of them, outside a gas station in Hartford in 2023 while he was free on bond in multiple pending cases and on court-ordered 24/7 lockdown.

Chan Williams-Bey, 30, of Hartford received the sentence on Tuesday in Hartford Superior Court in connection with the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jordan Phipps of Bloomfield on Aug. 6, 2023, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.

The sentencing came following a trial in December that ended with a jury finding Williams-Bey guilty of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm, first-degree assault and first-degree violation of conditions of release.

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According to DCJ officials, Hartford police officers responded to the Sunoco Gas Station on Wethersfield Avenue just after midnight after ShotSpotter detected 12 rounds of gunfire and multiple people called 911 to report that someone had been shot. Police found Phipps on the ground next to spent bullet casings with a gunshot wound to his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to Courant reports, Phipps left behind a 1-year-old son.

A second victim, identified as a 29-year-old man, arrived at a nearby hospital a few minutes later with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the arrest warrant affidavit charging Williams-Bey. He was later able to identify Williams-Bey as the shooter through a photo array, police wrote in the warrant affidavit.

Investigators also found video surveillance of the shooting. The video showed Williams-Bey arriving at the gas station in a red Dodge Charger before he got out of the car and approached Phipps and the other man, who were sitting next to the convenience store, according to Courant reports.

According to the video, Williams-Bey then pulled a gun out and shot both men, the warrant affidavit said. He could be seen running out of view of the camera before getting back into the Charger and taking off, Courant reports state.

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A detective investigating the shooting reportedly said he immediately recognized Williams-Bey from other investigations, according to the warrant affidavit. Police also used Department of Correction records and compared them to tattoos seen on the arm of the shooter in the video, which led to a quick arrest.

According to Courant reports, Williams-Bey was out on bonds totaling more than $800,000 at the time of the shooting. He faced charges in multiple pending cases, including another shooting, and had been ordered to only leave his home for work or any legal or medical appointments, Courant reporting said. His 24/7 lockdown was monitored via an ankle bracelet that tracked whether he was at home.

Williams-Beys probation officer told police he was employed by Amazon, the warrant affidavit said. Detectives contacted the company and learned that he had been fired in November 2022, according to the warrant affidavit.

The fatal shooting was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Brett J. Salafia and Assistant States Attorney Kathleen Morgan with the assistance of Inspector Joseph Buyak and Paralegal Specialist Kelly Randall, according to the DCJ.

In a news release issued after the sentencing, Hartford Judicial District States Attorney Sharmese L. Walcott said she wanted to extend her sincere gratitude to Phipps family who endured the heartbreaking loss of a son and brother. She also thanked the Hartford Police Departments Major Crimes Division for their swift response and thorough investigation and the trial team who diligently examined every piece of evidence and navigated complex legal issues to bring this case to justice.
CHEYENNE  A man arrested for stabbing his uncle before fleeing the scene of a car crash pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of attempted manslaughter.

Sterling Null was arrested on June 1, 2025, on a charge of aggravated assault with injury and a deadly weapon, which was upgraded to a charge of attempted second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of 20 years to life.

In line with a plea deal, Null pleaded guilty Tuesday in Laramie County District Court to the amended charge of attempted manslaughter, which carries a lesser charge of up to 20 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

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Null admitted to stabbing his uncle in a heat of passion, causing a serious threat to his life. After the states lawyer, Jack Hatfield, addressed the need to establish the intent to kill, Null also admitted to stabbing his uncle with the intent to kill him.

Hatfield and Null's lawyer recommended a sentence of 15 to 20 years. However, Null will not be sentenced until May, at which point his pre-sentence investigation should be complete, Judge Robin Cooley said.

The incident

On June 1, Null stabbed his uncle five times following a heated family argument, according to police reports.

Neighbors initially called the police on Null and his family to report a domestic disturbance. Null was allegedly arguing with his pregnant girlfriend about his behavior during the pregnancy, according to police reports and court testimony.

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Police then left the scene after Null claimed to be preparing to leave the state. The family dispute escalated, and instead of leaving the state, Null went and got another family member's car, a Dodge passenger vehicle, and sped into a parking area on Pattinson Avenue.

He crashed into a family members vehicle, which subsequently struck his uncles parked truck.

According to police, the uncle then came out of the apartment complex to confront Null. Null charged his uncle, pulled out a knife and stabbed him five times.

Nulls uncle told police that he expected to take a few punches from Null to protect the two women inside, but was surprised to be stabbed, according to police testimony from Nulls preliminary hearing.

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After stabbing his uncle, Null charged at his girlfriend and another woman, who was using a wheelchair, but retreated once the women made it back inside the apartment complex, according to police.

During all of this, the same neighbors who reported the domestic dispute to police earlier in the day came outside and recorded the stabbing. By the time Null was attempting to charge his uncle a second time, a neighbor had returned to the scene with a firearm.

Null reportedly saw the firearm and fled the scene. He was later arrested by officers with the Cheyenne Police Department.
A man impersonating an employee walked out of a Walmart in Upstate New York with over $50,000 worth of iPhones in 2023, police said.

Three years later, police say the prolific phone theft has been solved.

Anthony D. Capers, 32, of Rochester, has been charged with stealing dozens of iPhones from a Walmart in Macedon, a town about 19 miles west of Rochester in Western New York, the Town of Macedon Police Department announced in a news release.

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The massive theft happened on Feb. 2, 2023, at the Walmart Supercenter at 425 State Route 31 in Macedon, Wayne County.

Capers entered the Walmart and pretended to be an outsourced sales leader, police said.

While impersonating an outsourced employee, Capers obtained the stores master keys and opened a locked storage container, police said. He then took more than 60 iPhones valued at $51,982 and left the store without paying, police said.

The theft was captured on Walmarts security cameras, police said.

After a lengthy investigation, the case was presented to a Wayne County Grand Jury, which issued a warrant for Capers arrest on April 2, 2025.

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It took 10 months to find him.

Capers was arrested after police stopped a vehicle he was riding in early on Valentines Day, Feb. 14, 2026, in Elmira. He was taken into custody by the Elmira Police Department before being turned over to Macedon police.

Capers is facing three charges:

Second-degree grand larceny, a felony

Fourth-degree conspiracy, a felony

Second-degree criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor

Capers was arraigned in Wayne County Court and released from custody.

More in Upstate New York news

Read the original article on syracuse.com.
The Boston 25 Weather team has issued new snow maps for winter storms that are expected to impact Massachusetts on Wednesday and Friday.

Our first Weather Alert is for Wednesday due to morning rain that will transition to snow later in the day, with light accumulations through the evening.

The snow isnt expected to start sticking until after sunset, bringing the potential for slushy travel during the evening commute. Accumulation could continue through midnight.

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Communities across central and western Massachusetts will see about 1-3 inches of snow. Eastern Massachusetts is expected to get between a coating to an inch of snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Berkshire, Franklin, Worcester, Hampshire, Hampden, and Northern Middlesex counties through 4 a.m. Thursday.

Friday brings another Weather Alert for the potential for snow accumulation, with higher expected totals.

Points north of the Massachusetts Turnpike could see 3 to 6 inches of snow, while points south of the Pike are expected to see 1 to 3 inches. A coating to an inch is expected on Cape Cod and the Islands.

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This storm is expected to be an afternoon and overnight event.

This will develop Friday afternoon and evening, and go overnight into your Saturday plans, Boston 25 Meteorologist Shiri Spear said in her latest forecast. I dont have a Weather Alert, but I do have some lingering light snow that will be low-impact.

A third potential storm that could move in Sunday night into Monday is also on our radar, but as of Wednesday, the details werent yet clear.

Mondays storm just does not have details. We cannot see any numbers on Monday with certainty, but as temperatures drop, it gives us a better chance of straight-up snow instead of a mixed situation, Spear explained.

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The Boston 25 Weather team will continue to monitor the forecast and provide updates as the week develops.

For the latest forecast, visit the Boston 25 Weather page.

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A Marquette student was sexually assaulted and robbed near the private university's campus in the early hours of Feb. 18, according to a Marquette Police Department alert.

Marquette police said a man showed a weapon to the female student and assaulted her on the 900 block of 14th Street around 1:55 a.m. Authorities have not arrested the suspect, who they said fled north on the street following the crime.

The woman was taken to the hospital following the incident.

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The university police department deployed additional officers to patrol the neighborhood following the incident, said Marquette Police Chief Edith Hudson in a letter to the university community.

"The only person responsible for a crime is the perpetrator," Hudson's letter said. "MUPD is working around the clock on the investigation."

A Marquette spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the department at 414-288-6800.

Marquette offers support for survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence and other related issues. It operates a hotline with advocates answering calls 24 hours a day and can be reached at 414-288-5244.

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Hudson outlined other resources, including campus ministers, counselors and other staff available to support students as well.

A 2019 survey from the Association of American Universities surveyed over 180,000 students across 33 schools on sexual assault. It estimated 25.9% of women undergraduate students experienced non-consensual sexual contact and 9.7% of female graduate students experienced it.

David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Marquette student sexually assaulted, robbed, university police say
A Worcester man is accused of driving drunk without a drivers license with two small children in rear car seats and empty nip bottles in his car.

Honorio Lisboa Jr., 42, is facing a slew of charges after a traffic stop in Southboro over the weekend, police said.

Police said Lisboa was arrested Saturday and charged with: driving under the influence of liquor, child endangerment while OUI, driving with a suspended license, subsequent offense, motor vehicle driver refusing to identify self, possessing an open container of alcohol, trespass with motor vehicle, motor vehicle lights violation, license not in possession, failure to notify RMV of name/address change, fugitive from justice on court warrant.

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Around 6:55 p.m. Saturday, Southboro Police Detective Anthony Vega stopped a vehicle with a defective headlight at the intersection of Marlboro and Sears roads.

Police said officers detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the driver, later identified as Lisboa.

He had three passengers  an adult female in the passenger seat and two small children in rear-facing car seats in the backseat, police said.

Lisboa parked in a private driveway and did not possess a valid drivers license, police said.

He gave police a name and a social security number, but Vega determined through Registry of Motor Vehicles records that the information was for a different person, police said.

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Southboro Police Officers Theodore Davis and Joseph DeLuca arrived on the scene to assist.

Officers saw that Lisboa had glassy eyes and slurred speech, police said.

Lisboa was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Southboro Police Department for booking.

Vega performed an inventory search of the vehicle and discovered three empty nip bottles (one Smirnoff, two Fireball), two opened Fireball nips, and three sealed Heineken bottles, police said.

Lisboa eventually provided his real name and birthdate during booking, revealing an outstanding warrant out of Polk County, Florida.

On Sunday, Lisboa was transported to the Worcester House of Correction, pending arraignment in Westboro District Court.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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As hospitals close their maternity wards at a faster rate, a new proposal would require them to give the state at least 120 days notice before ending or reducing maternity or newborn care services.

Birthing units do not become unstable overnight. Hospital leadership is aware of vulnerabilities well before formal notice is issued, said Dr. Anne Marie Van Hengel, testifying in support of the bill at a public hearing on behalf of the Maine section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

A rush closure is not simply disruptive, it is unsafe.

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The bill, LD 2189, came out of recommendations of a commission formed last session to evaluate potential changes to health care regulations and practices. Over the past decade, 12 birthing centers in Maine have closed, four just in the last year. Thats part of a national trend, with 29 hospitals ending maternity services in 2025 alone.

While the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee during a Wednesday hearing discussed several reasons for the closures  from difficulty recruiting and retaining staff members to low birth rates nationally  they agreed that the closures require adequate notice to help mitigate the disruption to the communities they serve.

Thats why hospital leaders, physicians and unions representing nurses support the legislation.

If a hospital is planning to close its birthing unit or reduce those services, the bill would require leadership to send a written notice of closure to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. The notice must include the date of the proposed termination and the reason, the hospitals plan for emergency care, a copy of the notifications the hospital has provided to surrounding health care centers as well as to local emergency management, fire and law enforcement services and to any patients affected by the termination. This is already health department policy, but is not mandated by state law, and hospitals have not always adhered to it, several people testifying in support of the bill said.

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Portia Judson, a nurse at Mount Desert Island hospital, which closed its birthing unit in July, said the hospital cant really serve our entire community without our OB. Not knowing that unit had closed, a pregnant patient came in with abdominal pain, and after Judson informed her that the hospital no longer had the fetal monitoring equipment it once did, the patient almost left.

Her terror was absolutely stark, Judson said, and I honestly couldnt tell her that if there was an emergency,  that we would be able to get her somewhere in the amount of time that might be needed. Our patients need time to make alternative plans for prenatal care and birth, which is not easy in rural areas where options are few.

Judson supported LD 2189, calling it a good first step and saying the state could use the information collected from closure notifications under this bill to try to prevent future closures.

Hospital leaders want flexibility

Leaders from two of Maines largest hospital networks  Northern Light and MaineHealth  supported the proposal, but asked for more flexibility.

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Lisa Harvey McPherson, Northern Light Health vice president of government relations, described last years closure of the labor and delivery unit at Inland Hospital in Waterville, which preceded the hospitals full closure in May. The hospital had traveling obstetricians under contract, but when that ended, the system tried and failed to recruit two permanent replacements due to the competitive national market, and ultimately the unit closed because of lack of staff, she said.

We were working with full intent to keep OB services open in Waterville, and when we came within 90 days of that contract ending, knowing we had no doctors, we made the very difficult decision, Harvey McPherson said.

Our example is just one example of the many reasons why hospitals may not have a full 120 day notice.

Providers may leave temporarily, surgeons may decide theyre not doing cesarean sections anymore, and there may be clinical staff disruptions that cant be avoided, she said, asking for greater flexibility with the notice period.

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Sarah Calder, senior government affairs director at MaineHealth, echoed that testimony. Birthing unit closures most often arent related to financial issues but low birth rates and staffing challenges that go beyond the doctors delivering babies  extending to nurses, anesthesiologists and pediatricians, she said.

We are challenged in Maine to recruit physicians, Calder said. We do not have enough residency slots in Maine, and we dont have training opportunities.

Before closing the Waldo Hospital birthing unit in Belfast last April, MaineHealth was relying on providers from other parts of the state traveling to the Midcoast, which proved unsustainable, Calder added.

Some suggest birthing units look to family physicians for solution

The Maine Academy of Family Physicians offered mixed support for the bill, testifying neither for nor against because the group said it did not go far enough in addressing how to prevent birthing unit closures.

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On behalf of that organization, Dr. Stephanie McCullough, a family physician who provides prenatal care and obstetric surgery in Damariscotta, said the legislation acknowledges the problem of unit closures, but says it can just happen more slowly.

Our position is that we want the state to do meaningful work to prevent any further closures from happening, she added.

McCullough suggested that family physicians with obstetric and surgical training could help with staff shortages in labor and delivery units. Some hospitals around the country have units run exclusively by family doctors. Maine graduates 35 family medicine residents annually, as opposed to four obstetric residents, all out of Portland, according to a 2024 study.

The issue in our state is not an inadequate number of family physicians ready and willing to do the job, but hospital systems not open to the employment of family physicians, McCullough said.

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Several lawmakers on the health insurance committee indicated their interest in pursuing that idea for future legislation as a way to address the staffing shortages leading to closures.

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The event, titled Conversation on Regional Integration: Perspectives in the Middle East, looked at Lebanon and Israel in the aftermath of the Gaza war.

MIND Israel and Lebanese-American organization This is Beirut held the first-ever formal Lebanese-Israeli civil society panel at the Munich Security Conference this week, representing a meaningful first step toward reversing decades of hostility, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin, founder of MIND, told on Wednesday.

The very fact that this event took place signals a willingness on both sides to pursue a different path, he told the Post, and [is] a small but meaningful first step toward reversing decades of hostility, based on the understanding that war is not inevitable.

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The event, titled Conversation on Regional Integration: Perspectives in the Middle East, looked at Lebanon and Israel in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas War. Particular focus was on Hezbollahs disarmament, ongoing indirect talks between Lebanon and Israel, and the broader prospects for regional integration.

This is Beirut is outside of the country but nevertheless remains closely connected to audiences inside Lebanon and has a strong grasp of the public mood and the views of Lebanons diverse society, Yadlin explained. MIND is unfortunately not able to collaborate directly with Lebanese citizens due to Lebanese criminal law, which prohibits Lebanese citizens from having any contact or engagement with Israelis, he added.

A recent poll released by the Council for a Secure America on Tuesday found that around 40% of Lebanese respondents support normalization with Israel, a figure significantly higher than a previous survey suggested. Yadlin said this indicates genuine openness to change despite existing legal constraints.

He believes that normalization with Lebanon is realistic if both countries act in accordance with their core national interests and do not allow Iranian interests to dictate their policies.

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Yes, Hezbollah must be weakened in order for the Lebanese government to move toward normalization, and this will happen, either by Israel, through another military operation targeting its key power centers, or, preferably, by a Lebanese state strong enough to do so itself. But until that becomes possible, there is significant value in preparing the ground.

He explained that Israel can build trust with Lebanon through measures such as official Israeli statements clarifying that Israel has no territorial claims against Lebanon. On the other side, Lebanon can generate confidence by repealing the Lebanese criminal law that prohibits contact with Israelis and, at the civil level, by promoting people-to-people dialogue like the event in Munich.

Steps like these can help weaken Hezbollahs political hold in Lebanon because one of its central justifications for keeping its weapons is the claim that it is needed to defend Lebanon from Israel, he added.

Regarding territorial claims, Yadlin said that Israel must first have its security concerns guaranteed.

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Israel cannot accept the continued presence of Hezbollahs terror army on its border. Southern Lebanon must be demilitarized of weapons and cleared of Hezbollah terrorists; this is a central lesson of October 7, and it is not negotiable. The threat posed by Hezbollahs precision missiles is also something Israel cannot live with. Therefore, as long as Hezbollah is not dismantled and the Lebanese government cannot confront it on its own, it is essential that Israel retain freedom of action in Lebanon to counter these threats, he said.

War creates window of opportunity

Nevertheless, he believes that the war has created a window of opportunity.

The war has reshaped the regional landscape and dealt a severe blow to Irans axis of evil. Hezbollah  long the most important and threatening actor in that network  was defeated in its war with Israel. That military defeat also created conditions for political change inside Lebanon. It helped pave the way for a more moderate, pragmatic leadership that seeks to restore sovereignty and a state monopoly over weapons and to put Lebanon back on a path of growth after years of political paralysis and economic crisis.

He urged the international community  specifically the US  to leverage the current climate to deepen diplomatic pressure on the government of Lebanon and to intensify the financial campaign against Hezbollahs financial networks.

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In parallel, Yadlin said it is important to increase US involvement in supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces and to mobilize as many positive actors as possible  European countries, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE  to lead the reconstruction process in southern Lebanon.

The goal is to ensure the area is not rebuilt with Iranian money, which would allow Hezbollah to re-entrench itself in those areas, he added.

Yadlin, however, stressed that this window of opportunity will not remain open for a long time and that Hezbollah is already recovering with the help of the Iranian money and rebuilding its military strength.

If normalization fails, what do the next five years look like for Israel-Lebanon relations?

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The more relevant question here is not whether normalization will fail but whether Lebanon will be able to return to a positive trajectory and uproot Iranian influence and Hezbollahs grip  an influence that has brought destruction on the country time and again, he said, adding that he is optimistic because the major shift has already happened.

Sooner or later, Israel and Lebanon will bring their state of hostility to an end. And if my optimism is premature, it will become relevant after another round of fighting that further weakens Hezbollah.

Reflecting on the event, This is Beirut said it carried significant symbolic weight.

At a time of heightened polarization across the Middle East, the cooperation between a Lebanese and an Israeli organization at one of the worlds most prominent security forums underscored a growing recognition that dialogue and regional integration are no longer abstract aspirations but strategic imperatives.

While profound political and security obstacles remain, the panel signaled that civil society actors are increasingly willing to test new frameworks for engagement, even amid ongoing tensions.
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly accused Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) of going full bigot on Tuesday following the congressmans weekend social media post that compared Muslim people to dogs.

If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one, Fine wrote Sunday in a post on the social platform X.

His remarks drew immediate outrage online and from congressional Democrats, who are now calling for the congressman to be censured and to resign from his position.

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Kelly was one of the few Republicans to immediately speak out against Fines comment, replying wtf is this.

Fine doubled down, replying to Kellys post, figured it out yet?

What I figured out, you pathetic sweaty man, is when an idiot Muslim says no dogs in NYC, instead of attacking the person or the policy, you went full bigot, Kelly wrote, before telling the congressman to F off.

The congressman also posted a picture of a dog with the words Dont tread on me in response to criticism from pollster Mark Mitchell that his statement was not a good look.

In a Tuesday statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) rebuked Fines comment, calling the congressman an Islamophobic, disgusting bigot. Additionally, the Democratic leader prompted his Republican counterpart, Speaker Mike Johnson (La.), to condemn the post. Other members have called for Fine to be censured.

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Republican leaders must hold this so-called Member of Congress accountable, Jeffries said. Political violence, xenophobia and hate crimes against the Muslim community are on the rise. House Democrats will not let the racist and bigoted behavior of Randy Fine go unchecked. Accountability is coming to all of these sick extremists when the gavels change hands in November, if not sooner.

If the House votes to censure Fine, he could be stripped from his committee assignments. The Florida congressman serves on the chambers Foreign Affairs Committee and Education and the Workforce Committee.

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The City of Mesa will soon become the first in the state to train both the community and its employees on how to interact with artificial intelligence.

EVT-AI.jpg

From left are Deputy CIO Harry Meier, CIO Scott Conn, Library Director Polly Bonnett and Ian Linssen, head of the Office of Innovation, presenting a city initiative to train employees and the community on how to use artificial intelligence.

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The free courses are anticipated to roll out in May to the community, which can gain access via a Mesa library card. The city can do this with no additional cost to its budget by leveraging the LinkedIn Learning software that its already paying for.

AI is becoming everything to everybody particularly from a productivity perspective, said Scott Conn, chief information officer at the Feb. 9 study session. Cities that invest early, its been proven already that it improves their service efficiency and were seeing that here as well.

For over a year, about 50 employees, representing all city departments, have been testing the training.

The courses, 10 to 30 minutes long, are self-paced aimed at beginner, intermediate and advanced adult learners  including seniors, job seekers and entrepreneurs, according to Library Director Polly Bonnett.

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We want to provide free access to those high-demand skills that you can skill-build over time to be more competitive in the workforce, she said. We see ourselves as a pipeline into skilled trades and into the workforce in Mesa.

The courses can be taken online or in-person through programs that the library will offer, according to Bonnett. The online courses will be anonymous.

If youre using these courses, we wouldnt be able to track that back to a particular card holder but we can see how many views those courses receive, Bonnett said.

Deputy CIO Harry Meier said they are looking at how the initial testers in the city are using AI in their jobs and also ensuring that resident data is protected.

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We recently polled that audience, did a survey of everybody whos had access to the tools for the last year and came up with: What exactly are they looking for? What guidance do they need? What training is going to be useful for them? And whats really needed to get the biggest bang for our buck out of these tools, Meier said.

LinkedIn Learning has over 1,000 courses to choose from.

Meier pointed out that staff will vet all AI-generated information to ensure its accuracy, free of AI hallucinations.

Roll-out to all employees is expected in a month, starting with introductory AI essentials and safe-use classes, he added.

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Beyond that, well also with engaging with the states AI committee, Meier said.

The governor set up a committee that is talking about this very topic of how AI will be used in local governments throughout the state.

Well be engaging with that committee here in the coming month to talk through what we expect to see coming down from the state level - if there are any potential regulations or legislations that theyll be talking about at that level.

Ian Linssen, head of the Office of Innovation, reminded the council that the city already has an internal AI policy all employees must adhere to.

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He also noted that because Mesa is the first in Arizona to do this, staff will be tracking the training.

We want to see are folks interested in it, do they like it? How do they use it? he said. Its anonymous but we do want to know if its working. If its not, we want to know why and maybe tweak it. But we think theres going to be a lot of excitement around this once it gets rolled out.

According to Conn, the city looked at multiple different training opportunities.

Theres only one other city that I am aware of in the country that is doing this for their residents as well as staff and thats San Jose, California, he said.

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So we took a look at their model. Theyre actually partnering with six or seven different training companies in Silicon Valley to offer this to their residents.

We decided to go the less expensive way to make this happen and searched all of the available training that that we could offer for free and we pretty much just landed on LinkedIn Learning.

Councilwoman Dorean Taylor asked if the city tracked the employee testers AI prompts  the instructions or input data provided to elicit output  and if so, what are the more common ones.

Linssen responded that the city was not monitoring that but rather creating a forum for employees to talk about what has worked and what hasnt which he said will be really beneficial.

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Taylor also questioned if there are safeguards in place to protect data.

Are we locking certain departments down to only have access through artificial intelligence to certain information? she asked. It can get pretty complicated from a security aspect. And then people leaving the city, what they have access to and theres just so much to it.

According to Conn, staff has outlined a multi-layer set of protections and strategy to deal with the issue Taylor raised.

We are controlling who has access to what, Conn said. And we are ratcheting that down tighter and tighter and tighter.

Councilwoman Jenn Duff asked at what point will the city be able to use AI instead of relying on studies, which Mesa spends a lot of money on and takes time to complete.

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AI sometimes can gather data from across departments and stuff and have a deeper dive into whats going on right now in order to make decisions about streets or whatever, Duff said. Are we going down that pathway to start gathering our own data?

Some cities are doing tremendous work especially around transportation  doing deep dives into crash analysis and being able to see through public safety records and then making recommendations.

Linssen said what Duff was asking about are enterprise-use cases, which for now is very expensive and time-consuming to implement.

But we are absolutely looking at it, he said. Its definitely a direction we want to move in.

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Conn added that one of the pieces of low-hanging fruit is the data analytics capability.

We have the data, he said. We are assuming it is good. We just need to run the analysis tools on it using AI and it will help us determine those things without the assistance of a consultant.




WATERTOWN  Qdoba, a San Diego-based Mexican fast food chain, recently opened a new restaurant in Watertown as part of the chain's expansion plans.

"The response from our Watertown community since the opening of Qdoba Mexican Eats has been incredibly positive," said Jeremi Johnson, Watertown's economic development coordinator. "From day one, there has been a real buzz of excitement. Residents are thrilled to see a nationally recognized brand choose Watertown as its home, and many have shared how much they appreciate having another fresh, high-quality dining option in town."

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Qdoba also has locations in New Britain and Norwalk. The chain previously had locations in Westport, Fairfield and Hartford, which have since closed.

The new Watertown location is among 15 new restaurants that Qdoba plans to open in the Hartford-Springfield, Massachusetts market as part of an agreement with the Orlando, Florida-based liability company PFGs. PFGs is headed by Johnny Muhammad, who was previously head of company operations for KFC.

Through this expansion in Connecticut and western Massachusetts, Qdoba is looking to add over 33 new restaurants in key markets across the country, the company said.

Qdoba has 868 locations worldwide, with 849 of them in the United States, 14 in Canada, four in Puerto Rico and one location in Japan, according to the chain's website.

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"It's clear that the community is proud  proud that Qdoba's owners saw Watertown as a place where their business can truly thrive, and proud to support those who invest in our town's future," Johnson said.

This article originally published at Mexican restaurant chain Qdoba opens Watertown location as part of CT expansion.
A new political candidate is entering the race for Pennsylvanias House District 171, which represents parts of Centre and Mifflin counties in Harrisburg.

John Zangari announced this past weekend he is running for PA HD-171, which has long been represented by Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte. Zangari, a Democrat, was raised in Northampton County and said hes running for office because he believes Harrisburg should work for everyday Pennsylvanians  not insiders.

Im running for State Representative because too many working families and seniors in our district are one emergency away from financial disaster, Zangari said in a press release. People are doing everything right, but wages havent kept up with rising costs for housing, health care, utilities, and groceries. Harrisburg should be on their side, not on autopilot for special interests.

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Zangari has degrees in criminal justice from Northampton Community College and Kutztown University, and previously served as a Lehigh County corrections officer. His campaign website states working as a corrections officer gave him a firsthand understanding of public safety and what reforms are needed to strengthen both trust and effectiveness. He also owns a small business, Zangari Media, and works at Penn State.

His website lists his top priorities and common-sense solutions. A press release further outlines that, highlighting lowering costs for essentials, reducing Pennsylvanians gas tax while protecting funding to fix local roads and bridges, cutting wasteful spending in Harrisburg, requiring plain-language and transparent state budgets, modernizing and streamlining state services with user-friendly online tools, and holding help days in the 171st district to help residents with state programs.

Johns priorities are straightforward: cut unnecessary red tape, lower the tax burden on working people, support small businesses, and make state government more transparent and accountable  by staying accessible year-round and clearly explaining his votes and decisions, the site states.

On social media, Zangari listed a few upcoming petition signing events in both Centre and Mifflin counties:

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Petition signing with Mifflin County Democrats, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at USW Union Hall in Lewistown

Petition signing with Bellefonte Area Democrats, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at The Queen BnB in Bellefonte

Petition signing with Penns Valley Democrats, 3-5 p.m. Sunday in Room 203 at the Old Gregg School in Spring Mills

Soup and Sign with Mifflin County Democrats from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 28 at USW Union Hall in Lewistown

My career has always been rooted in wanting to help people, whether that was in the criminal justice system, supporting students, or working with small businesses, Zangari said in the release. Now Im ready to take that experience to Harrisburg and fight for a government that answers the phone, spends taxpayer money responsibly, and makes it possible for families in District 171 to build a stable life here.

The 171st house district, which includes areas in Centre County like Bellefonte, Centre Hall and Millheim, has been represented by Benninghoff, a Republican, since 1997.
By Amina Niasse

Feb 18 (Reuters) - Nearly 3 million people with Medicare Advantage plans - or about 10% of all enrollees in the privately-managed program - had to find alternative coverage in 2026, as health insurers exited markets and scaled back plan options, according to a study published in a medical journal on Wednesday.

Members in rural areas experienced plan disruptions at double the rate of those in urban areas, the JAMA study found, raising concerns about losing access to healthcare providers, specialty care and long-term treatments, Hannah James, policy researcher at think tank RAND Corporation, wrote in an editorial accompanying the study.

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In seven states, more than 40% of Medicare Advantage enrollees were left scrambling as plans exited, including 92% of enrollees in Vermont. The others were Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Maryland, and New Hampshire.

The government's Medicare health program provides benefits to about 60 million people aged 65 and older or who have disabilities. About half of them enroll in Medicare Advantage plans run by major health insurance companies while the other half receive benefits from traditional government-run Medicare.

In 2025, health insurance companies reported shortfalls in plans after costs rose and government reimbursement declined and said they would pull out of or shift markets in 2026.

UNITEDHEALTHCARE, AETNA, ELEVANCE ALL SHIFT

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Enrollees of smaller insurance carriers represented half of those experiencing disruptions, the study found.

UnitedHealthcare, part of UnitedHealth Group accounted for nearly 14% of disruptions, followed by CVS Health's Aetna, and Elevance at 8.65% and about 8%, respectively.

Plans that had provided consumers with greater choice in providers were most frequently terminated, the study also found.

The current model, in which the government pays insurers on a pre-negotiated basis incentivizes insurers to attract more profitable patients, James said in her editorial.

"Policymakers should consider whether the current program design adequately aligns plan incentives with beneficiary needs," James said.

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In 2025, UnitedHealthcare accounted for nearly a third of all Medicare Advantage plans, according to health policy firm KFF. Humana, CVS Health and Elevance accounted for 17%, 12%, and 7% of plans, respectively.

(Reporting by Amina Niasse in New York; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot)
Leaders of Minnesotas largest business lobby on Tuesday acknowledged that the private sector is undergoing immense strain because of the federal immigration enforcement surge in recent weeks and proposed a slew of legislative changes to help.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, at its annual dinner to mark the start of the legislative session, also said it will advocate for federal immigration reform  a fix the business lobby says would have helped prevent the intense federal immigration surge.

The immigration crisis and unnecessary loss of life have once again brought our state into the national and world spotlight, said Minnesota Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Doug Loon. Reform, simply put, is overdue, and a workable legal immigration system is desperately needed.

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The chambers priorities this year are largely longstanding and unrelated to the immigration surge, though the business lobby is arguing they all the more necessary in the face of the reputational damage they say Minnesota has suffered. The changes include adapting the state tax code to federal tax changes and cuts passed last year, altering the states newly launched paid leave program  a longtime bane of the chambers  and, reducing housing and energy costs.

Although many Minnesota industries and families are experiencing urgent needs, election year ambitions and heightened partisan vitriol are undermining hope for the bipartisanship needed to pass anything in the closely divided Legislature.

For whatever nastiness might ensue, the chamber event Tuesday had a civil, bipartisan tone, similar to Tuesdays opening of the legislative session. The chamber paid tribute to the late Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was a frequent panelist at the dinner.

Gov. Tim Walz kicked off the night with much of the same remarks he said earlier in the day in his tribute to Hortman. Walz said that although Minnesota has undergone hardship in recent weeks, the nation experienced Minnesotans standing up for one another.

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The world got to see a Minnesota they didnt really know, Walz said. They saw gritty neighbors and gritty businesses standing up for one another.

KSTP political reporter Tom Hauser closed out the evening by leading a panel discussion with legislative leaders about the upcoming session. The panel included House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring; House DFL caucus leader Zack Stephenson; DFL-Coon Rapids; Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul; and, Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks.

Hauser asked the leaders questions about the session. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and length:

Paid family leave is up and running as of Jan. 1. How do you think its going so far and will any tweaks need to be made?

Murphy: I think its going well. So far so good.

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Johnson: Republicans have begged for small changes. This is obvious, the shortcomings of this program from the very beginning, and we have done everything that we possibly can.

Demuth: We have to look at changes already this year. There should never be a business mandate put on by a state.

Stephenson: Youll forgive my skepticism of the predictions of doom and gloom that are coming from my Republican colleagues here, because Ive been hearing them for years. This is a program that every other developed country in the world has and Minnesotans want.

Fraud. What are the top one or two things your caucus will do this session?

Demuth: We are looking to pass the Office of Inspector General bill. Thats one of our top priorities.

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Stephenson: Fraud is going to be a top priority for our caucus. We think every single dollar of fraud is unacceptable and needs to be rooted out.

Murphy: We passed the Office of Inspector General bill so we dont have to take it up again. Vulnerable people rely on programs and arent getting what they need. When people are stealing from our programs, were going to prevent it and stop it.

Johnson: The governor and attorney general currently have the capability to root out fraud within agencies. They have not been held accountable to that. And it is so frustrating for us to be sitting here talking about more laws to pass that will not be enforced by the leaders that we have in those executive branch offices or the AGs office.

Give me one word about what you can do to attract more people to Minnesota

Stephenson: More affordable housing

Demuth: Affordability, overall

Murphy: Child care

Johnson: Job growth
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Some Missouri families are sounding the alarm over proposed Medicaid disability service cuts from Governor Mike Kehoe, fearing the changes could strip away critical support for some of the states most vulnerable residents.

Even some lawmakers within the governors own party are raising red flags due to concerns about what the potential impacts could mean for communities already facing significant barriers.

Theyre urging the governor to find another solution.

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A familys fight against fentanyl and a DAs prosecution against those dealing death

For 24-year-old Peter Whittaker, those proposed cuts feel personal.

Peter, who has Down syndrome, shares an unshakable bond with Zach Craddock  his best friend, movie partner and daily support system.

Peter Whittaker and Zach Craddock

Peter said he helps him a lot. He knows just how much Craddock, who calls himself Peters assistant, means to him.

Simply put, Craddock gives him an entirely new outlook on life.

I love it; I look forward to it, Craddock said. Every time Peter and I hang out its a new adventure. We always have stories to tell.

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The two spend hours together every single week through Missouris Self-Directed Supports program, which allows individuals with disabilities to choose and direct their own caregivers.

Kehoes newly released 2027 budget proposal calls for drastic reductions to Medicaid disability services as the state faces a projected budget shortfall of nearly $2 billion.

The proposal includes more than $80 million in cuts, including $17 million from Self-Directed Supports  the very program that allows Craddock to work with Peter.

These proposed cuts, it directly impacts peopleand its the people who are most marginalized, Craddock said. Its the people who already have these barriers that sit before them, and now were going to add a monetary barrier. It makes no sense to me; there has to be a better way.

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Peters mother, Debbie Whittaker, said without this care, she doesnt know what would happen to her son.

But her concern extends beyond her own family to the many others who rely on these services every day, particularly those enrolled in the program.

Why are they making these cuts? she asked. I understand youve got to make cuts in a budget; youve got to balance a budget. But theres got to be other places where you can get this moneyIts keeping kids like Pete in their homes; its keeping them from going into an institution [and] being out of the community. It keeps them where they need to be.

Republican State Representative Mike Steinmeyer, who sits on the House Budget Committee, said he believes the governor will take another look.

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I understand their concerns, and there is legitimacy there, Steinmeyer said.

He said he understands families concerns and remains hopeful the proposed funding cuts wont move forward as written.

I think the governor will revisit; thats part of the checks and balances, the state representative said.

The Whittakers are asking the governor to make cuts elsewhere in the budget.

Please find the money. If you have to make cuts, please find it somewhere else; dont take it from these individuals, Debbie said.

Tell them to stop, Peter added.

FOX4 reached out to the governors office for comment but has not heard back.

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However, in a statement to our sister station KOLR, Governor Kehoes office said his budget recommendation reduces more than $600 million from the general revenue budget, beginning to address the projected $2 billion shortfall.

His office said the reductions prioritize fiscal discipline while continuing to meet mandatory and high-priority obligations.

The proposal marks just the beginning of the legislative budget process. As it unfolds, FOX4 will continue to follow the story and bring you the latest developments.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) is accusing President Trump of lying about the Potomac sewage spill after the White House criticized his and other regional officials handling of the disaster.

In a Wednesday post on the social platform X, Moore wrote, The President is lying to the public.

He said the pipe that broke, known as the Potomac Interceptor, is on federal land; that the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was invited to a hearing with updates from Maryland and DC Water and did not show up; and that Maryland officials were onsite within hours of the leak to help coordinate the response and protect the public.

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The post is the latest in a series of barbs between Trump and Moore over the last several days related to the spill of 243 million gallons of sewage into the Potomac River.

On Monday, Trump wrote on social media there was a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding that he blamed on Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly, Governor Wes Moore, of Maryland.

He later directed his fire at Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., who are responsible for the massive sewage spill in the Potomac River, must get to work, IMMEDIATELY, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday.

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If they cant do the job, they have to call me and ask, politely, to get it fixed. The Federal Government is not at all involved with what has taken place, but we can fix it, he continued.

In a video posted alongside his latest social media post, Moore also addressed Trumps request for a call.

If the president wants me to ask nicely, my response is this: Please Mr. President, do your job, Moore said in the clip of remarks from a Wednesday meeting of Marylands Board of Public Works.

Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Wednesday press briefing that the federal government has been preparing plans.

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The White House has been in contact with FEMA, with the Army Corps of Engineers, with the Environmental Protection Agency, Leavitt said. Weve been standing by. This is a problem we want to fix, not just for the federal government, but for everyone who lives in the District of Columbia.

The Potomac Interceptor is owned by DC Water, a local utility that serves Washington, D.C., as well as Montgomery and Prince Georges counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia.

A spokesperson for the EPA previously told The Hill that DC Water has been leading all cleanup and remediation efforts, responsible for containment, monitoring, and recovery operations, while Maryland has been providing regulatory oversight related to water quality standard exceedances in the Potomac related to unauthorized discharges of wastewater.

At no point has DC Water or the state of Maryland requested EPA to take over their responsibilities, and EPA has continued to offer its full support to state and local leaders from the onset, the agency said.

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Updated at 4:35 p.m. EST

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
More than 100 jobs are at risk after an Aberdeenshire butcher business announced plans to close.

Donald Russell is an online butcher based in Inverurie.

The firm said it had faced "mounting challenges" in recent years, including volatile meat prices.

It is thought the closure plans affect about 120 workers, all of whom will now enter a collective consultation process.

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In a letter to a local MP, interim chief executive Matthew Flood said the decision to cease operations was made after a comprehensive review of its financial position and trading conditions.

He said: "Donald Russell was established in 1974 and has been a respected employer in Aberdeenshire for over 50 years.

"The business specialises in premium meat products, serving both business-to-business customers (primarily restaurants) and direct-to-consumer clients through its online platform."

Flood said the business has faced mounting challenges in recent years, including "unprecedented volatility in meat prices affecting margins, unpredictable energy costs impacting operations, and the rising costs of doing business".

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He added: "Regrettably, the business's position is more challenging than initially understood, and Donald Russell is unable to continue trading in its current form."

'Planning for closure'

A 45-day collective consultation process is being held.

"During this period, we remain open to exploring all viable alternatives, including actively marketing the business for sale to new owners who might be able to operate it more successfully," Flood said.

"However, we are also planning realistically for closure, and our priority is to support our colleagues through this difficult period with transparency, dignity and all available assistance."

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The business had closed its cold storage distribution centre in Kintore last year, resulting in about 70 jobs losses.

Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross said: "This announcement will be deeply concerning for our meat industry, both in the north east, and across Scotland.

"The closure of Donald Russell would be devastating for the business, their staff, the supply chains and farmers who have all relied on the business for more than 50 years."
The third deadline in as many weeks came Tuesday in the Washington Legislature. It meant the end of the road for numerous bills, including priorities on issues like homelessness, child welfare, gun safety and juvenile detention.

It also signals a turning point in the Legislatures work, as lawmakers move back to House and Senate committee meetings on bills passed in the opposite chamber. Democratic legislators are also expected to release their proposed budgets in the coming days.

The pressure isnt letting up, as the next cutoff that could fell more bills is next Wednesday, when legislation needs to pass out of policy committees. Budget bills can remain in play past the deadlines.

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The session is set to end March 12.

Here are some of the bills killed at the latest cutoff.

Camping bans

One of the most contentious proposals this session looked to restrict cities and counties from criminalizing camping on public property. House Bill 2489 wouldve barred local governments from enforcing laws banning life-sustaining activities unless they can prove adequate shelter space is available for people to go to.

Republicans were staunchly opposed, and some Democrats were conflicted.

Similar legislation last year died at the same stage amid pushback from cities.

Child welfare

Lawmakers came into the session with several ideas on how to address rising deaths and critical injuries in Washingtons child welfare system. Much of the discussion is still to come in budget talks, but key policy ideas expired at this latest deadline.

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Senate Bill 6308 wouldve increased court oversight of Child Protective Services cases involving children under age 5 who are allowed to stay with their parents instead of being placed in foster care.

And Senate Bill 6319 looked to develop a community-based referral path to services for cases involving a child under age 4 and high-potency synthetic opioids, like fentanyl.

Neither bill got Senate votes.

We heard concerns from a lot of stakeholders, and I think that caused members to believe that we needed to make a pause and continue working on those policies, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, told reporters. So I suspect that well see them next year.

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In the House, state Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, tried to force votes on a few related bills this week, but was blocked by majority Democrats because the measures hadnt even passed out of policy committees. A House bill focused on the risk assessment process used when investigating child abuse and neglect referrals also didnt move forward.

Children online

House Bill 1834, requested by state Attorney General Nick Brown, aimed to protect youth in multiple ways.

It wouldve blocked social media companies from providing addictive feeds to minors. And companies also couldnt have sent push notifications to minors overnight or during school hours without parental consent.

Last year, similar legislation passed the Senate but stalled in the House. Again, the proposal couldnt pass the House.

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In a statement, Brown said he was disappointed that the Legislature once again has not been able to pass a commonsense proposal to protect children online.

Addictive social media use is a major contributor to the youth mental health crisis, and we will not stop pursuing policies that can save young peoples lives, he added.

Guns

Over the past few years, Democratic lawmakers have pushed through a suite of gun safety measures. The one they havent gotten to the finish line would require gun owners to lock up their weapons in their homes and cars.

The severity of the punishment for violating House Bill 1152 would rise based on the consequences, from a civil infraction to a felony if unsafe storage leads to someone being injured.

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Last year, the legislation couldnt reach the House floor for a vote. It was the same story this year. The proposal was a top priority for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.

While the legislature failed to meet the moment, we know that safe storage is a popular research-based law that can and will save lives, Renee Hopkins, the alliances CEO, said in a statement. We will continue to fight for the peoples mandate in Olympia.

Meanwhile, bills to prohibit the use of 3D printers to manufacture certain firearms and ban carrying guns at parks and other locations remain in play.

Initiatives

Opponents argued Senate Bill 5973 threatened to impede voters ability to engage in the initiative process. It would have prohibited paying people for each signature they collect in support of initiatives and allowed legal action against those suspected of violations. It also wouldve added a new step by requiring initiative campaigners to submit signatures of 1,000 registered voters to indicate support for their proposal when starting the process.

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Backers saw this as a way to keep big money out of this process of direct democracy.

The sponsor and Senate Democratic leader cited unresolved concerns from other senators and Gov. Bob Ferguson as reasons for the controversial legislations demise. Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, said he plans to bring back a new version in 2027.

Read more: Foes called it the initiative killer. Now its dead in the WA Legislature

Juvenile rehabilitation

Overpopulation has been a longstanding concern in the states juvenile detention system. Last year, lawmakers failed to pass substantial policy changes to alleviate the crisis.

This year, theyre poised for a similar result. The House planned for House Bill 2389 to be the final piece of legislation it considered before Tuesdays deadline, but it didnt end up getting a vote. The proposal sought to ease criminal sentencing for youth defendants, and provide a path for transfers from juvenile detention to the states prisons operated by the Department of Corrections.

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It didnt have the votes, House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, told reporters.

She said there were a plethora of reasons for that.

I think the good thing about it is we have increased support from last year to this year, Jinkins added. I often tell people that I came to the Legislature as somebody who worked on LGBTQ civil rights. It took us 29 years to get them into statute. It will not take that much time for the JR bill to move, but it just takes time to do the incremental work.

Farmworker unions

Senate Bill 6045, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldana, D-Seattle, aimed to give agricultural workers collective bargaining rights theyve long been denied. Farmers argued this would be a financial burden on an already struggling industry.

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The reason? Per Pedersen, a familiar story: It ultimately didnt have the votes yet in our caucus.

There was, I think, more work that will need to be done before that idea can advance to make sure that the agriculture community, more generally, has had a chance to weigh in and figure out how best to make that happen, he added.

Wire theft

As the 5 p.m. cutoff to pass bills approached Tuesday, Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, launched an unusual bid to bog down the Senate process. She demanded Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, a Democrat, to have the chambers secretary read all 39 pages of a bill focused on electrical transmission infrastructure. Usually, the clerk reads the first and last line of legislation into the record. Heck agreed.

This maneuver killed the transmission bill, as well as several others Senate Democrats were hoping to vote on before the deadline. One of those looked to address surging theft of copper wiring. Senate Bill 6190 wouldve imposed new recordkeeping requirements on scrap metal businesses and made destroying critical communications infrastructure a felony.

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Before the deadline, the bills sponsor, Sen. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, said she had her fingers crossed her measure would move forward.

Theres a lot of bills on the floor calendar, only so many can go, she said.

Orwall noted the issue is really affecting her district, which is now served by Sound Transit light rail. The train system is frequently targeted by wire thieves, including last week during the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl victory parade. Orwall plans to bring back the legislation next year.

Artificial intelligence

Lawmakers have a number of ideas to regulate the emergence of generative artificial intelligence. For example, the House has passed legislation to require AI companies to make an AI detection tool available and disclose when content is AI-generated, as well as to mandate safeguards for AI chatbots, like ChatGPT.

But a bill dealing with use of AI-fed algorithms in high-stakes decisions, like hiring and medical insurance, wont become law this year. House Bill 2157 would have required the companies both developing and deploying the technology to take steps to protect people from discrimination potentially embedded in the algorithms.

Grocery stores

Motivated by the closure of a Fred Meyer in Tacoma, Senate Bill 6147 sought to require grocers to provide at least four months notice before closing.

A proposal in the House to ease restrictions on where grocery stores or pharmacies can be located passed with bipartisan support last week.

Parole

Washington abolished parole more than four decades ago. A proposal in the state Senate initially aimed to bring it back starting in 2027. The measure was pared back to establish a work group tasked with recommending how to reinstate parole in the state. This still wasnt enough to get it a Senate vote before Tuesdays deadline.

Reporter Jerry Cornfield contributed to this report.
Data centers are moving in. They power everything from streaming services to artificial intelligence, but critics say they are noisy and can jack up your electric bills.

Now, the I-Team and ABC News are finding that more than 3,000 data centers are already operating nationwide, with at least 1,000 more planned. Some are in the Chicago area.

Companies point to economic benefits, but residents are raising concerns about noise and power usage.

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When David Szala moved into his Aurora home in 2015, he knew he was by a data center.

"You can hear it as soon as you walk out. Fans, just constant with the noise," Szala said.

But in recent years, the CyrusOne data center campus has expanded significantly.

Szala and his neighbor, Bryan Castro, both say they hear cooling fans all day and night, and sometimes, generators create more noise.

"You feel it in your bones," Szala said.

Castro says the buzzing bounces through his backyard, which looked a lot different when he moved there in 2007.

"You can feel the vibrations in the house," Castro said. "This was 25 acres of nothing but forest."

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Neighbors say CyrusOne put up a sound recorder to monitor noise levels and erected walls, but both residents ABC7 spoke with said the walls do not help much.

"The noise doesn't drop down and get stopped. The noise radiates from above," Castro said.

CyrusOne told the I-Team the noise issue is unique to their Aurora location, and it apologizes "for the impact this situation has had on our neighbors in Aurora. We take responsibility and are well underway with a three-phase engineering project." The company says additional rooftop sound walls and other noise reduction equipment are on schedule for completion and "we anticipate continued improvement in sound levels." The city of Aurora also says these steps should help.

There is also a concern over the rising cost of electric bills.

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"Our electric bills this past year are probably 50% higher than they've been years past," Castro said.

CyrusOne says it understands that higher energy bills are a concern and it "pays for all electricity we consume at rates established through Illinois' regulatory framework," and that it takes steps with utilities to "protect households from cost volatility" and "moderate costs over time."

Illinois watchdog group Citizens Utility Board says the cost of improving the infrastructure for data centers can get passed on to consumers.

"Some of them use a decent amount and some use massive amounts of electricity," said Citizens Utility Board Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz. "The way that our power system is regulated, you have to build infrastructure, and then, it takes decades to pay it off."

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Moskowitz continued, "What if the data centers don't show up, or what if they are there for only a short period of time? Or, what if they don't use as much electricity as they said? Then, they're not going to be able to pay that off. And the rest of the customers, those of us who've been here, are left holding the bag."

ABC7 has also been covering public meetings over proposed data centers, and there are questions about water use and the environment.

The I-Team and ABC News studied a private company's Data Center Map and found that there are at least 4,302 data center projects across the U.S., large and small. Of those, 3,038 are currently operational, with another 1,203 either under construction or planned for construction. Sixty-one have acquired land.

In Illinois, there are 164 operating data centers, with another 81 planned for construction. The largest state project planned is in Yorkville. It would be 2 Gigawatts, and according to ABC7 data team, would use the same energy that would power approximately 1.7 million homes. That's more than every home in the city of Chicago.

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Industry experts say the facilities are needed for modern digital infrastructure and can benefit the economy.

"So, for poor communities that specifically need a big increase in tax revenue, data centers are really good for that. They're really not very good for jobs. They create a lot of construction jobs, and then a few additional maintenance jobs. But they create very few jobs relative to the resources that they use," said Effective Altruism DC Director and artificial intelligence expert Andy Masley.

The Illinois Pollution Control Board says that there have been no noise enforcement proceedings for data centers in the entire state, in 2025, and there are no open cases right now.

"They have to build these things to support what's going with computers, but they need to keep them away from neighborhoods," Castro said.

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Illinois state legislators recently introduced a bill that could require data centers to reveal how much water and energy they are using. The bill could also limit the amount of energy costs passed on to consumers.

You can watch more on "Data Land USA: AI on overdrive next door" on Tuesday morning on "Good Morning America" and throughout the day on ABC News.
LA MESA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Theres been some buzz going around La Mesa about the city possibly getting its first In-N-Out location.

Grecia Aguilar, a communications manager with the city, confirmed that the proposal for an In-N-Out at 8690 Center Dr. has been submitted for review.

The location would sit on the corner of Grossmont Center Drive and Center Drive in an area that already sees heavy traffic from the Grossmont Center Mall, Sharp Grossmont Hospital and the transit station nearby.

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Grecia said that the project is still in the review phase, and once the fast-food chains application is complete, it will be scheduled for consideration by the citys Design Review Board and Planning Commission.

After that, the City Council will review it.

The proposal is currently listed on the citys website under the Projects Under Review page, which Grecia said is where all active development projects are listed.

She also said that, in addition to public notices for city meetings, notices are mailed to residents within a 300-foot radius of the site and published in a local newspaper at least 10 days before the Planning Commission meeting, so neighbors can prepare their feedback.

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There are currently more than a dozen In-N-Out locations in San Diego, with the closest to the proposed site in La Mesa being in Lemon Grove, about four miles away.

There is currently no timeline for when the new In-N-Out could be constructed, so La Mesa residents will have to travel down the road to get their burger fix for now.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
A new report claims that the FBI has contacted Mexican federal law enforcement in the ongoing investigation into Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping. That story broke only hours after Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that there was no indication that she had been taken over the border. The report and the sheriff's interview come after many observers have theorized that Guthrie may have been forcibly taken to Mexico.

FBI Contacts Mexican Authorities in Nancy Guthrie Case

Pima County Sheriff, Chris Nanos (left), speaks to the media with FBI assistant special agent in charge Jon Edwards (right). They were answering questions about the search for Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie. (Photo by Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images) Photo by Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images (Photo by Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)

On February 18, 2026, TMZ reported, citing inside sources, about what could become a major update in the Nancy Guthrie case. According to the outlet, the FBI has contacted Mexico's federal law enforcement officials regarding the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mom. Additionally, investigators have been sharing details with several Mexican police agencies, but the contacts haven't led to any solid leads yet.

Since Nancy Guthrie's home is located roughly 60 miles away from the Mexican border, there has been a lot of online conjecture that the kidnapper could have taken her across it.

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For example, the X user @DavidB92801 theorized about how Guthrie could have been taken across the border. "She could have been smuggled to Mexico in tunnels and investigators have to consider both city and rural locations across many states, including US/Mexico."

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos: No Indication Nancy Guthrie Was Taken to Mexico

On February 17, 2026, Fox News interviewed Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos about the Nancy Guthrie case. During that discussion, the Arizona law enforcement official gave several updates on the case. For example, he stated his belief that Guthrie was targeted, and he debunked the claim that the suspect list had been narrowed. Additionally, he addressed the theory that she'd been taken over the Mexican border by saying there was no reason to think that had happened.

You know, Im sure the FBI has looked into that as well, but no. We check all the leads we havewere like everybody else. We know where Mexico is in relationship to this, and its a possibility. But no, we have nothing to indicate that.

It is important to note that Nanos' comment and TMZ's report don't contradict each other. Instead, the new report about the FBI contacting Mexican authorities aligns with Nanos' stated belief that they would look into that possibility. Furthermore, the report also underscores that the various law enforcement agencies involved in the Guthrie case are exhausting all possible leads.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace on Tuesday was denied entrance inside a Horry County courtroom where a Stand Your Ground hearing was taking place in the shooting death of Scott Spivey.

Mace said she showed up at 2:15 p.m. to attend the hearing but wasnt allowed in because the courtroom doors had been closed. The judge had granted a lunch break to those who were at the hearing, but instructed court would resume at 2 p.m. After that, the doors would be closed and no one would be allowed back in.

Mace then reportedly began to livestream herself on her phone not being able to get inside the courtroom.

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Mace, standing in the hallway outside the courtroom, was upset, adding that it was a public hearing and people should be allowed in. She was able to go into the hearing after another break that took place at 2:30 p.m.

The Stand Your Ground case

Weldon Boyd, a North Myrtle Beach businessman and his friend, Kenneth Bradley Williams, faced a judge Tuesday to determine whether they will once again be granted immunity under South Carolinas Stand Your Ground law for shooting and killing Spivey, a 33-year-old Tabor City, North Carolina, man, nearly three years ago.

Boyd and Williams appeared in a Horry County courtroom Tuesday for a hearing related to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Scott Spivey.

Boyd and Williams are accused of chasing Scott Spivey for nine miles before fatally wounding him in a hail of gunfire along the side of Camp Swamp Road in the Longs area on Sept. 9, 2023.

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Mace, who is running for South Carolina governor, has criticized state Attorney General Alan Wilson for his handling of the Spivey investigation. Wilson is also a gubernatorial candidate.

The two men have not been charged criminally after the state Attorney Generals Office determined their actions were self-defense under the states Stand Your Ground law.

However, evidence that has been made public in the wrongful death lawsuit has cast doubt on the finding.

The hearing is expected to continue on Wednesday.
Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnells office has selected the members of a new commission charged with reviewing how the city and Nashville Electric Service responded to Winter Storm Fern.

The mayors office announced the list of Nashvillians joining the nine-member 2026 Winter Storm Response Commission, and gave notice of the groups first meeting, in a news release Feb. 17.

OConnell had already announced that Vice Mayor Angie Henderson and Metro Council President Pro Tem Delishia Porterfield would be part of that group. Heres who else will serve on the commission alongside them:

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Former Nashville mayor and Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen

Johnny Vanderpool, Vanderbilt Universitys director of emergency management

Local NAACP President Timothy Hughes

Ethan Link, business manager for LiUNA Local 386

Cassandra Easley, owner of Easley Communications

Darrell Gillespie, 41-year utility operations veteran and current general manager of Dickson Electric

Beth Harwell, former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives and former Tennessee Valley Authority board member

Nashvilles recent ice storm was a once-in-a-generation event, Bredesen, who will chair the commission, said in the release. I believe that with any crisis, once things quiet down, its important to learn from it: what went right, and where things could use some shoring up.

The groups first meeting is coming up in less than a week. Theyll convene at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23 in the Sonny West Conference Center at the Howard Office Building.

OConnell announced the commission on Feb. 2, about a week into the citys response to the unprecedented ice storm. At that time, thousands of Nashvillians remained without power, and many wouldnt see their homes restored until later that week.

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A day earlier, OConnell said he believed NES was "unequipped to communicate about a crisis" after meeting with utility officials. Theyve continued to experience heightened scrutiny from other local leaders since then, from the Metro Nashville Council to state Republican leaders.

"We're going to take a closer look at the entirety of the past month through the 2026 Winter Storm Response Commission," O'Connell said at the Metro Nashville Council's Feb. 17 meeting. "I'm grateful to Vice Mayor Henderson and Pro Tem Porterfield for joining that commission. I'm confident in its expertise and a comprehensive assessment that's coming."

Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him with questions, tips and story ideas at ahornbostel@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville mayor taps former governor to chair NES review commission
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Nashville woman was sober when a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested her for driving under the influence, according to a lawsuit.

Court filings obtained by News 2 show the suit arises from an arrest that took place a year ago on Feb. 18, 2025, in Williamson County. The 54-year-old Nashville woman said she was traveling along Interstate 65 when a THP trooper began to follow her.

Hundreds arrested in TN, zero alcohol detected

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The trooper allegedly turned on his blue lights as the woman exited the highway onto Old Hickory Boulevard. According to the lawsuit, the woman pulled over in the right-most lane, which is a turn lane, and immediately began to search for necessary documentation as the trooper approached her vehicle.

During the stop, the THP trooperidentified as James Zahnreportedly told the woman he was pulling her over for failing to maintain her lane on the interstate. The woman added that within 30 seconds of the stop, Zahn asked her if she had anything to drink or taken any medications.

When the woman assured she had not taken anything, Zahn accused her of stopping in the middle of the road, but the woman explained that she was simply obeying his command to pull over, per the lawsuit.

THP stands by DUI arrests despite negative blood test data

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After obtaining the womans drivers license, Zahn reportedly asked the woman if she ever drinks, and she told him she last had wine about three weeks ago. The woman stated that she told Zahn she took Xanax for her anxiety after he asked her about medications, which led Zahn to ask her to step out of the vehicle so he could conduct a series of tests.

According to court filings, the woman performed at least five separate tests over the course of 10 minutes and was placed under arrest at approximately 7:50 p.m. for driving under the influence. When the woman requested that Zahn conduct a breathalyzer test to prove her sobriety, he allegedly told her we dont do that in Tennessee.

Zahn drove the woman to the hospital for a blood draw before taking her to the Williamson County Jail, where she was later released on a $2,500 bond. Weeks after the incident, on March 5, the TBI test showed there was no alcohol in the womans blood, per court documents.

Officials added that a TBI test for ten classes of controlled substances showed that the only substance present in the womans blood was Alprazolam, sold under the brand name Xanax. However, the court filing notes that the concentration in the blood sample was well within the normal, healthy reference range for the prescription. Then, on May 7, criminal charges against the woman were dropped.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Following her arrest, the woman reportedly learned that Zahn has a history and demonstrated pattern of falsely arresting sober drivers and charging them with driving under the influence. The suit alleges that Zahns record of false DUI arrests is part of a larger pattern of false DUI arrests by THP.

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According to data released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 419 people across Tennessee were arrested for driving under the influence in 2024 despite later blood tests showing no alcohol detected in their system.

The suit asks that the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee try the case by a jury and that the woman be awarded compensatory damages against Zahn in the amount to be determined by a jury.

News 2 reached out to THP for a statement, but have not heard back as of this publication.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
While chances for severe storms this week are dropping in Nashville, the temperature rollercoaster is continuing.

Once considered in the marginal risk for storms, Nashville is now expected to only get some thunderstorms Feb. 19, with the strongest along the Tennessee, Kentucky state line, the National Weather Service in Nashville said Feb. 18.

Gusty winds and heavy rain will be the main concerns for Tennessee, the weather service said.

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Rain is possible Feb. 18, but the main event is expected Feb. 19.

A warm front will move into Middle Tennessee pushing temperatures into the low to mid-70s, near daily record highs for the region, the weather service said.

Temperatures could reach near record daily highs before plummeting back to seasonal as a warm then cold front moves through Nashville and the Middle Tennessee region, the National Weather service said Feb. 18, 2026.

"Then a cold front will bring medium to high chances for showers and a few thunderstorms during the evening and overnight Thursday," the weather service said.

That cold front will likely stall over the region keeping showers and isolated thunderstorms in the forecast into the weekend. Then temperatures will plummet again.

"Another cold front moves through Saturday night and that will bring much colder air with highs falling back into the 30s and 40s," the weather service said.

Nashville area radar

Nashville area weather forecast

Feb. 18: A 30% chance of showers, mainly before 3 p.m. with a high near 67. Showers likely overnight with a low around 59.

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Feb. 19: A 30% chance of showers before 7 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after noon with a high near 75. Showers likely with a possible thunderstorms overnight with lows around 53.

Feb. 20: Mostly sunny with a high near 65 and a 40% chance of showers overnight with lows around 42.

Feb. 21: A 30% chance of showers, mainly after noon, otherwise mostly sunny with a high near 59. A chance of showers overnight with a low around 31.

Feb. 22: Sunny with a high near 44 and mostly clear overnight with a low around 24.

Feb. 23: Mostly sunny with a high near 42 and overnight lows around 22.

Feb. 24: Sunny with a high near 49 and overnight lows around 36.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Rain, colder temperatures on the way to Nashville. What to know
NATO troops practised an amphibious landing on Germany's Baltic Sea coast on Wednesday as the trans-Atlantic alliance's large-scale Steadfast Dart exercise continued.

Soldiers, weapons and equipment were brought ashore after a sea crossing via the Putlos military training area in Schleswig-Holstein.

"The alliance is united, capable of action and ready to act," said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, observing the manouevres. "It is operational and at the same time demonstrates what the European partners within NATO are capable of."

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"If something happens on the eastern flank, NATO troops must be deployed quickly, and of course through Germany," he added.

Some 15 ships and more than 2,600 soldiers were involved in the amphibious landing from the Allied Reaction Force, which is known as NATO's spearhead.

The rapid reaction force, numbering around 40,000 soldiers, is kept on high alert.

Divers took the lead in Wednesday's exercises, climbing out of the water onto the snow-covered beach to secure the coastal section. Shortly afterwards, special forces arrived on speedboats while fighter jets roared overhead, combating enemy targets in accordance with the scenario.

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Combat helicopters circled above the beach to provide air support to the first forces on the ground. They were followed by Turkish ZAHA-type armoured amphibious assault vehicles. The amphibious tanks rolled onto the beach with a roar.

Officers described the interaction between land, naval and air forces as highly complex.

Also observing the landings was NATO General Ingo Gerhartz, who leads the Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands. The command is responsible for the defence of Central Europe, from the Atlantic to the alliance's eastern border.

The landings show "that in a potential crisis, we can very quickly show a potential adversary where the red lines are," Gerhartz said.

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The Brunssum operational headquarters is involved in conducting the Steadfast Dart exercise, which has involved 17 ships from 13 countries, more than 1,500 vehicles and around 10,000 soldiers.

The manoeuvre is the largest this year for NATO, with operations centred in Germany, which would likely act as a hub in the event of a Russian attack on the alliance's eastern flank.

The biggest troop contributions have come from southern European countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece, as well as Turkey.

In addition, Ukrainian troops are set to demonstrate during Steadfast Dart how to attack with and defend against drones, as NATO seeks to learn from the experience of the war in Ukraine.

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"The war in Ukraine is not a blueprint, but it is a teacher," said Carsten Breuer, the inspector general of the German military. "That means we are drawing conclusions from the war in Ukraine."

"We have to face up to a real threat," said Breuer. "Part of this preparation involves exercises such as the ones we are seeing here today, which also serve as a deterrent."

Boris Pistorius, German Minister of Defense, on board the Spanish landing ship "L52 Castilla" at a media event for the NATO manoeuvre "Steadfast Dart 26" in the Baltic Sea off the Putlos military training area. Christian Charisius/dpa-Pool/dpa
LINCOLN  The Nebraska Republican Party formally opposes State Sen. Ben Hansens proposal that would make brand inspection voluntary statewide and eliminate the governor-appointed state Brand Committee.

In a resolution adopted by the state partys key leadership committee on Jan. 31, the GOP wrote that it had urged all members of the Nebraska Legislature, particularly Republican senators, to oppose its passage. It said the party opposed the bill in part because it could lead to increased bureaucratic control under the Department of Agriculture. The resolution said the GOP would distribute copies of the groups stance to every Republican lawmaker in the officially nonpartisan statehouse.

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair. July 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Legislative Bill 1258 from Hansen, of Blair, would transfer the Brand Committees responsibilities to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, a state agency overseen by a gubernatorial appointee. Services provided by the Brand Committee are funded using fees. It would be housed differently but funded the same way under Hansens proposal.

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The Brand Committee investigates cattle theft and verifies ownership through brand inspection when cattle are bought, sold or moved within or beyond the branding zone or area set in state law. Nebraskas brand law applies mandatory inspections to cattle owners in the western two-thirds of the state.

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Hansens bill is the latest escalation in a years-long divide over the future of the Brand Committee among rural and agricultural constituencies  a fight that has flared recently, including during the last legislative session.

Some in the party started circulating the state GOP resolution online a few days before Tuesdays legislative hearing on Hansens proposal, both of which highlighted the cattle industrys division on the Brand Committee.

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State GOP Chair Mary Jane Truemper said the state party hadnt widely shared the resolution, because the party has up to 30 days to post its meeting minutes. She said the NEGOP sent the resolution to the appropriate people  including state senators  to avoid blindsiding them.

Hansen called the GOP resolution premature, though he acknowledged that it might sway some lawmakers. He said he hoped the hearing on the bill Tuesday in the Legislatures Agriculture Committee might matter more.

State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman. April 10, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Most hearing attendees opposed Hansens proposed changes, making the case for the importance of the independent branding group. Some supported it, saying it would make the process more efficient.

I noticed they put in there that they are all about government efficiency and limited government, which is exactly what my bill does, Hansen said. So it seemed like a little bit of a contradiction to their philosophy.

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State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, a lawmaker from north-central Nebraska who has defended the Brand Committee, said Hansens bill would make a mockery out of one of the states most valuable industries  the cattle industry.



She said some who co-sponsored LB 1258 listened to a handful of feedlot owners who have hired a lobbyist to represent them, and painted an inaccurate picture of a system they say is out of date or unfair.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen, and Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska also oppose the bill.

Matt Blackford, Brand and Property Rights Committee chair for Nebraska Cattlemen, opposed shifting decisions about governing the brand inspection area to the state. He prefers the status quo, he said. A couple of rural sheriffs expressed concerns about having the manpower to take on Brand Committee duties if needed and questioned whether the state can afford to pick up the tab, suggesting that some responsibilities might fall on local government.

Steve Shultz, a feedlot owner near North Platte, said the Brand Committee is important because it helps prevent cattle theft, especially as cattle prices have risen.

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We can argue that the Nebraska State Patrol should be defunded because they dont catch every single traffic violator, Shultz said, making a comparison to the Brand Committee being criticized.

Cattle gather near a feeding trough at a feedlot run by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Saunders County. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Duane Gangwish, chair of the Brand Committee, said there is room for compromise because we cant continue to throw rocks  at each other.

Theres been a lot of talking, Gangwish said. There hasnt been a lot of communication.

Supporters of Hansens proposal also spoke at the hearing  mostly families that own feedlots. Cassie Lapaseotes, whose family owns a feedlot in Bridgeport, said she was threatened with a felony over cattle she raised because she didnt have the correct paperwork.

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Nearly every person who testifies about problems with the current Brand Committee has had similar experiences, Lapaseotes said. That is not right, and it must change.

Some dispute her claims of being threatened with a felony over paperwork, saying it was just a misunderstanding. She was given a warning, according to the Wall Street Journal.



Other supporters of Hansens changes said they want to get rid of red tape and said the bill would help.

Most attendees who spoke against the Hansen bill also spoke in support of LB 1187, a bill from Niobrara State Sen. Barry DeKay, which would raise certain brand fees to fund the brand committee.

Hansen said his goal is to solve this issue once and for all, so this committee can focus its energies on many more major issues confronting agriculture.



The committee took no immediate action on the bills.

R26-007 Resolution Opposing LB1258 of the 109th Nebraska Legislature Pertaining to the Elimination of the Nebraska Brand Committee

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On Tuesday morning, smoke shop lobbyist Jordan Mason told a committee of South Dakota lawmakers that nicotine vaping products are the number one method worldwide to help people quit smoking.

Rapid City smoke shop owner Caleb Rose told them fruity, candy-flavored vape varieties are the ones his ex-smoker customers seek out most often and were, for many, the flavors that got them to stop lighting up.

Both men then asked the lawmakers to back a bill that would essentially restrict the sale of those flavors in South Dakota to smoke shops.

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A regulatory framework like that, Mason said, would preserve the lives of people that are addicted to tobacco, while also keeping it out of the hands of youth.

Their comments came during a lengthy, two-part dialogue on how to best regulate the nicotine vape pens and other tobacco-free products like nicotine pouches that populate shelves on counters and behind cash registers at gas stations, grocery stores and pharmacy chains all across South Dakota.

The House Health and Human Services Committee ultimately kept both bills alive, but only one earned the do pass recommendation that ensures a floor vote in the House of Representatives.

That bill, House Bill 1220, would require wholesalers and distributors of nicotine products to be licensed and abide by a set of product guidelines.

Popularity of nicotine replacement

The bill Rose and Mason support, House Bill 1240, was sent to the House without a recommendation, which means it will need a motion supported by a majority of the House to be placed on the calendar for debate. The bill would regulate the sale of vape products in South Dakota more tightly than tobacco, which can be sold to people older than 21 by businesses with a sales tax license.

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South Dakota is one of the nine states that doesnt require a license to sell tobacco.

Nicotine is addictive and vapes in particular carry risks of lung problems, but the scientific consensus is that both nicotine vapes and nicotine pouches carry a fraction of the health risks of tobacco products. Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Concerns about the health risks of vaping have risen as more young people have taken to the practice. E-cigarettes have been teens top choice for nicotine delivery since 2014, and just under 8% of teens had used them in the last 30 days, according to a 2024 report from the CDC. Fewer than 2% had smoked a cigarette in the previous month.

Angela Kennecke, founder of the nonprofit Emilys Hope, told the committee her organization found five stores selling vape products within a quarter-mile of schools in Sioux Falls. Six such stores are located within a quarter-mile of schools in Rapid City.

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In the House of Representatives on Tuesday, lawmakers voted 58-8 to approve House Concurrent Resolution 6011, which encourages the Legislatures Executive Board to create a Neurohealth Safety Committee to study safety and regulatory issues surrounding vapor products, which would be inclusive of products with nicotine or marijuana-like intoxicants.

Smoke shop bill

In addition to restricting the sale of fruity flavored vapes to businesses that get at least 25% of their money from nicotine product sales, HB 1240 would require a $250 license to sell the products, curtail advertising and signage and require businesses to have a point-of-sale digital age verification scanner to check a customers age.

We dont want products in the hands of kids, and this takes a structured and workable approach to that goal, Rose said. It creates a clear licensing system for retailers, and that matters. If we want to curb youth vaping and eliminate bad actors, retailers need to be held to higher standards.

Both men also mentioned that their industry coalesced around the ideas in the bill in response to previous attempts to regulate vape products, and in response to what Rose described as an unfair conflation of smoke shops with cannabis products.

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The bill is sponsored by Rapid City Republican Rep. Tim Goodwin.

Lobbyists for retailers, convenience stores, the American Heart Association, Department of Revenue and Department of Health opposed the bill.

Jennifer Stalley, of the American Heart Association, said the bill has technical flaws that make it unworkable. Bill Van Camp, of the South Dakota Retailers Association, said it was more than unworkable

Now theyre going to take certain types of products and move those into vape shops only, and we dont think that thats fair  if its legal, Van Camp said.

Businesses that get less than 25% of their revenue would only be allowed to sell nicotine vapes with tobacco, mint or menthol flavors.

Licenses for wholesalers

The other vape regulation bill, HB 1220, got support from several of the smoke shop bills opponents.

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As originally written, HB 1220 would have required any business selling vape products in South Dakota to first pay for a license. The bills sponsor, Sioux Falls Republican Rep. Brian Mulder, asked the committee to amend it to license only wholesalers and distributors.

The license would cost $1,000, and businesses with more than one location would need a license for each.

More legislative news

See all of Searchlights coverage of the 2026 legislative session.

Read the latest >

Retailers wouldnt need a license, but would need to stock their shelves with products from South Dakota-licensed wholesalers.

We need to take steps moving forward to get our arms around this really rapidly growing retail operation, said Mulder, who said the amendment was a compromise built through conversations with the various stakeholders.

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Mulders bill earned a do pass recommendation 11-2.

Just under an hour later, Mulder said he couldnt support the bill backed by smoke shops, in part because it didnt have consensus support across the various interest groups.

But Mason, Rose and Rep. Goodwin all said yes when asked if theyd be willing to amend their bill to remove its more controversial provisions.

That should be enough to keep the proposal alive, argued Rep. Dylan Jordan, R-Clear Lake.

I think we should, at a minimum, respect the compromise and that they want to regulate the bad actors in their field, Jordan said.

Jordan moved to send the bill to the full House with a do pass recommendation, but that motion failed 6-7. A motion to defeat the bill failed by the same margin, with Sioux Falls Republican Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt switching her vote.

The committee ultimately voted 9-4 to advance the bill with no recommendation.

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Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will take over as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a White House official and sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Bhattacharya will continue in his current duties as NIH director until a permanent CDC director is nominated and confirmed, according to the White House official.

'Hopeless': CDC staff in turmoil amid Trump administration's effort to oust director

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He replaces Jim O'Neill, who served as acting director of the CDC from late August 2025 until last week.

O'Neill will be nominated as the next head of the National Science Foundation, according to the White House official.

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters - PHOTO: National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya delivers remarks at the White House, in Washington, September 22, 2025.

Bhattacharya rose to prominence during the COVID pandemic as co-author of the so-called Great Barrington Declaration.

Published in October 2020 and named after the Massachusetts town in which it was drafted, it called for COVID-19 lockdowns to be avoided and for a new plan for handling the pandemic by protecting the most vulnerable individuals but allowing most to resume normal activities, achieving herd immunity naturally.

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The plan was criticized as "unethical" by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization. Many others in public health voiced opposition to the idea, saying it would unnecessarily put people's lives at risk.

Bhattacharya continued to advocate against lockdowns, mask mandates and COVID-19 vaccine passports throughout the pandemic before being tapped by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the NIH.

This marks the third person named as head of the CDC since last summer.

CDC rehires 450 employees cut in HHS restructuring, internal documents show

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Dr. Susan Monarez was confirmed as CDC director in July, but she held the post for less than a month. Monarez was fired by Kennedy for reportedly not rubber-stamping the health secretary's vaccine agenda or firing high-ranking CDC leaders whom he opposed.

The turmoil led to both Kennedy and Monarez appearing in front of Senate committees to address the ousting.

At a Senate hearing in September 2025, Monarez said she was fired by Trump and Kennedy for "holding the line on scientific integrity."

Kennedy, in a hearing before a different Senate panel earlier that month, disputed Monarez's version of events. He denied telling Monarez to accept vaccine recommendations without scientific evidence, and claimed she was fired in part because she told him she was untrustworthy.

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After Monarez was fired, O'Neill, who served as Kennedy's HHS deputy secretary, was named as acting CDC director and signed off on the CDC decision to reduce the number of vaccines recommended for children and remove the universal recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

The shakeup in leadership at the nation's top public health agency comes amid widespread criticism by medical organizations and public health groups over the past year over how the CDC has handled major infectious disease outbreaks, changes to the childhood vaccine schedule and funding cuts.

White House says new CDC chief to be picked 'soon' as standoff over Monarez firing continues

The National Public Health Coalition (NPHC), an organization made up of current and former HHS employees, released a statement on Wednesday expressing "disappointment" with Kennedy and the Trump administration.

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"CDC staff were not notified about the agency's new director, just as with the removal of Jim O'Neill, staff learned about their new leadership via reporting from the New York Times," the statement read.

"The fact of the matter is, Jay Bhattacharya is Acting CDC Director in name only. We know that Sec. Kennedy is pulling the strings, deciding the health priorities on a whim, and cutting out public health professionals."

The statement continued that the CDC is in turmoil and that staff morale is at an all-time low.

"Staff are losing hope that they will have a permanent CDC Director, let alone one who is qualified to lead the agency. Our coalition continues to stand with CDC staff and demands the Administration nominate a qualified director immediately," NPHC said.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has no plans to open an Immigration Customs Enforcement detention center within Pennsylvania's First Congressional District, Congressman Brian Fitzpatricks office announced Feb. 17.

The district includes all of Bucks County and a sliver on Montgomery County at its border with Bucks.

The announcement comes among reports that ICE has plans to open more immigrant detention centers in the state. The federal government currently operates the privately run Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Phillipsburg, which has been plagued by allegations of inhumane conditions.

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After hearing from concerned residents, our office immediately contacted, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and we have received assurances that no such facility is planned for PA-1, Fitzpatrick said in a press release Tuesday. When questions arise that impact our community, we address them directly, establish the facts, and ensure our community has clear and accurate information.

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-PA, signing a copy of the Wojnovich Pipeline Safety Act of 2025.

More immigration news More Bucks County students plan ICE protests this week

The Bucks County Courier Times learned that ICE officials have no plans for ICE or HSI facilities of any kind in Fitzpatrick's district.

Fitzpatrick, who is running for re-election in November, added that his office will continue to monitor federal developments affecting the district and will provide timely, accurate updates as needed.

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The Bucks County Republican also reaffirmed his consistent position that no ICE detention facility shall be located in the county and if one were ever being considered, he would oppose those efforts.

The announcement comes days after Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros administration warned federal officials that it may not issue necessary state permits for planned detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill counties.

These facilities will also jeopardize the health and safety of Pennsylvanians who live nearby, overburden local infrastructure and emergency response personnel, and deprive the communities of important tax revenue, Shapiro wrote in a Feb. 12 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to Spotlight Pa.

Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com

This story was updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County not in line to open ICE detention center, says Fitzpatrick
Is a boneless chicken wing just a nugget?

Can a cauliflower have wings?

Can parts of a chicken be "reconstituted into some sort of Franken-wing?"

Those are some of the big questions that a federal judge in Illinois answered on Tuesday, concluding that boneless chicken wings can be marketed as wings.

In a 10-page ruling, U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. sided with Buffalo Wild Wings in a lawsuit filed by a customer claiming he had been deceived by the brand's boneless chicken wings.

Matt Rourke/AP - PHOTO: Buffalo Wild Wings

"Words can have multiple meanings--indeed, the term 'buffalo wing' refers to the type of sauce on the wing, rather than indicating it is made of buffalo meat," Tharp wrote.

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The lawsuit stemmed from an Illinois man's 2023 visit to his local Buffalo Wild Wings. Aimen Halim said he was deceived by the company, which marketed its boneless chicken wings in the "wings" section of their menu.

"Unbeknownst to Plaintiff and other consumers, the Products are not wings at all, but instead, slices of chicken breast meat deep-fried like wings. Indeed, the Products are more akin, in composition, to a chicken nugget rather than a chicken wing," Halim argued in the lawsuit, asking for punitive damages and to disgorge the company's profits.

Woman reunites with stranger who helped rescue her, 3 kids from submerged vehicle

Buffalo Wild Wings fought back against the claims, arguing in court filings that the Seventh Circuit had recognized that many "literally false statements are not deceptive." The company also pointed to another wing alternative -- the cauliflower.

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The judge also chewed over that argument as well.

"Cauliflower wings are sold at BWW, under the 'wing' section of the menu, and are presented as an alternative to chicken wings. If Halim is right, reasonable consumers should think that cauliflower wings are made (at least in part) from wing meat. They don't, though," Tharp wrote. "'Boneless wing' is also clearly a fanciful name, because chickens do have wings, and those wings have bones."

The judge also pushed back on the lawsuit's claim that customers would expect anything else to arrive at their table if they order boneless wings.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band announce spring 2026 tour

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"A reasonable consumer would not think that BWW's boneless wings were truly deboned chicken wings, reconstituted into some sort of Franken-wing," he wrote.

"Halim sued BWW over his confusion, but his complaint has no meat on its bones," the judge concluded, writing later in his opinion that Halim "did not 'drum' up enough factual allegations to state a claim."

"Though he has standing to bring the claim because he plausibly alleged economic injury, he does not plausibly allege that reasonable consumers are fooled by BWW's use of the term 'boneless wings," he wrote.

ABC News has reached out to both Buffalo Wild Wings and Halims attorneys for reaction to the judge's ruling.




A nor'easter Sunday into Monday could bring another round of significant snow to the region, but as of Thursday the storm still was too far out to predict in great detail, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service's New York office said there is potential for a "warning level" of snowfall greater than a half-foot.

The storm is expected to strengthen off the Carolina or Mid-Atlantic coast as it heads northeast, and then reach the Connecticut region Sunday night into Monday.

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Currently the weather service is projecting up to around a 60% chance of snow Sunday night, and up to around a 40% chance of snow Monday.

As with all nor'easter storms, this one's impact on Connecticut will depend on how it tracks.

The weather service's Boston office noted the AI versions of the European and Global Forecast System weather models have the storm headed close enough to affect the south coast, Cape Cod and islands.

The office said "odds favor at least some impact" to Connecticut, Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, but "keep in mind we are several days

out and probably won't see any notable trends in guidance until Thursday at the earliest."

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The Weather Prediction Center has the storm passing just east of what's known as the 40/70 benchmark, a spot in the Atlantic Ocean located at 40 degrees north latitude and 70 degrees west longitude

How storms track past that point can affect the type and duration of precipitation a nor'easter brings to New England. A track to the east of that point typically means a lighter snowfall.

The storm also may produce minor coastal flooding in eastern Massachusetts, and gale force winds for coastal waters even if it passes offshore, the weather service noted.

This article originally published at Nor'easter may bring significant snow to Connecticut this weekend. Here's the latest forecast.
An elderly man who spent "a couple of weeks" in a hospital corridor after suffering a stroke has spoken of the frustration older patients experience in the health system.

Andy Leebody, who is 87, said if a hospital does not have the bed space on a ward for you, there is "nothing you can do about it".

He was speaking after Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Older People, Siobhan Casey, claimed elderly people "no longer feel protected" by the health service.

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She has published a new report examining how current pressures on the health service are being experienced by older people, with many describing barriers to accessing GPs, emergency treatment , hospital care and social care.

The report said that demand for health and social care is growing faster than the system's capacity to respond.

Casey described how winter pressures are now a year-round reality, "driven not by temporary post-Covid disruption, but by irreversible demographic change".

'You have to just lie there and that's it'

Leebody explained that when he was in hospital after his stroke, he spent "a couple of weeks" lying on a bed in a corridor because the wards were full.

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"If they haven't got the space to take you, there's nothing you can do about it.

"You have to just lie there and that's it," he told BBC News NI.

However, the pensioner said although he could not get into a ward, the staff took good care of him during his time in hospital.

Leebody also expressed hope that the current situation could improve.

The Department of Health was asked for a response to the report from the Commission for Older People for Northern Ireland (COPNI).

Patient called GP '300 or 400 times'

Eddie said he has called his GP hundreds of times to get through [BBC]

Another patient - Eddie - told BBC News NI about the problems he experiences when trying to access GP services.

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He said he sometimes he has to call his family doctor "three or four hundred times" to get through to someone.

"Then when I eventually do get through, they turn round and tell me there's no appointments," he continued.

Eddie also expressed frustration at not getting to see a doctor face-to-face.

"How can you examine somebody on the phone and know what's wrong with them?

"You need to see a doctor and that is almost impossible nowadays."

'It's going to get worse without reform'

Siobhan Casey is the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland [BBC]

The access issues faced by the older generation are a problem for the whole of society, and any younger people who believe this doesn't affect them are "wrong", according to Casey.

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"We are all ageing," the commissioner said.

"The system we allow to decline today is the one we will all rely on tomorrow."

She stressed the need for a whole government approach.

Casey added that she has a "lot of hope" and called for the Stormont executive to support the Department of Health and enact the change that's needed.

"It's going to get worse unless we can get the reform," she said.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster, the commissioner described hearing how people are having to ring 100 times to get a GP appointment.

She said the number of phone calls causes "anxiety, stress and a feeling of worthlessness".

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Casey said the issue of health care access is "a difficulty" that has to be acknowledged.

"We've got a 100,000 more older people than we did 10 years ago," Casey said.

But she added there are fewer GPs, fewer social care packages, fewer care home beds and longer waiting lists.

'The current situation is not sustainable'

Dr Alan Stout, who chairs the British Medical Association's (BMA) Northern Ireland Council, agreed that access to hospital care takes too long and some unacceptable waits are now routine.

However he said access problems are not due to GPs or practice staff but were the "consequence of sustained and growing pressures on general practice".

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He explained those pressures arose from "years of underfunding" combined with rising need from an ageing population, fewer GP practices, larger patient lists and workforce shortages.

Stout explained that many practices have adopted telephone and triage systems because it is the only way to manage demand.

"The current situation is not sustainable," he said.

He added what is needed is a "clear, longterm plan to stabilise and invest in services, support and retain the medical workforce, and match capacity to population need".
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was given special treatment and provided with a room in a luxury hotel after Donald Trump pardoned him in December, ProPublica reported Wednesday.

Hernandez, a member of Hondurass right-wing National Party, was extradited to the U.S. in 2022 and sentenced to 45 years in prison on bribery and drug-trafficking charges two years later. Prosecutors said he enabled drug traffickers to move mountains of cocaine into the United States and used the millions of dollars in bribes he received for his political campaigns.

He cut a Trump-like figure in Honduras, attempting to overthrow the countrys Supreme Court in 2012 alongside a handful of other congressmen, in what was labeled a technical coup by local press. He was elected president in 2014, then reelected in 2017 amid accusations of electoral fraud.

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His nationalist beliefs and lax economic policieswhich Trump-aligned billionaires Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen have benefited fromare perhaps why Trump moved to pardon Hernandez.

After Hernandez, a noncitizen, was released from prison, a request to hold him in place until immigration authorities could arrive was waived by federal authorities. A team of officials was then paid overtime to escort Hernandez from Hazelton penitentiary in West Virginia six hours east, to the five-star Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. Rooms at the Waldorf go for $956 a night, at minimum.

Usually, people released from Hazelton are given a a shitty bus ride or a cheap plane ticket, one prison official told ProPublica.

Hernandezs lavish treatment appears even more amoral when compared to how the Trump administration treats other noncitizens who are detained. Immigrants are usually deported as quickly as possible, regardless of whether they possess a criminal record.

Hernandezs current location is unknown, though he has said on social media he does not plan on returning to Honduras. Maybe he can get a Cabinet position.
A deadly crash at an intersection in Ashland County is drawing attention to a spot state troopers say is dangerous for drivers.

State Route 511 and U.S. 30 is notoriously bad for crashes, said Lt. Brian Beal with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Several injury crashes, a few fatal crashes, unfortunately.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, on Friday, a driver heading north on State Route 511 failed to stop at a stop sign, triggering a three-vehicle crash that killed two men.

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Crystal Neelon, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Transportations District 3 in Ashland County, told 3News that the intersection has previously been reviewed.

The majority of the crashes that we see at that intersection are actually angle crashes, so people pulling out, maybe misjudging how quickly someone else is coming up to them, said Neelon.

According to Neelon from 2019 to 2022, there were 13 crashes at the intersection. ODOT secured safety funding in 2023, and the intersection improvements were then included with the agencys upcoming U.S. 30 Major Rehabilitation project.

Between 2023 and 2025, Neelon said there were 18 additional crashes.

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When we looked at the crash history at that time, we thought, making this improvement is obviously going to help improve the safety at that intersection, said Neelon.

She said the plan is to convert the intersection into a Restricted Conflict U-turns, or RCUT, which requires drivers to turn right and then make a U-turn, simplifying decisions and reducing dangerous crossing movements.

According to ODOT, similar RCUTs at other intersections have reduced crashes by 92 percent and injury crashes by 72 percent.

It forces motorists to look at one direction of traffic at a time, said Neelon. The safety success rates for these intersections are really good.

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According to ODOT, the project is expected to begin early 2029. The project will additionally replace approximately 10 miles of pavement and drainage on U.S. 30 and include some bridge work.

ODOT said RCUTs will also be constructed at Co. Rd. 30A, and Fry Rd.
Two days after a Beech Grove officer was killed, police from across different agencies stood outside the Marion County Coroner's Office as they watched his body be wheeled into a car for transport.

Officer Brian Elliott was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 16 while responding to a domestic disturbance call at an apartment complex in Beech Grove. He had heard a woman screaming for help inside a unit, and immediately started to kick down the door. Police said he and another officer were shot at the doorway by a man who fled the scene and wasn't found and arrested until hours later.

The other officer was also shot in the leg and has been released from the hospital. Since then, not only law enforcement agencies, but state and city leaders and the Beech Grove community have come together to memorialize Elliott.

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To support Elliott's family and his wife, Erin, the Central Indiana Police Foundation created a memorial fund to collect donations.

Elliott's body was taken to the Little & Sons Funeral Home at 4901 E Stop 11 Road in Indianapolis.

IMPD Officer Pankonie adds a black band Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, to the badge on a patrol car ahead of the transfer of Beech Grove Office Brian Elliott from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home. The black band signifies mourning and respect after the death of a law enforcement officer. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Beech Grove Police Chief Michael Maurice walks, head down Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, to his vehicle as local law enforcement officers line up for the transfer of Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. IMPD Police Chief Tanya Terry shakes hands Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett as they line up for the transfer of Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. An Indiana State Police helicopter circles Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, the Marion County Coroners Office. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Law enforcement officers line the sidewalk as Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott is transferred Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home facility in Indianapolis. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Beech Grove Police Chief Michael Maurice hugs a Beech Grove officer Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, near their vehicles as local law enforcement officers line up for the transfer of Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call. Beech Grove Police Officer Brian Elliott's procession to funeral home 1 of 17 IMPD Officer Pankonie adds a black band Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, to the badge on a patrol car ahead of the transfer of Beech Grove Office Brian Elliott from the Marion County Coroners Office to a funeral home. The black band signifies mourning and respect after the death of a law enforcement officer. Elliott was killed in the line of duty Feb. 16, while responding to a disturbance call.

Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Police agencies line up as Officer Brian Elliott's body leaves MCCO
Deadlines are nearing for North Dakota government agencies to bring their websites and mobile apps into compliance with new federal accessibility standards. But some officials say content may need to be removed rather than updated.

In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a new rule requiring state and local governments websites and apps to comply with accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Updates could include making content compatible with a screen reader for people with a visual impairment or adding subtitles to videos for people who are hard of hearing.

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Governments with a population over 50,000 face an April 24 deadline while smaller governments have until April 2027 to finish necessary updates. If governments dont meet these deadlines, they could be taken to court.

That could reduce transparency, according to Matt Gardner, the executive director of the North Dakota League of Cities.

To comply with a federal law, the best way to do it is probably to delete portions of your website and remove documents, Gardner said during a Jan. 21 legislative hearing.

At a time when we want to be more transparent, I could see political subdivisions across the state being less transparent, he added.

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The discussion came during a three-day special legislative session. Although the session focused on federal rural health dollars, one bill included a request for $1.5 million from North Dakota Information Technology to help state agencies update their websites and apps.

The request included money for an industry standard tool for scanning websites for accessibility issues, according to Corey Mock, NDITs chief information officer.

During his testimony, Gardner asked lawmakers for $500,000 for a cost-sharing program to help smaller governments buy into the states contract for the tool.

Lawmakers approved the state agencys funding request and the League of Cities request to allow local governments to buy into the contract, but the bill didnt include money to help cities and counties cover the cost.

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Gardner said in an interview after the special session that cities may have to look for free resources to comply with the federal requirement.

When you think of a very small community, I mean, their entire property tax collection may be $14,000. They have very limited resources to buy into a state contract, Gardner told the Monitor.

That could impact government transparency, particularly for complex, externally produced content, such as financial audit reports or engineering firms project designs, which officials could opt to remove rather than update, Gardner said.

At the hearing, Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, a Republican from Williston and the chairman of the Joint Appropriations Committee, told Gardner that if cities are concerned about liability, he would encourage them to pull down content.

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If its that big of a liability issue, thats what Id recommend my city to do, said Bekkedahl, who is also a Williston city commissioner. Is it detrimental to citizens? Absolutely. But this is a federal mandate. We didnt bring this on ourselves.

Mock told the committee that for state agencies, online content is being triaged, with the most critical content  such as applications or information about services  being updated first. As the deadline approaches, less critical information could be temporarily removed and republished later.

According to the DOJ website, older content that was posted to a governments website or app before the compliance deadline is most likely exempt if its in a word processing, presentation, PDF or spreadsheet file format.

Additionally, content stored in an explicitly labeled archive section of a website will be considered exempt if it was created before the compliance deadline and is kept only for reference or recordkeeping.

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Asked whether content had been removed permanently from agencies sites because it would have taken too many resources or too much time to update, Mock replied, Not that anyone on our team is aware of.

Older content, meanwhile, will be archived on state agencies websites, where it will still be accessible to the public.

In Fargo, nothing has been removed from the citys website because of accessibility compliance efforts, according to Ron Gronneberg, the citys chief information officer.

There was a clause in (the rule) that grandfathered-in stuff, so I dont anticipate us removing anything thats old, he said. I think were in compliance on the old stuff.

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But in Bismarck, the citys efforts to update its website have involved taking down outdated content, according to Kalen Ost, a communication strategist who has been involved with the citys digital accessibility efforts. He said its also part of the citys normal site management.

If information on a page is outdated or conflicts with newer content, it may be deleted or combined with other pages, he said.

But the city retains files such as PDFs and Word documents offline, where they can be accessed through a records request, and meeting minutes and agendas are in another module and dont ever really get messed with, he said.

While small towns dont have to worry about updating some of their older content, they may be hesitant to upload things to their websites in the future, according to Gardner.

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Websites will keep their base: hours of operation, here is where you can pay your water bill, and some of those basics, he told the Monitor. (Thats) maybe what these websites turn into.

Media attorney Jack McDonald said the situation demonstrates the downside of governments pushing to publish public notices on their websites instead of in newspapers.

The answer is always, Well, we can put it on our website. Thats a lot cheaper and easier. And the answer (to that) is, Yeah, but how long is that going to be on the website? McDonald said.

The website NDPublicNotices.com, run by the North Dakota Newspaper Association, provides a backstop thanks to its huge repository of public notices and meeting minutes from the past 15 years, said Executive Director Cecile Wehrman.

Those minutes will not disappear from the public record, she said.

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One East African country is preparing for a national emergency following a prolonged drought that has devastated local crops and livestock.

What's happening?

As Africanews reported, Kenya is in the midst of a monthslong drought that has been worsened by failed rainy seasons and the rapidly changing climate. As a result, more than two million people are experiencing food insecurity and extreme water scarcity.

The National Drought Management Authority placed nine counties in the "alert phase" because of drought conditions. Mandera County was in the "alarm phase," a step shy of an emergency.

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Bishar Maalim Mohammed, a resident of Tawakal village in Mandera County, described the bleak conditions in the region.

"I have lost all my cows and goats and burned them here," he said.

Why is drought in Kenya important?

The crisis is hitting the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya the hardest. As seen in Mandera County, this has caused widespread livestock deaths and destroyed crops. The drought has also prompted warnings of malnutrition and even the potential of outbreaks of infectious diseases.

According to a news release from the NDMA, below-average rainfall during the region's typical rainy seasons has only worsened drought conditions. Rising global temperatures linked to air pollution caused by the burning of natural gas and other fuels, is known to create higher evaporation rates in bodies of water as well as soil.

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This has put pressure on grazing areas and water in the country, increasing tensions among communities and creating the potential of resource-based conflicts.

"In two weeks this water will be finished. We are in a very bad state," area resident Aden Hussein said.

What's being done to help the people affected by the drought?

In addition to critical water and food shortages, as well as livestock deaths, locals fear that the most vulnerable in their communities may soon succumb to the shortage.

"Our children are the next ones who are going to die," Maalim Mohammed said, per Africanews.

In response to the brutal conditions across the country, the government has enacted several response measures designed to bring relief. This includes food deliveries and water truck efforts.

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"These interventions form part of a broader, coordinated national effort to stabilise conditions and prevent further deterioration," NDMA CEO Hared Hassan Adan said, according to the Kenya News Agency. "The measures complement cash transfers under the Hunger Safety Net Programme, alongside nutrition, health, and livelihood support being implemented in collaboration with county governments and partners."

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This story was originally published by Canary Media.

Its not just federal headwinds that threaten to constrain renewable energy development. State and local restrictions on solar and wind are spreading across the United States, too.

Few states highlight this fact as well as Ohio does. The Buckeye State makes solar and wind farms go through extra hurdles that dont apply to fossil-fueled or nuclear power plants, including counties ability to ban projects. Its siting authorities have also deferred to local opposition for renewable energy while granting opponents little say over where petroleum drilling rigs and fracking waste can go.

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A bill now working its way through the Republican-controlled Ohio legislature threatens to raise even more barriers for wind power and solar farms. On Tuesday, the Ohio Senates Energy Committee held its third hearing on Senate Bill 294. Its unclear whether the committee will hear additional testimony, so under state law the bill could pass out of committee as soon as its next meeting.

The bill would declare it to be state policy in all cases for new electricity-generation facilities to employ affordable, reliable, and clean energy sources.

But the bills definitions not only veer from common usage in ways that would exclude renewables but also threaten to block wind and solar development altogether.

If Senate Bill 294 were enacted, the Ohio Power Siting Board would be unable to support renewable energy projects under the bills restrictive definition. This would place Ohio at a disadvantage, said Evangeline Hobbs, a deputy director at the American Clean Power Association, in joint testimony for that group and fellow industry organization MAREC Action. At precisely the moment when Ohio needs every available energy source, this bill would tie the states hands.

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Based on model legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, SB 294 is sponsored by Republicans George Lang of West Chester and Mark Romanchuk of Ontario.

Louisiana passed a similar bill last year that prioritized natural gas. A pending bill in New Hampshire says that energy sources shall be reliable, meaning not subject to routine daily weather variations.

Lang praised natural gas during his Oct. 28 proponent testimony, noting the bill is designed to take advantage of the fossil fuel. In contrast, he claimed renewable energy doesnt meet those qualifications of being cheap. It misses the reliability  And it doesnt really meet clean yet. During the Feb. 10 hearing, however, he claimed solar and wind were not really excluded and stressed that there are definitions that have to be met.

Those definitions, however, uniformly ding renewables.

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SB 294s definition of a reliable energy source would require it to be readily available with minimal interruptions during high-usage times and for it to have a 50% capacity factor. Thats the ratio of its actual power output to the potential maximum. This condition would exclude virtually all land-based wind and solar generation.

A high capacity factor does not mean that an energy source will be available during extreme weather, or even generally available at peak times, said Michelle Solomon, manager of electricity for Energy Innovation, an energy and climate policy think tank. In practice, grid operators consider how combinations of resources on the grid can work together to meet needs.

Instead of ensuring systemwide reliability, a single-minded focus on a high capacity factor will distort markets and raise costs for consumers, noted Brendan Pierpont, Energy Innovations director of electricity.

In fact, a high penetration of renewables can reduce the intensity of blackouts and vulnerability to extreme weather, according to a 2024 peer-reviewed study in Nature Energy. And, in general, a portfolio of energy-generation resources is more reliable than dependence on only a few sources.

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Reliability is really not a characteristic of a certain technology, said Diane Cherry, MAREC Actions deputy director. And so taking things out of the all-of-the-above is a problem.

SB 294s perspective on what counts as clean energy is even more questionable than its definition of reliability.

Under the legislation, natural gas is called clean energy, and language in the bill could potentially even count some coal plants as clean. Meanwhile, solar and wind are only implied to be clean, by way of the bills reference to a federal law that deems them so. Nuclear power, which is carbon-free when generated but produces radioactive wastes before and after that point, is also dubbed clean.

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The definition of affordable energy source likewise diverges from the common meaning of those words.

Data released by the consulting firm Wood Mackenzie last October shows land-based solar and wind having lower average lifetime costs, called their levelized cost, compared with those of other types of power. Storage costs have also dropped substantially since 2020, and will likely fall even more.

Yet the bill seems to want energy that is cheaper than renewable energy, which really does not exist, Solomon said.

Ultimately, consumers would pay under the legislation, at a time when utility bills are already rising fast. Failure to add more clean energy sources to the PJM Interconnection region will cost the average Ohio customer roughly $6,500 more by 2035 than they would otherwise pay, American Clean Power reported in a Feb. 6 fact sheet.

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Overall, SB 294 adds uncertainty for the industry and investors at a time when they want to build projects, Cherry said. Many companies are under the gun to start construction by July 4 or place projects in service by the end of 2027 in order to get federal tax credits.

The bill also does not mention energy storage, which can require permits from the power siting board. Pairing storage with renewables can raise their capacity factor.

Energy storage will be increasingly critical to grid reliability and cost control, said Nolan Rutschilling, managing director of energy policy for the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund, calling for the bill to be amended to include storage so that the board has the full toolbox to evaluate projects that can deliver reliability without increasing fuel-price volatility or long-term customer costs.

For their part, representatives of ALEC and the Heartland Institute gave proponent testimony on the bill last fall.

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Both are among the most notorious climate-denial organizations out there that have been funded by fossil fuel interests, said Dave Anderson, policy and communications manager for the Energy and Policy Institute. Yet they also claim to be totally free-market and libertarian, he added, an ironic point given the bills potential to distort the market in favor of fossil fuels.

To that end, SB 294 will destroy competition by declaring renewable energy unreliable, and its picking winners and losers, said Janine Migden-Ostrander, who formerly served as the Ohio consumers counsel and is a fellow at the Pace Energy and Climate Center. The legislature should not be deciding this. Let the market decide. If projects are uneconomical, they will not be built.

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If Ohio voters abolish property taxes this November, as some grassroots organizers are pushing for, Gov. Mike DeWine says the replacement could come straight out of the checkout line.

Referencing an Ohio Office of Budget Management (OBM) analysis, DeWine told reporters last week that sales tax rates would need to reach almost 20% to fill the gap left by the lost revenue from property taxes.

It would be devastating for Ohio families, he said.

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The warning lands as grassroots campaigns in the state push a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate taxes on real property and bar any future version of them.

Organizers say the effort is a response to sticker-shock reassessments across the state. But the new memo suggests repeal would blow a $24 billion hole in local government budgets, jeopardizing funding for schools, police and fire departments, libraries, parks, and senior services unless lawmakers find a replacement on an unprecedented scale.

The memos bottom line: a $24 billion annual hole

An early-February memo from Ohios OBM puts a hard number on what property tax abolition would erase: roughly $24 billion a year from taxes on real property and public utility personal property.

The memo frames that as a budget-scale loss, about on par with what the state collects from income and sales taxes combined.

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If that [abolition] were to happen, it would create an immediate and severe crisis, DeWine told Ohio Township officials at the Winter Conference General Session in early February. Many local services that depend on property tax funding would disappear almost overnight.

And that overnight transformation would be huge. The memo estimates that local property taxes account for about 65% of local tax revenue in Ohio.

No one likes paying taxes, but some taxes are necessary to maintain essential services, DeWine continued. Eliminating property taxes would also mean a loss of local control. Today, voters can approve or reject levies in their communities. If funding shifted entirely to the state level, that local authority would largely disappear.

The replacement reality

And even if Ohio wanted to backfill local budgets quickly, the memo argues theres no easy swap available.

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Ohio already reimburses local governments for revenue lost to homestead exemptions for seniors and residents with disabilities, along with tax credits for residential homeowners. Those reimbursements cost the state more than $2 billion a year, making the prospect of finding tens of billions more to replace property taxes a fundamentally different order of problem.

For another, property taxes offer some of the most stable, predictable revenue to local governments. This is a fact that DeWine is hitting hard in his outreach to townships.

Property taxes are relatively predictable unlike income and sales taxes which fluctuate more with economic conditions. These fluctuations make budgeting for public services more uncertain, DeWine said.

That stability is part of what makes replacement so fraught. The OBM estimates that if Ohio tried to plug the hole primarily through sales taxes, the statewide rate would need to rise to roughly 15% to 18%.

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The memo warns that jumps of that magnitude could change consumer behavior, driving tax avoidance and pushing spending across state lines, ultimately undermining the very revenue the state would be counting on.

Such astronomical increases would drive citizens and businesses to tax avoidance, pushing consumer spending out of state especially in border counties, harming small businesses and local economies, the memo warns.

To blunt the size of a rate hike, the memo says lawmakers could broaden what the sales tax applies to, potentially taxing categories that are currently exempt, including food, health care, or other goods and services. But it cautions that base-broadening would require major statutory changes and, in some cases, constitutional changes.

If lawmakers leaned instead on income taxes, the memo estimates the necessary increase would be roughly 11% to 15% statewide. And if the burden shifted to the county level, some jurisdictions could require increases as steep as 27%a shift that would move Ohio from a low-tax outlier toward the upper tier of income-tax states.

How rising assessments turned into an abolition campaign

With no easy replacement on the table, the key question is why the abolition movement has gained so much traction anyway. The answer, in Ohio, starts with reassessments and the sticker shock that followed.

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Under a quirk of Ohio law, counties conduct a full reappraisal every six years. That time frame typically shields homeowners from regular increases, but the 2024 roundwhich landed squarely after pandemic-era run-ups in home pricestriggered residential values to jump by more than 30% in some areas, setting the stage for steep tax increases.

The backlash was swift. Beth Blackmarr, media representative for Citizens for Property Tax Reform, the grassroots group leading the abolition push, told Realtor.com in May 2025 that some longtime homeowners were suddenly facing property tax bills higher than their original mortgage payment.

Blackmarr said she hit the floor when her own notice arrived. Her homes assessed value had climbed 51.9%, bringing what she described as a massive tax hike.

State leaders have tried to respond. Lawmakers passed additional relief measures in 2025, and DeWine has argued recent changes should help smooth out the worst spikes. But organizers say the fixes dont go far enough, and theyre still pressing for a constitutional amendment that would abolish taxes on real property and prohibit any future version of them.

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DeWine is warning that if voters take that leap, Ohio could face a cascading local funding crisis.

If that passed, it would just be devastating to all kinds of local governments, starting with schools but also police and fire and we would be in a huge crisis in the state of Ohio, DeWine said.

But the movement has remained undeterred. After missing the deadline in 2025, organizers are working to gather and submit 600,000 signatures by July 1 to make the November ballot.
An assistant professor has been charged with assault after a video showed an encounter with an independent journalist.

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The argument happened inside The Ohio State Universitys (OSU) Smith Laboratory on Feb. 9.

Michael Newman, an independent journalist, said he was punched by Assistant Professor Luke Perez on Monday while attempting to interview former OSU president E. Gordon Gee.

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The footage captured a hallway confrontation that ended with Newman appearing to fall to the floor.

Perez was placed on leave on Tuesday.

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Ohio State University spokesperson Ben Johnson addressed the universitys response to the faculty members actions.

We are aware of the incident, and it is very concerning that the faculty member involved has been placed on administrative leave pending a full OSUPD investigation and thorough review of the facts, Johnson said. Ohio State confirmed Wednesday that it has dropped a trespassing charge originally filed against Newman.

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Newman spoke to our news partners at WBNS-TV.

I was punched  it was like an open-hand punch, this whole side right here, Newman said.

He noted that the hallway confrontation happened instantaneously, and his first instinct was to protect his equipment as the camera fell to the floor.

As bad as my injury was, my First Amendment rights were violated  and thats just as bad, Newman said.

While some claims suggested Newman entered the professors personal space, he stated that Perez was the one who confronted him.

The video footage shows Newman continuing to record as he addresses former President Gee.

The Ohio State University Police Department is conducting a full investigation into the incident.

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Officials maintain the plants are operating at full capacity and can handle the inflow. Builders, however, argue that redevelopment projects cannot proceed unless agreements with plant operators are signed and a disposal site is specified in advance  a requirement they say has held up approvals since December. Each facility can process approximately 600 tonnes of construction and demolition waste per day. Developers contend that large-scale demolitions across Mumbai generate far higher volumes.



According to the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industries (MCHI), the mismatch between debris generation and processing capacity is already disrupting project pipelines. These plants do not have the capacity to handle the debris generated in the city, said Keval Valambhia, Chief Operating Officer of MCHI. We have requested the BMC to provide additional space for disposal. In December, we suggested allowing debris at the Deonar dumping ground and earmarking a dedicated yard for every three administrative wards.



A senior civic official acknowledged that the requirement to execute agreements with plant operators before securing permissions has contributed to procedural delays. A meeting with Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani is scheduled for February 26, where the issue is expected to be reviewed.



The BMC has now proposed setting up an additional debris treatment plant at Deonar. Developers, however, insist that interim measures are needed immediately to prevent cascading delays.



The timing has compounded the challenge. In Mumbais redevelopment cycle, demolition typically begins after the monsoon, allowing builders to complete at least plinth-level or the ground-floor construction before the next rains. This window is critical to prevent waterlogging, structural complications and mosquito breeding at stalled sites.



Our priority is to demolish buildings immediately after the end of the monsoon, and begin the construction. We aim to complete at least ground-floor level work before the next monsoon, Valambhia said. With these delays, project timelines may be affected. If a reconstruction project doesnt get permission in time, it will affect the schedule of the project, said Anand Gupta, spokesperson of the Builders Association of India. This delay will affect the launching as well as project completion, as builders can't get NOC to start the project, he added. With clearances slowed and demolition schedules disrupted, that carefully calibrated cycle is under strain. For thousands of families living in transit camps or rented homes while awaiting possession of redeveloped flats, the fallout could mean prolonged displacement and mounting rental costs.



Mumbais ageing housing stock has made redevelopment not just an urban policy tool but a lifeline for residents seeking safer homes. Unless the debris disposal logjam is resolved quickly, the citys redevelopment pipeline risks remaining clogged.



For homebuyers counting down to possession, the growing piles of rubble are no longer just construction waste  they have become a tangible obstacle between them and their new homes.




Ohios flagship public university is making news again for scandals old and new.

Last week, Ohio State University assistant professor Luke Perez was videotaped knocking a filmmaker and his equipment to the ground outside a classroom where former university president Gordon Gee was speaking.

OSU alumnus Mike Newman was waiting to ask Gee a question on camera in the hallway when Perez lunged at him. The incident, caught on tape and posted by political blogger D.J. Byrnes, The Rooster, was viewed more than 10 million times on social media.

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The video, wrote Byrnes, belied what he said was an initial attempt by Perez and others to recast the attack as self-defense against disorderly criminal trespassers.

Ultimately, the recorded evidence of Perez pouncing on Newman forced OSU to place the professor, ironically hired in January by the university to advance free speech and civil discourse, on administrative leave.

A guarded OSU President Ted Carter said he was disturbed by the viral video and stressed thats not representative of who we are as faculty or staff or even senior administrators. Perez was issued a summons to appear in court for assault.

Ohio States chapter of the American Association of University Professors considered it telling that a recent recruit to the campuss Chase Center  one of the intellectual diversity centers ordered by right-wing Ohio Senate legislation in 2023 to fix perceived liberal indoctrination at state public universities with mandated conservative indoctrination  resorted to physical confrontation to shut someone up.

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Unfortunately, this assault  and the embarrassing actions around it  make it clear these centers arent really about encouraging civil discourse and intellectual diversity, the group said in a statement. AAUP-OSU is in favor of free speech for everyone on campus, not just for the ideas that politicians want to promote.

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In a bizarre bookend to the latest OSU convulsion over a faculty member gone wild, the Republican mouthpiece for the Ohio Senate GOP rode to the rescue of the accused professor with anger-management issues.

In an op/ed seesawing incoherently between hostility and disdain, John Fortney argued that Perez was right to rage against clowns with recording devices who had no business being in a public building. At a taxpayer-funded public institution. Seeking public accountability from public employees.

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The left wants to politicize and smear the mission of Ohio States Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society over an incident that can clearly be called self-defense, Fortney declared noting the cameraman (tackled by Perez) appeared to be holding a DSLR camera with a microphone that could be used as a weapon.

Fortney referred to the hoodie-wearing Newman as Mr. Hoodie throughout his blame-the-victim broadside, suggested his own background in self-defense made him an expert in reading body language, and boasted that instead of helping Newman to his feet some of the guys I trained with wouldve made sure Mr. Hoodie didnt get up.

This is the communications director for Ohio Senate Republicans?

Byrnes surmised that Fortney, apparently no fan of The Rooster newsletter, saw a clip of Lucas Perez assaulting a man backing away from him, with cameras in both hands, and instantly fantasized about doing the violence himself.

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As to Fortneys swipes about the blogger and unaffiliated cameraman being where they dont belong, Brynes said he was informed by Ohio State police two days after the altercation in the Smith Laboratory building that he and Newman were well within our rights to stand in the hallways of a public university during business hours. They admitted that our original trespassing noticehad been issued in error.

University spokesman Ben Johnson confirmed that neither Byrnes nor Newman was under investigation and that Perez was notified he must appear in court to face an assault charge.

Bad as the very concerning alleged assault against a Columbus filmmaker by an OSU professor was, it pales in comparison to the yet unresolved scandal tormenting former OSU student-athletes sexually abused by campus team doctor Richard Strauss.

The abuse was allegedly an open secret that was swept under the rug by OSU leaders for decades.

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Last week a judge finally ordered Ohio billionaire Leslie Wexner, identified as an alleged co-conspirator of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in files released by the U.S. Department of Justice, to testify in a lawsuit brought by a group of Strauss survivors.

Today, Wednesday, Wexner is being deposed by members of U.S. Congress in their probe of Epstein.

Wexner, a member of the OSU board of trustees during the Strauss era, and his wife are OSUs biggest donors.

Wonderful philanthropists, gushed Carter after Wexner was mentioned more than 1,000 times in the Epstein files. The co-conspirator word is alleged co-conspirator. We have to remember that. Hes never been indicted. He hasnt been arrested. So we take all of this very seriously.

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Carters self-described wingman Gordon Gee, who presided over eight years of Strauss tenure and allowed him to retire with emeritus status, also went to bat for Wexner.

He called the billionaire a victim of cancel culture when efforts to remove Wexners name from university buildings intensified as word of his long relationship with Epstein, the most notorious pedophile and sex trafficker in modern history, provoked outrage.

Ohios flagship public university thrives on power, privilege, and institutional wealth, not reparations for alleged wrongs.

Scandals that scar students for life or go viral with an assault on free speech are organizational risks best neutralized with poor-recollections, rationalizations, feigned concern, and denied culpability. Unless videotaped.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  Gov. Kevin Stitt applauded an Oklahoma City-area school district for suspending 122 students who staged a walkout against federal immigration enforcement tactics earlier this month.

Young Oklahomans: Free speech is sacred, but truancy robs your future. Stay in school, build skills, and make your voice heard responsibly, Stitt, a Republican, posted on social media.

Mustang Public Schools confirmed Wednesday it assigned in-school suspension to students for committing unexcused absences during the walkout, not for the content of their speech. High school students across the state, including in Mustang, have walked out of class this month to hold protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcements controversial mass deportation effort.

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The walkouts have drawn criticism from some Republican legislators, who complained not only of student truancy but that the demonstrations were politically charged. They called for teaching licenses to be revoked from any educators involved in organizing the protests.

State Superintendent Lindel Fields and Stitts education secretary, Dan Hamlin, said they found no evidence that school staff helped plan any of the demonstrations.

Social media claims of adult involvement in Mustangs Feb. 5 walkout werent found to be credible, either, district leadership said. The walkout was student-led, and those involved were punished according to district policies.

Truancy in Mustang schools is punishable by detention, suspension or other consequences, according to the districts discipline manual.

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Student safety remains our highest priority, and our decisions were made with that responsibility in mind, the district stated.

In a joint statement last week, Fields and Hamlin said students who leave a school campus without permission should be addressed according to locally adopted policies. Educators present during on-campus demonstrations are expected to ensure safety and order and not to participate in political advocacy, they said.

Our states public schools are legally obligated to respect students constitutional rights to free speech while also maintaining safe and orderly learning environments for all students, Fields and Hamlin said.

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The Old Farmers Almanac released its spring 2026 forecast this week, and it has bad news for one particular region of the United States.

While most of the country is looking to be warmer than usual, a handful of states might not get the same respite from this cold winter the country has endured.

West not so warm

In a review of the map from the Old Farmers Almanac, one region stands out.

The Pacific Northwest is nearly the only area where the word cool appears.

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In the case of western Washington and Oregon, this spring is expected to be cooler than usual and dry.

The eastern halves of those states as well as all of Idaho and swaths of Montana and Wyoming and small parts of Nevada, Utah and Colorado are also expected to be cooler than usual and wet.

The only other place on the map cool can be found is northern Michigan, both the Upper Peninsula and the northern tip of the Southern Peninsula.

Better news for the rest of the U.S.

Half of Wyoming and two thirds of Montana are expected to also be wet but warm while the southern three quarters of Nevada and Utah are expected to be warm and dry.

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The latter is also true of all of California and most of Colorado and Arizona.

Down the middle of the country, South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska are also in the warm, dry category, as is almost all of the Southeast (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana).

That trend continues all up the Atlantic Coast to include eastern Virginia, all of Maryland and New England plus most of Pennsylvania.

The lower peninsula of Michigan and northern part of Ohio and southern Indiana and Illinois are also expected to be warmer and dry while the rest of the Ohio Valley (southern Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia) are warm but wet.

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Where else will it be warm and wet? Most of Texas and Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas.

Most of Alaska is expected to be warmer and wet as are the western Hawaiian islands while the other regions of those states will be warm and dry.

Welcome relief for many?

If the Old Farmers Almanac is right, this will come as welcome relief following a winter than has been long, cold and miserable throughout much of the United States.

And will the Old Farmers Almanac be right?

Well, back in October it predicted a cold, snowy winter from eastern Ohio down through West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, but the Northeast was expected to be mild and dry  just like Texas and the entire West Coast from the Mexican border up to Canada.

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All of the Ohio Valley was expected to be cold, as was Georgia and South Carolina according to the almanac.

While warm and dry might be ideal following a winter that started in November in some places, a wet spring lends itself to planting trees and shrubs and perhaps getting an early start on those summer flowers and vegetables.

And as far as planting goes, the almanac also has some updated advice.

According to the book, folks in California, Arizona, New Mexico, the southern Midwest and much of New England can expect to be able to have their last frost earlier than usual, but those states identified above as having a cooler spring will want get a later-than-usual frost.

The latter is also true for much of Florida.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Feb 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A person was killed after a car crash with a Broward Sheriffs Office deputy late Monday night in Tamarac while the deputy was investigating a reported stolen car.

The car was stolen from Margate and spotted in Tamarac just before midnight, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release Tuesday night.

A deputy crashed with a car unrelated to the investigation in the area of West Prospect Road and Northwest 31st Avenue, the news release said. The Sheriffs Office did not provide further information about what preceded the crash or how it occurred.

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A second crash then happened with the suspects stolen car, though the Sheriffs Office did not provide further details about the circumstances of the second crash or who crashed with the suspect.

The deputy, the suspect and the passenger in the unrelated car were taken to the hospital and were expected to recover while the driver of the unrelated car died, BSO said.

The names of the suspect, who has since been arrested, the person who died and the deputies involved had not been released as of Tuesday night.

Multiple Tamarac deputies communicated the direction of travel of the suspects gray Jeep Cherokee for several minutes before the first crash, according to radio communications archived by the site Broadcastify.

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One of the people injured was bleeding from his head after the crash with the deputy, according to the radio communications. Another car had rolled over onto its side. A K-9 could be heard barking in the background.

Detectives with BSOs Traffic Homicide detectives and Violent Crimes Units are investigating, as well as the Internal Affairs Unit.

This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
Opponents of Californias proposed wealth tax are turning to the same tool as its champion: the ballot initiative.

A multi-pronged campaign to undercut the proposed one-time, 5 percent levy took a significant step forward Tuesday, when rival ballot initiatives rolled out veteran staffers and secured support from a ballot committee bankrolled by some of California's wealthiest residents.

The trio of ballot measures are designed to undercut the billionaires tax, such as by invalidating new taxes that apply retroactively or do not adhere to California laws limiting spending or reserving money for schools  prohibitions that would apply to the wealth tax.

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In an indication of their resources and seriousness, theyve all hired seasoned campaign staffers, and : two of the campaigns are already paying $12 per signature  a significant sum in Californias ballot wars  as they dash toward an April deadline to collect signatures.

That could be enormously expensive. But theyll have backup: a ballot measure committee bankrolled by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and other wealthy industrial titans announced it would support the three measures. While a spokesperson declined to specify how large of a contribution theyd make, the committee has already raised $35 million.

California is the worlds fourth-largest economy and a global center of innovation, spokesperson Abby Lunardini said in a statement. Yet, for decades, it has become increasingly hard for working families and businesses to live, grow, and thrive here. Between skyrocketing costs, a housing crisis, and some of the country's highest taxes  with less and less to show for it, the California dream is drifting out of reach for many.

Short term, having these measures on the street and paying top dollar for signatures could push up prices for everyone else  including the wealth tax measure, which has yet to qualify.

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Longer term, these measures could compete directly with the wealth tax in multiple ways. Their supporters can spend unlimited money to saturate the airwaves with a message that doubles as a rebuke of the wealth tax. And theyre written to push the wealth tax into legal peril even if it passes, assuming they prevail as well.

The ballot measure strategy adds another layer to a complex and multi-front opposition landscape that has drawn in both deep-pocketed donors and prominent Democrats like Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has vowed to stop the proposed tax.

Cryptocurrency mogul Chris Larsen seeded a new committee opposed to the wealth tax with $5 million, according to a Tuesday filing  a donation that comes on top of the $2 million Larsen had already channeled to the committee largely spearheaded by Brin.

Another opposition committee staffed by consultants with longstanding ties to Newsom is preparing to run digital advertisements spotlighting how Newsom and other Democrats, including prominent candidates for governor, have come out against the tax.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced Monday that Oregon had weighed in on an ACLU lawsuit filed on behalf of Portland protesters against the Trump administration.

The lawsuit was filed in November and alleges that the administration used unnecessary force in handling protesters outside Portlands Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, but recent filings shed new light on the events of Jan. 31.

U.S. Education Department investigating Portland Public Schools over Center for Black Student Excellence

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Everyone had just been chanting and marching peacefully, said Adrian Rodriquez, who was there that day. It wasnt until ICE used tear gas that the march stopped.

As KOIN 6 News previously reported, federal agents used tear gas on protesters, including small children, at a daytime demonstration that was intended by organizers to be family-friendly and peaceful. Reporter Ariel Salk witnessed federal agents deploy multiple rounds of tear gas, pepper balls, and flash-bangs around 5 p.m. that day, and again around 6 p.m. despite the smaller crowd size.

In testimony submitted to the court on Monday, the Oregon Department of Justice urged the court to issue a preliminary injunction, which would prevent federal agents from using excessive force on protesters while the case makes its way through the court. The state argued that federal agents used tear gas on protesters to deter them from engaging in a constitutionally protected activity.

Tear gas deployed near the ICE building in Portland on Jan. 31, 2026. (KOIN)

President Trump and his administration have sent the message to ICE officers that theyre above the law. And now were seeing the results of that reckless behavior play out in our communities, said Oregon Attorney General Rayfield. Peaceful protesters  kids, seniors, and families  are being hit with tear gas and pepper balls in our streets. This behavior is dangerous and it is un-American. We will not stand by and allow it to continue.

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When reached for comment on Tuesday, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in an email, The Attorney Generals submission yesterday changes nothing about the facts of this case or what the law says about them.

DHS is taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters.

KOIN 6 News checked with the Portland Police Bureau, who confirmed that no riot was declared outside the ICE facility on Jan. 31. In fact, no riot has been declared outside Portlands ICE facility since June 2025.

Tear gas is deployed by federal agents outside the ICE facility in South Portland during a protest. January 31, 2026 (KOIN).

One demonstrator who was present on Jan. 31 said in his declaration that federal agents threw or fired canisters of tear gas into the crowd without provocation or warning. He also said he noticed a 6- or 7-year old child who looked to be really struggling from the tear gas, coughing or possibly throwing up, according to court documents.

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Another demonstrator present on Jan. 31 said they did not hear any warning to back away or disperse, and that federal officers fired a barrage of flash bang grenades, tear gas, and pepper balls into the crowd, according to court documents.

This isnt the first time federal agents have been accused of deploying gas without warning. As KOIN 6 News reported at the time, agents used tear gas on protesters outside the ICE facility on Oct. 18. According to the states recent court filing, Oregon State Police Captain Cameron Bailey served as incident commander during the Oct. 18 No Kings rally.

According to the states filing, Captain Bailey heard from troopers under his command that the use of tear gas on Oct. 18 was a surprise to both OSP and protesters alike. Additionally, the use of tear gas forced OSP troopers to temporarily leave their posts and adversely impacted their mission, which was to help PPB maintain public order.

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Bailey said it happened at a terrible time, because the mere visible presence of officers is often crucial to maintaining public order in a tense situation.

He also said the use of chemical munitions can escalate protests when the crowd perceives their use to be disproportionate.

The state said that the use of such heavy-handed tactics helps create an image of a war ravaged city for television and influencer audiences, which in turn provides the federal government with justification for further military intervention.

A three-day hearing on the motion for a preliminary injunction is scheduled to begin March 2.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
[Source]

Oregon will observe the 10th anniversary of Minoru Yasui Day on March 28 in recognition of the attorney who tested wartime discrimination laws and became, so far, the states only Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.

What you need to know: The Oregon Historical Society will host the commemorative program at 1200 SW Park Ave. from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attendance may be in person or via livestream at no charge.

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Southern Oregon University history professor Cherstin M. Lyon will present the keynote address before moderating a panel titled Contested Narratives: History, Politics & Community Action. The discussion will examine how book bans and curriculum changes across the country determine which historical accounts receive emphasis or face suppression. The program will also recognize winners of the annual student contest, which asked participants to consider what seeking justice for all looks like when upholding the rule of law.

About Yasui: Yasui was born on Oct. 19, 1916, in Hood River, Oregon. He earned his law degree from the University of Oregon in 1939, becoming one of the first Japanese Americans to graduate from the institutions law school and the first Japanese American member of the Oregon Bar. On March 28, 1942, he deliberately broke the military curfew imposed on Japanese Americans to create a constitutional test case. Authorities confined him to a windowless cell at Multnomah County Jail for nine months while his case advanced to the Supreme Court, which ruled against him in 1943, upholding wartime racial restrictions.

Trending on NextShark: Steven Cheung uses slur against Ro Khanna in fight over unredacted Epstein files

After his incarceration, Yasui resettled in Denver, where his relationships across the citys African American community proved crucial in averting riots after Martin Luther King Jr.s 1968 murder. A federal court overturned his 1943 conviction in 1986, shortly before his death that November. Former President Barack Obama granted him the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 2015.

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Why this matters: Yasuis resistance remains especially significant as political battles intensify over which histories belong in American classrooms. His wartime stand against race-based legal restrictions mirrors current conflicts over removing marginalized perspectives from educational materials. Organizers selected contested narratives as this years theme to acknowledge that Asian American histories face ongoing threats of political erasure.

According to the Minoru Yasui Legacy Project, Yasui would surely oppose any attempts to erase or twist the stories of marginalized communities from the historical record. His statement that what is done to the least of us can be done to all of us continues to remind Asian Americans that protecting civil liberties demands constant vigilance.

Trending on NextShark: Restored 1914 Asian American silent film added to the National Film Registry

To register for the event, head over here.

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Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member  your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

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Oregon recently released a progress report on the nitrate reduction plan for the Lower Umatilla Basin, where thousands of people have been living with polluted drinking water for decades. But while the state has been quick to pat itself on the back, the report shows a profound lack of progress.

From 1990 to 2022, most people in north Morrow and Umatilla Counties with polluted water werent warned about the health risk. Meanwhile, the state of Oregon was approving industry-led plans for voluntary actions to reduce pollution. Unsurprisingly, those plans failed, and pollution kept getting worse.

Fast-forward to 2024, and after years of pressure from people with polluted wells and ORA, Oregon finally developed a new plan. But like the old saying meet the new boss, same as the old boss, the new nitrate reduction plan is taking the same failed approach as before.

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The state reports that the Department of Agriculture established new rules for industrial-scale irrigation, the largest contributor to nitrate pollution in the Basin. What its not reporting is that the new rules are essentially voluntary. The rules actually prohibit the Department from enforcing key parts of those rules. It begs the question  if a rule can be broken without consequences, is it really a rule? More importantly, will it change anything?

Morrow County is also home to one of the largest feedlot/dairy complexes in the U.S., which dumps more than half a billion gallons of liquified manure on fields every year. Thats more than 1,000 gallons per minute on average. This manure is a major source of nitrate pollutants, but ODA is doing nothing new to address this source of contaminants.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environmental Quality says its phasing out wintertime wastewater irrigation. That wastewater is highly contaminated, but has been disposed of by dumping it on farmland as irrigation water for decades. DEQ is still allowing wintertime dumping for at least another two years outside Hermiston, even though it admitted that its not protective of groundwater.

Over at the Water Resources Department, 660 sites were inspected for backflow devices, which prevent pollutants from draining back into irrigation wells and contaminating groundwater  a basic best management practices to prevent pollution. At the start of a recent irrigation season, 99% of sites were out of compliance with rules that have been required since the 90s, but apparently havent been followed. The state apparently never checked until now.

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Were glad they finally dealt with that problem, but it shows how little the industrial ag sector has actually done to prevent pollution. Industry has spent decades claiming that it was voluntarily using all best management practices, instead blaming small septic systems. Its time for the state to do less trusting and more verifying when it comes to polluting industries.

Finally, the Oregon Health Authority touts milestones in testing peoples drinking water. What OHA doesnt make clear is that as of July 2025, there were still around 762 households in the Basin whove never had their drinking water tested, and never declined a free test.

Real progress on this issue would mean every single household tested unless theyve declined, but after decades of pollution and years of bureaucratic time-wasting, OHA still cannot say whether the drinking water in 762 homes is safe or not. Thats not progress, thats failure.

Progress doesnt look like claiming victories as pollution continues to worsen and thousands of people are living on bottled water or, worse, still dont know if their water is safe. Progress doesnt look like letting billion-dollar corporations and big industries continue to pollute groundwater for a few more years in order to protect their profits.

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True progress is zero tolerance for pollution, every household that wants a test getting one by now, and making polluters pay for solutions instead of taxpayers. True progress would be putting rural peoples health before corporate profits, and thats not whats happening right now.

Progress on nitrate pollution is possible. We are again asking Gov. Kotek to keep her word to our communities that she would bring a new day to the nitrate problem.

Its time to stop wallpapering over the same old plans that have never worked. Progress isnt just something to take credit for. Its living without fear that you drank from the wrong faucet, or that your grandkids forgot not to drink from the hose, or that theres a future for your family in your town. Our communities need progress, and we need it now.
Palestinians in Gaza gathered for the predawn meal on the first day of fasting as the month of Ramadan began in several Arab and Islamic countries, while it is set to start in some other states a day later.

However, people in Gaza, who began observing the holy Muslim month on Wednesday, are struggling to access food and clean water amid Israels ongoing genocidal war despite the ceasefire.

Families who once had full tables during Ramadan before the war, more than two years ago, now organise their fasting day around aid distribution schedules. Many rely on soup kitchens as Israel refuses to allow in more aid and basic supplies to Gaza.

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Under the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that came into effect in October, at least 600 aid trucks were supposed to enter the Strip each day. However, the actual number is far less.

In addition, there are daily violations by Israel, attacks on the war-devastated enclave have continued nearly daily since the ceasefire began, killing more than 600 Palestinians.

Palestinian Muslim worshippers perform tarawih prayers on the first night of the holy month of Ramadan near the Dome of the Rock Shrine at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, in the Old City of Jerusalem on February 17, 2026 [AFP]

Meanwhile, in occupied East Jerusalem, thousands of worshippers filled Al-Aqsa Mosques covered prayer halls and open courtyards, as footage shared online showed Israeli police stationed inside the compound and moving among attendees during tarawih prayers.

The prayers came against the backdrop of heightened tensions there, particularly in and around the Old City and the Al-Aqsa compound, where Israeli authorities have stepped up security measures, including arrests and temporary bans against religious figures and activists.

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According to figures cited by the Jerusalem governorate, more than 250 orders barring Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa have been issued since the beginning of 2026.

Israel has also intensified operations in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since launching its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, in tandem with a sharp escalation of settler attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property; settlers rampage with impunity, often backed by the Israeli military.

Ramadan begins in Gulf states

Saudi Arabia said the new moon of Ramadan was sighted on Tuesday evening and that fasting would begin on Wednesday.

Religious authorities in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Palestine, Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti also said Wednesday would be the first day of Ramadan.

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Iraqs Sunni Endowment Diwan also announced that Ramadan would begin on Wednesday. Iraqi Shia Muslims also started their fasting on Wednesday.

Ramadan also started for Sunni Muslims in Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian.

Interactive_Ramadan_2026_Quran_Revealed

Despite advances in astronomy and the ability to determine the start of Islamic months, religious authorities in many Muslim countries continue to rely on direct visual sighting as the official method for confirming the presence of the crescent moon.

This practice has been followed since the time of the Prophet Muhammad, who linked the beginning of fasting to the sighting of the crescent.

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During Ramadan, devout Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. After sunset, people traditionally gather for the breaking of the fast, known as iftar.

Muslims believe Ramadan marks the month when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad nearly 1,450 years ago.

Ramadan to begin on Thursday in several countries

Egypt will observe the holy month from Thursday, as the new moon was not sighted on Tuesday, according to the countrys mufti, Nazir Ayyad.

Religious authorities in Jordan, Syria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, Tunisia and Malaysia also announced the start of the holy month on Thursday.

Muslims in Turkiye, Oman, Singapore and Australia will also begin fasting on Thursday after authorities confirmed the start of the holy month based on astronomical calculations.
The Tennessee Board of Parole on Feb. 18 recommended that Thomas Clardy, convicted of murder in 2007, should be exonerated after the district attorneys office indicated it had found evidence tying other suspects to the crime.

Clardy will be released from prison if he is exonerated. Gov. Bill Lee will make the decision whether to exonerate.

The boards vote in favor of Clardys exoneration is a non-binding recommendation.

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My recommendation to Gov. Lee is that he exonerate you of the conviction of first-degree murder at his soonest available opportunity because it appears we have an innocent man in prison in the state of Tennessee, and the issue should be resolved, said Board of Parole member Tim Gobble.

The Davidson County District Attorneys Office believes Clardy is factually and legally innocent of the murder charge against him, said Sunny Eaton, director of the district attorneys office Conviction Review Unit.

I see no evidence in this file that can be relied upon to support his conviction, said Anna Hamilton, an assistant district attorney who works in the Conviction Review Unit.

Clardy's attorney, Jason Gichner of the Tennessee Innocence Project, said he is grateful to the Board of Parole for carefully considering the evidence it heard.

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"Thomas Clardy is innocent, he's always been innocent, and we're glad that the truth was heard," Gichner said.

Thomas Clardy sits with his attorneys in Riverbend Maximum Security Institution for a parole board hearing on Feb. 18, 2026. He participated by video call, seen here from the Board of Paroles office.

The Board of Parole voted 3-1 to recommend Clardys exoneration. Board members Gobble, Mae Beavers and Bobby Waggoner recommended his exoneration. Member Roberta Nevil Kustoff voted to recommended Lee not take any action.

I do not take recommending the overturning of a jury decision lightly, Gobble said. However, in this case I believe that if they jury had the same information that we the board have today  the jury decision would have been different.

Participating in the hearing with his attorneys from video conference at Riverbend, Clardy was seen hugging Gichner after the boards votes were tallied.

The case

Clardy was convicted of the 2005 killing of Kirk Clouatre at a Madison auto body shop. The conviction hinged largely on the testimony of Clouatres twin brother, Kent Clouatre, who identified Clardy out of a six-man lineup weeks after the shooting.

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After 17 years in prison, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger vacated Clardys 2007 murder conviction in Davidson County because of the exceedingly weak and paltry evidence against him and the inadequate representation of his attorney at trial. Clardy was let out of prison in 2023, but his freedom did not last long.

The Tennessee Attorney General's Office appealed Trauger's ruling, and in January 2025, a three-judge panel at the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed her decision. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take Clardys appeal.

Clardy returned to Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville in August.

Clardy had no remaining options to argue his innocence before a judge.

Tennessee Board of Parole members listen as Thomas Clardy testifies from Riverbend Maximum Security Institution on Feb. 18, 2026. The board recommended Clardy be exonerated.

DA's office hints at revelation in case

The Davidson County District Attorney's Office has been investigating Clardy's case for four years, and their investigation is still active. Clardy's own attorneys, including the high-powered firm Bass, Berry & Sims, have been investigating it for even longer.

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They found numerous issues with the police investigation and trial, including the fact that the jury never heard that Melissa Clouatre, Kirk's wife and another bystander, identified another suspect. Their 12-year-old daughter, who was also at the crime scene, specifically ruled out Clardy as a suspect, but the jury did not hear that, either. Clardy's fingerprints were never found at the scene. No ballistics testing was done to match the shell casings, Hamilton said.

The DA's office indicated it has two other suspects, one of whom is in prison on an unrelated murder conviction, and that recent testing has matched shell casings found at the scene to handguns used by those other suspects.

Kent Clouatre died in November. But the attorneys hinted that they showed him a lineup with one of the other suspects before he died.

Hamilton declined to answer publicly a question regarding the lineup, referring the board members to confidential investigative materials that Gichner and Hamilton provided them.

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Neither of the other two suspects has been charged in connection with the case.

Supporters praise Clardy's character: 'I wish I was the man he has proven to be'

More than 70 people were present at Riverbend in support of Clardy. No one spoke in opposition to his exoneration.

During a commutation hearing the morning of Feb. 18, more than a dozen people spoke in Clardy's support, including GEODIS Americas chief financial officer Andrew Grant.

Clardy met Grant while Clardy was working for a moving company while briefly free from prison a few years ago. Clardy moved furniture into Grant's home. The two met and became close. Grant still visits him once a week in prison, Grant said.

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"I wish I was the man he has proven to be," Grant said of Clardy.

Lee has not issued an exoneration in more than four years. In 2021, Lee exonerated Adam Braseel, a Grundy County man who spent 12 years in prison for a murder the state now acknowledges he did not commit. The Tennessee Board of Parole voted unanimously in June 2020 to recommend exoneration following a seven-hour hearing laying out the evidence in the case.

Lee typically grants exonerations and other forms of clemency like pardons in December. A spokesperson for Lee did not immediately respond to an email asking several questions, including when he may grant Clardy's exoneration petition.

Two members of the board of parole did not attend but can review Clardy's petition and issue recommendations at a later date. One member of the board of parole, Gary M. Faulcon, recused. Faulcon worked for the Metro Nashville Police Department for 25 years.

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Before the exoneration hearing, which began around 12:20 p.m., the board held a commutation hearing for Clardy. Unlike an exoneration, which focuses on whether a person is innocent, a commutation focuses on things like the person's disciplinary record, character and rehabilitation.

The board was split 2-2 whether to commute Clardy's sentence to make him parole eligible once he has served a total of 25 years. The members pointed to Clardy's poor disciplinary record for the 17 years he served on his sentence, including 44 writeups.

No one spoke in opposition to Clardy's petition. Clardy's wife, son, high school football coach and others spoke in his support. Several Riverbend staffers, including an assistant warden, wrote letters in support of his commutation.

Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN parole board recommends exoneration for Thomas Clardy
A lot of parents worry about their kids and the internet. Fears about social media addiction and age-inappropriate content have already led Australia to ban social media accounts for children under the age of 16. Other countries like France and Spain are following.



By some measures, teenagers mental health does seem to have got worse over the past 10 years, and this does coincide with widespread adoption of smartphones. But that is where any clear correlation between the two ends. Multiple studies have either shown that smartphone and social media use among teens has minimal effects on their mental health or none at all. As a 2024 review published by an American Psychological Association journal put it: There is no evidence that time spent on social media is correlated with adolescent mental health problems.



This does not mean that parents are wrong to worry. The body of research is incomplete, imperfect and evolving, and the picture may change as new evidence emerges and social media platforms change. A 2023 advisory by then-US Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy highlighted some particular areas of risk online, including cyberbullying and content encouraging self-harm.



One study looking at the staggered rollout of Facebook on college campuses in the 2000s found that it was associated with higher rates of depression among students. But if the strong claims that are sometimes made about the harms of social media are true, it is remarkable how difficult it is to find consistent evidence to support them.



Advocates of bans compare social media to alcohol or tobacco, where the harms are indisputable and the benefits are minimal. But the internet, including social media, is more analogous to books, magazines or television. I may not want my sons watching The Texas Chain Saw Massacre or reading Fifty Shades of Grey, but it would be crazy to ban books and films for kids altogether.



But that is the nature of these social media bans. Australias law not only restricted access to platforms such as Instagram and TikTok but also banned kids under 16 from having YouTube, X and Reddit accounts. Even Substack had to modify its practices.



These services all host content that curious teenagers can learn from. YouTube channels like Kurzgesagt, 3Blue1Brown and Kings and Generals produce engaging, insightful explanations of everything from why people get fevers to differential calculus to why the Romans stopped at the Rhine. Substack publications like Anton Howess on the economic history of the Industrial Revolution, or Ruxandra Teslos on biotechnology and womens health, give the brightest kids access to the intellectual frontier and allow them to look beyond the tedium of their classrooms and textbooks.



Through my involvement in Emergent Ventures, a programme which gives grants to bright youngsters with ideas in science, technology and the arts, I have seen just how many brilliant teenagers there are around the world. Avi Schiffmann was 17 when he built one of the leading covid-19 case trackers. Neil Deshmukh was even younger when he built an app for farmers in India to identify diseases in their crops. It is often the internet, including social media, that gives young people access to the ideas and people they need to realise their talents.



Being a teenager can be incredibly boring. My own teenage years in rural Ireland were much more bearable thanks to Xbox Live, MSN Messenger and online discussion forums about topics I was interested in that my friends were not (back then, North Korea and the economics of global trade). If I was a kid today, I would probably turn to Reddit, YouTube, Discord and Twitter for similar content. Not wanting our kids to scroll on TikTok or Instagram all day doesnt mean not wanting them to enjoy and learn from social media at all.



When we actually ask teens what their experience of social media is, they are pretty positive about it: 71 percent say it gives them a place to show their creative sides and 67 percent say it gives them people who can support them through tough times. Kids who have a mostly positive experience online outnumber those who have a mostly negative one by 3 to 1. Most say its a mixed bag.



Eli Stark-Elster notes that the fall in teenage happiness coincides with stricter approaches to schooling and higher homework burdens. Teenage suicide rates in the U.S. are much higher on school days and in school months, and are lowest in July when most kids arent in school. The focus on social media and smartphones may be distracting us from much more significant causes of misery in teenagers lives.



The truth is we dont know what the best approach is. That is an argument in favour of allowing family-by-family decisions. Parental controls may need to be strengthened to give them greater oversight within apps, not just the ability to block or limit time spent on them.



This could include powers to disable algorithmic feeds or have more fine-grained control over what content their children can see on them, both of which may require legislation. But in the absence of clear evidence that teens are being hurt by social media, taking these decisions away from parents is an intervention too far.




Petoskey played its own small part in the extinction of the passenger pigeon in the early 1900s, and that history will be memorialized with a new monument this summer.

Petoskey City Manager Shane Horn told the city council on Monday, Feb. 16 that Abbott McCartney had presented the proposal to the art commission earlier that month.

Abbott is installing this display. The sculptor is Todd McGrain, Horn said. So we will have our own monument for the passenger pigeon in front of the Danser Professional Building, as was presented to the art commission last week.

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The Danser Professional Building is located at the corner of State and Petoskey streets. The monument is expected to be officially unveiled on June 19.

That week well have a number of activities around the community to talk about the history of the passenger pigeon in our region, Horn said. Were excited to see that move forward.

Petoskey City Hall is located at 101 E. Lake St.

More: Pigeons to the slaughter: How Petoskey helped hunt the passenger pigeon to extinction

The very last known passenger pigeon  named Martha  died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. Prior to their extinction, the birds were so numerous that historical records state they darkened the skies when flying overhead and weighed down trees when they nested. They were so easy to hunt, in fact, that multiple pigeons could be killed with a single shotgun blast, or simply knocked from the sky with a pole.

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Large-scale nests were found throughout Northern Michigan, including near Boyne Falls, farther south on the Manistee River and just north of Petoskey near Crooked Lake. While the exact size of the Crooked Lake nest varies by historical account, most records claim it stretched 40 miles long and 3-8 miles wide.

Thousands took part in a March 1878 hunt in Petoskey, where the birds were killed or captured, packed in barrels and shipped to market.

A notice from the May 17, 1878, edition of the Emmet County Democrat states:

(We've) been trying this week to find out how many pigeons have been caught and shipped from this point during the past seven weeks, but have not been able to do so with any certainty as to the correctness of the report. There had been packed at the packing house of W.L. McCormick to the present time of writing 40,000 dozen, which is probably about one-half of all that have been packed here.

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"Then when we take in consideration the large numbers of live birds which are being shipped from here daily, it must swell the total amount caught to the present time fully 100,000 dozen.

 Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Passenger pigeon monument coming to Petoskey summer 2026
Just four months into his term, Perus President Jose Jeri has been impeached and removed from office.

The decision was the result of a Tuesday vote from Perus Congress, which debated multiple corruption allegations against Jeris government.

Jeri, a right-wing leader, was formerly the head of Congress. But in October, he took over the countrys presidency after his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, was impeached for moral incapacity.

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Boluarte had replaced the last democratically elected president, Pedro Castillo, in December 2022 after he too was impeached.

Jeri was the eighth president in less than a decade to lead Peru. Many of his predecessors have been mired in scandal, forcing them to step down or face impeachment.

In Jeris case, the scandals largely concerned allegations that the right-wing leader was involved in influence-peddling. One of the most notable was informally dubbed Chifagate, after the Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisine known as chifa.

Chifagate emerged after Peruvian media published video of Jeri attending a late-night meeting with a Chinese businessman, Zhihua Yang, at his restaurant in Lima. The meeting was not included on the official presidential agenda, as required under Peruvian law.

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Jeri appeared to be in disguise in the video, wearing informal clothing including a deep hoodie that partially obscured his face, which spurred further questions about the nature of the meeting.

Subsequent images showed Jeri visiting another one of Yangs businesses, a wholesale store, this time in sunglasses.

Jeri has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has dismissed the meetings as get-togethers to discuss a Peruvian-Chinese friendship day  or as simple shopping trips for candy and food.

Yang has ties to the Peruvian government. Under Boluartes administration, he received a concession to build a hydroelectric plant, which has experienced delays and faced questions about its transparency.

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The meetings between Yang and Jeri also reportedly included a third Chinese businessman, Jiwu Xiaodong, who was placed under house arrest for engaging in illegal activities.

At Tuesdays congressional debate, Jeri also faced questions about late-night meetings he took with women who later received government contracts and other irregular interactions he had. Jeri has also faced accusations of sexual assault, stretching back to December 2024.

He faced a total of seven motions of censure against his presidency. Ultimately, 75 members of Perus Congress backed the measure to remove Jeri, while three abstained and a further 24 voted against the proposal.

A new interim president is set to be voted upon during Wednesday evening, around 6pm local time (23:00 GMT).

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Jeris removal marks a new chapter in the turmoil facing Perus government. The country is less than two months away from an April 12 general election, which will help decide its next president.

If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in that election, the race will proceed to a run-off in June.

Currently, the field is packed, with at least 36 candidates vying for the presidency. Election observers fear that whoever wins could face the same quick-fire impeachment proceedings that their predecessors have endured.

Presidents in Peru have often faced accusations of moral incapacity, a pathway to impeachment that critics have denounced as overly vague.

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Jeris impeachment comes within months of several high-profile court decisions against former presidents.

In November, former President Martin Vizcarra, who served from 2018 to 2020, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted of accepting bribes for government contracts.

Then, in December, Castillo received a sentence of 11 years and five months for his conviction on charges of rebellion and conspiracy against the state.

Castillo, a left-wing leader, had been facing a third impeachment attempt in December 2022, when he attempted what many describe as a self-coup. Within hours, members of his cabinet had resigned, and Congress had impeached him.

Prosecutors in Peru have said they plan to continue investigations into Jeri on corruption charges.
Peru's interim President Jose Jeri looks on during the inauguration ceremony of his cabinet at the Presidential Palace in Lima on October 13, 2025. Credit - Connie FranceAFP/Getty Images

Perus Congress voted on Tuesday to oust the countrys interim President Jose Jeri just four months after he took office following a scandal over the leaders failure to report meetings with Chinese businessmen.

Jeris impeachment marks the second time a Peruvian President has been removed by Congress in less than six months and the sixth time one has left office before the end of their term within the past decade, underscoring the countrys ongoing political instability.

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In a 75 to 24 vote, with three abstentions, lawmakers passed seven motions of impeachment against the former head of Congress, who became interim president in October following the removal of his predecessor Dina Boluarte.

Fernando Rospigliosi, the current acting head of Congress, would have been next in line to assume the presidency under the constitution, but he declined to do so. The legislature will instead choose a new leader to replace Jeri on Wednesday. Parties will have until 6:00 p.m. local time that day to choose their candidates, Rospigliosi said.

A general election is scheduled for April 12, after which power will be transferred to a new President on July 28.

In recent weeks, Jeri was captured on video entering establishments owned by a Chinese businessman, Yang Zhihua, who holds a state energy concession as well as owning multiple stores. The footage showed the leader wearing a hooded top while arriving at a restaurant owned by the businessman late at night in December, and sunglasses when entering a Chinese goods store in early January. Peruvian law requires Presidents to disclose official activities, but Jeri did not report the visits to Yangs establishments.

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The leader last month confirmed the authenticity of the videos and acknowledged that he had not disclosed the visits, but has denied wrongdoing.

I havent committed any crimes, Jeri said on Sunday.

Jeri said he had known Yang before assuming the presidency and claimed that the businessman had given him some candy and paintings without letting him pay for them because he was being kind to me. The interim president declined to provide his phone records to lawmakers.

The revelation of the undisclosed interactions with Yang prompted calls for Jeris resignation, and the attorney general opened a corruption inquiry into the matter.

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Cuarto Poder, a television broadcaster that first aired the videos, reported that another Chinese businessman, Ji Wu Xiaodong, who is reportedly under house arrest amid an investigation into his alleged ties to illegal logging, had on three occasions visited the presidential palace when Jeri was president. While speaking to lawmakers, Jeri denied that he knew Ji Wu well, saying the businessman was a friend of Yangs.

Polls showed Jeris approval falling 10 points from his prior 51% rating since the scandal.

The controversy is the latest in a series of scandals that Perus Presidents have become embroiled in.

Jeris predecessor, Boluarte, was impeached in October amid fierce criticism for rising crime rates and corruption investigations. With no acting vice president at the time, Jeri, then the head of Congress, assumed the presidency following Boluartes removal.

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Boluarte herself had become president in 2022 after Pedro Castillo, for whom Boluarte served as vice president, was removed from office following a failed attempt to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.

Castillo has since been convicted of conspiracy and rebellion sentenced to 11 years in prison. And other past presidents have also been given lengthy prison terms: Alejandro Toledo, who held the role from 2001 to 2006, received 20 years in jail for corruption and money-laundering. Ollanta Humala, who served as president from 2011 to 2016, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for illegal campaign financing.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Peru's Congress has ousted interim President Jose Jeri just four months after he took office for failing to disclose meetings with Chinese businessmen.

The scandal unfolded last month after videos emerged of Jeri meeting several times outside his official schedule with businessman Zhihua Yang, who was under government scrutiny.

Jeri had previously apologised for the meetings, but denied any wrongdoing and accused his rivals of a public smear campaign.

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His removal from office makes him the third consecutive president to be ousted, after he replaced former leader Dina Boluarte, who was impeached in October last year.

Jeri was Peru's seventh president since 2016 amid a tumultuous political landscape that has seen a succession of leaders leave the post under contentious circumstances.

He was not elected by the Peruvian people, but - as head of Congress - was sworn in as president after his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, was impeached in October 2025.

While lawmakers had set a date to discuss impeaching Jeri, in the end they opted for a different parliamentary procedure called censure, which only required a simple majority to pass rather than the super majority needed for an impeachment.

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Later on Wednesday, Congress will name a new interim president who will serve only for a few months - until a new president is chosen by the people in a general election this April.

Jeri had come under fire following a series of controversies dubbed "Chifa-gate" - after a local name for Chinese-Peruvian fusion food and the restaurants which serve it.

Security camera footage of Jeri's meetings with Yang, who owns several businesses and was granted a state concession for an energy project, was first reported by local media.

In one of the videos, Jeri could be seen wearing a hooded top during a late-night visit at one of Yang's restaurants.

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Also present at one of the meetings was another Chinese citizen who was under house arrest while being investigated for alleged links to an illegal timber network.

Peruvian law requires presidents to document all their official activities, but Jeri did not record those meetings.

Jeri faced further criticism after it emerged that state contracts had been awarded to a number of women following late-night meetings they had with him in the presidential palace.

Ruth Luque, one of the lawmakers who backed the censure measure, said she wanted a leader who would put public interest and security first.

"We ask to end this agony so we can truly create the transition citizens are hoping for," she said, according to Reuters news agency. "Not a transition with hidden interests, influence-peddling, secret meetings and hooded figures. We don't want that sort of transition."

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Pressure had been mounting for Jeri to resign in the wake of the scandals as he faced a corruption investigation launched by the attorney general and his approval ratings plummeted.

His removal marks another chapter of instability for Peru, which is due to hold a general election in April, after which power will be transferred to a new president.

Jeri's predecessor Boluarte was impeached following a tenure that was plagued by protest, scandals and a surge in gang violence.

Less than a week after Jeri assumed power, protests organised by young Peruvians demanding the political class to do more to combat crime and corruption left one dead and more than 100 people injured.

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Correction 18 February: An earlier version of this article said Jose Jeri had been impeached as Peru's president. This was later updated to say he had been ousted by Congress to better reflect the parliamentary procedure used to remove him from office.
A group of 7th grade students from Philadelphia is on its way to Ghana for a one-of-a-kind educational experience.

A send-off celebration was held on Wednesday at Global Leadership Academy in West Philadelphia. The 10-day excursion is being led by the school's co-founder and civil rights activist, Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker.

Booker marched with Martin Luther King, Junior. She also learned about advocacy and activism under longtime U.S. Congressman John Lewis.

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The students have been studying the African continent with a particular emphasis on Ghana, and the journey is part of their curriculum.

While in Ghana, the group will visit the University of Ghana, an elementary school and several museums as they learn directly from the people and places they have studied in class.

Dr. Tamika Evans, CEO of Global Leadership Academy Southwest, said the experience carries added significance at a time when Black history is being challenged in parts of the United States. She said trips like this are "important now more than ever given the erasure of Black history in the United states."

In addition to academic activities, students will also have downtime to interact with peers their age, offering opportunities to build connections across cultures.

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The group is expected to return to Philadelphia after completing the 10-day program.

The international trip to Africa is part of the school's education model. It has sent thousands of inner-city students across the globe on special learning trips.

Previous international trips include the Bahamas, China, Haiti, Jamaica and Kenya.
By Mikhail Flores

MANILA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Wednesday that she will run for president in the 2028 elections while blaming incumbent leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr for the country's problems, including corruption.

The daughter of detained former leader Rodrigo Duterte is considered among the strongest potential contenders in the 2028 race by opinion polls with analysts saying her government could turn the major U.S.-ally away from Washington in favour of Beijing.

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"It took me 47 years to understand that my life was never meant to be mine alone," Duterte said at a press conference, outlining what she described as the government's mounting failures, from inflation, an inadequate health care system, to persistent graft.

Duterte apologised for helping Marcos win the 2022 election when she ran as his vice-presidential running mate and helped him tap into her family's huge support base. Their alliance paved the way for the son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr to seal a comeback for the disgraced dynasty.

"I cannot kneel before every Filipino to beg for forgiveness. Instead, I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation," she said atop a rostrum which bore no seal from her office.

Presidential palace press officer Claire Castro said Marcos wished Duterte "good luck", while disputing the vice president's accusations.

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Under the constitution, the president is limited to a single sixyear term, which means incumbent Marcos Jr, a political rival, cannot seek reelection.

FOREIGN POLICY REPERCUSSIONS

Duterte's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, is being held in The Hague over murders committed during his war on drugs during his presidency.

His 20162022 term saw a sharp pivot away from Washington and toward Beijing, a stance Marcos has since reversed by boosting U.S. ties and taking a tougher, multilateral line against China in the South China Sea.

Another Duterte presidency could reverse Manila's foreignpolicy alliances back toward Beijing.

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Political analysts said the timing of Sara Duterte's announcement appeared strategic, coming as she faces another round of impeachment complaints accusing her of betraying the public's trust, corruption and other crimes. She survived similar efforts last year.

"With the possibility of a second impeachment and the possibility of her being impeached, she might as well shift the narrative and make the impeachment and the attacks on her, color it as a political ploy to knock her off the 2028 race," said Julio Teehankee, political science professor at De La Salle University.

But the move also carries risks, said Ederson Tapia, professor of public administration at the University of Makati, as it could intensify political attacks against her and that could undermine her presidential ambition.

(Reporting by Mikhail Flores and Karen Lema; Editing by John Mair and Saad Sayeed)
Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte has declared her candidacy for president in the 2028 elections.

The 47-year-old's announcement comes as she is embroiled in a bitter power struggle with current President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

While the presidential vote is two years away, contenders in the Philippines' largely personality-based elections are known to prepare for years in advance.

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Marcos is ineligible for re-election and his allies have yet to field a challenger to Duterte - who is also the daughter of his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

"I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation," the vice-president said.

"I am Sara Duterte. I will run for president of the Philippines."

Marcos and Duterte ran under the same ticket in the 2022 election, which they won by a landslide. But the alliance soon unravelled as they pursued separate political interests.

The feud blew up spectacularly in March 2025, when Marcos allowed the International Criminal Court to arrest Sara's father. The elder Duterte is now detained at The Hague, awaiting trial for crimes against humanity over his violent war on drugs.

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Two months later, a mid-term legislative vote, seen as a barometer of support for the incumbent government, delivered a victory for candidates endorsed by the Duterte family, against those handpicked by Marcos.

Just over a week ago, members of the Catholic clergy filed an impeachment complaint against the vice-president over alleged corruption, which she denies.

Who is Sara Duterte?

Sara is Rodrigo Duterte's eldest daughter and is widely-considered as his political heir.

The elder Duterte once described his daughter as the "alpha" in their family, the one whom everyone follows.

Sara served as vice-mayor to her father when he led Davao city in the 2010s. It was in that southern metropolis that the Duterte's built their reputation for being tough on crime, which they have described as necessary to keep people safe and encourage businesses to grow.

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Sara was thrust into the national spotlight when, in defence of shanty town dwellers, she punched a Davao sheriff in full view of TV news cameras.

She was Davao city mayor when her father was president from 2016 and 2022, and her alliance with Marcos in the 2022 elections was pivotal for both their election victories.

The vice-president, like her father, projects a tough image. She rides large motorcycles and has given her children nicknames like Sharky, Stonefish and Stingray. She also shares matching tattoos with her two brothers.
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte announced Wednesday she will run for president of the Southeast Asian nation of 116 million in 2028.

Duterte, who is embroiled in a bitter feud with President Ferdinand Marcos, was impeached last year only to see the country's Supreme Court throw the case out over procedural issues.

Her announcement comes just days before her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, begins a pre-trial hearing at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands over crimes against humanity allegedly committed as part of a brutal crackdown on drugs.

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"I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation," the 47-year-old vice president said at a Wednesday press briefing where she assailed Marcos's record.

"I am Sara Duterte. I will run for president of the Philippines."

Duterte accused Marcos of corruption in her brief speech, saying he had failed to live up to his word during the short-lived alliance that saw them storm to a landslide victory in the 2022 presidential election.

"In the first few months of our terms, I already saw Bongbong Marcos Jr.'s lack of sincerity regarding the promises made during the campaign, as well as his sworn duty to the nation," she said, using Marcos's nickname.

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- Drawing a line -

Michael Henry Yusingco, senior research fellow at the Ateneo Policy Center, told AFP the campaign announcement was a "big risk", but that Duterte's solid base of support in the family stronghold Mindanao gave her a real advantage.

"Conventional thinking would say she has the best chance of winning. Survey numbers are in her favour," he said, while adding her father's physical absence might discourage supporters.

Cleve Arguelles, president of Manila-based WR Numero Research, suggested Duterte's public declaration could be more about keeping allies in line at a time of political uncertainty.

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"By projecting an inevitable 2028 run, she raises the perceived cost of defection  reminding politicians in Congress that her faction could still return to power," he said.

The announcement was aimed at drawing "a clear line among those who are with her or against her, given the ICC and the impeachment (cases)", agreed Jean Franco, political science professor at the University of the Philippines.

Philippine presidents are limited to a single six-year term, which eliminates Marcos from the field.

- Impeachment push -

Yusingco added that the Marcos administration was now likely to become more openly hostile.

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"Behind the scenes, they'll probably push for her impeachment," he said.

Duterte has seen the impeachment bid against her revived in recent weeks, with members of the Philippine clergy filing a case against her on February 9, one of three logged within days.

Under the Philippine constitution, an impeachment triggers a Senate trial. A guilty verdict would result in Duterte being barred from politics and sidelined from the presidential race.

A pair of impeachment complaints against Marcos, meanwhile, were recently tossed out by the House of Representatives justice committee, which said they lacked the necessary substance.

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But Marcos is facing his own headwinds, with the archipelago nation roiling over a scandal involving bogus flood-control projects believed to have cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

The president has seen friend and foe alike, including a congressman cousin, swept up in the political firestorm since he first put the issue centre stage in a July national address.

On Wednesday, Marcos spokeswoman Claire Castro told reporters Duterte should apologise for the "corruption and misuse of funds" cited in the impeachment complaints against her before attacking the president's record.

Marcos, she added, had said only "good luck" in response to the news of Duterte's candidacy.

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The two former allies have been engaged in a high-stakes political brawl that erupted within weeks of their 2022 win in the presidential election, when the vice president was denied her favoured cabinet portfolios and instead named education secretary.

The impeachment complaints filed against her cite an alleged death threat against Marcos made during a late-night press briefing that bore shades of her father's famously scathing verbal style.

She would later say her comments were misinterpreted.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  KSN News is monitoring the latest conditions from the impacts of high winds and the extreme fire danger in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Multiple wildfires broke out on Tuesday, prompting evacuations of some communities. Some blazes continued burning  and some new ones sparked  on Wednesday and Thursday.

LIVE: Tracking high winds and fire danger in Kansas

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Light can hit a lead halide perovskite crystal that is anything but pristine and still end up as useful electric current. That mismatch has bothered solar researchers for more than a decade. Silicon needs an almost spotless lattice. Perovskites, grown cheaply from solution, are packed with defects, strain, and disorder. Yet their solar-cell efficiencies have climbed into the same neighborhood.

A new paper in Nature Communications from physicists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) argues that the mess is not a side issue. It is the mechanism.

Postdoc Dmytro Rak and assistant professor Zhanybek Alpichshev report that perovskites such as MAPbBr3 host dense networks of microscopic domain walls, boundaries between small regions of slightly different strain. Those walls, they say, carry localized flexoelectric polarization that creates internal electric fields. The fields can split newly created electron hole pairs and keep them apart long enough to move. In perovskites, the defects can become the route, not the roadblock.

ISTA physicists explain the exceptional energy-harvesting efficiency of perovskites. Left to right: Assistant Professor Zhanybek Alpichshev and postdoc Dmytro Rak. (CREDIT: ISTA)

A material that should not behave this way

Solar cells do two things well or they fail: they absorb light, and they keep the resulting charges from recombining before the electrodes collect them. When a photon excites the material, it can produce a negatively charged electron and a positively charged hole. The hard part is making them travel far enough to be extracted. In silicon, the classic answer is purity. Remove traps. Reduce defects. Give charges a clean lane.

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Solution processed lead halide perovskites do not look like that kind of system. They are often discussed as defect tolerant, yet a basic puzzle remains. Evidence suggests that when electrons and holes form a bound exciton in these materials, it can recombine quickly. At the same time, measurements show electrons and holes can remain separated for surprisingly long times, enabling long diffusion lengths and strong photovoltaic performance.

Rak and Alpichshev frame the contradiction as a sign that something inside the crystal is doing active work: forces strong enough to pull opposite charges apart, even without an applied voltage.

The first clue was optical, and it was awkward

The study focuses on the room temperature polymorph of MAPbBr3. It is commonly identified as cubic above about 230 K, a symmetry that should be optically isotropic. A truly cubic crystal should not show birefringence.

Birefringence in the nominally cubic high-temperature phase of MAPbBr3. Crystal structure of cubic perovskite with the general chemical formula ABX3. (CREDIT: Nature Communications)

But the team observed unexpected optical anisotropy. In a crossed polarizer setup with a 632.8 nm He Ne laser beam incident normal to the (001) plane, the crystal showed a complex birefringent pattern. That matters because birefringence in a nominally cubic system points to strain, and strain that varies in space points to defects or domain boundaries.

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The temperature dependence of the cumulative phase retardation across the cubic to tetragonal transition kept the sharp anomaly at the nominal transition, while the high temperature birefringence looked like a simple offset. The authors interpret that as a sign that the room temperature symmetry lowering has a different origin than the low temperature octahedral rotations that drive the tetragonal phase.

In plain terms, something structural is happening in the cubic phase that does not fit the neat picture.

Silver ions as a kind of angiography

Seeing internal structure deep in a crystal is hard. Surface probes can miss what happens in the bulk. The ISTA team took an unusual approach: stain the internal defect network from the inside out.

They injected silver ions electrophoretically into MAPbBr3 under an applied electric field. The idea is that ions diffuse into the bulk and preferentially cluster near defect sites. Then the ions are reduced to metallic silver, producing visible patterns under a microscope. The authors compare it to angiography, except the vessels are the crystals defect boundaries.

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The resulting images showed dendritic patterns aligned at 45 and 90 degrees relative to the crystal axes, consistent with 90 degree and 180 degree domain walls. They report domains as small as about 5 by 5 microns squared. Focus stacked images and a Z stack showed the structure runs through the bulk, not just the surface.

A lead-halide perovskite crystal sample. (CREDIT: ISTA)

One potential concern is whether the electric field used for staining could create or rearrange the domain walls, especially in a material known for ion migration. The team ran time dependent staining steps and found that domain walls visible at the onset remained unchanged under repeated application of the field, which they take as evidence that the staining reveals a pre existing pattern rather than writing a new one. They also observed that the silver features fade after the field is removed, with near complete dissolution over days.

A current with no voltage

Strain gradients can break inversion symmetry locally and generate polarization through flexoelectricity. The authors propose that in MAPbBr3, these gradients are concentrated at domain walls. That could create local electric fields capable of separating charges.

To test for internal fields, they injected carriers deep inside the crystal using sub bandgap ultrafast laser pulses that generate electron hole pairs through two photon absorption. They then measured photocurrent using two pairs of carbon leads attached to the samples sides, mapping current as they scanned the excitation spot.

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They observed a finite zero bias photocurrent after localized injection. The current depended strongly on where in the sample carriers were created, and the sign remained constant across large regions that were not symmetric about the sample midplane.

The authors argue that this is inconsistent with a dynamic flexoelectric effect and is better explained by an electrostatic potential landscape tied to a network of flexoelectrically polarized domain walls. In their schematic, potential is flat within domains and changes abruptly at walls, so the average slope can set the current sign.

They also connect this to a long running argument about ferroelectricity in lead halide perovskites. If polarization is confined to domain walls, it can produce pyroelectric like signals and hysteresis under external fields, while leaving bulk inversion symmetry intact. They note that this aligns with reports where second harmonic generation supports centrosymmetry in the bulk.

Examining a lead-halide perovskite crystal in the lab using optical methods. (CREDIT: ISTA)

The paper also reports similar zero bias two photon photocurrent in bulk MAPbI3, and suggests localized flexoelectricity could be present in both tetragonal and cubic phases. They point to the observation that MAPbI3 device efficiency reportedly remains largely unaffected by the tetragonal to cubic transition as a clue that the underlying mechanism persists across phases.

Why the current can last without net charge transfer

A zero bias current in an insulating sample raises an immediate issue. If electrons drift one way and holes the other indefinitely, you would expect charge buildup that shuts the process down. Yet the authors observed photocurrent generation for hours without major change in magnitude.

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They address this by arguing the observed current is a displacement current tied to changes in polarization, not sustained net charge transfer. They note that their digital lock in amplifier has bandwidth limits that can miss fast features, so a measured transient can look inconsistent with the requirement that polarization returns to its initial state after each pulse. To test the no net transfer claim, they measured the average photocurrent with a high sensitivity analog electrometer over long integration times and report that on average there is no net charge transfer.

Then they zoom in on the transient shape. They describe two regimes after a laser pulse: a fast polarization buildup over a few microseconds associated with a narrow spike, and a slower relaxation around 100 microseconds that forms a long tail with opposite sign. Their microscopic picture is that carriers diffuse to domain boundaries where local fields split them, trapping electrons and holes on opposite sides of the wall. Recombination then requires tunneling through a flexoelectric potential barrier.

That tunneling barrier is the heart of the long life in a defective material idea. If electrons and holes sit on opposite sides of a wall, recombination slows dramatically. The authors argue this can reconcile nanosecond scale exciton lifetimes with much longer photocurrent relaxation times.

Highways for electrons inside a lead-halide perovskite crystal. This natural network of structural defects explains the remarkable charge-transport properties that make these materials so effective for energy harvesting. (CREDIT: Dmytro Rak/Alpichshev group/ISTA)

Not a neat exponential, and that matters

A simple exponential decay would suggest a fixed recombination rate. The team reports that the regime II current tail is better described by a different time dependence than single or bi exponential decay. They present an unusual correlation between current magnitude and decay rate when fitting parts of the transient with an exponential, which they say emerges naturally from their proposed decay form.

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They connect this to density dependent tunneling. As charge accumulates at a domain wall, they propose it reduces the effective band gap locally and increases tunneling probability exponentially. That would make the recombination rate depend on carrier density. It also offers a reason for extreme sensitivity to weak ambient light, which they show can modify photocurrent transients.

Domain walls as charge highways

Once the domain wall network is real, the energy story becomes simpler. Charges do not need to survive in the bulk for long. They need to get to a wall, separate, and then move along it.

In the authors picture, a domain wall provides both separation and transport. The local electric field pulls electrons and holes to opposite sides of the wall. That spatial separation suppresses recombination. Meanwhile, carriers can move along the wall over long distances, effectively turning these boundaries into mesoscale conductive pathways.

The paper compares the idea to conductive domain walls in ferroelectric BaTiO3 and to earlier proposals of ferroelectric highways in lead halide perovskites, but grounds it in a flexoelectric domain wall mechanism in nominally cubic MAPbBr3.

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There is also a caution built into their discussion. If too much charge piles up at domain walls under high illumination, the same charging can boost tunneling rates and accelerate recombination. So domain walls might both help and, in some conditions, limit performance. The authors call for systematic work that combines experimental characterization and modeling to understand that balance in real devices.

Research findings are available online in the journal Nature Communications.

The original story Physicists explain the remarkable energy-harvesting efficiency of perovskite solar cells is published in The Brighter Side of News.

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As climate change intensifies across the world, cities are increasingly positioning themselves as sites of climate leadership. Over the years, New York Climate Week has emerged as a global platform where experts, environmentalists, governments, corporations, academics, and civil society groups come together to discuss, critique, and shape climate action. In that context, the idea of a Mumbai Climate Week is both timely and necessary. Given Mumbais rapidly depleting green cover, recurring flooding, rising heat stress, and ecological degradation, the city urgently needs sustained climate conversations that move beyond symbolism and into action.



For that reason alone, the very existence of a Mumbai Climate Week deserves to be welcomed. It is better to have a platform than to have none. However, when one examines how this week has been structured, who it amplifies, and what it chooses to discuss or avoid, the discomforting question arises  is this truly a climate week, or has it become a carefully curated corporate and governmental showcase wrapped in the language of sustainability?



The physical sessions of Mumbai Climate Week, held from Feb 17 to Feb 19, are open to the public. Yet, a review of the official schedule and panel composition reveals a consistent pattern. The conversations were overwhelmingly dominated by corporate leaders, government reps, bureaucrats, large NGOs, and institutional collaborators of the state. These are influential actors, no doubt, but they represent only a narrow slice of those affected by climate change in Mumbai.



What is conspicuously missing from these discussions are the voices of on-ground civil society groups, activists, grassroots environmental organisations, and community collectives that have been working for decades to protect Mumbais fragile ecosystems. There is little to no representation from urban planners, tribal communities, fishing communities, informal settlement leaders, urban poor groups, or youth-led climate movements. In a city where environmental degradation disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable, the absence of these voices fundamentally weakens the credibility of a forum that claims to centre climate action.



This imbalance was visible from Day 1, where the tone of the discussions felt more governmental than public. The panels reflected institutional priorities rather than lived realities.



Adding to this concern is the presence of several invite-only sessions across the three days. Climate action, by its very nature, demands transparency, debate, and public participation. When discussions that shape environmental narratives are closed off from citizens, students, and young professionals, it reinforces the perception that climate governance is being decided behind closed doors.



Perhaps the most serious shortcoming of Mumbai Climate Week is not merely who spoke, but what was not spoken about. There were no prominent public discussions addressing the ecological stress on SGNP, despite it being one of the worlds few national parks within a megacity. There was little to no engagement with the future of major open spaces like Mahalakshmi Racecourse, ongoing tree cutting in parks, or the large-scale destruction of mangroves for infrastructure projects. Equally absent were conversations on how these changes affect indigenous communities, coastal livelihoods, and informal settlements that are already bearing the brunt of environmental degradation.



If these issues are being discussed privately, the public has no way of knowing. And if they are not being discussed at all, then the very purpose of hosting a climate week must be questioned. A climate platform that avoids the citys most pressing environmental conflicts risks becoming performative rather than transformative.



Nobody in Mumbai is against development. The city has always thrived on growth, opportunity, and change. But development cannot be pursued in isolation from ecology; it must be planned with that in mind. When growth begins to erode ecological balance whether through loss of green cover, wetlands, mangroves, or open spaces, it is not anti-development to question it.



Climate conversations are not meant to justify more construction with greener labels. They exist to ensure that the future is genuinely greener, healthier, and more equitable. If Mumbai Climate Week is to live up to its name, it must move beyond corporate comfort zones and governmental narratives. It must make space for dissent, grassroots knowledge, and uncomfortable truths. Otherwise, it risks being remembered not as a moment of climate leadership but as a missed opportunity at a time when the city could least afford one.



Hussain Indorewalas The City Estranged will return next week




Ministers are considering slowing down plans to pay adults of all ages the same minimum wage.

Labour committed in their election manifesto to remove "discretionary age bands" and increase the wages of 18 to 20-year-olds so they are paid the same as those over 21.

But government sources have confirmed ministers are interested in delaying that rise, though are unlikely to reverse the commitment entirely.

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Some business leaders say minimum wage increases are making it too expensive for them to hire young people - but unions say it is unfair that the young can be paid less for doing the same job as older people.

The government has already made a start on ending the gap between minimum pay for younger and older workers.

The hourly for rate for 18 to 20-year-olds will rise by 85p to 10.85 in April, with under-18s and apprentices getting 45p more to 8 an hour.

That comes on top of 16.3% rise for 18 to 20-year-olds in 2024.

The minimum wage for those aged 21 and over has been rising at a slower rate and is due to go up by 50p to 12.71 an hour in April.

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That leaves a gap of 1.86 an hour between younger and older workers, which the government has committed to closing before the next election in 2029.

The Times newspaper first reported that ministers were weighing up whether to drop the pledge.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves did not deny that the process could now be delayed when asked about it on a visit to a supermarket in south London.

She said: "We already have incentives to hire young people with the apprenticeship rate of the minimum wage, but also for no national insurance contributions for the youngest workers.

"But we do recognise there are challenges and that is why we're extending the number of further education college places, extending the number of apprenticeship places to help young people get the skills and the experience that they need to move into work."

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At an event in south Wales, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "We've made commitments to young people in our manifesto, and we will keep to those commitments, including the commitment that we would make sure that the living wage would go up this April, which I can absolutely confirm to you will happen."

It comes after new job figures confirmed young people are the most likely to struggle in the UK job market, with 16.1% of people aged 16 to 24 unemployed compared to a national average of 5.1%.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed unemployment had risen to a near five-year high, with the jobless rate among young people at its worst level for more than a decade.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment rose to 5.2% in the three months to December, up from 5.1% in the three months to November.

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Luke Johnson, the former chairman of Pizza Express and a director of Gail's bakery and Brompton Bicycles, said: "The government is making it more expensive and more risky to employ people and so I think entrepreneurs and managers will not create the jobs."

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The mood amongst employers and those who invest in this country is the darkest I have ever seen."

He argued that it was fair to pay a lower rate to young workers because "if someone is less experienced and less well trained than someone who has been doing the job for a while they are not necessarily going to be as productive".

Johnson said the timing of the planned increases in the minimum wage was a "tragedy" for young people because there was set to be a "substantial rise in unemployment" in the coming years due to Artificial Intelligence and other factors.

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Tina McKenzie, from the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "Sharply rising employment costs, alongside other increasing costs of doing business, are already chilling hiring intentions.

"Even steeper increases after the coming April hike would have priced many more young people out of jobs."

But Unison, which represents NHS and other public service workers, said competitive wages were needed to "keep and attract the staff".

The union's head of policy, Sampson Low, said: "There's no reason for younger workers to be paid less for the same work.

"Young, low-paid workers are likely to spend the extra cash where they live, helping their local economies."

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Andy Prendergast, national secretary of the GMB Union, which represents workers across public utilities, said: "Employers tell us that every single improvement in workers' rights is going to cause a problem and time and time again they have been proved wrong."

[BBC]

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WARSAW, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Poland has issued a European Arrest Warrant for former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski who was granted asylum in Hungary, as Warsaw pursues PiS-era officials accused of abusing public funds, a PAP news report said, citing a Warsaw court press office.

In 2024, Hungary angered Poland by granting asylum to Romanowski, a member of the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party cabinet accused of misusing public funds.

Hungary's self-styled "illiberal" Prime Minister Viktor Orban was an ally of Poland's PiS, with both countries having EU funds frozen over rule-of-law concerns. The funds for Warsaw were released after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition came to power in December 2023.

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Tusk has been very critical of Orban, particularly of his position on the war in Ukraine and policies Poland considers to be pro-Russian. He has also vowed to bring PiS figures accused of wrongdoing to justice.

Budapest also granted asylum to former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, the most high-profile figure targeted by prosecutors, who faces 26 charges including abuse of power and leading an organised criminal group.

Ziobro and Romanowski say they are victims of a political witch hunt. Hungary has also repeatedly accused the pro-EU government that replaced PiS in Poland of persecuting its political foes.

Tusk's government dismisses accusations it is persecuting political opponents, saying it is upholding the rule of law.

(Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
DELHI, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A Delhi man was taken into custody last week after police located narcotics in his possession during a routine traffic stop in the Village of Delhi.

On February 17, Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond announced the arrest of 43-year-old Adam Bright.

On February 10, Delaware County Sheriffs Deputies attempted to stop a motor vehicle for having a suspended registration. Upon attempting to identify the driver, the driver, later identified as Bright, provided deputies with a fake name and date of birth.

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Further investigation resulted in the discovery of the drivers actual identity, and a subsequent search of the vehicle utilizing K9 Dexter. Police recovered a quantity of Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, scales, and packaging materials.

Bright was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree  a narcotic drug with intent to sell, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree  methamphetamine with intent to sell, both as Class B felonies.

Bright was additionally charged with two counts of using Drug Paraphernalia, Obstruction of Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, False Personation, Aggravated Unlicensed Operator in the Second Degree, and Operating a Motor Vehicle while the Registration is Suspended, all misdemeanors. He was also issued traffic summonses for Unlicensed Operator and Unregistered Motor Vehicle, both violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.

Bright was taken to the Delaware County Sheriffs Office for processing. He was turned over to the Delaware County Jail to be held ending Centralized Arraignment.

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The Sheriffs Office was assisted on scene by the Delhi Police Department.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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WARSAW, Poland (AP)  A Polish bishop went on trial Wednesday, accused of not informing authorities immediately about alleged sexual abuse of children by two priests in his diocese.

It is the first time a Polish bishop is on trial over sexual abuse allegedly committed by priests under his authority.

The Catholic Church has long been the highest moral authority in Poland, having played an inspirational role during occupation and foreign rule and supporting the anti-communist Solidarity movement in the 1980s.

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But years of reckoning with clergy abuse and decades of cover-up by religious superiors have damaged the credibility of the hierarchy, which produced Polands most famous Catholic, St. John Paul II.

Superiors in the church hierarchy are accused of ignoring the crimes or, in some cases, protecting priests by moving them to new posts once the scandals were made public. A 2019 report by the Polish Episcopal Conference, the central organ of the church, said 382 sexual abuse complaints against priests were filed with the church between 1990 and 2018.

Under the Catholic Churchs internal law, bishops arent required to inform police of suspected abuse by their priests, and for decades they kept the cases in-house, preferring to protect the churchs reputation at the expense of victims.

Even in countries that have reckoned with abuse, it is highly unusual for a bishop to face criminal prosecution for failing to report abuse to law enforcement. In France, amid revelations of the churchs devastating legacy of abuse, a court in 2019 convicted Lyon Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of covering up the sex crimes of an abusive priest, but the conviction was overturned on appeal two years later.

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According to the Polish Press Agency, prosecutors argued in court on Wednesday that the bishop, Andrzej Jez, should have informed authorities immediately upon receiving credible information about alleged child abuse committed by priests in his diocese.

In the case of the two priests under Jezs supervision, the Catholic Church did conduct internal investigations and reported the priests to authorities. But prosecutors argued that the law requires reporting without delay.

Jez faces up to three years in prison if convicted. He claims innocence, saying he informed authorities as soon as the church clarified the facts and once he became aware of the legal obligation to do so.

He has been serving as a bishop in the diocese of Tarnow, in southern Poland, since 2012.

I express my regret and apologies to all those who were harmed and to other people who suffered because of this, often including families, Jez said Wednesday.
Pope Leo XIV has joined the U.S.s long-standing allies in turning down an invitation to join President Donald Trumps dubious peace initiative.

The Vatican will not join the presidents so-called Board of Peace, a United Nations knock-off that gives Trump the power to handpick the organizations members, approve the groups agenda, and manage its finances, the Vaticans top diplomatic official said Tuesday.

President Donald Trump was joined by a group of strongmen and minor global players, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, for the January launch of his

The board was ostensibly created to oversee reconstruction in Gaza, but Trump has made it clear the real scope will be much wider, leading to concerns among Western allies that the organization could undermine the U.N.

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Cardinal Pietro Parolin cited those concerns Tuesday as one of the reasons Pope Leo turned down the invitation he received in January.

At the international level, it should above all be the U.N. that manages these crisis situations, he told reporters, according to Reuters.

A White House official declined to discuss the details of diplomatic conversations.

The Pope and Vatican are welcome to join the many other nations who are committed to the Board of Peace and its guiding principles promoting stability and securing enduring peace, the official told the Daily Beast.

The Chicago-born Pope Leo has been a fierce critic of Trumps foreign policy, including his invasion of Venezuela, and has condemned the administrations mass deportation efforts.

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Trump launched his Board of Peace in January during a lackluster ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that was snubbed by representatives from the G7, the original BRICS countries, and most of the G20.

Instead, the president was joined on stage by a group of strongmen and minor global players, including leaders from Eastern Europe, South America, and several Gulf States.

After Canadian Prime Minister Mark Garney issued a stark warning in Davos about the rupture in the world order, Trump announced on social media that he was withdrawing his invitation to Canada to join the board.

At the same time, Trump has invited dictators such as Russias Vladimir Putin and Belarusias Alexander Lukashenko.

Trump ally Giorgia Meloni said Italy isn't joining the Board of Peace, but that the country's representatives will attend this week's meeting on Gaza as observers. / Evan Vucci/Pool/Getty Images

The board is holding its first meeting Thursday in Washington to discuss Gaza, where Israeli attacks have killed more than 72,000 people, sparked a widespread hunger crisis, and internally displaced the entire population.

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Israel says it acted in self-defense after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took 250 more hostages in a late 2023 attack.

A ceasefire that was coordinated by the U.S. in October has been repeatedly violated, with hundreds of Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers killed.

Pope Leo has repeatedly decried conditions in Gaza and called for peace.

President Trump invited Russia's Vladimir Putin to join the peace board. / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Italy and the European Union are sending representatives to attend Thursdays meeting as observers but have not joined the board, which is free for the first three years of membership but costs $1 billion for a permanent seat.

Trump is serving as the boards inaugural chairman and will choose his own successor.
A popular Middle Eastern restaurant in the metro Atlanta area is facing a class action lawsuit over allegations of unpaid wages, unpaid overtime and retaliatory firings.

According to a lawsuit filed in federal court, the restaurant is Rumis Kitchen in Sandy Springs, with additional locations in Alpharetta, Houston, Texas and the District of Columbia, and a location expected to open soon in Los Angeles.

The Sandy Springs location is currently undergoing renovations and is expected to reopen soon, as well.

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In federal court, former Rumis Kitchen employee Joan Ruiz alleges that he and multiple other Rumis employees were not paid their agreed-upon wages.

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Rather than being paid for 40 hour weeks plus overtime, the class-action lawsuit filed against Rumis Kitchen and its chief operating officer, Stephen Kaplan, alleges employees worked between 70 and 80 hours per week, without being paid the overtime owed be due for those hours.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The lawsuit also alleges that there was an illegal tip-sharing policy in the restaurant, requiring that tipped employees share as much as 28% of their tips with back of house staff, such as cooks and cleaning crews.

Ruiz, according to the court filing, worked at Rumis Kitchen from December 2024 to February 2025.

During his time at the company, Ruiz said in the court filing that the overtime practices and lack of payment for them, as well as the tip-sharing issues, were frequent.

When employees raised concerns over the unpaid overtime, Ruiz lawsuit alleges the company shorted hours, fired employees or changed schedules in retaliation.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to representatives for Rumis Kitchen for comment but has not received a response.

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There might not be an ICE detention center opening near Nashville after all.

After U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials confirmed to The Tennessean that the agency had purchased a facility in the Middle Tennessee town of Lebanon, 31 miles outside of Nashville, to use as a detention center for immigrants, the federal agency backtracked soon after.

ICE said in the follow-up release that it had not purchased a Lebanon facility, calling the information a "mistake."

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Immigration enforcement has been a pivotal point of federal policy and American politics for years, but especially so since President Donald Trump took office in 2025. Even in historically conservative areas of Tennessee like Wilson County, protest and conflict surround ICE.

Here's a breakdown of what happened and what to know about ICE in Middle Tennessee.

Will there be an ICE detention center in Lebanon or Middle Tennessee?

No. After confirming to The Tennessean on Monday, Feb. 16, that ICE had plans for "very well-structured detention facilities" in Lebanon, the federal agency took back that statement the following day.

Timeline: Potential Middle Tennessee ICE facility sparked protests

Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. Charlotte Payne sits with her mother, Sarah Payne, as they protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. A resident protests against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. A resident protests against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. Residents speak out against an ICE detention facility in Lebanon, Tenn. 1 of 5 Residents protest against an ICE detention facility during a Wilson County Commissions meeting at the Wilson Count Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn.

The Tennessee Lookout was the first to report the potential ICE detention center near Nashville on Feb. 13. The idea of ICE's expanded presence in Middle Tennessee immediately sent shock waves through the Nashville community, prompting outcry and groups planning to protest at the Feb. 17 Wilson County Commission meeting.

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Here's a timeline of the local reaction and ICE eventually backtracking on the facility.

Thursday, Feb. 12: ICE announces plans for nationwide expansion. ICE documents say the plan entails the acquisition and renovation of eight large-scale detention centers and 16 processing sites to ensure "timely expansion of detention capacity." ICE plans to activate all facilities by Nov. 30, 2026, the documents said.

Friday, Feb. 13: Wilson County students organized a protest Feb. 13 in Mt. Juliet against ICE activity.

Monday, Feb. 16, 2:33 p.m.: ICE confirms to the Tennessean the purchase of a Lebanon property for a detention center. Email includes specific job growth and economic specs.

Tuesday, Feb. 17: ICE revokes previous statement. ICE has NOT purchased a facility in Lebanon, Tennessee," ICE said in the follow-up release.

Tuesday, Feb. 17: Tricia McLaughlin steps down from her role as the chief immigration spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security. Her departure is unrelated to the Nashville detention center communication, according to USA TODAY reporting.

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m.: Middle Tennessee residents overflow a Wilson County Commission meeting to speak out against ICE

Friday, Feb. 27: McLaughlin's announced last day with DHS, according to USA TODAY reporting.

Why is spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin leaving DHS?

McLaughlin said her stepping down has been in the works since December but was delayed because of the shootings in Minneapolis, according to a USA TODAY report.

McLaughlin has been a vocal defender of ICE actions and the Trump administration. She often went on TV and social media to promote the administration's immigration polices.

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"She has been a strong and fearless voice on behalf of President Trump and the brave men and women of federal law enforcement," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

McLaughlin worked is the U.S. Department of State during Trump's first tenure in the White House. She also previously worked as Ohio Governor DeWine's Political Communications Director and Vivek Ramaswamys Senior Advisor, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Lauren Bis will take over as assistant secretary for public affairs and Katie Zacharia will be the spokeswoman and deputy assistant secretary, McLaughlin announced on X Feb. 17.

I am enormously grateful to President Trump, Secretary Noem, and the American people for the honor and privilege to serve this great nation. I am immensely proud of the team we built and the historic accomplishments achieved by this Administration and the Department of Homeland https://t.co/j5mF5e0uvq  Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) February 18, 2026

Where does ICE have a presence in Nashville?

Despite the confusion surrounding any ICE detention center in Lebanon, ICE has ramped up its presence in Nashville. DHS documents from September 2025 designate Nashville as the location for an Office of the Principal Legal Advisor office.

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The U.S. General Services Administration signed the lease for 1 Vantage Way near North Nashville and a second OPLA office is set to open at Estes Kefauver Federal Building on Broadway.

What did Tennessee leaders say about the ICE detention center?

Social media posts suggest that local leaders, despite their alignment with the Republican Party, say they had no prior knowledge of an ICE detention center in Lebanon.

"Friends & constituents I received a number of texts, emails and phone calls about the news article claiming an ICE facility will be coming to Lebanon TN," State Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, posted on Facebook Feb. 16. "My first conversation about this was with a reporter. I told them that I had no knowledge of such a facility."

Boyd speculated about a communication mix-up in the post, saying, "at this point I believe its more likely that someone has confused Lebanon County PA with Lebanon TN."

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State Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, also addressed concerns on social media. "I have talked to our congressmen, the administration here in Tennessee, homeland security, we've talked to the sheriff here, we can find no valid or credible information confirming this," Pody said in a Feb. 16 Facebook video

Will there be an ICE facility in Nashville in the future?

There has been no confirmation of whether or not an ICE detention center is in the cards for Middle Tennessee.

Are there any ICE detention centers in Tennessee?

Beyond any potential ICE facility in Nashville, ICE already has a detention center located in West Tennessee. The center is located at 6299 Finde Naifeh Drive in Mason, Tennessee, a small town about 43 miles east of downtown Memphis.

The West Tennessee facility, run by private prison company CoreCivic, began housing ICE detainees in September 2025, according to a Commercial Appeal report. It can house a capacity of 500 people.

Is Homeland Security the same as ICE?

The Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet-level department of the United States government created in 2002. ICE, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is under the DHS umbrella along with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Secret Service and more.

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Tennessean reporters Vivian Jones and Hadley Hitson contributed to this report.

Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news from Knoxville for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: allison.kiehl@knoxnews.com

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Tennessee ICE detention facility went from confirmed to 'mistake'
Spain's Supreme Court has confirmed a prison sentence of 12 and a half years for a Spaniard convicted of causing the death of a German holidaymaker in Mallorca.

He was found guilty of manslaughter by a court on the island in December 2024. An initial appeal was rejected, and the Supreme Court has now confirmed the conviction.

His accomplice, who had been sentenced to 15 years in prison, had not lodged an appeal. The judgment is legally binding, a spokesman for the Supreme Court in Madrid confirmed to dpa on Wednesday.

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The court of first instance and the Court of Appeal in Mallorca had found that the two men picked up the drunk German man near the Ballermann party district in the island's capital Palma late in the evening of October 8, 2022.

They bundled him into their van and then threw him out of the moving vehicle on the airport motorway. Investigators believe the two Spaniards had wanted to rob the German.

The jury and the judges did not believe the two Spaniards' assertion that the man had jumped out of the vehicle himself.

A following car was unable to brake in time and ran over the victim.
MOSCOW, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Wednesday in the Kremlin, where he said that new restrictions imposed on the communist-run island were "unacceptable", Russian state news agencies reported.

A senior Russian diplomat said last week that Moscow would provide aid to Havana, including material assistance, to help navigate a U.S. attempt to starve the island of oil.

"Now is a special period, new sanctions. You know how we feel about this," Putin told Rodriguez, according to the TASS news agency. "We do not accept anything like this."

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The Kremlin chief said relations between Russia and Cuba were developing "on a positive track", TASS reported.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Cuban counterpart in a separate meeting on Wednesday that Moscow was urging the U.S. not to impose a full naval blockade on the island and was advocating negotiations instead.

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, was quoted as saying by TASS on Wednesday that Moscow did not discuss the Cuba issue with Washington. Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. concluded trilateral peace talks in Geneva earlier on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Radio Free Asia has resumed broadcasting to Chinese audiences in Mandarin, Tibetan and Uyghur languages, months after funding cuts by the Donald Trump administration forced it to shut down.

The resumption came after Congress passed a spending bill to reinstate funding for the USAGM, the agency tasked with overseeing international broadcasters backed by the US government. In addition to Radio Free Asia, the agency oversees Radio Free Europe and Radio Marti.

RFA is back in business! CEO Bay Fang said in a LinkedIn post, adding that it was already broadcasting to audiences in Burma and North Korea since December.

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The Trump administration last year ordered sweeping cutbacks at state-funded broadcasters, affecting the USAGM and the Voice of America, portraying its decision as an effort to root out radical propaganda.

The funding cuts led to mass layoffs and drew bipartisan criticism from US lawmakers, who warned that the move weakened Washingtons global influence, particularly against China.

Ms Fang said in her post on Tuesday that RFA had restarted transmission through private contracts but would need steady Congressional funding to fully rebuild. This critical work, which weve been able to resume due to private contracting with transmission services, is already making waves, she said.

RFAs Uyghur service aired a report over the weekend about how children of detainees in Xinjiang are being forced into manual labour at a young age instead of going to school.

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In October, nearly six months after the funding cuts, RFA had announced that it was shutting down its news operations. But the broadcaster got a new lease of life earlier this month when a bipartisan spending bill approved by Congress and signed into law by Mr Trump gave $653m to the USAGM. Although that figure is lower than allocations in recent years, it far exceeds the $153m previously proposed to wind down the agency.

File. A logo of Radio Free Asia is displayed in its office in Washington, DC, on 15 March 2025 (REUTERS)

Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, also known as Radio Liberty, and Radio Marti were designed to deliver news, from a Western perspective, to audiences in China, North Korea, Russia and Cuba. Together, the networks were estimated to reach around 427 million people worldwide before last years cuts.

RFA, which in recent years covered issues like Chinas alleged crackdown on Uyghurs, the aftermath of the 2021 military coup in Myanmar and the experiences of defectors from North Korea, had been expanding its reach, with traffic to its website rising by about 20 per cent from 2023 to 2024.

The Chinese embassy in Washington accused RFA of operating with a bias against the Asian nation. Radio Free Asia has long spread falsehoods and smeared China, and they have a poor record when it comes to reporting on China-related issues, embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. We hope more media outlets in the US can make objective and fair-minded reports on China and China-US relations.

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Chinese state media had celebrated Mr Trumps cuts to government-run Voice of America and RFA as a welcome move eliminating fake news.

Voice of America has been paralysed! And so has Radio Free Asia, which has been as vicious to China, former Global Times editor Hu Xijin had said. This is such great news.

Rohit Mahajan, a spokesperson for RFA, said last week they had partnered with private transmission providers to reach listeners in Tibet, North Korea and Myanmar.

He explained that Mandarin audio reports were currently available only through digital platforms, though the outlet intended to restore regular over-the-air broadcasts in the near future.

Programming in Tibetan, Uyghur, Korean, and Burmese languages was being transmitted on short-wave and medium-wave radio, he added, but satellite distribution previously handled through the USAGM was still to be reinstated.
Amid the policy briefings and economic forecasts of Global Economic Cooperation 2026 on Tuesday, a different kind of conversation unfolded inside the grand halls of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. Under its domed ceilings, with a Buddha statue looking on, spiritual teacher Palga Rinpoche was invited to speak on a theme that could not be graphed or traded: consciousness.



The dialogue, titled Cosmos & Consciousness  Science Meets Spiritual Inquiry, brought him into conversation with GEC curator Priyam Gandhi Mody. The audience included ministers, CEOs and policy advisers. The questions ranged from artificial intelligence to geopolitical conflict. Rinpoche answered each one by returning to a single premise. The greatest frontier is not outer space or digital intelligence. It is the human mind.



A life of extremes



Palga Rinpoche is recognised as a reincarnate lama of the Drukpa lineage under the guidance of the Gyalwang Drukpa. Identified in childhood after his predecessor was killed during the 1959 invasion of Tibet, he grew up in a monastery in Ladakh immersed in Buddhist philosophy, particularly the Abhidharma, which examines cosmology and the workings of the mind.



At 18, he left monastic life. He learned programming, moved to England, and experienced sharp reversals of fortune. He has spoken openly about sleeping on pavements during periods of poverty and later spending extravagantly, even as much as Rs 15 lakhs for two nights in a hotel. Early investments, including in Apple shares, brought wealth. Eventually, he sold everything, donated the proceeds to his monastery and returned to India for extended retreat.



Why does this matter to you, our reader, turning these pages between meetings and family obligations? Because his authority does not come from theory. It comes from having lived at both ends of the spectrum. He has tested desire, deprivation, status and surrender, and he has found that none of them, by themselves, deliver peace.



The universe inside



When asked whether the universe lies outside us or within, Rinpoche draws on Buddhist cosmology, describing our universe as smaller than a pollen grain in a begging bowl of a Buddha. He references discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope and particle research at the CERN to make a larger point. You can keep splitting the particle, he says, and you will never reach the end.



Scientific exploration can expand endlessly. The inward journey offers something different. It offers completion. For most of us, this is not an abstract debate. We chase upgrades, targets and validation. There is always another milestone. Rinpoche believes if you rely only on outer expansion, you will never arrive. But if you cultivate inner clarity, you may.



Economic progress is measurable. Spiritual growth is not. Or is it?



Rinpoche proposes three markers: humility, compassion and happiness. If your practice makes you more peaceful, more empathetic, it is working, he says. If it does not quench your thirst, it is not water.



This is a useful audit for daily life. Ask yourself: Am I less reactive than I was a year ago? Do I listen more carefully? Do people feel safer in my presence? If the answer is no, then no amount of ritual or reading has touched the core.



AI and the missing ingredient



Artificial intelligence dominated the summit, as one may expect. Rinpoche did not dismiss it. Rather, he pointed to projects that use AI to compile Buddhist scriptures into searchable archives. Technology, he feels, can preserve and distribute wisdom. But he challenged the definition of intelligence itself. If intelligence creates weapons of mass destruction or manipulates public opinion, is it truly intelligent?



In Buddhist thought, intelligence must include empathy. Data processing and pattern recognition are not the same as awareness. Rinpoche stressed on the need to perceive the unsaid, the emotional undercurrent in a room. That capacity, he suggests, remains deeply human. Your greatest tool today is, thus, not a device; it is your capacity to sense what is right.



Detachment in real life



Perhaps his most relevant advice addressed pressure. How do you succeed without becoming consumed by success? Possession is not the problem; attachment is, he says. You may own a company and remain free. You may cling to a single cup and remain trapped. The discipline lies in full engagement followed by release. Enjoy the experience. Then let it go. Do not carry yesterdays praise or resentment into today.



He urged professionals to create pockets of sanctuary. Even five minutes of deliberate stillness can shift your response to anger or envy. Rinpoche asks that one notice the metallic taste of anger or the ferocity of attachment without acting on these. When you observe an emotion clearly, it loses the power to dictate your behaviour.



Ultimately, Rinpoches message is just this: See the world through your heart. In a time of polarisation, information overload and relentless acceleration, the heart may seem like an imprecise instrument, yet the heart, trained through awareness, is hard to deceive.




(This story was updated to add new information.)

Storms have soaked Southern Californians in recent days, but its not supposed to dry up just yet. Forecasters warn of falling snow levels and continued challenging travel in the region, with the wet weather already causing at least one person to be swept away by floodwaters.

The series of storms that moved into the region earlier in the week came after the region experienced warmer-than-usual temperatures for this time of year.

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But late Tuesday, Feb. 17, San Bernardino County Fire Department officials said there was an active search for a person whod attempted to cross a flooded road by car and had been swept away. In Los Angeles, fire officials on Tuesday extended an evacuation warning for burn-scar areas, including the area affected by the Palisades Fire.

Is it going to rain today? Weather forecast for Southern California

Another storm system is headed overnight Wednesday, Feb. 18, and into Thursday, Feb. 19, according to the National Weather Service Los Angeles. Itll move southeastward on Thursday and into the evening, according to the National Weather Service San Diego.

Rainfall amounts are forecasted to be less than in recent storms, according to NWS San Diego, which covers San Diego, Orange, and parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The good news is that you shouldnt expect as strong winds if youre on the coast or in the valleys of the region, according to the NWS San Diego.

Storms in SoCal bring challenging travel and road closures. See winter storm warnings

Winter storm warnings remain in effect for parts of Southern California on Thursday, including:

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San Bernardino County Mountains, including Big Bear Lake, Wrightwood, and Lake Arrowhead

Eastern San Gabriel Mountains and northern Ventura County mountains, including Mount Baldy and the Angeles Crest Highway

Riverside County Mountains, including Idyllwild-Pine Cove

Parts of the Antelope Valley foothills, western San Gabriel Mountains and the Highway 14 corridor, including Acton

Parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura County mountains, including the Interstate 5 corridor

NWS offices warn of difficult" travel in the mountains of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. But expect slick roads and conditions to impact evening commutes for some of these other areas under winter storm warnings.

Parts of State Route 18 in the Big Bear Lake area were closed due to a downed tree and a downed power pole, according to Caltrans early Wednesday.

A stretch of State Route 27 between the Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive was closed Tuesday, with crews to reassess on Wednesday morning, due to the storms, according to Caltrans.

How much rain did we get? See rain totals for LA

Preliminary, unverified data from the NWS for Los Angeles County in a 48-hour period ending 8 a.m. Wednesday showed that numerous areas saw more than an inch of rain recently. Some rainfall totals for the county:

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Agoura: 3.28 inches

Bel Air: 3.25 inches

Downtown Los Angeles: 2.48 inches

Claremont: 2.8 inches

East Pasadena: 2.15 inches

Lancaster: 1.17 inches

Mount Baldy: 5.31 inches

See rain totals for Southern California

Unverified data from the NWS showed three-day rainfall totals for Southern California as of Wednesday morning:

San Diego County: Some coastal areas saw more than an inch of rain, including Carlsbad. Cities like Escondido and Ramona saw more than 2 inches of rain, while mountainous areas like Julian received 4.4 inches.

Orange County: Laguna Beach neared one inch of rain, while places more inland, like Fullerton Airport, saw 1.69 inches of rain.

Inland Empire: Lytle Creek Canyon received 2.56 inches of rain, while Rialto and the Ontario International Airport, further south, both recorded about 1.6 inches of rain. In Riverside County, Temecula and Beaumont received 2 inches of rain, and the Riverside County Airport recorded 1.23 inches of rain.

Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at pbarraza@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is it going to rain today? SoCal faces another storm
A registered sex offender who was accused of targeting woman across Southern California has been taken back into custody and sent to state prison after a judge ruled that he violated his probation.

Matthew Werner, a 45-year-old Las Vegas resident, traveled out of state without permission from probation department, marking his third probation violation, the judge said. He was ordered to serve four years in prison with credit for time served.

Werner was charged in 2023 with three counts of sexual assault, including rape, against two different women.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon announced charges filed Thursday against an alleged serial rapist accused of targeting woman across Southern California.

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Werner was arrested Feb. 28 of 2023 on suspicion of a series of violations of rape dating back to 2015 in the areas of North Hollywood, Mid-City, Hollywood and Woodland Hills, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Investigators said he targeted women using social media and dating apps while using various aliases to avoid getting caught. Police identified five women who Werner allegedly assaulted in L.A.

He took a plea deal in 2023, registered as a sex offender and was placed on probation -- a result that angered many of his victims. One of them spoke out on Tuesday after Werner was sent to prison.

"You don't get to violate anyone and just walk free," Shira Scott Astrof said. "I hope that more women come forward now that he's in jail and he can stay there for a lot longer."




The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader who died Tuesday morning at age 84, was a longtime supporter of LGBTQ+ equality, arguing for an inclusive and intersectional movement championing the rights of all marginalized people.

Jackson fought against racial segregation as a young man, both independently and as a staffer for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was among the people present when King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. Jackson left the SCLC in 1971 and founded People United to Save Humanity, or Operation PUSH, in his adopted hometown of Chicago.

He sought the 1984 Democratic presidential nomination and at this time spoke out extensively for LGBTQ+ rights. The nomination went to former Vice President Walter Mondale, but Jackson gave a major speech at the 1984 convention.

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America is not like a blanket  one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt  many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread, he said. The white, the Hispanic, the black, the Arab, the Jew, the woman, the native American, the small farmer, the businessperson, the environmentalist, the peace activist, the young, the old, the lesbian, the gay, and the disabled make up the American quilt. He was the first person to say the words lesbian and gay in a national convention speech.

He spoke of a rainbow coalition, saying, The rainbow includes lesbians and gays. No American citizen ought to be denied equal protection from the law. His Rainbow Coalition organization grew out of his presidential campaign, and in 1996 it merged with PUSH. The group is now the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Related: What is the Democratic National Convention? A brief history of its battles, protests, and celebrations

One of the many things the queer community loved about the Reverend, he wasnt doing any of this for show, WEHO Online notes. Both of his presidential campaigns put queer rights front and center in ways no candidate ever dared to do before. He talked openly about ending employment discrimination against gay workers, pushed for more federal AIDS research money, and wanted the military ban on openly gay service members gone. He hired openly gay staffers and built volunteer networks inside the community, something no presidential campaign had bothered to do.

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On October 11, 1987, while seeking the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination, Jackson was one of the leaders of the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. He walked at the head of the march alongside entertainer-activist Whoopi Goldberg, labor organizer Cesar Chavez, and feminist leader Eleanor Smeal. Addressing the crowd that night, Jackson said, We gather today to say that we insist on equal protection under the law for every American, for workers rights, womens rights, for the rights of religious freedom, the rights of individual privacy, for the rights of sexual preference. We come together for the rights of all American people.

Related: Organizing the '87 March, Sans Email

Jackson lost the nomination to Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis but continued with his activism. He spoke at the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, telling attendees, No more homophobia. Lets respect people, protect people. Everyone is somebody. He visited AIDS hospices, often staying overnight. And he successfully advocated for the Democratic platform to include gay rights.

He spoke out for marriage equality. Gays deserve the right of choice to choose their own partners, Jackson said in a 2004 speech in Massachusetts, which had become the first state to establish marriage rights for same-sex couples. If you dont agree, don't participate and dont perform the service. In my culture, marriage is a man-woman relationship, but under the law people have a right to choose their own partner.

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In 2010, Jackson attended a rally at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which was then considering a case challenging Californias anti-marriage equality Proposition 8. We stand with you today to support marriage equality and to declare that Proposition 8 must be struck down as unconstitutional, he said at the event. Peoples right to self-expression, self-determination, be respected and affirmed. Its time to challenge ignorance, a time to break the silence and the chains of hatred, of divisive and discriminatory bigotry. Marriage is based on love and commitment  not on sexual orientation. I support the right for any person to marry the person of their choosing.

Two years later, when President Barack Obama came out for marriage equality, Jackson supported him. This is a bold step in the right direction for equal protection under the law for all citizens, Jackson told the Los Angeles Times.

He once had a cordial relationship with Donald Trump, who donated office space in New York City to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 1997 for its project of pushing major corporations to be more inclusive. But Jackson began to oppose Trump after the latter promoted the birther conspiracy theory, claiming Obama was not born in the U.S. and therefore could not be president. Jackson also objected to Trumps ideas about foreign policy, immigration, and the Affordable Care Act. Trump has long vowed to repeal and replace the ACA, but that hasnt happened.

These ideas are not just conservative, they are somewhat way off the main line, Jackson told Bloomberg Television in 2016. They could destabilize the country. He endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

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Two of Jacksons sons, both Democrats, have served in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Illinois districts, and have been LGBTQ+ allies. Jesse Jackson Jr. was a member from 1995 to 2012, earning perfect scores on the Human Rights Campaigns Congressional Scorecard throughout his tenure, but he resigned amid allegations of misuse of campaign funds. He was eventually charged, pleaded guilty, and spent time in prison. Jonathan Jackson has been a member since 2023 and received a score of 94 out of 100 from HRC in his first term. This month, he spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast, urging Trump to be invested in the elevation of suffering of Americans, including the families preparing to bury their loved ones in Minneapolis.

Tributes to their father are coming in from LGBTQ+ activists and others. The fight for justice requires courage, hope, and a relentlessness that will not be denied. Rev. Jesse Jackson embodied that fight every day, said a statement from HRC President Kelley Robinson. From disrupting political systems and building people power to helping this country imagine a freer future for all of us, Rev. Jackson was a force.  His support for marriage equality and for LGBTQ+ people affirmed a simple, powerful truth: Our liberation is bound together.

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, the only Black gay member of the House, posted on X, Rev. Jesse Jackson was a towering figure in the fight for civil rights and economic justice. He spent his life speaking up for people who too often went unheard and pushing America to live up to its true promise. We stand on the shoulders of his courage, faith, and lifelong commitment to equality.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, a lesbian, also paid tribute on X: Reverend Jesse Jackson was a giant in the fight for civil rights, and all Americans are better for his work. Today, we remember his incredible legacy and lifes work to uplift the oppressed, build bridges, and make justice for all a reality.

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, a gay man, posted on Threads, Reverend Jesse Jackson was an American icon who dedicated his life to fighting for racial and economic justice and stood with the LGBTQI+ community before it was politically safe. He continued Dr. Kings work by pushing America to live up to its founding ideals. Now it is our turn to continue the fight.

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U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen of Illinois, also gay, was sworn in to Congress the same time as Jacksons son Jonathan, and Rev. Jackson was present. The next day, my Dad told me how much Jesse Jackson meant to him over the years, Sorensen wrote on X. And it means a lot that I feel the same pride for my son as Jesse Jackson feels for his. Its a memory I wont ever forget. And a reminder that we all stand on the shoulders of giants.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Remembering Jesse Jackson's longtime advocacy for LGBTQ+ equality
Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert's young grandson wandered out of her house for the second time in seven months over the weekend. Her adult son is now facing a second child abuse charge as a result.

Boebert, who represents Colorado's 4th Congressional District, told 9NEWS there's "no excuse" and that she's "very frustrated this happened."

Boebert's 2-year-old grandson often accompanies her in Washington and around her district. Boebert said she was at an event in the district and her 20-year-old son was watching the boy at her home on Sunday when the toddler got out of the house, which is near a lake in Windsor.

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"A kind woman quickly and safely secured him, and authorities were called as a precaution," Boebert said.

Tyler Boebert was cited on a misdemeanor charge of child abuse without injury, according to Windsor Police. He faces a trial in April on the same charge for a similar incident at the congresswoman's home last July.

At the time of the July incident, Boebert released a statement saying it was a "one-time incident that we have addressed as a family."
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  The Republican National Convention has claimed victory in an ongoing lawsuit against the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

According to records filed on Monday, all parties in the lawsuit  including the RNC with the North Carolina Republican Party, NCSBE and the Democratic National Committee  have reached an agreement to drop a lawsuit that would have impacted 255,000 votes.

The agreement still has to be approved by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II, who is the presiding judge in the litigation.

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RNC suing North Carolina State Board of Elections, says it blatantly ignored the law

The parties agreement to enter into a consent judgment is a major win for election integrity and a clear rebuke of Democrats who tried to weaken basic safeguards, said Chairman Gruters. For too long, North Carolinas State Board of Elections failed to meet basic safeguards that protect our elections. Democrats in North Carolina want to count ballots without a drivers license number or Social Security Number as required by the law. The RNC will always fight to ensure our election laws are clear, fair, and consistently enforced.

CBS 17 previously reported that in a 2024 lawsuit, the RNC accused the state board of elections of not enforcing the law that said non-citizens should be taken off the voter rolls.

RNC said the NCSBE did not properly throw out voter registrations that had partial or missing information, including drivers license numbers, Social Security numbers and more.

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NCSBE called the claims categorically false when CBS 17 reached out for a statement back when the lawsuit was first filed.

The Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin case

This was the same issue that came up during the months-long litigation between two state Supreme Court Justice candidates, Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin.

Federal judge orders certification of NC Supreme Court election in favor of Allison Riggs

Judge Myers II ruled in May 2025 that NCSBE must certify the results of the previous years November election for the Supreme Court seat. The federal judge said throwing the votes out violated the peoples rights.

It is ordered, adjudged and decreed that the 1. Retroactive invalidation of absentee ballots cast by overseas military and civilian voters violates those voters substantive due process rights; 2. The cure process violates the equal protection rights of overseas military and civilian voters; and 3. The lack of any notice or opportunity for eligible voters to contest their mistaken designation as Never Residents violates procedural due process and represents an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote.

What the judge could approve

According to the stipulations of the agreement, the judge could order NCSBE to:

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Admit they allowed voters with incomplete registration to participate in elections

No longer accept incomplete information  including missing drivers license numbers

Collect all missing information from voters

Reject ballots from voters who do not correct their registration

The RNC said it is also fighting to enforce ballot requirements in Florida, Montana, and New Hampshire.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
A new frontrunner has emerged in Californias wide-open race for governor.

Conservative commentator Steve Hilton now leads the field with 17%, followed by Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, who are tied at 14%, according to an Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey of 1,000 likely voters released Wednesday.

Hilton is a former director of strategy for British Prime Minister David Cameron and a current Fox News contributor. He took in roughly $4.1 million in donations in the second half of 2025, according to campaign finance reports cited by CalMatters.

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Bianco had a one point lead over Hilton and Swalwell in early December.

Former Rep. Katie Porter has 10% support in the latest poll and billionaire Tom Steyer has 9%  both are Democrats. Importantly, 21% of respondents said they remain undecided.

Pollsters noted that since December, support for Hilton and Steyer rose five points, support for Swalwell increased two points and support for Porter dipped by one point.

An Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey found Steve Hilton leading with 17% in February 2026. (KTLA)

The Republican electorate in California is split between Steve Hilton at 38% and Chad Bianco at 37%, while Hilton also picks up a plurality of independent voters at 22%, said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. Democratic voters have not yet clearly coalesced around one candidate.

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Outside the top tier, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has struggled to gain traction since entering the race in late January.

Maybe its because he got in late, but the enthusiasm for his candidacy is not right now translating into votes, noted political analyst Matt Klink.

Californias primary is set for June 2. The two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, will advance to the November general election to determine who will succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited.

With the race in flux, Klink said it is possible California voters could see two Republicans on the November ballot  and no Democrats.

From left, Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton, Matt Mahan, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa and Betty Yee stand on the stage during the California gubernatorial candidate debate Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Laure Andrillon)

It is mathematically possible that you could have two Republicans finishing onetwo in the primary, he said. That said, I believe the political brains in the Democratic Party will get involved and say we need to make sure we get one of our candidates into the runoff because he or she will likely win the general election.

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The survey was conducted Feb. 13-14 and carries a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

Other poll results:

 The survey found 44% approve of Gov. Newsoms job performance, while 45% disapprove. That represents a three-point drop in approval and a six-point rise in disapproval since the December Emerson/Inside California Politics poll.

 A majority of voters at 53% say they have considered leaving California because of the states cost of living.

 Asked to identify the biggest strain on their household budgets, 28% cited housing, 21% utilities and 17% groceries.

 On immigration policy, 41% prefer the Biden administrations approach, 38% favor Trumps and 21% prefer neither.

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Marc Sternfield is the Director of Digital Content at KTLA 5, where he oversees digital news strategy, streaming, and social media. His editorial focus includes crime and public safety, weather and climate, and consumer news, with an emphasis on the Southern California economy. Contact Marc: marc.sternfield@ktla.com.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Nine backcountry skiers are missing following an avalanche in California's Lake Tahoe region on Tuesday, authorities say.

Six others have been rescued after they became stranded, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office said.

The avalanche was reported about 11:30 PST (19:30 GMT) in the Castle Peak area near the town of Truckee, according to officials. Weather conditions remain dangerous, with a high chance of further avalanches.

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"Highly skilled rescue ski teams" have deployed from two nearby ski resorts, the sheriff said. The six known survivors have been "directed to shelter in place as best they can in the conditions," the sheriff added.

A type of vehicle normally used for grooming snow is trying to reach the trapped group [Nevada County Sheriff's Office]

Officials initially reported that a group of 16 people in total - four guides and 12 clients - were involved, though that number was later lowered to 15.

"The six initially reported skiers who survived the avalanche have been successfully rescued this evening," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook late on Tuesday night. Two of the six rescued skiers were taken to hospital, it said.

Experts from the nearby Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and the Alder Creek Adventure Center are also attempting to reach the site.

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An earlier statement posted by the sheriff's office said 46 emergency responders had joined the rescue efforts.

The Sierra Avalanche Center wrote in a forecast: "Large avalanches are expected to occur [on] Tuesday, Tuesday night, and into at least early Wednesday morning across backcountry terrain."

The avalanche centre listed the danger rating as "high" - a four out of five on the rating scale.

"Travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended today. A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected over the next 24 hours," the centre said. "Large avalanches may run through treed areas."

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The avalanche that trapped the skiers was rated as a D2.5 on a scale of D1 to D5, Sierra Avalanche Center Forecaster Steve Reynaud told local outlet ABC News 10. D2 avalanches can injure, bury or kill people, according to avalanche.org.

Reynaud told ABC that the skiers were on the last day of a three-day backcountry skiing trip.

He said the skiers spent two nights at huts on a trip that involved navigating "rugged mountainous terrain" for 4 miles (6.4km) while carrying food and supplies.

[BBC]

A spokesman for the sheriff's office, Capt Russell Greene, told local news station KCRA-TV that it would be a "slow, tedious process" to find the missing skiers because of the high avalanche danger posing a risk to rescuers.

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As of around 17:15 PST (01:15 GMT), he said first responders, including some on skis, were still trying to reach the avalanche zone and that those alive were sheltering under tarpaulin sheets "doing the best they can to survive".

He said it was not uncommon for ski tour companies to take paying customers out in such conditions, adding: "I don't think it was a wise choice but we don't know all the details yet."

California Governor Gavin Newsom's office said in a post on X that state authorities were "co-ordinating an all-hands search-and-rescue effort" with local emergency teams.

The Boreal Mountain Ski Resort, which is near where the accident occurred, has reported 30 inches (76cm) of snowfall in the past 24 hours.

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The resort decided to close on Tuesday because of high winds and low visibility.

The storm has also closed several highways, including Interstate 80 and Highway 50.

If it is safe to do so, you can also get in touch by following this link
A thriving kingdom in ancient Peru was feeding its agriculture with seabird feces centuries before European colonizers caught on to the material's value, reported Scientific American.

A study that appeared on Feb. 11 in the journal PLOS One found that people in Peru's Chincha Valley were spreading guano on their corn crops as far back as 1250 CE. That was more than a century before the Inca Empire came to prominence.

The Chincha Islands sit about 13 miles from Peru's shore and contain huge deposits of guano, a nitrogen-rich mix of seabird poop. By the nineteenth century, this "white gold" had become so prized that it fueled territorial expansion by the United States.

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The people of the Chincha Valley, though, had figured out its agricultural benefits hundreds of years earlier.

Researchers reached their conclusions by studying the nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon isotope ratios in corn cobs recovered from that area. That chemical fingerprint, paired with seabird artwork found nearby, pointed to the use of a marine-based fertilizer dating back nearly 800 years.

For anyone interested in sustainable agriculture, this ancient practice offers a useful lesson. Centuries before modern chemistry, communities in the Chincha Valley built prosperity using a natural, locally available resource. That kind of ingenuity can inform today's conversations about farming without synthetic chemicals.

If you're looking for proof that working with nature rather than against it gets results, this 800-year-old strategy is a pretty convincing example.

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"The origins of fertilization are important because soil management allowing large-scale crop production would have been key to allowing population growth," said Emily Milton, one of the study's authors who works as an environmental archaeologist with the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, as cited by Scientific American.

Jordan Dalton, an archaeologist at the State University of New York at Oswego who was not part of the study, told Scientific American that guano stood above all other options.

"There are obviously different types of fertilizers that one can use, but guano is the top of the top because it's so rich in nitrogen," she said.

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Donald Trump has issued a warning as vague as it is sinister about this years battle for control of the House and Senate.

Crooked Elections cannot be allowed in the U.S.A., the 79-year-old president posted on Truth Social just before 11 p.m. Tuesday.

His declaration came in response to a clip from Dan Bonginos podcast, in which the former FBI deputy director interviewed John Solomon, founder of pro-Trump outlet Just the News.

Trump issued a vague warning ahead of this year's crucial midterm elections. / Donald Trump/Truth Social

Solomon addressed the GOPs ongoing efforts to pass its Save America bill, currently before the Senate, which would introduce restrictions slammed by critics as likely to disenfranchise or otherwise make participation harder for many Democratic voters at Novembers midterm elections.

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I think Donald Trump is going to change the narrative in America, the MAGA pundit said. I think he is going to change some senators minds.

The president has repeatedly threatened to

Solomon further predicted the president will start revealing some of the intelligence that was kept from the American people about supposed interference in the 2020 presidential election.

A minute later, Trump shared a digitally altered image of himself with white lights blazing from his eyes and the caption, I WILL BE THE ONE TO SHUT IT DOWN.

He also posted a link to an article in which Georgia state Sen. Greg Dolezal told reporters: It is time for the state to step in before the 2026 general election to ensure that we can have a free and fair election.

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Trump has repeatedly pushed baseless claims that nefarious powers intervened in the 2020 vote to thwart his re-election campaign and deliver victory for Joe Biden.

He also shared an article containing comments from a Republican official about state intervention in midterm polls. / Donald Trump/Truth Social

In fact, Biden won with a 56.9 percent share of the electoral college and 51.3 percent of the national popular vote.

Since assuming office for the second time last year, Trump has launched a concerted campaign to root out and punish those he believes to be responsible for stealing the election.

Biden won the 2020 presidential election. / Scott Eisen / Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Much of the responsibility for those efforts has fallen to his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.

Gabbard is understood to have held conversations with foreign representatives about Trumps unsubstantiated claims of electoral interference, and is said to be preparing a report on her findings.

Trump has charged Gabbard with proving his bogus claims of electoral interference. / Alex Wong / Getty Images

Having otherwise found herself largely sidelined from major Cabinet decisions since her appointment last year, she was spotted late last month attending an FBI raid at an election facility in Fulton County, Georgia.

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Trump previously faced criminal charges in the county, which has long served as a centerpiece for MAGA election conspiracy theories, over his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 vote.

Gabbard raised eyebrows by turning up up at an FBI raid on an electoral facility in Fulton County, Georgia. / AP

Federal agents removed ballots, voting machine tapes, voter rolls, and other records from the facility.

Trump is meanwhile reported to have also discussed the possibility of executive orders on voting ahead of this years midterm elections, in which polls currently forecast a strong performance for Democratic and independent candidates.

Over the past several weeks, he has repeatedly threatened to nationalize elections, while offering scant detail on what such a move would entail.

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Latest surveys suggest around 60 percent of voters say they have little faith that ballots at this years polls will be counted fairly.

The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment on this story.
The world is remembering civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who passed away Tuesday in Chicago at the age of 84, surrounded by family.

As the world pays tribute, Indiana is no different. Jackson spent time here and has a long connection to Hoosier communities. His long political career started as a small community organizer and, eventually, he ran a presidential campaign.

The 1984 presidential hopeful campaigned alongside and endorsed Rep. Julia Carson. Photos from the Indianapolis Recorder Collection at the Indiana Historical Society show Jackson and Carson at a prayer breakfast held at St. Peter Claver Center in April 1984.

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Jackson also held a "Justice, Jobs and Peace" protest march with clergy, labor and community members in Anderson, Indiana in 1983.

"Rev. Jesse Jackson absolutely changed the way we think about leadership and the way we think about building coalitions  multiracial coalitions, multiethnic coalitions, multireligious coalitions. Where you had Jewish brothers and sisters, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindu, theists, non-theists, coming together for one common cause. That is the true definition of a rainbow coalition. Rev. Jackson will certainly be missed," said Rep. Andre Carson (D-Indiana).

Carson has spoken with Jackson's family, Jesse Jr. and Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Illinois). He shared his condolences, said his family is grateful and that they are processing the moment.

According to NBC News, funeral arrangements and celebration of life information will come from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago in the days to come.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  A New Jersey Catholic diocese this week agreed to a $180 million settlement to resolve allegations of clergy sexual abuse, a figure far exceeding agreements in some large dioceses but still dwarfed by other massive settlements.

Bishop Joseph Williams of the Diocese of Camden, covering southern New Jersey and its Philadelphia suburbs, announced the settlement Tuesday in a letter.

For the survivors of South Jersey, this day is long overdue and represents a milestone in their journey toward restored justice and the healing and recognition they have long sought and deserve, Williams said.

Mark Crawford, state director of the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests, said in a phone interview Wednesday that the settlement was long overdue but he was glad the ordeal was coming to an end. He praised the bishop for listening to survivors and for pledging transparency, contrasting him with his predecessor, who fought a legal battle over a state investigation into alleged clergy abuse.

This settlement and this bishop have acted very differently, Crawford said. I hope it sends a message that this is possible, that this is right.

Greg Gianforcaro, one of the attorneys representing victims suing the diocese, credited survivors persistence in reaching the agreement. The diocese has said there about 300 survivors of abuse raising claims.

Its been an extremely long and arduous battle, he said in a phone interview.

Its the latest agreement in a scandal set off more than two decades ago when the scale of the abuse and the churchs effort to hide it came to light in Boston. The New Jersey settlement agreement is more than the roughly $80 million settlements in Boston and Philadelphia, though settlements in California ranged much higher. In 2024, the Los Angeles Archdiocese agreed to an $880 million payment.

The Camden settlement comes less than a year after the diocese withdrew its objection to the state of New Jerseys grand jury investigation into decades of alleged sexual abuse of children by religious. The state Supreme Court has since ruled the states investigation could move ahead.

The Camden diocese, like others nationwide, filed for bankruptcy amid a torrent of lawsuits after the statute of limitations was relaxed.

In 2022, the diocese agreed to pay $87.5 million to settle allegations involving clergy sex abuse against some 300 accusers, one of the largest cash settlements involving the Catholic church in the U.S. The latest settlement announcement includes these funds, according to victims attorneys.

The diocese of Camden covers six southern New Jersey counties outside Philadelphia. The agreement must still be approved by a bankruptcy court.

By MIKE CATALINI

Associated Press
Rev. Jesse Jackson's impact on building a wide tent and getting people to the polls made it possible for Black candidates in Chicago and across the country to win races in places other than all Back districts.

Carol Mosely Braun was elected the first Black woman to the U.S. Senate in 1992. She credits Jackson's presidential runs in the 1980s for giving her the ability to make history.

"He broke barriers and gave people the notion that they could do, they could be what they wanted to be. And that was inspirational to me," Braun said.

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Jackson died on Tuesday at 84 years old, surrounded by family in Chicago, after a lengthy battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP.

Years before her 1992 victory, Braun was a volunteer for Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign. While he ran in 1984, it was his 1988 campaign that opened the doors for generations of Black politicians.

"We began to see people elected in places like Delaware and in Utah, and other places that you've not necessarily seen or would expect to see a Black elected official," said Urban League President Karen Freeman-Wilson.

Freeman-Wilson and Braun say the doors also opened because Jackson built a coalition to register people to vote and get them to the polls.

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SEE ALSO | Politicians, leaders react to death of Rev. Jesse Jackson: 'He kept the dream alive'

"Jesse Jackson inspired people to participate in a process that many people have, frankly, given up on, and he gave them hope that that they could participate and change the government. And they did," Braun said.

They say Jackson was not just a champion for Black people. He was more of a champion of the poor.

Delmarie Cobb was Jackson's traveling press secretary for his 1988 campaign. She says he also changed the Democratic Party.

"Jackson pushed for the big tent because that was not the Democratic Party deciding that; that was Jackson deciding that," Cobb said.

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And Jackson successfully changed Democratic Party rules at conventions from winner take all to a nominee getting a proportion of the delegates based on votes. The change led to Barack Obama's nomination 20 years later.

Braun, Father Michael Pfleger and others say the best way to honor Jackson is to register more voters before the midterm elections and make sure they get to the polls.
NEILLSVILLE  A 59-year-old man who was injured in a two-vehicle crash in January has died, the Clark County Sheriffs Office announced Tuesday.

The crash occurred Jan. 27. on Highway 29, west of Fisher Avenue, in the town of Withee.

Eric Evenstad, of Rhinelander, was ejected from his vehicle and transported to the Stanley Aspirus Hospital.

Evenstad died Feb. 7 as a result of his injuries., the sheriffs office said in a press release Tuesday afternoon.

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Evenstad was not wearing a seatbelt and was the sole occupant in the pickup truck, the press release reads.

The Clark County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call about the crash at about 7:58 a.m. Jan. 27.

Initial investigation indicates that a pickup truck was westbound on Highway 29, west of Sterling Avenue, when it lost control and entered the median, the press release reads. The pickup truck started to spin, crossed the median and entered the eastbound lanes of traffic. The pickup truck was struck by an eastbound St. Croix County dump truck.

Both the pickup and dump truck came to rest in the inside lane of the east bound traffic lanes. The dump truck driver had non-life threatening injuries.

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The Thorp Area Fire and Ambulance Service responded to the scene with the Clark County Sheriffs Office, Thorp Police Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

The investigation of the crash is continuing by the Clark County Sheriffs Office, Clark County Coroners Office and State Patrol.

The Cremation Society of Wisconsin in Altoona is assisting the family.
Americans are seizing upon on a program offering New Zealand residency to wealthy foreigners, with President Donald Trump often cited as a reason for the planned exodus.

A golden visa scheme that lowered the residency threshold for New Zealand in exchange for a promise of millions of dollars in investment came into effect in April 2025.

According to the latest government figures, 1,833 people have applied for the visa program, of which nearly 40 percent (617) are wealthy Americans. The number is more than double that of China (309), with Hong Kong in third place (249), according to The Guardian.

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While there are many reasons why wealthy people might want to obtain residency in the picturesque country, Robbie Paul, chief executive of the Icehouse Ventures venture capital firm based in Auckland, said the chance to escape Trumps administration is often cited.

The Active Investor Plus visa scheme has generated nearly $3.4 bllion investment in New Zealand. / Martin Berry/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Ill put it this way: never in my time in New Zealand did I have an applicant reference Biden or Obama  and then, absolutely, a lot of references to peoples feelings towards MAGA and Trump, Paul told The Guardian.

The wealthy foreign investor visa offers two categories. The most popular option requires a minimum NZ$5 million ($3 million) investment over three years, while the second requires at least $10 million over five years. Anyone hoping to purchase a home in New Zealand under the program can buy only property valued at more than $5 million.

There have been similar trends linking interest in moving to New Zealand with Trump.

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Visits to the countrys immigration website rose almost 2,500 percent in the immediate aftermath of his first election victory in 2016. Visits also quadrupled to 77,000 soon after the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

The program is similar to Donald Trumps gold card scheme, which helps wealthy foreigners fast-track their visa applications. / Alex Wong/Getty Images

The number of Americans applying for second passports has also spiked amid apparent fears about Trumps return to office.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs reported a 50 percent increase in U.S. applicants for Irish passports, from 7,726 in 2023 to 11,601 in 2024. The biggest spike occurred in November 2024, coinciding with Trumps election victory, when there were 3,692 submissions, the highest single-month total in a decade.

Trump himself is trying to entice wealthy foreigners to come to the U.S. via the presidents gold card visa scheme.

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The program allows wealthy foreigners who have passed a background check to apply for EB-1 or EB-2 visasusually reserved for those with extraordinary abilityafter paying $1 million, on top of a $15,000 processing fee, to the Department of Homeland Security.

The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.
South Dakota state senators revived and approved a bill Tuesday that was described by its sponsor as strengthening parental rights, but was criticized by opponents for its potential to undercut protections against abuse and neglect, delay urgent health care decisions and encourage lawsuits.

The bill had failed last week in the Senate on a vote of 17-16, which was one vote short of a majority with two senators absent. After a reconsideration vote Tuesday, senators voted 19-15 to approve it. The bill now goes to a House committee.

South Dakota is currently aligned with some of the most liberal states in the country, Sen. Tamara Grove, R-Lower Brule, told a Senate committee Feb. 10. She is the bills sponsor.

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Parents know and love their children the best, she said. They have the right and responsibility to make decisions that are in the childs best interest without undue interference from government.

More legislative news

See all of Searchlights coverage of the 2026 legislative session.

Read the latest

The legislation states that a parent has the right to direct the upbringing of their child, including the moral and religious training. It would give parents a stronger hand in their childs medical decisions and education, Grove said. It would also authorize parents to file a lawsuit if its provisions are violated.

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The bill says parents could not use the legislation to abuse or neglect their child, but some senators worried about a parents rights overriding concerns voiced by a mandatory reporter  a person in a profession such as teaching who is required by law to report abuse.

That sounds fine in theory, but in practice, I dont feel that can possibly work, said Sen. Glen Vilhauer, R-Watertown. Youve got somebody that knows what is going on at home, and yet we have to assume that the parents have the best interest of the child at heart when that is definitely not the case.

The bill doesnt affect who, under state law, is a mandatory reporter.

Medical care

Under Groves proposal, parents would have to give consent for their child to receive a surgical procedure, medical or mental health exam and mental health treatment.

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Physicians could administer emergency care without parental consent if exercising competent medical judgment, or if the child is accompanied by a person who either has written consent from a parent or that the physician believes in good faith on the representation of an individual, that the individual has been granted authority by the minor childs parent to make decisions regarding the minor childs health.

Some lawmakers said those clauses may cause health care providers to hold off on performing needed services for children. Sen. Sydney Davis, R-Burbank, said in instances when a teenager comes into an emergency room without blatantly life-threatening injuries, health care providers might exercise undue caution.

Davis said the bills authorization of lawsuits by parents could send up red flags for providers.

We need to get some CT scans, we need to do an MRI, we need to know if this is a life-threatening situation, she said. Or would you like us to pause and wait until things are so bad that now we can intervene?

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Sen. Tim Reed, R-Brookings, expressed concern for children who may be facing sexual abuse at home. He said the legislation could prevent a child from getting an exam if a parent does not consent to it, concealing the abuse.

Unless youre 18, no medical examination can happen, he said on the Senate floor. Were losing the protection we have on our children because of this bill.

Education

Groves proposal would also prevent a school employee from withholding or concealing information from a parent about their childs curricular or extracurricular projects, assignments, or activities, and physical, emotional, or mental health.

It would require that school boards work collaboratively with parents and teachers to set a plan for parent participation in the school and establish a process for parents to review their childs curriculum and participation in extracurricular activities.

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Parents also would have to be made aware of and consent to having their child receive any instruction in or presentation on human sexuality, human sexual behavior, gender identity disconnected from or inconsistent with the biological reality of an individuals sex, or the idea that an individual is able to identify with a gender that corresponds to an individuals internal and subjective sense of self, disconnected from the biological reality of the minors sex.

Parents would also have to consent before their child could go by a name or nickname other than their legal name or a name derived from their legal name.

Heath Larson, executive director of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota, said during committee testimony against the bill that schools already share information with parents.

Every school Ive ever been familiar with, every teacher Ive been familiar with, is very open, transparent about what theyre teaching, the homework theyre giving, he said. Parents are often involved in their childs education, theyre watching, and theyre doing homework with their children.

For broadcasters
Rock Valley College is supporting the future of education through the Male Teacher Pathway (MTP) Program, an initiative that supports men interested in becoming educators and making an impact in their communities, according to a community announcement.

The Male Teacher Pathway Program aims to increase the number of men, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, pursuing careers in education. The initiative is part of a broader statewide effort to strengthen Illinois educator workforce by cultivating diverse, community-connected teachers who reflect the students they serve.

The Male Teacher Pathway Program is supported through Grow Your Own Illinois (GYO), a nonprofit organization committed to recruiting and supporting future educators under the Illinois Grow Your Own Teachers Act (110 ILCS 48/1). With funding from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, GYO administers the Disadvantaged Male Teacher Initiative (DMTI), which supports diverse men entering the teaching profession.

Mentorship is a key component

Students in the program will receive academic and transfer advising, as well as mentorship within a cohort of mentors who share an interest in education. The program also helps students prepare to transfer into four-year teacher preparation programs in Illinois and understand the requirements for becoming licensed educators, according to the announcement.

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The program is designed for students who may be exploring education for the first time, including first-generation college students and those from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Students do not need to have a fully defined career plan to participate.

In addition to supporting students, the program invites and encourages male community members to serve as mentors and leaders. Community mentors play a critical role by offering guidance and helping students envision themselves in the classroom.

Community members interested in learning more about the Male Teacher Pathway Program as a student or community mentor are encouraged to contact Siaw at W.Siaw@rockvalleycollege.edu or 815-921-2195.

This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Male Teacher Pathway Program opens doors for future educators
The Rogers County Commissioners voted Feb. 9 to support a Oklahoma Turnpike Authority project to replace several narrow bridges over the Will Rogers Turnpike.

They passed a resolution to support OTA's ACCESS program, a 15-year long-range plan for Oklahoma's turnpikes. District 3 Commissioner and Chairman Ron Burrows said through ACCESS, OTA plans to build new northbound ramps at Claremore's northeasternmost exit off the Will Rogers Turnpike and add a lane.

"Along the way, they've got these old bridges that they're going to have to replace," Burrows said. "These 18-foot-wide, very challenging bridges will be replaced with nice new, wide, modern bridges to handle the width of today's vehicles, both residential and construction vehicles."

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Burrows said OTA expects to install new bridges on 4140, 4150, 530, 540 and 550 roads. Drivers of too-tall trucks have stricken some of these bridges in the recent past, briefly closing them for repairs: the 540 and 550 Road bridges in November 2024 and the 530 Road bridge in December 2025.

The county also accepted a $20,000 grant from the Office of the Attorney General on behalf of the Rogers County Sheriff's Office.

Capt. Bronson Smith said the grant comes from the Safe Oklahoma Program, an annually-appropriated fund to help law enforcement agencies respond to violent crime.

"This grant will be specifically allocated to our investigator division's overtime funds for the investigation of violent crimes, as well as high-risk warrants to be served on individuals throughout the county," Smith said.

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The commissioners also approved a $21,175 change order to the project to build a new storehouse at the Rogers County 911 Center.

District 2 Commissioner Steve Hendrix that figure represents a quote from Infinity Fire, a company that installs elaborate fire alarm systems. Hendrix said the storage facility would need such a system because the nearest fire hydrant is further than 400 feet away.

"We intended to solve that problem by extending a water line and installing a new fire hydrant closer to the building," Hendrix said. "However, after [Rural] Water District No. 3 performed a flow test on their line, they could not supply the pressure needed to install a fire hydrant. That became not an option for us."

Hendrix said the total cost of the project has exceeded the original price of $620,000, which the county planned to pay with American Rescue Plan Act funds. He said the contractor, Cunningham Construction, would soon come before the board to settle the balance with use tax money.

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The commissioners also received an update from Executive Director Herb McSpadden on Rogers County Youth Service's juvenile diversion program.

In 2024, RCYS tapped a portion of a state mental grant awarded to Rogers County to start up a program to divert kids away from the justice system.

McSpadden said in the last year, 42 Rogers County kids were referred to the program, and 41 successfully completed treatment.

"Of the 41 kids that came through, we did an in-depth assessment with our team, and then we make a recommendation to the community accountability board," McSpadden said. "We might recommend counseling. We might recommend family counseling or some type of restitution for the things they had done. That can be community service, that can mean paying a fine."

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The community accountability board consists of representatives from RCYS, GRAND Mental Health, Volunteers for Youth, Light of Hope and CREOKS.

McSpadden said a person who did time in juvenile detention as a young person is three times likelier than the average adult to go to prison. About seven out of every 10 American prisoners were juvie inmates, he said.

"If we can get very clear about who needs to go to juvenile detention and the rest divert to alternative programs, we're going to stop a major flow of kids going from the juvenile court system to juvenile detention to the adult prison system," McSpadden said.

He said the agency is also building out a new program to reach kids in juvenile detention facilities. Also with the mental health grant, RCYS hired a service provider who develops a treatment plan for kids and their families to follow as they transition from juvie back to their normal lives.

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RCYS has been working for the last year and a half to construct a new facility. It plans to move from a shared, public-facing building on Sioux Avenue to an expansive, more secluded property off Old Highway 20.

McSpadden thanked the commissioners for contributing $800,000 to the project, which RCYS expects will end up costing north of $7 million. The agency hopes to finish it by December.

"The only comment I've got is, you're doing a heck of a job," said District 1 Commissioner Dan DeLozier. "Get your building done, and you can do a lot more."
Russia is ramping up a campaign to extend its influence across Africa.

Last week, Moscows foreign minister said that around 100 employees had been redeployed from Europe to diplomatic missions in Africa, where Russia is planning to reopen a dozen or so new embassies. Meanwhile, the Russian Orthodox Church has expanded to at least 34 countries across the continent in recent years, and Russia has tripled its scholarship places for African students.

As Moscow struggles with a weakening wartime economy, its diplomatic push on the continent offers a way to increase its global footprint, one in which it can avoid committing to deliver massive infrastructure investments such as those offered by China or the US. The Kremlin also recently created a new international relations department that focuses on countries selected by Russian President Vladimir Putin: A special team will look after Africa policy, Bloomberg reported.
Russia will join Iran for joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman near a US aircraft carrier group, Tehran has announced.

Irans navy will host the drills on Thursday and involve warships from both countries. It will be conducting anti-terrorism and vessel protection operations, said Rear-Adml Hassan Maghsoudlou, a spokesman for the drill.

The exercises will be Tehrans second major military display in the region this week in a show of force while diplomats pursue nuclear negotiations with the United States.

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One US aircraft carrier strike group is already in the region with another on its way. Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, has threatened to send them to the bottom of the sea.

Iran conducted a missile launch exercise on Tuesday - IRGC via Wana News Agency

The main objective is to enhance security and sustainable maritime interactions in the Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean, Rear-Adml Maghsoudlou said.

He added: Developing joint maritime cooperation and strengthening relations between the naval forces of the two countries in designing and implementing combined operations are among the other goals of this exercise.

Holding this exercise alongside other drills by the Islamic Republic of Irans armed forces shows the attention of both countries to current developments in the Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean, Rear-Adml Maghsoudlou said.

1402 US Navys deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups

The announcement shows that Iran is trying to display its strength while also engaging in diplomacy, probably believing it can negotiate better from a position of power.

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The announcement follows Tuesdays Revolutionary Guards exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, during which Iran temporarily closed parts of the critical waterway and fired cruise missiles.

Alireza Tangsiri, the IRGC navy commander, warned during those drills that weapons that come to the field [war] are different from the ones in drills.

Iranian state television said on Tuesday that Iran has no red line in protecting the Strait, through which approximately 20 per cent of global oil production passes daily.

Captain First Rank Alexey Sergeev, commander of the Russian naval group, said: The level of existing interactions and cooperation shows that we can manage and resolve many maritime and coastal issues together.

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He added: We are ready to hold joint exercises in any region, including specialised drills such as anti-maritime terrorism operations that will be executed with vessels and boats from both sides.

Iranian armys navy commander Rear-Adml Shahram Irani also warned extra-regional naval forces in the region on Wednesday.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has faced threats, noise, propaganda and the presence of extra-regional fleets in West Asia for 47 years. The presence of extra-regional fleets in West Asia is unjustified.

If the extra-regional fleet feels it has come with power, it should know that the Iranian people will confront them with greater power, he said. The faith of the people and missiles are the Islamic Republic of Irans deterrent weapons against the enemy.

Credit: @TM_911/ Fars News

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The military displays ran parallel to diplomatic engagement in Geneva, where Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, held a second round of indirect nuclear talks with US envoys on Tuesday.

Mr Araghchi said the talks produced agreement on guiding principles, with both sides preparing to exchange draft texts before scheduling a third round.

Later on Tuesday, JD Vance, the vice-president, said: In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards. But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.

Mr Vance added that they would stop Iran having a nuclear weapon whether its through diplomatic options or through another option.

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South Carolinas economy is growing, evolving, and becoming more competitive every year.

As businesses expand and new industries take root, one question determines whether South Carolina continues to thrive: Do we have the skilled workforce to support that growth?

A new economic impact study conducted by the University of South Carolinas Darla Moore School of Business offers a clear answer and a compelling case for why technical education is one of the smartest investments our state can make.

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According to the study, the South Carolina Technical College System generates $6.4 billion in economic impact annually and supports more than 38,000 jobs statewide.

That impact is not theoretical. It shows up in real wages earned by graduates, in tax revenue that supports public services, and in the day-to-day success of employers who rely on a steady supply of job-ready talent.

Students learn to weld at Tri-County Technical Colleges Industrial Technology Center in October 2025. (Photo courtesy of Tri-County Technical College)

Perhaps most impressive is where that impact stays.

With 81.8% of graduates working in South Carolina one year after graduation, the South Carolina Technical College System is not just educating students, its building the states workforce.

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Ten years after graduation, nearly two-thirds of technical college graduates are still employed right here at home.

These retention rates far exceed those of four-year institutions and demonstrate why technical colleges are essential to meeting local labor needs.

At Tri-County Technical College, we see these results every day across Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties.

The study shows that Tri-County Technical College alone contributes nearly $350 million in annual economic impact and supports close to 2,500 jobs in our region.

That includes the wages our graduates earn, the local spending their careers support, and the ripple effects of college operations and investments.

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But numbers only tell part of the story.

Behind every dollar of economic impact is a student who found a pathway to a meaningful career. Their stories illustrate the true power of a system designed to meet people where they are and prepare them for jobs that strengthen their communities.

Today, employers across South Carolina are facing workforce shortages that are expected to intensify as our population grows and ages.

Technical colleges are uniquely positioned to close that gap.

By working hand-in-hand with industry partners, we ensure our programs align with real hiring needs whether in advanced manufacturing, health care, information technology, or emerging technical fields.

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As we look to the future, the question is no longer whether investment in technical education delivers results.

The data is clear: it does. The real question is whether we will invest boldly enough to meet the workforce challenges ahead.

Tri-County Technical College stands ready to do its part. With continued support, we can expand high-demand programs, strengthen apprenticeships and work-based learning, and ensure that every student has access to the skills that power South Carolinas economy.

The opportunity before us is significant. So is the responsibility.

The South Carolina Technical College System is already delivering a strong return on investment.

With sustained commitment, we can continue to build the workforce that keeps South Carolina competitive, prosperous, and moving forward.

SC technical colleges impact study
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An illustration of a tidal disruption event in which a star is devoured by a black hole. | Credit: ESA/C. Carreau

Astronomers have discovered that an unusual optical flare is the result of a star being ripped apart and devoured by a black hole  and what really sets this so-called Tidal Disruption Event (TDE) apart is the fact that the black hole involved seems to be an example of an elusive "intermediate mass black hole," a class of this object that has challenged astronomers for decades.

TDEs generally occur when stars venture too close to the supermassive black holes that sit at the heart of large galaxies, resulting in the immense gravity of these cosmic titans simultaneously squashing the stellar body horizontally while stretching it vertically. This "spaghettification" creates a stellar noodle wrapping around the black hole. Some of the remains are fed to the central black hole, while much of it is blasted away at near-light speeds as high-energy jets. These events can take hundreds of days or even years to fade.

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This optical flare, designated AT2022zod, was spotted in October 2022 and lasted just over a month. It was traced to the galaxy SDSS J105602.80+561214.7, located around 1.5 billion light-years away from Earth . What was intriguing about this was the fact that the TDE occurred around 10,000 light-years away from the center of this galaxy, where its supermassive black hole dwells. That was the first hint this was the work not of a central supermassive black hole, but of a non-central intermediate mass black hole.

"AT2022zod has the characteristics of a TDE, a flare we observe when a star is ripped apart by interacting with a black hole. These events are, in general, not common, but since we expect a supermassive black hole in the center of almost every galaxy, TDEs are expected to be observed in the center of their host galaxy," team leader Kristen Dage of Curtin University, Australia, told Space.com. "However, AT2022zod is slightly off-nuclear, and very short in comparison with previously observed TDEs, while still highly energetic."

When observed at distances as great as this, TDEs generally last for hundreds of days, making AT2022zod's month-long duration from Oct. 13 to Nov. 18 highly unusual. "The combination of being hosted by an elliptical galaxy, famously home to large populations of star clusters, while being off-nuclear and of short duration, made us intrigued that this may be one of the elusive intermediate mass black holes that might exist outside the center of the galaxy, and more importantly, open a new avenue to search for and study them," Dage continued.

Intermediate black holes as cosmic middle men

Supermassive black holes are thought to have masses millions or billions of times that of the sun , while stellar mass black holes, which form from dying massive stars, are thought to have masses from three to many hundreds of times the mass of the sun. That leaves a huge mass range between these two types of black holes in which the aptly named intermediate mass black holes are thought to sit.

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Because supermassive black holes are thought to grow via merger chains between increasingly massive black holes, it is reasonable to presume that intermediate mass black holes play a key role in this growth process. That means black holes in this mass range should be fairly ubiquitous in the cosmos, yet astronomers have had a really tough time discovering them.

"I think it's really difficult to overstate how bad we are at finding intermediate mass black holes. We are excellent at finding supermassive black holes, and thanks to LIGO-Virgo-Kagra gravitational wave detectors, we are getting better at finding stellar mass black holes, but I could count on my hands the number of intermediate mass black hole candidates that have reached some kind of consensus within the astronomical community," Dage said. "Up to this point, TDEs from intermediate black holes are known to exist, but are very difficult to observe. They are most of the time overshadowed by other activities within the galaxy's central region."

An illustration showing the three types of astrophysical black holes, starting from the most massive on the left to the least massive on the right. | Credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva)

Astronomers can distinguish between TDEs caused by intermediate black holes and those generated when supermassive black holes rip up stars due to the location they occur and the duration of these events.

"With our current understanding of TDE behavior, we know that event duration scales as black hole mass, so all other things being equal, shorter timescale points to lower mass black holes," Dage said. "What sold me on AT2022zod being special was when I compared it to other TDEs at similar distances or with similar host galaxies, and it didn't fit in with the same behavior."

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The discovery of this off-center TDE could also reveal more about the environment occupied by this intermediate-mass black hole. For instance, it is pretty evident that TDEs are much more likely to occur in regions in which stars are densely packed together. "If you're not in some kind of star cluster, generally the host galaxy's central nuclear star cluster, then you're just not going to have a TDE, because the odds of a given star waltzing in near the black hole are too low," Dage said. This stellar density is found at the heart of galaxies, but there are also non-central regions of galaxies in which stars are also jammed together tightly.

Failed supermassive black holes?

The team theorizes that this TDE occurred in a globular cluster or an ultracompact dwarf galaxy (UCD) within SDSS J105602.80+561214.7 itself. Both globular clusters and UCDs are densely packed conglomerations of ancient stars reaching the end of their lives.

"These systems are basically black hole factories, and their crowded and dynamical systems provide opportunities for black holes to merge and grow into the intermediate mass range, particularly through runaway stellar collisions," Dage said. "When you combine this with the observational evidence for kinematic studies of black holes in UCDs, it makes them very compelling environments to host intermediate mass black holes!"

The origins of UCDs are currently shrouded in mystery. These dense stellar regions could arise when two globular clusters are drawn together, collide and merge, or UCDs may be dwarf galaxies that have been stripped of their outer stars, leaving them as a compact and dense stripped galactic nucleus.

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"These two different formation scenarios have very different implications for the black hole evolution. If they are stripped nuclei, then they are 'failed' supermassive black holes, with a similar formation pathway to the supermassive black holes and large galaxies," Dage explained. "If they're just big globular clusters, then things could be completely different, and dynamics play a vital role in black hole formation and evolution."

Globular cluster NGC 6638, as photographed by NASA/ESA's Hubble Space Telescope. | Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Cohen

Dage said scientists know elliptical galaxies host both globular cluster stellar systems and UCDs, but in this case, the host galaxy is so far away that the team can't quite disentangle the nature of the actual environment of AT2022zod. "We just know it's in some kind of star cluster," Dage said. "I personally would love it if it were in a globular cluster, but from what we know of more nearby systems, a UCD makes a lot of sense as a host in the nearby universe."

She added that many studies of the physics of UCDs show they host black holes in the mass range estimated for AT2022zod. This includes a system in the Milky Way called Omega Centauri, although Dage pointed out there is still some debate about whether this densely packed star cluster in our galaxy is a UCD or a globular cluster.

The Vera Rubin Observatory could be a vital tool in the hunt for intermediate mass black holes. | Credit: RubinObs/NSF/DOE/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA/W. O'Mullane

While the environment of the TDE AT2022zod may remain a mystery for the foreseeable future, the team's research could provide a much-needed roadmap for discovering intermediate black holes, which will become especially relevant when the Vera C. Rubin Observatory begins conducting its decade-long Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).

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"Rubin is poised to make such a huge impact  it will provide incredibly sensitive 10-year optical coverage of millions of star clusters within 330 million light-years, and ought to be sensitive to populations of TDEs hosted by dense stellar environments," Dage concluded. "We just need to make sure we are looking in the right places, can do prompt follow-up to better understand the physics and the host system, and be able to interpret what we see."
Chinese military conducts combat readiness patrols in South China Sea

Xinhua) 13:13, February 18, 2026

BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese military conducted naval and air combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters of the South China Sea from Sunday to Monday, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The Philippines co-opted countries outside the region to organize the so-called joint patrols, which had undermined peace and stability in the region, said Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command.

Forces of the theater command will resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability, Zhai added.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - A United Nations (UN) interagency convoy led by the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reached Dilling and Kadugli, South Kordofan, with life-saving humanitarian supplies to assist over 130,000 people
Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba launched a stinging attack on President William Rutos administration, labeling the government a gathering of criminals and thieves.

During a Tuesday, February 17, 2026, media interview, Orwoba explained that the Kenya Kwanza leadership seemingly reserves seats for those with dishonest backgrounds.

By the time I opened my eyes to realize that I could not fit in, I realized that I was the square peg in a round hole. You have to be a thief, a murderer, a crook, some stray creature, or a rapist to fit into this government, Orwoba said.

Orwoba pointed to the recent appearance of John Chebochok at a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) meeting inside State House as a prime example of the administrations questionable associations. Chebochok previously faced serious allegations of sexual exploitation following a high-profile BBC Africa Eye investigation into the Sex for Work scandal in Kerichos tea plantations.

You have seen that guy Chebochok with the UDA uniform in State House, yet we have watched how many videos of him during the Kericho Sex for Work scandal that was exposed by the BBC, Orwoba noted.

These comments come just one week after Orwoba revealed that authorities barred her from retrieving personal belongings from her Senate office. During a Friday, February 6, 2025, interview, she explained that her phone and other private items remain trapped inside the building.

Orwoba, whom the Senate recently expelled and stripped of her nomination, detailed the frantic nature of her exit. She maintained two phonesone for professional use and one for personal mattersbut lost access to both after her sudden removal. Beyond electronics, she noted that her childrens vital documents also remain within the Upper House precincts.

The former senator further claimed that a security feature on one of her devices detected unauthorized activity. She believes someone breached her office to seize sensitive information.

I had a work phone and a personal phone; they are in the office. My kids documentation is also in the office, and the last time I was informed and even confirmed, I had a sensor on my phone to show me when there was movement and access to certain places in my office. It showed me that they actually broke into my office and removed everything around and took my documentation, Orwoba said.

She argues that the Senate bypassed constitutional protocols during her ouster. Under standard procedure, an outgoing member officially hands over the office, a process that would have allowed her to collect her property before a successor moved in.
Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Vistors watch dozens of seals bask in the sun before low tide at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Vistors watch dozens of seals bask in the sun before low tide at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Vistors watch dozens of seals bask in the sun before low tide at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Richard Vornbaum of Asbury Park and Joan Cramer of Sea Girt watch for seals at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024. Dozens of seals bask in the warm sun at Sandy Hook in March 2024 1 of 14 Seals jockey for a position on the rocks and bask in the sun as the weather warms up at Sandy Hook in Middletown, NJ Thursday, March 14, 2024.

New Jersey's ultra-cold winter and resulting ice floes have created a frozen haven for its winter seal population. Around the Jersey Shore, people are spotting seals relaxing on the frozen shoreline.

Jeanette Blaesi, 66, of the Erma section of Lower Township, Cape May County, had never seen a seal in the wild until recently. She was at Freeman S. Douglass, Jr. Memorial Park in North Cape May when she saw something strange on the ice.

"That's probably a board, a piece of wood, a piece of trash," Blaesi recalled. "Because I'm a little nearsighted I'm like, holy smoke, it's a seal.

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"It was just laying perfectly still and upright," she said.

Blaesi pulled out her camera and took video before the animal dived beneath the waves.

Other sightings were reported along Long Beach Island and Sandy Hook, according to multiple posts on Facebook.

New Jersey is the winter home to three types of seals: harp, gray and harbor, said Jay Pagel, stranding coordinator at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine. The center monitors healthy seals along the Jersey Shore, and rescues and rehabilitates sick or struggling animals.

Despite the icebergs and slush along the coastline, the seals are still doing well in New Jersey's environment, he said.

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"This is kind of like Florida for them," Pagel said.

Harp seals, named for the black harp-shaped band on the backs of males, migrate thousands of miles to New Jersey from their summer breeding grounds in the icy north Atlantic Ocean, according to the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission. Harbor and grey seals also spend their summers in artic waters, according to the commission.

Seals are common along New Jersey's coast in winter, Pagel said. Some seals will travel as far south as Virginia and the Outer Banks in North Carolina, he said. New Jersey's current icy conditions are no deterrent, he said.

"We've been getting a lot of reports (of sightings), but nothing really out of the ordinary for this time of year," he said.

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Seals are federally protected and people must stay at least 150 feet away from the animals, Pagel said. The stranding coordinator also urged people not to fly drones near the animals, which can stress them. He urged social media users not to post their locations online, to avoid crowds from gathering and harassing the seals.

More: Badly injured young seal dies after capturing hearts around Shore

Anyone who sees a seal along New Jersey's coast should call the Marine Mammal Stranding Center to report its location, at 609-266-0538. Marine mammal experts will monitor the animal from afar, unless it appears in distress and needs assistance, he said.

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 18 years. Reach her at aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Seals spotted around New Jersey's icy coast




When he was on the presidential campaign trail in 1984, the Rev. Jesse Jackson dropped by then-Mayor Henry Cisneros' West Side home.

Jackson, a storied civil rights leader who died Tuesday, was in town rallying support for his candidacy. He was staying at the home of another West Side family. As they chatted, Jackson teased Cisneros for not endorsing him.

"It was along the lines of 'Come on, Henry, it's not too late. Get on the train. Train is leaving,'" Cisneros recalled in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News on Tuesday.

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The two men had known each other since Cisneros served a city councilman, and they grew closer after Cisneros won the mayor's office in 1981.

Cisneros said he generally avoided endorsing in the primaries while he was mayor.

"I'm sure I responded in a humorous and teasing way with him," Cisneros said, laughing as he recalled the conversation. "Along the lines of, Jesse, I have to run a city, but you win the primary and I'll be for you. Now, go win it.'"

Jackson lost the Democratic primary in 1984 and 1988, and he and Cisneros continued to work together when Cisneros went on to become the secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the 1990s.

Jesse Jackson, center, with Henry Cisneros and Joe Webb at a City Council Chamber meeting in 1983. (Steve Krauss/San Antonio Express-News)





"I worked with him as secretary of HUD in addressing justice issues all over the country, because my job as secretary was to focus on things like public housing and homelessness and other forms of subsidized housing," Cisneros said. "That was clearly an agenda item for Jesse."

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Cisneros said he spoke at events that Jackson organized and often talked to him at large events organized by the NAACP and other civil rights organizations.

The former mayor regards Jackson as "the most impressive human being that I've ever been around."

"Just to be in his presence, just to be in a meeting room with him was to know you were in the room with a person of ideals, a person of intellect, a person of uncompromising adherence to values, and a large man with charisma and brilliant oratory," Cisneros said. "Doesn't get much better."

Jackson publicly positioned himself as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s successor after King was assassinated in 1968.

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Jackson led a lifetime of crusades in the United States and abroad, advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues, including voting rights, job opportunities, education and health care. He scored diplomatic victories with world leaders, and through his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for Black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms, pressuring executives to make America a more open and equitable society.

"Jesse was the beacon for Dr. King's message of inclusion and of fairness - an aspirational message within the Democratic Party and a national force," Cisneros said.

SPORTS - Spurs player Tony Parker, right, talks to Rev. Jesse Jackson, left, before Memphis and Kansas play for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Monday April 7, 2008 Lisa Krantz/STAFF (Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News)





Left to right - Councilman Joe Webb, LULAC spokesman Jaime Martinez, Jesse Jackson and Councilman Bernardo Eureste confer prior to Jackson's press conference at the Hilton. All three men endorsed him during the conference (Texas) (Roberta Barnes/San Antonio Express-News)





President emeritus of the United Farm Workers from 1993-2018 Arturo Rodriguez, left, thanks Rev. Jesse Jackson, right, for all heOs done as marchers organized by the Texas Poor PeopleOs Campaign made their way through Austin on the third day of a 27-mile, four-day voting rights march to the Texas State Capitol on Friday, July 30, 2021. The Republican-controlled Texas legislature, now in a special session, is poised to pass a number of bills that opponents say would limit the acess to voting for millions of Texans across the state. The Voting Rights March will end at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Saturday. (Matthew Busch/Contributor)





Jesse Jackson speaks at Gunter Hotel in San Antonio (Steve Wilson/San Antonio Express-News)

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The Rev. Jesse Jackson meets with the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board in San Antonio, Texas on November 18, 2016. (Carolyn Van Houten/San Antonio Express-News)





Jesse Jackson; President - Presidential Candidate Jesse Jackson with Supporter (Byron Samford/San Antonio Express-News)





CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 19: Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson appear onstage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians, and Democratic party supporters are in Chicago for the convention, concluding with current Vice President Kamala Harris accepting her party's presidential nomination. The DNC takes place from August 19-22. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)





Crowds in Memphis, Tennessee, following the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr in the city, 8th April 1968. In the centre, from left to right are singer Harry Belafonte, Coretta Scott King with Jesse Jackson behind, Reverend Ralph Abernathy and Reverend Andrew Young. (Photo by Santi Visalli/Archive Photos/Getty Images) (Santi Visalli/Getty Images)

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 31: Civil Rights leader, the Rev. Jesse Jackson visits with guests at the National Bar Association's annual convention on July 31, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. The National Bar Association is the nation's oldest and largest network of predominately black legal professionals. Former President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak at the event's awards gala later in the evening. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (Scott Olson/Getty Images)





The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This article originally published at See photos of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson in San Antonio through the years.
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The Butler County Sheriffs Office is looking for a man who is wanted on multiple felony warrants.

TRENDING STORIES:

Deputies are looking for 31-year-old Zachary Nicol.

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Nicol is wanted on a Weapons Under Disability (third-degree felony) and an Escape (third-degree felony) charge.

He is five feet nine inches tall and weighs 145 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes.

Nicols last known address was 924 Haverhill Drive in Hamilton, Ohio, 45013.

If spotted, do not approach him. Call 911 or 513-785-1278.

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SANTA FE  The Senate voted 40-2 late Tuesday in favor of a bill that would limit punitive damages in medical malpractice cases for the first time in New Mexico's history, sending it to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has voiced her support for the measure.

House Bill 99 faced a rocky road in the Senate on Tuesday after it emerged from a Senate committee earlier in the day with three amendments that had potentially complicated its passage into law.

But hours later, the full Senate voted to remove all three amendments and approved the bill after 10 p.m. without any amendments, exactly as it was approved by the House on Saturday.

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In the end, the bill passed with overwhelming support, with Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, and Shannon Pinto, D-Tohatchi, casting the lone "no" votes.

State Senate Republicans, in a statement Tuesday night, celebrated the bill's passage, calling it a "successful restoration of balance and common sense."

Today, New Mexico finally heeded our advice to put the needs of patients and our healthcare providers above the greedy desires of trial attorneys who have taken advantage of a previously broken system for their own financial benefit," according to the statement. "This legislation ensures a fairer environment for medical providers to practice in New Mexico while maintaining accountability for patients who may have experienced negligent care.

The New Mexico Medical Society, in a statement, said HB 99 is "a vital step toward restoring stability to New Mexicos medical liability environment, making this a state where physicians want to both move and stay."

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For years, our medical liability climate has pushed doctors out of the state and placed patient care at risk, said Dr. Robert Underwood, President of the New Mexico Medical Society. This bill represents real, meaningful reform and is a critical step in stabilizing our healthcare system.

On Tuesday afternoon the Senate Judiciary Committee had voted 8-1 to advance House Bill 99 to the Senate floor, with Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, casting the lone vote against the do-pass recommendation by the committee.

New Mexico has no assurances from insurers that passage of the bill would reduce malpractice insurance premiums for physicians, she said.

"We are lying to our health care providers and we are lying to the public," Duhigg said after the vote.

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Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, the bill's lead sponsor, said after the vote that the committee's actions were "problematic" because they create uncertainty about the value of injuries in medical malpractice cases.

The amendments left intact a key feature of House Bill 99 that would limit punitive damage awards for the first time in New Mexico.

The bill also would create a tiered system that would cap punitive damages at about $1 million for independent physicians and clinics, $6 million for locally owned hospitals and $15 million for larger corporate-owned hospitals.

The House approved House Bill 99 on Saturday by a vote of 66-3, sending the measure to the Senate for consideration.

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In the amended version, "there is significant potential for windfalls and thereby jacking up the cost for everyone across the state," Chandler said.

An amendment offered by committee chair Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, and approved by a 5-4 vote, alters the way medical care is valued in malpractice cases where an insurance company provides compensation to an injured person.

Under the original version of House Bill 99, an injured person can recover the actual amount they paid but not the full amount billed. Cervantes said his amendment is intended to prevent constitutional challenges.

"The patient is entitled to recover damages they actually pay," Chandler told the committee. "We're trying to keep the cost of health care down and the cost of premiums down. We should be looking at keeping costs down."

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A second amendment, also offered by Cervantes and approved by the committee, alters the definition of "occurrence," expanding the number of injuries that can be alleged in a single malpractice claim.

Cervantes, a trial lawyer who handles injury and medical malpractice cases, said the original bill would result in lengthy litigation as attorneys in malpractice cases dispute the number of injuries included in a single malpractice claim.

Chandler said the amendment "creates ambiguities" about the meaning of an occurrence.

"I think there's going to be more litigation over whether there's an occurrence or not, not less," she said.
Eight backcountry skiers have been found dead, and one remains missing following an avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, officials announced Wednesday.

Search crews on Tuesday braved "highly dangerous" conditions to rescue six other skiers who were part of the same guided group, authorities said.

The tragedy is the deadliest U.S. avalanche in 45 years, second only to an avalanche that killed 11 people on Washington's Mt. Rainer in 1981.

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Crews were working on Wednesday to bring the remains of the eight dead skiers off the mountain as soon as possible to be reunited with their families after autopsies are performed to determine the cause of death, authorities said.

Nevada County Sheriff's Office - PHOTO: A rescue ski team makes their way to the area of an avalanche in the Castle Peak area of Truckee, Calif., February 17, 2026.

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announced the deaths at a news conference on Wednesday and said the skier who remains missing is presumed to be deceased.

Moon said that among the dead were three guides from the company Blackbird Mountain Guides. Seven women and two men were among the deceased and missing skiers, the sheriff's office said.

Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo -- whose agency participated in the search-and-rescue operation -- said that among the dead was the spouse of one of the members of the search team deployed to the rescue operation.

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"This incident has specifically struck our organization and that team hard, as one of the nine missing decedents is a spouse of our Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team member," Woo said at Wednesday's news conference.

Perilous conditions near Donner Pass, where the avalanche occurred, continued on Wednesday morning. Rescuers faced a winter storm dumping more than 2 inches of snow an hour in the area, grounding rescue helicopters and hampering ground crews trying to reach the missing skiers, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center.

Tuesday's avalanche was reported around 11:30 a.m. PT in the Castle Peak area at an elevation of 8,200 feet in the Sierra Nevada northwest of Lake Tahoe, according to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.

A group of 15 skiers -- nine women and six men, including four guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides -- encountered the avalanche, according to the sheriff's office.

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"The group was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip when the incident occurred," Blackbird Mountain Guides said in a statement.

Based on the accounts of the survivors, Capt. Rusty Greene of the Nevada County Sheriff's Department said all 15 members of the group were together when the avalanche occurred.

"It was reported by the individuals that survived that they were attempting to go out as a group, that someone saw the avalanche, yelled avalanche' -- and then it overtook them rather quickly," Greene said.

Greene said the bodies of the eight skiers were located near where the survivors were found. He said survivors of the incident had located three of the bodies before the rescue teams arrived.

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Preliminarily, the slide measured a D2.5 on the Destructive Force Scale, the avalanche version of the Enhanced Fujita Scale for rating tornadoes, meaning it was strong enough to injure, bury, or kill a person, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center. A D3 on the scale is strong enough to destroy a house.

Map Tiles by Google Earth - PHOTO: Location of California avalanche

Six people were successfully rescued Tuesday evening by search-and-rescue teams with varying injuries, Moon said. The survivors, who range in age from 30 to 55, had been taking cover under a tarp when they were found alive, according to Moon.

Moon said the deceased skiers were from several different states and that their relatives were notified on Wednesday morning before the news conference.

Greene said the bodies were placed in a location where they will be easy to recover once the weather allows.

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The survivors made a 911 call using an iPhone satellite SOS message, the sheriff's officer said. Emergency beacons also helped rescuers find the stranded skiers, the sheriff's office said.

"Due to extreme weather conditions, it took several hours for rescue personnel to safely reach the skiers and transport them to safety, where they were medically evaluated by Truckee Fire," the Nevada County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "Two of the six skiers have been transported to a hospital for treatment."

Brooke Hess-homeier/AP - PHOTO: California Avalanche

Moon said initially, authorities were told that 16 skiers were in the group, and 10 were missing. She said it was later learned that one person decided not to make the trip at the last minute.

Rescuers faced very difficult conditions, including avalanche danger themselves, according to Brandon Schwartz, director of the Sierra Avalanche Center, which forecasts avalanche conditions in the area around Lake Tahoe. The area saw 2 to 3 feet of new snow in the last 36 hours and more was still falling at 2 to 4 inches per hour, Schwartz told ABC News.

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Moon said two search teams comprising nearly 50 rescuers approached the avalanche site from the north and the south. Snowcats transported the teams to within two miles of the avalanche site, and from there, the rescuers had to ski to the location, arriving around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Moon said two of the survivors suffered injuries that prevented them from walking. The survivors were taken back to the snowcats and driven back down the mountain, Moon said.

Two of the survivors were initially hospitalized, but Moon said one remained in a hospital on Wednesday.

Brooke Hess-Homeier/AP - PHOTO: Snow falls, Feb. 17, 2026 in Truckee Calif.

The Blackbird Mountain Guides said the avalanche happened near the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts in the Castle Peak area, northwest of Truckee.

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The group of skiers had been staying at the huts -- which the company describes in online advertisements as "luxury-dormitories" -- since Sunday. A 3-to-4-day stay at the huts normally costs $1,795, according to the company's website.

The company lists prerequisites for customers, including requiring skiers to be "adept with their backcountry touring skills and have a solid foundation of touring before the trip." Customers are also required to be in good physical shape, according to the company, "able to hike 4-6 miles and climb 1,500-2,500 vertical feet throughout the course of a day."

The Sierra Avalanche Center said there was "high" avalanche danger in the backcountry on Tuesday, raising questions of why the group was in the rugged area.

Nevada County Sheriff's Office - PHOTO: Nevada County Sheriff's Office officials monitor an avalanche in the Castle Peak area of Truckee, Calif., February 17, 2026.

On Monday, Blackbird Mountain Guides posted a video on Instagram showing what it described as "atypical layering from our normal mid season snowpack."

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"The result is a particularly weak layer in many northerly aspects, across various elevation bands," a company employee said in the video. "As we move into a large storm cycle this week, pay close attention to places where faceting has been particularly strong -- avalanches could behave abnormally and hazards could last longer than normal."

Man dies after being caught in avalanche while snowmobiling

Asked by reporters why the group was in the area despite the dangerous avalanche conditions existing, Moon said, "Those are the decisions the guide company clearly had made."

"We're still in conversation with them on the decision factors that they made. But, definitely, a heed for everyone," Moon said.

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The Sierra Avalanche Center said rapidly accumulating snowfall, weak layers of existing snowpack and gale-force winds that blow and drift snow "have created dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains."

"Natural avalanches are likely, and human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury or injure people are very likely," the center said.

Brooke Hess-homeier/AP - PHOTO: California Avalanche

The center has issued an avalanche warning for the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass on the north and Ebbetts Pass on the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area, through Wednesday morning.

In an updated statement on Wednesday morning, the center said, "HIGH avalanche danger continues," and added, "travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain not recommended."

Ski patroller dies after conducting avalanche mitigation work at California ski resort

"Increased uncertainty exists with ongoing reactivity of these buried weak layers under this large storm snow load. The potential continues for large to very large avalanches occurring in the backcountry today."

Whiteout conditions have been reported in the region where the avalanche occurred.

The California Highway Patrol's Truckee office warned that high winds are "creating full whiteout conditions" across the Donner Summit.

Interstate 80 over Donner Summit was closed in both directions on Tuesday and remained closed on Wednesday morning due to whiteout conditions and poor visibility.
NEVADA COUNTY, Calif.  First responders said eight of the nine skiers missing after being caught in an avalanche on Tuesday morning in the Sierra Nevada have died.

The avalanche happened on Castle Peak in the California area Tuesday morning. Six skiers were rescued, eight were found dead and one is still missing, according to authorities.

The avalanche marks the deadliest in the U.S. since 1981.

Officials say this marks the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. since 1981, when the National Avalanche Center first started collecting avalanche data.

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Dangers Of Avalanches, And What To Do If An Avalanche Is Coming At You

Six people from the party were rescued Tuesday night and two were taken to a hospital, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office said. Of the six people rescued, five were clients, and one was a guide.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA - JANUARY 28: Deep snow covers the trees along Highway 50 on January 28, 2017, in South Lake Tahoe, California.

The sheriff's office noted that it was initially believed that 16 people went on the trip, but that was later revised to 15.

One person backed out of the trip at the last minute, the sheriff's office said.

Officials said the avalanche happened around 11:30 a.m. local time. Interstate 80 remained closed at the summit of Castle Peak due to a winter storm dumping feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

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Heavy snow and high winds created periods of whiteout travel and hampered the search Tuesday, with winter storm conditions expected to continue through much of the week.

How To Watch Fox Weather

"Widespread areas of unstable snow and numerous avalanches are expected today," the Sierra Avalanche Center said. "Avalanches could be triggered from very low on the slope in some areas. Avalanches from above could travel down through treed terrain, often thought of as safe during storms."

Travel in the avalanche area is not advised during such extreme conditions. The Sierra Avalanche Center said if travel can't be avoided, use extreme caution and prepare for low visibility around the mountains.

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2 Dead After Avalanche Near Site Of Winter Olympics In Italian Alps

An avalanche warning remains in effect through 5:00 a.m. local time Wednesday, and the Sierra Avalanche Center said large avalanches are expected to occur across backcountry terrain.

The sheriff's office said the search is ongoing as weather conditions permit.

Snowmobiler Dies Following Avalanche In California

An avalanche in the region in early January left a snowmobile trapped in nearby Truckee. A search and rescue mission uncovered the snowmobile buried in snow, but he didn't survive.

This is a developing story. Check back for new updates.





Original article source: 8 skiers found dead, 1 still missing after Sierra Nevada avalanche amid extreme weather conditions
Raleigh police are searching for whoever opened fire in a neighborhood on Streams of Fields Drive.

Bullets hit two homes and several cars Wednesday.

The area remained blocked off for hours as investigators placed evidence markers across the street and documented damage to the properties.

No one was hurt.

Police say no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has ordered a halt of diesel fuel exports to Ukraine following the suspension of operations on the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Source: the Slovak government's website, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Slovak government also decided to release 250,000 tonnes of oil from state reserves after supplies through the Druzhba pipeline were suspended as a result of Russian attacks. [On 27 January, Russia attacked infrastructure in Brody, Lviv Oblast, where the Druzhba and Odesa-Brody oil pipelines connect.]

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Fico said the government is taking this step in order to conserve petroleum product reserves for domestic use.

"Slovnaft is halting diesel fuel exports to Ukraine and any other exports, and everything it refines at home, in Slovakia, will now be intended for the Slovak market," the prime minister said.

Fico stressed that there is no threat of fuel or other petroleum product shortages in Slovakia. The release of oil from state reserves will help Slovnaft bridge the period until oil arrives from Croatia.

Background:

The transportation of Russian crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline through Ukraine has been suspended since the end of last month due to large-scale Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Slovakia and Hungary have accused Ukraine of causing the halt.

Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that Hungary suspends diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine until the Druzhba pipeline resumes operations.

Budapest and Bratislava have also asked Croatia to allow supplies of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Adria pipeline.

Meanwhile, Slovakia has declared a state of emergency in the oil sector due to the lack of supplies.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
BALTIMORE  Small, possibly portable, nuclear reactors that cant melt down are moving toward reality in the United States, with what may be the first two coming online or beginning construction this year.

The US Army just transported its first small reactor for testing, and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, is working on what could be the nations first private-sector microreactor. Maryland, however, has not yet moved to develop new nuclear power capacity.

Small, modular nuclear reactors provide up to 300 MW of clean electricity. In comparison, Constellation Energys Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, Maryland, operates two 2,737 MW reactors. Due to their construction and small scale, small reactors will not malfunction or melt down even if left unattended, industry experts say.

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Nuclear is still the safest and cleanest energy technology, James Walker, CEO of the Canadian company, NANO Nuclear Technology, told The Baltimore Sun, and with small modular reactors, the meltdown possibility is completely eliminated because of the fuel type.

NANOs technology replaces solid fuel rods with billions of tiny uranium pellets, Walker said. Each pellet is coated with silicon carbide shielding that melts at a higher temperature than the fuel.

The nascent micro-reactor industry has been caught in a chicken-and-egg scenario, he said. Regulators want to see proven safety records, while the industry is prepared with designs, but no operating reactors to demonstrate safety.

That may be changing.

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The US Army transported a 5 MW reactor from California to Utah on Feb. 15 in a C-17. The reactor is intended to improve the militarys energy resiliency, according to the Army Technology news site.

The objective is an underrated one in a threat landscape that values lethality above all else, John Hill wrote for Army Technology. Yet military success will depend on energy and logistics, as has always been the case in historic campaigns.

The Army seeks to build 10 small reactors this year under Project JANUS to ensure energy independence, the report states. Future warfare will demand more energy to power artificial intelligence data centers, directed-energy weapons like lasers and space and cyber-warfare infrastructure.

In the private sector, the University of Illinois has completed preliminary drilling on a microreactor through its Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, the universitys website states. The facility will deliver 16 to 50 MW of power while operating close to dorms and research buildings.

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The University of Maryland, College Park, has operated a smaller research reactor, the Maryland University Training Reactor, since 1960. It provides 250 kW, or about as much as available portable solar generators, and powers irradiation experiments. A pneumatic Rabbit chamber can rapidly insert or remove payloads from the operating reactor.

The Maryland Next Generation Act, passed last year, sets out a timeline for the state to solicit new nuclear power capability after 2027, and Constellation Energy indicated it is ready to build new large-scale reactors at Calvert Cliffs.

Emerging technology like small modular reactors may come with additional delays, however, if federal regulators do not find a path for approval, Public Service Commission Chairman Frederick Hoover said in an October meeting.

The government is really under pressure from the tech industry to expedite the deployment of new systems, Walker said. You still need to prove the system is safe.

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In an interview, Smotrich also addressed his comments on crime rates in Arab communities, saying, "There is a culture of murder, killing, and jihad in Arab society."

The Israeli military is not a place for women, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed in an interview with 103FM on Wednesday morning.

He cited a quote in which he said he would not recommend that his daughter enlist, adding, I am proud of the products of religious education, the root of this [the desire to enlist] is the desire to contribute, idealism, the desire to give.

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The minister criticized Economy Minister Nir Barkat, who said that only poorly performing companies list their shares on the Israeli stock exchange, and said, "Forgive me for being a bit sharp in my response. If there were a tax on stupid statements, I could reduce half of the taxes on the citizens of the State of Israel. This is a crazy and absurd statement."

"Look at 'Palo Alto,' which announced it is listing itself on the Israeli stock exchange, and it is breaking records," he added. "To tell the truth? Those who understand and deal with economics, and I say this with pain, understand that the Economy Minister doesn't understand anything, and his words are not taken seriously."

Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich speaks during a vote on the state budget at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, January 28, 2026. (credit: OREN BEN HAKOON/FLASH90)

Smotrich: It's not racist to face reality

The minister also addressed a debate he had on Tuesday with MK Iman Khatib-Yasin from Ra'am, where he was heard accusing Arab society of the violence occurring within it: "Its not racist to face reality and tell the truth; there is a culture of murder, killing, and jihad in Arab society. When you sleep with dogs, don't be surprised if you wake up with fleas. Start condemning violence and terrorist organizations, tell your public to stop burning police cars."

He added, "It's time to put an end to the hypocrisy of Knesset members who claim to be leaders of Arab society. They didn't condemn October 7. We, as a government, are doing our part. I am choking the crime organizations financially. There is terrible crime in Arab society, and the previous government transferred a lot of money to them."

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Smotrich addressed the current tension with Iran: "President Trump would have very much wanted to make an agreement; he's trying. Our concern is with a bad agreement, and we are waiting."

However, he promised, "We will not be caught by surprise, but beyond that, I am waiting to see."

The Finance Minister also added that "To the best of my understanding, when the Prime Minister met with the President, there was an understanding between them that any agreement must eliminate the nuclear program, but also the missile leg and terrorist funding. Iran is not only threatening the State of Israel  it is threatening the entire West."

Regarding concerns about flying over the weekend, he replied, "I am one of those who always loves to stay in the Holy Land, but I wouldnt cancel weekend plans."
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has called for urgent dialogue within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over growing divisions tied to President William Rutos 2027 re-election bid.

Speaking during a press briefing with the Luo Council of Elders in Nairobi on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Mbadi warned that conflicting public statements from party leaders are fueling tension within the Luo community and the broader ODM party.

Internal Divisions Not New

Following a high-level meeting with the elders, Mbadi said the internal disagreements currently shaking ODM did not begin after the death of longtime party leader Raila Odinga in October 2025. He argued that the cracks had existed for years but remained subdued while Raila was alive.

I think the elders, first and foremost, are concerned about the unity of the Luo community, then the unity of ODM. And I will tell you that the things that you are seeing happening today did not start yesterday; they started when Raila was alive, although they were muted, Mbadi stated.

Mbadi took aim at a faction associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who was recently removed as ODM Secretary General by the partys National Executive Committee (NEC). He said opposition to backing President Ruto did not suddenly emerge after Railas passing.

This talk of not supporting President William Ruto by SG of the party (Edwin Sifuna) happened even when Raila was alive, only that it was muted because right now, a way of people actuallyI dont know whether to say respected or feared him at the same timeso it was not as loud, Mbadi added.

Long-Standing Opposition Within ODM

The Cabinet Secretary also referenced earlier statements by Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, noting that both had previously resisted working with the Ruto administration.

The same with James Orengo; he spoke even when Raila was alive that he did not want to work with them too. We know the same with Babu Owino; they said they did not want to work with him, but what we are telling them is, Can you come and tell us why you strongly feel that you want to go the other side?' the CS stated.

Mbadi challenged party members opposing cooperation with Ruto to present their case through formal ODM structures. He argued that Kenyas political landscape has effectively narrowed to two main camps, leaving little space for middle ground.

Because in Kenya there are just two political groupings, lets not lie to ourselves. So if you dont want to work with Ruto, who do you want to work with? You want to work with Wamunyoro (Rigathi Gachagua) and the rest? he asked.

We are saying come and tell us, come and try to convince us, Mbadi added.

Warning Over Rising Tensions

CS Mbadi cautioned that what he termed disjointed statements from ODM leaders are contributing to real-world instability. He revealed that the Luo Council of Elders had expressed concern about recent violence, including the death of a young man during the Linda Mwananchi political tour in Kitengela.

And these elders are saying this disjointed statement is causing tension to the extent Im told that the person who was lost in Kitengela was a Luo. I didnt know that, and Luos, we have lost lives. I dont think it is necessary at this time, Mbadi said.

But if there is anyone who thinks it is necessary, come and persuade us, the CS concluded.
A South Carolina pastor and his wife are facing heinous abuse allegations after forcing their adopted children to bury the family dog, moments after he killed the animal in front of them.

Police have also accused Myron Chorbajian, 73, and his wife, Kathleen Chorbajian, 71, of forcing the children to find their food in area dumpsters, and at night, making the children sleep inside trash cans.

Myron, the pastor at First Southern Methodist Church in Greenville, has been charged with two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill, 15 counts of unlawfully placing a child at risk or harm, and eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, according to records obtained from the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.

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Kathleen faces 10 counts of unlawfully placing a child at risk or harm stemming from her alleged failure to do anything to stop the years of abuse.

The Chorbajians' adopted kids first approached police in April 2025, claiming the abuse began in the 1980s.

Mom, Boyfriend Shot Kids With BB Guns While They Were Locked in Chicken Pen, Missouri Sheriff Says

After a brief investigation into the claims, the Chorbajians were arrested in May 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee, while attending a show at the Grand Ole Opry.

It took months to extradite the pair back to South Carolina, where they are both being held  him, without bond and her, on $12,000 bond.

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Charging documents allege Myron hit a naked child with a paddle 50 times and used a child with a belt to discipline the victim until the child lost consciousness. He is also alleged to have forced his kids to "search dumpsters and eat rotten and discarded food."

The pastor is also accused of sexually assaulting female children. Court filings also contend Myron shot the family dog to death in the kitchen of their home and then made one of the children bury it in a shallow grave.

Police said Kathleen allowed the abuse to go on, and never did anything to stop it.

WHNS was in court on Friday, February 13, for her first court appearance, and reported her attorney argued to the judge "this case is not as the state has advertised."

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Grandmother, Parents Charged After 2 Toddlers Hospitalized With Skull Fractures

The report does not name the attorney but said that the accusers have allowed their own children to stay at the Chorbajian home overnight.

"If Kathy and Myron were as bad as they say, why would they ever let their children stay with them, unsupervised, overnight? I think that's very important," the station quotes the attorney as saying.

Prosecutors countered Kathleen never reported the abuse and even invoked religious tenets to manipulate the kids they had adopted.

"This case is essentially about the weaponization of Christianity to justify the abuse of children," the state's attorney reportedly said, according to WHNS. "The time the abuse occurred, these victims were small children in foster care. They had nowhere else to go. These sadistic acts of abuse that were justified by religion against some of the most vulnerable members of our society, I don't know a situation where someone could present a more clearly present danger to the community."

If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit ChildHelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
For invasive reptile hunters in Florida, theres another predatory lizard on the radar. Nile monitors, native to Africa, are populating parts of the Sunshine State, and they can now be killed year-round without a permit or hunting license.

Mike Kimmel, the Python Cowboy, is known for targeting Floridas least-wanted invasive species, including Burmese pythons and green iguanas. Kimmel is now also targeting Nile monitors, which he refers to as a new and upcoming invasive species in a new YouTube video (above). The footage includes a past clip where he wrangled a roughly six-foot-long Monitor lizard with the help of his dog, Otto.

A Nile monitor is essentially like a smaller Komodo dragon, Kimmel says in the video. Its a predatory lizard and they dont mess around. Theyre not dumb. Theyre more like a python mixed with an iguana. Thats a good way to think of them.

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Kimmel owns Martin County Trapping and Wildlife Rescue, and he focuses his hunting efforts on Floridas southeast coast. But on the west side of the state, Nile monitors arent exactly new. Theyve been trapped in and around Cape Coral in Lee County for around 20 years.

In that 20-year timeframe, our environmental resources staff has caught several hundred lizards, close to 800 now, City of Cape Coral environmental biologist Harry Phillips told Outdoor Life in an email. There are pockets of them, but they are greatly diminished.

Phillips says Cape Coral hosts the largest population of the striped invasive lizards in the state. The area is also home Floridas largest population of burrowing owls. At nine inches tall, the burrowing owl is listed as threatened in Florida. They live in burrows and are active during the day. Niles have similar behaviors.

Nile monitors are large, aggressive predators that have expanded through Floridas canal systems. Photo by David / Adobe Stock

Nile monitors have a strict carnivorous appetite, Phillips says. Having a predator such as the Nile monitor in Florida is a detriment to native species, and a further threat to listed species such as gopher tortoises and burrowing owls.

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Originally added to Floridas prohibited species list in 2021, Nile monitor lizards are a semi-aquatic species that can survive on land near salt or freshwater. They eat bugs, fish, frogs, young crocodiles, birds and their eggs, as well as small mammals. Theyve also been known to attack small pets and livestock, such as chickens.

Nile monitor lizards are considered relocated exotics that have either been released or have escaped from captivity. They can grow up to 6.5 feet long and weigh nearly 20 pounds. They are fast runners that can reach around 18 miles an hour, and theyre strong swimmers, able to hold their breath underwater for roughly an hour. Their ability to survive in various habitats, including mangroves and marshes, has allowed them to expand through Floridas vast canal infrastructure.

Read Next: Can You Make a Living Hunting Pythons? We Asked Floridas Invasive Snake Contractors

South Floridas extensive canal system may provide dispersal corridors for the species, which tends to inhabit water edges, states Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in its regulatory status report. Current efforts by FWC include actively patrolling for and removing Nile monitors from known populations and responding rapidly to sightings of monitor species in new areas.

FWC encourages the public to report all Nile monitor sightings in the state, either by calling the agency or through an online mapping system.
By Heejin Kim

SEOUL, Feb 18 (Reuters) - South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said on Wednesday that three civilians had sent drones to North Korea on four occasions since President Lee Jae Myung took office last year, harming inter-Korean ties.

The trio flew the aircraft between September 2025 and January, Chung said, citing an ongoing investigation by police and the military. Drones crashed on two occasions in North Korea, in line with claims made by Pyongyang, he said.

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On two other attempts the drones returned to Paju, a border settlement in South Korea, after flying over Kaesong, a city in North Korea, Chung said.

South Korean authorities were investigating the three civilians on suspicion of violating the aviation safety act and breaching criminal law by benefiting the enemy, he said.

Some officials at South Korea's military intelligence agency and the National Intelligence Service were also under investigation for alleged involvement with the trio, he said.

"We express official regret to the North," Chung said, adding that the government was taking the drone incursion incidents very seriously.

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North Korea has reacted angrily, saying last month that drones from South Korea entered its airspace, after another intrusion in September.

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, urged Seoul to investigate the incident, warning provocations could result in "terrible situations."

Chung also expressed regret over South Korea sending 18 drones to North Korea under the direction of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol.

"It was an extremely dangerous incident aimed to induce an attack against South Korea by sending 18 drones on 11 occasions, to sensitive areas in North Korea including the airspace over the Workers' Party office," he said.

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South Korean prosecutors have indicted Yoon, who was ousted in April 2025, on charges that include aiding an enemy state.

They accused him and his military commanders of ordering a covert drone operation into the North to raise tensions and justify his martial law decree.

Yoon denies wrongdoing.

South Korea's government plans to strengthen penalties for sending drones to the North, Chung said, including up to a one-year jail term or a 10 million won ($6,928) fine.

A clause will also be added to South Korea's inter-Korean relations development act to block actions that heighten tensions on the peninsula, he said.

($1 = 1,443.6600 won)

(Reporting by Heejin KimEditing by Ed Davies)




SOUTH WINDSOR - A woman who faces larceny and other charges in South Windsor was part of a nationwide identity theft ring that used wigs and other disguises to drain victims' bank accounts, according to an arrest warrant.

Kimberly Maine, 54. of Troy, N.Y., was arrested last week and charged with first-degree larceny, first-degree identity theft and payment card theft.

The investigation began on July 16, 2021, when three women who had parked at Nevers Park reported their car windows had been smashed and purses, credit cards and other items stolen. One victim called police on July 22 to report her driver's license and ATM card were used at several Webster Bank locations to withdraw $27,850, police said.

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Over about 4 hours on July 19, video surveillance cameras at Webster locations in West Hartford, New Britain, Manchester and Glastonbury captured a female suspect in a newer model Ford Bronco withdrawing the victim's money, the warrant says. A bank representative told police that authorities in Blackstone, Mass., had identified a possible suspect, the warrant says.

Blackstone police arrested Maine in February 2023 after she tried to fraudulently withdraw money at a bank there, the South Windsor warrant says. In the vehicle she was driving, Blackstone police found numerous stolen IDs and credit cards, along with wigs and fugitive from justice paperwork, the warrant says.

Maine told Blackstone police she was part of the "Felony Lane Gang," a nationwide identity theft ring whose members use cars with heavily tinted windows and disguises to siphon money from victims' bank accounts, the warrant says.

Chealsea Groton Bank in Massachusetts warned customers last year about the gang that originated in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Gang members "target locations where it's likely to find a purse or bag left in the car, such as parks, beaches, post offices, or even daycares," the bank warned in an online notice.

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"The Felony Lane Gang will wait to see an individual (usually a woman) leave their car without their bag or purse, and break into their vehicle in an attempt to snag personal and confidential information," the bank warned. "If the break-in was successful, they will next coerce another individual to pose as the victim. Sometimes this person dresses up in wigs, glasses or hats. They are instructed to use a bank's farthest drive-thru lane and attempt to make a transaction."

When she was arrested in Blackstone, Mass., Maine had $9,716 in cash, the warrant says. Masslive reported in September 2023 that she pleaded guilty to 32 charges in Worcester County Superior Court after her arrest in Blackstone. Masslive also cited a federal criminal complaint that said Maine was suspected of perpetrating identity theft and bank fraud at institutions in Ohio, Virginia, New York, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Surveillance footage from the South Windsor case matched Maine's New York state ID and the booking photo from Blackstone police, South Windsor police said. Department spokesperson Lt. Mark Cleverdon said Maine was extradited from Florida, where she was incarcerated on similar charges. She was being held on a $75,000 bond for an appearance scheduled for March 26 in state Superior Court in Manchester, according to court records.

A check of Maine's criminal history in Connecticut showed Greenwich police charged her with identity theft in February 2017, and she was sentenced to 18 months in prison in August 2017 after pleading guilty to the charge, according to court records.

This article originally published at Woman arrested in CT part of crime ring known for wigs and disguises in thefts across US, police say.
Ukraine has imposed a new package of sanctions against Belaruss leader, Alexander Lukashenko, for helping Russia to sustain its war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 18.

"We will significantly step up efforts to counter all forms of his facilitation of the killing of Ukrainians. We will work with our partners so that this has a global effect," Zelensky said.

Russia reportedly deployed a network of drone-control relay systems in Belarus in late 2025 that expanded its ability to strike northern Ukrainian oblasts, including Kyiv and Volyn. These systems enabled some attacks on energy and rail infrastructure that otherwise "would not have been possible," according to Zelensky.

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More than 3,000 Belarusian companies, Zelensky added, are supplying Russia with machinery and components, including parts used to manufacture missiles.

Russia is also building infrastructure on Belarusian territory for the future deployment of its Oreshnik missile, which Zelensky noted was "an obvious threat not only to Ukrainians but to all Europeans."

"Lukashenko has for quite some time been trading Belaruss sovereignty for the continuation of his personal power, helping the Russians circumvent global sanctions over this aggression, actively justifying Russias war, and now further increasing his own participation in scaling up and prolonging the war," Zelensky said. "There will be special consequences for this."

The move to punish Lukashenko for aiding Russia's war effort has come amid U.S. President Donald Trump's easing of some U.S. sanctions against Belarus. The diplomatic thaw between the U.S. and Belarus led to the release of multiple political prisoners.

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Belarus was also invited to join Trumps so-called Gaza Peace Board, created to oversee a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas brokered by the U.S. last October.

Read also: Youll die here  Belarusian political prisoners recount experiences ahead of Lukashenkos reelection

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)

The union representing St. Mary Medical Centers nurses in Middletown called off an informational picket line set for this week after they reached a tentative agreement early Feb. 17.

St. Mary United Nurses Unions, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP), planned picketing and a rally with elected officials Feb. 18.

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In the wee hours this morning, 630 frontline nurses at St. Mary Medical Center in Bucks County came together to reach a tentative agreement on a 3-year contract  their second  with hospital management, the unit said in a statement.

A ratification vote on the contract is set for later this week.

Jason Griffith, spokesman for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, said the negotiations were "productive."

"St. Mary Medical Center and The Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) today agreed to a tentative agreement," he said in an emailed statement. "The agreement is in the best interest of our colleagues and patients, with a focus on supporting our nurses in their essential role, while ensuring that our hospital continues to deliver exceptional patient care in support of our mission to serve as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities."

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Union leaders said they were negotiating over unsafe staffing, recruitment and retention of nurses, health care benefits and what they called respect.

The hospital hasnt honored or recognized in any way the commitment of their nursing staff. Instead, they have targeted our unions elected officers and unit leaders, specifically for their union roles, they said in a statement.

From the 2020 strike On the strike line with St. Mary's nurses  tears and determination

St, Mary Medical Center nurses strike over staffing and wages in Nov. 2020.

Debbi Bozeman, a nurse at St. Marys surgical, orthopedics and trauma unit, said staff members are overworked.

We come to work every day to provide the best care for our patients, she said in a statement. You cant do that with a 6-patient assignment on med surg, and you certainly cant do that with a 3-patient assignment in the ICU, yet thats what management expects us to do.

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St. Mary Medical Center is owned by Trinity Health, headquartered in Livonia, Illinois.

It's among the largest Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation, operating 92 hospitals and 109 continuing care locations in more than 25 states.

JD Mullane can be reached at jmullane@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Why St. Mary nurses union halted planned picketing
PENNSYLVANIA  A woman who was allegedly kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend in Butler, Pennsylvania, was protected by staff after she ran into a store to escape him, video of the incident shows.

Video footage from Butler Tobacco & Grocery shows a U-Haul van pulling up outside the store, and a woman running with a limp from the vehicle on Feb. 14.

More Local News

Tori Adams, a worker at the store, told Action News 4 that the woman had blood on her face, torn clothing, and was screaming that she had been kidnapped.

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According to a police report shared with Action News 4, the woman said she was involved in a fight with Kenneth Clarke, in which he strangled her and shoved her into a wall before throwing her into the U-Haul truck and driving away with a pair of scissors held to her.

The woman told police she decided to run when Clarke told her he would kill her.

Footage from inside the store shows Adams chasing Clarke out of the shop after he followed the victim inside.

He kept yelling at me, and I just, I kept charging towards him, Adams told Action News 4. All I knew was like this girl with battered, bloody, and sitting in my back room.

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More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

Clarke was taken into custody with multiple charges including kidnapping, aggravated assault, strangulation and terroristic threats.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
NEED TO KNOW

A 31- year-old man has been sentenced to 3 years in prison for permanently tattooing a group of young children, believing the inkings were temporary

Patrick Coe was described as "staggeringly stupid" by Judge Sarah Mallett during his sentencing

"His claim that the small designs would fade had proved to be false, Mallett added

A man has been jailed for permanently tattooing a group of young children in England.

Patrick Coe, 31, from Newcastle, approximately 280 miles north of London, was sentenced to three years in prison for permanently tattooing three young children, believing he was temporarily tattooing them, the BBC and local newspaper The Chronicle reported.

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The defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of child cruelty and was given a ten-year restraining order at Newcastle Crown Court, per the outlets.

During court testimony, Coe  who left one of the children permanently disfigured  was called staggeringly stupid." According to the BBC, he used his own home kit to tattoo the children, leaving them in pain.

The children complained of being in pain while Coe was tattooing them, and his claim that the small designs would fade had proved to be false, judge Sarah Mallett said, per the BBC.

Tattoo machine Getty

The children were sent to the hospital for medical tests to detect possible infections and received preventative antibiotics for hepatitis B and tetanus, per The Chronicle.

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When confronted about the tattoos, Coe initially claimed he didn't see anything wrong with what he had done, Mallet told the court. He has since shown remorse for his actions, she noted, per the BBC.

According to The Chronicle, one of the victims suffered a minor infection and is currently receiving therapy following the traumatic incident.

The second child said they were told the tattoo was temporary and it would come off. They had several injections and blood tests afterwards and suffered "significant anxiety and distress" as a result. The third victim was left "upset and scared" and is also in need of therapy after the incident, Mallet said, per The Chronicle.

Patrick Coe has been sentenced to three years in prison for permanently tattooing three children Northumbria Police

The children didn't choose to have a permanent tattoo. They were put at risk by you giving them tattoos. They are visibly marked with a permanent reminder of you and this, said Mallett, per The Chronicle.

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"This was a staggeringly stupid and foolish thing to do and also a very harmful thing to do, she added.

Coes attorney, Brian Hegarty, said that he didnt intend to cause the victims pain. "He does now appreciate what he did was incredibly stupid and should not have happened, he said, per the BBC.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

PEOPLE has contacted the Newcastle Crown Court for comment, but didn't immediately receive a response.



Read the original article on People
Jack Greiner is a Cincinnati attorney. He represents Enquirer Media in First Amendment and media issues.

I will not use this column to list all the terms  favorable and unfavorable  people have used to describe Donald Trump. The list would be too long and many of the terms unprintable. But I will offer up one that hasn't been used much  "vexatious."

I realize that "vexatious" sounds like one of those fragrances you see on commercials, featuring some beautiful model with a breathy voice shilling the tiny, overpriced bottle. But that's not what it is. Both federal and state laws address "vexatious litigators." Websters defines "vexatious" as "causing or tending to cause annoyance, frustration or worry."

Under the United States Code, a "vexatious litigator" is one who "multiplies the proceedings in any case unreasonably and vexatiously." In Ohio, a "vexatious litigator" is one who "has habitually, persistently, and without reasonable grounds engaged in vexatious conduct in a civil action or actions . . . whether the vexatious conduct was against the same party or against different parties in the civil action or actions."

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I realize that President Trump isn't a lawyer, and he has others do his legal bidding for him. But let's not kid ourselves; he's pulling the strings. So let's review some recent criminal cases initiated by the Trump administration that highlight the president's vexatious leanings:

Letitia James, the New York prosecutor who successfully prosecuted Trump for fraud, had a federal indictment against her dismissed in a Virginia federal court. When prosecutors tried to indict her again, the grand jury refused.

James Comey, the former FBI director, saw charges for perjury and obstructing justice dismissed due to the illegal appointment of Lindsey Halligan as U.S. attorney. No other U.S. attorney in the office was willing to bring the "case" to the grand jury.

U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin had a grand jury decline to indict them for advising soldiers of their right to refuse unlawful orders.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University, saw an immigration judge dismiss efforts to deport her, finding there were no grounds for deportation.

On the civil side, Trump has not fared much better, with courts shutting down his legal overreach:

The court dismissed a $15 billion defamation suit against the New York Times, finding it "decidedly improper and impermissible."

The Wall Street Journal has filed a motion to dismiss Trump's defamation lawsuit over his birthday card to his pal Jeffrey Epstein. No ruling yet, but it's hard to imagine this one not getting tossed, particularly as more damning information is unearthed in the Epstein files.

The BBC will likely be filing a motion to dismiss Trump's defamation suit for its production of a documentary about January 6. There are a host of legal hurdles Trump will have to overcome to keep this one alive.

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A service called PACER collects data on cases filed in federal courts across the country. A quick look reveals 17 civil cases Trump has filed in the Southern District of Florida alone. That sounds kind of "habitual" and "persistent" to me.

The federal vexatious litigator statute allows the court to impose sanctions on a case by case basis for vexatious conduct. But Trump is lucky he's not in Ohio. That statute allows a court to ban a vexatious litigator from instituting legal actions in any Ohio courts. It's sort of an "enough is enough" statute. Maybe Congress should consider it.

Jack Greiner is a Cincinnati attorney. He represents Enquirer Media in First Amendment and media issues.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Strictly Legal | Donald Trump, our vexatious litigator in chief
CAIRO (AP)  Strikes on a market in central Sudan 's Kordofan region killed at least 28 people and wounded dozens, said a rights group on Monday, as the war between the army and a paramilitary group nears its three-year mark.

Emergency Lawyers, a rights group tracking violence against civilians, said in a statement that drones bombed a market in Sudri locality in North Kordofan province on Sunday, during a time the market was bustling with civilians, "exacerbating the humanitarian tragedy. The group said the number of casualties was likely to rise.

The repeated use of drones to target populated areas shows a grave disregard for civilian lives and signals an escalation that threatens what remains of daily life in the province. Therefore, we demand an immediate halt to drone attacks by both sides of the conflict, the statement said.

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Emergency Lawyers said on X that drones belonging to the army targeted the market on Sunday. However, two military officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to brief the media, told The Associated Press that the army doesnt target civilian infrastructure and denied the attack.

Over a week ago, a drone close to the city of Rahad in North Kordofan hit a vehicle carrying displaced families, killing at least 24 people, including eight children. A day before that attack, a World Food Program aid convoy was targeted.

The fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese military erupted into a full-blown war across the country in April 2023. So far, at least 40,000 people have been killed and 12 million displaced, according to the World Health Organization. Aid groups say the true war death toll could be many times higher, as the fighting in vast and remote areas impedes access.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said recently the Kordofan region remains volatile and a focus of hostilities as the warring parties vie for control of strategic areas.

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Both warring parties have been accused of atrocities.

The U.N. Human Rights Office issued a report on Friday saying that more than 6,000 people were killed in over three days when the RSF unleashed a wave of intense violence  shocking in its scale and brutality in Sudans Darfur region in late October.

The RSF's offensive to capture the city of el-Fasher, that used to be a military stronghold, in late October included widespread atrocities that amounted to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, according to the U.N.
Salaried employees across Kenya can now file their annual tax returns with greater ease, thanks to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)s new Simplified Return feature on the iTax platform.

On Tuesday, February 17, KRA urged employed Kenyans to take advantage of the update, which is designed specifically for individuals whose only income comes from employment.

Previously, filing income tax returns required navigating complex Excel sheetsa time-consuming and often frustrating process. The latest update eliminates the Excel requirement entirely.

Employed Kenyans, listen up! Filing taxes just got easier. No more wrestling with Excel sheets, use Simplified Returns on iTax! Its quick, simple, and totally hassle-free, KRA noted.

How the Simplified Return Works

The iTax system now automatically populates salary and tax details based on information submitted by employers. Taxpayers only need to confirm whether they have additional reliefs or deductible expenses.

According to KRA, individuals paying a mortgage or holding an insurance policy eligible for tax relief can select Yes and enter the relevant details. Those without such reliefs can simply choose No and proceed.

The feature comes with pre-filled information, including the taxpayers Personal Identification Number (PIN), employment income, and all taxes already deducted, streamlining the filing process and reducing errors.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filing Simplified Returns

Visit kra.go.ke and log in to the iTax platform using your National ID number. Navigate to the Returns tab and select Simplified Returns. Click Income Tax Return (ITR) for employment income only. Select the period of filing and click Next. A document with pre-filled details will appear.

This system eliminates the need to manually input most information, saving time and reducing mistakes. The simplified process is primarily aimed at employees earning income from a single employer who do not have additional sources of income, such as business or rental earnings.

KRA Introduces Phased Income Tax Returns Filing

The simplified return rollout comes just two weeks after KRA announced a phased filing approach for the 2026 income tax cycle.

In a statement released on February 5, KRA said the phased filing system aims to make tax submission easier, faster, and more personalized for millions of taxpayers.

The approach addresses the last-minute rush that typically overwhelms taxpayers and the iTax system each year. Under the new system, taxpayers will be grouped based on income complexity, and KRA will send SMS and email notifications to guide users on when and how to file.

This combined effort makes tax filing more efficient, reduces errors, and ensures that salaried employees can meet their obligations without the usual stress.
Some residents in Reese Hall saw temperatures rise to 90 degrees in their dorm rooms. The University of Tennessee students started expressing their frustrations with the uncomfortable living situation.

"You're door room is where you live, so living conditions are very important," Addison Hewitt, a resident in Reese Hall, said. "When you're constantly uncomfortable, it messes with how you're able to study and do homework and stuff, and it messes with your sleep."

Hewitt said she avoids her room as much as possible and often goes to her friends' apartments because she has such a difficult time sleeping with the heat.

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"You're up like five different times, kicking off your sheets and everything, it's just super uncomfortable," Hewitt said. "It's a small space too, so that heat's trapped. There's absolutely no airflow like at all, especially when you turn your heat off."

Other residents echo the concerns of Hewitt. Gabrielle Bailey said it's not just her sleep that is affected  it's her privacy.

"They told us to prop our doors open," Bailey said. "Even when people are showering and stuff, their doors are propped open."

Residents brought their concerns to the Reese Hall GroupMe chat, with students saying they have gone to urgent care and have gotten sick because of how hot their rooms are.

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One student wrote:

"It is genuinely so hot in our rooms we can barely breathe. As much as I pay to live here I should not have to 'put cold cloths on my neck' because the AC isn't on."

Another student wrote:

I"s there someone that's above y'all that I can talk to? I haven't slept in a week and had to get a steroid pack because it gets too hot in here even with two fans continuously running, heat off, and window open."

Reese Hall residence assistants said residents are more than welcome to reach out to head staff, but they don't believe they can do much, as it is state law. Instead, this is what was recommended:

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1. Use fans (the bigger the better).

2. Use wet washcloths to help cool yourself down.

3. Drink plenty of water.

4. Cool your bed down with ice packs.

5. Open your door to the hallway.

6. If possible, spend time in the community spaces (basement, lobby, etc.) because they are cooler.

I hope some of these can help you feel more comfortable in the building.

Students took their concerns to the anonymous social media site, Yik Yak, which residents say got aggressive. The GroupMe chain was ultimately deleted, which students said they were told was a result of cyberbullying.

"I know it did get like harsher, but I think it's literally just because we were like grasping at straws trying to get people's attention to like fix the situation because it's so uncomfortable," Hewitt said.

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University Housing also sent us a statement regarding the heating situation.

"Reese Hall and other residence halls operate on a two-pipe steam heating and cooling system that require manual adjustments as outdoor temperatures fluctuate. Because this type of system uses the same piping for both heating and cooling, adjustments from heat to cool take time to take full effect in the residence halls. Last week due to warmer weather patterns, University Housing stopped circulating hot water through the system, which essentially turned the heat off. We continually monitor conditions and make changes as needed."

Gabby Bolan, another resident in Reese Hall, said she hasn't experienced extreme heat, but she and her roommates find themselves jealous of friends in other dorms.

"A lot of our friends live in these really nice dorms and sometimes, you know, it's not fair that they get all of these brand new laundry rooms, perfect AC and heating and everything," Bolan said.

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Bella Osborne also hasn't experienced the extreme heat others have, but she has still had to make adjustments.

"I actually had to borrow one of my friend's fans, like an oscillating fan from my friend, because I had no idea that this was gonna be the living experience that me and my roommate had to deal with," Osborne said. "I do sympathize with the other people that have really bad heat."

People like Hewitt, who says her day-to-day is affected by her living situation.

"It's annoying knowing that people get to live comfortably and we're stuck like this," Hewitt said. "Still paying thousands of dollars."
It has been more than 65 years since Cubas communist government came to power and confiscated large swaths of assets owned by U.S. businesses in Cuba. On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a pair of cases brought by two of those U.S. businesses, which are seeking to recover those decades-old losses under a 1996 law that targets the Cuban regime.

The law at the center of both cases is the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, also known as the LIBERTAD Act or as the Helms-Burton Act, after its sponsors. Title III of the Helms-Burton Act allows U.S. nationals to bring lawsuits in federal court against anyone who traffics in property which was confiscated by the Cuban Government on or after January 1, 1959.

Another provision of the law gives the president the power to suspend the right to bring a lawsuit when he believes that doing so is necessary to the national interests of the United States and will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba. Presidents repeatedly suspended the right to bring a lawsuit until President Donald Trump in 2019 opted not to renew the suspension.

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The first case on Monday, Havana Docks Corporation v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, was filed in Florida in 2019 against four cruise lines  Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival, and MSC. Havana Docks, a U.S. company, alleged that between 2016 and June 2019 the cruise lines had trafficked in property that had belonged to Havana Docks  specifically, the companys right to use and operate the Havana Cruise Port Terminal, which the Cuban government confiscated in 1960.

A federal district judge in Miami entered judgments of over $100 million against each of the four cruise lines. The cruise lines then appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, which  by a vote of 2-1  reversed.

In his opinion for the majority, which was joined by Chief Judge William Pryor, Judge Adalberto Jordan pointed to what he characterized as Havana Docks limited property interest in the use and operation of the docks, which was only intended to last until 2004, well before the alleged trafficking by the cruise lines occurred. We do not believe, Jordan concluded, that Congress, in enacting Title III, meant to convert property interests which were temporally limited at the time of their confiscation into complete and permanent property interests such that the holders of such limited interests could assert trafficking claims through what Buzz Lightyear called infinity and beyond.

Judge Andrew Brasher disagreed, calling the majoritys decision counterfactual. Nothing in the statute, he wrote, requires that a claimant establish that, absent the confiscation, it would have a current, present day property interest in its stolen property.

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Havana Docks asked the Supreme Court to weigh in, which it agreed to do last year. In its brief on the merits, the company emphasized that it built, owned, and operated Havanas dock facilities pursuant to promises that it could recover its costs by operating the docks for at least a 99-year period, anticipated to end in 2024 if not extended, with the additional promise from the Cuban government that it would receive compensation for the full value of those facilities if the docks were seized.

Between December 2015 and June 2019, the company wrote, the four cruise lines between them brought more than 1 million tourists to the docks in Havana. For that, Havana Docks said, the cruise lines paid the Cuban government more than $130 million, while taking in more than $1 billion. Havana Docks, it stressed, received nothing.

Havana Docks contended that the text of the Helms-Burton Act should make this an easy case. The act, it wrote, creates liability for trafficking in confiscated property to anyone  such as Havana Docks  who owns a claim certified in 1971 by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, a government agency set up to hear claims against foreign governments. The interests of U.S. companies like Havana Docks, it said, remain property which was confiscated because Cuba stole them, and Title IIIs protections continue from enactment to this day and beyond until U.S. nationals claims are satisfied.

By contrast, Havana Docks wrote, the rule established by the court of appeals provides only fleeting and incomplete protection for U.S. nationals claims. Nothing in the Acts text or intended operation requires the claimholder to prove it would have possessed a present interest in the property when trafficked, Havana Docks contended. To the contrary, it argued, [t]he text of the statute says that the trafficking must occur when a plaintiff owns the claim, not when the plaintiff would have owned the property.

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The Trump administration, which filed a friend of the court brief supporting Havana Docks, echoed the companys arguments. It told the justices that when Congress passed the Helms-Burton Act, the commission had already certified claims for many interests confiscated in Cuba, though the underlying property interests often would have expired. Yet under the court of appeals analysis, the right of action for those claim owners would have ceased to exist before Title III was ever adopted. It is implausible, U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote, that Congress expressly included such interests within the statute while simultaneously precluding any suit based on the existing claims.

In their brief, the cruise lines responded that [e]veryone on this side of the bay agrees that Havana Docks should get paid for what was taken from it. The problem, the cruise lines argued, is that the company is seeking to recovermultiple times overfor the loss of property rights it never owned from entities that did not visit the property until years after the concession expired for purposes unrelated to HDCs right to use the property.

For the cruise lines, the answers to two key questions determine whether a company can recover under this provision of the Helms-Burton Act: first, what property interest did the Cuban government take from the plaintiff; and did the defendant traffic in that confiscated property interest?

Here, the cruise lines argued, both answers lead to the conclusion that Havana Docks cannot seek damages from the cruise lines. As an initial matter, the property interest that Havana Docks owned was a narrow one: the non-exclusive right to run cargo operations at the port of Havana until 2004. After that, the cruise lines said, Havana Docks simply had no entitlement to profit from use of the docks for cargo servicesconfiscation or not. Moreover, the cruise lines continued, their use of the docks from 2016-2019 to load and unload passengers could not have infringed on Havana Docks property interest or violated Title III.

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The cruise lines pushed back against Havana Docks suggestion that the dispute effectively hinges on the FCSCs certification of Havana Docks claim back in 1971. Although the Helms-Burton Act assigns FCSC claims a critical role, they acknowledged, Congress did not create liability for trafficking in FCSC claims; it created liability for trafficking in confiscated property itself. And in any event, the cruise lines continued, the claim that the FCSC certified specifically recognized that the Cuban government had confiscated a limited property interest  a concession for the construction and operation of wharves and warehouses in the harbor of Havana, which was to expire in the year 2004. No one would have or even could have intervened in those proceedings on the theory that, someday in the future, they would be a defendant under a future statute.

The second case slated for argument on Monday, Exxon Mobil v. Corporacion Cimex (Cuba), stems from the Cuban governments confiscation in 1960 of oil and gas assets  including a 35,000-barrel-per-day refinery and more than 100 service stations  belonging to subsidiaries owned by Exxon (then known as Standard Oil). Exxon has never received any compensation for that confiscation.

Exxon brought a lawsuit in 2019 in federal court in Washington, D.C., under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act against three entities owned by the Cuban government, contending that they violated the law by trafficking in confiscated property owned by Exxon  by (among other things) extracting, importing, and refining crude oil, and operating service stations using property that had been owned by the Exxon subsidiaries.

The Cuban companies asked the federal district court to dismiss the case, contending that they were shielded from suit under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which generally bars lawsuits in U.S. courts against foreign governments and their agenc[ies] and instrumentalit[ies]. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that the Helms-Burton Act does not itself trump the FSIA; instead, he wrote, Exxon would have to show that an exception to the FSIA applied.

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The FSIAs expropriation exception, which allows lawsuits to go forward in cases involving property rights taken in violation of international law when there is a connection between the defendant, the expropriated property, and some kind of commercial activity in the United States, did not apply, Mehta concluded.

However, Mehta continued, the FSIAs commercial activity exception, which allows lawsuits that are (among other things) based on a foreign act taken in connection with a commercial activity by a defendant outside the United States that caused a direct effect in the United States, did apply to one of the Cuban companies because of its operation of gas stations in Cuba that process money transfers from U.S. residents to Cuba and sell products imported from the United States.

A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit agreed that the FSIA generally bars lawsuits against Cuban state-owned companies in U.S. courts, so that Exxon needed to show that an exception to the FSIA applied, and that the expropriation exception does not apply. But in an opinion by Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, the majority sent the case back to the district court for another look at whether the Cuban companys money transfers and sales of U.S. goods at its gas stations have effects in the United States and whether the effects are sufficiently direct.

Senior Judge Raymond Randolph dissented. He would have held that it did not matter whether any of the exceptions to the FSIA applied because Title III, considered alone, deprives the Cuban defendants of immunity from suit.

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Exxon went to the Supreme Court, which agreed last year to take up its case. Before it can withdraw sovereign immunity, the company acknowledged, Congress must speak clearly. But the text of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act does exactly that, Exxon wrote, by specifically authorizing suits against any agency or instrumentality of a foreign state.

Less than three years ago, in Department of Agriculture Rural Development Rural Housing Service v. Kirtz, Exxon continued, the Supreme Court held that Congress waives sovereign immunity when it creates a cause of action that expressly authorizes suits for money damages against federal or state governments. The same principle applies to foreign governments in the Helms-Burton Act, Exxon insisted: Title III authorizes damages actions against any person, expressly defined to include any agency or instrumentality of a foreign state. It is notable, Exxon added, that the same Congress that enacted the law at issue in Kirtz passed Title III. Moreover, the company continued, quoting the court, Congress does not expressly authorize a suit against a sovereign with one hand, only to bar it with another.

Title III contains other clues that it trumps the general presumption against sovereign immunity created by the FSIA, Exxon wrote. For example, several provisions presume that plaintiffs will sue Cuban defendants and win judgment[s] against an agency or instrumentality of the Cuban Government. Such judgments of course will not arise unless plaintiffs can obtain jurisdiction.

Finally, Exxon concluded, the purpose of Title III was to provide a fully effective judicial remedy for Americans whose property was seized by the Castro regime and is still being exploited by Cuban state-owned enterprises. If those U.S. companies must satisfy an exception to the FSIA before they can go to court, Exxon argued, it would legally bar many claims and would erect near-insurmountable practical barriers for most of the rest.

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The Trump administration filed a friend of the court brief in which it agreed with Exxon that [p]laintiffs may sue Cuban agencies and instrumentalities under Title III of the LIBERTAD Act without separately satisfying an exception to foreign sovereign immunity in the FSIA. Sauer told the justices that President Trump has determined that Title III suits are an invaluable foreign-policy tool. This Court should reverse the judgment below and allow Title III to work as Congress intendedto promote accountability for the Cuban governments unlawful expropriations by exposing its agencies and instrumentalities to suit for trafficking in expropriated property, thus depriving that government of its ill-gotten gains.

The Cuban companies, urging the court to leave the D.C. Circuits decision in place, agreed that Helms-Burton is far-ranging legislation with ambitious goals, including political change in Cuba and compensation for U.S. nationals who lost property there. But in enacting Title III, the companies said, Congress provided a cause of action, not a guarantee of success.

One problem with Exxons argument that Title III eliminates the FSIAs general presumption of immunity, the Cuban companies argued, is that it does not distinguish between companies owned by Cuba and those owned by other foreign countries  so that Title III would also strip other state-owned companies of immunity from suit. Moreover, the Cuban companies continued, Title IIIs broad definition of trafficking  which includes the use of confiscated property, commercial activities that use or benefit from confiscated property, or profiting from trafficking by someone else  would easily reach companies owned by other foreign countries beyond Cuba. Indeed, the Cuban companies suggested, companies owned by myriad countries  ranging from Argentina and Brazil to China and Singapore  are commercially engaged with Cuba and therefore exposed to Title III lawsuits.

Nor does the Supreme Courts decision in Kirtz, the Cuban companies argued, lead inescapably to the conclusion that Congress intended to supplant immunity under the FSIA with Title III. Instead, it is limited to the common-sense notion that Congress does not enact dead-letters, statutory causes of action dead on arrival, the companies wrote. But in this case, even when Title III and FSIA are read together, there are still opportunities for companies whose properties were confiscated to bring lawsuits in U.S. courts, if they can satisfy either the expropriation exception or the commercial-activity exception. Retaining FSIA immunity would thus not render meaningless application of the cause of action to instrumentalities because they enjoy only restrictive, not absolute, immunity.

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Finally, the Cuban companies contended, history shows that if Congress had wanted to change the immunity that foreign countries and state-owned companies enjoy, it would have done so by expressly amending the FSIA. The FSIAs immunity from suit provisions have been amended fifteen times, its execution immunity provisions twelve, the Cuban companies stressed. Exxon and the federal government, the Cuban companies wrote, are free to ask Congress for an amendment creating a Title III immunity exception. Indeed, they noted, such an amendment was proposed for Title III cases but was withdrawn after strong Administration objections.

For more Supreme Court news and analysis, visit SCOTUSblog.

Read more at SCOTUSblog 
(FOX 5/KUSI)  A San Diego family is asking for the publics help in identifying a hit-and-run driver who severely injured a 22-year-old man and killed the familys dog on Valentines Day in the Emerald Hills neighborhood.

The crash happened just after 10 p.m. Saturday as Eduardo Ramos was crossing Roswell Street with the familys 10-year-old Chihuahua, Sylinica, relatives said.

Surveillance video provided by the family shows a dark-colored sedan traveling at a high rate of speed and blowing through a stop sign before striking Ramos and the dog. Another angle captures the vehicle speeding down Roswell Street moments before the collision.

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The impact left Ramos lying in the roadway with severe injuries to his legs, head and lower spine. Family members who heard the crash rushed outside. His father, Mauricio Ramos, said he arrived home minutes later to find his youngest of five children critically hurt.

I was in shock and upset, Mauricio Ramos said. How could a person hit and just take off?

Sylinica was killed in the crash.

Eduardo Ramos has already undergone surgery on his legs, including the placement of a metal plate and screws, his father said. Doctors told the family his recovery could take at least six months, and additional procedures may be required.

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They put a plate on his leg with screws and fixed all the broken stuff, and it went successfully, Mauricio Ramos said. But the doctor said this might be six months for recovery.

Mauricio Ramos said he recently underwent heart surgery himself and is trying to stay strong for his family as medical bills mount. Relatives have created an online fundraiser to help cover expenses during Eduardos recovery.

The crash occurred about 100 yards from the familys home.

The family is urging the driver to come forward.

Please turn yourself in, Mauricio Ramos said. Its going to haunt you forever. Take responsibility for what you did to my son.

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San Diego police are investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Al-Hol, near the Iraqi border, was one of the main detention camps for relatives of suspected Islamic State fighters who were detained during the US-backed campaign against the jihadist group.

Fewer than 1,000 families remain at a camp where relatives of suspected Islamic State terrorists had been held in Syria's northeast, the camp's former director said on Wednesday, with thousands having fled last month as government forces seized control of the area from Kurdish-led fighters.

Al-Hol, near the Iraqi border, was one of the main detention camps for relatives of suspected Islamic State fighters who were detained during the US-backed campaign against the jihadist group in Syria.

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Control of the camp changed hands last month when government forces under President Ahmed al-Sharaa seized swathes of the northeast from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, including several jails holding Islamic State fighters.

The US military said last week it had completed a mission to transfer 5,700 adult male Islamic State detainees to Iraq.

Jihan Hanna, the former director who still coordinates with international agencies and the Syrian government, told Reuters the remaining families were Syrian nationals and were being transferred to a camp in Aleppo. Most of the camps foreign nationals had fled, she said.

DETAINEES GATHER at al-Hol camp after the Syrian government took control of it following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Hasaka, Syria, January 21, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI/FILE PHOTO)

The Syrian government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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According to the latest camp data obtained by Reuters, dated January 19 - a day before the government took control of the camp - its population was 6,639 families comprising 23,407 people, mostly Syrians and Iraqis, as well as 6,280 foreigners from more than 40 nationalities.

UNHCR advised not to enter detention camp due to 'unrest and anxiety'

UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said it had observed "a significant decrease in the number of residents in al-Hol camp in recent weeks," adding in a statement to Reuters that there were no confirmed figures on the remaining population.

"Over the weekend the camp administration advised UNHCR not to enter the camp due to the unrest and anxiety in the camp," UNHCR added.

The Syrian government accused the SDF of withdrawing from al-Hol on January 20 without any coordination.

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The SDF, in a statement that day, said its forces had been "compelled to withdraw from al-Hol camp and redeploy to areas surrounding cities in northern Syria that are facing increasing risks and threats."

A Syrian government security source said most people in the camp fled that day during a five-hour period when it was unguarded, and that some had left with men who came to take their relatives to unknown destinations.

The security source and a source from a non-governmental organization working there said a section of the camp that housed its most dangerous residents, known as the annex, was empty.

The security source said the escapees had spread throughout Syria and that security authorities, working in cooperation with international partners, had established a unit to "follow up on the matter and pursue those who are wanted."

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Some have left Syria.

In Lebanon, the army has questioned more than a dozen Lebanese who crossed illegally from Syria after leaving al-Hol, a Lebanese security source said.

The Syrian governments Directorate of International Cooperation said on Tuesday that hundreds of people, mostly women and children, had been transferred from al-Hol to a newly prepared camp near the town of Akhtarin in northern Aleppo.
The Tacoma man who fatally shot a 56-year-old man outside a club on South Tacoma Way when the shooter intervened in a physical confrontation involving his brother has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Joice Duane Williams pleaded guilty to much-reduced charges of two counts of third-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm as part of a plea bargain amid disputed evidence of self-defense.

His defense attorney argued in court documents that surveillance video showed the victim, Reginald Taylor, was armed with a knife, and that the defendants brother was stabbed during the May 8, 2022 incident. Only after Taylor continued to advance on the brothers, according to the defense, did Williams pull a handgun and shoot Taylor once.

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Prosecutors  who originally charged Williams with first- and second-degree murder and second-degree assault  said no witnesses saw a knife. A Pierce County Superior Court judge wrote in an October order that the video was not definitive as to whether Taylor was armed as the defense asserted. A knife was never recovered.

Superior Court Judge Susan Adams sentenced Williams Feb. 10, giving him prison terms beyond the standard sentencing range for each offense. She ordered Williams to serve time for each conviction consecutively rather than tolling at the same time. That was in line with recommendations agreed upon by prosecutors and the defense.

Williams was given five years for assaulting Taylor, three years for assaulting his friend  by pointing a gun at him  and 10 years for unlawfully possessing a firearm.

Taylors aunt wrote in a victim-impact statement that her nephew was a source of life to those who knew him, and one of his greatest passions was music as a DJ. Taylor was a father to six children.

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His death has left a void in our family, the aunt wrote. The pain of losing him in such a violent way was something we live with each and every day.

In a letter to the court, Williams, 49, expressed profound remorse for Taylors death and the harm caused to his family, according to his defense attorney, Emily Gause.

This is not a situation I ever wanted to happen, Williams wrote. It is very emotional. I have sat in jail for the past 40 months playing it over and over in my mind for how it may have gone differently.

Self-defense claims complicated case

A guilty plea avoided risks for Williams and prosecutors.

Had the defendant gone to trial on the murder charges and been convicted, he would have faced a mandatory punishment of life in prison without parole under Washingtons three strikes law. Williams was convicted of first-degree burglary in 2012 and second-degree manslaughter in 2002, both of which are strike offenses.

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Prosecutors said they had concerns about disproving Williams claims of self-defense and defense of others beyond a reasonable doubt.

While the State feels that there is a valid argument supported by evidence to disprove the defense, that evidence is very much subject to interpretation by the jurors, deputy prosecuting attorney Brad Hashimoto wrote in a court filing asking the court to accept the amended charges.

Hashimoto said Williams brother would have testified that he was stabbed by Taylor, and evidence would have been presented that the brother went to the hospital the day after the incident to be treated for a small cut in his side. Hashimoto said prosecutors would have made points to attack the brothers credibility, but given the circumstances and the states interpretation of the totality of the evidence, they were concerned about disproving the defenses.

Gause wrote in a sentencing memorandum that the incident was a fast-moving, chaotic encounter initiated and escalated by Taylor. She said Williams acted under a perceived threat and that his capacity to regulate his response was impaired by trauma and psychological injury.

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The people who know Joice the best, know that he is not a person who seeks out conflict and tries to de-escalate situations, which is exactly what he tried to do on the night of this incident, Gause wrote.

Confrontation began over racial slur

The incident occurred in the 5400 block of South Tacoma Way, outside a building for a motorcycle club. According to charging documents, Taylor and a friend intended to attend an after hours party at the building, but they were denied entry because it was a members-only night.

Gause said the families of Taylor and Williams brother were longtime friends, and there was no prior animosity between them. That night, she said Williams was there to be his brothers ride home. Gause said that an eyewitness described how moments before the confrontation, Taylor and Williams brother appeared as though they might embrace rather than fight.

The interaction changed when Taylor directed racial slurs and explicit threats toward Williams brother, according to Gause. Taylors friend also told police the argument began over the use of a racial slur, charging documents show. According to court documents, Taylor was Black, as is Williams and his brother.

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Gause said Williams brother initially walked away, but Taylor followed him and continued to yell and act aggressively. Thats when surveillance video showed Williams run toward the group. Gause said it showed him trying to separate the men and calm the situation.

An image from surveillance video on South Tacoma Way shows the moment when Joice Duane Williams, circled, ran toward his brother and Reginald Taylor on May 8, 2022. Williams defense attorney said he was trying to deescalate the confrontation between the two men. (Pierce County Superior Court)

Taylor then produced a knife, according to Gause. Williams stepped to the side against a wall, Gause wrote in her sentencing memorandum, and his brother was stabbed when he approached Taylor for what he believed was a mutual fistfight.

Williams and his brother began to retreat. Gause said Taylor charged forward with the knife, and he was within a few feet of Williams when the defendant pulled a gun and fired. Gause said Taylor fell to the ground and that video showed a silver object was visible in his hand.

Gause said multiple people moved toward Taylors body before police arrived. She claimed a frame-by-frame review of the video showed the victims friend bent down and retrieved an object consistent with the knife previously visible in Taylors hand. She said he was trying to conceal the fact that his friend had been armed.

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A witness told police the shooter ran to a Jeep Cherokee, which sped away.

In other news out of Superior Court

Murder charges dismissed for second time over competency

Murder charges brought against a man accused of strangling his 80-year-old grandfather to death in his Frederickson home have been dismissed for a second time because the defendant was found mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Antonio Ray Perez, 32, was arrested and charged in April 2022 with unlawful imprisonment and first- and second-degree murder in the killing of his grandfather, Raymond Leroy Plattner.

Judge Grant Blinn first dismissed those charges in January 2024 after Perezs competency to stand trial was questioned, and three terms of inpatient treatment at Western State Hospital failed to restore his mental competency. Perez was then committed indefinitely to the state psychiatric hospital.

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After charges were refiled in March 2025, questions about Perezs mental competency came up again, and the issue went to a bench trial in November. Judge Karena Kirkendoll found that the defense established by a preponderance of evidence that Perez was not competent, and that he was a danger to others.

Kirkendoll ordered Perez to another 90 days of inpatient treatment at Western State Hospital.

A psychological evaluation dated Jan. 26 diagnosed Perez with delusional disorder, persecutory type and unspecified personality disorder. The state evaluator gave the opinion that Perez lacks the capacity to assist in his own defense.

The evaluator also said there was no reasonable likelihood Perezs symptoms of mental illness would improve with more medication or treatment, so another period of competency restoration wasnt recommended.

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Judge Stanley Rumbaugh dismissed Perezs charges Feb. 13 and ordered him to be evaluated for civil commitment.

Prosecutors refiled charges against Perez in March 2025 after he was released from the state hospital to an intensive behavioral health treatment facility in Olympia.

The News Tribune previously reported that Perez went to Supreme Living, and in February 2025 he was accused of violating multiple conditions of his release. Court records show he was evicted near the end of that month, and he was arrested on a bench warrant in March 2025.

Perez was self-sufficient at Supreme Living, according to court records, and he had the ability to appropriately respond to social cues. Records state he still experienced delusions about the charged crime, reportedly stating he killed his grandfather in self-defense because he was being poisoned in a conspiracy plot involving Puyallup police.




The backcountry ski company whose guides and clients were struck by an avalanche that killed at least eight people on Tuesday in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Truckee had warned about dangerous snow conditions and the potential for "unpredictable avalanches" the day before the incident.

In an Instagram post Monday, Blackbird Mountain Guides warned of a big incoming storm, urging people to pay close attention to the Sierra Avalanche Center and "use extra caution this week!"

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"Avalanches could behave abnormally," the post went on, "and the hazard could last longer than normal."

The video post showed guides examining the snowpack at various elevations on the northeast side of Mt. Rose in Nevada, located roughly 45 miles east of where the avalanche would occur the following day.

"It's pretty easy right now to informally feel in the snow and find our buried weak layer," the Blackbird guide said, referring to a layer of snow and ice that could give way to an avalanche.

Identifying hazards like these by studying snowpack is a frequent practice while in the backcountry, part of choosing where and how to ski.

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The company confirmed Tuesday night that four of its guides and 11 clients were involved in a "serious backcountry incident involving an avalanche" earlier in the day near the Frog Lake huts in the Castle Peak area.

The group was already in the field as the warning video was posted, returning to the trailhead after a three-day trip when disaster struck.

Officials said six people were rescued Tuesday evening, including two who were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Eight people were confirmed dead and one person remained missing as of Wednesday morning, officials said, as the efforts have transitioned from a rescue to a recovery.

Officials did not identify the victims Wednesday, but said three of the people presumed dead were guides.

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Blackbird said its leadership team was coordinating with law enforcement and search and rescue teams.

"Our primary focus and entire team are currently dedicated to the search and rescue efforts in the Castle Peak area," Blackbird said in an update at 8 a.m. Wednesday. "Our thoughts are with the missing individuals, their families, and first responders in the field."

Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon said Wednesday morning that Blackbird has been very cooperative, sharing details of the guided trip with law enforcement officials. Employees responded to the scene along with law enforcement to help with the rescue efforts.

"They wanted to do everything they could to assist," Moon said.

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In addition to backcountry ski and alpine trips to seek fresh snow untouched by resort crowds, Blackbird also runs training courses, including an avalanche course hosted in the Truckee area of North Lake Tahoe for backcountry skiers and snowboarders. Instructors are certified by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, according to advertising materials.

Blackbird also offers Wilderness First Responder training and courses on mountaineering, rescue and other backcountry alpine skills.

Before a massive storm dumped feet of snow across the Sierra Nevada this week, the last meaningful snow event in the Lake Tahoe region was early January.

In recent weeks, as temperatures rose above freezing and the sun peeked out, the snow layer melted and refroze countless times, creating an unstable layer of snow that was vulnerable to avalanches, according to weather experts.

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Blackbird guides seemed to be aware of the risks, writing in the Monday social media post: "This weak layer could lead to some unpredictable avalanches!"

Snow in the Sierra continued Wednesday, and officials urged skiers to avoid the mountains and stay out of the backcountry.

This article originally published at Tahoe ski company warned of unpredictable avalanches' the day before deadly incident.
A day after the Washington state Senate approved an income tax on millionaire earners, Gov. Bob Ferguson said hes still not satisfied with the bill.

Hes previously preached the need to pump a significant portion of the proceeds toward tax relief. On Tuesday, he said lawmakers hadnt gone far enough and offered his blueprint for using income tax revenue to dial back taxes for lower-income families and small businesses.

This bill must be laser-focused on making life more affordable for Washingtonians and continuing to improve areas like K through 12 education, the first-term Democrat said during a press conference Tuesday. We are not there yet, and we are still not close to being there.

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In addition to a 9.9% tax on adjusted gross household income above $1 million a year, the bill includes provisions to devote a sizable chunk of the resulting revenue to tax relief. It does not have a mechanism to lock in money for public schools, and Ferguson did not propose one.

Two Democratic senators who played key roles in pushing the bill through that chamber voiced skepticism about the governors proposals.

The Senate approved the bill Monday on a 27-22 vote, with three Democrats peeling off to side with Republicans in opposition. Assuming the House revises the bill, it would go back to the Senate for an up or down vote on the changes.

Meanwhile, a top House lawmaker on tax issues hinted at frustration over how the governor has been sharing his priorities for the bill.

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Its unfortunate that hed rather speak to us from a microphone, not a telephone, Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek, who chairs the House Finance Committee, said as she stepped off the House floor en route to a Democratic caucus meeting.

She declined to get into specifics of what the governor outlined during his press conference. We have three weeks left. I need to get back to work, she said.

House Finance Chair April Berg, D-Mill Creek, seen during a January committee hearing, will have a key role in shaping Democrats income tax bill in the House as legislators try to get it to the governors desk this year. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

The session is scheduled to end on March 12. Pressure was palpable on Tuesday afternoon as lawmakers scrambled to approve bills ahead of a 5 p.m. procedural deadline.

House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, lead sponsor of the income tax bill in the chamber, declined to comment on Fergusons proposals, saying it wasnt a good time.

Fergusons wish list

In the bill, the first $300,000 of gross receipts would be exempt from the states main business tax. Ferguson reiterated Tuesday he wants $1 billion in small business tax relief and said he wants the tax effectively wiped out for the first $2.5 million of businesses total revenue.

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The governor also wants to broaden eligibility for the working families tax credit and lift the value of the rebate by 30%. The tax credit goes to lower- and middle-income households, and the maximum credit amount is currently between around $330 and $1,300 a year. About 350,000 families now qualify.

Ferguson said 460,000 additional households would be eligible for assistance under his plan.

As is, the bill would eliminate age restrictions on the program, opening it to people 18 and older, regardless of whether they have kids. Ferguson said this is a positive step, but emphasized he wants the program expanded further.

Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, a lead lawmaker on tax policy, said erasing the age barrier aligns with recommendations from a coalition of advocates for the Working Families Tax Credit. Legislators have said this would cover about 120,000 more people.

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If hes got additional ideas, that can certainly be a consideration and part of the conversation, she said. Thats for the House.

State Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, speaks on the Senate floor during Mondays debate on the income tax bill. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

In addition, Ferguson is proposing two sales tax holidays  one for two days and one for three. During these times, people would be able to purchase items that cost less than $1,000 without paying sales tax, he said.

He also wants to eliminate sales taxes for diapers and other baby products. The current bill exempts a range of personal hygiene goods, like shampoo and deodorant. Democratic senators on Tuesday rejected a Republican amendment to axe the sales tax on diapers.

Frame said she and others looked into the concept of a sales tax holiday during her time in the House, where she served until 2023.

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It was quickly shot down, she said. Its really, actually quite difficult to administer.

Ferguson also said he supported an amendment to the bill made on the Senate floor Monday that would roll back new sales taxes on services he signed into law last year.

And he said he backs a provision that would let a 0.5% tax surcharge on companies with more than $250 million in annual revenue expire after 2028 instead of Dec. 31, 2029. Its expected that this move would reduce taxes for these companies  and collections for the state budget  by roughly $500 million.

Altogether, Ferguson said hes proposing nearly $1.9 billion a year in tax relief using revenue from the income tax, which is expected to be in the ballpark of $3.5 billion annually.

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Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, told reporters Tuesday that the reason Democrats are looking for ways to offer tax relief is that their policies have made the state unaffordable.

Its really just tax shifting, he said. Taking money out of the pockets of working families and small business owners, and then creating a program for them to have their hand out.

Every Republican in the state Senate voted against the tax. GOP lawmakers argue that the tax would violate the state constitution and would drive away small businesses and wealthy residents.

Lawmakers in both parties expect the tax will be challenged in court and go to the ballot for voters to decide if approved by the Legislature.

Seeking a balance

Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, hopes to see 25-40% of revenue from the income tax go toward reductions in other taxes. Pedersen, the lead sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, said it includes tax relief in the 18-20% range, leaving the House room to make adjustments.

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He described this as a happy medium where the state will be able to use the revenue to provide tax relief, while having enough left over for the state budget.

If you get beyond that, then we have no breathing room, he said Tuesday. And if you get beyond that, then the budgets out of balance again.

During last years session, lawmakers resorted to both cuts and tax hikes to bridge a multibillion-dollar shortfall.

Pedersen said hes not philosophically opposed to beefing up the small business tax credit or Working Families Tax Credit.

But assuming the tax generates about $3.5 billion a year, the amount of tax relief he described would top out around $1.4 billion a year, well short of the $1.9 billion Ferguson is seeking.

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I dont think we can spend that much, Pedersen said.

After last years tax increases, Pedersens view is that it is politically untenable for Democrats to adopt the income tax, and then come back in 2027 and say, we have to raise taxes again.

I do not want to be in that position, he said.

Gov. Bob Ferguson speaks to reporters during a press conference at the state Capitol on Tuesday. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

Ferguson acknowledged concerns about avoiding future budget problems, but he said, What Id say I worry most about is making life more affordable for more Washingtonians.

Its a balance, he added. Thats why theres a debate going on.

Editors note: This story was updated to clarify that the range for the Working Families Tax Credit is around $330 and $1,300 a year at the maximum levels. Credit amounts can be lower depending on income.
This story has been updated with additional information.

Xcel Energy was working to restore service Tuesday evening after cutting power to thousands of customers earlier in the day as high winds and extreme fire danger moved across the Texas Panhandle. As of 8:45 p.m. Feb. 17, about 6,400 were still without power.

Multiple fires were reported across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, as winds intensified and brought blowing dust and wind gusts up to 65 mph early on in the day, as well as clouds of smoke. Two fires in Oklahoma  including one estimated to be 145,000 acres in size  crossed the state line into Kansas.

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Texas A&M Forest Service said its fire resources were responding to six active wildfires across the state, including several in the Texas Panhandle.

"While the winds are dying down tonight, we arent out of the woods yet. Large fires are still burning in the heavy brush and difficult terrain across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles," the National Weather Service Amarillo office said in an 8:50 p.m. update. "If you are heading out tomorrow morning, please be extra cautious. Smoke and fire activity near Hwy 87 (north of Amarillo) may cause road closures as the Valley de Oro fire moves east along the Canadian River Valley."

Conditions will be improving overnight with lighter winds, but winds are expected to ramp back up Wednesday to a steady 35 mph with 50-plus mph wind gusts possible.

U.S. 287 in Armstrong County was closed in both directions from Armstrong County Road 28 to Donley County Road 3 but was later reopened. Fire crews had been having difficulty with traffic entering the area, including multiple semitrailers, according to officials. In addition, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) road closures map showed Hwy. 70 was closed from I-40 to Clarendon but also later reopened.

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Around 3:30 p.m., Howardwick was evacuated in the Armstrong County area, where a fire warning was active for a fire east of Goodnight and north of U.S. 287, moving rapidly northeast at 3 to 5 mph. An updated warning issued by National Weather Service Amarillo at 4:36 p.m. for northwestern Donley County said the fire was located four miles west of Howardwick or 10 miles northwest of Clarendon, moving east at 3 to 5 mph. The areas impacted included Hwy. 70 north between Clarendon and I-40, including Greenbelt Lake and Howardwick.

The Donley County Sheriffs Department reported Wednsday morning that the Nocona Hills section of Howardwick and residences on the backside of Greenbelt Lake have been under an evacuation order since about 2:15 a.m. The rest of Howardwick is on standby. The Texas A&M Forest Service is reporting 25% containment, with at least 9,000 acres burned.

A fire warning was issued by NWS Amarillo at about 3:41 p.m., requested by the Oldham County and Potter County Offices of Emergency Management for Western Potter and Eastern Oldham counties. The wildfire was located 5 miles south of Boys Ranch, or 16 miles northeast of Vega, moving east-northeast at 3 to 5 mph, and impacting areas along Hwy. 385, including Valle De Oro, which was under a mandatory evacuation order. Shelter was being set up at the Church at Bushland, at 1800 S FM 2381, with Red Cross personnel on hand. In addition, RM 1061 (Tascosa Road) was closed from US 385 to FM 2381. The Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management requested a new fire warning from the NWS at about 7:20 p.m., noting the fire was located over Valle De Oro, or about 20 miles northwest of Amarillo, with areas east of Tascosa Road and other portions of northwest Potter County being affected.

The Amarillo Fire Department said it deployed a strike team consisting of multiple apparatus and personnel to assist with the wildfire response in Potter County near the Valle de Oro area northwest of Amarillo, joining county and state resources already working the fire.

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The Potter County Sheriffs Office reported Wednesday morning that RM 1061 (Boys Ranch Road) remained closed from RM 2381 (Bushland Road) to U.S. Highway 385.

Please do NOT try to come out to look. First responders and fire crews are actively working this area, the office said in a Facebook update.

The Texas A&M Forest Service said the Lavender Fire had burned an estimated 8,500 acres as of 1:40 a.m. Wednesday and was about 10% contained.

TAMFS was also reporting a fire around Plainview at 600 acres and 8% contained.

Another fire warning was issued by the National Weather Service on behalf of the Lipscomb Office of Emergency Management at 4:09 p.m. for a fire in southeastern Lipscomb County. At 4:06 p.m., a wildfire was located five miles west of Higgins or nine miles southeast of Lipscomb, moving east-northeast at 3 to 5 mph. The area impacted includes Higgins as well as Hwy. 213 and a portion of Hwy. 60. Residents were advised to be prepared for possible evacuations. TAMFS said that fire, the Haystack Fire, was about 122 acres and 90% contained as of 6:58 p.m.

Smoke from the wildfire reported in the Potter/Oldham County area is seen at Hester and Cliffside Road in north Amarillo during critical fire weather Tuesday, Feb. 17.

"Large, fast moving wildfires have broken out across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles," NWS said in an afternoon update. "We greatly urge everyone to avoid travel and do everything in your power to prevent the starts of wildfires as we approach the evening rush."

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The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning for most of the day, as well as warnings and advisories for blowing dust and high wind.

Ahead of the severe weather on Tuesday, the utility initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff that began around 9 a.m., which was estimated to affect about 14,500 customers in Carson, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hartley, Hutchinson, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman and Swisher counties.

Xcel Energy said in a 5:45 p.m. update that crews have started power restoration work following the Public Safety Power Shutoff. The utility reported 16,500 customers were without power as of 5 p.m.; of those, 14,277 were from the PSPS and 2,223 from weather-related outages. They expect most customers to be restored Tuesday night, though some outages may extend into tomorrow due to the scale of the event and the 2,500 miles of lines deenergized during the PSPS.

Wind gusts reached above 65 mph in some areas, leaving some intersections without signals and businesses temporarily closed across Amarillo and throughout the region.

Smoke from the wildfire reported in the Potter/Oldham County area is seen near Amarillo Bouvelard and Florida Street in Amarillo during critical fire weather Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The company said crews expect to begin restoring electricity for some customers around 5 p.m. once weather conditions fall below PSPS thresholds. Restoration could continue into Wednesday because workers must inspect and repair lines before they can be safely re-energized.

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More than 400 crew members and contractors have been staged across Texas and New Mexico, along with three helicopters to speed inspections. The company also has more than 140 support staff assisting operations.

Customers are asked to stay clear of line workers and equipment as restoration begins. Additional outages may occur outside the shutoff areas due to ongoing weather conditions, and blowing dust may slow response efforts. Officials also urged residents to avoid downed power lines or broken poles and report them to Xcel Energy immediately.

Blowing dust is seen Feb. 17 in Amarillo during critical fire weather.

Active fires reported in Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles

The NWS in Amarillo issued other fire warnings at the request of the Texas A&M Forest Service and Oklahoma Forestry Services as rapidly spreading wildfires developed across the region Tuesday afternoon.

The Oklahoma Forestry Services gave the following update around 8:30 p.m. with new estimates for the Feb. 17 fires in the Oklahoma Panhandle:

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Ranger Road Fire, Beaver County: 145,000 acres

Stevens Fire, Texas County: 5,000 acres

Side Road Fire, Texas County: 3,300 acres

43 Road Fire, Woodward County: 2,000 acres

Woodward, Oklahoma was facing an evacuation warning at about 7:26 p.m.

One of the fires near Tyrone, Oklahoma  about 14 miles west of Liberal, Kansas  was moving east-northeast at 3 to 5 mph and impacting areas along Highway 54, including the town of Tyrone that was under evacuation, as well as portions of far northeastern Texas County, Oklahoma and other areas. The fire's original estimated size was around 2,000 acres.

The wildfire near Beaver, Oklahoma, in Beaver County, originally estimated at 15,000 acres, was moving east-northeast toward areas east of Highway 270 and Highway 23 and along Highway 64 between Forgan and Knowles up to and across the state line into Kansas, according to the fire warning and forestry service. Many sections of the roads in the area, including portions of Hwy. 64 and US 283, were closed. A fire warning issued by NWS Amarillo included the towns of Knowles and Gate. The fire line stretched into Kansas at Englewood and beyond, a NWS wildfire graphic showed.

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Officials warned that smoke and fire posed a threat to life and property and advised residents to be prepared to evacuate if requested. Drivers were urged not to enter smoke-covered roadways.

Warnings and advisories in effect through most of Tuesday, expected Wednesday

The NWS in Amarillo issued a High Wind Warning and Blowing Dust Advisory through 7 p.m. Tuesday for Deaf Smith, Hansford, Hutchinson, Oldham, Potter and Randall counties, including Palo Duro Canyon.

Forecasters warned that westerly to southwesterly winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph could create visibility between one-quarter mile and one mile in blowing dust. Hwy. 87/287 northbound in Moore County was closed due to an overturned semitractor-trailer.

Officials said hazardous travel conditions are expected, especially for high-profile vehicles, and damaging winds may down trees and power lines, contributing to outages across the region.

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Similar weather was in the forecast for Wednesday.

Xcel Energy answers customers' concerns about outages

In a Facebook post, Xcel Energy said differences in outages between neighboring homes are tied to how the electric grid is designed.

We understand outages can be frustrating, and as we navigate severe weather, were here to provide information and answers about how were working to protect communities from wildfire risk, the company said.

The utility said the grid is divided into smaller circuits that can be shut off independently to reduce wildfire risk. During a Public Safety Power Shutoff, power is turned off to entire segments rather than individual homes, meaning nearby houses may have different outcomes if they are served by separate lines or located on opposite sides of sectionalizing equipment.

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Officials said factors including overhead lines in high-risk areas, underground infrastructure and proximity to critical facilities affect which areas remain energized. The company added it plans to install additional sectionalizing devices through 2027 to create smaller outage areas and potentially shorten future shutoffs.

Restoration work should begin around 5 p.m., as soon as winds drop below PSPS thresholds, Xcel said, but some outages may continue into Wednesday, since crews must inspect every line before power can be safely restored.

The utility said more than 400 crew members and contractors are positioned across Texas and New Mexico, and three helicopters are available to help speed inspections. More than 140 administrative and support staff are working behind the scenes to support the response.

High winds and blowing dust may still cause additional outages outside PSPS areas and could slow restoration efforts.

Xcel Energy said updates will continue through its website and outage map as conditions change.

Several earlier fires in the Texas Panhandle, including the 275-acre Korn fire near Hartley and 1-acre Burton fire in Hemphill County, were quickly contained with forward progression stopped. A smaller fire in Oldham County in the day burned about 11 acres.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Weather sparks fires, triggers Panhandle power shutoff
The energy statistics in the U.S. have not changed: Pennsylvania remains the second-largest producer of natural gas in the country. If the Appalachia Basin region (Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia) was its own country, it would be the fourth-largest producer in the world. From century-old conventional wells to far-larger Marcellus and Utica unconventional shale wells, these resources have supported grid reliability, driven industrial competitiveness, and supplied relatively affordable and reliable energy to millions of Pennsylvanians.

That could change drastically for tens of thousands of families in 2029 if the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) implements a federal methane reduction rule known as Subpart OOOOc in a rigid manner.

Subpart OOOOc, adopted by the Biden-era U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is scheduled to be enforced through Pennsylvanias State Implementation Plan under the Clean Air Act beginning in 2029. The rule imposes sweeping new monitoring, reporting and equipment mandates across only the oil and gas sector to reduce methane emissions, but it does so by treating low-production conventional wells in largely the same way as high-volume shale facilities, despite vast differences in production levels, emissions profiles, operating margins and infrastructure.

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Pennsylvania has roughly 100,000 conventional wells, many producing only a few barrels of oil or natural gas equivalent per day. Individually, these wells are small in total volume of energy produced. Taken collectively, however, they play a vital role in energy system reliability, particularly in rural areas, by feeding gathering systems largely cut off from interstate pipelines and providing a steady supply of energy during periods of peak demand that helps stabilize prices for consumers.

These wells also account for a very small share of national greenhouse gas emissions  under 1% by most estimates. Nevertheless, under the Subpart OOOOc requirements, conventional operators will face new regulatory burdens that are completely unaligned with emissions values, production levels and economic reality.

EPA estimates that the monitoring and compliance obligations under Subpart OOOOc can cost thousands of dollars per site annually, regardless of output, resulting in the potential that operators of small, conventional wells will be forced to comply at a financial loss or shut in production. This could in turn force wells to close prematurely, weakening Pennsylvanias energy infrastructure and driving up energy costs.

Pennsylvanias oil and natural gas sector has already delivered substantial emissions reductions, particularly with the huge transition from the use of coal for electricity generation. That progress was achieved through pragmatic and coordinated federal and state policies that paired strong standards with economic viability and lower energy costs. DEPs approach to Subpart OOOOc would do the exact opposite of those common sense approaches.

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Importantly, the federal rule includes provisions allowing states to tailor regulatory requirements for economically disadvantaged facilities. States can conduct economic analyses to permit facilities to use already existing and effective methane monitoring and capture techniques, rather than follow the costly mandates of Subpart OOOOc.

The Shapiro administration has so far refused to consider right-sizing Subpart OOOOc into more effective and manageable requirements for Pennsylvanias industry and its citizens. Without question, this refusal will lead to environmental and economic hardships well beyond reducing a tiny amount of methane emissions.

This is an argument for smarter energy policy, not skirting reasonable regulations or accountability. Pennsylvania has balanced energy production and environmental protection before. Treating oil and natural gas as liabilities rather than assets risks higher costs and greater price volatility. Without action by the Governor and DEP to soften Subpart OOOOcs impact, energy will become less reliable and less affordable for Pennsylvanians.

Daniel J. Weaver is the president and executive director of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association.
People march on Park Street during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. A sign states, ICE out now! during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. A person raises a sign that says, Have you no sense of decency? During the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People listen to a speaker during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People stand in the snow during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People listen to a speaker during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People listen to a speaker during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People gather for the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People gather for the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People gather for the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People gather for the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People gather for the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. A sign says, Immigrants belong in Ohio! during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People march on Park Street during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. People march on Park Street during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. Rachel Domond, organizer with Party for Socialism and Liberation, marches on Park Street during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants. Protesters respond to government's plan to end TPS for Haitian immigrants 1 of 16 People march on Park Street during the "Stand with Haitians" demonstration at Goodale Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The protest was organized to advocate for permanent legal protections for Haitian immigrants.

Jack DAurora is a retired lawyer and produces a podcast, JUSTUS with Jack & Gonzo. Jack is a regular contributor to the Dispatch.

If youre enamored with President Donald J. Trumps administration, you need read no further. If youre concerned about Trump trying to convert our democracy into an autocracy, keep reading.

The news has consistently been frightening and makes us feel we are helpless to change things. If Trump is willing to disregard the Constitution, domestic and international norms, how can the average citizen hope to make a difference in preserving the freedoms we have long enjoyed?

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The answer is, you make your voice heard.

It takes effort, time and repetition. Forming our union didnt happen overnight. Preserving our liberties will take as much fortitude and resolve.

The pen is still mightier than the sword

Big changes come with the ballot box, but incremental changes can happen every day, and those changes are brought by communicating.

Playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton said it best nearly 200 years ago, The pen is mightier than the sword.

When did you last inform your representatives in Congress who support Trump read: Republican senators and representativesthat you are appalled by ICE agents spreading terror in neighborhoods?

Protesters against President Donald Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement rally outside where the president was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 15, 2026.

Have you asked them if they support Trumps pardon of former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez, who had been sentenced to 45 years for drug trafficking?

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All elected officials have websites that make it easy to send them messages. Use those systems. Be pointed. Be concise. Most importantly, be civil and be frequent with your communications.

Take a public stand

Your emails will not cause these officials to suddenly push party leadership to do an about face and abandon Trumps agenda, but the staffers they employ will be taking note. When enough people start pushing the same message, a critical mass will be reached, and elected officials will realize their party is at risk.

Thats when change starts.

Make public your frustration. Join a protest rally. An estimated 7 million people took part in some 2600 rallies across the U.S. on October 18, 2025, to protest Trumps move to authoritarianism.

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There were 250 anti-ICE protests across the nation, including Columbus, Ohio, on January 30, 2026. More rallies are almost certain to follow.

Write letters to the editor. Submit opinion pieces. Speak up when in an appropriate forum.

A friend of mine posts signs on his front yard. To him, thats the most effective way to communicate his displeasure with the administration.

Primaries take place on May 5, and the general election is Nov. 3. Be there.

We must survive. Get to work.

We need to be mindful that the division we face is nothing new. Ken Burns said that in making the documentary, The American Revolution, a period of deep political division in the past, while witnessing deep political division in the present, he could see the rhymes of history.

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In the years since the Revolution, our nation has been at risk more than once, most recently in the late 1960s.

Protests and riots against the Vietnam War were frequent, as were race riots, college students taking over ROTC buildings, buildings being set afire, and police and protestors fighting outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated.

But we survived. And we will survive the current administration, but it will take effort.

Our nation is moving incrementally from being the leader of the free world to being a world pariah.

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Bringing an end to the administrations lawlessness and duplicity and restoring former President Ronald Reagans ideal of a shining city upon a hill requires action.

If you believe, as did Reagan, that America should be a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, then get to work.

Change will not come overnight, and until it does, no matter how undignified the administration acts, adhere to the model suggested by Peter Wehner, who was part of President George W. Bushs staff: lead by example and act with dignity.

Jack D'Aurora

Jack DAurora is a retired business lawyer in Columbus, Ohio, and produces the podcast, JUSTUS with Jack & Gonzo.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here what can do to help take America back | Opinion
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has unveiled updated subject requirements for all degree programmes ahead of the 2026 placement cycle. The guidelines clearly outline the subject combinations and minimum grades students need for admission into various courses.

KUCCPS organises the requirements into degree clusters, grouping related programmes and assigning shared subject criteria. Most degrees require English or Kiswahili and Mathematics as core subjects, with additional requirements depending on the field of study.

Science & Technology Programmes

Engineering, Medicine, and Applied Sciences require strong grades in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Engineering courses usually require at least C+ in Mathematics and Physics .

Health programmes like medicine and nursing focus on Biology and Chemistry .

Courses in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Science, and Applied Statistics also require Mathematics and Physics. Computer knowledge is an added advantage.

Business, Humanities & Social Sciences

Programmes in Business, Communication, Humanities, and Social Sciences allow flexible combinations of subjects, including Geography, History, Economics, and Religious Studies.

Language proficiency, particularly English, is often a key requirement.

Education Programmes

Bachelor of Education (Arts) and Bachelor of Education (Science) degrees follow cluster-based subject combinations tied to the teaching subjects students plan to specialise in.

Group classifications: Group I: Languages Group II: Sciences Group III: Humanities Group IV: Technical subjects Group V: Creative Arts and Foreign Languages



KUCCPS Degree Clusters & Subject Requirements

Law, Business & Management

Courses: Law, Commerce, Business Administration, Procurement, Supply Chain, Entrepreneurship

Requirements: English/Kiswahili, Mathematics or Group II, one Group III subject, plus one additional from Group IIV

Hospitality, Tourism & Human Resources

Courses: Tourism, Hospitality, Hotel Management, Human Resource Management

Requirements: English/Kiswahili, Mathematics, any Group II/III subject, plus one additional from Group IIV

Arts, Communication & Social Sciences

Courses: Journalism, Mass Communication, Sociology, Psychology, Criminology, Political Science

Requirements: English (C+), Kiswahili (C+ for some), any Group II subject, plus one subject from Group IIIV

Engineering, Geospatial & Physical Sciences

Courses: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Geospatial Engineering

Requirements: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry/Geography, plus one subject from Group IIV

Minimum grades: C+ in Mathematics and Physics

ICT, Computer Science & Technology

Courses: Computer Science, IT, Software Engineering, Informatics

Requirements: Mathematics, Physics/Computer Studies, any Group II/III subject, plus one subject from Group IIV

Architecture, Quantity Survey & Built Environment

Courses: Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Urban Planning, Construction Management

Requirements: Mathematics, Physics/Geography, any Group II subject, plus one subject from Group IIIV

Biological & Life Sciences

Courses: Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry

Requirements: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry/Physics, plus one subject from Group IIV

Health Sciences & Medical

Courses: Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Clinical Medicine, Public Health

Requirements: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics/Physics, English/Kiswahili

Agriculture & Environmental Sciences

Courses: Agriculture, Agribusiness, Environmental Science, Forestry

Requirements: Mathematics, Biology/Agriculture, Chemistry/Geography, plus one subject from Group IIV

Mathematics, Economics & Statistics

Courses: Actuarial Science, Economics, Statistics, Financial Engineering

Requirements: Mathematics, English/Kiswahili, any Group II subject, plus one subject from Group IIIV

Education (Arts)

Courses: Education Arts, Early Childhood Education, Special Needs Education

Requirements: Two KCSE teaching subjects, English/Kiswahili, Mathematics/approved alternatives

Education (Science & Technical)

Courses: Education Science, Technical Education

Requirements: Mathematics, two science subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), English/Kiswahili

Key Advice for Students

Students are strongly encouraged to review cluster requirements carefully before applying. Selecting courses that do not align with their subject qualifications may lead to disqualification during placement.
A Conservative member of parliament from Alberta has defected to the Liberal Party, bringing Prime Minister Mark Carney closer to a majority in the House of Commons.

In a post on social media, Carney announced that Matt Jeneroux, who represents a constituency in Edmonton, has joined the Liberal caucus  the third Conservative to do so in recent months.

With the addition of Jeneroux, the Liberals now have 169 seats, putting them just three shy of the required 172 for majority.

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Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre accused the prime minister of trying to seize a majority "through dirty backroom deals".

Two other Conservative MPs, Chris d'Entremont of Nova Scotia and Michael Ma of Ontario, had crossed the floor late last year to join Carney's government.

There are currently three vacant seats in Canada's parliament: two Toronto-area seats, following the resignations of Liberal MPs Chrystia Freeland and Bill Blair, and one Montreal-area seat that was closely contested by one vote, forcing a pending by-election.

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Jeneroux had been representing the Conservatives in Edmonton since 2015 and was elected to the House of Commons in three consecutive elections, making his defection a noteworthy loss for the opposition party.

On Wednesday, he said he made the decision to cross the floor "after further reflection" with his family over the holidays, and "conversations with colleagues and constituents".

After meeting Carney in Edmonton on Monday morning, Jeneroux told reporters that the prime minister's speech at the World Economic Forum last month is what ultimately swayed his decision to join the Liberals.

"It opened a lot of eyes for Canadians, Albertans and Edmontonians," he said.

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In that speech, Carney had urged middle powers to come together and reject economic coercion by "great powers".

The speech did not mention US President Donald Trump by name, but was widely interpreted as being aimed at policies of the current Trump administration.

Jeneroux had previously announced his intention to resign from the Conservative caucus in November, saying that he wanted to spend more time with family. At the time he did not mention defecting to the Liberals.

In a statement then, he said he ran in the 2025 federal election with hopes the Conservatives would form government, and that he "wanted desperately to play a role in that vision".

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Carney hailed Jeneroux as a "strong voice in international engagement and parliamentary diplomacy" and said he will service as a "new special advisor on economic and security partnerships".

"Building a stronger, more resilient, and more independent country will require ambition, collaboration, and occasionally, sacrifice," Carney wrote. "I am grateful to Matt and his family that he will continue his service as a strong voice for Edmonton Riverbend in Parliament."

The latest defection comes a few weeks after the Conservative party voted overwhelmingly to keep Poilievre on as leader, despite his personal unpopularity in the polls.

Both Ma and d'Entremont had cited Poilievre's leadership as a reason why they chose to leave the party. Late last year, d'Entremont claimed that others in his party "are in the same boat".

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In a post on social media on Wednesday, Poilievre said Conservatives would "continue our fight for a Canada that's affordable, safe, and self-reliant".

"Mark Carney is trying to seize a costly Liberal majority government that Canadians voted against in the last election through dirty backroom deals," he wrote. "Matt Jeneroux has betrayed the people of Edmonton Riverbend who voted for affordable food and homes, safe streets, and a strong resource sector."
Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie expects more Republicans to stray from party lines in the coming months.

Massie, whos running for reelection in Kentuckys 4th Congressional District, spoke to WHAS11 in a nearly 25-minute interview from his Garrison County home on Wednesday.

He said as the Republicans majority in Congress narrows its becoming easier to force votes on bills like the Epstein Files Transparency Act and push back against tariff policy.

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On any given day, based on attendance, I need one or two Republicans to help me on something and I can succeed, Massie explained. The hard part [is] getting the vote. Once we get the vote, then Republicans will show their preferences to their constituents.

But Massie says the group of GOP lawmakers willing to defect is growing.

Once primary elections are over, the Kentucky congressman expects at least a dozen GOP lawmakers may be emboldened to vote their conscious more often.

[Primaries are] where theyre most at risk if they deviate from the party on any given vote, Massie said. If they upset the president and the president endorses against them in their primary, they could lose. So that dangerous situation is passing a lot of these people.

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Massie, who faces his own primary in May, has spoken out against some of the Trump administrations policies and its handling of the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

But despite the criticism, he said he only disagrees with Trump around 10% of the time.

According to Massie, polling shows he still has strong support from voters in his district despite the president endorsing his challenger, Ed Gallrein.

My brand is not based on being in the Freedom Caucus or being a moderate or being solely MAGA all of the time, he said. My brand since I got to Congress in 2012 -- and the whole time since then -- is that I read the bills, I make an independent decision based on conservative principles that I think will best support Kentuckys Fourth District.

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Gallrein has criticized Massie for voting at times with Democrats, however the incumbent congressman says most of his constituents understand hes voting for a different reason than Democrats.

Lets say its an omnibus bill, [Democrats] want to spend more, I want to spend less, he said. Most of my supporters also support Donald Trump and they can allow for the fact that we have three branches of government, not one, and that if Im voting 91% of the time with the party, nobody agrees with anybody 100% of the time.

You can watch Massie's full interview below:
Reader discretion is advised as this article is on mutiple alleged rapes of mutiple children.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Three men facing multiple charges for alleged child and juvenile rapes were recently indicted in Clermont County.

The first man, 41-year-old Matthew Belvin Hager, was indicted on Tuesday, Feb. 17. He is facing the following charges:

Eleven counts of Rape of a child who was 9 and 10-years-old

Seven counts of Gross Sexual Imposition (with the same alleged victim)

One count of Felonious Assault

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Hager moved to Minnesota in 2016, shortly after the Clermont County victim disclosed her abuse. He was arrested in Minnesota in 2025 for sexually abusing two different female juveniles. He has been arrested and detained on these Clermont County charges in Minnesota and will be transported here to answer for his crimes, wrote Prosecutor Mark J. Tekulve.

Union City high school secretary arrested for alleged child seduction

The second, a 19-year-old man, Fabian Johnny Martinez, was indicted on Jan. 29. He is facing the following charges against the same alleged victim, who is a 14-year-old girl:

One count of Rape

One count of Kidnapping

Two counts of Gross Sexual Imposition

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He was arrested in Florida and will be transported here to answer for his crimes, wrote Prosecutor Tekulve.

Logan County man sentenced to 30 years to life; pleads guilty to rape and animal abuse

Thirdly, a 22-year-old man, Alexander Michael Hydrus, was also indicted on Jan. 29. Again, all these charges are against a single alleged victim, a 13-year-old girl:

Two counts of Rape

One count of Kidnapping

Two counts of Gross Sexual Imposition

One count of Interference with Custody

He was arrested in Connecticut and will be transported here to answer for his crimes, wrote Tekulve.

Local doctor sentenced to 15 years for lying about 1989 violent rapes

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All three arrests from across the county, in Minnesota (Hager), Florida (Martinez) and Connecticut (Hydrus), were secured by the Clermont County Sheriffs Office Detectives in just hours after the charges were filed and indictments.

Clermont County Sheriff Stratton and his detectives work closely with our prosecutors to ensure these heinous crimes will be answered no matter where the suspect flees to avoid prosecution. Wherever you are, we will find you, bring you back to Clermont County and get justice for the citizens of Clermont County, especially these young girls, wrote Tekulve.

2 NEWS is following all three cases very closely.

If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse or assault, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) 24/7 hotline is available at 800-656-HOPE (4673).

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.




U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales engaged in a romantic relationship with an aide who died last year by setting herself on fire outside her Uvalde home, according to a text message and people close to the aide and her family.

A former staffer in Gonzales' district office who worked closely with the aide, Regina Ann "Regi" Santos-Aviles, said she told him they had an affair in 2024, and that she spiraled into a depression after her husband discovered the relationship and Gonzales abruptly cut her off. He also shared with the San Antonio Express-News a screenshot of a text message from Santos-Aviles in which she acknowledged having an "affair with our boss."

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READ MORE: Rep. Tony Gonzales aide who died fiery death set herself ablaze

The staffer, who asked not to be named, citing a fear of retaliation, faulted Gonzales' office for failing to intervene, saying he warned the congressman's district director months before Santos-Aviles' death that he was concerned about her well-being. He described her as his "best friend" and said their families knew each other.

Gonzales, a Republican representing Texas' 23rd Congressional District, is currently seeking reelection in a contested primary. He and his staff did not respond to a list of detailed questions submitted by the Express-News.

A lawyer for Santos-Aviles' husband said her romantic relationship with the congressman was an open secret, and that he does not believe it played a role in her death. Authorities have said there was no evidence of foul play in Santos-Aviles' death. Both she and Gonzales were married to other people at the time of the alleged affair.

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Santos-Aviles, 35, was Gonzales' regional district director in Uvalde and the mother of an 8-year-old boy. She died Sept. 14, 2025.

The former staffer, 24, contemplated going public about the affair as early as November, but was afraid he would lose his job, he said.

He said this week that he stopped coming to work for months after Santos-Aviles' suicide and felt he could no longer "sell (Gonzales') message and his ideals." He resigned last month, moved to Los Angeles and now works for two local Democratic campaigns.

He said he had not been paid or promised any compensation by any of Gonzales' primary opponents.

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The ex-staffer said he was frustrated that police never contacted him during their investigation into Santos-Aviles' death.

Common knowledge'

The former staffer said the relationship became known to some staff members during the 2024 election cycle. He said Gonzales stayed at the ex-staffer's family's rental cabin in Concan, near Uvalde, during the primary campaign, and that on two occasions in May 2024, Gonzales and Santos-Aviles went there together and stayed for one to two hours.

He said Santos-Aviles called him crying and distraught two weeks later to say her husband, Adrian Aviles, had discovered text messages that revealed her relationship with Gonzales. She told the staffer they had been having an affair. It was May 29, the day after Gonzales narrowly won a GOP primary runoff election against Brandon Herrera. He said Aviles later texted a group of Gonzales' legislative district staffers to expose the relationship.

Bobby Barrera, Aviles' attorney, confirmed that the affair "was not a secret among the staff."

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"It's common knowledge," he said in an interview. "The staff was clearly aware this event was occurring."

Barrera said Aviles has been worried about commenting because of how it could affect the couple's young son.

"To him, this is personal. To everybody else, it's political," Barrera said of Aviles. "That's his son's mother, and nobody seems to care. They just want to burn Tony."

Asked whether the alleged relationship had anything to do with Santos-Aviles' death, Barrera said, "I don't think so."

For months, the congressman has dodged questions about his relationship with Santos-Aviles. He briefly broke his silence in November during an on-stage interview at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. Asked about "the circumstances that may have led to her death," Gonzales said the "rumors are completely untruthful."

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"People throwing rocks at me, saying I'm doing nasty things - I totally get that. But the rumors are completely untruthful," he said, calling Santos-Aviles' death a "very tragic situation."

The British tabloid Daily Mail and Current Revolt Texas, a right-leaning online publication, previously reported on rumors of an affair. Neither report cited documentary evidence.

A spokesman for Gonzales was quoted in the Daily Mail saying, "To see political bottom feeders distort the circumstances around her passing is truly sickening. Tony Gonzales remains laser-focused on delivering historic achievements for Texas and condemns any attempts to misuse this tragedy."

In a text thread that the former staffer shared with the Express-News, Santos-Aviles told him, "I had (sic) affair with our boss and I'm fine. You will be fine."

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The thread, which bore Santos-Aviles' name and image, was timestamped April 27, 2025. The Express-News verified the messages were sent from a phone number that belonged to Santos-Aviles.

The former staffer said Santos-Aviles had been attempting to reassure him he wouldn't be fired for using office resources for an unsanctioned investigation.

Burden to bear

According to the former staffer, operations in Gonzales' two-person Uvalde regional office shifted after Aviles texted the staff about the affair. Gonzales and his district director, Jalen Falcon, canceled meetings with local organizations that had been arranged by Santos-Aviles and the former staffer. He said neither he nor Santos-Aviles accompanied Gonzales on any Uvalde visits after that point, marking a significant change.

The former staffer said Santos-Aviles' distress intensified in the months before her death and that she told him she went on antidepressants in the summer of 2025.

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"She talked about Tony every day," he said. "She went from the number one employee in the office to nothing."

The former staffer also said he alerted Falcon in June that he was aware of the affair and concerned for Santos-Aviles' well-being. At that point, he was completing most of her work, and she was absent at least one day a week, he said.

Falcon did not respond to a request for comment.

The ex-staffer said that in August 2025 - roughly one month before her death - she attempted suicide and that police were called to her home. The Uvalde Police Department has so far refused the Express-News' request for records of past emergency calls to Santos-Aviles' home, and the paper has not independently confirmed the August 2025 incident.

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One month later, Santos-Aviles poured gasoline over herself and was engulfed in flames, authorities said. She was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where she died the next day. Police said home surveillance video showed she was alone when the fire began. In November, the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide by self-immolation.

A painful chapter'

The former staffer said he was in touch recently with Herrera, one of Gonzales' primary challengers, about speculation surrounding the affair. Gonzales, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, faces Herrera, Quico Canseco and Keith Barton in the March 3 primary. Four candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination.

Over the weekend, in a post on X, Trump confidante and right-wing influencer Laura Loomer foreshadowed a "career ending" report that would answer questions about Gonzales' alleged affair and whether it "led to (Santos-Aviles') suicide."

Herrera has sought to use rumors of the affair against his opponent. Responding to Loomer's post on Sunday, he wrote, "I am glad the truth is finally coming to light."

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Santos-Aviles' funeral was held Sept. 25 at First United Methodist Church in Uvalde.

Aviles delivered an emotional eulogy, describing Santos-Aviles as a devoted mother, his soulmate, best friend, and "the love of my life."

The couple had been together for 21 years and married for seven. At the time of Santos-Aviles' death, they had been separated for a couple of months and were sharing parenting responsibilities for their 8-year-old son.

"I know marriages have their seasons. Relationships have their seasons. There are good times, and there are bad times. Estrangement is a painful chapter in life," he said. "I've come to believe that love, even when complicated, is endless."

Gonzales did not attend the funeral.

If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

This article originally published at Tony Gonzales had affair with aide who set herself on fire, ex-staffer says.
The prime minister has committed the UK government to a 14bn plan to "transform" Wales' railways.

Sir Keir Starmer has backed Transport for Wales (TFW) proposals for 43 schemes, saying it would put the country "on the front foot".

While cash is confirmed for seven train stations at Magor and Undy, Llanwern, Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Cardiff Parkway and Deeside, specific funding is yet to be announced for other projects.

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A Welsh government source told the BBC it was "the biggest day in devolution", but opponents accused the Labour UK government of "reheating" old announcements.

Timescales have not been confirmed, but First Minister Eluned Morgan said the 43 projects promised would take about 15 years to roll out.

The UK government had already announced 445m for rail projects in Wales at last June's spending review, and has now explained that money will go towards building each of the seven stations, alongside upgrades in south and north Wales.

It has also backed a much longer list of schemes, which will need extra money to be allocated over the coming years.

Work will begin on the new stations in south Wales later this year [BBC]

Sir Keir said: "This government is turning the page on historic dither and delay with seven new stations, thousands of jobs, and a generational commitment to build a rail network fit for Wales' future."

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Asked by BBC Wales if the plan would happen regardless of who wins the Senedd election, he said it is a "long-term commitment" from the UK government.

Welsh Labour leader Morgan said the 14bn investment would come over a "prolonged period of time".

Morgan, who hosted Sir Keir at the Taff's Well TFW depot on Wednesday, said the Welsh government had been working on the proposals "since the moment I became first minister".

She said: "We are now in an unprecedented position to deliver the next chapter of transformation for rail services in Wales. We have secured long-term commitments to key projects and a renewed ambition for our rail network."

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Initial work on five of the south east stations will begin later this year, with construction on two of them beginning in 2029. It is expected that Magor and Undy will be the first station to be completed.

An upgrade to the railway line to allow the new stations is also planned.

The UK government claims Cardiff Parkway in east Cardiff - whose private developers had plans for the station approved in January 2025 after years of delays - could serve 800,000 passengers every year and support around 6,000 jobs.

Ministers announced that it had agreed a plan with Welsh government and private investors to help fund the new station near St Mellons.

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Cardiff Central Station is also being upgraded with work due to begin this spring and set to be complete by 2029.

Improvements to the Wrexham to Liverpool line will allow for two trains per hour and a new station at Deeside Industrial Park.

A new station will also be built at Deeside in north Wales [BBC]

The UK government also backed a wider "vision" for Welsh rail in a plan from the Welsh government's TFW transport body.

It includes a document of 43 schemes which are "ready to move forward, making them ideal candidates for investment", estimated by TFW to be worth 14bn.

The schemes stretch across Wales and include:

"Cardiff crossrail" extensions to Newport Road, Pierhead Street and Alexandra Head

New stations on the Core Valley lines

Electrification to Holyhead and Llandudno

St Clears station

Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven frequency enhancements

Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro Main line stations

Bridgend to Maesteg Shuttle

Capacity improvements at Chester

Direct service between Cardiff to Liverpool

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Most of the schemes in the list are not yet funded, and would need cash to be assigned in future UK government spending reviews.

According to the UK government, TFW estimates the total cost of all the schemes under consideration to be "up to 14bn".

UK ministers say the "exact, additional funding allocations" will be confirmed at future spending reviews, but that the UK government is committed to delivering the schemes "as quickly as possible".

The announcement comes with less than three months to go until May's Senedd election, with the polls consistently suggesting that Labour is lagging behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.

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The past year has seen tensions between some Labour politicians in Cardiff and their colleagues in London, with those in the Senedd accusing Sir Keir's government of failing to deliver enough for Wales.

Morgan recently said the prime minister would only be welcome to campaign in Wales if he brought "goodies" such as investment commitments.

Rail funding for Wales has been a long-running issue in Welsh politics in the absence of any knock-on funding as a result of the HS2 development in England.

The UK government has faced repeated calls from all the parties in the Senedd to deliver extra rail investment for Wales, both under Labour and the Conservatives.

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A Welsh government source said the announcement had followed two years of "quiet work" behind the scenes.

"To have the green light in a 14bn transformation is enormous and now just need the rail industry to move as fast as possible," they said.

The Welsh Conservatives accused Labour of cutting rail funding by half compared to what was delivered by previous Tory UK governments.

Mims Davies, Tory shadow Welsh secretary, said: "This is a desperate visit to the last chance saloon by the deeply unpopular UK Labour government, ahead of the Senedd election where it is on course to lose power in Cardiff Bay after almost three decades.

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"As always, today's announcement raises more pressing questions than it answers--the devil is in the lack of detail."

Plaid Cymru's Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts, said the announcement would "feel like deja vu to many people in Wales", saying the new stations had already been announced in last year's Spending Review.

"Reheating old promises is not the generational transformation Wales was promised," she said.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick also accused the government of "reheating" old announcements ahead of the Senedd election.

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"There is still no commitment to electrifying the north Wales or south Wales mainlines, something businesses consistently tell us is essential to unlocking real economic growth across the whole country."

A Reform UK Wales spokesperson said that during Welsh Labour's time in government "they've shamefully underfunded our transport network, and failed to deliver key projects like the M4 Relief Road".

A Green Party spokesperson called for rail infrastructure to be fully devolved to Wales.

"People have had enough of the UK government starving Wales of rail investment, then spinning a small proportion of what we're owed as something ground-breaking," they said.

In March, BBC Wales is holding a live debate in Wrexham with a panel of politicians ahead of the Senedd election. Click here to apply to be in the audience.

More top stories
A heavy winter storm continues to bring unexpected weather to Central California, and people in the foothill communities are now bracing for potential snowfall.

"When it starts coming in like that, people rush a lot to get stuff."

In Coarsegold, Dennis at NAPA Auto Parts is seeing a spike in customers, all with the same thing at the top of their shopping list: snow chains.

Along Highway 41, reminders for drivers that safety isn't an option.

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Across the region, a blanket of white is slowly setting in, with most of the snow expected to come in during the overnight hours.

Action News created a graphic to reference elevation points across Central California, with Tuesday's snow expected to reach as far down as 2,000 feet.

Dennis tells us that in his four years living in Coarsegold, he's only seen it snow once.

The constant train of tourists making their way through town keeps the shop ready for a rush like this.

"The people that come visit Yosemite are the ones that kind of freak out. They don't know what's going to happen, stuff like that, so we're kind of used to it," Dennis says.

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The roads near Oakhurst are bordered by small snowbanks.

One of those unequipped travelers was Marshal Morgan.

Action News caught up with him right after he picked up some chains.

"Just getting out of town, we drove up from Los Angeles," Morgan says. "We just like to get out, especially in the weather, see green California."

While he may not be seeing much green this time around, Morgan is not letting it put a damper on his family's vacation.

"Well, we usually drive to snow resorts for snow, so this will be a little different in that regard, but we like the snow," he says.

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However, the effects of this snowfall remain to be seen.

In Mariposa County, the school district has already announced a two-hour delay in classes Wednesday, with the possibility of a full school closure.
TRICIA MCLAUGHLIN, the top Department of Homeland Security spokesperson who over the past year became a prominent apologist for the Trump administrations program of mass deportation, is leaving her post. After the news broke on Tuesday morning, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem bid McLaughlin farewell on X and expressed gratitude for her exceptional dedication, tenacity, and professionalism.

Tenacious is a good word for McLaughlin, who, Politico reports, often made as many as five media appearances per day to defend the administrations policies. Over the course of these many media hits, and across countless tweets quoted in news reportsoften following horrifying tragedies perpetrated by DHS agentsMcLaughlin earned a reputation for extraordinary, shameless lying.

To mark the occasion of her departure, here are five of the most heinous lies McLaughlin told during her tenure at DHS.

Lie #1: Alex Pretti wanted to massacre law enforcement when federal agents killed him.

DHSs first statement on the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, widely quoted in the media, reportedly came from McLaughlin; it said Pretti approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. The statement was reposted to the DHS account on X along with a photo of the firearm. Officers tried to disarm Pretti, the statement said, and when he violently resisted, one of them fired defensive shots. This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement, the statement said.

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Video taken from numerous angles clearly and quickly disproved most of what the statement either alleged or insinuated about the shooting: Pretti, a lawful gun owner, never brandished his weapon at officers prior to being violently thrown to the ground, disarmed, and shot to death by two agents, since identified as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.

Yet in press conferences and public statements following the tragedy, numerous officials, including Secretary Noem and Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovinio, repeated verbatim the statements claim that Pretti intended to inflict maximum damage on officers. Noem added that Pretti was a domestic terrorist, a characterization Stephen Miller also affirmed. Miller then put his own further spin on things, describing Pretti as a would-be assassin, an assertion that Trump disputed and Miller later walked back, claiming he had based it on bad information from CBP agents at the scene.

Although McLaughlin helped build this false and slanderous narrative that even hardliners like Miller have abandoned, she herself has refused to renounce her offices extremeand baselessclaims about Pretti.

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Lie #2: Renee Good committed an act of domestic terrorism.

Shortly after the killing of Renee Good, McLaughlin issued a statement from her personal X account: ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill theman act of domestic terrorism.

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As in the statement that would follow Prettis killing, McLaughlin alluded to a federal agent who, fearing for his life [and] the lives of his fellow law enforcement . . . fired defensive shots at the hostile driver. The driver was killed, and although multiple ICE officers . . . were hurt, they were fortunately expected to make full recoveries. As in Prettis case, video taken by bystanders from a variety of angles would clearly show that McLaughlins account of the situation was wrong. But that didnt stop the domestic terrorism narrative from rapidly spreading across the MAGAverse before many of its proponents would have even seen any of the video disproving it.

In the immediate aftermath of Goods killing, The Bulwarks White House correspondent, Andrew Egger, offered a clarifying assessment of McLaughlins comms strategy: By putting forward an alternate, fictional account of what happened in Minneapolis yesterdayand doing so before the footage from bystanders without preexisting social-media megaphones had a chance to pick up tractionMcLaughlin gave the MAGA infotainment machine something important: a unified spin strategy, ready to be deployed at scale and at speed.

And it worked. Eager to counterprogram, prominent MAGA influencers uncritically parroted McLaughlins story to their enormous audiences, Egger wrote.

And just as in the case of the Pretti killing, McLaughlin refused to give up her lies. When CNNs Wolf Blitzer asked her about the administrations repeated characterization of Renee Good as a domestic terrorist, calling it outrageous, McLaughlin doubled down, saying, It was an act of domestic terrorism. In no way is that outrageous.

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Lie #3: Children are not being zip-tied during immigration enforcement raids.

In response to a prompt from Fox host Maria Bartiromo about an Illinois churchs nativity scene depicting baby Jesus zip-tied by ICE agents, McLaughlin claimed in December 2025 that children are not being zip-tied. This is, again, another disgusting smear.

However, during an FBI-led law enforcement operation in Idaho in October, in which over a hundred people were detained by ICE, a photo obtained by local news and passed along to the FBI reportedly showed a 14-year-old U.S. citizen in zip ties.

In response, McLaughlin gave the Idaho Capital Sun a statement in which she claimed that ICE didnt zip tie, restrain or arrest any children.

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Fast-forward to last week, when CBS reported that children as young as 14 had been zip-tied and questioned about their immigration status during the Idaho raid in October. The 14-year-old U.S. citizen shared photos with reporters of bruising from the restraints on her wrists.

ICE didnt zip tie, restrain, or arrest any children, McLaughlin repeated in a statement to CBS. ICE does not zip tie or handcuff children. This is garbage rhetoric contributing to our officers facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats.

Its possible that McLaughlin is technically correct here: The Idaho operation was a collaborative affair between multiple federal and local agencies, so there is a chance that the men in masks and camo who rounded up the children and families that day were not from ICE, even though ICE made the arrests. But even if children were being zip-tied by FBI agents or local law enforcement officers or some other DHS personnel instead of ICE during this particular raid, its not as though they are being spared from the cruelty of the administrations mass deportation efforts. Children like 5-year-old Liam Ramos have allegedly been used by DHS agents as bait to capture other family members.1 Of course, McLaughlin has denied that claim, too.

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Lie #4: DHS is focused on getting the worst of the worst out of this country.

McLaughlin has said the administrations mass-deportion effort is focused on getting the worst of the worst out of this countryrapists, murderers, terrorists, gang members, and so forth. If federal agents are targeting worksites, thats just because those places are where they find the worst of the worst.

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This core claim, that DHS is prioritizing removing violent criminal offenders, is blatantly false.

Of people booked into ICE custody since October 1, 2025, 73 percent had no criminal conviction, and only 8 percent had a violent or property criminal conviction, according to an analysis by the Cato Institute. As ICEs own published detention numbers make clear, the mass deportations ramp-up has depended on arresting more and more people who have no criminal record.

Lie #5: Were making sure were using U.S. taxpayer dollars well.

McLaughlin made this claim during an interview on Fox News about DHS painting the border wall black.

Trump asked that they do it. The going theory was apparently that in addition to mitigating rust issues, the new hue would make the wall hot to the touch, preventing people from climbing it. That makes a lot of senseso long as you completely discount the existence of gloves, ladders, and the nighttime.

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The black-paint boondoggle illustrates what sorts of purposes the administration is finding for our taxes. Responsible stewardship of the public purse, it is not. As ProPublica reported, DHS spent much of last year committing upwards of $200 million to a massive ad campaign, contracts for which were awarded outside of normal competitive bidding processes. Noem authorized the U.S. Coast Guard to spend $200 million of taxpayer money on a pair of luxury Gulfstream G700 private jets during last falls government shutdown.

If this is what responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars looks like, what would irresponsible stewardship entail?

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1

You can read more about Liams story and the stories of other children caught up in the gears of Trumps deportation machine in Huddled Masses, The Bulwarks immigration-focused newsletter by Adrian Carrasquillo.
The $205 million held since October by the Trump administration in a political spat over the regions largest infrastructure project has been restored, the Gateway Development Commission said Wednesday in a statement.

The money, part of nearly $15 billion earmarked by Congress for the construction of the $16 billion Hudson River Tunnel, was ordered temporarily restored by the courts last week.

Gateway Development Commission has received the full reimbursement owed to us from the federal government and now has more than $205 million available to fund work on the Hudson Tunnel Project, a spokesman for the commission said in a statement. We are working with our contractors to deploy these funds to resume work as soon as possible.

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Work on the tunnel, which was still in its early stages, had ground to a halt earlier this month as the projects last line of credit ran out amid the federal funding interference.

The GDC said Wednesday that it was in the process of restarting work at three currently dormant construction sites on both sides of the Hudson River by next week.

Letters will be sent to contractors today, and construction activities are expected to resume next week, the GDC spokesman said. We continue to pursue all avenues to secure access to the full amount of federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project, including our lawsuit.

Last weeks court orders restoring the funds are temporary, as two legal efforts continue to restore the funding in full.

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One, a breach of contract suit brought by the GDC against the Trump administration, is working its way through the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. The other, in which New York State and New Jersey sued the Trump administration in Manhattan Federal Court, led to last weeks temporary restraining order against the funding freeze by the Trump administration.

These funds should never have been withheld in the first place, New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. We will remain vigilant to ensure this funding continues uninterrupted, so that workers and commuters are never again left in limbo by the presidents targeted and unlawful whims.

Gov. Kathy Hochul called the fundings restoration Wednesday a major result, while vowing to continue to push for all the congressionally approved billions.

Todays progress is significant, but we need certainty that Gateway funding will remain in place for the duration of the project, she said in a statement. The federal government has a legal obligation to fully fund Gateway, and New York will accept nothing less.

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The freeze began in the early hours of last years government shutdown, as the feds announced the tunnel project was not in compliance with a last-minute change to federal contracting rules.

In the months that followed, the White House variously claimed the funding freeze was due to Democratic policy positions and to New York Senator Chuck Schumers personal support for the tunnels construction.

Trump even proposed a restoration of funding if Schumer would support naming Penn Station and Dulles International Airport for the president, the Daily News and others reported earlier this month.

The president belatedly denied those efforts Monday in an online screed, calling the story JUST MORE FAKE NEWS! In the same post, Trump claimed the tunnel project  which had to deplete its contingency funds due to his funding freeze  will be plagued by cost overruns.

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The Trump administration is now facing two federal lawsuits over its renewed push to open the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska for more oil and drilling opportunities.

Separate groups sued the Department of the Interior and sub-agencies on Tuesday, citing concerns for the 23-million-acre reserve, located on federal land within Alaskas North Slope.

As mandated by the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, 5.5 million acres are scheduled to go up for lease sale on March 18.

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Its the first sale in seven years and isnt expected to be the last. The summer spending package calls for at least four more lease sales in a 10 year period, according to the Bureau of Land Management, which is housed in the Department of the Interior.

Grandmothers Growing Goodness and The Wilderness Society filed a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administrations lease sale in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia while the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth challenged the effort in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.

Both lawsuits are seeking to stop drilling plans near the Teshekpuk Lake, which was previously protected under federal regulation.

The lake is home to animals including caribou, migratory birds, polar bears and other wildlife, according to the suit. Its also home to the Inuit, who are indigenous to Alaskas Northwest Arctic and North Slope boroughs.

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Native communities in northern Alaska have depended on the Reserves natural resources for subsistence across thousands of years of continuous occupation. Hunting, fishing, and communal sharing of resources are key components of Inupiat culture: the Inupiat peoples physical and cultural survival depends on the continued harvest of natural resources, attorneys for Grandmothers Growing Goodness and The Wilderness Society wrote in their suit.

Activities associated with subsistenceprocessing, sharing, cooperative hunting, fishing, whaling, gathering, and ceremonial activitiesstrengthen community bonds, reinforce cultural identity, and link contemporary Alaska Natives with their ancestors, they added.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An American senator called the Danish prime minister a little lady in a foul-mouthed rant over the future of Greenland, reports say.

Lindsey Graham, a Donald Trump supporter who represents South Carolina, made the comment during a private meeting with Mette Frederiksen, the Danish leader, and Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the prime minister of Greenland.

A source told Berlingske, the Danish newspaper, that after being described as a little lady, Ms Frederiksen responded: When youre done, the meeting can continue.

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During the meeting, which took place at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, Mr Graham reportedly said that Mr Trump was the most powerful man in the world and that if he wanted to take Greenland, he would.

Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, met Lindsey Graham at the Munich Security Conference - Ronald Wittek/EPA/Shutterstock

One source told Puck News, the American website, that there were lots of F-bombs, while another described the American senator as combative.

Mr Graham, who has long been supportive of Nato, has shifted his stance over the issue of Greenland, aligning instead with the Trump administration.

Who gives a s--- who owns Greenland? he said in a recent interview, with Politico on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

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He told the website that, after Nato allowed the US to bolster its military presence in the semi-autonomous Danish territory, Europe should stop worrying about Mr Trumps threats.

If youre nervous, have a beer, go see a doctor. Stop being nervous, he said. The point is everybody loves Nato.

Greenland is geographically closer to North America but aligned with Europe - Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

I love it more because people are doing more, Mr Graham added, referring to a commitment by Nato members to boost defence spending.

How many of you believe Nato would be contributing this much money if it werent for Trump? Mr Graham asked. Hes giving them a reason to do it and theyre doing it so lets celebrate.

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The US president has repeatedly threatened to seize the Arctic island, saying last month that he would get it for international security reasons.

Greenland is rich in natural resources, including copper, nickel, and rare earth minerals. These are crucial for AI chips, electric vehicles and other tech, and America is seeking to challenge Chinas hold on their global supply.

Mr Trump eventually backed down after a meeting with Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary-general, long considered to be a Trump whisperer.

Jens Nielsen is the prime minister of Greenland and was also present, representing the islands 56,500-strong population - Marijan Murat/DPA via AP

Sir Keir Starmer announced this week that the Royal Navy would patrol Greenland for the US by the end of the year.

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Earlier this month, Nato launched a military effort known as Arctic Sentry, which is aimed at improving security in the Arctic, where Russia and China are a growing threat.

In the face of Russias increased military activity and Chinas growing interest in the High North, it was crucial that we do more, Mr Rutte said last week.

Gen Alexus Grynkewich, of the US Air Force, said in a statement: Arctic Sentry underscores the alliances commitment to safeguard its members and maintain stability in one of the worlds most strategically significant and environmentally challenging areas.

The Telegraph has approached Mr Graham for comment.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
President William Ruto has ordered the creation of a Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit to bolster safety and security throughout the capital.

During the signing of a pact between the national government and Nairobi County at State House on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the President issued a 60-day deadline to the Ministry of Interior. He instructed the Interior Cabinet Secretary to develop and submit a formal framework for this specialized unit, which will collaborate directly with Nairobi Countys existing security teams.

I direct the Interior Cabinet Secretary to prepare and present, within 60 days, a framework for a dedicated Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit to work hand in hand with Nairobi County security, Ruto stated.

Ruto: Nairobi Must Be Safe for All

The President believes this move will secure the capital for residents, international visitors, and the business community.

We must make Nairobi safe for citizens, visitors, investors, and businesses, he added.

During the announcement, Ruto clarified that the national government is not taking over any county responsibilities. He dismissed any suggestion that he intends to oversee the citys day-to-day operations, insisting that Governor Johnson Sakaja and his administration retain full control.

Let me repeat, there is no transfer of functions happening. For the avoidance of doubt, I have no interest in running the city of Nairobi. My hands are full. The governor and his team must run the city of Nairobi, Ruto stated.

Ruto noted that as president, he remains committed to supporting the city while ensuring the Nairobi City County Government maintains its full legal authority.

But I have an obligation as the president of Kenya to assist the city of Nairobi for all the reasons that I have stated. The Nairobi City County Government retains its legal mandate, he added.

Four Pillars of the Nairobi Partnership

According to the president, the new agreement provides a structured way for the national government to offer support. Because Nairobis success impacts the entire nation, the partnership focuses on four specific pillars of cooperation:

Water and Sewerage: Expanding access and improving infrastructure.

Infrastructure: Developing roads, bridges, and drainage systems.

Urban Housing: Building affordable homes and improving amenities like street lighting.

Environmental Restoration: Managing solid waste and cleaning up the Nairobi River.

Two-Tier Leadership Structure

The agreement also establishes a two-tier leadership structure. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will chair a high-level steering committee with Governor Sakaja serving as his deputy. Meanwhile, Sakaja will lead a separate implementation committee to manage the day-to-day execution of these projects. It will comprise principal secretaries from the national government as well as county executive committee members responsible for corresponding functions

Sakaja Defends the Deal

Governor Johnson Sakaja echoed the presidents remarks, defending the agreement as a strategic partnership rather than a surrender of his duties. He argued that Nairobis existing financial resourcesincluding its equitable share from the national government and its own internal revenuefall short of the massive infrastructure demands of a rapidly growing capital.

With a population of close to 7 million residents and with the city growing year on year, the equitable share from the division of revenue that provides resources to all the counties, as well as our own source revenue, can never be enough for the demanding needs of a capital city of the stature that we aspire to be, Sakaja stated.

The governor explained that the partnership draws its legal authority from Section 6 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act. This specific provision recognizes Nairobis unique status as the seat of the national government and a global diplomatic hub, requiring specialized management and funding beyond that of the other 46 counties.

Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya, the city of the national government, host to diplomatic missions, including the only United Nations headquarters in the global south, and the center of commerce and industry of the entire region, requiring a special arrangement, he said.

Governor Sakaja added that the county and national governments already collaborate on several fronts, but this new agreement provides a solid legal framework for those arrangements.

Already weve been partnering in a number of issues such as the Nairobi Rivers Commission and the regeneration of the river, water provision to the city, the school food feeding program, which has a separate agreement, roads and mobility, markets, housing, among other areas. This agreement solidifies those arrangements, providing a legal framework for additional support, including partnership in security and order, the governor stated.

Not a Repeat of NMS

The governor stood firm in his assertion that this deal differs fundamentally from the previous Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) model. He described the NMS era as a misadventure that saddled the city with a 16-billion-shilling debt and undermined the principles of devolution.

This is not a transfer of functions as happened during the NMS time, which was a misadventure that left this city with a 16 billion shilling pending bills hole and which did not augur well with the true spirit of devolution. It is not a transfer but a collaboration that is encouraged and which holds true regard to the mandate given to both of us by the people of Kenya and the citizens of Nairobi and to the constitution that we swore to abide by, Sakaja said.

Sakaja also tied the partnership to immediate milestones, such as preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027, and Kenyas larger ambition for urban growth.

Were on the journey to Singapore, and Nairobi will not be left behind. This is the capital of Singapore. Excellency, the capital city will remain at the center of the transformation to first-world status, he stated.
Sen. Lindsey Graham has been accused of derailing a diplomatic meeting in Munich with an expletive-laden rant and sexist insult leveled at Denmarks prime minister.

The close ally of President Donald Trump, himself no stranger to vicious verbal attacks against women, is said to have called Mette Frederiksen little lady as he looked her straight in the eye and sneered during the exchange at a Munich Hotel on Saturday, Danish newspaper Berlingske reports.

Graham had been meeting with Frederiksen to discuss Trumps threats earlier this year to annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO ally.

Frederiksen reportedly remained cool and told Graham: When youre done with that, the meeting can continue. / Maja Hitij / Getty Images

Also in attendance at the meeting, held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, were several members of the House and Senate along with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

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Puck first broke news of Grahams foul-mouthed meltdown Monday. Sources with knowledge of the conversation said he was combative and that he threw around lots of F-bombs, with one person adding: Picture Graham on his worst TV day.

Others described it to Berlingske as shocking, disturbing, and extremely inappropriate. One attendee told the newspaper Graham had also targeted Greenlands leader, Nielsen, having yawned directly in his face in a way that could only be perceived as mocking.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to seize Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark, by force. / Al Drago / Getty Images

Prior to this outburst, Graham had reportedly boasted about Trump having enormous power as the American president. Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin is understood to have been so appalled that she walked out of the room. She reportedly later appeared visibly shaken.

Frederiksen, according to Berlingske, is understood to have calmly waited until Graham had finished his outburst before replying: When youre done with that, the meeting can continue.

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Grahams apparently explosive performance behind closed doors would seem to have been presaged by his comments to Politico Friday, when he told the outlet: Who gives a shit who owns Greenland.

The president has repeatedly threatened to seize the Arctic territory, by military force if necessary, since assuming office for the second time last year.

Those verbal attackswhich if delivered upon militarily would effectively spell an end to the security alliance that has protected NATO members since 1949have also increasingly thrown into relief vested interests in Greenland among the MAGA leaders orbit.

Most notably, Robert Lauder. A longtime friend and donor of Trumps, the billionaire heir to the Estee Lauder fortune is widely reported to have helped spark the presidents interest in acquiring Greenland at the same time as making sizable commercial investments in the islands energy and rare-earths sectors.

The Daily Beast has contacted Graham, Frederiksen, Nielsen and Slotkins representatives for comment on this story.
United States President Donald Trump will host the inaugural meeting of his so-called Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday, assembling representatives from member nations to announce strategies and funding for the reconstruction of Gaza.

While the USs Western allies cautiously keep the board at arms length, some Middle Eastern nations are joining the first meet-up, which will take place at the US Institute of Peace in Washington.

Lauding the boards unlimited potential, Trump, its indefinite chairman, wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform: The Board of Peace will prove to be the most consequential International Body in History.

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Critics have called out Trumps imperial agenda with the boards expanding charter viewed by many analysts as rivalling the United Nations.

Trump has also been criticised for offering seats on the board to Israels Benjamin Netanyahu and Russias Vladimir Putin, both leaders wanted for alleged war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Only Netanyahu has formally accepted so far, despite being angered about the inclusion of Turkish and Qatari officials on the Gaza Executive Board.

For some attendees in Washington on Thursday, the stakes are not just diplomatic but domestic, as decisions made at the inaugural meeting on the occupied Palestinian territory could reverberate at home.

So, whos coming and whos not? And whats at stake?

US President Donald Trump attends the Board of Peace meeting during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026 [File: AFP]

Whats on the agenda for the first Board of Peace meeting?

The prime focus for Thursdays inaugural meeting is a reconstruction plan for Gaza, which has been largely reduced to rubble by Israels ongoing genocidal war, which was diplomatically backed and armed by the US.

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The US is expected to announce $5bn in funds from member states toward the Gaza Humanitarian and Reconstruction efforts.

The board is also expected to hear more details about a so-called International Stabilization Force, which would police Gaza as per the Trump administrations 20-point plan to end Israels war on the strip, announced last year.

This proposed a phased ceasefire in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the establishment of a technocratic governance structure to administer Palestinian territories during a transitional period.

The Board of Peace was unveiled officially on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month. Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and executive member, also presented a glossy reconstruction vision  including beach resorts and high-rise towers  for Gaza in a presentation, decried by Palestinian advocacy groups as imperialist.

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On February 15, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the boards member states have committed thousands of personnel to the International Stabilization Force and Local Police to maintain Security and Peace for Gazans.

Rebuilding the flattened Palestinian territories, ravaged by the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and demolitions and raids in the West Bank, would be a monumental task on its own, estimated to cost about $70bn by the United Nations.

But, while the board was initially envisioned as a body which would mediate Israels war on Palestine and stability in the region, it has since expanded its charter to resolve conflicts across the world. The board will present a bold Vision for the Civilians in Gaza, and then, ultimately, far beyond Gaza  WORLD PEACE! Trump added in his post.





Whos coming to Washington, and whos not?

The White House has formally invited 50 countries to join the Board of Peace, with 35 leaders showing interest so far. As of now, 26 countries have come on board and been designated as founding members of the board. At least 14 countries have declined invitations.

Europe

Europe is divided over Trumps Board of Peace and its extensive charter, which the US president would continue to chair after his presidency ends.

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The European Union itself has stated it is not looking to join the Board of Peace over concerns about its charter and President Ursula von der Leyen declined her invitation to Thursdays meeting.

Trumps invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to take a seat on the board has further complicated any alignment for European countries while the war in Ukraine goes on. As yet, Putin remains undecided about whether he will become a member.

Major European powers, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain, have all declined invitations to join the Board of Peace as members.

Despite concerns, the EU is sending its commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, as an observer to the meeting on Thursday. A spokesperson said that while questions remain about the charter, the EU would work with the US on implementation of the peace plan for Gaza.

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While the EU has not joined the board as a member, two member nations of the bloc  Hungary and Bulgaria  have come on board. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is attending the meeting, is a close ally of Trump.

Kosovo and Albania have also joined as board members and will attend the meeting on Thursday.

Italy, Cyprus, Greece and Romania confirmed they would send representatives as observers. Romanian President Nicusor Dan, who also handles foreign policy, will attend in person.

Meanwhile, Pope Leo, who leads 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, declined his invitation to the boards seat, stressing that crisis situations should be managed by the United Nations.

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Tahani Mustafa, a visiting fellow on the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told Al Jazeera that the Western allies of the US are insisting on sticking to a liberal rules-based order, multilateralism, which gives them something of an equal footing, whereas the rest of the Global South have been much more pragmatic of their backing and support, and even membership that theyre providing to the Board of Peace.

INTERACTIVE - Who is part of Trump's Board of Peace?

Middle East

Several major regional powers in the Middle East have joined Trumps Board of Peace.

From Israel, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will attend the meeting on Thursday.

Longtime US allies, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain, were among the first Arab states to agree to join last month, followed by Egypt.

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Then, the regions largest economy, Saudi Arabia, came in alongside Turkiye, Jordan and Qatar, stating that the countries were committed to supporting Palestines right to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law. Finally, Kuwait also joined. These countries are all sending delegations to the meeting.

Middle Eastern partners say theyre trying to be pragmatic and do what they think is best for Gaza and to stop the bloodshed, said Mustafa, who has previously worked as a senior Palestine analyst at the International Crisis Group.

The reality, ultimately, is that this is more about strengthening their relationship with the US, and not upsetting someone as temperamental as Trump, she told Al Jazeera. In addition, Mustafa argued, The Middle Eastern countries also have a notorious record of not being the best advocates for Palestine, especially in recent decades.

Asia and Oceania

From Central Asia, the presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan  Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, respectively  will be attending the meeting in Washington as members of the Board of Peace.

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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are also travelling to the US capital for the meeting, also as members of the board.

From Southeast Asia, Indonesias President Prabowo Subianto is also in Washington for the meeting, while Vietnams Communist Party General Secretary To Lam will attend the meeting of members of the board.

Pakistan is the only country joining Trumps Board of Peace from South Asia. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is travelling to Washington to attend. India says it is reviewing its invitation, but has not joined the board yet and is not sending anyone as an observer.

Meanwhile, New Zealand declined its invitation to join the board, stating it is seeking more clarity about it, while Australia says it is still reviewing its invitation.

INTERACTIVE - Which country has accepted thier invitation to the Board of Peace

Which leaders are under pressure at home over this issue?

With more than 20 leaders convening in Washington, decisions on policing and governance in the occupied Palestinian territory may reverberate politically at home, especially for the governments of Indonesia and Pakistan.

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In Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim-majority nation, advocacy for an independent Palestine goes back decades.

Indonesia also found supporters among the Palestinian leadership during its own independence movement that culminated in 1945. Opinion about the Board of Peace in the country has been divided since Prabowo joined it, and outcomes from the Washington meeting will have ramifications for him at home.

Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, is also likely to face pressure at home, where people have long supported the Palestinian cause.




In a candid discussion regarding the mechanics of President Donald Trumps hold on power, longtime Yale leadership scholar (and regular Fortune contributor) Jeffrey Sonnenfeld warned the presidents chaotic style is often mistaken for incompetence when it is actually a calculated strategy. Speaking on the Raging Moderates podcast with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov, Sonnenfeld laid out the thesis of his new book, Trumps Ten Commandments, while explaining that Trump is dumb as a fox and business leaders underestimate him at their peril.

Sonnenfeld, who frequently convenes top CEOs to discuss civic engagement for Yales Chief Executive Leadership Institute, pushed back against the notion that Trumps controversial behavior is impulsive. Just because Trump often appears convincingly ignorant doesnt mean hes stupid, Sonnenfeld said. Hes dumb as a fox. He has incredible street savvy.

We know from mythology and science across centuries and cultures that even foxes can get outfoxed on occasion, Sonnenfeld told Fortune, noting hes often been a critic of Trump, but has praised him on occasion as well. He claimed Trump knows what hes talking about, since hes had more experience with Trump than anybody in the current White House and more than anyone in his first term, excepting family members. Sonnenfeld is an influential leadership whisperer, with long stints at both Harvard and Yale, who has known Trump for years, and was one of the first to predict he would run for president. He also claims hes had dozens of in-person conversations and calls with Trump. For instance, he said that Trump often checked in with him during his first campaign, even though Trump knew Sonnenfeld was supporting Hillary Clinton.

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One of Trumps most effective tactics is a distraction device Sonnenfeld calls the wall of sound. Drawing a comparison to 1960s pop-rock record producer Phil Spector and his technique of layering instruments to create an overwhelming sonic experience, Sonnenfeld explained Trump keeps so many instruments blaring at once it disorients the public. Whether it is threats to annex Greenland or attacks on Venezuela, Sonnenfeld said he has come to see these as deliberate strategic devices designed to shift the conversation away from damaging domestic issuessuch as millions losing their health care insurance or Trumps appearance in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Without even referencing Spectors own disgracethe record producer died in prison in 2021, after being convicted of murderSonnenfeld noted Trumps wall of sound has taken a darker turn recently. Of course, this was a reference to Trumps posting of a racist AI-generated video regarding Barack and Michelle Obama. Sonnenfeld characterized these provocations not as dog whistles, but as screaming racial venom, utilized because Trump needed to change the subject, likely from fresh revelations in the Epstein files. Using race is always a last resort of scoundrels, and hes not above that, Sonnenfeld stated.

Inside the commandments

Sonnenfeld told Fortune that although Trump is a well-covered figure, with seemingly dozens of books being written about him every week, most whisper the gossip of disenchanted insiders and repeat the laments of political historians. This book, however, is intended to provide actionable insight into Trumps next moves; its the first by a leadership scholar who has known Trump personally and has studied his leadership devices for a quarter-century.

Sonnenfeld told Galloway and Tarlov a clear example of these commandments is the unfolding scandal involving Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who is fielding new questions from revelations he lied about a longer relationship with Epstein after 2005 than previously known. When asked how a leader like Trump handles such a liability, Sonnenfeld noted: Trump doesnt ever apologize, contrasting him with past politicians who resigned out of shame.

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However, Sonnenfeld predicted Lutnicks utility might be expiring, explaining he hears from CEOs behind the scenes that Lutnick has a declining reputation, despite a long career on Wall Street. One of Trumps commandments, Sonnenfeld added, is he moves away from losers. He may eventually cut Lutnick loose, not out of ethical obligation, but because he has become a liability.

This book, Sonnenfeld told Fortune, will be the only one that decodes what people wrongly think is Trumps madness, to reveal the pattern behind what he does and suggest actions to anticipate and respond to his maneuvers.

A need for collective CEO action

Despite the efficacy of Trumps tactics, Sonnenfeld argued on the podcast that the business community holds the key to breaking his momentum through collective actionthats how you take down a bully. He cited the business exodus following the 2017 Charlottesville protests as proof that unified corporate resistance can work. Theres just one problem: Fear, he said.

When I talk to CEOs about taking a stand right now, theyre afraid, Sonnenfeld said. After all, he pointed out, Trump has attacked JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, the most feared and revered finance leader in the world. Hes also gone after Brian Moynihan of Bank of America, David Solomon of Goldman Sachs, and beyond finance, all-American brands including Coca-Cola, Delta, and Harley-Davidson, the iconic brand whose very logo is the bald eagle. These fights served as a cautionary tale to CEOs, Sonnenfeld noted: You cant act alone.

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Sonnenfeld emphasized that for CEOs to find their courage, other pillars of society must step up first. Where are the clergy? he asked, noting the silence of religious leaders, trade unions, and professional associations compared with the civil rights era.

Ultimately, Sonnenfeld warned stakeholders against passivity. Theyre sitting home eating their steak, watching TV, and scrolling, expecting Trumps imminent demiseand theyre wrong, he said.

Business leaders, he added, cant just argue their patriotism or personal values or ethics are at stake, because they are required to act in the interest of shareholders.

Unless theyre one of those handful of oligarchs, theyre a custodian of other peoples resources, said Sonnenfeld, citing the writings of the great sociologist Alexis de Tocqueville, who visited the U.S. in the early 1800s and wondered why American law functioned so well.

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In order for the laws to work, de Tocqueville said, there needed to be trust in the community, including in leaders of business and other functions, who serve to certify the truth. This was called social capital by de Tocqueville. These people are the pillars. They are the most respected. Sadly, legislators, federal, state, local, the media, academia, clergy have all lost standing in American society. Business leaders are still ascendant. But they need to understand what theyre up against.

Update, Feb. 18, 2026: This report has been updated to note that Phil Spector was convicted of murder, but not of his wife.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Iran announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the 1980s on Tuesday, amid a US military build-up in the Arabian Sea.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Tuesday that sections of the strategic waterway would be closed for several hours for live-fire naval drills.

Irans supreme leader also threatened to send US aircraft carriers to the bottom of the sea, despite diplomatic efforts continuing in Geneva.

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After the talks concluded on Tuesday, Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister, said that both sides agreed on guiding principles but they fell short of a full deal.

A US official said: The Iranians said they would come back in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address some of the open gaps in our positions.

Later on Tuesday, JD Vance told Fox News: In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards. But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.

The US vice president added that they would stop Iran having a nuclear weapon whether its through diplomatic options or through another option.

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Both Washington and Tehran are refusing to call off the escalating military tensions.

The IRGC conducting a military drill in the Strait of Hormuz - SEPAHNEWS HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock

The talks appeared to focus on finding the parameters of a future deal rather than an agreement itself.

Sources familiar with the discussions suggested Iran and the US agreed on potential elements that could be included in any future deal. These could include a broad brush agreement that sanctions should be discussed, allowing Tehran to claim it has secured backing for relief against any punitive measures on its economy.

On Monday, the IRGC launched naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz, north-west of the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, while the USS Gerald R Ford powers towards the Middle East.

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Iranian state television broadcast footage showing cruise missiles being fired toward targets during the exercises.

Credit: @TM_911/ Fars News

Iran has never fully closed the strait, through which 21 per cent of the worlds oil is shipped, though it has repeatedly threatened to do so and has taken actions short of complete closure that have disrupted shipping.

During the so-called tanker war of the 1980s, Iran and Iraq both attacked oil shipping in the Persian Gulf, with Iran mining international waters and attacking vessels with speedboats and missiles.

The narrow waterway, just 24 miles wide at its narrowest point, is one of the worlds most critical energy choke points, with approximately 21 million barrels of oil passing through daily.

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Any official closure would send oil prices soaring and inflict severe global economic damage.

Live drills were carried out in the Strait of Hormuz, which is used for oil shipping - SEPAHNEWS HANDOUT/Shutterstock

The strategy carries risks for Iran itself  oil exports account for the majority of government revenue, and closing the Strait would harm Irans economy even more than its enemies.

Iranian officials have said blocking the waterway would involve attacking tankers with missiles and drones, and potentially sinking vessels to obstruct shipping channels.

After Tuesdays talks, Mr Araghchi said both sides are set to exchange draft texts of a potential agreement before scheduling a third round of talks.

He told state TV: The second round of indirect negotiations was held and we had good discussions, and in this round more serious issues were raised compared to the previous round.

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He added: There was a more constructive atmosphere in this round and different ideas were raised that were discussed seriously.

The US president was represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner at the talks, mediated by Oman, aimed at halting Irans nuclear programme.

Mr Trump confirmed he would be closely involved in the discussions, adding: I dont think they want the consequences of not making a deal.

But Ali Khamenei continued to inflame tensions, warning that Washingtons military superiority would not protect it from Iran.

They constantly say we have sent an aircraft carrier towards Iran, the Islamic Republics supreme leader said. Very well, an aircraft carrier is certainly a dangerous machine, but more dangerous than the carrier is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea.

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Khameneis threats to sink US warships are likely aimed primarily at a domestic audience rather than Washington, but nonetheless risk angering Mr Trump.

1402 US Navys deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups

It seems that the president of the United States keeps saying that their army is the strongest army in the world, Khamenei said. The strongest army in the world may sometimes receive such a slap that it cannot get back up.

With Irans political establishment deeply divided over the Geneva talks, thousands dead following Januarys protest crackdown, and reformist leaders under arrest, Khamenei is under pressure to project strength.

His public threats may also provide political cover for whatever compromises his negotiating team may be forced to make in negotiations, including limits to his nuclear programme.

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On Monday, the Iranian foreign ministry said it believed the US position on the nuclear programme had moved towards a more realistic one.

The White House is under pressure from Israel to push for limits on Iranian ballistic missile stocks, as well as its sponsorship of terrorist groups.

The US negotiators are also using their visit to Geneva to meet a Russian delegation to discuss Ukraine.

On Tuesday, Mr Witkoff was seen having breakfast with Jonathan Powell, Sir Keir Starmers national security adviser, at the InterContinental hotel in Geneva before the expected meeting with the Russians.

They were briefly joined by Dan Driscoll, the US Army secretary, who stood over them in workout clothes.

Steve Witkoff (left), Jared Kushner (centre) and US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper observe flight operations aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea - US NAVY/AFP via Getty Images

An initial round of discussions between Iran and the US took place in Oman 10 days ago, after which both sides expressed cautious optimism that further talks would be worthwhile.

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Despite the positive signals, Mr Trump has continued to threaten Iran with military action.

On board Air Force One, Mr Trump told reporters he believed Iran wanted to strike a deal on its nuclear programme.

Referring to the American strikes on the nuclear facilities last summer, which followed several rounds of talks which yielded no agreement, he said: We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential. And we had to send the B-2s, referring to US stealth bombers.

I hope theyre going to be more reasonable, he added.

Mr Araghchi met the United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog chief on Monday, saying in a post on X he was in Geneva to achieve a fair and equitable deal.

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But he said: What is not on the table: submission before threats.

Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi (centre) said he was in Geneva to achieve a fair and equitable deal - Cyril Zingaro/Reuters

On Tuesday, referring to the talks in Geneva, Khamenei said that possessing deterrent weapons is necessary and obligatory for every nation.

He branded US demands for Iran to abandon its nuclear programme illogical, adding: If negotiations are to take place, pre-determining their outcome is wrong and foolish. This foolish act is being done by the US government, president and some senators, and they dont realise this path is a dead end for them.

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said reaching a deal with Tehran would be very difficult.

I think that theres an opportunity here to diplomatically reach an agreement ... but I dont want to overstate it either, Mr Rubio said during a visit to Hungary on Monday. Its going to be hard.

Meanwhile, Irans foreign ministry said Washingtons position on Tehrans nuclear programme has shifted towards realism since the Muscat talks.

Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman, said: A cautious assessment of the outcome of the talks that took place in Muscat until today is that, at least based on what has been told to us, Americas position regarding Irans nuclear issue has moved towards becoming more realistic, in the sense that they would be committed to Irans explicit rights under the NPT treaty.

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A month after one of the largest sewage spills in US history began soiling the Potomac River, Donald Trump and the Maryland governor, Wes Moore, are fighting over who bears responsibility for a disaster involving a federally regulated pipeline that Moore does not control.

The president used his social media platform on Monday to accuse Moore of gross mismanagement after a big sewer line ruptured last month, causing what researchers describe as one of the largest sewage spills in US history.

There is a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River as a result of the Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly, Governor Wes Moore, of Maryland, Trump posted on Truth Social. It is clear Local Authorities cannot adequately handle this calamity.

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However, the 1960s-era pipeline, known as the Potomac Interceptor, is operated by DC Water, a Washington-based utility that falls under federal regulation and oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Moores spokesperson rejected the presidents criticism, saying Trump had his facts wrong, adding that federal authorities, not state officials, hold responsibility for the infrastructure.

Apparently the Trump administration hadnt gotten the memo that theyre actually supposed to be in charge here, said spokesperson Ammar Moussa, adding that EPA officials had failed to attend recent legislative hearings about the cleanup.

The 72in-diameter pipe collapsed on 19 January, releasing more than 200m gallons of untreated sewage into the river north-west of the capital. The sewage continues to flow into the Potomac while emergency repairs are under way, with officials warning the spill poses significant environmental and public health risks to the region.

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Repairs are expected to take between four and six weeks for immediate fixes, according to DC Water, though local officials have indicated the complete restoration could take up to 10 months. In the meantime, authorities have warned the public to avoid contact with the Potomac River and to keep pets away from the water, though officials maintain that drinking water drawn from upstream remains safe.

Trump announced he would deploy the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to coordinate the response  calling on an agency he has repeatedly attacked since taking office and which is now caught in a funding impasse. The partial government shutdown, which began on Saturday, has left the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Fema, without funding after congressional Democrats and the Trump administration failed to reach agreement on legislation.

The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, pointed to the sewage spill as a reason Democrats should get serious and fund the department, even as Trump directed the unfunded agency to lead the response.

The dispute is another flashpoint in an increasingly bitter feud between Trump and Moore, who some view as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. After first inviting the governor, Trump excluded Moore from a White House dinner for governors scheduled for Saturday and has previously threatened to deploy national guard troops to Baltimore over concerns about violent crime.

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Trump has also challenged Moore over DEI contracting practices and what he calls ballooning project costs for the reconstruction of Baltimores Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in March 2024 after a container ship struck it.

Trump told reporters on Monday evening that his dissatisfaction with Moores handling of the sewage spill and the bridge reconstruction informed his decision to disinvite the governor. He cant fix anything, Trump said.

Moores office said in a statement that Maryland remained prepared to work with federal officials.

The Potomac isnt a talking point, Moussa said, and the people of the region deserve serious leadership that meets the moment.
The entity building the $16 billion Gateway rail tunnel received the entire $205 million a judge ordered President Donald Trumps administration to unfreeze, but a report to a judge said the project is owed more money.

Gateway Development Commission officials announced Wednesday that the full $205 million that had been withheld since Oct. 1, 2025 amid has been repaid by federal transportation agencies.

We are working with our contractors to deploy these funds to resume work as soon as possible, Gateway officials said in a statement. Letters will be sent to contractors today, and construction activities are expected to resume next week."

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Construction on five Gateway projects in New Jersey and Manhattan have been paused since Feb. 6 when the GDC shut down work when funding ran out. That caused the layoff of 1,000 construction workers.

Although the commissions board has scheduled a meeting for Feb. 24, restarting construction work doesnt need the boards approval, said Molly Beckhardt, a commission spokesperson.

However Gateway may be entitled to more money based on a repayment status report filed with U.S. District Court Judge Jeannette A. Vargas on Tuesday.

That report said a total of $235.7 million is due to Gateway from three federal loans and three Federal Transit Administration and Federal Railroad Administration grants.

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We took him to court because I care deeply about jobs and the economy, even if the federal government doesnt seem to, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, said after an event in Flemington.

We have seen the funds released and he continues to remain in court  but were just seeing again and again that what hes doing is illegal, she said, about an ongoing appeal of Judge Vargas Feb. 6 order.

The $16 billion Hudson River Tunnel Project will build two new tunnels and rehabilitate the existing rail tunnels. Of that, $12 billion will come from federal sources and the remainder is funded by New York and New Jersey through low interest federal loan programs.

Boring work on the first tunnels through the Palisades in North Bergen is scheduled to start this year and the first tunnel boring machine is on the site.

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A day before the second payment was made, Trump criticized Gateway on social media, calling it a boondoggle that will result in billions of dollars in cost overruns that the federal government wont cover.

Sherrill placed the blame for any additional costs on Trumps funding freeze.

The worst part about it is now, hes probably cost the project, which was on time and on budget, millions of dollars by halting all this work, Sherrill said.

Under 2024 agreements with the federal government, New Jersey and New York are responsible for paying for any cost overruns and not the federal government as Trump implied.

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Meanwhile, an association representing contractors said theyre ready to go back to work.

It never should have gotten this far. It never should have gotten to a point where hard-working men and women saw their jobs put on the line, said Dave Rible, Utility and Transportation Contractors Association CEO. At least, we can move on and resume the necessary work of building Gateway.

The associations members are ready, willing and able to get Gateway across the finish line, he said.

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The United States newly appointed ambassador to South Africa, conservative media critic Brent Bozell, has arrived in Pretoria to take up his post, the US embassy confirmed on Tuesday, offering a fresh chapter in a relationship that has been under growing strain.

Bozells arrival comes at a delicate moment, as ties between Washington and Pretoria have been increasingly tense since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, with diplomatic disagreements and policy divergences testing what has long been an important partnership.

The Trump administration has also accused South Africa of perpetrating genocide against white South Africans  a claim that Pretoria has strongly rejected.

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Trump first announced Bozells nomination in March, shortly after expelling South Africas ambassador to Washington over allegations he had been critical of US policy. Pretoria has yet to name a replacement, leaving a noticeable diplomatic gap between the two nations.

The ambassador-designate must still present his credentials to President Cyril Ramaphosa before formally assuming his duties. Neither the US embassy nor South Africas foreign ministry has indicated when that ceremony might take place.

Why the new US ambassador to South Africa could strain relations even further

Conservative voice on the diplomatic stage

At 70, Bozell brings decades of experience from the world of media advocacy. He is the founder of the Media Research Center, a non-profit organisation that positions itself as a watchdog against what it describes as left-leaning bias in US news coverage.

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Trump has praised Bozells credentials, saying he brings fearless tenacity, extraordinary experience, and vast knowledge to a nation that desperately needs it. Supporters see his appointment as a signal that Washington intends to take a more assertive stance in its dealings with Pretoria.

While Bozell has not yet outlined his diplomatic priorities publicly, his background and known positions suggest he could play a prominent role in shaping US messaging on key international issues  particularly those where Washington and Pretoria diverge.

South Africa hits back at US over flawed rights report and land grab claims

Room for engagement

Among the most prominent sticking points is South Africas case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide  a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Washington. Bozell is widely reported to be a strong supporter of Israel, placing him at odds with Pretorias recent diplomatic posture, including its expulsion of Israels top diplomat over what it described as a series of violations.

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Relations have also been strained at the multilateral level. The Trump administration boycotted South Africas G20 summit in Johannesburg last year and has not invited Pretoria to its own hosting of the forum this year  an unusual departure from established cooperation among major economies.

Yet, despite these frictions, the underlying economic relationship remains significant. The United States is South Africas second-largest trading partner by country, after China, underscoring the mutual interest in maintaining constructive ties.

Bozells arrival therefore presents both a challenge and an opportunity  a chance to reset dialogue, even as differences persist. With diplomatic channels now being reactivated, attention will turn to how effectively both sides can navigate their disagreements while preserving areas of cooperation.

The previous US ambassador, Reuben Brigety, stepped down in November 2024, shortly before Trump took office.

(With newswires)
President Trump is planning a historic trip to Venezuela  the first visit by a U.S. leader to that country in nearly 30 years. But visiting Caracas before opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is allowed to return would legitimize a dictatorship and be a shameless reward for repression.

Trump told reporters on Feb. 13, more than a month after the U.S. capture of deposed dictator Nicolas Maduro, that Im going to make a visit to Venezuela. He said the date has not been decided yet but added that interim President Delcy Rodriguez  Maduros former vice president  is doing a very good, excellent job.

The White House argues it cant push for immediate elections due to the risk of turmoil. Instead, it is pushing for a gradual process: first, security and economic stability, fueled by U.S.-bound oil, and free elections at an indefinite time in the future.

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But there are good reasons to fear that Trump would not take opposition leader Machado with him to Caracas  Ill tell you why later  and that the Rodriguez regime will get stronger every day that passes without democratic reforms. Rodriguez knows that Trump may soon become an 80-year-old, lame-duck president with weakened power if he loses the November midterm elections. She may not be reforming, but rather playing for time while she waits for him to leave office.

Concerns about an increasingly strong post-Maduro dictatorship are growing after the announcement that the U.S. air carrier USS Gerald R. Ford  the largest in the U.S. Navy  has been ordered to leave the coast of Venezuela for Iran. The carrier was enforcing a U.S. oil blockade that forced the regime to cave to some U.S. demands.

Without such a massive U.S. military presence off the Venezuelan coast, will Trumps threats of military action still be credible? Not as much as before. Trumps successful maximum pressure strategy relied heavily on that naval threat. Without it, the pressure will diminish fast.

Trumps former National Security adviser John Bolton had already alerted me a month ago that once the USS Gerald R. Ford left, our ability to keep pressure on Venezuela to keep the blockade in place is going to deteriorate. He added that, without a credible U.S. military threat, Rodriguez will get stronger every day.

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Granted, the Venezuelan regime has freed more than 300 political prisoners under pressure from Trump. But dont let the headlines fool you. The Foro Penal human rights group reported on Feb. 16 that more than 600 others remain behind bars. And many of those released have been placed under house arrest. Despite Trumps praise for its regime, Venezuela has by no means ceased to be a police state.

Elliott Abrams, a former Trump special envoy to Venezuela and Iran, told me that it would be a great mistake for Trump to go to Venezuela before Machado has been able to return, and before every political prisoner is released. He added that such a trip would strengthen the regime without them making any concessions or moves toward a transition to democracy.

When I asked him if he thinks that Trump will actually go, Abrams responded, he said he wants to go, and he did not set any conditions for that trip. So I think we should all be afraid that it will happen.

In a perfect world, Trump would go to Venezuela taking Machado and 2024 opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia with him on Air Force One. But dont bet on it. Trump will want to be the solo star of his show. He wont want to share the spotlight with Machado, Venezuelas most popular politician.

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In addition, its clear by now that Trumps top priorities in Venezuela are stability and increased oil exports to the United States, not democracy. He didnt even utter the word democracy during his long Jan. 3 press conference on Venezuela. To him, taking Machado with him to Venezuela could put the focus on democracy and potentially threaten stability and lucrative oil deals.

Trump may be tempted to use his planned trip to Venezuela as a victory lap before the U.S. midterm elections, which polls show look pretty bad for his Republican Party. But if he goes before Machados return, Venezuelans will get the worst of both worlds: massive deportations from the United States and a fortified dictatorship at home.

Dont miss the Oppenheimer Presenta TV show on Sundays at 9 pm E.T. on CNN en Espanol or on YouTubes Oppenheimer Presenta channel. Blog: andresoppenheimer.com
President Donald Trumps scheduled Thursday trip to Rome, Georgia, to talk about affordability is the latest sign of a pre-midterms shift toward domestic economic policy that many in his party have clamored for.

In advance of his visit, Trump announced a new critical minerals facility in the state as well as projects in Texas and Ohio (which will also host top-tier Senate races this fall).

Expect Trump to focus his travel  which will feature a stop at a local business, according to a White House official  on the benefits to US workers from the new projects, which he billed as part of a trade deal with Japan.

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He also might take the opportunity to keep bashing former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a longtime ally turned recent critic who represented the Rome area. Im not in his cult, Greene said Tuesday.
President Trump is not ready to weigh in on the Republican Senate primary in Texas as early voting gets underway across the state.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One late Monday that the GOP race had a ways to go, and signaled he was not yet ready to throw his support behind incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) or challengers Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas).

I just havent made a decision on that race yet. Its got a ways to go, and I havent, Trump said when asked about his potential endorsement plans.

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I like all three of them, actually. Those are the toughest races. Theyve all supported me. Theyre all good. Youre supposed to pick one, so well see what happens. But I support all three, the president added.

Trump indicated earlier this month that he was taking a serious look at endorsing in the race, pledging a decision soon.

You know, my problem is Im friendly with all of them. I like all of them, all three, he said at the time. But youll be seeing soon, he added. They say whoever I endorse wins. Thats probably right.

Trump also said aboard Air Force One in April that he would determine a potential endorsement in the GOP primary at the right time.

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Cornyn is seeking the nomination for a fifth term in Washington in a closely watched, bitter primary that has attracted millions of dollars.

Early voting starts Tuesday across the Lone Star State and runs through Feb. 27, with the election to be held on March 3. If no candidate wins a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a May 26 runoff.

A runoff appears likely as recent polling suggests a tight three-way race. Paxton led with 31.9 percent of the vote as of Feb. 11, according to Decision Desk HQs polling averages, followed by Cornyn at 27.7 percent and Hunt at 19.3 percent.

A competitive primary also awaits on the Democratic side, where Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) is facing off against Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D).

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The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the seat as likely Republican.

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Cultural & Historical Significance

The name Brishen holds particular significance in Christian communities where rain is often seen as a symbol of God's blessing and spiritual cleansing. In biblical tradition, rain represents divine favor, purification, and the nurturing of new life. Many Christian families who choose this name do so to commemorate a child born during rainfall, viewing it as a sign of God's grace and the washing away of old ways for new beginnings. The name has gained popularity in regions where agriculture depends on seasonal rains, making it symbolic of hope and provision.



In modern Christian naming practices, Brishen represents the idea of being 'born again' through baptismal waters, connecting the physical act of rain with spiritual rebirth and renewal. The name carries connotations of freshness, purity, and divine timing, making it particularly meaningful for families who value nature-based spirituality within their Christian faith. Throughout Christian history, water has been central to religious rituals, and names like Brishen continue this tradition by linking personal identity with elemental spiritual symbols.
WASHINGTON/LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was making a big mistake by entering into a lease on the Indian Ocean Chagos archipelago that hosts the U.S.-UK Diego Garcia air base.

Under a 2025 agreement, Britain will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the strategically important Diego Garcia base under a 99-year lease.

"DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA! Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, saying the base could be called upon in any future military operation to "eradicate a potential attack" from Iran.

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"I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is 'claiming' Right, Title, and Interest to Diego Garcia," he added.

Responding to Trump's latest remarks, a British foreign office spokesperson said the deal was "crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies".

"The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base," the statement added.

Trump's comments mark the latest in an Anglo-American diplomatic rollercoaster over the deal.

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Britain has said it had no choice but to make a deal after international court decisions threatened its ability to maintain the base under previous arrangements.

Washington last year gave its blessing to the agreement, but in January Trump described it as an act of "great stupidity". Earlier in February he then said he understood the deal was the best Starmer could make, but added he would retain the right to "militarily secure" the base if needed.

On Tuesday the U.S. State Department had issued a statement which stated its backing for the deal.

"The United States supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago," the statement said, announcing talks between the U.S. and Mauritius next week.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya, Ryan Patrick Jones and Chandni Shah; writing by William James; editing by Costas Pitas and Stephen Coates)
Donald Trump has lambasted Sir Keir Starmer over his plan to give up the Chagos Islands in yet another U-turn by the US president over the issue, just one day after backing it.

Mr Trump warned the UK leader that he was making a big mistake by entering [into] a 100-year lease with Mauritius over the islands, which are home to a joint US-UK military base.

Prime minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year lease, the president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

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This land should not be taken away from the UK and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally. We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of wokeism.

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer have clashed several times over the deal (PA)

He said he had been telling Sir Keir that leases are no good when it comes to countries.

It was a dramatic change of stance, just hours after the US government had announced its support for the UK governments agreement.

Ministers secured US backing for the Chagos deal last year, and the president even told Sir Keir he had a feeling its going to work out very well.

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But the US presidents first U-turn came last month, when he accused Sir Keir of great stupidity for ceding control of the islands and linking the agreement to his desire to annex Greenland for the US despite the objections of Denmark and the rest of Nato.

He then reversed course earlier this month by describing the agreement as the best the Labour leader could strike. Then on Tuesday, the US government gave its official backing to the UKs plan.

Sir Keir plans to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, in a deal the UK government says is necessary to secure the future of the crucial UK-US Diego Garcia military base, retaining control of the island in a 99-year lease with Mauritius.

Mr Trump warned that if Iran did not agree to limit its nuclear programme, it could attack the UK, and the US would need the airbase to eradicate such an assault.

Campaigners opposed to the governments Chagos deal protest outside of parliament last month (Getty)

He posted: Should Iran decide not to make a deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime  an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly countries.

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US and Iranian officials are locked in talks in Geneva over the countrys nuclear enrichment programme.

The US leader also questioned the Chagossian peoples claim to their island.

He wrote: Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but prime minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature.

Asked whether the president's latest Truth Social missive represented an official shift in American policy, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration.

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Its coming straight from the horses mouth, she said. When you see it on Truth Social, you know its directly from President Trump.

The government says the future of the Diego Garcia base has been threatened by recent international court decisions.
US President Donald Trump suggested Monday he was discussing future Taiwan weapons sales with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which would signal a stunning reversal of decadeslong US policy.

Previous administrations, including Trumps, have refused to consult with Beijing ahead of arms sales to Taiwan, leading analysts to seek clarity on Trumps ambiguous statement.

From Beijings perspective, trends in Taiwan are moving in a positive direction, and while US lawmakers warned Taipei that the threat from China has never been greater, some experts think Xi is satisfied with mere momentum toward his goal of Taiwan reunification.

Meanwhile, the US is beefing up its regional military presence, deploying more advanced missile systems in the Philippines to deter Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
US President Donald Trump has said ahead of trilateral talks in Geneva that Ukraine "better come to the table fast".

Source: Trump speaking to journalists on board Air Force One, as reported by European Pravda

Quote from Trump on the trilateral talks in Geneva on 17-18 February: "We have big talks. It's gonna be very easy."

Details: Trump added that "Ukraine better come to the table fast".

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"That's all I'm telling you," he concluded.

Background:

On the evening of 16 February, the Ukrainian delegation arrived in Geneva.

The Russian side had made changes since the previous round, with the delegation now to be led by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes the negotiations with the US and Russia on a potential end to the war will not be slowed down by the changes in the Russian negotiating team.

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Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday talks in Geneva with U.S. officials on Tehran's nuclear program had resulted in an understanding but that more work needed to be done.

"Agreement was reached on general guiding principles," Araghchi said. "The atmosphere in this round of negotiations was more constructive. Good progress had been made in comparison with the first meeting."

Omani intermediaries hosted the talks, which focused on having Iran scale back its nuclear program under the guidance of the U.N. nuclear weapons inspectorate, The Guardian reported.

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"Both sides have positions that will take some time to get closer to each other," Araghchi added. "The path to an agreement has been started but that does not mean we can reach an agreement quickly."

After the meeting with Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, Iranian envoys offered to come back in two weeks with detailed proposals "to address some of the open gaps in our positions," a U.S. official told Axios.

President Donald Trump arrives back at the White House late Monday. Earleir he said he would be involved in nuclear talks with Iran that get underway Tuesday but reiterated warnings to Tehran that it may face further U.S. military strikes if it doesn't make a deal. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI

Vice President JD Vance said that Trump drew a "red line" with Iran.

"Now, we would very much like, as the president has said, to resolve this through a conversation in a diplomatic negotiation, but the president has all options on the table," Vance told Fox News.

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"And one thing about the negotiation ... in some ways it went well," he said. "They agreed to meet afterwards, but in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through."

Trump said Monday he would participate "indirectly" in the negotiations.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Monday night, the president said the negotiations were very important and he believed Tehran wanted to reach a deal, saying the fallout of not doing so would be very bad news, referencing U.S. air and missile strikes on the country's nuclear facilities in June, following failed negotiations.

"I don't think they want the consequences of not making a deal. We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s [stealth bomber aircraft] in to knock out their nuclear potential. And we had to send the B-2s. I hope they're going to be more reasonable," said Trump, who acknowledged that they were tough to negotiate with.

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Similar optimism for its own prospects emanated from the Iranian side on Monday with the foreign ministry in Tehran saying it believed the United States' position had shifted to "a more realistic one," regarding Iran's nuclear program.

Following a meeting in Geneva on Monday with International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Grossi on "technical matters," Araghchi said he was heading into the talks with "real ideas" to achieve a fair and just agreement, vowing Iran would not be coerced.

"What is not on the table: submission before threats," he wrote in a post on X.

On Friday, Trump announced he was dispatching a second carrier strike group, the USS Gerald Ford, to the region to join an already substantial U.S. naval armada in the Arabian Sea to ratchet up pressure on Tehran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and a deadly crackdown on protesters that began in late December.

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Trump said he was deploying the world's largest carrier to join the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group sent last month because if Iran didn't "make a deal, we'll need it."

The Gerald Ford and its battleships and associated vessels, now deployed in the Caribbean, are expected to arrive in the Arabian Sea in three to four weeks.

Tuesday's negotiations pick up from talks in Oman on Feb. 6 where a U.S. team led by Witkoff and Kushner met with the Iranians led by Araghchi, although proceedings were mediated by Omani officials and the two sides did not talk face-to-face.

As well as agreement on curtailing Iran's enrichment of uranium, the Trump administration wants the talks to include its ballistic missile arsenal, a recent brutal crackdown on public protests and backing of regional proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.

Tehran has been pushing back, insisting it is only willing to discuss reining in its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
President Donald Trump says he's not ready yet to take sides in the combustible Republican Senate primary in right-leaning Texas.

"I just haven't made a decision on that race yet," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday night as he returned to the nation's capital from Florida. "I like all three of them."

Trump, whose comments came on the eve of the start of early voting in Texas ahead of the March 3 primary, was referring to longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who's seeking re-election, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and two-term Rep. Wesley Hunt, a West Point graduate who flew Apache helicopters during his Army service and who represents a solidly Republican district in the Houston area.

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Paxton and Hunt are challenging Cornyn in the state's high-profile and divisive nomination race.

"They've all supported me. They're all good, and you're supposed to pick one. So, we'll see what happens, but I support all three," Trump said.

Cornyn Torches Democratic Field As He Seeks Re-election In Texas

Read On The Fox News App

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is running for a fifth six-year term in the Senate. (Getty Images)

Cornyn, who is backed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), has been highlighting his Trump credentials, telling Fox News Digital late last year, "I get along well with the president. I've supported him during his first term, and now in his second term  I think the figure we came up with was 99.3% of the time. So I want the president to be successful and look forward to continuing to support him and his policies."

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But Paxton, a MAGA firebrand and longtime Trump supporter, and Hunt, a rising star in the MAGA world, question Cornyn's loyalty to Trump and depict him as a RINO, the acronym for "Republican in Name Only."

Early Voting Underway In Texas Primary

Meanwhile, the NRSC and establishment Republicans are raising concerns that if Paxton wins the primary, it could give Democrats a chance to flip the Senate seat in November's general election, when the GOP will be defending its 53-47 majority in the chamber. They point to the slew of scandals and legal problems that have battered Paxton over the past decade, as well as the state attorney general's ongoing messy divorce.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging Sen. John Cornyn for the 2026 Republican nomination in the Lone Star State.

The primary race is competitive, with many public opinion polls suggesting Paxton and Cornyn battling it out with Hunt in third place.

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Trump noted that the Senate GOP nomination battle in Texas has "got a ways to go."

That's because the Republican nomination is likely to head to a May 27 runoff, which would only be averted if one of the three contenders tops 50% of the vote in the March primary.

Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas is running for the Senate this year, as he primary challenges longtime Sen. John Cornyn.

Trump's latest thoughts on the Texas Republican Senate primary follow comments earlier this month when he told reporters he was "taking a serious look" at making an endorsement in the race, which he said would come soon.

Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas is also staying neutral in the GOP Senate primary.

"I know all these people. They're all friends of mine, and I'm not going to be making any endorsements," the longtime Republican governor told reporters after casting a ballot in early voting on Tuesday.

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a progressive champion and vocal Trump critic, and state Rep. James Talarico, a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian who, like Crockett, is also seen as a rising Democrat, are facing off for their party's nomination.

Fox News' Paige Dukeman contributed to this report





Original article source: Trump withholds endorsement in fiery GOP Senate primary as early voting begins in Texas
In 2013, several Republican senators questioned President Barack Obama's use of drones to kill suspected terrorists. The lawmakers, who included Sens. Rand Paul (RKy.), Ted Cruz (RTexas), Mike Lee (RUtah), and Marco Rubio (RFla.), were especially troubled by the possibility that drones might be deployed against American citizens on U.S. soil, which they argued would be clearly unlawful in the absence of an imminent threat.

How would Republicans have reacted if Obama, assisted by a Justice Department eager to do his bidding, threatened to arrest and jail those critics? That is how President Donald Trump has responded to Democratic legislators who worry about his potentially illegal use of military power.

Trump's attempt to punish his congressional critics ran into two roadblocks last week. A grand jury rejected a proposed indictment against six legislators who produced a video reminding U.S. military personnel of their duty to "refuse illegal orders," and a federal judge explained why any such prosecution would be blatantly unconstitutional.

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The November 18 video did not identify any specific "illegal orders." But it is not hard to imagine how the issue might arise in the context of Trump's domestic military deployments or his murderous campaign against suspected cocaine smugglers.

Trump said the two senators and four representatives who produced the video "should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL." But he had trouble explaining what crime they supposedly had committed by reiterating the well-established principle that members of the armed forces "have a duty to disobey" orders that are "manifestly illegal."

Trump called the legislators "TRAITORS" who had engaged in "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR." But nothing they did came close to meeting the elements of treason or seditious conspiracy.

If the Justice Department was determined to deliver on Trump's threat, as it clearly was, it needed a different option. Jeanine Pirro, the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, reportedly settled on a statute that applies to someone who "causes or attempts to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty by any member of the military or naval forces of the United States."

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That offense is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. But it requires an "intent to interfere with, impair, or influence the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the military or naval forces of the United States." And the Uniform Code of Military Justice defines insubordination as willfully disobeying "a lawful order," while the video explicitly addressed "illegal orders."

Grand juries, which hear only the government's side of a case, almost always approve charges recommended by federal prosecutors. But in this case, a grand jury in Washington, D.C., declined to cooperate with Trump's vendetta.

Two days later, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, ruled that the video was "unquestionably protected" by the First Amendment. Leon was responding to a lawsuit by Sen. Mark Kelly (DAriz.), a retired Navy captain whom Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had censured for the video and other public comments that offended him.

Hegseth, who equated criticism of him with "conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline," sought to punish Kelly, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, by reducing his retirement rank and pension. He warned that the senator could face "criminal prosecution or further administrative action" if he continued to say things Hegseth did not like.

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Leon issued a preliminary injunction barring Hegseth from following through on those threats while the case is pending. Although that decision was limited to Kelly, its logic also condemns any further attempts to treat the video as a crime.

"Under any reading of the law," Leon noted, Kelly's statements "constitute 'speech on matters of public concern' and are therefore 'entitled to special protection.'" Like the Republican senators who criticized Obama's military policies, Kelly and his Democratic colleagues indisputably have a right, as Americans and as legislators charged with overseeing the Pentagon, to speak their minds, even when it irks the president.

 Copyright 2026 by Creators Syndicate Inc.

The post Trump's Blatantly Unconstitutional Attempt To Punish His Congressional Critics Hits 2 Roadblocks appeared first on Reason.com.
WASHINGTON  The SAVE America Act to require proof of citizenship nationwide to register to vote and overhaul voting laws has now topped 50 votes in the Republican-controlled Senate.

The bill is supported by President Donald Trump and passed the House last week, meaning the Senates 60-vote filibuster rule is the only thing standing in the way of it becoming law.

The tally guarantees a battle over the bill on the Senate floor as Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has promised a vote. But he warned last week that there are not even close to enough votes for getting rid of the filibuster, despite Trump's calls to do so. If the filibuster remains intact, the legislation will still fail as Democrats are certain to use every tool to block it.

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Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, the chief sponsor of the bill, is pushing Republicans to use existing rules to force Democrats to engage in a talking filibuster on the floor of the Senate. The idea is to tire out opposing Democrats and pass it. But the tactic is a long shot, viewed by previous Senate majorities as doomed to fail if attempted. The rules make it considerably easier for a filibustering minority to sustain the 60-vote threshold than for a majority to break their will and advance a bill with 51 votes.

Sen. Susan Collins, the centrist from Maine who faces a competitive re-election bid this fall, became the 50th Republican supporter of the legislation, an elated Lee announced last week.

I support the version of the SAVE America Act that recently passed the House, Collins said in a statement. The law is clear that in this country, only American citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections. In addition, having people provide an ID at the polls, just as they have to do before boarding an airplane, checking into a hotel, or buying an alcoholic beverage, is a simple reform that will improve the security of our federal elections and will help give people more confidence in the results."

She said the revisions to the bill resolve her earlier concerns by easing the proof-of-citizenship rule for casting a ballot, instead requiring states to see it only when registering a person to vote.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, during a hearing on Jan. 30, 2025. (Francis Chung / Politico via AP file) (Francis Chung)

If it were a simple majority vote, Collins support would be enough. Vice President JD Vance could break the tie and send it to Trumps desk to become law. But Collins made clear she does not support gutting the filibuster to do that.

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I oppose eliminating the legislative filibuster, she said. The filibuster is an important protection for the rights of the minority party that requires senators to work together in the best interest of the country.

Republicans control 53 seats in the Senate. Some in the party have not signed on to the measure, including Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Murkowski called it an example of the one-size-fits-all mandates from Washington that Republicans regularly criticize. And McConnell, who hasnt commented on the bill, has long said he believes states should run their own elections without federal intrusion.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has slammed the bill as Jim Crow 2.0, designed to disenfranchise Americans who dont readily have access to a birth certificate or passport.

They make it so hard to get any kind of voter ID that more than 20 million legitimate people, mainly poorer people and people of color, will not be able to vote under this law, Schumer said Sunday on CNN. We will not let it pass in the Senate. We are fighting it tooth and nail. Its an outrageous proposal that shows the sort of political bias of the MAGA right.

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Schumer was responding to a question about a poll last August by the Pew Research Center that shows 83% of American adults support requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote.

In addition to mandating a photo ID to vote, the SAVE America Act requires people to show proof of U.S. citizenship in person to register. That includes those voting by mail, who would also have to enclose a copy of a photo ID to vote.

Thune has said Senate Republicans will have a robust discussion about how to proceed on the SAVE America Act, while warning that attempting a talking filibuster would eat up considerable floor time and entail a tremendous amount of effort, work and cooperation  all with no guarantee of success.

Trump has repeatedly pressed for passage of the bill and Lee has framed it as an existential question for the U.S.

This is high-stakes legislation, he wrote on X. Pass it and we save the republic. Dont pass it and we roll the dice.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The visit came during a regional tour that also took the Turkish president to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In Ethiopia, the trip marked the 100th anniversary of the establishment of official diplomatic relations between Ankara and Addis Ababa.

Erdogan was welcomed on Tuesday with cavalry, a brass band, a military parade and a reception at the newly renovated National Palace, the former imperial residence of Haile Selassie, Ethiopias last emperor.

The ceremony underlined the importance Ethiopia places on the visit, the first by the Turkish president in more than a decade.

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Abiy said the two leaders held in-depth discussions to relaunch economic and security cooperation between their countries, as tensions remain high between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Writing on his X account, Abiy described the relationship as lasting friendship and solid cooperation.

Somalia becomes a flashpoint in Turkey's rivalry with Israel

Energy push

The two leaders signed two major economic agreements, particularly in the energy sector.

Turkey is trying to position itself as a strategic partner for Ethiopia, particularly in hydroelectric energy, where Ankara emphasises its expertise and know-how, Federico Donelli, professor of international relations at the University of Trieste, told RFI.

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The opportunity is greater because Ethiopia wants to develop the sector beyond the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, he added.

With nearly two and a half billion dollars invested in Ethiopia in 2025, Turkey is the second-largest foreign investor in the country after China.

Ethiopia demands Eritrea 'immediately withdraw' troops from its territory

Drones question

The visit took place as tensions are rising again between Ethiopia and Eritrea, raising questions about the security side of cooperation.

During the 2021 war in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, which pitted federal forces against Tigrayan fighters, the Ethiopian government acquired Turkish drones.

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Since the war in Tigray, the Turkish government has been providing manpower as well as drone accessories to the Ethiopian government, independent researcher Esayas Bamlack Bishaw, a specialist in Turkish-Ethiopian relations, said.

Ethiopia is facing a conflict in Oromia, another in the Amhara region and a separate, latent one with Tigrayan forces.

It is clear that the Ethiopian government is trying to obtain weapons from Turkey, Bishaw added.

According to Erdogan, countries in the region should resolve their problems among themselves so they do not become an arena for foreign powers.

The Turkish president also criticised Israels recognition of Somaliland in December, saying the move would benefit neither Somaliland nor the Horn of Africa.

His remarks came as Ethiopia maintains close relations with the breakaway Somali region.
A newly filed lawsuit and a revived six-year-old case from environmental groups and an Alaska Native organization are challenging the Trump administrations proposal to open more parts of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to oil and gas drilling.

On Tuesday, Grandmothers Growing Goodness and The Wilderness Society filed suit against the U.S. Department of the Interior, alleging that the departments development plan for the reserve violates proper procedure and federal law.

That suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

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Thousands of miles away, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth updated a six-year-old challenge dating from the first Trump administration.

Despite the difference in time and distance, both lawsuits are seeking the same goal: A stop to new plans for oil and gas drilling in the reserve.

The Audubon Society, which had been participating in the older lawsuit, withdrew from the case shortly before the new complaint was filed.

It isnt yet clear whether the lawsuits will deter a planned oil and gas lease sale scheduled to take place next month.

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That sale, which will open up to 5.5 million acres of North Slope land to oil and gas drilling, would be the first in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska since 2019.

The reserve, located to the west of Prudhoe Bay, has been eyed for possible development for decades, and  unlike the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the east of Prudhoe Bay  has been the subject of interest by major drillers.

The sale is one of five mandated in the next 10 years by the budget and policy legislation known as the Big Beautiful Bill Act.

During the first Trump administration and again this year, the federal government attempted to lease parts of the reserve that are near Teshekpuk Lake, an area that had been protected under previous agreements with local residents.

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The lake is the largest on the North Slope and is considered important habitat for caribou and migrating birds.

Since taking office earlier this year, Trump has emphasized his desire for increased oil production from the North Slope and other federal land nationwide, part of a strategy intended to wean America off imported oil.

If a lease sale takes place in the reserve, exploratory drilling would likely take years, and production would take years more.

Oil company ConocoPhillips acquired some NPR-A leases in 1999; its Willow Project, located in the reserve, is expected to reach full production by the end of this decade.



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The UAE is part of a $700 million plan to lay an internet cable to Turkiye via Iraq, as the network for transferring data across the Middle East becomes more robust  and countries vie to tap growing demand for connectivity. The project, dubbed WorldLink, calls for an undersea cable from the UAE to Iraqs Faw peninsula on the Gulf, which will then run overland to the Turkish border, Ali El Akabi, head of Iraqs Tech 964, which is part of the project, told Reuters. The cable is privately funded and will be rolled out in phases over the next five years, according to El Akabi. The aim is to reduce transit times compared to traditional cable routes through the Suez Canal.

The plan follows the announcement of a Saudi-backed fiber-optic project in Syria earlier this month; last week, the worlds largest subsea cable system came ashore in the UAE.
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the leader of the neighbouring Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement on Wednesday that the move was prompted by Belarus' continued military assistance to Moscow.

"Ukraine imposed the sanctions, in particular, for the deployment in the second half of 2025 of a system of relay stations to control attack drones  this increased the Russian army's capabilities to carry out strikes on the northern regions of our country," he said.

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This made certain attacks on energy and railway facilities possible, he argued. Zelensky added that more than 3,000 Belarusian companies are also active as suppliers for the Russian war economy.

Furthermore, Lukashenko not only authorized the deployment of the Russian medium-range Oreshnik missile in his country, but also supplied important components for it.

This missile jeopardizes the security of the Ukrainians and of Europe as a whole, Zelensky's statement continued.

The sanctions package includes a travel ban and the freezing of any assets Lukashenko may hold in Ukraine. It is unclear whether the Belarusian leader has property in the country. There has been no immediate response from Minsk.

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The sanctions come at a sensitive moment, as Kiev and Moscow have just concluded another round of US-mediated talks in Geneva aimed at ending the nearly four-year war.

In this context, the US has recently eased its sanctions against Belarus. In return, Lukashenko released dozens of political prisoners.
Key developments on Feb. 18:

Russian 'mothership' drones prompt Ukraine to weigh passport requirement for SIM card sales

Explosion at Ukrainian military enlistment office declared terrorist attack

Ukraine hits 6 Russian military targets, including S-300VM missile launcher, General Staff says

Ukraine's SBU denies Zaluzhnyi's claim that office was raided in 2022 while army commander

Ukraine is considering requiring passport verification for the purchase of local SIM cards in response to Russia's latest use of FPV (first-person-view) drones, Serhii Beskrestnov, adviser to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, wrote on Feb. 18 on Telegram.

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Russia has increasingly deployed so-called "mothership drones"  large unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that can carry and launch smaller drones. The tactic has significantly extended the range of FPV drones, which previously operated within 2030 kilometers (10-20 miles), to much farther distances.

Russian forces are using LTE mobile networks and Ukrainian SIM cards to remotely control FPV drones, according to Beskrestnov.

"(The Russians) figured out they could deliver FPV drones on winged UAVs to areas with strong, stable mobile coverage, and then drop the drones on targets," Beskrestnov said.

Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us

Beskrestnov added that operators control the drones from inside Russia, with UAV flight times lasting "literally minutes."

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Restricting the sale of Ukrainian SIM cards is one potential countermeasure, but Beskrestnov acknowledged it is "politically unpopular" and would require changes to national legislation.

The measure would not eliminate the threat of Russian drones entirely, but it could curb the scale of what he called an "uncontrolled process" of SIM card sales.

"In Russia, SIM cards are typically sold with passports, but it is not hard to obtain them through criminals or homeless people," Beskrestnov said, adding that Russian forces primarily rely on new SIM cards.

Another potential way to limit the effectiveness of Russian FPV drones is to disable certain data transmission services. Yet Beskrestnov warned that such steps would be "painful" for the country as well.

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In early 2026, Ukrainian forces documented the first use of Russian Gerbera and Molniya drones as "mothership" platforms. In February, a similar tactic was recorded with the long-range Shahed-type drone, developed by Iran and mass-produced by Russia.

Russian forces are using FPV drones carried by "mothership" UAVs to strike civilian targets and vehicles. The tactic has also fueled so-called "human safari," a brutal tactic in areas near the Russian border or Russian-occupied territories, where drones are increasingly deployed against civilians.

Read also: He just wanted to go home  Brazilian recruits death in Ukraine points to abuse, torture in foreign fighter unit

Explosion at Ukrainian military enlistment office declared terrorist attack

An explosion at a military enlistment office in the city of Kolomyia, in western Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, has been classified as a terrorist attack, the regional prosecutor's office said.

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The news comes amid a rise in attacks on vehicles belonging to military personnel across Ukraine. In the past two weeks alone, two such incidents have been reported in Odesa.

No one was injured in the explosion, which occurred overnight on Feb. 18, but the blast shattered windows and damaged the office.

Investigators and bomb disposal experts continue to work at the scene, the report read.

Prosecutors, together with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police, are investigating the circumstances of the incident, including its cause and those responsible.

Russian special services frequently recruit Ukrainian citizens, including minors, to carry out subversive activities. Many are approached through social media, where they are offered money to complete illegal tasks.

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At the same time, amid Ukraine's ongoing mobilization efforts, draft offices are often accused, at times justly, of forced conscription without compliance with fundamental civil rights and ill-treatment of conscripts.

Over the past year, Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, received 6,127 complaints  nearly twice the number reported in 2024.

The most common complaints involve restrictions on freedom of movement during detention, superficial medical examinations by military medical commissions, violations in processing conscription deferrals, illegal confiscation of personal belongings, and unlawful detention in enlistment offices, the ombudsman said.

Read also: Ukrainian infantry fight to survive on the Pokrovsk front as Russia closes in

Ukraine hits 6 Russian military targets, including S-300VM missile launcher, General Staff says

Ukrainian forces struck six Russian military targets over the past two days, Ukraine's General Staff said on Feb. 18, including overnight attacks on military facilities in Russian-occupied territories.

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The General Staff said the strikes included a cluster of Russian drones near the village of Trudove and targeted a drone workshop in the town of Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to the report.

Other strikes hit a Russian communications hub in the village of Staromlynivka and a concentration of military equipment in the city of Donetsk in Donetsk Oblast.

The General Staff also confirmed that a Feb. 17 strike near Mariupol destroyed a launcher for the S-300VM anti-aircraft missile system, also known as the Antey-2500, with an estimated value of at least $120 million.

The system is capable of intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic, aeroballistic, and cruise missiles.

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In addition, Ukrainian forces struck on Feb. 17 drone control centers in the village of Salne in Russia's Kursk Oblast and in the village of Rodynske in Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast.

Ukrainian drones also recently targeted a Russian facility in Tver Oblast that produces fuel components for Kh-55 and Kh-101 cruise missiles, according to a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) familiar with the operation.

The strike hit the Redkino Experimental Plant, which manufactures Decilin-M rocket fuel and fuel additives for diesel and aviation kerosene. The attack underscores Ukraine's focus on disrupting Russia's advanced missile production and military logistics.

Ukraine routinely strikes Russian military facilities, as well as oil infrastructure that helps Russia finance its war and supply the Russian army with weapons, fuel, and equipment.

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Read also: Chart of the week: Russias attacks push Ukraines energy system to the brink

Ukraine's SBU denies Zaluzhnyi's claim that office was raided in 2022 while army commander

Ukraine's former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi claimed in an interview that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) raided his office in September 2022, the Associated Press reported on Feb. 18.

The raid allegedly took place at a time of rising tensions between Zaluzhnyi, who is currently Ukraine's ambassador to the U.K., and President Volodymyr Zelensky over how to defend the country against Russias full-scale invasion.

The SBU has denied the allegation.

"During that period, the Security Service of Ukraine was conducting investigative actions as part of another criminal case focused on combating organized crime across a large number of addresses," the SBU press service told the Kyiv Independent.

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"A recently established clandestine backup command post of Valerii Zaluzhnyi was located at the time at one of the addresses that appeared in that criminal case. No searches or investigative actions by the Security Service took place at that address. Moreover, Vasyl Maliuk and Valerii Zaluzhnyi personally communicated about this immediately after, and the situation was clarified."

The alleged raid was described by Zaluzhnyi as "an act of intimidation," according to AP. Zaluzhnyi reportedly warned Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff at the time, that he had "already called in reinforcements to the center of Kyiv for support" and that he "knew how to fight."

The address was once the location of a strip club allegedly linked to a criminal organization but it had been closed and reopened at a different location since before the start of the full-scale war, AP reported.

The Kyiv Independent reached out to Zelensky's office for comment but hasn't gotten a response as of publication time.

Zaluzhnyi was dismissed as the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in February 2024. Since then, he has been serving as Ukraine's ambassador to the U.K.

Zaluzhnyi has largely refrained from commenting publicly on the rumored tensions with Zelensky, emphasizing the need for national unity amid wartime. Still, speculation persists about his political ambitions in the country. He is widely regarded as a frontrunner in future presidential elections.

Amid the major corruption scandal that ultimately forced Yermaks resignation, Zaluzhnyi publicly called in November for "political change" in the postwar era.

In the political reshuffle that followed the aftermath, Zelensky met in mid-January with Zaluzhnyi among other prominent figures in what the President's Office described as a "new policy of openness and engagement."

Read also: Investigation: How Russian drones exploit European technologies to strike Ukraine, and beyond

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Glinting under the exhibition centre lights, the gold brooch studded with gemstones on the startup founder's lapel was handmade by Indian artisans -- but artificial intelligence dreamt up its elaborate design.

The brooch, in the shape of Hindu deity Lord Krishna, is an emblem of both the fast-developing power of AI technology and hopes it will drive innovation in India's youthful economy.

Siddharth Soni, 23, showed AFP a box of AI-designed jewellery, mostly in classical Indian style, made by the company Idea Jewellery which he co-founded in 2023.

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"Jewellery like this used to take around six months, seven months" to manufacture using traditional methods, said Soni, at a global AI summit in New Delhi.

Now, using a 3D-printed mould based on an AI blueprint, and streamlining the process in other ways, "I can make this piece in one week" with a few more needed for hallmarking, he said.

Tech bosses and world leaders are gathered in the Indian capital this week to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, including the threat of mass redundancies and loss of human expertise.

Soni's startup is a new direction for his decades-old family jewellery manufacturing business in the city of Hyderabad.

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He said his father was "excited" about the new venture and "wants to take it all over the world" so retailers in places like the United States can offer custom AI-designed Indian jewellery.

At the same time, his father and grandfather, both in the industry for around 30 years, are conflicted because they believe "artisans should not lose their imagination", Soni said.

"We're losing the form of art, basically, by using AI," but even so, "we have to move forward."

- 'Very uncomfortable' -

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the AI summit "shows the capability of our country's youth" as "further proof that our country is progressing rapidly" in technology.

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India's government is expecting $200 billion in AI investment in the next two years, with plans to build large-scale data centres and nuclear power plants to run them.

Idea Jewellery, which does not receive government support but would like to, is in talks with 20 retailers including well-known brands in major cities who are already clients of the long-running family business.

On a tool powered by a fine-tuned version of Google's Gemini, customers can specify the type of metal, precious stones and price range of their jewellery, and describe their desired style with a simple text prompt.

The tool shows examples of the piece and can then produce a detailed 3D model to be turned by hand into real jewellery.

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Some of the workers, who have spent years mastering their craft and usually spend weeks designing a piece of jewellery, are "very uncomfortable with it" and fear their jobs could eventually disappear, Soni admitted.

However they are still making the AI-designed pieces, "because it's their livelihood".

- New fields -

The AI boom has brought huge profits for tech giants and sprouted many startups worldwide, but the bubble could pop if the frenzied excitement loses momentum.

For now, governments and companies are bullish that AI innovation will benefit society, from helping teachers educate large populations to better personalising medical care.

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Peush Bery's startup, Xtreme Gen AI, sells a voice chat tool that can answer and make calls for Indian businesses in a dozen local languages.

It's a competitive field, but the company hopes to carve out a niche by offering smaller businesses a customised tool that they don't need technical know-how to implement.

Different accents and India's noisy streets can make accuracy a challenge. But as the technology improves and becomes more affordable, it could threaten the country's huge call centre industry.

Bery remains optimistic. "New jobs come up, new fields come up," such as working with data to improve the AI models, he said.

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Another startup, Soil Doctor, has offered AI-powered soil testing to 500 farms across 10 Indian states, working with NGOs to run programmes with rural women and youth.

The government could help the company by granting access to historical agricultural data that it currently does not have, said Soil Doctor's chief of staff Vartika Gupta.

AI technology can "benefit farmers big time", helping them save money by buying fertiliser better targeted to their soil type, Gupta said.

"Season after season, at a much lower input cost, they will be able to achieve an increased yield."

kaf-uzm/mtp
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Tucker Carlson sparked anger among his fans and many in the isolationist wing of the GOP on Wednesday after the Daily Mail ran a headline claiming he had been DETAINED in Israel, a claim the U.S. Embassy quickly denied.

The Mail ran a headline based on comments from Carlson that read, Tucker Carlson DETAINED in Israel: Journalist dragged into interrogation room as explosive interview sparks diplomatic firestorm.

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The exclusive report by Phillip Nieto included both Carlsons full claims and the U.S. Embassys denial.

Men who identified themselves as airport security took our passports, hauled our executive producer into a side room and then demanded to know what we spoke to Ambassador Huckabee about, Carlson told the Mail, adding, It was bizarre. Were now out of the country.

The U.S. Embassy in Israel denied Carlson was detained in a statement to the Mail, which said Carlson received the same passport control questions that countless visitors to Israel including Ambassador [Mike] Huckabee and other diplomats receive as part of normal entrance and exit from Israel.

It is not accurate that Israel only was going to let Tucker into the country for the interview. The only engagement the Embassy had with Israel about his visit was to coordinate his private plane landing as part of facilitating a seamless visit. It was Tucker who chose to only come into the country for a few hours and depart. And Tucker received the same positive treatment of any visitors to Israel, concluded an Embassy spokesperson.

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The Daily Mail headline quickly raised the ire of many MAGA influencers, including former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who shared it on social media and wrote, American citizen and journalist Tucker Carlson detained in Israel after interviewing our U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee. We wont tolerate this. You just made it worse. Carlson has been on a tour of Middle Eastern countries in recent weeks and has become one of Israels most fierce critics, while arguing Qatar  not Israel  should be the U.S.s closest ally in the region.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, whom Carlson flew to Israel to interview, also weighed in, noting, EVERYONE who comes in/out of Israel (every country for that matter) has passports checked & routinely asked security questions. Even ME going in/out with Diplomatic Passport & Diplomatic Visa.

Thanks @EFischberger for a more accurate report. EVERYONE who comes in/out of Israel (every country for that matter) has passports checked & routinely asked security questions. Even ME going in/out with Diplomatic Passport & Diplomatic Visa. https://t.co/UbblLiznMO  Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) February 18, 2026

Upon further digging, senior U.S. correspondent for Israels Channel 14 News Libby Alon poured cold water all over Carlsons claim.

A source familiar with the details told me that Carlson and the producer were NOT questioned at all. Security questioned the film crew members who arrived the day before about their stay in Israel (completely standard procedure), and then all the passengers boarded the plane to their destination, reported Alon.

 A source familiar with the details told me that Carlson and the producer were NOT questioned at all. Security questioned the film crew members who arrived the day before about their stay in Israel (completely standard procedure), and then all the passengers boarded the plane to pic.twitter.com/RZMob3W8uZ  Libby Blanca Alon    (@libby_alon) February 18, 2026

__

The post US Embassy Debunks Tucker Carlson Sob Story Over Israeli Airport Security Incident first appeared on Mediaite.
By Daniel Wiessner

Feb 18 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Manhattan on Wednesday granted Palantir Technologies' bid to block a former vice president and senior engineer from soliciting its employees to join the competing company they launched last year, Percepta AI.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Paul Oetken will be in place pending the outcome of Palantir's lawsuit filed in October claiming Percepta CEO Hirsh Jain and co-founder Radha Jain used Palantir's secret information to build a "copycat" AI software firm. It is not clear if they are related.

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Oetken also barred Joanna Cohen, a former Palantir engineer now with Percepta, from breaching a confidentiality agreement she had signed with Palantir. But the judge denied Palantir's request for now to block the defendants from violating agreements they signed not to compete with the company or solicit its customers.

Oetken's opinion explaining his reasoning was sealed. The judge said he would publish a redacted version after lawyers on both sides proposed redactions.

Percepta is owned by venture capital firm General Catalyst and was publicly unveiled in October.

Palantir and General Catalyst did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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In the lawsuit, Palantir says that just like its own AI-powered software, Percepta's services are designed to make businesses and government agencies more efficient using data they already possess.

In court filings, the defendants have said that Percepta is a consulting and engineering firm and, unlike Palantir, does not sell software or provide data analytics.

Hirsh Jain was in charge of Palantir's healthcare portfolio, Radha Jain helped design and build the company's flagship software, and Cohen worked on AI solutions for individual customers, according to court filings. Hirsh Jain left Palantir to found Percepta in August 2024, and the other defendants followed.

Percepta hired at least 10 former Palantir employees within months of its founding last year, and nearly half its workforce are former Palantir staffers, according to the lawsuit.

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Palantir says the defendants signed agreements barring them from competing with the company for one year after leaving, from soliciting Palantir customers or employees for two years, and from using any of the company's confidential information outside their employment.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of breaching those agreements and seeks to force them to comply with them.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Daniel Wallis)
By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - A senior U.S. official on Tuesday revealed what he said were new details of an underground nuclear test blast that China allegedly conducted in June 2020.

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Yeaw told an event at the Hudson Institute think tank in Washington that a remote seismic station in Kazakhstan measured an "explosion" of magnitude 2.75 located 450 miles (720 km) away at the Lop Nor test grounds in western China on June 22, 2020.

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"Ive looked at additional data since then. There is very little possibility I would say that it is anything but an explosion, a singular explosion," said Yeaw, adding that the data were not consistent with mining blasts.

"Its also entirely not consistent with an earthquake," said Yeaw, a former intelligence analyst and defense official who holds a doctorate in nuclear engineering. "It is ... what you would expect with a nuclear explosive test."

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, which is charged with detecting nuclear test explosions, said that there was insufficient data to confirm Yeaw's allegation with confidence.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said the allegation about China conducting a nuclear test was "entirely unfounded" and an attempt "to fabricate excuses for resuming" U.S. nuclear testing.

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"This is political manipulation aimed at pursuing nuclear hegemony and evading its own nuclear disarmament responsibilities," Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in an emailed statement.

"China urges the U.S. to reaffirm the five nuclear-weapon states' commitment on refraining from nuclear tests, uphold the global consensus against nuclear tests, and take concrete steps to safeguard the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime," Liu added.

U.S. President Donald Trump is pressing China to join the U.S. and Russia in negotiating a replacement pact to New START, the last U.S.-Russia strategic nuclear arms limitation agreement, which expired on February 5.

The treaty's expiration has fueled concerns that the world is on the verge of an accelerated nuclear arms race.

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CHINA DENIES NUCLEAR TESTING

China, which has signed but not ratified the 1996 international treaty banning nuclear testing, denied setting off an underground nuclear test blast after the U.S. first leveled the allegation at an international conference earlier this month. Chinas last official underground test took place in 1996.

The PS23 seismic station in Kazakhstan is part of a globe-spanning monitoring system operated by the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).

The organization's executive secretary, Robert Floyd, said in a statement that the PS23 station recorded two very small seismic events spaced 12 seconds apart on June 22, 2020.

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The CTBTOs monitoring system can detect "events" consistent with nuclear test explosions with yields of 551 tons (500 metric tons) of TNT or greater, he said.

"These two events were far below that level. As a result, with this data alone, it is not possible to assess the cause of these events with confidence," Floyd said.

Yeaw said that China tried to conceal the test by using a method known as decoupling, in which the device is detonated inside a large underground chamber to reduce the magnitude of the shockwaves it sends through the surrounding rock.

Like China, the U.S. has signed but not ratified the test ban. Under international law, both countries are obligated to uphold the pact.

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The U.S. conducted its last underground nuclear test in 1992 and has been relying on a multibillion-dollar program that uses advanced tools and supercomputer simulations to ensure its nuclear warheads work properly.

China has rejected Trumps call to negotiate a three-way treaty to replace New START, contending that its strategic nuclear arsenal is dwarfed by those of Washington and Moscow, the worlds largest nuclear powers.

The Pentagon says China now has more than 600 operational warheads and is conducting a major expansion of its strategic nuclear force. It projects that China will field more than 1,000 warheads by 2030.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Don Durfee, Jonathan Oatis and Lincoln Feast.)
The US government has given its official backing to the UK's plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back an important military base.

In a statement, the US Department of State said it "supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago".

It will come as a relief for the UK government after rapid changes in the position of US President Donald Trump on the deal, going from calling it an "act of great stupidity" to saying the deal was the "best" the prime minister could make.

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The announcement comes ahead of talks between the US and Mauritius planned for next week.

In its statement, the US Department of State said that "the US reiterates its desire" for guaranteed "continued use" of the military base on Diego Garcia.

Diego Garcia is the largest island in the archipelago, and is used by the UK and US armed forces. Under the new plan, the UK will lease back Diego Garcia for a period of 99 years.

Continuing on the military base would "advance US national security" and ensure the "security and stability across the Indian Ocean", the US Department of State added.

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The US government had previously signalled it would back the deal worth 3.4bn ($4.6bn) that was signed by the UK in May.

At the time the Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US "welcomed" the deal, before Trump described the plan in a post on Truth Social last month as "an act of great stupidity".

The comments came amid high tensions between the White House and European nations over the US President's desire to purchase Greenland from Denmark and his threats to impose tariffs on the UK and other nations that had backed Denmark.

The UK government said it would "never compromise on our national security", while at the time the prime minister's official spokesperson insisted the US still supported the move.

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The talks set to take place next week will be held in the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis.

They will focus on "security co-operation" and "effective implementation of security arrangements" to ensure long-term success between the Mauritius government and the US, the US State Department has said.

The Chagos Islands  officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory  are located about 5,799 miles (9,332km) south-east of the UK and about 1,250 miles north-east of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean.

The islands have been under British control since 1814 and were bought by the government for 3m, which led to the establishment of the islands as an overseas territory in 1965.

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But Mauritius has long argued that it was illegally forced to give the islands away as part of a deal to gain independence.
Feb 18 (Reuters) - Some U.S. troops are leaving Syria as part of a "deliberate and conditions-based transition," a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.

The Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. was withdrawing all of its roughly 1,000 troops from Syria.

"U.S. forces remain poised to respond to any ISIS threats that arise in the region as we support partner-led efforts to prevent the terrorist networks resurgence," the senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.

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"However U.S. presence at scale is no longer required in Syria given the Syrian governments willingness to take primary responsibility for combating the terrorist threat within its borders," the official added.

Last week, the U.S. military said it completed a withdrawal from a strategic base in Syria, handing it over to Syrian forces, in the latest sign of strengthening U.S.-Syrian ties that could enable an even larger American drawdown.

(Reporting by Steve Holland in Washington D.C. Additional reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Mexico City, Editing by Franklin Paul and Chris Reese)
Last year, lawmakers modified the Utah Fits All Scholarship program  whose fate is likely to be decided by the Utah Supreme Court  to include three funding tiers.

Homeschooled scholarship recipients ages 5 to 11 years old now have access to $4,000 a year  while those 12 to 18 years old receive $6,000.

Meanwhile, private school students are currently eligible to receive $8,000 annually.

But defining those three funding tiers is proving tricky. Utahs nontraditional K-12 schools and educational programs come today in many shapes and sizes.

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How do you distinguish between, say, that $8,000 tier  that private school amount  from, say, a home-based learner?, asked Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, during Tuesdays House Education Committee meeting.

Pierucci posed that query during her presentation of House Bill 467, the measure modifying the Utah Fits All school voucher program.

For starters, according to her bill, a private school, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, is a nonpublic education institution that provides a majority of a students academic instruction.

Additionally, a private school would be required to obtain accreditation from a recognized accrediting body  or be actively seeking, and subsequently receiving accreditation, within a designated time frame.

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A work group focusing on the private school accreditation concept would ensure the integrity of the programs funding tiers, suggested Pierucci.

It would be good if the stakeholders were to shift to an accreditation work group that would be able to look at Utahs unique structure and our scholarship program to be able to determine how that works, she said.

The proposed accreditation work group, said Pierucci, would be charged with studying the issues for a year, while also developing what accreditation standards would look like.

The lawmaker noted that she frequently hears concerns from parents and others who are involved in the Utah Fits All Scholarship program.

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I hope they know that were trying to hit the right balance and being good stewards of taxpayer dollars  while also empowering families to make decisions that are best for their students.

Lawmakers and members of the public voice concerns

Pieruccis bill was ultimately forwarded Tuesday by a majority vote to the House Floor, but not before a pair of committee members  Rep. Tiara Auxier, R-Morgan, and Rep. Nicholeen Peck, R-Tooele  voiced concerns about the proposed accreditation provisions.

Peck asked if mandating accreditation for private schools signals government overstep that then continues into more overstep into private school spaces.

The proposed accreditation work group, Pierucci responded, would have a year to determine what private school accreditation looks like  while identifying different ways a school might be accredited.

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Again, she added, its about distinguishing between the scholarships three funding tiers.

As were seeing in general with education, theres all this innovation thats taking place, said the bill sponsor.

And so my hope would be that this working group could account for that innovation and that magic that is happening in education to try and distinguish the difference between, say, a private school student under this program and a home-based learner.

Ultimately, Pierucci added, Utah Fits All is funded by taxpayer dollars. So theres this balance were walking of being stewards of the taxpayer dollars  and also maximizing opportunity and choice.

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Auxier noted that she was leery about the accreditation, and what that opens the door to (for) regulation, long-term.

During Tuesdays public comment period, several people expressed worries about the bills accreditation element.

Karen Latham  speaking on behalf of UHOPE, a coalition of organizations from Utahs homeschool community  said the accreditation requirement creates a significant barrier for micro-schools and innovative education models that Utah families rely upon.

Accreditation is costly and structurally restrictive, and it limits the flexibility this program was designed to protect, said Latham.

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This materially reduces parent-choice  and shifts the program toward a traditional voucher-style structure, which was not the original intent.

Melanie Mortensen from Utah Parents United said shes worried that the options offered by Utah Fits All are being narrowed.

Many micro-schools, hybrid schools, online programs and alternative education models intentionally operate outside traditional accreditation programs so they can remain innovative and responsive to students, said Mortensen.

Requiring accreditation effectively excludes many of those options.

Pending: Court ruling on Utah Fits All

Pieruccis latest Utah Fits All bill is being debated even amid litigation over the scholarship.

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Last month, Utah Attorney General Derek Brown filed a brief with the Utah State Supreme Court arguing that Utahs school voucher program is constitutional.

The program was enacted by the Utah Legislature and provides up to $8,000 per year to eligible students for approved educational programs or services outside the public school system, wrote Brown on his X account.

Our brief explains that the Utah Constitution permits the Legislature to both maintain a system of public education and to create additional educational options through statute.

My office is defending the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program before the Utah Supreme Court.



On Monday, we filed a brief with the Utah Supreme Court arguing that the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program is constitutional.



The program was enacted by the Utah Legislature and  AG Derek Brown (@AGDerekBrown) January 6, 2026

The attorney generals legal action was prompted by 3rd District Judge Laura Scotts ruling last spring that the school voucher program currently being utilized by over 15,000 Utah children was unconstitutional.

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In 2023, the state was sued by the Utah Education Association and several individual plaintiffs after the school voucher program was enacted.

Last year, Scott said that because the Utah Fits All program is created by the Legislature and a publicly funded educational program, it must satisfy the constitutional requirements applicable to the public education system set forth in the Utah Constitution.

The Legislature, added Scott, does not have the authority to circumvent these constitutional requirements by simply declining to designate the program as part of the public education system.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has ended a practice that prevented veterans who cant manage their finances from owning guns, a change officials say will restore constitutional rights to nearly 200,000 former service members.

The VA announced Tuesday it will immediately stop reporting veterans to the FBIs national background check database if they need a fiduciary to help manage their benefits.

Proponents of the decades-old policy have said it protects veterans with mental impairments by limiting access to a lethal means of suicide. But major veteran advocacy groups and gun rights organizations have long argued the notifications werent based on thorough mental assessments and actually prevented veterans from seeking help for fear of losing their 2nd Amendment rights.

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Since 2017, Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to force the VA to stop the practice , including as recently as last year, with H.R. 496, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Restoration Act of 2025, sponsored by Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz.

But on Tuesday VA officials said that based on a legal review, the agency and the Department of Justice have determined the VA can simply halt the notifications.

According to the VA, the law states that to report a person to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, a determination must be made by a judge or quasi-judicial body.

The VA and DOJ determined that the decision that a veteran needs a fiduciary falls short of this legal standard, and veterans were reported without a hearing or adequate determinations that they posed a sufficient risk of danger to themselves and others.

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Many Americans struggle with managing their finances, and Veterans Second Amendment rights shouldnt be stripped just because they need help in this area. But for too long, Veterans who needed the services of a VA fiduciary were deprived of their right to bear arms, VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a press release.

The Brady Act allows the Justice Department to collect information from federal agencies of anyone whose ownership or position of a firearm would violate federal law, including those who are a danger to themselves or others; who lack the mental capacity to contract or manage their own affairs; or have been found insane by a court or incompetent to stand trial.

In its review of the practice, the VA determined that it violated another law, the Gun Control Act, as well as the 2nd Amendment.

The VA halted the practice for six months in 2024 under legislation approved by Congress in a consolidated appropriations law, but it only applied to veterans who entered the fiduciary program from that year and was not retroactive.

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The new change will affect veterans who have lost their access to a firearm as a result of needing a fiduciary and being reported to the database, which is used by dealers to perform background checks and determine who is eligible to own, possess or buy firearms. According to the announcement, the VA will work with the FBI to remove all past reporting.

The veterans community has been split on their support for the requirement, with organizations such as Blue Star Families, an advocacy group for active-duty military personnel and their dependents, supporting the status quo when it first came under debate in 2017.

Others, such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, have lobbied for the change, saying the policy harmed veterans who need VA health care but were reluctant to seek it for fear of being referred to the database.

In 2023, the most recent year for data on veteran suicide, firearms were used in 73.3% of the 6,398 suicides recorded by the VA. On Tuesday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, noted that guns are used in a majority of veteran suicide and called the change dangerous and reckless.

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Blumenthal refuted the VAs claim that the referral process has been conducted by persons who lack the legal authority or capacity to make a judgement based on a fiduciary assignment, noting that the determinations were made through a comprehensive process with robust due process protections.

This Administration should be focused on measures that will actually help end veteran suicide and make our communities safer. Eliminating this policy and weakening the NICS background check system altogether is a disastrous decision that will have potentially tragic impacts for years to come, Blumenthal said.

But Committee Chairman Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, said that in making the change, the VA had corrected a wrong, and he urged colleagues to support legislation to make the decision permanent.

No veteran should be penalized or stripped of their right to legally purchase and own a firearm without due process simply because they sought assistance from VA regarding their finances or earned benefits, Moran said.
LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  Veteran Affairs Secretary Doug Collins pitched his vision for the department during a visit Tuesday to the Lebanon County VA Center.

Collins honored VA employees and health care workers for their service to veterans. He also spoke about the reorganization efforts, which have faced criticism from some Democrats who said his vision isnt clear.

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He looked to dispel those concerns during his visit.

We have a policy side, which consolidates all policy, Collins said. We have a business line, which is now under an under secretary, deputy under secretary, and then we put all the hospitals, and what we call a medical operations center, then everything thats coming from them, they distill it down, so if a veteran gets care in San Diego itll be the exact same care and quality that they get in Lebanon.

Lebanon first responders receive grant for training course

Collins said that should make it easier for veterans to access care when they need it the most.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
The Vatican will not be part of President Trumps Board of Peace overseeing the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told reporters Wednesday.

Parolin said there are points that leave us somewhat perplexed. There are some critical points that would need to find explanations, according to the Holy Sees official news outlet Vatican News.

The important thing is that an attempt is being made to provide a response, he continued. However, for us there are certain critical issues that should be resolved. One concern is that at the international level it should above all be the [United Nations] that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have insisted.

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A senior administration official told The Hill that the White House will not get into the details of diplomatic conversations.

The Pope and Vatican are welcome to join the many other nations who are committed to the Board of Peace and its guiding principles promoting stability and securing enduring peace, the official said in a statement.

The Pope and Vatican are welcome to join the many other nations who are committed to the Board of Peace and its guiding principles promoting stability and securing enduring peace, a senior White House official told Axios.

Pope Leo XIV has criticized U.S. immigration policy under Trump, the founder and chairman of the Board of Peace. He also criticized Trumps blockade on Cuba and earlier this month called on the two countries to hold talks in order to avoid violence and every action that could increase the suffering of the dear Cuban people.

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Trumps idea for a board was part of the second phase of his 20-point peace plan after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire following two years of fighting, which destroyed much of the Gaza Strip.

The Trump administration launched the board last month during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and sent 60 invitations to various countries. Several countries, including Russia, Hungary, Israel and Argentina, joined the board.

U.S. allies like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Greece and Ukraine, among others, however, declined their invitations, with several citing concerns over the boards framework and over member nations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously questioned the boards mission for peace when member-states like Russia and Belarus, were violators, he said, of peace and international law.

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Trump also withdrew his invitation to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney amid worsening relations between the two countries after Trump called for the U.S. to acquire Greenland.

On Sunday, Trump said that members of the board have given $5 billion toward Gaza reconstruction efforts and promised to send thousands of personnel to maintain security and peace in the region. The president did not say which member nations made these pledges.

The Board of Peace is scheduled to hold its inaugural meeting at the the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.

Updated at 11:18 a.m. EST

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The U.S. Attorneys Office said a man from Venezuela is facing three charges related to an incident in December 2025, in which he is accused of assaulting an officer and damaging a police vehicle.

According to the Attorneys Office, 29-year-old Jorge Torres-Perez of Venezuela was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations (ICE/ERO) in December 2025 when he was released from the El Paso County Jail.

The complaint alleges that while he was being transported, Torres-Perez started exhibiting disruptive behavior and verbal aggression, and allegedly started making repeated threats of serious bodily injury toward the federal agents transporting him.

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Despite officers attempts to de-escalate the situation, Torres-Perez allegedly started hitting the vehicles doors and windows, pulling apart interior panels and wiring, while continuing to make threats and spitting on officers, according to the Attorneys Office.

The estimated damage to the vehicle was $3,898.62. Torres-Perez is facing charges of:

Assault on a federal officer

Threatening to assault or kill a federal officer

Destruction of government property

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
VIRGINAI BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  The Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office is launching a new community engagement initiative named Inside The Academy in March, according to a press release.

Spearheaded by Capt. Nick Curtis, attendees will be able to see how deputies are trained to serve the community. They will also learn about topics such as classroom instruction, scenario-based training, professional standards and accountability expectations. Opportunities for attendees to communicate with the offices training staff are expected.

Courtesy: Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office

Our goal is to provide the community with a clear understanding of what it takes to become a deputy and the level of preparation our staff receives, Curtis said. From classroom instruction to scenario-based training, every component is designed to ensure deputies are prepared to perform their duties safely, professionally and with accountability.

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The event will take place at the VBSO Law Enforcement Training Academy at 9 a.m. on March 6. The event is free, but attendees must register to attend. Attendees can register by emailing their name, city of residence and phone number to pio@vbso.net. As space is limited, early registration is encouraged.

Courtesy: Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office

Training is the foundation of public trust, said Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb. Our deputies are held to high standards, and this initiative allows our community to see firsthand the preparation, professionalism and commitment required to serve. Opening our doors strengthens transparency and reinforces our partnership with the citizens we serve.

For more information, you can visit the Sworn Positions webpage on the Virginia Beach Sheriffs Offices website here.

Download the WAVY News App to keep up with the latest news, weather and sports from WAVY-TV 10. Available in both the Apple and Google Play stores.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Ties between Paris and Berlin are of "existential importance" to Europe, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday.

"It is crucial for the European Union that France and Germany continue to work together and that, despite sometimes differing viewpoints, we always seek common ground," Wadephul told dpa in Berlin.

"France is our closest partner and most important friend in Europe," he added. "Together, we are also aware of our responsibility for Europe."

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Germany and France have "entered into a lasting union that we have with no other country in this depth and breadth," Wadephul explained, citing the historic 1963 Elysee Treaty and the Aachen Treaty, which came into force in 2020.

On this basis, both countries must move forward courageously, including in their support for Ukraine and thus in the defence of freedom.

"I understand this, and the entire federal government understands this as one of our most important tasks," the minister said.

Wadephul emphasized: "Even if there are differences, such as on the Mercosur agreement, agreement on key issues concerning our common European future prevails by far."

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Both countries are working every day to achieve greater European sovereignty, he said.

This begins with access to critical raw materials and semiconductors, he said, and must include European self-determination in the digital sphere "based on our values."

It also includes cooperation in strengthening the defence industry and initial important discussions on issues of nuclear deterrence, he said.
The Brief

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he would rather "eat glass" than fill Sen. Amy Klobuchar's seat in the Senate if she were to be elected governor.

Gov. Walz announced he was dropping out of the 2026 governor's race in January, and Sen. Klobuchar announced her campaign later that month.

The election for the next Minnesota governor is on Nov. 3, 2026.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he would rather "eat glass" when asked if he would fill Sen. Amy Klobuchar's Senate seat if she were to be elected governor.

Walz on filling Klobuchar Senate seat

What they're saying

Walz does not intend to fill Sen. Klobuchar's Senate term if she was elected governor in November.

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Walz made the quip at the beginning a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol on the first day of the legislative session.

"The context was that Eric asked me if I would like to fill out Sen. Klobuchar's Senate term and I said I'd rather eat glass than do that," Walz said. "That was an option."

If Klobuchar wins the governors seat, she will resign from the Senate. Minnesota law says Gov. Walz can appoint someone to fill the Senate seat until a special election is held. If Klobuchar doesnt win the election, she continues serving as a U.S. Senator for Minnesota.

Walz made another joke at the end of the press conference saying he hopes the legislative session ends on time so he can "start looking for work."

Walz drops out of race, Klobuchar announces candidacy

The backstory

Walz announced his decision not to run for a third term earlier this year, stating he wants to dedicate his efforts to defending Minnesotans rather than engaging in political campaigning. He emphasized that every minute spent on political interests could be better used to protect the state from fraud and division.

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READ MORE: Gov. Walz bows out of third term race, shifts political landscape

Walz initially announced his intention to run for a third term in September 2025 but changed his mind by January 2026. Insiders suggest he never fully intended to pursue another term and hoped for other candidates to step forward.

Later in January, Klobuchar announced she would be running for governor.

Klobuchar is the only Democrat in the race currently. The Republican ticket included House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring), My Pillow CEO Mike Linedell, and Army veteran Kendall Qualls, among others.

Former state Sen. Scott Jensen dropped out of the governor's race and will instead run for state auditor.

The Source

Information from a speech Walz made at the first day of the legislative session and past FOX 9 reporting.
YORK  York Public Library, in partnership with York Ready for Climate Action and York Land Trust, will host a ninepart climate series this winter and spring examining how climate change is reshaping Maines coast and coastal waters.

Tides of Change: Our Coast, Our Future will run from February through April and marks the librarys fifth annual climatefocused collaboration since the town of York released its Climate Action Plan in 2022. The series brings together regional scientists, educators, and conservation groups to explore the local impacts of global climate trends.

York Public Library, in partnership with York Ready for Climate Action and York Land Trust, will host a ninepart climate series this winter and spring examining how climate change is reshaping Maines coast and coastal waters.

This years programming centers on the Gulf of Maine  one of the fastestwarming ocean regions in the world  and will connect scientific research to ontheground experiences along the York coastline.

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Topics include ocean plastic pollution and microplastics, the effects of warming waters on seabirds and marine habitats, and the challenges facing Maines lobstering industry. The series will feature expert talks, documentary screenings, and a guided salt marsh walk highlighting restoration work and communitybased resilience efforts.

All programs are free and open to the public; registration is recommended. More information, program details, and recordings of past climate events are available at yorkpubliclibrary.org/climate.

The nine programs include:

Wednesday, Feb. 18: Travel of Ocean Trash with Blue Ocean Society

Wednesday, Feb. 25: Local Lobstering and Climate Change Impact

Wednesday, March 4: Coastal Bird Habitats and Climate Change with Center for Wildlife

Wednesday, March 11: Microplastics: Tiny Pieces, Big Impact with Blue Ocean Society

Saturday, March 14: Sea Change NOVA Docuseries Part 1: Bounty in the Gulf of Maine

Saturday, April 4: Sea Change NOVA Docuseries Part 2: Peril in the Gulf of Maine

Wednesday, April 15: Coastal Flooding in Southern Maine with Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Saturday, April 18: Sea Change NOVA Docuseries Part 3: Survival in the Gulf of Maine

Wednesday, April 29: Salt Marsh Walk and Talk with York Land Trust

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York groups team up for climate series on Maines warming coast
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Alphabet self-driving unit Waymo on Tuesday defended its use of remote assistance personnel in the face of questions from Congress and said they have never been used to move robotaxis in U.S. on-road operations.

Waymo told Democratic Senator Ed Markey in a letter that it has not used remote driving or tele-operations to perform driving tasks. In rare circumstances, some U.S.-based personnel could prompt a stopped AV to move forward at 2 mph (3 kph) for a short distance to exit the travel lane but that has not happened outside of training.

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Markey and Republican Representative Buddy Carter have raised concerns about the use of remote personnel including some remote assistance personnel based in the Philippines.

Waymo said its remote assistance personnel provide advice and support to Waymo robotaxis "but do not directly control, steer, or drive the vehicle."

Waymo operates four centers for remote assistance in Arizona, Michigan, and in two cities in the Philippines to support its fleet and at any given time, there are approximately 70 remote assistance agents, the company said. Only the Event Response Team, which manages responses to crashes or safety incidents and is based in the United States, could move a stopped vehicle.

Markey said in a February 3 letter that Waymo had provided little public information about its policies around remote personnel, adding Congress and the public deserve assurance that the company's remote assistance operations will not endanger passengers, other road users, or national security.

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Markey sent other car companies similar letters including Tesla, Amazon.com's Zoox and Aurora.

Carter on Tuesday separately asked the Transportation Department to investigate Waymo's use of remote vehicle operators located in the Philippines, saying it "raises serious and reasonable concerns about roadway safety, situational awareness, and national security." USDOT said it would respond to Carter.

Waymo said remote assistance personnel "are not passively monitoring a vehicle or group of vehicles with the expectation to identify when intervention is needed" but the automated driving system reaches out when the vehicle encounters an ambiguous situation.

The Waymo robotaxi can also reject remote assistance suggestions if it deems it appropriate. "This distinction is fundamental to our safety model, ensuring the vehicles onboard system remains the primary, real-time authority for safe operation," Waymo said.

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The average amount of time that elapses between a request for and delivery of advice is a matter of seconds and the car computer continues to make decisions independently based on all information available to it, Waymo said, adding that most of the time the robotaxi resolves its question on its own.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Gov. Wes Moore, D-MD, faced questioning on reporting about misrepresentations of his past during a CBS News town hall on Sunday in regard to his Oxford thesis and his claim that his grandfather was chased out of the country by the KKK.

The Washington Free Beacon reported on Moore's past in December and found that he touted himself as a "foremost expert" on radical Islam in the Western Hemisphere on his application to be a White House fellow in 2006, an internship he got after serving in Afghanistan for a year.

The Maryland governor also wrote on the application that he graduated from Oxford in 2003 with a Master of Letters, or MLitt, in international relations.

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However, the outlet reported that Oxford had no record of his thesis and that the title of his work is different from his Oxford degree confirmation and his White House fellowship application.

Wes Moore, governor of Maryland, during an announcement in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (Getty Images)

Maryland To Study Slavery Reparations After Lawmakers Override Dem Governor's Veto

The Free Beacon additionally reported on discrepancies in his graduation date, which on his resume attached to the fellowship application, said was 2004. The degree confirmation provided to the outlet by the governor's spokesperson listed him finishing his graduate studies in November 2005.

Read On The Fox News App

CBS' Norah O'Donnell pressed Moore on the Free Beacon's reporting during a town hall, and asked, "Oxford says it does not have a copy of your thesis. Did you submit it? Any idea why its missing?"

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"I think Oxford has said that I have completed my degree. There is no denying that. And that I received a Masters degree at Oxford University in international relations after being the first African American Rhodes Scholar in the history of Johns Hopkins University. And so, there is no denying that," he said.

Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.) appears on "Meet the Press" in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Getty Images)

Democratic Governor Faces Pushback From Lynching Research Commission Over Reparations Stance

He did not address the missing thesis, which Oxford deputy communications chief Julia Paolitto told the Free Beacon in December that Moore did not submit to Oxford's Bodleian Library, a requirement for graduates should they want to receive their degree at a ceremony. However, Moore did not have a ceremony.

Moore said he was a person of integrity during the CBS town hall, and insisted he was raised right by his family and trained right by the army.

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The governor said Americans hate the "politics of personal destruction," which he described as, "where as a person who has nothing, neither to be ashamed of or nothing to exaggerate about my life, that this is the thing that conservative right-wing blogs want to attack, particularly when its something that Oxford University has verified already."

In early February, the Free Beacon reported that church records show a different account of a story Moore tells about his great-grandfather, whom he says was chased out of the country by the KKK.

Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaking at the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Tx. on Sept. 6, 2024.

Wes Moore Warns Noem 'Federal Occupation' Of New Ice Compound Now Under State Investigation

"Moore's great-grandfather on his mother's side, the Rev. Josiah Johnson Thomas, did preach in the 1920s at a church in Pineville, S.C., about 65 miles north of Charleston. But historical records housed at the archives of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina undercut the three main elements of Moore's storythat Thomas suddenly fled the country in secret, that he was targeted by the Ku Klux Klan, and that he was a prominent preacher who spoke from the pulpit against racism," the outlet reported.

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O'Donnell asked him to respond to the reporting during the town hall.

"I mean, the same right-wing blog?" Moore said. "I can address the fact that Im the grandson of someone who was born in South Carolina, and when he was just a child, the Ku Klux Klan ran their family, ran my family out. And not out of South Carolina, they ran them out of the United States of America, and they went to Jamaica. And much of my family has always said they would never come back to this country. Its the reason why my mom right now, as we speak, is in Jamaica, shes visiting with family members."

The governor said his grandfather came back to the U.S. and got a degree from an HBCU in Pennsylvania, became a minister, like his great-grandfather, and became "the first Black minister in the history of the Dutch Reformed Church."

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"I know my family's history. So if some blog has a question about the Klan's history, maybe they should ask the Ku Klux Klan," he added.

Moore shot back at the Free Beacon in a social media post to X and wrote, "I know my familys history. The @FreeBeacon can ask the KKK about theirs."

Andrew Kerr, the Free Beacon reporter who wrote the piece about Moore's great-grandfather, responded on X by saying, "Read all about Wes Moore's family history right here!" He then provided a link to his original reporting.

The outlet's reporting from early February cited church records, as well as newspaper coverage, that indicate Moore's great-grandfather, Thomas, transferred from South Carolina to Jamaica, where he was born, on Dec. 13, 1924.

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Thomas, according to the report, was set to succeed a Jamaican pastor who had passed away a week earlier.





Original article source: Wes Moore confronted on reported misrepresentations about missing Oxford thesis, story about great-grandfather
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's top economist on Wednesday urged that Federal Reserve economists be punished for research last week that showed American companies and consumers paying for nearly all the new tariffs imposed by the White House last year.

The paper is an embarrassment," Kevin Hassett, director of the White House's National Economic Council said in an interview on CNBC. "Its the worst paper Ive ever seen in the history of the Federal Reserve system. The people associated with this paper should presumably be disciplined.

Hassett's comments represent the latest attack from the Trump administration on the Fed, which has traditionally been independent of day-to-day politics. It also suggests the White House remains sensitive to concerns about rising costs for groceries, housing, and big-ticket items such as furniture and cars, as surveys show Americans remain disgruntled about the economy.

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Several other studies have reached similar conclusions as the New York Fed, including one by economists at Harvard and the University of Chicago; a separate report by the Kiel Institut, a German think tank; and a report last week by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's study, published last week, found U.S. businesses and consumers are paying nearly 90% of the tariffs that Trump has imposed. Average tariffs on imports have risen from 2.6% at the beginning of last year to 13% at the end of the year, the economists found.

Since U.S. importers pay the tariffs to the U.S. Treasury, the main way overseas companies would bear the burden of the costs  as the Trump administration has said they do  would be if they ate the cost of the tariffs by lowering the price they charged to importers.

The New York Fed research found that foreign exporters have only slightly lowered their prices, by much less than tariffs have increased, leaving U.S. importers bearing the cost of the tariffs.

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This isnt the first time the White House has attacked economists for concluding that Americans are paying the tariffs or will soon do so. Last August, the chief economist at Goldman Sachs projected that Americans would pay an increasing share of the tariffs over time. Trump responded by calling on David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, to fire the economist.

It's true that overall inflation hasn't risen as much as many economists expected from the tariffs, though that is in part because Trump has delayed, reduced, rolled back, or allowed exemptions to many of the duties. But the cost of many goods, including furniture, appliances, and tools has risen in the past year after the duties were imposed.

Both General Motors and Ford, for example, have said they have paid billions of dollars in tariff costs. Last fall GM said it expected to pay $3.5 billion to $4.5 billion in tariffs in 2025, while Ford said it paid $800 million in just the second quarter.

Overall, the government has received nearly $100 billion in tariff revenue since October, more than it received in all of the 2024 budget year.
Scores of South Burlington High School students walked out of their classes last Friday to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's ramped-up national operations, including in Vermont.

Hundreds of teens took part in the Feb. 13 walkout in protest of the federal law enforcement agency, which has detained over 900 of the state's residents since Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Vermont ICE Detainee Tracker.

Gathered on the public sidewalk outside the high school at 1 p.m. that Friday, many of the students interviewed by the Burlington Free Press said they knew at least one person impacted by increased ICE activity in Vermont.

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The most frequently named person was Hussein Noor Hussein, the father of a South Burlington High School student and a Somali asylum seeker who was detained by ICE in January and released on bail this month.

After most of the hundreds of South Burlington High School students participating in the Feb. 13 walkout dispersed, a small group remained behind to continue protesting in the cold.

"People are buzzing about (ICE) in the halls," said South Burlington senior Niara Wijetunga. "They've been sharing a lot of posts on Instagram. Everyone's feeling a lot of anxiety because no one is safe, you know?"

South Burlington junior Liam Kelley said a family with six children who lived a few doors down from him recently fled their home to avoid being deported. They didn't say where they were going, he added.

"It truly does devastate me that people are under attack in broad daylight," Kelley said. "There's no shame in demonizing people anymore."

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Wijetunga said she and other organizers set up the walkout to capitalize on students' anger and anxiety surrounding ICE activity locally. Still, she said, she was shocked by the turnout.

Hundreds of South Burlington High School students participated in a walkout on Feb. 13, 2026 to protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"We were worried that it was too controversial, too much of a hot-button topic," she said. "We're really surprised and shock(ed) and just super proud. School spirit is high right now, that's for sure."

High schoolers were joined by students from Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School, which along with the high school is part of the South Burlington School District. Students at Essex and Burlington high schools participated in tandem with their own walkouts the same day.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: South Burlington High School students protest ICE operations in VT
The Kentucky Capitol had a special guest on Feb. 18  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis joined state Rep. Jason Petrie, chair of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, to speak about House Concurrent Resolution 45, which would call on Congress to create a balanced budget amendment for states to ratify.

Theres no denying it  the U.S. is in some pretty serious debt: $38.7 trillion, to be exact. And its been that way for a while. The last time the U.S. had a balanced budget was in the '90s, ending in 2001 under President Bill Clinton.

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DeSantis also isnt the first to push for a balanced budget amendment  hes the latest in a long line of politicians. The first call for a constitutional amendment was in 1936, by a Republican representative from Minnesota. It came up again under President Ronald Reagan, and again in 1995 and throughout the 2010s.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis testifies before the Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 18, 2026, in support of a resolution urging Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, joins Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie, right, and Loren Enns, director of state campaigns for the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, during a meeting in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 17, 2026. DeSantis appeared alongside Petrie to discuss House Concurrent Resolution 45, which calls on Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification. Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie, right, speaks as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens during a Kentucky House committee meeting on a resolution urging Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 18, 2026. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, foreground, shares a laugh with Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie during a meeting in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 17, 2026. DeSantis appeared alongside Petrie to discuss House Concurrent Resolution 45, which calls on Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joins Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie and Loren Enns, director of state campaigns for the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, during a meeting in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 17, 2026. DeSantis appeared alongside Petrie to discuss House Concurrent Resolution 45, which calls on Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks with members of the media after testifying before a Kentucky House committee in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 18, 2026, in support of a resolution urging Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification. Loren Enns, director of state campaigns for the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, testifies before a Kentucky House committee on a resolution urging Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 18, 2026. Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie testifies before the Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 18, 2026, in support of a resolution urging Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis testifies before the Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 18, 2026, in support of a resolution urging Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification. Loren Enns, director of state campaigns for the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, left, testifies as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens during a Kentucky House committee meeting on a resolution urging Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 18, 2026. Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie testifies before the Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 18, 2026, in support of a resolution urging Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification. Gov. DeSantis joins Kentucky lawmakers to push balanced budget amendment 1 of 11 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis testifies before the Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 18, 2026, in support of a resolution urging Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification.

Now some politicians, including DeSantis, are pushing for an amendment through an unused constitutional path  a states convention, where 34 states could draft an amendment of their own making, then attempt to ratify it.

The reason I'm here is because I don't think Congress is going to fix itself, DeSantis said. I think the incentives up there are such that we're likely to continue more the same. There's a culture that's developed. There's a muscle memory that's developed. And you can't just elect new people and all of a sudden they're going to fix it.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, joins Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie, right, and Loren Enns, director of state campaigns for the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, during a meeting in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 17, 2026. DeSantis appeared alongside Petrie to discuss House Concurrent Resolution 45, which calls on Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification.

In the nations 250 years, not one of the 27 amendments to the constitution has been passed through the states' convention option, and despite 450 calls for amendment conventions over the years, none have ever been held, according to Loren Enns, director of state campaigns for the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force.

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Enns said Congress has been hesitant to enact a budget amendment in the past because it fears losing control over the budget or the possibility of a runaway convention  the idea that once state delegates get together, they will make radical changes to the Constitution.

States would also have to pass legislation that outlines the process for how a delegate is chosen, if they havent already. (In 2009, Enns published "The Sword of Liberty," an action novel where the main character leads a reformation of the U.S. government through an Article V Convention of States.)

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The concern around a "runaway convention" was voiced by a few members of the Kentucky House committee, including Rep. Anne Donworth, D-Lexington, who said that while she supports a balanced budget, Article V of the U.S. Constitution does not outline parameters when it comes to drafted amendments.

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I love the idea that we could say faithful delegates, Donworth said. I love that we could say a single issue. The Constitution doesn't say that. It says all intents and purposes. I am not willing to put ... our entire country, our entire way of government at risk over that clause right there.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks with members of the media after testifying before a Kentucky House committee in Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 18, 2026, in support of a resolution urging Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification.

DeSantis and Enns said they believe the odds of a runaway convention or delegates deciding to make radical changes are slim, and even then, three-fourths of state legislatures would have to ratify that proposed amendment in order for it to pass.

DeSantis and Enns said the possibility of a state convention could push Congress to draft an amendment of its own in order to retain control over the process  but if Congress wont budge, states could pursue the convention as a last-ditch measure.

Enns said even if an amendment was passed, changes wouldnt be able to happen overnight.

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Were borrowing more than 25% of the federal budget, so you cannot turn the lights out on that overnight, Enns said. Theres no way, so probably a decade to phase in those cuts. Were maybe talking 13, 14 years to get to a balanced budget.

After nearly an hour of testimony and questions, the committee adjourned without a vote, promising to discuss the resolution further.

Kentucky is one of several states considering a resolution, with DeSantis also visiting Idaho, Montana and South Carolina, pushing for the last handful of states to join the movement.

There's no free lunch, right? DeSantis said. Eventually, someone's got to pay the piper.

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Tell us what you think. Submit your letter to the editor.

Reach reporter Keely Doll at kdoll@courierjournal.com or follow her on X at @keely_doll.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Ron DeSantis visits Kentucky as part of push to amend US Constitution
If you come at the king, you best not miss.

Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey may not be a literal king, but Tatishe Nteta, Provost Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, thinks The Wire quote is apt to describe his Senate races.

Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass, came for Markey in 2020 and missed despite his family name. Now, six years later, Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass, is trying his hand.

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But why does Markey keep getting targeted?

Markey, 79, has represented Massachusetts in some capacity since 1976, first in the House and then, since 2013, in the Senate. He is a progressive Democrat in a progressive state known for being a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. He is largely well-liked in Massachusetts: a November UMass poll found his approval rating at 54%, and pluralities said he deserves to be re-elected in both a University of New Hampshire Survey Center and a Suffolk University poll taken late last year.

Sen. Ed Markey, D-MA, speaks as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, appears in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on May 15, 2025.

Yet Moultons move to primary him in the 2026 midterm elections is the second time a high-profile candidate has done so in the last two elections. Little known candidates Alexander Rikleen and William Gates are also running in the Democratic primary, according to Ballotpedia. Meanwhile, his counterpart, three-term Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 76, has never faced a primary challenge during her time in Congress.

Like in many contests around the country, the answer to why Markey keeps attracting primary challengers likely has a lot to do with age, according to Nteta and Ray la Raja, also a UMass Amherst political science professor. But it also might have to do with the ambition of his challengers and how much of a fighter Markey is.

Is it age?

Moulton said in an interview that he thinks people like himself and Kennedy keep challenging Markey because people recognize that the Democratic establishment has to go.

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In his announcement video, Moulton focused on age.

I just dont believe Senator Markey should be running for another six-year term at 80 years old, Moulton, 47, said in his announcement video. Even more, I dont think someone who has been in Congress for half a century is the right person to meet this moment and meet the future.

Markey did not respond to repeated requests for comment by the time this story was published. He said in an interview with WBUR that he feels "more energized than ever" and that "it's not your age, it's the age of your ideas."

Moulton's pitch is a similar argument to Kennedys back in 2020 and, certainly, the battle reflects current tensions within the Democratic Party around age and the establishment that are being seen in Democratic primary races from Maine to Tennessee. There are even more examples in Massachusetts: Leaders We Deserve, former DNC vice chair David Hoggs organization that backs young progressives taking on incumbents in Democratic primaries, has endorsed 38-year-old Patrick Roath against 12-term Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass, in the states 8th Congressional district.

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Age is a lingering factor for a lot of voters, la Raja said. I think even some older people are looking for some fresh blood too.

In 2020, it was Markey who was able to mobilize young voters to turn out in droves for him by talking about issues they cared about at the time, like climate and social justice. Kennedy, on the other hand, struggled to articulate why he was challenging Markey beyond his age.

Of course, age wasnt as big of a factor in 2020, when Markey was 73. Now, Markey is six years older, and the race comes as the Democratic party reckons with the age of its leaders after a disastrous debate performance led former President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election.

Yet early polls have found that Markey still leads among young people. And even nearing octogenarian status, Nteta said, Markey seems much more energetic than Biden did.

Is it ambition?

Mary Anne Marsh, a Democratic political analyst, thinks that Moulton is running in part because of ambition.

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He just seems to be someone whos, you know, itching to move up, she said, adding that shes not a supporter of either Markey or Moulton.

Moulton won his house seat in 2014 by beating a nine-term Democratic incumbent. He led a rebellion against Nancy Pelosis bid for Speaker of the House in 2018, and he briefly and unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., speaks to the USA TODAY Editorial Board about his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president on July 10, 2019.

Ive challenged the status quo and my own party from the very beginning, Moulton said. There are very specific reasons why people encouraged me to run for president in 2020, but Im just not willing to sit back and accept the status quo when its failing us.

Some speculated that Kennedys challenge was also a move driven by ambition as the two varied very little ideologically and Markey had no major scandals. In 2020, Markey criticized Kennedys challenge as entitlement, writing in an Instagram caption, Where I come from, no one expects to become a U.S. senator.

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Historically, its not uncommon for elected officials to want to move up, Nteta said.

If you look at the course of American political history, most elected officials have retired by their 80s, but in the contemporary period, we have a president who is about to be in his 80s. We have a number of senators who are in their 80s and looking to be reelected, Nteta said. There's an entire generation of very ambitious and very capable elected officials, both in the Republican and Democratic Party, who have been waiting for their turn but are not willing to wait any longer.

Is it his lack of talk show appearances?

So why go after Markey and not Warren, who is just three years younger? While shes not up for election this round, she wasnt challenged in 2024 either.

One reason could be that voters also want a fighter in this Trump 2.0 era, said la Raja.

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Nteta said that compared to Warren, Markey is less combative and public facing.

Elizabeth Warren's in the headlines, like, weekly. You don't hear that from Senator Markey. But you know who is also on Fox News, and, you know, on MSNBC, and talking about his campaign, but also talking about Massachusetts and national politics, is Representative Moulton, Nteta said. We don't see that same level of engagement with Senator Markey.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, speaks at a Senate committee hearing in Washington, DC, on April 8, 2025.

Nteta said theres also a charisma factor that Warren has over Markey, a factor that Kennedy might have thought he had too  but he lost.

Its too early to say if this race will mirror 2020. Moulton must first get on the ballot in Massachusetts, which requires 15% of the delegate vote at the Democratic Nominating Convention in late May. Moulton said hes building support across the state to make that cutoff. The primary is not until Sept. 1.

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Time will tell if Markey can again fend off a challenger and hold on to his kingdom.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Why younger Democrats keep challenging Ed Markey, according to experts
A life-threatening wildfire situation is unfolding across the southern Plains this week. The largest blaze early in the 2026 wildfire season, the Ranger Road Fire, has scorched huge swaths of land in western Oklahoma and southwestern Kansas, covering an area larger than New York City.

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reported widespread wildfire activity across Beaver, Texas and Woodward counties, prompting activation of the State Emergency Operations Center and coordinated support from multiple state, federal and tribal partners.

Cows are moved to safety as flames consumed farmland in western Oklahoma on Feb. 17, 2026 after the Range Road Fire exploded in size. (Image credit: Brian Emfinger)

The Ranger Road Fire alone has burned an estimated 283,000 acres, with grass and brush burning across both Oklahoma and into Kansas on Friday and the continued threat of critical fire weather conditions.

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Combined with several other smaller fires, including the Stevens, Side Road and 43 Road fires, the total acreage impacted across the region is more than 312,000 acres, according to emergency managers.

A new fire sparked Thursday in Latimer County quickly spreading to 9,000 acres, according to Forestry Services.

Texas A&M Forest Service Firefighters perform strategic firing operations for the 8 Ball Fire along a roadside near Howardwick, Texas, on Feb. 18, 2026. (Image credit: Texas A&M Forest Service)

Critical fire weather continue across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, extending into New Mexico.

Since Monday, Texas A&M Forest Service crews have responded to 22 new fire starts.

In the Texas Panhandle, firefighters are battling several large wildfires, including the Lavender Fire, which grew to more than 18,000 acres on Friday, and the 8 Ball Fire at 13,500 acres.

Ranger Road Fire destroys buildings, threatens farmland and prompts evacuations

About half a dozen structures in Oklahoma were destroyed after the blaze started in Beaver County.

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Video by storm chaser Brian Emfinger shows multiple homes and outbuildings on fire as cattle farmers attempted to evacuate cows from the flames. A woman told Emfinger she returned to help her mother move her 11 horses and some pigs.

"The flames were flying over me," she said, after leading a horse to safety.

A horse is led to safety as flames consumed farmland in western Oklahoma on Feb. 17, 2026 after the Range Road Fire exploded in size. (Image credit: Brian Emfinger)

Fierce winds gusting over 60 mph helped propel flames rapidly northeastward through dry grasslands, overwhelming initial containment efforts and grounding aerial firefighting operations. High wind speeds have also contributed to dangerous blowing dust and poor visibility, creating secondary hazards for travelers on regional roadways.

AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Dr. Reed Timmer captured a fire whirl as wind-whipped flames spun up across the dry landscape near Englewood, Kansas.

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Emergency officials issued evacuations for communities in Beaver County and surrounding areas, with shelters established in Mooreland, Woodward and other locations to assist displaced residents. In Kansas, evacuation orders were implemented near Englewood and Ashland as the fire crossed the state line, with authorities urging residents to leave early and stay updated on evolving conditions.

Emergency managers said four firefighters were injured while battling the blaze in Beaver County, including three hurt when a fire truck overturned. Another firefighter was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Ongoing critical fire weather, with strong winds, warm weather and very low humidity, persists across portions of the Plains. This combination dramatically increases the potential for new ignition sources and rapid fire spread through dried vegetation. Residents and land managers alike are warned to avoid any activities that could spark flames, such as welding, open burning or operating equipment in dry grass.

As crews continue to battle existing blazes and weather conditions remain unfavorable for containment, communities across the Plains are urged to stay vigilant, heed evacuation directives and monitor local fire danger forecasts through official channels.
Six mothers who were close friends were among the eight people killed in an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in Californias Sierra Nevada mountains, officials announced.

Their families have shared their names, identifying them as: Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt.

The group of skiers and guides was returning to the trailhead from a three-day trip when the avalanche happened, according to a statement from Blackbird Mountain Guides. The company said it was responding to the incident and working to support the rescue operation.

In a statement, the families said the women were passionate, experienced backcountry skiers who lived in the Bay Area, Idaho and the Truckee-Tahoe region.

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They explained that the eight friends were on a guided tour and were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.

They said they are devastated beyond words about the loss of their loved ones and thanked first responders for their extensive rescue efforts.

The ski group involved has deep ties to the alpine recreation community in Lake Tahoe, including the elite Sugar Bowl Academy, which issued a statement late Wednesday mourning the loss of victims with strong connections to Sugar Bowl, Donner Summit and the backcountry community.

We are an incredibly close and connected community, Sugar Bowl Academy executive director Stephen McMahon was quoted as saying in the statement. This tragedy has affected each and every one of us.

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The Nevada County Sheriffs Office said the rescued skiers were evacuated by the Truckee Fire Department, and two of them were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Nevada County Sheriff's Office

Conditions Before The Avalanche

The Sierra Avalanche Center issued an alert on Tuesday, warning of a widespread cycle that could produce large avalanches. An avalanche warning from the National Weather Service is in effect until Thursday morning.

A huge winter storm blasted the region with feet of heavy snow and dangerous wind gusts. That rapid snow accumulation, combined with gusty winds, weakened the snowpack, causing Tuesdays avalanche.

Persistent weak layers are the cause of most avalanche accidents, according to Avalanche.org. Their experts say its because they can trigger avalanches long after the immediate danger of a storm has passed.

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Several ski resorts around Lake Tahoe were fully or partially closed due to the extreme weather. The resorts along highways have avalanche mitigation programs and were not expected to be at as high a risk as the backcountry, where travel in, near or below the avalanche terrain was strongly discouraged, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for northern Arizona from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Heavy snow is expected along with blowing snow. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are expected. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph.

The Mogollon Rim and Kaibab Plateau are expected to be affected.

Forecast snowfall amounts include: Forest Lakes: 6 to 8 inches; Fredonia: trace to 1 inch; Doney Park: 6 to 8 inches; Flagstaff: 6 to 8 inches; Munds Park: 6 to 8 inches; Pine-Strawberry: 4 to 6 inches; Williams: 4 to 6 inches; Heber-Overgaard: 1 to 2 inches; Jacob Lake: 6 to 8 inches.

Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous.

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Travel is not recommended as heavy snowfall and low visibility will create dangerous driving conditions.

The hazardous conditions are expected to impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes. Strong winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Winter storm warning issued for northern Arizona
The Wisconsin Assembly passed a bill to protect against lawsuits intended to discourage news coverage and quiet speech, as well as measures requiring schools to adopt policies on appropriate communications between staff and students and establishing a definition of antisemitism during a Tuesday floor session.

Assembly lawmakers plan to meet again on Wednesday and Thursday to vote on legislation with the intention of wrapping their work up this legislative session by the end of the week. Lawmakers did not complete votes on every bill they had scheduled before recessing for the State of the State address in the evening.

Anti-SLAPP legislation passes

AB 701, to protect people from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), passed on a voice vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

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Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk (R-Hubertus), who is the co-founder of the right-wing publication Wisconsin Right Now, said the bill would strengthen protections for free speech and civic participation and ensure that citizens arent silenced through abusive litigation.

The bill creates a clear, efficient process for courts to quickly dismiss lawsuits that target protected speech or participation in government proceedings. It requires a prompt hearing and stays constant discovery while the motion is pending. It also allows prevailing parties to recover attorney fees, Piwowarczyk said. These protections help prevent the chilling effect prolonged and expensive litigation can have on free expression.

The bill is based on model legislation developed by the nonprofit Uniform Law Commission.

Its a legal tactic  designed to punish someone through stressful, time consuming and expensive litigation, Rep. Andrew Hysell (D-Sun Prairie) said about SLAPP legislation on the floor, adding that these types of lawsuits target people simply because they choose to exercise their First Amendment rights to speak.

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Its overdue that an anti-SLAPP statute be added to Wisconsin laws. We need to protect our citizens First Amendment rights and protect those rights from legal retribution, Hysell said.

School communication policies

Lawmakers concurred in SB 673 in a 92-7 vote. It would require public school districts and private schools to adopt policies related to appropriate communications between staff and students. The bill will now go to Gov. Tony Evers for consideration.

Schools would need to adopt new policies by Sept. 1, 2026 under the bill.

The bill is one of several that lawmakers introduced in reaction to a November report from the CapTimes that found over 200 investigations into teacher licenses due to allegations of sexual misconduct or grooming from 2018 to 2023.

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Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie) said the bill would protect staff and students. The bill includes requirements that the policies include standards for appropriate content and appropriate methods of communication as well as training in identifying, preventing and reporting grooming and professional boundary violations.

The bill, Nedweski said, will protect students from potentially predatory behavior with clear proactive protections, while also protecting well-intentioned employees who work every day with integrity and professionalism  protecting them from finding themselves in compromising situations where a misunderstanding or a false allegation could cause serious reputational harm.

The bill also requires that policies include consequences for employees or volunteers who violate the rules.

Private schools were included through an amendment to the bill.

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As a parent of two public school kids, we should be doing whatever we can to make sure that our kids are safe in schools, Rep. Mike Bare (D-Verona). said. One of the most troubling things we heard in the series of legislative hearings on this topic is that kids who were in private schools are less safe than those who are in public schools. Thats because educators in private schools are not required to be licensed.

Antisemitism definition

AB 446 passed 66-33 with 11 Democrats joining Republicans in favor. The controversial bill would codify the definition for antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2016. It states that antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

The bill would require local and state governmental agencies to consider the IHRA definition and its examples when investigating allegations of racial, religious or ethnic discrimination.

Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde (D-Milwaukee) said he was concerned that the bill would infringe on peoples First Amendment rights.

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Many Jewish and Muslim work groups have come together to use this definition to establish a framework to help understand what antisemitism is, Moore Omokunde said. But, he added, the intention was not for the definition to be codified into law.

Moore Omokunde said he is worried that the bill could be used to punish people for speaking out against the actions of the Israeli government.

Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), who is Jewish, said she was frustrated with the opposition to the bill.

Antisemitism is real. We hear again and again, particularly since October 7th, that when acts of antisemitism occur, theyre not really antisemitic, Subeck said. I dont spend a lot of time when somebody tells me about an act of homophobia, I dont debate whether it was really homophobic. When somebody who has been a victim of bias, discrimination and worse, tells me what happens to them, I believe it.

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Subeck said the bill is the Legislatures opportunity to take a firm stand against antisemitism.

The bill is now in the Senate.

The Assembly also passed a bill that would prohibit people from serving as a state Supreme Court justice or as a judge of a court of record after the age of 75; AB 640 passed on a 54-45 vote along party lines.

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Wisconsin's population is on the rise, but the rate of growth has slowed over the past year amid a plunge in international migration to the state, according to recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

As of July 2025, Wisconsin had 5,972,787 residents, the Census Bureau reported Jan. 27. That's about 15,000 residents  or about 0.26%  more than in 2024. That growth rate is nearly half what it was the year before and the lowest of the post-pandemic years so far.

Wisconsin is not alone in the trend. Nationwide population growth also slowed significantly in 2025 due to a dip in international migration. The year saw President Donald Trump begin a sweeping crackdown on immigration, which has involved everything from halting refugee programs to revoking protected status for hundreds of thousands of migrants.

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In Wisconsin, the latest estimates show the number of international migrants coming to the state fell by more than 62% in 2025.

Here's what else the Census Bureau report found.

Wisconsin's population growth rate falls to lowest since pandemic

After several years of post-pandemic recovery, Wisconsin's population growth in 2025 was its lowest since 2021, according to Census Bureau estimates.

The state's 0.26% population growth rate was down from about 0.45% in 2023 and 2024, and 0.36% from 2022. Nationally, population growth halved last year, with the country's population growing by 0.5%, or 1.8 million residents, compared to 1%, or 3.2 million residents, in 2024.

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Various projections have predicted a long-term decline of Wisconsin's population. In early 2025, the Department of Administration projected most Wisconsin counties would face a shrinking population by 2050, with an estimated statewide loss of nearly 200,000 residents.

Milwaukee County, though, defied these expectations when its population grew for the first time in a decade in 2024. The county's population reached just under 925,000 residents as of July 1, 2024, which was up by 2,880 people, or 0.31%, from the prior year. The slight growth came after the county lost about 15,000 residents between 2020 and 2024  the most of any Wisconsin county in that time period.

The Census Bureau has not yet released county population data for 2025.

More: Milwaukee logged lowest number of births on record in 2025, what's behind the trend

After reaching record levels in 2024, international migration plunges

For both Wisconsin and the country, a rapid decline in international migration is driving the slowdown in population growth.

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The drop comes after migration to Wisconsin reached the highest level in two decades in 2024, largely spurred by people moving to the state from other countries, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Between July 2023 and June 2024, Wisconsin saw about 19,300 international migrants and about 5,800 domestic migrants move to the state.

In contrast, between June 2024 and July 2025, the number of international migrants dropped to 7,200  the lowest since 2020. Nationwide, the number of international migrants fell by more than 50% from 2.7 million to 1.3 million last year.

The latter half of that yearlong period saw the Trump administration start its nationwide crackdown on immigration, including in Wisconsin.

For several years, global unrest drove people to the U.S. and Wisconsin: The fall of Kabul in Afghanistan and Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a national and local influx of refugees from those countries. Biden-era sponsorship of immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela also allowed more legal immigrants, and Milwaukee in particular became a hub for Burmese refugees from Myanmar.

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In his first few weeks in office, Trump issued a slew of executive orders on immigration, including indefinitely suspending federal refugee programs. More recently, the Trump administration announced Jan. 14 it would stop processing visas from 75 countries, halting the legal immigration process for hundreds of local immigrants and refugees in Milwaukee.

The curbing of international migration comes as some economists and population experts have argued that more immigrants will be key to growing the economy in Milwaukee and Wisconsin  especially with a declining birth rate and projections of a shrinking population.

Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. The walkout was one of numerous demonstrations against Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at various Milwaukee area high schools and statewide this month. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. The walkout was one of numerous demonstrations against Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at various Milwaukee area high schools and statewide this month. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. The walkout was one of numerous demonstrations against Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at various Milwaukee area high schools and statewide this month. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. The walkout was one of numerous demonstrations against Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at various Milwaukee area high schools and statewide this month. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. Nicolet High School students in Glendale hold anti-ICE walkout 1 of 13 Nicolet High School students hold an anti-ICE walkout at Nicolet High School on North Jean Nicolet Road in Glendale, on Feb. 6, 2026. Students organized the walkout during a free period where no class time was missed. The walkout was one of numerous demonstrations against Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at various Milwaukee area high schools and statewide this month.

Midwest sees domestic migration grow for the first time since pandemic

Despite the dip in international migration, the Midwest was the only region of the country where all states gained population last year, the Census Bureau reported.

It's a change from when the region saw a steep population decline in 2021, followed by small growth in 2022, and then steadier growth each year after that. The past year was the first time this decade that the Midwest saw positive domestic net migration, meaning more people moved to the Midwest from other U.S. states than moved away.

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Through domestic migration, the Midwest gained 16,000 residents last year, compared to net losses of more than 175,000 residents in 2021 and 2022.

Still, Midwest states were not immune to the effects of the immigration decline: The region's population grew by about 244,000 residents in 2025, compared to about 386,000 in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Population growth is slowing in Wisconsin, Census Bureau reports
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff early Wednesday reported "meaningful progress" in tri-lateral U.S.-Russian-Ukraine talks in Switzerland on ending the war.

Crediting U.S. President Donald Trump's "success in bringing both sides of this war together" to enable the progress to be made in the U.S.-moderated talks in Geneva, Witkoff provided no details of what had been achieved.

"Both parties agreed to update their respective leaders and continue working towards a deal," he wrote on X.

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The accounts of Russia and Ukraine of Tuesday's talks, which lasted six hours, were less positive with Russia's state-run TASS news agency reporting they were "very tense" while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said they were "difficult" and accused Moscow of playing for time.

"Yesterday's meetings were indeed difficult, and we can state that Russia is trying to drag out the negotiations, which could already have moved to the final stage. We are grateful to the American side for their attention to detail and patience in talks with the current Russian representatives," said Zelensky in a post on X.

A source in the Russian delegation told TASS that all sides had, however, agreed to continue the talks on Wednesday.

The negotiations are being held against the backdrop of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, with no sign of any let up in hostilities.

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At least two people were killed and 25 injured in strikes across five eastern, southern and central Ukrainian provinces overnight after Russian forces launched 126 drones and one ballistic missile, according to a Ukrainian Air Force update on social media.

Russia's Defense Ministry said one person was injured in the city of Cheboksary, 440 miles east of Moscow, after Ukraine launched a large-scale airborne assault into Russian territory overnight using attack drones. The defense ministry said air defenses downed 43 of the drones.

Two previous rounds of talks, in Abu Dhabi in January and earlier this month, were unable to gain traction in overcoming the main stumbling blocks of Russia's demand that Ukraine cede territory and Ukraine's insistence on cast-iron Western security guarantees.

The negotiations are based on a heavily revised version of a 28-point plan, first drawn up by Witkoff's team and Russian officials in November, under which Ukraine would give up Luhansk and Donetsk, including areas its forces still control, in exchange for security guarantees.

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Kyiv has ruled out giving up territory it still occupies but the Americans are pushing a compromise solution that would see those areas become a demilitarized "special economic" buffer zone.

However, the security guarantees remain the potentially most intractable issue with Moscow adamant they cannot involve Western boots on the ground -- something Ukraine believes must be permissable for any guarantee to be credible.
A woman who claims she was raped and assaulted in a University of Kentucky dorm last year is suing, alleging the university was negligent in preventing the attack.

The lawsuit was filed Friday, days after criminal charges in the case were dismissed by a Fayette County court.

In the suit, she and her attorney claim the university violated Title IX  a federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination  and was negligent based on foreseeable conduct and supervision. Without proper action, UK failed to prevent the alleged February 2025 rape, the suit claims.

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Universities are required to comply with Title IX to receive federal funds, and part of the law requires institutions to address sexual harassment, sexual assault and violence.

Jay Blanton, the spokesperson for UK, said Tuesday the university was not aware of the complaint and declined comment.

A Fayette County court dismissed charges against two men accused last week after a grand jury declined to indict them.

Angus Thompson, 19, and Addison Adkins, 19, were originally were charged with first-degree rape after they were accused of sexually assaulting the woman inside Ball Hall Feb. 18, 2025. Adkins was also charged with second-degree strangulation.

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Steve Romines, an attorney for Thompson, said he did not have comment on the lawsuit filed Friday against UK. Mike Rowland, Adkins attorney, was not immediately available for comment. Both Thompson and Adkins are no longer students at the university.

The woman, who has since withdrawn from UK, said she was drinking with the two men Feb. 17, 2025, in the campus dorm when she was raped. She reported the incident to campus police four days after it allegedly took place and visited the hospital.

The two men, who were 18 at the time, turned themselves in to police March 2, 2025, five days after the charges were filed.

The latest lawsuit states UK was aware of the potential for sexual assault and rape to take place in dorms, but failed to prevent it by implementing further safety measures, and also created a campus atmosphere where such assaults are more prevalent.

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I think generally, when the university assumes a responsibility and advertises that it is a safe environment for young, vulnerable students, it needs to make sure that is the case, said Andre Regard, Does attorney.

Based on crime data reported by university police, rape and sexual assault occur on the campus at a higher rate than the general population, the lawsuit states.

Despite the presence of Title IX policies and procedures regarding campus rapes and sexual assaults, incidents of rape and sexual assault have not diminished since the execution of these policies and procedures, which has helped develop a culture of permissive sexual abuse and harassment in UK residential dormitories, the lawsuit reads.

There were five campus crime bulletins issued during the fall 2025 semester related to sexual assault, according to UKs crime data.
The West Virginia House of Delegates has signed off on legislation that would allow 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

Delegates passed House Bill 4106 mostly along party lines with a vote of 87 to nine and three members absent.

West Virginia has allowed people over age 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit since 2016.

Open carry is legal for people who are at least 18 years old and not otherwise prohibited from carrying a gun.

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Under current law, people aged 18 to 20 may apply for a provisional license in order to carry a concealed pistol or revolver. The application process for the provisional license requires proof of handgun safety training.

Lawmakers in 2023 passed a law that allows people with a concealed carry permit to carry a concealed pistol or revolver in many areas of public college campuses.

W.Va. House Minority Leader Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell

The House on Monday voted down an amendment from Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, that would have limited the ability to carry a concealed weapon to those 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds who have served in the Armed Forces or National Guard and those who have served in state or federal law enforcement.

Hornbuckle on Tuesday urged fellow delegates to be cautious about repealing training requirements for young people carrying concealed weapons.

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He estimated that the bill would allow an additional 70,000 residents in the state to carry a concealed weapon with no permit or training.

I believe this law is not going to be synced up with our campus carry law, It can cause a lot of issues for our universities, and also cost them potential money in having to uphold the current law, Hornbuckle said.

According to a 2023 study by West Virginia University researchers and published by the American Public Health Association, handgun deaths in West Virginia increased by 45% in the years after the law was implemented.

Del. Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha

Del. Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha, also said lawmakers should proceed with caution on the bill.

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I can tell you from somebody who has had countless friends murdered, killed, shot at those tender ages, that again, lowering the barrier is not, I dont think, the answer, Lewis said.

And again, we dont want to infringe on anybodys constitutional rights, but we need common-sense guardrails in order to stop people from hurting themselves and hurting others Lewis said.

Del. Dave Foggin, R-Wood, said the bill is about giving an 18-year-old the ability to control their own safety.

The training is great, Foggin said. My kids went through the training. I agree with you. Training is wonderful. But what if you dont have time to get the training? What if you dont have that opportunity, then youre in violation.

Del. Dave Foggin, R-Wood

Del. Josh Holstein, R-Boone, pointed out that people ages 18-20 are already allowed to openly carry a weapon.

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These people already have access to open carry under this current law, Holstein said. Theyre not putting firearms in the hands of anybody else. Its just a decision whether its concealed carry or not, and thats what were discussing here.

Of the nine no votes, eight were cast by House Democrats.

Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, was the only Democrat to vote for the measure. Del. Stanley Adkins, R-Nicholas, was the only Republican to vote against the bill.

The Senate last week passed a similar bill, Senate Bill 30, with a vote of 33 to 1.

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After voting down two amendments Monday that would have added provisions frequently demanded by residents who live in communities where data centers are being proposed, the state House of Delegates on Tuesday approved new rules on how the West Virginia Department of Commerce will certify microgrids and high impact data centers in the state.

The proposed rules relate to last years passage of House Bill 2014, which created the certified microgrid program and set policies for how certain data centers that come to the state may operate. The rulemaking process started in the state Department of Economic Development in November.

In December, more than 930 residents submitted public comments on the proposed rules. They cited apprehension over the developments potentially harming the environment, infrastructure and the economy in communities they are built as well as issues with the lack of local control and transparency within the proposed rules.

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Last month, lawmakers on the Joint Legislative Rule-Making Committee approved changes to the initially proposed rules that added in language to clarify that any high impact data center or microgrid must follow state and federal environmental laws, redefine nearly contiguous property for parcels within the districts and give explicit authority to the Secretary of Commerce to request any information from applicants and work with other agencies before certifying, among other things.

The most material change to the rules made in that process was the inclusion of how developers and the Department of Commerce will handle a potential inordinate burden posed by the potential high impact data center or microgrid.

Per the rules, which have now been passed by the House, developers who apply for certification must flag if their proposed project could place a significant and unreasonable burden on nearby property owners due to its location, environmental risks it may bring, the proximity to schools, homes or historic sites and more. Developers will have to share how they plan to offset those potential harms and the Department of Commerce will have the right to independently verify or challenge claims made by the developers.

On Tuesday, the proposed rules  presented in House Bill 4983  passed the House 78-16 with five members absent and not voting. All nine of the bodys Democrats voted against the proposed rules. They were joined by seven Republican House members.

Del. Laura Kimble, R-Harrison, speaks against the passage of House Bill 4983 during the House of Delegates floor session on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Charleston, West Virginia. Kimble was one of seven Republicans in the House who joined all nine Democrats in voting against the proposed rules. (Photo by Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Del. Laura Kimble, R-Harrison, was one of the Republicans to vote against the proposed rules. Kimble, who was also one of three Republicans to vote against HB 2014 last legislative session, said she was disappointed to not see changes made through rules to address issues shes had for the last year.

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She said she voted against HB 2014 initially because she disagreed with taking control away from localities  the law banned local governments from enforcing rules or ordinances against certified developments, like limits on noise, pollution and more  and not having more information on how developments could impact water quality or availability.

Last year, she said, she was hoping the Senate would move to take aim at her concerns. It did not.

When the bill came back for final passage in the House, she said she was assured that her uneasiness would be addressed through the rule-making process. Again, she said, they were not.

I am not against data centers. Ill make that perfectly clear right now. What I heard (on Monday) was an allusion to Well, this is just a rules bundle. But last year, the rules process said we would address water local control. I dont see that in this rules bundle, Kimble said. I believe in local control. I think that instead of local decisions being made about this, it will be done by the decentralized planning of the Department of Commerce, and I dont approve of that.

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Kimbles concerns about the rules for data centers echo apprehensions voiced for months now by residents in communities across the state where developments are being proposed.

In Mingo County, residents have questioned why a proposed development could potentially have access to new water sources while they often go days or even weeks without water. They fear that the amount of water needed for the proposed development could affect how much they have available.

In Tucker County, locals want to know why their local governments have been stripped of the power to regulate how these developments would operate in their communities. The surrounding region is reliant upon outdoor tourism and residents worry that the proposed development  a massive data center and natural gas power plant  could impact the local economy.

Residents in both communities, as well as those in Mason County, have voiced concerns that data centers and the power plants constructed to power them could harm surrounding environments and public health as a whole while they are left in the dark about the impacts.

Amendments to address community fears over water, local control and more voted down

On Monday, lawmakers voted down two amendments that would have added some of the provisions that Kimble  and hundreds of other residents in public comments during rulemaking and the House Committee Process  said she wanted to see in the code to dictate how microgrids and data centers are certified.

Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia

One amendment  filed by Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, and the eight other Democrats in the House  would have added language requiring developers seeking to construct data centers to share specific details on where they would draw water from for operations, how much water they envision using and what impact that water usage could have on local residents.

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Hansen called his proposal a transparency amendment. He said it was reasonable to ask companies seeking to build large developments to explain how those complexes could potentially impact local water sources and the residents who rely on them.

My amendment is not a black and white amendment that bans anything or that would stop development. What it is, is a transparency amendment that requires the disclosure up front of what the impacts are likely to be to our water, Hansen said. So the intent of it is not to stop data centers  The intent is to make sure that serious consideration is given up front to make sure that theyre not impacting other water users.

Del. Mark Zatezalo. R-Hancock

Del. Mark Zatezelo, R-Hancock, said Hansens amendment was not appropriate for the rules the House was considering. Zatezelo, who serves as vice chair of the House Energy and Public Works Committee, said it was too broad and concerned changes with the actual code regarding permitting  not the proposed rules meant to direct the Chamber of Commerce on how to certify data center developments.

Were not talking about the kind of studies that you need to do, the work necessary to make a final determination, Zatezelo said. Thats not what the rules bundle is intended to do. This is more of a 20,000 foot level look at data centers. When you get into the permitting, youre down at the ground level.

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Hansens amendment was voted down 23-70 with six members absent and not voting.

Dels. Henry Dillon, R-Wayne, and Chris Anders, R-Berkeley, introduced a competing amendment to Hansens on Monday that would have taken potential regulation even further for certified data centers.

Del. Chris Anders, R-Berkeley

The Dillon-Anders amendment would have limited how developments use groundwater, adding guardrails to ensure that private wells and other groundwater sources are not impacted by thirsty data centers. It also would have required there to be a minimum 500-foot buffer zone between where a data center development is constructed and any homes, schools or churches.

Among other things, the amendment would have added provisions requiring that the Department of Commerce inform county commissions and post in newspapers when a data center development is proposed in their counties. Current law keeps most filings confidential.

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Residents would have had the power in the Dillon-Anders amendment to circulate a petition if they feel that the development could significantly and negatively impact the standard of living in the community or the environment of the community for the foreseeable future. If 10% of the population located within 10 miles of the proposed complex signed such a petition, county commissions would be required to hold a special election for precincts within a 15 mile radius to potentially reject the construction.

Del. Henry Dillon, R-Wayne, urges his colleagues to adopt his amendment to add more guardrails to how data centers would be allowed to operate in West Virginia during the House floor session on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Dillons amendment was voted down 6-87. (Photo by Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Dillon said he believed the amendment contained reasonable provisions that address fears and anxieties that have been made clear by residents living in places where data centers are proposed. He said allowing locals to petition their government if they disagree with a development is a fundamental right and said it was a mistake to not include such language in HB 2014 last year.

Data centers are unique in the ways in which they potentially impact local communities, so there should be provisions which are unique to addressing the circumstances, Dillon said.

Since HB 2014 passed last year, Anders said constituents have been blowing up his email and his phone, worried that their wells will run dry, that their air will be polluted and that their voices have been silenced due to how the law was written.

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My constituents are very, very concerned, Anders said. The right of self determination  as you all know  was one of the key principles of our Declaration of Independence. That the people can decide what happens in their lives, in their government, in their area and their communities. This amendment reinforces that to allow the local people to decide if this is something that they want to have happen.

But a majority of the body did not agree with the Dillon-Anders amendment. Del. Bill Anderson, R-Wood, said that the petition and special election provision was an unfunded mandate and should not be considered.

Del. Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason

Del. Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason, said the proposal created arbitrary, targeted obstacles for data center developers and warned that, if adopted, it would prohibit the industry altogether and force data centers out of the state.

[The amendment] really just sends the message, We dont want a single data center in the state of West Virginia.  House Bill 2014 last year was passed by this Legislature and signed into law as an opportunity to create business, create jobs, create revenue for the state of West Virginia, Pinson said. I believe that were placing a burden here on this business that we have not placed on any other business, any other economic development opportunity in the state of West Virginia.

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The Dillon-Anders amendment failed 6-87, with six members absent and not voting.

On Tuesday, Kimble said she was disappointed in the Houses failure to adopt either Hansen or Dillons amendment and the conversations that occurred around them. While she understands that several of her colleagues worried about the chilling effect the amendments could have had on potential developments, she was more concerned about the impact on the people of West Virginia.

Yesterday, a couple of the comments that I heard were about [how] this may have a chilling effect on the ability for the data centers to come here. Well, I think this will have a chilling effect for the people of West Virginia that want to stay here. Theyve planned and invested in their livelihoods. Theyve invested in their families and their properties, Kimble said, fighting tears. I also believe itll have a chilling effect on the people that live out of this state that want to come home to West Virginia.

With the Houses passage on Tuesday, the proposed rules in HB 4983 will now advance to the Senate for consideration.

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ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  The Gary Sinise Foundation is inviting women who served on the home front during World War II to apply for a special trip to the National WWII Museum this spring. The foundation is teaming up with Honor Flights of Virginia to offer this opportunity.

On February 18, Martin Leamy, President and CEO of Central and Southwest Virginia Honor Flight, spoke with Sydney Jaxtheimer about the trip.

The Gary Sinise foundation issued a call to Rosie the Riveters across the nation, offering them an opportunity to be honored and thanked for their contributions during the war, on March 9-11. The trip is designed to recognize the service and sacrifices of the women who filled industrial jobs and supported the war effort while millions of men were deployed overseas.

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Their service was critical as there was an increased need for war munitions, tanks, aircrafts, bombs and bullets during the second World War. They stepped up when there were no men to manufacture the necessary war materials.

Five local WWII Veterans take off to visit the National WWII Museum

The inclusive experience starts with a flight to Nashville for a dinner on March 9. Then, the Rosies will fly to New Orleans the next day for a red-carpet treatment, where they are treated like royalty, according to Leamy.

He says the Rosies will enjoy an all-expense paid trip to the Higgins Hotel where they will visit the National WWII Museum.

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Leamy tells us that Guardians are needed to accompany the Rosies on the trip. I talked to one of the event coordinators and she ensured me that they would take applications well into March, even though it starts on the ninth, because we dont want to leave anybody behind, he says.

The foundation says special guests and events are planned as part of the visit, which aims to provide an unforgettable experience for participants.

When asked about the importance of the experience, Leamy says, Its all about preserving historical knowledge and getting these folks stories while theyre still with us. Doing historical interviews with them and getting a feel for what they went through and what they did to support the war effort.

Modeled after the foundations Soaring Valor program, the experience will pair the women with high school students who will accompany them throughout the trip. The foundation says the intergenerational format ensures the womens stories and legacy will be shared with future generations.

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Applications are available through March. Each participant must apply along with a designated guardian, and both applications must be submitted to be considered.



Rosies, sign up here: https://bit.ly/rosie26



Guardians, sign up here: https://bit.ly/RosieGuardian26

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
CHEYENNE  Two bills dedicated to protecting children online, and catching and punishing predators, are making their way through the statehouse.

On Friday, the House Education Committee gave its unanimous approval to House Bill 102, Protecting kids from deepfakes and exploitative images. If passed, HB 102 would protect children from sexual exploitation via AI-generated child pornography, banning the development and distribution of those very things, sponsor Rep. Jayme Lien, R-Casper, said. If approved, the measure would also protect individuals from AI systems that promote self-harm, and it bans non-consensual deepfakes that invade privacy and extort victims.

This bill is our shield, protecting children from exploitation, safeguarding privacy and preserving free speech in the digital age, Lien said.

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Additionally, the bill would protect minors who may be being extorted for sexual exploitation.

We had an incident in Fremont County where a young man killed himself because he had sent nude photos of himself, and was being extorted for money, or they would release this photo and humiliate he and his family, Lien said, adding that the bill is imperative to protect Wyoming children.

Tyler Schwab, founder of Libertas International, a nonprofit that works to fight human trafficking and child exploitation in Latin America, told the committee that he supports HB 102. His organization has seen an increase in AI-generated sexual content featuring minors, considered child pornography, and an increase in the severity of such content.

In laymans terms, thats hardcore images, he said.

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Healing for survivors, he said, comes in many forms, including through justice.

Im very encouraged about what Ive heard from representatives about the fight to protect Wyomings children, and to hold predators accountable, Schwab said.

Wyoming-based political consultant Jeff Daugherty, who worked on the bill, said he was simultaneously furious and delighted with the bill.

As I researched this, I read a study of people who were offenders in this area self-participating in research, he said. One of the things that they noted was that 55% of them feared that, as a result of their participation in watching these sorts of videos and animations and synthetic pornography, that it made them more likely to want to engage in actual, what they call, hands-on abuse, Daugherty said. I urge you, please support this bill.

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HB 102 carries a felony punishment of five to 12 years in prison and a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. It will head back to the House for consideration on the floor.

On the Senate side, lawmakers approved Senate File 85, RAVEN Act on Feb. 10 in an introductory vote. Sponsored by Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, SF 85 would allocate $1.6 million from the states general fund for the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, housed with the Division of Criminal Investigation.

RAVEN, or Resource Allocation for Victim and Enforcement Needs, legislation has also been considered in New Jersey and Florida. Around 20 years ago, the state created its ICAC Task Force in partnership with the Department of Justice to help combat child exploitation online. A significant amount of federal money was appropriated at that time; however, the funding has not been increased for about 16 years, Nethercott said.

In that same time period, child exploitation online has been increasing at exponential rates. Nethercott said that in 2024, the Wyoming ICAC investigated more than 1,100 cyber tips to determine if they were legitimate, grounded in fact and law, and what kind of follow-up was needed.

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That takes a significant amount of manpower and technical expertise, highly technical computer expertise, Nethercott said.

That led to investigative action on 477 cases and resulted in 70 arrests. Eight new child victims were identified.

SF 85 has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
CHEYENNE  High winds on Tuesday didn't stop Wyoming Public Media staff from standing outside the state Capitol to celebrate the organization's 60th anniversary.

In light of last month's vote by the Wyoming Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee (JAC) to cut funding for Wyoming Public Media by $1.69 million, the nonprofit organization's leaders felt there was no better place to have its message heard.

On Jan. 13, the JAC voted to cut the annual University of Wyoming block grant that goes to Wyoming Public Media in JAC motion 260113. This funding from UW directly helps the media group supports eight staff positions across engineering, news, programming and FCC compliance.

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Rep. Ken Pendergraft, R-Sheridan, who supported the funding cut, said, "It's no secret that at a federal level, a similar thing has been done with the Trump administration in taking funds away from so-called public media. ... They've removed the funds here within the state, and we're just following suit. ... Government money should go to government programs. If (NPR and Wyoming Public Radio) are as good as they say they are, let them compete on the free market with everybody else."

On Monday, Bob Beck went on air at Wyoming Public Radio to say that losing the funding from UW's block grant would directly affect the stations' ability "to operate transmission sites across Wyoming, provide Emergency Alert System information, cover Wyoming news and continue the Wyoming Sounds music station."

Wyoming Public Media operates under a Non-Commercial Educational License, meaning they have specific regulations they follow, including making sure they remain focused on education, public service and community-centered programming, as opposed to commercial revenue.

"In other words, (because of this license), Wyoming Public Media cannot advertise like commercial radio," Beck continued. "And the state of Wyoming doesnt have the population base to replace the loss of $1.6 million every two years through fundraising alone."

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Only 13% of Wyoming Public Media's schedule is dedicated to national programming; the rest is local and cultural programming. They also operate four radio stations and one online service, for a total of 672 hours per week.

Christina Kuzmych, the general manager at Wyoming Public Media, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle at the Capitol, "If we can't make revenue, we can't exist, and we can't sell advertising. I think to a certain extent they might not understand that we have a non-commercial license (and what that means)."

Kuzmych added that if the budget is ultimately reduced, they'll continue to operate with a Non-Commercial Educational (NCE) license, but will be "greatly reduced," and would likely no longer be a statewide service.

At the event Tuesday afternoon, they aimed to spread further awareness of this issue with the help of Rep. Elissa Campbell, R-Casper; Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, and Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie, who were all in attendance and gave speeches.

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Rep. Karlee Provenza

Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, speaks at Wyoming Public Media's 60th anniversary celebration and rally for legislative support in front of the state Capitol.

"As you probably are aware, there are allegations of checks being distributed on the (House) floor at a time when we need the public's trust to do our work," said Provenza. "It's never the time to cut funding for transparency and accountability of your elected officials. ... This is not something that the public supports, and the people need to know that."

Sherwood stated her appreciation for the Wyoming Debrief, a Wyoming Public Media show, and how she gets to listen to everything going on in communities around the state, as well as other radio shows like Cheyenne Roundup.

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Rep. Trey Sherwood

Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie, speaks Tuesday afternoon at Wyoming Public Media's 60th anniversary celebration and rally for legislative support in front of the state Capitol.

"Thank you for coming out when maybe the conversation on the House floor isn't as pleasant as it should be, but keep those emails and text messages coming, and we will continue to fight for funding to tell Wyoming stories," she said.

They also discussed the importance of WPR's emergency services, bringing up Kevin Reddy, the president of the Federated Fire Fighters of Wyoming organization, to talk about how evacuation notices and emergency alerts are "some of the biggest services" they can rely on. He went on to say that when the internet and cell towers go down, they can still rely on those radio waves to keep communication going.

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Cheyenne resident John Sheffield told the WTE, "I don't like the censorship that's happening in this country."

Tuesday morning, a Senate budget amendment was introduced on second reading by Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, to make sure funding stays in place for Wyoming Public Media. The Senate voted to restore the budget per Gov. Mark Gordon's recommendation, but it still has to go through the House.

Richard Garrett, a Wyoming lobbyist and member of the American Coalition of Public Radio, said, "It's a lot easier to kill (a bill) than save it. ... We really applaud Sen. (Ogden) Driskill and certainly all the representatives that came out today for all their work."
CHEYENNE  A Wyoming Senate committee has thrown its support behind an effort to bring the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's headquarters and related facilities to Wyoming.

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 4-1 in favor of Senate File 124, Economic development-rodeo museum, which would allocate $15 million for the Wyoming Office of Tourism to be used for and attracting a rodeo and cowboy museum and hall of fame to Wyoming.

This is a bill that is co-sponsored by nearly the entire Senate, Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, said Tuesday, adding that the relocation is an incredible opportunity that would raise the specter of Wyoming as the Cowboy State.

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In January, the PRCA board of directors approved a non-binding memorandum of understanding to seriously consider relocating the organizations headquarters, along with the PRCA's Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the Museum of the American Cowboy, from Colorado Springs to Cheyenne, according to a news release.

This is a strategic decision that positions the PRCA for the future, PRCA CEO Tom Glause said in the release. Wyoming lives and breathes rodeo, and Cheyenne offers authenticity, visibility and alignment with our sports values. The opportunity to build a purpose-driven campus that celebrates rodeos history while supporting its growth is incredibly exciting.

The proposed site for the PRCAs new 35-acre campus is near the intersection of Interstate 25 and Interstate 80. Seth Ulvestad, policy adviser for Gov. Mark Gordons Office, said Tuesday that theres no better home for the PRCA than Wyoming.

This is a unique opportunity to expand our Western traditions, and create additional opportunities for our young people to turn their passions into in-state careers, Ulvestad said.

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Distributing $15 million in tourism funds in the timeline outlined in SF 124 is an appropriate use of the Wyoming tourism reserve and projects account, he said.

This project will be an incredible investment into the future of tourism in Wyoming, Ulvestad said.

Highlights of an economic and planning analysis on the impacts of a PRCA move to Laramie County, and on the state as a whole, according to Driskill, include a total economic impact of $252.6 million, with creation of a total of 140 net new jobs, including indirect and induced spending.

Annual additional property tax and sales tax revenues to Laramie County would be $309,355 in year one, and $879,120 by year 10. An anticipated $12 million economic impact resulting from Hall of Fame visitations is also projected by year 10.

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Partners on the project include the PRCA, which will contribute "several million, according to Ulvestad, as well as Cheyenne LEADS, which will contribute an additional $15 million. There are also opportunities for corporate sponsorships and sixth-penny sales tax ballot initiatives.

This opportunity to bring the PRCA headquarters to Wyoming is once in a lifetime, he said. The economic impact through tourism and local job growth will show a great return on investment. The governor supports this project and supports this bill as written.

Only Sen. Tim French, R-Powell, voted against SF 124, which will return to the Senate for debate in committee of the whole.
Walid Fidama was a lifelong Democrat, but the Yemeni American activist backed Republican candidate Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election amid anger over Israels genocidal war on Gaza and the marginalisation of the Arab American community.

But as the United States president expands and intensifies his immigration crackdown, recently revoking temporary protected status (TPS) for Yemenis, Fidama said Trump is making the same mistakes as his Democratic rivals  taking voters for granted.

Fidama, who is from Michigan, told Al Jazeera that the rationality of people who continue to support Trump should be questioned after his arbitrary and cruel policies that he said are affecting everyone, not just the targeted communities.

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The Republicans should look at how they won in 2024. But it seems like they are disregarding all the realities and laws and trying to push through their anti-immigrant agenda by force, he said.

Several Yemeni community leaders, particularly in Michigan, were outspoken supporters of Trump in the 2024 election.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week revoked TPS for Yemen, which shielded eligible Yemenis in the US from deportation due to the dangerous conditions in their homeland.

Trump had listed Yemen in a travel ban he imposed last year and tightened immigration restrictions on the country.

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But rescinding TPS was especially jarring for many in the community because beneficiaries of the status are already in the US, and it may not be safe for them to return to Yemen.





According to DHS, a country may be designated for TPS due to conditions that temporarily prevent the countrys nationals from returning safely.

Such conditions include political unrest, war, humanitarian crises and natural disasters. The status is granted for people who are not permanent US residents, such as tourists and visitors.

Conditions in Yemen

Yemen was first designated for TPS in 2015 when the countrys civil war intensified, and the status had been repeatedly renewed.

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After reviewing conditions in the country and consulting with appropriate US government agencies, I determined that Yemen no longer meets the laws requirements to be designated for Temporary Protected Status, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement on Friday.

Allowing TPS Yemen beneficiaries to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interest. TPS was designed to be temporary, and this administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent. We are prioritising our national security interests and putting America first.

As of September 2024  the last time Yemen was redesignated for TPS  there were 2,300 Yemeni beneficiaries.

Noems announcement did not provide details on how allowing Yemenis, many of whom work and pay taxes, to retain their status counters US interests or how the conditions in Yemen were assessed.

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A fragile ceasefire has been in place between Yemens Houthis and its internationally recognised government since 2022. But violence has continued to break out across the country.

Last year, Israel and the US bombed Yemen repeatedly as part of a campaign against the Houthis.

Clashes also continue to erupt in the south of the country between the government and separatist forces.

According to United Nations data from last year, more than 4.5 million people are internally displaced in Yemen, and more than half of the population, 18.2 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance.





Amer Ghalib  the former mayor of Hamtramck, a Muslim-majority city near Detroit, who campaigned for Trump in 2024 and was later nominated by the US president to serve as ambassador to Kuwait  called the TPS decision very unfortunate.

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I have spoken to multiple highly ranked White House officials and explained the situation to them, but it doesnt seem that they took anything into consideration, Ghalib told Al Jazeera in a statement.

We hope the administration will reevaluate the situation in Yemen and consider the risk those individuals are facing if they are to be sent back at this time. They are just a few thousand compared to hundreds of thousands from some other countries.

DHS did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment by the time of publication.

People are very devastated

Ghalib had helped lead the major shift in the Arab community towards Trump, which boosted the Republican leaders popularity to win Michigan in 2024.

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In the predominantly Yemeni American neighbourhood of the Southend in Dearborn, Michigan, Trump grew his share of the votes from less than 11 percent in 2020 to about 55 percent in 2024.

People feel betrayed. They feel backstabbed, Wali Altahif, a Yemeni American activist in Dearborn, said, adding that the decision to revoke TPS for Yemen will likely separate families in the community.

There was hope that he was going to bring a different direction, different policy towards Yemen and the Yemeni community, but weve seen the opposite  absolutely the opposite.





Altahif expressed concern that, beyond the threat of war, TPS holders may experience harassment and persecution in Yemen due to regional divisions or perceived connection to the US.

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He stressed the policy to revoke TPS for Yemen is unjustifiable. Its discriminatory. Its racist. Its un-American.

The Trump administration has been rolling back TPS protections, including for Haiti, which has been suffering from widespread gang violence.

However, some of Noems moves to nix immigration protections have been successfully challenged by the courts. And Yemeni community advocates said they are exploring legal avenues to reinstate TPS for Yemen.

Reyadh Nagi, an immigration lawyer in New York, said a lawsuit would examine how DHS assessed conditions in the country and whether proper procedures were followed to reach the decision to revoke TPS for Yemen.

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He noted that the Department of State still has Yemen under a do not travel advisory due to risk of terrorism, unrest, crime, health risks, kidnapping and landmines.

Nagi told Al Jazeera that while the number of affected TPS holders may appear small, the effects of the Trump administrations decision extend to their families, employers and broader community.

A lot of people are very devastated, he said. Im hearing from the TPS holders themselves. Theyre very scared. Theyre very concerned. They dont know what lies ahead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday criticized the results of the two-day negotiations with Russian representatives in Geneva fell short of expectations.

"Ukraine is interested in a result. At this point, we cannot say that the outcome is sufficient," Zelensky said in his evening video address from Kiev. Earlier, he had accused the Russians of employing delaying tactics in the US-mediated negotiations.

"The military officials discussed some issues seriously and substantively. Sensitive political questions, issues regarding possible compromises, and the necessary meeting of the heads of state have not yet been sufficiently discussed," he said.

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The Ukrainian president had demanded that talks in Geneva address a meeting between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin has offered such direct talks  but only in Moscow, which Zelensky rejects.

In addition, Zelensky said he had tasked the Geneva negotiations with addressing humanitarian issues such as exchanges of prisoners and civilians. Previous direct talks in Istanbul last year and in Abu Dhabi this year led to agreements and completed prisoner-of-war exchanges, but no such announcement was made this time.
The Department of Homeland Security shut down for the second time this month on Saturday. There appears to be no clear path toward reopening it as Democrats and Republicans show few signs of a willingness to compromise on reforms to the Trump administrations immigration crackdown.

The partial government shutdown became inevitable late last week when Democrats in the Senate blocked a Republican-led bill to fund the department. That bill did not include any of Democrats demands for reining in the actions of DHS agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

Little has changed on either side since the contours of the disagreement began to take shape late last month. Democrats are still insisting that they will hold up any plan to fund the department unless major changes are made to how it operates. Republicans continue to say that those proposed reforms are nonstarters.

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The shutdown doesnt just affect agencies involved in immigration enforcement. Other parts of DHS  including the Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration and the Secret Service  have also had their funding lapse. Though most Americans may not feel the impact in the short term, the shutdown could cause significant disruptions if it drags on for weeks without a compromise being reached.

Where things stand

Democrats sent Republicans a set of 10 reforms they want included in any bill that provides DHS with long-term funding roughly two weeks ago. The top items on that list include mandating that federal immigration agents show their faces and their official IDs, requiring them to obtain warrants signed by a judge before entering private homes or businesses, upholding use-of-force standards and banning them from carrying out raids at sensitive locations like schools, churches and courts.

These are common-sense proposals; they're supported by the American people," Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, told CNN on Sunday. "Why won't the Republicans go for them? They don't give any good answers. It's something that every police department does across the country, but ICE is rogue, out of control."

Republicans have roundly rejected Democrats proposals, describing them as both unfeasible and potentially dangerous.

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"We'll see if they are at all serious about actually getting a solution to this, or whether they just want to play political games with these really important agencies, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Fox News on Monday.

The White House made a counterproposal last week that Democratic leaders described as not serious. A second Democratic proposal was given to Republicans on Monday. It too was swiftly rejected, according to multiple news outlets. Though the details of the competing plans have not been made public, neither appears to include enough concessions to bridge the divide between the two parties.

Weve continued working through language and additional issues to make progress, but Republicans have largely ignored the core guardrails Americans are demanding, Schumer and his counterpart in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, wrote in a joint statement on Tuesday. Dems are negotiating in good faith, its time for Republicans to do the same.

The only area of any real agreement is on body cameras. Republicans say they are open to requiring all ICE and CBP agents to wear body cameras and included $20 million for purchasing the cameras in the funding bill that stalled in the Senate last week. However, Democrats are calling for strict limitations on how they are used, with particular focus on the risk that the footage might be leveraged to monitor and track anti-ICE protestors.

What it means for DHS to be shut down

Unlike the record-setting 43-day shutdown that started last October last fall, or the brief 4-day partial shutdown that happened earlier this month, the current funding lapse only affects DHS. All other parts of the government are still open and operating normally.

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Though the debate has centered entirely around ICE and CBP, DHS is a sprawling department that includes a long list of agencies focused on national security. In fact, ICE and CBP are the two parts of DHS that are best equipped to endure a lapse in funding, thanks to a massive infusion of money they received as part of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Republicans last summer.

While other DHS agencies like FEMA, the TSA and Coast Guard dont have that financial backstop, it may take some time before everyday Americans notice the effects of the shutdown.

Some federal departments effectively grind to a halt when their funding runs out, furloughing the majority of their workers and pausing most of their operations. Thats not the case with DHS. The vast majority of the departments employees work in roles that are designated as necessary for national security. That means they are continuing to do their jobs during the shutdown, though most wont be paid until its over.

Extended shutdowns tend to lead to staffing shortages as workers grow increasingly discontent with having to stay on the job without getting paid. Staffing-related delays at airports have been one of the major pressure points that have helped bring some of the longest recent shutdowns to an end.

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That could happen again this time, but it may take weeks before the shutdown begins to make a serious impact on travel. TSA employees received full paychecks on Tuesday and will get another partial check in early March. Their first scheduled payday when they would not receive any money is nearly a month away. Air traffic controllers, who are often linked to travel disruptions during shutdowns, are part of the Department of Transportation and not impacted by the shutdown.

One area where the shutdown may have a real and immediate impact is in oversight of DHS itself. The Office of the Inspector General, an independent government watchdog tasked with investigating the departments operations, is currently conducting eight separate probes into various aspects of the Trump administrations immigration campaign. Those inquiries include investigations into some of the department's most serious alleged offenses, its use of facial recognition technology, allegations of excessive force by its agents and accusations that people are being deported illegally. With 85% of the OIGs operations reportedly on pause during the shutdown, that could mean major delays in the release of those critical reports.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Prime Minister of Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdulhamid Aldabaiba, has reaffirmed his commitment to hold general elections that will end the current ruling bodies and restore the legitimacy of power through the will of the people
This image released by Neon shows, from left, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr as Hamid, Majid Panahi as Ali, Hadis Pakbaten as Goli, in a scene from "It Was Just an Accident."
The Oval Office  with a glitzy new sign  is seen at the White House on Nov. 5, 2025.
By MEGAN HUGHES

[email protected]

IRONWOOD  During a special Tuesday meeting, the Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees voted to work with the Registry for College and University Presidents in the selection of an interim president.

The board also expects to work with a separate presidential search firm, in hopes of finding a permanent president by the fall.

The action follows the Jan. 27 resignation of GCC President Chris Patritto, who said at the time that he is willing to remain on the job until a transition can be made.

Ian Newbould, a senior consultant and registry team member...
By MEGAN HUGHES

[email protected]

HURLEY  At a regular monthly meeting on Monday, the Hurley K-12 Board of Education approved the allocation of funds to an assigned fund balance, to be used for roof work as needed.

According to District Administrator Kevin Genisot, the districts general fund has two branches: the general fund, which may be used for any purpose, and the assigned funds, which are allocated for designated purposes.

The board specifically voted to take $1 million from the general balance and allocate it to an assigned fund for a future roof replacement project.

That means...
By BRIANNE COOK

[email protected]

MARENISCO TOWNSHIP - A Monday meeting of the Marenisco Township Board of Trustees resulted with 72 names on the sign-in sheet.

The turnout was promoted by the local branch of Northern Indivisible, a nonprofit that includes members from Michigan and Wisconsin and works to prevent federal overreach.

The group's members were interested in a particular agenda item for the Marenisco meeting: Michigan House Resolution 151, which had been introduced by Rep. Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock) on Aug. 19, 2025.

But it turned out that the issue is already moot, according...
By BRIANNE COOK

[email protected]

WAKEFIELD  At least for the moment, the Wakefield City Council is compromising on what action to take on the old City Hall, which has stood empty on Sunday Lake Street since 2014.

Members voted at a Feb. 13 special meeting to proceed with demolishing the halls garage annex, but they also voted to pursue stabilization of the hall itself.

The action was against the advice of City Attorney Ray ODea, who was unable to attend the meeting, but who told City Manager Robert Brown that he recommended demolishing the entire structure.

ODea said his concern was...
IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Joseph Thomas "Joe" Ruppe, 89, of Ironwood Township, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Duluth, Minnesota.

Born on April 17, 1936, in Ironwood, Joe was the firstborn son of Joseph S. and Katherine L. (Verbos) Ruppe. A devout Catholic throughout his life, he was a longtime member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood.

Joe's life was marked by perseverance, dedication to education and quiet service to his community. He graduated from St. Ambrose High School in Ironwood, and went on to earn his master's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, after attending Gogebic Community College. He worked diligently to put himself through school and took great pride in that accomplishment.

Over the years, Joe held a variety of positions that reflected both his work ethic and his commitment to public service. His early career included roles with Atlas/United Van Lines; Eric Mining Company in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota; White Pine Copper Accounting Department; Indianhead Truck Line; and teaching positions at Hayward Community Schools and Superior Public Schools. He later served as guidance director at Eagle River High School and contributed significantly to youth and continuing education through the University of Wisconsin Extension Service. His career culminated with the Michigan State University Extension Service, where he focused on public policy and community development.

Joe also gave generously of his time outside of work. For 16 years, he volunteered as the Gogebic County Fair Manager  a role that reflected his deep connection to the local community. He held numerous leadership positions, including president of the school board at Northwestern High School in Maple, Wisconsin; chairman of the board at Gogebic Community College; and board president of the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District.

Throughout his life, Joe maintained active memberships in several professional and civic organizations, including Phi Delta Kappa, Vilas County Teachers' Association, Superior Federation of Teachers, Wisconsin Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, Lions Club, Rotary Club and Ironwood Knights of Columbus Council 1396.

Despite these many accomplishments, Joe remained a private man who never sought recognition for his achievements. He found joy in simple pleasures - hunting, fishing, reading - and, above all else, took pride in supporting his family.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, April Marie (Nelson) Ruppe; their four children, Michael Thomas (Mildred), Barbara Ann (Sandy), Catherine Louise (Bill) and John Thomas (Charisse); six grandsons, Jeremiah, Allen, Drew, Brice, Cotter (Erin) and Hunter; a granddaughter, Alexys; a great-granddaughter, Maci; a sister, Kathleen Kaufman; and numerous dear nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Margaret Frigo; and two sons, Thomas and Stephen.

Joe will be remembered with love by all who knew him. May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him, and may he rest in peace after a life well lived.

The Ruppe family is honoring his life in a private Mass of Christian Burial. The Rev. Brian C. Gerber, pastor of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, will be the celebrant. Also in attendance will be members of the Pere Menard Assembly 471, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, who will serve as the Honor Guard.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.
New Delhi: Margot Robbie is celebrating the release of her latest film, Wuthering Heights, which also stars Jacob Elordi. Just days after the movie hit theatres, a behind-the-scenes video of Margot dancing to Kate Bushs iconic Wuthering Heights song went viral, but fans in India couldnt help noticing a surprising connection to Bollywood.

Fans Spot Bollywood Inspiration

In the clip, Margot is seen wearing a red flared skirt paired with a white top cinched with a black corset, twirling joyfully to the music. Indian fans quickly pointed out the resemblance to Kareena Kapoor Khans character Geet in the song Yeh Ishq Hai from the hit film Jab We Met.

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Also Read | Margot Robbie makes bold statement for critics says, I make movies for...'

Take a look at the netizens' reaction:

One netizen remarked, "geet from jab we met?"

"geet from jab we met?  arya (@aryaxxvii) February 17, 2026

A second user wrote, "This dress is giving geet from Jab We Met"

this dress is giving geet from the jab we met  uno (@whatahappycat) February 17, 2026

A third user wrote, "Bebo did it first"

Bebo did it first pic.twitter.com/wD4bJ0vowK  Madhulika (@notmadhulika) February 17, 2026

Kareenas red skirt look has long been celebrated in Indian pop culture, inspiring countless recreations and cementing Geets carefree, spirited charm in the public imagination.

Wuthering Heights Brings Gothic Romance to the Big Screen

Directed by Emerald Fennell, known for Saltburn, the film is a passionate adaptation of Emily Brontes 1847 Gothic classic Wuthering Heights. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star in a sweeping romantic drama that has long influenced literature and pop culture.

Released on February 13, 2026, the film opened to mixed reviews, but Margots playful behind-the-scenes moment has captured fans imaginations and sparked a fun cross-cultural conversation online.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Shivaji Jayanti marks the birth of the founder of the Maratha Empire, a ruler known for his progressive governance, military genius, and deep respect for all communities. His coronation at Raigad Fort symbolised the rise of Swarajya, self-rule, and inspired generations to stand for dignity and freedom.

Across Maharashtra, especially in Pune, the day is celebrated with processions, traditional music, lectures, and cultural programs that keep his legacy alive in public memory.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: 100+ Wishes, Quotes, And Messages To Share Today

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Inspiring Wishes

1. May the courage of Shivaji Maharaj inspire you to stand fearless in life.

2. Let us celebrate the birth of a king who taught us dignity and strength.

3. May his ideals guide us toward justice and unity.

4. Remembering the lion of the Marathas with pride and gratitude.

5. May we all walk the path of Swarajya and self-respect.

6. Wishing you a day filled with pride for our glorious history.

7. Let bravery and wisdom shape our future.

8. Celebrate this day by embracing courage in every decision.

9. May his legacy awaken patriotism in every heart.

10. Honour the warrior who built a kingdom on values.

Happy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Patriotic Messages

11. Shivaji Maharaj showed that determination can change history.

12. Freedom begins with self-beliefhis greatest lesson.

13. Let us salute the visionary who defined leadership.

14. His life reminds us that justice must always prevail.

15. A true king lives forever in the hearts of his people.

16. Today we honour not just a ruler, but an ideal.

17. His sword defended the land; his values uplifted humanity.

18. Let us preserve the freedom he fought to establish.

19. Remembering the architect of Swarajya.

20. His story is Indias story of resilience.

Happy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Short Greetings For Sharing

21. Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji.

22. Glory to the fearless Maratha king.

23. Celebrating courage, wisdom, and pride.

24. A day to remember true leadership.

25. Salute to the guardian of our culture.

26. Let bravery live within us.

27. Remembering the king of hearts.

28. Pride in the past, strength for the future.

29. Honour. Courage. Swarajya.

30. A legacy that never fades.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Motivational Quotes Inspired By His Ideals

31. Freedom is earned by those who dare to protect it.

32. Strength lies not in power, but in righteous action.

33. Leadership is serving people with integrity.

34. A brave heart builds its own destiny.

35. Respect for all is the foundation of true rule.

36. Courage guided by wisdom becomes greatness.

37. Self-rule begins with self-discipline.

38. Victory belongs to those who stand for justice.

39. Faith and fearlessness create history.

40. Great leaders rise for the welfare of others.

Happy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Messages To Share With Family & Friends

41. Let us celebrate this day by teaching future generations about valour.

42. May Shivaji Maharaj bless your home with strength and unity.

43. Share his story, keep the legacy alive.

44. Wishing your family pride in our rich heritage.

45. Let us honour history by living responsibly today.

46. May this day inspire wisdom and courage in your life.

47. Celebrate the spirit of resilience together.

48. A hero remembered, a legacy continued.

49. May we raise children inspired by his greatness.

50. Let this occasion strengthen our love for the nation.

Happy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Powerful One-Liners

51. The symbol of fearless leadership.

52. The pride of Bharat.

53. A king who ruled hearts, not just land.

54. The torchbearer of Swarajya.

55. Historys greatest inspiration.

56. A legacy carved in courage.

57. The roar of justice still echoes.

58. Strength with compassionhis true identity.

59. A warrior guided by values.

60. His ideals remain timeless.

Happy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Social Media-Ready Greetings

61. Celebrating the birth of Indias greatest warrior-king.

62. Let us carry forward his message of self-rule.

63. Remembering the legend who shaped history.

64. Today we honour bravery beyond compare.

65. Inspired by Shivaji, empowered for tomorrow.

66. A day of pride and remembrance.

67. His courage still motivates millions.

68. Saluting the founder of Swarajya.

69. Let us live with honour as he taught us.

70. A hero for every generation.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Devotional And Respectful Wishes

71. May we always follow the path of righteousness he showed.

72. Offering gratitude to the protector of culture and dharma.

73. May his blessings inspire strength in adversity.

74. Let us bow to the legacy of greatness.

75. A day to reflect on honour and sacrifice.

76. His life is a lesson in devotion to duty.

77. Remembering him with deep respect and pride.

78. May courage and wisdom guide us always.

79. Celebrating the spirit of fearless devotion.

80. Let us uphold the values he lived for.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Extended Greetings For Messages & Cards

81. Shivaji Maharaj taught us that true power lies in protecting people and principles.

82. May his life inspire us to lead with courage and humility.

83. Today we celebrate not just a birth anniversary, but an eternal legacy.

84. Let us honour him by standing for truth and justice.

85. May we inherit his bravery and vision.

86. His story continues to ignite patriotism across generations.

87. A ruler who balanced strength with compassion.

88. Let us build a future worthy of his sacrifices.

89. His ideals are a guiding light even today.

90. Remembering the king who redefined leadership.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Tribute Messages

91. A legend whose values transcend time.

92. His courage remains our inspiration.

93. Let us celebrate this day with pride and purpose.

94. The spirit of Swarajya lives on.

95. A timeless hero of Indian history.

96. May his teachings guide our path forward.

97. Celebrating resilience, honour, and bravery.

98. A legacy etched in every heart.

99. Let us keep his ideals alive through action.

100. Salute to the warrior who shaped a nation.

101. May we live with the same fearless conviction.

102. Remembering him with gratitude and pride.

103. His life continues to inspire transformation.

104. A king who empowered people to believe in themselves.

105. Let courage be our tribute to him.

106. Today we celebrate strength rooted in values.

107. His vision still lights the way.

108. Let us honour history through unity and action.

109. A symbol of hope, pride, and determination.

110. Jai Shivaji, Jai Bharat.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: How To Celebrate The Day Meaningfully

1. Read about his life and share stories with younger generations.

2. Visit historical forts or attend cultural events.

3. Share educational content that reflects his values of justice and unity.

4. Support local traditions, music, and heritage celebrations.

(This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.)
In this digital era, if you love storytelling, you can have multiple ways to monetise your skills. While YouTube and Instagram handles can take months to monetise, there are platforms like Pocket FM that pay creators instantly. And if your storytelling attracts listeners, then you can multiply your earnings with rising popularity. Audio storytelling platform Pocket FM on Tuesday announced that its creator economy has surpassed Rs 300 crore. This means the platform paid that much money to the creator or generated that much revenue with the creators. This shows that the digital era holds immense potential for creators.

According to an Economic Times report, Pocket FM said more than 1% of its creators now earn over Rs 1 lakh a month. The platform said that its creators economy is projected to expand to Rs 1,000 crore by 2026, underscoring rapid growth in Indias digital content ecosystem.

The company said more than 10% of its monetised creators together earned over Rs 50 crore in 2025 alone. Over the past year, more than 3,00,000 creators published their first stories on the platform. With the rollout of AI-led creation tools, Pocket FM expects its creator base to scale to 1 million by 2026.

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Pocket FMs AI Suite functions like an AI-powered writers room for serialised fiction. We have turned AI as job creator, instead of job taker. So far, we have helped over 300,000 first-time creators across India publish stories, generate income streams, and reach audiences beyond traditional publishing barriers, said Prateek Dixit, Co-founder  Product, Tech and AI.

Co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said the companys vision is centred on human-led creativity supported by technology. Our AI tools are designed to remove friction in the storytelling process, enabling creators from anywhere in India to produce professional-quality content and reach audiences at scale, he said.

According to the company, nearly 90% of its creators are first-timers, with about 25% comprising students pursuing storytelling alongside their studies.

So, if you want to earn while following the passion of your storytelling, you can do so by joining the audio storytelling platform, besides doing so on YouTube or Instagram or your personal blogs. Pocket FM allows freelance writers to contribute stories that are turned into audio series. You can upload your resume and details on their dedicated writer/creator site. If selected, Pocket FM will review your submission and contact you with the next steps.
Washington: The official full trailer for 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' dropped on Tuesday night, marking the franchise's high-profile leap from streaming to the big screen.

Directed by Jon Favreau, the film will release exclusively in theatres and IMAX on May 22, 2026, expanding the beloved Disney+ series into a theatrical epic.

Set after the events of season 3, the story follows Din Djarin and Grogu as the fledgling New Republic recruits them to hunt down Imperial warlords and war criminals scattered across the galaxy.

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The official logline states, "The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu," as quoted by Variety.

One of the trailer's biggest reveals is Pedro Pascal appearing unmasked in multiple scenes. In one tense moment, Din Djarin stands exposed before a villain; in another, he confronts a towering monster without his helmet.

The emotional core of the trailer centres on Din reflecting on his mortality, acknowledging that Grogu will live for centuries after he is gone, underscoring his role as adoptive father and mentor.

Among the new additions, Sigourney Weaver debuts as Colonel Ward, a New Republic officer who asserts, "This isn't about revenge, it's about preventing another war."

Jeremy Allen White voices Rotta the Hutt, Jabba's son, who is shown battling Mando in a colosseum-style arena. Jonny Coyne plays an Imperial warlord, as reported by Variety.

The trailer also teases fan-favourite Zeb Orrelios serving as a New Republic pilot and features a surprise voice cameo by Martin Scorsese as a four-armed Ardennian food vendor who provides Mando with key information.

Visually, the film showcases the return of the ST-70 Gunship (Razor Crest class) as the duo's primary ride, alongside a host of new and familiar creatures, including a "Baby Greedo" and the mischievous Anzellans.

According to Variety, the Mandalorian series is set after the fall of the Galactic Empire in 'Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,' following a lone Mandalorian navigating a lawless galaxy and forming an unlikely bond with Grogu.

Favreau produces the film alongside Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm CCO Dave Filoni.

"I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created. The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting," Favreau said when the project was first announced, as quoted by Variety.
Bihar viral video: A video circulating on X has sparked concerns after showing an 11 kV high-voltage power line reportedly enclosed within the walls of a house in Bihar. The clip shows electric wires running through the structure, while a man recording the video can be heard saying that 11,000-volt wires are passing through the house.

The video has quickly gone viral on social media platforms, raising serious safety concerns among netizens.

In the footage, the power line appears to be dangerously close to the buildings walls and roof. High-voltage lines such as 11 kV carry a large amount of electricity and are typically installed with strict safety clearances from residential areas.

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It is unclear from the video when the house was constructed or whether the power line was installed before or after the building was built. However, the visuals have led to widespread criticism online.

WTF In Bihar, an 11 kV high-voltage power line was enclosed inside a wall and a house was built around it. pic.twitter.com/yINWRk237l Aditya (@Warlock_Aditya) February 17, 2026

Social media reactions

Several users reacted with anger and shock over the situation. One user wrote, This is not just negligence  its a criminal-level failure of planning and enforcement. Building a house around an 11 kV line shows zero regard for human life, safety codes, or electrical regulations.

Another user commented that the matter should be addressed immediately and urged the local government to intervene.

A third user called it a disaster waiting to happen and questioned how such construction was allowed.

So far, there has been no official statement from local authorities regarding the viral video.

(Also Read: After backlash, Galgotia University takes a U-turn; Says never claimed Chinese robodog, drone as its creation)

Risks of high-voltage lines

High-voltage lines can pose serious dangers if proper safety distance is not maintained. Direct contact with such wires can cause severe electric shock, burns, or other serious incidents. Even without direct contact, electricity can arc or jump across small gaps, especially in damp or rainy conditions.

Experts generally advise that residential buildings should never be constructed close to high-voltage lines. Any construction near electrical infrastructure should follow safety regulations and should be approved by the concerned authorities.

The viral video continues to gain widespread attention, with over 1,92,000 views. It has highlighted the importance of strict planning, inspection, and enforcement to prevent potentially life-threatening situations.
NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday inaugurated the CM Shri School at Sarojini Nagar. The foundation stones for 75 CM Shri School projects across the Capital were also laid. This initiative of the Delhi Government has been launched in accordance with the National Education Policy to provide modern, technology-integrated and improved education.

On the occasion, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated the Chief Minister and the Education Minister, stating that within a year the government has made commendable progress towards fulfilling its commitments in the field of education. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that CM Shri Schools are not merely new buildings, but an initiative to make Delhis children globally competitive.

Education Minister Ashish Sood, public representatives, senior officials of the Education Department, teachers, parents and a large number of students were present at the event. The Union Education Minister described the establishment of 75 CM Shri Schools as a significant achievement and said that by developing them as institutions of high standards, the Delhi Government has set an example. These schools will provide children from economically weaker, lower and middle-income families with modern facilities and technologically advanced education comparable to private schools.

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Key Features of CM Shri Schools:

* AI-based smart classrooms

* Competitive examination preparation portal

* Multi-sectoral skill labs

* ICT labs

* Digitised libraries

* Career labs

* Multilingual education and foreign language learning facilities

* Industry-linked internships during schooling

* Play- and activity-based learning for young children

* Over 7,000 smart interactive boards

The Union Education Minister noted that hundreds of thousands of students are pursuing education in Delhi and that it is the governments responsibility to effectively implement the National Education Policy. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Delhi Government is playing an active role in advancing school education, higher education and research-oriented learning in the country.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that CM Shri Schools are not merely about infrastructure, but represent a commitment to making Delhis children globally competitive. These schools are being developed as Centres of Excellence, integrating modern technology, skill education, career guidance and holistic personality development. The governments aim is to create an education system that prepares children not only for examinations, but for life.

The Chief Minister informed that AI-enabled smart classrooms are being established in these schools, equipped with interactive panels, digital learning content and modern learning tools. This will enable personalised learning according to each students ability. A dedicated portal has also been developed for preparation for competitive examinations such as JEE, NEET, CUET, CLAT and NDA, featuring regular online tests and progress tracking.

Rekha Gupta further stated that multi-sectoral skill labs will introduce students at an early stage to subjects such as robotics, artificial intelligence, design and mechatronics, helping them secure employment or start their own ventures in the future. ICT labs will provide training in digital literacy, coding and computational thinking. Digitised libraries will offer e-books, research material and resources for competitive examinations.

She added that career labs will assess students interests and aptitudes, providing appropriate guidance for higher studies, skill development and employment. Science of Living spaces will focus on mental well-being, moral education and personality development to ensure students grow with confidence and strong values. Special language labs are being established to promote multilingual education and foreign languages, enabling better opportunities for international education and careers. For the first time, mandatory internships in collaboration with industry are being introduced in government schools to provide practical work experience during schooling.

The Chief Minister stated that such an education model has not been implemented in this manner in any other state. With the integration of AI and technology-driven learning, multilingual education and structured industry engagement through internships, the schools aim not only to secure high board examination results but also to facilitate admissions into IITs, medical colleges and foreign universities, create quality employment opportunities and encourage entrepreneurship. She congratulated teachers, parents and the Education Department team, describing the initiative as a strong foundation for a developed Delhi and expressing confidence that CM Shri Schools will set a new benchmark for the nations education system.

On the occasion, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said that at a time when the Global AI Impact Summit is being held internationally, Delhi is simultaneously launching a modern AI-driven education system, demonstrating its commitment to advancing education through technology. He stated that before the completion of one year of the government, 7,000 classrooms will be converted into AI-enabled smart classrooms.

He added that the previous government had not left behind a single fully functional ICT lab. Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, 175 new ICT labs equipped with 7,000 computers are now being launched. Additionally, more than 100 digital libraries and over 175 language labs are being dedicated to the public.

The Education Minister noted that the education model discussed over the past 11 years comprised only 700 smart boards, installed under CSR initiatives, and facilities were limited to select areas such as Rouse Avenue and Patparganj. Now, from Rohini to Dera Mandi and from Hiran Kudna to the farthest parts of Yamunapar, digital and technology-enabled education is being delivered uniformly across Delhi. Equal opportunities are now being extended to students across the entire city. He stated that all 7,000 smart classrooms will be fully operational before 31 March, marking a major milestone in Delhis educational history.
After a period of rain and thunderstorms, the weather in North India is about to change significantly. As the current Western Disturbance moves east, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a return to dry conditions and a gradual rise in temperatures starting Thursday, February 19.

Delhi-NCR forecast: Clear skies and rising mercury

Residents in the national capital and nearby areas can look forward to a break from the recent showers.

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Sky conditions: Mainly clear skies are expected, though mist may occur during the early morning.

Temperature surge: Maximum temperatures in Delhi are predicted to rise to between 26 and 28C. Minimum temperatures will range from 12 to 14C.

The heat trend: Weather analysts note that although the rain provided a brief pause, temperatures will stay 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal as the heat gradually returns toward the weekend.

Regional outlook: Plains dry up, hills see isolated activity

This shift will affect the northwestern plains, signaling the end of hailstorm activity in parts of Rajasthan and Haryana.

Western Himalayas: While the plains dry out, isolated light rain or snowfall may still occur in the higher elevations. Uttarakhand is specifically noted for possible light rain on February 19.

Cloud movement: Experts from Mausam Tak report that the cloud cover is moving toward East India, with decreasing intensity as it moves away from the northern region.

Bay of Bengal alert: Rain for islands

Outside North India, a low-pressure area over the Equatorial Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal is affecting weather in the south.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Isolated rain is expected tomorrow as the system moves toward Sri Lanka.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Weather (Feb 19): Thursday will be cloudy with a high of 29C and a low of 26C. Light rain is likely at night, with a 40% chance of precipitation during the day.

ALSO READ | From Pahalgam to the dam: India's massive Rs 3,394 cr answer to terror is ready to run dry in Pakistan
Dwarka accident: The father of the minor accused in the Dwarka road accident, who killed 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra, has expressed deep grief over the incident and apologised for the same.

Talking to the media, he said, This is my sons mistake, and I apologise for it. I will follow whatever the legal process entails. Whatever information I received, I received it from the police. My son and daughter were in the car. I run a commercial vehicle business. The vehicle is used in our business, and the challan on the vehicle is because of our drivers who drive it. This is not because of my son."

He explained that the incident occurred while he was in Gorakhpur for work, suggesting that his son may have taken the car keys out of nadani (naivety). He added that had he been in Delhi, the situation might have been avoided.

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According to him, his wife was at home at the time, and in his absence, his son acted foolishly and misbehaved. He also mentioned that he usually maintains a strict atmosphere at home when he is present.

The father maintained that his son did not run away after the crash and instead assisted at the scene. Speaking to the media, he said that after being informed by his wife about the incident, he immediately advised his family, despite being out of the city, to help the injured person and ensure he was taken to a hospital.

Responding to claims that the SUV involved in the accident had multiple past challans, he explained that since they run a commercial business, the vehicle is usually operated by hired drivers.

The accident, captured on camera, occurred earlier this month near Lal Bahadur Shastri College. The teenager was allegedly driving his fathers Scorpio without a valid driving licence.

According to Delhi Police, the SUV first struck a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction and then crashed into a taxi parked by the roadside. The motorcyclist, Sahil Dhaneshra, died at the scene, while the taxi driver, Ajit Singh, was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Police said the minor was behind the wheel when the SUV hit the oncoming motorcycle and subsequently rammed into the parked taxi. The accused teenager was later produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and sent to an Observation Home.

On Tuesday, he was granted interim relief to allow him to appear for his Class 10 board examinations.
A row erupted at the India AI Impact Summit when a viral video showed Galgotias University staff presenting a Chinese-made Unitree Go2 robodog, dubbed "Orion," as a homegrown innovation, sparking misrepresentation claims and forcing the Greater Noida institution to vacate its stall.

Professor Neha Singh introduced the robot during the expo as a university project, igniting online backlash. The video quickly spread online, prompting criticism and raising questions about whether the Greater Noida-based institution had claimed the imported robot as its own creation. Amid the outrage, authorities reportedly asked the university to vacate its stall at the Summit.

Following the backlash, Galgotias University staff and officials vacated their exhibition space on Wednesday. According to sources, authorities directed the institution to leave the expo premises, ANI reported.

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#WATCH | Delhi | Galgotias University staff and officials vacate their stall at India AI Impact Summit expo, following row over display of Chinese-made robodog.



As per sources, the govt had asked Galgotias University to vacate the stall at the expo. pic.twitter.com/cqN5vBcgcN  ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

Galgotias University blames "develop" vs "development" confusion

Responding to the controversy, Galgotias University Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur said the issue stemmed from confusion over the words develop and development, stressing that the university had not built the robot but had used it for academic purposes.

"This is a jumble of two words, develop and development. We didn't develop it. We worked on its development... We want to bring them, just like that robot was brought, and an effort was made to get students to do research on it," Gaur told ANI.



#WATCH | Noida, UP: On Galgotias University asked to vacate India AI Impact Summit expo, Nitin Kumar Gaur, Galgotias University Registrar says, "This is a jumble of two words, develop, and development. We didn't develop it. We worked on its development... We want to bring them, pic.twitter.com/tkuQhxNUUc  ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

ALSO READ: Indian startup flaunts homegrown robodog after Galgotias University controversy at India AI Summit | Video

Professor Neha Singh reacts

Addressing the viral video in which Professor Neha Singh introduced the RoboDog as "Orion," Gaur said she may have misspoken during the presentation. He reiterated that the robot had been purchased to support student research initiatives.

"I can say that perhaps she (Professor Neha) might have been confused by the words "develop" and "development" in the flow. But the truth is that we bought this robot for children's research... If China is making the claim, then maybe it (robodog) could be bought from China," ANI quoted Gaur as saying.



Meanwhile, Professor Neha Singh, who appeared in the viral clip explaining the RoboDog at the AI expo, maintained that she had never claimed the robot to be an original invention of the university.

"We have never claimed that it is ours, Indian, or Galgotian. Its main branding is still on it. The robot that had come for a particular task has gone there for the children's study, for the children's research and development. Our center, our campus -- it has gone into the children's lab. It was here for two days for projection; the projection has been completed," Professor Neha Singh told ANI.

Addressing the row triggered by the viral video, Professor Neha said the situation escalated due to misinterpretation.

"By one misinterpretation, the internet has gone by storm. It might be that I could not convey well what I wanted to say, or it was misunderstood. I am a faculty member in communications at the School of Management, not in AI. Only you (the media) have heard what the government has said. As far as I know, we are here at the expo. As a university, we are standing tall. The robot was brought here only for projection," Professor Neha Singh told reporters.

#WATCH | Delhi | On row over Galgotias University's display of a Chinese-made robot dog at AI Impact Summit, the university's communications professor, Neha, says,"By one misinterpretation, the internet has gone by storm. It might be that I could not convey well what I had wanted pic.twitter.com/U6dqbBKLXO  ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

University issues official clarification

The university faced sharp criticism both online and offline after the robot, allegedly manufactured by a Chinese company, was displayed at its stall. As the controversy intensified, the institution issued an official clarification and apologised profusely for the confusion created at the recent AI Summit.

The university said an unauthorised representative at the pavilion, unaware of the products technical origins, gave incorrect information on camera.

"We at Galgotias University wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent Al Summit. One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed. She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press... Understanding the organisers sentiment we have vacated the premises," the University said in a statement.

Galgotias University issues a press statement following the row over the display of a Chinese-made robodog at the AI Impact Summit expo



"We at Galgotias University, wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent Al Summit. One of our representatives, manning pic.twitter.com/R0n3Ea1uhm  ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

What is the India AI Impact Summit?

The India AI Impact Summit is a five-day programme structured around three core pillars, or "Sutras" of People, Planet, and Progress. The event brings together policymakers, technology firms, innovators, academic institutions, and industry leaders, aiming to translate global AI discussions into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.
A major controversy erupted at the India AI Impact Summit when Galgotias University, a private institution in Greater Noida, near Delhi, was caught presenting Chinese-made robots and drones as innovations developed on its campus.

The university has over 40,000 students and offers over 200 programs in technical and non-technical subjects. It was granted a stall at the summit, billed as the largest AI conference in the Global South, with over 200 delegates from around the world.

Watch full video here

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Claims made on camera

At the stall, Professor Neha Singh, head of the university's Communications Department, confidently told the cameras that the robots and drones on display were developed at Galgotias University. The claims were quickly exposed when Chinese media outlets identified the products, provided their names, specifications, and pricing, and confirmed that the items were made in China, not Indian innovations.

The defense that backfired

When questioned, Singh said his statements had been misrepresented. The university apologized, saying the representative had been "misinformed" and had spoken without permission "in the excitement of being on camera."

Since Singh leads the university's communication department, the defense drew sharp criticism. Critics pointed out that a professor teaching communication had claimed to have made statements on camera at a global event, and then retracted them.

Kicked out - but not without a fight

The summit organizers initially cut off power to the university's stall, then asked it to leave. When the university refused to vacate, security was called in to forcibly remove the stall.

Further embarrassment ensued when reporters at the summit discovered that Galgotias University's original drone exhibit was a thermocol model held together with tape and wire, raising questions about the institution's ability to create anything close to the advanced technology it claimed to possess.

A pattern, not an incident

The background to this controversy is extensive. The university, established in 2011, has been facing allegations for years. Between 2010 and 2012, its founder, Sunil Galgotia, is accused of using forged documents to obtain a loan of Rs 120 crore. In 2011, students who had secured admission on the promise of hostel facilities were sent to accommodation 14 kilometers away from campus. Sunil Galgotia's family, including his mother, wife, and son, were issued non-bailable warrants for fraud and financial misconduct. The university's current CEO, Dhruv Galgotia, spent 14 days in jail. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the university was accused of charging students full fees and extra charges. In 2024, it was accused of using students for political rallies and falsely claiming a placement offer of Rs 1.5 crore for one student.

Political fallout

The incident sparked a political reaction. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi posted on social media that the AI summit had become a "chaotic PR spectacle" with "showcasing Chinese products." Following this, the Congress party, in a post, accused the Modi government of "completely damaging" India's image.

However, summit supporters said the antics of one university stall should not be used to question an event that showcases the country's big AI ambitions on the global stage.
In a major decision after social media backlash, the Government of India has asked Galgotias University to vacate its exhibition stall from the AI Impact Summit being held in New Delhi. The decision was taken after massive outrage over the University's fake claim, where it portrayed Chinese robodog and drones as its own.

Reacting to the reports that Galgotias University has been asked to vacate India AI Impact Summit expo, Professor Dr Aishwarya Shrivastava said, "As of now, we have no such information."

Galgotias University on Tuesday issued a clarification saying that the robo belonged to a Chinese firm and was imported by them to help students in their research.

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"The recently acquired Robodog from Unitree is one such step in that journey. It is not merely a machine on display  it is a classroom in motion. Our students are experimenting with it, testing its limits, and in the process, expanding their own knowledge. Let us be clear  Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed...This is not about importing technology. This is about inspiring transformation," it said.

Reacting to the controversy, Professor Neha Singh who was seen making the fake claims, clarified that the controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. "I take accountability that perhaps I did not communicate it properly, as it was done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do. One important point is regarding the robot dogwe cannot claim that we manufactured it, she said.

Netizens slammed the university for making fake claims.

"Galgotias University again. Showcased a commercially available $2,800 robot as an AI breakthrough. No evidence of Rs 350 crore original R&D. This is how credibility erodes. STOP EMBARRASSING INDIA ON THE WORLD STAGE," said a user.

Galgotias University again.



Showcased a commercially available $2,800 robot as an AI breakthrough.



No evidence of 350 crore original R&D.



This is how credibility erodes.



STOP EMBARRASSING INDIA ON THE WORLD STAGE. pic.twitter.com/SyJyIntRLa  Mr Sharma (@sharma_views) February 17, 2026

Another user said, "Do you remember Galgotia University? Today they have shown their class yet again They showcased this commercially available robot at AI Summit and labeled it "breakthrough in AI" model. It costs around $2800 online which is roughly 2.5 lakh but as per DD News, the estimation worth of this presentation is 350 cr. Please stop embarrassing India anymore Is it how we will challenge China and US?"

Do you remember Galgotia University?



Today they have shown their class yet again



They showcased this commercially available robot at AI Summit and labeled it "breakthrough in AI" model



It costs around $2800 online which is roughly 2.5 lakh but as per DD News, the pic.twitter.com/Y0pzuUAYiv  Amock_ (@Amockx2022) February 17, 2026

"She purchased a Commercially available Unitree Go2 Robot online And presenting it as her own innovation in India AI Impact summit in Delhi Next level fraud is going on, on national stage, without any hesitation," said another user.

She purchased a Commercially available Unitree Go2 Robot online



And presenting it as her own innovation in India AI Impact summit in Delhi



Next level fraud is going on, on national stage, without any hesitation



pic.twitter.com/H36U5z75JM  Veena Jain (@Vtxt21) February 17, 2026

While the Doordarshan deleted the video after netizens exposed the claim, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had also shared the video on his social media handle. However the same was also deleted after several hours.
Galgotias University is once again in the spotlight after a viral video showed a commercial robotic dog named "Orion." The controversy centers on Neha Singh, a professor whose claims about the robots origin have sparked a strong backlash from Indias tech community.

The controversy: Indigenous innovation or Chinese import?

The scandal began when Neha Singh introduced "Orion" as a sophisticated surveillance tool supposedly developed on the university campus. Singh claimed that the robot was part of a huge Rs 350 crore investment by the university, designed to navigate difficult terrains.

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VIDEO | Delhi: Professor Neha Singh of Galgotias University responds to reports of the university being asked to vacate its stall at the AI Summit Expo, says, The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps I did pic.twitter.com/z5lOIzmDz1  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 18, 2026

However, sharp-eyed netizens and tech experts quickly disproved these claims:

Brand recognition. The robot was identified as a Unitree Go2, a mass-produced model from the Chinese company Unitree.

Visible branding. Critics noted that the original Chinese branding remained visible on the device during the presentation.

Price discrepancy. While the university mentioned a Rs 350 crore initiative, the commercial price of the Unitree Go2 is around Rs 2.5 lakh.

Who is Neha Singh? Confusion over faculty credentials

As the face of the initiative, Neha Singhs credibility has come under heavy scrutiny. Efforts to confirm her role at Galgotias University have resulted in conflicting information:

Communications/Management: Singh told news agencies ANI and PTI that she is a faculty member in Communications at the School of Management.

Law & Pharmacy: The universitys faculty portal lists a Neha Singh as an Assistant Professor in the School of Law. Research databases like ResearchGate connect her name to a PhD holder in Pharmacy.

LinkedIn records: An unverified profile suggests she worked as an educator and researcher at the university from August 2023 until June 2025.

In her defence, Singh described the incident as a "communication issue," stating she may not have been "eloquent." However, video footage clearly shows her saying the robot was "developed by the Centre of Excellence" at Galgotias.

A pattern of viral blunders

This incident is the second time the Noida-based university has faced public ridicule for its students' or staff's remarks. In 2024, the institution went viral during a protest in New Delhi against "urban naxalism."

You said its developed in our Centre of Excellence division. Just say it was a mistake as I was not from that division, and move on dont defend and create more lies pic.twitter.com/hzLSzH4uW6  (@dakshinapata) February 18, 2026

During that event, students struggled to explain their signs, with several famously mispronouncing the term as "Urban Maxwell" and fumbling basic questions about their slogans. This latest "robodog" scandal has reignited debates about the academic and communication standards at the private university.

The university's stance

While Neha Singh has spoken to the media, Galgotias University has not yet provided a detailed report on the alleged Rs 350 crore Orion project. The tech community continues to demand transparency regarding whether the funds were used for original research and development or simply for purchasing existing Chinese hardware.

ALSO READ | DNA pioneer James Watson exposed in Epstein files: DOJ photos reveal Nobel laureate at Manhattan Mansion
Ban on social media under 16: The Union government is examining the possibility of restricting social media access for users below 16 years of age by amending the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, a senior official from the IT Ministry said.

According to the official, who requested anonymity, the government is considering differentiated access, allowing minors to use certain types of accounts while restricting others.

On Tuesday, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed in a press conference that consultations are underway with social media platforms regarding age-based restrictions.

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Talking to media, he said, This is something that has been accepted by many countries  that age-based regulation has to be there. It was part of our DPDP (Digital Personal Data Protection ) Act. Right now, we are in conversation regarding deepfakes and age-based restrictions with various social media platforms.

At present, India does not have a law that explicitly bars children below a specific age from accessing social media. However, under the DPDP Act, platforms must obtain verifiable parental consent before processing the personal data of individuals under 18.

This provision indirectly limits minors use of such platforms, as companies cannot freely collect childrens data or serve targeted advertisements without parental approval.

Globally, several countries have introduced or proposed age-based restrictions.

Australia became the first nation to implement a social media ban for users under 16. Following this, France passed similar legislation for children under 15, while Spain and the United Kingdom are considering comparable measures.

Within India, states such as Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka are exploring Australia-style restrictions for under-16 users, although the implementation framework remains unclear.

The Madras High Court has also advised the Centre to examine the feasibility of enacting a similar law.

The Economic Survey released in January further supported age-based regulation of digital platforms, highlighting the economic and social costs of compulsive screen use among young people. It recommended stricter age verification mechanisms and age-appropriate default settings, particularly for social media platforms, gambling apps, autoplay features, and targeted advertising.

During the same press conference, Vaishnaw stressed the need for tighter regulations on deepfakes, noting that multinational companies must account for Indias cultural and social sensitivities. He observed that content prohibited in one country may not necessarily be restricted in another.

Calling deepfakes a growing threat, he said the government has initiated discussions with industry stakeholders to determine whether additional regulatory measures are required beyond the steps already implemented. Recent amendments to the IT Rules mandate the removal of deepfake content within three hours, compulsory labelling of AI-generated material, and stricter compliance obligations for intermediaries. Vaishnaw also said that the parliamentary standing committee on communications and information technology has examined the issue and proposed recommendations to curb the misuse of deepfake technology.
Former US Diplomat Lindsey Ford made stark revelations with respect to Indias growing dominance in the geopolitical turmoil.

Donald Trump's administration's bonhomie with Pakistan while putting India ties on stake has raised concern not only among Republicans but also among Democrats and US Congress leaders.

The US Congress has time and again asked Trump to mend ties with India to keep China in check. On Wednesday, former US diplomat Lindsey Ford echoed the same concern.

Addressing the US Congressional Commission, she said, India moved faster than everybody else in ripping China out of the telecom sector and social media apps. India has a hard and realistic view on the challenges posed by China that our friends in Europe should hear.

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She praised New Delhis pragmatic approach in dealing with growing Chinese dominance.

India led decisively in banning Chinese telecom equipment and apps like TikTok post-2020 Galwan clash, citing espionage risks via embedded spyware, moves faster than US and EU peers, still debating restrictions.

This pragmatic stance on China's security threats, from border incursions to data vulnerabilities.

Ford further talked about Indias relations with Russia, warned Washington against pushing New Delhi to sever Moscow ties, cautioning it could undermine the India-US partnership rather than beniffiting.

The remarks come just weeks after India and the US announced a trade deal, with the US reducing tariffs from 50% to 18%, and India reducing the reciprocal tariffs to zero on US products.

Further, Commissioner Jonathan Stivers, to a panel of top India-US experts, asked about the repercussions of India-US ties on US-Pakistan ties. He said, If a new US govt wanted to make India its top priority, what is one big thing we could offer India that would build trust? Would it be breaking relationships with Pakistan?"

'America has to consider the concerns India has been raising on Pakistan. This includes Pakistan picking up tactics, tech and training from the West & taking them to China. The US and Western countries have to interrogate these concerns,' says former US official Lindsey Ford pic.twitter.com/qhx0aT2oMz  TBS POST (@TheBeaconScoop) February 18, 2026

Responding to the US-India question, Lindsy Dord said, America has to consider the concerns India has been raising about Pakistan. This includes Pakistan picking up tactics, tech, and training from the West & taking them to China. The US and Western countries have to interrogate these concerns.

Fords remarks addresses the major concerns around US foreign policy pertaining to India with regard to Pakistan, China, and Russia, while also addressing Indias rapid rise on the global level with a pragmatic approach.


In a significant move following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), India is getting close to finishing the Shahpur Kandi Dam. This dam will stop the flow of surplus water from the Ravi River into Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmed Rana confirmed on Wednesday that the project is proceeding rapidly and is expected to be fully operational by March 31.

Strategic shift: Impact on Pakistan

The completion of the dam marks a key change in Indias water diplomacy. While the Ravi is an Eastern river, over which India has full rights, historical infrastructure gaps have allowed a significant amount of unused water to flow into Pakistan.

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The squeeze: Pakistan relies on the Indus system for nearly 90% of its agriculture. It now faces a major water crisis just before the summer season.

Domestic priority: Minister Rana stated that the water will be redirected to irrigate over 37,000 hectares in the drought-prone Kandi belts of Kathua and Samba (J&K) and parts of Punjab.

The Shahpur Kandi Project: A 45-year legacy

Conceived in 1979, the project has taken decades to develop.

National importance: Declared a national project in 2008, it was revived in 2018 due to direct intervention from the PMO after years of disputes between states.

Cost & scale: Built at a cost of about Rs 3,394 crore, the 55.5-meter-high dam will not only provide irrigation but will also generate 206 MW of hydropower for Punjab.

Operation Sindoor and the 'Abeyance' of the IWT

The acceleration of the Shahpur Kandi Dam is closely linked to Indias tougher stance on cross-border terrorism.

The catalyst: After the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 people, India officially suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.

Operation Sindoor: This military and diplomatic strategy, which was highlighted at the 2026 Republic Day Parade, asserts that "blood and water cannot flow together."

Beyond ravi: With the treaty suspended, India has also sped up major projects on the Western Rivers (Chenab and Jhelum). This includes the 1,856 MW Sawalkote project and the Tulbul Navigation Project, both of which were previously delayed due to Pakistani objections.

Global and regional fallout

The move has prompted strong reactions at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India recently criticized Pakistan for "weaponising" the narrative. Indian representatives argued that the treaty was made in good faith, which Pakistan has violated through years of sponsored terrorism.

ALSO READ | Delhi-NCR relief: GRAP-2 restrictions revoked as air quality hits 'moderate' levels
Pakistans water crisis is deepening amid the Indus Waters Treaty suspension and is not going to end soon.

India is now poised to block excess Ravi River flows upon completing the Shahpur Kandi barrage by March 31, ending years of surplus water reaching Pakistan due to India's prior storage limitations.

Starting in April, this will sharply reduce inflows, compounding Pakistan's agricultural and urban water shortages.

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J&K Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmed Rana announced on Monday that the Shahpur Kandi barrage completion will halt excess Ravi River water flows to Pakistan, prioritizing irrigation for drought-hit Kathua and Samba districts. "Excess water to Pakistan will be stopped. It has to be stopped," Rana said while talking to reporters.

As summer approaches, Pakistan could face worsening water shortages as India plans to stop releasing surplus water from the Ravi River. The suspension of the #IndusWatersTreaty has allowed faster progress on the Shahpur Kandi dam along the PunjabJammu and Kashmir border, with pic.twitter.com/vulk5Ourcn  DNA (@dna) February 18, 2026

When asked about Pakistan's concerns, Javed Ahmed Rana retorted, "Why worry about Pakistan? They are insignificant. Let them face the consequences of their own actions."

Pakistans situation to worsen?

With the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage nearing by March 31, India will fully utilise the Ravi River waters previously flowing unused into Pakistan, redirecting them for irrigation in drought-hit Jammu & Kashmir districts like Kathua and Samba.

Reportedly, Pakistan's economy relies on the Indus basin rivers for 80% of farmland irrigation, supporting 25% of GDP through crops like wheat, rice, and cotton. Ravi's surplus, previously 1,150 cusecs, cuts will slash downstream flows, reducing canal supplies in Punjab province cities like Lahore, already facing shortages.

Ahead of scorching summers, this squeezes drinking water for urban centers and hydropower, risking blackouts.

Indus Waters Treaty stays in abeyance

India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on April 23, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, explicitly linking water cooperation to Pakistan's cessation of cross-border terrorism.

While Pakistan and the Permanent Court of Arbitration insist the treaty remains legally binding, rejecting unilateral "abeyance" as unrecognized under international law.

India, on the other hand, has halted Permanent Indus Commission meetings and advanced projects like Shahpur Kandi barrage and Sawalkot hydro on its allocated rivers.

While Indias move does not violate the World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty. Ravi is India's eastern river, but Islamabad faces "acute risk" of shortages, potential protests, and diplomatic escalation amid bilateral tensions.

The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty allocates India's full rights over eastern rivers, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, for unrestricted use, while granting Pakistan control of western rivers, Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, with limited Indian access.

Historically, India let Ravi surplus flow unused to Pakistan due to incomplete infrastructure like the Shahpur Kandi barrage, but suspension of IWT participation in 2025, citing Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, freed India to fully harness these waters without treaty constraints.
























Fresh panic has gripped sections of the Kashmiri Pandit community in the Valley after purported threat posters from terror outfits surfaced online and on the ground. The posters, attributed to Falcon Squad (an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba) and the Muslim Janbaz Force (MJF), have raised concerns among minority residents.

A poster allegedly issued by Falcon Squad, described by investigators as a proxy of The Resistance Front (TRF), itself an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, went viral on social media. The poster carried threat messages directed at Kashmiri Pandits living in Kashmir.

Authorities clarified that this particular poster was only found circulating on social media and was not physically pasted in any locality. The poster reportedly mentioned names of individuals killed in targeted attacks between 2021 and 2023, including Makhan Lal Bindroo.

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Makhan Lal Bindroo was shot dead at his medical shop in Srinagar on October 5, 2021, in what was described as a targeted killing carried out by TRF.

Muslim Janbaz Force Poster Found in Kulgam

Soon after the viral Falcon Squad poster, another poster purportedly issued by the Muslim Janbaz Force surfaced. It reportedly stated that the fight would continue until India is destroyed and Kashmir is liberated.

This poster was found early morning by a joint patrol party in Katsua village of Kulgam district in south Kashmir.

Community Reactions: Fear and Concern

Dr. Sandeep Mawa, a Kashmiri Pandit and brother-in-law of Makhan Lal Bindroo, expressed concern over the renewed threats.

He recalled that during Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit in 2021, his brother-in-law was killed. He alleged that after Bindroos killing, he himself was targeted, and said that at the time threats were attributed to Muslim Janbaz Force and TRF (which he referred to as Falcon).

Dr. Mawa said the government should increase security rather than reduce it. He stated that he has faced seven terror attacks and emphasized that the threat should not be treated as an election-related issue but as a serious security concern.

He added that security preparedness should be strengthened and called for enhanced operations against terrorism.

Vijay Rainas View

Vijay Raina, a social influencer, said that threats from Muslim Janbaz Force and Falcon Squad no longer have significant impact. According to him, the groups are attempting to show their existence despite losing support, even from Pakistan.

He said that while a few operatives may still be present, security forces are conducting successful operations and will eliminate them along with their supporters.

Ground Report from Mattan

A ground visit to the Mattan area, including Khaar Mohalla, showed that a sizeable number of Kashmiri Pandits still reside there. Some never migrated, while others returned under the Prime Ministers employment scheme.

While many Pandits left for Jammu around Shivratri, those who remained said the atmosphere was peaceful and that they had good support from the administration. Some residents stated they live freely and without fear.

Concerns from Transit Camps

Sunny Raina, President of Vasu Migrant Camp, said that such threat letters have appeared before, including in 2021 and 2022.

He said the recurring letters create panic among families. When alerts are issued:

Residents are advised to remain cautious.

Movement is restricted.

Office routes are changed.

Families face disruption in daily routines, including childrens schooling and medical visits.

He appealed for a thorough investigation to stop such incidents.

Security Response and Investigation

Security agencies have been placed on high alert across the Valley, especially in transit camps and minority-populated districts. The threats coincided with a high-profile visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Some Kashmiri Pandits in transit camps and settlements have renewed demands for enhanced security. In certain cases, there have been requests for weapons for self-defense, similar to the Village Defense Guards model used in Jammu.

Security forces have intensified counter-terror operations, including the busting of a major terror module.

Authorities have assured the community that security arrangements are robust. However, the psychological impact of the posters continues to cause distress among those who stayed back or returned to the Valley.

Police Findings: Psychological Warfare

Police investigations have identified the posters as part of a psychological warfare campaign aimed at creating communal instability.

Investigations by police and central agencies confirmed that Falcon Squad functions as a hit-squad proxy for TRF, which is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Officials believe the resurfacing of the Muslim Janbaz Force, largely dormant since the 1990s, is an attempt to exploit fear within the Kashmiri Pandit community. The timing of such posters often coincides with high-profile visits or temple restoration efforts, allegedly aimed at discouraging return to the Valley.

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) has said the campaign appears coordinated via encrypted communication platforms by handlers based in Pakistan.

Several overground workers (OGWs) have been detained for questioning as part of efforts to decode the TRF/Falcon Squad posters.

Police are also examining whether the posters represent a genuine operational threat or an attempt to create unrest, potentially using AI-generated material.

Advisory to Residents

Some Kashmiri Pandits, speaking anonymously, said police have advised them to:

Return home before evening

Avoid strangers

Not venture out after dark

Immediately report suspicious activity

While authorities maintain that security arrangements are strong, the renewed circulation of threat posters has heightened anxiety among members of the minority community in the Valley.
India and France upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership on Tuesday after bilateral talks between the Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Both countries struck a resounding Jai Ho! moment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed it as a boundary-less alliance from deep oceans to the tallest mountains, while French President Macron declared France as India's unwavering innovation partner. This leap signals deeper trust amid global turmoil. What does it mean for both nations?

Roots to Renaissance

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India-France ties have evolved historically, it trace back to 1998's Strategic Partnership, a rare non-aligned bond built on mutual respect.

France backed India's nuclear tests the same year, avoiding sanctions, then came the 2016 Rafale jets deal, Scorpene submarines, and civil nuclear pacts, followed, cementing defence as the bedrock.

Today, India-France trade hits $15 billion, with French investments in metro rails, renewables, and tech.

The 2026 upgrade transforms this into a "people's partnership," launching the India-France Year of Innovation for startups and 30,000 Indian students in France by 2030, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Global Stability in an age of churn

PM Modi described the upgraded India-France partnership as more than just strategic, calling it essential "for global stability in an age of churn", a reference to today's volatile world of geopolitical tensions, economic disruptions, supply chain crises, and tech rivalries that demand reliable alliances beyond traditional defence pacts.

President Macron enthusiastically posed a rhetorical question, "Who will innovate with India? France, we're here to stay. Jai Ho!

The bilateral talks between the two leaders produced over 21 agreements, starting with robust defence advancements, including the inauguration of an H125 helicopter assembly line in India.

Advanced missile deals such as Hammer missiles, and deepened joint R&D between DRDO and France's DGA for next-generation technologies.

In artificial intelligence, the leaders outlined a roadmap for ongoing AI summits, building on the 2025 Paris AI Action Summit they co-chaired, alongside collaboration in semiconductors to bolster technological sovereignty.

The talk of the town right now is the Rare earth minerals on the global stage. The talks between India and France on Critical minerals emerged as a priority, with pacts securing resilient supply chains for batteries, renewables, and high-tech manufacturing amid global shortages.

Other key outcomes encompassed a double taxation avoidance agreement to spur investments and accelerate the India-EU Free Trade Agreement with enhanced mobility; exploration of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) for clean nuclear energy.

With the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, and fostering startups in space, biotech, and green tech via the Innovation Forum, joint counter-terrorism efforts, including France's backing of India's stance on the Pahalgam and Red Fort attacks, biotech health agreements, and progress on the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor (IMEC) corridor for trade connectivity, alongside cultural and people-to-people exchanges. These deliverables cement a multifaceted, future-oriented alliance.

The partnership of the future

This Jai Ho! upgrade isn't fanfare, it's firepower for a multipolar world. India gains tech muscle and supply security. France locks in a democratic counterweight to rivals.

Given U.S policies, China's monopoly, and American sanctions on Russia, Europe, including France, is emerging as an alternative for India, not only in defence but in trade as well.

With Rafale upgrades dominating Indo-Pacific skies, AI breakthroughs reshaping global standards, and critical minerals easing the green transition. As Modi and Macron bet big, one thing's clear. In turbulent times, the India-France alliance could redefine who leads the 21st century.






















The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched a sharp attack on the BJP government and the Delhi Police over the complete breakdown of law and order in the national capital. AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar stated that murders have become a daily occurrence in Delhi, and criminals are operating with unprecedented impunity.

Citing a recent incident in Nand Nagri where a father was shot dead while trying to protect his minor son, the AAP senior leader and MLA said the situation has deteriorated to the point where even those who step in to stop violence are being killed. He called out the government and police for remaining passive as fear grips the city, arguing that in the national capital, it is citizens, not criminals, who are forced to live in fear.

Addressing a press conference at the AAP headquarters on Wednesday, Senior Leader and MLA Kuldeep Kumar said, Delhis law and order situation is continuously slipping out of the hands of the BJP government. From the beginning of the new year until now, hundreds of murders have taken place in Delhi. Six murders occurred in a single day in Delhi. Yet, the four-engine BJP government is not taking concrete steps to curb crime.

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Kuldeep Kumar said that earlier in Delhi, if there was a road rage incident, if a criminal tried to attack someone, or if there was a fight and another person intervened, the matter would end there. But today, the morale of criminals in Delhi has risen so much that on Tuesday in Nand Nagri, when some miscreants were beating a minor boy, his father, who came to save him, was shot dead, he stated.

Calling out the BJP, he added, The BJP talks about making the country a Vishwaguru (world leader). The BJP government says it is organizing AI summits and that foreign delegates are coming from abroad. What message will such incidents in the national capital send to the world?

Kuldeep Kumar further questioned, Why is crime in Delhi not being brought under control? Extortion demands are continuously being made, and murders are taking place. A father who intervened to save his child was shot dead. He also highlighted that a few days ago in Trilokpuri, a lawyer who came to save a person was shot; fortunately, he survived. Now in Delhi, those who intervene are being shot and killed, he said.

The AAP MLA questioned what work the Delhi Police is doing regarding law and order. In one year, the four-engine BJP government has ruined Delhi. Law and order have completely come to a standstill. Mothers and sisters are not safe. In the Dwarka case, the police woke up only after pressure was built through social media, he stated.

After that, an FIR was registered against the father of the minor accused. Before that, the police remained asleep. The BJP should focus on law and order. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta should stop copy-paste and name-changing politics, do some actual work, and fix Delhis law and order situation, he continued.

Kuldeep Kumar further said that when AAP seeks time to meet the Delhi Police Commissioner, they are not given an appointment. The AAP is playing the role of the opposition in Delhi. Does Police Commissioner Satish Golcha have any objection to meeting opposition MLAs and leaders? he questioned.

If AAP MLAs want to provide information to him regarding Delhis law and order situation, will he not accept it? The Police Commissioner should work above politics. AAP leaders want to speak to him about law and order. We want to know why criminals are roaming around without fear. Why are criminals not afraid of committing crimes? he asserted.

The AAP Senior leader further said, Delhi is the national capital; here, criminals should tremble before committing a crime, but they are roaming freely and firing bullets on the streets. Six murders are taking place in a single day in Delhi.

Kuldeep Kumar said that the Police Commissioner should rise above politics and focus on law and order, and asked, Otherwise, what message is being sent across the country by the kind of incidents taking place in the national capital? As public representatives, we have every right to meet the Police Commissioner. The Commissioner will have to give time for a meeting.

He further stated, AAP MLAs will tell him why Delhis law and order is collapsing and how it can be fixed. Kuldeep Kumar concluded by asserting that all four engines of the four-engine BJP government in Delhi have failed, stating that governance in the capital has come to a standstill and that no meaningful work is being carried out.
Patna: In a tragic incident in Masaurhi, Patna, a class 10 girl student dies by suicide after being denied entry at examination centre. The incident occurred near Maharajchak village, under the jurisdiction of Masaurhi police

As per NDTV reports, Komal Kumari, a Class 10 student, had gone to stay at her relatives home in Maharajchak on Tuesday to appear for her examination. Her designated centre was located nearly six kilometres away. Though candidates were required to report by 9 am, Komal reached the venue around 9:15 am. By then, the gates had already been shut.

According to initial investigation, she repeatedly knocked and urged the staff to let her in, telling them the exam was scheduled to begin at 9:30 am and that she was only a few minutes late. She stressed how important the examination was for her future. However, despite her pleas, she was not allowed to enter the premises.

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Deeply upset, Komal returned home. Later, she went to Nadaul railway station, boarded a train and allegedly jumped between Taregna and Masaurhi Court stations.

She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save her. At first, her identity could not be established. The Masaurhi police later circulated her photograph on social media, following which residents from her village identified her and informed her family.

Komal was the eldest of three siblings and is survived by two younger brothers. Her father works as a labourer outside the state.

The incident has sparked widespread anguish in the region and reignited debate over the rigid enforcement of examination reporting rules.

(Discussions on suicides can be triggering for some. But suicides are preventable. If you are looking for help, some suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are 011-40769002 from Sanjivini (Delhi-based, 10 am - 5.30 pm) and 044-24640050 from Sneha Foundation (Chennai-based, 8 am - 10 pm), +91 9999666555 from Vandrevala Foundation (Mumbai-based, 24x7).
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw issued a firm directive to global tech giants like Netflix, Meta, and X at the India AI Impact Summit, insisting they must operate strictly by India's constitution.

Vaishnaw, on Tuesday at the Bharat Mandapam, emphasised that platforms cannot cherry-pick compliance based on their home-country norms. All platforms must adhere to India's constitutional and legal framework, regardless of their global operations.

#WATCH | Delhi | At India AI Impact Summit, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says," Whether it is Netflix, YouTube, Meta or X, all must operate within the constitution of India..." pic.twitter.com/WYz56gJMgP  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2026

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He stressed cultural sensitivity, noting that content norms vary by country, and positioned compliance as a universal multinational obligation. This comes amid the summit's focus on AI advancements.

During the press conference, Indias IT Minister Ashwani Vaishnav stressed the daily surge in deepfakes as a major threat to children and society, calling for "much stronger regulations" beyond existing MeitY rules like 36-hour takedowns and AI labeling.

Discussions with platforms target age-based access limits, leveraging the Digital Personal Data Protection Act's provisions for minors. A parliamentary committee has reviewed these issues, pushing for consensus on tougher curbs.

The Supreme Court and High Courts in India have, in the recent past, issued key directives against tech giants like Meta and X in deepfake and content moderation cases, reinforcing government calls for strict compliance.

These rulings emphasise swift takedowns and data disclosure, aligning with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's ultimatum.

In July 2025, the Delhi High Court ordered Meta and X to remove AI-generated obscene deepfake content targeting an influencer, deeming it a privacy violation.

The Bombay High Court similarly mandated immediate takedowns of deepfake videos of celebrities invoking Article 21 rights to dignity. These decisions highlight judicial urgency for platforms to act within hours, not days.

Recently, MeitY amended the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, mandating platforms to takedown deepfakes within 3 hours of government or court flags, effective February 20.

Vaishnaws remark declaring no room for selective adherence, platforms must fully embrace India's rules on deepfakes, age-gating, and cultural norms, or risk exclusion from its vast market.












As the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 reaches its midpoint, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a grand dinner this evening for global leaders at Bharat Mandapam. The menu, planned by the ITC Group, connects India's ancient farming roots with its future AI goals. The guest list included French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, along with international tech innovators and policymakers.

The theme: Celebrating the winter harvest

The dinner celebrated 'Shishir Ritu,' the traditional Indian season that marks the shift from late winter to spring. The menu highlighted "Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi" (Development and Heritage). It focused on local millets and GI-tagged produce to nourish and restore.

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The starter: A tribute to Old Delhi

The meal began with 'Varnila' (Vivid), a stylish version of Indian street food that aimed to deliver a burst of color and texture.

The dish: A vibrant chaat featuring baby spinach crisps and yogurt spheres.

The twist: It included a balance of tamarind-date chutney and cilantro relish, finished with Old Delhi masala and a multifloral Jowar (Sorghum) millet crisp.

Stats: 213 kcal per 100 g.

Main course: The Flavors of Uttarakhand

Titled 'Sasya' (The Harvest), the main course showcased the special "Pahadi" (mountain) flavors of the Kumaon region.

Rajma Gilawat: Featuring GI-tagged Munsyari Rajma from Uttarakhand, known for its creamy texture and nutty taste.

The Grains: A fragrant blend of Pahadi rice and Jhangora (Barnyard Millet) pulao.

Kumaoni Aloo Gutke: Potato chunks cooked with traditional Himalayan spice Jakhya, served with smooth tomato-anari (pomegranate) sauce.

Stats: 331 kcal per 100 g.

Artisanal Breads: From Lucknow to Kashmir

The bread selection displayed India's varied baking traditions:

Taftaan: A leavened, saffron-infused flatbread from Uttar Pradesh, known for its light, flaky texture.

Kashmiri Girda: A traditional round bread with a distinctive dimpled center, baked fresh to capture the spirit of the Kashmir Valley.

Dessert & conclusion: A modern fusion

For the final course, titled 'Nisarga' (Natures Creation), chefs combined traditional Indian sweets with global pastry methods.

The signature: A Rasmalai Tres Leches-creamy chena cake sponge soaked in sweetened milk.

The Crunch: Served on a Bajra (Pearl Millet) streusel with winter berry preserve.

Beverages: Guests could choose between traditional Kashmiri Kahwa, South Indian Filter Coffee, and Darjeeling Tea.

The Finale: An Indian Rose and Mishri Gulkand Chocolate Leaf (Paan) wrapped up the evening.

Strategic note for 2026: The strong use of millets (Jowar, Jhangora, and Bajra) supports India's "Millet Mission." This demonstrates to world leaders that sustainable, climate-resilient farming is central to India's AI-driven food security plan.

ALSO READ | North India weather transition: Rains recede as heat returns; IMD predicts 28C by Thursday
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, holding wide-ranging discussions aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders reviewed ongoing cooperation and explored ways to deepen ties across key sectors, including trade, defence and security, connectivity, energy, emerging technologies and people-to-people exchanges. The talks were part of a series of high-level bilateral engagements taking place alongside the global summit.

Bektenov arrived in the national capital earlier in the day and was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. Officials said his visit and participation in the summit are expected to further boost the growing partnership between India and Kazakhstan.

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Prime Minister @narendramodi held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov @PrimeMinisterEn of Kazakhstan on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit.



The leaders discussed ways to strengthen strategic partnership and deepen bilateral cooperation in all sectors, pic.twitter.com/x9EcOqVJnp Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 18, 2026

New Delhi has turned into a hub of diplomatic activity as world leaders gather for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi also held separate bilateral meetings with Croatias Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finlands Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

Among other prominent attendees are UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Swedens Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Ebba Busch.

The summit has brought together policymakers, industry leaders, technology innovators, academicians and civil society representatives from around the world to advance global conversations on artificial intelligence and its future impact.

(With ANI inputs)
India has recently cleared a proposal to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets and 34 marine Rafale jets. The Indian Air Force is still waiting for its Tejas fleet delivery. The IAF and Navy are still short of the required strength and lag behind in capability when compared to Chinas existing fleet strength. The major concern for India has been the lack of its indigenous fighter jet engine. While the Kaveri engine is yet to give the desired thrust to make it suitable for Tejas. According to the DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat, the Kaveri engine, in its original form, has not delivered the thrust that is required for the LCA. The engine is working very well; it has given us a thrust of 72 kilonewton. But the LCA needs a thrust of 83-85 kilonewton. So, Kaveri remains a far-fetched dream.

AMCA And Safran Tie-up

However, India last year announced its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program to fully develop its indigenous fifth-generation jet, including an engine. India has been in talks with French firm Safran and the UKs Rolls-Royce.

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Safran and DRDOs Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) have partnered to develop a high-thrust (110-140 kN) engine that will be used in India's 5th generation AMCA Mk2 and future naval fighters. The $7 billion deal will be executed over 12 years with conditions including 100% technology transfer, focusing on advanced single-crystal blades and a new core, aiming for prototypes by 2028-2032. India will own the Intellectual Property rights, and this will end dependency on foreign players for jet engines.

India is also leading a joint research with British firm Rolls-Royce, and this focuses on developing 6th-gen propulsion. Thus, while the work on the 5th-generation jet engine is underway, the draft will be ready for the 6th-generation engine. Rolls Royce has also offered full tech transfer and IP rights to India under the agreement.

Defence Minister clears intent

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh cleared Indias intent during his visit to the GTRE. If it takes 25 years to develop an engine, then given India's current situation, our strategic needs, and our ambitions, you should assume that your 20 years are already over and now you only have 5 years left. This isn't something to be shocked or surprised about; it's a challenge. We have to achieve in these 5 years what other countries do in 20 years. This is where we need to give our best, said Singh, highlighting that the government is willing to get the desired tech by 2030.

Talking about the 6th-generation jet, he said, We will also have to look towards the future. We cannot remain limited just to 5th generation engines. With the development of the 6th generation and advanced technologies, too, we will have to start as soon as possible. Research on that is the demand of the times. As technology is changing in the world, the use of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and New Materials is increasing, we will have to stay ahead in them.

With the government now committing funding for indigenous products, the jet engine program is likely to see the light of the day in the coming years, though initially with the help of Safran and Rolls Royce, but by 2040s, if the things goes as planned, India will be self-sufficient in the tech.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned the Allahabad High Court order, which had ruled that grabbing a child victim's breasts, breaking her pyjama string, and attempting to drag her under a culvert do not amount to rape or an attempt to rape.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and NV Anjaria stressed that adjudication in sexual offence cases must be grounded not only in legal principles but also in empathy.

"We disagree with the High Court's conclusion that the allegations reflect mere preparation rather than an attempt to commit rape," the Court ruled.

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According to a report by Bar and Bench, in a judgment delivered on February 10, the Bench cautioned that courts cannot deliver "complete justice" without regard to litigants' vulnerabilities.

"Our decisions in the legal process, from establishing procedures for ordinary citizens to final judgments, must embody compassion, humanity, and understanding to foster a fair and effective justice system," the Court stated.

The Bench acknowledged the need for systemic reforms to instill sensitivity in judges, stating, "Action is essential to cultivate inherent sensitivity and discernment in judicial approaches and court procedures."

The Supreme Court overturned the Allahabad High Court's March 2025 order, which downgraded charges against two accused for assaulting an 11-year-old girl from attempted rape to lesser offenses, criticising it for lacking empathy.

In March 2025, Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra held that grabbing the minor's breasts, breaking her pyjama string, and attempting to drag her under a culvert constituted only preparation, not an attempt to rape; downgraded charges to IPC Section 354B (intent to disrobe) and POCSO Sections 9/10 (aggravated sexual assault).

The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the Allahabad High Court order and stayed it on March 26, 2025, before delivering its final verdict on February 10, 2026.

It criticized the High Court's distinction between "preparation" and "attempt" in the case, stressing that judges must combine strict legal principles with empathy, compassion, and humanity when handling sexual offense cases.

Instead of issuing guidelines directly, the Court declined to do so itself, citing the need for a thorough review of past efforts and real-world challenges. It directed the National Judicial Academy (NJA) in Bhopal to form an expert committee to prepare a report on building judicial sensitivity for sexual offenses and vulnerable cases, draft simple guidelines in easy, layperson-friendly language that accounts for India's linguistic diversity, and submit everything within three months.












Security forces on Wednesday found a suspicious object along the Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway Ring Road near Hajiwara Payeen in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Security forces immediately cordoned off the area, and necessary precautionary measures were taken.

#WATCH | Baramulla, J&K: A suspicious object was found and neutralised on Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway at Mirgund Narbal early in the morning today. The police, 29 Rashtriya Rifles, and the Bomb Disposal Squad are present at the spot. pic.twitter.com/LvrZzParSo  ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

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A potential terrorist attack was foiled and neutralised with police, 29 Rashtriya Rifles, and the Bomb Disposal Squad responding at the scene.

Last week, Punjab Police busted a Pakistan-backed terror module and arrested one person, and recovered an IED.

The action was taken after receiving intelligence. The state special operations cell (SSOC) of Amritsar acted immediately and foiled the terror plan.

The development comes after the recent Operation Kiya and Operation TRASHI-I in the Udhampur and Kishtwar regions.

Security forces neutralised Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, under operation Kiya, earlier this month. Similarly, under the Operation Trashi-I Indian Armys White Knight Corps, J&K Police, and CRPF targeted Jaish terrorists under a tight cordon and search operation.




New Delhi: The central government has cleared an infrastructure project in Assam that will allow both vehicles and trains to pass beneath the mighty Brahmaputra river. Connecting Gohpur and Numaligarh, the 34-kilometer twin-tube tunnel has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs 18,662 crore and is expected to transform connectivity, trade and employment across the northeastern states.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave the green light to the project, which will feature Indias first under-river tunnel capable of carrying both road and rail traffic.

Officials said that while the country already has under-river metro tunnels in Kolkata and a submarine tunnel planned under the Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed rail corridor, the Gohpur-Numaligarh project will be the first to combine highway and railway operations in a single twin-tube system.

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At present, the journey between Numaligarh on NH-715 and Gohpur on NH-15 spans roughly 240 kilometres. It takes around six hours to complete the distance. Travellers travel through the Kaliabhomora Road Bridge, passing Numaligarh, Kaziranga National Park and Biswanath towns.

The new tunnel will cut through these obstacles with a four-lane and access-controlled greenfield highway running beneath the Brahmaputra. It will drastically reduce travel time.

The tunnel is set to become Indias first under-river road-and-rail passage and only the second such project in the world. It will provide major economic benefits to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and other northeastern states by enhancing freight efficiency, reducing logistics costs and accelerating regional socio-economic development.

The route links two major national highways and two railway lines, including the Rangia-Mukongselek section (NFR, Rangia Division) and the Furkating-Mariani loop line (NFR, Tinsukia Division).

The project is designed to strengthen multi-modal connectivity through 11 economic nodes, three social nodes, two tourism nodes and eight logistics nodes. It will improve links to four major railway stations, two airports and two inland waterways, facilitating faster movement of goods and passengers.

Beyond connectivity, the tunnel will hold strategic importance, foster regional industrial growth and open new avenues for trade and commercial activities. Construction is expected to generate approximately 8 million man-days of direct and indirect employment, providing a boost to local economies.

The under-Brahmaputra tunnel will transform travel in the Northeast, reduce journey time, make transport easier, boost industry and social growth and highlight Indias engineering skills.
New Delhi: The Delhi High court on Tuesday granted time to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to get consular access to retired major Vikrant Jaitly and have a meeting with him. The high court has also asked the MEA to apprise him about the development in the petition moved by Celina Jaitly.

The court is considering a petition filed by Bollywood actres Celina Jaitly seeking directions in connection with her brother's detention in the United Arab Emirates.

During the hearing, wife of Vikrant Jaitly, Charul Jaitly, filed a note. The court directed to supply the copy of note to Celina Jaitly and MEA. She appeared before the court.

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Celina's counsel argued that Vikrant Jaitly was an employee and his wife was the owner of the company in question. His wife Charul Jaitly opposed the submissions of Celina Jaitly.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav granted 4 weeks time to MEA after its cousnsel sought time to get a consular access to retired major Vikrant Jaitly.

The counsel for MEA submitted a note and submitted that UAE did not approved the consular access on February 13 and it is awaited. It will take 3-4 weeks to get approval.

The bench granted time to MEA and directed to file a status report. The bench has also asked the MEA to share the note of his wife and petition with Vikrant Jaitly.

The next hearing has been scheduled for March 16.

Charul appeared before the court in person and sought that the proceedings be conducted in camera; however, the court declined the request. She also opposed the submissions advanced by counsel for Celina.

Advocate Sandeep Kapur along with Niharika Karanjawala, Rytim Vohra Ahuja, Srishti Aggarwal appeared for Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly. They submitted that Vikrant was employed by the company, while its ownership lay with his wife, who later wound up the business.

The submissions were opposed by Charul Jaitly's counsel.

Justice Kaurav said that the court is not hearing the family matter. It is hearing a petition filed against the Central Government.

The Delhi High Court on February 12 asked the Ministry of External Affairs to have a meeting with Retired major Vikrant Jaitly and get the power of attorney signed in favour of an emirati law firm Khalid Al Maree and Partners. Central Government has issued a letter to firm to represent Vikrant Jaitly.

" If he is not willing to get legal assistance from the firm, then he will suggest the name of another firm," the High court had said.

Earlier, the high court had asked Charul Jaitly and Celina Jaitly to sit together, have some conversations and work in tandem in order to secure release of Vikrant Jaitly

Central Government standing counsel for MEA had submitted that she took instructions from the ministry and said that there is no provision to facilitate the meeting with foreign nationals including the courts as per Legal Assistance Treaty between India and UAE.

The High court had also asked the ministry to subject to approval by local authorities let the embassy officials to apprise Vikrant about the engagement of law firm.

Advocate Raghav Kacker counsel for Celina Jaitly had submitted that A letter has been issued by the Ministry to law firm Khalid Al Maree and partners.

In case he is not willing to take assistance from Khalid Al Maree, there can be some other firms, the High court had said.

Charul Jaitly had said that There might be compromise with the investigation in view of sensitivity of case. Vikrant Jaitly wants India Government to engage a lawyer for his defence.

If Vikrant Jaitly is not willing to take legal assistance from Khalid Al Maree, then he should suggest some name, the court said.

On February 10, The Delhi High court had asked the counsel for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to get in touch with the ministry/Consulate to facilitate the interaction of Major (Retd) Vikrant Jaitly with the court.

The court had asked the parties not to interact with the media without court permission.

On February 3, The Delhi High court had directed the Ministry of External Affairs to issue an order to a legal firm to represent Celina Jaitly's brother Major (retd.) Vikrant Jaitly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The law firm is ready to do the matter free of cost.

It was submitted that the legal firm is willing to represent Major (Retd.) Vikrant Jaitly free of cost (Pro Bono). They have found out the details of the case in their own.

On December 23, After a chamber hearing, the Delhi High Court issued fresh directions in the plea.

Earlier, Justice Sachin Datta had noted that, in compliance with earlier orders, Major Jaitly continues to receive consular access. During the hearing, Celina Jaitly had requested that arrangements be made for the availability of a local lawyer or law firm to enable effective legal representation for her brother.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had directed the Centre, through the Ministry of External Affairs, to facilitate communication between Celina Jaitly and her brother, who has been detained in the UAE for over a year.

Celina Jaitly had approached the Court seeking effective legal assistance, along with regular updates on her brother's welfare and legal status.
Mumbai: Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej met French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Taking to X, he shared a series of pictures with the French President Macron and First Lady along with Anil Kapoor, veteran actor Shabana Azmi, and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar.

Calling the meeting with the French leader an "honour", he wrote, "Such an honor to spend time with my friends, the President of France Emmanuel Macron and Madame Brigitte Macron."

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Kej added, "I travelled with them on their presidential plane to participate in various meetings and the inauguration of the India-France year of Innovation, as a part of the French Delegation. More to come :-) Great developments for both great nations. Super exciting times. Swipe for more photos. "

"PS: I wore the glasses as a tribute to President Macron, for the glasses he wore at the World Economic Forum, Davos, recently :-) Google it if you do not know what I am talking about :-)"

Taking to his official X handle, Macron also shared pictures of their gathering, showing the leader interacting with the celebrities. "Alongside legends of Indian cinema. Culture brings us together," he wrote in the caption.

Actor Anil Kapoor shared glimpses of the meeting on his X handle and wrote, "Spent an inspiring afternoon with President Emmanuel Macron and his gracious better half, Brigitte exchanging thoughts on cinema, culture, and the powerful bridge between India and France. Here's to India x France. And to many more stories waiting to be told."

President Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron arrived in Mumbai in the early hours of Tuesday for their India visit. The French President and the First Lady were received by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Mumbai airport.

In the morning hours, Macron was seen jogging with a team of security personnel, including French and Indian officials. In a poignant moment reflecting international solidarity against terrorism, French President Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron paid a solemn tribute to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks upon their arrival.

Following the Mumbai engagements, the delegation will travel to Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
Quote of the day: Apple Inc co-founder and a pioneer considered in the personal computer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, Steve Jobs made Apple a global product - a high reputation it enjoys today worldwide giving a tough competition to its arch rivals. Jobs is credited with the creation and promotion of many of the company's most influential products. Out of his many inspirational statements, let's take a look at this quote which he said on life and authenticity.

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life". - Steve Jobs

ALSO READ: Quote of the day: 'The great secret of true success, of true happiness, is....'

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Meaning of the quote

Steve Jobs in this quote refers to the fact that every individual has limited time in hand, therefore it is important to create something worthwhile and not ape someone else. Be your own original version rather than following or copying someone else.

Who was Steve Jobs?

Born in San Francisco in 1955, Steve Jobs attended Reed College in 1972 before withdrawing that same year. In 1974, he came to India, seeking enlightenment before later studying Zen Buddhism. He and Wozniak co-founded Apple in 1976 to further develop and sell Wozniak's Apple I personal computer. They gained fame with production and sale of the Apple II, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputers.

Jobs is largely responsible for reviving Apple, which was on the verge of bankruptcy in 1997.

Steve Jobs Death

Steve Jobs was diagnosed with Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor in 2003. He died of tumor-related respiratory arrest in 2011. Jobs was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.

The iconic personality that he was, Jobs has won 141 patents; Jobs holds over 450 patents in total ever since his death.
Washington: Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans during Mardi Gras celebrations after an alleged physical altercation outside a bar in the city's French Quarter, according to court records and video obtained by TMZ.

The incident occurred just after midnight on Tuesday. Footage from the scene by TMZ shows the aftermath of a fight outside a local saloon, where LaBeouf is seen shirtless with his back tattoo visible as he faces a group of people. In portions of the video, he appears to be restrained and struck before police arrived.

An eyewitness told TMZ that LaBeouf had been escorted out of the bar by staff for unspecified reasons before becoming involved in a brawl.

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The witness said that after walking down the block, the actor returned to the front of the bar, where paramedics were called to the scene.

Video from the aftermath by TMZ, shows emergency responders providing medical attention to LaBeouf. He did not appear to have sustained serious injuries and was seen speaking animatedly with Emergency Medical Service workers. Additional footage captured him being placed inside a parked ambulance with its lights flashing.

As per TMZ LaBeouf was arrested and is facing two charges of simple battery.

The arrest comes amid Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans. Earlier on Monday, LaBeouf was seen dancing and celebrating in the French Quarter during post-Lundi Gras events.

LaBeouf has previously spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction and mental health. Following a 2017 arrest in Savannah, Georgia, for public intoxication and disorderly conduct, he entered court-mandated rehabilitation.

In past interviews, he has linked his substance abuse to untreated trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from childhood experiences. He has since sought long-term sobriety support through therapy and structured recovery programmes.
New Delhi: Actor Vikrant Massey marked his fourth wedding anniversary with wife Sheetal Thakur on February 18, by sharing an emotional Instagram post celebrating their journey together.

The carousel post featured a series of intimate and significant moments from their relationship, offering fans a glimpse into their personal milestones. Accompanying the photos was a heartfelt caption that read, "Happy Anniversary my A1 from Day 1," along with a heart emoji.

The images included memories from their wedding festivities, with the couple dressed in traditional attire during their ceremony in Himachal Pradesh.

Among the highlights was a heartwarming family portrait featuring their son, Vardaan. The couple welcomed their first child on February 7, 2024, adding a new chapter to their journey together.

Another notable image in the carousel showed Massey celebrating a significant professional milestone- his recent National Award win, with Thakur by his side.

Massey and Thakur had been together for several years, officially registered their marriage on February 14, 2022, before hosting a traditional wedding ceremony on February 18, of the same year.

On the work front, in late 2024, the actor announced a temporary break from acting.

Following his sabbatical, Massey returned to the screen with 'O'Romeo', a romantic thriller directed by Vishal Bhardwaj that released on February 13, 2026. He is also set to make his OTT comeback with the series 'Musafir Cafe', co-starring Vedika Pinto and Mahima Makwana, while stepping into the role of producer for the first time.
New Delhi: The Kerala High Court recently held that an employer cannot invoke financial hardship to compel an employee to continue in service. The Court observed that refusing to accept resignation would amount to bonded labour. The Court has directed the company to formally accept the resignation of the petitioner and and relive him from his service.

According to Bar and Bench, Justice N Nagaresh held that when an employee submits a resignation in accordance with the terms of employment and with no failure to comply with contractual conditions, the employer has a duty to accept it.

The judge explained that resignation can be refused only in certain situations like when a notice period is required or 'heat of the moment' resignations may be withdrawn or serious pending disciplinary proceedings involving that involves major misconduct or financial loss to the company. The Court held that none of these situations existed in the present case and the company's refusal to accept the resignation of its employee citing financial crisis was legally unsustainable.

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The judge was quoted by Bar and Bench as saying, "Financial issues or financial emergency cannot be a reason to force a Company Secretary to work for an incorporated Company against his will and without his consent,"

The disciplinary proceedings contemplated against the petitioner in the circumstances can only be seen as an attempt by the respondents to violate the right of the petitioner to resign from service," the Court said.

The Court held that refusing to accept resignation would amount to 'bonded labour' which is prohibited under Article 23 of the Indian Constitution, the Bar and Bench reported.

The ruling was made in a case involving a company secretary who wanted to resign from the Traco Cable Company Limited, a State Public Sector Undertaking. Greevas Job Panakkal, the petitioner claimed that his salary payments had been irregular since October 2022, making it difficult to sustain himself or take care for his ailing mother. He submitted his resignation in March 2024.

The companys board rejected his resignation, citing a critical financial crisis. The management directed him to resume duties and issued memos, warning him of disciplinary action. Challenging these actions, Panakkal moved the Court to direct the company to accept his resignation and quash the memos issued against him.

After reviewing the case, the Court noted that the appointment of a company secretary as per the Companies Act, 2013, was recorded with the Registrar of Companies. The company secretary could not take up a similar employment elsewhere unless an employer filed the necessary statutory forms. This would prevent the petitioner from finding another job.

The Court noted that the company had been delaying the salary of the petitioner for a long time and had even initiated disciplinary action against him. The Court found that such actions of the company could not be legally sustained as without any valid reason the petitioner was being denied his right to resign. The Court overturned the memos rejecting Panakkals resignation and the disciplinary proceeding notices.

The Court ordered the company to formally accept the resignation of the petitioner and relive him from his service within two months. The court further ordered the company to settle the salary areas, leave surrender benefits and other terminal dues of the employee at the earliest based on the companies financial position.
New Delhi: Bank of Baroda has issued an important alert for its customers, especially senior citizens and pensioners, over a surge in digital fraud cases. The bank warned that scammers are circulating fake Pensioner Card offers on social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp to trick people into sharing personal and banking details. Customers have been advised to stay cautious and avoid clicking on suspicious links or messages claiming to offer special pension benefits.

The bank clarified that it has not launched any new Pensioner Card online and urged customers to treat such messages as fake. According to the alert, fraudsters are using these claims to trick people into sharing sensitive details like OTPs, PINs, Aadhaar numbers, and bank account information, which can lead to financial loss.

Bank of Baroda urges customers, especially senior citizens and pensioners, to remain vigilant against fraudulent messages and fake Pensioner Card offers circulating online.



Please verify any such communication only through official Bank of Baroda channels or by visiting your pic.twitter.com/lB4oZDIBw2  Bank of Baroda (@bankofbaroda) February 16, 2026

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Bank shares common tactics used by scammers

The PSU bank has listed some common tricks used by fraudsters to target customers:

- Sending fake Pensioner Cards to create panic or urgency

- Asking for sensitive details like OTPs, PINs, CVV, Aadhaar, PAN, or bank information

- Sharing suspicious links for pension update or verification

- Posing as bank officials or government representatives to gain trust

- Bank of Baroda has clarified that it never asks for confidential information over phone calls, WhatsApp, or SMS and advised customers to remain cautious.

Bank shares tips to protect yourself from cyber fraud

The PSU bank has also shared simple steps to help pensioners and senior citizens stay safe from such online scams:

- Do not click on unknown or suspicious links

- Never share OTPs, PINs, or passwords with anyone

- Avoid installing apps, especially screen-sharing apps, on someones advice

- Always verify such messages with a family member or your bank branch

Bank of Baroda said customers should ignore and avoid responding to any suspicious calls or messages. It also advised senior citizens and pensioners to immediately contact their nearest branch or the official customer care number if they come across anything doubtful.
New Delhi: Good news for salaried employees who are likely to benefit from a higher income tax exemption as the draft Income Tax Rules 2026 propose a major change in House Rent Allowance (HRA) deductions. If approved by Parliament, these changes may apply from April 1, 2026.

According to the draft Income-tax Rules, 2026, the government is proposing to expand the scope of higher HRA tax exemption under the old income-tax regime by extending it to more cities. The proposal aims to align tax relief with increased rental prices in rapidly expanding cities and evolving job trends.

New Income Tax: What is the proposed change?

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Currently, salaried employees in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai can claim an HRA tax exemption of up to 50 percent of their salary while those living in other cities can only claim an exemption of 40 percent. Under the draft rules, cities of Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad are proposed to be added to the 50 percent category.

New Income Tax: How will the exemption be determined?

According to the proposal, the method for computing HRA relief will remain the same. The exemption will be determined as the lowest of three figures which is the actual allowance received, the excess of rent paid over 10 percent of pay or a prescribed portion of salary linked to the employee's city of residence.

New Income Tax: Why HRA matters?

HRA is a portion of an employee's salary that an employer contributes to help cover house rent. Under the old tax regime, some part of HRA is not taxed which enables employees to save tax. HRA tax benefit is available only in the old tax regime and not in the new one. Even though the newer framework offers lower slab rates, only those employees who opt for the old system are eligible for the HRA exemption.

New Income Tax: What has govt proposed the changes?

The government has proposed the changes to update HRA norms in response to India's changing economic landscape. In recent times, cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune have drawn in a sizeable salaried population. The proposal also aims to align tax relief with higher rental prices in these rapidly expanding cities.

The final regulations will be forwarded to Parliament following assessment. If approved, these changes will apply from April 1, 2026.
Imad Wasims second marriage to lawyer and influencer Nyla Raja has sparked widespread debate across social media and news platforms. From her dual career in law and digital content creation to her growing online influence, Nyla has become central to the ongoing controversy. Allegations from Imads first wife, public backlash, and Nylas response have intensified scrutiny around the marriage. The timeline of rumours, confirmation, and reactions highlights how celebrity relationships intersect with digital visibility and public narratives. As the story develops, Nyla Rajas profile continues to attract attention, reflecting broader conversations around accountability, gender dynamics, and media-driven scrutiny.
In a must win encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Pakistan displayed the clinical edge that had been missing in their previous outing. While the result provides much needed relief for the Pakistani camp, captain Salman Ali Aghas post match comments suggest a strategic focus on momentum.
Actor Shia LaBeouf has spoken up about the abuse allegations against him by FKA Twigs that have disgraced his career. They dated for a year They met on the sets of the film 'Honey Boy'
India AI Impact Summit Expo Date Extended: India is hosting one of the largest artificial intelligence events, the AI Impact Summit 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The AI summit has brought together global leaders, policymakers, and technology experts from across the world to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event at Bharat Mandapam. Due to an overwhelming public response, the government has extended the India AI Impact Expo 2026 by one more day. The decision was taken to ensure a more comfortable and seamless experience for visitors amid strong public interest.

Earlier, the AI Impact Summit 2026 was scheduled to be hosted between Monday, 16 February 2026 and Friday, 20 February 2026, before the extension announced during Wednesday's press conference.

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AI Expo date extended for public

IT Secretary Krishnan announced at a press conference that the AI Expo has been extended by one more day in view of the overwhelming response and higher footfall. The event will now remain open to the public until 8 PM (IST) on Saturday, 21 February 2026. (Also Read: Apple March 4 Event: Rs 50,000 MacBook, iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, HomePod Mini and Siri AI Updates Expected; Where to watch event live)

However, the exhibition will remain closed to visitors on Friday, 19 February 2026, due to VIP movement and other access-restricted events scheduled for that day. Officials said the temporary closure is aimed at avoiding inconvenience to the public and ensuring smooth security arrangements.

AI Impact Summit 2026: Timings, entry gates and parking details

The Ministry of Electronics & IT on 18 February 2026 issued key details for delegates attending the third day of the mega AI event, AI Impact Summit 2026. The event will be held across multiple venues with specific timings. At Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre, visitors can attend from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, while the Bharat Mandapam Expo Area will remain open from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM.

Meanwhile, Sushma Swaraj Bhawan will host sessions from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The ministry has strongly advised registered delegates to use public transport, metro services, or cabs due to limited parking availability at the venue. Gate Number 4 will be open from 8:00 AM onwards for car and cab drop-offs. (Also Read: India's First AI Finance Model: FiMI unveiled at India AI Impact Summit 2026, supports multiple languages; Check key features)

Delegates arriving via the metro can enter through Gate Number 10 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, while media personnel should use Gate Number 5A, which will also open from 8:00 AM onwards. Limited parking will be available at Purana Qila Parking, Zoo Parking Space, and JLN Stadium Parking. Shuttle services will operate from these locations to Gate Number 4 at Bharat Mandapam.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a series of high-level meetings with global leaders and industry heads on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital, reinforcing India's leadership in artificial intelligence and deepening bilateral partnerships.

In a post on X, PM Narendra Modi shared details of his meeting with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, focusing on India's rapidly growing AI ecosystem.

"It was a delight to meet Mr. Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. We talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field," PM Narendra Modi stated.

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The Prime Minister also engaged in extensive diplomatic discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, highlighting the strategic importance of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

"Held extensive discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo. Thanked him for his personal support for the India-EU FTA, which ushers in a golden era in India-Europe relations. India and Finland aim to double trade, thus giving a strong boost to economic linkages," PM Narendra Modi posted on X.

He further added, "We also talked about enhancing cooperation in futuristic technologies like 6G, innovation, clean energy, biofuels, the circular economy, and more."

Following this, PM Narendra Modi met with the President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, to explore ways to deepen bilateral ties across multiple sectors.

The Prime Minister shared on X, "Had a productive meeting with President Pedro Sanchez in Delhi. We discussed ways to boost the India-Spain friendship, especially in areas such as defence, security, technology, and more."

Highlighting a special milestone for the current year, PM Narendra Modi noted, "Our nations are marking 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism, and AI. This will deepen people-to-people linkages. Glad to see a big delegation of universities also come to India. This too will go a long way in connecting our people."

"The historic FTA with the EU will have a very positive impact on the economic partnership with Spain and provide new opportunities for the people of our nations," PM Narendra Modi added.

These high-profile engagements took place amid the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16 to February 20.

The summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, it aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.

The summit features participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organizations, including around 20 heads of state or government and about 45 ministers.

It forms part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.

Guided by the three foundational SutrasPeople, Planet, and Progressthe India AI Impact Summit 2026 promotes human-centric AI that safeguards rights, ensures equitable benefits across societies, supports environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and fosters inclusive economic and technological progress.

Meanwhile, in a special interview with ANI's text service, the Prime Minister spoke about the growing impact of artificial intelligence on India's IT industry and the government's strategy to strengthen the sector.

"India's IT sector has been the backbone of our services exports and a key driver of economic growth. AI presents both a tremendous opportunity and a challenge for this sector. AI market projections show that India's IT sector could reach $400 billion by 2030, driven by new waves of AI-enabled outsourcing and domain-specific automation," he said.
New Delhi: Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here in the national capital. Pichai is here for the Global AI Impact Summit 2026 and will deliver the keynote address on February 20 at the summit.

Earlier, upon arrival, in a post on X, CEO Pichai said, "Nice to be back in India for the AI Impact Summit - a very warm welcome as always and the papers looked great too."

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

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The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.

Meanwhile, in a special interview with ANI's text service, the Prime Minister spoke about the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the IT industry and the government's strategy to strengthen the sector.

"India's IT sector has been the backbone of our services exports and a key driver of economic growth. AI presents both a tremendous opportunity and a challenge for this sector. AI market projections show India's IT sector could reach $400 billion by 2030, driven by new waves of AI-enabled outsourcing and domain-specific automation," he said.

The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers.

The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement.
Google Pixel 10a India launch today: Google is all set to launch the Google Pixel 10a today, February 18, in global markets, including India. The tech giant has been teasing the Pixel 10a as the most durable Google Pixel A-Series yet, hinting at improvements in its budget lineup.

The Pixel 10a is expected to be a modest upgrade over the Pixel 9a, and leaked specifications suggest that this may indeed be the case. Meanwhile, Google has shared official teasers highlighting design changes through visuals of the new model, which is set to roll out this week. However, the company is unlikely to host a dedicated launch event and may introduce the smartphone through a press release instead.

The Google Pixel 10a is expected to ship with Android 16 out of the box, along with support for the Android 17 beta. It is also likely to receive seven years of OS and security updates from the company.

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Google Pixel 10a India launch today: How to watch event live

Google will stream the launch event live on its official YouTube channel and website. Interested viewers can tune in through the companys online platforms at the scheduled time in their region.

Google Pixel 10a India launch today: Pre-order and price (expected)

The Pre-orders for the Google Pixel 10a will begin at 9 PM IST, as mentioned on Flipkarts landing page. The smartphone will be available for pre-order on Flipkart and the Google Store in India. Google is also offering several deals through its online store. These include exchange bonuses on select Pixel smartphones, no-cost EMI options for up to 24 months, and Google Store credits during promotional offers.

According to a report by retailer WinFuture, the Pixel 10a may be priced at EUR 499 (around Rs 52,800) for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The 256GB storage version could cost EUR 599 (approximately Rs 64,300). However, tech giant Google has not officially confirmed the pricing for India or other markets yet.

Google Pixel 10a specifications (Expected)

The Pixel 10a is expected to feature a 6.3-inch OLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. The smartphone is also tipped to support Bluetooth 6 connectivity, offering an upgrade over the previous generation. It is likely to pack the same battery capacity as its predecessor but could see a significant improvement in charging speeds, with reports suggesting support for 45W wired charging compared to the earlier 23W support.

Under the hood, Google is expected to power the device with the same Tensor G4 chipset, paired with 8GB RAM and storage options of 128GB and 256GB. There are currently no indications of a 512GB variant this year. In terms of optics, the Pixel 10a is once again likely to feature a 48MP main camera along with a 13MP ultra-wide lens.
YouTube suffered a widespread outage on Tuesday, halting video access for users across multiple countries, including India and the United States.

Hundreds of thousands reported failures to load videos and use related services amid the disruption.

Early in the disruption, Google acknowledged the issue in a public statement from TeamYouTube, stating, Were aware some of you are having issues accessing YouTube right now. Our teams are aware, and well provide updates as soon as we have them.

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If youre having trouble accessing YouTube right now, youre not alone  our teams are looking into this and will follow up here with updates: https://t.co/7iTU5S9AgT  TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) February 18, 2026

YouTube's help page detailed that a glitch in the recommendations system blocked videos from loading across platforms like the homepage, app, YouTube Music, and YouTube Kids. While the homepage recovered, teams continued working on a complete resolution.

Downdetector reported a massive spike in reports, peaking at over 320,000 in the US alone, with India seeing more than 19,000 complaints in the morning hours, confirming the outage's worldwide reach beyond any single region.

Users encountered app and website crashes, unplayable videos, and constant something went wrong alerts during the disruption. YouTube TV and select Google services also faced heightened complaints, pointing to an underlying platform-wide fault.

Downdetector's user-reported data, peaking sharply, highlighted the chaos, though not exhaustive; social media erupted with global accounts of synced access breakdowns.

Recently, X, formerly Twitter, suffered a significant outage on February 16, disrupting access for over 40,000 users primarily in the US and UK.

Users encountered blank timelines, app crashes, and "Something went wrong" errors on both mobile and desktop, mirroring issues seen in YouTube's recent global downtime.

This wave of major platform downtimes underscores growing vulnerabilities in global tech infrastructure, raising questions about redundancy amid surging user reliance.










Greater Noida-based Galgotias University, which presented Chinese robo dogs and drones as their own at the AI Summit in New Delhi, has now clarified that the robodog was not its creation and it never claimed to have developed the same. This contradicts the statement made by Galgotia's Professor Neha Singh, who on camera, claimed that the drones and robodog were their in-house creation.

While netizens were quick to point out the misleading claim and as the university faced backlash at social media, it issued a clarification on Tuesday. In a social media post, it said, that it has consistently brought foreign tech to its campus from the United States to China, from Singapore to every global hub of innovation.

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"The recently acquired Robodog from Unitree is one such step in that journey. It is not merely a machine on display  it is a classroom in motion. Our students are experimenting with it, testing its limits, and in the process, expanding their own knowledge. Let us be clear  Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed...This is not about importing technology. This is about inspiring transformation," it said.

This has been developed by the Centre of excellence at Galgotiyas University.



Also we are the first private university that has invested around 350 crores in Artificial Intelligence. https://t.co/NJfDzL7lG2 pic.twitter.com/TMqfSB6K0v  Harsh Kumar (@itsmeharsh_09) February 17, 2026

Meanwhile, another video went viral from the summit where Professor Neha Singh can be seen claiming a Chinese robot as the university's product.

"EXPOSED again on a global AI stage. Galgotias claimed 'Built from scratch'. The drone matches the Striker V3 ARF model. Imported hardware presented as indigenous innovation. Indias credibility isnt a marketing prop. Innovation demands proof," said a user while sharing the video.

EXPOSED again on a global AI stage



Galgotias claimed Built from scratch



The drone matches the Striker V3 ARF model



Imported hardware presented as indigenous innovation



Indias credibility isnt a marketing prop



Innovation demands proof pic.twitter.com/7Z8FD0h6SG  Mr Sharma (@sharma_views) February 18, 2026

Even Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw fell for Galgotia's fake trap and shared the video on his social media.

Bharats sovereign models are performing well on global benchmarks.

Success of the sovereign stack marks a significant achievement for our engineers and innovators.



AI Impact Summit, New Delhi pic.twitter.com/ajjAh9WSeZ  Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 17, 2026

However, the University is not alone in making such fake claims at the summit. Another video showed a person making the Unitree humanoid robot dance.

Surprise Surprise



No need to wait for Galgotias University to purchase it & show it as their own innovation, someone has already done that



This is Unitree G1 Humanoid, someone presented it in India AI Impact summit Delhi as their own innovation



It seems all frauds gathered at https://t.co/5KFsBBlAXR pic.twitter.com/jk1G9zlUkM  Veena Jain (@Vtxt21) February 18, 2026

The AI summit has brought accolades to India, but some of the participants at the summit are claiming Chinese robots as their own and bringing shame to the country. Netizens are demanding strict action and scrutiny for such a high-profile event, which attracts visitors from across the globe.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event on Monday. Sharing his thoughts on India's transformative potential and the role the country can play in the AI revolution, the Prime Minister said, "As India hosts the AI Impact Summit in Delhi, I've shared my thoughts on the transformative potential of AI, the role India can play in the AI revolution and more in this interview with ANI."

The Summit brings together the Heads of State and Government, ministers, global technology leaders, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the role of AI in advancing inclusive growth, strengthening public systems and enabling sustainable development.
With Tarique Rahman at helm, political friction re-emerged in Bangladesh on Tuesday after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami differed over taking an additional oath linked to the recent referendum.

While BNPs newly elected lawmakers were sworn in as members of parliament, they declined to take a separate pledge to serve on the Constitution Reform Council  a central feature of the interim administrations post-referendum reform roadmap. In response, Jamaat-e-Islami members refrained from taking their oaths and warned of nationwide protests.

BNP Reaffirms Commitment to July Charter

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Despite rejecting the Reform Council oath, the BNP maintained that it remains committed to implementing the July National Charter.

Salahuddin Ahmed, a BNP standing committee member and newly elected MP from Coxs Bazar-1, said the party stands firmly by the agreement. We are fully committed to carrying out the July National Charter in the exact form in which it was signed as a consensus document among political forces, he told reporters.

He made the remarks shortly after 12:30 pm following the BNP parliamentary partys first meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, which took place after party MPs completed their parliamentary oath-taking ceremony.

Why BNP Skipped the Reform Council Oath

Explaining the decision, Salahuddin said BNP lawmakers believe that the public mandate expressed through the referendum must first be translated into action within parliament. According to him, any constitutional reforms should be debated and enacted through proper legislative procedures, including amendments passed in parliament.

He further argued that under the current constitutional framework, the chief election commissioner does not have the authority to administer the oath for members of the Constitution Reform Council. He noted that the CEC neither approached BNP lawmakers for such a swearing-in nor conducted any such process.

What Is the July National Charter?

The July National Charter is a political consensus document signed by major parties outlining a roadmap for constitutional and institutional reforms following the referendum. It sets out commitments to strengthen democratic governance, reform key state institutions, and ensure greater accountability and electoral transparency.

The charter envisions that reforms will be implemented through parliamentary procedures, including legal amendments and structural changes approved by elected representatives. BNP leaders have emphasized that while they may disagree on procedural matters such as the Reform Council oath, they remain bound by the broader commitments outlined in the July Charter.
Beijing: China has been building nuclear-powered submarines faster than ever. This is changing the balance of undersea power and catching the attention of the United States. A study by an international security institute shows that Beijing is launching more submarines than Washington. This raises concerns about the future balance of sea power.

In the past five years, China launched 10 nuclear-powered submarines, compared with seven by the United States. The report says Chinas submarines are bigger and heavier than those of the United States. This shows that Beijing is building its undersea fleet much faster.

Since China does not publish official numbers for its submarine inventory, analysts based their findings on satellite monitoring of shipyard activity.

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This pace of construction shows a change from the period between 2016 and 2020, when Beijing added only three nuclear boats while the United States launched seven. Although submarine launches do not mean immediate deployment, and Washington still maintains a far larger active fleet, the trend highlights a new intensity in Chinas military shipbuilding.

By early 2025, China had 12 operational nuclear-powered submarines that were split evenly between ballistic-missile platforms and attack boats. In contrast, the United States maintained a fleet of 65 nuclear submarines, with 14 capable of launching strategic missiles.

China also fields a substantial fleet of conventionally powered submarines that do not rely on nuclear reactors but fuel regularly. The United States has no vessels in this category.

The expansion has been supported by upgrades at the Bohai Shipbuilding facility in northern China, where docks and production lines have grown to sustain larger submarine construction.

This comes at a time when US production goals have lagged. Official reports to the Congress last month highlighted that American shipyards have struggled to deliver even a single Virginia-class attack submarine per year. It fell short of the planned two-per-year rate.

Meanwhile, work on the next generation of US strategic submarines is behind schedule, with the first expected delivery now set for 2028.

The Chinese fleets growth is especially visible in its strategic submarine force. The report points to recent launches of Type 094 ballistic-missile submarines that enhance Beijings ability to deploy nuclear weapons at sea, an important component of its strategic deterrent along with land-based missiles and long-range bombers. More advanced designs, including a new Type 096 class expected later this decade, are already in preparation.

Along with these long-range platforms, China has brought forward guided-missile nuclear submarines designed with vertical launch systems that could fire modern anti-ship missiles. It highlights Beijings focus on expanding capabilities across mission types. Such developments have drawn attention from defence experts around the world.

Despite the rapid expansion, the report finds areas of relative weakness in Chinese submarine design. It points out that many Chinese-made submarines are probably louder and less sophisticated than Western-built boats. This gives the United States and European navies an advantage in stealth and avoiding detection.

But observers caution that sheer numbers matter in naval operations. Countries with larger fleets enjoy greater reach and strength in extended maritime competition. China already fields the worlds largest collection of destroyers, frigates and other surface warships. Its expanding submarine force adds depth to that strength.

Across the Pacific, US naval leaders have acknowledged the challenges. Recent testimony before lawmakers described American shipbuilding programmes as stretched, with delays and cost overruns affecting multiple platforms.

Independent assessments warn of a coming dip in US attack submarine numbers in the late 2020s, as older boats retire faster than new ones enter service. This temporary reduction could leave the US fleet at its lowest point in decades. It will add pressure on policymakers as they balance fleet commitments with global security responsibilities.

While Washington pursues partnerships, including submarine sales to allies as part of broader security pacts, analysts say careful attention to undersea forces will be central to future military balance. The coming years promise to be a defining period for submarine power, with implications that stretch from strategic deterrence to operations under the waves.
Bangladeshs political landscape has shifted dramatically in less than two years. A student uprising that began with anger over public sector job quotas swelled into a nationwide revolt, brought down a long-standing prime minister, and reshaped the countrys electoral map. Now, that same movement has found its way into government.

When Tarique Rahman took the oath as Bangladeshs 11th prime minister, just five days after his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) swept the first elections since the 2024 upheaval, he sent a clear signal. Two of the most recognisable faces of the protest movement, Nurul Haque Nur and Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, were brought into his 49-member cabinet. Neither belongs to the BNP. Both were key figures in the agitation that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

A return from exile and a broad-based cabinet

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Rahman, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, returned from 17 years in self-imposed exile in London to lead the South Asian nation. His partys victory marked the BNPs return to power after two decades.

Yet his cabinet list suggested more than a simple party comeback. By appointing Nur and Saki, both first-time parliamentarians and prominent protest leaders, Rahman acknowledged the political force unleashed by the 2024 uprising and the need to accommodate allies beyond his partys ranks.

All junior ministers in the new administration are newcomers to government, reflecting the wider inexperience of a parliament reshaped by revolt and realignment.

Who is Nurul Haque Nur?

Nur, 34, hails from a lower-middle-class family in Patuakhali, a coastal district in southern Bangladesh. He won his constituency as a BNP-backed candidate of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, a rights-focused party he co-founded.

He first rose to national attention in 2018 as a student leader at the University of Dhaka during protests against the public sector job quota system. At the time, more than half of coveted government posts were reserved under various quotas. Demonstrators accused Hasinas government of using the system to reward loyalists.

The pressure worked; the government abolished the quota scheme in 2018. But in June 2024, a court reinstated it. That decision reignited protests, which quickly expanded into a broader movement against what many described as Hasinas autocratic rule. Her 15 years in power were marked, critics said, by widespread human rights violations and suppression of dissent.

Nur backed the renewed demonstrations and emerged as a key organiser during the July 2024 uprising that ultimately forced Hasina from office. In the period that followed, he moved closer to the BNP-led bloc, aligning on reform and governance.

Though his Gono Odhikar Parishad has struggled with internal splits and rifts, Nur has positioned himself as a leading voice of a youth-driven, anti-establishment current in Bangladeshi politics.

Who is Zonayed Saki?

Saki, 52, represents an older strand of dissent. He began his political journey as a student activist during the movement against military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who governed Bangladesh from 1983 to 1990.

In 1998, Saki became president of the Bangladesh Student Federation, a progressive student body. He later emerged as joint convener of the Ganosanhati Andolan, or Peoples Solidarity Movement, a left-leaning party formed in the late 2000s.

Over the years, Saki built a reputation as a consistent progressive voice. He contested the 2015 Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral race and lost, and also ran unsuccessfully in the 2018 general election from a Dhaka constituency.

This time, however, he secured victory in Brahmanbaria-6 with a margin of 55,000 votes. After his win, he told supporters, All parties in the anti-authoritarian movement must remain united in the national interest and respectful of democratic norms. He also thanked BNP leaders for their backing.

Why did Rahman appoint them?

If we go by reports, political analysts in Bangladesh believe the appointments were expected. They reflect the BNPs reliance on a broad anti-authoritarian alliance that came together during the uprising and held through the election.

By giving Nur and Saki junior ministerial roles, Rahman has recognised their movements without displacing senior BNP figures. The partys own bench is deep; awarding a full cabinet portfolio to either man would have meant sidelining a veteran leader. The compromise allows Rahman to reward allies while maintaining internal party balance.

At the same time, their positions come with limited executive authority. As junior ministers, they will operate within ministries led by senior figures, suggesting that while the protest movement has entered government, it will not dominate it.

What about 2024 student leaders?

Not all faces of the uprising joined the ruling fold. The National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by prominent student leaders of the July 2024 movement, allied itself with the conservative Jamaat-e-Islami.

In its first electoral test, the NCP struggled. It won six of the 30 seats it contested. Its leader, Nahid Islam, 27, secured a seat, becoming one of the youngest members of the new parliament.

Now the NCP and Jamaat will sit in opposition, a new chapter for activists who, until recently, were leading street protests rather than parliamentary debates.

A government shaped by revolt

Rahmans cabinet captures the contradictions of post-uprising Bangladesh. It blends seasoned party loyalists with figures forged in protest. It balances pragmatism with symbolism.

By bringing Nur and Saki into government, Rahman has acknowledged that the energy which toppled a prime minister cannot simply be absorbed or ignored. Whether that energy can be channelled into stable governance, or whether tensions between party hierarchy and protest politics will surface, remains one of the defining questions of Bangladeshs new political era.
The release of the latest "Epstein Files" has shocked the scientific community. New evidence from the U.S. Department of Justice identifies Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson as a guest at the Manhattan mansion of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Photos found in the files show the man who unlocked the secrets of life posing with young women in a setting now associated with a global sex-trafficking scandal.

The evidence: Posing with three women

The newly published images feature James Watson, the legendary biologist credited with discovering the structure of DNA, smiling while posing with three young women inside Epstein's New York residence.

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The Visuals: Although the Department of Justice blurred the womens faces to protect their identities, Watson is easy to recognize.

Timeline: The exact date is still unconfirmed. However, The Telegraph reports that the photos likely come from the mid-to-late 2010s, a time after Epsteins first release from jail following his initial conviction for solicitation.

The Context: While the photos do not prove Watson participated in illegal acts, they do show a level of familiarity between the scientist and the pedophile financier that was previously only hinted at in leaked emails.

James Watson: The genius who changed medicine

James Watson is no ordinary figure in history. In 1953, he, along with Francis Crick, discovered the double helix structure of DNA.

The scientific revolution: This finding showed that DNA is a long, twisted, ladder-like structure carrying the genetic blueprint of all living organisms.

The Nobel prize: For this groundbreaking achievement, Watson received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962. His work laid the groundwork for modern genetics, forensic science, and biotechnology.

Epstein's obsession with 'superior' genetics

The connection between Watson and Epstein seems to stem from the billionaire's disturbing interest in eugenics. Epstein reportedly wanted to "improve" the human gene pool through selective breeding.

The 'Ranch' scheme: Epstein allegedly talked about a plan at his New Mexico ranch to impregnate women with his own DNA. He sought to involve Nobel Laureates in a high-IQ sperm bank to "seed" the human race with superior genetics.

Shared interests? Watsons involvement complicates this narrative, as the scientists career was also affected by controversial views on race and intelligence.

A career clouded by controversy

Despite his scientific achievements, Watsons legacy faced many challenges before his death in 2025 at the age of 97.

Racist remarks: In 2007, Watson faced global outrage for suggesting that people of African descent were inherently less intelligent.

Stripped of titles: After repeating these views in a 2019 documentary, Watson lost several honorary scientific titles from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

A posthumous scandal

The release of these photos shortly after Watson's 2025 passing has reignited the debate about the ethics of scientific figures. The files indicate that Epstein systematically built relationships with the worlds brightest minds to lend a "veneer of respectability" to his criminal operations and to fuel his strange obsession with human engineering.

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New Delhi: India and Russia are preparing for a new trade deal. Commerce between the two countries will no longer depend only on oil. Both sides are now discussing a bigger business agreement. The first official update in this regard came from Moscow where Russias Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk revealed a proposed preferential trade deal between India and the Eurasian Economic Union.

This pact is expected to create new business opportunities for Indian MSMEs and give them better access to markets across the Eurasian region.

The development comes at a time when Indias trade outreach is growing across regions. Engagements with Western economies have gathered pace in recent months, with several talks moving into advanced stages.

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In the same window, pressure returned from Washington over Indias continued energy imports from Russia. New Delhi held its ground and reiterated that all external partnerships would be guided by national interest. The talks with Russia on the proposed deal shows that India is still sticking to this stand in its trade and strategic decisions.

Speaking at a business gathering in Moscow, the Russian deputy prime minister indicated that the first round of negotiations on the preferential trade agreement had concluded on firm ground. Expressing confidence about the progress, he said that both sides are ready to finalise the deal within a practical time frame.

The proposed deal goes beyond a simple agreement between two countries. Russian companies would get access to Indias large consumer market. At the same time, Indian exporters would gain a broader entry into the Eurasian region.

Together, the total market connected to this deal would reach nearly 2.2 billion people. A market of this size is important at a time when tariffs are rising, supply chains are expanding and global trade power is changing.

Negotiations are taking place to set-up a free trade zone structure involving the Eurasian Economic Union, whose members include Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The first round of talks with this group has already been completed. It has laid the foundation for more detailed discussions on tariffs and market access.

Trade expansion targets are ambitious. The leadership in New Delhi and Moscow has set a goal of pushing bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. The growth is already visible. Trade between the two countries reached $68.7 billion in 2024-25. Most of it came from energy trade, with other sectors also beginning to contribute.

Both countries are planning future cooperation in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, industrial machinery, chemicals and technology. Energy and defence will continue to be important, with growing focus on expanding trade into more sectors and higher-value exports.

Financial arrangements between the two countries are also changing. Both sides are working to expand trade settlements in their national currencies. Greater policy focus is being placed on rupee-ruble payment channels in response to Western sanctions and banking restrictions.

At the same time, alternative logistics networks are being strengthened through the International North-South Transport Corridor, a route aimed at cutting transit time and lowering freight costs between South Asia and the Eurasian region.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to travel to Israel soon. The visit may take place after the AI summit, which is being held in New Delhi from February 16 to 20. This will be his first Israel trip of the third term. The journey comes after a gap of nine years. The timing of the vist, according to experts, is important. Engagement in defence, technology and innovation is expected to move forward during the tour.

The prime minister last travelled to Israel in July 2017. He became the first Indian prime minister to make a standalone visit to the country. The trip marked 25 years of diplomatic relations. Discussions between the two nations took place on defence cooperation, cyber security, agriculture, innovation and counter-terror coordination. The visit created a visible political connect between the two governments.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent extensive time with Modi during the programme. The optics showed warmth in ties. Israel has been an important defence partner for India. Cooperation between New Delhi and Tel Aviv spans missile systems, drones, surveillance platforms and cyber capabilities.

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Officials expect talks on joint manufacturing and technology sharing. Local production initiatives may also receive attention.

The upcoming visit has diplomatic weight. Policymakers view it as part of Indias long-term strategic planning. Security cooperation, advanced technology, energy linkages and innovation partnerships may influence the agenda. Negotiations around drones and high-tech defence systems are likely. Signals from Israeli leadership indicate readiness to deepen bilateral engagement.

Regional conditions add context to the trip. The Middle East is tense. Conflict continues around Gaza. Gulf states pursue their own strategic priorities. India maintains active diplomacy across the region. The outreach shows strategic autonomy. New Delhi continues to build ties with multiple partners while keeping national interest at the centre of foreign policy planning.
The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, announced a massive trade deal with Japan, marking one of the most significant economic agreements of his presidency.

The deal promises to reshape U.S-Japan relations and bolster America's industrial might.

Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also made the announcement on X, praising the pact as a "strategic partnership" that aligns Japan's strengths with America's economic resurgence. The pledge was made in exchange for reducing threatened US tariffs of 25 percent to 15 percent on Japanese imports.

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US-Japan Trade Deal: Core of the Agreement

At the core of this historic U.S-Japan trade pact, President Trump announced Japan's binding pledge to invest $550 billion directly into the United States.

These substantial funds are strategically directed toward revitalising America's industrial base, which has faced decades of decline due to offshoring and foreign competition, according to President Trump.

The investments are designed to generate hundreds of thousands of high-quality, well-paying jobs in manufacturing, energy, and technology sectors, breathing new life into Rust Belt states and beyond.

Simultaneously, the agreement bolsters U.S national security by targeting vulnerabilities in critical areas like energy production and rare earth minerals, reducing dependence on adversarial nations such as China.

According to the announcements made by both leaders, early projects include a massive LNG facility in Texas for energy exports, the world's largest gas power plant in Ohio, and a minerals processing plant in Georgia, all enabled by Trump's tariff policies to ensure their unprecedented scale.

This dual focus on economic revival and strategic independence positions the deal as a cornerstone of the US Presidents "America First" agenda.

Countering Chinas Critical Mineral Monopoly

While the US-Japan trade deal fits into a broader pattern of U.S. bilateral trade pacts. President Trump has again targeted Chinas Critical Mineral monopoly.

In the US-Japan trade deal, Trump counterbalances China's dominance in global trade, particularly as Beijing weaponizes export controls on rare earths and critical minerals amid escalating Indo-Pacific tensions.

By ramping up its own production of critical minerals and semiconductors, the United States seeks to break free from dependence on China, a point emphasized by Howard Lutnick.

Amid escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait, including U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and Japan's firm support for the island, Washington views strategic trade and business deals as a vital lever to constrain Beijing's influence.
























The United States could be edging closer to a major military confrontation with Iran, with a sustained campaign potentially beginning soon, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Report flags possible week-long military campaign

According to the report, any US strike would likely resemble a prolonged, weeks-long military campaign rather than a short, targeted operation like the one conducted in Venezuela last month. Sources told Axios that Washington could pursue a joint US-Israeli operation, possibly broader in scope than the 12-day war last June.

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Nuclear talks amid rising tensions

The report comes amid heightened tensions following the second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, which concluded in Geneva on Tuesday. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law to President Donald Trump, met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for high-stakes negotiations. While both sides described the discussions as constructive, several sources told The Jerusalem Post that significant gaps remain.

A US official said progress had been made but acknowledged that key differences persist.

"Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss. The Iranians said they would come back in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address some of the open gaps in our positions," the official said.

Iran is expected to return within two weeks with more detailed proposals aimed at narrowing those differences.

US military build-up in the region

Even as diplomatic efforts continue, Washington has increased pressure on Tehran while steadily expanding its military footprint in the region. The buildup reportedly includes the deployment of two carrier strike groups to the Middle East, with the USS Abraham Lincoln already on station and the USS Gerald R. Ford en route. They are supported by more than a dozen warships operating in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.

In addition, over 50 fighter jets, including F-22s, F-35s, and F-16s, have recently arrived, reinforcing the hundreds of aircraft already positioned at sea and at regional bases. Air defense assets such as THAAD and Patriot missile systems have also been deployed to strengthen protective capabilities.

Since late January, flight-tracking data indicates that more than 250 U.S. cargo flights have transported weapons, equipment, and supplies into the region, underscoring the scale of the ongoing military buildup.

War of words between Trump and Khamenei

Ahead of the Geneva talks, both sides engaged in strong rhetoric. President Donald Trump warned of the "consequences of not making a deal" and urged Iran to be "reasonable" in the next round of negotiations, referencing the June 2025 B-2 bomber attack as a reminder of US military capability.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded with a sharp warning of his own, challenging Trumps repeated claims of American military supremacy.

"The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again," Khamenei said in a series of posts on X.

Referring to the increased US naval presence, Khamenei added:

"The Americans constantly say that they've sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea," he noted.

Background: The 2015 nuclear deal collapse

The current tensions are rooted in the collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and world powers, including the United States. Under the deal, Tehran capped uranium enrichment at 3.67 per cent and reduced its stockpile to 300 kilograms. The agreement unravelled in 2018 after Trump withdrew the US unilaterally, setting the stage for years of escalating friction between Washington and Tehran.
New Delhi: Frances outreach to India has picked up pace during President Emmanuel Macrons three-day visit that began on February 17. He is in India to attend the AI Impact Summit that began on February 16 in New Delhi. Strategic talks during the visit are also moving forward on a major defence deal under which India plans to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets for the armed forces. The aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2030.

New Delhi is preparing to allocate nearly Rs 3.25 lakh crore for the acquisition. By overall value, the agreement is set to become the largest defence purchase in the countrys history. The size of the deal has been compared with Indonesias earlier Rafale purchase. In 2022, Jakarta bought 42 jets from French company Dassault Aviation under the government led by Prabowo Subianto.

Indonesias Rafale deal cost $8.1 billion (around Rs 68,000 crore). Each jet worked out to about Rs 1,747 crore. In Indias deal, each aircraft will cost roughly Rs 2,850 crore. The difference in price has led to questions about why India is paying more for the same jets.

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The higher cost of Indias Rafales is explained by what the deal includes. Each aircraft comes with advanced weapons like Meteor and Scalp missiles along with Hammer precision-guided munitions. The acquisition also includes full-mission simulators for training, long-term maintenance, spare parts and technology transfer. The deal covers the aircrafts full lifecycle, which makes the overall package more valuable over time.

Manufacturing plans form a central pillar of the arrangement. India had earlier inducted 36 Rafale fighters under the 2016 agreement. A naval variant order followed, adding aircraft for deployment aboard INS Vikrant. The Indian Air Force (IAF) presently operates 36 Rafales, while the Navy fields 26 for carrier operations. Under the new proposal, 96 jets are slated for production in Nagpur at the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited facility. The remaining 18 aircraft will be built in France. All Rafales presently in Indian service were manufactured in France. With the new acquisitions, Indias fleet strength is projected to rise to 176 aircraft between 2030 and 2035.

The need to expand its forces is why India is buying more Rafales. At present, the IAF operates 29 fighter squadrons, but its assessed requirement stands at 42 squadrons. Each squadron has 16-18 fighter jets. The new Rafales will help close this gap and strengthen readiness across different regions.
New York, US (PANA) - Libyas prolonged political stalemate, worsening economic conditions and an emerging split within the judiciary pose mounting risks to the countrys unity, the UNs top envoy for the country, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, told the Security Council on Wednesday
NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 18: Mpower, an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, today announced the second edition of the Mpowering Minds - Women's Mental Health Summit, a national full-day forum to be held in Bengaluru on 27 February 2026. The event will be led by Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust and Mpower, and graced by Chief Guests Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Minister of Women and Child Development, and Disabled and Senior Citizens Empowerment, Government of Karnataka, Prathima Murthy, Director and a Senior Professor of Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) and Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and a Co-founder and Director of EkStep --each of whom has championed women-centric progress in health, policy, and community empowerment. Anchored in the pillars of Acceptance, Action and Advocacy, the 2026 edition places women's wellness at the heart of the country's journey toward a Viksit Bharat, recognising that sustainable national progress is possible only when women's mental and social well-being is secured. Speaking ahead of the summit, Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson Aditya Birla Education Trust and Mpower, said, "As India accelerates its growth trajectory, safeguarding women's mental health must be integral to our national priorities. This summit is designed to translate awareness into measurable action by building stronger support ecosystems, influencing policy conversations and encouraging institutional accountability for women's psychological well-being. The 2026 edition reinforces our belief that investing in women's emotional health is an investment in the country's long-term social and economic resilience." This year's summit will bring together globally respected clinicians, mental-health practitioners, policy advocates, researchers, and lived-experience speakers to examine women's mental-health needs across life stages. The agenda includes conversations on intergenerational trauma featuring leading international experts Eamon McCrory, CEO, Anna Freud and Professor of Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology, UCL, and Peter Fonagy, CBE Professor of Contemporary Psychoanalysis and Developmental Science at UCL. Their participation will provide a research-driven foundation for understanding how early experiences shape lifelong mental health. A powerful conversation on resilience and overcoming adversity will feature trans rights activist Dr. Akkai Padmashali and Olympian Anju Bobby George, offering deeply personal perspectives on identity, stigma, and perseverance. Maternal mental health, reproductive well-being, and life-stage transitions will be discussed by experts such as Dr. Janhavi Nilekani, Founder of the Aastrika Foundation; Dr. Duru Shah, renowned gynaecologist and reproductive health specialist; Dr. Padmaja Samant, Head of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at KEM Hospital; and Dr. Meghna Singhal, founder of Raising Family Academy. These discussions will highlight the critical need for early intervention, perinatal support, and long-term mental-health care for mothers. Workplace well-being, leadership pressures, and burnout will be addressed by Masaba Gupta, Founder of House of Masaba; Sunita Wazir, Head of Transformation - Global Health & Wellbeing at Hindustan Unilever. Their discussion will explore the unique emotional load carried by women professionals and the systemic reforms needed to create supportive, psychologically safe workplaces. Policymakers and public-health experts such as Sarah Fathima (IPS) DCP Southeast Division Bengaluru City and Jasmine Kalha (Co-Director and Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy,) will address the broader need for gender-responsive mental-health systems that reach women across socioeconomic and geographic contexts. The summit will conclude with a future-facing dialogue led by Ira Khan Founder and CEO of Agatsu and Dr. Zirak Marker Child, Adolescent & Family Psychiatrist; Chief Medical Advisor- Mpower; Sr. Psychiatrist & Advisor on adolescent and youth mental health--an urgent priority as young women navigate complex emotional, academic, and digital landscapes. Mpower's mission is to create an inclusive platform that fosters mental well-being and empowers changemakers to redefine mental health in society. This vision was exemplified at its flagship Mpowering Minds Summit 2025, held in Mumbai and focused on youth mental health, which convened global and national leaders from institutions such as Harvard Medical School, NIMHANS, the World Economic Forum, and Mental Health First Aid International, among others, to advance dialogue on systemic reform and scalable solutions. The Mpowering Minds Women's Mental Health Summit 2026 will further accelerate national momentum toward advancing women's mental health as a national priority. About Mpower Mpower, an initiative of Aditya Birla Education Trust is a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to transforming India approach to mental health. Founded 10 years ago, Mpower has emerged as a leading force in spreading awareness, reducing stigma, and delivering holistic mental health care. With a robust team of over 200 trained professionals, Mpower impacts more than 121 million lives across seven cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Delhi, Kota and Pune. Operating through five key verticals--Movement, Clinical Care, Outreach, Academia, and Mpower 1 on 1--Mpower offers a comprehensive range of services. The Movement focuses on changing cultural perceptions and alleviating stigma. Clinical Care provides world-class mental health services through the Centre, the Foundation, and the Cell, catering to various needs from holistic care to affordable support for the underprivileged. The Outreach vertical drives awareness and capacity-building through IGNITE Programs for schools, colleges, NGOs, and corporates. Academia equips individuals and professionals with skills to handle mental health crises and foster empathy. The Helpline offers 24/7 multilingual support, while special projects like Samvedana enhance mental health care in primary health centers. Mpower's integrated approach and collaboration with government agencies underscore its commitment to creating a supportive and stigma-free mental health landscape. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
Sarvam AI, one of the 12 indigenous companies developing AI models to address India-specific use cases, has come up with a series of AI products, solutions that listens, understands, responds, and captures what the users want to do in their day to day life. Some of the AI solutions showcased today at the Summit was Saaras (a speech to text platform), Bulbul (a text to speech platform), Sarvam Dub, Sarvam Vision, Sarvam 30B, Sarvam 105B, Samvaad (a conversational AI agents platform), Arya: Sarvam for Work; Sarvam for Content; Sarvam Edge, among others. Sarvam AI team gave a demo for each and every solutions before a large number of in person audience, besides the online broadcast, explaining nitty gritty of their products. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while officially inaugurating India AI Impact Expo 2026 on Monday evening wore the Sarvam Kaze wearable device during the walkthrough at the expo. The gadget? 'Sarvam Kaze' -an indigenous AI-powered wearable that doesn't just sit on your face; it listens, understands, and literally sees the world through your eyes. Sarvam AI has developed large language and speech models for Indian languages to support voice interfaces, document processing, and citizen services. According to Sarvam AI, these solutions are an inflection point that will help humankind. Sarvam AI has also unveiled over 10 AI platforms or solutions over the past two weeks or so. India's AI strategy is based on the Prime Minister's vision to democratize the use of technology. It aims to address India centric challenges, create economic and employment opportunities for all Indians. In March 2024, Government of India launched IndiaAI mission with outlay of Rs 10,372 Cr for development of the overall AI ecosystem in the country. In less than 24 months, India AI Mission has set up a foundation for development of AI ecosystem in the country: More than 38 thousand GPUs for common compute facility have been onboarded, which are being provided to Indian start-ups and academia at an affordable rate. Twelve teams have been shortlisted for development of indigenous foundational models or Large Language Models. These include Sarvam AI, Soket AI, Gnani AI, Gan AI, Avatar AI, IIT Bombay Consortium (BharatGen), GenLoop, Zentieq, Intellihealth, Shodh AI, Fractal Analytics Ltd. and Tech Mahindra Maker's Lab, have been selected for developing Large and Small Language Models based on Indian datasets. Thirty applications have been approved for developing India specific AI applications. More than 8000 undergraduate students, 5000 post graduate students and 500 PhD students are being supported for talent development; and 27 India Data and AI labs have been established and 543 more have been identified. (ANI)
PNN New Delhi [India], February 18: The Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (DICCI), hosted the International Conclave titled AI for Inclusion & the Future of Work 2026: Bridging Divides, Building Futures at The Park Hotel, New Delhi. The conclave brought together senior policymakers, global representatives, industry leaders and academic institutions to deliberate on how artificial intelligence can be shaped as a force for equitable growth and livelihood security. The event served as a strategic lead-in to the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Chief Guest Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India inaugurated the DICCI' International Conclave on AI for Inclusion and the Future of Work, and emphasized that productivity gains from AI must be complemented by investments in skilling, institutional preparedness and equitable access to digital infrastructure to ensure sustained and broad-based growth. From a global governance perspective, Ms. Anne Bouverot, Special Envoy for Artificial Intelligence to the President of France stressed that trust, transparency and human-centric design are essential to building AI systems that serve society at scale. She noted the importance of international cooperation in ensuring that AI standards reflect democratic values and inclusive development priorities. Addressing the conclave, Dr. Milind Kamble, Founder Chairman, DICCI, said, "Our focus must be clear i.e., education that delivers excellence, entrepreneurship that creates empowerment, and technology that drives transformation. A child in a tribal village or remote hill area must have access to the same quality of education taught at Harvard or Oxford. We must shift the narrative from victimhood to leadership, so that communities once excluded become architects of India's growth. With 73 percent of our economy in the informal sector, AI must accelerate formalisation and expand opportunity. By 2047, development must be measured not only by GDP, but by dignity, participation and shared prosperity." Mr. Avinash Punekar, CEO, iCreate said "AI carries both immense promise and serious risk. Women remain underrepresented in AI leadership, and if its trajectory is left concentrated in a few hands, the socio-economic consequences can be significant. Just as financial systems required regulation after the 2008 crisis, AI now requires formalisation, accountability and clear governance to ensure its benefits are inclusive and its risks are contained." Prof. B. S. Sahay, Founder Director, IIM Jammu, emphasised that inclusion becomes meaningful only when it leads to measurable enterprise creation and income stability. Drawing from DICCI's experience in economic empowerment initiatives, he noted that structured policy intervention, when aligned with institutional support, can transform vulnerable communities into organised entrepreneurs. The conclave was structured around four institutional pillars: Global, Thinktank & Policy Advisory, Industry and Academia ensuring balanced representation across decision-making ecosystems. The Global pillar featured, and Ms. Maya Sherman, Innovation Attache, Embassy of Israel in India. The Thinktank and Policy pillar included Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India, and Mr. V. Satish, Social Inclusion Policy Advisor to the Government of India. Industry leaders included Mr. Avinash Punekar, CEO, ICreate; Mr. Ashish Chauhan, MD and CEO, National Stock Exchange of India; Ms Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Government of India, Dr. Chris Merz, Mastercard; Mr. Angshuman Bhattacharya, Adani AI Labs; Mr. Hitesh Sachdeva, ICICI Bank; Mr. Nipun Mehrotra, The Agri Collaboratory; Mr. Rishi Bal, BharatGen; and Mr. Anjul Katare, Central Business Solutions. The Academia pillar was represented by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Founder Director, IIM Jammu; Dr. Vinita Sahay, Director, IIM Bodh Gaya; Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII; Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, Director, NIT Srinagar; and Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean, IIM Jammu. Across four thematic pillars, discussions moved from principle to implementation. The first session examined AI inequality and global development. Participants highlighted the concentration of compute capacity and capital, and stressed the need for expanded access to infrastructure, inclusive datasets and targeted skills development to prevent the emergence of a widening AI divide. The second session focused on governing AI for livelihoods and small businesses. Deliberations centered on enabling formalisation for MSMEs, enhancing access to credit and markets, and deploying AI tools in agriculture and local enterprise ecosystems. The discussion reinforced that informal workers and first-generation entrepreneurs must be equipped to transition into higher productivity roles. The third session addressed governance and oversight. Speakers examined standards for transparency, auditability and accountability in AI systems, with particular attention to bias mitigation and representational diversity in data. The importance of public disclosure norms in government-deployed AI systems was highlighted as critical to sustaining public trust. The fourth session explored infrastructure, data and digital public goods. Industry and institutional leaders emphasized the expansion of compute infrastructure, multilingual AI systems and interoperable digital platforms to ensure equitable deployment across rural and urban geographies. The conclave's deliberations were anchored around seven development priorities i.e., Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, Speedy Justice, Financial Literacy, Unorganised Workers and Entrepreneurship. Participants outlined how AI-driven solutions can improve learning outcomes, expand preventive healthcare access, enhance agricultural productivity, enable faster dispute resolution, strengthen financial inclusion and support the formalisation of unorganised workers. A key outcome of the conclave was the unveiling of the Delhi Declaration on AI for Inclusion and the Future of Work. The one-page document outlines shared principles on equity by design, worker transition pathways, inclusive digital infrastructure and responsible governance standards. The Declaration will be presented at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The conclave concluded with a synthesis session consolidating insights and policy recommendations aimed at building future-ready, inclusive work ecosystems. Through this initiative, DICCI built upon its emphasis to ensure that India's AI trajectory remains anchored in constitutional values of equity, economic justice and inclusive development. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
Kenya has extended an official invitation to India to begin mining its vast reservoirs of rare earth minerals, such as lithium, as both nations look to secure the critical supply chains necessary for the future of semiconductor manufacturing. Mary Kerema, Secretary-ICT, Government of Kenya, while attending the Carnegie India AI Impact Summit highlighted that Kenya is ready to move beyond exploration and into active partnerships. While speaking on the potential for bilateral deals, she noted that the African nation is looking for Indian expertise to tap into its natural resources. "We are inviting India to cone to India do mining for rare earth minerals. We see some deals with India for our rare earth in this year. We have vast reservoirs of rare earth in Kenya like lithium. Also, we seek cooperation from India in manufacturing of semiconductors and aim to have deals with it in this regard to in near future," Kerema said At Carnegie India AI Impact Summit, Rudra Choudhary, Vice President of the Observer Research Foundation, explained that the search for these minerals is part of a larger, necessary shift towards diversification within the Global South. He pointed out that while many countries possess these essential materials, the technical capacity to extract them remains concentrated in very few places. "I think one of the things that this entire workshop has taught us is that there''s a lot that has to be explored within the global south itself. I think critical minerals is key. Now lot of the critical minerals might be available in places, but there''s only one geography in the world that''s extracting most of it that has the tech to extract it. We have to find ways to diversify it," Choudhary remarked. Choudhary further elaborated on the need for formal agreements between developing nations to ensure they are not left behind in the global technology race. He emphasised that establishing these connections is vital for creating a reliable supply of the raw materials needed for high-tech industries. "In the Global South, we have to kind of work with countries to make sure that we''re creating those bilateral pathways by which we can make the compact between extraction and identification of those minerals," he added. The push for mineral extraction is also closely tied to India''s long-term goals for its domestic semiconductor industry. Choudhary described the effort to build a local chip-making ecosystem as a multi-decade commitment that requires persistent investment and patience. "Semiconductor mission is actually quite critical to India. It''s not like we''re just going to have abundance of chips made in India tomorrow, but this is a long game. It''s important for resilience, and we need it for the next 10, 20, 30 years. We have to stop constantly buying chips and at some level start producing chips in this country. And that''s an entire vendor market ecosystem. There''s an entire supply chain around it that will grow over time," he explained. Addressing the broader geopolitical context, Mariano Florentino Cuellar, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that India is positioning itself as a leader that provides an alternative to the dominant tech ecosystems of the US and China. He observed that India''s focus on its own infrastructure and unique application layers, such as voice-activated technology, reflects a desire for independence in the global tech landscape. "But can countries around the world, including many emerging powers, really feel completely satisfied just having two powerful countries shape the entire ecosystem of technology? I think the answer is that would be very hard to imagine. So I think India is likely to be at the forefront of investing in talent, in its own data, compute infrastructure and ideally in building up a set of application layers that will go on top of the models and really make them very useful for consumers," Cuellar stated. (ANI)
ITC Limited plans to extend its artificial intelligence innovations to a larger network of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), organic farmers, and rural communities. This initiative is part of the company's strategy to reach 10 million farmers through its ITCMAARS (Metamarket for Advanced Agriculture and Rural Services) "phygital" ecosystem, which combines digital tools with on-ground human support. The company is deploying generative AI and agentic AI capabilities to transform its digital platform into a connected agri-stack. These tools are designed to improve the efficiency of FPO operations and provide specific advisory services for organic farming. ITC states that its AI strategy focuses on creating an inclusive ecosystem that enhances efficiency at every stage of farming, from crop planning to market discovery. S Ganesh Kumar, Divisional Chief Executive, Agri Business, ITC Ltd, said, "Today, ITC's Next Generation Agriculture initiative is powered by the ITCMAARS, a full range crop-agnostic 'phygital' model that aims to democratize the access of latest technologies for small farmers, helping them win over critical challenges of climate change, crop management and market access." ITC is also using AI to facilitate real-time knowledge exchange among rural communities. An AI-driven digital assistant and agentic workflows will be used to resolve a large percentage of community questions. This technology acts as a complement to human expert advice. Kumar stated, "Our AI strategy in agriculture focuses on orchestrating a multi-stakeholder inclusive ecosystem that aims to enhance efficiency at every node of farming operation from crop planning, climate-smart advisories, production, input linkages, procurement and market discovery." The ITCMAARS platform already includes several AI-enabled features like Krishi Mitra, Crop Calendar, and Crop Doctor. Krishi Mitra is an AI co-pilot available in eight languages that answers farmer queries on weather, prices, and government schemes. The Crop Calendar helps farmers plan cycles for 53 crop varieties, while the Crop Doctor uses image analytics to diagnose plant diseases. These integrated initiatives have reportedly led to a 10-15 per cent reduction in fertiliser usage and a 15-20 per cent improvement in crop yields. ITC's efforts align with the Indian government's "Bharat VISTAAR" proposal, which seeks to provide farmers with real-time advisories in native languages. The company's model also uses machine learning for crop sourcing and climate modelling to understand yield impacts from climate change. Kumar noted, "We are continuously innovating and forging new partnerships to progressively enhance the scope of AI applications for diverse agri stakeholders and specific farming needs." (ANI)
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has positioned telecommunications as the indispensable backbone of the nation's technological evolution, declaring that "Telecom will power India's AI future" during the India AI Impact Summit 2026. In a strategic collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), the COAI hosted high-level sessions focused on the synergy between next-generation networks and artificial intelligence. The summit underscored a pivotal shift: AI is no longer just a software play, but a physical infrastructure challenge that relies heavily on the robustness of India's digital highways. The summit featured two flagship sessions, "Generative AI and Future Networks" and "AI-Powered Bharat through Universal Digital Connectivity." These discussions brought together a powerhouse of policymakers and industry titans to map out how 5G-Advanced and emerging 6G frameworks will handle the massive data demands of GenAI. The sessions highlighted several crucial insights for India's AI journey. Participants reached a consensus that AI scaling, whether in governance or private industry, is impossible without low-latency, high-bandwidth telecom networks. Experts also emphasised that the next decade will be defined by the seamless integration of Compute, Connectivity, and Data. Finally, the discussions highlighted the importance of universal access, stressing that digital connectivity must be ubiquitous to achieve an "AI-Powered Bharat," ensuring that AI-driven tools in healthcare and agriculture reach the last mile. The collaboration between the DoT, STPI, and COAI signals a unified front in India's bid to become a global AI hub. By integrating AI capabilities directly into the network fabric, telecom operators are moving beyond being mere "pipe providers" to becoming active enablers of intelligence. As per the statement by COAI, "The convergence of compute and connectivity is the new electricity for the digital age. Our networks are the nervous system that will carry the intelligence of AI to every corner of the country." As India moves toward a more automated and data-driven economy, the summit served as a call to action for stakeholders to invest in "future-ready" infrastructure. The roadmap involves not just faster internet, but "intelligent" networks capable of real-time processing at the edge. (ANI)
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary S Krishnan has said that they want genuine and actual work to be reflected in the way that people exhibit in expos such as AI Summit 2026 and a code should be followed. Talking to the media here, he said misinformation cannot be encouraged. Answering a query on Galgotias University vacating the stall at the AI Impact Expo 2026, Krishnan said he is not getting into whether they are right or wrong and "just don't want the controversy". "We want genuine and actual work to be reflected in the way that people exhibit in expos. The idea is not to sort of use this as an opportunity in any other fashion. We don't want the controversy surrounding the exhibits presented here. So I think it's essential that a code is followed there. Misinformation cannot be encouraged. So we don't want the controversy around this. I'm not getting into whether they are right or wrong. We just don't want the controversy," he said. The Galgotias University staff and officials on Wednesday vacated their stall at the India AI Impact Summit expo, following controversy over the display of a "Chinese" robodog. According to sources, the authorities had asked Galgotias University to vacate its expo stall. Galgotias University Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur on Wednesday issued a press release on behalf of the University and apologized for the confusion created at the Al Summit. "We at Galgotias University, wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent Al Summit. One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed. She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press," the release said. "We request your kind understanding as there was no institutional intent to misrepresent this innovation. Galgotias University remains firmly committed to academic integrity, transparency, and responsible representation of our work. Understanding the organisers sentiment we have vacated the premises," it added. Gaur earlier issued a clarification amid growing controversy over the display of a "Chinese" RoboDog at the AI Impact Summit. Speaking to ANI, Gaur explained that the confusion stemmed from the use of the words "develop" and "development." He clarified that the university did not develop the robot but had worked on its development for academic and research purposes. "This is a jumble of two words, develop, and development. We didn't develop it. We worked on its development... We want to bring them, just like that robot was brought, and an effort was made to get students to do research on it," Gaur said. Addressing a viral video in which Professor Neha Singh introduced the RoboDog as "Orion" during the AI expo, Gaur suggested there may have been a misunderstanding in the wording. "I can say that perhaps she (Professor Neha) might have been confused by the words "develop" and "development" in the flow. But the truth is that we bought this robot for children's research... If China is making the claim, then maybe it (robodog) could be bought from China... I haven't received any such official communication yet (on vacating the expo)," Gaur said. (ANI)
The carousel post featured a series of intimate and significant moments from their relationship, offering fans a glimpse into their personal milestones. Accompanying the photos was a heartfelt caption that read, "Happy Anniversary my A1 from Day 1," along with a heart emoji.

The images included memories from their wedding festivities, with the couple dressed in traditional attire during their ceremony in Himachal Pradesh.

Among the highlights was a heartwarming family portrait featuring their son, Vardaan. The couple welcomed their first child on February 7, 2024, adding a new chapter to their journey together.

Another notable image in the carousel showed Massey celebrating a significant professional milestone- his recent National Award win, with Thakur by his side.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DU4cUPMCBJd/?img_index=1

Massey and Thakur had been together for several years, officially registered their marriage on February 14, 2022, before hosting a traditional wedding ceremony on February 18, of the same year.

On the work front, in late 2024, the actor announced a temporary break from acting.

Following his sabbatical, Massey returned to the screen with 'O'Romeo', a romantic thriller directed by Vishal Bhardwaj that released on February 13, 2026. He is also set to make his OTT comeback with the series 'Musafir Cafe', co-starring Vedika Pinto and Mahima Makwana, while stepping into the role of producer for the first time. (ANI)
Grief has enveloped the Malhotra family as actor Sidharth Malhotra mourns the loss of his father, Sunil Malhotra. The family's loss has drawn heartfelt tributes, including an emotional note from his wife, Kiara Advani. Following the demise of Sunil Malhotra, a former Merchant Navy captain, Sidharth shared a moving message remembering his father as a man defined by values and quiet resilience. In his note, the actor described him as "a man of rare honesty, integrity and culture," adding that he lived by "values that never bent. Discipline without harshness. Strength without ego. Positivity, even when life tested him beyond measure." The tribute reflected the deep bond the two shared. Over the years, Sidharth has often spoken publicly about his admiration for his father, crediting him as a constant source of inspiration and guidance in both life and career. Actor Kiara also penned a heartfelt message remembering her father-in-law with love and gratitude. "From the very beginning- you welcomed me with open arms, steady wisdom, and a kind of unconditional love that grounded us all," she captioned the post. Remembering his warmth and generosity, Kiara added that his love for his family was "at the center of everything" he did. She wrote about his quiet strength, gentle heart, and the legacy of "gentleness, integrity, and deep, unwavering love" he leaves behind. https://www.instagram.com/p/DU4wM2OEjGC/?img_index=1 Friends and colleagues from the film industry also sent condolences to the family. Priyanka Chopra wrote, "So sorry Sid. My condolences" Soni Razdan wrote, "This is so sad - so sorry for your loss. Losing a father is really hard. Take care of your mom and yourself." Alia Bhatt also left a heart emoticon in the comments section. The loss comes during a significant personal year for the couple, who welcomed their daughter, Saraayah Malhotra, in July 2025. (ANI)
Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans during Mardi Gras celebrations after an alleged physical altercation outside a bar in the city's French Quarter, according to court records and video obtained by TMZ. The incident occurred just after midnight on Tuesday. Footage from the scene by TMZ shows the aftermath of a fight outside a local saloon, where LaBeouf is seen shirtless with his back tattoo visible as he faces a group of people. In portions of the video, he appears to be restrained and struck before police arrived. An eyewitness told TMZ that LaBeouf had been escorted out of the bar by staff for unspecified reasons before becoming involved in a brawl. The witness said that after walking down the block, the actor returned to the front of the bar, where paramedics were called to the scene. Video from the aftermath by TMZ, shows emergency responders providing medical attention to LaBeouf. He did not appear to have sustained serious injuries and was seen speaking animatedly with Emergency Medical Service workers. Additional footage captured him being placed inside a parked ambulance with its lights flashing. As per TMZ LaBeouf was arrested and is facing two charges of simple battery. The arrest comes amid Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans. Earlier on Monday, LaBeouf was seen dancing and celebrating in the French Quarter during post-Lundi Gras events. LaBeouf has previously spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction and mental health. Following a 2017 arrest in Savannah, Georgia, for public intoxication and disorderly conduct, he entered court-mandated rehabilitation. In past interviews, he has linked his substance abuse to untreated trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from childhood experiences. He has since sought long-term sobriety support through therapy and structured recovery programmes. (ANI)
Child victims of sexual abuse in the UK have increased by 50% over the past five years, as police now arrest around 1,000 suspected paedophiles every month to keep pace with the surge in onlinedriven offending.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has reported that child sexual exploitation in the UK is rising sharply, with the number of children rescued from dangerous situations increasing by about 50% in the last five years. Authorities say this rise is partly because more children are being identified and protected, but it also reflects a genuine increase in the number of children being harmed.

In the same period, police have seen a steady climb in the number of offences recorded against children, including both contact abuse and online exploitation. Recent national analysis shows that around 107,000 child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) offences were reported in England and Wales in one recent year alone, up much faster than overall population growth and far higher than a decade ago.

Role of Technology and Online Forums

The NCA says much of the increase is driven by technology and online spaces where offenders share and normalise abuserelated material, according to The Guardian. Algorithms on major social media platforms can lead users with harmful interests to more extreme content, and online forums often tell people with sexual interests in children that their behaviour "is normal" or not a crime, which can encourage further abuse.

Law enforcement agencies also note that the amount of childsexualabuse material being referred to UK authorities has roughly doubled over the past few years, which in turn leads to more investigations and arrests. Many offenders now interact with children via games, messaging apps, and socialmedia profiles, making it harder for parents and schools to spot the danger.

How Police Are Responding

To match the growing threat, UK police are now arresting about 1,000 suspected paedophiles every month, up from around 500800 per month just a few years ago. In one example week in January, the NCA and local forces made 252 arrests, charged 118 suspects, secured 35 convictions, and safeguarded 407 children.

A separate estimate from national vulnerabilitycoordinating bodies suggests that over 33,000 childabuse leads were reported in one year, with about 15% linked to offenders who work or live in positions of trust with children, INKL reported. Police say they are "racing" to identify and stop the most dangerous offenders, especially those who use grooming and manipulation to target children over long periods.

Impact on Children and Support Systems

With the number of children affected by sexual abuse rising, childprotection services and charities are under growing pressure.

Recent educationstatistics releases show that around 6% of children assessed as "in need" in England were identified as having experienced some form of child sexual abuse, while a smaller share were assessed as affected specifically by child sexual exploitation.

Experts warn that many cases still go unreported, meaning the true scale of abuse may be far higher than current figures suggest. As a result, the government and policing leaders are calling for more funding for victim support, better online safety laws, and stronger cooperation between tech companies, schools, and social care agencies to protect children earlier, as per NPCC.
One year after announcing her engagement to Tom Holland, Zendaya has shared candid insights into what she considers relationship red flags, and the simple test she believes reveals a person's true character. Reflecting on her own relationship, the 'Euphoria' actress said she did not have to look far to realise Holland was right for her, as per E! News. "One that works for us at work is how people treat their crews," Zendaya explained, adding, "I admire people who are kind to everyone, not just the actors, directors, or producers. A very telling thing is how a crew feels about a particular actor, because they get to see how people are when the cameras are not rolling," quoted E! News. For the actress, behaviour off-camera offers a revealing glimpse into someone's character, especially in an industry where public personas can often differ from private conduct. She also described what's her personal litmus test: how someone treats animals. "I would get into a fight over my dog, for sure," Zendaya said, adding, "Dogs are a good judge of character." Zendaya also added that relationships are rarely black and white. "People are layered and complex and they make mistakes," she noted, pointing out that cultural differences and personal growth can shape behaviour over time. "There are cultural differences. But there are also things that are just kind of, 'Well, that's rude. That's mean.' And there's also the opposite," she said, as quoted by E! News. Zendaya and Holland, who made their relationship public in 2021 after co-starring in the 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' franchise, have largely kept their romance private. Still, she has occasionally shared what drew her to him. In an earlier interview, Zendaya praised Holland's natural charisma. "I'm more shy and kind of quiet, so it takes a little bit more to pull me out of my shell," she said, adding, "But he's great at just talking to people and getting to know people," quoted E! News. (ANI)
From the iconic romances of the 1990s marked by films such as 'Aashiqui', 'Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya', 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' and 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' to contemporary narratives, Bollywood has consistently portrayed love as grand, emotional and larger than life. Romance has held a special place in Hindi cinema, shaping some of its most memorable stories and characters. From heroes fighting all odds to protect their beloved to songs mounted on lavish sets and picturesque foreign locales, the depiction of romance is often seen to be dramatic and dreamy in Bollywood films. By the early 2000s, films like 'Hum Tum' introduced a degree of realism, depicting misunderstandings and ego clashes while retaining innocence and emotional depth. However, today's generation has redefined the language of love. Growing up in a world shaped by smartphones, social media and dating apps, Gen Z approaches relationships with a different perspective. They prioritise independence, open-mindedness and choosing love that feels right, not just looks right. With this changing perception, filmmakers are portraying stories and emotions in a more mature and realistic manner. They are seeking to connect with audiences through projects like 'Saiyaara', 'Tere Ishk Mein', 'Call Me Bae' and 'Tu Yaa Main', presenting narratives where love is rooted in authenticity, emotional well-being and the complexities of modern-day relationship dynamics. "Romance is always the same. It's the presentation that changes," ace filmmaker Kunal Kohli told ANI. Speaking about terms such as "situationship", he said, "These are just names. Earlier, situationship was called confused. People have not changed. Labels have changed." Kunal Kohli, who directed the 2004 romantic comedy 'Hum Tum', said that in the attempt to appear modern, filmmakers may sometimes overlook innocence in storytelling. "In trying to be modern, we are losing innocence, which is not nice. But innocence never dies. It's just not being made. If 'Hum Tum' was remade exactly the same way today, it would still be a blockbuster," he said. Director Kohli also added that Gen Z should not be over-analysed. "They are not some species from Mars. When we were 18, we didn't know what we wanted. Gen Z ko khud nahi pata kya chahiye. We never know what we really want. So we exaggerate and say Gen Z is like this or like that. Ultimately, everything is the same." Furthermore, Filmmaker Aanand L Rai, known for love stories such as 'Raanjhanaa' and 'Tere Ishk Mein', said Gen Z experiences emotions as intensely as earlier generations, though they express them differently. "As filmmakers and writers, we are trying to understand exactly what this generation wants, what their definition of love is, and how they respond emotionally to situations," Rai said. However, he asserted that Gen Z is "as sensitive as we are. They might have a different way of reacting, but the emotional quotient is the same. So, as makers and writers, we are trying to understand them better," Rai added. Actor Taha Shah Badussha said Gen Z has not diminished romance but refined it. "Earlier, love was about proving something to the world. Today, it's about understanding yourself first. Grand gestures still matter, but now they must come from emotional clarity," he said. For him, the shift is not about reducing intensity but about redefining it. "On screen, I see love becoming more layered. It's not just 'I can't live without you.' It's 'I choose you, even when I'm whole on my own.' That shift is powerful. It makes romance deeper, not smaller," he added. Belonging to the 1990s generation, Badussha said he still believes in the "die-hard love" of that era. "Cinema must reflect this digital reality, the ghosting, the 'seen' messages, the curated personas, but without losing the timeless poetry of connection and flow. That sudden spark, that bouncing happiness, that magic. Because even in the age of swipes, when two people really fall in love... it still feels ancient. And that's the only kinda love I ever want," he said. The 'Heeramandi' actor noted that Gen Z audiences connect more with flawed characters. "Flawed characters feel honest. Gen Z has grown up around filters and curated lives, so they instantly connect with what feels real. When characters are confused, guarded, or imperfect in love, it mirrors how relationships actually feel today. And when such characters still choose love, that choice feels more meaningful... because it's not coming from perfection, but from courage." He added that Gen Z still seeks emotional depth. "Stories where love grows slowly, where emotional connection matters more than grand drama. Romance that allows space for healing, self-growth and timing," he added. 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' actor Ishita Raj said exposure has significantly changed how romance is perceived. "In the '70s, '80s and '90s, we didn't have so much exposure, so everything was not that connected. That's why larger-than-life grandness canvas big songs in the snow in Switzerland looked unreal and looked dreamy, so the idea of love was dreamier because it was larger than life and people pursued that because that was not accessible. Now in today's time, because of social media, connectivity is more; everybody can be connected to anybody from any corner of the world through social media, so because of that, the exposure is too much. So dreamy is not as fascinating as real is fascinating," she said. She also pointed out that patience in relationships has reduced over time. "Old school love had patience. If you liked someone, you pursued them. ..Today, the patience level has dropped... the genuineness sometimes feels missing, that's the reason attachments are becoming harder to develop in relations nowadays," she said. According to Ishita, audiences today connect strongly with honest storytelling. "The reason the on-screen love where you see real emotion coming out, no matter if it's not grand gestures, if it's not great visuals, if it's not exotic, the canvas is not bigger, but still the story has a grip of communicating affection, love or any emotion in just true sense and in as real as you feel it, audiences connect to that one more. So that's the reason Gen Z is changing the idea of love on screen is because we're looking for more real things rather than more dreamy things," added Ishita. Emphasising that love remains cinema's most powerful emotion, the 'Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety' actor added, "No matter how many thrillers or horrors you make, the legendary cult films remembered over time are romantic films. You see DDLJ, you see 'Darr,' you see 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak', 'Maine Pyar Kiya'... audiences connect to love the quickest." "Any film that conveys emotion honestly and makes the audience feel it deeply, you have a blockbuster in hand. There is not one way to love. Love can be complicated, incomplete, timeless or tragic. But if it feels real, it works," Ishita said. (ANI)
Acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron is set to receive the Writers Guild of America West's 2026 Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement, marking a major milestone in his decades-long career as a writer-director. The honour, regarded as the Guild's lifetime achievement award, is presented to members who have "advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter." The recognition follows the recent release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest chapter in Cameron's blockbuster franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Reacting to the honour, Cameron said, "I've been writing these damn things since the start of my career, four and a half decades ago, so it is truly gratifying to receive the recognition of my fellow screenwriters through such a prestigious honor. This whole global industry, this whole fever dream we call cinema, starts with the written word." WGAW President Michele Mulroney praised Cameron's contribution to cinema. "From Titanic to Aliens to The Terminator to Avatar, James Cameron has elevated the craft of screenwriting. He has consistently inspired fellow writers with his innovative world-building and immersive environments, his multi-dimensional characters, and his iconic dialogue. It's only fitting that he is our 2026 Screen Laurel recipient," she said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Cameron is known for writing and directing some of the highest-grossing films of all time, including Titanic, The Terminator, Aliens and Avatar. Though often critiqued for what some describe as straightforward or on-the-nose dialogue, Cameron has defended his writing style. In a previous interview reflecting on The Terminator, he remarked, "I don't cringe on any of the dialogue. Let me see your three-out-of-the-four-highest-grossing films - then we'll talk about dialogue effectiveness," according to The Hollywood Reporter. While the Academy Awards have not recognised him for screenwriting, Cameron has received accolades from the Saturn Awards for Best Writing for The Terminator and Aliens. He also shared writing credit on Rambo: First Blood Part II, for which he received a Razzie nomination for Worst Screenplay, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI)
The injured person has been referred to Safdarjung Hospital, officials said.

The police discovered the scooty at the Ring Road Flyover, in front of Bharat Darshan Park, Punjabi Bagh. Both victims, identified as Vijay and Monu, were rushed to the hospital, where Vijay was declared brain-dead.

Monu has been referred to Safdarjung Hospital. It was learned that Monu is a friend of Vijay. The friends reached Vijay's sister's house in Naraina at about 5:30 AM, left after 30 minutes, and were heading back to Rohini, the police said.

The police have inspected the spot and registered an FIR. The police are investigating whether any other vehicle was involved in the accident.

Further investigation is in progress. (ANI)
A newborn baby, who was delivered on the 14th of this month, was abducted from the hospital. The baby was recovered by the police, and one of the accused has been arrested. According to Additional Commissioner of Police Rajiv Ranjan, "At 9 a.m. today, a call was received that a newborn baby, who was delivered on the 14th at BSA Hospital, had been kidnapped by someone. After receiving the information at 9 a.m., the North Rohini police station team became active. With the help of necessary investigation and technical surveillance, they arrested the accused from the Meerut Expressway about an hour ago this evening and also recovered the child." He further told ANI, "For now, it is known that she is a resident of Noida, age 40. And the co-accused with her, Ahivaran Saxena, is 20 years old. And both were involved in this. The woman was actively involved. Anyway, now she has come into police custody. She will be questioned in detail." He also said that in the arrests made earlier in such cases of kidnapping, no involvement of hospital staff was found. "In this case, we will also keep all angles in mind during the investigation. The accused has just come into our custody, so we will take the accused on police remand and question further," he added. When asked, as a police officer, what appeal he would make to the public given the rumours, and what he would say to prevent such incidents from happening. To which Rajiv Ranjan replied, "In this matter, I would like to say that do not trust any unknown person. It should not happen at all that in two or three days, someone wins your trust so much that you hand over the child to them. Because this is what happened in this case. At 5 a.m., this accused lady, who is 40 years old, said, 'I will take care of the child, you rest.' So, the child's mother went to sleep. She woke up at 8 a.m. At 8 a.m., the family searched on their own. When the baby was not found anywhere, and this lady, the accused lady, was also not found, then a PCR call was made. So, trusting someone so much in two days is not right at all." (ANI)
Tamil Nadu BJP Vice President Prof. Dr Kanagasabapathi said on Tuesday that since 1967, DMK has never won an election on its own. Speaking to ANI, Kanagasabapathi said, "From the information available to us, I strongly believe that there is a serious tug of war going on between DMK and Tamil Nadu Congress. In a very recent round table organised by a popular TV network, CM Stalin has announced that alliance rule is not suitable and will not be suitable for Tamil Nadu. You know all along, since 1967, DMK has never won an election on its own. It has always won only in alliance with other parties. Particularly in the last few years, DMK has been in alliance with the Congress party and other parties." "This time there is avery serious difference of opinion. You know, earlier the central representative for Tamil Nadu, Mr. Praveen Chakravarty, he has been saying that we want, you know, alliance government if INDIA alliance comes to power, DMK alliance comes to power. DMK has all along been saying no alliance, etc. But very recently, a few days back, Mr. Manickam Tagore, MP from Virudhunagar, has clearly demanded three things," Kanagasabapathi said. He further stated that, "He has made three demands in the Madurai district Congress party meeting. One is that they should get power if they are elected to the assembly after 2026 election. If DMK-led INDIA alliance comes to power, then they have to share power with them. Second thing is they want increased number of seats. Last time they contested 25 seats, they won 18 seats." "You know, the strike rate, Mr. Manickam Tagore says is higher than that of the DMK party. DMK party contested 173 seats, won 133 seats. He says our strike rate was higher than the strike rate of DMK. So, we are demanding seats only from those places where DMK lost. This is second demand. Then third demand, if INDIA alliance comes to power or not, after 2026, they want 30% reservation for them. Reservation means 30% of seats for them in the local body election. So, these are the three demands he has made," said Kanagasabapathi. Earlier on Tuesday, Congress Tamil Nadu state president K Selvaperunthagai said that all decisions regarding the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will be taken by the party's central leadership, stressing that the state unit will abide by the directives of All India Congress Committee (AICC). Speaking to ANI here, Selvaperunthagai noted that only a month remains for the elections and asserted that the relationship between the Congress and its ally DMK remains intact. "This is the election time. Only one month is left for the elections. Whatever the AICC decides, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee will follow. It is very intact (relationship with Congress and DMK)," he said. On seat-sharing arrangements, he clarified that discussions will be handled entirely by the AICC and added that he is set to meet the Congress President. "We already took a resolution on January 17, AICC will speak and decide," he added. Responding to remarks by Congress MP Manickam Tagore over seat-sharing, Selvaperunthagai reiterated that negotiations will be conducted by the AICC. "AICC will negotiate. No one should talk to the press or media. We are following their instructions. AICC said that we will not speak outside. Whatever AICC said, we have to follow," he said. Meanwhile, Tagore on Sunday said the party was "still awaiting the formation" of a committee by its ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, to hold discussions on alliance-related matters, asserting that the Congress "stands by its principles" as a national party. Speaking to reporters in Tirupparankundram, Tagore said that 70 days had passed since the Congress was informed that a committee would be constituted for talks, but the party had yet to see any concrete progress in that direction. (ANI)
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said on Tuesday that the NDA government has failed to provide the funding promised for the AI sector. Highlighting a massive funding disparity, Shrinate claimed that while the United States spent 198 billion dollars on Artificial Intelligence last year, India's expenditure failed to reach even 1.9 billion dollars, despite the government's ambitious India AI Impact Summit goals. Speaking to ANI, Supriya said, "I would like to say two things about this AI Summit. First, regarding the AI Summit itself: the tech entrepreneurs, those who actually created AI products and paid for stalls, when the Prime Minister arrived, they were moved out of the main hall. Some tech entrepreneurs reported that their equipment was stolen; some said they couldn't provide demonstrations because there was no stable internet. An AI summit is being held where taking laptops and cameras inside is not allowed. An AI tech summit is being held where only cash is accepted, and digital payments are not." She further stated, "Additionally, people stood in line for four hours despite everyone having completed 'Digi-checkins'. People are quite troubled. Many tech entrepreneurs, founders, and prominent AI figures have said that this entire summit felt like it was just for security protocols and making 'reels' for the Prime Minister. Its main organiser is the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, whose minister is our 'Reel Minister', Ashwini Vaishnaw. So now, I don't understand who they will blame for their mismanagement, maybe Rahul Gandhi, or perhaps Pandit Nehru." On being asked about Ashwini Vaishnav's statement that India is expecting more than USD 200 billion in investments over the next two years, Supriya said," Look, whether it is Ashwini Vaishnaw or his other cabinet colleagues, these people love stating big figures, lakhs of crores. Nothing actually ever happens." "This same Ashwini Vaishnaw provided funding for Artificial Intelligence last year. America spent 198 billion dollars; we allocated 1.9 billion dollars to spend, and we couldn't even spend that. Ashwini Vaishnaw's claims are always grand, but the results are meagre. This has been seen in the Railways, and now it's evident in the AI Summit. There's so much focus on making 'reels' that they can't even see what is happening on the ground at the AI Summit," Supriya added. (ANI)
The Special Court of the people's representatives has dismissed the review petition filed by Karnataka Legislative Council member Suraj Revanna, seeking his release in the case of alleged sexual assault on a JD(S) worker. The single bench of Judge Santosh Gajanana Bhat reviewed the petition filed by the accused Suraj Revanna on Tuesday. According to the police FIR, Revanna was charged under sections 377 (carnal intercourse against the order of nature), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC for the offence allegedly committed on June 16, 2023, as per the complaint. Suraj Revanna was arrested on June 23, 2023, after his younger brother and expelled JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna was remanded to judicial custody by a special court in Bengaluru over separate allegations of sexually assaulting multiple women. Earlier in December 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea filed by former Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna seeking the transfer of his pending trials in three additional rape cases to a different court. Revanna, who has been convicted and handed a life sentence for raping a domestic worker, had argued that the ongoing cases should not be heard by the same judge who sentenced him in the first matter. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India, CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi rejected the argument, observing that the judicial officers are trained to assess each case strictly on its evidence. "There is no reason to doubt that the trial courts' presiding officer is swayed by the fact that he found the petitioner guilty in another case, and obviously, the decision in pending cases will be confined on the basis of the evidence in cases pending trial. No inference shall be drawn against the petitioner (Revanna) based on the previous trial," the bench said while refusing to transfer the cases. The development came after the Karnataka High Court earlier denied Revanna bail in the rape case in which he has already been convicted. (ANI)
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday announced the birth of three cubs to South African cheetah Gamini at Kuno National Park. In a post on X, the minister said the development coincides with the third anniversary of the arrival of South African cheetahs in India. He described the occasion as a significant milestone, noting that Gamini, now a second-time mother, has added three new cubs to the park's growing cheetah population. "Another good news from Kuno Kuno welcomes three new cubs - A roaring new chapter at Kuno on the occasion of completion of 3 years of arrival of cheetahs from South Africa. Celebrations echo through Kuno National Park as Gamini, the South African cheetah and second-time mother, has brought 3 new cubs into the world," the 'X' post said. Yadav noted that this is the ninth successful cheetah litter born in India, bringing the number of surviving Indian-born cubs to 27. With the latest additions, the country's total cheetah population has increased to 38. He said the achievement reflects the success of Project Cheetah and credited the dedicated efforts of field staff and veterinary teams working to revive the species in "This joyful arrival marks the ninth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil and takes the number of surviving Indian-born cubs to 27. With these newest additions, India's total cheetah population has now reached 38--a powerful symbol of the country's determined and historic conservation effort. Each birth strengthens the foundation of Project Cheetah and reflects the passion, perseverance, and round-the-clock dedication of the field staff and veterinary teams who have nurtured this dream into reality," Yadav wrote on 'X'. Meanwhile, 'Project Cheetah' is India's world-first intercontinental translocation project, launched on September 17, 2022. The project aimed to reintroduce the cheetah to India, which went extinct in the country in 1952. (ANI)
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday accused Leader of Opposition Lok Sabha of having connections with anti-India forces, stressing that the Congress leader was the most dangerous person for India's security. In an interview with ANI, Rijiju raised questions on Gandhi's various meetings, alleging that the Opposition leader kept meeting with Naxalites, extremists, ideologues, and people like George Soros both during his foreign trips and within the country. "Rahul Gandhi has become the most dangerous person for India's security. Because he associates with anti-India forces. He meets people abroad and at home, Naxalites, extremists, ideologues, people like George Soros," Rijiju said. On February 12, BJP Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey said he moved a motion in the Lok Sabha against the Leader of Opposition in the Lower House of Parliament, accusing him of misleading the country. Dubey is seeking termination of his parliamentary membership and a lifetime ban on the Congress leader on contesting elections. "I have moved a motion in Lok Sabha today against Rahul Gandhi on how he is misleading the nation with the help of forces like (George) Soros, who want to harm the nation. In the motion I have moved, I have requested that Rahul Gandhi's membership should be terminated and he should be barred for life from contesting elections," Dubey told ANI. Gandhi accused the Central government of compromising national interests. Addressing the Lower House of Parliament, Gandhi said the government itself has acknowledged that the world is facing a global storm, with the era of a single superpower coming to an end, intensifying geopolitical conflicts, and the weaponisation of energy and finance. Despite recognising this reality, he alleged, the government has allowed the United States to weaponise energy and financial systems in ways that affect India. (ANI)
AntiZionist groups across Canada have launched a letterwriting campaign urging provincial campaccreditation bodies to strip at least 17 Jewish children's summer camps of their official accreditation, saying the camps support what they call a "genocidal" state.

The campaign, organized by a coalition that includes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, the Palestinian Canadian Congress, Just Peace Advocates, and other proPalestinian organizations, accuses the camps of promoting Israel.

What the Campaign Is About

Activists point to activities such as celebrating Israel's Independence and Memorial Days, hosting staff who have visited or served in Israel, and employing veterans of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), according to the Times of Israel.

Organizers say they have sent more than 800 letters to campaccreditation bodies, including the Ontario Camps Association (OCA), the Quebec Camping Association, and the Nova Scotia Camping Association. The letters ask these groups to revoke or review the accreditation of the named Jewish camps, arguing that their ties to Israel make them politically problematic.

In some cases, the letters single out specific camps in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia. They cite examples such as a counselor who previously worked as a social worker in the IDF or a camp director publicly identified as a Zionist supporter, framing those links as evidence of support for what the campaigners call a "settlercolonial" or "genocidal" state.

How Jewish Groups and Camp Associations Are Responding

Jewish organizations have sharply criticized the campaign, describing it as an attempt to intimidate and isolate Jewish children and families. The UJA Federation of Greater Toronto called the effort a "deliberate act of intimidation" aimed at bullying Jewish camps and making Jewish parents feel unsafe, the Jewish Chronicle reported.

The Ontario Camps Association, which accredits many of the camps named in the letter campaign, responded with a statement saying it finds the accusations "deeply concerning." The association said the language used in the campaign reflects rhetoric it considers discriminatory and antisemitic, and warned that singling out one minority group fits a broader pattern of targeting Jewish institutions.

The OCA has also said it is working with Jewish groups to review its policies on safety, inclusion, and how to respond to campaigns that focus on one religious community. Jewish leaders stress that the camps' main purpose is to provide safe, educational, and recreational experiences for children, and warn that turning them into political battlegrounds can discourage participation and heighten anxiety among families, as per the CJN.
Union Parliamentary Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday criticised Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, calling his behaviour "childish" and "irresponsible," after his recent political controversies. In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Union Parliamentary Affairs leader said, "His behaviour is childish and irresponsible for someone in his position... A Leader of the Opposition represents the whole opposition... Going outside the House, calling people traitors, staging theatrical sit-ins and insisting on reading from an unpublished book, all this is child-like behaviour... We have never seen such a LoP in the history of India." "Rahul Gandhi has become the most dangerous person for India's security. Because he associates with anti-India forces. He meets people abroad and at home, Naxalites, extremists, ideologues, people like George Soros," Rijiju added. The Minister further accused the Congress party of not acting according to Parliament traditions and disrupting proceedings. "Parliamentary democracy will always have noise and commotion: every party has its own agenda and will try to press it in the House. That in itself isn't automatically a failure... But along with the commotion, we have to look at the actions that are being taken. When in opposition, we did not throw papers at the Speaker, carry banners to the ruling side, and this is the reason why I am upset," he said. "Congress had strong leaders who used to have maturity in their speech and work. Slowly, though, Congress has become like Rahul Gandhi and those who revolve around him have also become like him. We could not have imagined Congress becoming like this: continuing the same leader even after losing three times in a row. A BJP leader would not remain a leader after losing three times," he added. Earlier this month, Rahul Gandhi had been at the forefront of Congress led protest in parliament. He also tried to quote from a former Army Chief General MM Naravane's (Retd) unpublished book during his Lok Sabha speech, with the treasury benches opposing him. Gandhi also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government of misleading the country over tariff provisions in the India-US interim trade agreement, alleging that the deal would adversely impact India's cotton farmers and textile exporters. (ANI)
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has refuted Congress's allegations of suppressing opposition voices in Parliament. He attributed the frequent House disruptions to the opposition's own tactics, noting that as soon as they enter, there is commotion, shouting, and banners. In an interview with ANI, Rijju said, "Congress says we don't let them speak, but as soon as they enter, there is commotion, shouting, banners.The Prime Minister works for India's interest.Regarding trade deals, Piyush Goyal explained in detail.There is no need to worry for farmers, workers, textile workers, or small-scale industries. Prime Minister Modi has considered every interest.This is historic: every developed country wants to work harmoniously with India, it shows how far India has risen." "The Parliament that is prevented from running, where papers are thrown or banners are used to disrupt, is largely the work of Congress. Samajwadi also does it, but they can be reasoned with... We can work cordially with the leaders of Samajwadi Party, TMC and even DMK... Smaller opposition parties and MPs lose time to speak due to Rahul Gandhi's behaviour... They are unable to raise their constituency's issues," he added The Minister singled out Lok Sabha LoP Rahul alleging that his behaviour was childish. "His behaviour is childish and irresponsible for someone in his position... A Leader of the Opposition represents the whole opposition... Going outside the House, calling people traitors, staging theatrical sit-ins and insisting on reading from an unpublished book, all this is child-like behaviour... We have never seen such a LoP in the history of India," he said "Congress had strong leaders who used to have maturity in their speech and work. Slowly, though, Congress has become like Rahul Gandhi and those who revolve around him have also become like him. We could not have imagined Congress becoming like this: continuing the same leader even after losing three times in a row. A BJP leader would not remain a leader after losing three times," he added. Rijiju's comments follow opposition protests against the India-US interim trade deal framework during the Budget session, where members staged demonstrations at Parliament's Makar Dwar, labelling it a "trap deal" with placards. The United States and India announced a framework for an Interim Agreement on reciprocal, mutually beneficial trade, reaffirming their commitment to a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) launched by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, 2025. As part of the framework, India has agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US agricultural and food products, including dried distillers' grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products. On the other hand, the United States will impose a reciprocal tariff of 18 per cent on goods originating in India, including textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber products, organic chemicals, home decor, artisanal goods and certain machinery. Meanwhile, India's Chief negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Rajesh Agrawal, confirmed that India-US trade discussions are progressing toward a formal agreement. "There have been virtual engagements going on (with the US), and next week, the chief negotiator will be leading a delegation to the US to finalise the legal framework towards the legal agreement that work will carry on next week in Washington," Agrawal said, briefing the media today while releasing the trade data for January. (ANI)
Congress leader Pawan Khera has strongly refuted claims that former Union Minister Kapil Sibal was named in the so-called Jeffrey Epstein files, accusing members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading misinformation. In a post on X, Khera alleged that BJP leaders, including party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla and Pradip Bhandari, were attempting to "peddle the claim" that Sibal appeared in documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Khera said the claim collapses upon reading the full context of the document being cited. According to Khera, the file in question is a 59-page document originally sent by Margaux Rogers to Epstein's Personal Assistant, Lesley Groff, on September 10, 2010, and forwarded to Epstein the same day. He said the document is titled "CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS, OPENINGS, AND FUNDRAISERS," and compiles a list of public events in New York that Epstein may have tracked. Khera argued that the list included a range of events such as conferences, fashion shows, and public gatherings, and was not a record of meetings or personal interactions with Epstein. Sibal's name, he said, appears on page 55 in connection with an event organised by the Institute of International Education. At the time, Sibal was serving as India's Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister and was awarded the Stephen P Duggan Award for Mutual Understanding for his support of global collaboration in education. This was an award function "completely unrelated to Jeffery Epstein," Khera stated, adding that Sibal was neither a guest of Epstein nor mentioned in any meeting logs or correspondence with him. Khera contrasted Sibal's mention in the document with allegations he referenced concerning Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, claiming that attempts were being made to "manufacture a narrative" to deflect attention from questions directed at BJP figures. He accused BJP spokespersons of selectively sharing screenshots without reading the full document and of attempting to drag opposition leaders into controversy by highlighting names out of context. "Unfortunately for them, this story collapses the moment the full document is opened," Khera wrote. https://x.com/Pawankhera/status/2022696564205183245 This follows claims made by BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on X, who stated, "In 2010, an award reportedly funded by Jeffrey Epstein was received by senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal, a figure long seen as close to the Gandhi family." He also alleged that Sam Pitroda, Congress's overseas department head, was "associated with the same circles." Bhandari shared a document on X that reportedly included Sibal's name among awardees at the 2010 International Awards Gala held in New York, alongside other dignitaries, including Pitroda. He added, "Soon after that period, several policy shifts were witnessed during the then Congress-led government." Raising questions about possible influence, Bhandari asked, "Were these coincidences, or did external influence of Epstein attempt to shape decisions of Congress govt. Rahul Gandhi should answer!" He also wrote, "Epstein -- Congress Government's Valentine!" Sibal, who quit the Congress in 2022, is currently serving as an Independent member of the Rajya Sabha. Shehzad Poonawalla, another BJP spokesperson, also targeted the Congress over the matter. He asked on X, "What kind of Congress' 'mohabbat ki dukan' was going on with Epstein? Why did Kapil Sibal accept an award from Epstein-funded IIE?" He further asked, "Rahul Gandhi likes to speak a lot in Parliament, right? Will he say something about this now?" Meanwhile, Pawan Khera on Friday demanded the resignation of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, raising questions over his alleged interactions with Jeffrey Epstein and calling him "unfit to remain in position". Speaking to ANI, Khera said, "Clearly, the Congress party is demanding the resignation of Hardeep Singh Puri. This person has no right to remain in his position. In the last 48 hours, he has only lied. We will raise this issue before the people of the country that this government is compromised, and that too with a person like Jeffrey Epstein." (ANI)
BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Wednesday demanded answers from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding former Union Minister Kapil Sibal accepting an award reportedly funded by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while the Congress party was in government. "Rahul Gandhi should answer that when the Congress party was in the government, why was his minister Kapil Sibal accepting awards funded by a sexual predator, Jeffrey Epstein?" Bhandari told ANI. He alleged that Sam Pitroda, Congress's overseas department head and close associate of the Gandhi family, was "associated with the same circles" and questioned the nature of the Gandhi family's connections with Epstein. "Sam Pitroda, a close associate of the Rahul Gandhi and Gandhi Vadra family, is connected to the same circle. What is the relationship of the Gandhi Vadra family and Rahul Gandhi's family with Jeffrey Epstein, that while being in the government, Kapil Sibal accepted that award?" Bhandari asked. He further alleged that the period coincided with policy shifts during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and raised questions about possible lobbying. "We got to see a policy shift in the Congress party in the UPA government. So, was Kapil Sibal doing the lobbying work for Jeffrey Epstein? Was Sam Pitroda doing the work of getting Jeffrey Epstein to meet the Gandhi Vadra family? The silence of Gandhi, Vadra family and Rahul Gandhi on this issue makes it clear that there is something wrong," Bhandari added. The remarks come amid an escalating political war of words between the BJP and Congress over references to Sibal's name in a document related to Epstein. Bhandari had earlier shared on social media what he claimed was a document listing Sibal among awardees at the 2010 International Awards Gala held in New York, organised by the Institute of International Education (IIE). He alleged that the award function was funded by Epstein and questioned whether external influence may have impacted decisions of the then Congress government. "Were these coincidences, or did external influence of Epstein attempt to shape decisions of Congress govt. Rahul Gandhi should answer!" He also wrote, "Epstein -- Congress Government's Valentine!" Sibal, who quit the Congress in 2022, is currently serving as an Independent member of the Rajya Sabha. Congress, however, has dismissed the allegations as misleading. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera strongly refuted the claims, stating that the document being cited was a 59-page compilation titled "Calendar of Major Events, Openings, and Fundraisers," listing public events in New York that Epstein may have tracked. According to Khera, Sibal's name appeared on page 55 in connection with an IIE event where he received the Stephen P. Duggan Award for Mutual Understanding in his capacity as India's Human Resource Development Minister in 2010. He maintained that the event was unrelated to Epstein and that Sibal was neither a guest of Epstein nor mentioned in any meeting logs or correspondence with him. Khera accused BJP leaders, including Bhandari and party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, of selectively sharing screenshots to "manufacture a narrative" and divert attention from questions raised by Congress regarding Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's alleged interactions with Epstein. Congress has also demanded the resignation of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, alleging he was unfit to remain in office due to his reported interactions with Epstein. (ANI)
The authorities have asked Galgotias University to vacate the AI Impact Summit Expo following allegations that the institution presented a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own invention, sources said. The University faced severe online and offline criticism after a robot allegedly manufactured by a Chinese company was seen at the University display stall. Earlier, amid ythe rising heat over the controversy, the institution issued an official clarification claiming concern about the "propaganda" against the university. The University said that robotic programming is part of its endeavour to teach students to build AI applications, enabling them to develop and deploy real-world skills using globally available tools and resources. "We at Galgotias, faculty and students, are deeply pained by the propaganda campaign against our university. We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop & deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is need of an hour," the statement said. The institution said its vision focuses on student learning and innovation, providing students with access to modern technologies to gain practical experience and prepare for the future. "Our university's vision is focused on student learning & innovation and we provide students with access to modern technologies so they can gain practical experience and prepare for the future. Spreading negativity can harm the morale of students, who are working hard to innovate, learn, and build their skills using global technologies," said the statement. The India AI Impact Summit is a five-day programme anchored in three foundational pillars, or "Sutras": People, Planet, and Progress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital yesterday. He emphasised that the country's progress in AI will not only shape transformative solutions for the nation but also contribute to global advancement. Over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders are participating at the Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South. Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative. The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence. (ANI)
The Counter-Intelligence Unit of Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested a key criminal of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who had been absconding for seven years. According to the police, the arrested gangster has been identified as Bobby Kabutar. Earlier, reports of extortion threats being made in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in Madhya Pradesh had come to the forefront. Two businessmen lodged complaints with the police after receiving such threats, officials said. Meanwhile, Mumbai police presented five people who are detained in connection with the firing incident at Bollywood director Rohit Shetty's residence before the Criminal Court on Saturday. Speaking to ANI, the lawyer for the accused stated that they have no connection with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claiming that they have no knowledge about the firing. He shared that the police have been granted 4-day custody of the accused, who are ready to cooperate. "The police sought custody from the Court, saying they had a role to play in the firing incident. The accused have no knowledge of what has happened... The wanted accused, Lonkar, was in contact with the mastermind. Someone else fired the shots. The arrested accused are not related to each other; they have been arrested after analysing the CCTV footage. We are ready to cooperate. Listening to all the arguments, the Court has granted a four-day police custody... The accused have no links with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang," the lawyer said. On Sunday, assailants fired four rounds outside the residence of the Bollywood film director, police officials said. Soon after the firing, heavy police security was deployed around Shetty's residential tower in the Juhu area. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitendra (Jitu) Patwari on Wednesday said that the state is undergoing a major economic crisis because the centre did not allocate the demanded Rs 50,000 crore in the previous financial year, leading the state to borrow approximately Rs 72,000 crore this year. Speaking to ANI, the Patwari said the budget was hollow and that a realistic one should be presented. "MP has a budget provision of approximately Rs 4.5 lakh crore... But we did not receive Rs 50,000 crore from the central government in the previous financial year. As a result, the MP government could not spend even 50% of the 2025-26 budget. This meant that the budget was false and hollow... Today, the MP government borrows Rs 213 crore daily and borrowed about Rs 72,000 crore this year. The liabilities, including Rs 532,000 crore in interest, are the largest budget component, leading to a major economic crisis... The budget should be realistic..." he said. Patwari further stated that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav should demand the rights of the state. He also urged the formation of a team of finance experts who can oversee the income and expenditure of the budget. "Mohan Yadav should straightforwardly demand the state's rights from the central government... If our MP CM doesn't understand finances, a team of experts from all parties should be formed to monitor the budget's income and expenditure. Otherwise, MP is heading towards an economic crisis..." he added. Speaking on the interim trade agreement between India and the United States, Patwari said that the state is deeply affected as the three major products, maize, cotton, and soybean, will now be imported from the US, affecting the Madhya Pradesh farmers. "The interim trade deal was made the same year, 2026, which was celebrated as the year of famers. The three major products of Madhya Pradesh farmers, cotton, soybean, and maize, will now be imported from the United States. This just proved that the benefits cited for the state were false..." he stated. Patwari criticised CM Mohan Yadav, saying that the Congress party is doing his job by trying to raise the issue, asking him to converse with the Prime Minister and demand an amendment in the interim agreement. "If the Chief Minister actually want to celebrate the year of the farmers, he should go up to the Prime Minister and tell him that this deal will suffocate the farmers and it should be amended. The Congress party wants to meet the PM and demand the rights of the farmers. We are fulfilling the duties of the Chief Minister," he said. (ANI)
Surrounded by a huge controversy over the display of a 'Chinese' RoboDog at the AI Impact Summit, Galgotias University defended itself after it was reportedly asked to vacate the Summit. Galgotias University's Professor Neha Singh who was seen in a viral video introducing the RoboDog as 'Orion' and explaining about it the AI expo, claimed that she had never sought to present the RoboDog as the University's own. "We have never claimed that it is ours, Indian, or Galgotian. Its main branding is still on it. The robot that had come for a particular task has gone there for the children's study, for the children's research and development. Our center, our campus -- it has gone into the children's lab. It was here for two days for projection; the projection has been completed," Professor Neha Singh told ANI. Addressing the viral video, Singh claimed that due to one "misinterpretation", the whole controversy has got wings. She also clarified that she is a faculty member in communications at School of Management and not teaching AI. "By one misinterpretation, the internet has gone by storm. It might be that I could not convey well what I wanted to say, or it was misunderstood. I am a faculty member in communications at the School of Management, not in AI. Only you (the media) have heard what the government has said. As far as I know, we are here at the expo. As a university, we are standing tall. The robot was brought here only for projection," Professor Neha Singh told reporters. When asked about the charges of bringing disrepute to the country with the alleged action, the professor cited the University's record. "Because of Galgotias, the country's name has been greatly honoured. Sir, I have said before, you should come to our university. We have given the country Paralympians. Galgotias has provided many valuable resources to the country and is contributing everywhere. Galgotias University is a very responsible institution," Neha Singh added. In response to reports that Galgotias University was asked to vacate the India AI Impact Summit expo, Professor Dr. Aishwarya Shrivastava said she had no information regarding the development. "As of now, we have no such information. We never claimed that we manufactured it (robodog), it was only a part of our AI investment. It got misinterpreted in a big way," Dr Aishwarya Shrivastava told ANI. Earlier, the authorities have asked Galgotias University to vacate the AI Impact Summit Expo following allegations that the institution presented a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own invention, sources said. The University faced severe online and offline criticism after a robot allegedly manufactured by a Chinese company was seen at the University display stall. Earlier, amid rising heat over the controversy, the institution issued an official clarification, expressing concern about "propaganda" against the university. The University said that robotic programming is part of its endeavour to teach students to build AI applications, enabling them to develop and deploy real-world skills using globally available tools and resources. "We at Galgotias, faculty and students, are deeply pained by the propaganda campaign against our university. We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop & deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is need of an hour," the statement said. The institution said its vision focuses on student learning and innovation, providing students with access to modern technologies to gain practical experience and prepare for the future. "Our university's vision is focused on student learning & innovation and we provide students with access to modern technologies so they can gain practical experience and prepare for the future. Spreading negativity can harm the morale of students, who are working hard to innovate, learn, and build their skills using global technologies," said the statement. The India AI Impact Summit is a five-day programme anchored in three foundational pillars, or "Sutras": People, Planet, and Progress. Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative. (ANI)
Communist Party of India (CPI) MP John Brittas on Wednesday said that the Congress party was compelled to shift its political positioning because the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) occupied the right-wing space, but asserted that the party continues to retain a right-wing economic ideology. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Brittas spoke on the evolving political landscape, saying, "Congress also was compelled to move to the left. I feel so. Because the right space which they created has been completely... who are served by the BJP. So it's not that, you see, they wish to move to the left. I don't know where they are left, also because now, in labour courts, if you look at it, we are fighting it. Even the INDC, the trade union being in the Congress, is fighting, but you see a government in Karnataka notifying the labour court, framing the rules." He elaborated further on this perceived shift, adding, "So on the one hand, they say that they are the centre of the left or left of the center. But on the other hand, I feel there is no difference between the BJP and the Congress." Responding to a query on whether Congress's apparent left-leaning stance stems from mere political pragmatism or an attempt to fill a vacuum in the Opposition space, Brittas was unequivocal in his dismissal. "I'm not saying that they are left of centre. I don't subscribe to that at all. Honestly speaking," he said. He clarified that while there may be issue-based similarities, the broader ideological position of the party remains unchanged. "Maybe on certain issues, they would be taking a position, maybe similar to ours. But that doesn't mean that as a political party, Congress still retains its right-wing ideology. On most of the economic issues, they are with the BJP only," he said. Brittas described the first UPA government as a "model government" and attributed the decline in the second UPA term to the absence of Left parties as a "corrective force." "The first UPA was a model government. Five milestones were set by the UPA, like the right to information, the right to employment, the rights for tribal communities, the right to education, and food security -- milestones. What happened to the second UPA, which didn't have the participation of the left? Every congressman says that. Just because we didn't have the left as a corrective force, we got corrupted," he said. He pinpointed a critical juncture that catalysed the Congress's downfall, stating, "The reason why the BJP came to power was precisely because of the signing of that agreement between the US and Manmohan Singh. I feel that. Congress also bungled on that. If we can just go back to that incident, you will understand," he said. Brittas questioned the rapid degeneration of the second UPA administration, stating, "And what happened to the second UPA? It was steeped in corruption. There were no corrective forces. The 2G scam, all these scams, Commonwealth came, scam, everything came. Of course, we also suffered. We bear the brunt of that. Congress also suffered a huge setback because of that incident. Concluding his analysis with poignant restraint, especially in light of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent passing, he said, "Now, since Manmohan Singh is no more, we don't want to talk about such things. But if somebody is writing the history, I would say that it was an epistemological break for the Congress politics." (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday visited the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) headquarters in Nadia, West Bengal, where he lauded the organisation's efforts in spreading the message of Sanatana Dharma globally. Shah attributed ISKCON's success to the karma of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada and his inspiration, Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada. Addressing the gathering at the event, Shah said, "Today, as we witness the grand ISKCON movement spreading across the world, it is the karma of the lives of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada and his inspiration, Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada, that ISKCON is spreading the message of Sanatana Dharma throughout the world." The Home Minister also praised the Matua community for championing social welfare and highlighted ISKCON's role in inspiring people to follow the path of the Gita. "The Matua community has also consistently championed social welfare," he said. Shah further highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi often gifts a copy of the Gita to visiting Heads of States or Ministers. "ISKCON has inspired everyone to follow the path of the Gita and has sustained the Gita movement. Therefore, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi also gifts a Geeta to Heads of States or Ministers of another country, when they visit India," Shah added. Earlier on Tuesday, Amit Shah unveiled the equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, constructed by Maharashtra Samaj Gandhinagar in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Addressing the gathering at the event, he said it will inspire the city's people and youth by commemorating Shivaji Maharaj's courage and leadership in establishing Hindu Swaraj. He said that young Shivaji Maharaj defied the odds to establish Hindu Swaraj despite Mughal rule and years of oppression, and praised his efforts to protect temples and promote resilience during challenging times. Shah said, "It is a good day for me that the statue of Shivaji Maharaj has been installed. The 21-foot-tall statue will inspire the people and youth of Gandhinagar. When the darkness of slavery loomed large, the country was enslaved from Afghanistan to Kanyakumari and from Somnath to Orissa. Adil Shahi came; when people had almost disappeared due to years of slavery and suffering, 16-year-old Shivaji showed a new path." "No one believed that young Shivaji would be able to establish Hindu Swaraj. Shivaji Maharaj was crowned, and Hindu Swaraj was established. It took Mughal power to break Shivaji Maharaj's courage, but he did not give up the fight. When the temples of Kashi were destroyed, Shivaji Maharaj protected the temples of the South," the Union Home Minister added. Shah also reflected on Shivaji Maharaj's vow to rebuild temples destroyed by invaders, linking it to contemporary achievements such as the consecration of the Ram Temple, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and the gilding of the Somnath Temple. He also noted Shivaji Maharaj's establishment of the Navy and his guiding motto. "At that time, he gave the message that if destructive forces destroy temples, we will build new ones. When the Ram Temple was consecrated, Shivaji Maharaj's vow was fulfilled. The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor was rebuilt. The Somnath Temple, which was destroyed 16 times, has been gilded. During his time, Shivaji Maharaj established the Navy and gave a motto," he said. (ANI)
NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA), in partnership with New York Cares, delivered thousands of winter coats to children and families in need today at the New York Cares coat drop-off facility in Manhattan.

Coat Drive: Greater New York area auto dealers deliver thousands of coats to New York Cares for distribution to those in need. Coat Drive: Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association president Mark Schienberg, joined by GNY GNYADA president Mark Schien

The delivery was part of GNYADA's Annual Winter Coat Drive and New York Cares' 37th Annual Coat Drive. It brought together leadership from both organizations to underscore the role local automobile dealers play in supporting New Yorkers during the coldest months of the year. The coats, collected by over 120 area auto dealers, will be distributed by New York Cares to individuals and families across the five boroughs.

"Today is about community, compassion, and action. Our dealers don't just serve customers, they show up for their communities. Every coat delivered today represents warmth, dignity, and real support for someone facing winter without enough resources," said Mark Schienberg, President of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association.

GNYADA's annual Coat Drive has become a long-standing tradition among its dealer members. Over the years, GNYADA dealers have donated more than 200,000 coats and raised more than $400,000 to purchase new winter coats for children. This winter's campaign builds on that momentum, with dealerships once again stepping up to help.

"Winter can be especially harsh for families already facing economic challenges," said Sapreet Saluja, Executive Director of New York Cares. "Thanks to GNYADA's generosity, caring becomes actionhelping thousands of New Yorkers stay warm, safe, and reminded that their community is standing with them."

The delivery took place at New York Cares' coat distribution facility at 157 West 31st Street, where volunteers and staff will continue coordinating coat distribution throughout the winter season.

GNYADA and New York Cares encourage businesses and community members to support winter relief efforts by donating coats and making financial contributions.

Headquartered in Whitestone, N.Y, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association represents 445 franchised automobile dealerships in the metro area of New York, generating $70.6 billion in economic activity, $3 billion in taxes, and supporting 68,800 New Yorkers. The $30m Center for Automotive Education & Training was built in 2015. The Association was established in 1910 and has continued to serve the industry's needs ever since. GNYADA organizes the New York International Automobile Show, the largest auto show in North America, each spring, in Manhattan's Jacob Javits Convention Center.

SOURCE The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association
A five-member delegation of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) will be visiting the office of the Chief Electoral Officer at BBD Bagh shortly. According to the party, the delegation comprises TMC MP Mahua Moitra, West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, TMC leader Pratima Mondal, TMC MP Partha Bhowmick and West Bengal Higher Education Minister Bratya Basu. The announcement comes two days after the Election Commission of India (ECI) suspended seven officials in West Bengal, directing the Chief Secretary to initiate disciplinary proceedings against them for "serious misconduct, dereliction of duty, and misuse of statutory powers in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The suspended officials include: i) Dr Sefaur Rahaman, Assistant Director of the Agriculture Department and Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) for 56-Samserganj Assembly Constituency; ii) Nitish Das, Revenue Officer, Farakka and AERO for 55-Farakka Assembly Constituency; iii) Dalia Ray Choudhury, Women Development Officer, Maynaguri Development Block and AERO for 16-Maynaguri Assembly Constituency; iv) Sk. Murshid Alam, ADA, Suti Block and AERO for 57-Suti Assembly Constituency; v & vi) Satyajit Das, Joint Block Development Officer (BDO) and Joydeep Kundu, FEO, both AEROs of 139-Canning Purbo Assembly Constituency; and vii) Debashis Biswas, Jt BDO and AERO 229-Debra Assembly Constituency. Meanwhile, the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal announced a revised schedule for the ongoing SIR process in the state on Tuesday, following a Supreme Court order. In its statement, the CEO said the hearing of notices will be completed by February 14. The review of the documents and disposal of the claim will be completed by February 21. The statement also said that the rationalisation of polling stations will be completed by February 25. The health parameter checks are to be conducted by February 27. The final electoral roll will be published on February 28. (ANI)
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday hit back at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her reported remarks on the Election Commission, questioning how she assumed office after winning elections three times. Responding to Banerjee's statement regarding the Election Commission, Rijiju said, "First, ask her how she became Chief Minister after winning elections three times?" The Union Minister's remarks come amid a political exchange between leaders over comments about the Election Commission's functioning. Earlier on Tuesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the Election Commission, alleging that it was interfering in state matters and threatening officials and said that any attempt to "kill democracy" by anyone would be met with a "befitting reply." "The Chief Minister called the poll panel "Tughlaki commission" and alleged that state government officers were being harassed. Addressing a press conference here, Banerjee accused the poll body of overreach and harassment. "The ECI is interfering in every state matter. They're threatening. We will follow the rules. But this is a Tughlaki commission. If you cross the boundary, then the people will reply with a sixer," Banerjee said. She alleged that common citizens were also facing harassment."They are harassing common people. If steps are taken against the EROs against the complainants from the BJP, then why will there be no action against the ECI?" she asked. Banerjee claimed that the BJP-led government would not remain in power beyond 2026. "After 2026, the Central government will lose power. If anyone wants to kill democracy, then I will give a befitting reply. If needed, I will take this worldwide," she said. "Whoever is threatening the officers, I would like to remind them that the ECI can't do anything without the rules. You will be finished. I am not blaming everyone from the commission, but I don't like this Mohammad Bin Tughlaq. They're like a washing machine, washing away the democratic rights," she alleged. The Trinamool Congress leader said she is prepared for any consequences. "I am ready to go to jail, if you want to kill me, then kill me. I am ready to sacrifice anything for the people. We have all the evidence with us, will expose everyone," she said. "See the Bangladesh election, how they have done it peacefully. Your threat culture is killing the democracy. I would remind....who is conspiring against us that we got your history. Don't take revenge on the people," she added. Politics in Bengal has heated up as the state will face assembly polls in the first half of this year. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces a major challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a public interest litigation seeking wide-ranging directions on handling missing persons' cases in the national capital, observing that decisions on policing and organisational structure must be left to the police authorities. A division bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia dismissed the plea, terming the reliefs sought as "omnibus" and noting the absence of any concrete instances to support the allegations. The petition had sought the creation of a dedicated cell in each police station to deal with missing persons, mandatory registration of FIRs in all such cases, a CBI probe into disappearances, and the constitution of a supervisory body headed by a retired High Court judge to monitor a joint task force in view of what it described as an alarming rise in missing persons. However, the court made it clear that such directions could not be issued without specific material. The bench observed that merely citing figures or raising concerns based on media reports was not sufficient to seek a judicial mandate. The judges pointed out that the petition did not provide any example where the police had refused to register an FIR when approached by a family member of a missing person. Without such details, the court said, the reliefs sought could not be granted. During the hearing, the bench remarked that filing petitions to discuss social problems is different from approaching the court with concrete legal grievances. It stressed that policing methods and organisational decisions, including whether to set up dedicated cells in police stations, fall within the domain of the police authorities. The court also declined the prayer for a CBI probe into all missing persons' cases, stating that such a direction could not be issued in the absence of specific facts or individual cases requiring investigation. It reiterated that how policing should be carried out is a matter best determined by the concerned authorities and not by judicial intervention. In a related development, the bench issued notice to the Centre, Delhi government and Delhi Police on a separate PIL filed by Jayeeta Deb Sarkar seeking information and action regarding untraced persons in the city. The court directed the authorities to file their response within four weeks and listed the matter for hearing in April. That petition has sought directions to the police to provide the status of persons who remain untraced and to frame a comprehensive protective mechanism and institutional safeguards to prevent disappearances. It also calls for tracing and submitting a status report on around 53,000 people who are stated to have remained untraced over the past decade. The plea further contends that the right to be traced and the right to proper investigation in cases of missing persons are integral to the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution, particularly in light of risks such as trafficking, forced labour and exploitation. (ANI)
Delhi's Dwarka court on Wednesday rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of contractors Himanshu Gupta and Kavish Gupta in connection with the Janakpuri biker's death case. The court also turned down the regular bail plea of subcontractor Rajesh Kumar, whose earlier application had already been dismissed by the magistrate's court. This case pertains to the tragic death of a biker who fallen in a pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board in the Janakpuri area last week, highlighting concerns over public safety and civic oversight. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Harleen Singh dismissed the anticipatory bail applications of the two contractors, accused in the case. They had moved court for anticipatory bail after a notice from the police to join the investigation in the biker's death case. Detailed bail orders are to be uploaded by the court. Earlier, on February 10, the court granted interim protection from arrest to the contractors and directed them to cooperate with the investigation. Meanwhile, subcontractor Rajesh Kumar had also moved to the sessions court for regular bail after his bail application was rejected by the Magistrate's court on February 11. While rejecting the bail plea, the court has said that "considering the totality of facts and circumstances, this court is of the view that no ground for grant of regular bail is made out at this stage." "In cases involving loss of human life due to alleged negligence in public works, the Court must balance individual liberty with societal interest and the need for a fair and un-influenced investigation," the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Harjot Singh Aujla had said in the order. "Accordingly, the prayer for the grant of regular bail to accused Rajesh Kumar is hereby dismissed at this stage, " the court had said in the order. During the hearing, counsel for the accused had argued that the arrest of the accused was illegal and unconstitutional. It was also submitted that the accused was allegedly apprehended/detained on February 6; however, he was produced before the concerned court only on February 8, thereby violating the mandate of Article 22(2) of the Constitution of India as well as Cr.P.C (now BNSS), which requires production within 24 hours of arrest. It was argued that such illegal detention vitiates the custody and the accused deserves to be released. Counsel for the accused also submitted that the incident in question arose from an unfortunate accident related to civic excavation work and that there was no intention or knowledge attributable to the accused. It was further contended that the accused has no prior criminal antecedents and is a permanent resident, and therefore does not pose a flight risk. On the other hand, the Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) had opposed the bail application on the grounds that the allegations are grave in nature, wherein a 25-year-old boy lost his life after falling into an unmanned and unsecured excavation pit. It was also submitted that the investigation is at a nascent stage, several witnesses are yet to be examined, documents relating to the excavation work, safety compliance, contractual obligations and supervisory responsibilities are yet to be scrutinised. He apprehended that, if released, the accused may influence witnesses, tamper with documentary evidence, and abscond to evade the process of law. While rejecting the bail plea, the court had observed, "The investigation is admittedly at an initial stage. The IO is in the process of collecting relevant records pertaining to permissions, safety compliance, barricading arrangements, deployment of personnel and a responsibility matrix." The court had also noted that the possibility of the accused influencing material witnesses, particularly local residents, labourers or officials associated with the project, cannot be ruled out at this juncture. Furthermore, documentary evidence concerning the execution of civic work is susceptible to alteration or manipulation, especially when the investigation has not yet crystallised the chain of responsibility, the court said. Delhi police have already arrested subcontractor Rajesh Prajapati and labourer Yogesh in this case. Yogesh has been arrested for failing to inform the police that a biker had fallen into a pit and for withholding that information. He was arrested on Sunday and sent to judicial custody on Monday. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday reacted sharply to BJP MLA Dheeraj Muniraj allegedly stopping a garbage truck to protest in Doddaballapur, warning that if they don't behave respectfully, garbage will be "dumped right in front of their houses". Shivakumar alleged that BJP MLAs (specifically mentioning Aravind Limbavali and Dheeraj Muniraju) are deliberately obstructing garbage trucks from disposing of waste in the outer zones of Bengaluru. He claimed that this is a tactic by the opposition to "blackmail" the Congress-led state government into allocating development funds to their constituencies. Speaking to the media, Shivakumar threatened to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) if the MLA and his supporters do not "behave with respect". The Deputy CM warned that he would have garbage dumped directly in front of the houses of BJP leaders, including R Ashoka and BY Vijayendra, or at the BJP office, if the "blackmailing" continues. "If they behave with respect, fine. If not, I will invoke ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act). I will show no mercy and make sure garbage is dumped right in front of their houses. I will take the same garbage and have it dumped near the BJP office... It should go to R Ashok's house, Vijayendra's house, or else to the BJP office - that's it," he said. "They are blackmailing us, demanding development funds for their constituencies. If an accident occurs, action will be taken in accordance with the law," Shivakumar added. When asked if they are opposing waste disposal due to accidents by garbage trucks, he said, "Accidents should not happen, law will take its course in such cases. But the garbage disposal can't be stopped. The waste is being disposed in the constituencies of S T Somashekar, Shivanna and Krishna Byregowda also." The Dy CM also criticised the Contractors Association for halting work, questioning why they took on contracts during the previous BJP era without adequate funds. "If there is a commission, let them file a complaint. Let us stop the work first and see. Why did they take the work during the BJP era? He had already said that during the BJP era, do not take work without money. Even so, they put out a tender and got the work. If the department has a grant of 10 thousand, they have taken tenders for 30 to 40 thousand. Should we also take as much work as the grant in our department?" he said. In a counterattack, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy refuted the allegations by Shivakumar, stating, "It is a lie. False claim. Nobody is blackmailing Congress," further alleging that the garbage problem is always present during Congress tenure. "Whenever the Congress comes to power, the garbage problem is there in Bengaluru. At the same time, he wanted to blame others," he said. "You have to find a way to put the garbage, but they are just blaming the BJP MLAs. Then what is that Congress MLAs doing?" Challenging Shivkumar's statement about dumping garbage on the opposition leader's homes, he further said, "Let him come. Let him come to the BJP office. We will show what the BJP is. If you are not able to handle this, resign. Somebody will come and look into that matter." "If you bring the garbage, dump it in front of Vijayendra's residence, or Ashok's residence, or in front of the BJP office, will your problem be solved? See, this is totally a nonsense statement by a respectable DCM," he added. (ANI)
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday passed a government resolution urging the Union Government to restore the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), amid uproar and slogan-shouting by the Opposition BJP, which expressed dissatisfaction with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's reply. The resolution, moved under Rule 102, was adopted by voice vote despite protests from BJP members, who entered the Well of the House and raised slogans against the state government. The ruling Congress members also countered with slogans, accusing the Opposition of failing to defend the state's interests. Speaking to the media after the passage of the resolution, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu termed the Opposition's stand "unfortunate" and said the Revenue Deficit Grant was the state's constitutional right. "It is very unfortunate that BJP MLAs from Himachal Pradesh did not support a resolution seeking restoration of the Revenue Deficit Grant, which was given as a right under the Constitution by the Government of India. This is a matter of deep concern for the state," Sukhu said. He alleged that stopping the RDG would result in a loss of nearly Rs 10,000 crore annually to the state. "When the state is losing Rs 10,000 crore per annum, this affects farmers, labourers, youth and women. We wanted to collectively fight for Himachal's rights. I had even requested that we go together to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, keeping aside protocol, in the interest of the state. But today, when we raised this issue under Rule 102 after the 16th Finance Commission recommended discontinuation of the grant, they chose not to stand with us." The Chief Minister said the state government would continue welfare schemes despite financial challenges. "Governments come and go, Chief Ministers and Ministers change, but the rights of Himachal Pradesh will not be compromised. We will not stop the Old Pension Scheme. We will not privatise the electricity sector. We will strengthen it and continue all welfare schemes. We are committed to protecting the interests of Himachal Pradesh." Sukhu added. Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur accused the state government of misleading the House and said the BJP was not given adequate time to respond. "False statements are continuously being made in the Assembly. The Chief Minister was presenting incorrect figures. We requested time to respond, but were not granted it. We were compelled to enter the Well of the House and raise slogans as our side was not heard." He said. Thakur maintained that the BJP stood by the presentation it had made before the 15th Finance Commission when it was in power. "We stand by the position we presented before the 15th Finance Commission. We raised Himachal's issues effectively at every forum and secured assistance from the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If Himachal Pradesh is not receiving the Revenue Deficit Grant now, the responsibility lies with the present Congress government, which failed to effectively plead the state's case." He termed it "unprecedented" that discussion on the Governor's Address was deferred in favour of a special discussion on RDG. "For the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh, instead of discussing the Governor's Address, a special discussion under Rule 102 was brought on the Revenue Deficit Grant. This is a serious issue. The government should have proceeded with the normal legislative business, including the Motion of Thanks." He added. Thakur further alleged that the Chief Minister's figures did not match those presented by the Finance Department and accused the government of attempting to shift blame for the state's financial condition onto the BJP and the Centre. Meanwhile, Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Kuldeep Singh Pathania said the House functioned productively and that the session had been adjourned till March 18. "After a detailed discussion on the Revenue Deficit Grant, the budget session has been adjourned till March 18 and will resume at 11 am on that day. During these three days, the House functioned for around 18 and a half hours and achieved over 124 per cent productivity." He said the issue of RDG had serious implications for Himachal Pradesh and other hill states, especially in light of recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission. "This was an extraordinary situation. The government wanted to take the views of all members on this serious issue. There was a detailed discussion over two days, and members were given adequate time. The resolution was put to a vote and passed bya majority. It will now be sent to the Parliament and the Central Government. We hope a positive decision will be taken in the interest of Himachal Pradesh." Pathania added that the remaining business, including discussion of the Governor's Address, demands for grants, and passage of the budget, would be taken up when the House reconvenes, and a detailed calendar would be issued in advance. (ANI)
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from Kerala signed 146 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with international companies during the international buyer-seller meet, TRADEX Kerala 2026, securing trade commitments worth over Rs 81 crore. According to the release, twelve trade orders were confirmed during the event, and execution will commence immediately. More than 30 international buyers from over 20 countries and more than 400 MSMEs from nine key sectors across the State participated in the meet. P Vishnuraj, IAS, Director of Industries and Commerce, said TRADEX Kerala will be institutionalised as a recurring platform in view of its grand success. He added that more details of the upcoming event will be announced soon. He noted that this was the first time in Kerala's history that an international reverse buyer-seller meet of this scale had been organised, bringing global buyers directly to the State's enterprises. "Instead of waiting to access markets abroad, we created a platform where global markets came to our doorstep. This initiative stands firmly on the strength of Kerala's evolving industrial ecosystem - the Kerala Brand. Through the Kerala Brand, we are demonstrating that products from Kerala are built on values, responsibility and global credibility. TRADEX Kerala is the practical way of showing that idea in action - it is a platform where good-quality products from Kerala get real business opportunities in the global market," he added. The two-day event concluded on Wednesday. Suraj S, Chief Executive Officer of KBIP; Unikrishnan K., Joint Director General, FIEO; Jimmi Joseph, Deputy Commissioner, Customs House, Kochi; Anand Sarma, State Head, SPIU, RAMP Programme; and Premraj P, Joint Director, Directorate of Industries and Commerce, also attended the valedictory function of the event. Buyers, Sellers Laud State's Initiative at TRADEX Kerala: Both buyers and sellers lauded the State Government's initiative in organising such a large-scale international event in Kerala. Mr Franz Georg Zinggl, Managing Director, Avieko Trading GmbH, Republic of Austria, said the event was well organised. "I signed nine Memorandums of Understanding during the event. More initiatives like TRADEX Kerala should be conducted to strengthen global trade partnerships," he said. Salil Rahim, Business Development Manager of Soroup Trading Co. Ltd., Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a company engaged in FMCG food products, said he signed three Memorandums of Understanding with sellers from Kerala. Ms Annabel Wambui Kamondo of Bella Anka International, Republic of Kenya, urged the Government to organise more international buyer-seller meets so that overseas buyers can revisit Kerala and further strengthen their ties with local sellers. The press release also noted that the sellers expressed confidence that their companies' turnover would increase substantially through partnerships with international firms. They noted that the event was efficiently organised, with buyers well briefed on the sellers in advance, resulting in more focused and meaningful business interactions. Joshy Joseph, Director and Marketing Head of Indcarb, a Palakkad-based manufacturer and exporter of steam-activated carbon, said the company entered into an agreement with Avieko Trading GmbH and expects the partnership to substantially boost its operations and turnover. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended greetings to the Muslim community on the occasion of Ramadan, wishing for "peace and prosperity" during the holy month. In a post on X, the Prime Minister expressed hopes for togetherness in the holy month. "Ramzan Mubarak! May this auspicious month further the spirit of togetherness in our society. May there be peace and prosperity everywhere," he wrote in the post. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024160494765166971 Meanwhile, the crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan has been sighted, and the first roza is set to be observed on Wednesday, February 19. Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, Qazi-e-Shahr and President of the Markazi Chand Committee, Farangi Mahal, Lucknow, has announced that the moon for the holy month of Ramadan has been sighted on Tuesday. Accordingly, the first day of Ramadan will be observed on Wednesday, February 19. Speaking to ANI, the Lucknow Eidgah Imam extended greetings to the Muslim community on the occasion of the commencement of the holy month. "It has been announced by the Moon Committee that the moon has been sighted in different parts of the country today... Based on this, it is announced that tomorrow, February 19, 2026, will be the first Roza...," Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said. He also urged people to offer prayers on the mosque premises. "Namaz should be offered only inside mosques. Namaz should not be offered on the streets. I appeal to everyone to offer Namaz inside the mosque only," he added. Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. During this period, devotees fast from dawn to sunset and engage in increased spiritual activities, including special nightly prayers. (ANI)
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday claimed that Central Government joint secretaries are forming secret WhatsApp groups with micro observers to allegedly manipulate voter lists in West Bengal. TMC MP Moitra, along with a five-member AITC delegation including West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, TMC leader Pratima Mondal, TMC MP Partha Bhowmick, and West Bengal Higher Education Minister Bratya Basu, met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal to raise the issue. Speaking to the media, Moitra referenced Supreme Court guidelines, emphasising that micro observers are non-statutory positions meant only to assist Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant EROs (AEROs). She further accused the Central Government's joint secretaries of creating secret WhatsApp groups and allegedly asking micro-observers to delete voters. "We have finished a meeting with the CEO of West Bengal, and the delegation of the TMC came to raise some very important issues. The most important issue is that even after clear-cut guidelines of the Supreme Court, the role of observers who are central government joint secretaries who have come to Bengal continues to make secret WhatsApp groups with micro observers," Moitra said. "As you know, the Supreme Court made it very clear that micro observers are non-statutory positions and their only role is to assist EROs and AEROs. In spite of that, these role observers, specifically a Mr Murugan, have made these secret WhatsApp groups and are issuing wrong directions to MOs, asking them to delete voters," she added She urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that every eligible voter remains on the electoral rolls. Moitra also criticised the suspension of seven West Bengal officers without a show-cause notice, arguing that they should get a chance to defend. "Now, the motive of the election commission cannot be sadistic, cannot be a sadistic motive to punish an ERO or an AERO. The motive of the election commission should be to make sure that every valid voter remains on the rolls. So in cases where the hearing is complete and the document is given, they must ensure that these documents, that the portal is opened for these one-lakh-plus cases to be uploaded," she added. "They have suspended seven West Bengal officers without a show cause. Even a criminal, even a murderer, is allowed a defence or is allowed a show cause. In law, without a show cause, you cannot suspend. No rules of service allow this...," she added. (ANI)
The Center of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG) hosted a main summit event entitled "Data for Development: Building AI in the Global South" at Bharat Mandapam, as part of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The dialogue brought together leading academicians and experts. The panel explored how improving access to data and AI tools, strengthening local model development, and moving from being consumers to creators of AI can help countries in the Global South shape their own digital futures. They also highlighted the importance of ethical design and sustainable infrastructure as digital capacity expands. The discussion reflected the broader priorities of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Dr. Ramanand, Director, CPRG said that "Accessibility of data and AI tools is a crucial question not only in the Global South but also the Global North. Therefore, we must focus on democratizing them for all communities across the world. Director, CPRG also stressed making data accessible not only for India but across the world. He also stressed to make data policy more transparent." Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, Director, IIM Calcutta, said, "We need to move beyond seeing AI only from the consumption side. With the talent and demographic strength we have, India must focus on becoming creators of AI, not just users." Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi, Director General, National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology, added, "Greater access to quality data enables the development of locally relevant AI models, helping strengthen the economy and keeping innovation and value rooted in the country." Prof. Shalabh, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, IIT Kanpur emphasised that AI must be built with ethics at its core, and that sustainability and responsible infrastructure planning are essential as India expands its digital capacity. The session also included a brief screening offering a preview of CPRG's upcoming report on emerging opportunities in AI and data services, highlighting India's potential in this rapidly growing sector. The day also included a roundtable discussion on AI in school education held at the India International Centre. The roundtable brought together school principals, education leaders, ed-tech representatives and policy experts to reflect on how AI is being introduced in classrooms and school systems, and how it can be adopted in practical and responsible ways that support teaching and learning. The event forms part of CPRG's Future of Society initiative, which examines how emerging technologies are reshaping governance and public institutions. In the lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, CPRG organised a series of pre-summit engagements across India and internationally, bringing together policymakers, researchers and practitioners to examine questions of AI governance and institutional preparedness. During the Summit, CPRG is convening multiple main summit dialogues to contribute to the ongoing conversation on responsible AI and technology policy. As part of this broader engagement, CPRG also hosted the second edition of its flagship PadhAI Conclave on AI in education, continuing its focus on implementation and institutional reform within the sector. (ANI)
IRVING, Texas, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) has acquired RPMGlobal Holdings Limited (ASX: RUL), an Australian-based mining software company. The acquisition expands Caterpillar's portfolio of data-driven mining technology and software solutions that help customers plan, operate and manage their sites more efficiently.

Headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, RPMGlobal has deep domain expertise in mining technology enablement, providing customers with data-driven software solutions across the mining value chain. Caterpillar announced an agreement to acquire RPMGlobal in October 2025.

"Acquiring RPMGlobal is a notable milestone supporting our strategy to solve the challenges our mining customers face every day," said Denise Johnson, group president, Caterpillar Resource Industries. "By combining RPMGlobal's software capabilities with Caterpillar's proven equipment and technology solutions, we will unlock new opportunities to help customers improve mine site performance, while advancing the future of mining technology in a way that is practical, scalable and grounded in their needs."

"Given the complementary nature of the two companies' technology offerings, Caterpillar is an ideal home for both our people and our software products," said Richard Mathews, chief executive officer, RPMGlobal. "By deeply integrating our solution sets, we will be able to better solve the most difficult challenges mining companies grapple with daily. The team and I are looking forward to working with the Caterpillar team for the benefit of our customers."

RPMGlobal will continue to offer products and services under the RPMGlobal brand.

About Caterpillar

For more than a century, Caterpillar has helped build a better, more sustainable world. With 2025 sales and revenues of $67.6 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is shaping the future as the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. Backed by one of the largest independent global dealer networks and financing services through Cat Financial, the company's primary business segments: Power & Energy, Construction Industries and Resource Industries are solving customers' toughest challenges through commercial excellence and advanced technology, driven by a highly skilled, dedicated global team. Learn more at www.caterpillar.com.

About RPMGlobal

RPMGlobal Holdings Limited [RPM] is a global leader in the provision and development of mining software solutions to the mining industry.

RPM has been advancing the global mining industry through the provision of innovative software solutions and deep domain expertise for almost 50 years. The company's innovative technology solutions support mining clients to extract more value at every stage of the mining lifecycle. In partnership with the industry, RPM has delivered safer, cleaner and more efficient operations in over 125 countries. Learn more at www.rpmglobal.com.

SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday expressed concern over the Russia-Ukraine war, agreeing to support lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy. In a joint statement issued by India and France, following bilateral talks during Macron's visit to India, "the two leaders reiterated their concern over the war in Ukraine, which continues to cause immense human suffering and negative global consequences." "They stressed the importance of cessation of hostilities and expressed support for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and international law, including independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," the joint statement shared by the External Affairs Ministry read. The statement comes in the backdrop of the upcoming peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva, mediated by the United States, to negotiate to end the war that began in February 2022. Meanwhile, as per the India-France joint statement, PM Modi and Emmanuel Macron expressed their support for the implementation of the Peace Plan for Gaza in accordance with Resolution 2803 adopted by the United Nations Security Council and principles enshrined in the New York Declaration. New Delhi and Paris called for a "two-state solution" through dialogue. "They (PM Modi and French President Macron) encouraged all parties to implement the resolution in its entirety. Both sides restated their readiness to support efforts towards just and durable peace and stressed the need for rapid, safe, and unimpeded aid delivery throughout the Gaza Strip. Both leaders reiterated the commitment of India and France for a just and lasting solution, based on the implementation of the two-state solution, through dialogue and diplomacy," the statement said. This comes amid a US-led Board of Peace meeting scheduled on February 19. The Board of Peace, launched by US President Donald Trump in Davos in January, was initially designed to oversee Gaza's post-war transition under a broader peace framework. However, its expanded mandate to promote "global peace" and elements of its charter, including provisions allowing Trump to serve indefinitely as chairman, have raised legal and political concerns in several EU capitals. Adding to the international matters, India and France reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region and called for closer collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region, in line with their 'Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region' of 2018 and 'India-France Indo-Pacific Roadmap' of 2023. They also looked forward to enhanced engagement under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and to strengthening cooperation in the Indian Ocean Rim Association under India's Chairship. They welcomed the latest development of joint initiatives in the region, including recent new solar energy trainings in countries in the Indo-Pacific region through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) with both Indian and French funding, as well as the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructures (CDRI) and the AFD Group to reinforce disaster resilience in third countries. They appreciated the progress on the Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation (IPTDC) aimed at supporting climate- and SDG-focused projects from third countries of the Indo-Pacific, with the two sides having jointly identified projects in the fields of digital startups, health, and digital public infrastructure to be implemented together, the joint statement said. New Delhi and Paris' stand on international issues was based on their call for reformed and effective multilateralism to sustain an equitable and peaceful international order, address pressing global challenges, and prepare the world for emerging developments, including in the technological and economic domains. The two leaders stressed, in particular, the urgent need for the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The joint statement came as a result of the bilateral talks between PM Modi and Macron in Mumbai, during the French President's fourth visit to India. (ANI)
United Kingdom Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026. Official Spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, Randhir Jaiswal said that David Lammy's visit will strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a focus on responsible artificial intelligence "A warm welcome to the UK Deputy PM @DavidLammy on his arrival in New Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026. His visit will further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a strong focus on trusted, inclusive, and responsible Artificial Intelligence - as a driver of innovation, growth, and shared prosperity," the MEA spokesperson wrote on X. Earlier, world leaders from Serbia, Sri Lanka, Guyana, and Bolivia arrived in New Delhi for the summit. French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on a visit to India, will also attend the AI Impact Summit. India is hosting the AI Impact Summit, which began on February 16 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as a global convening to shape the future of inclusive, responsible, and resilient artificial intelligence (AI). Building on the momentum of previous multilateral initiatives, including the Bletchley Park, Seoul, Paris, and Kigali Summits, the AI Impact Summit is envisaged to mark a shift from aspirations to impact, demonstrating how AI can deliver tangible outcomes for People, Planet, and Progress. As the first Global AI Summit of this series to take place in the Global South, the Impact Summit will advance a future where the transformative impact of AI serves humanity, advances inclusive growth, fosters social development, and promotes people-centric innovations that protect our planet. The Summit builds on extensive groundwork, including five rounds of public consultations and global outreach sessions in Paris, Berlin, Oslo, New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Tokyo. Regional events across India have ensured grassroots voices are represented, while over 50 affiliated pre-summit events worldwide have generated actionable insights and broadened participation. Complemented by curated consultation sessions for the flagship events and working groups, these efforts reflect India's deeply participatory approach to the Impact Summit. AI today stands at an inflection point, with the power to reshape economies, accelerate scientific discovery, and address urgent global challenges, but also the potential to widen divides if left unchecked. The Summit provides a platform to bridge this gap, ensuring that the future of AI is shaped by collective action and shared responsibility. (ANI)
Iran would return in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address the gaps, a United States official said following high-stakes nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The US official noted that progress was made on the nuclear deal. "Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss. The Iranians said they would come back in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address some of the open gaps in our positions," the official said. US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law to President Donald Trump, held discussions with Iranian authorities in Geneva on Tuesday (local time). Both nations indulged in posturing ahead of the talks, as President Donald Trump issued a stern warning regarding the "consequences of not making a deal" ahead of critical diplomatic negotiations scheduled to take place in Geneva. He asked Iran to be "reasonable" in the next round of talks over the nuclear deal, reminding Tehran of the June 2025 B-2 bomber attack. However, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also issued a sharp warning to Trump, asserting that even the most powerful military could face a devastating collapse. In a series of provocative posts on X, Khamenei challenged the American President's frequent assertions of military dominance, stating, "The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again." Addressing the increased American naval presence in the region, the Supreme Leader suggested that US hardware remains vulnerable to Iranian countermeasures. "The Americans constantly say that they've sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea," Khamenei noted. Iran and the United States held the previous rounds of nuclear talks in April 2025. The Iranian nuclear deal dates back to July 2015, when the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between Iran and several world powers, including the United States, which capped Tehran's enrichment level at 3.67 per cent and reduced its uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms. The deal collapsed in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord. (ANI)
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi held a bilateral interaction with US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen T Koehler on the sidelines of the International Fleet Review and Exercise MILAN in Visakhapatnam. According to the Indian Navy, the meeting on Tuesday focused on the MALABAR and RIMPAC exercises and on strengthening interoperability. "On the sidelines of the maritime convergence of global navies at #Visakhapatnam, Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, #CNS, held bilateral interaction with Adm Stephen T Koehler, Commander, @USPacificFleet. The dialogue reflected shared maritime commitment, and discussions focused on exercises, including MALABAR and RIMPAC, strengthening interoperability, and enhancing avenues for maritime exchanges and cooperation," the Indian Navy spokesperson wrote on X. Meanwhile, the Navy chief also met Kyrgyzstan's Armed Forces Chief and First Deputy Minister of Defence, Col Otonbaev Tariel Zarylbekovich, and Myanmar Navy Chief Vice Admiral Aye Min Htwe. The Navy spokesperson said, "Stability at sea carries enduring relevance across geographies. On the sidelines of the International Fleet Review 2026 at #Visakhapatnam, Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, #CNS, held a bilateral interaction with Col Otonbaev Tariel Zarylbekovich, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic and First Deputy Minister of Defence. The interaction reflected shared perspectives and avenues for professional military engagement." "On the sidelines of the grand maritime convergence at #Visakhapatnam, Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, #CNS, interacted with VAdm Aye Min Htwe, Chief of Staff, Myanmar Navy. The bilateral dialogue underscored ongoing naval engagements and explored avenues for cooperation in maritime exchanges, capacity building, and enhancing operational interoperability," the Indian Navy wrote in a separate X post. The International Fleet Review (IFR), one of the largest naval events in independent India, is set to feature 71 ships, including 19 foreign warships, with representation from 65 nations during the Milan exercise. The IFR will be reviewed by the President at sea on February 18. A total of 71 ships will be participating in the event, arranged in six lines, including 19 foreign warships and 45 vessels from the Indian Navy. The remaining ships comprise the Coast Guard, Merchant Navy, and research vessels. The MILAN exercises, which began in 1995 with just four countries, have now expanded to involve 65 navies worldwide. India is set to host Milan 2026 once again. As part of the IFR celebrations, an International City Parade will also take place along Visakhapatnam's Beach Road on the evening of February 19. Seven to eight foreign bands will also perform in the event, with 45 contingents participating in the parade. Notably, INS Vikrant has already arrived in Visakhapatnam and will be part of this grand IFR. The Indian Navy on Sunday inaugurated the MILAN village, created as an experience zone that brings together delegates and naval personnel from over 70 countries in an atmosphere of camaraderie and friendship, the Defence Ministry said. (ANI)
President of Spain Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon arrived in India to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 AND was greeted by Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Singh. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X wrote, "Welcome, President of Spain, Mr. Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon @sanchezcastejon for the India-AI Impact Summit. Warmly received by Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship @jayantrld. The visit of President Sanchez will add further impetus to the ongoing celebrations of India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and AI." The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, it started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity. The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers. The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement. Relations between India and Spain have been cordial since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1956. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid an official bilateral visit to Spain on 30-31 May 2017. The Prime Ministers of India and Spain met on the sidelines of G20 Summits in 2018 and 2021 and they spoke on telephone on 15th February 2023, in which they expressed confidence in the growing relations between the two countries. EAM met FM Jose Manuel Albares in New York on the sidelines of UNGA in September 2024 and September 2022. FM Albares had paid a bilateral visit to India in June 2022. FM Albares had also visited India twice in 2023 to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meet in March 2023 and the G20 Summit in September 2023. The Third Vice President and Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge,Teresa Ribera, visited India from 7th - 9th February 2024.(ANI)
Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind appreciated India for hosting the seminal Global AI Impact, noting that it comes at an opportune time as the world is on the sup of Artificial Generative Intelligence. The DeepMind CEO higjlighted several areas where AI is making strides and also underlined the importance of the AI Summit in promoting global dialogue and cooperation for mitigating the risks which may arise from the technology. Demis Hassabis hailed the gathering of the top minds from India and across the world at the Summit and said, "We are at a threshold moment where Artificial Generative Intelligence is on the horizon in the next 5-8 years. So this summit comes at a critical moment as we start seeing more autonomous AI systems. The opportunties are incredible." He highlighted the avenues where AI can play a crucial role-- science, medicine, climate change, human health. "AI is going to be the most transformative technology in human history that's just on the horizon now and it is going to affect everybody across the world. It's very important to have summits like this to bring the international community together to make sure the opportunities benefit the whole world and how do we mitigate the risks- which would need international cooperation and the first step to that is to have international dialogue," he said. Demis Hassabis is an Al researcher, entrepreneur, and Nobel Laureate. Demis is the co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind. In 2017, Demis featured in the Times 100 list of most influential people, and in 2024 he was awarded a knighthood for services to the field of Artificial Intelligence. Earlier, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thusday hailed the young minds for their passion towards artificial intelligence and their response to coming to the AI Summit in large numbers. He shared how India is using AI to solve real world problems and gave a call to the top minds gathered for bringing solutions in making AI safe for all. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, it started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026.T he Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity. The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers. The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement. (ANI)
Canada's Minister for AI and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, will participate in the Global AI Impact Summit being held in the national capital, the High Commission of Canada in India shared on Wednesday. In a series of posts on X, the High Commission highlighted how the visit aims to strengthen Canada's AI partnership with India, with Minister Solomon slated to meet senior Indian officials. The posts further noted that the visit is focused on advancing partnerships in the fields of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. https://x.com/CanadainIndia/status/2023956696440173026?s=20 https://x.com/CanadainIndia/status/2023956699602706489?s=20 https://x.com/CanadainIndia/status/2023956702861660310?s=20 "Canada is in New Delhi this week to strengthen its AI partnership with India and engage with global leaders shaping the economy of the future. From February 18 to 21, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon will meet with senior Indian officials and participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The visit is focused on advancing practical partnerships in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies -- expanding opportunities for Canadian companies, attracting investment, and strengthening Canada's competitive position in the global economy," the post stated. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity. The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers. The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement. (ANI)
Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchadra Ramgoolam arrived in India on Thursday for the global AI Impact Summit being hosted here in the national capital. He was received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary. Sharing the details of his arrival in a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) underlined the close partnership between India and Mauritius and said, "Welcome to a close friend and maritime neighbour! Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius @Ramgoolam_Dr was warmly received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti @dr_rajbhushan on his arrival in India for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Digital cooperation remains a key pillar of the - Enhanced Strategic Partnership, anchored in deep-rooted and historic people-to-people ties." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2023977264275485003?s=20 Earlier today, President of Spain Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon; Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo; Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also arrived for the AI Summit. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, it started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity. The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers. The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement. (ANI)
Among them, former national security advisor Khalilur Rahman, from the previous interim government of Muhammad Yunus, has been given the role of foreign minister, while another senior BNP leader, who was previously a member of BNP's international affairs subcommittee, Shama Obaid, has been appointed as State Minister for Foreign Affairs.

After the allocation of the ministerial roles, the government issued an official order announcing that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would take responsibility for three ministries: the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Defense, and the Armed Forces Division.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was given the responsibility of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, The role of Finance and Planning Minister was assigned to BNP's Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and BNP Joint Secretary General Saluddin Ahmed was given the role of Minister of Home Affairs.

The 2026 Bangladesh general election, held on 12 February 2026, marked a major political shift in the country's history.

After years of upheaval culminating in the 2024 uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a decisive victory, capturing over 200 seats in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad and securing a strong parliamentary majority.

Tarique Rahman, son of former leaders Khaleda Zia and Ziaur Rahman, returned from years in exile to lead the BNP to power and has been sworn in as Prime Minister, ending Hasina's long dominance.

The elections were accompanied by a constitutional referendum and saw increased representation of minority candidates. Voter turnout was relatively high, and Rohana Hettiarachchie, Executive Director of People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) described the polls as competitive and orderly. However, the exclusion of key parties like the Awami League and tensions over reform debates mean significant political challenges remain ahead. (ANI)
Seychelles Vice-President Sebastien Pillay arrived in India on Wednesday for the global AI Impact Summit being hosted here in the national capital. He was received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary. Sharing the details of his arrival in a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the longstanding partnership between India and Seychelles and said, "A warm welcome to the Vice President of Seychelles, Mr. Sebastien Pillay as he arrives in New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. He was received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti @dr_rajbhushan on arrival at the airport. A close and longstanding maritime partner, Seychelles' participation in the Summit offers an opportunity to harness AI for the benefit of our peoples and further strengthen our partnership." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2023974290761334808?s=20 Earlier today, Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; Spanish President Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon; Finnish PM Petteri Orpo; Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also landed in the national capital for the AI Summit. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity. The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers. The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement. (ANI)
CARY, N.C., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- COC Properties, Inc. announced it will operate under a new name, GenWorks Group, Inc., marking a new chapter for the Stephenson family's enterprise while reaffirming its enduring commitment to Cary Oil, the family-founded business that has anchored the organization for more than six decades. Ownership of the company remains with the Stephenson family.

The Stephenson family's business story began in 1959 with the founding of Cary Oil in Cary, North Carolina. What started as a single local operation grew into a thriving regional business and became the foundation upon which the family built its broader enterprise. Today, Cary Oil continues to serve as the cornerstone of the family's businesses and a tangible expression of its long-term commitment to employees, customers, and the communities it serves.

"Cary Oil is where our story began, and it continues to shape how we think about community, responsibility, and stewardship," said Craig Stephenson, son and nephew of the company's founders. "While our holding company name is changing, our commitment to Cary Oil, its people, and the communities it serves is unwavering. GenWorks reflects our desire to carry that legacy forward with care and intention for the next generations."

Over time, the Stephenson family expanded its business interests beyond wholesale fuel to include commercial real estate. The new GenWorks Group name reflects both the family's generational ownership and the shared purpose that connects its businesses.

The company clarified that the rebrand affects only the holding company. Cary Oil will continue operating under its longstanding and trusted name, maintaining the same commitment to operational excellence, customer service, and community involvement that has defined the brand for decades. Fellow operating company Mackenan Property Group will likewise continue the family's legacy, serving as the steward and developer of the company's real estate holdings with a focus on building and investing in their community.

Leadership Transitions

GenWorks Group also announced a leadership transition. Craig Stephenson has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and assumed the role of Executive Board Chair, continuing to support the organization's long-term governance and family stewardship. The company also recognized Don Stephenson, who has stepped down as Board Chair after many years of service. Don will continue serving as a valued member of the board of directors.

The board of directors has named Gordon Sinclair as President and Chief Executive Officer of GenWorks Group, Inc., effective September 1, 2025. Sinclair previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of COC Properties, Inc. and brings continuity, operational expertise, and a deep understanding of the family's businesses and values.

Across its portfolio, GenWorks Group remains committed to human flourishing, thriving communities, and principled leadership. The Stephenson family continues to steward its businesses with a long-term perspective, creating value that endures from generation to generation.

About GenWorks Group, Inc.

GenWorks Group, Inc. is a family-owned holding company with roots dating back to 1959. Guided by a commitment to generational stewardship and principled leadership, GenWorks supports a diverse portfolio of operating companies across commercial real estate, payments processing, and related ventures. The company is dedicated to human flourishing, thriving communities, and the thoughtful stewardship of human, relational, and financial capital to create lasting value for employees, customers, and communities.

Media Contact

Carri Bojara

VP, Marketing & Communications

Cary Oil

[email protected]

919-624-2547

SOURCE GenWorks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Finland PM Petteri Orpo on Wednesday at the Hyderabad House. Orpo is in India to visit the ongoing AI India Impact Summit in the national capital Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also received Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. As per the Ministry of External Affairs, the meeting between PM Modi and President Sanchez saw discussions on areas such as trade and economy, digital, innovation, health, climate action and education among others. PM Modi conveyed his appreciation for Spain's consistent support for strong India-EU relations. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2024005718387683451?s=20 The Seychelles VP Sebastien Pillay; Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, also arrived in the national capital today for the AI Summit. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity. The Summit is witnessing participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers. The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, at Hyderabad House in the national capital, amid the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026. The bilateral meeting follows President Vucic's arrival in Delhi on Tuesday to participate in the summit. He was warmly received at the airport by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita. Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, highlighted the significance of the visit in a post on X, stating, "Warm welcome to President of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Vucic. He was received by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on his arrival at the airport in New Delhi. His participation in India-AI Impact Summit will impart further momentum to the strong and close friendship between India and Serbia." Jaiswal's remarks underline how President Vucic's engagement at the summit is expected to further strengthen the longstanding and close ties between the two nations. India is hosting the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as a landmark global convening aimed at shaping the future of inclusive, responsible, and resilient Artificial Intelligence. Building on the momentum of earlier multilateral AI initiatives, including the Bletchley Park, Seoul, Paris, and Kigali Summits, the India AI Impact Summit seeks to move beyond aspirations toward delivering real, tangible impact. The summit is structured around the core principles of People, Planet, and Progress, demonstrating how AI can generate meaningful outcomes that serve humanity while advancing inclusive growth, social development, and people-centric innovations that safeguard the environment. As the first major global AI summit in this series to be held in the Global South, the event is positioned to advance a future where AI's transformative power benefits all, promotes equitable progress, and addresses global challenges responsibly. The summit builds on extensive preparatory work, including five rounds of public consultations and global outreach sessions held in Paris, Berlin, Oslo, New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Tokyo. To ensure broad and inclusive input, regional events across India have amplified grassroots voices, while more than 50 affiliated Pre-Summit Events worldwide have generated actionable insights and widened participation. These efforts, complemented by curated consultation sessions and working groups, reflect India's deeply participatory and consultative approach to organising the India AI Impact Summit. At a time when AI stands at a critical inflection point, with immense potential to reshape economies, accelerate scientific breakthroughs, and tackle pressing global issues, there is also the risk of deepening divides if development remains unchecked. Against this backdrop, the India AI Impact Summit provides a vital platform for collective action and shared responsibility, ensuring the future of AI is shaped inclusively to serve humanity and bridge gaps rather than widen them. (ANI)
Prime Minister of Netherlands Dick Schoof arrived in India on Wednesday as the country hosts the seminal summit on artificial intelligence, bringing together leaders from across the world. PM Schoof was received by Minister Jitendra Singh upon arrival here in the national capital. In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs noted that his participation would further deepen and strengthen the ties between India and Netherlands. "Warm welcome to the Prime Minister Mr. Dick Schoof of The Netherlands, @MinPres. He was received by Minister of State @DrJitendraSingh on arrival in New Delhi. PM Schoof will attend the India-AI Impact Summit; his participation will further deepen and strengthen India-Netherlands bilateral partnership." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2024028278689026183?s=20 World leaders flock to New Delhi with the Global AI Impact Summit underway. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic; Google CEO Sundar Pichai; Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland PM Petteri Orpo; and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez. Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay; Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; and Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also landed in the national capital for the AI Summit. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity. The Summit is witnessing participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers. The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement. (ANI)
During the visit, Brazil hosted the India-Brazil Business Forum 2026 and inaugurated the first ApexBrasil office in the Indian capital, aimed at expanding exports and strengthening commercial presence in one of the world's fastest-growing markets.

The initiative comes amid robust growth in bilateral trade. Commerce between the two countries reached 15.2 billion US dollars in 2025, a 25 per cent increase from the previous year.

Both sides now aim to raise the figure to 20 billion dollars by 2026 and significantly expand the product basket, as cited by Brasil 247.

President Lula described India and Brazil as natural partners, citing their democratic systems, cultural diversity, and expanding economies.

India's vast consumer market, rising demand for energy, food, and industrial inputs, along with rapid infrastructure growth, have positioned it as a priority destination for Brazilian exports.

Brazilian exports to India climbed to 6.9 billion dollars in 2025, the highest in two decades, led by sugar, crude oil, vegetable oils, cotton, and iron ore.

The export promotion agency ApexBrasil has identified 378 new opportunities across minerals, machinery, food products, health technology, and renewable energy sectors.

Agricultural items such as ethanol derivatives and cotton, along with industrial equipment for agribusiness and power generation, are key focus areas.

At the same time, India continues supplying higher value-added goods to Brazil, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and auto components.

Brazilian imports from India stood at 8.4 billion dollars in 2025.

Investment ties are also expanding, with Indian foreign direct investment in Brazil reaching 2.1 billion dollars and new industrial collaborations emerging.

The partnership is reinforced through frameworks such as the Mercosur-India Preferential Trade Agreement and cooperation within BRICS, G20, BASIC, and IBAS, highlighting the growing importance of South-South economic collaboration. (ANI)
Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday highlighted the contrasting global perceptions toward artificial intelligence, noting that while countries like India display immense optimism, Western nations continue to grapple with anxiety over the emerging technology. Speaking at the 'Governing in the age of AI: Sovereignty, Impact and Strategy' event in the national capital, Sunak stressed that addressing this disparity in public confidence remains a critical challenge for leaders worldwide. "Across the world, we're seeing these different attitudes towards AI. In countries like India, where we are, there's enormous optimism and trust, and in Western countries, we're seeing that anxiety is still the dominant feeling towards AI," Sunak said. The former UK Prime Minister further pointed out that bridging this confidence divide would require more than technological progress alone, calling for deliberate policy interventions to foster greater public trust. "I think closing that confidence gap is as much a policy task as it is a technical one," he added. Sunak's observations came in a fireside chat with former UK PM Rishi Sunak, Meta's Alexandr Wang at the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The summit which is scheduled to go on till February 20 has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, the event aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity. The summit features participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organizations, including around 20 heads of state or government and about 45 ministers. It forms part of an evolving international process focused on strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI. Guided by the three foundational Sutras--People, Planet, and Progress--the India AI Impact Summit 2026 promotes human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological progress. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met with the President of Estonia, Alar Karis, at Hyderabad House in the national capital. The high-level meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026, marking a significant moment for bilateral diplomatic engagement between the two nations. The discussions align with President Karis's broader address to a gathering in the national capital on Tuesday, where he emphasised the deep-rooted historical parallels between Estonia and India. Marking the upcoming anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, President Alar Karis described both nations as "ancient Europeans" and a "cradle of civilisation" respectively, highlighting their shared journey from colonial rule to independence. "History has not always treated us kindly. Both our nations have experienced what it is like to be ruled by others," President Karis said, noting that both transitioned from "colonial yokes" to freedom following the World Wars and have since transformed into modern technological powerhouses. Drawing direct parallels between their digital journeys, the Estonian President highlighted Estonia's pioneering 'Tiger Leap' programme of the 1990s, which digitised education nationwide, and linked it to the current "AI Leap" initiative. "The new technological beast that needs training is, of course, artificial intelligence. We must make it our friend. Last year, I laid the foundations for a new programme called the AI Leap, designed to help our youngsters and teachers harness its power for the benefit of society," he added. President Karis revealed that his visit to New Delhi is centred on the ongoing World AI Summit, underscoring the focus on artificial intelligence as a key area of bilateral interest. On the economic front, the President invited further Indian investment and expressed particular interest in expanding cooperation in green hydrogen and electronics. Turning to global security, President Karis expressed grave concern over Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine, describing it as an issue with far-reaching consequences beyond the region. "Russia's aggression in Ukraine is not merely a regional concern. The international community must find ways to ramp up pressure on Russia and create a situation wherein warfare becomes too costly and exhausting for them," Karis said, adding that Moscow appears insincere regarding peace talks. Quoting Rabindranath Tagore, the President emphasised that the friendship between India and Estonia is firmly rooted in shared values of democracy, pluralism, and respect for sovereignty. "By staying on that path, our friendship will be a strong and long-lasting one," he said. (ANI)
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived in Delhi on Wednesday to attend the India-AI Impact Summit. Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said the visit will further strengthen India's partnership with the UN. In a post on X, he said, "Hearty welcome to the Secretary General of UN Antonio Guterres, to New Delhi for the India-AI Impact Summit. Warmly received by Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road & for Transport & Highways Harsh Malhotra. India is committed to multilateralism, sustainable development and global peace and the visit of Mr. Antonio Guterres will further strengthen India's partnership with the UN." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2024075828951450090?s=20 Notably, the UN believes in using AI for inclusivity. Its website says that AI includes a diverse range of technologies that can be defined as 'self-learning, adaptive systems.' It can be categorized based on technologies, purposes (like facial or image recognition), functions (such as language understanding and problem-solving), or types of agents (including robots and self-driving cars). It also includes various methods and disciplines such as vision, speech recognition, and robotics, and serves to enhance traditional human capabilities. Recent progress in AI has been driven by advancements in computer processing power and data techniques. In all these spheres and more, AI has significant potential to support the UN by promoting inclusivity, reducing inequalities, helping to accelerate nearly 80% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening the work of the United Nations system. World leaders flock to New Delhi with the Global AI Impact Summit underway. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic; Google CEO Sundar Pichai; Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland PM Petteri Orpo; and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez. Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay; Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; and Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also landed in the national capital for the AI Summit. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. (ANI)
PM Modi and Bektenov discussed ways to strengthen strategic partnership.

In a post on X, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov of Kazakhstan on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit. The leaders discussed ways to strengthen strategic partnership and deepen bilateral cooperation in all sectors, including trade, defence and security, connectivity, energy, emerging technologies, and people-to-people ties."

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Bektenov arrived earlier in the day in Delhi and was received by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.

In a post on X, Jaiswal said, "Prime Minister Mr. Olzhas Bektenov of Kazakhstan, arrives in New Delhi. Cordially received by Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh at the airport. The visit of PM Bektenov and his participation at the India-AI Impact Summit will give fillip to the robust partnership between both countries."

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World leaders flock to New Delhi with the Global AI Impact Summit underway.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic; Google CEO Sundar Pichai; Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland PM Petteri Orpo; and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay; Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; and Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also landed in the national capital for the AI Summit.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. (ANI)
Kenya on Wednesday called for enhanced collaboration with India in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor manufacturing and critical mineral development, highlighting the growing momentum of South-South cooperation at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital. Speaking at the summit, Shikoh Gatua, Chief Administrative Officer of Qhala, Kenya, praised India's leadership and hosting of the event, stating that the engagement had translated ideas into tangible partnerships. "It's been amazing. India has been an amazing host. Our startups and innovators have met incredible collaborators. We are seeing it move from paper to pavement when we talk about South-South collaboration. In the last three days, we have seen clear curiosity and acknowledgement that we need to work together," Gatua said. Emphasising the diversity of Global South nations, she noted that countries like Kenya and India bring unique cultural and linguistic strengths to AI development. "We have diverse cultures, diverse languages, and diverse people. We are not just homogeneous English-speaking societies. That is what we bring to the table as people from the Global South. We are looking at what India has done that we can quickly learn from and move the needle," she added. Drawing an analogy, Gatua described AI as a transformative yet powerful force requiring careful governance. "AI is like fire. Fire is a technology. You have to put guardrails around it. But you cannot pour water on fire, because then you lose energy and heat. In the same way, with AI, we need guardrails that allow us to use it safely and with governance, without putting out innovation," she said. Meanwhile, Mary Kerema, Secretary for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Government of Kenya, extended an open invitation to India to collaborate in critical mineral mining and semiconductor manufacturing, underscoring Kenya's ambition to become self-sufficient and an exporter in the tech value chain. "The South-South--each country cannot work at it alone. We are open to collaboration. I know India is doing a lot of manufacturing--chips and semiconductors. Kenya today is looking at being self-sufficient. And how do you become self-sufficient? By producing your own products and exporting," Kerema said. Calling for partnership rather than competition, she stressed the need to build complementary manufacturing ecosystems. "Can we collaborate? Can we partner? We are not in competition. We need to build each other. As you manufacture in India and we manufacture in Kenya, then we bring sufficiency," she said. Highlighting Kenya's mineral wealth, Kerema invited Indian companies to explore lithium mining opportunities in the country. "Our country is a bed of many minerals. We are welcoming India to come and get our lithium from Kenya and then build your chips. I'm seeing a lot of collaboration, skills transfer and matchmaking so that we can be closer and work together. The more we work together, the more we grow," she added. The remarks reflect a broader push among Global South nations to jointly shape the AI ecosystem and secure supply chains in critical minerals essential for semiconductor and emerging technology industries. India is hosting AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet and Progress. The Prime Minister inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday. The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, has witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders. Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative. PM Modi will deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence. (ANI)
Official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said Georgieva was received at the airport by Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road, Transport & Highways, Harsh Malhotra.

Jaiswal further stated that India values its close engagement with the IMF.

In a post on X, Jaiswal said, "Warm welcome to the Managing Director of IMF Kristalina Georgieva. She was received by Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road, Transport & Highways, Harsh Malhotra at the airport. India values its close engagement with the IMF in advancing global financial resilience and supporting inclusive and sustainable development."

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World leaders flocked to New Delhi with the Global AI Impact Summit underway.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic on the sidelines of the India AI Summit.

In a post on X, he said, "Held fruitful discussions with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr. Andrej Plenkovic. We discussed how to add momentum to our bilateral partnership in areas such as technology, innovation, shipbuilding, blue economy and boosting connectivity through the IMEEC corridor. Also expressed gratitude for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which will bring unprecedented progress for people in India as well as Europe."

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Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic; Google CEO Sundar Pichai; Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland PM Petteri Orpo; Bhutan Prime Minister Tenzing Tobgay, and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay; Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; and Ebba Busch, Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry also landed in the national capital for the AI Summit.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. (ANI)
ATLANTA, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia-Pacific today announced that Nate Medina has been named senior vice president and general sales manager of GP PRO. In this role, Medina will lead the organization's field sales, national accounts, and distribution teams, driving commercial execution and strengthening customer partnerships across the business.

Nate Medina named senior vice president and general sales manager for GP PRO.

"Nate brings a wealth of experience to his new role  from leading large sales teams within our GP PRO customer organization to managing our key product lines across both our Professional and Retail businesses," said Chris Warburton, chief customer officer of Georgia-Pacific's Consumer Products group. "His leadership and deep understanding of our customers and our industry will help us continue delivering excellence in products and service while creating mutual value through innovative, customer-focused solutions."

During his 14-year tenure with GP, Medina has built high-performing teams that create customer value and drive sustainable growth. He has held leadership roles across the GP Consumer Products group customer organization, including leadership positions in sales, sales strategy, and commercial finance. Medina previously served as vice president and general manager of Retail Tissue, Towel and Napkin, where he led the customer brands TTN business. Most recently, he served as vice president and general manager of GP PRO's Towel and Napkin business.

In his new role, Medina will focus on accelerating growth, enhancing customer collaboration, and delivering long-term value for GP PRO and its partners.

About GP PRO

Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose and building products. The company operates approximately 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates nearly 89,000 jobs indirectly. GP PRO, a division of Georgia-Pacific, manufactures and sells well-known brands like enMotion, Compact, Angel Soft Professional Series, Brawny, Dixie, Pacific Blue and the KOLO Smart Monitoring System. GP PRO products meet restroom, foodservice, and break room needs for office buildings, healthcare, foodservice, high traffic, lodging, retail, and education facilities, plus a wide range of industrial and manufacturing facilities in North America. For more information, visit: gppro.com.

SOURCE Georgia-Pacific
Among the dignitaries received were Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, President of Spain; Peter Pellegrini, President of the Slovak Republic; Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan; Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland; Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka; and Alar Karis, President of Estonia.

Prime Minister Modi also welcomed Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius; Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Sebastien Pillay, Vice President of Seychelles; Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece; and Andrej Plenkovic, Prime Minister of Croatia.

Global institutions were represented by Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, as well as Vice Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana and Edmand Lara Montano of Bolivia.

The series of high-level welcomes at Bharat Mandapam highlighted India's leadership in promoting global cooperation on artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital transformation. Leaders attending the summit are expected to discuss AI-driven solutions, economic growth, sustainable development, and technology partnerships.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 brings together nations and international institutions, reflecting India's focus on multilateral collaboration and the use of AI to address global challenges and unlock new opportunities for shared growth.

India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet and Progress.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday.

The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, has witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders.

Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.

PM Modi will deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held talks with Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. PM Modi described the meeting as "outstanding," stating that India-Bhutan friendship continues to expand into new and transformative domains. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "The meeting with PM Tshering Tobgay was outstanding. We discussed how we can harness the power of AI for global good and in harmony with principles of sustainability. Our enduring India-Bhutan friendship, rooted in mutual trust, goodwill and close ties between our two peoples, continues to guide our partnership into new and transformative domains." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024109724753682799?s=20 Official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said on X that PM Modi and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation across energy, connectivity, development partnerships, and people-to-people ties. "PM Narendra Modi engaged in bilateral talks with PM Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan on the sidelines of the India-AI Impact Summit today. The two leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation in energy, connectivity, development partnership and people-to-people connect. They expressed support for harnessing AI for inclusive and human-centric progress and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the AI and digital tech space. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to further strengthen the India-Bhutan partnership anchored in trust, goodwill and mutual respect." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2024100230095044751?s=20 Bhutan PM Tobgay arrived in Delhi earlier in the day and was received at the airport by Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary In a post on X, Jaiswal wrote, "Warm welcome to the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Mr. Tshering Tobgay as he arrives for the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, received by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary at the airport. The enduring relationship between India and Bhutan is rooted in mutual trust and goodwill, and is firmly anchored in India's Neighbourhood First policy." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2024092168953143517?s=20 India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16 to February 20. The summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, the event aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the broader global principle of AI for Humanity. The summit features participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including around 20 heads of state or government and about 45 ministers. (ANI)
Norwegian Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Oldernes Tung said on Wednesday that the Nordic country is keen to collaborate with India on ethical and inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) as India hosts the AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital. Speaking to ANI, on the sidelines of the summit, the Norwegian minister expressed her delight to be here in India and said that she was fascinated by India's work on digital inclusion. "I am really happy to be here in India and I'm already very impressed with the way India is working on digital inclusion, building companies, and developing talent. For Norway, it is a top priority to ensure that Artificial Intelligence benefits everyone, every society, and every country. I'm happy that both Norway and India share this democratic approach to AI and the need for global standards and agreements to make sure the technology benefits everyone," she said. Highlighting the strategic importance of trade and technological collaboration, Tung noted that the recently concluded EFTA-India trade agreement, which includes Norway, offers opportunities for cooperation across multiple domains. "This agreement will enable us to work together on energy, maritime, health technology, cybersecurity, and AI. The potential over the next few years, particularly in ethical and trustworthy AI, is enormous. I believe this journey will be mutually beneficial for both Norway and India," she added. Tung also praised India's public sector initiatives and inclusive digital ecosystem. "Visiting India and seeing how you work on digital inclusiveness, including public services, is very impressive. In Norway, we also strive to ensure no one is left behind and that everyone can participate in the digital society. Learning from India's experience is valuable, and it is an area where our countries can cooperate further," she said. India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet and Progress. The Prime Minister inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday. The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, has witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders. Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative. PM Modi will deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held bilateral talks with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital. The discussions focused on ways to further strengthen India-Croatia relations and enhance their bilateral partnership. PM Modi, in a post on X, described the meeting as "fruitful" and said, "Held fruitful discussions with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr. Andrej Plenkovic. We discussed how to add momentum to our bilateral partnership in areas such as technology, innovation, shipbuilding, blue economy and boosting connectivity through the IMEEC corridor. Also expressed gratitude for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which will bring unprecedented progress for people in India as well as Europe." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024089660675522653?s=20 Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, wrote in a post on X, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic on the sidelines of AI Impact Summit 2026. The two leaders exchanged views on ways to further strengthen India-Croatia relations and advance cooperation in new areas of mutual interest, including AI, information and communication technologies, innovation and clean energy, among others. Both leaders agreed to work for the early implementation of the India-EU FTA. Prime Minister Modi appreciated deep interest of the people of Croatia in Indology and the Indian traditional system of Yoga and Ayurveda." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2024033223274283126?s=20 PM Modi met Plenkovic at Hyderabad House in Delhi. India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16 to February 20. The summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, the event aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the broader global principle of AI for Humanity. The summit features participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organisations, including around 20 heads of state or government and about 45 ministers. (ANI)
In a landmark move to strengthen bilateral cooperation in healthcare and emerging technologies, Union Minister for Health JP Nadda, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, inaugurated the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, on Wednesday. According to an official release, the IF-CAIH is a pioneering initiative designed to advance AI-driven research, medical education, and clinical innovation, addressing complex healthcare challenges while promoting interdisciplinary collaboration between India and France. Speaking at the inauguration, President Macron emphasised the importance of building sovereign AI capacity and talent, stating, "India and France are committed to developing the computing capacity and talent necessary to build our own trusted AI systems, as we cannot rely solely on technologies created and managed elsewhere. Artificial Intelligence must serve humanity - with strong protections for children, transparency in algorithms to address bias, and a firm commitment to preserving linguistic and cultural diversity." The launch coincided with the Rencontres Universitaires et Scientifiques de Haut Niveau (RUSH) 2026, a high-level academic and scientific forum held at AIIMS on February 18 and February 19, coordinated by the French Embassy. A dedicated session titled "Indo-French Forum: AI in Brain Health and Global Healthcare" brought together scientists, clinicians, policymakers, and academic leaders from both countries to explore collaborative solutions in global health, the release stated. The IF-CAIH has been established under a joint MoU between AIIMS, Sorbonne University, and Paris Brain Institute, with additional collaboration from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and other leading French institutions. The initiative builds on ongoing India-France cooperation in priority areas such as Digital Health, Antimicrobial Resistance, Human Resources for Health, and responsible use of health data. As part of the RUSH 2026 programme, President Macron interacted with young Indian innovators, including Priyanka Das Rajkakati and Manan Suri, during a session moderated by Clara Chappaz, highlighting youth-led innovation and cross-border collaboration in AI. The programme also featured a special segment on "Major Scientific and Academic Cooperation Highlights between France and India" at the Jawaharlal Auditorium, moderated by Prof. Vijay Raghavan and Dr. Thierry Coulhon, Chairmen of RUSH. During the visit, several AIIMS doctors shared a selfie with President Macron, capturing a moment of engagement and camaraderie with young researchers. The session showcased key milestones and emerging avenues of collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation between the two countries, reflecting the depth and dynamism of the Indo-French knowledge partnership. Union Health Minister JP Nadda reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in AI-enabled healthcare, emphasising the potential of the IF-CAIH to foster innovation, capacity building, and global knowledge exchange. President Macron also posted on X, stating, "In New Delhi, we are inaugurating the Franco-Indian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, led by AIIMS, Sorbonne Universite, and the Brain Institute. Research, training, innovation: France and India are mobilising AI for the common good!" The launch of IF-CAIH marks a significant milestone in India-France relations, reflecting both countries' shared vision for ethical, inclusive, and globally beneficial AI in healthcare. (ANI)
Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said the visit is expected to further strengthen the India-Greece Strategic Partnership.

In a post on X, Jaiswal wrote, "Welcome to the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece, as he was received by Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and for Chemicals & Fertilizers Anupriya Patel on arrival at the airport in New Delhi. PM Mitsotakis will participate in the India-AI Impact Summit. The visit will further boost the India-Greece Strategic Partnership, rooted in civilisational linkages."

https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2024109847084700106?s=20

Earlier in the day, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also arrived in the national capital to attend the summit.

Jaiswal said that Guterres' visit would further reinforce India's engagement with the UN.

In another post on X, he wrote, "Hearty welcome to the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, to New Delhi for the India-AI Impact Summit. Warmly received by Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road & Transport & Highways, Harsh Malhotra. India is committed to multilateralism, sustainable development and global peace and the visit of Mr. Antonio Guterres will further strengthen India's partnership with the UN."

https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2024077380441280847?s=20

Several world leaders have arrived in New Delhi as the Global AI Impact Summit continues at Bharat Mandapam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch, have also arrived in the national capital to attend the summit.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. (ANI)
World leaders converged in New Delhi on Wednesday as the Global India AI Impact Summit 2026 continued, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding several high-level bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the event. PM Modi met President Alar Karis of Estonia to discuss advancing the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and cooperation in futuristic technologies. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, "Had an excellent meeting with President Alar Karis of Estonia, a nation which has made remarkable strides in tech and AI. Discussed how to add further vigour to our economic partnership, particularly in the context of the India-EU FTA, which is a historical agreement. We also talked about working together in futuristic technologies, energy management, skilling and more." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024100969227973087?s=20 Prime Minister Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. PM Modi also held talks with Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, focusing on harnessing AI for sustainable development and strengthening the India-Bhutan friendship. "The meeting with PM Tshering Tobgay was outstanding. We discussed how we can harness the power of AI for global good and in harmony with principles of sustainability. Our enduring India-Bhutan friendship, rooted in mutual trust, goodwill and close ties between our two peoples, continues to guide our partnership into new and transformative domains," he wrote in a post on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024109724753682799?s=20 On the Summit sidelines, the Prime Minister also engaged with the Kazakhstan PM, Olzhas Bektenov. In a post on X, he said, "Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and I met earlier today. His visit will further deepen the India-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership. There is immense scope for bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, critical minerals, rare earths, defence, connectivity and space. We will keep working together to take our friendship to new heights." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024103321687281839?s=20 Discussions with Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic focused on boosting bilateral ties in technology, innovation, shipbuilding, and other areas. "Held fruitful discussions with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr. Andrej Plenkovic. We discussed how to add momentum to our bilateral partnership in areas such as technology, innovation, shipbuilding, blue economy and boosting connectivity through the IMEEC corridor. Also expressed gratitude for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which will bring unprecedented progress for people in India as well as Europe," he said. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024089660675522653?s=20 PM Modi held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to enhance cooperation in defence, manufacturing, and digital public infrastructure, and to deepen cooperation across several sectors. In a post on X, he said, "Met President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit. We discussed ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as defence, manufacturing, DPI, fertilisers and infrastructure. For many years, India and Serbia have worked closely and I am confident our ties will gain even more momentum in the times to come." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024059371358138617?s=20 Engaging with global tech leaders, the Prime Minister met Google CEO Sundar Pichai to discuss India's AI initiatives and opportunities for collaboration with students. In a post on X, he said, "It was a delight to meet Mr. Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024030030024622539?s=20 PM Modi also held extensive discussions with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, highlighting cooperation in futuristic technologies. In a post on X, he said, "Held extensive discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo. Thanked him for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which ushers in a golden era in India-Europe relations. India and Finland aim to double trade, thus giving a strong boost to economic linkages. We also talked about enhancing cooperation in futuristic technologies like 6G, innovation, clean energy, biofuels, circular economy and more." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024029328393334950?s=20 On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi met with Spain's President Pedro Sanchez to discuss ways to deepen the India-Spain partnership in defence, security, and technology. In a post on X, he said, "Had a productive meeting with President Pedro Sanchez in Delhi. Discussed ways to boost the India-Spain friendship, especially in areas such as defence, security, technology and more. Our nations are marking 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and AI. This will deepen people-to-people linkages. Glad to see a big delegation of Universities also come to India. This too will go a long way in connecting our people. The historic FTA with the EU will have a very positive impact on the economic partnership with Spain and provide new opportunities to the people of our nations." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024028781036662920?s=20 In parallel, French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the Franco-Indian Center for Artificial Intelligence in Health, a collaborative initiative led by AIIMS, Sorbonne University, and the Paris Brain Institute, aimed at advancing research, training, and innovation in AI for healthcare. In a post on X, he said, "In Delhi, we are inaugurating the Franco-Indian Center for Artificial Intelligence in Health, jointly led by AIIMS, Sorbonne University, and the Paris Brain Institute. Research, training, innovation: France and India are harnessing AI for the common good!" https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/2024110476943069273?s=20 The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. (ANI)
US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade William Kimmitt led a delegation of officials from the International Trade Administration (ITA) to Bengaluru, holding discussions with leading American and Indian technology firms on artificial intelligence and strengthening US-India tech collaboration ahead of their participation in the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital. During the visit to Bengaluru on Tuesday, Kimmitt and the ITA delegation met with several US and Indian companies and innovators to understand how they are investing in AI, integrating AI into their business models, and creating opportunities for deeper US-India technology partnerships. The delegation visited Chevron Engine, Google DeepMind, South Park Commons, and Biocon, according to an ITA release. "It is a privilege to visit the heart of tech innovation in Bangalore at such a critical juncture for the US-India relationship," Kimmitt said. He welcomed India's participation in the American AI Exports Program and said the US looks forward to working with trusted partners to advance prosperity and security through American AI leadership. "The new, historic trade agreement between the U.S. and India will cement our bilateral relationship for decades to come and promote the adoption of cutting-edge U.S. technologies in the Indian market. The United States welcomes India's participation in the American AI Exports Program, and we look forward to working with trusted partners to power a new age of prosperity and security with American AI leadership," he stated, as quoted in a release. In addition to industry engagements, Kimmitt, alongside Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, joined the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum for a roundtable discussion focused on defence cooperation in emerging technologies. The talks covered advancing the objectives of the newly concluded framework of the US-India interim trade agreement, promoting US AI and technology exports, and strengthening industrial capacity to support US and allied security. The ITA delegation also includes Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Remington, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia Pamela Phan, and Chief of Staff Trevor Kellogg. Following the Bengaluru visit, Kimmitt and the delegation will travel to New Delhi to participate in the India AI Impact Summit, where they are expected to highlight the new US AI Exports Program. The American AI Exports Program will include a public call for proposals from industry-led consortia to export comprehensive AI technology packages. These full-stack AI export packages are expected to integrate AI-optimised hardware, data centre storage, AI models, cybersecurity measures, and sector-specific applications, tailored for trusted international partners. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and global leaders attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026 immersed themselves in a vibrant display of India's rich cultural traditions during a special dinner and cultural programme at Bharat Mandapam on Wednesday. The event, blending classical music and dynamic dance performances, highlighted the nation's diverse heritage amid discussions on the future of artificial intelligence. In a post on X, PM Modi shared glimpses of the evening, captioning one: "With world leaders at the AI Impact Summit dinner and cultural programme." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024156044201734159 Another post emphasised the cultural showcase: "The cultural programme at Bharat Mandapam showcased India's rich heritage and traditions!" https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2024156337584701500 The photos accompanying the posts capture the essence of the programme. In one set, PM Modi, dressed in a traditional white kurta and blue vest, is seen engaging with performers and fellow leaders. A notable image shows a group of musicians seated on a white platform, playing instruments such as the harmonium and tabla, while world leaders stand attentively nearby in a modern hall with wave-like ceiling designs and a colourful carpet. Other images depict the audience seated at elegantly decorated tables lined with white floral arrangements and water bottles, watching intently as dancers take the stage. The performances feature artists in vivid green, red, orange, and gold costumes, posing gracefully against backdrops evoking nature and the cosmos--complete with elements such as elephants, peacocks, cows, and planetary motifs. One photo highlights three female dancers in green attire with intricate jewellery, striking, expressive poses on a flower-lined stage. Larger group dances feature performers holding plants or raising arms in synchronised formations, set against dramatic lighting and mist effects, symbolising unity and vitality. The cultural evening served as a highlight of the summit, which brought together over 20 heads of state, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, alongside tech luminaries like Google CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI's Sam Altman. Hosted at Bharat Mandapam, the programme underscored India's role in promoting ethical AI while celebrating its ancient traditions. Earlier, PM Modi warmly welcomed several world leaders at Bharat Mandapam, as the global leaders in tech and policymaking on Artificial Intelligence (AI) converged in the national capital for the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026. Among the dignitaries received were Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, President of Spain; Peter Pellegrini, President of the Slovak Republic; Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan; Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland; Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka; and Alar Karis, President of Estonia. Prime Minister Modi also welcomed Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius; Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Sebastien Pillay, Vice President of Seychelles; Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece; and Andrej Plenkovic, Prime Minister of Croatia. Global institutions were represented by Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, as well as Vice Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana and Edmand Lara Montano of Bolivia. The series of high-level welcomes at Bharat Mandapam highlighted India's leadership in promoting global cooperation on artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital transformation. Leaders attending the summit are expected to discuss AI-driven solutions, economic growth, sustainable development, and technology partnerships. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 brings together nations and international institutions, reflecting India's focus on multilateral collaboration and the use of AI to address global challenges and unlock new opportunities for shared growth. India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet and Progress. The Prime Minister inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI)
Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof hailed the AI Impact Summit 2026, noting an artificial intelligence boom in India. During his visit to India, Dick Schoof attended the AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, where he participated in a discussion on international cooperation to responsibly accelerate AI development. In an X post on Wednesday, the Netherlands PM said, "AI is booming here in India. On this first day of my visit, I spoke with various experts about AI technology and policy and India's role in this area on the world stage. I also took part in a conference attended by representatives of government, the business sector, and civil society." He highlighted the role of "middle powers" in bridging the gap between the global North and South. "We discussed the importance of international cooperation among like-minded countries to responsibly accelerate the development of AI. Middle powers need to take the lead on this, serving as a bridge between the Global North and South. That is where our strength lies, also as the Netherlands," he wrote. Dick Schoof, on Wednesday, delivered his notes on the AI Safety Connect Day at Bending the Bell Curve: 'How can Middle Powers Shape Global AI Power?' event. He also visited Humayun's Tomb, guided by the Agha Khan Foundation. Earlier, PM Schoof was received by Minister Jitendra Singh upon arrival here in the national capital. In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs noted that his participation would further deepen and strengthen the ties between India and the Netherlands. "Warm welcome to the Prime Minister Dick Schoof of the Netherlands. He was received by Minister of State Jitendra Singh on arrival in New Delhi. PM Schoof will attend the India-AI Impact Summit; his participation will further deepen and strengthen the India-Netherlands bilateral partnership," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society from across the world in New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland PM Petteri Orpo, and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez. (ANI)
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a new toilet design to help conserve water when flushing urine," said an inventor, from Lakewood, N.J., "so I invented the DRY FLUSH. My design allows you to use less water on a daily basis, which not only could help save costs but would also benefit the environment."

The invention provides an improved toilet design. In doing so, it allows for dry flushing of urine. As a result, it would use 50 to 70 percent of water normally used with a flush. Thus, it helps conserve water. The invention features an eco-friendly design that is easy to install and use so it is ideal for households and commercial restrooms.

The original design was submitted to the New Jersey sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 25-NJR-297, InventHelp, 100 Beecham Drive, Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9801, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp
Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday addressed the launch of the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Lammy and British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron, a press release by the ministry said. Calling the Taskforce, a "Trustforce," Joshi said it reflects the confidence that India and the United Kingdom can work together to address real execution challenges. He urged that the platform deliver time-bound workstreams, measurable milestones, and visible progress, converting global lessons into solutions tailored to Indian conditions. Describing the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce as a working mechanism rather than a symbolic platform, the minister said it has been constituted under Vision 2035 and the Fourth Energy Dialogue to provide strategic leadership and coordination for India's offshore wind ecosystem. He observed that while the United Kingdom has demonstrated global leadership in scaling offshore wind and developing mature supply chains, India brings scale, long-term demand and a rapidly expanding clean energy ecosystem. According to the release, he outlined three practical pillars for cooperation: ecosystem planning and market design, including refined seabed leasing frameworks and credible revenue-certainty mechanisms; infrastructure and supply chains, including port modernisation, local manufacturing, and specialised vessels; and financing and risk mitigation through blended finance structures and mobilisation of long-term institutional capital. The minister emphasised that the next phase of India's transition must strengthen reliability, grid stability, industrial depth, and energy security, and that offshore wind has a strategic role in this journey. Promising offshore wind zones have been identified off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu along with grid planning and required studies and surveys have been conducted through the National Institute of Wind Energy for the initial projects. To support early projects, the government has introduced a Viability Gap Funding scheme with a total outlay of Rs 7,453 crore, approximately 710 million pounds. Joshi noted that offshore wind is among the most complex segments of the global energy transition, requiring specialised port infrastructure, marine logistics, robust seabed leasing frameworks, clear risk allocation, and bankable commercial structures. Joshi further highlighted the synergy between offshore wind and India's green hydrogen ambitions. He noted that India is leading the Hydrogen Breakthrough Goal under the international Breakthrough Agenda and has achieved globally competitive benchmarks under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with green hydrogen prices falling to a historic low of RS 279 per kg (approximately 2.65 pounds per kg) and green ammonia prices reaching Rs 49.75 per kg (approximately 0.47 pounds per kg), the release said. Offshore wind, he said, can provide high-quality renewable power to emerging coastal industrial and green hydrogen clusters, strengthening energy security and industrial competitiveness. Pralhad Joshi underlined that India's clean energy transition is defined by execution at scale. He informed that India's installed non-fossil fuel capacity has crossed 272 GW, including more than 141 GW of solar and 55 GW of wind capacity. In the ongoing financial year alone, India has added over 35 GW of solar and 4.61 GW of wind capacity. With clarity of purpose and shared commitment, he concluded, offshore wind can emerge as a strong pillar of India's clean, reliable, and self-reliant energy future and a flagship of India-UK cooperation under Vision 2035, the press release said. (ANI)
United States President Donald Trump asked the United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to hand over Diego Garcia to Mauritius amid a possibility of military confrontation between Washington and Tehran over a nuclear deal. According to a 2025 agreement, the UK is set to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while maintaining the US-UK military base in Diego Garcia on a 99-year lease, CNN reported. Trump called handing over the Chagos Islands and taking the military base on a lease a "big mistake." He said that the US might use Diego Garcia to eradicate a potential attack by Iran in case it does not agree to a nuclear deal following the talks in Geneva. Taking to social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, "I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that leases are no good when it comes to countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100-year lease with whoever it is that is 'claiming' right, title, and interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean. Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature." "Should Iran decide not to make a deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia and the Airfield located in Fairford in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime--an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly countries. Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia by entering a tenuous, at best, 100-year lease," he added. The US President said that Washington is ready to fight for a NATO ally, the UK, when needed, asking London to be "strong" to face challenges before them. "This land should not be taken away from the UK, and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally. We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA," he wrote in the social media post. According to CNN, Mauritius gained independence in 1968 from the British rule, while Diego Garcia remained a colony. Following the 2019 ruling by the International Court of Justice and the building international pressure, UK signed an agreement with Mauritius in 2025 to return the Chagos Islands while keeping the Diego Garcia military base on a 99-year lease. This comes in the backdrop of ongoing talks between the US and Iran over a high-stake nuclear deal. Earlier on Wednesday (local time), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that diplomacy is the first option for US President Donald Trump before considering military action against Iran regarding the nuclear deal. Amid the looming possibility of a military action by the US, the White House Press Secretary warned Iran, saying it would be wise for Iran to reach a deal with the US. Speaking to the reporters, Leavitt said, "There are arguments one can make for a strike against Iran. The President had a successful operation as commander-in-chief with Operation Midnight Hammer, completely obliterating Iran's nuclear facilities. The President has always been clear that with Iran or any other country, diplomacy is the first option, and Iran would be wise to make a deal with President Trump." "He (Donald Trump) is talking to many people, firstly, his national security team. This is something the President takes seriously, thinking about what is in the best interest of America and its people. That is how he will decide on a military action," she added.Leavitt also hinted that "US forces are in conversation with Israel," while not affirming a military action. Further, she noted that progress has been made in the Geneva talks with Iranian authorities, but the two nations stand "far apart" on certain issues. "There was a little bit of progress made, but we are still far apart on some issues. We expect the Iranians to come back with the details in the next couple of weeks. The president will continue to watch how this plays out," the press secretary said. Iran and the United States held the previous rounds of nuclear talks in April 2025. The Iranian nuclear deal dates back to July 2015, when the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between Iran and several world powers, including the United States, which capped Tehran's enrichment level at 3.67 per cent and reduced its uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms. The deal collapsed in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord. (ANI)
TOKYO, Feb 18 (News On Japan) - Japan recorded a trade deficit of about 1.1 trillion yen in January, marking the first shortfall in three months, as the impact of Trump tariffs continued to weigh on automobile exports to the United States.

According to trade statistics released by the Finance Ministry, the trade balancecalculated by subtracting imports from exportsshowed a deficit of 1.1526 trillion yen in January.

Exports to the United States totaled 1.4621 trillion yen, down 5.0% from the same month a year earlier, marking the second consecutive monthly decline.

Automobile exports in particular fell 9.9%, and manufacturers have been lowering prices and taking other measures to maintain sales volumes, suggesting that the effects of the Trump tariffs continue to linger.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - Japans transport ministry has decided on a policy to prohibit the use of mobile batteries on aircraft as early as April following a string of incidents in which the devices caught fire during flights.

The move comes after repeated cases involving lithium-ion battery-powered portable chargers. In January last year in South Korea, a mobile battery stored in an overhead compartment above passenger seats caught fire, leading to a blaze that damaged the aircraft. Domestic airlines have also reported a series of incidents in which fires or smoke occurred while the devices were being charged.

In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has decided to ban the use of such batteries on board aircraft from around April.

The new rules will prohibit passengers from using mobile batteries to charge smartphones or from charging the batteries themselves during flights.

While passengers will still be allowed to bring mobile batteries onto aircraft, the number permitted per person is expected to be limited to two.

Source: FNN
HIROSHIMA, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - Ryutaro Hazuki, a player for the Hiroshima Carp who has been indicted on charges of using a designated drug known as zombie tobacco, was released on bail on February 18th.

Shortly before noon, Hazuki appeared wearing a brown long jacket, stopped in front of reporters and bowed his head. When asked by a reporter to offer a message to fans who continue to support him, he remained silent.

Hazuki was indicted on February 17th on charges of using the designated drug etomidate at his home in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, around December 16th, 2025.

According to the Hiroshima District Court, Hazukis lawyer filed a request for bail on February 17th, and the court granted bail on February 18th. Bail of 3 million yen has been paid.

At the time of his arrest, Hazuki denied using the designated drug, saying he had no recollection of doing so, but later changed his statement and admitted to using it.

Source: FNN
TOKYO, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - The Lunar New Year holiday has begun as the Chinese government continues to call on its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan, prompting questions about how popular destinations once favored by Chinese tourists are now faring.

In Tokyos Asakusa district, typically bustling with foreign visitors, travelers from regions that celebrate the Lunar New Year were visible in large numbers. Visitors from South Korea and Indonesia said they had come to mark the holiday period. At the same time, some Chinese tourists noted that there appeared to be fewer visitors from China than before, with one traveler from Beijing saying that foreigners seemed more numerous overall and another from Henan estimating that Chinese visitor numbers had fallen by 50% to 60%.

Businesses offering experiences such as rickshaw rides and kimono rentals, which had drawn many Chinese tourists through 2025, are also feeling the change. Aiko Ozawa of Jidaiya, which handles Japanese cultural experiences, said that based on her impression, the number of Chinese visitors has indeed declined overall.

At a well-known filming spot near Kamakurakoko-mae Station on the Enoden Linefamous as a location associated with the anime Slam Dunktourists from Chile and Malaysia said they had come because of the series or on family trips. Before the Chinese government began urging its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, the crossing had been packed with visitors taking photos, but a visit on January 18 suggested noticeably fewer people than in 2025. A tourist from Shanghai said this was their second visit and that the most noticeable change was the drop in crowds, adding that frequent news about JapanChina relations had led family members to advise against traveling.

According to figures released on January 18, about 385,000 Chinese visitors came to Japan in January 2026, down more than 60% from the same period a year earlier. The effects are being felt across the country.

In Osakas Shinsekai district, businesses say the situation during this years Lunar New Year differs markedly from last year. At a restaurant popular with Chinese tourists, Katsuya Ueyama, chairman of Kushikatsu Daruma, said visitor numbers were clearly lower than usual, estimating them at about one-fifth of normal levels.

In Bibai, Hokkaido, which has attracted many foreign visitors in recent years seeking winter activities, reservations from Chinese tourists during the holiday period totaled just 50 peopleone-fourteenth of the number seen in 2025. Takashi Komizu, manager of Alpen, said the expected number of Chinese visitors had fallen significantly below initial projections.

As the Chinese governments call to refrain from travel shows no sign of ending, attention has turned to the scale of the economic impact.

Japan National Tourism Organization data released on January 18 showed that the number of Chinese visitors to Japan in January stood at about 385,000, down 60% year-on-year. Since the Chinese government began urging citizens in November 2025 to avoid traveling to Japan, the trend has continued to decline.

The effect is also visible in travel spending. According to the Japan Tourism Agencys inbound consumption survey, foreign visitor spending totaled 2.2969 trillion yen in the OctoberDecember quarter of 2024, of which Chinese visitors accounted for 430.3 billion yen. In the same period of 2025, overall spending rose to 2.533 trillion yen, but spending by Chinese visitors fell to 353.4 billion yen.

While spending by Chinese tourists has declined, overall inbound consumption has increased, suggesting Japan may be gradually reducing its reliance on Chinese demand. However, Masato Koike, a senior researcher at Sompo Institute Plus, estimates that if per-visitor spending remains unchanged from last year, consumption during the Lunar New Year period alone could fall by 48.5 billion yen, pushing down Japans GDP by about 0.01%.

Source: TBS
OSAKA, Feb 19 (News On Japan) - A brutal stabbing in Osakas Minami district late last week left three young men wounded, one fatally, raising new questions about the changing environment around a well-known youth gathering spot beneath the Glico sign in Dotonbori.

The incident, which occurred late on February 14th, saw three 17-year-old males attacked with a knife. Ryunosuke Kamata, a company employee from Nara Prefecture, died after being stabbed in the chest, while another victim remains unconscious in critical condition and a third sustained serious injuries. Police arrested suspect Ryo Iwasaki on suspicion of murder, though he has reportedly denied intent to kill.

Investigators say the fatal wound pierced Kamatas heart, and additional stab wounds reached the liver and neck, suggesting strong intent. Footage obtained by reporters appears to show a man believed to be Iwasaki shortly before his arrest walking through the area, discarding an item and putting on what looked like gloves. Police say the suspect was wearing gloves at the time of the attack and may have changed them.

Authorities believe the suspect and the victims had met shortly before the incident at an area known as Gurishita, the space beneath the iconic Glico billboard where young people have gathered for several years. Once seen as a place for youths struggling with loneliness or family issues to find companionship, the site has increasingly become associated with drug use, underage drinking, and transactional relationships, according to interviews conducted by Kansai TVs News Runner program.

People familiar with the area say its atmosphere has shifted in recent years. Some claim individuals now frequent the location to make money through intimidation, robbery, or other illicit activities. Others report an increase in drug overdoses and organized groups exerting control over younger visitors. One regular described the area bluntly: Its not a place you should come anymore.

Several sources who knew the suspect said he appeared to operate under individuals who held influence over the area and was often seen carrying a knife. They described frequent confrontations, sometimes sparked by minor incidents such as bumping into someone, that could escalate quickly into violence.

Following the incident, fewer young people were seen at the site, though foreign tourists continued to pass through. A man who has visited Gurishita for several years said organized groups and individuals carrying weapons had become more common over the past two years, adding that some people now come specifically because they believe they can earn money there through criminal activities.

Video obtained during the investigation appears to show groups associated with the area using threats and violence to settle disputes, a practice sometimes referred to locally as tsume. Those familiar with Gurishita say the absence of clear hierarchies among youths can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts, while the presence of organized actors has made the environment more dangerous.

Experts and commentators note similarities with other urban youth gathering spots, such as areas in Tokyo where vulnerable young people congregate and sometimes become targets for recruitment into criminal activities. They argue that stronger patrols and cooperation between local governments, police, and volunteer groups are needed, but stress that prevention must begin earlier by addressing the isolation and lack of safe spaces that draw young people to such locations in the first place.

The investigation into the Dotonbori stabbing continues, but the case has already drawn attention to the evolving reality of Gurishita, where a place once seen as a refuge for troubled youths is increasingly viewed as a breeding ground for organized violence and crime.

Source: KTV NEWS
Mozambique welcomes China's zero-tariff policy for African countries

Xinhua) 14:37, February 18, 2026

MAPUTO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Mozambican government on Tuesday welcomed China's decision to grant full tariff exemptions on products imported from 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China, noting that the measure is a new opportunity to further expand exports to the Chinese market.

Speaking at a press conference following the weekly Council of Ministers meeting in the capital, Maputo, government spokesperson Inocencio Impissa said Mozambique received the announcement "with great pleasure."

Noting Mozambique's strong ties with China, he called on Mozambican businesses to actively seize the opportunities created by the tariff exemption, particularly companies involved in trade and exports.

"We recommend that companies, entrepreneurs, and those engaged in commerce and exports take advantage of this opening to grow their businesses," he said.

He added that the exemption could help exporters increase their earnings and expand their presence in the Chinese market.

"It is a window of opportunity that we all have to take advantage of, just as there are several other opportunities for Mozambicans," he said.

During the 39th African Union summit, China announced that it will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with diplomatic relations, starting from May 1, 2026.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nine of the 15 winners of the 2025 George Polk Awards, announced today by Long Island University, focus on federal policies and practices involving immigration, public health, foreign aid, and presidential power.

The 77th Annual George Polk Awards

Three additional awards honor reporting from foreign war zones, including mass starvation in Gaza, brutal front-line fighting in Ukraine, and a protracted conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Other award-winning investigations examined the deadly exploitation of East African women recruited to work in Saudi Arabia, the impact of massive data centers on local communities, and fatal abuse inside New York State prisons.

About the Awards

The George Polk Awards were established in 1949 by Long Island University to commemorate George Polk, a CBS correspondent murdered in 1948 while covering the Greek civil war. The awards, which place a premium on investigative and enterprising reporting that gains attention and achieves results, honor special achievement in print, online or broadcast journalism. The 2025 recipients were selected by a panel of journalists and educators from 492 entries submitted by news organizations and individuals or recommended by former winners.

"Last year was the busiest year for news in memory," said John Darnton, curator of the awards for the past 16 years. "So many potential winners crowded the field. An important investigation or revelation would no sooner be published than another one, even more important, would come along. Bottom line  the news media did its job," he noted.

2025 George Polk Award Recipients

The award for Foreign Reporting goes to Abdi Latif Dahir, Justin Scheck and Vivian Nereim of The New York Times for "Why Maids Keep Dying in Saudi Arabia," groundbreaking investigative accounts, reported at considerable risk, revealing how well-placed individuals profited from the trafficking of East African women recruited for domestic work who were abused, stranded and often killed.

Anna Maria Barry-Jester and Brett Murphy of ProPublica have won the International Reporting award for stories exposing the cavalier approach officials took in deciding to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development and establishing the profoundly harmful impact the aid cutoff had on millions of people in need around the world.

The National Reporting award goes to The New York Times for relentless and unflinching coverage of a White House that defied standards and norms in expanding executive power, issuing Presidential pardons, extracting lucrative profits from governmental action, withholding funds to punish localities and institutions deemed politically unfriendly, criminally prosecuting perceived enemies, abandoning environmental and public health safeguards, curtailing scientific research and regularly misleading courts and the public about initiatives like deportation of supposed felons and gang members or bombing of Venezuelan boats to curb drug trafficking.

Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio and Mark Arsenault of The Boston Globe have been cited for Local Reporting for probing the case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish graduate student at Tufts University arrested by six masked agents in what her Somerville neighbors assumed was a kidnapping and held for six weeks in Louisiana. She apparently came to the attention of authorities for co-authoring an article in the college newspaper supporting student senate resolutions urging Tufts to distance itself from Israel.

Jan Ransom of The New York Times is honored for Justice Reporting for exposing the beating death of an inmate at the hands of New York prison guards, establishing the likelihood that three other inmates had met a similar fate and portraying a prison system so out of control that video evidence of inmate torture was ignored. Her further reporting, in collaboration with data and investigations reporter Bianca Pallaro and others, lent momentum to the passage of laws mandating more control of renegade guards.

The award for Environmental Reporting goes to the staff of Business Insider for "The True Cost of Data Centers," a thoroughly researched series highlighting the strain new and semi-secret facilities that fuel artificial intelligence are likely to place on communities, diverting overwhelming amounts of power, water and economic support.

The Health Reporting award goes to Lizzy Lawrence of STAT for chronicling the degradation of the Food and Drug Administration as Americans' health care protector and to the STAT staff for a 10-part series, "American Science, Shattered," and other reporting, using data, human stories and historical context to document the impact of the federal government's disruption of scientific research.

Andy Kroll of ProPublica receives the Political Reporting award for "The Shadow President," depicting Russell Vought, a conservative cost-cutting technocrat who directs the Office of Management and Budget, as the power behind the throne at the White House in a meticulously researched article co-published by The New Yorker.

The award for Magazine Reporting goes to Elliott Woods of Texas Monthly for "A Deadly Passage," the product of more than two years of exhaustive reporting to show how Latin American families were devastated by the deaths of 53 migrants in the back of a tractor trailer in South Texas. A second article, "Stay Strong, My Brother," profiled one of 11 survivors of the 2022 disaster, revealing the inner workings of smuggling operations controlled by Mexican drug cartels and establishing a link between increased U.S. border militarization and migrant deaths.

Nick Miroff of The Atlantic has earned the Immigration Reporting award for spotlighting an example of wrongful deportation that became a global cause celebre. Miroff publicized the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, pulled from a car in Maryland as he drove with his 5-year-old special-needs son and sent to a notorious Salvadorian prison despite his protected status in what authorities later called "an administrative error."

The Photojournalism award is shared by Stephanie Keith, a freelancer on assignment for New York Magazine, and three Gaza-based Associated Press photographers, Abdel Kareem Hana, Jehad Alshrafi and the late Mariam Dagga. In "The Trap at 26 Federal Plaza," Keith captured the anguish of immigrants as they left scheduled court appearances and were immediately taken away for deportation. The AP photos portrayed scenes of Gazans struggling to secure food amid severe shortages, challenging Israeli claims that there was no famine. The images were produced under extremely difficult conditions with limited access, constant danger and scarce supplies. Ms. Dagga was killed in an Israeli strike on a hospital three days after the publication of her award-winning work.

Correspondent Cecilia Vega, immigration reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez and producers Andy Court and Annabelle Hanflig of CBS "60 Minutes" have earned the National Television Reporting award for "The Prisoners," a segment putting the lie to assertions that most Venezuelans deported to the notorious Salvadorian CECOT prison were violent felons or known gang members. Working from an internal government document obtained by Montoya-Galvez, they found that 75 percent of them did not have an apparent criminal record. Three especially sympathetic  and innocent  deportees were profiled. The broadcast, which aired last April before the ownership change at CBS, was the earliest and most specific report establishing the identities of the Venezuelan detainees.

The Foreign Television Reporting award goes to Mstyslav Chernov and Alex Babenko for "2000 Meters to Andriivka," a documentary feature collaboration between FRONTLINE FEATURES and The Associated Press that brought home the harrowing nature of front-line warfare in Ukraine. With footage including shots from bodycams and drones, the reporters accompany a small band of Ukrainian soldiers as they fight and die on a narrow strip of forest to "liberate" a village, only to arrive and find it already largely destroyed.

Jon Lee Anderson of The New Yorker has won the 2025 Sydney Schanberg Prize for "Congo's Thirty-Year War," an article that highlights the complex historical and current forces driving a conflict that is spreading to neighboring countries and spawning scores of ethnic militias at an incalculable cost in human suffering. The Schanberg Prize was established by the journalist Jane Freiman Schanberg to honor long-form investigative or enterprise journalism embodying qualities reflected in her late husband's legendary career. It comes with a $25,000 award funded by Freiman Schanberg, who stipulated that it honor "highly distinguished, deep coverage of armed conflicts; local, state or federal government corruption; military injustice; war crimes, genocide or sedition; or authoritarian government abuses" of at least 5,000 words "that results from staying with a story, sometimes at great risk or sacrifice."

Career Award

The George Polk Career Award will be presented to pioneering Mexican American journalist Maria Hinojosa, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA. a syndicated public radio show devoted to Latino issues, and founder of Futuro Media, an independent nonprofit newsroom.

The 2025 George Polk Award winners will be honored Friday, April 10 at a luncheon ceremony at Cipriani 42nd Street.

The evening before (April 9) several of the winners will participate in the annual George Polk Seminar, a panel discussion on covering the migrant crisis moderated by Richard Tofel, founding general manager and former president of ProPublica, at the Kumble Theater on the LIU campus in Brooklyn. The seminar is free and open to the public.

SOURCE Long Island University
Three Moroccan government ministries and global insurance giant AXA have signed a landmark partnership agreement aimed at developing the countrys workforce in technology, data science, and artificial intelligence. The convention, signed in Rabat, brings together the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Higher Education, and the Ministry of Digital Transition in a coordinated push to align academic training with the demands of a rapidly evolving tech sector.

The agreement falls under the AI Made in Morocco initiative, which seeks to cultivate a sovereign artificial intelligence ecosystem designed, developed, and mastered domestically. It targets competencies across cybersecurity, cloud computing, DevOps, data analytics, and AI, with provisions for co-designed degree programs, work-study arrangements, continuing education, applied research projects, and enhanced internship pathways.

Several prestigious institutions will be mobilized, including Ecole Centrale Casablanca, the Arts et Metiers campus in Rabat, and the Institut Superieur de Commerce et dAdministration des Entreprises. Public universities will also participate in delivering specialized training aligned with industry needs.

Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour framed the partnership as a catalyst for attracting high-tech investment, stating that Moroccos industrial transformation depends on an unprecedented upgrade of its human capital. Digital Transition Minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni described the development of digital talent as a central pillar of national strategy, positioning Morocco as a regional hub for technology professions.

A joint monitoring committee composed of representatives from all signatories will oversee implementation. The partnership represents a concrete step toward bridging the gap between higher education output and private sector requirements, while reinforcing Moroccos broader ambition to become a competitive player in the global digital economy.
The United States is gradually stiffening its stance toward the Polisario Front and its main backer Algeria, as congressional initiatives and diplomatic moves converge into a more assertive posture, according to developments outlined by lawmakers and officials.

At the heart of the shift is a renewed legislative drive to compel the administration to formally review designating the Polisario as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

The effort was launched in May 2025 by Republican Joe Wilson and Democrat Jimmy Panetta. The effort now gained momentum on Feb. 13 with the endorsement of representative Pat Harrigan, a former US Army Special Forces officer and member of the House Armed Services Committee.

His backing brings to seven the number of congressmen publicly aligned with the bill, alongside Wilson, Panetta, Mario Diaz-Balart, Jefferson Shreve, Randy Fine and Lance Gooden, with an eighth supporter expected, according to accounts cited in the text provided.

Harrigans profile, rooted in national security and defense, adds political weight to a cohort on Capitol Hill that frames the Polisario through a counterterrorism lens.

Parallel moves are emerging in the Senate with Republican Ted Cruz promising to introduce a companion proposal to classify the Polisario as a terrorist organization, and used recent hearings on North Africa and the Sahel to argue the movement is undergoing a Houthi-fication, noting operational ties with Iran, access to military technologies such as drones, and involvement in regional weapons pipelines.

The momentum underscores an intensifying campaign to redefine US policy parameters regarding Algerias destabilizing role in the region via the Polisario.

Pressure on Algeria is rising in tandem. In early-February Senate exchanges, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen pressed US diplomats on Algerias continued large-scale purchases of Russian arms, procurements that could expose Algiers to US sanctions under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Washington has also sent signals of dissatisfaction with Algiers with the appointment of Mark Schapiro as charge daffaires in Algiers from March 1, 2026, rather than a Senate-confirmed ambassador.

These moves are unfolding alongside a renewed diplomatic track to settle the Sahara issue on the basis of Moroccos autonomy plan.

Talks held in Madrid on Feb. 89, under the aegis of the Trump administration, brought together Morocco, Algeria, the Polisario and Mauritania. In a recent interview with Deutsche Welle, Massad Boulos, President Trumps special adviser for Africa and the Arab world, characterized UN Security Council Resolution 2797 as historic and explicitly cast Algeria as a direct party to the dispute.
The Rabat-Brussels axis is gaining momentum amid a rapidly changing geostrategic landscape. While the European Union has endorsed lately Moroccos autonomy plan in the Sahara, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced a record 740 million funding to the Kingdom in 2025.

The growing political and financial partnership between Morocco and the European Union seeks a shared economic growth, prosperity and regional stability.

During a press conference held Tuesday in Rabat on EIB financial engagement in the Kingdom, EU Ambassador to Morocco Dimiter Tzantchev highlighted the clear EU supportive stand on the Moroccan Autonomy Plan and the record financial investment injected in the Kingdom last year.

Building on the new position adopted by Brussels on the Sahara during latest Morocco-EU Association Council, Dimiter Tzantchev said the Union recognizes Moroccos Autonomy Plan as the most feasible solution for ending the Sahara regional dispute.

This means that the EU rallies behind the historic Resolution 2797 adopted by the UN Security Council, endorsing the Autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty. The European bloc backing gives a new impetus to strategic partnership set between Rabat and Brussels.

On the economic front, EUs financial arm has increased its support for Moroccos resilience and sustainable transition. Adrien de Bassompiere, EIB representative, said the Banks funding to the Kingdom soared from 500 million in 2024 to 740 million to 2025, focusing on the countrys priority sectors including water, energy, education, healthcare, roads and post-earthquake reconstruction in Al Haouz region.

The EIB funding operations carried out in 2025 backed the efforts engaged by the Moroccan government to foster the countrys economic, social and climate resilience.
Khartoum is facing a sharp rise in epidemics and childhood diseases as nearly three years of conflict have crippled Sudans healthcare system, local authorities reported on Tuesday.

The April 2023 war has triggered severe medicine shortages, destroyed medical infrastructure, and disrupted basic services. In the sixth week of 2026, the states Emergency Operations Centre recorded 10,361 malaria cases, 467 dengue cases, and 52 scabies cases in Karari and East Nile localities.

Authorities noted an increase in measles and other childhood illnesses, worsened by militia looting that damaged vaccine cold chains. Mohamed Tijani, Khartoums director of emergencies, said the ministry plans to intensify rapid response measures during Ramadan, including meningitis detection training. The ministry appealed for international support, especially for malaria medicines, and urged residents to prevent mosquito breeding by draining stagnant water weekly.
Morocco is positioned to become a driving force in the global maritime sectors energy transition, according to a World Bank analysis highlighting the Kingdoms strategic geography, abundant renewable resources, and low-cost green hydrogen production potential.

The institution notes that Moroccan ports are already prepared to serve as hubs for producing, storing, bunkering, and exporting green hydrogen  a fuel source increasingly viewed as essential for decarbonizing international shipping. Hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia and methanol are emerging as the most promising replacements for conventional marine fuels, and Morocco is well placed to meet surging global demand.

Under a medium-demand scenario, the World Bank estimates that vessels calling at Moroccan ports could require approximately 200,000 tonnes of hydrogen-equivalent fuel by 2030, rising to 2.83 million tonnes by 2050. Tanger Med, one of the worlds largest container ports and currently handling around 1.5 million tonnes of fossil bunker fuel annually, is identified as a prime candidate to become a green bunkering hub along one of the planets busiest shipping corridors. Jorf Lasfar, already processing two million tonnes of ammonia yearly, could integrate green hydrogen derivatives into existing industrial processes, potentially decarbonizing Moroccos fertilizer sector.

The benefits extend well beyond shipping. Accelerated hydrogen development would create jobs, generate new revenue streams, improve access to clean water through desalination synergies, and strengthen electricity supply. Surplus renewable energy from hydrogen production could also serve local communities.

Europes REPowerEU initiative, targeting imports of over 10 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, positions Morocco as a natural supply partner given its proximity and production capacity. With shipping lanes crossing the Strait of Gibraltar reinforcing its geostrategic advantage, the Kingdom has a clear opportunity to anchor itself as a global hydrogen hub at the intersection of African resources and European demand.
Moroccos Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ambassador Omar Zniber, reaffirmed Tuesday the Kingdoms steadfast commitment to multilateralism at a time when this cornerstone of international cooperation is being tested by increasingly complex and evolving global challenges. Opening the first plenary session of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) under Moroccos presidency, Zniber stressed that flexibility, constructive engagement, and genuine political will are indispensable conditions for enabling this Conference to effectively fulfill its mandate. In a rapidly changing international environment, only a spirit of compromise and shared responsibility will allow us to move forward collectively, he said.

The diplomat underscored that Morocco, guided by the principles of moderation, openness, and inclusivity, stands ready to support all initiatives aimed at building consensus among Member States. We are fully determined to strengthen both the Conference itself and its essential contribution to international peace and security, he added, emphasizing that dialogue must remain our primary instrument. Zniber also pledged to back efforts to revitalize the Conferences work and restore its capacity to deliver tangible outcomes, describing the current state of institutional paralysis as untenable.

A body created to negotiate cannot limit itself to debate in the long term, the diplomat argued, warning of a deterioration in the strategic environment with the modernization of nuclear arsenals, a shift in doctrines towards greater ambiguity and risk, and the weakening of arms control mechanisms. These trends, he noted, mean that the nuclear risk, which we once believed contained, is reemerging as a strategic reality.

Such developments weaken trust, fuel competition, and narrow the space for dialogue, he cautioned, reiterating that nuclear disarmament must remain the absolute priority. As long as nuclear weapons exist, the risk of their use persists. Their total, irreversible, and verifiable elimination remains the only safeguard against this existential threat, the diplomat stated. Morocco is holding until March 13 the presidency of the CD, the UNs only multilateral body responsible for negotiating disarmament treaties.

Omar Zniber is taking the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), the UN only multilateral body responsible for negotiating disarmament treaties, until March 13.

This presidency underscores Moroccos role as a credible and committed actor in multilateralism, dialogue, and collective security. It reflects the Kingdoms ongoing dedication to a world based on law, cooperation, and joint solutions to shared challenges.

Moroccos diplomacy asserts itself as a proactive player in international and multilateral efforts toward disarmament. Through sustained engagement, Morocco works to make disarmament not only a strategic priority but also a central element of the agenda of international bodies, particularly the United Nations.

The CD opens this year in a challenging geopolitical context. Rising international tensions, deepening divisions among member states, the gradual erosion of confidence-building measures, and ongoing arms developments all weaken the very foundations of the collective security system.

In this context, Moroccos CD presidency is crucial. Its goal is to unite efforts, restore trust, and promote constructive dialogue, the only path that will enable the Conference to fully fulfill its mandate. Now more than ever, it is imperative that the body regain its capacity for initiative and negotiation to provide concrete responses to the many threats facing international peace and security.

A highlight of Moroccos presidency will be the High-Level Ministerial Segment, taking place from February 23 to 25 under the Kingdoms chairmanship. This high-profile event will gather around 40 distinguished figures, including numerous FMs and the UN Secretary-General, showcasing Moroccos commitment and the importance it places on revitalizing multilateral dialogue and action on disarmament.
Puget Sound Asbestos Contractor Fined $200K

Seattle Environmental Services LLC faces willful and serious violations after misleading investigators and allowing employees to remove 3,000 square feet of asbestos without respirators.

A Puget Sound asbestos removal contractor faces more than $200,000 in fines for knowingly exposing workers to hazardous conditions while telling state inspectors the site was safe.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) cited Seattle Environmental Services LLC on Jan. 26 for ignoring more than a dozen safety rules. Asbestos is a known carcinogen that can cause fatal diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. State law requires that only certified abatement contractors remove and dispose of the material.

When L&I inspectors arrived at a Bellevue home in September, the company owner reportedly stated that the work was a general demolition project and that samples tested negative for asbestos. The owner told inspectors that respiratory protection was optional.

However, the company could not provide evidence of the negative tests. Inspectors subsequently issued an Order of Immediate Restraint to stop all work on the site.



Evidence of violations

Despite the owner's claims, evidence at the jobsite indicated the contractor was treating the site as an asbestos project. Inspectors photographed yellow bags labelled "asbestos waste" filled with wallboard debris. A negative air machine was also found operating on the main floor.

When the contractor produced test results hours later, they confirmed that nearly 3,000 square feet of walls and ceilings contained asbestos. By that time, three workers had already removed the material without proper respirators or decontamination showers.

The contractor told workers they didnt have to wear respirators, then told L&I there wasnt any asbestos in the house, and they were wrong on both counts, said Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&Is Division of Occupational Safety and Health. This employer was cutting corners on safety.

Willful and serious citations

The employer later changed his account, claiming he mixed up the Bellevue job with another project. He worked with inspectors to ensure the debris was properly removed, and work resumed Sept. 29.

Seattle Environmental Services was cited for 10 willful serious, six serious, and four general violations. Under safety regulations, violations are "willful" when a company knows the requirements but fails to meet them. Citations are "serious" when a hazard could lead to injury or death.

The company has until midnight Feb. 20, 2026, to file an appeal.
Some of you may remember devouring those paperbacks with lurid, futuristic covers, imagining the worlds conjured up by Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, and Ray Bradbury: the planetary entrepreneurs, the galactic empires, and the firemen who burned books. Back in 1941, Asimov wrote a story about solar power space stations that beamed the energy to Earth. Arthur C. Clarke later (1951) laid out how to use satellites for communications in The Exploration of Space, but he also noted a German idea, from decades earlier, to put mirrors in space to beam back warming rays to the earth (early climate control?). Fast forward to 1968, when Arthur D. Little consultant Peter Glaser proposed a solar power satellite. In 1989, a NASA panel issued a report on building fusion power stations on the moon, with a number of the panelists, including Glaser, thinking that maybe solar power satellites were a better idea.

Okay, you must be thinking, if you got this far, that this solar power satellite talk has gotten nowhere for a century. You certainly cannot sell the concept to an industry that cherishes coal and cant keep the lights on during and after bad storms. But enter Elon Musk, who proclaims that he will, within three years, put solar-powered AI data centers into space and beam the data back to earth. Jeff Bezos made a similar prediction late last year. Some of the more cautious think that the project will take ten years. The economics is not there yet. But, were dealing with tech bros with big egos and a legion of fervid investors who want to get in on the next big thing, so we doubt that shaky economics will stop the projects. And once they are built, the technology remains even if the initial builders fail to reap financial rewards.

Now for the power markets. If you can put up a satellite with solar panels to power AI data centers that take as much electricity as a small city, would it be any more difficult to put up a solar power satellite that beams down enough energy to supply a small city? Would solar power satellites become suppliers to micro-grids and small systems or to a central power network? Previously, we were sure the latter choice was the answer, but not anymore.

If the space tech bros succeed, what will this do to the on-the-ground electricity demand of AI centers, which have now become the sole growth vehicle of the electric industry, now that the Trump administration has pretty much declared decarbonization (and electric vehicles) un-American?

Have we been reading too much science fiction? Hey, science fiction writers predicted the advent of submarines, travel to the moon, ray guns, omnipresent surveillance, satellites, and intelligent (and malevolent) computers. They had vision. How many visionary electricity industry executives have you met lately?

By Leonard S.Hyman and William I. Tilles for Oilprice.com

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Libyas first oil field licensing round since the removal of Muammar Gaddafi as leader in 2011 has seen a slew of major Western international oil companies (IOCs) choose to either re-enter the country after a long absence or bolster their existing operations in a stunning success for Tripoli. As part of the National Oil Corporations (NOC) target of lifting oil production to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2028, it announced last year that 22 offshore and onshore blocks would be licensed in the initial bidding round. Perhaps the standout winner of a contract award was U.S. supermajor Chevron, designated as the winning bidder for Contract Area 106 in the countrys oil-rich Sirte Basin, marking its return to the country after a 16-year hiatus. Other Western majors that secured new fields were Italys ENI, Spains Repsol, and Hungarys MOL, with Middle East heavyweight QatarEnergy also gaining an award. So, does all this herald a brave new era for Libya, or will it turn out to be just another false dawn?

What augurs well is not just the breadth of Western firms choosing to expand their presence in Libya, but which firms they are. The oil and gas sector holds a unique position in the global business world in that companies operating in foreign locations are afforded an enormous degree of autonomy on the ground, similar in legal terms to embassies being treated as being on native soil wherever they are located. In practical terms, under international law, foreign oil and gas firms are allowed to deploy whatever security personnel and related infrastructure developments they see as being necessary to safeguard their investments on the ground, provided that these meet with the approval of the indigenous government, but this is virtually always the case. Consequently, perhaps the best way for any government to quietly build up its influence in a foreign country is to gradually expand the presence of its major oil and gas firms on the ground. Perhaps the most successful early template of this model of building political influence through business expansion was in the British East India Companys role in the expansion of the British Empire. Established in 1600, the huge firm functioned extremely successfully for nearly 300 years using trade and investment as the means to gain control over large swathes of Asia, including India and Hong Kong, with all such projects safeguarded by a British security force at one stage as large as 260,000 men. The additional benefit for the British East India Company and its home country was that its colonising activities more than paid for themselves in the profits from the business it transacted, and the West is hoping its efforts in Syria will do the same.

Several major Western oil and gas firms have been at the forefront of the ongoing attempt by the U.S. and Europe to rebuild their influence in worlds key oil and gas region, the Middle East, in recent years, particularly since the U.S.s unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, or colloquially the nuclear deal) with Iran in 2018. This inadvertently opened the door for China and Russia to use Iran as the lever to expand their presence across the rest of the Shia Crescent of Power, which included Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, among others, and then to push further into former Western allies -- most notably Saudi Arabia, and the UAE -- from that operational base, analysed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. U.S. President Donald Trumps second term in office has seen a major pushback on Iran in that configuration, and consequently on China and Russia too, with a further reason for greater oil and gas exploration and development opportunities in the Middle East arising from the loss of Russian oil and gas supplies to Europe after the Kremlin-ordered invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Several major Western firms have been at the forefront of this broader move to rebuild Western influence in strategically crucial areas of the Middle East -- most recently incorporating Iraq -- including the U.S.s Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and ExxonMobil, Great Britains BP and Shell, Frances TotalEnergies, Italys ENI, and Spains Repsol. QatarEnergys presence in a consortium with ENI in Libya also recognises the Arab countrys pivotal importance in the new post-Ukraine War world order, as a key supplier of liquefied natural gas to Europe instead of Russian gas supplies, as part of its broader designation as a major non-NATO ally.

That said, there is still much oil and gas potential for them to work with in Libya, despite the ongoing civil war since Gaddafis removal as leader in 2011. Prior to that, Libya was producing around 1.65 million barrels per day (bpd) of mostly high-quality light, sweet crude oil, particularly in demand in the Mediterranean and Northwest Europe. It also remained the holder of Africas largest proved crude oil reserves, of 48 billion barrels. Moreover, in the years leading up to Gaddafis forced exit, oil production had been on a rising trajectory, up from about 1.4 million bpd in 2000, albeit well below the peak levels of more than 3 million bpd achieved in the late 1960s, as also analysed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. Positively as well, Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) was advancing plans at that point to roll out enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques to increase crude oil production at maturing oil fields, and its predictions of being able to increase capacity by around 775,000 bpd through EOR at existing oil fields looked well-founded. However, in the depths of the civil war, crude oil output fell to around 20,000 bpd, and although it has recovered now to just under 1.3 million bpd -- the highest level since mid-2013 -- various politically-motivated shutdowns in recent years have pushed this down to just over 500,000 bpd for prolonged periods. Libya also has plans to boost its natural gas production ?so it can become a significant supplier ?to Europe by early 2030, according to the NOC. It aims to increase gas production to nearly 1 billion standard cubic feet per day and start drilling ?for shale gas in the second half of this year.

This growing presence of top-flight Western oil and gas firms on the ground in Libya may be sufficient to catalyse a broader move to peace across the country over the long term, especially given the political attention on Libya that it will bring from Washington, London, Paris and Brussels. However, there remains the fact that the key reason for the civil disorder across the country that has caused multiple major oil shutdowns since 2020 has not yet been dealt with. To wit -- the Commander of the rebel Libyan National Army (LNA), General Khalifa Haftar, made it very clear that the interim peace agreement signed on 18 September 2020 with Tripolis U.N.-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) would be dependent on a solution being reached on how the countrys oil revenues would be distributed over the long term. The key to this in his view -- and supported by the GNA back then -- would be the formation of a joint technical committee, which would: Oversee oil revenues and ensure the fair distribution of resources and control the implementation of the terms of the agreement during the next three months, provided that its work is evaluated at the end of 2020 and a plan is defined for the next year. In order to address the fact that the then-GNA effectively held sway over the NOC and, by extension, the Central Bank of Libya (in which the revenues are physically held), the committee would also prepare a unified budget that meets the needs of each party and the reconciliation of any dispute over budget allocations and will require the Central Bank [in Tripoli] to cover the monthly or quarterly payments approved in the budget without any delay, and as soon as the joint technical committee requests the transfer. None of these measures has been put into place to date, and there are no ongoing discussions aimed at resolving them. It may be that the bolstered presence of Western interests in Libya may affect such changes, but until they do, the countrys long-term stability remains in question.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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A European Commission spokeswoman on February 17 confirmed that Brussels was in touch with Ukraine regarding the Druzhba pipeline that has been damaged since late January, preventing Russian oil from flowing to Hungary and Slovakia.

"We are in contact with Ukraine on the timeline for reparation of the Druzhba oil pipeline and how quickly this might be up and running," Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told journalists in Brussels, adding the EU executive was ready to call an emergency coordination group with relevant parties to discuss alternative routes to fuel supply.

Itkonen also said there were "no short-term risks to security of supply for Hungary and Slovakia" as they hold 90 days of reserve stocks.

The halt of Russian oil via the pipeline has caused tensions between Ukraine and EU member states Hungary and Slovakia.

While Kyiv has maintained that a Russian drone attack was responsible for the disruption starting on January 27, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on February 15 that Ukraine had delayed the restart of the oil flow in order to pressure Hungary to drop its veto on Ukraine's future membership of the European Union.

Fico said this was "political blackmail."

While the European Union has imposed an import ban on Russian oil via pipelines over the Kremlin's war in Ukraine, landlocked Hungary and Slovakia secured exemptions to those sanctions.

On February 16, Budapest also expressed its wish to invoke the temporary exemption to import seaborne Russian crude oil via Croatia using the Adria pipeline.

"We request Croatia to enable the transport of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Adria pipeline, as our sanctions exemption provides the possibility to import Russian oil by sea if pipeline deliveries are disrupted," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto wrote on X.

Croatian Economy Minister Ante Susnjar said Zagreb should be able to help, tweeting that "Croatia will not allow Central Europe's fuel supply to be endangered. We are ready to help solve the acute disruption."

He did, however, also criticize Budapest and Bratislava in the same post on X for so far not being able to diversify from Russian energy imports by adding that "the Adria pipeline is ready, so there are no technical excuses left for staying tied to Russian crude for any EU country. A barrel bought from Russia may appear cheaper to some countries, but helps fund war and attacks on Ukrainian people. It's time to stop that war profiteering."

A report released on February 16 by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), a think tank in Bulgaria, also found Hungary did not need Russian oil because other sources were readily available.

"There are no technical or economic grounds for prolonging the sanctions exemption for Russian oil in Central Europe. Hungary's continued dependence is a policy choice that weakens EU unity and undermines the credibility of the sanctions regime. Phasing out Russian crude by the end of 2026 is both feasible and essential for Europe's long-term energy security," said Martin Vladimirov, director of CSD's Energy and Climate Program.

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SOUTHGATE, Mich., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Light Source Communications (LSC), a leading provider of high-capacity, future-proof dark fiber networks, announces its newest network in the Indianapolis, Indiana, metropolitan area. The 240-mile route is designed to enable hyperscalers, neoclouds, and enterprises to power GPU-dense workloads and compete at global scale.

The new network will consist of five high-capacity fiber rings, encompassing approximately 20 municipalities and providing direct access to several data centers. Underscoring the demand for the project  driven by explosive growth in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC)  LSC has already secured multiple global hyperscalers as anchor tenants.

LSC's network in Indianapolis arrives at a critical time as industries shift toward low-latency, high-capacity solutions Post this

"As hyperscalers expand, neocloud platforms scale high-performance environments, and AI applications generate unprecedented data demand, the need for low-latency, high-capacity, and diverse fiber infrastructure continues to accelerate," said Debra Freitas , CEO of LSC. "This new route strengthens regional connectivity, enhances network resilience, and provides the scalable foundation customers need to support rapidly evolving AI and cloud deployments."

Indianapolis has become a key data center market in the Midwest, with major players investing heavily in the region in recent years. LSC's network arrives at a critical time as industries shift toward low-latency, high-capacity solutions. By improving connectivity for financial districts, government facilities, and educational networks, LSC is creating a foundation that attracts major corporate investment. This infrastructure is a vital asset for the region's long-term economic outlook and digital resilience.

The Indianapolis metro route is slated for completion by the third quarter of 2027. Like all LSC routes, the Indianapolis network will be constructed entirely underground to ensure the highest levels of security and reliability.

Indianapolis is one of several strategic markets where LSC is actively boosting connectivity for hyperscalers and enterprise customers alike. Construction is currently underway on dark fiber networks in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Tulsa, Oklahoma . Additionally, in June, LSC completed construction of a 35-mile ring in Kansas City, Missouri. In Las Vegas , the company is building a critical 60-mile route. In Phoenix , LSC is developing a 335+ mile dark fiber metro ring, which is seeing tremendous demand. In Tulsa , LSC is adding 80 miles of new fiber to its existing 50-mile network. In addition to all of the networks being underground, all are anchored by a hyperscale tenant.

LSC is a carrier neutral, owner-operator of networks serving strategic U.S. markets. For more information about LSC, visit lscfiber.com .

About Light Source Communications

Light Source Communications (LSC) is the foundational infrastructure partner for the AI era, delivering secure, scalable dark fiber networks purpose-built for the future in strategic U.S. markets. We design, build, and operate bespoke, high-capacity infrastructure that enables hyperscalers, neoclouds, and enterprises to power GPU-dense workloads and compete at global scale.

As a carrier-neutral, customer-agnostic provider, LSC owns and operates 100% underground networks engineered for unmatched security, performance, and control. Backed by decades of industry expertise, our routes form the backbone of the modern digital economyallowing our partners to innovate without limits as AI and data demands continue to accelerate.

SOURCE Light Source Communications
Proponents argue the deal is a necessary step because Somalia lacks the independent financial capacity, technology, and security infrastructure to undertake the high-cost, high-risk ultra-deepwater exploration alone.

The agreement, which unlocks Somalia's potential of an estimated 30 billion barrels of oil, has been criticized for being lopsided, non-transparent, and potentially illegal under Somali law, with Turkey reportedly allowed to recover up to 90% of operational costs before profit sharing.

Back in March 2024, the Federal Government of Somalia and the Republic of Turkiye signed a major offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production agreement in Istanbul. This strategic partnership allowed Turkeys state-owned energy company, Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), to conduct 3D seismic surveys and drill for oil and gas in both offshore blocks and three land blocks covering roughly 16,000 square kilometers, with the additional agreement for onshore exploration signed in early 2025.

Turkey wasted little time, dispatching the seismic research vessel Oruc Reis to Somalia in October 2024 to conduct offshore oil and gas exploration. The vessel completed a 234-day mission, collecting 3D seismic data over 4,464 square kilometers across three offshore blocks before returning to Turkey in July 2025. And now, Turkey has taken yet another giant step towards unlocking the Horn of Africas energy potential, with Turkeys drilling ship Cagri Bey beginning drilling operations in Somalia on Feb. 15, protected by a Turkish naval task force.

Tomorrow, we will take another historic step. We will send off our Cagri Bey ship from Mersin Tasucu to Somalia, and we will search for oil in Somalia. In this sense, 2026 will be a year of discoveries, a year of good news for us, Turkeys Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Sunday.

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This could be a potential game-changer for one of the worlds poorest nations: Somalia is estimated to hold at least 30 billion barrels of oil reserves and 6 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, behind only Libyas 48.4 billion barrels and Nigerias 37.3 billion barrels. Turkeys Africa Opening Strategy identifies Somalia as a priority country due to its strategic maritime location and untapped energy resources.

Launched in 1998 and revamped in 2005, the"Africa Opening" strategy is a multidimensional, long-term policy by Turkey aiming to boost diplomatic, economic, and security ties across the African continent.

By fostering "African solutions for African problems," Turkey has increased its diplomatic missions from 12 to 44 and elevated trade from $5.4 billion in 2003 to over $40 billion by 2023. Turkey has also played a significant role in helping to stabilize Somalia since 2011, shifting from a focus on urgent humanitarian relief to long-term state-building, infrastructure development and security sector reform. Turkey is considered one of the Somali Federal Government's (SFG) most important allies, providing a model of engagement that combines humanitarian aid, diplomatic and military support to build a functioning state.

In 2017, Turkey inaugurated its largest overseas military base, Camp TURKSOM, in Mogadishu, where it trained thousands of Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers and police officers, specifically the elite "Gorgor" brigade and "Haramcad" police unit, aimed at countering the infamous Al-Shabaab terror group. In February 2024, Turkey signed a 10-year defense and economic agreement to help Somalia secure its 3,333-km coastline, including building a navy to combat illegal fishing and terrorism. Turkish firms, such as Favori LLC and Albayrak Group, manage the Mogadishu airport and seaport, which has significantly increased the Somali government's revenue generation. Turkey has also built hospitals (such as the Erdogan Hospital), schools and renovated critical infrastructure.

However, the 2024 energy agreement has come under scrutiny and heavy criticism for being lopsided, non-transparent and even potentially illegal under Somali law. Critics have argued that the deal, which grants TPAO exclusive exploration and production rights, favors Ankara at the expense of Somali economic sovereignty and national interests. Reports indicate that Turkey is allowed to recover up to 90% of its operational costs from produced oil and gas before sharing profits with Somalia, a rate considered extremely high, while Somalia is reportedly entitled to only 5% in royalties. TPAO is exempt from paying signature, development or production bonuses, which are common in international energy contracts to provide early revenue to host nations. Further, the Turkish entity is exempt from paying taxes in Somalia, further limiting the economic benefits for the local economy.

Critics, including members of Somalia's Parliamentary Natural Resources Committee, have also argued that the deal violates the Somali Petroleum Law, as it lacked a competitive bidding process and proper oversight. The Somali federal government has been accused of signing away resources without consulting regional states, such as Puntland and Jubaland, which have jurisdiction over their respective areas. A major point of contention is that any legal disputes arising from the agreement must be settled in courts based in Istanbul, not through international arbitration or in Somali courts, raising serious questions about impartiality.

The pragmatists have, however, argued that Somalia faces significant barriers to independent offshore exploration, making agreements with partners like Turkey, which offer comprehensive infrastructure, funding and security, a necessary, if not ideal, option. TPAO will target ultra-deepwater, with the Cagri Bey drillship conducting drilling in water depths of up to 3,480 meters, plus an additional 3,500 meters below the sea.

Drilling a single deep-water oil well is a major capital project often costing between $40 million to more than $100 million per well, a financial burden Somalia cannot bear independently. Further, Somalia lacks the advanced technology and in-country human capacity to independently undertake deep-sea exploration, as well as onshore infrastructure to support offshore operations, with Turkish firms already managing key logistical nodes like the Mogadishu seaport and airport.

The threat of piracy and non-state armed groups in Somali waters adds significant costs for security and insurance, which TPAO is expected to fully cover using its share of oil revenues. The deal as structured allows Somalia to avoid upfront financial risks, as TPAO covers expenses, with payments only beginning after oil is found.

Major global energy firms such as Shell Plc (NYSE:SHEL) and ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) have largely kept their energy contracts in Somali dormant due to the underlying political volatility and security risks. Turkeys willingness to operate in high-risk areas makes them one of the few viable partners available to Somalia. Accepting Turkey's terms--including high initial cost-recovery rates of up to 90%--is seen by proponents as the only realistic way to finally monetize the estimated 30 billion barrels of offshore potential that has remained untapped for decades.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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Asia is poised to import record volumes of crude oil this month as top importers boost purchases amid strong runs and a changing geopolitical situation.

Asia, the key oil-importing and demand growth region, is expected to import as many as 28.51 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in Februarya record high on a daily basis in data compiled by commodity analysts Kpler and cited by Reuters columnist Clyde Russell.

The February imports would be higher than 27.48 million bpd in December and 26.22 million bpd in January, per the data provided by Kpler.

Asias biggest crude oil importers, China and India, will drive the jump in February arrivals to a record high. China and India are also the largest and third-largest oil importers in the world, respectively.

While Asian imports are booming this month, China and India have started to starkly diverge in sourcing their crude supply.

China is boosting imports from both Russia and Saudi Arabia, as deep discounts for Russian oil and lower Saudi term prices are stoking the appetite of Chinese refiners.

India, on the other hand, is slashing Russian purchases amid U.S. pressure and is raising imports from the Middle East, West Africa, and the Americas.

Chinas oil imports from Russia are on track for an all-time high of over 2 million barrels per day in February, as India is withdrawing from Russian spot purchases and supply is now heavily discounted for Chinese independent refiners.

China is set to import 2.07-2.08 million bpd of oil from Russia this month, according to data from Vortexa and Kpler cited by Reuters.

Moreover, near-term demand for Saudi Arabias oil in China is soaring after the Kingdom early this month slashed its official selling prices (OSPs) for Asia to the lowest level versus regional benchmarks in more than five years.

India is also boosting imports from Saudi Arabia as it seeks alternatives to Russian crude. Kpler estimates that Indias imports would hit 1.03 million bpd in February, up from 774,000 bpd in January and the highest volume since November 2019.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Big Tech is considering supporting new uranium mining projects as companies need additional reliable power capacity for their huge data center expansion, according to the top executive of Canadian uranium miner NexGen Energy.

It's coming. You've seen it with automakers. These tech companies, they're under an obligation to ensure the hundreds of billions that they are investing in the data centres are going to be powered, NexGen Energys CEO Leigh Curyer said at a Melbourne Mining Club luncheon on Wednesday, as carried by Reuters.

NexGen Energy, which is developing Canadas largest uranium project, Rook I in Saskatchewan, has held early talks with technology companies over potential financing from data center developers, Curyer said.

The uranium developer has also discussed long-term uranium supply with data center firms.

Yet, potential funding or supply deals will not involve any changes to the control of NexGen Energy, the chief executive told Reuters.

Global electricity demand increased by 3% annually in 2025, following growth of 4.4% in 2024, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its recent Electricity 2026 report.

Between 2026 and 2030, the annual average growth rate would be 3.6%, driven by higher consumption from industry, electric vehicles (EVs), air conditioning, and data centers, according to the agency.

Artificial intelligence, data centers, and advanced manufacturing support the return to growth in power demand in advanced economies, the IEA said.

U.S. electricity demand rose by 2.1% in 2025 and is expected to grow by nearly 2% annually through 2030. The rapid expansion of data centers will drive half of the increase, the agency noted.

The U.S. is backing nuclear power generation to help meet rising electricity demand.

Nuclear energy will be one of the winners of the U.S. AI and data center boom, as Microsoft and other hyperscalers have been looking to purchase zero-carbon electricity to power up their data centers, which are consuming growing amounts of electricity.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Italys Eni is considering reopening its oil-trading business as it misses out on the profits that its fellow European supermajors are generating from selling the commodities they produce, the companys chief executive told the Financial Times.

I stopped trading in 2019, but the other big companies are all traders, Claudio Descalzi told the publication in an interview. BP, Shell, Total are big traders, and they make billions from that.

Indeed, trading has been especially profitable for the other supermajors, so Eni is pivoting via partnerships. Descalzi told the FT that Eni was in preliminary talks with a number of commodity trading houses, including Mercuria.

It is not in our DNA. We are not very commercial, Descalzi explained. So I thought to become commercial, we have to have a partnership to understand the business. If we can offer physical hedging, that is a big advantage for them. We can complement each other, the chief executive of the supermajor added, noting the amount of oil and gas that Eni produces should make it an attractive partner.

Despite oil trading being a major profit source for Big Oil, Shell, for one, flagged a weaker performance of its trading division ahead of its fourth-quarter results announcement. BP also said its trading business has weakened over the final three months of last year.

TotalEnergies, meanwhile, recently sealed a trading joint venture deal with Bahrains BapcoEnergies backed by production flows from Bapco Energies refinery. The new entity is positioned as a competitive regional trading player, designed to maximize downstream value and broaden access to international markets for Bahraini oil products.

Big Oil, and especially European Big Oil, has recently pivoted away from its low-carbon energy ventures and back to its core business of producing and refining oil and gas amid slowing energy transition momentum. Shareholders are now pushing for growth as predictions for peak oil move into the more distant future.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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A fracturing in the global order is threatening the harmony in energy policies, the head of the International Energy Agency has warned.

We see a fracturing in the global political order in general, and there are, of course, reflections of that on the energy scene. Different countries are choosing different paths in terms of energy and climate change, Birol told the Financial Times in an interview.

The warning follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys removal of the so-called endangerment finding, which served as the basis for climate change-focused policies passed in significant numbers during the Biden administration. The finding stipulated that carbon dioxide, methane, and four other gases were harmful to peoples health and well-being.

This was the latest move by the Trump administration to dismantle Bidens climate regulations and legislation as it prioritises energy securityand energy dominanceover emission reduction.

Yet even the European Union, which consistently states emission reduction is still priority number-one, has been walking back some of its new regulations and commitments, under pressure from the business world, which has been bearing the cost of those commitments, alongside consumers.

The 2035 ban on internal combustion engine cars, for instance, has been renegotiated and is no longer a done deal, and now the authorities in Brussels are mulling over ways to reduce energy costs for industrial consumers in a bid to prevent the complete deindustrialization of the bloc. A revision of emission permit trading is also on the agenda, with the chemicals industry calling for an urgent revamp of the system and a cancellation of the planned phaseout of free carbon permits.

Climate change was moving down the international policy agenda, Birol said this week, summarizing the latest trends in energy policies. That move down the agenda has even reached China, which this year reduced subsidies for electric vehicles, which immediately affected sales, leading to a 20% monthly drop.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Iran and Russia are strengthening their economic and energy cooperation and consider joint development of another Iranian oilfield, top officials from the countries said on Wednesday.

Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev led a high-level Russian delegation on a visit to Tehran this week during which Tsivilev and Irans Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad discussed deepening the economic and energy cooperation.

In the face of increased pressure from U.S. sanctions, Iran and Russia have boosted their bilateral relations to strategic cooperation and Russian companies help develop oilfields in Iran.

Within the framework of four contracts and in the field of development of oil and gas fields, we are jointly implementing the development of seven oil fields with Russian companies, and fortunately some of these projects have led to production, which is considered a valuable achievement, Paknejad said on Wednesday, as carried by Irans Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA.

Some of these oil and gas fields have started up production, the officials said.

Commenting on this weeks Iran-Russia talks, a senior official at the Iranian Oil Ministry said that the share of Russia-developed fields in Irans oil production is set to double in the coming years.

Russia is currently investing in seven Iranian oil fields, which account for about 6% of Irans total oil production, said Mostafa Barzegar, Director General for Europe, America and the Commonwealth of Independent States at the Ministry of Oils International Affairs Department.

Expectations are that the share could jump to 12% over the next few years, Barzegar said.

In the energy sector, the official said that cooperation in oil and gas is one of the pillars of IranRussia relations, Iran News Daily reports.

Iran and Russia have also signed a $25-billion memorandum of understanding for the construction of new large-scale and small-scale nuclear power plants in the Sirik region in southern Iran.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil prices reversed much of the losses they suffered on Tuesday as traders sold, expecting a deal between Iran and the United States. Hours later, the wind of trader opinion has changed direction, and now doubts rule the market.

Brent crude was trading at $67.59 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $62.49 per barrel, both up after they shed some 2% on Tuesday, falling to the lowest in two weeks. The recovery was also partially a reaction to Iran partially closing off the Strait of Hormuz during a military drill, possibly as a sign to the U.S. that it could block off one of the busiest oil chokepoints in the world.

The threat of shutting off the Strait of Hormuz always surfaces when tensions flare up between Iran and the United Statesand Israelbut so far Iran has resisted the temptation to really shut it off, likely because this would lead to an immediate escalation with the U.S., which has recently been building an even greater military presence in the Persian Gulf. This means that the strait would not remain shut off for very long, and it could lead to a full-scale war between the two countries, with unsurprising consequences for oil prices.

In an update from the negotiations in Geneva, Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said that the two sides had reached an understanding on the guiding principles of their deal. However, finalizing that deal was a way off.

Crude oil prices look poised for a technical rebound ... However, a finalised agreement remains distant, and markets remain cautious about the durability of diplomatic momentum, Indian SS WealthStreet analyst Sugandha Sachdeva said, as quoted by Reuters today.

Eurasia Group, meanwhile, estimated there was a 65% chance of the United States launching a military strike against Iran by April.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The United States military has attacked three alleged drug boats in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean as the U.S. continues its crackdown on narcotics trade and enforces a blockade on illicit oil shipments from Venezuela.

Earlier this week, the Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations, the U.S. Southern Command said late on Tuesday.

Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations, the U.S. military added.

A total of 11 male narco terrorists were killed during these actions, 4 on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, 4 on the second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and 3 on the third vessel in the Caribbean, the U.S. Southern Command said, noting that no U.S. military forces were harmed.

Set OilPrice.com as a preferred source in Google here

Earlier this week, United States forces boarded a second oil tanker in a week in the Indian Ocean, claiming it was attempting to escape from what Washington has called a quarantine on tankers carrying sanctioned crude oil from Venezuela.

The seizure of the Panama-flagged Veronica III follows an earlier seizure of Aquila II, another tanker that the U.S. Department of War said had violated the tanker quarantine imposed by President Trump on Venezuelan oil exports.

Overnight, U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the Veronica III without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility, the U.S. Ministry of War reported on X.

The vessel tried to defy President Trumps quarantine  hoping to slip away. We tracked it from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, closed the distance, and shut it down. No other nation has the reach, endurance, or will to do this, the Pentagon went on to say.

International waters are not sanctuary. By land, air, or sea, we will find you and deliver justice. The Department of War will deny illicit actors and their proxies freedom of movement in the maritime domain.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated that crude oil inventories in the United States fell by 609,000 barrels in the week ending February 13, after increasing by 13.4 million barrels in the week prior.

Inventories in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) keep climbing week after week. The Department of Energy (DoE) reported that crude oil inventories rose by 200,000 barrels to 415.4 million barrels in the week ending February 13. This is 310.1 million barrels shy of maximum capacity.

US production stopped its fifth week in a row losing streak, with the average rising by 498,000 bpd during the week of February 6 to 13.713 million bpd, according to the latest EIA data. This is 219,000 bpd more than this same time last year.

At 2:13 pm ET, Brent crude was trading up on the day at $70.38 (+4.39%). Brent is now roughly $1.60 per barrel up from this time last week. WTI was also trading up on the day, by $2.92 (+4.68%) at $65.25.

Gasoline inventories also fell this week, shrinking by 312,000 barrels in the week ending February 13. In the week prior, gasoline inventories rose by 3.3 million barrels. As of last week, gasoline inventories were 4% above the five-year average for this time of year, according to the latest EIA data.

Distillate inventories fell in the reporting period by 1.56 million barrels, after losing 2.0 million barrels in the week prior. Distillate inventories were 4% below the five-year average as of the week ending February 6, the latest EIA data shows.

Cushing inventorythe inventory kept at the delivery hub for the WTI Crude futures contractfell by 1.36 million barrels, after increasing by 1.4 million barrels in the prior week.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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The United States has threatened, once again, to quit the International Energy Agency (IEA) if the organization, created in the aftermath of the 1970s Arab oil embargo, doesnt return to forecasting energy demand without strongly promoting green energy.

If it goes back to what it was  it was a fabulous international data recording agency, it was getting into critical minerals, was focused on big energy issues  were all in on that, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said ahead of an IEA ministerial meeting this week.

But if they insist that its so dominated and infused with climate stuff  yes, then were out, Secretary Wright said ahead of the meeting, as carried by Bloomberg.

Last November, the IEA dropped its predictions that oil demand growth would peak in a matter of a few years in the first major shift since it started promoting net-zero and green energy early this decade.

The tension between the Trump Administration and the IEA has escalated in recent months.

A House committee last summer approved a bill that the U.S. withdraw its funding to the IEA, as the Republican lawmakers consider that the agency has strayed from its mission to safeguard energy security and has been pushing green energy policies instead.

In July 2025, Secretary Wright said that the United States could abandon the IEA if the organization continues with its strong advocacy for renewables and doesnt return to rational analysis of energy demand and promoting energy security.

We will do one of two things: we will reform the way the IEA operates or we will withdraw, Wright told Bloomberg in an interview in the middle of July.

My strong preference is to reform it, Secretary Wright added.

The official echoed voices in the U.S. Republican party that the agency has become an advocate of the energy transition and is not objective in forecasting energy demand trends.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Veteran leaders enhance legal, strategy, and market positioning for sustained growth

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lynch Regenerative Medicine, LLC, a regenerative medicine company focused on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)based therapies, today announced that it has hired Madison Dini and Chad Lindemann to lead the Legal and Marketing functions respectively across LRM.

"We are thrilled to welcome Madison and Chad to the executive leadership team," said Dr. Samuel Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of LRM. "Their deep expertise navigating the complex legal, regulatory and commercial landscape of regenerative medicine makes them an exceptional fit."

Madison Dini will oversee all legal, compliance, and corporate governance functions as the company expands its clinical portfolio and prepares for its next phase of development.

Dini brings more than a decade of experience advising life sciences companies on complex compliance, regulatory, and litigation matters. As a partner at Michelman & Robinson, LLP, she has served as outside general counsel and lead trial counsel in high stakes matters with significant business and legal implications. A recognized voice in the regenerative medicine space, she has spoken nationally on relevant legal issues, helping shape industry conversations around compliance, innovation, and patient safety.

"Prior to joining LRM, I've had the opportunity to speak and write about the evolving legal landscape surrounding regenerative medicine from an independent perspective. That work was always grounded in a commitment to risk management, legal integrity, regulatory clarity, and patient safety," stated Ms. Dini. "My decision to join LRM was a natural and organic extension of that work. After closely evaluating the company's science, compliance framework, and long-term vision, I believe strongly in its commitment to doing this the right way. I am excited to help guide the next phase of responsible innovation in this space."

Chad Lindemann will oversee the strategic development and execution of the marketing strategy for all current and future products across LRM.

Lindemann is an accomplished sales and marketing executive with 20 years of experience in the Medical Aesthetics industry. Most recently, as Vice President of Marketing at Allergan Aesthetics, he led marketing for major brands including BOTOX Cosmetic, JUVEDERM, CoolSculpting, and SkinMedica.

"In today's digital landscape, informationand misinformationtravels at unprecedented speed. As brand leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure that accurate, science-based information about our products reaches providers and patients clearly and responsibly. I'm committed to building a marketing platform rooted in transparency, education, and integrityso decisions are guided by evidence and context, not speculation or viral narratives," Lindemann said.

About Lynch Regenerative Medicine, LLC

Lynch Regenerative Medicine, LLC., (www.lynchregen.com) is a commercial stage biotech company advancing regenerative medicine through innovative therapies and aesthetic solutions. Founded by regenerative medicine and PDGF pioneer Dr. Samuel Lynch, the Company develops and commercializes recombinant growth factor products across clearly defined therapeutic indications and cosmetic applications. Its portfolio includes FDA-approved biologics for promoting healing of chronic wounds, as well as ariessence pure PDGF+, a cosmetic product designed to improve the appearance of skin (ariessence.com). LRM is building a focused regenerative medicine platform grounded in scientific rigor, manufacturing expertise, and a commitment to high-quality biologic innovation. The Company is headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee.

Contact: EvolveMKD, [email protected]

SOURCE Lynch Regenerative Medicine, LLC
Tuesdays edition of the Wall Street Journal contained two seemingly unrelated articles. The first was headlined as Turnover In CEOs Is Most In Over A Decade and details how major companies are changing leadership in unprecedented numbers  one in every nine CEOs was shone the door. The Journal attributes it to a grand experiment in corporate leadership as companies grapple with AI, new trade practices and a volatile economy. It went on to say that many of the replacement CEOs are younger. I think that is an artful way of saying that investors view their leaders as inept and more concerned with social engineering than profit and with globalism than job creation. And that younger means that they are less likely to engulfed in the same mistakes as their predecessors.

The second headline was titled Goldman To Scrap DEI Criteria For Board and detailed how Goldman was abandoning the requirements that board members reflect race, gender identity, sexual orientation and other diversity factors. Wow! What a concept.

And while the authors of these two stories made no attempt to tie them together, I think that common sense, a little appreciation of economic history and an understanding of human nature weaves these two stories together as tightly as quality canvas. First, I spent twenty years of my professional life working for a major publicly traded corporation. I worked my way from being a company lawyer to holding a number of different positions as an elected officer of the company. During that time I worked through three different mergers and six different CEOs  some better than others. I pretty much get what drives decision making at a senior officer level.

So lets understand a little about corporate governance. Publicly traded companies are a bit like representative democracies. Corporations are in essence a gathering of investors who then elect people to manage their common business enterprises. Like government, because there are so many investors it would be impractical to seek concurrence of every shareholder on every decision a business must make on a daily business. And while the management of government and business may appear similar, there is one significant difference  fiduciary duty. It is the responsibility of those elected to corporate offices to manage the affairs of the business in the best interests of the shareholders. (No such duty is imposed on members of Congress.) There is a lot of leeway in that duty but in its simplest terms you cannot use the resources of the company to further your personal choices to the detriment of the shareholders.

A prime example of that was the decision by major corporations like

Goldman and other major companies to engage and promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in a fashion that placed them above competency, capability and knowledge. It is the difference between hiring someone because she is the most competent, capable and knowledgeable who happens to be a woman or to hire a woman to a job simply because she is a woman. The same goes for race, sexual orientation and ethnicity. As the general attorney in Oregon for the telephone company I was asked during an executive meeting of state managers whether a particular person should be promoted even though he was gay. I responded by relating a similar situation presented to Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) when asked about the inclusion of gays in the military. Mr. Goldwater responded with common sense when he asked whether being gay had anything to do with pulling the trigger on an M16 rifle. In this instance the question then was what does being gay have to do with performing the job? None. By the same token hiring or promoting someone because of their gender, race, sexual orientation, etc. was equally disabling when pursuing the interests of the shareholders.

The same is true with the very nature of globalism. I recognize that we live in a global economy but that simply means that we recognize the economic diversity of the marketplace. It does not mean that you manage the business of your company to promote a global economy at the expense of domestic business. In its simplest form than it means that you do no ship job and manufacturing the China when it adversely effects jobs and manufacturing in the United States.

Okay, that is the basics. Thats what should bet done. However, when senior management officials (like politicians) surround themselves with sycophants who tell them how smart they are, who they should be associate with to bolster their reputations, what social affairs that they should attend and which politicians they should grace, the attention to the fundamentals of a fiduciary responsibility are buried in the virtue signaling of people with money to spend. However, in many of these instances the money spent is the corporations money and the causes for which it is spent are often antithetical to the corporations interests.

What investors have learned over a very short period of time is that the returns on investment for many of those companies that were the bulwarks of DEI and globalism were significantly less than their peers who declined. Some of these corporations like Blackstone abandoned any pretense of DEI early, others like Black Rock and Goldman are backing away slowly. And along with abandoning DEI and globalism as guiding principles, the shareholders are abandoning those who promoted it  CEOs and Directors alike.

That is the first step to returning to common sense. Hopefully the next generation of corporate leaders will not repeat those practices.
South Asia is one of the most spiritually dense and religiously diverse regions in the world. As the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, it has also been deeply shaped by Islam, Christianity, and indigenous nature-based traditions. While this diversity has produced extraordinary philosophical richness, the region has also faced challenges of misunderstanding, the politicization of faith, and fractured interreligious dialogue. In this complex landscape, the role of a Spiritual Integratortraditionally known as a Samanwayakartais not merely symbolic; it is essential.

In South Asian thought, Samanwaya signifies integration, synthesis, and harmonious coordination among diverse paths. A Spiritual Integrator is one who unites faith traditions through respect, lived practice, and shared ethical values without dissolving their distinct identities.

Pradeep Khanal, a World Spiritual Ambassador from Nepal, has emerged as one of the most significant contemporary figures embodying this integrative role across South Asian countries. Through lived spiritual practice, extensive pilgrimage, dialogue with religious leaders, and cultural diplomacy, Khanal represents a rare synthesis of devotion, scholarship, and inclusive vision. His work reflects a revival of the ancient South Asian ethos of Sarva Dharma Sambhavaequal respect for all paths to truth.

The Concept of Spiritual Integration in South Asia

The idea of Samanwaya is deeply rooted in South Asian philosophy. From the Upanishadic declaration "Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti" (Truth is one, the wise call it by many names) to Emperor Ashokas edicts promoting respect for all sects, integration and harmony have been civilizational values rather than modern inventions.

A Spiritual Integrator does not attempt to homogenize beliefs. Instead, he builds bridgesbetween ritual and reason, faith and humanity, tradition and modernity, and communities separated by borders or histories. In the modern era, where religion is often reduced to identity politics, such integration demands moral authority earned through personal sacrifice, lived experience, and credibility across traditions. Pradeep Khanals journey situates him firmly within this classical framework, updated for a fragmented, globalized world.

A Pilgrimage Beyond Borders

One of the most defining aspects of Pradeep Khanals contribution to interfaith harmony is his unprecedented pilgrimage across South Asia and beyond. Within a single year, he visited over 450 sacred sites, encompassing:

Shakti Peeths: 4 Adi Shakti Peeths, 52 Shakti Peeths, and 18 Maha Shakti Peeths.

Vedic Sites: 108 Siddha Peeths and 12 Jyotirlingas.

Major Circuits: Char Dham and Saptapuri.

Sikh Heritage: Major Gurudwaras including Nankana Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib, the Golden Temple, and Patna Sahib.

Buddhist Roots: Core pilgrimage sites such as Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar.

Natural Sanctity: Sacred rivers, seas, and landscapes revered by indigenous traditions.

What distinguishes this pilgrimage is not its scale alone, but its integrative spiritual intent. Khanal did not approach these sites as isolated religious monuments, but as interconnected nodes of South Asias shared spiritual geography. His acts of darshan, yagna, havan, prayer, and silent meditation across traditions demonstrate that devotion need not be exclusive to be authentic.

In doing so, he has revived an integrative approach last witnessed in figures such as Jagatguru Adi Shankaracharya and Guru Nanak Dev Ji, whose spiritual journeys transcended sectarian boundaries.

Nepal as a Spiritual Bridge

Nepal has historically functioned as a spiritual bridge between India, Tibet, and the wider Himalayan world. As the birthplace of Lord Buddha and home to powerful Shaiva, Shakta, Vaishnava, and Vajrayana traditions, Nepal embodies spiritual integration in practice rather than theory.

Pradeep Khanal draws deeply from this heritage. His engagements with Hindu saints, Buddhist monks, Sikh scholars, and Islamic and Christian community leaders reflect Nepals civilizational model of dialogue without dominance. By representing Nepal in international religious and cultural forums, Khanal positions the country not as a peripheral state, but as a moral and spiritual integrator within South Asia.

Interfaith Dialogue Through Action

Unlike many interfaith initiatives that remain confined to conferences and declarations, Khanals approach emphasizes action-based integration:

Ritual Participation: Engaging in the sacred rites of various traditions with genuine humility.

Mutual Honor: Recognizing religious leaders without hierarchical judgment.

Shared Values: Promoting compassion, service, discipline, and ecological reverence.

His meetings with heads of state, political leaders, and spiritual authorities across Nepal, India, Bhutan, and other SAARC nations integrate discussions on faith with climate responsibility, cultural preservation, and people-to-people relations. This approach reflects a core insight: religious harmony cannot survive in isolation from social justice, environmental ethics, and cultural dignity.

The Shiva Shakti Maha Samagam: A Living Model

The upcoming Shiva Shakti Maha Samagam in Ujjain (2025) stands as a living manifestation of Khanals integrative vision. Designed as a convergence of spiritual traditions rather than a single-sect gathering, the Samagam includes:

Participation of Jagatguru Shankaracharyas.

Chief priests from Shakti Peeths, Jyotirlingas, and Char Dhams.

Buddhist monks, Sikh leaders, Jain saints, and representatives of other faiths.

Cultural programs emphasizing unity through diversity.

By grounding interfaith harmony in shared sacred space and mutual respect, the Samagam challenges the notion that religious identity must be exclusionary.

Conclusion: A Contemporary Samanwaya Karta

In an age marked by polarization, Pradeep Khanal stands out as a contemporary Spiritual Integratora modern Samanwaya Karta. By walking thousands of kilometers, bowing at diverse altars, and speaking a language of respect rather than rivalry, he has redefined what it means to be religious in the modern world.

As a Spiritual Integrator, his role is not to resolve doctrinal differences, but to remind humanity that beneath rituals, languages, and symbols lies a shared yearning for meaning, compassion, and peace. South Asia does not merely need political agreements; it needs spiritual integration. In that journey, figures like Pradeep Khanal offer not just leadership, but enduring hope.
Kathmandu, Nepal, February 18, 2026: With the nation standing just three weeks away from a high-stakes general election, former King Gyanendra Shah has stirred the political landscape by questioning the wisdom of heading to the ballot box amidst unresolved national crises. In a video message released on Wednesday to mark the 74th National Democracy Day, the former monarch delivered a sobering assessment of the countrys current state, arguing that while periodic elections are a staple of any democracy, the present situation in Nepal is far from normal. His message, which comes as pro-monarchy sentiment sees a resurgence in the streets of Kathmandu, has been interpreted by many political analysts as a direct challenge to the legitimacy of the current political course.

The former Kings critique focused largely on what he described as a disconnect between the political leadership and the general public sentiment. Shah claimed that the "common desire" of the people is to see deep-rooted national problems addressed before the country is pushed into another election cycle. While he did not explicitly list the specific issues he considers "national problems," his rhetoric highlighted a growing public frustration with political instability and economic stagnation. His remarks have drawn particular scrutiny because they coincide with the active participation of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP)a group that advocates for his reinstatementin the very elections he is calling into question.



Beyond the timing of the vote, Shah expressed deep concern over the "power-sharing" culture, or Bhagbanda, that has come to define modern Nepali politics. He lamented a shift where the pursuit of political rights has overshadowed the sense of national duty, warning that the country cannot move forward as long as leadership is focused on dividing spoils rather than fostering genuine cooperation. "There is a growing feeling among citizens that the nations very existence is at risk," he noted, urging political parties to prioritize consensus over conflict to ensure that the aftermath of the election does not descend into further unnecessary friction.



Concluding his message with a call for national introspection, the former King invited the public to look back at the decades following the 2006 uprising and the abolition of the monarchy. He questioned whether the promises of those political shifts have truly translated into tangible achievements for the ordinary citizen. By framing the current atmosphere as one of "confusion and instability," Shah positioned himself as a concerned guardian, asserting that democracy can only be truly strengthened when citizens feel secure and responsiblea state he suggests has yet to be achieved under the current republic

....................................

Message of former King Shah on the Occasion of Democracy Day:

Nepali Sisters and Brothers,



Remembering the joyous day when the first light of democracy dawned upon Nepal 75 years ago through the joint efforts of the People and the King, we express our heartfelt best wishes to all Nepalis. We pay our respectful tributes to our great-grandfather, the Father of the Nation, His Late Majesty King Tribhuvan, remembering the magnanimity His Majesty showed for the establishment of democracy. We also express our deep reverence toward the known and unknown martyrs who sacrificed their lives for democracy, as well as all those who remained active in its cause.



Upon returning to the capital after a few months stay in Jhapa, we express our sincere gratitude and thanks to the indigenous citizens of the Valley and the general public who joined in our welcome. In these times when the country is passing through an abnormal situation, the love and goodwill shown toward us have not only touched our hearts and souls but have also inspired an unwavering sense of duty within us.



The entire nation is currently trapped in a whirlwind of unnatural unrest. Every patriotic Nepali feels that the very dignity and existence of the country are at risk. In the past, movements and struggles were carried out under various names, and changes were made on the back of those struggles; however, the time has now come to self-reflect on what all these types of changes have actually given to Nepal and the Nepalese people.



Our enemies are poverty and instability. Yet, we have encouraged an undesirable culture where one Nepali considers another an adversary, due to which the country has reached its deepest and most painful state in history. Therefore, in today's difficult situation, let us put a full stop to the politics of mutual hatred and conflict, and instead promote a political culture of harmony and unity.



In a democracy, it is appropriate for the state system and processes to function according to constitutional principles. While periodic elections to select representatives are a natural process in a democratic system, the current public sentiment is that it would be more appropriate to proceed toward the electoral process only after first solving the national problems. To ensure there is no conflict, unrest, or friction after the election, the country will find the right path only if we head to the polls after building a national consensus and an understanding that includes everyone.



In the present situation, a tendency to seek rights without considering duties is flourishing. In such a tragic circumstance, the country can be given new momentum not by the thought of "dividing the spoils in turns," but by a sense of duty to "work together." In a democracy, the people themselves should be able to become aware and take the lead in the virtuous work of serving society and the nation; however, they have been bound by the chains of a compulsory system where they must please someone or be designated by someone.



Only a system and structure suited to the country's geography and the nature of its society can yield sustainable and positive results. A democratic system that ensures the overall welfare of the general public and holds the heads of Nepalis high before the world is what suits Nepal. We must embrace the good and virtuous aspects of any system while discarding the bad and flawed ones.



Consequently, many nations across the world are laying the foundation of democracy with the priority of "Country First, People First, and Our Needs First." Yes, we too must continue to practice, test, and refine democracy while standing on our own ground reality. Along with the unification, democratization, and modernization of Nepal, the primary need today is to make the daily lives of the general public easy and simple by bringing about timely changes and refinements, keeping in mind the changing desires and needs of the people.



In a democracy, all types of thoughts and cultures must be respected. Social-value-based democracy becomes sustainable and strong only through the coordinating quality where everyone respects one another. Let us not fall into a dilemma by relying on others.


Kathmandu, Janakpur Dham, February 18, 2026: In a move that observers are calling a watershed moment for Nepals oldest political party, Nepali Congress (NC) President Gagan Kumar Thapa delivered a high-stakes address in Janakpur today, February 18, 2026. Speaking under the banner of the "Janakpur Declaration," Thapa sought to bridge the trust gap between the political establishment and a restless electorate, framing the upcoming March 5 parliamentary elections as a "new start" for both the party and the nation. The speech, delivered at a massive assembly, was marked by a rare and candid apology to the youth who led the "Gen Z rebellion" of late 2025, with Thapa promising that the Nepali Congress is now operating under "new management" that values merit over nepotism.

The centerpiece of the declaration is a 10-point "Contract with the People," a strategic rebranding of the partys election manifesto designed to emphasize accountability. Thapa outlined a bold economic roadmap, headlined by a framework to create 500,000 local jobs annually to stem the tide of youth migration to the Gulf and Malaysia. He further committed to a "clean hands" policy, pledging to investigate illegal assets and decouple politics from business interests. On the social front, Thapa positioned healthcare and education as fundamental rights, promising a universal insurance model that prevents families from falling into debt due to medical emergencies, alongside a digital-age overhaul of the national curriculum.

Shifting the political geography of the race, Thapa used the Janakpur stage to explain his high-risk decision to contest the election from Sarlahi-4 rather than his traditional Kathmandu constituency. In a direct critique of "centralized" politics, he argued that the Madhesh has historically been treated as a mere "vote bank" by Kathmandu-based leaders. By tying his personal political survival to the prosperity of the plains, Thapa signaled a desire to integrate the Madhesh into the core of national power. "If Janakpur does not prosper, Nepal does not prosper," he told the crowd, emphasizing that the prosperity of the Terai is the primary engine for the countrys overall growth.

Finally, Thapa addressed the growing competition from newer political entities, arguing that while fresh voices are necessary, the countrys stability depends on a reformed and experienced establishment. He contended that the Nepali Congress has undergone a genuine internal transformation, shifting from a culture of entitlement to one of service delivery. As the party prepares to release its full technical manifesto in Kathmandu tomorrow, Thapas Janakpur Declaration stands as an ambitious attempt to reclaim the political center and prove that a legacy party can indeed be the vehicle for radical change.
Company truck driver dies of sudden heart attack traveling Riviera Maya highway

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Motorists called an ambulance for a man who is reported to have suffered a heart attack while driving Monday. The man was driving a company truck when motorists reported seeing him slow down before simply veering off the highway.

Motorists saw the truck slow and simply veer off the highway February 16, 2026.

Police and medical personnel arrived at the scene to find the driver of the company gas truck dead behind the wheel.

The incident happened Monday evening approximately 10 kilometers south of the city of Playa del Carmen. The LP gas truck driver was traveling the federal highway when he is believed to have suffered a heart attack.

Motorists who stopped to help called 9-1-1. Paramedics arrived and began resuscitation efforts, however, he was pronounced dead.

The incident happened near Punto Venado south of Playa del Carmen Monday evening February 16, 2026.

National Guard Highways cordoned off the area and diverted traffic around the site while forensics removed the body. An autopsy will be preformed to determine the official cause of death.
Mastermind behind murder of Veracruz woman found dead in Playa del Carmen captured in Chetumal

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  The main suspect in the murder of a Veracruz woman found dead in Playa del Carmen has been found. The Quintana Roo State Attorney General (FGE) reported Tuesday that Jose de Jesus N has been captured.

After nearly a year on the run, Investigative Police officers executed an arrest warrant against Jose de Jesus N Tuesday. The FGE said he is the suspected mastermind behind the femicide of Mariel Garcia.

Police said Tuesday that Jose de Jesus N is considered the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Mariel Garcia who disappeared on January 28, 2024. Her remains were located on March 6 of last year in the irregular settlement of Los Sauces in Playa del Carmen.

Jose de Jesus N was arrested for his probable participation in acts possibly constituting the crime of aggravated homicide.

Based on the initial investigative actions, three probable participants were identified. Jonathan N and Luis Esteban N, who have already been arrested and Jose de Jesus N, being the third and the alleged intellectual author, police said.

Jose de Jesus N was captured in the city of Chetumal and returned to Playa del Carmen to face charges. He is currently in the Municipal Detention Center of Playa del Carmen.
Forbes and Statista, a leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, selected America's Best Employers 2026 through an independent survey from more than 217,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 1,000 people within the U.S. Over 3.5 million employer evaluations were considered. The final score is based on two types of evaluations: personal (those given by employees themselves) and public (those given by friends and family members of employees, or members of the public who work in the same industry), with a much higher weighting for personal evaluations.

Survey respondents (who remained anonymous so they could answer freely) were asked if they would recommend their employer to others and to rate it based on a range of criteria, including salary, work environment, benefits and opportunities to advance. Participants were also asked if they would recommend their previous employers (within the past two years) and the employers they knew through their industry experience or through friends or family who worked there.

"It is an honor to again be named a Best Mid-Sized Employer by Forbes and Statistaand especially meaningful that Mercy is the only healthcare organization in Maryland to receive this distinction in 2026. This recognition reflects the voices and dedication of our colleagues who live our mission every day. I am grateful to our physicians, providers, nurses and staff for making Mercy an exceptional place to work and serve," said Dr. David N. Maine, president and CEO, Mercy Health Services, Mercy Medical Center.

Founded in 1874 by The Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a university-affiliated Catholic hospital with a national reputation for women's health, orthopedics, cancer treatment, robotic-assisted surgery, etc. Mercy is home to the acclaimed Weinberg Center for Women's Health & Medicine, and the $400+ million Mary Catherine Bunting Center. For more information about Mercy, visit www.mdmercy.com, MDMercyMedia on FACEBOOK and TWITTER (X), www.youtube.com/mmcbaltimore, or call 1-800-M.D.-Mercy.

SOURCE Mercy Heath Services
Seven found adrift over 50 miles from Isla Mujeres suffer heat stroke and first degree sun burns

Isla Mujeres, Q.R.  The Mexican Navy rescued a boat and its crew over 50 nautical miles off the island of Isla Mujeres Monday. On Tuesday, the Navy said the rescue took place after they received a report of a drifting vessel with seven on board.

All seven were found suffering heat stroke and first degree sun burns February 16, 2026.

This action was carried out after the Fifth Naval Regions Command and Control Center received a report that seven people (five men and two women) aboard a vessel were adrift, they said.

The boat began to drift when the engine failed. Personnel from the Mexican Navy set out in search of the boat, locating it approximately 55 nautical miles (102 km) north of Isla Mujeres.

An interceptor vessel with Marine Corps and Naval Medical personnel on board was immediately dispatched to safeguard human life at sea, they reported.

The rescued individuals were located and, upon medical examination, were found to be suffering from first-degree burns, sunstroke and dehydration.

Their boat was towed to Puerto Juarez by the Navy Monday afternoon February 16, 2026.

The boat was located and towed to Puerto Juarez around 4:00 p.m. Personnel transferred all seven to the Puerto Juarez Naval Station to continue receiving specialized medical care. Authorities did not say how long they were adrift before finally being rescued.
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The Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday that its top spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, would depart the agency after just over a year on the job. To most, McLaughlin is probably best known for slandering Americans wounded or killed by immigration agentsincluding Renee Good (whom she accused of domestic terrorism) and Alex Pretti (whom she claimed sought to massacre law enforcement). Inside the legal system, though, McLaughlin is known for something else: Actively sabotaging the Department of Homeland Security in court through her crass, often false public statements. Most notably, McLaughlin has gained notoriety for smearing judges who rule against the Trump administration, deriding them as activist, craven, out of control partisans engaged in judicial sabotage, race-baiting, and stoking the embers of hatred.

President Donald Trump has praised her tactics, but they have done her department no favors in front of these judges. It was perhaps inevitable that judges would bristle at a government spokeswoman deriding them as hacks. But McLaughlin did not merely alienate the judiciary; she consistently undermined the administrations legal arguments, sabotaging lawyers efforts to cover up unlawful conduct by boasting about it on social media. Judges then cited these posts to refute the administrations claims and rule against it. Few if any government spokespeople have done more to kneecap their own agency in court than McLaughlin.

The gap between this administrations public statements and legal assertions has been a stubborn problem since Trump returned to office, but nowhere is it more chasmic than DHS. In their briefings, government lawyers finesse a sanitized version into a clean narrative of law-abiding responsibility. At hearings, they insist that the department adheres to high standards of professionalism and good-faith compliance. But McLaughlins confrontational declarations to the press routinely punctured this fiction. And lawyers suing DHS pointed judges toward her messaging as evidence of the agencys real actions and policieswhich were, quite often, flagrantly illegal.

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Related From Slate Republicans Have Found the Real Victims of Trumps Effort to Build Mass Immigrant Detention Centers Read More

Escobar Molina v. DHS illustrates this pattern perfectly. It marked a challenge to immigration agents widespread warrantless arrests of suspected immigrants in the District of Columbia, which seemingly targeted anyone who appeared Hispanic. The plaintiffslawful residents and American citizens caught up in the dragnetsued, alleging violations of a statute that allows warrantless arrests only when agents have probable cause that an individual is undocumented. In court, lawyers for the department attested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection rigorously adhered to this standard. Outside of court, however, McLaughlin kept contradicting them, asserting over and over again that immigration agents did not require probable cause to arrest a person suspected of lacking lawful status. To the contrary, she said that agents merely required reasonable suspicion, a much more lenient standard. This was not a one-off: McLaughlin repeated her claim over and over again, and amplified it from DHSs official accounts.

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Judge Beryl Howell was not pleased with this discrepancy. At one hearing, she ordered government lawyers to explain whether they or McLaughlin were stating the agencys true position. The lawyers tried to dismiss McLaughlins comments, saying she did not necessarily understand legal terms of art because she was not a lawyer. This, Howell later wrote, is a remarkable assertion. The government seemed to be saying that McLaughlin was ignorant or incompetent, or both. Howell scolded the lawyers for their failure to prevent these statements from being made in DHSs official communications to the public. And she concluded that McLaughlins statements must be taken at face value as reflecting the current policy and practice of DHS and federal law enforcement agents making civil immigration arrests. Howell then issued an injunction barring warrantless immigration arrests without probable cause in D.C. (The government says it will appeal her ruling but has not yet done so.)

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McLaughlin also helped to botch ICEs efforts to keep immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez locked up without bond. Federal agents arrested Vizguerra-Ramirez while she was on a work break from Target, just one day after she marched against Trump in a widely publicized protest. ICE boasted of the arrest online, and McLaughlin took a victory lap on X, writing: We will find, arrest, and deport illegal aliens regardless of if they were a featured Time Person of the Year.  The implication seemed to be that ICE had singled out Vizguerra-Ramirez to send a message that no immigrant was safe.

The courts paid attention. Judge Nina Wang later pointed to this tweet as evidence that the administration sought to make an example of Ms. Vizguerra-Ramirez by arresting and detaining an individual with a high profile as a labor and immigration activist. McLaughlins brag that the government had snagged a well-known advocate raised unique due process concerns, Wang wrote, and contributed to her conclusion that Vizguerra-Ramirezs detention violated the Fifth Amendment. Wang ordered a bond hearing, and Vizguerra-Ramirez was quickly released. She remains free today and continues to challenge her order of removal.

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McLaughlins X account has, in fact, routinely corroborated plaintiffs claims that DHS is violating the Constitution. In one case challenging the revocation of student visas because of anti-Israel activism, the government argued that it was merely trying to avoid adverse foreign policy consequences, not punishing protected speech. Judge Noel Wise didnt buy it, pointing to McLaughlins insistence that those pushing Hamas propaganda and similar anti-American conduct would see their visas revoked. Wise cited McLaughlins warning as evidence that the government was retaliating against expression related to Israel and Palestine, denying the governments motion to dismiss the case. Judge William Young also cited McLaughlins post in ruling that the administration had violated the First Amendment by detaining and deporting pro-Gaza activists. DHS lawyers spent many hours camouflaging their speech suppression in neutral terms, only to see McLaughlin tweet out the realand unconstitutionalreason for the crackdown.

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Sometimes McLaughlin stepped on more prosaic rakes. In a case challenging immigration agents excessive force against protesters, the government argued that the plaintiffs lacked standing because the threat of future violence was too speculative. This contention seemed to be bolstered by a credible news report that immigration agents would imminently end the surge and, with it, the plaintiffs need for relief. But McLaughlin promptly refuted the report on X, writing: We arent leaving Chicago. Judge Sara Ellis then used her post to show that the threat of continued violence was all too real, granting the protesters standing.

Its easy to see why McLaughlin believed she could undermine or contradict her agencys official position in court without consequence. Trump posts bizarre and aggressive rants on Truth Social all the time, yet courts mostly ignore his late-night ramblings. But thats because the Supreme Court has shied away from using a presidents public comments as proof of policy, preferring to focus on official communications like executive orders (ostensibly out of respect for the office). The rules for DHS are different: SCOTUS subjects agencies to far more scrutiny and demands that they tell the truth about their decisions. Federal courts may block agency actions that are arbitrary and capricious, and statements by a spokesperson can be evidence that an agency is breaking the law.

McLaughlins departure may therefore be bittersweet news to the many lawyers now litigating against DHS. Sure, she vilified immigrants, smeared protesters, and attacked judges. Sometimes, though, she also told the truth, in ways that were inadvertently beneficial to the targets of her ire. If she is replaced by a more disciplined spokesperson, the courts may have a more difficult time smoking out the real, lawless policies driving Trumps mass deportation machine. McLaughlins comments were reliably abhorrent. But they were, with remarkable frequency, also a smoking gun.
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Two American politicians drew top billing at this past weekends Munich Security Conference, where U.S. and European political leaders gather each year to mull the state of the trans-Atlantic alliancea topic that is now teeming with suspense and peril.

The headliners were Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Europeans hoped Rubio would mollify their concerns about President Donald Trumps commitment to the continents defenseor at least erase the memory of last years main speaker, J.D. Vance, whose unabashed hostility toward the Western alliance and firm embrace of Germanys neo-Nazi party set off the crisis between the two continents today.

In this context, they viewed AOC as a possible harbinger of the U.S. leaderships next generation and wonderedsome with excitement, some with dread, almost everyone with curiosity, because she had never appeared at the conference beforejust what her ascension might bode.

As it turned out, Rubio proved disappointing, while AOC was too vague to leave behind an outline of the alliances future or her chances of rising to its helmthough she expressed reassuring sentiments with (for the most part) encouraging eloquence.

Rubio received a standing ovation at the end of his keynote address on Saturday, mainly because he spoke softly and uttered a few welcome lines that the likes of Vance or, worse still, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (who did not attend the conference) would never utterfor instance, the United States and Europe  belong together, We are part of one civilization, and Our destiny is, and will always be, intertwined with yours.

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These lines inspired his interlocutor, at the start of a Q&A period, to note the collective sigh of relief throughout this hall during the secretarys message of reassurance and partnership.

But those listening with more jaded ears, and nearly everyone who read the transcript afterward, saw it as what might be called Vance-and-Hegseth litewarm and friendly in tone but pure MAGA in substance, or as Politico paraphrased his message: Join Donald Trumps campaign to reshape the world for Washingtons benefit, or get out of the way.

The traditions that Rubio invoked, in recalling the alliances past, were those of nationalism (a subtle rebuke to the European Union, an open rejection of free trade, and a dismissal of international law), Western civilization as Christian civilization (ignoring not just Judeo-Christian heritage but the roughly 25 million Muslims who live in Europe), and the unapologetic mission to build a vast empire out across the globe.

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His call for alliance unity was an invitation for you (Europeans) to join us (Trumps America) on our path. His speechat the worlds most preeminent security conferencedid not mention Russia, NATO, or China, but instead listed as the Wests biggest dangers fear of climate change, fear of war, fear of technology, and the mass migration that threatens the cohesion of our societies, the continuity of our culture, and the future of our people. To renew our alliance, he said, means to restore a place in the world that will rebuke and deter the forces of civilizational erasure that today menace both America and Europe alike.

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Weve heard this phrase civilizational erasure before, from Trump himself. It translates, pretty explicitly, to Make America (and now Europe as well) White Again.

After his appearance in Munich, as if to confirm this impression, and to splash water on those who tried to interpret the speech as a beacon of hope, Rubio flew to Budapest, where he publicly embraced Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and told him, I say to you with confidence that President Trump is deeply committed to your success because your success is our success, because this relationship we have here in central Europe through you is so essential and vital for our national interests in the years to come.

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Rubios wish for Orbans success should be viewed in two contexts. First, the prime minister is facing a tough election; Rubios words amounted to an open endorsement by Trump. Second, Orban is universally seen as the EUs outlierthe Unions most outspoken critic of democracy, supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and opponent of military aid to Ukraine. In wishing for Orbans success, Rubio was thumbing his nose at the entire spectaclethe very purposeof the Munich Security Conference. Basically, he was repeating, through his actions, Vances aggressively hostile speech last year.

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If Rubio had gone to Munich after Hungary, the gist of his speech would have been grasped without illusion. Even before the speech, he gave what should have been seen as a hint of his real intentions by brushing off a meeting, which hed been scheduled to attend, on the security of Ukraine.

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Usually several members of Congress attend the Munich conference, though this time House Speaker Mike Johnson barred the funding of their flights, in anticipation of the impasse that froze the Department of Homeland Securitys budget. Still, a few made their own way, notably Sen. Lindsey Grahamwho, at one session, said, Who gives a shit who owns Greenland? I dont. (Too bad he couldnt have summoned the courage to say that a month ago, when Trump threatened war over the question). A few politicians who are assumed to have presidential aspirations also managed to attend: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (who stressed the vital relations between her state and Canada), California Gov. Gavin Newsom (who proclaimed that his state still observed tight laws on greenhouse gases), and the aforementioned AOC.

AOC was the big curiosity, and the two panels where she spokeone on populism, the other on U.S. foreign policywere hot tickets. She had never been to the conference before. She was there to lay out a vision of an alternative, progressive foreign policyand therein lay the mystery: What is a progressive foreign policy in the era of Trump?

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A decade ago, progressives would have been, and still would be, anti-war, but would they now support NATO and the armament of Ukraine, if just to distinguish themselves from MAGA isolationists? And how would a progressive fit the U.S. into Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneys assertion of middle nations power in his speech earlier this month at the Davos conference?

Before this weekend, I had never heard AOC speak at length, without a script, on foreign policy (or many other topics), and, following the panels streamed on YouTube, I found her for the most part impressive. She argued that income inequality fueled the resentment that triggered the rise of right-wing populism. She noted (as did Carney, though less pointedly) that the rules-based order has always excluded the poor from its benefits and the powerful from its obligations, and mused that, contrary to those who say were in a post-rules-based order, we might be in a pre-rules-based order. The real question, in any case, was rules for whom. She advocated a working-class-centered policy, in part for its own sake, in part to stave off authoritarianism. She supported firm commitment to allies, especially those that share our values on human rights and democracy, and adherence to treaties, regardless of whether Democrats or Republicans had signed them.

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She didnt quite explain what a working-class foreign policy might entail. (President Joe Biden talked about a foreign policy for the middle class, tying the idea to an industrial policy that let the U.S. compete with China in high tech; its unclear whether AOC would go there.) Nor did she address how a commitment to alliances would affect the balance between social spending and defense spending. In that realm, she (already famously) fumbled a question on whether shed defend Taiwan from an attack (though, in fairness, the strategic ambiguity of U.S. policy on that question is confusing even to seasoned expertsshe just hadnt been briefed on the proper cliches to utter).

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She still needs some seasoning in this sphere, but this was her first exposure, and shes just 36 years old. She could acquire another 30 years of seasoning and still emerge younger than Trump was the first time he ran for president.

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Related From Slate Pete Hegseth Has Outdone Himself Read More

But just as Rubio revealed his true colors on his first stop after Munich, AOC made what could turn out to be her most enduring impression after the conference as well. Rubio stood alongside Europes most authoritarian leader, in Budapest. AOC met and spoke with some of its most prominent left-liberal leaders, in Berlin.

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She spoke first to leaders of Germanys Social Democratic Party/SPD and then to its Left Party/Die Linkeboth full-house events, mainly about leftish issues, which they had rarely heard about from an American politician, especially one as prominent as AOC.

But apart from the issues, AOC stressed the importance of sticking together. Whatever they might try to accomplish, she said at the first event, the approach has to be coalitional.

We have to grow our ranks  because if we go separately, we will lose it all.  Everyone has something to give here, and thats why Im proud to meet with Die Linke tomorrow and to be here with SPD today, because we cannot let the right win.

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This was a stern message to the two groups of German politicians, who have sharp divisions, despite knowing very well that, a century ago, similar divisions between social democrats and socialists abetted the rise of Hitler. Today, SPD and Die Linke together hold 19 and 10 percent of the seats in Germanys parliament, respectively. The far-right-wing party, the AfD, holds 24 percent. (The centrist Christian Democratic Union holds 33 percent, and the Green Party holds 13 percent.) Together, the two left-leaning parties outflank AfD; apart, they can get crushed.

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AOC is pursuing the same theme back in Washington. Back in 2018, when she was first elected as a Bernie Sanderstype democratic socialist, she formed a huddle with a few like-minded House members who called themselves the Squad. Now she is a power- and coalition-builder, even helping to raise money for centrist Democratswho ask her for help, knowing that they need her constituents to push them over the edge, just as AOC knows she needs the moderates to push her agenda.

The U.S. probably hasnt shifted quite left enough to elect AOC president in 2028. (Its questionable whether she could even win upstate New York in a race for the Senate.) But domestic alliances are shifting, just as global alliances are shifting. In weighing the contestants for Americas top leadership positions, its worth noting that Trump, Rubio, and Vance endorse Orban and the AdFwhile AOC tries to unify the SPD and Die Linke.

Which of these sides should America be on?
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WHITESTONE, N.Y., Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- NYC Disinfection Services, Inc., a New York State and New York City certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), has formally launched a dedicated residential relocation division supporting large-scale housing modernization and capital improvement projects across New York City.

The newly established division provides structured packing, moving, logistics coordination, and temporary relocation support services designed to assist residents during renovation and infrastructure upgrades. The expansion strengthens the company's integrated service model, which includes janitorial services, construction support, environmental cleaning, and regulatory-compliant facility operations.

Since its incorporation in April 2020, NYC Disinfection Services has grown into a public-sector focused contractor operating across all five boroughs of New York City, with additional contract experience in major metropolitan areas including Boston, Chicago, New Jersey, and the Washington, D.C. region. The company maintains a workforce of approximately 3040 employees and continues to expand strategically within the New York City market.

As part of the relocation division rollout, NYC Disinfection Services is actively seeking to partner with Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and recruit Section 3 eligible individuals for employment opportunities. The company's workforce strategy prioritizes regulatory compliance, structured operations, and local economic participation aligned with public-sector contracting objectives.

"Our expansion into residential relocation services reflects our commitment to operational excellence and responsible growth," said Alicia Halpin, President and Founder of NYC Disinfection Services, Inc. "We remain focused on systems-driven execution, compliance oversight, and creating meaningful workforce and subcontracting opportunities within the communities we serve."

NYC Disinfection Services operates under strict adherence to applicable federal, state, and municipal labor standards, including prevailing wage and workforce participation requirements. The company continues to broaden its licensed capabilities, including expansion into locksmith services and additional construction support disciplines.

About NYC Disinfection Services, Inc.

NYC Disinfection Services, Inc. is a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) headquartered in Whitestone, New York. The company provides janitorial services, construction support, environmental cleaning, residential relocation services, and public-sector facility operations throughout New York City. The firm emphasizes compliance-driven systems, workforce development, and integrated operational logistics for municipal and institutional clients.

Media Contact:

NYC Disinfection Services, Inc.

(347)326-1907

[email protected]

NYCDisinfection.com

SOURCE NYC Disinfection Services, Inc.
Standardbred Canada (SC) would like to inform its members that the main office in Mississauga, Ont. will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 18 due to inclement weather conditions.

A special weather statement has been issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada with hazardous winter conditions expected, beginning Wednesday morning and continuing through Wednesday evening.

While the office will be closed for in person visits on Wednesday, SC staff will be working remotely during regular office hours. For SC members needing to contact SC staff, the best method of communication would be email. Please use the staff directory or general feedback form to contact us. Our Member Services team can also be reached by phone at 905-858-3060 ext. 3. Members can also use eShop (available in the menu bar at the top of the page) for online transactions.

Notices for the SC website can be sent to the news team through the Send Us Your News form submission page.

Standardbred Canada would like to apologize for any inconvenience that the closure has caused.

(Standardbred Canada Press Release)
Woodbine Mohawk Park would like to inform trainers that the entry box for the card of harness racing slated for Monday, Feb. 23 remains open.

It will remain open until Thursday, Feb. 19 at 10:30 a.m. Moving forward, the Monday card will be drawn on Thursday every week.

New conditions have been added. To view the condition sheet, click here.

(Woodbine)
Longtime harness racing industry participant Patrick (Pat) Traynor Lang of Rockwood, Ont. passed away on Feb. 15, 2026 at the age of 74.

A lifelong horseman, Pats love of harness racing was constant and unwavering. He began grooming horses at a young age and went on to serve as Farm Manager at Glencoe Farms in Howick, Que., later becoming trainer and driver for Illusion Farms of Dewittville, which he owned and operated alongside his wife, Lise. Most recently he was Stallion Manager at Tara Hills in Port Perry, Ont. Pat was widely respected for his knowledge, dedication, and willingness to share his experience with others.

Beyond the track, Pat had a deep love of music and found great joy in mentoring children, always offering encouragement and guidance to those who needed it most.

Pat is lovingly survived by his wife, Lise Pellerin Lang; his nephew Jason (Michelle), their children Emmanuel and Meghan; his sister-in-law Carole (Jim); nephew James and niece Lindsay. He was predeceased by his son Jamie, his sister Penny and his brother Scott.

A service is to be held at the Christ Church Cemetery in Franklin, Que. in the coming spring. Donations in memory of Pat to the Wellington Hospice in Guelph, Ont. would be greatly appreciated.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Pat Lang.
ANAHEIM, Calif., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch (Onboard), a leading developer and manufacturer of helicopter rescue hoists and cargo winches, today announced the opening of its new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Anaheim, California. The 20,000-square-foot (1,858 square meters) operation is FAA Part 145-approved and is a key investment towards enhancing operational support for customers and improving fleet readiness worldwide. This dedicated MRO facility is central to Onboard's commitment to reducing hoist MRO turnaround times to 45 days or less by the end of 2026. The site has been purpose-built and resourced to process up to 80 units per montha 100% increase in capacity over historical output.

Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch MRO Facility in Anaheim, California

By expanding capacity, accelerating turnaround times, and integrating service operations more closely with engineering and manufacturing, Onboard is strengthening its ability to keep critical hoist-equipped aircraft mission-ready and flying. "Supporting the operational readiness of our customers' global helicopter fleets is our top priority," said Artak Arakelian, General Manager of Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch. "We've made significant investments in skilled personnel, inventory, and infrastructure to ensure this new facility delivers faster turnaround times, greater throughput, and consistently high-quality service."

The Anaheim MRO facility employs 40 full-time technicians and benefits from real-time engineering and operational support from Onboard's Anaheim headquarters, located less than half a mile away. This closeness enables tighter collaboration, faster troubleshooting, and continuous process improvements. "Proximity to our headquarters was a strategic imperative," said Cory VanBuskirk, Group President at Signia Aerospace, Onboard's parent company. "We made a deliberate decision to bring hoist MRO operations back to Anaheim to achieve best-in-class performance and strengthen support for the helicopter operators who depend on our equipment every day."

Early results underscore the facility's impact. In its first month of full operation, the Anaheim site processed more hoists than any month in the past five years, doubling the average monthly output from 2025. February is on pace for even higher production, reinforcing confidence that the new facility will sustainably improve responsiveness and support for customers worldwide.

About Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch

Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch (www.onboardsystems.com) is a global leader in Search & Rescue (SAR) and Human External Cargo (HEC) missions. Our field-proven hoists are built to withstand harsh weather and extreme environments to help keep you safe until the job is done. Backed by more than 50 years of proven reliability, our equipment is unmatched in safety and durability, holding the most EASA and FAA rescue hoist certifications in the industry. Based in Anaheim, California, Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch operates as part of Signia Aerospace.

Media Contact:

Sheri Gormley

360-546-3072

[email protected]

SOURCE Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch
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Artemis 2 on the pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. | Credit: NASA/Sam Lott

NASA will take another crack at fueling up its huge Artemis 2 moon rocket this week.

The agency plans to load more than 700,000 gallons (2.65 million liters) of liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) into Artemis 2's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on Thursday (Feb. 19), wrapping up a crucial two-day-long test called a wet dress rehearsal.

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This will be the second wet dress for Artemis 2 , the first crewed moon mission since the Apollo era. The first rehearsal, which began on Jan. 31, ended prematurely due to an LH2 leak detected during propellant loading.

The LH2 leak occurred at an interface with the tail service mast umbilical (TSMU), a service line that connects the SLS with its mobile launch tower.

This was far from unprecedented. Artemis 1's test campaign was plagued by leaks in this area as well, which helped push the uncrewed mission's launch from spring 2022 to November of that year. All ended well, however: Artemis 1 successfully sent an Orion capsule to lunar orbit and back to Earth.

Artemis 2 teams replaced two seals in the aftermath of the first wet dress. Then, on Feb. 12, they partially filled SLS' tanks with LH2 in a "confidence test" designed to assess the efficacy of that fix. A problem with ground support equipment restricted the flow of LH2 during that test, but the team nonetheless was "able to gain confidence in several key objectives," NASA wrote in an update on Feb. 13 .

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Artemis 2 team members soon tied the ground-support issue to a filter, which they replaced over this past weekend. They now feel ready to conduct another wet dress rehearsal, which will run through the key operations leading up to launch.

The wet dress will officially begin today (Feb. 17) at 6:40 p.m. EST (2340 GMT), when team members arrive at their stations at the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. They'll work toward a simulated launch time of 8:30 p.m. EST on Thursday (Feb. 17; 0130 GMT on Feb. 18).

"During the rehearsal, the team will execute a detailed countdown sequence. Operators will conduct two runs of the last 10 minutes of the countdown, known as terminal count. They will pause at T-1 minute and 30 seconds for up to three minutes, then resume until T-33 seconds before launch and pause again," NASA officials wrote in an update on Monday (Feb. 16).

"After that, they will recycle the clock back to T-10 minutes and conduct a second terminal countdown to just inside of T-30 seconds before ending the sequence," they added. "This process simulates real-world conditions, including scenarios where a launch might be scrubbed due to technical or weather issues."

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If all goes well, Artemis 2 could launch from KSC as early as March 6. There are a few other dates available next month as well  March 7-9 and March 11. (The agency had also eyed March 3 as an option, but that's no longer in play, according to Monday's update.)

Artemis 2 will send four astronauts  NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency  on a 10-day trip around the moon and back to Earth.
3 min read

Ericsson announced a major joint Microsoft-Ericsson development in enterprise mobility  the integration of advanced 5G capabilities directly into Windows 11. The transformative results mean enterprises worldwide  and their workforces  stand to benefit from secure, policy-driven laptop connectivity, simplifying how IT departments manage, protect and scale mobile PC fleets.

Tech News Of The Day

The joint solution combines Microsoft Intune device management with Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect (formerly Ericsson Enterprise Virtual Cellular Network  EVCN)  an AI- and cloud-analytics-powered platform that continuously monitors network quality and automatically adjusts connectivity for best performance and security.

The embedding of AI-based 5G management into Windows 11 enables IT teams to automate how devices connect, seamlessly switch between communications service providers (CSPs) networks, and apply in-house enterprise policies.

Through Microsoft Intune and Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect, IT teams can automatically enforce secure connectivity profiles and enterprise policies across every 5G-connected device, minimizing manual setup while ensuring consistent, compliant user experiences everywhere employees work.

Such automation capabilities remove long-standing challenges in adopting cellular-connected laptops  minimizing manual setup and ensuring consistent user experience across locations and service providers. The new capabilities also reduce IT overheads and provide enterprises with a predictable, secure pathway to tap modern mobility capabilities  powered by the most secure and cloudintegrated version of Windows.

Building on Microsoft and Ericssons long-standing collaboration to bring managed 5G connectivity to the enterprise workspace, todays announcement follows several successful multi-market pilots. In collaboration with CSPs and other global partners, Microsoft and Ericsson will deliver enterprise 5G bundles, starting with Surface Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft 365 and Intune, Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect.

In addition to demonstrating solution capabilities, Microsoft and Ericsson will give attendees at MWC Barcelona 2026  the worlds largest mobile connectivity expo  exclusive insights to future solution capabilities that are set to become part of the solution.

Experts will showcase the joint solution and its new features: to remotely set network policies for 5G as priority; the automatic switching of eSIMs; and the local AI agent running on a Surface 5G laptop to make intelligent, context-aware decisions in real time. This will show connectivity performance is optimized to ensure consistently smooth, reliable performance for high-value business workflows.

Erik Ekudden, CTO, Ericsson, says: AI-powered 5G laptops are redefining how and where work gets done. Together with Microsoft and leading CSP partners, were enabling organizations to seamlessly automate the deployment and operations of secure, always-connected devices regardless of location  creating a smarter, more responsive workplace for the AI era. This joint solution has the potential to transform enterprise IT and employee ways of working around the world.

Ian LeGrow, Corporate Vice President, Core OS, Microsoft, says: Windows 11 is the optimal enterprise platform for deploying and managing 5Gconnected PCs at scale. With the new 5G management capabilities of Windows 11, now being piloted first with Surface Copilot+ PCs and Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect, Enterprise IT teams can use Microsoft Intune to seamlessly provision, manage, and secure both devices and 5G connectivity. Together, Windows, Intune, Surface, and Ericsson enable organizations to confidently deploy AIready PCs and keep employees securely connected and productive wherever work happens.

The joint solution is now available to enterprises in key markets: in the United States with T-Mobile; in Sweden with Telenor; in Singapore with Singtel; and in Japan with SoftBank Corp. Similar launches will follow during 2026 in other markets, including in Spain with MasOrange; in Germany with O2 Telefonica Germany; and in Finland with Elisa.
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SGT Capital Artificial Intelligence (AI) Co-Investment Fund Closes 25% Oversubscribed

SGT Capital commits to invest in Artificial Intelligence as an expansion of Data Analytics & Cybersecurity

SGT Capital Partners Joseph Pacini, Carsten Geyer, Dino Steinborn, Marcel Normann and Marianne Rajic applaud recent fundraising success

ZUG, Switzerland, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SGT Capital announces the successful closing of its SGT Capital Artificial Intelligence (AI) Co-Investment Fund, which was 25% oversubscribed. This fund strengthens SGT Capital's strategy to invest in market-leading data analytic, cybersecurity and med-tech companies. The SGT Capital AI Co-Investment Fund builds on SGT Capital's established track record in technology-enabled sectors and reflects growing institutional investor demand for exposure to transformative AI-driven business models.

SGT Capital Partners Joseph Pacini, Carsten Geyer, Dino Steinborn, Dr Marcel Normann, and Marianne Rajic applaud the strong investor demand and the successful fundraising outcome, stating:

"Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the key driver of growth for the global economy, and every company will either deploy AI or face disruption by it. This success underscores strong investor conviction in SGT Capital's disciplined approach to backing market leading businesses and producing top decile returns. AI is now a permanent feature of the global economy and SGT Capital is uniquely positioned to identify and support category-defining AI businesses, combining deep sector expertise with a disciplined investment approach. The oversubscription of this fund reflects investor confidence in SGT Capital's strategy, team, and track record. We are grateful for the trust our investors have placed in us and look forward to deploying capital into high-conviction opportunities that drive technological transformation and long-term value creation."

The SGT Capital AI Co-Investment Fund will focus on investments in scalable technology platforms across North America, Europe, and selected global markets. SGT Capital will leverage its operational expertise and global network to support portfolio companies in scaling revenue, expanding internationally, and strengthening governance and cybersecurity frameworks.

About SGT Capital

SGT Capital Group is a global private equity firm that generates top decile performance for its investors by investing in market leading businesses and expanding their international growth. With offices and portfolio company presence in London (United Kingdom), Zug (Switzerland), Frankfurt (Germany), Dubai (UAE), Silicon Valley (CA, USA), and Singapore, SGT Capital is led by Joseph Pacini, Carsten Geyer, Dr Marcel Normann, Marianne Rajic and Jens Dino Steinborn.

SOURCE SGT Capital
For decades, the Iranian regime has openly proclaimed slogans that leave no room for ambiguity: Death to Israel and Death to America. These were not mere words. While these slogans echoed in Tehrans main square, the regime enriched uranium, developed ballistic missiles, and buried military facilities underground. Its rhetoric was accompanied by a strategy.

They think she has it, my mother said, looking at me warily, her voice filled with dread. She has the Big One.

You mean, they think she has cancer? The Big C? I replied, thinking quickly and trying to figure out what the Big One was. The person to which she was referring was a mid-seventies retired nurse who was active and fearsome in her post-retirement days.
New details have been released in the shooting of a man by police last month on Tucson's south side, authorities said.

About 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23, officers found people sitting in a stolen vehicle parked near South Sixth Avenue and West Valencia Road, the Pima Regional Critical Incident Team said Tuesday in a news release. The multi-agency unit investigates local police shootings.

Later, officers worked with the police air unit to make a traffic stop, but the driver fled. The stolen vehicle eventually stopped at an apartment complex in the 6200 block of South Campbell Avenue, near East Bilby Road.

Two people ran from two officers at the complex and police chased one of the people they believed was driving the stolen car, the release said.

The man pointed a gun at the officers and pulled the trigger, but it did not fire, the PRCIT release said.

The gunman was then shot by one of the officers. They performed life-saving measures before he was taken to the hospital.

The officer who discharged his department-issued firearm has been identified as Officer Anthony Weeks, a 10-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department.

The alleged gunman has been identified as Frankie Felipe Silvas, 27.

The Pima County Attorneys Office has charged Silvas with two counts of attempted first degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, weapons misconduct involving a weapons-prohibited possessor and narcotic drug sales, the release said.

The University of Arizona Police Department is the lead agency for the PRCIT investigation. The Tucson Police Department is conducting a separate internal investigation to ensure department policies were followed, the release said.

The Pima County Attorneys Office for review the case once the investigation is complete.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Social Agent, the first app to deliver certified content creators on-demand, today announced its expansion into New York City and Miami ahead of Global Day of Unplugging (March 6-7).

Social Agent allows users to reserve a certified Agent with as little as four hours' notice or request one on-demand to arrive in 30 minutes or less. Clients can put their phones away while an Agent captures photos and videos exclusively on iPhone, and delivers edited Reels and photos the very same day.

From Manhattan brand activations to Brooklyn dinners and Miami beach proposals, Social Agent captures the moments while people stay present. Now available in New York City and launching in Miami on February 25.

What sets Social Agent apart:

On-Demand or By Request  Agents arrive in 30 minutes or can be booked with as little as four hours' notice.

 Agents arrive in 30 minutes or can be booked with as little as four hours' notice. Flat, Affordable Pricing  starting at $65 for 30 minutes; edits from $30

 starting at $65 for 30 minutes; edits from $30 Same-Day Delivery  Raw content, fully edited Reels and photos delivered within hours.

 Raw content, fully edited Reels and photos delivered within hours. iPhone-Only Capture  Fast, portable, and compatible with every social platform.

 Fast, portable, and compatible with every social platform. Certified Quality  Every Agent undergoes a rigorous skills assessment and background check, ensuring brand-safe, high-energy content.

 Every Agent undergoes a rigorous skills assessment and background check, ensuring brand-safe, high-energy content. Ownership  Clients retain all content ownership.

 Clients retain all content ownership. Not a Marketplace  All Agents are equally qualified; no browsing or selection; the app matches users with certified Agents instantly based on location.

 All Agents are equally qualified; no browsing or selection; the app matches users with certified Agents instantly based on location. Group Bookings  Users can invite friends, family, colleagues to receive live updates and access to all content; group payment options available.

 Users can invite friends, family, colleagues to receive live updates and access to all content; group payment options available. Nationwide Editing  Capture anywhere, upload anytime and Social Agent will turn your footage into scroll-stopping content within hours.

"Social Agent was built on the belief that life's best moments should be lived, not recorded through a screen," said Lisa Jammal, Co-Founder and CEO of Social Agent. "Whether you plan ahead or need someone last minute, you can put your phone away and trust that we'll capture it."

This expansion aligns with Global Day of Unplugging, which encourages people to step away from their devices and reconnect. Social Agent captures the moments so hosts and guests can unplug without missing the memories.

About Social Agent

Founded by Lisa Jammal, Brooke Levy, and Jeff Tobler, Social Agent bridges the gap between DIY social media and expensive production crews. Users can book a certified content creator on demand or upload their own footage for professional editing with same-day turnaround. Social Agent launched Fall 2025 in Los Angeles, with nationwide "You Upload, We Edit" services available. Download on the App Store, learn more at www.socialagentapp.com and follow @socialagentapp.

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Social Agent
For years, the square-mile city of South Tucson has had a fire department in name that barely existed in practice.

It had one full-time fire captain and a legion of part-timers, many of them firefighters at other area departments who would pick up shifts on their days off. Often that wasn't enough, and the department was understaffed, leaving the Tucson Fire Department to respond to significant incidents.

"We were often left without coverage," South Tucson Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela said.

For now, that era is over.

After a consultant's report and bidding process last year, South Tucson contracted in December with Rural Metro Fire to provide staffing for its department at a cost of $1.9 million per year. The arrangement that began Feb. 1 means now South Tucson will have four firefighters on duty 24 hours per day.

At the Feb. 3 South Tucson City Council meeting, Rural Metro Fire Chief Karl Isselhard marveled at how quickly the deal came together and was careful to thank past South Tucson firefighters.

"There's a legacy there, there's a history there, a culture we want to preserve. We're not here to make a new culture," he told the council.

Gesturing to a four-person crew in the audience, he noted that the firefighters working in South Tucson all responded to an internal bidding process within Rural Metro.

"The gentlemen you're seeing here tonight, the others that are here on other shifts, they all bid to be here. They want to be here. They were not forced," he said.

South Tucson also ended up with a new fire engine as part of the deal. Rural Metro facilitated a purchase that might usually take a year or more from order to delivery, but this delivery only took about a month.

The city paid for the $802,000 vehicle with money available as a result of Prop. 409, a bond issue approved by the city's voters in 2024.

The transition to Rural Metro was the result of the city hiring Citygate Associates as consultants to analyze the city's public-safety problems, Valenzuela said. The result was a process in which Tucson Fire and Rural Metro bid on staffing the city's fire station without actually taking ownership of it or the city's equipment.

Photos: South Tucson has full time fire coverage again

One of the key factors that forced South Tucson to act last year was a decision by fire departments that were the home base of many of South Tucson's part-timers to block them from working for the small city. They decided that working in South Tucson caused a potential mix-up in liability in case any of the firefighters were diagnosed with one of the cancers associated with firefighting.

Clayton Black, president of the Tucson Fire Fighters Association, said the issue centered on the cancers considered presumptively, under Arizona law, to be workplace-related for firefighters. Those conditions include brain, bladder, rectal or colon cancer, lymphoma and leukemia, among others.

The issue, Black said, was: "What if somebody does come down with cancer and its a presumptive? Will South Tucson be held responsible or will their original department be held accountable?"

South Tucson got that notice last summer, Valenzuela said, making a new solution to the fire department problem even more urgent. The City Council passed the new contract in a 6-1 vote in December.

Then the rush was on to staff up and get the equipment in place before the Feb. 1 deadline. Since Rural Metro began staffing the station, the calls have mostly been medical, Capt. Tim Higginbottom said. But there has been one structure fire  predictably, it was at a structure that has burned repeatedly in recent years, the abandoned Spanish Trail Motel.

Photos: South Tucson has full time fire coverage again
If you want to get official updates on the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, perhaps the quickest place to find them is the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, now called X.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department has been posting official announcements there, as has the FBI  the two key investigative agencies.

That's not surprising  it's common for government agencies to operate X accounts, long after owner Elon Musk rebranded it from Twittter and changed how it operates. State of Arizona agencies also have many accounts on the platform, as do local governments.

Still, it's too bad.

Under Musk's ownership, X has acted as if it is above the law around the world while Musk has promoted divisive and racist social commentary. Throughout January, he posted in support of the idea that there is a threat of "white genocide" and similar racial concepts on 26 of the month's 31 days.

Despite Musk's claims to be a free-speech absolutist, his platform has repeatedly throttled the posts of people who criticized him, slashing their reach, the New York Times found last year. Ari Cohn, lead counsel for tech policy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said Musk's position on free speech was never consistent.

"We've seen everything from banning users who say things he doesn't like, to reducing the algorithmic reach of certain posts and even (suppressing) links," Cohn said.

Worst of all, in December and January, the platform's AI chatbot, Grok, began producing millions of images in which real-life women and children were shown as if they were naked or scantily clad.

These were "nudified" versions of real images. To make them, users give the AI program a photo and ask it to undress the people in the photo, or put them in a bikini, or that sort of thing.

In the 11 days from Dec. 29 to Jan. 8, Grok produced around 23,000 sexualized images of children, or one every 41 seconds, the Center for Countering Digital Hate estimated. This was out of a total of around 3 million sexualized images produced during that period, after which the company restricted the feature to be available for paid subscribers only.

In the United States, where Musk has been a close ally of the Trump administration, there have been no such regulatory moves.

State agencies, politicians

For many Arizona government agencies and politicians, though, it's business-as-usual on X. I started counting state government departments' accounts on the platform, but I stopped at 12, all of which were active and posting in February.

It's interesting there has been no change to this while a Democrat, Katie Hobbs, has been governor. While the federal government under Trump has used X loyally, some Democrat-run governments have not.

Pima County, for example, dropped X and replaced it with Threads. That's the similar platform operated by Meta, which also owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

It wasn't an overtly political decision by the county government, which is overseen by a board of supervisors with four Democrats and one Republican, as county communications director Mark Evans explained by email.

"X/Twitter had long been a difficult SM (social media) environment for us since the 2020 election and Covid. There was a firehose of misinformation poured onto our posts about both topics that was difficult to keep up with and respond to. His (Musk's) acquisition didnt change the volume of the firehose. Wed adapted to that environment since Twitter/X was our only choice."

"Once Threads launched, we had a choice of microblogging services, and we didnt see the value in paying the monthly fee to remain on X to ensure our content was shared broadly. There was a lot of chatter at the time about former blue check (verified) accounts seeing their content throttled by X as a sort of punishment for not paying the fee. So we voted with our feet and went to another provider."

Threads is the biggest competitor to X, but there have been many other efforts to compete. My preferred option is Bluesky, which is similar to X in function, but without the single mercurial billionaire controlling it, or a mega-corporation like Meta. It is an open-source network, not controlled by a singled company, that doesn't suppress links to outside content the way most of the other platforms do, and allows users to adjust their own algorithms and communities.

The only problem is that Bluesky, with somewhere above 40 million total users, is comparatively small, meaning it doesn't have the same "network effect" of being on a platform with more than 100 million monthly users.

X's audience

The audience is what keeps politicians, even Democrats, on X. They include Tucson's progressive new member of Congress, Rep. Adelita Grijalva.

A spokesperson for Grijalva said via text: "Although we strongly object to Elon Musk's conduct and the values he's espoused, the reality is that X remains a widely used platform by members of the media and the public. We are committed to meeting our constituents where they are."

That's similar to what a spokesperson for Democratic U.S. Sen Ruben Gallego texted me: "Senator Gallego believes in meeting Arizonans wherever they are: in person, or on Facebook, YouTube, Bluesky, X, Instagram or TikTok."

And a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, the Tucson Democrat, said much the same: "A lot of Arizonans are on X and Sen. Kelly has the same approach online and in person: try to meet Arizonans where they are to be as accessible as possible. He has made his views about Elon Musk and this administration clear, including on X."

As if to emphasize the point, Democratic Rep. Alma Hernandez made a post Sunday about the irresponsible YouTubers who are spreading gossip about the Nancy Guthrie case, attracting viewers by inventing suspects and smearing their names. Hours later, she was being interviewed on CNN.

The power to change

But the users are not passive actors in this industry. Everybody who uses social media affects the platforms by deciding where and how to post and participate.

I dropped X a couple of years ago when I saw it was headed downhill under Musk's leadership. I've stuck largely to Bluesky and Facebook, even though I can't stand how commercialized and rife with AI fakes Facebook has become.

If any of these prominent people  Grijalva, Kelly, Gallego were to drop X the way Pima County did, users would follow them wherever they go.

"We live in a very dynamic market for this stuff, and it really does have the capacity to change," Cohn said. "I don't think hand-wringing about how no other platform could ever be successful is either helpful or true, and users have a lot to do with it. If enough users want to change things, things will change."

Indeed. Threads went from new in July 2023 to possibly bigger than X now. Friendster and MySpace, two of the pioneering social-media platforms, died off when Facebook took over.

Although it's understandable why people, even left-leaning people, would stay on X, I think Musk has proven himself unworthy of the benefits we give him by being there, especially when there are so many good alternatives.
Australian Story: Feb 23

ABC profiles pensioner Ian Williams, a self-confessed stubborn bugger who sued NAB over online scamming.

Australian Story profiles pensioner Ian Williams, a self-confessed stubborn bugger who sued NAB over online scamming.

When Victorian pensioner Ian Williams lost $1338 in a banking scam, he expected a quick refund and apology. But his bank, a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank, blamed him for the transactions, despite Ians dogged detective work producing clear evidence to the contrary.

The banks attitude so incensed the self-confessed stubborn bugger that he sued for it for $379,005,000. Williams estimated he was scammed 5.5% of his annual income and that figure represents 5.5% of NABs annual earnings.

It was a number that in my mind would get the banks attention, Williams says.

Ian has a varied skill set. Hes been a bricklayer, a private investigator, a nurse, a horse breaker and a bouncer. But representing himself in the Supreme Court was a challenge.

Ive downloaded the actual laws and the codes of conduct, he says. And you think, Christ, what are they trying to get at?

Along the way, Ian joined the Scam Victim Alliance, an organisation which provides support to people whove been scammed and lobbies for legislation to protect them.

Ians case was very similar to some of the other payments cases that wed been dealing with, says co-founder Alex Brooks. They dispute the transaction but somehow the banks are able to still say its all your fault. 

Australian Story followed Ian Williams through the ups and downs of his court case and its aftermath, as he sought to hold the bank publicly accountable and draw attention to the massive problem of online scamming.

While the court case didnt go the way he hoped, he did achieve an unexpected victory.

I completely understand why he decided to go down the path he decided to go down, says Chris Sheehan, head of fraud at NAB. We could have done things a lot better.

Producer: Amos Roberts

8pm Monday February 23 on ABC.
Returning: 60 Minutes

Dimity Clancey presents a special edition of 60 Minutes as Ahmed Al Ahmed returns to Bondi for the first time.

60 Minutes returns to Nine this Sunday for 2026 with a special by Dimity Clancey on hero Ahmed Al Ahmed, who wrestled with one of the terrorists at Bondi Beach in December.

The 14th of December 2025 is a date now seared in Australian history forever. What happened at Bondi Beach on that awful day was the deadliest terrorist attack on our shores. Fifteen innocent people were killed and 40 more injured when two gunmen unleashed evil. But out of the devastation, accounts of incredible bravery emerged. And of the many people who showed courage under fire, Ahmed Al Ahmeds story is especially significant. Video beamed around the world proved how, without any regard for his own safety, he confronted and overpowered one of the attackers.

For the premiere of its 48th season, Dimity Clancey presents a special edition of

60 Minutes as Ahmed Al Ahmed returns to Bondi for the first time and reveals in extraordinary detail his role in saving countless lives. Mr Al Ahmed tells Clancey what possessed him to tackle one of the alleged terrorists, Sajid Akram, and the words he screamed as he disarmed the gunman. He also answers the question many have asked: Why, when he had the chance, did he not shoot Akram? Mr Al Ahmed provides a gripping explanation of his actions in the Bondi attack; a moment in time Australians wished had never happened, but are so thankful that people like Ahmed Al Ahmed were there to provide help.

Reporter: Dimity Clancey

Producers: Anne Worthington, Sheree Gibson

8:45pm Sunday on Nine.
Returning: Foreign Correspondent

Europe correspondent Bridget Rollason has been tracking events in Denmark as NATO deals with the shocking threats made by one of its key allies.

Foreign Correspondent returns for 2026 with an episode from Denmark as NATO countries face their biggest security crisis since World War II.

For months the ABCs Europe correspondent Bridget Rollason has been tracking events in Denmark as it navigates security concerns over a hybrid war with Russia while at the same time dealing with the shocking threats made by one of its key allies  the United States.

For much of 2025 NATO member states experienced a wave of hybrid attacks creating havoc and fear, which have been pinned on Russia. NATO nations warned this was no Cold War, and that citizens should brace for conflict with Russia. Then, Donald Trump shook the alliance to its core with his renewed and aggressive demand for the Danish territory of Greenland, tearing up the rule book that has kept the alliance together. In this report Bridget has embedded with NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea where Russian submarines are active, visited army training camps in Denmark at a time when all women must register for possible combat when they turn 18 and spoken to high level interviewees in the defence and intelligence world to capture this profoundly consequential moment in history.

8pm Tuesday February 24 on ABC.
Awami League denounces Bangladesh elections as 'staged', Calls it 'mockery of democracy'

Dhaka, Feb 17 (UNI) Issuing a scathing criticism against the recent Feb 12 twin polls in Bangladesh, the Awami League has alleged the elections conducted under the leadership of Chief Advisor Md Yunus of being "staged", pointed to widespread irregularities before, and during voting.

In a strongly worded statement, the party highlighted videos circulating on the eve of polling, which showed obvious signs of heavy tampering. Citing video footage obtained from a polling centre in Naogaon district, the currently-banned party alleged that many result sheets were already being signed, even before the vote counting had begun.

Noting that journalists present at the centre had repeatedly questioned the presiding officer about the pre-signed sheet, with the official being unable to offer any kind of clear explanation and reportedly sought to avoid further questions, the AL, citing such incidents slammed the Feb 12 elections as "nothing more than a farcical performance" and accused authorities of orchestrating what it said was a "mockery of democracy."
VACAVILLE, Calif., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Stacey Solutions , powered by Xpert Home Lending, Inc. (NMLS #2179191), announced that founder Tim Stacey (NMLS #2041923) has been recognized by the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) as a Mortgage Broker of the Year honoree for 2024 and again for 2025.

Stacey Solutions

The recognition places Stacey among NAMB's award recipients nationwide and reflects professional performance within the mortgage broker channel. NAMB Recognition Awards are presented in connection with NAMB's annual conference and include categories recognizing individual mortgage professionals and industry partners. Tim Stacey appears on NAMB's Broker of the Year roster in NAMB-published recognition materials .

What the recognition means for local California borrowers

Awards are not loan approvals and they do not change underwriting requirements. However, for many buyers and homeowners, third party recognition can serve as a trust signal when choosing a mortgage professional for an important financial decision.

Stacey Solutions serves homebuyers and homeowners across Solano County and surrounding communities, including Vacaville, Fairfield, Suisun City, and Dixon. The firm also works with borrowers throughout Northern California and statewide, including families relocating for military service or career changes.

"Home financing should feel clear, safe, and well explained," said Tim Stacey. "People deserve straight answers, a real plan, and a professional who treats the process with the seriousness it requires. This recognition is meaningful because it reflects the trust clients and partners place in my work."

A broker first approach designed for comparison and clarity

A mortgage broker is not the lender. Instead, a broker helps borrowers compare mortgage options from multiple lenders and find a loan structure aligned with the borrower's goals and eligibility. Some borrowers prefer working directly with a single lender. Others value the broker model because it supports comparison across multiple lenders and programs.

Stacey Solutions operates through the wholesale mortgage channel and focuses on education forward guidance. Borrowers can expect clear explanations of documents, timelines, and loan structures before making decisions.

More information about VA home loan guidance is available at https://staceysolutions.net/va-home-loans-in-california

About Stacey Solutions

Stacey Solutions works with veterans and active duty service members, including those connected to Travis Air Force Base and surrounding Solano County communities.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not endorse or sponsor any particular lender. Stacey Solutions follows a compliance focused approach intended to avoid any implication of government endorsement or affiliation.

VA backed loans may offer benefits for eligible borrowers. According to publicly available VA program information, VA loans may allow qualified borrowers to purchase with no down payment and do not require monthly mortgage insurance. Borrowers may be responsible for a one time VA funding fee and other closing costs. All loans remain subject to borrower eligibility, credit approval, and underwriting.

Service area and local commitment

Stacey Solutions is based in Vacaville and serves clients throughout:

Solano County

Vacaville

Fairfield

Suisun City

Dixon

Northern California

California statewide

The firm's mission is to help families make informed decisions that support long term stability through responsible homeownership.

More information available at: https://staceysolutions.net

Licensing and disclosures

Stacey Solutions is powered by Xpert Home Lending, Inc.

Tim Stacey  NMLS #2041923

Xpert Home Lending, Inc.  NMLS #2179191

Equal Housing Opportunity.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.

All loans are subject to borrower eligibility, credit approval, and underwriting.

Contact

Tim Stacey

Stacey Solutions powered by Xpert Home Lending, Inc.

[email protected]



SOURCE Stacey Solutions
Under Decision 2775 issued by the Ministry of Health and effective from August 29, 2025, each X-ray scan must last at least six minutes, while each echocardiography procedure must take no less than 30 minutes to be eligible for payment from the health insurance fund. If these time thresholds are not met, medical facilities may not be reimbursed for related examination and treatment costs.

Recent implementation has revealed multiple shortcomings in administrative procedures and reimbursement processes, prompting concern among healthcare workers, particularly those working in diagnostic imaging.

N.T.D, MA, a diagnostic imaging doctor in HCMC, said the regulation does not align with current professional practice. With advances in technology, modern equipment, and improved physician expertise, an X-ray scan can be completed within seconds.

Doctors just press a button and the scan is done. It is impossible to make patients lie in the X-ray room for six minutes just to meet reimbursement requirements, N.T.D said.

Similarly, in echocardiography practice, some cases require only two to three minutes to clearly detect abnormalities, while others may take 10 to 15 minutes or longer. Current regulations require every echocardiography session to last at least 30 minutes, so doctors have to wait out the required time even when results are already available.

If applied rigidly, one echocardiography machine can only perform about eight cases in a morning. Consequently, patients have to wait a very long time, leading to frustration and potential conflict within hospitals, Dr. N.T.D said.

He noted that medical expertise cannot be evaluated with a stopwatch because some pathologies are obvious within minutes, while others require more time.

Associate Prof Nguyen Hoai Nam, former senior lecturer at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, HCMC, also described the regulation as problematic in health insurance reimbursement. He said many regulations are making professional work more difficult and failing to reflect the true nature of medical examination and treatment.

Nam noted that with todays advanced equipment, an X-ray scan takes only five to 10 seconds to complete. In many cases, doctors can identify pathology as soon as the ultrasound probe is placed.

It is unreasonable to force patients to wait just to legitimize reimbursement procedures, he said.

Nam emphasized that if doctors work too hastily or carelessly, patients themselves will complain. Professional effectiveness should be evaluated based on diagnostic accuracy, not execution time. Some doctors can identify lesions at a glance, while others may take much longer and still miss abnormalities. That is a matter of expertise, not time.

In response to feedback from medical workers, Dr Nguyen Trong Khoa, deputy director of the Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department under the Ministry of Health, said the ministry has worked with the insurance authority to clarify interpretations and make appropriate adjustments.

According to Dr. Khoa, the Ministry of Health has held several meetings with Social Security to develop more realistic guidelines. Specifically, the Ministry will coordinate with the Radiological Society to standardize professional processes based on a national survey, thereby adjusting the average time for X-rays and other diagnostic imaging techniques.

The Ministry of Health will also send an official document to the Ministry of Finance and Vietnam Social Security (VSS) to review appraisal and payment activities to ensure they fit medical practice.

Experts explain that an X-ray session includes the entire process: waiting for ones turn, patient reception, preparation, technical execution, film reading, and returning results. Therefore, insurance payments or rejections should not be based solely on the machine's operating time. The 6-minute mark is currently intended only as the average time for a standard X-ray.

Deputy Director Nguyen Trong Khoa affirmed that time norms are for reference only and are not mandatory requirements for every specific case. The duration of a technique depends on the complexity of the disease, the doctor's skill, and the equipment.

Health insurance inspection and reimbursement should focus on the appropriateness of indications and professional processes, rather than rigidly applying time thresholds, Khoa said.

Vo Thu
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 Ultra alongside the full Galaxy S26 lineup on February 25. Yet at this point, nearly every major detail about the new flagship generation appears to have leaked.

From design language and hardware configuration to special features and official color options, there seems little left to the imagination.

But in the world of technology, there is always room for surprise. A few meaningful enhancements may still be hidden behind the swirl of rumors. And those unseen elements could make the Galaxy S26 Ultra far more compelling than fans currently expect.

Below are seven potential upgrades that remain unconfirmed but entirely plausible.

Brighter display with a new OLED generation

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to adopt Samsungs new M14 OLED panel, marking the first significant display technology leap in several years. Previous Galaxy S24 and S25 models relied on the M13 generation, so a transition to M14 could bring noticeable improvements.

Beyond improved power efficiency, the new panel may deliver significantly higher peak brightness. That would give the S26 Ultra an advantage over its predecessor, especially in outdoor visibility.

Notably, the OnePlus 15 has already used this panel and reportedly reached nearly 3,500 nits, according to PhoneArena - an impressive benchmark.

If properly optimized, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could feature one of the brightest smartphone displays ever released.

Faster NAND storage for the AI era

Real-world speed perception often depends on storage read and write performance.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra already introduced UFS 4.0, a very fast standard. However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may step up to UFS 4.1.

The new standard promises not only higher speeds but also improved stability, particularly useful for heavy multitasking and on-device AI processing.

UFS 4.1 has begun appearing on premium smartphones, making Samsungs adoption logical. Looking ahead, Samsung has revealed plans to commercialize UFS 5.0 by 2027, potentially doubling I/O performance to meet increasing AI demands. An early storage upgrade would future-proof the S26 Ultra even further.

Enhanced cooling system

Globally, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to run on Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, currently the companys most powerful chip.

Greater performance often brings higher thermal output. Without efficient heat management, throttling can occur during gaming, 8K video recording or real-time AI tasks.

A larger vapor chamber or improved cooling design could help maintain stable temperatures and sustained performance. While such an upgrade may be subtle on paper, it can significantly improve everyday experience.

Improved anti-reflective coating

Since the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsungs Ultra models have featured anti-reflective coatings. The Galaxy S26 Ultra may refine this technology further.

Combined with higher brightness and enhanced privacy display software, improved anti-reflection could make the screen easier to read in strong or complex lighting conditions.

It is a small refinement that could deliver a meaningful usability difference.

Dedicated AI processing hardware

The Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to center heavily on AI-driven experiences. Integrating a dedicated AI processor would align with that strategy.

Although the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 already offers strong AI capabilities, specialized hardware could offload tasks from the CPU and GPU.

This approach would enhance efficiency and reduce power consumption, ultimately improving battery life. In an era increasingly defined by on-device AI, such an upgrade could be strategically important.

Better image processing, especially for video

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is already regarded as one of the most versatile smartphone camera systems available. Yet improvements remain possible, particularly in dynamic range, zoom consistency and low-light photography.

More importantly, video performance remains an area where some competitors maintain an edge in stability and processing.

Samsung has repeatedly demonstrated that algorithm optimization alone can substantially elevate camera quality without hardware changes. If the Galaxy S26 Ultra receives refined image processing, photography and videography could take another significant step forward.

More distinctive color options

Standard colorways for the Galaxy S26 Ultra have reportedly surfaced, though many observers find them somewhat subdued.

Samsung traditionally releases online-exclusive colors that are more vibrant and distinctive. These limited editions often reflect greater creativity and personality.

Since no additional hues have leaked yet, Samsung may still have a surprise waiting at launch.

Consumers may believe they already know nearly everything about the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Yet the possibility of hidden refinements remains intriguing.

The S26 Ultra could prove not merely an incremental update, but a more ambitious leap than current rumors suggest.

Hai Phong
In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year 2026, the kitchen at Banh Anh Em in New York has grown even busier. In addition to its well-known banh mi, the eatery prepares classic Tet dishes such as banh chung, braised pork with eggs, red sticky rice, pickled mustard greens, gio and cha.

Our work becomes much more hectic, sometimes from early morning until late at night, but we are happy to bring the taste of Tet to Vietnamese people far from home and to introduce these special flavors to local diners, said Ton Thi Hong Nhu, born in 1990 in Dak Lak, in an interview with VietNamNet.

Traditional Tet dishes are prepared at her restaurant in the US.

The most elaborate dish is banh chung. The process involves washing banana leaves - as dong leaves are difficult to find in the US - soaking glutinous rice, steaming mung beans and marinating pork. The square cakes are wrapped by Ms. Hang, who has more than 20 years of experience making traditional banh chung.

Each batch takes about a full day to complete, with boiling alone lasting eight to 10 hours.

In the days close to Tet, Ms. Hang eats and sleeps at the restaurant to make and check every single banh chung. Her dedication to this traditional dish inspires me and the rest of the team to work even harder, Nhu said.

The cakes taste exactly like those at home in Vietnam. Even the pepper is brought from Vietnam for the most fragrant and authentic flavor.

This year, the restaurant has wrapped between 2,000 and 2,200 banh chung, most of which were pre-ordered well in advance.

Banh Anh Em, located in central New York, was opened by Nhu and her partners in early April 2025. Just months later, it was listed in the Michelin Guide 2025 Bib Gourmand category, recognizing restaurants that offer high-quality food at reasonable prices, and has since appeared frequently in major media outlets.

Customers line up outside the Vietnamese restaurant.

The restaurants signature and best-selling dish is banh mi. The sandwiches feature crisp crusts, airy interiors and generous fillings of pate, roasted pork, grilled beef, pickled vegetables and chili sauce. Every component, from the bread to the fillings, is made in-house rather than sourced industrially.

In recent months, there have been times when customers waited up to three hours to dine here. We plan to expand to reduce waiting time, but first we must ensure quality. I want every Vietnamese dish served to be prepared with the utmost care, she said.

Fourteen years ago, Nhu arrived in the US after graduating in restaurant and hotel management in Vietnam. She worked her way up from cleaning and dishwashing to management positions.

After a culinary journey across Vietnam exploring regional cuisines, she realized that Vietnamese food in the US was often simplified. That realization inspired her to open a restaurant to introduce authentic specialties to international diners. Before Banh Anh Em, she had found success with Com Tam Ninh Kieu in the Bronx and Vietnamese Shop House.

She spent two years researching banh mi techniques, learning from bakers in Vietnam, France, Denmark and Japan. Every day, she ferments the dough overnight and bakes the bread just 15 to 20 minutes before opening. The process is carefully calculated to achieve a thin, crispy crust and a soft, airy interior reminiscent of banh mi in Vietnam.

The restaurants banh mi is priced at about US$15.

Photos: Nhu Ton/Banh Anh Em

Beyond banh mi, Nhus menu features pho bo Nam Dinh, Hanoi banh cuon, cha ca La Vong and Buon Ma Thuot-style banh uot served with mam nem.

The banh uot is presented impressively on a vertical stand with multiple stacked plates, each holding a thin, silky rice sheet topped with golden fried shallots. It is served with charcoal-grilled pork, fermented pork roll, pickled greens, fresh cucumber, green mango, herbs and fermented anchovy sauce.

The restaurants cha ca La Vong is also distinctive. Turmeric-marinated fish is cooked on a hot pan, topped with dill and scallions, releasing an aromatic fragrance. It is accompanied by rice vermicelli, roasted peanuts and, of course, mam tom.

New York Eater described the food as vibrant, offering nuanced interpretations of well-known dishes from across Vietnam. A reporter from The New York Times wrote that the menu was so diverse and distinctive it would be memorable for a lifetime.

To achieve authentic flavors, I import many ingredients from Vietnam, such as mam tom from Ninh Binh, mam ro from Hue, mam nem from Da Nang and yellow ant salt from Dak Lak, Nhu shared. We want to convey that each Vietnamese dish is a work of art.

Khanh Linh - Linh Trang
The participation of General Secretary To Lam, Vietnams highest-ranking leader, demonstrates the countrys clear support and readiness to contribute to joint international efforts for peace and sustainable development.

General Secretary To Lam. Photo: Pham Hai

At the invitation of US President Donald Trump, General Secretary To Lam will lead a Vietnamese delegation to attend the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council in Washington DC on February 19 as a founding member.

Vietnams Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung said the Party chief, together with other Council members, will discuss and define the tasks the Council will undertake to implement a peace plan for the Gaza region in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2830.

The attendance of Vietnams top leader underscores the countrys support and willingness to engage more actively in the international communitys collective efforts for peace and development.

It also concretizes the cooperation on international issues within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the US.

Having endured numerous devastating wars, Vietnam deeply understands the value of peace, reconciliation and post-conflict reconstruction.

The 14th National Party Congress affirmed that Vietnam would participate more proactively and responsibly in addressing common international and regional issues.

According to Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung, Vietnams role as a founding member of the Peace Council reflects that spirit and represents the consistent implementation of the Partys foreign policy line, while contributing to enhancing the countrys prestige and image.

At the same time, it offers Vietnam an opportunity to leverage its experience and capabilities, to learn from partners and to integrate more deeply through coordination in fulfilling shared missions.

As a founding member, Vietnam hopes to work alongside other members to promote the Councils role in advancing peace and reconstruction in Gaza in accordance with the United Nations Security Councils resolution, ensuring the legitimate interests of the parties involved, especially the Palestinian people, in line with international law and the United Nations Charter.

Vietnam is not yet a wealthy country, but we have practical experience in overcoming the consequences of war, the ambassador added.

Vietnam stands ready to contribute human and material resources, within its capacity, to reconstruction efforts, socio-economic recovery and the stabilization of peoples lives in Gaza.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung emphasized that the trip takes place within a multilateral framework but also carries significant implications for Vietnam - US bilateral relations.

President Donald Trump personally invited Party General Secretary To Lam to join the Council as a founding member and to attend its inaugural meeting.

The Party chiefs participation represents support for broader peace efforts and the specific initiative to rebuild Gaza, while further deepening cooperation between the two countries in addressing regional and global issues in line with the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The ambassador expressed confidence that the visit will help consolidate political trust, expand substantive cooperation and create fresh momentum for Vietnam - US relations in the time ahead.

Tran Thuong
Accompanying General Secretary To Lam are General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense; General Luong Tam Quang, Minister of Public Security; Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc; Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung; Chief of the Party Central Office Pham Gia Tuc; Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang; Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong; Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung; To An Xo, Assistant to the General Secretary in charge of the General Secretarys Office; and Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung.

General Secretary To Lam leaves Hanoi for Washington D.C. to attend the opening meeting of the Gaza Peace Council. Photo: VNA

General Secretary To Lam will attend the inaugural meeting of the Council in Washington D.C. on February 19 as a founding member.

He and other Council members are expected to exchange views and determine the tasks the Council will undertake to implement a peace plan for the Gaza region in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2830.

Vietnams highest-ranking leaders participation demonstrates the countrys support and readiness to join collective international efforts for peace and development.

The visit also serves to realize cooperation commitments on international issues within the framework of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

As a founding member, Vietnam hopes to work with other Council members to enhance the Councils role in promoting peace and reconstruction in Gaza based on United Nations Security Council resolutions, ensuring the legitimate interests of all parties, particularly the Palestinian people, in line with international law and the United Nations Charter.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung emphasized that while the trip is part of multilateral activities, it also carries important implications for Vietnam-US bilateral relations.

President Donald Trump personally invited General Secretary To Lam to join the Council as a founding member and to attend this inaugural meeting.

The General Secretarys participation reflects support for broader peace efforts and for the Gaza reconstruction initiative in particular, contributing to deeper cooperation between the two countries in addressing regional and global issues in the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Peace Plan and the Gaza Peace Council proposed by President Donald Trump are regarded as the most viable initiative since the outbreak of conflict in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, creating conditions for relevant parties to engage in dialogue and negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and moving toward a sustainable peace solution for the region.

To date, most invited countries have agreed to participate in the Peace Council, including those that signed the Peace Council Charter in Davos, demonstrating political support and commitment. However, they remain in the stage of studying and shaping implementation plans and have not yet made specific pledges regarding contributions or participation.

Tran Thuong
Vietnam is emerging as an increasingly attractive destination for long-term investors in the AsiaPacific region, supported by macroeconomic stability, expanding domestic demand, and sustained inflows of foreign investment, according to Savills Asia Pacific Outlook 2026 report.



As regional property markets enter 2026 on a more stable footing, Vietnam continues to stand out as a market with solid long-term growth prospects.



Savills noted that the recovery of leasing demand, improving consumer activity, and more selective investment strategies are creating favourable conditions for economies with strong fundamentals.



Data from the General Statistics Office (GSO) show the countrys GDP growth reflecting resilience and steady recovery.



After expanding by around 8% in 2022, growth moderated to approximately 5.1% in 2023 amid global economic headwinds, before rebounding to about 7.1% in 2024 and reaching 8.02% in 2025.



Vietnam remains among the regions fastest-growing economies, reinforcing investor confidence in the countrys medium- and long-term outlook.



Economic quality indicators have also improved significantly.



GDP per capita rose from roughly 3,700 USD in 2022 to nearly 5,026 USD by 2025.



Rising incomes and the rapid expansion of the middle class are underpinning domestic consumption while driving demand for infrastructure, logistics, urban development, and modern commercial services.



Savills said these factors are reshaping Vietnams property market, with growth increasingly anchored in real demand.



Demand for Grade A office space across the AsiaPacific region is expected to remain positive, particularly in emerging talent hubs such as Vietnam.



Multinational corporations continue to expand their presence to access skilled labour at competitive costs.



In the retail segment, improving consumer spending, tourism recovery, and the return of international brands are contributing to a more optimistic outlook.



The countrys industrial and logistics property sector remains a key beneficiary of global supply chain restructuring, including China plus one strategies and production diversification.



Neil MacGregor, Managing Director of Savills Vietnam, said the country is entering a new phase of investment dynamics.



It has moved beyond a period where investment was driven primarily by cost advantages. Capital is now increasingly directed towards higher value-added sectors such as advanced manufacturing, electronics, and modern logistics, he said.



Total registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025 reached approximately 3840 billion USD, while disbursed capital hit a record high, reflecting sustained confidence among foreign investors.



European investment flows are becoming more selective, focusing on technology, high-tech manufacturing, processing industries, and logistics.



The progressive implementation of the EUVietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is expected to further strengthen Vietnams role in global supply chains.



Large-scale public investment in infrastructure is also emerging as a central growth driver. The acceleration of key transport and logistics projects is expected to improve regional connectivity and stimulate new growth corridors.



MacGregor emphasised that infrastructure development would be the most important catalyst for Vietnams property market over the coming decade.



Infrastructure will shape the next phase of growth. Markets supported by real demand, connectivity, and long-term planning will attract sustained investment, he said./.VNA
The Xuan Pha ritual dance in Thanh Hoa during the spring festival. Photo: Quoc Dung

The soul of the nation in early-spring rituals

Amid the fresh colors of early spring, traditional rituals practiced by faith communities appear like golden threads woven into the nations cultural tapestry. From incense offered to the Mother Goddess, prayers for peace at pagoda gates, the sound of church bells during Mass, to the gentle melodies of then singing, each carries an aspiration toward goodness, preservation of ancestral traditions and respect for the law.

Peoples Artist Nguyen Thi Nho of Hung Yen, who has long been devoted to the Mother Goddess worship of the Three Realms, shared that each early-year ritual is both a spiritual activity and a way for communities to express love for national culture.

The Mother Goddess heritage has been honored by UNESCO. That recognition makes us even more conscious of practicing in accordance with proper tradition and the law, she said.

Her simple words echo the shared sentiment of many religious communities across the country. Policies guaranteeing freedom of belief and religion have been implemented consistently over the years, creating space for religions to develop in a healthy manner while maintaining a spirit of companionship with the nation.

Professor Thuong Mai Thanh, a Standing Committee member of the Cao Dai Ban Chinh Dao Church, noted that favorable conditions provided to religious organizations have helped stabilize religious life.

After the provincial merger, our Church was approved by Quang Ngai authorities to establish two new places of worship. It is a great encouragement for us to continue accompanying the government and contributing to the dissemination of policies and guidelines, he said.

When religion and life move in unison

Spring brings warmth, much like the way faith spreads compassion within each community. In mountainous regions, Protestant and Catholic believers diligently cultivate their fields and build peaceful villages. In urban areas, monks, priests and pastors work alongside authorities to encourage law observance and maintain social order.

Vu Hoai Bac, Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.

Meritorious Artist Vu Xuan Thang, head custodian of Tien La Temple and the mausoleum and worship complex dedicated to the Tran kings in Hung Yen, observed: Faith communities, as well as parishioners and Buddhists, all contribute to revitalizing their hometowns. It is not only about spiritual life, but also about responsibility to the community.

Such vibrant religious life contributes to stability in every hamlet and neighborhood. Models such as peaceful parishes and cultural residential areas have blossomed like spring flowers within the broader movement of building new-style rural areas.

Major General Bui Thanh Ha, former Director of the Department of Internal Security under the Ministry of Public Security and former Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, assessed that religious life in Vietnam is diverse, dynamic and positively contributive.

When faith is tied to civic responsibility, it becomes an important driving force for social development, he said.

According to Vu Hoai Bac, Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, religious life continued to develop in a stable and healthy direction over the past year. Improvements in the legal framework, along with strengthened dialogue and listening, have reinforced trust among religious organizations and enabled believers to practice their faith equally while respecting the law.

The positive values of religion are being awakened and spread, becoming spiritual pillars and resources that help build a humane and progressive society, he emphasized.

In the sounds of wooden fish drums, then melodies and church bells of the new spring, one can clearly sense the bond between religion and everyday life. Spaces of worship are not only places to seek inner peace, but also where awareness of community and responsibility toward the homeland are nurtured.

Sy Hao
DENVER, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Denver (DU) is launching a new Accelerated Bachelor of Professional Studies, a reduced-credit bachelor's degree providing learners with a quicker path for completing their degree. The online program is the first and only in Colorado to offer a track for students to finish their degree more efficiently.

The University of Denver will be the first institution in Colorado and one of only a few dozen in the country to offer an accelerated bachelors degree program.

As the time and investment of a college education is coming into question, this new bachelor program is providing a faster and less expensive way for students, particularly adult learners, to complete their degree. The Accelerated Bachelor of Professional Studies requires 136 quarter credits, in contrast to a traditional 180 credit bachelor's degree. Students must have either 24 quarter hours or 16 semester hours completed to be admitted to the program.

"The value of a college degree both for long-term financial wealth and for personal well-being exceeds that of a high school diploma," says Bobbie Kite, dean of DU's College of Professional Studies. "We recognize that for many careers a bachelor's degree is necessary for unlocking success. This program is designed to help those adult learners use an accelerated path to finish their degree."

Last month, the Higher Learning Commission approved DU becoming the only institution in Colorado to offer the Accelerated Bachelor of Professional Studies. Once it launches in the fall, the first degree offering will be in Information Technology with the goal of adding additional options in 2027.

Across the country, only about 60 colleges either offer or are in the process of developing an accelerated bachelor's degree program. The Colorado Department of Education is still discussing whether to allow similar programs at public schools.

"We must be willing to think differently and continue to evolve the programming that we are offering to students," says Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. "We know what employers are looking for continues to change and students are seeking out programs that align with those needs. The Accelerated Bachelor of Professional Studies is a perfect opportunity for students to finish their degree as quickly as possible to help advance in their career."

About the University of Denver:

The University of Denver is a private university empowering students who want to make a difference. Recognized as a top research university, students benefit from an experience that channels passion to serve the public good. Learn more at du.edu.

SOURCE University of Denver
A 2025 survey by Bloomberg Intelligence, which includes over 100 CTOs at banks globally, indicates that on average, they expect a net 3 per cent of their workforce to be cut, equalling 200,000 jobs in the next three to five years due to AI. Back office, middle office, and operations involving routine, repetitive tasks are likely to be most at risk.

ThoughtLinks reports that tech, engineering, and infrastructure in the banking industry would be most susceptible to AI transformation, with a projection of 55 per cent of the work involved in that sector being redefined by 2030. Commercial banking could be redefined by as much as 49 per cent by 2030, wealth management to the tune of 42 per cent, and investment banking by as much as 33 per cent.

To keep up with the changes, major banks on Wall Street are stepping up investments in AI. Similarly, Vietnamese banks are not immune to this trend.

At the banking space during the national exhibition 80 Years of Independence  Freedom  Happiness last year, TPBanks robot greeted visitors. The robot not only remembered a visitors name but also talked to him: Hello, Tuan. Before they parted, the robot added, "Goodbye, I hope to see you again soon at TPBanks transaction points."

This reflects how AI encroaches on tasks currently carried out by human workers in the banking industry. Stepping into a downtown bank branch today, the scene feels different. Gone are the rows of staff bent over their desks, typing nonstop, stacks of paperwork piled high, and stamps being slammed fast.

The space is tidier and quieter, and the operations seem gentler. A customer looks around and jokes, Does the bank have less work today? A staff member smiles and gestures towards the report open on her screen. Theres actually more work than beforeits just no longer the kind of hands-on work that keeps us constantly busy.

The answer might sound amusing, but it accurately reflects a major shift in the banking industry. As AI and automation systems handle much of the repetitive workfrom reviewing credit files and comparing data to analysing cash flow and flagging risksthe rhythm of the transaction office changes. The noise of paperwork gives way to a focus on intellectual engagement.

This change becomes clearer when a small business owner enters the bank. As usual, he prepared for a lengthy transaction with a list of paperwork. But instead of being handed more forms, the business owner is invited for a drink and greeted with a question: How long do you plan to use this cash flow?

The customer paused for a few seconds, then burst out laughing: "This is the first time I've applied for a bank loan and no one asked if I had all the necessary documents." Such remarks reflect the changing roles of bank branches during the rapid digital transformation.

Tran Cong Quynh Lan, deputy general director of VietinBank said, "Five years ago, AI only assisted us with a portion of the work. Today, AI even proposes loan decisionsall within minutes."

AI a new colleague

Lan further noted, AI can access customer information anytime, anywhere. AI can write reports, analyse data, and advise on suitable products that bring the highest benefit to the customer. AI is helping bank staff accelerate process automation at every stage.

Consequently, bank employees are changing how they work. Instead of intensely checking every document, staff spend time listening to the customer's story, asking questions to understand the nature of the cash flow, and providing more appropriate suggestions.

AI not only serves employees but is also a powerful tool for bank leaders.

Lan spoke about how "Genie," an internal AI assistant developed by VietinBank that can answer queries regarding over 500 financial indicators and report business performance for every transaction office within seconds. Even Lan frequently uses Genie in his daily work. For example, before a meeting with a branch, the AI assistant provides complete information on end-of-period credit balances, growth charts, and general assessments upon request.

Meanwhile, the chairman of another bank enthusiastically spoke of the internal AI assistant his bank developed. When professional obstacles arise, there is no need to send emails to various departments to check. They can ask the AI assistant and receive answers in less than a minute.

The AI assistant is trained on over 2,000 internal processes and policies, saving over 95 per cent of waiting time, as well as hundreds of thousands of working hours per month. This demonstrates the enormous potential when AI is truly integrated into daily work.

The increasing presence of AI in operations has transformed the atmosphere at banks, from transaction rooms to customer interactions. Economist Nguyen Tri Hieu said, This shift makes transaction offices less crowded and conversations longer and deeper. Its a subtle change, but its making a big difference in how banks accompany the economy.

A credit officer shared, "Compared to the past, the keyboard is lighter to use, but shoes wear out faster because bank employees walk more, connecting customers with financial solutions and the business ecosystem. The job is more interesting but also requires more capabilities."

Indeed, the paradox of automation is that as manual tasks decrease, responsibility becomes heavier. When machines handle the technical side quickly, human value lies in the ability to analyse, advise, and provide judgments. This forces banks to reinvest in their people. Training is no longer just about professional skills but about service mindset, the ability to listen, understanding the customers industry, grasping cash flow, and feeling the pressures behind the numbers.

AI can process vast amounts of data, but it cannot deal with market volatility, stand beside a borrower who has lost everything to a natural disaster, or help an entrepreneur stay calm before a major financial decision.

The banking system of 2026 is defined by less paperwork, more dialogue, fewer routine operations, and more critical thinking. It is a place where capital is not just processed but guided to go in the right direction.

Vietnams banking sector enters data-driven era AI and data are fast becoming the lifeblood of the digital economy, where they are no longer just technological tools but strategic imperatives, well-defined priorities, and robust long-term planning from financial institutions.

AI a game changer for Vietnams banking industry AI is set to transform Vietnamese banking operations, from customer experience to fraud detection and operational efficiency.
SINGAPORE, Feb. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DBS Bank and TenPay Global, Tencent's cross-border payment platform, have launched a cross-border service that allows DBS customers to send money instantly and securely to Weixin Pay, the digital RMB wallet within Weixin/WeChat, connecting to over a billion Weixin and WeChat users.

Using DBS Remit in DBS digibank, customers can now transfer money direcly to a recipient's Weixin Pay Wallet Balance or to bank cards linked to Weixin Pay, simplifying everyday cross-border money transfers, at zero fees.

This launch is part of DBS' and TenPay Global's broader strategic partnership to deliver seamless, convenient and secure cross-border payment experiences within the Tencent ecosystem. With near-instant credit to recipients' Weixin Pay wallets, funds can be used immediately for transfers, top-ups for services and everyday spending within the Weixin/ WeChat app.

DBS is the first regional bank to establish a direct connection with Weixin Pay, enabling cross-border money movement from multiple markets. By combining the extensive Weixin ecosystem with DBS, the region's leading bank, the partnership enhances accessibility and convenience for customers sending money to the Chinese mainland. TenPay Global currently supports remittances from over 100 countries and regions to Weixin Pay.

How to send money to Weixin/ WeChat in China

1. Go to "Overseas Transfer" in digibank and add a new recipient by entering the recipient's Weixin/ WeChat registered phone number, address and your relationship to the recipient.

2. Please note that a 12-hour cooling period will apply before the first payment can be made.

3. After the cooling period, return to "Overseas Transfer", choose the Weixin/ WeChat recipient and input the amount and purpose of payment.

4. Payment will be instantly sent to the Weixin/ WeChat recipient.

In addition, DBS and TenPay Global are collaborating to enable connectivity between DBS PayLah! and Weixin Pay. Over three million DBS PayLah! users will be able to make payments by scanning Weixin Pay QR codes or by presenting their own QR codes at tens of millions of merchants across the Chinese mainland. This will expand acceptance and unlock greater payment flexibility for travel, living and business needs.

Said Sanjoy Sen, Group Head of DBS Consumer Bank, "We've been seeing consistent double-digit year-on-year growth in DBS Remit funds sent to China, reflecting the strength of cross-border ties between Singapore and the Chinese mainland. The launch of this service is timely with Chinese New Year approaching. During this festive season, we typically see around a 30% increase in remittances to China. Through our partnership with TenPay Global, we're glad to be able to offer customers a trusted, seamless way to move money instantly and with confidence, at scale and with zero fees."

"Our partnership with DBS represents a meaningful step in advancing cross-border payment connectivity. By connecting Weixin Pay with DBS' trusted banking and payment platforms, we are delivering compliant and user-centric cross-border solutions that simplify how money moves and how payments are made across borders. This partnership reflects our shared ambition to unlock new possibilities for economic exchange and to support secure, everyday digital payment experiences in an increasingly connected world," said Wenhui Yang, CEO of TenPay Global (Singapore).

For more details, kindly visit go.dbs.com/sg-Weixin.
In the days leading up to Lunar New Year, spending and transfers surge. Amid this acceleration, banks are everywhere yet almost invisible.

There are no queues or paperwork; with a smartphone, most personal financial transactions can be completed within minutes. Transfers, bill payments, savings, and even consumer loans are embedded seamlessly in familiar applications.

Banking has become a natural layer of digital life, particularly for younger users. And when convenience becomes routine, few stop to ask what enables it.

A quiet paradox lies beneath this simplicity: the smoother digital banking feels on the surface, the more complex and sophisticated the systems behind it must be.

What users experience as effortless convenience is the outcome of years of sustained digital transformation across Vietnams banking sector.

As the outer layer of digitised services reaches maturity, the focus is no longer merely on placing banks inside mobile apps. The transformation has moved inward, towards reshaping operating models through digital core banking platforms.

In the early phase of digitalisation, banks concentrated on customer-facing channels such as internet banking, mobile apps, QR payments, and e-wallets.

These initiatives expanded access, reduced reliance on physical branches, and aligned banking with evolving digital lifestyles. But as customers grew accustomed to these services, expectations shifted towards faster speeds, simpler journeys, and uninterrupted availability.

At that point, structural constraints became visible. Launching new products could take months, policy adjustments were cumbersome, and integrating with technology partners proved complex. The bottleneck did not lie in the interface, but in legacy core systems.

Traditional core banking can be compared to an old but solid building: stable and reliable, yet difficult to renovate or expand.

By contrast, digital core banking resembles a structure designed from modular blocks, allowing components to be assembled, modified, or replaced without disrupting the entire system. The distinction is not merely technical; it determines how agile and adaptive a bank can be.

A modular digital core enables faster product rollouts, smoother integration with fintech partners and digital commerce platforms, and flexible scaling as demand grows.

Crucially, it allows incremental innovation without dismantling critical infrastructure, a vital consideration in a sector where stability and security are paramount.

As banking products are now expected to launch in weeks rather than months, traditional architectures are increasingly stretched.

From a digital core foundation, a new operating landscape is emerging, where data becomes a strategic asset, AI supports decision-making, and banks integrate deeply into broader digital ecosystems instead of operating in isolation.

From the early 2020s, Vietnams market began to witness new digital banking models. Some adopted branchless strategies centred entirely on mobile experiences.

Others targeted specific segments such as young customers, small merchants, or underserved regions. Certain models embedded financial services directly into consumer ecosystems, making banking part of daily shopping and lifestyle journeys.

Despite differing strategies, these models share common operational demands: speed, flexibility, and scalability.

Many therefore moved away from legacy systems and adopted composable digital core architectures from inception, often running alongside traditional cores at their parent banks. This dual approach balances innovation with risk management.

Vietnam has also seen the entry of international digital core banking platforms, bringing global expertise and accelerating time-to-market.

Among them, Mambu is recognised as a leading provider, serving over 265 customers in more than 65 countries and processing more than 500 million API calls daily on its cloud-native platform. Although not a bank itself, its aggregated operational scale across clients rivals that of major global institutions.

In Vietnam, digital pioneers such as TNEX, VPBank Cake, and Timo have partnered with Mambu since the early 2020s. While each pursues a distinct strategy, their early adoption of digital core platforms reflects a shared recognition that operational flexibility is as critical as user experience.

In practice, digital core banking is no longer experimental. Since 2020-2021, Vietnamese banks have deployed digital cores in live environments to support specific products and customer segments.

Today, parallel digital cores are increasingly used to diversify offerings while legacy systems continue to ensure stability. This phased transformation allows banks to innovate without jeopardising operational resilience.

Regulatory guidance has also played a defining role. The State Bank of Vietnam has consistently promoted cashless payments and comprehensive digital transformation.

Although fully digital bank licences have yet to be issued, a controlled innovation framework has provided space for new models to operate and mature safely.

Rather than pursuing rapid disruption, the system has emphasised gradual, adaptive progress, ensuring technology advances in tandem with macroeconomic stability and prudential oversight.

Ultimately, financial digital transformation differs from other sectors: innovation must be anchored in rigorous risk management.

Many observers believe future banking will become even more embedded in daily life. Consumers may no longer consciously perceive themselves as using banking services, yet will continue to borrow, save, pay, and invest through integrated platforms across e-commerce, mobility, and digital ecosystems.

Behind that apparent invisibility lies not simplicity, but a profound structural reinvention at the core.

As finance becomes a natural part of consumption and business activities, the boundary between banking services and digital services continues to blur.

To achieve this, back-end infrastructure must be flexible, open, and integration-ready. According to Bui Tri Hung, country manager of Mambu Vietnam, for banks to embed themselves deeply into everyday life, user-friendly applications are not enough.

What matters more is a core platform capable of rapidly adapting to changes in markets, data, and customer behaviour. In this context, digital core banking is no longer just a technology solution-it is becoming the foundation that enables banks to participate more deeply in emerging digital ecosystems, he said.

In practice, as banks connect more seamlessly with external partners and leverage data and new technologies, financial products are shifting from mass offerings to personalised experiences, from reactive responses to proactive, companion-based services.

This transformation may be quiet, but its long-term implications for how banks serve the economy and society are profound.

Looking back, banking digital transformation is not an overnight story, but a long journey requiring patience, investment, and mindset change.

The steps taken since the early 2020s show that Vietnams banking sector is moving into deeper transformation. And within this invisible flow, digital core banking, unassuming yet powerful is steadily laying the groundwork for a new, sustainable phase of growth for Vietnams banking industry.

AI giving Standard Chartered the edge in digital banking Nguyen Ngoc Lan Anh, Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam, shares key insights on the benefits of AI in financial services, highlighting how Standard Chartered applies AI to drive innovation, boost efficiency, and enhance customer and employee experiences.

Vietnams banking sector enters data-driven era AI and data are fast becoming the lifeblood of the digital economy, where they are no longer just technological tools but strategic imperatives, well-defined priorities, and robust long-term planning from financial institutions.
The POWERCHINALILAMA consortium is the EPC contractor, while the joint venture of Power Engineering Consulting JSC 1 and Power Engineering Consulting JSC 3 serves as the project management consultant.

The Quang Trach II LNG venture has a capacity of 1,613MW composed of two units (2 x 806.5 MW) in Phu Trach commune, Quang Tri province. The venture is owned by Vietnam Electricity (EVN), represented and managed by Vietnam Electricity Power Projects Management Board No. 2.

The signing marked a significant commencement in the construction of a technologically advanced plant using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the main fuel, which is highly productive and eco-friendly in efficiency. When operating, the plant shall supply a production of about 10 billion kWh per year to the national power grid, contributing to secure energy security and to reduce carbon emissions as well as encourage energy transition towards sustainable development.

Addressing the ceremony, the EVN leader said, "The implementation of Quang Trach II LNG venture has a special importance amid the increasing demand for electricity. It strongly asserted EVNs determination in investment and development of large-scale modern power projects to meet the country's social-economic development requirements."

A representative of the POWERCHINA-LILAMA consortium said, "With our rich experience in the EPC contractor field from large-scale power projects inside and outside Vietnam, we shall mobilise our staff, equipment, and technology for the performance. We also strictly adhere to all commitments as stated in the EPC contract, ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency throughout the entire execution process."

The latest development represents a crucial precondition for the Quang Trach II LNG Thermal Power Project to proceed on schedule, in line with the approved plan, and to contribute to the nations power sector development and energy transition in the years ahead.

Bidding opens for Quang Trach II LNG power plant Both foreign and domestic firms are invited to bid for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) package for the Quang Trach II Liquefied Natural Gas Thermal Power project.

EVN secures financing for Quang Trach II LNG power plant Vietnam Electricity has secured major domestic financing for the Quang Trach II liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fired power plant, a key addition to the countrys power generation capacity.
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 13 February 2026 - As cyberattacks grow increasingly complex, cybersecurity has become a critical domain of global concern and a talent shortage. According to the latest "Hong Kong Cybersecurity Outlook 2026" released by the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) under the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), nearly 30% of the 622 surveyed enterprises still lack dedicated cybersecurity staff. Specifically, only 26% of SMEs have a dedicated cybersecurity role, significantly lower than the 59% of large enterprises, reflecting a gap in resource allocation and technology adoption among SMEs.

To cultivate practical talent for the cybersecurity sector, the sixth "HKCERT Capture The Flag Challenge 2025" (HKCERT CTF Challenge) was successfully organised by the Digital Policy Office (DPO), HKPC, and HKCERT. This year's competition was elevated to the first-ever adoption of an attackdefence mode, closely replicating the network setup of real enterprises. Participants experienced first-hand hacking techniques, system vulnerability analysis, threat intelligence gathering, and coordinated response in a simulated real-world environment. Through completing multiple tasks within a limited time, the competition also allowed them to break through the traditional classroom theoretical framework, gain practical experience and build confidence. The event attracted around 1,940 young contestants, an increase of nearly 40% from last year's 1,385 participants, reaching a record high for the competition. Contestants included teams from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Asia, and Europe, fostering cross-regional exchange and collaboration. In the finals, three local teams and one overseas team were awarded gold prizes in the Secondary School, Tertiary Institution, Open Category, and International Category respectively, while Sing Yin Secondary School received the "Best School Award". The full list of awardees is available on the event website.



Participants Share Practical Experience Integrating AI into Attack and Defence

The competition was well received by contestants for its innovative format and realistic offensive and defensive environment, offering a valuable platform for learning and exchange. The winning team in the International Category, W&M, commented, "Our members are from Shanxi, Guangdong and Beijing. This was our first time competing together in the HKCERT CTF Challenge. The atmosphere and experience of the finals were excellent. The tasks were centred on an attackdefence simulation, requiring us to find all vulnerabilities while patching our own systems and attacking other teams at the same time. Some vulnerabilities were discovered and exploited by other teams first, which kept the scores very close and made the competition incredibly tense and exciting".



They added, "During the competition, we also applied lots of AI techniques for assistance, such as applying AI to analyse vulnerabilities and refine attack methods. In the future, AI may play a deeper role in areas like vulnerability detection and code analysis, but for now it cannot be fully relied uponhuman oversight is still essential".



HKCERT CTF Challenge has now been held for six consecutive years, with its scale expanding annually and participants showing continuous growth. Many secondary school students gain their first handson exposure to cybersecurity through the competition and connect with university mentors, helping them shape their academic and career paths. Several past participants have gone on to compete in local and international events, committing to a future in the cybersecurity field. Beyond attracting overseas talent to exchange ideas in Hong Kong, HKCERT continues to build connections between cybersecurity professionals in Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland. Topperforming teams can gain direct entry into equivalent finals in Chinese Mainland. For example, participants from the previous HKCERT CTF Challenge 2024 advanced directly to the finals of the "Greater Bay Area Cup Cybersecurity Challenge", where they secured the top four places in the Hong Kong and Macao category. This also provided local contestants with access to worldclass cybersecurity techniques, effectively promoting crossregional elite collaboration and talent development.



Finals Format Upgraded: Attack-Defence Mode Mirrors Real Enterprise Operations

The finals were comprehensively upgraded this year. In addition to increase the overall technical difficulty, the competition introduced an attackdefence format for the first time that closely mirrors real enterprise cybersecurity operations. Teams played dual rolesboth attackers and defendersin an environment created with reference to the real-world systems. The tasks simulated incident response and live attack-defence scenarios commonly encountered in the cybersecurity field. Within a limited timeframe, participants had to do penetration testing, exploit vulnerabilities and attack, while patching their own systems and monitoring threats in real time against attacks from other teams. This parallel attackdefence setup reflects actual workflow patterns in the industry, effectively training participants' analytical abilities and adaptability under pressure. Through handson practice in a likely enterprise environment, contestants developed multifaceted, industryaligned capabilitieslaying a solid foundation for their future careers in cybersecurity.



Ms Candy CHAN, Assistant Commissioner (Project Governance and Cybersecurity) of the DPO, highlighted the DPO's commitment to enhancing Hong Kong's cyber resilience, with one of its key initiatives being the nurturing of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. She emphasised that the DPO has been collaborating closely with academia and industry partners to foster a robust talent pipeline and build a safer digital environment in Hong Kong. She noted that this year marks the sixth edition of the HKCERT CTF Challenge, which has grown into one of Hong Kong's most respected and anticipated cybersecurity competitions over the years. Beyond being a contest of technical prowess, the Challenge serves as a dynamic platform for networking, knowledge exchange and community building among the new generation of cybersecurity experts.



Ir Samson SUEN, General Manager of Digital Trust and Transformation Division of HKPC, stated, "HKCERT CTF Challenge has consistently aimed to build an international platform for technical exchange. Through high-intensity simulated contests, we enhance participants' cyber defence skills and promote cross-regional interaction among emerging cybersecurity talents. This cultivates a new generation of globally competitive professionals in Hong Kong and strengthens the local talent pipeline. This year's finals first introduced a simulation of real-world cybersecurity operations, enabling teams to experience both offensive and defensive roles in a recent cybersecurity team. This hands-on approach is crucial for developing practical skills and incident response capabilities".



Fostering Cybersecurity Awareness Across All Sectors of Society

To further enhance cybersecurity awareness across the community, HKCERT has partnered with the DPO and the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of The Hong Kong Police Force, to launch the "Building a Secure Cyberspace 2026" campaign to promote cybersecurity awareness. The initiative includes various educational activities, such as an "AI-Generated Four-Panel Comic"contest, which encourages the public to make good use of AI tools while strengthening their understanding of cybersecurity. At the corporate governance level, HKCERT will publish a series of practical guidelines addressing emerging risks such as AI applications and supply chain securityhighlighted in the "Hong Kong Cybersecurity Outlook 2026", to support business in establishing a robust protection framework. In particular for AI governance, the guidelines will offer actionable recommendations covering AI system security assessments, compliance rules for employees using public AI platforms, controls over sensitive data input, and methods for monitoring and defending against AIassisted attacks. These resources aim to help enterprises systematically enhance their cyber resilience across governance, technology, and awareness.



As Hong Kong accelerates the development of innovation and technology and advances its digital economy, strengthening cyber defence capabilities has become a key talent need. HKCERT will continue to support businesses and the public through incident response, security guidance, and cybersecurity awareness programmes. The HKCERT CTF Challenge continues to play a vital role in nurturing local talent, fostering cross-regional collaboration, and advancing public education. By enhancing the overall level of protection, the competition contributes to the sustainable development of the digital economy and reinforces Hong Kong's longterm competitiveness.



The seventh edition of HKCERT CTF Challenge will be held in November 2026, featuring more innovative attack-defence challenges and continuing to set up an international category to provide local contestants with a platform for technical exchange with top teams from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and overseas. Registration opens in September 2026, with finalists competing in the live finals in February 2027.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



For more information, please visit HKPC's website: www.hkpc.org/en.
Small stamps, big bridge: Aland's zodiac series connects Nordic isles with China

14:40, February 18, 2026 By Zhu Haochen, Elina Xu ( Xinhua

HELSINKI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- For more than a decade, Aland Post in Finland's autonomous Aland Islands has issued stamp series themed on the Chinese zodiac, with the newly released Year of the Horse edition marking the conclusion of the collection.

"In both the Nordic region and China, the horse symbolizes strength, loyalty and courage," Johanna Finne, head of communications and stamps at Aland Post, told Xinhua. "With this set, we celebrate the Chinese New Year in the Year of the Horse and wish everyone a year filled with hope and a positive, enterprising spirit."

The Year of the Horse miniature sheet portrays a pastoral scene characteristic of Aland, featuring lush meadows dotted with wildflowers and horses grazing, pulling a carriage or standing close to people. In the background, a red-walled house with bluish-green roof tiles is nestled among trees.

Subtle Chinese cultural elements are woven into the design. One rider's shirt bears the Chinese characters "fei ma" (meaning flying horse), while the phrase "majiu xingfu" (meaning stable happiness) appears under the eaves of a house. In the lower left corner, the calligraphy-style words "ma nian" (meaning Year of the Horse) are accompanied by a bright red seal depicting a galloping horse.

Comprising more than 6,000 islands and skerries, Aland has a population of about 30,000. Its capital, Mariehamn, lies nearly 7,000 km away from China's capital Beijing. Though geographically distant from China, the annual zodiac stamp series has offered local residents a refined window into Chinese culture.

At a post office in central Mariehamn, the new stamps were prominently displayed at the entrance. A staff member said the zodiac stamps are highly popular, and the Chinese cultural elements featured in the designs are widely appreciated.

Aland's connection with the Chinese zodiac began in late 2014, when its first zodiac-themed stamp for the Year of the Goat received an enthusiastic response. Over the following decade, the series grew into a signature project for Aland Post, fostering cultural dialogue through these small-format works.

"Every year, new buyers from different parts of the world join in, and people are very enthusiastic about this series," Finne said. She recalled being particularly impressed by Chinese collectors who send postcards to Aland specifically to have them affixed with the zodiac stamp and canceled with a first-day postmark before forwarding Lunar New Year greetings to friends.

Most of the zodiac stamps were designed by Swedish-born Norwegian artist Martin Morck, who has longstanding ties with China. As early as 1994, he was invited to design stamps for China Post. Over the past three decades, he has frequently traveled to China to study traditional arts, research folk culture and teach courses.

Entrusted with designing the zodiac series, Morck said his guiding principle was to approach China's zodiac and Spring Festival traditions with respect and positivity, while expressing them in his own artistic language to build a bridge between Nordic and Chinese cultures.

In his view, the Chinese New Year reflects strong family bonds, with people returning home from all directions to celebrate together and welcome the spring. "It is a very beautiful tradition. Chinese people take their traditions seriously," he said.

Morck applied the same dedication to his designs. Combining Chinese cultural symbolism with Aland's landscapes and heritage, the zodiac series developed a distinctive style: the zodiac animal as the focal point, set against Aland's natural and cultural scenery, rendered in vivid colors and layered compositions, with carefully integrated Chinese elements such as characters, calligraphy and seals.

In the Year of the Horse stamp, Morck incorporated into his design a seal modeled on the "Copper Running Horse", a cultural relic from northwest China's Gansu Province. The seal was one he carved in 1975 when he first learned seal engraving. By including it in the concluding issue of the zodiac series, he commemorated his long-standing bond with China, he said.

With the release of the concluding stamp, Aland Post has compiled the full set of 12 zodiac stamps into a complete collection for worldwide distribution. Finne described the decade-long project as "an extraordinary journey connecting different cultures."

"Stamps are small, but they carry meaning. Through them, we have come to understand China better, and Chinese collectors have begun to learn about Aland," she said, expressing hope that the series would add new vitality to the global appreciation of zodiac culture and the Chinese New Year tradition.

Although the series has come to an end, Finne said the bond with Chinese culture continues, with expectations for further creative exchanges and cooperation in the future.

Morck spoke warmly of China's magnificent landscapes, long history, refined art and friendly people. "Going to China always feels like going home," he said, adding that he hopes one day to spend the Chinese New Year in China, sitting on a heated brick bed, making dumplings, enjoying hot pot and celebrating with local families.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
Physician-Guided Medical Spa Franchise Partners with Experienced Entrepreneurs to Bring Top-Tier Services to Central Valley Community

MODESTO, Calif., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- VIO Med Spa, a nationally recognized, physician-guided medical spa franchise, expanded its footprint to California with its recent opening in Modesto. Officially opening its doors in December 2025, VIO Med Spa Modesto marks a milestone for the brand as it continues its strategic expansion nationwide.

Officially opening its doors in December 2025, VIO Med Spa Modesto marks a milestone for the brand Post this VIO Med Spa in Modesto is owned and operated by brothers Bobby and John Ismail alongside longtime friend and business partner Dr. Michael Purnell, M.D., FAAOS.

Meet the Trio Behind VIO Med Spa in Modesto

VIO Med Spa in Modesto is owned and operated by brothers Bobby and John Ismail alongside longtime friend and business partner Dr. Michael Purnell, M.D., FAAOS. Together, the trio brings a powerful and complementary blend of healthcare, hospitality, and franchise experience to the brand, combined with their shared interests and trust in one another, positioning their Modesto location for local impact and long-term growth.

Bobby Ismail brings decades of experience in physical therapy and scaling service-driven businesses, while John Ismail offers an extensive background in restaurant, hotel, and hospitality management as a seasoned franchisee and operator. Dr. Purnell, a respected orthopedic surgeon in Modesto, provides clinical oversight rooted in evidence-based wellness.

"This team checks every box and represents exactly what we look for in franchise partners," said Ryan Rose, Chief Executive Officer of VIO Med Spa. "They bring together medical expertise, thoughtful leadership, and a genuine commitment to their community. That shared focus on care and quality aligns seamlessly with our mission as we continue to grow."

Meeting the Demand in California's Medical Aesthetics Market

As demand for medical aesthetics services continues to rise nationwide with a projected CAGR of 18.7% through 2032, California stands out as a high-growth market for medical spas, driven by strong consumer adoption and sustained industry expansion.

VIO Med Spa is meeting this rising demand by strategically targeting high-potential growth markets. Using geospatial mapping and data-driven demand analysis, the brand identified Modesto and the greater Central Valley as an attractive opportunity, where consumer need is growing and traditional competition remains limited.

"Bringing VIO Med Spa to California is something we're incredibly proud of," said John Ismail. "The three of us have known each other for 30 years, so this felt like a natural step, and the right one at the right time. After spending time with the VIO team and visiting several locations, it was clear that this brand operates with discipline and intention. We immediately saw the opportunity to bring these services to the Modesto community in a meaningful way."

Guided by Dr. Alan Durkin, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of VIO Med Spa and a double board-certified plastic surgeon, VIO Med Spa offers a full range of medical-grade aesthetic and wellness services, including injectables, skin rejuvenation, spa services, chemical peels, laser hair removal, and medical grade retail products.

A Franchise Model Built for Scalable Growth

VIO Med Spa offers a differentiated franchise opportunity within the rapidly expanding wellness and aesthetics category, backed by a national brand and strong unit-level economics. Franchise owners benefit from a membership-based model that drives recurring revenue, a comprehensive service portfolio designed to increase client retention and lifetime value, and end-to-end support across development, marketing, operations, training, and compliance. All clinical services are delivered under the oversight of licensed medical directors and adhere to rigorous protocols, ensuring a consistent, high-quality experience aligned with the brand's commitment to safe, easy, and life-changing results.

As VIO Med Spa continues to expand, the brand is seeking franchise partners and multi-unit operators with experience in hospitality, fitness, healthcare-adjacent, QSR, or other service-driven industries.

To learn more about VIO Med Spa's franchising opportunity, please visit https://viomedspafranchise.com/.

About VIO Med Spa

Founded in 2017, VIO Med Spa is one of the fastest-growing medical spa franchises in the United States, redefining results-driven aesthetics and wellness with an uncompromising commitment to safety. Headquartered in Nashville, TN, VIO is built on the philosophy that every guest deserves transparent, expert-led, and personalized care. For the third consecutive year, VIO has been recognized as the #1 med spa franchise nationally and ranks among the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, including a #147 overall position in the latest rankings. With 65 locations nationwide, VIO offers a full range of treatments, including injectables, skin rejuvenation, advanced facials, wellness services, and medicalgrade skincare, all designed to help guests look great and feel amazing.

SOURCE VIO Med Spa
SABECO, in coordination with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), has implemented its Chung Vi Tet Viet-Gan Ket Muon Mien (Taste of Belonging) campaign across 17 provinces, encouraging cultural traditions and community solidarity during the Lunar New Year period.

This years initiative marks a strategic shift in SABECOs engagement with the festive period. For the first time, the company has elevated its annual activities into a nationwide cultural platform that celebrates Vietnams regional diversity while strengthening shared national identity. The campaign reflects SABECOs broader commitment to preserving traditional values, deepening community bonds, and contributing to inclusive social development.

The programme highlights the New Year as a moment of reunion, gratitude, and mutual support rather than merely a festive celebration. By placing local traditions at the centre of its activities, the company is seeking to ensure that every community can see its own cultural identity reflected in a collective Vietnamese Tet narrative.

The campaign unfolded across northern, central, and southern Vietnam through immersive, locally tailored experiences. Each destination featured interactive spaces that recreated region-specific Lunar New Year customs, from traditional crafts and folk performances to communal rituals and storytelling sessions. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, SABECO curated each event to resonate with local heritage, fostering both pride in tradition and cross-regional appreciation.

In parallel, SABECO partnered with the VFF to distribute 6,700 Gift of Belonging Tet packages to frontline workers and underprivileged households across 17 localities. At a time when many families still face economic difficulties, these gifts carried both practical support and symbolic recognition, care, and solidarity.

SABECOs leadership emphasised that the true impact of the campaign went beyond mere numbers.

According to Lester Tan, general director of SABECO, the success of Taste of Belonging lies in its emotional resonance rather than its scale.

For 150 years, the company has been celebrating Tet together with Vietnam in all locations, and we commit to always contributing back to society to make sure that everybody can move forward together as one nation, he said.

His remarks underline the company's long-term vision: a business that grows alongside the country while actively supporting social cohesion and cultural continuity.

The final phase of the campaign took place on February 8 in Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Lao Cao and Tuyen Quang, provinces representing distinct cultural regions of Vietnam. These last stops will close a meaningful journey that has connected communities across geographical and cultural divides.

Beyond physical events, SABECO has extended the initiative through the #ChungViTetViet social engagement platform, running until February 25. The campaign invites people nationwide to share personal Lunar New Year stories and images, collectively creating a living Vietnamese Tet mosaic that celebrates regional differences within a shared spirit of joy and unity.

The Taste of Belonging campaign illustrates how leading enterprises can play a constructive role in cultural preservation and social development. By blending community engagement, tradition, and digital participation, SABECO has set a strong example of purpose-driven corporate citizenship.

More than creating memorable Tet experiences, the initiative reinforces the company's long-term mission: connecting communities, honouring cultural heritage, and contributing to a more cohesive and prosperous Vietnam.

With a 150-year brewing legacy, SABECO stands as one of Vietnams leading companies. Rooted in heritage while embracing innovation, the company continues to evolve as a progressive, future-ready business shaping a new era for Vietnams beverage industry.

Operating 25 breweries and 11 trading subsidiaries nationwide, SABECO boasts an extensive distribution network and a strong brand portfolio led by its iconic Bia Saigon range (Lager, Chill, Special, Gold, Export, and Export Premium), alongside 333 (including 333 Pilsner) and Bia Lac Viet.
A new railway station serving Deeside Industrial Park has been included in UK Government plans for seven new stations across Wales.

The announcement, made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and First Minister Eluned Morgan, forms part of almost half a billion pounds allocated in the latest Spending Review for rail projects in Wales.

The Deeside station is linked to wider upgrades on the Wrexham to Liverpool line, including infrastructure works near Padeswood Cement Works.

The line was declared congested infrastructure by Network Rail in 2023 due to constraints near the cement works which reduce capacity.

The UK and Welsh governments have worked with the North Wales Growth Deal, Ambition North Wales, which has agreed to co-fund improvements to the main line arrangements into the Padeswood freight facility.

The changes are intended to allow freight trains to move off the main line and into the cement works rather than the current movements required.

The funding will also allow safety, capacity and line speed improvements at Buckley.

The governments say the upgrades will enable two trains per hour on the Wrexham to Liverpool line.





The Wrexham-Bidston Rail Users Association said the announcement was positive for passengers in north east Wales.

In a statement, the group said: The Wrexham-Bidston Rail Users Association (WBRUA) has been campaigning for many years for a station adjacent to the Deeside Industrial Park and welcomes this announcement.

Funding for improvement work near Padeswood Cement Works identifies progress is also being made towards a more frequent clock-face service and, in due couse, through trains to Liverpool, both of which have been proposed by the WBRUA for many years.

The Association is also continuing to keep pressure on TfW to consistently deliver a reliable service on the line. Whilst things have improved in recent years, there is still some way to go  passengers need a service that they can depend on every day they need to use it..





Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: This government is turning the page on historic dither and delay with seven new stations, thousands of jobs, and a generational commitment to build a rail network fit for Wales future.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: In the near term, Im pleased to see backing for the essential work at Padeswood and Buckley. This will transform journeys between Wrexham and Liverpool, unlock economic opportunities across north Wales, and allow plans for the new Deeside station to accelerate.

The seven stations identified for development are Magor and Undy, Llanwern, Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Cardiff Parkway and Deeside Industrial Park. Work on five stations in south east Wales is expected to begin later this year, with Magor and Undy anticipated to be completed first.

In addition to the new stations, the UK Government said it will invest around 30m in safety and service improvements on the North Wales Coast Main Line.

This includes the design and installation of two accessible footbridges to replace four high-risk level crossings at Prestatyn and Abergele. Construction is expected to complete in spring 2027, with a 50% increase in Transport for Wales services from May 2026.

The UK Government said the rail programme is expected to support 12,000 jobs across Wales.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure Sam Rowlands MS welcomed additional funding but said it was less than previous investment.

He said: While we welcome investment in rail across Wales, rail funding has been cut by more than half under Labour compared to what was delivered by the previous UK Conservative Government.

After more than 1bn has already been spent on the South Wales Metro, it is disappointing that there is still no commitment to follow through with UK Conservative Government plans to electrify the North Wales Main Line, a project that businesses and communities have long called for.

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Children and young people in Wales are receiving faster access to mental health support, according to new figures released during Childrens Mental Health Week.

The Welsh Government said 96.2% of young people referred to local primary mental health services were assessed within 28 days, describing it as a sustained improvement in waiting times.

The governments 10-year Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy sets out plans to expand open-access support and transform how young people access help.

Health boards have also introduced pilot schemes offering alternatives to hospital admission, providing young person-centred spaces when urgent support is needed.

The 111 press 2 urgent mental health service has received more than 230,000 calls. Of those, more than 6% were from people under 18 and over 20% from people under 24.

A new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services specification aims to ensure consistent standards of care across Wales, with all health boards working towards reducing variation in support.

The NYTH/NEST framework continues to bring services together to provide more joined-up support for children and families. More than 200 organisations are now involved in the NEST community of practice, and over 500 professionals have completed co-produced training focused on childrens rights and whole-system support.

Sarah Murphy, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, said: Childrens Mental Health Week is an important moment to reflect on the progress were making to support young people across Wales.





We want every child to receive mental health support when they need it most. The improvements were seeing in waiting times, alongside the growing success of our NYTH/NEST framework and our ambitious 10-year strategy, show our whole-system approach is making a real difference.

By focusing on prevention and early intervention, we are working to create a Wales where every child and young person can thrive.

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A community radio station in Wrexham has secured funding from Ofcom as part of its expansion plans and rebrand.

The station will use the financial backing to employ a full-time sales professional as it works towards becoming financially self-sufficient.

Earlier this year, the station changed its name from Wrexham Premier Radio to Wrexham City Radio. It also launched a sister station, Wrexham City Gold, which plays classic hits.

The rebrand forms part of a wider period of growth that has seen the lauch of Wrexham City Creative, a production and creative unit providing audio production, imaging, and content creation for individuals, businesses, and organisations.

The station has also confirmed that its purpose-built podcast studio will soon be available, creating new opportunities for podcasters, students, charities, and community groups to produce high-quality audio content locally.

The station said it is also planning a transmitter upgrade aimed at improving signal coverage across Wrexham and surrounding areas.

Mark Jones, Director of Wrexham City Radio, said the Ofcom funding would have a lasting impact beyond the creation of a single role: Being awarded this funding from Ofcom will help us increase more than just our staff numbers.

It will help us create more opportunities, more community focus, more engagement, and more training for the people of our community.





This support allows us to grow sustainably while staying true to what we stand for.

He added: We would like to thank Ofcom for their guidance, support, and confidence in Wrexhams own and newest radio station.

Their belief in us helps us continue building something that is not only professional and ambitious but genuinely rooted in the people of Wrexham.

The full-time sales position is expected to be advertised shortly.





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A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple sex crime charges involving a child.

David Fritsche Jr. will be eligible for parole after 10 years, according to a release from the Washoe County District Attorney's Office.

He pled guilty to attempted lewdness by a person over 18 with a person under 14, and attempt to use or permit a minor under age 14 to produce pornography.

Officers with the Reno Police Department responded to Fritsches home last February for a report of an 8-year-old child being inappropriately touched.

Fritsche and his family were well known by the victims family, and the two had interacted for many years.

A video recovered by the victims father and found on the defendants phone showed him pulling the childs pants down while she slept and his hand lingering between her legs.

Additional forensic analysis of his phone showed disturbing AI-generated nude images of females and baby dolls in sexual positions and situations.
Governor Joe Lombardo has announced a two-hour delay for the opening of state government offices in Carson, Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, Mineral, Storey, and Washoe counties due to ongoing severe weather.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) are reporting icy roads and potentially dangerous driving conditions across Northwestern Nevada.

As a result, state government offices in these areas will open at 10:00 AM today, Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Governor Lombardo urges all Nevadans to drive cautiously while adverse weather persists in the region. Check NVRoads.com for the latest traffic updates and road conditions.

COUNTY OFFICES:

Meanwhile, Douglas County Manger Jenifer Davidsonafter consulting with Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverleyhas authorized the 2-hour delayed start of County offices Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Aside from essential public safety, corrections, and courts, County offices will operate on the delayed start.

(Office of Governor Lombardo)
TOKYO (AP)  Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday expressed hopes of deepening her relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump and strengthen cooperation between the two countries in rare earths development and other areas of economic security when she visits Washington next month.

Takaichi, at a news conference late Wednesday, expressed hopes to strengthen cooperation with the U.S., especially in economic security, as tensions between Tokyo and Beijing have risen over the last few months.

Takaichi, elected as Japan's first female leader in October, was reappointed by Parliament as prime minister earlier in the day and formed her second Cabinet, following a landslide election win last week.

Her goals include an increase in military power, more government spending and ultra-conservative social policies.

Takaichi aims to use the mandate she got in the election to boost her ruling Liberal Democratic Party as it looks to capitalize on a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house, the more powerful of Japans two parliamentary chambers.

The power of a supermajority

Having two-thirds control of the 465-seat lower house allows Takaichis party to dominate top posts in house committees and push through bills rejected by the upper house, the chamber where the LDP-led ruling coalition lacks a majority.

Takaichi wants to bolster Japans military capability and arms sales, tighten immigration policies, push male-only imperial succession rules and preserve a criticized tradition that pressures women into abandoning their surnames.

Her ambition to revise the U.S.-drafted postwar pacifist Constitution might have to wait, for now, as she is facing pressure to deal with rising prices, a declining population and worries about military security.

Addressing rising prices

Her first urgent task is to address rising prices and sluggish wages and pass a budget bill to fund those measures, delayed by the election.

Takaichi proposes a two-year sales tax cut on food products to ease household living costs. She told

Experts caution that her liberal fiscal policy could drive up prices and delay progress on trimming Japans huge national debt.

Courting Trump

Takaichi is maneuvering for a crucial summit next month with Trump, who will visit Beijing in April.

The U.S. president endorsed Takaichi ahead of the Japanese election, and hours before Takaichi's reappointment as prime minister, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced Japan will provide capital for three projects under a $550 billion investment package that Japan pledged in October.

Japan is committed to the $36 billion first batch of projects  a natural gas plant in Ohio, a U.S. Gulf Coast crude oil export facility and a synthetic diamond manufacturing site.

Takaichi said she hoped to closely cooperate with Trump in the first investment inititives at the talks scheduled for March 19.

Japan is also under pressure to increase annual defense spending.

Japan will keep spending more and more for the U.S. ... The question is whether the public wants her to speak out against Trump or be obedient to ensure Japanese security, said Masato Kamikubo, a Ritsumeikan University professor of policy science. For China, its simple. Japanese people want her to be tough.

A hawk on China

Takaichi in November suggested possible Japanese action if China makes a military move against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. That has led to Beijings diplomatic and economic reprisals.

Many Japanese, frustrated by Chinas growing assertiveness, welcomed her comments on Taiwan.

Emboldened by the big election win, Takaichi could take a more hawkish stance with China, experts say.

Takaichi, soon after the election, said she is working to gain support for a visit to Tokyos controversial Yasukuni Shrine. Visits to the shrine are seen by Japans neighbors as evidence of a lack of remorse for Japans wartime past.

A stronger military that spends more and sells more

Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defense policies by December to bolster Japans military capabilities, lifting a ban on lethal weapons exports and moving further away from postwar pacifist principles. Japan is also considering the development of a nuclear-powered submarine to increase offensive capabilities.

Takaichi wants to improve intelligence-gathering and establish a national agency to work more closely with ally Washington and defense partners like Australia and Britain.

She supports a controversial anti-espionage law that largely targets Chinese spies. Some experts say it could undermine Japanese civil rights.

Stricter on immigration and foreigners

Takaichi has proposed tougher policies on immigration and foreigners, something that resonates with a growing frustration in Japan.

Her government in January approved tougher rules on permanent residency and naturalization as well as measures to prevent unpaid tax and social insurance.

Promoting traditional family values

Takaichi supports the imperial familys male-only succession and opposes same-sex marriage.

She is also against a revision to the 19th-century civil law that would allow separate surnames for married couples so that women dont get pressured into abandoning theirs.

In a step that rights activists call an attempt to block a dual-surname system, Takaichi is calling for a law to allow the greater use of maiden names as aliases instead.
San Franciscos Chinatown may be an iconic tourist attraction, but for many Chinese Americans in the Bay Area its also a cultural hub anchored by generations-old small businesses and classic Chinese restaurants.

Most were started by new immigrants in an effort to survive and provide for their children while giving them a chance at a better future. There was generally no expectation of passing them down to their kids. But a new trend has emerged post-pandemic.

After decades of working hard for that better life, second-generation Chinese Americans are leaving their professional careers and instead finding fulfillment in taking over what their parents started. Legacy Chinatown eateries like Hing Lung Meat Company, R&G Lounge , New Sun Hong Kong, and House of Nanking have gotten a new lease on life, proving that change can indeed be good.

Some of the dishes at 606 (Eugene Lau)

Eugene Lau has owned the San Francisco restaurant 606 (606 Broadway) since 2023, taking over New Sun Hong Kong, the hub for classic Cantonese dishes his in-laws had operated since 1989. Having worked as a tech professional for years, the toll running a small business took on them during the pandemic, as well as their impending retirement, made Eugene think about making a change.

Most Chinese parents would say they opened a restaurant to make ends meet, Lau says. They dont necessarily want the same life for their kids because its tough to make a living. But I think they could tell I had an interest in it. When having family meals at the restaurant, I would always make sure the customers were doing okay and even get up and help serve or bus tables, clean dishes, take orders. It kind of developed from there.

The pandemic, when Chinatown became a ghost town, spurred Eric and Simon Cheung to return to the family business, too. Hing Lung Meat Company, which their father had owned since the 1990s, was known for authentic Cantonese roasted meats like char siu (roast pork), soy sauce chicken, and classic roast duck (not to be mistaken for Peking/Beijing duck). To help it survive, the brothers launched Go Duck Yourself, an offshoot of Hing Lung Meat Company that focused solely on online and takeout orders.

Go Duck Yourself took off, but when problems arose with HLMCs aging storefront, the Cheungs eventually decided to close the original location. Eric and Simon then opened their sit-down restaurant Go Duck Yourself in Bernal Heights (439 Cortland Ave.) in 2024, followed by their takeout counter Quack House in Lower Nob Hill (927 Post St.) last year.

Some of the dishes at Go Duck Yourself (Courtesy of Hing Lung Co/Go Duck Yourself)

Though theyre carrying on their dads history of well-crafted roast meats, the brothers arent doing things exactly the same way.

We definitely have not altered the recipes, says Eric. We try to stay as traditional and classic as possible. But we only use high-end spices and quality artisan meats. And our equipment is more high-tech than it used to be. Back then my dad used to go only by feel, but I like to use my temperature probes to get it just right. Im very particular about the temperature the meat is cooked at so it comes out as juicy as possible.

Although noticeable changes have been made since Lau took over, 606s food has also stayed true to the former restaurant.

We curated our menu so that many of New Sun Hong Kongs popular items didnt change, but we tweaked the recipes in a way that improved the texture or flavor and added some new dishes, Lau explains. Were doing things differently than my in-laws did. But at the core of it, were still a family restaurant with a commitment to the community. Its a reboot.

606 is the reboot of New Sun Hong Kong (Courtesy of 606)

So why leave the tech world to run a small restaurant? It'd be sad to see our culture and traditions die, says Lau. Thats one of the main reasons why we do this. I really wanted to continue my familys legacy, and Im thankful I have the opportunity to do it.

Though Eric Cheungs pride in the food he makes fuels his passion, he never expected to carry on the family business either.

Im surprised there are so many second-generation adults taking over the family business, and I think its great! Its sad to see something that helped raise you, that you grew up with, go away, he says. We have a good setup here. Its always been my dream to own a restaurant, I just didnt think it would be essentially my parents' restaurant.
I was talking to a therapist recently who told me about skin hunger. Yep, its a thing.

Simply put, its the deprivation you feel when youre not physically touched  and it can lead to a whole lot of hurt.

I know a bit about what that hurt feels like. My husband Gil was a cuddler. After he died, my longing for physical contact was off the charts. If it werent for the constant affection of my two dogs  one still sleeps on Gils pillow, the other at my feet  I might have gone to a dark place.

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The good news, as our experts point out, is that there are many fixes  including a connection to pets  that can turn your hurt into happy. Pretty sure there are other folks in the In the Mood community who will find this readers question relatable.

I live alone, and I really miss physical interaction. And Im not just talking about sex. Im talking about any kind of touch. I heard this is called skin hunger. What can I do about this?  Submitted via email by J.D.

First thing: Its great you are asking for help, because the effects of skin hunger are very real, says certified sex therapist Shadeen Francis, who says that skin hunger actually triggers a stress response in the body.

In the Mood For AARPs In the Mood column, writer Ellen Uzelac will ask experts your most pressing 50+ sex and relationship questions. Uzelac is the former West Coast bureau chief for The Baltimore Sun. She writes frequently on sex, relationships, travel and lifestyle issues. Do you have a question? Email us at sexafter50@aarp.org

Why skin touch matters. Our skin is our bodys largest sensory organ. As Tiffany Field, founder of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, explains, the stimulation we receive on the skin goes to the brain, which releases various feel-good chemicals like serotonin, a neurotransmitter critical to mood regulation, and oxytocin, the so-called love or bonding hormone.

Without touch, a stress hormone called cortisol increases, which Field, who has a doctorate in developmental psychology, says can cause high blood pressure and an increased heart rate, fatigue and dizziness. If you get touch-deprived, you can also become anxious, depressed and stressed.

An absence of touch can lead to loneliness and social isolation, says Evelin Dacker, a family physician in Salem, Oregon. We feel were not being seen or felt, she notes. Humans are mammals. Touch is part of the way we navigate the world. 

Conversely, she adds, people who do get touched feel connected and cared for.
There are plenty of strategies to lower your tax bill, including contributing to retirement accounts, leveraging tax credits and maximizing itemized deductions. Or, if youre really committed to paying less in taxes, you could move.

In nine states, income isnt taxed  allowing residents to hold on to more of their hard-earned dollars. For retirees, this means that pension payouts, retirement account withdrawals and Social Security benefits arent subject to state taxes.

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The ability to avoid income taxes can be compelling. But if youre thinking about relocating for a lower tax bill, be aware that some states that dont have income taxes levy hefty taxes in other areas.

Heres what to know about the total tax burden in the nine states with no income tax.

Alaska

Alaska is one of the most tax-friendly states, especially for older adults. Not only is there no income tax in the Last Frontier, but also state law exempts the first $150,000 of assessed property value from property taxes for adults 65 and older. Its effective property tax rate is 1.07 percent.

There is no state estate tax, inheritance tax, long-term capital gains tax or statewide sales tax  although a majority of Alaskas municipalities levy a sales tax, with rates of typically 2 percent to 5 percent. Plus, residents receive an annual dividend payment from the Alaska Permanent Fund, which was established in 1976 from the states oil and mineral revenues. The 2025 dividend was $1,000.

Florida

Beyond its warm weather, Floridas low tax burden is a big draw for both retirees and workers. The Sunshine State does not have an individual income tax, estate tax, inheritance tax or long-term capital gains tax. However, it does levy a statewide sales tax of 6 percent, which jumps to an average rate of 7 percent when combined with local sales tax.

The effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing in Florida is 0.74 percent. Homeowners can apply for the states homestead exemption to decrease their propertys taxable value by as much as $50,000.

Nevada

Nevada does not tax capital gains, estates or inheritance. However, purchases are hit with a hefty state and local sales tax rate that averages 8.24 percent.

The effective property tax rate is a low 0.49 percent. Nevada offers property tax exemptions of varying amounts for veterans, disabled veterans, blind people and surviving spouses.
Sydney, Feb 18, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Far East Gold Ltd ( ASX:FEG ) is advancing a quality portfolio of six copper and gold projects across Indonesia and Australia, underpinned by combined JORC resources of 1.54Moz gold and 190Mlb copper. During the quarter, the Company delivered high-grade drilling results at the Idenburg Project in Papua, expanded mineralised zones at Sua and North Bermol, progressed permitting milestones, and recommenced drilling at Mount Clark West in Queensland following a wet-season pause.



Managing Director and CEO Shane Menere joins The Stock Network's Lel Smits to discuss the latest drilling success, regulatory progress and how Far East Gold is positioning for sustained discovery-driven growth across its portfolio.



- High-grade growth at Idenburg - Sua and North Bermol, Indonesia

- Strong newsflow across multiple projects

- Mount Clark West - copper upside in Queensland



To Watch the Video, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/7X4C0CKH





About Far East Gold Ltd





Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) is an Australian junior exploration company led by some of the biggest names in Australian mining. The company has secured the commercial rights for the acquisition, exploration and development of six advanced gold and copper projects in Indonesia and Australia. The Company is underpinned by combined JORC resources of 1.54Moz gold and 190Mlb copper, with ongoing drill programs aiming to significantly increase these resources.

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AceShowbiz - Sub Pop has officially welcomed Hayden Pedigo to its roster, marking an exciting new chapter for the artist. To commemorate the signing, Pedigo shared a humorous and unconventional contract that highlights the unique terms of his deal with the iconic indie label.

The playful agreement includes a payment of 777 Gorgeous Dollars, a lifetime supply of complimentary passes to Ol Bernards Roller Rink & Organ Honkers, and ownership of a one-foot plot of Village Lake, which was formerly known as Alcohol and Drug Abuse Lake in Richland County, South Carolina, United States. Additionally, the contract humorously guarantees that Pedigo will never be asked to perform covers of artists like Def Leppard, Dokken, the Doors, Van Halen, or Tank Top Party Lads.

Expressing his excitement on Instagram, Pedigo wrote, I signed with @subpop!!! The greatest label on earth! I cant explain to yall how excited I am to be working with them! He also revealed that he is actively working on his next full-length album, promising fans more to look forward to in the near future.

In addition to the signing, Sub Pop announced that Pedigo will be hosting a four-month residency on NTS Radio titled Amarillo Highway With Hayden Pedigo, beginning February 25th. This residency is expected to showcase his eclectic tastes and artistic vision.

Pedigos signing to Sub Pop marks a significant milestone in his career, combining his offbeat charm with the labels renowned indie pedigree. Fans eager to dive deeper into his work can also read Pitchforks review of his album Ill Be Waving as You Drive Away.
AceShowbiz - Nick Cave has revealed the fascinating story behind recruiting **Carly Paradis** to **The Bad Seeds**, a decision sparked by his discovery that she composed the iconic theme tune for the hit BBC police drama, Line of Duty.

Responding to a fan's query on his popular Q&A platform, The Red Hand Files, **Nick Cave** recounted the circumstances that led the Canadian-born British composer, songwriter, and pianist to join the legendary band on keyboards in 2022. The fan had specifically asked for more details about this "astonishingly talented woman," prompting **Nick Cave** to share the intricate recruitment process.

The saga began when previous **Bad Seeds** member **Barry Adamson** informed **Nick Cave** of his departure, expressing a desire to no longer continue with the band. This left a crucial vacancy for a keyboard player. **Nick Cave** initially reached out to **Larry Mullins**, a keys player recommended by drummer **Thomas Wydler**. However, fate intervened when **Mullins** unexpectedly fell ill, making him unavailable for touring.

In a serendipitous turn of events, it was discovered that **Larry Mullins** was also a phenomenal drummer, having played with esteemed artists like **Iggy Pop** and **Swans**. Consequently, he was moved to drums, which, while solving one problem, unfortunately left **The Bad Seeds** once again without a keyboardist. **Nick Cave** candidly admitted to feeling "tired of playing whack-a-mole with band members" and enlisted his manager to find a suitable replacement.

A week later, a list of potential candidates arrived, complete with photographs. **Nick Cave** humorously noted his initial skepticism, stating, "you only needed to take one look at most of these guys to realise they wouldnt last two minutes in **The Bad Seeds**." Towards the bottom of this list was **Carly Paradis**, whose resume primarily highlighted her work on TV scores. This initially struck **Nick Cave** as "not very promising."

However, as he delved deeper, **Nick Cave** noticed a crucial detail: **Carly Paradis** had penned the theme music for the "awesome" English cop show, Line of Duty. This revelation immediately changed his perception. Without hesitation, he rang her directly to inquire if she would be interested in joining **The Bad Seeds**. Her affirmative response sealed the deal, marking a pivotal moment for the band.

Echoing the fan's sentiment, **Nick Cave** enthusiastically confirmed **Carly Paradis**'s immense talent. He vividly described her arrival: "She walked into **The Bad Seeds**, this grizzled snake pit of unreconstructed masculinity, and blew everyone away, changing the very weather of the band almost overnight." Her presence brought not only her exceptional musical ability but also "a kind of joy, a loveliness of manner, all laughter and delight, along with a long-overdue dose of female energy." **Nick Cave** concluded by expressing the band's deep affection for her, stating, "We love her."

Beyond her musical prowess, **Nick Cave** also hinted at **Carly Paradis**'s lesser-known, unique talents. He revealed that she is a world-class whistler, having won numerous trophies, cups, and medals for her skill. Furthermore, she possesses the remarkable ability to imitate any North American bird perfectly, adding to her already impressive and diverse repertoire of gifts.
AceShowbiz - The Life have revealed details of their upcoming fourth studio album, Abstract/Natural, alongside the release of its compelling lead single, The Dollywagon.

The Hull-based band, known for their distinctive sound and storytelling, are set to drop the follow-up to their 2022 album North East Coastal Town on June 19 via Launchpad+ in collaboration with EMI North. Fans can now pre-order or pre-save the album ahead of its release.

The Dollywagon introduces listeners to swirling synths and energetic drumbeats, paired with rapid, stream-of-consciousness lyrics delivered by frontman Mez Sanders-Green. The song captures a protagonist torn between the urge to escape and confronting personal truths.

I never wanted to leave myself, but Im leaving now, Sanders-Green sings, embodying a restless spirit propelled by the desire for new experiences: The placard reads right to roam, and the boy is roaming.

The track was penned during Sanders-Greens 193-mile trek across the UK coast-to-coast route, tracing a path from the West Coast through the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, over moorlands, and finally arriving at the bands home on the East Coast. This journey serves as both a literal and emotional backdrop for the songs narrative.

The Dollywagon explores universal themes of release and renewal  new adventures and beginnings, Sanders-Green shared. While walking, I turned the landscapes and encounters into vivid characters and scenes.

He further described the songs vibe as a pulpy Northern-based western, filled with cryptic imagery like farmers hanging dead moles on chicken wire, rugged mountains, and the enduring power of Mother Earth. The middle-eight section pays homage to fresh starts and optimism.

The single is accompanied by a striking black-and-white split-screen music video directed by James Cooper and Luke Hallett, enhancing the songs atmospheric storytelling.

Abstract/Natural features ten tracks recorded at Lifes own Moon Factory studio in Hull. Production credits include Stewart Baxter and Oliver Varga, with mixing by James Kenosha and mastering by Stephen Kerrison.

Building on the motion and mood found in The Dollywagon, the album weaves narratives centered on folklore, personal evolution, fatherhood, and freedom, all deeply rooted in the bands local landscape.

A press release describes Abstract/Natural as a body of work that feels both intimate and outward-looking, noting it originated not in rehearsals, but from Mez Sanders-Greens poetry book.

Sanders-Green gradually shared lyrical snippets with his bandmates Stewart Baxter, Lydia Palmeira, and Mick Sanders, shaping the record into a cohesive exploration of change and identity.
On February 12, The New Republics Editor, Michael Tomasky, published a 10,000-word piece of his own entitled What the Democrats Need to Do Now, with the subheading explaining that this was the plan to win back working-class voters by showing that the Democrats are on their side, and picking fights on their behalf.

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My mind was blown reading it. The cognitive dissonance was dizzying. He really does think Dems are pure as the driven snow with nothing but good intentions, and gosh darn it, theyre just not fighting hard enough, nor have they fought hard enough in the past. We will call this world he inhabits Earth 2.

Here on Earth 1, Democrats indicted former President Trump four times, with a goal of putting him in prison. Before that, they impeached him twice. They then sued in several states to keep him off the ballot for November of 2024. Now theyre promising to impeach him again if they win back the House. Theyve blocked, obstructed, sued, voted against, and otherwise frustrated every single Republican agenda item. No fight? Really??

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Tomasky listed nine action items, all without any self-awareness.

The very first one was about the fight they supposedly dont have in them. 1. Why Dont Democrats Fight More? Tomasky had gone to a dinner of lefties there to discuss lefty things, and one of them said:

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Well, Democrats come to Washington to get things done, and Republicans come to Washington to fight.

We wish! How many of us are on a constant low boil about our garbage RINOs letting them get away with everything? He goes on:

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Democrats, by and large, are not insurgents. They dont come to Washington to topple any establishment. They come to pass some legislation, help make peoples lives better.

Nah. They just subvert, corrupt, or try to outright repeal every constitutional amendment under the sun, thats all. They also infiltrate and abuse every lever of power in the bureaucracy. Other than that, sure. Theyre real establishmentarians.

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Next was his lament on their supposed infighting. 2. Why Do the Democrats Fight So Much? He begins:

If theyre not great at doing battle with Republicans, theres another contest to which many Democrats bring a lot of zest: the fight with one another.

I see some friction here and there between the progressive wing and the old guard, but mostly they march in lockstep. In fact, thats a common complaint of ours: that our side cant seem to do the same. Were usually cats fighting in a bag.

My cognitive dissonance continued at the mention of some mythical center of the party. 3. What the Center Gets Wrong. What center??

Next, he frets that theyre just too darned intellectual, arguing policy particulars instead of broader ideas. 4. What the Left Gets Wrong. Towards the end, he writes:

People know who youre for by the enemies youre willing to make. And the Democrats need to make enemies.

Tomasky is clearly laboring under the impression that the Democrats havent ticked anyone off massively with all of their rhetoric and machinations. Thats some bubble. Thats a nuclear sarcophagus of a bubble, man.

Next, he laments that Democrats arent telling stories with villains to win over hearts and mindswhich is insane, as theyre infamous for standing up human props as victims of this or that villain to tell a sob story. Under 5. Storiesand Villains, he writes:

Democrats dont tell stories. And theyor most of themcertainly dont talk much about villains. Oh, sure, Trump is a villain But who else? What story can the Democrats tell working Americans about why their lives are hard, and what villains can they name?

He then goes on to isolate corporate wrongdoers as the only one obvious answer. He continues, defying gravity once again:

But most Democrats dont like calling out villains Theres something in the genetic code of liberals that seeks consensus, that wants everyone to be happy.

Yeah, thats it, Tomasky. Its in your genes. Thats you guys all over. Consensus-builders. Rays of effing sunshine.

He then casts Americas most famous counterpuncher as the initiator of every fight these poor Democrats get drawn into. Because if theyre not victims, they simply cant function:

Democrats should have learned by now from Trump thatthe party that starts the conflict will always be cast as the active initiator, the second party as the passive responder. This instinct [to start fights] is just not in the Democrat partys collective DNA.

Once again, he talks about whats in their genes. Its starting to sound like theyre a different species. (Hm) And what do you even say to this?? Theyre not fighters? Thats all they do is fight.

6. What Biden Didand DidntDo is next up. He remembers a very different Biden than the one I remember. He seems to think Biden was too nice. Certainly not from his infamous September 2022 red speech. Biden said that we are a threat to personal rights, to the pursuit of justice, to the rule of law, to the very soul of this country.

Sounds bad. He then went on to make 100% provably false accusations:

[They are] calling for mass violence and rioting in the streets. This is inflammatory. Its dangerous. Its against the rule of law.

My heads exploding now. Of course, thats exactly what Democrat, not Republican, leaders have been doing just recently, regarding ICE! Literally calling for violence!

Thats the Biden I remember. Mr. Projection.

Tomasky then quotes Senator Whitehouse (D-RI). Its a banger:

[Biden] didnt want to have enemies, he didnt want to have adversaries, he didnt want to have villains. They wouldnt think in those terms. They wouldnt speak in those terms.

Unbelievable. The gentleman from Rhode Island must have missed that speechor any other time Biden spoke about us.

(7.) and (8.) were all about free stuff; then, finally, 9. Conclusion: The Democrats Third Great Challenge The first two challenges were answered, in Tomaskys estimation, by The New Deal of the 30s and the civil rights laws of the 60s which his party filibustered but were supposed to just breeze right by that.

So, what does Tomasky view as the third great challenge? Getting big money out of politics. To his credit, he recognizes it as a bipartisan problem, but, of course, when his people do it, their intentions are good, and their hearts are pure, even if their methods are not. I, on the other hand, am willing to call out both sides as just flat-out corrupt, and I have no problem doing so.

So, 10,000 words only to point at eeeevil corporations and much-needed campaign finance reform. Thats an awful lot of words for a not-too-surprising conclusion.

What was surprising was how virginally supine he thinks Democrats are, because other than literal explosives, I dont know what else he thinks they need to do. Thats about all they have left. Theyve done everything else.

Post Script: Obama recently gave an interview, which became public just after I had finished writing this article (and did not intend to rewrite it), and its clear the cognitive dissonance comes from the top. Behold just two clips from it:

No they will just slander you, destroy your reputation, career, marriage, life. Spy on you, frame you. Burn down your business. Put you in jail. Unleash a virus on you. Steal your election. Oh, and kill you. Other than that, yeah Republicans are much meaner.  https://t.co/Vgn5i8Djk4  The Rogue Courant (@RogueCourant) February 14, 2026 OBAMA: The other side does the mean, angry, exclusive, us/them, divisive politics. That's their home court. Our court is coming together.pic.twitter.com/9Ph6hxHzUz  Brandon Straka #WalkAway (@BrandonStraka) February 14, 2026

M. Walter blogs at www.mwalterwriter.com
Americas growing sense of danger is often discussed as if it were a mystery -- something caused by complex social forces that no one can quite identify, much less change. But what is happening is not mysterious at all. A society that tolerates predatory behavior will get more of it. Criminals respond to incentives as reliably as everyone else does.



If the odds of punishment and the cost of punishment do not outweigh the benefits of crime for a would-be predator, there is no deterrence. It becomes a simple risk-reward calculation.



One of the most stubborn facts in modern criminal justice is that repeat offending is not just an occasional occurrence. It is the norm. The Bureau of Justice Statistics tracked state prisoners released in 2005 and found that 68% were arrested again within three years, 79% within six years, and 83% within nine years. Over that nine-year period, those 401,288 released prisoners racked up nearly two million arrests -- about five arrests per released prisoner.



That is not a few bad apples. That is a revolving door.



A newer BJS study of prisoners released in 2012 across 34 states found similarly grim patterns: 62% arrested within three years and 71% within five years, with 46% returning to prison within five years either for a new sentence or for supervision violations.



These numbers do not mean that every offender is irredeemable. They mean something more basic: the system is routinely returning high-risk people to the public. Although clearly failing to protect the public, those responsible often congratulate themselves for being smart, humane, or evidence-based.



The question then becomes: who is making the choices that turn rampant recidivism from a warning sign into a business model?



Start with prosecutors. Prosecutors are not merely lawyers; they are gatekeepers. They decide whether to charge, what to charge, whether to stack charges, whether to bargain down violent conduct into something less serious, and whether to seek enhancements for repeat offenders. In theory, they are ministers of justice. In practice, they operate under incentives that have little to do with the safety of ordinary people.



A prosecutor who insists on serious charges for violent repeat offenders inherits hard work, courtroom risk, political criticism, and the possibility of a trial loss. A prosecutor who pleads cases down can claim efficiency, produce impressive conviction statistics, and clear a docket -- often at a discount paid by a future victim.



Then come judges, who have enormous discretion in sentencing, diversion, probation, and release decisions. The public is told that judges are correcting for over-incarceration or that they are applying individualized justice. But individualized justice can become individualized excuses -- where the life and limb of the innocent are treated as a secondary concern, while the biography of the offender becomes the main event.



The deeper problem is cultural. When a society explains violence as if it were a weather pattern -- something that simply happens -- then the people who can stop it feel less obligation to do so. Accountability becomes optional. Predation becomes a cry for help. And the victims are told, in effect, that their suffering is unfortunate but unavoidable.



Nowhere is this softer, more dishonest thinking clearer than in how we talk about life sentences. The phrase suggests finality. It suggests that the most dangerous people are removed permanently from the streets. In reality, life often means eligible for a hearing after a set number of years, with release hinging on shifting political winds, administrative boards, and legal changes.



Consider how life is described in Californias own parole framework: many indeterminate terms are explicitly life sentences with the possibility of parole, such as 25 years-to-life. The punishment is structured so that a person convicted of grave violence may be entitled to ask for release after a minimum term. California also notes that lifers can become eligible through special tracks such as youth-offender or elderly parole processes. More often than not, a life term is more for public consumption than actual policy.



At the federal level, parole was prospectively abolished for most cases after the Sentencing Reform Act era, but time served is still not identical to the sentence imposed because offenders can earn good-time credit that reduces time behind bars. And historically, even federal life cases have sometimes ended in release: a Bureau of Justice Statistics time-served report found that, between 1986 and 1997, federal offenders committed for life were released on parole after about 16 years in prison.



If life can mean a hearing in a couple of decades, then the public has been sold a comforting fantasy rather than a protective policy.



Notice what recidivism data implies about our current posture. When BJS tells us that roughly seven in ten released prisoners are rearrested within five years, it is not simply describing individual failure. It is describing institutional design. A system that repeatedly releases people who repeatedly reoffend is not merely making mistakes. It is operating as built -- pushing risk outward onto the public because internal actors (prosecutors, judges, administrators) bear little personal cost when the gamble goes wrong.



And it goes wrong in the most lopsided way imaginable: the benefits of leniency accrue to the decision-makers reputations and caseloads, while the costs are paid by nameless victims who did not get a vote in the courtroom.



A serious society would respond in three ways.



First, stop treating violent recidivism as an acceptable externality. Prosecutors should default to charging violent conduct as violent conduct -- without laundering it into lesser categories for convenience. Repeat violent offenders should face sentencing that reflects demonstrated risk, not optimistic storytelling.



Second, judicial discretion should be tethered to public safety outcomes, not just good intentions. When a judge repeatedly grants leniency to defendants who reoffend violently, that is not compassion. It is professional negligence in a robe.



Third, honesty in sentencing language must return. If a jurisdiction intends to allow parole hearings after 15, 20, or 25 years, then stop calling it life in the way ordinary people understand the word. The public cannot evaluate policy when policy is marketed through euphemism.



The most dangerous myth in criminal justice is that we can be soft on predators without being hard on the innocent. We cannot. Every reduction in consequences for violent behavior is an increase in consequences for someone else -- someone who will be assaulted, robbed, maimed, or killed, and who will then be treated as collateral damage in a moral drama centered on the offender.



When a society chooses to tolerate violent behavior, it does not abolish violence. It reallocates it -- away from criminals and toward law-abiding people. And that is what an increasingly unsafe America looks like: not chaos out of nowhere, but predation subsidized by leniency, enabled by prosecutors and judges who face fewer consequences than the predators they keep putting back on the streets.



Jim Cardoza is the author of The Moral Superiority of Liberty and the founder of LibertyPen.com. Read more of his essays there.

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It seems as if every month a new story comes out of Britain warning about the likelihood of future civil war. Retired colonel Richard Kemp recently gave a television interview during which he warned that the Islamification of the United Kingdom would lead to inevitable conflict. Several British academics specializing in the preconditions for civil conflict, including professors David Betz and Michael Rainsborough, have argued the same point.

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Kemps point of view carries the added weight of someone who has witnessed insurgent fighting firsthand. A former commander who carried out counter-insurgency operations in Northern Ireland, led British forces in Afghanistan, and held intelligence roles in Westminster, Kemp says Islamic immigrants refusal to integrate into British society means that things in the U.K. are getting bad and about to get worse. Among other provocative comments that will no doubt ruffle the feathers of Britains ruling class, Kemp notes, There were more British Muslims with the Taliban than in the British Army.

The combat veteran argues that Britains political class has failed citizens by putting them in harms way and is simultaneously incapable of mitigating its failures due to suffocating concerns for what can be said out loud. No government, Kemp argues, has the guts to stopthe Islamification of the U.K. Consequently, ordinary Brits now need to prepare for the likelihood of civil war in Europe. Describing the looming conflict in the U.K. as a far more serious and deadly situation than what gripped Northern Ireland for decades, Kemp predicts that the coming civil war will involve indigenous British and some of the immigrant population and the British government all on three different sides fighting against each other.

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Drawing on his experience with insurgent forces, the retired colonel blames disenfranchisement in Britain for the future violence: The big problem that British people have is they dont have political choice. We dont really live in a democracy.Whatever party you vote for, you get the same policies. That applies also to immigration and to the way in which the Islamic population is allowed to grow in numbers and dominance. As academics Betz and Rainsborough have also argued, Kemp sees the unwillingness of the U.K.s political class to respect the will of voters with regards to immigration, Brexit, and the preservation of traditional culture as the proximate cause of the civil war to come.

Democratic institutions provide citizen-voters with a release valve through which they can express pent-up frustration without resorting to violence. The problem is that a political uniparty operates in the U.K., as it does throughout most of the West. It doesnt matter whether Brits hand power to a Labour or Tory prime minister; they get non-stop Islamic immigration regardless. When native Brits publicly protest the Islamification of the U.K., both Labour and Tory members of parliament call them racist and prosecute them for hate. When native Brits march through downtown cities to condemn Islamic rape gangs and Islamic terrorism, both Labour and Tory members of parliament call them racist and prosecute them for hate. When native Brits rally to prevent the construction of super-mosques in rural parts of Britain, both Labour and Tory members of parliament call them racist and prosecute them for hate. Therefore, citizens in the U.K. have learned that voting accomplishes nothing and that their so-called political leaders are incapable of defending British lives or British ways of life.

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The British pot is boiling, and Kemp adds his voice to a growing chorus of professionals with expertise in violent civil conflicts who predict a war-ravaged kingdom in the near future. I think the people will feel they have no option than to take action into their own hand rather than rely on political leaders who are doing nothing, Kemp stated in another interview. I think there is every likelihood of civil war in the U.K. in the coming years.

What Kemp describes in the U.K. is occurring all over Europe. While members of the continents elite political ruling class have spent the last several decades obsessing about the weather and how to make the world green, technological innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and industrial self-sufficiency have diminished. Although most nations of Europe have replaced historic monarchies with forms of representative democracy, a class of aristocratic nobles has managed to insinuate itself into the powerful positions of representative government. Perhaps because of this feudal mentality, European politicos cannot resist the appeal of centralized, top-down, government-controlled economies. While elites micro-manage European industry and commerce and choose winners and losers as lords do vassals, free markets malfunction. The end result is that Europeans get poorer, have fewer babies, and perpetuate a century of decline.

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Europes aristocratic ruling class has responded to this demographic decline by inviting third-world migrants from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to become citizens of Europe. Rather than successfully addressing the continents generational crisis by replacing local babies with foreign ones, European elites have engineered a certain clash between Western and Islamic civilizations. In the U.K. alone, ten major cities  including Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester, and parts of London  are on their way to having majority-Muslim populations over the next decade or two. These are historically blue-collar areas where native Brits have gotten only poorer as foreign nationals take over neighborhoods that locals once called home. Mosques are rising everywhere. Islamic groceries, restaurants, festivals, and religious celebrations replace the food and customs of local families whose presence goes back centuries. There is no social integration of any kind.

As economic conditions continue to decline and cultural flashpoints become more frequent, globalist politicians who praise multiculturalism as if it were a virtue and repeat, Diversity is our strength, as if it were a divine truth are about to discover how dangerous it is to mix many incompatible cultures together. Like a carbonated beverage shaken without any concern for the mess, the cultural pressure within these Islamified European cities is ready to explode.

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As retired colonel Richard Kemp argues, this cultural explosion will be much worse because Europes political ruling class has prevented voters from making course corrections that are popular with the public but unpopular with European elites. In France, the Netherlands, Germany, Romania, and elsewhere, ruling elites use institutional gamesmanship to block populist political parties from coming to (or exercising) power. Anti-immigration political candidates are prosecuted for hate crimes, Russian collusion, or other made-up crimes. Unelected aristocrats on the European Council secretly fund pro-immigration candidates in national elections and censor European citizens who express outrage on social media platforms over mass migration from foreign cultures. In national parliaments and the European Union, members continue to pass laws that effectively criminalize public dissent to official government policies.

Europes political ruling class has angered a growing share of the European public, and rather than address the reasons for the publics anger, that same ruling class has chosen to silence ordinary Europeans and threaten them with prosecution and imprisonment. When all of the release valves for a civil society have been welded shut, society stops being civil. Europes elites have created the conditions for a bloody civil war  because entire civilizations will be warring against each other.

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In 2023, newly disclosed documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein revealed meetings and financial interactions between Epstein and the eminent linguist and public intellectual Noam Chomsky. The disclosures did not accuse Chomsky of criminal conduct. But they confirmed that, years after Epsteins 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor, Chomsky met with him multiple times and discussed financial matters.

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Chomskys response was characteristically blunt: his meetings with Epstein, he said, were none of your business. The tone may have been legally defensible. Culturally and symbolically, it was something else.

Because Chomsky is not merely a professor emeritus at MIT. For over half a century, he has been one of the central intellectual pillars of the American Left  a figure whose authority extends far beyond linguistics into foreign policy, media criticism, and moral judgment on American power. His 1988 book Manufacturing Consent shaped generations of students understanding of media, propaganda, and elite influence. To admirers, he has represented intellectual courage against empire; to critics, an implacable critic of Western liberal democracies.

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But in either case, he has stood as a moral voice.

And that is precisely why the Epstein association matters  not as a criminal allegation, but as a symbolic rupture.

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From the 1960s to Cultural Hegemony

To understand the magnitude of that rupture, one must place Chomsky within the broader intellectual ecosystem that reshaped American academia after the 1960s. While not formally a member of the Frankfurt School, his work converged with its critique of capitalist modernity, mass culture, and liberal-democratic institutions. Thinkers such as Herbert Marcuse and Theodor Adorno helped institutionalize a style of critical theory that viewed Western society as structurally oppressive beneath its democratic veneer.

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Overlay that with the influence of Antonio Gramsci and his theory of cultural hegemony: the idea that ruling classes maintain dominance not only through economic power but by shaping cultural norms, education, and moral language. Change the culture, and you change the political order.

The American New Left absorbed this framework. Over decades, it migrated from street protest to faculty lounges, from counterculture to curriculum committees. The result is what we now call Critical Theorys progeny: identity-centered scholarship, postcolonial critique, and ultimately the framework popularly labeled CRT. While Chomsky himself has often criticized certain excesses of identity politics and has not endorsed every development in woke culture, his lifelong assault on American institutions provided intellectual scaffolding for the suspicion of Western norms that now permeates large sectors of academia.

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The point is not that Chomsky caused CRT. It is that he helped legitimize a moral architecture in which America is presumptively guilty, power is presumptively corrupt, and Western institutions are structurally suspect.

For decades, that critique carried a tacit moral asymmetry: the critics stood above the system they condemned.

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The Weberian Problem

Here is where the scandal intersects with political theory.

Max Weber famously distinguished between the ethic of conviction and the ethic of responsibility. The former acts from purity of principle; the latter accounts for the foreseeable consequences of ones actions in the public sphere.

Chomskys career embodies the ethic of conviction. He has consistently argued from first principles against war, imperialism, and elite hypocrisy. But when a public intellectual of such stature maintains a relationship  however defined  with a convicted sex offender embedded in elite financial networks, the question shifts from private intention to public consequence.

Even if the meetings were purely intellectual.

Even if the financial discussions were routine.

The symbolic impact is unavoidable.

A figure who built his reputation exposing the moral compromises of power was, at minimum, socially entangled with a man whose entire operation depended on elite protection.

That tension does not prove corruption. It exposes fragility.

The Collapse of Moral Asymmetry

For many on the Right, the Epstein scandal has become shorthand for elite decadence across party lines. But for the American Left, it strikes deeper. The post-1960s intellectual project has relied not only on critique, but on moral differentiation  the implicit claim that progressive institutions and thinkers occupy higher ethical ground than the corporate, military, or conservative establishments they oppose.

The Chomsky episode does not invalidate every argument he has ever made. It does something subtler: it undermines the aura of moral insulation.

If even the most relentless critic of American elite corruption can be found in the appointment book of one of the most notorious financiers in recent memory, then the narrative of unilateral moral superiority begins to erode.

And once moral asymmetry collapses, the logic of cultural hegemony weakens.

Because Gramscian influence depends on credibility. Cultural authority must appear ethically elevated to justify reshaping curricula, institutions, and norms. If the intellectual class is perceived as subject to the same gravitational pull of wealth, access, and prestige as everyone else, its claim to exceptional moral insight diminishes.

A Myth from the Sixties Meets the Twenty-First Century

The myth born in the 1960s was that radical critique purified the critic. That standing outside the system conferred immunity from its temptations. Over time, that myth helped fuel a worldview in which Americas sins were magnified, while the critics own milieu was presumed enlightened.

The Epstein revelations do not topple Chomskys scholarly contributions to linguistics. They do not erase his influence. But they puncture the myth that critique equals virtue.

And that puncture comes at a moment when the intellectual descendants of the New Left are facing growing resistance from parents, voters, and lawmakers who question the premises of CRT and institutionalized wokeness.

The Chomsky moment, then, is not about scandal in the tabloid sense. It is about the exposure of a structural paradox: those who claimed to unmask power were not immune to its proximity.

Cultural hegemony depends on the perception of moral altitude. When that altitude drops, even slightly, the entire architecture wobbles.

The collapse is not judicial.

It is symbolic.

And symbols, in politics, often matter more than verdicts.

Samuel Robert Piccoli is a blogger and the author of several books, among them Being Conservative from A to Z (2014) and Blessed Are the Free in Spirit (2021). He lives in the Venice area.

Image: Augusto Starita / Ministerio de Cultura de la Nacion, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
The Trump administration has rescinded the Obama administrations 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding for gases like carbon dioxide. You may now exhale without worrying that the CO2 in your breath will contribute to global warming.

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After all, with 8.3 billion people on the planet exhaling an average of 2.3 pounds of CO2 per person per day, about 9.5 million tons of CO2 are respired into the atmosphere each day. Thats a lot of hot air, literally.

Fortunately, plants like to take in the air we give out. Its part of the life cycle that sustains a healthy biosphere. Add in the complete carbon cycle, whereby carbon is sequestered and released throughout the living and non-living components of the global ecosystem, and a natural balance is generally maintained.

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The serious concern has been whether human activity, especially the increasing use of fossil fuels since the late 1800s, has tipped the natural balance.

The major consensus science conclusions of climate change related to the Endangerment Finding include the confident assertions that the modern-era climate change can be attributed to people burning fossil fuels and releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. And these human-caused changes, according to one professional organization, are larger and faster than any humanity is known to have endured over the last 10,000 years. Besides, the numerous harmful impacts occurring now are anticipated to intensify and offset positive impacts.

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Yet, from another perspective, one of the greatest contributors to elevating people from the depths of poverty has been the burning of fossil fuels. The transition from coal to oil to natural gas, along with advances in pollution controls, has substantially contributed to greatly improved living standards for societies that have properly utilized their energy resources.

And arguably human-caused changes in creature comforts from the use of fossil fuels are larger and faster than any humanity is known to have [enjoyed] over the last 10,000 years.

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Furthermore, regarding harmful impacts, the tactic seems to be to find an extraordinary weather event and blame it on anthropogenic global warming. Extreme heat, blame it on people; extreme cold (as the U.S. just experienced), blame it on people.

At least the vast majority of scientists recognize that positive impacts exist. These include substantially increased global vegetation and the benefit of warm temperatures versus cold for human wellbeing and advancement.

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Pluses and minuses must always be calculated and shared when attempting to quantify an extremely complex reality, such as climate change and its effects on populations and the natural and built environments.

The current retraction of the Endangerment Finding will be a particular breath of fresh air for the auto industry. Essentially, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that it lacks statutory authority under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act to prescribe standards for [greenhouse gas] emissions from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines.

According to the US EPA:

As a result of these changes, engine and vehicle manufacturers no longer have any future obligations for the measurement, control, and reporting of [greenhouse gas] emissions for any highway engine and vehicle, including model years manufactured prior to this final rule. This final action is only related to [greenhouse gas] emissions and does not affect regulations on any traditional air pollutants. Rather, this action realigns EPAs regulatory framework with the best reading of the CAA, which does not authorize EPA to regulate [greenhouse gas] emissions from new motor vehicles.

As stated, traditional (health-based) air pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone, particulate matter, lead, and carbon monoxide (not CO2) are not affected by the new US EPA action.

So, if you have been holding your breath waiting for more sensible environmental regulations that focus on both people and the planet, you may now breathe easier.
@RepMichaelCloud recently observed via a post on X:

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Notable that 213 Democrats just used their congressional photo ID to vote NO on a voter ID bill.

Amazingly, it appears that the black and female members of the House Democrat delegation were able to vote, despite their insistence that black people and females would be unable to do so if the bill passed, because many of them would be incapable of obtaining an ID.

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So, Cory Booker, Jasmine Crockett, Al Green, Hakeem Jeffries, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Maxine Waters were able to obtain an ID and vote against the SAVE America Act?

How can this be? Four of the aforementioned are both black and female, so how the hell did they manage to procure an ID? And lets be honest, if the likes of Maxine Waters and Alexandria Occasional-Cortex can secure an ID, literally anyone can.

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Watching this existential drama unfold at a snails pace and wondering if the country will long survive is excruciating. 48, eventually 49  and now 50 members of the Senate are supposedly onboard to pass the SAVE America Act or some version thereof. But weve been stuck at 50 now for some time.

Far too damn long, in fact.

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Sen. John Thune needs to get the bill to a vote, no matter what, regardless of any bleeping standing filibuster ramifications. If not, he and the other RINOs will have sentenced the nation they were sworn to serve to a future of tyrannical one-party rule, servitude, diminution, depression, and despair.

That Republicans still cant find the will to pass a bill to greatly enhance the integrity of our elections even though more than 80% of Americans of virtually all demographic groups favor such legislation is shocking. And pathetic. And criminal -- even given the fact that non-MAGA Republicans hate winning and prefer to whine as the minority rather than govern as a majority.

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Nothing else matters if a nations elections are fraudulent. There can be no our democracy or representative republic. If citizens have just cause to distrust their election procedures -- and results  doubt, resentment, division, and instability will prevail. Societal cohesion will be impossible, even as debate is quelled.

Whatll it be gentlepersons (and I use the term loosely)? The Second Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence and created these (formerly) United States. Do you wish to protect and preserve the Union  or will you opt to destroy it?

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Tragically, even put in those terms, I doubt you will do the right thing.

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One of the enduring images of the Middle Ages is the Wheel of Fortune (which still lives on in todays Tarot cards). Its meaning was simple: fate is capricious, and he who is high today can be brought low tomorrowand, of course, vice versa. I keep thinking of that image as I contemplate the relative status of JD Vance and Rubio today, versus their status during the presidential campaign and the beginning of Trumps presidency.

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During the presidential campaign, JD Vance was the perfect partner for President Trump. Hes highly intelligent, quick-witted, articulate, informed, and definitely conservative. During his single debate with Tim Walz, he delighted conservatives because he swiftly, graciously exposed Walzs buffoonery. And then there was that wonderful side eye, and its contrast with Walzs deer in the headlights look:

Walz, not so much. pic.twitter.com/w1jkma1df0 Advertisement October 4, 2024 Then, not long after Trump took office, Vance offered his masterful I dont really care, Margaret response to CBSs Margaret Brennan during a Face the Nation interview. The topic then was Trumps executive order pausing a program that brought Afghan refugees to America so that the administration could examine the vetting system. When Vance mentioned an Afghan, who came to America in 2021, only to be arrested for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack, Brennan tried to derail Vanceand he blocked her: "I don't really care, Margaret."



This was JD Vance's first interview since becoming vice president, and it did NOT disappoint.



 pic.twitter.com/0X2CnN33Tv  ACT For America (@ACTforAmerica) January 28, 2025 Then, not long after Trump took office, Vance offered his masterful I dont really care, Margaret response to CBSs Margaret Brennan during a Face the Nation interview. The topic then was Trumps executive order pausing a program that brought Afghan refugees to America so that the administration could examine the vetting system. When Vance mentioned an Afghan, who came to America in 2021, only to be arrested for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack, Brennan tried to derail Vanceand he blocked her:

Vance was justly celebrated for being informed andso importantlyunintimidated by the media. This is what we wanted from the man at Trumps side.

But lately, the guy getting all the headlines isnt JD Vance, who is periodically sent out to make media appearances and speeches. Instead, its Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who seems to be everywhere and striking the right note every time. On his watch, whether he was working unilaterally or in tandem with Trump, weve seen (among other things):

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A massive drop in illegal immigration, which has resulted not just from law enforcement activity but from Rubios diplomatic efforts.

The release of wrongfully detained Americans in countries such as Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus, and Venezuela.

China being weakened by Americas strengthening ties with other countries, including Panamas exit from the dangerous Belt and Road initiative.

European countries starting to pay money toward their own defense.

Wars ending across the globe (a Trump and State Department joint effort).

Sanctions for vicious International Criminal Court judges

Then theres the fact that Rubio is proving to be a great communicator. He can slap down the media and deliver masterful speeches that dont alienate our allies but nevertheless put them on notice that America is no longer the worlds Sugar Daddy.

And of course, Rubio is now a man wearing many hats, as Trump keeps giving him more responsibility. No wonder a seemingly exhausted Rubio is a meme, as this already outdated video from January demonstrates:

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I continue to like JD Vance, although I worry about his close relationship with Tucker Carlson, who has outed himself as a virulent, obsessive antisemite. (Thats never a good look for a person, a nation, or an ideology, and it invariably ends badly for all concernedalthough history shows its always the Jews who ultimately survive, not those who sought to destroy them.)

But while I like Vancewho is probably discovering the truth that the Vice Presidents office really isnt worth a bucket of warm spit (or something nastier)I am growing more impressed by Rubio on a daily basis. Moreover, judging by my social media feed and my correspondence, Im not the only one.

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Truly, Republicans have an embarrassment of riches going into 2028, and it remains to be seen which of these two excellent men will be at the top of Fortunes Wheel then.

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The latest from California is that Governor Newsom is cutting some trade deals in Munich. However, what matters to his constituents is that gasoline is expensive and they are bringing supplies from the Bahamas. Forgive my ignorance, but I did not know that the island had anything to do with fuel production. Again, forgive my ignorance, but wouldnt pipelines from Texas or a more realistic business environment be a cheaper option?

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So here it goes. California will be shipping gasoline via the Bahamas. Lets check out the story:

US supplies of gasoline are being shipped out of the country to travel thousands of miles via the Bahamas before finally ending up in California, a state battling shrinking fuelmaking capacity and high pump prices. Advertisement Shipments on the circuitous route are increasing. California imported more gasoline in November than ever before, with more than 40% coming from the Bahamas. The lengthy journey adds another layer of cost to Californias already expensive gasoline market. Yet the phenomenon isnt likely to disappear soon, thanks to a combination of disappearing oil refineries, a lack of interstate pipelines and a loophole in a 106-year-old maritime law. Advertisement

Well, I dont know about the maritime law. I do know that itd be a heck of a lot better for drivers if California would make it easier to refine gasoline. As weve heard, the state has very strict environmental regulations, and some companies have decided to look for another zip code in the U.S. Wonder if this is that climate cult that Secretary Rubio was talking about?

So they are buying their gasoline from the Bahamas via the Panama Canal, and all the way up to California, using ships powered by oilto save the environment?

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Maybe this is the issue that finally flips The Golden State. I dont mean flip parties. I mean a flip from insanity to sanity, from nonsense to common sense. Well, lets hope so because they are paying high prices out there. Maybe this is why daddy took the T-Bird away.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

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For decades, the Cloward-Piven Strategy was relegated to the fringes of political theorya 1966 sociological paper by Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven suggesting that the path to radical redistribution lay in collapsing the welfare state under its own weight. However, the contemporary reality of American border policy and urban decay has moved this from theory to a functional governing template. What is currently being witnessed is not a series of policy failures, but a calculated stress test on the American social contract, designed to prioritize political relevance over public welfare.

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The Mechanics of Systemic Overload

The fundamental pillar of the Cloward-Piven strategy is the creation of a crisis of enrollment. By intentionally incentivizing a massive influx of individuals into a system with finite resources, the state forces a breakdown of local and municipal sovereignty. In the modern context, the processing model adopted at the southern border functions as a vacuum, pulling in millions who immediately require housing, healthcare, and education.

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This isnt just an immigration issue; it is a fiscal weapon. When sanctuary cities like New York and Chicago see their municipal budgets devoured by the costs of basic subsistence for non-citizens, the intended result is achieved: the local system fails, and the federal government is forced to step in with massive, permanent expansions of the administrative state. The crisis justifies the curea cure that always involves more centralized power and less local autonomy.

The Obama-Clinton Pivot: Deceit as Strategy

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Perhaps the most disingenuous aspect of this era is the strategic pivot recently performed by the Democrat establishment. Former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have historically oscillated between border-enforcement rhetoric and open-door activism. Their recent expressions of concern regarding urban disorder and the destabilizing nature of migration are not signs of a moral awakening; they are survival-driven responses to shifting polls.

When these leaders remained silent during the initial years of the surge, they allowed the demographic and apportionment shifts to lock in. By the time they pivot to toughness in 2026, the damage to the fiscal infrastructure of American cities is already done. This firefighter-arsonist dynamic allows the establishment to distance itself from the consequences of its own ideology while retaining the political benefits of a redefined electorate.

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The Erosion of the Social Contract

The hard-hitting reality of this strategy is the deliberate abandonment of the existing citizenry. When a government prioritizes the housing and care of non-citizens over its own veterans and homeless populations, it has effectively dissolved the Social Contract. The managed decline of cities like Seattle and San Francisco is a feature of this shift. By refusing to enforce existing lawscreating zones of exceptionthe state signals that the rule of law is now secondary to ideological goals.

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This creates a self-perpetuating cycle:

Destabilize: Flood the system until services fail. Redefine: Claim the failure is due to inadequate funding or systemic flaws rather than the surge itself. Consolidate: Pass massive spending bills that create a permanent dependent class and a permanent bureaucracy to manage them.

Conclusion: Power Over Welfare

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Ultimately, the modern invocation of Cloward-Piven is not a conspiracy theoryit is an observation of outcomes. The current trajectory of American policy suggests that the goal is not a stable, secure border or a flourishing middle class, but a state of perpetual emergency. In this environment, public welfare is merely the camouflage used to mask the consolidation of a new, dependent political coalition. The pivot by the Democrat elite is the final stage of the maneuver: pretending to solve the very crisis they spent years facilitating, all to maintain their grip on a changing nation.

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One area where Republicans need to do a better job is learning to play the long game in politics, especially in the courts. Today, on issue after issue, the Trump administration is losing battles at the lower levels of the judicial system, while frequently winning at the appellate level. Lower courts are composed of younger judges who, as they gain experience, rise in the judicial ranks. The rulings we see today at those lower levels will in the future be made by older, more liberal judges, at all levels, including the Supreme Court. This will hold true if the Republicans do not take steps today to prevent it. The Supreme Court is the last stand for judicial relief.

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Currently, going back to George H.W. Bush, the overall number of judicial appointments at all levels is 962 by Democrat presidents vs. 815 by Republican presidents. The number is greater for Democrats primarily because Democrat presidents have been in office for 20 years vs. 17 for Republicans over that time frame.

The issue of judicial appointments is especially of concern when we look at SCOTUS. On todays Court, there are three distinct age groups. Call the top level the Old Guard -- Clarence Thomas (78) and Samuel Alito (76). The so-called Conservative Wing (reluctantly, I am including Roberts in this group, though he is at best a moderate), the average age here is a relatively young 61, compared to the liberal wing, with an average age of 65.

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Today, the averages favor the Republicans. But time is a lion, powerful as well as an imposing force, marching on at an unrelenting pace, while the Republicans are a lamb. Frankly, the Republicans are losing this battle.

Look at Alito and Thomas specifically to see what could happen in the relatively short span of the next three years. Currently, Republicans control the Senate and the presidency. This will be true for the balance of the year. Then the Senate could be lost. In 28, history favors a switch from a Republican president to a Democrat, though given the potential candidates of both parties, such an assumption is unsupported by the facts. But that chance cannot be taken, so Republicans should prepare now for a possible 2028 Democrat win.

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg took a chance, betting that Hillary would win and appoint her successor. We know how that worked out. We owe Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell thanks. Otherwise, we would have gotten a Justice Merrick Garland.

We are now in a similar situation with Alito and Thomas. If both retire in June, after the sessions are over, President Trump would have a solid opportunity to appoint two more justices, hopefully ones in a similar conservative mold to Thomas and Alito. Should the two justices wait to retire until after the midterms, getting a solid conservative through a potentially Democrat-controlled Senate will be an uphill battle. The Democrat desire for vengeance would be strong, making retribution for Merrick Garland a priority.

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SCOTUS battles are always hard-fought, and no one fights them harder than the Democrats. Cases in point: Thomas and Kavanaugh.

Although both Thomas and Alito appear to be in good health, time will catch up with them. After the next president takes office in January 2029, the two justices will be 81 and 79. Retirement during that Presidential term would be almost certain, unless they step down voluntarily before that.

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Should a Democrat win and appoint replacements for Alito and Thomas, SCOTUS would then stand at five liberals, three conservatives, and one moderate (Roberts).

It was Brooklyn Dodger general manager Branch Rickey who once said, It is better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late. It is time to trade Alito and Thomas.

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Now is the time, before we face the real risk of Democrats taking the Senate and then the White House. Even doing it this year could be tough, considering some of the weak-kneed senators who have an R behind their name with little substance to back it up.

It is always tough for a person to admit that they are past their prime and that it is time to step down. But, to Justices Alito and Thomas, thank you for your years of service. The nation wishes you well in your retirement and hopes, for the good of the country, that you will both step down to assure a more originalist court for the future. Failure to do so could shift the balance of the court in a direction that will be at odds with your judicial philosophy as well as detrimental to the country you both love.
Forcing imaginary lines of age to tell someone what they can and cant do is unacceptable, says Ally Kotetsu, a trans activist whos been making a consistent effort to hand out pro-pedophile pamphlets, literature, and merch in a Seattle park. According to an article at Reduxx News by Genevieve Gluck, Kotetsu had the epiphany that age is just a number when his father told him that at 17, Kotetsu was not allowed to present as he wished (AKA, dress as a girl while actually being a boy) and would have to wait until he was legally an adult; it was at that moment that Kotetsu realized just how imaginary the number 18 really was.

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While a normal person would recognize this dads position as a tragic acceptance of a culture where parents are not the ultimate authority and children have little motivation to honor their mother and father, Kotetsu took it to mean that it was now sexual open season on youngsters; Kotetsu is partial to girls 8 and above, or boys who are 16 and above. (Ironically, despite numbers being imaginary boundaries for sexual interactions, Kotetsus sexual preferences are age-dependent.)

Kotetsu then launched a number of initiatives to advocate for pedophiles, hebephiles, all other types of minor-attracted persons, as well as those who prefer to lie down with the beasts. Of course, one of those endeavors was his bi-monthly pop-up table in Cal Anderson park with a group he founded known as Beyond the Plus (Bt+). Kotetsus group advocated for the abolition of age-based laws and the normalization and acceptance of beings who are romantically or sexually attracted to beings who are below the age of 18. In some of Kotetsus blog posts, he slurred those who oppose his views as antis, a designation I proudly accept as I am, in fact, immovably against the normalization of adults grooming and raping children. He then accuses antis of being the predators, monsters, [and] abusers that pedophiles are routinely labeled. Yes, hes obviously beyond mentally ill.

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Gluck also reports that Kotetsus network of activists is as sick as he is. One organization hes collaborated with publishes information on a fetish known as MAP-necro-incestual, referring to a combination of incestuous child sexual abuse combined with necrophilia, and one of Kotetsus colleagues at Bt+ is an individual who goes by the name Violet Rose, whos talked about judging parents for not buying their children vibrators, and argues in favor of pedosadism, or sadomasochistic sexual practices on children:

Anyone who thinks pedosadism is inherently harmful when acted upon has apparently forgotten that consensual BDSM exists, he said. Anyone who thinks hurtcore is a uniquely special degree of ontological evil has apparently forgotten there are videos of torture and murder, let alone lifelong trauma being inflicted, all over the internet, including on YouTube. Stop being ageist. Advertisement

Raise your hand if you think these individuals have forfeited their right to life? 

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Love and sex have been human concerns since there have been humans, so perhaps its not surprising to learn that well-known people have attempted to write about those subjects, especially when they were young. However, these writings have revealed that when prominent leftists tried their hand at fiction or poetry, they liked it rough. Thats creepy, and its no surprise to find that the distasteful Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Fang Fang) is among their number.

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In 1972, Bernie Sanders, then 30, far beyond being a college student trying to impress his kinky English professor, wrote a short story for the Vermont Freeman titled Manand Woman. The story opens with graphic descriptions of sexual fantasies (presumably his), including a woman fantasizing about being simultaneously raped by three men.

When the essay came to light in 2015, Bernie contended that he wrote it to challenge gender stereotypes and how porn magazines depicted women. He acknowledged that it was bad fiction. Bad, indeedso bad that it remains reasonable to assume that its only in retrospect that this was classified as satire. The Democrat party has deep-sixed the whole thing, though, and Bernie is still a leftist darling.

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By the way, it would be interesting to hear a cocktail party conversation between Bernie and his generational peer, E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault. After all, during a 2019 interview on CNN, she stated that most people think of rape as being sexyat which point Anderson Cooper hastily cut her off. These are not healthy people.

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YouTube screen grab (cropped).

And this is just my opinion, but ever since he grew his little beard, Eric Swalwell always looks as if he tied one on the night before.

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And who can forget Beto ORourkes poetic musings? In 2019, when he threw his hat into the presidential ring, the media tried to sell him as the great Democrat party hope, only to have him quickly flame out when it became obvious that the media loved him a lot more than voters did.

One of the things that led to Betos downfall was what he wrote as a teenager when, unlike Bernie, he at least had an excuse for being stupid:

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Beto ORourkes youthful artistic experiments included a poem pleading for genital grooming and a sacred cow to lactate, according to newly unearthed documents. At age 16 in 1988, under the pseudonym  Psychedelic Warlord  ORourke, now 46, authored The Song of the Cow  a bizarre piece of experimental writing that included lines asking for a cow to buff and scrub my balls. Advertisement

Back in 2019, Virginia Heffernan, writing at Politico, tried to salvage Beto by assuring the world that this was good writing for one so young:

ORourke genuinely understands genre and tone; hes economical and makes good words work hard; hes playful and takes chances; he can deftly conjure odd worlds, especially interior ones; hes recessiveor maybe afraid to commitas a narrator; he steers clear of the projection and judgment that muck up the work of many young essayists.

In other words, yes, hes weird, but hes good at it. Despite this praise, voters were not impressed.

It now turns out that Eric Swalwell has joined this anything but august club of lousy romance (or is it porn?) writers. When he was a student at Campbell University, Swalwell contributed this gem to a student publication:

NEW



The Daily Mail has obtained the following "poem" written by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) when he was at Campbell University.



He describes a fantasy in which he and a woman kiss until "veins imploded and exploded" and "blood rolled down our chins"



Bizarre to say the least pic.twitter.com/Dq2webdZhu  Ryan Saavedra (@RyanSaavedra) February 16, 2026

Theres nothing romantic about it, thats for sure, and to the extent it describes a sexual relationship, it seems to revolve around a mutual S&M relationship, with the unnamed female as the dominatrix. Sure, they both chase and run, but she bit his anxious arm, and then, while I screamed, she kissed him till veins imploded and exploded, and they were dripping blood all over the place. At the end of it all, she wasnt even beautiful to him, but only sloppy.

This poem may explain a lot about Fang Fang. Perhaps Swalwell likes them vampiric, and the whole notion of a fanged woman, even if in name only, was titillating.

Winston Churchill stated that Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. I think we can add to it that its the ideological home of sexual deviancy, which requires the equal sharing of that deviancy with as many children as possible via the Democrat partys relentless obsession with indoctrinating children into the finer points of LGBTQ+ and other non-standard sexual practices.
Police are arresting 1,000 suspected paedophiles every month as the threat of child sex abuse worsens, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned.

Rob Jones, the NCA's director of general operations, said online groups had resulted in offenders' behaviour being "rationalised", as "like-minded" abusers are brought together by algorithms.

While they are collaborating on the dark web, they are using mainstream social media as "discovery" platforms to "identify and abuse vulnerable children".

And with youngsters increasingly reliant on the internet themselves, they are at even greater risk.

Mr Jones described the situation as "incredibly damaging", and warned: "We want society to push back and people to confront their offending - that is the opposite of what happens in the online world."

The amount of material referred to the authorities by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children has roughly doubled over the past three years, according to the NCA.

Arrests have risen from between 500 and 800 per month a few years ago to 1,000.

During a single week in January, the NCA and forces across the UK made 252 arrests, including 118 people who were then charged. Another 35 people were sentenced in court and 407 children were safeguarded.

Offences that are becoming more prevalent include abusers paying on demand for the abuse of children to be livestreamed - sometimes for as little as 20.

More from Sky News:

Tracking unusual Russian flight

Obama leads Jesse Jackson tributes

The NCA also warned of "Com groups" - sadistic groups that gamify abuse which were recently highlighted by a special report from Sky News.

Mr Jones said members of these communities "egg each other on" to commit "even more horrendous crimes".

Tech companies must 'act with urgency'

Becky Riggs, the National Police Chiefs' lead for child protection and abuse investigation, said officers were working "relentlessly" to target abusers.

But she said tech firms must "act with urgency to make their platforms hostile environments for offenders".

Parents, guardians, carers, and teachers should also learn the signs that a child is being abused.

"The trusted adults around them [...] need clear, accessible guidance so they can recognise the signs of harm, have open conversations, and know where to turn for help," Ms Riggs added.

The NCA's warning comes after the government announced a sweeping crackdown on tech companies to protect children from illegal content.

It will include measures to eliminate "vile illegal content created by AI", and could even open the door to an Australia-style age limit on social media, a Number 10 spokesperson said.
An irritating cough that lingers for days  or even weeks  is easy to dismiss as a seasonal bug, especially during colder months when coughs seem to circulate constantly.

In most cases, a cough is harmless and clears within a week or two. Sometimes, though, it can point to inflammation, infection or an underlying lung condition that needs treatment.

How long your cough lasts, the way it sounds, and the symptoms that come with it can all offer clues about what might be causing it.

So how can you tell when its just a cold and when its something more? Below are the reasons you might have a lingering cough, the different types to be mindful of and when its time for a visit to your GP.

Why do we cough?

Coughing is a very natural and protective reflex that helps us clear mucus, irritants and infections from getting into our lungs, so that we can then keep breathing and using our lungs as normal, says Dr Andy Whittamore, GP and clinical lead at Asthma + Lung UK.

There are multiple reasons why our bodies are trying to protect us by coughing, but the most common of those is viruses.

He explains coughs can also be caused by:

Mucus dripping down from the back of the nose

Acid coming up from the stomach

Infections

Irritants in the air such as smoke or pollution

What conditions can cause a persistent cough?

An irritating cough that just wont go away is easy to dismiss as a mild inconvenience like a cold or flu, but in some cases, it can be a sign of different conditions.

Asthma

One of the most common causes from the lungs of coughing is asthma, says Dr Whittamore.

Asthma is a condition where the airways are overreacting to things in the air to try and protect us from harm. That causes narrowing of the airways, coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, and that comes and goes, depending on those things in the air that are irritating us.

Symptoms include:

Wheezing

Chest tightness

Breathlessness

Coughing at night or first thing in the morning

Triggers can vary.

For example, somebody might only cough when they do exercise or only when theyre exposed to cold air or exposed smoke or certain types of pollution, he says.

Asthma symptoms, including coughing, are often worse at night or first thing in the morning. (Getty Images)

COPD

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) tends to cause a more persistent, daily cough.

Symptoms include:

An ongoing daily cough

Regular mucus production

Increasing breathlessness

Symptoms that gradually worsen

A cough caused by COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) isnt always set off by triggers and is more of a chronic cough, which is there all the time  but can be worse in certain weathers during certain times of the year, says Dr Whittamore.

People who have smoked for a long time or have been exposed to chemicals, whether through work or socially, are at greater risk, he adds.

Whooping cough

Whooping cough (pertussis) has a very distinctive pattern. Whooping cough is due to a very particular infection called pertussis, which spreads very rapidly into quite a virulent infection, Dr Whittamore explains.

Symptoms include:

Intense coughing fits

A whooping sound when breathing in

Vomiting after coughing

Extreme tiredness after episodes

Whooping cough in children can cause repeated coughing fits. (Getty Images)

Children with a pertussis infection can get a type of cough which causes long coughing fits,  says Dr Whittamore. Because theyre coughing so much, they have to almost gasp for breath.

That gasp for breath  a whoop makes it sound very different to a lot of other coughs.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia often causes someone to feel noticeably more unwell than with a simple viral cough.

Symptoms include:

Fever

Chest pain

Breathlessness

Coughing up dark or thick mucus

Pneumonia usually presents with a similar type of cough to bronchitis, but the person is usually much more unwell, says Dr Whittamore.

[In this case], if somebody has a cough and is feeling unwell or is breathless, they should seek medical help quickly, Dr Whittamore adds.

Lung cancer

While far less common than infections, a cough lasting several weeks should never be ignored as it could potentially be a sign of cancer.

Symptoms include:

A cough lasting more than three weeks

Coughing up blood

Persistent chest pain

Unexplained fatigue or weight loss

A lot of lung cancers present with people who have had a cough for three weeks or more, and sometimes they cough up blood or are getting pains in their chest, says Whittamore.

Most coughs are caused by viruses and clear within one to two weeks. (Getty Images)

When should you see a GP about a cough?

If a cough has been going on for more than three weeks, we encourage people to get checked by a healthcare professional, says Dr Whittamore, explaining this is because most coughs, and viruses tend to only last one to two weeks max.

And while most mild viral coughs can be managed at home with fluids, rest and paracetamol, certain symptoms, he says, require urgent medical attention.

If youre experiencing chest pain, coughing up blood, breathlessness, feeling very unwell or tightness in the lungs, you should seek medical assessment.

Additional reporting by PA
Air Force One and other US military aircraft being repainted in Trumps preferred palette: reports

Air Force One jets are being repainted to match President Donald Trumps preferred color palette, according to new reports.

Aircraft in the presidential and VIP fleet will be repainted in red, white and blue, according to reports from several outlets, including CBS News and Fox News. The new design is also expected to include a gold stripe.

This marks the end of the previous blue and white design that dates back to the 1960s, during former President John F. Kennedys administration. The new color scheme is similar to the design on Trumps personal jet, often referred to as Trump Force One, which has a navy and white body with a red stripe.

An Air Force spokesperson told CBS News that the change will apply to Air Force One jets and other aircraft in the executive fleet, including the $400 million luxury Boeing jet Qatar donated to the U.S. last year.

These changes mark the end of the blue and white Air Force One design, which dates back to the 1960s (AFP via Getty)

The gifted Qatari jet, which sparked criticism from both Democrats and Republicans when it was accepted by the Trump administration, could be ready for the presidents use by this summer.

The new design requirement will also apply to smaller C-32 aircraft, which are used to carry top U.S. officials, including the first lady, the vice president and cabinet members, CBS News reports.

President Donald Trumps personal jet, often referred to as Trump Force One, has a dark blue body with a red stripe (Getty)

The first C-32 has already been painted, and its expected to be delivered in the coming months, according to CBS News.

Trumps vision for Air Force One dates back to his first term in the White House. However, the new color scheme was canceled under former President Joe Bidens administration.

Red, white and blue, Trump told CBS News in 2018. Air Force One is going to be incredible. Its gonna be the top of the line, the top in the world. And its gonna be red, white and blue, which I think is appropriate.

The Independent has contacted the White House and Defense Department for comment and requested information regarding the potential cost to taxpayers for the reported changes.
As a Millennial who grew up watching Americas Next Top Model religiously, I couldnt wait to watch Netflixs three-part documentary Reality Check: Inside Americas Next Top Model. For the uninitiated, this is a purportedly behind the scenes look at a reality television series that first aired in 2003, masterminded and hosted by model Tyra Banks.

Until 2016, each of its 24 seasons (or cycles) brought together a group of aspiring models to compete in challenges, photoshoots and weekly eliminations. The eventual winner received contracts with a modelling agency and various brands.

Anyone exposed to TikTok or Instagram will be aware that Americas Next Top Model (ANTM) has aged like milk. Damning clips from the show have plagued it in retrospect  the extensive body shaming, the race-swapping photoshoots, the rooting for you rant Banks once levelled at a contestant. I was intrigued to see how Banks, along with fellow judges (Miss) J Alexander, (Mr) Jay Manuel and (Noted Fashion Photographer) Nigel Barker, would address the repeated wrongs.

Jay Manuel spent nine years as a judge and creative director on Americas Next Top Model (Alamy/PA)

But despite its ripeness for a 2026 re-examination, I will admit that I was also excited to re-enter the world of the show, which at its peak was a cultural behemoth with a global audience of over 100 million. This was the programme that taught the world to smize (thats smile with your eyes) and deliver a flawless fake faint. It was a product of its time, not without considerable foibles but not without a certain compelling charm either. Wasnt it?

Re-immersion into the ANTM world turned out to be so much more disturbing than I expected. Most of the three-ish hours of the docu-series make for deeply uncomfortable viewing. Not because its full of shocking revelations, but because it confronts the viewer with the routine exploitation of often vulnerable young women, all of which we have seen before.

Contestants are filmed getting bikini waxes and makeovers they expressly dont want. One, Joanie Dodds (now Sprague), recalls the harrowing extraction of multiple teeth. Another, Danielle Evans, is coerced into changing her signature front-tooth gap because it isnt marketable. Executive producer Ken Mok concedes: It was insane.

Tyra Banks said hindsight is 20/20 when talking about controversial moments on Americas Next Top Model (PA Archive)

But worse than the cosmetic ordeals is an alleged sexual incident involving former contestant Shandi Sullivan, who was 21 when she appeared on the show. In the documentary, she relives the episode in which male models visited the ANTM apartment, saying she drank two bottles of wine and blacked out. I remember him on top of me, she says, in the documentary. No one did anything to stop it. And it all got filmed. The fallout, in which she had to call her boyfriend and the male model (to ask if he had worn a condom or had any known STDs) was also filmed. You dont have to be a fan of crying cancelled to see the repeated duty of care failures.

The photoshoots become increasingly problematic  the women pose as homeless people, crime scene corpses, and infamously switch ethnicities (the documentary reminds us that this happened on two separate occasions). But the casting makes matters worse; one contestant whose mother was a victim of gun crime, as producers were aware, is made to pose as if she has been shot in the head. Another, who is repeatedly told she is overweight, must depict the sin of gluttony, then pose as an elephant.

Nigel Barker features in Reality Check: Inside Americas Next Top Model (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Archive)

The worst part of all this is the revelation that the contestants couldnt use the photographs in their portfolios after the show had wrapped  the settings are just too deranged. In fact, multiple former contestants that feature in the documentary say that their involvement in ANTM as a whole served as a barrier to subsequent success in the modelling industry.

Perhaps the only light relief is that J Alexander, Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker come off well. Banks, who feels like the overall villain of the piece, admits little culpability, frequently blaming producers and the industry at large. But not without pointing the finger of responsibility outward too. You guys were demanding it, she says.

As a viewer, you do feel implicated. And watching it all over again is a stark reminder of the blind eyes that were turned.

Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model is on Netflix now.
California surfing legend Kurt Van Dyke was killed during a violent home invasion in a Costa Rica coastal town over the weekend, according to reports.

The 66-year-old, who was a Costa Rica resident and hotel owner in Puerto Viejo, was found dead Saturday morning in his apartment in Cahuita. His body showed signs of strangulation and stab wounds, according to Costa Ricas Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).

Van Dyke was in the apartment with a woman when they were allegedly approached by two armed men, OIJ spokesman Carlos Valverde told CNN. The woman he was with was reportedly his 31-year-old girlfriend, according to Surfer.

The suspects reportedly threatened them with a firearm and held them for several minutes while stealing valuables, including a vehicle.

Van Dyke was asphyxiated and had several stab wounds, the OIJ spokesperson said. The woman with him suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries.

California surfer Kurt Van Dyke was killed in a violent home invasion in Costa Rica over the weekend (Kurt Van Dyke/Facebook)

Van Dyke, originally from Santa Cruz, California, was well regarded in the international surfing community and known for his participation in competitions, and efforts to help grow the sport in the Caribbean.

His family had deep roots surfing along the Santa Cruz coast, going back generations.

A 2021 obituary of his mother, Betty Van Dyke, said that she was part of a pioneering group of early female surfers. Her first husband, Gene Van Dyke, was also a well-known surfer in California.

His brother, Peter Van Dyke, told the San Francisco Chronicle via text: My brother was a very benevolent, giving person who would help just about anybody. Kurt would never hurt anybody, and he was always there when you needed him. Everyone that he met know this about him.

David Smith, a childhood friend of Van Dykes, recalled how he would skip school to go surfing as a child.

Id see him more in the water than Id see him at school, he told Fox LA, later adding, Basically, he was the king of Salsa Brava. They would call him the king.

Another friend of Van Dyke, Ronald Umana, mourned his loss on social media.

We remember your spirit, your energy, and the light you brought into the lives around you. Some people leave footprints  you left waves, he wrote, according to Surfer.

Roger Sams, the President of the Southern Caribbean Chamber of Tourism and Commerce addressed Van Dykes death in a statement to La Nacion.

I am very sorry for the news, every human loss is regrettable, it is a fact that we do not wish for anyone. We have a lot of time of great calm, of a lot of tranquility, we have the Police delegation in Playa Negra, the cantonal, which is the most modern in the country. We are working hand in hand on security issues. It shocks us and hurts us, because the Caribbean has been very calm, he said.

Sams reassured visitors that the killing was an isolated incident.

There have been no cases of violence reported like this against tourists. In recent months there has been no violence or assaults. This is an isolated case, he is the owner of a hotel, not a tourist, it has not to do with tourists and the people who come to visit us, he said.

Raw Surf, a global media company dedicated to sharing surfing culture, shared condolences following Van Dykes tragic death, writing on Instagram, Our hearts go out to Kurts family and the Costa Rican surfing community for this unimaginable loss.

Van Dyke is survived by his three children: Salvador, 23; Lulu, 21; and Jacob, 7.

With reporting by the Associated Press.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has posted a workout video with musician Kid Rock, eliciting mixed reactions from social media users.

Kennedy, 72, shared the video Tuesday afternoon with the caption: Ive teamed up with @KidRock to deliver two simple messages to the American people: GET ACTIVE + EAT REAL FOOD. Kid Rock, known for hit songs such as All Summer Long and Cowboy, is a long-time supporter of the Trump administration.

The 90-second video starts with Kennedy and Kid Rock posing shirtless, before the words Secretary Kennedy and Kid Rocks ROCK OUT WORK OUT flash across the screen.

Then the video cuts to a montage of Kennedy and Kid Rock eating, sitting in a car and holding a U.S. flag before starting their workouts at a gym.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kid Rock posing during the workout video (Robert F. Kennedy Jr./X)

Afterwards, they end up in a sauna, where they each use a stationary bike machine and do push-ups. Kid Rock flashed his middle finger at the camera while on the bike.

At one point, Kennedy is also seen submerging himself in a tub while wearing jeans.

After playing a game of pickleball, Kennedy and Kid Rock go to relax in a pool. There, they drink glasses of milk as the words WHOLE MILK appear on the screen.

Kennedy works out with Kid Rock in a sauna (Robert F. Kennedy Jr./X)

The US health secretary submerges himself in a tub while wearing jeans (Robert F. Kennedy Jr./X)

The montage ends with the Department of Health and Human Services logo alongside the slogan: Make America Healthy Again.

The video quickly prompted mixed reactions from social media users.

California Governor Gavin Newsoms press office shared a screenshot from the video with the caption: Is this after toilet seat #2 or #3? This comes after Kennedy admitted on Theo Vons podcast last week that he used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.

The duo drink glasses of milk in a pool (Robert F. Kennedy Jr./X)

Alyssa Farah Griffin, co-host of The View, wrote on X: What the [bleep] did I just watch?

Others were quick to make jokes about Kennedy wearing jeans throughout the video. One user posted: Not the jeans in the gym and sauna!

Kennedy, who has been spotted working out in jeans before, said last year he started wearing them to the gym because it was convenient, and now hes used to it.

The Department of Health and Human Services even weighed in. The agency reshared the video on X with the caption BawitMAHA, a play on Kid Rocks 1999 hit song, Bawitdaba, which is the song playing throughout the video.

The Independent has contacted Kennedys office for comment on the online reaction to the video.
Dramatic body camera footage captured the moment Texas police arrived at the home of a British man who fatally shot his daughter after they got into an argument about President Donald Trump.

Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old fashion buyer who lived in Warrington, Cheshire, was visiting her father, Kris Harrison, and his family in Prosper, a suburb of Dallas, when she was shot in the chest on January 10, 2025.

Footage released by the Cheshire Coroners Court shows Kris Harrison telling a police officer that he and his daughter were talking about guns as they were getting ready to head to the airport.

She said, You got a gun? I said, yes, I got it out, and it just went off  and she stood there like, as I pulled it out, it went off, Harrison told police last year in the footage, which was just released by the Cheshire Coroners Court.

I put it on the bed straight away, he added. It was in the bedside cabinet. In a locked box. And we took it out to look and just as I picked it up, it went off.

Body camera footage captured the moment Texas police arrived at the home of a British man who fatally shot his daughter, Lucy Harrison, last year (Cheshire Coroner's Court)

Lucys boyfriend, Sam Littler, can be seen in the clip holding his hands on his head as Harrison speaks with the officer.

An inquest at Cheshire Coroners Court concluded last Wednesday with a senior coroner ruling Lucy had been unlawfully killed.

To shoot her through the chest whilst she was standing would have required him to have been pointing the gun at his daughter, without checking for bullets, and pulling the trigger, senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish said. I find these actions to be reckless.

Family members were in tears as the coroner said she found Lucy had died due to unlawful killing on the grounds of gross negligence manslaughter.

Speaking outside the coroners court, Lucys mother, Jane Coates, said: Todays outcome has finally given Luce her voice back, after what has been an unrelenting year of deep shock, grief and fight.

She said her daughter was failed by Texan gun laws and decisions made by the police department in Prosper.

Lucy Harrison died due to unlawful killing on the grounds of gross negligence manslaughter, the coroner said last week (Cheshire Police)

Body cam footage showed Lucys father telling police in Texas what had happened in the moments leading up to the shooting (Cheshire Coroner's Court)

Lucys boyfriend, who was with her on the trip, told the inquest earlier Wednesday that she had gotten into an argument with her father about Trump, who was soon to be inaugurated, the same day she was killed.

He said that about half an hour before they were planning to leave for the airport, Harrison took his daughter to the bedroom where he kept a Glock semi-automatic handgun secured in his bedside cabinet.

Littler said he heard a loud bang about 15 seconds after they went into the room, and then heard Harrison screaming for his wife.

I remember running into the room and Lucy was lying on the floor near the entrance to the bathroom and Kris was just screaming, just sort of nonsense, Littler said.

Harrison did not attend the two-day hearing in Cheshire Coroners Court but said in a statement that he bought the weapon to give his family a sense of security. Texas laws allow him to own the gun without a license.

The father claimed his daughter asked to see the gun, having never discussed his gun ownership with him before.

However, the inquest heard evidence from others that Lucy knew her father had a weapon in the home and disagreed with it.

In the statement, Mr Harrison, who admitted drinking wine earlier in the day, said: As I lifted the gun to show her I suddenly heard a loud bang. I did not understand what had happened. Lucy immediately fell.

He told police at the scene: We got it out to have a look and just as I picked it up it just went off.

Lucy Harrisons mother (center) said her daughter was failed by Texas gun laws (PA)

Devonish, the coroner, found that Harrison also did not immediately tell others that he had been the one to shoot Lucy.

He knew full well he had shot his own daughter, pointing a gun at chest height and pulling the trigger, Devonish said. He did not ensure that this information was passed to 911. With a bullet through her heart, her prognosis was poor in any event.

Devonish described Harrison as a secret drinker and said she had no doubt whatsoever that he had been drinking throughout the day his daughter was killed.

The coroner accepted that Harrison did not know the gun was loaded, but did not accept that Lucy would have asked to see the gun, since she was against weapons.

His actions have killed his own daughter and in the cold light of day it is hoped that he now recognises the risk he posed to her life in circumstances in which he had no experience of guns, had undertaken no training and had never fired a gun, Devonish said.

The inquest also heard that police in Texas failed to test Harrison for alcohol, even though they had suspected he had been drinking after smelling alcohol on his breath.

Meanwhile, a grand jury in the U.S. determined there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone, including Harrison, in connection with Lucys death.

She was young, vibrant and beautiful, with her whole life ahead of her, and this was a most tragic death, the coroner concluded.
Strawberry lovers may face disappointment in their next supermarket shop as storms across Spain and Mexico destroy huge swathes of crops.

The two countries produce almost all of the strawberries sold in Britain at this time of year, but flooding has meant that shops may struggle to source the fruit.

Consumers in the UK put away around 1,200 tonnes of strawberries every week, according to British Berry Growers, and as the country battles through the winter, it relies on imports to keep the fruit coming in.

Storms have destroyed crops in key markets such as Spain, which endured a years worth of rain in just 48 hours in the first week of February during Storm Leonardo, leading to strawberry fields being ruined.

One of the nations best-loved fruits may be taking a hiatus from supermarket shelves as exporters battle extreme weather (PA Archive)

Around half the berries grown by farmers in the region have been devastated, Freshuelva, the organization that represents strawberry growers in south-west Spain, estimates.

The strawberries which have survived, are facing export challenges, as farmers struggle to transport the goods across impassable roads and disrupted ferries across the Gibraltar Strait.

Morocco has also faced challenges due to the extreme weather  over 30 per cent of the countrys farms have been flooded after a series of storms, the Moroccan Association of Soft Fruit Producers told The Telegraph.

Over recent years, supermarkets such as Sainsburys and Tesco have started to sell more Egyptian strawberries. The area of land devoted to farming strawberries in Egypt grew to over 103,000 acres, marking a 35 per cent increase over the last year alone.

Morocco has been hard hit by flooding, impacting the countrys strawberry output (AFP via Getty Images)

Huge swathes of southern Spain have been inundated with rainwater, devastating berry farms relied on by UK customers (AFP via Getty Images)

Nick Marston, Chairman of industry body British Berry Growers, said: Extreme weather in key sourcing regions such as Spain and Morocco is a stark reminder of just how exposed the UK berry supply chain can be at this time of year.

When almost all of our winter strawberries are imported, disruption on this scale inevitably tightens availability, increases costs and creates real challenges for retailers and shoppers alike.

For British growers, it underlines both the importance of building greater resilience in our domestic production and the need for the right policy environment to support investment in protected cropping, labour and energy.

With the UK season still some months away, the immediate pressure will be on maintaining consistent supply, but longer term this is a clear signal that strengthening home-grown capacity is critical for food security, price stability and ensuring consumers can continue to access fresh British berries.
Campaigners are warning of dangerous gaps in NHS care for a life-threatening childbirth condition, as a survivor has opened up about fearing she was going to die.

The Action for Accreta campaign warns that the UK is falling behind other countries in identifying and preparing for Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS), a pregnancy complication that can cause catastrophic haemorrhaging, which is linked to rising c-section and IVF rates.

Mother-of-two Amisha Adhia said five hospitals failed to diagnose that she had the condition, which inspired her to launch a campaign to protect others.

More than 40 families have now come forward with similar experiences, according to Ms Adhia, as leading charities and parliamentarians back the campaign to highlight threats posed by outdated NHS guidance.

The 36-year-old, from Ilford, told The Independent: We werent heard, we were dismissed, constantly reassured into danger, you find youre facing a lot of closed doors with nowhere to turn...

Mother-of-two Amisha Adhia has launched the campaign to protect other women (Action for Accreta)

I said, I feel like Im going to die, I dont know if Im going to come home once I give birth, I dont know if my son will have a mother to see the day after delivery.

I actually thought, Im going to write a letter to my husband and son just in case the worst-case scenario happens. Then I ripped it up  because sealing the letter was a way of admitting defeat.

Ms Adhia says she and her husband Nik, 36, were repeatedly told by multiple NHS trusts and specialist centres that there was a 99 per cent chance she did not have the condition during her second pregnancy.

The mother credits her and her daughter Ishaanis survival to the intervention of one consultant obstetrician, Dr Chineze Otigbah, who established that Ms Adhia in fact had a severe form of the condition, and so the mother and her newborn fortunately received the appropriate care when she gave birth in September 2025.

Dr Otigbah said: I am deeply concerned that women are falling through the gaps in our current system. The main risk factors for PAS are C-sections and IVF, which has massively risen. The NHS has not kept up to date with this reality. PAS is missed because its difficult to detect and has received very little clinical attention in the UK.

Ms Adhia with her husband Nik, 37, and baby daughter Ishaani (Action for Accreta)

Within weeks of giving birth, Ms Adhia began connecting with other women, and now says more than 40 families from around the world have come forward with similar accounts of late-detected, or undiagnosed cases.

PAS occurs when the placenta grows too deeply into the wall of the womb during pregnancy. When doctors attempt to remove the placenta after birth, a woman can haemorrhage within minutes. Undiagnosed cases can quickly lead to an emergency hysterectomy or death. The risk is particularly high for mothers who are giving birth a second time after having had a c-section the first time.

With c-section births now outnumbering vaginal births in England for the first time, experts warn that more and more UK women are at elevated risk of what used to be a rare condition. Research from the University of California, Los Angeles, last month found that around 14,000 pregnancies are now affected by PAS each year.

Action for Accreta warns that the NHS underestimates these numbers, and that the guidelines on the condition are outdated  with atypical presentations of PAS, as Ms Adhia had, not sufficiently accounted for.

Conservative MP Theo Clarke (left) and Louise Thompson are among those campaigning for improved maternity care (PA)

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat shadow health secretary, warned that this is a very, very serious problem as she called for improved training and for mothers concerns to be listened to.

Lord Hunt, former health minister and president of the Royal Society of Public Health, said Ms Adhias experience should raise serious concerns as he called for health secretary Wes Streeting to develop a national strategy for the detection and treatment of PAS and to require reporting of the condition.

Leading pregnancy and baby loss charities Tommys and Sands, said: Improving the identification, understanding and prevention of serious pregnancy complications depends on better data, stronger research, and listening to families experiences. Action for Accreta is helping to highlight important gaps in awareness, surveillance and learning. As the Sands and Tommys Joint Policy Unit, we support efforts that bring together evidence and lived experience to inform policy and improve maternity safety.

The campaign, which is being backed by several maternal health charities and patient safety groups, launches at a time of heightened scrutiny of UK maternity services. Baroness Amos national investigation remains underway, and updated Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) guidance is expected in the coming month.

Action for Accreta is demanding urgent reform, including calls for the problem to be tracked, for guidance and training to be updated, and for every maternity unit to be prepared.

Lord Philip Hunt called for health secretary Wes Streeting to develop a national strategy for the detection and treatment of PAS and to require reporting of the condition (PA)

Donald Peebles, national clinical director for maternity at NHS England, highlighted the importance of identifying women at higher risk of PAS early in pregnancy.

He said: Maternity teams are trained to look for the warning signs, with women whove previously had a caesarean among those most at risk, and where necessary, patients are referred to specialist NHS centres with expert teams and critical care services.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We are committed to listening to the voices of women and families to help shape safer maternity care.

That's why we've launched a National Maternity Investigation, chaired by Baroness Amos, to drive urgent improvements to care and safety. Once its recommendations are published, the Secretary of State will lead the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to urgently act on them.

We're also investing over 149 million to make maternity units safer, rolling out programmes to reduce avoidable brain injury, and piloting Martha's Rule in maternity services  giving families the right to request an urgent second opinion if they have concerns.
CBS hits back at Stephen Colbert after he claims top brass wouldnt let him air interview with Texas candidate

CBS has hit back at The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, after he claimed the networks lawyers blocked him from broadcasting an interview with James Talarico, a Democratic Texas state representative running for the U.S. Senate.

During Mondays episode of the talk show, Colbert claimed his team was told in no uncertain terms by our networks lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast.

Now, a spokesperson for CBS says the network did not prohibit Colbert from broadcasting the interview, according to a statement shared Tuesday with multiple media outlets, including NBC News and Mediaite.

"THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico, the spokesperson said. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled.

THE LATE SHOW decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options, the spokesperson added.

Stephen Colbert claimed CBS told him he could not broadcast an interview with a Senate candidate from Texas (AFP via Getty Images)

The Federal Communications Commissions equal-time rule requires that broadcasters give equal opportunities to candidates running for the same public office.

There are exceptions to the FCCs equal-time rule, including for bona fide newscasts. Traditionally, talk shows have also been considered exempt  but under the Trump administration, the FCC has moved to change that.

In a public notice published in January, the FCC said it has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late night or daytime television talk show program on air presently would qualify for the bona fide news exemption.

During Mondays broadcast, Colbert accused the Trump administration of trying to silence critics.

Lets just call this what it is: Donald Trumps administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV, because all Trump does is watch TV, he said.

Talarico, who is vying for Republican Senator John Cornyns seat, shared a clip of the interview on X with the caption: This is the interview Donald Trump didnt want you to see.

The full interview has been viewed more than 3.2 million times on YouTube.

Colberts show, which often features criticisms of Trump, will end in May, CBS announced last year. The network has claimed the move was purely a financial decision.

The Independent has contacted CBS and the FCC for comment.
Spanish premium beauty group Puig has hailed a standout year for makeup as its Charlotte Tilbury brand helped lift sales by a quarter in recent months.

The Barcelona-based business said its net revenues totalled five billion euros (4.4 billion) for the 2025 financial year.

This was a 7.8% increase when compared like-for-like with 2024, and at the higher end of what the company had been forecasting.

In the final three months of the year, sales growth rose to 9.8%, with it highlighting a particularly strong uplift from its makeup category.

Puig acquired a majority stake in Charlotte Tilburys brand in 2020 (PA) (Matt Crossick)

Makeup sales form about 17% of its total income but are primarily driven by Charlotte Tilbury, the premium brand fronted by the namesake British beauty entrepreneur.

Puig hailed an exceptional performance for the label with growth during 2025 supported by innovative product launches, and it reaching new customers by joining Amazon in the US.

New products included foundation and makeup setting spray, as well as expanding its popular Unreal beauty range.

Sales for the segment soared by 26.5% during the final quarter, and 13.7% year-on-year.

Charlotte Tilbury launched on Amazon in the US last year (Charlotte Tilbury/PA)

Puig said the largest part of its business, the fragrance and fashion division, which accounts for 72% of total sales, recorded sales growth of 6.4% across 2025.

This was helped by strong demand for the Carolina Herrera brand, including for the newly launched La Bomba perfume, as well for Jean Paul Gaultier items.

Meanwhile, the company benefited from double-digit growth for Uriage, which targets everyday skincare as well as products for skin concerns and sun protection.

Marc Puig, chief executive of the business, said: Looking ahead, while we expect growth in the fragrance market to continue to normalise, we enter the new financial year with confidence.

Given the strength of our brand portfolio and our steady pipeline of innovation, we are well placed to sustain healthy growth and continue to outperform the premium beauty market.
Two chikungunya vaccines are available in the UK (Getty Images)

US travellers have been warned to take precautions if they plan to visit the Seychelles islands or Bolivia during an outbreak of the chikungunya virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently issued level 2 advisories for the Seychelles, Bolivia and Suriname, advising prospective holidaymakers to get vaccinated before they travel.

Chikungunya, a viral infection transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, was responsible for 186 related deaths worldwide, said the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

Pregnant people should reconsider travel to the affected areas, due to a risk of severe illness in newborns, said the CDC.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) describes the virus as being characterised by a sudden onset of fever usually accompanied by joint pain. British authorities have not joined their American counterparts in cautioning against chikungunya in Bolivia  although other territories, such as Reunion, carry a warning.

Here is what travellers need to know about the virus, plus advice from a medical specialist on how to best prepare for travelling overseas

What is chikungunya and how is it spread?

Chikungunya virus disease is a mosquito-borne disease that is found across tropical and sub-tropical regions.

It is spread to humans by a bite from an infected mosquito. It cannot be passed from human to human.

Cases have been found in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. Brazil has had the most cases in 2025, followed by Bolivia, Argentina and Peru.

The transmission of dengue and chikungunya viruses in mainland Europe has been linked by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to travellers who have caught the virus outside the region, then travelled inadvertently with infected mosquitoes.

In total, there were approximately 502,264 chikungunya cases and 186 related deaths across 41 countries or territories last year, reported PAHO.

What are the symptoms?

Chikungunya originates from a word used by the Makonde people in Tanzania, where the disease was first discovered in the 1950s. It means that which bends up, describing the contorted posture of infected people who experience severe joint pain.

Alongside joint pain, people can also experience an abrupt onset of fever, joint swelling, muscle pain, headaches, nausea, fatigue and rashes.

The joint pain can be debilitating and usually lasts for a few days, but it has been known to last for weeks, months or even years.

Reunion recorded over 54,550 confirmed cases during a 2025 outbreak (AFP/Getty)

If an infected person does not experience joint pain, the symptoms will be mild and can go unrecognised as chikungunya.

Most people will recover fully from the infection. There have been some occasional cases of eye, heart, and neurological complications, while newborns and older people with underlying medical conditions are at a higher risk of severe disease.

Patients with severe disease should be hospitalised because of the risk of organ damage or death.

Once someone has recovered from chikungunya, they are likely to be immune to future chikungunya infections.

Is there a vaccine?

Two chikungunya vaccines are available in the UK, containing a form of the virus that has been weakened so it cannot multiply.

It works by training the immune system to recognise the virus, which will then produce specific antibodies to attack it.

It can only be obtained via a prescription and given to those who plan to travel abroad where the virus is present.

One vaccine is available for individuals aged 18 to 59 years, and another for those over 12.

Hilary Kirkbride, head of travel health at UKHSA, says: Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering exposed skin and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets, can effectively reduce the risk.

Before you travel, check the TravelHealthPro website for the latest health advice on your destination. A chikungunya vaccine may also be considered for those travelling to higher-risk regions.

A travel doctors guide to being prepared

Dr Richard Dawood, a travel medical specialist at Fleet Street Clinic, explained to the Independent how the vaccination can help travellers prevent getting sick from the chikungunya virus.

He said: This is a new situation for us. Until a very short time ago, we had no vaccine, and the only approach to prevention was to make careful use of insect repellents and insect precautions.

So now we've got this extra tool in the armoury, and because the vaccine gives long-lasting protection, its something that could be considered if you are planning to travel over a period of time.

It's a fairly expensive vaccine, but if youre going to be travelling over a period of years to southern Europe and beyond, it may be something that could be considered.

Wherever you are travelling, Mr Dawood advised holidaymakers to do your homework.

He said, If there's an actual outbreak at your destination, then I would say no hesitation, definitely have the vaccine.

Taking a bit of time and getting some really focused travel health advice for your particular trip is very worthwhile because it can save you from getting a vaccine that you don't need or that may not be sensible for you, and it can help prioritise the really important things for your trip.

Travel clinics can also offer advice on insect bite precautions and reducing the risk in other ways, he added.

Read more: US issues travel warning to island hotspot
The ruling overturns a legal precedent that stood for more than four decades (Aaron Chown/PA)

Children can now claim damages for the years of life lost due to medical negligence, the Supreme Court has ruled, overturning a legal precedent that stood for more than four decades.

The UKs highest court declared on Wednesday that a 1981 Court of Appeal judgment, which had previously prevented children from receiving such compensation while allowing it for adults and teenagers, was "incorrect".

The decision stems from a case involving an 11-year-old girl, known only as CCC, who sued Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2020.

CCC was diagnosed with cerebral palsy following a severe brain injury, which was attributed to clinical negligence by the trust and left her requiring 24-hour care.

In 2023, a High Court judge ordered the trust to pay CCC approximately 6.8 million in damages, a sum that included some 2.7 million already disbursed.

However, the judge stopped short of awarding further damages for the years of CCCs life that would be shortened because of the negligence.

As a result, CCCs mother took the case to the Supreme Court on her daughter's behalf, with the challenge heard over two days in February of last year.

By a four-to-one majority, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal and ordered that the case be sent back to the High Court so lost years damages could be assessed.

The decision stems from a case involving an 11-year-old girl, known only as CCC, who sued Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2020 (PA)

In his ruling, Lord Reed, with whom Lords Briggs, Burrows and Stephens agreed, said: One might observe that the attempt to exclude claims for the lost years where they are brought by young children invites the question where the line is to be drawn.

In reality, because the distinction sought to be drawn between claims by young children and claims by older children or adults has no basis in legal principle, the court cannot draw a line.

Whatever the age of the claimant, it has to assess just compensation as best it can on the material which is reasonably available.

Following the ruling, CCCs mother said: I feel elated that my little girl has changed the law and that this will help lots of other children who have been injured through no fault of their own.

To fight a case all the way to the Supreme Court has taken a huge amount of work and courage, and I want to thank our legal team from the bottom of my heart.

In the High Court ruling in 2023, Mr Justice Ritchie said that CCC suffered a severe shortage of oxygen to the brain before and during her birth, which caused cerebral palsy.

He continued that she has suffered a significant effect on her senses, that her ability to communicate is pretty much destroyed, and her lack of mobility is at a very high level, with her life expectancy reduced to 29.

While the trust admitted in 2019 that it was responsible for the negligence, its lawyers told a hearing in June 2023 that it should pay just over 3.3m in damages, while lawyers for CCC argued that she should receive around 9.2m in damages.

By a four-to-one majority, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal and ordered that the case be sent back to the High Court so lost years damages could be assessed (Alamy/PA)

This included 823,506 in damages for the lost years of her life, claiming that she should be paid around 17,000 for each year of her working life that was lost, and 8,750 for each lost year of her retirement, assuming she would have a normal life expectancy.

Mr Justice Ritchie awarded CCC a total of 6,866,615, which included the costs of care and equipment, but declined to order that the trust pay lost years damages, stating that he was bound by the 1981 Court of Appeal decision.

But Lord Reed said that the 1981 ruling, which found that children could not receive damages on the basis that they did not have any dependants, was inconsistent with legal principle.

In a judgment disagreeing with the majority ruling, Lady Rose said that assessing lost years damages for children could push the court into uncomfortable territory and went against the principle that the loss to be compensated is the loss suffered.

She continued that damages should not extend to the lost years where there is no evidence before the court as to the claimants earning capacity or individual characteristics.

James Drydale, medical negligence partner at Sheffield law firm Taylor Emmet  which represented CCC, said he felt absolutely elated following the ruling, which put right a historic injustice.

He said: If your life has been significantly shortened by someone elses negligence, then I think most people would regard it as fair that amends should be made for that. Why should a childs life be any different?

Mr Drydale also said that CCCs smile lights up every room, telling the Press Association that the added damages would have a major impact on her and her family.

He said: They feel vindicated, they have shown great courage in doing this.

He continued: They are ready for the next round, hopefully the final round.
Luka Vuskovic scored on his non-competitive debut for Spurs (Getty Images)

Bayern Munich have not ruled out making a move for Tottenham's Luka Vuskovic this summer.

The teenage centre-back is yet to play a competitive game for Spurs, but is enjoying an ever-growing reputation while on loan in the Bundesliga with Hamburg.

Former Croatia star Ivan Rakitic has even suggested that Vuskovic has already outgrown Tottenham, given his clear potential, and tipped the defender to join one of the top five clubs in Europe, which includes Bayern.

Amid growing transfer links with the defender, and in light of fellow defender Dayot Upamecano signing a new contract, Bayern director Max Eberl did not deny interest in the Spurs man.

"Weve reached the point where were not under pressure regarding squad planning," Eberl told Sport1.

"We can calmly decide what happens next. Of course, were still keeping an eye on the market. We certainly wont rule out any option that would benefit Bayern," he said.

He added: "Im someone who finalises his squad planning early. I managed to do that in Monchengladbach, in Leipzig, and, incidentally, here at Bayern as well. Everything was done by mid-July, before the start of preseason training.

"When Kingsley Coman then asked for his release, which we ultimately granted, we had to fight for Nicolas Jackson until the very last day. That wasnt ideal, but these things can happen. With the contract extension with Upa, we can now go into the summer transfer window with a clear plan."

Vuskovic has previously said he wishes to spend another season on loan at Hamburg, though it remains to be seen what plans Spurs have for the player.

Spurs are under no pressure to sell the 18-year-old, who is under contract until 2030.
February 16, 2026: Ukraine is one of the best examples of small nations with a technically inclined and innovative population that can do the seemingly impossible. The Ukraine War has seen the frequent involvement of civilians and civilian groups supporting the war effort. This was a factor from the beginning when civilians used their cell phones to capture pictures, with locations, of Russian military activity, especially air attacks using drones. The Ukrainian government quickly created an organization to receive all these civilian reports and provide civil or military authorities with useful information on a timely basis.

Ukraine was also welcoming when it came to weapons or other military related items developed by individuals or groups of civilians. This was quite different from the situation in Russia, where the government expects civilians to take orders, not make suggestions.

In contrast Ukrainian civilians, most of whom were born or came of age after the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine became an independent country, turned to the west for inspiration on how to live, govern and run the economy. When the Russians invaded in 2022, many officers and soldiers were surprised that Ukrainians were no longer culturally related to Russia but had become more like western Europeans.

An example of this was seen in 2023 when Ukraine announced that it was going to spend over half a billion dollars on drones. What was not revealed was the extent of efforts to add more capabilities to commercial drones as well, and the growing number being manufactured by Ukrainian companies. These developers and manufacturers are often small groups of civilian hobbyists that proved capable of creating new features for drones, both commercial and hobbyist-produced models. The Russian invasion spurred a lot of innovation, mainly among Ukrainian developers. Among the items available to commercial customers were a lot of miniature digital video cameras as well as lighter, miniaturized computer components that could be assembled and programmed by users to perform essential tasks, like using AI apps and data from onboard video cameras enemy forces, even if they are camouflaged or in underground bunkers. Constant combat use of these systems enables developers to address shortcomings and continually improves the hardware and software carried on these hunter killer drones. Earlier in the war two drones were needed for this but now all that tech and weapons can be carried and used by one drone.

Wartime developers are able to improve their tech and hardware more rapidly because there is continuous feedback from users. Ukraine had an edge here because many of these developers were hobbyists who knew little about peacetime development, its bureaucracy and counter-productive over-supervision. Ukrainian developers were often creating these new drone techs for friends or family members who were now in the military and eager for whatever help they could get. The Ukrainian military saw this entrepreneurial spirit as an advantage, not some form of insubordination or recklessness. Russians consider the entrepreneurial activities as unauthorized innovations. Despite that, some Russian innovations appeared, but the Russian innovations took longer to arrive and implement.

Most Russian commanders and civilian officials are less willing than their Ukrainian counterparts to encourage individual initiatives. Another problem was that the economic sanctions made it more difficult for Russians to obtain the commercial tech that Ukrainians used.

That free access to Western or Chinese components meant Ukraine could build very capable and lethal drones that were designed to carry out one or a small number of missions. That is why Ukraine and Russia are each losing thousands of drones a month. Cheap, useful and expendable is now the rule with most battlefield drones.

Russia is at a disadvantage when it comes to its drone losses because Ukrainian civilians are quick to report to their military any useful information they witness about Russian drones and military practices in general. Russia tried to shut down Ukrainian access to communications with the Ukrainian military. Initially this was handled by cellphone, but the Russians gradually replaced Ukrainian cell towers with Russian ones wherever they could. Ukrainian civilians found other ways to communicate with the Ukrainian military. One of these alternatives was the widespread use of SpaceX Starlink internet terminals that turned a Ukrainian cellphone, desktop computer or tablet into a communications device that could get past Russian jamming and efforts to eliminate the ability of civilians to communicate with the Ukrainian military or government. Civilians continued to take cellphone photos or videos of Russian activities and transmit this information back to the Ukrainian military. This provided lots of useful target information on Russian forces and facilities.

Many civilian photos and videos showed up on social media, which the Ukrainian military monitors for useful information. Throughout history civilians have often been useful informants for the military. With the appearance of cellphones, the internet and Starlink, civilian contributions have become more numerous, accurate and useful.

Another example is Israel, with a population of ten million that is the only true democracy in the Middle East. Israel is defined more by the many nationalities that make up the population than the Jewish religion 74 percent of them share. Moreover, most Israelis consider themselves non-religious. Israel possesses the most dynamic economy in the Middle East, producing far more technical innovation per capita than any nation in the world, and economic growth that the Palestinian terrorism campaign has slowed, but not stopped.

Israel is much like the United States, in that it is a nation of immigrants. Some 18 percent of the population were born in Russia, or their parents were, or had a grandparent that was. The only larger group are Arabs, who comprise 19 percent of the population. Overall, 28 percent of the Israeli population was born somewhere else. Other major nationalities represented are Moroccans at seven percent, Iraq at four percent, Romania at four percent each, and Poland at three percent.

Most of what makes Israel unique offends other Middle Eastern nations. In the region, the concepts of democracy, reforms needed for rapid economic growth and absorbing immigrants are considered alien and generally avoided. Few of the Palestinians who fled Israel in 1948 have been allowed to become citizens of other Arab nations, while Israel absorbed an equal number of Jews driven out of Arab nations at the same time. Arab advocates of democracy, reforms in education and rules of law needed for economic growth are a minority, and smaller in number than those who practice, or back, terrorism against Israel and the West. Until the Arab world becomes more like Israel, the economic and military disparities between Israel and the rest of the Middle East will remain.

Despite furious efforts, Palestinians are unable to carry out most of the terrorist attacks they talk about and try to plan. Israeli police and intelligence agencies have informants inside the Palestinian community and are able to disrupt planned attacks that include suicide bombers, gunmen or large violence demonstrations

This was the result of an intense, but largely unseen, counter-terrorism operation that has been continuous for decades. In most years over 90 percent of Palestinian terrorist operations are aborted, most of them while they are still in the planning stage. This includes capturing or killing Palestinian terrorist leaders and planners soon after they become active or when one or more of their attacks are carried out.
Disney set to close discount store in Florida that was popular spot for cheaper merchandise, insiders claim

Devastated fans took to social media after news filtered through that the Disney Character Warehouse clearance store at Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall in Sunrise, Florida, is set to close this spring.

The outlet, one of three Disney Character Warehouse locations in Florida, sells discounted and overstock merchandise from Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line. The Sunrise location has long served South Florida shoppers, cruise passengers heading to Port Everglades and visitors from Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

According to Cast Members, Disneys term for employees, and posts from dedicated fans in the Disney Character Warehouse Sawgrass Mills Mall Facebook group, the store is scheduled to shut its doors on April 15.

Yes, they are closing. I was there yesterday and asked one of the associates, one Group member wrote Sunday. It's happening in April. Headquarters decided not to renew their rental lease. The revenues are not as they should be. They are not relocating either. Very sad news.

Attempts to reach the Disney Character Warehouse at Sawgrass Mills were unsuccessful. The Independent has contacted both Sawgrass Mills Mall and Disney for comment.

The Disney Character Warehouse clearance store at Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall in Sunrise, Florida, is set to close on April 15, according to Cast Members and fan posts (Getty Images)

Disneys decision to close the store might come down to a few headaches, including resellers buying up stock, the three hour distance from Disney World and live shoppers  individuals who stream themselves and take orders from viewers  who upset regular customers, according to Disney fan blog Inside The Magic, citing Cast Members at the store.

Disney has not announced whether its two Orlando-area Character Warehouse outlets, at Orlando International Premium Outlets and Vineland Premium Outlets near Walt Disney World, will remain open beyond their current leases.

Locals and tourists alike see the Disney Character Warehouse as the perfect mix of bargain and treasure hunting, where shoppers can score rare or limited merchandise, as well as items no longer sold at parks, from anywhere between 30 and 70 percent off. But lately, resellers snapping up items in bulk to sell online have been leaving regular shoppers frustrated, Inside The Magic reports.

The company recently tightened its return policy across all Character Warehouse and Cast Connection stores to deter resellers. As of February 1, all sales are final with no returns or exchanges, according to in-store signage shared online.

Members of the Sawgrass Mills Mall Facebook group largely blamed resellers for the outlets demise.

Thank you resellers for ruining a good thing! one person wrote.

Please tell me this an early April Fools Joke, another begged. I tried to call to confirm they are closing and couldnt get a hold of them.

A third added, I've been going to that same store since I was a kid! I will be heartbroken if they close!

Elsewhere at Sawgrass Mills, the Neiman Marcus Last Call store is holding a closing sale as parent company Saks Global Enterprises prepares to shutter most Saks OFF 5TH and Last Call locations nationwide amid Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Over the course of 10 weeks, lawyers for Justice Department violated roughly 50 orders from a judge overseeing an immigration case, a lawyer for the U.S. Attorneys office in New Jersey said in a court filing last week.

Associate Deputy Attorney General Jordan Fox told New Jersey District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz that the violations ranged from missing hearing deadlines to late releases from custody and even one accidental removal to Peru, according to a document obtained by Politico.

In at least 17 instances Immigration and Customs Enforcement transferred a detainee out of New Jersey, despite judges issuing a no-transfer order, which require the detainee to remain in the state. Fox said these were done inadvertently due to logistical delays in communicating.

Fox said these violations were found across 547 habeas corpus petitions in immigration cases  or instances in which a person was challenging their detention.

Federal judges and prosecutors have described being overwhelmed with immigration habeas corpus cases due to the Trump administration's mass deportation push (Getty Images)

Fox, who is reportedly the Trump administrations pick to succeed ousted U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, was recognizant about the number of court violations in immigration cases and conveyed to the judge that the office, under her leadership, wanted to take a vigilant approach to complying with orders.

We will continue to act with the utmost vigilance to prevent, self-report, and ensure compliance with court orders during this unprecedented period of immigration filings in one of the hardest hit districts in the country, Fox wrote in a letter to the judge.

The Independent has asked the Department of Justice for comment.

Most of the violations appear to paint a chaotic picture of attorneys and court staff trying to keep up with filing deadlines and communication  missing deadlines by hours, scheduling bond hearings days late, transferring detainees before a court orders a no-transfer order or forgetting to release a detainee on-time.

The acknowledgement of mistakes echoes similar remarks from judges or even Justice Department lawyers across the country who have described difficulty managing an overwhelming number of habeas cases amid the Trump administrations mass deportation push.

One of the most common court order violations noted by the New Jersey attorney were transfers of detainees after a judge had ordered the detainee to remain in the state (REUTERS)

Earlier this month, a now-former federal prosecutor, Julie Le, described being on the brink of exhaustion while trying to keep up with immigration case in Minnesota.

Sometime I wish you would just hold me in contempt, your honor, so that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep. I work days and night just because people (are) still in there, Le told a federal judge during a hearing

The system sucks. This job sucks. And I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need, Le said. The administration later removed Le from her post.

Last month, a Minnesota federal judge found 96 violations of court orders across 74 cases in the first 28 days of the year.
Nigel Farage has been accused of playing into short-sighted, divisive politics after making unproven claims that middle-class, white men are losing jobs because of the Equality Act.

His claim came just a day after Suella Braverman, Reform UKs new equality and education chief, promised to scrap the act on day one if her party won the next election, claiming that Britain is being ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion policies.

The Equality Act 2010  which replaced previous anti-discrimination laws  legally protects people with protected characteristics, including: age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation, from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society.

But the Reform leader claims those protections are to the detriment of white men.

Asked on Wednesday whether he could guarantee nobody would lose a job because of their sex, ethnicity or disability under his partys plans to scrap the Equality Act, Mr Farage said: Well, people are losing their jobs now, particularly if they are white, and male and middle-aged.

And thats the problem, that actually something that was designed to stop discrimination becomes in itself discriminatory. The protections youre talking about were in law way before the 2010 Equalities Act.

However, official figures from July to September 2025 appear to show that the opposite is true, with people from white ethnic backgrounds having lower rates of unemployment in the UK than those from minority ethnic backgrounds.

In this period, the UK unemployment rate for people from a white ethnic background was 4.3 per cent, an increase of 0.7 percentage points from the same period the previous year. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for people from minority ethnic backgrounds was 8.8 per cent, an increase of 0.6 percentage points from the same period the previous year.

Frankly dishonest: Farages recent claims have been criticised by campaigners (Getty)

And according to the 2021 census for England and Wales, people from White Irish and White British ethnic backgrounds had the lowest unemployment rates at 4.7 and 4.9 per cent respectively. People from Arab and Other Black ethnic backgrounds had the highest unemployment rates, at 14.3 per cent and 14.2 per cent, respectively.

Responding to Mr Farages remarks, Dr Shabna Begum, CEO of leading anti-racism charity the Runnymede Trust, accused him of playing into short-sighted, divisive politics that does nothing to help anyone and instead breeds the politics of grievance and resentment.

Dr Begum also took aim at Ms Bravermans claim that the country is being ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion policies, dubbing it inflammatory, divisive and quite frankly dishonest.

She told The Independent: At a time when racial and religiously motivated hate crimes and violence against women and girls are all steeply rising, it would be irresponsible to remove the few protections in place for those at risk.

Meanwhile, Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), accused Mr Farage of peddling made-up nonsense.

The Equality Act protects everyone at work  including white, middle-aged men  whether from age discrimination, religious discrimination or other unfair treatment, he said.

Lets be clear about whats really going on here. Reform wants to legalise discrimination and rip up hard-won workplace rights. That isnt standing up for working people  its leaving people at the mercy of bad bosses. Its a bullys charter.

James Douglas, legal director at the Good Law Project, accused Mr Farage of being detached from both the law and reality, telling The Independent: Scrapping the Equality Act wouldn't just take us back to 2010, it would reverse all the progress we've made since the 1970s.

Scare stories about white, middle-aged men losing their jobs dont hide the fact that by opposing it, Reform have made clear that they dont believe in equality, he added.

And Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, who sits on the women and equalities committee, warned Mr Farage that rights are not finite.

She said: Protecting people who might be vulnerable because of their sex, ethnicity, or disability does not undermine anyone elses rights.

Suella Braverman has taken aim at the rights of young trans people in her latest speech (Reuters)

It simply creates a level playing field for all of us. Should we always be aware of how we can improve those protections in the act? Yes, but thats very different from what Reform is suggesting.

Mr Farages latest comments came after Ms Braverman, who was newly appointed as Reforms head of education, skills and equalities, asked: Why does no one in this government seem to care that its white working-class boys who have the worst educational outcomes in our country today?

She added: Do you know what a Reform government will do? Well, on day one, we will get rid of the equalities department; we will scrap the equalities minister.

And we will repeal the Equality Act, because we are going to work to build a country defined by meritocracy, not tokenism, personal responsibility, not victimhood, excellence, not mediocrity, and unity, not division.

The MP for Fareham and Waterlooville also attacked the rights of transgender young people, saying that social and gender transitioning will be banned in all schools, no ifs, no buts if Reform comes to power.

She promised to bring an end to the transgender chaos in schools, claiming that children are taught more about gender ideology than biological fact.

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
Ghanshyam Sarup Batra, 63, with John Travolta (Facebook)

A businessman who wanted to be Mayor of London has been sentenced for a deliberate and dishonest 105,000 fraud.

Lettings boss Ghanshyam Sarup Batra, 63, was director of a company managing four Aparthotels when he drained its bank account, leaving only 3.48 for creditors.

It happened during a four-day period when London-based Dylan Lettings Worldwide Limited had assets transferred to a receiver.

By May 2017, a number of mortgage companies had called in debts personally owed by Batra - who is pictured on his Facebook page with Hollywood star John Travolta.

He was subsequently ordered by a court to pay more than 6.5 million to settle the amounts outstanding.

Just 45 minutes later, Batra siphoned 50,000 from the firms business account to his personal one, the maximum amount he thought he was allowed to remove in one go.

Batra transferred a further 49,000 to his bank the following day, moving a total of 105,690 across the four days.

Batra, also known as Shyam Batra, pleaded his innocence, accepting that he removed the money but claiming that he believed he was entitled to withdraw it.

However, this was rejected by a jury who unanimously found him guilty of one count of fraud in anticipation of winding-up under the Insolvency Act 1986 following a six-day trial at the Old Bailey.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, on Tuesday.

Ghanshyam Sarup Batra, also known as Shyam Batra (Facebook)

Batra, of Sedge Hill, Roydon, Essex remains banned as a company director until March 2028, having been disqualified for seven years in 2021.

He announced his intention to stand as an independent in the 2024 London mayoral elections but was ultimately not nominated and did not appear on the ballot.

Describing himself as a property and finance broker who wanted to give people a voice, Batra promised to abolish the Ulez, the congestion zone and 20mph speed limits.

The wannabe politician, who styled himself as an Ambassador for Hope, also claimed aliens live among us and have been here for a long time, adding in January 2024: Theyre also blending into our communities without us and live way longer.

The Insolvency Service is also seeking confiscation of funds against Batra under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Chief Investigator Chris Wood said: Ghanshyam Sarup Batra knew exactly what he was doing when he emptied the company's bank account.

Within an hour of losing control of the business, he began moving money into his own pocket, leaving creditors with nothing.

This was a deliberate and dishonest act, and the jury saw through his attempts to justify it.

This conviction should serve as a warning that we will pursue those who try to cheat creditors out of money they are owed.

Dylan Lettings Worldwide Limited was incorporated in May 2010, with Batra the sole director at the time of the offending.

The properties it managed were described as aparthotels, a type of business providing self-catering apartments as well as ordinary hotel facilities.

Dylan Lettings Worldwide Limited, formerly of St Albans Road, Watford entered liquidation in October 2017 and was dissolved two years later.

The insolvency practitioner dealing with the liquidation recorded that no assets were realised and no dividends paid to creditors.

Batra was declared bankrupt in January 2025. Bankruptcy restrictions are usually discharged after 12 months but Batras discharge was suspended indefinitely after he failed to co-operate with the Official Receiver.
Gordon Ramsay appeared to send a defiant message to the Peatys at his daughter Holly and Olympic swimmer Adams engagement party.

Adam, 31, has fallen out with his family after months of behind-the-scenes feuding, going so far as to ban his mother Caroline and father Mark from his recent wedding to Holly, 26.

The first cracks of the rift are now available for fans to see in Gordons new six-part Netflix series, Being Gordon Ramsay, which dropped this week.

Gordon, 59, seemingly took a swipe at the Peatys when he emphasised the importance of creating family during his speech at Adam and Hollys engagement party, which was in 2024.

According to the Mail, he was filmed saying: The most important family is the one you create and she [Holly] comes from an incredible family so its now her time to create her own family. It is quite a moment.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay speaks about his family in a new documentary (Netflix/PA)

Caroline, 60, was seen watching on as Gordon made his speech and embracing Holly in another scene.

Gordons wife Tana, 51, has also spoken out on the rift, telling Grazia about her first meeting with Caroline.

I remember saying to Adams mum when I met her, My God, youve got the most amazing son. I couldnt think of anyone that is more perfect for Holly, whos incredibly emotional, incredibly vulnerable in areas, she said.

Shes funny, brilliant and witty but she also needs keeping in line. Adam manages to do all those things. Hes been through a lot. Shes been through a lot.

I remember saying to his mum that, in my mind, hes perfect for our daughter. I was incredibly happy to meet her and tell her that.

Adams estranged family had reportedly demanded they be removed from Gordons Netflix series, with Caroline apparently writing to the streaming giant.

Gordon, Tana, Adam Peaty and his mother Caroline at his and Hollys engagement party (Netflix)

Caroline has written to Netflix to say the family were not asked for their consent to be filmed for Gordons documentary at last years engagement do, a source told The Sun in December.

She was very clear that, after everything thats happened, they do not want to be featured.

However, another source said filming notices were displayed at the party, which made guests aware that there was filming.

Reports of a feud among the Peatys first emerged when Adams mother Caroline did not attend Hollys star-studded hen do at Soho Farmhouse.

It was then claimed Adams parents were uninvited from his and Hollys big day.

His mum, his aunt and several other family members called him out on social media for the apparent move.

Adam with his parents Caroline and Mark (Instagram/Caroline Peaty)

Meanwhile, his brother James was arrested in November over allegations he sent threatening messages to his brother during his stag do in Budapest. James was questioned before being released.

Earlier this month, Gordon spoke out on the bitter feud surrounding his son-in-law, claiming the upsetting situation was self-inflicted on [the Peatys] side.

Its all self-inflicted from their side, because weve done nothing  none of what youve read: no rudeness, no ignorance  we welcomed them, he told the Daily Mail.

We sent a chauffeur-driven car for them to come to the engagement party and treated them like royalty. So to get that barrage of press was very hurtful. Tana took it very seriously.

The TV chef also said he hoped for a resolution.

I would like to go up to Nottingham with Tana and see them and draw a line in the sand, Ramsay added. It was Adam and Hollys wishes for them not to attend and so we had to respect that.

Theres stuff they need to sort out as parents. Thats nothing to do with Tana and me. But we are very mindful we want to move on and allow Holly and Adam to continue starting their lives together.
Sir Keir Starmer could avoid a humiliating defeat in the Gorton and Denton by-election if shy Labour voters end up backing his party, according to a polling expert.

But Tory peer Lord Hayward also believes that the by-election is Zack Polanskis Greens to lose.

Nigel Farages Reform UK is also battling it out to try to pull off another shock victory.

If Labour loses the previously safe seat it would be a bitter blow to the Prime Minister, with Labour chiefs having blocked Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing to be the partys candidate.

Green leader Zack Polanski with his partys Gorton and Denton by-election candidate Hannah Spencer (PA Wire)

The political parties are ramping up their campaigns in the run-up to polling day on February 26, flooding the constituency with volunteers to knock on doors.

A string of Cabinet ministers have visited the area but Sir Keir has so far stayed away, with Labour and his personal popularity having plunged in the polls.

Voters who back Reform or the Greens seem willing to voice their views.

However, some Labour supporters may be less keen to express their voting intention given the Governments woes, including recently the Lord Mandelson and Lord Doyle storms, and the partys sharp drop in the polls.

Shy Labour voters could save Keir Starmer, Lord Hayward told the London Standard.

But I think its the Greens to lose.

Reform could come through the middle to clinch the seat if the Left-leaning vote splits evenly between Labour and the Greens, according to Rob Ford, professor of political science at Manchester University.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage with his partys Gorton and Denton by-election candidate Matt Goodwin (PA Wire)

The contest is being fiercely fought between Reforms Matt Goodwin, Hannah Spencer of the Green Party and Labours Angeliki Stogia.

A Labour source: Were certainly picking up that some voters feel that they cant be as visible with their support with us as normal in some places due to the divisive nature of this by-election campaign.

The very diverse constituency, with some 76,000 potential voters, is made up of four south Manchester city council wards, experiencing some gentrification and three wards of the Tameside council town of Denton.

Its a very difficult constituency to poll, because its a constituency of two very different halves, Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, told Times Radio.

The Denton bit, is broadly speaking white, relatively working class. Its where Reforms hopes lie.

The other half in Manchester is a mixture of places with very high Muslim populations...not good news for Labour, and also lots of students, again, not good news for Labour.

Both those phenomena potentially help the Greens.

But as for who will win next Thursday, he added: The truth is, at the moment, we are flying blind.

Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell (left) and party chairwoman Anna Turley with Angeliki Stogia (centre), the partys candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election (PA Wire)

Labour won the seat at the 2024 general election with 50.8% of the vote, but this was down on an estimated 67.2% in 2019 after boundary changes are taken into account, as more young people and Muslim voters desert the party.

The by-election was triggered after Andrew Gwynne, who was sacked as a minister and suspended from the Labour Party over offensive messages in a WhatsApp group, resigned as an MP.
Holidaymakers flying out of London Heathrow could end up spending significantly more for flights if current expansion plans go ahead, airlines have reportedly warned.

The planned third runway at Heathrow, which comes with a 33 billion price tag, includes constructing a 3,500-metre runway and new additions to Terminal 5, which aim to accommodate another 66 million passengers per year.

The cost breakdown includes 21 billion for the runway itself and associated M25 works, and 12 billion for new terminal infrastructure.

Heathrow will also invest 15 billion in upgrading its existing infrastructure.

The construction of a third runway at Heathrow carries at 33 billion price tag (Heathrow)

Airlines have expressed concern that the landing charges at Heathrow, which are the highest in the world, will end up reimbursing investors for the project.

According to The Times, airline bosses have analysed data that shows the project could add at least 60-65 on average to ticket prices, resulting in an excess cost of 250 for a family of four.

Executives from British Airways parent company, IAG, met with senior staff at Downing Street last week to share these concerns, Whitehall sources told the paper.

It was reported that they met with Varun Chandra, one of Sir Keir Starmers senior advisers, and discussed how plans might affect economic growth.

Campaign group Heathrow Reimagined even wrote to Rachel Reeves on the matter, requesting an urgent meeting.

A campaign group has requested an urgent meeting with Rachel Reeves to raise concerns on the matter (PA Wire)

In the letter, they wrote: Going ahead with the current regulatory model and approach will deliver a scheme which negatively impacts connectivity, competitiveness, and the wider UK economy. Increases to charges that are already the highest in the world would erode the UKs competitive position and undermine the governments commitment to reduce the cost of living.

The letter was cosigned by Luis Gallego, the boss of IAG, Corneel Koster, the chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, and Willie Walsh, director-general of the airline trade body IATA.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves supports another runway at the west London airport insisting that it was essential to growth plans and would increase exports for business in Scotland and across the UK.

The Government is backing Heathrows 33 billion scheme to expand the airport which will increase capacity by more than 50% to 756,000 flights a year, and involve moving the M25 which could create years of disruption for motorists.

The Department for Transport is now drawing up the criteria for whether a third runway meets the Governments tests on climate change, air pollution, noise and economic growth.

Since the notion of a third runway was first rejected in 2003, speculation around its construction have lingered through several governments, prompting concerns about the complexity of designs and costs.

The Civil Aviation Authority is scheduled in the summer to decide on a long-term model for airport charges, which is a key factor in investment for a third runway at Heathrow.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: Heathrow expansion provides a rare opportunity to drive real economic growth for the UK and deliver value for future generations of passengers.

With demand consistently outpacing supply, incumbent airlines currently compete to charge a premium and the evidence speaks for itself - airfares at Heathrow have risen by 30 percent in real terms since 2014 whilst the airport passenger charge has decreased by 19 percent.

The clear analysis has shown that fares will be lower with expansion rather than without it, with passengers, exporters and the UK economy set to be the real winners when it comes to a third runway. With regards to the costs suggested, we neither recognise those numbers nor have we seen calculations that would support them.
Vice President JD Vance suggested that American-born skier Eileen Gu should be competing for the U.S., as she racks up medals while competing for China in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Vance said during a Tuesday interview with Fox News that he has no idea what Gus status should be, but that he hoped American citizens would choose to compete for the U.S. on the world stage.

I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United States of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope that they want to compete with the United States of America, Vance said.

So, Im going to root for American athletes. I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. Thats who Im rooting for in this Olympics.

The 22-year-old freestyle skier has won two silver medals in 2026, adding to her collection of two Gold and one silver medals from the 2022 games in Beijing. Even though she is the most decorated female Olympic freestyle skier, Gus citizenship has been a point of contention. Gu was born and raised in San Francisco and attended Stanford, but has competed in both Olympics representing China, where her mother is from.

Vice President JD Vance suggested that American-born skier Eileen Gu should be competing for the U.S. instead of China (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Her reasoning behind that decision is that she wants to help make the sport more mainstream in China, since the U.S. already has the representation, she told Time Magazine.

The International Olympic Committee requires athletes to be citizens of the nations they represent, noting on its site that a competitor who is a national of two or more countries at the same time may represent either one of them.

However, China does not recognize dual citizenship and Gu has declined to comment on her citizenship status.

I have no idea what her status should be, Vance said on Fox. I think thats ultimately up to the Olympics Committee, I wont pretend to wade into that.

JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, were booed while appearing on screen at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony (2026 Getty Images)

Vance appeared in Milan for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony  and was promptly booed after appearing on stadium screens.

Commentators made note of the shift from applause for the American athletes to boos after the vice president and his wife, Usha Vance, appeared on camera.

Theres the vice president and his wife, Usha; those are not, oh, those are a lot of boos for him, one commentator said on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporations coverage.
Flight LS896 from Turkey to Manchester was forced to divert to Brussels (Getty Images)

Two Jet2 passengers have been banned from the airline for life following a mid-air brawl on a Manchester-bound flight.

Flight LS896 from Antalya, Turkey to Manchester was forced to divert to Brussels on Thursday evening after appalling behaviour from two disruptive travellers.

Footage shared on social media shows the two men shouting and fighting in the aisle as fellow travellers attempt to separate them.

The flight departed from Terminal 2 at Antalya airport at around 6.11pm local time, landing in Brussels three hours and 40 minutes into the almost five-hour flight.

Police arrested the passengers in the Belgian capital before the Boeing 737-800 aircraft could continue its onward journey to the UK.

The airline confirmed that the passengers will be banned from flying with Jet2 for life, adding that the carrier will vigorously pursue them to recover the diversion costs.

A Jet2 spokesperson said: As a family-friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behaviour, and we are very sorry that other customers and our colleagues onboard had to experience this too.

The Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor's office is investigating the disruptive passengers for intentional assault and battery, reported BBC News.

Its not the first aircraft to divert due to passenger disruption this year.

In January, an American Airlines flight to Ecuador was forced to return to the US after the crew declared an in-flight emergency.

Flight AA2259 from Miami to Quito, Ecuador, issued a squawk 7700 alert, the signal for a general emergency, on 31 January.

American Airlines said a disruptive customer in the cabin was behind the Ecuador-bound flights diversion.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 made a U-turn over Cuba to its departure airport mid-way through a four-hour journey to the Ecuadorian capital.

A spokesperson for American Airlines told The Independent: On Jan. 31, American Airlines flight 2259 with service from Miami (MIA) to Quito, Ecuador (UIO) returned to MIA and was met by law enforcement upon arrival due to a disruptive customer.

Read more: Passengers who play loud music on India flights may face prosecution
A protest against Ice outside Dallas city hall. Photograph: Chris Rusanowsky/Zuma/Shutterstock (Photograph: Chris Rusanowsky/Zuma/Shutterstock)

A federal judge in Texas declared a mistrial on Tuesday after a defense lawyer wore a shirt in court with images from the civil rights movement, delaying a closely watched case in which the Trump administration is accusing a group of protesters of being terrorists and says they are part of a North-Texas antifa cell.

US district judge Mark Pittman, an appointee of Donald Trump, declared a mistrial only hours after jury selection began at the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Worth. He abruptly halted the proceedings after MarQuetta Clayton, an attorney for one of the defendants, had been questioning potential jurors for about 20 minutes, taking issue with a shirt she was wearing underneath a black blazer. The shirt contained images of civil rights movement leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr and Shirley Chisholm, as well as images of protests from that time.

Clayton was present in the courtroom all day with her shirt visible to Pittman, but the judge did not stop the proceedings until Clayton began questioning the approximately 75 potential jurors who had assembled.

Pittman claimed the shirt sent a political message that could bias jurors and equate the actions of the defendants in the case with that of the civil rights movement, adding that the decision to wear the shirt may have been intentional. Pittman also argued that the defense lawyers would be outraged if prosecutors were to wear shirts that showed pro-ICE or pro-Trump imagery in front of a jury.

The mistrial means the trial will start over with a completely new panel of potential jurors. The judge announced the trial would restart on Monday at 9am.

I dont think I have any choice but to declare a mistrial, said Pittman, who also admonished Clayton for showing a poster to potential jurors that had not been submitted to the court ahead of time. This has to be a first in the history of American jurisprudence, I would think.

Clayton is running for a county judge position in Texas, where early voting started on Tuesday. She declined to comment as she left the courthouse, only saying that she would continue to represent her client in the case.

The nine defendants whose trial began on Tuesday were part of a group of protesters who were criminally charged after a demonstration at an ICE detention facility near Fort Worth on 4 July.

Demonstrators set off fireworks outside in solidarity with people detained inside, and some of the protesters are accused of spraying graffiti on a guard shack and vehicles in the parking lot, slashing the tires on a government vehicle and destroying a security camera. In court papers, prosecutors described the incident as a coordinated attack, saying the protesters dressed in all black to conceal their identities and were armed. They also alleged one protester shot and wounded a police officer on the scene.

The case is the first time the government has filed terrorism charges against antifa, short for anti-fascist, which is not a defined entity but rather an umbrella of left-leaning ideologies. The Trump administration has vowed to crack down on antifa, and experts believe the case could set a dangerous precedent for prosecutors to bring criminal charges against protesters who demonstrate against ICE.

Lawyers for the nine defendants unanimously agreed they did not think a mistrial was necessary, questioning whether jurors had even seen Claytons shirt and saying any potential bias could be rooted out during jury selection by questioning the jurors. Shawn Smith, the lead federal prosecutor in the case, did not take a position, simply saying he had not seen a similar situation before.

Harrison Stables, 23, one of the potential jurors who was dismissed after Pittman declared a mistrial, said in an interview he did not see Claytons shirt, nor did he think it would have influenced his decision-making in the case at all.

Another dismissed juror who declined to give his name said he recognized the imagery on the shirt as saying something about the fight, but that it would not have biased his assessment of the case.

I struggle to understand how this could be fair or reasonable in this judicial environment, Lydia Koza, whose wife, Autumn Hill, is one of the defendants, said in an interview across the street from the courthouse where supporters had gathered with signs, coffee and food. A cadre of family members, attorneys, journalists, observers and supporters also crammed into an overflow room in the federal courthouse to watch jury selection through a simulcast on Tuesday.

Before the mistrial, questions to the potential jurors on Tuesday offered a glimpse into themes that are likely to be key to the strategy on both sides in the case. Smith, the prosecutor, asked potential jurors about bias against ICE and Trump, among other issues. Clayton asked jurors about the difference between a riot, a noise demonstration and a protest, and whether it was ever acceptable to bring a gun to a protest.

Pittmans decision on Tuesday came after a series of pretrial rulings penalizing lawyers for the defense. In December, he ordered three defense attorneys to each pay a $500 fine for filing aggressive motions for discovery. He also nearly blocked George Lobb, an attorney, from representing one of the defendants, saying he had not met the residency requirements to practice in the district. Lobb eventually withdrew from the federal case and Clayton replaced him.

After declaring the mistrial, Pittman gave a short speech decrying partisan division in the country, saying he was absolutely disgusted by it and that we have to find a way to turn down the anger.
February 17, 2026: As if morale in the Russian military was not bad enough because of the Ukraine war, members of the Russian Northern Fleet and their families suffered from a breakdown of heating systems. This occurred last month in Severomorsk, the city north of the Arctic Circle that houses the headquarters of the Northern Fleet. While there have been heating breakdowns before in military bases near the Arctic Circle, and soldiers froze to death, the current situation occurred in a city full of senior military commanders and their families. While no one died in Severomorsk, several hundred people were without heat from the central heating systems for several days.

What scares Russians the most was how the government of a major Arctic Circle region city allowed their heating system to deteriorate and fail during the coldest part of the year. Part of the reason is lack of money for maintenance and that nearly half the Russian government budget was used for the war in Ukraine.

The recent heating emergency in Severomorsk was not unanticipated. As winter approached last year, the government discovered that in many parts of the country the centralized apartment complex heating plans have fallen into disrepair, leaving the apartment building dependent on them without sufficient heat or no heat at all. Russia depends on a lot of heating plants that distribute heat to families living in these apartments and, when there is not enough or no heat at all, people are angrier at the government than they ever were over the massive losses of soldiers in Ukraine. This lack of heat is an immediate problem that is far more important than the latest bad news from Ukraine.

The war and the sanctions imposed by NATO countries have steadily caused the Russian economy to falter and fall apart in some areas. Desperate to solve the heating problem, the government has nationalized heating plants in some areas and sent in government specialists to get the heating systems up and running again. The former employees of the heating operations were out of work, with vague assurances that they would get their jobs back once spring arrived and the heating crisis was over.

In some parts of the country, electrical power was a problem. The growing costs of the war meant cuts had to be made elsewhere and, in some areas, this meant the electrical generation and distribution system fell into disrepair and frequent failures. These blackouts meant periods of no heat. Freezing in the dark was an immediate problem that was far more important to fix than the disasters occurring in Ukraine.

The Russian people tolerated heavy casualties and frequent defeats in Ukraine, but there is no such patience for blackouts and failed heating systems. Those problems were very personal while the war in Ukraine was a distant disaster that could be ignored. Another year of heating calamities and electricity shortages could end the war more quickly than any peace talks and negotiations.
The King has hailed Hollywood star Sir Idris Elba as an inspiration but laughed off his offer to star in front of the cameras.

Charles and the Queen were taken on a tour of a college film studio named in honour of the celebrity who trained to be an actor at the institution more than 30 years ago.

The royal couple spent the day in the London Borough of Dagenham and Redbridge and also celebrated the work of local community groups and visited the film production campus Eastbrook Studios, where Charles said action to start filming as he snapped shut a clapperboard.

When the King watched Dagenham and Redbridge College students filming a virtual woodland background, created by an LED media wall that appeared life-like, he said about Sir Idris to a student: Hes a real inspiration.

Charles holds a clapperboard during a visit to Eastbrook Studios in Dagenham (Aaron Chown/PA) (Aaron Chown)

Later he said to the actor: Im very proud of you.

Sir Idris, who first found fame with the acclaimed US series The Wire, got his acting start thanks to a Princes Trust grant that helped him attend the National Youth Music Theatre, which gave him the confidence to enrol on a two-year BTec national diploma in performing arts at Dagenham and Redbridge College.

The actor joked with the King asking: (I) was hoping your majesty that we could do an improvisation together.

Charles laughed as he said: Oh yes, of course, but did not move.

Sir Idris, 53, known for his role as DCI John Luther in the BBC crime series Luther, was knighted in the recent New Year Honours for services to young people.

The King with Sir Idris Elba during his visit to Barking & Dagenham Colleges Rush Green Campus (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA) (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror)

Sir Idris has long campaigned on the issue of youth violence, starting the initiative Dont Stop Your Future, which works with community grassroots organisations to end knife crime, and founded the grant-giving Elba Hope Foundation with his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba.

Speaking after the royal visit to the colleges Rush Green campus near Romford, the actor said: (When) I came here it was a very different building, none of this was all here, it was a bit smaller and I got my confidence, and from here I went to work as an actor.

Questioned about the importance of receiving the Princes Trust grant, Elba replied: them granting me that money gave the confidence, not only the facility financially but the confidence to be like Im doing this.

Asked about the royal family being overshadowed by recent events he said: I have no thoughts on that right now.

Members of the royal family have been heckled about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors association with the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal, but when the royal couple began their day meeting local community workers in Barking they encountered a protest on a different topic.

A small group shouted free free Palestine but were drowned out by the noise of cheering crowds during Charles and Camillas walkabout.
Tammy and her husband, Martin (Collect/PA Real Life)

A 51-year-old Swindon mother-of-six said a last-minute Boots Opticians appointment saved her sight, and her life.

Tammy Jackson called the high street retailer after she experienced a quick flash in her vision, followed by sudden blurring days later, which turned out to be symptoms of eye cancer.

She believes that being able to go in for an appointment that same morning is what saved her sight, and maybe even her life.

Prior to her sudden symptoms, Tammy said her eyesight was normal, except for a lazy eye, a birthmark, and general strain from getting older and working with computers.

In fact, she said she had a routine eye test towards the start of 2025 where nothing out of the ordinary had been detected.

Tammy Jackson said she experienced a quick flash in her vision (Collect/PA Real Life)

Then, on September 22 2025, Tammy said she was making a cup of tea in her work kitchen when she saw what she thought was a small black fly zoom across her face, which worried her only for the fact that flies arent a good sign while working at a funeral home.

A few days later, Tammy said the flash happened again, but she didnt really think anything of it.

When she woke up on the morning of September 27, her vision was blocked by a black dot the size of a five pence piece in the centre of her eye, which looked like she was seeing through smeared wet paint.

That is when Tammy decided to ring her local Boots Opticians, who said they had a last-minute cancellation if she could get down to The Brunel Shopping Centre in Swindon for 10.30am.

Tammy said: I was seen quite quickly, but my gut was immediately telling me that theres something not quite right.

According to Tammy, Hassan, an optometrist and Boots Macmillan Optician Professional, told her she had swelling in her right eye, which he thought could be a detached retina  where the thin layer of the back of an eye becomes loose  or something else that looked suspicious, so he promptly referred her to Great Western Hospital.

Tammy with Boots Opticians, Daniel Karikari (left) and Hassan Awan (right) (PA Real Life)

But after she got there, Tammy said she was told that the hospital had not received the scans she had taken at Boots Opticians, and rather than making her do them all over again, they encouraged her to come back on Monday.

When Monday came, I woke up and I just thought its cancer, Tammy said. Thats what I said to Martin, my husband.

At Great Western Hospital on September 29, Tammy had more tests and noticed medical staff were particularly focusing on her right eye.

After a few hours, Tammy said a consultant told her they had found something sinister, but that they wanted to transfer her care to a specialist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.

By the time the follow-up appointment came around on October 9, Tammy said her eye had worsened quite quickly, with the five pence piece-sized blind spot widening to the size of a 10 pence piece, as well as experiencing fluid leakage, more swelling, and headaches.

On the mental toll, Tammy said: Working in a funeral home, death stares you in the face every day, so I was planning for the future. I just thought that if Im going to die, I need to make sure that people know what songs I want at my funeral.

Tammy said she had tests done and noticed medical staff were particularly focusing on her right eye (Collect/PA Real Life)

It was heavy because theres a lot of cancer within my family, so I just thought my life was over.

At her Moorfields appointment, Tammy said she had more tests done that lasted around seven hours, before a consultant revealed the diagnosis  a small choroidal melanoma.

She said they explained to her the Moles Scoring Chart, which is an acronym for a diagnostic scoring system used to determine risk level.

Out of five factors  mushroom shape, orange pigment, large size, enlargement, and subretinal fluid  Tammy said she had four, which predicted a high suspicion of cancer.

Just hearing those words, you automatically think thats it, Tammy said.

Your lifes over.

Tammy had a gut feeling something wasnt right (Collect/PA Real Life)

The hardest thing I had to do was tell my children. Seeing their faces and the uncertainty of what was to happen next broke my heart, she said of her four children, Andrew, 34, Joanna, 33, Stewart, 28, Angel, 26, and two step-children, Jordan, 27, and Abi, 22.

Tammys treatment started on November 13 and consisted of ophthalmic plaque brachytherapy, which delivers targeted radiation by placing a small radioactive disc called a plaque over the eye during a surgery that sews it in place to the eye.

According to Cancer Research UK, the thicker the cancer, the longer the plaque is left on for, with some lasting up to seven days  Tammy said hers was on for a day-and-a-half because she caught the cancer so early.

In the aftermath of the procedure, Tammy said her eye was swollen and blistered, and she had to administer numerous eye drops four times a day.

Today, Tammy said her current prognosis is good, with her follow-up appointment due in May to check the effectiveness of the treatment, then she will likely need regular checks every year or six months.

Tammy said her general eye health has improved after the treatment, but her vision is not completely back to normal.

Tammys Moorfields Eye Hospital scans (Collect/PA Real Life)

She recalled a conversation with a consultant, who said she will always have her cancer and the only way to get rid of it is to have her eye removed, but because she caught it early, that option is extreme and unlikely.

On why it is important for Tammy to share her story, she said: I never in a million years thought that you could get cancer in your eyes. And if thats what I think, maybe other people think that way as well.

Symptoms of eye cancer

NHS

Symptoms of eye cancer can include:

shadows, flashes of light, or wiggly lines in your vision

blurred vision

a dark patch in your eye that's getting bigger

partial or total loss of vision

bulging of 1 eye

a lump on your eyelid or in your eye that's increasing in size

eye irritation that is not going away

pain in or around your eye, although this is rare

The number one thing: If youre due an eye test, have it done. Its really not worth putting it off. Its all too easy. Ive done it myself. But have the eye test done.

With Boots getting me seen so quickly and by doing the referrals  it sounds dramatic  but its saved my eye, but potentially also saved my life. If it werent for them being so fast-acting on what they were seeing, it could potentially have been missed.

Tammy told Martin she thought she had cancer (Collect/PA Real Life)

If my story only helps one person, then thats one more person whos getting the help that they need, she said.

To book a Boots Opticians eye test, visit its website here.
Liam Neeson has expressed concerns about the future of cinema, citing the growing number of films bypassing theatrical releases in favour of streaming platforms.

The 73-year-old Northern Irish actor, best known for his roles in Schindlers List and Michael Collins, has enjoyed a career spanning nearly five decades.

While promoting his most recent film, Cold Storage, in which he plays grizzled bioterror operative Robert Quinn, Neeson said he is concerned about the state of Hollywood.

The movie industry is changing, streaming services are merging, companies are being bought out, Neeson told the Press Association.

Liam Neeson stars as a bioterror operative in Cold Storage (Studiocanal SAS/PA)

Were all very concerned about the state of Hollywood. Whats going to happen to feature films?

Reflecting on his long career, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for his role as Oskar Schindler, Neeson acknowledged the challenges of the acting profession.

Ive been very, very lucky, he said. I have friends and acquaintances, actors, some of whom havent worked for months and months. Its a profession filled with rejection. It really is.

Youre told, Youre not right, youre too Irish. Can you change your accent? Oh, youre taller than I thought you were.

All this kind of criticism follows you throughout your career, certainly in the early days. Ive been very, very lucky.

Neeson, who recently starred in the action-comedy film The Naked Gun alongside Pamela Anderson and has three other films yet to be released, said he is eager to work with talented actors and directors.

Liam Neeson and his co-star Pamela Anderson at The Naked Gun premiere in London (PA) (Ian West)

Id love the chance to work with up-and-coming directors, he said. I may be a little out of touch, but there just seems to be incredible talent out there.

He praised his Cold Storage co-stars Joe Keery and Georgina Campbell, noting their inspiring on-screen chemistry.

Neeson said: I didnt know Joes work, I may have seen a couple of early episodes of Stranger Things. Georgina, I didnt know at all.

They were just terrific to work with. They inspired me and gave me a sense of the pace my character should speak at.

Most of my lines involve bioterror-related physics and chemistry, but working with Joe and Georgina on the first day I loved them. Their chemistry was terrific and inspired how I delivered my performance.

Directed by Jonny Campbell and written by David Koepp, Cold Storage follows the efforts to contain a parasitic fungus that escapes from an abandoned military base.

In the film, Keery and Campbell play Teacake and Naomi, two young employees of a self-storage company built on the old US military base who assist Quinn in preventing the fungus from triggering catastrophic extinction.

Cold Storage will be released in UK cinemas on Friday.
Senator Lindsey Graham allegedly caused a spectacle during diplomatic talks in Munich by lobbing a sexist insult at Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Graham allegedly addressed Frederiksen as "little lady" as he looked her "straight in the eye" and sneered at her, according to an account from Danish newspaper Berlingske, cited by the Daily Beast.

Members of the U.S. House and Senate and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen were also at the meeting, which was held to discuss Trumps threats to annex the autonomous territory of Denmark, which is a NATO ally.

Puck first reported on Grahams alleged meltdown, and cited sources familiar with the talks who claim the senator was "combative" and throwing around "lots of F-bombs."

One person reportedly described the scene as "Graham on his worst TV day."

Senator Lindsey Graham allegedly called Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen little lady and yawned in the face of Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during diplomatic talks in Munich (Getty)

Berlingske cites alleged witnesses who said the debacle was "disturbing," "shocking" and "extremely inappropriate."

Another source told the paper that Graham also yawned directly in his [Nielsens] face in a way that could only be perceived as mocking.

Reports suggest that prior to his outburst, Graham was boasting about Trump and the amount of power he controls.

Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin, who was reportedly in attendance, was said to have been so shocked by Graham's behavior that she walked out of the meeting. She later returned visibly shaken, according to reports.

The Independent has requested comment from both Graham and Slotkin.

A day before the alleged incident took place, Slotkin told Bloombergs Oliver Crook that actions taken by American leaders could very easily damage the nations relationship with long-time allies.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was reportedly a target of sexist taunts by Graham (AFP via Getty Images)

I think it takes a long time to build trust and an instant to lose it, Slotkin said. When you start acting erratically, when you act like a madman and no one knows what youre going to do next, they cant trust to make a deal with you, to sign up for something.

Frederiksen reportedly took the tantrum in stride, waited for Graham to finish, and told him "when you're done with that, the meeting can continue."

Graham may have given the world a taste of his reported diplomatic performance on Friday when he made dismissive remarks to Politico about Denmark's relationship with Greenland.

"Who gives a s*** who owns Greenland," he told the outlet. The point is Greenland is going to be more fortified because Donald Trump, once he feels like its his brand or his buy-in, is going to go big.
Lindsey Vonn has revealed her dog Leo died the day after she crashed in the womens downhill at the Winter Olympics in Cortina.

Vonn suffered a complex leg fracture when clipping a gate and falling just seconds into her run earlier this month, with the 41-year-old airlifted to hospital and subsequently undergoing a string of operations before returning to America, where she will have further surgery.

In a post on Instagram, Vonn paid tribute to 13-year-old Leo, who she said had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer.

She said: This has been an incredibly hard few days. Probably the hardest of my life. I have still not come to terms that he is gone.

The day I crashed, so did Leo, He had been recently diagnosed with lung cancer but now his heart was failing him. He was in pain and his body could no longer keep up with his strong mind.

As I laid in my hospital bed the day after my crash, we said goodbye to my big boy. I had lost so much that meant something to me in such a short amount of time. I cant believe it.

Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to hospital after falling in Cortina (Andrew Milligan/PA) (Andrew Milligan)

She concluded: There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first love.

Heading in for more surgery today. Will be thinking of him when I close my eyes.

I will love you forever my big boy.
Its time to dust off a frow-worthy outfit and perfect your quizzical eyebrow raise  London Fashion Week is back for autumn/winter 2026. With catwalk comebacks, hotly tipped emerging talent and the return of fashion week fixtures including Burberry, Erdem and Simone Rocha, theres plenty of reason to get excited about the shows.

Then, of course, theres the posing and partying. You dont need press accreditation or an enlarged ego to get in on the action, so heres the inside track on who and what to look out for this season, as well as where to head and what to wear.

First, the basics. LFW is not actually a week at all but rather a long weekend, which this season runs from Thursday, February 19 to Monday, February 23. Editors, buyers, stylists and a decent handful of celebrities will descend on the city to cast a discerning eye over the painstakingly crafted wares of some 120 designers and brands.

Simone Rocha (Ben Broomfield @photobenphoto)

Last year, the spring/summer 2026 edition of LFW  the first following the appointment of Laura Weir as chief executive of the British Fashion Council  had a certain fresh energy and buzz. The question is, can this be sustained for Weirs sophomore offering?

Things are looking promising. The Central Saint Martins MA graduate show will make for interesting viewing as ever, while hotly anticipated first-timers on the schedule include Ronan Mckenzie, who will present her label Selasi. Then there are the comebacks  Julien Macdonald, whose vertiginous return to LFW will take place on the 69th floor of The Shard, and Joseph, which is back on the schedule after nine years, under newly appointed creative director Mario Arena.

As for newer names that have become hot tickets in recent years, look to Talia Byre, Patrick McDowell, Chopova Lowena, Chet Lo and Completedworks.

Naomi Campbell and Julien Macdonald (REXMAILPIX)

But dont worry if you dont have tickets. Much of a shows atmosphere can be soaked up outside it, so by all means float around LFWs key locations. The schedule is scattered all over the capital, but the focal point is 180 Strand, the BFCs base for the week and the home of its LFW designer showcase.

Whether or not you manage to sneak in for a peek, there are worse ways to spend a day out than on the show trail. A celebrated aspect of LFW is its ability to spotlight some of the citys most brilliant buildings and secret spots, with catwalks popping up everywhere from Tate Modern and Somerset House to a west London skate park and the top of the BT Tower.

Then there are the extra-curriculars. If youd like to indulge in a little window shopping, head to Dover Street Market, which is hosting a jewellery pop-up featuring a selection of BFC designers, or swing by Selfridges, which has a dedicated LFW edit to peruse. South London brand Knwls will transform the Painting Rooms on Tottenham Court Road into a concept store and The Club Preloved is hosting a free pop-up in its studio near Old Street.

Edward Tang, Kate Moss and Victoria Tang-Owen attend China Tang at The Dorchester's 20th Anniversary Party (China Tang)

If all the excitement works up an appetite, visit some LFW-approved watering holes. Just down the road from 180 Strand, Vogue and Nike will once again transform The Corner Shop  a glam grocer-cum-cafe frequented by Conde Nast staffers from their office at the nearby Adelphi Building. The Broadwick Soho hotel will be operating at maximum capacity and is expecting an influx of bookings at its subterranean hotspot Dear Jackie.

Would-be party crashers should head for The Standard in Kings Cross, where its 10th-floor cocktail bar Sweeties often hosts after-parties, or make an as late-as-possible booking at China Tang at The Dorchester. Alternatively, loiter around Mandarin Oriental Mayfair on Hanover Square, scene of Patrick McDowells after-party last season. As for freshening up the morning after, rumour has it LFW designers including Sinead Gorey, Mark Fast and Bora Aksu love a CACI Synergy Flex facial at Lisa Franklins Knightsbridge clinic.

Finally  and perhaps most importantly  theres the matter of what to wear. Showboating or courting the favour of street-style photographers is to be avoided unless thats the way you always roll. By all means make an effort, but stick to your usual style if you want to avoid looking naff. A nice trick is to wear a London designer  a Chopova Lowena skirt here, an S.S.Daley knit there  to show youre in-the-know and support the cause in these most testing of commercial times.

Patrick McDowells SS26 show (Patrick McDowell)

Oh, and leave the heels at home, unless you plan on bundling into one of the fleet of tinted-windowed Mercedes-Benz G-wagons that roll around town shipping editors from show to show. Some old-school fashion folk are staunch advocates of getting the Tube, which is often quicker than waiting in traffic, or hopping on the BFCs shuttle bus. Whatever your mode of transport, youll be fine in flats. See you there.
A Palestinian doctor in Ohio is suing a Jewish Republican lawmaker over a road rage incident, despite himself pleading guilty to charges over the incident.

The drama unfolded last June as the pair drove eastbound on Interstate 90, with authorities first alerted by a 911 call from Rep. Max Miller, who represents Ohios 7th congressional district.

I was just driving to work, and I was cut off by a man in a Tesla who held up a Palestinian flag to me, and then rolled down his window and said that Im going to cut your throat and your daughters, Miller is heard saying on the call, details of which were earlier reported by NBC News.

And he said, Youre a dirty Jew. Im going to f***ing kill you all, and I know who you are and where you live.

Miller subsequently told police Hamdan swerved at him and shouted threats.

Dr. Feras Hamdan pleaded guilty to three misdemeanour charges because he had too much to lose to risk going to trial, his attorney says. (WKYC Channel 3)

"What I remember is death to Israel, Miller said in a recorded interview, footage of which was released by the department. 'Im going to kill you. I know where you live.'

That version of events was quickly disputed by Dr. Feras Hamdan, who turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued by Rocky River police.

Cell phone footage filmed from within Hamdans own vehicle included audio of him describing Miller as racist Jewish, and using an expletive and homophobic slur.

However, attorney Peter Pattakos said while the doctor admitted to turbulent behavior during the exchange, data from Hamdans Tesla showed his passenger side window, closest to Millers vehicle, had remained closed through the interaction, and it would have been nearly impossible for Miller to hear what was being shouted at him.

"We believe that Max Miller did this for own political gain, Pattakos told local ABC affiliate News 5. I think that there is a political project to justify whats happening in Israel right now and what the U.S. military is supporting there. I think Miller is a big part of that.

Rep. Max Miller, a Republican representing Ohios 7th congressional district, is an ardent support of Israel and President Trump. (Middle East Images)

Miller is an ardent supporter of President Trump, and has previously told Fox News that Palestine was going to get eviscerated and turned into a parking lot.

"He certainly did vilify my client, Pattakos told News 5. I mean, he made him out to be some deranged anti-Semitic murderer or wannabe murderer.

In a defamation suit filed by Pattakos on Tuesday, it was also claimed that data from Hamdans Tesla showed no erratic steering movements were made, which the attorney said called into question Millers claims that the doctor had swerved in his direction.

Pattakos said Hamdan took the plea deal for three misdemeanour charges because he had too much to lose by risking the case going to trial.

He was allowed to plead to expungable misdemeanors, and he didnt have to admit threatening Miller at all.

The defamation suit has kicked off another war of words, with a spokesperson for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office telling News 5 that Hamdan appeared to be getting misguided legal advice.

Congressman Miller was gracious in permitting a plea that allowed Dr. Hamdan to keep his medical license. This lawsuit may backfire and cost Dr. Hamdan the gift he was just given.

Millers legal team called it a desperate plea to save face, and pledged to file a counter claim.
Zuckerberg takes stand in social media trial as jury hears that hes trained on how to avoid being fake, robotic and corporate

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom to testify in a civil trial on social media addiction, a closely-watched case that could have major implications for the tech industry.

While testifying Wednesday at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Zuckerberg faced questions about his past congressional testimony, his companys approach to underage users and Instagrams beauty filters.

The 41-year-old CEO also faced more personal questions, including about his media training. At one point, the jury was shown a document titled the Zuckerberg comms plan, which includes advice on how to avoid appearing fake, robotic, corporate and cheesy.

This is the first time that the Meta CEO, who is worth an estimated $220 billion, has appeared in a civil trial. At the center of the case is a 20-year-old California woman, identified in court papers only as KGM, who filed a lawsuit against Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snap in 2022.

She accused the companies of following Big Tobaccos playbook: instilling addictive behaviors in teens while dismissing their own research showing their products posed health risks. KGM said that, as a young child, she began obsessively using YouTube and Instagram. She claimed these platforms exacerbated her suicidal thoughts and depression  an allegation the companies have denied.

Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire CEO of Meta, testified in a California courtroom Wednesday for a landmark case on social media addiction. The outcome of the case could have major implications for the tech industry (AFP via Getty)

As of Wednesday afternoon, Zuckerberg had not yet directly answered the key question of whether Instagram, which Meta owns, is addictive, according to the Associated Press. At one point, the plaintiffs attorney, Mark Lanier, asked him if people typically use something more if its addictive.

Im not sure what to say to that. I dont think that applies here, Zuckerberg testified.

Attorneys for the plaintiff claimed that approximately 4 million children under 13 used Instagram, according to CNBC. When Zuckerberg said that Meta removes the underage users it finds and includes information about age usage during sign-up, Lanier replied: You expect a nine-year-old to read all of the fine print?

The plaintiffs attorney questioned Zuckerberg about Instagrams beauty filters  AI-powered tools that alter a persons on-screen appearance  which have drawn criticism for negatively affecting users self-esteem. The CEO said the company had seen negative feedback about the filters, but ultimately decided not to ban them, citing freedom of expression.

A courtroom sketch shows Zuckerberg being sworn in ahead of his testimony (Reuters)

Lanier also asked Zuckerberg about his previous testimony before Congress, during which he said his company does not set internal goals to ensure users spend more time on its platforms. When Lanier presented documents that appeared to contradict his claim, Zuckerberg said his company used to set these goals, but later made a decision to stop, according to AP.

When questioned by Paul Schmidt, one of Metas attorneys, Zuckerberg told the court he wants his platforms to have a positive impact in peoples lives, according to Sky News.

During the high-profile proceedings  which barred cameras  the judge also threatened penalties for anyone caught recording with AI-powered smart glasses, CNBC reports. The outlet noted that several members of Zuckerbergs entourage appeared to be wearing Metas AI glasses when they entered the courthouse.

Earlier Wednesday, family members who say their children were harmed by social media were spotted in front of the courthouse, holding hands and embracing. One woman held up a photo of her late 14-year-old son, who she said died after purchasing fentanyl on social media.

Zuckerberg was flanked by several individuals who appeared to be part of his security detail, some of whom seemed to be wearing AI smart glasses (AFP via Getty)

As Zuckerberg entered the courthouse, he appeared to be served legal papers. A video posted online showed a man approaching the tech boss with a sheaf of papers, while saying: Mark Zuckerberg, youve been served. Zuckerberg did not respond and its not clear if someone in his entourage picked up the paperwork.

Before the trial began, TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff, narrowing the case to two defendants: Meta and Google.

These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, Lanier said at the beginning of the trial earlier this month.

And they did it on purpose.

Outside the courthouse, a man attempted to hand a sheaf of papers to the billionaire CEO, while stating, Mark Zuckerberg, you've been served. Its unclear if a member of Zuckerbergs entourage collected the papers (AFP via Getty)

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has pushed back against the allegations.

The question for the jury in Los Angeles is whether Instagram was a substantial factor in the plaintiffs mental health struggles. The evidence will show she faced many significant, difficult challenges well before she ever used social media, a Meta spokesperson told The Independent.

Schmidt, Metas lawyer, said in his opening statement that medical records indicate the plaintiff had a tumultuous home life and that she sought out social media platforms to cope with her pre-existing struggles.

Family members who say their children were harmed by social media were spotted in front of the courthouse, holding hands and embracing ahead of Zuckerbergs testimony (AFP via Getty)

Outside the courthouse, a woman named Amy Neville displayed a picture of her son Alexander, who died at 14 from fentanyl bought through social media (Getty)

Google has also denied the allegations brought by KGM.

More than 1,500 similar lawsuits have been filed against social media companies, but KGMs is the first of a consolidated group to go to trial, according to CNN. Its been chosen as a bellwether trial, meaning its verdict could help shape the outcome of numerous suits like it.

A legal victory for KGM could set a landmark precedent, making tech companies liable for designing addictive and harmful products.

In recent years, a number of studies have found links between young peoples frequent use of social media and negative mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and depression.

Meta, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, is also on trial in a separate case in New Mexico, in which plaintiffs accuse the company of exposing minors to sexual material and fostering a breeding ground for sexual predators. The company has denied the charges and has accused prosecutors of adopting sensationalist tactics.

Paul Schmidt, Metas attorney, has argued that the plaintiff sought out social media platforms to cope with pre-existing mental health struggles (AFP via Getty)

Zuckerberg has appeared before Congress to testify on what impact his platforms  which are used by billions of people worldwide  have on youth mental health.

In January 2024, Zuckerberg attended a Capitol Hill hearing on social medias harms, where lawmakers blasted him and other tech CEOs for failing to adequately address issues including addiction, mental health crises, bullying and sexual predators.

During the televised hearing, children and parents provided testimony describing how young people were exploited on social media platforms. Demonstrators silently stood behind Zuckerberg, holding up pictures of their dead children.

During his congressional testimony in 2024, Zuckerberg was confronted by family members of victims who died following sexual exploitation or harassment on social media (AFP via Getty)

At one point, Republican Senator Josh Hawley asked Zuckerberg if he would like to apologize to the families of victims seated in the room.

Im sorry for everything you have all been through, the Meta CEO said, while turning to face them. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered. He noted that the company has invested in industrywide efforts to safeguard children.

In recent years, Meta has implemented several child safety measures, including age restrictions and parental controls.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday confessed he was pretty bad at portraying himself as human and relatable, admitting he tended to come off as fake and cheesy while testifying in court for the first time ever about Facebooks alleged tendency to addict young users, which he denied.

The tech mogul pushed back strongly during questioning by attorney Mark Lanier, who is representing the plaintiff, a 20-year-old woman identified in legal filings only as KGM, seemingly contradicting prior testimony before Congress in which he insisted Meta did not set internal targets to ensure users spent as much time as possible on its platforms.

If you are trying to say my testimony was not accurate, I strongly disagree with that, Zuckerberg testified.

The landmark trial in Los Angeles Superior Court has been described as social medias Big Tobacco moment, in which the industry will, at long last, be held to account for knowingly causing harm.

Lanier said in his opening statement nine days ago that KGM started using Instagram, which is owned by Meta, at age nine. Before she reached high school, KGM had posted nearly 300 videos online, Lanier said.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified for the first time ever on Wednesday on the alleged harms of social media on young people (Getty)

KGM, now 20, brought her lawsuit against Meta in July 2023. Her mother tried to stop her from accessing social media, using a third-party app blocker, but KGM was able to get around it, her suit said.

It claimed that KGM was enticed into using Meta products 24 hours a day, developing an addiction of sorts. Further, Meta allegedly connected KGM with predatory adults she never would have met in real life, leading her to depression and acts of self-harm, according to the suit.

KGMs lawsuit said her social media use has caused depression and suicidal ideation.

In fact, it took KGMs friends and family spamming and asking other Instagram users to report the persons targeting minor KGM for a two-week period before Meta did anything about the abuses, violation of terms and illegal conduct of which it, by then, had full knowledge, the suit said

Last week, Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified that he did not think people could become clinically addicted to social media.

The lawsuit brought by KGM, who lives in Chico, California, is widely considered to be a test case among more than 1,500 others that have been filed against social media companies. If KGM is successful, her victory could set a precedent holding tech companies liable for designing addictive products that hook young users and foment negative mental health outcomes.

Meta is accused of hooking underage users on its social media platforms, a charge CEO Mark Zuckerberg flatly denied in court testimony on Wednesday (AFP/Getty)

Zuckerberg said on Wednesday that those under the age of 13 have never been allowed on Metas platforms, even though KGM said she started using the companys offerings years earlier.

I generally think that there are a set of people, potentially a meaningful number of people, who lie about their age in order to use our services, Zuckerberg testified. Theres a separate and very important question about enforcement, and its very difficult.

You expect a 9-year-old to read all of the fine print? Zuckerberg was asked. Thats your basis for swearing under oath that children under 13 are not allowed?

Meta started asking users for their birthdates in late 2019.

Two-thirds of Americans have an unfavorable view of Zuckerberg, according to a February 2025 poll by the Pew Research Center, with just two percent saying they have very favorable feelings about him.

As Zuckerberg was about to pass through a metal detector at the courthouse on Wednesday, a security guard asked if he had any metal on him.

I have a gold chain on, he replied, according to the New York Post.

For the first time, a Meta CEO will have to sit before a jury, under oath, and explain why the company released a product its own safety teams warned were addictive and harmful to children, attorney Matt Bergman said (Getty)

Zuckerbergs testimony on Wednesday was the first time he has answered questions under oath about social media and child safety.

A Meta spokesperson told NBC News that the evidence will show [KGM] faced many significant, difficult challenges well before she ever used social media.

On Wednesday, Zuckerberg insisted he was focused on building a community that is sustainable.

If you do something thats not good for people, maybe theyll spend more time [on the platform] short term, but if theyre not happy with it, theyre not going to use it over time, he argued. Im not trying to maximize the amount of time people spend every month.

Zuckerbergs testimony has been a long time coming, according to attorney Matt Bergman of the Social Media Victims Law Center, which is representing more than 1,000 plaintiffs in proceedings against Meta.

For the first time, a Meta CEO will have to sit before a jury, under oath, and explain why the company released a product its own safety teams warned were addictive and harmful to children, Bergman said ahead of Zuckerbergs appearance. They deserve the truth about what company executives knew. And they deserve accountability from the people who chose growth and engagement over the safety of their children.

Zuckerberg has faced criticism for cozying up to President Donald Trump as the twice-impeached former president took office again in 2025, donating $1 million to the two-time presidents inauguration fund.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Mark Zuckerberg is set to give evidence in a landmark social media trial, which scrutinises whether Meta's platforms intentionally addict and harm children.

The Meta CEO is anticipated to face rigorous questioning on Wednesday from lawyers representing a 20-year-old woman, identified as KGM. She alleges that her early engagement with social media led to addiction, worsening her depression and suicidal ideation.

Meta Platforms and Google's YouTube are the remaining defendants in the ongoing case, following settlements by TikTok and Snap.

While Mr Zuckerberg has previously testified in other legal proceedings and addressed Congress regarding youth safety on Meta's platforms  even apologising to families whose lives were devastated by social media-related tragedies  this particular trial marks the first instance he will answer such questions before a jury.

The on-going case has led to settlements with TikTok and Snap (AFP/Getty)

Bereaved parents are once again expected to occupy the limited public seating in the courtroom.

The case, along with two others, has been selected as a bellwether trial, meaning its outcome could impact how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies would play out.

A Meta spokesperson said the company strongly disagrees with the allegations in the lawsuit and said they are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.

One of Meta's attorneys, Paul Schmidt, said in his opening statement that the company is not disputing that KGM experienced mental health struggles, but rather that Instagram played a substantial factor in those struggles. He pointed to medical records that showed a turbulent home life, and both he and an attorney representing YouTube argue she turned to their platforms as a coping mechanism or a means of escaping her mental health struggles.

Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, arrives in court to testify in the same case last week (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Zuckerberg's testimony comes a week after that of Adam Mosseri, the head of Meta's Instagram, who said in the courtroom that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms. Mosseri maintained that Instagram works hard to protect young people using the service, and said it's not good for the company, over the long run, to make decisions that profit for us but are poor for peoples well-being."

Much of Mosseri's questioning from the plaintiff's lawyer, Mark Lanier, centered on cosmetic filters on Instagram that changed peoples appearance  a topic that Lanier is sure to revisit with Zuckerberg. He is also expected to face questions about Instagrams algorithm, the infinite nature of Meta feeds and other features the plaintiffs argue are designed to get users hooked.

Meta is also facing a separate trial in New Mexico that began last week.
February 18, 2026: Families of Russian soldiers have been complaining about the harsh treatment their sons, fathers, husbands and brothers have received while fighting in Ukraine. Nearly 2,000 of them describe wrongdoing in the ranks that is largely hidden from the Russian public because of a ban on criticizing the military and the eradication of independent media.

The complaints of severe abuse appear to be most concentrated in units with troops recruited from prisons and or those detained for criminal activity. Russia relies on these soldiers to avoid a broader draft that could generate opposition to the war. Allegations of these abuses were described as soldiers being sent to the front despite debilitating medical conditions like broken or missing limbs, advanced cancer, epilepsy, severely damaged vision and hearing, head trauma, schizophrenia and stroke complications.

Released prisoners of war were sent back into combat. Russian officers threaten their own soldiers with a bullet in the head so often that these murders are called zeroing out those unwilling to advance against the Ukrainians.

This should not be surprising because Russia operates differently, especially when at war. Some of the differences include barbaric treatment of Russian soldiers by their officers, and brutal conduct by Russian soldiers when dealing with enemy prisoners or civilians going about their business. So far there have been over a hundred cases of Russian officers killing their own troops for refusing to fight. This is called zeroing out unfit, rebellious or disliked soldiers. The Russian government explicitly condoned and encouraged these punishments early on in the war. Russian leaders also ignore Ukrainian or NATO complaints about Russian mistreatment and murder of Ukrainian civilians. Russian leaders regard this atrocious behavior as an example of how Russia is different from the decadent West and will eventually triumph because Russia is willing to do things the decadent Westerners abhor and avoid.

Despite international condemnation and criticism, Russian bad behavior continues. For example, earlier this year soldiers of the Russian 61st Naval Infantry Brigade committed atrocities by attacking civilians with drones to terrorize people in southern Ukraine. The victims were often going about their daily routine but, if they were out in the open, they were targets for these frequent drone attacks. The attacks were also on ambulances, which were supposed to have some immunity from attack. The Russians ignored that and killed ambulance drivers, medics, and passengers. Before this terrorism ended over 200 civilians were killed and hundreds more wounded.

In 2023, a year after the invasion, Russian soldiers were accused of numerous atrocities and war crimes in Ukraine. Reports via the Russian internet described numerous Russian war crimes against civilians in Ukraine. Many Russian commentators admit that the war in Ukraine is lost and want Putin held accountable for the heavy cost in men, money and prestige. Ukraine will be demanding prosecutions for war crimes and compensation from Russia for damages and numerous atrocities.

Most Russians criticize their own military. There are many reasons, and most stem from the poor treatment of conscript soldiers.

The Russian military was unpopular for the one year conscripts mainly because of the brutal treatment they received. This was not getting better, and hazing incidents constantly increased. This is a serious problem. There were a lot of reasons for not wanting to be in the Russian Army, but the worst of them was the hazing of new recruits by soldiers who had been in a few months longer. It was thought that this sort of thing would speed the demise of conscription in Russia once the Cold War ended in 1991. It didn't.

The government found that, even among the higher quality contract/volunteer soldiers, the old abuses lived on, and most of the best contract soldiers left when their contracts were up. This was because of the brutality and lack of discipline in the barracks. The hazing was most frequently committed by troops who had been in for six months or so against the new recruits. That extended to a pattern of abuse and brutality by all senior enlisted troops against junior ones. It was and is out of control.

This hazing originally developed after World War II, when Russia deliberately avoided developing a professional NCO corps. It preferred to have officers take care of nearly all troop supervision. The Soviets failed to note that good NCOs were the key to developing effective soldiers. They felt that officers were more reliable, as they were more carefully selected and monitored. The NCOs that did exist were treated as slightly more reliable enlisted men but given little real authority.

Since officers did not live with the men, slack supervision and discipline in the barracks gave rise to vicious hazing and exploitation of junior conscripts by senior ones. This led to very low morale and a lot of suicides, theft, sabotage, and desertions. The hazing has been one of the basic causes of crimes in the Russian armed forces, accounting for 20 to 30 percent of all soldier crimes. This also produced a suicide rate that is among the highest in the world. Poor working conditions in general also mean that Russian soldiers are nearly twice as likely to die from accidents or suicide than American soldiers. Long recognized as a problem, no solution to the hazing has ever worked.

Conscription itself, and the prospect of being exposed to hazing, led to a massive increase in draft-dodging. Bribes and document fraud were freely used. Few parents or potential conscripts consider this a crime. Avoiding the draft was seen as a form of self-preservation long before the massive casualties of the current war began.

The Russian lack of sergeants was difficult to fix. Just promoting more troops to that rank, paying them more, and telling them to take charge did not work. Upon looking at how Western armies did it, the Russians noted that those foreign armies provided a lot of professional training for new NCOs and more of it as the NCOs advanced in rank. But this was a long-term process, and it was known that it would take years, perhaps decades, before benefits could be felt.

All this is in sharp contrast to the old days. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, it had five million troops in its armed forces. Throughout the 1990s it was just a million in Russia. As a result of these personnel problems, Russian efforts to reform and upgrade its armed forces failed. The basic problem was that few Russian men were willing to join, even at good pay rates. Efforts to recruit women and foreigners have not made up for this. The Russian military has an image problem that just won't go away. This resulted in the period of service for conscripts being lowered to one year in 2008. That was partly to placate the growing number of parents who were encouraging and assisting their kids in avoiding military service.

All this came after more than a decade of reforms in the armed forces, particularly the army. Poor discipline, low morale, and incompetent performance are all legacies of the 19211991 Soviet era. Russian commanders, envious of the success of all-volunteer Western forces, had long studied their former foes and decided to adopt many more Western military customs. For example, one reform ordered that Russian troops would not be confined to their barracks most of the time. In the Soviet era, conscripted troops were treated like convicts, and their barracks were more like a prison than the college dormitory atmosphere found in troop housing for Western military personnel. Russian conscripts were now free to leave the base on weekends and work only a five-day week. Things like this helped a bit, but not enough.

Russia has tried to change public attitudes toward the armed forces by publicizing all the new changes and programs. But word got around that most of these efforts failed. Blame that on the internet. Polls consistently show that most military-age men do not want to serve in the military, and the main reason is the hazing and prison-like conditions in the barracks. Then Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and manpower problems became even worse due to escalating corruption and massive casualties. After the Ukraine War is over there will be more efforts at reform and all these efforts might someday succeed.
Heightened tastes  Orghum and sweetcorn mixed with mixed nut pastes, garnished with raisins, crushed nuts, honey, and hibiscus sugar chunks. Photograph: Ala kheir (Photograph: Ala kheir)

Today starts the first week of Ramadan, and I have the great pleasure of digging into The Sudanese Kitchen by Omer Al Tijani. The war in Sudan has been going on for almost three years now, and Ramadan is a month that arrives with heightened feelings for those fasting in the middle of conflict and displacement. The cookbook, a first-of-its-kind collection of Sudanese recipes, is both a celebration of Sudan and a reminder of all that is at stake.

Al Tijani first realised he needed to learn how to make his own Sudanese food while he was a student at the University of Manchester in the early 2010s. The packages of treats his mother prepared never lasted long enough; he grew sick of student food and began looking for recipes, but there were few resources. Over 15 years, his passion for tracing and documenting Sudanese recipes took him all over Sudan, and his work became, as he told me, bound in Sudans political story. He gathered recipes and food culture on the ground during the revolution that overthrew president Omar al-Bashir, Sudans dictator of 30 years.

As I embarked on the project, Al Tijani told me, we were embroiled in the revolution, we drove all over Sudan during fuel cuts, protests, sit-ins. Khartoum itself was teeming with revolutionary spirit.

What he found is a cuisine that is not uniform, just as Sudan is not.

***

A diverse country and cuisine

Sudanese food, Al Tijani tells me, encompasses a colossal range of dishes across a vast country, mixing African and Arab influences. But because Sudans political and economic power was centred in Khartoum and the heartlands of the countrys elites, so much of Sudans food is unknown to its own people. The Sudanese Kitchen, he said, is a revelation to both non-Sudanese and Sudanese people. He himself was astonished to find that mushrooms were grown in parts of Sudan, and that they were cooked in a dish called chicken stew without bones. (I tell him that I was similarly astonished that gurasa, a thick salty pancake that was a staple in our household, was not something everyone else consumed. It was like hearing that others didnt eat toast.)

Perusing the book is an experience of meeting the country, so diligently has Al Tijani traced recipes to regions and topographies. But there is an inescapable sense of loss that hovers over the whole endeavour. One made even more poignant by all the imagery of homes, yards, and mothers and grandmothers at their stoves. For so many, life is either suspended or erased due to a war that has led Sudan to experience the largest displacement and hunger crisis in the world.

***

Food in the long shadow of war

If The Sudanese Kitchen had come out before the war, it would have inspired a very different response. Today, it feels like something much more fraught and inflected with trauma. It hit a nerve with many people, Al Tijani said. Many were emotional at the launch  it was the first time the country came back to them, it was alive again, it was well again, it was full of joy. It inspired a visceral reaction.

Now, Sudanese food is simply no longer the thing that you enjoy in peace, even if you are not in the conflict zone. It is a reminder, an artefact, a relic, even a symbol. I was reminded of meeting a friend for dinner in Nairobi, a city that is now the home of many Sudanese refugees, and seeing a drink on the menu named after the iconic Sudanese female warriors of the past, the kandakas. Once your culture becomes a cocktail, my friend said, you know your country is in trouble.

Food now, Al Tijani said, is not just dinner but something you are experiencing in a new way that is hard to process, outside home and context. This feeling is even heavier during Ramadan. Al Tijani described the aura around Ramadan in Sudan: how hyper-domestic it is, how swirlingly social. Sudanese food has little street or casual cafe-friendly features. Heavy in long-stewed meat dishes; hand-processed and cut leaves and spices; fermented, hand-spun savoury crepes and pancakes; its not a cuisine you are grabbing in the street. Its something you go home for.

Even before Ramadan starts, the streets are full of caramelised and dried ingredients for juices and stews. The few days at the start of Ramadan are a culinary climax. People are way more open in Sudan during Ramadan, Al Tijani said  houses open up, and invitations are extended. The whole preparation takes weeks. Your house looks different, it feels different. Different people are in it because you cant prepare for Ramadan on your own. So youll find women going from one house to another.

Theres a whole social formation and opening up of domestic spaces that makes the sense of loss of those spaces even more painful. Al Tijani is right  Ramadan used to feel like a wedding. On top of that, I think, there is the heightened taste of the food itself, consumed after a long fast, that forges a love and passion for its richness. Breaking the fast with a hot, salty, lemony broth of peanut paste, for example, is  no pun intended  a religious experience.

***

Keeping Sudan on the map

With food, though, Al Tijani said, there is an element of keeping something alive. We are all renegotiating our relationship with an identity that is still very much alive, and a country that is being destroyed. Ever since the war, I have felt even more of a calling to make it a mission of mine, he said of getting information about Sudan out to as many people as possible.

For me, this book is my form of resistance. The one way that I can put Sudan on the map to counter destructive narratives, to tell Sudans story. Its the opposite of erasure; these are fixed things. We lived in these houses, we cooked these ingredients, we used these utensils  this is how we constructed our lives.



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A makeshift memorial for Ukrainian and foreign soldiers in Independence Square in Kyiv, as the war nears its fifth year. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images)

The latest round of US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva on Wednesday ended without a major breakthrough, as fighting continues in a war that will enter its fifth year next week.

Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said no agreement had been reached on the thorniest questions at the negotiations in Switzerland, accusing Moscow of trying to drag out the process.

We can see that some groundwork has been done, but for now the positions differ, because the negotiations were not easy, he told reporters after the talks.

Zelenskyy said the status of Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which remains under Moscows control, were among the most contentious unresolved issues.

Related: Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says Trump exerting unfair pressure on Kyiv during Geneva talks

He added that discussions had taken place along military and political tracks, including how any potential ceasefire might be implemented, describing the military channel as constructive. The military understand how to monitor a ceasefire and the end of the war if there is political will, he said.

The second day of talks ended after just two hours, signalling scant progress and underscoring how distant a deal still appears, despite Donald Trumps promises to end the war on the first day of his presidency.

Russias chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, described the Geneva discussions as difficult but businesslike as he left the talks, adding that further rounds were planned. Known for his ultra-conservative stance and widely disliked in Ukraine, Medinsky said new talks would soon follow.

The meetings were always likely to stall over the fate of Ukrainian-held territory in the east, which Moscow has demanded be fully ceded as a precondition for halting the fighting. Kyiv has rejected those terms, though Zelenskyy has said he is willing to consider alternative arrangements, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from parts of the east and the establishment of a demilitarised zone.

Speaking to Axios on Tuesday, Zelenskyy stressed that the Ukrainian public would reject any peace deal requiring Kyiv to unilaterally withdraw from the Donbas. Emotionally, people will never forgive this. Never. They will not forgive  me, they will not forgive [the US], he said.

Another unresolved issue is security guarantees, with Zelenskyy repeatedly stressing that any territorial compromise would come only after Ukraine secures firm commitments from its western allies, including Washington.

But the Trump administration, eager for an international policy win to bolster the presidents standing at home, has been pushing Kyiv to first agree to territorial concessions, offering security guarantees only afterwards.

Zelenskyy highlighted the time discrepancy earlier this week, writing on X: Our American friends, they are preparing security guarantees. But they said  first this swap of territories, or something like that, and then security guarantees. I think  first, security guarantees. Second, we will not give up our territories because we are ready for compromise.

European leaders have said Vladimir Putin is unlikely to make meaningful compromises unless the situation on the battlefield or at home deteriorates to the point at which he is forced to.

Ukraine may draw some encouragement from recent western intelligence assessments suggesting Russia is facing growing difficulties recruiting troops for the war. The Kremlins forces have made limited territorial gains this year, while Ukrainian troops have managed several localised counteroffensives in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. Moscows economy has also slowed to near-zero growth, though officials and analysts say the pressure is not sufficient at this stage to alter the Kremlins behaviour.

The Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said: As long as Putin is in power, Russia isnt paralysed by widespread protests, and there is at least some money left in the budget for weapons, the war will continue.
A two-month-old boy with bronchitis was deported to Mexico with his mother and sister shortly after he was released from a hospital in Texas, where the family was detained inside a facility holding a growing number of immigrant families.

Juan Nicolas, who was the youngest person detained inside the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, was rushed to a hospital Monday night after roughly three weeks at the facility, according to Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro. Juan was unresponsive while hospitalized but was discharged hours after he arrived, the congressman said.

On Tuesday night, after an immigration court judge ordered the mothers removal, the family was deported to Mexico and abandoned with only $190 they saved in a commissary account in ICE detention, according to Castro.

To unnecessarily deport a sick baby and his entire family is heinous, Castro said. My staff and I are in contact with Juans family. We are laser-focused on tracking them down, holding ICE accountable for this monstrous action, demanding specific details on their whereabouts and wellbeing, and ensuring their safety.

The family was able to book a hotel room, according to Univision reporter Lidia Terrazas, who tracked down the family in Mexico.

Outrage over the case of Juan Nicolas has followed protests and heightened scrutiny about conditions inside a sprawling family detention center in rural Texas holding a growing number of immigrant families (Getty Images)

Juans mother, Mireya Lopez-Sanchez, told Univision that her son was choking on his own vomit and wasnt moving while in the hospital.

Even the officer was scared because he said: he doesn't move, said Lopez-Sanchez, who sought asylum in the U.S.

She said she feared ICE would retaliate against her son and deny him medicine for speaking out about his illness while she was still in detention.

I have nothing, I need a house, I need a roof to sleep in or something, more than anything, attention for my children, because they are unprotected, she told Univision.

ICE detention centers are inhumane and deadly, wrote Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez, who is co-sponsoring legislation to effectively end immigration detention under Homeland Security.

Detention is a cruelty no one should endure  especially children and babies, she said.

Border Patrol officers apprehended Lopez-Sanchez at the U.S.-Mexico border last month, according to Homeland Security. An immigration court judge issued her a final order of removal February 8.

Her son was in stable condition and medically cleared for removal, outgoing assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to The Independent.

Pediatricians gave the parents a nasal saline spray with a nasal bulb syringe to continue care upon their removal, she said.

ICE does NOT separate families. Parents are given a choice to either take their child with them or place them in the care of someone they designate. This is consistent with past administrations immigration enforcement, according to McLaughlin.

Juan Nicolas and his mother were held inside the Dilley Family Processing Center outside San Antonio for more than three weeks before they were abandoned in Mexico, according to Rep. Joaquin Castro (AP)

Juan is among a growing number of children who have been held inside the remote detention center in Texas, a sprawling, fenced-in facility run by private prison firm CoreCivic roughly 70 miles south of San Antonio.

The federal government does not publicly disclose information about children in immigration custody, though data from advocacy groups, attorneys and investigative news organizations suggest that a growing number of those detainees are children.

At least 3,800 people under 18 years old, including 20 infants, were in immigration enforcement custody last year, according to The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization focused on criminal justice.

The number of pregnant, postpartum and nursing women in ICE custody is also unclear, though data from reporting, lawsuits and congressional reports suggest dozens were detained by immigration authorities within the last year.

That figure should be zero; ICEs internal policy states that the agency should not detain, arrest, or take into custody for an administrative violation of the immigration laws individuals known to be pregnant, postpartum, or nursing except in exceptional circumstances.

Last month, a federal judge in Minnesota rebuked the administrations detention and transfer of a legally admitted refugee who was still breastfeeding her five-month-old.

There is something particularly craven about transferring a nursing refugee mother out-of-state, wrote District Judge Michael Davis, who said the mother lost important bonding and nursing time with her baby due to a detention he had already deemed illegal.

The Dilley center also held five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, whose case sparked international outrage about the Trump administrations practice of family detention over threats of removal (AFP via Getty Images)

The Dilley compound first opened during Barack Obamas administration to support the wave of families crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, though Joe Bidens administration stopped holding families at the facility in 2021.

Donald Trumps administration reopened the facility as law enforcement agencies began pursuing immigrants with families who have spent years living in the countrys interior.

The detention center has come under heightened scrutiny after a measles outbreak, the detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, and the hospitalization of a two-year-old girl whose parents say was denied medicine as her health rapidly deteriorated inside the facility.

ICE confirmed at least two measles cases inside the Dilley center last month after lawyers representing immigrants inside raised alarms over the possibility of an outbreak and a wave of reported illnesses among children.

Detention center staff were also accused of failing to provide adequate medical care for a gravely ill 18-month-old girl who was hospitalized with life-threatening respiratory illnesses after ICE allegedly ignored her parents pleas for aid.

DHS has repeatedly defended its detention of children with immigrant parents and has urged families to take control of their departure from the United States with the CBP Home app.

Parents can avoid detention and receive a free flight and $2,600 with the CBP Home app, according to McLaughlin. By using the CBP Home app illegal aliens reserve the chance to come back the right legal way and live the American dream.
The Department of Defense can ban recruits living with HIV from joining all branches of the U.S. military after a conservative federal appeals court struck down a decision that removed barriers that disqualified people living with HIV.

Wednesdays ruling follows a years-long legal battle sparked by three people living with HIV who were barred from joining or rejoining the military due to their diagnoses.

In 2024, a federal judge ruled that the military cannot block recruits solely because of their HIV diagnosis, finding asymptomatic HIV-positive service members with undetectable viral loads  are capable of performing all of their military duties, including worldwide deployment, thanks to modern medicine that has transformed treatment.

But a three-judge panel of conservative judges  including two appointed by Donald Trump and another appointed by George H.W. Bush  said the Pentagon has a rational basis to deny those recruits, even those with undetectable viral loads with no transmission risk.

In this case, the military has articulated its need to have fit service members who can fulfill its military mission without complications from medical conditions that could compromise deployment functions, contribute to conflicts with foreign nations during deployment, and add costs over those generally necessary to maintain fit service members, they wrote.

A conservative federal appeals court has opened the door for Pete Hegseths Department of Defense to ban people living with HIV from joining all branches of the armed forces (Getty Images)

Plaintiffs said the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals disregards real-world evidence and returns to outdated policies rooted in stigma rather than science.

We are deeply disappointed that the Fourth Circuit has chosen to uphold discrimination over medical reality, said Gregory Nevins, senior counsel and Employment Fairness Project director for Lambda Legal, which represents plaintiffs in the case.

Modern science has unequivocally shown that HIV is a chronic, treatable condition, Nevins added. People with undetectable viral loads can deploy anywhere, perform all duties without limitation, and pose no transmission risk to others. This ruling ignores decades of medical advancement and the proven ability of people living with HIV to serve with distinction.

In December, the appeals court had paused the lower-court ruling from taking effect while the legal battle continued.

Military branches had successfully accepted recruits with HIV within the year leading up to the pause.

Today, service members living with HIV are performing all kinds of roles in the military and are fully deployable into combat, said attorney Scott Schoettes. Denying others the opportunity to join their ranks is just as irrational as the militarys former refusal to deploy service members living with HIV.

The Pentagon under Donald Trumps administration has implemented sweeping restrictions on recruits and service members, including banning transgender people from all branches of the military, which is being challenged in an ongoing legal battle (AFP via Getty Images)

Medication can suppress HIV to undetectable levels, and people who are virally suppressed or undetectable are not at risk of transmitting the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People living with HIV who achieve viral suppression also have a 1 percent or less chance of transmitting the virus through pregnancy and childbirth, according to the CDC.

A series of court rulings in 2019, 2020 and 2022 blocked the Pentagon from discriminating against current service members living with HIV and to allow them to be deployed and commissioned as officers.

In 2022, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a new policy that reversed earlier rules designed to kick out people living with HIV from the ranks.

But that policy did not change existing rules preventing people with HIV from joining.

More than 11,000 service members among active-duty, National Guard and reserve forces were diagnosed with HIV between 1990 and 2024, according to a recent study published by the Military Health System.

Trumps administration and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have implemented sweeping bans and restrictions for military service members and potential recruits.

Last year, the president directed the Pentagon to remove transgender people from the armed forces, igniting several ongoing legal battles waged by trans service members and veterans whose service and benefits are at stake.

A lawsuit from a group of 20 active-duty trans service members argues that the Pentagons policy is plainly discriminatory and fueled by animus towards trans people in violation of their 14th Amendment right to equal protection under the law.
Peter Mandelson appears in Blair documentary saying ex-PM left brutality to others

Peter Mandelson has appeared in a new Channel 4 documentary series delving into Tony Blairs rise to power, calling out the ex-Prime Minister's brutality.

Mandelson appears alongside key voices from Blairs administration, despite recent allegations concerning his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

 Tony was quite smart in leaving the brutality to others, Mandelson says during an interview detailing Blairs rebranding of the Labour Party.

Channel 4 disclaimed at the end of the episode that Mandelsons contribution to the series was recorded in February 2025, before the extent of his links with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein emerged.
Pope Leo XIV has turned down Donald Trumps invitation to join his so-called Board of Peace, a senior Vatican official said.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, told reporters on Tuesday that the Pope had a number of concerns about the initiative and that he will not participate as a result.

For us, there are... some critical issues that should be resolved, he said. One concern is that, at the international level, it should above all be the UN that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have insisted.

Pope Leo XIV, seen here leaving a pastoral visit in Rome, will not participate in Donald Trumps Board of Peace, citing critical issues (AFP/Getty)

Mr Trump has invited a number of world leaders to join the board, originally conceived as a body to supervise the ceasefire in Gaza and coordinate the strips reconstruction following the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Its scope has since been expanded, with Mr Trump saying it would be well-placed to address a range of global disputes. Some see it as an effort by the US president to establish and alternative multilateral forum to the UN, which he has repeatedly criticised as not being fit for purpose.

It was Cardinal Parolin who earlier confirmed that the Pope had been invited to join the board by Mr Trump. He said in January that the Pope has received the invitation, and we are considering what to do; we are looking into it.

He said at the time that the invitation to join the board requires some time to answer and that the request will not be to participate financially because we are not in a position to do so.

Mr Trump claims Board of Peace has already committed more than $5bn (3.67bn) to help rebuild Gaza.

The Popes spokesperson said the Vatican has some concerns about Trumps board superseding the United Nations (AFP/Getty)

But there have been concerns over the boards lineup, with European governments expressing surprise that Mr Trump had invited Russias Vladimir Putin, who has waged war on Ukraine since February 2022.

Arab states have also expressed anger at the inclusion of Benjamin Netanyahu, citing the Gaza war that has resulted in the deaths of 72,000 Palestinians.

And there have been concerns about the prominent role of former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair  one of the first names announced by Mr Trump in connection to the initiative. Sir Tony is expected to sit on the boards founding executive despite longstanding criticism over Britains involvement in the Iraq war.

Despite the controversy, dozens of countries  including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates  have committed to joining the board.

US president Donald Trump has widened the scope of Board of Peace to address a number of global disputes (Getty)

Pope Leo has repeatedly criticised Mr Trumps policies since being named the first American pontiff. In October last year, he questioned whether the presidents hardline immigration policies were in step with the Catholic Churchs pro-life values.

Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I dont know if thats pro-life, he told the media in Rome.

At the time, the White House pushed back on the comments. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she would reject there was inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration.

This administration is trying to enforce our nations laws in the most humane way possible, and we are upholding the law. We are doing that on behalf of the people of our country who live here.

The Pope has been critical of the US since being named the first American pontiff, specifically on Trumps hardline immigration methods (Middle East Images)

In November the Pope backed a message from US bishops criticising the Trump administrations immigration crackdown, including mass deportations and the treatment of migrants. I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have. If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts, theres a system of justice, he said.

But when people are living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years, to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful to say the least  and theres been some violence unfortunately  I think that the bishops have been very clear in what they said.

I would just invite all people in the United States to listen to them.

In January this year, Pope Leo delivered a powerful speech in which he condemned the growing global zeal for war. While he did not call out Mr Trump by name, his address came after the US military operation to forcibly remove Venezuelas president Nicolas Maduro and bring him to American soil.

A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, Leo told diplomats from 184 countries. War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading.
The Prince of Wales has said there is a need for more male role models to talk about and normalise understanding of mens mental health.

Prince William appeared on an episode of BBC Radio 1s Life Hacks and opened up about how he takes a long time to understand his emotions during a panel discussion about mental health and suicide prevention.

Hosted by radio presenter Greg James, the Prince of Wales was joined by an extraordinary panel, which included rapper Professor Green and grime artist Guvna B, as well as Allan Brownrigg, director of clinical services at James Place charity and a young carer named Nathan who shared his personal experiences on the subject.

The Prince of Wales said he takes time to think about his emotions (Aaron Chown/PA) (Aaron Chown)

He said: Part of feeling comfortable talking about mental health is understanding it and if youve got guys who have really gone about trying to really learn about what feelings are, why we feel like we do, what can we do about it, thats part of the conversation, too.

We need more male role models out there talking about it and normalising it so that it becomes something that is second nature to all of us.

Not one person in this world has all the tools for every eventuality or mental state that is going to come across.

I like to go around looking for new tools to put in my toolbox when I might need it and if we look at it like that, it does normalise the idea that the brain just needs sometimes a little bit of help. But we cant expect to have all the answers ourselves.

Its OK to ask for support, ask a mate, reach out. That becomes just the normalisation process of whats going on inside your head.

William opened up about his own mental health (Chris Jackson/PA) (Chris Jackson)

Over the course of the hour-long episode he also opened up about his own mental health and the importance of learning to love who you are as well as taking time to understand how you feel.

He added: Be kind to yourself. It is really important and to learn to love yourself and understand yourself.

I take a long time trying to understand my emotions and why I feel like I do. And I think thats a really important process to just do every now and again to check in with yourself and work out why youre feeling like you do. Sometimes theres an obvious explanation, sometimes there isnt.

I think that idea that mental health crisis is temporary, like you can have a really strong mental health crisis moment, but it will pass.

If we talk about that more and educate people more, then hopefully the idea of suicide gets keeps being pushed further and further away because you know that tomorrow actually you might wake up and you might feel very different.

William also recalled a time where he noticed his mental health was deteriorating after working as a pilot for the air ambulance service between March 2015 and July 2017, and the importance of taking stock of how you are feeling.

He said: If you listen to the body and have time to process your thoughts and your feelings, it will present itself to you.

Its really important you have those moments where you take stock.

The biggest example for me was when I was doing work with the air ambulance and I was a pilot flying with them.

We had busy jobs and you had people in sadly very difficult situations that you were having to help them with.

Over time I noticed my mental health really deteriorating and I hadnt really clocked onto it because, in that community, you try and make light of some of the moments just to keep sane and keep going.

It wasnt until I stepped away from it on a sort of longer break that I looked at myself and went, My god, Im carrying everyones emotional baggage.

It was really weighing me down.

The Duke of Cambridge when he began working with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) at Cambridge Airport (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (Stefan Rousseau)

The Prince of Wales continued to explain how the nature of emergency service jobs can take its toll on people due to how emotionally and physically demanding the work can be.

He said: Its not until you step away from it, either that you retire or you have a break, which many of them dont get long enough breaks, are you able to process what kind of attritional, mental, emotional experiences youre having each time.

You cant have time to deal with that. Its coming at you so fast and if youre carrying a bit of emotional baggage from each scene, from someone elses experience, it just weighs you down.

So for me coming away from the situation is really important for us to be able to take stock of just what weve been through and what our brain is processing.

Greg James hosted the future king (Ben Whitley/PA) (Ben Whitley)

He later added: Im quite emotionally available, I like that about who I am, and I find some of the places I go to, people I meet, are having a really tricky time.

That helps me put my own life into perspective but also I carry with me their burden sometimes and thats the bit I find very difficult is I feel other peoples pain and that overwhelms me sometimes and I have to deal with that because I just care when I meet people who are in trouble or having a bad day and you want to help.

You want to fix it but you cant necessarily fix some of the stuff and emotionally I find that very challenging.

Speaking later about the panel discussion, James said he hopes the conversation will enlighten and comfort people and help get the conversation going.

The Samaritans can be called free on 116 123, or email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Prince William has opened up about the toll that working as an air ambulance pilot took on his mental health.

The Prince of Wales appeared on BBC Radio 1s Mental Health Special on Wednesday evening (18 February), discussing male mental health and suicide.

He explained that witnessing difficult situations and supporting distraught families as an air ambulance pilot began to impact him personally.

He said: Over time I noticed my mental health really deteriorating and I hadn't really clocked onto it.

It was only after taking a longer break that Prince William fully grasped the weight he had been carrying.

He added: I looked at myself and went, my God, I'm carrying everyone's emotional baggage.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offer support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
Prince William has opened up about how he takes a long time to understand his emotions during a surprise radio appearance.

The Prince of Wales appeared on an episode of BBC Radio 1s Life Hacks on Wednesday during a panel discussion about mental health and suicide prevention.

Hosted by radio presenter Greg James, the future king was joined by an extraordinary panel, which included rapper Professor Green and grime artist Guvna B, as well as Allan Brownrigg, director of clinical services at James Place charity, and a young carer named Nathan, who shared his personal experiences on the subject.

William said it was a real national catastrophe that suicide prevention and mens mental health were such a taboo topic, before getting candid about his own emotional journey.

He said: I take a long time trying to understand my emotions and why I feel like I do, and I feel like thats a really important process to do every now and again, to check in with yourself and work out why youre feeling like you do.

Sometimes theres an obvious explanation, sometimes there isnt. I think that idea that mental health crisis is temporary [is important]  you can have a strong mental health crisis moment, but it will pass.

Prince William has long campaigned for greater suicide prevention efforts (Kensington Palace/PA)

Prince William encouraged people to learn to love yourself and understand yourself as he emphasised the importance of more male role models out there, talking about it and normalising it, so that it becomes second nature to all of us.

The Prince and Princess of Wales launched the National Suicide Prevention Network last October on World Mental Health Day in an effort to transform suicide prevention in the UK.

The Royal Foundation invested 1m in funding over an initial three-year period to focus on understanding the root causes of suicide, ensuring accessible support and strengthening collaboration to achieve the greatest possible impact.

The initiative is being joined by four charities  James Place, PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland, Mikeysline and the Jac Lewis Foundation, representing England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales  as founding partners, alongside the Hub of Hope, the UKs largest mental health support directory.

As part of the launch, the Prince of Wales spoke with campaigner Rhian Mannings, whose one-year-old son George died after suffering a seizure in 2012 and whose husband Paul died by suicide five days later. He looked visibly moved as he fought back tears while discussing the devastating impact of suicide and the need for better support for those at risk.
Rapper Professor Green has said his brain can be his own opposition, and that encouraging his son to name his emotions has enabled him to better engage with his own feelings.

The musician, also known as Stephen Manderson, 42, joined the Prince of Wales in a panel discussion about mens mental health and suicide prevention during an episode of BBC Radio 1s Life Hacks.

Speaking about his struggles with mental health, Green said: (My brain is) my own opposition sometimes.

Radio 1s Life Hacks (BBC Radio 1/PA)

I think all too often we are quite, as men especially, detached from how we feel. You ask a man how he feels and hell tell you what he thinks.

We all too often find our way to very unhealthy ways of altering or escaping from how we feel.

As a 42-year-old man, I am stepping towards understanding the workings of my brain by way of trying to sit with my feelings  and it feels like theres a bit of a disconnect sometimes between what I think and what I feel. But one can spur the other and then it becomes chicken and egg, and thats really hard to tend to sometimes.

Ive got a little boy who is nearly five, Slimane, and through encouraging him to be able to name his emotions Ive had to kind of expedite my learning so I can stay just ahead of him.

Its been the most important part of learning for me because its enabled me to really start to engage with what I feel at any given time.

Professor Green (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

He continued to emphasise the importance of sitting with how you feel, rather than always looking for a solution.

Something else thats important to remember for men especially, and for women actually encountering men who might be struggling with what they feel, is not to try and fix that immediately. he said.

The I Need You Tonight rapper has been a prominent advocate for mens mental health and spoken publicly about losing his father to suicide in 2008, a topic he explored in the BBC Three documentary Suicide And Me.

He became emotional during the conversation when discussing the response to the film, with people messaging the rapper and telling him that it saved their life.

Since beginning his career in the 2000s, Green has achieved four UK top 10 singles including the number one Read All About It featuring Emeli Sande, and two UK top 10 albums.

The hour-long discussion was hosted by BBC Radio 1 radio presenter Greg James, and also included grime artist Guvna B, also known as Isaac Borquaye, on the panel as well as Allan Brownrigg, director of clinical services at James Place charity and a young carer named Nathan  who shared his personal experiences on the subject.

Guvna B praised Green for talking about his struggles, especially through his music, and how it gave him permission to also open up.

He said: Vulnerability breeds vulnerability. I grew up listening to Stephens music  this super cool masculine rapper that I wanted to be like.

Then I hear him talking about his struggles and his journey and his mental health.

That then gives me the permission to look at that part of my life and gives me the confidence to be able to work that stuff out.

Speaking about his own journey and how he deals with his mental health, he added: I actually surprised myself with how well I can function at a high level while struggling and feeling really numb inside.

I can still go about my daily activities, do my work well, be a parent  but the issue is when Im not healthy on the inside or in my mind, Im doing it without being fully present.

The thing that Ive learned the most that has helped me is trying to be honest with people that love me unconditionally.
In Michigan, 31-year-old Sarah Martinez had spent seven years working retail jobs since leaving community college in 2018. Like millions of Americans, she had some college credits but no degreeuntil Michigan Reconnect changed everything.

"I never thought I'd go back," Martinez says. "But when I heard the state would cover tuition and give me a navigator to help me through, I finally felt like I could finish what I started."

Martinez is part of an unprecedented wave reshaping American higher education. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, over one million adults returned to college during the 2023-24 academic yearthe highest re-enrollment figure ever recorded.

By the Numbers

43.1 million Americans have some college credit but no degree

Americans have some college credit but no degree 1+ million adults re-enrolled in 2023-24, the highest on record

adults re-enrolled in 2023-24, the highest on record 42 states and DC saw increases in re-enrollment

and DC saw increases in re-enrollment Massachusetts led with 35.2% increase in re-enrollment

led with 35.2% increase in re-enrollment 66.7% of stop-outs are under age 35

Source: National Student Clearinghouse

The Stop-Out Crisis Meets the Labor Market Squeeze

The timing couldn't be more critical. As employers project only a 1.6% increase in hiring for new college graduates in 2026, the economy faces a paradox: companies desperately need skilled workers, but millions of Americans remain trapped between their unfinished education and career advancement.

"We're sitting on an untapped talent pool of epic proportions," says Dr. Matthew Holsapple, Senior Director of Research at the National Student Clearinghouse. "These aren't people who failed at collegethey're adults who hit a bump in the road and just need a pathway back."

The demographics tell a compelling story. Nearly two-thirds of stop-out students last attended community colleges, institutions that traditionally serve working adults and non-traditional learners. These students didn't leave because of academic failurethey left because of financial pressure, family obligations, or life circumstances that made continuing impossible.

State Programs Lead the Charge

What's changed? States have stopped leaving re-enrollment efforts solely to individual institutions and started coordinating comprehensive, statewide initiatives that combine funding, technology, and personalized support.

Michigan Reconnect

Offers free in-district community college tuition to residents aged 25 and older without a degree. The program provides dedicated "Reconnect Navigators" who serve as single points of contact throughout the re-enrollment journey.

Results: Approximately 70% of participants remain enrolled year-over-year. Men in the program complete 85% of attempted credits and are 18 percentage points more likely to stay enrolled than non-Reconnect men.

Source: American Institute for Boys and Men

Massachusetts MassReconnect & MassTransfer

Streamlines credit transfers and offers associate degrees or certificates retroactively to students who completed sufficient coursework but never finished a credential.

Results: Massachusetts saw a nationwide-leading 35.2% increase in re-enrollment in 2023-24.

Source: National Student Clearinghouse

Colorado CORE Initiative

Allows public four-year institutions to award associate degrees to students who stopped out in the last decade with 70 credit hours under their beltwithout requiring re-enrollment.

Results: Despite having the 20th-largest stop-out population, Colorado had the 7th-highest number of first credential earners, with 2,100 awards in 2023-24 (up 1,200 from the previous year).

Source: National Student Clearinghouse

Tennessee Reconnect

Provides personalized support through dedicated navigators who guide students through re-enrollment and continue supporting them after they return to campus.

Mississippi Complete 2 Compete

Uses the state's data system to identify near-completers and engages them through personalized advertising, social media, direct mail, and email outreach.

Results: 1,127 learners currently enrolled; 3,057 degrees awarded to date.

Source: Workforce Monitor

What Works: The Three-Pillar Approach

Research from ReUp Education and the Bipartisan Policy Center has identified three critical components for successful re-engagement programs:

1. Affordability

Cost remains the single biggest barrier. A Lumina Foundation survey found that 63% of stop-outs said free tuition would encourage their return, while 58% cited free textbooks and course materials as crucial.

"We can't just tell people to come back and expect them to find a way to pay," explains Terah Crews, CEO of ReUp Education. "Financial aid programs designed for 18-year-olds don't address the reality of a 32-year-old parent working full-time."

2. Personalized Navigation

Stop-out students face unique challengesfrom resolving stranded credits and outstanding balances to navigating changed degree requirements. Programs that provide dedicated advisors see dramatically better outcomes.

At Florida State University, a dedicated half-time position focused solely on students who completed more than 100 semester hours provides consistent support and institutional knowledge that accelerates degree completion.

3. Flexible Pathways

Online programs, hybrid schedules, competency-based education, and credit for prior learning make it possible for working adults to fit education into already-full lives.

"I'm taking two classes online and one hybrid," Martinez says. "I couldn't do this if I had to be on campus every day. I work 30 hours a week and have two kids."

The Equity Imperative

While overall re-enrollment is rising, significant gaps remain. Men are 29% more likely than women to stop out and 32% less likely to re-enroll. In Michigan, Tennessee, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Louisiana, re-enrollment programs enroll roughly twice as many women as men.

Racial disparities also persist in outcomes. While Black and multiracial undergraduate enrollments saw the largest increases among demographic groups (10.3% and 8.5% respectively in Spring 2024), persistence rates after re-enrollment remain lower for students of color compared to White and Asian students.

"Minority students represent a disproportionately larger share of the stop-out population compared to the current undergraduate population," notes the National Student Clearinghouse. "Getting them back is only half the battlewe need to ensure they can finish."

The Workforce Connection

The push to re-enroll stop-outs isn't just about educational attainmentit's about economic survival. As ZipRecruiter's 2026 labor market analysis reveals, the U.S. faces significant demographic constraints on labor supply, with an aging workforce and reduced immigration creating critical skills gaps.

Particularly in healthcare, where demand is surging, the pipeline of trained professionals depends on accessible educational pathways. Undergraduate certificate programs, which rose 4.8% in 2024 and now stand 20% above 2020 levels, represent one solutionbut only if adult learners can access them.

88% of entry-level jobs no longer explicitly mention college degree requirements in job descriptions, yet employers increasingly value the skills and credentials that college provides.

Source: ZipRecruiter Economic Research

Barriers That Remain

Despite record re-enrollment, challenges persist. The stop-out population continues to grow faster than re-enrollment rates. Between January 2022 and July 2023, 2.1 million new students stopped outfar outpacing the one million who returned.

Key obstacles include:

Outstanding balances: The Ohio College Comeback Compact addresses this by providing up to $5,000 in debt forgiveness for students with unpaid balances who re-enroll at participating institutions.

The Ohio College Comeback Compact addresses this by providing up to $5,000 in debt forgiveness for students with unpaid balances who re-enroll at participating institutions. Stranded credits: Many students completed substantial coursework that doesn't easily transfer or apply to changed degree requirements.

Many students completed substantial coursework that doesn't easily transfer or apply to changed degree requirements. Competing priorities: Work, family, childcare, and elder care responsibilities make traditional enrollment models impossible for many adults.

Work, family, childcare, and elder care responsibilities make traditional enrollment models impossible for many adults. Fear and stigma: Some students worry about returning to an institution where they previously struggled or left under difficult circumstances.

The Path Forward

As traditional college enrollment faces continued pressure and the widely-discussed "enrollment cliff" begins to materialize in 2026, institutions can no longer afford to ignore the 43 million Americans with some college but no degree.

"These students represent institutional investment already made," says Doug Shapiro, Executive Director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. "They're not starting from zerothey just need a bridge to the finish line."

For states, the calculus is equally clear. As 46 states have specific postsecondary attainment goals, stop-outs represent the most efficient path to reaching those targets. They've already demonstrated commitment to higher education and need less foundational support than first-time students.

"They're reviving college aspirations that had been put on hold years before. And states and institutions are working to make it even easier for more students to do so in the future."

 Doug Shapiro, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center

Stories of Success

Back in Michigan, Sarah Martinez is now six months from completing her associate degree in business administration. She's already been promoted at work based on skills from her coursework, and she's planning to continue toward a bachelor's degree.

"I used to think I was someone who started things and didn't finish them," she reflects. "Now I know I was just someone who needed the right support at the right time."

Across the country, a million others are writing similar storiesproof that second chances in higher education aren't just possible, they're transforming lives, strengthening the workforce, and redefining what it means to be a college student in 2026.

Resources for Stop-Out Students

Looking to return to college? Check if your state has a re-enrollment program:

Michigan Reconnect

Massachusetts MassReconnect

Colorado CORE Initiative

Tennessee Reconnect

Mississippi Complete 2 Compete

National Resources:
Radio Free Asia has resumed broadcasting to Chinese audiences in Mandarin, Tibetan and Uyghur languages, months after funding cuts by the Donald Trump administration forced it to shut down.

The resumption came after Congress passed a spending bill to reinstate funding for the USAGM, the agency tasked with overseeing international broadcasters backed by the US government. In addition to Radio Free Asia, the agency oversees Radio Free Europe and Radio Marti.

RFA is back in business! CEO Bay Fang said in a LinkedIn post, adding that it was already broadcasting to audiences in Burma and North Korea since December.

The Trump administration last year ordered sweeping cutbacks at state-funded broadcasters, affecting the USAGM and the Voice of America, portraying its decision as an effort to root out radical propaganda.

The funding cuts led to mass layoffs and drew bipartisan criticism from US lawmakers, who warned that the move weakened Washingtons global influence, particularly against China.

Ms Fang said in her post on Tuesday that RFA had restarted transmission through private contracts but would need steady Congressional funding to fully rebuild. This critical work, which weve been able to resume due to private contracting with transmission services, is already making waves, she said.

RFAs Uyghur service aired a report over the weekend about how children of detainees in Xinjiang are being forced into manual labour at a young age instead of going to school.

In October, nearly six months after the funding cuts, RFA had announced that it was shutting down its news operations. But the broadcaster got a new lease of life earlier this month when a bipartisan spending bill approved by Congress and signed into law by Mr Trump gave $653m to the USAGM. Although that figure is lower than allocations in recent years, it far exceeds the $153m previously proposed to wind down the agency.

File. A logo of Radio Free Asia is displayed in its office in Washington, DC, on 15 March 2025 (REUTERS)

Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, also known as Radio Liberty, and Radio Marti were designed to deliver news, from a Western perspective, to audiences in China, North Korea, Russia and Cuba. Together, the networks were estimated to reach around 427 million people worldwide before last years cuts.

RFA, which in recent years covered issues like Chinas alleged crackdown on Uyghurs, the aftermath of the 2021 military coup in Myanmar and the experiences of defectors from North Korea, had been expanding its reach, with traffic to its website rising by about 20 per cent from 2023 to 2024.

The Chinese embassy in Washington accused RFA of operating with a bias against the Asian nation. Radio Free Asia has long spread falsehoods and smeared China, and they have a poor record when it comes to reporting on China-related issues, embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. We hope more media outlets in the US can make objective and fair-minded reports on China and China-US relations.

Chinese state media had celebrated Mr Trumps cuts to government-run Voice of America and RFA as a welcome move eliminating fake news.

Voice of America has been paralysed! And so has Radio Free Asia, which has been as vicious to China, former Global Times editor Hu Xijin had said. This is such great news.

Rohit Mahajan, a spokesperson for RFA, said last week they had partnered with private transmission providers to reach listeners in Tibet, North Korea and Myanmar.

He explained that Mandarin audio reports were currently available only through digital platforms, though the outlet intended to restore regular over-the-air broadcasts in the near future.

Programming in Tibetan, Uyghur, Korean, and Burmese languages was being transmitted on short-wave and medium-wave radio, he added, but satellite distribution previously handled through the USAGM was still to be reinstated.
Daniel Boakye escaped from Lewisham Hospital on Sunday (Metropolitan Police)

A rapper who escaped from custody twice has apparently posted a video online taunting the police about the incidents.

Daniel Boakye, 21, who performs under the name dsavv, fled Lewisham Hospital in south-east London on Sunday afternoon.

He had been taken there to receive medical treatment.

It came after he escaped from prison guards at West Middlesex University Hospital on 10 February. He was recaptured by Met Police officers the next day.

Boakye has been serving a sentence of six years and five months, imposed in 2023.

He was part of a robbery gang that held victims at knifepoint to get their phone passcodes in order to steal a total of 115,000 of cryptocurrency, as well as using bank details to pay for taxis and top-up cards.

A video posted on Instagram shows a rapper performing in front of a screen featuring the original Sun story about Boakyes first escape.

The song includes the lyrics I just broke out of jail like Modie, referring to a character from the TV series Top Boy, and brags about being fresh home, champagne and cannabis.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: We are searching for a 21-year-old man who absconded from Lewisham hospital at around 3.05pm on Sunday, February 15.

Daniel Boakye was in police custody at the hospital receiving medical treatment when he fled. Officers gave chase but could not detain Boakye before he left the building.

He is 21-years-old, black, of medium height and slim build. He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a dark Nike jacket when he absconded.

Anyone who has any information about Boakyes whereabouts is asked to contact police on 999 quoting CAD4005/15FEB. You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.

We are currently reviewing this incident to fully understand the events which unfolded. The Mets directorate of professional standards is aware.
Zia Yusuf, Robert Jenrick, Nigel Farage, Richard Tice and Suella Braverman at the announcement of Reform UKs shadow cabinet on February 17 - Anadolu/2026 Anadolu

With the Prime Minister looking as if he has one foot in the morgue and the other squelchy shoe stuck down a blocked lavatory, it feels like the leader of Reform UK is finally on course to take Sir Keir Starmers job.

Until now, questions have abounded about the fitness for government of Nigel Farage and his small team, which has sometimes felt as if its been assembled at speed in some slightly dodgy back-street repair shop with shiny new wheels attached to an axle Nige got off some diamond geezer in Billericay and leather seats Richard Tice upcycled from a Jensen Interceptor he may or may not have driven to the Cote DAzur in 1985.

That slightly provisional raffish feel has allowed opponents to go on sneering at Reform as Johnny-Come-Latelys. Not to mention the fact it enjoys rock-solid support among the pebble-dash classes  those people who, for clipping the hedges in front of their 1930s semis, watering their hanging baskets and aspiring to have nice things, are the object of lingering class snobbery. (They used to be Maggie Thatchers Tories; no longer.)

Labour and the Conservatives have, to a remarkable extent, remained in denial even though Reform has managed to come top in 200 successive opinion polls.

History proves that you underestimate Farage at your peril. A growing sense that Britain is badly broken, and that we may have just one last chance to save our country, has converted many doubters I know into party members who are keen to get stuck in and help the national rescue effort.

Yet despite the electoral inroads made by the party, there had of late been a lingering sense that Reform had perhaps peaked and might start falling away.

Until this week, that is, which has proved to be the nascent partys best yet. The Governments foolish decision  can it make any other kind?  to cancel 30 council elections (coincidentally in several areas where Labour and to a lesser extent the Conservatives were going to get thumped by Reform) allowed Farage to mount a judicial review that was due to be heard tomorrow in the High Court.

Denying 4.6 million people a vote, some for the second year running, turned out to have a high probability of being illegal. Starmer, who boasts of being a lawyer blessed with forensic powers, was forced into another humiliating about-turn  possibly his 15th, although who can keep count?

Not only has Farage been able to claim for being the Saviour of Democracy (although, it must be said, by The Telegraphs own powerful campaign also played a huge role in the about-turn), voters are unlikely to forgive the politicians who tried to deny them their democratic rights. May 7 was already set to be a bloodbath for the Government and the official Opposition. The sense now is that it will surely be a historic rejection of the two-party system.

Farages unveiling of his shadow cabinet only added to the sense that the party has renewed momentum.

At Mondays press conference, one journalist made the mistake of taunting Farage, saying that the Tories had called Reform a tribute act. Like a lion king surveying a herd of impala, with lips smacking, he replied: When you come to our May 8 press conference, you will see they [the Conservatives] have ceased to be a national party geographically.

Few would doubt that he is right or that the Right may soon belong to him. From that seismic day on, Farages claim to be the true Leader of the Opposition (albeit one with only eight MPs, possibly nine if Matt Goodwin wins the Gorton and Denton by-election on the Feb 26) will be that much harder to refute. Even the Government, with its huge majority, will be shaken to its core as Reform chases the Socialists out of Wales and Labour councils fall like skittles. I suspect we will have seen nothing like it in our lifetimes.

If the aim was to counter the charge that Reform is a one-man band, it largely succeeded, I think. With his Roger Moore vibe, Tice may come across as the housewives choice, but I am told that his smiley affability conceals one of the few serious economics brains not just in the present Parliament (where the competition isnt exactly stiff), but in the modern history of the Commons. At least his role as Farages deputy prime minister and shadow business, trade and energy secretary will enable him to go full steam (and coal, oil and gas) ahead in his attack on the man who poses the greatest threat to British prosperity: Ed Miliband.

Richard Tices affability conceals a serious economics brain - Anadolu

Robert Jenricks designation as shadow chancellor is the most controversial of the appointments, partly because he so recently defected and risks being seen by disgruntled Reformers as a Tory retread who was complicit in the last governments failures. But Farage has been clever enough to channel Jenricks undoubted ambition and use it against Rachel Reeves, one of the weakest members of the risible students union currently occupying the front bench.

Inevitably much will be made of Zia Yusuf losing out on the chancellor role he is said to have coveted, instead to be handed the home affairs brief.

Having spoken to him at length, I can honestly say there is no one I would trust more to be a home secretary, to not rest until every small boat is stopped, every illegal migrant is deported, and the UK has derogated from every treaty that prevents those necessary things happening. Few would relish such a terrible and unpopular job, but for some reason this furiously-driven Terminator of a man clearly does. If his charmlessness and inability to suffer fools gladly doesnt bring about his premature downfall he could pull off the impossible. Yusuf spoke about his immigrant parents and the gratitude they feel to this country, especially the kindness of the British people. I will not allow that goodwill to be taken advantage of, he promised, We will keep the British people safe.

Another child of immigrants, Suella Braverman, was the fourth appointment  as shadow education, skills and equalities secretary  and she got huge applause when she promised to do herself out of the last part of her brief by scrapping the equalities minister.

Bravermans analysis that a united Britain is being undermined by diversity, equality and inclusion should also prove popular, as will her promise to get identity politics out of the classroom and discipline back in.

Farage seemed to relish Suellas no-nonsense directness, but we must wait and see if this famous one-man band is as good as his word  Youll be seeing a little bit less of me and he allows the new instrumentalists in the group to take some of the limelight.

Four people competent and impressive in their own ways, then, two with experience of doing battle with the Blob and all speaking the language of the people.

But is this really a Cabinet in waiting? Still hard to imagine, but after May 7 things will become clearer. The hunger for hope which millions feel may overcome understandable reservations. For now, at least, many will welcome the change in emphasis from hating our country to putting British people first. You never know, it could catch on.
Robert Jenrick has unveiled his plan for the economy if Reform UK were to win the next general election in his first major speech as the partys economic spokesperson.

After being given the role in Nigel Farages top team less than a month after his chaotic defection from the Conservative Party, Mr Jenrick sought to lay out his fiscal priorities.

Referring to his time in Cabinet as a Tory, Mr Jenrick said seeing how government doesnt work would shape his approach.

Robert Jenrick making his first speech as Reform UK's Treasury spokesman, in London, on Wednesday (PA)

His policies included a pledge to reinstate the controversial two-child benefit cap and a commitment to reform the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

Mr Jenrick also said Reform UK would not raise taxes unless they had generated the fiscal headroom necessary, adding: Today, I give you my word that a Reform Government will never play fast and loose with your savings.

Here are some of the key policies Mr Jenrick committed to, and what they actually mean for the UK economy:

Bank of England

Mr Jenrick said the Bank of England will remain independent under Reform, but said it must perform better.

One element, he said he would strip, was the requirement for the Bank to help the UKs transition to net zero, which he dubbed a distraction.

In 2021, when Rishi Sunak was the chancellor, the Banks remit was changed to include a duty to support the governments net zero carbon ambition.

In response, the banks Corporate Bond Purchase Scheme (CBPS) received a green overhaul.

In a speech earlier this year, the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, said that net zero is slowing global economic growth.

In 2021, however, he suggested that the costs of failing to act on the climate crisis may be larger, saying thatignoring [the effects of climate change] is not an answer, and warned that inaction would lead to greater costs of adjustment.

The Bank of Englands rate-setting committee voted to hold rates at 3.75% earlier in February; Mr Jenrick has said the bank must perform better (PA)

Office for Budget Responsibility

Mr Jenrick accused the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) of overestimating the benefits of low-skilled migration, but pledged not to abolish it altogether.

He said: The OBR have consistently overestimated the short-term benefits of migration and downplayed its long-term costs. They have underestimated the dynamic effect of cutting taxes.

There have been debates among experts as to whether the economic benefit of immigration is being overstated by the OBR, which was established in 2010 to provide independent analysis of the governments fiscal policies.

We will break up this cosy consensus and ensure it has diversity of opinion, Mr Jenrick said.

And well run competitions for super-forecasters to join the body and pay competitive salaries to those who most accurately model the impact of Treasury decisions.

Mr Jenrick with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (PA)

Britannia card

One policy Mr Jenrick recommitted the party to was its so-called Britannia Card visa.

Reform has said the card would allow wealthy foreign nationals a residence permit in exchange for a one-time fee of 250,000. In return, they would not be taxed on wealth, income or capital gains earned abroad.

The party believes that the scheme would produce around 2.5bn a year which it plans to hand out as a dividend of 1,000 to those on the lowest incomes.

We will also make foreign investors welcome in Britain again with a Britannia investor visa ready to undo the economic self harm done in recent years, Mr Jenrick said.

Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates has previously said the policy would cost the economy 34bn over five years, saying: The card would provide a very large and expensive tax windfall to a small number of very wealthy people who are already here. Office for Budget Responsibility data shows that this would amount to 34bn of lost Government revenue over five years.

Nigel Farage unveiled his top team this week, which included top appointments for Tory defectors Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman (Getty)

Universal credit and capping foreign aid

Mr Jenrick said Reform UK would save 25bn in annual savings through measures such as ending universal credit for foreign nationals, raising the Immigration Health Surcharge, and capping foreign aid at 1bn.

In 2024, UKs Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend was 14.08bn, a decrease of 1.26bn from 2023.

According to figures seen byThe Telegraph, the UK also spent approximately 10.1bn on universal credit payments for households with at least one non-UK or Irish citizen.

This means Reform UK would save 23.18bn if it were able to carry out these reforms, and would need to raise the Immigration Health Surcharge to meet their pledge of saving 25bn.

Labour is already implementing plans to cut the UK overseas aid budget from 0.5 to 0.3 per cent which MPs have dubbed a tragic error that will put Britains national security at risk.

Civil service

Mr Jenrick claimed the partys plan to cut back the civil service will generate an extra 4bn in immediate savings and a further 1bn in averted pension liabilities.

Reform MP Danny Kruger previously announced plans to cut 68,500 civil service jobs, and said the proposal aims to reduce the salary bill by 17 per cent and save taxpayers 5.2bn annually.

However, this policy will likely not save money for several years due to the cost of redundancies.

Mr Kruger said he expected the cost of civil service redundancies to pay for itself within two years under Reform UK plans  based on it costing around 60,000 to let someone go.

Boris Johnsons plan to cut 91,000 jobs was later dropped by Liz Truss due to reports that it would cost up to 7bn in redundancy costs.

Mr Jenrick announced plans to cut back the civil service, which he suggested would generate an extra 4bn in savings (PA)

Two child benefit cap

Reform UK would reinstate the two-child benefit cap if it wins the next general election, Mr Jenrick confirmed, in a U-turn on the partys previous stance.

Sir Keir Starmer said Reforms pledge to bring back the benefit cap showed a total disregard for the lives of young people.

The government estimates that the scrapping of the cap will pull 450,000 children out of poverty.

Labour Party chair Anna Turley also criticised the policy shift, saying: Robert Jenrick has united the right behind a cruel child poverty pact that would see nearly half a million kids pushed into poverty.

Tax cuts

In what may have been an unexpected announcement for some, Mr Jenrick said Reform UK will not commit to cutting taxes if elected.

The partys new shadow chancellor blamed Rachel Reeves for making previous assumptions about the economy no longer realistic.

We will never make promises we can't keep to the British people, he said.

So we'll only cut taxes when we have generated the fiscal headroom necessary to make those tax cuts sustainable.
The Libraries of Sanctuary scheme helps people with integration by offering language classes, childrens activities and accessing public services. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian (Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian)

Reform UK has been criticised for withdrawing all Lancashire libraries from a scheme supporting refugees because it was not value for money  despite being free.

Nigel Farages party said the regions 63 libraries would no longer be part of the UK-wide Libraries of Sanctuary programme because it was not an appropriate use of taxpayers money.

However, the charity that runs the programme, City of Sanctuary UK, said the scheme was completely free.

Libraries are often one of the first places refugees and asylum seekers go for support because they offer free access to wifi, computers, language learning resources and books in native languages.

Related: Labour to be annihilated in Lancashire after local elections U-turn, party fears

The Libraries of Sanctuary scheme helps new arrivals with integration by offering tailored support such as English for Speakers of Other Language (Esol) classes, childrens activities and help accessing other public services.

Lancashire county council, which has been led by Reform UK since May 2025, previously said its Library of Sanctuary status was recognition that it aim[s] to foster a culture of welcome and inclusivity.

Matthew Salter, the Reform councillor who took the decision, told the Lancashire Lead: The Libraries of Sanctuary accreditation reached the end of its agreed term in 2025 and I took the decision to end our participation at that point.

The scheme is voluntary, and I do not believe it represents an appropriate use of taxpayers money. Our libraries serve all the residents of Lancashire.

The move, which appears to have taken fellow councillors by surprise, was sharply criticised by other parties.

Mean-spirited is an understatement, said David Whipp, a Liberal Democrat county councillor. Its a vicious attack on some of the most marginalised people and no doubt driven by Reforms xenophobic tendencies.

I would urge them to reconsider and like in the Wizard of Oz try and find some heart.

Related: Reform-led Worcestershire set to issue Englands largest council tax rise

A City of Sanctuary UK spokesperson said: We are disappointed that Lancashire county council has chosen not to renew its Library of Sanctuary award.

Achieved in 2023, this accreditation recognised Lancashires libraries as welcoming, inclusive spaces for everyone in the community. The Libraries of Sanctuary network is free to join and simply helps library staff do their jobs better  sharing knowledge, resources and best practice across the UK.

Reform says it needs to find 103m of cuts in Lancashire. Last month, local leaders reversed their plan to sell off five council-run care homes to save 4m a year after a public outcry.

Salter said that although subscribing to the libraries scheme does not have a cost there was an implied cost as a result of choosing to gear your offer around a particular set of service users, with dedicated time and resources for putting on events and focussing on refugees at the expense of wider service users. He added: In Lancashire we focus on the needs of our residents.

Stephen Atkinson, the Reform leader of Lancashire county council, said in January the group was on track to make 65m worth of savings and efficiencies, however the Conservatives have claimed it began some of these initiatives before it lost power in May 2025.

Atkinson has defended plans to increase council tax by 3.8% despite previously pledging to cut waste and reduce taxes. He said some branch people may have made comments about council tax freezes but that officially, from the party, that was never the position.
The Tories have accused Sir Sadiq Khan of working with Rachel Reeves to botch up the business rates system

Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, will net a windfall of almost 1m because of Labours tax raid on pubs.

On top of paying normal business rates, pubs in the capital valued above a certain amount pay an extra 2p levy to help meet the costs of the Elizabeth Line, also known as Crossrail, which opened in 2022.

The Governments revaluation of business rates, which comes into force in April, will mean that many pubs must pay the Crossrail levy for the first time and scores more will pay higher fees.

The Chancellor has announced a limited support package for pubs hit by the change in business rates, but it does not apply to the London levy.

This will give the Mayor of Londons office an extra 916,000 from hard-pressed pubs, clubs and bars.

Among those hit will be The Two Chairman pub in Westminster, where Rachel Reeves went to toast her Budget in November.

The pub will be charged an extra 900 per year as its rateable value rises from 99,000 in 2023 to 144,000 in 2026.

The Telegraph is campaigning to save Britains pubs, which are facing cuts to Covid-era relief on top of the revaluations in April.

Pub landlords are also suffering from an increase in employers National Insurance contributions and a rise in the minimum wage announced in the Chancellors first Budget in October 2024.

The Conservatives accused Sir Sadiq of punishing pubs with soaring bills on top of the crippling increases in business rates.

David Simmonds, the shadow communities minister, said: More than 100 pubs have been pulled into scope this year and more than 650 face rises of more than 500 each. In some cases, bills are rising by many thousands of pounds  and the Governments business rates relief wont apply to Khans surcharges.

Rachel Reeves and Sadiq Khan have worked hand-in-hand to botch up the business rates system  this is what happens with Labour in power.

Labour are sending businesses to the wall, destroying jobs and sending prices up for consumers. Only the Conservatives will back our pubs and clubs by abolishing business rates for thousands of firms on our high streets, helping to deliver a stronger economy.

Analysis by the Tories suggests that 147 pubs, clubs and bars will be paying the Crossrail levy for the first time in 2026, and 681 will be paying more than 500 extra for the year.

To reflect the impact of the revaluation, the threshold for paying the Crossrail levy has been raised from 75,000 to 92,000 for 2026.

However, there is no further transitional relief for London pubs that will still have to pay the charge.

The extra levy is worked out by multiplying the estimated rental value of the premises  the rateable value  by 2p. That means the higher a pubs value, the more it will pay.

In Labours latest business rates reforms, lockdown-era reliefs  currently at 40 per cent  will be withdrawn in April, while revaluations are set to send rateable values soaring.

A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: These figures are misleading. Under the changes, fewer pubs will now be paying the Crossrail Business Rates Supplement. In fact, around 280 pubs that were previously paying the Business Rates Supplement will now not be from 2026-27.

These kind of pubs, clubs and bars are a vital part of Londons social and economic life, and almost 90 per cent of business premises in London are exempt from paying the supplement.
People have found themselves without lights or locked out for days when smart tech fails, while some simple devices such as doorbells and thermostats can require monthly subscription fees. Illustration: Victoria Hart/Guardian Design (Illustration: Victoria Hart/Guardian Design)

When the smart home devices Elly Bailey was expecting in the post never showed up at her Gold Coast home, she was frustrated. As a technology reviewer, these products were crucial for her work.

When she eventually found the cause, she had to laugh. It wasnt a sticky-fingered neighbour or a rogue delivery driver causing her to miss parcels but her smart doorbell  the very thing shed hoped would prevent missed deliveries, and part of exactly the range of internet-connected devices she was meant to be reviewing.

Its pretty funny, says Bailey, 33, who goes by the handle @ellyawesome on TikTok, where she has more than 1.1 million followers. She had been loving her Google Nest doorbell up until then. She could see who was at the front door from upstairs and speak to delivery people through her phone while she was out.

But it had one obvious flaw: When someone presses this doorbell, all it does is send a notification to my phone. She says this feature is great when shes out but without a telltale chime she was missing deliveries while at home and away from her phone. She complained about this to her followers in a clip that has been liked more than 1,400 times.

The crazy irony is the doorbell itself does make a little ding-dong sound when you press the doorbell button but its only loud enough for the person at the door to hear it, she says.

Related: Alexa, what do you know about us? What I discovered when I asked Amazon to tell me everything my familys smart speaker had heard

Bailey is far from alone in her scepticism around smart home technology  many adoptees have realised the devices designed to make life easier regularly achieve the opposite. Stories of people being locked out of their homes by faulty smart locks, woken up by pets activating cameras on the driveway and being left in the dark by broken smart lights are rife on social media and product review websites.

Technology is brilliant  until it isnt, says Georgina Wilson, an architect in Sydney who learned this the hard way when her husband pressure-hosed the front of the house and accidentally watered their smart keypad unit. The incident hasnt changed her mind on the convenience of a smart lock but it did result in an expensive emergency locksmith callout  and quickly forced her to put a backup plan in place: keys in a hidden lockbox, with copies distributed to family members and neighbours.

She says some of her clients have had similar, or worse, experiences. Weve seen clients unable to flush toilets, lock front doors, or exit garages during power outages.

Since smart home technology uptake spiked during Covid lockdowns, Daniel Vasilevski, an electrician in Sydney, says he has seen many smart tech horror stories. One client in Maroubra got locked out of their house for two days. Others have ended up with no working lights. Subscription complaints are also rife, with even some relatively simple devices such as smart doorbells and thermostats requiring monthly fees. Vasilevski estimates 15 to 20% of his callouts these days are for problems with smart tech  some are simple repair jobs, while others want their smart systems demolished altogether.

There can be a more sinister side, too. Experts say smart homes are prime targets for cybercriminals. More than 120,000 smart home cameras were hacked in South Korea last year and the Australian Signals Directorate recently warned that Chinese hackers are exploiting peoples home routers and smart devices.

While cases of spying fridges and doorbells being hacked are still rare, Emily Holyoake, a cyber and home-security expert based in Canberra, says technology facilitated domestic abuse is a significant issue.

The scariest things Ive heard are about loss of privacy, where ex-partners have still had access to their partners home and made changes either locking them out, letting themselves in or watching their every move, she says.

Renters, too, have privacy concerns, as smart locks can allow landlords to keep tabs on their every move.

Julie Provenzano, a real estate broker with 83,000 TikTok followers, believes it might be smarter to stick with an analogue home. She recently told fans she was apped-out. Hi-tech doesnt necessarily mean easier  It leaves people in a hostage situation with IT departments, she said.

Vasilevskis clients have faced similar issues. When something goes wrong, its not just the tech thats a problem but finding someone to fix it. Many locksmiths are not trained to work with sophisticated, connected devices. He says electricians will sometimes turn away smart home repair jobs because of how faffy and time-consuming they can be to troubleshoot. It isnt worth the hassle, most of the time, he says. This is particularly true with lower-end smart tech suppliers who offer little in the way of after-sale support.

Related: In an era of frictionless digital experiences, theres something magical about obsolete technology | Tansy Gardam

Gaby Albutros, a project manager at Sydney firm RSE Home Automation, says that when brands shut down or devices are discontinued, as was the case with Belkins Wemo smart home range in January, customers can be left high and dry. The only option when they go wrong is to have them ripped out.

Curtains and blinds seem to be among the few smart-control devices that experts in the industry agree upon. Provenzano says they are one of the only smart devices she endorses and Vasilevski agrees, saying he wouldnt install smart tech in his home because of the issues he sees at work, but that smart control curtains are pretty reliable because they only get used twice a day.

While Holyoake doesnt suggest eschewing the Internet of Things entirely, she says the key is to be intentional about the technology youre putting in your home. In her household, she uses smart security cameras, lighting, a robot vacuum and even a digital whiteboard  all things she says make family life easier, especially with neurodivergent kids.

Mindful of the risks, she suggests smart-home adopters make time to check their security settings once a month. Make sure only the people you know and trust have access, always make sure you change the default password, check for security and software updates, and always ask: who has access to my data and where is it stored? Do I need a subscription to access my own data? Can I still access devices if the internet goes out?

Bailey might be a likely champion for all things smart but even she prefers a hybrid setup. She has been offered everything from smart lights to smart washing machines as part of her job, so she could have the worlds most connected home if she wanted to, but aside from the smart doorbell  which she has kept because she still thinks the benefits outweigh the drawbacks  shes chosen to keep most parts of her home consciously dumb.

Ultimately Im an old-school millennial whos very happy to put my washing on myself, she says. I think that keeps me smart, to be honest.
The Metropolitan Police is conducting inquiries following allegations relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors former royal close protection officers.

An unnamed former senior Met protection officer told LBC on Tuesday that members of the Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) may have wilfully turned a blind eye during visits to a private island owned by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Survivors have alleged they were trafficked to, and abused on, the Little St James island Epstein purchased in 1998.

A Met spokesperson said: Protection officers are held to the same high standards of professional behaviour as all police officers.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell (US Department of Justice)

At this time, we have not identified any wrongdoing by any protection officers. However, initial enquiries into specific allegations have begun so we can establish the facts.

As with any investigation, should any new allegations come to light they will be assessed in the usual way. This includes any misconduct or criminal matters. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further while other enquiries related to these matters are ongoing.

Multiple police forces across the country are looking into new allegations relating to Epstein following a tranche of over three million new documents released by the US Department of Justice last month.

A national group has been set up to support UK forces that are assessing allegations related to the Epstein files, according to the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

Surrey Police has urged anyone with information to come forward about claims of human trafficking and sexual assault dating back to 1994, which appeared in the Epstein files.

The force said it was looking into allegations of human trafficking and sexual assaults on a minor in Virginia Water, Surrey, between 1994 and 1996, after they became aware of a redacted report in the US Department of Justice Epstein files release in December.

Multiple police forces are looking into new Epstein claims (US Department of Justice)

The forces call for witnesses comes after an FBI report from July 2020, which appeared in the files, alleged sexual abuse against Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in Surrey in the mid-1990s.

The claims, made as part of an anonymous tip, alleged a woman was restrained on a table and tortured with electrical shocks by Maxwell, while the former prince and other men watched on.

The force said they have found no evidence of the allegations being reported to them after reviewing their systems.

In a statement, Surrey Police said: Following the US Department of Justice Epstein file release in December 2025, Surrey Police became aware of a redacted report alleging non-recent human trafficking and sexual assaults on a minor in Virginia Water, Surrey between 1994-1996.

After reviewing our systems using the limited information available to us, we found no evidence of these allegations being reported to Surrey Police. We therefore encourage anyone with information in relation to these allegations to report this to us online, or via 101.

More than three million documents were released by the US Department of Justice as part of the Epstein files in January (AP)

We take all reports of child and sexual abuse seriously and therefore, as with any other matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention, including any information resulting from the release of materials in the US, we will assess it.

Where relevant, and via the national co-ordination group, we will engage with law enforcement agencies to obtain access to further information which may support our enquiries.

On Tuesday, Essex Police said it was assessing information about private flights to and from Stansted Airport following information released as part of the document dump.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said Mr Mountbatten-Windsor owes it to the victims to speak about what he knows about the Epstein scandal (PA)

Former prime minister Gordon Brown claimed the files showed in graphic detail how paedophile financier Epstein was able to use the Essex-based airport to fly in girls from Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.

A spokesperson for Stansted Airport said the airport does not manage or have any visibility of passenger arrangements on privately-operated aircraft.

Norfolk Police confirmed the force is also reviewing documents brought to their attention, but said they had not yet received any allegations and were not currently conducting any investigations.

Bedfordshire Police are reportedly looking into Luton flights.

Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount on Mr Mountbatten Windsor to testify about what he knows relating to the Epstein scandal, with chancellor Rachel Reeves imploring that he owes it to the victims.

A photograph appearing to show Mr Mountbatten-Windsor crouched over an unidentified woman, which was released in the latest disclosure of files linked to Epstein (US Department of Justice)

The former prince has been further embroiled in the Epstein scandal after the latest tranche of released materials alleged he sent confidential trade reports to the disgraced financier. A photo was also released of him kneeling over an unidentified woman who was on the floor.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Speaking to reporters at a supermarket in south London on Wednesday, Ms Reeves: The former prince has got a lot of questions to answer on a whole range of issues.

I think he owes it to the victims of Epstein and his associates to come forward and give much more information about what he knew around the treatment of young women and girls.
Teacher banned after secretly filming student and making wrapping paper with their face on it

A teacher who sent inappropriate emails and notes and secretly photographed and filmed students has been banned from teaching indefinitely.

Peter Ledwidge, a religious studies teacher at the Anglo European School in Essex, was found to have conducted himself in a way that was sexually motivated and/or of a sexual nature.

A professional conduct panel also heard that Mr Ledwidge gave unwanted gifts to students, including one who received a pair of stockings wrapped in paper with her face on it.

The panel said: The evidence recovered from the searches of Mr Ledwidges devices indicate an infatuation with Pupil A with Mr Ledwidge accepting the Polices characterisation of this behaviour as obsessive about her when interviewed by the Police.

The teacher sent inappropriate emails and notes (PA Archive)

Emails revealed that between October 2019 and May 2021, Mr Ledwidge sent inappropriate emails to a student in which he referred to her as special and his favourite.

One email said: Like the moon: her splendour when visible, her attraction when invisible, while another read  please dont say anything about this to ANYONE.

The emails were obtained following a search of Mr Ledwidges computer by the schools IT team.

In a note to the same student, he told her: I hope you didnt mind that I put down in words (to paraphrase Elton John) how wonderful life is while youre in class.

Another note said: If youd chosen Spanish over R.S., Id have quickly trained to become a Spanish teacher.

He also supplied mock exam questions to the student in advance of an exam.

The panel heard that Mr Ledwidge sent unwanted gifts to the student, including a flat cap, an engraved mirror, a record and a George Harrison drawing.

Mr Ledwidge taught at Anglo European School in Essex (Google Maps)

In a witness statement to the police, the student said that she did not ask for the items and that they made her feel sick with disgust.

Mr Ledwidge also demonstrated a karate kick and kicked the student on her bottom. When asked about the incident, he said it was a Marx Brothers gag and not for sexual gratification.

During a police investigation, the former teacher was found to have made internet searches which included locating the students address.

The search also uncovered videos and images of students taken discreetly, including one, which he told police he instinctively thought, oh Ill video her, I dont know, maybe as a memento, a memory, I dont know.

When asked why he needed a memento of the student, he said that he was creating a character based on her for his book and that you dont get photos at the end.

On another occasion, a separate student received a pair of stockings in customised wrapping paper with her face on it.

Mr Ledwidge is unable to apply for his teaching ban to be overturned (Getty)

The panel also heard that between January 2021 and May 2021, he sent videos from his personal email address to his work email address depicting scenes of violence and of a sexual nature.

In May 2021, a student disclosed Mr Ledwidges conduct to the school, and he was suspended and referred to Essex Police.

Two months later, he was arrested on suspicion of two counts of harassment by an officer in relation to allegations made by two students.

The Crown Prosecution Service did not take any further action against the teacher.

Due to the seriousness of the allegations found against him, Mr Ledwidge is not entitled to apply for his prohibition to be set aside.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, said the burden of tackling abuse must no longer fall on victims in an article written for the Guardian. Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images (Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

Deepfake nudes and revenge porn must be removed from the internet within 48 hours or technology firms risk being blocked in the UK, Keir Starmer has said, calling it a national emergency that the government must confront.

Companies could be fined millions or even blocked altogether if they allow the images to spread or be reposted after victims give notice.

Amendments will be made to the crime and policing bill to also regulate AI chatbots such as Xs Grok, which generated nonconsensual images of women in bikinis or in compromising positions until the government threatened action against Elon Musks company.

Writing for the Guardian, Starmer said: The burden of tackling abuse must no longer fall on victims. It must fall on perpetrators and on the companies that enable harm.

The prime minister said that institutional misogyny being woven into the fabric of our institutions meant the problem had not been taken seriously enough. Too often, misogyny is excused, minimised or ignored. The arguments of women are dismissed as exaggerated or one-offs. That culture creates permission, Starmer wrote.

Government sources said they expected to give the new powers to Ofcom to enforce by the summer and companies will be legally required to remove this content no more than 48 hours after it is flagged to them.

Platforms including social media companies and pornography sites that fail to act could face fines of up to 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue or having their services blocked in the UK.

Victims would be able to flag the images either directly with tech firms or with Ofcom  which would trigger an alert across multiple platforms, according to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Ofcom would be responsible for enforcing the ban on the images, with the aim to remove the onus on victims to need to report the same image potentially thousands of times as it is continually reposted.

The media regulator will be told to explore ways for revenge porn images to have a digital watermark to allow them to be automatically flagged every time they are reposted.

Internet providers will also be given new guidance on how to block hosting for rogue sites who specialise in hosting nonconsensual real or AI-generated explicit content.

The Grok nudification tool that sparked an outcry in early January saw ministers threaten to ban X if it did not act. About 6,000 bikini demands were being made to the chatbot every hour, according to analysis conducted for the Guardian, with many requests made to create images of women bent over or wearing just dental floss.

But there has also been a rise in recent years of nonconsensual real or deepfake images being used to blackmail young women and men, which charities have linked to a number of suicides.

Starmer said the horror stories of women and girls who saw intimate images spread across the internet was the type of story that, as a parent, makes your heart drop to your stomach.

Too often, those victims have been left to fight alone  chasing action site to site, reporting the same material again and again, only to see it reappear elsewhere hours later, the prime minister said. That is not justice. It is failure. And it is sending a message to the young people of this country that women and girls are a commodity to be used and shared.

Creating or sharing nonconsensual intimate images will also become a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, giving it the same level of seriousness as child abuse images or terrorism. The law does not require platforms to independently identify nonconsensual intimate imagery, but just to remove these images when they are flagged.

Google, Meta, X and others already do this for child sexual abuse content through a process called hash matching  which assigns videos a unique digital signature that can be matched against databases of abusive content. And while the 48-hour timeline is brief, India has recently mandated that social media companies remove some deepfake content in three hours.

Related: Abusers using AI and digital tech to attack and control women, charity warns

I think that 48 hours is certainly possible, to be honest with you, said Anne Craanen, who researches online misogyny at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

The problem is, it may not necessarily incentivise a quicker response rate from companies. But 48 hours is longer than the timeframe for the removal of other types of content, such as terrorist content in the EU.

Craanen added that there are already existing initiatives to use hash matching to protect victims of intimate abuse; although it can be challenging getting different tech platforms to coordinate among themselves, so that an abusive video uploaded to Facebook, for example, is automatically detected on Reddit.

Hash matching is not a perfect technology, Craanen emphasised, and can be circumvented. Terrorist groups, for example, often add emojis or small alterations to videos already hashed as terrorist content, thus making them unrecognisable to hash matching systems.

The advent of AI tools and AI deepfakes will make this problem worse, allowing nonconsensual intimate images and other content to be quickly altered and spread around the internet, Craanen said, evading attempts to quickly detect it with tools such as hash matching. In a moment like the January Grok bikinification crisis, some abuse might be impossible to rein in.

While the law appears to apply to all tech platforms, including rogue websites that fall outside the reach of the Online Safety Act, there are questions as to how it could apply on encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal.

In his article, Starmer said he was also determined to challenge misogyny in government and in politics, after several weeks where the prime minister has faced criticism for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite knowing about his friendship with the disgraced financier and child sex offender Jeffery Epstein. Mandelson was fired after new revelations about the closeness of their friendship.

The prime minister is also facing a row over the appointment of a new cabinet secretary, Antonia Romeo, tipped to be the Home Office permanent secretary, who was cleared of bullying allegations nine years ago but remains a divisive figure in the civil service. Some of her defenders have said the criticism of Romeo is based on sexist double-standards.

Starmer suggested he wanted to appoint more women to senior leadership roles in government and said he was determined to transform the culture of government: to challenge the structures that still marginalise womens voices.

And its why I believe that simply counting how many women hold senior roles is not enough, he said. What matters is whether their views carry weight and lead to change.
Chinese Spring Festival celebration promotes cultural exchange in Botswana

Xinhua) 14:48, February 18, 2026

Children use chopsticks in a game in Gaborone, Botswana, Feb. 17, 2026. An event was held on Tuesday at a primary school in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival, immersing local students in the richness of Chinese traditions and culture. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- An event was held on Tuesday at a primary school in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival, immersing local students in the richness of Chinese traditions and culture.

Co-hosted by the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana and the Legae English Medium School, the event featured a dynamic showcase of talent, with students performing traditional Chinese dances and songs.

Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong said the celebration provided an important platform for deepening cultural ties.

"This presents a wonderful platform for us to share our unique culture, enhance our educational cooperation, and build stronger bridges of mutual understanding," he said.

Fan also highlighted the broader diplomatic significance of such exchanges, noting their alignment with upcoming milestones in China-Africa relations.

"The year 2026 represents a remarkable milestone in our shared journey, as China embarks on its 15th Five-Year Plan. We will also celebrate 70 years of diplomatic ties between China and Africa, a year dedicated to people-to-people exchanges," he noted.

Naseema Karodia, the school's headteacher, highlighted the significance of the Chinese New Year celebration.

"The year of the Horse comes with added symbolism as it represents freedom, strength, courage, and loyalty. These are values so very needed in the world today," she said, describing the event as a valuable opportunity to appreciate Chinese culture and festive traditions.

Thapelo Otlogetswe, local director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana, said that the Spring Festival serves as a powerful reminder of the strong cultural connections and shared values between Botswana and China, adding that such celebrations offer students a valuable opportunity to experience these traditions firsthand.

The event drew nearly 500 participants, including Pu Durong, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana, Chinese diplomats, and teachers and students from the primary school.

Students try Chinese musical instruments Hulusi in Gaborone, Botswana, Feb. 17, 2026. An event was held on Tuesday at a primary school in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival, immersing local students in the richness of Chinese traditions and culture. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
In May 2025, Carnegie Mellon University quietly renewed the most important financial relationship in its history.

The agreement wasn't with a major American corporation. It wasn't with a federal research agency. It wasn't even with a wealthy alumni donor. It was with the Qatar Foundationthe state-backed organization that has funded Carnegie Mellon's entire Doha campus since 2004.

The renewal extended the partnership for another ten years, locking Carnegie Mellon into Qatari dependency through at least 2035.

The timing was notable. Just months earlier, the Trump administration had launched a new transparency portal exposing the full scale of foreign funding to American universities. New Department of Education data shows Carnegie Mellon received almost $1 billion in foreign funding in 2025 alonethe highest total of any American institution.

And nearly all of it comes from Qatar.

Between 2001 and 2021, Qatar Foundation grants to Carnegie Mellon totaled $740,910,073covering the bulk of expenses and enabling a model where Carnegie Mellon receives between $50 and $60 million per year from Qatar to operate the Doha campus.

That's not supplemental funding. That's not a generous gift. That's a university campus whose entire existence depends on a foreign government's continued generosity.

And that dependencynow extended for another decaderaises questions that neither Carnegie Mellon nor Qatar wants to answer publicly.

What Qatar Built in the Desert

To understand Carnegie Mellon's dependency, you need to understand what Qatar built in Education City.

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar is a satellite campus established in 2004 in Education City, Doha. The campus facilities and upkeep are financed entirely by the Qatar Foundation.

Education City is Qatar's $45 billion bet on becoming a global education huba sprawling campus on the outskirts of Doha that houses nine university branches from the United States and Europe. Qatar didn't just invite universities in. It built them campuses, funds their operations, pays faculty salaries, and covers student financial aid.

The establishment of the campuses was founded by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the mother of Qatar's current Emir Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. This isn't an arm's-length philanthropic arrangement. It's a project of Qatar's ruling family, directed by the emir's mother and funded by the state.

Carnegie Mellon Qatar offers the same degree programs and curricula that students receive at the Pittsburgh campus. Undergraduate degrees are in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Business Administration, Information Systems, and Biological Sciences.

As of 2025, CMU-Q enrolls over 450 students from 61 nationalities, including 39 percent Qatari nationals, and has produced more than 1,000 alumni who pursue careers in technology, finance, and research across the Middle East and beyond.

On paper, it looks like a successful international branch campus. Look closer, and the financial reality is stark: This agreement, extended for an additional ten years on May 14, 2025, positions the Qatar Foundation as the primary revenue source, funding infrastructure, faculty salaries, and program delivery in alignment with Qatar's knowledge economy ambitions.

Primary revenue source. Not a major donor. Not a partner funder. The primary revenue sourcethe entity without whose money the campus cannot exist.

The Numbers Behind the Dependency

The financial scale of Carnegie Mellon's Qatar relationship becomes clearer when examined in detail.

Qatar Foundation grants to CMU-Q totaled $740,910,073 between 2001 and 2021, per U.S. Department of Education foreign gift disclosures. That's over $35 million per year on average across two decadesa figure that has grown substantially in recent years.

The campus's grant dependency exceeds $40 million annually on average, ensuring viability without direct Qatari citizen fees.

This 100% grant-subsidized structure for locals contrasts sharply with CMU's U.S. operations, which emphasize merit-based admissions, tuition revenue, and private endowments.

The contrast is striking. In Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon operates like any elite American universitytuition revenue, endowment returns, research grants, and alumni donations all contribute to a diversified financial model. In Doha, one entitycontrolled by Qatar's ruling familyprovides the funding that makes everything possible.

For Qatari citizens, government scholarships and/or company sponsorships typically cover the full cost of attendance. Qatar pays for Qatari students to attend what is technically an American university. The circular funding model means Qatar is essentially paying itself to educate its own citizenswhile Carnegie Mellon collects fees and lends its prestigious name and accreditation.

In 2025, this relationship produced almost $1 billion in disclosed foreign funding to Carnegie Mellonthe highest of any American institution. The gap between Carnegie Mellon and second-place MIT, which also received almost $1 billion, reflects just how dominant Qatar's single-institution investment has become.

What the Renewal Means

The May 2025 renewal of Carnegie Mellon's Qatar partnership for another decade is perhaps the most significant detail in this story.

It happened quietly. No major announcements. No public debate. No faculty senate votes making headlines. The university's most significant foreign financial relationship was extended through 2035 while the Trump administration was simultaneously launching transparency portals, initiating foreign funding investigations, and questioning the national security implications of foreign money at American universities.

This agreement, extended for an additional ten years on May 14, 2025, positions the Qatar Foundation as the primary revenue source, funding infrastructure, faculty salaries, and program delivery in alignment with Qatar's knowledge economy ambitions.

"In alignment with Qatar's knowledge economy ambitions." Read that carefully. The agreement isn't framed around Carnegie Mellon's educational mission or Pittsburgh's research priorities. It's framed around what Qatar wantsa knowledge economy that reduces the country's dependence on hydrocarbon exports.

Carnegie Mellon is a tool in Qatar's national development strategy. And it just signed up for another decade of serving that role.

What happens in 2035 when the next renewal comes up? By then, Carnegie Mellon will have operated in Qatar for 31 years. Entire academic careers will have been built there. Alumni networks will span the Middle East. The financial and reputational entanglement will be even deeper.

The extension isn't just a financial decision. It's a strategic commitment that becomes harder to unwind with every passing year.

The Academic Freedom Question Nobody's Asking

Education City hosts nine university branches. The institutions include Weill Cornell Medical College, Virginia Commonwealth University, Texas A&M, Northwestern University, and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

Each of these institutions maintains that academic freedom is preserved on their Qatar campuses. Carnegie Mellon is no exception.

But consider what Carnegie Mellon Qatar teaches.

Undergraduate degrees are offered in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Business Administration, Information Systems, and Biological Sciences.

Notice what's not on that list: Political science. International relations. History. Philosophy. Journalism. Law. Sociology.

These absences aren't accidental. They reflect a curriculum carefully calibrated to avoid topics that might create friction with a host government that criminalizes criticism of its rulers. Qatar doesn't need Carnegie Mellon to teach political theory or press freedom. It needs computer science, AI, and business graduates to staff its knowledge economy.

The result is an arrangement that appears to preserve academic freedom because it never tests it. Carnegie Mellon Qatar doesn't teach subjects that would require criticizing Qatar. So the question of whether Qatar would tolerate such criticism never actually arises.

This isn't a critique of the students or faculty at CMU-Qmany are doing genuinely excellent work in their fields. It's an observation about how the structure of the relationship shapes what's possible. You can't violate academic freedom in topics you never teach.

The "Education City" Business Model

Carnegie Mellon isn't alone in its Qatari dependency. Understanding the broader Education City model reveals how systematically Qatar has purchased American institutional prestige.

Based on total disclosed funding, colleges and universities received $6.6 billion from Qatar. The money was used to support branch campuses like Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, as well as research projects, scholarships, and other agreements at many U.S. schools.

Cornell University received the most Qatari funding overallaround $2.3 billionmostly for its medical campus in Qatar.

In 1997, Qatar Foundation selected Virginia Commonwealth University to establish VCUarts Qatar. In 2001-2002, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar opened. In 2003, Texas A&M at Qatar opened a campus. In 2004, Carnegie Mellon Qatar launched. In 2005, Georgetown University in Qatar opened. In 2008, Northwestern University in Qatar began classes.

Over roughly a decade, Qatar systematically recruited elite American universities to build campuses in Doha. Each arrival added prestige and capability to Education City. Each created a dependent relationship where the university needs Qatar's funding to sustain the campus.

Qatar Foundation serves as the landlord, the primary funder, and the strategic director of this entire ecosystem. Qatar's Qatar National Research Fund and other state-linked programs have financed research and scholarships at numerous U.S. universities that don't operate campuses in Qatar, through competitive research grants.

The model is elegant from Qatar's perspective: Pay American universities to bring their brands, curricula, and accreditation to Doha. Get world-class education for Qatari citizens without the decades it would take to build equivalent domestic institutions. Gain international prestige through association with elite universities. And create dependencies that give Qatar leverage over institutions that can't easily afford to leave.

The Leverage Question

When one entity provides $50-60 million per year to fund an entire campus operation, what leverage does that create?

Carnegie Mellon would argue: None. Academic freedom is protected. Pittsburgh maintains control. The Qatar Foundation funds but doesn't direct.

But leverage doesn't require explicit demands. It operates through subtler mechanisms:

Self-censorship: Faculty and administrators at CMU-Q understand the context they're operating in. They don't need to be told what topics are sensitive. They know. The result is preemptive avoidance of anything that might create problems with the host.

Hiring considerations: When recruiting faculty for the Qatar campus, would Carnegie Mellon hire a scholar whose research sharply criticizes Gulf state governments? Possibly. But the risk calculation looks different when that faculty member will be working in Qatar under Qatari law.

Institutional caution: When CMU leadership considers any action that might affect the Qatar relationship, $50-60 million per year is present in the room, even if nobody mentions it explicitly.

Contract renewal pressure: The May 2025 renewal demonstrates that Carnegie Mellon will keep extending the relationship rather than exit it. Each renewal signals that Qatar's priorities matter to Pittsburgh's decision-making.

None of this requires Qatar to pick up the phone and threaten Carnegie Mellon. The financial dependency creates behavioral constraints that operate automatically.

The Students Caught in the Middle

CMU-Q enrolls over 450 students from 61 nationalities, including 39 percent Qatari nationals.

These students are pursuing legitimate educations in fields they care about. Many are doing impressive academic work. The Qatari students are accessing world-class education in their home country. The international students are experiencing a multicultural environment in a rapidly developing city.

Qatar Foundation provides a world-class financial aid program for admitted students to Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. Grants of up to the full cost of attendance are made to families based on their unique financial circumstances.

For students who receive full financial aid from the Qatar Foundation, the education is essentially freea genuinely valuable opportunity for students from lower-income backgrounds who couldn't otherwise afford a Carnegie Mellon degree.

But these students are also participating in an arrangement where their education's very existence depends on a foreign government's continued strategic priorities. If Qatar decides Education City no longer serves its national interests, CMU-Q could close. If the political relationship between the U.S. and Qatar deteriorates, students' educational continuity becomes uncertain.

The Doha campus of Carnegie Mellon offers the same degree requirements as Pittsburgh, and more than 1,200 alumni have graduated from CMU-Q. Those alumni hold legitimate Carnegie Mellon degrees that open the same doors as Pittsburgh degrees. Their education is real, their credentials are valid, and their career prospects are genuine.

But the foundation their education rests onQatar Foundation funding, Qatari governmental priorities, a relationship that exists because Qatar wants it to existis entirely outside their control.

What Carnegie Mellon Gets

The dependency runs deeper than simple financial calculation. Carnegie Mellon receives concrete benefits from the Qatar relationship beyond the annual $50-60 million:

Global brand extension: Operating in Doha puts Carnegie Mellon on the world map in a new region, attracting students and attention from across the Middle East and South Asia.

Research access: The Qatar Science and Technology Park provides access to shared innovation hubs that support interdisciplinary research, facilitating knowledge spillover to local industries.

Tuition revenue: International students at CMU-Q pay the same tuition as Pittsburgh students$67,020 for 2025-2026. With over 450 students, non-Qatari full tuition payers contribute substantial revenue.

Alumni network: Over 1,000 CMU-Q alumni now work across the Middle East in technology, finance, and researchextending Carnegie Mellon's network into a strategically important region.

Prestige signaling: Having an international campus signals global ambition and reach to prospective students, donors, and faculty considering Pittsburgh.

Financial cushion: Tens of millions in annual Qatari funding provide revenue that doesn't depend on U.S. enrollment trends, federal research funding cycles, or domestic economic conditions.

These benefits explain why Carnegie Mellon renewed the relationship in May 2025 without visible hesitation. The financial and strategic returns are real. The question is whether they justify the dependency they create.

The Departure Nobody Wants to Discuss

What would it take for Carnegie Mellon to leave Qatar?

Virginia Commonwealth University's Qatar campus closed in 2020. VCUarts Qatar operated for over two decades before closuresuggesting that departure is possible but requires deliberate institutional decision-making.

VCU's departure received minimal attention, which itself is revealing. When a university closes a foreign campus, it barely registers in public discourse. Yet that campus's closure likely affected hundreds of students, dozens of faculty, and years of established relationships.

For Carnegie Mellon, departure would be more complex:

Scale: CMU-Q is larger and more established than VCUarts Qatar was when it closed.

Financial integration: $50-60 million in annual Qatari funding represents substantial revenue that Pittsburgh would need to replace or absorb as loss.

Contractual obligations: The just-renewed ten-year agreement creates legal and reputational constraints on departure.

Alumni commitments: Over 1,000 CMU-Q alumni have degrees contingent on the campus's continued legitimacy.

Geopolitical context: Departing Qatar while Qatar is investing $1.1 billion in American universities annually would be diplomatically sensitive.

Faculty careers: Faculty who built careers at CMU-Q would face displacement.

Departure isn't impossible. But the May 2025 renewal makes it clear Carnegie Mellon isn't considering it. And every year the relationship continues, departure becomes more complex and costly.

The $67.6 Billion Context

Carnegie Mellon's Qatar dependency doesn't exist in isolation. It's part of the $67.6 billion in total foreign funding that American universities have received since 1986a number now fully visible through the Trump administration's new transparency portal.

In 2025 alone, Carnegie Mellon and MIT each received almost $1 billion, Stanford received over $775 million, and Harvard received over $324 million in total foreign funding.

But Carnegie Mellon's case is unique among these top recipients. MIT's nearly $1 billion comes from dozens of countries and hundreds of contractsdiversified funding that doesn't create dependency on any single source. Stanford's $775 million similarly reflects broad international research partnerships.

Carnegie Mellon's almost $1 billion is different. It's overwhelmingly concentrated in one relationship with one state-backed entity in one country. That concentration creates a qualitatively different kind of dependency than diversified foreign funding.

A university with $1 billion spread across 100 foreign sources can afford to lose any one of them. A university whose $1 billion comes overwhelmingly from a single foreign government cannot.

The Questions Pittsburgh Should Answer

Carnegie Mellon's leadership in Pittsburgh owes its communitystudents, faculty, alumni, staffclear answers to questions the Qatar relationship raises:

What specifically does Qatar Foundation have the right to request, require, or influence regarding CMU-Q operations, curriculum, faculty, or admissions?

Are there topics, research areas, or teaching content that CMU-Q avoids because of the Qatar context?

What are the specific terms of the May 2025 ten-year renewal? What changed from the previous agreement?

Under what circumstances would Carnegie Mellon consider ending the Qatar relationship? What would trigger departure?

How does Carnegie Mellon ensure that faculty at CMU-Q can conduct research and teach subjects that might be sensitive to Qatar's government?

What happens to currently enrolled CMU-Q students if the relationship ended suddenly?

Has Carnegie Mellon ever declined any request from Qatar Foundation regarding campus operations?

These aren't gotcha questions. They're the basic transparency questions that a university with a $740 million foreign dependency should answer publicly.

The Broader Warning

Carnegie Mellon's Qatar story is really a story about what happens when American universities let financial dependency on foreign governments deepen over decades until it becomes structural.

In 2004, the Qatar campus was an exciting international opportunity. In 2025, after $740 million in Qatari grants and a new ten-year extension, it's a dependency that shapes institutional behavior whether Carnegie Mellon acknowledges it or not.

The pattern repeats across Education City: Cornell received $2.3 billion from Qatar, Carnegie Mellon received $740 million, and Texas A&M and Georgetown received substantial funding as well. Each institution entered Qatar independently, made its own financial calculations, and gradually built dependencies that now extend decades into the future.

Critics have noted that Qatar's academic funding represents a form of soft power that raises concerns about influence over both anti-Israel sentiment and broader U.S. academic and policy discourse.

Meanwhile, Qatari explanation for their large investment in U.S. education cites a desire to import Western-style academic programs to Qatar, build local human capital, and underwrite research.

Both can be true simultaneously: Qatar's stated goals are legitimate development objectives AND the funding creates influence and dependency that serves Qatar's broader strategic interests.

The question isn't whether Carnegie Mellon's Qatar campus educates students. It does. The question is whether a decade-long, $50-60 million annual dependency on a foreign government's state-backed foundation is compatible with the institutional independence that makes a Carnegie Mellon degree worth having.

That question got more urgent the moment the new ten-year extension was signed.

And it will get more urgent still as the years pass, the relationship deepens, and departure becomes ever more difficult to contemplate.

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar is located in Education City, Doha, and operates under a partnership with the Qatar Foundation that was most recently extended in May 2025 for ten years. The campus enrolls over 450 students from 61 nationalities and has produced more than 1,000 graduates. Carnegie Mellon has not publicly commented on the financial terms of the 2025 renewal.
Teenager rescued from 50-ft shaft on New York City bridge after TikTok stunt reportedly went horribly wrong

A teenage boy has been rescued after falling 50 feet into a shaft on a New York City bridge during a TikTok stunt that reportedly went horribly wrong.

The New York City Fire Department announced Monday night that it had received a report of a person in a confined space in one of the bustresses of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, which connects Manhattan and Queens.

Authorities arrived within three minutes, FDNY Deputy Chief Nicholas Corrado said at a press briefing. A total of 75 first responders helped in the rescue.

A person, identified in local news reports as a 16-year-old boy, was found down 50 feet in the shaft from the buttress on the lower level of the Queens side, Corrado said.

This was a confined-space operation, which is a very difficult, time-consuming, manpower-intensive operation, the fire deputy chief told reporters. It involves high-angle equipment, ropes, we have to monitor the air, and create high points.

A teenage boy has been rescued after falling 50 feet into a shaft on a New York City bridge during a TikTok stunt that reportedly went horribly wrong (NYC Emergency Management)

The Daily News reported that the teen was believed to have been stuck in the shaft for about three hours.

After first responders rescued the boy, he was hospitalized. The Daily News reported that the teen suffered from hypothermia, which The Independent has not verified.

We got to the victim, packaged the victim out of the shaft, and got them to an ambulance and sent them on their way for medical attention at a hospital, Corrado said.

EMS Deputy Chief Staci Grguric said the boy was in critical condition when he was taken to nearby New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Police said Tuesday that the teen is now stable, per PIX11.

The New York Post said the boy was from Lynbrook, Long Island. Unnamed sources told the publication that the teen was filming a video for TikTok when he fell into the bridge shaft.

Authorities rushed to the Queensboro Bridge Monday night to rescue a boy in critical condition (NYC Emergency Management)

The Independent has reached out to the FDNY and the New York City Police Department for comment.

There have been horror stories in recent years about dangerous TikTok trends going wrong.

Earlier this month, a nine-year-old boy from Illinois made headlines after suffering severe burns from following a TikTok trend. Caleb Chabolla had reportedly heated his NeeDoh Nice Cube in the microwave to make the toy more pliable.

In October 2024, then-New York City Mayor Eric Adams warned against the dangers of subway surfing, which is when someone rides on the outside of moving trains. While subway surfing is nothing new, it has gained more traction thanks to social media.

"Subway surfing is a deadly trap, one that is endangering more and more young people who see others doing it on social media," Adams said at the time. "But those five minutes of online fame could lead to years of regret and pain, or a lifetime of trauma and heartbreak for a family that loses a child.
Young U.S. voters are starting to turn on President Donald Trump over concerns about his economic agenda, a new report reveals.

Trump saw a surge of support from Generation Z voters (born between 1997 and 2012) during the last presidential election. But now, young Americans are abandoning Trump faster than any other voting bloc, according to a new report in The Atlantic by Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark.

Longwell, who runs weekly focus groups with voters, reports that many young Trump voters initially backed him over his economic promises. As Trump enters his second year back in the White House, some young voters have said theyre disappointed and concerned about the economy, according to Longwell.

Kim, a Gen-Z Trump voter from Virginia identified only by her first name, said during a January focus group: There are things that are very disappointing and very rough right now.

President Donald Trump saw a surge of support from young people in 2024, but now, some Generation-Z voters may be turning on him, a new report reveals (AFP via Getty Images)

Lizabel, a Florida resident whose last name was also withheld, reportedly said things are pretty chaotic lately.

You just see all this stuff on the news, and you see a lot of people are struggling to find jobs. A lot of people are feeling kind of pessimistic about what things are going on, she added.

Sam, a voter from Minnesota, also cited concerns about affordability and the unemployment rate for youth, Longwell reports.

When reached for comment, White House spokesperson Kush Desai touted Trumps economic policies.

In just one year, President Trumps policies have cooled inflation, raised real wages, accelerated GDP growth, and slashed the prices of prescription drugs and gasoline. Americans can rest assured that, as these policies continue taking effect, the best is yet to come, Desai told The Independent.

A Wall Street Journal poll published last month found that two-thirds of voters ages 18-29 disapprove of the presidents priorities. The survey also revealed that nearly half of voters under 30 said they would back a Democratic candidate if the 2026 midterm elections were held today, while 43 percent said theyd choose a Republican.

A poll conducted this month by Economist/YouGov found that 25 percent of U.S. adults ages 18-29 approve of the way Trump is handling his job, while 67 percent disapprove. This marks a significant change from the results of a February 2025 Economist/YouGov poll, which found 50 percent of U.S. adults under 30 approved of Trump and 42 percent disapproved.

This comes as Trump braces for the 2026 midterm elections.

Historical trends show that the presidents party typically loses seats in a midterm election, which could mean trouble for Republicans, who are currently in the majority in both chambers of Congress.

While midterm elections are still months away, recent surveys have shown that Democrats running for Congress currently have a modest advantage, according to The New York Times polling aggregator.
Trumps daughter-in-law reveals what president told his family after leaving the White House in 2021

Lara Trump has revealed what her father-in-law, President Trump, told his family after leaving the White House in 2021.

The commander-in-chief lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden and left office in disgrace after the events of January 6, 2021, when his followers stormed the Capitol as part of an effort to overturn the results.

President Trump inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence, a report by special counsel Jack Smith later concluded, and he was subsequently impeached for a second time.

Those events weighed heavily on the Trump family as they departed Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2021, on a final Air Force One flight to Palm Beach, Florida, with their patriarchs reputation seemingly in tatters.

Lara Trump says it was an incredibly tough time for the family after her father-in-law lost the 2020 election. (Pod Force One)

They were in a place of despair as they disembarked, Lara Trump recalled on an episode of Miranda Devines Pod Force One podcast released on Wednesday.

It was very somber. It was an incredibly tough time for all of us, and I think it was an incredibly tough time for him, said Lara Trump, who is married to the presidents eldest son, Eric Trump.

She said that no one really had a lot to say at the time, but recalled how Trump wanted the family to gather for dinner that night.

And none of us really knew how that would go. And the first thing he did, before he even sat down at the dinner table, is he looked around at all of us and he goes, Well, kids, Ive got to do it again.

Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted since then that the 2020 election was stolen, and reacted furiously to the 2022 release of a bombshell 845-page report from a House select committee that found him responsible for the January 6 Capitol riot  a violent insurrection that left five people dead and dozens of law enforcement officers injured.

Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election. (Brent Stirton/Getty Images)

The committee found that he engaged in a multi-part conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election and called for him to never be allowed to take office again.

Lara Trump took issue with January 6 once again on the Pod Force One podcast, saying the Trump family had been besieged by insinuations that they were horrible monsters.

The torture after the election in 2020 that we all had to endure as a country ... He went through all of it.

Trump refused to concede defeat and mounted a political comeback against the odds, winning the 2024 election against then-Vice President Kamala Harris by sweeping all seven major battleground states in a major upset.

His return to the White House cut short legal efforts to hold him accountable for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, with special counsel Jack Smith concluding that, while he would likely have been convicted, it was not possible to bring charges against a sitting president.

President Trump has admitted that he ran again in 2024 because he needed it for my own ego. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Lara Trump touted his perseverance in the face of adversity and said it was inspiring to see him fight.

Any one of the things that he had against him, especially in the four years in between terms, would have been enough for one person to say, You know what? Thats it. Im out of this. Im never going to do it again. But he never gave up, she told Devine.

He continued to fight for what he wanted, but what he, I think, knew was right to do.

President Trump himself has admitted to much less lofty motives for running again.

I needed it for my own ego, he said, amidst several bizarre tangents in his National Prayer Breakfast speech in early February.

I would've had a bad ego for the rest of my ... Now I really have a big ego. Beating these lunatics was incredible, right? What a great feeling.

Lara Trump appeared unconcerned by her father-in-laws political challenges, confirming she may yet launch her own Senate run.
Hillary Clinton moderates a panel at the 62nd Munich Security Conference on 14 February in Munich, Germany. Photograph: Johannes Simon/Getty Images (Photograph: Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton has accused the Trump administration of a cover-up over the Epstein files, while claiming that she and her husband are being forced to testify before Congress to deflect scrutiny from Donald Trump.

In an interview with the BBC, Clinton said the US Department of Justice was slow-walking the release of documents relating to Jeffrey Epsteins catalogue of crimes and urged the administration to get the files out. Despite periodic document dumps of the files since Congress mandated their release late last year, the justice department is still withholding about 3m files.

Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify before the House oversight committee on 26 February, while Bill will appear the day after. It will be the first appearance by a former president in front of a congressional panel in more than 40 years.

We have nothing to hide, she added. We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly. We think sunlight is the best disinfectant.

The Clintons have called for their hearings to be held in public. Comer has said he is happy to hold public hearings in addition to the closed-door testimony.

Trump, who is mentioned thousands of times in the files released so far, told reporters in response to Clintons comments that he had been absolved.

Ive been totally exonerated, he said, speaking on Air Force One. Theyre getting pulled in, thats their problem. Well have to see what happens.

Hillary Clinton accuses Trump justice department of Epstein files cover-up

Clintons comments, at the Munich security conference, came as she and her husband, Bill Clinton, the former president, prepare to give sworn depositions on the affair before the House oversight committee.

Read the full story

Top DHS spokesperson to exit role amid growing outrage over Trumps ICE raids

Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Securitys top spokesperson and one of the most visible defenders of the Trump administrations deportation raids, is leaving the agency in the coming week, the department confirmed.

Read the full story

Iran-US talks: agreement reached on guiding principles

Iran has described the latest round of indirect talks with the US as more constructive and said agreement had been reached on general guiding principles that could lead to a further meeting on its nuclear programme.

Read the full story

Colbert accuses Trump administration of censorship after CBS pulls interview

The talkshow host Stephen Colbert has accused the Trump administration of censoring critics after CBS pulled his interview with a Texas Democrat on Monday, apparently at the behest of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Read the full story

Obama, Trump and Biden lead tributes to Jesse Jackson

Three Democratic former presidents led a wealth of tributes to Jesse Jackson, a titan of the civil rights movement and one of Americas greatest patriots, who has died at the age of 84.

Donald Trump called Jackson a good man and a friend in a social media post that quickly turned political and self-serving.

Read the full story

US says 11 people killed in latest strikes on alleged drug boats

US military officials have said American forces launched assaults on three alleged drug-smuggling boats, killing 11 in one of the deadliest days of the Trump administrations months-long campaign against alleged traffickers.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened on 16 February 2026.
Britain accused Donald Trump of changing his mind over the Chagos Islands as it vowed to press ahead with a deal with Mauritius.

Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones insisted that the Government was prioritising the UKs national security ahead of Trumps foreign policy statements after he launched a stinging attack on the UK over the future of the Diego Garcia military base.

Ms Davies-Jones, on the media round for the Government, told Times Radio: Its really important to note that during his first meeting with President Trump, the Prime Minister reiterated this deal, and President Trump backed it. He said that this lease was a strong lease.

Just two weeks ago, the President again backed this and said that it was the best deal available.

And just this week, the US administration again reaffirmed their commitment to the deal.

A US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress is towed past another on the flight line at Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory (PA Media)

She added: Look, this is about ensuring British security, national security, and ensuring that the base is there for the long term, for the British public, and that is the utmost priority for the Government.

She stressed the Government would press ahead with legislation on the Chagos Islands deal as soon as parliamentary time allowed.

Talks with Washington would continue, she added, after Trump launched his latest attack on the proposed agreement over the islands.

In withering remarks, the US president warned Sir Keir Starmer not to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

He hit out just a day after the US said it approved of the deal.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Sir Keir would be making "a big mistake" if he proceeded with plans to hand over the islands, home to a joint US-UK military base.

The plans would see the UK lease the base on Diego Garcia from Mauritius at a cost of 35 billion over the next century.

On Tuesday, the US State Department said it "supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago".

President Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer (PA Wire)

But in his post on Wednesday, Trump said leases were "no good", adding the base could be necessary for a strike on Iran.

He said: "Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease.

"This land should not be taken away from the UK and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.

"We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. Do not give away Diego Garcia."

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel (PA Archive)

The shadow foreign secretary said the presidents latest comments were "an utter humiliation" for the Prime Minister.

Dame Priti Patel said: "President Trump has once again publicly rebuked Keir Starmer and his Government over their ill-judged, unnecessary and expensive Chagos Surrender. This is an utter humiliation for Starmer.

Recent international court decisions have threatened the future of the base, the government said.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "The deal to secure the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia is crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.
Donald Trump said Sir Keir Starmer was endangering Britain by handing over Diego Garcia - AP Photo/Nathan Howard

Donald Trump has demanded Sir Keir Starmer not give away Diego Garcia in a fresh attack on his Chagos Islands deal.

The US president warned the Prime Minister that he was making a big mistake by entering into a 100-year lease with Mauritius.

It is the latest in a series of about-turns from the president on the deal, which he previously called an act of great stupidity before giving it approval earlier this month.

Mr Trump said Diego Garcia, the shared US base, was crucial for possible air strikes on Iran, which experts predict could take place within days, despite peace talks.

The president said: Should Iran decide not to make a deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime  an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly countries.

He added that Sir Keir was endangering Britain by handing over Diego Garcia for fictitious reasons, urging the Prime Minister to remain strong in the face of wokeism.

He said: Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100-year lease.

Trump Truth social post on Chagos Islands

Asked during a press briefing whether Mr Trumps Truth Social message was the administrations position, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said: The post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration. Its coming straight from the horses mouth.

Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official, told The Telegraph the presidents about-turn on the Chagos deal raised the prospect of an imminent strike on Iran.

Trump isnt a master of details, but Starmers deal probably came up in conversation and the question is, why now? he said.

There arent many answers to that unless Trump was engaged in a conversation about military assets needed for an attack on Iran.

1906 How far Chagos military base is from Iran

It is understood that Mr Trumps latest stance took senior foreign policy officials in Britain by surprise.

Mr Trump and Sir Keir last spoke on Tuesday, but it is understood the Chagos deal was not raised on the call by either side.

Foreign Office and Downing Street officials have been battling to keep the deal on track.

After Mr Trumps outburst on the topic last month, he reversed his position, arguing that the deal was the best arrangement Sir Keir could have struck with Mauritius.

It remains unclear whether his latest stance will lead to the cancellation of the deal, which ministers have previously admitted cannot go ahead without the support of the US.

Sir Keirs agreement to hand over the islands involves Britain paying Mauritius 35bn across a 99-year period to lease back Diego Garcia.

Diego Garcias strategic position puts Iran within striking distance and allows for round-the-clock, long-range bomber missions, such as the strike on Tehran last year using B-2 Spirits.

Under the terms of the new agreement, critics argue that Britain would have to notify Mauritius, an ally of China and Tehran, that the base would be used for a military operation.

It comes after a group of exiled Chagossians returned to the territory earlier this week in protest against the deal.

Misley Mandarin, the islands elected first minister, arrived on the archipelago with his father and other islanders on Tuesday.

Misley Mandarin arrived on the archipelago on Tuesday. He has been campaigning for the islands to remain British

On Wednesday, the group was served with an eviction notice by the British Indian Ocean Territory police.

He told The Telegraph: I will give my life for my country, adding, if they decide by force to exile me again, they will have to kill me.

Mr Trump ordered a surge of military aircraft to the Middle East this week, suggesting a major attack on Iran may be imminent.

Experts told The Telegraph the increase in warplanes travelling to the Gulf would probably be used to clear the way for heavy bombers to strike at the heart of Irans regime.

Bombers would probably take off from bases such as Diego Garcia. Military briefings would probably have made it clear to Mr Trump the significance of the Chagos base.

Just hours before Mr Trumps announcement, the US state department put out a press release saying it supported Britains decision to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago.

The US and Mauritius were expected to hold discussions in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, from Monday to ensure the long-term, secure operation of the military base.

A security pact between Mauritius and the US could help block growing Chinese influence on the islands.

Irresponsible and reckless deal

Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: Giving up British sovereign territory to an ally of China and paying for the privilege is irresponsible and reckless and is clearly undermining our relationship with our most important ally.

Since giving his approval to the deal, Mr Trump has been relentlessly lobbied by prominent Republicans against it.

John Kennedy, a Republican senator for Louisiana, is understood to have been among those to have raised the issue with senior members of the administration.

Writing for The Telegraph in January, he raised the alarm over national security concerns with giving away the base.

He said: Prime Minister Starmer can remind the American people why they have so much faith in our British allies by standing strong against the United Nations and protecting our shared national security interests on Diego Garcia.

Mr Kennedy, a close ally of the president, is understood to have made the case for blocking the deal with senior cabinet members, including Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, and the White House.
President Donald Trump has long insisted that Americans dont shoulder the burden of his tariffs. However, new research indicates that his sweeping levies are set to raise household costs this year  representing the largest tax increase in a generation.

The average American household will pay an extra $1,300 in 2026 due to Trumps tariffs, up from $1,000 in 2025, according to a study this month from the Tax Foundation, a non-partisan think tank in Washington, D.C.

The president launched his unprecedented tariff regime last April, imposing so-called reciprocal levies on dozens of countries  including key trading partners like China and the European Union  alongside a universal 10 percent rate on all imports. Since then, the administration has repeatedly delayed, canceled and reinstated these measures, while threatening more, creating ongoing uncertainty.

The Tax Foundation calculated that the average effective tariff rate on all U.S. imports is now 9.9 percent, making it the highest average rate since 1946.

The Trump tariffs are the largest US tax increase as a percent of GDP (0.54 percent for 2026) since 1993, the study added.

Trumps tariffs, which he rolled out last April, are also projected to reduce GDP by 0.5 percent (Getty)

The levies raised $132 billion in tax revenue last year and are projected to generate about $2 trillion over the next decade when foreign retaliation is not accounted for. With negative effects priced in, the estimated revenue falls to $1.6 trillion.

Meanwhile, the presidents tariffs are projected to reduce GDP by 0.5 percent. They also risk undermining the economic gains from Trumps tax cuts in his Big, Beautiful Bill without generating enough revenue to offset their cost.

Historical evidence and recent studies show that tariffs are taxes that raise prices and reduce available quantities of goods and services for U.S. businesses and consumers, resulting in lower income, reduced employment, and lower economic output, the study concluded.

The White House, though, quickly dismissed the findings from the study.

The average American tariff has increased nearly sevenfold in the past year, while inflation cooled, real wages increased, and economic growth accelerated  the exact opposite of what the experts said would happen, Trump spokesperson Kush Desai told The Independent. More pointless studies are not going to change the fact that President Trump was right and the Panican experts were wrong.

But nearly all Democratic lawmakers, plus some Republicans, have expressed opposition to the sweeping tariffs unilaterally imposed by Trump.

American families will soon pay higher prices for avocados and appliances, diesel fuel and dog toys, car parts and Christmas lights, tomatoes and tequila, beer and gas, Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, said in a recent statement addressing the tariffs. Its the largest tax increase on working Americans in a long time, and it will cost them thousands of dollars every year. President Trump is making America expensive again.

The Tax Foundation calculated that the average effective tariff rate on all U.S. imports is 9.9 percent, making it the highest average rate since 1946 (Tax Foundation)

The public appears to agree with this sentiment, according to recent polls. A February survey from the Pew Research Center found that 60 percent of Americans disapprove of the presidents increased tariffs, while 37 percent said they approve.

The latest study from the Tax Foundation comes at a critical juncture for the administrations trade policy. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on whether the president holds the authority to unilaterally impose tariffs, but it is unclear when its decision will be handed down.

Trump has warned that, should the high court rule against him, the nation will be SCREWED!
This land should not be taken away from the UK and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our great ally, Trump said. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Donald Trump has urged Keir Starmer not to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius, warning he was making a big mistake.

Under the deal agreed last year, Britain would cede control over the British Indian Ocean Territory but lease the largest island, Diego Garcia, for 99 years to continue operating a joint US-UK military base there.

Earlier this month, Trump said the plan to hand the Chagos Islands back was the best deal Starmer could make, watering down his previous criticism. On Tuesday, the state department gave its official backing to the deal.

However, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, the US president wrote: Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but prime minister Starmer is losing control of this important island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature.

Trump added that if Iran did not make a peace deal with the US, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, as well as RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime  an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly countries.

Prime minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100-year lease, the US president continued.

This land should not be taken away from the UK and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our great ally. We will always be ready, willing and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of wokeism, and other problems put before them.

Last month, the US president had described ceding sovereignty as an act of great stupidity.

His latest statement comes only a day after the US Department of State said it supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago.

When asked about Trumps latest social media post on Wednesday evening, his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters: The post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration. Its coming straight from the horses mouth.

The UKs shadow foreign secretary, Priti Patel, said Trump had once again publicly rebuked Keir Starmer and his government over their ill-judged, unnecessary and expensive Chagos surrender. This is an utter humiliation for Starmer.

The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, said Trumps flip-flopping on the issue showed why Starmers approach was doomed to fail.

Britain cant rely on the US while Trump is in the White House, he said. Its time to strengthen our ties with allies we can depend on, starting with our neighbours in Europe.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: The deal to secure the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia military is crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.

The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base.

On Wednesday, British authorities issued removal orders against four Chagossians who landed this week on a remote atoll in the Chagos Archipelago in an attempt to complicate British plans to transfer the territory.

The four landed on Monday on Ile du Coin, part of the Peros Banhos atoll, with more expected to join them in what would be a permanent settlement.

The removal orders seen by Reuters, addressed to them individually, were issued by a British Indian Ocean Territory immigration official and stated they are unlawfully present in the territory and will be removed.

It warned that breaching the order by returning would be a criminal offence punishable with up to three years imprisonment and a fine of 3,000 ($4,060).

The UKs deal is opposed by some Chagossians, who accuse Mauritius of decades of neglect. Mauritius has denied the accusations.

Up to 2,000 Chagossians were forcibly removed from the archipelago in the 1960s and 1970s and resettled mainly in Mauritius and Britain. Many want the right to return to their homeland.

The UN committee on the elimination of racial discrimination has urged Britain and Mauritius not to ratify the 2025 agreement, saying it risks perpetuating historical rights violations.
The facade of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photograph: Bastiaan Slabbers/Sipa US via Alamy (Photograph: Bastiaan Slabbers/Sipa US via Alamy)

The first and only museum dedicated to the US constitution has been plunged into turmoil over the sudden departure of its president, a legal scholar widely respected for his commitment to non-partisanship.

The National Constitution Center (NCC) in Philadelphia announced last month that Jeffrey Rosen would step down after 12 years to be replaced by Vince Stango on an interim basis.

Rosen, 61, shaped the centres scholarly output, public programming and global profile. He was central to its preparations for the 250th anniversary of US independence in July, personally overseeing much of the educational content.

Some at the NCC felt that, while Rosens gifts as a public intellectual and ambassador were beyond reproach, he showed less appetite for the bread-and-butter management of running an organisation and it was time to make a change.

One member of the centres board, however, alleges that the then chair, Doug DeVos, and his successor, Mike George, had a more sinister political motive for ousting Rosen.

Related: Seized, subverted, shuttered: a year in Trumps assault on the Kennedy Center

The two chairmens reprehensible actions were all about Donald Trump and the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Americas founding on July 4, 2026, and nothing whatsoever about Mr Rosen, J Michael Luttig, a retired federal appeals court judge, told the Guardian in an email.

There is no firm evidence of a link between Rosens departure and an effort to curry favour with the White House. Several sources at the centre, approached by the Guardian, bridled at the suggestion and categorically insisted that politics played no part in the leadership transition.

Stango, 48, the interim president and chief executive, said: As we were contemplating the future and what the next 10 years looked like, Jeff made the decision to step down.

He, and we, feel as though he came in at a time when we needed his leadership. He elevated our national voice. He helped, in partnership with me and others on the team, grow the Constitution Center to where it is today. He felt it was time to step down and focus on his other interests, his personal scholarship.

Despite the conflicting accounts, there is no doubt the NCC has endured a difficult and acrimonious few months. DeVos and George hired an external employment lawyer to interview staff about workplace issues including how the organisation was being led.

The issue came to a head in December when the boards executive committee convened via Zoom. One source says members were surprised when DeVos and George asserted for the first time that there was a leadership crisis. Another source denies this and insists it was not the first time board members had been informed.

According to one account, Rosen had become paranoid about his position and tendered his resignation in the expectation that it would be refused. But the executive committee voted through the proposal unanimously.

But Luttig had immediate misgivings. He began circulating detailed emails to the full board, laying out documents and correspondence that, he claimed, had been withheld by the leadership. (Others discount this claim.) These communications continued almost daily in the run-up to the next full board meeting on 7 January.

Luttig, a conservative critic of Trump who testified to the congressional panel investigating the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, said via email: I told the Board of Trustees repeatedly before the Board Meeting that there never had been a crisis at the NCC until the two chairmen created the crisis at the NCC themselves as pretext to push Jeff Rosen out.

Luttig claims that a significant number of board members said that, in the weeks leading up to the January 7 meeting  and even during and after the vote  they did not understand the issue involving Rosen. They said the two chairmen had not provided them with the relevant information, leaving them unprepared to vote on Rosens resignation, according to Luttig.

Luttig adds that several members wanted the opportunity to speak with Rosen informally to hear his perspective. Despite repeated requests, he says the chairman refused to share the information the board sought and proceeded to force a vote on Rosens resignation over the boards objections on 7 January  though others dispute this claim.

The judge said: On January 7, 2026, Mr George and Mr DeVos forced the Board to vote to accept Mr Rosens resignation over the objections of both the Board and Mr Rosen, who had told Mr George and Mr DeVos that he did not want the Board to accept his resignation, he just wanted the two chairmen to allow him to talk to the Board.

Had the two chairmen not forced the Board to vote over its objection, the Board would never have accepted Mr Rosens resignation and Mr Rosen would still be the President and CEO of the National Constitution Center today.

DeVos is the former president of Amway, a marketing company that sells health and beauty products, and brother-in-law of Betsy DeVos, who was education secretary in the first Trump administration. The DeVos family are major Republican donors. George was the head of Qurate Retail, the parent company of QVC.

Multiple sources at the centre praised both men for their non-partisan approach and dismissed the idea that they could be trying to please Trump as false. One said: The personal politics of trustees played no role in this change, nor did it have anything to do with the Trump administration whatsoever. Zero.

Luttig tried to quit but the board did not vote to accept his resignation, though his name has been removed as a trustee from the NCC website. Rosen has been granted the title of CEO emeritus but is expected to take a back seat, much to the dismay of fellow historians who prized his leadership.

David Blight, an American history professor at Yale University, said: Mostly all I can express is chagrin and great disappointment that hes leaving. My impression is the staff had great respect for Jeff.

Blight praised Rosens stewardship of the centres annual retreat, adding: Its one of the most extraordinary things Ive ever been to because its run by Jeff  or used to be run by Jeff  in a thoroughly bipartisan and non-partisan atmosphere. Watching Jeff in the leadership of that event, which is like two and a half days of nonstop panels, most of which he chairs, is amazing. People are astounded that he can pull this off.

Akhil Reed Amar, a law and political science professor at Yale University, described Rosen as one of the best students he ever had at law school and a genuine public intellectual. When he took over as president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, he brought to it a lustre and level of excellence that it had not had before.

He was spectacular at preserving the non-partisan nature of the place. That tightrope was not easy to walk in the last decade and yet he did. He was quite the acrobat.

The dispute leaves the institution facing uncertainty at a sensitive moment, with the eyes of the nation  and the world  expected to turn to Philadelphia in July 2026. The centre is a non-partisan, non-profit institution that is chartered by Congress.

Sean Wilentz, a history professor at Princeton University, said: It seems as if this is improper. From what I knew as a sort of insider-outsider, Jeff was not about to leave. Jeff had lots more to do, especially in the 250th year. Youre not gonna jump ship just before the ships about to take off.

It didnt make sense and then the other side  the politicisation part  did make sense. If someone who wanted to impress the administration wanted to try to take over the NCC, it would be a feather in their cap and it would advance that process of not just purging stuff that they think is improper or un-American but its also about power and control.

Since taking office a year ago, Trump has embarked on an unparalleled bid to capture Americas cultural institutions. He seized control of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which his handpicked board renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center in a legally dubious move, and announced it will close for two years for renovations.

The president is also pressuring the Smithsonian Institution to remove divisive content and woke ideology. And in Philadelphia, the National Park Service recently removed an exhibit on slavery at Independence national historical park in response to Trumps executive order restoring truth and sanity to American history at the nations museums, parks and landmarks.

Rosen did not respond to a request for comment. Luttig said in an email: By forcing Mr Rosen to resign, Mr George and Mr DeVos politicized forever the sacred National Constitution Center, the only institution in America that is, by Charter of the Congress, private, apolitical, and non-partisan, for the express purpose of educating  and inspiring  Americans and the world about the Constitution of the United States and the freedoms it enshrines.

George said in a statement: The Centers Board of Trustees represents scholars, legal experts, and other national leaders who combined offer considerable ideological diversity that enhances our united and nonpartisan effort to advance the principles embodied in the US Constitution.

We follow a clear governance structure and procedures consistent with past practices and good governance principles in setting priorities for the Center and in ensuring that the necessary resources and leadership structure are in place to deliver on the vision. The current leadership transition reflects this practice. Any suggestion that partisan politics has informed the current leadership transition is absurd.

DeVos declined to comment.
U2s Bono says surprise EP that protests ICE shootings will offend or annoy some parties

U2 have joined fellow rocker Bruce Springsteen in releasing songs in response to current events in America, including the shooting death of Renee Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

Titled Days of Ash, the Irish rock bands new six-song EP is described in a press release as an immediate response to current events and inspired by the many extraordinary and courageous people fighting on the frontlines of freedom.

U2 frontman Bono said in a statement that the tracks are very different in mood and theme from those that will be released as part of the bands new album later this year. These EP tracks couldnt wait; these songs were impatient to be out in the world, he said. They are songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation.

Songs of celebration will follow, were working on those now because for all the awfulness we see normalized daily on our small screens, theres nothing normal about these mad and maddening times, and we need to stand up to them before we can go back to having faith in the future. And each other, Bono continued.

The first of the six songs, American Obituary, is inspired by Good, a mother-of-three who was shot and killed January 7 by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

Renee Good born to die free / American mother of three / Seventh day January / A bullet for each child, you see, Bono sings.

America will rise / against the people of the lie, he continues before going into the chorus: I love you more / than hate loves war.

U2 have released six new songs (U2)

The EP also includes a track called One Life at a Time, written for slain Palestinian father-of-three Awdah Hathaleen who was killed by an Israeli settler in 2025.

All the songs on Days of Ash are of the moment we wish we werent in... but are, Bono told The Sun.

He added: The songs being presented here are all reactions to present day anxieties, some knee-jerk, some more considered... all likely to offend or annoy some parties, but thats kind of our job!

In releasing the EP, the Dublin-born band  consisting of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.  join Bruce Springsteen in targeting ICE through music.

Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr of U2 released six new songs (Getty Images)

Earlier this week, Springsteen and his E Street Band announced their Land of Hope and Dreams tour, which kicks off next month at Minneapolis Target Center.

Springsteens 20-date run in Minneapolis comes weeks after the release of his protest song, Streets of Minneapolis, which criticized Donald Trump after ICE agents invaded the city on his orders. The song was written in response to the deaths of Good and Alex Pretti, who was also shot and killed by federal immigration agents in January.

Pretti and Good are mentioned by name throughout the song, including with the profound stanza: And there were bloody footprints / Where mercy should have stood / And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets / Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
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Ukraine peace talks have been little more than a mafia-style shakedown by the US and Russia

The collapse of the peace talks in Geneva between Russia and Ukraine is a moment to be celebrated. But Europes politicians may need a stiff drink to fortify them for what is to come, after Volodymyr Zelensky described what US deal-brokers were doing as unfair.

The entire process has been a mafia-style shakedown of Ukraine and her allies by the US and Russia, who have weaponised lies about the whole bloody process  from the causes of the war to the prescriptions for ending it.

In Pavlohrad, the big lie for internal refugees from Russias meat grinder operations in the east is that Vladimir Putin sent forces to rescue them from Ukrainian nationalists... that he sent Russian soldiers to save Russian-speakers from the threat of oblivion meted out by Kyiv.

Nikolai Klymenko, 56, sits wheezing on the edge of a bed in the government-run relief coordination centre in the city, an hours drive from the front lines. A former soldier in the Soviet army, he fought in Kandahar, Jalalabad and elsewhere during Moscows efforts to prop up a communist regime in Kabul in the 1980s. He says he was decorated for bravery and that he was blown up by a booby trap in Kandahar, and has the scars to prove it.

I had a hole in my head you could put your finger in, he says of his service to the Kremlin.

Nikolai speaks Russian as his mother tongue. He fled Dobropillia when Moscows forces invaded it last summer, then found himself in Druzhkivka, south of Kramatorsk, as Russian missiles and drones expanded their attacks on civilians.

I ended up begging for cigarettes outside the hospital. So I came here, he says.

Nikolai Klymenko is a former Soviet army soldier who fought in Afghanistan during Moscows efforts to prop up a communist regime in Kabul in the 1980s (Sam Kiley/The Independent)

At the relief centre, refugees arrive from Donetsk province, which Putin has already illegally annexed even though about a third of it isnt in Russian hands. Since the centre opened in 2024, two years after Putin ordered his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 44,000 people have come through its doors. Theyre helped with food, documents, psychological support and accommodation, locally or deep into the west of the country.

Almost all of them would have been Russian speakers  the people Putin said he was trying to save.

Oleh Nemchenko, a miner from Dobropillia, is not among the refugees. His body is in a hole in the ground near the pithead at the nearby coal mine. He and his wife, Iryna, hung on as Russian forces bombarded the town.

I was lighting a fire in our stove, and he went out for a cigarette. I dont know what happened next, and cannot remember. The next thing, I found myself outside looking at his dead body in the street, says Iryna, rolling her eyes when asked about Putin coming to the rescue of Ukraines Russian-speakers.

Donald Trump has often repeated the claim made by Putin that Ukraine would not have suffered an invasion if it had not looked to join Nato. But Russia invaded in 2014, while Ukraine has only formally pursued Nato membership since 2019, and as a result of Moscows invasion.

But giving an excuse to Russia for its attacks on its neighbour, which Putin has said is a fake country and must be brought back into the Russian imperium as a province with no national sovereignty, has encouraged Trump to end US military support for Kyiv. And it has enabled his first shakedown of the country, when Trump used the cut in aid and other threats to force Ukraine into signing a mineral deal under duress last year.

Trump has been keen to get a peace deal in Ukraine, but he has parroted Russias demands. Recently, he insisted that time was running out for Ukraine and Zelensky to agree to a deal or lose the offer of vague security guarantees to protect the country from future Russian attacks.

Iryna Nemchenko (left) fled Dobropillia after her husband Oleh was killed (Sam Kiley/The Independent)

Ukraines president has shown a talent for telling the White House: Yes, but no. Now, he has finally said No.

No to the constant requirement that Ukraine continue to make concessions to its invaders  something he described this week at the Munich Security Conference as unfair. He said the latest talks, which collapsed after only two hours, had been difficult.

Security guarantees from the US, a nation that has not ruled out invading Greenland (part of Denmark) and wants to annex Canada, are worth nothing.

The US is part of Nato and has signed treaties to that effect. Its armed forces are the leading part of Nato, its intelligence organisations are bound into a security alliance with, among others, Canada  and yet Trump is happy to ignore these pre-existing guarantees.

The US is an unreliable ally of Europe. And the Trump administration has seen Russias invasion of Ukraine as a business opportunity.

It has been happy to undermine Kyivs defences with a total cut in military aid, and may sever intelligence-sharing links. These actions have favoured the Kremlins brutally slow advance in the east of Ukraine, and blunted any chance of a serious counteroffensive.

US cuts in military aid came after Washington had given, or pledged, around $115bn (85bn). Europe has pledged about double that. But there have been no Europeans at the talks between Ukraine and Russia. So far, the UK, Canada, the EU and other allies of Ukraine have left mediation to the US.

They all recognise that this is dangerous for Europe; that the US contribution amounts to a proposal for Ukrainian capitulation. They do this because of another lie, or myth: that it is only the US that can give Ukraine the security guarantees it needs to protect itself (and the rest of the West).

Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference last weekend (AFP/Getty)

British generals and top brass trot this out as fact. Ukraine is fortunate that it did not listen to the Western military experts who said it would only take days for Putin to capture Kyiv. Four years later, Russia has lost 1.2 million, killed and injured, while Nato has expanded to include Finland and Sweden, and Russias economy is contracting.

Speaking before the latest round of Russian-Ukrainian US-sponsored talks, Kaja Kallas, the EU vice-president, said: The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiating table than it has achieved on the battlefield. Europe is re-arming, and doing so together with our friends.

Europe can already muster (along with Ukraine) a far bigger army, more aircraft, ships, tanks, artillery and sheer military power than Russia. But there is no sign that its leaders are prepared to elbow the US out of the negotiations, or tackle the hard task of explaining to voters that theyll have to pay a lot more for a safe future that America will no longer guarantee or fund.

Theyll need a nip of Ukrainian firewater for that.
Hopes of a Ukraine peace deal appeared as far away as ever on Wednesday, when crunch talks with Moscow and Washington ended in less than two hours.

Delegates from all three sides met in Geneva for a second day of discussions, but it was soon clear, with the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putins invasion looming, that no progress was going to be made.

The day before, Ukraines leader Volodymyr Zelensky hit out at US president Donald Trump, arguing it was not fair to expect Kyiv alone to make concessions to end the war.

After the brief talks on Wednesday ended, Zelensky said the third round of direct meetings had been difficult and accused Russia of deliberately stalling as the issue of territory remains a major obstacle.

We can see that progress has been made, but, for now, positions differ because the negotiations were difficult, Zelensky said.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has made his frustration with the ongoing talks increasingly clear (AFP/Getty)

He later added the talks were substantive, but said sensitive political matters had not been addressed properly. Zelensky claimed he could not say the result was sufficient, and called for another round of talks this month.

Rustem Umerov, now leading Kyivs diplomatic efforts, said the latest talks had been substantive and that a number of issues had been clarified over the two days in Geneva.

Humanitarian issues, including the exchange of prisoners of war and the release of civilians, were in focus following six hours of discussions the day before. A Ukrainian diplomatic source told the BBC that some progress had been made on military issues, including the location of the frontline and ceasefire monitoring.

But it was the central issue of land that the Kremlin had prioritised going into talks, holding firm on its demands Ukraine cede the remaining 20 per cent of the eastern region of Donetsk.

Vladimir Medinsky, a Putin aide leading the Russian delegation, also agreed talks had been difficult before inviting the Ukrainian side for closed-door discussions without American mediation.

Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky leaves after the talks on Wednesday (AFP via Getty Images)

The American delegation was again led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Witkoff said on Wednesday that the talks had already brought about meaningful progress to end the war, but without providing details.

President Trump's success in bringing both sides of this war together has brought about meaningful progress, and we are proud to work under his leadership to stop the killing in this terrible conflict, he wrote on social media.

However, Trumps public tone towards Ukraine continues to waver. On Friday, he again suggested Ukraine was to blame for the lack of progress when he told reporters Russia wants to make a deal, while Zelensky would have to move quickly or miss out on a great opportunity.

And just a day before the latest round of talks began, Trump insisted Ukraine better come to the table fast, after months of jostling Kyiv to accept a deal that would involve major territorial concessions.

The Ukraine war is headed towards the fourth anniversary with no end in sight (AP)

Ukraine is pushing for its European allies to become more involved in the peace process. Delegations from France, Germany, Britain and others were present in Geneva and were briefed on the talks, but did not take part directly.

Kyivs top negotiators had gone into talks this week on the front foot, militarily speaking, following a string of battlefield victories that cancelled out a month of Russian gains in the space of just five days.

Zelensky said Russia had also lost some 30,000 troops in January alone, as the UK reported Moscow was becoming increasingly reliant on foreign fighters to fill its depleted lines.

Emil Kastehelmi, military analyst with Finland-based Black Bird Group, toldThe Independent that progress in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk may not spell a strategic shift, but could have given Ukraine political momentum with which to approach talks.

They can present themselves as a fighting force that can still conduct counterattacks, relatively swift ones when compared to the general pace of this war, he said.

In all, Russia currently occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine's national territory, including Crimea, which was seized and unilaterally annexed in 2014.

Moscows recent airstrikes on energy infrastructure have left hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without heating and power during an exceptionally harsh winter.
Starlink terminals used by the Russian military have not been in operation for two weeks, but the disconnection has had no effect on its drone operations, a senior Russian military official claimed on Tuesday. Starlink terminals have been down for two weeks, but this has not affected the intensity or effectiveness of the troops unmanned systems, as confirmed by data from objective monitoring of damage to enemy equipment and personnel, the deputy defence minister, Aleksei Krivoruchko, told state television. The Ukrainian defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, said the effect on Russian operations had been considerable. Ukraine recaptured 201 sq km from Russia between Wednesday and Sunday last week, taking advantage of the Starlink shutdown, according to an analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War.
The United States' stand-off with Iran is feared to be close to breaking out into a full-scale war in the Middle East.

A military operation could last several weeks and have a powerful impact on the region, sources have told Axios.

It comes as tensions continue to grow between the US and Iran, after the two countries held indirect nuclear talks in Geneva on Tuesday.

Before the talks, Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One: I dont think they want the consequences of not making a deal.

A Trump adviser told Axios: The boss is getting fed up. Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90 per cent chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks.

Donald Trump threatened to launch an attack on Iran last month (The White House)

The Trump administration threatened to take fresh military action against Iran in January over its nuclear programme and demanded that it make a deal with the US.

It followed Israels 12-day war with Iran in June, in which the US bombed the countrys nuclear sites.

Last month, President Trump said a massive armada was on the way and urged the regime to stop the killing of thousands of protesters.

Sources told Axios that a military operation would likely be much bigger than the US and Israels attack last year, and would have massive implications for the remainder of President Trumps leadership.

The US has built up a large military presence in the region, which includes two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of fighter jets and multiple air defence systems.

Damage at the Fordo enrichment facility in Iran after U.S. strikes in June (Maxar Technologies)

The large military build-up will likely mean the president wont withdraw from the region until Iran makes major concessions on its nuclear programme.

Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened to sink any American aircraft carriers sent to the Middle East.

Two Israeli officials said Israels government was preparing for a scenario of war within days, Axios said. However, US sources said the Trump administration may need longer.

Officials told Reuters the US military was getting ready for weeks-long operations in case President Trump ordered an attack.

US troops withdrew from bases in Syria last week, possibly indicating its military was gearing up to prepare for an Iranian response to an attack.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and US president Donald Trump (AFP/Getty)

It comes as Mr Trump criticised Sir Keir Starmer for his Chagos Islands deal on Wednesday, saying that if Iran did not strike a deal with the US, it may need to use Diego Garcia island, where a US-UK military base sits.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi began negotiations on Tuesday in Geneva.

Officials stated Iran would have to come back with a detailed proposal for the US in two weeks.

Mr Araghchi said the two countries had reached an understanding on guiding principles and that a path to agreement had begun.

But Ayatollah Khamenei later warned President Trump that the strongest army in the world can sometimes be slapped so hard it cannot get up, according to Iranian media.
Amazon labor union authorization forms outside an Amazon fulfillment center in the Staten Island borough of New York, on 7 February 2022. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images (Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images)

The number of workers covered under union contracts increased to a 16-year high in 2025, despite ongoing attempts by the Trump administration to wipe out collective bargaining agreements for tens of thousands of federal workers, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

About 16.5 million workers were covered by a union contract in 2025, up from 16 million in 2024 and the highest level since 2009. The increase stems from workers joining unions as members  14.7 million US workers were union members in 2025, up from 14.2 million workers in 2024.

The percentage of all workers in the US covered by a union contracts ticked up to 11.2% in 2025, compared with 11.1% in 2024. Union membership increased from 9.9% in 2024 to 10% in 2025.

Union density in the US has declined drastically in recent decades from above 30% in the late 1940s and 50s. Despite the decline, public approval of labor unions has increased in recent years. Approval of unions now ranges between 67% and 71%, according to Gallup, levels last reached in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The second Trump administration launched the most vicious attack on public sector union workers since the Reagan era. While the assaults full effect remains to be seen, the numbers from 2025 leave room for cautious optimism, said Hayley Brown, a researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), in a statement on the union density increase.

The Trump administration is pushing to cancel collective bargaining agreements for about 1 million federal workers, which would offset these slight gains.

Heidi Shierholz, president of the Economic Policy Institute and former chief economist off the US Department of Labor, noted the increase of 463,000 workers represented by a union is the highest number in the US in 16 years.

This is an extremely welcome departure from prior years declines, Shierholz posted on Bluesky. In a time of fear, uncertainty, and hardship, workers are realizing they are better off in a union. Workers are exerting control over their jobs and their lives through unionization. This is especially clear in the federal government, where unionization surged despite unprecedented attacks.

She cited the increases in 2025 to years of sustained effort. Organizing and winning union elections is a lengthy process, and the groundwork laid over many years definitely contributed to this years gains.
Vodafone has agreed to sell its share in the Dutch joint venture with Liberty Global for one billion euros (870 million), about a decade after it was created.

The company said it was getting a cash boost from Liberty buying out its 50% stake in VodafoneZiggo.

The agreement also involves Vodafone gaining a 10% shareholding in Ziggo Group, a holding company which has not yet been formed.

The new entity will own both VodafoneZiggo and Libertys Belgian subsidiary Telenet.

The two firms struck a deal to merge their operations back in 2016, bringing together Vodafones mobile operation with Libertys Ziggo broadband network.

VodafoneZiggo is the leading telecoms operator in the Netherlands, serving millions of mobile and fixed-line customers.

Liberty, which also jointly owns Virgin Media O2 in the UK, plans to list Ziggo Group on the Euronext stock exchange in Amsterdam next year.

Margherita Della Valle, Vodafones chief executive, said: Were pleased to have agreed the sale of our 50% share in VodafoneZiggo at an attractive valuation.

This transaction delivers one billion euros in cash to Vodafone, and we have the potential for further value creation through our 10% stake in Ziggo Group, a business with greater scale.

Ms Della Valle has been steering a major transformation programme for Vodafone, including selling off its Italian business, and merging its UK business with Three UK.

Vodafone shares were up by about 4% following the announcement.
Brexit. JFKs assassination. That blue and black or white and gold dress. All vaguely impressive sources of debate, but sorely lacking in the drama and volatility of The Independent culture desks first few days in a post-Wuthering Heights world. Emerald Fennells grass-eating, dough-molesting bodice-ripper  adapted loosely from Emily Brontes literary touchstone  has been the canary in the coal mine for our offices here, helping surface long-standing tensions and sharpening inter-desk rivalries.

No, I kid. Weve all just really, really disagreed with one another on it, Fennell comfortably reaffirming her position as the most divisive filmmaker currently working. Questions are constant. Was Margot Robbie supposed to act like that?; Jacob Elordi gold tooth  yay or nay?; Did I enjoy Wuthering Heights or was there a gas leak in my cinema?, and so on.

At the insistence of our HR department, weve been asked to calmly express our fractured feelings about the film here, and publicly declare that each of our interpretations of the movie are valid. They do not reflect positively or negatively on their respective writers, and no one will be mocked, commended or jeered at for their thoughts on Emerald Fennell. Phew.

I entered the Odeon on a Friday night hoping for one thing and one thing only from Wuthering Heights: a truly excellent Martin Clunes performance. On this count, Wuthering Heights delivered. Is Martin now in his prestige era? Is Doc Martin about to do a Colman and go Hollywood? Otherwise, though, the film elicited a big old shrug from me; it was nowhere near as clever and scandalous as Emerald Fennell clearly thought it was. Her tendency to relentlessly aestheticise just ended up stripping out all the emotion and nuance, leaving one of the most strange and fascinating books of all time feeling flat and empty.

Its easy to get caught up in the hatred of Wuthering Heights because yes, the acting is dodgy in parts and yes, as an adaptation, it really does dumb down Emily Brontes classic  but when I feel myself start to give in to the no-fun-having naysayers, I remember that I was actually having a good enough time sitting in the cinema watching the movie. Between the highly stylised Yorgos Lanthimos-lite set, Charli xcxs soaring soundtrack and all the sexy, silent longing going on, theres plenty to distract from the films obvious pitfalls. Sure, theres nothing deep or meaningful here, but does there always have to be?

Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights (Warner Bros)

Few directors polarise opinion quite so much as Emerald Fennell. For most, her films are either brilliant or an unmitigated disaster. I thought Wuthering Heights was fine. At its best, its a bold, glistening, schlocky melodrama with a Charli xcx score that burrows its way into your ear. At its worst, though, it drags and isnt that hot? Best enjoyed with lots of wine.

I loathe this film. I think it says plenty about todays film industry and its condescending belief that audiences arent smart enough for anything other than superficial takes on actual art  perhaps it also says that Emerald Fennells Oxford degree in English Literature was wasted on her. Wuthering Heights is a challenging book, perhaps, but that doesnt mean its central themes  colonialism, destructive love, revenge, religious hypocrisy, class conflict  arent entirely relevant today. None of that transpires in her film, though, and instead we have a Charli xcx music video that follows Fennells teenage interpretation of Heathcliff and Cathy as star-crossed lovers torn apart by a simple misunderstanding. I have to wonder about the opening scene, too. What was Fennells reason for depicting a gormless, lust-fuelled group of villagers led into an orgasmic frenzy at the sight of a hanged mans erect penis? Way to tell us how you feel about your audience.

Respectfully, everyone needs to calm down. Book adaptations are made all the time, and while this one in particular veers very far away from the source material  I would argue that the only semblance to Brontes novel is the characters names  this is a wildly entertaining and aesthetically beautiful movie. I walked into the cinema expecting to dislike it, put off by the deafening pre-release discourse and the awfully smutty trailer. But it made me laugh, cry and cringe. I had to cover my eyes on occasion (mainly at the many uncomfortable and squelchy fish-poking, egg-yolky scenes). Plus, the soundtrack does the heavy lifting when you find yourself becoming irritated at the dodgy accents. Watch it with an open mind, and you might just have a nice time.

Margot Robbie as Cathy in Wuthering Heights (Warner Bros)

Expect to see a faithful interpretation of a challenging literary classic, and Im not surprised youd sneer at this film  but I dont think for a moment that is what Emerald Fennell was trying to do. This is porn for women, pure and simple; an adaptation that is to Wuthering Heights what Bridgerton is to Pride and Prejudice. Its actually genius, once you view it through the lens of erotic fan fic thats taken the essence of what many people (incorrectly) think the book is about  forbidden love ending in tragedy  and thrown in everything that, ahem, gets us going: high production values, sumptuous outfits and romantic leads with all of the sexual chemistry and none of the inconveniently problematic traits of the original characters.

Listen, I was sceptical. Fiercely devoted to the source material and wildly bored by Emerald Fennells Saltburn, I was a day-one hater of this adaptation from the first casting announcement. But as I sat in the packed theater on opening night, I felt myself involuntarily surrender each time Charli xcxs autotuned howl swept over the misty moors. Overlooking the gaudy costumes (I overheard a woman in the theater bathroom saying they looked AI-generated) and Fennells signature third-act perversion (it only worked with Alison Olivers genius), I somehow became charmed by Jacob Elordis little earring and was earnestly sobbing by the end of the film. While I still do wish she had just written her own movie, you have to respect Fennells commitment to the bit found in her own desire, no matter how pathetic and possessive it looks.

Whats one thing we famously know about the novel Wuthering Heights? Its a bit much. And what is the one thing we could all confidently say about Emerald Fennells big-screen, hugged-by-quote-marks Wuthering Heights? Its a bit much. Almost too much. And thats kind of why I loved it. Emily Brontes only novel has given female artists from Kate Bush to Sylvia Plath the confidence to be a bit much for years now, and theres something joyful in embracing that artistic maximalism that Fennell grabs with both hands. Its too bright, too ribald, and everyone is far too beautiful. Its not faithful to the book (phew, IMO), but its faithful to its spirit (the first half, anyway). Sometimes I wanted Fennell to stop getting distracted by pretty things and let the sexual tension simmer between her two doomed lovers, but also, its not that kind of film. And who cares when a film is this fun? Im fascinated and a bit thrilled by the divisiveness. Are we still this gatekeepery about GCSE set texts? Still so unwilling to meet a womans artistic vision on its own terms? Wuthering Heights is a bit much  its meant to be.
NYU Langone Health hospital in Manhattan. Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images)

NYU Langone Health, one of New York Citys major hospital networks, announced this week that it will shut down its genderaffirming care program for minors, as the Trump administration escalates threats to strip federal funding from providers that treat trans youth.

In a statement to the Guardian, spokesperson Steve Ritea said that given the recent departure of our medical director, coupled with the current regulatory environment, we made the difficult decision to discontinue our Transgender Youth Health Program. He added that the hospitals pediatric mental health services will continue.

The move comes after months of sustained pressure from the administration, including an executive order signed shortly after Trump returned to office declaring that the federal government will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the socalled transition of a child from one sex to another.

NYU Langone reportedly began cancelling appointments for minors soon after the order was issued. New Yorks attorney general, Letitia James, directed the hospital to resume care, warning that the network risked violating state antidiscrimination laws. A federal judge later issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administrations directive from taking effect.

In December, however, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed a rule that would withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding from hospitals providing sexrejecting procedures for children under 18. STAT news reported earlier this month that more than 40 hospitals across the country have paused or ceased to offer some type of gender-affirming care to young people since Trump returned to office.

Genderaffirming care is endorsed by major US and international medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. Treatments such as puberty blockers are reversible, and surgery for minors is rare. Providers emphasize that care plans follow extensive evaluations and involve families throughout.

Local officials and advocacy groups condemned NYU Langones decision, arguing the hospital is capitulating to threats to cut federal funds. Manhattan borough president Brad Hoylman-Sigal said the closure would jeopardize the lives and wellbeing of their patients.

Studies have shown that ending genderaffirming care after it has begun without patient consent can carry significant physical and mental health risks, he said. For these young patients, genderaffirming care is lifeaffirming care. A rally in support of trans youth is planned for Wednesday evening outside the Stonewall national monument in Manhattan.

In response, the White House welcomed the news on Wednesday. President Trump pledged to restore common sense and put a stop to unscientific and irreversible child mutilation procedures, spokesperson Kush Desai told the Guardian. The Trump administration is delivering.
Tensions emerged after Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, and tempers often flared between the two men, Zaluzhnyi said (AP)

Valerii Zaluzhnyi has widely been seen as the top political rival to President Volodymyr Zelensky ever since he was ousted as the head of Ukraines army in 2024 and appointed as the countrys ambassador to Britain.

Zaluzhnyi, 52, refuses to discuss any political ambitions as he doesnt want to risk harming national unity during a war with Russia that is approaching its fourth anniversary.

But in a sign of his possible desire to run for the presidency after the war is over, Zaluzhnyi spoke publicly for the first time about a deep rift between himself and Zelensky.

Tensions emerged soon after Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, and tempers often flared between the two men over how best to defend the country, Zaluzhnyi told The Associated Press.

He said the strained relationship reached a boiling point later that year, when dozens of agents from Ukraines domestic intelligence service raided Zaluzhnyis office.

Many Ukrainians see Valerii Zaluzhnyi as a figure capable of changing the system, said Volodymyr Fesenko, a political analyst based in Kyiv (AP)

Zaluzhnyi alleges the previously unreported incident was an act of intimidation.

Ukraines security service, known as the SBU, said that no search was ever carried out at Zaluzhnyis office, though it acknowledged that the address was part of an investigation unrelated to him. Zelenskys office declined to comment for this story. The AP could not independently confirm Zaluzhnyis account of the raid.

The revelation threatens to polarize public opinion in Ukraine at a critical moment in the war. Russian forces are making slow, steady gains across Ukraines eastern front, and both sides are clinging to incompatible demands as the U.S. presses them to reach a peace deal.

Zaluzhnyi said that during the 2022 raid on his office he called Zelenskys chief of staff warning him he was prepared to call in the military to stop it and protect the command center: I will fight with you and have already called in reinforcements to the center of Kyiv for support.

While that near crisis early in the war passed, disagreements between Zaluzhnyi and Zelensky over how to defend their country persisted, according to Zaluzhnyi.

A dispute over a counteroffensive in 2023 that ultimately failed was particularly contentious, the former general said. Zelensky dismissed him as army chief in February 2024, and later announced he would be headed to London.

The move was widely seen by political analysts as an effort by Zelensky to limit Zaluzhnyis potential as a political rival.

While a deal to end the war remains elusive, Zelensky has agreed in principle to a plan laid out by U.S. President Donald Trump that calls for elections once the war is over and security guarantees are in place.

I know how to fight

One evening in mid-September 2022, Zaluzhnyi emerged from a tense meeting at Zelenskys headquarters and headed back to his office in Kyiv.

Hours later, dozens of agents from Ukraines security service showed up at Zaluzhnyis office to search the premises, Zaluzhnyi said. He says he prevented them from rifling through documents and computers.

The raid was clearly a threat, Zaluzhnyi said.

Later, he learned that Ukraine's security service had sought a search warrant from a district court in Kyiv two days earlier to inspect the address where Zaluzhnyis office is located. The agency was seeking to search a strip club allegedly run by a criminal organization, according to a court document obtained by AP.

While a deal to end the war remains elusive, Zelensky has agreed in principle to a plan laid out by Trump that calls for elections once the war is over (AP)

But the strip club named in the filing had been closed at that location since before Russias full-scale invasion, two employees who work at the clubs new location told the AP.

The SBU said it was looking into several addresses as part of an investigation into organized crime  unconnected to Zaluzhnyi.

Zaluzhnyi believes the agency could not plausibly have mistaken the location of the countrys main war command center.

Diluted striking force

The 2023 counteroffensive drew widespread criticism from military experts for being too ambitious and coming too late, giving Russian forces time to fortify positions.

Zaluzhnyi says the plan he had crafted with help from NATO partners failed because Zelensky and other officials wouldnt commit the resources it required.

The original plan was to concentrate enough forces into a single fist to retake the partially occupied region of Zaporizhzhia  home to a vital nuclear power plant  and then have them advance south to the Sea of Azov. This would sever a corridor of land the Russian army had been using to resupply Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014. Success required a large, concentrated buildup and tactical surprise, Zaluzhnyi said.

What happened instead, he said, was that forces were dispersed over a wide area, diluting their striking power.

His account of how the counteroffensive diverged from the original plan was corroborated by two Western defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they arent authorized to speak publicly to the media.

A diplomat with political intentions?

Zaluzhnyis key criticisms of Ukraines war strategy are that it depends on an unrealistic number of troops and is not organized well in how it develops and deploys new technologies to the battlefield.

He watches developments closely, but says he has not been involved with military decision-making since Zelensky pushed him out. Zaluzhnyi said he and Zelensky had absolutely friendly conversations on the two occasions they met since then.

Some analysts say Zaluzhnyis lack of involvement in Ukraines day-to-day political affairs could weaken his popularity.

Still, an Ipsos poll published last month showed support for Zaluzhnyi in a hypothetical future election at 23%, compared with Zelenskys 20%, making him the presidents top competitor.

Many Ukrainians see him as a figure capable of changing the system, said Volodymyr Fesenko, a political analyst based in Kyiv.

People will vote not only for Zaluzhnyi but also against Zelensky  blaming him for the failures of his presidency, he explained.

Zaluzhnyi avoids discussing politics, he says, for fear of fomenting division among Ukrainians.

Until the war is over or martial law ends, I am not discussing this and have done nothing toward that, he said.
Dame Antonia Romeo during her time as consul general in New York, an appointment that became tinged with controversy - Neville Elder

In a sign of how toxic the briefing war has become around Sir Keir Starmers pick to head up the Civil Service, even office memorabilia is drawing fire.

Dame Antonia Romeo, the Home Office permanent secretary, has a fake cover of Vogue propped up on a bookcase in her office. Staring out from the front page is one Dame Antonia.

This, in the eyes of a critical group of largely unnamed figures from Whitehalls past and present, is deemed telling. One put it cattily to The Sun last week that it was the only thing you need to know about Antonia.

Yet, to her defenders, this harmless item  mocked up by staff as a departure present from a past role  sums up not leadership weaknesses but strengths: developing loyalty and the ability to laugh at oneself.

Has there ever been a more bitter and public battle for the position of Cabinet Secretary? Certainly it is hard to remember one in living memory that rivals it for intrigue and venom.

There is a past claim of bullying and expenses misuse while Dame Antonia was in New York, which has resurfaced almost a decade on with fresh force. There are counter-claims of a misogynist and sexist whispering campaign from a pale, stale and male elite.

Then add in a smattering of pictures with celebrities and a teetering Prime Minister seeking a reset.

At the centre of it all is a 51-year-old, Oxford University graduate looking to make history as the first woman ever to be elevated to the role of Cabinet Secretary.

The Vogue story encapsulates how two sharply contrasting versions of Dame Antonia are being projected by those who have worked with her.

One  the critical version  is of an ambitious mandarin more akin to a minister in her willingness to build a network and use politics to rise up the ladder; an official who instinctively understands the Westminster game and is willing to play it.

The other is of a talented and driven public servant able to use her intellect and emotional intelligence to steer ministers through policy conundrums and Downing Street bandwidth issues with savviness, informed by an outsiders perspective.

Dame Antonia welcomes Shabana Mahmood into the Ministry of Justice, where she was permanent secretary, in 2024. Several ministers have come to rely on her in various Whitehall departments

Of the more than a dozen ministers, senior civil servants and political advisers, both past and present, who shared their views with The Telegraph, the latter was the much more commonly voiced opinion  even if elements of the former are acknowledged by friends as well as foes.

The uncontested points first. Dame Antonia has a keen academic mind that has propelled her rise. Sir Vernon Bogdanor, the renowned academic who counts Lord Cameron among his past students, saw it first hand when he taught her at Oxford.

She was an outstanding student, said Sir Vernon. She got a first. She was a very lively, outstanding person ... All her tutors thought very highly of her.

A degree in philosophy, politics and economics, the path so often trod by those with dreams of Downing Street, led to a particular interest in game theory, which explores how individuals can act in their own self-interest over the common good.

She was very popular, added Sir Vernon. She didnt play any part in university politics as far as I know. She is a good organiser. She helped organise the college ball [at Brasenose College].

The pair stayed in touch as Dame Antonia rose up the Civil Service, sometimes seeking advice from her old tutor.

Another point of agreement among both allies and sceptics is that Dame Antonia is an operator. The word is usually voiced with admiration by Westminster bubble-dwellers who can spot someone who knows how the levers of power work, though is rarely associated with permanent secretaries.

Alex Chalk was the Tory justice secretary between 2023 and 2024 while Dame Antonia was the most senior civil servant there. She understands Whitehall extremely well, Mr Chalk said. I realised by the end of week one that she knew where the bodies were buried, but I knew by the end of week two she probably put some of them there herself. Thats what you need, frankly.

She is candid and gives very direct advice to ministers. Not just on what needs to be done to deliver on ministerial priorities but how best to do it, how to navigate the thicket of Whitehall bureaucracy ... She is loyal to her minister, even if that sometimes means putting noses out of joint.

Dame Antonia honed her skills during her early years as an official in the Ministry of Justice. She helped to bed in the newly created department in the latter period of New Labour, serving under first Lord Falconer, then Lord Straw.

She returned to the department multiple times, including a decade and a half later as permanent secretary, one of three departments she has headed up along with International Trade and the Home Office, to which she was appointed by Yvette Cooper in April 2025. (A fourth, the Treasury, was meant to be hers after Kwasi Kwarteng picked her in 2022. However, the market fallout from Liz Trusss mini-Budget forced a change of tack, with a Treasury insider picked instead, supposedly leaving Dame Antonia bitterly disappointed.)

Yvette Cooper, as home secretary, picked Dame Antonia as her departments permanent secretary last year

Supporters who worked alongside her in the Justice department credit Dame Antonia with managing to stop the prison overcrowding crisis turning into a full-blown catastrophe, including avoiding a prison guard walkout.

The fact we never had any disorder and we kept the system running was a minor miracle, says one senior civil servant by her side at the time. Early release of prisoners and looser sentencing guidelines were among the solutions adopted.

Others, looking back to her earlier work in the department, say she should carry some blame for Tory reforms that put private firms in charge of supervising criminals leaving prison.

The move, taken by Lord Grayling, was eventually abandoned after a watchdog branded it irredeemably flawed. Richard Garside, director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, told the Daily Mail she should have pushed back harder.

From the City to New York

Unlike some Civil Service lifers, Dame Antonia began her career in the private sector.

She has recalled her time at Oliver Wyman, a management consultancy, for teaching her an obsession with rigorous analysis and an evidence base, the importance of a deadline, understanding the critical path and prioritisation.

The business experience helped cement a reputation in Whitehall as a disrupter, a phrase that former colleagues used multiple times.

Like many of the current crop of officials heading up the countrys biggest government departments, Dame Antonia was championed by the late, and  in the eyes of many in Downing Street who served alongside him  great Jeremy Heywood, the wily Cabinet Secretary who served from 2012 until shortly before his death in 2018.

It was this connection that inadvertently landed Dame Antonia in her most controversial public episode to date, when Heywood placed her in the position of New York consul-general.

There are many photographs from this time held up as proof that Dame Antonia has a soft spot for glamour. She smiles with the model Alexa Chung before a Vogue-branded backdrop, and alongside Joanna Lumley posing in full Ab Fab mode.

In the city that never sleeps with Alexa Chung... - Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

... and Joanna Lumley - Aurora Rose/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images

It was what the role required, the promotion of the best of British, supporters argue, noting her male successors in New York had done similar. But none the less, the jibe of Instagram permanent secretary is still thrown around in private.

What is harder to explain away is the investigation launched over a single claim of bullying behaviour and looser questions about whether tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayer money was used injudiciously. A Mail on Sunday report in 2020 raised questions about the necessity of business class flights.

Sir Tim Hitchens, the former ambassador to Japan, was sent to investigate. The Telegraph understands that his original report found evidence beyond a single complainant raising concerns about Dame Antonias management style.

It is claimed by one Whitehall figure with direct knowledge of the situation that some witnesses watered down their comments and and removed some claims entirely after being told that Dame Antonia would get to see the full unredacted report  something said to be unusual. The account, it should be noted, is unrecognised by those close to Dame Antonia.

The final, slimmed down report dismissed the central claim, though Dame Antonia was spoken to about her leadership style.

Rupert McNeil, then the government chief people officer, said to her in a letter at the time seen by the BBC: I appreciate processes of this type are always distressing, but as discussed, they are rich sources of feedback about management and leadership style. I know from our conversation that you are very alert to this, and this process has given you rich insight.

The Telegraph can also reveal that Dame Antonia ended up repaying the costs of flights taken between New York to London in 2017 when she had been appointed as the Department for International Trades permanent secretary but was still in America. She is said to have taken the decision out of an abundance of caution to avoid any future issues.

The disrupter with a wealth of contacts

The saga has been given new life by Lord McDonald, the Foreign Office permanent secretary at the time, who went on Channel Four last week to call elliptically for more due diligence into her potential appointment as Cabinet Secretary and said he was trying to get in touch with No 10. The peer declined to offer any specifics when approached by The Telegraph.

Former Cabinet ministers and senior civil servants believe there is deep personal animus between the two mandarins. Some put it down to Dame Antonias appointment after the New York job to head up the newly created Trade department.

Established after Brexit, with the UK now able to strike a trade policy independent from the EU, the department was seen to have taken a sphere of influence from the Foreign Office. Lord McDonald was said to have fought tooth and nail to block the creation of trade commissioners  experts deployed in foreign countries to negotiate who could be portrayed as rival diplomats.

Sir Liam Fox, the first international trade secretary, appointed Dame Antonia and appreciated her willingness to think creatively  and act robustly where needed  to deliver in a new department jostling for influence among Whitehalls big beasts.

Sir Liam, a Tory, said: I found her a very loyal and effective permanent secretary. We were leaving the European Union after 40 years. We needed a department that worked. We needed to challenge all the conventions in Whitehall. I needed a perm sec who could do all that. Its not a creche were running, its a government.

Now at the point of getting the biggest job in the Civil Service, Dame Antonia has an impressive cast of connections. Her contacts book runs deep within journalism: she has hosted BBC executives for breakfast at The Wolseley in Mayfair.

It was notable how supportive quotations pinged into political reporters WhatsApps unannounced in the hours after Lord McDonalds public intervention last week singing her praises.

To some of Dame Antonias supporters the wink-wink, nudge-nudge tone of the criticism about her smacks of sexism. Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA, a trade union that represents civil servants, said: A lot of the criticism is underlined by misogyny. Look at the language people use about Antonia, talking about her being brassy or commenting on how she dresses.

Attributes that people talk about for leaders become a critical point for a woman and a compliment for a man. Wanting a profile or being ambitious. Some people just dont like that.

For the Prime Minister, who has just dismissed Sir Chris Wormald, the ultimate Whitehall man, after less than a year and a half in the top job, a disrupter is a selling point. As Sir Keir refashions his Downing Street, it appears Dame Antonia is the woman he is determined to have by his side, whatever old skeletons are rattled by critics.

Indeed, she may well outlast the Prime Minister himself  if she can stay in vogue.
Misley Mandarin, on the Chagos Islands, where he is elected first minister

The islanders threatened with jail after returning to their Chagos homeland have warned they are prepared to die rather than be deported.

Just 24 hours after four islanders landed on the beach of Ile du Coin on Tuesday, they were served with deportation orders by the Foreign Office and warned they could face three years in jail.

Misley Mandarin, the islands elected First Minister, who arrived on the archipelago with his father and two other islanders, has vowed never to leave the atoll. He said he feared being forcibly removed but was prepared to die for his convictions.

Mr Mandarin told The Telegraph: Im worried, but I said so many times I will give my life for my country. If they decide by force to exile me again, they will have to kill me.

I will run away and if they catch me, they will have to drag me, overpower me and carry me by force to their ship.

His defiance comes as Donald Trump warned Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday night he must not give away the islands.

Credit: TalkTV

In May, Sir Keir agreed to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and rent back Diego Garcia, home to a US and UK military base, at a cost of more than 30bn over the next 99 years.

Mr Trump first branded the deal an act of great stupidity but gave it his lukewarm blessing this month. His change of mind will bring fresh hope to the Chagos islanders in their stand off with the British Government.

The advance party of British Chagossians led by Mr Mandarin has vowed to establish a permanent resettlement on Ile du Coin, part of the coral atoll of Peros Banhos. The exiles sailed 2,000 miles across the Indian Ocean before landing on Tuesday, marking the end of 50 years in exile.

Misley Mandarin, right, arrived on the archipelago on Tuesday. He has been campaigning for the islands to remain British

The group announced in a Declaration of Return: We, the people of the Chagos Islands, stand today on the soil of our homeland. We are the advance party. Hundreds more are following. We have come home.

Within a day, police officers served the Chagossians with an eviction notice. Under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Immigration) Order 2004 they face three years in prison or a 3,000 fine if they refuse to leave.

The notice read:

The eviction notice

The Foreign Office condemned the group for their actions, describing the journey as an illegal, unsafe stunt. The islanders defiance and Mr Trumps U-turn creates a fresh diplomatic and domestic crisis for Sir Keir.

With the handover deal now thrown into doubt by Mr Trumps latest intervention, MPs will launch fresh action to block it when Parliament returns next week.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, highlighted the absurdity of the British governments current position: threatening to jail British citizens for being on British territory.

He posted on social media on Wednesday: Arrive in Dover illegally by small boat and youre allowed to stay indefinitely, but if you are a British passport holder who travels by boat to a British territory, you could be threatened with three years in prison. What a sick country!

Mr Mandarin, who was elected by the Chagossian diaspora worldwide in December, said he had been driven on by the support shown from the British public.

Mr Mandarin landed on the islands with a small group of Chagossians

The British public have been amazing

He said: The contrast you can see with the people crossing the Channel come to Britain get everything but I come in a boat to my homeland and am threatened to be put in jail. That is the kind of government we are dealing with and I believe the British public are on the side of justice. The British public have been amazing, I see all the comments and they are behind us.

Mr Mandarin said he had been touring the island with his father, Michel, 72, who is one of 322 surviving Chagossians to have been born on the atoll.

He said: My dad explained to me how he was living as a child, where his house was, his school, and now it is sad to see the trees overgrown everywhere but still we feel a sense of belonging.

The archipelago became a British territory as part of the 1814 Treaty of Paris after the defeat of Napoleon and would later be ratified as the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965.

Sir Keir Starmers Chagos deal to hand the territory to Mauritius has been met with widespread protest from islanders

From 1967 to 1973, Britain evicted the indigenous population to Mauritius and the Seychelles to make way for a joint military base with the US on the island of Diego Garcia. Evicted Chagossians were eventually offered British citizenship in 2002 and now almost 10,000 live in the UK, with a third of them in Crawley, West Sussex.

James Tumbridge, the acting attorney general for the Chagos government under Mr Mandarin, told The Telegraph he had lodged an appeal against the deportation orders. He filed the appeal to Nishi Dholakia, the British Indian Ocean Territory Commissioner, and requested that the islanders remain in the territory while the appeal was taking place.

The islanders are accompanied by Adam Holloway, a former Conservative MP who helped with the fundraising and planning for the settlement. The former Army officer and ITN reporter has described the deal as a catastrophically stupid mistake and encouraged the Chagossians to hold firm against the threat of eviction.

If they comply ... they will never achieve their dream

He said: If they comply with this, then the game is up. They will never achieve their dream of returning home. They have now returned home. Were not messing around here.

We are trying to build a permanent settlement, and in the fullness of time, when we have a proper plan, when weve got the cash, we will bring more and more people back in here.

Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, called the move to remove the islanders shameful. She said: We warned that [Sir Keir Starmers] actions would put Chagossians at risk of repression by the Mauritian government. Now our government is doing Mauritiuss bidding, threatening Chagossians with prison sentences or crippling fines for landing on the islands.

The Chagos Islands deal is proceeding through Parliament, and needs to be formally ratified before the handover is complete.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: The UK Government recognises the importance of the islands to the Chagossian community and is working with Mauritius to resume a programme of heritage visits to the Chagos archipelago. This kind of illegal, unsafe stunt is not the way to achieve that. The vessel does not pose any security risk to Diego Garcia.

In his Declaration of Return, Mr Mandarin told Sir Keir any attempt to deport the group would be committing a fresh crime against humanity. He said: We will not be evicted from these islands again. We want to remain subjects of the British Crown, loyal to His Majesty King Charles III: But we must do this on Chagos.

He also warned that transfer of the islands to Mauritius risks exposing the islands to the pressures of China, before promising the US it could have a base there forever.
Actress Demi Moore poses with her Chihuahua named Pilaf at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival - Anadolu/Getty

Chihuahuas are at risk of the same breathing difficulties as pugs, a study has shown.

Between 25-50 per cent of the archetypal handbag dogs, once sported as accessories by celebrities including Paris Hilton, display symptoms of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), commonly diagnosed in pugs, bulldogs and French bulldogs.

The condition, which causes the dogs to wheeze and overheat when exercising, can significantly shorten their lifespan. It is well-documented in flat-faced dogs, leading to calls to ban those with extreme traits from being bred.

According to a University of Cambridge study, a further 12 breeds of canines, many of which are designer dogs, may be at risk of the same breathing problems.

The small breeds highlighted by the researchers included Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Brussels Griffon and Pekingese.

A number of large dog breeds, including boxers and Dogue de Bordeaux, were also graded as at risk of difficulties.

Researchers at the Cambridge Veterinary School assessed 14 breeds and graded them for BOAS on a scale of zero to three, with zero indicating few symptoms and three meaning the animal had difficulty exercising and inhaling enough air.

Dr Fran Tomlinson, the study co-leader, said BOAS can significantly reduce quality of life and lead to serious welfare issues.

Across a total of 898 dogs, the study showed that 12 out of the 14 breeds had a detectable level of breathing abnormality.

Pekingese and Japanese Chin were found to have a BOAS rate similar to bulldogs, with 89 per cent and 82 per cent of the dogs affected, respectively.

Both of these breeds are required under Kennel Club standards to have short muzzles, with a wrinkled face desired for the Pekingese.

While flat faces are widely understood to lead to breathing problems, researchers said the study sheds new light on the extent to which shortened muzzles may be to blame.

For King Charles Spaniels, Shih Tzus and Boston Terriers, between 50 and 75 per cent experienced some breathing issues.

Meanwhile, among Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pomeranians, Boxers and Chihuahuas, between 25 and 50 per cent had breathing difficulties.

None of the Pomeranian or Maltese dogs studied were found to be clinically affected.

The results come amid calls to restrict the breeding of designer dogs that have certain endearing physical attributes. Some of these purposefully bred characteristics can lead to them suffering from health problems, including flat faces, wrinkly skin and bulging eyes.

The trend of using a dog as an accessory was popularised by Hilton in the early 2000s, when she owned a Chihuahua called Tinkerbell that she carried in her handbag.

The rise of social media and wealth of influencers sharing images of their handbag dogs has also prompted a high demand for the breeds, with some Pekingese puppies selling for thousands of pounds.

To give the dogs a BOAS score, researchers adapted the Kennel Clubs respiratory function grading scheme, used to assess French bulldogs, bulldogs and pugs, to measure the breathing difficulties of the 14 additional breeds.

Respiratory issues are commonly diagnosed in pugs, bulldogs and French bulldogs - Mateus Arsie/iStockphoto

The team assessed the dogs breathing before and after a three-minute exercise test, grading any upper respiratory noises and signs of difficulty or discomfort.

In BOAS, lesions within the upper respiratory tract result in narrowing of the airway, which often leads to noisy breathing but can also reduce a dogs ability to exercise, sleep and cope with heat or stress.

Dogs that completed the exercise test with no breathing discomfort or respiratory noise were classified as unaffected, while dogs that displayed any upper airway noises were classified from mild to severe BOAS.

According to the study, published in the journal PLOS One, dogs which are overweight or have narrowed nostrils or a wider, shorter head shape are more likely to suffer from BOAS.

In some breeds, the research team found that shorter tails and thicker necks are an additional risk factor.

Last year, the Kennel Club banned dogs with moderate or severe breathing difficulties from competing at Crufts in a move designed to reduce the animals suffering.

Responding to the study, the Kennel Club announced the expansion of its grading scheme to include the 14 dog breeds tested.

The scheme enables owners to have their dogs tested for BOAS and advises breeders on how to lower the risk of producing affected puppies.
Hundreds of cases of chikungunya hit France and Italy in 2025. Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters (Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

An excruciatingly painful tropical disease called chikungunya can now be transmitted by mosquitoes across most of Europe, a study has found.

Higher temperatures due to the climate crisis mean infections are now possible for more than six months of the year in Spain, Greece and other southern European countries, and for two months a year in south-east England. Continuing global heating means it is only a matter of time before the disease expands further northwards, the scientists said.

The analysis is the first to fully assess the effect of temperature on the incubation time of the virus in the Asian tiger mosquito, which has invaded Europe in recent decades. The study found the minimum temperature at which infections could occur is 2.5C lower than previous, less robust, estimates, representing a quite shocking difference, the researchers said.

Chikungunya virus was first detected in 1952 in Tanzania and was confined to tropical regions, where there are millions of infections a year. The disease causes severe and prolonged joint pain, which is extremely debilitating and can be fatal in young children and older adults.

A small number of cases have been reported in more than 10 European countries in recent years, but large-scale outbreaks of hundreds of cases hit France and Italy in 2025.

Sandeep Tegar, at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and lead author of the study, said: The rate of global warming in Europe is approximately double the rate of global warming at global scale and the lower temperature limit for virus spread matters a lot, so our new estimates are quite shocking. The northward expansion of the disease is just a matter of time.

Dr Steven White, also at UKCEH, said: Twenty years ago, if you said we were going to have chikungunya and dengue in Europe, everybody would have said you were mad: these are tropical diseases. Now everythings changed. This is down to this invasive mosquito and climate change  it really is as simple as that.

Were seeing rapid change and thats the worry. Up until last year, France had recorded 30-odd cases of chikungunya over the last 10 years or so. Last year, they had over 800. The virus was carried by travellers from French overseas territories in the tropics where there were outbreaks, including Reunion.

The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which bites during the day, is moving northwards across Europe as temperatures rise. It has been detected in the UK but is not yet established. There are costly vaccines for chikungunya but the best protection is to avoid being bitten.

Dr Diana Rojas Alvarez, who leads the World Health Organizations team on viruses transmitted by insect and tick bites, said: This study is important because it indicates that transmission [in Europe] might become even more evident over time. She added that chikungunya can be devastating, with up to 40% of people still experiencing arthritis or very severe pain after five years.

Climate has a huge impact on this, but Europe still has the chance to control these mosquitoes from spreading any further, she said. Community education on removing the still water where mosquitoes breed is one important tool, while wearing long, light-coloured clothing and using repellent prevents bites. Health authorities also need to set up surveillance systems, she said.

Related: They just call it the virus: mosquito-borne illnesses heap misery on Cubans affected by Hurricane Melissa

When a mosquito bites an infected person, the chikungunya virus enters its gut. Then, after an incubation period, the virus is present in the mosquitos saliva, meaning it can infect the next person it bites. But if that incubation period is longer than the lifespan of the mosquito, the virus cannot spread.

The study, published in the Journal of Royal Society Interface, used data from 49 earlier studies on chikungunya virus in tiger mosquitoes to determine the incubation time across the full range of temperatures for the first time.

The study found the cut-off temperature for transmission is 13C-14C, meaning infections can occur for more than six months of the year in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, and for three to five months of the year in Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and a dozen other European countries. The minimum temperature was previously estimated at 16C-18C, meaning there is a risk of chikungunya outbreaks in more areas and for longer periods than previously thought.

The new work gives much more detailed information on the areas at risk. Identifying specific locations and the months of possible transmission will enable local authorities to decide when and where to take action, Tegar said.

Outbreaks in Europe are sparked by infected travellers returning from tropical regions and being bitten by local tiger mosquitoes, which then spread the disease. Until now, Europes cold winters have stopped tiger mosquito activity and acted as a firebreak for the disease from one year to the next.

However, scientists are starting to see all-year-round tiger mosquito activity in southern Europe, meaning chikungunya outbreaks are likely to amplify as the continent warms. The UKCEH team is investigating this issue. Our intuition is that were going to get much bigger outbreaks because you dont have this natural firebreak, White said.

There have not yet been any local transmissions of chikungunya reported in the UK, but there were a record 73 cases among people who contracted the virus abroad between January and June 2025, almost three times higher than in the same period in 2024.

White said: It is important there is continued action to try to prevent the tiger mosquito from establishing in [the UK] because this highly invasive species is capable of transmitting several infections that can cause serious health conditions including chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses.
The 22-year-old was jailed for nine months after admitting to the theft from Harrods - John Keeble

A security guard who stole more than 11,000 worth of clothes from Harrods is in trouble with his mum, a court has heard.

Abdishakur Osman, 22, was jailed for nine months after he previously admitted stealing clothing items worth 11,753 from the Knightsbridge department store on June 15, 2023.

Thames magistrates court was told that Osman did not want his mother to find the stolen goods at their house in Grays, Thurrock, so his friend sold them.

Hes in trouble with his mum, judge, Alex Darke, defending, added.

Ms Darke said the theft had been spur of the moment and that there wasnt a lot of planning involved. However, Susan Holdham, a district judge rejected this claim.

Osman had been employed by a security company, working as a security guard at Harrods Studio at the time, the court heard.

According to the department stores website, Harrods Studio, in Islington, north London, creates images and descriptions for their online shop and deals with up to 3,000 products a week, from fairy tale ball gowns, food and fine jewellery to homewares, handbags and Harrods teddy bears.

Harrods is one of the most iconic department stores in London - Oli Scarff/2011 Getty Images

Opening the facts of the case, Ola Herbert, prosecuting, said: Stock had gone missing in July 2023 that was returned by the defendant.

That caused his employers to make further inquiries and they found in June 2023, after having carried out a stock check, that over 11,000 of clothing had gone missing between June 14, 2023 and June 15, 2023.

She said that on both occasions around 11,000 worth of clothing had been taken but items stolen in the second theft had not been recovered.

The court heard the business student can be seen in CCTV footage browsing the stock room and placing items in bags before taking them outside.

You can see him selecting each item and bagging them up, the prosecutor said.

The court heard there were problems at home for Osman and the theft had been financially motivated.

Addressing the defendant, who wore a light grey tracksuit, the judge said: As far as Im aware, you have not been in any trouble since. Having said that, this is the theft of 11,753 worth of goods belonging to Harrods.

What makes it more serious is that you were actually employed as a security guard there to guard, to protect these items, and you, in gross breach of trust, stole them yourself.

I also find it very difficult to believe that this was caused entirely by your desire to help your mother pay rent, the judge said.
A Saudi Arabian student was fatally wounded following a brief confrontation with a stranger outside student accommodation in Cambridge, a court heard.

Mohammed Algasim was sitting on a low wall with friends in the Mill Park area of the city when he was stabbed by Chas Corrigan, 22, who claimed he was carrying the knife for his own protection.

Mr Corrigan denies murdering the 20-year-old, who was on a 10-week placement at a language school, but admits being in possession of a bladed weapon and is on trial at Cambridge Crown Court.

Nicholas Hearn, prosecuting, said footage captured by a high-quality CCTV camera positioned outside the student accommodation showed Mr Corrigan, wearing a hi-vis jacket, walking towards Mr Algasim on the evening of Aug 1 last year.

Mohammed Algasim sustained massive bleeding and died after his jugular vein was cut - Cambridgeshire Police

He said the pair, who had never met before, appeared to speak before Mr Corrigan headed towards the train station only to return and stab Mr Algasim in the neck with a kitchen knife.

Expanding on what happened, Abdullah Bin Shuail, who was sitting on the wall with the murder victim, said he could not hear what was said when Mr Corrigan first approached Mr Algasim.

As the attacker was walking away, Mr Bin Shuail said he heard Mr Algasim call out to the defendant but could only make out one word, centre, Mr Hearn said.

He told the court after Mr Algasim had uttered the words the defendant turned and in a very angry and aggressive way asked him to explain himself.

Chas Corrigan claims he was carrying the kitchen knife for self-protection as he had been attacked in the past - Cambridgeshire Police

Mr Bin Shuail saw the defendant punch Mr Algasim hard to the left side of his neck and then saw that the defendant was holding a large knife in his right hand, Mr Hearn said.

Mr Algasim died of a single stab wound which cut across the carotid artery and jugular vein, causing severe bleeding.

Jane Osborne KC, defending, said Mr Corrigan had a kitchen knife  tucked into his waistband rather than in the pocket.

The kitchen knife Mr Corrigan claimed he was carrying for his own protection - Cambridgeshire Police

He will tell you he had no intention of using that knife. He had it with him so if he was attacked, as he had been in the past, he could frighten off any attacker. He wanted to prevent himself being a victim of violence again.

She said Mr Corrigan thought Mr Algasim was acting aggressively ... and was imminently going to be attacked so he produced the knife.

Having produced the knife Mr Corrigan had no intention of using it to cause Mr Algasim any harm.

He intended to wave it between them. He will say he had no idea he had made contact with Mr Algasim with the knife, Ms Osborne added.

The trial, estimated to last about two weeks, continues.
Writer Anna-Louise Dearden never expected that living apart would be the thing that kept her relationship together - John Lawrence

Did you hear the phrase, or perhaps use the words, miserable man syndrome last year? I did. And got a lot of stick for talking about it thousands of angry reader comments, to be exact.

Back in February last year I wrote an article about miserable man syndrome for this very media outlet. As journalists often do, I used my lived experience for a story. It was about how some men get irritable and difficult to live with, especially around midlife. With my partner, it was repeated complaints about the same things, over and over again about loading the dishwasher wrong, forgetting to put the bins out or even complaints about the dog being too hairy. Small things really, but when accompanied by days of silent treatment, moods or even aggressive shouting, it became less about miserable and more about intolerable.

As I mentioned in the original piece, Id worried for a while that maybe my partners issue was loneliness, anxiety or even depression. Wed often get on well, but then thered be periods of such irritation and anger, Id be left shaking with the fallout. I did some reading, and a few different articles mentioned miserable man syndrome. I dont love the name at all, but it did seem to fit in with the cluster of behaviours mood swings, withdrawal and chronic irritability.

The final straw

It all came to a head in December 2024, when he complained about my grown-up children coming home for a few days for a pre-Christmas celebration  even though wed agreed on our plan in good spirits over a glass of wine a few weeks earlier. One of their partners was also coming, and my niece too (my brothers youngest daughter  my brother died by suicide in 2014). Out of the blue, my partner complained and said he didnt want strangers ransacking his house.

The sad thing is, he gets on well with the kids, their partners and my family. But I think its when he feels under pressure or out of control that these incidents happen. He said that he wasnt going to stay for the visit and that I was welcome to join him at his mothers house on Christmas Eve.

I looked at him and knew if I didnt break the cycle, wed just carry on like this interminably. I said I wouldnt be joining him at his mothers, and he left for the Kent south coast. I stayed in our house in Northamptonshire, a sizeable distance of around 120 miles, and woke up on Christmas Day on my own.

We were still talking but had agreed a split seemed to be the best option. He would come back now and again to pick up more of his stuff or to help with jobs in the house, but we werent together in the day-to-day of running a home and a cohabiting life together.

At the time that piece was published in February last year, we still didnt know what the future held and were trialling a separation. He knew Id written the article but wasnt overly angry about it and even said, Well done, when it made the front cover of the newspaper. He showed no interest in reading it, but he knew the gist and the whole situation at this point was mostly civilised.

We put the house up on the market because whatever happened between us, he said he needed to be on the south coast more to be with his parents. I thought maybe I could rent somewhere while I decided what was best to do. Maybe that would be a clean break for us, or two smaller places in different areas of the country; but either way, we couldnt keep our home wed had for seven years.

Unfortunately, the house struggled to sell  or fortunately  because it meant we still had a link to each other. By now we were half a year into the separation, and like all good love stories (or some, at least) we found we couldnt quite make the break. A friend of mine had offered me a rental at mates rates, and because we thought the house wouldve sold, Id said yes.

It was in a village in the countryside, and it offered some peace and space to think. My grown-up children (from previous relationships) had both left home, and for the first time in decades, I wasnt tied to schools, schedules, or even an office, working mostly remotely. My partner supported me taking it and said hed partly move back into our house, and partly live with his mother.

Could we live apart and be together?

Six months apart had made us both realise there was still a lot of good in our relationship. And not being on top of each other (as it were) gave us the time to re-evaluate those positives, rather than focus on the negatives and that constant  exhausting  rumination. And not to put too fine a point on it, its hard to complain about the dishwasher when its not yours.

Thats when we started to think properly about the whole living apart together (LAT) route. Wed invested over eight years into the relationship, and now in my 50s, I wanted to know Id tried everything, under no illusion that the grass is greener out there. Also, when I looked at all my friends, the two happiest couples I knew lived apart.

Just because our parents and grandparents had lived in the same house, why couldnt we deviate from that path, especially if it kept us together, with a possibility of being happy? Im not sure I would have come to this conclusion when I was younger, but for myriad reasons at age 52, I thought, why not?

What the experts say

For older couples, LAT is proving to be the key to better wellbeing and greater happiness. A study conducted by Lancaster University and UCL shows around 10 per cent of all heterosexual couples of all ages in the UK live in different households while maintaining a steady intimate relationship with each other. And this unconventional arrangement seems to work well for older couples.

Dr Yang Hu and Dr Rory Coulter, who worked on the study, say: Many tend to think that LAT is a way of doing relationships among young people who are going steady and moving in. But our findings show that LAT tends to be a stable, long-term form of relationship among older adults.

Theres undoubtedly an un-anchoring, which, depending on the day, can be brilliant or bad, writes Dearden - John Lawrence

When I talked to friends, it was surprising how many had never thought living apart was an option, even when living together wasnt always working. Hu says that we need to look beyond those traditional norms: We call into question being [same] household-centred and highlight that its time we see and recognise the strength of often-invisible intimate ties beyond the household in sustaining older adults wellbeing.

And the research shows it really does help adults wellbeing. Hu goes on: Compared with singlehood, LAT brings about comparable mental health benefits to older adults as marriage and cohabitation does.

Katherine Walker, a relationship psychotherapist and author of Step Up: Step-parenting and the art of creating a healthy, happy, blended family says its a lot less restrictive these days for modern couples: People no longer feel as constrained by relationship norms to the same extent they once may have done.

Couples might have jobs in different cities, or they might prefer to live alone out of habit or ease, or because they are beginning a relationship after spending a long time living alone and so are used to their own space.

She agrees with Hu and Coulter that it can particularly benefit older couples  and thinks lifestyle stages have the biggest impact.

Those who are freshly separated or divorced may take their time to combine households, if they choose to do so at all, accounting for childrens schooling or their adjustment to the fact that mum/dad are no longer together.

I asked Walker if she has tips for couples thinking about this way of life, and she says communication is key.

If couples choose to LAT, especially after a period of living together, my guidance would always be to talk openly about the prospect together. Is this truly something each member of the couple wants, or is one person driving it over another?

Even in these cases, its essential the one who is more reluctant fully understands why this is so important, and if they choose to accept it, then to think about some of the ways the new setup may be beneficial to them. Otherwise, its easy for resentment to grow, she says.

The pressure of ageing parents

In my situation, I felt a lot of my partners moody behaviour was stemming from pressure that he wasnt close enough to his parents, who live on the Kent south coast. His mother is nearly 80, and hed moved from London to Northamptonshire, to be with me, eight years before. My mother lives in the north-east, hundreds of miles away from his folks, and it was a struggle to see how we could make it work to be accessible to both (although I was happy to live equidistant between both mothers).

His moods, for whatever reason, had forced me into a decision that we couldnt stay as we were, and he said having some time apart made him realise how much he still wanted to be together. Could we have this more unconventional setup, which would mean he could be near his folks a bit more?

The good with the bad

Fourteen months in, and its good (so far). As with anything in life, there are pros and cons. The cost versus the freedom is a big one. Running two places brings with it two sets of bills. And the freedom, although a plus, also dilutes stability. Theres undoubtedly an un-anchoring, which, depending on the day, can be brilliant or bad  and sometimes I do get lonely. Youre a bit freer to do as you please, but you dont always have the safety net of someone there for you (and I miss having a live-in dog sitter). On the plus side, you absolutely look forward to seeing them more after a few days, sometimes weeks, apart. And you take each other for granted less.

Living apart, together, isnt for everyone

There are many people who wouldnt entertain a LAT life, never mind do it. But for us, its something that is making us possible. As Walker says, There are many types of couples that wouldnt want to live separately, so ultimately, its down to personal choice. Those more driven by convention, or where one member of the couple is reluctant to live in such a way, are likely to struggle.

Its only now that our joint house is getting rented out and my partner will get his own place on the south coast, rather than having to live partly with his mother and in our old house. This will bring with it other logistics, but I feel Im ready for that next chapter and may be able to enjoy the variety of a bit of coast and country. Even if were slightly more skint.
Members of the RMT union voted in favour of strike action - POPhot Jay Allen/MoD/Royal Navy

Naval sailors are to go on strike over pay so low that it may be in breach of minimum wage laws.

Personnel from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) will stage a walkout in the near future following a strike vote by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) trade union.

RFA sailors crew tankers and supply ships used by the Royal Navy. The union claimed it cannot show that all its members are even being paid at least the minimum wage for the hours they are required to work.

The latest vote was accompanied by the claim that RFA sailors 12-hour working shifts at sea may not comply with minimum wage laws, which guarantee an income of 12.21 per hour for those aged 21 and over.

Eddie Dempsey has also been at the centre of Tube strikes in the past year as general secretary of the RMT - Jordan Pettitt/PA

Eddie Dempsey, the RMTs general secretary, said: Years of real-terms falling behind in pay have left RFA seafarers worse off, and management still cannot show if all of our members are even being paid at least the minimum wage for the hours they are required to work.

The absence of a transparent system for calculating pay, combined with excessive working hours, has created an unsustainable situation. RFA members are proud seafarers, and this latest slap in the face will only add to a deepening crisis. It is time for the RFA and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to get around the table with this union.

The starting salary for Seaman Grade 1 sailors is about 35,000 a year, with motormen (engine room ratings) paid at similar rates. Apprentices and cadet RFA officers are paid 21,000 a year, although the low wage reflects their trainee status.

Long-standing dispute

The pay dispute has been ongoing for about 18 months since the RMT announced its first strike in 2024. The ship RFA Cardigan Bay was left stuck in Portland Harbour, Dorset for three weeks as the RMT implemented a work-to-rule, meaning sailors refused to carry out extra duties outside their core working hours and competencies.

The Nautilus trade union, representing RFA officers, joined in later walkouts, although its members eventually voted to accept a pay offer from the MoD.

Women serving in the RFA claimed they were having to terminate pregnancies in a choice between their careers and motherhood.

On Friday night, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, Chief of the Naval Staff, stepped in over the allegations and said the situation had his full and urgent attention.

What are their demands?

The RFA demands a three-month-on, four-month-off rotation for its civilian sailors.

Funding for the RFA is so short that its decrepit support ships are all stuck in port, raising serious questions about the ability of the Royal Navy to go into combat if required.

RFA ships, such as its Tide-class tankers, refuel warships at sea, while the Bay-class amphibious warfare vessels are intended to carry the Royal Marines into action.

The MoD failed to respond to a request for comment.
Credit: @CSPAN/ YouTube

It was an evening in April 2011, and Barack Obama had just given the order to go ahead with the commando raid to kill Osama bin Laden when he took to a podium in a Washington hotel and grinned at Donald Trump.

I know that hes taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the Donald, the president quipped, citing Trumps championing of a conspiracy theory that Obama had been born overseas and was thus ineligible to be president.

And thats because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter  like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?

As Trump grew more annoyed, and Obamas grin grew only wider, the speech writer responsible for the mockery was revelling in the effect of his words.

I was at the table behind Trump, says Jon Favreau in one of hundreds of interviews with Obama-era officials released this week. I remember seeing the side of Trumps face during the speech and seeing how angry he was.

Barack Obama jokes about Donald Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner  a moment later seen as emblematic of how Washington underestimated him - Jason Reed/Reuters

I thought and still do think that he is a ridiculous human being who deserves to be ridiculed at every possible chance, he adds. But not even for a brief moment did Favreau believe the target of his ire would prove to be a political force of nature.

Trumps election victory, five years later, would prove that to be a massive misconception on the part of the young speech writer.

But a vast tranche of documents and interviews related to the Obama presidency  newly released by a social science research centre at Columbia University in co-ordination with the Obama Foundation  show that Favreau was not alone.

More than 450 interviews with Obama-era officials, his relatives and political opponents have cast new light on how catastrophically the 44th US president  and others  failed to grasp the electoral threat posed by his eventual successor.

The interviews do not include testimony from Obama himself, his wife, Michelle, or then vice-president, Joe Biden. But they do involve key figures in his administration and wider political circle.

And they show that to many in Obamas White House, Trump was nothing but a con man, clown, and laughing stock.

Some believe it was events at the White House Correspondents Association dinner that drove Trump to seek the presidency - Jonathan Ernst

So how did his administration, so focused on change and which regarded its own election as a landmark victory against the Washington status-quo, get it so badly wrong?

It started, it seems, with an outright  some would say arrogant  refusal to take Trump seriously.

Another moment from the 2011 correspondents dinner, captured in the oral history and made public by the Incite Institute, is particularly revealing.

David Axelrod, Obamas chief strategist, recounts overhearing Trump saying I know its crazy but Im in front of the polls.

I kind of chuckled at it and went to my seat, Axelrod says. I dont think any of us really anticipated that Donald Trump would be a serious candidate for president, much less president.

Barack Obama with chief strategist David Axelrod during the 2008 campaign  part of an inner circle that never believed Trump would become a serious political force - Jason Reed / Reuters

The puzzling thing, according to US pollster Bruce Stokes, an associate fellow at Chatham House and a former director of the Pew research centre, is that almost none of the brightest brains in the Democratic Party spotted trends that were hiding in plain sight.

The polling data suggested he was stronger than people gave him credit for. And people underestimated that this was someone who had spent almost his entire life as a salesman, Stokes tells The Telegraph.

Whats more, adds Stokes, the ructions and dissatisfactions that Trump has seized upon should have been no secret.

For years now, going back to the 1990s, polling data showed that Americans were increasingly disenchanted with what they saw as the burden of global leadership, military or economic. And the question we would ask at Pew all the time was in essence: do you think we do too much or not enough? And people basically said, We do too much, and the world takes advantage of us.

The oral histories (the majority of which were recorded between 2019 and 2023) show the Obama White House was not entirely oblivious to the shifting sentiment in the US  and yet missed the true depth of many voters despair and frustration.

In fact, says Charles Kupchan, a foreign affairs expert who advised Obama on national security in the last three years of his presidency: We were all aware of these issues, all aware of the problem, talked about it regularly, openly.

But, he adds, the administration underestimated how much traction these issues got, and the degree to which [now] President Trump would be able to tap into that discontent and communicate to a disaffected segment of the electorate that he had their back and that he was their guy.

The 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner is seen as a landmark moment partly because Obamas public mockery of Trump now looks like hubris, and partly because a story has grown up that it was his humiliation that evening that drove Trump to seek the White House.

Trumps success even blind-sided a number of Republicans - Christopher Gregory/Getty

But the seeds of miscomprehension were laid much earlier, argued Richard Trumka, a Democrat-aligned trade unionist who died in 2021.

It was Obamas decision to bail out the banks following the 2008 financial crisis, he told researchers, that actually destroyed, in many workers minds, the belief that there was somebody out there that was going to fight for them over Wall Street.

Obama, he said, knew that workers were losing homes and jobs, but just seemed incapable of taking on board the anger that would be felt by many millions.

It was not that we didnt have meetings. We had meetings. Its just that after the meetings were over, not much changed, because the inner circle and the predominant thinking inside the administration was Wall Street-driven, Trumka said.

At one dinner with critical prominent economists, he added: The president says, I understand you guys are upset. They said, Yes, were upset. Youre choosing a path. Instead of restructuring the banks, youre going to put millions of people out of homes. Yes, were upset.

Obama, Trumka said, replied: I understand that, but they give me peace and quiet in the capital market. And I need peace and quiet in the capital market so that I can get this other important work done.

Trumka never forgot the exchange. That still rings in my head, he said. They [the Obama administration] never understood the anger. Quite frankly, when that [the financial crash and subsequent bail outs] happened, people wanted vengeance.

That tale of a breakdown of trust between Obamas White House and the American public, which Trump seized on in his rise to office, comes up in a range of policy areas covered by the oral histories.

President Barack Obama meets president-elect Donald Trump in November 2016, after an election result many in Washington failed to see coming - Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Michael Morell, who was a deputy director of the CIA under Obama, describes Edward Snowdens revelations about surveillance programs as disastrous for trust in security institutions.

The president may have been confident that the intelligence gathering was constitutional, but we were all wrong about the public perception of that, he says.

It raised questions among Americans about the intelligence community and what it was doing with Americans, not spying on foreigners, but spying on Americans, particularly young people, particularly Silicon Valley.

Taken together, the picture that emerges from the interviews is one of collapsing popular belief in a system that simply could not, seemingly for its own psychological reasons, grasp what was truly going on.

But that failure to come to terms with the realities of the moment was by no means confined to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. There were also plenty of high-ranking Republicans who misread the national mood and were blindsided by Trumps rise.

I just didnt think he was going to go the distance. I didnt think hed get the nomination [as the Republican candidate for the presidency in 2016]. He did, and so, that was my first taste of just how far the base had moved, and how Trump had really gripped this populism, tapped this vein, says Paul Ryan, who served as the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives between 2015-2019.

The inauguration of Donald Trump was a day Obama had not seen coming - Pat Benic/Pool via Bloomberg

It was only weeks before the 2016 election that Ryan fully realised the changes that were underway.

Ive been doing grassroots politics in Wisconsin for 20 years, and almost always I recognise every face in the crowd, because Ive met everybody, he says to the researchers, recalling a particular rally from which he had banned Trump following the latters notorious comments about grabbing women by the p--sy.

That crowd, I recognised half the people. The other half were people Ive never seen before, and they were p---ed at me for disinviting Donald Trump, and thats when it sort of occurred to me like, Wow, there is something happening here.

Stokes, who admits to being as surprised as anyone else by Trumps political ascent, says there is a thread that unites the establishments dismissal of him, which runs from Obama through to his Republican rivals.

The majority [of them] come out of elite backgrounds, went to good universities, but most importantly, they formed their world view at a time when America was primus inter pares, free trade was gospel, and we would lead the world, he says.

I know, because Im part of that generation, and I think there was a divorce between our life experience and the world view weve developed, and life experience and the world view of those guys who I went to high school with who went to work in the steel mills, but their life didnt work out the way they hoped.

We saw the data, but we didnt understand what it meant.
Andrews protection team travelled with him to Epsteins Little St James island on at least two occasions, according to a former Met officer - DANIEL LEAL/AFP

The Metropolitan Police are examining allegations that royal protection officers turned a blind eye when they travelled to Jeffrey Epsteins island with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Scotland Yard is assessing claims made by an unnamed former bodyguard that members of the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command may have become too close to the former Duke of York when working for him.

The former Met officer alleges that Mr Mountbatten-Windsors protection team travelled with him to Epsteins Little St James island on at least two occasions, including one when they flew on the paedophile financiers private jet.

Numerous women have alleged that they were trafficked to the island where they were abused.

Scotland Yard said: Initial enquiries into these specific allegations have begun so we can establish the facts.

At least eight other police forces are assessing whether to launch investigations into Epstein-related allegations.

On Wednesday, West Midlands Police confirmed it was examining the private flights into and out of Birmingham Airport following the release of the Epstein files.

Surrey Police also urged people with information to come forward about claims of human trafficking and sexual assault from the 1990s, which appeared in the Epstein files.

Meanwhile, the National Crime Agency, known as Britains FBI, is working alongside police forces who are assessing allegations made in the Epstein files.

The retired officer told LBC: The big question for me is what Andrews protection team witnessed on Epstein island.

Im not suggesting they definitely witnessed any criminality from Andrew, but there was concern that certain members of the royal protection team wilfully turned a blind eye to what was happening on the island.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman told The Telegraph: Protection officers are held to the same high standards of professional behaviour as all police officers.

At this time, we have not identified any wrongdoing by any protection officers. However, initial enquiries into these specific allegations have begun so we can establish the facts.

As with any investigation, should any new allegations come to light these will be assessed in the usual way. This includes any misconduct or criminal matters. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further while other enquiries related to these matters are ongoing.

Last year it was alleged that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor asked one of his royal protection officers to look into the background of Virginia Giuffre after she came forward to allege that she had been trafficked to Britain and forced to have sex with the former prince.

It was claimed that he had given the officer Ms Giuffres date of birth and social security number, just before a photograph of the pair was published in a newspaper in February 2011.

Scotland Yard said it had carried out an assessment into the claims about the alleged actions of the bodyguard but had not uncovered any additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct.

Human trafficking allegations

Surrey Police have urged anyone with information about human trafficking allegations that have emerged in the latest batch of Epstein Files to come forward and speak to detectives.

The claims, made as part of an anonymous tip, alleged that a woman was restrained on a table and tortured with electrical shocks by Ghislaine Maxwell, while Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and other men watched.

According to a heavily redacted FBI report from July 2020, the alleged events took place in Virginia Water, Surrey, between 1994 and 1996.

A spokesman for Surrey Police said they had found no evidence of the allegations being reported to them at the time or since.

Meanwhile, Essex Police has said it is assessing information about private flights to and from Stansted Airport following information released as part of the Epstein files.

It has been alleged that Epstein was able to use the airport to fly in girls from Eastern Europe.

Bedfordshire Police is also understood to be assessing flight logs relating to Luton Airport.

Norfolk Police said it was also reviewing documents brought to their attention, but said they had not yet received any allegations and were not currently conducting any investigations.
Doreen Lawrence, the Duke of Sussex and five others launched joint legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited in 2022 - Getty

The Duke of Sussex turned Baroness Lawrence against The Daily Mail, the High Court has heard.

Stephen Wright, a journalist who led the Mails campaign for justice following the murder of Lady Lawrences son Stephen in 1993, said it was a very sad turn of events.

He described allegations made by Lady Lawrence that he was involved in phone hacking and other illegal activity absolute cobblers and said the litigation had devastated him.

The Duke of Sussex and the Labour peer are among seven claimants suing Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of The Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, for breach of privacy. Associated denies the preposterous allegations.

The court heard that Lady Lawrence was alerted to a potential claim by the Duke, who contacted her in early 2022 to tell her information had come to light that she would want to know about.

Baroness Lawrence, pictured with barrister Imran Khan, has said newspaper stories about her were obtained illegally - Reuters

Lady Lawrence has admitted she was floored by the news. A few days later, she met lawyers David Sherborne and Anjlee Sangani, then joined the group legal action, which was lodged in October 2022.

She has said she now considers the Daily Mails support for her campaign hollow, and worse, entirely false, believing its true interests to be self-promotion and profit, adding that she felt she had been taken for a fool.

Mr Wright, who was cross-examined on Wednesday for a second consecutive day, said he had enjoyed a good relationship with Lady Lawrence until that moment in early 2022.

He explained that six months earlier, he had hosted her and five other high-profile figures, including Leon Brittans widow, the family of Lord Bramall and Edward Heaths former private secretary, to discuss Cressida Dicks time as commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

Mr Wright told the judge the event was six months before Prince Harry rang Baroness Lawrence and turned her against The Daily Mail, very sadly.

Stephen Wright, a journalist, was involved in the Mails campaign for justice following the murder of Baroness Lawrences son, Stephen - Tayfun Salci

He had previously said Lady Lawrence was very grateful for the Mails support and had shown no dislike for the newspaper until the unfortunate events of 2022. He added: I had a very strong professional relationship with her and her lawyer, [Imran] Khan.

Lady Lawrence has alleged that five stories published about her from 1997-2007 were obtained unlawfully. Mr Wright has strongly denied the allegations.

During cross-examination, Mr Sherborne repeatedly alleged that Mr Wright had paid for stories from John Ross, a former police officer who had been arrested for offering to pay another officer.

Mr Wright reacted angrily to the claims, telling the barrister: This tawdry investigation is being conducted like a rogue News of the World investigation.

A mob of shysters [and] spivs

He made multiple references to the large sums of cash paid by slush fund supremo Graham Johnson, a convicted phone hacker now working as a researcher for the claimants, to potential witnesses and private investigators.

Mr Wright described those working for the claimants as a mob of shysters, spivs and useful idiots who had tried to fit me up over these despicable allegations.

He told Mr Sherborne: You have set out with your mob to try and destroy me and my reputation. You have done that shamelessly and you are still trying. Its an utter disgrace.

The judge warned Mr Wright not to attack Mr Sherborne personally and to focus on answering the questions.

Associated is a subsidiary of Daily Mail and General Trust, Viscount Rothermeres holding company, which has agreed to acquire The Telegraph for 500m. The proposed takeover will be subjected to a four-month investigation by regulators on public interest and competition grounds.

The trial continues.
Robert Jenrick said Reform had changed its position on the two-child benefit policy but leader Nigel Farage suggested it had done so reluctantly - Leon Neal

Reform UK would bring back the two-child benefit cap, Robert Jenrick has promised.

In a major speech in the City of London on Wednesday, Reforms new shadow chancellor pledged to fix Britain with a new economic model and restore the two-child limit, in a reversal of the partys previous position.

He paid tribute to his father Bill Jenrick, who founded a business selling fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, in highly personal remarks.

Mr Jenrick also took aim at economic mismanagement by Westminster and pledged that a Reform government would save 25bn a year by ending benefits for foreign nationals and capping foreign aid at 1bn. He also announced plans to stop those with mild anxiety and depression from claiming disability benefits.

On Wednesday, Mr Jenrick announced that Reform had changed its position on the two-child benefit policy and could not afford to scrap the cap.

However, Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, suggested his party had changed its position reluctantly and insisted he still wanted to abolish the limit in the future.

Today, Reform is changing our policy on the two-child cap for Universal Credit. We want to help working families have more children, Mr Jenrick said.

But right now, we just cannot afford to do so with welfare, so it has to go. And, as Reforms shadow chancellor, Im ending it. A Reform government will restore the cap in full.

Mr Jenrick also announced plans to stop those with mild anxiety and depression from claiming disability benefits - Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe

The two-child benefit cap, which was introduced by the Tories in 2017, stopped parents from claiming child tax credit or Universal Credit for their third child or any subsequent children.

Labour initially kept the cap, but Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, announced last November that it would be abolished.

Last year, Mr Farage said that it was the right thing to do. However, Mr Jenrick, who was on the Tory front benches at the time, insisted he was wrong and that the cap must stay. The Reform leader later clarified that he would only keep the benefit for British families who were in work.

Mr Jenrick began the speech on Wednesday by recalling how his father set up a business from his kitchen table and started with just a white van.

Bill Jenrick co-founded Charlton and Jenrick, which sells fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, in 1986. The company now sells to 20 countries worldwide.

Alarm clock Britain

Praising his fathers work and career, Mr Jenrick said: Just shy of his 85th birthday, he was still going into the office at his desk at 9am in the morning.

Im in politics for people like him, and the people who worked with him, for what Reform calls alarm clock Britain, the people who get up early, put the hours in, do the right thing.

He continued: It wasnt always easy. Running a business never is. But through sheer grit, he built up that business and set up his own factory.

In time, he was able to build a more comfortable life for my mum, my sister, and me than hed ever had.

Farage: I have not changed my mind

In a huddle with reporters, Mr Farage insisted he had not changed his mind on the two-child benefit cap and suggested he was forced into doing so by the Tory press.

The Reform leader said: What I wanted is the two-child cap lifted for working British families and for my efforts, I got branded by the Tory press as being a socialist. It backfired. It didnt work.

Any attempt to do anything that is pro-family seems to be very, very difficult to do. And anyway, it was only going to cost a tiny amount of money compared to the upwards of 3bn that this Labour party has changed [by lifting the cap entirely]. So look, I accept it, its fine.

He continued: The only U-turn is a minor one for working British families. My attempt at being pro-family has failed.

Challenged on why had changed his mind, Mr Farage told The Telegraph: I havent changed it. But whats the point? You try [to] argue for the family and newspapers like yours say I am being irresponsible. So there we are, no one is in favour of the family anymore.

The shift in Reforms position will be seen as an attempt by the party to bolster its economic credibility, having also committed to retaining the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

Last month, Mr Farage had suggested he was open to abolishing the OBR. On Wednesday, Mr Jenrick said it was far from perfect but vowed to reform it instead of abolishing it.

Simpler, fairer tax system

Elsewhere in the speech, Mr Jenrick promised a simpler, fairer tax system. He said: We intend to review the tax code in a programme not seen since the landmark reforms of Nigel Lawson.

But we also understand that we cant make tax cuts while running a huge deficit in the vain hope that the Laffer curve alone will do the hard work for us.

That is why Nigel drew a line under the previous tax and spend commitments Reform had made  So we will only cut taxes when we have generated the fiscal headroom necessary to make tax cuts sustainable.

Mr Jenrick also attacked Liz Truss, the former Tory prime minister under whom he served as a minister, for wild spending splurges alongside big tax cuts during her ill-fated seven weeks in office in 2022.

Today, I give you my word that a Reform government will never play fast and loose with your savings, he said, adding: Britains economy is broken. Though be in no doubt, it can be fixed. We can turn our country around, but it can only be done with Reform.

Kevin Hollinrake, the Tory chairman, said: One week Nigel Farage says Robert Jenrick is a fraud, next week hes Reforms economic guru. You cannot trust a word he says.

Reforms economic policy changes by the week. Just two weeks ago, Rob Jenrick voted to lift the two-child benefit cap. Today he claims he would reinstate it. They make even Keir Starmer look consistent.

Responding to the press conference, Sir Keir Starmer accused Reform of wanting to push hundreds of thousands of children into poverty. The Prime Minister wrote on X: Im incredibly proud that this Government has scrapped the cruel two-child limit.
Young people at a job fair in Frankfurt, Germany. - rkl_foto // Shutterstock

10 European cities offering good career pathways for US students in 2026

Choosing where to study abroad is a strategic career decision. For U.S. students planning for 2026, the most forward-thinking destinations in Europe offer more than a degree. They combine hands-on work experience during studies with clear, supportive visa policies that make it possible to stay, work, and build a career after graduation.

This guide from HousingAnywhere highlights 10 European countries where leading universities, strong industry links, and favorable immigration rules create an unmatched environment for turning your education into a global career.

1. Germany

Germany offers one of Europes strongest and most structured student-to-career pathways, particularly renowned for its engineering, technology, and research sectors. Key student hubs like Berlin for startups, Munich for engineering and tech, and Frankfurt for finance offer diverse opportunities.

International students can work up to 20 hours per week, enabling early industry exposure at companies ranging from global automotive giants to innovative Mittelstand firms. A wide network of public universities in Germany offers low tuition fees and numerous English-taught masters programs. Students across the country can access generous scholarship opportunities in Germany, including the prestigious DAAD funding. The integrated education model ensures students regularly secure paid internships in Germany that are often part of the curriculum.

After graduation, the 18-month post-study residence permit allows ample time to find full-time work, with a clear transition to the EU Blue Card for long-term residency. This end-to-end support system is what makes studying in Germany a premier strategic choice.

2. Netherlands

The Netherlands provides a highly international, English-proficient environment with robust opportunities for professional development. Cities like Amsterdam for tech and business, Rotterdam for logistics and maritime, and Eindhoven for high-tech engineering are prime destinations. Non-EU students can work without an additional permit, gaining immediate experience in the countrys dynamic startup scene, agri-tech sector, and corporate hubs.

Dutch universities are known for their problem-based learning and strong ties to industry. To support students, numerous scholarship opportunities in the Netherlands are available from both universities and the government. Gaining practical experience through valuable internships in the Netherlands is a standard part of academic life.

The career pathway is solidified by the Orientation Year Visa, granting graduates 12 months to find a highly skilled job, making the transition from studying in the Netherlands to a Dutch career remarkably seamless.

3. Ireland

Ireland stands out as a primary English-speaking gateway to the European Union, with a world-class concentration of tech and pharmaceutical corporations. Dublin is the undisputed hub, though Cork and Galway offer strong regional ecosystems in pharma and medtech.

Students benefit from flexible work rights, allowing part-time employment during term and full-time during holidays, providing vital local experience. Leading universities like Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin offer globally recognized programs. Financial support is accessible through various scholarship opportunities.

The countrys major advantage is its unparalleled access to high-caliber internships within multinational headquarters. This professional immersion is capped by Irelands generous Third Level Graduate Scheme, offering a 24-month stay-back period to secure employment, cementing the exceptional long-term value of studying in Ireland.

4. Denmark

Denmark is celebrated for its exceptional work-life balance, innovative culture, and leading positions in sustainability, life sciences, and cleantech. Copenhagen is the vibrant capital for most opportunities, with Aarhus offering a strong, intimate student community. Students are permitted to work part-time, facilitating integration into a collaborative and project-driven business environment.

Danish institutions offer high-quality English-taught programs and foster close collaboration with industry. A range of scholarship opportunities is offered to attract top international talent. The countrys focus on applied learning means securing impactful internships during your studies is both common and encouraged.

After graduation, Denmark offers a generous post-study residence permit, allowing graduates up to three years to work under the Positive List scheme for in-demand professions. This makes building a long-term, meaningful career after studying in Denmark a tangible and supported reality.

5. Estonia

Estonia is the worlds first digital republic and a pioneer in e-governance, offering a uniquely tech-forward education. Nearly all opportunities are concentrated in the compact, innovative capital of Tallinn, which functions as the nation's classroom and tech hub. International students can work full-time during holidays and part-time during semesters, seamlessly integrating into one of Europes most vibrant startup ecosystems.

Institutions like Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) offer innovative programs in cybersecurity, software engineering, and e-governance entirely in English. Students can apply for various scholarship opportunities. Estonias digital-first ecosystem provides direct access to hands-on internships in tech companies and startups.

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After graduation, Estonia offers a post-study visa allowing graduates to stay for up to 9 months to seek employment, with a straightforward path to a long-term residence permit for skilled professionals. This makes pursuing higher education in Estonia a direct entry into Europes most advanced digital economy.

6. France

France is a global leader in luxury, aerospace, engineering, and gastronomy, offering a prestigious and culturally rich educational experience. While Paris is the major international hub, cities like Lyon for biotech, Toulouse for aerospace, and Grenoble for tech offer excellent, often more affordable, alternatives.

International students are allowed to work up to 964 hours per year (approximately 20 hours per week), facilitating early entry into the job market. The countrys system of Grandes Ecoles and public universities provides industry-focused education with strong corporate ties. Significant (scholarship opportunities in France), including those from the French government and the Eiffel Scholarship, are available.

Frances strong industrial and research networks facilitate excellent paid internships in France, which are often a mandatory part of degree programs. The post-graduation APS visa provides 12 months to find a job in your field, creating a defined professional trajectory that makes studying in France a sound and rewarding investment.

7. Portugal

Portugal has emerged as one of Europes most welcoming and affordable tech hubs, known for its stunning landscapes and collaborative startup culture. Lisbon is the bustling capital of startups and digital nomads, while Porto offers a more intimate, engineering-focused community, and Coimbra provides a historic student city experience.

Students can work part-time alongside their studies, allowing for seamless economic integration. The University of Porto and the University of Lisbon are leading institutions with a growing number of English-taught courses.

The lower cost of living is complemented by accessible scholarship opportunities in Portugal. Portugals thriving tech and tourism sectors provide hands-on opportunities for impactful internships. The government supports graduates with a 12-month post-study residence permit to seek work, a policy designed to attract and retain skilled talent. This powerful combination of opportunity, affordability, and official support makes the experience of studying in Portugal an exceptionally smart and sustainable choice.

8. Spain

Spain combines a renowned quality of life with a rapidly growing reputation in entrepreneurship, tourism, and technology. Student-favorite cities include Barcelona for tech and design, Madrid for business and finance, and Valencia for a lower-cost, innovative lifestyle. Student visa holders can work up to 30 hours per week, allowing for deep professional integration alongside studies.

Universities in Spain are expanding their portfolios of English-taught Masters programs. Students can explore dedicated scholarship opportunities in Spain to fund their education. The dynamic economic landscape provides plentiful opportunities for internships in Spain in fields like digital marketing, engineering, and hospitality management.

Following graduation, Spain offers a 12-month post-study visa to seek work or start a business, providing a clear and supportive pathway to turn the experience of studying in Spain into a sustainable career under the Mediterranean sun.

9. Italy

Italy is the historic heart of design, fashion, and automotive engineering, where academic excellence meets centuries of artisan tradition. Milan leads in business and fashion, Turin in automotive, and Bologna and Rome for a classic university atmosphere. Students are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week, gaining early exposure to the countrys prestigious industries.

Top universities in Italy such as Politecnico di Milano and Bocconi University offer globally-ranked programs in English. Financial support is available through competitive scholarship opportunities in Italy, including government and regional funds. The Italian economy provides direct access to prestigious internships in Italy within the luxury, automotive, and culinary sectors.

After your degree, you can obtain a permit to stay for up to 12 months to find work in your field, allowing you to leverage your academic investment into a lasting Italian career through studying in Italy.

10. Austria

Austria serves as a stable, high-quality hub at the crossroads of Europe, renowned for its culture, engineering, and international organizations. Vienna is the grand central hub for opportunities, with Graz known for engineering and Salzburg for a smaller, cultural student life. Student visa holders can work up to 20 hours per week, facilitating professional development in a robust economy.

Institutions like the University of Vienna and TU Wien offer a wide array of programs in English. Austrian universities and public agencies provide various scholarship opportunities for qualified international students. The countrys stable economy offers structured paths to valuable internships, particularly in technology, tourism, and green industries.

Post-graduation, Austrias Red-White-Red Card Plus serves as a 12-month job-seeker visa, with a clear points-based system for transitioning to long-term residency. This makes studying in Vienna a strategic and stable choice for building a durable European career.



The right study destination offers more than a strong academic experience. It provides a supportive ecosystem for your professional future. When comparing options, focus on countries where national visa policies actively support the transition from student to working professional, and where internships are embedded in the academic culture. In these destinations, your degree is a recognized asset in the local job market, allowing you to move more easily from graduation into employment. Choosing a country with clear professional pathways means you are not just planning time abroad, but laying the foundation for an international career.

This story was produced by HousingAnywhere and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, call The National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit www.thehotline.org. Callers can remain anonymous.

An 11-year-old girl and her mother died inside a Las Vegas hotel room over the weekend in what police in Nevada are investigating as a possible murder-suicide.

The Clark County Coroner's Office identified the deceased as Addilyn Smith and her mother, Tawnia Hope McGeehan, 34, both of West Jordan, Utah.

Las Vegas Police Department Lt. Robert Price said officers received a call for a welfare check on Feb. 15 for a mother and daughter in town for a cheerleading competition who were staying at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

Officers responded to the hotel and, along with hotel security, "knocked on the door and called into the room" for about 15-20 minutes "without any answer," Price told reporters during a press conference.

"Based on the details at the time, there was no belief that either was in danger," and officers left the scene, the department wrote in a news release.

Addilyn Smith, 11, and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, 34, were found dead on Feb. 15, 2026 inside a Nevada hotel room during a welfare check, the Las Vegas Police Department reported. Their official cause of death was being investigated by the Clark County Coroners Office.

Later in the day, security at the hotel received an additional request to check on the mother and daughter.

At 2:27 p.m., security entered the room, Price said, where they located two unresponsive females and called 911.

Police officers found Addi and her mother both suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the hotel.

Price said the investigation into their deaths is ongoing, but authorities currently believe McGeehan "shot her daughter and then shot herself" sometime the night before their bodies were discovered.

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A note was also found at the scene, Price said. Officials have not confirmed its contents.

A preliminary autopsy found McGeehan died as from gunshot wound to the head as a result of suicide, the coroner's office told USA TODAY. As of Feb. 18, her daughter's cause and manner of death were listed as pending.

Updates: Crews continue search for 9 missing skiers after California avalanche

Addi Smith cheered for Utah Xtreme Cheer

Utah Xtreme Cheer, a competitive cheer organization based in West Jordan, also confirmed the 11-year-old girl's death, calling it "an unimaginable loss."

"With the heaviest hearts, we share the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away," the group posted on Facebook, asking people to keep the girl's family in their thoughts and prayers. "We are completely heartbroken. No words do the situation justice. She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family."

Police have not yet confirmed a motive in the incident.

According to a verified online fundraiser, Addi's uncle, Greg Smith of Salem, Utah, is raising money to help her father and stepmother with funeral expenses.

My brother Brad is facing an unimaginable loss after his daughter Addi was tragically taken from our family. This heartbreaking event has left the family in deep shock and grief, struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of Addi in such a way, Greg Smith wrote.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact police at 702-828-3521 or at homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Las Vegas hotel deaths suspected to be murder-suicide
Kris Connor/Getty Images

19 Kids and Counting alum Anna Duggar has returned to social media five years after husband Josh Duggars arrest for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material.

Anna, 37, made a rare appearance in a video on her Golden Grove Pups account, which she uses to promote her business of breeding English Cream AKC Golden Retrievers.

Hey there! We are just waiting for our vet appointment, and I thought I would introduce you to some of our guys, Anna said in the Tuesday, February 17, video, which showed her holding three puppies while sitting in a car. Theyre just sweet little guys. One thing about English Creams is that they seem to be a much milder breed.

Many of Anna and Joshs seven children  Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, Mason, Maryella and Madyson  have also made appearances on the account. In one recent video, daughter Meredith, 10, sat on a bed as she introduced three puppies named after Frozen characters.

Meet the Next Generation of the Duggar Family: Photos of the 19 Kids and Counting Stars Children

Another video from January showed daughter Madyson, 4, cradling a puppy in her arms.

Annas post comes just under five years after Joshs April 2021 arrest on charges of receiving and possessing CSAM. He was found guilty in December 2021 and sentenced to more than 12 years in prison in May 2022. Josh, 37, is currently serving out his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institute Seagoville in Texas.

Us Weekly confirmed in March 2023 that Joshs prison release date was extended by nearly two months. He is expected to be released in October 2032.

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In October 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit terminated Joshs request to appeal his conviction. The Supreme Court also rejected an appeal in June 2024.

Golden Grove Pups/Instagram

Joshs wife, who supported the disgraced TLC personality throughout his trial, has kept a low profile since he received his sentence. She was seen at an event in Arkansas for the first time in years in August 2024.

Anna was also seen attending a community event in Arkansas in December 2024. She sported a gray blazer over a black T-shirt and jeans, ditching the Duggar familys traditional clothing rule.

Later, in November 2025, Anna appeared alongside her sisters in a photo shared by Hilltop Nutrition. The mom of seven debuted blonde hair as she and her sisters posed with smoothies in hand.

Joy-Anna Duggars Husband Austin Says He Took a Lot of Heat for Not Wanting Sons Birth Filmed

Anna has continued to raise her and Joshs kids on Jim Bob and Michelle Duggars family compound in Arkansas as she awaits the end of Joshs sentence. She has reportedly visited Josh in prison on more than one occasion and brought their kids along.

Ahead of Joshs sentencing in 2022, Anna wrote a letter to the judge overseeing Joshs trial.

"My children and I rely on Joshua for financial, emotional, and physical support. Many others depend on Joshua, too," she wrote. "Joshua sees the best in people and is willing to walk alongside them to help make their dreams a reality."

Anna added that Josh was a "kind, loving, supportive, and caring father and husband," and asked the judge to "consider reuniting us as a family again soon."
Believe it or not, the flashing neon lights on the Strip aren't the most colorful places in Nevada. From vibrant fall foliage to striking red rocks and man-made art installations that stand in stark contrast with the barren desert landscape, these destinations are must-visits. Whether you want to take some epic photos or simply enjoy the surreal views, look no further. The following are just three colorful places in Nevada for your bucket list.

1. Valley of Fire State Park, Overton

FernandoM  stock.adobe.com

Ask any local about the most colorful places in Nevada, and I guarantee their first answer will be Valley of Fire State Park. Located roughly an hour northeast of Las Vegas, this stunning place is known for its fiery red sandstone formations, which appear even more vivid in the intense desert sun. Visitors can enjoy numerous hiking trails of varying difficulty, and the park's main road offers several scenic overlooks. Fall and winter are the best seasons to visit because of cooler weather, and sunrise and sunset offer the best views. The entrance fee is $10 per vehicle for Nevada residents and $15 for non-residents.

Why This Is the Most Colorful Place in Nevada

Whats in a name? In this case, everything you need to know. The rocks at Valley of Fire State Park are so radiant that the landscape looks as if its on fire. Layered sandstone formations feature multitudes of swirling hues for a scene thats almost too otherworldly to be real.

2. Seven Magic Mountains, Las Vegas

Yan  stock.adobe.com

Not all colorful places to visit in Nevada are natural. In fact, some of the most stunning spots are man-made, like Seven Magic Mountains. Located in the Ivanpah Valley south of Las Vegas, this public art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone features seven tours of stacked boulders painted in a variety of bright colors. Each tower is 30 to 35 feet high, and the attraction is a popular roadside stop for tourists.

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3. Lamoille Canyon, Elko

neillockhart  stock.adobe.com

Nicknamed the "Swiss Alps of Nevada," Lamoille Canyon is a glacial valley in the Ruby Mountains near Elko. The canyon features a 12-mile paved road that meanders through the rugged cliffs and expansive meadows, offering year-round access to hiking trails and scenic views. Fall is generally considered the best time to visit Lamoille Canyon, because that's when it becomes one of the most colorful places in Nevada. The trees put on a spectacular show, displaying vibrant autumn hues worthy of a postcard.

Tips for Visiting and Photographing the Most Colorful Places in Nevada

If youre looking to capture some epic shots (or just make the most of your trip), timing is everything. Valley of Fire State Park is best visited at sunrise or sunset because the light hits in such a way that makes the colorful landscape really pop. The same goes for Seven Magic Mountains; the neon rock towers look even more vibrant when they arent washed out by the harsh desert sun. As for Lamoille Canyon, it isnt about the time of day, but the time of year. While its beautiful in every season, the golden aspens that grace the hills during fall are beyond breathtaking. And in terms of how to visit these places, scenic drives and road trips are great because you can see multiple destinations.

Have you experienced all of these beautiful places? Are there any other colorful places to visit in Nevada? Let us know by filling out this nomination form. Wed love to hear from you.

If youre feeling inspired to discover more destinations where you can experience Nevada in color, try planning your own trip using Only In Your State's itinerary planner.
A proposed $33 billion investment in a natural gas power facility in southern Ohio would create thousands of jobs and eventually produce enough energy to power half of Ohio's needs, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted told The Dispatch.

Husted said he spoke to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about two weeks ago and was told the facility would produce about 9 gigawatts of power. All of the homes in Columbus consume about a gigawatt of electricity.

Husted said the Commerce Department and possibly President Donald Trump plan to release more details in the coming days. He suggested watching Trump's State of the Union address Feb. 24.

The exact location has not been disclosed. However the federal government owns land on and near the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County. Some of that land is already being developed for small nuclear reactors, a cleaner more efficient method of producing energy.

Energy company Centrus already has received $900 million from the Department of Energy to produce enriched uranium. And California-based Oklo is planning to build reactors on the site to power Meta data centers and other industry.

Other projects Trump announced on Truth Social include an oil and liquefied natural gas project in Texas and a critical minerals facility in Georgia. He did not identify the companies involved in the projects nor the specific investment amounts associated with them.

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Husted hailed the project as a huge win for the state, details of which he said have not yet been shared with Gov. Mike DeWine or local officials.

Scioto County Administrator Scottie Powell said he had not heard anything about the project. He said if the news is accurate: "It's going to be a huge economic boom for the region and state. It's putting southern Ohio on the frontier of energy.

"Since 2015, we've taken more reliable energy off the grid than has replaced it. At the same time, energy demand has gone up."

The combination of Commerce and Energy departments building on government-owned land "would create thousands of jobs to construct it and many more to operate it."

Growth and development reporter Dean Narciso can be reached at dnarciso@dispatch.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio natural gas power plant could power half the state, Husted says
The National Weather Service has issued a slew of winter storm warnings covering much of the western United States. Forecasters have predicted up to 7 feet of snow and 70 mph winds in the hardest hit areas, which will create blizzard conditions and widespread travel hazards.

Where 7 Feet of Snow and 70 MPH Winds Are Expected

Snow blows across a road as cars drive during an intense winter storm. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

On February 17, 2026, the National Weather Service (NWS) updated its dangerous weather page with many "urgent" winter storm warnings. Some of the most notable warnings revealed that many areas of the country are being slammed by truly extreme weather.

The highest forecasted snow accumulation in the February 17 warnings calls for between 5 and 7 feet of snow to arrive in the highest elevations of central California by 10 p.m. on February 19. Parts of Nevada and Utah were also forecast to receive feet of snow, while many of the other regions that were named in warnings would have several inches fall.

The NWS also cautioned that powerful wind gusts were predicted to strike many regions of America. Peaks of up to 70 mph were expected to slam parts of Nevada until 10 p.m. on February 18, Colorado until 11 p.m. on February 18, and California until 7 a.m. on February 20.

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Most of the winter storm warnings predicted that the snowfall and wind gusts would make travel "very dangerous to impossible" between February 18 and February 20, due to poor visibility. Some of them also cautioned about powerful winds downing trees and resulting in possible power outages.

While the NWS's February 17 warnings revealed that California, Nevada, and Colorado would be the hardest hit, several other states were also predicted to be involved. Areas of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, and Utah were all explicitly named in the forecasts.

Advice for How to Protect Older Adults During Winter Storm Conditions

Men's Journal interviewed the Senior Director at ADT Health, Andrew Droney, who has more than 18 years of experience in the security and health monitoring industry. Based on his extensive experience in the business, he provided valuable advice about how to protect older loved ones during winter conditions.

Most notably, Droney pointed out that times of extreme winter storms can be very dangerous for older adults and explained how that can be mitigated. As a result, he recommended clearing home hazards, making sure seniors dress warmly, and checking in frequently during winter storms. He also pointed out that modern tech, including medical alert devices that have fall detection, can help loved ones monitor the safety of older adults from afar when conditions become dangerous.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
What started as a windy Tuesday in southern Colorado quickly turned into a tragedy on a busy stretch of Interstate 25.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a massive multi-vehicle pileup just south of Pueblo Boulevard near Stem Beach around 10:00 a.m. local time.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, more than 30 vehicles, including six semi-trucks, were involved in the crash.

At least four people have been killed according to preliminary reports.

Twenty-nine others have been transported to nearby hospitals with injuries that have not yet been detailed.

Ten people were evaluated on scene and were not injured.

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High Wind Warnings were in effect for the area, according to the National Weather Service office in Pueblo.

Just hours before the crash, the Colorado State Patrol warned on social media that Tuesday would be a wild weather day, with heavy mountain snow and powerful winds sweeping across different parts of the state.

Drivers were urged to check conditions and keep two hands on the wheel with no distractions.

Winds in the area were reported upwards of 60 and even 70 mph at times throughout the day. Those gusts whipped up thick clouds of dirt and dust, creating what officials described as brown out conditions, similar to a whiteout in a snowstorm, but instead of snow, its blinding dust.

With visibility suddenly gone, vehicles traveling at highway speeds had little time to react. Investigators say the crash involved both passenger vehicles and multiple semis, compounding the scale of the wreckage.

Both directions of I-25 were shut down and local drivers were urged to delay travel until conditions improved.

The Colorado State Patrol Vehicular Crimes Unit is leading the investigation, and officials say final numbers could change as crews continue clearing vehicles from the scene.
A bill in the West Virginia House of Delegates sought to pause homeschool requests from parents of chronically-absent or truancy children to make sure families werent avoiding legal ramifications for truancy. (Maskot via Getty Image)

The majority of students in West Virginia who left public schools in the last three years were chronically absent, prompting concerns among educational officials and lawmakers that students are exiting the schools to avoid truancy penalties.

A bill in the House of Delegates sought to address the issue by pausing homeschool requests from parents of chronically-absent or truancy children. It was to make sure families werent avoiding legal ramifications for truancy.

But, as of Tuesday, the measure is dead for this legislative session.

I (saw) it as a way to help students to make sure that theyre receiving the proper education, said Del. Christopher Toney, R-Raleigh, who sponsored the legislation.

Del. Christopher Toney, R-Raleigh

In the last three school years, 71.6% of students withdrawing to homeschool were chronically absent when they left to homeschool, according to data from the West Virginia Department of Education.

These were students who had 18 or more absences from school when they exited for homeschooling.

State Schools Superintendent Michele Blatt said the education department and Legislature should work together to protect children.

We have great homeschool parents. Its just in West Virginia  this data shows us that we have more students that are or more families that are pulling them out for the wrong reasons, she said.

Toneys measure, House Bill 5053, would have established a 90-day time limit during which a family involved in an active truancy or pre-petition process couldnt withdraw a student for homeschooling.

There should be specific safeguards in the code to protect student well-being during truancy proceedings, the measure said.

County schools superintendents brought the bill idea to House members, Toney said.

Michele Blatt

This is the (students) that just repeatedly come back every six months or so, he said. These are just the ones that keep bouncing back and forth.

The bill also cited concerns that families would use homeschooling over the summer as a way to bypass the required reading proficiency requirements in the Third Grade Success Act. The landmark West Virginia education measure requires schools to retain students in third grade if they havent hit certain benchmarks in reading beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

Homeschool parents, advocates opposed measure

While the Houses Public Education subcommittee vetted the bill last week, homeschool lobbyists and advocates railed against the bill.

Thomas J. Schmidt, who represented the Home School Legal Defense Association, argued the state didnt need a blanket 90-day barrier that punishes struggling students and ignores the fundamental rights of parents to direct the childs education.

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House Bill 5053 claims that parents use homeschooling as an easy out or a shield to avoid accountability, Schmidt said. However, the reality is that many of these parents only turn to homeschooling when the parent in the school is unable to protect the child from bullying, or when a childs illness becomes chronic.

Del. Kathie Hess Crouse, R-Putnam

Del. Kathie Hess Crouse, R-Putnam, one of the Houses most fervent homeschooling supporters, told committee members that the bill was an attack on homeschoolers.

This bill assumes that the public school can do a better job at protecting their children than the actual parent can, Hess Crouse said.

A county can deny a homeschooling request through a judges order if they feel it is detrimental to the student, she added.

The Houses Public Education Subcommittee didnt advance the measure to the full House floor for a vote.

Toney said there were some issues with the bill that needed to be addressed, but hed run out of time since Tuesday was the last meeting of the subcommittee this session.

Well look at it next year and see what language we need to put in there, and how we need to make it more tailored, he said.

Del. Anitra Hamilton, who serves on the Public Education subcommittee, said she thought it was a good piece of legislation.

Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia

We really have to weigh student safety and student concern, versus inconvenience, she said. So its going to be one of those things where everybodys not going to be happy, but we have to weigh whats more important.

She cited high-profile cases where West Virginia children who were being homeschooled died due to abuse and/or neglect.

As a member of the minority caucus, Hamilton cant put a bill on an agenda for consideration.

When a child has been harmed, then we all should do whatever we can, from a legislation standpoint, to uncover the problem and see what we can do legislative wise to prevent it from happening again, she said. Its unfortunate that when we deal with these things, it becomes inundated with all of these other situational circumstances that really dont outweigh a child dying.

As West Virginia educators try to improve school attendance, Blatt said that the education department has encouraged school employees to focus on chronically-absent children who may be experiencing issues at home preventing them from attending school.

Weve tried to kind of change the mindset in the school systems that focus on the kids that we know may have other issues, as opposed to spending your time just doing data collection on a doctors note, she said.

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Eight skiers who went missing this week after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California have been found dead and one is still missing, authorities said Wednesday.

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said during a news conference that authorities have told the families the mission has moved from rescue to recovery.

"They were on their way back to camp when the avalanche actually hit," Moon said. "It took these search and rescue crews hours just to find those first few survivors that we're talking."

American Skiers Rescued After Getting Lost Near Olympic Venue In The Italian Alps

A sign is covered in snow during a storm on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 in Truckee Calif. (AP Photos/Brooke Hess-Homeier) (AP Newsroom)

The avalanche is the deadliest in the U.S. since 1981, when 11 climbers were killed on Mount Rainier, Washington.

Six survivors were found Tuesday night buried in the snow, Moon said, who described the weather conditions as "extreme."

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"I would say is an understatement. Lots of snow, gale force winds, winds, making it impossible to see," she said.

The skiers were on a three-day trek in Northern Californias Sierra Nevada as a winter storm pummeled the West Coast. The six survivors used equipment to shelter themselves and were trying to stay warm while waiting to be rescued, Moon said.

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon updates media on rescue efforts following an avalanche at a news conference in Nevada City, Calif., on Wednesday.

The survivors located three others who had died, Moon said.

Search and rescue crews were dispatched to the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada after a 911 call reporting the avalanche had buried 15 skiers.

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Deadly Avalanche Claims 2 Snowmobilers In Washington State Backcountry, 2 Rescued

This image provided by the Nevada County Sheriff's Office shows members of a rescue team in Soda Springs, California on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.

Heavy snow and the threat of additional avalanches slowed the rescue effort, authorities said.

Officials noted that most of the rescue crews are volunteers.

"The vast majority of these individuals are volunteers. They, a lot of time, buy their own equipment. They train on their own time, and they put a big investment into it," said Dan O'Keefe, the chief of law enforcement at the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

The area near Donner Summit is one of the snowiest places in the Western Hemisphere and was closed to the public for nearly a century until just a few years ago.

Blackbird Mountain Guides, which notified authorities about the avalanche, said in a statement said the group, including four guides, was returning to the trailhead when the avalanche occurred.

Pine trees are covered in snow during a storm on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 in Truckee Calif. (AP Photos/Brooke Hess-Homeier)

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"Our thoughts are with the missing individuals, their families, and first responders in the field," Blackbird said in a statement Wednesday. The company said it is helping authorities in the search.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: 8 skiers found dead, 1 missing after massive Lake Tahoe avalanche
Castle Peak Avalanche Rescue Efforts Nina Riggio/Bloomberg via Getty; Nevada County Sheriff's Office/Facebook

NEED TO KNOW

Disaster struck on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 17, when a group of skiers got caught in an avalanche near Lake Tahoe, Calif.

The group consisted of 11 Blackbird Mountain Guides clients and four guides

In an update on Wednesday, Feb. 18, officials said that 8 of the skiers had been found dead, while one still remained missing, but is presumed to be dead

Authorities say eight people are dead and one person remains missing after a backcountry avalanche in California.

Authorities received a 911 call about the avalanche in the Castle Peak area near Truckee around 11:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Feb. 11, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said at a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Fifteen people, nine women and six men, were completing a three-day guided tour with Blackbird Mountain Guides when the avalanche occurred, according to Moon.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Eight of the 15 people in the group died as a result of the avalanche, while one person remains missing, but is presumed to be be dead, Moon said. Their identities have not been released.

Six people were rescued, including one man and five women whose ages range from 30 to 55, Moon said. One of the rescued individuals was a guide, while the other five were on the tour.

Two people who were injured in the avalanche were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities. One of those individuals has been released from the hospital, while the other remains hospitalized.



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NCSO Capt. Russell Greene previously told NBC News that some of the survivors took shelter under trees near the site of the avalanche.

"They have at least a tarp with them, so they're doing their best to create somewhat of a structure and get out of the elements as best they can, and we will begin treating and dealing with that when we get there," Greene said.

An avalanche warning was in effect from Tuesday at 5 a.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday  although danger persists due to the potential for avalanches in Californias Sierra Nevada mountain range throughout the week.

The National Weather Service warned that rapidly accumulating snowfall, weak layers in the existing snowpack, and gale-force winds that blow and drift snow have created dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains."

Natural avalanches are likely, the National Weather Service continued, and human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury or injure people are very likely.



This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.



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Six of the backcountry skiers who were killed in an avalanche in Californias Sierra Nevada north of Lake Tahoe earlier this week were mothers who bonded over their "love of the outdoors," their families said Thursday.

They were all mothers, wives and friends, the families of Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt said in a joint statement. They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains.

We are heartbroken and are doing our best to care for one another and our families in the way we know these women would have wanted, they added.

The skiers were part of a 15-person group returning from a three-day backcountry trek when the avalanche swept through rugged terrain near Donner Pass on Tuesday morning. Six were rescued.

Blackbird Mountain Guides, the ski-tour company that led the expedition, said that a total of 11 clients and four guides had been staying in remote huts below the 9,110-foot Castle Peak and were in the process of returning to the trailhead when the avalanche struck.

The bodies of eight of the skiers had been located, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said during a news conference Wednesday to announce that search efforts had moved from rescue to recovery. One of the skiers remains missing and is presumed dead, she said.

The search for survivors

(Elif Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Emergency crews were dispatched around 11:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday. It took rescuers using snowcats and backcountry ski equipment about six hours to reach six of the skiers, who were evacuated with varying injuries, according to the Nevada County Sheriffs Office. Two were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Nine women and six men were on the expedition, Moon said. Four men and two women survived. The survivors included one guide and five clients, she said.

The rescued skiers used emergency beacons and their iPhone SOS functions to communicate with search crews, Nevada County Sheriffs Office Capt. Russell Greene said. The deceased skiers were also found with beacons, he said.

Chris Feutrier, supervisor of the Tahoe National Forest, said the avalanche that buried the skiers was the size of a football field.

Someone saw the avalanche, yelled avalanche, and it overtook them rather quickly, Greene said.

The recovery effort

The bodies of the deceased skiers were located fairly close together but not recovered due to the dangerous conditions, Greene said. Search teams left the mountain late Tuesday. Recovery efforts would begin as soon as it was safe to do so, he said.

This is not a resource issue  its a safety issue, Moon said.

The Nevada County Sheriffs Office issued a statement on Thursday saying that due to hazardous weather conditions, avalanche victims cannot be safely extracted off the mountain today.

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Recovery efforts are expected to carry into the weekend, the sheriffs office said.

Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said that one of the dead was the spouse of a member of the local Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue team. This has been not only challenging for our community, he said. Its been a challenging rescue, but its also been challenging, emotionally.

The death toll makes it one of the deadliest avalanches in U.S. history. In 1982, an avalanche at Alpine Meadows ski resort in Lake Tahoe killed seven people. One person survived.

Avalanche warnings

Heavy snow forced the closure of Interstate 80 near Truckee on Tuesday. (Brooke Hess-Homeier/AP)

The avalanche occurred amid a winter storm that dumped up to 30 inches of snow in Northern California. Interstate 80 was shut down near Donner Summit on Tuesday indefinitely due to snow. Several Tahoe-area ski resorts were fully or partially closed due to the storm.

The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche warning for the central Sierra Nevada area early Tuesday. It remained in effect until Friday.

The potential continues for large to very large avalanches occurring in the backcountry today, Steve Reynaud of the avalanche center said in an advisory on Wednesday. HIGH avalanche danger continues with travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain not recommended.

Its unclear whether the expedition chose to ignore the warning. Moon said that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

A video posted to the Blackbird Mountain Guides Instagram page on Sunday ahead of the storm showed one of its staffers explaining how a weak layer of snow could lead to unpredictable avalanches.

Pay close attention to @savycenter [the Sierra Avalanche Center] and use extra caution this week! a caption for the video read.

What the company is saying

Late Wednesday, Blackbird Mountain Guides founder Zeb Blais issued a statement calling it an enormous tragedy and the saddest event our team has ever experienced.

In addition to mourning the loss of six clients, we also mourn the loss of three highly experienced members of our guide team, Blais said. We are doing what we can to support the families who lost so much, and the members of our team who lost treasured friends and colleagues.

He said all of the guides with the group were trained or certified in backcountry skiing, and that each guide was also certified with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.

In addition, guides in the field are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions, he said. There is still a lot that were learning about what happened. Its too soon to draw conclusions, but investigations are underway.

Our most important focus is on those directly impacted and supporting their needs, Blais added. We ask that people following this tragedy refrain from speculating. We dont have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do. In the meantime, please keep those impacted in your hearts.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Officials with the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District met to discuss concerns about vaping and its potential links to lung disease, including tuberculosis.

Health Authority Dr. Gary Holland spoke about the dangers of vaping, emphasizing that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes/vapes) are not a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes. The meeting included a case study highlighting lung injuries associated with vaping and its potential connection to tuberculosis.

Holland also warned that vaping devices can contain harmful chemicals, including carcinogens, which may cause lung problems that resemble pneumonia or even result in permanent damage.

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The concern that we have with vaping is that its something that makes kids, young people, tend to be addicted to nicotine or other substances like tobacco, smoking cigarettes, and then other drugs, Dr. Holland said.

The next meeting for the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District is scheduled at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A plate of fettucine Alfredo - Mladenovic/Getty Images

One of the greatest things about traveling is trying new foods, and nearly every country on the planet has at least a few dishes it's famous for. Take tacos in Mexico, sushi in Japan, and tagine in Morocco. Some tourists even plan trips to certain places specifically for the cuisine, with a bucket list of dishes they want to try once they're there. But how popular are those dishes really with local people? You might be surprised to learn that some "traditional" dishes aren't as ingrained in the local culture as you might think.

In some cases, the disconnect comes down to geography. A dish might have deep roots in immigrant communities abroad but isn't actually a staple in its supposed home country. Other times, it's a matter of audience. Certain foods appear on menus because visitors expect to see them, not because locals regularly order them. And then there are dishes that don't actually exist in their supposed home countries at all.

Over the past year, several Reddit threads have asked locals to weigh in on the foods outsiders assume they eat all the time, and the responses are eye-opening. Instead of confirming stereotypes, locals often push back, explaining that the foods visitors expect to find everywhere are either outdated, overhyped, or more popular abroad than at home. According to multiple comments, these are some of the foods locals say travelers most often get wrong.

Read more: 13 Meats People Used To Eat, But Are Now Illegal In The US

Corned beef and cabbage in Ireland

A plate of corned beef and cabbage on a table - Fotek/Getty Images

Come St. Patrick's Day, bars and restaurants across the United States tout corned beef and cabbage as an "Irish" special. However, if you make a trip across the pond, you'll rarely see Irish people eating the dish on St. Paddy's Day, or any other day of the year, for that matter. As one Reddit user commented, "Never ate it in my entire life, but tourists seem to think it's the national dish." So, how did the dish become so closely associated with Ireland?

Corned beef is a cut of beef (typically brisket) that's salt-cured. The reason it's called corned beef is because the salt crystals once used to preserve the beef were the size of corn kernels. While Ireland does have a history of salt-curing beef, it was typically reserved for the wealthy and often exported. Salted pork was much more affordable, and thus, more commonly eaten. In fact, boiled bacon or ham with cabbage is still a familiar comfort food in Ireland today.

When Irish immigrants settled in cities like New York City in the 19th and early 20th centuries, they found that corned beef from Jewish butcher shops was more readily available and affordable than pork. When paired with inexpensive vegetables like cabbage and potatoes, it made for a practical, budget-friendly meal. Over time, the dish became an Irish-American tradition. In Ireland, you might see it at some restaurants that cater to tourists, but pork is still the go-to for many locals.

Shrimp on the barbie in Australia

A person grilling shrimp on a barbecue - Denis Klimov 3000/Shutterstock

The idea of Australians casually tossing "shrimp on the barbie" has traveled far and wide. And while barbecuing is big in Australia, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone grilling shrimp. For one, Australians call them prawns. Plus, they're just not a common food to grill Down Under. As one Reddit user said, "Aussies love a barbecue but I've never eaten prawns cooked on one. It would be a weird way to cook something like a prawn."

The "shrimp on the barbie" myth stems from a series of television advertisements the Australian Tourism Commission produced in the 1980s to promote Australian tourism in America. The ads featured Australian actor Paul Hogan (aka Mick "Crocodile" Dundee) showing off gorgeous beaches, sleek boats, and sun-dappled restaurant patios. In one 1983 ad, Hogan famously said, "I'll slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for ya." The word "shrimp" was deliberately used to align with American vernacular.

Since that ad came out, "shrimp on the barbie" has become shorthand for Australian cuisine. It also doesn't hurt that one of Outback Steakhouse's popular appetizers is Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie, further instilling the idea that Aussies love grilled shrimp. In reality, you're more likely to find Australians grilling up meats like steaks, lamb chops, chicken, and sausages (also called "snags"). As for the prawns, a Reddit user said, "We all buy cooked prawns and eat them cold. Especially at Christmas."

Sangria in Spain

A pitcher and glass of sangria on a table with fruit - karins/Shutterstock

Picture yourself sitting at a Spanish cafe having a drink. What are you sipping on? For many tourists, that has to be a glass of sangria. After all, the fruity wine punch is one of Spain's most famous drinks. But if you look around to see what the locals are drinking, sangria probably isn't it. "It's not a drink you order in a bar or anywhere really," said one Reddit user. Another Redditor said, "Spaniards don't really drink Sangria, it's considered a drink for tourists."

Sangria likely evolved from the spiced and sweetened wines that ancient Greeks and Romans drank. In Spain and Portugal, it likely took on its modern form of red wine (the name means "blood," which is a good indication of its color) with citrus fruit and fruit juice sometime after Muslim rule ended in the late 15th century. But it wasn't until the 1964 World's Fair in New York City that sangria was introduced to a wide American audience. From there, it quickly became cemented abroad as the drink most closely associated with Spain.

If you want to drink like the Spaniards do, skip the sangria and opt for a tinto de verano. This bubbly lemon-lime wine drink typically features red wine mixed with a lemon or lime flavored soda. You can also find versions made with white wine and sometimes plain soda water. Another popular drink is the kalimotxo, which features equal parts red wine and Coca Cola over ice.

Frogs legs in France

A person squeezing lime on fried frog legs - Estudio Conceito/Getty Images

Ask someone to name a "quintessential" French dish, and frog's legs often make the list, right up there with baguettes and escargot. The dish is called "cuisses de grenouille" in France, and it dates back to the 12th century when Catholic monks began eating frog's legs as an alternative to meat (frogs were classified as fish). Later, the French introduced the dish to the New World where it became wildly popular in Louisiana, although it's now somewhat of a forgotten Southern barbecue dish.

Frog's legs are still considered a delicacy in France today, but the dish is not as common as you might think. While some people say they've eaten them and enjoy them, plenty of folks say they're not common at all. For example, one Reddit user said, "I have never eaten any, never seen it on any French [bistro] in France, no one I've known ever craved it  if you see frog legs in a restaurant in France, it's 100% a tourist trap."

Some people point out that you're more likely to find escargot (snails) in France than frog's legs, but that the dish is also somewhat of a stereotype. As one Reddit user put it, "It's mostly a dish that is liked by [the] older generation and is more about your grandma flexing her cooking skills by filling a snail body with cognac-infused stuffing and your grandfather flexing his eating etiquette." That said, the user admitted it's pretty common to see frozen snails at the supermarket.

Singapore noodles in Singapore

A plate of Singapore noodles on a table - Fudio/Getty Images

Visit a Chinese restaurant in a Western country like the U.S., Australia, or the U.K. and there's a good chance you'll find Singapore noodles on the menu. The dish typically consists of rice vermicelli noodles tossed with meats like shrimp and pork, eggs, veggies like sliced onions and red peppers, soy sauce, and curry powder. But if you try to find the dish in Singapore, you'll most likely come across plenty of blank stares.

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The general consensus among Singaporean Reddit users is that Singapore noodles simply don't exist in Singapore. "I remember the first time I saw "Singapore Noodles" in Australia and asked my dad about it," said one Reddit user. "He just laughed and said he's seen it in almost every other country in the world that he had been to except Singapore and Malaysia." According to most accounts, the dish was actually created in Hong Kong sometime in the mid-20th century and then spread to other parts.

That's not to say the flavors would feel entirely unfamiliar in Singapore, as many traditional Singaporean dishes feature multicultural influences, like Chinese and Indian flavors. For example, char kway teow is a smoky stir-fry of flat rice noodles with seafood, egg, and Chinese sausage. Laksa is a spicy noodle soup featuring thin rice noodles in a coconut-curry broth with add-ins like shrimp, cockles, fish cakes, bean sprouts, and hard-boiled eggs. In other words, the taste may nod to Southeast Asia, even if the dish itself doesn't have roots in Singapore.

Fettucine Alfredo in Italy

A skillet of fettucine Alfredo with chicken and broccoli - Atsushi Hirao/Shutterstock

Speaking of noodles, Italy is famous for pasta, but some of the creamy, saucy dishes foreigners assume are traditional aren't really staples in Italian kitchens. Fettuccine Alfredo is a great example of this. While it was created in Italy, it's not widely consumed there. As one Reddit user pointed out, "Half of the time I ask people what their favorite Italian dish is, they answer fettuccine Alfredo. The only place you'll find this is tourist traps."

Fettuccine Alfredo was created by a man named Alfredo di Lelio in 1908. The story goes that he wanted to whip up a hearty and comforting meal for his wife Ines, who had just given birth. He tossed fresh fettuccine noodles in a simple mix of emulsified butter and cheese, and Ines loved it so much that she convinced him to add it to the menu at their trattoria in Rome. When Hollywood couple Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford visited the trattoria and tried the pasta, they spread the word about it back in the States, popularizing it abroad.

While Americans took to fettuccine Alfredo like wildfire, it never really gained traction in Italy. Sure, you can still order it at Alfredo alla Scrofa in Rome, but outside of that, it's mostly relegated to tourist-centric restaurants. All up, many locals consider it in the same vein as some of the "Italian" dishes that aren't actually Italian at all, like spaghetti and meatballs and garlic bread.

Jellied eels in the U.K.

A bowl of jellied eels with bread and lemon at Poppies Fish & Chips - popsfishnchips / Instagram

There was a time when eels were all the rage in London. As far back as the 16th century, people were eating eel pie, and by the 18th century, jellied eels were a popular snack sold at street stalls, particularly in the city's East End. The dish consists of chopped, boiled eels cooled in their own juices or set with gelatin to form a savory jelly, and it's typically served with vinegar. It's often cited as one of London's most traditional foods, but if you've never encountered it, you're not alone.

Ask a Brit about jellied eels and they'll likely recognize the name, although many will admit they've never tried them. As one Reddit user put it, "Obviously a few people in London must occasionally eat them but if you surveyed the British population I would bet that the percentage who had tried them would be pretty close to zero." Another Redditor said, "I've never even seen an eel. Alive or dead or jellied."

There are a few reasons the dish isn't as common as it once was. Eel populations in the River Thames have declined significantly, making them harder to source locally, so today, many suppliers have to import them from places like the Netherlands or Northern Ireland. And let's be honest  it's not exactly a glamorous dish. Much like the jiggly Jell-O salads you find in 1950s cookbooks have become passe, jellied eels have also become somewhat of an oddity.

Belgian waffles in Belgium

A person holding a Belgian waffle - Peter Carruthers/Getty Images

When you hear the words "Belgian waffle," what do you think of? For many people, that would be a a breakfast dish featuring a large, fluffy waffle covered in an array of toppings like butter, whipped cream, fresh berries, some sort of syrup (maple, chocolate, or fruit), and perhaps even crunchy items like sprinkles, nuts, or chocolate chips. But that's not typically how Belgian folks eat waffles in their home country. And, in fact, many Belgians don't really eat waffles at all.

In Belgium, there are two main types of waffles. Liege waffles are typically small, square, and dense. They're made with a brioche-style dough that's laced with pearl sugar, so they develop a caramelized crust as they cook. They're often eating as-is, no toppings needed. Brussels waffles are larger, lighter, and fluffier. These are the waffles that were presented at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City (the same place many Americans became acquainted with sangria), and that's why many non-Belgians call this style Belgian waffles.

Visit Belgium, and you'll come across plenty of stands selling waffles with infinite arrays of toppings. But according to many Reddit users, they're mostly just tourist traps. Many say waffles are more of a snack or dessert than a breakfast in Belgium, and that they're usually simple affairs. As one Redditor said, "We eat waffles, but not to the extent and the honestly disgusting amount of toppings that 'Belgian waffles' are known for. A waffle is light as air, topped with some sugar."

Surstromming in Sweden

An open can of Surstromming on a wooden table - Martin of Sweden/Shutterstock

Sweden may be is best known for foods like gravlax and meatballs, but there's another dish that's been garnering a lot of attention lately thanks to viral videos. That dish is surstromming, and it's often described as extremely pungent with intense sour notes and deep umami flavors. It's made from Baltic herring that's fermented in salt water, then canned. It's a traditional dish that dates back to the 16th century, but it's not necessarily every Swede's favorite.

Plenty of Swedes are quick to point out that while people do, in fact, eat surstromming in Sweden, it's far less common than you might think. One Reddit user said, "First of all, it's only a specialty in Norrland, the northernmost part of Sweden where 10% of the country's population lives. Second  even there, they eat it once a year." Traditionally, the dish could not be sold before the third Thursday in August, so it became custom to eat it in the late summer and early fall.

If you want to try surstromming, you don't have to wait for the end of the summer, as it's sold year-round in many grocery stores. However, there are a few things to note. First, you may want to enjoy it outside, as the smell can be overpowering. Many also suggest opening the tin under water and letting the fish soak for a bit to help temper the smell and saltiness. It's typically eaten wrapped in flatbread called tunnbrod with some condiments like sour cream and onions. Alcohol also helps.

Methodology

A plate of corned beef and cabbage on a table - The Image Party/Shutterstock

To compile this list, we combed through Reddit discussions where locals weighed in on the foods outsiders assume they eat all the time. We looked for recurring themes in threads where people shared their thoughts on dishes that are more aligned with tourist expectations than reality. The dishes featured here were repeatedly described as rare, overrepresented, or in a few cases, not really part of the local food culture at all.

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Read the original article on Chowhound.
Spring break is almost here, with parents and guardians needing to find ways to keep kids busy during the week until school returns.

Bouncing around from daycare to summer camps to relatives' houses can easily add up. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average annual cost of full-time child care in Florida ranges from $9,548 to $13,021, depending on the children's ages.

With these expenses, some families might be wondering if their children are ready to stay home alone. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you make the decision.

At what age can kids stay home alone in Florida? What's the youngest legal age?

Florida doesn't have clear laws specifying an exact age at which children can legally stay home alone. Its up to parents to decide when their children are old enough.

The state agency overseeing children's welfare recommends that they not be left home alone before age 12.

The state does have more specific laws surrounding child abandonment and neglect. According to Florida State Statutes, it is a felony of the third degree to deprive a child of necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment.

Can a 12-year-old babysit siblings in Florida?

According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign recommends that children not be left alone before the age of 12. It also notes that older siblings should not supervise younger children until 15.

What do other states say about leaving children home alone?

Among states with laws on when children can be left home alone, the age requirements vary widely.

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At the lower end of the spectrum, Kansas allows children ages 6 to 9 to be left home alone for short periods, and children 10 and older to be left alone for somewhat longer periods. Among other factors, the Kansas guidance notes that parents should weigh their kids maturity and behavior when adults are absent before leaving children alone.

On the other end, Illinois law says any person who leaves a child under 14 years old without supervision for an unreasonable period is guilty of neglect.

Several states, such as Tennessee and Washington, do not have an official age requirement but recommend that children be at least 10 years old before staying home alone.

Checklist to determine if your child is ready to stay home alone, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign

Most experts agree that whether a child is ready to stay home alone depends on the child and the parent.

To help determine if your child is ready for the responsibility, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign shared a list of questions to get a better idea:

Is my child comfortable, confident and willing to stay home alone?

Does my child consistently follow my rules and guidelines?

Has my child demonstrated good independent judgment and problem-solving skills in the past?

Is my child able to stay calm and not panic when confronted with unexpected events?

Have I brainstormed with my child about what unexpected situations might come up while they are alone and how to handle them?

Is my child consistently truthful with me? Does he or she readily come to me with problems and concerns?

Does my child understand the importance of safety and know basic safety procedures?

Will my child make decisions to stay safe, even if it means seeming rude or overly cautious to other children or adults?

Does my child have the ability to calmly provide his/her name, address, phone number and directions to our home in an emergency?

Can my child lock and unlock the doors and windows of our home?

Can my child tell time?

Is my child able to work independently on homework?

Have my child and I established a clearly structured routine for when he or she is home alone, with defined responsibilities and privileges?

If I have more than one child staying home, have the children demonstrated the ability to get along well and solve conflicts without physical fighting or adult intervention?

Have my child, and I had some dry runs to allow him or her to practice self-care skills while I am at home, butpurposefully not available?

Is our neighborhood safe?

Do we have neighbors that my child and I know and trust?

See additional tips for parents and caregivers

Once you have determined that your child is ready to stay home alone, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families shared tips to help caregivers prepare children for being home alone:

Have a trial period and start small . When your child is ready, leave them home alone for a short time while staying nearby. This is a good way to see how they will manage.

Talk about it beforehand . Encourage your child to share their feelings with you about staying home alone, and address any thoughts or concerns they may have before leaving.

Teach them about safety. Before leaving your child home alone, make sure they are mature enough to handle the responsibility and understand the safety rules. Develop a family emergency plan to help them handle situations such as a fire, a power outage, or a stranger approaching the house. Practice basic first aid and teach them what to do if they need to contact emergency services, perhaps through role-play.

Establish family rules and set boundaries . Set clear guidelines about what your child can and cannot do while home alone. Establish rules for screen time, internet use, and the use of kitchen appliances and other potentially dangerous items.

Don't overdo it . Avoid leaving your child home alone overnight or for extended periods. Consider other options or resources, such as family or friends, or programs offered by your child's school, community centers, youth organizations, or faith-based groups, to help with supervising your child.

Follow up. After your child is left home alone (including during any trial period), talk about the experience with them. How did they feel about it? Were they nervous? Did anything unexpected come up? If they were watching another child, ask how they felt about doing so.

Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Age kids can stay home alone in Florida. What parents should know
Residents of the 242-unit Cascade Village Apartments will face "no disruption in housing assistance" when Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority takes full control of the housing complex on April 1, the housing authority announced in a Feb. 17 news release.

The Community Builders will provide management services through March 31, when it will fully transfer ownership and management of the mixed-income residential housing community to AMHA on April 1.

What to know about the lawsuit: Cascade Village Apartments embroiled in property management dispute

"This is a reset in every sense," AMHA Executive Director Herman Hill stated in a news release. "Cascade Village returns fully to local oversight. That matters. Decisions about this community will now be made here in Akron, with direct accountability to the residents we serve."

This transition is part of the resolution reached on Feb. 13 in federal court that ended a week-long legal battle over who would manage and own the property after The Community Builders terminated its management services agreement in late January.

The Community Builders said the three companies that own the Cascade Village Apartments properties had defaulted on deferred management fees and advances, totaling roughly $1.5 million. The Community Builders had established those companies. The housing project had also lost money and lacked funding since 2005, The Community Builders alleged in court documents.

What else does the settlement say?

As part of the settlement, the Cascade Village ground leases with AMHA are terminated, citing the $1.5 million in defaulted payments.

The settlement also established an ownership transition period. The Community Builders and AMHA will hold weekly meetings. The Community Builders will turn over essential operational information to AMHA.

"This is about raising the bar," Hill said in the news release. "Cascade Village deserves excellence. We are proud to take full responsibility for its future, and we are confident that local leadership, strong oversight, and mission-driven management will deliver the stability residents expect."

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What will happen after April 1?

The Community Builders: Resolution reached in Cascade Village property management dispute

Before it takes over full ownership and oversight on April 1, the housing authority is conducting a physical and financial assessment of the three properties that make up Cascade Village, said Amina Hall, fund development senior manager at Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority.

The assessment will confirm the exact amount of capital investments the properties need to remain viable. A preliminary AMHA estimate detemined Cascade Village would need $30 million, and the housing authority could not cover $7 million to $10 million of that amount.

"Addressing long-term capital needs will likely involve a combination of reserve funds, federal capital resources, potential HUD repositioning tools, and strategic financing options," Hall explained in an email. "Our goal is to develop a responsible, sustainable funding strategy that protects residents while strengthening the property for the long term."

For now, AMHA has no plans to sell Cascade Village, but it could bring in a management company, Hall said.

"We are evaluating whether to utilize a qualified third-party management firm to handle day-to-day operations under AMHA's authority, which is a common and responsible structure in affordable housing," she explained. "Ownership will remain with AMHA, and any operational structure will be designed to ensure accountability, performance, and long-term investment in the community."

Where is Cascade Village, and how did development get its start?

Built in the mid-2000s, the Cascade Village Apartments wind along the course of the Little Cuyahoga River in the Cascade Valley area below the All-America Bridge.

They were funded by about $20 million in federal grants and funding from the city of Akron, the Ohio Financing Housing Agency, private banks and nonprofits.

Bryce Buyakie is an Akron-based reporter who covers the courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X @bryce_buyakie.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron housing authority will own, oversee Cascade Village on April 1
Arizona state Sen. Lauren Kuby, D-Scottdale, speaks at a campaign event in Tempe, Arizona. Gage Skidmore / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Cropped from Original.

(The Center Square) - A new Arizona bill seeks to protect tenants by establishing temperature standards for rental properties.

State Sen. Lauren Kuby, D-Scottsdale, has introduced Senate Bill 1608, which requires rental properties statewide to keep their indoor temperatures between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Attorney General Kris Mayes collaborated with Kuby on SB 1608.

Mayes said Arizonans should not have to suffer in dangerous heat or cold because their landlord fails to maintain safe living conditions.

"This legislation establishes common-sense protections that recognize that landlords have a responsibility to provide safe and habitable housing even in rural parts of our state. It's far past time we provide these protections to every tenant in Arizona, she added.

Kuby told The Center Square that the attorney general believed improvements to Arizona law were needed to take these cases to court.

The bill sets enforceable standards, said Kuby, who introduced SB 1608 last week.

She said she has received calls from constituents reporting that their landlords or property managers are not addressing air-conditioning issues.

This isnt an abstract issue. Delaying repairs costs lives, Kuby explained.

Temperatures over 82 degrees can be really dangerous for seniors, babies, and people with disabilities and chronic issues, she noted.

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Air conditioning in Arizona is not optional. It is essential, she said.

SB 1608 is attempting to protect public health [and] respond to heat emergencies, Kuby said.

Richie Taylor, the communications director for Mayes, told The Center Square that SB 1608 is modeled after protections for renters in municipal city code in cities like Phoenix, as well as other municipalities around the nation.

Cities may set temperature standards between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, but remain within that range, Kuby said.

For example, a city could require that the highest temperature be 80 degrees and the lowest 70 degrees.

SB 1608 would also change Arizona law to allow tenants to break their lease in two days if landlords fail to provide functioning air conditioning or heating. Current state law allows tenants to do it within five days.

If landlords cant resolve the issue within that timeframe, they will need to offer alternative accommodations, such as a hotel or another apartment, until the issue is resolved, Kuby said.

The senator told The Center Square that SB 1608 is trying to tighten up the law and make it so that the courts could take action.

According to Kuby, the attorney general has worked on tenant protections during her tenure.

In 2025, Mayes filed three lawsuits against companies for endangering residents during the hot summers. Arizona desert areas such as Phoenix are known for their highs exceeding 100 degrees.
A Liberty Bell replica stands on the grounds of the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, with the historic capitol building in the background. Photo: Gage Skidmore / Flickr /CC BY-SA 2.0 / Cropped from Original

(The Center Square) - Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill that will provide tax relief to Arizona's disabled veterans.

Last week, the governor signed House Bill 2792, which exempts disabled veterans in Arizona from paying property taxes on their primary residence. The exemption also extends to the surviving spouses of disabled veterans.

The bill applies to tax years starting from and after December 31, 2025.

State Rep. Michael Carbone, R-Buckeye, who is HB 2792s sponsor, told The Center Square that giving tax breaks to disabled veterans is a very big deal.

Carbone said Arizona has 600,000 veterans, with 23,000 of them being 100% disabled.

Of those 23,000 disabled veterans, 16,000 own homes, he noted.

These people served America honorably, and its the least Arizona should be doing, he said.

I believe in our veterans and our military. Everything we have [is] because of them, Carbone said.

He said the bill took nearly two years to develop, noting that some of its language needed to be revised.

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The Republican legislator said he was not surprised the Democratic governor signed the bill.

Im grateful that she signed it. She did a great job, and I think she understands this is important for Arizonans, he said.

Carbone said the disabled veterans he has discussed the bill with said the property tax relief will help them.

For example, he noted that in Maricopa County, the average property tax on a home is approximately $2,500. He explained this could save disabled veterans approximately $200 per month.

If a persons bill is able to be lowered by $200 a month, that is huge, Carbone said.

At a press conference last week, Fernando Monarrez, who is a combat-wounded veteran, said seeing disabled veterans have an extra $2,500 annually would help them.

Danielle Stranik, an Army veteran, said this bill means a lot to her. Her dad was a 100% disabled veteran who almost became homeless.

This bill would prevent homelessness for all of our veterans across the state and also welcome the opportunity for veterans to want to retire in our state and know our state supports them, she said.

Even with this additional help for Arizona veterans, Carbone told The Center Square that Arizona ranks near the bottom in its support for veterans.

I think theres a lot more work that we can do in this area, he said.
Whats Behind the Growing Fight Over How America Tells Its History

Each February, Americans mark Black History Month by honoring figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. This year, however, the commemoration arrives amid an intensifying debate over how the nation remembers its past.

From Pennsylvania to Montana, the White Houses campaign against what it calls woke ideology has extended beyond classrooms to national monuments and historic sites that address slavery, racism, and other difficult chapters of U.S. history.

Advocates say the moves  and the chilling effect they create  are unprecedented.

There are explicit and persistent efforts to erase the contributions of non-white Americans to U.S. history, UCLA professor Tyrone Howard, who studies race and equity in education, tells Katie Couric Media. If youre going to tell the story of America, tell it in its totality  the good, the bad, and everything in between.

We took a closer look at whats happening across the country.

How the removal and revisions began

Last March, President Trump signed an executive order titled, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, directing federal agencies  including the Smithsonian Institution  to reassess how federally managed sites present the nations past. The order said the Smithsonian had come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology and specifically referenced the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Shortly afterward, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a follow-up order asking all agencies in the department to track any changes made on federal land since 2020, and explain their reasoning. The Department of the Interior also put up signs encouraging the public to flag anything they felt was negative about either past or living Americans, or fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.

In the months since, the changes have rippled across the National Park Service: At the Presidents House site in Philadelphia, park staff removed panels describing the lives of people enslaved by George Washington, and a federal judge later ordered the exhibit reinstated while a lawsuit filed by the city proceeds.

Other sites have faced similar scrutiny: At Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana, two exhibits were flagged as noncompliant under the new federal review of historical displays. At Muir Woods National Monument in California, climate change signage was removed. And at the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument in Mississippi, visitor brochures were pulled for describing Medgar Everss killer as racist. This comes as some previously dismantled monuments  including the Albert Pike statue in Washington, D.C., which honored a Confederate general and long drew criticism in the nations capital  were reinstalled.

The tension over how the nation memorializes its past is not new. Over the past two decades, multiple historical markers commemorating racial violence have been vandalized, removed, or replaced  underscoring that disputes over public memory long predate the latest executive actions.

That said, Howard says the latest shift marks a rare moment of direct federal involvement in shaping public historical narratives.

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For the first time, at least in my lifetime  and Im 50 years old  weve seen the federal government play a significant role in shaping what can and cannot be told about Americas past, he says. And thats deeply concerning because it leaves some parts in, and omits other parts.

What critics are saying

These changes have since sparked legal challenges. This week, a coalition led by the National Parks Conservation Association filed a federal lawsuit arguing that actions taken following the executive order led to revisions at dozens of sites nationwide, including Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks.

Censoring science and erasing Americas history at national parks are direct threats to everything these amazing places, and our country, stand for, Alan Spears, senior director of cultural resources for the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a statement announcing the filing. As Americans, we deserve national parks that tell stories of our countrys triumphs and heartbreaks alike. We can handle the truth.

In an interview with The Guardian, Dr. Rasul Mowatt, a professor of sociology, anthropology, and natural resources at North Carolina State University, believes todays debates feel especially fraught because formal recognition of many Indigenous and Black American histories is still relatively recent.

The National Park Service, founded in 1916, did not dedicate its first monument honoring a Black figure until nearly three decades later, when George Washington Carvers childhood home in Missouri became a national monument in 1943. Indigenous nations, meanwhile, have spent generations pressing the federal government to change place names they view as offensive  including Devils Tower in Wyoming, which officials have repeatedly declined to rename, despite objections dating back to the 1920s.

The United States has a long history of either no memorialization, late memorialization, contested memorialization or even memorialization removal, Mowatt told The Guardian.

Speaking separately to Katie Couric Media, Mowatt also suggested the Trump administrations actions may be reinforcing patterns that long predated the executive order. Interpretive placards at national monuments, he notes, already condense complex histories into digestible narratives that can truncate the fuller story. Perhaps its a way to think about the executive order as formalizing what has already been there, he tells us.

Against that backdrop, Howard says public institutions play a crucial role in presenting history accurately, especially as more states move to limit how racism is taught in classrooms. In Florida, for example, Gov. Ron DeSantis defended his administrations decision to block an Advanced Placement course in African American studies from public schools, saying Black history instruction remains required in the state but arguing the AP course amounted to indoctrination.

Whenever we dont know our history, were bound to let certain parts of it happen again, Howard says.

Without careful attention, critics warn, these changes could leave future generations with a narrower understanding of the nations past  one that risks favoring selective narratives over a full and honest reckoning with American history.

The post Whats Behind the Growing Fight Over How America Tells Its History appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
Colombian bandeja paisa - Urbano Creativo/Shutterstock

Miami and its neighboring cities are home to almost 240,000 Colombians who all clamor for their home country's food. I know because I'm one of them. Yes, the Magic City has a wonderful array of restaurants that represent gastronomical traditions from all over the world, but sometimes I just want a plate of warm ajiaco soup that transports me to weekends spent at my grandmothers' houses. At other times I get sick of being offered pre-made lemonade or boxed juices and have to run to my people because I know they would never serve me juice that isn't fresh. Luckily, our large numbers means there are dozens of Colombian restaurants spread all over Miami. Some are haute cuisine, others are closer to convenient stores that serve food than actual restaurants. Most are delicious.

For the sake of convenience, my family and I usually go to Bamboo, which is only a couple of blocks from our house. While it's really good, I wouldn't necessarily place it in the top Colombian spots in Miami. If someone wanted to try our food for the first time or if a newly arrived Colombian was looking for a place that transported them back home, I'd recommend these five excellent restaurants.

Read more: 11 Differences Between US And European Restaurants You Need To Know Before Traveling

Elcielo Miami

Golden berry ceviche at Elcielo Miami - ria.kartsonis / Instagram

Elcielo doesn't serve traditional Colombian food. On the contrary, this establishment, helmed by executive chef Juan Manuel Barrientos, is modern and experimental; but the multi-course tasting menu focuses on Colombian ingredients and techniques. Diners eat flower petals, encounter unfamiliar fruits like golden berries, and literally lick chocolate off of their own hands. For this experience, they pay the hefty price of $289. (Word to the wise: The tasting menu is only $245 on Thursdays.) If you want to see what all the fuss is about but can't imagine blowing your savings on a meal, book the bar experience instead. You'll taste three carefully crafted cocktails with respective food pairings for $98.

Its unconventional approach to Colombian cuisine has placed Elcielo among the 264 Michelin-starred restaurants in the United States. Its Washington, D.C. location has also been awarded this honor. This isn't where I would send someone looking to learn about our traditional dishes. It's best suited for people who want a fine dining experience flavored by ingredients that come from one of the world's most biodiverse countries. If you've already tried Colombian food, the tasting menu will be even more enjoyable, as you'll get to see creative takes on familiar dishes.

Mondongo's

Pork rinds, sweet plantain, and arepas at Mondongo's - guillermosubia / Instagram

Mondongo's stands out from other Miami Colombian restaurants because it was originally established in Medellin in 1976. The owners wanted to bring good mondongo (beef tripe and tuber soup) to the city since they felt there wasn't any worthy of the name. They might've been right, because the restaurant was an almost immediate success. It became so big that it headed to Miami in 1995 to open a second location. It's now an institution in both cities and a reliable spot for anyone who wants true Colombian food.

The main dish to try is, of course, mondongo. If you're not into tripe and want to try something less "risky," the punta de anca (top sirloin) meal is simple yet tasty. You'll also be able to choose from other cuts and types of meat from the grill menu. Traditional Colombian arepas (which are very different from their Venezuelan counterparts) are always good here. As for drinks, Mondongo's has the largest selection I've seen at a Colombian restaurant in Miami. Guests can order a variety of cocktails as well as wines and liquors from all over the world. Why the extensive drink menu? Because this is the kind of place where you can meet friends and spend an entire afternoon talking about everything and nothing while sipping aguardiente (or whiskey, if you will).

Fonda Sabaneta

Fruit juice, empanadas, and patacones at Fonda Sabaneta - yanthefoodie / Instagram

In a city known for its prohibitive restaurant prices that make dining out difficult, the affordable and generous plates at Fonda Sabaneta are a breath of fresh air. The Kendall restaurant welcomes patrons with a cup of chicken broth that warms the soul  especially after you learn it's always on the house. The menu encompasses food from many different parts of Colombia, so you'll likely find whatever you're craving. If, on the contrary, you're not familiar with Colombian food, this is a great place to be initiated, as you can try a wide variety of dishes.

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You really can't go wrong with anything that you order, whether it's calentado (beans, steak, egg, and rice mixed together), sancocho de gallina (hen stew), ceviche with deep-fried pork rinds, or simple empanadas (fried savory pastries). The one dish that people order the most seems to be the wonderfully crispy mojarra frita, which is fried fish topped with lime juice. (Have you noticed we're big fans of deep frying?) To accompany these meals, I highly recommend getting a fresh fruit juice as these drinks are one of the best parts of Colombian gastronomy. If you're more into soda, skip ordering a coke and get a Colombiana instead. Even better, go for a refajo, which is made by mixing Colombiana and beer.

El Rinconcito Paisa

Bandeja paisa at El Rinconcito Paisa Miami - bustamove4life / Instagram

Established in 1985, El Rinconcito Paisa claims to be one of the first Colombian restaurants to have opened in the United States. I'm not sure whether that's true or not or how they would've even fact-checked that in the '80s, but what's important is that this spot is an iconic establishment for the community. As the name suggests, the restaurant is owned by Paisas, or people from the department of Antioquia and the broader coffee region.

The menu focuses on dishes from this area of the country, relying heavily on red beans, rice, and different kinds of meats. On any given day, most tables will have at least one bandeja paisa, a blissfully indulgent and gigantic dish that will leave you full for a good 24 hours. Order it to get rice, beans, sweet plantains, shredded beef, deep-fried pork rinds, sausage, arepa, and avocados on a single plate. It is absolutely as good as it sounds.

El Rinconcito has been so successful that it now has multiple locations around Miami. It draws people in with its friendly staff, homely atmosphere, and over-the-top decorations that almost make you feel as if you've been transported into the middle of Carnaval. Even though paisa dishes hold the spotlight, the restaurant also serves food from other regions of Colombia. It has even adapted to Miami by including items like Argentinean BBQ and Mexican-inspired cocktails.

Patacon Pisa'o

Large flat patacon from Patacon Pisao - derekchristian / Instagram

Although I love plantains in all of their forms, I have a soft spot for a good patacon pisao. The name of the dish means "stepped-on green plantain," referencing its flatness. This type of patacon is so large and flat that it resembles a plate  and it is used exactly like one. You can top it with basically anything you want, which is exactly what Patacon Pisa'o does. Diners can choose toppings like sauteed steak, shrimp topped with melted mozzarella, or ground beef with pico de gallo and guacamole. It's also possible to build your own patacon by getting the toppings that speak the most to your heart; or, rather, stomach.

If you're coming to Patacon Pisa'o, then getting the eponymous dish is always the right choice, but the restaurant doesn't exclude those who might not love green plantains. If this is you, there are plenty of other dishes from Colombia's Andes, Caribbean, and Pacific regions. You'll find famous foods like bandeja paisa and ajiaco as well as different meats accompanied with rice and vegetables. I'd encourage adventurous eaters to go for the oxtail stew, a dish that's not easy to find in other Colombian restaurants.

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Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

I don't remember exactly when I saw the chicken brand LaBelle Patrimoine pop up in my local Whole Foods Market. But I do remember tasting the company's chickens for the first time. After dry-brining a whole chicken overnight and roasting it, I cut into the bird for a taste. The meat was tender and succulent, and the schmaltzy yellow fat was so deeply flavorful that I would have happily eaten the fat on its ownno meat, sauce, or sides required. You could chalk it up to my dry-brining or roasting technique, but I've dry-brined and roasted dozens of chickens, and none have ever come close to being as delicious as this one.

I mentioned my experience to my Serious Eats coworkers, and our associate editorial director, Megan, immediately chimed in to say that she had recently discovered LaBelle Patrimoine and was as smitten as I was. We're not the only fans: An Instagram user gushed that the brand's chickens taste "so much better than any store-bought chicken you've ever had," and New York Times columnist Eric Kim described it as the "chickeniest chicken" a few weeks ago.

Curious what might explain why their chickens are so good, I took a look at their website. They point to various factors that likely do make a difference: the breed of chicken, their farming practices, and how the chickens are processed after the slaughter. According to the site, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based company works with about 40 small Pennsylvania farms to raise a heritage breed from France that takes longer to mature and develop a deeper flavor than most of the fast-growing conventional chickens that prioritize speed and efficiency over flavor.

The LaBelle Patrimonie chickens are also Step 4 Animal Welfare Certified, which ensures the birds have access to outdoor shelter, shade, a dust-bathing area, and freedom to forage in open air. It's a designation that carries significantly more weight than unregulated terms like "all natural." The birds are pasture-raised, which means they spend most of their time outdoors; this designation is typically a step up from "free range," which generally just means the hens have access to the outdoors.

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Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

There's a lot to be said about the ethics of conventional poultry farming practices; the demand for cheap chicken has pushed many chicken producers to raise chickens in inhumane conditions. As the Systemic Justice Journal touched on in 2021, many conventionally-raised broiler chickens are "genetically modified to grow so fast their legs cannot sustain their weight," making it difficult, if not impossible, for them to move. Often, these chickens lack access to outdoor space and are confined to small cages. Not only are conventional poultry-farming practices cruel, but they tend to produce lacklustre chickens that, in my opinion, simply don't taste as good.

After slaughter, the LaBelle chickens are air-chilled, a process that many of us here at Serious Eats believe yields chicken with better flavor and texture compared to the more common practice of water-chilling in a chlorine solution. As former Serious Eats editor Kenji notes in his article on how to butcher a chicken, air-chilled chickens are better value (since they don't retain water the way water-chilled birds would) and also have a more concentrated flavor.

In addition to being Animal Welfare Certified, LaBelle Patrimione uses a regenerative approach to farming, showing that it's possible to raise delicious chickens thoughtfully, humanely, and sustainably. In French, "La Belle Patrimoine" means "a beautiful heritage." Their chickens are, indeed, a beautiful heritagebut if the company inspires other suppliers to raise delicious birds the way they do, then that, I'd argue, would be an even more beautiful legacy.

Read More: 20 Seriously Good Chicken Recipes Our Editors Love

Read the original article on Serious Eats
When I think of traveling to Vietnam, I envision staying in one of the stunning beach towns in the country and along the island chain. While there, I would spend my days lounging by the sea and my evenings touring the small villages and cities along the outskirts of the country, eating as much of the regional cuisine as I can.

Now, when it comes to actually planning this dream vacation, my timing will vary depending on exactly where I plan to stay. That's because the climate can change dramatically between the northern and southern parts of the country, and the best time to visit the beach, may actually be the worst time to visit different parts of the Southeast Asian country. Getting ready to book your trip? Find out when you should plan to travel based on where you'd like to stay.

Sign up for our newsletter and get hidden gems, travel secrets, and stories like this delivered straight to your inbox!

Photo by Oleh_Slobodeniuk on Getty Images (Photo by Oleh_Slobodeniuk on Getty Images)

When is the best time to visit the beaches of Vietnam?

If you're like me, and your Vietnam daydreams include lounging by the beach, then the Lonely Planet says that should plan your trip for July and August. During this time of year the weather will be hot and sticky, making the perfect conditions for those who want to take a dip in the water to cool off.

However, this is also the most in-demand time to visit the region, so you may pay a little more for the experiencethe publication says that prices for resort areas can soar by as much as 50 percent during the peak season, especially in Nha Trang and Danangwhich means you'll need to book well in advance if you want to get a deal and guarantee your spot.

Related: You can see natural water literally glow in the dark at these beaches

When is the best time to visit the cities of Vietnam?

For those looking for a more cultured experience in the cities of Vietnam, December through March will be your best bet, according to Lonely Planet. That's because the winters here are normally on the cooler and drier side, and may even become cold the more north you head. But, this makes it a great time for checking out the country's capitals of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, because the oppressive heat and humidity of the summer months will be long gone, given you a chance to linger at your favorite outdoor landmarks, or else making it easier to stroll through the city.

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Related: Barefoot hiking boots: Are they actually good for hiking?

When is the best time to visit Vietnam for trekking?

Trekking, which is fancy term for hiking through the landscape of the country, is best enjoyed from October to April in the northern highlands, even though Lonely Planet says that nighttime temperatures do dip uncomfortably low once December rolls around. The Inside Asia blog says that the best trekking spots in the northern part of the country include:

Sapa

Ha Giang

Bac Ha

However, for those who plan to trek through southern Vietnam, the best time of year is going to be between December through April, which is largely considered the country's dry season. Sun Getaways Travel says some of the best trekking destinations include:

Cat Tien National Park

Bidoup Nui Ba National Park

Con Dao Islands Trekking

Ba Den Mountain (Black Virgin Mountain)

Related: Mosquito-Borne virus in several countries prompts U.S. to issue a level 2 travel alert

Travel smart when visiting Vietnam

Aside from the best time of year to visit, there are other things to consider when planning your stay. For example, the monsoon season runs from May through September here, and while storms can come and go at any moment, it's important to be weather aware during your visit.

Additionally, the changing geopolitical relationships around the world mean that it's always important to check for travel advisories before you go. Currently, the U.S. Department of State has Vietnam listed as a Level 1 destination, where visitors should exercise normal precautions.

That being said, Vietnam is definitely a tourism hotspot, and the Vietnam Law and Legal Forum says the country saw 10.7 million visitors by the middle of June 2025. This made the country the sixth-highest growing location for international arrivals for the entire world.

This story was originally published by TravelHost on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Attractions section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A black Angus cow stands near a fence in a grassy pasture. Photo: Greg Bishop / The Center Square

(The Center Square) - A bill that will end the ability of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to raise fees for animal market licenses, animal dealer licenses, animal trucker licenses and animal transport vehicle registrations is now headed to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.

Senate Bill 622 passed the Assembly with a 57-42 vote after the bill was passed 22-11 by the Senate a week earlier, both on partisan votes.

The bill came after DATCP had proposed increasing a livestock market fee from $420 to $7,430, trucker license fees from $60 to $370 and animal dealer fees from $220 to $670 last year before receiving significant pushback and later proposing smaller increases.

Those changes came after a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that blocked legislators from oversight on rulemaking with Evers telling agencies to bypass having rules heard in committee and instead simply enact them.

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That leaves in question if Evers will sign or veto the bill.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau and Americans for ProsperityWisconsin collected public feedback, sending it to DATCP after the rules were proposed.

DATCP said in a fiscal estimate that the bill would force the agency to operate with a negative cash balance unless the fees or a funding source are changed.

This bill would remove DATCPs ability to propose fee adjustments through the statutorily set administrative rulemaking process, the fiscal estimate said. Without revenue adjustments, the appropriation will operate in a negative cash balance until additional funding sources are identified.

DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski said in testimony that the programs had a negative cash balance of $267,000 at the end of last fiscal year, which is expected to grow to more than $1.1 million by the end of this fiscal year and said that Evers last budget proposal asked for seven new full time positions while four were ultimately granted.
A Binghamton man has been charged with attempted murder following a domestic dispute that led to a vehicle pursuit.

Members of the Binghamton Police Department responded to a report of a domestic dispute at about 9:15 a.m. on Feb. 17 at 13 Park Terrace Place in the City of Binghamton. Before officers arrived at the scene, another call came through reporting shots were fired into the occupied house at the location.

Another call came through and officers were made aware that the suspect fled the scene by motor vehicle. That vehicle was later determined to be stolen.

At the scene, Binghamton Police Officers located the involved victim, found evidence of gunfire present and discovered that the natural gas line to the residence was severed.

Responding officers were able to locate the fleeing vehicle. The suspect, now identified as Diriki Birden, 53, refused to comply and continued to flee after police attempted to stop the vehicle.

Binghamton Police continued to pursue Birden through the city and southbound on I-81. The chase continued southbound, eventually entering Pennsylvania where Pennsylvania State Police were able to assist.

Pennsylvania State Police continued the pursuit on I-81 southbound until the vehicle came to rest. Birden was taken into custody in Scranton, Pennsylvania, by pursuing Pennsylvania State Troopers.

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Birden has been charged by the Binghamton Police Department with two counts of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.

Binghamton police determined that the matter was an incident of targeted domestic violence. A firearm was recovered at the scene of the shooting, but no victims were struck by gunfire and all victims were physically uninjured.

More: Tree removal marks start of 363 Gateway Project. What will take their place

Birden remains in the custody of Pennsylvania State Police. He faces additional charges in Pennsylvania.

The Binghamton Police Department was assisted in this investigation by the New York State Police, the Broome County Sheriffs Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Binghamton Fire Department and New York State Electric & Gas.

The investigation is ongoing. The Binghamton Police Department urges anyone with information to contact the Binghamton Police Detective Bureau at 607-772-7080.

This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton man charged with attempted murder after domestic dispute
PITMAN  Alcyon Lake and adjacent Betty Park have been closed out of fear that a number of dead Canada geese found recently in that area died of bird flu, according to borough officials.

Local officials posted the closing notice on their Facebook page the afternoon of Feb. 17.

Overnight, borough leaders added another post from Gloucester County Department of Health officials giving advice on how to respond to the possible outbreak. It was also noted that similar reports have come in from elsewhere in the county.

More: South Jersey sheriff sees strong demand for church security training

Pitman Borough officials on Feb. 17 ordered Betty Park and Alcyon Lake at West Holly and Cedar avenues closed while bird flu is investigated as the possible cause of death for Canada geese there. The lake largely is frozen. Feb. 18, 2026.

Betty Park and Alycon Park are closed until further notice out of an abundance of caution, and residents are asked not to approach any geese in or around the area, borough officials' notice Feb. 17 states.

Borough officials, along with County Animal Control and County Office of Emergency Management met at the park moments ago to start the process of determining why there are dead geese on and around the lake. All state and federal appropriate authorities have been contacted.

Mayor Michael Razze, in the overnight notice, said testing to determine if this is an outbreak of bird flu will take time.

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More: In Gloucester County, Ciattarelli rails against the Glassboro-Camden Line. Here's why

Pitman Borough officials on Feb. 17 ordered Betty Park and Alcyon Lake at West Holly and Cedar avenues closed while bird flu is investigated as the possible cause of death for Canada geese there. The lake largely is frozen, but still with many geese. Feb. 18, 2026.

What is bird flu?

Bird flu more clinically is known as highly pathogenic avian influenza. It mainly affects birds, but it can infect humans as well.

While the current public health risk for the general public remains low, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at high risk, health department officials stated. The best way to protect yourself and your family from Bird Flu is to avoid sources of exposure.

Bird flu symptoms

Signs of infection, according to health department officials, may include:

Fever.

Cough.

Sore throat.

Muscle aches.

Respiratory distress.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on housing, real estate, business, and development in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Pitman closes lake, park after dead geese are found
The story of the American West is often told through the lens of explorers, trappers, scouts and settlers of European descent. Often overlooked are the experiences of 19th-century Black Americans who traveled and labored in the same landscapes. Among those figures is a man whose life began in enslavement: James Beckwourth.

Born around 1798 in Virginia, Beckwourth was the son of an enslaved Black woman named Jemima and her owner, Sir Jennings Beckwith, a white Virginia planter of English descent. Accounts differ on the circumstances of his early life, but Beckwourth claimed he was emancipated by his father and raised with relative freedom. From a young age, he occupied a precarious space between bondage and autonomy.

Beckwourth Works in Rocky Mountain Fur Trade

In the 1820s, Beckwourth moved west and entered the Rocky Mountain fur trade. The industry relied on crews with a variety of cultural skills and expertise and drew from Indigenous people, Black Americans, Mexicans and Europeans. Beckwourth thrived in this environment and became known for his endurance and ability to navigate often-treacherous terrain.

One of the most debated chapters of Beckwourths life was his relationship with the Crow Nation, also known as the Apsaalooke. According to his own account, he was adopted into the tribe, married Crow women and rose to positions of leadership. There is evidence that Beckwourth lived among the Crow for years and functioned as a cultural intermediary, though some historians dispute the extent of his political authority. In a period when U.S. expansion increasingly threatened Indigenous sovereignty, such cultural ambassadors were both valuable and controversial.

Miners in the California Gold Rush.

James Beckwourth established trading posts and supply routes to cater to those seeking to strike it rich in the California Gold Rush.

. Photo: Getty Images

Establishes Beckwourth Pass in California

By the late 1840s, Beckwourth once again followed opportunity west, this time to California during the Gold Rush. Rather than seek his fortune solely through mining, Beckwourth turned to entrepreneurship. He established trading posts and supply routes that served migrants moving through the Sierra Nevada. In this way, he earned a livelihood not from gold itself, but from the financial transactions of people chasing it.

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His most enduring legacy on the Western landscape emerged at this time with the establishment of Beckwourth Pass. He identified and promoted the lower-elevation route through the Sierra Nevada that offered a safer passage for wagons, livestock and trade goods. The pass became a critical corridor for westward migration and commerce. Located at 5,221 feet above sea level, Beckwourth Pass is still used by hikers and campers to this day.

Beckwourth's Storytelling

Much of Beckwourths fame during his lifetime was due to his autobiography, The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth. Published in 1856, the book was dictated to and edited by Thomas D. Bonner, a justice of the peace. A vivid account of the frontier experience, its pages offer a violent, humorous and self-aggrandizing depiction of Beckworth as a legendary character. He portrays himself as fearless, indispensable and constantly at the center of frontier drama.

For decades, many historians dismissed his story as unreliable. With so many exaggerations and inconsistencies, it seemed too incredible to believe. But modern scholars suggest that the autobiography should be considered not simply as fact or fiction, but as performance.

In one particularly harrowing story, Beckwourth recounts being attacked by a bear. A single shot from his rifle strikes the bear but hardly slows it down. The two then fight. Despite being wounded, Beckwourth describes how he is able to subdue the ferocious animal with only his hunting knife as a weapon. As it dies, the bear collapses over Beckwourths body and pins him to ground. Hours pass and Beckwourth believes he's about to die. The bears massive corpse then seals his wounds, stops the bleeding and allows him to survive. Or so the legend goes.

Tall tales were a recognized literary style of writing on the frontier. Campfire stories of grand adventure and unlikely circumstances were readily accepted from well-known figures like Davy Crockett and Kit Carson. Beckwourth, like many of his contemporaries in the West, embellished his achievements as a raconteur of daring deeds but, as a Black man, his accounts faced more scrutiny.

Beckwourth's Death and Legacy

The final years of Beckwourths life remain somewhat of a mystery. By some accounts, he died around 1866, possibly among the Crow people. By then, the West he had helped shape was rapidly changing. Railroads and industrial development began replacing the frontier of his youth. His name faded from popular culture, preserved more in place names than in newspaper headlines or textbooks.

The National Park Service maintains the Jim Beckwourth Cabin Museum in Beckwourth, California, and his name is preserved by Beckwourth Pass and Beckwourth Peak. His story reminds how freedom in the American West was not just about land ownership or lucky gold strikes, but also about the ability to move, adapt and thrive in a new American landscape.

James Beckwourth Pioneer Man

The post The Black Frontiersman Who Blazed Trails Across the American West appeared first on HISTORY.
Drone footage released by the Boonville Police Department shows the full scope of the Abundant Life Church explosion as firefighters battle the blaze and through several stories of smoke.

An Investigation into the explosion at the Abundant Life Church in Boonville has revealed the cause of the gas leak to be a damaged propane fuel line, according to a statement from the New York State Police.

According to New York State Police and Oneida County Emergency Dispatch, first responders were called to the church at 12644 State Route 12 at 10:23 a.m. for reports of a gas odor inside the church.

Multiple fire departments, ambulance services, and law enforcement arrived at the church after the initial call. According to the Oneida County 911 Center, the explosion happened shortly before 11 a.m.

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Explosion: Police says church explosion caused by damaged propane line

Explosion: 4 firefighters, pastor injured in Abundant Life Church explosion in Boonville

Weather: Utica's Val Bialas Ski Resort closed until the weekend. Here's why

According to a preliminary investigation, four people were in the basement when the furnace activated, triggering an explosion. One firefighter was on the first floor attempting to ventilate the church at the time of the explosion and was thrown against a wall.

Upon further investigation, New York State Police investigators say that a propane fuel line was damaged due to the roof slumping caused by heavy snow accumulation.

Firefighters from the Boonville Fire Department were attempting to locate the electrical panel to shut off power to the building prior to addressing the propane leak when the explosion occurred.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Boonville Police Department releases drone footage of church fire
This years 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers Choice Best of the Best Beaches ranking yielded an unexpected champion for the United States is La Jolla Cove in California. Based on the opinions of millions of travelers and the volume of glowing reviews collected by Tripadvisor between late 2024 and the end of 2025, La Jolla Cove now sits at No. 1 among U.S. beaches. It beat perennial favorites known for miles of sugary white sand in places like Florida and iconic Hawaiian shorelines to claim beach royalty for 2026.

Tripadvisors analysis, a method anchored in traveler experience rather than editorial picks, emphasizes not just beauty but memorable moments: quality of reviews, authenticity of experiences, and traveler advocacy. As Tripadvisors communications team noted, For many travelers, the beach is the main event when designing a perfect getaway.

Unlike some tall-tale declarations floating around online, this is the official 2026 ranking, and it includes a full list of the top 10 U.S. beaches. Lets dive into what makes La Jolla Cove stand out, how it compares with the rest of the list, and how you can plan a trip with plenty of color and insight.

Why La Jolla Cove took the top spot: A beach with a pulse

La Jolla Cove lies in San Diego, California, where rugged ocean cliffs meet a protected marine sanctuary that feels like something out of a nature documentary. Its the kind of place where you can watch sea lions basking on the rocks in the early morning, snorkel alongside colorful Garibaldi fish in clear waters, or stand on the shore at sunset and hear the ocean breathe.

This isnt the classic endless sandbar youd find in many Florida postcards, and that could be part of its appeal. Its allure blends marine life, dramatic scenery, and a sense of place that travelers remember long after they return home. For this ranking, Tripadvisor looked at millions of reviews describing real experiences, and travelers clearly value La Jollas natural authenticity as much as its beauty.

Year after year La Jolla Cove has climbed the charts, from not even cracking the top 10 in earlier lists to fourth place and now No. 1, signaling a growing appreciation for experiential travel.

Related: You can see natural water literally glow in the dark at these beaches

What to do at La Jolla Cove

Explore underwater marvels

Unlike many U.S. beaches where sunbathing is the main pastime, La Jolla Cove invites you into the water, thanks to the protected San DiegoLa Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, which turns this stretch of ocean into a living aquarium. Here, travelers can snorkel alongside sea lions and bright fish, scuba dive through tide pools and rocky formations, or kayak out to sea caves for views you simply cannot get from shore. If youre chasing memorable marine life encounters, this is the kind of beach where spotting seals feels as normal as spotting other visitors along the coastline.

Photo by Baron Alloway on Unsplash (Photo by Baron Alloway on Unsplash)

Walks above the surf

Even if youre not heading into the water, the cliffs above the cove offer scenic overlooks perfect for photography or quiet reflection. The contrast of deep blue Pacific water against sandstone and rugged shorelines creates a painterly backdrop thats easy to lose an hour or an afternoon in.

Sunset and local culture

For many travelers (myself included), staying until golden hour is wholly worth it. Watching the sun sink into the Pacific while pelicans wheel overhead reminds you that this beach is about feeling the coast, not just ticking off a list.

Top 10 U.S. beaches in 2026: A snapshot of what travelers loved

Heres the full 2026 U.S. beach leaderboard that put La Jolla Cove at the peak:

La Jolla Cove, California  marine sanctuary excellence Clearwater Beach, Florida  Gulf Coast perfection Poipu Beach Park, Hawaii  family-friendly paradise Waikiki Beach, Hawaii  iconic surf culture Lanikai Beach, Hawaii  powdery sand and offshore islands Siesta Beach, Florida  quartz sand phenomenon Punaluu Black Sand Beach, Hawaii  volcanic wonder St. Andrews State Park, Florida  pristine dunes Santa Monica State Beach, California  urban beach icon Honeymoon Island State Park, Florida  natural beauty

What stands out is the diversity of experiences across U.S. shores. Not every beach fit the mold of endless flat sand; instead, destinations like Waikiki celebrate surf culture, Poipu draws families with gentle waters, and Punaluu mesmerizes with black volcanic sand.

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Florida and Hawaii still dominate the list in terms of sheer volume: Florida alone claims four spots in the top 10, and Hawaii contributes a trio of standout shorelines. That tells a traveler something important: if you want a traditional sun and sand experience, those states deliver in spades. Yet La Jollas win reminds us that varied locations can bring a deeper connection to place.

Related: California coast opens for the first time in 100 years and it needs to go on your 2026 travel list

Best times to visit based on experience

If youre plotting out your beach escape, heres a quick guide to timing for La Jolla Cove:

Spring (March through May) : Clear skies and calmer waters make snorkeling and kayaking especially pleasant.

Fall (September through November) : Warm water temperatures linger, crowds thin, and sunsets feel richer.

Summer: Still vibrant but expect more visitors and foggy mornings in May or June.

Because the Pacific doesnt warm up as much as the Gulf or Caribbean, this beach feels best in the shoulder seasons when water visibility and wildlife activity are at their peak.

In contrast, Floridas Clearwater Beach tends to shine from late spring into early autumn when Gulf waters are warm and flat. Hawaiis iconic beaches like Waikiki maintain lovely conditions most of the year but peak season is winter through early spring for surfing and tropical vibes.

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Packing tips and local flavor

A few personal insights from time spent on coastal trails and travel reviews that consistently pop up:

Bring reef shoes or water sandals for walks at La Jolla Cove. The shore is often rocky and tidal pools hide slippery surprises.

Sun protection matters everywhere. The reflective Pacific adds to sun intensity, and even early morning outings can leave you warm by noon.

Try a local cafe after your beach day. San Diegos food scene, from fish tacos by the waterfront to coffee shops tucked into neighborhoods, makes post-swim exploration as fun as the cove itself.

Travelers who prioritize experience over simply checking a best beach box will find that whether you choose La Jolla, Clearwater, or Lanikai, each destination has its own rhythm worth savoring.

A broader look at beach travel trends

The 2026 rankings also introduced a new One of a Kind beach category for unique natural wonders around the globe. While that points to far-flung destinations like penguin colonies and volcanic shores, the U.S. list itself shows an appetite among travelers for beaches that do something different.

La Jolla Cove isnt just a place to sit. Its a place to explore, to learn marine lore, and to feel the wind and waves as an active part of your journey. Thats a pretty clear sign that beach travel in 2026 is about meaningful beach days, not just sunny snapshots.

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This story was originally published by TravelHost on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Attractions section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
California is seeing a slight lull in the weather after multiple winter storms pummeled the state.

The rain and snow, however, arent done, forecasters say.

Heres what to expect in the coming days.

What to expect in Southern California

Chandler Price, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service San Diego office, said the current storm system is really winding down at the moment.

The only thing I'm expecting for the rest of the day through tomorrow morning is light showers, Price said of Wednesdays weather.

Another storm, though, is expected to hit Southern California starting Thursday, Feb. 19, Price said.

Rain, snow and wind, oh my  Here's a look at the latest reports 



Rain/Snow: https://t.co/kem0DBva2z



Wind: https://t.co/BmAlpKCznA pic.twitter.com/S8ThvpeGtF  NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) February 18, 2026

The storm will hit northern Orange County and northern Inland Empire at about 9 a.m., then pass through the rest of Southern California through the southeast in the late afternoon and early evening, according to Price.

For Thursday through early Friday, San Diego County, along the coast and in the valleys, is expected to see between 0.4 and 0.75 inches of rain.

We're looking to at 1 to 1.25 inches or so in the mountains, and a lot of that's going to fall as snow, Price said.

The desert area of Southern California isnt expected to see too much rain, with estimates of a tenth to two-tenths of an inch, according to Price.

For Orange County and the Inland Empire, there will be between a third and a half an inch of rain, Price said.

Just after midnight, the showers will have tapered off for the most part, Price said.

There will be some light showers lingering in San Diego County through early Friday morning, Price said, adding that the Southern California area should be dry the rest of the weekend.

Of the recent storms, Price said, This is definitely the lightest out of the three that have hit us so far.

Unfortunately, though, this (storms) coming through in the morning and the afternoon so people will be driving around, Price said.

What to expect in Central California

Carlos Molina, a meteorologist at the NWS office in Hanford, said that while Central California can expect a quiet period on Wednesday, Feb. 18, another storm is headed to the area Thursday, Feb. 19.

The storm will start pushing in during the morning hours, Molina said.

The bulk of the heaviest rain will hit during the afternoon and into the early evening on Thursday, according to Molina.

We do have a chance of seeing thunderstorms across the area on Thursday during the passage of the storm, Molina said.

There is a general risk for thunderstorms, mainly for Thursday afternoon and evening (Feb 19, 2026), across much of our region. Small hail, gusty winds, brief heavy rainfall, and frequent dangerous lightning expected. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/UpV1gdLMq6  NWS Hanford (@NWSHanford) February 18, 2026

The storm is expected to be shorter than other recent storms, lasting only one day, according to Molina.

Central California can expect to see about a quarter of an inch of rain across the San Joaquin Valley, Molina said.

The foothills of the Sierra Nevada could be approaching 1 inch of rain or a mixture of rain and snow, Molina said.

Areas with an elevation between 2,500 and 3,000 feet can expect to see an inch or two of snow, but the Sierra Nevada at about 4,000 feet is looking at much higher snow totals.

"Between 12 inches and maybe 18 inches of snow during Thursday when the storm passes, Molina said.

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After Thursdays storm, Molina said it is clear into the weekend.

Another storm, however, is predicted to roll in sometime on Sunday afternoon or early evening, according to Molina.

That storm arrives over Central California closer to Monday, Molina said. So, on Monday, thats when we're expecting another storm over central California.

The storm is expected to continue into Tuesday, according to Molina.

Mondays storm is expected to be much wetter with atmospheric river moisture, which is basically a plume of moisture.

So, the Monday, maybe Tuesday event will be very similar to the one that we just saw during President's Day, Molina said.

What to expect in Northern California

Sara Purdue, a meteorologist with the NWS Sacramento office, said more rain and snow is expected to hit the Sacramento area the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 18, and overnight into Thursday.

Lull in activity will continue through a majority of the day, with isolated to scattered snow in the mountains and foothills. Increasing precipitation late this afternoon and evening with heavy snow tonight and into tomorrow. Travel in the mountains is HIGHLY discouraged. #caWX pic.twitter.com/v0xSYDJr8s  NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) February 18, 2026

For that storm, the heaviest rain is expected on Monday and Tuesday, Purdue said.

In the valley, a half an inch to three-fourths of an inch is expected, with higher totals up in the northern Sacramento Valley.

In the foothills and mountains, between 1 and 2 inches of rain is expected, Purdue said.

Then, things will taper off Friday morning, and we'll see another lull until Sunday morning, when things will pick back up again, Purdue said. It'll be a warmer system than the one we're currently experiencing.

Between Sunday and Wednesday, Purdue said the valley will see between 1 and 2 inches of rain.

In central and northern Sacramento Valley, there will be anywhere between 2 and 5 inches of rain, with higher totals up in the northern Valley, according to Purdue.

"Higher elevations could see another few feet of snow, Purdue said.

This storm is warmer than other recent storms, so though there will be a decent amount of snow, a lot of that will be at higher elevations, Purdue said.

The San Francisco Bay Area can expect to see scattered showers moving in on Wednesday afternoon and continuing into the evening, according to Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with NWS.

Then, a third storm is predicted to hit the area Wednesday evening, Kennedy said.

This is going to bring a return of more widespread moderate to heavy rain across the region, Kennedy said. The highest totals are going to be in the coastal mountain ranges, specifically the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Santa Lucia Range in Monterey County. They will see between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain.

The lower elevations across the rest of the Bay Area will see half an inch of rain, according to Kennedy.

There is some potential for snow, but not as much as we saw with the previous storm across those highest elevations, Kennedy said. That would largely be limited to the far northern mountain ranges.

Friday is expected to be dry, Kennedy said.

Then we have another storm looking to arrive Saturday into Sunday, Kennedy said.

Rain will start early Saturday morning across the North Bay, gradually spreading to the rest of the Bay Area the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 21, and into the evening, according to Kennedy.

We can expect that kind of moderate to heavy rain, continuing through Monday, and then we do look to remain in an active pattern with light to possibly moderate rain continuing for much of next week, Kennedy said.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California weather: Winter storms bring rain, snow, atmospheric river
Footage shows the couple's emergency lights glowing during their ascent on Jan. 18, 2025 foto-webcam.eu

NEED TO KNOW

A climber is set to go on trial this week for allegedly leaving his girlfriend alone on Austria's highest mountain during an ascent attempt

The woman, identified by local Austrian outlet, Kronen Zeitung, as Kerstin G, subsequently froze to death

The man, identified by Kronen Zeitung as Thomas P, has been accused of negligent homicide by the local prosecutor's office after leaving her, "unprotected, exhausted, hypothermic, and disoriented"

A mountaineer is set to go on trial this week after allegedly leaving his girlfriend alone on Austria's highest peak, where she froze to death.

The man, 37, has been accused of negligent homicide by the local prosecutor's office after allegedly leaving the 33-year-old woman around 164 feet below the summit of Grossglockner mountain "unprotected, exhausted, hypothermic, and disoriented" on Jan. 18, 2025, Austrian newspaper Die Presse reported, citing news agency Austria Presse Agentur (APA).

He's set to stand trial on Thursday, Feb. 19, according to the paper.

Per local outlets, including the Kronen Zeitung, the couple has been identified as Thomas P and Kerstin G.

The man was considered the tour's guide due to his experience, per Die Presse and the APA. However, the public prosecutor's office has claimed that he failed to take into account that his girlfriend had not completed an alpine high-altitude tour of that length before.

Footage shows the couple's emergency lights glowing during their ascent on Jan. 18, 2025 foto-webcam.eu

Authorities also claimed that the hike started approximately two hours too late, the outlets reported. The man is accused of not carrying adequate bivouac equipment [temporary, minimalist shelter], and authorities claimed he didn't put his girlfriend in a sheltered spot or use a bivouac sack or emergency blankets when he left her at around 2 a.m. local time to seek help.

The man's girlfriend was also not wearing "suitable equipment" for the trek, according to the agency and paper, as she did the ascent in snowboard boots while using a splitboard [a specialist snowboard that splits into two].

As previously reported by PEOPLE, the pair's fatal climb had been caught on a local webcam, with footage being publicly available online. The camera captured the couple's headlights as they trekked up the mountain, setting off for the 12,460-foot peak using the Studlgrat route. Grossglockner is located in the Hohe Tauern range of the Eastern Alps

During the hike, temperatures dropped to sub-freezing, and the winds picked up to 45 miles per hour, PEOPLE previously stated.

Given the conditions, prosecutors have said that the couple should have turned back, accusing the man of failing to make an emergency call when it got dark, APA stated, per Die Presse. He allegedly failed to make any distress signals when a helicopter flew over at around 10:50 p.m., and the mountain police reportedly tried to contact the man several times.

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The man eventually called the mountain police at 12:35 a.m. on Jan. 19; however, the conversation was unclear. Police claim he then silenced his phone and put it away, per the BBC.

Grossglockner mountain in the Hohe Tauern mountain range KERSTIN JOENSSON / AFP) (Photo by KERSTIN JOENSSON/AFP via Getty

The defendant's lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, insisted his client asked for help at that stage and denied telling police that everything was fine, according to the BBC.

Jelinek insisted the man pleaded not guilty to criminal charges, and the public prosecutor's office said he'd denied any wrongdoing amid the investigation, per Die Presse and APA.

Jelinek also said in a statement that the couple had planned the tour together, according to the BBC.

"Both considered themselves... to be sufficiently experienced, adequately prepared, and well equipped," he said, according to the outlet, adding that both had "relevant Alpine experience" and were "in very good physical condition."

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The lawyer claimed his client and his girlfriend had been feeling fine, so hadn't called for help as they were close to the summit. However, he said the situation then changed dramatically, and to his client's "complete surprise," his girlfriend "suddenly showed increased signs of exhaustion," the BBC reported. By then, it was too late to turn back.

The woman was discovered by mountain rescuers on Jan. 19 shortly after 10 a.m. But, by that time, she was already deceased, per Die Presse and APA.

PEOPLE has reached out to Kurt Jelinek for comment, but didn't immediately receive a response.



Read the original article on People
The Columbus City Council is moving quickly to advance legislation that would restrict federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers operating in the city, although council members acknowledge what they can control is limited.

The proposed legislative package also includes provisions to prevent the construction of immigrant detention facilities, gather evidence of crimes by ICE officers, and increase penalties for harassing employees of school and daycare facilities. The latter is aimed at civilians after local Somali-American-run day care centers faced harassment and trespassing attempts in December and January.

Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Council President Shannon Hardin and Council Pro Tempore Rob Dorans are introducing about a half-dozen ordinances and resolutions. They held a hearing on the evening of Feb. 17 at which they heard supportive testimony from advocates for immigrants, the Columbus Division of Police and dozens of supportive residents.

No one spoke in opposition to the proposed legislation.

1 / 0 Columbus City Council holds public hearing on ICE enforcement Columbus City Council holds a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026.

The council members intend to vote on at least some of the legislation at their next meeting on Feb. 23.

"I believe deeply that local government has a responsibility to ensure that every person in our community feels safe, respected and protected under the law," Barroso de Padilla said. "We cannot ignore federal law or federal policy, but we can decide how our city interacts with it."

She said she believes the law and the U.S. Constitution are on Columbus' side on this.

Dorans told media ahead of the hearing that the council doesn't want to overpromise what they can do because the city can't control federal law enforcement. But Dorans said this is about limiting what the City Council believes was chaos and overreach of aggressive immigration enforcement seen recently in Minneapolis and across the country.

Barroso de Padilla said the city needs to act fast. She pointed out that a federal judge recently gave Haitian residents with Temporary Protected Status a temporary respite from losing their status, but Somali residents could lose their TPS come March. Only a few thousand Somalis living in America have TPS. Columbus has an estimated 60,000 Somali-American residents, the second largest such population in the U.S. behind Minneapolis.

Barroso de Padilla also said ICE is shopping around for offices and detention centers across the country, and she believes that includes Columbus, so the city wants to prevent that.

Columbus Division of Police Assistant Chief Nick Konves responds to questions Feb. 17, 2026, during a Columbus City Council hearing at City Hall on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in the city.

What legislation is Columbus City Council considering?

The Columbus City Council is currently looking at seven legislative proposals:

A code change that would prohibit federal officers from using city-controlled property for staging their enforcement without a judicial warrant. This includes parking lots, vacant lots and garages.

An ordinance establishing a digital repository to gather evidence from the public and Columbus police of any ICE officers violating local, state or federal laws.

A requirement for City Council approval for the Columbus Division of Police to enter into a 287(G) agreement with ICE, which allow local officers to partner with ICE and enforce immigration law. City police have no such agreement. In 2017, Columbus already codified that city resources like police officers can not used for civil immigration enforcement.

An ordinance establishing a new permit for the construction of any detention centers, effectively barring the construction of new centers.

A provision criminalizing harassment within 15 feet of a school or daycare center and harassment of employees through digital formats. These crimes would become a first-degree misdemeanor. This is the only proposal not aimed at ICE. Barroso de Padilla said that in recent months, Columbus saw people deputizing themselves based on rhetoric online and creating an unsafe environment at daycares.

An ordinance prohibiting city employees from taking a second job with ICE or U.S. Customs and Border Control. The Columbus Division of Police already does not allow its officers to work a second law enforcement job.

A resolution, which is not binding, by the Columbus City Council and Columbus Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs urging federal officials such as ICE to display badges and names, not obscure their identities with masks, and that they undergo training comparable to Ohio police certification.

A full gallery listens during a Columbus City Council a hearing on proposed legislation to impose restrictions on federal immigration officers operating in Columbus at City Hall on Feb. 17, 2026.

Director of Legislative Research Matt Erickson testified to City Council that some legislation is still being refined because there are remaining concerns. He pointed to the ordinance around evidence gathering and concerns that it would encourage residents to put themselves in harms way documenting ICE.

Some proposals the council members would like are even further from being introduced. Columbus City Councilmember Christopher Wyche pushed city staff to develop legislation that would require companies receiving city contracts to not contract with ICE. City staff said the Columbus Division of Police is among the offices that have many contracts with the same vendors that supply ICE.

Municipal Court and sheriff called on to change

None of the proposals the council is considering will affect Franklin County Municipal Court because while the city funds the court, it is controlled by the court judges, according to Dorans. The court judges have faced calls to restrict ICE arrests inside the courthouse. Dorans encouraged the judges to follow the council's lead and take action.

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Barroso de Padilla encouraged residents to advocate for change at the court and at other offices the council can't control, locally and at the state and federal level.

She said Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin's office was invited to the hearing, but chose not to attend. This comment came after YWCA Columbus President Elizabeth Brown asked the council to advocate to the sheriff to not alert ICE to the immigration status of low-level offenders.

Maria Durant, a spokesperson for Baldwin, said after the hearing that the sheriff was not aware of any invitation.

Durant said the office does not ask about a person's immigration status and does not honor immigration detainers. However, the office does ask about a detainee's place of birth and alerts ICE about anyone born outside of the U.S., according to what defendants' attorneys regularly say in court.

According to available ICE data from the first half of 2025, ICE picked up more than 50 people from the county jails last year.

Proponents testify for ICE curbing legislation at hearing

Ohio Immigrant Alliance Executive Director Lynn Tramonte testified at the hearing that federal immigration enforcement officers arrested more than 700 people in Columbus in 2025. She said her group's research shows the vast majority of ICE detainees in Ohio have no criminal record.

"Civil laws are usually enforced in courtrooms and office buildings, calmly, not by masked agents with guns roaming our communities," Tramonte said. "ICE is using the tactics of criminals to stalk people while driving or going about their daily lives. They are arresting people who are part of our families and neighborhoods."

Leaders from Columbus groups that help immigrants packed the council chambers to testify in support of the legislation.

Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services President Seleshi Asfaw testified in support of the entire package of proposed legislation.

"This is reclaiming our public spaces," he said. "Columbus should be a city of welcome, not a city of chaos."

Angie Plummer, the executive director of Community Refugee & Immigration Services, also testified in support of the legislation.

"I am filled with gratitude for how this community has stood behind us," Plummer said. "There is no doubt in my mind Columbus is a welcoming community."

Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Council to vote on ICE restrictions, detention center ban
Costco faces a second lawsuit centered on its rotisserie chicken, as an animal rights nonprofit claimed that a chicken processing plant in Nebraska suffers from salmonella contamination.

The proposed class action lawsuit, filed in federal court in Seattle on Feb. 12 and obtained by USA TODAY, points to a study by Farm Forward that criticized safety conditions at Costco's Lincoln Premium Poultry plant in Fremont, Nebraska.

The study claims that the plant "consistently fails USDA salmonella safety standards year after year" and that it sends "unsafe chickens to stores nationwide." Farm Forward says on its website that its mission is "end factory farming."

"Costcos failure to control salmonella in its chicken supply is not a harmless technicalityit poses a real danger to consumers and violates their trust," the complaint reads.

Shoppers walk past the rotisserie chicken counter at the new Costco Wholesale store in North Port during their grand opening on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Wholesale kicks: Costco releases Nike sneaker collab; resell prices skyrocket

The plaintiff in the lawsuit, Lisa Taylor, of Affton, Missouri, regularly purchased the rotisserie chicken in the St. Louis area and "suffered economic injury" by overpaying for the potentially contaminated chicken, according to the lawsuit. It seeks damages for Costco customers who purchased rotisserie chicken and raw chicken parts after Jan. 1, 2019.

USA TODAY has reached out to the lawyer listed for Taylor in the lawsuit on Feb. 17 for further comment.

The $4.99 cooked rotisserie chicken has become a tentpole item for Costco, serving as a loss-leader to attract customers. Rotisserie chicken sales topped 157 million chickens worldwide in 2025, the company said at its annual meeting in January.

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USA TODAY reached out to Costco for comment Feb. 17 and did not receive an immediate response.

Costco's second lawsuit stemming from rotisserie chicken

The salmonella lawsuit comes on the heels of a proposed class action lawsuit accusing wholesale retailer Costco of falsely advertising that its rotisserie chicken contains no preservatives.

It alleges that Costcos Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken contains two added preservatives, sodium phosphate and carrageenan.

The lawsuit, brought on by two women in California, accuses Costco of violating multiple consumer protection laws, including in California and Washington state, where the wholesale retailer is headquartered.

The complaint's false-advertising allegations stem from the "no preservatives" sign prominently displayed in Costco stores and on the company's website, and from the fact that the two preservatives are listed on the back of the packaging in smaller and "less prominent" print. It claims that Costco "systemically cheated customers" by "falsely advertising" that the chicken had "'no preservatives.'"

Costco said in a statement to USA TODAY on Jan. 28 that the company has removed the signage suggesting that the chicken did not have preservatives. "We use carrageenan and sodium phosphate to support moisture retention, texture, and product consistency during cooking," Costco said. "Both ingredients are approved by food safety authorities."

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Costco faces new lawsuit over chicken contaminated by salmonella
The Brief

ICE detained Niury Guerra, a Cuban mother and wife of a U.S. citizen, during a scheduled check-in despite her ongoing green card petition.

Officials cite a 2018 removal and a 2022 illegal re-entry as the basis for her arrest, though her family maintains she has no other criminal record.

Guerra's deportation status remains uncertain as she is currently being held at a detention center 200 miles away from her family in North Texas.

DALLAS - ICE maintains its primarily targeting criminals, especially violent ones. One detainee does not exactly fit the DHSs narrative.

ICE detention at immigration interview

Local perspective

In 2023, Jason Quiroga met the woman whod become his wife. Niury Guerra was from Cuba, living in Miami, but visiting family in Dallas. The two dated long-distance before making a forever commitment in North Texas.

"You know my wife is not from here, shes from Cuba," said Quiroga.

"And she told me that she just wanted a simple life. You know, before she moved, I said, Look, you live in Miami. There are beaches, it's beautiful weather,' I live in Dallas, and its extremely hot, and sometimes its extremely cold and then there are no beaches, and she just said, I want to be with you and I want to start a life with you."

In 2024, they married and had a baby girl, Niah, now 15-months-old. The next step was to get her green card.

"I have a petition filed for her. Were married, Im a U.S. citizen, we have a child together, a 1-year-old. Shes a caregiver for my father, whos a veteran," said Quiroga.

Earlier this month, however, Guerra was arrested by ICE while checking in for a scheduled appointment in Dallas.

"Weve been to every hearing. Weve been to every check-in," said the husband.

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Immigration violations and past removal

What they're saying

An ICE spokesperson says Guerra was "previously removed" after attempting to "enter the United States under a fraudulent Peruvian passport" in 2018.

It says Guerra "illegally re-entered through the southwest border on August 9, 2022, a felony offense."

Theres no record of Guerra committing crimes after illegally entering the U.S.

"Why is it happening? Shes not a criminal, not by any means," said Quiroga.

"I dont know what to do."

For now, all Quiroga can do is share his familys story, hoping for grace.

"We need an act of God, and we have a lot of faith and I still have some hope, but it sure is hard to be that protector when, ultimately, I have no idea where this storys going to end," he said.

Whats next for Niury Guerra?

What's next

Guerra is being held at a detention center about 200 miles west of Dallas-Fort Worth.

The Source

Information in this article was provided by FOX 4's David Sentendrey.
(Gavin Doyle)

Visiting Walt Disney World these days, it's hard to not notice the massive construction walls. These construction walls line significantly large areas of three of the resort's four theme parks. Many new rides are in the works. Most of them are part of bigger construction projects that will introduce entire new lands based on some of Disney's most popular franchises and characters.

As we look ahead, there's a lot to be excited about. However, there are also many unanswered questions about when Disney World's new rides will open we'd like to tackle with some predictions, based on Disney's history of theme park construction and other projects in development elsewhere. At Mickey Visit, we cover the latest Disney news, like all the restaurants Disney is opening this year and the recent Disney response to a guest lawsuit. See the changes hitting Disneyland this month and potential broader Disney changes under the new CEO.

READ MORE  Secret Things to Do at Disney World Only the Theme Park Pros Know Exist

When Will Disney World's Turbocharged Future Rides Open?

d23 expo anaheim

In 2023, Disney Experiences Chairman, and now recently announced Disney CEO-elect, Josh D'Amaro shared plans for Disney to "turbocharge" its investment into theme parks. Specifically, D'Amaro pledged $60 billion toward new theme park attractions and cruise ships. Furthermore, $17 billion of that has been specifically designated for Walt Disney World in Florida.

As part of this initiative, Disney has a full slate of projects at various stages of development for all of its global properties. For example, we're especially excited for the robust lineup of new Avengers, Coco, and Avatar rides opening at Disney California Adventure. Disney is also opening other new expansions at their theme parks around the world.

In Orlando, Disney's "vacation kingdom of the world" will welcome an unprecedented list of new attractions themed to favorite characters old and new. Many of these are projects of significant scale that will take up huge parcels of space within the theme parks.

READ MORE  Hidden Secrets of the Disney World Hotels You Haven't Heard Of

New Disney World Rides Opening Dates

Concept artwork via Disney

Before we dive into the major new ride and land additions, let's first look at the 2026 additions coming soon. There are multiple new ride improvements and reimaginings set to open in the coming months.

Walt Disney World has a huge new slate of additions coming over the next five years. 2026 is a set of small and medium-sized changes, but these will still be a big hit with guests.

At Magic Kingdom, both two classic rides will reopen in spring 2026 after significant refurbishments. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which closed in January 2025, received a completely new track and an updated show element.

Concept art via Disney

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, which closed in August 2025, installed handheld blasters and a new character, among other improvements.

Concept art via Disney

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney's Hollywood Studios will introduce a new mission with Din Djarin aka the Madalorian and Grogu aka "baby Yoda" on May 22, 2026. This new storyline will also come with upgraded technology for this 2019 attraction. The real-time image rendering inside the Millennium Falcon windows will look smoother than ever.

The changes to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will also debut at Disneyland Park in California, where they arrive shortly after a more fluid timeline for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge debuts.

Concept art via Disney

Also at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Rock n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will open in summer 2026. Rock n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will permanently close on March 2, 2026, to prepare for this transformation.

When the ride reopens, the existing track will remain in place. The story will instead incorporate Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, the Electric Mayhem band, and other favorite Muppets.

Concept art via Disney

In late summer 2026, Disney's Hollywood Studios will introduce a new area called The Walt Disney Studios. The aesthetic here will be modeled after the Animation building at The Walt Disney Company's global headquarters in Burbank, California. This area replaces the section of the park formerly known as Animation Courtyard.

Concept art via Disney

The Walt Disney Studios will repurpose the buildings within its vicinity for updated experiences. The complex that once housed Star Wars Launch Bay will be transformed back into a new version of The Magic of Disney Animation, a longtime attraction that closed in 2015.

The new iteration of The Magic of Disney Animation will showcase the artistry of Walt Disney Animation Studios with hands-on activities like drawing classes, an indoor playground, and character meet & greets.

Photo via Disney

Next door, the building known for hosting preschool-geared productions will debut Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, a show that first premiered at Disney California Adventure in 2025.

While we're on the subject of Disney Jr., and rounding out our survey of short-term Walt Disney World additions, Bluey and Bingo are coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom in summer 2026. To prepare for Bluey's arrival, the Wildlife Express Train and Rafiki's Planet Watch will temporarily close starting February 23, 2026.

Looking beyond 2026, Walt Disney World has far more ambitious plans than sprucing up rides that are already built. In the years to come, Walt Disney World guests will be able to step into massive expansions based on the story worlds of Encanto; Indiana Jones; Monsters, Inc.; Cars; and Disney Villains. Let's get into each of these one by one and predict when they may open. There is no insider information here, just helpful historical and business context to provide around all of these new planned attractions.

Timeline for New Disney World Rides Opening

Concept art via Disney

First up, let's dive into the project furthest along in construction and likely opening soonest, Tropical Americas at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

This is the only project of the bunch that Disney has publicly assigned an opening timeframe: 2027. The question remains, though, whether Disney will open all of Tropical Americas at once, or in phases.

Tropical Americas construction

Tropical Americas will depict a fictional village called Pueblo Esperanza. Here, guests can experience attractions based on the Indiana Jones franchise and the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Encanto.

This land replaces DinoLand, U.S.A., which closed in phases over the past few years and officially shut down for good in February 2026.

Concept art via Disney

The Indiana Jones ride will repurpose DINOSAUR's ride system. Inside, riders will be immersed in a new story about Indy exploring an ancient temple.

This will be inherently similar in nature to Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland in California. The DINOSAUR ride already used the same ride system as the Disneyland Indiana Jones Adventure attraction. This new ride will rely on the similar Jeep transport, but feature an original story.

Concept art via Disney

The Encanto ride, meanwhile, will be built from the ground up.

The story will take place inside the Madrigals' casita. Riders are visiting on the day Antonio, the young boy in the film, receives his gift of being able to talk to animals. While Disney hasn't announced the ride system, expect a family-friendly ride in the style of a modern Fantasyland dark ride.

Concept art via Disney

The third ride in Tropical Americas will be a carousel with ride vehicles shaped like favorite Disney animal characters.

We predict the Indiana Jones ride may open first with the Encanto ride or carousel following later. There was a time when if Disney was building a huge theme park project, the whole thing would open at once. This was the case, for example, when all of Buena Vista Street and all of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure opened on the same day in June 2012.

Disney has gotten away from this strategy since then with nearly every recent major expansion in the United States. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opened in 2019 at both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios without its star attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, until several months later. In 2023, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opened at Disneyland a few months before the rest of the Mickey's Toontown makeover opened for guests.

Concept art via Disney

There is a push and pull of having a big launch with the opening of an entire new land to market nationally vs the need to have ride capacity at a theme park. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, the park will be hurting for ride capacity during the period that this land is under construction with DINOSAUR now closed. That would be the cause of a staggered opening vs full land debut.

In any case, the Indiana Jones attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom should be further along than the Encanto ride right from the moment DINOSAUR closed, as the show building, track, and ride vehicles for Indiana Jones are all already in place. Even with all the work to be done on the scenery and new characters along the ride path, that's a significant head start compared to Encanto still being built from the ground up with a long way before they resemble anything close to their final forms.

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Concept art via Disney

So when in 2027 can we expect Tropical Americas? Let's compare to another attraction Disney repurposed into a new experiences. Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom closed in January 2023, replaced by Tiana's Bayou Adventure in June 2024. We'd expect the transformation from DINOSAUR to Indiana Jones to be comparable. Even though there is more rock work and other changes needed, the team is only focused on handling the change on one coast compared to the need to work simultaneously at Disneyland and Walt Disney World for Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

So, if the rides are staggered, we expect that the Indiana Jones Adventure will open before the Encanto ride. That would mean that Encanto would come some time later in the year.

Indiana Jones new ride opening prediction  Summer 2027

Encanto new ride opening prediction  Fall or late 2027

Monstropolis concept art

Moving on, Monstropolis is a new land coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios based on the Pixar film Monsters, Inc. The headliner attraction here is a new roller coaster themed to the chase sequence through the door vaults at the climax of the movie. This ride is going to be awesome!

This will be the first suspended coaster in a Disney theme park. This means the track is above riders, with the coaster trains hanging from it.

Photo via bioreconstruct on X

Monstropolis replaces the Muppets Courtyard area of Disney's Hollywood Studios, including Muppet*Vision 3D, the PizzeRizzo quick-service restaurant, the Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano table-service restaurant, and two shops. One of those shops, Stage 1 Company Store, was bulldozed as part of construction. Its absence will allow for more pedestrian traffic through this soon-to-be very popular area.

Disney will repurpose the other facilities into new experiences that match the Monstropolis theme. For example, concept art depicts a theater venue named "The Glob," pictured above, replacing what was once Muppet*Vision 3D and a restaurant resembling Harryhausen's from the movie replacing what was once Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano.

The key construction here is really the new roller coaster, but the remainder of the land infrastructure appears to be what is already in place.

Monsters Inc doors roller coaster

Unlike Tropical Americas, Disney has not publicly assigned an opening year for Monstropolis. The lightly themed exterior of the roller coaster building seen in the concept artwork has us confident in a faster construction than the other projects on this list.

The attractions in Muppets Courtyard closed in May and June 2025. We expect that this will be the next new addition opening after Tropical Americas. Combine that with a marketing goal of opening one big new addition each year. We would expect to see Monstropolis on track for 2028.

new coaster model for Monsters, Inc. doors ride

At the time of this writing, construction has not yet gone vertical on the building that will house the indoor roller coaster. However, prep work on its foundation has been ongoing for months.

Unlike Tropical Americas, we think Monstropolis will open all at once. While the new land does have multiple attractions, the smaller experiences likely aren't enough to stand on their own in attracting new guests. This stands in contrast to Tropical Americas' Indiana Jones and Encanto rides.

Both of those are huge draws to Disney's Animal Kingdom in their own right. We think they can open separately if needed. Therefore, we think all of Monstropolis with its roller coaster, new indoor theater attraction, and restaurants will open together.

Monstropolis new ride opening prediction  Summer 2028

Concept art via Disney

Piston Peak National Park is the name of a new subsection of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. It will be home to two new rides based on Pixar's "Cars" franchise. One of the rides will be an "off-road" thrill ride while the other will be family-friendly.

As the area's name implies, Disney will emulate a national park aesthetic, going for a rugged atmosphere with lots of trees, rocks, a river, and mountainous terrain. Other than these basic descriptions, Disney hasn't shared many other details about what to expect with the two new "Cars" rides. To be clear, this is not a duplicate of Cars Land from Disney California Adventure. Radiator Springs is not coming to Magic Kingdom.

Concept art via Disney

Because of Piston Peak National Park's location within Magic Kingdom, we're going to move on to talk about Magic Kingdom's other big project under construction, then loop back to discuss both of them together.

Concept art via Disney

As the final major project in our conversation today, we turn to one of most highly anticipated Disney ambitions in recent memory: Villains Land. The Disney Villains will be the centerpiece of their own land at Magic Kingdom. Details remain scarce, but we know there will be two attractions. One attraction seems to be a roller coaster in the concept art. Maleficent in dragon form is featured in the artwork, but otherwise no other specific Villains are confirmed just yet.

Disney Imagineers have shared briefly about their artistic inspirations for Villains Land's aesthetic. Other than that, though, specifics about what to expect from the attractions or ride systems are still under wraps.

Note that "Villains Land" may not be the formal name of the area. Initially Disney used this term officially to describe the project. Then later the company began referring to it as a "Villains-themed land," simply as a description rather than an actual name. As a shorthand, we'll keep using Villains Land until Disney specifies further.

Photo via bioreconstruct on X

Now let's loop back to Piston Peak National Park. Both that project and Villains Land will comprise the area of Magic Kingdom previously home to the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, as well as a portion of previously undeveloped forested property. Tom Sawyer Island closed and the Liberty Belle Riverboat was decommissioned from the Rivers of America in July 2025. Since then, all traces of what was there have been completely destroyed and backstage trees have been cleared, all to prepare for what's coming.

The area is nearly unrecognizable as Disney begins the process of building Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land. It's all still dirt for now. That being said, Disney had much more to get out of the way first with this project compared to Tropical Americas and Monstropolis.

Despite being located right next to each other and sharing the same massive construction site, Piston Peak will open before Villains Land. The two lands may end up opening multiple years apart.

Disney has been tight-lipped about both projects. However, they've shared many more specifics about Piston Peak National Park than Villains Land.

Concept art via Disney

Clues from similarly sized Disney construction projects the past give us an idea of what the timeline may be. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, a land called Camp Minnie-Mickey closed in January 2014. In its place, Pandora  The World of Avatar opened in May 2017.

At Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Studio Backlot Tour attraction closed in September 2014. This was followed by the closure of the Streets of America land in April 2016. These huge parcels of property were transformed into Toy Story Land, which opened in June 2018, and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, which opened in August 2019.

A minimum three-year turn-around for a project of this scale seems to be Disney's realistic pace. With this project in particular, there's the extra work involved of clearing the Rivers of America and building the intricacies of Piston Peak National Park's planned rockwork and water components. This all may may take a bit longer than three years. Given the summer 2025 closure of Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, that would place an estimated opening for Piston Peak National Park at late 2028 or into 2029 depending on speed. The scale of this new addition combined with the previous two projects occupying the important 2027 and 2028 marketing spots could easily mean Piston Peak moves to 2029.

It's here where we get into Disney's good problem to have: With Disney building so many new rides, how much time do they want to space between each grand opening? If Monstropolis could open in 2028, and Piston Peak National Park may be ready sometime that same year, does Disney care more about increasing park capacity as soon as possible, in which case Piston Peak National Park may open in 2028? Or would Disney want to let each project have its own season of marketing blitz and wait to open Piston Peak National Park in 2029, even if it's technically ready to go in late 2028? We could see one opening in summer of one year and then another opening in the now busy early months of the following year.

Concpt art via Disney

Then there's Villains Land to consider. Based on the level of unknowns about this expansion and the sheer volume of new rides in the pipeline that need to open before it, we expect Villains Land to be at least four years away. From everything Disney has said so far, villains is being planned to open second after Piston Peak.

Piston Peak new rides opening prediction  2029

Villains Land new rides opening prediction  2030

There's a lot to look forward to in the coming years at Walt Disney World, and we're excited to continue to bring you coverage of all it right here at Mickey Visit. We will be watching closely and sharing any details as we get them.

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The post When Will Disney World's New Rides Finally Open? Timeline For Openings appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips.
Borrowers Not Billionaires - Rally To Defend CFPB (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Protect Borrowers)

At least a dozen congressional Democrats announced Wednesday they will boycott President Donald Trumps State of the Union address scheduled for Tuesday and will instead hold their own Washington, D.C. rally.

The lawmakers  including five senators and seven House members  along with other other soon-to-be announced elected officials, leaders, and advocates, will gather at the National Mall near the Capitol for the Peoples State of the Union, on the same night as Trumps speech to Congress, according to a Wednesday press release from left-wing group MoveOn. The press release described the planned event  which will be hosted by MoveOn Civic Action and MediasTouch  as a rally counterprogramming President Trumps night full of lies.

Left-wing political commentators Joy Reid and Katie Phang will serve as hosts for the event, according to MoveOns press release.

I will not normalize Donald Trumps march toward fascism by attending his state of the union address. We cannot pretend this is business as usual, Democratic Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who is skipping Trumps speech to attend the rally, said via the press release. I look forward to joining real patriots who are standing up and speaking out against Trumps lawless agenda.

Last year, I walked out of President Trumps State of the Union because I refused to normalize the most corrupt and authoritarian administration in American history, said Democratic Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari, who will also be attending the rally, per the release.

Both Van Hollen and Ansari made headlines in 2025 for taking taxpayer-funded trips to El Salvador on behalf of reputed MS-13 gangbanger and alleged human smuggler Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Also listed as attending the rally are Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Vermont Rep. Becca Balint, who both notably claim the Department of Justice (DOJ) tracked their search history of the Epstein files to use as ammunition against them. (RELATED: Dem Rep Becca Balint Suggests DOJ Tried To Weaponize Epstein Files Against Her)

WASHINGTON, DC  JANUARY 15: Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) gaggles with reporters in the Senate Subway on Capitol Hill on January 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. Senators arrived to vote on a Minibus spending bill late Thursday morning. (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images)

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Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy who skipped Trumps address in 2025, will also attend the Peoples State of the Union, per MoveOns press release.

Murphy argued attending the State of the Union puts a veneer of legitimacy on the corruption and lawlessness that defined [Trumps] second term, per the release.

Other Democrats listed as boycotting Trumps State of the Union in the press release include Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Tina Smith of Minnesota, as well as Reps. Greg Casar and Veronica Escobar of Texas, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Delia Ramirez of Illinois and Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey.

Its unclear how many more lawmakers may join the rally.

President Trump has spent the first year of his administration making all of our lives worse: slashing health care, sending masked ICE agents to terrorize our neighbors, and passing tax cuts for the Epstein class, Sara Haghdoosti, MoveOn Chief of Program said via the press release. Trump wants the attention and the ratings, but we cannot treat this years State of the Union like business as usual.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries gave strict instructions for members to not repeat the protest debacles that upset House Democratic leadership the previous year. Then, some members were harshly reprimanded following their constant heckling at Trumps March 2025 address to Congress.

Democratic Texas Rep. Al Green raised his cane and shouted at Trump, resulting in him being ejected from the House floor. Other Reps. including Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Maxwell Frost of Florida and Maxine Dexter of Oregon were all called into a so-called come to Jesus meeting following their disruptions at the address, Axios reported at the time.

People dont want to be gaslit and belittled by a president who covers up the Epstein files and sends masked agents to kidnap and kill them. So the MeidasTouch Network has made the easy programming decision not to stream the State of the Union live, Ben Measles of MeidasTouch Network, a left-wing media company co-hosting the rally, said. Instead, it will be the exclusive streaming partner with MoveOn for the Peoples State of the Union, where our viewers can watch lawmakers who support democracy discuss thoughtful policies and how best to resist Trumps fascism.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
Emma Chamberlain attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

NEED TO KNOW

Emma Chamberlain is getting candid about her dating life

The content creator previously said on her Anything Goes podcast that she needed to be single for a year; however, she seems to be backtracking on that comment

Chamberlain has previously been linked to Role Model and Peter McPoland

Emma Chamberlain is walking back her previous claim that she wanted to be single for an entire year.



On the most recent episode of her Anything Goes podcast, the content creator, 24, touched on comments she had made on a November 2025 episode of the podcast, in which she shared her desire to be single for a large portion of time before attempting to get into any new relationships.



Following those claims, Chamberlain spoke on the most recent Feb. 12 episode, saying, "I'm scared that I'm going to get into a relationship sooner than we all expected and everyone's going to be like, 'Emma, you said you were going to be single for like a year and you were only single for like 3 months.'"

Emma Chamberlain and Role Model. Kevin Mazur/Getty

To that, she said, "Well, that is the danger of having a podcast. That could happen. And we all need to be prepared for it."



Continuing on, she said, "And I do give you permission to say, 'Emma, are you a hypocrite?' I give you permission to somewhat question me, but I just want you to know that we have ideas about how we're going to do things, how we're going to handle things, and sometimes they turn out a little bit different cause we can't really predict what life will bring."



On the November 2025 episode, Chamberlain opened up about her love life. She confirmed her newly single status after disclosing that she was going through a breakup. The fashion icon explained that she recently amicably ended a "serious relationship" that lasted for two years.

"I've had quite a few boyfriends, but I've had very short breaks in between, meaning I haven't really been single. So it's a little bit daunting to be in this place now where I'm single again," she said during the episode. "I think this time I need to be single for like a year."

Emma Chamberlain. Jacopo Raule/Getty

After her split from Role Model, she was linked to another musician, Peter McPoland, after the two were spotted together during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Later that year, they seemingly confirmed their relationship by coordinating Halloween costumes. However, Chamberlain did not name McPoland when she confirmed her breakup on Anything Goes.

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As suggested by the episode's title, "Embracing being single," Chamberlain reflected on the fact that she has been in relationships for a large part of her adult life.

She expressed her intention to remain single "for a little bit longer than two or three months," admitting that she previously hadn't spent much of her adult life without a partner.

Following her relationship musings on the podcast, Chamberlain surprised fans by referencing her past relationship with Role Model while promoting her appearance on Owen Thiele's In Your Dreams podcast.



In a clip shared on Nov. 28, she danced along to "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out," a hit song by her ex.

During the actual episode, Thiele asked Chamberlain, "Why do you keep dating musicians?" She responded with a laugh and borrowed another celebrity's words to explain.



"To quote Sabrina Carpenter, once again, 'I swear they choose me. I'm not choosing them,'" the influencer said, quoting a line from the song "Manchild" off of her Man's Best Friend album.



Read the original article on People
FILE PHOTO: Late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem are seen in this undated handout image from the Epstein estate released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 18, 2025. House Oversight Committee Democrats/Handout via REUTERS /File Photo

By Jana Choukeir, Andrew Mills and Maha El Dahan

DUBAI, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The departure of the chief executive of Dubai port giant DP World is the biggest fallout in the Middle East from U.S. Department of Justice documents which show that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein tried to build a powerful network of political figures and business leaders across the region.

DP World announced on Friday that Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem had resigned as chief executive and chair. The decision to act was taken after Bin Sulayem's name appeared in the Epstein files, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, and as his relationship with the late convicted sex offender faced increasing scrutiny.

In their correspondence, Bin Sulayem discussed sexual relationships with women with whom Epstein helped him connect. In an email dated November 9, 2007, Bin Sulayem told Epstein he had met one such woman in New York, whom he does not name and with whom he said he did not have sex.

"Yes after several attempts for several months we managed to meet in NY," he wrote, adding that there was a misunderstanding because "she wanted some BUSINESS! while i only wanted some PUSSYNESS!"

Dubai's ruler on Friday also issued a decree appointing a new chairman for Dubai's Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, one of several roles Bin Sulayem held.

Reuters was able to independently review only some of the Epstein files relating to Bin Sulayem and was unable to ascertain what specifically led to his departure from DP World although the sources said, without providing further details, that it was related to the files.

Bin Sulayem did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on his departure. DP World declined to comment.

COOKING TOGETHER

In one email exchange, Epstein described Bin Sulayem as funny, trustworthy and a foodie. Epstein went on to say that Bin Sulayem, a Muslim, does not drink and prays five times a day.

An undated photograph that appears in an email and is publicly available shows Epstein cooking with Bin Sulayem and the two of them looking relaxed together. The full name of the person it was sent to by Epstein is not provided.

Bin Sulayem has not publicly commented on Epstein's description or the emails about his relationship with him.

Being named in the file is not evidence of criminal activity. But after members of the U.S. Congress said Bin Sulayem's name appeared in files released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), he faced renewed questions from some of DP World's financial backers over his past interactions.

Bin Sulayem did not respond publicly to those concerns. The

UK development finance agency, British International Investment, and Canada's second-largest pension fund said last week they would suspend all new investment with DP World over Bin Sulayem's alleged ties to Epstein.

"We are shocked by the allegations emerging in the Epstein

Files regarding Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem," said a spokesperson for BII, without saying which allegations he was referring to. "In light of the allegations, we will not be making any new investments with DP World until the required actions have been taken by the company."

Canadian pension fund La Caisse said it was "pausing additional capital deployment alongside the company" until DP World clarified the situation and took "the necessary actions".

In a statement after Friday's leadership changes at DP World, BII welcomed DP World's decision and said it looked forward to continuing "our partnership to advance the development of key African trading ports". La Caisse said "the company took the appropriate measures" and that it would "move quickly to work with DP Worlds new leadership to continue our partnership on port projects around the world".

Bin Sulayem did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters to comment on the actions taken by BII and La Caisse. DP World declined comment.

NETWORK OF CONTACTS

The large cache of documents released by the DOJ, including text messages and emails, also shows the Middle East was no exception to Epstein's efforts to use his wealth to build relationships with prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business around the world.

Reuters was unable to ascertain how successful Epstein was in seeking to influence his contacts in the Middle East, and whether his advice was heeded.

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The DOJ documents reviewed by Reuters show Epstein tried to advise Qatari business leaders and political figures during the 2017-21 blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt over accusations that Doha failed to curb ties with Iran and supported terrorism, which Qatar denied.

In exchanges with a Qatari businessman and ruling family member Sheikh Jabor Yousuf Jassim Al Thani, Epstein urged Qatar to "stop kicking and arguing...let the heat come down a bit". He said "the current Qatar team is very weak" and "FM is not experienced and it shows."

Qatars foreign minister at the time was Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who now serves as both foreign minister and prime minister. Sheikh Mohammed has not commented publicly on Epstein's portrayal of him. Asked about the exchange, Qatar's International Media Office, which handles media requests for the prime minister, declined to comment.

There was no response to a Reuters request for comment emailed to three companies in Qatar that Sheikh Jabor is listed as chairman of, or to a text message sent to an individual who, according to the files released by the DOJ, works in Sheikh Jabor's office.

Epstein urged Doha to forge links with Israel to stay in the good graces of Donald Trump, who was then in his first term as U.S. president. He suggested the Gulf state either move towards recognising Israel or pledge $1 billion to a fund for terrorism victims. Ultimately, Qatar stuck to its independent course. In 2021, the blockading countries restored ties with Doha, and ties between the Trump administration and Qatar are now strong.

DISCUSSION OF SAUDI ARAMCO IPO

Epstein discussed Saudi Aramco's initial public offering in dozens of email exchanges. In one exchange dated September 10, 2016, with a person named as Aziza Alahmadi, and with former Norwegian diplomat Terje Roed-Larson copied in, Epstein warned that Aramco going public could expose Saudi Arabia to lawsuits and asset seizures. Saudi Aramco declined to comment on these emails.

Alahmadi could not be reached for comment and Reuters was unable to establish her role, if any, in Epstein's activities.

In an email dated October 16, 2017, and also sent to Alahmadi, Epstein suggested selling China an option to buy a $100-billion stake in Aramco rather than pursuing a traditional IPO, saying it would provide liquidity while limiting exposure to public markets.

Saudi Aramco declined to comment to Reuters on the emails. Roed-Larsen did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by email via his lawyer.

Epsteins reach also extended to Egypt, the documents released by the DOJ show. Some emails show a request from a family member of Hosni Mubarak - the wife of his son Gamal Mubarak - that was passed on to Epstein asking for help in 2011, following the former president's ouster and subsequent legal troubles. They did not say what kind of assistance was sought and Reuters was unable to establish whether Epstein had tried to intercede on the family's behalf.

Lionel Halperin, a lawyer for Gamal Mubarak, told Reuters

by email that no member of the Mubarak family ever knew of Epstein or ever sought or received assistance from any source, directly or indirectly.

He said Roed-Larsen and others had attempted in 2011 to reach out to Gamal Mubarak to better understand the situation in

Egypt and that of the Mubarak family. As Gamal Mubarak was in prison at the time pending an investigation, he asked his wife,

Khadiga El Gammal, to send back "messages of appreciation" to

those who reached out to him and his family.

It was in this context that "a few emails" were sent to

Roed-Larsen, Halperin said.

"Gamal Mubarak has no explanation, and does not know the

context, as to why some of such emails were forwarded to an

email account of Mr. Epstein at the time," Halperin said.

(Additional reporting by Nadine Awadalla and Yousef Saba in Dubai, Writing by Michael Georgy, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Thousands of anti-government protesters violently faced off against riot police outside government buildings in Albanias capital, Tirana, earlier this week, as people called for the resignation of the government following a massive corruption scandal.

The main Albanian opposition party called for people to take to the streets and demand the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku after she was indicted by a special prosecutor who alleged she had been improperly influenced in her decision to favor one company in a tender for the construction of a 3.7-mile tunnel in southern Albania.

Albanias Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime suspended Balluku from the government in November, but Prime Minister Edi Rama took the issue to the countrys Constitutional Court, which reinstated Balluku in December.

State Department Stays Quiet As Albania Reinstates Deputy Prime Minister Accused Of Corruption

Anti-government protests in Albanias capital Tirana escalated tension on Tuesday, Feb. 10, as demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails and other objects at the prime ministers office on Feb. 10, 2026. (Reuters)

Balluku denied the allegations, calling the accusations against her amounted to "mudslinging, insinuations, half-truths and lies." Rama has refused to dismiss her.

The corruption allegations touched off widespread outrage, sparking protests in recent months.

Read On The Fox News App

"The wave of popular protests in Albania reflects a growing societal backlash against what critics describe as the increasingly autocratic rule of Prime Minister Edi Rama," Agim Nesho, former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations, told Fox News Digital.

"Over more than a decade in power, Rama is accused of centralizing authority and personalizing state institutions, while his government has faced persistent allegations of cooperation with organized crime and the misuse of public funds and public assets for the benefit of politically connected clients," Nesho claimed.

Police officers hold shields outside the Prime Minister's office during an anti-government protest, triggered by a corruption investigation into Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in Tirana, Albania, Feb. 10, 2026.

The shady circumstances surrounding Ramas most important ally and the lack of accountability reinforces the sentiment that is pervasive in Albanian society that their government is rife with corruption. With both the incumbent government and opposition figures accused of corruption, public confidence in institutions and the justice system has steadily been eroded.

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Italy Rocked By Anarchist-led Riots As Over 100 Police Injured, Meloni Condemns Violence

Albania has a long legacy of government corruption and ranks 91st out of 182 countries in Transparency International's 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.

The protests on Tuesday turned violent when supporters of Berishas opposition Democratic Party threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at government offices in Tirana. Security forces responded with water cannons and tear gas.

Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama (R) and Deputy Prime Minister of Albania and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku (R) attend a press conference in the Shpirag region in Berat province, Albania on Aug. 23, 2023.

Berisha claims the protests have been peaceful, and people are only voicing their opposition to Ramas increasing autocratic rule and his attacks of the justice system.

At least 16 protesters were treated for injuries and 13 protesters were arrested, according to The Associated Press.

Observers of the region believe Berisha, who was prime minister from 2005 to 2013 and faced his own corruption charges, is angling to topple the socialist prime minister and main political rival, Rama, and return to power.

The turmoil in Albania comes as the country has long sought European Union membership, which began in 2014 when it became an official candidate for accession. While the 2025 annual European Commission report stated that Albania made significant strides in judicial reforms and combating organized crime, the latest allegations against Ramis government will complicate its path to EU membership.

People gather during a demonstration held in Tirana, the capital of Albania, in support of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who was under house arrest from December 2023 to November 2024 on corruption charges and is currently under judicial supervision by the Albanian Special Appeal Court for Corruption and Organized Crime (GJPAKKO).

The United States helped implement Albanias judicial reform process, including the creation of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK). The State Departments Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) invested millions to foster democratic progress in Albania and assisted in combating Albanias struggles with corruption and strengthening its weak institutions.

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Nesho warned the U.S. and European Union need to get serious with policy in the Western Balkans and help move Albania closer to European integration.

"If Washington and Brussels continue to look the other way  failing to enforce the rule of law, restore real checks and balances, and cut the regimes ties to organized crime and drug trafficking  Albania risks drifting into the orbit of Eastern-style autocracy," Nesho said.





Original article source: European capital rocked by violent protests as government corruption probe fuels unrest
Giorgi Bachiashvili, a former aide to Georgian Dream party founder and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, attends a court hearing in Tbilisi, Georgia May 29, 2025. Bachiashvili fled the country earlier this year while on trial on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze

By Lucy Papachristou

TBILISI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - A former aide to Georgia's most powerful man, who had been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for embezzling cryptocurrency from his former boss, was released on Wednesday, Georgian media reported, citing his lawyer.

Giorgi Bachiashvili, who had previously dismissed the charges as politically motivated, fled the country last year while on trial for defrauding billionaire ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, widely seen as Georgia's de facto leader. He was later brought back to Georgia and jailed after being convicted in absentia.

The prosecutor's office said Bachiashvili had now fully admitted guilt. Under the plea agreement, his sentence was reduced to a oneyear suspended term and a fine of 50,000 lari ($18,900). Reuters was unable to immediately reach his lawyer, Levan Makharashvili, for comment.

Ivanishvili, who is seen as controlling the ruling Georgian Dream party he founded, has steered traditionally pro-Western Georgia in a more pro-Russian direction since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, while clamping down on opposition at home.

Bachiashvili, who used to run Ivanishvili's investment fund, was accused of embezzling Bitcoin worth roughly $39 million at that time as part of a 2015 loan from Ivanishvilis Cartu Bank, which prosecutors said Bachiashvili had intended to use to launch a cryptocurrency mining business.

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The Georgian branch of Transparency International has said that there is a lack of evidence against Bachiashvili, and that the case appears to reflect Ivanishvili's financial interests.

The former aide fled Georgia while on trial in March 2025, crossing by land into Armenia before moving on to a third country.

Less than three months later, Georgian authorities said they had arrested Bachiashvili near the country's southern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, and brought him back to Tbilisi, later sentencing him to an additional 4-1/2 years for illegal border crossing.

One of his lawyers, Robert Amsterdam, said that his client had been returned "forcibly" and was at risk of torture.

Prosecutors on Wednesday also dropped earlier charges against Bachiashvili's elderly parents for helping him to launder some $3.5 million of the cryptocurrency.

($1 = 2.6470 laris)

(Reporting by Lucy PapachristouEditing by Ros Russell)
Koukou Koffi Krah Denos and Ouattara Drissa, cocoa farmers who said that they have been waiting for several months for the purchase of their harvest, sun-dry cocoa beans in Pont Nero, a village in San-Pedro, Ivory Coast, February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Luc Gnago

By Ange Aboa

ABIDJAN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast is considering cutting the price it pays farmers for cocoa beans to align with Ghana, two government sources told Reuters, as the world's biggest producers of the chocolate ingredient face a major crisis.

The senior Ivory Coast officials said all options were on the table as the government debates whether to follow Ghana, which has already cut its farmgate price by 28.6% for the rest of the 2025/2026 season main crop, in coordination with Abidjan, as it adjusts to plunging prices.

The farmgate price, set at the start of the harvest season, is the amount of money farmers receive for their product after harvest and before any intermediaries, exporters, processors, traders, or cooperatives add value.

The discussions with Ghana, and discussions within Ivory Coast's government about cutting the price to align with Ghana, have not previously been reported.

Meanwhile, the Ivory CoastGhana Cocoa Initiative (ICCIG) said the two African countries, which together account for about 60% of global output, had been coordinating closely since the onset of the crisis in the sector.

"We have put all options on the table and discussions are progressing well. Courageous and realistic decisions will be taken soon," the first Ivory Coast official said, requesting anonymity because they are not authorised to speak on the issue.

The second official said the continued price fall, which has seen cocoa drop by nearly 50% in recent months, left the government with little room to manoeuvre.

Cocoa futures on the ICE exchange hit their lowest level in 2-1/2 years on Tuesday as concern about unsold stocks of cocoa in Ivory Coast and Ghana continued to weigh on prices.

"We must think about the survival of the cocoa sector in Ivory Coast. We need to act; changes are underway," the source said, declining to disclose further details.

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An inter-ministerial committee has met over the issue and a decision could come soon, the two sources said.

A spokesperson for the Ivory Coast government did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

MEASURES TO PREVENT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE

Alex Assanvo, ICCIG's executive secretary, said the two countries were adapting to the sudden market reversal and had taken measures to prevent structural damage.

He said the trading rooms of Ivory Coast's Coffee and Cocoa Council and Ghana's COCOBOD remained in regular contact.

Assanvo also defended the Living Income Differential, introduced in 2019 to boost farmers' earnings, saying recent market volatility underscored its relevance.

ICCIG is preparing a meeting between the two countries to strengthen coordination as farmers face financial pressure.

"The organisation remains mobilised to coordinate policies in both countries," Assanvo said, adding that all players in the sector would be convened to review market developments and propose improvements to price-stabilisation mechanisms.

Exporters and buyers expect Ivory Coast to announce a cut soon, saying the question is no longer if but when.

"The country is resisting, but for how long? I don't see Ivory Coast doing something different from Ghana," said the head of an Abidjan-based export company.

(Reporting by Ange Aboa; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Alexander Smith)
NEED TO KNOW

A couple and their three children survived unscathed after a pickup truck careened into the first floor of their Oregon home on Feb. 13

Footage shared by police showed the vehicle airborne before it crashed into the building

I thank God that everyone was upstairs when it happened," said the homeowner

A family of five survived without injury after a pickup truck went airborne and landed in their Oregon home over the weekend. The driver is now facing charges, authorities said.

"I didnt expect a flying truck," David Brudnok told NBC affiliate KGW of the truck crash that devastated the ground floor of his Tigard home in the early morning hours of Friday, Feb. 13.

The aftermath of the crash in Tigard, Ore., on Feb. 13. Tigard Police Department

"I just heard this, 'Boom!' And the house shakes he continued. I get down the stairs, and I realize the whole front of my house is completely just gone."

Just before 3 a.m. local time on Friday, officials received reports of a driver of a truck driving recklessly and speeding before the incident, according to a statement from the Tigard Police Department. Authorities believe that the driver, later identified by police as 33-year-old Jacob Hankins, was traveling west on SW Scholls Ferry Road when he hit a dirt mound on the side of the roadway, causing his vehicle to fly 100 feet into the air and miss a brick wall. The truck then crashed into a home in the 13000 block of SW Larkwood Place, police said.

The department later shared footage from a neighbors doorbell camera, which showed the vehicle airborne before it decimated the bottom floor of the residence.

Fortunately, Brudnok, his wife and their three young children were unharmed, KGW reported.

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I thank God that everyone was upstairs when it happened," the homeowner told the outlet. He was initially in disbelief about what happened and escaped with his family through the back of the building.

When officers responded to the scene, Hankins was originally unconscious and he and the other passenger were trapped inside the truck, according to authorities. The pair was extricated from the vehicle by first responders and transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

Following the crash, Hankins has been charged with reckless driving and recklessly endangering, police said.

The truck caused significant damage to the ground floor of the home. Tigard Police Department

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The Tigard Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment, and its unclear if Hankins has legal representation.

Now, the Brudnok family is staying at a hotel as they wait to see how much their insurance will cover to repair the extensive damage to their home, CBS affiliate KOIN reported.



Read the original article on People
A dozen speakers took to the microphone at the "A Day Without an Immigrant" rally on the front steps of University of Oregon's Johnson Hall on Feb. 16.

This was the third "A Day Without an Immigrant" demonstration in a series that will culminate on International Workers' Day on May 1.

A couple hundred participants huddled together on the slope leading up to the university's administrative building, protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Eugene and nationwide. Students, staff, faculty and community members called for UO leaders to take action by way of using the UO Alerts system to give notification when ICE is on or near campus.

University of Oregon student Isabel E speaks during a Day Without An Immigrant rally on campus in Eugene Feb. 16, 2026.

"I'm scared, I'm angry, I'm exhausted, but now isn't the time to give in to despair," said Isabel E, a UO student with the UO Young Democratic Socialists of America. "It's time to act, to fight back, and to demand that this university fulfills its ethical duty to protect its students, its faculty and its city."

Multiple student groups helped organize the rally, including YDSA, UO's Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA), UO Student Workers and Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation. Faculty and staff also were present along with representatives from the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Eugene.

UO students want alerts system used for ICE raids

UO student and MEChA member Xiomara Andrade stepped up to speak on behalf of MEChA President Maria Gaspar. She spoke about the recent UO Alerts going out, including one sent on Feb. 9 about "water gel beads," commonly known as Orbeez, being shot at pedestrians near campus. Andrade called the alert "insulting." She criticized the university's lack of ICE alerts, saying UO's administration cares more about its public image than its students.

"We need these alerts and we need them now," Andrade said. "(Students) are looking over their shoulders instead of focusing on their future. At MEChA, we work firsthand with our immigrant and Latino community every single day. We aren't just looking at data, we are looking into the eyes of our peers and seeing the fear rise daily."

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Protesters gather at Johnson Hall on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene for Day Without An Immigrant Feb. 16, 2026

Cultural center for Hispanic and Latino students

UO students also called for a Latine Cultural Center, a center intended specifically for the Hispanic and Latino student population, similar to the Black Cultural Center. While the Multicultural Center exists, students say that space fills up quickly and isn't large enough for collaboration between Latino-serving student groups on campus. Latino and Hispanic students are the second-largest demographic at UO after white students. According to UO data from winter 2026, 17% of undergrad students are Hispanic/Latino, compared to 60% of undergrads who are white.

Toby Cole, a UO transfer student involved in YDSA and MEChA, said he came to the rally, in part, to find community. Cole, who grew up in Southern California, said it was a huge shock at first coming to a predominantly white institution, but he has been able to find community through groups like MEChA. He said there are lots of Latino students and some faculty, but he'd like to see more resources organized by the university itself.

"Latino student presence is strong, and it's healthy, but we aren't given space to grow," Cole said. "I think that's the main thing that we're really trying to fight for."

Students rally outside Johnson Hall at the University of Oregon for a Day Without An Immigrant protest in Eugene Feb. 16, 2026.

Cole said Latino faculty have been doing what they can to support students, but Cole would like to see a Latino student specialist in UO's mental health counseling office, similar to Dr. Cecile Gadson, who is the African American/Black student specialist staff psychologist.

At Monday's rally, Cole said it's been powerful to see they are not alone as they look at all their peers who feel the same fear, but are willing to take steps to make a change.

"There's a really big fear on campus, but there's also a lot of strength that's coming out," Cole said. "There's a lot of solidarity. Students that aren't Latino, aren't immigrants, aren't people of color are also rallying together and saying, 'Hey, you're my neighbor, you're my classmate, you're my friend. I'm going to protect you.'"

Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on X @mirandabcyr.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: University of Oregon students want cultural center, ICE alerts
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Several firefighters were injured in Kansas and Oklahoma while fighting wildfires on Tuesday.

Capt. Bill Neier with Ashland Rural Fire Department said two Clark County firefighters were injured and are being treated at a burn unit in Wichita. Their condition is unknown.

Ascension Via Christi told KSN News that it has treated two volunteer firefighters for inhalation injuries.

LIVE BLOG: Wildfires in Kansas, Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Forestry Services estimated that 283,000 acres have already burned in the largest wildfire, called the Ranger Road Fire. Several homes were destroyed in the Englewood are, according to Neier.

The fire started in Beaver County, Oklahoma, and spread 65 miles into southern Clark and Comanche counties on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of Ashland and Englewood.

High winds fueled the fire, which Neier estimated was moving 30 to 40 mph. He said some of the flames reached up to 40 feet in the air.

Its not a kind of fire you can stop, Neier said, so firefighters were focused on protecting homes, farms and cattle.

Kansas man dies following crash involving dust storm on I-70

Firefighters from many departments have been working nonstop to get the fire under control.

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Kansas State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm shared photos of the effort overnight on Wednesday morning.

(Courtesy: Mark Engholm, State Fire Marshal of Kansas) (Courtesy: Mark Engholm, State Fire Marshal of Kansas) (Courtesy: Mark Engholm, State Fire Marshal of Kansas) (Courtesy: Mark Engholm, State Fire Marshal of Kansas) (Courtesy: Mark Engholm, State Fire Marshal of Kansas)

Engholm reported that firefighters in both Kansas and Oklahoma were injured fighting the blaze.

He hoped the wind would cooperate on Wednesday to allow water drops on the area. Extreme winds grounded the planes from that task on Tuesday.

The Kansas Forest Service said the fire was still active on Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters were working to put out a flare-up in Meade County.

PHOTOS: Wildfires rage in Oklahoma and Kansas

More help was expected to arrive later in the day, and Oklahoma and Kansas are coordinating in using state resources.

All evacuation orders have been lifted.

Meanwhile, the KSN Storm Track 3 Weather Team is monitoring conditions for more fires on Wednesday.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
After cities and counties were forced to shelve new planning regulations for months under a developer-friendly new state law, Florida legislators promised a fix.

But as the Legislature lurches into its final scheduled weeks, the move to repair last year's controversial measure looks doomed, those involved said.

Planning chaos may endure for at least another year, they say.

Sen. Don Gaetz chats with fellow lawmakers Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

I think the issue is dead in the House, said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, sponsor of one of two Senate bills that look to dial back the law passed last year through the legislation (SB 180).

The law is a broad emergency management measure which bars local governments from imposing planning requirements seen as more restrictive or burdensome than those already on the books.

Planning regulations put on ice since June under new law

Its effectively halted local governments from enacting even routine changes to comprehensive plans or land development codes since Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law in June.

Opponents derided it as a political gift to builders and developers, whose industry lobbied hard for its passage during the last legislative session.

The measure now is being challenged in court, with more than two dozen cities and counties calling it the largest incursion into local home rule authority in Floridas modern history. The law limited what planning responses governments could do after three hurricanes hit the state in 2024.

The law is scheduled to sunset, or end, in October 2027. But if another hurricane hits within 100 miles of a community, the more restrictive or burdensome ban would continue automatically.

Local governments were hoping lawmakers this year would make good on promises to soften restrictions in the law, which passed almost unanimously last year, with many legislators acknowledging they had no idea of its impact.

Meanwhile, its led to a host of planning proposals being put on hold or repealed outright, drawing loud complaints from many community groups across the state.

Building moratoriums, planning updates, even rooster limits halted

The local efforts put on ice by the new law range from Orange Countys comprehensive plan, to building moratoriums in several cities. Routine actions like tree ordinances and even one limiting how many roosters can be on a property in Polk County were blocked.

It takes away citizens rights to determine their countys development, Patricia Watkins, a Crestview resident, told the Senate Rules Committee on Feb. 17. Florida is not a one-size-fits-all state.

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Sen. Nick DiCeglie attends the Senate President Designate ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025.

The Rules Committee unanimously approved a repair measure (SB 840) sponsored by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, who had sponsored last years sweeping law.

The vote by the committee sets the stage for full Senate approval and may be an effort to pressure the House, which has refused to hear either of two bills intended to readdress last years controversial measure.

Unfortunately, we got some feedback of unintended consequences, DeCeglie said of the 2025 law.

Back story on new law: Florida law handcuffs cities, boosts building and rebuilding. Is it a 'developer handout'?

Locals swing back with lawsuit: Local governments sue state over law blocking tougher building standards

DiCeglies new approach narrows the scope of last years law, restoring the ability of cities and counties to enact building moratoriums within a year of being hit by a hurricane to protect stormwater and fresh water supplies, something that's currently prohibited.

The 100-mile hurricane distance would be reduced to communities within 50 miles of a passing storm. The bill also would erase a provision that froze local land regulations and comprehensive plans in place for three years, going back to August 2024.

New limits on who can sue local governments over disputed planning changes also are included in the measure now ready for a final Senate vote.

But with the House and Senate at odds over a host of issues, including vastly different state budget proposals, how to approach a property tax overhaul, congressional redistricting and dozens of policy bills, the planning fix is clearly endangered.

The Houses lack of action is ominous, said advocates of the fix.

Were really getting concerned, said Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, who is monitoring the legislation for the Florida Association of Counties. Weve worked diligently to secure some modifications to this law. But its not looking good.

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@usatodayco.com or on X at @JKennedyReport.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Law that freezes local planning may endure as House shrugs at change
Paris, France  France's hard-left France Unbowed party said Wednesday it had to evacuate its Paris headquarters following a "bomb threat," after it was accused of having some responsibility for the killing of a far-right activist beaten to death on the sidelines of a protest.



"The national headquarters of LFI have just been evacuated following a bomb threat. Police services are on site. All employees and activists are safe," the party's coordinator Manuel Bompard said on X.

Police officers of the dog handling team stand outside French leftist party La France Insoumise ( (Charlotte SIEMON/AFP/Getty)

The evacuation came hours after French authorities arrested two more suspects over the fatal beating of far-right political activist Quentin Deranque last week. The arrests, announced by a prosecutor in the city of Lyon, brought the number of people detained for questioning over the killing to 11, including eight men and three women.

Deranque, 23, died after sustaining a severe brain injury when he was attacked by at least six people last week on the sidelines of a far-right protest against a left-wing politician speaking at a university in Lyon, in the southeast of France.



The latest man detained, suspected of having a direct link to the violence, and his partner, suspected of having helped him evade justice, were taken into custody as part of the investigation for "intentional homicide," said Thierry Dran, the prosecutor for Lyon.

A photograph taken in Paris, France, Feb. 15, 2026, shows a French flag bearing a portrait and a slogan reading

Six of the other detainees are suspected of having participated in the beating and three of aiding them, a source following the case said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



An assistant to Raphael Arnault, a member of parliament from the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, was among the first four detained, the source told AFP. Arnault said he was firing the assistant, Jacques-Elie Favrot.

In a statement, attorney Bertrand Sayn said Wednesday that Favrot, "formally denies being responsible for this tragedy," referring to Deranque's killing.

Arnault was the cofounder of the "Jeune Garde Antifasciste" (Antifascist Young Guard) a far-left radical movement launched in 2018 that focused on opposing far-right, nationalist, and neo-Nazi movements in France. It was created in response to activities by the far-right organization Bastion Social, which was banned in 2019. The Jeune Garde was banned by the French government in June 2025, following accusations that it was inciting violence.

The group has challenged the dissolution order in the French courts, and a ruling is expected this year.

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The killing of Deranque has fueled tension between France's far right and far left ahead of municipal elections in March, and the looming 2027 presidential race.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a social media post over the weekend, after Deranque was killed, said "no cause, no ideology will ever justify killing."

"Prosecution, bringing to justice, and conviction of the perpetrators of this atrocity is essential," Macron said. "Hatred that kills has no place in our society. I call for calm, restraint, and respect."

LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said in a message posted on social media that the party was "facing the most ludicrous, the most unfair, and the most dangerous accusations" over the incident, adding a call for "everyone to remain calm and composed. No escalation. Observe, learn, reflect."

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A viewing and funeral for former Delaware state Rep. and Sen. George H. Bunting Jr. will be held in Ocean View Feb. 21.

Bunting died at home Feb. 12, his obituary says, surrounded by family. He was 81 years old. Sen. Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, who succeeded Bunting in the Senate, said Bunting's health declined following a recent heart operation.

The Bethany Beach-area Democrat served as a state representative in the 1980s and 1990s and in the Senate from 1996 to 2013. His efforts were instrumental in numerous southern Sussex County improvements, including the replacement of the Indian River Inlet bridge.

Bunting also was a decorated Vietnam veteran and owned a State Farm insurance agency in Rehoboth Beach for over 40 years.

Former Sen. George Bunting.

"He was a true gentleman of the old-fashioned sort, who always displayed dignity and grace," former Delaware State Archives Director Russell McCabe said.

Background: Former Sen. George Bunting dies, colleagues remember 'great man'

Funeral service scheduled

Bunting's viewing will be held at Mariners Bethel Global Methodist Church, at 81 Central Ave. in Ocean View, Feb. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, immediately followed by a Masonic funeral service.

Afterward, Bunting will be interred with military honors provided by Ocean View Mason-Dixon VFW Post 7234. That will take place at Prince Georges Chapel Cemetery, located at 32043 Ward Lane in Dagsboro.

Gov. Matt Meyer ordered flags to be flown at half-staff Feb. 17 to honor the lives of Bunting, former Rep. John Viola and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Flags are to remain at half-staff through sunset Feb. 21.

Vietnam veteran

Bunting enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1963 and served in Vietnam for a year, according to a 1966 News Journal story. He was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze star.

The story included the contents of the citation that came with the Bronze Star, detailing Bunting's actions during an attack on his platoon.

"Lance Corporal Bunting, as an automatic rifleman, ignored the enemy's grazing fire, jumped up, firing towards the enemy and advanced under fire to a position where he could put his own weapon to more effective use against the enemy," the story said.

George Bunting was Marine and served in Vietnam.

"Lance Corporal Bunting's fire was accurate and heavy enough to allow his platoon to react and gain fire superiority, causing the enemy to abandon its position. As a result, his platoon received no casualties, and was able to continue with its assigned mission."

Bunting was awarded the Purple Heart after stepping on a landmine and injuring his leg, the story said.

Though overused, the term "hero" is appropriate for Bunting, McCabe said.

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"Like many who have witnessed the horrors of battle and given so much, he would proudly acknowledge his service but was never one to boast about his own deeds," McCabe said.

Family life

Not long after returning from Vietnam, Bunting met Donna Gray, his obituary says. He married her nine months later, and their union lasted nearly 59 years.

The couple had two sons, one of whom died at age 12 in an ATV accident. Bunting's obituary called it "one of the saddest days of their lives as a family."

Another loss: Former Delaware House Rep. John Viola, who served Newark, Bear, dies

In the 1970s, Bunting opened a State Farm Insurance agency in Rehoboth Beach and became president of the area Chamber of Commerce.

"His family recalls that George loved people and he liked running the insurance agency because of all the people coming into the office," his obituary says.

Serving Delaware

Bunting, a Democrat to Hocker's Republican, "was a friend you could work with, talk with, work things out," Hocker said.

"I can't say enough good about Sen. Bunting," Hocker said. "I haven't worked with anybody better than him."

Bunting was known for working across the aisle and sometimes voting against his party.

George Bunting's wife, Donna Bunting, holds a Bible as he is sworn in to the Delaware State Senate.

"Small-town friendships were often more important than politics in the southern Delaware of those times," Bunting's obituary said.

Ahead of a 1990 election, News Journal reporter William Zaferos described Bunting as "a Democrat by party, but something of a lone wolf by nature."

He advocated for term limits and education funding and was against the death penalty. He spoke out against irresponsible land development and pollution in the inland bays. He was instrumental in the dredging of the Assawoman Canal and the replacement of the Indian River Inlet bridge in 2012.

Then-Rep. Hocker recalled being the first to drive over the new bridge, with Bunting in the passenger seat.

"There wasn't anything that we attempted to do together that we couldn't get done," Hocker said.

Reach Shannon Marvel McNaught at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Former senator, Vietnam vet George Bunting's funeral set for Feb. 21
The High Court in Glasgow heard Anthony Connell was involved in a "significant organised crime operation"

A crime gang member who plotted to kill a drugs boss has been jailed for six years and nine months.

Anthony Connell was involved in a plan to kill Ryan Carvil but the assassination attempt failed when a potential hitman pulled out at the last minute.

A judge told the High Court in Glasgow that Connell, who then fled to Spain, was involved in a "significant organised crime operation".

The 35-year-old and his associates were caught after incriminating messages on the encrypted EncroChat phone network linked them to the crime.

The court heard Connell, of Govan, had been a trusted lieutenant for crime boss David Nisbet, 35, who wanted to kill Carvil.

And prosecutors said the gang "sought to turn the streets of Glasgow into a warzone" in a bid to catch their target.

EnchroChat messages

Connell used the handles "Roughdingo" and then "Las Penguin" on EncroChat, where he discussed the plan for Carvil.

In one message he wrote: "Jump out, nut him quickly, tie weights to his ankles and roll him in at canal. That's a missing person, not a murder.

"No car to look for nothing you've got two weeks before they probably look in that water."

But the court heard the plot faltered when the hitman "did not like the getaway cars or arrangements on offer".

Connell then went missing while facing charges before being arrested in Marbella, Spain in 2023 following a large scale manhunt.

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He was extradited back to Scotland last year to face justice.

Connell was sentenced after he admitted a charge of being involved in serious organised crime between April 2019 and May 2020.

'Committed to changing lifestyle'

Thomas Ross KC, representing Connell, said: "He has broke off from the people he was involved with an has expressed regret regarding his involvement.

"He has not only done this verbally but he is fully committed to changing his lifestyle."

Lord Scott said: "A custodial sentence is appropriate to deter you and others from behaving in this way."

A three-year serious crime prevention order was also put upon Connell.

Nisbet and fellow gang member Declan McCuish were convicted of conspiring to murder Carvil after a trial in February 2025.

Nisbet was jailed for 13 years and McCuish for 11 years.

Meanwhile, Carvil is awaiting sentencing after detectives uncovered his role in a food-delivery style drugs operation.

The 32-year-old - who travelled between Scotland and Dubai - had teamed up with Saad Qayyum, 36, to supply Glasgow with drugs.

Both pleaded guilty to an organised crime charge earlier this year.
The X app icon on a smartphone in this illustration taken October 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

By Hakan Ersen

BERLIN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - A German appeals court has ordered social media platform X to give vetted researchers access to publicly available data linked to Hungary's April 12 election, setting a precedent for enforcing EU digital transparency rules ahead of a contentious vote.

"We are open sourcing our algorithm. Not sure what more they want," Elon Musk wrote in reaction on X. Musk's startup xAI owns X.

The Berlin Court of Appeal's ruling is not related to the type of algorithm used but orders X to share information such as the reach and engagement of posts related to Hungary's parliamentary election, Democracy Reporting International, one of two plaintiffs, said late on Tuesday.

A court spokesperson said on Wednesday the ruling takes immediate effect.

The decision is seen as a milestone in implementing the EU's Digital Services Act, a regulation mandating major online platforms to give researchers access to data to monitor risks including disinformation, hate speech and election manipulation.

X did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

PRECEDENT FOR RESEARCHER ACCESS ESTABLISHED

The plaintiffs - DRI and the Society for Civil Rights (GFF) - previously failed to obtain similar data from X for Germany's 2025 federal election.

In the current case, a lower court ruled that jurisdiction lay in Ireland, where X has its EU headquarters.

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However, the Berlin appeals court revisited the issue, determining that German courts could act when there was a local problem, such as when German-based researchers were denied crucial data for public-interest work.

Ruling in favour of the two NGOs, the court said X's noncompliance affected their ability to conduct research in Germany.

"No appeal can be lodged against the decision," said Joschka Selinger, a lawyer for GFF, adding that it could be enforced through penalty payments if X fails to comply.

HUNGARY ELECTION PUSHES TRANSPARENCY DEBATE

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban is facing the biggest challenge to his rule since his Fidesz party took power in 2010 as the centre-right opposition Tisza party leads in most opinion polls. Pro-government pollsters, however, put Fidesz in the lead, while many voters remain undecided.

Previous elections in Hungary have been overshadowed by reports of media bias and disinformation.

The Hungarian government did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Wednesday.

DRI contended that the court order would lower barriers for civil society groups across Europe seeking to enforce digital rights through national courts.

Observers view the decision as a signal to major platforms operating under the DSA that failure to facilitate researcher access could lead to legal consequences in EU member states.

(Reporting by Hakan Ersen, additional reporting by Anita Komuves and Maria Martinez, writing by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Gareth Jones, Rod Nickel)
(Corrects headline and first paragraph to make clear Merz was not referring to a partnership with China; adds quote in paragraph 2)

By Maria Martinez

BERLIN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday he would seek cooperation opportunities on a trip to China next week, while the United States leans on tariffs.

He said his goal is to talk "about future cooperation between Europe and Germany on this side and China on that side."

"We have a strategic interest in finding partners in the world who think the way we do, who act the way we do, and who above all are prepared to shape the future together so that we remain a country with prosperity and a high level of social security," Merz said at his party's Ash Wednesday event in the western city of Trier.

He said foreign policy and economic policy could no longer be separated.

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"If the Americans believe that, with their tariff policy, they should exert influence around the world  if they believe that tariffs are more important than taxes at home  then that is something Americans can, of course, decide for themselves. But it is not our policy," Merz said.

U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff push is testing relations between the allies, threatening their two-way trade and raising the risk of further damage to Germany's already struggling economy.

"You can do it, but we will not go along with it," Merz said on tariffs. "And if you overdo it, then we Europeans are certainly able to defend ourselves against it."

Merz said Europeans had shown they could act together during a recent flare-up linked to Greenland and warned the European Union would respond if Washington raised tariffs again.

"That is our double strategy: an outstretched hand and, at any time, a renewed partnership  but also enough cohesion and unity within the European Union so that we can defend ourselves sufficiently against things we do not want," he said.

(Reporting by Maria Martinez, Editing by Nick Zieminski)
People dig for gold outside Springs, South Africa

A gold rush has gripped an informal settlement east of the South African city of Johannesburg, after reports spread a few days ago about the discovery of some gold particles.

Springs, once a booming gold town, saw its mines close several years ago

A resident in a poor neighbourhood of the former mining town of Springs claimed to have found several nuggets while digging at an outdoor enclosure used for cattle.

Dozens of people have now descended on the area and have been digging up the fenced area where the cows were once penned in, hoping to strike it rich.

A woman uses a spade to fill a bucket with soil next to her children as artisanal miners dig holes looking for gold in a patch of land outside Springs.

Armed with pickaxes and shovels, they have been sifting through the soil in scenes reminiscent of the gold rush that helped build South Africa's financial capital more than a century ago.

Springs was once a booming gold town, but its mines were closed several years ago because the extreme depth of the shafts made operations uneconomical.

Some people told the BBC they had found some gold

The town is now surrounded by informal settlements many of whose residents are migrants from neighbouring countries.

South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources has condemned this week's mining activity in Spring's informal settlement of Gugulethu, calling it illegal and warning that it is damaging the environment.

A person uses a plate to check for small flecks of gold

Some of those digging at the site have told the BBC that they have been able to find gold and have sold it on the black market.

Dangerous chemicals like mercury and sodium cyanide are used to separate the gold from the ore.

Just one gram of gold is worth about $100 (74)

"We know this is illegal. We want the government to give us mining permits so we can work and pay tax," one man, who did not want to be named, told the BBC.

He explained that as a father of two children he needed to earn money to put them through school and put food on the table.

A miner washes soil searching for gold

Another man told the BBC: "This is the only hustle we know. It has saved many of us from being arrested for committing serious and violent crimes."

A gram of gold is worth about $100 (74).

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By contrast, the monthly minimum wage in South Africa is $368 (270).

Small nuggets of gold are visible in a pan in a residue of water and soil

Many of those busy digging during the BBC's visit said they originally hailed from the neighbouring Lesotho.

The digging has been going on for days

At around 14:00 local time after the end of the school day, children started arriving at the site.

They had gone home first to change out of their uniforms and then rushed to the cattle enclosure to help their parents dig for gold.

Dozens of people came to the area hoping to strike gold

While visiting the site, the BBC found that some of the ground had become unstable.

"Unregulated excavation may result in ground instability, placing nearby communities and particularly children at significant risk of injury or loss of life," the mining ministry warned in its statement on Tuesday.

A field formerly used for cattle riven with holes by those digging for gold

So-called illegal mining is common in South Africa, and numerous people have died over the years while working in unsafe conditions.

Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he would deploy the army to help the police fight criminal gangs and illegal mining in the country.

Miners have dug up much of the cattle pen

The authorities blame illegal miners, known as "zama zamas", typically armed, undocumented foreign nationals, for their involvement in organised crime syndicates.

There is no official indication that this is at play in Springs.

Additional reporting by Thuthuka Zondi and Wycliffe Muia

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said last month he doesn't want the state to "add data centers that are not paying their fair share." (Scott Olson / Getty Images) (Scott Olson)

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is expected Wednesday to call for a two-year suspension of tax incentives offered to develop data centers amid growing scrutiny over their rapid expansion and impact on communities.

Pritzker plans to advocate for a policy shift in his State of the State and budget address in Springfield under a proposal first shared with NBC News.

At the center of the plan is a two-year pause, effective July 1, on Illinois' data center tax credit program. Pritzker will instruct key Illinois agencies to study the impact of existing data centers on the states energy grid and consumers and analyze the financial impact the centers have had on the economy. Specifically, the governors office said it is trying to make sure the centers are financially sustainable over time, protect consumers from soaring energy costs and ensure fair allocation of resources.

Illinois' Democratic-led General Assembly must approve Pritzker's proposal.

Data centers are massive structures that run computer servers that power the growing demands of artificial intelligence. Illinois would be hitting pause on their proliferation as community backlash intensifies across the country, with residents from Oregon to Virginia to Indiana calling on local officials to rein in data center development amid rising electricity costs and water consumption.

While a number of states are rushing to create incentives for companies to build data centers, some governors  including potential 2028 candidates  have also moved toward more oversight. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, recently announced a set of criteria for data center developers to qualify for state resources, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has put up some guardrails around data center growth.

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In Pritzker's proposal, tax incentives would not be available for new data centers for two years, beginning in July. In 2024, Georgia lawmakers sent Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, a bill that would curb existing tax incentives, but Kemp vetoed it.

Data center development once promised a boost to local property tax bases and the promise of jobs. But since they have proliferated, residents have shared concerns about the disruption to their communities relative to their benefit. They have also expressed fear of the unpredictability in advancements with artificial intelligence that could leave the massive buildings stranded. One recent flare-up in neighboring Indiana prompted local officials to deny permission for a data center proposed in St. Joseph County.

"As a governor who has long prioritized attracting businesses to the state, Gov. Pritzkers decision to pause tax credits meant to lure data centers to build their facilities in Illinois is a significant statementone other leaders should pay attention to," Kady McFadden, a political strategist in Illinois who has a focus on climate policy, said in an email. "It is clear the governor recognizes these facilities are increasingly politically unpopular and should not lead to higher utilities bills for families. This is a prudent decision on the governor's part as Illinois is beginning a legislative discussion about the future of data centers in the state."

Pritzkers office stressed that Illinois remains welcoming to business growth but that it is trying to balance development with its impact on consumers. Illinois generates more electricity than it consumes, according to the governors office, exporting 20% of the electricity it produces.

Related coverage

Pritzker is also expected Wednesday to cast blame on the Trump administration for rising energy costs, saying they were driven by slashing tax credits and loans for affordable, clean energy resources.

Pritzker spoke this month of his hesitancy about data center development in the future.

"I do not want to add data centers that are not paying their fair share and making sure that were not affecting home rates in any way by having data centers in the state to the extent that we do," he said. "If they do threaten to raise rates, weve got to slow them down and make sure they understand what their responsibilities are. And were going to be looking at that in the legislature this spring."
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Tuesday responded to President Trump labeling her a traitor, repeating her accusation that Trump is trying to hide information related to late sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Him calling me that has become a badge of honor because Im not in his cult, I refused to bow to his demands to cover up the Epstein files to protect his friends, and I stopped fighting the hardest for a team that intentionally refuses to win, Greene wrote in a post on X.

The president earlier this month endorsed Clay Fuller to replace Greene, who resigned from her House seat representing Georgias 14th congressional district at the start of the year.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Monday, Trump said, Well, we have a lot of people that want to take Marjorie Traitor Greenes place.

The former Georgia representative, once a loyal Trump supporter, has become increasingly vocal in her criticism of the president, on issues ranging from the Epstein files to Trumps military operations in foreign countries and Republicans failing to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Trump is expected to visit her congressional district on Thursday ahead of the March 10 special election to replace her.

Currently, 18 candidates are running to replace Greene. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held April 7.

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Fuller, a district attorney, came in fourth in the 2020 Republican primary that Greene won on her way to a first term in office.

Clay Fuller has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Georgias 14th Congressional District  HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN! Trump wrote in a February Truth Social post.

Fuller accepted Trumps endorsement in a post on X and said it was the honor of a lifetime.

Greene warned earlier this month that the MAGA brand is all a lie, describing Trumps first year back in office as focused on obliging wealthy supporters.

I think people are realizing it was all a lie. It was a big lie for the people. What MAGA is really serving in this administration, who theyre serving, is their big donors, Greene said in an interview with radio personality Kim Iversen.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Sarah Jo Pender in court - ABC News Studios

Sarah Jo Pender, an Indiana woman convicted of two murders, has spent more than 20 years behind bars  save for the months she spent evading authorities after a prison break. Now Penders case and her escape are the subject of a Hulu documentary, Girl on the Run: The Hunt for Americas Most Wanted Woman, debuting on Thursday, February 19.

The doc comes as Pender continues fighting for her freedom  through legal means this time  and after the prosecutor in the case has expressed second thoughts about the conviction. Read on for the backstory  and the latest developments.

Sarah Jo Pender and her onetime boyfriend were convicted of the 2000 murders of their roommates.

In July 2002, Pender was convicted for the October 2000 murders of two people, her then-roommates Andrew Cataldi and Tricia Nordman, and she was sentenced to 110 years in prison.

Richard Hull, Penders boyfriend and the fourth roommate at the time of the crime, was convicted in the killings as well and given a 90-year-sentence, per WRTV.

Pender has said that Hull and Cataldi got into an argument the night of the killings  the same night she bought a shotgun from a nearby Walmart  so she left the four roommates house in Indianapolis, Indiana. She said that when she returned, Hull had shot Cataldi and Nordman to death and was loading their bodies into a pickup truck, and she accompanied him as he dropped the bodies into a trash bin. She said she thought Hull would kill her if she contacted the police.

There was no direct evidence linking Pender to the murders, but then-Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Larry Sells relied on evidence including a letter Pender allegedly wrote to Hull and the testimony of an inmate named Floyd Pennington, who claimed Pender confessed to coercing Hull into killing their roommates, per WRTV. Sells knew Hull pulled the trigger, but he believed Pender masterminded the murders and exerted influence over Hull. He even called her the female Charles Manson.

Pender escaped from prison in 2008 and recaptured months later.

In August 2008, Pender broke out of Indianas medium-security Rockville Correctional Facility by hiding in the back of a state prison vehicle driven by a prison guard, according to the Chicago Tribune. She spent nearly five months on the lam, and she ranked as the only woman the U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list at the time.

In December 2008, nearly five months later and hours after a rerun of the TV program Americas Most Wanted publicized her case, police in Chicago received an anonymous tip about Penders whereabouts in the city. Tactical officers found her in an apartment and took her into custody.

The guard who abetted Penders escape was later sentenced to eight years in prison, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal. A former inmate was accused of aiding the breakout as well, according to WTHR, and she was sentenced to seven years in prison, court records show.

The prosecutor in the case now thinks Penders murder convictions should be set aside.

In 2023, a then-retired Sells expressed doubts about Penders conviction. Ive come to the conclusion that there definitely exists a reasonable doubt as to Sarahs culpability in the case, he told WRTV.

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In 2003, Hull vowed in an affidavit that he acted alone and had a fellow inmate named Steve Logan forge the letter from Pender. In an affidavit of his own in 2019, Logan admitted to faking the document, saying he was bullied, manipulated, and coerced into doing so.

Furthermore, Sells discovered after Penders trial that Pennington had written a snitch list that indicated he would do anything to get a plea deal, including lying under oath. (Pennington, for his part, has claimed he told the truth about Pender.)

The snitch list and the forged letter are two of the factors that convinced Sells that important evidence presented at [Penders] trial was tainted and that her murder convictions should be set aside, he told WRTV.

He added, I never had anything like this happen in any case I ever prosecuted before. It took a long time for me to come to the conclusion Ive come to now  Justice is long overdue for Sarah Pender. Unfortunately, the legal system has to date failed her, but that grievous error can and should be corrected.

Last month, a judge denied Penders request for a sentence modification.

Pender, now 46, asked a Marion County judge for a sentence modification in December 2025, pleading for a chance to be free and not die in prison, WRTV reported separately.

She told the court, I bought the gun. I didnt run away and report the crime, and I helped Rick afterwards. I deserved to go to jail. However, shocked and devastated does not come close to how I felt when I was found guilty of Drew and Trishs murders.  I thought the judge would give me 45 years. 110 years was unfathomable.

In January, however, the judge denied the petition, according to WRTV.

Now, the three-episode Hulu documentary Girl on the Run  directed by Sebastian Smith and produced by Plum Pictures and ABC News Studios  is revisiting the case, with exclusive interviews with Pender and Hull. The law enforcement officer who led the pursuit after Penders breakout is also interviewed as the doc offers an inside look at the strategy, frustration, and psychological chess match behind the hunt following one of the most audacious prison breaks in recent history, Hulu says.

Girl on the Run: The Hunt for Americas Most Wanted Woman, Thursday, February 19, Hulu

Read the latest entertainment news on TV Insider.
FILE - A general view of a pumping station at the end of the Druzhba oil pipeline in the east German refinery PCK in Schwedt, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Sven Kaestner, File)

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  Hungary is suspending its shipments of diesel to neighboring Ukraine until interruptions to Russian oil supplies via a pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory are resolved, Hungary's foreign minister said Wednesday.

Russian oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia have been interrupted since Jan. 27 after what Ukrainian officials say were Russian attacks that damaged the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude into Central Europe.

Hungary and Slovakia, which have both received a temporary exemption from a European Union policy prohibiting imports of Russian oil, have accused Ukraine  without providing evidence  of deliberately holding up supplies.

In a video posted on social media Wednesday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said the interruption to oil deliveries was "a political decision made by the Ukrainian president himself.

Ukraine has denied such accusations.

Szijjarto added that Hungary has enough oil reserves to last more than three months, and that its energy security was assured.

As nearly every country in Europe has significantly reduced or entirely ceased Russian energy imports, Hungary  an EU and NATO member  has maintained and even increased its supply of Russian oil and gas since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine in February 2022.

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Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long argued Russian fossil fuels are indispensable for its economy and that switching to energy sourced from elsewhere would cause an immediate economic collapse  an argument some experts dispute.

Widely seen as the Kremlin's biggest advocate in the EU, Orban has vigorously opposed the blocs efforts to sanction Moscow over its invasion, and blasted attempts to hit Russias energy revenues that help finance the war.

Facing what promises to be the most challenging election of his last 16 years in power in April, Orban has launched an aggressive anti-Ukraine and anti-EU campaign, seeking to convince voters that the neighboring country poses an existential risk to Hungary and that he is the only guarantor of its safety.

Following the interruption to Druzhba oil supplies at the end of January, Hungary's government asked neighboring Croatia to allow Russian oil delivered by sea to be pumped to refineries in Hungary and Slovakia via the Adria pipeline.

Croatia's Economy Minister Ante Susnjar has said his country would not allow energy supplies in Central Europe be threatened, but pushed back on Hungary's request.

Writing on social media site X on Monday, Susnjar said there are no technical excuses left for staying tied to Russian crude for any EU country.

A barrel bought from Russia may appear cheaper to some countries, but helps fund war and attacks on Ukrainian people, he wrote.
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Donald Trump's administration from deporting Mohsen Mahdawi, a pro-Palestinian protest leader who led anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia University.

Judge Nina Froes terminated the case after saying federal authorities made a procedural error and failed to certify a document they attempted to submit as evidence.

"I am grateful to the court for honoring the rule of law and holding the line against the governments attempts to trample on due process," Mahdawi said in a statement. "This decision is an important step towards upholding what fear tried to destroy: the right to speak for peace and justice."

Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin condemned the ruling on Tuesday, saying the Trump administration remains committed to removing Mahdawi's visa.

Trump Admin Cracks Down Antisemitism As Doj Official Exposes 'Violent Rhetoric' Of Radical Protesters

Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi will not be deported after Immigration Judge Nina Froes ruled the government failed to provide sufficient evidence. (AP Images)

"No activist judge, not this one or any other, is going to stop us from doing that," she said.

Read On The Fox News App

Froes' ruling relates to a document submitted as evidence by federal attorneys. The document referenced Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying noncitizens can be expelled from the country if their presence may undermine U.S. foreign policy interests.

Froes wrote in her ruling that government attorneys submitted a photocopy of the document to the court, but they failed to certify it as required under federal law.

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Federal Judge Sides With Anti-israel Ringleader Mahmoud Khalil, Halts Trump Administration's Deportation Bid

Mohsen Mahdawi, accused of antisemitic statements and leading Columbia University protests, wins deportation case after judge finds evidence insufficient.

Mahdawi, 34, was detained in April 2025 during a citizenship appointment in Vermont and spent more than two weeks in custody. He was later released on bail after filing a habeas corpus petition.

A federal judge ordered that he not be deported or removed from the state and was released under an order issued by U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford in Burlington.

According to the 2025 court filing, Mahdawi co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack. He founded the group with Mahmoud Khalil.

More Than A Dozen Anti-ice Agitators Hauled Away By Nypd Near Columbia University

Mahdawi's deportation case also stems in part from allegations dating back to 2015, when he was interviewed by the FBI after reportedly making antisemitic remarks at a Vermont gun store and a firearms museum.

According to court documents previously cited by Fox News Digital , the store owner said Mahdawi expressed interest in purchasing firearms, including a sniper rifle and an automatic weapon.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

The owner said Mahdawi claimed he had experience building modified 9mm submachine guns "to kill Jews while he was in Palestine."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Immigration judge blocks deportation of Columbia anti-Israel agitator
FR172204 AP

Nearly half of Americans now refuse to identify as either Democrat or Republican. According to a recentGalluppoll, independents make up a record 45% of the electorate, compared to just 27% who identify as Democrats and 27% as Republicans. Yet our political system continues to operate as though this plurality doesnt exist - until now.

Both major political parties are facing widespread public dissatisfaction, with58%of Americans viewing the Republican Party unfavorably and 61% expressing unfavorable views of the Democratic Party. As confidence in the parties erodes, 2026 is shaping up to be the year that we see a handful of independents elected to Congress, disrupting the balance of power in Washington.

For politically homeless voters, this moment calls for more practical solutions than frustration. It calls for supporting credible independent candidates where they can actually win, especially in congressional districts where neither party is delivering for their constituents.

While the Gallup poll shows the increase in independent self-identification metrics, which have been sitting around 40% since 2011, there is a convergence of two major trends that are making this moment in politics ripe for independents.

The first major trend is the rise of millennials and Gen Z as a central voting bloc. 2026 will be an election in which younger Americans make up a sizable portion of theelectorate, withprojectionscurrently holding that millennials and Gen Z will account for over half of the electorate by 2028.

While millennials and Gen Z are often discussed as the future of American politics, they are already its present. Millennials are now well into their 30s, many serving in executive and senior leadership roles in politics and business, including prominent voices such as Vice President JD Vance and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Together, millennials and Gen Z are becoming one of the most influential forces in the electorate.

Unlike their predecessors, these two generations are far more likely to identify asindependent, with many never having belonged to a political party in the first place, breaking from the partisan loyalties that defined previous generations. Younger independents are focused most on issues like affordability, which both parties are failing to address. They gravitate toward candidates from either party who appear authentically invested in their issues.

The second trend is the broader integration of AI systems into everyday life - including politics. AI is the great leveler, much like the printing press fundamentally altered information systems and power structures centuries ago. AI will be agamechangerin a similar way, and its a major reason why an independent movement in 2026 can make more progress than past efforts.

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The two-party system, like the taxi industry before Uber disrupted it, represents an entrenched but flawed model that has resisted reform. AI provides the tools to completely bypass the old system, rather than slowly reforming it from the inside. While voters have long been locked in a binary choice that fails to serve them, technology now democratizes campaign infrastructure, voter outreach, and message distribution pathways for alternatives that were previously impossible without massive institutional backing.

As the political influence of millennials and Gen Z converges with the emergence of AI, were left with a glaring fact: The parties are increasingly out of step with the moment and failing to deliver the change voters sent them to Washington to achieve.

Americans are hungry for more options at the ballot box. Choice is so ingrained in our contemporary lives that its remarkable that our political options are so narrow. We can customize what we watch, what we drive, even which type of peanut butter sits on our shelves. Yet when it comes to politics, those options narrow dramatically. As the two major parties continue to struggle to meet the moment, voters appetite for credible alternatives is only growing stronger.

In the private sector, wed call it a clear product-market fit. If there were two brands that people clearly rejected, competition would naturally emerge in the market. The same logic applies to politics. Recent polling from theIndependent Center Voicediscovered that 76% of voters would likely vote for "strong, well-funded independent candidate."

For far too long, the conversation among independents has fixated on electing a third-party candidate to the White House. Theyll find more luck channeling their dissatisfaction, frustration, and growing disillusionment toward Congress, where institutional change is more enduring. Its in congressional races - not presidential ones - that the independent movement will be felt first.

Independents need only three to five seats to fundamentally transform American politics. With growing concentrations of independent and "no party preference" voters across key districts, the foundation for change is already in place.

The real question is no longer whether the independent movement will arrive, but whether the political system is prepared to respond.

Adam Brandon is senior adviser to the Independent Center, a nonprofit organization of political independents.
 Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Quick Take

The new Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center opens on February 20, 2026, at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, Utah.

The Learning Center is 120,000 square feet and makes the Aquarium the fifth-largest such facility in the United States.

The new Learning Center includes the Ford Expedition Asia exhibit , the Mountain America Event Center , and an Education Hub .

The Aquarium is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

On February 20, 2026, the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, Utah, will debut its new Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center. With the addition of this 120,000 square foot facility, the Aquarium will become the fifth-largest aquarium in the U.S. Heres everything you need to know.

What Will the New Learning Center Offer?

According to Brent Andersen, Founder and CEO of Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, the new center represents more than simply an expansion of the aquarium. With this new building, well be able to reach more students, inspire deeper connections to our living planet, and strengthen our impact in the community, he says.

Visitors to the Learning Center will have an abundance of options for learning and exploration.

Ford Expedition Asia

Visitors to this exhibit will be immersed in an Asian cloud forest, filled with towering trees and ancient temple ruins. Enjoying the new habitat will be popular Aquarium residents, including Raja the Komodo dragon and Kai and Emmie, a pair of Asian small-clawed otters. Joining them for the first time will be new Aquarium arrivals, including a pair of clouded leopards, two binturong, a coconut crab, and Matschies tree kangaroo.

James Jensen, Director of Marketing & Creative at the Zoo, notes, As an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited facility, the addition of the new cloud leopard pair makes it possible for us to participate in the AZAs Species Survival Plan program for these animals. Cloud leopards are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCNs Red List.

He notes that the binturong is also part of a longer-term plan for the Aquariums further participation in the AZA SSP program. Binturong, Arctictis binturong, are also classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Besides the lush landscapes and exotic animals waiting to be discovered, kids visiting the Ford Expedition Asia exhibit can also explore an interactive play zone. There, they can climb through the forest canopy and experience the treetops, just like the new tree kangaroo.

Mountain America Event Center

Spanning 15,000 square feet, this new meeting and events venue, including its spacious pre-function space, is designed to mirror Utahs distinctive mountain landscape and terrain, according to Jensen. The new facility can accommodate up to 2,000 guests. The venue is intended to host everything from intimate gatherings to large-scale conferences, galas, and social events.

The mission of the Aquarium is to ensure abundant educational opportunities, especially for children in the region. We strive to offer programs and classes that help people discover, learn, and explore more about the natural world both here in Utah and around the world, says Jensen. This expansive new event facility will help us financially support those goals and reinvest in the community.

Within the new events center, guests will have an up-close view of the massive new aquarium that is home to the Aquariums new zebra shark. In addition, there are expansive views overlooking scenic Utah outdoor landscapes, including mountains and desert.

Event planners will have everything they need to produce unforgettable events, including state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities, custom catering options, and more. Events can be planned to incorporate other areas of the Aquarium as well, giving guests a full 360-degree experience.

Kai and Emmie, Asian small-clawed otters, are long-time residents of the Aquarium and will reside in the new exhibit. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium  Original / License (Loveland Living Planet Aquarium)

In addition to supporting the Aquariums educational priorities, revenue generated from the event center will also help provide continued world-class animal care to the Aquariums inhabitants.

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Education Hub

With 14 state-of-the-art classrooms and advanced laboratories, the new Education Hub supports innovative programming focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). The space is designed to host camps, field trips, research collaborations, and more.

It is also a multi-audience facility. While many of its visitors will be school-age learners, the Aquarium is also partnering with Utah State University and other higher education institutions across Utah.

Jensen notes that of the four fully-outfitted laboratories, one is designated for use by Utah State University students and the other for Utah Valley University students.

These collaborations are designed to deliver hands-on research and real-world experience to marine science students throughout the state, even when theyre surrounded by desert and mountains. It makes it possible for our local universities to offer new marine science-focused coursework, including a marine biology major, he notes.

Other Animals to See At the Aquarium

The Aquarium is home to the Penguin Research Station. There, visitors can watch Gentoo penguins swimming and diving from above- and below-water viewing areas.

This clouded leopard is one of two new arrivals that will reside in the new Ford Expedition Asia exhibit. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium  Original / License (Loveland Living Planet Aquarium)

Visitors can also get up close to a variety of other sea life via the 40-foot underground tunnel that winds through an ocean habitat. Sharks, rays, clownfish, turtles, and jellyfish can be seen. Theres even a giant Pacific octopus that might make an appearance.

Theres a South American tropical rainforest gallery, filled with free-flying birds, exotic fish and reptiles, and arboreal porcupines. Some of the more popular animals present include electric eels, toucans, sloths, and dwarf caimans.

In honor of its home state, the Aquarium also offers a Discover Utah exhibit. There, youll see a variety of native fish, two working beehives, and playful North American river otters. You can also see and learn more about Utahs desert tortoises. This unique species can survive in temperatures that exceed 140F and survive for a year or more with no water.

Other Fun Things to Do at the Aquarium

Besides the diverse animals visitors can discover, the Aquarium also offers other unique experiences. One is the EECO Voyager, a full-motion virtual reality tour that takes guests on a voyage across colorful reefs and through lush rainforests.

The rainforest-dwelling binturong is also found at the Aquarium. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium  Original / License (Loveland Living Planet Aquarium)

Theres also the Deep Sea Lab, where guests can explore a deep-sea submersible replica to view giant isopods, Pacific hagfish, and Japanese spider crabs.

Kids can explore Tukis Island, a 4,000-square-foot play area. Theres a three-level playground with slides, monkey bars, and obstacle courses, plus a separate toddler play area.

More About the Aquarium

Founded in 1999, the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earths diverse ecosystems. Situated approximately 20 miles south of Salt Lake City, the Aquarium offers a variety of experiences to visitors.

Now in its 27th year, the Aquarium has grown from its original roots as a mobile educational experience that traveled to local classrooms to become the fifth-largest aquarium in the United States. Jensen notes that throughout the Aquariums long history, its guiding principle has remained unchanged. We want every visitor to leave with unforgettable memories that they cherish for a lifetime and share with family and friends, he says.

Visitors who want to join the grand opening of the Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center can buy tickets now for the February 20, 2026, event. According to Jensen, doors to the Aquarium will open at 9:30 a.m. on Friday for anyone interested in attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which will begin at 10:00 a.m.

The Aquarium and Learning Center are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Aquarium memberships are also available, offering unlimited Aquarium admission for one year, special discounts, and more.

The post Inside the 120,000 Square Foot Learning Center Transforming a Utah Aquarium appeared first on A-Z Animals.
The Iowa State Fair announced two more concerts for the 2026 Iowa State Fair Grandstand, leaving only four more concert dates to fill.

Country, rock and blues-inspired band The Red Clay Strays and pop group AJR will perform at this year's Grandstand. Here's what to know and how to get tickets.

When is The Red Clay Strays' concert at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand?

The Red Clay Strays performs during Hinterland Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024 in St. Charles.

The Red Clay Strays will perform at the Iowa State Fair at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026.

Tickets for the concert range from $54.40 to $109.40.

When is the AJR concert at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand?

AJR performs at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater in Milwaukee on June 4, 2022.

AJR will perform at the Iowa State Fair at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.

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Tickets for the concert range from $54.40 to $94.40.

Where do I get tickets for the Iowa State Fair concerts?

Tickets to see The Red Clay Strays and AJR go on sale Friday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. at iowastatefair.org

What other concerts are at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand in 2026?

Thursday, Aug. 13 : HARDY

Friday, Aug. 14: Rod Stewart

Saturday. Aug. 15: The Red Clay Strays

Sunday, Aug. 16: Lainey Wilson

Monday, Aug. 17: TBA

Tuesday, Aug. 18: TBA

Wednesday, Aug. 19: AJR

Thursday, Aug. 20: Riley Green

Friday, Aug. 21: TBA

Saturday, Aug. 22: TBA

Sunday, Aug. 23: Josiah Queen

When is the Iowa State Fair in 2026?

The 2026 Iowa State Fair will run Aug. 13-23. The 2026 theme is "Fair Spirit," celebrating America's 250th anniversary.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The Red Clay Strays, AJR to play Iowa State Fair concerts in 2026
Iran's and U.S.' flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Iran is expected to submit a written proposal on how to resolve its standoff with the United States in the wake of U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva on Tuesday, a senior U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday.

Top U.S. national security advisers met in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday to discuss Iran and were told all U.S. military forces deployed to the region should be in place by mid-March, the official said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel to discuss Iran on February 28, the official said.

Tuesday's indirect discussions in Geneva between U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, were aimed at heading off a mounting crisis between the two countries.

The United States wants Iran to give up its nuclear program, and Iran has adamantly refused and denied it is trying to develop an atomic weapon.

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Iran agreed to make a written proposal on how to address U.S. concerns during the Geneva talks, the senior U.S. official said.

"We are currently waiting for that from the Iranians," the official said.

The U.S. has sought to expand the scope of talks to non-nuclear issues such as Iran's missile stockpile. Iran says it is willing only to discuss curbs on its nuclear program, in exchange for sanctions relief, and that it will not give up uranium enrichment completely or discuss its missile program.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that some progress was made in Geneva but that "we're still very apart on some issues."

Trump has ordered a major military buildup in the region as he contemplates use of force with a second aircraft carrier group en route.

"The president has ordered the continued buildup in the region, including the arrival of the second carrier group. Full forces should be in place by mid-March," the senior U.S. official said.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Chris Reese and Alistair Bell)
Editor's note: Alysa Liu won Olympic gold in women's figure skating.

MILAN  Japan has a chance to sweep the women's figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

There was a lot of hype and hope that the United States trio of Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito would storm the podium, but after Tuesday's short program, only Liu has a chance to medal.

The Japanese skaters, however, are all in striking distance.

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Teenager Ami Nakai took first place (78.71 points). The 17-year-old started off with a clean triple Axel and only got better from there, putting up a strong performance to start the fourth of five groups. Her score was a season best and her joyful performance got the crowd on their feet.

Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto  the reigning Olympics bronze medalist  is second (77.23), and Mone Chiba finished fourth (74). Only Liu broke up their dominance with a third-place performance (76.59). Adeliia Petrosian of Russia (72.89) rounded out the top five.

1 / 0 Best photos of Olympics figure skating women's short program, Team USA See the best moments from the womens figure skating short program as Team USA's 'Blade Angels'  Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito  go for gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games.

Viktoriia Safonova of Team Individual Neutral Athletes competes during the Women's singles figure skating short program on Feb. 17, 2026.

They now await Thursday's free skate to determine who takes home a medal. The top 20 of 29 skaters in the short program advanced. That includes Liu, Levito (eighth) and Glenn (13th), whose strong performance was marred by her bailing on a triple loop, which gave her zero points on that element.

"Whether I beat them or not is not my goal, Liu said to the Associated Press when asked about the Japanese skaters. My goal is just to do my programs and share my story and I dont need to be over or under anyone to do that.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Japan women's figure skating has chance to sweep Olympics podium
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan attends AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 19, 2021. Gage Skidmore / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Cropped from Original

(The Center Square)  Congressional scrutiny is intensifying over alleged billions in welfare fraud in Minnesota, with House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan accusing state officials of assisting the scheme.

Jordan said in an interview that Minnesota Democrats will face increased scrutiny in the coming months.

They knew there was fraud because whistleblowers came forward and they just ignored it. In fact, it looks like they retaliated against them, Jordan said. In many ways, I think they actually assisted the fraud. It wasn't just like: Were going to look the other way. They actually assisted the fraud.

He pointed to concerns about the actions of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who Jordan said met with and received political donations from one of the organizations involved in the fraud scandals.

He met with them, and then he got political contributions, Jordan said. Then the money kept flowing, of course, to this organization.

Ellison has rejected claims that he enabled fraud, saying his office cooperated with federal prosecutions. In the hearing before the Senate Homeland Security Committee last week, he denied meeting with any fraudsters or taking donations from them.

Thats a lie, Ellison said in response to accusations from Republicans.

Jordan also pointed out that Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, announced he will not be running for re-election this year.

"If it was Republicans' fault, if it wasn't really his fault, if they didn't know it about this, if there hadn't been whistleblowers coming forward, you know he would be running for re-election  but he's not, because this thing is real."

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The accusations come just after officials in the Trump administration called the widespread welfare fraud in Minnesota the single greatest theft of taxpayer dollars through welfare fraud in American history.

We believe that the Somali fraud operation in Minnesota is the single greatest theft of taxpayer dollars through welfare fraud in American history, said Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, in an interview earlier this week.

Independent and federal investigations are ongoing after billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded fraud schemes were uncovered in recent months, as extensively reported by The Center Square, with claims the fraud could total between $9 billion and $20 billion in Minnesota alone.

According to Miller, the fraudulent practices included falsely claiming children had autism to obtain benefits, enrolling individuals in food assistance programs who were never eligible or enrolled, and engaging in massive fraud, lying, theft, and grift on a scale weve never seen before in American history.

Since the story first broke a few months ago, numerous arrests have been made and federal investigations remain ongoing. Congress has also turned its attention to the issue, probing everything from welfare fraud to the finances of Somalia-born U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.

In January, the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance held a hearing on the Minnesota fraud investigation.

During that hearing, both Democrats and Republicans acknowledged that fraud is widespread throughout government welfare programs. However, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said the federal fraud investigations in Minnesota are targeted.

Fraud is not headquartered in one state, for one municipality, much less one ethnic, racial or religious community, Raskin said. But, President Trump couldn't resist the temptation to use fraud in Minnesota as an occasion to mobilize the power of the federal government to bully and intimidate first and second generation Somali Americans who live in that state.

Jordan said more focus needs to be placed on the alleged theft of billions of dollars of American taxpayer money, adding that the Justice Department will investigate the alleged widespread fraud nationwide.

We need more focus . . . it needs to be a focus nationwide, Jordan said. Where is this also happening? Not just in Minneapolis, but where else is this going on?
A U.S. District Court judge has ordered Michigan utility giant DTE to pay a $100 million penalty for the persistent, excessive air pollution emanating from one of its subsidiary factories on Zug Island.

The EES Coke Battery plant on Zug Island in Detroit on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain, in his ruling Tuesday, Feb. 17, also ordered DTE to come into compliance with the federal Clean Air Act by following stricter "new source review" air pollution permitting guidelines at the EES Coke Battery plant. The utility must also form a Community Quality Action Committee and provide it with $20 million in funding for community air quality improvement projects.

This is a rare good day for environmental justice in Detroit, said Nicholas Leonard, executive director of Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, which represented the environmental nonprofit organization Sierra Club in the lawsuit.

DTE officials in a statement said the ruling will have "negative implications" for the coke supply vital to the U.S. steel industry, and that the utility intends to appeal the ruling.

EES Coke Battery LLC operates 85 ovens at its Zug Island facility. There, coal is heated in an oxygen-free atmosphere until all its volatile components evaporate, leaving behind coke. The coke is then used in steelmaking to heat iron ore and remove its oxygen content, leaving behind pure iron.

The process leads to the release of potentially health-harming sulfur dioxide, and EES Coke Battery is one of the largest emitters of sulfur dioxide pollution in Michigan  about 3,600 tons of the pollutant into the atmosphere in 2021, according to the EPA.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation against EES Coke Battery in 2020, and the U.S. Justice Department sued the company two years later, after the EPA found the company did not follow Clean Air Act permitting requirements to prevent significant air quality deterioration, update pollution controls to best available technologies, and other "New Source Review" requirements when making a major modification to plant operations. The company years earlier had modified how it was using coke oven gas, a byproduct of the coking process, as a fuel.

The Sierra Club and the city of River Rouge joined in the lawsuit against EES Coke Battery with the federal government. The government later amended its complaint to add DTE as defendants to the case, claiming they are also liable for the alleged Clean Air Act violations as operators" of the facility  a contention the utility disputed.

In February 2025, the court found EES Coke Battery liable for Clean Air Act violations in a summary judgment, a direct court finding based on available evidence. The court, at the same time, denied DTE's motion for summary judgment, finding that there were issues for the court to later decide on whether DTE should be considered operators of EES Coke Battery.

The Court held a bench trial on the DTE's liability and the appropriate remedy in September 2025.

In his ruling Tuesday, Drain found that the government had proven that DTE was indeed the operator of EES Coke Battery. The $100 million civil penalty was based on testimony showing DTE benefited economically by about $70 million from delaying or avoiding compliance costs. That amount, to which the judge added a multiplier, is "to ensure the civil penalty levels the economic playing field and adequately deters future Clean Air Act violations."

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Drain declined to impose specific air pollution control targets, leaving that to the state's environmental regulator, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to determine during the permitting process. Testimony during the trial indicated that desulfurization technology, which could be incorporated at the plant, can reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by more than 90%. EES Coke Battery in 2015 considered and rejected installing desulfurization technology, which it estimated would have cost $165 million.

More: Planned expansion at Zug Island coke factory would add nearly 3 tons of dust to air

Theresa Landrum, a southwest Detroit resident, environmental justice advocate and Sierra Club member, called Tuesday's ruling "a monumental victory."

Our families and neighbors can never get back the years lost to breathing dirty air," she said. "This ruling gives me faith that big corporations can be held accountable for breaking the law, and it gives me hope for the future.

The Community Quality Action Committee will be composed of seven members, including residents and representatives of environmental advocacy organizations, who are charged with maximizing public health and air quality improvements in Ecorse, River Rouge, and the 48217 ZIP code, predominantly African American neighborhoods surrounded by heavy industry that University of Michigan research determined is the most polluted ZIP code in Michigan.

Examples of possible projects include funding and distributing stand-alone HEPA air purifier devices to households near EES Coke, installing filtration systems in schools, and home weatherization programs, said Dr. Dolores Leonard, a Sierra Club member, who, like Landrum, lives in the 48217 ZIP code.

Through our efforts, we won millions of dollars to help fund things like air purifiers in homes and schools that will help kids breathe easier, she said. These wins will undoubtedly save lives.

More: EPA begins removing hazards from former Detroit chemical plant

DTE responded to Free Press inquiries seeking comment with an emailed statement: "We are extremely disappointed in the courts ruling and its negative implications on the domestic supply of coke to the U.S. steel industry. We have been anticipating this order and are eager to make our appeal to the 6th Circuit Court. We remain committed to compliance and have been operating within the limits of the valid original state permit  both today and during the time period in question. "

Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Judge orders DTE to pay $100M penalty over Zug Island factory pollution
Paul and Ashley Moody soon will make their case in a courtroom for why they should walk free after the owners of Marble City Market allege the married couple stole more than $190,000 while managing the Knoxville food hall.

After parting ways with the food hall in 2023, the Moodys' SmashCity Knoxville concept continued to operate at 211 S. Central St. until Feb. 12, 2026, when Knox News reported the business was seized by the Tennessee Department of Revenue over alleged nonpayment of state taxes.

But this isn't your typical rise-and-fall story  at least, not for Paul. His history in the restaurant industry is marked by multiple cases of financial wrongdoing and theft from the places that employed him.

Here's what you need to know about the Moodys, their Marble City Market controversy and the latest on the closing of SmashCity Knoxville.

Who are Paul and Ashley Moody?

Paul and Ashley Moody  building on the success of their Lanai Hawaiian Kitchen food truck  brought SmashCity to the food hall as one of its original vendors when the venue opened in November 2021.

The Moodys planned to bring Lanai to Kern's Food Hall, Knox News reported in 2020, but that never happened. Once they conceptualized SmashCity, they wrapped the food truck in burger branding and shifted focus to Marble City Market.

Upon joining the Knoxville food hall, SmashCity was already up and running at Inner Rail Food Hall in Omaha, Nebraska, overseen by the same food hall management group. SmashCity Omaha is no longer open.

Moodys at Marble City Market, from stall to food hall managers

Paul Moody's history of theft from restaurants

Paul Moody also was behind the Lanai Hawaiian Kitchen food truck, which temporarily became a stall at Marble City Market prior to him taking over management of the food hall.

Knox News is aware of three cases in which Paul Moody previously had faced charges for stealing. Court records show:

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Hurricane Grill & Wings on Lovell Road (no longer open) was made aware in 2015 that Moody had cashed three checks totaling $3,200 that were in the restaurant's name. Moody was an employee of the restaurant or had just been fired at the time. Outcome: Moody pleaded guilty to theft and was ordered to pay restitution.

Three years prior, Moody was managing a Cracker Barrel in Moody, Alabama, when the store's loss prevention officer confronted him about $6,661.03 worth of missing deposits. Outcome: Moody pleaded guilty in 2013 to first-degree theft of property. He was ordered to pay restitution and serve three years of unsupervised probation.

Moody used a stolen credit card number in 2007 to purchase four season tickets for an unidentified University of Tennessee team totaling $2,731.25. Outcome: Moody was found guilty of misdemeanor theft and was placed on supervised probation until the money was paid back.

What to know about the state seizing SmashCity Knoxville

SmashCity Knoxville is no longer open at 211 S. Central St. after being seized by the state Department of Revenue. This sign, along with a document explaining the business was seized for failure to pay state taxes, was displayed in the windows of the restaurant Feb. 12.

After hearing SmashCity had been shut down by the state, Knox News stopped by the restaurant Feb. 12 and found a Tennessee Department of Revenue document posted in the window.

"This property has been seized for nonpayment of Tennessee State taxes by virtue of a levy issued by the Department of Revenue," the document said.

Knox News contacted the state with questions about the seizure, but a revenue department spokesperson only provided a statement: "Tennessee law expressly prohibits the Department of Revenue from commenting on or discussing information about individual taxpayers ... Because we work with businesses on a case-by-case basis, I cannot comment on what may happen next in this particular situation or provide any further details on a specific taxpayer."

Also on the restaurant's window Feb. 12 was a handwritten note: "Closed. Thanks for the good times!!!"

What's next for Paul and Ashley Moody?

The Moodys have a court case set for April 27. Paul and Ashley each are facing a charge of felony theft and a Tennessee Computer Act Violation.

Ryan Wilusz is the business growth and development editor for Knox News. Email: ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com; Cell: 865-317-5138; Instagram: @knoxscruff

Support strong local journalism by subscribing to subscribe.knoxnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: SmashCity Knoxville, Paul Moody food hall theft case
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Raymier Pride, 11, has been found safe after being reported missing from the Young High Flats apartment complex on E. Young High Pike on Wednesday morning.

Previously, the Knoxville Police Department said he may be at an unknown location in the complex. He was last seen at the complex around 10 p.m. Tuesday night and was wearing a black T-shirt, no shoes, and black shorts with a white design.

At 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, police posted asking the public for information. They posted an update around 8 a.m. saying efforts to locate him were ongoing. At 11:58 a.m., KPD posted that he was found safe and was back home.

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Authorities say nearly 400 people go missing in Tennessee each year. Check this list of people missing from East Tennessee to see if you can help locate someone.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
FILE - Benoit Aubenas, left, the father of French journalist Florence Aubenas, who has been missing in Iraq since Jan. 5, 2005, is comforted by Palestinian envoy to France, Leila Shahid, during a gathering ceremony as part the Eid Al Adha at the Paris Mosque on Jan. 20, 2005. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP)  Leila Shahid, the first female Palestinian diplomat, who held prominent posts in Europe during some of the most tumultuous years of the Mideast conflict, has died in France at the age of 76.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised her as a model of diplomacy committed to the values of freedom, justice and peace," saying "she remained faithful to her peoples message until her final days, according to the official WAFA news agency.

Shahid was born in Beirut in 1949, a year after the war surrounding Israel's establishment, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes. Her parents were from Jerusalem and what is now northern Israel.

After working in Palestinian refugee camps, she traveled to Paris in the 1970s to pursue a Ph.D. in anthropology. In 1976, she was elected head of the Palestinian student union in France.

She returned to Beirut at the time of the Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982, when Israeli-backed Lebanese Christian militiamen killed hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children in two refugee camps.

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The Palestine Liberation Organization posted her to Ireland in 1989, making her the first female Palestinian ambassador. She was posted to the Netherlands the following year.

From 1993 until 2005, she served as the Palestinian envoy to France.

Her tenure coincided with the height of the peace process and the outbreak of the second Palestinian uprising, or intifada, in 2000. She was with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in his final days before he died in a French military hospital in 2004.

From 2006 to 2014 she served as Palestinian envoy to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg.

She was also the longtime director of The Review of Palestinian Studies, a French language periodical on the history of the conflict.
CHICAGO, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)  Leading candidates running for the Democratic Party nomination for the United States Senator for Illinois will face off in a debate streamed live on WTWO+.

The debate will be hosted by WTWOs sister station in Chicago, WGN News, on Thursday, February 19.

Your Local Election Headquarters: Illinois U.S. Senate Democratic Primary Debate will be moderated by WGN News political editor Tahman Bradley and anchor/reporter Micah Materre. It will feature U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D).

We rarely see an open U.S. Senate seat in Illinois, the voters face a big choice that will likely reshape local and national politics for years to come, Bradley said. Were excited to host the top three Democrats in the race.

These three candidates met the Nexstar Media Group established debate criteria.

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How to watch?

The debate will begin at 8 p.m. EST on Thursday. During the debate, moderators will pose questions to each candidate on issues including healthcare, the economy, immigration and U.S. foreign policy.

The debate will be live streamed on WTWOs new streaming app WTWO+.

The WTWO+ app is available to download on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. A live stream of WTWO+ can also be watched by clicking this link.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and its partners will receive nearly $25 million in federal funding for projects aimed at boosting workforce training, scientific research, public safety and national defense.

The money was approved by Congress as part of the federal governments Fiscal Year 2026 budget and signed into law by President Trump, the school announced. University officials said the funding will support projects led or co-led by UL Lafayette in collaboration with federal agencies, private companies and other universities.

The four projects include:

$5 million to create the Silicon Bayou Semiconductor Training Center, which will focus on training workers to manufacture the next generation of computer chips.

$2.5 million to upgrade high-level biosecurity labs at the New Iberia Research Center to strengthen research on infectious diseases.

$12 million for a joint cybersecurity research effort called Autonomous Recovery from Cyber Attacks (ARC), aimed at improving national security and defense systems.

$5 million for the PHMSA National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety to advance safety research and workforce training in the liquefied natural gas industry.

University leaders said the funding will help strengthen Louisianas workforce, expand research capacity and support partnerships with industry and government.

The projects were backed by members of Louisianas congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins and U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy.

A first for UL Lafayette: School launches Louisianas first applied computing Ph.D.

Kolluru said the funding will allow the university to grow programs that strengthen the states economy and support national priorities.

Workforce and chip manufacturing

The $5 million for the Silicon Bayou Semiconductor Training Center will help establish a semiconductor manufacturing training and research facility on campus. The university has committed a 12,000-square-foot building and invested $1.25 million to launch the center.

We are grateful to Louisianas congressional delegation for their leadership and advocacy on behalf of these transformative projects and, ultimately, on behalf of Louisianas future, UL Lafayette Interim President Dr. Ramesh Kolluru said.

The facility will operate in partnership with South Louisiana Community College and other stakeholders. Officials say it will help meet Louisianas workforce needs, support major industry investments such as First Solar and attract additional semiconductor companies to the state.

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Infectious Disease Research Upgrades

The $2.5 million allocated to the New Iberia Research Center will expand and modernize its Bio-Safety Level 3 laboratory. These labs handle dangerous infectious agents that pose serious risks to public health.

Upgrades will include improved wastewater treatment systems, stronger security, enhanced access controls and new equipment for safely handling and disposing of hazardous materials. University officials said the improvements will boost national biosecurity research while meeting federal safety standards.

Cybersecurity and National Defense

The largest award  $12 million  will fund the Autonomous Recovery from Cyber Attacks initiative, a joint research project between UL Lafayette and Radiance Technologies.

The project aims to develop systems that can automatically detect and recover from cyberattacks without human intervention. Funding will be shared between the university and Radiance Technologies.

Leaders said the partnership strengthens UL Lafayettes role in defense-related research and long-term federal security efforts.

LNG Safety and Training

The remaining $5 million will support the PHMSA National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety. Of that amount, $4.2 million will go directly to the center, while $800,000 will fund its Academic Research Consortium.

The consortium is co-led by UL Lafayette and partners including McNeese State University, Southern University and Texas A&M University. The center focuses on improving research, safety practices and workforce training related to the transportation and handling of liquefied natural gas.

University officials said the combined investments position UL Lafayette as a key partner in strengthening Louisianas economy and supporting national research and security priorities.

Aaron Gonsoulin is the General Assignment/Trending Reporter for The Daily Advertiser. Contact him at AGonsoulin@theadvertiser.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: University of Louisiana at Lafayette receives $25M federal funding
An ICE officer coordinates with officials during an enforcement operation in San Antonio on Feb. 5, 2025. Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Flickr / PDM 1.0

(The Center Square)  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has tapped a former City Council staffer and activist to ensure that the city isn't violating its sanctuary laws.

Mamdani announced Tuesday that he has appointed Faiza Ali, a long-time political ally, to serve as commissioner of the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs. He said Ali "brings more than a decade of experience in community engagement and city government, and a proven record of leadership in advancing immigrant rights and services."

"At a time when immigrant New Yorkers face escalating attacks and uncertainty, this administration will not equivocate," Mamdani said in a statement. "We will defend our neighbors. We will expand access to services. And we will ensure that New York City remains a place where immigrants are not merely welcomed in words, but protected in policy, supported in practice, and able to live and work with the dignity they deserve."

Ali, a Brooklyn native, was hired by the City Council in 2014 as a community liaison to the director of the Community Engagement Division. She was later appointed as the first deputy chief of staff to former Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who stepped down in January.

She has also previously worked at the Arab American Association of New York, as director of community affairs at CAIR-NY, and co-founded the Muslim Democratic Club of New York, according to the Mamdani administration. Most recently, she served on Mamdanis mayoral transition committee on government operations.

In a statement, Ali stressed her roots as the daughter of Pakistani immigrants and vowed to protect New York City's immigrant population from the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts.

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"Our neighborhoods, our economy, our culture, and our future are shaped by people who arrived here seeking safety and opportunity," she said in a statement. "As Commissioner, I am committed to building a city that ensures every New Yorker, regardless of when they arrived or where they were born, can live, work, and raise families with dignity."

Mamdani signed an executive order in January barring federal agents from entering city property  including schools, homeless shelters, hospitals, and public spaces  without a warrant. City agencies are also required to train employees on how to interact with federal immigration agents.

The mayor's order also requires audits of the NYPD, Department of Correction, Department of Probation, Administration for Children's Services and Department of Social Services to ensure that their interactions with federal authorities aren't running afoul of the city sanctuary policies. Ali, as the city's new Immigrant Affairs Commissioner, will likely oversee that process.

But the Department of Homeland Security said in a recent statement that Mamdani's policy will make New York City "less safe" and urged his administration to "turn over" more than 7,000 "criminal illegal aliens" who it says have immigration detainers but are currently in custody in the city.

"When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with DHS, our law enforcement officers have to have a more visible presence so that we can find and apprehend the criminals let out of jails and back into communities," a DHS spokesperson said.

New York City was sued by the U.S. Department of Justice in July over its "sanctuary" policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration crackdowns, accusing the city of shielding wanted criminals from deportation proceedings. The outcome of that legal challenge is still pending.
New York City Hall lit in yellow on Aug. 23, 2023. Photo: Caroline Rubinstein-Willis /  City of New York via Flickr / 2023 / Used with Permission

(The Center Square)  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has issued an ultimatum to Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers: approve his plan to tax the rich to plug gaps in the city's budget, or he'll be forced to increase property taxes across the board.

Mamdani, who rolled out his preliminary $127 billion budget for the next fiscal year Tuesday, said the Big Apple faces a difficult choice between getting approval from the state Legislature and governor to increase taxes on businesses and the city's wealthiest "or balance the budget on the backs of working people."

He said the only other options available to the city government to reduce the estimated $5.4 billion budget shortfall is by drawing down money from the city's reserve or 'rainy day' fund or by raising property taxes.

We do not want to have to turn to such drastic measures to balance our budget," Mamdani said in a statement. "But, faced with no other choice, we will be forced to."

The mayor's ultimatum to Albany comes one day after Hochul announced she would provide an additional $1.5 billion in state funding to New York City to help balance its budget.

Hochul has ruled out the idea of increasing taxes in an election year, but Mamdani said Tuesday unless he gets a nod from Albany he'll need to increase property taxes to reduce the shortfall. While New York City needs approval from the state to increase most taxes, the mayor and city council have control over the property tax rate.

But City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Linda Lee, who chairs the council's revenue committee, issued a joint statement Tuesday swatting down the idea of raising taxes.

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They said Mamdani's preliminary budget "marks the beginning of a critical conversation about how we safeguard New York Citys fiscal future while protecting New Yorkers" but higher taxes won't be on the table in budget negotiations.

At a time when New Yorkers are already grappling with an affordability crisis, dipping into rainy day reserves and proposing significant property tax increases should not be on the table whatsoever," they said. "The Council believes there are additional areas of savings and revenue that deserve careful scrutiny before increasing the burden on small property owners and neighborhood small businesses, which could worsen the affordability crisis."

Menin and Lee said the Council will release its own projections ahead of preliminary budget hearings "and will conduct a thorough review" of the Mandani administrations financial projections.

"Our goal is to deliver a balanced budget that protects essential services, addresses the affordability crisis, and reflects shared fiscal responsibility," the lawmakers said.

City Councilor Joann Ariola, a Republican, said raising property taxes "would only further strain so many who are just barely getting by as it is, and would force even more people to flee the city in search of a more affordable life."

"This is unacceptable, and we need to find an alternative to close the budget gap that doesn't cause unnecessary harm to our residents," she posted on social media.

City Comptroller Mark Levine said an across-the-board increase in this tax would be "regressive" and that drawing down reserves "during a period of economic growth would leave us vulnerable to economic turbulence next year."
Framingham Baking Company Google Maps

NEED TO KNOW

Framingham Baking Company announced plans to close after more than 100 years

The Massachusetts bakery, known for its sheet pizzas, said its last day will be March 29

Fans took to the comments to share nostalgic memories of eating the pizzas at family gatherings

Its the end of an era for Framingham Baking Company.

The Massachusetts establishment announced plans to shutter after more than 100 years in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

We will be closing Sunday March 29th, reads a paper sign in a photo the bakery shared.

"Joan, Ernie and Kathy thank our customers and employees for many years of memories," the sign adds, noting that the eatery was founded in 1917.

According to the bakerys website, its signature cheese tray pizzas, which include 18 square slices, are baked daily and cost $37.50.

Our pizza, bread and rolls are still made the old fashion way, the website says. Baked fresh daily, from scratch and by hand. We are most famous for our sheet pizzas, a staple at many family gatherings and holiday meals.

Framingham Baking Company pizza Framingham Baking Company/Facebook

The bakery also notes that its been run by four generations of the Thomas Family, its owners, over the past 109 years.

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In October, the bakery addressed its future in a post on Facebook.

The Bakery is NOT closing! the post said. Over the past two decades or more the third generation  Ernie, Joan & Kathy  have been looking for good stewards to carry on our century old service to the community.

Like many family run businesses, there are some that are detached from the business that see it as a mere asset to be liquidated; be clear, the Thomas family has never felt that way about the Bakery, it went on.

The Framingham Baking team remains committed to our customers and community, the message continued. We welcome suggestions on how to improve our business or in interest in becoming the next stewards of our business. When we make a decision on our future, you will be the first to know.

The establishments Facebook announcement that it would indeed close after all garnered more than 1,000 comments from disappointed fans, with many calling for the owners to share recipes for popular menu items.

"Ate here all my childhood, had the iconic pizza at every family gathering, one wrote. Hell, I asked for it as a birthday treat. One of the hardest things about moving to a different state was saying goodbye to this bakery, give us a cookbook pretty please!!

So many good memories started with a slice (or tray) of Framingham Baking Company pizza, someone else wrote.

Read the original article on People
New Year on the Frontlines: Community canteen hosts reunion banquet, bringing neighbors closer together

16:07, February 18, 2026 By Liu Yang from People's Daily ( Global Times

Senior residents gather at the community canteen for the Chinese New Year reunion banquet in Minzhu village community, Jiulongpo district, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Photo: Zhou Bangjing/People's Daily)

Editor's Note:

This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). A new year begins with new resolve and new momentum. The call to "fight for our dreams and our happiness, and turn our great vision into beautiful realities" continues to inspire actions across China.

In the column "New Year on the Frontlines," reporters from the People's Daily traveled to the grassroots to witness the vitality of a vast nation, see its mountains and rivers in motion and its fields in abundance, and listen to the stories of people finding fulfillment in both life and work.

Through these stories, the column seeks to present a vivid portrait of Chinese modernization.

"Come on! Let's go to the community canteen for the reunion banquet!" 77-year-old Chen Dairong beamed as she called out in the Minzhu village community, Jiulongpo district, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

Pan Chao, deputy secretary of the community's CPC committee, said that among the 3,669 households in Minzhu village, more than 500 residents are over 80 and over 2,400 are aged 60 and above.

In early 2022, the community launched an urban renewal project, and the community canteen became a key part of it.

"Since it opened, the canteen has held a reunion banquet for us elder residents every year," Chen Dairong said.

This year's banquet brought together 100 residents at 10 tables. The community reserved some spots especially for seniors whose children are not at home and who need extra care. The Chinese New Year dinner started at 6 pm, but people began arriving an hour early.

The menu featured Chongqing favorites such as twice-cooked pork, stir-fried Zizania shoots and steamed pork with rice powder, plus extras like cured bacon, sausages, and glutinous rice balls.

During the meal, the canteen ran a lucky draw. 67-year-old Chen Guangzhen won a beautiful set of tableware. She happily raised it high above her head as those around her congratulated her.

On regular days, breakfast is ordered at the counter; lunch and dinner are self-serve buffets. Seniors aged 60 and above pay 15 yuan ($2.17) per meal, while others pay 18 yuan.

Canteen manager Li Heng bustled around and explained, "We open at 7 am every day and serve 1,000 to 1,200 customers. They include residents from our community, people from nearby neighborhoods, office workers from the surrounding buildings, and even tourists who come to visit - it's really lively."

"Chongqing's finance department provides a subsidy of 2 yuan per senior per day based on the number of seniors who dine here. Jiulongpo district adds another 2 yuan per senior per day for operating costs, and we give an extra 1 yuan discount. The rest we cover ourselves through self-sustaining operations," Li said. "We want to run a project that brings real convenience and benefits to residents."

"We elderly people can't eat food that's too oily or too salty. When we mentioned it to the canteen staffers, they adjusted the menu right away," Chen Dairong said.

"Now the canteen has staggered dining hours: from 11 am to noon, it's mainly for seniors, so the food is lighter; after noon, when young office workers come in, they prefer spicier dishes, and the canteen tries to meet their tastes too," Chen Dairong said.

"The tables here aren't just for eating - they're also desks, tea tables, and even the 'four-party mediation' table for the community," Pan said.

"Whenever there's something to discuss or a dispute to settle, people prefer to come to the canteen. Calling everyone into a meeting room feels too formal and stiff. Here, with a cup of tea in front of each person and a relaxed atmosphere, everyone opens up and problems get solved more easily," said Pan.

Pan gave an example: last year, right here in the canteen, the community worked with State Grid's Chongqing Electric Power Company and district departments to gather residents' opinions on relocating old power facilities. In the end, they resolved a major issue that concerned both residents and community development.

As night fell and the reunion banquet drew to a close, the residents were still engaging in lively conversation, exchanging New Year wishes.

The Minzhu village community canteen is more than just a place to eat - it's a bond that connects neighbors and a place that brings people together. It has become a home in the hearts of residents. Although the community reunion banquet doesn't happen every day, the sense of belonging remains with neighbors all year round.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Kou Jie)
FILE PHOTO: A German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet is displayed in a hangar during the launch of the German contingents mission under NATOs Air Policing operation at the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork, Poland December 10, 2025. REUTERS/Lukasz Glowala/File Photo

BERLIN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has questioned whether developing a manned sixth-generation fighter jet still makes sense for his country's air force, referring to the troubled FCAS project that seeks to build such a jet.

Last week, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the fate of the French-German-Spanish FCAS warplane programme would become clear in the next few days.

"Will we still need a manned fighter jet in 20 years' time? Do we still need it, given that we will have to develop it at great expense?" Merz said on the Machtwechsel podcast published on Wednesday.

He suggested Germany would explore partnerships with other nations should it come to the conclusion that it will require a manned, stealth fighter jet.

"There are others in Europe, the Spanish for one, but there are also other countries that are interested in discussing this with us."

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The 100-billion-euro-project, launched in 2017 to replace France's Rafales and Eurofighters produced by a European joint-venture, has been stalled by industrial rivalries.

Insiders expect Germany and France to abandon the development of a joint fighter jet but continue cooperation on drones and the so-called combat cloud, the digital backbone linking manned and unmanned platforms within the FCAS system.

Merz seemed to back this scenario, acknowledging Germany's and France's diverging needs.

"The French need a nuclear-capable jet that can land on an aircraft carrier. We do not currently need this in the German armed forces," he said. "If we cannot resolve this, we will not be able to continue with the project."

(Reporting by Sabine SieboldEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
Genesis Reid Enterprise Police Department

NEED TO KNOW

Alabama police have charged Adrienne Reid, 33, with false reporting to law enforcement in connection with the disappearance of her 2-year-old daughter Genesis Reid

Reid reported her daughter missing on Monday, Feb. 16, and authorities alleged there were "inconsistencies in the information provided"

Genesis has not been found as of Tuesday, Feb. 17



The mother of a missing 2-year-old Alabama girl is facing charges for alleged "inconsistencies" in her story.

Adrienne Reid, 33, was charged with false reporting to law enforcement authorities following "an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the initial missing child report" of Genesis Reid, the Enterprise Police Department announced in a press release on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Police are still trying to determine the whereabouts of the toddler.

According to the release, Reid reported her daughter missing from their Enterprise home just after 3 a.m. local time on Monday, Feb. 16, stating the child was missing and the front door of their residence was open.

Authorities said the initial search of the surrounding area did not produce any information regarding the childs whereabouts," adding that as the investigation progressed, detectives identified inconsistencies in the information provided, prompting a more intensive investigation.

It was also determined that the child had not been seen in "several weeks," per an earlier press release.

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Genesis Reid Enterprise Police Department

Per the press release, investigators are now actively investigating an individual known as Moriah as a person of interest," but not a suspect.

The person of interest was described by authorities as a Black female who frequented Levels Bar and Grille on Daleville Avenue in Enterprise, as well as areas in Ozark, PEOPLE previously reported.

If you know who this might be, please come forward and share your information, Enterprise Police Chief Michael Moore said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Our ultimate goal is to safely reunite this child with the people who love her and are committed to her care and wellbeing," he added.

The Enterprise Police Department said it was working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Coffee County Sheriff's Office.

This is the beginning of a long investigation ... and our community will not rest until Genesis is returned home, Moore said.

Anyone with information related to the whereabouts of Genesis Reid is asked to contact the Enterprise Police Department at 334-347-2222.



Read the original article on People
More renderings of President Donald Trump's planned White House ballroom were made available in a 31-page report submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts, which is set to meet on Thursday.

The report showed the proposed 90,000-square-foot addition in the location of the demolished East Wing from several new angles, including the view from Pennsylvania Avenue.

Commission of Fine Arts - PHOTO: A 31-page report on the White House ballroom submitted to the panels reviewing the project show the proposed addition to the White House from additional angles and features new renderings of the project.

The Commission of Fine Arts was formed by Congress as an independent agency to weigh in on major capital-area building projects.

Thursday's meeting, which will take place via videoconference, will feature new members recently appointed by Trump after the president dismissed all six of its members last fall.

Trump says his 'Great Ballroom' will be used for 'future Presidential Inaugurations'

The new members include James McCrery, the architect who previously led the ballroom project before being replaced; Roger Kimball, a critic and conservative columnist for The Spectator who has written favorably about the president; and Chamberlain Harris, a 26-year-old White House Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations who worked in the first Trump White House.

In a statement to ABC News, the White House called Harris a "loyal, trusted, and highly respected advisor to President Trump" who will be "a tremendous asset to the Commission of Fine Arts."

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"She understands the Presidents vision and appreciation of the arts like very few others, and brings a unique perspective that will serve the Commission well," White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in the statement.

The commission wrote on its website that "upon the completion of President Donald J. Trumps first term, [Harris] continued her work in Florida at the Office of the 45th President, managing President Trumps Presidential Portrait Project in conjunction with the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution and the White House Historical Association."

Commission of Fine Arts - PHOTO: A 31-page report on the White House ballroom submitted to the panels reviewing the project show the proposed addition to the White House from additional angles and features new renderings of the project.

The Commission of Fine Arts is one of two panels tasked with reviewing projects in Washington. The report was also submitted with the National Capital Planning Commission ahead of its March meeting.

The administration has faced legal pressure to submit the plans to both panels for review after the initial demolition of the East Wing.

DOJ raises 'national security' concerns in legal fight over Trump ballroom

The White House first announced the ballroom construction project, a longtime Trump goal, last July.

Trump at first said the project would not interfere with the existing White House structure. But then in October, the entire East Wing was razed to make way for the ballroom, which Trump said would cost $400 million.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to stop the project. The judge in the case has expressed skepticism of the government's arguments that the president has the power to build a ballroom with private donations and without express authorization from Congress, and said he hoped to issue a decision this month.
One Congolese woman says her life is in grave danger after ICE secretly flew her to an unknown African nation (AFP via Getty Images)

The United States has shipped another group of deportees to a country they have no ties to.

A group of third-country nationals was deported to Cameroon Monday. The Trump administration sent nine people to the Central African nation last month as part of its secretive program to remove immigrants to countries unknown to them.

One asylum seeker previously granted permission to stay in the U.S. is in grave danger after ICE secretly flew her Sunday to an unknown African nation, according to a tranche of court documents reviewed by The Independent.

A group of migrants who were not Cameroonian citizens arrived on another deportation flight that landed in the capital, Yaounde, Monday, lawyer Alma David of the U.S.-based Novo Legal Group told The Associated Press.

David and Cameroon-based lawyer Joseph Awah Fru said they believed there were eight third-country nationals on the plane but had not spoken to them yet.

Cameroon is the latest of at least seven African nations to receive deported third-country nationals in a deal with the U.S. (AP)

The two lawyers said they are giving legal advice to some of the nine migrants  five women and four men  from other African countries who were deported from the U.S. to Cameroon last month.

The lawyers also expected to offer counsel to the new group of deportees, they said.

For now, my focus is handling their shock, Fru said.

A White House official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the second deportation flight to Cameroon but gave no details.

The New York Times first reported Saturday on the group of nine sent secretly to Cameroon last month. Two of them have since been repatriated to their home countries, David said.

Most of the deportees had protection orders

Eight of those nine previously deported migrants had protection orders granted by a U.S. immigration judge that prevented them from being deported to their home countries for fear of persecution or torture, David said, some of them because of their sexual orientation and others because of political activity.

Deporting them to a third country like Cameroon, from where they could ultimately be sent home, was effectively a legal loophole, David said.

That is why the United States did not send them directly to their countries, Fru said. Because there is cause for concern that they might be harmed, that their lives are threatened.

David said none of the nine sent to Cameroon last month, which included migrants from Zimbabwe, Morocco and Ghana, had criminal records apart from driving-related offenses. She had no details yet on the eight who arrived on Monday.

African nations are being paid millions

Cameroon, where 93-year-old President Paul Biya has ruled since 1982, is the latest of at least seven African nations to receive deported third-country nationals in a deal with the U.S.

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Others that have struck deals with the Trump administration include South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.

Some of them have received millions of dollars in payments to take deported migrants, according to documents released by the U.S. State Department. Details of some of the other agreements, including the one with Cameroon, have not been released by the Trump administration.

The Trump administration has spent at least $40 million to deport roughly 300 migrants to countries other than their own in Africa, Central America and elsewhere, according to a report compiled by the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and released last week.

According to internal administration documents reviewed by the Associated Press, there are 47 third-country agreements at various stages of negotiation. Of those, 15 have been concluded and 10 are at or near conclusion.

Immigration policies are a top priority

The U.S. State Department said Monday in a statement on the Cameroon deportations that it had no comment on the details of our diplomatic communications with other governments.

Implementing the Trump Administrations immigration policies is a top priority for the Department of State, it said, adding we remain unwavering in our commitment to end illegal and mass immigration and bolster Americas border security.

Cameroon's Foreign Ministry didn't respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed there had been deportations to Cameroon in January but didn't give specific information on third-country migrants. It did not comment on the second plane.

We are applying the law as written. If a judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them. Period," the department said.

These third-country agreements, which ensure due process under the U.S. Constitution, are essential to the safety of our homeland and the American people."

The Trump administration has used third-country deportation deals as a deterrent to force migrants who are in the U.S. illegally to leave on their own, saying they could end up in any number of third countries" if deported.

It has also defended the practice as part of a crackdown to remove what it refers to as dangerous criminals and gang members.

Activists and lawyers say the U.S. should know that sending migrants to third countries with poor human rights records risks them being denied due process and exposed to abuse.

Last year, the U.S. deported five nationals from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen and Laos to the southern African nation of Eswatini. The deportees had all been convicted of serious criminal offenses, including murder, attempted murder and rape. They had all served their criminal sentences in the U.S.

Four of them have been held at a maximum-security prison in Eswatini for more than six months without charges and have not been allowed to meet in person with a lawyer. Their detentions are the subject of two legal challenges in Eswatini.

Eswatini, which is ruled by a king as Africa's last absolute monarchy, will be paid $5.1 million to take up to 160 third-country deportees, according to details of the deal released by the State Department. The Eswatini king, Mswati III, has long been accused of clamping down on pro-democracy protests in a country where political parties are banned while using public money to fund his lavish lifestyle.
On the Wednesday, February 18, 2026, episode of The Excerpt podcast: For nearly 20 years, the EPA has been regulating greenhouse gases to fight climate change. Last week, the Trump administration repealed the finding. Michael Gerrard, a law professor at Columbia University, joins The Excerpt to share his insights regarding the legal, political and scientific issues at play.

Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here

Dana Taylor:

Last week, the Trump administration announced it was repealing a 2009 determination called the Endangerment Finding. That finding had been the basis by which the EPA had assumed the right to regulate greenhouse gases for nearly 20 years. How will its repeal impact Americans in this Supreme Court likely to join this heated debate?

Hello, and welcome to USA TODAY's The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Wednesday, February 18th, 2026. Here to help us unpack some of the legal, political and scientific issues relating to a warming climate is Michael Gerrard, one of the foremost environmental lawyers in the country, and a law professor at Columbia University, where he's the founder and director of the groundbreaking Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Thank you so much for coming on, Michael.

Michael Gerrard:

Good to be with you.

Dana Taylor:

Since taking office in January of 2025, Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator under President Donald Trump, has either repealed or significantly weakened dozens of Biden era environmental regulations. Can you please tell me about some of the most significant ones and what their impact has been?

Michael Gerrard:

Well, he's weakened the regulations on clean cars. There had been significant rules that required cars to be more energy efficient. California had the ability to adopt stronger standards, which were driving a push toward electric vehicles in California and other states. So, all of that has been wiped out. They've also taken away the standards for cleaning up power plants.

Dana Taylor:

As you know, Zeldin has also canceled many of the project grants that the EPA has traditionally funded. What are some of the biggest ones?

Michael Gerrard:

There were various programs to help low income and minority communities to have rooftop solar, to have more energy efficiency, other areas which would reduce fossil fuel use. A lot of those have been wiped out, although much of that is being challenged in court, and we don't yet know what the final outcome will be.

Dana Taylor:

Well, the big news last week was the repeal of the Endangerment Finding. Can you briefly give me a little context on what this finding is and how it came to be?

Michael Gerrard:

So, Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1970, the major federal law for cleaning up the air, which has been very successful for lots of different kinds of pollutants. But EPA under President George W. Bush was refusing to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision called Massachusetts v. EPA, that said that EPA did have the power to regulate greenhouse gases if they find that it poses an endangerment to public health and welfare. So, EPA under President Obama did issue this finding, this Endangerment Finding that greenhouse gases do endanger public health or welfare. That became the basis for lots of regulations issued under the Obama and Biden administrations, and now EPA under President Trump has canceled that.

Dana Taylor:

Michael, what's the Trump administration's main legal justification for these changes?

Michael Gerrard:

We used to think that they were going to argue that the science of climate change was too unsettled, but they seem to have dropped that argument, wisely. And instead, they're saying that the regulation of greenhouse gases is such a major thing with important political and economic significance, that EPA can't do it without explicit congressional authorization, even if the words of the Clean Air Act would seem that EPA could do that.

Another major argument is that the emissions of greenhouse gases from motor vehicles in the U.S. are such a small part of the global climate problem that it's not going to make any difference. Although in fact, if the U.S. transportation emissions were a country, it would be the sixth-largest greenhouse gas emitting country in the world.

Dana Taylor:

Across the U.S., there's quite a bit of other litigation happening at the state and local level in relation to global warming and climate change. We spoke with some youth activists in Montana a couple of years ago who sued the Bureau of Land Management and won in order to curtail that state's oil and gas leasing process. Broadly speaking, Michael, are these cases proving successful in supporting efforts to fight climate change? And if so, how?

Michael Gerrard:

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Well, some of them are. Montana has in its state constitution an environmental rights provision. And that led to an important trial a couple of years ago saying that the state was violating its state constitution by ignoring climate change. Hawaii has a similar provision, and there was a settlement in a lawsuit last year in which Hawaii agreed to clean up its transportation system. New York and Pennsylvania also have similar laws, and those are now being litigated.

In addition, there are about two dozen lawsuits around the country brought by states and cities against the fossil fuel companies, seeking money damages for climate change. Those have been going on for almost 20 years. We don't have final decisions yet. We'll see what happens in those.

Dana Taylor:

And how are environmental activists responding?

Michael Gerrard:

Well, environmental advocates are obviously outraged, and we're soon going to see lawsuits in the Federal Circuit Court in D.C. challenging this action by the Endangerment Finding. That'll probably make its way to the Supreme Court, and we'll see what happens there. But meanwhile, there's activity in a lot of the states. The states continue to have the power to regulate greenhouse gases, not from motor vehicles, that's preempted, but in stationary sources, lots of other things, states still have the power, and many states are using that power to regulate their emissions and to encourage more renewable energy.

Dana Taylor:

What is the scientific community saying about climate change and the regulation of greenhouse gases today? And has that changed significantly from what they were saying 2030 years ago?

Michael Gerrard:

Well, in 2019, when the Endangerment Finding was first issued, there was a ton of scientific evidence that fossil fuels were the principal cause of climate change, and that climate change was having terrible problems. There's now 10 tons of evidence showing that. The Trump administration did bring in a group of six well-known contrarian scientists to issue a report saying climate change isn't so bad. A recent federal court decision said that committee was illegally formed. And many scientists, including a group put together by the National Academies of Science, wrote a devastating report attacking that Trump administration study. So, the scientific consensus is very clear that climate change is happening, will have terrible impacts, and it's mostly from fossil fuel combustion.

Dana Taylor:

And can you help me get some perspective on how the U.S. compares with the rest of the world on efforts to fight climate change?

Michael Gerrard:

The U.S. had been a leader in the effort, and under President Obama played a major role in the Paris Agreement, a big international agreement reached in 2015. But President Trump withdrew us from the Paris Climate Agreement in his first term, Biden put us back, Trump has drawn us again. So the U.S. is now not only no longer leading the effort, but it's leading the effort in the other direction. It's pushing back, and trying to inhibit other countries from acting on climate change.

Dana Taylor:

The next UN Climate Change Conference will be in Turkey this November. Where do we leave off with the last conference, COP 30? And what's the realistic expectation for this coming one?

Michael Gerrard:

In the last conference, which was held in Brazil, the U.S. joined with Saudi Arabia and Russia and some other countries to try to slow down action on climate change, and I think they'll do that again. So, much of the rest of the world led by Europe is going forward, but the U.S. is going in the opposite direction.

Dana Taylor:

Finally, with regards to the legal status of all these climate change related lawsuits we've discussed today, what keeps you up at night, Michael? And what gives you the most hope?

Michael Gerrard:

So, the world is on track to be much hotter than the scientists say we need to be, in order to avoid catastrophic impacts of climate change. We really need to hasten the transition away from fossil fuels toward cleaner energy. And the most encouraging thing to me is the growth of technological progress. Solar, and wind, and batteries, are becoming much more effective, much cheaper. They are really helping to transform the global energy system. There's also a lot of technological development with nuclear, and we're hoping that these technologies will get to the point of commercialization where we have abundant safe electricity that all of us can use.

Dana Taylor:

Michael, thank you again for joining me on The Excerpt. It's good to speak to you.

Michael Gerrard:

Thank you.

Dana Taylor:

Thanks to our senior producer, Kaely Monahan, for her production assistant. Our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts at usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. I'll be back tomorrow morning with another episode of USA TODAY's The Excerpt.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In Trumps America, greenhouse gas emitters can go crazy | The Excerpt
A judge in a robe holds a gavel over a desk in a courtroom. Photo: Shopify Partners / Burst

It takes 33 votes to advance a constitutional amendment in the Washington State Senate. In a universe where the Washington Legislature cared about the rule of law and honoring state supreme court precedent, the income tax vote on Senate Bill 6346 would have failed by six votes (it received 27 yes votes).

Six prior times in the states history, the Washington Legislature understood that to follow the rule of law and comply with numerous state Supreme Court rulings, a constitutional amendment was required to impose a non-uniform income tax in excess of 1%. This is due to the state constitutions protections for taxes on property.

As noted by former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander, former justice Phil Talmadge, and former state Attorney General Rob McKenna in their joint legal brief concerning Seattles failed attempt to impose an income tax: Our Supreme Court has held unequivocally that income is intangible property.

Though overwhelmingly rejected by voters, income tax constitutional amendments were put on the ballot in 1934, 1936, 1938, 1942, 1970, and 1973. Along with rejecting these constitutional amendments, voters have also turned down four other income tax ballot measures in 1944, 1975, 1982, and 2010 (ten total income tax proposals have been rejected by voters).

Here is what voters were asked to do with the prior rejected constitutional amendments:

1934: A resolution amending section 1 of Article VII of the constitution by providing that all taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of subjects within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax and shall be levied and collected for public purposes only; providing that there shall be such exemptions from taxation as the legislature may by general law provide; and providing that nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent the enactment of a graduated net income tax law. (57% no vote)

1936: A Proposal to repeal section 12, article XI and amend sections 1 and 9, article VII of the constitution by providing: uniform taxation upon the same class of subjects; that the legislature may provide exemptions and graduated net income tax, may vest municipalities with power to make local improvements by special assessment or taxation; cannot require counties or municipalities to tax for county or municipal purposes but may under legislative restriction, vest them with such authority. (78% no vote)

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1938: A Proposal to amend Section 1, Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Washington relating to taxation by providing that nothing contained in said section shall be construed to prevent the enactment of a graduated net income tax law. (67% no vote)

1942: A Proposal to amend Article VII of the Constitution by adding a new section, section 2, providing that income shall not be construed as property for the purpose of taxation, and empowering the legislature to enact graduated net income taxes, and to provide exemptions, offsets and deductions. (66% no vote)1970: Shall the state constitution be amended to reduce the maximum allowable rate of taxation against property to 1 percent of true and fair value in the absence of authorized excess levies, and to permit the legislature to tax income at a single rate without regard to this limitation or, after 1975, at a graduated rate if the voters in that year or thereafter approve the removal of the single rate limitation? (68% no vote)1973: Shall a graduated net income tax be authorized, excess levies for school operations be prohibited, and some excise taxes limited? (77% no vote)

Why didnt these prior legislatures do what the 2026 Senate just did and simply pass an income tax without a constitutional amendment? As the state Supreme Court noted in 1960, an income tax must be decided with a constitutional amendment: The argument is again pressed upon us that these cases were wrongly decided. The court is unwilling, however, to recede from the position announced in its repeated decisions. Among other things, the attorney general urges that the result should now be different because the state is confronted with a financial crisis. If so, the constitution may be amended by vote of the people. Such a constitutional amendment was rejected by popular vote in 1934.

All elected officials in the Evergreen State swear this oath when they take office: I do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of Washington, and all local ordinances, and that I will faithfully and impartially perform and discharge the duties of the office, according to the law and the best of my ability.

There are many court rulings we all disagree with. But once a supreme court has spoken on constitutional issues, the correct way to address a change is with a constitutional amendment. Lawmakers willfully defying a ruling they dont like in hopes that different judges will change a century of legal precedents, against the backdrop of voters consistently rejecting income tax constitutional amendments, is a recipe for constitutional chaos.

We'll soon know if the Washington House and governor (a former state attorney general) care about following the rule of law or will instead follow the Senate's bad example.

Jason Mercier is Vice President and Director of Research of Mountain States Policy Center, an independent research organization based in Idaho, Montana, Eastern Washington and Wyoming. Online at mountainstatespolicy.org.
Oregon's legislature is considering a bill that would direct the Oregon Department of Energy to conduct a study of the pros and cons of developing nuclear power in Oregon.

State Rep. Gerald "Boomer" Wright, R-Reedsport, a chief sponsor of the bill, said, "It is becoming increasingly more clear" that solar and wind energy won't be enough to meet Oregon's energy needs in an emergency, and he believes "nuclear energy has the potential to be a significant source of clean energy here in Oregon," adding its development would bring jobs to the state.

Nuclear power generation does not emit greenhouse gases, but does come with troublesome byproducts that remain radioactive for hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of years.

Wright acknowledged many Oregonians have doubts about nuclear energy, but he hopes the study created by House Bill 4046 will "help the public and policy makers have informed conversations about whether nuclear could be a viable and reasonable compliment to renewables in our state."

According to HB 4046, ODE would look at:

"Advanced nuclear reactor technology" including the types and sizes of reactors and how they may be regulated.

"The feasibility of constructing advanced nuclear reactors in Oregon" including how long nuclear projects take, how expensive they are and their risks and benefits.

The potential impacts of nuclear energy "on economic growth and workforce development" in Oregon.

How other states have handled nuclear waste, including "existing methods, locations and safety records" of other storage facilities.

"All existing Oregon state statutes and rules applicable to nuclear energy generation" including "siting, permitting, safety, operations, decommissioning and waste management."

Dry-cask containers with radioactive material on the pad at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The nuclear plant was decommissioned in 2019 but 62 casks of radioactive material are still at the site.

The bill would create a new "Nuclear Energy Study Fund" to pay for the study. It would be funded with a combination of federal, private and other public sources and these funding sources would be publicly reported.

According to the bill, ODE will consult the Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning Council, Oregon State University, tribes, and other state agencies while developing the study.

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Does Oregon currently use nuclear power?

There's been no nuclear power plant in Oregon since Portland General Electric closed the Trojan plant in Columbia County in 1993 and decommissioned it in 2005, according to PGE. Waste from the plant is still stored onsite.

A share of the power used in Oregon comes from the Columbia Generating Station in Washington. The Northwest faces increasing challenges to meeting power demand. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation's Long-Term Reliability Assessment published in January warns Oregon, Montana and Washington, along with parts of Idaho and northern California, are at risk of not having enough energy by 2029.

On Feb. 12, legislators in Oregon's Climate, Energy, and Environment committee unanimously voted to move the measure forward. Next, the bill will be considered by the legislature's Ways and Means committee.

Isn't Lane County a Nuclear Free Zone?

If you've driven into Lane County in the last four decades, you may have noticed that some of the signs welcoming residents and visitors across the county lines inform travelers they are entering a "Nuclear Free Zone." In 1986, voters approved in Lane County a ballot measure giving Lane County this designation.

However the measure only says people in Lane County "may not design, develop, manufacture, produce, test, maintain or store nuclear weapons or their components within the County." The measure doesn't prohibit nuclear power.

Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached by email at atorres@registerguard.com, on X @alanfryetorres or on Reddit at u/AlfrytRG.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon nuclear power study considered by state lawmakers
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump looks at Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaking following the official signing of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, during a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

By Asif Shahzad

ISLAMABAD, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Before Pakistan commits to sending troops to Gaza as part of the International Stabilization Force it wants assurances from the United States that it will be a peacekeeping mission rather than tasked with disarming Hamas, three sources told Reuters.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to attend the first formal meeting of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday, alongside delegations from at least 20 countries.

Trump, who will chair the meeting, is expected to announce a multi-billion dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza and detail plans for a U.N.-authorised stabilization force for the Palestinian enclave.

Three government sources said during the Washington visit Sharif wanted to better understand the goal of the ISF, what authority they were operating under and what the chain of command was before making a decision on deploying troops.

"We are ready to send troops. Let me make it clear that our troops could only be part of a peace mission in Gaza," said one of the sources, a close aide of Sharif.

"We will not be part of any other role, such as disarming Hamas. It is out of the question," he said.

Pakistan's foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for a comment.

FORCE TO OVERSEE RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY

Trump's 20-point Gaza plan calls for a force from Muslim nations to oversee a transition period for reconstruction and economic recovery in the devastated Palestinian territory, and Washington has been pressing Islamabad to join.

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Analysts say Pakistan would be an asset to the multinational force, with its experienced military that has gone to war with arch-rival India and tackled insurgencies.

"We can send initially a couple of thousand troops anytime, but we need to know what role they are going to play," the source added.

Two of the sources said it was likely Sharif, who has met Trump earlier this year in Davos and late last year at the White House, would either have an audience with him on the sidelines of the meeting or the following day at the White House.

BALANCING FACTORS

Initially designed to cement Gaza's ceasefire, Trump sees the Board of Peace, launched in late January, taking a wider role in resolving global conflicts. Some countries have reacted cautiously, fearing it could become a rival to the United Nations.

While Pakistan has supported the establishment of the board, it has voiced concerns against the mission to demilitarise Gaza's Islamist militant group Hamas.

Analysts say Islamabad will need to strike a balance between pleasing Trump by providing troops and any potential domestic fallout in a predominantly Muslim nation.

Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistan ambassador to the United States, said the Pakistani public supported sending troops to Gaza only to help protect Palestinians.

"If developments in Gaza after the deployment do not improve the position of Palestinians, there could be a massive reaction at the public level in Pakistan," said Haqqani, currently a scholar at the Hudson Institute in Washington.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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The parents of a West Virginia boy who was sent to school with cockroaches in his backpack and bug bites covering his body have been arrested on child neglect charges, according to authorities and news reports.

Dwayne and Dorothy Hickmans son and daughter have since been removed from their Doddridge County home, where authorities found deplorable living conditions, according to the Doddridge County Sheriffs Office, WDTV reported, citing court documents.

The investigation into the couple started on February 10, when a staff member at a local preschool, the Doddridge County Early Learning Academy, shared their concerns about two siblings attending the school, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WBOY.

The school employee reported that one child had cockroaches inside his backpack and that they noticed bug bites on his face, hands and bottom, the criminal complaint says, the TV station reported.

The boys sister told teachers her clothes were very dirty and asked them to wash her clothing, according to court filings, WDTV reported.

Florida Parents Arrested After Roaches Were Seen Crawling Over Baby in Moldy Infested Home

Following the report, deputies alerted Child Protective Services and accused Dwayne, 37, and Dorothy, 29, of child neglect, according to authorities, WBOY reported.

Child Protective Services visited the Hickmans home as a result and took custody of their children, according to WBOY. The childrens ages were not specified by law enforcement.

The Hickmans are both charged with two counts of gross neglect of a child creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, court records viewed by Us Weekly on Wednesday, February 18, show.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday, February 13, according to court records.

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Defense attorneys separately representing Dwayne and Dorothy did not immediately return requests for comment from Us.

Dwayne and Dorothys bonds were initially set at $20,000, court records show. Dorothys bond amount was later reduced to $10,000.

Dorothy was due in court for a preliminary hearing the morning of February 18, according to court records. Dwayne is due in court for a preliminary hearing on February 20.

The couple is being detained at the North Central Regional Jail in Greenwood.

Missouri Couple Arrested for Neglect After Keeping Lice-Infested Foster Kids in Filthy Home

Under West Virginia law, if a person is found guilty of child neglect that creates a risk of serious bodily injury or death, they could face 1 to 5 years in prison, as well as a potential maximum fine of $3,000, according to La Neve Law Offices, a firm based in Clarksburg.

In another recent alleged child neglect case, a father and stepmother of an 11-year-old Indiana girl were arrested in relation to her death, according to authorities, Us previously reported.

The girl was found dead at a house in Stilesville on Saturday, February 14, the Hendricks County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Her father, Kenneth Vazquez, 39, and her stepmother, Elba Vazquez, 35, are facing felony charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, according to the sheriffs office.

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
Travel means something a little different to everyone. Some people chase those postcard-worthy views, others live for adrenaline and new experiences, and plenty just want to eat their way through a new place. But honestly, what makes a trip truly memorable isnt always the sights; its the people, the little surprises, and those unexpected moments that show you how a community really comes together.

Thats exactly what happened when a TikTok user visiting Brazil noticed something unusual. As he relaxed on the beach, crowds suddenly began clapping in unison. At first, he was confused, but he soon discovered the heartwarming reason behind it. Keep reading to find out what was really going on.

One curious traveler shared a surprisingly wholesome moment from a lively beach in Brazil

While relaxing there, they noticed crowds clapping together to help reunite lost children with their parents

Image credits: Domenico Daniele / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Image credits: yourpalkev4



You can watch the full video here to see how the situation unfolded

People in the comments explained that once a child is found, beachgoers clap loudly so parents can follow the sound

Brazil has many interesting traditions and customs that go beyond the samba, carnival, and beaches

So first, lets explain the clapping thing in Brazil, because its a brilliant bit of beach teamwork. On many crowded Brazilian beaches, when a child goes missing, people nearby start clapping loudly to draw attention. The sound travels far across the sand, cutting through the noise of waves and chatter. Parents who hear the applause instinctively move toward it, hoping it leads them to their child. Within moments, strangers become helpers, scanning the crowd and guiding families together. It turns what could be a frightening situation into a coordinated community effort. Simple, loud, and surprisingly effective, it shows how collective awareness can solve problems fast.

And honestly, that spirit of togetherness isnt the only interesting thing about Brazil; the country is full of little traditions that surprise visitors in the best way. Beyond the famous samba, Carnival, and beach life, everyday cultural habits reveal how strongly community and celebration are woven into daily life. Travelers often arrive for the scenery but leave remembering these human moments instead. Its those unexpected traditions that really make the country feel alive.

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In late September, Brazil celebrates the Day of Saints Cosme and Damian, and its one of the sweetest traditions youll ever see. On these days, people hand out candies, toys, and treats to children, especially those who spend the day walking around collecting goodies. Streets fill with kids proudly showing off their stash, and the atmosphere feels like a giant neighborhood festival. The tradition is rooted in both Catholic and Afro-Brazilian religious practices, blending cultures in a way thats very typical of Brazil. Its less about ceremony and more about generosity. The focus is on sharing joy, helping children, and strengthening community bonds.

Image credits: Natalia Blauth / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

New Years in Brazil is a vibrant celebration marked by colorful outfits, beach gatherings, and special rituals

Another deeply meaningful tradition involves Iemanja, the revered Goddess of the Sea. Many people honor her by placing offerings into the ocean, often in tiny boats filled with flowers, candles, or gifts. Others leave fruits or small items in the sand, hoping the tides will carry them away. These gestures are meant to show gratitude, ask for protection, or seek blessings for the year ahead. Watching it happen feels almost magical; quiet, respectful, and full of symbolism. Its a reminder of how spiritual beliefs and everyday life often blend together there.

New Years Eve in Brazil isnt just about fireworks and countdowns  its full of traditions meant to invite luck into the coming year. Many people dress in white because it symbolizes peace and renewal, almost like starting fresh with a clean slate. Others add pops of color through accessories or underwear, choosing red for love or yellow for wealth. As midnight hits, some head straight to the shoreline to jump over seven waves, making wishes with each leap. Its playful, symbolic, and filled with hope. The whole night feels like a mix of party and ritual. Even if you dont believe in luck, its hard not to get swept up in the excitement.

All of this shows that Brazil isnt just a destination  its an experience shaped by people, traditions, and shared moments. The culture thrives on warmth, connection, and a kind of joyful participation that pulls everyone in. Whether its through rituals, celebrations, or spontaneous teamwork, community always seems to take center stage. And maybe thats what makes Brazil feel so memorable to visitors. Its not just what you see there; its what you feel while youre part of it.

Have you ever heard about the clapping tradition on Brazilian beaches? Its just one example of how communities come together in simple but powerful ways. Are you aware of any similar traditions in other countries or even in your own? Maybe your town or city has unique ways of helping each other or marking special moments. Share your experiences in the comments below. Wed love to hear about them!

Some viewers were puzzled by how it works, but others were impressed by the teamwork and quick thinking
Family blowing bubbles in park with their dog.

With tax time approaching, you may be thinking about what youll be able to write-off, and whether there are any new changes to what is deductible.

Some Americans who own pets may have wondered if they are able to deduct the expenses related to their pets. After all, for many people, pets are beloved family members.

Must Read

One New York woman is even hoping to change tax law. Amanda Reynolds filed a lawsuit last year against the IRS, because she wants her dog to be recognized as a dependent.

The suit argues that dogs should be recognized as quasi-citizens entitled to limited civil recognition, including dependency status for tax purposes (1).

Defining a dependent

Reynoldss lawsuit states that her dog, Finnegan Mary Reynolds, is entirely dependent on her for survival, USA Today reported. The lawsuit details the expenses Reynolds incurs caring for Finnegan  totaling about $5,000 a year  including boarding, daycare, transportation, veterinary services, grooming, food and housing.

For all intents and purposes, Finnegan is like a daughter, and is definitely a dependent, USA reported the lawsuit said.

The suit claims that Reynolds dog satisfies the Internal Revenue Codes definition of a dependent under section 152, other than not being a human (2).

The two kinds of dependents that you can claim on your tax return are a qualifying child and a qualifying relative.

A qualifying child must be your relative (child, stepchild, foster child, sibling or descendant), be under 19 (or under 24 if theyre a full-time student, or any age if they are permanently and totally disabled), live with you for more than half the year, and must not provide more than half of their own financial support (3).

A qualifying relative must be related to you or be a person who lives with you for the entire year. They must get more than half of their financial support from you, and they must earn below a certain threshold (3).

A report from Forbes notes that the statute specifically uses the term individual which courts and the IRS have consistently interpreted to mean human beings (2).

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If youre able to claim dependents when you file your taxes, it can mean you qualify for tax credits and deductions, such as the Child Tax Credit, the Credit for Other Dependents and the Earned Income Tax Credit (2). Forbes notes that Dependents may also qualify for a favorable head-of-household filing status, which offers lower tax rates and a higher standard deduction.

Although you may be able to make some deductions for animals, such as medical deductions for service animals, or animals used for business, such as guard dogs, typical pet costs are considered personal expenses and arent deductible (2).

But expenses for pets can come with a big price tag, regardless of whether theyre companion animals or not. According to the American Kennel Club, the average annual costs for dogs, for things including food, grooming, vet check ups and pet-sitting fees, totals $2,500 (4). The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that annual costs for cat owners run $310 for food and $253 for vet bills, on average (5).

Read More: Non-millionaires can now invest in this $1B private real estate fund starting at just $10

Read More: Warren Buffetts 8 simple and repeatable rules to get rich (and stay rich) in America

Can you claim your pet?

Its important to be aware of what deductions you are able to make and what credits you may qualify for when youre preparing your tax return.

While expenses for pets can add up, and they may be considered part of the family by their owners, theres currently no way to claim them as dependents. As to whether Reynolds case could change things for pet owners, the Washington Post noted that it appears the case will likely be dismissed (6).

Reynolds made a statement to Forbes noting that she commenced this case out of a labor-of-love as a dog owner and pup-mom to a golden retriever whom I esteem as my own daughter, having raised her by myself while my friends got married and had children (2).

What To Read Next

Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywises best stories and exclusive interviews first  clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

USA Today (1); Forbes (2); IRS (3); AKC (4); American Veterinary Medical Association (5); Washington Post (6).

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Photo: Tom Fisk / Pexels

(The Center Square)  A wastewater overflow tied to the collapse of a major sewer pipeline continues to prompt responses from officials in Virginia, Maryland and Washington as repair work advances along the Potomac River.

The incident involves the Potomac Interceptor, a large sewer line that carries wastewater for treatment in the Washington region. District of Columbia Water said a section of the interceptor failed earlier this year, contributing to wastewater discharges into the Potomac River and nearby drainage channels.

Utility monitoring data later indicated that a substantial volume of wastewater was released during the early stages of the failure. D.C. Water said much of the discharge occurred before bypass pumping systems were fully operational.

Crews have since expanded emergency bypass operations and installed additional pumping capacity designed to stabilize flows and prevent further overflows. Repair efforts have focused on gaining safe access to the damaged section of pipe.

In responses to questions from The Center Square, D.C. Water said emergency repairs are expected to take between four and six weeks. Officials said that work will be followed by long-term rehabilitation of the interceptor, a process projected to take approximately nine to 10 months.

Utility officials said the full scope and cost of repairs cannot yet be determined because crews have not been able to fully access the damaged portion of the interceptor. Engineers also said the cause of the failure cannot be determined until the damaged section is accessible.

D.C. Water said it will cover repair expenses, which will be shared among wholesale customers including WSSC Water, Loudoun County and Fairfax County based on allocated pipe capacity.

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The Potomac River runs through Maryland, Virginia and Washington, making the overflow a regional concern. The river serves as a drinking water source and supports recreational and commercial activity across multiple jurisdictions.

In Virginia, the Department of Health issued a recreational water advisory covering portions of the Potomac shoreline. State health officials cited reported wastewater releases and ongoing repair work in advising residents to avoid direct contact with river water within the affected area.

Virginia health officials said they had not observed evidence of impacts to drinking water systems.

Federal and state officials have also commented on the incident.

Second-term Republican President Donald Trump said federal agencies were being directed to provide management and coordination support related to the overflow, describing the situation as a serious environmental concern.

Maryland first-term Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, in public statements, said the spill was basically contained and used the incident to call for federal approval of FEMA funding for Western Maryland communities still recovering from prior flooding.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency stands ready to assist, stating that D.C. Water and Maryland officials have been managing containment, monitoring, and regulatory oversight tied to the spill.
Asian Golden Cat or Temmink's Cat, catopuma temmincki, Adult  slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com

Quick Take

The elusive Asian golden cat was recently spotted in a national park in Thailand.

There are an estimated 7,000 Asian golden cats left , sparking a need for conservation.

Catching Asian golden cats on camera traps helps to better understand the shy, solitary wild cats.

Asian golden cats face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and poisoning, leading to population declines.

With news of animal populations threatened with extinction, becoming regionally extinct, or being eradicated from the planet entirely, those working in conservation may begin to wonder if their hard work is all for naught. Then, stories of species thought lost emerge, leaving a glimmer of hope that not all is lost.

Such is the case of a recent discovery that left experts speechless after a camera captured the ultra-rare fire tiger in the wild. The fire tiger, or Asian golden cat, is so elusive that its population is hard to estimate. But as more are captured on camera traps, a better understanding of Asian golden cats can be gained, and conservation efforts can be tailored to suit their survival needs.

Where Experts Found the Fire Tiger

The Asian golden cat is one of the least understood wild cats. They are solitary, nocturnal, and quite shy. This combination makes the Asian golden cat difficult to spot. But thanks to non-invasive technology, one was captured on film, and wildlife experts could not be more thrilled.

Known as the fire tiger in Thailand, the Asian golden cat is notoriously elusive. However, in January 2026, a camera trap placed in Khao Yai National Park captured a video of one. The small wild cat, with red to rust-colored fur, black stripes on its face, long legs, and a slim build, was seen walking through the lush forest.

An Asian golden cat was recently caught on a camera trap in Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. Signature Message/Shutterstock.com (Signature Message/Shutterstock.com)

The fact that the Asian golden cat chose Khao Yai National Park as a potential home reflects the hard work and conservation efforts officials have made to make the park a safe place not only for wild cats but also for other threatened and endangered species. It also highlights the health and biodiversity of Khao Yai, allowing multiple species to thrive.

While it is good news that the Asian golden cat was spotted on a camera trap, it does not indicate that the population is increasing. In fact, according to estimates, the exact opposite is true.

Why Asian Golden Cat Populations Are in Decline

Asian golden cats have been facing a population decline throughout Asia for decades. As a result, only an estimated 7,000 Asian golden cats remain in the wild. According to experts, however, there is no way of knowing just how many of these wild cats are truly left because they are so rarely seen. Therefore, numbers could be significantly lower than what estimates state.

The Asian golden cat population is facing a rapid decline for several reasons. Some of the most common reasons for population decline include:

Habitat loss

Poaching

Poisoning

Snare capture

Lack of prey

As a result of these stressors, the Asian golden cat populations have dramatically decreased. In some parts of Asia, it is believed that the Asian golden cat is regionally extinct.

Asian golden cat populations are declining due to habitat loss, poaching, and the like. slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com (slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com)

According to the IUCN, the Asian golden cat is considered near-threatened. This categorization dates to 2014, and the organization states that it requires updating. The IUCN also notes that the population is declining.

Despite the Asian golden cat being protected under Appendix I of CITES and the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, it continues to struggle to survive, underscoring the importance of conservation efforts.

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Where Are Asian Golden Cats Typically Found?

Asian golden cats were once found across Asia in large numbers. Historically, they were once most abundant from India to China. But as their habitat was lost, these shy cats found they had far fewer places to roam and call home. Consequently, the regions where Asian golden cats are found today are significantly smaller.

Asian golden cats live in a forest habitat in Southeast Asia, Northeastern India, Bhutan, and Eastern Nepal. slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com (slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com)

Asian golden cats prefer a forest habitat with rocky outcroppings to survey the area below them. Some of the habitats include:

Rainforests

Tropical forests

Subtropical evergreen forests

These habitats were once widespread, but have disappeared over the last several decades due to deforestation, climate change, and agricultural expansion. As a result, Asian golden cats are now found only in fragmented regions of Southeast Asia, Northeastern India, Bhutan, and Eastern Nepal.

Why the Discovery of the Asian Golden Cat Is Important

This discovery of the Asian golden cat in Thailand is especially important because it was believed these wild cats were extinct in the region. If the Asian golden cat has indeed found a long-term home in Khao Yai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a highly biodiverse region in the country, there may be hope for the species survival.

In terms of safety from poachers and habitat loss, Khao Yai National Park is one of the best places the Asian golden cat could choose to call home. However, what makes the discovery of the wild cat on the camera trap so important is that it gives scientists an opportunity to learn more about the elusive creature.

The discovery of the Asian golden cat on video can lead to a better understanding of populations, habits, and how to better save the wild cats from extinction. slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com (slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com)

Given how little is known about the Asian golden cat due to its solitary and nocturnal nature, glimpses into its habits and range can be very helpful for understanding how to save the species from extinction. The exact population number in Thailand is unknown. However, by tracking Asian golden cats with camera traps without disturbing them, populations can be estimated, the cats health can be observed, and a rigorous assessment of whether conservation efforts are successful can be conducted.

There may never be an exact population count of the Asian golden cat, but the more that is learned about these incredible creatures, the more conservation efforts can be tailored to prevent their regional and complete eradication.

What Is Being Done to Save the Asian Golden Cat From Extinction?

Until December 2025, it was believed that the Asian golden cat was completely extinct in Vietnam. Thanks to the camera trap footage, one was observed within the boundaries of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, to the surprise and delight of biologists. While this indicates that the wild cats territory is expanding, it does not necessarily imply that Asian golden cat populations are increasing. Therefore, conservation efforts are still necessary if the Asian golden cat population is to remain stable or even grow in the future.

Conservation efforts, such as removing snares, stopping habitat loss, patrolling for poachers, and more, have been implemented to protect wild cats. PACO COMO/Shutterstock.com (PACO COMO/Shutterstock.com)

A variety of tools have been implemented to prevent the Asian golden cat from going extinct. Some of the most common conservation efforts include:

Removing snares from protected areas

Educating local populations about how to live peacefully with the Asian golden cat, rather than seeing them as a threat, and discouraging the poisoning of animal carcass bait

Stopping forest degradation

Preserving more habitats to stop habitat loss

Patrolling for poachers

The hope, with Asian golden cats returning to regions where they were once abundant, is that more will follow. But as a 2021 study notes, nearly 80% of the population is seriously threatened by forest loss and hunting. Consequently, a majority of the population is at risk.

If the Asian golden cats are not better protected, with support from local populations, there is no telling if the wild cats will survive. But with camera traps capturing glimpses of Asian golden cats in numbers not seen before, all is not lost. Instead, it is an opportunity to help a predator that is often overlooked because of its shy, solitary nature and small stature, rather than watch yet another apex predator be lost through no fault of its own.

The post Rare Asian Golden Cat Spotted in Thailand After Years of Silence appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Multiple wildfires are burning in Oklahoma, prompting evacuations in a small town and injuring firefighters as extreme fire weather continues on Feb. 18, officials said.

The fire near Woodward, Oklahoma, a town of less than 12,000 about 150 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, has burned about 2,000 acres as of 8 p.m. local time on Feb. 17, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Service. The 43 Road Fire affecting Woodward was one of at least four fires in the state, including one that spread into parts of Kansas, totaling over 155,000 acres burned.

Officials in Woodward County issued an evacuation order for the southwest part of the town as crews battled flareups and hotspots.

"We've got quite a mess going on," Matt Lehenbauer, the Woodward County emergency manager, told KOCO 5 News.

Lehenbauer told the outlet that 3,000 to 4,000 people live in the evacuation area, which is heavily wooded. He asked residents to stay away from the area, and said a big problem was the amount of traffic as people fled their homes.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said he has pledged state resources to help with response and recovery in Woodward.

"Oklahoma takes care of our own, and we will be there for recovery in the days ahead. Were praying for the families affected and the brave first responders on the front lines," he said.

The largest fire burning in the state, the Ranger Road Fire that started in Beaver County, has spread over 145,000 acres and reached into Kansas, where other fires were also burning amid the critical fire weather, the Forestry Service said the evening of Feb. 17.

4 firefighters injured in Oklahoma

Authorities said at least four firefighters have been injured while working to contain blazes in Beaver County, where the Ranger Road Fire was burning.

Three were injured when a fire truck with Rosston Fire overturned, according to Oklahoma Highway Patrol. They were taken to local hospitals.

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Another firefighter was injured and taken to a hospital, the Forestry Service reported. The circumstances of that injury weren't shared.

Oklahoma - here is your reminder to not drive into smoke, as were facing fire dangers in the state this week. Trooper Travis Burgess has US 64 east of Forgan in the panhandle shut down for this fire as it crosses the highway. Be careful out there! pic.twitter.com/MaW5RGkru9  OK Highway Patrol/DPS (@OHPDPS) February 17, 2026

Evacuations ordered across multiple counties as buildings burn

Evacuations were ordered in parts of Woodward, Beaver and Texas counties, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Service.

Three structures were destroyed in Woodward County, including two at a U.S. Department of Agriculture facility, according to the Forestry Service. In Beaver County, "numerous outbuildings" were destroyed. In Texas County, five structures were destroyed.

As of 8 p.m. on Feb. 17, this is how much multiple wildfires had spread:

Ranger Road Fire, Beaver County: 145,000 acres combined in Oklahoma and Kansas

Stevens Fire, Texas County: 5,000 acres

Side Road Fire, Texas County: 3,300 acres

43 Road Fire, Woodward County: 2,000 acres

The Side Road Fire started as the result of a seven-vehicle crash on U.S. Route 54, the Forestry Service said.

Wildfire weather continues as alerts blanket High Plains states

The National Weather Service said extremely dry conditions and gusty winds were continuing in the High Plains region on Feb. 18. Red flag warnings blanketed parts of western Oklahoma, northwest Texas, southwest Kansas, parts of Colorado and much of New Mexico.

The conditions are expected to spread eastward across much of Oklahoma, the weather service office in Norman said. The red flag warnings in the state are expected to last through 8 p.m. local time.

Wind gusts can get up to 40 mph and the relative humidity is 10% to 15%.

"Whereas yesterday was very concerning for northwest Oklahoma *only*, today will be a less-extreme environment, but across a much broader portion of Oklahoma/western north Texas," the weather service in Norman said.

Critical fire danger will last through at least Feb. 19, the weather service in Norman said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Latest on Oklahoma wildfires as evacuations ordered, firefighters hurt
State Auditor Rob Sand said delays from Gov. Kim Reynolds' administration prevented his office from thoroughly auditing Iowa's education savings account program, while the governor claimed victory after Sand reported no flaws in the program.

Sand, a Democrat who is running for governor, held a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 17, to say the Iowa Department of Education, under Reynolds, a Republican, delayed for six months in providing him information related to the state's education savings account program before ultimately releasing the information in late November ahead of a year-end deadline.

Sand's audit did not identify any misspending or financial irregularities in the program.

"Can we express an opinion this year?" Sand said. "At the most basic, minimal level, yes. But after six months of delays, we cant actually do the work that we know we would want to do had we been provided this information in a timely manner as was required to be done under Iowa law."

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand criticizes Gov. Kim Reynolds for delaying providing information about Iowa's education savings account program during a press conference at his office, Feb. 17, 2026.

Reynolds signed the law in 2023, which allows all Iowa families, regardless of income, to access taxpayer-funded education savings accounts worth about $8,000 per student to pay for private school costs. The state spent nearly $200 million on the program in fiscal year 2025, the period covered by the audit, Sand said.

Sand and Reynolds have repeatedly sparred over access to information about the education savings account program.

Last year, Reynolds and executive branch officials declined to provide Sand any information about the program, saying it fell outside the scope of his annual audit of state government and required a separate engagement letter.

"First, the auditor claimed we didnt give him the information he needed despite the fact he refused to sign an engagement letter," Reynolds said in a statement. "Now, he admits we gave him everything he asked for but claims we didnt give it to him with enough time. This as he releases a report giving the Department of Education a clean audit with zero findings.

"The truth is this is just another manufactured opportunity for the auditor to use his official office to advance his political agenda in his run for governor. While the auditor is focused on himself, well continue to put families and students first by funding students, not systems, and ensuring every family has access to the education they choose."

Sand says delay in providing ESA information was intentional. GOP says it wasn't.

In a letter sent to legislators and Reynolds on Feb. 16, Deputy Auditor Brian Brustkern said the auditor's office discussed the ESA program with executive branch staff in May 2025 and explained that it was material to the Statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial report, the annual audit of state government, because of the amount of money at issue in the program.

"After months of delays, management provided the requested information in late November 2025, once there was not adequate time for auditors to consider anything more than the minimum amount of testing of the transactions, as the audit opinion is required to be issued by the end of the calendar year," Brustkern wrote in the letter.

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand criticizes Gov. Kim Reynolds for delaying providing information about Iowa's education savings account program during a press conference at his office, Feb. 17, 2026.

Sand said Reynolds and her administration officials knew he would not be able to properly vet the information about the ESA program because of the end-of-year deadline.

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"They used our statutory obligation to issue timely reports to deny our ability to dive in and look very closely at something that they had denied us all access to last year," he said. "Obviously, if youre denied access to a place as an auditor, that identifies it as an area of increased concern. Common sense is when someone doesnt let you look at something, theres probably a reason."

Kraig Paulsen, director of the Iowa Department of Management, told reporters Sand did not originally explain that the program was material to the statewide audit because the funding level had increased.

"Had he explained some of the things that he articulates in the letter to us when he originally asked, then the whole dialogue would have changed," Paulsen said. "But he doesnt get to drag out a conversation and then complain about it on the back end."

Sand decries lack of oversight of ESA program in governor bid

Sand decries the states school choice program routinely while on the campaign trail in his gubernatorial bid.

He says one of the program's biggest flaws is what he calls a lack of oversight.

If private schools want to avoid public oversight, Sand said at a town hall in North Liberty, dont give them public money.

While campaigning, Sand isnt promising to repeal the ESA program, because he doesnt see the Republican-led Legislature approving such a move. But he is arguing it should be means-tested so only those who need assistance get it, and he thinks there should be more regulations on how state tax dollars can be used.

Right now, the vast majority of this money is going to families that already can afford it anyway, he said in North Liberty. And I cannot think of a more wasteful use of money than paying someone to do something that they would do anyways if you werent paying them.

State data show the bulk of new education savings accounts were awarded to existing nonpublic students.

Des Moines Register Chief Politics Reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel contributed to this report.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Rob Sand, Kim Reynolds spar over education savings account information
Close-up of the head of a Pachycephalosaurus plastic figurine in the forest.  Lapis2380/Shutterstock.com

Quick Take

Reaching 15 million years further into the past, this specimen achieves the earliest record of dome-headed evolution.

A 1-meter length constraint exposes the inaccuracy of historical size depictions for Zavacephale rinpoche .

High vascularity within the skull domes suggests these structures were designed for active, physical combat.

Scouting the Khurken Dukh Formation was vital to finally resolve the contentious lineage of bird-hipped dinosaurs.

The dome-headed dinosaur is easily one of the most standout-looking creatures of the Cretaceous period. The image of their hardy dome-heads has slowly seeped into the public imagination via movies like Jurassic Park. Those dome-heads were basically all that was known about these dinosaurs until now. A newly discovered skeleton of one of these creatures is revealing new details about one of historys most extraordinary-looking creatures.

Children across the globe have come to love pachycephalosaurs for their unique features, thanks to mass media and pop culture. However, they long remained a frustration for paleontologists. Most peoples conception of this creature was based on incomplete skeletons. Their thick, bony skulls survived the fossilization process easily, while time pulverized the less sturdy skeletons into dust millions of years ago. Now, a discovery deep in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia has finally given scientists the complete skeleton they were looking for: a newly described species. Lets learn more about Zavacephale rinpoche and what this discovery tells us about this enigmatic herbivore that lived over 100 million years ago.

Meet the Pachycephalosaurs

Many people know these dinosaurs due to their depiction in popular media like the Jurassic Park movie series. Antonio Gravante/Shutterstock.com (Antonio Gravante/Shutterstock.com)

Pachycephalosaurs, known as bone-headed dinosaurs, were a group of bipedal herbivores that lived mostly during the Late Cretaceous period. These creatures had short forelimbs and stiff tails for balancing. They also had leaf-shaped teeth to help them chew up fruits, seeds, and soft vegetation. However, people best know these dinosaurs for their massive, thick skull domes. In some species, like Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis, these skull domes could reach up to 10 inches in thickness.

For a long time, only the fossils of these sturdy skull domes remained from a once-thriving lineage. In recent years, scientists have slowly added to the knowledge base surrounding pachycephalosaurs. For one, scientists discovered stomach stones in newer specimens. This suggests that these creatures had internal gut grinders to break down tough vegetation. As for the skull domes themselves, scientists debate their exact purpose. Some say males used their sturdy skulls in dominance competitions. Others say they used them primarily for species recognition or sexual display. Then again, recent studies found high vascularity in the skull bones, supporting the idea of competition since they could potentially heal from impacts.

Pachycephalosaur in Full

Whatever the case, those skulls were really the only remaining feature of these creatures that scientists could study. However, the discovery of a new species in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia provides scientists with a better look at these rare and mysterious dinosaurs. Known as Zavacephale rinpoche, findings about this newly described species were recently published in Nature. It is the most complete skeleton of its kind ever found. Zavacephale rinpoche also predates other pachycephalosaur fossils by at least 15 million years.

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According to Dr. Lindsay Zanno, a scientist who co-authored new research into the species, this specimen is filling in the blanks. She said, Before Zavacephale, our record of pachycephalosaurs was almost exclusively limited to their indestructible domes. With such scanty skeletons, we were left to wonder about basic aspects of their anatomy, like what their arms would have looked like and how their digestive system functioned.

Movies like Jurassic Park made dome-headed dinosaurs seem to be the size of small sedans. However, they were actually much smaller. The newly described Zavacephale rinpoche, for example, measured less than one meter in length. It was discovered in the rocks of the Khurken Dukh Formation in Mongolia. This new species also calls into question the previously considered linearity of skull dome evolution.

Bird-Hipped Dinosaurs

Scientists hope to find more complete specimens to learn more about the dome-headed features of pachycephalosaurs, like the newly described Zavacephale rinpoche Zavacephale rinpoche . Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com (Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com)

In general, pachycephalosaurs stand out in the fossil record thanks to their distinctive skulls. They are also part of a larger group of ornithischians, or bird-hipped dinosaurs. This group evolved during the Late Triassic period, more than 230 million years ago. This group also includes creatures such as ankylosaurs, iguanodontians, and ceratopsians.

By the time pachycephalosaurs appear in the fossil record, they already had their distinctive thick skull domes. These defined features also suggest that these creatures must have been evolving for millions of years beforehand. The discovery of this new species, Zavacephale rinpoche, upends even that notion. Thats because this new species is the oldest and earliest diverging member of the pachycephalosaur group. The new findings push back the origin of dome-headed pachycephalosaurs by at least 15 million years.

Scientists are excited about this discovery because it tells them more about a mysterious species. It also suggests that more complete skeletons are out there waiting to be discovered. As Professor Paul Barrett told the Natural History Museum, the object is more skeletons. He said, The relationships of pachycephalosaurs to the bird-hipped dinosaurs are also contentious, so we need to find fossils of a really primitive pachycephalosaur to help link the group more closely into the dinosaur family tree. This will help us get a better idea of how they evolved into such unusual animals.

The post Scientists Uncover Tiny Dome Head Dinosaur That Predates Others by 15 Million Years appeared first on A-Z Animals.
New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces) listens to testimony Feb. 17, 2026, regarding a medical malpractice overhaul bill. Despite Democratic senators concerns about the bill, the committee voted to send it to the Senate floor with three amendments, all from Cervantes. (Patrick Lohmann/Source NM)

The New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday advanced House Bill 99, a medical malpractice overhaul, with Republicans and all but one Democrat voting in favor of the measure.

The 8-1 vote came at the end of a contentious three-hour hearing in which some Democratic committee members pushed sponsor Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos) and committee members to support a series of 11 amendments to key aspects of the bill.

Many of the amendments failed on 5-4 votes, requiring two Democrats to vote along with three committee Republicans to kill suggested changes.

The committee did, however, approve three amendments over Chandlers objections. The amended bill now heads to the Senate floor.

Chandler told Source NM after the meeting that at least two of the amendments could be tough for fellow House members to accept. If the bill as currently amended passes the Senate floor, House lawmakers will have to agree to the changes before sending the bill to the governor.

During a floor vote, the Senate could vote to eliminate the Senate Judiciary Committees amendments or add new ones. That hearing had not been scheduled as of Tuesday afternoon.

House lawmakers have touted HB 99 as a compromise and the Legislatures only chance in the final days of the session to reform the states medical malpractice law. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has also urged lawmakers to pass the bill, which she said will help reduce a statewide doctor shortage.

Among other changes, the bill imposes caps on punitive damages providers can face in civil lawsuits, with higher caps for corporately owned hospitals than independent providers. It also raises the standard of evidence plaintiffs lawyers must prove for juries to award those damages, which are meant to punish egregious misconduct.

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Before Tuesdays hearing began, four Democratic senators on the committee issued disclosures about their day jobs as plaintiffs attorneys, including Senate Judiciary Chair Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces), Sen. Katy Duhigg (D-Albuquerque), Senate Majority Leader Sen. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe) and Sen. Antonio Moe Maestas (D-Albuquerque).

All four opted against recusing themselves from the vote, however, and said they would not personally financially benefit from any changes on which they were voting. Medical malpractice reform advocates, including advocacy group Think New Mexico, have repeatedly made note of Democratic senators who work as trial lawyers and serve on the Senate Judiciary.

Two of them, Cervantes and Duhigg, each presented five amendments that sought to change or remove key aspects of the bill. Duhigg was the lone no vote on sending the bill to the Senate.

The three amendments that the committee voted to include came from Cervantes.

One amendment changes definitions about what counts as a medical injury subject to litigation; another requires that medical costs awarded to an injured patient are based on how much the patient was billed instead of how much the patient actually paid.

The third change omits language that enabled New Mexico-owned hospitals to have a lower cap on punitive damages.

Even without the language, the bill still allows smaller hospitals to have lower caps, including a half-dozen rural New Mexico hospitals, according to lawmakers on the committee.

The Tuesday vote marked the second time in less than 24 hours that the Senate Judiciary Committee met to discuss House Bill 99. The committee debated for approximately six hours in total.
Senior dogs rarely get much attention when the adoption visits come around, especially ones as old as Grandpa Davi. This old pup had spent years waiting at the Municipal Animal Welfare Center in Santa Cruz do Sul, in Brazils Rio Grande do Sul state, until animal protector and city councilwoman Bruna Molz began sharing his story on social media. Her posts carried a simple message with real weight: even after years of being overlooked, there can still be time for comfort, dignity, and affection. Growing old does not erase a dogs need for love; it only takes the right person to provide it.

That person turned out to be Vitor Almeida, a resident of Balneario Gaivota in Santa Catarina. After coming across Brunas posts, he reached out with a seriousness that stood out immediately. Despite already having two dogs at home, he was ready to take on the responsibility of adopting a senior dog, one who would need patience and attentive care, but would give back all the love and affection he had left in his aging body.

Soon, Davis life looked completely different. He was no longer waiting to be chosen. He was home, surrounded by calm, safety, and companionship, proving that too late is often just a story people tell themselves.

Our team reached out to the councilwoman to find out more about Davis story and where he is now. Scroll down to read the full interview.

More info: Instagram

Behind the shelter gates, Grandpa Davis aged appearance made him invisible to most looking for a pet

Image credits: brumolz

Bruna said she got involved because senior dogs have always stayed with her in a different way: Honestly, I have always had a soft spot for senior dogs. They are usually the ones people overlook. When I looked at Vo Davi (which means Grandpa Davi in Portuguese, because he is a very old dog), I just felt he deserved a different ending.

But Bruna saw that he was a loving dog just waiting for someone to accept him

Image credits: brumolz

For the first time in his life, he was being led out into the world by someone who wanted to care for him

Image credits: brumolz

He had spent so many years waiting at the Municipal Animal Welfare Center in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), and I kept thinking he could not spend the rest of his life there. So I shared his story, hoping that maybe the right person would see it.

Davi didnt need to understand the destination to enjoy the feeling of being included

Image credits: brumolz

When I looked at Grandpa Davi, I just felt he deserved a different ending

Image credits: brumolz

Brunas post went viral, but one message stood out: After I posted about Vo Davi (Grandpa Davi), many people commented, but Vitors message felt different. He lives in Balneario Gaivota, Santa Catarina (Brazil), and even though he already had two dogs, Scooby and Jade, he was truly serious about adopting him.

Bruna made sure Davi felt the love every dog deserves

Image credits: brumolz

But it was off to get some much needed grooming before he was truly adoption ready

Image credits: brumolz

We talked about everything, his age, the care he would need, all of it. And he never hesitated. He understood that adopting a 22-year-old dog is not the easiest decision, but he made it with a lot of love and responsibility.

The pampering phase began, and Davi was enjoying every moment of it

Image credits: brumolz

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And just like that, he went from overlooked to an icon in the making

Image credits: brumolz

For Bruna, the most emotional part of the whole journey was not a viral moment online: The day Vo Davi (Grandpa Davi) left the shelter. That moment really stayed with me. Seeing him finally being chosen after so many years was incredibly emotional.

This was only a transition to finding a forever home, but it was surely a fun one

Image credits: brumolz

Meeting the ocean for the very first time, Davis smile said it all

Image credits: brumolz

Later, watching videos of him at the beach in Santa Catarina (Brazil), feeling the sand and the ocean breeze, made everything worth it. It showed me that it is never too late for a dog to experience love and new things.

An old dog can still learn to enjoy himself when properly taken care of, and Davi is the perfect example of that

Image credits: brumolz

Do not be afraid of their age. Senior dogs are calm, grateful, and full of love, Bruna said

Image credits: brumolz

She also had a message for anyone whos considering adoption: Do not be afraid of their age. Senior dogs are calm, grateful, and full of love. They may need a little more care, but what they give back is priceless.

A more permanent happiness was yet to come for Davi

Image credits: brumolz

His new guardian, Vitor Almeida, traveled to bring him home, beginning their journey together with care, patience, and love

Image credits: brumolz

And if you cannot adopt, you can still help. Share their stories. Support shelters in your city in Brazil or wherever you live. Sometimes one simple post can completely change a life, just like it did for Grandpa Davi.

Introductions were gentlea new grandpa, and two curious roommates checking him out

Image credits: vitordab

Davi quickly started settling in with his new companions, Scooby and Jade, and the bond between them is growing every day

Image credits: vitordab

As for the adopter, Bruna said Vitors decision was grounded in commitment more than emotion: Vitor is a digital marketing professional from Balneario Gaivota, Santa Catarina (Brazil). He already had two dogs when he came across Vo Davis story online.

And while adapting to his new life, Davi is getting the most care and love hes received throughout his entire life

Image credits: vitordab

But the best part mustve been realizing someone finally chose him

Image credits: vitordab

Even living in another state, he decided to open his home and his heart to a 22-year-old dog. He simply wanted Grandpa Davi to spend his final years surrounded by love, comfort, and peace. And that is exactly what happened.
Steven Dubois of Canada celebrates the gold gold after the short track speed skating men's 500m final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

MILAN (AP)  Steven Dubois prevented Dutch short track speedskating star Jens van t Wout from making it three victories out of three at the Milan Cortina Olympics by winning the men's 500 meters on Wednesday.

And van t Wout's older brother, Melle van t Wout, beat him out for silver.

It is Dubois' first individual Olympic gold after helping Canada to the relay title in Beijing four years ago. He picked up bronze in the 500 then as well as silver in the 1,500.

It was the one I was missing," said Dubois, who also won a silver in the mixed relay at the start of the Milan Cortina Games. "I cant say its never been on my mind, but I never really wanted to give myself hope or make it an objective, so as not to be disappointed, because its so hard.

Its probably the toughest thing you can achieve, especially in short track, theres so much happening. Its difficult to describe it, honestly.

On his 26th birthday, Melle van t Wout earned his first medal by finishing just ahead of his brother  who had won both the previous mens individual events in Milan.

We have the same last name ... and I just felt invincible. I felt that if he could do it, I could do it, Melle van t Wout said.

Jens van t Wout was perhaps distracted by watching his brother skate to his own glory.

I think around lap three, when I saw Melle go from five to two, I wasnt even racing anymore, I was just watching him," the younger van t Wout said.

So I wasnt even in this race for myself, I was just hoping he would stay on his feet. I really had to tell myself to not yell because I wanted to yell at him to go.

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Fontana's record

South Korea recovered to edge out Italy to win the womens 3,000-meter relay on and earn its first short track speedskating gold at the 2026 Olympics.

The team of Minjeong Choi, Gilli Kim, Sukhee Shim and Dohee Noh won in a time of 4 minutes and 4.014 seconds, beating Italy and Canada. Choi was part of the team that won silver in Beijing four years ago.

For the womens relay, there are expectations and a sense of responsibility that we have as Koreans," said Choi, who now has four Olympic gold medals as well as two silver. Because of that, we wanted to keep up (the good work) this time as well.

It was nevertheless a 14th Olympic medal for Italys Arianna Fontana at her sixth Winter Games to beat fencer Edoardo Mangiarottis record for most Olympic medals by an Italian athlete  a mark that has stood since 1960.

Its something incredible, said Fontana, who was already the most decorated short track speedskater of all time. "I still havent found the right words to describe this moment, everything Im feeling.

Im trying to enjoy it all, stay in the moment, enjoy this medal with the girls and then maybe tomorrow when I wake up, Ill realize everything.

There was disappointment for the Netherlands as Michelle Velzeboer  the sister of double Olympic champion Xandra Velzeboer  fell with 16 laps remaining. South Korea was slowed down by the crash but there was enough distance left for the team to recover.

Then Kim lived up to her nickname of Lambor-Gilli  after the famous Italian sports car because of her speed  and burst past Fontana with the finish line in sight.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
A man has been jailed for 18 months after throwing a "corrosive substance" at a guest's face at a spiritual retreat and fleeing the country.

Dean Mayze, 38, admitted grievous bodily harm after the incident following a disagreement at the retreat he ran in Abercrave, Powys, in December 2022.

Mayze fled abroad afterwards, triggering a manhunt by South Wales Police, with bank payments made in Dublin, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece before he was eventually arrested in Romania in July 2025.

His victim, who described his eyes as "exploding with pain", had to receive intense medical treatment to avoid permanent loss of sight.

At the sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, prosecutor Georgia Donohue said the attack happened after a disagreement between Mayze and a guest at his business, Hafan y Coed.

The court heard that Keifer Price was unhappy with his lodge, saying there was no washing facilities or heating.

Price cancelled his room and started to move his things out when a row developed between Mayze and Price.

Mayze then took out a "blue container" and threw it in an "upwards motion" onto Price's face.

The prosecutor told the court the liquid, which smelt like ammonia, "went up his nose and in his eyes" and left Price struggling to breathe, with his eyes "exploding with pain".

Mayze's girlfriend told the victim the substance was to "ward off intruders" and should wear off after an hour or two.

Price received intense medical treatment to avoid permanent loss of sight, with the injury described by doctors as "consistent with a chemical injury to both eyes."

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The victim suffered a corneal defect and abrasions and a complete loss of the outer corneal layer to one eye, but has no ongoing injuries.

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After leaving the country, the court heard Mayze remained in "constant communication" with the police over email and text.

It later emerged he had travelled to Disneyland in France and then went to "various countries across Europe" before ending up in Greece, from where he contacted detectives to tell them he would not be returning to Wales.

His girlfriend - who had met up with him while he was on the run abroad - had handed herself in to police. She claimed she was responsible for the offence but she was later given a suspended jail sentence for perverting the course of justice.

South Wales Police put a public appeal on social media, which Mayze would comment on outside of jurisdiction.

Punishment 'far worse'

The court heard Mayze, who has a previous conviction for wounding with a corrosive substance on a night out in Kent in 2013, still owns the wellness retreat in Abercrave.

Defence barrister Andrew Taylor said the defendant had spent time in a prison in Romania where he contracted scabies and was unable to receive medical treatment, adding: "The punishment he [Mayze] received abroad will be far worse than anything he can receive in His Majesty's Prison."

He described his client as an "industrious and hard-working person who wants to make something of his life", and said he was "remorseful" for what happened.

Judge Geraint Walters told Mayze that it was "luck" that Price did not suffer any permanent injuries, and that he did not know "what he'd signed up for" when he fled abroad.

He described the offence as a "particularly wicked way of inflicting violence upon another".

Mayze, who appeared via video link from prison, had previously pleaded not guilty to a second charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and given a restraining order for three years.

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U.S. President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Trump Turnberry golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain, July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

Feb 18 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday night about U.S.-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Geneva, as well as talks between the U.S. and Iran on their nuclear dispute, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Starmer also discussed Gaza with Trump and stressed on the importance of securing further access for humanitarian aid, the spokesperson said.

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Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia concluded the first of two days of the U.S.-mediated peace talks in Geneva on Tuesday, with Trump pressing Kyiv to act fast to reach a deal.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran and Washington reached an understanding on Tuesday on "guiding principles" aimed at resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute, but that did not mean a deal is imminent.

(Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal and Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
Dozens of people crowded into a House committee room on Tuesday to protest a pair of anti-immigration bills. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Despite a constant uproar, Republican lawmakers moved legislation Tuesday that could punish local governments for not enforcing federal immigration law and require schools to make a head count of students without legal documentation.

House Bill 1711, sponsored by Republican Rep. Elaine Davis of Knoxville, and House Bill 2219, sponsored by Rep. Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville, both passed the House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee on 6-2 votes, both along party lines. They go next to the House State and Local Government Committee.

The bills are part of Republicans Immigration 2026 package, developed with the help of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller as part of a national immigration crackdown.

A throng of people supporting immigrants packed the meeting room and the hallway. Some sang songs in support of immigrants, and some were removed for disrupting the meeting.

Garretts bill would cut local governments share of state sales taxes if they refuse to participate in a 287(g) program with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that delegates federal immigration authority to city and county law enforcement officers. Some counties such as Davidson dont participate in the program.

This allows for an active law enforcement pipeline and penalized failure to report violations, said Rep. Elaine Davis, a Knoxville Republican sponsoring a bill that would require schools to keep track of childrens immigration status. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Davis bill would require local law enforcement to make federal and state reports on criminal activity by people without legal documentation and force public schools to keep track of students immigration status. The latter requirement could conflict with Plyler v. Doe, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibits discrimination in enrolling students.

The measure also would require reports on undocumented immigrants who attend state colleges or go to prisons, hospitals and places that provide social services. Violations would be a Class A misdemeanor.

This allows for an active law enforcement pipeline and penalized failure to report violations, Davis said. Tennessee lacks a comprehensive accounting system, and so we dont know the fiscal impact of illegal immigration.

Davis acknowledged a head count wouldnt be required if the bill jeopardizes $1.1 billion in federal funding for violating the law. Republicans tried to pass a law last year that could have stopped immigrant students from enrolling or made them pay tuition, but it stalled because of the possibility Tennessee could lose those federal funds.

Democratic Rep. Jesse Chism challenged the legislation, saying he felt it could put peoples lives in danger.

My fear is people will die because theyre afraid of going to hospitals, he said. Chism added that he felt it would be hypocritical for the state to conduct surveillance on people seeking the social services it claims to provide to everyone.

Davis responded by saying, we are a nation of laws, the state is responsible for making sure were not ripping each other off.

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Chism agreed but argued that the state should have laws in favor of humanity. He pointed out that slavery and Jim Crow laws were legal during periods in the nations history.

Garrett, a candidate for Tennessees 6th Congressional District seat, said he considers the law enforcement bill of paramount importance and incorrectly claimed that undocumented immigrants committed half the crimes in the state last year.

Rep. Larry Miller, a Memphis Democrat, called allegations by Republican Rep. Johnny Garrett that immigrants commit half of all crimes in Tennessee BS. (Photo: John Partipilo/

Tennessee Lookout)

The District Attorneys General Conference report shows local law enforcement submitted 11,344 reports detailing undocumented immigrants charged with or convicted of 21,648 criminal offenses.

More than 9,200 of those offenses dealt with traffic violations, driving without a license or driving on a suspended or revoked license. Some 2,183 of those were for violent offenses, including 41 on murder charges.

Garrett, though, said those people committed half of the total crimes in the state last year, contradicting the states own 2023 figures that show a much higher rate, 44,440 violent crimes overall and 168,000 property crimes. Undocumented immigrants committed about 5% of the states violent crimes that year.

Chism accused Garrett of exaggerating the facts, and Democratic Rep. Larry Miller of Memphis called Garretts claims BS.

So you are willing to punish U.S. citizens in Tennessee based on what their elected officials may not do? Miller added.

Garrett alluded to the actions of the Memphis Safe Task Force, a collection of multiple local, state and federal agencies ordered by the Trump administration, and said elected leaders in Shelby County want to make sure this is a law-and-order state.

Cesar Bautista, a spokesman for Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Votes, said the bills isolate and discriminate against immigrants.

Theyre just following an agenda from the White House, he said. Its not something Tennesseans are wanting.

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A bill designed to block academic tenure for professors would send shockwaves across Tennessee's public universities, including the flagship University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Tennessee legislators are in the early stages of deliberating on a bill that would ban Tennessee universities from awarding new tenure grants starting July 1. State Rep. Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville, introduced the bill and said tenure is a "system that has outlived its usefulness."

The move would have disastrous effects. UT System spokeswoman Melissa Tindell told Knox News it "would directly affect our ability to recruit and retain top faculty, placing our universities at a competitive disadvantage."

But what is tenure, and how does it protect academic freedom?

What does tenure mean in a job?

Academic tenure is a permanent appointment awarded to high-achieving professors after many years at a college or university. It's the prevailing system at American universities and an "essential" component of success, according to a University of Tennessee System Board of Trustees policy.

Tenure is awarded by a university's governing board or president to those whose work is deemed valuable to the institution. The university and the board review the faculty member's teaching, accomplishments and scholarship.

It can protect professors from being fired for personal beliefs or statements. It's a "healthy tradition of academic freedom," the UT System Board of Trustees policy says.

UT faculty members work for at least six years before being considered for tenure, according to the board policy. The Knoxville campus considers the status for "regular, full-time, tenure-track faculty" when they are either an assistant professor, an associate professor or a professor.

Normally, the university doesn't consider tenure until a faculty member is eligible to be promoted to associate professor.

Can professors lose tenure?

Tenure is not an iron-clad guarantee of employment. It's intended to protect academic freedom and the ability of scholars to pursue work without worry about political pressure.

There are ways UT professors can lose tenure, according to the policy:

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Professors retire or resign from UT and give up tenure

Professors forfeit tenure if they take an unauthorized leave of absence or if they don't continue their regular duties after an approved leave of absence. Forfeiting tenure means UT will automatically fire them .

UT could end a professor's tenure under extraordinary circumstances due to a financial emergency or if UT discontinues an academic program .

Tenured professors could be fired for adequate cause if UT finds that the professor's teaching, research or service is unsatisfactory .

UT could have adequate cause related to misconduct if the tenured professor doesn't comply with policies, fakes a university record, steals from the university, admits guilt for a crime or misconduct related to their ability to perform their role.

Additionally, UT professors must "maintain a high level of personal integrity and professional competence," according to its policy. Professors are subject to periodic reviews and evaluations, a policy adopted by the Board of Trustees in a controversial move in 2018.

Why are Tennessee lawmakers considering eliminating tenure?

The move is a reaction to a handful of professors who criticized conservative commentator Charlie Kirk after his assassination, Lafferty told Knox County Republican Party members Feb. 6. He called out a Austin Peay State University tenured professor and alluded to UT assistant professor Tamar Shirinian for comments they made about Kirk that resulted in disciplinary action.

The tenure system sets American universities apart, but it hasn't stopped several states from introducing similar bills to eliminate or change tenure. Those efforts have not succeeded.

A few states, including Florida, have tightened tenure regulations.

It's an almost entirely Republican-led effort, including in Tennessee. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order to go around the legislature and eliminate tenure at Oklahoma's regional universities and community colleges but not major research institutions, according to The Oklahoman.

If Tennessee's bill is approved and signed by the governor, it could harm the quality of instruction at the University of Tennessee and have ripple effects across the state, professors warned.

If we do away with tenure  the (UT) System would really implode," Faculty Senate President Charles Noble said. "We would drop in rankings. We would have a harder time getting great recruiters. Our students would suffer, and we really dont want to see that.

It's too early in the political process to know if this "longshot" bill will pass, Noble told Knox News, but if it does "it would be a tremendously disruptive and harmful event for the university."

Keenan Thomas is the higher education reporter for Knox News. Email: keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing to subscribe.knoxnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What is tenure? Reaction to Charlie Kirk assassination tied to bill banning it
This story has been updated with additional information.

Xcel Energy was working to restore service Tuesday evening after cutting power to thousands of customers earlier in the day as high winds and extreme fire danger moved across the Texas Panhandle. As of 8:45 p.m. Feb. 17, about 6,400 were still without power.

Multiple fires were reported across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, as winds intensified and brought blowing dust and wind gusts up to 65 mph early on in the day, as well as clouds of smoke. Two fires in Oklahoma  including one estimated to be 145,000 acres in size  crossed the state line into Kansas.

Texas A&M Forest Service said its fire resources were responding to six active wildfires across the state, including several in the Texas Panhandle.

"While the winds are dying down tonight, we arent out of the woods yet. Large fires are still burning in the heavy brush and difficult terrain across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles," the National Weather Service Amarillo office said in an 8:50 p.m. update. "If you are heading out tomorrow morning, please be extra cautious. Smoke and fire activity near Hwy 87 (north of Amarillo) may cause road closures as the Valley de Oro fire moves east along the Canadian River Valley."

Conditions will be improving overnight with lighter winds, but winds are expected to ramp back up Wednesday to a steady 35 mph with 50-plus mph wind gusts possible.

U.S. 287 in Armstrong County was closed in both directions from Armstrong County Road 28 to Donley County Road 3 but was later reopened. Fire crews had been having difficulty with traffic entering the area, including multiple semitrailers, according to officials. In addition, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) road closures map showed Hwy. 70 was closed from I-40 to Clarendon but also later reopened.

Around 3:30 p.m., Howardwick was evacuated in the Armstrong County area, where a fire warning was active for a fire east of Goodnight and north of U.S. 287, moving rapidly northeast at 3 to 5 mph. An updated warning issued by National Weather Service Amarillo at 4:36 p.m. for northwestern Donley County said the fire was located four miles west of Howardwick or 10 miles northwest of Clarendon, moving east at 3 to 5 mph. The areas impacted included Hwy. 70 north between Clarendon and I-40, including Greenbelt Lake and Howardwick.

The Donley County Sheriffs Department reported Wednsday morning that the Nocona Hills section of Howardwick and residences on the backside of Greenbelt Lake have been under an evacuation order since about 2:15 a.m. The rest of Howardwick is on standby. The Texas A&M Forest Service is reporting 25% containment, with at least 9,000 acres burned.

A fire warning was issued by NWS Amarillo at about 3:41 p.m., requested by the Oldham County and Potter County Offices of Emergency Management for Western Potter and Eastern Oldham counties. The wildfire was located 5 miles south of Boys Ranch, or 16 miles northeast of Vega, moving east-northeast at 3 to 5 mph, and impacting areas along Hwy. 385, including Valle De Oro, which was under a mandatory evacuation order. Shelter was being set up at the Church at Bushland, at 1800 S FM 2381, with Red Cross personnel on hand. In addition, RM 1061 (Tascosa Road) was closed from US 385 to FM 2381. The Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management requested a new fire warning from the NWS at about 7:20 p.m., noting the fire was located over Valle De Oro, or about 20 miles northwest of Amarillo, with areas east of Tascosa Road and other portions of northwest Potter County being affected.

The Amarillo Fire Department said it deployed a strike team consisting of multiple apparatus and personnel to assist with the wildfire response in Potter County near the Valle de Oro area northwest of Amarillo, joining county and state resources already working the fire.

The Potter County Sheriffs Office reported Wednesday morning that RM 1061 (Boys Ranch Road) remained closed from RM 2381 (Bushland Road) to U.S. Highway 385.

Please do NOT try to come out to look. First responders and fire crews are actively working this area, the office said in a Facebook update.

The Texas A&M Forest Service said the Lavender Fire had burned an estimated 8,500 acres as of 1:40 a.m. Wednesday and was about 10% contained.

TAMFS was also reporting a fire around Plainview at 600 acres and 8% contained.

Another fire warning was issued by the National Weather Service on behalf of the Lipscomb Office of Emergency Management at 4:09 p.m. for a fire in southeastern Lipscomb County. At 4:06 p.m., a wildfire was located five miles west of Higgins or nine miles southeast of Lipscomb, moving east-northeast at 3 to 5 mph. The area impacted includes Higgins as well as Hwy. 213 and a portion of Hwy. 60. Residents were advised to be prepared for possible evacuations. TAMFS said that fire, the Haystack Fire, was about 122 acres and 90% contained as of 6:58 p.m.

Smoke from the wildfire reported in the Potter/Oldham County area is seen at Hester and Cliffside Road in north Amarillo during critical fire weather Tuesday, Feb. 17.

"Large, fast moving wildfires have broken out across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles," NWS said in an afternoon update. "We greatly urge everyone to avoid travel and do everything in your power to prevent the starts of wildfires as we approach the evening rush."

The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning for most of the day, as well as warnings and advisories for blowing dust and high wind.

Ahead of the severe weather on Tuesday, the utility initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff that began around 9 a.m., which was estimated to affect about 14,500 customers in Carson, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hartley, Hutchinson, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman and Swisher counties.

Xcel Energy said in a 5:45 p.m. update that crews have started power restoration work following the Public Safety Power Shutoff. The utility reported 16,500 customers were without power as of 5 p.m.; of those, 14,277 were from the PSPS and 2,223 from weather-related outages. They expect most customers to be restored Tuesday night, though some outages may extend into tomorrow due to the scale of the event and the 2,500 miles of lines deenergized during the PSPS.

Wind gusts reached above 65 mph in some areas, leaving some intersections without signals and businesses temporarily closed across Amarillo and throughout the region.

Smoke from the wildfire reported in the Potter/Oldham County area is seen near Amarillo Bouvelard and Florida Street in Amarillo during critical fire weather Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The company said crews expect to begin restoring electricity for some customers around 5 p.m. once weather conditions fall below PSPS thresholds. Restoration could continue into Wednesday because workers must inspect and repair lines before they can be safely re-energized.

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More than 400 crew members and contractors have been staged across Texas and New Mexico, along with three helicopters to speed inspections. The company also has more than 140 support staff assisting operations.

Customers are asked to stay clear of line workers and equipment as restoration begins. Additional outages may occur outside the shutoff areas due to ongoing weather conditions, and blowing dust may slow response efforts. Officials also urged residents to avoid downed power lines or broken poles and report them to Xcel Energy immediately.

Blowing dust is seen Feb. 17 in Amarillo during critical fire weather.

Active fires reported in Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles

The NWS in Amarillo issued other fire warnings at the request of the Texas A&M Forest Service and Oklahoma Forestry Services as rapidly spreading wildfires developed across the region Tuesday afternoon.

The Oklahoma Forestry Services gave the following update around 8:30 p.m. with new estimates for the Feb. 17 fires in the Oklahoma Panhandle:

Ranger Road Fire, Beaver County: 145,000 acres

Stevens Fire, Texas County: 5,000 acres

Side Road Fire, Texas County: 3,300 acres

43 Road Fire, Woodward County: 2,000 acres

Woodward, Oklahoma was facing an evacuation warning at about 7:26 p.m.

One of the fires near Tyrone, Oklahoma  about 14 miles west of Liberal, Kansas  was moving east-northeast at 3 to 5 mph and impacting areas along Highway 54, including the town of Tyrone that was under evacuation, as well as portions of far northeastern Texas County, Oklahoma and other areas. The fire's original estimated size was around 2,000 acres.

The wildfire near Beaver, Oklahoma, in Beaver County, originally estimated at 15,000 acres, was moving east-northeast toward areas east of Highway 270 and Highway 23 and along Highway 64 between Forgan and Knowles up to and across the state line into Kansas, according to the fire warning and forestry service. Many sections of the roads in the area, including portions of Hwy. 64 and US 283, were closed. A fire warning issued by NWS Amarillo included the towns of Knowles and Gate. The fire line stretched into Kansas at Englewood and beyond, a NWS wildfire graphic showed.

Officials warned that smoke and fire posed a threat to life and property and advised residents to be prepared to evacuate if requested. Drivers were urged not to enter smoke-covered roadways.

Warnings and advisories in effect through most of Tuesday, expected Wednesday

The NWS in Amarillo issued a High Wind Warning and Blowing Dust Advisory through 7 p.m. Tuesday for Deaf Smith, Hansford, Hutchinson, Oldham, Potter and Randall counties, including Palo Duro Canyon.

Forecasters warned that westerly to southwesterly winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph could create visibility between one-quarter mile and one mile in blowing dust. Hwy. 87/287 northbound in Moore County was closed due to an overturned semitractor-trailer.

Officials said hazardous travel conditions are expected, especially for high-profile vehicles, and damaging winds may down trees and power lines, contributing to outages across the region.

Similar weather was in the forecast for Wednesday.

Xcel Energy answers customers' concerns about outages

In a Facebook post, Xcel Energy said differences in outages between neighboring homes are tied to how the electric grid is designed.

We understand outages can be frustrating, and as we navigate severe weather, were here to provide information and answers about how were working to protect communities from wildfire risk, the company said.

The utility said the grid is divided into smaller circuits that can be shut off independently to reduce wildfire risk. During a Public Safety Power Shutoff, power is turned off to entire segments rather than individual homes, meaning nearby houses may have different outcomes if they are served by separate lines or located on opposite sides of sectionalizing equipment.

Officials said factors including overhead lines in high-risk areas, underground infrastructure and proximity to critical facilities affect which areas remain energized. The company added it plans to install additional sectionalizing devices through 2027 to create smaller outage areas and potentially shorten future shutoffs.

Restoration work should begin around 5 p.m., as soon as winds drop below PSPS thresholds, Xcel said, but some outages may continue into Wednesday, since crews must inspect every line before power can be safely restored.

The utility said more than 400 crew members and contractors are positioned across Texas and New Mexico, and three helicopters are available to help speed inspections. More than 140 administrative and support staff are working behind the scenes to support the response.

High winds and blowing dust may still cause additional outages outside PSPS areas and could slow restoration efforts.

Xcel Energy said updates will continue through its website and outage map as conditions change.

Several earlier fires in the Texas Panhandle, including the 275-acre Korn fire near Hartley and 1-acre Burton fire in Hemphill County, were quickly contained with forward progression stopped. A smaller fire in Oldham County in the day burned about 11 acres.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Weather sparks fires, triggers Panhandle power shutoff
FILE - Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaci, left, appears before the Kosovo Tribunal in the Hague, on April 3, 2023. (Koen van Weel/Pool Photo via AP, File)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Kosovo's former president cast himself Wednesday as a statesman and peacemaker as he urged international judges to acquit him of what he called groundless charges including murder, torture and persecution dating from his nation's struggle for independence.

Throughout my life, I stood with the people of Kosovo defending freedom, life and dignity. I was always guided by the Western ideals of democracy, equality and justice, Hashim Thaci told judges at the end of his nearly three-year trial at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

Supporters in the courts public gallery at the beginning of his speech pushed against the glass wall separating them from the courtroom to wave at the former president before being chastised by security guards. One man could be seen wiping away tears as Thaci spoke.

Prosecutors have asked for a maximum 45-year prison sentence for Thaci and the other defendants, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. Thaci also faces a separate trial on charges of intimidating witnesses that will begin later this month.

Thaci resigned from office in 2020 to defend himself against the 10 charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during his countrys 1998-99 war for independence from Serbia. He and three other former leaders of the separatist Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) have been in custody since November 2020 at the court in The Hague, which formally is part of Kosovos judicial system. They must now wait  likely for months - until judges reach verdicts.

In his closing statement to the court, Thaci, who has always insisted he is innocent, said "the only just decision would be my full acquittal.

He said he returned from studies in Switzerland to help defend his homeland against brutal attacks by neighboring Serbia and ultimately becoming a key KLA representative in Western-brokered peace talks and later president of his home country.

During all that time, the only power I had was the power of my voice," he said.

I used my voice to promote a multi-ethnic and tolerant society in my country, in Kosovo, he added.

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On Monday, prosecutor Kimberly West painted a starkly different picture, saying that witnesses provided overwhelming evidence that Thaci and his fellow defendants, while commanding the Kosovo Liberation Army, pursued a policy of targeting political opponents and civilians perceived as collaborators and traitors, West told judges.

Thaci also dismissed claims that Kosovo Albanian fighters harvested organs from prisoners during the war as Russian and Serbian propaganda.

Wednesday's closing statements came a day after thousands of people marched through Kosovo's capital, Pristina, in support of Thaci and the other former fighters on trial in The Hague as the country marked the anniversary of its independence.

In 2008, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, a move that Belgrade refuses to recognize. Ties between Kosovo and Serbia remain tense, despite nine years of negotiations mediated by the European Union and supported by the United States.

Many Kosovars consider the court's proceedings an attempt to rewrite their history, saying its trying to equalize Serbias crimes to their suffering.

Most of the 13,000 people who died in the war in Kosovo were ethnic Albanians. A 78-day campaign of NATO airstrikes against Serbian forces ended the fighting. About 1 million ethnic Albanian Kosovars were driven from their homes.

Thaci said he returned to Kosovo to help the fight, saying: I did not return to risk my life for control or for power. I returned to my homeland, risking my life, for freedom and for peace.

___

Associated Press Writer Molly Quell in The Hague contributed.
Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Myanmar's Foreign Minister Than Swe arrive ahead of bilateral talks, to discuss the way forward in Thailand-Myanmar relations and Myanmar relations with ASEAN following Myanmars general election earlier this year, in Phuket, Thailand, February 18, 2026. Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via REUTERS

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng

BANGKOK, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Thailand hopes to bring Myanmar back into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nearly five years after a military coup, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said on Wednesday after meeting his Myanmar counterpart.

"Thailand wants to be a bridge connecting Myanmar back to ASEAN," Sihasak told reporters, also urging a civil war-ravaged Myanmar, to make moves to adhere to a long-standing ASEAN plan to restore stability.

"Myanmar must help Thailand as well by responding to ASEANs concerns, such as starting a dialogue process, which is a good thing; reducing violence; avoiding attacks on civilians," Sihasak said, promising that "Thailand will show a leading role" in the process.

Sihasak and Myanmar Foreign Minister Than Swe held talks in southern Thailand. Than Swe did not speak after the bilateral meeting.

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The 11-nation ASEAN grouping has excluded Myanmar's top junta leaders from its main summit since shortly after a military coup in 2021 that toppled the first democratic administration in half a century and sparked nationwide conflict and repression.

Military-run Myanmar held a three-phased election from December to January, the first after the coup. A military-backed party was declared the winner in the election in limited areas, a vote criticised by the United Nations and rights groups.

Thailand potentially has more at stake in Myanmar than any other ASEAN member, as it shares a 2,400-km (1,500-mile) border that is also Myanmar's longest with any neighbour.

Than Swe was Myanmar's ambassador to the United States in 2012 and later rose after coup to serve as deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng, Orathai Sriring and Panarat Thepgumpanant, Editing by Andrei Khalip)
Thailand Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow is interviewed by Reuters during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMM) in Cebu, Philippines, January 29, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo

BANGKOK, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Thailand's foreign minister will meet his Myanmar counterpart on Wednesday in a bid to chart a path towards peace in a civil war-ravaged Myanmar with the help of its Southeast Asian neighbours after an election that entrenched military power.

Myanmar has been engulfed in nationwide conflict and repression since a military coup in 2021 that toppled the first democratic administration in half a century.

The military-backed party claimed victory in January after elections in limited areas, a vote criticised by the United Nations and rights groups.

Holding the bilateral meeting with Myanmar's Than Swe, a former general and diplomat, could be a crucial point for peace after the election, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters late on Tuesday.

Wednesday's meeting will discuss the way forward for the bilateral ties and also relations between Myanmar and the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN), his ministry said in a statement.

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"We have not said we've accepted (the election), but it's the reality that an election has happened, so we'll help by being a bridge. But for us to help them, they have to help us," Sihasak said.

"It's time for ASEAN to move. We can have conversations to help the transition be positive ... so they can understand ASEAN's good intentions," he said.

Thailand potentially has more at stake in Myanmar than any other ASEAN member, as it shares a 2,400-km (1,500-mile) border that is also Myanmar's longest with any neighbour.

Than Swe served as Myanmar's ambassador to the United States in 2012 and later rose after the 2021 coup to serve as deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng, Editing by Andrei Khalip)
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett speaks to the media at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

By Michael S. Derby

Feb 18 (Reuters) - Kevin Hassett, a top economic adviser to President Donald Trump, on Wednesday said those behind a New York Federal Reserve research paper that argued the costs of tariffs are borne mostly by Americans should be punished for what he described as shoddy scholarship.

"The paper is an embarrassment," Hassett said in a CNBC interview. "It's, I think, the worst paper I've ever seen in the history of the Federal Reserve System" and "the people associated with this paper should presumably be disciplined" for writing it.

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The paper argued that Trump's large import tax increases are borne by those in the U.S., rather than by foreigners, as the administration has long argued. The findings in the New York Fed paper have been echoed elsewhere.

Hassett, the director of the White House's National Economic Council, said the New York Fed researchers have "put out a conclusion which has created a lot of news that's highly partisan based on analysis that wouldn't be accepted in a first semester econ class."

The New York Fed did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Michael S. Derby; Editing by Paul Simao)
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a charter announcement for his Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts, alongside the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will host a Board of Peace meeting on Thursday in Washington, where he will announce that member states have pledged more than $5 billion for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Gaza, the White House said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that more than 20 countries would participate in the meeting, adding that member states had committed to providing thousands of personnel for an international stabilization force for Gaza.

Asked about the Vatican's decision not to participate in the initiative, Leavitt called the move "deeply unfortunate."

Leavitt said Trump would chair the first part of Thursday's meeting before departing Washington for a visit to Georgia.

Trump signed documents in Davos, Switzerland, on January 23 establishing the Board of Peace. The board's creation was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Trump's Gaza plan.

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"The president has a very bold and ambitious plan and vision to rebuild and reconstruct Gaza, which is well under way because of the Board of Peace," Leavitt said. "This is a legitimate organization where there are tens of member countries from around the world."

While regional Middle East powers, including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as major emerging nations such as Indonesia, have joined the board, global powers and traditional Western U.S. allies have been more cautious.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's top diplomatic official, on Tuesday said efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the United Nations. Pope Leo, the first U.S. pope and a critic of some of Trump's policies, was invited to join the board in January.

Under Trump's Gaza plan, which led to a fragile ceasefire in October, the board was meant to supervise Gaza's temporary governance. But Trump later said the board, with him as chair, would expand to tackle global conflicts. That has stirred concerns that the Board of Peace might try to resolve other conflicts around the world and compete with the United Nations.

Thursday's meeting is expected to focus solely on Gaza.

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Katharine Jackson, writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Rod Nickel)
Washington  Top national security officials have told President Trump the military is ready for potential strikes on Iran as soon as Saturday, but the timeline for any action is likely to extend beyond this weekend, sources familiar with the discussions told CBS News.

Mr. Trump has not yet made a final decision about whether to strike, said the officials, who spoke under condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national matters.

The conversations have been described as fluid and ongoing, as the White House weighs the risks of escalation and the political and military consequences of restraint.

On Thursday, the president said of the ongoing Iran negotiations, "We're either going to get a deal or it's going to be unfortunate for them," and he estimated that 10-15 days would be "pretty much maximum" in terms of a timeframe for reaching a deal.

Over the next three days, the Pentagon is moving some personnel temporarily out of the Middle East region  primarily to Europe or back to the United States  ahead of potential action or counterattacks by Iran if the U.S. were to move ahead with its operation, according to multiple officials.

It's standard practice for the Pentagon to shift assets and personnel ahead of a potential U.S. military activity and doesn't necessarily signal an attack on Iran is imminent, one of the sources said.

Contacted by CBS News on Wednesday afternoon, a Pentagon spokesperson said they had no information to provide.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to visit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in about two weeks for further discussions, according to one of the sources.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a White House briefing Wednesday there are "many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran" but diplomacy is always the president's first option. She declined to discuss whether a potential strike would be coordinated with Israel.

Leavitt told reporters the administration had "a very successful operation in June that targeted Iran's nuclear facilities."

"Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration," she said.

Iran was discussed in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday, a U.S. official and a senior military official told CBS News. All military forces deployed to the region are expected to be in place by mid-March.

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group and its flotilla of warships is already in the region and a second carrier group, the USS Gerald Ford, was en route to the Middle East.

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As of Wednesday, the Ford was off the coast of West Africa, according to maritime vessel tracking data.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday posted an AI-generated photo of the Ford at the bottom of the ocean.

"The US President constantly says that the US has sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware," read Khamenei's post on X. "However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea."

Iranian and American negotiators held mediated talks Tuesday on Iran's nuclear program. The discussions in Geneva, Switzerland, lasted several hours.

The Trump administration said some progress has been made, but on Wednesday Leavitt said, "We're still very far apart on some issues."

"I believe the Iranians are expected to come back to us with some more detail in the next couple of weeks, and so the president will continue to watch how this plays out," she said.

No date has been set for follow-up consultations.

Mr. Trump told Netanyahu during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago in December that the president would support Israeli strikes on Iran's ballistic missile program if a deal between Washington and Tehran could not be reached, two sources said.

Iran warned pilots Wednesday to avoid the southern region of Iran on Thursday, due to rocket launches.

Last June, the U.S. joined Israel in strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities during its 12-day war with Iran, causing what intelligence suggested was severe damage to the regime's nuclear program.

Before the war, Iran had ramped up its enrichment program in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the 2014 nuclear deal. It had started enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said Iran was the only country in the world to enrich to that level that was not armed with a nuclear bomb.

Massive avalanche sweeps away skiers in California

H.R. McMaster reacts to Trump's efforts to stop Iran's nuclear progress

King Charles reacts after former Prince Andrew's stunning arrest on his 66th birthday
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hold a press conference following their meeting at Chequers, near Aylesbury, Britain, September 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/ File Photo

WASHINGTON/LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was making a big mistake by entering into a lease on the Indian Ocean Chagos archipelago that hosts the U.S.-UK Diego Garcia air base.

Under a 2025 agreement, Britain will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the strategically important Diego Garcia base under a 99-year lease.

"DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA! Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, saying the base could be called upon in any future military operation to "eradicate a potential attack" from Iran.

"I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is 'claiming' Right, Title, and Interest to Diego Garcia," he added.

Responding to Trump's latest remarks, a British foreign office spokesperson said the deal was "crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies".

"The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base," the statement added.

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Trump's comments mark the latest in an Anglo-American diplomatic rollercoaster over the deal.

Britain has said it had no choice but to make a deal after international court decisions threatened its ability to maintain the base under previous arrangements.

Washington last year gave its blessing to the agreement, but in January Trump described it as an act of "great stupidity". Earlier in February he then said he understood the deal was the best Starmer could make, but added he would retain the right to "militarily secure" the base if needed.

On Tuesday the U.S. State Department had issued a statement which stated its backing for the deal.

"The United States supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago," the statement said, announcing talks between the U.S. and Mauritius next week.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya, Ryan Patrick Jones and Chandni Shah; writing by William James; editing by Costas Pitas and Stephen Coates)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a press conference after meeting with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi, in Istanbul, Turkey, January 30, 2026. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya

ANKARA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will travel to Washington in lieu of President Tayyip Erdogan for the inaugural meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" on Thursday, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

A Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters that Fidan, during the talks, would call for determined steps to resolve the Palestinian issue and emphasize that Israel must end actions to hinder the flow of aid into Gaza and stop its ceasefire violations.

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Fidan will also reiterate Turkey's readiness to contribute to Gaza's reconstruction and its desire to help protect Palestinians and ensure their security, the source said. He will also call for urgent action against Israel's "illegal settlement activities and settler violence in the West Bank", the source added.

According to a readout from Erdogan's office, the president separately told reporters on Wednesday that he hoped the Board of Peace would help achieve "the lasting stability, ceasefire, and eventually peace that Gaza has longed for", and would focus on bringing about a two-state solution.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Jonathan Spicer )
President Erdogan made the comment during an official visit to Ethiopia, which neighbours the breakaway region of Somaliland

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected Israel's recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation.

During a visit to Ethiopia, Erdogan said it could prove dangerous for a volatile region.

In December, Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia more than 30 years ago. The move upset Mogadishu, which still considers Somaliland as part of its territory.

Landlocked Ethiopia has yet to comment, but its plans two years ago to lease a piece of Somaliland's coastline to build a port angered Somalia at the time - and it was Erdogan who mediated an end to the dispute that had prompted fears of a wider conflict.

In reaction to Erdogan's comments, Somaliland's foreign ministry said that Turkey, which has in recent years become an important geopolitical player in the Horn of Africa, should refrain from inflaming regional tensions.

At a joint press conference in Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Erdogan said: "The Horn of Africa should not be the battlefield of foreign forces.

"We believe that countries of the region should address their problems by themselves."

Meanwhile, Abiy urged Turkey to support Ethiopia's quest for sea access, arguing that it was unjust for the country to remain landlocked.

Eritrea officially seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving the country without access to a 1,350km (840-mile) Red Sea coastline.

"It is not right for a country with a population of over 130 million to be denied sea access and remain a geographical prisoner for a long time due to the conspiracy of our enemies," Abiy said.

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Since the Somaliland deal fell through in 2024, Abiy has been pushing for ownership of Eritrea's southern port of Assab - about 60km from its border - and hinted at the desire to take it by force.

Abiy said he had asked Turkey to exert diplomatic pressure and assist peacefully in securing access to the sea.

"We have had a strong discussion with President Erdogan to play his part in this regard. We thank him for this," the Ethiopian prime minister added.

This all comes against the backdrop of fears of a return to conflict in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, which borders Eritrea.

During the first Tigray war, which raged between 2020 and 2022, Eritrean forces fought alongside the Ethiopian army against local Tigrayan fighters.

But allegiances have changed - and any renewed conflict in Tigray is likely to inflame tensions between the neighbours who fought a devastating border war between 1998 and 2000 that claimed more than 100,000 lives.

Local media has been reporting about growing panic in cities in Tigray as alleged military build-ups continue near the region.

Banks in Tigray have run out of cash and civil servants did not receive their January salaries, further fuelling frustration.

A map showing, Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Eritrea - as well as Ethiopia's Tigray region.

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The Kennedy-era paint colors on the exterior of aircraft in the U.S. Air Force presidential and VIP fleet are being replaced with a new design in President Trump's preferred palette. The new colors will appear on planes including the donated Qatari jet and two planes Boeing is converting to serve as Air Force One, sources told CBS News.

Some of the blue and white aircraft are already being repainted in dark navy blue, deep red and gold as they come in for scheduled due repairs and maintenance, the officials said.

The classic robin's egg blue color scheme of the current fleet dates back to the Kennedy administration.

The new red, dark blue and white paint job is being required for Air Force One jets as well as others in the executive fleet, including the new 747-8i from Qatar and C-32 aircraft, an Air Force spokesperson said.

File: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 3, 2025. / Credit: Alex Wong / Getty Images (Alex Wong / Getty Images)

Mr. Trump in his first term rolled out a model airplane with the paint colors he wanted for Air Force One, but President Joe Biden canceled that paint design for the VC-25Bs, the Defense Department's version of the Boeing 747 airliner.

The new paint requirement includes the smaller C-32 aircraft, which carry high-priority personnel such as the first lady or top cabinet officials, and serve as Air Force Two when the vice president is aboard.

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Contractor L3 Harris has been upgrading the Air Force Two planes at its plant in Greenville, Texas.

Boeing continues to work on a new generation of Air Force One planes in a deal signed in 2018. Meanwhile, the plane donated by Qatar that the Air Force is refurbishing is expected to be ready for use as Air Force One no later than this summer.

The first C-32 has been painted and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force in the next few months.

The War Zone, a defense news and analysis website, reported on images of the C-32 painted in the new color scheme.

Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall dies at 95

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John Shirreffs & Zenyatta | 60 Minutes Archive
FILE PHOTO: Late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein appears with a woman, whose identity has been obscured, in this image from the Epstein estate released by House Oversight Committee Democrats in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 18, 2025. House Oversight Committee Democrats/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

By Muvija M and Kate Holton

LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - British police are assessing whether Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women through two London airports and one in central England on private flights, as part of a now nationally coordinated effort to investigate the late sex offender's ties to Britain.

Three regional police forces said on Wednesday they were reviewing information about private flights linked to Epstein following the publication by the U.S. government of millions of documents on the disgraced financier at the end of January.

Essex Police said it was looking at flights in and out of Stansted Airport, northeast of London, while Bedfordshire Police said it was assessing flights in and out of Luton Airport, northwest of the capital.

West Midlands Police said it was also assessing evidence connected to Epstein from Birmingham Airport.

NATIONALLY COORDINATED EFFORTS

The forces' assessments, which do not constitute a full investigation, follow the establishment of a national coordination group to support individual police forces in examining Epstein's ties to Britain or British people.

"We continue to work collaboratively to assess the details being made public to allow us to understand any potential impact arising from the millions of documents that have been published," the National Police Chiefs Council said in a statement.

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The BBC reported last year that incomplete flight logs and manifests showed that 87 flights linked to Epstein had arrived or departed from British airports between the early 1990s and 2018, with unidentified "females" listed among the passengers.

Reuters could not independently verify the BBC's report.

Documents in the Epstein files reviewed by Reuters show multiple references to Stansted, including one that discussed whether a Russian woman with a U.S. visa could switch planes at the airport. The files also include dozens of references to UK visas.

Stansted, Luton and Birmingham airports said in separate statements that private flights were not managed by the terminals they operate, and that Border Force was responsible for immigration and customs checks.

Border Force did not respond to a request for comment. Under British law, all individuals arriving in Britain are subject to thorough checks.

The Epstein furore has already had a major impact in Britain.

Two other police forces are looking into Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the U.S., and the younger brother of King Charles, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, over allegations of misconduct in public office. The Epstein files suggested both had forwarded confidential government documents to the late U.S. financier.

Both men have denied any wrongdoing and said they regret their friendships with Epstein, but they have not responded to specific requests for comment after the latest files were published.

(Reporting by Muvija M and Sam Tabahriti; writing by Kate Holton; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Jon Boyle)
Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends the Human Rights Council at the UN European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, September 8, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The United Nations human rights chief expressed alarm on Wednesday following reports of more than 50 civilians being killed in drone strikes in Sudan in two days in the last week.

At least 57 civilians were killed between Sunday and Monday, including at least 15 children, in separate drone attacks in four states across Sudan, according to the U.N.

U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said the killings were a reminder of the devastating consequences of drone warfare in Sudan, with civilians and civilian infrastructure targeted.

Some 28 civilians were killed on Sunday in an alleged Sudanese Armed Forces drone strike on Al Safiya market in Sudari locality, North Kordofan, the U.N. said.

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The next day 26 civilians were killed in West Kordofan in an alleged SAF drone strike at a displacement shelter in Al Sunut. Also on Monday the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces conducted drone strikes on two primary schools in Dilling in South Kordofan, the U.N. reported.

The RSF and SAF did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Greater Kordofan, a region comprising three states, has emerged as the latest frontline in Sudan's nearly three-year conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which has displaced millions of people and triggered a humanitarian crisis.

"The continued attacks by all parties on civilian objects must stop. The parties must take urgent measures to protect civilians, including by refraining from the military use of civilian objects," said Turk.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Alex Richardson)
FILE PHOTO: Fumes rise from the coal-fired Huntington Power Plant in Huntington, Utah, U.S., October 28, 2024. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart /File Photo

Feb 18 (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to loosen restrictions on coal-burning power plants this week, allowing them to emit more hazardous pollutants including mercury, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

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Senior U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials are expected to announce the move during a trip to Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday, the Times reported.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
The border of a US visa vignette. - Mehaniq // Shutterstock

The US issues the most EB-1 visas to professionals from these countries

Each year, thousands of the worlds highest achievers apply for the EB-1, a U.S. visa category designed for people with extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, and multinational executives.

Despite its high bar for eligibility, the EB-1 remains a popular Green Card pathway, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services receiving almost 13,000 initial I-140 petitions each quarter.

That may be because its one of the fastest routes available to a Green Card and long-term residency in the United States.

For many applicants, that means skipping years of uncertainty tied to temporary work visas  and moving more quickly toward the stability of permanent status, including the freedom to change jobs, build a company, or plan a future in the U.S. without constantly worrying about renewals. Manifest Law examines data from USCIS and the State Department to examine where the biggest proportions of successful EB-1 visa applicants are from.

Leading professionals from these 10 countries receive the most EB-1 visas

Not every country sends the same number of EB-1 talent to the U.S. The top 10 nations below account for over 68% of EB-1 visa issuances abroad between June 2024 and May 2025, the most recent month for which the State Department has released data.

Mainland China accounts for the majority of new EB-1 visas, outpacing Russia by more than fivefold.

But State Department visa issuances are only one part of the EB-1 process. Its data reflects EB-1 visa stamps issued at U.S. consulates abroad, not the number of EB-1 Form I-140 approvals. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) tracks that data instead. And unlike the State Department, they include applications filed by people already living in the U.S.

Thats why USCISs data tells a different story. Each year, India takes the No. 1 spot of approved Form I-140s, with mainland China following closely behind. Last year was no different.

What the EB-1 data shows

Manifest principal attorney Nicole Gunara says the discrepancy between these two agencies data sets isnt surprising. Thats because many Indian nationals enter the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa, with the H-1B being especially popular. In fiscal year 2024 alone, 71% of H-1B visa approvals came from India, she says. That could be why theyre not showing up in the State Departments data. As long as they remain in valid status, an Indian H-1B worker can apply for an EB-1 Green Card within the U.S.

Gunara says another possible explanation could be due to increased scrutiny from the State Department. Theres no official document source that says mainland Chinese nationals categorically cannot get a nonimmigrant visa as easily as other people, but there are policy trends that suggest they face additional administrative hurdles, she says. That can deter someone from applying for a nonimmigrant visa before filing an EB-1 petition.

Socioeconomic factors may also play a factor as to why so many Chinese nationals qualify for the EB-1  particularly under the EB-1B outstanding professor and researcher category. Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar explains: As part of its efforts to expand its economic growth, Chinas government has strategically invested in research and development. That alone has helped produce more candidates who can prove international recognition or outstanding achievement to qualify for the EB-1B.

USCIS approval data helps confirm that. In fiscal year 2025, 33.79% of Form I-140 approvals from mainland China were under the EB-1B category. For India, that was 16.49%.

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Urizar notes that these explanations dont fully explain why countries like Russia and Brazil are also outpacing India in EB-1 visa issuances. Part of it could be due to their priority dates, which dictate when people can file for a Green Card. Unlike mainland Chinese or Indian nationals, extraordinary professionals living in other countries usually dont have to wait for an EB-1 visa to become available to them, she notes.

In short, the gap between State Department EB-1 issuances and USCIS EB-1 petition approvals reflects differences in where applicants complete the Green Card process, rather than how many people qualify. Countries with larger nonimmigrant pipelines, such as India, may see more EB-1 cases finalized inside the U.S. through adjustment of status.

Benefits of the EB-1 immigrant visa pathway

Many people know the EB-1 for its criteria, as it has extensive requirements to prove extraordinary ability, outstanding academic achievements, or qualifying multinational management. But dont be fooled by its nickname, the Einstein visa. The EB-1 offers one of the most stable pathways for immigrating to the U.S. for creatives, founders, and researchers alike.

For foreign nationals, that means avoiding changes of status, increased stability, and the ability to plan a long-term future in the U.S.

The EB-1A, a subcategory of the EB-1, also offers the ability to self-petition. Thats a huge unlock for those who qualify, as it allows them to build their case without relying on a single employer. For extraordinary professionals in less corporate fields, such as creatives and freelancers, it can be more achievable than the standard work sponsorship route.

How immigration attorneys can help EB-1 filers

Strong EB-1 cases rely on more than just popularity. To obtain approval from USCIS, applicants are expected to meet the minimum criteria and, in many cases, pass a final merits determination. That doesnt just mean just clearly outlining accomplishments, but building a narrative of sustained achievement that an immigration officer will resonate with.

A lawyer with years of case experience offers more than just guidance on meeting USCISs preliminary criteria.

They:

Know how to navigate the final merits requirement , a gut-check from immigration officers on whether your case truly qualifies as extraordinary.

Anticipate challenges along the road , whether theyre lengthy wait times or a request for additional evidence from USCIS.

Understand your personal immigration goals, whether theyre focused on work or life in the U.S.

Immigration law is tricky, and it can be easy to undersell your achievements to USCIS. A lawyer can help you navigate that and prove to a reviewing officer that you are a suitable candidate.

Why the EB-1 matters now

Each year, employment-based petitions rank No. 2 in the total number of immigrant visas issued. Instead of being a niche immigration category, the EB-1 represents a viable pathway for many skilled workers looking to permanently enter the U.S. job market.

The data proves that extraordinary talent is immigrating to the U.S. from several nations, but through different pathways. At U.S. embassies and consular offices, countries like China, Russia, and Brazil dominate EB-1 issuances. Domestically, Indian nationals are receiving EB-1 approvals in record numbers, likely because theyre already working in the U.S. through nonimmigrant visas like the H-1B.

Regardless of where theyre from, those with exceptional abilities are much closer to qualifying for the EB-1 than they think. The strongest cases dont just list accomplishments, but tell a story of sustained achievement and career growth. With the right strategy, the EB-1 is attainable and provides a pathway to a permanent future in the U.S.

This story was produced by Manifest Law and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
The U.S. is preparing to expand the deployment of advanced missile systems in the northern Philippines, placing additional long-range strike capability within range of key Chinese military assets and reinforcing Washingtons effort to counter Beijings growing assertiveness across the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. and Philippine officials announced plans to increase deployments of "cutting-edge missile and unmanned systems" to the treaty ally, as both governments condemned what they described as Chinas "illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive activities" in the South China Sea.

The move comes as confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have intensified in disputed waters and as Beijing continues to pressure Taiwan, raising the stakes across the regions most sensitive flashpoints.

It builds on the deployment of the U.S. Armys Typhon missile system in northern Luzon, Philippines, a ground-based launcher capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Taiwan Unveils $40B Defense Spending Plan To Counter China Military Threat Over Next Decade

The U.S. is preparing to expand the deployment of advanced missile systems in the northern Philippines. (Reuters)

Tomahawks can travel more than 1,000 miles  a range that, from northern Luzon, Philippines, places portions of southern China and major Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) facilities within reach. The positioning also allows the U.S. and Philippine militaries to cover large swaths of the South China Sea and key maritime corridors connecting it to the broader Pacific.

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The U.S. first deployed the Typhon system to Luzon in April 2024. An anti-ship missile launcher known as the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System was deployed in 2025 to Batan Island in the northernmost Philippine province of Batanes.

That island faces the Bashi Channel, a strategic waterway just south of Taiwan that serves as a critical transit route for commercial shipping and military vessels moving between the South China Sea and the Western Pacific. Control of that channel would be vital in any potential Taiwan contingency.

Bipartisan House China Panel Slams Beijings Taiwan Drills As Deliberate Escalation

Beijing has urged Manila to withdraw the U.S. systems from its territory, but officials under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have rejected those demands.

"China has consistently stated its firm opposition to the United States deployment of advanced weapons systems in the Philippines. The introduction of strategic and offensive weapons that heighten regional tensions, fuel geopolitical confrontation, and risk triggering an arms race is extremely dangerous. Such actions are irresponsible to the people of the Philippines, to Southeast Asian nations, and to regional security as a whole," Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Fox News Digital. "The United States is not a party to disputes in the South China Sea and has no standing to intervene in maritime issues between China and the Philippines."

"The Taiwan question lies at the very heart of Chinas core interests. Chinas determination to defend its national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity is unwavering. Any provocation that crosses red lines on Taiwan will be met with resolute countermeasures, and any attempt to obstruct Chinas reunification is doomed to fail," Liu continued.

Neither side detailed how many additional systems would be sent or whether the deployments would be permanent, but Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said U.S. and Filipino defense officials discussed deploying upgraded missile launchers that Manila may eventually seek to purchase.

"Its a kind of system thats really very sophisticated and will be deployed here in the hope that, down the road, we will be able to get our own," Romualdez told The Associated Press.

Romualdez stressed that the deployments are intended as a deterrent.

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China Warns Of Rising War Risk After Historic Us Arms Sale To Taiwan

"Its purely for deterrence," he said. "Every time the Chinese show any kind of aggression, it only strengthens our resolve to have these types."

China repeatedly has objected to the missile deployments, warning they threaten regional stability and accusing Washington of trying to contain its rise.

In a joint statement following annual bilateral talks in Manila, the U.S. and the Philippines underscored their support for freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce in the South China Sea  a vital global trade artery through which trillions of dollars in goods pass each year.

Members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy rehearse ahead of a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2025.

"Both sides condemned Chinas illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive activities in the South China Sea, recognizing their adverse effects on regional peace and stability and the economies of the Indo-Pacific and beyond," the statement said.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea despite an international tribunal ruling in 2016 that invalidated many of its sweeping claims. In recent years, Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels have clashed repeatedly with Philippine ships near disputed shoals, including Second Thomas Shoal.

High Stakes On The High Seas As Us, China Test Limits Of Military Power

The expanded missile deployments also come as the Pentagon balances rising tensions in multiple theaters. In recent weeks, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group  which had been operating in the Indo-Pacific  was redirected toward the Middle East as the U.S. moved to bolster its posture amid escalating tensions with Iran.

The deployments also reflect a broader U.S. effort to strengthen its military posture along the so-called "first island chain"  a string of territories stretching from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines that forms a natural barrier to Chinese naval expansion into the Pacific.

Washington has deepened defense cooperation with Manila under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, expanding U.S. access to Philippine bases, including sites in northern Luzon close to Taiwan.

China in May released a national security white paper criticizing the deployment of an "intermediate-range missile system" in the region  widely viewed as a reference to the U.S. Typhon launcher in the Philippines. The document accused unnamed countries of reviving a "Cold War mentality" and forming military "small groups" that aggravate regional tensions.

For U.S. planners, dispersing mobile, land-based missile systems across allied territory complicates Beijings military calculus. Instead of relying solely on ships and aircraft, the U.S. can field ground-based systems that are harder to track and capable of putting Chinese naval and air assets at risk.

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For Beijing, however, such deployments reinforce its long-standing claim that the United States is encircling China militarily.

As tensions simmer in both the South China Sea and around Taiwan, the positioning of long-range U.S. missile systems on Philippine soil underscores how the strategic competition between Washington and Beijing is increasingly being defined by geography  and by which side can project credible deterrent power across it.





Original article source: US moves to expand missiles in Philippines, putting China within range
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, greets Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse D-R.I. and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Ct., center, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP)  A delegation of U.S. senators was returning Wednesday from a trip to Ukraine, hoping to spur action in Congress for a series of sanctions meant to economically cripple Moscow and pressure President Vladimir Putin to make key concessions in peace talks.

It was the first time U.S. senators have visited Odesa, Ukraines third-most populous city and an economically crucial Black Sea port that has been particularly targeted by Russia, since the war began nearly four years ago. Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Coons, Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse made the trip. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis had planned to join but was unable to for personal reasons.

"One of the things we heard wherever we stopped today was that the people of Ukraine want a peace deal, but they want a peace deal that preserves their sovereignty, that recognizes the importance of the integrity of Ukraine, Shaheen said on a phone call with reporters.

The visit and the push for Congress to take up sanctions on Russia come at a crucial moment in the conflict. Delegations for the two sides were also meeting in Switzerland for two days of U.S.-brokered talks, but neither side appeared ready to budge on key issues like territory and future security guarantees. The sanctions, senators hoped, could prod Putin toward settling for peace, as the U.S. has set a June deadline for settlement.

Literally nobody believes that Russia is acting in good faith in the negotiations with our government and with the Ukrainians, Whitehouse said. And so pressure becomes the key.

Still, legislation to impose tough sanctions on Russia has been on hold in Congress for months.

Senators have put forward a range of sanction measures, including one sweeping bill that would allows the Trump administration to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that purchase Russias oil, gas, uranium and other exports, which are crucial to financing Russia's military. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has also advanced a series of more-targeted bills that would sanction China's efforts to support Russia's military, commandeer frozen Russian assets and go after what's known as Moscow's shadow fleet of oil tankers being used to circumvent sanctions already in place.

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Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has co-sponsored the Senate's sweeping sanctions and tariff legislation, also released a statement during the Munich Security Conference this weekend saying that Senate Majority Leader John Thune had committed to bringing up the sanctions bill once it clearly has the 60 votes needed to move through the Senate.

This legislation will be a game changer, Graham said. President Trump has embraced it. It is time to vote.

Blumenthal, who co-sponsored that bill alongside Graham, also said there is bipartisan support for the legislation, which he called a very tough sledgehammer of sanctions and tariffs," but he also noted that we need to work out some of the remaining details. Democrats, and a handful of Republicans, have been opposed to President Donald Trump's campaign to impose tariffs around the world in an effort to strike trade deals and spur more manufacturing in the U.S.

In the House, Democrats are opposed to the tariff provisions of that bill. Instead, a bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, has proposed separate legislation that makes it more difficult for Trump to waive sanctions, but does away with the tariff provisions.

A separate bill, led by the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Gregory Meeks, would bolster U.S. military support for Ukraine by $8 billion. Democrats currently need one more Republican to support an effort to force a vote on that bill.

Once they return to the U.S., the senators said they would detail how U.S. businesses based in Ukraine have been attacked by Russia. The Democrats are also hoping to build pressure on Trump to send more U.S. weapons to Ukraine. Putin understands weapons, not words, Blumenthal said.

Still, the lawmakers will soon return to a Washington where the Trump administration is ambivalent about its long-term commitments to securing peace in Ukraine, as well as Europe. For now, at least, they were buoyed by the conversations from their European counterparts and Republican colleagues.

We and the Republican senators who were with us in Munich spoke with one voice about our determination to continue to support Ukraine, Coons said.
A Value City Furniture store in Columbus, Ohio Eric Glenn/Shutterstock

NEED TO KNOW

Value City and American Signature are currently facing $57 million in claims for undelivered furniture, according to several local news reports

The stores' parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2025

A sale of the company was approved on Feb. 4 after only one bid

Customers have filed more than $57 million in claims for merchandise they bought but never received from Value City Furniture.

More than 36,000 U.S. customers submitted claims for deposits on undelivered furniture from the Columbus, Ohio-based furniture company as of Feb. 4, according to Columbus Business First. The claims come after American Signature Inc., the parent company of Value City and American Signature, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2025.

The numbers were revealed during a Feb. 4 hearing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, per Columbus Business First. During the session, Judge Kate Stickles approved the sale of the business to ASI Purchaser LLC.

The inside of a Value City Furniture store in Columbus, Ohio Eric Glenn/Shutterstock

The company first announced they were filing for chapter 11 relief back in November. At the time, Rudy Morando, co-chief restructuring officer for ASI cited ongoing macroeconomic headwinds as a reason for the filing in a press release.

Since the announcement, select stores have continued to operate and some locations are still going through the liquidation process.

The more than $57 million in claims largely comes from customers who are seeking refunds for deposits or full payments made for items that were never delivered since the liquidation began.

Jessica Reed of Elizabeth, Penn., told CBS Pittsburgh she purchased nearly $1,500 in furniture. She says she purchased a sofa, recliner, chaise and ottoman, but the ottoman never arrived. When she called the store, they allegedly told her there would be no refunds and that she needed to take the matter to court.

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A Value City Furniture store in Cincinnati, Ohio Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock

"It's a feeling of being deceived, just being lied to and just taken money from us that we work hard for that now is just gone," Reed said. "And I have nothing to show for it when we were promised we would get that back if the item didn't come."

So far, a deadline to submit claims has not been set. Consumers are encouraged to file their claims through the bankruptcy website.

Neil Snyder, an attorney representing ASI Purchaser, said during the Feb. 4 hearing that stores have until April 30 to operate, per Columbus Business First. However, he says there is a real effort to finish liquidation by the end of March.

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The outlet reports that ASI Purchaser was the only bidder for America Signature Inc. Judge Stickles reportedly called the agreement the highest and best return on the business, given there were no competing bids, according to Columbus Business First.

PEOPLE has reached out to attorneys representing America Signature Inc. for comment.

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By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The Vatican will not participate in U.S. President Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" initiative, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's top diplomatic official, said on Tuesday while adding that efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the United Nations.

Pope Leo, the first U.S. pope and a critic of some of Trump's policies, was invited to join the board in January.

Under Trump's Gaza plan that led to a fragile ceasefire in October, the board was meant to supervise Gaza's temporary governance. Trump thereafter said the board, with him as chair, would be expanded to tackle global conflicts. The board will hold its first meeting in Washington on Thursday to discuss Gaza's reconstruction.

Italy and the European Union have said their representatives plan to attend as observers as they have not joined the board.

The Holy See "will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States," Parolin said.

"One concern," he said, "is that at the international level it should above all be the UN that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have insisted."

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Many rights experts say that Trump overseeing a board to supervise a foreign territory's affairs resembled a colonial structure. The board launched last month has also faced criticism for not including a Palestinian.

Countries have reacted cautiously to Trump's invitation, with experts concerned that the board could undermine the U.N. Some of Washington's Middle Eastern allies have joined but its Western allies have stayed away so far.

The Gaza truce has been repeatedly violated with hundreds of Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers reported killed since it began in October.

Israel's assault on Gaza has killed over 72,000, caused a hunger crisis and internally displaced Gaza's entire population.

Multiple rights experts, scholars and a U.N. inquiry say it amounts to genocide. Israel calls its actions self-defense after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages in a late 2023 attack.

Leo has repeatedly decried conditions in Gaza. The pope, leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, rarely joins international boards. The Vatican has an extensive diplomatic service and is a permanent observer at the United Nations.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Traditional media outlets in Venezuela that have been censored for years are daring to take a new direction following Nicolas Maduros capture by U.S. forces in early January.

After years of harsh repression, television channels and social media accounts have begun to include the voices of opposition figures and relatives of political prisoners in their reporting.

But while regular citizens notice a shift in coverage, journalists warn that repression and fear remains an obstacle to their work.

Free-to-air television channel Venevision has become a salient example of increasing media freedom, incorporating content that some Venezuelans believe represents an important step towards restoring freedom of expression.

One of the most notable changes came at the end of January when the channel broadcast statements by exiled opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who discussed her desire to return to Venezuela soon.

The reporting prompted Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello to react on his own program Con el mazo dando  Striking with the hammer. Listen to me, Venevision, listen up. Without media hype, [Machados] figure fades away, he said. Without headlines she simply disappears.

Venevision is also covering the complaints of relatives of political prisoners for the first time in years, and broadcasting opposition protests, such as the caravan last week led by Juan Pablo Guanipa and other political leaders shortly after they were released from prison.

In a sign of shifting tides, the channel even interviewed student leaders from the Central University of Venezuela, who used the opportunity to call for a march on Feb. 12.

Another state-run television channel, Televen, also ran an editorial about the student march, saying, The true national unity is not uniform. It is the ability to agree on a common purpose: peace.

Citizens say they have noticed the shift in media coverage and believe it suggests that it is becoming less dangerous to oppose the government.

I think that with the attack ordered by Trump, they said enough is enough. They no longer face the pressure they used to, said Margarita Carrasquel, a 68-year-old housewife who frequently watches Venevision.

Natalia Gutierrez, a 51-year-old accountant, feels that the new coverage is a sign of how Venezuelans are tired of the Chavista government. She finds it amazing that an important channel like Venevision can report on political opposition, given that traditional media in the country is mostly dominated by the government.

I think its great that they can finally speak out and be given a voice, because here in Venezuela, what they say on Channel 8 [state television] is not what is happening, she said. Here, there is another reality.

Designer Samuel Gonzalez, 25, admits that he does not watch much television, but he has noticed on social media how Venevision is incorporating a news agenda that did not exist before. I think they are opening the door to communicating information without fear again, he said.

On social media, the Venevision Instagram account receives many comments from users applauding the editorial shift since Jan 3, the day Maduro was captured. Messages include: Venevision without fear, The self-censorship they had is over and We Venezuelans are so happy for Venevision.

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Continued press fear and repression

While citizens say they have noticed a loosening of media constraints, Venezuelas journalists say this change is just a small step on a long road to restoring freedom of expression in the country.

Luis Carlos Diaz, a Venezuelan journalist and activist, describes the shift in media freedom as millimetric, saying that the press continues to face repression.

The traditional media remain under the control of the National Telecommunications Commission, which is still in the hands of the same military official, Jorge Elieser Marquez, Diaz said. The only thing that has changed in recent weeks is that, as Venezuela is in the international spotlight and there has been this change with the United States, some media outlets have moved forward a millimeter. But it is only a millimeter.

In 2017, the National Telecommunications Commission suspended transmission of CNN en Espanol from the country and has imposed strict controls on Venezuelan media outlets.

Diaz described a hunger for information in the country, saying the population has been misinformed for years due to censorship and the closure of at least 400 radio and television stations, in addition to the blocking of social networks such as X.

The journalist also pointed out that the commission has ordered many media outlets not to show opposition figures such as Machado. As long as Conatel remains under the control of a military officer, that officer has to show loyalty to [interim president] Delcy Rodriguez and will continue to censor, he said.

Maria, a reporter for a digital media outlet who asked for her last name not to be used for fear of government reprisals, said journalists remain nervous about doing their jobs.

We are in a state of total uncertainty. There is a kind of calm, but that does not mean you can practice your profession or do your job peacefully. It simply means that perhaps they will not do anything to you at the moment, she said.

To protect her safety, Maria maintains security measures such as travelling in groups and deleting her chats in case her phone is searched by authorities.

According to Diaz, the real break has yet to happen, with websites still blocked, continued pressure against journalists, and the stigmatization of civil society organizations who provide independent information.

He called for action from the government to demonstrate a commitment to a free press, insisting primarily on the release of jailed journalists. At least four members of the press remain detained to date.

In addition, Diaz said the National Telecommunications Commission must be autonomous and not controlled by the regime. He also stressed the importance of lifting bans on news outlets and removing digital blockades.

Diaz added that opposition voices like Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez, the man who many people and western governments believe won the presidential election in July 2024, must be allowed to be freely broadcast regularly: If only the opposition chosen by Chavismo can speak, then that is neither opposition nor the real country. The opposition leaders legitimized in elections must speak, and that has not happened so far.

Still, some journalists fear that even if they are given these freedoms, it will be hard to move on after years of press repression.

I think theyll tell me, Its all over, and youre free to say whatever you want, and Ill be afraid to say it, Maria said.
Gisele Pelicot arrives at the Avignon courthouse on October 10, 2024 in France ; Courtroom Sketch of Dominique Pelicot on December 19, 2024 in Avignon, France. CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty ; ZZIIGG/SIPA/Shutterstock

NEED TO KNOW

Gisele Pelicot was married to her husband, Dominique Pelicot, for nearly five decades

In November 2020, police revealed to her that Dominique had been drugging her and having dozens of men rape her for nearly a decade

Dominique was convicted and given the maximum sentence of 20 years in December 2024

Gisele Pelicot was married to her husband, Dominique Pelicot, for nearly 50 years when she discovered that he had been drugging her and inviting dozens of men to rape her.

After finding out that Dominique had been taking advantage of her for nearly a decade, she waived her right to anonymity and publicly went to trial against her ex-husband and the 50 men charged with raping her. She subsequently became a hero to victims of sexual violence and detailed the ordeal in her memoir, A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides, which hit shelves on Feb. 17.

"The scar is there, and it may never fully heal, she told PEOPLE ahead of the book's release. But Ive always been a very optimistic woman. I wanted to take all of that mud and bring color back into my life ... I believe in happiness.

The shocking 2024 trial resulted in all 51 men being found guilty. Dominique was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison, while the other men's sentences ranged from three to 15 years.

Here's everything to know about where Gisele Pelicot's husband, Dominique Pelicot, is now, nearly two years after he was convicted of drugging her and inviting men to rape her.



Who is Gisele Pelicot?

Gisele Pelicot poses for a portrait on June 12, 2025 in Paris, France. Pascalito/Contour by Getty

Gisele, who was raised in France, met Dominique when they were teenagers and they bonded over their traumatic childhoods  which included her mother dying when she was a young child. Gisele and Dominique "fell madly in love" and married in 1973, she wrote in her memoir.

The couple went on to have three children together: sons David and Florian and daughter Caroline. They raised their three children outside of Paris but faced both financial and personal struggles  including affairs on both of their sides and brief separations.

Gisele and Dominique eventually went on to retire in the small town of Mazan in southeastern France. They maintained close relationships with their children until the shocking discovery in 2020.



What did Dominique do to his wife?

Courtroom Sketch of Dominique Pelicot on December 19, 2024 in Avignon, France. ZZIIGG/SIPA/Shutterstock

As Gisele and Dominique were winding down in their careers and settling down for retirement, they were struggling in their marriage. Specifically, Dominique allegedly felt unfulfilled in their sexual lives, so he suggested anal sex and provocative lingerie, which Gisele said she refused.

At the same time, Gisele was facing problems with her memory and sought medical attention, but doctors were unable to diagnose her with anything.

In September 2020, Dominique was arrested after he was accused of taking upskirt pictures of women in a store. Gisele joined him at the police station, as she believed that he was about to turn himself in and she was prepared to stand by him.

However, her life forever changed when investigators informed her they had found photos of her naked and being raped. Police explained that her husband of nearly five decades had been drugging her with her anti-anxiety and sleeping pills via her food and subsequently inviting men to assault her.

Dominique filmed or photographed many of the rapes. The men, whom he met online, ranged in ae from their 20s to their 70s. Police later determined that the assaults took place for nearly a decade, beginning in July 2011.

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My brain dissociated. I stopped hearing what [police] were saying, Gisele told PEOPLE in February 2026. The descent into hell began.

In addition to her own trauma, Gisele also learned that Dominique had taken inappropriate images of their daughter, Caroline.



What was Dominique convicted of?

Gisele Pelicot attends the Dominique Pelicot trial on November 27, 2024 in Avignon, France. Arnold Jerocki/Getty

Dominique remained in custody while police looked for the dozens of men responsible for raping Gisele. He was given the charges of aggravated rape, drugging and other sexual-related offenses.



Gisele moved out of their home a few days after the discovery, and she filed for divorce. Meanwhile, the police identified 50 additional men who assaulted Gisele. Although she initially considered remaining anonymous and pursuing a private and speedy trial, she opted instead to have a public trial, which began in September 2024.

"As a victim, youre punished twice. We inflict a kind of suffering on ourselves," she explained to PEOPLE. "I told myself fighting against that shame was a way of helping everyone else.

Most of the 51 men were charged with one count of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault, but a few others were charged with various counts of rape. Dominique professed his guilt and admitted that he was "a rapist."

During the trial, Gisele testified and used it as an opportunity to explain her decision to endure the public trial. She told the court at the time, per The New York Times, So when other women, if they wake up with no memory, they might remember the testimony of Ms. Pelicot. No woman should suffer from being drugged and victimized.

Her decision resulted in thousands of women thanking her and supporting her in protests across France. She has since been named to several influential women's lists and was appointed a knight of the Legion of Honour in July 2025.

Dominique was found guilty of all the charges and received the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison in December 2024. Meanwhile, the rest of the 50 men were also all convicted; their sentences ranged from three to 15 years in prison.



Where is Dominique now?

Courtroom Sketch of Dominique Pelicot on December 19, 2024 in Avignon, France. ZZIIGG/SIPA/Shutterstock

Dominique is currently serving his 20-year sentence and has been behind bars since his November 2020 arrest. While his exact prison location has not been disclosed for safety reasons, he previously spent years inside the Les Baumettes Penitentiary in Marseilles, France, while he awaited trial, per the BBC.

After he confessed to being a rapist, Dominique has not spoken about his crimes. However, psychiatrist Dr. Laurent Layet, who was preparing to serve as an expert in Dominique's 2024 trial, spent several days in interviews with him.

Layet described Dominique to the BBC as having a "split personality," who "either had the 'normal Mr Pelicot' or the other Mr Pelicot at night, in the bedroom."

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.



Read the original article on People
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran (SAUL LOEB) (SAUL LOEB/AFP/AFP)

The White House warned on Wednesday that Iran would be "wise" to do a deal with the United States as President Donald Trump once again hinted at military action.

The two sides recently resumed indirect talks, mediated by Oman, after Trump repeatedly threatened military action against Iran over a deadly crackdown on protesters last month.

A previous attempt at negotiations collapsed when Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran last June, beginning a 12-day war that Washington briefly joined to bomb Iranian nuclear sites.

"Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

On Wednesday, Trump again suggested the United States might strike Iran in a post on his Truth Social site, with a US military buildup underway in the Middle East.

He warned Britain against giving up sovereignty over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, saying that the archipelago's Diego Garcia airbase might be needed were Iran not to agree a deal, "in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime."

CNN and CBS reported Wednesday that the US military will be ready to launch strikes against Iran as early as this weekend, though Trump has reportedly not made a final decision yet.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Trump has been briefed on his military options with "all of them designed to maximize damage," including a campaign to "kill scores of Iranian political and military leaders, with the goal of overthrowing the government," unnamed US officials told the newspaper.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tehran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, said Iran was "drafting" a framework for future talks with the US.

Iran and the US held a second round of Oman-mediated negotiations on Tuesday in Geneva.

Araghchi said then that Tehran had agreed with Washington on "guiding principles," but US Vice President JD Vance said Iran had not yet acknowledged all of Washington's red lines.

- 'Do not want war' -

Speaking on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted "We do not want war" but suggested Tehran could not give in to US demands.

"From the day I took office, I have believed that war must be set aside. But if they are going to try to impose their will on us, humiliate us and demand that we bow our heads at any cost, should we accept that?"

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Earlier on Wednesday, Araghchi held a phone call with Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In the call, the Iranian foreign minister "stressed the Islamic Republic of Iran's focus on drafting an initial and coherent framework to advance future talks", according to a statement from his ministry.

Tehran has suspended some cooperation with the IAEA and restricted the watchdog's inspectors from accessing sites bombed by Israel and the United States, accusing the UN body of bias and of failing to condemn the strikes.

Meanwhile, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that Washington would deter Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons "one way or the other".

"They've been very clear about what they would do with nuclear weapons. It's entirely unacceptable," Wright told reporters in Paris on the sidelines of meetings of the International Energy Agency.

- Displays of military might -

The Omani-mediated talks were aimed at averting the possibility of US military action, while Tehran is demanding the lifting of US sanctions that are crippling its economy.

Iran has insisted that the discussions be limited to the nuclear issue, though Washington has previously pushed for Tehran's ballistic missiles programme and support for armed groups in the region to be on the table.

While talks have resumed, the US has also been building up its military forces near Iran.

Washington has ordered a second aircraft carrier to the region, with the first, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its nearly 80 aircraft, positioned about 700 kilometres (435 miles) from the Iranian coast as of Sunday, satellite images showed.

Iran has sought to display its own military might, with its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps beginning a series of war games on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian politicians have repeatedly threatened to block the strait, a major global conduit for oil and gas.

On Tuesday state TV reported that Tehran would close parts of the waterway for safety measures during the drills.

bur/amj/dcp/msp
Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email me at the address at the bottom of this page.

Travelers in the United States woke up to news on Feb. 11 that the airport in El Paso, Texas, was closed for 10 days  only for that order from the Federal Aviation Administration to be lifted hours later.

A few weeks prior, U.S. flights in the Caribbean were disrupted as the Trump administration prepared and executed its capture of Venezuelas then-leader Nicolas Maduro.

U.S. arrivals to Iceland plunged 27% year over year in January, according to new data from the Icelandic Tourist Board, a decline travel companies say aligns with rising geopolitical tensions around Greenland that are beginning to ripple through North Atlantic travel demand.

Meanwhile, flights from the United States to many Asian destinations continue to be rerouted as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has led to the closure of Russian airspace to U.S. and other Western airlines.

Global events can affect flights, even if travelers arent visiting areas directly impacted by conflict or foreign policies.

Geopolitical considerations can impact your flight more than you might think.

How do global crises affect travel?

Although U.S. airlines dont often fly to war zones, Americas foreign policy still affects travelers.

With the ongoing closure of Russian airspace to Western airlines, many flights to Asia take longer from U.S. destinations now, as carriers have to fly more circuitous routes, rather than going directly over the Arctic.

This can lead to higher ticket prices and less convenient itineraries for travelers.

"That element has a significant financial cost for the airline and a significant burden on the passengers as well, but everything is for the safety of the passengers," Bijan Vasigh, professor of air transportation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, told USA TODAY.

Theres good reason for caution. There have been numerous incidents in history when flights wound up over conflict zones and paid the price. In 2014, for example, Malaysia Airlines flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down, apparently by Russian-backed rebels, over Donetsk, Ukraine.

More recently, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight was shot down by Russian defenses in December 2024 and crashed in Kazakhstan.

Those are extreme examples, but in an industry that prioritizes safety, it highlights why airlines and aviation regulators go out of their way to make sure planes are flying in secure airspace.

How often do geopolitical events change flight routes?

Its more common than travelers might think.

In addition to the Russian airspace closure, airlines are constantly analyzing the global threat landscape to make sure their flights can operate safely.

Mark Dombroff, cochair of the aviation practice at law firm Fox Rothschild, said that the FAAs order of priority for flight operations is "safe, orderly and expeditious."

"You could say the expeditious movement of air traffic is the lowest of the three priorities, but you want to have it safe and orderly to have it expeditious," Dombroff said, noting that safety must always be the top priority for aviation regulators and airlines.

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Last week's Cruising Altitude: Afraid to fly? What finally helped me overcome travel anxiety.

During the Israel-Hamas war, for example, U.S. airlines temporarily suspended service to Tel Aviv.

Similarly, when conflicts erupt unexpectedly, many flights wind up being diverted to avoid danger on the ground.

"Airlines are obligated to follow the order of air traffic controllers," Vasigh said.

Are certain regions becoming permanently harder or more expensive to reach?

Theres no such thing as permanence in the sky. Without physical barriers, its regulations and orders that prevent airplanes from flying through certain airspace, and those can change at any time  no construction needed.

While the Ukraine-Russia conflict continues, for example, U.S. airlines likely wont be able to overfly Russian airspace. However, the airspace is likely to reopen as soon as theres a resolution.

Similarly, U.S. airlines are prohibited from overflying certain parts of the Middle East, but that, too, could change if the situation on the ground in Iran, for example, changes.

"The airline industry is able to adapt pretty quickly in my experience," Dombroff said.

Particularly when airspace reopens, airlines can move quickly to take advantage of more efficient routes.

Do passengers have rights when a flight is disrupted by politics?

Airlines typically arent required to compensate or reaccommodate passengers when something like a global conflict affects their travel plans  but that doesnt mean they dont.

"Generally, we call that force majeure, airlines are not obligated to compensate the passengers, but I havent seen the airlines not provide an alternative," Vasigh said.

Passengers head toward their gates at El Paso International Airport on Feb. 11, 2026, after the FAA lifted a temporary flight restriction that had grounded all flights earlier in the day.

Conflicts are treated like other causes of flight cancellations or delays by regulators for compensation purposes.

"Travelers whose flights are significantly delayed or cancelled by geopolitical events are entitled to an automatic refund from their airline, according to rules passed by the Department of Transportation in October 2024," Chrissy Valdez, senior director of operations at travel insurance company Squaremouth, told USA TODAY in an email. She added that in order to qualify for the refund, travelers must decline alternative flight arrangements if the airline offers them.

When a conflict or other airspace restriction comes into play, travelers are best served by looking out for notices from or getting in touch with their airline for alternatives.

Valdez added that most travel insurance policies wont cover trip disruptions or cancellations due to geopolitical conflict, but said that add-ons like "cancel for any reason" or "interruption for any reason" packages can help.

"These benefits offer the most possible protection when it comes to canceling or interrupting travel plans," she said, adding that these add-ons usually have a time limit on when you can purchase them. "If geopolitical events are a concern, you should buy travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your trip."

Contributing: Nathan Diller

(This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.)

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why politics may be behind your longer, pricier flight
Scores of South Burlington High School students walked out of their classes last Friday to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's ramped-up national operations, including in Vermont.

Hundreds of teens took part in the Feb. 13 walkout in protest of the federal law enforcement agency, which has detained over 900 of the state's residents since Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Vermont ICE Detainee Tracker.

Gathered on the public sidewalk outside the high school at 1 p.m. that Friday, many of the students interviewed by the Burlington Free Press said they knew at least one person impacted by increased ICE activity in Vermont.

The most frequently named person was Hussein Noor Hussein, the father of a South Burlington High School student and a Somali asylum seeker who was detained by ICE in January and released on bail this month.

After most of the hundreds of South Burlington High School students participating in the Feb. 13 walkout dispersed, a small group remained behind to continue protesting in the cold.

"People are buzzing about (ICE) in the halls," said South Burlington senior Niara Wijetunga. "They've been sharing a lot of posts on Instagram. Everyone's feeling a lot of anxiety because no one is safe, you know?"

South Burlington junior Liam Kelley said a family with six children who lived a few doors down from him recently fled their home to avoid being deported. They didn't say where they were going, he added.

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"It truly does devastate me that people are under attack in broad daylight," Kelley said. "There's no shame in demonizing people anymore."

Wijetunga said she and other organizers set up the walkout to capitalize on students' anger and anxiety surrounding ICE activity locally. Still, she said, she was shocked by the turnout.

Hundreds of South Burlington High School students participated in a walkout on Feb. 13, 2026 to protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"We were worried that it was too controversial, too much of a hot-button topic," she said. "We're really surprised and shock(ed) and just super proud. School spirit is high right now, that's for sure."

High schoolers were joined by students from Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School, which along with the high school is part of the South Burlington School District. Students at Essex and Burlington high schools participated in tandem with their own walkouts the same day.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: South Burlington High School students protest ICE operations in VT
IDA MARIE ODGAARD- - Getty Images

Today, King Frederik X kicks off a three-day trip to Greenland, his third visit to the Arctic island since he became monarch. The morale of the Greenlanders must, of course, be kept up, and it is a pleasure for me to meet with as many as possible at eye level, he told reporters. Frederik, as the head of state of Greenland, does not hold formal political powers in the country, but he is still their king.

Why? Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and has been for centuries. When the monarchy of Denmark and Norway split in 1814, Denmark kept Greenland as a colony, and it remained as one until after the World War II. In 1953, Greenland became part of Denmark and in 1979, it achieved home rule and the formation of Greenlandic Parliament. In 2009, it gained self rule. Today, in 2026, Greenland is a self-governing, autonomous territory.

JONATHAN NACKSTRAND - Getty Images

Greenland could be independent one day. Dr. Mikkel Runge Olesen, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), writes, The 2009 law firmly established that the decision to go for independence from Denmark would now rest with the Greenlandic people.

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Yet, he adds, There is no doubt that the majority of Greenlanders want to use this option eventually. Polls show this. Independence has been accepted in Denmark as well. However, polls also consistently show that Greenlanders do not want independence if the price is the collapse of the Greenlandic welfare state. Herein lies the challenge. Greenland is vast, stretching over more than 800,000 square miles, but its population is tiny, consisting of only 56,000 people. Furthermore, the climate remains harsh for most of the year, especially in the North. For these reasons, among others, the Greenlandic government remains dependent on a yearly block grant from Denmark of roughly $600 million, as well as on the Danish state supporting services in areas such as defense, coast guard, and law enforcement. Greenlandic independence, therefore, depends on substantial continued Danish assistance after independence, something the Greenlandic government has yet to convince Denmark to accept.

Keystone - Getty Images

King Frederiks schedule in Greenland is busy: He will spend today in Nuuk, including visiting the headquarters of the Joint Arctic Command and taking part in a traditional kaffemik (coffee and cake). Tomorrow, he will visit Maniitsoq, and Friday, the King will conclude his visit in Kangerlussuaq. There will be pictures of Greenlanders warmly welcoming King Frederik with flags and kaffemik. The pictures will reach American media and Trump will see them, says Danish author Gitte Redder. The Danish royal family has always played a strong role in being a bridge that brings Greenland and Denmark together.

Redder added, Greenland has a big place in the Kings heart. He wants to show up and give a signal to the Greenlanders, but also to President Trump and the White House, that we are the united kingdom of Denmark. Greenland and Denmark are together no matter what.

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A fire burns in Beaver County, Okla., as the state grapples with multiple wildfires. (Oklahoma Forestry Services) (Oklahoma Forestry Services)

Warm, dry and windy weather in Oklahoma has fueled multiple wildfires and prompted authorities to urge nearly one-third of the residents of the small city of Woodward to flee.

Matt Lehenbauer, director of emergency management for Woodward and its nearly 12,000 inhabitants, said the evacuation recommendation covers roughly 4,000 people. It is voluntary, he said, because Oklahoma prohibits mandatory evacuations.

The wildfire in Woodward, about 140 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, is approaching a "worst-case scenario," Lehenbauer said, but it hasn't moved into the most populated area of the city.

A blaze in Beaver County at the base of the Oklahoma Panhandle, about 217 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, has consumed an estimated 15,000 acres alone, Oklahoma Forestry Services said.The agency posted video of golden farmland set against the backdrop of roiling flames and dark smoke rising and sidestepping like a thunderstorm.

The fire in Beaver County is continuing to spread, Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement. Winds are gusting over 65 mph.

Stitt said he was being briefed at the State Emergency Operations Center, which was tracking the larger fires, including one in Texas County.

The fires consumed fuel along the western and northwestern areas of the state as unusually warm weather, predicted by the National Weather Service to reach as much as 25 degrees above normal during the day, was joined by gusting winds out of the southwest of more than 60 mph.

It wasn't immediately clear whether anyone has been injured or structures have burned.

The Beaver County fire on Tuesday crossed into Kansas, that state's forest service said. The focus of firefighting efforts is in the city of Englewood, the Kansas Forest Service said.

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Gov. Laura Kelly had issued an emergency proclamation Sunday warning of dangerous fire weather through Thursday.

Kansas' emergency operations center was staffed Tuesday with personnel from the State Fire Marshal Office, the Kansas Forest Service, the Kansas Highway Patrol and state Transportation Department, state officials said. Parts of Interstate 70 and U.S. 50 were closed as wind-driven dust creates poor visibility, Kansas officials said in a statement.

The Oklahoma Agriculture Department said temperatures along the western edge of the state could reach as high as 85 degrees Wednesday.

The weather service office in Norman, Oklahoma, said the fire weather could stick around until at least Friday. The state Agriculture Department said in a statement that conditions will start to weaken Thursday as winds shift from the southwest to the northwest, pulling in cooler air.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, new fires also erupted in Texas, New Mexico and Missouri as the warm, dry air settled into the Central Plains following a storm front over the weekend.

The National Weather Service said Tuesday that more than 21 million people were under fire weather watches, triggered when sustained high winds and dry weather are expected to create extreme fire danger. Another 11 million were under red flag warnings, which warn of imminent critical fire weather, according to the agency.

Late Tuesday, the weather service issued urgent fire weather messages for Wednesday that warns of red flag conditions in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT; red flag conditions in Cheyenne County, Colorado and Greeley County, Kansas, from noon to 6 p.m. CT; and red flag warnings for parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.

Similar warnings for Wednesday extend as far north as North Central Illinois, which has a red flag warning scheduled from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT.

Most of the warnings cite low humidity and possible wind gusts of 40 mph or greater. "Any fires that develop may rapidly grow and spread out of control," the weather service said.
Sen. Robyn Kennedy of Worcester speaks at a state budget hearing in March 2025 at Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester.

WORCESTER  Worcester state Sen. Robyn Kennedy is seeking to launch a review of the Massachusetts School Building Authority to ultimately address any inadequacies in the system that controls public school construction in the state.

"It's our job to look at how these things are determining how our schools are being built," Kennedy said.

Kennedy has submitted legislation on Beacon Hill to create a review committee to study the effectiveness of the School Building Authority, founded in 2004, in response to growing concerns about the cost of building new schools across the state. The agency controls state funding for building projects, giving it a great deal of control over public school construction in Massachusetts.

Kennedy said she is not aware of any prior review commissions that have been created to look at the School Building Authority. Her legislation, which is currently in the Senate Ways and Means Committee, has been combined with similar legislation by Sen. Jason Lewis, D-Framingham.

Questions about the current system have cropped up locally in recent years. A study published in October by the MassINC Policy Center and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau found that the current process does not reimburse urban school districts, such as Worcester, at the same rate as suburban or rural districts.

Since the School Building Authority reimburses all school districts at the same rate, the study found, it does not factor in higher construction costs that are typically associated with building in an urban setting. The study found that the state's reimbursement formula has not kept pace with rising costs and that for urban schools, the cost-adjusted reductions to reimbursement have been by 19%, compared to 12% from suburban districts.

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"With the construction costs continuing to rise, especially coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing the gap between what the state pays and what cities are paying continue to rise," Kennedy said. "It was once an 80/20 split, and now it is moving closer to being a 50/50 split."

The current system also typically discourages districts from building more than one school at a time, a challenge for large districts with many school buildings in need of extensive repairs or total replacement. Over the past two decades, Worcester has steadily built new schools including Worcester Technical High School (2006), North High School (2011), South High Community School (2021) and Doherty Memorial High School (2024), but is still looking at significant facility challenges, with the average age of a school building in the city being 77 years old.

"In Worcester we are still working on building the last of our comprehensive high schools [Burncoat High] and then we have multiple elementary and middle schools in need of replacement," Kennedy said.

The study from MassINC and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau found that buildings in urban school districts make up just 19% of school projects accepted into the process for reimbursement, even though they make up 32% of all school buildings in the state. Buildings in suburban districts, which are 43% of all schools in the state, make up 57% of projects in the process.

According to the study, 20% of Black and Hispanic students attend a school without an art room, compared to 9% for White students. Black and Hispanic students are twice as likely as White students to attend a school without a gymnasium and three times as likely to attend a school without a library.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Sen. Robyn Kennedy seeks review of state School Building Authority
Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal to raise property taxes by 9.5% to close a more than $5 billion budget gap is facing pushback from local leaders and small business owners.

During his preliminary budget proposal on Tuesday, Mamdani suggested "a path of last resort" of raising property taxes and dipping into New York City reserves to close a $7 billion budget gap, if Gov. Kathy Hochul doesn't commit to raising taxes on corporations or those earning over a million dollars a year.

By some estimates, increasing the city's property tax would cost the typical homeowner an extra $700 a year. But the real impact, from the high-rises in Manhattan to the apartments in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, to the woodframe homes on Staten Island is difficult to measure.

"The onus for resolving this crisis should not be placed on the backs of working and middle-class New Yorkers," Mamdani said.

Mayor Mamdani, a democratic socialist, repeated his call for higher taxes on millionaires and major corporations and returning more tax dollars from the state to the city.

"If we do not go down the first path, the city will be forced down a second, more harmful path," the mayor said. "Faced with no other choice, the city would have to exercise the only revenue lever fully within our own control. We would have to raise property taxes."

Specifically, a 9.5% property tax increase on more than three million residential apartments and over 100,000 commercial buildings.

"What we are announcing is a path of last resort, one that we do not want to pursue," Mamdani said.

It's an ultimatum to the state legislature and to Hochul, who has ruled out raising taxes.

On Wednesday, Mamdani announced that he has seized control of the Rent Guidelines Board to make good on his campaign promise to freeze rents.

Small Property Owners say the prospect for them is grim.

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"Raising property taxes, while at the same time freezing rents... would be crushing to small owners, driving us into foreclosure and bankruptcy," said Ann Korchak, the president of Small Property Owners of New York.

The leader of the city's largest business group says corporations are already relocating to cities in Texas. And that new companies will be reluctant to locate to New York City.

But Mamdani insists that significant cuts to the city's budget would impact the very New Yorkers who can least afford them.

"We want to build a city that makes this one where working people can not only live, but can also dream," Mamdani said. "And what that means is we have to work together to ensure that they are not stuck with the bill of a fiscal crisis they had nothing to do with."

The mayor's proposal is already getting plenty of pushback from local leaders.

"Think about the senior citizens living on the margins already. We have a food insecurity issue. People are struggling out there and this is a nonstarter," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.

Mamdani "should be decreasing spending that isn't improving New Yorkers' lives. That's where he should be focused now. Not increasing taxes, but decreasing un-useful spending," said Andrew Rein of the Citizens Budget Commission.

The city hasn't raised property taxes in 23 years, since the Bloomberg administration, and the mayor is expected to face pushback from the City Council if he uses those monies to fulfill campaign promises.

"At a time when New Yorkers are already grappling with an affordability crisis, dipping into rainy day reserves and proposing significant property tax increases should not be on the table whatsoever," Council Speaker Julie Menin said in a statement. "The Council believes there are additional areas of savings and revenue that deserve careful scrutiny before increasing the burden on small property owners and neighborhood small businesses, which could worsen the affordability crisis."

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Injured bald eagle stranded on ice NYPD/X

A few eagle-eyed officers came to the rescue of an injured animal in New York City.

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, members of the New York Police Department (NYPD) spotted an injured bald eagle near the George Washington Bridge in New York City and jumped into action.

"While patrolling the Hudson River earlier this morning, our Harbor Unit officers spotted an injured bald eagle floating on the ice and calling out for help," the department posted on its official Facebook page, along with a video of the rescue.

Eagle-eyed cops to the rescue.



While patrolling the Hudson River earlier this morning, our Harbor Unit officers spotted an injured bald eagle floating on the ice and calling out for help.



They acted quickly and brought the bird to safety. pic.twitter.com/AlrdebYFuo  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 17, 2026

The body cam footage, captured at 9:27 a.m. local time, shows the eagle, which had blood on its wing, standing on a broken block of ice before an officer approaches it with a catch pole.

"It's alright, bro, it's alright. I think he's fine, I think we're good," the officer says while gently placing the device around the bird's neck.

Injured bald eagle stranded on ice saved by NYPD NYPD/X

As the team gets closer to the injured eagle, the same officer places a tarp over the bird and brings it aboard the boat. Then, wrapped in another blanket, the bird is placed gently into a crate.

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"They acted quickly and brought the bird to safety," the Facebook post said of the rescue. ABC7 NY reported that the eagle was taken to an animal sanctuary in New Jersey.

Injured bald eagle in crate NYPD/X

The rescue comes just a few weeks after another injured bald eagle was spotted on an icy shoreline in Colorado.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On Monday, Jan. 12, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers, Northglenn Animal Control officers and Northglenn park rangers rescued an eagle from Croke Reservoir and took it to a local wildlife rehabilitation facility for treatment. That's when X-rays revealed that the bird had been shot in the wing with a ball bearing.

"There's a difference between being a licensed waterfowl hunter and being out there and just shooting at any bird that flies across the sky," CPW spokesperson Kara Van Hoose told CBS News. "And we think that this is probably a case of the latter, and we want somebody to really come forward and let us know what happened here."

"We want to talk to anybody who has any information, and if you don't feel comfortable leaving your name or contact info, you can also report these anonymously to us through our Operation Game Thief email and phone number," she added.



The national bird of the U.S., the bald eagle, is a federally and state-protected species and under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, injuring or killing a bald eagle is illegal in any capacity.

Read the original article on People
Albatrosses fly above a rookery, or communal nesting area, on Campbell Island, one of New Zealands sub-Antarctic islands in the Southern Ocean. RichardRobinson, Alamy

The similarities are striking. Far-flung islands and coastlines teeming with rare and endemic animals. Creatures you wont find anywhere else on Earth. Otherworldly vegetation and dramatic volcanic geology. Places are best experienced in a relatively small group, where visitors know its an honor and privilege to see them every year.

Sound familiar? But no: Were not talking about the Galapagos Islands, but rather a distant part of New Zealand unseen (and largely unknown) even to Kiwis. This series of five island groupsalso known as the sub-Antarctic islandsis set amid the infamously tumultuous Southern Ocean in the Roaring Forties (40-50S) and Furious Fifties (50-60S), zones of intense, uninterrupted westerly winds and gale-force storms. The green, rocky, and windswept archipelagos sit between New Zealands South Island and the far reaches of Antarctica.

(Why every trip to Antarctica should inspire action.)

Why you should visit New Zealands sub-Antarctic islands

Expedition ecotourists stop for a picnic lunch in a field on Enderby Island, New Zealand. blickwinkel/AGAMI/M. Guyt, Alamy

People are just blown away when they visit for the first time, says Dirk de Vries, a biodiversity ranger with New Zealands Department of Conservation. Yes, the wildlife wows, and their behavior, as well. These animals, theyre not used to a threat from humans, adds de Vries.

Imagine large birds soaring off the stern of the ship, petrels swirling over the bow, walking past massive seals jousting along the shoreline, or different species of penguins (not seen anywhere else in the world) casually approaching visitorsthe unique fauna is all here.

The Snare Islands are a critical, protected breeding ground for over 1,000 New Zealand fur seals. K. SCHOLZ, Alamy

Preserved as a huge national reserve and a World Heritage Site, these sub-Antarctic islands are known collectively as the "Subs. A total of 126 species of birdsincluding 40 types of seabirdsbreed here, making it the most diverse population in the Southern Ocean. The Bounty Island shag, the worlds rarest cormorant, plus the endemic snipe, parakeets, and the teal, the countrys rarest waterfowl, are the types of birds that visitors will find on these islands.

Elephant seals inhabit the beaches, and endangered New Zealand (or Hookers) sea lions frolic in the wake of zodiac boats. Antarctic terns swoop overhead. Plus, there are giant mega-herbs. Botanists theorize that these ultra-colorful, super-sized plants, including the Campbell Island Daisy and the Ross Lily, evolved to take advantage of the short growing season and survive the islands harsh sub-zero conditions.

Like the Galapagos, visitor numbers are strictly capped. You can only reach these islands aboard small expedition shipsthe same ones used when visiting Antarctica. Aurora Expeditions brand-new M/V Douglas Mawson, a comfortable vessel purpose-built to handle the harsh polar conditions, is one of the vessels that allow passengers the rare experience of exploring the wonders of the Subs.

(How to do wildlife tourism right.)

See a rare penguin species on the verge of extinction

Honestly, who doesnt love penguins? Of the total of 18 species around the world, travelers visiting these islands will have a chance to see 10 of them. By comparison, the Galapagos only has one, the Galapagos penguin.

Snares Penguins, also known as Snares Crested Penguins, are found on the Snares Islands. A total of 10 species of penguins live on New Zealands sub-Antarctic islands. Joy Durham/Danita Delimont, Agent, Alamy

Yellow-eyed penguins, or hoiho to the Maori people, are a species of penguin endemic to New Zealand. Kevin Schafer, Alamy

On a stormy circumnavigation, standing in the wind on the open deck of the Douglas Mawson, the jagged cliffs of the Snares Islands are shrouded in mist and cloud, like something from a fantasy novel. The northernmost of the Subs, the Snares are among the best-preserved areas in New Zealand. Guests on board strain their eyes to spot the endemic Snares crested penguinand are rewarded when a few small groups come out to meet the ship, playfully leaping out of the water and over the waves.

The yellow-eyed penguinor the hoiho in the Maori languageis rarer. Extremely endangered, theyre immediately recognizable by the yellow slash that runs from their eyes to the back of their heads. The 5,000 or fewer that remain in the wild are facing the real prospect of total extinction in the not-so-distant future.

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That fact makes an encounter with the yellow-eyed penguins on Enderby Island an exciting excursion. Blessed with sunny skies and super-calm, blue seas that made Enderby feel more like Tahiti, a guide buzzed a small group of guests around the rocky shoreline on a zodiac boat, exploring sea caves and getting up close with massive bull kelp. And penguins too, including a small group of perhaps a half dozen yellow-eyed penguins, standing on a small rock peninsula, giving those in the little boat a full-throated welcome.

(A practical guide to New Zealand's 'Great Walks', from hut bookings to hiking gear.)

Where to observe the massive southern royal albatross

For me, these islands provide just the best wildlife experience, from a diversity point of view, says Patrick Horgan, a naturalist with Aurora Expeditions. Its not just penguinsits albatross colonies, its seal colonies on the beach.

The pure joy of seeing albatross soar simply cannot be underestimated. In the Subs, it feels like theyre ubiquitous. Every time passengers go out on the stern deckor even just look out the window of the dining room or on the balcony cabintheyre out there, coasting on the salty winds. Horgan counts almost a dozen species. One of the worlds two largest birds by wingspan, the southern royal albatross has a wingspan of 12 feet across.

The southern royal albatross has an average wingspan of above 9 feet, making it one of the two largest species of albatross. FLPA, Alamy

Campbell Island, the southernmost island of the Subs, is home to one of the worlds largest populations of Southern Royals, reachable by a zodiac boat. Approaching a colony on a zodiac, wildlife watchers can see pairs loop high above, tracing each others movements in a mating ritual. Some skim through the cold spray of tumbling waterfalls, and often, their nests are close enough for onlookers to see the cute, fluffy white chicks.

Adventurous travelers can hike up Col Lyall Boardwalk to witness the albatrosss massive size in addition to the sweeping views from a scenic saddle on Campbell. Royal southern albatross nest right next to the path. As hikers pass by, the gigantic birds simply turn their heads, calmly registering the presence of humans, then usually proceed on with life, unbothered.

Even the landscapes amaze, says di Vries, near the top of the Col Lyall Boardwalk. My son says its like something out of Avatar. Climbing up from Perseverance Harbour takes hikers through a variety of ecosystems.

The megaherb, the Campbell Island carrot, is in bloom on Enderby Island, New Zealand.

Honoring the past, preserving the future

These islands were quite significant to the Maori, who traveled here to seasonal settlements, in their quest for further exploration, says Isaac Cross, the Ngai Tahu tribal representative aboard the Mawson. It wouldve taken months. I cant even imagine how my ancestors achieved it.

New Zealands sub-Antarctic islands have flourished and returned to their original form because of dedicated conservation efforts to eliminate pests and introduced species. Cross notes that the Maori guardianship philosophy of kaitiakitangaand his personal hopeis that every person who visits these islands will work together to take care of them.

(Big adventures, small ships26 of the best voyages to book for 2026.)

This trip was created with the support from Aurora Expeditions .

Tim Johnson is a Toronto-based travel writer who has visited 151 countries on all seven continents. Follow him on Instagram.
U.S.-mediated peace talks between Ukraine and Russia wrapped up Wednesday in Geneva after only about two hours on the second day of the negotiations. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said progress toward a deal to end Russia's four-year war against his country was "uneven," and he accused Moscow of playing for time.

"Russia is trying to drag out negotiations that could have reached the final stage," Zelenskyy said in a social media post Wednesday, reiterating his longheld stance that Ukraine's sovereignty and internationally recognized borders were nonnegotiable.

The two-day talks in Switzerland focused primarily on territorial issues, which have been the primary hurdle to a peace deal for many months.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no willingness to drop his demand for Ukraine to formally and permanently cede occupied territory in eastern Ukraine as part of a peace agreement.

Mr. Trump has pushed Ukraine and Russia to reach a deal, and he's suggested that Kyiv may have to give up some of its territory in exchange for peace, despite Zelenskyy and America's NATO allies warning repeatedly that such a concession would set a dangerous precedent, sending a message that Putin was being rewarded for the unilateral invasion of a neighbor.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seen during an award ceremony in Munich, Germany, Feb. 14, 2026. / Credit: Sven Hoppe/picture alliance/Getty (Sven Hoppe/picture alliance/Getty)

On Monday, President Trump called the talks in Geneva "big," and he told reporters on Air Force One that, "Ukraine better come to the table, fast."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that "the main issues concern both the territories and everything else related to the demands we have put forward."

Russia is pushing for full control of Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland, the Donbas region, where fighting has raged since 2014, first between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists, and for the last four years at least, between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

Zelenskyy said in an interview with Axios that he's prepared to discuss a troop withdrawal for the creation of a neutral, internationally monitored buffer zone, but he has consistently rejected Russia's claim to sovereignty over the Donbas.

He said the Ukrainian people would never support a withdrawal from the region if it meant handing the territory over to Russia.

"Emotionally, people will never forgive this. Never," he told Axios. "They will not forgive ... me, they will not forgive [the U.S.]."

The head of the Russian delegation in Geneva, close Putin confidant Vladimir Medinskiy, called this week's discussions, "difficult, but business-like," according to Russian state news agency RIA.

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Medinskiy told reporters after the meetings that further negotiations would be held soon, without providing a timeframe.

Ukraine's lead negotiator Rustem Umerov said Wednesday, "there is progress," but he added that "this is complex work that requires alignment among all parties, and sufficient time."

Zelenskyy also stressed his view that European nations should have a more direct role in the negotiations.

"We consider Europe's participation in the process to be critically necessary for the further successful implementation of entirely possible agreements," he said in a social media post. "Ukraine has no doubt that the partners are able to ensure the constructiveness of the negotiation process, and therefore a worthy result."

The Ukrainian leader has long called for clear guarantees of protection for his country against any future Russian aggression as part of a peace deal, which would likely involve European commitments backed up by the U.S.

He's said such guarantees can and should be set in stone before any conclusions on the more contentious territorial issues.

"Our American friends, they are preparing security guarantees. But they said  first this swap of territories, or something like that, and then security guarantees. I think  first, security guarantees. Second, we will not give up our territories because we are ready for compromise. What kind of compromise are we ready for? Not for the compromise that gives Russia the opportunity to recover quickly and come again and occupy us," he told Axios. "This is an important thing."

The Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Abu-Dhabi in January, for a previous round of U.S.-brokered talks. That round led to the first prisoner swap between the countries in five months.

Zelenskyy said Wednesday in a social media post that another swap could be coming soon. If it does, it may be the only tangible result of the talks this week in Geneva.

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A federal judge ruled the Trump administration could not again place Kilmar Abrego Garcia in immigration detention, accusing them of seeking to rewrite the history of this case.

U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis forbid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from again seeking to detain the Maryland resident, determining he was well beyond the 90-day window for which he could be deported.

Xinis said that although all parties had agreed to a retroactive correction of the record in Abrego Garcias immigration case, that the removal period for which Abrego Garcias detention had been compelled was over long ago.

Xinis noted that Abrego Garcia has already spent ample time in custody, including when he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, where he was imprisoned for several months.

Respondents reading would also conveniently erase this last year of Abrego Garcias Detention, she wrote, adding that the Trump administration cannot alter substantive rights or rewrite history.

An immigration court judge in 2019 granted Abrego Garcia withholding of removal, blocking his return to his native El Salvador given his fears of gang reprisals after they targeted his mothers pupusa business.

Since Abrego Garcias return from a Salvadoran megaprison, the Justice Department has charged him with human trafficking stemming from a 2022 traffic stop while also trying to deport him to a number of African countries.

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Xinis also pointed to the six years when Respondents did nothing to effectuate third-country removal to counter the Trump administrations current argument that it needs to be able to remove Abrego Garcia swiftly.

And since August 2025, Respondents have refused to procure Abrego Garcias immediate removal to Costa Rica in favor of phantom removals to three (maybe four) African countries. Indeed, since Abrego Garcia secured his release from criminal custody in August 2025, Respondents have made one empty threat after another to remove him to countries in Africa with no real chance of success, she wrote.

At the same time, Respondents purposelyand for no reasonignored the one country that has consistently offered to accept Abrego Garcia as a refugee, and to which he agrees to go.

Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, an attorney for Abrego Garica, said the order supports his clients longstanding bid to secure refugee status in Costa Rica, something the Latin American country has agreed to.

Since Judge Xinis ordered Mr. Abrego Garcia released in mid-December, the government has tried one trick after another to try to get him re-detained, all of which the judge has patiently and methodically swatted down, he said in a statement.

In her decision today, she recognized that if the government were truly trying to remove Mr. Abrego Garcia from the United States, they would have sent him to Costa Rica long before today. We hope the government does not appeal this order, and instead finally comes to the table in good faith to work out the details of a removal plan to Costa Rica.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Bibles and hymnals rest in the back of a church pew. Photo: Aaron Burden / Unsplash.

(The Center Square)  A new lawsuit is challenging Colorados ban on using public funds for religious institutions, arguing it discriminates against a Christian school in Pueblo thats seeking funding.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, filed Friday in a U.S. District Court against the Colorado State Board of Education, are Education ReEnvisioned BOCES ( Board of Cooperative Education Services), an organization authorized by the state to establish contract schools and provide funding to schools and programs, and Riverstone Academy, a tuition-free Christian public school in Pueblo.

Education ReEnvisioned last year contracted with Riverstone Academy and submitted a state funding request to the Colorado Department of Education, which responded saying that funding to the academy would violate the state constitution because its a Christian school, according to the lawsuit.

The Colorado Constitution includes a Blaine Amendment, adopted in 1876, barring public funding for any sectarian purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university or other literary or scientific institution, controlled by any church or sectarian denomination whatsoever.

Many states passed Blaine amendments in the 1870s, codifying anti-Catholic sentiments during the era.

The lawsuit argues Colorados law violates the U.S. Constitution's First and 14th Amendments.

Colorado law requires the State to unconstitutionally discriminate on the basis of religion when awarding government contracts, the lawsuit states. The state constitution and statutes prohibit school districts and BOCES from contracting with religious schools to provide educational services, in violation of religious schools free exercise rights as well as the rights of the religious students and parents who would attend that school.

Jeremy Dys, senior counsel with First Liberty Institute, which is representing the plaintiffs, told The Center Square the state cannot deny [funding] because religion on occasion appears in curriculum.

Dys also pointed to recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings in favor of religious schools, including Trinity Lutheran v. Comer in 2017, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue in 2020 and Carson v. Makin in 2022.

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In the Trinity Lutheran case, the church, which operated a preschool, was denied a state grant for purchasing recycled tire material for resurfacing its playground because of its religious background.

[T]he exclusion of Trinity Lutheran from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution  and cannot stand, the U.S. Supreme Court said in its majority opinion.

In a letter sent to Education ReEnvisioned BOCES and the school district in October, CDE said the academy is not operating in a nonsectarian nature.

ERBOCES is a public entity bound by the federal and state constitutions, the letter added. Thus, any school that ERBOCES operates must be nonsectarian in nature.

ERBOCES said in a Feb. 2 letter to CDE: CDE has, within a matter of weeks, warned ERBOCES not to fund Riverstone, then given ERBOCES the money to fund Riverstone. As best we can tell, if we fail to navigate this impossible situation, CDE will claw back our state funding. Putting ERBOCES and Riverstone in this position is manifestly unfair.

A spokesperson for CDE told The Center Square it cannot comment on pending litigation, but provided the departments most recent letter to Education ReEnvisioned BOCES on Feb. 13 before it knew about the lawsuit.

CDE said in the letter: It is important to clarify that CDE does not grant funding to individual schools. CDE distributes state share of total program to school districts and to the state charter school institute. With exceptions not relevant here (like funding for district charter schools), state law does not dictate how school districts allocate total program funds to the individual schools or programs within their districts or the BOCES with which they contract.

Riverstone Academy was recently forced by Pueblo County to close its building over alleged code compliance issues, but is operating at an alternate location.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for Colorado.
Multiple co-hosts of "The View" agreed that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., had embarrassing gaffes on the world stage while in Germany for the Munich Security Conference.

One of the leading voices of the Democratic Party and a rumored 2028 presidential contender, Ocasio-Cortez has been ripped over several comments she made over the weekend  ranging from being confused about the location of Venezuela to stalling for nearly 20 seconds before offering that the U.S. should try to avoid reaching a clash with China over Taiwan.

Co-host Whoopi Goldberg introduced the clip of Ocasio-Cortezs stammering answer, noting that "The right is seizing on how she was a little verklempt coming out of the gate."

After playing the clip of the congresswoman struggling to answer what the U.S. should commit troops to defend Taiwan from China, "The View" proceeded to show conservative mockery of her gaffes, followed by a montage of President Donald Trump making brief verbal flubs.

Kevin O'leary Battles Cnn Panel Over Aoc Fiasco In Munich, Says Others Are 'Nuts'

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., prepares to speak during a rally for immigration provisions to be included in the Build Back Better Act outside the U.S. Capitol Dec. 7, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

Joy Behar gave a mixed defense of the Democratic congresswoman, saying, "It sounded a little hommina-hommina-hommina,' but you know, compared to Trump its like MENSA!"

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"Mispronouncing a word is totally different than not knowing your position on Taiwan," guest-host Savannah Chrisley replied. "And whats important is how you recover from something. Trump, you know, he has done things, he has continued on with his speech and then continued on to meet with world leaders, so the recovery is what mattered, and AOC just didnt have a recovery."

Co-host Sunny Hostin defended Ocasio-Cortezs overall message on the world stage, particularly her calling out the rise of purported authoritarianism, but blundered while trying to pronounce "authoritarianism," sparking laughter from her co-hosts about how she herself had a verbal gaffe.

"I dont think she handled this particular answer well," co-host Sara Haines said of Ocasio-Cortez. "I dont assume everybody will have the perfect answer for geopolitics, but the one place Im a little more critical of her is, considering that Ukraine and Russia have been in a war for four years, this is a conversation that comes up not just at this table and at work but with my friends."

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Liz Peek: At Munich Showdown Aoc Serves Word Salad As Rubio Channels Strength

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had multiple gaffes while attending the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

She said that, ultimately, this was not a "shining" moment for her, but suggested her critics would have pounced on whatever she had said.

"As someone who has stepped in much poo over the years, its just a little message to everybody," Goldberg said. "None of us is perfect. And this does happen. People stumble."

When Behar brought up another gaffe mixing up Iceland and Greenland, Chrisley replied by noting that Ocasio-Cortez had also been mistaken about the location of Venezuela, thinking it to be below the equator.

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"That was another gaffe," co-host Hostin said of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez's mistaken idea about the location of Venezuela. "That was certainly another gaffe." (Getty Images)

"That was another gaffe," Hostin said. "That was certainly another gaffe."

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"Thats the point," Goldberg agreed. "Theyre not perfect. Theyre annoying as hell because they want you to think theyre perfect, but theyre not."





Original article source: 'The View' hosts agree AOC had major gaffes in European summit, 'just didn't have a recovery'
There will be 24 athletes with Minnesota connections in action on Wednesday. Men's and women's curling continue to inch closer to qualifying for the playoff round of their tournaments. Meanwhile, the men's hockey quarterfinals take place throughout the day.

(Note: All times below are CT)

Women's curling

USA vs. Great Britain - 2:05 a.m. - Peacock | Tape delay: 8:15 a.m. - USA Network

The five-member U.S. women's curling team all are either Minnesota natives or have a connection to the state. Aileen Geving (Duluth), Cory Thiesse (Duluth), Tabitha Peterson Lovick (Eagan), and Tara Peterson (Eagan) are all native Minnesotans, while Taylor Anderson-Heide is a Gopher alumna.

The U.S. enter the second-to-last day of round robin play tied for second in the standings, having won five matches and lost two. They have two games left, against Great Britain (7th) on Wednesday and Switzerland (tied 2nd) on Thursday. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.

Men's hockey

Slovakia vs. Germany - 5:10 a.m. - Peacock

Finland vs. Switzerland - 11:10 a.m. - Peacock

USA vs. Sweden - 2:10 p.m. - NBC

The quarterfinals feature numerous Minnesota connections. The only game that doesn't feature a connection to the state is Canada's game against Czechia at 9:40 a.m. Below are the Minnesota connections for each team:

Slovakia - Adam Gajan (current UMD player)

Germany - Nico Sturm (Wild)

Finland - Erik Haula (former Gopher)

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USA - Jackson LaCombe (Eden Prairie), Brock Faber (Maple Grove/Wild), Jake Guentzel (Woodbury), Brock Nelson (Warroad), Jake Oettinger (Lakeville), Matt Boldy (Wild), Quinn Hughes (Wild)

Sweden - Jesper Wallstedt (Wild), Filip Gustavsson (Wild), Jonas Brodin (Wild), Joel Eriksson Ek (Wild), Marcus Johansson (Wild)

After finishing the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record, the U.S. enters the playoff bracket as the No. 2 seed, having seen Canada take the top spot on goal differential. The playoff bracket will be reseeded after the quarterfinals are done, so it's currently unclear who their opponent will be if they advance to the semifinal round.

Feb 15, 2026; Milan, Italy; Quinn Hughes of United States in action with Joshua Samanski of Germany in men's ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images (Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Men's curling

USA vs. Great Britain - 7:05 a.m. - Peacock

Four of the five members of the U.S. men's curling team have Minnesota connections. Aidan Oldenburg (Mapleton), Luc Violette (Eagan), and Rich Ruohonen (Brooklyn Park) are all native Minnesotans, while Daniel Casper is a Gopher alumnus.

The U.S. enters Wednesday in a must-win situation while also needing some help. After losing to Italy 8-5 on Tuesday, the U.S. is now tied for fifth place with Great Britain heading into their final day of round robin play.

Only the top four teams advance to the playoffs. Switzerland and Canada have already qualified. Meanwhile, Italy and Norway are tied for third and have two games left, compared to just one for the United States.

Italy has games against Canada (Wednesday) and Switzerland (Thursday). Norway will play Switzerland (Wednesday) and Canada (Thursday).

In order to qualify, the United States will have to beat Great Britain on Wednesday and hope for one of two scenarios: Italy drops both games, as the Italians hold the tiebreaker over the U.S., or Norway loses at least once.

This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Sports section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Application Deadline: Monday, March 16, 2026, at 5 p.m. P.T.

Accepting Online Applications Only

Information on How to Apply

Salary

$93,246.40  $125,881.60 Annually

Location

Eugene, OR

Job Type

Full-Time Regular

Job Number

04377

Department

Library, Recreation & Cultural Services

Division

Cultural Services Division

Opening Date

02/17/2026

Closing Date

3/16/2026 5:15 PM Pacific

General Statement of Duties

The Technical and Facility Director leads the technical operations for the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, with responsibility for managing all technical theater operations staff, ensuring the highest levels of operational safety, overseeing theatrical equipment, and providing estimates and advances with all the Hults partners and commercial artists. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Technical and Facility Director participates in overall strategic planning and cross-departmental coordination. In addition, this position supervises the Facilities Manager, who is entrusted with facility project management, facility maintenance, and custodial services for the Hult Center for the Performing Arts.

Application Deadline: Monday, March 16, 2026, at 5 p.m. P.T.

Accepting Online Applications Only

Information on How to Apply

Classification: Manager 1

Salary: $44.83  $60.52 hourly / $93,246.40  $125,881.60 annually

The City of Eugene determines starting pay within the range based on relevant education and experience as provided by the applicant in their application materials. This process is consistent with the Oregon Equal Pay Act (OEPA).

Department, Division: Library, Recreation and Cultural Services, Cultural Services

Union Representation: Non-Represented, Exempt

Work Location: Hult Center, 1 Eugene Center, Eugene, OR 97401

Schedule: Monday  Friday, 8:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m. with occasional weekends and evenings per business need

Benefits: The City of Eugene offers robust and competitive benefits. For more information, select the Benefits Tab, or view benefits summaries as well as see information about all employee benefits.

Living & Working in Eugene: Information about living in Eugene, how the City of Eugene operates, and more can be found on our website.

Examples of Duties Performed 

Duties may include but are not limited to the following

Plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises and reviews the work of staff and temporary workers involved in the operation and maintenance of the theater and theatrical equipment, Supervises the work of the Facilities Manager.

Evaluates operations and activities of assigned responsibilities; recommends improvements and modifications; assists the Managing Director and supports the Facility Manager in long range theater facility and equipment operations planning.

In consultation with the Hult Managing Director and Finance Manager, reviews and recommends ongoing capital and maintenance work related to stage and facility operations; responsible for directing the Facility Manager in the execution of maintenance and repair work.

Coordinates with the City of Eugene Facilities Department and supervises the Facility Manager in the management of Hult Center Capital projects. Ensures projects are managed in compliance with codes, ordinances, regulations, and other requirements.

Oversees, develops, and administers Hult Center facilities budget, including forecasting resources; submits justification for new equipment purchasing; monitors budget to actual revenues and expenditures and suggest adjustments.

Direct and approve, including through direct report supervisor(s) the planning, prioritizing, assigning, supervising, training, and review of a diverse workforce within assigned work areas.

Ensures implementation of and adherence to the Citys Affirmative Action and Diversity Work Plans. Coordinates the implementation of effective processes and models to produce division wide diversity initiatives. Facilitates staff development on such issues as diversity and creating a respectful working environment.

Coordinates technical requirements for stage productions; oversee operational aspects of programs at the Hult Center.

Participates in the preparation of bid specifications for theater and facility capital equipment; assists in purchasing and installation supervision of necessary equipment and systems.

Ensures that equipment receives proper maintenance and is in safe operating condition; maintains equipment logs; maintains an inventory of replacement supplies.

Supports facility booking initiatives by serving as the Hult Center liaison with promoters, production managers, commercial user groups, and various outside organizations using the Center; available for consultation with City personnel regarding performing arts and events technical and production requirements.

Operates a variety of theater related equipment including lighting, sound, rigging and special effects equipment as needed. If the equipment to be operated is not within the skill set of the Technical and Facilities Director, they will ensure that there is skilled labor available

Provides accurate and timely labor, materials, and equipment estimates for all commercial user groups, resident companies and local artists. operations invoices, show and event settlements, and advance cost estimates for user groups.

Prepare and present narrative and statistical program performance reports and recommendations to supervisors, management, and executive-level positions.

Models respectful working relationships and creates a workplace that supports all employees; supports City leadership in successfully responding to the changing needs of a diverse organization and the commitment to equity and human rights.

Performs other duties, as required.

To view detailed information on the duties, knowledge, and abilities that may be expected for this position, please see the classification: Manager 1

Qualifications

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes with relevant transferable skills from a variety of sources and experiences. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

When screening your application, the City will consider an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to meet minimum qualifications for this position.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience

Five years of professional experience developing, implementing, and managing programs, projects, related to technical theater production, including two years in a full supervisory role. Two years experience in the management of facility and/or maintenance operations is preferable

Education

Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in theater, theater operations management, or a related field.

Background

Must pass a background check.

License

Valid Oregon drivers license (or, the ability to obtain by date of hire); must pass driving records check and, if hired, maintain a driving record that meets the Citys standard. Oregon law requires that an out-of-state license holder must obtain a valid Oregon license (with appropriate endorsements) within 30 days of becoming domiciled in the state (ORS 803.355).

Certifications

Professional-level project management certification (PMP, CAPM, AgilePM, etc.) is preferred.

The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities

Knowledge

Principles, practices, procedures and methods in performing arts, in practice and management, theater facility operations and maintenance, safe work practices, and production management.

Current developments, techniques of theater set construction, theatrical rigging, and mechanical operations related to the performing arts industry.

Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, polices and regulations that affect and impact the department and Center, including understanding of compliance requirements and implications.

City policies, rules, and bargaining agreements, and their application to assigned staff, with an emphasis on equitable practices and inclusion.

Operational and strategic planning principles and practices, including goal setting, performance measurement, and evaluation methodologies.

Management theory and principles, including strategic planning, resource allocation, and organizational development.

Principles and methods of supervision, staff training and team motivation.

Budget, financial record keeping/reporting, calculations of user group labor and equipment estimates, and project management principles and methods.

Skills and Abilities

Operating a variety of equipment related to theater operations; implementing operating safety standards, diagnosing problems and coordinating repairs Ensuring a work crew that is skilled and trained in operating all theater equipment in use.

Coordinating and executing multiple tasks and/or projects to meet deadlines and addresses potential delays and problems in a professional and timely manner; ensures a calm demeanor at all times.

Project management, time management, planning, negotiation, presentation and training.

Understanding and interpreting advanced technical show and event riders from commercial touring shows.

Relationship-building, consulting, and collaborative team building.

Researching and analyzing a variety of information and data; making recommendations based on research findings; writing reports and creating spreadsheets; and presenting information.

Providing courteous customer service and effectively working with the general public, the media, supervisors, co-workers, employees, union representatives, and employee organizations representing various diverse backgrounds.

Effective communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to present information clearly and persuasively in public settings, negotiate effectively, and resolve conflicts diplomatically.

Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities to independently develop sound decisions, conclusions, and recommendations, including the ability to anticipate and mitigate risks.

Budget preparation and administration skills, including forecasting resources, monitoring expenditures, conducting financial analyses, and making strategic recommendations.

Multicultural workforce management skills to promote an equitable workplace environment, apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex City services, and foster inclusive leadership practices.

Perform the physical activities required of this position.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily indoors. Position requires frequent sitting, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying, occasionally lifting up to 50 lbs. Exposure to dust/noise, slippery surfaces, toxic/caustic chemicals, and biological waste hazards. Requires use of hand/power tools, computer, radio, telephone, and general office equipment. Work requires working irregular and flexible hours with attendance at meetings and activities outside of regular working hours. Occasional operation of a motor vehicle on public roads. Will be required to wear personal protective equipment as needed for assigned tasks. Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depends, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to the disability and the ability of the hiring department to accommodate the limitation.

Eligibility List

This posting may also be used to establish an eligibility list of applicants for future vacancies. Candidates that are placed on the eligibility list will be notified via email which will include the duration of the list and how notification of call up will occur.

Non-Represented Retirement Program

Upon eligibility, the City will contribute an employee contribution of 6%, as well as the employer contribution, to a retirement program administered by the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). In addition, the City will pay a 3% contribution to a deferred compensation program if the employee contributes at least 1%.

From January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2034, most retirees may work for a PERS-participating employer for an unlimited number of hours while continuing to receive their pension benefit based on HB 2296. If you have questions about your specific situation, including any restrictions to hours, please refer to the PERS: Work After Retirement.

What to Expect from our Selection Process

Applicants are screened based upon their relevant knowledge, abilities, skills, experience, and training. The selection process varies according to the position and can include such things as screening of supplemental questionnaires, written or skill tests, ability or fitness tests, interviews, and assessment processes. In addition, background investigations and records checks may be required. Some positions also require applicants to have a psychological evaluation and/or physical examination and a drug test prior to employment. Marijuana use is evaluated consistent with current state law regulations. PLEASE NOTE: Once the posting closes, the process can take 4-6 weeks to complete.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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by Nirmala Carvalho

On the first day of Lent, a health camp was organised by the Xavier Institute of Social Research together with Kurji Holy Family Hospital, the Holy Cross Sisters and the Bihar Migrant Hub. Medical check-ups, maternal and child care and free distribution of medicines were offered to about 150 families. In Bihar, one in six inhabitants is a migrant.

Patna (AsiaNews) - Entering Lent with the concrete practice of one of the corporal works of mercy in a significant place. This is how the Xavier Institute of Social Research  together with Kurji Holy Family Hospital, the Holy Cross Sisters and the Bihar Migrant Hub  celebrated Ash Wednesday today, setting up a free health camp for internal migrant workers and their families who work at four brick kilns in Sherpurpur, about 25 kilometres from Patna.

The main objective, says the director of the Xavier Institute, Fr. Prakash Louis, was to provide basic health services to migrant workers and their families, carry out general health screenings and raise awareness of health issues.

 Specifically, general health checks were offered, including blood pressure and blood sugar measurements, maternal and child care, free distribution of essential medicines, specialist medical consultations and information on hygiene and health prevention. About 150 migrant workers and their families participated, benefiting from the services offered.

The Xavier Institute of Social Research in Patna is a Jesuit-run research centre actively engaged in supporting migrants through research, documentation and advocacy, with a particular focus on the Bihar Migrant Hub, which accompanies, serves and defends migrants in difficulty.

Fr. Prakash Louis is a leading voice in highlighting the necessity of migration from Bihar. He noted that in this Indian state, out of a population of about 120 million people, about 20 million have migrated, often due to lack of local work and environmental factors such as flooding.

From this experience, says Fr. Prakash, "we have learned that there are some recurring pathologies among migrant workers in the kilns. With camps, we will be able to draw more accurate conclusions and take appropriate action. We have found that some workers have suffered falls and internal injuries, but due to lack of money, they are unable to seek treatment. Some also need long-term care. We are therefore considering making arrangements with the kiln owners to bring them to Patna and have them treated at Patna Medical College Hospital or Kurji Holy Family Hospital."

We are trying to involve former students of Jesuit schools in Patna to promote similar initiatives, adds the director of the Xavier Institute of Social Research. In collaboration with the NGO Aid at Action, which already promotes educational activities for children from families living at the kiln, we are also planning to organise a dental and eye camp in the area.
Today's headlines: the United States appoints a new envoy for Tibetan affairs; French President Emmanuel Macron is in India to finalize agreements for the sale of Rafale jets; Afghanistanreleases three Pakistani soldiers for the start of Ramadan; In Japan, sleep is also being studied with Pokemon apps.

CHINA  PERU

Yesterday, the Peruvian Congress voted to remove interim president Jose Jeri four months into his term for allegedly sponsoring illegal interests. Jeri is accused of secretly meeting with Chinese businessmen, including an entrepreneur allegedly responsible for illegal timber trafficking. Jeri has denied any wrongdoing and said he met with the entrepreneurs to organize a Peruvian-Chinese party.

USA  CHINA

After Secretary of State Marco Rubio's New Year's greetings, in which he mentioned the Tibetan festival of Losar and recalled the strength and resilience of the Tibetan community around the world, the United States appointed Riley Barnes as its new envoy for Tibetan affairs. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to Rubio's announcement, but Beijing has criticized similar appointments in the past.

INDIA  FRANCE

French President Emmanuel Macron visited India to formalize the sale of 114 Rafale fighter jets, although several steps remain before the contract is signed. India sees France as a crucial defense partner (along with Russia) because Paris offers the possibility of joint production and technology transfers to strengthen Delhi's defense industry, which has become the main purchaser of French weapons.

CAMBODIA  THAILAND

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has reiterated that Thai forces are occupying part of Cambodian territory. Hun Manet traveled to Washington to attend a meeting of Trump's Board of Peace and said he hoped the new body could also play a role in easing tensions on the border, which he described as fragile despite the December ceasefire.

PAKISTAN  AFGHANISTAN

Taliban spokesman in Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, announced that three Pakistani soldiers, captured by Afghan forces on October 12, 2025, during clashes at the border, were released at the start of Ramadan and handed over to a delegation from Saudi Arabia, which made the request and promoted mediation between the two South Asian countries.

JAPAN

Renowned sleep researcher Masashi Yanagisawa studied the relationship between hours slept and work performance using data collected from the Pokemon Sleep app, a game that allows users to take care of Pokemon. Yanagisawa and his university research team analyzed approximately 2.1 million data points collected over 28 days from more than 79,000 adult workers in Japan who agreed to participate in the study. The study found that those who have a large variation in sleep between weekdays and weekends experience a loss in productivity of approximately 140,000 (US4) per year.

RUSSIA

Among the many companies in crisis in Russia are children's clothing stores, which in January 2026 numbered just over 8,000 in major cities with more than one million inhabitants, 16% less than the previous year, according to the service 2Gis, closing many more than the total number of stores in the clothing sector, evidently not only due to increasingly high costs and tax pressure, but also due to the lower number of children.

GEORGIA

The Georgian police did not allow the commemoration of Alexei Navalny to be held in Freedom Square in Tbilisi, so the protesters gathered in a private space belonging to the Frame association, in the old part of the capital. This was the first time the new law against demonstrations had been applied, even though in this case no protests or disturbances of public order were planned.
A Hangzhou court sentenced Zou Wei and Zan Aizong for meeting on the Qiantang River on 13 July 2024, the seventh anniversary of Lius death, to commemorate the intellectual, one of the promoters of Charter 08, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 for his nonviolent commitment to human rights. Despite his death, he continues to inspire fear among Chinas rulers today.

Milan (AsiaNews/Agencies)  A Chinese court has sentenced two activists in Zhejiang Province to long prison terms for daring to publicly remember Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who died from a serious illness while in custody for his work in favour of human rights.

On its website, the Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) network reported that on 13 February, a court in Hangzhou sentenced Zou Wei to three and a half years in prison and Zan Aizong to three years for picking quarrels and creating disturbances.

On 13 July 2024, the seventh anniversary of Liu's death, a group of people, including Zou and Zan, gathered to remember him at the Qiantang River estuary in the city of Haining. The group posted pictures of the commemoration online. The next day, Hangzhou police arrested six of them, later releasing four and keeping Zou Wei and Zan Aizong.

A week later, the two men were placed in criminal detention. In August 2024, Gongshu District police formally charged both for picking quarrels. Their trial opened on 19 September 2025, but the verdict was not announced until last week's hearing.

Zou Wei is a member of the Zhejiang Democracy Party, an informal group of pro-democracy activists, while Zan Aizong is an independent writer, former journalist, and member of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre.

Both are currently held at the Gongshu District Detention Centre in Hangzhou.

The CHRD has long documented how Chinese authorities frequently use the charge of picking quarrels and provoking trouble to silence people who exercise or defend human rights.

In September 2025, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, also publicly called the charge overly broad and vague, calling for its repeal.

A well-known intellectual and writer, Liu Xiaobo (19552017) was a globally recognised figure for his commitment to human rights in China.

During the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, he supported the students and attempted to mediate with the authorities for a peaceful evacuation of the square to avoid further bloodshed. For this, he was imprisoned for the first time.

In 2008, he was among the main authors of Charter 08. Inspired by Charter 77, a manifesto issued in 1977 by Czechoslovak dissidents, the authors of the Chinese version called for key political reforms, including multiparty rule and freedom of expression in the country.

Sentenced in 2009 to 11 years in prison for "inciting subversion of state power" due to his involvement in Charter 08, Liu was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize while in detention for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.

The award was symbolically presented to an empty chair. Liu died on 13 July 2017, from terminal liver cancer, while still in state custody at a hospital in Shenyang.

He was the first Nobel laureate to die in detention since Carl von Ossietzky in Nazi Germany.

The sentencing of the two Zhejiang activists shows how his memory, while still a taboo for the authorities, remains alive and well in China.
18 February 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Armenian civil society groups believe that a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan could be signed at any moment. Some even consider it unnecessary to wait until the elections in Yerevan for such a step to be taken.

Undoubtedly, the Armenian side is well aware that certain obstacles continue to delay the peace agenda, chief among them being the issue of Armenias constitution.

At the recent annual security conference held in Munich, a similar question was put to President Ilham Aliyev by an Armenian journalist during a panel discussion. Although the question sounded more like an assertion than an inquiry, it received a sufficiently clear response. The Azerbaijani president, while modestly acknowledging that he is not a lawyer, offered a substantive legal explanation that addressed the matter directly: No decision of a constitutional court can be higher than the constitution itself.

This suggests that, prior to the signing of any peace document, a number of steps must still be taken and obligations fulfilled; certainly responsibilities that rest primarily with official Yerevan.

Nevertheless, despite these outstanding issues, the possibility of peace between the two countries cannot be entirely ruled out under the present circumstances.

While answering journalists' questions at the 62nd Munich Security Conference President Ilham Aliyev also touched upon this issue: "There is de facto peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia." However, the President of Azerbaijan once again underscored that the ball is now in Armenias court. In other words, the practical steps required to secure peace now depend on Yerevan.

You know that this does not depend on us. Our position has already been conveyed to the Armenian side for many years. The necessary changes must be made to Armenias Constitution. As soon as these changes are made, we can sign the peace treaty the very next day. Nevertheless, I believe that peace has already been achieved between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

For years, this conflict, around which peace forecasts have long been made, is, for the first time, moving with a step toward culmination within a peace framework. With the initialing of the peace treaty in Washington on August 8, this peace train has started moving and is gaining speed. The restoration of economic ties, trade operations, and similar steps are among the latest examples, as are the several Peace Bridge roundtable meetings held between representatives of Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society. Following the first meetings held in Yerevan in October 2025 and then in Baku a month later, experts and public activists from both sides gathered again on February 1314 in Tsaghkadzor (a.k.a. Drccick) to discuss issues such as regional security, prospects for economic cooperation, and the implementation of the peace agenda agreed at the leadership level.

This initiative is undoubtedly commendable, because the participants went not as state representatives but as members of civil society. Considering that civil society occupies an intermediary layer between the state and the public, its importance increases accordingly.

The question of how possible peace really is, however, remains an open topic of discussion. With his statement in Munich, the President raised this question openly and unconditionally for the first time. The problem lies not in Bakus position but in Yerevans Constitution. The day Armenia removes its territorial claims against Azerbaijan, the peace treaty can be signed the next day.

This approach turns peace from a legal procedure into an issue of internal political transformation, which has been stated repeatedly.

The peace process is no longer measured by diplomatic formulas but by internal political resilience. The failure to sign the agreed peace text between Azerbaijan and Armenia is not due to technical details but to a fundamental question that Yerevans political system has been unable to resolve: on what reality is the states constitutional identity based?

Ilham Aliyevs phrase peace has been achieved is not something that would come out spontaneously. The Washington agreements, the initialing of the text, the reduction of tensions at the border, all of these confirm the reality on the ground. The conflict has exited its active phase. The main knot here remains in the preamble of Armenias Constitution and in the documents referenced there. It is precisely at this point that it becomes clearer why the peace process has historically reached a dead end. The main problem in ArmeniaAzerbaijan relations has not been merely the lack of will of specific governments, but the preservation over many years of political and legal frameworks that were powerless yet declared untouchable.

Although the provisions remaining in the preamble of Armenias Constitution and in the documents referenced there have in practice lost their legal force, they have been retained as political symbols. This has turned every new agreement into a potential source of risk.

In the past as well, whenever real normalization came onto the agenda, rhetoric of threat, capitulation, and strategic loss was activated in the domestic political arena. Today, one of the clearest expressions of this line comes from Robert Kocharyan and his political circle. In their rhetoric, regional integration projects such as TRIPP and steps toward peace are presented as threats to Armenia. In reality, however, these statements serve less to address future risks than to preserve political positions built on the past.

Nikol Pashinyan is the figure in the most difficult position in this process. Constitutional change could trigger broad public dissatisfaction within the country, and this dissatisfaction is not limited solely to the radical opposition. The issue is tied to national identity, the trauma of defeat, and the collapse of return illusions.

For this reason, the likelihood of postponing the referendum to the period after the parliamentary elections in June is quite high. Here, two perspectives emerge. Raising such an issue before the elections could amount to political suicide for Pashinyan.

The risk, however, is that if Pashinyan is not re-elected, the peace process itself could move into a more uncertain phase. The possibility that a new government would choose a harsher or more populist line is not small. Conversely, if Pashinyan remains in power, demonstrating the real results of the TRIPP program - that is, regional transport, trade, and integration mechanisms - will become his main political tool. The logic is quite simple: a painful compromise can only be justified by material and social benefits.

One of the main risks for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is the oppositions gradual transformation into a more structured and multipolar force.

In this regard, the official announcement of the Strong Armenia Party under the leadership of Samvel Karapetyan, well known in RussianArmenian business circles, is seen as a possible turning point in the political configuration. The first news about this was shared on his profile using the hashtag "AI." He declared his candidacy for prime minister, despite being ineligible. This initiative appears to be aimed at forming an alternative political center, which is primarily supported by economic resources and business circles, particularly from Russia.

At the same time, the bloc formed around former ombudsman Arman Tatoyan seeks to appeal to an electorate disappointed with Pashinyans velvet revolution but unwilling to associate itself with the classical opposition. According to analysts, this line has the potential to attract a certain portion of Pashinyans existing voter base.

On the other hand, the formation of a third political bloc around businessman and former politician Gagik Tsarukyan is also being observed. The main target of this camp is the average voter group whose level of social welfare has weakened and whose economic dissatisfaction has increased. The Tsarukyan line seeks to foreground socio-economic problems.

Finally, the political camp formed around Armenias second president, Robert Kocharyan, does not hide its intention to consolidate the classic revanchist electorate. This bloc is particularly distinguished by its hardline rhetoric on security and regional processes and represents the most ideologically opposed position to Pashinyan.

Thus, this multipolar political landscape emerging on the eve of the elections can be considered a serious signal for Pashinyan. Until now, the fragmentation of the opposition was regarded as one of the prime ministers main advantages. But now, the emergence of parallel blocs representing business elites, carrying a human-rights image, and targeting the social electorate further complicates the political scene and could narrow the ruling powers vote base.

Political dynamics indicate that the main struggle will no longer be only along the governmentopposition line, but also within the opposition itself, over leadership and coordination. If these blocs fail to form a unified tactical cooperation model before the elections, fragmentation may once again work in Pashinyans favor. However, if coordination is achieved, the upcoming elections could turn into one of the most intense political contests of recent years.

For Armenia, this change is not merely the deletion of a single clause. It means redefining the states post-conflict identity. Here, three main problems may arise:

First, a legitimacy crisis. If the results of the referendum are not accepted or society becomes divided in two, political stability could be seriously shaken.

Second, the strengthening of revanchist rhetoric. The opposition could present this process as a historical renunciation and activate street politics.

Third, the factor of time. As the process drags on, regional dynamics change and Armenias room for maneuver shrinks.

In short, the main burden in this process, in the literal sense, lies on Armenia. The thesis, long used against official Baku, that of a military pressure tool, is now being replaced. It has now shifted to a legal condition.

For Armenia, constitutional change is not the final stage of peace, but its most difficult stage. It is a test of whether society can come to terms with post-war reality.
16 February 2026 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

Preparations for the national selection stage of the International Robot Olympiad Robot Challenge 2026 are progressing in Azerbaijan with the support of Azercell. The initiative contributes to the promotion of innovation, digital technologies, and STEAM disciplines, while supporting the development of future-ready skills among young people.

As one of the official sponsors of the national selection stage, Azercell supports efforts aimed at strengthening technological knowledge and practical competencies, thereby contributing to the advancement of Azerbaijans innovation ecosystem.

Within the framework of the preparatory phase, information sessions outlining the competition format and participation requirements have been conducted at a number of public and private educational institutions. Similar sessions are scheduled at leading universities across the country. The program also includes thematic seminars for schoolchildren and students, panel discussions featuring industry experts, and practice-oriented interactive training sessions designed to enhance participants preparedness.

The Olympiad aims to foster sustained interest in robotics and STEAM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), identify talented students, and provide them with opportunities to compete on an international platform. Teams demonstrating the strongest performance at the national selection stage will represent Azerbaijan at the international final, which will take place in China.

Registration remains open until 18 February 2026 for the Programming stage (online format) and until 25 March 2026 for the Robotics stage.

Further information about RobotChallenge 2026 and the registration process is available at www.robotchallenge.az.
18 February 2026 17:07 (UTC+04:00)

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18 February 2026 17:43 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) is one of the most prestigious and highly regarded film festivals in the world.

Founded in 1951, the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) has become one of the most central events in the global film industry.

The festival is renowned for showcasing a diverse range of films, including feature films and documentaries.

The large-scale event attracts filmmakers, actors, critics, and cinema enthusiasts from all corners of the globe.

The 76th Berlin International Film Festival has also brought together filmmakers from different countries, including Azerbaijan.

The country's delegation actively participates in working meetings and negotiations aimed at expanding international recognition of national cinema and developing cooperation in this field.

The delegation aims to create a sustainable infrastructure for Azerbaijani cinema, including improved training programs for filmmakers, increased funding for independent projects, and a strong distribution network capable of bringing Azerbaijani films to international audiences.

Azerbaijan and Georgia Strengthen Film Industry Ties

A memorandum signed between the Azerbaijan Film Agency (ARKA) and the Georgian National Film Center was officially presented at the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Berlin during the 76th Berlin International Film Festival.

This document marks an important step in strengthening cultural ties between the two countries and aims to develop joint film production, which in turn will contribute to the deepening of cultural exchange.

The agreement aims to create effective mechanisms for joint film projects that reflect the cultural values of both Azerbaijan and Georgia.

This includes the provision of joint services for filmmakers from both these countries and other regions, which will ensure an increase in the number of joint film projects and their international recognition. Rashad Azizov, ARKA Director General, stressed the importance of this memorandum as a significant step in the development of cinematic cooperation between the two countries.

He also pointed out that this agreement not only opens new horizons for the creation of joint films but also promotes the exchange of experience and the development of film industries at the local and international levels.

For his part, Mamuka Bliadze, General Director of the Georgian National Film Center, expressed confidence that cooperation with Azerbaijan will open new opportunities for producers and directors from both countries. He also noted that joint film production will attract greater international attention to films made in these countries.

The memorandum also states that, to implement its provisions, additional agreements will be concluded to help formalize the conditions for joint film projects, resource exchange, and the creation of joint festivals and cultural events.

Azerbaijan Producers Guild Joins FIAPF Main Assembly at Berlinale

The Azerbaijan Producers Guild officially participated for the first time in the Main Assembly of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) held as part of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale).

At the meeting, the country was represented by a Guild delegation led by Chairman Mushfig Hatamov, Director of the International Relations Department Javid Zaidov, and Head of the Film Production Department Emin Guliyev.

During the Assembly, the Azerbaijan Producers Guild was officially introduced to other international members of the federation.

The meeting participants touched upon the modern legal and technical standards for film production in the country, current trends in the global film market and digital transformation, the integration of artificial intelligence into the film industry, and prospects for joint projects with foreign producers.

Meeting participants noted that Azerbaijan's membership in the FIAPF strengthens the country's image as a reliable partner for foreign investors and producers, creating the foundation for the implementation of major international film projects in the future.

Membership also provides Azerbaijani producers with the opportunity to protect international copyrights, gain accreditation at festivals, and have a voice in shaping global film policy.

Azerbaijan's Berlinale Participation to enhance global recognition for local cinema

Azerbaijan's participation in the 76th Berlin International Film Festival offers significant opportunities to enhance the visibility of its national cinema on the world stage.

The memorandum signed between the Azerbaijan Film Agency (ARCA) and the Georgian National Film Center is an important step in creating cross-border joint projects. This collaboration will increase the visibility of Azerbaijani films, allowing them to reach a wider international audience.

Azerbaijani filmmakers' participation in the FIAPF Assembly at the Berlinale allows them to stay abreast of the latest industry trends, including digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence. This ensures the relevance and competitiveness of Azerbaijani cinema in the rapidly evolving global film market.

Through membership in international organizations such as FIAPF, Azerbaijan gains access to co-production opportunities with countries around the world.

This collaboration will undoubtedly strengthen the presence of Azerbaijani cinema at major film festivals and markets, creating additional opportunities for recognition.
18 February 2026 11:59 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Seventeen more individuals previously listed as missing and now identified as martyrs will be laid to rest, AzerNEWS reports, citing the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons.

According to the Commission, the funeral ceremonies will take place on February 1920.

More than 4,000 people went missing during the First Karabakh War, the majority of them military personnel. It is known that some of the missing were held in captivity for a period of time. During their detention, they corresponded with their families through the International Committee of the Red Cross. However, the exchange of letters later ceased, and no further information was provided about their fate.

The First Karabakh War erupted in the late 1980s as tensions escalated between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Qarabag (former Nagorno-Karabakh), then an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. As the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the conflict transformed into a full-scale war between newly independent Armenia and Azerbaijan. By 1994, Armenian forces had taken control of Qarabag and seven surrounding districts, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis. A Russian-brokered ceasefire was signed in May 1994, but no comprehensive peace agreement followed, leaving the issue of prisoners of war and missing persons unresolved for decades.

To this day, the Armenian side has avoided cooperation regarding individuals who went missing during the First Karabakh War.

Following the 44-day war in 2020, several mass graves were discovered in territories liberated by Azerbaijan. After the restoration of control over formerly occupied areas, the remains of a number of missing persons were recovered and returned to their families.

The Azerbaijani authorities state that the search process remains ongoing, and efforts continue to determine the fate of those who disappeared during the First Karabakh War.
18 February 2026 11:51 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Gambia Adama Barrow, AzerNEWS reports.

"Esteemed Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I cordially congratulate you and your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of the Gambia - Independence Day.

We attach great importance to the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the Gambia, built on solid foundations. I would particularly like to highlight the fruitful cooperation between our countries within the framework of the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and other international institutions and platforms.

I am confident that we will successfully continue our joint efforts to further strengthen our friendly relations and expand our cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Availing myself of this pleasant opportunity, I would also like to extend my sincere congratulations on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, and wish you robust health, happiness, success in your endeavors, as well as everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of the Gambia," the letter reads.
18 February 2026 15:55 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos is planning to visit Azerbaijan this year, AzerNEWS reports, citing Trend.

Commissioner Kos recently met with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, first in Davos and later on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. We can confirm that the Commissioner plans to visit both Azerbaijan and Armenia this year. Once these visits are finalised, they will be reflected in the Commissioners official schedule, the European Commission stated.

Armenian media have reported that Marta Kos is expected to participate in the first ArmeniaEU Summit, scheduled to take place in Armenia in May this year.

It should be recalled that Marta Kos previously visited Azerbaijan on September 18, 2025.

During that visit, the Commissioner discussed areas of mutual strategic interest with Azerbaijani authorities, including energy cooperation, transport connectivity, and humanitarian demining efforts. She held meetings with President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, and Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov.

As part of her trip, Commissioner Kos also visited Aghdam, where she met with representatives involved in mine clearance operations.
18 February 2026 17:55 (UTC+04:00)

President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva sent a congratulatory letter to People's Poet Nariman Hasanzade, Azernews reports.

"Dear Nariman Hasanzade,

We extend our most sincere congratulations to you, a prominent representative of modern Azerbaijani literature, on the occasion of your 95th anniversary, and we wish you robust health.

Remaining loyal to the centuries-old brilliant traditions of our national literature, you are a master of the word who has bestowed valuable contributions upon the treasure trove of our people's poetic thought through your unique style and signature. From the moment you entered the world of poetry in the 1950s, you brought a new breath to our literature and earned the special affection of a wide audience of readers.

Your works, the essence of which consists of love for the Motherland, feelings of national liberty, adherence to traditional values, and a call for spiritual loftiness, have always kept you at the forefront of the literary process. The feelings and thoughts of our contemporaries have found their full artistic expression in your poems, which are distinguished by their tenderness, sincerity, clarity of language, and natural flow. In your epics and verse plays, which reflect the people's memory in poetry, you have brought to life the fateful events and great personalities of distant and recent periods of our history through the light of historical truths and in a spirit of deep patriotism and national statehood. These works, which celebrate the resilience and heroism of the Azerbaijani people, have been successfully staged in theaters.

In harmony with your literary personality, your fruitful activity as a scholar, pedagogue, and public figure is a vivid example of dignified service to the Motherland and the people.

We believe that your creative work, which instills loyalty to the national ideology and moral purity, will continue to play a significant role in the formation of the national self-awareness of the younger generation," the letter reads.
18 February 2026 16:16 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Businessman Ruben Vardanyan, recently convicted of war crimes by a Baku court, appears in the so-called Epstein files, a collection of emails, correspondence, and records from the late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, AzerNEWS reports.

According to open-source reporting, the files contain a chain of correspondence in which Sergey Beliakov, a former Russian deputy minister and business leader, asked Lesley Groff, Epsteins long-time assistant, to pass along information about Vardanyan. Groff confirmed that the request was carried out, effectively introducing Vardanyan into Epsteins administrative network.

Groff, who coordinated Epsteins meetings, schedules, and corporate tasks for over two decades, was a key link to his inner circle. Experts say correspondence through her provided direct access to Epstein, highlighting how Vardanyan was deliberately brought into the network by a business associate.

The archive also includes references to Leymah Gbowee, the Liberian Nobel Peace Prize laureate and humanitarian, who participated in the 2018 Women in the World Summit and appeared in a 2011 event invitation to Epstein at New Yorks CORE Club.

While appearing in the Epstein files does not imply criminal involvement, the connections have drawn attention given Vardanyans recent 20-year prison sentence in Azerbaijan for charges including war crimes, financing terrorism, and crimes against peace and humanity.

Prosecutors described his actions as planning and waging aggressive war and supporting illegal armed groups.
18 February 2026 21:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Unitree Robotics, the local company that generated significant international attention with its humanoid robots' performance at a gala concert celebrating the Chinese New Year, is aiming to substantially increase its supply volumes and solidify its leading position in the humanoid robotics sector, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Wang Xinxi, CEO of Unitree Robotics, the company plans to deliver up to 20,000 humanoid robots in 2026, marking an increase of 5,500 units over the initial target for 2025. In an interview with the Chinese tech publication 36Kr, Wang highlighted that the global supply of humanoid robots this year could reach tens of thousands of units, with Unitree accounting for roughly 10,000 to 20,000 of those.

The company's robots garnered considerable attention after performing at the China Central Television (CCTV) gala, demonstrating significant progress compared to last years performance. The Hangzhou-made robots executed complex martial arts moves, trampolining stunts, somersaults, and speed running, showcasing technological advancements achieved over the past 12 months.

Some parts of the performance, such as the kung fu demonstration by G1 robots, were carried out entirely autonomously. In addition, the humanoid robot H2 and robot dogs B2-W were also featured in the show. The robots were able to jump up to three meters on a trampoline and run at speeds of four meters per second (around 14 kilometers per hour).

While the performances were impressive, experts caution that such stage demonstrations take place under highly controlled conditions and dont fully capture the challenges of operating in real-world environments. Patrick Zhang, a Chinese technology analyst, noted that robots still face significant limitations in practical applications, but the performances are useful for showcasing the current level of technological development.

Wang Xinxi acknowledged that the key challenge for humanoid robots is their ability to function effectively in real-world scenarios. To address this, Unitree is collaborating with specialized AI research groups to develop more advanced autonomous control systems that could serve as the "brain" of robots when working in dynamic and unpredictable environments.

Unitrees growth has been rapid. According to research firm Omdia, the company shipped more than 5,500 humanoid robots last year, surpassing the total shipments of several American competitors, including Tesla, Figure AI, and Agility Robotics. This milestone has positioned Unitree as a leading player in Chinas humanoid robotics sector, and investor interest in the company and its supply chain is steadily increasing.

The companys ambitions are supported by growing global interest in humanoid robots, which are seen as a pivotal technology for the future of automation and artificial intelligence. If Unitree succeeds in scaling its operations and overcoming the practical limitations of these robots, it could become a key player in shaping the next wave of robotics innovationboth domestically and internationally. With its strong growth trajectory and the backing of investors keen to tap into Chinas booming robotics sector, Unitree could soon emerge as a major competitor on the global stage, challenging established robotics companies in the U.S. and Europe.